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One of the big reasons I wanted to start this blog was to share my health and fitness journey. I think that term "journey" can get overused these days and feel a little cliche, but there really isn't a better way to describe it. It has definitely been a journey for me. One that I have been on for years, and will be on for the rest of my life. The reason I am so passionate about sharing this part of my life isn't because I am totally confident in where I am, and it surely isn't because I am proud of where I have been. My struggle with weight and body-image has been the biggest struggle of my life, and has plagued me since I was quite young. It is a difficulty I don't think you can fully understand unless you have experienced it, but you might be able to relate with a similar struggle in your life. The reason I am passionate about sharing this part of my life is because not only am I incredibly thankful that God has released me from these chains and for the growth he has done in my life in this area, but also because I pray I am able to help others who have been where I have been. Throughout my years of struggle, I was encouraged and inspired by people I am sure were not comfortable sharing their story, but because they decided to do so anyway they were able to be a light to me (and I am sure many others).
I always thought I struggled (it was all in my head) with my weight growing up. I remember from the youngest of age always thinking I was the "fat" girl in my group of friends. It didn't help that I started physically developing at a young age, and by the 2nd grade was wearing a bra. I remember always looking at my legs as I sat in my seat at school thinking how wide my thighs looked as they spread out on the chair. Looking back, I wish I could go back and shake myself to not be insane. While I wasn't one of those super skinny twig kids, I was far from "fat". I was actually a healthy and athletic child. I was always outside and active, I was never a "girly" girl and if I wasn't in the library reading I was out playing sports with the boys. Unfortunately, all through this time I never saw myself as healthy or athletic, I saw myself as fat and ugly. I am not sure how I developed such a poor self image at such a young age, but it set me up for a lifetime of struggle that I didn't even realize was coming my way.
I continued to be in this vicious cycle my entire childhood and adolescence. Viewing myself as this fat ugly girl, and comparing myself to everyone around me. I would intentionally find a way to get out of picture day at school, and there are very few photos of me during this time because I would avoid cameras at all costs. I wasn't ever the naturally skinny or pretty girl, and while I never had anyone call me fat directly, I would get backhanded comments from people that were just enough to fuel my dislike of myself. To put this all in perspective, throughout this time I never was above 120 lbs or a size six pant. So while I wasn't a size zero, I was far from this huge (I literally looked in the mirror and saw a HUGE reflection) person I saw myself as. Unfortunately around the time I hit 16, the years of mental destruction combined with a changing body began to add up, and the fat person I always viewed myself as began to become a reality.
In my mid to late teens I began to actually put on weight. Ironically, because my body image had always been so skewed, I didn't even realize I was now beginning to gain actual weight, because I just continued thinking the same things about myself. I am not sure of the exact reasons I began to gain weight, I am sure it was a little bit of a combination of everything. Not having a healthy relationship with myself or food, "eating" my emotions, and facing some other physical issues as well all combined to make the perfect recipe for developing an unhealthy body.
Throughout the next 10 years my weight would yo-yo. I have learned my body is incredibly emotionally reactive, and anytime I am going through an emotionally difficult situation it is instantly recognizable on my waistline. My body began to feel like I was getting house points in Harry Potter. Stressed out? +5 pounds. Relationship issues? Lets gain 70. Sad? How about 10 more!
Once I found an authentic relationship with Jesus everything began to change. It wasn't immediate, and it has continued to be a process that has peaks and valleys, but the Lord has been incredibly faithful in helping me along this journey. In breaking my old chains and mindsets that were so painful and destructive. In showing me who I really am, and where my value lies.
The most dramatic difference has been in the past year. Last year, January 26th to be exact, I decided enough was enough and I couldn't let myself continue to be so controlled by something such as my weight. I think I will always remember that day, because it was just the most sudden and dramatic shift in my mindset. I was ready to be free from the hurt that came along with my weight. The years of not feeling good enough. Of being afraid to go to public events. Being afraid of people seeing me. I was sick of hating shopping, hating clothes, hating pictures. I have over a decade of years from my life where there are virtually no photos of me. I don't have many photos of myself during all these years of change because I didn't allow photos to be taken of me. And while I still don't particularly love photos, one day while looking through old photos of my mom at different ages, I realized my kids will never know what their mom looked like as a teen and twenty year old because I didn't allow pictures to take place due to something so silly as my weight. That was a big wake up call because I know how much I enjoy looking through old photos of other people, and yet my insecurity robbed my own family of being able to do that with a giant chunk of my life.
This journey is far from over for me. I am about half-way to where I want to be, and there are still struggles. While my general mindset is dramatically improved, I still have bad days and I am by no means doing this perfectly. But my outlook on myself, food, health, and fitness is so totally different. I now know I was made by God exactly as he wanted me, and that my worth is in him. I don't look for acceptance through my body, but instead for growth in my mind and heart. I love food, but not for stuffing my emotions, but for using it to fuel my body so it performs its best. I am fascinated by learning about health and what that means. I don't look at exercise as a chore or something that is miserable, but it has become something I truly love and can't wait to do every single day. I love seeing how far I can push myself.
This post was a little lengthy, but I hope to make health and fitness a regular feature on the blog and I wanted to give you a general idea of where I've been. I want to share my journey as I continue to improve myself. I want to share the lessons I've learned, and the knowledge I've gathered. Discovering how to live a truly healthy life is something I have become incredibly passionate about, and something I hope I can one day use to help and inspire other people the way others have helped and inspired me.


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North American distribution will be under new entity, Solcon Solutions Monroeville, Pa.-based Premier Automation has partnered with Solcon Industries to form Solcon Solutions. Electrical Apparatus spoke with Walter Dollard, managing partner of Premier Automation, on the partnership, which developed through the companies' past experience together. "Solcon was looking to have more of a partnership with someone in the […]Continue reading
Tag Archives: soft starter

subset: commoncrawl


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The origins of the Cowboy Boot are well researched and started life as riding boots for the marauding Mongol tribesmen. Horsemen wore red wooden heels and conquered all before them. The fashion caught on and was popular for centuries among nobility and horse riders. Louis XIV wore only red heels as a tribute to Genghis Khan and banned all other men in his court from sporting the red heel.
English Cavaliers took the style to extraordinary lengths wearing thigh high riding boots with Cuban heels. Once defeated by Oliver Cromwell, the Cavalier Stuarts immigrated in their droves to the New World. They took with them their boots and many settled in the southern states forming the plantation class. After the Civil War (1861-65) many southerners migrated west to Texas taking with them their noble footwear. Standard cavalry issue during the American Civil War was the Wellington boot.
In 1815, Arthur Wellesley, First Duke of Wellington, defeated Napoleon Bonaparte at the Battle of Waterloo (1815). The popular victor became a national icon and both men and women emulated his sartorial style by adopting his footwear. To make the boots easier to mass produce the modern Wellington had a low cut heel which was calf high and not thigh high.
Unfortunately, during the American Civil War (1861-1865) unscrupulous contractors supplied below par footwear to the government and many of the cavalry boots were mass produced using reinforced cardboard. Climatic conditions took its tool and horse soldiers suffered deep cuts to their feet. A Chiropodist General to the US cavalry was appointed at this time. Our lexicon was enriched with the word shoddy meaning manufacturers willing to compromise for profit. Many experts believe the final victory by the Union Army was in no small measure due to the superior footwear of their forces. There were few boot factories in the south and many of the Confederate Army fought barefoot.
Right and left boots were introduced and they were most unpopular. As a result, shoe manufacturers decided not to introduce right and left shoes to the masses for another half century. At the end of the war the federal government had half a million pairs of boots surplus to requirements.
Systematically during the following years troops stationed on the frontier were supplied with the shoddy boots. Shoe historians believe the foundation of the cowboy boot trade in the frontier was based on the simple necessity for civilian bookmakers to replace defective military footwear. Skilled workers from Germany and other European Countries were welcomed and crafted hard wearing boots called "kips" from the shoddy military issue. These were low heeled, high topped boots made in hard, black, leather. Boot makers based their designs on Northern European riding boots. The most popular was the Coffeyville Boot (1870) from Coffeyville, Kansas. It combined the various US Cavalry styles and the original British leather, Wellington boot. Billy the Kid (1859-1881) was reputed to wear a style of boots based on the Austrian Boot.
During the American Indian Wars in the west (circa 1865) the US Government issued new boots to the soldiers that used brass tacks to hold the leather soles to the uppers. As the soles wore down the tracks protruded through the bottom into the soldier's feet. The Government put together a committee to study the problem and suggested a solution. Their solution was to issue each soldier with a metal file to file down the points of the tacks as they pushed through the boot sole. This is thought to be the origin of the phrase "getting down to brass tacks."
High heeled boots (4"), called saddle dandies, were popular by 1860s. The back of the heel sloped gently until the sole was no bigger than a quarter.
Drover, Stovepipe and cattleman models were popular and the leg of the boots rose at least 14 inches with many boots going thigh high.
By the 1880's the cowboy boot was beginning to emerge as a distinctive style. Starting life as a dress Wellington or full Wellington, the fashion merged with the hard wearing lace up boot (or packer), worn by drovers. Other influences included the Mexican riding boot called vaquero. Early cowboy boots had no ornamentation and for control in the saddle, the shoe portion was made so tight that walking was difficult and painful. Originally both boots were made on the same last which necessitated the wearer having to break them in. Later the three-piece military boot was incorporated and worn by Hollywood's Cowboys.
In 1903 the first embroidered toe wrinkles started to appear. Cut out leather designs often in a star pattern were sometimes overlaid around the collars of the boot tops. Tejas (or Napoleon style boots) with their peacock flair and ostentatious inlays were worn by Hollywood megastars like Tex Ritter (1905 -1974) and Tom Mix (1880 – 1940) during the 20's and 30's. At first films were made in the Eastern States and the costumes were based on exaggerated clothing illustrated in cheap novels and comics. By the time the industry moved to California in 1914 and employed real cowboys, their actual clothes were considered too dull compared to the illusion.
Instead actors wore highly decorated boots outside their trousers.
Charlie Dunn one of Texas's most famous makers had produced in 1914 a pair of boots trimmed with gold and inlaid with diamonds and rubies for a gambler. In 1923 boots were available in the US, made from kangaroo skins. It is therefore somewhat surprising to think; today's cowboy boots are really fantasy footwear fabricated by Hollywood and have little to do with the Wild West.
The Italian shoe designer, Salvatore Ferragamo (1898- 1960) made boots for one of Cecil B de Mille's films. The director was so impressed he said " The West would have been conquered earlier, if they had boots like these." The style caught on and thanks to Hollywood became popular across the world. Designs became more colourful and ornate and fashion designed flocked to add to the range of boots available to the fashion following throngs.
By the 1930s cowboy boots were available with leather inlays depicting steer heads, stars, half-moons, dice diamonds, initials, ranch brands, hearts and butterflies. Boot makers vied to outdo each other with coloured leathers, stitching and exotic materials, decorating their boots with decks of cards, oil derricks, spider's webs, prickly pear cacti, and bucking broncos. The exotic cowboy boot remained popular and peaked in the mid-fifties.
The Lucchese Company of Texas in 1940's produced 48 pairs of boots to symbolise each of the states, featuring inlays of the state house and state flower, bird and flag.
In 1954, the design of cowboy boots changed to accommodate the growing sport of Roping. At rodeos competitors were required to bale off their mounts, then chase and tackle a strong calf. A lower heel and rounded toe was preferred. This style soon caught on with the audience and became the vogue.
The 60s brought an oil boom to the oil states which led to a subsequent economic upswing. Conservative Texans were more likely to drive a Cadillac than ride mustangs and so therefore influenced the fashion for lower heeled boots.
By the 70's urban cowboys took to the dance floor and the common work boot all but vanished. The new boots were less hardwiring and more high fashion. Today's styles cater for both with the traditional high heel and pointed toes for the posers and a lower heel, rounder toed boot with comfortable soles and laces for the real cowboy.
There is a common bond between many of the modern US Presidents and cowboy boots. Harry Trueman (1948) ordered his from the famous bootmakers, Tony Lama, establishing the "El Presidente" style which in turn graced the feet of many other US Presidents.
Dwight Eisenhower, Lyndon B Johnson, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama .
The Johnston & Murphy Company made President Obama a pair of boots similar to the style made for Abraham Lincoln in 1861.
City Slicker, Donald Trump is the exception, (what else ?) and is rarely seen in anything other than in flashy and gleaming-with-shine black leather Oxfords.
The appeal of the fashion cowboy boot in not hard to fathom and it is an excuse for men to share the thrill of standing on elevated footwear. The change in body mass this has makes for a more attractively shaped derriere and hence the natural development of the jeans. Standing taller helps to give the impression of power and dominance and presence and presentation were all in the Hollywood that made the style fashionable. The footwear can be secreted into everyday wear and therefore undetected to the undiscerning eye. On average a handmade fashion boot will take 45 hours of loving labour and be every bit as a creation as a designer cocktail dress.
Further Reading
More information about the cowboy boot at Jennifer June's Tribute to Cowboy Boots
Reviewed 19/02/2019


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Directed by Wes Anderson
Starring Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, F. Murray Abraham, Mathieu Amalric, Adrien Brody, Willem Dafoe, Jeff Goldblum, Harvey Keitel, Jude Law, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Saoirse Ronan, Jason Schwartzman, Tilda Swinton, Lea Seydoux, Tom Wilkinson, Owen Wilson and Bob Balaban
I had been waiting to see Wes Anderson's latest project from the moment it was announced. The Canadian release date was delayed, and then ended up being limited to a few theaters. I'm happy to say that it finally made it to a local theater and I saw it at the earliest opportunity a few hours ago.
It's hard to imagine Wes Anderson ever having mass appeal, but the marketing for The Grand Budapest Hotel has been more widespread and noticeable than that for his other releases. In case you missed it, here is the trailer:
To describe the plot would be both difficult and pointless. Wes Anderson is an acquired taste and fans are likely to love everything he releases. The Grand Budapest Hotel certainly has the same tongue-in-cheek tone of his previous films, and the similarities don't end there. Neil Young once said that his output was all one song, and Anderson's feels like all one film.
The story is beautifully framed, with an old man recollecting his past to an interested writer. The images are typical Anderson, with the usual explosion of colors and storybook settings. This feeling is heightened by the use of title cards to denote the chapters and the familiar style of music used in previous efforts. The story takes place in three different time periods, but we spend most of our time in 1932. All of the scenes from the past are shown in full screen, while the main narration sequences are in widescreen.
All I will say about the plot is that is focuses on hotel employees M. Gustave (Fiennes) and Zero Moustafa (Revolori). Gustave dates old women and one of them leaves him a valuable painting in her will. Her family are rather annoyed, and hire someone to retrieve the painting. The story is incredibly detailed and vast, despite only running for 100 minutes. There are frequent moments of witty humor, farce, irony and visual gags. Most of Anderson's regulars appear in the film at some point, and it's a tribute to him that such talents are willing to show up for such limited screen time.
Fiennes is very effective as Gustave. He's eloquent, and fond of reciting poetry, but his comic timing is perfect throughout. The vocabulary is not what you would expect from a typical movie, but it is offset with occasional expletives, which are extremely funny in the context of the film.
I was reassured by the large audience that showed up on a Saturday morning to watch a film by a director who does nothing to try to appeal to the masses. There is a shootout scene, but not like anything you have ever witnessed. Wes Anderson is like Stephen King or David Lynch in the way that he slightly skews reality; unlike those two, Anderson's stories are much lighter in tone. I despise cruelty to animals, but you'll laugh at a scene involving a cat. It's similar to Snoopy's fate in Moonrise Kingdom.
It's so refreshing to see a filmmaker with ideas. Aren't you bored with seeing Hollywood blockbusters that are predictable and tired? Grand Budapest will never let you relax because there is so much information to absorb. The dialogue is strange, the settings are like something out of a dream, and numerous objects and props are weird in themselves. It took me a few moments to come back to reality after the movie because I was still in that world as I walked out of the theater. I didn't even hear someone call my name until their third try.
I imagine The Grand Budapest Hotel will reveal new things every time you watch it, and I can't wait to add it to my collection and see it again. This may be Anderson's most accessible film to date, but he definitely hasn't deviated from his unique style.
Overall score 5/5
Return to index of every review on the site.


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Ramphotyphlops braminus
English name: Brahminy Blind Snake (aka "Common Blind Snake", "Flowerpot Snake")
Scientific name: Indotyphlops braminus (formerly Ramphotyphlops braminus)
Thai name: Ngu-din Ban
Description: Up to 23cm long. Often appears to be a worm at first glance, but can be distinguished by its scales, dry skin, eyes, and flicking tongue. Slender, with body length 30-45 times the body diameter and little change in girth from the tail to the head. Tail comes to a point at the very end. Small eyes and mouth are difficult to see. Scales are small and shiny. Color is grayish-brown to almost black on top and slightly lighter below. The mouth area can be lightened, but not the entire head as in the White-headed Blind Snake (Ramphotyphlops albiceps).
Similar Species: White-headed Blind Snake is more attenuate and has a pale head, rather than just a lightened snout near the end.
Slender Worm Snake is usually longer and more slender and has a more distinct eye. A scale count might be necessary to tell them apart.
Roxane's Blind Snake has a yellow snout and cloaca and a stouter body.
Diard's Blind Snake is much larger with a more robust body (see scale key for more identifying characteristics).
Mueller's Blind Snake is thicker with a sharp line of contrast between the darker color above and the very light belly.
Flower's Blind Snake has a yellow-cream snout and a blunt tail tip.
Blind snake species are difficult to distinguish from each other, so if you need more specific identifying markers you should use this key to the blind snakes in Thailand.
Habitat: The Brahminy Blind Snake spends its life underground and will live anywhere with loose humid soil, from the rainforest to urban alleys. It can be found under rocks and logs in parks, within discarded trash or while digging in home gardens. On rare occasions it may be found on the surface after heavy rains. It is attracted to ant and termite mounds, where it feeds off of the eggs and larvae.
Contribution to the ecosystem: This snake helps control termite and ant populations by eating their eggs and larvae. One juvenile Brahminy Blind Snake in Lumpani regurgitated 17 ant larvae immediately after capture. This species is also known to eat earthworms. It provides food for larger fossorial snakes and other animals.
Danger to humans: Blind snakes are harmless – they have no venom and their mouths are too small to bite a human. When uncovered or picked up they tend to respond by wiggling vigorously, emitting a small amount of smelly musk, and attempting to stab the disturber with their sharp tail tip.
Conservation status and threats: Due to its small size, abundant food source, simple habitat requirements, and ability to reproduce without males, the Brahminy Blind Snake is a common species that has spread all over the world through agricultural supplies. It is now found not only in its native range in Southeast Asia but also in the Middle East, Africa, Australia, North and South America, and on islands in the Pacific. There are no known threats to its Thai populations.
Interesting facts: The females of this species are the only snakes in the world that can reproduce without a male (parthenogenesis). No male Brahminy Blind Snake has ever been found. The females lay up to seven tiny eggs at a time, each averaging only 4mm by 13mm.
Siam-Info: Blind Snakes
Snakes of Taiwan: Ramphotyphlops braminus
Reptiles of Hong Kong: Ramphotyphlops braminus
Wikipedia: Ramphotyphlops braminus
Typhlops roxaneae, a new species of Thai blindsnake from the T. diardii species group, with a synopsis of the Typhlopidae of Thailand
Thailand Office of Environmental Planning and Policy: A Checklist of Amphibians and Reptiles in Thailand
A Field Guide to the Reptiles of South-East Asia
A Photographic Guide to Snakes and Other Reptiles of Peninsular Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand


text: Software Quality Assurance Automated Testing Techniques Michael Biwer Apology I did not communicate to Dr.Yang my Abstract and References by Monday 8:00AM. This is because I completely forgot and dropped the ball on the simplest part of this course. This is why there had been a late communication saying that I was to present today. Thankfully, Dr.Yang and me worked out a deal. Agenda Software Quality Assurance: Automated Testing Overview Testing Methodology Overview of types of tests Automated Testing Software Versus Manual Testing, Pros, Cons, And Basic Functionality Types of Automated Testing Framework Modular, Data-Driven and Keyword-Driven Frameworks. Definition "The management and performance of test activities, to include the development and execution of test scripts so as to verify test requirements, using an automated test tool"[2]. History Began to evolve with the rest of software development as pressure was put on developers to: Reduce time, cut costs and increase quality. This began to create more incremental builds: Shown with the increase of Rapid Application Development methods such as Agile. Posed the difficulties of faster changes and additions to project requirements. Higher customer appreciation of quality control. (ISO 9000) Therefore, Software Quality Assurance: Automation Testing began to evolve and third party companies began to create automation suites. Developer Testing VS. Quality Assurance Testing Developer Testing: Ensures that the all of the projects requirements have been met through testing the processes. Usually, done through testing the code from an internal standpoint. Overall, looks to ensure that the process work correctly. Quality Assurance Testing: Ensures that all of the project requirements have been met through testing the product. Usually, done through testing the product from an external standpoint. Most instances mimic's users view of the product. Overall, looks to improve the product as a whole. Manual Testing Vs. Automated Testing Manual: Labor intensive, testing take many man-hours to complete. Does not require software knowledge or skills from the testers. Repetitive tests still require many hours to complete and may be narrowed to fit a time schedule. Automated: Capital intensive. Large upfront cost for the software. Scalability might require hardware upgrades. Will not receive any benefits until the 2 – 3 project, because the creation of the test framework. Repetitive testing shows rates of returns around the 10th time it is run. Requires more specialist knowledge bases for the automation engineer. Automated Testing Manual Testing Test Case Creation 1 Need for test created Need for test created 2 Business Analyst creates test requirements, test plan and test cases which reflects the need in automated testing tool software. Business Analyst creates test requirements, test plan and test cases which reflects the need in a document. 3 Automation Engineer creates test script framework which reflect the test plan and test cases requirements. Automation Testers create driver scripts to run the test scripts generated by the automation Engineer. Manual Tester carries out the test plan, recording results of tests. 4 5 Tests are run automatically and results are analyzed. Business Analyst logs bugs for next build/run of test. Results of tests and expected results are compared and bugs are recorded for the next build. N/A All Runs of the Test Case Afterwards 6 The Business Analyst reviews test, makes adjustments if needed and re-run the test in the automation software. The Business Analyst reviews test, makes adjustments. 7 N/A Manual Tester carries out the test plan, recording results of tests. Why? Proper defect tracking. Aim to enhance the overall quality of the product, not to just ensure it works correctly. Different eyes on the testing ensures that project requirements were communicated efficiently between customer and development team. Because not all developers are good testers, it is good to have a specialist test the product to ensure consistent quality. Ensures that the customer has input, in order to "make sure that they will be happy with the end result." Pros 24/7 Testing. Repetitive testing is easily accomplished and cost effective in long running projects or in maintenance. In depth reporting tools. Consistent testing. Fewer, more skilled workers. Cons Cost Heavy upfront cost with the purchase of the software and the time devoted to the creation of a automation framework. In addition, you will not see a return on investment right away. Must pay your employees more. You will require an automation engineer which has software programming knowledge. You will have to train your automation testing team in the automation software tool you choose. Overview of Testing Types Two overall types of testing: White-Box Testing: Testing that is done from an internal viewpoint of the application. Input Process Output Black-Box Testing: Testing that is done from an external viewpoint of the application with only the working knowledge of how the application "should" work. Input Output Overview of Testing Methods (cont..) Unit Testing Tests that target specific code to ensure that it can operate separately from the system given the correct inputs. Integration Testing Testing that aims to test the applications code as a whole to ensure that the components interact correctly. System Testing Testing that makes sure that the application meets the requirements set down for the software and that it doesn't interfere with any other platforms/applications. Acceptance Testing Testing where either the user or developer/QA team is given a build of the program in order to verify the requirements have been met. Overview of Testing Methods(cont…) Smoke Testing: "Build Verification Testing", Ensures that no serious problem has occurred between build of the application. Regression Testing Testing normally performed after a major code overhaul has been made to make sure that there are no persisting defects and that no functionality has been lost. Functional Testing Testing that only cover a particular flow or process within the program. Non-Functional Testing Testing that confirms the overall quality of the product in reference to the user. Performance Testing Testing that checks the scalability, reliability and resource usage of certain aspect of the program. Usability Testing Testing of the Graphical User Interface (GUI) works correctly in the given layout. When to Automate a Test It makes the most sense to automate tests for products that are going to have continuous development or maintenance. This ensures that the test cases can be reused, increasing the return on investment of the automation software. Such as for the purposes of regression or smoke tests. Side Note: Developers often use automated testing methods for unit or integration tests. (Junit Tests.) Basic Automation Software Features Record/Playback Process: Click the play button in the automation suite. The Automation Software tracks your mouse movements, clicks and keyboard actions. Click the stop button when the test completes. The Software then compiles the movements into a test cases for you to insert into a test plan. You are then able to perform those exact actions multiple times. Sometimes features of the automation suite include auto-generation of record/playback tests into test scripts. Basic Automation Software Features Record/Playback (cont…) Benefits: Simple, does not require a software background to utilize. Quick, there is not much set up to create this type of test. Can be used for repetitive testing on a basic level. Drawbacks The types of tests that you can performs are limited to external options. If you have to change the test data, you must redo the entire test. Therefore, there can be a lot of maintenance. Example of Record/Playback http://youtu.be/facNRr8SHpk?t=45s Basic Automation Software Features Object Recognition Allows you to have an external look at the objects that are currently being displayed in the application being tested. Aka. GUI. You are able to store these objects in an "Object Repository" in order to easily reference them or you are able to "Call" them directly within your test scripts. They are formed in a hierarchy of "container" objects. Automation software with this ability gives you libraries which allow you to perform functions and retrieve/change properties of the objects. Basic Automation Software Features Object Recognition(cont…) Benefits: Allows you to set up more in-depth specific tests within test scripts. Drawbacks: Requires a test script framework to create test on these objects. Creates large initial overhead. Problems occur when custom objects/properties are created by the developers which the automation suite cannot recognize. This would require you to create your own "Object Script Extender" to recognize the object/property. Example of HP QuickTest Pro Object Recognition Basic Automation Software Features Test Script Execution Framework Allows you to create libraries in order to test any portion of your application. Code GUI API's Only limited to the amount of coding you want to do. These scripts are accessed through drivers and can be used across many different test cases. Commonly these test scripts are created using VBScript, Java, Perl, or CGI. The automation tools have pre-loaded libraries to give you extra capabilities with testing objects. Simple test script example. Uses a direct calling of objects to interact with them. Basic Automation Software Features Test Cases Reports Able to view the passes and the fails of your automation tests in a report format. Since this is based on your test scripts, you only get as much detailed information as you allow the test case record to collect from the tests. HP QTP: Example Report Components Test Plan A set of test cases which verify similar requirements of the application. Test Case A test to verify requirements of the application. Driver Scripts: The overall scripts that call your test scripts that make up your test cases. In essence, will reflect your test plan. Test Scripts: Code which allows for the tests actions to be carried out. Test Data: The data that you will be testing in your application. Meta-Language Development Meta-Language is a abstract language used in running scripts. It has been simplified for the average user with no knowledge of programing to use. This allows testers that only have the business knowledge of the system to utilize testing tools. Allows for manual testers to migrate onto the new system easily. This is essential for the testers to take ownership of the test cases. It is used at the highest visible level for the users to see, the Driver Script. In essence however, the Meta-Language, will be a list of parameters that will be parsed/translated and used in the test scripts. HP QTP Example: Input parameters that the automation engineer has set for this Driver Script Where the automation tester inputs the test parameters. Types: Modular Framework Creating specific test scripts in a library which are used within the Driver Scripts to perform the tests. IE: In the windows calculator, having a script that would verify that 5 + 5 = 10. Benefits: Quick and easy to put together. Drawbacks: Difficult to maintain. Less reusable code. Data is within the test scripts. Can easily have multiple copies of the same code. Because the test scripts have all of the control, this means that the ownership of the test cases lie in the automation engineer. Types:Modular Framework (cou…) Example of framework setup: Driver Script Test Library 1 Function_1 Function_2 Test Library 2 Function_3 Function_4 Example of Psuedocode for a Modular Framework Driver Script: Main Read Parameters Window_1 Functions Function_1 Call Function_2 Call Function_3 Call Window_2 Functions Function_4 Call Function_5 Call Function_6 Call End Main Function_5 Function_6 Example of Driver Script Parameters: Action_Type Name_Of_Script Run_Script Verify_Calc_Script Types: Data-Driven Framework This framework looks to fix the problem of data being within the test script. The input is commonly moved to the driver script or to an external database or spreadsheet which is fed into the test scripts. IE. In the windows calculator, you have a spreadsheet with numbers which are run through a script that adds them together. Benefits: Gives ownership of the test cases to the testers. Maintenance is more manageable. Drawbacks: Test case information can be split into different areas confusing large operations. Scalability is a real problem. Types: Data-Driven Framework (cou…) Example of framework structure: Driver File Script_1 Script_2 Script_3 Data_File_1 Data_File_2 Data_File_3 Comparison of Expected and Actual Outputs Pseudocode for Data-Driven Driver Script: Main Read in Parameters Perform required Script with given parameters Script_1 Call Script_2 Call Script_3 Call End Main Example of the Data-Driven Driver Script: Script_Name Data_File Numbers Expected_Result Add_Calc_Script Value_Add_To_10.xml A1-A2 B1 Sub_Calc_Script Value_Sub_To_0.xml A1-A2 B1 Mul_Calc_Script Value_Mul_To_49.xml A1-A2 B1 Types: Keyword-Driven Frameworks This framework looks to provide maximum ownership to the testers and maximum flexibility. Does this by providing a object by object look at the test cases and providing actions that can be taken out on those objects. Benefits: Provides all ownership to the testers. Maximum flexibility and highly scalable. Maintenance is on the testers and is standardized. Drawbacks: Large overhead time for creating the framework. A driver file must be created for each "window" of the application. An iterative approach which can increase test case execution times. Types: Keyword-Driven Framework (cou…) Driver Script Function_1 + Object_1 + Data Function_1 + Object_2 + Data Function_2 + Object_2 + Data Test Libraries Function_1 Function_2 Pseudocode for Keyword-Driven Driver Script: Main Read in Parameters Parse parameters into correct Object+Function+Data groups For Each Object in window Selected Action Object_1 Action Calls Object_2 Action Calls Object_3 Action Calls End Main Iteration Action_Type Button_1 1 Click Click 2 Insert "Hello" 3 Click Highlight 4 Key_CNTRL_X 5 click 6 Key_CNTRL_V 7 Property Edit_1 CheckBox_1 Click Click Text=Hello Checked=True Types: Hybrid Framework Combines the previous frameworks together in various levels to provide maximum testing capabilities. Normally involves connecting to a test database for various inputs. Example of Hybrid Framework Psuedocode: Main Read Parameters Group Parameters Link to database Select a specific window For each object in a specific window Perform the needed scripts End Main What we discussed Software Quality Assurance: Automated Testing Overview Testing Methodology Overview of types of tests Automated Testing Software Versus Manual Testing, Pros, Cons, And Functionality Types of Automated Testing Framework References 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. Chaos manifesto 2012:The year of the executive sponsor. (2012). Retrieved from http://versionone.com/assets/img/files/CHAOSManifesto2012.pdf Elfriede, D., Rashka, J., & Paul, J. (2008). Automated software testing: Introduction, management and performance. (13 ed.). Castleton, New York: Hamilton. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=kl2H0G6EFf0C&lpg=PR5&ots=wN_PrWrBx1&dq=automation software test qa&lr&pg=PA43 Mosley, D., & Posey, B. (2002). Just enough software test automation. Upper Saddle Hill, new Jersey: Prentice Hall PTR. Retrieved from http://books.google.com/books?id=PEBvfWESIt4C&lpg=PR15&ots=xGxZPGvp2P&dq=software test automation &lr&pg=PA3 Laukkanen, P. (2006). Data-driven and keyword-driven test automation frameworks. (Master's thesis)Retrieved from http://eliga.fi/Thesis-Pekka-Laukkanen.pdf Software testing. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_testing Allott, S. (1999, 10). Automate your tests - you won't regress it!. Seventeenth annual pacific northwest software quality conference, Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon. Retrieved from http://www.snapshots.pnsqc.org/2011-theme/pnsqc-04-062011/proceedings/pnsqc99.pdf Kumar, S. (Designer). (2007, April 9). File:SampleCode.JPG [Print Photo]. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SampleCode.JPG Kiranpaul , K. (n.d.). Quick test professional tutorials - qtp fundamentals, qtp features, vb scripting examples in qtp, qtp framework and vb script.. Retrieved from http://qtp4free.blogspot.com/2010/05/object-spy-in-qtp-92.html Jain, A. (Photographer). (2013, July 5). Good Looking and Enhanced Results Viewer [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_iTz5d0BSy6g/TPY5-7SOIGI/AAAAAAAAAPM/wxlEl9BHMqM/s1600/QTP_11_RV_SS.png Walter , T. (Photographer). (2012, July 6). Add Parameters to specify the Ranorex Automation [Web Graphic]. Retrieved from http://www.ranorex.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/Add-Parameters-To-Test.png Tutor. (2012, Aug 6). Software testing life cycle (stlc) – complete tutorial. Retrieved from http://www.sdlc.ws/software-testing-lifecycle-stlc-complete-tutorial/


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For a very long time I never saw myself as ever writing fiction. I was trained as a journalist. I've done TV, radio, online, print and photography. Fiction was something I like to read but never really thought of writing.
Not to say I never dabbled in fiction. When I was in uni, I wrote a short story and sent it to a creative writing professor. He said it had potential. But I never did anything with it.
Then years later, I had a daughter and went on maternity leave. I started to think of all the stories my mother told us as kids. We couldn't afford books that much so Mama would make up stories for us. I wanted to preserve those stories and so I decided to write a children's picture book and self publish it.
I guess the bug kinda bit me. I couldn't stop thinking about these stories I wanted to write. It's like something clicked in my head and I couldn't stop. The Girl Between Two Worlds is my first ever novel – I mean it's the first one I ever wrote in the novel department. It took around five years to get off the ground. It went through so many changes because I was learning in every single draft.
Even now, with the book being published, I still have a lot to learn about the industry. But I never thought I would end up here, and enjoy it immensely.


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The SM-Guru
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Released: 2017
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Any suggestions on where my 'lost things' have gone, will be greatly appreciated.
Bee x
Hi.I love your blog n creativity.Your articles are so funny n interesting that i couldn't just read one,have to go through many just to get a taste of your humor. I am also suffering from magical beings taking my favorite items out of sight(may be we are some special people who know they exist so they are hiding our things,to keep our mouths shut;) .So when i couldn't find something,i search for it in the least expecting places.Like,last time when my row counter went missing,i search it in kitchen cupboard n voila..found it.Still wondering how it went there????
thanks for your lovely words on my blog. I will have to start writing again, have been a bit poorly so not been in the right mood but your lovely words have given me a boost. bee x


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Overall rating
4.50 / 5 stars
PackManager is a cloud-based supply chain management solution that caters to contract packagers and manufacturers and helps them to manage various routines of packaging and fulfillment operations, from quoting and costing to MRP, labor management, performance monitoring and more.
PackManager's built-in production management module provides production line real-time and historical data that helps them to manage costs and target deadlines. The solution's inventory management module provides receiving and shipping, inbound and outbound stock transfer, warehouse management and product traceability functionalities to the users.
PackManager's order management module allows users to manage production demands and generate schedules for use of resources. Additionally, the solution features material planning, billing and invoicing, financial reporting and quality control assurance.
Services are offered on a monthly subscription basis that includes support via phone, email and other online resources.
Overall rating
4.50 / 5 stars
Showing 1 - 1 of 1 reviews
August 2014
James from Nova Pack Ltd.
4 of 5
Customer support
5 of 5
4 of 5
August 2014
PackManager review.
I like the software's user-friendly screens. And I like that the vendor is professional, responsive, and adaptive.
There's nothing I don't like. They are honestly excellent to work with.


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Editor's note: An earlier version of this post misidentified Bob Ayres. We regret the error.
Friends and fellow performers of Robin Williams, the comedian and actor celebrated for his manic intelligence and high-speed inventiveness, are expressing shock at his passing earlier Monday.
Just one example:
I could not be more stunned by the loss of Robin Williams, mensch, great talent, acting partner, genuine soul.
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) August 11, 2014
Many in the San Francisco entertainment scene are remembering Williams, too. One of those: Bob Ayres, founder of the long-defunct Other Café in the Haight-Ashbury, one of Williams' favorite venues. I talked to Ayres shortly after word of Williams' death became public (audio embedded above). Here's part of our interview:
Bob Ayres: Robin did come there a lot when we first started comedy; he hadn't gotten Mork and Mindy yet. Once he got Mork and Mindy everything shifted of course for him, but also for all the comedy clubs because he would come back as a star. He was so popular that when he showed up at one of the clubs, and ours was one of them, it was like God coming home. So he really helped comedy get its foothold in San Francisco in the '80s for sure.
Cy Musiker: Did you book him before Mork and Mindy as well?
Ayres: We did, but there was no real booking him. Back in the day we would have comedy nights, the Other Cafe happened to be the first comedy club in the city that actually paid comedians. We used to charge a dollar or two dollars on a Wednesday night, so when we were finished with the night we might hand six or eight dollars to each comedian. Among those comedians in the easily days was Robin and Dana [Carvey] and Ellen Degeneres, so it was quite a time as you can imagine.
Musiker: He developed some of his characters on your stage. His great imitations. Doctor Ruth and others. Is there a memory of his performances that stands out to you?
Ayres: I do remember once when he came in, and we had windows around our club so you could be on the street and watch the show, you couldn't hear it, but you could watch it. So it was late on a Saturday night and he was performing and there were just crowds packed around the windows, and the club was filled. So the police would come by and they'd look in the windows. I remember Robin getting the police to come up on stage, he literally got them to hand him their guns. Which would never happen today. But back in the day he was able to do that and had them in stitches of course.
Musiker: What about your personal relationship?
Ayres: Our personal relationship was only as a club owner. His girlfriend at the time and my girlfriend at the time were best friends. So I remember going to L.A. with him once. And I was just along for the ride as he went to the Comedy Store to the Improv, back to the Comedy Store, back to the Improv, maybe six or seven appearances.
You know he was a tortured soul like most great comedians, but there wasn't anyone kinder. Especially to fellow comedians — he was so kind to other comedians. That's really where he was most happy, when he was among his fellow comedians. That's where he felt at home I think.
Lisa Pickoff-White and Dan Brekke contributed to this post.


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Spirabel Hose
Spirabel is a suction hose which can be used with all garden pumps, including the Hozelock Ultra Metal Garden Pump Kit.
Key Benefits Include:
- Crush Resistant
- Supplied with inlet filter and non-return valve
- Fits all pumps, via the supplied 1″ BSP fittings
The Spirabel Hose is a suction hose that is designed to be used with all garden pumps. This includes the Hozelock Ultra Metal Garden Pump.
The hose is crush resistant to ensure water is constantly pumped and is supplied with an inlet filter and non return valve to ensure it works efficiently. The hose fits all pumps when using the 1″ BSP fitting that comes with it.
Hose Length
Hose Features
Anti Crush
Guarantee Period
1 Year


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This section contains 2,006 words
(approx. 6 pages at 400 words per page)
Part 3, Chapters 7-12 Summary
In Chapter 7, Frémont withdraws from the race, Lincoln obtains Blair's resignation, and, thinking he might become Postmaster General, Greeley turns pro-Lincoln. When Taney dies, Lincoln intends to appoint Blair, who will not still aspire to be president. On Election Day, Lincoln figures the Electoral College 120-114 in his favor, but does better than expected. When correction comes that Lincoln has in fact won New York State, champagne flows. Lincoln cannot believe that the soldiers have voted for him and is sure that the dead would not.
In Chapter 8, Old Gentleman Blair wants to broker peace with Davis, but Lincoln wants first to tighten the noose and settle the slavery question. Herold is fired for absenteeism. Booth is sure that Johnson will be a worse tyrant than Lincoln. Sprague learns that Charles L. Prescott has been arrested and is...
(read more from the Part 3, Chapters 7-12 Summary)
This section contains 2,006 words
(approx. 6 pages at 400 words per page)


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Address: No 1-1, Jalan Solaris 3, Solaris Mont Kiara (above Coffee Bean)
Telephone: 03-6206 5888
Follow them on Facebook.
I didn't know that I didn't have a separate post on Gangnam 88!
I have been there about 3 times, I think, and all with Moving on AC, who apparently has a VIP card due to his regular visits.
I first had the bibimbap set (see Good Coffee and Food post) in January and with such a generous serving, the place required another visit. :)
We went again on 23rd February (that's how long I store food pictures in my phone!) and we noted a change in their pricing. Previously the barbeque set option of meat (beef/pork belly/pork fillet) was RM30 but it was now RM33. This time, the set included a bowl of rice to go with the meat. Prior to this, you could only enjoy the meat with green leafy wraps.
|Side dishes with free refills!
|The pork belly set, with steamed egg for my set.
|Kimchi fried rice.
This time, I opted for the kimchi fried rice set (RM20) which comes with steamed egg and a bowl of soup. The fried rice was decent, not too bad, and paired with a sunny side up, is just great. ;)
And with the additional bowl of steamed egg, gosh, you'd be stuffed if you were eating on your own!
(But the size of the bowl for the steamed egg has shrunk, so I'm sure you'll do fine.)
|Korean ice kacang.
Choice of dessert was ice kacang or coffee. It's part of the set!
The ambiance at the bistro is cosy in a rowdy kind of way. I say rowdy, is when the Korean MTV is blasted loud above the general din of patrons chatting in Korean or English. The noise level is generally decent.
Communication may sometimes be a problem with our Korean waitress/waiter so be sure to speak slowly and carefully, and well, just point to what exactly you want.
Related post:
Good Coffee and Food
Other reviews:
Venoth's Culinary Adventures
We Live For Food, I Eat For Life
p.s. I'm not partial to Korean food so this post is the best I can do. And yes, this place is worth visiting again! :)


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Steve Wynn is out as chief executive of Wynn Resorts Ltd. But that doesn't end the questions for Massachusetts about what other Wynn executives or board members knew about a rash of sexual misconduct allegations against the casino mogul, including a $7.5 million settlement paid to a manicurist who said Wynn pressured her into having sex with him.
Follow-up reporting by The Wall Street Journal, which first broke the news of Wynn's misconduct, suggests that the board's suitability needs serious scrutiny from gambling regulators charged with enforcing ethical standards in the state's gambling industry. As the Journal reports, "The Wynn Resorts board has consistently received low marks for poor corporate governance issues and 'excessive' executive compensation policies. Half of the independent directors have had seats for more than 10 years."
In a lawsuit filed in Nevada, Massachusetts' Norfolk County Retirement System pension fund accused the company's board of directors of breaching its fiduciary duties by "turning a blind eye and disregarding a sustained pattern of sexual harassment and egregious misconduct by Mr. Wynn."
The Journal is also focusing on the possible complicity of Wynn executives when it comes to covering up for Wynn. As the Journal points out, Matt Maddox — the Wynn Resorts president who replaced Wynn as CEO — and Kim Sinatra, the company's general counsel, were both at Wynn Resorts "when it applied for its Massachusetts gaming license and failed to disclose the $7.5 million settlement." Both Maddox and Sinatra were investigated as "individual qualifiers" by the Massachusetts Gaming Commission. That means their individual suitability is part of the overall suitability designation Wynn Resorts needed in order to get the license to build a casino in Everett.
What Maddox and Sinatra might know but failed to disclose is as important as what Wynn knew but failed to disclose. In fact, according to the Journal, "filings in a court battle between Wynn and Elaine Wynn, his ex-wife and a cofounder of the company, show that Sinatra knew about the allegations since at least 2009."
At its last meeting, the gaming commission promised to continue an aggressive review of the allegations against Wynn and what others in the company knew about them. In the commission's 2013 suitability report, investigators described Maddox as "very intelligent, with an even keeled personality, unquestionable integrity and honesty." Sinatra was described as "an incredibly smart and loyal person . . . a great friend who is generous, thoughtful and kind." A second, tougher look at both is definitely in order.
Ditching Wynn was obviously necessary. Renaming the company is another needed move, so that his disgraced name never rises over the Boston skyline. But those are first steps, not final ones. So what if the $2.4 billion Wynn Boston Harbor casino is half built? Wynn Resorts' suitability to operate remains an open question.


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LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - It's the end of the road for NBC's cop drama "Southland," which has been canceled before the launch of its second season.
Although supportive of the show, NBC brass considered the six episodes produced for the new season to be too dark and gritty for broadcast TV — especially now that the network's 10 p.m. week-night dramas must air an hour earlier to accommodate "The Jay Leno Show."
"Southland" was originally slated to debut in its new Friday 9 p.m. time slot last month. But NBC decided to push the start to October 23 and air "Dateline NBC" in the meantime. It is not clear when the six produced episodes will air.
"Southland" got off to a good start when it premiered in midseason in the Thursday 10 p.m. time period, succeeding NBC's long-running medical drama, "ER." But despite solid reviews, the series suffered ratings erosion.
It hasn't been a good start for NBC's scripted dramas this fall, with rookies "Trauma" and "Mercy" struggling along with most of the returning veterans, including "Heroes" and "Law & Order: SVU," which is still settling into its new Wednesday 9 p.m. slot.
There is a possibility that "Southland" could be shopped to cable networks. The cancellation of "Southland" ends (for now) a long relationship between NBC and executive producer John Wells, the man behind such hits as "ER" and "The West Wing."
Editing by DGoodman at Reuters


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I appreciate pair programming more and more. It was a controversial practice for me. I used to find uncomfortable to share my computer, my tools, my personal universe with someone. Yet this practice is really powerful. Benefits:
- It brings more focus. Having a pairing partner, I'm less prone to procrastinate. Even better, I feel like we are less likely to be disturbed by other people.
- You catch more typos before running the compiler and / or the tests, hence save sensible amount of time
- It's the only efficient way to share practices like TDD, shortcuts and habit that both pairing partners use to be productive
- You practice code reviews on the fly, which is less boring that doing them later (you know later can mean never, don't you?)
It's not natural to feel comfortable with pair programming. Here are some advice I can think of :
- coding dojo is a "safe" way to experience pair programming. However, they attract XP enthusiasts that may already know or use pair programming. You cannot force people to do coding dojo.
- use a timer to switch and do breaks. Consider pomodoro technique. I use tomighty.
- if you are more comfortable with pair programming than your pairing partner, pay attention to include her or him in the process. Force yourself to ask questions, ask how does he or she feel. Beware of silence. It's pair programming, not rubber ducking.
I know there is a more radical technique in the field today, called mob programming. I'm sure it has benefits in some thorny cases. As I am not a practitioner myself, I don't think it is something you do systematically. And I prefer learning to walk well before running.
What are you telling to your boss to do pair programming? Nothing. Just do it, and measure improvement. You may not be 2 times faster, but you will be faster and improve the overall quality of the code.