text:
News Release: FAMU College of Law Prepares for 15th Hooding Ceremony
News Release: FAMU College of…
Orlando, Fla –The 15th Annual Florida A&M University (FAMU) College of Law Hooding Ceremony will take place at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday, May 11, 2019, where more than 120 candidates will ceremoniously receive the doctoral hood for the juris doctor degree.
The ceremony will recognize graduates and candidates from fall 2018, spring 2019, and summer 2019 classes. Candidates for spring 2019 had their juris doctor degrees conferred over the weekend in Tallahassee, Fla. at the University's commencement exercises on May 4, 2019.
Jeremy Waller, will be recognized as the 2019 valedictorian, graduating summa cum laude among a field of candidates that features 30 honors graduates, including seven magna cum laude, 20 cum laude graduates, and two with Veteran honors.
The Honorable Val Demings, who serves in the United States House of Representatives for Florida's 10th Congressional District, will provide the keynote address. Joining the congresswoman to greet each hooded candidate will be FAMU President Larry Robinson, Ph.D., and FAMU College of Law Interim Dean Nicky Boothe Perry, J.D.
Interim Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Phyllis Taite will announce each candidate as they are hooded by FAMU Law Professor of Law Patricia Broussard. Professor Broussard was selected as faculty hooder through a special election by the graduating law students. She will be assisted by Associate Dean for Student Learning and Assessment Alicia Jackson.
The 2019 Hooding Ceremony student speaker will be outgoing Phi Alpha Delta President Ashley Wilson, who will congratulate her fellow classmates on completing the juris doctor degree. Wilson was selected by a panel of judges that included faculty, staff, and fellow classmates. Additional law student speakers include LaTasha Green-Cobb, who served as the Fall 2018 student graduation chair for the FAMU Law Student Bar Association, and Robert Bowen, who will provide the opening meditation.
The Hooding Class of 2019 will host their families and friends during the Pre-Hooding Reception on Friday, May 10, 2019, from 6:30 p.m. until 8 p.m. in the FAMU College of Law atrium, 201 Beggs Avenue, Orlando. Among the festivities planned for the evening will be the unveiling of the 15th Hooding class composite. The annual graduating student profile slide show will also be unveiled.
For more information about the FAMU College of Law, please visit law.famu.edu.
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As the East Africa's Regional Consultations of the Eminent Persons Group on the Future of the ACP Group Post 2020 drew to a close in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, last week, some of the participants reflected on the long-standing nature of the agreement which started some 50 years ago, in 1963, as the Yaounde convention.
Since then, the composition of the grouping has also changed: from 18 ACP states and 6 EU Member States, it now comprises 80 ACP countries and an enlarged EU with 27 States, as at the last revision of the Cotonou agreement in 2010. In 2020, the Cotonou Partnership Agreement which governs relations between the ACP and EU will expire.
While there is broad based agreement that the three pillars namely, political dialogue, development cooperation and trade are considered to have served their purpose well, there are clear signs that changes within the ACP group and the EU will demand a different articulation of the relationship. With the impending revision of the Cotonou agreement in 2015, it is befitting for all parties concerned to assess the progress made so far.
European stakeholders tend to look at the ACP as a loose grouping of countries that no longer has the same relevance nor presents common interests when compared to the past. Changes within the EU itself and particularly the latest enlargement rounds have shifted their geopolitical priority towards Eastern Europe and the Arab world.
Some observers believe that intra-ACP cooperation has remained weak with a framework deemed to remain constrained by a donor-recipient reasoning-apart from a shared reliance on resources from the EDF and trade preferences, notably the Everything But Arms policy.
However, given the binding nature of the Cotonou Partnership Agreement, and being presently the principal functioning vehicle guiding EU-Africa relations, it would be wise to consider a post 2020 scenario where the legal character of the political dialogue and development finance are at least safeguarded.
Much would depend upon the magnitude of the EU's shift to more regional or continental approaches, in dealing with the ACP's individual components- Africa, the Caribbean and the Pacific and the ongoing negotiations on Economic Partnership Agreements.


Outside started life in 2003, but we have a combined total of 50 years in catering, hotels and restaurants, so we really know how to make your event a huge success. Operations manager Joanna Griffin oversees every stage, from meticulous planning to the day itself; while executive chef Toby Watson uses the finest quality ingredients to create bespoke menus that are exactly the right fit for your style and budget. Working alongside them is our team of talented chefs and experienced waiting and bar staff who, on the day, deliver outstanding service and truly fabulous food and drink.


Woodford Bridge Country Club has all the comforts and conveniences you'd expect when you're looking for a great holiday. The resort offers an indoor pool, health club with exercise equipment, hot tub and sauna, massage, and beauty salon. There's also a game room, Internet access, restaurant, snack bar, shop and live entertainment. Fishing, squash, badminton, and a playground are available on the property as well. Shopping, restaurants, a cash machine, and car rental are all nearby.
This resort is located in the beautiful green countryside of the county of Devon in southwestern England. It's an ideal spot to relax and get away from it all, while still offering plenty of recreational pursuits. Tennis, golf, and horseback riding may all be found nearby. For those interested in waterfront activities, there's a lake just 11 miles from the resort and the sandy north Devon beaches are just 25 miles away.
"Jacuzzi will be closed from March 11, 2019 to July 1, 2019."


text:
<?php

namespace Cole\ColeBundle\Entity;

use Doctrine\ORM\EntityRepository;

/**
 * NoticiasRepository
 *
 * This class was generated by the Doctrine ORM. Add your own custom
 * repository methods below.
 */
class NoticiasRepository extends EntityRepository
{
	public function findRecientes()
	{
		$em = $this->getEntityManager();
		$consulta = $em->createQuery('SELECT n FROM ColeBundle:Noticias n WHERE n.categoria = :categoria ORDER BY n.fecha DESC');
		$consulta->setMaxResults(4);
		$consulta->setParameter('categoria', 'general');
		return $consulta->getResult();
	}

	public function findNuevasNoticias($ultimo_acceso, $categoria)
	{
	return $this->getEntityManager()->createQuery(
		'SELECT n FROM ColeBundle:Noticias n WHERE n.categoria=:categoria AND n.fecha>:ultimo_acceso ORDER BY n.fecha DESC')
		->setParameters(array(
			'categoria' => $categoria,
			'ultimo_acceso'=>$ultimo_acceso))
		->getResult();
	}

	public function findNoticiasNuevasAlumno($alumno,$idResponsable, $categoria)
	{
		return $this->getEntityManager()->createQuery(
			'SELECT n.id FROM ColeBundle:Noticias n WHERE n.categoria=:categoria AND
			n.id IN(select a.idAviso FROM IntranetBundle:Avisos a where a.idUsuario=:alumno AND a.idResponsable=:idResponsable AND a.tipoUsuario=:tipoUsuario  AND a.tipoAviso=:tipoAviso) ORDER BY n.fecha DESC')
		->setParameters(array(
			'alumno' => $alumno,
			'idResponsable' => $idResponsable,
			'categoria' => $categoria,
			'tipoUsuario'=>"Alumno",
			'tipoAviso' => "Noticia"))
		->getResult();
	}

	public function findNoticiasNuevasProfesor($profesor, $categoria)
	{
		return $this->getEntityManager()->createQuery(
			'SELECT n.id FROM ColeBundle:Noticias n WHERE n.categoria=:categoria AND
			n.id IN(select a.idAviso FROM IntranetBundle:Avisos a where a.idUsuario=:profesor AND a.tipoUsuario=:tipoUsuario  AND a.tipoAviso=:tipoAviso) ORDER BY n.fecha DESC')
		->setParameters(array(
			'profesor' => $profesor,
			'categoria' => $categoria,
			'tipoUsuario'=>"Profesor",
			'tipoAviso' => "Noticia"))
		->getResult();
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Last week I was able to go on a guided tour of the Oaklands Crossing Project and receive a close up look at the impressive sunken station and Morphett Road bridge. The PTPA staff were extremely knowledgeable and have a great understanding of every little moving part which makes up the project. Please scroll down to see more photos taken during my time on site.
As we move in to March we will now see more roadworks (including night works) along Dunrobin, Diagonal and Morphett Roads. These works will include the installation of underground traffic signals and road lighting conduits in preparation for the new signalised Dunrobin / Diagonal intersection. This part of the project is due to be completed by the end of April.


text:
Q: How to switch between Openssl-engine and Openssl-software implementation dynamically? I am trying to test my openssl engine code with the software implementation in following way.
step 1: Load my openssl engine.
step 2: Sign using ECDSA with openssl-Engine (api used ECDSA_sign).
step 3: Unload openssl engine.
step 4: Verify using software implementation of openssl (api used ECDSA_verify).
I see once the engine is loaded, I can't unload the openssl engine.
I have used ENIGINE_finish and ENGINE_free api which removes structural and functional reference. Still engine refrences are not removed.
How can I switch between Openssl engine and openssl-software implementation dynamically?

A: Let's assume you are doing something like this in step 1, where I omitted all return code checking for the sake of brevity:
ENGINE *e = ENGINE_by_id("dynamic");
ENGINE_ctrl_cmd_string(e, "SO_PATH", "my-engine", 0);
ENGINE_ctrl_cmd_string(e, "LOAD", NULL, 0);
ENGINE_set_default_EC(e)

Then, after doing your ECDSA signature calculation, I believe (without actually having tested it) that it should be sufficient to invoke, using that same value of e,
ENGINE_unregister_EC(e);

to switch back to the default EC implementations that come with OpenSSL and continue with your signature verification.
Note that you may have to do similar things for the digest that you are using during your signature calculation, if your engine implements that as well and if you want to test that as well.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: How to plot longitude-latitude points on a map with different color using ggplot2 package? I have a dataframe contains variable named ID, longitude(LON),latitude(LAT) which you can download from here. I have plotted some longitude-latitude on a country map with same color using ggplot2 package with following code:
library(ggplot2)
library(raster)
read.csv("station.csv")
skorea<- getData("GADM", country= "KOR", level=1)
plot(skorea)
skorea<- fortify(skorea)

ggplot()+
  geom_map(data= skorea, map= skorea, aes(x=long,y=lat,map_id=id,group=group),
           fill=NA, colour="black") +
  geom_point(data=station, aes(x=LON, y=LAT),
             colour= "red", alpha=1,na.rm=T) +
  scale_size(range=c(2,7))+
  labs(title= "coordinate data of seoul",
       x="Longitude", y= "Latitude")+
  theme(title= element_text(hjust = 0.5,vjust = 1,face= c("bold")))

And I got the following plot

Now I want some of those point will be plotted on map with different color according to their ID. For example, I want these ID (111141,111142,111241,111281,111301,131141,131144,131161) will be with blue color and rest of ID will remain with red color. How can I do this?

A: Perhaps:
library(raster)
library(rgeos)
library(ggplot2)
library(ggthemes)

skorea <- gSimplify(getData("GADM", country= "KOR", level=1), tol=0.001, TRUE)
skorea <- fortify(skorea)

st <- read.csv("station.csv")
st$color <- "red"
st[st$ID %in% c(111141, 111142, 111241, 111281, 111301, 131141, 131144, 131161),]$color <- "blue"

gg <- ggplot()
gg <- gg + geom_map(data=skorea, map=skorea,
                    aes(x=long, y=lat, map_id=id, group=group),
                    fill=NA, color="black")
gg <- gg + geom_point(data=st, aes(x=LON, y=LAT, color=color),
                      alpha=1, na.rm=TRUE)
gg <- gg + scale_size(range=c(2,7))
gg <- gg + scale_color_identity()
gg <- gg + labs(title= "coordinate data of seoul",
                x="Longitude", y= "Latitude")
gg <- gg + coord_map()
gg <- gg + theme_map()
gg <- gg + theme(title= element_text(hjust = 0.5, vjust=1, face="bold"))
gg


On the subject of investment choices, its by no means straightforward. One of the ongoing themes within the world economic system for the reason that monetary crisis has been the lengthy-lasting paucity of enterprise funding spending. 1992, c. 18, s. 15 (three); 2004, c. 16, s. 1 (2). Communications made by Angels Den, through this Web site or any other medium, usually are not meant to be promotions of any individual investment opportunity, not do they represent financial, legal or tax recommendation.
SBICs usually give attention to investments in the $a hundred,000 to $250,000 range, and tend to be considerably extra forgiving than enterprise capital firms of their underwriting necessities. Companies choose to develop or transfer their companies to the UK as a result of it is a great location.
C, s. 2 (10); 2004, c. sixteen, s. 1 (2). Two completely different sorts of Small Enterprise Investment Companies operate within the United States. For many small enterprise investors, the company never generates greater than enough for them, and their household, to dwell upon from salaries taken out of the company in exchange for working on the payroll.
Being a lead investor is an effective way to get involved in investments I completely consider in. I search for passionate entrepreneurs and businesses I can genuinely contribute to. In essence, an SBIC makes use of its own capital, combined with funds borrowed from buyers and supported by an SBA assure, to make investments in qualifying small companies.
Some small business owners type new ventures for the only real objective of growing them to the purpose the earnings could be capitalized and the company offered. 5. Whether a fabric portion of the investment proceeds were not utilized by the eligible business earlier than the labour sponsored investment fund company disposed of its investment.


text:
Tag: Amanda Seyfried
*NEW* CHRISTMAS WITH THE COOPERS REVIEW *NEW*
January 18, 2016 by pmbayobale, posted in Best and worst films, Christmas, Christmas Movies, Cinema, Comedy, Drama, Film essay, Hollywood, Movie review, Uncategorized
This one got me in the spirit. The alcoholic spirits in my cupboard.
As Olivia Wilde's character put it, "I can't face the anticipointment. You know anticipation of disappointment". Well, Ms Wilde. The anticipointment was still too much to bear.
It was watchable BUT enjoyable? I should have known what I was getting myself into. Shame on me. A vomit inducing, corny and God awful Christmas movie. Ho-ho-horrendous. A little late BUT I really don't want to revisit this next December.
When four generations of the Cooper clan come together for their annual Christmas Eve celebration, a series of unexpected visitors and unlikely events turn the night upside down, leading them all toward a surprising rediscovery of family bonds and the spirit of the holiday.
Yuck. The opening narration with Steve Martin's smarmy and condescending voice really didn't get things going. Diane Keaton was unbearable. Her voice grated against me throughout the whole thing. She was too OTT and her whining was annoying.
John Goodman. What has happened to the big man? It just didn't seem right watching the guy play a sap. His subplot with Keaton was dull as dishwater as the pair looked set to part ways with one final Christmas family gathering. Some guff about a trip they never took because of the kids. Now the opportunity has finally arrived again and Keaton doesn't want to go. Will this be their last Christmas? Meh.
Timothee Chalamet's (Interstellar) little story line about getting with his crush and battling body odour was silly. The kissing scenes had me gagging more than Ed Helms' character. Unnecessary. Ed Helms (The Hangover) was completely wasted in his role. There was potential with his divorced dad character BUT it never went anywhere. They had Alex Borstein from Family Guy playing the scornful ex wife and she even wasn't used to her full potential. She was barely in it.
Blake Baumgartner's bratty granddaughter was irritating. Sorry BUT a gag involving her and a choice swear word just didn't tickle me. It wasn't funny the first time and it certainly wasn't the next umpteen times. Sigh.
Olivia Wilde and Jake Lacy's (The Office USA) nauseating relationship had its moments. BUT it was soon soiled by it's own schmaltz. The pair had good chemistry and made the unrealistic and questionable concept of a stranger making a random army guy her fiancee for the day watchable. BUT it was far too cheesy and predictable.
Marisa Tomei's shoplifting sibling role could have gone down so many routes. I really thought more was going to made out of her incarceration in the back of Anthony Mackie's (Captain America: The Winter Soldier) cop car. It was just another filler with Mackie's dreadful emotionless "Robocop".
Alan Arkin and Amanda Seyfried's little relationship was endearing enough BUT it wasn't really explored. It had the right balance as the pensioner chatted up the waitress 50 years his junior. BUT it was rushed with a silly spat that tragically pushed Seyfried into the background. It wasn't really picked up again until the closing minutes.
June Squibb (Nebraska) had a nothingy role as Aunt Fishy. Considering this was a corny film about togetherness and family. It didn't have a problem poking fun at a woman suffering from dementia.
Martin's verbal diarrhea over every scene infuriated me. It would have been nice for these wafer thin characters to have a little depth instead of being told every little thing about them. It felt like someone was reading a book in a delightfully smug and pretentious drone.
If you loved Love Actually and are in the mood for a ridiculously cheesy Christmas flick then this might be of interest. BUT for all my cynicism, I liked Love Actually. It had interesting characters and some reasonable story lines. This struggled to muster one and was so lazily put together that it put me in the wrong kind of mood.
2/5 (Just)
Tagged Alan Arkin, Alex Borstein, Amanda Seyfried, Anthony Mackie, Blake Baumgartner, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Christmas with the Coopers, Diane Keaton, Ed Helms, Family Guy, Interstellar, Jake Lacy, John Goodman, June Squibb, Love Actually, Marisa Tomei, Nebraska, Olivia Wilde, Steve Martin, The Hangover, The Office USA, Timothee Chalamet
*NEW* PAN REVIEW *NEW*
October 14, 2015 by pmbayobale, posted in 3D, Action, Animation, Best and worst films, CGI, Children's movies, Cinema, Drama, Fairy tale, Family movie, Fantasy, Film essay, Hollywood, Kids movies, Movie review, Uncategorized
I fear this one might get panned.
Even with a talented cast and impressive special effects, this latest offering on the Pan myth should still walk the plank.
12-year-old orphan Peter (Levi Miller) is spirited away to the magical world of Neverland, where he finds both fun and dangers, and ultimately discovers his destiny to become the hero who will be forever known as Peter Pan.
The opening zipped along. It was easygoing and got straight to business. We watch Peter endure life at the Dickensian orphanage. Battling the ever cantankerous Mother Barnabas. Played to perfection by Kathy Burke. Not enough of her if I'm honest.
Levi Miller delivered an impressive debut for a young lad. There was the odd moment where certain lines and a couple of the scenes hindered with his delivery BUT nothing that can't be fixed with a few more movies.
And it wasn't long before our young hero was plucked out of his bed and taken to Neverland. This part of the story I'd seen before in Once Upon A Time and it did feel like a retread for me. I was disappointed that the war time setting wasn't used to its full potential.
It did allow for a fantastic chase sequence with The Ranger pirate ship being pursued by the Royal Air Force. It was all a little too OTT for my liking BUT the pace and effects kept me subdued. For now.
It was great to see Nonso Anozie finally getting more screen time. It was just a shame that after a memorable introduction as Bishop that he was pushed into the background.
For the first half hour, I was pleasantly surprised. BUT the problems really popped up when Peter arrived in Neverland. The strange musical number in the mines didn't set the right tone for me.
A bunch of miners bellowing Nirvana's Smells Like Teen Spirit and The Ramone's Blitzkrieg Bop felt like something that should have been in Moulin Rouge. Things improved slightly with the introduction of Jackman's Blackbeard. But that soon spiralled downhill.
He lapped it up and was incredibly camp. A perfect panto villain. BUT that was also the problem. He came off far too comical. His bi-polar mood swings and OTT delivery soon killed what little tension there was around the iconic villain. I understand that it's a family movie BUT I was more afraid of the CGI'd Sid from Toy Story than this chap.
Speaking of iconic villains, Garrett Hedlund as James Hook was terrible. Don't get me wrong, Hedlund delivered one of his most liveliest performances. He looked the part with that shark toothed smile. BUT he got on my nerves. He just shouted his lines (which were weak) and every time he appeared on the screen, I instantly wished him gone.
Adeel Akhtar (Four Lions) was perfectly cast as Smee. He fell short of ol' Bob Hoskins from Hook BUT he gave it a go and delivered the odd chuckle. Rooney Mara did her best with the role of Tiger Lily, the native chief's daughter.
The only problem with Mara's character was that it was spoiled by an incredibly hammy love subplot with Hook. It was cringe-inducing. Hedlund even shouted during those bits and all!
I know I said the animation was fantastic. And for the majority of the film, it was. Not quite sure whether it was worth the 3D investment. BUT there were a couple of things that didn't look right. The Neverbirds looked terribly cartoony. They looked like something that should have been on the cover of a cereal box.
The lovely Cara Delevigne popped up in a badly CGI'd cameo as a mermaid. I don't know why they just didn't have her swimming about in a mermaid costume instead (What?).
Amanda Seyfried had the easiest job going as Peter's mother. Anyone could have played her. The final twenty minutes were entertaining enough as Tiger Lily takes on Blackbeard BUT it was so rushed that it ended quite abruptly.
It was a fresh take to see Hook and Pan start out as friends BUT we didn't see any real conflict and by the end of the film, there wasn't any indication of their rivalry brewing. Just a nauseating exchange that they will be friends forever. Awww . . . Yuck.
Things were inevitably left open for another. BUT if I'm honest, it's going to take a lot of convincing to get me to check out that one. It's was too corny, frantic and didn't even explore the mystery of Neverland.
It was watchable BUT memorable? If anything this made me want to dig out my VHS (What are those?! Showing my age now) of Hook.
Enough to keep the little 'uns at bay for a couple of hours BUT it falls short of any of the other versions.
Tagged 3D, Adeel Akhtar, Amanda Seyfried, Cara Delevigne, CGI, Four Lions, Garrett Hedlund, Hook, Hugh Jackman, Kathy Burke, Levi Miller, Moulin Rouge, Nirvana, Nonso Anozie, Once Upon A Time, Pan, Ramones, Rooney Mara, Toy Story, Tron: Legacy
TED 2 REVIEW
July 10, 2015 February 22, 2018 by pmbayobale, posted in Best and worst films, Blockbuster, Cinema, Comedy, Film essay, Hollywood, Movie review, Sequels
I wasn't quite picking up on those good vibrations with these funky bunch of gags, Marky Mark.
The filthy mouthed fluffster is back. BUT better?
"OH MY GOD, DÉJÀ VU!" You got that right. Too much of the same isn't always a good thing.
I loved Ted. I thought it was a return to form from MacFarlane. Family Guy has been spluttering along for some time. The better days long behind it. A bit like The Simpsons, really. Then there was the misfire that was A Million Ways to Die in The West. Watchable at best.
Ted was crude, OTT but funny. I hadn't laughed so much in quite some time. Wahlberg and MacFarlane made a great pairing. Inevitably, it fared well and a sequel was soon green-lit.
So here we are. It's not all bad. When it's funny, it's good. BUT that's the problem, when it's not; it's drawn out, repetitive and boring.
MacFarlane did exactly what he's done for the last few seasons of Family Guy. If the jokes are running low, go for flat out disgusting or just something random and weird.
So what happens this time? Newlywed couple Ted (MacFarlane) and Tami-Lynn (Jessica Barth) want to have a baby, but in order to qualify to be a parent, Ted will have to prove he's a person in a court of law.
Ridiculous. I heard some people say. BUT a talking bear smoking a bong and fornicating isn't?
I found Barth a lot more likeable this time round. I couldn't stand her in Ted. She was irritating and her voice was nauseating.
Her shouting match with Ted (That went on far too long) didn't set up high hopes BUT she had (I can't believe I'm writing this) good chemistry with the bear. It may have been schmaltzy but it added an layer to her Boston skank.
I mean the story line was never going to be the focal point of this film. Although MacFarlane did give a reasonably nice explanation for Mila Kunis' absence (I know. I was gutted too).
Instead, we had Amanda Seyfried (who more than held her own). She clicked with Wahlberg for their inevitable coupling and certainly wasn't afraid to take some jibes from the fluffy fiend. Seriously, the Gollum jokes. I was in stitches.
There were a number of old and new faces BUT surprisingly they were all a little dull. Sam J. "Flash Gordon" Jones was completely unnecessary and just did the same old thing to much more disappointing results.
Regular MacFarlane stalwart Patrick Warburton's repressed gay man was a good recurring joke in the first one. Now he's "out" with his demented partner in tow. It just wasn't funny. Beating up nerds in a Comic Con event? Is that the best he could do? The only titter I got was Warburton's costume choice.
And Giovanni Ribisi's Donny made another return. A desperate move? There was only a couple of titbits that got a little laugh. His appearance did get a little more relevant as the film carried on BUT it was the same old guff just in a different setting. Sigh.
I really hoped the new faces would provide a little more. They played it much too seriously and didn't bring anything to the mix. John "Mad Men" Slattery, the slick silver haired Sterling was surprisingly unmemorable. Anyone could have played him. And Morgan Freeman. It was just a lazy excuse to hear his beautiful dulcet tones waffle through some mindless exposition.
The court scenes went on far too long. If it wasn't for Ted's one liners, I would have been in a mini coma. Ted and John (Wahlberg) were still very much on form (Thankfully). Their stupid banter, drug induced theorizing and stupid escapades delivered yet again. From Ted's TV theme song improvisation to John's sperm lab incident.
Disgusting, cringeworthy but oh so funny! Where was this throughout the rest of the film? I thought this was supposed to be a comedy?!
Okay, the Google theory about how everything is two clicks away from taking you to a web page of a man's appendage was typical MacFarlane but it got me!
However, the sequences in which Ted was looking for a sperm donor were very hit and miss. Despite John's lab incident delivering a cracking Facebook slogan gag; MacFarlane and co. soon tooks things too far with the dimwitted duo seeking "super semen" from a renowned American sports celebrity. It was just weird. Talk about overkill.
A Liam Neeson cameo involving a simple purchase of kids cereal was unexpected but brilliantly done! BUT then we had the running length filled with endless bong and smoking weed gags. They got old really quick. Come on, even Seth Rogen is trying to break away from that old spiel. Trying.
Wahlberg tripping out once. Hilarious. Two or three times after? Meh. There was one scene that got me and all it needed was the iconic score of a prehistoric masterpiece. "Breakfast Clubbing" in the lawyer library however? Not so much.
It's certainly watchable but just wasn't even on the same level as the first one. I wasn't even trying to make comparisons but when the gags were sparse, I found time to. MacFarlane chucked in his relentless musical song and dance numbers yet again and if anything they hampered the film. Seyfried has a lovely voice but I came for Ted not Les Mis.
It relied heavily on retreading old story lines and gags to pick up where the film couldn't. Shame. Plus there were several clips I saw in the trailers that got my interest and didn't even feature in the film.
The fiery fluffbag has enough in his stuffing to kill the time BUT you may be left wanting.
Tagged Amanda Seyfried, Family Guy, Flash Gordon, Giovanni Ribisi, Gollum, Google, Jessica Barth, John Slattery, Les Miserables, Liam Neeson, MacFarlane, Mad Men, Mark Wahlberg, Marky Mark, Mila Kunis, Morgan Freeman, Patrick Warburton, Sam J. Jones, Seth MacFarlane, Seth Rogen, Ted, Ted 2, The Breakfast Club, The Simpsons7 Comments
WHILE WE'RE YOUNG REVIEW
April 18, 2015 February 23, 2018 by pmbayobale, posted in Cinema, Comedy, Drama, Film essay, Hollywood, Movie review, Uncategorized
My exact thoughts as I waited for this indie dramedy to end.
A middle-aged couple's career and marriage are overturned when a disarming young couple enters their lives.
Ben Stiller and Naomi Watts do their best but it just didn't hit the mark for me. The endless praise certainly piqued my interest. A shame that it just couldn't deliver.
I feared the worst from the opening scene in which we have an extract from Ibsen's The Master Builder. A scene that commented on the ever-growing invasion and domination of youth. Slow and a little pretentious.
I could see what writer/director Noah Baumbach was trying to do with the film but I still couldn't fight my disappointment.
We join Josh (Stiller) and Cornelia (Watts) as they battle being middle-aged while their friends are settling down and having babies.
The opening 15 minutes was easy going enough. Stiller and Watts had good chemistry. Their difficulty in dealing with a baby demonstrated the spanner in their supposedly well-oiled machine.
I didn't mind sitting back and examining a normal relationship as Stiller and Watts confront their issues but I just wanted more.
Stiller can act and I have desperately prayed for a better project to come along. While We're Young may be a mixed bag but it showed what Stiller can do when he's not running around museums or strutting down walkways.
Things took a slightly more interesting turn with the introduction of Adam Driver. Amanda Seyfried's character barely made an impression. A nothingy role. I think her only real contribution worth noting was when she took a confused Watts to a hip hop class.
Driver certainly got things moving. The problem was that I always had an inkling that his intentions were not what they seemed. Probing Stiller for information under the persona of a fan boy. Playing to his ego with endless brown nosing and slick charm.
It was interesting in parts to witness this young couple transform this "old" couple. A catalyst that sparked the life back into their humdrum lifestyle. The trilby hats, the gigs, the shoes with no socks fad. Spot on.
The whole battle and jealousy of youth debacle had its moments. The fact that youngsters like myself have a niche for all things retro and vintage was a valid observation.
Stiller's culture clash with Driver and his hipsters about a 70s cartoon that he grew up with sparked an interesting debate. Loving something just because it's old. Not even knowing the story or the character.
I can't really say this is a comedy. There were moments but the tone was a little uneven for me.
I don't think Baumbach knew which direction to take the film. It went from painfully deadpan with Stiller uncovering a film conspiracy that challenged the very ethics of filmmaking to just plain bizarre.
Not enough consistency for me. The sequence in which Watts and Stiller join the youngsters for a weekend retreat to drink some liquid and vom up some "demons" while listening to Vangelis may sound funny but it was just plain weird.
Everyone standing around chatting while casually throwing up in their designated buckets just didn't do it for me. Was Baumbach trying to throw in a gag that was more befitting of Stiller's familiar humour?
Charles Grodin is getting old. Long are the days since Midnight Express. Hell even Harry and the Hendersons or Beethoven, shudder.
He played Josh's father-in-law well. I just wish their fractious relationship was explored a little more. There were some good insights but I wanted more conflict and some sort of progress.
And that was the main issue for me in general. The film had likeable characters that I wanted to see more done with.
There was an interesting revelation with Cornelia in which she suffered a miscarriage. I wanted more time focused on that.
It wasn't until the closing moments that it was really dealt with. I understand that in real life with an ordeal like that, a lot of people sweep it under the carpet or act like nothing happened. BUT when you're watching a drama, you want . . . a little drama!
The ending was abrupt and a little weak after things finally seem to come to a head. The closing shot was humorous. A perfect statement of what is happening with the youth of today.
Shame, it just wasn't that interesting. Too long, too talky and not much going on.
Two stars for the two talented leads.
Tagged Adam Driver, Amanda Seyfried, Beethoven, Ben Stiller, Charles Grodin, Harry and the Hendersons, Ibsen, Midnight Express, Naomi Watts, Noah Baumbach, The Master Builder, Vangelis, While We're Young9 Comments
A MILLION WAYS TO DIE IN THE WEST REVIEW
June 7, 2014 June 9, 2014 by pmbayobale, posted in Cinema, Comedy, Family Guy, Film essay, Hollywood, Hollywood mess, Movie review, Seth MacFarlane, Story, Uncategorized, Western
A Million Ways to Die Laughing! Unfortunately not. MacFarlane takes on the Wild West and comes out more battered and bruised than his heroic counterpart. Applying his Family Guy spiel, this cowboy comedy yields mixed results this time round.
Now for the record I am a big Family Guy fan and thought Ted was a return to form from MacFarlane as Family Guy teetered on lacklustre but watchable.
His second feature to hit the big screen and a western. My hopes were high. The trailers signed me up from the get go. Job done as always. However, it seems a case of 'best bits in the trailers' syndrome. Now don't get me wrong, it's not all bad but it's not all great either.
The main issue, two hours? Too long. It was only after the first 30-45 minutes that the film got into its stride. The story line is hardly original, merely a rehash of a classical western storyline. Probably one of the reasons why westerns are no longer plaguing our screens.
Local coward finds bravery and confronts nastiest gunslinger to win the town and the girl. Yadda, yadda. I really hoped for a demented Blazing Saddles but only got mildly hot flip flops. The lovely Charlize Theron and McFarlane were fantastic together. Good chemistry. You could see where they were improvising which made the banter all the more entertaining.
However, the main jokes and punch lines are few and far between. The bigger, better gags have been heavily advertised to get you to watch this mildly entertaining affair.
Seth MacFarlane's rants felt, at times, like nothing more than him trying to do improvised stand up. Some parts fall flat on its backside, other bits bring the odd laugh. His speech on the law and order of the town was very good; "There is the mayor. He is dead".
MacFarlane manages to carry enough charisma to keep his stocky character going. The funniest moments in the film for me were the unexpected blink and you'll miss it cameos, containing the likes of Ewan McGregor, Ryan Reynolds and . . . my God, two brilliant cameos that were nearly worth the ticket. I won't say for once.
Cameos you would have expected from MacFarlane but still manage to surprise and get a laugh.
Considering the number of musical montages in Family Guy, there is only one song and dance number. An irritatingly catchy one, at that. A missed opportunity in my opinion. I kept expecting Mr Conway Twitty to appear. Alas to no avail. Of course not literally as the poor man passed away some time ago.
I admit I did have to check Google on that. My bad.
In all fairness, the supporting characters bring the better jokes but they are barely in it. You feel that they are brought in to help the slackening pace or when MacFarlane and Theron have stopped messing around.
Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) was very funny as the mustached lothario Foy with his ridiculously cringeworthy but hilarious pun based insults.
It was great to see Liam Neeson as the villain. Unfortunately he plays it very dead pan. So serious, in fact that his character is just a stocky and highly unmemorable clichéd cowboy killer. I expected at least a Taken parody or something. Nope. At least he didn't try and do an American drawl again after Seraphim Falls.
The same could be said for Amanda Seyfried who was nothing more than a bland caricature used as a plot device to spur our protagonist. Shame. A joke about her eyes brought an unexpected titter.
Sarah Silverman and Giovani Ribisi were hilarious together. However, they are only resorted to a drawn out gag about having a prostitute as a girlfriend and not sleeping together before marriage as it is not very Christian. The gag gets a little stale but the characters were funny enough to warrant more screen time than they got. Inevitably, there would be a meeting with the Indians, I mean, Native Americans and a certain taking of various substances, leading to a trippy and surreal sequence that reeked of desperation, more than creativity.
Inevitably it all ends very . . . predictably which leaves you somewhat disappointed (if it hadn't already).
It's watchable at best. But I have later series of Family Guy for that. It kills the time, brings the odd laugh but hardly must see viewing. If you are looking for a laugh out loud rowdy riot of a western in the style of Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles, then I recommend . . . Blazing Saddles 2.5/5 for me.
Currently ranks #130 out of 179!
Tagged a big Family Guy fan, A Million Ways to Die in the West, Amanda Seyfried, Blazing Saddles, Charlize Theron, Conway Twitty, Ewan McGregor, Family Guy, Giovanni Ribisi, How I Met Your Mother, law and order, Liam Neeson, MacFarlane, Mel Brooks, Neil Patrick Harris, Ryan Reynolds, Sarah Silverman, Seraphim Falls, Seth MacFarlane, Taken, Ted, Wild West1 Comment

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Why identical operator in php (===) fails with DateTimeImmutable objects? I have two DateTimeImmtable objects, and expecting them to be identical I am surprised to see they are not. Ie, why is the following false?
<?php
$d = new \DateTimeImmutable('2018-01-01');
$e = new \DateTimeImmutable('2018-01-01');

var_dump($d === $e);

Of course $d == $e evaluates to true

A: It's nothing to do with DateTimeImmutable objects, it's just how PHP deals with object comparison. From the manual:

When using the identity operator (===), object variables are identical if and only if they refer to the same instance of the same class.

Comparing any two different instances using this operator will always return false, regardless of the values of any properties.

A: $d = new \DateTimeImmutable('2018-01-01');
$e = new \DateTimeImmutable('2018-01-01');

var_dump($d);
var_dump($e);

the output is
object(DateTimeImmutable)[1]
  public 'date' => string '2018-01-01 00:00:00' (length=19)
  public 'timezone_type' => int 3
  public 'timezone' => string 'Europe/Paris' (length=12)
object(DateTimeImmutable)[2]
  public 'date' => string '2018-01-01 00:00:00' (length=19)
  public 'timezone_type' => int 3
  public 'timezone' => string 'Europe/Paris' (length=12)

As per PHP manual: they deals with object as a different object or instance, when you compare two objects they deals 2 objects as a different objects
when you used === to compare the object or instance( Two instances of the same class) then they deals these objects as a different objects and the result is false


text:
Sharp
===========

Sharp is a Scalable Vector Graphics (SVG) implementation for Android. It facilitates loading vector graphics as SharpDrawables, and can effectively be used wherever a conventional image would be displayed, whether it be as a background, ImageView source, inside a StateListDrawable or used as composites in a TextView.

Forked from:
https://github.com/pents90/svg-android

Merged changes from forks:
https://github.com/b2renger/svg-android
https://github.com/mindon/svg-android
https://github.com/josefpavlik/svg-android

## Download

Download the latest from `mavenCentral()` using Gradle:

    dependencies {
        implementation 'com.pixplicity.sharp:library:[VERSION_HERE]@aar'
    }

## Sample

[A sample](https://github.com/Pixplicity/svg-android/tree/master/svgdemo) is included in this repository.

It's easy to load an SVG:

    Sharp.loadResource(getResources(), R.raw.cartman)
         .into(mImageView);

SVGs can be loaded from various sources:

- `loadAsset(AssetManager, String)` loads SVG data from an Android application asset;
- `loadResource(Resources, int)` loads SVG data from an Android application resource;
- `loadString(String)` loads SVG data directly from a String;
- `loadInputStream(InputStream)` loads SVG data from an InputStream (but it's your responsibility to close it afterwards);
- `loadFile(File)` loads SVG data from a File, internally opening and closing a FileInputStream to do so.
- `loadPath(String)` loads SVG data directly from a String (but uses a lot of memory doing so).

Sharp facilitates the application of the resulting drawable as well, through the following methods:

- `into(View)` takes care of loading the SVG into the source of the ImageView, or setting the background if the view is not an ImageView;
- `getDrawable(View)` generates a `SharpDrawable`, which is a subclass of `PictureDrawable` that respects the `SharpPicture` boundaries.
- `getDrawable(View, DrawableCallback)` does the same, but on a background thread with callbacks of `DrawableCallback`;
- `getSharpPicture()` generates a `SharpPicture`, a wrapper containing a `Picture` and the SVG bounds and limits;
- `getSharpPicture(PictureCallback)` does the same, but on a background thread with callbacks of `PictureCallback`;
- `withAssets(AssetManager)` provides access to your application's assets, allowing Sharp to read typefaces;

It's recommended to use `into(View)` or `getDrawable(View)`, as the View parameter takes care of setting the view's layer type to `View.LAYER_TYPE_SOFTWARE`.

## Typefaces

By loading an SVG from the assets directory using `loadAsset(AssetManager, String)`, or by loading it through a different mechanism and providing access to your application's assets using `withAssets(AssetManager)`, Sharp can read typeface files automatically from the assets directory.

Sharp expects the typeface to be present as:

    /assets/fonts/[typeface name].ttf

If your font does not appear, check Logcat for any insightful error messages.

## Why isn't my SVG appearing?

If you're setting your view's drawable manually, instead of using `into()` or `intoBackground()`, be sure to set the view's layer type to `View.LAYER_TYPE_SOFTWARE`.

## Why no hardware acceleration?

Excellent question! Aside from the fact that PictureDrawable doesn't render correctly, paths do not efficiently render in hardware acceleration. Even if it worked, it would have poor performance. [Read this excellent discussion](http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15039829/drawing-paths-and-hardware-acceleration) about why this is, if you're interested.

You don't need to disable hardware acceleration on your entire application. Only *individual views* need to have the layer type changed, and providing your view into `SharpPicture.getDrawable(View)` takes care of this for you.

## Known issues

1. Text size and position isn't accurate. It's recommended to convert all text to paths in order for it to appear pixel-perfect.
2. Android's Gradle plugin 2.0.0 (in the preview channel as of January 2016) no longer allows you to place SVG files in `/res/drawable`. We recommend placing them in `/res/raw` (or `/assets` and using `loadAsset()`) instead.

## License

Licensed under the Apache license 2.0.


We all want our kids to be successful in life and this pretty much all starts at home and school. As kids we spent most of our time going to school and staying at home, yet to see the world. Poor sleeping habits, cramming, poor nutrition, lack of parental support and stress can all affect a child's success rate.
A study has shown that a student that have a stable home, healthy habits, good relationships and routines are more likely to succeed at life. How can you as a parent help establish your child's success in school?
Children need structure, they need to have a routine to help them organize their time. This will be beneficial to them in the long run. Keeping a routine can help kids with time management, organization and being innovative.
Healthy habits should start when we are kids, by the time we grow up bad habits embed on us. Feeding your kids fast food and processed food is not helping them. Teach them healthy habits. Feed them fruits and vegetable, teach them the values of exercise and being active and avoid feeding them processed and unhealthy food.
This is a section in the house where your kids can place their shoes, bags, projects and other materials when they get home from school. This is also where they place materials they will need for school the next day. This will keep them organized and prevent them from leaving things at home.
Give them a space in your house that are specifically designated fro school. This is where they can store their art supplies, books and school materials. This helps them prevent from missing their homework and a great way for you to monitor their school work.
Your kids can't learn everything from school. Teaching them at home is important especially when vacation comes. Our kids consistently need to grow and learn to mature and expand their minds.
Read with them, teach them the importance of reading. Children that are readers tend to be more focus on school work and are critical thinkers. Buy them books that they find interesting and books that can help stimulate their mind. Read to them every night when they are younger. This can help boost their imagination and concentration skills.
Be a good role model to your children. Your kids will follow most of the things that you do. Show them how much you love reading, teach them how to eat healthy, show them good manners and prevent from losing your temper and be active with them, play sports, exercise walking the dog.
Show your kids that you are interested in their studies. Talk to their teachers and ask them how you can help your kids improve in school. Discuss your concern with the school and share with them ideas you have that can help your kids and their classmate.
Support your kids, don't get mad at them from getting a bad grade. Help them improve their grades instead. Show initiative that their school life is important to you. You want them to do their best and you will do everything you can give them the best. Give them a good environment to grow and be the best students they can be.
Parental neglect is one of the worst things you can do to your child. Ignoring their needs can damage their social and mental abilities. Talk to them and show them that you are there for them. Talk to them about school, their friends and if they have problems at home. Communication is key.
Your child's success lies in your and their hands. Giving them a good environment and time to study is great, but it is still up to them to work hard and be the best they can be. You cannot push them into something that they do not want to do.


It's superbly attainable to claim a loft without the utilization of a loft ladder – all things considered, there are a lot of unbending stepping stools or stepladders that can get you up there if you have to. And keeping in mind that is not false, loft ladders can offer you countless over different kinds of stepping stool.
The LED tapes come in various colors depending on your choices and preferences. Many people may opt to go for the brightly colored led tapes especially if you want to put it on your business premises so as to attract more customers.
You must have a positive effect on the world if you care about the environment. Living in a small house is one of the best ways to achieve this. There are numerous plans that you can find regarding small houses, and small houses have become quite popular. You can discover small houses with smaller storage space, small houses without dining rooms, and small houses with beds that can be folded up into the wall.
What is Virtual Reality interior design?
Virtual Reality is a form of invention that is meant to provide a near-human experience in terms of vision. This is a type of technology that is meant to show things in a way that is close to reality in terms of what humans experience.
Bespoke joinery is a part of the bespoke group that specialises in artwork in intricate geometrical designs. Established in 1981 in the United Kingdom, the word 'Bespoke' literally means 'made to measure' – the company's true agenda behind the business.


With all technology, prices tend to come down as time goes on. This was seen within the personal computer market and the 2-dimensional printer market, and now we are starting to really see this happen within the 3D printing space as well. Whether you are a consumer and you love the fact that prices continue to drop, or if you are a manufacturer and you hate it, we can probably expect this trend to continue at least a little bit longer. Just 2 years ago, if you wanted a desktop 3D printer, you were looking at spending four figures. There was virtually nothing available under the $1000 mark. In the past year alone though, we've seen a plethora of new 3D printers come to market in the low three-figure price range. We've even seen several priced under the $200 mark.
Now, one company called Lewihe, located in Alicante, Spain, has unveiled a 3D printer priced lower than any 3D printer we have come across yet. For those of you unfamiliar with Lewihe, they made headlines back in October of last year, when they announced their Sneaker 3D printer, which was made to print flexible FilaFlex filament faster than any other 3D printer on the market.
This week, however, Lewihe unveiled their latest machine, the Lewihe Play. The Play is a 3D printer that comes in kit form, intended for those individuals who want to customize and build their own machine. It is priced at an almost unbelievable €69.00 (approximately $77), and is available for pre-order now, through the Lewihe website. The printer will begin shipping sometime in August. Due to such high demand though, the website has temporarily been put been "under construction." Don't worry though, it is expected to be up again very soon.
As for the printer itself, it ships without several key components in order to allow buyers to equip it with their own preferred parts. The Lewihe Play Kit ships with the iron plate structure, extruder support, print surface, metal shafts, and files with all the 3D printable parts. Users can then mount their own components, which can be purchased at various 3D printer and electronics stores. It can mounted with either one or two extruders of various types, a heated print bed, if desired, and virtually an infinite amount of possible combinations of other components. It also comes with a complete video showing customers exactly how to put the kit together.
For those who want to get an affordable 3D printer, but don't want to put it together themselves, there is an option for you too. The kit can be shipped to any authorized dealer, who will then charge a fee to build the printer exactly how you want it. The great thing about the Lewihe Play is that customers are not tied to using parts made by specific manufacturers, and they can design their machine exactly how they want or need it to be.
It should be interesting to see how well these extremely affordable Lewihe Play 3D printers sell. While they will take some work to put together, the easy to understand video should make building them a breeze. What do you think about this $77 3D printer? Will you be buying one yourself? Discuss in the Lewihe Play 3D Printer forum thread on 3DPB.com. Check out the video below.


Kavita Ramchandran, received her MFA in Design from the School of Visual Arts in New York and has spent more than twelve years as a graphic designer in the children's educational and entertainment industry including art directing the award winning kids' magazine Kahani, designing for Scholastic, McGraw Hill, and Harcourt, and working with networks like Disney Jr., Nick Jr., and Sesame Street Productions. In 2004 she created a pre-school property for Nick Jr. (Nickelodeon) based on her original character Maya, and developed it into interstitial shorts for their 'My World' cultural series.
A self-taught illustrator, and a dreamer & doer of her own Make Believe Design Studio, she lives in New York with her husband, two children, and a few imaginary characters.
Select clients : Bed, Bath & Beyond/Harmon Face Values, Patek Phillipe, Fossil, Intel, Graffiti Earth Restaurant, Oven Arts Baking, Payal NY Jewelry and Van Wyck & Van Wyck.


text:
OLS
OLS (external link to OLS)
Apply to FPCS
Login to the Online System (OLS)
View CCSS Road Maps
View FPCS Calendar
View FPCS Forms
See Approved FPCS Vendors
About Family Partnership
A Place Where You Create A Unique Educational Experience
School History:
Family Partnership Charter School (FPCS) began with the efforts of parents and ASD teachers. The school's first charter application was presented to the Achorage School District in 1996 and unanimously approved in January 1997. Final approval by the State of Alaska Board of Education approval came on June 23, 1997. FPCS opened its doors a week later.
To provide a parent-driven and student-centered program that allows students to reach their full potential in a well-rounded program that sets and achieves goals for academic performance following Alaska State Standards.
The charter school is a bridge between home-school students and formal education. It provides a mechanism by which families may work with certified teachers to plan personalized individualize learning plans for their students.
In the practical application of diverse parent guardian educational philosophies and curriculum choices, each student will be encouraged to develop the necessary skills and concepts to his/her capacity in alignment with the State of Alaska Content and Performance Standards.
FPCS school-wide purposes include:
1. To achieve both spoken and oral command of the English language;
2. To understand and apply mathematics;
3. To understand and use the scientific method in studying physical and life sciences;
4. To think critically and gain skills and knowledge of the major achievements of civilization;
5. To know and understand our American heritage;
6. To gain knowledge of the culture and history of diverse populations;
7. To develop intellectually, emotionally, morally and socially;
8. To develop intellectual curiosity and creativity;
9. To develop skills and appreciation of the fine arts;
10. To gain understanding about maintaining a healthy body, and;
11. To emphasize knowledge, choices and an awareness of academic and career pathways.
4400 Business Park Blvd, Ste. B-22
Office Hours 8:30 am - 3:30 pm
Anchorage, AK 99503Phone: 907-742-3700Fax: 907-742-3710
Contact Us FERPA Privacy and Terms of Use Section 504


text:
Best (And Worst) States For Business Climate For Solution Provider Startups In 2019
Entrepreneurs starting a solution provider business should consider states with a thriving economy, a large base of potential small and midsize business customers, and limited competition from other solution providers.
By Rick Whiting September 25, 2019, 04:36 PM EDT
1 2 3 ... 11 Next
Favorable Climates
Entrepreneurs making plans to launch a solution provider business have a lengthy to-do list, from developing the company's technology and marketing strategy, to raising capital, to hiring employees. But even with the best plans and products, a startup may ultimately succeed or fail because of outside factors such as the number of potential business customers in a state, a state's growth rate, and competition from other solution providers.
This year's Best States analysis looks at the business climate and competitive environment in each state. Criteria included each state's 2018 GDP growth rate, the number of businesses in each state, including small and new businesses, state population and other metrics.
The analysis included the number of solution providers in each state, based on data in The Channel Company's solution provider database. Generally speaking, the states with better economies and more business opportunities have lower rankings in solution provider competition and vice versa. California, for example, is No. 50 – dead last – given the huge number of solution providers that already call the Golden State home.
Also included in the analysis is each state's economic rankings according to a number of media surveys including CNBC America's Top States for Business 2019, U.S. News and World Report and WalletHub – the latter the source for the economic health ranking presented in this slide show (including the District of Columbia, hence New Mexico's No. 51 ranking).
The following are the 10 states with the highest rankings for business climate/competitive environment, listed from No. 10 to No. 1. The states with the lowest rankings are then listed from No. 41 to No. 50.
SMB-Midmarket Opportunities


НачалоFidel Castro. An incorrigible dreamer.
Yes, of course. I don't minimize, in the slightest, the importance of material needs – you always have to give them first priority, because in order to study, to achieve a higher quality of life, certain needs have to be satisfied – and those are physical, material needs. But quality of life lies in knowledge, in culture. Values are what constitute true quality of life, the supreme quality of life, even above food, shelter and clothing.
You are still an incorrigible dreamer.
Cuba has also put its faith in what we might call "general education", an increase in the level of knowledge, education and culture in every citizen. A socialization of knowledge. Knowledge as a common good. Am I right ?
It took us a long time to discover the following: many people think that money is the decisive factor. Wrong. The level of knowledge, of education in the social classes is the decisive factor. Tens of thousands of people, belonging to the bourgeois class, or those who aspired to it, people with knowledge and education, left Cuba for Miami. The Revolution has graduated about 800,000 professionals and intellectuals from the less privileged sectors of society.
And what have we discovered ? We have discovered, that those people with the most knowledge and the most culture within the family go to the best schools, because you get into those schools on the basis of your academic record, and they obtain the best positions and the best jobs. And the class, or sector, that produces the leaders and managers and all the major political officials, that sector tends to perpetuate itself, while those whose families have little education also tend to perpetuate themselves – the children of the poorest of the poor, the most discriminated-against of the discriminated-against in capitalism.
I want to be clear that I am not talking about a class difference from the strictly economic point of view; I am talking about differences in the levels of education associated with poverty and marginalization versus affluence and a tradition of education. Building a new society is much harder than it might appear, because there are so many factors that stand in your way.
In our own particular Socialist society, after many years, and when there were no longer any illiterates, when everyone had at least a ninth-grade education, it so happened that the, shall we say, more privileged sector tended to perpetuate itself, and another sector, which was more marginalized, also tended to perpetuate itself.
After 1959 we changed the whole system of education. There is no illiteracy anymore, there is no child who has not gone to school, but within the school system, and at the university, which bases admission on academic record and exams, a difference has spontaneously occurred between social sectors in which one sector has clear advantages over that other one in which you find the whites, blacks and mestizos who come from the poorest sectors within the poor people from the times of capitalism. The parents' educational level even after we've made the Revolution continues to have tremendous influence on the children's later outcome. Children whose parents come from the lowest economic levels or who have the least amount of knowledge, don't get the grades they need to get into the best schools.And that tends to perpetuate itself decade after decade, as I've pointed out. If you leave things the way they are, you can predict that the children of those people will never be the managers of corporations, or directors, or hold the most important positions, because today you can't manage anything without a university education. What awaits them mainly, is prison.
And how do you propose to change that social determinism ?
To try to correct that, we are now waging a profound educational revolution – one not even conceivable in the first stage of the process. We are turning all that around. And it's not by taking opportunities away from those who do get into the best schools – young people who are also revolutionaries. No, we are extending the possibility for higher education into the whole country, which then becomes, on one hand, an inevitable step in educational development, and on the other hand, a formidable instrument for social leveling. For several years now, we've been taking all those young people of seventeen to thirty years old with nine-grade education, but who for one social reason or another did not continue their studies or go to work, and we are persuading them to keep studying. We have created relevant, varied and attractive courses for them and even given them financial assistance.
We started this in September 2001, and in September 2005 over 45,000 of those students entered our universities. They are going to be among the most revolutionary of our citizens, because these programs represent a rebirth for them. Where would many of them have wound up without education ? – no job, no social support.
Where would they have wound up ?
I asked for an investigation into the situation of all prisoners between twenty and thirty years of age who'd been sent to prison for common crimes in a Socialist state, person by person. And we discovered – it's incredible – that just 2 percent of those in prison because they'd committed common crimes were the children of professionals and intellectuals. You go to the best schools in the country and there, in contrast, the immense majority of students are the children of professionals and intellectuals, while very few of them are the children of the people in the poor barrios. Well, I gave you all that data.
Now we are improving everything we've done in education. Of the 16,000 students in the art-instruction schools who attended excellent institutions with excellent reputations, the social and racial mix is much more satisfactory than the historical average, and not just in dance, where one ethnic group may have more facility for that activity, but also in music, in drama, in painting – in all areas of artistic expression. And we are very pleased with that. In the integrated courses for young people, which were designed for those who've left school and are unemployed, the application of this new concept of "study as work" has led to over 113,000 students being now in school. There are new schools for the medical specialties in which our country is becoming better known every day. We have created hundred of computer clubs, polytechnic academies for computer studies with tens of thousands of young people, and a prestigious university of information science that has over 8,000 students.
If we have to "rationalize" (lay off, suspend) somebody because the number of employees is cut in X activity, we pay him his salary and send him off to school, although always on voluntary basis. In our particular conditions, it costs more to produce something inefficiently, such as sugar cane, than it does to pay the worker 100 percent of his salary.
How many students are there in Cuba ?
November 25, 2016. Hasta siempre, Fidel.
← За фаталната Ангела и за ощипаната Европа. И за солидарността.


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The Voice Of Unreason
Music Reviews/Gigs/Lists/Features/Video – oh my!
100 Greatest Songs of the 2010s
100 Greatest Songs of the 80's
Reviews – 1980's Releases
How To Dress Well – The Anteroom review
arcticreviewsblog November 14, 2018 New Releases
Reactions amongst the entertainment community to the political frenzy of the last two years have varied, from the multifarious confusion of Kanye West to the righteous anger of Axl Rose.
For Tom Krell the answer was of all things to relocate to Los Angeles, in many ways with it's endless urban sprawl and sense of disconnection the archetypal modern American city state. Here the artist known as How To Dress Well transmorphed his music into a splintered, many headed storm of experimental r&b, threading it via The Anteroom's high concept of a reception place that exists between two worlds.
Alerntating from skeletal ballads to splintered house and industrial techno, this is a record which forms both escape hatch and conceptual chamber, reaching a peak on The Memory, The Spinning Of A Body which takes Madonna's Like A Prayer and refracts it through The Weeknd's contorted soul.
Sometimes losing your mind means you reach the plane of a million others; Tom Krell has found a mojo not of his own choosing and had made a remarkable album in the process.
You can read a full review here.
How To Dress Well, The Anteroom Review, Tom Krell
Previous 50 of the Best Tracks of 2018 #49 Ejeca – Unloving
Next 50 of the Best Tracks of 2018 #48 She Drew The Gun – Something For The Pain
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Hi, my name is Andy & I live in Leeds, in northern England. I've been writing about music for more than ten years. My work outside of this blog is featured on Live4ever and Contact Music.	View all posts by arcticreviewsblog
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Bicep – Isles review
100 Greatest Songs of the 90's #93 Ice Cube – It Was A Good Day
Sleaford Mods – Spare Ribs review
100 Greatest Songs of the 90's #94 Sepultra – Refuse/Resist
Shame – Drunk Tank Pink review


British Airways in winter 2017/18 season plans to offer seasonal London Gatwick – Nuremberg service, scheduled 4 times a week. Airbus A319 aircraft will serve this route from 30NOV17 to 07JAN18.
Operational schedule varies on selected dates.


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Residents fight back
Conservative-led initiative sees Kursaal residents signing up to fight back against the crime and disorder that leaves many afraid to leave their homes.
A 'street surgery' organised by Louise Burdett – who is hoping to be elected Conservative Councillor for the Kursaal ward on May 6 – collected hundreds of signatures on a petition calling for a targeted campaign against aggressive, intimidating and destructive activity in the area.
The 27-year old teacher has a track-record in tackling anti-social behaviour; having once caught a mugger attacking a lady, managed to fight him off and return £200 to the victim. Louise received a bravery award for her actions, and says "I would act like this again in a heartbeat if I had to. As members of a community we need to speak up and act, people should not just accept things or live in fear. This experience is one of the reasons why I feel so strongly about tackling this issue."
Louise adds, "The majority of residents live peacefully together – but it only takes a handful to cause unrest. We must think creatively about how we can tackle abusive and destructive behaviour in Kursaal. Residents should not have to live in fear – we have lovely roads in Kursaal with great community spirit. None of us not want this ruined by a mindless few, we need to work together to find a solution. That's why I've established 'Supporting the Community through Action' as a forum for working together for positive change. You can find out more at http://www.louise4kursaal.com."
Filed under Kursaal Ward, Petitions
Evening Echo News
Bavard scoop award for 'best original artist'
Southend Mayor supports cancer patients
William, 8, takes on roller-skating marathon for diabetes charity
Cat killed and woman attacked at home in Eastwood
Police find cannabis factory on burglary call-out in Westcliff
Painting superheroes helps troubled youths in Southend
I feel cheated! I got four numbers on the lottery. Guess how much I won?
College students scoop awards in recognition of their environmental projects
Police team's "heartbreak" after second fatal road crash in two months
Award winning smooth jazz guitarist Peter White coming to the Jazz Mix Club, Southend
Anna Waite
Dell Thomas
Estuary Housing
Evening Echo
HealthyLifeEssex
James Courtenay
Julian's Musings
Kursaal College
Mark Flewitt
Nigel Holdcroft
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Tony Cox
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TVLine Items: AHS: Freak Show Cast Update, Netflix Drops 24, DWTS Guest Judge and More
By Vlada Gelman / March 25 2014, 11:05 AM PDT
A bevy of American Horror Story regulars are getting their Freak on.
The fourth edition of the FX series — which is about a carnival — will feature the return of Jessica Lange — among others — this time playing a German ex-pat who is managing one of the last freak shows in the U.S., reports EW.com.
RELATED | Pilot Scoop: 2 Broke Girls' Eric André Joins FX's Jay Baruchel Comedy Man Seeking Woman
Her troupe of performers includes previous AHS players Kathy Bates, Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Angela Bassett and Frances Conroy.
Denis O'Hare and Emma Roberts are also in talks to come back for the latest incarnation, which takes place in Jupiter, Fla., in 1950.
* Netflix users, if you want to catch up on 24 before the event series 24: Live Another Day debuts on May 5, you better get a move on. The streaming service's rights to the Fox drama expire on April 1, at which point all 202 episodes will disappear from Netflix, reports Variety. However, they will continue to be available on Amazon Prime Instant Video.
VIDEO | In 24: Live Another Day, All Jack Must Stop Is a New 'World War' — Also: Is That…?!
* Good Morning America's Robin Roberts will serve as the first celebrity guest judge on Dancing With the Stars next Monday, per The Hollywood Reporter.
* Matthew Modine (Weeds) has joined the cast of TNT's drama pilot Proof, which stars The L Word's Jennifer Beals and is executive-produced by Kyra Sedgwick, our sister Deadline reports. The actor will play Ivan Turing, a multi-billionaire facing a terminal cancer who is willing to apply all his resources to answering the question: Is there anything beyond death?
RELATED | Pilot Season: Your Guide to This Fall's (Possible) New Shows and Who's In Them
* MTV has renewed Are You The One? — its social experiment series about modern love — for Season 2.
* BBC America has ordered its first original comedy series, Almost Royal, about two young British aristocrats, Georgie (newcomer Ed Gamble) and Poppy Carlton (fellow newcomer Amy Hoggart), on their first trip to the United States. The show will debut following Orphan Black's Season 2 finale on June 21.
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TAGS: 24, Almost Royal, American Horror Story, American Horror Story Freak Show, Angela Bassett, BBC America, Denis O'Hare, Emma Roberts, Evan Peters, Frances Conroy, FX, Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates, Matthew Modine, Netflix, Proof, Sarah Paulson, TNT
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The War of the Worlds At The Enzian
TUESDAY AT 9:30PM
Enzian Theater
H.G. Wells's classic novel is brought to life is this tale of alien invasion. The residents of a small town in California are excited when a flaming meteor lands in the hills. Their joy is tempered somewhat when they discover that it has passengers who are not very friendly. The movie itself is understood better when you consider that it was made at the height of the Cold War.
USA, 1953, In English, 93 min, Unrated, Directed by Byron Haskin
Author NewsPosted on July 7, 2014 July 7, 2014 Categories Enzian, Enzian Theater, Florida, Maitland, Maitland, Movie NewsTags Enzian, h.g. wells, Maitland, the war of the worldsLeave a comment on The War of the Worlds At The Enzian
Celebrate The Magic Summer Fun
Celebrate the Magic is one of those things that I tend to walk by and take for granted, because it is always 'there' when we are trying to find the right spot for Wishes! or the Main Street Electrical parade.
Here is a little bit about Celebrate the Magic if you are like me…
With a little pixie dust from Tinker Bell, watch Cinderella Castle come to life right before your eyes.
Witness a spellbinding show that traces the longstanding legacy of Disney storytelling and imagination. When Tinker Bell splashes pixie dust atop Cinderella Castle, the regal castle is magically refashioned into an enchanted canvas unfurling with spectacular Disney imagery.
Travel down the rabbit hole with Alice, soar high above the Big Top with Dumbo, and wander the African savanna with Simba.
Drawing inspiration from Disney's many memorable characters and stories, Celebrate the Magic invites you to take off on a breathtaking visual and musical journey, and to experience Disney movies—from beloved classics to contemporary favorites—in an entirely new and unforgettable way.
However what makes Celebrate the Magic so special is that it receives several seasonal updates a year, and this year's Summer tag does not disappoint! It is full of fun, tikis, and under the sea shenanigans.
The Summer sequence of projections begins right after the Wreck It Ralph section.
Phineas and Ferb kick off the Summer sequence with a, "Ferb! I know what we are going to do today!"
Fun and upbeat music kicks off as the castle is sketched and colored.
Starting at the bottom of the castle and spreading upwards tiki torches appear and "Hawaiian Roller Coaster Ride" plays.
Then the castle is adorned with tikis, torches, and a little blue alien.
Leis are dropped onto the castle turrets before the castle is draped in a pattern that features Lilo, Stitch, and their friends.
The pattern turns into a wave that Nani, Lilo, and Stitch then ride out.
A 'Sand' castle is now being projected with a fun kid sung "Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah".
Waves then wash away the sand castle as beach ball drop all over the castle.
"Under the Sea" rings out as the castle is flooded and the beach balls make way for Ariel, Sebastian, Flounder, and their fellow sea inhabitants.
The party ends as some familiar fish friends (not food) swim across the castle with calls of 'Mine, Mine, Mine' as the castle goes black.
The summer tag for Celebrate the Magic is a little less than two minutes, but as you can see they packed a lot of great animation and moments into that time.
If you want to catch the Summer tag of Celebrate the Magic, here are some of my best tips!
There are two showings of Celebrate the Magic a night (usually 9:45 pm and 10:35 pm, but check the daily times guide or My Disney Experience to be sure), and the second show is a lot less crowded to watch!
If you decide to watch the show during it's second showing, try to move as close as you can to the castle because you will find the closer you get you will find more opportunities to sit on the ground (a unique perspective for tired feet) to view the show.
Celebrate the Magic is projected on the front and sides of Cinderella Castle, and each vantage point offers a different experience! If you want to watch from the front try to be center near the hub, the castle forecourt is also open for the show and that is really interesting, and from the side I prefer the Tomorrowland side going towards Merida's Meet and Greet.
If you have a pair of Glow with the Show Ears, they will interact with the show's lighting and effects.
The show is great to photograph! Make sure that you listen for music cues of when the projections will change and don't worry too much about using your flash.
I found a great video on YouTube from Steve Gray of the entire Celebrate the Magic castle projection show. The Summer tag begins around the 3:35 mark and ends around the 5:23 mark.
httpv://youtu.be/pxtUpbdn_T8
Author ShelleyPosted on July 7, 2014 July 7, 2014 Categories Family Fun, Holidays, Magic Kingdom, Walt Disney WorldLeave a comment on Celebrate The Magic Summer Fun
Orlando City SC Wins Second I-4 Derby Title
Orlando City SC Defeats Tampa to Claim Second I-4 Derby Title
Lions secure 3-2 win on the road for second I-4 Derby championship is as many years
Orlando City SC defeated the Tampa Bay Rowdies of the North American Soccer League (NASL) 3-2 (6-2 aggregate) at Al Lang Stadium on Sunday evening to claim its second consecutive I-4 Derby title, presented by United World Soccer. Numerous City supporters ventured on the away trip to witness the Lions defeat the Rowdies for the sixth time in as many matches played over the past two seasons.
"As I said to the players, you can never get tired of winning titles. We scored some very good goals tonight and all three were delights to watch," said Head Coach Adrian Heath after the derby win. "Coming in with a three goal lead, we could've taken our foot off the pedal but we didn't. We worked and hard and I'm delighted not only for the players but also for our supporters. Once again, it was a great turnout from them, and I hope they've enjoyed it as much as we have."
Orlando City broke through in the 31st minute when Kevin Molino played a crafty one-two with Corey Hertzog inside the area, before producing a composed finish from six yards away. Molino's ability to provide the opening goal for Orlando continues the impressive 2014 campaign being displayed so far by the club's first-ever Major League Soccer (MLS) signing, who currently leads USL PRO in goals (11), assists (6) and points (28).
Tampa Bay leveled the score-line just four minutes later, after a costly mistake from the Orlando defense. Midfielder Darel Russell was able to dispossess Lions' center-half Tommy Redding and play Georgi Hristov in behind with ample space, leaving Carl Woszczynksi with no chance.
For City's second goal of the half, Molino was once again involved when the Trinidadian earned a free-kick for Orlando on the edge of the area in the 43rd minute. Ceren's ensuing set-piece featured a bit of cleverness, as the midfielder beat Thompson by striking his effort under the wall to find the back of the net.
The 2-1 score-line at the end of the half was a fair reflection of the first 45 minutes, as Orlando were the better side on the ball while the Rowdies' attacking efforts were more sporadic and less threatening. As a result, Tampa Head Coach Ricky Hill made two attacking changes at the half, bringing on Midfielder Evans Frimpong and Forward Luciano Olguin.
Less than 20 minutes into the half, Tampa coordinated a response to Ceren's strike when Hristov scored his second goal of the match. The striker was played in behind Ricardo Morris and slotted the ball underneath Woszczynski for an equalizer that was crucial for Tampa to stand any chance of claiming the I-4 Derby title.
Tampa Bay's push to get forward in the second half seemed to re-motivate Orlando City, who had been in no rush to secure another goal, as they maintained a 5-2 lead on aggregate.
After holding off Tampa Bay's push early in the second half, City responded with another goal in the 75th minute via Corey Hertzog. The striker's finish proved to be the final dagger, as the Rowdies would've had to put forth a monumental effort to overcome four goals in 15 minutes.
To prevent any further damage, Heath brought on Mbengue and several trialist players to provide fresh legs as Orlando secured its second straight I-4 Derby title with tremendous support from the numerous City faithful in attendance, who made the trip down I-4 to create a home atmosphere on the road.
Orlando's next match will take place in league play when the Lions host the Wilmington Hammerheads on July 12 at ESPN Wide World of Sports. Kick-off is set for 7:30 p.m. EST.
The match will be live streamed via YouTube.com/OrlandoCitySC.
For more information, visit www.OrlandoCitySC.com
Author ShelleyPosted on July 7, 2014 July 7, 2014 Categories Orlando City Soccer ClubLeave a comment on Orlando City SC Wins Second I-4 Derby Title


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Budapest's Art Nouveau – 3 hour walk with a historian
$65.0 Reservar
At the turn of the 20th century, roughly between 1880 and 1914, Art Nouveau was the fashionable and cuttingedge new aesthetic for architecture, applied arts and fine art all over Europe. Hungary developed its own spin on the movement called "Hungarian Secession" (in Habsburg Austria, Art Nouveau was called Secession). This tour of Budapest's distinctive and elegant Art Nouveau construction will take you along the finest examples of this specific style, among them buildings designed by the founding father of Hungarian Secession Ödön Lechner, also known as the Gaudi of Hungary.
In fact, Art Nouveau became so popular in Budapest (and in many provincial towns in Hungary, as well) so it is impossible to see all Art Nouveau buildings in one day. This introductory tour takes you along some of the Art Nouveau highlights in downtown Pest, the two most important buildings of which are no doubt the Palace of the Royal Post, designed by Lechner – a very frivolous and Gaudilike design –, and the Gresham Palace, today the number one luxury hotel in Budapest but at the time built by the founder of the London Stock Exchange Lord Gresham as an office space and a series of luxury apartments for Hungarian nobility. Fortunately, both buildings allow visitors into the entrance hall, so we cannot only admire the wonderful details on the outside, but also enjoy a short peek at the interior during our discussion of Art Nouveau design elements.
Other stops on this walk include a flower shop which still has its original interior, a department store, several bank offices and a small but exquisite Art Nouveau museum/ coffee house – a wonderful private initiative. You'll examine a series of ceramics from the renowned Zsolnay factory in Pécs, a town in the south of Hungary. The extensive use of such ceramics on the exterior of the buildings (the roof and the façade) as well as in the interior, is one of the most typical features of Hungarian Art Nouveau. These decorations only became possible after Zsolnay made some groundbreaking inventions for which he came to be known all over the Hapsburg Empire (the roof of the Stephan's Cathedral in Vienna is also made of Zsolnay tiles).
Another routine Hungarian Art Nouveau feature is the use of Asian motifs and elements in decoration, a reference to the supposed eastern origins of the Hungarian nation, although we also discuss the Europeanwide Orientalism that influenced Art Nouveau. Some elements of the tour are dependent on the day of the week: On weekends we cannot enter the Hungarian National Bank which has some very fine examples of Zsolnay porcelain, while the orthodox synagogue with its exquisite Art Nouveau interior is closed on Saturdays. But we can adapt the tour, also to your specific wishes, and if you like we can of course also offer you a more extensive tour, which also comprises some of the other Art Nouveau jewels in Budapest such as the Gellért Bath Hotel, the Museum of Applied Arts and the Geology Museum.


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Creating Summer Magic
Common Milkweed ~ Asclepias syriaca
Recently a friend inquired that if I had to choose one native New England plant to grow to attract butterflies to the garden, which would it be, and why. It was a challenging question because butterflies are typically drawn to the garden planted with a rich and varied, yet very specific, combination of species. A successful Lepidoptera habitat is comprised of many elements all working in tandem. Sunny and protected areas in which to warm their wings, trees and shrubs that provide shelter, and a host of nectar plants for the adults, as well as specific caterpillar food plants, create the successful Lepidoptera garden.
Perhaps if I had to choose a favorite butterfly and therefore a favorite plant to grow to drawthis butterfly to my garden it would have to be common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca), which is both a larval host plant and nectar plant for the elegant Monarch butterfly. People often speak unkindly about common milkweed, rather I think it deserves applause for it is plant without rue and thrives wherever found—in the cracks of city sidewalks and along country roadsides, highly-trafficked soccer fields, and in the most neglected of neighborhoods. Whether in the garden, along the shoreline, or local meadow, it is on the foliage of common milkweed that we find the vast majority of Monarch eggs and caterpillars. Noteworthy also is that we observe many different species of butterflies and skippers nectaring at common milkweed—sulphurs, swallowtails, and fritillaries, to name but a few. In our garden we grow common milkweed alongside marsh milkweed (Asclepias incarnata); marsh milkweed blooms slightly earlier than common milkweed as it is sited in a sunnier locale. Both species attract a wide variety of winged pollinators. Male and female Monarchs nectar from the blossoms, while the males simultaneously patrol for females. The females utilize the foliage of both species to oviposit their eggs. Typically we observe females freely flitting alternatively between our common and marsh milkweed, depositing their eggs on the choicest leaves and buds, while pausing frequently to nectar.
Monarch Butterfly Egg on Common Milkweed Leaf
The milky sap that flows through milkweed veins lends the genus its common name. Monarch butterflies and their caterpillars have evolved to withstand the toxic milk, but not the predatory bird that attempts to eat one. The adult Monarch's unique wing pattern and caterpillar's striped suit warn of its dreadful taste and lethal toxins. A bird that is tempted becomes sick and may even die, and if it survives, remembers never again to try to eat a Monarch. "The larvae sequester cardiac glycosides from the milkweed leaves that they consume. Concentrations of these heart toxins in their bodies may be several times higher than those occurring in milkweed leaves. The glycosides consumed by the caterpillars are carried forward both into the chrysalis and adult stages, affording them protection as well." (Caterpillars of North America David L. Wagner).
Common milkweed is highly adaptable and grows in nearly any soil. The size of the developing colonies and individual plants reflect the conditions in which it is grown. Planted in a rich, moist soil, protected from the wind and where it receives some light shade, it will grow six to seven feet. I use it extensively in my butterfly garden designs, planting in rich, average, and dry conditions, and find it especially appealing and useful for shoreline gardens. In sandy soil, sand dunes, and meadows, where it is exposed to wind and/or salt spray, common milkweed is equally as vigorous, but of a much shorter stature, typically obtaining the height of two to three feet.
A. syriaca thrives in full sun to light shade. In a moist, protected area, plant in the back of the border. In a more exposed site, plant in the mid-ground. Because of its ability to spread readily and rapidly, use in an informal, natural setting as opposed to planting in formal beds.
Common milkweed is highly fragrant and is the most richly scented of the species of milkweeds found in Massachusetts (A. incarnata, A. syriaca, A. quadrifolia, A. tuberosa, A. amplexicaulis, A. exaltata, A. pupurascens, and A. verticillata), with a complex wild flower honey fragrance. I have heard it described as similar to the scent of lilacs, but find lilacs have a much sweeter fragrance than common milkweed. Fragrance is highly mutable and subjective.
One- to two-year-old plants are easier to transplant than established plants. Common milkweed takes approximately three years to flower from seed. The method in which I have had the greatest success in propagating Asclepias syriaca, best attempted in early summer, is to dig up a rhizome, found at the base of a plant with newly emerging shoots. The rhizome would ideally be obtained from a friend's garden. If collected in the wild, be sure to dig from an area where there are many shoots present. You need a fairly large chunk, at least a half-foot, with both roots and new shoots present. Replant the rhizome at the same depth. Water throughout the summer. Towards the end of the growing season you will be rewarded with newly emerging shoots. Common milkweed self-seeds readily, but spreads primarily (and rambunctiously) by its rhizomatic root structure.
Milkweed in general, and in particular, common milkweed, attracts a host of pollinators—bees, wasps, butterflies, and purportedly hummingbirds. I have yet to see the Ruby-throated hummingbird nectar from common milkweed, but it may also be the case that they are attracted to the plant for the multitude of tiny insect populations frequenting the flowers (over ninety percent of a Ruby-throated hummingbird's diet is comprised of insects). We typically findMonarch eggs and caterpillars on milkweed plants during the months of July and August.
Buddleia davidii 'Nanho Blue,' with blue-violet racemes, melds beautifully with the muted lavender rose florets of the softly drooping flower heads of common milkweed. The brilliant white of native Phlox davidii and vivid purple-pink of Liatris ligulistylus attractively offsets both. All are famously attractive to Monarchs (and myriad other species of Lepidoptera) and will provide a long season of nectar-rich blossoms and Monarch caterpillar food.
Monarch Butterflies Mating on Common Milkweed Leaves
A note about the video: Monarch butterflies deposit eggs on common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) and marsh milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) in eastern Massachusetts. The chrysalis in this video was attached to a marsh milkweed stem. For a wealth of information on butterfly gardening, read Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities!
This entry was posted in Antennae for Design, Bees, Cape Ann, Creating a Butterfly Garden, David R. Godine, Gloucester, Home and Garden, Lepidoptera ~ Butterflies, Skippers, and Moths, Life at the Edge of the Sea, Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus), Monarch Butterfly Migration, Native Plants, North Shore Boston, Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities!, Recommended Books, The Fragrant Garden, Wildflowers and tagged Asclepias incarnata, Asclepias syriaca, common milkweed, Gloucester, marsh milkweed, Massachusetts, Monarch butterfly, Oh Garden of Fresh Possibilities! on June 18, 2010 by Kimsmithdesigns.
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1 thought on "Creating Summer Magic"
kimsmithdesigns June 21, 2010 at 9:03 pm
Dear Karen, Thank you for your kind words. You are welcome to put a link to my post.Many thanks again.Sincerely,Kim
Kim Smith22 Plum StreetGloucester, MA 01930978.283.3910 Kim Smith DesignsEmail: kimsmithdesigns@hotmail.comWeb: http://www.kimsmithdesigns.comBlog: Kim Smith DesignsYoutube:Kim Smith Designs


As the name suggests, these programs are designed to retain customers and keep them loyal to your brand.
Virtually every business loses some customers, but few are diligent about measuring that loss, determining the reason for the loss and taking measures to change the pattern. More common, businesses focus on new business prospects, investing large sums of time, effort and money to make their next sale.
Often, the best way to grow a business, is to nurture existing customer relationships turning them into repeat customers keeping them loyal to your brand. Since they are already familiar with your company and it's brand, and the lines of communication have already been established, it often a much cheaper and easier to maintain this customer than to go out and find a new one.
Taking the concept a step further, once you've made a customer a repeat customer, the next step is to make them an advocate or brand evangelist – sharing how much they like your business with their friends, colleagues and the world. This is the brass ring of marketing endeavors because brand evangelists can be the tipping point when competing for sales. Your prospects have become savvy consumers, scouring the internet for information when they are making purchase decisions. Prospects are more likely to believe testimonials and reviews from other consumers before the propaganda generated by a brand.
Nonneman Communications can design programs to help your company retain more customers and turn them into brand evangelists. We're here to help.


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Q: How to optimize the event polling thread on a single-core machine having <500 MHz clock, <256 MiB RAM and using Customize Linux based on Yocto minimal Currently, I have made an embedded GUI application for one of my embedded boards (Galileo Gen 2). The application can perform testing activity for I²C, SPI, GPIO, ADC, UART, and PWM, including their PinMuxing.
For GPIO I have used the sysfs-based rising/falling edge interrupt detection technique. For that inside the low-level code I have invoked the GPIO PIN monitor thread which has a poll() system call based logic (fd state monitor). So basically if any interrupt occurs on a GPIO PIN then I have filled a buffer with event information, like RTC stamp, PIN value, etc.
Now in the another thread, it will read that buffer for logging.
Both threads are synchronized using a conditional variable.
After implementing the above logic my application becomes slower as compared to the previous one. I think due to my low hardware configuration based platform, the GUI rendering is slow because the above two threads are in a while loop. The top utility gives me the 100% CPU utilization while testing the above scenario.
Or is there another thread optimization technique required?

A:
is there another thread optimization technique required?

Without looking at your code, I probably can't recommend much.
The comment about GUI rendering catches my eye. Console graphic I/O can be surprisingly expensive (which I'm sure is why all on-line adverts are filled with pictures and graphics, and minimal text).
I'm not sure, however, if text I/O would be any better than graphics / pictures. More to learn.

This is polling if 'checking the flag' does not block:
while (1)
   if(flag)   // Non-blocking
      do_something();

This snippet is polling the flag that presumably something else will set (if it ever gets CPU cycles to do so.)
When "if(flag)" blocks the thread, you probably can't do much better.

Polling, this is not:
while (1)
   if(flag)   // Non-blocking
      do_something();
   else
      usleep(minValue); // When included, it can be remarkably effective

I'm not sure if this works on any form of Linux, and I don't know what the minValue idea is for Linux. See next.

Polling, this is not (part 2): At least one reason why embedded system support is special:
VxWorks provides delay():
while (1)
   if(flag)  // Non-blocking
      do something();
   else
      delay(0);

Typically, delay(10) surrenders the processor (as a good neighbor would) and requests to be restored to the back of the appropriate priority thread queue after 10 milliseconds.
In this I'm-not-polling loop, "delay(0)" forces the scheduler to 'move' the current thread to the back of the current thread priority queue.
Note that if there is no other thread in the same ready-to-run queue, the thread is instantly at the front again, would simply be resumed, with much less than normal context switch expense.

It was awesome how light duty (in CPU cycles) the while loop with delay(0) was to that embedded system ... VxWorks has several of these kinds of 'tricks'.
It is remarkable how light duty (in CPU cycles) the while loop is with usleep(minValue) on my Linux. Even though the context switch is relatively expensive, it is still grease to the bearings.
It is almost environmentally criminal (in terms of heat generated) how heavy the poll loop is, in any context.