text:
using namespace ndnrtc;

//******************************************************************************
RemoteStream::RemoteStream(boost::asio::io_service& faceIo,
			const boost::shared_ptr<ndn::Face>& face,
			const boost::shared_ptr<ndn::KeyChain>& keyChain,
			const std::string& basePrefix,
			const std::string& streamName):
basePrefix_(basePrefix), streamName_(streamName)
{
}

RemoteStream::~RemoteStream(){
	pimpl_->setNeedsMeta(false);
}

bool
RemoteStream::isMetaFetched() const
{
	return pimpl_->isMetaFetched();
}

std::vector<std::string>
RemoteStream::getThreads() const
{
	return pimpl_->getThreads();
}

void
RemoteStream::setThread(const std::string& threadName)
{
	pimpl_->setThread(threadName);
}

std::string
RemoteStream::getThread() const
{
    return pimpl_->getThread();
}

void
RemoteStream::stop()
{
	pimpl_->stop();
}

void
RemoteStream::setInterestLifetime(unsigned int lifetime)
{
	pimpl_->setInterestLifetime(lifetime);
}

void
RemoteStream::setTargetBufferSize(unsigned int bufferSize)
{
	pimpl_->setTargetBufferSize(bufferSize);
}

statistics::StatisticsStorage
RemoteStream::getStatistics() const
{
	return pimpl_->getStatistics();
}

void
RemoteStream::setLogger(boost::shared_ptr<ndnlog::new_api::Logger> logger)
{
	pimpl_->setLogger(logger);
}

bool
RemoteStream::isVerified() const
{
	return pimpl_->isVerified();
}

bool
RemoteStream::isRunning() const
{
    return pimpl_->isRunning();
}

void
RemoteStream::registerObserver(IRemoteStreamObserver* o)
{
    pimpl_->attach(o);
}

void
RemoteStream::unregisterObserver(IRemoteStreamObserver* o)
{
    pimpl_->detach(o);
}

boost::shared_ptr<StorageEngine>
RemoteStream::getStorage() const
{
    throw std::runtime_error("Not implemented");
}

//******************************************************************************
RemoteAudioStream::RemoteAudioStream(boost::asio::io_service& faceIo,
			const boost::shared_ptr<ndn::Face>& face,
			const boost::shared_ptr<ndn::KeyChain>& keyChain,
			const std::string& basePrefix,
			const std::string& streamName,
			const int interestLifetime,
			const int jitterSizeMs):
RemoteStream(faceIo, face, keyChain, basePrefix, streamName)
{
	streamPrefix_ = NameComponents::audioStreamPrefix(basePrefix).append(streamName).toUri();
	pimpl_ = boost::make_shared<RemoteAudioStreamImpl>(faceIo, face, keyChain, streamPrefix_);
	pimpl_->setInterestLifetime(interestLifetime);
	pimpl_->setTargetBufferSize(jitterSizeMs);
	pimpl_->fetchMeta();
}

void
RemoteAudioStream::start(const std::string& threadName)
{
	pimpl_->start(threadName);
}

//******************************************************************************
RemoteVideoStream::RemoteVideoStream(boost::asio::io_service& faceIo,
			const boost::shared_ptr<ndn::Face>& face,
			const boost::shared_ptr<ndn::KeyChain>& keyChain,
			const std::string& basePrefix,
			const std::string& streamName,
			const int interestLifetime,
			const int jitterSizeMs):
RemoteStream(faceIo, face, keyChain, basePrefix, streamName)
{
	streamPrefix_ = NameComponents::videoStreamPrefix(basePrefix).append(streamName).toUri();
	pimpl_ = boost::make_shared<RemoteVideoStreamImpl>(faceIo, face, keyChain, streamPrefix_);

	pimpl_->setInterestLifetime(interestLifetime);
	pimpl_->setTargetBufferSize(jitterSizeMs);
	pimpl_->fetchMeta();
}

void
RemoteVideoStream::start(const std::string& threadName, IExternalRenderer* renderer)
{
	boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<RemoteVideoStreamImpl>(pimpl_)->start(threadName, renderer);
}

RemoteVideoStream::RemoteVideoStream(boost::asio::io_service& faceIo,
			const boost::shared_ptr<ndn::Face>& face,
			const boost::shared_ptr<ndn::KeyChain>& keyChain,
			const std::string& threadPrefix,
            const int jitterSizeMs):
RemoteStream(faceIo, face, keyChain, "", "")
{
    NamespaceInfo prefixInfo;
    if (!NameComponents::extractInfo(threadPrefix, prefixInfo) ||
        prefixInfo.threadName_ == "" ||
        prefixInfo.streamType_ != MediaStreamParams::MediaStreamType::MediaStreamTypeVideo)
        throw std::runtime_error("Invalid thread prefix provided");

    basePrefix_ = prefixInfo.getPrefix(prefix_filter::Base).toUri();
    streamName_ = prefixInfo.streamName_;

    pimpl_ = boost::make_shared<RemoteVideoStreamImpl>(faceIo, face, keyChain,
                                                       prefixInfo.getPrefix(prefix_filter::Stream).toUri(),
                                                       prefixInfo.threadName_);
    pimpl_->setTargetBufferSize(jitterSizeMs);
    pimpl_->fetchMeta();
}

void
RemoteVideoStream::start(const FetchingRuleSet& ruleset, IExternalRenderer* renderer)
{
    boost::dynamic_pointer_cast<RemoteVideoStreamImpl>(pimpl_)->start(ruleset, renderer);
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
By FRANK STRICKER Here are four key points to consider about the December 2021 Jobs report. 1. Just Pretty Good. This is not a bad job report. Even though we in the National Jobs for All Network believe it is a serious undercount, a 3.9% unemployment rate is historically quite a low official unemployment rate. And… Read More More Recovery and Reform, Please! The Employment Situation—December 2021
January 12, 2022 Chuck BellLeave a comment
December 2021 Unemployment Data–the Full Count The BLS estimates that official unemployment this month may be understated by up to 0.1%, reflecting measurement problems. (U.S. BUREAU OF LABOR STATISTICS) OFFICIAL UNEMPLOYMENT: 3.9%*[ANALYSES by EXPERTS] White 3.2% African American 7.1% Hispanic 4.9% Asian¹ 3.8% Persons with a disability¹ … Read More Unemployment Data–DECEMBER 2021
January 7, 2022 January 7, 2022 thadotoolLeave a comment
Pavlina R. Tcherneva (2020), The Case for a Job Guarantee, Cambridge: Polity Press, ₤9.99, pp. 140, pbk. doi:10.1017/S0047279421000568 Review by Martin Watts, University of New Castle, Australia Reprinted with permission, Journal of Social Policy. (2021), 50, 4, 891-901 © The Author, 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press. Monetary policy has been the dominant strand of… Read More Book Review: The Case for a Job Guarantee (1)
December 22, 2021 December 22, 2021 Chuck BellLeave a comment
by Frank Stricker The Counts The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) job report for November 2021 showed that unemployment was just 4.2%. That looks pretty good, but we in the National Jobs for All Network (NJFAN) believe this official number is an undercount. We add part-timers who want full-time work and people who say they… Read More Unemployment in November 2021: Jobs Report Analysis
December 22, 2021 Chuck BellLeave a comment
by Frank Stricker Did poverty rates rise or fall in 2020, the first year of the COVID pandemic? The answer to that question is somewhat complicated. On September 15th of this year the U.S. Census Bureau released its poverty estimates. For the last decade those estimates have appeared in two separate reports. Using relatively new… Read More Poverty Rates Down in 2020–Miracle or Mirage?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Softlayer API: How to get the static subnet belongs to which VSI? background
I can get a vlan's subnet info by the flowing python script:
# Declare an Object Mask to get additional information
    object_mask = 'mask[primaryRouter,subnets[id,billingItem,cidr,version,addressSpace,subnetType,networkIdentifier,totalIpAddresses,usableIpAddressCount,ipAddresses[ipAddress, isReserved, virtualGuest, hardware]]]'
    # Declare an Object Filter to get information from specific vlan
    filter = {'networkVlans': {'id': {'operation': vlan_id}}}
    return self.sl_account.getNetworkVlans(mask=object_mask, filter=filter)[0]

And the result contains:
[... 'subnets': [{'cidr': 28,
              'id': 986245,
              'billingItem': {'allowCancellationFlag': 1,}
              orderItemId': 223126909,
              'ipAddresses': [{'ipAddress': '169.38.73.xxx', ...
               'subnetType': 'STATIC_IP_ROUTED',
             'totalIpAddresses': '8',
             'usableIpAddressCount': '5',
             'version': 4},
             ...]
            }
            ...
            ]]

question
The result of STATIC_IP_ROUTED subnet do not contain the  virtualGuest item.

*

*Now I want to know which VSI has bind this subnet?  Does any other mask can helps?

*Or, How can I get the secondary ip info of a vsi?

A: You may add the subnets relational property to go deeper and display the VSI on  which the subnet is binded through the property endpointIpAddress.
Please try your code with the mask previously mentioned:
# Declare an Object Mask to get additional information
object_mask = 'mask[primaryRouter,subnets[id,billingItem,cidr,version,addressSpace,subnetType,networkIdentifier,totalIpAddresses,usableIpAddressCount,ipAddresses[id, ipAddress, virtualGuest[id], hardware[id]]], subnets[endPointIpAddress[id,ipAddress,subnet[id, datacenter[longName,name]],hardware[id,fullyQualifiedDomainName],virtualGuest[id,fullyQualifiedDomainName]]]]'

# Declare an Object Filter to get information from specific vlan
filter = {'networkVlans': {'id': {'operation': vlan_id}}}

return self.sl_account.getNetworkVlans(mask=object_mask, filter=filter)[0]

Or you may use the SoftLayer_Account::getSubnets method.
# Declare an Object Mask to get additional subnet information
object_mask = 'mask[id, networkIdentifier, subnetType, totalIpAddresses, datacenter[longName, name], networkVlan[id, vlanNumber], endPointIpAddress[id,ipAddress,subnet[id, datacenter[longName,name]],hardware[id,fullyQualifiedDomainName],virtualGuest[id,fullyQualifiedDomainName]]]'

# Declare an Object Filter to get information from specific Subnet.
filter = {"subnets":{"id":{"operation":subnet_id}}}

subnetsResult = client ['Account'].getSubnets(filter = filter, mask = object_mask)

print(subnetsResult)

On both solutions you will see the VirtualGuest item information.
In order to retrieve the secondary ip Addresses of a VSI please refer to this post How to get secondary ip addresses.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Procedures for Changes to These Rules
From SCA Lochac
Revision as of 21:35, 6 July 2019 by Angele (talk | contribs)
These rules shall have precedence as set out in section I.A of the Corpora of the Society for Creative Anachronism, Inc. At all times mundane law has precedence over any and all rules of the SCA.
As per section II of the Laws of the Kingdom of Lochac which can be found at the following URL: seneschal.lochac.sca.org/files/2019/01/LochacLaws-January-2019.pdf, temporary restrictions on activities normally allowed by these rules may be made by proclamation of the Crown, and will expire after 30 days unless renewed by proclamation, or permanently incorporated into the rules.
Permanent changes to Lochac standards and conventions may only be made using the following procedure, and shall only come into effect after all of the following steps are complete:
The change must be approved by:
the Crown; and
the Kingdom Seneschal; and
the Board of SCA Ltd, and
the Committee of SCA NZ Inc
the change must be proclaimed by the Crown at an official event; and
notification of the changes to the standards or conventions will be distributed to all group marshals; and
the Combat Handbook (these rules) will be updated to include the approved changes; and
notification of the changes will be published in Pegasus.
The only exception to the procedure outlined above shall be in the case of mundane law changes contradicting these rules. Mundane law always has precedence over internal SCA rules and in the event of a change to mundane law contradicting it shall become effective immediately, and these rules will be updated as soon as possible.
The procedure for requesting changes to these rules is as follows:
Discuss proposed changes with your Branch Marshal.
Discuss proposed changes with Lochac Earl Marshal.
On the Earl Marshal's approval, necessary experimentation, testing and documentation, including experimental and test results and risk-assessment of the impact of the change, will be undertaken and reported to the Earl Marshal.
If the Earl Marshal agrees to proposed changes, they will approve the change or seek approval for the changes as necessary.
Typographical corrections and minor changes clarifying wording of a rule, that do not change the substance or intent of a rule, may be made by the Kingdom Earl Marshal or their Deputy for Combat Laws only, without going through the processes set out above.
Retrieved from 'https://sca.org.nz/wiki/index.php?title=Armoured_Combat:Procedures_for_Changes_to_These_Rules&oldid=2035'
Fighters Handbook
Armoured Combat
This page was last modified on 9 July 2021, at 21:54.


text:
Xolos Academy FC holds first day of tryouts
CHULA VISTA –It is that time of year again when Club Tijuana continues to look for its future stars. The Xoloitzcuintles' Xolos Academy FC held its first day of tryouts Sunday at Hilltop High where it took players through several drills as coaches kept an eye out for talent.
Xolos Academy FC coaches began the first of two sessions with a warm up, dynamic exercises and agility drills for the group of players ages 8 to 11. The morning session allowed those trying out to get a feel for what the Academy coaches will be teaching during the youth soccer calendar year.
Tryouts continued in the afternoon Saturday with a group of players ages 12 to 14. Tryouts will continue Monday at Hilltop High.
The academy is the only of its kind in California, having direct ties with Club Tijuana Xoloitzcuintles de Caliente of the Mexican First Division.
The academy and teams reflect the strategies and planning that the Mexican First Division team practices, giving our athletes the opportunity to be part of the Xoloitzcuintles family. Coaches from the academies teach the same or similar ideas used in the senior team for competition and development.
The Xolos Academy FC is the stepping-stone to what could be a bright soccer career as our athletes have the chance to move through our farm system and eventually having the possibility to be part of our professional teams.
The academy teaches tactical, athletic and critical thinking skills along the way and our athletes have fun doing it. Tryouts are held throughout different categories. Most of our teams participate in highly competitive leagues, the Presidio and Coast Leagues are two of those. Our teams strive to allow our players the opportunity to gain a college scholarship or make a professional career out of their experience. The academy training not only focuses on the learning athletic skill to be a well-rounded soccer player but also an outstanding citizen off the field. It introduces young athletes to hard work, the ability to work in a group, to be dedicates and to be a responsible person.
The Xolos Academy FC is the only program in the United States operating under the Club Tijuana brand.
ACADEMY TRYOUT SCHEDULE
Monday Dec. 15
* Under 8 to Under 11 = 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.
* Under 12 to Under 14 = 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.


I LOVE beauty gurus. Even if the only makeup I wear is mascara, I still watch every single makeup tutorial… it's honestly an addiction. But the one beauty guru I love the most is alisha marie!! She's honestly so amazing and funny, and when she cut her hair a month ago, I knew I needed to recreate her pictures with Kit! Let's go see how they turned out!!
So this first one is honestly goals. It's just her in cute shorts and a crop top, and I thought it would be the simplest one!
I decided I would use the shorts I had from Melody's collection, use hot glue to make her tank top, and a backwards sweater for her jacket! I didn't have any sunglasses to match though, which made me sad, but whatever.
And then in photo shop, I darkened the background and made her shorts yellow!
This is how it turned out, and even though it took forever, Kit looks edgy and almost as cool as alisha.
I'm rating it an 8, because the angle isn't right, and I didn't have the sunglasses.
This picture is for her birthday! I chose it because I REALLY wanted to make a doll cake.
I used the same outfit, of course.
I put a piece of white printer paper for the counter, and I used hot glue, pink paint, and a tea light candle holder for the cake! Then I used hot glue and tan paint on the fork!
This is the edited version!
And then I made the cake a little brighter, and her hair too.
I'm giving this a 7 because it looks… not as good lol.
And this is my personal fave! It's super spring-breaky haha.
So I made her some white shorts, printed out a juice bottle, and taped it to her hands! I also rearranged the kitchen as well as put a piece of paper for a backsplash.
I gave her shorts a pink color in photo shop, turned the mixier white, the fridge a bit pinker, and the backsplash blue!
I love these kinda posts!! Super cute, Sam!
I love the last one the most!
This was such a creative and fun post! My favorite would have to be the first picture creation, besides the glasses, it looked great.
I LOVE THE LAST ONE!!! You should totally do more of these!
All of those were AMAZING!! The first one was probably my favorite. What editing program did you use?
Thanks a million! Picmonkey and Color Story.
Great job Sam! All your pictures were so close!!
I love all of these! Great post!!
I just put up a post for my friend's birthday and I was wondering if you could maybe wish her a happy birthday in the comments? If you don't, that's fine. I just think she'd like it if some people wished her a happy birthday.
This is a super cute idea!!! Well done.
I love these posts! It's fun to see the two representations. Keep up the good work!
OMG i love Alisha Marie so much! And yes a lot of people have done this but NEVER with dolls!


text:
Maps of Deane
Hampshire and Isle of Wight XVIII.13 (includes: Deane; North Waltham; Oakley; Steventon; Wootton St Lawrence) - 25 Inch Map
Hampshire & Isle of Wight XVIII.SW - OS Six-Inch Map
SU54 - OS 1:25,000 Provisional Series Map
Bentworth
1 : 31680 This is a rough plot, or field sketch, of the chalk hills to the south of Basingstoke, part of Hampshire's North Downs. Buildings appear infilled and blocked in red ink at the settlements of Bighton and Chawton, at the bottom of the plan, and in black ink, at Bentworth, above Chawton. The map is drawn on an irregularly cut sheet that is pieced together with detail extending over the joins. The paper carries the watermark '1794.'
Kingsclere
There were no definitive guidelines in the early 1800s for recording relief, so each draughtsman differs in his representation. Contour lines were not introduced until 1839-40. Here, Budgen uses dense clusters of short, dark strokes ('hachures') to indicate relief. Although the recording of archaeological sites did not become obligatory until 1816, he also illustrates a Roman road, running diagonally upwards from the lower left of the map, noting its local name: 'Devil's Bank'. Budgen, Charles
Basingstoke (Hills) - OS One-Inch Revised New Series
Basingstoke (Outline) - OS One-Inch Revised New Series
1 : 31680 This map depicts a part of Hampshire's North Downs, particularly the chalk hills to the south of Basingstoke. Buildings appear infilled and blocked in red ink at the main settlements of Basingstoke, at the top of the plan, and Alton, at the bottom. Hewitt, John
Map of Hampshire, including the Isle of Wight, 2
1 Blatt : 55 x 70 cm s.n.
Alresford 19
1 : 31680 Relief is indicated on this plan by shading and interlining ('hachuring'). The concern with depicting relief accurately reflects the military emphasis of these drawings: knowledge of the lie of the land could greatly help the efficient movement of regiments. The right-hand side of the drawing is unfinished, featuring main roads only.
Winchester - OS One-Inch Map
Berkshire, Sheet 29 - Bartholomew's "Half Inch to the Mile Maps" of England & Wales
Hantonia sive Sovthantonensis comitatvs vulgo Hant-shire
A new improved map of Hampshire
1 Karte : Kupferdruck ; 51 x 67 cm Kitchin; Hinton sold by I. Hinton at the Kings Arms in St. Pauls Church Yard
Hantoniæ comitatus cum Bercheria
Hantonia, sive Southantonensis Comitatus, vulgo Hantshire.
SOUTHAMPTONIAE Comitatus
This is a map of Hampshire by Christopher Saxton, datingfrom 1575. It forms part of an atlas that belonged to William Cecil Lord Burghley, Elizabeth I's Secretary of State. Burghley used this atlas to illustrate domestic matters. This map is actually a proof copy of one which forms part of Christopher Saxton's Atlas of England and Wales. This atlas was first published as a whole in 1579. It consists of 35 coloured maps depicting the counties of England and Wales. The atlas is of great significance to British cartography as it set a standard of cartographic representation in Britain and the maps remained the basis for English county mapping, with few exceptions, until after 1750. During the reign of Elizabeth I, map use became more common, with many government matters referring to increasingly accurate maps with consistent scales and symbols, made possible by advances in surveying techniques. Illustrating the increasing use of maps in government matters, Lord Burghley, who had been determined to have England and Wales mapped in detail from the 1550s, selected the cartographer Christopher Saxton to produce a detailed and consistent survey of the country. The financier of the project was Thomas Seckford, Master of Requests at the Court of Elizabeth I, whose arms appear, along with the royal crest, on each map. Lord Burghley added several place names to the map. This map was engraved by Leonardus Terwoort, one of a team of seven English and Flemish engravers employed to produced the copper plates for the atlas. Saxton, Christopher Terwoort, Leonardus Antverpianus
Surria vernacule Surrey
Carte Particulière D'Une Partie D'Angleterre. Sur la Copie de Bruxelles Chez Eugène Henry Friex
1 : 116600 Mollova mapová sbírka Fricx, Eugène Henry Deur, Abraham Janszoon Covens, Johannes I
Partie de l'Angleterre
1 : 116600 Mollova mapová sbírka Fricx, Eugène Henry Harrewyn, Jacques Fricx, Eugené Henry


Some of you may have noticed that in the header for this blog it says it's about sports, pop culture and food (along with other things I want to talk about). Some of you may have also noticed, there hasn't really been any food. And aside from talking about the food I ate during my woefully shortened "Diner's Drive-ins and Dives" tour of America, (link here) those people are correct. Well get ready, because that's about to change (at least for today). The problem with the food aspect of this blog is that despite loving to cook, (and eat) I'm really not a recipe person, which makes sharing food ideas difficult. There have been several times when I've made something I thought was delicious and thought "I should blog this," only to remember I have no idea what the amounts were for virtually every ingredient I've used. The other problem is that I often get ideas from other cooks, and base my recipes off of theirs. In these situations I just imagine being sued by the Barefoot Contessa for stealing her recipes. (This would really be a bummer, at least after getting over the initial excitement of the Barefoot Contessa reading my blog). So those are all the reasons the food portion of this blog has been lacking, but I decided I would make a change by sharing my all time favorite food with you.
With Halloween rapidly approaching I decided it was important everyone saw this video before the holiday.
I also need to make one small correction as 100 Grands are much better than 5th Avenues, I'd never even heard anyone suggest anything different before this video. Also if anyone would like to trade I'm in the soft/fillings category. (Also I had absolutely nothing to do with the making of this video).


Globality Health is the international health insurer with a special focus on expatriates. People who study, live or work abroad are assured that their health is always in good hands, no matter their residence. With more than 80 years of experience in health insurance, they provide their customers with the convincing competence of an international network of assistance and service partners. Over 3,000 experts at global locations use this wealth of knowledge to offer to their international clients: innovative solutions, services and individual consulting.


The MINI C40 pipe bevelling machine is available in pneumatic and electric, with 40mm body and cutter head, it is designed for jobs in extremely restricted access areas.
The pneumatic version can be easily converted to electric with a conversion kit.
The MINI C40 is equipped with lever handle for feeding the cutter head in tight spots where manual feeding is impossible.
FUNCTIONS – Bevelling, facing, counterboring.
NOTE – Compact, 40 mm clearance makes it perfect for work in boilers and tube wall panels.


text:
Avs avoid breaking the bank with Rantanen's six-year deal
By James O'BrienSep 28, 2019, 6:33 PM EDT
The Colorado Avalanche locked down the last big RFA of this offseason on Saturday night, and their deal with Mikko Rantanen looks like a pretty big win for everyone.
… Except maybe the Toronto Maple Leafs, who would probably love it if people had less fuel to criticize the $10.893 million cap hit that Mitch Marner's deal will carry.
The Avalanche gave Rantanen the same six-year term, only the AAV for the talented winger will be a manageable $9.25M, according to reporters including A.J. Haefele of DNVR Sports and Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman. On first impact, this seems like a mostly-great deal for the Avalanche, although Rantanen made out well himself, getting a nice $55.5M payday, and the term that comes with such a pact:
Mikko Rantanen #Avs
6 year / $55.5M total (9.25M AAV)
2019-20: $12M
2022-23: $6M
2023-24: $9.5M
All base salary, no Signing Bonuses.https://t.co/0bPIlG4Jvt pic.twitter.com/YstFe8F0Vd
— CapFriendly (@CapFriendly) September 28, 2019
Now, it's fair to argue a little bit about how difficult it is to zero in on Rantanen's exact value for a simple reason: he's spent a ton of his career on the same line with Nathan MacKinnon, who has flourished to the point that he's become one of the best players in the NHL. Of course, Rantanen and MacKinnon clearly have a symbiotic relationship, much like how Patrick Kane reached even higher levels when paired with Artemi Panarin. Consider that, since Rantanen came into the league in 2015-16, he's spent 1,632:31 even-strength time with MacKinnon, and only 552:54 without MacKinnon, according to Natural Stat Trick.
Rantanen generated 84 points in 2017-18 and 87 in 2018-19, skyrocketing up the ranks of the NHL's best forwards. Yet, one wonders how much he would excel without MacKinnon (and, to some extent, vice versa). That's relevant since, at a $9.25M clip, the Avalanche might get to the point where they ask each star to carry their own lines.
But those very minor quibbles are easy to get over, because Rantanen's clearly fantastic.
Mikko Rantanen (6×9.25m extension with Colorado) drives play very strongly, has a great shot, and has strong power-play impacts. Takes plenty of penalties and draws even more. pic.twitter.com/pu72Ky7QB9
— Micah Blake McCurdy (@IneffectiveMath) September 28, 2019
You could also sell the package as Rantanen plus MacKinnon at his absurd rate of $6.3M per year, a luxury that the Avalanche will enjoy for four more seasons. There's really no argument that a combined cap hit of $15.5M is a mega-steal for such a dynamic duo, and with Gabriel Landeskog also being a bargain ($5.57M AAV through 2020-21), the Avalanche have a high-end top line that doesn't just compare in impact to Brad Marchand, Patrice Bergeron, and David Pastrnak; both trios should also make other teams jealous because of the sheer value involved.
[MORE: The Avalanche's two and four-year windows to best take advantage of all of their value.]
Other teams have every reason to envy the Avalanche's overall bang-for-the-buck, especially since they're not paying a ton for starting goalie Philipp Grubauer ($3.33M AAV for two more seasons), and they also will enjoy more entry-level years from the likes of Bowen Byram and Cale Makar.
Yes, the Avalanche will eventually need to start paying up, or letting people go — that happens to any hopeful contender, really. Yet, by avoiding giving too much to Rantanen, they're expanding their window to continue climbing the ranks.
Rantanen being 22 and MacKinnon still just being 24 makes it that much scarier for their opponents, and may end up leaving other NHL owners asking their GMs," Why can't you be more like Joe Sakic?"
• ProHockeyTalk's 2019 NHL free agency tracker
• Your 2019-20 NHL on NBC TV schedule
James O'Brien is a writer for Pro Hockey Talk on NBC Sports. Drop him a line at phtblog@nbcsports.com or follow him on Twitter @cyclelikesedins.
Tags: Colorado Avalanche, Mikko Rantanen, Mitch Marner, Toronto Maple Leafs, Artemi Panarin, Bowen Byram, Brad Marchand, cale makar, David Pastrnak, Gabriel Landeskog, Mikko Rantanen, Mitch Marner, Nathan MacKinnon, Patrice Bergeron, Patrick Kane, Philipp Grubauer


text:
Broadband in Ireland equals jobs in Ireland
10 May 2012104 Views
Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte, TD, last week launched the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce's first report with a final plan due in July. Photo by Nicholas Mac Innes
There is an intrinsic link between broadband rollout and local job creation. Local authorities must realise this as Ireland approaches a National Broadband Strategy.
Let's be very clear about one thing – there is an intrinsic link between job and business creation and broadband. Broadband in your area will make it easier for overseas firms to locate in your region, not to mention enable local entrepreneurs to build international web-based businesses.
So to any local authority reading this, ask yourself one question: do you want to create jobs in your area?
Last week, Communications Minister Pat Rabbitte, TD, unveiled the first report of the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce, which consisted of members of his department and the CEOs of at least 10 major internet infrastructure providers in Ireland.
Members of the of the Next Generation Broadband Taskforce
As well as Rabbitte, the members of the taskforce include Dana Strong, CEO, UPC Ireland; John Shine, deputy CEO, ESB; Paul Donovan, CEO, Eircom/Meteor; Robert Finnegan, Hutchison Whampoa/3 Ireland; Jeroen Hoencamp, CEO, Vodafone; Aidan Dunning, secretary general, Department of Communications; Minister of State Fergus O'Dowd, TD; Sean Bolger, CEO, Imagine; Tony Hanway, CEO, Telefónica O2; Conal Henry, CEO, E-net; Colm O'Neill, CEO, BT Ireland; and Katherine Licken, assistant secretary, Department of Communications.
On the face of it, the report points towards the final delivery of a costed National Broadband Strategy. But it raised also some serious anomalies that could stifle economic recovery and job creation across the land in the decade to come.
The overall report contains 42 different recommendations of the taskforce. Among the pertinent stumbling blocks identified is access to existing State fibre infrastructure – ducts run under the nation's motorways for this purpose but access has been an issue – as well as the co-operation of various local authorities in rolling out infrastructure in towns and cities.
Key solutions identified include open access to State assets, fair and reasonable conditions, as well as local authorities working with telecoms firms at a pre-planning stage to help operators achieve 100pc coverage of a given area.
Rabbitte said every part of Ireland will have broadband by 2013 and will meet EU Commissioner Neelie Kroes' targets of high-speed broadband for every citizen by 2020.
However, according to industry, more than 50pc of Ireland's population will have access to at least 70Mbps by 2015. That leaves at least half the population that won't have what will be international standards of broadband by that date.
That quite simply signals a looming digital divide that will put businesses and people on one side of the divide firmly in the global race for wealth and jobs, and businesses on the other side of the divide in a battle for survival and relevance.
The internet economy
Quoting Boston Consulting Group figures, Rabbitte said 3.4pc of GDP in Ireland comes from the internet economy. The European average is 6pc. The UK – which has 7pc of its GDP coming from the internet economy – is celebrated as the most internet-dependent economy in the world.
What Irish firms who have yet to even embrace the internet in any form – that's 21pc of them – don't realise is UK firms, in particular, are eating their lunches. In other words wresting business away from them.
"Broadband adoption isn't what it should be – 20,000 SMEs in Ireland are not online and 21pc have never used the internet. The challenge for the taskforce is to make it easier to invest in the rollout of broadband, encourage citizens and businesses for better uptake and address infrastructure deficits," noted Rabbitte.
Demand stimulation was also identified as a priority in the report. It will happen a lot more naturally if people are not only aware of the e-business and social regeneration possibilities open to them, but that the infrastructure exists.
Major projects like the 100Mbps connectivity for every secondary school in the country by 2014 will be invaluable in stimulating local demand.
And there is hope. The key difference I noted was the optimistic tone of Rabbitte, who said Ireland, if it rolls up its sleeves and offsets a damaging digital divide, could actually gain competitive advantage globally.
I asked Rabbitte if the plan to be unveiled in July will contain not only the capital expenditure plans of the various operators but what the Government itself is prepared to invest to support access in communities most in danger of the digital divide.
"Yes," he replied. "It will have to. There are (economic) constraints but there are priorities and it (broadband connectivity) has to be close to the top of the nation's priorities."
Broadband investment
Last October, Rabbitte said the State will be accessing the funding from the EU's €40bn Connecting Europe infrastructure budget to invest in ultra-fast broadband. More than €9bn of the €40bn Connecting Europe framework will be available for telecoms projects.
Vodafone Ireland CEO Jeroen Hoencamp said the report finally sets out a road map for Ireland where consensus of the industry and the Government in terms of infrastructure has been reached.
"The recommendations must be fully implemented to ensure Ireland remains competitive on the international stage. However, we also need to ensure that we create a true digital society; we can't fall behind our European counterparts. This report provides a baseline from where we can now assess what is required beyond the deployment plans we already have and a starting point for discussing how we get there."
THE NEED TO AVOID A DAMAGING DIGITAL DIVIDE
50pc: Percentage of Irish population that will have access to 70Mbps broadband speeds by 2012
3.4pc: GDP in Ireland dependent on the digital economy – this compares to 7pc for the UK
21pc: Of Irish firms have never used the internet
20,000: Number of SMEs in Ireland not online
Hoencamp believes there are a number of challenges to achieving ubiquitous broadband in Ireland.
The local authorities are just one challenge, but there are an array of obstacles that must be addressed so Ireland meets its targets. From my perspective, one of the largest issues impeding Ireland's investment has been the delay in the spectrum auction. In my view, next-generation mobile will be a key component of the overall tapestry of solutions that will give people access to next-generation services.
"Next generation is a prime candidate for co-investment. As I've said before, to make this attractive for industry, Government support is vital in terms of providing the right regulatory environment, removing administrative barriers and helping to stimulate the end-user demand that ultimately drives the business case for investment.
"Government involvement may also be required in those areas where it is not possible for operators to make a purely commercial case for investing in network rollout. For example, this could be by way of providing direct funding or indirectly via the involvement of State entities such as ESB or Bord Gáis," Hoencamp said.
Next-generation access
BT strategy director Peter Evans said the elephant in the room is really the funding model for next-generation access (NGA) given the scale of the investment required and the long-term returns.
"Industry will continue to invest in NGA in areas where a commercial return can be made (up to 60–70pc of the population), however outside of these locations, fiscal co-operation between the State and private industry will be necessary," he explained.
In Northern Ireland, investments by BT and the NI government resulted in 89pc of businesses and consumer lines being connected to a fibre optic broadband service to ensure a 'digital divide' did not open up.
"ComReg must also ensure that regulation of NGA networks supports competition, as opposed to re-establishing another telecoms monopoly which would be a backward step."
On the question of whether operators will invest in collaboration with one another, Evans said non-financial support, such as planning and demand stimulation, are crucial.
"Fixed, cable and mobile operators will continue to invest where a return can be made. However, for any operator co-investment must support rather than restrict competition, as competition is key to driving investment, reducing prices and improving service levels.
"Non-fiscal Government support will accelerate private NGA investments in urban areas," he concluded.
"In non-urban areas, additional fiscal support from Government is likely to be required to accelerate private NGA investments, for example by the Government running a technology-neutral, open-access tender for NGA infrastructure gap funding."
Related: equality, Pat Rabbitte, BT, broadband, jobs announcements, Vodafone, Ireland
Entegro announces 50 jobs in Ireland to support NBP roll-out
Medallia to establish sales and support hub in Ireland, creating 100 jobs
Report: Ireland will 'spectacularly miss' women in leadership targets
What to expect at the first ever virtual BT Young Scientist exhibition


text:
Substance and Style
Saul Golden
Perspective, The Journal of The Royal Society of Ulster Architects
Golden, S. (2008). Substance and Style. Perspective, The Journal of The Royal Society of Ulster Architects, 17(2), 54-59.
Golden, Saul. / Substance and Style. In: Perspective, The Journal of The Royal Society of Ulster Architects. 2008 ; Vol. 17, No. 2. pp. 54-59.
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text:
Connecticut Education Association
Teachers Agree the Classroom Is the Best Place for Students
Some Connecticut teachers will be wearing black and some will be wearing red Wednesday. But both groups agree the best place for kids is in a classroom at school.
"We don't want to return to full remote anywhere for a long-term approach. That's damaging to not just students, but it's damaging to the adults as well," said Kate Dias, president of the Connecticut Education Association.
Dias says that means more at-home tests, masks and the ability to go remote.
"It is for short-term opportunities to provide either relief or continued instruction when there's a reduction in staff and I think we recognize that long-term remote is nobody's first choice," Dias says.
Dias says they are not advocating for any lengthy period of remote learning.
"We recognize that in-person learning is a priority but we also need to be flexible," Dias says.
She doesn't see the call by an Ellington High School teacher as much different.
"I think anyone who shows up in red on Wednesday is really messaging on point with us that what we are asking for is respectfully keeping kids in school in a safe manner," Dias says.
Ellington High School Teacher Aaron Hoffman is calling on teachers to wear red.
"The remote learning at this point is a slippery slope and the slippery slope is we learned remote learning was not a positive experience for kids in our state," Hoffman says.
Hoffman says they need to return to normal.
"We have significant signs of kids who are struggling with mental health and anxiety as a result of the last two years. Their education has been disrupted multiple times," he says. "The remote learning needs to not be an option and continues to not be an option so districts need to figure out how to keep in-person learning happening."
Gov. Ned Lamont agrees.
"There's no better choice than a great teacher in a Connecticut classroom," he says.
More than 7,600 students were out with COVID last week.
"We're in a pandemic and there's a lot of infections, fortunately milder repercussions, but um that doesn't mean you're not cautious. But that doesn't mean we deny kids the opportunity to be in a classroom as long as we can keep them there safely," Lamont says.
Connecticut Education Associationteacherschristine stuartEllington High SchoolKate Dias


This super bulky acrylic yarn is great for creating trendy yarn projects. Available in a stylish range of solid and variegated colors, Ginormous Big! is perfect for making finger crocheted scarfs, arm knit cowls and other bulky strand accessories. This big ball of soft yarn works up quickly and easily.
Hand wash warm. Do not bleack. Dry flat. Do not iron. Do not dry clean.
Ginormous Big!™ Yarn by Loops & Threads® is rated 4.3 out of 5 by 7.
Rated 5 out of 5 by kIKIE47 from THIS PRODUCT MET MY EXPECTATIONS VERY THICK JUST AS I NEEDED. GOT THE LAST ONE TO FINISH A SCARF THAT IVE BEEN WORKING ON FOR A WHOLE YEAR.
Rated 4 out of 5 by Mrs bmn from Nice and soft, but it does get whispy pills on it. I am not an avid knitter and in fact haven't made anything for many years . I made an afghan out of it. The price was right, it was easy to work with and went really fast. It is very soft. I am a little concerned about it's durability. It gets pretty fuzzy and will probably look a little shabby way too soon. It is not machine washable and must lay flat to air dry.
Rated 1 out of 5 by kgarcia from Sheds Too Much I bought 8 skeins of this yarn online, when it arrived at least 2 skeins were such poor quality they were un-usable, and it was thinner than I expected... I would not call this 'Ginormous' . After spending 4 hours to hand knit a chunky blanket using 4 of the 8 skeins I was pleased with the look of the blanket, until 2 days later when it looked like the blanket had been used every day for 10 years. This yarn sheds and pulls like crazy and now it just looks junky. Feels like a waste of my time and money. Very disappointed in quality and ended up returning the 4 unused skeins, and definitely will not buy this yarn again. At least Michael's is good about returns!
Rated 5 out of 5 by MMSM from Awesome to work with The skein is huge! I used 2 skeins to make 2 cowl scarves and 2 small ponchos. Wonderful Christmas gifts at a great price!
Rated 5 out of 5 by Svbriner54 from Beautiful and Soft! This yarn/wool is beautiful!! Sheds slightly but great to work with!
Rated 5 out of 5 by MakesScarves from Very plush It arrived a little late but it was worth the wait! it's not quite as soft as I expected but it is very plush. I'm quite new to this so I didn't know what to expect when I ordered 72yds but this is huge! Definitely worth the price.


text:
A family that has planted 6,000 trees in Mumbai wants others to take a leaf out of their book
Beginning in 2000, Vinay Athalye planted 5,500 saplings in Aarey Colony over 15 years. Now his family is continuing his work.
Kartik Chandramouli
Aug 22, 2019 · 08:30 pm
The Athalye family has planted over 6,000 native tree saplings in Aarey since 2000. | Kartik Chandramouli/Mongabay
The high noon sun makes it tough to inspect the shrubs and plants in the butterfly park without squinting. Despite the harsh conditions, the Athalye family – Sandeep, his wife, son, and mother – arrived at the two-acre park for their regular visit. They were there not just to have a leisurely time, but to survey the thriving Eden they helped establish inside Mumbai's green lung: the roughly 3,000-acre Aarey Milk Colony.
The Athalye family's weekend trip to Aarey, adjacent to a congested highway in the heart of the city, is sacrosanct. It is unique because they were continuing a deeply rooted tree-planting family tradition.
It all started when Sandeep's father, Vinay Athalye, who used to take regular leisurely walks at Aarey, decided to plant around 100 saplings in 2,000. Driven by passion and support from his fellow walkers and family, the elder Athalye managed to plant around 5,500 saplings in Aarey over 15 years.
But it isn't just any kind of tree saplings that he planted. Based on traditional knowledge, Athalye purposefully planted five native tree species: peepal or sacred fig/Ficus religiosa, vad or banyan/Ficus benghalensis, amla or Indian gooseberry/Phyllanthus emblica, bael or Aegle marmelos and ashoka or Saraca asoca that are collectively called panchavati – grove of five trees. Through the years, he also added 550 saplings of these native trees to a patch of land that grew into a densely wooded area and was later publicly known as Panchavati as well.
"These tree species, planted together in specific directions, are believed to increase oxygen in the atmosphere," said Sandeep, displaying his father's compiled notes about tree plantations. Though the land was later allotted to one of Mumbai's defence forces and became restricted to the public, Athalye was known for this deed.
After his father's demise in 2015, Sandeep's family continued the tradition of greening the city, having planted approximately 700 saplings of native species to date. To fulfil the senior Athalye's wish, the family also planted 1,200 shrubs and converted another barren plot into a bustling butterfly garden. "We must give back to nature," said 39-year-old Sandeep.
Young participants carry saplings in the butterfly garden set up by the Athalye family in Aarey Milk Colony, Mumbai. The family, along with the help of volunteers, planted 1200 shrubs which would host and provide nectar to butterflies. Credit: Kartik Chandramouli/Mongabay.
Green and open spaces are a rarity in this densely populated megacity of over 12.4 million.
Rashneh Pardiwala, ecologist and founder of the Centre for Environmental Research & Education, explained, "One of the areas of concern in India is the diminishing availability of green spaces in our major metros. Today, Mumbai, for example, has just 1.1 square metres of open space per person, including Sanjay Gandhi National Park, gardens, recreation grounds and playgrounds."
Mumbai falls short of the World Health Organisation's recommendation of nine square metre green open spaces by almost nine times.
The Environment Status Report 2017-'18 conducted by the governing civic body of Mumbai, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, revealed that the city has one tree for every four people – an insignificant number compared to the eight trees per person recommended by a study by the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru.
Further, a recent study by the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay highlighted how people from lower socio-economic backgrounds have less access to green spaces in Mumbai. Ronita Bardhan, a co-author of the study and assistant professor at the Centre for Urban Science & Engineering at IIT-Bombay, said, "Urban green spaces are loosely defined in Mumbai as compared to cities such as London and Singapore. These places should be accessible as well as safe for people. Our cities need a green audit to understand the health of these spaces and to decide what needs protection or restoration."
Many studies have demonstrated that coastal cities such as Mumbai are highly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. And green spaces are a crucial part of urban infrastructure.
Trees aid in carbon sequestration. That means they act as a sink by absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen in the process. The increase in the amount of carbon dioxide due to anthropogenic reasons is one of the leading causes of climate change. A recent study proposes a natural solution to mitigate this: plant a trillion trees in specific regions of the world to capture 25% of carbon dioxide.
A volunteer places a sapling during a tree plantation drive organised by the Athalyes in Aarey, Mumbai. Credit: Kartik Chandramouli/Mongabay.
"A single mature tree can absorb about 20 kg of carbon dioxide per year, which equals to emissions from driving over 80 km in a passenger car," said Pardiwala.
Centre for Environmental Research & Education has planted 46,557 large native trees across 61 locations, including many sites in Mumbai under its Urban Afforestation Project. The initiative helps companies, organisations and individuals to reduce their carbon footprint and has sequestered 12,602 metric tonnes of carbon dioxide.
The benefits of a green cover branch in several directions. It regulates the local climate and reduces the urban heat island effect caused by heat trapped between the artificial structures of the city. Urban trees also play a crucial role in reducing air pollution as the leaves absorb harmful pollutants rising from vehicles, industries, and other sources.
Green spaces in urban areas provide shelter to local biodiversity, act as sound and wind barriers and contribute to the social, mental, and physical well-being of people – the list goes on.
Fortunately, the barren plot where the second-generation Athalyes established a butterfly park is at present free for all to access and enjoy. A kaleidoscope of butterflies might welcome visitors who enter the garden. Aarey has recorded 86 butterflies species and Sandeep is hopeful of sheltering them here.
The Athalyes have never been alone in the journey though. The senior Athalye was supported by his walking partners and received donations from individuals and other communities who were inspired by his efforts. Sandeep continues to receive funds from many of them and has added other corporates, NGOs, communities, and individuals to his band of funders.
Participants plant peepal seedlings in a plot of land in Aarey. Credit: Chandramouli/Mongabay.
But his idea doesn't end with planting a sapling. He invites volunteers to the plantation drives and makes them aware of the benefits of planting indigenous trees and hopes to give them experience and get inspired. "They should not just become opportunities for selfies," he said. "Once you plant a sapling, you have to monitor it like a baby for the first few years."
A recent drive in a roughly three-acre plot of land which opened up to a view of Mumbai's skyscrapers at the horizon pleasantly surprised Sandeep. He expected around 100 to 150 people to attend and plant 300 peepal saplings but 400 – 500 people turned up.
Sandeep is relieved that his six-year-old son gets the chance to get his hands dirty in the soil, acknowledging the alienation of several urban residents from the environment. He believes it will help him form a bond with nature and become sensitive to its issues.
India pledged to reduce its national emissions by creating an additional carbon sink for 2.5 billion to 3 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent through additional forest and tree cover by 2030. Mumbai, like many other cities in India, bears witness to rapid urban infrastructure projects, mostly at a disproportionate environmental cost. At such a time, the efforts of individuals and communities to safeguard or revive existing ecosystems and create new ones can be crucial.
"There are three types of people: one who damage the environment, those who watch the damage happening and comment on it," said Sandeep. "I want to be in the third category who do whatever they can to protect the environment."
This article first appeared on Mongabay.
Despite warnings, Indian government wants to take help from private industries in reviving forests


Beauty seems to be that aspect which makes infinite meditation possible. So the beauty of the flower inspires the poet to compose a beautiful verse which sets off a series of composition by those inspired by the beautiful verse and so on.. The flower, the scene, the sky, the bird the river, the maiden are just forms which in a certain sense contain the possibility of this infinite meditation.. anything derived from them.. possess this character too..
But in what exactly does this quality lie? At times its the entire scene, at times its a particular shade of sky's pink or a particular bent of a plant's stem… perhaps it depends on who is looking for it… In that respect too what the form holds within itself is a web of possibilities and appeals..


The two teams had to wait an extra day because of bad weather on Friday night, but Batesville and Milan finally resumed their county rivalry in football. The visiting Batesville Bulldogs rallied to defeat Milan 19-14 on Saturday night.
The Bulldogs fell behind 8-0 at the end of the first quarter and later trailed 14-0 and halftime. Coach Evan Ulery's crew did not give up and scored 19 unanswered points in the second half for the team's second win of the season.
Christian Prickel scored the Bulldogs' first touchdown on a 5-yard run at the 8:18 mark in the third quarter. Christian Wolfe added the extra point to cut the Milan lead to 14-7.
Brett Williamson scored just over eight minutes later on a 5-yard run to make it 14-13.
Batesville's final score of the game came at the 5:42 mark in the fourth quarter. Prickel scored for the second time … this time on a 7-yard carry.
The Bulldogs finished with 296 yards of offense – 172 passing and 124 rushing. Quarterback Peyton Meyer was 13-of-20 passing for 172 yards. The Indians did record two interceptions. Prickel finished the evening with 78 yards rushing on 28 carries.
Nathan Kirschner led the defensive side of the ball with six solo tackles and one assist. Luke Schroeder and Hunter Hon each had an interception. John Harmeyer had the team's only sack of the Milan quarterback.


Terrain: starting on sandy beach at Barclays Park, and then climbing to 167m, through grassy and rugged footpaths, in approximately 45minutes.
Eventually giving way to paved roads of the Chalky Mount Village and Cambridge Village, descending to Barclays Park via footpaths.
This trail offers outstanding vistas of the 15% of Barbados known as the Scotland District, with its rugged landscape of hills and valleys interrupted by small villages here and there. We visit a Chalky Mount Village resident, John Springer, an accomplished potter who is a descendant of potters going back 200 years.
See John perform "magic" before your eyes, as he creates another masterpiece from seemingly "out of nothing" and there is more. . .
Learn about Manjak, its various uses as we visit what is left of this mine.
And then there is this animal that looks like a deer, or a goat, but what really is it? Well, let's say for now that it's indigenous to Barbados, so come and find out more.
Lunch at the Sand Dunes Restaurant, 5 minutes drive from Barclays Park, will feature local dishes.
After lunch return to your Hotel, to enjoy an afternoon at the beautiful Dover Beach.
We start out from the Farley Hill National Park, the location of the historic Farley Hill Great House ruins. By way of cart roads we make our way pass the Wild Life Reserve, through a nearby farm and onto the village of Moore Hill. We the proceed through the grounds of an outstanding heritage site, St. Nicholas Abbey, a 355 year old Jacobean styled plantation great house. Our trail continues on up to the village of Stepney, from where we descend to the very scenic lookout point of Cherry Tree Hill. Descending Cherry Tree Hill we pass by another heritage site, the Morgan Lewis Mill, finally stopping at Richard "Lowdown" Hoad, a local goat farmer, and popular columnist. Our transport shuttles us from "Lowdown's" farm to our picnic lunch venue, Farley Hill National Park. After lunch we return to the hotel.
Terrain: trail starts at an elevation of 255m and descends to sea level via wooded paths, grassy footpaths, giving way at times to paved roads in villages. Descent is gradual and winding.
Our hike begins in the Horse Hill village at the Anglican Parish church, passing through a section of the village, and into the wooded trails of Hackleton's Cliff. Proceeding into St Elizabeth Village, then down to the Bathsheba Community, along the coast to Tent Bay fishing community and finally to the village of Glenburnie. Your guide will share on former villagers like the Goddards, who had "nothing", and today? … well let's wait until you are on the trail to hear the full story.
We highlight certain flora and fauna along the way.
Terrain: generally flat with a few inclinations. Paved roads, wooded gully trail with cave formations, grassy footpaths, and cart roads.
We start off from one of Barbados' two remaining sugar factories, along cart and paved country roads to Redland Farm community, then descend into an outstanding gully (ravine) then up into Claybury Village, and across to Wilson Hill Village.
Meet Linda Herbert owner/manager of Redland Farm and hear her story, of the nine year transformation of a "dead farm" to what it is today. The farm has a history going way back to the colonial days, and there is even a modern day German connection.
The Wilson Hill community has been recognized by the Barbados Government on several occasions for its remarkable efforts in fostering and encouraging community life. See what this very small village has achieved.
Lunch is picnic style, at a local nearby park, just 5 minutes drive from our hike's end point.
Local dishes and beverages, will be offered from the buffet table. We travel along country roads on our return to the hotel, arriving at approximately 2 pm.


text:
University of Idaho adds cybersecurity Master's Degree to meet demand
Jenny Kane/AP
In this Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, photo a woman types on a keyboard in New York. Cybersecurity researchers say a coordinated cyberespionage campaign has targeted U.N. relief agencies, the International Red Cross and other non-governmental organizations groups for the past 10 months. The California cybersecurity outfit Lookout says the campaign, which uses phishing to harvest passwords from mobile phones and computers, is still active. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
Posted at 12:09 PM, Jun 16, 2021
MOSCOW, Idaho — The University of Idaho is offering a new master's degree program in cybersecurity to help meet growing demand. The program was approved by the Idaho State Board of Education on Wednesday and will open to students this fall.
The new degree follows U of I's bachelor's program that started in 2020.
Related: Gov. Brad Little: Cybersecurity a priority in Idaho as threats increase across the U.S.
"Every day, we hear of cybersecurity breaches in the news. Most recently, problems have turned from stealing customer data from global companies to shutting down major industrial infrastructure and demanding ransom payments," said Larry Stauffer, dean of the College of Engineering. "There are hundreds of lower-profile attacks every day. We owe it to our businesses and communities to provide the highly educated cybersecurity professionals needed in Idaho and our nation."
The university is also set to launch a doctorate program, according to a news release, allowing master's graduates to continue their education. You can learn more about degree offerings on the University of Idaho website.
According to the Idaho Department of Labor, cybersecurity jobs grew by 28% in 2020. Cybersecurity job openings in Idaho have increased 160% since 2015.


text:
Canterbury Greens
Historic Win for Greens
September 22, 2008 by canterburygreens
From the Valley Times on September 18th, 2008
THE Greens will have representation on Canterbury City Council for the first time following the historic vote for Linda Eisler to East Ward during Saturday's local government elections.
Canterbury has defied the statewide voter trend of snubbing Labor after a turbulent time in NSW politics, resulting in a change in Premier, and the resignation of key ALP parliamentarians.
Although it could be more than a week before Canterbury's official outcome is declared, Labor looks set to retain six councillors, while the Liberals could pick up two positions.
Canterbury's popularly elected mayor, Robert Furolo, will return to the city's top job, after a resounding 55 per cent of the primary vote.
Although not yet official, Ms Eisler spent an hour and a half discussing with Mayor Furolo the workings of Council on Tuesday.
"I have strong views on what could be done to make Canterbury a sustainable and vibrant place to live," Ms Eisler told the Valley Times. "As a school teacher, I told the mayor that I have a history of being able to work cooperatively with people, and I intend to bring that to my role as a councillor."
The declaration of Ms Eisler's position in East Ward will either be at the expense of long-time independent councillor Carlo Favorito or Labor's Bill Kritharas. Cr Favorito, a local real estate agent, has been a Canterbury councillor for over 25 years.
Mayor Furolo said the swing to Labor in West Ward and for the mayoral ballot as well as the solid result for Labor in Central Ward are pleasing. "The result in East Ward is a reminder that we must continue to work for the support and confidence of the community," he said.
"Overall, the results suggest the Council was viewed as having a good understanding of the needs and expectations of the local community as well as the ability to deliver real improvements in key areas. "I know all of the new and re-elected Councillors will want to work in the spirit of cooperation and in the best interests of our residents."
Posted in Media | Tagged Elections, Local Government |
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Earlier this month Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced a lawsuit against Zara Realty Holding Corp., its principals, and affiliated entities for repeatedly violating rent stabilization laws and harassing tenants at their Queens apartment buildings. The defendants, who own and manage at least 2,500 rent-stabilized apartments in 38 buildings in and around Jamaica, Queens, have taken advantage of their tenants, who are largely immigrant middle- and low-income families, by charging them illegal fees and rents, and requiring that they sign illegal leases.
The complaint, filed in New York State Supreme Court, alleges that Zara Realty has spent years evading and circumventing rent stabilization laws in order to scam tenants out of thousands upon thousands of dollars. Zara Realty often illegally demands and charges new tenants illegal key money, room reservation fees, advanced rent, and excessive security deposits. Tenants who continue to reside in Zara Realty buildings are often illegally charged late fees and fees for services to which they are entitled to for free such as regular apartment maintenance.
For years, Catholic Migration Services has represented Queens tenants who have fallen victim to the harassment and unscrupulous tactics of Zara Realty. Providing legal, advocacy and organizing resources, Catholic Migration Services continues to combat predatory landlords and represents low-income New Yorkers living in Queens free of charge.
Durante el reciente taller de naturalización el pasado 9 de Marzo junto al Abogados de Nueva York para el Interés Público (New York Lawyers for the Public Interest/NYLPI en inglés), Servicios Católicos de Migración ayudaron Residentes Legales Permanentes con sus aplicaciones para solicitar la ciudadanía estadounidense. En este taller, ambos organizaciones contaron con la participación de voluntarios y intérpretes de Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP; Fried, Frank, Harris, Shriver & Jacobson LLP, y Goldman Sachs. Tilda, una clienta de Servicios Católicos de Migración comparta su experiencia y como llegó a conocer la organización y sus servicios.
¿Una multa vial o un pleito con el casero podrían afectar el proceso de naturalización ante USCIS?
Cuando un Residente Legal Permanente comienza el proceso para solicitar la naturalización, es importante tener el "buen carácter moral" (Good Moral Character/GMC por sus siglas en inglés). Es uno de los requisitos básicos para que un inmigrante con su Green Card (Tarjeta Verde en inglés) puede aplicar por la ciudadanía. En un entrevista con El Diario, Servicios Catolicos de Migracion y Abogados de Nueva York para el Interés Público (New York Lawyers for the Public Interest/NYLPI, en inglés) responden a estas preguntas y otras.
Lea la historia completa en El Diario: ¿Una multa vial o un pleito con el casero podrían afectar el proceso de naturalización ante USCIS?
On Saturday, March 9th Catholic Migration Services and New York Lawyers for the Public Interest joined forces once again to host a free naturalization workshop for eligible green card holders in Brooklyn Heights. The workshop assisted more than 40 Lawful Permanent Residents get one step closer toward becoming a U.S. citizen.
En otra colaboracion con New York Lawyers for the Public Interest (NYLPI por sus siglas en inglés) Servicios Católicos de Migración organizará un taller de naturalización gratuita en Brooklyn, sabado, el 9 de Marzo de 2019. Aquellos personas eligibles e interesado deben llamar (212) 225-4400 o envia un mensaje de texto a (718) 866-3687.
Cuando: Sabado, 9 de Marzo de 2019 desde la 9:00 a.m. hasta la 5:00 p.m.
The Annual Catholic Appeal provides support to tens of thousands of people in Brooklyn and Queens through key programs, ministries, and services administered by the Diocese of Brooklyn. This year Catholic Migration Services is among a group of 4 other programs, ministries, and services benefiting from the annual campaign.


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Post Tagged with: "Warsaw Rising"
2015 Vol. 7 No. 3 — Fall / Commentary
Potsdam and Poland
by M.B.B. Biskupski × on November 2, 2015 at 5:00 am ×
Loss of territory, no reparations from Germany, a dictatorship imposed from abroad, and no safe return for Polish veterans and wartime exiles. In Washington, London and Moscow power and duplicity ruled; honor and integrity collapsed. M.B.B. Biskupski comments.
2014 Vol. 6 No. 3 — Fall-Winter / Films
by Malgorzata Dzieduszycka-Ziemilska × on November 16, 2014 at 11:00 am ×
Sometimes art can touch what intellectual debates only circle, but that touch can cause searing pain.
2014 Vol. 6 No. 3 — Fall-Winter / Books / Commentary
The Passion of Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński
by Benjamin Paloff × on November 16, 2014 at 10:30 am ×
Compared to Keats, Marcel Proust, and even to "Bob Dylan, William Shakespeare, Pablo Neruda and James Dean rolled into one," Krzysztof Kamil Baczyński was passionate, erotic, heroic, idealistic and incomparably prolific. His life and his art were one, his death made him legend.
2014 Vol. 6 No. 3 — Fall-Winter / Books
Books in Brief: Fall 2014
by CR × on November 16, 2014 at 9:30 am ×
The Color of Courage: The war took away his childhood, and indelibly etched his memories on his mind. While in The Polish Experience through World War II: A Better Day Has Not Come, master weaver Aleksandra Ziołkowska-Boehm presents a tapestry of wartime experiences.
2014 Vol. 6 No. 2 — Summer / Bulletin Board
Summer 2014 Bulletin Board
by CR × on June 14, 2014 at 3:10 pm ×
Eric Bednarski's documentary, Neon, traces the history of neon illumination in Warsaw; a Polish documentary about the 1944 Warsaw Uprising has been made entirely from colourised archival film footage; Bill Johnston wins the Transatlantyk Prize for 2014; the Jagiellonian University celebrates its 650th jubilee with a year-long celebration – and more.
2014 Vol. 6 No. 1 — Winter-Spring / Books
Warsaw 1944: Hitler, Himmler, and the Warsaw Uprising
by Irene Tomaszewski × on March 30, 2014 at 5:40 am ×
With access to hitherto unused archives, historian Alexandra Richie brings little-known facts and a sobering description of the barbaric destruction of the people and the city of Warsaw.


Making donations to Goodwill often means dropping off your items at a Goodwill store, donation center or donation bin location. Some areas offer pick-up services for large donations. All items should be new or gently used and in clean, working condition. Include all extra pieces, such as screws and other hardware, so the item is ready to sell at a Goodwill store.
Goodwill accepts many household items including clothing, toys, furniture, electronics, small appliances, kitchen gadgets and decorations. Check with the U.S. Consumer Products Safety Commission for possible recalls or other potential safety problems with the items you plan to donate. Goodwill doesn't accept recalled items or those that don't meet current safety standards. Some locations accept computers and others might not, so call the donation center before taking your computer.
After bagging or boxing up your items, carry them to a Goodwill donation location. Many have staff available to help you unload your items and provide you with a tax receipt.
If it gets you from one place to another -- or used to -- Goodwill likely accepts it as a donation. This includes cars, trucks, vans and RVs. They also accept marine vehicles such as boats -- from small boats to yachts -- and personal watercraft. Other items include snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles and private, non-commercial airplanes.
The vehicles don't need to be working to be donated; Goodwill can pick them up. Call your local donation center to schedule a pick up.
In addition to recalled items and those that don't meet safety standards, Goodwill doesn't accept chemicals and potentially hazardous materials such as pesticides, gasoline and paint, as well as large appliances such as refrigerators and clothes dryers. They don't accept CRT televisions, personal hygiene products, mattresses and carpet. Goodwill doesn't take weapons, cribs or building materials.
If you're unsure whether your item is acceptable, call your local donation center for more information.
Although donating your items allows Goodwill to help more people in your community, it also helps you at tax time. Keep a list of the items you donate and ask for a tax receipt when you make the donation. The tax receipt shows the time and date of the donation, but not the items; it's up to you to list the items and estimate their value, which is usually based on the item's condition. New items are worth more than used ones.
In general, Goodwill recommends you estimate the value of your donations at 30 percent of the original price. Ask your accountant to help you estimate the donation value correctly.


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Evidence-Based Diet, Exercise and Nutrition
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Home » Calories Burned » Kiteboarding: Fun, Addictive, and a Great Workout
Kiteboarding: Fun, Addictive, and a Great Workout
by Francis Lichtenberger
Calories Burned (Doing Anything)
Kiteboarding combines wakeboarding or surfing with sailing and paragliding. It's a fun and addictive combination that will give you a great workout.
Kiteboarding is a great workout with a solid calorie burn. The rider steers the kite with a control bar as the kite pulls the rider through the water.
Kiteboarding, also called kitesurfing, is a relatively new sport that is becoming increasingly popular. While many consider it to be an extreme sport, it is becoming more mainstream. In fact, it will soon become an Olympic sport, replacing windsurfing at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
What is Kiteboarding?
Kiteboarders uses large kites to pull them through the water on a kiteboard.
It's similar to wakeboarding or windsurfing, except that the power is provided by a kite instead of a motor boat or sail. The kite has long lines that attach to a special harness worn by the rider. The rider controls and steers the kite using a special control bar attached to two of the lines.
On a windy day, the kite generates enough power to pull the rider out of the water and ride his or her board, skimming along the surface like a water skier, wakeboarder, or windsurfer. Many kiteboards like to catch and ride waves (called kitesurfing) or pop off the water to perform tricks. It's not uncommon to fly 10 to 15 feet or more above the water.
What is a Kiteboarding Kite?
The kites used in kiteboarding belong to a class of kites called power kites. Typical kites range in size from 5 to 18 square meters. The size of the kite used depends on the wind speed and weight of the rider. The stronger the wind or the lighter the rider, the smaller the kite.
A kiteboarding kite is not like a traditional kite. It's more like a giant wing. It's made of Dacron (sail cloth) and ripstop polyester, and it gets its shape from inflatable vinyl tubes that are sewn into the leading edge and struts of the kite. These vinyl tubes can be easily inflated and deflated, allowing the kite to be folded up and stored in a backpack for transportation to and from the water. And since part of the kite is inflatable, it won't sink if it crashes into the water.
A kiteboarding kite is made of Dacron, ripstop nylon, and inflatable vinyl tubes that give it its shape.
How Do You Control the Kite?
The kite has either four or five lines, about 75 -100 feet (23 -30 meters) long. Two lines, called the power lines, run from the leading (front) edge of the kite and are attached to a special kiteboarding harness worn by the rider. Two other lines, called the control lines, run from the back of the kite to either side of a control bar that the rider uses to steer the kite. Some kites have a fifth line that can be used as an aid to relaunch the kite if it crashes, or as a safety mechanism during an emergency.
The power lines run through a hole in the center of the control bar. As the rider pushes the control bar towards or away from himself/herself, the angle of the kite (the "angle of attack") changes and the kite flies up or down, pulling the rider with more or less force. If the rider pulls one side of the bar the kite turns in that direction, as that side of kite is pulled down and the other side goes up.
In this way, the rider can control both the power and the direction of the kite.
What is a Kiteboard?
Kiteboards look similar to boards used in other water sports, but they are specialized for kiteboarding. Typically they have foot straps that allow the rider to slip their feet in and out. This allows them to ride the board attached to their feet, but also allows the board to pop off during an unintentional fall or an intentional trick. Some advanced kiteboarders ride "strapless," meaning that they use a board with no straps and keep the board on their feet with only friction, like a surfer.
Boards come in two main types: wake style and surf style. Wakeboard style boards are very similar to boards you would use wakeboarding behind a motor boat. But kiteboards usually have different types of foot straps, and their shape varies to meet the needs of being pulled by a kite instead of a wakeboarding or water ski rope.
Kiteboarding surfboards are very similar to traditional surfboards used by surfers. But they are typically shorter and they often have foot straps. Surf-style boards are often used on days when the wind is light, because they are very buoyant, allowing riders to stay above the water with less power. Of course, surf-style boards are also used to surf waves. This style of kiteboarding is often called kitesurfing.
Kiteboarding is a Great Workout
Kiteboarders call time spent on the water a "session." Depending on the kiteboarder and the conditions, a session may last several hours. And, it's a great workout!
So, how many calories will you burn kiteboarding? French researchers actually studied that question! They found that an average person will burn about 750 calories per hour kiteboarding in light wind (12 -15 knots) conditions. But as with all workouts, the actually calories burned depend on your gender, weight, height, and age. The table below shows more specific calorie counts for men and women based on average height and age.
Calories Burned Kiteboarding(based on body weight for a 60 minute light-wind* session)
(100 kg)
* Calorie burn assessed kiteboarding in wind speeds of 12 – 15 knots.
Calories based on an age of 35 and a height of 5 feet 9 inches (162 cm)
Based on MET values from the "2011 Compendium of Physical Activities", adjusted using the Harris Benedict equation for estimated RMR.
References and Sources
Men 597 705 854 1,007 1,164 1,324
Women 668 799 983 1,175 1,375 1,581
Kiteboarding is a fun and addictive sport that also gives you a great workout. This rider is enjoying a beautiful day off of Kailua Beach in Oahu, Hawaii.
Feel The Stoke
Kiteboarding is fun and addictive. Kiteboarders say that once you feel the pull of the kite, you're hooked and you'll never be the same. You become obsessed with watching the wind (and wind forecast), and every time you see a body of water you think, "Can I kite there?" And in addition to enjoying the outdoors and the water, you'll get a great workout.
So go fly a kite!
Do you kiteboard? What's your favorite spot? Do you want to learn? Have any questions? Let us know by leaving a comment below.
References & Sources: (show)(hide)
Ainsworth BE, et al.
"2011 Compendium of Physical Activities."
Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.
43.8 (Aug 2011): 1575-8.
Exercise and Wellness Program. School of Nutrition and Health Promotion. Arizona State University, Phoenix.
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21681120.
McDowell, Margaret A., et al.
National Health Statistics Report: Anthropometric Reference Data for Children and Adults: United States, 2003–2006.
Number 10: 13-6.
National Center for Health Statistics. Centers for Disease Control Prevention. United States Department of Health and Human Services.
Washington: GPO.
22 Oct 2008.
Vercruyssen F, et al.
"Assessment of physiological demand in kitesurfing."
European Journal of Applied Physiology.
105.1 (Jan 2009): 103-9.
New York: Springer-Verlag.
Laboratoire Handibio, groupe Mouvement altéré et efficience énergétique, UFR STAPS, Université de Toulon-Var. France.
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Coys auction is one of the perennial star attractions at the Autosport International Racing Car Show, which runs from 14-17 January 2016.
With over 60 classic and historic road and race cars going under the auctioneer's gavel on Saturday 16 January, there will be yet another strong selection of cars for all tastes and competition disciplines from this international, market-leading auction house.
International auction house Coys will be featuring a strong entry of historic racers and classic road cars in its annual sale at the Autosport International Racing Car Show.


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Why (More Than Ever Before) You Need to Read Deeply
October 9, 2019 | Greg Bailey
More By Greg Bailey
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The Dark Dreamland of America's Opiate Epidemic
If you had surveyed the technological world of 1994—a time of chirping pagers, beeping fax machines, and "Be kind, please rewind" that videotape from Blockbuster—would you have perceived an imminent threat to the practice of reading and the very concept of culture?
Sven Birkerts did.
That year Birkerts wrote, "Chip and screen have at one and the same time inundated us with information . . . and modified our habits. They have put single-track concentration, the discipline of reading, under great pressure. . . . Who has the time or will to read books the way people used to?"
That dire assessment appeared in Birkerts's passionate and prescient book The Gutenberg Elegies: The Fate of Reading in an Electronic Age. His was a lonely voice at the time, but 25 years later, the book's message seems remarkably in step with that of contemporary scholars looking at the effects of digital communications on reading habits.
That prescience is a tribute to Birkerts's understanding of and love for reading, and makes Elegies well worth pondering even now.
Birkerts—an essayist, critic, editor, writing instructor, and author of numerous books—pursues two ends in The Gutenberg Elegies: to warn that Western culture's willing adoption of electronic media poses a massive threat to "deep reading" and its positive effects, and to celebrate the priceless worth of such reading. Notwithstanding the book's ominous subtitle, the warning mostly comes after the celebration. Still, respecting the book's prophetic reputation, let's first consider the negative.
Fate of Reading
Birkerts is not about condemning new technologies simply for their novelty. In fact, in an afterword to the 2006 edition, he admits with regard to email, "Here I am, more than a decade later, chagrined but also, yes, moderately immersed. I have acclimated to a degree, and there are even aspects of the whole process I enjoy." His concern, rather, stems from his perception of a trend holding dire portents for reading itself—and therefore for culture. "I believe that . . . the societal shift from print-based to electronic communications is as consequential for culture as was the shift instigated by Gutenberg's invention of movable type," he writes.
What can feel like 'staying on top of things' is really nothing but distraction from the best of things.
What is the gist of this epochal shift? In short, Birkerts warns (as have others) that the sheer deluge of our electronic communication is sweeping us away from focus and reflection toward skimming and summarizing—from depth to breadth—as we strive in vain to keep up with the flow of information. "I see a deep transformation in the nature of reading, a shift from focused, sequential, text-centered engagement to . . . the restless, grazing behavior of clicking and scrolling."
This shift, in turn, is robbing us of "a sense of the deep and natural connectedness of things." And that sense of connectedness, Birkerts argues persuasively, is the source of wisdom, which he defines as "a seeing through facts, a penetration to the underlying laws and patterns." He writes:
The Gutenberg Elegies: The Fate of Reading in an Electronic Age
Farrar, Straus and Giroux (2006). 272 pp.
We know countless more "bits" of information, both important and trivial, than our ancestors. . . . [But] inundated by perspectives, by lateral vistas of information that stretch endlessly in every direction, we no longer accept the possibility of assembling a complete picture. Instead of carrying on the ancient project of philosophy—attempting to discover the "truth" of things—we direct our energies to managing information.
Birkerts puts his point succinctly near the end of the book: "My core fear is that we are, as a culture, as a species . . . giving up on wisdom, the struggle for which has for millennia been central to the very idea of culture."
As a people who have been specially charged to "Get wisdom; get insight" (Prov. 4:5), Christians should hear this warning with deep concern. We need to consider that our finite minds may be fundamentally incapable of managing myriad "bits," and that our time might be better spent seeking the one in whom "all things hold together" (Col. 1:17)—the very source of the "connectedness of things."
The stakes, then, are astronomically high. But how can we judge whether this would-be prophet speaks truth or vain babblings? Should we listen or laugh? Can we trust the seer's eye? In The Gutenberg Elegies, I found two reasons to give credence to Birkerts's perspective.
First, Birkerts bases his predictions about the effects of electronic media on trends that gathered momentum long before the first digital communications. In other words, he sees the advent of electronic media on a continuum.
Birkerts cites "The First Steps Toward a History of Reading," a 1986 essay in which Robert Darnton argues that prior to 1750, people read intensively, returning again and again to the few texts they could lay their hands on. But as printed materials proliferated, particularly newspapers and periodicals, people began to read more extensively, that is, more broadly. This "centrifugal tendency," Birkerts notes, "has escalated right into our present," driven partly by the growth of higher education but also by "the astronomical increase in the quantity of available print."
Translating Darnton's intensive and extensive into his own terms, Birkerts argues that the "trajectory" of reading has witnessed the "gradual displacement of the vertical by the horizontal—the sacrifice of depth to lateral range." The cause is no mystery: "In our culture, access is not a problem, but proliferation is."
Access may not be the undiluted blessing we can easily perceive it to be. Rather, we might gain wisdom more readily not simply by owning fewer books, but by focusing on fewer, and knowing those few better.
If nothing else, we have to acknowledge that Birkerts perceived that electronic media would bring hyperproliferation. No longer would a newspaper reader be limited to his local paper and a few others at the newsstand—thousands would become accessible. No longer would a fiction reader have to choose her next read from the extensive but finite collections at her local library or neighborhood bookstore—nearly any title would be easy to order, in print or electronic form.
Seeing these shifts as through a glass darkly, Birkerts can perhaps be forgiven for resorting to something akin to apocalyptic language, describing the advent of electronic media as "a paradigm shift, a plummet down the rabbit hole" and an "epoch-making transition." Still, I find his perspective persuasive since it's informed by historical reflection.
Likewise, a bit of Christian historical perspective can be helpful at this point. It's convicting to consider the depth of the wisdom of our ancestors in the faith despite the lack of breadth in their libraries. To cite just two examples, John Calvin's collection "has been estimated at 300 to 350 volumes," according to church historian Scott Manestch. And Jonathan Edwards, who lived and ministered about two centuries after Calvin, reportedly had somewhere around 800 books. Of course, both men likely borrowed many other volumes from various sources, but it's hard not to conclude that they made better use of their small libraries than we do with our nearly unlimited access to information.
Access, then, may not be the undiluted blessing we can easily perceive it to be. Rather, we might gain wisdom more readily not simply by owning fewer books, but by focusing on fewer, and knowing those few better.
Why Reading Matters
I agree with Birkerts for a second, perhaps more powerful reason. This reason brings us back to his celebration of reading, which fills roughly the first half of The Gutenberg Elegies.
Birkerts rattles off a laundry list of the traditional benefits of reading—"[It] broadens, quickens verbal skills, fosters attentiveness and imagination, and develops the sense of contextual relativism that makes us more empathetic, more inquisitive beings"—then just as quickly asserts that reading matters for even deeper reasons. Here his language takes a mystical turn:
There is a metaphysics of reading that has to do with a good deal more than any simple broadening of the mind. Rather, it involves a change of state and inner orientation, and if we contemplate the reading process in this light we can hardly get away from introducing the word soul (or something very like it) into the conversation.
Birkerts later confesses that his use of the word soul is "secular." He explains, "I mean it to stand for inwardness, for that awareness we carry of ourselves as mysterious creatures at large in the universe. The soul is that part of us that smelts meaning and tries to derive a sense of purpose from experience."
It never ceases to fascinate and delight me that God gave us his thoughts in a book, a medium that requires us to read.
Reading, then, has a unique power to shape us, especially our perspective on the world: "When we read we not only transplant ourselves to the place of the text, but we modify our natural angle of regard upon all things; we reposition the self in order to see differently." This happens because reading connects us to others on a deeply personal level:
We might reach a more inclusive understanding of reading (and writing) if we think in terms of a continuum. At one end, the writer—the flesh-and-blood individual; at the other, the flesh-and-blood reader. In the center, the words, the turning pages, the decoding intelligence. Writing is the monumentally complex operation whereby experience, insight, and imagination are distilled into language; reading is the equally complex operation that disperses these distilled elements into another person's life. The act only begins with the active deciphering of the symbols.
So the connection provided by reading is, in Birkerts's conception, a way to unlock who we are and are becoming: "I read books to read myself. . . . With each book completed I feel that I have augmented myself, gained in some understanding or wisdom, however slight. . . . The writers we read furnish us with expectations—they teach us how we like to see and feel and hear and think about things." Thus, reading offers "a chance to subject the anarchic subjectivity to another's disciplined imagination, a chance to be taken in unsuspected directions under the guidance of some singular sensibility."
In these meditations, Birkerts seems to be tracking with C. S. Lewis, who wrote in the epilogue of his 1961 book An Experiment in Criticism, "Literature . . . admits us to experiences other than our own. . . . Those of us who have been true readers all our life seldom fully realize the enormous extension of our being which we owe to authors."
Surely Birkerts's point is most apt for Christians. If his conception of reading as a connection to the minds of others by which we learn and grow is true (and it certainly seems obvious), what treasures await us as we read the book penned by the Author himself? If we stand to benefit and improve as human beings by reading the thoughts of other people, how much greater must be the good that can come to us as we read the thoughts of God? How helpful to be subjected to his "disciplined imagination," to receive the guidance of his "singular sensibility"?
Value for Believers
I appreciated Birkerts's book both for his motivation in writing it and also for the relevance of his central point to the Christian life.
First, Birkerts writes because he loves reading. Clearly, he treasures good books and the experience of absorbing them. Observing his passion as he reflects on how reading affects him is a joy in itself. But more than that, it's instructive to note how his passion stands behind his protectiveness. It's precisely because he loves reading so much that he writes so fiercely about the threat he perceives from electronic communication. Thus, Elegies reminds me to find and defend the things that matter most, a good lesson for me as a follower of Christ and recipient of the pearl of great price, which I too often take for granted.
Secondarily, however, Birkerts exposes the subtle dangers of information proliferation, helping me see that what can feel like "staying on top of things" is really nothing but distraction from the best of things. Thus, he challenges me to focus on what is most good, true, and beautiful—to spend my limited reading time on, first, the Word of God; and second, time-tested books that help me understand the Word and its Author. John Wesley's passionate prayer "Let me be a man of one book" resonates more deeply with me after reading Birkerts.
It never ceases to fascinate and delight me that God gave us his thoughts in a book, a medium that requires us to read. Of course, it's not an easy book, one that readily translates into snippets and "bits"; rather, it asks and rewards deep reading. To put it in Birkert's terms, it demands that we strive after a "centripetal tendency"—choosing depth over breadth, intensive reading rather than extensive reading—that we might be wise rather than merely informed.
Greg Bailey serves as editorial director for the book division at Crossway in Wheaton, Illinois. He and his wife, Kathy, have four children and two grandchildren. You can follow him on Twitter.
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While the deal can't be made official until July 5, the numbers are out on Logan Couture's contract extension in San Jose.
TSN's Bob McKenzie reports it's a five-year, $30 million deal that will kick in for the 2014-15 season, and carry a $6 million annual cap hit.
In 2013-14, Couture will play out the final season of his current two-year, $5.75 million deal.
The 24-year-old was San Jose's priority No. 1 this offseason after enjoying a stellar campaign. The former Ottawa 67′s standout led the Sharks in goals this year, with 21, and finished second to Joe Thornton in scoring with 37 points.
Couture then tied for the team goalscoring lead in the playoffs, with five, and had 11 points in 11 games while averaging over 20 minutes per night.
Head coach Todd McLellan praised Couture — who many expect to be the team's next captain — for "driving the bus" down the stretch and into the postseason.
The Sharks have to be happy with how this deal played out.
Both about to begin six-year extensions in 2013-14 with their respective clubs. Skinner's deal is worth $34.35 million, while Seguin's is slightly more at $34.5 million.
From a pure production standpoint, Skinner has averaged .70 points per game over his three-year career, while Seguin has produced .60 points per game.
Couture, with 167 points in 232 career regular season games, checks in at .72 points per game.
Skinner carries a $5.725 million annual cap hit, while Seguin is at $5.75 million.