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lørdag 13. juli 2019
China vows to impose sanctions on US firms supplying Taiwan military
China has said it will impose sanctions on US firms involved in a deal to sell $2.2bn worth of tanks, missiles and related equipment to Taiwan, saying it harmed China's sovereignty and national security.
The Pentagon said on Monday the US state department had approved the sale of the weapons requested by Taiwan, including 108 General Dynamics Corp M1A2T Abrams tanks and 250 Stinger missiles, which are manufactured by Raytheon. Washington said the sales would not alter the basic military balance in the region, but Beijing, a major US security rival with which Washington has been engaged in a year-long trade war, has demanded the deal be revoked. China's latest statement came as Taiwan's president, Tsai Ing-wen, was in New York en route to visit four Caribbean allies, a trip that has also incensed China.


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BAM JAM 3 on 3 Basketball: Can you "PLAY ALL DAY"?
BAM Jam is about having fun days, playing a great game and doing it with music and entertainment. Which leads us in to this spring's theme "Play All Day".
"Play All Day" is a reference to the to fact that the more you win, the more games you get to play, ultimately meaning you could play all day.
But there is also a music and entertainment component to this saying as well. Music is considered a huge part of almost every hooper's lifestyle. Every year we partner with Impact Radio Group which provides everything from pop to rap to country to ESPN. This partnership just makes great sense!
And of course there is no denying the old school Walkman look (click here if you aren't sure what a Walkman is). The first real portable music player for individuals set basketball players free to get themselves in to their zone in pre-game rituals.
Taking the theme a step further, Idaho is also an outdoor "Play All Day" state. Which means whether you are fishing, skiing, boating or camping you are going to need the proper way to get to your destination. Thanks to Treasure Valley Ford Stores that vehicle could be yours. As the title sponsor of BAM Jam, Treasure Valley Ford Stores will be showcasing their best vehicles all year long! Check it out by clicking here.
Huge thanks to Liz Comer for her awesome design ideas!


DOZENS of people in North Somerset have been conned out of thousands of pounds through a sick letter claiming a relative has been killed.The letters, which have been tailored to the recipient's surname, says a family member has died in a car crash and they are set to inherit the deceased's estate.Trading standards officers have received numerous calls about the sick letter that asks people to send £150 to release funds of up to £5million.Victims have given out their bank details to the fraudsters and had money taken out of their accounts.Officers have tracked the scam to fraudsters operating out of Hong Kong. Experts believe they are targeting neighbourhoods in Weston and villages by using phone books and postal information. One elderly lady in Weston was particularly upset when she received the letter after recently losing a relative in a car accident.The pensioner, who wished not to be named, said: "I was stunned when I saw the letter and rang my son to see if everyone in the family was alright."I didn't understand why they wanted money from me and can see why some people would be fooled and give out their bank details."Officers say one man, living in North Somerset, was conned out of thousands of pounds and is too embarrassed to talk about it.Council bosses believe door-to-door salesman have been recruited by the criminals to scope out homes with vulnerable people to target.Trading Standards officer Julian Feltwell said this was a disturbing letter and other smaller scams were also taking place.He said: "We're hearing of lots of people receiving this sick letter and we've received dozens of copies of the scam."We would like to think that people see them for what they are, but some vulnerable people have been upset by them and others caught out after misreading the letters and sending money."Lots of other people have sent money off after receiving telephone calls and letters saying they have won prizes or need help in a foreign country. If anything requires you to release funds in order to receive money then it's generally a scam.


Planning a sabbatical, Professor Apia writes to her close friend Professor Bolton who teaches at Crump University with whom she has had a continuous and productive intellectual dialogue since graduate school (sharing manuscripts, editing each other's work, brainstorming new ideas). Professor Apia asks if Professor Bolton can arrange for her to be in-residence during her quarter sabbatical. Professor Bolton responds enthusiastically that he will get her access to the Rare Books Library where manuscripts that will be relevant to her work are housed, and that it would be wonderful if she would present a colloquium to Professor Bolton's colleagues while there. He further indicates that he thinks he can get his University to pay airfare and ground transportation for the talk she will give; and perhaps a week of per diem expenses if she will be available for a week of consultations with various graduate students interested in her work.
Comment: Being "in-residence" at another University, using their unique research materials there, and giving one or several talks as a freestanding lecturer or as a guest in a class that serves Professor Apia's own sabbatical intellectual goals is fine and consistent with the sabbatical. Reimbursement for actual travel is permissible. Please note all this as an addendum to your sabbatical plan.
Professor Bolton calls back to say that there are three graduate students who have studied Professor Apia's recent book and that it would be mutually advantageous if she would teach a semester methodological seminar to this group for credit; others would probably enroll as well. Professor Bolton indicates that he can arrange to have her paid $7,500 to defray living expenses while in-residence but that IRS, Social Security, and accounting rules require that it be paid as wages rather than as a lump sum reimbursement of living expenses. Professor Apia responds that all this would be excellent and will help advance her own scholarly plans so she agrees but does not inform anyone in her department.
"sabbatical leave shall not be used as a means of augmenting personal income. Except as provided in APM 025 and 740-18, an individual shall not accept gainful employment during a sabbatical leave..."; except this does not apply to "the acceptance of a fellowship, personal grant or government sponsored exchange lectureship…if such acceptance promotes the accomplishment of the purpose of the leave and is approved in advance by the Chancellor" (here a fellowship is "in recognition of the individual's distinguished achievement without stipulation as to work or service").
When Crump University's paperwork for her teaching appointment arrives two weeks before Professor Apia's sabbatical begins, it provides that (1) Professor Apia will be given a title "Scholar-in-Residence;" (2) in any publication resulting from the research she conducts while in-residence, she must identify her primary affiliation as Scholar-in-Residence at Crump University; and (3) she must sign Crump University's standard intellectual property agreement (which may or may not have substantial consequence as her work involves copyright, but were she a scientist would create a clear conflict with UC's patent policies). Professor Apia goes to her Chair, chagrined at the problem that has now been created with her good friend Professor Bolton because she did not earlier seek prior approval.
Comment: (1) Intellectual Property: UC enforces its intellectual property rules and a faculty member may not sign another institution's intellectual property agreements without review by the UCLA Office of Intellectual Property and Industry Sponsored Research.
(2) Attribution: Under APM 025, a faculty member must identify UCLA as his or her primary appointment.
(3) Title: Under APM 025, any title at another institution must convey that it is not the faculty's primary title. "Visiting" works best.
Your department requires that you teach four classes a year. Because you teach essential introductory and advanced sequenced courses, you have to teach in the fall and spring quarters; and by teaching two classes each in the fall and spring you have arranged for a non-teaching quarter in the winter. In addition for that year, you have two doctoral candidates one of whom is aiming to submit and defend her dissertation in April for a June graduation. In addition, you are on your department's Graduate Admissions Committee which has its busiest work in the winter quarter. Faculty meetings in the last two weeks in January are scheduled to take up a Departmental Eight Year Review as well as the proposed appointment of a tenured faculty member in your field. In addition, a long-time collaborator in Paris also has the winter quarter off and has proposed that you travel to his lab in the winter to complete a long-term project that the two of you have been working on and that you expect will constitute a major advance in your field.
Comment: Under APM 025, you have an obligation to be in-residence on campus in every quarter and to satisfy your obligations in teaching and service to the department and University. You believe that developments in electronic communications in the last fifteen years, permitting daily email and voice/face interactions from Europe, should alter the meaning of "in-residence." Nonetheless, to be absent from campus for more than a week, you will need to seek a Leave of Absence from your department under APM 758. In order to fulfill your obligation to your colleagues, you plan to attend the faculty meetings in person. To fulfill your obligations to your graduate students, you establish a plan to Skype with them weekly or more often. To fulfill your obligations to the Graduate Admissions Committee you discuss with the Committee Chair the possibility of reading applications online and arranging Skype interviews; when this proves impractical you discuss with your Departmental Chair the possibility of your chairing that committee next year and this year substituting on the committee another qualified colleague (who served last year as well) who is agreeable. With this plan in place, you submit a Leave of Absence form for a Leave with Pay under APM 758 for your trip to Paris, to your Chair for approval and forwarding to the Vice Chancellor Academic Personnel.
See APM 758 at http://ucop.edu/academic-personnel-programs/_files/apm/apm-758.pdf.
Using your knowledge from your field of research, you agree to teach over spring break in a one week course offered by some entity, Monday to Friday 9am to 9pm each day. The entity may be a governmental program that trains officials and NGO's, a company that provides continuing professional education credits, a medical instrument device company that trains others in the technical use of a machine, etc. etc. You are paid nicely; you are away only during an intercession; you are listed in the brochures as being a UCLA professor; you don't generate any new intellectual property; your expenses are all paid to a beautiful lake resort, where the class is held. Which category is this and what reports do you fill out? While persons may disagree over how to categorize this activity (teaching, industry workshop etc.), it is easiest to treat this as consulting. List it on your year-end report, and subtract the number of days spent (five work days) from your 39 day limit (as a 9-month employee).
A.1 The faculty member becomes part of a team that is interested in forming a new company to further develop the technology and bring it to market. The team engages an attorney to incorporate the company (or form an LLC) and the faculty member and the other team members receive shares in the company. A representative from the company (not the faculty member or other UC employee) approaches OIP-ISR to secure a license to the University's intellectual property. The faculty member uses his or her scientific expertise to provide input on developing the company's business plan, attends meetings with potential investors and partners, and helps in the writing of an SBIR/STTR (Small Business Innovation/Tech Transfer) grant for the company.
Comment: The faculty member needs prior approval under APM 025 as a Founder.
A.2. An entrepreneur approaches UCLA with interest in commercializing the technology, meets with the faculty member, and suggests that they should form a new company to further develop the technology and bring it to market. The entrepreneur approaches OIP-ISR to secure a license to the University's intellectual property. The entrepreneur engages an attorney to incorporate the company and the faculty member receives shares in the company in exchange as consideration for his or her future equity involvement, including providing input on the business plan, attending meetings with potential investors or partners, and helping the company in writing an SBIR/STTR grant.
Comment: If the time commitments involve "sustained involvement," prior approval would need to be obtained. Founding or co-founding a company to bring to market the product of your research is consistent with various UC entrepreneurially-oriented initiatives. Nonetheless it represents an undertaking that can create substantial time demands on a faculty member and may interfere with teaching, research, and service (such as obligations to be on campus and engaged with colleagues and students). During the start-up period, time demands can be substantial so prior approval in founding a company must be obtained with a plan submitted that will minimize demands on time etc. But, in the alternative, because there may be a period in which all that happens is an occasional meeting with a lawyer and the filing of incorporation or other founding papers, the APM 025 FAQ's require prior approval only for active and sustained involvement. Any ongoing effort to interest investors would satisfy that standard. Once a company is operating however, the demands of a company can be minimized by hiring administrative officers such as CEO, CFO, and Chief Scientific, Medical, or Information Officer. In addition to resolving a prior approval requirement to serve in such an administrative capacity, it might also make it easier to comply with the 39 day/48 day limit.
A faculty member decides to incorporate a company to commercialize a new invention that he/she has conceived. The faculty member doesn't initially disclose the invention to OIP-ISR, wishfully believing that it wasn't developed with the use of UCLA funding or resources, and falls outside the scope of University employment. [Note: as a condition of employment, UCLA employees must disclose all potentially patentable inventions to OIP-ISR]. When the University finds out, it makes a determination that UCLA has rights in the invention; and the new company negotiates an option to license the University's intellectual property. The company is virtual, having no facilities of its own to develop the invention. Rather than the company sponsoring research in the faculty member's laboratory, either directly or via a sub-award on a SBIR/STTR grant (subject to COI review), the faculty member uses other UC administered funding and resources to further advance the technology.
Comment: This constitutes a serious breach of policy as it involves impermissible use of public resources for private gain and conflict of interest.
Teaching or engaging in research at institutions abroad involves many of the same principles and policies as doing so in this country. But differences can arise. Often special opportunities to collaborate or to access unique resources at a foreign institution require more extended or formal university relationships, greater amounts of money if stipends are given, and different and possibly less flexible (at least upon initial inquiry) ways of structuring a relationship, including titles and intellectual property issues.
While sometimes the relationship through which the faculty may collaborate is individual, at other times there may be a UC interest in fostering an exchange or relationship with a particular foreign institution. Sometimes this UCLA interest is inchoate and a faculty member seeks an affiliation preliminary to a more formal institutional relationship or submits an individual application for grant or contract support. But sometimes the proposed relationship serves the express interest of the University and is with the encouragement of a department or ORU; and sometimes it is expressed in a UCLA-adopted memorandum of understanding, in which case the terms of the MOU establish the terms of the faculty member's relationship.
Alternatively, faculty may enter into a Category II consulting relationship with an international institution as an Outside Professional Activity. But such a relationship cannot involve an academic title or involve teaching, or administrative or managerial responsibilities. The time involved may not exceed the allocated consulting days under APM 025. And it may not involve extended trips during the school term when a faculty member must be in-residence.
Comment: Given the multiple issues here, please contact your Chair, Dean, or APO to discuss relationships that may give rise to a Conflict of Commitment as well as other issues related to international agreements, licenses and special permissions, national security information, and visas.
Professor Flora Bydesine is a member of the Theater Department, specializing in set design for musical theater. To advance in her field, she needs to show, among other things, that her work is recognized through commissions for well-reviewed shows. Recently she has been asked to design the set for a major production, in London, of a new show by Stephen Soundalot, the most respected composer/lyricist in musical theater. Her compensation for this commission will be considerable. Professor Bydesine proposes to do most of the work during the summer and has sought one ninth summer support from her school; but she will have to fly back and forth to London regularly as opening day approaches on December 1st. She will do a fast turnaround on one of these trips over the Veterans Day holiday weekend, requiring her to reschedule one class; but one of those trips will require that she be away from campus for at least 10 days, leading her to alter her syllabus to eliminate one week of class. In October, as she is about to purchase her plane tickets via UCLA Travel Services, she pauses to wonder what are her obligations under APM 025 etc.?
Comment: As an historian needs an archive and a particle physicist needs a cyclotron, a set designer may need an opera or other production to stage her work and to obtain external professional evaluations of her work. While Universities may offer such productions themselves, they are often driven by student educational needs and they don't offer the opportunities for external critical evaluation. That Professor Bydesine will be well paid for the expression of her creative work (essential for her academic appointment) is, under the revised APM 025, irrelevant. While early conceptual development of set design may, arguably, be a Category III activity (APM 025-10.a(3)d ("Developing scholarly or creative works"), the implementation constitutes consulting activity (APM 025-4.d "Outside consulting is one type of Outside Professional Activity. It is defined as professional advice or services related to the faculty member's field or discipline, whether compensated or uncompensated, that furthers the interests of an entity outside of the University of California") and as such is a Category II activity (APM 025-10.a(2)(c) ["Providing outside consulting services or referrals or engaging in professional practice as an individual or through a single-member professional corporation or sole proprietorship"]). Accordingly, she must report on her year-end APM 025 report, the number of days she has spent on this project and they may not exceed (in addition to any other Category I and II activities she engages in) 39 days during the academic year and one day/week over the summer (if she is receiving a ninth summer pay).
With respect to the time away, to be away from campus for less than one week, a Chair under APM 752 can grant the leave "to attend a professional meeting or for University business." However for more than 7 calendar days, she will need to apply to her Chair for a Leave of Absence under APM 758 for leave for good cause or, for a longer leave, under APM 759.
As to shortening the syllabus or eliminating classes, this is not permitted; she will need to schedule make up classes, teach a class by Skype, or find a faculty member to fill in for her in class (but the class may not be turned over to a TA or student to oversee).


Where Hydro Ottawa electrical distribution infrastructure exists or electrical servicing is needed, consult with Hydro Ottawa before seeking City of Ottawa approvals.
A grant for land severance does not assure the properties can be electrically serviced. Thus, before requesting a land severance from the City, consult with Hydro Ottawa to ensure the land parcels can be serviced.
The Service Desk is reachable during business hours at 613 738-6400 between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Any proposed reduction to the three-meter minimum standard setback must be reviewed with Hydro Ottawa prior to designing the electrical servicing as it may affect the electrical servicing design, timeline for installation, and cost.
Your obligation to meet the terms and conditions of Hydro Ottawa's Conditions of Service as well as all applicable standards and laws, including clearances from high voltage distribution infrastructure, is not waived with the issuance of a building permit. Any proposed building modification shall ensure unhindered accessibility by Hydro Ottawa to the electricity meter or other electrical distribution infrastructure assets.
Consult Hydro Ottawa if encroachment into restricted zones is anticipated.


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The Addlestone and District Scottish Society
Promoting Scottish Country Dancing in Surrey
Membership & Society Details
Dancing with us
Why do it
Dress & Footwear
The RSCDS
In the early 1930's many Scots in the north-west Surrey area used to meet at the Walton Playhouse for dancing and drinks at the bar, and in October 1933 a group of them founded the Walton-on-Thames & District Scottish Society. They organised socials which in the first few years focused on lectures, debates, and a small glee club.
During the war the Society went on hold although members continued to visit each other in their homes, thus keeping the Society alive. In 1946 it re-emerged and has flourished ever since.
The widened activities have included taking children to the pantomime, family picnics, Hallowe'en parties, Burns Nights, ceilidhs, boat trips, the formation of a mixed choir and a drama group, annual donations to charities, and, of course, Scottish country dancing. In 1970 the name was changed to the Addlestone & District Scottish Society. Meetings have been held in different venues in Walton, Weybridge, Addlestone, New Haw, Chertsey, Ottershaw, and currently Byfleet. In the 50's and 60's a private bus collected members throughout the district, brought them to meetings and returned them home.
Membership has fluctuated over the years and currently stands at over 50.
The Walton-on-Thames & District Scottish Society Mixed Choir
at the End-of-Season Social 1950/51

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Lions band is important to me because it is an opportunity to play with many people, with a wide range of instruments as well as stretch my abilities and learn and read familiar and unfamiliar pieces of music. Lions Band is a chance for me to get to play music even more than I would on a normal basis, and try to become a better musician.
Lions Band is how I met some of my closest friends today. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had in my whole entire life. Lions Band was like a family to me. It means being able to play something that you are good at and passionate about with people who feel the same exact way. It is about building bonds with people who you haven't met before or making your previous ones stronger.
Lions Band is so important to me because I get to be with people that have the same passion about music as I do. It is also important to me because I get to play music, and that is what I love most. It means to me that I get to participate in a great large ensemble with wonderful talented musicians.
I look forward to it every year. I love seeing the joy in the Lions members faces when we perform for them.
Lions Band allows me to share my love of music with fellow musicians and allows me to bring the art of music to people outside the normal realm of musicians. It also allows me to learn more about my instrument. There is always room to grow as a musician.
The 2009 Band marches in the Minneapolis Lions International Parade.
I love Lions Band now, and have loved it since day one. Every I attend a state convention or international, the high impact musical experience that is Lions Band makes me work harder to achieve my goal of being a Music Educator. To me, Lions Band means Excellent Musicianship and a large family of people who care about each other and will push each other so to create the best music possible. I've made so many friends because of Lions and I don't know what I would do without many of them.
The opportunity to perform with a talented ensemble and passionate directors for an audience who genuinely appreciates what we do is awesome.


We have taken our best-selling Organic Ground Flaxseed to a whole new level by blending in flavorful bits of real fruiteblueberries, strawberries, and cranberries. Often referred to as eSuper Fruitse, these berries are particularly well known for their high antioxidant levels, making them as healthful as they are tasty.
Ingredients : Organic cold milled ground flaxseed, dried lightly sweetened berries [cranberries, blueberries, strawberries, sugar, sunflower oil, ascorbic acid (vitamin C)].


VAT amount for your order is displayed in your Cart.
Streamline Brass Swivel Inlet Quick Connector ¾ inch Female BHC.90 - for HRM Hose Reels.
Orders over £150 excl VAT - receive Free Mainland UK Next Working Day Delivery.
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Q: How to get the excel file path using java code String dirPath = fileObj.getParentFile().getAbsolutePath();
system.out.println(dirPath);
I tried this way but its returning the Java Project Path that is Workspace path..

A: .getParentFile() is probably returning the parent directory, which depending on the location of your file could be the project directory.  If fileObj is an object of type File, just try using fileObj.getAbsolutePath() instead.
So try this:
File fileObj = new File("myFile.xls");
String dirPath = fileObj.getAbsolutePath();
System.out.println(dirPath);

This should result in output similar to:
C:/[your project directory]/myFile.xls

JavaDoc for getParentFile():
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/1.4.2/docs/api/java/io/File.html#getParentFile()

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Not content with helping to cure cancers and winning Jeopardy, Watson wants to get inside our heads and our homes, whispering instructions into our wireless headsets and helping us do our laundry.
In the short history of Internet-connected refrigerators, LG's latest is the boldest and craziest yet. The company has put a 29-inch Windows 10 Surface computer on one of the doors and, as if that's not enough, made the screen transparent so users can see inside the fridge.
Sony is looking at taking the Xperia brand beyond smartphones and is showing off some prototype gadgets at the IFA trade show in Berlin.
The prevalence of hot water radiators in European home heating systems has made room-by-room heating automation difficult -- until now.
Expecting people to figure out what its Cookie multipurpose smart sensors could be used for didn't work out so well for Sen.se. It's trying a different approach with its new Peanut sensors: application-specific packaging that sells the purpose, not the product.
In cryptography, the "man in the middle" is usually an attacker -- but when Keezel wants to get between you and the Wi-Fi connection in your hotel or your home, it's for your own good.
If you're a music lover who still isn't satisfied with the audio from your smartphone, Sony has a couple of new Walkmans that might be just what you're looking for -- assuming you have deep pockets.
Sony's much anticipated new robot is under development and customers should hang on a little longer to see it, CEO Kaz Hirai said on Thursday.
The centerpiece of Toshiba Storage Peripherals' booth at IFA is a prototype device that will back up the contents of your smartphone without using the cloud.
Practical and reliable is the image Huawei Technologies is trying to project with two new smartphones unveiled at the IFA tradeshow on Thursday.
In the battle to sell more stuff to consumers, Acer has a new target: your pets.
Audiophiles may roll their eyes at the very idea of portable Bluetooth speakers, but high-design hi-fi firm Bang & Olufsen just unveiled two of them in Berlin.
The Lenovo Miix 700 is a Lenovo Surface, plain and simple.


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Tropical Storm Florence
Flooding from Sutton Lake has washed away part of U.S. 421 in New Hanover County just south of the Pender County line in Wilmington, N.C., Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. (Matt Born /The Star-News via AP)
Travel still dangerous in flooded areas of North Carolina
BLADENBORO, N.C. (AP) — Travel remained dangerous Saturday in southeastern North Carolina, where the governor warned of "treacherous" floodwaters more than a week after Hurricane Florence made landfall, and urged residents to stay alert for flood warnings and evacuation orders. Gov. Roy Cooper said...
After Florence, what to know about your insurance coverage
As homeowners in the Carolinas recover from Florence, it's important they know how insurance may or may not help. Damage to a property from wind is covered under a standard homeowners policy. Damage from flooding covered by a separate policy, typically purchased from the federal government. Many...
President Donald Trump shakes hands with FEMA Administrator Brock Long as Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen watches after visiting areas in North Carolina and South Carolina impacted by Hurricane Florence, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018, at Myrtle Beach International Airport in Myrtle Beach, S.C. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
DHS secretary: FEMA chief misused cars, but won't lose job
WASHINGTON (AP) — The head of the federal disaster response agency used government vehicles without proper authorization, but will not lose his job over it, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said Friday. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator William "Brock" Long had been...
AP NewsBreak: DHS secretary says FEMA chief won't lose job
A submerged truck sits in floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Nichols, S.C., Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. Virtually the entire town is flooded and inaccessible except by boat, just two years after it was flooded by Hurricane Matthew. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
The Latest: Death toll rises to 43 in aftermath of Florence
The Latest on the effects of Hurricane Florence (all times local): 8:15 p.m. Authorities say the death toll has now risen to 43 dead in the aftermath of former Hurricane Florence. A statement released by North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper's office said Friday evening that there are now 32 confirmed...
A swift recuse boat motors through floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in Nichols, S.C., Friday, Sept. 21, 2018. Virtually the entire town is flooded and inaccessible except by boat, just two years after it was flooded by Hurricane Matthew. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)
Unending disaster: Florence floods prompt new evacuations
GALIVANTS FERRY, S.C. (AP) — With muddy river water still washing over entire communities on Friday, eight days after Hurricane Florence slammed into land with nearly 3 feet of rain, new evacuation orders forced residents to flee to higher ground amid a sprawling disaster that's beginning to feel...
Dignitaries and guests attend a remembrance ceremony convened by the Governor of Puerto Rico Ricardo Rossello at the San Cristobal Castle, on the anniversary of Hurricane Maria, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Thursday, September 20, 2018. Hurricane Maria left almost three thousand dead, caused economic losses amounting hundreds of millions of dollars and left a path of destruction and damaged infrastructure through the island. (AP Photo Carlos Giusti)
Puerto Rico marks 1 year since Maria with song and sadness
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Clapping and raising their hands to the sky, hundreds of people clad in white gathered at an 18th-century fort in the Puerto Rican capital on Thursday to remember the thousands who died in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria as the U.S. territory struggles to recover one...
Area residents ride down N.C. Highway 53 that is flooded from the Northeast Cape Fear River in Burgaw, N.C., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. The river had severe flooding due to the rains from Hurricane Florence. (Matt Born/The Star-News via AP)
Florence-weary South Carolina could get more record flooding
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — As rivers swollen to record levels started to recede Thursday in North Carolina, officials tried to head off potential environmental disasters and prepared for more record flooding downstream in South Carolina. Roads were still clogged with people trying to make it back to...
Part of the Starlite Motel is washed away in the aftermath of flooding from Hurricane Florence in Spring Lake, N.C., Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/David Goldman)
The Latest: Last place for Florence's floods gets ready
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) — The Latest on Florence (all times local): 5:20 p.m. Officials in the place where much of the floodwaters from Hurricane Florence will reach the Atlantic Ocean are preparing for a flood like they have never seen before. Georgetown County Administrator Sel Hemingway said...
In this aerial photo taken Sept. 18, 2018 and released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an industrial site and a chicken farm outside Wallace, N.C., is seen that has been flooded by the nearby Northeast Cape Fear River following drenching rains from Hurricane Florence. (NOAA via AP)
Regulators: NC flooding too bad to tally environmental harm
Aerial photographs show widespread devastation to farms and industrial sites in eastern North Carolina, with tell-tale trails of rainbow-colored sheen indicating potential contamination visible on top of the black floodwaters. However, conditions remain so bad more than five days after Hurricane...


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Q: Ghost Script pdf thumbnail in .NET I want to display thumbnails of the uploaded pdf files on my website(ASP.NET).
So far I have done following things.

*

*From this link i got the idea to use ghostscript How to generate thumbnail for some pages of a PDF file?

You could probably use one of the general-purpose PDF libraries:
  •   Ghostscript - C, available under the GPL
  •   Poppler - C++, available under the GPL
  •   Adobe PDF Library SDK - expensive
  Google reveals quite a few PDF-to-image converters which you may be able to incorporate if one of the above options doesn't work.

*Then Generate a pdf thumbnail (open source/free) told me to go look for that mentioned wrapper

Matthew Ephraim released an open source wrapper for Ghostscript that sounds like it does what you want and is in C#.
  Link to Source Code: https://github.com/mephraim/ghostscriptsharp
  Link to Blog Posting: http://www.mattephraim.com/blog/2009/01/06/a-simple-c-wrapper-for-ghostscript/
  You can make a simple call to the GeneratePageThumb method to generate a thumbnail (or use GeneratePageThumbs with a start and end page number to generate thumbnails for multiple seperate pages, with each page being a seperate output file), default file format is jpeg but you can change it, and many other options, by using the alternate GenerateOutput method call and specify options such as file format, page size, etc...

Now while following instructions of http://mattephraim.com/blog/2009/01/06/a-simple-c-wrapper-for-ghostscript/ I have installed ghostscript on my system which is windows 8 64-bit.
Now I've created a solution containing the test project by above guy and in my own project i am calling a function of his project
try
        {
            GhostscriptSharpTests.GhostscriptSharpTests ss = new GhostscriptSharpTests.GhostscriptSharpTests();
            ss.GenerateSinglePageThumbnail();
        }
        catch (Exception ex)
        {

        }

but I am getting an exception :

Unable to load DLL 'gsdll32.dll': The specified module could not be found. (Exception from HRESULT: 0x8007007E)

A: About the error:
The error you are getting could be due gsdll32.dll could not be found or a wrong Ghostscript version installation you used. For a 64bit system you need to install 64bit Ghostscript library which has gsdll64.dll. If you compile your application for AnyCPU platfrom target, on a 64bit system it will run as 64bit process and you will need gsdll64.dll. If you compile your application as x86 and run it on a 64bit system, your application will run as 32bit process and you can use gsdll32.dll. When you use DllImport make sure that dll your are trying to call is in a same (bin) folder your applicatione executes or it can be in windows\system. If you want custom dll location, you can use full path in a DllImport ([DllImport("C:\Program Files\gs\gs9.14\bin\gsdll32.dll", EntryPoint = "gsapi_new_instance")]) which is normally not recommended.
Why dont you simply use Ghostscript.NET library. It's a well tested native Ghostscript library wrapper which will allow you to do what you need and it's compatible with both x86 and x64 Ghostscript libraries.
Sample code that shows you how to rasterize pdf to image is here: https://ghostscriptnet.codeplex.com/SourceControl/latest#Ghostscript.NET/Ghostscript.NET.Samples/Samples/RasterizerSample.cs
Try different (lower) values with "desired_x_dpi" and "desired_y_dpi" and output image will be smaller.

A: I used Ghostscript.NET using NuGet in my ASP.NET Core 1.0 Project. Don't forget to install GhostScript from here.
Also notice the 32/64 bit version of DLL used based on your platform + app configuration.
I would like this function to support other filetypes with Name & generic icon of type like Word/excel, etc.
private void createThumbnail(string sourcePath, Guid targetFile, string fileExtension, string uploadPath, string Name)
    {
        if (fileExtension.ToUpper() != ".PDF") // todo: Use "Name" to create thumbnail for other types
            return;
        try
        {
            int dpi = 72;

            //GhostscriptVersionInfo gvi = new GhostscriptVersionInfo(@"C:\Program Files\gs\gs9.20\bin\gsdll64.lib");
            GhostscriptVersionInfo gvi = new GhostscriptVersionInfo(_AppSettings.GhostscriptLibPath);
            _logger.LogInformation("[createThumbnail] gvi.DllPath: {0}, gvi.Version: {1}", gvi.DllPath, gvi.Version);

            GhostscriptProcessor proc = new GhostscriptProcessor(gvi);

            using (GhostscriptRasterizer rasterizer = new GhostscriptRasterizer())
            {
                rasterizer.Open(sourcePath, gvi, false);
                int pageNumber = 1;
                string targetPath = Path.Combine(uploadPath, targetFile + ".png");
                Image img = rasterizer.GetPage(dpi, dpi, pageNumber);
                Image newImage = img.GetThumbnailImage(_AppSettings.DocThumbnailWidth, _AppSettings.DocThumbnailHeight, null, new System.IntPtr());
                newImage.Save(targetPath, ImageFormat.Png);
                _logger.LogInformation("[createThumbnail] Thumbnail image saved, targetPath: {0}", targetPath);
            }
        }
        catch (Exception e)
        {
            _logger.LogError("Thumbnail could not be generated for file: {0}", sourcePath, e);
            //throw;
        }
    }

A: Keep the gsdll32.dll in the project but set it to be copied to the output/bin folder and it should pick it up in your app.


text:
15 Best Golf Movies To Watch On Netflix Tonight
Written By:Jake Dalton Hours Last Updated On: November 8, 2022
Golf Circuit independently reviews everything we recommend. When you buy through our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more ›
The Best Golf Movies To Watch On Netflix
1. The Greatest Game Ever Played
2. Happy Gilmore
3. Tommy's Honour
4. Caddyshack
5. Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius
6. The Legend of Bagger Vance
7. A Gentleman's Game
8. The Caddy
9. Pat and Mike
10. Seve: The Movie
11. Tin Cup
12. Seven Days in Utopia
13. From The Rough
14. The Short Game
15. Swing Away
Golf is one of the most popular sports in the world, and it's a pastime that vast numbers of people engage in on a regular basis. Watching the best golf movies are one way people connect with the sport they love, without leaving their couch.
A game of golf can contain all sorts of different elements. On the one hand, it can be deeply relaxing and can serve as a way of relieving the sorts of stresses and frustrations that can accumulate over the course of day-to-day life.
On the other hand, a game of golf can also be extremely tense and exciting, with everything depending on the subtle actions taken in each individual moment.
What's more, the global popularity of professional golfers such as Tiger Woods certainly gives testament to the fact that becoming a world-class golfer can take a lifetime of dedicated training, and can be a riveting pastime in and of itself.
In recent times, there's been a resurgence in the popularity of various sports films, ranging from comical, to dramatic.
It's not hard to see why, as sports can reflect all sorts of different aspects of the human experience – ranging from competition and overcoming adversity, to the naturally humorous situations that can develop whenever you are a novice at something.
Thanks to popular video streaming services, it's now easier than ever before to find any number of films within just a few minutes, and to then begin watching them in high definition, online.
Here are 15 of the best golf movies that you can watch tonight in order to combine the great benefits of the sport itself with the magic of the cinema.
November 2022 Update:
Netflix changes their golf movie collection from time to time. We try our best to keep up with it! We have labeled the movies that aren't on Netflix below.
Director: Bill Paxton
Watch on Amazon Here
The Greatest Game Ever Played is an uplifting 2005 film from Walt Disney pictures, featuring Shia LaBouef, Stephen Dillane and Elias Koteas.
This film is based on a true story, and is set in the bygone days of the early 1900's. "The Greatest Game Ever Played" charts the story of self-taught golfing prodigy Francis Ouimet, a 20-year-old from a working class background who fell in love with the game of golf and was determined to make his way in the sport, in a time when golf was considered to be an exclusive pastime for members of high society.
See More: Wondering Why Golf Is Boring? 6 Ways to Make It More Fun
Against his father's wishes, this self-taught amateur golfer entered the US open in 1913 and took on and defeated his hero – the legendary English golfer Harry Vardon.
This dramatic golf movie is an inspirational tale about pursuing your dreams whatever the cost, as well as the ability of individuals to beat the odds.
Available on Netflix?:Yes
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Rating:63%
Rotten Tomatoes Audience Rating:82%
Happy Gilmore is an irreverent and slapstick 1996 comedy film that has become a cult classic, and which is frequently viewed as one of Adam Sandler's best films – one where his trademark style of juvenile humor was balanced well by the other features of the film, instead of becoming overpowering.
Rating: PG – 13
Director: Dennis Dugan
Happy Gilmore is an irreverent and slapstick 1996 comedy film that has become a cult classic, and which is frequently viewed as one of Adam Sandler's best films – one where his trademark style of juvenile humour was balanced well by the other features of the film, instead of becoming overpowering.
Featuring Adam Sandler as the titular main character; an ice hockey player with an anger problem and a tendency for violent outbursts, who nonetheless loves his grandmother and gets into golf for her sake, Happy Gilmore is the tale of the civilised sport of golf meeting an uncivilised antihero with laugh-inducing consequences.
Although there are some heartwarming subtexts to this film, no one is likely to watch Happy Gilmore for a dramatic exploration of the human experience, or the highs and lows of the sport of golf. Instead, this is one of the best golf movies to watch if you just want to enjoy a few good laughs.
3. Tommy's Honour
Featuring stunning scenery and cinematography, Tommy's Honour is a historical drama set in the 1800s, and focusing on an adaptation of the real life story of iconic Scottish golfers Young Tom Morris (the protagonist) and his father, Old Tom Morris.
Director: Jason Connery
Against the backdrop of a burning passion for the sport of golf, the film investigates sensitive and complex social issues, inequalities, and the age old human desire to be the author of one's own destiny.
See More: Golf Ball Positions For Every Club (With Chart)
The film stars Scottish actors Peter Mullen and Jack Lowden as the father and son duo, with director Jason Connery, son of Sean Connery, adding another authentic Scottish note to the cast and crew.
Tommy's Honour manages to successfully combine elements of a tale of self discovery with a battle against the odds, the enthusiasm and confidence of youth, and an overwhelming love of golf – all of which contribute to an effective cinematic offering.
Available on Netflix?:No
Caddyshack is a film from 1980 that's widely regarded as one of the classics of the comedy genre, and features a star-studded cast of highly renowned actors and comedians including Chevy Chase, Bill Murray, and Rodney Dangerfield.
Be warned, though, that this film is a standout example of the crude, slapstick and irreverent style that some will adore and others will hate.
Director: Harold Ramis
With sleazy characters aplenty, power tripping officials, and a crazed groundskeeper engaged in an ongoing war with a local gopher, Caddyshack is packed with memorable characters, highly quotable lines, and a series of absolutely ridiculous scenarios that make for the kind of comedy that was so perfectly executed during the 1980s.
The movie unfolds at a golf course, and includes some characters and situations that experienced golfers will likely to be able to relate to. All the same, it's worth pointing out that you probably shouldn't use this film as a reference guide for improving your game.
Bobby Jones was an iconic figure in the world of golf, bearing the honour of being the only player in the sport to have won all four of the men's major golf championships in a single season — back in the 1930s, when the majors in question were The Amateur Championship in Britain, the U.S. Amateur, The Open Championship and the U.S. Open.
Runtime: 2 h 8 min
Director: Rowdy Harrington
Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius is a bright-eyed biographical drama about the power of honest passion and self-belief, and the incredible true story of one man who wasn't interested in making a fortune from golf, but played his heart out for the love of the game, and who achieved the extraordinary.
See More: How Long Do Golf Cart Batteries Last? 3+ Tricks to Make Them Last Longer
While the film isn't a big hit among critics, many audience members sincerely appreciate it. If you're interested in a relatively uncomplicated film focused on the positive, and on overcoming limitations, this might be right up your alley.
The Legend of Bagger Vance is a golfing drama from 2000, featuring an all-star cast including Will Smith as the titular Bagger Vance, Matt Damon as golfing royalty Rannulph Junuh, and Charlize Theron as love interest Adele Invergordon.
Director: Robert Redford
Loosely based on the sacred Hindu text the Bhagavad Gita, and adapted from a novel by author Steven Pressfield, The Legend of Bagger Vance is an emotional rollercoaster of a film dealing with themes including a fall from grace, despair, regaining a sense of direction in life and overcoming obstacles, and connecting with a higher sense of meaning.
When protagonist and former golfing prodigy Rannulph Junuh returns from the horrors of the First World War, he suffers trauma that destroys the direction of his life and his knack for the game alike. That is, until a mysterious guide appears.
With spiritual themes and elements woven together with a tale of personal redemption on the green, The Legend of Bagger Vance is considered by many to be a classic golf film.
7. A Gentleman's Game
A Gentleman's Game follows the story of 12-year old junior golfer Timmy Price, whose father recognises his potential early on and enlists a skilful coach with a troubled past to help the young protagonist realise his full potential.
Director: J. Mills Goodloe
Along the way, Timmy learns life lessons about being true to himself, finding love, dealing with adversity, and standing up against bullies — especially those in high places.
A Gentleman's Game is an uplifting story of one young man's personal journey into adulthood, and his path of self-growth, through the game of golf and the memorable individuals he meets along the way.
For fans of coming of age dramas with an optimistic direction, this film could be one to check out.
Rotten Tomatoes Critics Rating:N/A
The Caddy (not to be mistaken with Caddyshack) is a part-musical 1953 comedy film, featuring iconic comedy duo of the era Martin and Lewis.
Director: Norman Taurog
With protagonist Harvey Miller Jr. being expected to follow in the footsteps of his famous golfer father's footsteps, but opting to become an instructor and caddie for his fiancé's brother instead, the stage is set for various hijinks, ups and downs, and some love stories as well.
The Caddy is a film with a loyal cult following, and is an iconic example of the comedy of the 1950's. It also features cameos from some of the premier golfing pros of the day, including Ben Hogan, Sam Snead, Byron Nelson, and Julius Boros.
Pat and Mike is a 1953 romantic comedy with a cast of memorable characters all trying to navigate the intricacies of professional golf and athleticism in general.
Director: George Cukor
Leading lady Katherine Hepburn plays Pat, a super-athlete who seems to have the golden touch when it comes to any sport she cares to try her hand at. Her troublesome fiancé, however, pressures her to quit golf so that they can get married.
When Pat teams up with the dubious sports promoter Mike to help her achieve her full potential, he begins to fall in love with her and the story takes new twists and turns.
With lighthearted comedy meeting a touch of drama, Pat and Mike is a fun throwback to enjoy.
Seve: The Movie is part biographical documentary and part drama, looking at the life and career of golfing legend Severiano Ballesteros Sota.
Director: John-Paul Davidson
Starting from his humble origins as the son of a farmer, and charting his meteoric rise through the golfing world, Seve: The Movie is an earnest, fascinating and touching look at the life of one of the men who was at the forefront of the sport of golf from the period spanning from the mid 1970's to the mid 1990's.
With charisma, immense talent, and a moving personal story, Severiano Ballesteros stands out as a hero of the sport. This golf movie offers a worthy look at his career.
Tin Cup is a 1996 romantic comedy focusing on the story of down-and-out washed-up golfer Roy McAvoy (played by Kevin Costner), who has set up a driving range and has apparently turned his back on his golfing aspirations.
Director: Ron Shelton
When he meets and falls in love with an attractive psychologist by the name of Molly Griswold, however, and butts heads with her boyfriend — the professional golfer David Simms — a battle soon begins; both for Molly's heart, and also for dominance on the green.
Tin Cup contains many of the features of an iconic '90's romantic comedy, all set against the backdrop of golf.
Seven Days in Utopia charts the story of lead character Luke Chisholm, a professional golfer who experiences a meltdown during a tournament and becomes temporarily stranded in the rural community of Utopia, Texas, after driving his car through a fence.
Director: Matt Russell
In Utopia, though, the jaded golfer finds more than he bargained for in the form of a wise and eccentric rancher played by Robert Duvall, who has some valuable lessons to impart — both about the game of golf, and about life itself.
Seven Days in Utopia is one of those golf movies that has not received a favorable reaction from critics, but which has attracted a substantial fan following nonetheless. Consider watching this film if you're after a golf-themed tale of guidance and self-rediscovery.
From The Rough is a drama film with plenty of comedic moments and a plot that deals with serious issues such as overcoming adversity, pushing back against stereotypes and low expectations, and finding a way to maintain confidence and grit when it matters most.
Director: Pierre Bagley
This film is based on the true story of Catana Starks, a former swim coach for the Tennessee State Tigers, who became the first woman ever to coach a college men's golf team, and who faced plenty of adversity as she set about doing so.
From The Rough is a golf movie that approaches the topic of overcoming adversity in golf from an angle not usually seen.
The Short Game is a 2013 documentary film looking at the journeys of eight young golfers all striving to be the 2012 U.S. Kids Golf World Champion.
Runtime: 1 h
Director: Josh Greenbaum
This film is a fascinating look at the lifestyles, training routines and sacrifices of the children who aspire to champions in the sport of golf — and it may raise some questions about just how much pressure parents should put on their kids to succeed at an early age.
With excellent cinematography and plenty of real-life dramatic tension, this is a golf documentary worth watching for any golf fan.
Swing Away is a comedic drama film that starts with professional golfer Zoe Papadopoulos having a breakdown during a tournament, and retreating to her grandparents' village in Greece to recharge and find her equilibrium.
Director: Michael A. Nickle
While in Greece, our heroine reconnects with her roots, gains a newfound sense of perspective on what's truly precious in life, and rediscovers her love of golf with the help of a young protege she takes on, all while battling against a greedy businessmen who threatens the future of local area.
This is a heartwarming feel-good golf movie about rediscovering the things that really matter in life.
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An electrically foldable door mirror, with autodimming, which makes narrow gaps easier and reduces intrusive light reflection from cars behind. Autodimming is connected to the dimming in the interior rear view mirror and they have a common sensor located on the interior rear view mirror. If the car has an electric adjustable driver`s seat with memory function, the door mirror with memory function folds down automatically when reverse gear is engaged. This helps you, for example, see how close to the edge of the pavement you are when reversing into a parking space. Via the car settings function you can select to have the door mirrors fold in automatically when you lock the car. Pressing both door mirror buttons retracts the door mirrors in against the sides of the car so that they do not cause an obstruction.
Our 2016 Volvo XC90 Mirrors, door, autodimming ships directly from an authorized Volvo dealer. Since 2000 we have offered secure online ordering and fast affordable shipping. All our genuine Volvo parts and Volvo accessories are backed by Volvo's warranty, which is covered by any Volvo dealer in the US. Exactly like your local dealer only lower prices and shipped directly to your door. If you have questions about Volvo accessories or Volvo performance parts or need assistance, please don't hesitate to contact our friendly Volvo parts and accessories experts online.


text:
Q: How to return query result in android sqlite database? I'm new in android developer ,I'm a programmer Delphi and Lazarus,
I have a program using SQLite Database and I'm trying to get the
same program in android, but I have many questions.
I need a method to return an result of an select like:
SELECT * from tmc_configuracao ORDER BY cod_configuracao DESC

After that i will send this result to a scrollingtable"
I have no idea how to do this.
Anyone can help me with the code?

A: String query="SELECT * from tmc_configuracao ORDER BY cod_configuracao DESC";
Cursor cursor=(instance of SQLiteDatabase).rawQuery(query);
while (cursor.moveToNext()) {
  String result_0=cursor.getString(0);
  String result_1=cursor.getString(1);
  //and so on
}
cursor.close();
(instance of SQLiteDatabase).close();


text:
Rain...mixing with snow and becoming windy overnight. Low 31F. Winds ENE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 100%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph..
Rain...mixing with snow and becoming windy overnight. Low 31F. Winds ENE at 20 to 30 mph. Chance of precip 100%. Snow accumulations less than one inch. Winds could occasionally gust over 40 mph.
Updated: January 15, 2022 @ 11:10 pm
N95 respirators, the gold standard of filtration masks, are back in the pandemic spotlight because of the highly contagious Omicron Covid-19 variant.
Angus Mordant/Bloomberg/Getty Images
3M's NIOSH-approved N95 mask filters at least 95% of non-oil based air particles.
There are plenty of N95 masks, but they're not designed for your kids
By Parija Kavilanz, CNN Business
N95 respirators, the gold standard of filtration masks, are back in the pandemic spotlight because of the highly contagious Omicron Covid-19 variant. Unlike earlier in the pandemic, N95s are now widely available -- but the top N95 manufacturer cautioned parents who are considering buying them for their children.
3M, a leading global manufacturer of N95 masks and the largest producer of the masks in the US, said it has enough supply to meet the elevated demand due to Omicron.
"We manufacturer all of our masks for the US market in the US, in our plants in South Dakota and Nebraska," said 3M spokeswoman Jennifer Ehrlich.
When the coronavirus outbreak reached the US two years ago it created an urgent and overwhelming demand for N95 respirator masks within the healthcare industry. This led to a shortage of N95s in the broader market and an opportunity for counterfeit masks to seep into the supply chain.
"We saw demand spike 40 times," Ehrlich said.
During the pandemic, she said 3M more than tripled production and now has the global capacity to make over 2.5 billion respirators a year. That includes production of 100 million masks a month just in the US.
"We've increased N95 production enough that they are now available to all customers again and we are continuing to supply N95s needed by healthcare workers as well as industrial customers," Ehrlich said. "There's no longer a shortage of N95s"
Where can you buy 3M's N95 masks?
Ehrlich said 3M's N95 masks are for sale at all major retailers, including Home Depot, Target, Lowes, Menards and through Amazon's 3M store. She said Target also sells a separate advanced filtering face mask from 3M that is not an N95.
A spokesperson for Amazon said the retailer currently has a large assortment of N95 masks. According to Amazon, it's selling N95 masks from domestic, international and third-party vendors that it says have met the company's vetting and product review process.
All legitimate N95 masks bear a NIOSH marking, meaning they have been approved for use in the workplace by The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.
According to Target, the retailer has a "healthy supply" of a variety of facemasks, including cloth and disposable surgical masks.
N95 masks are generally not intended for use by children.
The CDC's guidelines state that although respirators may be available in smaller sizes, they are typically designed to be used by adults in workplaces and have not been tested for broad use by children.
"3M N95s are designed to fit adult faces," said Dr. Nikki Vars McCullough, vice president and respiratory protection leader at 3M. "Parents who are considering a N95 for their child should make sure the respirators fits and forms a seal to the child's face. And it's important that the child is comfortable enough that they won't remove it."
The CDC also cautioned about counterfeit N95 masks. The agency said consumers should watch out for telltale signs of a counterfeit product such as misspellings on the mask, claims that the mask is approved for children and the absence of NIOSH markings.
For nearly two years, we've become accustomed to wearing cloth face masks to protect ourselves against coronavirus.
But a few layers of fabric covering the face are proving to be no match for Omicron.
The fast-spreading variant has already triggered new record-high hospitalizations in the US, with 45,982 people currently hospitalized with Covid-19, surpassing the previous peak from January 2021, according to government data. On Wednesday, Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said the probability is that the Omicron variant will "find just about everybody," although vaccinated people will fare better.
Besides getting vaccinated and boosted, health experts say switching to a mask with a higher caliber of personal protection is critical to helping to mitigate the spread.
A face mask protects against the spread of Covid-19 in two ways: It mitigates the risk of the wearer's exposure to the virus and also protects others around them from being exposed through a cough, sneeze or even just talking.
The efficacy of masks is determined by filtration, or how effectively they can block very fine particles in the air, including viruses and bacteria.
Up to this point in the pandemic, the US Centers for Disease Control & Prevention has encouraged the use of a variety of protective face masks, including well-fitted multi-layer cloth masks, disposable surgical masks and medical-grade N95 respirator masks. Properly fitted and certified, N95 masks are able to filter up to 95% of airborne particles.
However, given the extreme transmissibility of Omicron, the CDC is expected to update its mask guidance, an agency official told CNN Tuesday.
Epidemics And Outbreaks
Microscopic Life
Communicable Disease Control
Government Organizations - Us
Us Federal Departments And Agencies
Jennifer Ehrlich
Omicron Covid-19
State Sen. Clint Dixon will carry 'Parents Bill of Rights' legislation touted by Gov. Brian Kemp in State of the State address
By Curt Yeomans curt.yeomans@gwinnettdailypost.com
This Cat Insists on Crashing His Dad's Auditions | The Dodo
GIRLS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: Collins Hill defeats Woodland in MLK Classic
BOYS BASKETBALL ROUNDUP: No. 3 Shiloh wins at Dacula to stay perfect
Winter weather advisory issued for Gwinnett as snow, ice anticipated on Sunday
Another waste hauler in Gwinnett — Waste Management — is suspending some services because of COVID
Duluth police arrest employee at Shell gas station where illegal gambling allegedly took place
PHOTOS: Gwinnett Animal Shelter Adoptable Pets of the Week —Jan. 10
GET OUT THERE: 5 things to do this weekend in Gwinnett County —Jan. 14-16
PHOTOS: Barrow County Animal Control Adoptable Pets of the Week — Jan. 10
Ahmaud Arbery's murderers receive life sentences (2)
Another waste hauler in Gwinnett — Waste Management — is suspending some services because of COVID (2)
Dennison Hearing Solutions
3511 Braselton Hwy, Dacula, GA 30019
City of Norcross
65 Lawrenceville St., Norcross, GA 30071
Fabric World Inc
1555 E Park Place Blvd, Stone Mountain, GA 30087
This is not a scientific poll — results reflect only the opinions of those voting.


Remember Samsung's One UI interface? Well, it's finally begun to rollout to select users in the US.
Samsung has started launching its update for the Galaxy S9 and S9 Plus, bringing them up to date to the latest version of Android 9 Pie as well as the new One UI interface from Samsung. However, it's only for Xfinity Mobile customers in the US, according to Android Police, meaning it is a super limited rollout, though the update is coming to international customers soon, The Verge noted.
In January, Samsung posted in its Samsung Members app, explaining its roadmap for releasing the update, as spotted by SamMobile. If you look at the dates, the rollout for Galaxy phones is only now coming to fruition. Galaxy Note 9, Galaxy S9, and Galaxy S9 Plus owners will get it from January, while Galaxy Note 8 will from February and Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus owners will from March.
So, if you have a Samsung Galaxy phone and live in the US, expect your update to arrive by March. The new One UI is designed to make it easier to navigate content. You can learn more about it from here. Samsung might talk about it more during its "Unpacked" event on 20 February.
That event, happening in San Francisco, will likely see the debut of the Galaxy S10, S10 Plus, S10 Lite, a folding phone, and a 5G phone.


Dr. Josefa Steinhauer, assistant professor of biology at Yeshiva University, published an article in Spermatogenesis. The article, "Drosophila spermatid individualization is sensitive to temperature and fatty acid metabolism," investigates the process of sperm production using the fruit fly model and found that temperature and lipid signals are important for fertility, setting the stage to investigate how lipid signals affect fertility. Recent Stern College for Women alumna Geulah Ben-David '12S and Yeshiva College alumnus Eli Miller '13YC were co-authors on the article, whose findings will be relevant for understanding human fertility and infertility.


A Senior Clinical Fellow is a NIH employee who intends to pursue advanced clinical research training and is not quite ready for tenure-track progression. Individuals must qualify as a PGY-9 equivalent or higher, and must be competitively selected by an NIH clinical program (nationally advertised, formal application and review process). Senior Clinical Fellows are more senior and do not serve in the same capacity as Clinical Fellows, who are paid under Intramural (Clinical), Band I. While they are on a different career track than Staff Clinicians, they are generally comparable in terms of qualifications and experience, and therefore appropriately paid under the same pay band, Intramural (Clinical), Band II. For additional information regarding Title 42 Pay Bands, please consult the Title 42 Pay Model.
Senior Clinical Fellows are appointed using Title 42(g) and approved by the delegated authority in each IC. Depending on salary level and other pay components proposed, review and approval is required from both the IC Title 42 Standing Committee and the NIH Compensation Committee (NCC). Please consult the Title 42 Pay Model for additional information.
Initial Senior Clinical Fellow appointments may be made in increments up to 2-3 years. The Deputy Director for Intramural Research (DDIR) must approve any appointment that extends beyond eight years.
For Senior Clinical Fellows that require clinical credentialing, an additional approval must be received from the Director, CC after recommendation by the Office of Credentialing Services, Clinical Center (OCS/CC) and the Medical Executive Committee (MEC).
Pay and compensation for Title 42 appointed Senior Clinical Fellows is based on the Title 42 Pay Model. Individuals must qualify as a PGY-9 equivalent or higher, and must be participating in a competitively selected NIH clinical program (nationally advertised, formal application and review process).
In most situations, a Senior Clinical Fellow will be paid at the entry-level rate; for additional clinical training experience, higher salaries within the band may apply for specially qualified fellows who are also Board-Eligible or Board-Certified.
Recruitment of a Senior Clinical Fellow is made via Title 42. Individuals must be participating in a competitively selected NIH clinical program (nationally advertised, formal application and review process).
Senior Clinical Fellow appointments are made via Title 42(g) and renewed in increments of one to five years, according to the 5/8 Year Duration Policy. The maximum length of this fellowship is 8 years, and the duration is determined by the length of time spent at NIH in all fellowship capacities, unless the scientist is approved for tenure-track or another staff NIH appointment.
A Senior Clinical Fellow is not granted independent resources by their Institute.
Senior Clinical Fellow appointments may be terminated before their expiration date for cause (e.g., personal or scientific misconduct), unsatisfactory performance, or administrative reasons, including but not limited to, programmatic changes and/or budgetary considerations. Termination of a Senior Clinical Fellow must follow the policies and processes appropriate to the Title 42(g) appointment mechanism.


"Luna and I can stand at either end of the corridor, ... and warn people not to go down there because someone's let off a load of Garrotting Gas. ... Fred and George were planning to do it before they left."
Invisible gas which apparently knocks people unconscious.
Fred and George were planning to release Garrotting Gas in a corridor, but left school before they had a chance to carry out the plan. Ginny seized upon the idea as a diversion to keep Umbridge away from her office. NOTE: It seems highly unlikely that Fred and George would have released something which was actually deadly, so we assume that Garrotting Gas is non-lethal ( OP32 ).


Since 1963 Hulcher Services has been the industry leader in emergency response. You can trust our decades of experience in disaster response to help you overcome the terrible effects of hurricanes, storms and tornados as quickly and effectively as possible.
Hurricanes lay waste to the Gulf Coast and East Coast. Tornados devastate portions of Oklahoma, Texas, and other states. Western states experience forest fires resulting from lightning strikes. Natural disasters happen, and when a storm strikes, railroads, industrial facilities, grain and coal businesses and the government need expert crews and heavy equipment to respond.
When needed, our involvement can be quite extensive. Following Hurricane Katrina, we spent months in the Gulf Coast Region. We assisted with cleaning up debris and moving equipment. Our sidebooms and track loaders move large items like barges and boats that have become grounded by flood waters (pictured right). We also helped the railroads get back to work by changing traction motors and wheels and re-railing trains.
Hulcher's disaster response capabilities include a full line of flood response services.
Our fleet of emergency response equipment includes excavators, dozers, track loaders and wheel loaders, cranes, dump trucks, grapple trucks, backhoes, backhoe / dump truck combos, hi-rail rotary dump trucks and more. All operated by the most experienced professionals in the industry. Our crew members are already trained and certified to work for all Class I railroads so they are ready to respond.
Hulcher Services' emergency response services are available 24-hours a day, 365 days a year.
Hulcher can deploy emergency response teams and equipment within one hour of your call, any time day or night, from any of our strategically-positioned divisions. For large-scale disasters, Hulcher can provide additional equipment from around the country; our corporate jet can bring in relief crews quickly to keep the response effort moving. Our company is bonded, insured and highly rated with Dunn & Bradstreet. We maintain preferred vendor arrangements with top businesses and have long-established disaster response agreements with many railroads, grain companies, industrial businesses and government organizations.
When the worst happens, a fast response is your best alternative to minimize loss and return your business to normal operations quickly. Trust Hulcher to respond with the experience, equipment, professionalism and track record that has made us the industry leader in emergency response for almost 50 years.
Call Hulcher today at 800-637-5471 to learn more about our hurricane, tornado and storm response services. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you to discuss your organization's potential storm response requirements and make plans ahead of time so we are ready to address your specific needs if and when a storm hits.


Singing with others is the best way to become musical!
Our first instrument is our voice and learning to sing tunes our ears, connects us to our breath and teaches us how to express our feelings. Singing with others makes it that much more fun!
The Take Note Youth Choir is a supportive community where children feel safe to explore their voices and feelings, develop their skills with confidence and enjoyment, be lifted by the feel-good endorphins created by singing together, and most of all meet new friends.


Every chance, we used to nip to France, grab a club and go frogbashing.
It was a good day's shooting.
You see, the fact is, we're out of practise, its been too long since we went frogbashing.
All French lasses have got moustaches and serve your beer in tiny glasses.


Jung Yonghwa firmly takes hold of Park Shin Hye's hand and confesses his love for her.
In Episode 9 of MBC drama 'Heartstrings', Lee Shin (starring Jung Yonghwa) finally faces his true feelings and confesses to Lee Kyu Won (starring Park Shin Hye) during their school training camp.
In the beginning of the episode, Lee Shin kneels down in front of an injured Kyu Won and says 'Please don't stop liking me' to which Kyu Won responds 'Why? Do you like me?'. Lee Shin stutters and fails to give an answer, which causes Kyu Won to angrily yell 'I am not your slave, you cannot play around with my feelings!'.
After the incident, Kyu Won remains cold towards Shin. However, during their training camp, Shin and Kyu Won are told to buy groceries together. On the way to the market, Kyu Won walks off by herself to buy medicine for her sickness, leaving a worried Shin to wander in the busy streets to look for her. When he finally does, Shin says in frustration 'Where were you? Have you got any idea how worried I was!'.
The episode ends with the heart-fluttering confession of Shin, which foreshadows that Episode 10 will unfold the love-line between Shin and Kyu Won in full force.
July 28: "오늘 미용실에 가서 선생님께 "쌤~!! '넌 내게 반했어' 이규원 머리 해주세요!!" 했더니 정말 해주셨다!!역시 민희쌤은능력자>_<파마했어요이제 습한 날씨에 머리풀릴 걱정은 좀 덜 해도 될 것인가.."
Trans: "Today went to the salon and told the hairstylist 'Please~!! I want 'Heartstrings' Lee Kyu Won's hair!!' really had it done professionally >_< Perm. Now I don't need to worry about the humid weather anymore as my hair is ready. I hope.."
I can't wait to watch this episode. Have to wait for English subtitles though. Ooh! It really DOES just keep getting better and better! I want Lee Gyu Won's hairstyle too... but my face is too wide and it would look funny. Sigh.
We appreciate Korea's traditional music..where looking forward to what would be the final outcome of the combined traditional and applied music, as well as with the stage play..keep it up.


We're only a few days away from the start of 2019 and another WWE year has passed by as 2018 comes to a close.
This year, the WWE Universe saw the rise of many talented individuals on the main roster and the NXT roster. This list includes names like Becky Lynch, Tomasso Ciampa, Drew Mcintyre and Velveteen Dream. These aforementioned individuals were among 2018's biggest and hottest breakout stars. They took the spotlight and shined as bright as they could.
2019 will be no different as WWE ushers itself into a new year and a new era. New superstars will emerge, some of which will grab hold of the spotlight and mesmerize the WWE Universe with their immense talent and aptitude. WWE has already announced the promotion of several NXT stars to the main roster. Lars Sullivan and EC3 are most likely to make the biggest impact out of these main-roster call-ups.
Having said that, let's look at the three hungry WWE Superstars who could break out in 2019.
Although Drew Mcintyre was one of WWE's top breakout stars in 2018, I still believe that he has much more to accomplish and his journey in 2018 was just the beginning of his inevitable rise to the summit of WWE.
Backstage reports suggest that Vince McMahon sees a lot of potential in Mcintyre and has big plans for the Scottish Psychopath. If this is true, Mcintyre may as well become Universal Champion in 2019 and might just reach the pinnacle of WWE's hierarchy. Mcintyre was heavily pushed in 2018 and could be pushed to the moon in 2019.
He has cut off ties with Dolph Ziggler and is expected to defeat and conquer Ziggler, this would prove as a catalyst for bigger things. Mcintyre is one of the top favourites to win this year's Royal Rumble match. If I were a betty man, I would put my money on Mcintyre as he is one of WWE's brightest future prospects and has a bright future ahead of him. Mcintyre could challenge for the Universal title and possibly win it at Wrestlemania 35.
One thing is for sure, Mcintyre will become a major player in the WWE by the end of 2019.


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Årets Bil i Europa er en kåring etableret i 1964 af en gruppe europæiske biltidsskrifter. Juryen består af motorjournalister fra hele Europa, og antal repræsentanter fra hvert enkelt land afgøres på baggrund af størrelsen af landets bilmarked eller bilproduktion. Juryen bestod i 2006 af 58 medlemmer fra 22 lande.

Det er ingen kategorier eller klasser, og kåringens formål er at finde det bedste blandt alle deltagende bilmodeller.

Regler
Alle bilmodeller lanceret i de tolv måneder før prisen uddeles kan deltage. Deltagende modeller skal ikke være europæiske, men de skal være tilgængelige for salg i mindst fem europæiske lande, samt have et salgsmål på mindst 5.000 enheder årligt.

De nominerede modeller får point i kategorierne design, komfort, sikkerhed, økonomi, køreegenskaber, ydelse, miljø, førermiljø og pris.

Syv finalister vælges ved afstemning. Derefter får hvert enkelt jurymedlem 25 point til at distribuere mellem finalisterne. Pointene skal fordeles over mindst fem bilmodeller, og én model kan få maksimalt ti point. Stemmeafgivningen er åben, og hvert jurymedlem må forsvare sin pointfordeling.

Resultater 1964 – 2016

Fordeling efter bilmærke

Fordeling kronologiske

Noter

Etableret i 1964

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


I stumbled across this linky party (Friday Favorite Finds) and I LOVE it! I find so many great recipes from other awesome bloggers and I am so excited to share them with you all! I made all of these recipes this week and am totally, completely in love with them! Check them out!
Wishing you best dishes and yummy dreams!
Soooo freaking good. We love zucchini, so I knew I'd love it. But, I was also able to convert two non-veggie lovers who thought there was no way they'd even try it. They're that good.
I've tried several, and usually they are too bready, or get really soggy on the inside. This was the BEST. Mine wasn't as thin as the picture. You will love it if you try it.
While I'm not usually a fan of grapefruit, I've discovered there's nothing better than a grapefruit cocktail, who knew? I love it because it balances out the sweet with a little sour... love.
I really want to try the zucchini chips! Both look delicious though!
Welcome, you will love seeing the recipes everyone finds. Both these look really good. Glad you tried them and passed them on. Thanks for sharing.


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Richard W. "Richie" Mann (born 1954) is a retired Canadian politician, trades person and current lobbyist/business person in Nova Scotia.

Mann was born and educated in St. Peter's and began a career in 1971 with Swedish pulp and paper company Stora where he worked as an industrial pipefitter/steamfitter from 1971 to 1988 at the pulp and paper mill in Point Tupper. While at Stora, Mann served as a shop steward with Local 972 of the Canadian Paperworkers Union.

Mann holds the Nova Scotia Senior Baseball League record for home runs in a season, set in 1977, for which he was inducted into the NS Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997.  Mann is the creator and organizer of the Richie Mann Invitational charity golf tournament, the proceeds of which are donated to the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation; to date, approximately $780,000 has been raised.

Political career
Mann was elected as a municipal councilor in the 1985 municipal election for the Municipality of Richmond County.  During his municipal service from 1985 to 1988, Mann served as Deputy Warden and on various council committees.

In 1988 Mann successfully ran for the Liberal nomination in the riding of Richmond.  He was elected in the 1988 provincial election and served as a member of the official opposition where he served in a number of critic responsibilities until 1993. Mann was re-elected in the 1993 provincial election which saw the Liberals receive a majority of seats; Mann's personal election results recorded the largest majority in the history of the riding.

On June 11, 1993, Mann was appointed to the Executive Council of Nova Scotia as Minister of Transportation. He became minister for the new Department of Transportation and Public Works on April 1, 1996. He later served as Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. In addition, he also served as the Government House Leader from 1993 to 1997 and was a member of several committees.

Mann resigned his seat in 1998 in advance of the provincial election.  Mann briefly re-entered politics when on July 30, 2004 he announced his candidacy for the leadership of the Nova Scotia Liberal Party. Mann was defeated in his bid for the leadership at the convention that October by Francis MacKenzie.

Lobbying and business career
Mann founded Corporate Strategic Consulting in 1998 as an independent consulting firm specializing in government relations, issues management and research.  Mann has also been involved as a lobbyist and investor in the Melford Terminal container terminal project.

References

External links
Melford corporate profile

1954 births
Nova Scotia Liberal Party MLAs
Living people
Members of the Executive Council of Nova Scotia
People from Richmond County, Nova Scotia
Nova Scotia municipal councillors


We have everything you need for the correct labeling of cables and switchboards: we offer cable markers and cable flags on DIN A4 sheets in various formats and colors. Cable markers and cable flags made of foil on sheet can be printed on using a laser printer or manually inscribed. Label cables, pipes and connections quickly and easily with self-adhesive cable labels or colorful cable flags! The printable cable markers can be easily and neatly applied and puts and end to obnoxious cable tangles.
Cable labels can be purchased on DIN A4 sheets.


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Agriculture Minister Lana Popham speaks at Union of B.C. Municipalities forum, Sept. 28, 2017. (B.C. government)
'Exploding' marijuana industry threatens B.C. farmland
Lana Popham said legalization not foreseen when pot allowed on ALR
Sep. 28, 2017 5:00 p.m.
While legalization of marijuana has communities worried about under-age sales and impaired driving, Agriculture Minister Lana Popham has also had an earful about the threat of food-producing land being converted to feed the recreational cannabis market.
Delta Mayor Lois Jackson quizzed Popham on the subject at a natural resources forum at the Union of B.C. Municipalities this week
Jackson said she has fought as councillor and mayor for nearly 40 years to preserve Delta's prime farmland. Delta has 8,500 ha of Fraser River delta land in cultivation, some of the most productive in a province where only five per cent of the total area is available for agriculture.
"I'm really worried that people are going to be gobbling up our best land for growing marijuana, and we really need all the land we have to grow vegetables and fruits," Jackson said. "I really don't want to have to depend on the United States for our food."
Popham confirmed that several local officials also raised the issue in closed-door meetings, and that growing marijuana is a permitted use in the Agricultural Land Reserve.
"I believe that when this was made an allowable use, we could not foresee what was about to happen as far as an industry exploding before our eyes," Popham said.
Another #marijuana problem, using up scarce farmland for BC bud #ubcm2017 @lanapopham #bcpoli pic.twitter.com/1IGGnrsu8P
— Tom Fletcher (@tomfletcherbc) September 28, 2017
She urged Jackson and other local government representatives to write formal letters to her ministry as B.C. negotiates terms of legalization with Ottawa. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has declared that recreational marijuana will be legal by July 1, 2018.
While marijuana for ingesting wasn't contemplated by the province or the Agricultural Land Commission, there have been several experiments with growing industrial hemp for biofuel, oils and fibre.
In 2006, a 45-hectare hemp pilot project was approved for the 100 Mile House area by then-agriculture minister Pat Bell. The pilot was increased the following year, following efforts in Manitoba and Saskatchewan to grow hemp for biodiesel and industrial and textile fibre.
Smaller hemp plantings were done at Smithers, on Vancouver Island and at West Moberly near Fort St. John.
ALRUBCM
Councillor and other local government officials tell of increasing harassment
Newspapers snubbed in Liberal government's cultural policy


The February Meeting saw a good attendance and several new attendees! The topic was Italian Pens and several members brought representative samples for us to peruse.
Our next meeting will be March 18 and the topic will be Pre – 1960s boxed Pen and Pencil sets. So, scour those closets and storage bins for some vintage boxed sets to share.


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On December 2, 2001, the Enron Corporation files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in a New York court, sparking one of the largest corporate scandals in U.S. history.
An energy-trading company based in Houston, Texas, Enron was formed in 1985 as the merger of two gas companies, Houston Natural Gas and Internorth. Under chairman and CEO Kenneth Lay, Enron rose as high as number seven on Fortune magazine's list of the top 500 U.S. companies. In 2000, the company employed 21,000 people and posted revenue of $111 billion. Over the next year, however, Enron's stock price began a dramatic slide, dropping from $90.75 in August 2000 to $0.26 by closing on November 30, 2001.
As prices fell, Lay sold large amounts of his Enron stock, while simultaneously encouraging Enron employees to buy more shares and assuring them that the company was on the rebound. Employees saw their retirement savings accounts wiped out as Enron's stock price continued to plummet. After another energy company, Dynegy, canceled a planned $8.4 billion buy-out in late November, Enron filed for bankruptcy. By the end of the year, Enron's collapse had cost investors billions of dollars, wiped out some 5,600 jobs and liquidated almost $2.1 billion in pension plans.
Over the next several years, the name "Enron" became synonymous with large-scale corporate fraud and corruption, as an investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission and the U.S. Justice Department revealed that Enron had inflated its earnings by hiding debts and losses in subsidiary partnerships. The government subsequently accused Lay and Jeffrey K. Skilling, who served as Enron's CEO from February to August 2001, of conspiring to cover up their company's financial weaknesses from investors. The investigation also brought down accounting giant Arthur Andersen, whose auditors were found guilty of deliberately destroying documents incriminating to Enron. . .
On December 21, 1988, Pan Am Flight 103 from London to New York explodes in midair over Lockerbie, Scotland, killing all 243 passengers and 16 crew members aboard, as well as 11 Lockerbie residents on the ground. A bomb hidden inside an audio cassette player detonated in the cargo area when the plane was at an altitude of 31,000 feet. The disaster, which became the subject of Britain's largest criminal investigation, was believed to be an attack against the United States. One hundred eighty-nine of the victims were American. In 2003, Libya accepted responsibility for the bombing, but didn't express remorse. The U.N. and U.S. lifted sanctions against Libya and Libya agreed to pay each victim's family approximately $8 million in restitution. In 2004, Libya's prime minister said that the deal was the "price for peace," implying that his country only took responsibility to get the sanctions lifted, a statement that infuriated the victims' families. Pan Am Airlines, which went bankrupt three years after the bombing, sued Libya and later received a $30 million settlement. . .
Categories: This Month in History


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ACTS & FACTS FEATURES ZOOLOGY
First Phase Complete in Human and Chimp Genome-Wide DNA Comparison
BY JEFFREY P. TOMKINS, PH.D. * |
The ICR life sciences team has been conducting a large-scale comparison project of human versus chimp DNA sequence, the first phase of which has now been completed. The research involved the use of 40,000 purportedly random chimpanzee DNA sequences obtained from the National Center for Biotechnology that were produced as part of the chimpanzee genome project.1, 2 The sequences, on average, were 740 nucleotides each and were compared to four different versions of the human genome that were each ~3 billion bases. The DNA sequences were compared using a commonly employed algorithm called BLASTN.1
The BLASTN algorithm works by finding initial DNA base matches for the query sequence (chimp) compared to a target database (human) of a certain pre-specified length called "word sizes."3 These initial matches are then extended outward in both directions until the matches are no longer statistically significant for similarity based on a pre-specified level of mathematical stringency called an "e-value" (or the query sequence ends). The end result of each successful query is called an alignment, often referred to as a database "hit." Common default values used for BLASTN alignments include a word size of 11 and an e-value of 10. In this study, 15 different experiments testing combinations of three different word sizes (7, 11, and 15) and five different e-values (1,000, 10, 0.1, 0.001, and 0.00001) were performed. A simplified illustration of a hypothetical DNA alignment between two DNA sequences is shown in Figure 1.
If present, the top alignment data (database hit) for each chimp query sequence were obtained. Depending on the e-value and word size combination, the average aligned region of each chimp sequence varied between 122 to 181 bases, 16 to 24 percent, respectively. Excluding data for the large amount of chimp sequence that failed to align, a very conservative estimate of human-chimp DNA similarity genome-wide is 86.4 to 88.9 percent, based on the initial round of research data. It is noteworthy that the parameters that produced the longest and more statistically robust alignments also produced the lowest similarities. Obviously, if the non-aligning chimp data were included in the final data summary, estimated similarities would be even lower.
The initial phase of this study was conducted with 600,000 attempted alignments under conditions that allowed for the comparison of all DNA sequence in both the chimp and human data sets. However, it may surprise people to know that when evolutionists compare DNA sequences, they employ something called low-complexity sequence masking, a feature that is thought to remove abundant DNA sequences that are less complex than those commonly associated with protein-coding regions. The masking (electronic removal) of these sequences in the comparison process speeds up the algorithm significantly.
Therefore, the second phase of these experiments is being conducted using the same algorithm parameters (word size and e-value combinations), with the addition of low complexity sequence masking to more accurately represent conditions that an evolutionist would use. A report on this second round of experiments, along with a complete summary of the entire study, will be provided in an upcoming issue of Acts & Facts.
More information is available at blast.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
The Chimpanzee Sequencing and Analysis Consortium. 2005. Initial sequence of the chimpanzee genome and comparison with the human genome. Nature. 437 (7055): 69-87.
Altschul , S. F. et al. 1990. Basic local alignment search tool. Journal of Molecular Biology. 215 (3): 403-410.
* Dr. Tomkins is Research Associate at the Institute for Creation Research and received his Ph.D. in Genetics from Clemson University.
Cite this article: Tomkins, J. 2011. First Phase Complete in Human and Chimp Genome-Wide DNA Comparison. Acts & Facts. 40 (12): 6.
More Zoology
Human lincRNA Regions Vastly Different from Chimpanzee
It was once thought that the areas between protein-coding genes located around the genome were vast purposeless wastelands of alleged "junk DNA."...
BY: JEFFREY P. TOMKINS, PH.D.
Day Six—Cattle, Beasts of the Earth, and Creeping Things
On Day Six, God focused on creating land creatures. He evidently created these vast "kinds" in direct proportion to how they would...
BY: HENRY M. MORRIS III, D.MIN.
Genetic Recombination Study Defies Human-Chimp Evolution
Results from a recent study in human and chimpanzee genetics have shipwrecked yet another Darwinian hypothesis.1 Genetic recombination is...
Man of Science, Man of God: Isaac Newton
Who: Isaac Newton What: Father of Universal Gravitation When: January 4, 1643 - March 31, 1727 Where: Woolsthorpe, a hamlet of Lincolnshire, England Nature...
BY: CHRISTINE DAO
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Research associated with the Simos Foundation's Collaboration of the Origins of Life offers a new answer to an old problem for getting a soup...
BY: BRIAN THOMAS, PH.D.
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Sorghum is an important food crop due, in part, to its extreme drought-tolerance. This characteristic makes it an ideal model for demonstrating how...
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Genetics, Human History, and Christian Faith
BY: STAFF WRITER
Mouse Brains Rewire Themselves
How do you know when something has been engineered? One way to tell is to study the words used to describe its characteristic features. The Mt. Rushmore...
New York Seminarians Worship Plants
Recently, some New York seminary students exhibited their unbiblical imaginations by idolatrously confessing their sins to potted plants. Sound silly?...
BY: JAMES J. S. JOHNSON, J.D., TH.D.
The Design and Complexity of the Cell
DNA Battles: Were Adam & Eve Historical?


Mercury and Sun created in Blender 2.8. Space Background painted in Photoshop.
I told you the remaining planets weren't that interesting looking. But, as I've started the series, they have to be done. Mercury has no satellites so, I thought it's relative closeness to the Sun was an excuse to create the same.