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- App : Crime City iOS版,Android版
- 提供者: Funzio, Inc
Crime City 介紹
*****#1 free game in 26 countries and counting
*****#1 free app in 10 countries and counting
Indulge your inner criminal mastermind in Crime City, brought to you by GREE—makers of hit games like Modern War!
Breaking the rules is way more fun than playing by them!
Build your criminal empire, one job at a time! Hit the streets, flex some muscle, and climb your way to the mafia's highest rank: Crime Boss! The whole city is yours for the taking, if you're smart enough, tough enough, and willing to do what's necessary to get the job done. Check your morals at the door and get ready for an adventure that will take you into the city's seedy underbelly.
-Massive Multiplayer Online game
-Fight and rob other players LIVE
-Build hotels, casinos, restaurants, and more
-Boost cars, get in fights, and pull of heists
-Invite friends to create strong mafia alliances
-Build factories, bunkers, power plants, and more
– Invite friends to make your alliance stronger
-Make bank from your criminal empire
-Find yourself at the center of a thrilling criminal saga
-Enjoy eye-popping graphics
-150 + powerful weapons and cars to buy
-500 + different jobs
-200 + goals to complete
-80 + properties to own
-60 + areas to explore
-100 + criminal titles to claim
Funzio, the studio behind Crime City, has joined the GREE family to further their shared goal of creating groundbreaking games and delivering them to players around the world! Stay tuned for more hit games from GREE.
Want to take your gaming to the next level? Then come play on GREE—the world's largest mobile social network. comeplayGREE.com.
Join the fun and share your passion for Crime City with other criminal masterminds:
Visit our Forums: forums.gree.net
Follow us on Twitter: @CrimeCity
Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/crimecity
Watch us on YouTube: youtube.com/GREEgames
•This is an ONLINE ONLY game. You must be connected to the Internet to play
•Works great on iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad!
Use of this application is governed by Funzio's Terms of Service. In addition, please note that Funzio respects your privacy and asks you to review the Funzio Privacy Policy. The Funzio Terms of Service and Privacy Policy can be found in the Legal section below and at http://www.funzio.com/?page_id=568.


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We've released an off-schedule update release today, because of a bug in one of 9.5's features which has forced us to partially disable the feature. This is, obviously, not the sort of thing we do lightly.
One of the performance features in 9.5 was an optimization which speeded up sorts across the board for text and numeric values, contributed by Peter Geoghegan. This was an awesome feature which speeded up sorts across the board by 50% to 2000%, and since databases do a lot of sorting, was an overall speed increase for PostgreSQL. It was especially effective in speeding up index builds.
That feature depends on a built-in function in glibc, strxfrm(), which could be used to create a sortable hash of strings. Now, the POSIX standard says that strxfrm() + strcmp() should produce sorting results identical to the strcoll() function. And in our general tests, it did.
However, there are dozens of versions of glibc in the field, and hundreds of collations, and it's computationally unreasonable to test all combinations. Which is how we missed the problem until a user reported it. It turns out that for certain releases of glibc (particularly anything before 2.22 on Linux or BSD), with certain collations, strxfrm() and strcoll() return different results due to bugs. Which can result in an index lookup failing to find rows which are actually there. In the bug report, for example, an index on a German text column on RedHat Enterprise Linux 6.5 would fail to find many rows in a "between" search.
As a result, we've disabled the feature in 9.5.2 for all indexes which are on collations other than the simplified "C" collation. This sucks.
Also, if you're on 9.5.0 or 9.5.1 and you have indexes on columns with real collations (i.e. not "C" collation), then you should REINDEX (or CREATE CONCURRENTLY + DROP CONCURRENTLY) each of those indexes. Which really sucks.
Of course we're discussing ways to bring back the feature, but nobody has a solution yet. In the meantime, you can read more about the problem on the wiki page.

subset: commoncrawl


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Good sleep! The best he'd had for a while, nice and quiet, no one to bother him. And the dream he'd just had was everything a Maine Coon Cat could want – delicious, indulgent, satisfying. There was no snot-nosed baby to insist, despite his best efforts, on wiping her dirty, sticky hands on his fur. It took hours for him to lick his black, maroon and brown-fur coat back into pristine condition. And after all, he had a reputation to maintain. He came from pure stock. Both parents were Maine Coon Cats. His mother was given to stoutness at an early age just like Desmond was. But, make no mistake, that didn't mean he couldn't move fast. It just meant he took a little longer to get his 30-pound body where he wanted it to go.
What also made his dream so good was it didn't have Hoover in it, the overgrown, slobbering Labrador, with whom he shared the house. If Hoover had been a female, Desmond would have called him theatrical, a "diva" for sure. Those sad liquid brown eyes were always on call for the next soft-hearted human he wanted something from. Hoover would look up at his human owners and anyone who came to visit and turn on his smarmy, martyr charms.
"Oh, look," the hapless human would croon. "Isn't he the saddest dog you've ever seen? He's going to cry any minute now. See how he bows his head and looks like he hasn't got a friend in the world?" Desmond's gag reflex worked overtime when Hoover was in his feel-sorry-for-me mode.
Hoover was well fed and certainly didn't lack for food. It made Desmond sick to see how he mooned over the baby in her highchair at meal times. Not only did the baby offer Hoover little bits of whatever she was having, but she spilled so much of her food on the seat and the trough at the bottom of the highchair that Hoover had trouble controlling himself. He couldn't wait for the baby to be pulled out of her highchair and taken to the bathroom for a good hosing down. In a flash, Hoover would gulp down the spilled leftovers and be ready for more.
Desmond couldn't stand it anymore. He was going to do something about that dog and he was going to do it soon. He'd made a plan that involved Hoover being blamed for everything that went wrong. And that would be the end of Mr. garbage disposal. Adieu Hoover, hello freedom!
For now, he relived his wonderful dream. It included bowl after bowl of cat food. Not the regular canned variety, but the gourmet hand-churned kind that Nancy, his human owner, bought from Essence Par Excellence every year as his Christmas treat. In his dream, Desmond spent endless hours together with Nancy. There was no noise, no baby to wash, feed, diaper and rock to sleep. No husband to cater to.
If truth were told, Desmond believed that Nancy was a most excellent specimen of what a human should be. She was tall, trim, beautiful, had long auburn hair with dark highlights and high cheekbones, like he had, and she loved him. When she rested after putting the baby to bed and read the historical romances she was so fond of, he always lay by her side. She would stroke his thick fur and give him a massage. He purred more contentedly when there were just the two of them. Nancy always saved some catnip for those quiet nights together. And there were saucers of thick cream, morsels of salmon saved from dinner and, his favourite of all, cashew nuts. Desmond knew that they were fattening, but he just couldn't help himself.
Of course, these magical moments always came to an end when Nancy's husband, Gary, came home from work. Desmond knew that if it were just he and Nancy in the house, he would want for nothing more. Nirvana would have been achieved.
The back door slammed shut. Footsteps intruded on Desmond's reverie. He sighed. He knew he couldn't expect to have lovely dreams all the time. He was a realist, but still ...
Nancy came into the family room and kicked off her shoes. Gary was behind her, carrying the baby whom he set down on the carpeted floor. Then he went back out to the hallway. The baby crawled to where Desmond sat, yanked on his tail and reached out her arms to him. She buried her face in Desmond's fur.
Baah, he cried out. Get away from me, you dirty little cretin. The baby was an ankle biter and a smelly one at that and he would not let her anywhere near him.
Hoover came running from the basement, jumped on Nancy and licked her face. "Down Hoover!" Nancy yelled. Gary returned carrying what looked like a small animal carrier. There was something moving inside it.
Oh my God! It was a cat. A tiny, ugly, striped little thing. Desmond couldn't believe it. He'd been the only cat in the house for the past twelve years. What did they need another cat for? There must be some mistake, some misunderstanding surely.
Gary took a grey tabby gently out of the cat carrier, settled it on his knee and slowly rubbed his finger along its tiny nose. The kitty looked frightened. It wanted to climb down from Gary's leg, but Desmond saw that it was too high and it seemed too afraid to try. The kitten already had a little collar around its neck with an S.P.C.A. tag and its name on it. Fiona! Oh, no! It was a female. What was he going to do with a female cat in the house?
Gary set the kitten on the carpet. "Come on, Fiona, that's it," he said. "Here's the baby." As he said this, he lifted the baby up and set her back down onto the carpet beside Fiona. The kitten sniffed the baby all over, turned up her nose and moved away.
I don't blame you, Desmond thought. The baby's a real stinker, especially when… He was too well bred to say it. A disgusted meow was his only comment.
Hoover nosed around the baby and, like the kitten, quickly moved away. Instead, he hunkered down on the carpet and started licking the kitten, curling his massive front paws around Fiona in a protective arc.
This can't be happening, Desmond thought. He hissed and gave the dog and kitten a stare that would have withered most humans.
Naturally, Hoover was oblivious and kept on licking the cat. A contented purr escaped from the kitten's tiny mouth. She relaxed and settled into the big dog's embrace.
That's it, Desmond thought. It was over. My life's over. I've nothing more to live for. After all I've had to put up with in this house, now this betrayal. He stepped to where Nancy stood observing the scene on the carpet. Desmond held his head high. His fur bloomed out and his claws were itching, ready for anything that came. He slid his large body around Nancy's legs. He expected a pat on the head or some indication of her love from her. There was nothing! Nancy completely ignored him.
"Isn't that the living end, Gary? Who would have thought that a big dog like Hoover would take to her? They make a nice pair. We won't have to worry about anything happening to Fiona from you know who."
Gary laughed and pointed at Desmond. "Look at him. Never thought he'd be jealous. He wasn't when the baby was born. But, just look at him. He's in a major snit. Fur all bushy, claws out, eyes focused and nothing good on his mind."
Nancy giggled and looked down at Desmond. "What is it, Desmond? You never seen a kitty before? Come on now. You didn't think you'd be the only cat in the house forever, did you? You're getting old and we want to make sure that when it's your turn to leave us, the baby will have another cat to play with."
How could Nancy do this to him? They'd had a bond, a love for each other that transcended species, that he was sure would never end, death notwithstanding. He just wouldn't stand for it. He knew his Nancy wasn't to blame. She loved him. In fact, she adored him. It was Gary's doing. Of that he was certain.
Desmond sprang onto Gary's lap and dug his claws into his arm. The blood started immediately. Gary yelped and jumped out of his chair. "That's it, Nancy. I've had it! That cat has got to go!"
Go? Well maybe till Gary calmed down, Desmond decided, and tore off towards the basement stairs.
"You'd better run!" Gary shouted. "And run fast, you fat brute. I'm serious, Nancy. I want him put down today."
"Oh, no. Not yet, Gary. He's not sick and he'll behave. It was just such a surprise to him, that's all."
Gary muttered something, and Desmond muttered something back as he slunk down into the basement. He skulked there for the rest of the week and barely touched his food. He'd have to rethink this whole thing and decide the best way to get rid of not only Hoover, but also Fiona. No one was going to replace him. But, first, he was going to have a nice long sleep. Then he'd decide. It's what his Mother would have done.


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LMS | News
This fall, faculty and students will no longer need access to a Blackboard institutional license to use Blackboard mobile applications--as long as they're willing to shell out $5.99 for the software or an annual subscription fee of $1.99.
This September, Blackboard Mobile Learn for iOS and Android will be available for purchase by end users "without requiring an investment by their institution," according to Blackboard, which made the announcement at the BbWorld 2012 event happening this week in New Orleans.
"We've seen a tremendous take-up of Blackboard Mobile Learn," said Kayvon Beykpour, general manager of Blackboard Mobile, in a prepared statement. "But we wanted to implement a model that gave users the choice to use the application even if their school hasn't subsidized it. We hope that providing users this new option will help more students and institutions expand access to mobile learning."
Mobile Learn is designed to mimic the full functionality of the Web-based Learn platform, including two-way communication between students and teachers, access to gradebooks, blog access and commenting, discussion board participation, and student-to-student e-mail communications. According to Blackboard, the mobile apps have been downloaded to more than 3 million individual devices and accessed more than 60 million times in the last two-and-a-half years. "Nearly 1,300 institutions worldwide have enabled the apps since Blackboard first introduced them in 2010," Blackboard reported.
Meanwhile, Blackboard said it will continue to offer the Blackboard Mobile Learn institutional license for iOS, Android, BlackBerry, and webOS devices.
The company explained: "Blackboard will also continue to offer an institutional license version of Blackboard Mobile Learn that lets institutions subsidize access for all students and faculty on all of their devices, and to extend access to BlackBerry and webOS devices for which in-app purchases are not currently common. The institutional license version also enables institutions to integrate Blackboard Mobile Learn with Blackboard Mobile Central, the company's popular campus life and services application.... Higher education institutions in North America currently leveraging the no cost option will be transitioned to the subscription option with no action required."
In addition, there will be a new Blackboard Building Block institutions can download to support the end user subscription option.
Blackboard Mobile Learn for iOS and Android will be available through the Apple App Store and Google Play beginning in September. The software will support all Android and iOS devices on all carriers, according to Blackboard. The $1.99 "in-app" subscription is an introductory price. Blackboard did not indicate what the price would be after the introductory period. Additional details can be found on Blackboard's site.
About the Author
David Nagel is the former editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal, STEAM Universe, and Spaces4Learning. A 30-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art, marketing, media, and business publications.
He can be reached at [email protected]. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/davidrnagel/ .


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What is Simi Motion® ?
Simi Motion provides an extensive platform for motion capture and 2D/3D movement analysis. Simi Motion can be tailored to the needs of the specific user. A range of configurations are possible to suit customers who would prefer to conduct quick and simple analyses as well as for those of a more scientific background, wishing to solve complex problems.
What makes Simi Motion® unique?
In comparison to the majority of products available on the market, Simi Motion uses no infrared technology but utilizes image based techniques. High quality video recordings with high frame rates and high resolutions are captured and saved using synchronized industrial cameras. Using the latest algorithms of image processing, Simi Motion can capture motion in detail and calculate 2D/3D data. As with the other systems, Simi Motion has marker based automatic tracking to calculate marker positions. It is however also possible to track using markerless methods, such as pattern matching or silhouette tracking using no markers. The years of research and development which Simi has invested in this area have enabled research, for which infrared systems simply do not suffice.
The operator of Simi Motion is able to use affordable industrial cameras. With Simi Software you receive the best data quality and operation speeds available. Image based technology is the future of movement analysis and Simi is the market leader in this area.
In which variations can I buy Simi Motion® ?
Simi Motion has a highly modular format, meaning that the software and setup can be adapted to suit your needs.
The three main variations of this product are:
- 2D Analysis (simple use and quick results, 2D measurements)
- Simple 3D Analysis (simple 3D configurations in the middle price range. High data quality for simple problems)
- Complex 3D Analysis (for the most scientific requirements and complex measurements)
What is the operational procedure of Simi Motion® ?
Simi Motion offers the complete range of recording, processing, editing and analysis of data. The individual steps comprise of …
- Movement recordings with synchronised cameras, in addition to the logging of data from supplementary measuring devices such as EMG, force plates and others (if available)
- 2D or 3D movement data capture through the tracking of joint centres, with or without the use of markers.
- Movement data calculations (position, path, velocity, acceleration etc.)
- Movement and sensory data processing for the individual calculation of analysis parameters and evaluation
- Data analysis and reporting
- Data exportation into further programmes when necessary
What results do I get from Simi Motion® ?
Scientifically precise movement data for kinematics and kinetics (position, speeds, accelerations, angles, distances, etc) with synchronised data from additional measurement devices such as EMG measurements or force plates. This data can be processed further to obtain additional analysis parameters (further angles, mathematical calculations, filtered and rectified EMG data, phases, events, etc) according to requirements.
All results and calculations can be displayed in standard reports or in individual report drafts, but can also be stored in ASCII, C3D and other formats, to allow straight forward transportation into other programmes. For 3D animations, it is also possible to export files in certain 3D formats such as bvh, maya, lws and Filmbox.
In Simi Motion, it is possible to integrate a multitude of different data measurements which are key in movement analyses. The following equipment and brands are compatible with Simi Motion.
Analogue Equipment
Simi Motion can record any analogue signal through a suitable A/D Adapter in synchronisation with movement data from the video.
Digital Equipment
Equipment which produces digital signals can in general not be recorded directly by Simi Motion. The majority of equipment can however be synchronised with a hardware trigger, and the data can then be imported into Simi Motion. Digital equipment can be bound via your SDKs directly with Simi Motion, but success can vary with each individual case.
Foot Pressure Equipment
Foot pressure measuring equipment can be synchronised and then displayed in Simi Motion via the use of a hardware trigger. Equipment produced by Novel, Medilogic, RSScan, Tekscan, Parotec and Zebris have been integrated with our software in the past.
Even EEGs can be integrated and reported with Simi Motion. We have previous experience integrating equipment from Brain Products.
Product Information
Should you be interested in any of our products or require further information, we are looking forward to your email to firstname.lastname@example.com. Or simply give us a call: +1-312-818-8244.


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As you store more and more personal data on your smartphone, security becomes as important as keeping your own home secure. The new HTC Droid security flaw proves that when you download an open-source app, you're inviting the developers into your home, taking off their shoes, and giving them a foot massage (so to speak.)
"I am quite speechless right now," begins Artem Russakovskii over at Android Police as he posts about a "massive security flaw in HTC Android devices that allows malicious hackers to access phone numbers, GPS, SMS, email addresses and more."
Unless you have an iPhone, where only pre-screened individuals are allowed into your gated community, you're opening yourself up to any number of security threats by downloading insecure apps. Security updates are coming - but that doesn't change the fact that you should always know your developer when downloading a new app to your phone.
For the full Gizmodo article, click here


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Fiat Punto ECU IAW5SF9.A2 | HW405 | 51868974 | *Virginized* Self coding unit *Plug & Play*
Removed from running vehicle and dry stored - Good working order- This ECU is supplied 'Virginized' (Reset to an 'As new' / Virgin) state and will self code to your immobilizer system when it is plugged in with no further programming of keys etc necessary. Your vehicle mileage will be unaffected & display as it should. Your central locking will still work on your remote controls etc. Full installation instructions included.. If for any reason it will not self code you can send it back with your original unit for bench programming (Data transfer) at no extra cost!
- We also offer a separate 'Virginizing service' for this type of ECU - For example if you have already sourced a replacement unit for your vehicle & are looking for a way to program it to your vehicle then we have the solution! For more information about the services we offer on this type of ECU please click on the 'You may also like' link above.
- Also available is a vast array of other programming & refurbishing services such as Immobilizer PIN code reading, Tech2 resetting, ECU cloning, Immobilizer deletes and much more on all makes of vehicles and all kinds of electronic units such as Airbag ECUs, Instrument clusters, Body control modules, PAS units etc etc! For more details about our programming & repair services click on the 'Services' link at the top of the page & use the filters on the left of the page to find what we can do for you. If you cannot find the service you need then contact us to see if we have the solution to your cars electronic problem.


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The Paseo A Stroll Around Campus
Establishing a Legacy
Mary E. McKinney, a quiet, unassuming teacher, left an estimated $22 million bequest to UTSA, the largest in school history.
The Reality of Hope
The works of Gabriel Marcel had such a profound effect on philosophy professor Jill Graper Hernandez that she's now writing a book on the French existentialist's ideas of ethics and hope.
Roadrunner Sports
Sports briefs, plus a profile of senior volleyball player Kendra Rowland, who has a passion for dance and wears bracelets with a message.
In Brief
The UTSA Orchestra performed with '70s rock band Kansas, the HSS gets a new name, UTSA ranks among the best for embracing veterans as students, plus more campus news.
By the Numbers
Learn about the Class of 2014, find out research spending totals for UTSA in FY 2010 and how many new faculty were hired, plus other interesting stats.
Community Uniting Our Alumni
Homegrown Artist
Jesse Treviño, M.F.A. '78, was thinking like an artist, even as he lay dying in a rice paddy in Vietnam.
Spirit Filled
Charlie Paulette '92, M.B.A. '01, has had a remarkably successful career as a businessman and marketing strategist.
Class Notes
Class Notes is a compilation of alumni submissions and reports from newspapers and other media outlets.
Editor's Note
Change is scary, isn't it?
It's also invigorating and thrilling. And maybe, just maybe, it forces you to think beyond the obvious, to stretch and grow.
Sombrilla has changed. We are bolder, with large colorful fonts and vivid photography. But though it may look different, the heart of Sombrilla remains untouched.
For 26 years, Sombrilla has told the UTSA story through strong writing and creative illustrations and photography. We've covered new university presidents, the thought-provoking research conducted by our faculty and the accomplishments of our students and graduates. We've followed our alumni long after they crossed the stage. And we've documented the university's metamorphosis from a mostly commuter campus with little student life to a thriving and bustling one with (yes, finally!) a football team.
Those things won't change.
The decision to give Sombrilla a facelift didn't occur overnight. For more than a year, we wrestled with what we would alter and how. Our main goal: to make the magazine reflective of today's UTSA. The last time Sombrilla was redesigned was in 2002. UTSA certainly isn't the same university that it was then.
How would you describe today's UTSA? We think it's vibrant, multicultural, youthful, academic and fun. That's what Sombrilla should be. And that's what it is now.
Probably the first thing you'll notice is our new cover. The big, white letters of the 2002 Sombrilla have been replaced by a hand-drawn, triple-line font, reminiscent of the logo from the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico. That logo, based on traditional forms, was created to honor the Mexican culture. We use it now as a way to showcase the diversity inherent on our campuses. The lines are also a tribute to our namesake, the Sombrilla, UTSA's identifying landmark and architectural centerpiece.
Inside, you'll see shorter news items scattered throughout the front of the magazine, now called The Paseo. We felt that paseo, which is "stroll" in Spanish, was the perfect word to describe the journey we take you on as we highlight UTSA's pathway to knowledge and to Tier One.
In the back of the magazine you'll notice a more robust alumni section called Community. This section helps you reconnect with your classmates as well as with the university. And we now feature Alumni Association news so that you always have a way to come back home.
It's true that Sombrilla looks entirely different. But it remains your magazine, your way to dialogue with the university. That's something that simply won't change.
We hope you enjoy your new Sombrilla.
—Lety Laurel


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Found 6 results
Author [ Title] Type Year Filters: Keyword is Zebrafish and Author is Reif, David M [Clear All Filters]
"A data-driven weighting scheme for multivariate phenotypic endpoints recapitulates zebrafish developmental cascades.", Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, vol. 314, pp. 109-117, 2017.
, "High-throughput characterization of chemical-associated embryonic behavioral changes predicts teratogenic outcomes.", Arch Toxicol, vol. 90, no. 6, pp. 1459-70, 2016.
, "Multidimensional in vivo hazard assessment using zebrafish.", Toxicol Sci, vol. 137, no. 1, pp. 212-33, 2014.
, "A New Statistical Approach to Characterize Chemical-Elicited Behavioral Effects in High-Throughput Studies Using Zebrafish.", PLoS One, vol. 12, no. 1, p. e0169408, 2017.
, "Population genetic diversity in zebrafish lines.", Mamm Genome, vol. 29, no. 1-2, pp. 90-100, 2018.
, "Transgenerational inheritance of neurobehavioral and physiological deficits from developmental exposure to benzo[a]pyrene in zebrafish.", Toxicol Appl Pharmacol, vol. 329, pp. 148-157, 2017.


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"…changes in mindset are more important than changes in hardware or software."~Steve Denning
What is
common across the learning modes and methods mentioned?
- Social learning via an enterprise collaboration platform
- Mobile enabled learning accessible anytime, anywhere, on any device of the user's choice
- MOOCs which straddle the line between social learning and e-learning with learner communities
While an
organization can facilitate these, the onus lies with the users/learners. These
are essentially "pull" and collaborative learning modes and cannot be imposed. These
forms often intersect with one another, and are used in various combinations
depending on the organization's need, users' comfort and the capabilities
required to design the ecosystem. Having said that, a major percentage of
organizations today are striving to put in place one or more of the above-mentioned
modes and tools of learning. This is leading to a shift in the role of the
L&D department – from managers and disseminators of formally designed programs to facilitators and enablers of collaboration and communities. I have
written about the new skills that L&D and HR needs to make this transition
in my posts here
and here.
In this post, I am going to explore six key requirements necessary from an
organizational and leadership standpoints to make collaborative and emergent learning
work. But first,
What is emergent learning?
Emergent Learning is a condition and an outcome of organizational culture, strategy and purpose.
It arises out of a combination of networked
leadership, HR and L&D efforts, and meaningful work. It leverages the powers
of networks and social platforms, and the affordances of mobile and cloud to
build an interconnected and continuously learning organization. When fully
realized and supported, emergent learning provides autonomy, mastery and
purpose to learners and agility, adaptability and resilience to organizations. It
empowers learners to build their personal learning networks (PLN) and personal
knowledge management (PKM) by leveraging technology to connect a distributed
and diverse workforce. Emergent learning by definition takes place in the
workflow; it is always contextual, collaborative, and beyond the norms of
formal learning. Emergent learning cuts across formal organizational structures
and siloes and brings out the inherent tacit knowledge and ongoing collective experience
building a shared journey for all concerned. In this context, it is important
to remember that technology is an enabler, an amplifier and connector. It is
there solely to serve the purpose of the users, to empower them to explore and
Emergent learning
= Nurturing Evolving Human Potential by giving individuals the power to learn
the way they want to.
When any
organization or institution shifts from a hierarchical, top-down mode to a
horizontal, peer- and user-driven one – be it in management or learning – culture
plays a huge role in the success or otherwise of the endeavor. "The DNA of
"peer trust" is built on opposite characteristics – micro, bottom-up, decentralized,
flowing and personal" (The
Changing Rules of Trust in the Digital Age). This is perhaps the biggest mind
shift that organizations have to make in the digital era and to facilitate an environment
of continuous learning. While the pace of change and the need for constant
re-skilling has adeptly shifted the onus of learning away from institutions to
individuals, this comes with a new set of responsibility and change in mindset.
IMHO, these are the six key changes organizations need to make to enable emergent
- Shift from networks to communities. The affordances of ubiquitous connectivity, pervasive mobility and cloud, and the prevalence of social media ensure that organizations today are connected. However, facilitating networks is not enough albeit it's the necessary precursor to building communities. As Henry Mintzberg points out in the HBR article, We Need Both Networks and Communities. "At the organizational level, … effective companies function as communities of human beings, not collections of human resources." The article resonates with my belief that organizations today must foster trust-based peer communities to encourage collaboration and cooperation. It is in communities that knowledge is exchanged and challenges solved.
- Give up hierarchical, command and control mindset. While we are wont to blame the management models of the Industrial Era and their continuing prevalence today for the lack of trust and transparency we see in many/most organizations, we have to understand that this model served its purpose when scalable efficiency and productivity were the desired outcome. Today in the face of rapid change and technological evolution, this same model is failing us; it's becoming a roadblock to seamless collaboration and flow of information. Managers schooled in the hierarchical system find it difficult to give up control. Even the physical design of organizations (although many are changing) with its corner offices, and other visible symbols of hierarchy reinforce the order. It's not enough to espouse a belief in an open culture; it requires redefining the way leadership functions and their external manifestations.
- Make employee engagement an outcome, not the goal. IMHO, it's an organization fallacy to make employee engagement the goal. Employee engagement is not a set of isolated and random activities. It is an outcome of a number of collective activities, organization culture and overall employee experience. These experiences begin even before an employee joins an organization and continues till the time they leave, and even thereafter in the firm of alumni communities. Every step of an employee's journey wrt the organization from the interview process to project allocation to interactions with management and peers adds up to define the culture which in turn drives employee engagement or lack thereof. Emergent learning is a key outcome of employee engagement. Engaged employees feel valued and respected; this leads them to collaborate and cooperate in the interest of the organization as well as their own development. Disengaged employees neither learn nor share.
- Make the purpose bigger than shareholder value creation. In the new world, shareholders' value will continue to exist but not as a primary driver for organizations that seek to attract, retain and build a community of talented individuals or make an impact on the world. An authentic and purpose-driven organization that is seen to give back to society is more likely to attract and retain employees. Purpose and shared value creation are strong drivers of learning inspiring people to share and collaborate towards the achievement of a bigger vision.
- Stop viewing individuals as replaceable resources. Even today, well into the second decade of the knowledge era and the creative economy, organizations still treat individuals as resources. While no one would clear an interview if they said, "I am just like everyone else, and have no unique qualities," it is precisely what organizations strive to do once you are in. Kill the uniqueness and make one fit a mold. And then perversely complain that people are not creative, innovative, or using their brains. Basically, it's a dichotomy! What organizations need and want are being fundamentally curbed by their very systems and processes created to uphold uniformity, predictability, and homogeneity. The leaders and managers are as much a victim of the system as the employees. The systems and processes established 200 years ago were created to augment human brawn with machines. They are ill-equipped to support a world that revolves around the uniqueness of the human brain. It calls for transformational leadership and cultural mind-shift. Individuals treated like replaceable cogs will behave like cogs; not self-driven learners.
- Celebrate diversity in all aspects – cognitive and otherwise. Learning and insight take place when diverse thoughts and ideas collide. "I have never in my life learned anything from any man who agreed with me," Dudley Malone had famously said. And it is partially at least true. Diversity and inclusion cannot only be a part of HR policy anymore; it is necessary for the very survival of organizations as we enter the VUCA world. Emergent learning cannot happen unless diverse ideas and experiences find a place to converge and come together. Hence, the communities that organizations facilitate – online or offline -- should consciously enable the coming together of diverse individuals.
management" means implementing finite initiatives, which may or may not cut
across the organization. The focus is on executing a well-defined shift in the
way things work.
is another animal altogether. Unlike change management, it doesn't focus on a
few discrete, well-defined shifts, but rather on a portfolio of initiatives,
which are interdependent or intersecting. More importantly, the overall goal of
transformation is not just to execute a defined change — but to reinvent the
organization and discover a new or revised business model based on a vision for
the future. It's much more unpredictable, iterative, and experimental. It
entails much higher risk. And even if successful change management leads to the
execution of certain initiatives within the transformation portfolio, the
overall transformation could still fail." We
Still Don't Know the Different between Change and Transformation


text:
In radiography, how patients and referring physicians see your institution can enhance - or hinder - your success. MULTIX Impact is an advanced floor-mounted radiography system with integrated intelligence to assist the user. Its economical price improves access to care, while its reliable performance provides high-quality on-time care to diverse patients, even at peak times.
The result? Your image is strengthened with everyone involved.
MULTIX Impact: Because your image matters.


text:
Arts Queensland book is revealed … Finally.
Arts Queensland Book
In 2017, Karen Tyrrell (that's me) won an Arts Queensland grant for a children's picture book.
"This project is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland."
Logan City Council generously sponsored and supported my picture book too!
Incredibly, the CEO of Queensland […]


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NAMM 2014: Yamaha's pro audio wing has been busy reworking the firm's MG Series of portable mixing consoles, debuting the full new range at this year's Winter NAMM.
In total there are 10 new mixers being unveiled - starting with the entry-level six-channel MG06 and running up to the top-of-the-line 20-channel MG20XU. Five of the mixers will feature SPX effects processors and, with the exception of the MG06X, USB connectivity, as denoted by the X/XU tags.
The models all share the same Class-A 'D-PRE' preamps, durable knobs and powder-coated steel chassises, while the USB-connected XU models will also benefit from iPad compatibility via Apple's Camera Connection Kit.
Price-wise, Yamaha says it expects the MG line's MSRPs to echo those of its predecessors. For more information, take a look the press release below.
Yamaha MG Series Consoles press release
Yamaha have introduced an all-new range of MG Series compact mixing consoles. With a flexible 10-strong lineup of completely re-designed consoles suitable for both portable and installation applications, the new MG mixers put an emphasis on sound quality combined with a level of reliability and performance that have made this series an industry standard.
Featuring 5 standard models (ranging from 6 to 20 inputs), and 5 models with onboard SPX effects processors, the new series comprises a versatile lineup that will meet the demands of a wide range of mixing applications.
All models feature Yamaha's state-of-the-art discrete Class-A 'D-PRE' microphone preamps which use inverted Darlington circuit technology. These studio-grade preamps - also found on Yamaha's high-end professional mixers - deliver more power with lower impedance, meeting the requirements of even the most demanding professional sound engineers. Delivering fat, natural-sounding bass, rich mids, and smooth, soaring highs, with very low distortion, D-PRE preamps have an impressively wide frequency range, allowing them to handle signals from any audio source without colouration.
Models with 10 or more inputs are equipped with newly upgraded 1-knob compressors allowing optimised compression to a wide variety of input sources with the touch of a single control.
A favourite of sound engineers around the world since their release in 1985, Yamaha's acclaimed SPX effects processors are an industry standard, ubiquitous in sound reinforcement and recording applications, and in the music industry in general. The XU models feature an upgraded version of this renowned effects processor, with a comprehensive suite of 24 different effects (upgraded from 16 in the previous series), while the 6-channel MG06X is equipped with 6 presets.
The XU models also feature a USB 2.0 audio interface providing 24-bit/192kHz quality, allowing playback of digital content from a PC, and recording of the mixer output using DAW software. Steinberg's Cubase AI software is included with these models and USB Audio Class 2.0 is also supported, allowing use with compliant tablets and other devices without installing drivers. All models in the XU line are also compatible with Apple's Camera Connection Kit or Lighting-to-USB Camera Adapter for seamless recording and playback of digital audio content to and from an iPad or iPhone.
Each model in the new series has been redesigned with an emphasis on durability, incorporating practical features that offer greater resistance to the conditions and hazards that they may be subjected to. A powder-coated steel chassis provides improved structural strength, while the placement of the knobs above the surface of the chassis protects internal components by absorbing any impact or pressure on the knobs themselves. Based on feedback from Yamaha's worldwide customer base, all models with 12 or more channels also offer improved reliability thanks to internal universal power supplies.
New MG Series mixer will be available from March 2014 with pricing expected to be similar to the current series.
For more information please visit www.uk.yamaha.com


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Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Entry #80
by Aidan Fritz
Ella swiped her badge against the security plate. Today was the day. Her palms sweated, they hadn't done that since her interview at the supercollider lab.
He had to love her. He was her mirror, positive and negatives switched. Her mother would scoff at their relationship. She'd ask, how could Ella know love if she'd never met the man? It was the dance of decaying particles.
Ella wasn't sure how long she'd stood there. The security plate blinked red. Access denied. She swiped her badge a second time. Blasted door, picking today to fail. The clock ticked.
Entering Director Allegheny's paper-strewn office, Ella said, "Something's wrong with my badge."
"Nothing is wrong."
"I can't access the supercollider core."
"You have worked too hard. Take some time off."
Bosses never understood. "Are you firing me?"
"I need access to the collisions." Her passage required alignment.
"No." Allegheny approached awkwardly like test tubes in an earthquake. "The psychological models predicted your actions. You must abandon this line of inquiry. The world consists primarily of antimatter. You believe in a mirage."
Ella slammed the director's door. Allegheny was an apparatchik, caring more about the dollars in grants that would disappear. A life waited for her.
It was easier than Ella expected. A custodian left his cart and badge outside the restroom. The security plate blinked green.
Accelerated particles streamed to strike the plate. Scared, she stepped into the beam. A flame-limned hand stretched to meet her. Her lover.
Today was the day.
30 comments:
- Chris Alliniotte said...
This is such a great blending of sci-fi and emotion. The lack of feeling is why I'm usually turned off by "hard sci-fi". Not so here - very intriguing.
- July 19, 2011 8:13 AM
- Phil W said...
I agree with Chris. This story is both compelling and repelling, that is, I feel for her, but I'm wondering if she's killing herself at the end.
- July 19, 2011 9:24 AM
- Unknown said...
@Chris & @Phil, Thank-you, I've found myself writing a spate of science fiction stories lately and the timing seems to align with my attempts to improve how I capture emotions. Glad to hear that it worked for you in this flash.
Unfortunately, @Phil, I chose to leave the ending slightly up to the reader (I think there are a couple of clues to push it in one direction). Therefore, the repelling is intentionally balanced into the ending. - July 19, 2011 11:04 AM
- Precie said...
I agree with the other comments. Smart, real sci-fi with genuine emotional investment. Nice!
- July 19, 2011 11:06 AM
- Loren Eaton said...
Oh, I like this one, particularly the matter/antimatter dichotomy and how it plays into the love story.
- July 19, 2011 11:33 AM
- Aimee Laine said...
So she's going into the antimatter for a life she has only envisioned and will disappear from this world?? Well ... hey .. I just hop he was 'the one!' :)
- July 19, 2011 1:29 PM
- Crafty Green Poet said...
Excellent sci-fi with emotional impact too
- July 19, 2011 2:08 PM
"It was the dance of decaying particles."
Love it.
Your dialogue is also great. Very believable. - July 19, 2011 3:18 PM
- Catherine Vibert said...
Oh man, that fantasy world will get you all messed up, every time... Great dialogue and psychology.
- July 19, 2011 3:24 PM
"like test tubes in an earthquake"??? Oh come ON who writes like that? I LOVE that line. Amazing characterization in such a short space.
- July 19, 2011 3:44 PM
- Katherine Tomlinson said...
Emotional, elegant writing with a killer title. And all in 250 words. Excellent.
- July 19, 2011 6:02 PM
- Unknown said...
I agree, nice blend of science fiction/science fact and emotion.
Nicely done.
Dottie :)
(so glad she didn't just burn up..) - July 20, 2011 12:55 AM
- Unknown said...
@Precie, thanks!
@Loren, matter/anti-matter seemed appropriate; opposites attract ;)
@Aimee, sometimes love takes faith :)
@Crafty Green Poet, Thanks!
@Zobair, I think it was the Tavernier Stones contest where I first felt comfortable with dialogue.
@Catvibe, good point; I'm going to have to remind myself what is reality and what isn't. :)
@Aerin, I worried a little that the test tubes line might take someone out of the story, but it fit Ella's viewpoint so well that I couldn't cut it. Glad you enjoyed it.
@Katherine, Thank-you!
@Dottie, I like your reading! - July 20, 2011 1:51 AM
- SzélsőFa said...
as other have said before me, a compelling scifi with human emotions and a lot left for imagination. i like the ending, too!
- July 20, 2011 10:21 AM
- Unknown said...
Hi Aidan,
I'm not usually a sci-fi reader, but you won me over with this one, leaving my mind fizzing with wonder. Intriguing stuff.
Loved the reference: "dance of decaying particles".
Col - July 21, 2011 11:21 AM
Had me hooked in from the beginning. Love your styled of writing.
- July 22, 2011 11:02 AM
- bluesugarpoet said...
Fresh twist on the love story theme. I like how you make this fantasy world accessible to the everyday reader. Nicely done! ~Jana A
- July 22, 2011 3:11 PM
- Old Kitty said...
Whao!!!! Now this is what I call a love story!! Thank you, take care x
- July 22, 2011 6:11 PM
- Rachel said...
I'm not a SF reader. But you had me at the title. Studied this stuff back in the day and still check on the LHC to see what's colliding.
Great story and well put together. Wonder what the half-life of love is.... - July 22, 2011 8:32 PM
- Unknown said...
@SzélsőFa, Thanks. Endings can be hard, especially one like this that needs to balance many things.
@Col, glad you enjoyed the dance.
@Susan, thank-you!
@Jana, my style tends to be very surreal blending science and/or fantasy into the stories, but I hope to capture it in a way that it is accessible, so I'm glad you enjoyed.
@OldKitty, Thanks!
@Rachel, I got to visit a high-energy collider once. They are interesting places. Hopefully the half-life of love is a lifetime ;) - July 22, 2011 9:55 PM
- Michele Zugnoni said...
Great world building. I'd love to know more.
Thank you for sharing! - July 23, 2011 3:33 AM
- Unknown said...
Some nice imagery and a good ending. Not too shabby.
- July 23, 2011 10:07 AM
- Richard Levangie said...
Intriguing storyline and some lovely turns of phrase. Well done!
- July 23, 2011 11:24 AM
- Lisa Gail Green said...
Nice sci-fi! :D Always love a good interdimensional romance.
- July 23, 2011 3:22 PM
- Choco said...
Different... I found myself wishing for a second half at the end of it! :)
- July 25, 2011 5:28 AM
- EC said...
Loved the romantic urgency you entwined into this neat little sci-fi, especially the end - fantastic finish.
- July 25, 2011 6:05 PM
- JaneyV said...
Aidan - I loved this story. I can only echo the comments that went before. Well done.
- July 25, 2011 6:51 PM
- Wavemancali said...
You were in my top 5, glad to see you made the 40's club. Hope to read more of your stuff next contest :)
- July 27, 2011 6:18 PM
- PJD said...
Just had a chance to read this for the first time, and I truly enjoyed it. Love the tone, the plot, the ambiguities. Even though the test tubes line caught me up like a speed bump, I loved it. In reading this story, the reader has to take a certain distanced, outsider's view, and I found it delightful.
- July 30, 2011 3:24 PM
A beautiful story clothed in this techno science theme! I was a fan of this one. Very memorable! Very well written.
Congrats on Forties Club! - July 31, 2011 1:35 PM


text:
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Escape: The Curse of the Temple is a cooperative game in which players must escape (yes...) from a temple (yes...) which is cursed (yes...) before the temple collapses and kills one or more explorers, thereby causing everyone to lose. The initial game board consists of a row of three square tiles, each showing a combination of two symbols, say, two green adventurers or one green adventurer and one blue key in one corner of the tile. All of the explorers start in the center tile – the safe room – and each player starts with a hand of five dice. Each die has five symbols:
Escape is played in real-time, with all players rolling dice and taking actions simultaneously. You must roll the right symbols to enter a room, and if you're at an open doorway, you can roll to reveal the next tile in the stack and add it to that doorway. Some rooms contain combinations of red and blue symbols, and if you (possibly working with other players in the same room) roll enough red or blue symbols, you "discover" magic gems, moving them from a separate gem depot onto that tile. The real-time aspect is enforced by a soundtrack to be played during the game. At certain points, a countdown starts, and if players aren't back in the safe room when time is up, they lose one of their dice. Once the exit tile is revealed, players can attempt to escape the temple by moving to that tile, then rolling a number of blue dice equal to the magic gems that haven't been removed from the gem depot. Thus, the more gems you find, the easier it is to escape the temple. When a player escapes, he gives one die to a player of his choice. If all players escape before the third countdown, everyone wins; if not, everyone loses, no matter how many players did escape. Escape: The Curse of the Temple includes two expansion modules that can be used individually or together. With the "Treasures" module, some rooms contain treasure, and when you reveal such a room, you place a face-down treasure chest on the tile. Roll the symbols on that chest tile, and you claim the treasure for use later: a key lets you teleport anywhere, a path lets you connect two rooms that otherwise have no door between them, and a medic kit heals all players instantly (putting black dice back into play). With the "Curses" module, some tiles "curse" players by forcing them to place one hand on their head, keep mute during play, or otherwise do what you wouldn't want to do while escaping a temple!
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Editor's note: This column is the start of a weekly series of historic musings brought to you by The Covington News' Columnist Marshall McCart. These columns were previously published by McCart on The Piedmont Chronicles (TPC), which features blog-style posts about Newton County. The Covington News does not have any affiliation with nor does it endorse the content published on TPC.
As I mentioned before, many folks refer to Covington as "C-town." A friend of mine from Conyers once tried to tell me Conyers was the original "C-town." Ha. That's cute. Well...for one thing, Covington is older, and with apologies to anybody who feels otherwise—Covington is the original C-town.
Growing up in Covington during the 1980's was pretty cool. Buying G.I. Joe figures at Harper's, getting baseball cards at Leo's, and enjoying vanilla malts at City Pharmacy...it was a good time. The world seemed pretty small and Atlanta seemed a million miles away. I imagine there are more than a few locals over the age of 40 or 50 who are probably getting a kick out me romantically reminiscing about Covington in the 80s. I'm sure they could tell you how it was in the 70s, 60s, 50s or before. And I'm sure it was great.
The city of Covington is the county seat of Newton County. For centuries, the Creek Indian nation had ownership of this area. Newton Co. would be made up of land ceded from the Creeks in 1805, 1818 and the treaty of Indian Springs in 1821.
On Dec. 24, 1821—Newton Co. was formed through an act of the Georgia Legislature. The county was named for Revolutionary "war hero" John Newton.
Questions actually exist as to whether or not Mr. Newton was real...his legend seems to come from the writings of M.L. Weems who was responsible for a lot of the romantic and fabricated tales of the early times of American history including the story of George Washington and the Cherry Tree.
If Newton did indeed exist, it seems likely that he was not responsible for the act of heroism that he is credited with and there seems to be evidence that he was considered by some at the time to be of questionable character and may have actually been referred to as a "thief and a villain." So, the namesake of Newton Co. may have never existed at all or, if he did, was possibly considered a bit of a no-account.
On April 15, 1822, the Inferior court designated an area on a hill south of a swampy area by the Dried Indian Creek as the county seat and named it Newtonsborough.
The story behind Dried Indian Creek goes like this—a corpse of an Indian was found on the bank of the creek and it was all dried up...it seems doubtful there was any truth to that story.
Lots were laid out and sold in May of that year, and the town started to slowly grow. In December of 1822, the state legislature changed the name of the town in honor of Brig. General Leonard Covington who was killed in the War of 1812 and remembered as a hero. Unlike Newton, his legend seems to be legitimate.
The War Between the States
Covington's first direct contact with Union forces occurred in the Summer of 1864 when a cavalry division led by Kenner Garrard was instructed by William Sherman to destroy several of the railroads and bridges in and around Covington. He actually instructed Garrard to avoid any unnecessary molestation of private properties. On July 22, war broke out in Covington when an older resident named Presley Jones decided to take on the Yankees by himself. He did manage to kill two of them before he was shot and killed. Unfortunately, in order to placate their revenge, the Union forces court-martialed and executed a local man named George Daniel even though he was innocent of any crime.
Despite numerous accounts to the contrary, there seems to be no evidence that Sherman knew anyone in Covington other than the sister of a man he went to West Point with. Actually, there is evidence that Sherman had given strict orders that personal homes were supposed to be off-limits. That only commercial, agricultural and transportation-related properties were to be destroyed in addition to bridges, trains and train tracks. Sherman and his troops would live off the land with the actual order being to "forage liberally on the country."
In fact, when Sherman had finally reached Covington himself in November of 1864, he told the Mayor everything inside of people's houses was off-limits but everything outside was not. While the whole goal of the Georgia campaign was to make the South sick of war, it seems more times than not, excesses seemed to occur on the flanks or well ahead or behind the main force. At times, the Union forces formed a swath 60-75 miles wide and were picking up stragglers and hangers-on all the while. The most egregious wrongs committed against locals seemed to happen more frequently on the periphery.
After the Civil War, Covington had to deal with Reconstruction. Like the rest of the South, she struggled during that period, but would eventually come through it and grow and prosper.
An interesting and little-known aspect of Covington's history was mentioned in my very first column. By the 1880's, Covington had become somewhat of a "wild west town" and had upwards of a dozen saloons and drinking establishments. Some of these included hotels and general stores, but several were just straight-up whiskey joints where cards could be played and various types of "entertainment" could be found. Liquor could also be bought by the bottle at general stores and druggist shops. The increasing influence of alcohol did start to cause some problems and by 1882, when a man named Will Smith killed two men after drinking and playing cards, the prohibition movement started to pick up some serious steam in Covington and Newton County.
Covington would continue to thrive with the growth of the railroads and would enjoy prosperity for many years. Like every other town we've covered in these columns, the one-two punch of the boll weevil and the Depression were tough. But the town would survive and continue on a path of prosperity. During the 70's, the city would start to attract major industry and with the close proximity of Interstate 20, the town has thrived for the last several decades.
Covington is home and I love it. It's a wonderful place.


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Refugee Resettlement Program Raises Unsettling Issues
Last week, I addressed the county council of Spartanburg, South Carolina, on the issue of…
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Archive of My Articles for CAPS (Californians for Population Stabilization)
Our borders and our immigration laws constitute America's first line of defense and last line of defense against international terrorist organizations and transnational gangs and criminal organizations. For decades politicians from both the Democratic and Republican parties have thrown their oaths of office, commonsense and morality to the wind for campaign contributions.
On April 16, 2015, a Federal Grand Jury in the Southern District of Ohio (Eastern Division) handed up a criminal indictment charging a naturalized United States citizen, Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud a/k/a "Ayanle," a native of Somalia, with three federal crimes: 18 U.S.C. 2339A – Providing Material Support to Terrorists (Count 1) 18 U.S.C. 2339B – Providing Material Support to a…
Ignoring the 9/11 Commission's Warnings » Even as terrorists expand operations in Europe.
I addressed the many components of the dysfunctional immigration system that go well beyond the obvious failure of the administration to secure the border that is supposed to separate the United States from Mexico in my July 6, 2015 article for the David Horowitz Freedom Center's FrontPage Magazine:
Border Security and the Immigration Colander– Why the breakdown of the Southwest border is only the tip of the iceberg.
On September 20, 2013 CAPS (Californians for Population Stabilization) posted my article about the failures of the vetting process for alien applicants who apply for immigration benefits:
"Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Background Checks Require a Reality Check"
On July 30, 2012 CAPS (Californians for Population Stabilization) posted my commentary:
"Fraud: The Immigration Vulnerability That Undermines the Immigration System and National Security"
On November 20, 2013 ABC News reported:
"Exclusive: US May Have Let 'Dozens' of Terrorists Into Country As Refugees"
This is not a new problem, on July 13, 2011 the Washington Times published a truly disturbing article:
"Visas reviewed to find those who overstayed / Aim is to find any would-be terrorists
The importance of our borders and our immigration laws cannot be overemphasized. In the war on terror and transnational gangs, they are our first line of defense and our last line of defense against international terrorists and transnational criminals. They are equally important to American workers who are facing unfair competition from foreign workers, aided and abetted by the administration and advocates for "Sanctuary Cities" and Comprehensive Immigration Reform.
The starting point for any conversation or legislation concerning immigration must be the findings and recommendations of the 9/11 Commission which determined that a lack of border security, including the visa process. and fraud in the immigration benefits program enabled terrorists to enter and embed themselves in the United States, as they went about their deadly preparations.
In his historic speech before the 3rd Army on May 31, 1944, General George S. Patton said, on the strategy of holding a position:
"We're not holding anything, we'll let the Hun do that. We are advancing constantly, and we're not interested in holding onto anything except the enemy."
Pushing back against Comprehensive Immigration Reform is the same as holding position. The time has come for us to advance by demanding that our borders be made truly secure and our immigration laws be effectively administered and enforced.
Comprehensive Immigration Reform violates all of the findings and recommendations of the 9/11 Commission but no one is willing to even consider how the lack of real border security and the lack of real integrity to the various components of the immigration system imperil national security and public safety.
Immigration is not a single issue but a singular issue that impacts nearly every challenge and threat confronting the United States today! Simply stated, the immigration laws were enacted to save lives and protect the jobs of American workers.
It is not "Anti-Immigrant" to be "Pro-American!"
Our armed forces are charged with securing America's borders externally while the DHS is supposed to secure those same borders from within. The failures of the DHS to live up to its half of the equation are undermining the efforts, valor and incredible sacrifices of Americas men and women who serve in our military!
If our government's failures to protect American jobs by securing our nation's borders and effectively enforcing our immigration laws concerns you or especially if it angers you, I ask you to call your Senators and Congressional "Representative. This is not only your right- it is your obligation!
All I ask is that you make it clear to our politicians that we are not as dumb as they hope we are!
We live in a perilous world and in a perilous era. The survival of our nation and the lives of our citizens hang in the balance.
This is neither a Conservative issue, nor is it a Liberal issue- simply stated, this is most certainly an AMERICAN issue!
You are either part of the solution or you are a part of the problem!
Democracy is not a spectator sport!
Lead, follow or get out of the way!
-michael cutler-
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On Friday evenings from 7:00 PM until 8:00 PM Eastern Time, I host my show, "The Michael Cutler Hour" on the USA Talk Radio Network on Blog Talk Radio.
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I hope you will be listening! (Please tell your friends and neighbors!)
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Callan Mulvey
Mulvey was born in New Zealand, and is of Maori and European heritage. His family moved to Sydney, Australia when he was eight years old. He is best known for his roles as Mark Moran on the popular Australian drama Underbelly, and as Bogdan 'Draz' Drazic in Heartbreak High. Mulvey attended Beacon Hill High School (New South Wales) along with other Heartbreak High cast members Jon Pollard and Alle Brunning. Mulvey was injured in a serious car accident in 2003, in a head-on collision at 100 km/h. He was trapped in the vehicle for almost an hour until he could be freed from the wreckage. The midsection of his face collapsed, an incision was made from ear to ear over the top of his scalp, his face "pulled down" and 17 titanium plates were then inserted to repair the fractures to his face and jaw. His left knee and ankle were badly fractured and he lost vision in one eye.


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Malaysia Airlines partners with Amadeus to take personalisation to the next level
- Malaysia Airlines will adopt Amadeus Customer Experience Management, the ultimate tool for building brand loyalty through an understanding of each and every airline customer
- The technology will be fully integrated with the Amadeus Altéa Passenger Service System, which Malaysia Airlines migrated to in mid-2017
KLIA, 13 November, 2017: The airline industry is highly competitive, and travellers now have more choices than ever
before. This can make loyalty difficult to maintain, and to be successful, airlines need to tailor their services to what
customers really want, so that they feel recognised and valued.
Delivering an excellent customer experience is core to Malaysia Airlines' vision of the future, and with today's
agreement with Amadeus, the airline will put in place a key component that will help turn this vision into reality.
Amadeus Customer Experience Management is a cutting edge solution that will help Malaysia Airlines intimately
understand its customers and deliver highly personalised offers across all touchpoints, maximising every merchandising
revenue opportunity. Does the customer usually purchase excess baggage? Have they had a negative experience that
warrants a little something extra on their next flight? Do they prefer chauffeur service upon arrival? The technology
takes data about the traveller from multiple sources, builds a 360-degree, real-time picture of who the traveller is, and
integrates it with advanced personalisation logic so that the airline can cater to their implicit expectations and explicit
demands while travelling.
"Malaysia Airlines has always taken pride in delivering outstanding, warm hospitality, and we see an opportunity to do
so with an even greater level of personalisation. Technology offers us the ability to truly delight our customers, to know
them better than ever before, and be able to propose to them the right offers at the right time through the right touchpoint,
all along their journey. This will be an important differentiating factor for Malaysia Airlines, and why we're excited
to adopt Amadeus Customer Experience Management. We've had a great journey with Amadeus so far. They've been a
true partner – supporting our transformation and sharing the same drive to put the customer at the centre – and we're
glad to take this partnership further," said Izham Ismail, Group Chief Executive Officer, Malaysia Airlines Berhad.
The solution helps airlines grow loyalty by exceeding traveller expectations – not only those of frequent travellers, but
new and infrequent travellers as well. It can also help increase revenues by upselling tailored and relevant offers to
customers, through the right channels and at the right time; and improve customer retention by delivering personalised,
proactive care to frequent travellers in the event of disruption.
Cyril Tetaz, Head of Commercial for Asia Pacific, Airlines, Amadeus said, "We have deep respect for Malaysia Airlines.
What the airline has achieved in the past year and what it continues to strive to achieve is incredible, and we are
humbled to play a part in its transformation. Our vision of personalisation in the global travel ecosystem is to reach
every customer, while delivering a premium, branded experience seamlessly and consistently across all touch points
they interact with. Our flagship personalisation solution, Amadeus Customer Experience Management, is a key piece in
putting this puzzle together. We're delighted that Malaysia Airlines has chosen it, and we are excited to continue
working with Malaysia Airlines to adapt and evolve its products to go above and beyond meeting the needs of
Amadeus and Malaysia Airlines have also celebrated a landmark accomplishment – the successful migration of the
airline's passenger service system (PSS) to the Amadeus Altéa Suite in mid-2017. The cutover means that Malaysia
Airlines' core passenger processes including reservation, inventory, check-in and departure control now run on
Amadeus' cutting-edge platform. Malaysia Airlines also completed a successful shift to Amadeus' e-Retail Internet
booking engine earlier in the year. The new Internet booking engine provided by Amadeus is giving passengers a leaner,
more user-friendly experience from booking tickets to pre-purchasing excess baggage, meals and managing loyalty
points, all at the click of a button.
The Malaysian travel agency community warmly welcomes Malaysia Airlines' move to the Amadeus Altéa Suite.
Thaddeus Foo, Managing Director, Corporate Information Travel Sdn. Bhd. said, "Having Malaysia Airlines on Altéa is
an advantage for travel agencies like us that use Amadeus. We now share the same view of the passenger name record
(PNR) with Malaysia Airlines, so if there are any airport disruptions or changes in schedule we see these immediately.
Any special requests we make for meals or seats are confirmed or rejected the moment we enter them, and we always
get the most up to date view on Malaysia Airlines availability and fares. All this means better service and more efficiency
for our customers, and it helps us take care of them better."


text:
There's lots going on in the Effective Modern C++ 'verse these days. Behind the scenes, I'm gearing up to revise the book for an upcoming forth printing, during which I hope to make a big dent in the list of known errata, but in the meantime, please note the following:
- The Effective Modern C++ Sample Page has been updated to include a new sample Item. This time it's
Item 14: Declare functions noexcept if they won't emit exceptions.
As with the previous sample Items, this is the final version of preliminary material I published on my blog for community feedback, most recently about a year ago.
- On March 31, I'll be doing a live webcast covering material from the book's chapter on the C++11 concurrency API. The Item I'll be officially discussing is Item 39, "Consider void futures for one-shot event communication," but the presentation will include information from other Items, as well. For details on the webcast and to sign up (it's free), mosey on over to the webcast's official page.
- Through March 25, O'Reilly is running a C++ promotion that makes digital versions of its C++ titles available for 50% off. To take advantage of this opportunity to cut my royalties in half, follow this link.


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Since a home buyer apportions the bulk of his savings and income to a single investment, he wants to save as much as possible. Property developers exploit this penny-pinching penchant by offering various innovative schemes that are laden with freebies. At face value, most of these options appear tempting, but when you scrub off the gloss, you'll discover that they are riddled with traps.
Starting a search without clearly knowing what you want and then "hoping the ideal property will turn up!" With this approach, chances are you will waste plenty of time and energy and possibly purchasing something that doesn't meet your needs or is beyond your budget!
Not doing the hard yards – the temptation is to cut corners on your research because you're sick and tired of giving up your weekends looking at property but this is likely to be one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make so you want to get it right! The better you know the area, the better you will become familiar with prices and importantly you'll know how to spot great value when you see it!
5Forgetting about buying costs – remember to add stamp duty and settlement costs into the mix. This is usually up to an additional 5% on top of the purchase price that needs to be factored in when setting your budget.


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Code of Ethics
As a member of the National Association of Educational Procurement (NAEP), the Shepherd University Office of Procurement Services operates under the following code of ethics:
- Give first consideration to the objectives and policies of my institution.
- Strive to obtain the maximum value for each dollar of expenditure.
- Decline personal gifts or gratuities.
- Grant all competitive suppliers equal consideration insofar as state or federal statute and institutional policy permit.
- Conduct business with potential and current suppliers in an atmosphere of good faith, devoid of intentional misrepresentation.
- Demand honesty in sales representation whether offered through the medium of a verbal or written statement, an advertisement, or a sample of the product.
- Receive consent of originator of proprietary ideas and designs before using them for competitive purchasing purposes.
- Make every reasonable effort to negotiate an equitable and mutually agreeable settlement of any controversy with a supplier; and/or be willing to submit any major controversies to arbitration or other third party review, insofar as the established policies of my institution permit.
- Accord a prompt and courteous reception insofar as conditions permit to all who call on legitimate business missions.
- Cooperate with trade, industrial and professional associations, and with governmental and private agencies for the purposes of promoting and developing sound business methods.
- Foster fair, ethical and legal trade practices.
- Counsel and cooperate with NAEP Members and promote a spirit of unity and a keen interest in professional growth among them.


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Linking up with finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts
Monday, March 31, 2014
Spiral Rainbows
Linking up with finish it up Friday @ Crazy Mom Quilts
24 comments:
- mle said...
Fun project! improv doesn't come naturally to me either. It seems to take forever as well but the result is really spectacular with these rainbow blocks! well done!
- March 31, 2014 at 2:58 PM
- Amy's Crafty Shenanigans said...
absolutely gorgeous :)
- March 31, 2014 at 3:02 PM
- Michele T said...
Love it!!! The quilt designs are really neat too! Great way to bust your stash!!!
- March 31, 2014 at 3:13 PM
- Izzy said...
Wow - it's really gorgeous! Improv is super hard for me too... Actually, not just hard - scary! But I hope to give crazy piecing a try soon.
- March 31, 2014 at 4:42 PM
- The nosy pepper said...
This is gorgeous!
- March 31, 2014 at 6:22 PM
- Erica said...
Love it! You definitely can't tell that the improv was hard work, it looks like you are a natural!
- March 31, 2014 at 7:39 PM
- Alisa said...
It turned out very well! Improv isn't that easy for me either. I like how the colour blocks are squared up though, balancing out the wonkiness.
- March 31, 2014 at 8:17 PM
- DeborahGun said...
one of my favouritest mini-quilts ever Heather :-) I just adore it!
- March 31, 2014 at 8:35 PM
- Debbie said...
oh I love this and the spiral is perfect on it!!
- March 31, 2014 at 10:22 PM
- Susan said...
Yes, we had our hottest April 1st day ever! (32degrees C). I love this quilt Heather! You are really coming up with some impressive finishes! No one would ever know you struggle with improvisation!
- April 1, 2014 at 1:18 AM
- felicity said...
Totally fabulous! So colourful, and the spiral quilting is perfect. Looking forward to your tips and tricks.
- April 1, 2014 at 9:22 AM
- Cille said...
Perfect spiral - it looks fantastic
- April 1, 2014 at 11:23 AM
- Kleep said...
I just love it!! I want to make a mini quilt to hang in my sewing room, but I am completely undecided on what to do!
- April 1, 2014 at 12:34 PM
- Jackie's Stitches said...
I've only sewn one improv block and it was painful! Truth be told - I didn't like the outcome. But I really like what you've done here and I think that making blocks of color would be a much easier process. I definitely like what you've done here!
- April 1, 2014 at 4:27 PM
- nicole said...
So awesome Heather! Your spiral quilting is fantastic!
- April 1, 2014 at 5:11 PM
- Carla said...
I LOVE this! You did so awesome Heather. A perfect finish
- April 1, 2014 at 7:53 PM
- Wendy said...
gorgeous! I love rainbow quilts and I love the improv-ness of this.
- April 2, 2014 at 6:50 AM
- Turid said...
Really beautiful. I love it!
- April 2, 2014 at 11:08 AM
- Katelyn @ Sing While Crafting said...
I love this! Beautiful colors. Improv piecing is super difficult for me...so I get you there. This is fantastic.
- April 2, 2014 at 11:12 AM
- Run 'n Stitch said...
What a great quilt. I love the rainbow of colors. It's very inspiring! Thank you for sharing.
- April 4, 2014 at 9:44 PM
- Samantha said...
I really, really love how this scrappy project turned out! It is gorgeous!
- April 5, 2014 at 10:44 PM
- Caryl @ cinnamon holiday workshop said...
I really like this colorful quilt and such a great idea for the quilting.
- April 6, 2014 at 8:24 AM
- Katherine said...
Wow. I LOVE it, Heather! So scrappy good in yummy colours. The cherry on top is your wonderful spiral quilting. Gorgeous!
- April 10, 2014 at 12:32 PM
- Heidi Staples said...
This is absolutely stunning!!
- May 5, 2014 at 11:54 AM


text:
FEMA Disaster Recovery Centers (DRCs) are accessible facilities and mobile offices you can visit to learn more about FEMA and other disaster assistance programs. You may also visit to ask questions about your case. DRCs are set up in convenient areas after a disaster to make them easier to find. The DRC Locator helps you find the hours, services, and locations of DRCs near you.
A DRC may be able to help you:


text:
Source file headers
File header policy
The Gramps project requires that all source code files stored in the official project repository include the following header at the top of the file:
# # Gramps - a GTK+/GNOME based genealogy program # # Copyright (C) 20xx-20xx Contributor1 Name # Copyright (C) 20xx Contributor2 Name # # This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify # it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by # the Free Software Foundation; either version 2 of the License, or # (at your option) any later version. # # This program is distributed in the hope that it will be useful, # but WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY; without even the implied warranty of # MERCHANTABILITY or FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. See the # GNU General Public License for more details. # # You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License # along with this program; if not, write to the Free Software # Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA 02110-1301 USA #
File header procedure
The following procedures regarding source file headers shall be followed by all contributors whose changes are committed to the official project source repository:
- When a new source file is created, the header shall be prepended to the file before the file is committed to the source repository.
- The original file author shall include his/her name in the copyright statement along with the year the file was created.
- Additional contributors shall add their names and respective years of contribution in the copyright statement if they make changes to the file in the source repository.
- Years can be indicated as ranges, or separated by comas.
- While not strictly required, consider including an e-mail address in addition to the contributor name.
File header purpose
The file header has two primary purposes:
- Communication of the license the code is distributed under
- Tracking of past contributors (who are by definition copyright holders)
Copyright statement examples
Single author, all contributions in the same year:
# Copyright (C) 2015 John Doe
Single author, contributions in a range of years:
# Copyright (C) 2014-2015 John Doe
Single author, contributions in sparse years:
# Copyright (C) 2005, 2007-2013 John Doe
Multiple authors, contributions in various years:
# Copyright (C) 2005, 2007-2013 John Doe <[email protected]> # Copyright (C) 2009 Jane Smith # Copyright (C) 2006-2007 Ed Johnson <[email protected]>


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Lighting Installation
Lighting is one of the largest sources of commercial electrical use, and you need to ensure your business has the lighting necessary to enable workplace efficiency, safety, and security. When you hire a trained and professional commercial electrician, he or she will give you a well-lit workplace using the most energy-efficient lighting; to save money on energy costs while giving you the best possible lighting.
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Your business could lose its power at any time, due to causes beyond your control. It might be a car accident knocking out a transformer, a bad storm, local construction activity, or some other cause that shuts down your power. When that happens, you need reliable backup power – immediately. Otherwise, work production stops, and any perishable goods are endangered. Power Up Lighting & Electrical, LLC can help the commercial businesses of Mountain Brook to ensure they have power to continue production, even when your neighbors have no power.
Avoid Electrical Hazards and call Power Up Lighting & Electrical, LLC today!
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During out inspection, we will meticulously check every square inch of your electrical system to ensure everything is in good working condition. If we find inconsistencies, we can recommend a course of action, as well as the anticipated costs of any repairs.
The next time you need a commercial electrical work done in your Mountain Brook business, a Power Up Lighting & Electrical, LLC commercial electrician can ensure your workplace electrical work is done properly and ensure your service is as safe, efficient, and reliable as possible.


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Optional fun (when you know damn well it is mandatory) is so irritating.
Please invest in some decent friggin headphones when you travel. If I can hear your music as if it is playing in my ears, they SUCK.
Something happened this past weekend that was just plain humiliating & devestating. I was filled with a despair that even clonazeapam barely pulled me out of.
I managed to pull it together, stand up, throw my shoulders back, hold my head high and keep it moving.
My lip still trembles from time to time...but I "Just keep swimming, just keep swimming..." - Dori in Finding Nemo.
This too shall pass.
A friend of mine got the most awesome news in the world today. I'm going to taze her though if I hear about her thinking she was not good enough. HUMPH.
Dreams, backed up by action & preparedness, DO come true.
I don't think she is gonna like the 40 pieces of jewelry I got from the dollar store for her 40th birthday now that she is big time.
I think I succeeded in making Princess Cara's Kindergaten preparation special. I probably spoil her rotten.
Prince Jordan - college man - has his 18th Birthday tomorrow. I think he is going to holler (or kill me) when he gets the gift I bought him. A blast from the past.
I am not happy about going back to work, but I needed benefits. I should wear a sign that says "Will work for healthcare".
Can you say I'm an advocate for healthcare reform. And I don't want to hear anybody's fugnuckery & or hysteria about it. Get educated, read and then we can have a rational discussion.
My sister is wearing me out with the daily phone calls. Apparently she fell on a curb and cracked 3 ribs. We are still trying to figure out at what angle do you fall to do that. We suspect she got her azz kicked up against a curb but she ain't talkin.
I just don't know how people live in a state of perpetual drama. I find it simply exhausting.
I am still trying to figure out just what would happen if I left my portable electronic devices on while in the air. Seriously.
Well, we are about to land and I'm going to have to put that "Corporate Smile" on my face an make nice for 3 days.
What are you mumbling about this Monday?


text:
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At Reliable, we do what we love, and take pride in doing it right. You want what's best for the people, places and things that matter in your life – from where you live to what you wear. So do we. From the start, we approach every product with a craftsman's attention to detail and passion for making it right. Quality, functionality, design and customer service play an equally important part in delivering what's right for you.
As soon as your order is placed, you will receive an order confirmation e-mail. This confirms your order has been received in our system and your credit card is authorized for purchase. As soon as we receive your order, we begin processing to confirm that it is in stock and available for immediate shipment. If your item is on backorder or unavailable, we will reach out to you via e-mail to confirm if you'd like to keep your order or cancel for a full refund. If your item(s) are available for immediate shipment, we will process the charges and submit the order for shipment.
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text:
In a man's single day are all the days
of time from that unimaginable
first day, when a terrible God marked out
the days and agonies, to that other,
when the ubiquitous flow of earthly
time goes back to its source, Eternity,
and flickers out in the present, the past,
and the future—what now belongs to me.
Between dawn and dark lies the history
of the world. From the vault of night I see
at my feet the wanderings of the Jew,
Carthage put to the sword, Heaven and Hell.
Grant me, O Lord, the courage and the joy
to ascend to the summit of this day.
This Issue
July 19, 1973