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Colitis CME
Colitis is inflammation of the mucosal lining of the colon which may be acute or chronic. Colitis is common and increasing in prevalence worldwide. Patients with colitis present with watery diarrhea, abdominal pain, tenesmus, urgency, fever, tiredness, and blood in the stool. However, colitis has different types and results from several mechanisms including infection, autoimmunity, ischemia, and drugs. Also, it may occur secondary to immune deficiency disorders or secondary to exposure to radiation. Because the clinical presentation can be the same across different types of colitis, there is a need for a review presenting an approach to assess patients presenting with colitis. Searching the literature reveals that this area is deficient, and nearly most publications are focused on one aspect of colitis or are disease-based articles. This review discusses the etiology, epidemiology, pathophysiology, clinical presentation, evaluation, differential diagnosis, complications and management of patients with colitis.
In adults, colitis may be the result of infection, inflammatory bowel disease, microscopic colitis, ischemia, drugs, secondary to immune deficiency disorders, or radiation.
Infection: Bacterial infections including Campylobacter jejuni, Escherichia coli, Salmonella, Shigella, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and Clostridium difficile responsible for Pseudomembranous colitis. Parasites such as Entamoeba histolytica, and viruses such as cytomegalovirus.
Inflammatory bowel disease: This refers to Crohn disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC).
Microscopic colitis: This condition is a relatively common cause of chronic watery diarrhea, especially in the elderly. The disease has two main subtypes, collagenous colitis (CC) and lymphocytic colitis (LC), which are very similar clinically with the main distinction being the presence or absence of a thickened subepithelial collagen band. The disease is associated with autoimmune disorders such as celiac disease, type 1 diabetes, thyroid dysfunction, and psoriasis.
Ischemic colitis: Occurs when there is hypoperfusion in blood supply below that required for the metabolic needs of the colon resulting in colonic mucosal ulceration, inflammation, and hemorrhage.
Drug-induced colitis: Drugs such as non-steroidal inflammatory drugs, aspirin, proton pump inhibitors, Hreceptor antagonists, beta blockers, statins, immunosuppressive drugs, vasopressors may cause colitis.
Secondary to immune deficiency disorders
Tuberculous colitis
Radiation colitis: This can occur secondary to pelvic radiotherapy for gynecological, urological and rectal cancers.
Campylobacter jejuni is the number one bacterial cause of diarrheal illness worldwide with an estimated prevalence of 25 to 30 per 100000 population. For Salmonella and Shigella, the prevalence estimates are 20 cases per 100000 population.
Inflammatory bowel disease has been increasing in incidence and prevalence in various regions in the globe with the highest rates in North America and Europe.[1] The prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease in the USA is 263 per 100000 for adults.
Microscopic colitis is most commonly present in older adults with an average age between 50 and 70 years. Microscopic colitis is more common in women than in men with a female-to-male ratio typically higher in CC ranging up to 9 to 1. The incidence of MC is between 1 and 30 per 100000 person-year.
The incidence of ischemic colitis has risen from 6.1 cases per 100000 person-year in 1976 to 1980 to 22.9 per 100000 in 2005 to 2009.[2] While the reason for such increase may be related to several reasons including the improvement in medical intervention and the use of endoscopy in diagnosis, the prevalence of this condition increases with age and comorbidity and hence the increases in incidence as the population ages.
M. tuberculosis colitis is endemic in many countries, and there has been a resurgence of tuberculosis in the Western world. The annual global incidence of tuberculosis is estimated to be 9.4 million cases. The global case fatality rate was 23 to 25% and exceeded 50% in some African countries with high HIV prevalence rates.[3]
The pathologic basis includes:
Infection with Campylobacter jejuni is a result of orally ingested contaminated food or water. Infection influences include several factors including the dose of bacteria ingested, the virulence of organisms, and the immunity of the host. The median incubation period is 2 to 4 days. C jejuni multiplies in the bile and then invades the epithelial layers and travels to the lamina propria producing a diffuse, bloody, edematous enteritis. Pseudomembranous colitis is caused by toxin-producing Clostridium difficile. The disease develops as a result of altered normal microflora (usually by antibiotic therapy such as cephalosporin and beta-lactam antibiotics) that enables overgrowth and colonization of the intestine by Clostridium difficile and production of its toxins.[4]
Inflammation in ulcerative colitis involves the rectum in 95% of patients and extends proximally in a continuous pattern. The disease may affect the entire colorectum (termed pancolitis) or only limited to the rectum (termed proctitis). Some patients may develop limited terminal ileal involvement (backwash ileitis) that can be challenging to differentiate from Crohn disease.[5][6]
The pathophysiology of microscopic colitis is not well understood. Several hypotheses have been placed to explain the disease underlying mechanisms and pathogenesis including genetic predisposition, autoimmunity, immune dysregulation to a reaction to a luminal antigen such as various infectious agents and medications, as well as bile acid malabsorption.[7][8][9]
In ischemic colitis, the duration and severity of hypoperfusion will determine the colonic injury. Reperfusion injury could also be a significant contributing factor. Patients with ischemic colitis usually have (1) comorbidities including heart failure, atherosclerosis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS), atrial fibrillation (emboli), concurrent malignancy and hematological disorders (thrombosis). (2) Iatrogenic causes including abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, bowel preparation media for a colonoscopy and colonoscopy. Two mechanisms may cause bowel ischemia, the first is diminished bowel perfusion due to low cardiac output (heart failure, shock), and the second is occlusive disease including atherosclerosis, embolism with inadequate collateral circulation.[10]
In drug-induced colitis, the pathophysiology and pathology vary and may mimic microscopic colitis and or ischemic colitis.
In colitis secondary to immune deficiency disorders, several factors might be responsible for colitis and diarrhea including HIV infection, antiretroviral therapy, opportunistic infection (particularly cytomegalovirus), and cryptosporidiosis.
While there is no specific approach for assessing histological changes associated with colitis, the histological pattern approach described by Jessurun seems to be practical and the current recommendation. The patterns include (1) acute colitis associated with colonic infections and drug-induced injuries, inflammation may be patchy or diffuse, and mixed inflammatory cells and abundant neutrophils are usually present (2) focal active colitis, mostly seen in drug-induced injuries, but maybe a manifestation of inflammatory bowel disease especially Crohn disease. (3) Pseudomembranous colitis pattern associated with C. difficile infection, although it can result from other infections such as Shigella, drugs, and radiation injury, (4) hemorrhagic colitis is associated with the entero-hemorrhagic strain of E. coli 0157: H7. The lamina propria appears hemorrhagic and edematous. Fibrin thrombi are present within capillaries, and crypts show ischemic injury, and (5) ischemic colitis associated with acute ischemic colitis. The extent of mucosal injury determines the clinical presentation; however, colonoscopy and biopsies are seldom necessary for patients presenting with acute abdomen due to embolic occlusion, or intestinal obstruction.[5]
History and Physical
Patients with colitis present with abdominal pain, watery diarrhea, fever, urgency, and blood in the stool. Examining doctor should look for red flags such as patient's age, hemodynamic changes, nocturnal diarrheas, tenesmus, urgency, weight loss, comorbidities, history of heart failure, arrhythmias, autoimmune disorders, detailed history of patient's medication, signs suggestive of toxic megacolon, and anemia.
In ulcerative colitis, extraintestinal manifestations associated with colitis and disease activity include arthropathies, eye changes (episcleritis, scleritis, uveitis), skin changes (erythema nodosum and pyoderma gangrenosum). Other extraintestinal manifestations reported in colitis include sacroiliitis, ankylosing spondylitis, hepatic dysfunction, and primary sclerosing cholangitis.[6]
Diagnosis of colitis has its basis in clinical findings, laboratory tests, endoscopy, and biopsy. Endoscopy and biopsy should not be the primary investigations and may be arranged after a critical evaluation of the patient's condition and the results from the initial examinations.
Because colonic infection is a common etiology of colitis and can produce clinical presentations indistinguishable from inflammatory bowel disease, microbiological studies and cultures for bacterial and parasitic infestations should be the primary investigations. Laboratory workup including complete blood count, ESR, CRP, arterial blood gases, activated partial thromboplastin time, serum albumin, total protein, blood urea, creatinine, electrolytes, and purified protein derivative, should be ordered.
D-lactate levels in the blood could be a sensitive marker of colonic ischemia; however, it is an experimental laboratory test.
Electrocardiogram, transthoracic and even Holter monitoring may be necessary in patients with ischemic colitis.
Plain X-ray is of limited value; however, it may be useful in the diagnosis of toxic megacolon, bowel obstruction, and intestinal perforation (pneumoperitoneum). Thumbprinting is a classic finding for mucosal edema though not specific for ischemic colitis.
Multidetector CT and thin sections, can accurately demonstrate inflammatory changes in the colonic wall and help assess the extent of disease. Ulcerative colitis is distinguishable from granulomatous colitis (Crohn disease) in terms of location of involvement, extent, and appearance of colonic wall thickening, and type of complications.
Colonoscopy or proctosigmoidoscopy is essential for the final diagnosis; it typically appears normal in microscopic colitis although edema or erythema may present. Ulceration suggests an alternative diagnosis, although these can be present in patients on non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Other colonoscopy changes, depending on the etiology, include loss of typical vascular pattern, granularity, friability, and ulceration.
Several laboratory tests specific to certain colitis may be ordered including perinuclear antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (P-ANCA), which may present in Crohn disease, anti-saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA), a feature in both ulcerative colitis and Crohn disease, and carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), which is elevated in patients with active ulcerative colitis.[6]
Assess the extent, degree, and severity of the disease and any complications.
Treatment / Management
Not all infectious colitis requires antibiotic therapy; patients with mild to moderate C. jejuni or Salmonella infections do not need antibiotic therapy because the infection is self-limited. Treatment with quinolinic acid antibiotics is reserved for patients with dysentery and high fever suggestive of bacteremia. Also, patients with AIDS, malignancy, transplantation, prosthetic implants, valvular heart disease or extreme age will require antibiotic therapy. For mild to moderate cases of C. difficile infection metronidazole is the preferred treatment. In severe cases of C. difficile infection oral vancomycin is recommended. In complicated cases, oral vancomycin with intravenous metronidazole is recommended. Cytomegalovirus colitis is treated with valganciclovir; the duration of treatment should be individualized depending on the clinical picture and laboratory parameters.[11]
5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) drugs are the standard treatment in ulcerative colitis for induction and maintenance of remission of mild and moderate cases. The place of 5-ASA in the management of Crohn disease is controversial. Immunomodulators including azathioprine, 6-mercaptopurine, and methotrexate, are the mainstay of treatment in maintenance therapy for patients with mild to moderately severe Crohn disease and frequently relapsing ulcerative colitis where 5-ASA drugs failed. Biological therapies, tumor necrosis factor-oe, such as infliximab, adalimumab, and certolizumab are available for the management of Crohn disease, to get the disease under control and long-term maintenance. Corticosteroids are effective in reducing remission in inflammatory bowel disease and are cheap. However, they are not recommended for maintenance therapy and are associated with serious side effects. Surgery is recommended in patients not responding to medical therapy.[6][12][13]
In microscopic colitis, discontinuation of any offending medication and smoking cessation are vital. While anti-diarrheal medications, bismuth subsalicylate or cholestyramine may help, budesonide is effective in inducing remission and should be the first medication to start.[14] Patients in whom budesonide therapy is not feasible, bismuth salicylate or mesalamine is an option.
Patients with ischemic colitis without peritoneal signs, medical management may be safely employed including intravenous fluid resuscitation, optimizing cardiac output, use of supplementation of oxygen, placing the bowel on rest, parenteral nutrition, the use of broad-spectrum antibiotics to cover both aerobic and anaerobic coliform bacteria and close monitoring. Failure of medical management and the development of peritoneal signs or intestinal perforation necessitates surgical intervention and bowel resection.[10][15]
Anti-tuberculous treatment comprising isoniazid, rifampin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol for 2 months is recommended in tuberculous colitis followed by isoniazid and rifampin for 7 months. The duration of treatment is nine months, and patients should be regularly followed up for assessing their response to the treatment.[16]
Celiac disease (patients with celiac disease who have continued to have watery motions despite being on a strict gluten-free diet should be investigated for microscopic colitis)
Toxic megacolon
Viral/bacterial gastroenteritis
Other types of colitis
Complications include:
Intestinal perforation
Bowel strictures, fistulas, abscess, and intestinal obstruction
Pelvic abscess
Enterocutaneous fistulas, particularly in Crohn disease
Pouchitis
Guillain-Barre syndrome (Campylobacter jejuni colitis, cytomegalovirus colitis, and reported in ulcerative colitis)
Hemolytic uremic syndrome (enterohemorrhagic E coli, Shigella)
Encephalopathy, seizures (Shigella)
Toxic megacolon is an uncommon complication of colitis, characterized by total or segmental nonobstructive colonic dilatation, associated with systemic toxicity and has an overall mortality of 19%.[17] Diseases such as ulcerative colitis and pseudomembranous colitis are well-known to be complicated and develop toxic megacolon for over 60% of cases.[18] Other conditions associated with inflammation of colon including Campylobacter and shigella colitis may develop toxic megacolon.
Pearls and Other Issues
The symptoms of colitis are non-specific, detailed medical, examination and laboratory workup are needed; however, endoscopic evaluation and mucosal biopsy are essential to confirm the diagnosis and exclude inflammatory bowel disease-associated colitis.
Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes
Colitis, depending on its cause, may be self-limited, life-threatening, chronic or recurrent. Patients with chronic and recurrent colitis need lifelong monitoring. The general practitioners have key roles in early diagnosis of the disease, support of the patients and assisting them with smoking cessation and management of their disease. The patients should be encouraged by nursing to take responsibility for their condition and provide knowledge of their pathology and drugs used. The pharmacists should be aware of the disease and drugs that could cause colitis and assist in explaining the potential complications. The nurse and pharmacist should report untoward complications to the clinical team. Other healthcare professionals including nurses need to be mindful of the clinical picture, common presentations, management, and care of patients with chronic and recurrent colitis. The surgeons play a key role with specific aspects of colitis in emergencies and in cases that failed to respond to medical therapy. Patients with chronic colitis develop depression and anxiety and need mental health support. All these various disciplines need to work together collaboratively in an interprofessional team to bring about the best outcomes for patients who have colitis. [Level V]
Radiograph of an infant with necrotizing enterocolitis
Contributed by RadsWiki.net (CC By-S.A. 3.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/deed.en)
Gross Pathology, Neonatal, Necrotizing enterocolitis, Alimentary tract of infant, intestinal necrosis, pneumatosis intestinalis, perforation site shown by arrow
Contributed by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Pathology, Micrograph, Gram-positive, Clostridium difficile, colitis
Contributed by Lois S. Wiggs, Janice Carr, The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Pseudomembranous colitis
image donated by sbhimji
Amebic colitis
Courtesy of Pathology outlines (http://www.pathologyoutlines.com)
[1] Molodecky NA,Soon IS,Rabi DM,Ghali WA,Ferris M,Chernoff G,Benchimol EI,Panaccione R,Ghosh S,Barkema HW,Kaplan GG, Increasing incidence and prevalence of the inflammatory bowel diseases with time, based on systematic review. Gastroenterology. 2012 Jan; [PubMed PMID: 22001864]
[2] Yadav S,Dave M,Edakkanambeth Varayil J,Harmsen WS,Tremaine WJ,Zinsmeister AR,Sweetser SR,Melton LJ 3rd,Sandborn WJ,Loftus EV Jr, A population-based study of incidence, risk factors, clinical spectrum, and outcomes of ischemic colitis. Clinical gastroenterology and hepatology : the official clinical practice journal of the American Gastroenterological Association. 2015 Apr; [PubMed PMID: 25130936]
[3] Dye C,Scheele S,Dolin P,Pathania V,Raviglione MC, Consensus statement. Global burden of tuberculosis: estimated incidence, prevalence, and mortality by country. WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring Project. JAMA. 1999 Aug 18; [PubMed PMID: 10517722]
[4] Napolitano LM,Edmiston CE Jr, Clostridium difficile disease: Diagnosis, pathogenesis, and treatment update. Surgery. 2017 Aug; [PubMed PMID: 28267992]
[5] Jessurun J, The Differential Diagnosis of Acute Colitis: Clues to a Specific Diagnosis. Surgical pathology clinics. 2017 Dec; [PubMed PMID: 29103537]
[6] Ungaro R,Mehandru S,Allen PB,Peyrin-Biroulet L,Colombel JF, Ulcerative colitis. Lancet (London, England). 2017 Apr 29; [PubMed PMID: 27914657]
[7] Pardi DS, Diagnosis and Management of Microscopic Colitis. The American journal of gastroenterology. 2017 Jan; [PubMed PMID: 27897155]
[8] Brown WR,Tayal S, Microscopic colitis. A review. Journal of digestive diseases. 2013 Jun; [PubMed PMID: 23419063]
[9] Ianiro G,Cammarota G,Valerio L,Annicchiarico BE,Milani A,Siciliano M,Gasbarrini A, Microscopic colitis. World journal of gastroenterology. 2012 Nov 21; [PubMed PMID: 23180940]
[10] Washington C,Carmichael JC, Management of ischemic colitis. Clinics in colon and rectal surgery. 2012 Dec; [PubMed PMID: 24294125]
[11] Tortora A,Purchiaroni F,Scarpellini E,Ojetti V,Gabrielli M,Vitale G,Giovanni G,Gasbarrini A, Colitides. European review for medical and pharmacological sciences. 2012 Nov; [PubMed PMID: 23208963]
[12] Nguyen GC,Loftus EV Jr,Hirano I,Falck-Ytter Y,Singh S,Sultan S, American Gastroenterological Association Institute Guideline on the Management of Crohn's Disease After Surgical Resection. Gastroenterology. 2017 Jan; [PubMed PMID: 27840074]
[13] Marchioni Beery R,Kane S, Current approaches to the management of new-onset ulcerative colitis. Clinical and experimental gastroenterology. 2014; [PubMed PMID: 24872716]
[14] Nguyen GC,Smalley WE,Vege SS,Carrasco-Labra A, American Gastroenterological Association Institute Guideline on the Medical Management of Microscopic Colitis. Gastroenterology. 2016 Jan; [PubMed PMID: 26584605]
[15] Trotter JM,Hunt L,Peter MB, Ischaemic colitis. BMJ (Clinical research ed.). 2016 Dec 22; [PubMed PMID: 28007701]
[16] Mukewar S,Mukewar S,Ravi R,Prasad A,S Dua K, Colon tuberculosis: endoscopic features and prospective endoscopic follow-up after anti-tuberculosis treatment. Clinical and translational gastroenterology. 2012 Oct 11; [PubMed PMID: 23238066]
[17] Gan SI,Beck PL, A new look at toxic megacolon: an update and review of incidence, etiology, pathogenesis, and management. The American journal of gastroenterology. 2003 Nov; [PubMed PMID: 14638335]
[18] Ausch C,Madoff RD,Gnant M,Rosen HR,Garcia-Aguilar J,Hölbling N,Herbst F,Buxhofer V,Holzer B,Rothenberger DA,Schiessel R, Aetiology and surgical management of toxic megacolon. Colorectal disease : the official journal of the Association of Coloproctology of Great Britain and Ireland. 2006 Mar; [PubMed PMID: 16466559]
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The Nike TiempoX Ronaldinho 2018 boots have been leaked, and they look gorgeous.
'Member the 2009 Nike Ronaldinho Dois boots? They were boss. They had the little cushions, making your control entirely like that of Ronaldinho's. They had the little multicolor seams, signifying that while you came to ball, you also liked to drink your fair share of caipirinhas on the weekend. With those boots, you transformed into a party animal, both on and off the pitch.
I certainly 'member. Now, in early 2018, Nike is about to drop the latest TiempoX R10 football boots with an obvious nod of the head towards both Ronaldinho's classic Tiempo cleats and the 2009 Nike Ronaldinho Dois boots.
Get ready to pedalada, elastico, rabona and lambreta your way down the pitch in these beauties.
Are The Classic Blaugrana Stripes Making A Return In 2018-19?


text:
"Ferguson: Nixon Fails while Business Thrives"
June 11, 2017 Reece Ellis Uncategorized Leave a comment
Today, it looks like any other Midwestern town. There are fast food restaurants, auto shops, drug stores, a laundromat, and rows of cookie-cutter houses. Cars fill the streets, people on their phones brush by on the sidewalk, and of course there's the ice cream truck bell, the ubiquitous sound of summer. But if you walk around, you'll notice remnants of a not so distant past.
I wandered into Canfield Apartments, a not especially impressive apartment complex that was eerily empty on a Friday afternoon. I stopped at the entrance and was greeted by this sign, but when I peeked around the edge, a sticker had been placed on it that read simply "cop watch".
I looked down and there was a plaque cemented into the sidewalk, emblazoned with a name that is now all too familiar "Michael Brown". The plaque reads "I would like the memory of Michael Brown to be a happy one, he left an afterglow of smiles when life was done. He leaves an echo whispering softly down the ways, of happy and loving times and bright and sunny days. He'd like the tears of those who grieve, to dry before the sun of happy memories that he left behind when life was done." At first, it seems out of place, but the more you look around, the more you notice the little reminders. A patch of graffiti here, a mural there, deflated balloons, or stuffed animals.
But this isn't about Michael Brown, and I'll try not to rehash what happened in August, 2014, at least in this article. This is about a conversation I had with an unmovable, and at times colorful, Ferguson business owner. A business owner who was angry about what happened to his community, angry about a perceived failure from his government to act. A business owner who displayed that anger in block letters in his store front sign for all to see, for over 2 years, some say out of spite, others say out of passion.
John Zisser
His name is John Zisser, owner of Zisser Tire & Auto Services, located on the corner of West Florissant Ave. & Chambers Rd. John has been in the community for several years, and he was quite taken aback by the events in 2014. John says he'll never forget the first night of the unrest, he was at home watching a sports game. Then from another room his wife yelled "John! John! Turn on the TV!" and he saw West Florissant, full of people and full of glass. He says he wanted to run out of the house and defend his store, but his wife advised against it, worried about his safety. But by the time John had seen the news, the damage was already done.
I ask John how he feels now about everything, and he sighs deeply. Then he says "I wish I never heard the name Michael Brown. That none of this would've happened". It's a feeling shared by many Americans, not because they want to forget, but because Ferguson reopened a wound that many Americans thought had been closed for 40 years. The reactions of ordinarily decent people after Ferguson, revealed that cultural resentment and racial prejudice had been growing in what most people assumed were tight-knit communities.
John says "it was sad to see what happened to the properties in the area." Some businesses never returned to Ferguson. Lots where buildings once stood, but were razed to the ground during the unrest, still sit empty. Some stores have been boarded up, others have for-sale signs in their windows. But that's not representative of the entire community.
John reassures me, "out of all the bad, there came some good." The good John is referencing is the recent economic investment in the area. There are new projects in development, like the beauty shop across the street being rebuilt, while others are already completed like the Starbucks further down the street. Something I found notable was the Urban League under construction in the same space where a Quik-Trip, and later the burnout shell of a Quik-Trip, once stood. Fundraisers and a lot of community support allowed businesses to survive the immediate aftermath of the unrest. This isn't to say that everything is great for everyone. John says that he took some loses and "what used to be my best property…" he hesitates, but then continues, "business has recovered, but it could always be better."
I ask John what frustrates him, and he says "I wish the full story was out there, and people would take everything into context." John tries to help me understand his feelings returning to his business after the unrest, he asks me if my home has ever been broken into, and if it had what crossed my mind whenever I went back. John says that if I'm like him, then my biggest concern was "can this happen again?" John says the hardest part wasn't cleaning up after the unrest or trying to get insurance to pay for damages. John says the hardest part was coming to work every day after. John is scarred by what happened, not afraid necessarily, but more attentive than he once was. John says every time he watches the news he worries. "When something happens in Baltimore or Chicago like what happened here I just think 'Oh crap, not again'". There's a lingering fear that the next event is going to spark a protest, and John's business will once again be in danger.
Now, back to the infamous sign. I never asked John's political affiliation, and he explicitly said "I don't want to get political." which was followed with the caveat "But I'm glad Nixon is the hell out of here! I can finally use my sign again!" I asked why even use his sign in the first place and he replied simply "I was mad!"
John said he never heard much from government officials, the last time he talked to the mayor of Ferguson was before the election, and he'd never heard from former Governor Nixon, who has drawn so much ire from John and other Ferguson residents. In my personal experiences with people in the community, outrage over lack of communication before, during, and after the unrest is a recurring theme.
I asked John what would he tell the outside community about Ferguson, or his shop in particular.
He said "We're still here, and we're not leaving…. Every place has its problems, in Des Peres this morning there was a stolen car." he admits that maybe there were racial issues, even if they weren't obvious to him. "Most of our customers are black, upwards of 51%. All of customers are just normal decent people, sometimes you run into an idiot, but that happens at fast food joints, gas stations, and everywhere really." John contends that Ferguson, is just like anywhere else.
He ends our conversation with "things are gonna get better. I believe things are gonna get better."
I sure hope so John.
FergusonMIchael BrownZisser Tire
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The A470 OPT, an interesting work of art.
where is the bias pin in my rebuilt dynaco st-70?
8417's in a Stereo 70?
Anybody got any idea of what this might be?
Interested in a ST-70 driver with Mullard 5-20 circuit?
Replacing ST-70 driver board - a RETORATION or REBUILD ???
Advice needed, buying ST-70, where to look at?
weight st-70 (for shipping) ?
All Antek toroid ST-70, anyone tried it?


text:
Protection of press and media professionals under article 19
May 19, 2020 by Raman Saxena
Right to Freedom of speech and expression is absolutely necessary for the democratic way of living. It is the foundation of all the democratic organizations which is very important for the proper functioning of the government. Article 19 of the constitution of India ensures freedom of speech and expression as one of the fundamental rights and Article 19(1) (a) states – All citizens shall have the right to freedom of speech and expression which means right to express one's views and opinions freely by words of mouth, writing, printing, pictures or any other mode with some limitations imposed under Article 19(2) which empowers the state to put reasonable restrictions on the following grounds i.e. security of the state, friendly relations with the foreign nation , public order, decency and morality, contempt of court , defamation, incitement to offence and integrity and sovereignty of India. Freedom of speech and expression has four broad special objectives to perform – (1) individual's achievement of something desired (2) helps in the discovery of truth (3) maintain balance between stability and social change (4) participation in decision making.
The Publicity is the very inspiration behind the fulfillment of justice. The beginning of the free society will be visible when there is care and guidance of public opinion and the par excellence of the press. The American press Commission has also said, "Freedom of the press is essential to political liberty. Open exchange of information, discussions, sopinions and public debate is important for the smooth functioning of the government. That why the press as a powerful mode of mass communication is essential to counter democracy and to influence public opinion. Media and journalism holds the power to tell every social, economic and political change to the society and to influence thinking, belief and behaviour of the citizens. Every human being should be socially aware of the happenings in the world and for its success, press and media holds the key by being the connection between citizenry of voters and the government. The protection of media and press has entitled them to keep an eye on the actions of the government and keep them on their toes to do better for the country.
The freedom of the press is not specifically mentioned in the Article 19(1) (a) of the constitution of India but it has been held in the case of Brij Bhushan v. State of Delhi that the, "freedom of the press is an essential part of the right to freedom of speech and expression". And in the case of Romesh Thaper v. State of madras that the, "Freedom of the speech and of the press lay at the foundation of all democratic organizations, for without free political discussion no public education, so essential for the proper functioning of the process of popular government if possible".
Threats to the protection and freedom of press and media
The freedom of press and media is denoted by the general working of the Right of freedom of speech and expression. But this working have been facing serious danger and threats regularly in India. It will have been becoming difficult to bring information and reality to the public. This has put a risk to the life of the people. The job of journalists and media persons is important and critical in a democratic country. But instead of their protection and freedom there is a culture of bullying, threatening, abusing and killing of the professionals in India which is now reflected into a troubling atmosphere. There are various events in India which had witnessed major threat to the freedom of press and media persons like – violent attacks on media followed by the arrest of Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Singh. More than a dozen journalists were harassed or physically attacked while covering riots that broke out in northeast Delhi in late February 2020.
The manifestation and intolerance of dissenting journalists are sometimes follow in censorship and physical intimidation. The speech and expressions of the journalism as a profession are often results in cyber bullying and sometimes their assassination were also follow as well. The murders of several journalists were also affected over the last few years in India like the cold-blooded murder of Gauri Lankesh, the editor of Lankesh patrike in the city of Bengaluru in 2017. Journalist Santanu bhowmik was murdered in Tripura while on duty covering an agitation by the Indigenous people's front of Tripura in 2017 etc. There were 48 journalist who were being killed between the period of 1992 and 2018 as per the report by the committee to protect journalists (CPJ). These sufferings are also evident from the country's low rank in Global press freedom index which has now dropped to 142 out of 180 countries in the annual 'reporters without borders'. India is country of more than 1.3 billion population with democratic form of government and the freedom of press under article 19(1) (a) can't be denied because it is known as the fourth branch of the government.
First state with a law to protect journalists in India
To ensure the protection of journalists and press, Maharashtra media persons and media institutions (prevention of violence and damage or loss to property Act), 2017 was passed by the Maharashtra government and was first published after receiving the assent of the president in the "Maharashtra government gazette" on the 8th November 2019. This was the first law passed in any state for the prevention of violence against media persons while carrying out their duty and prevention of damage of property of media persons. Any persons who commits or attempts to commit this type of act will be punished with imprisonment which may extend to three years, or with fine, which may extend to fifty thousand rupees, or with both. Act of violence against media persons will be treated as cognizable, non-bailable and case under this law will be investigated by an officer not below the rank of DySP/ACP.
The spirit of press and media is defined by the article 19(1) (a) of the Indian constitution. The honest and civilized society tell us how smoothly the system is running. Despite of these difficulties as mentioned above, press and media has also achieved lot of success in India like if we talk about Jessica lal's case in which the case was reopened by press and public voices. In Arushi Talwar's murder case, the media played an important role by highlighting the loopholes in the case. But sometimes they need to be responsible and honest. There should not be any collaborations with political parties which results in wrong use of the right and should work in hand-in-hand with judiciary.
Author: Raman Saxena,
Delhi metropolitan education affiliated to GGSIPU ( 2nd year)
Categories Law blog Post navigation
free legal aid: most planned tool in promoting justice
OFFENCE OF RAPE AND VICTIM'S PREDICAMENT
6 thoughts on "Protection of press and media professionals under article 19"
Himanshu Saxena
Swati Pabreja
Great article.. keep it up!
Shaifali
realistic thoughts and u had wrote this so well. Great job man
Sachin bhardwaj
A good article with the facts but I m expecting more on remedial or the way ahead conclusions ..Keep it up boy ..
Prashant J. Saxena
Any democratic establishment needs to understand that it is indeed their first and foremost responsibility to
Give freedom to press as they are the fourth pillar of stabling the country, evey country needs to be writed, reported and asssesed.
Good job Raman
Very well written!


Fiat Chrysler Automobiles India (FCA India) unveiled FIAT Abarth 595 Competizione and showcased the new Punto Abarth, at the Buddh International Circuit in Greater Noida on August 4.
595 Competizione is a 3-door hatchback powered with a 1.4 L T-Jet engine producing 160 PS of power, taking the car from 0-100 in just 7.6 seconds which makes it furiously fast and fun to drive. The maximum torque generated is 230 Nm@2,750 – 3,000 rpm with the top speed of 210 kmph. Low ground clearance provides good traction and control for manoeuvring at high speeds. The sports car features large 17-inch alloy wheels to ensure that it remains gripped to the road.
Abarth 595 Competizione comes equipped with the well-acclaimed perforated and ventilated brake discs. Additionally, on the features list, the 595 is provided with a world class infotainment system, Xenon headlamps, rear parking sensors and Monza exhaust systems.
The interiors are refreshingly different with a mix of the retro and the modern. The steering wheel is small, leather wrapped with multifunction buttons cladded on. Equipped with two driving modes - normal and sport - the 595 comprises AMT transmission with paddle shifts mounted on the steering wheel and well-contoured hand stitched leather seats.
Abarth 595 Competizione will be available in four colours - Iridato White, Scorpione Black, Cordolo Red and Campovolo Grey. The company in its inaugural year will be introducing the 595 Competizione through the CBU route and will be available at select FIAT dealers in five Indian cities, namely, New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai and Bengaluru.


text:
{-# LANGUAGE NoImplicitPrelude #-}
module Prelude where
import System.IO (print)
x = print "it works"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
using namespace foundation;

namespace renderer
{

//
// ArchiveAssembly class implementation.
//

namespace
{
    const char* Model = "archive_assembly";
}

ArchiveAssembly::ArchiveAssembly(
    const char*         name,
    const ParamArray&   params)
  : ProceduralAssembly(name, params)
  , m_archive_opened(false)
{
}

void ArchiveAssembly::release()
{
    delete this;
}

const char* ArchiveAssembly::get_model() const
{
    return Model;
}

void ArchiveAssembly::collect_asset_paths(StringArray& paths) const
{
    if (m_params.strings().exist("filename"))
        paths.push_back(m_params.get("filename"));
}

void ArchiveAssembly::update_asset_paths(const StringDictionary& mappings)
{
    if (m_params.strings().exist("filename"))
        m_params.set("filename", mappings.get(m_params.get("filename")));
}

bool ArchiveAssembly::do_expand_contents(
    const Project&      project,
    const Assembly*     parent,
    IAbortSwitch*       abort_switch)
{
    if (!m_archive_opened)
    {
        // Establish and store the qualified path to the archive project.
        const SearchPaths& search_paths = project.search_paths();
        const std::string filepath =
            to_string(search_paths.qualify(m_params.get_required<std::string>("filename", "")));

        auto_release_ptr<Assembly> assembly =
            ProjectFileReader::read_archive(
                filepath.c_str(),
                nullptr,  // for now, we don't validate archives
                search_paths,
                ProjectFileReader::OmitProjectSchemaValidation);

        if (assembly.get())
        {
            swap_contents(*assembly);
            m_archive_opened = true;
        }
    }

    return true;
}

//
// ArchiveAssemblyFactory class implementation.
//

void ArchiveAssemblyFactory::release()
{
    delete this;
}

const char* ArchiveAssemblyFactory::get_model() const
{
    return Model;
}

Dictionary ArchiveAssemblyFactory::get_model_metadata() const
{
    return
        Dictionary()
            .insert("name", Model)
            .insert("label", "Archive Assembly");
}

DictionaryArray ArchiveAssemblyFactory::get_input_metadata() const
{
    DictionaryArray metadata;

    metadata.push_back(
        Dictionary()
            .insert("name", "filename")
            .insert("label", "File Path")
            .insert("type", "file")
            .insert("file_picker_mode", "open")
            .insert("file_picker_type", "project")
            .insert("use", "required"));

    return metadata;
}

auto_release_ptr<Assembly> ArchiveAssemblyFactory::create(
    const char*         name,
    const ParamArray&   params) const
{
    return auto_release_ptr<Assembly>(new ArchiveAssembly(name, params));
}

}   // namespace renderer


1. Eat REAL food, not factory food – Many of my guy friends love their meat, whether it's burgers, sausages, bacon, or wings. It can be very tough to convince a guy to limit how much meat he eats, even if that's what's best for his health. Instead, try to convince your man to improve the quality of the meat he eats. So instead of eating conventionally processed meats, encourage him to splurge and go for grass-fed beef, free range chicken, and wild caught, American fish. They taste even better than conventional meat and are better for his health.
2. Encourage Kegel exercises – Most women know about Kegel exercises, but most men don't. Doing these exercises regularly has been shown to decrease ED as much as 40% in just 90 days. And it's much better for him than popping a pill!
3. Exercise daily – I know so many men who are weekend warriors – only exercising on the weekends when they aren't working. Studies now show that HIIT (High intensity interval training) can be even better for our health than long aerobic workouts. So even if he takes just 10-20 minutes in the evening during the week, his health will definitely benefit for it!
4. Get a Coronary Artery Calcium Score – Heart disease is the leading cause of death in men in the United States. But with our available testing, heart attacks shouldn't come as a surprise. Men over 40 (or anyone with cardiac risk factors) should ask their doctor about getting a Coronary Artery Calcium Score. This is a 5 minute CT scan of the vessels of the heart to look for hard plaque. It costs anywhere from $100-$200 and can give an early indication of whether a heart attack is on the horizon.
Do you find these tips for men helpful? If you'd like to hear and learn more, check out this week's new podcast with functional medicine doctor and men's health expert Dr. Jerry Bailey. Check it out below!
Episode #103– Seven Top Tips To Uplevel Your Guy's Health with Dr. Jerry Bailey– Why does it seem that women are more likely to eat healthy food, exercise regularly, and take vitamins and supplements, whereas men seem to neglect their health?
On this episode, I'm joined by an expert in men's holistic health. We'll tackle this subject head-on, as he gives us his top seven tips for men's health. These include such simple, practical tips as: how to start your guy eating better, which supplements all men should be taking, what simple exercise can improve both ED and your intimate life, how to start the day off right, and much more. If you are a man or have a man in your life who wants to improve his health, then this is the episode for you.
Episode #104 – "I Hate My Neck" – Cosmetic Treatments to Help You Love It Again – A drooping neck is one of the most common complaints I get from men and women over 50. So what can you do about it?


A man with a gunshot wound was found in a hotel stairwell in central Phoenix on Sunday night, according to police.
The man arrived at the Hilton Garden Inn Phoenix Midtown with a gunshot wound at about 8:30 p.m. and was later found in the stairwell, according to Sgt. Jonathan Howard with Phoenix police.
"He was taken to a local hospital with non-life threatening injuries," Howard said.
The man was a guest at the hotel, police said.
According to Howard, the gunshot victim provided little information to officers about the circumstances of the shooting.


text:
Conway, Jim
Men in Midlife Crisis
UK: ChariotVictor / David Cook, 1997. Soft cover.
Freilicher, Susan &
Medicine Women [Native American Religion]
San Francisco: Pomegranate. 1993. Paintings by Patricia Wyatt. First Edition, First Printing. Fine Hardcover in a Fine Dust Jacket. In Native American tradition a person's medicine is that which brings her power, teaches lessons and in turn empowers. Medicine women are dispensers of power, instruments of healing, keepers of tradition.....
Gay, Peter
Freud: A Life for Our Time
New York: W W Norton & Co Inc, 1988. First Edition, First Printing. Fine Hardcover in a Near Fine Dust Jacket.
Gerber, Dr. Israel
Man on a Pendulum. A Case Study of an Invert (homosexual)
New York: The American Press, 1955. First Edition, First Printing. Very Good in a Good Dust Jacket. Dr. Gerber, a rabbi and 'religious counselor', presents a narrative of a man cured of his homosexuality. The first-person account ends not with a renunciation of Homosexuality but a plea for societal and.....
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
New York: Norton & Company, 2008. First Edition, First Printing. Fine Hardcover in a Fine Dust Jacket. The New Yorker dubbed Roach "the funniest science writer in the country."through understanding the anatomy, physiology, and psychology of sexual response, scientists can help us toward greater marital and nonmarital happiness.
W. H. Burt
Characteristic Materia Medica. Multum in Parvo
New York & Phildelphia: Boericke & Tafel, 1873. Second Edition. A Very Good Hardcover. The book consists of keynote and characteristic symptoms collected from all the sources within reach of the author. An ingenious method of grouping has been adopted to facilitate the study of the materia medica. The study.....
Walker, Richard; Preston, Penny
Dr. Frankenstein's Human Body Book
London: DK Children, 2008. A Fine Hardcover. Talk about mad genius ..... from conception to execution, padded red cover with 3-D effect to the up-close-and-personal images inside, this anatomy book is as engrossing as any science fiction.Dr. Frankenstein, shown in a sepia photograph standing in a laboratory, gazing at a......


I don't think the ChromeOS is trying to be anybodies "primary computer." It has an intentionally limited purpose, which is really what its primary benefit is.
But you can create local apps for Chrome OS too! Can't you? At least I could last week when I worked through the Chrome app tutorials.


text:
EliteBiz
Content Curation and Its Application on Small Business
When it comes to marketing, the general consensus is content is king. Every business under the sun is facing increasing competition, and it's getting harder and harder to stand out. However, by publishing and sharing added value content, companies are able to get a leg up on the competition and provide marketing leads with far more than a ham-fisted, hard sell.
But coming up with truly original and useful content that adds value can often be pretty tricky, and some business owners understandably struggle. That's why more and more companies are now focusing their efforts on content curation rather than creation for their content marketing efforts.
What is Content Curation?
Simply put, content curation is the process of sifting through huge amounts of digital content, gathering all the best bits and repackaging them in an organized and significant way. For the record, "repackaging" does not mean attempting to claim the content of others. Full credit must always be given where it's due.
Yet by cherry-picking select pieces of juicy, existing content and re-sharing it in a format that is compatible with your company's unique marketing strategy, you'll be able to capitalize off the expertise of others in order to provide your own business with credibility as an industry thought leader.
How Do You Use Content Curation?
Now that you know the answer to, "What is content curation?", there are plenty of ways small business owners are able to fit it snugly into their marketing efforts. And once you've found the web's top sources of dynamic, industry-specific content, you can set up RSS feeds and push notifications to ensure you're always up-to-date on all the freshest material.
One of the most common emerging trends has been to publish daily or weekly company blog posts and collect and republish snippets of useful, industry-related resources from across the web. This is an incredibly simple method of content curation — but it's also pretty effective. By creating a one-stop shop for would-be consumers, businesses are able to save web users loads of time and keep leads from bouncing off their websites.
This type of content curation is also used quite effectively in terms of email marketing. If your company has got a mailing list of leads, weekly or monthly newsletters are a great way to bring traffic to your site and establish your business as a thought leader without trying to make a hard sell. It doesn't take a whole lot of effort to track down and repackage useful snippets from across the web, but it can pay big dividends in terms of getting users to click through to your site regularly.
This sort of content curation might be relatively new to you — but there's a pretty good chance you've been unknowingly using content curation for years in the form of social media.
Social media sites are a fantastic way to showcase your product landing pages and spread the good word about your company's services. But one of the best ways to build up a decent following is to share content from other accounts that will engage your followers and stimulate discussion. By sharing ideas and stories from established thought leaders and like-minded businesses, you can create your own online community that will inevitably build invaluable sales leads.
At the end of the day, content curation is generally a trial-and-error process. You've got to get a good feel for what your consumers or followers want or need in terms of content and tinker with how to offer them value. But if you're willing to play around and stick with it, content curation is an incredibly simple process that has the potential to offer your business big results.
Source: Small Biz Trends
© Copyright 2016 nicdark.com - Design School Theme
Wonderful NicDark WP Theme


There was one time a few years ago that Sabine cut off a huge part of her hair. She had a big bald spot at the right side of her head for a time.
Well today, she did it again. She took scissors and chopped off her bangs and some parts of the top of the hair on her head.
And to make it more fun, she cut parts of Aida's bangs too. The yayas caught them too late.
It actually doesn't look too bad. Maur they play or watch too many beauty parlor games and cartoons.
Oh kids. The yayas panicked. I just find it funny. Kids will be kids. Though we should hide those scissors.
Next Are we doomed to have credit card debt?


text:
from .deal_proposal import DealProposal
from .deal_response import DealResponse

class PlayerAIBase(object):
    '''
    A base class for player AIs.

    Contains default implementations for events that players can be
    notified about. Some events will require a decision from the
    AI. Others are just notifications that something has
    occurred.

    Many of the functions are passed game_state and player.

    game_state: The GameState object, including the state of all players
                and the board.

    player:     The Player object for the current player, ie "you".

    "Cheating"
    ----------
    AIs must not change the state of the game except through the interactions defined by
    the PlayerAIBase API. This includes, but is not limited to:
    - Changing the cash or properties owned by any player
    - Changing the state of the board or the Chance or Community Chest cards
    - Setting the random seed used by the dice
    - 'Stealing' CPU from other players by running extra threads.
    You know what I mean: No 'Kobayashi Maru' style cheating!

    AIs must not deliberately act favourably towards other specific AIs.
    You may enter multiple AIs into the competition, but you are not allowed to
    create 'sacrificial' AIs which deliberately boost other AIs chances of winning.

    You are allowed to remember details about other players' behaviour between
    games. Only one instance of your AI is created for the whole tournament and is
    reused for each game. So if you want, you can learn how other AIs behave and use
    that information in subsequent games.
    '''

    class Action(object):
        '''
        An 'enum' for the various actions an AI can perform, and
        info passed to them.
        '''
        # Buying houses...
        BUY = 0
        DO_NOT_BUY = 1

        # Pay a £10 or take a Chance...
        PAY_TEN_POUND_FINE = 2
        TAKE_A_CHANCE = 3

        # Getting out of jail...
        BUY_WAY_OUT_OF_JAIL = 4
        PLAY_GET_OUT_OF_JAIL_FREE_CARD = 5
        STAY_IN_JAIL = 6

        # Auctioning...
        AUCTION_SUCCEEDED = 7
        AUCTION_FAILED = 8

    class DealInfo(object):
        '''
        An 'enum' for the various outcomes from a deal.
        '''
        SUCCEEDED = 0
        INVALID_DEAL_PROPOSED = 1
        ASKED_FOR_TOO_MUCH_MONEY = 2
        OFFERED_TOO_LITTLE_MONEY = 3
        PLAYER_DID_NOT_HAVE_ENOUGH_MONEY = 4
        DEAL_REJECTED = 5

    def get_name(self):
        '''
        Returns the name of this AI player.
        '''
        return "no-name"

    def start_of_game(self):
        '''
        Called at the start of the game.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def start_of_turn(self, game_state, player):
        '''
        Called when an AI's turn starts. All AIs receive this notification.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def player_landed_on_square(self, game_state, square, player):
        '''
        Called when a player lands on a square. All AIs receive this notification.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def landed_on_unowned_property(self, game_state, player, property):
        '''
        Called when the AI lands on an unowned property. Only the active
        player receives this notification.

        Must return either the BUY or DO_NOT_BUY action from the
        PlayerAIBase.Action enum.

        The default behaviour is DO_NOT_BUY.
        '''
        return PlayerAIBase.Action.DO_NOT_BUY

    def money_will_be_taken(self, player, amount):
        '''
        Called shortly before money will be taken from the player.

        Before the money is taken, there will be an opportunity to
        make deals and/or mortgage properties. (This will be done via
        subsequent callbacks.)

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def money_taken(self, player, amount):
        '''
        Called when money has been taken from the player.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def money_given(self, player, amount):
        '''
        Called when money has been given to the player.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def got_get_out_of_jail_free_card(self):
        '''
        Called when the player has picked up a
        Get Out Of Jail Free card.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def players_birthday(self):
        '''
        Called when a player picks up the 'It is your birthday...'
        Community Chest card.

        You should return "Happy Birthday!" (with this casing and the
        exclamation mark). If not, you will have to pay £100 instead of
        the standard £10.
        '''
        return "I hope you choke on your birthday cake!"

    def pay_ten_pounds_or_take_a_chance(self, game_state, player):
        '''
        Called when the player picks up the "Pay a £10 fine or take a Chance" card.

        Return either:
            PlayerAIBase.Action.PAY_TEN_POUND_FINE
            or
            PlayerAIBase.Action.TAKE_A_CHANCE
        '''
        return PlayerAIBase.Action.PAY_TEN_POUND_FINE

    def property_offered_for_auction(self, game_state, player, property):
        '''
        Called when a property is put up for auction.

        Properties are auctioned when a player lands on an unowned square but does
        not want to buy it. All players take part in the auction, including the
        player who landed on the square.

        The property will be sold to the highest bidder using the eBay rule,
        ie, for £1 more than the second-highest bid.

        Return the amount you bid. To put in a bid this must be a positive integer.
        Zero means that you are not bidding (it does not mean that you are bidding
        zero).

        The default behaviour is not to bid.
        '''
        return 0

    def auction_result(self, status, property, player, amount_paid):
        '''
        Called with the result of an auction. All players receive
        this notification.

        status is either AUCTION_SUCCEEDED or AUCTION_FAILED.

        If the auction succeeded, the property, the player who won
        the auction and the amount they paid are passed to the AI.

        If the auction failed, the player will be None and the
        amount paid will be 0.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def build_houses(self, game_state, player):
        '''
        Called near the start of the player's turn to give the option of building houses.

        Return a list of tuples indicating which properties you want to build houses
        on and how many houses to build on each. For example:
        [(park_lane, 3), (mayfair, 4)]

        The properties should be Property objects.

        Return an empty list if you do not want to build.

        Notes:
        - You must own a whole set of unmortgaged properties before you can
          build houses on it.

        - You can build on multiple sets in one turn. Just specify all the streets
          and houses you want to build.

        - Build five houses on a property to have a "hotel".

        - You specify the _additional_ houses you will be building, not the
          total after building. For example, if Park Lane already has 3 houses
          and you specify (park_lane, 2) you will end up with 5
          houses (ie, a hotel).

        - Sets must end up with 'balanced' housing. No square in a set can
          have more than one more house than any other. If you request an
          unbalanced build, the whole transaction will be rolled back, even
          if it includes balanced building on other sets as well.

        - If you do not have (or cannot raise) enough money to build all the
          houses specified, the whole transaction will be rolled back. Between
          this function call and money being taken, you will have an opportunity
          to mortgage properties or make deals.

        The default behaviour is not to build.
        '''
        return []

    def sell_houses(self, game_state, player):
        '''
        Gives the player the option to sell properties.

        This is called when any debt, fine or rent has to be paid. It is
        called just before mortgage_properties (below).

        Notes:
        - You cannot mortgage properties with houses on them, so if you
          plan to mortgage, make sure you sell all the houses first.

        - For each house sold you receive half the price that they were
          bought for.

        - Houses on a set must end up 'balanced', ie no property can have
          more than one more house than any other property in the set.

        Return a list of tuples of the streets and number of houses you
        want to sell. For example:
        [(old_kent_road, 1), (bow_street, 1)]

        The streets should be Property objects.

        The default is not to sell any houses.
        '''
        return []

    def mortgage_properties(self, game_state, player):
        '''
        Gives the player an option to mortgage properties.

        This is called before any debt is paid (house building, rent,
        tax, fines from cards etc).

        Notes:
        - You receive half the face value of each property mortgaged.

        - You cannot mortgage properties with houses on them.
          (The AI will have been given the option to sell houses before this
          function is called.)

        Return a list of properties to mortgage, for example:
        [bow_street, liverpool_street_station]

        The properties should be Property objects.

        Return an empty list if you do not want to mortgage anything.

        The default behaviour is not to mortgage anything.
        '''
        return []

    def unmortgage_properties(self, game_state, player):
        '''
        Called near the start of the player's turn to give them the
        opportunity to unmortgage properties.

        Unmortgaging costs half the face value plus 10%. Between deciding
        to unmortgage and money being taken the player will be given the
        opportunity to make deals or sell other properties. If after this
        they do not have enough money, the whole transaction will be aborted,
        and no properties will be unmortgaged and no money taken.

        Return a list of property names to unmortgage, like:
        [old_kent_road, bow_street]

        The properties should be Property objects.

        The default is to return an empty list, ie to do nothing.
        '''
        return []

    def get_out_of_jail(self, game_state, player):
        '''
        Called in the player's turn, before the dice are rolled, if the player
        is in jail.

        There are three possible return values:
        PlayerAIBase.Action.BUY_WAY_OUT_OF_JAIL
        PlayerAIBase.Action.PLAY_GET_OUT_OF_JAIL_FREE_CARD
        PlayerAIBase.Action.STAY_IN_JAIL

        Buying your way out of jail will cost £50.

        The default action is STAY_IN_JAIL.
        '''
        return PlayerAIBase.Action.STAY_IN_JAIL

    def propose_deal(self, game_state, player):
        '''
        Called to allow the player to propose a deal.

        You return a DealProposal object.

        If you do not want to make a deal, return None.

        If you want to make a deal, you provide this information:
        - The player number of the player you are proposing the deal to
        - A list of properties offered
        - A list of properties wanted
        - Maximum cash offered as part of the deal
        - Minimum cash wanted as part of the deal.

        Properties offered and properties wanted are passed as lists of
        Property objects.

        If you offer money as part of the deal, set the cash wanted to zero
        and vice versa.

        Note that the cash limits will not be shown to the proposed-to player.
        When the deal is offered to them, they set their own limits for accepting
        the deal without seeing your limits. If the limits are acceptable to both
        players, the deal will be done at the halfway point.

        For example, Player1 proposes:
          Propose to: Player2
          Properties offered: Mayfair
          Properties wanted: (none)
          Maximum cash offered: 0
          Minimum cash wanted: 500

        Player2 accepts with these limits:
          Maximum cash offered: 1000
          Minimum cash wanted: 0

        The deal will be done with Player2 receiving Mayfair and paying £750
        to Player1.

        The only 'negotiation' is in the managing of cash along with the deal
        as discussed above. There is no negotiation about which properties are
        part of the deal. If a deal is rejected because it does not contain the
        right properties, another deal can be made at another time with different
        lists of properties.

        Example construction and return of a DealProposal object:
            return DealProposal(
                propose_to_player_number=2,
                properties_offered=[vine_street, bow_street],
                properties_wanted=[park_lane],
                maximum_cash_offered=200)

        The default is for no deal to be proposed.
        '''
        return None

    def deal_proposed(self, game_state, player, deal_proposal):
        '''
        Called when another player proposes a deal to you.

        See propose_deal (above) for details of the DealProposal object.

        Return a DealResponse object.

        To reject a deal:
            return DealResponse(DealResponse.Action.REJECT)

        To accept a deal:
            return DealResponse(DealResponse.Action.ACCEPT, maximum_cash_offered=300)
            or
            return DealResponse(DealResponse.Action.ACCEPT, minimum_cash_wanted=800)

        The default is to reject the deal.
        '''
        return DealResponse(DealResponse.Action.REJECT)

    def deal_result(self, deal_info):
        '''
        Called when a proposed deal has finished. The players involved in
        the deal receive this notification.

        deal_info is a PlayerAIBase.DealInfo 'enum' giving indicating
        whether the deal succeeded, and if not why not.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def deal_completed(self, deal_result):
        '''
        Called when a deal has successfully completed to let all
        players know the details of the deal which took place.

        deal_result is a DealResult object.

        Note that the cash_transferred_from_proposer_to_proposee in
        the deal_result can be negative if cash was transferred from
        the proposee to the proposer.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def player_went_bankrupt(self, player):
        '''
        Called when a player goes bankrupt.

        All non-bankrupt players receive this notification.

        player is a Player object.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def player_ran_out_of_time(self, player):
        '''
        Called when a player is removed from the game because
        they ran out of processing time.

        All non-bankrupt players receive this notification.

        player is a Player object.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def game_over(self, winner, maximum_rounds_played):
        '''
        Called when the game is over.

        All players receive this notification.

        winner is the winning player (a Player object) or None if the
        game was drawn.

        maximum_rounds_played is True if the game went to the round-limit.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def ai_error(self, message):
        '''
        Called if the return value from any of the Player AI functions
        was invalid. for example, if it was not of the expected type.

        No response is required.
        '''
        pass

    def eminent_domain(self, game_state, player):
        '''
        Called when the eminent-domain rule is being played.

        This rule is invoked in 'boring' games at round 200 if no
        player has built any houses. All properties are compulsorily
        repurchased by the bank and then immediately auctioned.

        This method is called after the repurchase, but before
        the auction.

        No response is necessary.
        '''
        pass


Wouldn't it be nice to know exactly how hard to train in your bike? In this edition of the Cycling360 Podcast, we go over training zones and explain how to get more from your training by using them.
Training zones are valuable when you know how to use them properly, and in this podcast we go over the aspects involved with what they are and how to effectively incorporate them into your cycling training.
What does using training zones address in an athletes' fitness or performance?
Which test protocol is right for me?


Emirates Airlines is a dynamic, multicultural organization with ambitious global growth plans. We are looking for committed, motivated, service-oriented people to join our Cabin Crew team of over 100 nationalities based in Dubai – the modern, cosmopolitan city of the future.
We offer exciting career opportunities and lifestyle benefits that include accommodation and a tax-free salary. Take this exceptional opportunity to meet our recruitment team.


More and more investors have been turning to real estate as a way to diversify their retirement portfolios. Everything from pre-construction, condominiums and rental properties to rehabs and lease options are being held inside of IRAs and 401(k) plans. With larger contribution limits and more than $3 trillion currently in retirement plans, investors are now able to look outside the realm of stocks and mutual funds into assets such as real property. Though investors continue to become more sophisticated in their real estate transactions, undeveloped land remains a clear-cut favorite among IRAs and other retirement plans. The simplicity of raw land provides investors with the opportunity to diversify into real estate, without the headaches of upkeep.
The obvious upside to adding real property to a retirement plan is diversification. Real estate has long provided investors a way to offset fluctuations in the securities market. Over the years, millions of investors have utilized this diversification strategy in their personal portfolios, yet only recently have they started implementing this method within their retirement plans. One of the reasons why less than 3% of all retirement funds are being invested in real property is the "idea" that managing the asset is difficult. An attractive attribute to land, is its simplicity. Land truly provides investors with opportunity to take part in the real estate market, without the headaches of upkeep and unforeseen expenses.
Keep in mind that when a retirement plan holds a piece of real property, all the expenses involved must be paid for by the plan. Simply put, if an IRA owns a rental property, then the IRA must pay for all of the repair and upkeep of that unit. Investors who self direct their retirement plans into assets like real estate will have to be more involved than those who just turn their accounts over to a Brokerage house.
However, raw land offers a low maintenance way to invest in real estate. Land has only one relatively predictable expense in annual property taxes. Of course you could lease out your land to a farmer or a timber company and there may be additional expenses. But for most parcels of land, property taxes are the only expense. An investor can diversify part of their retirement portfolio into a parcel of a land and not have to worry about any unexpected repairs or cost.
Any economist or financial advisor will tell you appreciation is driven by supply and demand. There is a simple truth when it comes to land—there is only so much. The supply is somewhat fixed, especially when it comes to desired land around mountains, waterways and growing metropolitans.
The goal of a retirement plan is to build up your own nest egg through wise investments. Diversification is the key to any successful portfolio. Understanding all of your investment choices will only make you a smarter investor. When it comes to diversifying into real estate, raw land is about as close to a mutual fund as you will find. It's an asset that can be purchased and held for the long term, without the worry of unexpected repairs or expenses. Whether it's a lot in a planned development near Destin, Florida or a large track of farm land outside of Topeka, Kansas; land provides a simple way to diversify a stock heavy portfolio.


The modern world of tattoo art strives to use not only the most quality parts but also those that can economy time and money. The Right Stuff specialized tattoo shop offers to your attention a premium quality disposable 11 flat 25mm tattoo tube at an affordable price. This is a great tool that won't let you down during the work. Moreover, traveling artists will find the use of a single-use 11 flat 25mm tattoo tube greatly convenient. It is lightweight, easy to use, cheap, and doesn't need a special cleaning with an expensive autoclave after every use.


text: Q: Can named semaphore be created when /dev/shm is mounted with nodev We are creating a named semaphore using "sem_open" linux API. Named semaphores are created in /dev/shm/ path. If /dev/shm is mounted with "nodev" option, Will be the named semaphore be created?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Celtibeerian are a Spanish band. They were formed in 2010 and released their first album a year later. Since then they have released several more albums and toured extensively throughout Europe. The members of the band are: Gustavo "Gus" Infantes on lead vocals, and bass; Patricia "Patri" San Martín on violin and vocals; Julián Yagüe on guitars; David "Dagda" Sánchez on vViola, whistles, bagpipes, and bouzouki; and Victor "Vity" Fernández on drums and percussion.
Deiwos is the new video from Celtibeerian. It is about the thin line between light and darkness, between life and death, a discussion between Airon, the guardian of the Underworld, and Navia, the ferrier who guides your soul to rest. It is a great piece of metal with strong folk music elements that are merged together to form a coherent whole successfully mixing modern rock with traditional music instruments.
You can buy Deiwos on iTunes.
You can follow Celtibeerian on their Official Website, on Facebook, on Twitter, and on their YouTube channel. You can buy their music on iTunes.


text:
Home › Editorials › The Courts Weighed In on Restrictive Voting Laws Just in Time | Russell Berman/The Atlantic
Editorials: The Courts Weighed In on Restrictive Voting Laws Just in Time | Russell Berman/The Atlantic
A flurry of last-minute court decisions is upending voting rules in key states less than a month before the midterm congressional elections. The Supreme Court on Thursday night blocked a restrictive voter ID law in Wisconsin after opponents said it would cause "chaos" at the polls and noted that ballot forms had already been sent out to voters that did not make clear they needed to provide identification. The brief order by Justice Elena Kagan overturned a September decision by an appellate court, over the opposition of conservative Justices Samuel Alito, Antonin Scalia, and Clarence Thomas. Also on Thursday night, a lower federal trial court struck down a 2011 voter ID law in Texas with a scathing opinion determining that the statute, which was designed to combat voter fraud, "creates an unconstitutional burden on the right to vote, has an impermissible discriminatory effect against Hispanics and African-Americans, and was imposed with an unconstitutional discriminatory purpose."
Full Article: The Courts Weighed In on Restrictive Voting Laws Just in Time - The Atlantic.
Categories: Editorials	| Topics: Greg Abbott, Scott Walker, voter id


Africa is one of the continents with many developing countries. Most of them working hard to eliminate problems such as poverty, gender inequality, illiteracy and trying to embrace modern technology.
Africa has adopted the use of drones which has been of great benefit to them. The aerial vehicles are used to deliver essential services at a faster rate in the continent such as health services.
The new technology has changed the way we live and how we do things. Initially, they were used by the military personnel to access dangerous places where people could not access. However, things have changed lately as the drones are used in other fields.
By using the new technology, we now have the chance to handle challenges in a better way and we get to experience new ways of doing things.
Lately, firms in Africa are now using drones for both commercial and non-commercial purposes.
If the companies have access to computers or the remotes used, they can comfortably use drones in their daily operations, the latter eliminates the needs of hiring people to carry out the tasks carried out by the drones, and that translates to low operational costs in the firms.
Besides commerce, drones are also being used toperform different tasks in Africa, for example, in the Agriculture, Architecture, and Construction, engineering, and the health sector.
In the business sector, drones are used for photography and video purposes. Many African countries lack good infrastructure, but that is no longer difficult with the use of drones, they access such areas.
Delivery of a business' products is done faster with the use of drones. The devices are high-speed, and as a result, they are widely used to deliver urgently needed products to the respective destinations in a short period further they are suitable for providing perishable goods which require individual storage.
Most rural places in Africa are inaccessible because of poor road networks, it takes vehicles a long time to reach their destinations, and this slows business operations.
Subsequent use of drones helps businesses delivering goods to their customers within thirty minutes after which the drone battery dies.
The aerial vehicles have since enhanced business operations greatly.
Organizations are now able to plan, monitor, control and navigate large areas at a cheaper cost unlike the previous use of traditional methods.
It has enabled businesses to explore targeted zones by getting HD aerial feeds. Therefore, companies get more opportunities.
Drones provide maintenance services, and they facilitate inspections of different business structures at lower costs and jeopardies. This is done mostly in risky regions in which people who carry out the same tasks are usually risking their lives as accidents are likely to occur.
They include power lines and power points as well as very tall buildings or bridges.
With the application of thermal imaging cameras, drones are used to assess the probability of wear and tear in some tools, a task which was initially done using specialized equipment.
Besides, they are used tomake deliveries of spares and consumablesto differently programmed business launches and landing pads because they reduce potential downtime and operating costs.
Moreover, drones are used in the agricultural sector to support different operations. With technological advancements in, this sector has been significantly improved, use of the drone has increased the efficiency of its operations.
As a result, the production capacities have increased. The quality of the produce is also high unlike in the previous years when traditional methods were used.
To investigate crop and irrigation progress, the devices can make assessments on whether the development is good or poor, they also show defects in case they appear.
They aid in precision spraying, they do it at a faster rate compared to the manual way of spray, and the shower is also done more precisely.
Africa is a vast continent, the act of mapping the land becomes a big issue. This problem is, however, a no issue with the development and use of drones which perform the tasks correctly and within a short period.
Applications of drones mapping by engineers and local authorities' offers an efficient and best surveying tool especially across challenging terrains.
The ability of the drones to offermapping and geographical surveying servicesis an excellent help to marketers and entrepreneurs. This helps the latter to be able to search for markets for their products and identify new areas with viable business opportunities.
Besides the information provided allows countries to confirm census data and assess development needs accurately.
The devices are also being used to monitor risks and for claims assessment. They are used to assess population density more efficiently, and they are also used to determine property values and damages by the insurance firms.
Such information helps in forecasting for the future needs of the citizens. They also confirm the information provided by parties when ensuring properties.
Use of drones has helped in the maintenance safety and security of people. This is one of the continents facing political instabilities; as a result, many military coups have emerged threatening the protection of the people living on the continent.
Dronesconduct high-quality surveillancegiving live feeds to humans, and they do not risk lives during their operations.
Whenever there is civil unrest or any natural disasters, drones are used to assess such situations this is because they respond immediately and at a faster speed.
They are also used for search and rescue purposes reason being that they cover the ground more effectively than in the case of using ground teams to perform the same tasks.
The crewless aerial vehicles also offer atmospheric visuals which are used by the real estate firms.
They also bring new dimensions to the multimedia, and in such they are of great benefit to the photography professionals. The aerial visuals provided are usually distinct.
This technology has been used in theprovision of health servicesacross Africa. Medical drones are being used in many African countries such as Madagascar to transport laboratory samples from rural areas to the desired destinations within a short period.
The examples are mostly from people living in the regions which cannot be reached.
Additionally, drugs, critical medical supplies, and vaccines are transported to people in times of natural disasters, they do that within the shortest time possible, and this helps to save lives.
They are also used to carry medicine to people in critical conditions to hospitals in times of accidents if the places are hard to access using the available transport means.
Drones help rescue people in times of natural disasters such as floods when no other means of transport can be used, and medical drones are then used. Furthermore, they are used to deliver essential services to the affected people such as food, clothes, and tents.
The use of drones has led to the creation of business opportunities for Africans, new employment opportunities exist, for example, the launch of drone specialists, jobs for people who conduct drone surveillance as well as for persons providing surveying services.


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Home News & Events COVID-19 Privacy and HIPPA Q&A
COVID-19 Privacy and HIPPA Q&A
We have developed an initial Q&A PDF document to address the Privacy and HIPPA details that will be helpful during this pandemic.
COVID-19 Privacy and HIPPA Q&ADownload
For more information about HIPAA and you visit: www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-individuals
Question and Answer for COVID-19 and Privacy
I hear people have been infected by COVID-19. Why won't the government tell us who has it?
Government, medical, and public employees are bound by Federal law to protect personal medical information about patients. Personal medical information includes anything that could help identify one person out of many. So when government, medical, and public employs give news about COVID-19 infections, the information is intentionally general so no individual person is marked. If you've read, watched, or heard the news lately, you probably noticed that they report very general facts about infected people like general age (example: in their 30s), Male or Female, County they live in, and if they have traveled. The reason for this privacy and limited information is HIPAA, the Federal law.
HIPAA? What is HIPAA?
HIPAA is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act.
That Doesn't Help! What is HIPAA?
HIPAA is a 1996 Federal law that restricts access to individuals' private medical information. The law that gives you legal rights and protection by keeping your personal information in health records between a doctor and patient. When you go to a doctor or medical provider, you often are asked to sign a sheet to give permission so the doctor can share relevant information about your health only to other medical providers you see.
Why is HIPAA important?
HIPAA Is a law that gives legal rights and protections to individuals by keeping personal information in health records between a doctor and patient. Your privacy is extremely important and HIPAA protects your personal health information from being shared without your permission. By protecting health privacy, HIPAA also protects communities from discrimination such as offering different products to different races, or increasing costs and decreasing services based on family history of illness.
How does HIPAA and privacy apply to the community?
HIPAA applies to government, medical, and public employees but not individual members of the public. The idea behind HIPAA is that people deserve respect and privacy and to be in control of their own personal privacy.
How can the community help people without knowing who is sick?
Volunteer for the community as a whole and when individual people reach out and ask for help, give help while practicing safe distances, wearing a mask, washing your hands, etc.
If we don't know who has it, how do we stay away from it and not get sick ourselves?
Individual people should have respect for their community and seek out medical attention if they have signs of illness, self-isolate to slow the spread, and practice good hygiene like washing their hands. The safest practice is to treat every member of our community as if they are sick and act to protect yourself.
What if my family shares my health conditions? Can they ask for community prayers?
HIPAA doesn't apply in this case. However, a person's health is personal; family and friends should respect each person's wishes. The prayers and care from the community is important. We urge the community to respect all individuals' privacy and work to stop speculation and rumors. For


Laptop batteries are expensive. On the other hand SLAs (VRLAs) aren't. Now of course SLAs are big, and heavy, while LiIon laptop batteries are small and light, but sometimes that isn't the decisive factor.
I have an old laptop with a near-dead battery. It wasn't worth buying a new one for it, but I would've liked some mobility. Since the laptop itself is big and heavy having a big and heavy battery isn't the drawback it would be for a netbook and since our bush trimmer's SLA sits unused 90% of the year (except for the 5 and half times it's used and the occasional top-up charges) I thought I'd use it for something. It also came in a nice plastic case with a shoulder strap, for easy carrying so it was ideal for this application.
The laptop had a 14.8V LiIon battery pack, unloaded it measured some 16.6ish Volts, loaded it drops to 14.5-14.8 as rated. Now the SLA even if fully charged won't be more than 13.8 Volts unloaded. As expected, it wasn't enough to run the lappy, so I had to come up with a solution to boost the SLA's output voltage to 14.8ish volts. First I measured the current such a solution would have to provide. My lappy's top load was at around 4.2A for a few seconds during boot and has an average idle load of around 1.5A so I concluded that I'd build a boost conveter that can supply close to 5Amps. First I went to look at Maxim's lineup, since I've come to like some of the power regulator chips, and noticed the MAX668/669, which I went ahead and free-sampled. Their power supply cookbook was great help in the design. I based mine off CB115. Pretty much all of the components I used are different because the values they used are not standard in the EU at least, so I couldn't get components that mached, except for a couple of resistors.
I also opted to use components I had lying around as-is common in DIY projects. The inductor is a large 5uH/10A inductor with 3 turns unwound and cut to get something close to 4uH, I used a couple of metallized polyester caps in place of ceramics. The 1uF one turned out to be one of those because no local parts shops stock ceramics >= 1uF.. The FET is an IRF840, and the diode is a HFA15TB60. I went all through-hole for this project, and the previous uMAX->DIP converter was indeed used for the MAX668s. This is possibly not ideal for a PWM boost converter, but the fact of the matter is, it worked beautifully. Had a small project box that I've decided to use for this. I replaced the back plate with a heatsink and screwed the FET and Diode on there. It's definitely overcooled, but what the heck.
The perhaps most interesting picture came out the worst (my camera is useless in low light), so you'll have to excuse me for this below. It shows the battery hooked up to the boost converter hooked up to the lappy, which is up and running. Running Linux nonetheless.
I'll probably make a video when I'm done with the battery protection and the case.
Of course I lose voltage monitoring in software with this solution, but not sure if it would really make much difference because the MAX668 tries to compensate for declining input voltage and and keep the output voltage constant. The further away the input voltage is from the output, the less current it can supply however (which might be accompanied by voltage drop but I haven't measured this). Either way when the battery nears 10.6V loaded voltage (complete discharge), the backlight inverter is the first to drop out.
I'm going to go ahead and get the most obvious questions out of the way.
Is this practical for the average laptop user?
Where is this hooked up?
To the battery pin header in the above Clevo laptop's battery compartment.
Can this somehow be modified to act as a charger instead?
It might. The output voltage can be adjusted with a potentiometer. I'm pretty sure it can go to at least 20V, but possibly more, which is my laptop charger's output voltage. Not sure about the constant current draw on a charger though but I'm fairly sure it couldn't supply 20V/4A from an SLA.
Not without a separate power filter and regulator (like ->this<-), car power is noisy, with possible large fluctuations in voltage. I suspect the first spike would fry this converter if hooked up directly.
I tested the PSU from the 3AH bush trimmer SLA. The results were pretty underwhelming, at 30 minutes run-time (under heavy use). I decided to add the 2 extra caps for good measure, and tried playing around with the output voltage. The higher the output voltage is the less run-time I can get out of the battery. So I'm going to try and lower it and find the lowest voltage the laptop still runs at, to maximize battery time. I've also read that small SLAs don't like constant heavy load (though I'm not sure what they consider to be heavy). But the SLA itself might not be in the greatest shape either. And there's always the fact that as input voltage declines so does the amount of power the PSU can deliver. Sadly, at 11.4V (which is considered to be the SLA's full discharge voltage by some, while others say it's around 10.6) it reaches a point where the backlight inverter drops out. Now of course the input voltage may have been lower at the point where the inverter dropped out (closer to 10.6) and could have just "jumped" back to 11.4 when the inverter's load disappeared, but sadly I don't have a DMM I could do constant monitoring and logging with. I've also come to the realization that a battery overdischarge protection circuit and relay will never fit in the current case, so I've decided to leave those out. The laptop will turn off before the converter has a chance to overdischarge the battery, and it only uses a really small amount of power if no load is connected to it, so at this point I'd probably have to leave it on for a day or two for it do any damage to the battery.
30 minutes of use? really? that doesn't seem right at all...!?!?
Well there are various factors involved here. Those that I mention in the blog entry and the fact that this is a power hog laptop with a desktop CPU and 0 advanced power management features. Also I was testing with linux, which is said to be less battery efficient than other operating system, and CPU usage never really went below 50%. The original LiIon battery of this laptop is 4.4Ah, it lasts an hour and a half with regular use when new. The worn out 3Ah SLA lasted half an hour under relatively heavy load. I guess that's the way it goes. I'll have to try and fine-tune it, and test with a bigger/better condition battery.
Its under standable that he can't get more than 30 min on a full load.
Wait could you take 10 double a's in series to get 15 volts at 2.4 amps with the exception of the discharge limitations you could power your laptop the same amount of time that you use your SLA? The boot up discharge would definitely be a problem.
Thanks mate, now i'm definitely going to make MAX668 based laptop charger for my car.
If you have some in your parts bin and have time to kill go for it. Nowadays I'd just get something like this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/262634176599 myself. Most of the power supply stuff I've built was unavailable or expensive at the time but is available for a few bucks from China these days.


If you were hurt at work you may be angry, frustrated and even a little worried about whether everything will work out. You know that obtaining workers' comp benefits can be complicated and may take a long time. The Pensacola workers' comp lawyers at Whibbs Stone Barnett, watch out for your interests so you can take care of yourself and your family.
Workers' compensation benefits were created to pay workers for injuries or illnesses caused or exacerbated in the workplace. Nearly all employers are required by law to offer workers' compensation insurance. When created, the workers' comp benefits process was supposed to be straightforward and reduce animosity and litigation. What we have today is anything but that.
If you experienced a work-related injury and your employer refuses to cover all medical costs, let a Pensacola workers' compensation attorney at our firm help you get the compensation you need and are entitled to.
If you are injured and unable to work, our SSD attorneys can also help you obtain Social Security Disability benefits.
What Are Your First Steps If Injured on the Job?
It is important to be aware of the steps you should take following a work-related injury to obtain the Pensacola workers' comp benefits you deserve.
Report your injury to your employer immediately. In most cases, a workplace accident victim has 120 days to report an injury. Once the injury is reported, it becomes the employer's duty to provide medical care and to report the injury to its workers' compensation insurance company and the State of Florida.
Seek advice from an experienced workers' compensation attorney in Pensacola. A good lawyer can protect your rights and make sure that you file all necessary paperwork completely and on time.
Get medical treatment. Your health should be your top priority. Additionally, medical reports may be used as evidence to support your case later in the Pensacola accident litigation process.
File a Loss of Wages Claim. You have the right to file this claim if a doctor puts you on medical leave for more than seven consecutive days.
Your employer and its insurance company have 21 days to notify you whether they accept or deny your Pensacola workers' comp claim. If your claim is denied, you may file a claim petition with the Florida Division of Workers' Compensation. Your claim will be assigned to a workers' comp judge who will hold a hearing and determine whether you are eligible for benefits. You can appeal the judge's decision to the Workers' Compensation Appeal Board and, if necessary, to state court.
At any point during the process, the insurance company may make a settlement offer. We advise injured workers to seek a legal review of any settlement offer. Only a qualified Pensacola workers' comp attorney can tell whether the settlement is sufficient to cover your past and future medical expenses and lost wages.
Although it may all sound very complicated, it doesn't have to be. Our Pensacola workers' compensation attorneys explain every detail so you can make informed decisions as we stick by you through the entire process.
If you suffered an accident injury in the workplace and are thinking about filing an accident lawsuit, consider the Pensacola injury law firm of Whibbs Stone Barnett.
For a FREE CONSULTATION on all personal injury claims with a workers' comp lawyer in Pensacola or Fort Walton Beach, contact Whibbs Stone Barnett online or at (850) 434-5395.