text:
What's the future for Australian media? It's anyone's guess…
When the first Australian television broadcast was launched in September 1956, it revolutionised the way people accessed news and entertainment. Suddenly newspapers and radio had a competitor. The three branches of media settled into a relatively comfortable co-existence and weathered many ups and downs, but perhaps the greatest challenge is happening now with the explosion of on-line content.
The online shift has forced media organisations to change their business model, with the print media being hardest-hit.
The latest newspaper circulation figures released early July revealed print sales were down 7.1% year-on-year. As a contrast, newspapers are seeing increases in their on-line readers, even for content behind their paywalls. The Australian's digital subscribers rose by 27% on the last quarter while 150,000 people use The Age and Sydney Morning Herald iPad apps each day. *
The challenge for the Fairfax organisation is to move a large slice of the 2.8 million people who access the Sydney Morning Herald's website each month across to a pay model.* The success of The Australian indicates people are willing to read their daily news on-line and pay for the privilege.
The move to on-line content has also opened up the opportunity for overseas-based newspapers to break-into the Australian market. The Guardian launched its Australian digital edition in May with the most recent figures showing the UK newspaper had 1.1 million Aussie readers.** It will be a test of the commitment of the financial backers of the Australian version, as they seek to convert those free-access readers to paying customers.
As newspaper circulations continue to decline, media organisations have been forced to consolidate their newsrooms. The Australian Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance estimates more than 2,000 journalists have left the media since 2008. In the U.S approximately 40 per cent of journalists have left the industry over the past 10 years***. Staff cuts have hit all branches of the media, including television. In recent months, Channel 10 made up to 100 redundancies and the Nine Network and Fox Sport have followed.****
Journalists are now under increasing pressure to cover more stories for a greater number of on-line channels. And there are also time pressures as deadlines are by the minute, not by the end of the day.
News organisations are also competing with the plethora of blogs, websites, and social channels such as Facebook and Twitter which provide an even greater source of "citizen-journalism" news and information.
The good news for 'traditional media' is that established media organisations are still seen as one of the most trusted sources of information. Latest research suggests 57% of people trust newspapers and online news sites for political information*****.
Even if a story breaks on Twitter, it's the major news sites, owned by newspapers, radio and television stations, where people seek to verify if the information is correct. And perhaps this is the future for Australian media – to become a valued and trusted source for information on-line. A valuable service we are all willing to pay for.
*The Audit Bureau of Circulations July 2013
** Nielsen July 2013
***The Australian, July 15 2013
**** Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance
***** Essential Research July 2013
← Previous: Is the ASX's most recent guidance about social media monitoring a sign of things to come?
→ Next: Your teenagers' social media post could have the corporate investigators knocking on the door


text:
'Cautious optimism' for '21 Open Championship
Open Championship organisers said on Wednesday they have "cautious optimism" that golf's oldest major will go ahead at Royal St. George's in July.
The event was cancelled last year — for the first time since 1945 — because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the R&A effectively pushing its schedule back one year.
That meant the 149th Open would still be held on the links in Sandwich in southeast England this year and R&A chief executive Martin Slumbers said a "rigorous scenario-planning exercise" is underway to ensure it takes place.
"We continue to plan for a full-scale Championship," Slumbers said in a statement, "but also have robust plans in place for a reduced capacity or behind closed doors model."
There is a lockdown in place in England amid the rollout of a vaccination program.
"There are undoubtedly many more pressing concerns facing people at the moment but we are trying to look forward with cautious optimism," Slumbers added.
"We believe that seeing the world's best men's golfers in action at golf's original Championship will bring some much needed joy and excitement back into our lives this summer."
The Open Championship is scheduled to take place from July 15-18.
Golf is hard | 2021 Arnold Palmer Invitational
I CAN'T BELIVE I ENDED UP GIVING A GOLF LESSON DURING A BATTLE GOLF MATCH…PART 2
3 POWER MOVES FOR LONG DRIVES
Strydom ties course record to share Dunhill lead
HOW FAR TO STAND FROM THE GOLF BALL

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Values not reactive once available in Vuex Store So I'm  retrieving my data from my api using vue-resource which is happening correctly, the state is updated and from the console I am able to see the values I'm requesting. My problem is that when the application loads the data from the store doesn't seem to be impacting the application on load, but if for example I change between pages the information is displayed correctly. This is leading me to believe somewhere along the way I have gotten the life cycle hooks incorrect, or I have handled the state incorrectly inside vuex.
Vuex store
import Vue from 'vue'
import Vuex from 'vuex'
import VueResource from 'vue-resource'

Vue.use(VueResource)
Vue.use(Vuex)

const state = {
  twitter: 0,
  instagram: 0,
  youtube: 0,
  twitch: 0
}

const actions = {
  LOAD_METRICS: ({commit}) => {
    Vue.http.get('http://109.74.195.166:2000/metrics').then(response => {
      let out = [{
        twitter: Number(response.body[0].twitter),
        instagram: Number(response.body[0].instagram),
        youtube: Number(response.body[0].youtube),
        twitch: Number(response.body[0].twitch)
      }]
      commit('SET_METRICS', out)
    }).catch((e) => {
      console.log(e)
    })
  }
}

const mutations = {
  SET_METRICS (state, obj) {
    state.twitter = obj[0].twitter
    state.instagram = obj[0].instagram
    state.youtube = obj[0].youtube
    state.twitch = obj[0].twitch
  }
}

const getters = {}

export default new Vuex.Store({
  state,
  getters,
  actions,
  mutations
})

Here I am trying to dispatch an event to gather the needed information using a mutation.
<template>

    <NavigationTop></NavigationTop>
    <router-view></router-view>
    <SocialBar></SocialBar>
    <CopyrightBar></CopyrightBar>

</template>

Then finally I am requesting the information inside of the component to be used by countup.js and also giving it to the method inside data.
<template>

              <Hero-Tile
                :name="icons.name"
                :icon="icons.iconName"
                :count="icons.count"
                :numeric="icons.numeric"
              ></Hero-Tile>

{{origin}}

</template>

To be clear at the moment it seems to just load '0k' so it's as if there is some form of race condition occurring causing it not to actually load the information on load-up. Though I'm not sure what the correct approach is here.

A: This was eventually solved by what I'm going to describe as hacking as I don't actually know the exact correct answer at this time. Though what I have does work.
Points of Interest below:
Store
LOAD_METRICS: ({commit}, context) => {
    console.log(context)
    if (context === true) {
      return new Promise((resolve) => {
        resolve('loaded')
      })
    }
    return new Promise((resolve) => {
      Vue.http.get('real ip is normally here').then(response => {
        let out = {
          twitter: Number(response.body[0].twitter),
          instagram: Number(response.body[0].instagram),
          youtube: Number(response.body[0].youtube),
          twitch: Number(response.body[0].twitch),
          loaded: false
        }
        commit('SET_METRICS', out)
        resolve(out)
      }).catch((e) => {
        console.log(e)
      })
    })
  }

In the above I am now sending an instance of the current store.state.metrics.loaded when the dispatch event is sent. Which is then checked to see the truthness of the current value, Because the first load should always return false we then return a promise utilizing an API call while also mutating the store so we have the values from later. Thus onwards because we mutated the loaded event to be true the next further instances shall return a value of true and a new promise will be resolved so we can make sure the .then() handler is present.
Component
created: function () {
      this.$store.dispatch('LOAD_METRICS', this.$store.state.metrics.loaded).then((res) => {
        if (res !== 'loaded') {
          this.updateNumbers(res)
        } else {
          this.socialIcons[0].count = this.kFormatter(this.$store.state.metrics.twitter) + 'K'
          this.socialIcons[1].count = this.kFormatter(this.$store.state.metrics.instagram) + 'K'
          this.socialIcons[2].count = this.kFormatter(this.$store.state.metrics.youtube) + 'K'
          this.socialIcons[3].count = this.kFormatter(this.$store.state.metrics.twitch) + 'K'
        }
      })
    }

Within our component created life cycle hook we then use the resulting values to identify the path to be taken when the components are created within the DOM again, this time just loading the values and allow normal data binding to update the DOM.
I believe there is a better method of approach then deliberating the logic of the state within the action setter and returning a promise that is essentially redundant other than for ensuring the .then() handle is present.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Published Histories
Durham Miners' Association
New Murton banner is unfurled
by Andy Dowson
139sc
A wonderful new banner for Murton has been unfurled - 30 years on from the closure of the colliery.
The people of Murton turned out in force despite the awful weather to see the unfurling of the banner at The Glebe Centre on Saturday night.
New banner for Murton
A group of volunteers who banded together to promote their mining heritage are preparing to unfurl a new banner for Murton (excerpt previewed above).
Elliot Dixon, Chris Nutton, Michael Rawlinson and Laura Dixon formed a new banner group to preserve the values of their community for a new generation.
Davey Ayre 1931 - 2021
by Durham Miners' Association
Davey Ayre, who has passed away aged 90, was a greatly respected and much loved trade unionist and activist.
Like trade unionists and socialists across our region and further afield, everyone at the Durham Miners' Association is greatly saddened by his passing. Davey was a wonderful man who dedicated his life to his community and his class.
Davey is pictured above with the DMA area banner and his friend Kathyrne Wray campaigning for Durham's Teaching Assistants.
Please see below for funeral details.
CATHEDRAL SERVICE CELEBRATES 150 YEARS OF THE DURHAM MINERS GALA
A special service at Durham Cathedral has celebrated the 150th anniversary of the Durham Miners Gala.
The world's greatest celebration of community, solidarity and working class life was first held in 1871.
Durham Miners pay tribute to Dick Quin
Everyone at the Durham Miners Association (DMA) is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Dick Quin, who served as secretary of the DMA Brass Band for more than three decades.
DURHAM CATHEDRAL TO HOST GALA 150th ANNIVERSARY SERVICE
The 150th anniversary of the Durham Miners' Gala will be celebrated at a special service at Durham Cathedral.
Known as The Big Meeting, the annual celebration of community, solidarity and the coal mining heritage of County Durham was first held in 1871. The Miners Festival Service at Durham Cathedral has been part of every Gala since 1897.
Thomas Hepburn Memorial Service 2021
The Durham Miners Association will commemorate the great Thomas Hepburn, leader of the first miners' trade union.
A public memorial service returns to St Mary's Church, Heworth following a two-year hiatus on Saturday 25 September, beginning at 11am.
Durham miners support Allen Young for MPS trustee
The Durham Miners Association (DMA) Executive Committee is pleased to support Allen Young in the election for Mineworkers Pension Scheme (MPS) Trustee to represent North East and Overseas. Allen has a tremendous record of service as a trustee and gave evidence to the BEIS committee which considered the appropriation of the surpluses accrued by the scheme.
Please read Allen's statement below.
Durham Miners mark 150 years of the Gala
Banners, brass band music, and poetry marked the 150 years to the day since the first Durham Miners Gala.
The first Gala was held in the amphitheatre at Wharton Park on 12 August 1871. Today, the Durham Miners Association (DMA) returned to the site a century and half later to honour the anniversary.
Derek Sleightholme 1935–2021
The DMA has said farewell to union and community stalwart Derek Sleightholme.
Support The Redhills Appeal Join Friends of Durham Miners' Gala


text:
Mass. ranks fourth in the U.S. for LEED Green Building according to U.S. Green Building Council
February 07, 2020 - Green Buildings
Boston, MA Securing its status as a national green building leader, Massachusetts has taken fourth place on the annual list of the Top 10 States for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design(LEED). The new list, presented by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), ranks states based on the number of LEED certified s/f per person in the last year. Mass. saw a total of 101 projects earn LEED certification in 2019, representing 3.74 s/f of certified space per person and 24,505,512 total gross s/f. Mass. has ranked among the top five states every year since the list's launch in 2012.
"As we embark on a new decade, the USGBC community is focused on helping more projects get on the path to LEED certification and a more sustainable future," said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO, USGBC. "Over the last year, the Top 10 states have certified projects that serve as incredible examples of how green building can create more sustainable and resilient spaces that improve our living standard. There is still much work to be done, but the progress made across these states shows us that our work is having a tangible impact on people's lives. As we enter our next chapter, we are committed to helping more buildings, cities and communities improve their sustainability performance through LEED."
LEED-certified projects support personal health and well-being, as well as use less energy and water, reduce carbon emissions and save money for families, businesses and taxpayers. The Top 10 list is based on 2010 U.S. Census data and includes commercial and institutional green building projects certified throughout 2019.
"Sustainability is about working to provide people with a better quality of life," said Meredith Elbaum, executive director of USGBC Mass. "The LEED projects that were certified in 2019 are true examples of how building design, construction and operations can contribute to improving communities. In past years, Massachusetts has been a leader when it comes to the Top 10 States for LEED and I look forward to working with more projects in 2020 to help the state reclaim its leadership position as we work toward a more sustainable future for all."
With green building expected to grow globally through 2021, the need for skilled professionals to support green building projects has never been more important. Across the U.S. there are more than 165,000 LEED green building professionals with the knowledge to help cities and communities transition to greener buildings and spaces. LEED professionals demonstrate a competency in green building principles that can set projects on the path to certification and help them consider ways to reduce their impact on the environment and provide people with healthier, more sustainable spaces to live, learn, work and play. Noting that 70% of organizations have permanently placed sustainability on their management agendas (http://sloanreview.mit.edu/projects/sustainabilitys-next-frontier/) Elbaum added that Mass. has a workforce of 6,827 LEED professionals with the skills to help businesses, organizations and homeowners meet their sustainability goals.
As USGBC continues to advance green buildings, cities and communities through the adoption of LEED and the latest version of the rating system, LEED v4.1, the organization is also considering a future that is focused on a more regenerative approach. In November 2019 at the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, USGBC introduced LEED Positive – a roadmap that will lay the foundation for a future of LEED that transitions away from strategies that only reduce harm and instead focus on those that help repair and restore. With a continued focus on performance, USGBC is laying the groundwork to ensure sustainable design, construction and operations of buildings, cities and communities remains focused on better buildings that contribute to better lives.


text:
Original picture and credits
Original%20picture%20and%20credits
About 1,000 km off the western coast of Ecuador, a Galapagos Island tour offers a thoroughly unique experience. The only water park is the ocean, and the only rides have sails or two wheels. There is no place like them anywhere else on Earth. The Galapagos Islands off the coast of Ecuador could be among the last truly unexplored frontiers on the planet. The forbidding volcanic islands are part of Ecuador's national park system, and much of their land area is completely off-limits to tourists and explorers. Groups and tours in the area are confined to no more than twenty visitors under a trained naturalist's guidance.
In concert with the Charles Darwin Foundation for the Galapagos, the Ecuadorian government keeps a close eye on the fragile ecosystem of the islands, preserving it in as natural a state as possible for future generations. The Galapagos Islands were made famous by Charles Darwin and helped him form his theories of evolution. They have been called 'the lands where time stood still', and you'll easily believe that when you visit.
The volcanic islands are home to creatures seen nowhere else in the world – the enormous Galapagos turtles, cormorants, marine and land iguanas, and many other indigenous species to the Galapagos. The flora and fauna of the Galapagos Islands are the main attraction for visitors, who especially appreciate the fearlessness of the local wildlife.
Because of the long years of isolation and preservation, the indigenous creatures have no inbred fear of man, and it's not uncommon for visitors to find themselves literally nose to nose with a seal pup in the water or pausing on a bike trail to allow a turtle to cross the road.
A visit to the Galapagos Islands is an extraordinary adventure. While it is possible to find lodging on one of the islands and simply stay there, most visitors book a guided tour with one of the many companies that employ trained naturalist guides. Tours generally run 5-14 days, and most of that time will be spent traveling between islands on a ship or yacht. The accommodations range from berth space on a large sailboat to suites on luxury yachts. All tours are led by a trained naturalist who will introduce the islands to visitors – and vice versa. A well-trained and knowledgeable naturalist guide is the key to a never-to-be-forgotten adventure for the entire family. If you're planning a family trip to the Galapagos, be certain that you book your tour with a company specializing in family tours. Having a guide who enjoys working with and relating to children can turn your 'tour' into an adventure of enchantment that your children will remember for the rest of their lives.
The Galapagos archipelago consists of 13 larger islands, 6 smaller ones, and 107 rocks and islets. The largest of these, Isla Isabela, is also one of the two youngest islands, created by the merging of six volcanoes. The Galapagos Islands are located at one of the volcanic 'hot spots' of the world, where the underlying mantle plate's movement causes volcanic action. The most recent eruption occurred in 2005 on Isla Isabela (Albemarle).
Most Galapagos tours include a stop at Isabela, the location of the third-largest human settlement in the islands and home to Darwin finches, land iguanas and Galapagos tortoises. Other important islands in the chain include Santa Cruz Island, the Charles Darwin Research Center's home, and the Galapagos National Park Service headquarters.
The largest city in the islands, Puerto Ayora, is also located on Santa Cruz. Visitors may see the GNPS tortoise breeding center, where young tortoises are hatched and raised before being reintroduced into the wild. The island is famous for its lava tunnels and for the large tortoise population.
Baltra, home to one of the two airports in the Galapagos and an entry point for most visitors. Many visitors will meet up with their naturalist guides there and board the ships or yachts to visit the rest of the islands.
Darwin Island is one of the smallest of the archipelago, just under half a mile in area. Since there are no dry landing spots at Darwin, a stop there means jumping out of the boat offshore and wading in. That's fine, though, since the biggest attractions at Darwin Island aren't on land – they're under the sea in the amazing variety of marine life that you can see on a snorkeling jaunt.
Espanola is the oldest island in the chain, estimated to be about 3.5 million years old. It is also the southernmost of the islands, and its remoteness has kept it secluded and isolated for centuries. There are two visitor sites on Espanola. Gardner Bay has a wonderful beach that offers both swimming and snorkeling activities, opening the wide world of the underwater to view. Punta Suarez offers one of the most eclectic collections of native species found anywhere in the islands. Visitors may see lava lizards, Hood mockingbirds, Galapagos finches, Blue-footed and Nazca Boobies and Marine Iguanas. The island's cliffs also offer one of the best runways for the Waved Albatross, and visitors can sit and watch them fly from the beaches below.
January through April is the 'hot season' on the Galapagos Islands when frequent afternoon thundershowers make the islands greener and the land birds most active. The ocean is generally warmer during these months, making it an ideal time for snorkeling and swimming. The rest of the year is the 'cool season', and the land mammals are more active. It's an excellent time to observe sea birds' mating rituals and enjoy sunny days with little chance of rain.
Galapagos Islands Pictures
Galapagos Islands Reviews
The Galapagos Islands has a standard rating score of 8.5 .


text:
Author: William D Hastings
google_ad_client = "ca-pub-3771513672170817";
google_ad_slot = "5403921134";
google_ad_width = 728;
google_ad_height = 90;
//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js
"What!? You want me to say 'please'? I ain't finna beg you for a damn milk!" Chuckie was a harmless but annoying loudmouth with a big gut and short stature. He was generally little more than an obnoxious nuisance, but in this instance he had managed to grow legitimately intimidating as the fiery ire in his eyes seemed sincere and significant. It wasn't until this exact moment that I was confronted by the curious concept that the practice of saying "please" was a controversial one.
photo by SOMMAI
http://www.freedigitalphotos.net
Properly Polite
I have never taken an etiquette class or been formally schooled in the proper manners and protocols for given situations. I have, however, been instilled with a certain amount of sense and courtesy. Unfortunately, neither of those traits is particularly common in prison. Having been raised to mine my P's and Q's, I found it bizarre to be taken to task for my upbringing wherein I was taught to say "please" along with all manner of general politeness. Apparently, this was very far removed from the vast majority of the men I was forced to cohabitate with.
Rudely Wakening
Wrenched from slumber only to crowd around the chow table for an early morning breakfast, all eyes were still cemented shut with sleep, and general surly crabbiness was at peak levels. I was staring dazedly at the small circles of dry pancakes that no amount of syrup could penetrate. The gears of my brain were grinding ponderously as I pondered over the puddle of cold grits, wondering what exactly grits were because they'd never been a staple of my childhood, so I had never really encountered them before my stint behind prison walls. Into my reverie, Chuckie butted his unwelcome presence.
"Gimme your milk." I'd been locked up long enough at this point to know that that's just how people ask for things, but on this particular occasion, I didn't feel much like just letting the impolite nature of his words and tone go ignored. Truth be told, I had no intention whatsoever of drinking my milk as I believed it to be the main culprit behind my recent horribly explosive and odorous flatulence. However, Chuckie hadn't so much asked for it as he had demanded I give it to him, and I didn't much appreciate it. I uttered the two words that suddenly turned the dull and subdued morning into something far more volatile and exciting.
"Say 'please.'"
Differing Values
"I ain't finna beg you for a damn milk!" Chuckie looked like he wanted to throttle me. The fact that his build was similar to that of a Rubbermaid garbage can, or maybe a fire hydrant, made him somewhat less than terrifying, but there was a determined set to his jaw and legitimate rage shining in his eyes. Despite this reality, apparently it was too early for discretion on my part, and I didn't like being yelled at.
"Beg?" I said, cramming as much incredulity and outrage into that one word as I could possibly manage. "Beg!?" I repeated, raising my volume a half dozen notches past normal, and somehow finding a way to sound even more outraged. "Who said you had to beg? How the hell am I asking you to beg?"
"My daddy told me that a real grown man don't beg no man, and please is the same as begging." I couldn't help but be both surprised and impressed that Chuckie actually managed to sound like an adult human being while referring to his father as "daddy." I also couldn't help but wonder what kind of an idiot believes a simple "please" to be tantamount to begging, but I didn't voice my feelings.
by SOMMAI
Instead I pressed the issue. "How is 'please' begging?"
"Because it is," Chuckie declared definitively. With logic like that it was hard to argue with him, but I tried nonetheless.
"No, it's not. I'm not saying for you to beg. I'm just saying that you can have some manners and ask me for my milk instead of demanding I give it to you."
"I'm not gonna beg like some little bitch!" Chuckie yelled. He wasn't more than an inch from me, chest puffed out and trying to intimidate.
"I'm just saying it's rude." I didn't have anything more to say, but he stood there expectantly like I did. Eventually, it dawned on him that I wasn't going to speak, so he did.
"So what's up with that milk?" I looked up at him like he had a dozen heads sprouting from his neck. I snatched the small carton of milk from my tray, opened it, and drained it in two long gulps causing Chuckie to cuss and me and return to his seat.
I suppose I proved my point and learned an invaluable lesson about some of the differences between cultures, but only at a cost. Later that morning, I lay on my rack in the fetal position, farting violently, sporadically, and indiscriminately while caressing my bloated belly as cramps tore through my middle. That day, milk did not do my body good.
Author William D HastingsPosted on November 15, 2015 Categories Prison LifeTags chow, Chuckie, convict, Department of Corrections, inmate, pleaseLeave a comment on Culture Clash
Matinee of Madness
It was a lazy Monday afternoon, the hectic frenzy of the first day of the workweek having ebbed to a lethargic pace. Fall was in full swing with a nip in the air bred from northern breezes. As is the popular course of action in these instances, meteorologists all across the dial saw fit to blame Canada.
A line of thirty guys walking two by two trudged quietly to chapel with C/O Snyder leading us like our own personal pied piper. There was no second escort officer bringing up the rear of our movement line as is proper protocol. A clear demonstration of why two C/Os are required was about to begin.
Just Talking
There were two pairs of men behind me, and the last couple in line were talking together in muted tones, so subdued, in fact, that I couldn't distinguish one word from the next. Oftentimes, guys from different housing units use chapel as a meeting place to keep in touch with their buddies, trade merch, exchange sweet nothings. I attributed their confidential volume to them being friends (possibly with benefits) who sought some semblance of privacy for their conversation. Generally, guys have no sense of decorum, or any type of courtesy whatsoever, and a conversation between two people standing two feet away from each other can usually be heard by guys standing thirty feet away.
Whatever their relationship to one another was, or the topic of their talk, it seemed to change pretty quickly when the taller inmate finally said something I could understand. It was a vehement curse and insult. Then he smacked the shorter guy across the face with an open palm and pushed him into the grass where he stumbled and fell onto his back. The line of men continued to move, largely oblivious to the scuffle.
Falling Out
The initial aggressor collapsed onto his victim with fists flying in a valiant effort at a violent assault, but appeared to connect with nothing more than earth. After clumsily punching the ground half a dozen times, he changed tactics and tried a wrestling move on him. At least I believe that's what it was meant to be—some type of ill-conceived chokehold that I imagine he saw employed at some time or another when Hulk Hogan was best known for his Wrestlemania showmanship rather than his racist rant.
It didn't seem to be working, but he kept trying, and we kept walking. The fighters weren't saying much of anything and most of the rest of the guys walking to church showed no signs that they even knew what was going on. The few of us near the back of the line who were aware of it all bore silent witness to the struggle, with necks kinked backwards and sideways as our feet continued their forward progress.
Momentarily Invisible
Somehow the two men rolling around on the ground were doing so unseen by any authority figures. C/O Snyder at the front of our line had a somewhat legitimate excuse because he had reached a junction in the sidewalk which meant that the front portion of the line was essentially forming the short stem of a capital "L," and the rest of the line blocked C/O Snyder's view of the fighters. However, this happened in full view of at least four gun towers. Despite this degree of exposure, there was no announcement or warning shot. They just continued on.
The taller one—who had been the main aggressor—abandoned his cockeyed and futile attempt to choke his victim out and seemed to suddenly remember how to fight. He slammed the shorter guy's head against the ground. The shorter guy lay on his back, dazed, and the taller guy swung his leg over to straddle him, basically sitting on his victim's chest and pinning him in place. Having grown up with older brothers who were adept in the fine art of torturing younger siblings, I knew full well how helpless the guy on the bottom was.
The taller guy began to swing his fists once again, but this time there was nothing pendulous or cumbersome about it. His target—his victim's face—was right in front of him and he jabbed at the exposed visage like a slightly twisted and curious kid poking a dead dog with a stick. The man on the ground could do nothing but absorb the impact of each blow against his forehead and cheeks. Finally someone noticed.
"Hey. Hey! Stop that. Don't do that." Our movement line had progressed far enough to provide C/O Snyder a clear line of sight to the beating, and this was his response. He sounded like an overtired parent scolding a troublesome, petulant child. Snyder wasn't a bad guy, but he was clearly out of his element. He was tall and lanky and he moved like he was just out for a leisurely stroll rather than rushing to break up a fight. Snyder wore the perpetually vacuous gaze one might associate with Steinbeck's Lennie character from Of Mice and Men. (Tell me about the rabbits, George!)
As he walked, Snyder called for help over his radio then stood near the two men and continued to provide mild protests and admonishments to cease their battle. "C'mon guys. Cut it out." He projected zero confidence or authority, and made no viable effort to separate the two inmates or to physically intervene in any way.
All the men in the movement line had stopped by this point and were turned back around in the direction from where we'd come, openly gawking at the bizarre scene. One inmate beating another senseless while a C/O stood by and griped about it. I took a moment to look around in every direction and there wasn't a single other person in sight. Not one C/O, inmate, counselor, or any other staff member milling about. C/O Snyder was the sole voice of authority, but he was the epitome of ineffectual. Being practically all alone—unobserved—in the middle of the prison compound provided a strange, surreal sense of vertigo, but we weren't alone long.
http://www.findlaci2003.us
In an instant, the area was flooded by C/Os and white shirts. The administrative building was only twenty yards from where the beatdown was happening—and that's precisely what it had devolved to. The unfortunate inmate who was pinned to the ground had ceased to put up any kind of defense or show that he was even conscious at all. From the administrative building, a dozen security staff members poured into the area with an even larger number coming from the chow hall opposite and rushing across the field to the scene of the crime.
Lieutenant Waters was the first to arrive, though first only by a fraction of a second. He hit the taller inmate—who was doing all the assaulting—at full speed, collapsing him to the ground like a football special teams player making a spectacular open field tackle. Then it wasn't football that Lieutenant Waters was playing at, it was calf-roping, as he had the assailant prostrate on his face, cuffed, and subdued in the time it took me to blink.
The matinee of madness was over and the plethora of staff that had responded to it was corralling us toward the chapel with authoritative voices and threats to take us to Seg if we didn't start moving. We all walked toward our Bible Study and left the bloody scene behind. There was nothing more we could do.
Author William D HastingsPosted on November 8, 2015 Categories Prison LifeTags C/O, convict, Department of Corrections, fight, inmate, Lieutenant Waters, SnyderLeave a comment on Matinee of Madness
Shoeshine Shorty
Many prison inmates are both enormously vain and incredibly lazy. This is a pair of attributes that Bee was able to identify and take advantage of.
Identifying an Opportunity
The only sneakers available for purchase in prison are entirely white, and therefore, it's not long before they become scuffed, dirty, dingy. No matter what degree of care or babying one might take with them, getting them befouled is inevitable. Some guys didn't much care and would just rub a wet rag across their shoes from time to time if they happen to get some mud or other gunk splashed on them, but that's about the extent of their care for their footwear. The other, more particular and anal inmate was where Bee recognized his potential clientele.
Putting out a Shingle
"Shoes Cleaned and Returned Same Day" Bee's sign declared in large stilted lettering written with a dying red marker against a lily white piece of printer paper. Two dollars per pair was the stated price, and that was the only advertising needed. Each afternoon after returning from his mandatory GED schooling, as well as bright and early on the weekends, Bee could be seen sitting in his chair in the hallway outside his room in the dorm-like setting of our cell house. There was a plastic garbage can filled with soap and water between his feet, and he would be diligently scrubbing away at someone's shoes. It was only a matter of days before Bee had clients enough to keep him forever scouring and prune-fingered.
As far as a hustle goes, it wasn't perhaps the most glamorous of vocations, nor was it astoundingly lucrative, but in terms of Bee's expenses in relation to his income, it was a genius business model. Water came free of charge with a turn of the knob, and the laundry soap that Bee used was provided to each inmate once a month as part of DOC meeting one of it's four responsibilities to its wards—keep them fed, clothes, housed, and cleaned. Anything beyond that is a lavish luxury. To augment the laundry soap, Bee would use a bar of state soap which he pilfered with his sticky fingers from the school building or else received legit from a sympathetic sarge.
Since Bee was a state baby, and as long as he scattered his shots, he could get a bar or two per week free of charge. The soft-bristled brush he used to clean his customers' shoes had been left behind by someone going home and was seized by Bee. His biggest expense, and only one of note, was the bleach he sometimes employed to cleanse the more stubborn spots stuck on the fabric of the shoe. A four-ounce shampoo bottle re-purposed as a bleach receptacle went for fifty cents from most porters, but Bee had a deal to get it for a quarter. More often than not, however, he'd get it for free and just clean the porter's shoes in return. A win-win situation.
Bee accepted any business that walked up to his little workshop and had some regulars who got their shoes cleaned once a week or every few days. A couple of truly neurotic guys developed longstanding daily appointments with Bee and his bucket of suds. It wasn't long before his new moniker circulated through the cell house, sometimes spoken in contempt or derision, but most often it was just a harmless qualifier.
With business booming, a new sign was in order, this one a better reflection of his success. The cost to Bee: zero. The artist who contributed it was happy for the challenge and the change of pace from an endless parade of making cards with flowers for sweethearts and certain cartoon characters for the kids. Bee's new sign was painted on a 12×18 inch piece of Bristol board with the new name "Shoeshine Shorty's." A blue decorative curlicue bordered the edges of the sign, within which purple letters stated the same simple business model: "Shoes Cleaned and Returned Same Day," however, the arranged price had been amended. In a non-threatening shade of green (the color of money) and simple no-nonsense lettering, the new sign advertised as follows: Cleaning outside only…….2.50
Inside and out cleaning……3.00
I never once heard anyone bemoan the price hike, and since he had the shoeshine market cornered, Bee kept busy and kept putting money in his pocket. A more industrious inmate I have rarely seen.
Author William D HastingsPosted on November 1, 2015 Categories Prison LifeTags Bee, convict, Department of Corrections, hustle, inmate, Shoeshine ShortyLeave a comment on Shoeshine Shorty
My name is William D. Hastings. Except that's not my name at all.
It's not an alias, nickname, street name, fake name; no, it's a pen name. Nom de plume, as the French say, though I promise to keep this mostly in English.
So, why a pen name?
Why not? Mark Twain had one; why can't I? Though if I'd been saddled with the handle "Samuel Langhorne Clemens" I might opt for something a little snappier, too.
But I'm drifting from my point.
Why a pen name? Well, I'm writing from prison. Been here a while. Going to be here a while longer. Figured a bit of anonymity might be a good idea.
I'm locked up somewhere in the U.S. of A., but that's about all you're going to get. But I will do my best to share some of what it's like to be a prisoner in one of the most powerful and affluent nations in the world.
Because of my situation, postings may be sporadic or infrequent, but I assure you that my benefactor and I will do our best.
Author William D HastingsPosted on June 1, 2012 Categories Prison Life1 Comment on Posted From Behind Prison Walls


Many parents propose to move their family to the rural setting from the city once their children begin to get older. Typically, the country has less population, and that means that there is a lot of remaining space for children to exercise. There is also less crime observed in the countryside. Although a life in the countryside could seem like a complete dream, you will realize that initiating that step is actually difficult. The life in the rural areas is different from that of the urban areas. In the case you follow some fantastic tips, then you will not find trouble relocating. Your family will move without any tantrums and tears if certain procedures are observed.
The shift from an urban setting to a rural setting should be done gradually. Changing from the center of a busy area into the sticks will be a significant change for you. You might also experience culture shock when you are in the rural setting. It is thus a good idea to handle the relocation in stages in case you have the time. There are environs that exist away from the cities, and they depict the nature of the country, and you can stay in such places as you wait to relocate. In the environs that exist from the city, there are some beautiful apartments that you could get. The moment you find an attractive apartment in the outskirts; you will get used to a quiet way of life before you head to the countryside.
The other step to consider is to check for a place that has transport system that is public. Staying in the country can be remote, but luckily the houses have connections with public transport and this makes moving to towns and cities easier. Public transport system in the countryside is not dependable. Therefore when determining where to move to, it is nice to select the areas that have excellent transport links. When you utilize your vehicle, there will be added expenses like paying for gas. You should also think about the school where the children will attend.
The institution of learning for your children is very essential as you deliberate in relocating. If the area you are in does not have a good school, then it must have a good transport system that will enable the children to move to the school. If you do not know somebody who stays in your new village, then take the initiative to build new relationships. Among the ways to make new friends is by joining clubs and groups that are for that area. The local bar could also be a nice joint to join.


text:
Permanent representative of Russia spoke about the attitude of foreigners to Russian vaccines
Mikhail Ulyanov
Russian Permanent Representative to international organizations in Vienna Mikhail Ulyanov spoke about the attitude of foreigners to Russian vaccines. He wrote about this on his Twitter page.
According to Ulyanov, many of his colleagues in the diplomatic corps have expressed interest in being vaccinated with Russian vaccines. He noted that work in this direction is already underway, but the process will take some time – at least a month. "This will depend in part on the European authorities," he added.
Permanent Representative of Russia to the EU spoke about the "epiphany" of the West regarding "Sputnik V" The Russian spoke about the attitude of the inhabitants of Myanmar to Russia after the coup Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN at the meeting quoted "Heart of a Dog" Permanent Representative of Russia to the EU assessed relations with Europe after the sanctions over Navalny
US Senate approves $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus aid package
The Russian fighter won the third consecutive victory in the UFC


A man holding a Spanish passport. Photo: Rodrigo Arangua / AFP.
One in four foreigners granted citizenship within the European Union lives in Spain, new figures show, more than in any other member state.
Nearly one million citizenships are granted across the European Union annually and almost 23 percent became citizens of Spain, according to a Eurostat report released on Wednesday.
At 225,800 this was the highest number of people given citizenship in any country across the EU, showed the latest figures relating to 2013.
Spain was followed in second place by the United Kingdom which gave citizenship to 207,500 or 21 percent of the total EU citizenships handed out.
A vast majority of those granted citizenship in Spain came from outside the EU with only 1 percent coming from another member state.
The biggest group of people granted citizenship in Spain came from Colombia at 17.2 percent, followed by Ecuador at 17 percent and Morocco at 13.4 percent.
Latin Americans seeking EU citizenship overwhelming wanted to become citizens of Spain with 97 percent of Bolivians and 95.2 percent of Ecuadorians applying for Spanish citizenship.
Sweden, Hungary and Portugal all had higher acceptance rates when it came to granting citizenship, each handing out citizenship to at least six people out of every 100 foreign residents.
Spain was not that far behind, giving citizenship to 4.5 out of every 100 foreign residents.
Still, while Spain may issue the highest number of citizenships across the EU, the Iberian peninsula has not been so open to asylum seekers.
Spain granted asylum to just 1 percent of the EU total last year and has complained about plans to share the responsibility of the influx of refugees across Europe through a quota system.
Individuals may apply for Spanish citizenship after ten years of residency, but refugees must only wait for five years and those coming from countries that once belonged to the former Spanish Empire need only wait for two.
Spain recently granted dual citizenship rights to descendants of the Sephardic Jews who were expelled from the country during the Spanish Inquisition about 500 years ago.


MMS MAY 2018 82 mmsonline.com WORLD MACHINE TOOL SURVEY culture. As a result, fewer machines from Taiwan were available to U.S. consumers. The net effect of these facts about consumption and import/export trends is that machine tools have been increasingly difficult to acquire in this country. However, there are other significant fac- tors influencing the global supply of machine tools. For example, global machine tool production increased rapidly in 2017. It went up by almost 7 percent, the highest rise in one year since 2011. This jump strained the supply chains of machine tool builders, thus creating a scarcity of many critical components such as ballscrews, guide- ways and base castings. Therefore, even though demand now calls for an increase in production, machine tool builders simply cannot comply because they cannot get the needed parts to make the machines. Furthermore, electronics giants such as Samsung are dramatically increasing their capital equipment expenditures. A Wall Street Journal article from January 9 called "Tech's Enormous Scale: Samsung Now Outspends Exxon and Shell Combined," reported that "Samsung Electronics Co. spent more money on capital expenditures last year than any other publicly traded company." The $44 billion total tops the combined capital equipment spending of the world's largest energy companies. According to the article, Samsung plans to spend an additional $110 billion over the next three years. Much of this investment will go toward the production of memory chips for all those devices we carry in our pockets and wear on our wrists. So, how does this contribute to the difficulty in getting a new machine tool? Samsung, and other companies like it, are investing heavily in equipment used to manufac- ture semiconductors. Most of these machines use the same guideways and other components as machine tools. This massive demand by technol- ogy companies soaks up critical parts for machine tools, further inhibiting machine tool builders from responding to the recent surge in demand for their products. How to Respond This development leaves U.S. metalcutting facil- ities struggling to acquire new machinery at a rate that is likely not fast enough to meet current manufacturing needs. So what can these compa- nies do in the meantime to increase production and capacity? Here are some questions that might give possi- ble answers: 1. What automation equipment—robots, rotary tables, bar feeders, pallet systems and so on— can be used to increase productivity on exist- ing or available machines? 15B 14B 13B 12B 11B 10B 9B 8B 7B 6B 5B 4B 3B 2B 1B 0B China vs. U.S. Real Machine Tool Imports 1997 1999 2001 2003 2005 2007 2009 2011 2013 2015 2017 U.S. CHINA While U.S. machine tool imports increased about 7 percent in 2016, Chinese machine tool imports increased by 15 percent, more than double the rate in the United States. This relative shift of machine tools to China made it more difficult for U.S. buyers to get the machines they wanted.


text:
Westin Beaver Creek Resort Completes Renovation
The Westin Riverfront Resort & Spa at Beaver Creek Mountain (CO) has completed a multimillion dollar renovation of Spa Anjali. The spa features an upgraded reception area, spa boutique, and relaxation lounge; an expanded salon; and the debut of the Howard Head Sports Medicine Clinic, as well as yoga, Pilates, cycling, and movement studios. The resort's pool deck was also updated with new patio furniture and a paver heating system. "We remain dedicated to making this resort the very best in the Vail Valley," says Harry Frampton, chairman of East West Partners. "We have invested more than $4 million in recent improvements, with much of that money focused on making the resort one of Colorado's top wellness destinations."
For more information, visit www.westinriverfrontbeavercreek.com.


text:
Pokemon Go Gen 2 Update Launched with Many New Monsters
February 13, 2017 February 13, 2017 Grant Hamersma
Developer Niantic rolled out a fairly major update to its Pokemon Go game a few months ago.
The update is expected to support the inclusion of more than a hundred monstrous Pokemon characters. However, the only Pokemon that has arrived so far is the Baby Pokemon. This character was released towards the middle of December last year. If there is anything to go by rumors doing the rounds, other Pokemon characters will start making their presence in the upcoming months.
According to a message released by the development team after the launch of Baby Pokemon, the Gen 2 update will have a lot of gold and silver stuff for avid gamers to lay their hands on. It also reminded fans that they might receive a unique offering from Professor Willow in the course of the game. This turned out to be the first Pokeball that gamers receive when they begin the game. It also served to indicate that more Pokemon will arrive sometime this month. Players were also advised to remain attentive as long as they were playing Pokemon 2. It is worth noting that the Gen 2 update already introduced several new Pokemon characters like Magby, Togepi and Pichu. However, they can be accessed only if you hatch the eggs at the right time.
Also Read : Report: Pokemon Go Revenue Clocked $1 billion in less than 7 months
There are expectations among fans that the next set of Pokemon characters will be released as a group in clusters rather than individually. They also anticipate that the game will host mini events to celebrate the launch of these new Pokemon. By organizing such events, Niantic is likely to retain people's interest in Pokemon Go by making around six to ten characters available for each event. As of now, it is known that many legendary Pokemon are getting ready to make their entry. However, players will have to wait for at least a couple of months more before they enter the arena. While no exact date has been confirmed, the most likely chance for them to make their debut is during the Spring and Seasons. Going by past trends, these are the times when people mostly explore the game to the fullest.
GamingPokemon, Pokemon Go, Pokemon Go Gen 2
Previous Previous post: Leaked Gionee A1 Reveal 16MP Selfie Camera and 5.5-inch Full HD Display
Next Next post: Samsung Chromebook Plus Ready to Compete with Apple Macbook, Pricing, Specs and Availability Detailed
Share your comments here	Cancel reply


Writing a dissertation is one of the longest, most arduous projects that students will ever have to complete. While this can be an exciting project, it can also be a daunting one.
Students who want to complete their project on time and have it accepted by the academic committee should use the following tips.
All Our Tips Are Tried And Approved By Current Phd Holders!
In many ways, the research portion is the easiest thing to accomplish. Many doctoral students enjoy reading through the latest information in their field and taking notes on it. Unfortunately, it is far too easy for the research portion to drag out as students put off their writing. Students should begin writing as soon as possible before the writing process becomes paralyzing. They can discuss their writing goals and thesis statement with their professor before they begin. Afterward, students should focus primarily putting words onto the page. These sentences can always be edited, rearranged and fixed later, but the first goal is to just start writing.
Since writing such a long document can be intimidating, students should set a daily goal for their writing. By setting small, manageable milestones, students can break down the process. They should set a specific word count goal for each day and do their best to move through it. Keep writing until the assignment is complete. Afterward, everything can be rewritten and edited for the perfect final draft.
There are two main reasons to keep meticulous notes. The obvious reason is because it allows the student to remember what they have learned and recall it while they are writing. The other reason to take careful notes is because it prevents the student from being charged with plagiarism. As the student writes, they must be able to cite all of their sources. If the student forgets or cannot find the source information, they could be at risk of plagiarism charges. To prevent this, the student should organize their notes carefully. As they do the research, the student should write down all of the bibliographical information about the source. This will make it easier to create citations in the future, and the organized notes will make writing out a bibliography much easier.
Sometimes, a particular section or topic can be difficult. Often, the introduction is the hardest part to get started on. Rather than waste time staring at a blank page, students should move to a difference section. Time is valuable when it comes to writing a dissertation, and students need to manage their time wisely. If one section is taking too long right now, students can always switch to a different section. Later on, students will have a better understanding of what their paper is about, which can make returning to the difficult section much easier. The important thing is to stick with it. Students should not walk away when their writing becomes difficult because it is possible to complete if the student keeps trying.


Forays of a Finance Foodie: Rolling On The River In Style: The Newly Renovated Spirit Of New Jersey Sets Sail On The Hudson!
Rolling On The River In Style: The Newly Renovated Spirit Of New Jersey Sets Sail On The Hudson!
The Spirit Of New Jersey is over 20 years old now, and still provides a great time on their pre-scheduled nightly cruises that include brunch, lunch and dinner--as well during private events. I was lucky enough to attend their recent renovation showcase and was wowed by the $1.5 million upgrades I saw including LED lighted dance floors and bars (there are three additional bars now, by the way), anti-fog windows (which also provide clearer views at night), plasma TVs, new dining chairs and more.
There is also a greater variety of cuisines served and plenty of entertainment ranging from singing waiters to interactive deejays to specialty entertainers like card readers and fancy balloon artists. The boat has a modern yet comfortable feel and people of all ages have really been flocking to the ships as of late, especially for specialty cruises that include Hot Latin Moonlight Cruises, Friday Karaoke Dinner Cruises and Gospel Lunch Cruises. As the old saying goes, Spirit Of New Jersey truly has "something for everyone." It also goes without saying that the stunning up-close views of not only the legendary Manhattan Skyline but of Ellis and Liberty Islands make for some of the best photo taking in all of the New York tri-state area.
The boat can hold up to 400 guests so it's a great option for weddings, bar mitzvahs and company events. There are party planning staff will book everything from the food to the photographers to the entertainment to the florist for your event. You could literally have them plan your entire event in one phone call or email--all you need to do is show up (that means that brides and grooms only need to plan their wedding gown and tux, respectively, since the helpful staff event planners even have limo companies they can recommend). The Spirit's sister boats of bateauxnewyork.com are also available for private events although they have a different "glass topped" look to them.
We also enjoyed the roast beef and pasta stations, where people can select from several sauces and toppings. We fell in love with the passed hors d'oeuvres, which ranged all the way from classic Pigs In Blankets to Tuna Tartare With Wasabi Aioli. The cocktail hour included a huge assortment of Crudites and Antipasto--it's almost hard to eat the other food after gorging oneself on artisanal cheese and fabulous imported salamis and prosciutto.
Aside from the fabulous food, diversity of entertainment and views, we fell in love with the newly renovated Spirit Of New Jersey because of the comfortable couches and ottomans on the upper deck (third level) which one can easily sink themselves into and never get up out of for an entire three-hour cruise. Since food and drinks are served non-stop not just at the banquet tables but via roaming staff, there really is no need to leave your seat on the upper deck. It's the prime spot to be on the Hudson in the summer when it's hot out and the breeze in your hair feels like a million bucks.
I plan to go back again this summer to partake of a Spirit Of New Jersey Cruise in warmer weather. I will not easily forget how comfortable those outside sofas were or what an optimum spot the top deck was for photographing the Statue Of Liberty as we rode by. For more info, go to http://www.spiritofnewjersey.com/. The boat leaves from Weehawken, NJ, just one mile from where the Weehawken Ferry leaves off passengers from Manhattan. A typical buffet dinner cruise is prices at about $80 and a lunch cruise is priced at about $45 and they're worth every penny.


text:
Grace & Peace: Proverbs 8:35–36
Douglas Wilson on October 28, 2022
At thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore (Ps. 16: 11)
For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the Lord. But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: All they that hate me love death.
Proverbs 8:35–36
Most of the book of Proverbs is made up of stand-alone proverbs, most of which are not even arranged thematically. But this is not the case in the first portion of the book, where the grand theme is the contest between Lady Wisdom and Dame Folly.
These two verses provide us with a wonderful summary of the first part of the book of Proverbs, as well as a solid background to the wisdom found throughout the rest of the book, not to mention Scripture.
The speaker here is Lady Wisdom, and she is the one who says "he that sinneth against me . . ." To sin against her is to prefer the company of that woman Foolishness. To find wisdom is to find "life," which means that wisdom is our life. To find wisdom is to find life, and is also to obtain favor from the Lord. The person who sins against Lady Wisdom by consorting with Dame Folly is doing nothing but hurting himself. He is wronging his own soul. It comports with what Paul says about sexual sin being a sin that is aimed against one's own body (1 Cor. 6:18). To sin this way is to sin against God, against Lady Wisdom, and against yourself.
And the last comment here puts the lie to the idea that secularism can be anything other than a death wish. In order to have wisdom, you must have the Lord. And those who turn the other direction, despite whatever Lady Folly might have promised, engage in a love affair with death.
This is why our secular culture has disintegrated in the way it has. We have become obsessed with death, and we deal out death as though it were our dearest treasure. This is why some think that unlimited abortion is a constitutional right. Wisdom says that that all who hate her love death. Whether or not they say they love death, Scripture says that they do.
Grace & Peace: Proverbs 27:11
My son, be wise, and make my heart glad, that I may answer him that reproacheth me.
The nervous system that transmits signals of shame, dishonor, kvelling pride, and so on, is a system that extends throughout the organism of the family. The Scriptures teach that there really is such a thing as family honor.
When a son does something shameful, his mother feels it deeply. When the rod is not applied judiciously, a child left to himself brings shame to his mother (Prov. 29:15). A son is fully capable of bringing shame and reproach to both his parents (Prov. 19:26).
So in this proverb, the father is rightly exhorting his son. Do right, be wise, and gladden my heart. Otherwise I might not have anything to say when my adversary comes up to me and throws the stupid behavior of a stupid son in my face.
A man is greatly blessed in his sons, but not in the raw number of them. Samuel would not have been more greatly blessed with five sons who took bribes instead of two. Aaron would not have been more greatly blessed with four sons who perished in fire from the Lord instead of two. David would not have been more greatly blessed if he had three sons rebel against his rule instead of just one.
A man is blessed in his sons, when his quiver is full of them. A quiver holds arrows, and the quiver needs to be in the possession of and under the control of the warrior.
"Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: They shall not be ashamed, But they shall speak with the enemies in the gate" (Psalm 127:5).
He is contending with his adversaries in the city council, and his sons are there, and most importantly, his sons are on his side. They are standing behind him, shoulder to shoulder. On top of that, in line with our proverb here, they have not discredited their father's cause through foolish and unwise behavior.
Grace & Peace: Proverbs 26:18–19
Douglas Wilson on September 13, 2022
As a mad man who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death, so is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, am not I in sport?
Proverbs 26:18–19
The plain meaning of this proverb is that there is a clear boundary when it comes to practical jokes. It is one thing to "deceive your neighbor" in order to arrange for that surprise retirement party at the office, and which everyone appreciates as soon as the surprise is sprung. It is quite another to make him believe that his car was stolen, only to discover that it is mounted on cinder blocks in his front yard, and filled with packing peanuts. When the victim of the joke is brought abreast of the situation (and victim is the right word to use), the perpetrators cannot defend themselves by saying, "Can't you take a joke?"
But there are other applications as well. There are many situations where people indulge in what might be called kidding/not kidding comments. They say something that appears to have a clear subtext, one with a bit of malice or resentment in it, and then when called on it, appeal to the joke value. Say that a husband says that tubby wives are the best, and when this gives offense, he says that he was "only joking, sheesh." This is not quite as much on the nose as the proverb describes because the nature of "deceiving your neighbor" varies. In a practical joke, the deception is part of the set-up to the joke, and here the deception lies in maintaining that the punch line was the joke, when actually the punch line was a thin veneer covering over a mean comment.
However, the principle that the proverb points to is the same in both instances. Do not create some mayhem, and then try to clean up the damage with an appeal to humor.
Grace & Peace: Proverbs 22:3
A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself: But the simple pass on, and are punished.
This is one of those proverbs that requires us to say, after we have submitted to it, something like "yes, but on the other hand." What do I mean?
First, let us consider the common sense wisdom that this proverb expresses. A thoughtful and prudent man thinks about the road ahead, and takes appropriate precautions. He watches his step. In the words of the proverb, he "hides himself." He protect himself. He buffers for the future. The simpleton on the other hand, goes down the road whistling, hands in his pockets, and gets what is coming to him, good and hard. Thus far the proverb.
Where does the yes but come in? Well, didn't Jesus teach us that each day has enough trouble of its own? "Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof" (Matthew 6:34).
Take no thought for tomorrow, you prudent guy in Proverbs! And isn't Jesus telling us to walk the path of the simpleton and fool, trusting God for the morrow?
Well, no. Jesus is talking about the man who, in the name of prudence, has all of the anxieties and worries of next week wrapped tight around his axle. And Proverbs is talking about the man who can't be bothered with simple preparations because he is lazy.
Take this another way. It is fine to make no preparations for tomorrow, provided you know what you are doing. It is fine to make preparations for tomorrow, provided you are doing it in obedience to the wisdom of Solomon, and not in obedience to your own carking worries.
It is sinful to make no preparations for what everyone can see coming. It is sinful to make preparations for your tiny idol of anxiety, with triple bolts on the door. It all depends, in other words.
A gift in secret pacifieth anger: And a reward in the bosom strong wrath.
Here is a proverb that many Christians consider somewhat angular. We could just take it as a detached observation about how the world usually runs, but that seems inadequate. Like other proverbs, this seems aimed at directing our behavior. So is the Bible encouraging us to . . . give bribes?
But we have to make distinctions. It is obviously a sin for an official to take a bribe. That would mean that he was declining to do his duty unless someone sweetened the pot for him. But what if someone is giving a bribe to get an official to do his duty?
So when it comes to taking a bribe, the testimony of Scripture is plain. Let's start with a different proverb conjoined with other passages.
"He who is greedy for gain troubles his own house, But he who hates bribes will live" (Proverbs 15:27). "And you shall take no bribe, for a bribe blinds the discerning and perverts the words of the righteous" (Exodus 23:8). "Surely oppression destroys a wise man's reason, and a bribe debases the heart" (Ecclesiastes 7:7). "For I know your manifold transgressions and your mighty sins: Afflicting the just sand taking bribes; Diverting the poor from justice at the gate" (Amos 5:12).
These are all examples of men distorting justice in order to monetize their position for themselves. But let us say the situation is completely reversed. You are trying to get out of some kind of a hellhole of country, and the customs official is about to impound your daughter unless . . . and he looks at you meaningfully. A gift there would simply be to induce him to do what he ought to have done for free. It is not in the same category as the first scenario, which perverts justice.
At the same time, if you are a missionary to a country that runs on bribes, and it seems impossible to get anything official done without them, it is necessary to keep in the forefront of your mind the fact that this is one of the reforms that the Christian faith promises to bring—a system that does not have to be bribed and cajoled into doing right. And this means that you should seek to learn (from the more experienced missionaries) the various tricks that they have learned to enable them to avoid having to give bribes. This is needful because the system of bribes and bribery is a corrosive in that society, and the sooner it is gone the better.
It should also be mentioned that the proverb speaks of using the secret gift as a means of assuaging anger or wrath, and perhaps that is an indication for when a gift would be appropriate. If a greasy bureaucrat is just trying to make a little extra money, it might be best to stand your ground and say no. Just sit in his waiting room area. You have all afternoon.


Self Improvement for adult women of all ages.
This workshop is designed for women of all ages who want to understand themselves more and improve one or more areas of their life. We cover several topics on overall self improvement such as self-esteem and self-worth, healthy relationships, strengthening well-being and much more.
Self improvement starts with establishing who we are and what growth we want to see. We will explore important details about our pasts that have affected our core beliefs and values about who we are now. We will also establish the vision for what each person wants to work on.
So many of us have never learned how to cope with the many emotions that we experience throughout each day. We will talk about how to be more present when emotions come up and learn tools to cope.
We will discuss the relationships of the past and present and evaluate our roles and how those relationships impact our decisions.
We will discuss ways to practice asking for what we need and will learn about assertive communication vs. aggressive communication. We will also learn tools to reduce conflict when confronting.
We will evaluate the areas of self care in our lives. Some areas discussed will be time management, weight and health management, work life balance, building resilience and well-being, and expanding social network.
Give us a call to find out the next workshop to be held, or check Meetup.com or 9news Events as we post events on both of those sites when we have upcoming workshops!


Buffy the Vampire Slayer started as the modern Ghostbusters in 1997 and ended after 145 episodes in 2003.
The plot: Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar), Willow Rosenberg (Alyson Hannigan) and Alexander Harris fight demons, vampires and anything unhuman at Sunnydale High.
Did you know? Buffy's birth date changed between episodes – from 24 October 1980 to 6 May 1979 to 19 January 1981.


text:
Juan Company Jiménez (Bailèn, 23 de novembre de 1877 - Benicalap, 7 de gener de 1951) va ser un metge i polític republicà espanyol que va residir bona part de la seva vida a Alhama de Almería i va arribar a ser diputat a Corts en la Segona República.

Fill del comandant de la Guàrdia Civil a Bailén, ja de nen la seva família es va traslladar a Alhama de Almería, lloc de naixement del seu pare. Després d'acabar el batxiller a Almeria, va cursar els dos primers anys de medicina a la Universitat de Granada, acabant els seus estudis a la Universitat de Barcelona en 1900. Res més acabar la seva formació es va establir com a metge a Canjáyar i poc després guanyà per oposició la plaça de metge de banys al balneari d'Alhama, que va ocupar fins a 1918. Ja casat, es va traslladar a Almeria per obrir una consulta com a especialista de pulmó i cor, encara que va seguir treballant com a metge higienista ocasionalment, especialment a diferents balnearis d'Espanya com el de Panticosa a la província d'Osca. Va ser tresorer del Col·legi de Metges d'Almeria i membre de la Junta Antituberculosa, i publicava habitualment a revistes mèdiques especialitzades sobre malalties pulmonars, higiene i les relacions entre les pobres condicions de treball i la salut dels obrers, on van destacar les denúncies per les condicions de treball dels miners de Rodalquilar.

En el terreny polític va estar vinculat des de jove a l'Aliança Republicana d'Almeria, incorporant-se al Partit Republicà Democràtic Federal del que va ser president a Almeria. Va ser membre iniciat en la maçoneria en la lògia Progreso nº 28 d'Almeria el que li va portar a presó un temps durant la dictadura de Primo de Rivera. A les eleccions municipals de 1931 que van donar lloc a la proclamació de la República va ser escollit regidor de l'ajuntament d'Almeria. Després es va presentar amb els federals com a candidat a diputat a les eleccions generals de 1931, i de nou el 1936, ja com a membre de Izquierda Republicana, obtenint l'escó dins de la candidatura del Front Popular.

En esclatar la Guerra Civil va aconseguir posar-se a resguard de la repressió dels revoltats i va participar professionalment com a metge de campanya. El 1937 es va afiliar al Partit Socialista Obrer Espanyol (PSOE), però se li va denegar l'ingrés al Grup Parlamentari Socialista per requerir-se un temps de militància prèvia. Al final de la guerra va aconseguir passar a Algèria, on va ser internat en un camp de concentració. A Espanya va ser suspès pel Col·legi de Metges poc després d'acabar la guerra, processat en rebel·lia pel Tribunal Especial de Repressió de la Maçoneria i del Comunisme a setze anys de presó i inhabilitació absoluta i perpètua de la seva professió i pel de Responsabilitats Polítiques, que va arxivar el cas en 1945. El 1942 va aconseguir embarcar cap a Mèxic on residia ja el seu fill gran com a representant d'uns laboratoris, instal·lant-se en el seu habitatge a la capital asteca i incorporant-se, llavors sí, al Grup Parlamentari Socialista. Allí va treballar com a metge i professor ocasional, sobretot entre els exiliats espanyols. El 1946 va començar a patir greus problemes de visió. Malalt, després de la fi de la Segona Guerra Mundial va fer gestions per tornar a Espanya davant Gregorio Marañón, al que havia conegut en 1928, qui finalment va aconseguir que se li autoritzés l'entrada el 1949, si bé mai se li va permetre tornar a exercir.

Enllaços externs

 Entrada, al Diccionario biográfico del socialismo español.
 Fitxa històrica del Congrés dels Diputats

Socialistes andalusos
Metges andalusos
Diputats andalusos al Congrés dels Diputats
Exiliats del franquisme andalusos
Polítics de la província de Jaén
Bailèn

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: Python, How to break out of multiple threads I am following one of the examples in a book I am reading ("Violent Python"). It is to create a zip file password cracker from a dictionary. I have two questions about it. First it says to thread it as I have written in the code to increase performance but when I timed it (I know time.time() is not great for timing) there was about a twelve second difference in favor of not threading. Is this because it is taking longer to start the threads? Second if I do it without the threads I can break as soon as the correct value is found by printing the result and the entering the statement exit(0). Is there a way to get the same result using threading so that if I find the result I am looking for I can end all other threads simultaneously?
import zipfile
from threading import Thread
import time

def extractFile(z, password, starttime):
    try:
        z.extractall(pwd=password)
    except:
        pass
    else:
        z.close()
        print('PWD IS ' + password)
        print(str(time.time()-starttime))

def main():
    start = time.time()
    z = zipfile.ZipFile('test.zip')
    pwdfile = open('words.txt')
    pwds = pwdfile.read()
    pwdfile.close()
    for pwd in pwds.splitlines():
        t = Thread(target=extractFile, args=(z, pwd, start))
        t.start()
        #extractFile(z, pwd, start)
    print(str(time.time()-start))

if __name__ == '__main__':
    main()

A: In CPython, the Global Interpreter Lock ("GIL") enforces the restriction that only one thread at a time can execute Python bytecode.
So in this application, it is probably better to use the map method of a multiprocessing.Pool, since every try is independant of the others;
import multiprocessing
import zipfile

def tryfile(password):
    rv = passwd
    with zipfile.ZipFile('test.zip') as z:
        try:
            z.extractall(pwd=password)
        except:
            rv = None
    return rv

with open('words.txt') as pwdfile:
    data = pwdfile.read()
pwds = data.split()

p = multiprocessing.Pool()
results = p.map(tryfile, pwds)
results = [r for r in results if r is not None]

This will start (by default) as many processes as your computer has cores. If will keep running tryfile() with a different passwords in these processes until the list pwds is exhausted, gather the results and return them. The last list comprehension is to discard the None results.
Note that this code could be improved to stop shut down the map once the password is found. You'd probably have to use map_async and a shared variable in that case. It would also be nice to load the zipfile only once and share that.

A: This code is slow because python has a Global Interpreter Lock, which means only one thread can execute at a time. This causes multithreaded code to run slower than serial code in Python. If you want to create a truly multithreaded application, you'd have to use the Multiprocessing Module.
To break out of the threads and get the return value, you can use os._exit(1) First, import the os module at the top of your file:
import os

Then, change your extractFile function to use os._exit(1):
def extractFile(z, password, starttime):
    try:
        z.extractall(pwd=password)
    except:
        pass
    else:
        z.close()
        print('PWD IS ' + password)
        print(str(time.time()-starttime))
        os._exit(1)


text:
Q: Entropy for an open system? The Clausius theorem is a theorem that is important in thermal physics, for it makes it possible for us to define the state function entropy. My book derives the Clausius theorem with the assumption that the system is closed (ie. a system which doesn't exchange particles with the surroundings). I was wondering whether the Clausius theorem still applies for an open system (ie. one that exchanges particles with the surroundings). If not, then how does that influence the definition of entropy for an open system?

A: Clausius theorem applies for both open and closed systems. From the point of view of thermodynamics number of particles and chemical potential are a pair of conjugate quantities like any other, so the proof of Clausius theorem in this case looks essentially the same as for the case of a magnetic system or a system with a surface area and surface tension; there is an extra degree of freedom which has the potential for a little more book keeping, but nothing essential changes. You just replace the pressure/volume pair with a collection of all the degrees of freedom that do reversible work (i.e. all of them except the temperature/entropy pair).


text:
// Licensed to the .NET Foundation under one or more agreements.
// The .NET Foundation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.

namespace System.Security.Permissions
{
    [Serializable]
    public class ResourcePermissionBaseEntry
    {
        public ResourcePermissionBaseEntry() { }
        public ResourcePermissionBaseEntry(int permissionAccess, string[] permissionAccessPath) { }
        public int PermissionAccess { get; }
        public string[] PermissionAccessPath { get; }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Global Security Report: How Are Organizations Reacting to the Rapid Increase in Ransomware Threats
Posted on December 21, 2021 by Shelley Boose
Ransomware attacks spiked by 250% from Q1 to Q2 of 2021. By the end of 2021, it's estimated that an organization will be hit by ransomware every 11 seconds. A Venafi-sponsored study conducted by Sapio Research evaluated data from 1,506 IT security officers across the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, Benelux and Australia to explore how InfoSec leadership is responding to the rapidly growing risk of ransomware attacks. See the results in our Global Security Report.
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) is giving ransomware attacks a priority level similar to terrorism. The Venafi-sponsored survey asked respondents if they agree with the characterization.
Overall, 60% agree with the DOJ's prioritization of ransomware threats. As a manifestation of this concern, almost half of the respondents said they have experienced a ransomware attack over the prior 12 months.
More than three quarters (77%) of the organizations in the study are confident that the security tools they have in place will protect their organization from future attacks. Interestingly, organizations exude this confidence despite the fact that over two thirds of them have experienced a ransomware attack in the last 12 months.
Of particular interest, executives seem to be more confident in ransomware prevention than security leadership, according to the survey, with 80% of directors and C-level executives expressing confidence in their ransomware protection. On the other hand, only 69% of security team leaders were confident in protective measures.
SSL/TLS Certificates and Their Prevalence on the Dark Web
Are organizations adopting the most effective tools to break the ransomware kill chain?
While organizations have security controls in place today to help protect against or limit the impact of a ransomware attack, many of these security controls are not optimized for perimeterless networks where DevOps methodologies and software-defined networks require different security strategies to break the ransomware kill chain. And these tools have very low adoption rates, according to the study.
Current security controls used protect against or limit the impact of a ransomware attack:
43% VPN
36% Regular encrypted backups
35% Anti-phishing
31% Vulnerability scanning
29% Secure domain controllers
28% Require all software be digitally signed by their organization before employees are allowed to execute it
25% Regular patching program for applications and OS
25% Configuration management
25% Business transaction logging
21% Remote services and RDP
21% Restrict execution of all macros within office documents
18% Restrict use of PowerShell using group policy
Of the tools listed above, only three are designed to add specific new layers of control for cloud and DevOps environments that help to break the ransomware kill chain: internal code signing, restricting macros and restricting PowerShell scripts. Yet these three tools have very low adoption rates.
28% of organizations require that all software be digitally signed by their organization before employees are allowed to execute it.
21% of organizations restrict execution of all macros within Microsoft Office documents.
18% of organizations restrict use of PowerShell using group policy.
Digital code signing, is currently being used by only 28% of respondent organizations overall, despite it being a deterrent to ransomware attacks. And while a higher percentage of large organizations (5,000 or more employees) employ digital code signing as a control, that percentage is well below 50% despite the fact that such a high percentage of these organizations have already experienced ransomware attacks.
Restricting execution of unsigned Office macros can negatively impact productivity. However, 43% of all malware downloads are malicious Office documents in July 2021, up from 20% at the beginning of 2020.[i]
Moral dilemma for organizations paying ransomware
Almost 1 in 10 (8%) of the organizations who have suffered a ransomware attack in the last 12 months paid the ransom but 22% believe it is morally wrong to pay a ransom even if it had seriously compromised critical systems of data—and this figure rises to 34% when looking at business owners, according to the survey.
However, of those who would pay a ransom, if they had to publicly report payment, 57% of people would change their decision to pay.
Investing in ransomware prevention
More than three quarters (77%) of the organizations say they will increase spending on ransomware security controls over the next 12 months, indicating that security teams realize their current strategies do not provide enough protection. These investments can be justified becausethe cost of a ransomware attack can quickly rise far beyond the cost of the ransom price itself.
In 2020 the total amount of ransom paid by cyberattack victims was close to $416 million. This figure is projected to double in 2021 and double again in 2022. And the total average cost to rectify ransomware attacks is estimated to be US$1.85 million, more than double the US $761,106 cost reported in 2020, according to Sophos.
The rising costs of a ransomware attack and the increasing frequency of attacks require more sophisticated security controls, explains Kevin Bocek, vice president ecosystem and threat intelligence at Venafi.
"Organizational environments now extend far beyond traditional perimeters, and so we can no longer rely on yesterday's tools to win this high-stakes battle," says Bocek.
"Controls like code signing, restricting the execution of malicious macros and limiting the use of unsigned scripts based on corporate security policies use a high level of automation to prevent ransomware in our machine-centric, digitally transformed world," according to Bocek.
Code Signing Certificates [Your In-Depth Guide]
Venafi CodeSign Protect
Certificate Management for Code Signing
CISO's and CIOs: Are you aware of the lurking time bombs?
[i] Netskope. Hey, You, Get Out of My Cloud. July 2021
Shelley Boose
Vice President Corporate Marketing


text:
Home News Two win round trip tickets from Fly-Jamaica at Caribbean Motor Racing Championships
Two win round trip tickets from Fly-Jamaica at Caribbean Motor Racing Championships
TAMESHWAR Ramcharan and Emma Vieira on Sunday last were elated at winning round trip tickets from Fly Jamaica. Ramcharan won a round trip ticket to New York while Vieira won a round ticket to Jamaica.
Fly Jamaica representative, Wesley Tucker, presenting a Boarding Pass to the winner of a roundtrip ticket to New York, Mr. Tameshwar Ramcharan
The coupon numbers were announced by a Fly Jamaica representative, Wesley Tucker, at the recently concluded Caribbean Motor Racing Championship at the South Dakota Circuit. The announcement was made minutes after the last race took place at the circuit.
Ramcharan and Vieira, who were both present at the championship which was partly sponsored by Fly Jamaica, participated in a promotion that was carried out by several representatives from the airline. Both Race drivers and spectators participated in the promotion
Fly Jamaica representative, Ms. Susan Razack, presenting a Boarding Pass to Go-Kart driver, Ms. Emma Vieira, winner of a round trip ticket to Jamaica, at the recently concluded Caribbean Motor Racing Championship
Since the commencement of service to Guyana Fly Jamaica has been on board with the Government and Private Sector in promoting destination Guyana.
Fly Jamaica representatives, Wesley Tucker and Susan Razack, at the presentation ceremony echoed the airline's commitments to continue to look at ways to meet the needs of their passengers.
With the airline now serving the Guyana-New York route via Kingston and direct flights on Fridays, more Guyanese are being encouraged to seize the opportunity to bring themselves home to their family and loved ones for this Christmas season.
For more information on booking or promotions persons can visit the airline's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/flyjamaicaltd.
Previous articleT&T Invitational clinch Don Bradman Cup
Next articleCrawford unanimously retained to head GCU&SA