Toyota is launching a limited edition version of its 86 sportscar in the United States market. Earlier known as the Scion FR-S, the Toyota 86 is the niche product that has been facing sales decline lately in the US. Back in 2013, the Japanese manufacturer was able to sell 18,000 units which had shrunken to just 7,500 in 2016.
In order to address the sales drop, like any other auto brand would do, Toyota will be entering the 860 Special Edition later this month. The budget sportscar will be limited to 860 units in Halo White and as many in Supernova Orange courtesy of the special edition.
There are several visual changes in the 860 SE to make it more attractive and importantly bring up a unique status. On the outside, Toyota has given new black racing stripes that run from front badge all the way to the rear. It elevates the sporty stance of the 88.
It is accompanied by black-painted wing mirror caps, chrome finished 17-inch alloy wheels and a rear wing in black colour to emphasise the overall appeal. The equipment list has also been upgraded besides interior changes to bode well with the exterior. The seats receive black leather trim with orange contrast stitching.
The same colour combination can also be seen on the sporty steering wheel, door panels, dashboard, gear shifter and handbrake. Toyota has concentrated on upping the equipment offerings as well as the 860 Special Edition gets push button start, heated seats, dual-zone automatic climate control and a large MID digital instrument display in the instrument panel with lap time recorder and lateral G force meter.
No mechanical modifications are intended as the sportscar will continue to feature the 2.0-litre Boxer engine which is good enough to produce a maximum power output of 205 horsepower. The 860 Special Edition is priced at $ 30,400 (Rs. 20.23 lakh) for the six-speed manual gearbox equipped model and $ 30,760 (Rs.20.47 lakh) for the automatic version.


City Hall is the centerpiece of the San Francisco government, and home to the offices of the Mayor as well as the city Supervisors. It has been nicknamed "Willie's Dome" due to its extensive gold refurbishment by Mayor Willie Brown. It was also the site of the infamous shootings of George Moscone and Harvey Milk.
The city hall dome is the largest dome in the Western Hemisphere.
City Hall from the West in June 2007.


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Alvocidib, cytarabine, and mitoxantrone versus cytarabine and daunorubicin (7+3) in newly diagnosed acute myeloid leukemia
Cynthia Umukoro , Oct 1, 2018 , Expert Opinion
A randomized, phase II study (NCT01349972), compared alvocidib, a CDK9 inhibitor, followed by cytarabine and mitoxantrone (FLAM) versus cytarabine and daunorubicin (7+3) in newly diagnosed patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with non-favorable risk cytogenetics. The primary endpoint of the study was complete remission (CR).
Previously published data from this study demonstrated that despite significantly higher CR rates in patients in the FLAM arm, there was no difference in the overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) with a median follow-up of 811 days (1–1217 days) between both arms. The final results of this study with a longer follow-up were reported in a Letter to the Editor of Leukemia Research by Joshua F. Zeidner from The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baltimore, US, and colleagues.
Between May 25, 2011 and July 26, 2014, 165 patients (median age = 59 years, range: 19–70) were enrolled and randomized 2:1 to receive either FLAM (n = 109) or 7+3 (n = 56). The final data lock was November 21, 2017.
Key findings:
Median follow-up: 1,644 days (range, 1–2203 days)
Overall, 70% (76/109) of patients in the FLAM arm and 70% (39/56) of patients in the 7+3 arm died
Survival in the FLAM and 7 +3 arm respectively:
5-year OS rates: 28% (95% CI, 21–39%) vs 26% (95% CI, 16–43%), HR = 1.15 (0.78–1.69), P = 0.5
5-year event-free-survival: 19% (95% CI, 10%–35%) and 26% (95% CI,14%–48%), HR = 0.75 (0.5–1.14), P = 0.18
OS in patients aged < 50 years: 56% (95% CI, 40–78%) vs 36% (95% CI, 18–72%)
In summary, the long-term follow-up of this phase II randomized study demonstrates that FLAM leads to higher CR rates compared to 7 + 3 induction in patients with newly diagnosed AML patients. However, there were no significant differences seen in OS or EFS between both arms.
The researchers concluded that despite the lack of improvement in OS for FLAM when compared with 7 + 3, these findings corroborate "alvocidib's activity in AML and support further development." Ongoing trials of alvocidib will provide further direction for its role in the current treatment armamentarium for AML."
Zeidner J. F. et al. Final results of a randomized multicenter phase II study of alvocidib, cytarabine, and mitoxantrone versus cytarabine and daunorubicin (7 + 3) in newly diagnosed high-risk acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Leuk Res. 2018 Sep; 72:92–95. DOI: 10.1016/j.leukres.2018.08.005. Epub 2018 Aug 10.
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Joshua Zeidner | ASH 2018 | Biomarker-guided phase II study in MCL-1 dependent R/R AML patients
Three novel regimens for relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia – a randomized phase II trial

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Prepare a variety of dishes with little to no oil using the Tayama Electric Air Fryer 2.8 Quart. It circulates hot air evenly around the food, which provides uniform cooking and gives it a fried taste without the added fat or calories. Use this black air fryer for making sides like onion rings or fries, as well as main dishes such as steaks and chicken. It also gives off no oil smell and is designed to prevent splatters and messes. The unit is easy to use by simply setting the temperature and timer and then letting it do the cooking. The Tayama Air Fryer also has a dishwasher-safe food basket and basket holder for easy cleaning.


The Cavanaugh Flight Museum is one of the nation's premier aviation museums. For an annual membership fee, you can become a part of an alliance of enthusiasts dedicated to preserving historical aircraft and memorabilia. As a member of the Cavanaugh Flight Museum you will receive complimentary admission to the museum, museum fly day events and other historical celebrations.
Free museum admission for members.
10% discount on all Warbird rides.
Free admission to many Cavanaugh Flight Museum special events.
Discounts on birthday parties and event rentals.
Family – For $85 you receive all the benefits listed above AND admission for five people – your family, friends and clients!!!
To purchase membership at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum, call 972-380-8800 or through our online Museum Store.


When You're Ready We'd love To Meet! Simply Fill Out the Contact Form and We'll Respond Promptly.
Ambassador Services is ready to staff your next event. We have offices in Austin, TX and Colorado City, CO but manage staffing services for clients throughout the country.


Copy all the values you have set up for the lease to the corresponding loan fields. This is the quickest way a get head-to-head comparison of a lease and loan for the same vehicle.
When checked, whatever values you enter in one side will automatically be entered in the other side, keeping everything in sync as you go.
Copy all the values you have set up for the loan to the corresponding lease fields. This is the quickest way a get head-to-head comparison of a loan and lease for the same vehicle.
The name of the vehicle you want to lease or buy.
The name of your potential leasing company or lender. Dealerships usually have a leasing company or lender they automatically process leases or loans through. You do not have to use the dealership's leasing company or lender. You are free to shop around and find the best leasing company or lender for you. (Your bank or credit union, for instance, may offer lower interest rates or lease fees.) This field is not required but may help if you are comparing several leasing companies or lenders.
), if available, to bring up a website and look up the MSRP. It's important to have an accurate MSRP when leasing because 'Residual Value' is based on MSRP, not the price you actually pay.
), if available, to bring up a website and look up the invoice price (it may even show an average price that buyer's of this car are actually paying).
Lease: Also known as base capitalized (or cap) cost. Lease prices are negotiable just as new car prices are, and if your dealer or salesman tries to tell you price is not negotiable when leasing, find a new dealer! 'Negotiated Price' has the biggest influence when calculating your monthly payment.
Lease: Also known as capitalized cost (or cap cost) reduction.
Total of the above 'Cost Reductions'. Only include amounts that will reduce the lease or loan amount. Click the '-' icon for this section to collapse the detail and just enter a lump sum value for 'Total Cost Reductions'.
Enter the total of any costs that will reduce the lease or loan amount, like down payment, trade-in value, and dealer rebate. Click the '+' icon for this section to expand the detail and let you enter values for individual reductions.
Lease: Your lease amount. The negotiated price minus cost reductions plus financed add-on costs gives the actual lease amount.
Loan: Your total auto loan amount once 'Sales Tax' and 'Total Financed Add-on Costs' are added and 'Total Cost Reductions' is subtracted.
Lease: Also known as lease term. How long you plan to keep the leased vehicle. Also choose whether 'Length of Lease' is years or months.
Loan: How long you will pay on this loan. Also choose whether 'Length of Loan' is years or months.
), if available, to bring up a website and look up the money factor for your car.
Lease: If you don't know the money factor for your car, enter the current interest rates for new car purchases and 'Money Factor' will be estimated by dividing the interest rate by 2400. If the new car interest rate is 6.99%, divide that by 2400 = money factor of .00291.
Loan: The annual percentage rate you will pay for this loan.
), if available, to bring up a website and look up the current auto loan interest rates.
), if available, to bring up a website and look up the vehicle's residual value or percentage.
), if available, to bring up a website and look up used car values.
Loan: The percent of MSRP the car may be worth at 'Sell After' time. If you plan to sell within about 5 years, you can probably enter the residual percentage as if you were leasing. If your 'Sell After' time is longer than 5 years you will need to have some other basis for estimating the resale percent, or enter a resale value instead.
The percentage of sales tax your state charges on leased or purchased vehicles. Also, if your state has a maximum amount of sales tax on vehicles, enter that amount as the 'Maximum Sales Tax'.
Lease: Sometimes called usage tax. Sales tax on auto leases can get very complicated and varies from state to state. This calculator uses the most common method of calculating auto lease sales tax, which is to apply the sales tax percentage to the 'Monthly Depreciation Fee' + 'Monthly Lease Fee' and include sales tax in each monthly payment. Note: If your state charges sales tax up front on vehicle leases, include that amount in 'Financed Add-on Costs' and leave 'Sales Tax' percent and maximum blank.
Loan: The sales tax amount will be calculated from the percent or the maximum sales tax amount and will be added to 'Loan Amount'. If sales tax is not to be financed, enter it as a 'Cost Reduction' and enter zero here.
If your state has a maximum amount of sales tax on vehicles, enter that amount here.
Lease: If the 'Sales Tax' percentage goes over this 'Maximum' amount, the maximum sales tax will be divided by the number of lease payments and the resulting amount will be included in each monthly payment.
Loan: The 'Sales Tax' amount will either be the amount calculated from the sales tax percent or the 'Maximum' entered here.
How long you plan to keep your vehicle. Also choose whether you'll sell after this many months or years.
Lease: Your monthly lease payment, made up of the depreciation fee, lease fee, and sales tax.
Loan: Principal and interest to be paid each month.
The real cost each month to lease or own your car is more than just the monthly payment amount. When deciding whether to lease or finance your next car, 'Real Monthly Cost' is far more important than 'Monthly Payment'. 'Real Monthly Cost' has calculated how much it actually costs each month (excluding gas and maintenance) by starting with your 'Total Payment' then adding back in your down payment, trade-in value, and subtracting out any 'Resale Value'. The final step is to divide this 'Actual Total Cost' by the number of months in your lease or the number of months you plan to keep the car ('Sell After' months).
The amount of money you will pay each year for this lease or loan.
The real cost each year to lease or own your car. See the help for 'Real Monthly Cost' for more information on how this amount is calculated and how to interpret it when deciding whether to lease or finance your next vehicle.
Lease: Similar to the loan amount in a traditional loan. This is basically the amount you need to pay back plus interest (lease fee). The net capitalized cost minus the vehicle's residual value at the end of the lease is the amount the leasing company is 'loaning' you.
The real cost of your lease or loan has to consider the amount you paid as a down payment, the value of any vehicle you traded in, and the value you can get when you sell or trade in this vehicle when you're done with it.


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Trevor Wallace is an actor, writer, and comedian from Camarillo, California. He is popular for his YouTube channel, "All Def Digital." After a long while, he is finally back on tour; and if you bought Trevor Wallace comedy tickets, it would be like his channel coming to life!
Wallace began his comedy career on the social media app "Vine" while he was still in college – after the app was shut down, he moved on to YouTube. Some of his popular videos include comedic commentary about AirPods and the brand "Zumiez." His jocular remarks and whimsical sense of humor will certainly make you forget about your everyday problems. If you were to go to a Trevor Wallace comedy show, you would be laughing to your heart's content. Do experience it yourself – make sure to get your Trevor Wallace comedy tickets today!
Since 2018, Wallace has been working for the YouTube channel "All Def Digital," making regular appearances in its videos. He continues to perform stand-up comedy at several of his original locations, including the Orpheum Theatre in Arizona, Zanies Comedy Club in Nashville, Tennessee, and San Jose Improv in San Jose, California. He is the co-host of the podcast "Stiff Socks" along with Michael Blaustein as of 2019. In 2020, Wallace was nominated for a Shorty Award for his outstanding work in comedy – his amazing work is a big reason why Trevor Wallace comedy tickets are always sold out! Tickets have gone on sale after quite a while, so don't miss out on the opportunity to purchase them now!
The new Trevor Wallace comedy tour, the "Are You That Guy" tour, is set to take place in the year 2022. Our website is selling Trevor Wallace comedy tickets for locations all across the United States and Canada, including Boston, Massachusetts, Durham, North Carolina, Atlanta, Georgia, Dallas, Texas, Austin, Texas, Buffalo, New York, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Baltimore, Maryland, Toronto, Ontario, and many more! Trevor Wallace comedy dates are set to begin on 25th March and will go on until 20th May.
Purchasing your Trevor Wallace comedy tickets has never been easier! The process is seamless and simple – just log on to our website to find out the steps!
You may also like watching Mike Birbiglia or Whindersson Nunes live.
TREVOR WALLACE COMEDY TICKET PRICES AND TOUR INFORMATION
HOW MUCH DO TREVOR WALLACE COMEDY TICKETS COST?
Typically, tickets for a Trevor Wallace show cost around $53. However, prices can go up to $130 based on your show location, seat selection, and whether the show you are attending is on the weekend or a weekday. On our website, we always promise to give you the best price.
WHEN DO TREVOR WALLACE COMEDY TICKETS GO ON SALE?
Tickets for Trevor Wallace's new "Are You That Guy" tour are live on our website right now! Due to high demand, we don't expect them to last very long, so make sure you get your tickets sooner rather than later! Get ready to laugh the night away with your favorite comedian!
Frequently Asked Questions About Trevor Wallace Tickets and Tour Details
How much are Trevor Wallace tickets?
The least you can pay for Trevor Wallace tickets is $78. Many factors cause variations in ticket prices, including the city, the day of the week, and more. Tickets feature an average price of $179.
How much are floor seats/front row Trevor Wallace tickets?
$782 is the highest price for floor or front row Trevor Wallace tickets.
How to get cheap Trevor Wallace tickets?
$78 is the lowest price of Trevor Wallace tickets on VIPTicketsAmerica.com.
How long are Trevor Wallace comedy shows?
Trevor Wallace shows usually have a duration lasting about 66 minutes.
What is the recommended age for Trevor Wallace shows?
You should be above the age of 18 or 21 to attend an upcoming Trevor Wallace show. Many comedy shows use profanity and mature content that needs adult supervision.
How to buy Trevor Wallace comedy tour tickets?
Get the best Trevor Wallace comedy tour tickets on VIPTicketsAmerica.com.
Can I buy parking for Trevor Wallace shows?
Yes. You can check VIPTicketsAmerica.com for available Trevor Wallace parking tickets.
Is Trevor Wallace On Tour?
Yes, Trevor Wallace is on tour. Grab tickets for an amusing evening.


Diamonds are a girl's best friend they say, but sometimes diamonds don't need to come on a bracelet, ring, necklace, or earrings. Diamonds can go just about anywhere why not a handbag. Here is the world's most expensive purse.
Worth $3.8 million this purse made it into the Guiness Book of World Records as the most expensive. What do you call this purse? The ""1001 Nights Diamond Purse". It was crafted by Dubai designer Mouawad. The most incredible thing about this purse, however, isn't the diamonds, but rather the amazing 1,100 hours, 10 artisans, over a period of four months, that it took to create. The bad is made out of 18 carat gold and then is covered with thousands of diamonds.


We are pleased to welcome a new member to the Social Media Lab – Dr. Priya Kumar.
Priya Kumar joins us from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London, where she recently completed her PhD on global diaspora politics under the supervision of Dr. Fiona B. Adamson. In her dissertation, Dr. Kumar examined online web-based representations of stateless diaspora communities, with focus on the Middle East and South Asia. A member of the e-Diasporas Atlas project, Dr. Kumar combines network analysis with digital qualitative research methods to study online identity politics, with a focus on exploring the dynamic interplay between digital media communication technologies, network actors and civil society.
Dr. Kumar will be joining the lab as a Postdotoral Fellow, working with Dr. Anatoliy Gruzd, the Social Media Lab's director of research and other lab members on a SSHRC-funded research initiative call "Learning Analytics For the Social Media Age". Learning analytics is "the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of data about learners and their contexts, for purposes of understanding and optimizing learning and the environments in which it occurs." One of the primary goals of this initiative is to devise new theoretical and technical solutions that can help educators and researchers to study formal and informal learning processes that occur in social media. Another goal of the initiative is to provide educators and learners with tools that will help them to determine whether their particular use of social media is beneficial for teaching and learning.
In addition, Dr. Kumar will be contributing to some of the other research initiatives at the Lab including our Social Media and Politics stream and our annual International Conference on Social Media & Society (#SMSociety).


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Calendar – April 6, 2019
ST. JOSEPH SEMINARY COLLEGE, free student recital, featuring seminarians, April 7, 2 p.m., outdoors near the new Rouquette Library fountain. Performances will include vocal and instrumental works composed by Mozart, Mendelssohn, Schubert and more. A reception with light snacks and beverages, and tours of the Rouquette Library recently built at the seminary. 75376 River Road in Covington.
MAGNIFICAT, an evangelistic outreach to Catholic women, "Life in the Spirit" seminar, April 10, 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Seminar presents the basic Christian message of salvation, what it means to live a life in the Holy Spirit, and how to maintain that life. Details: Alma, 837-6896 or Jane, 831-9737.
Catholic Charismatic Renewal Westbank gathers on second and fourth Wednesday monthly, Infant Jesus of Prague Church, 700 Maple Ave., Harvey. Praise, sharing 7:30 p.m.; Mass at 8 p.m. Speakers are Father Steven Leake, April 10; Father Mike Kettenring, April 24; Father Pedro Prado, May 8; and Father Francis Offia, May 22. Details: Diane, 913-4903 or Don, 884-0101.
HISPANIC APOSTOLATE, free community health fair and wellness day, April 13, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Registration at 9 a.m. Screenings for diabetes, blood pressure, body mass index, hepatitis, vision, glaucoma, retina; medical examinations including diagnostics and prescriptions; dental screenings and education on proper dental care and appointments with affordable dentists; confidential HIV testing. 2525 Maine Ave. in Metairie, behind Home Depot on Veterans Boulevard at Roosevelt. Details: 467-2550.
GOD'S SPECIAL CHILDREN, Families and Friends, next Mass April 14, 2 p.m., St. Francis Xavier, 444 Metairie Road, Metairie. Junior St. Vincent dePaul Society hosts annual Easter Egg
Hunt after Mass.
SOLES FOR CHRIST, Good Friday walk, April 19, 7:45 a.m. (arrive by 7:15 a.m.). Ends at 1 p.m. back at center, 1301 Louisiana Ave., New Orleans. Churches visited include Our Lady of Good Counsel (home of Center of Jesus the Lord), Good Shepherd (St. Stephen Church), St. Henry, St. Mary's Assumption, St. John the Baptist, St. Alphonsus, St. Theresa and St. Mary Chapel. Registration: $15 adults, $10 for children 12 and under includes a T-shirt (to be picked up in advance), guided walk, Stations of the Cross, song booklet, restroom facilities, water. Bus seating $15 for those who can't walk. Details: 529-1636, www.centerofjesusthelord.org.
RACHEL'S VINEYARD WEEKEND for those hurting after abortion or miscarriage, April 26-28. Facilitators: Pam Richard and Donna Scheuermann; priest facilitator Father Robert Cavalier. $190 a person. Details: 460-9360, richj504@bellsouth.net. Or 258-9183, donnas@1791.com.
MOST HOLY TRINITY, fish fries, April 5, April 12, 5-7 p.m. Fried catfish, fried shrimp or combo plate with mac-n-cheese or fries, cole slaw, hush puppies, dessert, $11; shrimp salad and dessert, $10; child's plate with fried catfish or shrimp, mac-n-cheese or fries and dessert $6; drinks $1. Proceeds benefit parish-based Knights of Columbus. Family Life Center, 501 Holy Trinity Drive, Covington.
ST. PIUS X, blood drive, April 14, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Donors will receive a cholesterol screening, family blood replacement for a year and a T-shirt. 6666 Spanish Fort Blvd., New Orleans. Details: 615-4895.
ST. RITA, New Orleans, Community Health Fair, April 14, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Free and open to the public. Basic health screenings, blood donations and information from more than 20 different area agencies. Light lunch provided. 2729 Lowerline St.
JESUIT, Philelectic Society drama department produces "Into the Woods," April 5, 6, 12, 13, 7:30 p.m.; April 13, 2 p.m. matinee. Tickets are $10 students and $15 adults in advance; or $15 students, $20 adults at the door. Visit www.jesuit.org.
ST. RITA, Harahan, Home and School Association, Dine-Out at Raising Cane's, 919 S. Clearview Pkwy. in Elmwood, April 11, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Mention St. Rita before placing order. Proceeds will purchase new Google Chromebooks for the school. Details: Call school office 737-0744.
UNIVERSITY OF HOLY CROSS, Spes Unica Awards Dinner, April 11, 6:30 p.m., Metairie Country Club. 2019 award recipients: Marilyn and Peter Quirk and The Alden and Margaret Laborde Foundation. Also, the university's annual all-you-can-eat crawfish boil, April 27, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $10 and include soft drinks and sides when registering online or $15 at door. A crawfish-eating contest between UHC students and prospective students, with the winner receiving a free semester in the university's new residence hall. Advanced tickets: CrawfishBoilUHC.eventbrite.com.
St. Mary's Dominican, presents musical "Godspell," April 12, 7 p.m.; April 13, 1 p.m. performance also has a Fine Arts Festival, 7701 Walmsley Ave., New Orleans. "Godspell" tells the story of Jesus Christ through song, dance and comedy. Messages of love, kindness and tolerance permeate the stage and into the audience's hearts. In the Sister Ambrose Reggio, O.P. Gymnasium. More than 150 pieces of artwork by students will be on display in Alumnae Hall. General admission is $15 for adults, $10 for Dominican students and children age 12 years and younger. Purchase tickets at www.stmarysdominican.org.
St. Anthony Catholic SchooL, Peace Walk with staff and students, April 12, 2 p.m., from the school, 900 Franklin Ave., Gretna, through the neighborhood for about 45 minutes. Public is invited. 367-0689.
MOUNT CARMEL ACADEMY, alumnae including those celebrating reunions, invited to the Alumnae Brunch on the Bayou, April 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Deutsches Haus. Brunch catered by Pigeon Catering. Proceeds benefit Alumnae Scholarship Fund. Mothers of alumnae invited. Tickets: mcacubs.com/alumnae.
CABRINI HIGH SCHOOL, theater department presents "The Little Mermaid," play and birthday bash with dinner, activities including arts and crafts, photos and raffle for a 30th anniversary Signature Collection Blu-Ray DVD for the 30th anniversary of the Disney Classic, April 13, 7 p.m. Ariel's birthday bash April 12, 5:30 p.m., with play at 7 p.m. Tickets: $15 for play reserved seating and $12 for general admission seating. Email charris@cabrinihigh.com to reserve seat. Birthday Bash/play VIP seating tickets are $25 a person. Go to: www.cabrinihigh.com/ariel-birth day-bash-tickets
ST. AUGUSTINE, "A Knight at Drago's," seventh annual scholarship fundraiser, four-course dinner with beer, prizes, raffles, April 14, 4-7 p.m. Live music by Dwight and Connie Fitch. Donated by Drago's Restaurant and the Cvitanovich Family Foundation. 3232 North Arnoult Road, Metairie. $125 a person. Tickets available in St. Augustine High School Alumni Office.
COME AND SEE VOCATION DISCERNMENT WEEKEND, April 12-14, for high school juniors and seniors and college-age men, St. Joseph Seminary College, Covington. No cost. Details, call the archdiocesan Vocation Office at 861-6298 or e-mail vocations@archdiocese-no.org.
Ronnie Moore, of Catholic Charities Archdiocese of New Orleans' Cornerstone Builders, will be inducted into the Louisiana State Penitentiary Museum Foundation's 2019 Louisiana Justice Hall of Fame as the "Re-Entry Honoree of the Year," July 12. Reception at 10:30 a.m. at Angola Museum; induction banquet social begins at 5 p.m. at The Lod Cook Hotel and Conference Center, 3848 West Lakeshore Drive, Baton Rouge. Banquet tickets are $75 with a July 1 deadline. Details, call museum (225) 655-2592.


How Artificial Intelligence Has Transformed Digital Search?
The web is a vast storehouse of knowledge and with people becoming more and more internet savvy, search engines have become an integral part of our lives. Companies like Google and Microsoft are actively investing in their respective search engines to keep up with the growing demand for information. However the endeavor does not end there. Search engine providers have to improve the search algorithms continuously, add new features and look into further innovations. Over the years, searching on Google, Bing or even Facebook has seen a drastic improvement, not only in terms of the results they deliver, but also with the accuracy of these results.
Nowadays, we are quite prone to hearing the phrase "Google it". In fact, Google has monopolized digital search with its robust technology and the ability to deliver accurate results. This is not solely based on the search algorithms and website crawlers, but goes a lot deeper. Using artificial intelligence, the engines can now better adapt to human behavior and predict more tailored search results. Artificial intelligence is changing the way we browse the web, and it is improving faster than we can imagine.
We all know how the human brain works. It is in a state of continuous development and learning using our senses. AI or artificial intelligence works in a similar way and it is built to mimic the human brain and its behavior. Ever wondered how Facebook can tag your group photos automatically, or how Google search offers suggestions when you search? Artificial Intelligence ingests an unimaginable amount of data using a system of deep neural networks and learns to do more complicated tasks using the data.
Artificial Narrow Intelligence (ANI) – This is the more prevalent category of AI which power most of our daily activities on the internet. It typically specializes in a unidirectional mode of activity, like a search or a simple conversation, or maybe a game of chess. Best examples of this kind would be Siri or Google Now, the proprietary voice assistants from Apple and Google respectively. These cannot function by themselves usually and need to be triggered by human action.
Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) – It is much more advanced than ANI as it involves complex learning and tasking abilities like reasoning, planning and solving complicated problems. AGI is generally at par with human level thinking and functioning and it is something which is yet to be developed in real world.
Artificial Superintelligence (ASI) – This is more like a theoretical concept as development in this field is far-fetched. Technically, it should be much smarter than regular human intellect. ASI is capable of adapting to scientific creativity, social skills and general wisdom.
This method takes advantage of the neural networks powering most of the internet these days. Using a massive network of complex software and hardware, neural nets analyze large chunks of raw data from various sources. They thereby improve in performing tasks like identifying photographs, responding to voice generated search queries and carrying out commands spoken into a smartphone.
In the past few years, this process of learning has changed the way humans interact with the internet and different internet connected devices. From Google and Apple to even social media juggernauts such as Facebook, Twitter and Skype have implemented this technology to generate user specific results and make search more intuitive.
In recent times, Google has rolled out its own neural network system called RankBrain, which has had a massive impact on search results and SEO. Millions of search queries pass through the Google search engine every second and RankBrain reportedly feeds on about 15% of these queries to accurately predict the rank of websites on SERPs. The use of this kind of neural network system comes with a number of advantages and disadvantages.
Most data scientists and experts have identified neural network to be quite complicated for general understanding and tweaking, which makes it a reliable way to get authentic results.
Networks like RankBrain provide 10% more accurate predictions than manual ones.
Since neural nets feed on raw data, they can provide much more accurate feedback based on individual search queries and data.
These networks can learn rapidly and properly if fed with enough data about something.
Most experts are not very fluent with how this technology works; people simply know that it does, and it does exceptionally well.
It can be difficult to tweak the functionality of RankBrain to change priorities.
It is still unclear what the implementation of RankBrain means for Google search in the long run. With engineers failing to fathom the core of its success, it is, however, a much more reliable way to rank websites. When a person searches for football, the search results directly shows you images and news related to football and not cricket. While the importance of SEO cannot be undermined in providing tailored search results, a large part of this articulation is also based on RankBrain.
Most search engines are built and improved in a way such that they understand the user and his requirements. For example, if a person looks for a topic on the internet from his smartphone, Google can easily understand that the query was generated from a mobile device and it accordingly returns results optimized for that particular device. With voice search being extremely prevalent and more companies pushing it actively, assistants like Google Now and Siri even try to use the location of the person to provide extremely personalized results.
On the contrary, if a person searches for, say, Cristiano Ronaldo, the search engine can use the context of the search to suggest names of other players which the user might additionally be interested in. This technology is evolving gradually and with neural nets built right into search engines, users can now get more information than ever before.
The concept of search is not only limited to search engines like Google, Bing or Yahoo. Ecommerce sites like Amazon, Ebay and Flipkart also have contextual and personalized search built in. Even Facebook understands who might be present in your pictures, what you might be watching, eating or feeling like. In a world where people are taking in large amount of information, we might not even be aware how much Artificial Intelligence is dominating our lives. Be it a game of chess where you are playing against a predetermined 'Player 1', or a currency conversion you want to know about, there is always a second brain hovering above us.
This is so relevant. Half the world doesn't even know what AI is. So it's really interesting to see someone write about this concept and how it relates to our daily lives.
Very well explained article. Artificial Intelligence is not a robot that follows the programmer's code, but the life. It will be able to make decisions and to demand more freedom.
Artificial intelligence is the future of IT, it should be utilized effectively.
AI is gonna be the future of IT, it should be used properly in order to yield best results. Though many people do not know what AI is and it is very important that people should know about it. Thank you for discussing it.
AI is becoming very popular now a days and gives great benefits to the business. Thanks for sharing this here with us.


text:
Time To Step Up: Curtis Drake
By FTG1855 Updated Mar 24, 2011, 3:23pm EDT
Share All sharing options for: Time To Step Up: Curtis Drake
It's been a long time since Penn State fans have seen wide receiver Curtis Drake and his big play ability. The will-be junior broke his leg last summer and didn't see any action in 2010. As spring practice continues, though, it looks like the 5'11" wide receiver is not only well on his way toward getting back on the field, but making an impact on the Penn State offense. Ron Musselman of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette caught up with him for a piece today.
"Not being on the field [was] just killing me," Drake said. "It's been a long time. Too long. The last time I was on the field in full pads [until Wednesday] was the fifth practice last year.
"I feel good. I'm 100 percent. I'm ready to go. I'm hoping to stay healthy and have a good year."
Having Drake back in the receiving corps will certainly provide a boost for the Nittany Lions in the passing game. Though he caught only eight passes his freshman season, he showed growth toward the end of the season, cathing five passes in his final three games after grabbing only three in the first 10. With the quarterback situation as iffy as it remains, it can never hurt to have another target on the edge to rely on, and Drake certainly fits that bill. He can make plays on poorly thrown balls and can use his athleticism to to rack up the yards after the catch.
If Drake is really going to step up and help the Nittany Lions get better this season offensively, though, his contributions need to go beyond just catching the football.
While Drake is a receiver now, he made a name for himself as a quarterback at West Philadelphia Catholic before graduating in 2009. His senior high school season, Drake ran for 1,639 yards and 21 touchdowns and passed for 1,354 yards and 15 touchdowns. He then tore up the 2009 Big 33 game in Hershey while playing for the Pennsylvania squad.
If Drake can be the all-purpose threat he was in high school in 2011, then Penn State will be much more dangerous offensively. Defenses will always have to be on the lookout for some kind of pass play involving him. They'll also have to cover for possible reverses and direct snaps to him. No one on the Penn State offense really had the capabilities to be a threat in all of those areas in 2010, so defenses were less honest in defending the Lions. With Drake on the field, though, they might have to think twice about stacking the line to stop a running play or sending extra guys after whoever the quarterback is.
Drake might need time to master his trade as an all-around threat. This will be, after all, only the second full season he sees playing time. However, he'll need to be accounted for by defenses if he comes out of the gates strong and his versatility offers the offensive coaching staff more options in play calling.
This season will be very important for his development. Either he'll move toward becoming a Derrick Williams type in that locker room, or he'll just be another wide receiver. His personal history and pedigree suggest he can be much, much more at this level, but we haven't seen in yet. The 2011 season might be his time to shine, however. He has to make the most of the opportunity, though, needless to say. Keep an eye on him at the Blue and White game.
UPDATE: Uh-oh...
Penn State wide receiver Curtis Drake has suffered another serious setback in his effort to resume his career this spring.
For the second time in seven months, he has suffered a fractured left tibia in practice during a non-contact drill.
Drake, a redshirt sophomore, will miss the rest of spring drills and his status for the fall remains uncertain, a source confirmed Thursday night.
We'll see what happens but this is not good for Drake's chances of making an impact this evening.


Madeleine's favourite colour is yellow and having being presented a yellow diamond in her engagement ring, yellow was to be the theme! Both Madeleine and Phil love simple, minimal design and wanted to keep things fun and informal. Therefore, it was decided to make a bespoke one page website, where their friends could RSVP, let the couple know of any dietary requirements, find out all the details on the wedding and click through to their wedding gift service.
The invitations were designed with a block yellow cover with gold foiling to their names. Brief details were included pointing their guests to the website. A thank you card was also made as well as a card featuring 'the finer details' which was to act as an informal order of service on the wedding day.


von Bubnoff A, Peiffer DA, Blitz IL, Hayata T, Ogata S, Zeng Q, Trunnell M, Cho KW (2005). Phylogenetic footprinting and genome scanning identify vertebrate BMP response elements and new target genes. Developmental Biology 281: 210-226.
Peiffer DA, von Bubnoff A, Shin Y, Kitayama A, Mochii M, Ueno N, Cho KW (2005). A Xenopus DNA microarray approach to identify novel direct BMP target genes involved in early embryonic development. Developmental Dynamics 232: 445-456.
Yoshida Y*, von Bubnoff A* (*co-first authorship), Ikematsu N, Blitz IL, Tsuzuku JK, Yoshida EH, Umemori H, Miyazono K, Yamamoto T, Cho KW (2003). Tob proteins enhance inhibitory Smad-receptor interactions to repress BMP signaling. Mechanisms of Development 120: 629-637.
von Bubnoff A, Schmidt JE and Kimelman D (1996). The Xenopus laevis homeobox gene Xgbx-2 is an early marker of anteroposterior patterning in the ectoderm. Mechanisms of Development 54: 149-160.
Bonafede A, Braun B, Serries K, von Bubnoff A und Bohrmann J (1995). Characterization of channel-forming proteins in different developmental stages of Drosophila melanogaster. Verhandlungen der Deutschen Zoologischen Gesellschaft 88: 225.


Looking for a new home in Greenmeadow Manor 4 B? It is a great time to buy real estate in Greenmeadow Manor 4 B and our site is a great place to begin your search. You can check out Greenmeadow Manor 4 B schools, market statistics, the latest listings and more. Whether you are a first-time home buyer or you are already familiar with the home buying process, you can be assured that you have the best tools and the perfect agent available to help with your Greenmeadow Manor 4 B home search.
There are currently 1 Homes for sale in Greenmeadow Manor 4 B. The average price for Greenmeadow Manor 4 B properties is $249,900which is 27% lower than all Homes within a 20 mile radius. The highest priced property in Greenmeadow Manor 4 B is $249,900 while the lowest priced Home is listed at $249,900. Most of the properties available in Greenmeadow Manor 4 B are Homes . Compared to last month, the average price of real estate in the area has gone up 100%.


text:
Explain the legislative policy behind Sections 123 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872?
By Admin LBPublished on 26 Oct 2021 1:59 AM GMT
Question: Explain the legislative policy behind Sections 123 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872? Find the answer to the mains question only on Legal Bites. [Explain the legislative policy behind Sections 123 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872?] Answer The matter of State privilege is a matter of constitutional law and is dealt with… Read More »
Question: Explain the legislative policy behind Sections 123 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872? Find the answer to the mains question only on Legal Bites. [Explain the legislative policy behind Sections 123 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872?] Answer The matter of State privilege is a matter of constitutional law and is dealt with specifically under Sections 123 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act. The present law on the subject of State privilege in so far as it relates to...
Question: Explain the legislative policy behind Sections 123 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872?
Find the answer to the mains question only on Legal Bites. [Explain the legislative policy behind Sections 123 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872?]
The matter of State privilege is a matter of constitutional law and is dealt with specifically under Sections 123 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act. The present law on the subject of State privilege in so far as it relates to the production of evidence as such is principally contained in sections 123, 124 and 162 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872. Lord Justice Salmon described the power as "vital to the true administration of justice".
Section 123: Evidence as to Affairs of State: "No one shall be permitted to give any evidence derived from unpublished official records relating to any affairs of State, except with the permission of the officer (at the head of the department concerned), who shall give or withhold such permission as he thinks fit"
Section 123 protects unpublished State records from being disclosed. This section is based on the maxim "Saluspopuli est supreme lex", i.e., regard for public welfare is the highest law. The general rule is that the witness is bound to tell the whole truth and to produce any document in his possession or power, relevant to the matter in issue.
However, in certain cases, the production of the official documents may be injurious to the larger public interest, as, for instance, it may harm State's security, good diplomatic relations, etc. In such cases, the State has been given the privilege not to produce certain documents which relate to "affairs of the State".
Section 123 must be read in conjugation with Section 162. Section 162 provides that when a person has been summoned to produce a document he should produce it even if he has any objection to its production and the court shall decide the matter of his objection; the court may inspect the document unless it refers to matters of State.
Section 162 is not confined to State privilege as such but concerns itself with the procedure for determination of all questions of privilege, whether the privilege is claimed under the head of State privilege or under any other head. The sections with evidentiary privilege claimed on behalf of the State on the basis of certain considerations of high policy considerations more appropriately called public interest.
Under this section and section 162, the court cannot hold an enquiry into the possible injury to the public interest which may result from the disclosure of the document in respect of which privilege is claimed under this section.
That is a matter for the authority concerned to decide, but the court is competent, and indeed is bound to hold a preliminary enquiry and determine the validity of the objections to its production, and that necessarily involves an enquiry into the question as to whether the evidence relates to an affair of the State under this section or not.
In this enquiry, the court has to determine the character or class of the document. Although in such an enquiry the court cannot permit any evidence about the contents of the document, other collateral evidence can be produced which may assist the court in determining the validity of the objection under this section.
The privilege is a narrow one and must be sparingly used. Production of documents without any objection and without claim of privilege amounts to waiver and there would be nothing to debar the court from examining the documents [Chaudhary v. Governor of Bihar, AIR 1980 SC 383]


text:
/*
 * Clash Horn - MIT License
 */
package com.clashhorn.application.dto;

/**
 *
 * @author morgade
 */
public class ClanFullDTO {
    private String tag;
    private String name;
    private String type;
    private String description;
    private LocationDTO location;
    private BadgeUrlsDTO badgeUrls;
    private Integer clanLevel;
    private Integer clanPoints;
    private Integer clanVersusPoints;
    private Integer requiredTrophies;
    private String warFrequency;
    private Integer warWinStreak;
    private Integer warWins;
    private Integer warTies;
    private Integer warLosses;
    private Boolean isWarLogPublic;
    private Integer members;

    public String getTag() {
        return tag;
    }

    public void setTag(String tag) {
        this.tag = tag;
    }

    public String getName() {
        return name;
    }

    public void setName(String name) {
        this.name = name;
    }

    public String getType() {
        return type;
    }

    public void setType(String type) {
        this.type = type;
    }

    public String getDescription() {
        return description;
    }

    public void setDescription(String description) {
        this.description = description;
    }

    public LocationDTO getLocation() {
        return location;
    }

    public void setLocation(LocationDTO location) {
        this.location = location;
    }

    public BadgeUrlsDTO getBadgeUrls() {
        return badgeUrls;
    }

    public void setBadgeUrls(BadgeUrlsDTO badgeUrls) {
        this.badgeUrls = badgeUrls;
    }

    public Integer getClanLevel() {
        return clanLevel;
    }

    public void setClanLevel(Integer clanLevel) {
        this.clanLevel = clanLevel;
    }

    public Integer getClanPoints() {
        return clanPoints;
    }

    public void setClanPoints(Integer clanPoints) {
        this.clanPoints = clanPoints;
    }

    public Integer getClanVersusPoints() {
        return clanVersusPoints;
    }

    public void setClanVersusPoints(Integer clanVersusPoints) {
        this.clanVersusPoints = clanVersusPoints;
    }

    public Integer getRequiredTrophies() {
        return requiredTrophies;
    }

    public void setRequiredTrophies(Integer requiredTrophies) {
        this.requiredTrophies = requiredTrophies;
    }

    public String getWarFrequency() {
        return warFrequency;
    }

    public void setWarFrequency(String warFrequency) {
        this.warFrequency = warFrequency;
    }

    public Integer getWarWinStreak() {
        return warWinStreak;
    }

    public void setWarWinStreak(Integer warWinStreak) {
        this.warWinStreak = warWinStreak;
    }

    public Integer getWarWins() {
        return warWins;
    }

    public void setWarWins(Integer warWins) {
        this.warWins = warWins;
    }

    public Integer getWarTies() {
        return warTies;
    }

    public void setWarTies(Integer warTies) {
        this.warTies = warTies;
    }

    public Integer getWarLosses() {
        return warLosses;
    }

    public void setWarLosses(Integer warLosses) {
        this.warLosses = warLosses;
    }

    public Boolean getIsWarLogPublic() {
        return isWarLogPublic;
    }

    public void setIsWarLogPublic(Boolean isWarLogPublic) {
        this.isWarLogPublic = isWarLogPublic;
    }

    public Integer getMembers() {
        return members;
    }

    public void setMembers(Integer members) {
        this.members = members;
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Eyes flutter open to a veil of fog.
On the bank of England.
Woman you know in the mirror.
Initials sewn on the front.
Like a noose around your neck.
The serpent brooch over your heart.
With your lungs clogged and brain fogged.
In front of the picture of your grandchildren last Christmas.
You feel better when you drink wine.
So you lie in bed.
As the blue bitten into your glowing cigarette bud.
Eyes close to a veil of fog.
Old wine and pink Dior lipstick are.


text:
Download 2021 ESG Report
2021 ESG Report
Neighbors & Community
VulcanMaterials.com
2021 ENVIRONMENTAL, SOCIAL AND GOVERNANCE REPORT
I'm pleased to share with you Vulcan Materials Company's 2021 Environmental, Social and Governance Report.
Our culture is our lifeblood. For more than 65 years as a publicly traded company, The Vulcan Way has been to do the right thing, the right way, at the right time.
We have a long history of serving our customers and delivering results to our shareholders while embodying our commitments to people; to the safety and health of our Vulcan family members; to environmental stewardship; and to the communities where we live, work and play. These commitments have always been part of The Vulcan Way.
In 2021, we shifted our approach to reporting on these commitments from a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) focus to an Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) model aligned with the best practices of internationally recognized ESG reporting frameworks, including the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB) and the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Vulcan's 2021 ESG Report outlines our overall program, goals and policies and demonstrates the great work of our people and partners who are committed to doing the right thing — for our company and for one another. At a time when there is a renewed global focus on the roles and responsibilities of public companies, especially when it comes to safety, health and environmental stewardship, I am proud to say that Vulcan continues to be committed to doing our part.
In 2021 alone, our people developed a program dedicated to identifying, assessing and mitigating the highest safety risks at our facilities. Through this initiative, our team members can assess activities with the highest potential for serious injury or fatality and implement focused safety trainings, education and knowledge sharing across the company, creating and maintaining a safer workplace.
Although our aggregates-focused business consistently has the lowest greenhouse gas emissions footprint among our construction materials peers, we are committed to doing our part to reverse global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions trends and reduce potential impacts of climate change worldwide. In this report, you will find interim targets for reducing Scopes 1 and 2 GHG emissions as well as our commitments to reporting Scope 3 emissions and developing goals in line with science-based targets.
Our commitment to a more ESG-focused approach extends to our Board of Directors, which adopted a resolution in 2021 vesting direct oversight of ESG with its Governance Committee. Although this report does not incorporate data from U.S. Concrete, which Vulcan acquired in August 2021, we are fully integrating U.S. Concrete's operations into our ESG program so that our entire enterprise is able to continuously improve our efforts to maintain a more environmentally and socially sustainable organization.
While 2021 has been a landmark year for our company, there is more work to be done. As we look toward the future, it is evident that our people will drive our ESG efforts. Together, we will continue to focus on doing the right thing, the right way, at the right time — proving that The Way Forward is The Vulcan Way.
Chairman & CEO, Vulcan Materials Company
© 2022 Vulcan Materials Company | ESG data is generally reported on an annualized basis ending Dec. 31.


Consumers file a federal lawsuit against companies serving tracking tags to phones.
Mobile devices may become less and less private thanks to cookies–those tiny files stored in your browser by sites that want to remember you and target you with advertising. Most cookies can be manually erased.
But when some iPhone and iPad users recently tried to delete cookies from their browsers, they discovered they could not stop a third party from watching their mobile web browsing habits. Ever. Such cookies can be zombie-like: ridding a device of these tags is not unlike slaying the undead.
Last month, several consumers filed a Federal lawsuit in a Los Angeles court–a case that could gain class action status. The suit targets Ringleader Digital Inc–a company behind the tricky mobile web tracking–as well as media companies who used Ringleader's ads including CNN, Merriam-Webster, Whitepages.com, Accuweather and the Travel Channel. The lawsuit says that Ringleader is making use of a new data storage tool in HTML-5 instead of using traditional cookie tracking.
The lawsuit is the second one in recent months to pit federal privacy laws against zombie cookies, but this may be the first one to address the issue on smart phones. In July, a suit filed in U.S. District Court in San Francisco alleges that technology from Quantcast uses Adobe's Flash player to re-install cookies that PC users have deleted.
Tracking a person's behavior as they browse helps marketers deliver ads more suitable to a person's tastes. Creepy, perhaps. Yet, cookies are effective and in a sense pay for the free sites we use.
Since courts deemed cookies legal in the early 2000s, online tracking has helped spawn a $23 billion online advertising industry, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Deleting the cookies doesn't help, nor does going into Safari's stored databases and deleting the Ringleader database, RLDGUID.
Ringleader would simply fetch the unique ID it stored for an individual's phone and start tracking all over again. The folks at Ars Technica tried using Ringleader's opt-out service, but the RLDGUID database just reappeared. Apparently, the company needs to keep track of your phone's unique ID forever, so it knows to opt-you out of its ads.
Meanwhile, advertisers see nothing but dollar signs in smart-phone cookies.
About 20 percent of the U.S. population has smart-phones–according to a study by comScore–and smart-phone sales are still booming.
Smart phones have the potential of dishing a lot more information about their user than a stationary computer.
With more location-specific and identity-specific mobile advertising on the way, we may soon be living in a mobile zombieland.


text:
BORN GROUP FEATURED IN FORRESTER WAVE 2018 REPORT
By Jess Goulart
BORN LEADS IN DESIGN CAPABILITIES, CONSULTING OFFERINGS, AND ACCELERATORS
New York, NY – BORN GROUP, a highly awarded and large, privately held independent brand experience and enterprise commerce agency, announced that it had been featured in The Forrester Wave™: Customer Database and Engagement Agencies, Q2 2018, capturing top scores in many key categories. new
Forrester commended BORN for their strength in current offering through awarding the highest possible points to BORN's design capabilities and advisory/consulting offerings. According to the report, "BORN is one of the only vendors in this evaluation building up a practice around enterprise, which will enable its customers to leverage one provider for commerce and back-office systems integration work without sacrificing the quality of front-end design and UX."
These remarks reflect BORN's flagship status in the industry as an agency that successfully combines the intricacies of system integration with the nuances of design to deliver outstanding omnichannel customer experiences rich with application and flavor.
Reference customers who participated were cited saying BORN "[is] a thought leader when it comes to the eCommerce platform", while also acknowledging the agency's work ethic and commitment to excellence by "providing proactive strategic consultation for their customers."
The report ends its notes on BORN by regarding it as "a best fit for firms looking for a consultative and design-oriented commerce technology services provider." With strong commentary on BORN's design capabilities and consulting expertise, Forrester highlights BORN's presence as a leader in the industry beyond pure system integration.
"We're honored to be included as one of the eight commerce service providers that matter the most, and to be recognized for the breadth of our full cycle cross-platform services and unparalleled design expertise."
— Eric Gutoski, Partner and Managing Director for BORN Group, NA
"I think the report could have covered a few more legitimate players and its diligence should have more thoroughly explored our depth in experience design, innovation, global scale as well as our extensive content management and production capabilities. That said, we realize our inclusion gives us some exposure to companies looking for top-class services."
— Dilip Keshu, CEO, BORN Group
Click here for the full report.
BORN GROUP
BORN is a global agency that is likely the most decorated in its class. It produces outstanding brand experiences by connecting ten specialisms that serve as the foundation of the digital economy – creative design, content production, commerce enablement, conversions (visitors to customers), cloud technology, cognition (analytics), cohesion (integrating all the systems), consulting and completeness across all channels. Its clients include Fossil, Red Bull, Funimation, Textron, Maxim Semiconductor, Tag Heuer, DVF, Ferragamo, Bulgari, Sotheby's, Tetley Tea, Lorna Jane, Razer, Glanbia, Medifast, MacKenzie & Childs, The Big Issue, Harley Davidson among others. The firm operates in USA, EU and Asia.
BORN Culture
BORN End Of Year 2019 Award Review
1 month ago Awards


text:
Indian philosopher and mystic Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh had a vision: he would build a Utopian city from the ground up, starting with 64,000 acres of muddy ranchland in rural Oregon.
Purchased in 1981, this expanse was to become both a fully-functional urban center and a spiritual mecca for his followers from around the world.
For this plan to work Rajneesh and his red-clad devotees (known as "sannyasins") needed autonomous authority with which to construct their paradise.
Circumventing local land use restrictions was not a problem so long as their city of Rajneeshpuram was incorporated, which would allow them to issue their own building permits. Fortunately for them, the main requirement for incorporation at the time was a population of 150 people, which they met easily by importing more followers.
One of a series of pedestrian bridges in Rajneeshpuram
Funding flowed in to support construction from a global network of lucrative communes, as well as sannyasins who sold their earthly possessions and donated the proceeds toward the effort. These devotees were also taught that labor was a form of meditation, and willingly worked long hours to make Rajneeshpuram a reality.
Dam construction, power station and water treatment facility in Rajneeshpuram
With devoted laborers working to dam water, build power infrastructure, and construct buildings, a city quickly began to sprout from the soil.
A-frame houses, townhouses and 200-guest hotel in Rajneeshpuram
Swimming station and diving platform in Krishnamurti Lake
They built a strip mall, a hotel, a discotheque, meditation center, post office, air strip, power station, recreation structures, and more.
Farmland in Rajneeshpuram
Carefully cultivated farmland provided organic food sufficient to support the local population.
Rajneeshpuram, downtown post office and opening day celebration for Buddha Hall
Interior of Zorba Cafe & Club in Rajneeshpuram mall
Within a few years, the population jumped from hundreds to thousands and the city expanded to absorb newcomers. A mass transit system comprised of 85 school buses crisscrossed their modest new metropolis.
Osho Rajneesh Drive-by in Rajneeshpuram by Samvado Gunnar Kossatz
Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh himself, however, preferred to get around by car. He cruised the streets every day in one of his ninety-three Rolls Royces.
Having taken a vow of silence, he delegated the everyday operations of the city to a matriarchal council. His primary spokesperson was Ma Ananda Sheela, a woman who took on increasing amounts of authority.
Rancho Rajneesh brochure excerpts
While nearby communities and environmentalists had concerns about Rajneeshpuram throughout its evolution, those worries grew as the Rajneeshee began to harass the neighboring town of Antelope. Various intimidation tactics were employed in an attempt to take over the Antelope city council. The Rajneeshee were ultimately successful, and the town of Antelope was renamed Rajneesh.
Convair 240 N314H of Air Rajneesh in 1987 by RuthAS
Responding to threats real or perceived, Rajneeshpuram authorities formed a police force—called the "Peace Force"—and began stockpiling weapons. The city even had two helicopter reconnaissance teams.
This escalation caused further concern and led state and county officials to stall construction in Rajneeshpuram and call the legality of its existence into question.
A tent city at Rajneeshpuram, "The Ranch's First Festival Year 1982" by Samvado Gunnar Kossatz
Rajneeshpuram responded with more growth. Through a program they called "Share-A-Home," Rajneeshpuram began to bus in thousands of homeless people from around the country, offering them places to live. They also encouraged them to vote in local elections. It would later come out that these new residents were drugged with a powerful antipsychotic called Haldol. Many such recruits left soon after they arrived.
In an even more desperate bid to block locals from voting a group of sannyasins poisoned a local salad bar with salmonella. No one died but 750 people became sick. To this day the attack remains the largest act of bioterrorism on US soil. To this day the attack remains one of the largest act of bioterrorism on U.S. soil (see addendum).
Investigations began to unravel the city, one allegation at a time. Multiple attempted murders, forced sterilizations and the firebombing of the Wasco County Planning Department were tied to Rajneeshpuram. As new facts and accusations came to light, Sheela vanished and Rajneesh came forward in an attempt to deescalate tensions.
Krishnamurti Lake Dedication stone along road to Rajneeshpuram by TedQuackenbush
These efforts came too late. Rajneeshpuram was in a downward spiral, its disillusioned devotees leaving in droves.
Sheela fled and was tracked to West Germany then extradited to the United States and pled guilty to a series of serious charges. Today she lives in Switzerland and runs a series of nursing homes for the elderly and disabled.
Rajneesh was convicted of more minor offenses, was fined, put on probation and deported.
He returned to India and continued as a spiritual leader under the name Osho, dying less than a decade later of natural causes.
Rajneeshpuram was dissolved and its valuables auctioned off, including its founder's collection of luxury cars. Its land and buildings now fall under county jurisdiction.
Campers play in the pool at a Young Life camp at Washington Family Ranch in central Oregon via Wikipedia
The meditation hall is now a sports complex and the old hotel a dormitory, all serving Young Life, a Christian teen camp. It remains a place for religious seekers, just not the kind who want to build a Utopia on Earth.
Advertisement for "Rajneesh Busters" t-shirts, circa 1981-1985, In Religion collection [manuscript], Mss 1517, via the Oregon Historical Society #ba025241
Correction: The radio story says that the Rajneeshee poisoning of a nearby salad bar was the largest act of bioterrorism committed on U.S. soil; the largest acts of bioterrorism were the intentional transmissions of infectious disease by early American colonists to Native Americans, as with William Trent's gifting of smallpox-laced blankets to two Native American chiefs visiting Fort Pitt in 1763. We regret the error.
Reporters Chloe Prasinos and Steven Jackson spoke with reporter Milt Ritter; former Rajneeshpuram resident Ma Ananda Sarita and Wasco County planner Dan Durow. Lead image and additional images provided by Yogi unless otherwise noted.
This episode features music from Humeysha. "Burma Between You and Me" is your new favorite song.
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Mine!
Symphony of Sirens, Revisited
Plaid: Articles of Interest #2
Previous Episode: Dead Letter Office
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Quint Hall
Totally still listening!
J.D. Sutter
Very interesting episode. My grandparents and some family friends were some of the victims of the salmonella poisoning in a restaurant in the city of The Dalles.
Margaret Collins
A lot of spiritual people still quote and revere Osho with no idea about this story.
Julio Cedano
Great episode, shows the ways we can go around existing policies to create, in this case a small city that didn't have a good end to it. What is the song midway of the podcast?
J.M. Aileron
What perfect symmetry that it's now a Young Life site. Some things never change, they just get shined up for the next batch of willing sycophants.
Derek Bird
Gotta love Jesus. F young life.
ms X
jesus has a way of taking something dead, degraded or decayed and bringing it back to life. Cleansing, salvaging and healing it for vibrant new life. The people in the pic are having something called FUN. without plotting to murder or enrich some decadent old phoney. You have NO clue.
Kester Allen
Always Read the Plaque: http://readtheplaque.com/plaque/antelope-or
We toil in the fields and he drives around in a Rolls-Royce?
It always comes down to that doesn't it, with commune leaders or dictators.
Matt Groening used this guy and his organization/cult into an episode of The Simpsons called The Joy of Sect when the Simpson family falls under the spell of a charismatic leader who drives around in a Rolls Royce like this guy.
Great episode. I grew up in Portland during this time and heard about this as it unfolded on the radio news, but I was a kid and it's nice to revisit what happened. In addition to those memories, this episode reminded me a of "The Mega Maharishi"–a local wrestler in the "heel" role who would don the red robes of Rajneeshpuram and rile up the crowd in the 80s:
There was also this song on a local Portland radio station's morning show, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q6A7swQjIk I was was too young back then to really know what was going on, but it was great to hear this episode.
Aakash Bharadwaj
For the first few moments into the episode, I thought that Roman and his team decided to take a tune from Rahman to start the episode. The link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gg551NGy7MI&feature=youtu.be&t=37s will start at just the right spot revealing the original source of Humeysha's ""inspiration"".
That was my attempt at a two handed air quote, twice. ;) Enjoy!
harriedcostumer
BBC Witness also did a piece about Rajneeshpuram recently–their guest talks a little more about the "no disagreement" policies of the group: http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02yy64n
Stephanie Clarkson
This episode was so fascinating to me, especially since I had just submitted a proposal for some potential work in the neighboring Sherman County. Going to be visiting this area tomorrow and hopefully more in the future.
who provides the music besides humeysha for this episode?
What was the song that was mentioned at the end of the podcast I can't find it anywhere, or maybe I keep misspelling it?
It's "For Love, From The Law"
kara noble
Fascinating piece! Congratulations!
Sw. Prem Pravas
I first arrived at Rajneeshpuram in August of 1984, shortly before the Share a Home program began. I was there for about three months in the fall of '84. My last time at Rancho Rajneesh was October 1985, after Bhagwan's middle-of-the-night attempted escape that landed him in a North Carolina jail wearing an orange jumpsuit (surprised you didn't mention that) and shortly before it was all dissolved.
Your account is fairly balanced, but like so many in the media, you focus on the big news story and mostly miss what this movement was really about. No, building a utopia wasn't the big goal of the group. That was just another stop along the way.
Yes, some of the people who had been around longer than I put their hearts and souls into it and were disappointed to see it all fall apart. But a popular joke among sanyassins was about someone who falls off a building and halfway to the ground says, "So far, so good."
It was about being spontaneous, overcoming the things that hold us back, and accepting life. As you mentioned, Bhagwan took ideas from all the religions as well as modern psychology and turned them into his own teachings. I benefited greatly from my time as a sanyassin. And I didn't have to give up all of my personal belongings. Maybe some did that, but almost everyone I knew still had their stuff and their lives.
I knew nothing about what was really going on with Sheela and her cronies, but most of us knew that things weren't right at the top.
Also, your story makes it sound like all or most of the homeless people brought in were drugged, but that was not what I saw. I worked with many of them on the farm and ate with them in the dining rooms. For some of them, their time at the ranch was a life-changing experience.
Thanks for letting me relive those magical days a little bit with your mostly well done story. And thanks for posting the photos here. I still have my Rajneesh Currency Card, too.
If you want to do a followup story on life at the ranch among those of us who weren't involved in the criminal activity at the top, let me know. I'd be happy to share my perspective.
Weird that you didn't discuss that Young Life is either a cult, or right on the edge of being a cult. Your story made it sound like an innocent summer camp, when we all know it's reputation is very different than that. I'm here for the often invisible truth, and don't think it wise to gloss over the controversy surrounding this group. You don't have to agree with it, but it at least is worth noting.
Trevor Keen
This cult camp was described by Christopher Hitchens in his book "God is Not Great – How Religion Poisons Everything". It's sad that ownership of the camp just seems to have been passed from one small cult to a much larger one. Couldn't it just be a nice vacation resort?
From Young Life's Wikpedia page:
This may be overly picky, but while it is certainly important to recognize the genocide and war crimes committed by European colonizers of the Americas, I think the addendum is not technically accurate. In 1763, the US did not exist, so it was on US soil. Again, certainly worth noting, and something that we do far to little in the US (especially compared Canada), so thank you for recognizing it, but perhaps it would be more accurate to say in North America…
Not on US soil*
Eric Croddy
Great feature and very well done. Minor point: the mass poisoning (Salmonella typhimurium) was the largest known bioterrorist attack on US soil. The intent behind the smallpox blankets was truly horrific but there's no evidence that it hastened the spread of the disease: most indigenous populations had already died or had been exposed via natural transmission. The smallpox lesions (crusts) would not have carried active virus.
Joseph Meyer
Thank you. Invoking smallpox blanket legend does not lend credence to this article.
A few years on, the conversation regarding the mechanisms of isolation and abuse has opened and broadened. I'm just a casual observer of movements like this, but having enjoyed this episode and having followed the conversations around abuse, I'd be keen to hear a follow-up episode that addresses the spatiality of cult dynamics and abuse within this community.
https://newrepublic.com/article/147657/outside-limits-human-imagination
I loved this episode and am delighted for an even further deep dive with the Duplass Brothers' new series on Netflix:
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/features/wild-wild-country-is-netflix-doc-subject-really-a-sex-cult-w518919
Richard Parker
You said Osho died of natural causes, however he himself the one who died says that he was poisoned by the U.S Goverment, during his 12 day, no bail, jail time in 6 different jails. Look up the video on Youtube. There was little to no evidence of Baghwans involvement in the crimes he was charged with. Think about it, even if he did do crimes there would be no evidence against him. He didn't take part it any crimes and communicated very discreetly, infact he was in complete silence for several years. They kept him in 6 different jails for 12 days without bail and evidence. He took the deal so that he could have peace. He was tired and chose not to fight the case, which according to several expert lawyers, he had a good chance of winning…..The fact that you have a whole article on him, means that he did something. Look into his teachings not the stories and press, read his books. He literally tells evryone to listen to no one including OSHO. Many of the experiences of actual people living there went under the radar. Look it up. Wild Wild West needs to get numbers up.
Deepam
Osho was charged with arranging marriages, which were bogus charges – and his lawyers were told that but warned that they'd keep him in jail and drag the trial on for years. He made an Alfred Plea, in which he agreed not to return to the US for 5 years. There were absolutely arranged marriages – but not by Osho. We all wanted to live there. It was paradise. We worked hard, played joyously, ate like royalty, and sang and danced our hearts out. It took a lot of money to build that world – so those who had money happily offered it.
The Reagan administration managed to keep him from settling in many countries that loved him, particularly Uruguay, by threatening to call in their debt. Eventually, he returned to India where the ashram has thrived for many years.
I highly recommennd watching the documentary "Wild wild country" on netflix. Fascinating!
La Brega in Levittown
Guerrilla Public Service Redux
Making Up Ground
The Natural Experiment


How popular is the baby name Mala in the United States right now? How popular was it historically? Find out using the graph below! Plus, check out all the blog posts that mention the name Mala.
We're looking for something non-biblical, the more international the better, and should be no more than three syllables, preferably two. Front-runners are Daphne, Maya, and Clementine.
The baby's surname will be either Gower or van der Plas.
I tried to focus on short, simple names that I thought would cross borders easily. I don't believe any of the above are mentioned in the Bible (someone please correct me if I'm wrong).
Do you think any of these names sound particularly good with Gower and/or van der Plas? What other names would you suggest to Eric?
P.S. Eric's blog looks delicious, doesn't it?
Update: The baby is here! Scroll down to see what name Eric chose.


The robust 18/8 stainless steel structure is virtually indestructible!
This Vacuum sealed double wall bottle will remain hot for up to 12 hours and cool for 24 hours!
- Copper vacuum insulated, keeps your beverage cold up to 12 hrs., hot up to 24 hrs.


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text:
Q: How to Use/Enable (RegExp object) Regular Expression using VBA (MACRO) in word I did lot of Googling to get a proper answer on how to use or start using Regular Expressions in VBA.
At last I got it so I'd like to share my knowledge with you guys. Please correct me if I am wrong.

A: By default Regular Expression option is disabled in word 2007, to enable that plase do following steps,
1). Go to Tools > References as shown below.

2). Now put a tick on "Microsoft VBScript Regular Expressions 5.5" option and then press oh as shown below.

3). Now onward you can create a RegExp object in your VBA script. You can verify it be searching in object data base as explained below.
View > Object Browser ( Or press F2) , as shown below.

and search for RegExp object

4).
The RegExp object uses regular expressions to match a pattern. The following properties are provided by RegExp. These properties set the pattern to compare the strings that are passed to the RegExp instance:
a. Pattern: A string that defines the regular expression.
b. IgnoreCase: A Boolean property that indicates whether you must test the regular expression against all possible matches in a string.
c. Global: Sets a Boolean value or returns a Boolean value that indicates whether a pattern must match all the occurrences in a whole search string, or whether a pattern must match just the first occurrence.
RegExp provides the following methods to determine whether a string matches a particular pattern of a regular expression:
d. Test: Returns a Boolean value that indicates whether the regular expression can successfully be matched against the string.
e. Execute: Returns a MatchCollection object that contains a Match object for each successful match.
Please find a simile example for RexExp provided in Microsoft msdn forum.
Function TestRegExp(myPattern As String, myString As String)
   'Create objects.
   Dim objRegExp As RegExp
   Dim objMatch As Match
   Dim colMatches   As MatchCollection
   Dim RetStr As String

   ' Create a regular expression object.
   Set objRegExp = New RegExp

   'Set the pattern by using the Pattern property.
   objRegExp.Pattern = myPattern

   ' Set Case Insensitivity.
   objRegExp.IgnoreCase = True

   'Set global applicability.
   objRegExp.Global = True

   'Test whether the String can be compared.
   If (objRegExp.Test(myString) = True) Then

   'Get the matches.
    Set colMatches = objRegExp.Execute(myString)   ' Execute search.

    For Each objMatch In colMatches   ' Iterate Matches collection.
      RetStr = RetStr & "Match found at position "
      RetStr = RetStr & objMatch.FirstIndex & ". Match Value is '"
      RetStr = RetStr & objMatch.Value & "'." & vbCrLf
    Next
   Else
    RetStr = "String Matching Failed"
   End If
   TestRegExp = RetStr
End Function

I hope it might help full for some one, because i wasted almost half a day on it.
Thanks

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Boto3, s3 folder not getting deleted I have a directory in my s3 bucket 'test', I want to delete this directory.
This is what I'm doing
s3 = boto3.resource('s3')
s3.Object(S3Bucket,'test').delete()

and getting response like this

{'ResponseMetadata': {'HTTPStatusCode': 204, 'HostId':
  '************', 'RequestId': '**********'}}

but my directory is not getting deleted!
I tried with all combinations of '/test', 'test/' and '/test/' etc, also with a file inside that directory and with empty directory and all failed to delete 'test'.

A: delete_objects enables you to delete multiple objects from a bucket using a single HTTP request. You may specify up to 1000 keys.
https://boto3.readthedocs.io/en/latest/reference/services/s3.html#S3.Bucket.delete_objects
import boto3

s3 = boto3.resource('s3')
bucket = s3.Bucket('my-bucket')

objects_to_delete = []
for obj in bucket.objects.filter(Prefix='test/'):
    objects_to_delete.append({'Key': obj.key})

bucket.delete_objects(
    Delete={
        'Objects': objects_to_delete
    }
)

A: NOTE: See Daniel Levinson's answer for a more efficient way of deleting multiple objects.

In S3, there are no directories, only keys. If a key name contains a / such as prefix/my-key.txt, then the AWS console groups all the keys that share this prefix together for convenience.
To delete a "directory", you would have to find all the keys that whose names start with the directory name and delete each one individually. Fortunately, boto3 provides a filter function to return only the keys that start with a certain string. So you can do something like this:
s3 = boto3.resource('s3')
bucket = s3.Bucket('my-bucket-name')
for obj in bucket.objects.filter(Prefix='test/'):
    s3.Object(bucket.name, obj.key).delete()


OK, I'll admit it from the outset. This is one of those posts that will only appeal to stats nerds like myself. Well, it might also be of interest to those who interested in the inner workings of our site.
Just like the Yahoos and Googles of the world, we've tabulated the most popular people, movies and blog posts on our site for the year. It's our own little zeitgeist for 2009.
Thanks to everyone for a great year in 2009. We have lots in store for 2010 and hope you'll stick with us! Best wishes for the new year!
Photo of Nicolas Cage as Superman surfaces -- but is it real?
If you notice anything peculiar or interesting about these lists, please let us know. We spend so much time doing this stuff we don't often have a chance (or the ability) to take a step back and see the trends.


text:
Interviews →
Interview with Bryan Farina
Bryan Farina
1. A quick bio: what's your story? How did you get into gaming and what's been your career so far?
"I started gaming in the late '70s when my tech-loving father got a PONG system for our TV. Then he bought a computer in 1982, a used Atari 800. I was connecting to BBS systems and downloading and uploading games (at 300Bd!) when I was 10 years old. We upgraded to an IBM clone in '86 or '87, and I've been upgrading every few years ever since.
My career started at New World Computing in 1995 as a QA tester. In very short order I became a Technical Writer, then a Designer, and then a Producer. For Heroes I and II, I was the QA Lead, contributed heavily to both strategy guides, wrote the Heroes II manual, and did map building and other design work. I became more full-time design for Might and Magic VI and VII, and then shifted into more of a Producer role for the later Heroes and Might and Magic games.
After New World, things have been a blur. I worked at NCSoft for a bit on an MMO game that never released. Then I was part of the team that founded Trion Worlds and worked on (what became) Rift. After that I went to Electronic Arts to bring Command and Conquer to the online world. When that was cancelled, I pushed JVC to start VCME."
2. What's your current job? Please outline what your work entails.
"I'm the Executive Producer for Creature Quest. As exotic as that title sounds, in reality I coordinate all the aspects of the game to try and keep things flowing as smoothly as possible. Beyond just art, design, and programming you have to factor in external groups (localization, first parties), create release schedules and the processes for hitting them, while also trying to develop the people working for you."
3. What's your favourite part of the job?
"Nothing beats creating something original and having it come to life—moving from paper design to implementation, going through numerous tweaks and revisions, and finally getting a full version finished that you can hand to a stranger.
And when that stranger gets their hands on it and become enthralled—that moment you realize what you dreamed up actually connects with people - that's my favorite part."
4. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
"That's impossible to answer! I wouldn't see myself where I am today five years ago. Ideally, I'll still be here working on who-knows-what awesome, new thing. If there's one lesson I've learned, though, it's that this industry is quite unpredictable."
5. What do you like to do in your free time?
"Primarily, I play games in my free time. I love RPG and Strategy games the most, though I dabble a bit in other categories (FPS and action). I prefer the PC to consoles, and I've been spending more and more time on mobile titles.
Outside of games I haven't had that many other hobbies. I've started to learn how to golf so that I can enjoy an 'outdoor' activity without requiring an organized team. Recently, I've picked up reading books, primarily non-fiction, to gather up ideas and further develop my skills."
6. About Creature Quest: What devices does it play on?
"Creature Quest will be available on both iOS and Android devices through the App Store, Google Play, and Amazon.
7. How large is this world?
"We have over 20 different quests, each taking place in different regions of the world. It's hard to compare world sizes, and we're not close to done building out all the different areas yet."
8. How do you keep the balance, is there a (battle) formula?
"Fortunately for us, JVC's pet passion is balance. He's been very involved in making sure we have proper boundaries for the Creatures' stats and abilities. Our 'battle formula' is actually derived from the original Heroes combat system."
9. What can you tell us about custom quest creation?
"At release, we aren't supporting user-generated quests, though we have a lot of ideas for how to expand the guild/community features of the game."
10. Are there also Dungeons and Utopias?
"Not in the specific sense of the Heroes games. The quest maps have specific objectives, but they also have locations gating treasure and quest completion bonuses. The spirit is similar, but the specifics are different."
11. What's your target audience?
"Our primary audience are mobile gamers, and people moving into mobile games, that want games with depth and strategy. Obviously, we want to appeal to fans of JVC's work (Heroes and Might and Magic), and in a broader sense not restrict our audience. One of the tentpoles that New World Computing had was to create games that could appeal to wide audiences - ages 8 to 80 and both genders - and we've tried to accomplish the same with Creature Quest.
12. How is money generated - in-app purchases?
"How to monetize a game is a question based entirely on the distribution platform for that game. Console games and traditional PC games were/are box purchase, primarily because there was no other way to easily distribute them. Modern console games have leveraged DLC more aggressively because they are now connected devices. Modern PC games (built solely for PC) are moving more and more towards free to play. Mobile games have tried both methods, and free to play has won handily. Having the widest possible audience is the smartest approach, and giving that audience the ability to enjoy the game before asking them to spend makes their purchase more considered and valuable.
Given that, our goal in crafting the game was to make sure we were consistent with certain principles: 1) that monetization does not gate progress, and 2) that the game is not filled with annoying ads. We play plenty of mobile games and know how irritating 'pushy' monetization can be. Our goal is that players choose to spend because they want more right now, as opposed to feeling like they have to spend to simply progress.
It is possible to play, and progress, without spending any money at all. Spending is like adding nitrous oxide to your car - it doesn't make the car move, it makes the car go faster once it's moving."
13. What does Creature Quest have in common with the games in the Might & Magic franchise?
"Creature Quest isn't really a port of a Might and Magic game - it's inspired by Might and Magic. There's a map to explore with random encounters, humor, and combats like in Heroes. Those combats are presented and fought in manner similar to Might and Magic and there's a wide range of Creatures to encounter and collect similar to both Heroes and Might and Magic. Creature Quest is an RPG game with some strategic elements, as opposed to a strategy game with RPG elements (like Heroes)."
14. How is working on a mobile game different from the PC games?
"For us, it's been like turning the clock back. Our team is fewer than 20 people, which doesn't happen much anymore in AAA console/PC development. Outside of that, it's the interactions that are the most different - the display is much smaller than a monitor and the input mechanisms are significantly more limited - so creating UI and control schemes are pretty different than a PC game.
In addition, the monetization of modern mobile games (F2P), and the design around that, is very different from stand-alone PC development. Our goal here is to make spending in the game something you do to enhance or speed up your playing, without gating enjoyment of the game based on spending."
That's it - big thanks to Bryan for taking the time and we hope to hear more from him in the future.


A lot depends on the big idea, the overarching thought that communicates the brand ofering and advantage in a compelling and memorable way. A great creative idea provokes reaction. It can turn strategy into magic.
The big idea is especially relevant in China. When Chinese consumers consider a purchase, the top brands in the category may come to mind, but too often they are not distinctive. Local Chinese brands have successfully built Salience, but not Diference. A strong ad with a creative big idea can supply the critical point of Diference.
The right idea also helps cut through the manifold distractions of so much communication, especially on social media. Marketing communication that lacks a creative big idea risks becoming just more noise. A recent case study illustrates the point.
In one of China's most expensive ad campaigns, a used car brand recently hired 10 celebrities to appear during a series of 60-second spots inserted around a favorite TV program. The celebrities exhorted viewers to visit the brand's website, a total of 20 times in each ad. Millward Brown's LinkNow research found the audience disengaged and unmotivated to purchase second hand cars as a result of the ad.
The ad failed to engage and motivate because repetition of a message alone is not a recipe for communication success. The message needs to include a credible benefit. A message presented at a high decibel level, but without a benefit, often is experienced as intrusive, irritating, and disturbing – even if celebrities are doing the shouting.
Audiences respond more positively when brands communicate with a creative big idea. In BrandZ™ research ranking advertising by the level of consumer approval, the Top 10 Brands score 26 percent higher in Brand Power, a BrandZ™ measurement of competitiveness, and 30 percent higher in brand value, than the next 10 brands.
The message needs to reach the right audiences, of course. Winning brands are the ofspring of harmonious marriages, where a creative big idea and a well-conceived media plan work in concert. The Top 10 brands, in the BrandZ™ Top 100 Most Valuable Chinese Brands, increased digital media investment by an average of 20 percent in 2015. In contrast, the 10 brands that dropped from the Top 100 ranking decreased digital media investment by an average of 52 percent. The losing brands also slashed overall media investment by a third, while the winning brands only moderated spending, even in a turbulent year.
With creative big ideas Chinese brands can diferentiate from the competition in compelling and memorable ways. Achieving that goal requires working with marketing communication specialists that respect and cultivate creativity, have the research and analytics acumen to determine the right strategy, and the media expertise to shape the best implementation plan. Winning brands maintain significant media investment even in difcult times.


Children's window treatments can make for an exciting project. There are many ideas that you could create to make your children's bedroom more colorful, educational or relaxing. Coming up with ideas for very young children is easier than children who are in the difficult stages. Older children of 7 and over tend to want their own style, which can make it a little more difficult.
Using the primary colors is inspirational to very young children and babies. Using numbers and letters on the drapes works well. You can have red, yellow and blue drapes with yellow, blue and red numbers on one side and yellow, blue and red letters on the other. Mix and match the colors so that no colored number or letter has the same color background.
Children adore animals. Babies can learn from the animals as they get older and begin recognizing each different one. Zoo animals are usually very brightly colored and have attractive marks. Place pictures of zebras, giraffes or leopards on the drapes to bring brightness to the room.
Stencils on glass are also a great window treatment. They can also defuse light sunshine and prevent people from seeing inside the room. It softens the nature of the incoming light and adds gentle glow to the room.