text:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<LinearLayout
    xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
    android:layout_width="match_parent"
    android:layout_height="match_parent"
    android:orientation="vertical"
    >

    <TextView
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal"
        android:text="@string/tv_device_send_event_title"
        style="@style/subTitle"
        />

    <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">

        <EditText
            android:id="@+id/edt_events_event_name"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:hint="@string/edt_hint_event_name"
            style="@style/field"
            />

    </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

    <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">

        <EditText
            android:id="@+id/edt_events_event_type"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:hint="@string/edt_hint_event_type"
            style="@style/field"
            />

    </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

    <android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout
        android:layout_width="match_parent"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content">

        <EditText
            android:id="@+id/edt_events_event_data"
            android:layout_width="match_parent"
            android:layout_height="wrap_content"
            android:hint="@string/edt_hint_event_data"
            style="@style/field"
            />

    </android.support.design.widget.TextInputLayout>

    <Button
        android:id="@+id/btn_send_event"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:layout_gravity="center_horizontal"
        android:text="@string/btn_events_send_event"
        style="@style/button"
        />

</LinearLayout>


Our starter package is great for start ups and organizations that have a limited budget and would like eye catching creative content to grow their digital footprint. We will create stock motion videos, still image videos, blog articles and monthly email marketing campaigns to help promote your organization with emotional visual messaging.
Choose a package that suits your need and sign up. You will be asked to setup an online account which you can pay for securely via credit or debit card. Once your first payment has cleared we get to work.
You will get an order confirmation via email that contains your account information. Log in to your account to complete your questionnaire. This gives us the details we need to get started.
When we receive your completed questionnaire we will begin your digital project. To fully understand what your requirements are please schedule a call with us via the button in your secure account.
Once we know what you need and want we will ask you to provide content. If you would like us to source stock images and video or if you would like us to copy-write content for you please contact us for a quote.
Based on the feedback from the questionnaire and design call we will create a new design concept for you. We will continue to design and review until you are 100% happy. You will receive design progress updates by email.
Once you have signed off on your new design concept we get to work on your digital project. We use robust conversion tools to produce all our content so that each and every project is built to create a strong ROI for you.
When we have concluded your project we will ask you to review our work. We will also run our own quality checks. Only when you are 100% happy will we complete the project. You can then publish your content to the web.
Once your new content is live we will help you to understand your analytics and audience. This will help you improve your call to action and conversion rates. Click here to learn how LDMA can manage your social media.


text:
Library Technology Guides
Current News Service and Archive
Press Release: EBSCO Information Services [January 8, 2020]
EBSCO Information Services and Via Appia announce services agreement for libraries instituting the FOLIO library services platform
Ipswich, MA -- January 2, 2020. A new relationship between EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) and Via Appia ensures that libraries in Brazil looking to adopt the FOLIO Library Services Platform (LSP) will have access to local hosting and support services. Via Appia will provide FOLIO implementation and support services, backed by EBSCO-hosting technology and data services.
Via Appia, founded in 1993 is located in Brasilia, Brazil, and is committed to the innovation and commercialization of products in library systems. Via Appia's CEO, Geraldo Couto, says that Via Appia's commitment to customer care and library innovations will allow the relationship with EBSCO to succeed in Brazil. "The addition of open source services is important for local institutions looking for choice. By partnering with EBSCO, we can support the latest technology via the FOLIO Library Services Platform enabling Brazilian institutions to implement FOLIO while Via Appia leverages its local expertise to focus on service and customer support."
EBSCO has supported FOLIO with funding, developers and project management, as well as provided funding for other open source projects including Koha. In addition to partnering with service providers around the globe, EBSCO will also be providing hosting services and advanced software support to libraries. EBSCO is also creating a complement of data integration services for libraries adopting the FOLIO LSP.
EBSCO Information Services Director of FOLIO Partnerships, Mark Allcock, says these vendor agreements are giving EBSCO the opportunity to create a high level of customer service standards in various geographical regions. "It's important that service providers like EBSCO and Via Appia work together on local support structures for libraries in Brazil that are looking to implement FOLIO. As we move into the next steps in the FOLIO development, we will continue creating partnerships with providers so libraries around the world can benefit from the FOLIO LSP."
FOLIO is a community of librarians, developers and service providers working together to create an open source LSP that supports traditional resource management functionality but which has been designed so that it can extend into emerging areas. FOLIO applications are modular and based on microservices allowing multiple vendors or libraries to contribute applications and enabling FOLIO to exist as a platform for innovation. More information is available at www.folio.org.
About EBSCO Information Services
EBSCO Information Services (EBSCO) is the leading discovery service provider for libraries worldwide with more than 11,000 discovery customers in over 100 countries. EBSCO Discovery Service (EDS) provides each institution with a comprehensive, single search box for its entire collection, offering unparalleled relevance ranking quality and extensive customization. EBSCO is also the preeminent provider of online research content for libraries, including hundreds of research databases, historical archives, point-of-care medical reference, and corporate learning tools serving millions of end users at tens of thousands of institutions. EBSCO is the leading provider of electronic journals & books for libraries, with subscription management for more than 360,000 serials, including more than 57,000 e-journals, as well as online access to more than 1,000,000 e-books. For more information, visit the EBSCO website at: www.ebsco.com. EBSCO Information Services is a division of EBSCO Industries Inc., a family owned company since 1944.
About Via Appia
Via Appia is an IT company founded in 1993 in Brasilia, Brazil. The challenge of the company, which was born in the foundation and which continues to the present date, is the development and commercialization of products dedicated mainly to the area of Information Science, always valuing the semantic processing, the conceptual recovery of information in a contextualized way. In principle its focus was on systems of libraries, archives and corporate search. In 2005, it began to apply its expertise in the area of intelligence, with a focus on combating money laundering, fraud and cybercrime. Today Via Appia has clients in all States of the Federation of Brazil and already with its solutions operating in the United States of America. The experience with several Public Ministries, Federal Police Superintendencies in Brazil, among other Civil and Military Police, marks the strong brand of Via Appia, acquired in its more than 20 years of existence. Via Appia has specialized team not only in IT, but in ontologies and Information Science. Besides being present in Bras�lia, it has partners in Portugal and is in the process of opening its first office in the United States of America. To provide the most modern technologies for its customers, Via Appia has a strong partnership with IBM, being at the highest level of existing partnership.
A new relationship between EBSCO Information Services and Via Appia ensures that libraries in Brazil looking to adopt the FOLIO Library Services Platform will have access to local hosting and support services. Via Appia will provide FOLIO implementation and support services, backed by EBSCO-hosting technology and data services.
https://librarytechnology.org/pr/24808
LTG Bibliography Record number: 24808. Created: 2020-01-08 06:02:54; Last Modified: 2020-01-08 06:03:03.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
De Wereldspelen 1981 was de eerste editie van de Wereldspelen en vond plaats van 25 juli tot en met 3 augustus 1981 in Santa Clara, Verenigde Staten. Op de wereldspelen worden sporten beoefend die niet tijdens de Olympische Spelen aan bod komen.

Sporten
Er waren 89 titels (86 + 3 van demonstratiesporten) uitgereikt in 16 sporten.

     Als demonstratiesport

Medailletabel

Medaillewinnaars

België

1981
Multisportevenement in 1981
Sport in Santa Clara County

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
SSHSA's varied collections are available for use by members and the general public. While some collections may be explored online (see more information below), many collections are still being processed and described, and so are only accessible in person. Research visits are by appointment only. If you'd like to visit the Ship History Center to use our collections, or are interested in research services, please feel free to contact Astrid Drew at adrew@sshsa.org or send in this form, to learn more.
Ship History Center
Hours: By appointment only: Monday - Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Astrid Drew, Archivist: adrew@sshsa.org
SSHSA's archives covers a vast array of maritime topics and history relating to the United States and world shipping. They include:
ship plans, line drawings and blueprints
ephemera such as brochures (click here for an index)
newspaper clippings, tickets, advertisements and posters
film, video and audio recordings
Company records, ship logs, and ledgers
boat, yacht and ship logs (click here for an index - we will continue to add to this list as more are identified)
objects, artifacts and fine art, including paintings in the Posner Virtual Museum
images such as photographs, negatives, positives, glass slides and color projection slides.
Maritime Reference Library
The library includes volumes about shipping lines, specific vessels of military and merchant classes, war, immigration and genealogy, as well as periodicals, reference materials on marine engineering, the merchant marine, and shipping registers.
Search and browse our library in our online catalog.


Children who clash with their mothers may struggle to find purpose as adults.
Children who have more conflict with their mothers during early years of elementary school may be at difficulty finding a sense of purpose in life during adulthood, suggests new research. A sense of purpose involves having the belief that one has a stable, far-reaching aim that organises and stimulates behaviour and goals to progress towards that objective.
But the negative impact on sense of purpose was not nearly as strong as it was found to be among children who reported early conflicts with mothers. Only the child's perspective seemed to matter.
Understanding the content of conversations, including how are parents demonstrating the value of a purposeful life, or how are they helping children to define and pursue their own purposeful paths can help us all understand how conversations matter to children in our lives, said Leah Schultz, a doctoral student at the varsity.


Today (or yesterday, depending on how your calendar works) started out mildly frustrating.
I had worked for several hours on a relatively small (3,500-word) voice-over for a client. I had done about half a dozen takes on his scripts, which he wanted to be "authentic" but "energetic." After several discussions back and forth of what he wanted and numerous re-cuts on his script, I decided I had to cut him loose. It was better to forfeit the previous work than to risk wasting further time on a client who didn't seem to *really* know what he wanted.
Anyway, I cut ties with him and refunded the money he had paid. But again, I'd rather be out cash than continue to waste my time.
After that, I had a couple other small bits to record and then, this blog post.
After this, I return to a long-term project for the students of You Lin You Ke -- an English-learning class in Beijing.
Oh! And Doctor Who is a woman now. 'bout damn time.


text:
By Volcano Hazards
Volcano Updates
Notification Types/Access
Alert-Level System
Alert Level Icons
About Volcanoes
Education = Preparedness, Safety, and Resiliency
CVO scientists participate in community-wide science festival.
The full impacts of volcanic events are challenging to comprehend without recent experience. For that reason, the USGS volcano hazards education efforts focus on engaging the public and public officials in narratives about volcanic impacts to communities similar to their own. By personalizing the potential future volcanic risks and discussing the eruptive history, hazards, and vulnerabilities in their communities, residents gain the information and motivation required to become disaster resilient.
Learning about volcano hazards now can help people at risk live more safely with volcanoes and recover more quickly after volcanic eruptions.
The foundation for a disaster-resilient community requires that people at risk be well informed about hazards and motivated to implement risk-reduction measures. People who have lived through a volcanic eruption, or other major natural hazard event, can connect with that memory and recognize the need for preparation. However, at volcanic regions in the U.S. other than Hawaii and Alaska, the interval between eruptions often exceeds the lifespan and inter-generational memory of residents and emergency officials, making the opportunity to observe and learn rare. Therefore, the USGS VHP aims to make the impacts relatable by providing insight from communities in the U.S. and internationally that have experienced dramatic volcanic events.
Meeting between California Emergency Management Agency, CalVO, and the California Geological Survey to discuss volcano hazard preparation for state emergency plan.
Coordination and open lines of communication reduce risk.
USGS Volcano Hazards Program scientists work in partnership with leaders in vulnerable communities to provide the scientific basis necessary to develop emergency coordination plans. These long-standing partnerships between USGS, emergency managers and other government officials keep the lines of communication open—a necessity to reduce volcanic hazards risk, especially during an eruption or non-eruptive hazardous volcanic event (e.g. debris flow, lahar, or landslide).
Hazards assessments are the backbone of hazards-education programs.
Scientists use results of fundamental research to develop volcano hazard assessments, which become the foundation for hazards-education programs. These assessments help inform community emergency response plans, which support community preparedness efforts. The five VHP Volcano Observatories engage in regionally specific outreach efforts to support community resilience via trainings, presentations, and partnerships necessary for grassroots preparedness and education efforts.
Geologic maps and their digital databases become the foundation for determining potential future hazards at volcanoes. A scientist discusses construction of a map database for Newberry volcano.
Teaching and learning about volcanic hazards is for everyone.
Educators in classrooms, community safety groups, and at home can play an important role in communicating fundamental information about volcanoes and hazards to people within their communities. The USGS VHP provides opportunities for educators to learn about volcanoes and volcanic hazards via summer teacher trainings, downloadable teacher resources, and educational articles (Volcano Watch and Caldera Chronicles). You can always email us at vhpweb@usgs.gov with questions.


text:
Q: Report Server (ssrs): retrieve column name by query Would you help me, please, to retrieve column name by query.
In the report I want to show columns by condition.
I created a parameter @cols, which contains the list of column names (multiple values are allowed).
In column visibility/show or hide based on expression I added:
 =IIF(InStr(Join(Parameters!cols.Value, ","), "My_col_name")=0, true, false)

This works perfectly, but for each column I should insert in the row above the original column instead "My_col_name".
Since my report has hundreeds of columns, it looks annoyying.
Is there a method to simplify this task? E.g. to insert instead "My_col_name" some expression, which shows selected column name?
Thank you.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


We validate up to 2 hours of parking at The Crescent Parking Deck. Hand the Hostess your parking ticket as you leave and the 2 hours are on us!
Zeugma Grill offers a distinct menu for its customers that is sure to please the palate. The Mediterranean fusion menu includes cold & hot mezzes, kebabs, salads, desserts and much more. Try our fresh made lemonades and flavored organic iced teas. Domenico winery also sells their California wines out our restaurant so no need to stop on your way for a bottle. Of course you are more then welcome to bring your own and we do not charge any corkage fee.
Come in and try us!! We look forward to serving you.
We had a lovely meal, and service was very good. I had the beef kabob which was well seasoned and cooked as requested, rare - the orzo on the side and grilled vegetables were outstanding! My guest had the mushroom dumplings which he liked but commented on too much sauce. We had the beet and yogurt mezze which we both loved!
It was very loud when we arrived; mostly because of two birthday parties.
The food was AMAZING and super fresh. The atmosphere was bright. The perfect place for a friend gathering. Will definitely have this place on heavy rotation.
Friends brought us to Zeugma and we loved it so we've been back several times. Each dinner was so delicious. Service is friendly and professional. Space is welcoming and pretty. It's a bit noisy, but no noisier than most restaurants these days.
The food was amazing. Both in presentation and in taste. It literally tastes as good as it looks! I will definitely be making the 2hr trip back for more!
Nice location, large enough for groups and great food & service.
The food was good but not great. I feel that the menu items were pricey for the value received. Our waiters were attentive and friendly.
Food was very good. Service was excellent. Good value. Close to Wellmont Theater. I would recommend.
Salad was very plain and not much flavor. Front desk a bit older lady could be more inviting.
Came here for my 3 year anniversary with my girlfriend and again for my birthday. Both times, the food was fantastic. Never thought I'd love Mediterranean food as much as I do now! My only gripe with my latest visit which was on my birthday, service was not as polished and there seemed to be a disconnect between servers. The servers were very nice and understanding yet sometimes slow and a bit hard of hearing as she had messed up one of appetizers but still honored it. We went around 8:30pm on a Thursday night, so the restaurant wasn't as full as I'd seen it previously, so I was surprised service was still slow.
However, I will still recommend Zeugma to my family and friends and continue to come back!
Good service and food. Very uncomfortable chairs.
I don't know what the hype was about this restaurant, as I was not all that impressed. I had the avoganoush, which was nothing special, and the Lamb Kefta, which if it didn't come with a harissa sauce, was blandly seasoned. I have had better food at a mall food court. My dining companion enjoyed their food, so maybe I just had bad luck. I will admit the wine was spectacular (the cabernet sauvignon), but at $22 a half bottle it should have been.
I've been to Zeugma a number of times and each time has been a pleasure. Service is always friendly, knowledgeable, and efficient. The food is very good—don't miss the dumplings!!! It's BYOB for wine and beer (although you can get half bottles and bottles of one winery's wines). And they validate parking for the outrageously expensive Crescent parking deck!! We'll be back, for sure.
Great lunch option - we celebrated a promotion for a co-worker. Our group size was for 14 with a reservation. The space was perfect, service efficient and the experience nice.
Great place to meet to discuss business, very quite and good food.
restaurants with 5 star food... and too many that I'd rate 2 star. If doing a report card and comparing Zeugma to say Molyvos on 7th Ave, NYC... I'd give Molyvos incredibly tasteful Greek cuisine an A. Zeugma would be a B-/C+. And I'd say it compares on a somewhat even to better than even grade foodwise versus the Toros in Clifton (I'd rate Toros in Upper Montclair lower than Clifton in both space and food) with Zeugma a more comfortable space than both.
Zeugma was zensational! As soon as we walked in, we knew we were in for a true treat. The decor is wonderfully welcoming. The menus are attractive and intriguing. Nothing here was left to chance. We ordered a platter of cold appetizers to share and were excited to try the temptingly displayed items. In fact, we decided to share our entrees also and each bite was more delicious than the last. Right through to the signature dessert and excellent coffee, this spot delivers. Don't miss.
Outstanding. The food was just as good as the last time. Everyone we know that comes here has a great time.
Excellent food. Try the pumpkin muhammara (original version is pepper) - delicious! Service has improved a lot and is now par with the food.
We always love Zeugma and it was nice to go on a quiet weekday night. Much less noisy than the weekend. The food is fabulous and your wine choices are good too.
Excellent, interesting food with very attentive service and low key ambience.
I am not sure why I am not getting Open Table Points for this????
Food was very good. Beet falafel excellent but pricey at $13 for 2 falafel cut in half. Kefta with rice and grilled veggies v good at $23.
Food was delicious and service very good. A great experience.
Great food and presentation. A little too noisy.
Solid mediterranean meal, excellent location near parking deck, nice vibe. A good go-to spot.
The food was delicious! It's worth coming back to and repeating!
AWESOME experience and DELICIOUS food! We will certainly be back!!
Delicious food, great ambiance & my new favorite girls spot!
The service was excellent, the choice of wines - simply outstanding! The food was good, too. The only problem was the level of noise. We couldn't have a conversation, and that's precisely what we go out on weekends with friends for: to chat over a good meal and a bottle of good wine. Again: the wine was outstanding, the food was good, but the conversation...nearly impossible. Too bad-it's a very good restaurant!
Food is outstanding, service friendly and delightful! Aleef our server couldn't have been more accommodating. She anticipated and saw to our every need!
It was a cold Night and I selected this mediterranean restaurant. We found that the Food was great, the server (Jesse) was friendly and served us, when needed. We liked the appetizer an an entre each - Shrimp and Chicken respectively. Very flavorful. Great experience!!
Great food! Excellent service. Great location.


Home | Heavy/Underground Metal Bands | Has it leaked?
It has been forever since I've been active, but it seems like this group is fairly quiet. So why not get a little activity going. Feel free to talk about your favorite bands, bands that you think other might like, bands you're in if you want to get the word out, and really anything else.


text:
Why are most of the world's hungry people farmers?
by Chris Arsenault | @chrisarsenaul | Thomson Reuters Foundation
Wednesday, 27 May 2015 17:44 GMT
Farmers decorate their carabao (water buffalo) as they take part in a parade during the annual Carabao Festival in Pulilan, Bulacan in northern Philippines May 14, 2015. REUTERS/Gina Minguito
* Any views expressed in this opinion piece are those of the author and not of Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Boosting local economies seems the best way to help farmers feed themselves - and others
ROME (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - There's something disconcerting about the idea of small farmers, the people who grow much of the world's food, going hungry.
But the newest figures on international food insecurity, released by three U.N. agencies on Wednesday, show that most of the 795 million people worldwide who don't get enough to eat are, in fact, farmers.
"Three quarters of the world's hungry are living in rural areas," Josefina Stubbs, a senior official with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the U.N.'s agricultural bank, told reporters.
"Most of them depend on agriculture for their livelihood."
Celebrated in TV commercials filled with blue skies and golden hay bales, respected for their hard work and producing the most crucial of goods, farmers - most of us would agree - are among the last people who deserve to go hungry.
An estimated 500 million small farms produce about 80 percent of the developing world's food, and 2 billion people depend on these farms for their livelihood, according to IFAD.
But a lack of investment, poor infrastructure to bring food to market, and unfair trade policies mean many of these small growers continue to go hungry.
"International trade can be a double-edged sword," said Jomo Sundaram, a senior Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) official. "Some countries can afford to subsidise their farmers, and others can't, so the results have been mixed."
Wealthy countries in the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development spent $258 billion subsidising agriculture in 2013, data from the Paris-based organisation shows.
Small farmers in poor countries who don't have fertilizers, equipment, consistent land access or proper roads to store and distribute their crops can't compete with heavily subsidised, well capitalised, industrial producers.
"Often, the poorest and most vulnerable don't have access to services," said World Food Programme (WFP) official Stanlake Samkange.
There is, of course, more to the story than trade policy, aid or investment.
Twenty percent of the world's hungry live in areas facing crises beyond their control, said Samkange. There isn't much poor farmers can do about wars, natural disasters or political tensions.
In much of the world the hunger situation is improving, but many farmers - especially in sub-Saharan Africa and parts of South Asia - have actually seen conditions worsen in recent years.
Their counterparts in East Asian countries like China, and in South America are doing far better.
Globally there are 216 million fewer hungry people today than there were in 1990, U.N. agencies said.
Social protection and public investments are key to reducing starvation among rural farmers, said FAO Director General Jose Graziano da Silva.
Working at Brazil's agriculture ministry when the country was facing serious rural hunger, da Silva helped pioneer a programme where local farms would sell produce to government entities, which cooked the food and gave it to schoolchildren.
The plan stimulated local economies, giving income to small farmers while making sure the next generation of rural residents stayed in school.
"Local programmes promote local development," he said. "Hunger is concentrated in rural areas; we need to promote rural development in an inclusive way."
Until that happens, many farmers will continue to go hungry.
(Reporting By Chris Arsenault; Editing by Tim Pearce)
Food and Hunger
Business of food
Hunger and nutrition
Food General


So the project is essentially done as of now. What is everyone's thoughts on the outcome of this project? Generally, it appears to be a major improvement, but there is still one very significant bottle neck that this project appears to have made much, much worse, which is very (VERY) frustrating: when transiting between I35E southbound to I30 eastbound, all the traffic gets dropped into the right three controlled access exit lanes, and is separate from the I30 westbound main lanes for nearly the entire stretch of the I30 canyon. The merge point to get onto the I30 lanes is a single lane access that is CONSTANTLY backed up. I know that this access point is further away from the horseshoe project and thus probably wasn't covered by it, but you really have to be annoyed to see such poor planning since traffic in this specific segment is definitely worse than it was originally.
Seems worse to me as well. The lanes seem smaller on the overpasses as well.
From my perspective, my commute from N. Oak Cliff into town has improved. That's taking Hampton to I-30 and getting onto Woodall Rogers. Woodall hasn't improved though. It seems like the dedicated route to Woodall from 35 somewhere below DTD has reduced the mixing and crossover of cars. I have said before and some members on here have said it wasn't important, but I think TxDot or the City of Dallas really needs to improve on landscaping the highways in Dallas. It would be so much better to have pockets of green that make the commute more pleasant, help scrub the air of the vehicular pollution, act as noise abatement and visually soften the concrete jungle around us. Nothing crazy or high maintenance. Just some native trees and shrubs that can sustain themselves and thrive in the heat.
(Crepe Myrtles, Vitex, Live Oak, Oleander) Also thinking of Afghan Pine or other hardy evergreens. Dallas is not ugly, but also no beauty queen. Park and streets enhancements should be taken into consideration more seriously. Maybe our Forum member who lives in Atlanta can tell us how pleasant it is to commute in a verdant place like his. Even our nemesis to the south- Houston- has gotten into the act of greening up it's own thoroughfares.
NdoorTX wrote: ... Maybe our Forum member who lives in Atlanta can tell us how pleasant it is to commute in a verdant place like his. Even our nemesis to the south- Houston- has gotten into the act of greening up it's own thoroughfares.
My commute is 12 miles, 15 minutes by highway, 30 minutes if I weave across town. The Appalachian Piedmont is modestly hilly here like the Hill County Uvalde, Leaky, Kerrville and the forest is thick like Mount Pleasant, Texarkana.
It's beautiful. As much as I (grew to) love the Southern California beaches, cliffs and world-class weather, I prefer the forest a little bit more.
Mixmaster: is the exchange between I-35 - I-30 pending the reconstruction of I-30?
My trip along 30 into Dallas has improved, the new I-30 bridge is an improvement going both ways. Into Dallas towards Woodall or up 35 and coming back across 30 going west. Either way it is definitely better.
thanks for the description Tam. I knew it had to be lovely. The tree canopy in Atlanta is amazing. I lived in SoCal for 5 years and prefer the hills and forest you described. I'm going to prepare a presentation for the city council, our new city manager and see what response I get to a public/private/volunteer tree planting coalition. It can't hurt- there are city bond packages up for a vote soon.
homeworld1031tx wrote: So the project is essentially done as of now. What is everyone's thoughts on the outcome of this project? Generally, it appears to be a major improvement, but there is still one very significant bottle neck that this project appears to have made much, much worse, which is very (VERY) frustrating: when transiting between I35E southbound to I30 eastbound, all the traffic gets dropped into the right three controlled access exit lanes, and is separate from the I30 westbound main lanes for nearly the entire stretch of the I30 canyon. The merge point to get onto the I30 lanes is a single lane access that is CONSTANTLY backed up. I know that this access point is further away from the horseshoe project and thus probably wasn't covered by it, but you really have to be annoyed to see such poor planning since traffic in this specific segment is definitely worse than it was originally.
I could be wrong, but I believe the Lowest Stemmons Project is going to address some of this problem.
I think that part of the 30 is so messed up that no matter where that connection is it'll be a back up. I did travel from northbound 35 to Woodall Rogers yesterday at 4:45p and it was a amazingly easy and traffic free. Going from westbound 30 to southbound 35 was also relatively pain-free as well, but the 30 canyon going westbound was backed up until it hit the horseshoe area.
when is I-30 reconstruction supposed to happen?
NdoorTX wrote: thanks for the description Tam. I knew it had to be lovely. The tree canopy in Atlanta is amazing. I lived in SoCal for 5 years and prefer the hills and forest you described. I'm going to prepare a presentation for the city council, our new city manager and see what response I get to a public/private/volunteer tree planting coalition. It can't hurt- there are city bond packages up for a vote soon.
That would be cool to see greenery near the highway. But I believe TXDot is supposed to do the landscaping for Highways.. Its not a city function.
I think TXDot chooses not to plant much trees or grass is because of the added costs of trimming and maintenance.
I doubt the City would approve spending extra for Highway beautification.
I'm not sure if they are going to start construction on the Canyon. I think TxDOT is debating different plans over the Canyon. The options they are considering includes demolishing the Canyon and rerouting 30 altogether. Not sure how that will pan out. But it's something they are seriously considering.
When is the Margaret McDermott Bridge (pedestrian) supposed to open..
joshua.dodd wrote: I'm not sure if they are going to start construction on the Canyon. I think TxDOT is debating different plans over the Canyon. The options they are considering includes demolishing the Canyon and rerouting 30 altogether. Not sure how that will pan out. But it's something they are seriously considering.
I find it hard to believe that they're considering this, when they just spend 700 million dollars rebuilding the i30/i35 interchange. I am all for them tearing up the canyon and making it a straight pass through with only an exit or two into downtown though. The entire area is a wasteland and could use a nice shot in the arm.
I don't think the Corps of Engineers will approve planting many trees in the Trinity River Spillway, or on its levees. So any landscaping will have to be done outside of the levees. And that's probably less than 20% of the acerage.
I remember Dallas asking TXDOT to plant landscaping along North Central Expressway, which turned brown and died within years during the first drought. A major mistake.
Just plant some drought resistant grass and hope it rains will probably be best in our climate.
Additionally, I'm tired of people from Southern California suggesting how Texans should do anything!
What's the average number of days the City of Los Angeles see 110 degrees F temperatures per year?
There are reasons people flock to Texas, and I suggest their number one reason is NOT to be more like Los Angeles.
electricron wrote: I don't think the Corps of Engineers will approve planting many trees in the Trinity River Spillway, or on its levees. So any landscaping will have to be done outside of the levees. And that's probably less than 20% of the acerage.
I remember when that landscape project was finished along Central, right after that they started dumping water on it all the time. It was totally wrong for Dallas. It could have and should have been planted completely drought tolerant, it would have looked totally different but it would be green today and require little maintenance.


Add a couple of hours more onto that eight hour day for promotion everywhere.
We did deal with a lot of those crank and disgusting calls on BTR. Then I had to spend a lot of time editing the show to remove that and re-upload the show for archives.
It sounds and feels better to me.
It's called the Pink Bucket. And you are invited.
You want to win! I'll show you how to win!!!!
So happy she was alive.
I was so happy to find out she escaped and in one piece. Elizabeth Smart is reaching out to her to help her through this time.
It's been 5 months? Wow! Time flies.
TCM movies are great on rainy days.
Raising a glass to your free time! I know what that feels like. 2012 two hours every week night on BTR until 2015. I could not go back to that.


DAY 2: Saturday March 30th at 11:00 a.m.
300+ Cataloged lots in Saturday's Auction.
Restored John Deere 1937 Model B Tractor, Restored 1952 JD Model 40 Tractor, Racine Sattley 7 hp Hit & Miss engine, William N. Brockway 3-seat surrey, Pair of 9' Victorian Butternut Shop cabinets, Stained and Jeweled glass transom windows, Clock Collection includes: Ithaca # 3/12 Calendar, 2 Pinwheel Jeweler's Regulators, Ansonia "Juno" & "Huntress" Swingers, Southern "Fashion" Calendar Clock, Ansonia "Music" Figurals, Ansonia Monarchs, Ansonia Crystal Palace, 14 Day Black Forest Cuckoo, Seth Thomas Parlor Calendar, Seth Thomas #3 "Peanut" calendar, Differential 1 year Clock, New Haven "Lena", New Haven Occidentals, Seth Thomas "Eclipse" wall clocks, John Bull Blinking Eye and others, Railroad Pocket watches Inc "Bunn Specials", Advertising signs include Coca-Cola, John Deere, Drink Big Chief Soda, Ford Benzol, Mobilgas, Rogers Paints, Shell and many others, Petroliana includes Early Fry #17 and #117 pumps, Gilbert & Barker #176 pump, Wayne #100 B Texaco pump, Gas pump plates and globes, Several Barber Poles including Early key winds, Gumball Machines, Toys and Scooters, 2 Small safes, Mason and other Duck Decoys, Early Burl bowl, Large Bronze bells, Fire Call boxes, Fire Helmets, American La France Fire truck bell, Brass Hose Nozzles and more! Early Boat Motors, Cast Iron and Steel RR Crossing signs, Cast Iron Floor and Counter Coffee grinders, Coca-Cola Coolers, Favorite No. 61 Parlor stove, Cast Iron Garden Urn, Lanterns, Brass $1 Candy Store cash registers, Cast Iron Hitching posts, Street light, Small Hit and Miss engine, gas appliance engines, Showcases, Iron Mail box, Tin advertising signs & thermometers, Electric Advertising clocks, Angle lamps, Musical instruments and much more!
Auctions Friday March 29th and Saturday March 30th!


The 2016 released RTS-Action-SciFi-Video-Game Halo Wars: Definitive Edition throws you right into the middle of the epic battles between the UNSC and the Alliance. The video-game Halo Wars: Definitive Edition was the last RTS-game from Ensemble Studios. Fans of the Halo series will learn a whole lot more the entire halo-universe. With our cheats & codes packed in the 2017 released MegaTrainer, you will win every single battle.
This cheat sets the unit-counter to zero until you disable it. This way you can recruit as many units you like.
This cheat allows you to heal units/buildings!
This cheat allows you to weaken units/buildings!
The Halo universe has an incredibly rich and diverse story, which has been further expanded in multiple Halo games as well as books and comic books. The story of Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is set in 2531 so roughly 20 years before the events of the first ever Halo game, Halo: Combat Evolved. The story mainly caters to fans of the series, making it hard for newcomers to really dive in. The plot focuses on a lot of well-known characters from the Halo universe, but if you are new to it you will kind of get lost. But generally speaking, the story focuses on the never-ending war between humanity and aliens. Thanks to a lot of variety in the campaign missions, you will be greatly entertained even when you don't follow the story or don't know anything about the Halo universe.
build with reactors, factories, and barracks to recruit and build new units. Soldiers, tanks, and airplanes are available. In comparison to other RTS-games such as Warhammer 40.000 - Dawn of War 3 battles in Halo Wars: Definitive Edition are a bit smaller and reduced but they are still a blast to play. All your units can be upgraded and equipped with extras. Aircraft can receive new board guns and soldiers collect experience and rank up their veteran ranks. In addition to the campaign, the game also offers a Skirmish and PvP mode. The game Halo Wars was originally released in 2009 as an Xbox 360 exclusive. The 2016 released Halo Wars: Definitive Edition has not only received tremendous visual upgrades all of the controls have been overhauled as well to work with a mouse and keyboard. The best gameplay feature of Halo Wars: Definitive Edition is co-op mode. Co-op is on the fringes in the RTS genre that is way it is so amazing that the game offers it. The game is a blast in co-op and you should definitely check it out!
The enemies are nasty and the missions are tough and exhausting in the video-game Halo Wars: Definitive Edition. To be able to survive everything and destroy the aliens, once and for all, you need our 2017 MegaTrainer with it exclusive cheats and codes. Our Halo Wars: Definitive Edition Cheats provide you with more crates and more energy with the simple push of a button, and unit limit can instantly be raised to 99 as well. With our Halo Wars: Definitive Edition Trainer you can easily heal units and buildings via mouse-over and thanks to the instant build/recruitment cheat, construction of units and buildings will be done instantly.
The video-game Halo Wars: Definitive Edition was released for PC on Steam as well as the Microsoft's Windows Store in Windows 10. The game comes packed with multiplayer, but unfortunately, Crossplay between Microsoft's Platform and Steam is not possible, what a shame!
This board is for Halo Wars - Definitive Edition. Use this platform to discuss positive and negative aspects of the game. If you have a problem with our trainer or a cheat, please check our FAQ or open a Support.
This board is for our Halo Wars - Definitive Edition trainer for Halo Wars - Definitive Edition. Changes to existing cheats or new cheat requests can be posted here. If you have a problem with our trainer or a cheat, please check our FAQ or open a Support.


PayPal automatic payments subscriptions are set when paying an invoice.
When paying an invoice, you need to click on the "PayPal Subscribe" button in order to set up an automatic payment subscription.
you are paying an invoice for a recurring service.
the invoice is NOT already due. If the invoice is already due future payments would be late each time.
You can read more in this PayPal article.
If the billing cycle amount changes (due to upgrading/downgrading your service) or your payment cycle (monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, annually) changes you will have to cancel the subscription from your PayPal account and set up a new one on the next issues invoice. Both actions are described in detail above.


text:
A Ming society [electronic resource] : Tʻai-ho County, Kiangsi, fourteenth to seventeenth centuries /
John W. Dardess.
Berkeley : University of California Press, c1996.
xi, 316 p. : map ; 24 cm.
0520204255 (alk. paper)
UC Press E-Books Collection, 1982-2004 (Public)
China--History--Ming dynasty, 1368-1644.
Taihe Xian (Jiangxi Sheng, China)--Social conditions.
Dardess, John W., 1937-
A Ming society [electronic resource] : Tʻai-ho County, Kiangsi, fourteenth to seventeenth centuries / John W. Dardess.
Flap Copy
"The scholarship is excellent, and the book is a culmination of a massive project of exhaustive research that has occupied Dardess for many years."--Robert Hymes, author ofOrdering the World "An important book, by an important historian. Not only did I gain a remarkable set of insights into Ming political and intellectual history from time invested in these pages, it was a genuine pleasure to read."--William T. Rowe, author ofHankow
"The scholarship is excellent, and the book is a culmination of a massive project of exhaustive research that has occupied Dardess for many years."--Robert Hymes, author of Ordering the World "An important book, by an important historian. Not only did I gain a remarkable set of insights into Ming political and intellectual history from time invested in these pages, it was a genuine pleasure to read."--William T. Rowe, author of Hankow
Appeared in Choice on 1997-08:
Drawing from a wide range of primary sources, Dardess (Univ. of Kansas) presents a well-researched assessment of transition in Tai-ho County, Kiangsi Province, China, from the 14th to the 17th century. He shows that the spirit of optimism and the deep sense of commitment to Tai-ho County declined throughout the Ming period, evidenced by diminished writing about the beauty of Tai-ho landscape and the sense of Tai-ho community by post-14th-century Tai-ho intellectuals. Dardess attributes this loss of intellectual identification to the increased difficulty faced by Tai-ho intellectuals in attaining office through Tai-ho connections after the 1457 palace coup, to the growth of powerful lineage institutions that replaced looser common-descent groups, and to new intellectual orientations in which pride in one's native locality had no place. Dardess's mastery of his resources is evident throughout the book, which includes superb analysis of Ming dynastic civil service recruitment policies and changing intellectual currents during the Ming period. An outstanding book by a noted historian of Ming China. Highly recommended. Undergraduates and above. V. J. Symons; Augustana College (IL)
This item was reviewed in:
Choice, August 1997
John Dardess has selected a region of great political and intellectual importance, but one which local history has left almost untouched, for this detailed social history of T'ai-ho county during the Ming dynasty. Rather than making a sweeping, general survey of the region, he follows the careers of a large number of native sons and their relationship to Ming imperial politics. Using previously unexplored primary sources, Dardess details the rise and development of T'ai-ho village kinship, family lineage, landscape, agriculture, and economy. He follows its literati to positions of prominence in imperial government. This concentration on the history of one county over almost three centuries gives rise to an unusually sound and immediate understanding of how Ming society functioned and changed over time.
The Land: Its Settlement, Use, and Appreciation p. 9
Managing the Local Wealth p. 47
The Demography of Family and Class p. 79
Patrilineal Groups and Their Transformation p. 112
Pathways to Ming Government p. 139
Colleagues and Proteges: The Fifteenth-Century World of the Tai-ho Grand Secretaries p. 173
Cutting Loose: The Provocative Style of Yin Chih (1427-1511) p. 196
Philosophical Furors p. 215
Conclusion and Epilogue p. 247
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.


Their luxurious stays come with quite the price tag.
As expected, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle won't be spending the night before the royal wedding in their shared home or anywhere in Kensington Palace, but that doesn't mean their pre-nuptial accommodations will leave them wanting for luxury. According to royal expert Omid Scobie, the bride and groom will enjoy their last unmarried evenings at two separate hotels in Windsor—and both five-star stays come with a hefty nightly price tag.
"#RoyalWedding news! The night before their wedding, #HarryandMeghan will stay at separate hotels around Windsor: Harry will stay at the @CoworthParkUK with Prince William. Meghan and mom Doria Ragland will stay at @Cliveden_House on the National Trust's Cliveden Estate," he wrote in a tweet. Their rooms will set the royal family back at least $900, as nightly rates at both properties begin at $450. Still, we have a feeling the future Mr. and Mrs. will end up in suites that far exceed this base price.
As you'd expect, Coworth Park and Cliveden Estate, both of which are close to Windsor Castle, the couple's wedding venue, are exceptionally luxurious. Meghan can enjoy her hotel's exceptional spa or dine at an award-winning restaurant while Harry could plan to a pre-ceremony game of polo at his. While we're not yet sure—and probably won't ever know—how the royal couple will occupy themselves on the eve of the wedding, it's unlikely that it'll be all that eventful. As Scobie reported, Markle will spend the night at Cliveden House (in the above Prince of Wales Suite, perhaps?) with her mother, who will then accompany her to the ceremony site on the morning of the wedding in one of the Queen's cars.
A Kensington Palace press release previously reported that Harry and William would walk to St. George's Chapel ahead of the service. Considering the fact that Coworth Park (pictured above) is a whopping nine miles from Windsor Castle, that now seems unlikely. If Scobie's location predications are correct, expect to get your first glimpse of the groom and his best man in a car (just like the bride-to-be) on May 19.


text:
How autonomous wingmen will help fighter pilots in the next war
By Stephen Losey
The unmanned XQ-58A Valkyrie releases a smaller drone at the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground test range in Arizona on March 26, 2021. The Air Force wants to team swarms of autonomous drones with manned aircraft as it prepares for a potential conflict with an advanced adversary. (U.S. Air Force)
WASHINGTON — Imagine that sometime in the next decade, a long-feared war with China has erupted. In a bid to destroy Chinese defenses and break through to its airspace, the U.S. Air Force sends its advanced fighter jets and bombers into the most hostile territory it's faced in decades.
But this mission is different than those of the past. Swarming alongside each manned aircraft is a handful of small drone wingmen, operating with minimal direction from the accompanying pilot. They scout ahead to map out targets, use electronic warfare capabilities to jam enemy signals, and launch their own missiles to carry out airstrikes and destroy targets — multiplying the effect a single pilot can have in battle.
This is the future of warfare envisioned by top Air Force leaders — most notably, Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall. And he's confident this isn't just a sci-fi pipe dream.
"The technology is there now, where we can talk about a formation of a manned aircraft controlling multiple unmanned aircraft," Kendall said during a Jan. 19 forum with the Center for a New American Security. "There's enough technology in existence from programs that we've already conducted, it convinces me that's not a crazy idea."
For years, the Air Force has floated the possibility of teaming up drones and manned aircraft — most notably as a possible feature of its secretive Next Generation Air Dominance platform.
But now, the Air Force's plans for doing so are coming into focus — and energizing defense firms who hope their years of work pairing manned and unmanned systems will pay off.
"We're catching the wave that's now being created," said Richard Sullivan, an executive at Northrop Grumman, adding he's been "very excited" by Kendall's recent comments.
Aerial combat is headed toward this teaming approach, Lt. Gen. Clint Hinote, deputy chief of staff for strategy, integration and requirements, said on a November panel, though he cautioned the Air Force is still experimenting to work through the details.
"We don't even know exactly how this is going to unfold yet," Hinote said. "But it is clear that the autonomous collaborative platforms, we like to call them, or unmanned systems, are going to be a major part of the future of warfare."
With the U.S. military shifting its focus to winning a war against an advanced adversary, such as China, experts say the manned-unmanned teaming concept would be crucial to the U.S. prevailing.
The Air Force Research Laboratory laid the groundwork for a future manned-unmanned teaming through its Skyborg program, an artificial intelligence-driven wingman that underwent its first flight test in a drone last April. More recently, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency made progress on its X-61A Gremlins program, which seeks to deploy and then recover swarms of small, sensor-laden drones from cargo planes in flight. Last October, the agency flew and successfully recovered in midair a small Gremlin drone for the first time.
The Royal Australian Air Force has also made strides the way with its Loyal Wingman program, also known as the Airpower Teaming System. The armed service in March 2021 announced a $115 million contract with Boeing for three more autonomous Loyal Wingman drones, which would bring the force's total to six aircraft that it hopes to one day fly alongside manned fighters.
A 'natural evolution'
Hawk Carlisle, a retired general who formerly led Air Combat Command, said the ability to extend an aircraft's reach with AI-infused wingmen is the next step for air combat.
"This is a natural evolution, especially when you look at the capability today with respect to AI, with respect to systems, with respect to the computing power and capability you can put in a particular size" aircraft, noted Carlisle, who is now the chief executive of the National Defense Industrial Association.
An X-61 Gremlin drone and a C-130 conduct a flight test by DARPA at Dugway Proving Ground in Utah on Oct. 29, 2021. During the flight test, DARPA said it successfully recovered a Gremlin in midair for the first time. (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency)
For the last 20 years, the Air Force has flown drones like the MQ-9 Reaper in the largely permissive environments of the Middle East and Afghanistan, conducting airstrikes and feeding the military's insatiable need for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.
But the next war will need much more. In a conflict with a peer like China, Carlisle said, the environment would be greatly contested, requiring additional capacity alongside fighter aircraft and meaning additional dilemmas and confusion.
These drone wingmen could fill a number of roles, experts say. They could broaden the "mother" aircraft's situational awareness by flying ahead with infrared, electromagnetic, radar or visual sensors. This could improve the human pilot's situational awareness, map out targets, or identify the location of radars and air defense systems to provide a clear corridor for the manned aircraft.
They could also serve as communications nodes for friendly forces, or conduct electronic warfare operations by jamming enemy radars, communications or other signals. If they are large enough to carry their own armaments, they could carry out their own air-to-air or air-to-ground strikes alongside the manned aircraft, giving the enemy multiple threats to counter.
But even without onboard weapons, a drone swarm could serve as a decoy to befuddle the enemy, sending out false signals that make it difficult for the adversary to differentiate between the manned and unmanned aircraft.
Former F-16 pilot Heather Penney, now a senior resident fellow at the Mitchell Institute for Aerospace Studies, told Defense News that having autonomous drone wingmen taking on side tasks will allow pilots to concentrate on the bigger picture.
"It'll … free humans to do more of what human cognition is really adept at — these really complex kinds of intuitive tasks," Penney said.
But the Air Force must also ensure the pilot isn't overloaded while trying to conduct that orchestra, she added. It's unclear how the pilot would control these wingmen.
An XQ-58A Valkyrie unmanned aerial vehicle flies in formation with an F-22 Raptor and F-35A Lightning over the U.S. Army Yuma Proving Ground testing range, Ariz., during a series of tests Dec. 9, 2020. The Air Force wants to adopt a series of low-cost autonomous drones it can fly alongside manned aircraft to multiply a pilot's reach in the event of a major conflict. (Air Force)
The Air Force declined to comment for this story, but top officials have recently offered details on what they envision.
In a Dec. 9 forum with Defense One, Kendall said one of his top priorities is identifying how to get combat drones ready to fly in real-world operations alongside manned aircraft. This could entail as many as five unmanned aircraft controlled by a single fighter.
The Air Force primarily envisions this as part of the NGAD concept, Kendall said, but it could be adapted to operational F-22 and F-35 jets.
"The idea is the manned aircraft is essentially calling plays, and he's using these other unmanned combat aircraft basically as a formation, to do things that make sense tactically," Kendall said. "This opens up a whole bunch of opportunities."
Kendall also floated the possibility of extending this concept to the B-21 Raider, which is under development, and networking such unmanned aircraft together under the bomber's control in a loose formation against the enemy.
But the finer points are still to be determined, he acknowledged, including the mix of aircraft, drone payloads and what "plays" would be preprogrammed into the unmanned systems.
The growth in the autonomous teaming market also gives firms like Kratos and General Atomics — companies smaller than the defense giants of Lockheed Martin and Boeing — an opening to grow their business with the Defense Department, Penney said.
Both Kratos and General Atomics have landed contracts with the Air Force to keep working on their XQ-58A Valkyrie and MQ-20 Avenger programs, respectively, as autonomous drone wingmen for the Skyborg program. "They could then become major players and establish themselves as … really becoming strong defense industry partners for the Department of Defense with autonomous teaming," Penney said.
Steve Fendley, president of Kratos' Unmanned Systems Division, told Defense News that the firm is watching Kendall's increasingly focused statements on the subject with great interest.
"We bring systems that are already flying … have already proven a number of different critical capability aspects … [and] that are affordable," Fendley said. "We're fully committed to the opportunity associated with this defense application. We're evolving with the DoD requirements as the DoD requirements evolve."
Boeing's Airpower Teaming System conducts its maiden flight on March 1, 2021 over Australia. (Royal Australian Air Force)
Steve Nordlund, Boeing's interim vice president and general manager for autonomous systems, said in an emailed statement the company welcomes the Air Force's growing emphasis on autonomous capabilities. As examples of products Boeing can offer, he pointed to the company's work testing autonomous capabilities in the MQ-25, Airpower Teaming System, Extra Large Unmanned Undersea Vehicle and operational autonomous craft such as the X-37B Orbital Test Vehicle.
"We are entering a new era in which rapidly evolving technology is determining how wars are fought and won, and autonomous technologies can extend and connect human capabilities across all domains," Nordlund said.
But for this concept to work, Kendall said in January, these drones will have to be cheap — or at least cheaper than the manned aircraft. Cost savings are one of the factors driving the Air Force in this direction, he said, because if the service only buys expensive manned aircraft, it will be unable to afford the force it needs to win wars. Alternatively, low-cost drones would allow it to expand its capability while staying within budget.
Kendall also said those drones must be at least attritable — meaning reusable, but inexpensive enough that the Air Force could afford to lose them in combat — if not completely expendable. This would allow the Air Force to attempt riskier missions it wouldn't otherwise consider for fear of sending a pilot on, essentially, a suicide mission.
Other questions about the drones remain, Carlisle said: How would they be deployed and recovered in a combat environment? Would they be recovered aboard the aircraft they're paired with? Would they land on their own or parachute into water? How will they be recovered?
Deployment methods are another question. Carlisle said these drones don't necessarily have to be carried into combat by the aircraft with which they're paired. Instead, he explained, they could be launched from the bay of large cargo aircraft, similar to the palletized munition concept the Air Force Research Laboratory is testing.
A B-21′s bomb bay may have the capacity to carry these drones, he added, but a fighter would likely have to preserve its limited pylon space for munitions.
And building a culture in the Air Force where everybody understands the capabilities of these systems — and trusts them — will take time, Penney said.
"It's not going to be sufficient in a highly contested environment to just strap an iPad onto your leg and go from there," Penney said. "We're going to need to provide these flight leads and mission commanders fully integrated and elegant interfaces to be able to supervise, direct and control — not like stick and rudder control, but command — their autonomous teaming aircraft."
Hinote said that in combat, the potential always exists for enemies to "fracture" the U.S. military's capability to communicate, which is why these unmanned systems will need "tiers of autonomy" that allow them to carry out their assigned missions — within limits — if that happens.
For example, he said, the military wouldn't want an autonomous system going forward with actions a human might want to veto, and there should be restrictions on timing, geographic reach and missions it would autonomously carry out.
Former Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James said the service's work on the Joint All-Domain Command and Control architecture will be vital for networking with these unmanned systems and ensuring they remain in sync and under control.
Likewise, if an autonomous system starts "misbehaving," Penney said, the Air Force needs a protocol to tell it to go home, land and not automatically download its data. The system would need to be quarantined until experts figure out what went wrong and how to fix it, she added.
But the ethical questions of conducting warfare — and potentially killing people — with autonomous devices must be considered, James said.
AI systems would be designed to independently learn and act, such as taking evasive actions if a threat emerges, James said. But she doubts the military would empower an autonomous system to make its own decisions on whether to shift from one target to another, if that newly acquired target potentially involved human casualties.
Penney also underlined the importance of having human supervision over these drones, even when they're operating autonomously.
"This does not mean that these autonomous teammates will be 'killer bots' without any kind of human control or supervision," Penney said. "A lot of people think that we're moving into this world of sky bots, killer robots, and really taking our morals, our ethics, our values out of the system and reducing it to a mathematical algorithm. That's simply just not the case."
About Stephen Losey
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.


text:
Sierra Lobo Inc. Awarded Air Force Test Operations Complex Contract
Milan, OH – The Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) at Arnold Air Force Base in Tennessee, awarded the Test Operations and Sustainment contract to National Aerospace Solutions, LLC, a joint venture between, Bechtel National, Sierra Lobo, and GP Strategies. Chugach Federal Solutions Inc., and nLogic Inc., are teaming subcontractors. The contract is a cost-plus-award-fee contract that has a total value of approximately $1.5 billion. The period of performance is eight years, in addition to a 90-day phase-in period.
Under the contract terms, National Aerospace Solutions will manage unique test operations and sustainment activities at over $10 billion worth of infrastructure at the world's largest and most complex flight-simulation, test and evaluation complex at Arnold and at other Air Force facilities in Maryland and California. The Test Operations and Sustainment (TOS) contract includes operations of 43 wind tunnels, rocket and turbine engine test cells, ballistic ranges, space chambers, and other specialized testing units, as well as technology development, equipment and facility sustainment, capital improvements to the sites, and other services for the AEDC. The Complex has played a role in testing nearly all of the United States' top priority aerospace programs, from fighter jets and missiles to Apollo rockets and weather satellites.
The contract transition period is scheduled to begin on July 1, with performance beginning October 1.
About Sierra Lobo, Inc.:
Founded in 1993, Sierra Lobo, Inc. is a Hispanic-American-owned, small-disadvantaged business with a staff of more than 650 dedicated professionals. Sierra Lobo is a two-time winner of NASA's most prestigious George M. Low quality award, most recently in 2011. Sierra Lobo is also a winner of two R&D 100 Awards for development of advanced technologies. The company is certified to the International Aerospace Quality Group AS 9100 standards, registered under the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001:2008 as a provider of technical and engineering services for aerospace and transportation industries, and rated as Capability Maturity Model Integrated (CMMI®-DEV) Capability Level 2 fully compliant and Level 3 compliant in Risk Management.
For more information on Sierra Lobo, go to https://www.sierralobo.com or call 419.499.9653.


text:
The Kings' bench has been inconsistent all season. Carl Landry began the season providing consistent scoring that stabilized the second unit, but his playing time has diminished.
Backup point guard has been an issue all season. The Kings hope veteran Andre Miller, acquired at the trade deadline Thursday, will provide a steady hand.
Injuries haven't helped, either. Omri Casspi was a spark off the bench with his energy and hustle, but a bad knee slowed him.
Casspi has played well in two games under Karl. In Saturday's loss, he had a career-high 17 rebounds.
"I have been in pain and wasn't myself," Casspi said. "I was turning the ball over too much. But I'm feeling comfortable now, especially with my knees, with getting down in the stance, rebounding. I'm just trying to find my way in the system."
Casspi believes Karl's system will help him and his teammates in the long run. But he also realizes there will be missteps as the Kings learn a third system this season, which began with Michael Malone as coach before he was fired Dec. 14 and replaced by Tyrone Corbin.
"I love (the new system)," Casspi said. "The spacing, the running, the cutting ... this is something we're still trying to figure out.
"Everybody is trying to find his place. Last (game against Boston), we did it better. This time (against the Clippers), we took a little step back. They made a good run in the second and third quarter. We'll figure it out."
At his introductory news conference Tuesday, Karl said he probably would use the first 10 games of his tenure guessing which groups worked best.
On Saturday, Karl noted that when DeMarcus Cousins was not in the game, the offense became extremely stagnant. But Cousins cannot play 48 minutes every night, so Karl must figure out how to keep the offense functioning while Cousins rests.
When point guard Darren Collison (strained right hip flexor) returns to the starting lineup, that will add to Karl's flexibility with the lineup, with Ray McCallum coming off the bench to be used in different spots.
Karl also is trying to maximize Derrick Williams' athleticism off the bench. With the Clippers blowing out the Kings, Karl cleared his bench to see what each reserve can provide.
"In the game, there was as exhibition season experimental-type feel of game," Karl said. "Just throwing pieces out there."
Follow The Bee's Jason Jones on Twitter @mr_jasonjones and read more about the team at www.sacbee.com/kings.
kings-blog
Old habits return in Kings' lopsided loss to Clippers
Kings' Jason Thompson experiences a first in trade rumors
NBA Beat: As the world turns on trade deadline
George Hill on going from the Kings to the NBA Finals: 'You couldn't write it up'
NBA prospect Michael Porter Jr. is 'motivated' to prove himself
Is Bagley's recovery moving quicker than the Kings expected? 'I'm pushing myself.'
By Jason Anderson
Late last week, the Kings said rookie big man Marvin Bagley III would be ready to resume full basketball activities in approximately two weeks, but now Bagley says he is already running, jumping, shooting and working on his conditioning.
MORE KINGS BLOG
Huge second half by Cauley-Stein, Hield helps Kings. Here are three takeaways from the win
Kings Blog
The Kings have contacted Nemanja Bjelica. He could reunite with a former teammate
The Kings have not made any major moves during free agency. Why that's OK — for now
Kings welcome back first-rounder, say goodbye to veteran who was big in the community
'He's a fighter': Harry Giles lives up to the hype as Kings wrap up summer league
Zach Auguste deserves a serious look from Kings. What about the wing from Kentucky?


text:
By Sarah Houlton2007-08-28T13:27:52+01:00
From unlikely beginnings as a botanist, Mark Bell became hooked on formulation chemistry. Sarah Houlton finds out how this shaped a successful business
Mark Bell didn't intend to work in chemistry. Despite great results at chemistry A and S level, he chose to study botany at Oxford, thanks to some duff advice from an old boy at his school, who told him that his Oxford chemistry course seemed to consist of writing long essays. 'I wrongly got the impression that there was nothing new to discover in chemistry, and botany seemed more appealing,' he says.
At the end of his course, however, it seemed the only obvious career choices were teaching, academia and agriculture, but he decided he wanted to work in industry, where openings for botanists were limited. Finding a position was not easy, and his only job offer came from Boots, as a formulation chemist in agrochemical research. 'I had no idea what a formulation chemist did!' he says. 'But I soon found it was fascinating. You can't learn formulation at university, you learn by experience.'
After four years in formulation at Boots, during which time he created a prochloraz fungicide formulation - still on the market today - he moved into the company's herbicide research department. While this was what he thought he had wanted to do all along, he soon discovered that he missed the formulation lab. He was surprised to find himself applying for formulation jobs, and moved to Cyanamid in Gosport in 1980.
Mark was promoted to his first management role there in 1987, running the crop health formulation department. His time at Cyanamid was characterised by mergers and acquisitions, and when it was acquired by BASF in 2000, he had risen to research director. But 2003 heralded perhaps the most challenging - and exciting - spell of his career. BASF decided to close the Gosport site, but didn't want to lose access to the vast amounts of formulation experience that Mark and his colleagues had built up over the years. The company spoke to Battelle, a large not-for-profit US contract research organisation, which decided it would take on Mark, four other formulators and an analyst - who between them had more than a century of experience of formulation.
So Mark and his colleagues were set the challenge of finding themselves a lab in which to set up the business. With all of the services required, this was not a simple proposition. But they struck lucky - Xyratex was restructuring its operations in nearby Havant, and there was a lab going begging that, with a few alterations, could easily be transformed for formulation. By February 2004 they were up and running in the new lab, and they have since taken more space on the research park, in a purpose-built facility with room for further expansion. They now have nine employees, and the customer base has grown from one - BASF - to 16, including half of the top 20 agrochemical companies, plus a handful of independents and entrepreneurs.
'It's great to be able to talk formulation openly with other experts around the world - that's the big advantage of being a contract research organisation,' he explains. 'They value the discussions outside their own teams, rather than worrying about giving away proprietary information. Formulation is an applied technology, with a science base underneath, and there's a long list of 'boxes' a successful formulation has to tick - it has to be cheap, makeable and safe. To develop something that ticks all the boxes is a challenge - it's a process of evolution, and you have a collection of everything you've done in the past in your head. I can remember every recipe I've ever done!'
Bigger customers already have a formulation department, but as their workload varies - as new molecules come through the pipeline - they look outside for extra capacity. Mark says this has been the rate-limiting step in the past: contract formulators, unlike Battelle, did not have GLP labs or were tied into using specific products. For small customers, it's very different - they may have no formulation skills at all and have no idea where to start. 'That's where the team approach is fantastic - you bounce ideas off each other.'
'My career has been totally dependent on the strength of the team I've worked with,' he concludes. 'Formulation technology is so broad and deep that it takes a group of people to cover everything. And one thing I learnt early as a manager is that I don't have all the answers. But it's important to get out of your comfort zone if you're going to broaden your skills and knowledge base, even if it doesn't seem like much fun at the time!'
Manager, formulation development, Battelle UK, Havant
Director, BASF Agro Research, Gosport
Director, European & Far East Formulations, Cyanamid Agriculture Ltd, Gosport
Research director, Cyanamid Agriculture Ltd, Gosport
Senior manager, formulations development, Cyanamid of GB Ltd, Gosport
Formulation chemist, Cyanamid of GB Ltd, Gosport
MA, Botany, University of Oxford, 1975
Fishing, golf, hill walking
All work and no play
Is the long-hours culture of academic organic chemistry laboratories finally changing?
Act now to support early-career researchers
The Covid-19 pandemic has further highlighted long-existing issues that leaders need to take a stance on
Australian Research Council's ban on preprints in grants prompts outcry
Move derided as 'hopelessly outdated' and a setback for open science by researchers
More Careers
The difficulties of determining fair pay
Salary data suggests that perceived wage gaps in the chemical sciences are indeed present
Results of the RSC's 2021 Pay and Reward survey
Despite the disruption caused by Covid-19 and Brexit, most chemists remain positive about their prospects


Aleris has a strong leadership team with a proven track record of creating value. With nearly 200 years of combined industrial experience, the executive leadership team has navigated the company that's distinguished as a proven acquirer, successfully integrating 12 acquisitions since 2004. Under their leadership, Aleris successfully restructured during the economic downturn of 2008 by lowering costs and repositioning businesses, and pursued global expansion.


text:
NEW DELHI (AP) – India and Britain yesterday launched talks on pursuing a free trade deal that is expected to boost bilateral trade by billions of dollars in one of the most ambitious negotiations to take place after Brexit.
Britain's International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan met with Piyush Goyal, India's minister of Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs and Food & Public Distribution and Textiles in New Delhi. Actual negotiations kick off next week, officials said.
"This is the first of my important agreements this year as Britain set out on her independent journey post-Brexit," Trevelyan told reporters.
She said the two countries have a unique opportunity to build ties in the trade, defence, climate and health sectors as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Goyal said the free trade agreement, expected to be finalised in a year's time, will double trade between the two countries by 2030.
Both sides hope the deal will spark huge benefits for several industries, from food and drink to cutting-edge renewable technology.
Britain's International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan. PHOTO: AP
The Indian minister said both sides would also work on an interim agreement for fast-tracking efforts to capture low-hanging fruit in goods and services, tourism, startups, education and climate change.
The free trade agreement could potentially double UK exports to India and boost two-way trade by USD38 billion a year by 2035, a British government statement said. Asked whether the British government was willing to relax visa restrictions on Indians going to the country, Trevelyan said the approach was to see that British and Indian businesses and the citizens of the two countries benefit in this endeavour to reinvigorate ties.
Goyal said "the Indian diaspora in Britain is a bridge between the two countries and can add a lot of dynamism to their relationship".
"A deal with India is a golden opportunity to put UK businesses at the front of the queue as the Indian economy continues to grow rapidly," Trevelyan said, adding that Britain was keen to tap into the growing middle class in Asia's third-largest economy.
After leaving the European Union in 2016, Britain has focussed on its trade policies in the Indo-Pacific region. India, once a British colony, is viewed as a favourable location given uncertainties over ties with China.
"This is the first of my important agreements this year as Britain set out on her independent journey post-Brexit,'' Trevelyan said.
Investment from Indian companies already supports 95,000 jobs across the UK, the British statement released before the meeting said.
Previous articlePorsche delivers over 300k vehicles in 2021
Next articleUS threatens action if Somalia misses new election deadline


Choose either a class or a consultancy session: set your time zone and go on to book. Please note that consultancy sessions must be booked at least 24 hours in advance and that you don't need a PayPal account to pay via PayPal.
This 3 hour live workshop in Oxford will show you the importance of sequence and arrangement of events to your plot's effectiveness. With writing exercises and examples you'll experiment with controlling how time unfolds in your story. Govern your reader's experience using techniques taking you beyond the simple linear flow from beginning to end. Time is a trick you can play, an illusion you can master, a pattern you play with, a crucial contribution to how memorable and involving your story is.


text:
Used BMW X3 (Mk2, 2010-2017) review - What do owners think?
The BMW X3 Mk2 has performed well in our Driver Power owner surveys, though hasn't done as well in the reliability ratings
How practical is it?
What do owners think? - currently reading
The BMW X3 Mk2 shows promise as an ownership prospect, as it made frequent appearances in our Driver Power owner satisfaction surveys during its time in production. Even towards the tail end of its lifecycle, the X3 Mk2 was able to post good results: in the 2016 edition of Driver Power, the BMW X3 Mk2 was rated 77th out of 150 cars. However, in that edition, X3 Mk2 owners didn't rate the car as highly for reliability.
While BMW X3 Mk2 owners were generally satisfied with their car in the Driver Power survey from 2016 (which was the last one to feature the car when it was originally on sale), they weren't as impressed with the car's reliability record. In that survey, it was ranked 92nd out of the top 150 cars for durability.
As many of the parts on the BMW X3 Mk2 have been shared with many other BMW models, the main kinks in the armour should have been ironed out by now. That said, do bear in mind even the youngest examples on the road are far from being factory fresh nowadays, which will impact their reliability going forwards.
Go Back toWhat should you look out for?
How practical is it?Interior space and equipment levels are overall very good, though the extensive options list means used X3 Mk2 specs can vary considerably
What do owners think? - currently readingThe BMW X3 Mk2 has performed well in our Driver Power owner surveys, though hasn't done as well in the reliability ratings


text:
The Brownsville and Rio Grande International Railroad  (Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad) is a terminal switching railroad headquartered in Brownsville, Texas.

BRG operates  of line at the Port of Brownsville, and interchanges with Union Pacific and TFM. BRG traffic includes steel, agricultural products, food products, and general commodities.

BRG commenced operations in 1984 when the Brownsville Navigation District (the owner of the rail line) reclaimed operations from the Missouri Pacific Railroad. This authority, which manages the port of Brownsville, appointed regional and shortline group OmniTRAX to manage the Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad on its behalf. The initial arrangement ran for 30 years, and included the development of an industrial park on adjacent land.

References

External links

Union Pacific Website with BRG Details
 Brownsville & Rio Grande International Railroad

Texas railroads
Switching and terminal railroads
Spin-offs of the Union Pacific Railroad


Fox World Travel is the largest vacation travel agency in Wisconsin and that gives them buying Power with top Vacation Partners. Fox World Travel has experienced travel agents who average over 20 years in the travel business and you can be confident you are receiving the best quality products and services from top industry suppliers when you book your travel with Fox World Travel. They offer expert advice, personalized service, and unparalleled care and commitment. Contact them today to help you turn your vacation into an awesome experience!
LaMacchia Travel Agency has been family owned and operated for over 80 years. They guarantee they will provide you with the best service and value when booking your vacation. Call one of their experienced agents so they can use their knowledge to change your vacation in to great vacation! Learn more about LaMacchia Travel Agency by visiting their website and find ideas, testimonials, client photos, and information on their programs and specialties.


text:
Teams Are Paying Matt Kemp A Lot Of Money To Play For Other Teams
By Joey Held on August 4, 2016 in Articles › Sports News
The Tragic Downfall Of The NBA's Delonte West
Steve McQueen's Bullitt Mustang Now The Most Expensive Muscle Car Ever Sold At Auction, At $3.74 Million
Conor McGregor Net Worth 2020 - How Much Has The Fighter Earned In His Career So Far?
Billionaire Larry Ellison Is Raking In The Cash On His $1 Billion Tesla Bet
How 'Batman' Actor Burt Ward Became A Real Life Super Hero For Dogs
The Minnesota Twins Signed Josh Donaldson To The Largest Contract In Team History
Back in 2011, Matt Kemp was arguably the best player in baseball. Starting at center field for the Dodgers, Kemp led the National League in home runs, RBIs, runs scored, total bases, Adjusted OPS, and Wins Above Replacement. He also became the first player to finish in the top two in both home runs and steals since Hank Aaron did it in 1963.
Things were looking up for Kemp back then. However, in the years since, things haven't gone as well. Kemp suffered through a pair of injury-plagued seasons, and in 2014 he was traded to the San Diego Padres. He played a season and a half in San Diego, posting batting average and OBP numbers that were amongst the worst of his career.
Just a few days ago, the Padres traded Kemp to the Atlanta Braves, who currently have the worst record in all of the major leagues. Don't feel too bad for Kemp, though; the Dodgers and Padres have combined to pay him $42.5 million.
Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images
Granted, that money is going to the team who's been receiving Kemp in a trade. The Dodgers sent $32 million to the Padres in the trade that brought Kemp to San Diego, and the Padres are paying Atlanta $10.5 million to take Kemp off their hands.
This payment will take a few years, as the Padres will give Atlanta $3 million now, then pay $2.5 million over the next three years, paid in six installments on May 15 and July 15 in 2017, 2018 and 2019.
The Padres used the money they got to offset some of Kemp's enormous salary–he signed an eight-year, $160 million deal with the Dodgers in 2012–and it's likely the Braves will do the same with the cash they're getting from San Diego.
In essence, both Los Angeles and San Diego have paid Kemp to go play elsewhere.
However, this move may turn out to be a steal for the Braves. Despite having arthritis in both hips, Kemp is only 31 years old. Though his overall batting numbers dipped, this is a guy who had 23 home runs and 100 RBI last season. He's already equalled his home run tally from 2015 this year, and still has about a third of the season to go. It seems like he has a bit of gas left in the tank.
Atlanta was also able to trade away troubled third baseman Hector Olivera, who was arrested in April in Washington, D.C. after a domestic dispute. Major League Baseball soon announced Olivera would be suspended for 82 games for violating MLB's off-the-field personal conduct policy that consists of domestic violence and other known violations. The Padres have already designated Olivera for assignment.
Kemp alone likely won't turn the Braves franchise around, but he's developed a reputation as a good teammate and guy to have in a locker room. For a struggling team with a ton of young prospects, that leadership is a good place to start.
Best of all, Atlanta didn't have to give up anybody who was a part of their long-term plan. The team is hoping Kemp can get back to his previous gaudy statistics, but if not, at least they don't have to foot the entire bill of his contract.
Baseball Player Matt Kemp To Auction Off $11.5 Million Poway Estate
Matt Kemp Net Worth
Wil Myers Signs $83 Million Contract Extension With The Padres
Gary Matthews, Jr. Net Worth
For The Last 20 Years, The San Diego Padres Have Done Something Incredibly Kind For A Wheelchair-Bound Former Pitcher
Mark Kotsay Net Worth
Ryan Klesko Net Worth
Nick Swisher Will Make $15 Million This Season Even If He Doesn't Play A Single Inning
Carl Crawford Just Got Benched… But The Dodgers Are Still Paying Him Like A Star


Plants may have all kinds of behavior – or maybe they do not, depending on your definition of behavior.
In his documentary, The Private Life of Plants, David Attenborough demonstrates the way they do at least respond to cues from their environment. This we all know: that some windowsill plants will tend to grow toward the light. I learned recently that the majestic saguaro cacti, like barrel cacti and others, grow distinctly differently on their south and north sides, as so in transplanting one, care should be taken to orient it the same way as originally planted.
My point is that plants move and respond to their environment. Sometimes quickly, like the veuns fly trap, which I was able to watch in its native range near Wilmington, North Carolina, at the end of December. Stroking a stick along the hairs of open traps, as seen below, caused them to quickly glide shut, as is the one at the bottom of the frame.
Winter senescence in a Venus fly trap.
But sometimes plants move more slowly – important competitive and survival behaviors may take place as they grow, but on timescales too slow for us animals to register them. This is where time lapse cameras like Attenborough's come in. I decided to take a stab at plant behavior in my backyard.
The weekend of El Tour de Tucson, a 100 mile bike race around the perimeter of our city, it rained. Not a nice gentle cooling rain for a few hours or even a whole night, the kind that makes me run outside and dance in the puddles because it rains so infrequently here. This was a downpour. And it was cold. Like living in Portland, or Seattle, or anywhere but Tucson, really. This mattered to me (and 9,000 other cyclists signed up for the race) because we almost never ride in the rain – if it's raining in Tucson, you usually just wait and ride tomorrow instead because it will be sunny and dry. [Note – this applies only to casual cyclists, otherwise known as sane or relatively normal people. Real cyclists are not deterred by snow or hurricanes.] It was also the first time it had rained – really rained – for the race, which has been going on for decades.
(1) Infrequent events require long time scales to ensure a capture. If I were a plant ecologist studying winter annuals, and I only had time in my PhD to collect 3 years of data and was trying to extrapolate the growth trajectories of a population over the next 50 years, how would I know to include a storm of this magnitude if I never observed one? Only sampling 3 years from any of the last 30 years would rarely turn up a rainstorm like this. I assumed my nice rugged weatherproof camera would be safe getting rained on in the outdoors for a few months. Based on my experience in the last four years in Tucson, I did not expect the garden to turn into a swimming pool, which was not safe for my camera.
(2) But if you happen to capture one in a short window, it will really mess with your estimates of how a system usually behaves. This was only my second time riding El Tour de Tucson, so now I have one memory of a beautiful ride, and one memory of a truly horrific near-hypothermic sufferfest. Weighted equally in terms of frequency in my experience. If my 3 year window included this event, I might naively conclude this system was pretty highly variable – that an event like this might happen every couple of years.
This was an issue I explored in my undergraduate thesis (with Diane Thomson at Scripps College), but that still continues to be an interesting problem today.
Posting a picture online got me an ID from someone with expertise in minutes, while the snake was still in view! 'Course, it also garnered some smart alec comments (Moira!)….
I was standing next to an experimental plot high on a ridge in the Rincon Mountains last summer when I looked up and saw the snake. It was winding its way through the vegetation, approaching closer and closer – only feet away! It was about four different colors. Its head was long and narrow, not triangular like a rattlesnake.
As the earth reaches this point in its revolution around the sun, members of our species, at least in many urban areas around the globe, reflect on the new advances in technology and the way in which they change (or don't change) our lives. We hear stories about Most Viewed trends on YouTube (spoiler alert: not science and nature!).
I share the snake story above to illustrate how our connectedness and more importantly the mobility of our devices changes my experience as a naturalist in the field. I can instantly have access to the experience and information of other people, even in (relatively) remote locations.
On the other hand, this connectedness in some ways underscores how much has not changed about field work, or academia in general. Some identifications are difficult or even unknown: if I post a photo of the summer germinating seedlings I am studying, I am unlikely to get back a quick ID. I have to make that seedling guide myself. But for something well known like the snake, what really helped me was having a network of experts that I could turn to. If I were still waiting tables instead of studying biology, a snake spotted on a casual hike would be much less easily identified. The public resource I could quickly find for snake identification with a Google search required some additional knowledge to take advantage of it.
But the internet does provide a platform to get help from experts outside my network – it may take a little more time and effort, but not nearly so much as the in person call of a century ago. After questioning everyone I knew who studied pocket mice about an odd dancing behavior I had repeatedly recorded in the field and finding no explanation, I compiled the clips to funny music, and posted it online. I was thrilled to receive responses via this blog, Facebook, Twitter, and email that provided a consensus opinion from experts I had never met in person.
Though science and nature videos may not match views of cats or video games on YouTube, and watching nature unfold on a screen is far less impactful than really being outside yourself, that is still far more people than I would likely be able to tell what I learn through more traditional mediums – and I undoubtedly am able to learn far more from others this way, too!


Support The Ice House Museum.
Located at 91 Pleasant Street in New London, NH, the Museum is open seasonally from Memorial Day through Columbus Day: Tuesdays & Thursdays (9AM to 4PM), and Saturdays (9AM to 2PM). Admission is free.
Special tours may be requested at other times. We'll try to oblige.
This extraordinary collection is open for public viewing and hands-on experience free of charge. The operation and activities of The Ice House Museum are funded and supported solely by our Friends and grants from foundations or other organizations. We welcome the support of our Friends at any level and invite you to join the many others who believe The Ice House Museum is a local treasure worth preserving. All donations are tax deductible.
By joining the Friends of The Ice House, you can help maintain Bill Kidder's Collection for the education and enjoyment of future generations. Information about the Friends is available by downloading a CONTRIBUTION FORM.
Beyond financial support, we can also benefit greatly from the gift of your time. There are many opportunities, from cleaning, sweeping and dusting, brass polishing, making things work again, painting, cataloguing of our tremendous collection, helping out at events, serving on committees, fund-raising, or acting as a guide to visitors. Honestly, it's a ton of fun! There is so much to discover and learn! If have some time which you could spend at The Ice House Museum, please contact Putnam Kidder at (603) 387-4332. To add your name to our regular mailing list, just CONTACT US with your postal address.