Where might you find the best Arabian stallions in the world? The answer might surprise you – it is the Russian Stavropol region.
The Tersk stud farm is located just at the foot of the mountains surrounding southern Russia's Pyatigorsk.
More than a hundred years ago, the farm was created specifically to breed Arabian horses, now it has one of each breed and is regarded as one of the world's best and has one of each breed.
"Two years ago, the World Arabian Horse Organization ranked him the best-looking horse in the country. When he was a bit younger, he took the most prestigious trophy at the races, too," Vladimir says.
The farm's revenues come from breeding. The mating period lasts six months, and winter is the busiest time, as horse handler Aleksey Shipilov explains.
"If we take Asuan, for example, who was the most successful in terms of reproduction, he had over 350 offspring. So, that's the maximum we're aiming for. If a stud is good, he does have a bigger work load," Vladimir Tolmachyov says, giving an insight into the business.
People from across the world come to the Stavropol region to buy Arabian horses there. An American horse breeder from Arizona, Howard Kale, is among them.
"This is my 31st trip. My first trip was in 1975, I have bought over 200 horses here, many of which have gone on to be national champions. Tersk became a very famous horse farm at that time and they made me world famous too," Howard says.
"I bought some Russian stud books and transliterated them letter by letter, looking particularly for descendants from a specific horse who came here in 1936. Probably the greatest progenitor of the male line of many famous horses of that line comes from Tersk," Howard believes.
Though there is a history of excellence at this institution, the horse farm has been through some troubled times. In Soviet times, horse breeding was less of an art and more utilitarian. Now, there is a concerted effort to restore the business to its former glory.


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UCLA men's basketball schedules…
UCLA men's basketball schedules home-and-home series against UNLV
Mick Cronin, UCLA men's basketball coach, addresses the audience during a news conference at Pauley Pavilion's Pavilion Club in Westwood on Wednesday, April 10, 2019. (Photo by Ed Crisostomo, Contributing Photographer)
By Thuc Nhi Nguyen | thnguyen@scng.com | Daily News
PUBLISHED: May 28, 2019 at 10:14 a.m. | UPDATED: May 28, 2019 at 10:14 a.m.
UCLA men's basketball added a nonconference home game against UNLV to its 2019-2020 schedule on Tuesday and signed a deal for a return game in Las Vegas on Nov. 17, 2020.
The Bruins will host the Runnin' Rebels at Pauley Pavilion on Nov. 15 in the first year under new head coach Mick Cronin.
"We're excited to add this home-and-home series with UNLV," Cronin said in a statement. "I have the utmost respect for head coach T.J. Otzelberger and athletic director Desiree Reed-Francois. It's a win-win for both UCLA and UNLV to be able to face each other the next two seasons, and we're looking forward to facing the Runnin' Rebels in Pauley next November."
The teams haven't played each other since 2015 when UCLA won 77-75 in the first round of the Maui Invitational. The Bruins are 5-0 all-time against UNLV.
The Rebels are also led by a first-year head coach in Otzelberger, who was hired after three years at South Dakota State. Otzelberger led the Jackrabbits to two NCAA tournament appearances and an NIT berth.
Thuc Nhi Nguyen | reporter
Thuc Nhi Nguyen has covered UCLA for the Southern California News Group since 2016. A proud Seattle native, she majored in journalism and mathematics at the University of Washington. She likes graphs, animated GIFs and superheroes.
thnguyen@scng.com
Follow Thuc Nhi Nguyen @thucnhi21
P-81, the L.A. mountain lion with a crooked tail, killed by a vehicle
LA Riots: Key players — where are they now?
LA Riots: Key players -- where are they now?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Novella provides strategic advice to its clients through its financial PR and investor relations services. Our team of highly experienced advisors are well placed to manage critical events in the evolution of companies, such as major transactions or a crisis, as well as advise on a Company's calendar programme of investor relations activities, together with market reputation of business leaders and their companies. We have over time established, deep working relationships across the financial media and analyst communities, enabling clients to benefit from Novella's extended reach.


This was one of the first all electric vehicles to become available, before the byd electric car and the popularity of electric car conversions. The EV1 electric car was produced by General motors, and they were available for lease from 1996 until 2003. Many celebrities in California signed leases, and these vehicles quickly became popular. The cars included two seats, a sporty look that was appealing, and could travel one hundred and twenty miles on a single charge. Even though GM put a sticker price on the car, it was never sold but only leased. GM determined this was the best option so that control could be maintained by the automaker. By 2003 it was decided that this vehicle was no longer a good idea, and the cars were recalled to be scrapped. The EV1 electric car, just like the byd electric car and other models, had many fans. Offers were made by lessees to purchase the cars outright or to sign new leases, but GM refused. Many of these fans turned to electric car conversions rather than purchase a traditional vehicle because of their belief in electric vehicles. In an ironic twist General Motors stated the cars were taken back and crushed because of a lack of demand, yet more than eight former lease holders tried to purchase their leased vehicles and were turned down. Some blame the death of the EV1 electric car on big oil and the American government, and state that there was actually a high demand for this vehicle.
Posted on January 14th under Clean Burning Fuel Engines, Expert Advice.


The Museum offers guided tours of the permanent exhibition in the Department of Private Collections (in Russian). Foreign visitors can ask for assistance in the Guided Tours Office situated in the main building of the Pushkin Museum of Fine Arts.
The guided tours introduce visitors to the private collections received from donors since the 1980s. At the present time the collection in this Department consists of over 7,000 works of Russian and West-European art from the 15th-20th centuries. These include paintings, drawings, sculpture, applied art and art-photographs. The collections differ from each other as regards both their themes and structure. They are divided up on the basis of the types of art they consist of and they include some collections of art with a single focus and others based on a common theme.
For individual visitors the Museum offers subscriptions for series of guided tours entitled "Conversations on Art in the galleries of the Pushkin State Museum of Fine Arts". Sessions are arranged in the galleries of the Department of Private Collections on Thursday evenings at 19:00.
The dates for the sessions, which are repeated at various intervals, are included on the subscription forms.
Still lifes in Russian art in the 19th-20th centuries.
The sessions are held in the galleries of the Department of Private Collections (at 10, Volkhonka Street).
The Museum organizes guided tours of the temporary collections held in the Department of Private Collections and detailed information on these can be obtained in the Guided Tours Office in the main building.
Additional information can be obtained from the manager in charge of the building where the Department of Private Collections is housed: Tel. No. +7 (495) 697-16-10.


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Home > About Jean Pickering
Jean Catherine Desforges Pickering
July 4th, 1929 – March 25th 2013
Jean Pickering passed away peacefully on March 25th, 2013 at the age of 83.
Jean had been struggling with her health for the past few years, but had set herself a goal of staying around long enough to be there at the London 2012 Olympic Games in her home town of Stratford. She was there to witness "Super Saturday" and to watch so many of the athletes that we had supported through the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund over the previous 21 years since Ron's passing.
She had worked tirelessly to keep Ron's ideals and name alive through the Fund and what it stood for and was so proud of all the athletes that it had helped. The Fund shall continue now in honour of both Ron and Jean, and the huge contribution that they had both made to the Sport of Athletics throughout their lives.
She will be missed by so many people whose lives she touched.
Jean being awarded the Freedom of the City of London by Lady Victoria Leatham.
Biography of Jean Pickering, (née Desforges):
Competitive years:
1947 First competed for GB v. France,
Missed 1948 Olympics through illness.
1950 Commonwealth Games, Auckland – Hurdles & Long Jump
1950 European Championships – Gold 4 x 100m Relay, 5th Hurdles
1952 Olympic Games – 5th Hurdles, Bronze medal 4 x 100m Relay.
1954 Commonwealth Games, Vancouver – bronze Hurdles & LJ
1954 European Championships – Gold Long Jump
During career, Jean was British Champion at 80m Hurdles (5), Long Jump (2) and Pentathlon (2) and Women's team captain in 1953 and 1954. Only British athlete so far to win a European Gold medal on the track and in the field.
In 1954, married Ron Pickering who at that time was a P.E. teacher at StratfordGrammar School where they had first met as pupils. This effectively ended Jean's competitive career but as Ron progressed from teacher to National Athletics Coach for Wales, coaching Lynn Davies to an Olympic Gold Medal, and then as a BBC Sports Commentator, their lives were inextricably linked with athletics and its many competitors not only from Britain but from around the world. Ron was awarded the OBE in 1986 for Services to Athletics.
After his untimely death in 1991, Ron's voice was missed within the sport but it gave a platform for Jean to set up a charity in his memory. Twenty-one years later thanks to money raised mainly on the London Marathon each year, his Memorial Fund has supported thousands of talented young athletes, some of their coaches, athletic clubs and associations at grass roots level. Many young athletes have gained international selection and some have gone on to win Olympic and World Championship medals. The Ron Pickering Memorial Fund has given out over £1.3 Million in grants so far and nowadays the athletes supported make up over 75% of GB Track & Field teams. Jean was awarded the MBE in 2010 for Services to Athletics and the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund.
With the 2012 Olympic Games awarded to the East End of London, Ron and Jean's lives have come full circle. Only a mile away from where Jean learned to hurdle in a school corridor through a lack of sports facilities at StratfordGrammar School, the youth of the country will now inherit an Olympic Park that will inspire them and help them to realise their own sporting dreams.
Jean with Fanny Blankers Koen, Helsinki 1952.
Jean was awarded the MBE for services to sport
She was able to take her Grandchildren with her to Buckingham Palace
Jean was inducted into the England Athletics Hall of Fame in 2010
Tributes to Jean Pickering
Ian Hodge (RPMF Trustee)
Jean seemed virtually indestructible and I always felt she would be able to keep going– it is so pleasing that when the time came it was at home…. And, post 2012, she got the chance to see those home games which was a massive goal for her.
For my part I have never come across anyone who has matched her commitment to help out athletes– regardless of ability– and so humble when doing it too…As the years have passed I might even say she has had a bigger impact on the Sport than even Ron.
Robbie Grabarz
Very sad news to hear Jean Pickering passed away, without her help my Olympic and European medals would not have been possible.
Jason Gardener
Many of the sports heroes have been very fortunate to have benefited from the Ron Pickering Memorial Fund, including me, and that support played a fundamental contribution in helping kick start my career at the junior GB age group. I will always be thankful for the support and have huge admiration of Jean's relentless drive and determination to give the next generation a chance to shine! I have no doubt that Ron and Jean's legacy will continue to help the next generation!
Jenny Meadows
A wonderful lady. I am grateful for her efforts and the help she provided me with through the fund.
Geoff Capes
She was a wonderful lady and she will be sadly missed by many and especially the young athletes her life touched on a personal level, and through the Ron Pickering trust. Her legacy I am sure will go on and she will be remembered in a happy way.
I just want to say how sorry I am to hear about Jean and how it has been a privileged to be recognised by her from such a young age and supported by her my whole career. Jean has always been and will always be the mother of British Athletics and she was an inspiration, staying so passionate through the highs and lows, I can't image how proud you are to have a mum like that.
George Bunner
It is with great sadness that we have received the news of your mother's death. To us she was a very precious person and all her friends at Sportshall will feel a great loss. She had been our President for 22 years maintaining the Pickering connection from our beginnings in 1976.
Her untiring service to our sport was outstanding, she was loved by everyone and we are all very proud of the huge contribution she has given to athletics with such passion and devotion.
Kelly Sotherton
I'm just 1 of many athletes who Jean Pickering influenced/helped as a young athlete.
She also made amazing apple turnovers! RIPJeanPickering
Alasdair Donaldson
Our sport has been blessed to have someone driven to help so many young athletes meet their personal aspirations. RIP Jean
Greg Rutherford
Incredibly sad news that Jean Pickering has passed away. A wonderful woman who did so much for Track and Field. She will be greatly missed
She was like Ron, a remarkable individual, who touched and changed so many lives with her selfless dedication to young peoples' lives through Ron's memorial fund.
The Youth Charter celebrates its Twentieth anniversary this year. Jeans early conversations with me, many years ago, greatly helped the agency develop, when detractors saw it only as pipe dream .
Vince Wilson (First ever RPMF Grant recipient)
As I was the very first grant recipient and living proof of how through Ron and Jeans ideals of how sport can give you opportunities in life I am blessed to have met both of them. Fortunately I had a good catch up with Jean earlier this month for a good half hour phone chat putting the world to rights and her still telling me how proud she is of me with my new venture. She will be sadly missed!
Goldie Sayers
So sad to hear about the passing of Jean Pickering. An inspiration in the greatest sense of the word. An absolute hero!How about every athlete who has been helped by RPMF pay back what they were awarded to help the next generation? She'd love it.
Anthony Soalla-Bell
From me personally, and on behalf of London Schools Athletic Association, I would like to say RIP Jean, and thank you.
Michele Verroken
My deepest sympathies for your loss, and sincere regret for the loss of a stalwart who believed strongly in fair play. I am truly saddened to learn of the death of your mother, however you can be rightfully proud that you have the sort of parents many would envy, with such respected views and commitment to athletes who themselves are prepared to apply themselves to sport.
Chuka Eni
RIP Jean, amazing woman. Will never forget you helping me buy my first high jump spikes. Thank you.
Adele Nicoll
I feel Privileged to have met such an amazing and inspirational woman. I'd like to thank this fund for supporting myself and thousands of other athletes and I am extremely grateful. R.I.P Jean Pickering
Joyce Petersons
What a great soul she has, always open, friendly and with an infectious sense of humour. Fond memories we keep in our hearts…1976 we had just come out of Saudi Arabia with 2 year old Corey and 9year old Marni. Pete had gone on to Montreal and darling Jean opened your home to us. That bonded our friendship for the many years that followed. My last trip over was in 2010…we watched BBC shows together, walked the little village, dined with Kim and her great family, and quietly anticipated a "nice little dinner" that Shaun had planned for her 80th birthday. I had to leave that very day to meet my performing choir in Vienna. How I wished I could have stayed for the big surprise evening Shaun had planned! She was so surprised! It was a highlight of her life! She made the world a better place for so many people.
I will always remember Jean smiling as she always found time with me to have a chat and the same for everyone else. I have fond memories of tea and cake at your house as a teenager and it was all those times that helped me become the person I am today. Jean was a wonderful person and athlete in her time and her great commitment to help young people in athletics with the Ron Pickering Fund was second to none as she had a vision to help others which was honest and hard working toward the sport.
Jo Mersh
Jean was my hero and I loved her because she always made me feel special and had time for me always.. I will really miss her and the sport will miss her because she really really cared. I will never forget her kindness and her smile. She meant a lot to me.
Tudor Bidder
To many, your mum was a saint and I would count myself as one of those. Your Dad was one of the most supportive people that I have ever met, in fact probably will ever meet and alongside every good man is an even greater woman – your mum, for undoubtedly she cared dearly for people and it showed in all the time that she spent trying to help. It was those little touches that I will remember her for. Those little messages and smiles that meant so much at the time and forever.
Jack Green
Absolutely devastated to hear of Jean's passing. What a fantastic woman, I'm so glad I got to be one of the athletes she supported.
Stan Greenberg
Carole and I were so sorry to hear of Jean's passing. In particular I have known her for a long time – I used to kid Ron that I probably knew her before he did, as I trained at Victoria Park alongside her in the late 40s, early 50s. Happily I was in Helsinki in 1952 to cheer her Olympic relay bronze, and then in Berne in 1954 to watch her long jump victory. She was a lovely lady and will be greatly missed.
A firm memory is when she and your dad so kindly invited us round for the evening when they heard that Carole was so upset by her mother's death in 1976. Unfortunately that was the evening when Ross McWhirter was assassinated by the IRA, and Ron was besieged by the media for comments. They both will remain in our hearts for as long as we are allowed.
Samantha Toomey Ballard
Yesterday we lost the Godmother of British Athletics, Jean Pickering. She was the kindest and most genuine person and my mum's closest friend. We were so fortunate to have stayed with her for the 2012 Summer Olympics, and that we were able …to share Super Saturday together at Olympic Stadium
Donna Fraser
My heart goes out for the sad loss of Jean… She and Ron touched and supported so many people like myself and we are truly grateful. I was always honoured to be in the presence of Jean – her genuine warmth and passion for athletics always shone through. Both Jean and Ron will always remain in my heart and mind!
Kerrie Day
She was an amazing lady, she was like a mum to me when I was growing up, she taught me how to cook and how to knit! Essential life skills! She'll never be forgotten.
Jeremy Tigar
RIP Jean Pickering. You will always be remembered as The Godmother of our Sport. What a truly remarkable woman you have always been and your love and unswerving enthusiasm for the welfare and well being of our youngsters will always shine strong.
The RPMF supported me so much when I was a young athlete and continues to support the athletes that I now coach!
Jon Mulkeen
Few people have made such a huge difference to the sport in this country as Jean did. It's only fitting that she was there to witness the London 2012 Olympics, having helped so many of the home successes at the Games.
Marika Reed
The many, many hours of joy that the Pickering fund enabled me to have as a youngster by helping to fund me participate and train in the wonderful sport of athletics, will never be forgotten. Many, many thanks to the Pickering's for their wonderful work; I hope and plan to spread the wonderful enjoyment of life that the Pickering fund helped me to find.


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Dancing With the Stars elimination comes down to tie-breaking vote in week 2
Calie Schepp
September 26, 2022, 11:42 PM ·3 min read
Thank ya, thank ya very much... it's Elvis week on Dancing With the Stars!
The celebs were having a little less conversation and a little more action this week, showing that hard work pays off in higher scores.
The couples celebrated the King of Rock through the three distinct eras in Elvis Presley's career; young Elvis era, Hollywood era, and Las Vegas residency era. And everyone was decked out in their best Elvis gear, sporting blingy lapels and boot cut pants. Best Elvis' of the night went to Jessie James Decker's adorable son Forrest, the gold disco ball Elvis on the scoreboard, and Wayne Brady because he bravely danced a jive in a full leather suit. Honorable mention goes to every pro that was forced to wear a bad Elvis wig.
Fitness model Joseph Baena's partner Daniella Karagach Pashkova tested positive for COVID-19 overnight. While she is asymptomatic, she was of course unable to perform with Baena, so in stepped troupe member Alexis Warr to the rescue. Warr learned the entire Viennese waltz routine just today and she and a masked-up Baena earned a 24 out of 40.
Tons of stars made huge strides in the score department, improving from the premiere episode last week. Decker with a foxtrot, as well as Jordin Sparks with a quickstep and Trevor Donovan with a rumba all improved after putting in that extra work. Selma Blair stunned the audience with a cartwheel and a split mid dance! But the MVP, moving from last place in week one to the middle of the pack with a 10-point improvement this week was Jersey Shore star Vinny Guadagnino. His energetic quickstep to "Viva Las Vegas" inspired Carrie Ann Inaba to coin the phrase "Viva Las Vinny." Len Goodman agreed, telling Guadagnino, "Just like a Las Vegas gambler, you went all in and it paid off."
Three stars tied for first place, with Gabby Windey, Wayne Brady, and Charli D'Amelio all receiving a 32 out of 40. Windey gave a wistful and romantic Viennese waltz performance to "Can't Help Falling in Love", finishing with a kiss from her new fiancé Erich Schwer on stage. Brady gave it his all in a jive to "Burning Love" and of course D'Amelio killed her quickstep to "Bossa Nova Baby" which partner Mark Ballas infused with some Latin flair.
"Practice doesn't make perfect, practice makes progress," judge Derek Hough advised during tonight's episode. But even after The Real Housewives of New Jersey star Teresa Giudice showed a bit of progress this week, her and her partner Pasha Pashkov were eliminated.
Dancing With the Stars Teresa Giudice
Christopher Willard/ABC Teresa Giudice was the second celebrity out of 'Dancing With the Stars.'
The judges were split down the middle with Hough and Bruno Tonioli voting to keep Giudice in the competition. But even though they made multiple mistakes in their routine, Inaba vouched for Cheryl Ladd and Louis Van Amstel because she said she felt responsible for pushing them to do a harder routine this week. Goodman followed suit and broke the tie with his title as head judge.
Next week, there's no time to die, the couples will be honoring 60 years of James Bond!
Dancing With the Stars season 31 — hosted by Tyra Banks and Alfonso Ribeiro — continues Mondays on Disney+ live at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Dancing With the Stars premiere recap: A night of half-measures
What the Disney+ move means for season 31 of Dancing With the Stars
Dancing With the Stars reveals its cast of celebrities for season 31


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Q: ASP.NET CORE MVC IDENTITY How to change url of defualt log in page? I have authentification using Identity.
But if I use [Authorize] atribute, I`m redirected to
localhost:7174/Identity/Account/Login?ReturnUrl=%2FUser%2FUser while I don't have such page. How to change this url? I didn't find any methods or properties that can change that.
Also, I added that Identity pages with Scaffold. But even now it said that it's impossible to reach such page. What should I better do?
I don't know what could be usefull for you, so here is my program.cs
using DreamWeb.Models;
using Microsoft.AspNetCore.Identity;
using Microsoft.EntityFrameworkCore;

var builder = WebApplication.CreateBuilder(args);

builder.Services.AddMvc();
builder.Services.AddControllersWithViews();
builder.Services.AddScoped<IUserService, UserService>();
builder.Services.AddDbContext<DreamsContext>(options =>
    options.UseSqlServer("server = SCAT\\SQLEXPRESS; database = dreams_web; Trusted_Connection=True ; MultipleActiveResultSets = true"));
builder.Services.AddDefaultIdentity<UserAccount>(options => options.SignIn.RequireConfirmedAccount = true)
    .AddEntityFrameworkStores<DreamsContext>();
builder.Services.AddAuthentication().AddCookie();

builder.Services.Configure<IdentityOptions>(options =>
{
    options.SignIn.RequireConfirmedPhoneNumber = false;
    options.SignIn.RequireConfirmedEmail = false;
    options.SignIn.RequireConfirmedAccount = false;

    options.Password.RequireUppercase = false;
    options.Password.RequireDigit = false;
    options.Password.RequiredLength = 1;
    options.Password.RequireLowercase = false;
    options.Password.RequireNonAlphanumeric = false;
});

var app = builder.Build();

if (!app.Environment.IsDevelopment())
{
    app.UseExceptionHandler("/Home/Error");
    app.UseHsts();
}

app.UseHttpsRedirection();
app.UseStaticFiles();

app.UseRouting();

app.UseAuthorization();

app.MapControllerRoute(
    name: "default",
    pattern: "{controller=Home}/{action=Index}/{id?}");

app.Run();

A: If you look here in the documentation there seems to be an option you can pass in on startup that allows you to set that url names "loginUrl"

UserInteraction
LoginUrl, LogoutUrl, ConsentUrl, ErrorUrl, DeviceVerificationUrl
Sets the URLs for the login, logout, consent, error and device verification pages.

so reasonably you should be able to do
public void ConfigureServices(IServiceCollection services)
{
    ...
    var builder = services.AddIdentityServer(
      options =>
        {
            ...
            options.loginUrl = "myLoginUrl"
        }
    );
    ...
}

A: About changing default login path.
The best way I've found is changing it with CookieAuthenticationOptions in my program.cs:
builder.Services.PostConfigure<CookieAuthenticationOptions>(IdentityConstants.ApplicationScheme, options =>
{
    options.LoginPath = "/SignIn";
});

Attempts to change it in other way (with identity server) had no success.
This helped me:Setting login path within ASP.NET Core 2.2 MVC and Identity.
As for second question (about Identity scaffolded pages, that cant be reached), I was missing this in my program.cs:
app.MapRazorFiles();

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Scotland's Oldest Bridges.
A map-based catalogue of the oldest masonry bridges in Scotland.
This website, itself, issues no cookies . It does not request any information about website users and it retains no data. There is no advertising on the website and there is no financial gain.
An email to the author may be viewed as a personal communication. ( details in Contact Section)
However, in order to have some feedback on usage and popularity, Google Analytics is reluctantly employed. The appropriate box has been 'ticked' to exclude any personalisation of the data that they collect, which normally does include cookies. Please see adjacent panel.
On addition, the maps in map-catalogues are embedded in the website by Ordnance Survey. They tell me that 'essential cookies' are issued by them to distinguish users by a random identifier, and to apply a throttle to the request rate.
Google Analytics is a web analysis service provided by Google. Google utilises the data collected to track and examine the use of this site, to prepare reports on its activities and share them with other Google services.
Google may use the data collected to contextualise and personalise the ads of its own advertising network.
Personal data collected: Cookie and Usage Data. Place of processing: USA. Find Google's privacy policy here.


text:
Gideon Mendel
Recognized as one of the world's leading contemporary photographers, Mendel's intimate style of image-making and long-term commitment to socially engaged projects has earned him international acclaim. Born in Johannesburg in 1959, he studied Psychology and African History at the University of Cape Town. He began photographing in the 1980s, during the final years of apartheid. It was this work as a "struggle photographer" that first brought his work to global attention.
In the early 1990s he moved to London, continuing to respond to global social issues, with a major focus on HIV/AIDS, particularly in Africa but expanding worldwide during the last twenty years. The concluding chapter, Through Positive Eyes, is a collaborative project where Mendel's role shifts from photographer to enabler, passing the camera to HIV-positive people.
Mendel has worked for many leading magazines, including National Geographic, Geo, and The Guardian Weekend Magazine. His first book, A Broken Landscape: HIV & AIDS in Africa, was published in 2001. Since then he has produced a number of photographic advocacy projects, working with prominent NGOs, including The Global Fund, Médecins Sans Frontières, Treatment Action Campaign, Action Aid, the Terrene Higgins Trust, UNICEF, Christian Aid, and Concern Worldwide.
Mendel's earliest work from South Africa was highlighted in the Rise and Fall of Apartheid touring exhibition, curated by Okwui Enwezor. His recent project, entitled Dzhangal, an'anti-photographic' response to the global refugee crisis was shown at Autograph in London and the book is published by GOSTBooks.
Since 2007, Mendel has been working on Drowning World, his long-term art and advocacy project about flooding that is a personal response to climate change. Solo shows of Drowning World have been shown at many galleries and public installations around the word, including Les Recontres de la Photographie in Arles. In 2018 Drowning World was exhibited in nine different venues around the world.
Amongst many accolades, Mendel has won the Eugene Smith Award for Humanistic Photography, six World Press Photo Awards, first prize in the Pictures of the Year competition, a POY Canon Photo Essayist Award, and the Amnesty International Media Award for Photojournalism. In 2015 he was shortlisted for the Prix Pictet Award (Disorder) for Drowning World. In 2016 he was the first recipient of The Pollock-Krasner Foundation's "Pollock Prize for Creativity" and also received the Jury Prize of the 2016 Greenpeace Photo Award.


It's no accident you just typed in a search term related to search engine optimization or SEM and and found us here in the Ranier search results – we used specific strategies and technical maneuvers to increase our visibility here in search engines.
Over 80% of consumers use search engines to find local businesses, and 90% of searchers never go past Page 1 of Google. Also, 94% of people will click on Organic Results rather than paid advertisements, and trust organic results more than ads which increases avg conversion rate. Without good SEO you are losing over 90% of all Ranier prospects searching online for the exact products and/or services your business provides.
SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is basically the process which gets your business to show up as the #1 result on Google (or other search engines) when someone searches for the products or services your business provides in Ranier. Our SEO agency knows the proper steps to get your website in the top Google results no matter the location or size of your business.
You can think of SEO as being one of those billboards you come across every day on the road to work in Ranier. If the banner promotes a discount in an apparels store, there is a high possibility that people looking out for new clothes will check that store out and eventually boost the business once the customers increase in number. SEO works similarly. People searching online for a specific topic or information will be interested in a company that keeps on getting displayed on their search page.
Consider how you search the internet, are you going to choose a restaurant in Ranier that is located on the first page or the fifth page? Always remember that businesses can't be successful without investments.
Several internet users today look up items using their mobile phone devices. Considering how convenient mobile devices are, it really should come as no surprise. Mobile search users tend to rely more on organic results than on advertisements. This is simply because of the fact that organic searches are totally tailored towards mobile user. Firms that appreciate the value of cellular devices should concentrate on SEO.
Local Ranier businesses are typically the ones who have the most to gain from SEO as they can gain so many recommendations from local customers. If you are afraid that SEO is a waste of time and money, consider how many people move into your city on a yearly basis, all looking for something.
Small businesses in Ranier find it hard to fight against their established competitors, as they lack the means and the power to do it. SEO is the number one way to compete with a much smaller budget. An old business may overlook the importance of SEO, thus giving small businesses a tremendous competitive edge and an opportunity to acquire clients. By using SEO it is allowing small businesses to not only get the small but find permanent customers.


A Deep Listening Workshop includes an introduction to Deep Listening® and its history, theory and practice. In the practical part we will work on exercises on energy, listening and movement as explained in the book Deep Listening: A Composer's Sound Practice by Pauline Oliveros, iUniverse, 2005. Processes and experiences during the exercises will be discussed as part of the workshop in larger as well as smaller groups. Sonic improvisations, textual notation and Deep Listening pieces by Pauline Oliveros and other certified Deep Listening composers, as well as pieces by participating composers, will be performed and discussed. The Workshop is tailored towards listening oriented people and participants can be both musicians and non-musicians. Produced by VoxLab.
Early registration recommended. Limited to 30 participants.
Register by sending an email to nordervalk@mac.com.
Price NOK 350/200 (members of VoxLab and nyMusikk).
Payment to VoxLab within the 9th of June is considered binding and cannot be refunded.
VoxLab can offer new members a reduced membership fee (NOK 150) on registration for the workshop (normal price NOK 200). If you wish to take advantage of this offer, please state so in your registration e-mail.


text:
Jure imperii è un concetto proprio del diritto internazionale secondo cui uno Stato gode, solitamente, dell'immunità dalla giurisdizione di qualsiasi altro Stato.

Tuttavia, alcune fonti giurisprudenziali italo-belghe hanno avanzato una teoria più restrittiva che inquadrerebbe la divisione degli atti che uno Stato compie in atti jure imperii e atti jure gestionis, facendo ricadere un'immunità "ristretta" soltanto sugli atti che lo Stato compie nello svolgimento delle sue funzioni (pubbliche), ossia gli atti jure imperii.

Note

Bibliografia

Diritto internazionale

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Kobe beef in Canada isn't what you think it is
By Tony WongTelevision Critic
Fri., April 27, 2012timer4 min. read
Seiko Ishiguro hates to break the news to Canadian diners who are looking for famed and pricey Kobe beef: If you're eating it in Canada, it's not Kobe beef.
"They're always so disappointed, but I end up having to explain that to someone at least once a day," says Ishiguro, owner of Famu, which bills itself as the only Japanese butcher in the Toronto area.
Real Kobe beef comes from Hyogo prefecture where it is trademarked in Japan. Kobe is the capital of this region. The connection is similar to the fact that real Champagne comes from the French region that bears its name, whereas bubbly from other parts of the world is referred to as sparkling wine.
But unlike Champagne, Kobe trademarks are rarely enforced. Canadian restaurants and butchers have freely used the term Kobe even though it has an entirely different meaning outside of Japan. And taste.
So, you guessed it. Those expensive Kobe beef sliders and hot dogs you thought you were eating are not the real deal.
Kobe beef comes from a specific breed of cattle that have a pure genetic lineage. Estimates have put that number at a mere 3,000 head of cattle, which accounts for the high price. A small steak could start at several hundred dollars in Japan for the best cut.
"Real Kobe beef is intensely fat and will melt in your mouth," says Ishiguro. "It is really flavourful."
In restaurants and butcher shops across Toronto, Kobe is used as something of a short hand to denote top quality beef. The only way you could likely have gotten Kobe is if someone smuggled it from Japan, or if you eat it in Macau, China, where it has been exported to last year.
Japanese beef has not been readily available in North America since an outbreak of foot and mouth disease in some of Japan's cattle two years ago. Prior to that, Wagyu beef was available in Canada (it means "Japanese cow," of which Kobe is the most famous), but Kobe beef hasn't been easy to get a hold of because Hyogo slaughter houses don't export to North America.
That doesn't stop many Toronto restaurants from using the Kobe designation on their menus.
Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment, for example, has "Kobe beef" hotdogs at Burkies Dog House in the Air Canada Centre and "Kobe meatball" appetizers at their upscale e11even restaurant.
Robert Bartley, the executive chef and senior director of culinary for MLSE, says he doesn't think restaurants are being deceptive when they use the Kobe term.
"It's a term that's recognized throughout the world to associate with a style of cattle. It's almost become a generic term for top quality Japanese beef," says Bartley, who is in charge of thousands of meals each week for everyone from sports fans to highly paid hockey players.
During a visit to Japan last summer, Bartley says he sampled some of the best Kobe available. "I've never tasted a better steak in my life. And I can still taste that steak in my mind."
He says he buys his beef from top quality suppliers in North America and Australia to ensure customers get the best food experience.
Many suppliers sell North American or Australian bred Wagyu beef. This is beef typically borne from Japanese cows, but may have been crossbred with other cows like Angus. While still more heavily marbled than standard beef, it is not Kobe.
"Kobe beef is associated with the finest quality beef from Wagyu cattle raised in the Kobe district in Japan," says Guy Gravelle, a spokesperson with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) . "The term should not be used unless the product conforms to the origin and traditional production and quality characteristics that this product is known for."
He says meat products produced from Wagyu or Angus cattle cross breeds should be referred to as "Kobe-style" beef, and that's only if the "animal husbandry protocols" used by the manufacturer are consistent with that of traditional Japanese Kobe cattle.
While Japanese beef is currently not permitted for import to Canada, the CFIA is currently negotiating new import requirements, says Gravelle.
A spokesperson for the Canadian Restaurant and Foodservices Association, the industry group that represents restaurants, was not available for comment on the issue.
For now, Canadians have to make do with Wagyu bred outside of Japan. It is much more expensive than regular beef.
Famu sells tenderloin at $20 for 100 grams for example. That means a small 170-gram steak (6 ounces) would cost $34 at the butcher before fixings.
A Wagyu beef hotdog at Stock, the new restaurant at the Trump International Hotel & Tower, will set you back $26 before taxes and tip.
At Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse, a 10-ounce cut of Australian Wagyu beef will cost $110. (That's not including the optional stuffed baked potato with Wagyu brisket on the side at $15 or mushrooms for $14.)
Back to Ishiguro, the Japanese butcher says she gets her meat from a small-scale Japanese farmer who has bred Wagyu beef in Japan. She is philosophical when it comes to throwing around the name Kobe.


Montréal, Canada and New York, United States, March 13, 2018 – The Public Sector Pension Investment Board ("PSP Investments") and American Securities LLC announced today a significant equity investment in Learning Care Group (US) Inc. ("Learning Care Group") by PSP Investments. American Securities first partnered with Learning Care Group in 2014 and remains the controlling shareholder.
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer LLP acted as legal advisor, and Morgan Stanley and BMO acted as financial advisors to Learning Care Group. PSP Investments' advisors were Barclays (financial) and Sidley Austin LLP (legal).
Based in New York with an office in Shanghai, American Securities is a leading U.S. private equity firm that invests in market-leading North American companies with annual revenues generally ranging from $200 million to $2 billion and/or $50 million to $250 million of EBITDA. American Securities and its affiliates have approximately $23 billion of cumulative committed capital under management.
The Public Sector Pension Investment Board (PSP Investments) is one of Canada's largest pension investment managers with $139.2 billion of net assets under management as of September 30, 2017. It manages a diversified global portfolio composed of investments in public financial markets, private equity, real estate, infrastructure, natural resources and private debt. Established in 1999, PSP Investments manages net contributions to the pension funds of the federal Public Service, the Canadian Forces, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the Reserve Force. Headquartered in Ottawa, PSP Investments has its principal business office in Montréal and offices in New York and London. For more information, visit investpsp.com or follow us on Twitter @InvestPSP.


Masami Maeda, MD, Yuji Nishizawa, PhD, Takayuki Fujii, MD, Akihiro Kondo, MD, Masao Fujiwara, PhD, Keiichi Okano, PhD, Yasuyuki Suzuki, PhD. Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Kagawa University, Japan.
Some minimally invasive techniques have been introduced in order to decrease morbidities related to standard laparoscopic procedures. Meanwhile, recent advances in small bowel endoscopy have facilitated the accurate diagnosis of small bowel diseases. We herein report a case that underwent single-incision laparoscopic surgery (SILS) for ileal lipoma after marking of the lesion site by double-balloon endoscopy (DBE).
A 69-year-old man underwent esophagogastroduodenoscopy and colonoscopy for melena, but no causative lesion could be identified. We then performed videocapsule endoscopy (VCE), which revealed a submucosal tumor in the small bowel. Subsequently, DBE showed a submucosal tumor (4-cm in diameter) at the ileum, and an ink mark was placed near the tumor. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed a poorly enhanced tumor (36mm×15mm) in the ileum. PET/CT scan was performed, but no abnormal radioactivity was detected. To eliminate the substantial risk of intussusception caused by the tumor, we performed partial resection of the ileum using the SILS approach. In this case, the tumor site was easily detectable in an aid of the marking visible through the serosa and partial ileal resection was completed extraabdominally through the single incision. The histopathological diagnosis was lipoma of the ileum.
We were able to perform less invasive surgery by preoperative marking of the lesion site with VCE and DBE.


text:
Weretā Tainui Pītama (1881 – 5 April 1930) was a New Zealand farmer, land claimant and trust board chairman. Of Māori descent, he identified with the Ngāi Tahu iwi. He was born in Rāpaki, North Canterbury, New Zealand, in 1881.

He stood as an independent candidate in the  for the Southern Maori electorate.

References

1881 births
1930 deaths
Ngāi Tahu people
People from Banks Peninsula
New Zealand Māori farmers
Māori politicians


text:
Albert Nelson Marquis - Our founder, Albert Nelson Marquis is born on January 10, 1855 in Brown County, Southern Ohio. Orphaned as a child and raised by his maternal grandparents, he worked at his grandfather's general store as a boy, and after his grandfather died, he managed the store from age 18 to age 21. He then moved to Cincinnati, where he then found the publishing company.
Who's Who in America's First Edition Published
The first edition of Who's Who in America gets published in June 1899. It contains the biographies of 8,602 people whose achievements and contributions make them subjects of widespread interest and inquiry.
Who's Who in America's Celebrates its Golden Anniversary
Among the luminaries in attendance are the first American in space, astronaut Alan Shepard, Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, and American diplomat and businessman Walter Annenberg.
1958 – Who's Who of American Women Debuts
In December 1958 Marquis Who's Who announces the publication of the 1st edition of Who's Who of American Women.
The directory contains 20,000 women of stature in numerous fields, ranging from education to business to the arts and communication. Some of the women selected for Who's Who of American Women are also in Who's Who in America.
The Lighter Side of Marquis Who's Who
Spanning several decades, here is a small collection of popular comic strips depicting Who's Who in America."
VIEW COMIC STRIPS
2018 — More New Products!
2016 — The Platinum 70th Anniversary edition of Who's Who in America is published in March.
2006 — Who's Who in America is a category on the game show Jeopardy!
2005 — A Banner Year at Marquis Who's Who
2003 — News Communications Inc. purchases Marquis Who's Who from Reed Elsevier
2002 — Marquis Who's Who Goes Online
2000 — Who's Who in America chosen as part of the White House's Millennium Time Capsule
1995 — Who's Who in America Celebrates Its Golden Anniversary
Marquis Who's Who
100 Connell Drive, Suite 2300, Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
Twitter Facebook Dribbble Youtube Pinterest Medium
1850 -- 1899
Marquis Network
Marquis Luxury
Marquis Milestones
MarquisWho'sWho. All rights reserved.


What Does the Bible Say About Having Other Beliefs?
You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you.
I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you believe that I am he you will die in your sins." So they said to him, "Who are you?" Jesus said to them, "Just what I have been telling you from the beginning.
Let your fountain be blessed, and rejoice in the wife of your youth, a lovely deer, a graceful doe. Let her breasts fill you at all times with delight; be intoxicated always in her love. Why should you be intoxicated, my son, with a forbidden woman and embrace the bosom of an adulteress? For a man's ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.


KUALA LUMPUR (Reuters) - World champion Marc Marquez steered his Honda onto pole position for the penultimate round of the MotoGP championship in a rain-delayed qualifying session for the Malaysian Grand Prix on Saturday.
Marquez was unable to improve on his time because of a late tumble but was still too quick for Yamaha's French rider Johann Zarco (2.12.709) and seven-times world champion Valentino Rossi (2.13.009) who will join him on the front row.
Yamaha's Rossi is 15 points behind Ducati's Andrea Dovizioso in the race to finish second in the championship and his fellow Italian was another of the riders to crash on Saturday, keeping him on the second row of the grid in fifth place.
Jorge Lorenzo, who rode through the pain in Friday's practice sessions, is another Spaniard who miss the race after withdrawing on Saturday morning.
Because of the potential for more rain, Sunday's programme has been brought forward by two hours with the MotoGP race now starting at 1pm local time (0500 GMT).


Of course, you are always welcome to pickup your puppy in person, at our home in Thompsontown, Pa, 17094 and this is the option we recommend. Currently we can not ship any puppies, sorry for the inconvience but we can deliver to your residence and the price will reflect distanced traveled.
647 Locust Run Road Thompsontown, PA 17094. By appointment please!


In some cases specific locale data is offered with an import, while in others general regional data is provided. The hobby uses these names to distinguish between different tinctorious morphs which allows us to maintain representative phenotypes from the different populations that have been imported over the years. Our objective is to maintain a healthy captive population that closely resembles their wild counterparts.
These population identifiers have been curated in the hobby for decades. Periodically a hobbyist or breeder decides to hybridize animals from different locales to create a different color pattern. Be careful when purchasing hybrids – they may make a fine pet for you, but if you intend to participate in the hobby more seriously, avoid animals of suspect origin. This is akin to purchasing animals from the "mixed African cichlids" tanks at large scale pet shops. You cannot visually sort animals and link them back to a population, so take care in selecting a breeder when making a purchase. Also note these animals can live for 25+ years. Based on typical hobby patterns, most people leave the hobby after 1 to 2 years, so you will likely have to re-home your animal. Purchasing hybrids will make rehoming far more difficult. This page describes tinctorious collection points, coloration and size variance in more detail.
There are over 45 known tinctorius morphs that vary by size and color depending on their collection point. Martin Haberkern maintains the most comprehensive morph guide I have found. Using this morph guide augmented with other sources of population data, I have built out an interactive Dendrobates tinctorius locale map.
So we have a geograhic distribution roughly equivalent to an area the size of California, with multiple rivers cutting through the region, as well as savannas and island forests, that separate a variety of D. tinctorius morphs from each other. These D. tinctorius populations vary in size from 25 mm to 75 mm, depending on their collection point. Their colors vary widely, again depending on the collection point. The photos I presented at the top of this page are examples of the extreme variability you will see across their range.
Dendrobates tinctorius 'Bakhuis' is a dwarf population from the Bakhuis Mountains in western Suriname. They reach a maximum SVL of about 35 mm.
Dendrobates tinctorius 'Lorenzo' is another dwarf population purportedly from northeastern Brazil in Sao Lorenco in the State of Amapa. This is a black bodied morph with dark blue reticulation and a yellow crest (larger on males than females). Their max SVL is also in the 35 mm range.
Dendrobates tinctorius 'Azureus' is one of the more famous populations. It is a medium sized population reaching 50 mm SVL from the Sipaliwini Savannah in southern Suriname. They are limited to a series of island forests within the Savannah. Their base blue coloration is broken by a highly variable pattern of black dots – coverage varies widely from animal to animal.
Dendrobates tinctorius 'Robertus' is a large bodied population from southern Suriname, achieving a max SVL of 60 mm. This is a highly variable population, ranging from solid blue animals to "high yellow". Most animals in the hobby are characterized by yellow heads and yellow bellies.
This is a sampling of the variability of sizes and colors of just 4 of the 45+ known populations. There are many theories on what drives this variability, which I'll cover in the next section.
You may encounter animals that have been intentionally crossed, mistakenly crossed, or you just may not know. Unless the breeder you are working with has maintained records of the source of their animals and how they have paired their breeding pairs or groups, you cannot trace the lineage of your animals.
If you intend to breed and pass offspring on to other keepers, you have to be aware of your lineages and pass them along with your frogs.
If you are just keeping a frog for fun (and you realize your frog may live for 25+ years) then buy from the "mixed" tank. Realize though, a hybrid is not "worth" as much as an animal with lineage data. You should not be paying more than $10 for this animal, as you will be housing it for it's lifespan, and you will have little recourse for rehoming, as you will not be able to resell it within the existing hobby without lineage data.


The Sofa Shop offers an excellent range of accessories to complement your sofa, modular, chaise or recliner suite. Items like cushions and rugs can add warmth and colour and are an easy way of changing the complete feel of your room.
We have more than 50 cushion designs and 80 rugs in stock and they change regularly. We offer a full range of styles – modern or traditional – bright or monotone – patterned or plain, so whether you want to keep up with the latest trends or prefer something more traditional, we are sure to have something to suit your needs.
You'll also find a range of sophisticated coffee tables and side tables, as well as table and floor lamps, which can enhance your living space. We also have a great selection of accent chairs and ottomans as well as entertainment units and dining suites, and of course there's lots more in store.
We stock a great range of quality framed prints and canvases to perfectly complement your new furniture. We also have a range of textured artwork, some that include shells and beads, that can add another level of interest to your walls. Constant new arrivals means there's always something new to see.
*All stock subject to change.


text:
define(function()
{
    "use strict";
    var DematStatus =
    {
        MATERIALISED: "materialised",
        DEMATERIALISING: "dematerialising",
        DEMATERIALISED: "dematerialised",
        MATERIALISING: "materialising",

        properties:
        {
            "materialised":
            {
                name: "Materialised",
                value: "materialised",
            },
            "dematerialising":
            {
                name: "Dematerialising",
                value: "dematerialising",
            },
            "dematerialised":
            {
                name: "Dematerialised",
                value: "dematerialised",
            },
            "materialising":
            {
                name: "Materialising",
                value: "materialising",
            },
        },

        values: function()
        {
            return Object.getOwnPropertyNames(DematStatus.properties);
        },
    };

    if (Object.freeze)
    {
        Object.freeze(DematStatus);
    }

    return DematStatus;
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: JPQL query in Spring data jpa Lets say we have :
class Range {
  public long start;
  public long end;
}

This JPA entity:
@Entity
@Table(name="entry")
public class Entry {
  @Id
  long id;

  @OneToMany
  Set<Individual> individuals;
}

another JPA entity:
@Entity
@Table(name="individual")
public class Individual {
  @Id
  long id;

  long code;

  @ManyToOne
  Entry entry;
}

and a controller:
public class IndexedEntryController {
  EntityManagerFactory emf;

  List<Entry> find(List<Range> lst) {
    String str = "";

    for(Range r:lst) {
      if(!str.isEmpty) {
        str += " or ";
      }
      str += "(i.code between " + r.start + " and " + r.end + ")";
    }

    String query = "Select i.entry from Individual i where " + str + " group by i.entry having count(i) > " + lst.size()-1;
    EntityManager em = emf.createEntityManager();

    return em.createQuery(query).getResultList();
  }
}

This query returns all entries that have n-1 individuals with code between one of  specific ranges, where n is number of ranges.
I want to move to Spring JpaRepository. How can I implement this query with a JpaRepository?


text:
Q: Let $H=\{\beta \in S_5\mid\beta(1)=1\}$ and $K=\{\beta \in S_5\mid\beta(2)=2\}$. Prove that $H$ is isomorphic to $K$. Let $H=\{\beta \in S_5\mid\beta(1)=1\}$ and $K=\{\beta \in S_5\mid\beta(2)=2\}$. Prove that $H$ is isomorphic to $K$.
$H$ is the group of permutations fixing $1$ and $K$ is the group of permutations fixing $2$. I don't know how to write the isomorphism $\phi$.

A: It's not random that $H$ and $K$ are conjugated: they are the stabilizers of $1$ and $2$, respectively, under the transitive action of $S_5$ on $\{1,2,3,4,5\}$ (as a group of permutations).
Another approach: both $H$ and $K$ are symmetric groups of sets of $4$ elements (say $X$ and $Y$, respectively), and hence they are isomorphic under the map $\beta_{|X}\mapsto f\beta_{|X} f^{-1}$, for whatever bijection $f\colon X\to Y$.

A: Hint: $H$ is conjugated to $K$ by the transposition $(1,2)$.


Most lanes of northbound 5 Freeway reopened after big-rig crash By Ruben Vives, This post has been updated. See the note below for details.
Manson family killer Davis gets parole grant, but is not free yet By a Times Staff Writer, This post has been corrected, as indicated below.
$100,000 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award goes to Afaa Michael Weaver By Carolyn Kellogg, This post has been corrected. See the note below for details.
Obama, Ukrainian prime minister to meet for Crimea talks By Christi Parsons, This post has been corrected. See the note below for details.


Most popular apps preferred by lots of smartphone users often in app stores draw attention with their easy and fun usage apart from their features. The Mobile app design trends make it possible.
The design process of a mobile app also largely determine how an app can be successful when it reaches to users. Therefore, when it comes to the design of the mobile app, it is also possible to develop the success of the app. If you are planning to do different and successful businesses in mobile app area, you can make your mobile app reach more users by following mobile app designs and trends. Especially mobile app design trends will extremely help you.
So, what are the most popular mobile app designs? What can you gather for your app with these trends? Here are the mobile app design trends that will help your mobile app to be appreciated for its value.
Graphic designs are sometimes used in mobile apps. At least, it used to be for some mobile apps in the past. However, professional photos took the place of graphic drawings among the mobile app design trends. Real people in professional photos makes the user believe in the app and find the app as qualified and professional as the photos. At this point, you can use stock photos, and you can improve the user satisfaction with suitable photos for your mobile app.
Related post: How Do You Hire a Mobile App Developer?
Maybe you noticed that all the icons have started "rounded" in mobile apps and even in new screen layouts. This rounded layouts shaped as bubbles made icons suitable for the fingers and therefore touching. This mobile app design trend introduced by Google won recognition with its minimalist looking.
Thus, if you will start to design a mobile app, you can catch the trend by creating "rounded" command symbols in your mobile app.
Navigation has a critical place among the essential features of mobile apps. Therefore, mobile app needs to move with the user and catch the place as much as it catches the time. So, how will you design your navigation?
While choosing the navigation design that will significantly guide your users, firstly, you better consider it to be simple and easy. The complex array of the symbols, tabs covering the content and patterns as complex as them, may cause your user to have hard times which causes him not being able to use the app navigation system efficiently. In this case, transparent sliding backgrounds and rounded icons may help you.
Choosing a font suitable for the style of the mobile app may not be easy. Digital fonts such as Arial, Times New Roman which we come across in lots of areas are long gone. You need more modern and attractive alternatives for your mobile app.
You have more high-quality choices than before. However, using more than one of these choices may complicate your mobile app's layout/design. Thus, by imagining the least choice and simplest design you can choose your font.
Colors are another important feature in a mobile app, of course. Using soft and simple colors which don't strain eyes is crucial. As you can understand from here, one of the mobile app design trends is focusing on the pastel-shaded colors in the color scale. You can find a perfect color for your app among these pastel shades and make your users use your mobile app with ease and fun.
With mobile app design trends, you can make your mobile app popular among the users. For all these trends and features which will make your mobile app more useful and fun, meet with MobiRoller. By increasing the benefit that you want to serve your users via MobiRoller, you can win their trust and satisfaction. Create your mobile app as soon as possible.


"SiteBinder: an improved approach for comparing multiple protein struct" by David Sehnal, Radka Svobodová Vařeková et al.
SiteBinder: an improved approach for comparing multiple protein structural motifs.
Protein 3-D Structure, Protein Structural Motifs, Quaternion Algebra, Sequence Similarity, Software Tool, Structural Basis, Sugar Binding, User Friendly Interface, WEB Application, Zinc Finger, Zn Atoms.
There is a paramount need to develop new techniques and tools that will extract as much information as possible from the ever growing repository of protein 3D structures. We report here on the development of a software tool for the multiple superimposition of large sets of protein structural motifs. Our superimposition methodology performs a systematic search for the atom pairing that provides the best fit. During this search, the RMSD values for all chemically relevant pairings are calculated by quaternion algebra. The number of evaluated pairings is markedly decreased by using PDB annotations for atoms. This approach guarantees that the best fit will be found and can be applied even when sequence similarity is low or does not exist at all. We have implemented this methodology in the Web application SiteBinder, which is able to process up to thousands of protein structural motifs in a very short time, and which provides an intuitive and user-friendly interface. Our benchmarking analysis has shown the robustness, efficiency, and versatility of our methodology and its implementation by the successful superimposition of 1000 experimentally determined structures for each of 32 eukaryotic linear motifs. We also demonstrate the applicability of SiteBinder using three case studies. We first compared the structures of 61 PA-IIL sugar binding sites containing nine different sugars, and we found that the sugar binding sites of PA-IIL and its mutants have a conserved structure despite their binding different sugars. We then superimposed over 300 zinc finger central motifs and revealed that the molecular structure in the vicinity of the Zn atom is highly conserved. Finally, we superimposed 12 BH3 domains from pro-apoptotic proteins. Our findings come to support the hypothesis that there is a structural basis for the functional segregation of BH3-only proteins into activators and enablers.
Sehnal D, Vařeková RS, Huber HJ, Geidl S, Ionescu CM, Wimmerová M, Koča J. SiteBinder: an improved approach for comparing multiple protein structural motifs. Journal of ChemInformatics and Modeling. 2012;52(2):343-59.


text:
UFC's Joe Rogan Talks Straight About His Hair Transplant
Rogan declared war on his hair loss by hair transplant and has the scars to show for his trouble.
It was over 20 years ago, but Joe Rogan can recall with absolute clarity what was going through his mind when he decided to undergo the first of three hair transplant treatments. "I was freaking out — I was freaking out that my hair was falling out cause I was on TV too and I was making a living as an actor at the time." Rogan, now 47, is a jack of all trades in the entertainment industry: stand-up comedian, tv show host, podcaster, etc. His first big break came in 1995 when he was a cast member of the show News Radio. Today is most famously known for as UFC's star commentator and for his open discussion podcast The Joe Rogan Experience. And it's on his podcast show that Rogan speaks openly about his hair transplants and how the whole procedure plays out. Before he underwent the regrettable hair transplants, Rogan tried Minoxidil to some success. "The Minoxidil was hanging in there," Rogan says on his show. But ultimately it wasn't enough. Minoxidil originally was created to control high blood pressure, but was discovered to stimulate hair growth. However, Minoxidil does not actually do untying to reverse or stop DHT, which is the primary culprit for hair loss. When the use of Minoxidil is discontinued, DHT takes over, and the hair begins falling out again. So that would be why Rogan described his experience of using Minoxidil as "hanging in there." Rogan would then attempt to find a permanent solution to his hair loss by undergoing going several hair transplants. He explains that at the time that the internet wasn't as vast and readily accessible as it is today, so doing research on such a procedure was very limited. He explains that he went into the doctor's office, was shown photos, and assumed that it would fix all his hair loss problems. The results were less than stellar. Rogan describes his scar as a smiley face. When asked if the finished product looked bad, Rogan quickly replies "it didn't look good." But he admits that he was desperate. As a young actor, he reacted impulsively and out of a place of fear about losing his hair. Explaining that the cession was made out of insecurity and fear that his hair loss would be a determent to his career. "I was thinking I wasn't going to have a career — I'm going to be a bald loser." Rogan admits. Rogan says that his head should be a public service announcement discouraging people from going this route. "If you're thinking about this about doing this, just look my head — don't do this." He continues to say that he should have never of done anything. So, what would be Rogan's advice to men out there losing their hair? "Shave it, b*tch."
By Damien


text:
Intelligent insights & conversations with global power industry professionals
The Power Industry Network™
Utility Business Network
Utility Professionals
Utility Management
Generation Network
Generation Professionals
Clean Power Group
Energy Management Network
Intelligent Utility® Network
Digital Utility
Grid Network
Grid Professionals
Transmission Professionals
The Energy Collective
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Crises Erupt as Glacial Retreat Threatens Water Resources
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The dramatic, profound impacts of global warming are increasingly becoming apparent, particularly as regards vital freshwater supplies. Glaciers around the world are in retreat, threatening the sustainability of populations across entire regions—a process that has been under way for decades.
Water shortages and declining water quality are already much in evidence throughout the Andean region of South America. They're threatening lives and taking away livelihoods up and down the length of the Andes, stretching from Colombia to Chile.
The warming climate and retreat of glaciers is, in turn, is exacerbating migration from rural areas to urban centers, devastating what have been productive agricultural communities, emptying them of people and putting greater pressure on municipal, state and national governments and infrastructure that has shown itself to be largely incapable of addressing critical societal needs. Funding from the Japan Fund, administered by the World Bank, is helping scientists across the region better monitor and assess glacial retreat, enhance water resource planning and management, and local authorities and residents adapt to shrinking water supplies and declining water quality.
Shrinking Glaciers & Water Supply in the Andes
The socioeconomic impact of global warming and glacial retreat in the Andean region is highlighted in a World Bank video report. It's being felt by business owners such as Gonzalo Jaimes, who has had to shut down a long-running ski resort on an area once covered by the Chacaltaya glacier.
Both the Chacaltaya and nearby Huayna Potosi glaciers in Bolivia's Cordillera Real have been receding for the past 35 years, according to a scientists in what's been a "disaster in the making." The threats receding glaciers pose stretches far beyond these two Andean glaciers, however. "We have a 43% loss of total surface area of all glaciers in the Andes region," La Paz Institute of Hydraulics and Hydrology researcher Ed Ramirez states in the video report.
Compounding the threat to rural residents and communities, the Andean region is experiencing "unprecedented urban growth through the last decades of the 20th and on into the 21st century, according to a report from the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and GRID Arendal, with the population doubling between 1970 and 2001. The region's urban population increased from 32 million to 85 million during this period. By 2003, the region's urbanites represented 76 percent of the total population, up from 71.6 percent in 1994. By 2015, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) projects that city dwellers will make up 79 percent of the region's total population by 2015.
A full 18 percent of the region's urban dwellers are living in extreme poverty. Along with impoverished rural residents, they're the most vulnerable to environmental threats and risk of disasters, such as droughts and floods, as well as health threats, including malnutrition and disease.
What makes this even more striking is that one-third of the world's renewable water resources are located in Latin America and the Caribbean. It's estimated that some 38 million urban dwellers do not have access to adequate drinking water supplies, even though cities in the region have improved access to water, according to an Environment Times report by Elsa Galarza and Rosario Gómez of the Centro de Investigación, Universidad del Pacífico.
"On average 88 percent of the population of the Andes region has access to this resource, and 79 percent has access to drainage systems. However, access to water is critical in the shanty towns on the fringes of these urban areas, which are largely inhabited by the poor," they write.
"In such areas, the scarcity of water has an enormous impact on children, exposing them to many diseases such us diarrhoea, parasitic fever or hepatitis. The Andes region has high rates of child mortality, with extreme levels reported for Bolivia and Ecuador, where 20% of children under the age of five die from gastro-intestinal illnesses."
Water quality is another major problem. The researchers found that between 70 percent and 80 percent of waste water is channeled back into the water system without any treatment. "Despite decreasing availability and quality, little effort has been made to provide adequate water treatment. Waste water treatment rates are only 30 percent in Bolivia, 11 percent in Colombia, 5 percent in Ecuador, 14 percent in Peru and 10 percent in Venezuela," they point out.
Japan Fund Project Helps Cope with Diminishing Water Resources
This is echoed in the World Bank video report, in which general contractor for Bolivia's National Climate Change Program Carlos Salinas notes that the population of urban centers such as La Paz and El Alto is swelling with the influx of farmers and rural residents abandoning their lands and migrating to the cities. The government, he adds, has to provide them with basic services, including water supplies and sewage systems, putting even greater strains on their already inadequate resources and capacity.
Crises are erupting in some communities, both rural and urban. One community of 1,000 families relies entirely on just one communal faucet for all its water.
Funding, equipment, scientific and technical assistance from The Japan Policy and Human Resource Development Fund is helping scientists, government agencies and residents across the region cope with the changes being brought about by global warming, glacial retreat, diminishing water resources and seasonal weather patterns.
The Japan Fund, administered by the World Bank, has provided sophisticated technology and technical assistance that's enabling regional scientists to enhance monitoring, assessment and predictions about water supplies as the glaciers continue receding. That, in turn, better informs policy makers responsible for addressing the resulting socioeconomic, as well as environmental and technological issues.
Links to a Japan's Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) provide regional scientific research teams with stereoscopic 3-D images more cheaply and with greater accuracy than aerial photography. Eight glacial monitoring stations have been established in four countries across the Andean region.
The Japan Fund is also helping rural and urban governments and residents adapt to diminishing water resources and climate change. The Japan Fund project team is helping farmers build reservoirs for water storage, install and make use of better irrigation systems and methods.
A substantial percentage of Bolivia's population is already trying to cope with water shortages, Salinas points out, with those upstream diverting and storing water and at times cutting off supplies for downstream agricultural, rural and urban use.
"The city has no alternative water sources, so they must conserve a dwindling supply," Salinas states. As part of the Japan Fund project, field crews measure and monitor water flow problems caused by poor infrastructure and people illegally tapping into water pipes.
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Steven Scannell on December 27, 2012
Good article Tom, What are some solutions? Should infrastructure be private or public or a mix of the two? Should market rates for water go back into water and sanitation improvements and infrastructure? Should rates advantage the larger users? Should use efficiency be market factored in with incentives and penalties? Can bio-treatment of waste be isolated and cleaner water result, with fringe benefits of either fuel grasses or fiber? Should studies demonstraiting the health effects of good and bad water be foremost in policy discussions? What are the pro's and con's of nationalizing the US water systems? Aren't great civilizations marked by their water and sanitation systems? Should composting toilet systems and other closed green systems be intergrated with water policy? How would this be done?
My track-pipe system is a mega water system, among it's other applications. That report is at www.environmentalfisherman.com The Tripe System 11 pages. I believe in wind to pumped hydro power, for peak loads. I believe in massive public works water infrastructure which includes reservoirs, wind pumps, blimp fire fighting capacity with irrigation applications, super water tankers, Market Quota System of public resource management used for water resources (also on my page).
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Kiva Bottero on December 31, 2012
"We have a 43% loss of total surface area of all glaciers in the Andes region," I guess surface area just means the top layer?. Even still that's still a lot.
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If you suspect a plant has been ingested, call the National Poisons Centre. Do not make the person vomit. When possible, have the species name or common name of the plant handy as we are unable to identify plants over the phone. Plants can often be identified by taking a small portion of the plant to your local garden centre.
Grows as a climber. The flowers are commonly yellow, orange, or pale cream in colour and look like bells or lanterns. This plant has a very high potential for toxicity, as it may attract the attention of children, and a small exposure may be dangerous. Common symptoms are severe vomiting and diarrhoea, which can be delayed. Medical attention must be sought.
Christmas Cactus - Schlumbergera spp.
The needles may cause choking, but are non-toxic.
The bright red berries are very attractive to children. Nibbling on 1 or 2 berries would not be expected to cause any symptoms. However, swallowing more may result in nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, excitement and weakness. Medical attention must be sought.
Jerusalem Cherry - Solanum pseudocapsicum This ornamental shrub has either yellow/green or bright shiny orange-red berries. Flowers are white and star-shaped. If this plant is eaten, symptoms can include vomiting, redness of the skin, drowsiness or restlessness, and hallucinations. Medical attention must be sought.
The flowers are usually small, and come in a variety of colours. The fruit has 3 grooves that appear to divide the fruit into segments. If many leaves are eaten, a mild stomach upset may occur. The sap may cause a skin rash and should be washed off with soap and water.
Candles consist of wax and synthetic materials, which are non-toxic. Colouring and scents may be added, but these too are non-toxic in the amounts present. If chunks of candle are ingested this may pose a choking hazard to small children.
These are usually made of glass, thin metal, polystyrene, or wood. If a child swallows a piece of ornament, it may cause choking and/or blockage in the intestines. Sometimes, antique or foreign-made ornaments may be decorated with lead-based paint, although lead toxicity is unlikely from small, one-off ingestions.
Preservatives are available commercially and contain a concentrated sugar solution, which is non-toxic. Homemade solutions containing aspirin or bleach can be potentially harmful if a large amount is swallowed.
Pretty wraps and ribbons are in most cases non-toxic. Some foils and coloured gift wrap contain lead so infants should not be allowed to chew on these papers.
Tinsel may cause choking or obstruction. Some may contain lead or tin, so have the potential for toxicity with repeated ingestion.
Fake Snow often contains acetone or methylene chloride, which can be harmful when inhaled. Inhaling the spray in a small, poorly ventilated room may result in nausea, light-headedness and headache. Longer or more concentrated exposures can be more serious. Follow directions on container and ensure good ventilation when spraying. Once dry, the snow particles are non-toxic.
If a child ingests any of the following things, ring the National Poisons Centre. In the case of medicines remember to have the name and strength of the medication with you.
Alcohol poisoning is common in children throughout the year. The incidence increases over the holiday season as they are more likely to have access to alcoholic beverages. Children are curious and will often drink the contents of a partially filled glass. Aside from beverages, alcohol is also found in perfumes, aftershave lotions and mouthwashes and care should be taken to keep these products out of reach of children.
Coins in Christmas puddings may cause discoloration or tainting of the pudding. There is also a possibility that someone may inadvertently swallow a coin, especially if smaller coins are used. Coins should either be placed under the plate rather than in the pudding, or alternatively wrapped securely in tin foil and placed in the pudding. If the second option is chosen the diners should be told that there are coins in the pudding to minimize the risk of ingestion. Small coins are unlikely to cause concern if ingested but larger coins may become lodged in the throat or stomach.
Children are known to eat whole cigarettes, cigars and "butts". Even smoked butts contain enough nicotine to be very dangerous to children. When swallowed, symptoms can result in vomiting, sweating and seizures. Ensure all ashtrays are emptied at the end of the evening and keep them out of reach of children.
Medicines are often easily accessible to children over the Christmas period as visitors come to stay and may leave medications in bags, on a nightstand or in the bathroom. Furthermore, in many cases medications will not be fitted with a child-resistant cap. Watch children more closely in this situation and if people are staying, politely ask them to store medicines out of reach and sight of small children.
New presents will often come with batteries ready for use. These flat, coin-like batteries are commonly used in watches, cameras, hearing aids and games. If swallowed, they may lodge in the throat or stomach. In cases where they leak, burns may occur. Children may also insert these and other small objects into their ears or nose. In most cases an x-ray will be required to determine the position of the battery in the gastrointestinal tract.
Silica gel is often found in shoe boxes and other packaging. It is considered minimally toxic, and symptoms are not expected following a one-off accidental ingestion. The main concern with silica gel is if the packaging is eaten, in which case it may create a choking hazard.
From the National Poisons Centre we wish you a Merry Christmas and a safe and enjoyable holiday season.


All World of Goo devotees who pre-order the title from the developer's website will be given a "complimentary Profanity Pack" that replaces the title's in-game voices with "ambiguous naughty words."
Also included with the $20 pre-order is an early preview of the game's first chapter, as well as the ability to get the game a full week before those who don't pre-order.
Early access to the game is wonderful, but after hearing about the Profanity Pack, I can't even imagine playing the incredibly creative, adorable game without a chorus of cutesy voices cussing at me like a boat full of angry sailors.


Place unopened bag THIS SIDE UP in microwave. DO NOT PIERCE BAG. Microwave on high for 4 1/2 to 5 1/2 minutes. Let stand for 1 minute. Carefully handle bag at top corners marked with red dots and remove from microwave with two hands. Hold bag over serving dish. Tear bag at notch. Pour and enjoy!


Here is a checkerboard that I made for my wife. The board is made from maple and walnut, the storage box is made from red oak with a hardboard bottom, and the checkers pieces are made from popular.
The storage box was made using dovetails for all four corners and dados were cut the length of each board for the bottom. The dado was hidden inside of a dovetail. The bottom of the box was set just high enough that I could use the bearing on a 1/4" round over router bit. a couple of drops of glue was all that was needed to keep the four dovetails secure. the top outside edges and the four vertical edges were rounded over with a 3/8" router bit.
The checkerboard was made just like a end grain cutting board, but I kept the edge grain up to make the sanding easier. On the bottom of the board are two walnut runners to align it to the box. These were installed with 23 gauge pin pails.
The checker pieces were cut from a poplar dowel and then the edges rounded over with a 1/8" router bit in my router table. This was the most tedious part of the project. I kept trying to come up with a jig to use with my router table to rotate the checker piece counter clockwise against the bit, but was left doing this task by hand. if you have never used a router before, I would recommend that you use a belt sander instead!
Each set of checkers were finished with a different color of stain then sprayed with a coat of clear coat. The playing board and the storage box was finished with a spray clear coat.
Overall I like how it turned out, however in hindsight I should have made the board (and box) slightly larger. Specifically I would wrap the board with a couple of thin layers of wood to create an edge band. Then when rounding over the edges, the edge banding would be cut and not the playing squares. I had considering lining the storage box with felt but declined to do so at this time, but perhaps when I acquire a chess set to place inside it, then I may add that later.
Very nicely done – A beautiful gift that should last a long time in the family.


text:
116 The Importance of Fiction
I think that it may well be the case that the most important thing we ever learn is how to read. It's almost certainly true that, as the son of a librarian, who was the daughter of a professor of English, the value of reading would be drilled into me. And, that IS what happened. I don't know that I learned to read substantially earlier than most kids of my time, nor that am I an unusually fast (or slow) reader, but I do spend a lot of time reading and it may well be my favorite pastime, at least in retirement.
Having spent a good portion of my life being involved in education, I have, obviously, put in a lot of hours reading "scholarly" works on subjects of some interest or utility to me. Since I retired, that sort of reading has tended to focus around the general topics of (1.) the life, times, plays, and theatre of William Shakespeare and his contemporaries; and (2.) the events, people and theories relating to the witch trials in Salem, MA, in 1692. Being a descendent of two people accused (one hanged) during the events in Salem may explain at least some of that interest, although I confess to some real fascination with the damage which combining religious fanaticism with politics, law and social tension can do.
My interest in Shakespeare may be a bit more complicated to explain, but I think that it comes, primarily, from my being a theatre person who has believed for many years that Shakespeare was viewed (at least by many scholars [most of whom were in English Departments]), primarily as a poet. The fact that the bulk of his works were dramatic doesn't seem to be a part of their thinking. It is true that these dramatic works tend to use a combination of rhymed and unrhymed poetry as well as prose, with the balance varying considerably. But, it certainly doesn't alter the fact that, during his time, he was often referred to as a "player" (he was also an actor and theatre-owner), but seemingly much more rarely as a "poet." My interest, then, is based on the idea of putting his plays back in the theatre (where I think they belong) and removing them from the category of "musty, old" literature only to be read by boring, old critics and frustrated academics. Thankfully, I am not alone in this endeavor and Shakespeare has moved a good way back into the theatre and out of just the classroom and library. But, I am digressing….
My topic here was stated to be "the importance of fiction." By that, I am not trying to diminish the value of non-fictional writing. News, opinion, scholarly works of all sorts, are all of value and I have spent many hours reading and studying such works with some care, especially as they relate to the topics mentioned above.
On the other hand, I have also spent a great deal of time in fictional worlds, both professionally and for pleasure. Let us be accurate, drama is fiction, with very few exceptions! Even Aristotle says so. Personally, I find little difference between a novel and a play, except for format. Thornton Wilder, who wrote both plays and novels, explained what he considered the difference between the two this way:
On the stage it is always now; the personages are standing on that razor-edge, between the past and the future, which is the essential character of conscious being; the words are rising to their lips in immediate spontaneity. A novel is what took place; no self-effacement on the part of the narrator can hide the fact that we hear his voice recounting, recalling events that are past and over, and which he has selected - from uncountable others - to lay before us from his presiding intelligence.
While I won't dispute the idea that novels tend to be written in what one might call a "narrative" style (many, perhaps most, do have a central character who serves as a narrator), I'm not sure that I can agree with Mr. Wilder's distinction of the novel from "drama." Probably Wilder's best-known play, Our Town, COULD have been written as a novel and, I think, has many "novelistic" features. It was written in 1938 and presents actions which took place between 1901 and 1913. Hence, it is not presenting events happening in the "now." And, it takes many of the same sort of liberties which novels take with time, locale, etc. It is clearly (in my opinion) Emily's story of her life which we are guided through by a narrator known as the Stage Manager, who serves in a god-like fashion to describe changes in time, character relationships and locales. Even the events presented are presented in what I would describe as a "novelistic" fashion.
In much the same way, most of Shakespeare's plays take events which Will took from historical or literary stories and modified them into his plays, often describing events, motives and characters which came from places "long ago" or "far away" into his plays. One can even read many, if not most, plays in much the same way that one reads novels, although, since Shakespeare provides few stage directions, the reader must use more ingenuity in filling in the details of locale, etc. which is, generally, provided in novels.
So, I would argue that the difference between written plays and novels differ primarily in the manner in which they are conceived to be presented. PLAYS are intended to be presented by live actors in the same space as the audience as if the performers actually ARE the characters being portrayed and that the "fictional" events being presented ARE actually happening as we, the audience, are watching. THAT is the "now" of the theatre, and it requires an imaginative leap of the audience to allow it to happen (Coleridge's "willing suspension of disbelief"). The novel does not require the same sort of leap because it describes its events from a different point of view, as events called up and described by the narrator, so there is a sort of "pastness" which is inherent in the form, which one encounters much as does the reader of a play, as opposed to an audience member at a performance. But, at least from my point of view, there is little ultimate difference between the two forms, except that the novel may be easier to read because the reader has less to create out of his/her imagination. Both are, I believe, essentially forms of fiction differing primarily in the manner in which the author intended for his/her audience to encounter the work.
I believe that both of these can be of real value. Novels are portable and require only that the reader has the time and energy to enter into the fictional "world" by reading the words. Plays, on the other hand, require much more from the reader because they were not intended to be read, but PERFORMED. This was one of the things I tried (probably not always successfully) to convey to my students. A novel is written for a reader to read. A play is written to be read by the people of a theatre company and transformed (translated) by them into a theatrical event, with all of the pitfalls which can enter into any translation.
Translations are never perfect, which creates one of the major delights (I think) of theatrical production: interpretation. Since the playwright has, with rare exception, not filled in all of the details, the theatrical presenters must make decisions as to what they feel is the best way to present the plot, characters and actions of the play to their audience by providing the details of the environment (physical and vocal) which surround those events and allow them to be seen (and felt) as now. Thus, Branagh's Hamlet is not the same as Olivier's, nor Burton's, although all of them may be legitimate interpretations of Shakespeare's play. The same is true of your production of Our Town, as opposed to mine.
This, I believe, is actually also true of novels, as the described details of a novel will, in fact, be imagined somewhat differently by different readers, although they may be more similar as the author has, usually, provided more detail in the novelistic form. I still consider both forms to be, essentially, fictional.
So, what's valuable about fiction? I think that it is that fiction (at least well-written fiction) can take us out of ourselves for a time to explore times, places, events, and emotions which we are unable, or don't wish to actually encounter in life. When I read Heinlein, or Asimov, or Lewis Carroll, or Jim Butcher, for example, I can explore an imaginative universes which I can't encounter in real life; when I read Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novels and stories, I am transported into the late 19thCentury in a country I can visit in the present, but which is not the same as it was then; when I read Bernard Cornwell, I can experience some understanding of life during the Napoleonic Wars or the time of Henry V; and so on. I know that none of these are completely historically authentic (they ARE fiction), but I can gain some sort of insight into those times and places and, perhaps, learn something which might help me to better understand and/or appreciate the events of the "real life" present where I do actually live.
I think that is at least a part of the importance of fiction. It allows one to consider ideas, events, and emotions from within the safe bounds of not having to experience them in real life. If you don't want to actually have to live through an atomic war, read On the Beach by Nevil Shute. It was written a good while ago, but it still provides plenty to think about, most of it not pleasant. And there are innumerable other possible examples of ideas, characters and emotional states to be explored.
Fiction gives us insights into the consequences (good and not so) of events which are possible (or not so possible) in the "real" world. It gives us a chance to use our minds, to consider the idea that we don't know everything, that thinking before acting might be a good idea. After all, we all want to…