As an undergraduate I studied the unusual combination of Literature and Mathematical Physics at Colorado State University. I came to England to study on the Marshall Scholarship Scheme, completing the MA in Philosophy and Literature at Warwick and then the PhD in philosophy. I was lecturer in philosophy at Warwick from 1992-3, and have worked in the Philosophy Department at Staffordshire University since 1993. I was briefly Principal Lecturer at the beginning of the millennium, and was granted a professorial chair of philosophy in 2004. I am General Editor of a series of philosophy commentaries published by Edinburgh University Press.
I have been external examiner at Glamorgan, Dundee, University College Cork.
I am a contributor to AskPhilosophers and the Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy.
My research work is in the areas of Kant, Nietzsche, hermeneutics, and philosophy's relation to the arts, especially literature, fine art and wine. I have also written on hermeneutic issues in political theory. Current projects include a book on expertise in aesthetics (with Ole Martin Skilleas of the University of Bergen).
The First Marx. Monograph with Peter Lamb. Bloomsbury Academic, 2017.
Understanding Nietzsche/Understanding Modernism. Collection edited with Brian Pines. Bloomsbury Academic, 2017.
'Reading between the Minds'. Perspectives on Political Science. Vol 44. No. 3, June 2015.
The Nietzsche Dictionary. Bloomsbury, 2014.
'Apollo and the problem of the unity of culture in the early Nietzsche'. In Nietzsche's Value as a Scholar of Antiquity. Eds. Anthony Jensen and Helmut Heit. Bloomsbury, 2014.
'The Suicide and Rebirth of Religion: The Religious Character' for a volume of essays on Jenseits von Gut und Böse. Ed. Marcus Born. De Gruyter, 2014.
'Categories and Appreciation'. The Journal of Value Inquiry. 48:3. Sept. 2014. (with Ole Martin Skilleas).
'Natural Wine and Aesthetics'. In Raw: Architectural Engagements with Nature. Eds. Boe, Faber, Strandhagen. Ashgate, 2014.
'Of Butterflies and Masks'. Nietzsche and Phenomenology. Ed. Andrea Rehberg. Cambridge Scholars Press, 2012.
'Nietzsche, Style, Body'. Style in Theory. Ed., James Corby. Continuum, 2012.
'Towards a Hermeneutics of Creative Acts' in Critical Communities and Aesthetic Practices. Eds. Halsall, Jansen, Murphy. Contributions to Phenomenology, vo. 64. Springer, 2012.
Aesthetics and Wine. Blackwell, 2012. (with Ole Martin Skilleas).
'Heidegger, Kant and 'Dirty' Politics', European Journal for Political Theory. 2007.
Entry on Philosophy and Literature for the Continuum Companion to Continental Philosophy. (with Melanie Ebdon).
Kant's Philosophies of Judgement. Edinburgh University Press, 2004.
Various postgraduate courses on recent European thought or on research methods on the distance learning Master of Arts in Continental Philosophy.


text:
LogicalDOC Privacy Policy
Your privacy is critically important to us. At LogicalDOC we have a few fundamental principles:
We don't ask you for personal information unless we truly need it. (We can't stand services that ask you for things like your gender or income level for no apparent reason.)
We don't share your personal information with anyone except to comply with the law, develop our products, or protect our rights.
Below is our privacy policy which incorporates these goals. If you have questions about deleting or correcting your personal data please contact us. LogicalDOC operates several websites, including logicaldoc.com, forums.logicaldoc.com, docs.logicaldoc.com, blog.logicaldoc.com, bugs.logicaldoc.com. It is LogicalDOC's policy to respect your privacy regarding any information we may collect while operating our websites.
Like most website operators, LogicalDOC collects non-personally-identifying information of the sort that web browsers and servers typically make available, such as the browser type, language preference, referring site, and the date and time of each visitor request. LogicalDOC's purpose in collecting non-personally identifying information is to better understand how LogicalDOC's visitors use its website. From time to time, LogicalDOC may release non-personally-identifying information in the aggregate, e.g., by publishing a report on trends in the usage of its website. LogicalDOC also collects potentially personally-identifying information like Internet Protocol (IP) addresses for logged in users. LogicalDOC only discloses logged in user IP addresses under the same circumstances that it uses and discloses personally-identifying information as described below.
Certain visitors to LogicalDOC's websites choose to interact with LogicalDOC in ways that require LogicalDOC to gather personally-identifying information. The amount and type of information that LogicalDOC gathers depends on the nature of the interaction. For example, we ask visitors who sign up for a free trial of LogicalDOC Online Services and LogicalDOC Studio to provide a username and email address. Those who engage in transactions with LogicalDOC are asked to provide additional information, including as necessary the personal information required to process those transactions. In each case, LogicalDOC collects such information only insofar as is necessary or appropriate to fulfill the purpose of the visitor's interaction with LogicalDOC. LogicalDOC does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below. And visitors can always refuse to supply personally-identifying information, with the caveat that it may prevent them from engaging in certain website-related activities.
LogicalDOC may collect statistics about the behavior of visitors to its websites. For instance, LogicalDOC may monitor the most popular blogs on the site. LogicalDOC may display this information publicly or provide it to others. However, LogicalDOC does not disclose personally-identifying information other than as described below.
LogicalDOC discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only to those of its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations that (i) need to know that information in order to process it on LogicalDOC's behalf or to provide services available at LogicalDOC's websites, and (ii) that have agreed not to disclose it to others. Some of those employees, contractors and affiliated organizations may be located outside of your home country; by using LogicalDOC's websites, you consent to the transfer of such information to them. LogicalDOC will not rent or sell potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information to anyone. Other than to its employees, contractors and affiliated organizations, as described above, LogicalDOC discloses potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information only in response to a subpoena, court order or other governmental request, or when LogicalDOC believes in good faith that disclosure is reasonably necessary to protect the property or rights of LogicalDOC, third parties or the public at large. If you are a registered user of an LogicalDOC website and have supplied your email address, LogicalDOC may occasionally send you an email to tell you about new features, solicit your feedback, or just keep you up to date with what's going on with LogicalDOC and our products. We primarily use our various product blogs to communicate this type of information, so we expect to keep this type of email to a minimum. LogicalDOC takes all measures reasonably necessary to protect against the unauthorized access, use, alteration or destruction of potentially personally-identifying and personally-identifying information.
A cookie is a string of information that a website stores on a visitor's computer, and that the visitor's browser provides to the website each time the visitor returns. LogicalDOC uses cookies to help LogicalDOC identify and track visitors, their usage of LogicalDOC website, and their website access preferences. LogicalDOC visitors who do not wish to have cookies placed on their computers should set their browsers to refuse cookies before using LogicalDOC's websites, with the drawback that certain features of LogicalDOC's websites may not function properly without the aid of cookies. They can also opt out analytics cookies by clicking here.
You opted out analytics cookies. Former cookies were already deleted.
If LogicalDOC, or substantially all of its assets, were acquired, or in the unlikely event that LogicalDOC goes out of business or enters bankruptcy, user information would be one of the assets that is transferred or acquired by a third party. You acknowledge that such transfers may occur, and that any acquirer of LogicalDOC may continue to use your personal information as set forth in this policy.
Ads appearing on any of our websites may be delivered to users by advertising partners, who may set cookies. These cookies allow the ad server to recognize your computer each time they send you an online advertisement to compile information about you or others who use your computer. This information allows ad networks to, among other things, deliver targeted advertisements that they believe will be of most interest to you. This Privacy Policy covers the use of cookies by LogicalDOC and does not cover the use of cookies by any advertisers.
Although most changes are likely to be minor, LogicalDOC may change its Privacy Policy from time to time, and in LogicalDOC's sole discretion. LogicalDOC encourages visitors to frequently check this page for any changes to its Privacy Policy. Your continued use of this site after any change in this Privacy Policy will constitute your acceptance of such change.
This privacy policy was adapted from that of automattic.com, which was posted under a Creative Commons Sharealike license. We appreciate their legwork and generosity.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
CINEMA CRIME NEWS National Viral
CBI Investigation in Sushant friends' Sidharth Pithani, to be questioned today.
Aug 24, 2020 CBI Investigation in Sushant friends, to be questioned together today.
Bollywood actor Rhea Chakraborty, who is the prime accused in Sushant Singh Rajput case, facing allegations of abetmet to suicide and money laundering levelled by the family of the deceased Bollywood actor, has been summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation which is now probing the case, sources have said. However, Rhea's advocate Satish Maneshinde has said that CBI has not yet summoned Rhea or her family members. However, as per sources, the summon has been sent to Rhea at her residence.
CBI sources have claimed that when the officials went to Rhea's place the house-keeper said Rhea was not at home. This can be an attempt by the actress to avoid receiving the summon herself in a bid to file anticipatory bail plea, they have said.
Previously, Rhea, her brother Showik and her father have been grilled for hours by the Enforcement Directorate as well, while probing the money laundering charges.
Meanwhile, Sushant's friend Sidharth Pithani, Dipesh Sawant his cook Neeraj- all those present during the occurrence of the incident, will be questioned together today.
Also, a team of CBI has now gone to Waterstone Resort, where Sushant is said to be allegedly involved in some spiritual healing exercise. The late actor is said to have stayed at the resort for almost 2 months after returning from the controversial Europe tour. The CBI has summoned spiritual guru Mohan Joshi who is said to have guided Sushant during his stay.
23, the number that keeps haunting Chandrababu Naidu!:Sailaja Reddy
Uma Bharti has offered a piece of advice to the Congress Party.


You have a total of 11 on your homepage. 1 of them are missing ALT tags.
A Twitter account exists at: https://twitter.com/bestlosangeles BUT it does not appear to be linked to your website.
h1 When is the Best Time to Schedule an Electrical Inspection in Simi Valley?
h2 Welcome to the City of Angels! We've taken time to round up some of the best of the best, from a local's point of view. Check out our recommendations of must-do SoCal activities.
Your site title is: "Best of Los Angeles: Food & Drink, Shopping Events around Los Angeles".
Your Description: Best of Los Angeles provides it's readers with upcoming news and events happening all over town, so you can stay informed and get involved.


text:
With dismal record, has three phase polling in Jammu and Kashmir failed?
oi-Deepika S
By Deepika S
| Updated: Wednesday, May 8, 2019, 10:57 [IST]
Srinagar, May 08: At a time when the national security surrounding the Pulwama terror attack has taken the centre stage, the very narrative has failed to draw voters to the booths in the valley.
Jammu and Kashmir has recorded an overall voter turnout of 44.51 per cent, which is 5 per cent down from the 49.52 per cent recorded in the 2014 election.
The overall voting percentage in Anantnag, which voted in three phases, stood at 8.76 per cent.
This is the second-lowest turnout for any Lok Sabha constituency in the state since the eruption of militancy, staying marginally above the 7.2 per cent registered in the bypoll to the Srinagar parliamentary seat in 2017.
The Pulwama threat
Pulwama district, where a suicide bomber drove into a Central Reserve Police Force convoy, killing 40 personnel, on February 14, is located in this Lok Sabha constituency.
Number of votes cast in Burhan Wani's village- 0
The decision to conduct the election in three phases was taken on the basis of the feedback by the security forces. Security officials explained the difficulty in conducting the elections in Anantnag. The districts of Shopian and Pulwama are swarming with terrorists. The recent suicide strike at Pulwama was also cited as one of the reasons.
The four districts of South Kashmir - Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama and Shopian - fall within Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency. These four districts are the centre of the local militancy that has taken root in the Valley over the last few years, and the site of pitched battles between security forces and militant groups.
Despite a multi-phased polling schedule, a low turnout remained a concern as it indicates a sense of disenchantment with the electoral process among people.
The individual turnout was the worst in Anantnag, where 8.79 per cent of voters came out to exercise their franchise, followed by Srinagar at 14 per cent. At 34 per cent, Baramulla saw a relatively better turnout.
Burhan Wani effect
The Lok Sabha seat fell vacant after Mehbooba Mufti vacated it in June 2016 to contest Assembly elections in order to become chief minister.
Weeks later, popular Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani was killed by security forces, plunging the Valley into a chain of mass protests, civilian deaths and gunfights. As anger against the government grew, few leaders who took part in electoral politics were able to enter these districts. Some were targeted by militants while many announced their decision to resign from political parties.
Nobody from the village of Burhan Wani, the poster boy of terror group Hizbul Mujahideen, voted on Monday, while just 15 from the native place of Pulwama suicide bomber, who nearly brought India and Pakistan to a war, cast the ballots. Also, zero polling was witnessed from the villages of other top militant commanders in south Kashmir.
Grenade attack hits polling in militancy prone Pulwama
To top it, 2018 turned out to be one of the bloodiest years in a decade in Kashmir, at least 413 people were killed due to violence since January of this year. More than half of those who died are militants, as per data available with security agencies.
Anantnag has a dismal voting history
The Valley, embroiled in violence for over three decades, has historically seen low voter turnouts. Over the last five general elections from 1998 to 2014, the turnout in Anantnag has remained below 30 per cent. In 1999 and 2004, it was below 15 per cent.
In the 2009 polls, this constituency had witnessed a polling percentage of 29. After Mehbooba vacated the seat, the Election Commission of India had announced that by-polls would be held on April 12, 2017. However violent protests that led to the death of seven civilians had led to the polls being postponed. The polls were deferred to May 2017, but owing to the deteriorating situation, the polls later deferred indefinitely.
With dismal polling percentage recorded in Anantnag Lok Sabha constituency the polling for which was held in three phases, the three major contenders NC, PDP and Congress will be banking upon the selected pockets for their winning prospects.
More JAMMU AND KASHMIR News
Down to just a dozen: Stone pelting incidents see remarkable decline in J&K
J&K: Man arrested with arms in Kathua
Amarnath Yatra suspended for Saturday due to separatist backed strike in Kashmir
J&K: Cop arrested with 750 grams of heroin
Post Balakot, net infiltration into J&K has reduced by 43 per cent: MHA
Kishtwar police appeal civilians to refrain from wearing army-pattern dresses
Burhan Wani death anniversary paralyses Valley
India slams UN rights' report on J&K as continuation of 'false and motivated narrative'
Burhan Wani death anniversary: High alert declared in Valley
Terror funding; Choked at source, now time to wipe it of the ground
Drone that flew over Kishtwar jail still shrouded in mystery
How many terrorists were killed this year in J&K?
jammu and kashmir polling failed voters anantnag
BJP will form govt in 4-5 days in Karnataka: Yeddyurappa


text:
package chandu0101.scalajs.rn.examples.uiexplorer.components.navigator

import chandu0101.scalajs.rn._
import chandu0101.scalajs.rn.components._
import chandu0101.scalajs.rn.styles.NativeStyleSheet
import japgolly.scalajs.react.{ReactElement, BackendScope}

import scala.scalajs.js
import scala.scalajs.js.Math

object NavigationBarSample {

  val NavButton = ReactNativeComponentB[(() => Unit, String)]("NavButton")
    .render(P => {
    TouchableHighlight(
      style = styles.button,
      underlayColor = "#B5B5B5",
      onPress = P._1
    )(Text(style = styles.buttonText)(P._2))
  }).build

  class Backend(t: BackendScope[NavigatorM, _]) {

    def newRandomRoute() :js.Dynamic = {
      NavigatorRoute(title = s"#${Math.ceil(Math.random()*1000)}",component = null,getProps = null).toJson
    }

    def onPress(nav : NavigatorM) = {
      () =>  nav.immediatelyResetRouteStack(js.Array(
        newRandomRoute(),
        newRandomRoute(),
        newRandomRoute()
      ))
    }

    def renderScene(route: NavigatorRoute, navigator: NavigatorM) = {
        ScrollView(style = styles.scene)(
         Text(style = styles.messageText)(route.title),
          NavButton((onPress(navigator),"Reset w/3 scenes")),
          NavButton((() => t.props.pop(),"Exit NavigationBar Example"))
        )
    }

    def onLeftButton(route : NavigatorRoute,navigator : NavigatorM,index : Int,navState : NavigationBarNavState):ReactElement = {
      if(index > 0) {
        val previousRoute = navState.routeStack(index - 1)
         TouchableOpacity(onPress = () => navigator.pop())(
          View(style = styles.navBarLeftButton)(
            Text(style = styles.combinedText)(previousRoute.title)
          )
         )
      } else null

    }
    def onRightButtonButton(route : NavigatorRoute,navigator : NavigatorM,index : Int,navState : NavigationBarNavState):ReactElement = {
         TouchableOpacity(onPress = () => navigator.push(newRandomRoute()))(
          View(style = styles.navBarRightButton)(
            Text(style = styles.combinedText)("Next")
          )
         )
    }

    def onTitle(route : NavigatorRoute,navigator : NavigatorM,index : Int,navState : NavigationBarNavState):ReactElement = {
     Text(style = styles.navBarTitleText)(
       s"${ route.title}[${index}]"
     )
    }

  }

  val component = ReactNativeComponentB[NavigatorM]("NavigationBarSample")
    .stateless
    .backend(new Backend(_))
    .render((P, S, B) => {
    Navigator(style = styles.container,
    renderScene = B.renderScene _,
    initialRoute =  NavigatorRoute.fromJson(B.newRandomRoute()).toJson ,
    navigationBar = NavigatorNavigationBar(style = styles.navBar,
    routeMapper = NavigationBarRouteMapper(Title = B.onTitle _,
    LeftButton = B.onLeftButton _,
    RightButton = B.onRightButtonButton _))
    )

  })
    .build

  object styles extends NativeStyleSheet {

    val messageText = style(fontSize := 17,
      fontWeight._500,
      padding := 15,
      marginTop := 50,
      marginLeft := 15)

    val button = style(backgroundColor := "white",
      padding := 15,
      borderBottomWidth := 1.0 / ReactNative.PixelRatio.get(),
      borderBottomColor := "#CDCDCD"
    )

    val buttonText = style(fontSize := 17,
      fontWeight._500)

    val scene = style(flexOne,
      paddingTop := 20,
      backgroundColor := "#EAEAEA")

    val navBar = style(backgroundColor := "white",
     height := 64,
     paddingBottom := 5,
     borderBottomWidth := 1.0 / ReactNative.PixelRatio.get(),
    borderBottomColor := "rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5)",
    marginTop := 80)

    val navBarText = style(fontSize := 16,
      marginVertical := 10)

    val navBarTitleText = style(color := "black",
      fontWeight._500,
      marginVertical := 9)

    val navBarLeftButton = style(paddingLeft := 10)

    val navBarRightButton = style(paddingRight := 10)

    val navBarButtonText = style(color := "#5890ff")

    val container = style(flexOne)

    val combinedText = styleE(navBarText,navBarButtonText)()

  }

  def apply(navigator: NavigatorM) = component(navigator)

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
"1600 Penn" Matches NBC's Comedy Season high at 8:30, Scores Network's Top Non-Sports 9:30 Rating Since November 15
NBC spins the numbers for Thursday, January 10.
[via press release from NBC]
Thursday Results:
With "1600 Penn" airing at 8:30 (an encore of the episode that aired on Dec. 17) and 9:30, NBC delivered its top-rated non-sports Thursday since November 8, as:
* The 8:30 "1600 Penn" encore matched NBC's comedy high in the slot this season.
* "The Office" earned its top rating since Nov. 8.
* The 9:30 "1600 Penn" delivered NBC's top non-sports rating in the slot since November 15.
* "30 Rock" matched its season high
* At 8 p.m. ET, "30 Rock" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall) matched its season high in 18-49 by scoring its highest rating since the show's season premiere on October 4. In total viewers, it's the top "30 Rock" of the season and biggest overall audience for the series since March 15, 2012. "30 Rock" was up versus its prior original by 27 percent in 18-49 (1.4 vs. 1.1 on December 6). .
* At 8:30 p.m. ET, an encore of the December 17 telecast of "1600 Penn" (1.4/4 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall) matched NBC's season high with comedy in the time period and delivered NBC's biggest overall audience with comedy in the time period since March 15, 2012. The "1600 Penn" encore retained 100 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from the highest-rated "30 Rock" in three months.
* From 9-9:31 p.m. ET, "The Office" (2.2/6 in 18-49, 4.5 million viewers overall) filed its highest 18-49 and total-viewers results since November 8. "The Office" is #2 in the slot among ABC, CBS, NBC and Fox in adults 18-34, men 18-49 and men 25-54 and #1 among those networks in men 18-34. "The Office" built on its lead-in by 57 percent in 18-49 rating. Note that last season, "The Office" added an average 50 percent to these next-day "live plus same day" ratings when Nielsen reported "live plus seven day" results.
* From 9:31-10:01 p.m. ET, the regular-slot debut of "1600 Penn" (1.6/4 in 18-49, 3.9 million viewers overall) generated NBC's top non-sports rating in the slot since November 15 (1.7). The 9:30 "1600 Penn" retained 73 percent of its 18-49 lead-in from "The Office" (2.2/6), in line with the 76 percent average for slot predecessor "Parks and Recreation" ("live plus same day," originals only).
* From 10:01-11 p.m. ET, "Rock Center with Brian Williams" (1.1/3 in 18-49, 3.8 million viewers overall) scored its top results in adults 18-49, adults 25-54 and total viewers since November 15. "Rock Center" is up week to week by 38 percent in 18-49 rating (1.1 vs. 0.8), 27 percent in 25-54 (1.4 vs. 1.1) and 9 percent in total viewers (3.766 million vs. 3.456 million).
In Late-Night Metered Markets Thursday night:
* In Nielsen's 56 metered markets, household results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 2.5/7; CBS's "Late Show with David Letterman," 2.6/7; and ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 2.7/7.
* In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, adult 18-49 Wednesday results were: "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno," 0.7/3; "Late Show," 0.7/3; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.2/6.
* From 12:35-1:05 a.m. ET Wednesday night, ABC's "Nightline" averaged a 1.7/6 in metered-market households and a 0.7/4 in 18-49 in the Local People Meters.
* Thursday season averages heading into this week were: in metered-market households, "Tonight," 2.7 rating, 7 share; "Late Show," 2.7/7; "Nightline," 3.1/7; and "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 1.6/5. In the Local People Meters, 18-49 season averages for Thursday were: "Tonight," 0.8/4; "Late Show," 0.7/3; "Nightline," 1.1/5; "Jimmy Kimmel Live," 0.6/3.
* From 12:35-1:35 a.m. ET, "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" (1.3/5 in metered-market households) beat CBS's "Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson" (1.2/4). In the 25 markets with Local People Meters, "Late Night" (0.4/3 in 18-49) topped "Late Late Show" (0.3/2).
* At 1:35 a.m., "Last Call with Carson Daly" averaged a 0.7/3 in metered-market households with an encore and a 0.2/2 in adults 18-49 in the 25 markets with local people meters.
NOTE: All ratings are "live plus same day" from Nielsen Media Research unless otherwise indicated.
[january 2013]
· 1600 PENN (NBC)
· 30 ROCK (NBC)
· OFFICE, THE (NBC)
· ROCK CENTER WITH BRIAN WILLIAMS (NBC)
most recent ratings | view all posts
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" Keeps ABC on Top
The Alphabet's game show trio leads the night in both total viewers and adults 18-49.
Wednesday's Broadcast Ratings: "Chicago" Dramas Return on Top for NBC
The network pulls into the top spots in both total viewers and adults 18-49.
Tuesday's Broadcast Ratings: NBC, "This Is Us" Top Adults 18-49
The network holds off the competition in the key demographic while CBS is the most-watched network overall.
In Its First Four Weeks, More Than 41 Million Households Are Projected to Wax on for "Cobra Kai's" Third Season
Between all three seasons, 73 million households have checked out the show.
Monday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC Tops Competition with "The Bachelor"
The Alphabet leads the night in both total viewers and adults 18-49.
Sunday's Broadcast Ratings: NBC Surges with NFL Playoffs
The network cruises to victory in both total viewers and adults 18-49.
Saturday's Broadcast Ratings: NFL Playoffs Put NBC on Top
Friday's Broadcast Ratings: CBS Tops Viewers, Splits Demos with ABC
"Blue Bloods" and "Shark Tank" lead their respective lineups last night.
ABC Ranks as No. 1 Entertainment Net for 5th Straight Week in Adults 18-49
ABC spins the numbers for the week of December 28.
Thursday's Broadcast Ratings: ABC Tops Charts with "Celebrity Wheel of Fortune" Premiere
The network leads the evening in both total viewers and adults 18-49.
"Mr. Mayor" Is NBC's Best Comedy Premiere in 18-49 Since 2018
NBC spins the numbers for Thursday, January 7.
HGTV's Hit Series "Fixer to Fabulous" Delivers Its Best-Ever Ratings
HGTV spins the numbers for Tuesday, December 29.
"Big Sky" Is ABC's Most-Watched Debut Since September 2017 with 14.7 Million Viewers After 35 Days of Multiplatform Viewing
ABC spins the numbers for the series to date.
Hallmark Channel Closes Out 2020 as #1 Entertainment Cable Network in Fourth Quarter and #2 for the Entire Year
Hallmark Channel spins the numbers for the year to date.
more ratings >>


text:
I have been impressed with Yasujiro Ozu's maturity in the 30s that is reflected in his impressive direction in the Eclipse Series 10: Silent Ozu: Three Family Comedies. This is true of Passing Fancy (1933) in particular. Here, Ozu explores the life of bemused day laborer Kihachi (Takeshi Sakamoto) and his cheeky son Tomio (Tokkan Kozo who also starred in I Was Born But...). Kihachi considers a late marriage and then becomes invovlked in brokering the marriage of his workmate and struggles with his son's sickness and almost leaves him behind to go to Hokkaido to earn the funds to pay back a friend for his son's medical expenses. Family stories would become Ozu's bread and butter in his better known late career masterpieces such as Tokyo Story and Late Spring. Already in the 30s he is using the cutaway still shots, ellipsis in story telling and the tatami level camera for conversations on the tatami. It fascinating to see the director's development from the silent dramas to the late masterpieces that he is famous for.
May 12, 2018 in Eclipse Series, Film, Ozu | Permalink | Comments (0)
As Michael Koresky points out in his accompanying essay to the Eclipse Series 10 film Tokyo Chorus (1931), it is something of a turning point for director Yasujiro Ozu. It marks the beginning of his mature era, it seems that at this point Ozu already had made 21 films, and seven previously that year alone. This silent film has a more realistic approach to his usual comedy tropes. Okajima (Tokihiko Okada) is looking forward to his annual bonus to buy luxuries for his family. However, a surprisingly dark turn of events finds the family in financial turmoil. This film was written by long time Ozu collaborator Koga Noda and has some great sight gags among the more realistic aspects at the onset of the worldwide Great Depression that was taking place at the time. The film also shows that even at this early stage, Ozu was using trademark visual elements such as still life cutaways and tatami view camera views for conversations in the family's house. According to Ozu scholar David Bordwell, from this point on Ozu is a major director.
Thirst For Love
The final film in the Eclipse Series 28: The Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara is Thirst For Love and it was my favorite in the collection. That being said I enjoyed all of them and most of them were revelations. This films is an adaptation of a Yukio Mishima novel. it is the melodramatic story of a beautiful young widow, Estuko (Ruriko Asaoka), who drifts into the role of mistress to the tyrant-like patriarch of the family, played by Nobu Nakamura, on a small estate outside of Osaka. However, she finds herself attracted to the young indifferent caretaker, Saburo (Tetsuo Ishidate) and this brings out the worst in her character: "Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned..." It calls to mind the Douglas Sirk films of Hollywood like All That Heaven Allows. The execution of the film is full of artistry in the myriad of techniques used by Kurahara: exquisite framing, dolly camera movements, aerial shots, still frames and freeze frames, slow motion, the use of mirrors, strategic use of color in two parts, close ups and panning away. It seems unfortunate that he morphed into a semi-documentarian of animal films for the masses. It seems as though he was as much a victim to the changing of the times sand the rise of television that ended Japan's third golden age of film making of the 60s.
November 04, 2015 in Criterion, Eclipse Series, Film | Permalink | Comments (0)
Black Sun (1964) is the fourth film in Eclipse Series 28: The Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara and probably his masterwork. It seems like a companion to his earlier intense, high energy youth inspired film, The Warped Ones. In this film Akira (Mei) (Tamio Kawachi who also starred in The Warped Ones) is squatting in an abandoned church getting by as a petty criminal with a passion for American jazz. A black American soldier on the run, Gil (Chico Roland), decides to hole up in Akira's squat and welcomes a black America, of which he identifies with jazz. However, the American cannot speak Japanese and bullies the captive without understanding his compliance. The film works despite Roland's strange whisper -like delivery of his lines. There are some interesting racial semantics that ensue as the two try to come to terms with each other. One episode results in Mei donning blackface while putting Gil in whiteface in order to evade capture. The tone is set during the introduction to the film that features an inspired piece of music by Max Roach, who was responsible for the score, and an impressive vocal performance. Throughout the film there are various camera techniques that were effectively used: high angle bird's eye views, hand held cameras that give a documentary feel , as well as exquisite framing in the decaying church that was apparently a true location that was torn down in Shibuya during the filming of the movie. The backseat camera of Mei driving through the city was also impressive. This is one of the best postwar Japanese films of the 60s on par with classics like Woman in the Dunes and The Insect Woman.
October 30, 2015 in Criterion, Eclipse Series, Film | Permalink | Comments (0)
I Hate But I Love
I Hate But I Love (1962) is the third installment in the Eclipse Series 28: The Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara, and so far my least favorite. However, that's not to say that there is nothing worthwhile about the production. My main complaint lies in the fact it is was conceived as a conventional star vehicle for two of the biggest stars of the day in Yujiro Ishihara and Ruriko Asaoka. Ishihara plays Dasaku Katu a multi-media star that was cultivated by his manager-girlfriend Noriko Sakakita (Asaoka). They have decided to avoid kissing and sex and they are getting frustrated and bored by the lifestyle of hard work and no release-Kurahara finds plenty of opportunities to have them have dressed despite these limitations. Dasaku decides to take up a an offer to drive a jeep for a woman living in Tokyo to a doctor, whom she is having a long distance romance with, living in the mountains of Kyushu. Noriko tries to stop him and bring him back to fulfill commitments for his career in the media and as a result becomes a media sensation himself as his story is covered by all outlets of the media. The movie become more interesting for me when Ishihara starts driving south-this is the only film from the series in color-and the images of a postwar Japan before the economic miracle are fascinating to see. The viewer is treated to undeveloped locations from Tokyo to Kyushu, but also major landmarks in Oasaka, Kyoto, and Kyushu while exposing the viewer to the types of cars, ferries, and roadside stops of that era. The culmination of the story in the green mountains of Kyushu is impressive.
The Warped Ones
The second film by Koreyoshi Kurahara in the Eclipse Series 28: The Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara, is The Warped Ones (1960). This films seems as though it owes something to Jean-luc Goddard's Breathless, which came out the same year. The soundtrack has a hard driving jazz score and there is a lot of hand held camera work that seems innovative for the time in which it was used. It is a tale of delinquent youths who engage in petty theft, prostitution, and run around looking for kicks by stealing cars and heading out to the beach. On this trip Akira (Tamio Kawachi) stumbles on the journalist that saw to him getting arrested for a robbery and knocks him down and abducts his girlfriend, Fumiko (Noriko Matsumoto) and rapes her. His best friend Masaru (Eiji Go) and his trick turning girlfriend Yuki (Yuko Chishiro) ride along for kicks. It is a film full of energy and must have been ground breaking at the time and has a very distinct style. It does not seem like the same director that made the genre picture, Intimidation in the same year.
I wasn't aware of Koreyoshi Kurahara until I was introduced to him via Criterion's Eclipse Series 17: Nikkatsu Noir, which included his film I am Waiting (1957). It was an entertaining noirish vehicle for Yujiro Ishihara. Since then I have learned that he was a very commercially successful director and was active during the New Wave period, despite not being considered a member of that particular film movement. Criterion saw it fitting that he get his own series, Eclipse Series 28: The Warped World of Koreyoshi Kurahara. The first film in the collection is another film noir gem, Intimidation (1960). This lean film, it clocks in at a mere 65 minutes, tells the story of an arrogant bank assistant manager, Takita (Nobuo Kaneko), who rides his success over a former school mate and subordinate, (Akira Nishimura who also starred in Kurosawa's High and Low in 1960) before coming face to face with a rude comeuppance. It is a well-plotted film with several reversals of fortune. It is an entertaining genre piece executed with precision and artistry-there are some well crafted set pieces and scenes throughout the film. As a result I am looking forward to seeing what Kurahara will do in his other four films in this series.
The Stranger (1991) is the last film in the Eclipse Series 40: Late Ray as well as Satyajit Ray's final film. I found it to be the most satisfying film, artistically, in the series as well, as it was written by the director as well. Manomohan Mitra (Utpal Dutt) returns to Calcutta after 35 years traveling abroad and want sot reunite with his remaining family. however, his last remaining relative Anila Bose (Dipankar Day) and her husband are suspect about this man who left when Anila was only two years old. He is charming man and easily makes friends with their young son and his friends. It ends in an uplifting and positive manner. Most of the action takes place in the house and resembles the other films in this series in that it is essentially a talking heads sort of film that would also be effective as a play. that being said this one feels more cinematic in the camera angles, framing, and effective use of close ups and other aspects such as vibrant colors and music, which Ray also composed. It is clear that even in Ray's late period he was making important films that were philosophical and thought provoking.
The second film in the Eclipse Series 40: Late Ray is Satyajit Ray's adaptation of the Henrik Ibsen play, Enemy Of The People (1989). At the time of the filming of the production Ray was ill and regaled to making a film indoors on sound sets, thus, the choice of making a adaptation of a play. Dr Ashoke Gupta (Soumitra Chatterjee) has found that the water from the local temple has been making people sick and he plans to share this information against the wishes of the status quo who depend on the popularity of the temple for the town's prosperity. The theme of science versus superstition and religion is one that is surely more volatile in India where there is much religious fundamentalism. The idea that holy water is polluted also speaks to the water problems in India. However, the result was static and somewhat subdued and lacked the cinematic flourishes that a viewer has come to expect from a Ray film, this film remains a minor one in the director's oeuvre.
The Home And The World
After recently finishing up "The Apu Trilogy" from the renowned Indian director Satyajit Ray I am in the process of viewing Eclipse Series 40 - Late Ray and the first film was The Home And The World (1984). It is an adaptation of a novel by Nobel Prize winning author Rabindranath Tagore. It is the story of a love triangle that develops during a crisis in India that was caused by the British partition of Bengal in the early twentieth century. A progressive aristocrat, Nikhil (Victor Banerjee), introduces his sequestered wife, Bimala (Swatilekha Chatterjee) to his best friend, the radical Sandip (The Apu Triology's Soumitra Chatterjee). His wife falls for the radical, but then realizes her mistake and returns to her husband's graces. This film feels very different form his earlier films in that most of the film takes place in doors and it seems as though there is less innovative cinematography and the soundtrack seems more muted. That being said Ray uses mirrors cinematically several times throughout the film and some of the few location scenes are memorable-especially the one where Nikhil comes across a mob in a village as he rides through a bamboo forest and riot that light sup the nights with bonfires. The final scene is very effective and masterly, which involves time lapse photography and conveys a lot of emotion and information. I am curious to see what Ray does in the next two films in this series.
September 28, 2015 in Criterion, Eclipse Series, Film | Permalink | Comments (0)


TAIPEI �C The first Antarctica expedition team from China's Taiwan came bacwww wrist band comk home safe and sound on Tuesday.
The expedition was led by Albert Liu, founder of Gamania, alongside Tommy Chen, Taiwan's ultra-marathon runner, and celebrity Chris Wang, as well as Sherry Lin and Gary Wu, two 20-year-old members of the Big Dream Youth.
The team departed on Nov 13, but the original 660-kilometer-long off-road skiing schedule was interrupted by several severe storms. In consideration of their limited foods and supplies, they embarked on a more difficult challenge, the "Antarctic Plateau Route," that spans at elevations of up to 2,545 meters. It was equivalent to marching at the altitude of 4,000 meters under the effects of thin air, wild wind, and extremely low temperature; yet, the team successfully made it to the South Pole right before Christmas.


Of the 40 or so states that have casinos, many allow roulette tables, so even without So if you bet a dollar on one number repeatedly, you would win $35 ( and keep Taking Advantage of the Biased Wheel to Make Money. How Casinos Make Money: Understanding House Edge, RTP & Variance a casino and made £1, in single zero roulette wagers, your expected loss would. The idea is that you can make bets on the layout in a way that you are guaranteed to win Like a dartboard, the layout of a roulette wheel did not come about by accident Whatever betting strategy, and money management strategy, you wheel is not biased – the maths means the casino will always win.
MAGASIN CASINO TOULOUSE PONT DES DEMOISELLES Lucky for you, in the 21 st century you no longer hod this because a simple phone, some software, and a little training can give you all the edge you are going to need. Roulette has been around since the middle of the 17 th century. Like a dartboardthe layout of a roulette wheel did not come about by accident. Many first-time players are pleasantly surprised at being offered free drinks, but being drunk doesn't usually improve their betting. The true odds are 37 to 1 or 38 to 1, not the 36 to 1 that is the most the player can get paid on a winning bet.
Roulette is a casino game with a spinning wheel and ball. So it is not something you can realistically depend on for a regular income. Of course, another part of the necessary training is doing all of this without drawing attention to yourself and getting caught. Craps offers the next lowest edge, 0. Or you can find a biased wheel that makes some numbers more likely to come up. It is this chance that keeps people coming back.


text:
Celebrating Life Decades After Breast Cancer: 40 Women Share Stories of Surviving Twenty to Fifty Years After Diagnosis
Beverly McKee, MSW, LCSW
Imagine the hope and comfort you will feel surrounded by forty inspiring breast cancer survivors as they share stories of celebrating life twenty, forty, even fifty years after diagnosis. You'll be welcomed into an inner circle of support as each woman shares her personal journey through breast cancer and insight about why she believes she has thrived for decades beyond diagnosis. Whether you are a survivor, caregiver, family, friend, or part of an oncology team, this book will help quiet fear, calm anxiety, and offer the priceless gift of hope.
Beverly McKee, MSW, LCSW, is a mental health therapist and Stage III breast cancer survivor. She was inspired to compile this powerful collection of stories after planning a party set for October 17, 2052, exactly forty years in the future from the date of her own diagnosis.
You are invited to meet these unforgettable women during a worldwide book tour! For details and to learn how you can join an exclusive online book club visit www.BeverlyMcKee.com.
This book will:
Offer hope and insight into long-term survival after diagnosis to anyone who has been touched by breast cancer.
Provide real-life stories of long-term survival for oncology teams to share with their patients.
Dare you to consider how breast cancer or any other life challenge can be used as a catalyst for positive change.
Reassure you that you are not alone in your journey through breast cancer with stories of women who understand the fear that comes with diagnosis as well as how they have celebrated life throughout the decades.
Provide insight into how a positive attitude can transform your journey through any challenge in life.
Challenge you to explore your faith in God, self, and others and how that relationship has been impacted after a cancer diagnosis.
Encourage you to examine the way that you view statistics and to consider the possibility that you might be the exception when faced with overwhelming odds.
Offer suggestions to cope with cancer from women who have survived twenty to fifty years after their own breast cancer diagnosis.
Purchase via Square or PayPal:
Buy on Square
Retail List Price: $17.95
Smashwords Price: $3.99
Shipping & Handling: $3 for one or more copies in continental US
Publication Date: Oct 1, 2015
6" x 9", 214 pages
Also available through:
Available directly through Transformation Media Books (PayPal or Square) or Amazon. Also available through Barnes & Noble or your favorite local bookstore.
Beverly McKee, MSW, LCSW, is a licensed mental health therapist by training, writer at heart, and has an unbridled passion for empowering others to celebrate life, even in the midst of crisis. A dynamic, results-driven social service executive with more than two decades of leadership and public speaking experience, she has guided countless others through personal and professional challenges.
One random Wednesday afternoon, her life was boldly interrupted with news that would forever alter the landscape of her existence: Stage III breast cancer. Determined to use her diagnosis as a catalyst for positive change, Beverly founded Navigating the Storms, which leveraged her clinical skills, history of guiding others through crisis, and personal experience as a cancer survivor into that of an author, blogger, keynote speaker, and cancer advocate. Based on interviews with forty long-term breast cancer survivors, Beverly's new book, Celebrating Life Decades after Breast Cancer, offers hope and inspiration to her followers throughout the world. When Beverly's worldwide book tour kicks off in the fall of 2015, readers will have the opportunity to meet the inspiring survivors featured in the book, all of whom have survived breast cancer between twenty and fifty years. Beverly's writing has appeared in publications throughout the world, including The New York Times, Post Dispatch, Cancer Today, Faces of Inspiration, The Islander, Survivor Secrets, Breast Cancer Wellness Magazine, and Cancer Treatment, earning her the 2014 Top Cancer Blog and Best in #Social Work awards. Named a "Portrait of Hope" by the American Cancer Society and a "Torchlighter" by the United Way, Beverly connects with her audiences on an emotional level, eliciting laughter, tears, and inspiration.
Cancer free today, Beverly's enthusiasm and appreciation for life are contagious. When not working, you may find her rescuing baby sea turtles, enjoying long walks through nature, or zip lining through the jungles of Belize (an adventure she embarked upon less than one year after radiation).
In an effort not to be outnumbered, Beverly and her husband Dan limit everything in their household to pairs: two amazing sons, Jack and Alex, two dogs, and two reptiles. The family splits their time beneath a canopy of trees in Missouri and the shell-covered beaches of Sanibel Island, Florida, where Beverly will host a party set far in the future. Mark your calendars for October 17, 2052, forty years to the day after her breast cancer diagnosis. You are officially invited to "Beverly's Forty-Year Survivor Celebration"!
Learn how you can meet Beverly on her worldwide book tour and connect with her on social media by visiting www.navigating.org.
All contents Copyright © 2021 by Transformation Media Books and Pen & Publish
Questions? Email Us or Contact Us.


As a Local Affiliate Chamber, the Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce will work closely with NGLCC and the Affiliate Chamber Council to expand economic opportunities for LGBT-owned businesses throughout Maryland. The Chamber will be joining a region of eight Local Affiliate Chambers in the Northeast Corridor that promote economic opportunities for the LGBT community through local business connections and nationwide Supplier Diversity programs and support nearly 1,000 certified LGBT Business Enterprises® (LGBTBEs) across the nation.
Founded by local advocates Betsy Cerulo and David Imre, the MDLGBT Chamber strives to empower and promote LGBT professionals in the Maryland and surrounding marketplace. Located in Baltimore, MD, the Chamber will offer networking opportunities, support business development efforts within the LGBT community, and provide educational programming to its members. The Chamber will work closely with government and private sector leaders to drive change and accelerate the growth of the Maryland economy.


Welcome to Derbyshire's online dating site for singles in Great Longstone, we're here to help you make new friends and start relationships with local people around Great Longstone, Derbyshire. If you're serious about wanting to meet someone in Great Longstone and are looking forward to getting yourself out on some fun dates then you have found the right dating website. We're not just a Great Longstone dating site, we're focused on making new relationships that last. Something that takes effort and commitment on both sides, a serious dating site for Great Longstone singles who are ready to date.


Winner of the Kings Cross New Writing Award 2005. Produced as part of the Theatertreffen Festival of Theatre in Berlin 2006.
English translator on Russian/English feature originally conceived and directed by award-winning director Oksana Bychkova. Winner audience award – Vyborg Film Festival 2008. Winner Best Script – Russian Film Festival, Hornfleur 2008.
Invited artist – International Forum, Theatertreffen 2009, Berlin.
National Theatre Studio attachment – Jan-Feb 2009.
Glogauer Studios, Berlin – 3 month artist residency 2008. Supported by Arts Council, England and Peggy Ramsay Foundation.


People are generally quite resilient – we can cope with short bursts of stress and high workloads – in fact we relish a challenge. However, continuing stress and anxiety, bubbling away under the surface, erodes mental capacity, causes erratic behaviour and reduces our effectiveness. Over time our immune system weakens because of the cortisol and adrenaline pumped into the body on command from the amygdala.
This slow degradation of our overall wellbeing makes us more susceptible to coughs, colds, aches and pains. Over time this can develop from the odd Monday off to short spells of minor illness, and can sometimes lead to levels of stress and anxiety that require clinical intervention. Safe-guarding the overall wellbeing of your people is not just a legal requirement it is a moral one.
We use WeThrive to 'take the temperature of the team' and uncover underlying staff issues that may affect performance. This new information enables us to design appropriate interventions to get things back on track much more quickly.
WeThrive will show you to what degree stress and anxiety is affecting your people and most importantly make instant recommendations that you and your line managers can do to reduce it.
The other problem is the people who aren't really sick, but feel a little jaded and might find the couch is more appealing than a day at work. WeThrive shows you who is not really connected into the meaning, purpose and social interactions at work. Then you can take steps to help them feel more integrated, and so more likely to turn up on what could have been a duvet day.


text:
\section{Introduction}

Demographic information retrieval consists in recognizing traits from
a human being such as age, gender, personality, emotions, and others.
Typically the main aim is to create a user profile based on
unstructured data.
The retrieval of such information has different applications in
forensics, security, sales, marketing, health-care, and many other sectors~\cite{hsieh2018author}.
In e-commerce scenarios, this type of information provides
advantages to companies in competitive environments because it
allows to segment customers in order to offer personalized products and
services which strengths their marketing
strategies~\cite{dogan2019gender,hirt2019cognitive}.
Although most of the demographic factors are explicitly collected
through the registration process, this approach could be limited
given that most of potential customers in online stores are
anonymous. The automatic recognition of demographic variables
such as gender can help to overcome these
limitations~\cite{fernandez2018dimension}.

Text data from customers can be obtained via transliterations of
voice recordings, chats, surveys, and social media.
These text resources can be processed to automatically recognize
the gender of the users.
Different studies have applied Natural Language Processing (NLP)
techniques for gender recognition in text data, mainly from
social media posts. In~\cite{markov2017language,martinc2017pan} the
authors used Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) to extract features from tweets in the PAN17 corpus~\cite{rangel2017overview}, and reported accuracies for gender classification around 81\%.
The authors in~\cite{basile2017n} used extracted features from
TF-IDF as well as specific information only available in social
media posts such as the frequency of female- and male-emojis.
The authors reported an accuracy of 83.2\% in the
PAN17~\cite{rangel2017overview} corpus for gender recognition.
Although the high accuracy reported in the study, the methodology
would not be accurate to model text data written in more formal
scenarios such as customer reviews, product surveys, opinion
posts, and customer service chats, which have a different
structure compared to the texts that can be found in social media data.
In other study~\cite{li2017gender}, the authors proposed a system
to classify the gender of the persons who wrote 100,000 posts from
Weibo (Chinese social network similar to Tweeter).
The system was based on a Word2Vec model, which achieved an
accuracy of 62.9\%. The authors compared the performance of their
model with human judgments, which accuracy was 60\%.
This fact evidences that the problem of recognizing gender
in written texts is very hard even for human readers.
Wod2Vec models were also considered in~\cite{akhtyamova2017twitter}
for gender recognition in the PAN17 corpus.
The authors reported an accuracy of 69.5\% for the Tweets
in Spanish.
There are some studies focused on gender classification using
Deep Learning (DL) methods. However, when considering texts in
Spanish, the number of studies is relatively
 small~\cite{hsieh2018author,li2017gender}.
In~\cite{kodiyan2017author}, the authors proposed a methodology
based on Bidirectional Gated Recurrent Units (GRUs) and an
attention mechanism for gender classification in the PAN17 corpus.
The authors worked with a Word2Vec model as input for their
DL architecture and reported accuracies of up to 75.3\%.

According to the reviewed literature, gender classification based
on text data has been mainly explored in social media scenarios,
where the language is informal and the documents do not follow
a formal structure~\cite{gonzalez2015analysis}.
These types of documents use a number of language variants,
styles, and other content like emojis that help to accurately
recognize different demographic information.
There is a gap between models trained on formal and informal
written language because a trained model with formal
language data for a specific purpose will not achieve comparable
results on an informal language scenario, or vice-versa~\cite{gu2020data}.
Due to this reason, it is important to validate trained models for
gender recognition in both types of languages: formal and informal.
In addition, the recognition of demographic variables such as
gender are under-explored in documents with a more formal
structure.

This paper proposes a methodology based on Recurrent Neural Networks
(RNNs) and Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for gender
recognition in informal and formal language scenarios.
First, the models are trained and tested in the PAN17 corpus,
which is a traditional dataset for gender classification in Tweets.
The models originally trained using the PAN17 corpus are re-trained
using a transfer learning strategy with data from call-center
conversations, which are structured in a more formal language.
Accuracies of up to 75\% are obtained, indicating that the
proposed methodology is accurate for gender classification in
documents written in formal and also in informal languages.
Moreover, fine-tuned models using transfer learning show that
despite the noise and lack of structure in documents written in
informal language, they can be used to improve the accuracy of
gender classification.

\section{Materials and Methods}
\subsection{Data}

\subsubsection{PAN17:}
We are particularly working with the Spanish data of the corpus, namely
PAN-CLEF 2017~\cite{rangel2017overview}.
In this database, there are variants of Spanish from seven countries:
Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Spain and Venezuela.
The training set is composed by texts from 600 subjects from each country
(300 female). Since each subject has 100 Tweets, there is a total of
4200 subjects and 420000 Tweets in the dataset.
The test set comprises data from 400 subjects from each country
(200 female) for a total of 2800 subjects and 280000 Tweets.
For the sake of comparison with previous studies, we kept the
original train and test sets. The training set was randomly divided
into 80\% for training and 20\% to optimize the hyper-parameters of the models (development set).
All data distribution was performed subject independent to avoid
subject specific bias and to guarantee a better generalization
capability of the models.

\subsubsection{Call Center Conversations:}

This corpus contains transliterations of conversations between customers
and agents from a customer service center of a pension
administration company in Colombia.
Texts are manually generated by a group of linguistic experts based
on the audio signals from the customers. Similarly, the label of the
gender is assigned based on the audio recordings processed by the
linguists.
Formal language is typically used by the customers when asking for a
service, making a request, asking about certificates, and other
questions about the service provided by the company.
This database comprises 220 transliterations of different
customers (110 female). The average number of words for each
conversation is 602, with a standard deviation of 554.

\subsection{Deep Learning Architectures for Gender Classification}

We consider two DL architectures in this case: an RNN with Bidirectional
Long Short Term Memory (LSTM) cells, and a CNN with multiple temporal
resolutions. These networks are trained with data from the
PAN17 corpus. Then, a transfer learning strategy is applied
to recognize gender from the call center conversations data.

\subsubsection{Bidirectional Long Short Term Memory:}

The main idea of RNNs is to model a sequence of feature vectors
based on the assumption that the output depends on the input
features at the present time-step and on the output at the
previous time-step.
Conventional RNNs have a \emph{causal} structure, i.e., the output
at the present time step only contains information from the past.
However, many applications require information from the
future~\cite{otter2020survey}.
Bidirectional RNNs are created to address such a requirement by combing a
layer that processes the input sequence forward through time with
an additional layer that moves backwards the input sequence.
Traditional RNNs also exhibit a vanishing gradient problem, which
appears when modeling long temporal sequences.
LSTM layers were proposed to solve this vanishing gradient problem
by the inclusion of a \emph{long-term} memory to produce paths where
the gradient can flow for long duration sequences such as sentences
of a Tweet, or the ones that appear in a conversation with a
call-center agent~\cite{torfi2020natural}.
We proposed the use of a Bidirectional LSTM (Bi-LSTM) network for our
application. These architectures are widely used for different NLP
tasks such as sentiment analysis in social media and product
reviews~\cite{arras2017explaining,minaee2019deep,trofimovich2016comparison}.
A scheme of the considered architecture is shown in
Fig.~\ref{fig:Bi-lstm}.

\begin{figure}[]
  \includegraphics[width=0.7\textwidth]{Images/BI-lstm.pdf}
\centering
\caption{Bi-LSTM architecture for gender classification in a Tweet.}
\label{fig:Bi-lstm}
\end{figure}

Words from the data are represented using a word-embedding layer.
The input to the Bi-LSTM layer consists of $k$ $d$-dimensional
words-embedding vectors, where $k$ is the length of the sequence.
The final decision about the gender of the subject is made at the
output layer by using Softmax activation function.

\subsubsection{Convolutional Neural Network (CNN):}

CNN-based architectures are designed to extract sentence representations
by a composition of convolutional layers and a max-pooling operation over
all resulting feature maps. We proposed the use of a parallel CNN
architecture with different filter orders to exploit different temporal
resolutions at the same time. Details of the architecture can be found in
Fig.~\ref{fig:CNN}.
The output from the word-embedding layer is convolved with filters of
different orders ($n$) and that correspond to different number of the $n$
in $n$-grams. The proposed CNN computes the convolution only in the temporal
dimension. After convolution, a max-pooling operation is applied.
Finally, a fully connected layer is used for classification using a
Softmax activation function.

\begin{figure}[]
  \includegraphics[width=0.7\textwidth]{Images/cnn.pdf}
\centering
\caption{CNN architecture for gender classification in a Tweet.}
\label{fig:CNN}
\end{figure}

\subsection{Training}

The networks considered in this work are implemented in Tensorflow 2.0,
and are trained with a sparse categorical cross-entropy loss function
using an Adam optimizer.
An early stopping strategy is used to stop training when validation loss
does not improve after 10 epochs.
The embedding dimension $d$ is set to $100$. The vocabulary size for the
tokenizer is set to $5000$ for the PAN17 corpus and $1500$ for the
call-center conversations. The difference between the two vocabulary
sizes is given because the number of unique words present in the training
sets of each database.
Hyper-parameters are optimized upon the validation accuracy and the
simplest model.

\subsection{Transfer Learning}
We tested two approaches for the call-center conversations data:
(1) training the network only using the data from the corresponding corpus, and
(2) training the model via transfer learning by using a pre-trained model
generated with the PAN17 corpus.
For the transfer learning approach, the most accurate model for the
PAN17 data is fine-tuned, but freezing the embedding layer in order
to keep the tokenizer and a bigger vocabulary. Experiments without
freezing the embedding layer were also performed but the results
were not satisfactory.
The motivation for using transfer learning is to test whether the
knowledge learned by a model trained with text data in informal
language is useful to improve gender classification systems based on
text with formal language, since it is generally common to collect
large amounts of data with informal structure through social media,
but it is difficult to collect written documents with a formal structure.

\section{Experiment and Results}

Two experiments are performed in this study. The first one consists in
evaluating short sequences of texts, so the the architectures are trained
and the gender of the subject is computed based on the average
classification scores of all short texts from the same subject.
Note that for PAN17 corpus, each tweet is a short text, while for
call-center transliterations each conversation is divided into chunks
with 60 words, similar to the proposed in~\cite{kodiyan2017author}.
The second experiment consists in evaluating long assessment of texts.
In this case, the complete text data from the subjects is entered
to the network at the same time.
For the PAN17 corpus all Tweets are concatenated, and for the
call-center conversations we consider the complete transliteration
of each conversation.
This strategy is only evaluated using the CNN-based approach because
longer segments produced vanishing gradient problems in the
Bi-LSTM network.

\subsubsection{Experiments with PAN17:}

The results obtained for the PAN17 corpus (informal language)
are shown in Table~\ref{tab:ResultsPAN17} for both approaches,
short and long texts evaluation. Bi-LSTM and CNN networks are considered.
The best results are obtained using the strategy with long texts
in the CNN. There is an improvement of up to 4\% in the accuracy
per subject with respect to the accuracy obtained with short texts. The
improvement in the F1-score is around 2\%.

\begin{table}[]
\centering
\caption{Results of the gender classification in the PAN-CLEF 2017 database.}
\label{tab:ResultsPAN17}
\setlength{\tabcolsep}{3.5pt}
\begin{adjustbox}{max width=0.7\textwidth}
\begin{tabular}{lccc}
                   & \multicolumn{2}{c}{\textbf{Short texts}} & \textbf{Long texts} \\
                   & \textit{Bi-LSTM}    & \textit{CNN}    & \textit{CNN}                 \\ \hline
Accuracy per Tweet & 60.5                & 61.1            & -                   \\
Accuracy per subject         & 71.3                & 71.9            & \textbf{75.9}                \\
Precision          & 68.6                & 81.1            & \textbf{75.6}                \\
Recall             & 72.0                & 68.0            & \textbf{76.1}                \\
F1-Score           & 70.8                & 73.9            & \textbf{75.8}                \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{adjustbox}
\end{table}

\subsubsection{Experiments with Call-Center Conversations:}

The results observed for the call center conversations
(formal language) are shown in Table~\ref{tab:ResultsCallCenterTranscriptions}.
The results include those obtained with and without applying transfer
learning.
The results also include the ones obtained using short and long texts.
The results for this corpus are obtained following a 10-fold cross-validation
strategy due to the small size of the corpus.
The highest accuracy is obtained here also with the long texts,
similar to the results obtained with the PAN17 corpus.
In addition, note that the accuracy improves in up to 20\% when the
transfer learning strategy is applied with respect to the accuracy
obtained without using the pre-trained models.
Note also that models using transfer learning show a smaller standard
deviation which likely indicates that these methods are more stable.

\begin{table}[]
\centering
\caption{Results of the gender classification in the call-center conversations data. \textbf{TL}: transfer learning.}
\label{tab:ResultsCallCenterTranscriptions}
\setlength{\tabcolsep}{3.5pt}
\begin{adjustbox}{max width=\textwidth}
\begin{tabular}{lcccc|cc}
                       & \multicolumn{4}{c}{\textbf{Short texts}}                                                                                & \multicolumn{2}{c}{\textbf{Long texts}}                                                                                \\
                       & \textit{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}c@{}}Bi-LSTM\\ Without TL\end{tabular}} & \textit{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}c@{}}Bi-LSTM\\ With TL\end{tabular}} & \textit{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}c@{}}CNN\\ Without TL\end{tabular}} & \textit{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}c@{}}CNN\\ With TL\end{tabular}} & \textit{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}c@{}}CNN\\ Without TL\end{tabular}} & \textit{\begin{tabular}[c]{@{}c@{}}CNN\\ With TL\end{tabular}} \\ \hline
Accuracy per text & 52.7 $\pm$ 6.43                                                           & 51.6 $\pm$ 5.07                                                        & 57.9 $\pm$ 9.20                                                       & 58.3 $\pm$ 6.48                                                    & -                                                                 & -                                                              \\
Accuracy per subject             & 54.2 $\pm$ 10.1                                                           & 56.4 $\pm$ 12.1                                                        & 65.9 $\pm$ 12.7                                                       & 62.9 $\pm$ 14.9                                                     & 55.9 $\pm$ 11.9                                                       & \textbf{75.0 $\pm$ 6.18}                                           \\
Precision              & 65.3 $\pm$ 29.2                                                           & 55.0 $\pm$ 13.8                                                        & 52.0 $\pm$ 22.2                                                       & 61.1 $\pm$ 17.9                                                    & 54.6 $\pm$ 25.4                                                       & \textbf{77.2 $\pm$ 8.12}                                           \\
Recall                 & 53.3 $\pm$ 22.7                                                           & 56.7 $\pm$ 13.2                                                        & 70.4 $\pm$ 17.2                                                       & 64.6 $\pm$ 15.2                                                    & 54.9 $\pm$ 34.8                                                       & \textbf{72.1 $\pm$ 10.4}                                           \\
F1-Score               & 55.2 $\pm$ 19.8                                                           & 55.2 $\pm$ 11.9                                                        & 57.8 $\pm$ 19.9                                                       & 61.1 $\pm$ 15.7                                                    & 48.5 $\pm$ 24.0                                                        & \textbf{73.8 $\pm$ 6.06}                                           \\ \hline
\end{tabular}
\end{adjustbox}
\end{table}

\section{Conclusions}

We proposed a methodology for automatic gender classification based on
formal texts such as those available in social media posts, and based on
formal texts collected in call center conversations.
Different deep learning models are evaluated including one on
Bi-LSTMs, another one based on CNNs and a transfer learning approach, which
is pre-trained with data collected from social networks.
The transfer learning method is fine-tuned to improve the accuracy of the
model designed for text classification in formal languages.
The results indicate that it is possible to classify the gender of a
person based on his/her written texts with accuracies of about 75\%
in informal and formal language scenarios.
The use of a transfer learning strategy improved the accuracy in
scenarios where it is more difficult to collect data like in call-center
conversations, indicating that this strategy is suitable for companies or
sectors where it is not possible to create large datasets from scratch.
The models using transfer learning are also more stable and
generalize better than others where the neural networks are trained from
scratch. This is very positive since it is possible to benefit from
the large amounts of text data that are available in other domains like
the social networks.
The proposed approaches can be extended to other applications related to
demographic information retrieval such as age recognition, geographic
location, personality of the subjects, and others, which would allow
the building of more complete and specific author/customer profiles.

\section*{Acknowledgments}
This work was funded by the company Pratech Group S.A.S and the University of Antioquia, grant \# PI2019-24110. We would like to thank the Natural Language Engineering Laboratory of the Universidad Politécnica de Valencia for providing access to one of the the databases used in this work.

\bibliographystyle{splncs04

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


The Silentstroke™ drumheads are the ultimate in low volume drumheads, designed for quiet practice applications where standard drumset volumes are an issue. Constructed with 1-ply mesh material, Silentstroke™ drumheads provide a soft spring-like feel at very low decibel levels. Available is sizes 6" - 24".
Click the button below to add the Remo 13" Silentstroke to your wish list.


Due to the popularity of our guest ales at our previous two beer and music festivals, we are increasing the number of beers you can sample at Goose Stock 2018 by over 50%.
So for this year's Goose Stock 2018 on Sunday 26th August, you can sample at least 10 different beers instead of the usual 6.
Wantsum Brewery based in Kent brew a variety of different styles of beer, which range from Pale Ales, IPAs and Golden Ales to Mild, Porters and Stouts, as well as some one-off special brews throughout the year. We've selected two of their beers for you to sample.
Montgomery – An amber best bitter exploding with citrus aromas and using exclusively American hops. Named after the SS Richard Montgomery which sank off Sheerness during WW2 whilst full of explosives – the Coastguards monitor the wreck even now! National champion 2017 for Best Bitter and SIBA SE region gold winner 2016 for Best Bitters.
Fortitude – 4.2% ABV – The name of the plan to deceive Hitler that the allies were going to invade Pas de Calais instead of Normandy. Wantsum's Flagship bitter first brewed in 2009. This Best Bitter combines four types of malts to give depth of body, with English and American hops for a pronounced hop finish.
An independent craft brewery based near Aberdare, Grey Trees are continually looking for ways to create and make new exciting ales. We have two such ales brewed by them for you to enjoy.
Caradog's Bitter was named Gold Champion Beer of Wales 2017 in the Best Bitter category. Copper in colour, with a crisp flavour and a dry finish. Crafted with Crystal and Caragold malt, Challenger and Golding hops, Welsh water and Grey Trees' passion.
Drummer Boy is a best bitter. Grey Trees describe it as "a smooth bitterness and aroma with a fresh fruity finish, crafted with Crystal Malt and roasted barley, Bramling Cross and Golding hops, Welsh water and Grey Trees' passion".
Kingstone Brewery is a 4 barrel craft brewery which uses traditional methods to produce over 8 different types of beer. We've selected Llandogo Trow and Classic for you to try at Goose Stock 2018.
Llandogo Trow is a wonderfully popular ruby ale which has been triple hopped with Challenger, Bramling Cross and Fuggles, leaving a crisp and fruity finish.
Classic Bitter is a distinctively hoppy, dry ale with a floral nose and smooth finish. Classic is brewed with pale and crystal malted barley and finished with a quartet of hops.
Whoosh is a Raglan-based brewery – Untapped's seasonal hoppy pale ale. Packed with clean tropical flavours with a long clean hoppy refreshing finish, it is sure to be a hit at this year's Goose Fest.
Lol is brewed at the Trefforest-based micro-brewery Bragdy Twt Lol. It is a golden refreshing 4.4% ale with hops from around the UK, Germany and the USA.
To sample these beers and more, come along to Goose Stock 2018 on Sunday 26th August, featuring live music from four live bands, a hog roast and BBQ.
Follow and like our Facebook page for the latest Goose Stock 2018 news!


Are you ready for a relaxing summer? We've found a great piece of furniture floating around the Internet that we wouldn't mind having in our home. Meet the new Kodama Zomes, a unique hanging lounger shaped like a geodesic dome that offers the perfect space for relaxation, reading, meditating, or just snoozing your afternoons away. Designed by structural engineer Richie Duncan, the sturdy cocoon will help you unplug as it softly sways you with the summer breeze.


SEO has become almost an ambiguous acronym used in every digital conversation.
Designing a website? Did you consider SEO? Writing new copy? How will that impact our SEO? Developing a Paid Search strategy? How will this coincide with SEO?
It is an ongoing battle with a never ending revised definition. With many technical aspects as and usability factors, SEO impacts so many areas.
SEO sounds like this big, scary, unattainable thing, but it doesn't have to be. Don't get me wrong, it's a lot of work, the time and money to be invested will always yield a positive return.
To start, let's open up that acronym. SEO = Search Engine Optimization. That's pretty straight forward if you think about it. We're optimizing a website, a blog, a social channel, a press release for search engines (namely Google, but Bing is creeping up as a contender). We're making it easy for those people doing a search to find you, those people asking a question to find you as their answer.
It used to be as simple as stuffing keywords at the bottom of the homepage. Remember that nonsense at the bottom? That was being written to grab Google bot attention. Those Google bots still exist, but their attention is much more difficult attain.
You don't just pick the words you want, you have to build an experience. Copy, headlines, meta descriptions are all still important and a great place to start. Make sure (at the very least) these are all cleaned up. Technical SEO is all about details being available anywhere the Google bot looks. If you upload an image, that file name matters! Instead of image.jpg, make it mybusinessisawesomebecause.jpg.
Developers will tell you they do all the heavy lifting. They will make sure the functionality is flawless. Designers hold high the opinion that visitors won't stick around long enough to buy what you're selling if the experience isn't good. At the end of the day, they are both right. It has to work (technical SEO) and it has to be easy to navigate (usability SEO).
Google's technology has evolved to place priority on relevant content by balancing both technical and usability aspects. Each is important and each needs to be managed and monitored to stay useful for visitors and ahead of the competition. Blogging, posting new content on social channels, updating web copy to include high converting search terms are basic steps we take to make sure you're getting found. Using tools and best practices to guide design, click-depth and optimized CTAs are how we make those visits count.
However, it's important to remember that your own SEO journey is in your hands. Before you begin, it's important to tie your process back to the user.
The answer will help build the foundation of a strong SEO strategy – one that you can continuously measure and refine.


Why Is Arthritis Pain Worse at Night?
Fibromyalgia syndrome (FMS) is a form of arthritis that affects nearly five percent of the population. Most of those suffering from the disease are women. Though it is considered a member of the arthritis family because its primary symptom is musculoskeletal pain, it is believed that the cause of fibromyalgia is within the nervous system that regulates response to pain. FMS is chronic and those with the condition continue to live with its effects.
Fibromyalgia initially presents with similar symptoms to the flu. Many just presume they are ill and expect the fatigue and muscle aches to go away. Although some patients may have a low-grade temperature, fever is not a symptom of fibromyalgia, unlike with the flu. Once the symptoms persist beyond three months and pain is consistent in the four quadrants of the body, fibromyalgia syndrome is diagnosed.
Pain is the number one complaint of those with fibromyalgia. The pain is severe and spread throughout the body, affecting muscles, joints and ligaments. It can feel like a constant ache and bring on stiffness. Burning sensations have also been reported by those with FMS. Fibromyalgia pain can be worse at some times more than others, but it never really goes away. Physical exertion can increase the pain for an extended period.
Fatigue is a constant problem for those with FMS. Patients with FMS have difficulty getting enough of stage 4 deep sleep and are often prescribed medications (muscle relaxants, anti-depressants) to help them sleep better. Someone with FMS will rarely feel rested, even with medication. Exhaustion often occurs to the point where it can interfere with their work, home and social life. Mental and physical stress can aggravate a "flareup," a time period when the fatigue (and pain) is more debilitating than usual.
Sensitivity is the key for most with fibromyalgia who feel this both mentally and physically. Gastrointestinal problems like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) are very common, as is irritable bladder syndrome. Anxiety and depression plague many with FMS either as a symptom or because of the constant symptoms. While exercise can help the fibromyalgia patient, there is a fine line before too much can irritate symptoms.
Both migraine and muscle headaches occur often. Cognitive problems, such as forgetfulness (called "fibrofog") and difficulty concentrating are not unusual for those with FMS, as are dizzy spells and dry mouth and eyes. Many with fibromyalgia also feel the symptoms of overlapping conditions like chronic fatigue syndrome, Raynaud's syndrome and other forms of arthritis such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Restless leg syndrome (which causes periodic movements during sleep) is another condition often afflicting those with FMS.


text:
Huddersfield Town striker Harry Bunn signs new deal
Huddersfield Town striker Harry Bunn has signed a new one-year contract with the club.
The 21-year-old joined Town on a permanent basis in January and his previous deal expired at the end of last season.
Bunn arrived from Manchester City in November 2013 for an initial loan period and made three substitute appearances in the Sky Bet Championship.
The club has the option of a further year on Bunn, who hopes to be included in boss Mark Robins' first-team plans on a regular basis next season.


text:
Two men in court for $25,000 drug bust
Posted: 6:40 PM, Sep 14, 2015
By: Faith Boone, Derick Waller
A sought after 23-year-old and 22-year-old were arraigned in court today for a large drug bust in Lake County.
Mario Brown, 23, and Clarence Jackson, 22, were arrested Friday around midnight, according to police. They were located together walking out of an apartment building in Painesville.
Police said they were tracking the two men for months. Police said the narcotics Brown and Jackson were selling probably came from older people who obtained the drugs legally, but sold them for money.
Get your daily dose of news sent right to your inbox for free. Subscribe here.
Police learned Brown and Jackson had heroin in pill form, oxycodone, Xanax and a small quantity of marijuana. Police said the drugs were valued at $25,000.
Brown and Jackson had their first court appearance Monday, where they both pleaded not guilty. Their next appearance will be September 21 at 10 a.m.
Lake County Narcotics, the Lake County Sheriff's Office, Painesville City Police Department and the Ohio State Highway Patrol are working on the investigation.
Investigators say the bust highlights a growing addiction problem that's increasing crime. A record number of people died from accidental overdoses in 2013, according to state records.
As heroine use increases, so does the use of illegally-obtained prescription drugs.
"If you're addicted to heroine and you can't get heroine, oxycodone has the exact same effect on the body," Lake County Narcotics Agency Sergeant Chris Begley said.
"As long as there's a market for illegal drugs, people are going to make a lot of money selling them."
Follow newsnet5.com on Facebook and Twitter
Follow @WEWS
Download the newsnet5 app:
Scripps Only Content 2015


One of our talented company members, Terri Winchester, is a painter as well as an actor and has painted portraits of some of our staff and company member.
Her talent has been so well received that it has inspired us to begin running a Visual Arts Workshop in the near future so watch this space!
Below are some works completed by Terri and further work can be seen here.
Would you like to exercise your artistic talents?


text:
The Rise and the Rise of Media Apps
Streaming is the new way to go with respect to entertainment. The Millennials are glued to a different kind of screen, their mobile screens to consume all the audiovisual content. Televisions still exist in every household but the content on television is not broadcast but streamed. For an up-close an personal viewing experience people prefer the small screens and media apps.
By the end of 2020, there will be 6.1 billion smartphone users in the world. That means 70% of the entire human population on earth will have the means to be connected to the internet anytime, anywhere.
This sudden change in preference of the devices and media can be attributed to factors such as:
1. The availability of LTE/4G/3G connectivity to a larger audience.
2.The freedom that comes with streaming your favourite shows or music on the go.
3.Web series and Music LPs being released for online viewing.
A global research report by Deloitte extrapolates the rise of HD displays on mobiles and 4G networks and content viewing over mobile for the next decade. A lot of popular youtube channels have already started riding the wave by introducing mobile apps that air specific content from their own production houses. Even major players such as Star from 21st Century Fox and Viacom 18 (the parent company to Colours TV) have come up with apps such as Hotstar and Voot for the mobile friendly, tech savvy audience.
In the International circa paid streaming is ruling over cable networks and Satellite TV. Streaming media giant Netflix is getting more than 25% of its traffic from mobile phone apps and Youtube is also getting 27% of its traffic from mobile. Youtube series from production houses are riding on their popularity with the young urban crowds, most of them being smartphone users who don't mind spending their 4G data on entertainment apps.
But what makes a quality streaming experience on mobiles? Is it enough to build a native app experience only? What are the other tit-bits one needs to cover for high definition, high quality audio and visual content streaming app? What is the future of media content apps?
Read on to know more:
Setting Quality Standards for Visual Content:
The quality of the streamed content depends on several factors, such as device screen resolution, frame rate, bitrate, all of these have to do a lot with the hardware, the network connectivity and the bit encoding of a programmed app. Of these factors, the app owners can only control the bit encoding. For the audio content sample rate, bit per sample rate, compression and bit encoding works the same way.
The Netflix Mobile App:
Notice how Netflix manages to deliver great quality, streamed content across devices, on their mobile app? They call it the bit optimization encoding practice.
The end result is that the screen size, the resolution, aspect ratios don't matter because the video quality adjusts for the best picture. Similarly with audios, the audio files are compressed for different media and applications. The quality of the same format may vary across devices unless you have a built in code that optimizes for every display and network connection(Broadband or LTE)
Building native apps is just not enough, because even within the same OS, the screen resolutions may vary, the sound quality is dependent on hardware and the network connections are most likely to change as a the user hops between outdoors and indoors. The idea is to employ scalable code and flexible formats that adapt to different softwares as well as hardware.
An idea that our in-house developers revealed while trying not give away too much of their special sauce.
Exploring VR in Media Applications:
Post Google Cardboard, the world has taken well to the immersive 3D viewing experience.
With Daydream scaling up the simple box into high end technology, it was expected of visual media apps to match up to the same. A lot of media apps now aim at providing the immersive view when coupled with VR gear.
YouTube and VR
Youtube already runs a 360 degree video channel for a simulative viewing experience and if you own an Oculus, Cardboard, Daydream or a VR gear these are a delight to the eyes.
Similarly apps with VR experience are being built around the VR gear. Gaming apps, Virtual classroom simulators, and Video content distribution apps can employ this to enhance user experience.
Visual Content Apps as Audio Visual Learning Aids:
Remember that as a kid, the AV Room sessions used to be the favourite lessons. They still are, only now the mobile applications have replaced the television screens. Every kid has a personal tutor. Interactive learning has promoted the use of technology for all scholastic purposes and media apps are being incorporated into the curriculum by parents and teachers.
Similarly the VR experience can be used for advanced educational programs like space explorations, surgical procedures in medicine and a lot more. immersive viewing for real-time viewing is also one exciting prospect in the entertainment. it's like a whole event present before you as a holograph!
For now the entertainment industry seems to have received the Audio-Visual content apps very well. The apps in the VR domain are select but they have a niche audience that doesn't mind paying an extra buck for the experience. But if anything is obvious from the rise of media apps it is that amidst all this content and noise over the internet and on television, the best way to reach out to the target segment is an app. For more news on the same, keep reading and for a little more insight into media apps and how to develop one, contact us!
Do you like this article? Let's share!
mE Admin
View more mE Admin's blogs
Remote Project Management and Collaboration in App Development
Remote project management and telecommunication were once novel ideas that were rarely put…
Journey From an Idea to an App (Part 1)
App Development has become a necessity for any business these days. We are…
Streaming is the new way to go with respect to entertainment. The Millennials…
Rapid Adoption of Apps in Aviation Domain
Do you know how many people currently travel by air transport? It was 3.6…
Are Dating Apps Redefining Relationships?
Friday night ahead, no plans yet? Wondering how would you meet someone? Try…
Smart TV Apps: Boosting Customer Engagement for Telecommunication Industry
It was only a matter of time before the world of apps extended…
How App Analytics Is Revolutionizing Mobile World?
To ensure the success of your app, it is always important to keep…
Audience Engagement: The App Eco-system for Brand Success
Welcome back… I tried and shared some views on Engagement Marketing .We are…
Future of Wearable Apps in the Healthcare Industry
According to reports, the wearable healthcare devices market is expected to reach USD…
How Wearables are Revolutionizing Wearable Apps?
Is it a fad? Is it a trend or Is it a…


Free online programming course for beginner developers. Focus on Borland Delphi. This free online course is perfect for beginner developers as well as for those who want a broad overview of the art of programming with Borland Delphi.
This tutorial describes how to create and use ActiveX controls for websites.
All about resources. In german only.
Tutorial about how to link into the Windows clipboard chain and get notified when the content changes.
Programming needs Pattern with interfaces, n-classes which supports algorithms at runtime. The article introduces Pattern in OP (ObjectPascal) classified in creational, structure and behaveoural Pattern.
How to create a technical requirements document.
Generate patterns with UML and ModelMaker.
A Pointer tutorial for OOP development.
Show how to use Singeltons.
This article attempts to explain how to include files (bytearray) inside a Delphi/Kylix unit or application or dll as different kinds of binaries and how to manage them without the resource technology.
Many programmers today associate assembler with a difficult, low-level kind of programming. They consider it fast, but most of them also think it is incomprehensible and impossible to learn. In reality, things are not that bad.
This handbook contains basics of XML. It contains examples which can be executed using Notepad, Altova's XML Spy or EditPlus software. The handbook focuses on basic concepts and targets novices as well as intermediate XML programmers.