text:
Next week — Aug. 25-27, to be exact — I'll return to my native Florida for a great opportunity at the Poynter Institute: a seminar that aims to teach journalists about programming and programmers about journalism. From the description:
Journalists will learn the programmer's mindset, and programmers will learn how to see the world through a journalist's eyes. Programmers will teach journalists how to turn data into usable information — and share great examples of efforts that worked.
The seminar also covers computational thinking, something I've written about previously. Needless to say, I can't wait to discuss with other 15 or so attendees and instructors.
From the seminar page (with some links changed), the instructors include:
- Regina McCombs, Visual Journalism Faculty, Poynter
- Aron Pilhofer, Editor, Interactive News Technologies at The New York Times
- Matt Waite, Senior News Technologist, St. Petersburg Times/tampabay.com and PolitiFact
- Jeremy Bowers, News Technologist, St. Petersburg Times/tampabay.com
- David Stanton, Technology Fellow, Poynter
- Steve Myers, Managing Editor, Poynter Online
I know/have met in-person all of them — except Jeremy, who I look forward to meeting for the first time — and know that this will be an awesome seminar. Also, thanks to a handy Twitter search for "Poynter seminar," I've seen a few tweets from others will who be attending. I look forward to meeting all of them soon.
Finally, a big thanks to Poynter for awarding me a partial scholarship for the seminar, made possible by the Ford Foundation. And thanks to Regina, Steve and Dave for answering my questions about the seminar.
UPDATE: The hashtag will be #journprog.


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subset: commoncrawl


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Bruce Schneier is a smart and interesting guy. His sound thinking on computer security has influenced me a great deal, and it extrapolates well into related fields like national security. So I'm always interested to find writings of his with which I disagree. A recent essay in Wired, entitled "Our Data, Ourselves" is one. It calls for "a comprehensive data privacy law."
This law should protect all information about us, and not be limited merely to financial or health information. It should limit others' ability to buy and sell our information without our knowledge and consent. It should allow us to see information about us held by others, and correct any inaccuracies we find. It should prevent the government from going after our information without judicial oversight. It should enforce data deletion, and limit data collection, where necessary. And we need more than token penalties for deliberate violations.
If he really believes that these rules should govern the collection and use of data – "all information about us"! – what an administrative nightmare that would be to implement. The benefits of doing so would be quite small in comparison.
Some of these things are agreeable, such as judicial oversight of government data collection (the Fourth Amendment is that law) but even a solid libertarian like myself wouldn't endorse judicial oversight of government officials looking up information about me on public Web sites, for example.
And should I have a right to review any email in which people discuss this blog post and its author? Incredible.
The flaw in this article (beyond its carelessness) is Bruce's treatment of these information practices as all-new, and needing an all-new regulatory regime, just because decision-making is now undertaken using "data."
"Whoever controls our data can decide whether we can get a bank loan, on an airplane or into a country. Or what sort of discount we get from a merchant, or even how we're treated by customer support."
But it's always been true that decisions like these are made using "data" – perhaps not in digital form, but data/information all the same. When has a decision ever been made not using "data"? We don't need to throw out old rules about privacy, fairness, and so on just because information is digitized.
Many of Schneier's premises are correct. The change from analog to digital data systems does cause a lot more tracks to form behind people as they traverse the economy and society. This creates lots of efficiency, convenience, wealth, and problems – threats to privacy, fair treatment, personal security, seclusion, and liberty. Let's deal with them – each one – on their merits rather than trying to write a single law to overhaul the use of information in society.
Reversing the course of a river would be a tiny problem compared to what Schneier proposes.


text:
That thou hast her it is not all my grief,
And yet it may be said I loved her dearly;
That she hath thee is of my wailing chief,
A loss in love that touches me more nearly.
Loving offenders thus I will excuse ye:
Thou dost love her, because thou know'st I love her;
And for my sake even so doth she abuse me,
Suffering my friend for my sake to approve her.
If I lose thee, my loss is my love's gain,
And losing her, my friend hath found that loss;
Both find each other, and I lose both twain,
And both for my sake lay on me this cross:
But here's the joy; my friend and I are one;
Sweet flattery! then she loves but me alone.


text:
Bot Libre 6.5 added support for define isolated conversation flows through using the response "Next" elements.
The next is a follow-up question that the user might ask after the bot gives the response. For example, if you had a response to the question "help" as "Do you want help with web or mobile?", then if the user responded with "web", that would be a follow-up question. Previously these could be defined using "Previous" elements, or using Self scripting. Using next provides a better option that is more powerful than previous, and easier to use than scripting.
A next question can be defined when adding or editing a response from your bot's Training & Chat Logs page. Click on the "show" next checkbox to enable the next input in the response editor.
After you enter the next question and click save, the next question will appear below the response in the response browser. Click on the checkbox before the next question to edit the next and define its response (and optionally another next for a nested dialog). You can add multiple next question to a single response. The response's next question form an isolated conversational context.
If a response has a next question, the bot will only choose a response from the response's next, it will not consider any other responses. The bot will find the best matching next question, otherwise use the default response. To enter a default next response, enter the question as #default.
You can nest next questions and responses to easily form complex conversations. Next question form an isolated and inherited conversational space. Each nested next level can define its own default response, but if it does not, then the bot will consider responses from the parent level, or use the parent default response.
Example Next Conversationquestion: help response: Do you want help with <button>web</button> or <button>mobile</button> keywords: help question: web response: Is you issue with <button>HTML</button> or <button>JavaScript</button>? question: html response: See https://www.w3schools.com/html question: javascript response: See https://www.w3schools.com/js question: mobile response: Are you using <button>Android</button> or <button>iOS</button>? question: android response: See https://www.android.com question: ios response: See https://developer.apple.com/ios question: quit response: Okay. Let me know if you need further help. default: Please specify <button>web</button> or <button>mobile</button>, or type <button>quit</button> if you do not need help.
The above example using the response list format, which can be imported or exported from the Training & Chat Logs page. To define a next question add a tab to indent the next question and response. Using multiple tabs allows next to be nested.
The next questions are shown in the response browser as a set of nested tables so you can easily visualize the entire conversation. You can edit or delete next questions and response from the response browser.


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At our medical center, we have to ensure that every patient seeking HGH treatment is doing so for medicinal purposes.
No one loves the changes that come with aging, especially the appearance part. The core reason for body change as you advance in age is caused by the reduction of human growth hormone (HGH). What is HGH therapy? It is the treatment for growth hormone deficiency in young ones and adults.
Growth hormone also known as somatotropin is naturally produced in the pituitary gland which is the backbone of cell reproduction and growth stimulation in the body. However, in cases where your body is unable to produce the required GH, you may be advised to go for an injection that deals with such cases as:
- weak bones;
- old age;
- high level of glucose for insulin regulation;
- obesity.
It is important to go for growth hormone therapy early as a deficiency of GH for a long time can lead to osteoporosis and high cholesterol. Here are the benefits of HGH therapy listed below:
Improved Skin
When age starts to take effect and your hair turns gray, the production of collagen by the body goes down. This is one factor that leads to loss of skin elasticity. The only thing that can awaken your skin from that condition is the injection of growth hormone therapy. It helps to reduce the skin from sagging, and wrinkles and brings a youthful look. The body is able to produce more collagen which makes the skin strong. Additionally, those patients with skin burns or wounds start healing immediately after growth hormone therapy is introduced into the body.
Improved Hair
HGH is vital in the growth of human hair and old age is associated with hair going gray and thin due to the low levels of HGH. Injections improve hair growth making it fuller & thicker. It also leads to the growth of new normal hair for those already with gray hair.
Increased Muscle Strength
You don't want that body mass shrinking due to hormone deficiency, rather than live with an ugly look; GH therapy is the answer to the body shape you want to assume. Therapy benefits your body by cutting on fat, increasing lean body mass, and enhancing muscle strength and power.
Better Sex Life
If you are struggling with sexual life or infertility issues, go for an HGH checkup. HGH therapy can rescue your relationship by improving testosterone production plus sperm count. Low sexual life for men makes them feel deflated as it robs them of their virile status. However, GH therapy can restore your situation and you begin to enjoy good moments with your partner.
Enhanced Immune System
With HGH deficiency, your body struggles to fight germs. The remedy for this is going for growth hormone therapy which boosts your immune system. Therefore, your body is able to fight illnesses, and injuries, or restore your muscles after intense exercise.
Better Productivity
If you are struggling to perform at your workplace, don't blame it on fatigue, but hormones deficiency. To improve your productivity, therapy is all you need to raise your mood and power. Improved HGH levels help your body balance from mental focus to body shape.
HGH Therapy Common Questions
You can empower your life through hormone therapy, to also adopt a healthy lifestyle to benefit your body. Watch what you eat, have plenty of sleep, exercise, and the other part will be complemented by therapy.
Our human growth hormone (HGH) therapy programs are available for both men and women over 35 years old with adult growth hormone deficiency.
HGH therapy not only accelerates wound healing and rehabilitation after an injury but also reverses the biological and physical effects of aging. Our HGH treatments maximize physical performance and can increase your capacity for exercising.
Hormone therapy has helped many men take control of their sexual health. Men that are considering this treatment should learn more about what is to be expected, how the process works, and the side effects. Below we answer a few of the most common questions we get on HGH therapy.
Will I need to see a doctor if I undergo hormone therapy?
Safety is our top priority. We require that all our patients see our physicians for a physical exam and undergo specific testing before any treatments can be prescribed.
After visiting, will I be qualified for treatment?
At our medical center, we have to ensure that every patient seeking treatment is doing so for medicinal purposes. We have to be sure that no conflicts will arise with other treatments the patient may need. The majority of our patients will qualify for treatment; however, current treatments for medical conditions must be evaluated first and considered before a patient is regarded as a candidate.
How safe is hormone therapy?
When administered correctly, hormone therapy is a safe procedure for patients and a valuable tool to help many men enjoy their life again. We monitor our patients very carefully to ensure every patient is doing well with their prescribed treatment.
What are the side effects of HGH?
Depending on the patient, every treatment has its share of side effects. At our clinic, we minimize the side effects of hormone therapy by prescribing doses that are identical to natural hormone levels in healthy men; this helps to avoid any unwanted side effects.
If you still have any additional questions or doubts, we are happy to clear them up for free. Just get in touch with us here!


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An exciting and unusual collection of clematis for the home and garden, bred by Evison/Poulsen.
These clematis are produced to a high standard by modern production methods tied up on a bow. The plants has a "Long Decorative Value™". Cultivars specially bred to grow and flower on hoops as an indoor plant for the house or conservatory. These clematis last in the home for at least 6 - 8 weeks and can have up to 20 - 30 flowers per plant. They come in a range of colours and are grown on a hoop, which is an ideal way of displaying their numerous small to medium sized flowers.
After they have finished flowering, they can be planted in the garden, treated as garden clematis and grown with other host plants. Planting outside is best carried out in the spring months. Once flowered, prune back to encourage further blooms 3-4 months later.
Look out each year for the new introductions and different colours, some with double and semi-double flowers.


text:
SilverStripe Developer Directory
Find developers and digital agencies using SilverStripe open source software.
This site requires you to update your browser. Your browsing experience maybe affected by not having the most up to date version.
Find developers and digital agencies using SilverStripe open source software.
Zagreb, Croatia
Fractas is The Web Company that delivers custom applications, strategic guidance, and consulting to companies in a wide variety of industries. Our solutions include Web Apps, Mobile Web, Web Content Management, Social Apps, Workflow & Document Management, Enterprise Portals, Intranet Portals and Collaboration and more.
To be listed on the Silverstripe CMS Developer Directory, you need to meet the following criteria:
We'll review your listing after you submit to make sure that it meets our criteria. If we have any questions, we may contact you. If your submission fits, you can expect your listing to go live in a few business days.
If you already have a silverstripe.org account and your signed in, all you have to do is click on Create listing. If you don't yet have an account yet, you will need to join the community first and have at least one project listed in the Community Showcase. You can edit your listing at any time through your profile page.


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Our goods are authentic, with genuine patents, counterfeit must be investigated! Customers, please identify our products!
⏰Handling time>> Ship within 12-48 hours.
😊Returns>> Fast refund for any dissatisfaction within 30 days, 100% money-back guarantee. and we provide return insurance with every order, so you do not need to bear the cost of return.
🏆After Sales Service>>2 Years Warranty, Support Trade-in For New Within 1 Year.
💖You will love my Fashion Bra for many reasons💖
The deep cup bra is great to use for a smoother look under clothing. This bra helps to hide back fat, side bra bulge, and gives a lift while on!Th
💃No matter what you do, this bra offers the bust support you've been looking for.💃
A full cup design that provides better coverage and lifts breasts.Full-back coverage for added support and relief.
A full cup design that provides better coverage and lifts breasts.Full-back coverage for added support and relief.
Made of top-notch fabrics that offer the best shaping experience.This compression bra helps to improve posture.You can use my Fashion Bra every day, it's so comfortable, you'll hardly notice you're wearing it. It will instantly improve your posture by helping you relieve tension in your back and neck.
- Bra with shapewear incorporated
- Smooth back.
- Full back coverage.
- Natural push up.
- Size runs the same as regular bras.
Designed with you in mind, with a high back and extra wide sides that will give shape and softness to the contour of your torso, avoiding the uncomfortable rolls that appear with traditional bras.
This Bra is so EXTRA! We love ❤ it! It is made with Powernet in the back area which allows for more compression and support. Our Bra is Made of top-notch fabrics that offer the best shaping experience. This bra helps to improve posture. It keeps everything in the right place at the right compression. A must have staple in every closet or drawer.
Wide Elastic at the base for greater support. Sides are wide with anti slip elastic on top.
100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEED: If you think the size is not suitable for you, or the quality is not good enough, please just contact us, we will make refund back to you. No Questions Asked! Meaning you never need to worry.
Absolutely gorgeous bra adds romance and flirt without losing support and comfort!
The design of 5D seamed cups, wide side wings, strong cushioned shoulder straps, and U-shape back panel ensures maximum support against sagging while smoothing back bulges and correcting armpit fats for a flattering silhouette.
EXCELLENT SUPPORT: Anti-slip grip lining along the top of the cups for strapless support. Supportive side boning holds everything in place
SPECIAL DESIGN: Underwire contour cups with built-in foam padding for a light push up effect. Secret straps in cups center your bust
CONVERTIBLE: Adjustable multiway straps can be worn classic, criss-cross, halter, or go strapless. 4-level adjustable back hook closure
Powernet in the back area that allows more compression and support.
Made of top-notch fabrics that offer the best shaping experience.
This compression bra helps to improve posture.
It also keeps everything in place.
82% polyamide 18% elastane.
High compression.
Daily use.
Back hook-and-eye fastening.
Improve posture by pulling your shoulders upright & pushing your chest forward.
⭐⭐Real reviews from customers ⭐⭐
This bra is really good, my back flattened after wearing it and it made my body proportions more perfect! ! !
— DeLawrence
After wearing it, my breasts became firmer and my back was smoother. The store's size is very standard, I like it very much.
💃💃There are few wardrobe items as important as a great bra! If you've never felt the comfort of a great bra, I urge you to go get fitted and feel (and see) the difference!
100% CUSTOMER SATISFACTION GUARANTEED: If you think the size is not suitable for you, or the quality is not good enough, please just contact us, we will make refund back to you. No Questions Asked! Meaning you never need to worry.
✈ Worldwide Shipping ✈ 🔒 100% Risk-Free Purchase 🔥
- We truly offer the stunning, trendy high-quality products in the world.
- We will do WHATEVER it takes with outstanding customer service support to assist everyone.
- If you are not satisfied with receiving the goods, you can apply for a refund.
- You can pay with PayPal, which will protect your money.


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Reach Oxford Scholarships for Developing Country Students
This is a guide on Reach Oxford Scholarships for Developing Country Students application.
Brief description:
A number of Oxford colleges offer Reach Oxford Scholarships (formerly Oxford Student Scholarships) to students from developing countries who, for political or financial reasons, or because equivalent educational facilities do not exist, cannot study for a degree in their own countries.
Oxford University, United Kingdom
Level/Field(s) of study:
Undergraduate programs in all subjects in the course listing, except medicine
Number of Awards:
2-3 per year
Target group:
Applicants must be nationals of countries who receive official development assistance from the Development Assistance Committee (DAC) of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). See the official website for the complete list of eligible countries.
Scholarship value/inclusions/duration:
Tuition fees and college fees, a grant for living expenses and one return air fare per year. The scholarship duration is 3 or 4 years depending on course length.
This scheme is only suitable for candidates who have received an offer and who are of the highest academic ability. Financial need and social commitment are also major criteria for selection. Applicants should be intending to return to their country of ordinary residence following their studies. Priority will be given to students who have not studied at undergraduate level before.
Application instructions:
Applications for admissions are already closed. Details on how to apply for a scholarship for 2020 entry will be made available on the official website in January 2020.
To be considered for the scholarship, you must have made an application to the University through UCAS by 15 October 2019 and been successful in gaining a place. You will then need to complete a separate scholarship application form. The scholarship application deadline is 12 February 2020.
It is important to visit the official website (link found below) for detailed information on how to apply for this scholarship. Official Scholarship Website


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1 pork leg(pata), slice into serving pieces.
3 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoon peppercorn
6 cloves garlic, pounded
2 onions, chopped
2 cups soda(sprite, 7-up, lemonade or root beer)
5 cups pork broth
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/2 cup oyster sauce
2 bay leaves(laurel)
2 pieces star anise (optional)
1/4 cup dried banana blossoms(puso ng saging)
2/3 cup brown sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch(dissolved in 1/2 cup water)
2 bundles steamed bok choy(Pechay)(optional)
cooking oil for frying
Part 1
1. In a pot, place pata then pour enough water to cover the meat.
2. Add salt and peppercorn then bring to boil for 15 minutes. Drain and reserve the broth.
Part 2
1. In a pot, heat oil then fry pork pata until golden brown. Drain.
Part 3
1. In a pot, heat oil and saute garlic and onion.
2. Add fried pata, broth, soda, soy sauce, oyster sauce, bay leaves, banana blossoms, star anise and brown sugar.
3. Simmer over low heat for 1 to 1 1/2 hours or until pata is tender. Add water if necessary.(Cook in pressure cooker takes 30 minutes).
4. Add dissolved cornstarch and adjust seasoning according to taste.
5. Continue cooking until the sauce thickens and a few sauce is remaining.
6. Transfer to serving plate then serve with steamed bok choy and rice.


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Cairo: A Vector Graphics Library |
There are a number of functions in the cairo API that have multiple out parameters or in-out parameters. In some languages these can be translated into multiple return values. In Python, what is:
cairo_user_to_device (cr, &x, &y);
can by mapped to:
(x, y) = cr.user_to_device (cr, x, y);
but many languages don't have provisions for multiple return values, so it is necessary to introduce auxiliary types. Most of the functions that require the auxiliary types require a type that would, in C, look like
typedef struct _cairo_point cairo_point_t; struct _cairo_point { double x; double y; }
The same type should be used both for functions that use a pair of coordinates as an absolute position, and functions that use a pair of coordinates as a displacement. While an argument could be made that having a separate "distance" type is more correct, it is more likely just to confuse users.
void cairo_user_to_device (cairo_t *cr, double *x, double *y); void cairo_user_to_device_distance (cairo_t *cr, double *dx, double *dy); void cairo_device_to_user (cairo_t *cr, double *x, double *y); void cairo_device_to_user_distance (cairo_t *cr, double *dx, double *dy); void cairo_matrix_transform_distance (cairo_matrix_t *matrix, double *dx, double *dy); void cairo_matrix_transform_point (cairo_matrix_t *matrix, double *x, double *y); void cairo_get_current_point (cairo_t *cr, double *x, double *y);
There are also a couple of functions that return four values representing a rectangle. These should be mapped to a "rectangle" type that looks like:
typedef struct _cairo_rectangle cairo_rectangle_t; struct _cairo_rectangle { double x; double y; double width; double height; }
The C function returns the rectangle as a set of two points to facilitate rounding to integral extents, but this isn't worth adding a "box" type to go along with the more obvious "rectangle" representation.
Q: Would it make sense here to define a standard
that language bindings should map?
void cairo_stroke_extents (cairo_t *cr, double *x1, double *y1, double *x2, double *y2); void cairo_fill_extents (cairo_t *cr, double *x1, double *y1, double *x2, double *y2);


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Armed with just the right atomic arrangements, superconductors allow electricity to flow without loss and radically enhance energy generation, delivery, and storage. Scientists tweak these superconductor recipes by swapping out elements or manipulating the valence electrons in an atom's outermost orbital shell to strike the perfect conductive balance. Most high-temperature superconductors contain atoms with only one orbital impacting performance—but what about mixing those elements with more complex configurations?
Now, researchers at the U.S. Department of Energy's Brookhaven National Laboratory have combined atoms with multiple orbitals and precisely pinned down their electron distributions. Using advanced electron diffraction techniques, the scientists discovered that orbital fluctuations in iron-based compounds induce strongly coupled polarizations that can enhance electron pairing—the essential mechanism behind superconductivity. The study, set to publish soon in the journal Physical Review Letters, provides a breakthrough method for exploring and improving superconductivity in a wide range of new materials.
"For the first time, we obtained direct experimental evidence of the subtle changes in electron orbitals by comparing an unaltered, non-superconducting material with its doped, superconducting twin," said Brookhaven Lab physicist and project leader Yimei Zhu.
While the effect of doping the multi-orbital barium iron arsenic—customizing its crucial outer electron count by adding cobalt—mirrors the emergence of high-temperature superconductivity in simpler systems, the mechanism itself may be entirely different.
"Now superconductor theory can incorporate proof of strong coupling between iron and arsenic in these dense electron cloud interactions," said Brookhaven Lab physicist and study coauthor Weiguo Yin. "This unexpected discovery brings together both orbital fluctuation theory and the 50-year-old 'excitonic' theory for high-temperature superconductivity, opening a new frontier for condensed matter physics."
Atomic jungle gym
Imagine a child playing inside a jungle gym, weaving through holes in the multicolored metal matrix in much the same way that electricity flows through materials. This particular kid happens to be wearing a powerful magnetic belt that repels the metal bars as she climbs. This causes the jungle gym's grid-like structure to transform into an open tunnel, allowing the child to slide along effortlessly. The real bonus, however, is that this action attracts any nearby belt-wearing children, who can then blaze through that perfect path.
Flowing electricity can have a similar effect on the atomic lattices of superconductors, repelling the negatively charged valence electrons in the surrounding atoms. In the right material, that repulsion actually creates a positively charged pocket, drawing in other electrons as part of the pairing mechanism that enables the loss-free flow of current—the so-called excitonic mechanism. To design an atomic jungle gym that warps just enough to form a channel, scientists audition different combinations of elements and tweak their quantum properties.
"High-temperature copper-oxide superconductors, or cuprates, contain in effect a single orbital and lack the degree of freedom to accommodate strong enough interactions between electricity and the lattice," Yin said. "But the barium iron arsenic we tested has multi-orbital electrons that push and pull the lattice in much more flexible and complex ways, for example by inter-orbital electron redistribution. This feature is especially promising because electricity can shift arsenic's electron cloud much more easily than oxygen's."
In the case of the atomic jungle gym, this complexity demands new theoretical models and experimental data, considering that even a simple lattice made of north-south bar magnets can become a multidimensional dance of attraction and repulsion. To control the doping effects and flow of electricity, scientists needed a window into the orbital interactions.
Tracking orbits
"Consider measuring waves crashing across the ocean's surface," Zhu said. "We needed to pinpoint those complex fluctuations without having the data obscured by the deep water underneath. The waves represent the all-important electrons in the outer orbital shells, which are barely distinguishable from the layers of inner electrons. For example, each barium atom alone has 56 electrons, but we're only concerned with the two in the outermost layer."
The Brookhaven researchers used a technique called quantitative convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) to reveal the orbital clouds with subatomic precision. After an electron beam strikes the sample, it bounces off the charged particles to reveal the configuration of the atomic lattice, or the exact arrays of nuclei orbited by electrons. The scientists took thousands of these measurements, subtracted the inner electrons, and converted the data into probabilities—balloon-shaped areas where the valence electrons were most likely to be found.
Shape-shifting atoms
The researchers first examined the electron clouds of non-superconducting samples of barium iron arsenic. The CBED data revealed that the arsenic atoms—placed above and below the iron in a sandwich-like shape (see image)—exhibited little shift or polarization of valence electrons. However, when the scientists transformed the compound into a superconductor by doping it with cobalt, the electron distribution radically changed.
"Cobalt doping pushed the orbital electrons in the arsenic outward, concentrating the negative charge on the outside of the 'sandwich' and creating a positively charged pocket closer to the central layer of iron," Zhu said. "We created very precise electronic and atomic displacement that might actually drive the critical temperature of these superconductors higher."
Added Yin, "What's really exciting is that this electron polarization exhibits strong coupling. The quadrupole polarization of the iron, which indicates the orbital fluctuation, couples intimately with the arsenic dipole polarization—this mechanism may be key to the emergence of high-temperature superconductivity in these iron-based compounds. And our results may guide the design of new materials."
This study explored the orbital fluctuations at room temperature under static conditions, but future experiments will apply dynamic diffraction methods to super-cold samples and explore alternative material compositions.
The experimental work at Brookhaven Lab was supported by DOE's Office of Science. The materials synthesis was carried out at the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Physics. Brookhaven Lab coauthors of the study also include Chao Ma, Lijun Wu, and Chris Homes.
Source: Brookhaven National Laboratory


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NEW YORK—The Federal Reserve Bank of New York today announced several changes to the membership of its Community Depository Institutions Advisory Council (CDIAC).
The following people have been appointed to the council effective immediately and will serve a three-year term:
- Lisa M. Cathie, president and chief executive officer of Ulster Savings Bank in Kingston, New York.
- Martin A. Dietrich, president and chief executive officer of NBT Bank, N.A. and NBT Bancorp Inc. in Norwich, New York.
- James W. Fulmer, chairman, president and chief executive officer of The Bank of Castile in Batavia, New York.
Council members are representatives from commercial banks, thrift institutions and credit unions with assets under $10 billion headquartered in the Second Federal Reserve District (New York, northern New Jersey; Fairfield County, Connecticut; Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). The purpose of the council is to provide information and insight to the New York Fed from the perspective of community depository institutions.
The New York Fed's president and first vice president meet with the council twice a year to discuss regional economic and financial conditions and other issues confronting community depository institutions.


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Courtney Baker took more than a year to write and mail a letter she had been thinking about since she was pregnant with her daughter with special needs, Emersyn Faith.
Baker told ABC News, "I knew how important it was going to be to write that letter before Emmy was even born."
The Sanford, Florida mom, with the help of her 15-month-old daughter, finally dropped the letter in the mail at the end of May to the doctor who she said delivered her daughter's prenatal diagnosis of Down syndrome. She then shared it on the Parker Myles Facebook page, where it's been shared thousands of times.
The doctor, Baker said, suggested she terminate her pregnancy. Even after she refused, she said she continued to feel pressured.
"Every action from opening and closing the mailbox, to raising the red flag, was closure for me," Baker said. "I have no idea how the doctor might have reacted to my letter, but I do have faith that God can work any miracle and He can change any heart."
The letter read:
"Dear Doctor,
A friend recently told me of when her prenatal specialist would see her child during her sonograms, he would comment, "He's perfect." Once her son was born with Down syndrome, she visited that same doctor. He looked at her little boy and said, 'I told you. He's perfect.'
Her story tore me apart. While I was so grateful for my friend's experience, it filled me with such sorrow because of what I should have had. I wish you would have been that doctor.
I came to you during the most difficult time in my life. I was terrified, anxious and in complete despair. I didn't know the truth yet about my baby, and that's what I desperately needed from you. But instead of support and encouragement, you suggested we terminate our child. I told you her name, and you asked us again if we understood how low our quality of life would be with a child with Down syndrome. You suggested we reconsider our decision to continue the pregnancy.
From that first visit, we dreaded our appointments. The most difficult time in my life was made nearly unbearable because you never told me the truth. My child was perfect.
I'm not angry. I'm not bitter. I'm really just sad. I'm sad the tiny beating hearts you see every day don't fill you with a perpetual awe. I'm sad the intricate details and the miracle of those sweet little fingers and toes, lungs and eyes and ears don't always give you pause. I'm sad you were so very wrong to say a baby with Down syndrome would decrease our quality of life. And I'm heartbroken you might have said that to a mommy even today. But I'm mostly sad you'll never have the privilege of knowing my daughter, Emersyn.
Because, you see, Emersyn has not only added to our quality of life, she's touched the hearts of thousands. She's given us a purpose and a joy that is impossible to express. She's given us bigger smiles, more laughter and sweeter kisses than we've ever known. She's opened our eyes to true beauty and pure love.
So my prayer is that no other mommy will have to go through what I did. My prayer is that you, too, will now see true beauty and pure love with every sonogram.
And my prayer is when you see that next baby with Down syndrome lovingly tucked in her mother's womb, you will look at that mommy and see me then tell her the truth: 'Your child is perfect.'"
"I hope he sees Emmy, I hope he sees my words on paper," Baker told ABC News. "Emmy is proof that children with special needs are worthy and can change the world. She's doing it right now."


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Finally, blogger Linda Ikeji shares picture of son, confirms Jeremi as father
Three months after birth, celebrity blogger, Linda Ikeji has finally shared photos of her cute son, Jayce. She also confirmed that oil merchant, Sholaye Jeremi, is the father.
On an Instagram post on Friday morning, she gave detailed reports of the secret affair she had with Jeremi, and how things have turned out. She, however, states that she has absolutely no iota of regret meeting Sholay.
Here is the full text of her write-up:
"Two days before my 38th birthday on September 17th, I welcomed my first child, my son, Jayce. I look at him and I wonder why I waited so long to have a child. I've never known love like this. I literally have tears in my eyes every time I look at him. I can't believe he came out of me. He is by far my greatest blessing and I'm looking forward to navigating him through life!
"Now to the reason why you are reading this. I argued with myself for a long time whether to put this out or not…and finally decided it was a story I wanted to share.
"I've always been open about my life but I'm sharing details about my personal life mostly because of the girls who look up to me. The girls I have mentored, mentoring right now and plan to mentor in the future. I'm very particular about our young girls and I have personally tried over the years to be an example in some way; tried to teach these girls how to fight for their dreams, how to live right and do right and then I go and have a child out of wedlock and that must be a little confusing to some of them and especially with so many untruthful stuff out there about me. The most hilarious is that I had a child for a married man. Lol.
"Here's my answer to that! The married man that I will sleep with has not yet been born. If he's been born, he will die, be buried, rise and die again before he will lay with me. I don't do married men. The father of my child is a single man and his name is Sholaye Jeremi. To be honest, at some point I thought he was my final bus stop but you know how life happens…lol. Unfortunately, he and I are a completely closed chapter. Sadly for our son Jayce, it's the kind of chapter that can't ever be opened again.
"One of the things many people have asked me is how I met this man because we don't run in the same circle. Well, I met him 3 years ago at Wheatbaker Restaurant in Ikoyi in December 2015 shortly after I moved to my home in Banana Island, Ikoyi. It was a day after Christmas and I was having dinner with friends when he walked in. He saw me and the rest is history. He claimed at the time that he had never heard of me which was seriously a turn-on for me because up until then I'd only been meeting men who behaved like fans. At the time we met, I was 35 and he was 37 and I'd been single for nearly 4 years. I was definitely searching and I fell in love almost immediately and so we became an item.
"At the time I met him he lived in a 3-bedroom flat at what used to be 5throundabout in Lekki after Mobil. I used to drive for almost two hours in traffic from my house to go see him. Most of the time, I carried my laptop to his home to enable me to work and at the same time spend the whole day with him.
"It was a whirlwind romance. He was the funniest and most romantic guy I'd met up until that point, so it was easy to fall in love and I truly believed the feeling was mutual. A few weeks after we met, it seemed like we were planning a future together. This man was already calling me Linda Ikeji Jeremi and making all these plans but then just like that, it was over between us. I went from waking up every morning to love text messages from him to no more calls. I was just thanking God for finally sending me my own man when all of a sudden we were no longer talking to each other.
"Later he would tell me what scared him off. My public life. He claims he's a private businessman and didn't want the attention being with me would bring to him and I told him I understood and we went our separate ways. We tried to get back together in 2016 but it didn't work out so much so we separated again but stayed in touch (mostly him to be honest), stayed friends and that was how our back and forth started.
"By mid-2017, we were both still single and we started seeing each other again quietly. There were times it was very intense and we talked about a future together, and there were times that I couldn't figure out what exactly I was doing with this guy. We were not suited for each other. Totally different lifestyles. And there was the problem of my fame. I walked away from this man a million times and he came after me a million and one times. No matter how much I pushed him away, he kept coming back and me, because I couldn't find anyone else, I kept going back. Lol. So I was basically going back to my ex because I couldn't find anyone else.
"Then I fell pregnant. It wasn't planned, it just happened; though we talked about having a child together just two months before I fell pregnant. He said something about putting a billionaire baby inside me and I remember jokingly telling him that I'm also a billionaire so our child was going to be a billionaire on both side…and we laughed. But after I fell pregnant, things became extremely weird between us. If I tried to explain what happened, I wouldn't be able to because it was confusing to me. We went from talking about the pregnancy and being okay with it; he even suggested I go to Dubai for my prenatals as he didn't trust doctors in Nigeria, to literally not talking to each other anymore. Around when I was about three months pregnant, he did come to see my parents and actually became very cool with my dad. They were literally exchanging Whatsapp messages every day. He later agreed to a traditional wedding which he didn't follow through and then he switched. He began to treat me with so much hate and aggression that I and my family had to cut him off completely.
"To be honest if anybody had told me when we met three years ago, considering how deeply we cared for each other that I would fall pregnant two years later and he would completely turn his back on me for most part of my pregnancy, I never would have believed it but that's what happened. I had to draw strength from myself, my family and close friends.
"And Jayce…oh my son Jayce, he was my biggest strength. It was almost as if he knew his dad was acting up so he came through for his mum. He was gentle with me when I was carrying him. I had an extremely easy pregnancy. I pushed him out under 3 mins and was in the labour room for less than 30 minutes. And then my snapback was amazing. Three weeks later, it was almost as if I'd never been pregnant. Jayce was my soldier when his dad turned his back.
"But still, I have absolutely no iota of regret meeting Sholaye. Gosh, have you seen Jayce? How can I regret that? God doesn't make mistakes. If you believe that you're always led by God like I believe then I have to believe that God led me to this man for whatever reasons best known to Him. I thought God sent him as my life partner but I guess He just used him as a vessel for my greatest blessing. Now his part in my story is over. I know when to put my hands up and surrender. That God brought someone significant into your life doesn't mean they are supposed to follow you throughout your life's journey. We should learn to know when people's part in our story is over. Don't fight for closure, don't ask for explanations, don't chase answers, just let them go and know that if God meant for you to have them in your life, He would have given them to you. Sometimes people just come to serve a purpose in your life and are not meant to stay and there's no point holding on to them. This one is done and dusted. It's just Jayce and
"I now moving forward and I know life will be beautiful for us.Being a single mum wasn't the dream I had for myself; I'd prayed for the kind of happy home my parents built for us (they've been together for 40 years). Nothing is more important to me than family. For years I'd hammered on how much I was looking forward to getting married, having children and building my own family and I believed God was going to come through for me on that one, but I have come to understand that we have no control over what life throws at us no matter how much we plan, pray, or work. And we also have no control over the actions of other people towards us. One of the things I have learnt in my life's journey is that your idea of how life should go might be different from the way life actually goes. It's called Life Happening. Sometimes it unfolds into something we never dreamed of but because we don't recognize the route we find ourselves on our journey through life, doesn't mean God won't get us to our destination. Remember, an uncertain chapter doesn't ruin the whole book. Life will happen whether we are ready or not. All we can do is keep our heads up and keep moving.
"Family and close friends told me I owed no one any explanation about the circumstances that led to the birth of my son, but I knew without writing this, I could never stand in front of the young girls who look up to me and talk to them again. I could never go on my secondary school tour and speak with these girls again about living right and doing right. I would always feel like I have no moral right to do so. I went to 15 secondary schools in 2017 and talking to those young impressionable girls has been one of the highlights of my life. I canceled this year's tour because I was pregnant and I haven't made any preparations for next year's tour because I wanted to set things right first.
"I have so many plans for young girls next year and in the coming years with the Self-made finance and mentorship projects with international collaborations, so this was important for me to do, to explain myself to the young girls who look up to me and feel disappointed that I got pregnant and had a baby out of wedlock. For years, I have preached decency, morality and uprightness and despite what happened to me, I mean it from the bottom of my heart. That should be the only way to live. That's the only way I live. Don't ever compromise your values. With this, I was led by my heart and my clock ticking and even though I have no regrets, I'm sorry if I let any of you ladies down by the decision I made, and I hope you learn from my experience. I hope you do better than I did. The ideal thing would be to find a man you love, who loves you back and gives you stability, get married, have kids and raise a family, not being a single mum or a baby mama. I was 37 years old at the time I conceived and if I want to be honest, my age played a role in me allowing myself to be pregnant out of wedlock. I don't want to be having kids in my 40s or struggling with fertility later in life. This wasn't the plan but like I said before, life happens. You just have to find a way to make the best of what life throws at you. And so for any young girl this means anything to, I am truly sorry.
I am not sorry I had Jayce, I'm just sorry I didn't go about it the right way.
"But you know, despite this crazy love experience, I still believe in love and I believe in happy endings and I can't wait to one day, God willing, have my fairytale ending. The father of my child is the only man I've given a chance to in 6 years. Lol. I swear. I'm not really a relationship kind of girl. I'm more a career girl. I can go for years without a man. I'm one of those women who don't need a man to validate their existence but biko, I've done the single life enough in the past…lol… going forward I'm looking forward to giving someone else a chance and try this love thing again. I was raised in a happy 2-parents' home and that's what I want for Jayce. So I hope I meet a great guy soon until then I'm enjoying motherhood. It rocks! Life has never been more beautiful!
"I'd also like to address a few other issues. Number one is this celibacy issue. So many people have trolled me over it and I'd like to correct the misunderstanding. I have never ever in my life said people shouldn't have sex before marriage. NEVER EVER have I said that. I have even argued with quite a few people that it is not feasible in this day and age. What I have always said and I maintain till today is; Do not ever sleep with men for money because any woman with a brain and determination can get her own money herself. And there's nothing sweeter than your own money. I am 38 years old and I recently bought an N100million+ car; what the heck do you need to be sleeping with a man for? For designer bags, first-class tickets and luxury holidays? GTFOH with sleeping with a man for rent money! You can give yourself all that and more if you apply yourself, fight for your dream and work your butt off. Men don't have the exclusive right to create wealth; women can also create wealth. Money is not male. Wealth is not male. Success is not male. We women just need to believe in ourselves more and get off our butts and stop relying on our looks and charm instead of our brain, mind, will, and our God-given talent/gift. We can be rich, we can be successful, we can break barriers, do what was formerly termed impossible, do what men can do, be CEOs of conglomerates and billionaires without ever having to lie on our backs. Please ladies, we are powerful beyond measure and can do anything and be anything we want to be.
"The other thing I've always said is; do not sleep around with multiple men who just use your body for their pleasure; that is; too many one nights stands, casual sex, many sex partners in a short period of time all in the name of relationships. Your body deserves better. I feel sex should only happen when you're in a loving, committed relationship with someone you love. I was celibate for many years until I met my son's father and fell in love. And instead of increasing my body count, I just went back to the same eggplant…lol. My mistake was I should have walked away when the relationship became a waste…lol… but then again, Jayce wouldn't be here today if I had. So really, there's nothing that I have preached that I didn't practice. So you guys stop trolling me over this abeg! Lol."


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"He was a terribly bad hobgoblin, a goblin of the very wickedest sort and, in fact, he was the devil himself. One day the devil was in a very good humor because he had just finished a mirror which had this peculiar power: everything good and beautiful that was reflected in it seemed to dwindle to almost nothing at all, while everything that was worthless and ugly became most conspicuous and even uglier than ever. In this mirror the loveliest landscapes looked like boiled spinach, and the very best people became hideous, or stood on their heads and had no stomachs. Their faces were distorted beyond any recognition, and if a person had a freckle it was sure to spread until it covered both nose and mouth.
"That's very funny!" said the devil. If a good, pious thought passed through anyone's mind, it showed in the mirror as a carnal grin, and the devil laughed aloud at his ingenious invention.
All those who went to the hobgoblin's school-for he had a school of his own-told everyone that a miracle had come to pass. Now, they asserted, for the very first time you could see how the world and its people really looked. They scurried about with the mirror until there was not a person alive nor a land on earth that had not been distorted.
Then they wanted to fly up to heaven itself, to scoff at the angels, and our Lord. The higher they flew with the mirror, the wider it grinned. They could hardly manage to hold it. Higher they flew, and higher still, nearer to heaven and the angels. Then the grinning mirror trembled with such violence that it slipped from their hands and fell to the earth, where it shattered into hundreds of millions of billions of bits, or perhaps even more. And now it caused more trouble than it did before it was broken, because some of the fragments were smaller than a grain of sand and these went flying throughout the wide world. Once they got in people's eyes they would stay there. These bits of glass distorted everything the people saw, and made them see only the bad side of things, for every little bit of glass kept the same power that the whole mirror had possessed.
A few people even got a glass splinter in their hearts, and that was a terrible thing, for it turned their hearts into lumps of ice. Some of the fragments were so large that they were used as window panes-but not the kind of window through which you should look at your friends. Other pieces were made into spectacles, and evil things came to pass when people put them on to see clearly and to see justice done. The fiend was so tickled by it all that he laughed till his sides were sore. But fine bits of the glass are still flying through the air, and now you shall hear what happened..."
- Hans Christian Andersen The Snow Queen (1844) Trans. Jean Hersholt (1949)
On its own, this section is a great source of cursed items for D&D - Spectacles of Change Alignment, Glass Swords and background motivations for NPCs - evil enchanters seeking great chunks of glass to craft items from. It also introduces a nice mischievous goblin king / devil with a penchant for crafting malicious objects, whose sole motivation is his own amusement at the expense of others - a nice unpredictable amoral villain.
Although the origins of the meme are probably from an earlier tale (though none spring to mind), the splinter working its way into the heart is not a million miles away from Frodos encounter with the Morgul-knife at Weathertop in J.R.R. Tolkiens Lord of the Rings. Indeed there is much in Tolkien transforming ideas from fairy tales, so much so that it's hard not to hear him chuckling to himself making these in-jokes reading his work.
As a side note: the obvious use of religious imagery when compared with the translation at Gutenburg.
Narcissus / Nemisis
Going to leave this one in the incubator for awhile but it will be woven into the background, in fact a reworked version might become a central myth of the denizens of The Realm.


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IT Jobs in the USA – May 26, 2015
Our IT Job Newsletter lists IT job opportunities for developers, engineers, and management.
We are sending you this newsletter on a monthly basis to keep you informed of our current jobs.
Life Search Technologies excels in placing Information Technology professionals. Our specialized skills database of candidates and clients allows us to thoroughly identify, attract and deliver the best opportunities and talent available.
We have a seasoned team of IT Specialists. We are here to help you. Our team can be reached at 410-785-6313.
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We will …
• Conduct a


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"HELP" Sight Words Cut and Paste Preschool Activity
Preschool sight words are basic words that children have to learn at preschool. You can download the worksheets related to the sight words coloring, tracing, and cut and paste activity for The main purpose of these studies is to support a school or home activities for children between the age of 3 and 6.
The following tracing activity is helpful for children to develop their basic skills. Small motor muscles, the ability to use a pencil, increase assessment skills are a few of them.
If you want to check out more events in the areas of alphabet and tracing activity, you can find more events in the area of language arts here. If you want to reach the content organized in an easier way, you can reach it from the menu.
Alphabet tracing worksheets, printables, preschool activities, kindergarten practice for alphabets, letter tracing, kids alphabets worksheets, kindergarten worksheets, toddlers tracing activities, free worksheets


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National Joint Council of Action
4, State Entry Road New Delhi – 110055
No. NJCA/2016 Dated: July 1, 2016
Dear Comrade!
We are to inform you that the NJCA had a discussion with the Government of India yesterday, i.e.30.06.2016 over certain demands contained in our Charter of Demands. In the meeting, following ministers were present: -
Shri Rajnath Singh, Hon'ble Home Minster
Shri Arun Jaitley, Hon'ble Finance Minister
Shri Suresh Prabhakar Prabhu, Hon'ble Railway Minister
Shri Manoj Sinha, Hon'ble MoS Railway
On behalf of the NJCA, the following participated in the discussion: -
Shri Shiva Gopal Mishra, Convener NJCA (AIRF)
Shri M. Raghavaiah, Chairman NJCA (NFIR)
Shri K. K. N, Kutty Member NJCA (Confederation)
Shri C. Srikumar, Member NJCA (AIDEF)
The government has proposed to refer the issue of Minimum Wage and Fitment Formula to a Committee for reconsideration.
The NJCA will await communication in the regard from the government.
The NJCA will again meet on 6th July at 11:00 hrs., in JCM Office, 13-C, Feorzshah Road, New Delhi, for taking appropriate decision.
With Fraternal Greetings!
(Shiv Gopal Mishra)


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Fifth Third Bank Launches Fifth Third Wealth Advisors®
Registered Investment Advisor Targets Seasoned, Client-Centered Advisor Teams with Books of Business that Exceed $1B
CINCINNATI, 11/3/2022 —Fifth Third Bank, National Association, today announced the launch of an independent Registered Investment Advisor, Fifth Third Wealth Advisors. Fifth Third Wealth Advisors provides advisory teams with a customizable and flexible investment platform, technology and operational support, as well as a physical office location.
"Fifth Third Wealth Advisors offers advisors the freedom to operate entrepreneurially and independently," said Kristine Garrett, group regional president and head of wealth and asset management, Fifth Third Bank. "Advisors remain at the center of their client relationships while drawing on the depth and breadth of resources of Fifth Third Bank."
Leading Fifth Third Wealth Advisors is Eric Housman, a 34-year financial services veteran with more than a decade of experience at Fifth Third Bank. He was managing director of Fifth Third Private Bank's MidAtlantic Region before assuming his current position as president of Fifth Third Wealth Advisors.
"We offer what we consider a new hybrid model," said Housman. "Our advisor teams have the opportunity to take advantage of our flexible investment management platform while also providing access to additional services such as trust powers, credit and planning through Fifth Third Bank. We feel this creates an opportunity for a more complete, balance sheet approach for our advisory teams and their clients. We have coupled this model with a robust technology stack and Fidelity Investments as our custodian. We believe we offer the look, feel and nimbleness of an independent boutique backed by a top-performing regional bank."
Fifth Third Wealth Advisors seeks to add advisors across the country with books of business that exceed $1 billion and currently has advisor teams in the following areas:
- South Florida: Naples
- Central Illinois: Springfield
- Metro Atlanta
- Northern California: San Francisco/Fresno/Reno, NV
Housman says that complete back-office support and dedicated onboarding resources aims to provide advisors with a seamless transition. "We give our teams more time to focus on clients and deepening client relationships," he added.
Learn more about Fifth Third Wealth Advisors at FTWA.com
About Fifth Third
Fifth Third is a bank that's as long on innovation as it is on history. Since 1858, we've been helping individuals, families, businesses and communities grow through smart financial services that improve lives. Our list of firsts is extensive, and it's one that continues to expand as we explore the intersection of tech-driven innovation, dedicated people and focused community impact. Fifth Third is one of the few U.S.-based banks to have been named among Ethisphere's World's Most Ethical Companies® for several years. With a commitment to taking care of our customers, employees, communities and shareholders, our goal is not only to be the nation's highest performing regional bank, but to be the bank people most value and trust.
Fifth Third Bank, National Association is a federally chartered institution. Fifth Third Bancorp is the indirect parent company of Fifth Third Bank and its common stock is traded on the NASDAQ® Global Select Market under the symbol "FITB." Investor information and press releases can be viewed at www.53.com.
About Fifth Third Wealth Advisors
Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC is an investment adviser registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940. Registration as an investment adviser does not imply any level of skill or training. Additional information about Fifth Third Wealth Advisors LLC is available on the SEC's website at www.adviserinfo.sec.gov.
SOURCE: Fifth Third Bank


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Life has been very busy recently in March. I haven't had much time to do much of anything. Because I needed to PLAY a little bit as a break from work and play with something that didn't take much time….
I have been playing with water soluble pencils. I love, love, love these new tools. So much pigment…such great colors. I bought them because I was going to be taking some online journaling classes and thought I might want them for the classes, plus my curiosity was piqued about them. I have used the water soluble crayons before, but these are a little different.
I have a 5.5″ x 8″ visual journal with 140 lb. watercolor paper. I decided to do color washes using the pencils on some of the pages as a warm up exercise of play. On some of them I doodled in ink, on some I tested stencils. Most likely none of these are finished, but will have more added to them over time.
The next one is a blind drawing done with charcoal, then it was wetted. After that I tried various pens and water soluble pencils.
More new tools…a water soluble charcoal pencil and a water brush. The brush has a barrel to hold water in it. So when you use water soluble pencils, crayons or charcoal, you just squeeze a little bit of water down to the brush tip and voila! you can paint!


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Pollination is part of sexual reproduction in plants. It describes how the pollen grains get to the female parts of a plant. Pollen grains, which contain the male gametes, need to get to where the female gamete(s) are.
What happens is basically the same as sexual reproduction in animals. Each pollen grain is haploid: it has half of the DNA (genetic information) that is needed to make a new plant. During fertilization this combines with the DNA that is in the egg of the female part and a zygote is formed. In seed plants a seed is started.
Ways of pollinating
[change | change source]In flowering plants, pollen has to get from one flower to another.[1] There are two main ways that this can happen: by non-living things like wind or water, or by living things such as insects or birds.
Maize and the wind
[change | change source]Maize (called corn in some parts of the world) is pollinated by wind. The male anthers let go of their pollen and it blows over to a nearby female flower on another corn plant. Most of the flowers are either male or female on a corn plant (monoecious), rather than both sexes in one flower (hermaphrodite).
Maize flowers have evolved (changed over time) to use wind for pollination. They do not need pretty petals. The pollen is light so it can blow around, and the ends of the female parts (stigma) are fluffy to catch all the tiny pollen grains.
Tomatoes and bees
[change | change source]With tomato plants, bees move the pollen from the male parts of one flower (anthers), to the female parts of another flower (stigma). The bee moves between flowers as it collects the nectar that the flowers make. The bees take the nectar and some pollen back to their hive, and the tomato plants get to reproduce (make new tomato plants).
Because the tomato flowers have evolved to attract bees, they have spread-out petals and are white to human eyes (bees, like most insects, can see into the ultraviolet range as well as our visual range of wavelengths). The pollen is often stuck together in clumps called pollinia, which in turn get stuck to the bee. Bees are extremely hairy, and carry tiny electric charges which attract the pollen onto their bodies. Honey bees have special pollen baskets, usually on their rear legs; they groom the pollen off their bodies into these pockets.
Much of the pollen gets taken back to the nest or hive, where it is used as a source of protein, most needed by the larvae. Some gets rubbed off on the next flower, where the female stigma is sticky. A pollen tube grows down to permit the male gamete to fertilize an egg and make a seed.
90% of flowering plants are pollinated by animals, and only 10% use abiotic (non-living) pollination. Of these abiotic pollinations, 98% is done by wind and just 2% by water.[2]
What happens after pollination
[change | change source]What happens after pollination is fertilisation. In plants it is a double fertilisation in which two sperm cells fertilize cells in the plant ovary. One of these is a normal fertilisation, which produces the embryo. The other is a unique kind of fertilisation which produces the seed endosperm.
The process begins when a pollen grain sticks to the stigma of the pistil (female reproductive structure). Then it germinates, and grows a long pollen tube. While this pollen tube is growing, a haploid cell travels down the tube behind the tube nucleus. This cell divides by mitosis into two haploid sperm cells.
As the pollen tube grows, it makes its way from the stigma, down the style and into the ovary. Here the pollen tube reaches the ovule and releases its contents (which include the sperm cells). One sperm makes its way to fertilize the egg cell, producing a diploid (2n) zygote. The second sperm cell fuses with two cell nuclei, producing a triploid (3n) cell.
As the zygote develops into an embryo, the triploid cell develops into the endosperm, which serves as the embryo's food supply. The ovary now will develop into a fruit and the ovule will develop into a seed.
[change | change source]There is evidence that some gymnosperms were insect-pollinated in the Triassic period, but pollination by animals is not the main method in this group. Most are wind-pollinated. Some gymnosperms and their insect pollinators are co-evolved for pollination. The best-known examples are members of the order Cycadales and their associated species of beetle.
Families of flowering plants
[change | change source]Really widespread and specialised animal pollination came with the Angiosperms (flowering plants). Different families of flowering plants usually specialise in a particular pollination method. Sometimes a few genera shift from one method to another.[3]p53
- Ranunculaceae: pollinated by insects. Only one genus is pollinated by wind.
- Compositae (Asteraceae): this, the largest family, is almost entirely pollinated by insects. Two groups of genera have changed to wind pollination.
- Cyperaceae: almost entirely wind-pollinated. One genus is insect-pollinated.
- Moraceae: this, the mulberry family, is the best example of a widespread change from wind to insect pollination. All its related families (Ulmaceae, Cannabaceae, Urticaceae) are wind pollinated.
- Gramineae (Poaceae): the grasses have extreme adaptations for wind pollination. Only two genera have changed to insect pollination.
Pollination syndrome
[change | change source]Pollination syndrome is the set of adaptive traits which help flowers to get pollinated.
Wind pollination
[change | change source]Wind pollinated flowers are usually small and inconspicuous (not showy). They do not have a scent or produce nectar. The anthers may produce a large number of pollen grains, while the stamens are generally long and stick up out of the flower. Their stigmas may be large and feathery to catch the pollen grains. Insects may visit them to collect pollen; there are some examples of flowers which are both wind and insect pollinated.
Animal pollination
[change | change source]- Beetle pollination
Beetle-pollinated flowers are usually large, greenish or off-white in color and heavily scented. Scents may be spicy, fruity, or similar to decaying organic material. Most beetle-pollinated flowers are flattened or dish shaped, with pollen easy to get at. They may have traps to keep the beetle longer. The plant's ovaries are usually well protected from the biting mouthparts of the beetles.[4] Beetles are important pollinators in some parts of the world, such as dry areas of southern Africa and southern California,[5] and the montane grasslands of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa.[6]
- Fly pollination
Some flies feed on nectar and pollen as adults (particularly bee flies and hoverflies). The flowers they visit often have a strong scent, and tend to be purple, violet, blue, and white.[7]
On the other hand, male fruit flies are attracted to some wild orchids which do not produce nectar. Instead, they produce a precursor of the fly's sex pheromone.[8][9] Flies which normally visit dead animals or dung are attracted to flowers that mimic these smelly items. They get no reward and would quickly leave, but the plant may have traps to slow them down. These plants have a strong, unpleasant odor, and are brown or orange in colour.[10]
Their sheer numbers and the presence of some flies throughout the year make them important pollinators for many plants.[4] Flies tend to be important pollinators in high-altitudes and high-latitudes where they are numerous, and other insect groups may be lacking.[11]
- Bee pollination
Bee-pollinated flowers tend to be yellow or blue, often with ultraviolet nectar guides and scent. Nectar and/or pollen are offered as rewards in varying amounts. The sugar in the nectar tends to be mostly sucrose. There are different types of bees which differ in size, tongue length and behaviour (some solitary, some colonial).[12] Some plants can only be pollinated by bees because their anthers release pollen internally, and it must be shaken out by buzzing ("sonication"). Bumblebees are the only animals that do this.
Bee pollination from mobile beehives is of great economic value for orchards such as apple or almond.
- Wasp pollination
Wasps are also responsible for the pollination of several plants species, being important pollen vectors and, in some cases, even more efficient pollinators than bees.[13]
- Lepidoptera pollination
Butterfly-pollinated flowers tend to be large and showy, pink or lavender in colour, often have a landing area, and are usually scented. Since butterflies do not digest pollen (with one exception), more nectar is offered than pollen. The flowers have simple nectar guides with the nectaries usually hidden in narrow tubes or spurs, reached by the long tongue of the butterflies.
Among the more important moth pollinators are the hawk moths (Sphingidae). Their behaviour is similar to hummingbirds: they hover in front of flowers with rapid wingbeats. Most are nocturnal or twilight feeders. So moth-pollinated flowers tend to be white, night-opening, large and showy with tubular corollas and a strong, sweet scent produced in the evening, night or early morning. A lot of nectar is produced to fuel the high metabolic rates needed to power their flight.
Other moths fly slowly and settle on the flower. They do not need as much nectar as the fast-flying hawk moths, and the flowers tend to be small (though they may be aggregated in heads).[14]
- Bird pollination
Hummingbirds are the most familiar nectar-feeding birds for North Americans, there are analogous species in other parts of the world.[15][15] Flowers attractive to hummingbirds, which hover in front of the flower, tend to be large red or orange tubes with a lot of dilute nectar produced during the day. Since birds do not have a strong response to scent, they tend to be odourless. Perching birds need a substantial landing platform, so sunbirds, honeyeaters, and the like are less associated with tubular flowers.
- Bat pollination
Bat-pollinated flowers tend to be large and showy, white or light coloured, open at night and have strong odours. They are often large and bell-shaped. Bats drink the nectar, and these plants typically offer nectar for long periods. Sight, smell, and echo-location are used to initially find the flowers, and excellent spatial memory is used to visit them repeatedly.[16] In fact, bats can identify nectar-producing flowers using echolocation.[16][17] Bat-pollinated plants have bigger pollen than their relatives.[18]
Honey guides
[change | change source]Honey guides, nectar guides or floral guides are markings on flowers which tell insects where to go for nectar (many insects can see in the ultraviolet range). Most of these guides are invisible to humans unless seen in ultraviolet light. The benefit to the plant is that the guides increase the supply of pollinators at a relatively low cost.
[change | change source]A full understanding of pollination is quite recent.
In 1672 Nehemiah Grew had some idea that pollen was the means of fertilisation in higher plants.[19] Using a microscope, he was the first to describe pollen in detail. This led to the discovery that all pollen grains in a species were alike.[20] The study of pollen grains is called palynology. It is much used in micropaleontology. Sex in plants was discovered in 1694, when Rudolf Camerarius put his discovery into a letter.[21]
In 1793 Christian Sprengel (1750–1816) published a work on the pollination of flowers by insects which made all the main points.[22] Unfortunately, "his work was so far outside the standard thinking and interests of the period that it was almost completely ignored".[23][24]
Two lines of work solved the main issues. One was done by studies of how the pollen cells worked to fertilise the ovum,[25] and the other was to recognise the coevolution of the animal pollinators and the flowering plants.[26][27] Both these lines of work became essentially 'modern' in the middle of the nineteenth century.[28][29][30]
[change | change source]- ↑ There are plants which are self-pollinated; and some which have no longer use sexual reproduction.
- ↑ US Forest Department, Pollinator Factsheet
- ↑ Stebbins, G. Ledyard 1974. Flowering plants: evolution above the species level. Harvard University Press. ISBN 0-674-30685-6
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 P.J. Gullan and P.S. Cranston 2005. The Insects: an outline of entomology. Blackwell, Oxford, 282. ISBN 1-4051-1113-5.
- ↑ Jones, GD and SD Jones 2001. The uses of pollen and its implication for Entomology. Neotropical Entomology 30 (3): 314–349. doi:10.1590/S1519-566X2001000300001
- ↑ Ollerton J. et al 2003. The pollination ecology of an assemblage of grassland asclepiads in South Africa. Annals of Botany 92: 807-834
- ↑ Kastinger C, and A Weber (2001). "Bee-flies (Bombylius spp., Bombyliidae, Diptera) and the pollination of flowers". Flora. 196 (1): 3–25. doi:10.1016/S0367-2530(17)30015-4.
- ↑ Tan, KH and R Nishida (2000). "Mutual reproductive benefits between a wild orchid, Bulbophyllum patens, and Bactrocera fruit flies via a floral synomone". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 26 (2): 533–546. doi:10.1023/A:1005477926244. S2CID 24971928.
- ↑ Tan, KH, LT Tan and R Nishida (2006). "Floral phenylpropanoid cocktail and architecture of Bulbophyllum vinaceum orchid in attracting fruit flies for pollination". Journal of Chemical Ecology. 32 (11): 2429–2441. doi:10.1007/s10886-006-9154-4. PMID 17082990. S2CID 15812115.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Jones, GD and SD Jones (2001). "The uses of pollen and its implication for Entomology". Neotropical Entomology. 30 (3): 314–349. doi:10.1590/S1519-566X2001000300001.
- ↑ Larson BMH, PG Kevan, and DW Inouye (2001). "Flies and flowers: taxonomic diversity of anthophiles and pollinators". Canadian Entomologist. 133 (4): 439–465. doi:10.4039/Ent133439-4. S2CID 55767580.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Fenster C.B.; et al. (2004). "Pollination syndromes and floral specialization". Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics. 35 (1): 375–403. doi:10.1146/annurev.ecolsys.34.011802.132347.
- ↑ Sühs, R.B. et al 2009. Pollen vector wasps (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) of Schinus terebinthifolius Raddi (Anacardiaceae), Santa Cruz do Sul, RS, Brazil. Brazilian Journal of Biosciences 7, 2, 138-143. [1] Archived 2012-01-17 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Oliveira PE, PE Gibbs, and AA Barbosa (2004). "Moth pollination of woody species in the Cerrados of Central Brazil: a case of so much owed to so few?". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 245 (1–2): 41–54. doi:10.1007/s00606-003-0120-0. S2CID 21936259.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ 15.0 15.1 Lotz, CN and JE Schondube (2006). "Sugar preferences in nectar- and fruit-eating birds: behavioral patterns and physiological causes". Biotropica. 38 (1): 3–15. doi:10.1111/j.1744-7429.2006.00104.x. S2CID 52838880.
- ↑ 16.0 16.1 Von Helversen D, MW Holderied, and O Von Helversen (2003). "Echoes of bat-pollinated bell-shaped flowers: conspicuous for nectar-feeding bats?" (abstract page). Journal of Experimental Biology. 206 (6): 1025–1034. doi:10.1242/jeb.00203. PMID 12582145. S2CID 21891529.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Pettersson S, F Ervik, and JT Knudsen (2004). "Floral scent of bat-pollinated species: West Africa vs. the New World". Biological Journal of the Linnean Society. 82 (2): 161–168. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8312.2004.00317.x.
{{cite journal}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Stroo, A. (2000). "Pollen morphological evolution in bat pollinated plants". Plant Systematics and Evolution. 222 (1–4): 225–242. doi:10.1007/BF00984104. S2CID 42391364.
- ↑ Grew, Nehemiah 1672. Anatomy of plants. London.
- ↑ Manten, A.A. (1967). "Lennart von post and the foundation of modern palynology". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 1 (1–4): 11–22. doi:10.1016/0034-6667(67)90105-4. hdl:1874/15873. S2CID 53000751.
- ↑ Evaluation in Sachs, Julius 1890. History of Botany (1530–1860) Oxford University Press, 359–444.
- ↑ Sprenglel C.K. 1793. Das neu entdeckte Geheimniss der Natur in Bau und Befructung der Blumen. Berlin.
- ↑ Mayr, Ernst 1982. The growth of biological thought: diversity, evolution and thought. Harvard University Press, 659.
- ↑ Sachs, Julius von 1890. History of botany 1530–1860. transl. H.E.F. Garnsey; revised by I.B. Balfour. Oxford University Press, 415.
- ↑ Hughes A. 1959. A history of cytology. London & New York: Abelard-Schuman, 59–60
- ↑ Darwin Charles 1859. The origin of species. Murray, London, 98.
- ↑ Darwin Charles 1862. On the various contrivances by which British and foreign orchids are fertilised by insects. Murray, London
- ↑ Darwin, Charles 1876. The effects of cross and self fertilisation in the vegetable kingdom. London: Murray.
- ↑ Darwin, Charles 1877. The different forms of flowers on plants of the same species. London: Murray.
- ↑ Knuth, Paul et al 1906. Handbook of flower pollination, based upon Hermann Müller's work 'The fertilisation of flowers by insects'. Oxford University Press.


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After our remake of Road Fighter in 2003 we decided was time to remake another racing game. This time we chose for Konami's MSX1 classic F1-Spirit! In only three months of development time, the game had to be finished. When you read this, the competition has already ended. Out of 73 submitted entries, we finished at the 13th place. Of course you can read what the judges had to say about our remake.
If you have any problems, questions or suggestions about F-1 Spirit, feel free to join us at the Braingames forums, or even better, at the F-1 Spirit forum. The forum is the place where you can find the latest developments, send us your contributions, send us fanmail or for just a friendly chat. You're welcome to join us!
We decided it was time to get active again (more or less) and do some work! Here's the new stuff:
After participating in the Retro Remakes competition in 2003 with our Road Fighter remake (which finished 7th out of 83 entries), we decided to give the 2004 competition a shot as well. Apparently we like racing games a lot, so after some voting we chose to remake the Konami MSX1 classic F-1 Spirit.
After 3 months of hard work and barely making both the deadline and file size limit, our contribution to the competition was ready. When finally the judges reviewed all games and passed their judgements, we ended at the 13th place out of the in total 73 entries.
But... because we finished the remake in a hurry we're not fully satisfied with the current state of the remake. That's why we are still working on it (sometimes), adding more features like graphical effects, more and better music and graphics, and maybe even network play in the future. So... no, the project isn't entirely dead and finished yet! Nontheless the remake is fully playable already.
The remake has the following improvements over the original:
Here you can see some screenshots of the game in action. There's more information on the about page.
The F-1 Spirit remake is available for Windows, Mac OS X and Linux computers. We provide binary versions for both Windows and OSX, for Ubuntu/Debian you can download a .deb file. For Linux or other OSes you can find the source code for the game in the last download.
You can download the remake from our primary server or our mirror. File size is about 18MB. Also try the nightly SVN exports for the most current version.
F-1 Spirit is a racing game. You will race with many different types of cars. Everything starts with stock cars, moving up to rally cars and Formula 3. The main goal is to finish at first place with Formula 1, the king class of racing. There are 6 types of races:
Initially, you can only race in the stock, rally and F3 races. As you win races, you will accumulate points that will allow you to play new races. If you finish a race at first place you will receive 9 points, you get 8 points if you finish second, etc. If you finish 10th or later, you will not score any points.
There are 16 different tracks for F1 cars. As you win races, you will be able to play more tracks in the F1 car category. To complete the game, you have to win all of the 16 F1 tracks. There's a grand total of 21 tracks. The first races are the easiest: the cars are slow and the enemies do not drive very well. But as you classify for new tracks the difficulty will increase: F1 cars are insanely fast! You will need a great agility to win in F1 tracks. Even though they look impossible to control at first, with some practice you can master the Formula 1 cars and win races. And if that's not enough, you can always show off your skills in multi player mode.
During a race, you can bump into other cars and into the side boards and other obstacles. This will damage your car. In every track, there is a pit lane (labeled with the letters "PIT") where you can fuel up and repair your car.
These are the default controls of the game. They can be redefined in the options menu.
Key | Action | Info |
Cursor up | Shift up | Manual transmission only |
Cursor down | Shift down | Manual transmission only |
Cursor left | Steer to the left | |
Cursor right | Steer to the right | |
Space | Accelerate | |
M | Brake | |
F-1 | Pause | |
F10 or 9 | Select graphics set | |
ESC | Back to previous screen | |
ALT+ENTER | Switch between full-screen and window mode | For Windows and Linux |
Apple key+F | Switch between full-screen and window mode | Only for Mac OS X |
F12 | Quit | For Windows and Linux |
Apple key+Q | Quit | Only for Mac OS X |
Here are some tips that will make you enjoy the game more:
Here you can see the hiscores of the best players of F-1 Spirit. Join the race and submit your own scores!
The game was made from 2004 onwards by the following people:


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Wallpaper* Handmade, the must-see exhibition during Milan's Salone del Mobile, makes its London debut today at Harrods with a spectacular 'best of presentation' and five unique new pieces produced in collaboration with Jaguar. To celebrate the occasion, Jaguar Advanced Design presented the stunning C-X17 concept vehicle for the first time in the UK, positioned outside the luxury Knightsbridge store and alongside two other exciting Jaguar design concepts; the C-X75 hybrid hypercar and Jaguar heritage-inspired Project 7 sports car.
Over 50 Wallpaper* Handmade pieces, produced by the likes of Hermès, Alfredo Häberli, Harry Winston, Konstantin Grcic, Isay Weinfeld, Paul Cocksedge, Michael Anastassiades, the late David Collins, Barber Osgerby, Brioni, Naoto Fukasawa, Louis Vuitton, Sam Hecht and Poltrona Frau to name but a few, will be on display across 12 windows in the iconic Harrods store.
They will be joined by five new concept products*** which explore Jaguar's design language and advanced technology, by Moritz Waldemeyer, Neri & Hu, Mathieu Gustafsson, Fredrikson Stallard and Salvatori & Jaguar Advanced Design.
Julian Thomson, Jaguar Advanced Design director said: "This partnership with Wallpaper* is very exciting and it is a great opportunity to apply Jaguar design philosophy in new forms and to inspire a culturally diverse audience.
"We have seen our concept cars excite audiences worldwide this year. I am delighted that the UK debut of C-X17 is part of this event and we are able to show another surprising and inspiring side of the modern Jaguar brand to people in London today."
Tony Chambers, Wallpaper* Editor-in-Chief commented: "Our Handmade project is testimony to the power of good design, great ideas, creative collaboration and quality production. We are delighted to bring some of the best pieces from our annual celebration of art, craft, skill and vision to London – with the best British partners one could wish for: Harrods and Jaguar."
Mark Briggs, Harrods store image director said: 'As world leaders in style, design and technology, we are delighted to be working with Wallpaper* and Jaguar to bring the Handmade exhibition from Milan to London for the first time. The world-renowned Harrods windows will present this year's shortlisted designers in the perfect luxury space, for all to see.'
Wallpaper* Handmade with Jaguar runs from 4 October until 22 October at Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Rd, Knightsbridge, London SW1X 7XL.


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Ambassador Stevens could not be reached for comment |
This is a woman who lied her ass off about the Benghazi nightmare, and then went on to be instrumental in the "outing" of individuals who were caught up in the illegal surveillance of people surrounding Donald Trump. She doesn't even deserve a first class prison cell, let alone a high-paying job in which she can inject more of her lies into the nation's bloodstream.
We like Netflix, subscribe to Netflix and, thanks to a fortunate stock purchase, have Netflix to thank for the best part of our retirement funds.
But if they're going to keep up this nonsense, we'll have no problem dumping their service and sticking with the programming on Amazon Prime. Unless, of course, Amazon hires Hillary.
In a surprise announcement (to put it mildly), Pope Francis is alleged to have declared to a journalist that "there is no Hell," and that sinful souls actually just disappear. Perhaps with their soulful feet embedded in a wash tub of cement which is dropped to the bottom of the river Styx.
We should note that the Pope didn't say that last part, although we feel pretty solidly that it's implied.
The Vatican has subsequently released a statement suggesting that the Pope's remarks may have been misconstrued, as an official lack of eternal punishment in Hell might lead some folks (Progressives, for instance) to more fully indulge in their numerous bad habits.
Our take on this is that the Pope is simply aware that Easter and April Fool's Day fall on the same day this year (for the first time in 847 years), and he's making the most of it with a gag which people will have all eternity to laugh about...or regret.
In any case, we wish a sincere Happy Easter to the faithful among us...and encourage others not to use the Pope's pronouncement as an excuse to cause more Hell on Earth.