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Rated R
Copyright 1980 ITC and Transcontinental Films
Reviewed by
Andrew Borntreger
on 3 February 2007
The Characters:
Adam - Kirk Douglas! You do not want this guy naked and on top of you (yes, I will explain). Blown to pieces.
Alex - Farrah Fawcett! She is on my short list of "women to take along to a remote asteroid," too.
Capt James - He might only appear for two minutes before dying, but I am scrounging for cast members.
Capt Benson - Harvey Keitel! Mentally unstable fellow who errs by programming a robot with his own, dangerous brain patterns.
Sally - The dog (again, small cast) who is disassembled by Hector.
Hector - Being denied his desire for Alex causes this machine to become a robot on a rampage. Eventually destroyed.
The Plot:
One thing that has always confused me about this movie is whether the title is intended to identify Lapetus or merely a designation for the research station. It would appear that the outpost is located on an asteroid. However, some shots seem to suggest it being on a moon. In any case, my confusion is pointless and stupid when the movie is taken as a whole.
To begin the story, an army of black-clad technicians march out and commence to prepare a small spaceship for immediate launch. Everything about the impending mission seems hasty, from the workers clumsily loading containers into the cockpit, to the pilot running along a corridor to grab his gear. If you take into account how important the mission is (though we only learn this later), you begin to wonder why everything is so last minute. While you are thinking that over, ask yourself what moron designed the cargo system for the ship.
Captain James, who is our tardy pilot, reaches the futuristic locker room (the lockers look more like stainless steel refrigerators) and punches in the code for his storage unit. While putting on his gear, another figure in a flightsuit wanders past. James correctly guesses that the morose figure is Captain Benson, who was scrubbed from the mission for failing the psychiatric evaluation. The chipper pilot commiserates with his grounded buddy, until he notices that Benson has strapped himself down and is about to open the airlock. The hatch opens and, with a scream, Captain James is whisked out into space in pieces. Benson closes the airlock, retrieves some of the recently departed's belongings, and hurries to the flight deck.
Why in the world is there a huge airlock in the roof of the locker room? Is it the Commanding Officer's final solution when his pilots fail to keep the area in a high state of police? "I have told all of you enough times that I do not want dirty socks left on the bench! You can buy new socks!" Following that, he operates the airlock and the offending items are sucked outside, creating a unique navigational hazard for other spacecraft. How would you like to hit a frozen sock or washcloth while traveling at 200,000 mph?
The ship's destination is Saturn 3, a research station maintained by Adam, an aging major, and his girl toy. From what I can tell, the pair are attempting to perfect hydroponics so that extraterrestrial habitats can provide food for the starving masses of Earth. Why they would be based near Saturn, vice the moon or even Mars, is a mystery. Is it really feasible to transport a cabbage nearly one billion miles? The scope of the facility is also a conundrum, because it is characterized by wide corridors. In fact, most of the research station consists of huge passageways that must have been excavated from the rock. Later, these are crucial for the plot, allowing lots of running around as Hector chases the humans, but my common sense gland made a sick squishing sound as it tried to digest why they would have been made in the first place. Do not get me started on the large crawlspaces that are beneath the floor grates. At a glance, electrical, data, climate control, and water appear to be carried by conduit and pipes attached to the corridor walls. There would be no need for a mechanical space below the floor. Again, the script needs them for a few scenes with Adam and Alex scurrying around as Hector stomps above. Did the engineers who designed the facility realize that, one day, the personnel would need to flee from a killer robot?
(Sorry, got myself going.)
Benson's arrival (he does masquerade as Captain James, but I will refer to him by his real name) and abrupt manner cause discordance in the secluded little paradise. Not the least of which is Adam reminding Alex that she cannot wander through the corridors naked. Benson is something unknown to the girl, who enjoys a blissful ignorance due to being assigned to Saturn 3 at a young age. Adam saw to it that his younger partner led a protected life (no Internet for you, young missy). She is intrigued by some of Benson's traits and repelled by others. The visiting pilot brings the taint of Earth and all of its associate evils, be they drugs or draconian social practices. Adam hates the other officer immediately. He is even less amused when he learns that Benson will be staying for a while, including the period when the habitat is out of communications range of the base station.
I am not going to delve into the whole sub-plot of Adam and Alex's relationship. It is amusing that the viewer can be certain he also taught her fashion. The woman wears clothing straight out of a number of male fantasies, such as the pirate-inspired outfit that comes complete with black boots and tan pants.
No orders were sent to inform Adam of this beforehand, but the primary reason for the visit to Saturn 3 is to deliver Hector. All of the cylindrical containers we saw earlier are parts of the "demigod series" robot. The brain is a huge mass, filling the interior of a stainless steel container that must be three feet long and eight inches in diameter. Once the robot is assembled, it will take over management of the research facility. One of the staff, probably Adam, will be reassigned.
If you are mentally unstable and know it, then uploading your personality into a robot with powerful hydraulic extensions is pretty stupid. However, this is exactly what Captain Benson proceeds to do. To accelerate the synthetic brain's knowledge acquisition process, it can eavesdrop on a person's thoughts when a transmitter is inserted into a special jack on the back of their neck. The deranged murderer has such an interface, which he uses to provide Hector with direct input. It works, though the artificial intelligence knows that parts of its personality are copied from a madman. Attempting to delete the questionable instruction sets causes Benson no small amount of grief. Too bad that he was not a programmer, he would have known how to find and delete the $crazy_murderer array.
Repeatedly denied sexual contact by Alex, the intruding Captain becomes more demanding and agitated. As you might have guessed, these tendencies cascade into Hector. The robot finally snaps one night and disassembles Sally. Alex breaks down crying when she finds the mess, but does not immediately sound the alarm. Tell me what she could possibly have been thinking; it is not as if dogs just fall apart every so often. Distraught though she might be, she should have realized that Hector was dangerous. No matter, because she does find out when the robot grabs her and pulls her into the air by the wrists. The first male to arrive is Benson. He commands Hector to release Alex to no avail; it is only when she tearfully begs to be let go that the artificial intelligence complies.
Hector goes on a full rampage, forcing Adam to lock it inside of the hydroponics lab. I agree that the machine is a menace, with its lethal pincer hands, but it also has an obvious weakness. The robot is covered with external lines filled with fluid. Some are probably hydraulic, while others must carry nutrients and waste for the brain. The robot's maximum speed is a walk; Adam could grab a pole (something like a gaff would be best) and start breaking hydraulic lines. Instead, and I agree that his solution works, Adam overloads Hector when it attempts to recharge. Following a short tussle with the not-quite-dead robot, during which Adam puts it in a shoulder lock (guess those work on ball joints too), the angry major tells Benson to disassemble the metal maniac.
The problem with robots is that they are not organic. If you tear off a human's arms and legs, then the amount of further trouble they are likely to cause you is seriously limited. Should you turn a robot into a pile of parts, but forget to render its wireless card inoperative, you had better hope that it cannot use other machines in the area to put itself back together. This is exactly what happens and Benson learns of the robot's return to service the hard way. An extended game of cat and mouse, with several hundred pounds of murderous robot playing the feline part, begins as Adam and Alex attempt to escape Saturn 3.
A number of the robot movement scenes are impressive considering when the movie was made, though it is obvious quite a few were filmed in reverse. Some people say that the movie would have been better with a larger cast, thus providing more organic fodder for Hector. I think that the cast is the right size for the story, but the execution and some basic components of the plot are flawed. Hector's understanding that it is the mirror of a madman was well-placed; they should have explored that angle more. What I could have done with less of was naked, slightly drooping, Kirk Douglas butt. There is a scene where Adam, who is naked, tackles Benson. Real horror show stuff, that scene. Two hundred pounds of naked old man jumping on me, while Farrah Fawcett watches, is likely to crop up in a future nightmare.
Things I Learned From This Movie:
In the future, there will be a need for building-sized inkjet printers.
Exposure to vacuum instantly turns a person into a brittle, frozen chunk of meat.
Sometimes, believe it or not, it is impossible to concentrate on hydroponics.
The best sleeping pills are blue in color.
Pickup lines need to avoid the imperative tense.
Globes can also be used as beach balls.
Robots should only use GFCI protected outlets to recharge.
A perm is highly recommended for any woman in zero gravity.
Stuff To Watch For:
10 mins - Should steam be coming out of your suit?
11 mins - Neither of them is freaking out or reaching for the duct tape. I guess that is normal.
18 mins - RANDOM GRATUITOUS BREAST SHOT!
20 mins - I see that Vietnamese cuisine caught on.
23 mins - The SL-3 should have been completed before launch. What if a single 1/4" bolt was missing and Saturn 3 was all metric?
53 mins - Oh no, it is Bluetooth enabled.
69 mins - What in the world? Was it smelt spawning season in the hydroponics vat?
76 mins - RANDOM ACT OF VIOLENCE AGAINST A MIRROR!
Audio clips in wav format
Starving actors speak out
Benson: "Earth is hungry."
Adam: "That's why we're here."
Benson: "Your research is behind schedule."
Adam: "We're doing all we can."
Benson: "Not enough; you need help."
Alex asks Adam about Blue Dreamers.
Benson: "You have a great body. May I use it?"
Alex: "I'm with the Major."
Benson: "For his personal consumption only?"
Alex: "Yes."
Kirk: "How would you like to make a small wager, Hector?"
Alex: (Laughs.)
Benson: "He doesn't like to be laughed at."
Alex: "Can't you program him to have a sense of humor?"
Benson: "That's not an early priority."
Click for a larger image
Scenes from the movie
Watch a scene
MPEG video files
- 2.5m
Alex attempted to lure Hector into walking over a section of floor that had the underlying grating removed. The robot was too smart to fall for the ruse, but Adam uses a piece of equipment to knock the mechanical menace into the hydroponics vat anyway. Look at Hector bob!
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The Giant Claw
Earth is visited by a GIANT ANTIMATTER SPACE BUZZARD! Gawk at the amazingly bad bird puppet, or chuckle over the silly dialog. This is one of the greatest b-movies ever made.
Lesson Learned:
Osmosis: os·mo·sis (oz-mo'sis, os-) n., 1. When a bird eats something.
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text:
You may or may not already know but the Bravo show, Top Chef, was recently filmed in Seattle for season 10, which is now airing. The chefs compete in a number of challenges that feature local cuisine, restaurants, and events in the host city. The show also puts the chefs up in a posh residence for their stay during the competition.
Guess where the chefs stayed? Downtown Seattle's Olive 8 Condominiums! The "cheftestants" all lived in a unit on the 38th floor of the Olive 8 tower giving this condo a great national stage to be seen on. The program showcases Olive 8 with scenes of the chefs lounging around, using the gourmet kitchen and shows off the beautiful view as the chefs sit out on their private deck. Olive 8 was a good choice, I would say.
So what's going on at Olive 8 in terms of condo sales you might ask? Here is the latest update on Olive 8's Developer owned condo units:
- 90% sold
- 196 closed sales
- 9 pending sales in November
- 19 developer owned units left: 10 one bedrooms and 9 two bedrooms (all on floor 30 or above)
There are also a couple of units being sold by individual owners (resales) in the building:
- 1 active resale unit
- 2 pending resale units
The condominium tower features amenities such as owner's lounge/party room, a game room, large outdoor terrace with BBQ's, and they share top of line health and spa amenities with the Hyatt hotel that include a fitness center, indoor swimming pool and sauna. Urbane restaurant is off the lobby on the 1st floor and is a hip spot for a great dinner or even just happy hour drinks or dessert.
Located at 8th Avenue and Olive Street, its location is central to Seattle's shopping district, the business district downtown, the transit tunnel, as well as the South Lake Union neighborhood, and just up the hill to the east is the active Capitol Hill neighborhood.
Plus residents at Olive 8 now can say they live in the same building where Top Chef was filmed, that's a nice notch on the ole belt.
By Marco Kronen with Seattle Condo Review: A guide to Seattle Condos exclusively for buyers and sellers

subset: commoncrawl


text:
My name is Aaron Quint. I'm a Developer and Do-er originally from Brooklyn, NY now based in Kingston, NY.
I'm currently available for hire as a consultant.
- For in depth essays, tutorials, and announcements - read my blog.
- For comedy and other nonsense - I'm on twitter as @aq.
- For pictures food and babies - I'm on instagram as @quirkey.
- To find out about my open-source projects - see my github profile.
- To get in touch - email me at aaron @ this domain.


text:
The latest LEGO IDEAS project creation to achieve 10 000 supporters is LEGO IDEAS Hydroelectric Power Plant Project Creation by Baron von Barron. Congrats!
Tip: Be sure to subscribe to the free Toysnbricks email subscription. You'll get LEGO news, new product updates, sales & deals updates, creations and reviews right in your inbox!
You can also follow us at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Flickr. For financial support to Toys N Bricks, you can set up an optional monthly financial subscription on Patreon. Thank you for your support! ( :
Once 10 000 supporters are reached, the project creation would head to the LEGO IDEAS review stage where it would be evaluated. It could then be potentially the next official LEGO IDEAS set that will be available for purchase at LEGO Shop at Home (USA | Canada | UK | Australia).
Toys N Bricks is your destination for the latest and hottest LEGO News, Sales News, Creations and Reviews! (www.toysnbricks.com)
- Subscribe: Subscribe for free by Email Subscription
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- Support Us: Set up an optional monthly financial subscription on Patreon
- Buy: Check out Toysnbricks Branded Merchandise at ShopToysnbricks.com
© Toys N Bricks: 2009-Present. LEGO IDEAS Hydroelectric Power Plant Project Creation Achieves 10 000 Supporters appeared first on Toys N Bricks.


text:
It expresses alternative .It is graphic design it does say many things but it's a chaos .Other levels of thoughts ,the same point of discussion .No solution,just view to a protocol of becoming machinery that doesn't want one.
From philosophy to corporate identity…Corporation is considered as a person in eyes of law. Lets use psychiatry to make simple conclusion based on analytic view of behavior of this already established individual in society.
High ambition.Although there are some basic rules of behavior that you have to embrace.
Smile means –fake
offer – manipulation
improvement – tactic
wealth – private property
choice – marketing
necessity – money
770.6 vos 1
keyword: invention


text:
The UCx84x series of control integrated circuits provide the features that are necessary to implement off-line or DC-to-DC fixed-frequency current-mode control schemes, with a minimum number of external components. The internally implemented circuits include an undervoltage lockout (UVLO), featuring a start-up current of less than 1 mA, and a precision reference trimmed for accuracy at the error amplifier input. Other internal circuits include logic to ensure latched operation, a pulse-width modulation (PWM) comparator that also provides current-limit control, and a totem-pole output stage that is designed to source or sink high-peak current. The output stage, suitable for driving N-channel MOSFETs, is low when it is in the off state.
The UCx84x family offers a variety of package options, temperature range options, choice of maximum duty cycle, and choice of turnon and turnoff thresholds and hysteresis ranges. Devices with higher turnon or turnoff hysteresis are ideal choices for off-line power supplies, while the devices with a narrower hysteresis range are suited for DC-DC applications. The UC184x devices are specified for operation from –55°C to 125°C, the UC284x series is specified for operation from –40°C to 85°C, and the UC384x series is specified for operation from 0°C to 70°C.
Additional information
Package |


text:
No publication outlets at the moment or outlets are not stored.
This comic has been published in the following outlet:
NOTE! The list of publication outlets contains all the outlets to which Royal Syndicate Comics has sold the comic strip. Some of the comics, however, has other distributors in respect of which the list is not necessarily always up-to-date and comprehensive. Recommend this comic! Dear Reader, do you like the Bill and Esther comic? Would you like to read this comic in your hometown newspaper or in a magazine or tabloid you follow regularly? You can recommend this comic to the publication you want to read it in. Contact the editorial office and tell them you like the comic and wish they would publish it. You can select a publication to send a request to using our reader feedback system. Giving feedback is a good way to influence the comics choices of the publications you enjoy. |
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text:
Needham, Mass-based IN USA Inc. has released the dFFOZ-TR trace dissolved ozone analyzer, an ozone-specific measuring instrument for ultrapure water. By using patented ultraviolet (UV) light absorption technology, the analyzer achieves accurate and stable readings down to 2 parts per billion. It eliminates the likelihood of false alarms because the UV technique is specific to dissolved or residual ozone and immune to cross interference from other gases. A possible application is in ultrapure water stations in wafer fabrication.
Manufactures Name
IN USA Inc.


text:
WASHINGTON (AP): The theme for President-elect Joe Biden's inauguration will be "America United," an issue that's long been a central focus for Biden but one that's taken on added weight in the wake of the violence at the U.S. Capitol last week.
In an announcement shared first with The Associated Press, the Presidential Inaugural Committee said that the theme "reflects the beginning of a new national journey that restores the soul of America, brings the country together, and creates a path to a brighter future.
In keeping with the theme of unity, the committee also announced that after he is officially inaugurated, Biden, Vice President-elect Harris and their spouses will lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington National Cemetery, and will be joined there by former Presidents Barack Obama, George W. Bush, Bill Clinton and their wives. It will be one of Biden's first acts as president, and a show of bipartisanship at a time when the national divide is on stark display.
The focus on unity has characterized Biden's presidential run from the start, and he's said repeatedly since winning the White House he sees unifying the country as one of his top priorities as president. But the scope — and urgency — of the challenge Biden faces became even clearer this week after President Donald Trump sparked an armed insurrection at the Capitol, spurred by his repeated attempts to delegitimize Biden's win.
Trump himself is skipping Biden's inaugural, a decision Biden said was a "good thing," though Vice President Mike Pence and his wife plan to attend.
"This inauguration marks a new chapter for the American people — one of healing, of unifying, of coming together, of an America united," said PIC CEO Dr. Tony Allen. "It is time to turn the page on this era of division. The inaugural activities will reflect our shared values and serve as a reminder that we are stronger together than we are apart, just as our motto 'e pluribus unum' reminds us — out of many, one."
The committee also announced plans for a major public art display spanning multiple blocks of the National Mall that will feature 191,500 U.S. flags and 56 pillars of light, to represent every U.S. state and territory. After Biden asked Americans to stay home for his inauguration, the "Field of Flags" is meant to represent "the American people who are unable to travel" to the Capitol to celebrate his swearing-in, according to the committee.
It's not the only COVID-era change to the festivities. In keeping with crowd-size restrictions to slow the spread of the virus, Biden will have a significantly pared-down inauguration, with traditional activities like the parade and the inaugural balls moving to a virtual format. But even as the celebration itself will be smaller, inauguration officials are preparing a significant security presence in preparation for what may be more pro-Trump demonstrations across Washington.


text:
Click on pics to view larger images
At a glance...
Last week in Part 11 we looked at measuring analog and digital signals. This week, we'll see what can be done with those signals.
Intercepting and altering ECU input and output signals is the easiest way of modifying complex car electronic systems. This is because the ECU can detect what is occurring only through the signals that are fed to it, and can influence outcomes only by its output signals. So change the input signals and the ECU's outputs change, or change the outputs and the outcomes change.
Many people turn their noses up at intercepting input or output signals, making the point that it is better to alter the ECU software so that the ECU changes its internal behaviour to suit the modifications. Absolutely unambiguously, these people are right: it is vastly better to do it at a software level – so long as the ECU software has been 'cracked' and the rewrite software is extensive and detailed.
Unfortunately though, perhaps 99.9 per cent of car electronics systems do not have this re-write software available.
Therefore, if you own a car for which (say) EcuTek software is available, then by far the best way of modifying that car system is with that software (normally accessed through a workshop). However, if you're not modifying one of the 0.1 per cent of electronic car systems for which the software is available, an interceptor becomes the only viable option.
Note that I am talking not just about engine management systems, but also stability control systems, traction control systems, auto transmission control systems, hybrid braking control – the whole lot.
An analog signal (a voltage that varies steplessly) is an easy signal to intercept and modify. The cheapest way of doing this is with the Jaycar Electronics Digital Fuel Adjuster.
The Digital Fuel Adjuster (DFA) can modify any analog signal. The signal as a whole can be raised or lowered (like we previously saw in this series could be done with a pot) but more importantly, the shape of the adjustment curve can be set however you wish. So for example, if you are intercepting the airflow meter signal and want to change the car's mixtures when the car is operating out of closed loop, you can adjust only the voltages that correspond to the top-end of the engine's output.
The adjustment of mixtures in this way does not need an rpm or MAP sensor input: the airflow meter signal already contains 'rpm' and 'load' elements – it's a very information-rich signal.
The interception and modification of the airflow meter signal gives rise to another important point, one that applies to all signal interception. The ECU uses the airflow meter signal to tell it engine load, so altering this signal will change everything the ECU does on the basis of load. For example, in addition to altering the amount of fuel it causes the injectors to flow, it will also alter ignition timing – and perhaps auto trans shift-points, etc. Therefore, when intercepting a signal, you should always think-through the implications for other car behaviours.
Intercepting an analog signal is as simple as cutting the wire from the sensor to the ECU, feeding the sensor end to the 'in' terminal of the interceptor, and feeding the 'out' terminal of the interceptor to the ECU. Unless you change the signal so radically that the ECU decides something is very wrong, the ECU won't perceive anything different to normal.
Digital signals can also be intercepted. One example is when making corrections to the speedo reading, where the frequency of the signal needs to be altered. If the speedo is reading about 9 per cent slow, the frequency might need to be increased by 9 per cent right across the board.
However, compared with analog, things get much trickier when intercepting digital signals. Let's take a look in more detail at intercepting the speed signal.
There are different ways in which speed signals are generated but let's look first at the simplest. Some older speed sensors are built into the speedo of the car and comprise a reed switch that is closed whenever a magnet passes. If the magnet spins with the speedo drive, the switch will open and close rapidly as the car is driven along. The faster the car is travelling, the faster the switch is turned on and off.
This diagram shows the system. Each time the magnet gets near the reed switch, it closes, sending a 5V to the ECU. Then, when the magnet moves away from the reed switch, the switch opens, turning off the 5V. The results is an on/off 5V signal – a square wave.
Now, let's take a closer look at what happens inside the ECU. The arrangement could be like this – the signal goes straight into a microcontroller that looks at the signal's frequency and then works out how fast the car is travelling. When the reed switch is closed, there's 5 volts being fed into the micro input. But what happens when the reed switch is open? Then there's nothing – the input is just floating! Any electrical noise on the input could be seen as a signal – not good.
So to avoid that problem, here's what is done. A resistor is wired between the input and ground. When the reed switch is closed, 5 volts is available on the micro's input – the resistor is too high in value to prevent much current passing through it to ground. But when the reed switch opens, the resistor can 'pull' the micro input to ground. Now the input is no longer floating because it's tied to ground. This resistor is called a 'pull down' resistor.
So that's a pull-down resistor – but what about a pull-up? It's very much the same idea but this time the other side of the reed switch is connected to ground and the pull-up resistor is tied to 5V. When the reed switch is open, the input to the micro is pulled-up to 5V. When the reed switch is closed, the input to the micro is pulled-down to ground. (Note the voltage of the pull-up doesn't have to 5V – it could be 12V.)
Therefore, when intercepting a digital signal, the right pull up or pull down approach must be maintained – otherwise, the ECU will see something wrong.
Digital interceptor modules (such as speedo correctors) have different wiring options to take these different situations into account.
Output interception is normally done only with digital signals. Two different characteristics may be modified – the duty cycle of the signal, or the frequency. Most often, you want to change the duty cycle of the signal, and maintain the standard fixed or variable frequency.
For example, if you want to change the flow through a duty cycle (PWM) controlled solenoid valve (turbo boost control, diesel fuel pressure, EGR control, fuel injectors, power steering control, etc), you alter the duty cycle.
Again there is a kit available that lets you cheaply do this – the Digital Pulse Adjuster, Part 1. This is another product I helped develop and uses the same hand controller as the Digital Fuel Adjuster described above.
As with intercepting digital input signals, there's a trick with intercepting digital output signals that operate solenoids.
The ECU directly drives the coil in the solenoid and monitors what current the solenoid is drawing. If the solenoid draws no current (or only very little current), the ECU assumes the solenoid is broken. If you connect the output of the ECU directly to the input of the interceptor, the ECU sees only the load being placed on it by the interceptor. This is much lower than the current draw of the original solenoid, and so the ECU trips a fault code. To prevent this, a resistor of suitable value (resistance and power dissipation) needs to be connected in parallel with the interceptor input. In effect, this resistor acts as a 'fake load'.
If you have a duty cycle controlled solenoid and in your application you just want to reduce the duty cycle, you may be able to get away with a very simple modification. As we described in Part 10 of this series, reducing duty cycle is similar to reducing voltage, something also able to be achieved by just a dumb resistor!
When I modified the power steering weight on a Lexus LS400, I found that the electronically-controlled steering weight increased with a reduced duty cycle being fed to the control solenoid. Rather than intercepting this signal and altering it with something like the Digital Pulse Adjuster (which wasn't then available), I simply used a high-power variable resistor, mounted on a heatsink.
This worked very well – see Modifying Speed-Sensitive Power Steering – but of course it allowed me to make the steering heavier only by the same amount across the full range.
Later, when the Digital Pulse Adjuster became available, I used this more sophisticated tool instead – see Mapping Power Steering Weight. As can be seen from this diagram that shows the amount of correction made, the more sophisticated interceptor allowed me to alter weight in a more refined manner – in fact, I made the steering lighter at slow speeds and heavier at higher speeds.
I haven't mentioned commercial interceptors, primarily because I have never used one! The Digital Fuel Adjuster, Digital Pulse Adjuster and Speedo Interceptor modules (the latter also available as a kit), together with simple resistors and pots, have been sufficient for my modification needs.
However, intercepting and variably altering ignition timing signals (normally achieved by intercepting the digital input signal from the crank-angle sensor) cannot be done with simple and cheap tricks - you need a good quality commercial interceptor. (There is a kit available but I have never tried it, so I am loath to recommend it.)
Also, if you want to construct modifications that rely on 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional look-up tables, eg correlating boost pressure against engine load and intake air temp, you need a better interceptor than so far covered in this article.
I think that probably the best is the ChipTorque Xede – I have not used it but I have looked at it very closely, seen it in use, and looked through its (freely available) software. See http://www.chiptorque.com.au for more details. Incidentally, this product can also intercept and alter analog signals, generate boost solenoid control output signals, etc – so in a car, you'd normally use it to do multiple functions.
If I wanted to intercept ignition timing or perform 2D and 3D mapping mods, I'd use that product.
On a scale of easy to hard on the interception continuum, there's:
1. Intercepting and altering analog input signals (pot, DFA)
2. Intercepting and altering digital input signals (DPA, speedo interceptor)
3. Intercepting and altering duty cycle output signals (DPA, perhaps a heavy duty pot)
4. Intercepting and altering ignition timing signals (commercial interceptor)
5. Intercepting and altering multiple signals, 2D and 3D mapping (commercial interceptor)
It's important that you realise that some very simple and cheap intercepting techniques can result in extremely good outcomes. But, by the same token, there are also some tricks to be aware of, otherwise things can get difficult really fast!
Next week, in the final part of this series, we'll look at the best overall approach to take to DIY modificaton of car electronics.
The parts in this series:
Part 1 - background and tools
Part 2 - understanding electrical circuits.
Part 3 - volts, amps and ohms
Part 4 - using a multimeter
Part 5 - modifying car systems with resistors and pots
Part 6 - shifting input signals using pots
Part 7 - using relays
Part 8 - using pre-built electronic modules
Part 9 - building electronic kits
Part 10 - understanding analog and digital signals
Part 11 - measuring analog and digital signals
Part 12 - intercepting analog and digital signals
Part 13 - the best approaches to modifying car electronics ? and the series conclusion
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Last week we focused on the Best iOS Newsreaders, and the Android users out there made it abundantly clear that you wanted your own version. This week, we want to hear all about your favorite Android-based newsreader applications.
Hive Five nominations take place in the comments, where you post your favorite tool for the job. We get hundreds of comments, so to make your nomination clear, please include it at the top of your comment like so: VOTE: Android Newsreader. Please don't include your vote in a reply to another commenter. Instead, make your vote and reply separate comments. If you don't follow this format, we may not count your vote. To prevent tampering with the results, votes from first-time commenters may not be counted. After you've made your nomination, let us know what makes it stand out from the competition.
About the Hive Five: The Hive Five feature series asks readers to answer the most frequently asked question we get: "Which tool is the best?" Once a week we'll put out a call for contenders looking for the best solution to a certain problem, then YOU tell us your favorite tools to get the job done. Every weekend, we'll report back with the top five recommendations and give you a chance to vote on which is best. For an example, check out last week's Five Best iOS Newsreaders.


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Ask the MB: Blazer and Suit Jacket Length
A: Nick, we believe there is a perfect length for a blazer or suit jacket (no, there is no difference). To illustrate this, take a look at da Vinci's Vitruvian Man below. A jacket should end at the end of your nutbag — give or take a 1/4" — when tried at room temperature. This will obviously involve standing in front of a mirror with your pants down, so we don't recommend doing this in department stores with security cameras, fraternity houses, or the Congressional gym, unless you want to end up on the web some day.
Note: If your balls go for a swim when you sit down on the can, this method will not work for you.
Earlier: Muammar Gaddafi: The Man Who Would Be Ken


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Chuck Baldwin
January 27, 2009
It is hard to believe, but a majority of Americans (including Christians and conservatives) seem oblivious to the fact that there is a very real, very legitimate New World Order (NWO) unfolding. In the face of overwhelming evidence, most Americans not only seem totally unaware of this reality, they seem unwilling to even remotely entertain the notion.
On one hand, it is understandable that so many Americans would be ignorant of the emerging New World Order. After all, the mainstream media refuses to report, or even acknowledge, the NWO. Even "conservative" commentators and talk show hosts such as Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, Michael Savage, or Joe Scarborough refuse to discuss it. And when listeners call these respective programs, these "conservative" hosts usually resort to insulting the caller as being some kind of "conspiracy kook." One host even railed that if anyone questions the government line on 9/11, we should "lock them up and throw away the key." So much for freedom of speech!
This is an area--perhaps the central area--where liberals and conservatives agree: they both show no patience or tolerance for anyone who believes that global government (in any form) is evolving. One has to wonder how otherwise intelligent and thoughtful people can be so brain dead when it comes to this issue. It makes one wonder who is really pulling their strings, doesn't it?
The list of notable personalities who have openly referenced or called for some kind of global government or New World Order is extremely lengthy. Are all these people "kooks" or "conspiracy nuts"? Why would world leaders--including presidents, secretaries of state, and high government officials; including the media, financial, and political elite--constantly refer to something that doesn't exist? Why would they write about, talk about, or openly promote a New World Order, if there is no such thing?
Many of us recall President George Herbert Walker Bush talking much about an emerging New World Order. For example, in 1989, Bush told the students of Texas A&M University, "Perhaps the world order of the future will truly be a family of nations."
Later, Bush, Sr. said, "We have before us the opportunity to forge for ourselves and for future generations a new world order . . .. When we are successful, and we will be, we have a real chance at this new world order, an order in which a credible United Nations can use its peacekeeping role to fulfill the promise and vision of the U.N.'s founders."
Bush, Sr. also said, "What is at stake is more than one small country, it is a big idea--a new world order."
Bush, Sr. further said, "The world can therefore seize the opportunity to fulfill the long-held promise of a new world order . . ."
What was President G.H.W. Bush talking about, if there is no such thing as an emerging New World Order? Was he talking out of his mind? Was he hallucinating?
England's Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said, "We are all internationalists now, whether we like it or not." He continued saying, "On the eve of a new Millennium we are now in a new world. We need new rules for international co-operation and new ways of organizing our international institutions." He also said, "Today the impulse towards interdependence is immeasurably greater. We are witnessing the beginnings of a new doctrine of international community."
In 1999, Tony Blair said, "Globalization has transformed our economies and our working practices. But globalism is not just economic. It is also a political and security phenomenon."
What is Tony Blair talking about, if there is no emerging New World Order? What does he mean by "a new doctrine of international community"? What does he mean by "new world"? How can one have globalism, which includes "a political and security phenomenon," without creating a New World Order? Is Tony Blair hallucinating?
Likewise, former President George W. Bush penned his signature to the Declaration of Quebec back on April 22, 2001, in which he gave a "commitment to hemispheric integration and national and collective responsibility for improving the economic well-being and security of our people."
By "our people," Bush meant the people of the Western Hemisphere, not the people of the United States. Phyllis Schlafly rightly reminded us that G.W. Bush "pledged that the United States will 'build a hemispheric family on the basis of a more just and democratic international order.'"
Remember, too, that it was G.W. Bush who, back in 2005, committed the United States to the Security and Prosperity Partnership (SPP), which is nothing more than a precursor to the North American Community or Union, as outlined in CFR member Robert Pastor's manual, "Toward a North American Community."
If there is no such thing as an emerging New World Order, what was G.W. Bush talking about when he referred to "a hemispheric family" and an "international order"?
The public statements of notable world leaders regarding an emerging New World Order are copious. Consider the statements of former CBS newsman, Walter Cronkite.
In his book, "A Reporter's Life," Walter Cronkite said, "A system of world order--preferably a system of world government--is mandatory. The proud nations someday will see the light and, for the common good and their own survival, yield up their precious sovereignty . . ." Cronkite told BBC newsman Tim Sebastian, "I think we are realizing that we are going to have to have an international rule of law." He added, "We need not only an executive to make international law, but we need the military forces to enforce that law." Cronkite also said, "American people are going to begin to realize that perhaps they are going to have to yield some sovereignty to an international body to enforce world law."
If there is no emerging New World Order, what is Walter Cronkite talking about? Can there be any doubt that Cronkite is talking about global government? Absolutely not!
Now, when Bush, Sr. talks about fulfilling "the promise and vision of the U.N.'s founders," he was talking about the same thing former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali was talking about when he said, "The time for absolute and exclusive sovereignty . . . has passed."
The United Nations has been on the forefront of promoting the New World Order agenda since its very inception. In 1995, the UN released a manual entitled, "Our Global Neighborhood." It states, "Population, consumption, technology, development, and the environment are linked in complex relationships that bear closely on human welfare in the global neighborhood. Their effective and equitable management calls for a systematic, long-term, global approach guided by the principle of sustainable development, which has been the central lesson from the mounting ecological dangers of recent times. Its universal application is a priority among the tasks of global governance."
If there is no emerging New World Order, what is "global governance" all about?
"Who are the movers and shakers promoting global government?" you ask. Obviously, it is the international bankers who are the heavyweights behind the push for global government. Remember, one cannot create a "global economy" without a global government to manage, oversee, and control it.
In a letter written to Colonel E. Mandell House, President Franklin D. Roosevelt said, "The real truth of the matter is, as you and I know, that a financial element in the large centers has owned the government of the U.S. since the days of Andrew Jackson."
"Old Hickory" did his best to rid the United States from the death grip that the international bankers were beginning to exert on this country. He may have been the last President to actually oppose the bankers. In discussing the Bank Renewal bill with a delegation of bankers in 1832, Jackson said, "Gentlemen, I have had men watching you for a long time, and I am convinced that you have used the funds of the bank to speculate in the breadstuffs of the country. When you won, you divided the profits amongst you, and when you lost, you charged it to the bank. You tell me that if I take the deposits from the bank and annul its charter, I shall ruin ten thousand families. That may be true, gentlemen, but that is your sin! Should I let you go on, you will ruin fifty thousand families, and that would be my sin! You are a den of vipers and thieves. I intend to rout you out, and by the eternal God, I will rout you out."
Unfortunately, the international bankers proved themselves to be too formidable for President Jackson. And in 1913, with the collaboration of President Woodrow Wilson, the bankers were given charge over America's financial system by the creation of the Federal Reserve.
Ever since the CFR and Trilateral Commission were created, they have filled the key leadership positions of government, big media, and of course, the Federal Reserve.
In his book, "With No Apologies," former Republican Presidential nominee Barry Goldwater wrote, "The Trilateral Commission is intended to be the vehicle for multinational consolidation of the commercial and banking interests by seizing control of the political government of the United States. The Trilateral Commission represents a skillful, coordinated effort to seize control and consolidate the four centers of power-- political, monetary, intellectual and ecclesiastical. What the Trilateral Commission intends is to create a worldwide economic power superior to the political governments of the nation-states involved. As managers and creators of the system, they will rule the future." Was Goldwater a prophet or what?
And again, the goals of the global elite have been publicly stated. Back in 1991, the founder of the CFR, David Rockefeller praised the major media for their complicity in helping to facilitate the globalist agenda by saying, "We are grateful to the Washington Post, The New York Times, Time Magazine and other great publications whose directors have attended our meetings and respected their promises of discretion for almost forty years. . . . It would have been impossible for us to develop our plan for the world if we had been subjected to the lights of publicity during those years. But, the world is now more sophisticated and prepared to march towards a world government. The supranational sovereignty of an intellectual elite and world bankers is surely preferable to the national auto-determination practiced in past centuries."
How could Rockefeller be any plainer? He acknowledged the willful assistance of the major media in helping to keep the elitists' agenda of global government from the American people. To this day, the major media has not deviated from that collaboration. And this includes the aforementioned "conservative" talking heads. They know if they want to keep their jobs, they dare not reveal the New World Order. The NWO, more than anything else, is the "Third Rail" to the national media.
Is it any wonder that President Barack Obama has stacked his government with numerous members of the CFR? Among these are Robert Gates, Janet Napolitano, Eric Shinseki, Timothy Geithner, and Tom Daschle. Other CFR members include CFR President Richard Haass, CFR Director Richard Holbrooke, and founding member of the Trilateral Commission and CFR member Paul Volcker. Obama even asked a CFR member, Rick Warren, to deliver the inaugural prayer.
Still not convinced? Just a few days ago, when asked by a reporter what he thought the most important thing was that Barack Obama could accomplish, former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger said, "I think his task will be develop an overall strategy for America in this period when, really, a New World Order can be created. It's a great opportunity; it isn't just a crisis."
This is the same Henry Kissinger, you will recall, who said back in 1991, "Today, America would be outraged if UN troops entered Los Angeles to restore order. Tomorrow, they will be grateful! This is especially true if they were told that there were [sic] an outside threat from beyond, whether real or promulgated, that threatened our very existence. It is then that all peoples of the world will plead to deliver them from this evil. The one thing every man fears is the unknown. When presented with this scenario, individual rights will be willingly relinquished for the guarantee of their well-being granted to them by the World Government."
Even Gideon Rachman, the chief foreign affairs commentator for the Financial Times, wrote an editorial expressing his support for world government. In his column he said, "I have never believed that there is a secret United Nations plot to take over the US. . . . But, for the first time in my life, I think the formation of some sort of world government is plausible.
"A 'world government' would involve much more than co-operation between nations. It would be an entity with state-like characteristics, backed by a body of laws. The European Union has already set up a continental government for 27 countries, which could be a model. The EU has a supreme court, a currency, thousands of pages of law, a large civil service and the ability to deploy military force.
"So could the European model go global? There are three reasons for thinking that it might."
Rachman then goes on to explain the reasons why he believes world government is plausible.
Do you now see why it does not matter to a tinker's dam whether it is a Republican or Democrat who resides at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? For the most part, both major parties in Washington, D.C., have been under the dominating influence of the international bankers who control the Federal Reserve, the CFR, and the Trilateral Commission. And this is also why it does not matter whether one calls himself conservative or liberal. For the most part, both conservatives and liberals in Washington, D.C., are facilitating the emerging New World Order. It is time we wake up to this reality.
Presidents Bush, Sr., Bill Clinton, and Bush, Jr. have thoroughly set the table for the implementation of the NWO, as surely as the sun rises in the east. All Obama has to do is put the food on the table--and you can count on this: Barack Obama will serve up a New World Order feast like you cannot believe!
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That a New World Order is emerging is not in question. The only question is, What will freedom-loving Americans do about it? Of course, the first thing they have to do is admit that an emerging New World Order exists! Until conservatives, Christians, pastors, constitutionalists, and others who care about a sovereign, independent United States acknowledge the reality of an emerging New World Order, they will be incapable of opposing it. And right now, that is exactly what they are not doing.
*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link.
� 2009 Chuck Baldwin - All Rights Reserved


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Laws, Regulations and Annotations
Business Taxes Law Guide—Revision 2024
Diesel Fuel Tax Law
Revenue and Taxation Code
Division 2. Other Taxes
Part 31. Diesel Fuel Tax Law
Chapter 8. Overpayments and Refunds.
Article 1. Refunds on Certain Sales and Uses
Section 60502.2
60502.2. Tax; exempt bus operators. Notwithstanding the refund provided for by Section 60502 and the exemption provided for by subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 60100, any exempt bus operation using diesel fuel on which the tax has been refunded under Section 60502 or exempt from tax under subparagraph (B) of paragraph (5) of subdivision (a) of Section 60100 shall, for the privilege of operating buses on state highways and freeways, make a payment equal to one cent ($0.01) for each gallon of the refunded or exempt diesel fuel used. The payments required by this subdivision shall be paid to the State Board of Equalization in the manner prescribed by the board, and the payments shall be treated as a tax for all purposes of this part.


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Available in versions: Dev (3.20) | Latest (3.19) | 3.18 | 3.17 | 3.16 | 3.15 | 3.14 | 3.13 | 3.12 | 3.11 | 3.10
Stored procedures and functions
Applies to ✅ Open Source Edition ✅ Express Edition ✅ Professional Edition ✅ Enterprise Edition
Many RDBMS support the concept of "routines", usually calling them procedures and/or functions. These concepts have been around in programming languages for a while, also outside of databases. Famous languages distinguishing procedures from functions are:
- Ada
- Pascal
- etc...
The general distinction between (stored) procedures and (stored) functions can be summarised like this:
- Are called using JDBC CallableStatement
- Have no return value
- Usually support OUT parameters
- Can be used in SQL statements
- Have a return value
- Usually don't support OUT parameters
Exceptions to these rules
- DB2, H2, and HSQLDB don't allow for JDBC escape syntax when calling functions. Functions must be used in a SELECT statement
- H2 only knows functions (without OUT parameters)
- Oracle functions may have OUT parameters
- Oracle knows functions that must not be used in SQL statements for transactional reasons
- Postgres only knows functions (with all features combined). OUT parameters can also be interpreted as return values, which is quite elegant/surprising, depending on your taste
- The Sybase jconn3 JDBC driver doesn't handle null values correctly when using the JDBC escape syntax on functions
In general, it can be said that the field of routines (procedures / functions) is far from being standardised in modern RDBMS even if the SQL:2008 standard specifies things quite well. Every database has its ways and JDBC only provides little abstraction over the great variety of procedures / functions implementations, especially when advanced data types such as cursors / UDT's / arrays are involved.
To simplify things a little bit, jOOQ handles both procedures and functions the same way, using a more general org.jooq.Routine
Using jOOQ for standalone calls to stored procedures and functions
If you're using jOOQ's code generator, it will generate org.jooq.Routine
objects for you. Let's consider the following example:
-- Check whether there is an author in AUTHOR by that name and get his ID CREATE OR REPLACE PROCEDURE author_exists (author_name VARCHAR2, result OUT NUMBER, id OUT NUMBER);
The generated artefacts can then be used as follows:
// Make an explicit call to the generated procedure object: AuthorExists procedure = new AuthorExists(); // All IN and IN OUT parameters generate setters procedure.setAuthorName("Paulo"); procedure.execute(configuration); // All OUT and IN OUT parameters generate getters assertEquals(new BigDecimal("1"), procedure.getResult()); assertEquals(new BigDecimal("2"), procedure.getId();
But you can also call the procedure using a generated convenience method in a global Routines class:
// The generated Routines class contains static methods for every procedure. // Results are also returned in a generated object, holding getters for every OUT or IN OUT parameter. AuthorExists procedure = Routines.authorExists(configuration, "Paulo"); // All OUT and IN OUT parameters generate getters assertEquals(new BigDecimal("1"), procedure.getResult()); assertEquals(new BigDecimal("2"), procedure.getId();
For more details about code generation for procedures, see the manual's section about procedures and code generation.
Inlining stored function references in SQL
Unlike procedures, functions can be inlined in SQL statements to generate column expressions or table expressions, if you're using unnesting operators. Assume you have a function like this:
-- Check whether there is an author in AUTHOR by that name and get his ID CREATE OR REPLACE FUNCTION author_exists (author_name VARCHAR2) RETURN NUMBER;
The generated artefacts can then be used as follows:
-- This is the rendered SQL SELECT AUTHOR_EXISTS('Paulo') FROM DUAL
// Use the static-imported method from Routines: boolean exists = create.select(authorExists("Paulo")).fetchOne(0, boolean.class);
For more info about inlining stored function references in SQL statements, please refer to the manual's section about user-defined functions.
References to this page
Do you have any feedback about this page? We'd love to hear it!


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Mountain Climbing
The 800 km stretch of the Nepal Himalayan is the greatest in the world with eight peaks that rise above 8,000m including the highest in the world, Mt. Everest. Ever since the country opened its peaks to climbers in 1994, the Nepal Himalayan has become a great theatre of mountaineering activity and the drama of success and failure have provided impetus to thousands of men and women to meet the ultimate challenge. The Nepal Himalayan has been an attraction to many people, be they saints, philosophers, researchers or adventures.
The best way to experience Nepal's unbeatable combination of natural beauty and culture riches is to walk through them. One can walk along the beaten trails or virgin tracks. Either way you are in for an experience for a lifetime. Along with forests of rhododendron, isolated hamlets, and small mountain villages, birds, animals, temple, monasteries and breathtaking landscapes, you will also encounter friendly people of different cultures offering a fascinating glimpse of traditional rural life.
Bird Watching
Nepal is a paradise for bird lovers with over 646 species (almost 8% of the world total) of birds, and among them almost 500 hundred species are found in Kathmandu Valley alone. The most popular bird watching spots in Kathmandu are Phulchoki, Godavari, Nagarjun, Bagmati river, Taudaha and so on. Get your binoculars and look forward to a rewarding experience.
Mountain Flight
Only awe-stricken silence can come close to matching the experience of going on a mountain flight to encounter the tallest mountains on earth. Mountain flights offer the closest possible aerial views of Mt. Everest, Kanchenjunga and the Tibetan Plateau. Mountain flights appeal to all category of travelers and have become a popular tourist attraction of Nepal. For those who are restricted by time or other considerations from going for a trek, these flights offer a panoramic view of the Himalayan in just one hour.
Rock Climbing
For all those cliffhangers out there, Kathmandu offers a roster of stone walls that make for an experience of a lifetime. Now of late, Rock climbing has become a popular sport in Kathmandu, which offers some really terrific places for rock climbing. Nagarjun, Balaju, Shivapuri and Budhanil Kantha are some of the places where you can try this sport.
Rafting is one of the best ways to explore the typical cross section of natural as well as ethno-cultural heritage of the country. There are numerous rivers in Nepal which offer excellent rafting or canoeing experience. You can glide on calm jade waters with munificent scenery all about or rush through roaring white rapids, in the care of expert river-men employed by government authorized agencies. One can opt for day of river running or more. So far, the government has opened sections of 10 rivers for commercial rafting. The Trisuli river (Grade 3+) is one of the most popular of Nepal's raftable rivers. The Kali Gandaki (5-5+) winds through remote canyons and deep gorges for five days of intense rapids. The Bhote Koshi (4-5) is 26km of continuous white water and the raging Marshyanghi is four days of uninterrupted white water. The Karnali river (4-5) provides some of the most challenging rapids in the world. The Sun Koshi (4-5), 27km, requiring 8-10 days to complete, is a big and challenging river. Adventurers are provided with world-class services by rafting agents. Agencies here provide life jackets, camping and the standard rafting paraphernalia needed by world-class rafting. An extremely popular sport in Europe, cannoning is now available in Nepal. Cannoning gives you the freedom to explore some of the most ruggedly beautiful, yet forbidden places in the world.
Hot Air Ballooning
Hot air ballooning is very popular with tourists for it affords the most spectacular bird's-eye view of the Kathmandu valley and the Himalayan ranges towering in the background. On a clear day it's a superb way to view the Himalayan (from over 6000m up), and the view of the valley is equally breathtaking.
Bungy Jumping
The ultimate thrill of a bungy jump can now be experienced in Nepal at one of the best sites that this sport can boast of anywhere in the world. Nepal's first bungy jumping site is situated 160m. Over the Bhote Koshi river, inviting you to experience the ultimate adrenaline rush in the surroundings of this amazing place. The jump, at 160m., is staffed and operated by some of the most experienced jumpmasters in the business.
Paragliding in Nepal can be a truly wonderful and fulfilling experience for the adventure seeking. A trip will take you over some of the best scenery on earth, as you share airspace with Himalayan griffins vultures, eagles, kites and float over villages, monasteries, temples, lakes and jungle, with a fantastic view of the majestic Himalayas.
Ultralight Aircraft
Ultralight aircraft take off from Pokhara and offer spectacular views of the lakes, mountains and villages. This is an ideal way to see life from a new perspective. The choice of Pokhara Valley for ultra-light aircraft is appropriate chiefly because of the proximity of the mountains, and the scenic lakes. For those who wished they could fly birds when growing up, this flight is a must. It might be lonely at the top, but this flight is a must. It might be lonely at the top, but the spectacular view from up high certainly makes it all worth it. Flights are from the Pokhara airport beginning September through June. The flights take place from sunrise to 11 a.m. and from 3 p.m. to sunset every day during these months.
Mountain Biking
The best way to explore the Kathmandu Valley is on a mountain bike. Nepal's diverse terrain is a mountain biker's dream adventure comes true. Mountain biking offers an environmentally sound way of exploring this magnificent country, its landscape and living heritage. There are plenty of dirty roads and trails in Nepal to meet every mountain biker's wildest fantasy. Mountain biking is specially recommended if you wish to explore urban centers of Nepal such as Pokhara and Kathmandu as well as the countryside. Adventurous souls may plan extended trips to such exotic locals as Namche Bazaar, and western Nepal. You could even do the entire length of Nepal across the plains. Mountain bikes are available for rent by the day or longer in many of the bicycle rental outlets in Nepal and around the city.
Jungle Safari
National Parks located specially in the Terai region in Nepal attract visitors from all over the world. A visit to these parks involves game- stalking by a variety of means-foot, dugout canoe, jeep, and elephant back. One is bound to sight a one – horned rhino or two at every elephant safari. Besides the rhinos, wild boars, samburs, spotted deer, sloth bear, four-horned antelope are also usually seen. A Royal Bengal tiger may surprise you by his majestic appearance.


text: A trip to Athens is not a trip to a city, but rather a journey through a mysterious world of ancient civilizations and archaeological wonders. Named for Athena, the goddess of wisdom, a walk through the city is a walk through history and mythology, so let the age-old myths be your guide. First, head up to the Acropolis, the symbol of the Athens, and look down on the city that held the first ever Olympic Games. Watch a parade of Evzone soldiers from Syntagma Square and explore the wonderful museums of the city. Relax in the neighborhood of Pláka and let Greek cuisine delight your taste buds as you enjoy the seafood and other delicacies it is so famous for.


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The little-known secret to guaranteed warmer rides
It's a hat. It's a scarf. It's a balaclava. It's an ear band. The Convertible Neck Gaiter is an ultralight, fast-drying, double-sided thermal tube that can be just about anything you need it to be. Get the protection conditions demand with the Swiss Army Knife of headwear.
Product details
- Thermal fabric is engineered to trap body heat and wick moisture
- Multiple ways to wear means you decide what needs the most protection from the elements
- Fast-drying so you are ready for your next ride
- Reversible for more color options to match your style
- Temperature use (high): 70 deg. F
- Temperature use (low): 50 deg. F
- Fiber content: 100% Polyester
- Material: Knit


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M-133 Panel Moulding – Poplar
(5/8 x 7/8 x 7′-6″)
About the Woods
Poplar: Recommended for interior use only, Poplar is not resistant to rot and stains when in contact with water. Its heartwood color varies widely, often in the same piece, from white to green, black and purple. Its tight, smooth grain makes it ideal for painting. Common uses for Poplar include painted mouldings and wood trim, doors, cabinets and other interior millwork.
Application: Interior Only
Color(s): Wide Variation, White, Green, Black, Purple
Finishing: Suggested Paint
Wood images used with permission, The Wood Database.
Custom Orders
Other woods and lengths up to 16′-0″ available: Request a custom wood trim quote to specify the lengths and wood species for your project, including: Cherry, Cypress, Maple, Poplar, Red Oak, Sapele, White Oak and more.
Expert Assistance: (800) 330-2526


text:
I'm still loving the series, and I'm really enjoying seeing Laura and Almanzo's relationship begin. I found reading about the way people got together in those days really interesting, and she was so young!! As usual I loved her hard work and dedication in this book, and I liked that there was more focus on Laura's life and school and things rather that it all being about house building and what Ma's cooking (though you know I love that too!). I don't know if I'm just enjoying this series so much because it's such a gentle immersion in a place and time I know little to nothing about, but whatever it is it is so working for me. I will be so sad when this year is over!
I have to admit that I didn't really miss Mary in this book which kind of sounds awful but even before she couldn't see she was always just in the corner being good anyway so I don't miss her all that much. I enjoyed Laura's various run ins with Nellie Oleson this month - I do find her spirit and sense of injustice a very admirable and entertaining thing, and Nellie Oleson is just far too obsessed with herself for my liking.
As usual, not a huge amount to say about the book really, except that I continue to love it. This series is so comforting and such balm for the soul in turbulent times!
My link up for August will be a day late since I have my penultimate Middlemarch post going up tomorrow!
How did you find this book?


text:
Television poses a threat to children, and we're not talking the programs. We're talking a large household appliance that can hurt kids.
About every 30 minutes a child ends up in the emergency room with injuries caused by a television, a study finds, most often because the TV falls on a young child.
"We live in a world that is designed by adults, for the convenience of adults," says Dr. Gary Smith, senior author of the study and director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio. "A TV is wonderful entertainment for everyone in the family, but it is a potential source of danger to a young child."
Smith and his colleagues looked at data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, a federal database that tracks emergency room visits caused by consumer products.
They found that between 1990 and 2011, 380,855 children were injured by a TV, for an annual average of 17,313 children. Most of the children were under age 5.
In about half the cases the child was injured when the TV fell on her or him. Another 38 percent were injured when the child hit the TV.
Heads and necks were most commonly hurt. Most of the injuries were cuts and bruises, but 13 percent of the victims under age 5 got a concussion. The results were reported in the journal Pediatrics.
When we here at Shots looked at the dates on the data, our first question was, "What about flat screens?" Those TVs have all but replaced the heavy tube goliaths of yore; surely these sleeker models would prove safer. So we asked Smith.
"There is a myth that as flat screens were introduced in the marketplace, we would see a decrease in the number of TV-tip over related injuries to young children," Smith said. "This study shows the opposite is true."
The data don't show what type of TV was involved. But during the study period, the number of injuries caused by tip overs almost doubled, while the hit-the-TV injuries declined. Smith thinks that one reason is that as flat screens entered the home, the older tube TVs were moved to bureaus, bookshelves and other pieces of furniture where they pose a risk to active, inquisitive youngsters.
Another problem could be that flat screens tend to carry their weight to the front of the screen, making it more likely the TV will tip forward, the study says.
"Any TV that goes in the home needs to be attached to a wall," Smith says, "regardless of whether it is a flat-screen or a CRT."
Large pieces of furniture are supposed to be tethered to the wall with safety straps so that a young child bent on using a bookcase as a climbing wall won't be crushed by falling furniture. But there are no requirements for tethers on televisions.
Parents and caregivers can use furniture tethers or bracketsto anchor televisions, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. TVs should also be on low, sturdy bases, the commission says. Or mount that flat screen high on the wall, well out of reach of curious climbers.
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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The Harrowing Date-Rape Scene From Snooki's Book
LatestAmidst the pages of boozing, fist-pumping, and partying in Snooki's first novel—A Shore Thing—is an alarming scene involving Bella (cousin of the main character Gia) and some preppy assholes. Check out the excerpt after the jump.
So here's the setup: Gia (a fictionalized version of Snooki) and her cousin Bella are hanging out at the Jersey shore for the summer, working in a tanning salon called Tantastic. Although they spend their downtime on the hunt for "gorilla juiceheads," Bella agrees to go on a date with someone who isn't her type: A preppy named Bender. He takes her to a fancy restaurant (probably the kind with cloth napkins) and pays for an expensive meal and a bottle of champagne. While on the date, Bender starts laying it on thick, but Bella still doesn't find herself attracted to him.
No matter how hard she tried, Bella couldn't convince herself to have sex with Bender. But if she told him that, she'd hurt his feelings. And probably make him angry, considering how much he'd spent on her. Bella already felt guilty about it.
Then Bender starts coughing and tells her he has a rare blood disease called "hemotitis" and only has two months to live. With that information and enough champagne bubbling in her brain, she decides to accept an invitation to his house.
Bender has a roommate named Ed who sounds like a creep. The two guys have developed some kind of weird rape lair at their shore house, equipped with a video surveillance system that includes cameras in every room (including on the roof deck overlooking the hot tub), that they utilize to watch each other fuck "bimbos" they bring home, even though Ed—who likes watching his friend rape girls—always secretly hopes that Bender fails. Not because it would be better for the girl, but because it makes Ed feel like he's a better player than his friend. This is where it gets creepier—the "preppy" description aside, the entire scenario sounds eerily like an exaggerated version of what we've seen played out on Jersey Shore with The Situation and Pauly D, particularly in regards to their aggressive strategy of taking girls home to the hot tub.
Anyway, Bender texts Ed "C4," meaning for him to watch the hot tub surveillance. And then this happened:
Ben was apparently trying to talk the girl into joining him [in the hot tub]. She kept shaking her head. What a cock tease. Why go home with a guy if she wasn't going to bang him?
Ben waded over to get closer to her. Then he grabbed her wrist and pulled her toward him. She resisted, tried to jerk her arm free. But Ben held on tight, talking the whole time. he got hold of her other wrist.
Oh, yes! As Ed watched, Ben pulled the girl right into the hot tub, in her clothes! She went under the water and sputtered to the surface. Ben didn't give her a chance to breath. He was all over her, hands everywhere. Once he got a girl in the hot tub, it was over. Done. Ben would pound her for sure, whether she liked it or not.
Whoa, a lot of splashing! This girl was putting up a fight. Most whores would just give in at this point and accept the situation they were in. If she ate the dinner, took the gifts, came home with you, she was obliged to put out. If she changed her mind and didn't want to? Too bad. Things might get a little rough. She deserved what happened. Whores didn't respect themselves. So why should Ed and Bender respect them?
Ed tried to zoom the function on the camera, adjusting the focus to sharpen the picture. He moved in for a close-up and could see the girl's face a lot better. When things got heated, most girls looked scared. But this one was pissed! Ed smiled. He liked the fighters.
Ben tore her dress. Her tits popped out.
"Holy cow! Look at those udders!" said Ed to himself, momentarily stunned by the splendor.
In the end, Bender wasn't successful because Bella ended up punching him and then throwing patio furniture at him before running away, crying.
In XX's interview with Snooki's ghostwriter Valerie Frankel—which also includes awesome tidbits of info, like what Snooki smells like—Frankel says about the date rape scene:
We wanted the book to have some depth, and one thing that does come up a lot watching the show-people drink a lot and get into dicey situations, and for the fans of the show, we wanted to put it out there that sometimes dicey situations can be scary. This is a reality they should be aware of. I can't speak for Snooki, I don't know that she has ever faced this, but it had its place in the novel.
"Snooki Drinks for Our Sins": An Interview with Her "Shore Thing" Collaborator [XX]


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Luke Bryan Stands Behind Reba McEntire for Calling Out Lack of Female ACM Nominees
Luke Bryan was also surprised by a lack of female nominees for Entertainer of the Year at the upcoming ACM Awards, and he supports Reba McEntire's decision to speak out about it.
McEntire was vocal in her disappointment that there are no women nominated for the top prize at the 2019, telling CBS This Morning, "It doesn't make me very happy, because we've got some very talented women out there who are working their butts off."
Lindsay Ell Is a One-Woman RockStar With This "Criminal" Performance
Sitting down with Buzzfeed News, Bryan echoed that, throwing his support behind the country legend for standing up to the system.
"It's something on everybody's radar, and it's so good that it's on everybody's radar, and I think Reba has earned the right to voice her opinion on matters like that," Bryan shares.
The "Most People Are Good" singer adds that it's important for an artist of McEntire's stature to make her opinion known, also acknowledging the many other female artists who deserve to have their voices heard.
"Somebody like Reba has to stand up and say to the Academy of Country Music and all forms of country music awards shows," he continues. "It does get a little bit tricky when it is a naturally male-heavy format, but there's so many women out there that should feel the right to speak up."
Bryan is the latest to contribute to the discussion of the lack of female representation in country music. Miranda Lambert, Maren Morris, Kacey Musgraves and Cam have all been outspoken about the issue, while Carrie Underwood and Morris are set to bring an all-female roster on tour with them on the Cry Pretty Tour 360 and Girl: The World Tour, respectively.
Keith Urban has also taken the initiative to highlight female artists, featuring Kassi Ashton as a guest vocalist on "Drop Top" and lending his voice to Jillian Jacqueline's "If I Were You," while Dierks Bentley shared his support for wanting more women on country radio during the Nashville stop on his Burning Man Tour.
Songs From Women in Country That Demand Attention:


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Daily Disciples Devotional - Nov. 17, 2009
November 17
Today's Reading: Ezekiel 5; Hebrews 12
Today's Thoughts: Miracles
Gideon said to Him, "O my lord, if the Lord is with us, why then has all this happened to us? And where are all His miracles which our fathers told us about, saying, 'Did not the Lord bring us up from Egypt?' But now the Lord has forsaken us and delivered us into the hands of the Midianites."
Judges 6:13
This past weekend we hosted a radio talk show. We were told to pick whatever topic the Lord put on our hearts and then spend the hour discussing it with our audience. The Lord impressed upon us the message of miracles. How does God work miracles in our lives today? Does He do the same kinds of miracles as He did in the Bible? We asked these types of questions and discussed the answers. We pray that we shed some light on God's desire to perform miracles in our lives everyday. We need to recognize miracles and give glory to the Lord when things happen that we tend to call "just a God thing."
I gave an illustration that seemed to strike a cord with people. I talked about missing a freeway exit. I kind of spaced out and perked up past my exit. I got off the exit, turned around, and then missed the street I was to take. After missing both exits, I said, "Ok, Lord, You must have a reason for this. I thank You for whatever reason that may be." I did not know what was going on but I knew it was not a coincidence. Someone called in and gave a story of getting off on an exit that they had not planned to get off on. When they returned to the freeway, an automobile matching their description almost exactly had just been totaled in an accident. This person knew the hand of God had just saved them. Miracle or coincidence? We believe that God is working in our lives on a daily basis, some things we see clearly, others we may never know about.
We need to believe in miracles because we need to be encouraged and have hope that our God is with us, protecting us, and doing supernatural wonders in our lives. We do not need an explanation for all that happens. Just give glory to the Lord and watch what He does in your life. Gideon would soon learn of God's miraculous power as the Lord would use him to win the battle against the Midianites. Sometimes, we need to just ask and believe. God will respond.
Our mission is to evangelize the lost and awaken the saved to live empowered lives by the Work of God and His Holy Spirit. Daily Disciples Ministries makes a difference for the kingdom of God by teaching and training believers how to be in God's Word, how to pray and how to walk with Jesus every day, as His daily disciple.
Daily Disciples Ministries, Inc.


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My new book, Mastering Swift 3 for Linux has just been released. While most books on Swift are written to introduce the language using Apple's development tools, this book is written for the developer that wants to use Swift on the Linux platform.
I have always thought that a developer cannot master a programming language without a good understanding of the basics. With that philosophy in mind this book starts with the basics of the Swift language before moving into more advance features and concepts. The first five chapters will introduce the Swift programming language and will give the reader a good understanding of the Swift programming language. The second half of the book will cover more advance topics such as concurrency, network development, using C libraries with Swift and memory management including strong reference cycles.
This book also has a chapter dedicated to using Swift on Single-Board Computers. The first half of this chapter will show the reader how they can use Swift to interact with external devices like LEDs, buttons and temperature sensors. The second half of the chapters shows the reader how they can build and program an autonomous robot using Swift and the BeagleBone Black.
Here is a description of what is covered in each chapter of the book:
Chapter 1, Taking the First Steps with Swift, gives a brief introduction to the Swift language. It also covers the basic Swift language syntax and discuss proper language styles.
Chapter 2, Learning About Variables, Constants, Strings, and Operators, will show how to use variables and constants in Swift. It will also discuss the various data types and how to use operators in Swift.
Chapter 3, Using Swift Collections and the Tuple Type, will look at how we can use the Swift collection types to store related data. These collection types are the array, set and dictionay types.
Chapter 4, Control Flow and Functions, will cover control flow and functions in Swift. It is essential to understand the concepts in this chapter before going on. Every application that we write, beyond the simple Hello World applications, will rely very heavily on the control flow statements and functions.
Chapter 5, Classes and Structures, will look at what makes Class and Structures similar and what makes them different. We'll also look at access controls and object-oriented design. The chapter also covers memory management in Swift.
Chapter 6, Using Protocols and Protocol Extensions, will cover both protocols and protocol extensions in detail since protocols are very important to the Swift language, and having a solid understanding of them will help us write flexible and reusable code.
Chapter 7, Protocol-Oriented Design, will cover the best practices of Protocol-Oriented Design with Swift. It will be a brief overview of what is covered in my Swift 3 Protocol-Oriented Programming (POP) book.
Chapter 8, Writing Safer Code with Error Handling, will look at Swift's error- handling features. While we are not required to use this feature in our custom types, it does give us a uniform manner to handle and respond to the error.
Chapter 9, Custom Subscripting, will discuss how we can use custom subscripts in our classes, structures, and enumerations. Subscripts in Swift can be used to access elements in a collection. We can also define custom subscripts for our classes, structures, and enumerations.
Chapter 10, Using Optional Types, will explain what optional types are and the various ways to unwrap them. For a developer who is just learning Swift, optional types can be one of the most confusing items to learn.
Chapter 11, Working with Generics, will explain how Swift implements generics. Generics allow us to write very flexible and reusable code that avoids duplication.
Chapter 12, Working with Closures, will teach us how to define and use closures in our code. Closures in Swift are similar to blocks in Objective-C except that they have a much cleaner and easier way of using syntax. This chapter concludes with a section on how to avoid strong reference cycles.
Chapter 13, Using C Libraries with Swift, will explain how we can link and use standard C libraries with our Swift applications. This gives Swift developers access to all the same libraries that Linux C developers have access too. Knowing how to use C libraries with Swift is essential for any developer that wants to develop Linux apps with Swift
Chapter 14, Concurrency and Parallelism in Swift, will show how to use Grand Central Dispatch to add concurrency and parallelism to our applications. Understanding and knowing how to add concurrency and parallelism to our apps can significantly enhance the user experience.
Chapter 15, Swift's Core Libraries, will be a chapter on using the Swift core libraries, including reading/writing files, network primitives, and JSON parsing.
Chapter 16, Swift on single-board computers, will show how we can use Swift for IoT and robotic projects using a single-board computer. This chapter will feature the BeagleBone Black and the Swifty Bones library.
Chapter 17, Swift Formatting and Style Guide, will define a style guide for the Swift language that can be used as a template for enterprise developers who need to create a style guide, since most enterprises have style guides for the various languages that they develop in.
Chapter 18, Adopting Design Patterns in Swift, will show you how to implement some of the more common design patterns in Swift. A design pattern identifies a common software development problem and provides a strategy for dealing with it.
This book is written in an example-based approach where each topic covered is backed by examples which are designed to reinforce the topic covered and show how to implement it within the reader's own code.
You can purchase the book from Amazon.


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Dr. Ibrahim Al Ghais Al Mansoori, a distinguished scholar and former diplomat of the United Arab Emirates, passed away on February 14, 2024, Shaa'ban 4th, 1445 in Dubai. Born on November 18, 1947, Dr. Ibrahim was acclaimed for his extensive contributions to the realms of law, international diplomacy, and media. His work included significant roles in the UAE's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the establishment of the Emirates News Agency, marking a transformative period in the nation's global engagement and communication efforts. His academic and professional endeavors have left an indelible mark on the intellectual and cultural fabric of the country.
Born on November 18, 1947, Dr. Ibrahim's journey of intellectual and professional achievements began with his graduation from the Faculty of Law at Ain Shams University in Cairo in 1968, where he went on to earn both his master's and doctorate degrees. His academic prowess led him to marry into a historically significant family, tying the knot with the granddaughter of Yahya Pasha Ibrahim, former Prime Minister of Egypt and the architect of Egypt's 1923 constitution, with whom he had four children.
Dr. Ibrahim's career was characterized by a series of high-profile roles within the UAE's government, including a pivotal position as a Minister at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Here, he was instrumental in organizing diplomatic seminars that brought together key political and cultural figures, fostering dialogue and understanding among the Arab intellectual and political communities. His tenure saw him engaging with a host of international leaders and dignitaries, reflecting his significant influence on both the regional and global stage.
Dr. Ibrahim Al Ghais Al Mansoori was instrumental in founding Wakalat Anba'a al Emarat (Emirates News Agency WAM) in 1976, serving as its inaugural director and setting a new precedent in the country's approach to communication and media. His establishment of WAM was a significant milestone, heralding a transformative era in the dissemination of information both within the United Arab Emirates and internationally. This initiative under his leadership not only enriched the nation's media landscape but also emphasized the importance of a robust and credible news platform, crucial for the global exchange of information.
Dr. Al Mansoori later made his mark in the Ministry of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs and held the esteemed position of editor-in-chief at Minar Al Islam magazine. His leadership extended to the role of Director of the Amiri Diwan in Ras Al Khaimah, after which he imparted his knowledge and experience as a university professor at the University of the United Arab Emirates. In his later years, Dr. Al Mansoori devoted himself to reading, writing, and research, contributing his insights and reflections through his column "Aqolu Lakom – I say to you" in Al Ittihad newspaper in Abu Dhabi.
His retirement years were spent in Dubai, where he continued to engage in intellectual pursuits until his passing. Dr. Al Mansoori's death is a profound loss to the UAE, leaving behind a legacy of diplomacy, education, and cultural enrichment that will be remembered for generations to come. His life's work has indelibly shaped the intellectual and diplomatic landscape of the UAE, making his contributions invaluable to the nation's history and development.
Dr. Ibrahim's indelible legacy vibrantly continues through his daughter, Heba Al Mansoori, who has indeed become a formidable figure in her own right, mirroring her father's pioneering spirit and vision. Her leadership and innovative endeavors in the media-tech and marketing realms have both honored her father's legacy and also paved new pathways in these sectors. As the Founder and CEO of BIZ COM, Heba has established a significant milestone by creating the Middle East's first Arab-owned marketing agency, a testament to her entrepreneurial spirit and commitment to excellence.
Heba's role as the Co-Founder of Middle East and Africa Market Place (MEAPMP) further illustrates her influential presence and innovative approach in the industry. MEAPMP stands out as a pivotal platform in the ad-tech space, boasting a vast network of media partnerships across the Middle East, Africa, and India, encompassing hundreds of websites in various languages including Arabic, English, and French. This network underlines the platform's comprehensive reach and Heba's commitment to revolutionizing digital advertising by offering expansive ad inventory, prioritizing transparency, and providing autonomous measurement solutions.
Additionally, her creation of ConSynSer has redefined content syndication services across the region, setting new benchmarks for efficiency and service quality. Through these ventures, Heba Al Mansoori has not only continued her father's legacy but also crafted her own, demonstrating a profound impact on the digital landscape. Her work embodies a shared dedication to innovation, leadership, and transformative impact, bridging generations and inspiring future pioneers in the digital world.
Dr. Ibrahim is also survived by his two sons, a daughter, and six grandchildren, who, along with countless friends, relatives, and former students, are mourning his loss. The family hosted a funeral meeting and reception over three days in Al Khawaneej in Dubai, where dignitaries and mourners gathered to pay their respects to a man of great intellect, who served his country with distinction as its Foreign Minister and left a lasting legacy in the academic and diplomatic fields.
The departure of Dr. Al Mansoori represents a significant loss to the UAE and to all who had the honor of knowing him. His unparalleled contributions across the realms of academia, diplomacy, and media have left an indelible mark on the nation, embodying a legacy of intellectual rigor, diplomatic finesse, and visionary leadership. As a distinguished academician, a respected diplomat, and a pioneer in the media landscape, Dr. Ibrahim's work has enriched the cultural and intellectual fabric of the UAE and positioned it as a beacon of knowledge and progress on the global stage. His enduring legacy, will ensure his memory and achievements will be remembered and revered for years to come.


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In Loma Linda USA Live Bee Removal help to remove Endanger Bees and safely put them in a safe haven. Please Call us 951-476-8495
Please enjoy our new article:
By: Steve Gorman
U.S. Lists a Bumble Bee Species as Endangered for First Time
The rusty patched bumble bee, a prized but vanishing pollinator once familiar to much of North America, was listed on Tuesday as an endangered species, becoming the first wild bee in the continental United States to gain such federal protection.
One of several species facing sharp declines, the bumble bee known to scientists as Bombus affinis has plunged nearly 90 percent in abundance and distribution since the late 1990s, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The agency listed the insect after determining it to be in danger of extinction across all or portions of its range, attributing its decline to a mix of factors, including disease, pesticides, climate change and habitat loss.
Named for the conspicuous reddish blotch on its abdomen, the rusty patched bumble bee once flourished across 28 states, primarily in the upper Midwest and Northeast — from South Dakota to Connecticut — and in the Canadian provinces of Ontario and Quebec.
Today, only a few small, scattered populations remain in 13 states and Ontario, the Fish and Wildlife Service said.
The agency in September listed seven varieties of yellow-faced, or masked, bees in Hawaii as endangered. But Bombus affinis is the first bumble bee species to given that status, and the first wild bee of any kind to be listed in the Lower 48 states.
Bumble bees, as distinguished from domesticated honey bees, are essential pollinators of wildflowers and about a third of all U.S. crops, from blueberries to tomatoes, according to the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation, which petitioned the government for protection of the insect.
Pollination services furnished by various insects in the United States, mostly by bees, have been valued at an estimated $3 billion each year.
The International Union for the Conservation of Nature ranks the rusty patched as one of 47 species of native U.S. and Canadian bumble bees, more than a quarter of which face a risk of extinction.
Government scientists point to a certain class of pesticides called neonicotinoids — widely used on crops, lawns, gardens and forests — as posing a particular threat to bees because they are absorbed into a plant's entire system, including leaf tissue, nectar and pollen.
Bumble bee populations may be especially vulnerable to pesticides applied early in the year because for one month an entire colony depends on the success of a solitary queen that emerges from winter dormancy, the wildlife service said.
Listing under the Endangered Species Act generally restricts activities known to harm the creature in question and requires the government to prepare a recovery plan. It also raises awareness and helps focus conservation planning for the imperiled species.
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