text:
- Why CareerMash?
- What is CareerMash?
- Who is behind CareerMash, and why?
- Does CareerMash work with other organizations?
- Does CareerMash promote women in tech careers?
- How can I get involved with CareerMash?
1. Why CareerMash?
- Tech mashing up with other fields like health care, entertainment, finance or the environment.
- Creative Arts tech mashups like game design, mobile apps design and social media marketing.
- Core tech mashups like security, networking, and data analysis.
- Mashing up tech with business and leadership skills is in high demand because all companies and organizations rely on tech every day.
2. What is CareerMash?
CareerMash spreads the word about the endless possibilities of today's tech careers. We want everyone to get excited about how cool technologies are bringing innovation to everything – environment, health care, entertainment, shopping, mobility, our social lives and more. And it's tech professionals who make all this happen.
Today's tech careers are interesting, fun, cool, and creative. They pay well, are in high demand and mash up tech with anything you imagine! Thanks to constant innovation, the uses of tech continue to expand. As a result, the types of tech-related careers are expanding too. It's all very exciting but the ever increasing choice of careers can also be confusing!
CareerMash is here to demystify tech by helping students, teachers, guidance counsellors, parents - and anyone else who is interested - understand all the different ways the world is being changed by tech and the new career opportunities these changes are creating.
Part of our goal is to provide easy-to understand information on CareerMash.ca that allows young people to match their personal interests and academic strengths to a tech-related career.
But CareerMash also extends well beyond our website. We arrange inspiring visits to high schools by CareerMash Role Models who are tech professionals representing a wide variety of sectors. Every semester, our 70+ Role Models share their career stories with teenagers, providing personalized insights into what it's like working in tech. And, the program is free to all schools!
As well, CareerMash organizes a variety of special events, info sessions, panels and workshops on tech careers for students or educators. These events also give educators the tools and information they need to help students explore tech-related careers and choose post-secondary educational paths that will best prepare them for those careers.
Follow CareerMash on our CareerMash Facebook page, YouTube channel, Twitter feed and LinkedIn group.
Our partner in Québec, TechnoCompétences, is doing similar activities in the Montreal region through its MaCarrièreTechno campaign.
3. Who is behind CareerMash, and why?
CareerMash is part of the Talent division of the Information Technology Association of Canada (ITAC). ITAC is the voice of the Canadian information and communications technology (ICT) industry and is a strong advocate for the expansion of Canada's innovative capacity for strengthened productivity across all sectors through the strategic use of technology. As a non-for-profit organization they fully rely on the support of their 300+ members that span from ICT consulting services to software and electronic content.
These organizations have joined together to solve their pressing need to hire professionals in the new kinds of technology roles described on CareerMash. They support CareerMash because tech careers are critical to Canada's success in the knowledge economy of the 21st century.
As demand for these workers grows, Canada is experiencing an alarming 30% to 40% decline in information and communications technology (ICT)-related post-secondary enrolments and a historically low female enrolment of 25%. College and university ICT-related programs have empty seats because high school students perceive tech jobs as being nerdy, boring and difficult. Students, educators and parents often don't know how today's careers mash up tech with anything you imagine in cool and creative ways. CareerMash was launched to change these perceptions and help increase post-secondary enrolments in tech programs to ensure Canada has the skills it needs to be competitive.
4. Does CareerMash work with other organizations?
CareerMash and ITAC work with many different organizations such as telecommunications and internet services, educational institutions and a variety of industry associations.
5. Does CareerMash promote women in tech careers?
Yes! Gender is the most critical diversity issue in the tech field. For as long as anyone can remember, women have held only about a quarter of information and communications technology (ICT) jobs.
This needs to change. Tech employers need to hire and promote more women, and not just for social equity. Female participation is good for business. Limited female participation in tech means limited access to the skills and talents of half the population. At a time when information technology is about collaboration and social intelligence, women have a lot to offer. Women, as consumers and business leaders, increasingly make the technology buying decisions. So it makes sense for tech employers to hire smart, creative women.
A big part of the problem is that not enough young women choose tech careers. While they make up half of the workforce, female enrolment in tech programs is low at 25%. Why does this problem exist? Researchers have found that young women often hear, from an early age, that tech is geeky and not for them so they avoid educational paths that would prepare them for roles in tech-related fields. But as CareerMash shows, the future is in interesting, fun, creative, cool and social mashed-up hybrid jobs that combine tech with leadership and every imaginable field. A key part of the CareerMash mission is to get this message out to girls and increase their participation in tech.
6. How can I get involved with CareerMash?
There are many ways to participate in CareerMash. Organizations can become corporate members. Tech professionals can join our Role Model and Online Mentoring program to inspire students. Educators can book Role Models for class visits and have their class participate in our Online Mentoring with CareerMash program. Students can submit guest blogs for our consideration and "like" us on Facebook to spread the word amongst their friends. For more information on any of our initiatives or how you can help get the message out contact CareerMash at email@example.com.


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Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show
The Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show is a celebration of Australian lifestyle and our great outdoors. The world renowned Flower and Garden Show is now regarded as the largest and most successful horticultural event in the Southern Hemisphere. The show features the best landscape and floral talent that Australia has to offer alongside an extensive array of garden retail products.
At the show you will see the creativity and passion of Australia's top floral and landscape designers delivered in stunning displays as well as a strong environmental message for gardening in this climate. Coupled with an extensive array of garden and floral retail products from rare and unusual plants to your old favourites, gardening tools to outdoor furniture, water tanks to floral art plus many new and innovative ideas for your garden, this is certainly a 'must see' event.
Tour Highlights
- International Flower & Garden Show
- Melbourne's signature lanes & Arcades
- Colonial Tram Car Restaurant
- Cloudhill Garden & Nursery
- Puffing Billy
- Cuckoo Restaurant
- 1st Class return Rail
|Price Person Twin Share
|From Bathurst or Sydney
|Senior and Pensioner
|Pensioner Travel Voucher
Tour currently booked out. Put your name on the waiting list in case of a cancellation.
Monday 27 March, 2017
Welcome to our very special 5 Day tour to Melbourne to experience The Melbourne International Flower Show. Depart Bathurst on the NSW TrainLink Coach to Cootamundra where we transfer to the XPT, (tour can be joined from any XPT stop from Sydney to Melbourne) sit back and enjoy the views while being whisked away to Melbourne. When we disembark from our train it is literally a two-minute walk to our accommodation where we settle in and enjoy dinner
Tuesday 28 March, 2017
This morning we meet up with our guides for our walking tour and learn about Melbourne from a local. On our tour of Melbourne's signature lanes and arcades we learn about the independent designers, street art, architecture, and historical tales of Melbourne morning teas is included along the way. After the morning's adventures we have the afternoon to ourselves. Relax over lunch at one of the newly discovered cafes or catch up on a little retail therapy. Maybe explore The National Gallery of Victoria, Australia's oldest and pre-eminent public art museum, hosting blockbuster exhibitions and one of the world's finest art collections. We meet back at the hotel as this evening we join Melbourne's famous Colonial Tramcar Restaurant for the late 5 course dinner. The Tramcar offers diners an enjoyable perspective of Melbourne's leafy boulevards and best attractions. This glossy, burgundy restaurant on wheels is the first traveling tramcar restaurant in the world and ensures a delightful innovative approach to dining. As we cruise the scenic streets of Melbourne, we will enjoy fine cuisine and the best of Australian wines. The atmosphere is cosy, the service friendly and the decor is as inviting as the colonial period these trams reflect. Dining aboard the Colonial Tramcar Restaurant is not only a culinary delight, but also a trip into a little piece of Victoria's history.
Wednesday 29 March, 2017
Today is festival day! After breakfast we head off to the International Flower and Garden Show. This show is a hallmark event for Victoria and the most prestigious of its kind in Australia. Over 300 exhibits are "on show" representing horticulture, nurseries, landscape gardening, floristry and cut flowers together with their associated products and services. The show will simply take your breath away with the work of Australia's leading floral designers creating exquisite feature displays. We have plenty of time to spend here today. In fact, the whole day is available for the show or after the show take a tram into the City to explore Melbourne's famous shops. This evening is at leisure, giving us a chance to experience one of the many local restaurants.
Thursday 30 March, 2017
After breakfast we drive through Monbulk into the heart of the Dandenong Ranges. We stop at the lovely Cloudhill Garden & Nursery. Within Cloudhill there are various "segments" of gardens including the Maple Court; below this lies the Green Theatre, which is reminiscent of old Italian gardens. The stage is overshadowed by a tapestry wall of green and copper beech perfectly placed to aid acoustics. In summer, this area is used for twilight musical recitals. The Old Rose Walk is to one side of this last area, and leads to the Peony Pavilion. The formal garden areas are surrounded by woodlands of Beech, Maple, Rhododendron and Magnolia. These magnificent trees, imported from Japan and Europe, date to earliest days of the original Woolrich Nursery and are now of historic importance. After our garden exploration we will be hungry – and we will need to be, because lunch today will be something special! The Cuckoo Restaurant at Olinda, designed in the Bavarian Chalet Style, is simply stunning with exceptional food, hospitality and entertainment. We are then off to our next appointment at nearby Belgrave for the Puffing Billy Service to Emerald. Belgrave has always been a railway town since a narrow gauge line was opened in 1900 to help the local farmers bring their goods to the markets in Melbourne. In 1962 the railway was restored and the now famous Puffing Billy provides a great introduction to the area. Our coach will be waiting for us for the transfer back to the hotel.
Friday 31 March, 2017
Following breakfast, we make our way across the road to the Southern Cross Railway Station to board our XPT which departs at 8.30am, changing at Cootamundra returning to charter coach direct to Bathurst or continue on the XPT
Rail Holidays Australia
Po Box 1430, Bathurst, NSW. 2795
Ph: 0418 337 263 or 02 6331 1128
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Java or JavaScript Developer Hero
Cool. You are Java or JavaScript freak! We love people with passion and attention to detail who are motivated and are clever enough and do not give up before they've caught every bug.
You want to participate in our mission to improve the world and show big companies how to code better and faster! We need your ideas, your implementation power, your skills! Become part of us and create something impressive!
Be freaky like us
With a united effort and a cool and powerful product, we need you to accompany the market launch of our software and build a strong brand frequi. Joining us at this early stage means you have infinite opportunities for your development and influence on the further growing process of our company. We are convinced that something great and unique can be created only in an environment in which the interaction and fun are guaranteed. That's what we stand for.
Become part of our team. Write to us at email@example.com


text:
Equipment Door, I/II,CG, 06
Item #: W73953
This item is the complete replacement equipment door for Hot Springs Sovereign model spas made in 2006 - 2007 with synthetic coastal grey slats.
NOTE: This door is only compatible with 2006 - 2007 Hot Spring Sovereign model spas with serial numbers in the following range: I/II 1H1001 - I/II 4J9999
Please note, this door does not come with the holes for the screws predrilled. You will need to use the old door as a template to drill the holes for the screws before installation.
Check Serial Number Compatibility
Price: $276.75 276.75
Enter your serial number Parts Finder
View all reviews
30-Day Money Back Satisfaction Guarantee
Free shipping on orders over $99 (Some exclusions apply)
No Sales Tax (except California)
Positive05/20/2020 Easy to order, the part was the right one no problems. The video I watch for the install was perfect.
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Positive05/19/2020 I have only good things to say about Backyard Plus. I just repaired the motor on a hot tub which has not been connected in over five years and it was easy to locate and verify the specific parts required through the Parts Finder. The parts were promptly shipped, packaged well and my hot tub is up and working. I had browsed several sites looking for what I needed and only Backyard Plus seemed to have everything which included a check valve, impeller, pump seals and a new filter. I did not need to use their customer service as the interactive site handled my inquiries. D.S. Wakefield, RI
more ... D. S. ,
more ... D. S. ,
Positive05/18/2020 The site was informative and easy to use. I received the order very quickly.
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Positive05/17/2020 All parts were just what we needed to get our almost 15 year old Hot Spring hot tub working like new. Thanks for helping and providing the replacement items and shipping was fast. Will always buy from here😃
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Positive05/17/2020 Perfect replacement part for failed spa Logo Light. Plug and go. Easy.
Hide Ronald S.,
Hide Ronald S.,


text:
Vietnam visa requirements for Spanish
I am a Spanish tourist and I'm going to visit Vietnam this October. I know that as a citizen of Spain, I don't need to apply for a Vietnam visa if I stay in Vietnam less than 15 days.
I will stay 13 days in Vietnam, then I will go to Cambodia for 4 – 5 days and then I will come back to Vietnam for one day in order to flight back to Spain form Hanoi airport.
I would like to know if I need to apply for a visa or not.
Thank you for your help.
Dear Sarah,
Please be informed that a Vietnam visa won't be required if you stay in Vietnam less than 15 days and your entry does not fall within 30 days from the exit date of your previous stay in Vietnam with visa exemption. It means that you absolutely can enter Vietnam without a visa on the first entry, but you must have a visa for your return from Cambodia.
If you are crossing the border to come back Vietnam, you are recommended to obtain a visa directly from Vietnam Embassy in advance. If by plane, you can apply for Vietnam visa on arrival and pick up a visa upon arrival airport.
Please don't hesitate to email me if you need any further information.
Your sincerely,


text:
Exeter remains in fifth place after 43 point score at the Visalia Country Club
By Patrick Dillon
VISALIA – The improvement of the Exeter Monarchs girls golf program has been steady this season, but it took a step back last Thursday as they took fifth with 43 points at the Visalia Country Club.
"It was a tough day out on the course," Exeter head coach Larry Goats said. "This is our worst performance since our first tournament."
Exeter's tendency is to score better on the newer courses where the growth has not developed as much. On those courses Exeter is averaging around 60 points. On much older courses where the trees have fully matured it is a different story.
Exeter's top golfer Cheyenne Lynch scored a team high 14 points. Although, she led the team she had a rough start, primarily around the greens. On the par four third hole her drive found the middle of the fairway, but an errant approach shot left her a length pitch from the left side of the green. From there it took her three additional shots and two puts to get down for her triple bogey.
Lynch was one of two Exeter golfers to score double digit points. Shadea Minugh was the other who scored 10. Ashlyn Walker scored eight, Katelyn Bucholz scored five points, Shelby Faulkner scored four, and Lainie Shields scored two points.
In the three years of the Monarchs' girls golf program they have never finished better than fifth place. It was the team's goal to overtake the Dinuba Emperors for fourth at this tournament, and put them in position for their best league finish going into the finals. But Exeter could not get the two points needed to defeat Dinuba.
Goats, who is in his first season as head coach of the Monarchs, is optimistic about his team's youth as long as his players are willing to practice during the off-season. Goats biggest fear is that his players will not take the chance to work on what they have learned on the links this year until picking back up their clubs in the summer.
"We can be competitive in the next couple of years if we don't put our clubs away," Goats said.
Goats has already dubbed Faulkner as possibly the best the program has ever seen. Faulkner's biggest drawback is her lack of course time as she has only clocked two months of competition. But the reason Goats believes she is destined for good things is that she is a natural athlete.
"I think she can turn into something special," Goats said.


text:
MEL is carrying out a series of interviews with leaders of the working class to get their view on demonetisation and its consequences for the people.
Com. Suryakant Shinge, leader of Ladaku Garment Mazdoor Sangh and activist Com. Vilas Kamble
MEL: What is the effect of Modi's demonetisation on the lives of people in villages and towns?
Com. Shinge: Due to demonetisation, it has become very difficult to find jobs in villages. People have to stand in queues for so many hours in front of banks that may be 5-10 kms away. At times, people do not get money even after standing for hours. Then they have to go again the next day. People are strongly opposed to demonetisation. Prices of crops grown by farmers have crashed. They are unable to buy seeds and fertilisers. They are unable to get loans.
Com. Kamble: Everyone is badly hit by demonetisation. More than eighty people have died as a result. The Modi government is responsible for this.
MEL: Modi has claimed that demonetisation will strike at black money. Do you think this will happen?
Com. Shinge: This is wrong. Black money will not come out due to demonetisation. Black money is a necessary part of this system, and the largest amount of black money that is in the hands of the biggest capitalists is not even a part of this banking system.
Com. Kamble: The fact is that Modi does not even intend to end black money. The Modi government works for the capitalists. They are the ones with black money. The poor have only a little money, which they either keep in banks or at home for future use. Modi is doing this in order to get the poor to put their money in banks so that the banks are saved.
Who will benefit from demonetisation?
Com. Shinge: The capitalists will benefit. The interest on their loans will reduce. In the coming days the Modi government will even write off their loans. Black money will in fact increase due to the introduction of the Rs. 2000 note.
Com. Kamble: The capitalists will benefit and the government and administration will benefit as well.
MEL: Modi had earlier said that demonetisation will end terrorism. What do you think?
Com. Shinge: This is totally false. Terrorists get their money and weapons from imperialist states. The chief terrorist is the US state, which the government and Modi are embracing more closely. Demonetisation will have no effect on terrorism.
Com. Kamble: Modi is lying when he says that terrorism will be ended.
MEL: Will demonetisation end poverty and unemployment?
Com. Shinge: On the contrary, poverty will increase. Due to the decrease in jobs the capitalists will exploit the workers and peasants even more.
Com. Kamble: Notes are the means of circulation in the country. To end poverty it is necessary to understand it's basis. Today state power as well as the major means of production are in the hands of big Indian and foreign capitalists. In these circumstances, the gap between the rich and poor will remain. This is a big lie that the PM is promoting.
MEL: The rulers are saying that those who are raising their voices against demonetisation are traitors to the country. What do you feel?
Com. Shinge: It is totally wrong to equate opposition to the government with treachery. Modi has imposed demonetisation on the people. This is an instance of dictatorship.
Com. Kamble: This is wrong. The people need notes to live. Demonetisation is very harmful to the public at large. It is their right to protest against it. The Modi government has no right to call them traitors.
MEL: The government is saying we should have a cashless economy. What do you think?
Com. Shinge: This is wrong. India has the largest number of poor people in the world. The rate of illiteracy is also very high. Half the people do not have mobile phones. Many of those who have them use them only for talking to others. There is hunger, poverty, unemployment. Bank branches have not reached rural areas even today. That is why it is not possible for our people to resort to cashless economy today.
Com. Kamble: In our country buying and selling is largely done through cash. The government wants to promote big business through credit and debit cards and destroy small ones. This intention of the government is anti-people.
MEL: We are very happy to hear your views. Thank you!
- Log in to post comments


text:
I will praise Him!
I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.
(Psalm 63:2-5, NIV)
Later this year, Kregel Publishing will be releasing my Passion of Christ novel entitled "The Soldier Who Killed a King." Due to an editing deadline on this book, I am unable to do my regular, full-length posts. I hope to resume my devotional posts soon. — David Kitz


text: Quick Fixes for Scratched Sunglasses Posted on January 23, 2018September 5, 2018 by Squinty If you've scratched your favorite pair of shades, you'll need a quick fix. No doubt, you want to mend the lenses of your sunglasses as soon as possible so you can wear them again. After al... Read More


text:
I know education intimately. I've worked w/ urban schools, k-university, since 1990. At the district, state, & national levels. I've met w/ officials from across the globe (literally: Africa, Europe, Australia…). I have educator friends & colleagues around the country. So keep that in mind. The pro-DeVos argument is loaded w/ biased rhetoric. Let's begin w/ […]
One of my students just unfriended me on Facebook. First, however, she sent me a lengthy email, hurt & angry that my posts reflect poorly on her political party, and her political hero. I fully accept responsibility there — as an old journalist, I'm appalled at how much actual news 'falls through the cracks' of today's corporate media. I want people to see what doesn't make Fox News :).
But I don't accept several other things she said:
- that I bash her personal politics;
- that I have contempt for her political party;
- that I hate her religion;
- that I'm unfair.
Certainly I'm passionate about politics. An an engaged Buddhist, as a teacher, I see every day that if I don't take ownership of my beliefs out into the real world, then people who are cruel, greedy, dishonest, and downright MEAN are going to 'win.' They're going to pass laws that disenfranchise my loved ones. They're going to make it impossible for many of my beloved friends, family, and students to lead the lives they dream of, to work the jobs they're aiming for, to be the people they have every right to be.
Because I'm both an engaged Buddhist & Unitarian, I try hard to put my beliefs in social justice in practice. So when politicians make dumb-ass pronouncements, then change their tune, then change it yet again, I'm going to make that known to as wide an audience as I can. That's actually the whole reason (for me) behind Facebook: to connect w/ people who may not even KNOW a Buddhist, a Unitarian. Who may see 'liberals' as horned beasts (I have family who feel this way :)). If you like me, then you know a liberal you like. And it's often — at least in the reddest of red states — that simple.
Freedom of religion is a big deal to me. I grew up in a Buddhist country, lived for years in Muslim countries. Have family and dear, close friends who are Buddhist, pagan, Wiccan, Hindu, Catholic, Methodist, and Muslim. And Presbyterian, and Taoist, and Jewish and atheist and agnostic and and and…:) They have the RIGHT to everything that each White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant framer of our amazing Constitution assured them of.
Freedom to love is another big deal to me. Does my niece Mary not deserve to spend her life w/ her chosen partner because Susie is female, too? Is love only about reproduction? That's what some politicans would seem to be saying: you can't fall in love w/ your own gender; and you can't use birth control, and God Forbid (literally) you should 'make a mistake.' Just 'lean back and appreciate it,' as one politician said. And yep: HE really said that…
The problem with being a writer is that we use words. Sometimes, it may feel — because we use them well, when we can (and we're always trying to!) — that we use them as weapons. I prefer to think I use mine as tools. You can, of course, whack someone over the head w/ a shovel. But you can also dig a hole in rich dirt, and plant a tree. You can be stabbed w/ a dibble, but you can also draw a line in the dirt and place seeds in a row, one by one, that will grow to be lettuce, nasturtiums, radishes. Edible beauty, and a belief in the providence of rain, time, & sunlight.
I told my student how very sad I am that she wants to sever our conversation. But in her eyes, I have attacked her core beliefs, the man who represents them. In my own? I've asked that she look at his conflicting statements — well documented — and his actions, and how he has voted and worked and run his business. Because that, to me, is who he is.
My student doesn't agree. She is, she told me once, loyal. So am I. But not, as Jonathan Haidt notes that most conservatives are, to institutions. I'm more likely to be loyal to abstracts than concretes. Specific churches? Nope — they're fallible like the rest of us. A specific president? Nope. But the office of the president? Belief in general? Absolutely.
That's not enough for my student. She was, as she reminded me, raised in her political party. In a state that adheres to that political party. In a religion that supports that political party. So that my analytical, researched questions and posts to FB strike at the very heart of her beliefs.
How, then, can an engaged Buddhist and a fundamentalist Christian discuss politics? Because if you can't question your heroes, as I told her, what you have is not politics, but religious faith. And that's not necessarily a good foundation for an election. My own religious/ spiritual beliefs preclude war. So obviously I'm not voting for a political party that admires it and jumped to it as a solution. Unfortunately (at least for me and thousands of dead), my religious beliefs are not mainstream.
I have no answers to these troubling questions. I'm not even certain I'm asking the right questions. All I can do is lament the separation of my path from my former student's, and hope that I'm not as bombastic and obnoxious as she made me sound. And I can question my own beginner's heart, wondering if it's operating from good intent…


text:
An average day (or how near infrared spectroscopy affects daily life)
Peter Flinn (Kelspec Services Pty Ltd, Dunkeld, Victoria, Australia)
Let me introduce you to Mr Jack Average. However, dear reader, in this age of political correctness I had better assure you that this story could equally be about Ms Jane Average.
Anyway, Jack is a just an ordinary bloke, living an ordinary life in the suburbs. Like many citizens, he knows little about science in general and NIR in particular, and cares less. What he does not realise is that nearly every activity in his daily life is touched in some way by the extraordinary analytical technique of NIR. Like Big Brother (but in a more tasteful and unobtrusive manner), let us "tag along" with Jack for a day and see how many applications of NIR he takes for granted.
It is the weekend, and Jack rises a little later than usual, enjoying a leisurely breakfast. He knows he should have more fibre in his diet, so he starts off with a plate of muesli. Measurement of protein, fat and fibre in processed cereal foods is a routine NIR application.1
Next, he cuts a slice of brown bread and spreads some honey on it. He gives no thought to the fact that his daily bread is made from flour, which in turn comes from wheat. Measurement of protein and moisture in wheat (and other grains) is probably the most widespread and successful NIR application in the world.2
For example, one major Australian grain handling authority, CBH Pty Ltd has almost 200 grain receival points in Western Australia alone, and owns the largest network of NIR instruments in the world. Wheatgrowers are paid on a protein-based system, possible only with the adoption of NIR. Many other grain quality indicators are routinely measured or researched using NIR, including hardness, flour yield, colour and water absorption (wheat) and malting quality (barley).3 Jack's honey could well have been checked by NIR for quality, adulteration or botanical origin.4 He rounds off his breakfast with a cup of freshly brewed coffee, and adds a spoonful of sugar. NIR is used to measure caffeine content of coffee5 (and other beverages), and for discrimination between the two major cultivars Arabica and Robusta.6 Despite the challenges of working with a material like sugarcane, the sugar industry is now a significant user of NIR for estimating moisture, fibre and sugar (°Brix) content.7
While Jack finishes his breakfast, he reads his daily newspaper. Whilst he should not be surprised that paper is manufactured from pulped wood, he certainly would not realise that NIR research is underway to assess quality, physical and mechanical properties and even the ageing process of wood.8 Ash and dry matter content of recovered paper are important criteria in newspaper production, and on-line NIR determination of these properties is being investigated.9
Jack decides to escape suburbia for the day and take a drive in the country to visit his brother. First, he has to fill his car with fuel at his local service station, and like all motorists curses the ever-increasing price of petrol (or gas, if he is American!). Jack's car is his pride and joy, and he worries about media reports concerning sub-standard fuel. He is also concerned about the environment, and wonders why those mad scientists don't invent fuels from alternative (and hopefully cheaper) sources. Well, he may be interested to know that NIR is increasingly being used to monitor chemical and physical properties, such as octane number, benzene, density and sulphur, in the refining and petrochemical industries.10 There is much research in progress on the development of "biofuels" to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, but quality control is a big issue and NIR is starting to play an important role here. NIR can also detect the level of biodiesel fuel (from vegetable oils) added to diesel. Jack Average is glad to leave the rat-race behind as he heads for the peace and fresh air of the countryside. While thinking of the environment we should remember the subject of recycling,11 where NIR has an important role to play. Parts of Jack's car are made from recycled plastics. Jack's brother Fred owns a dairy farm, and Jack always enjoys visiting, although he probably would not want to milk cows twice a day, every day. He arrives just as Fred is feeding out hay to his cows, and immediately is conscripted into the process. Fred is a progressive dairy farmer and would not dream of buying in hay without it being first tested for quality—naturally by NIR.12
Assessment of energy, fibre, protein, sugars and other indicators of animal performance in forage, grain and mixed feed using NIR is now firmly established across extensive and intensive livestock industries in many countries.13 It is a vital tool for the domestic and export hay market, especially in the USA and Australia. There is an increasing focus on "functional" or in vivo measurements, such as intake, preference, digestibility and even an index to indicate the danger of acidosis in ruminants fed high grain diets. NIR is also used to estimate fermentation characteristics of silage, such as pH, ammonia nitrogen and volatile fatty acids.14 Much effort is being expended to improve standardisation of feed testing methods between laboratories, and NIR is proving helpful in this challenge. Following the BSE crisis, detection of ingredients in mixed feeds, especially meat and bone meal, is a major issue, especially in Europe, and a large study has found NIR to be an important tool in discriminating between acceptable and unacceptable ingredients.15
Having fed the cows, it is now time for Fred to feed his brother. Lunch consists of barbequed steak and sausages, pasta, salad and a variety of fresh fruit, all washed down with green tea (Fred is more trendy than many dairy farmers!). Probably neither Jack nor Fred would appreciate that NIR has an important role in monitoring meat quality, not just fat, protein and water but also in screening for authenticity.16
There is some evidence that NIR can predict the tenderness of beef,17 but challenges remain, especially in sampling and sample presentation due to the heterogeneous nature of the product. Colour and cooking quality of fresh pasta can be estimated by NIR,18 and a major application is the quality assessment of intact fruit. Soluble solids (mainly sugars measured as °Brix), starch, acidity, detection of internal defects and sensory properties can be determined,19 and on-line quality sorting of fruit is being adopted.20 Green tea, common in Asia and increasingly popular in western countries, has also been analysed successfully by NIR for several components, including caffeine, amino acids, polyphenols, alkaloids and organoleptic properties.
After lunch, the two brothers embark upon a farm walk, Fred explaining to Jack all about his soils, pastures, crops and fertiliser strategies. Soil analysis by NIR, particularly for carbon, nitrogen and anions is becoming more common,21 but NIR soil mapping and discrimination of soil types have also been attempted.22
Interest is growing in in-field pasture monitoring, with a potential role for portable NIR instruments. Grass and crop on-site analysis for dry matter and nutrients, particularly in breeding trials, is a major new field of NIR research, with NIR sensors mounted on forage or grain harvesters.23 Prediction of nitrogen fertiliser requirements of crops, particularly rice and wheat, via NIR leaf tissue analysis, represents an important advance in cost-efficient application of fertiliser and has environmental benefits.24 Quality assessment and pro- cess management of organic fertilisers and compost by NIR is also gaining interest. Environmental applications in general, involving the sampling and testing of manure, slurries, sewage, lake sediments and other biosolids for nitrogen, other nutrients and even metals are an important new field for NIR.25
Fred checks his watch, but he doesn't really need to—the cows let him know it is time for milking! Jack lends a hand, and together they relieve the cows of their precious white liquid which is the foundation of an important industry now closely monitored by NIR.26 Milk composition can now be tested on-line during milking, for fat and protein, and dairy products such as powdered milk, butter and cheese are routinely analysed on-line in dairy factories—not just for gross composition but also for sensory properties, texture, ripening and process control.27
As the afternoon wears on, Jack feels a little chilly, and dons his jacket—made, of course, from pure Australian wool! Estimation of wool quality was one of the first NIR applications ever attempted,28 but there have been many problems, especially with raw or greasy wool—again mostly due to sampling such a heterogeneous product. The New Zealanders have conducted a lot of research on scoured wool, and measurements of properties like residual grease and colour are now routine. Some studies have shown that NIR prediction of fibre diameter and yield in greasy wool is possible. Discrimination of components of wool-textile blends has also been found to be successful.29
It is now time for Jack Average to bid farewell to his brother after a pleasant day on the farm. He heads for home, but falls victim to temptation as he passes a winery, recalling that his cellar is rather depleted. He spends a good half-hour conducting his own personal experiment on sensory analysis. The wine and grape industry, although steeped in tradition, is increasingly embracing NIR as a tool to test the quality of both the grapes and the final product. Measurements of sugars, acidity, colour and pH of grapes are now frequently performed by NIR.30 Discrimination of various white and red wines has been conducted, as well as estimation of alcohol, glycerol and identification of wine yeast strains. Some studies have shown it is possible to use NIR to assess wine composition through the bottle.
Returning to the city, Jack calls his wife Jane, who has spent all day scrubbing floors, cooking and digging the garden. He proposes dinner in a nice restaurant, and even agrees to wait while she changes into her good clothes.31 Jack is a gentleman! They start off with crusty bread rolls, accompanied by extra virgin olive oil. Jane chooses Atlantic salmon on a bed of rice, and Jack has roast chicken, spuds and vegies. Jack has trouble choosing between an Australian Chardonnay and a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc. They reach the obvious conclusion—both! The waiter (a part-time NIR technician) is disappointed to note that neither Jack nor Jane takes any interest in the fact that NIR is firmly established as a reliable method to assess the quality of olives and detect adulteration of olive oil.32 HE knows of the study that used NIR to measure pigmentation in live farmed salmon,33 and the important food safety development in which hyperspectral imaging was used to detect faecal contamination of poultry carcasses on the killing chain.34
Jane's rice was probably tested by NIR; protein, amylose, gelatinisation temperature, cooking kinetics and discrimination between aromatic and non-aromatic varieties are some of the quality indicators of rice being estimated by NIR.35
And so... Jack and Jane drive home, Jack keeping an eye open for a dreaded "booze bus". Unfortunately the traffic is awful, and they are seriously delayed. By this time Jack is tired and irritable after his big day, and the stress levels inside the car are gradually building up. The question is asked as to why some people complain about being tired after a pleasant day socialising, while others, who have been slaving at home, never complain. That does it—she can damn well drive! The result of all this is that Jack and Jane both have splitting headaches when they arrive home, and go straight to the medicine cupboard. Where would we be without pharmaceuticals? And where would the pharmaceutical industry be without NIR? This is one of the most important and expanding fields for NIR, but of necessity is subject to very strict quality control. NIR is ideal for this purpose, and is used to identify and monitor incoming raw materials,36 analyse for active ingredients,37 measure dissolution properties38 and mechanical performance of tablets—much of this on-line (process analytical technology, PAT). Another application is screening for fake and counterfeit drugs.
Jack is lucky he only has a headache. It could be worse. He may need to go to hospital one day—for a blood test, to be poked and prodded by an overworked and harassed doctor or even to have an operation. And what of NIR?39,40
Considerable research is going on in the medical field, and the potential in particular for non-invasive testing procedures and monitoring of patients during surgery41 is quite exciting. Investigations are continuing on non-invasive blood tests, such as glucose. This has been the "philosopher's stone" for NIR for many years,42 but is not yet within reach. One day perhaps—who knows?
So much for a day in the life of Mr Jack Average. He really is a fairly boring sort of chap. If you asked him what NIR was, you would receive a blank stare. However, he is a citizen, a consumer and a voter. He has expectations about his quality of life which his grandfather would describe as unnecessary, wasteful and opulent. However, he has the luxury of better health (even if overweight), a much more varied diet and in many ways a far easier life than his grandfather had, although he reckons he has more stress, and he does live in a terrifying world. Via the internet, Jack has immediate access to information on everything from product quality to the weather, something his grandfather would never even have dreamed of. He is also more conscious of the effect of his activities on the environment, and should now realise that there is not an infinite supply of all the resources at his disposal. Whether overall he is more knowledgeable, community-minded and pleasant than his grandfather is, however, open to question.
One thing is certain. Although Jack Average is probably ignorant of it, the analytical technique of NIR spectroscopy has transformed the quality assessment of a huge array of natural and synthetic materials, products and processes; neither Jack nor even brother Fred realise that NIR is widely used in industry, petroleum43 and polymers44–46 being some recent examples. Whilst it is not perfect, and cannot measure everything, it is a vital tool in our modern armoury, and deserves to have a higher profile in the community—in industry, academia and government.
Maybe we should make more of an effort to educate our friend Jack—after all, I am told his second cousin, by marriage, is the brother-in-law of the Prime Minister.
- S.E. Kays and F.E. Barton, II, "The use of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy to predict the insoluble dietary fibre fraction of cereal products", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 6, 221 (1998).
- R.O. Pierce, D.B. Funk and C.A. Brenner, "Applying near infrared spectroscopy to the needs of US grain inspection", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: the Future Waves, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and P. Williams. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 451 (1996).
- Y. Li, G. Laycock and W. Fernets, "Rapid assessment of potential malting quality of barley by near infrared diffuse reflection spectroscopy", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: the Future Waves, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and P. Williams. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 475 (1996).
- A.M.C. Davies, B. Radovic, T. Fearn and E. Anklam, "A preliminary study on the characterisation of honey by near infrared spectroscopy", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 10, 121 (2002).
- F. Davrieux , J.C. Manez, N. Durand and B. Guyot, "Determination of the content of six major bio- chemical compounds of green coffee using NIR", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and A. Garrido-Varo. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 441 (2004).
- G. Downey, J. Boussion and D. Beauchêne, "Authentication of whole and ground coffee beans by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 2, 85 (1994).
- N. Berding and G.A. Brotherton, "Analysis of high-moisture material—fibrated sugarcane", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: the Future Waves, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and P. Williams. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 648 (1996).
- V. Punsuvon, A. Terdwongworakul, W. Thanapase and S. Tsuchikawa, "Rapid NIR analysis of chemical and mechanical properties for Eucalyptus camaldulensis at plantation in Thailand", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and A. Garrido-Varo. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 781 (2004).
- L.R. Schimleck, A.J. Michell, C.A. Raymond and A. Muneri, "Assessment of the pulpwood quali- ty of standing trees using near infrared spectroscopy", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 6, A117 (1998).
- G. Bohács and Z. Ovádi, "Prediction of gasoline properties with near infrared spectroscopy", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 6, 341 (1998).
- T. Huth-Fehre, R. Feldhoff, F. Kowol, H. Freitag, S. Kuttler, B. Lohwasser and M. Oleimeulen, "Remote sensor systems for the automated identifi- cation of plastics", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 6, A7 (1998).
- P.C. Flinn and G.J. Downes, "The importance of near infrared spectroscopy in deciding appropriate feeding strategies for Australian livestock", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: the Future Waves, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and P. Williams. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 512 (1996).
- P. Berzaghi, J.S. Shenk and M.O. Westerhaus, "LOCAL prediction with near infrared multi-product databases", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 8, 1 (2000).
- C.A. Kennedy, J.A. Shelford and P.C. Williams, "Near infrared spectroscopic analysis of intact grass silage and fresh grass for dry matter, crude protein and acid detergent fiber", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: the Future Waves, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and P. Williams. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 524 (1996).
- A.M. Renier, V. Baeten, G. Sinnaeve, J.A. Fernández Pierna and P. Dardenne, "The NIR camera: a new perspective for meat and bone meal detection in feedingstuffs", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and A. Garrido-Varo. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 1061 (2004).
- A.M.C. Davies, I.A. Cowe, R.P. Withey, C.G. Eddison and T. Fearn, "Commodity testing and sub- sample homogeneity system for the Meatspec analyser", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 6, 69 (1998).
- R. Rødbotten, B. Mevik and K.I. Hildrum, "Prediction and classification of tenderness in beef from non- invasive diode array detected NIR spectra", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 9, 199 (2001).
- N.M. Edwards, J.E. Dexter, D.C. Sobering and P.C. Williams, "Whole grain prediction of durum wheat yellow pigment by visible/near infrared reflectance spectroscopy", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: the Future Waves, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and P. Williams. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 462 (1996).
- K.B. Walsh, M. Golic and C.V. Greensill, "NIR assessment of soluble solids and dry matter content in a range of fruits and vegetables", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and A. Garrido-Varo. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 381 (2004).
- S. Saranwong, S. Kawano and T. Davies, "Automated NIR sorting of oranges", NIR news 16(2), 9 (2005).
- M. Confalonieri, F. Fornasier, A. Ursino, F. Boccardi, B. Pintus and M. Odoardi, "The potential of near infrared reflectance spectroscopy as a tool for the chemical characterisation of agricultural soils", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 9, 123 (2001).
- G.D. Batten, "Forestry and the environment: challenges for near infrared spectroscopy", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and A. Garrido-Varo. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 749 (2004).
- C. Paul, "Embedded near infrared spectroscopy goes to the fields", NIR news 16(2), 3 (2005).
- S Ciavarella, A.B. Blakeney and G.D. Batten, "Analysis of plant tissue test samples stored for up to 11 years", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and A. Garrido-Varo. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 479 (2004).
- J.B. Reeves, III and J.A.S. Van Kessel, "Spectroscopic analysis of dried manures. Near- versus mid-infrared diffuse reflectance spectroscopy for the analysis of dried dairy manures", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 10, 93 (2002).
- S. Kawano, S. Saranwong and F. Terada, "Rapid, easy-handling system for NIR compositional analysis of nonhomogenized milk using a test tube", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and A. Garrido-Varo. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 77 (2004).
- C. Giardina, N. Estephan, T.M.P. Cattaneo, R. Giangiacomo and D.N. Rutledge, "NIR spectroscopy: optimisation of linear regression model to predict milk coagulation trends", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and A. Garrido-Varo. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 231 (2004).
- J.P. Connell, "A woollen work at the Beehive", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 4, 11 (1996).
- S.T. DeJesus and Q. Wang, "Development of a near infrared based fiber identification system for carpet recycling", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 6, A259 (1998).
- R.G. Dambergs, D. Cozzolino, W.U. Cynkar, M.B. Esler, L.J. Janik, I.L. Francis and M. Gishen, "Strategies to minimise matrix-related error with near infrared analysis of wine grape quality parameters", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: Proceedings of the 11th International Conference, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and A. Garrido-Varo. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 183 (2004).
- S. Ghosh, "How near infrared measurements are taken around the world in textile plants", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: the Future Waves, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and P. Williams. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 300 (1996).
- E. Bertran, M. Blanco, J. Coello, H. Iturriaga, S. Maspoch and I. Montoliu, "Near infrared spectrometry and pattern recognition as screening methods for the authentication of virgin olive oils of very close geographical origins", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 8, 45 (2000).
- C. Solberg, "Use of near infrared transmittance in quality analysis of fish", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: the Future Waves, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and P. Williams. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 591 (1996).
- K.C. Lawrence, W.R. Windham, B. Park and R.J. Buhr, "A hyperspectral imaging system for identification of faecal and ingesta contamination on poultry carcasses", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 11, 269 (2003).
- N. Shimizu, J. Katsura, T. Yanagisawa, B. Tezuka, Y. Maruyama, S. Inoue, C.G. Eddison, I.A. Cowe, R.P. Withey, A.B. Blakeney, T. Kimura, S. Yoshizaki, H. Okadome, H. Toyoshima and K. Ohtsubo, "Evaluating techniques for rice grain quality using near infrared transmission spectroscopy", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 6, A111 (1998).
- J.-P. Conzen, A. Schmidt and J.Q. Wang, "Non-destructive quality control of pharmaceutical tablets by near infrared reflectance spectroscopy", in Near Infrared Spectroscopy: the Future Waves, Ed by A.M.C. Davies and P. Williams. NIR Publications, Chichester, p. 378 (1996).
- D.W. Hopkins, "Shoot-out 2002: transfer of calibration for content of active in a pharmaceutical tablet", NIR news 14(5), 11 (2003).
- T.G. Axon, R. Brown, S.V. Hammond, S.J. Maris and F. Ting, "Focusing near infrared spectroscopy on the business objectives of modern pharmaceutical production", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 6, A13 (1998).
- J. Todd Kuenstner and K.H. Norris, "Spectrophotometry of human haemoglobin in the near infrared region from 1000 to 2500 nm", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 2, 59 (1994).
- J. Todd Kuenstner and K.H. Norris, "Near infrared haemoglobinometry", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 3, 11 (1995).
- M. Sowa, J. Payetta and L. Leonadi, "Application of NIR spectroscopy in plastic and reconstructive surgery", NIR news 15(3), 3 (2004).
- H.M. Heise, A. Bittner and R. Marbach. "Clinical chemistry and near infrared spectroscopy: technology for non-invasive glucose monitoring", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 6, 349 (1998).
- C. Xiaoli, Y. Hongfu and L. Wanzhen, "In-line monitoring of several pilot scale catalytic reforming units using a short-wavelength near infrared analyser", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 13, 37 (2005).
- W. Becker and N. Eisenreich, "Measurement of the Irganox content in polypropylene polymers during extrusion", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 13, 147 (2005).
- S. Benali, J. Boucher and G. Lachenal, "Chemeorheology: a new design for simultaneous rheological and Fourier transform near infrared analysis", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 12, 5 (2004).
- A. Kulcke, C. Gurschler, G. Spock, R. Leitner and M. Kraft, "On-line classification of synthetic polymers using near infrared spectral imaging", J. Near Infrared Spectrosc. 11, 71 (2003).


text:
Despite its feel, director Jason Reitman's (Labor Day) latest examination of society is less satire and more truthsaying, though the delightful narrative line by Emma Thompson (Bridget Jones's Baby) might confuse you on that point. The result is an entertaining, but somewhat harrowing view of the world of digital communication across both gender and generational lines.
Reitman co-wrote the film with Erin Cressida Wilson (Girl on the Train), both of whom have juggled complex storylines in their work. This story is no exception, but despite the scope attacked in this film it is all kept clear and relate-able. It works, in large part, thanks to the solid performances of the ensemble.
- Adam Sandler (Hotel Transylvania) and Rosemary Dewitt (La La Land) struggle with marriage.
- Judy Greer (Grandma) and Dean Norris (Remember) are focused more on how much to intercede in their children's digital lives. While Greer's onscreen daughter, Olivia Crocicchia (Rescue Me), must face the realities of what and how much to reveal; the line between fame and loss of self.
- Elena Kampouris (Cobbler) battles victimhood of her self-identity.
- Ansel Elgort (Allegiant) and Kaitlyn Dever (Laggies) attempt to find safe harbor during existential crises. These two, of the younger cast, had the most interesting and layered characters and became the central spine of the movie.
- Around them all spins Jennifer Garner (Nine Lives) in the disturbing role of trying to control all of the above. Their are consequences, positive and negative, for that effort.
Finally, there is also a narrative line that follows the Voyager satellite, narrated hysterically and with appropriate gravitas by Emma Thompson. While an interesting and poetic layer to add to the rest of the story, it may have been an element too far. Thompson's narration could have existed without it, though it would have had less reason to drive the tale. The story of the various people stood on its own well enough, and the journey of Voyager didn't quite click for me as a parallel nor as the message Reitman hoped for.
Overall, this is an effective and philosophical movie. And while that may not sound entertaining, it is. You'll find hooks that you can relate to in at least one of the threads and Thompson's commentary alone is riot.


text:
Company Profile
Tencent Cloud
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Last Updated: May 13th, 2020
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text:
Selenium with Cucumber JS
Your guide to running Selenium Webdriver tests with Cucumber JS on BrowserStack.
BrowserStack gives you instant access to our Selenium Grid of 2000+ real devices and desktop browsers. Running your Selenium tests with Cucumber JS on BrowserStack is simple. This guide will help you:
- Run a sample Selenium Webdriver test with Cucumber JS on BrowserStack
- Setup your Cucumber JS test suite to be able to test URLs in your internal network
- Understand and configure the core capabilities in your Selenium test suite
- Speed up your Cucumber JS test suite with parallel testing
- Use our REST API to update your tests
Before you can start running your Selenium tests with Cucumber JS:
- Install Cucumber JS using npm
# Install using npm npm install cucumber
Integration with BrowserStack
To understand how to integrate with BrowserStack, we will look at two things:
- A sample test case written in Cucumber JS with NodeJS
- Integration of this sample test case with BrowserStack
Sample Test Case
The sample Cucumber JS test case below searches for the string "BrowserStack" on Google, and checks if the title of the resulting page is "BrowserStack - Google Search"
// Google Feature Feature: Google Search Functionality Scenario: Can find search results When I type query as "BrowserStack" Then I submit Then I should see title "BrowserStack - Google Search"
Once we have defined the feature file, which contains the test case, we now need to create the step definition. The step definition for the Cucumber JS test case shown above is:
// Google Steps module.exports = function() { this.When(/^I type query as "([^"]*)"$/, function (searchQuery, next) { this.driver.get('https://www.google.com/ncr'); this.driver.findElement({ name: 'q' }) .sendKeys(searchQuery + '\n').then(next); }); this.Then(/^I submit$/, function (next) { var self = this; this.driver.findElement({ name: 'btnG' }) .click() .then(function() { self.driver.wait(function () { return self.driver.isElementPresent(webdriver.By.id("top_nav")); }, 5000); next(); }); }); this.Then(/^I should see title "([^"]*)"$/, function (titleMatch, next) { this.driver.getTitle() .then(function(title) { assert.equal(title, titleMatch, next, 'Expected title to be ' + titleMatch); }); }); };
Now that we have created the feature file and the step definition, we are ready to integrate this Cucumber JS test case into BrowserStack.
Integrating with BrowserStack
Now that we have created a feature file and step definitions, we can integrate our Cucumber JS test case into BrowserStack. We now create a hooks.js and env.js file, as show below:
// hooks.js var config_file = '../../conf/' + (process.env.CONFIG_FILE || 'single') + '.conf.js'; var config = require(config_file).config; var username = process.env.BROWSERSTACK_USERNAME || config.user; var accessKey = process.env.BROWSERSTACK_ACCESS_KEY || config.key; var createBrowserStackSession = function(config, caps){ return new webdriver.Builder(). usingServer('http://'+config.server+'/wd/hub'). withCapabilities(caps). build(); } var myHooks = function () { var bs_local = null; this.Before(function (scenario, callback) { var world = this; var task_id = parseInt(process.env.TASK_ID || 0); var caps = config.capabilities[task_id]; caps['browserstack.user'] = username; caps['browserstack.key'] = accessKey; if(caps["browserstack.local"]){ // Code to start browserstack local before start of test and stop browserstack local after end of test bs_local = new browserstack.Local(); bs_local.start({'key': accessKey }, function(error) { if (error) return console.log(error.red); world.driver = createBrowserStackSession(config, caps); callback(); }); } else { world.driver = createBrowserStackSession(config, caps); callback(); } }); this.After(function(scenario, callback){ this.driver.quit().then(function(){ if(bs_local){ bs_local.stop(callback); } else callback(); }); }); }; module.exports = myHooks;
// env.js var configure = function () { this.setDefaultTimeout(60 * 1000); }; module.exports = configure;
We now need to create a config file, which contains the BrowserStack Hub URL and credentials required to connect to the BrowserStack Selenium grid.
exports.config = { user: 'USERNAME', key: 'ACCESS_KEY', server: 'hub-cloud.browserstack.com', capabilities: [{ browserName: 'chrome', name: 'Bstack-[CucumberJS] Sample Test' }] }
We are now ready to run the test on BrowserStack, using the following command:
CONFIG_FILE=single ./node_modules/cucumber/bin/cucumber.js features/single.feature
Testing on Internal Networks
BrowserStack enables you to run your Cucumber JS automated tests on your internal development environments, on localhost, and from behind a corporate firewall. This feature is called "Local Testing".
Local Testing establishes a secure connection between your machine and the BrowserStack cloud. Once you set up Local Testing, all URLs work out of the box, including HTTPS URLs and those behind a proxy or firewall.
Configuring your Cucumber JS tests for Local Testing takes just three steps:
Download and run the BrowserStackLocal binary:
# Install using npm npm install browserstack-local
Next, you need to update your Cucumber JS config file, local.conf.json, and set the browserstack.local capability to true:
exports.config = { user: 'USERNAME', key: 'ACCESS_KEY', server: 'hub-cloud.browserstack.com', capabilities: [{ browserName: 'chrome', name: 'Bstack-[CucumberJS] Local Test', 'browserstack.local': true }] }
Here is a sample feature and steps file which using Local testing:
// Local Feature Feature: BrowserStack Local Testing Scenario: Can check tunnel working When I open health check Then I should see "Up and running"
// Local Steps 'use strict'; var assert = require('cucumber-assert'); var webdriver = require('selenium-webdriver'); module.exports = function() { this.When(/^I open health check$/, function (next) { this.driver.get('http://bs-local.com:45691/check'); next(); }); this.Then(/^I should see "([^"]*)"$/, function (sourceMatch, next) { this.driver.getPageSource() .then(function(source) { assert.equal(source.indexOf(sourceMatch) > -1, true, next, 'Expected source to contain ' + sourceMatch); }); }); };
You can now run your Cucumber JS test using BrowserStack Local with the following command:
CONFIG_FILE=local ./node_modules/cucumber/bin/cucumber.js features/local.feature
Configuring capabilities
To run your Cucumber JS test suite on our Selenium grid, you have to configure a couple of capabilities so that your tests execute on a remote browser. BrowserStack supports the full complement of Selenium capabilities, and also has several advanced capabilities which give you full control over how you want to run your Cucumber JS test suites.
The sections below detail the different capabilities and provide examples of how to use them.For a full reference of all the Selenium and custom capabilities we support, visit our Capabilities page.
Run tests on desktop browsers and real mobile devices
Using the drop-down menus, select a combination of operating system, browser, and screen resolution. To see the order of precedence for the capabilities, please read about parameter override rules here.
You can additionally run your Cucumber JS tests on real Android and iOS devices in our datacenters.
Look for the icon to select a real device.
capabilities: [{ 'os': 'Windows', 'os_version': '7', 'browser': 'IE', 'browser_version': '8.0', 'resolution': '1024x768' }]
For a list of all supported devices, visit the Browsers and Devices page.
Builds and projects
Keep track of all your automated tests using the build and project capabilities. Group your tests into builds, and builds further into projects.
capabilities: [{ 'build': 'version1', 'project': 'newintropage' }]
Self-signed certificates
To avoid invalid certificate errors while testing on BrowserStack Automate, set the acceptSslCerts capability in your test to true.
capabilities: [{ 'acceptSslCerts': true }]
Enable and Disable Pop-upsChrome
Popup blocker is disabled by default in Chrome >= 43. To enable the popup blocker, create a chromeOptions capability, and pass the disable-popup-blocking as excludeSwitches to the capability.
capabilities: [{ 'chromeOptions': { 'excludeSwitches': ["disable-popup-blocking"] } }]
To disable the popup blocker in Chrome < 43, create a chromeOptions capability, and pass the --disable-popup-blocking argument to the capability.
capabilities: [{ 'chromeOptions': { 'args': ["--disable-popup-blocking"] } }]IE
To enable the popups in IE, use the browserstack.ie.enablePopups capability.
capabilities: [{ 'browserstack.ie.enablePopups': true }]Safari
To enable the popups in Safari, use the browserstack.safari.enablePopups capability.
capabilities: [{ 'browserstack.safari.enablePopups': true }]
BrowserStack provides a range of debugging tools to help you quickly identify and fix bugs you discover through your automated tests.Text Logs
Text Logs are a comprehensive record of your test. They are used to identify all the steps executed in the test and troubleshoot errors for the failed step. Text Logs are accessible from the Automate dashboard or via our REST API.Visual Logs
Visual Logs automatically capture the screenshots generated at every Selenium command run through your Cucumber JS tests. Visual logs help with debugging the exact step and the page where failure occurred. They also help identify any layout or design related issues with your web pages on different browsers.
Visual Logs are disabled by default. In order to enable Visual Logs you will need to set browserstack.debug capability to 'true'.
capabilities: [{ 'browserstack.debug': true }]Video recording
Every test run on the BrowserStack Selenium grid is recorded exactly as it is executed on our remote machine. This feature is particularly helpful whenever a browser test fails. You can access videos from Automate Dashboard for each session. You can also download the videos from the Dashboard or retrieve a link to download the video using our REST API.
To disable video recording, add the following code snippet:
capabilities: [{ 'browserstack.video': false }]Console Logs
Console Logs are enabled with log level set to 'errors' by default. To set different log levels, you need to use the capability browserstack.console with values 'disable', 'errors', 'warnings', 'info' or 'verbose', as shown below:
capabilities: [{ 'browserstack.console': 'errors' }]Network Logs
Network Logs capture the browser's performance data such as network traffic, latency, HTTP requests and responses in the HAR format. You can download network logs using the REST API or from the Automate Dashboard. You can visualize HAR files using the HAR Viewer.
Network Logs are disabled by default. To enable Network Logs use the capability browserstack.networkLogs with the value 'true', as shown below:
capabilities: [{ 'browserstack.networkLogs': 'true' }]
Speed up testing
The BrowserStack Selenium grid gives you the infrastructure you need to scale. Features like Parallel Testing and Queuing enable you to scale faster.
On BrowserStack, you can run multiple Cucumber JS tests at the same time across various browser, device and OS combinations. This is "Parallel Testing". Parallel Testing gives you the same benefits as running a multi-threaded application helps you reduce the run time of your test suite, resulting in faster build times and faster releases.
To run tests on multiple browsers in parallel with Cucumber JS on BrowserStack, modify the config file as below:
exports.config = { user: 'USERNAME', key: 'ACCESS_KEY', server: 'hub-cloud.browserstack.com', commonCapabilities: { name: 'Bstack-[CucumberJS] Parallel Test', "browserstack.debug": true }, capabilities: [{ browserName: 'chrome' },{ browserName: 'firefox' },{ browserName: 'safari' },{ browserName: 'internet explorer' }] } // Code to support common capabilities exports.config.capabilities.forEach(function(caps){ for(var i in exports.config.commonCapabilities) caps[i] = caps[i] || exports.config.commonCapabilities[i]; });
Capabilities for each environment can be customised as explained earlier.
You need the following custom script to launch the tests in parallel.
#!/usr/bin/env node var child_process = require('child_process'); var config_file = '../conf/' + (process.env.CONFIG_FILE || 'single') + '.conf.js'; var config = require(config_file).config; process.argv[0] = 'node'; process.argv[1] = './node_modules/.bin/cucumber-js'; for(var i in config.capabilities){ var env = Object.create( process.env ); env.TASK_ID = i.toString(); var p = child_process.spawn('/usr/bin/env', process.argv, { env: env } ); p.stdout.pipe(process.stdout); }
You can now run your tests in parallel on BrowserStack using the following command:
# Run using custom runner CONFIG_FILE=parallel ./scripts/cucumber-runner.js features/single.feature
With queuing, you can launch an additional number of parallel tests with different browser configurations that will be queued in a sequence. For instance, if you want to run 5 additional tests, apart from your subscribed limit of 2 parallel tests, BrowserStack will queue the additional 5 tests until one of the 2 initial tests finish, and a slot is available for execution. With queuing, you don't need to worry about managing your test pipeline - we automatically take care of scheduling and execution for you.
With this feature, accounts up to 5 parallel tests can queue 5 tests. Beyond 5 parallel tests, an equivalent number of tests will be queued.
BrowserStack provides a comprehensive REST API to access and update information about your tests. Shown below is a sample code snippet which allows you to mark your tests as pass or fail based on the assertions in your Cucumber JS test cases.
var request = require("request"); request({uri: "https://USERNAME:firstname.lastname@example.com/automate/sessions/<session-id>.json", method:"PUT", form:{"status":"completed","reason":""}})
A full reference of our REST API can be found here.


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Styles are what define women in a world where the fashion industry is cupping in billions every year. In Nigeria, the love for African prints has birthed the most creative pieces the world has ever since.
Every other day, Nigerian ladies step out in dashing styles and when they choose to flaunt their beauty in ankara fabrics, every construction appears like a hit. In this age and time, more women are connecting to the core of themselves and stepping out in the most dazzling way is how best they show they love themselves.
In fact, the fashion these ladies parade themselves in always makes a good lesson for designers and stylists who are looking to break barriers and give their best to clients. They always say inspiration is sometimes difficult but these days, it's can be found in the next trendy lady one's gaze can catch.
We presents the stylish ankara creations that make 2018 look like the year of fashion and creativity:
1. Flowers are designed to blossom
Ankara style
Source: Instagram
2. Trendy and chic
Ankara fashion
Source: Instagram


text:
Aisha Al Hammadi, an aerospace engineering student, shares her experiences with STEM, what attracted her to the sciences, and the changing perceptions around women in the field.
Emirati Aisha Al Hammadi, 18, is in her first year of a four-year undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering, at Khalifa University in Abu Dhabi. She describes her passion for unfolding the mysteries of space – and her dreams to one day become an astronaut.
"I'm studying Aerospace Engineering but part of my course is about studying space, and that's the part I love. When I was 16 my school organised a trip to the NASA Space Center in Houston, Texas. I didn't know much about NASA but it was an incredible experience and we met real astronauts, who were truly inspiring. I was particularly interested by the fact that there are so many 'unknowns' about space, that there is so much still to be learned and that so far we have actually discovered relatively little.
"I've always been a problem-solver, and perhaps that's what attracted me to the sciences in the first place. I'm a big fan of mathematics and physics, and I love that they are so absolute: either something is true, or it is false, completely 100 per cent right, or completely 100 per cent false. At the time of our visit to NASA, at high school, I was studying both sciences and humanities, but in the sciences I was in the advanced class so they were always teaching me more complex concepts, and I found that I was capable of learning at this higher level.
"Today my family are very proud of me for going into a field that has perhaps traditionally been seen as male-dominated. In the UAE we are changing perceptions of what women are capable of, and my family are supporting me in developing myself, so that one day in the future I can in turn help my country to develop.
"The recent launch of the new UAE Space Agency is very exciting and I am hoping to go there when I graduate, or to one of the many new companies that are taking aerospace engineers. The country is very serious about the development of its domestic space industry, and wants to develop to a level to match the US and UK, Russia and Japan. When I graduate I am hoping to be able to support them in this mission.
"Ultimately, it is my dream to go into space. The astronomer Steve Kelly recently came back from spending a year in orbit, where he took more than a thousand pictures and kept the world updated every day via Twitter. The photos were incredible and I hope one day to see that view with my own eyes. I'd also like to set foot on Mars, somewhere completely new, on behalf of the UAE.
"Those ambitions inspire me to study hard, instead of wasting time playing video games and sitting in front of the television. Even when it's tough or I'm tired, I keep going because I know that if I continue my journey then I will be able to satisfy my hopes in the future. Today, everything is possible – on this world, and beyond."
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Like the death of any world leader, there is a time of change that comes after the person's passing. Especially between two allied countries. Russia and Poland have had an up and down relationship for decades, but now that Mr. Kaczynski has passed, a new and hopefully better era will open.
No, the death of Poland's president has not led to a warming of relations between Poland and Russia. Despite some of president Kaczynski's policies being unfriendly toward Moscow, some thawing had taken place in the months before his death. He was flying to Russia as part of a forgiveness mission for the Katyn massacre, but his fatal plane crash in Russia put that thawing on hold.
I do not believe the death of the Polish President Lech Kaczynski has started a new era for Polish-Russian relations. The President died in Russia on a plane full of other diplomats from Poland during a trip commemorate the Katyń massacre. The event does not indicate that there has been any kind of change between the relations of Russia and Poland.
No, I think that this mans death is not going to make a huge change in the way that these two nations view each other, and the way that this president felt is the same way the whole country will feel. They will still have the same relationship with each other.
It is only one person that has actually died. One person, despite being a symbol of many things, is not in any way a true paradigm shift in relations between countries, unless, of course a dictator had died, which was not the case. The relations between the two countries are incredibly complex.


text:
Cape Town
Firefighters have managed to contain much 106 vegetation blazes which has been raging in the Helderberg area in Cape Town, South Africa.
Several properties have reportedly been evacuated as a precaution on the fires along the Helderberg Mountains which had been burning since Tuesday morning.
More than 120 firefighters, 12 fire engines, 10 water tankers and aircraft had been deployed to battle the flames, against the strong southeasterly winds which contributed to the rapid spread of the fires.
The cause of the fires is still unknown, but a similar incident in 2015 and the cause was determined to have been arson.
Meanwhile, social media has played a crucial role in co-ordinating the much needed assistance to the fire-fighters as calls for assistance spread on WhatsApp groups and Facebook.
Several supermarket chains not only made sandwiches but opened their doors late at night to donate whatever was needed.
The community itself jumped at the opportunity to assist and delivered water, food and other necessities like sunblock, eye drops and lip balm at drop off points.


text:
Bhagavad Gita As It Is w/ Bonus DVD - just $14.95!
1972 MacMillan edition - exact reprint
Recent Posts
TagsBhaktivedanta Book Trust Bhagavad Gita A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami's books Prabhupada's books in schools age of quarrel kali yuga maha mantra scholar reviews of Prabhupada's books standing orders for sets of Srimad‑Bhagavatam Hansadutta kirtan Lord Chaitanya guru origin of life soul spiritual master varnashram Bigelow cardiovascular surgery dharma moment of death
Category Archives: Socio-Economic Solutions: Varnashram Dharma
New World Disorder
Talks with theologian Dr. Stillson Judah and Father Joseph Spae (Vatican), of the Graduate Theological Union, Berkeley, California, July 5th, 1978: The Krishna consciousness movement has long predicted the collapse of the world economy, precariously dependent on oil, driven by … more
Village Economy
Revert to sound economic principles based on model communities or villages. Peaceful atmosphere can be attained only when there is large-scale village organization, actually village life. excerpt from letter to Rayarama, Seattle, October 17, 1968: Nobody should take to very … more


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Disney announced that they will be airing the upcoming Descendants 2 on five networks simultaneously. The highly anticipated sequel to the 2015 hit Descendants will premier Friday, July 21st at 8 p.m. on the Disney Channel, Disney XD, Freeform, Lifetime, and ABC.
The announcement was made by Ben Sherwood, co-chairman of Disney Media Networks and President of Disney/ABC Television Group. He indicated their goal was to reach fans all over.
"We're combining the magic of Disney Channel content with the power and reach of our linear networks and digital platforms to ensure we're everywhere our fans are all at the same time.
To add to Mr. Sherwood's comments Gary Marsh, President and Creative Officer for Disney Channel Worldwide added:
"The passion that fans — across every demographic and geographic landscape — have demonstrated for 'Descendants' rivals anything we've seen since 'High School Musical.' Sharing the new sequel movie across our far-reaching portfolio of TV networks and digital platforms is something only Disney can do — and we do it proudly."
I'm so excited about it airing on ABC as it gives a wider access to viewers who might not have a dish or cable television and it seems that is their goal as well. I work with kids and I recently ran the book fair at a school I volunteer at. We consistently sell out of any Descendants books we get. I'm happy to see that Disney understands how popular it is and they realize that not all fans can watch the Disney Channel.
Descendants is widely popular with books , clothing and toy lines. My daughter adores the first film and can't wait for the second one.
The new film will again follow Mal (Dove Cameron), Evie (Sofia Carson), Jay (Booboo Stewart) and Carlos (Cameron Boyce) as they continue their adventures at Auradon. It's all too much for Mal and she goes back to the Isle of the Lost and her villain roots. When she returns she discovers that Ursula's daughter, Uma ( China Anne McClain) has taken over with her pirate gang, that includes Captain Hook's son Harry (Thomas Doherty) and Gaston's son Gil (Dylan Playfair), and they are trying to destroy the barrier to free the villains again.
My daughter is especially excited about China Anne McClain being in this. She loved her in A.N.T. Farm.
Also returning for the second film is King Ben (Mitchell Hope.) Here's hoping he and Mal's friends can bring her back to Auradon.
Will you be watching the premiere in July? Do you or your kiddos love Descendants? Comment and let us know!
Want to go on vacation?
We recommend Academy Travel, a Disney Diamond Earmarked agency. Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Disney Cruise Line, Adventures by Disney, Universal Orlando Resort, Sea World and more -- they can do it all, and at no extra cost to you! Fill out the form below or call 609-978-0740 today!


text:
So - you know shared hosting no longer cuts it, and your single office connection is not enough to host a web server - so which is best, leasing a dedicated server or buying your own server and co-locating it someone's data center?
For those that are unsure of the difference, here it is in a nutshell. When you co-locate, you are simply renting space within someone else's facility to store your own server or servers. It's like a high tech gym locker that you are renting all or part of to house your servers. You either ship or deliver your server to your provider. Additional services provided with co-location vary from host to host but it certainly won't include the actual server. With a dedicated server you are getting all the features of co-location, plus the actual web server itself.
Which is better?
While it certainly depends on your particular needs, and there are excellent situations for both the dedicated server option is quickly becoming a better choice in more and more cases. If you already own a web server, or cluster that you prefer to use, then obviously co-location may be your best choice. If you are considering buying new equipment and shipping it off for co-location - please reconsider. The prices and equipment available in dedicated hosting these days are outstanding plus relieve you of the burden of hardware. Most hosts keep identical spare parts on hand for the types of servers used and are quick to react if something fails. Depending on your arrangement with a colocation deal hardware failure could mean paying to have a server shipped back (or you drive to get it), having it fixed yourself then sending it back to the data center.
Please refer following web sites for useful resources related to web site hosting:
About Author:
Paras Shah
Chief Technology Officer
VIP PowerNet, Inc.
Phone: (713)787-6501
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Published: 11:50 am, Sun. Jun. 18th, 2017Updated: 11:43 am
Artesia's Summer Food Program is back!
Thanks to the Changing Lives Coalition, Artesia children through age 18 can have a hot, home-cooked meal at no cost five days a week now through Aug. 4.
The program will be hosted by the Artesia Center, 612 N. Eighth St., from 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m., Monday-Friday, and the food will be prepared onsite by the Changing Lives Coalition staff. Hungry diners over age 18 are also invited to join in and can purchase a meal for $4.
This program isn't new to Artesia — it previously ran until 2002 and was started up again last summer by the Changing Lives Coalition. At that time, the program didn't have a home, and the staff prepared meals on an outdoor grill for several hundred kids each day during what many of us remember as one of the hottest summers ever!
They only had funding to serve meals for one month last year, but this year's program has been fully funded by the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department.
The program is underway, so go check it out — it's a chance for kids to get a balanced meal at no cost and for the rest of us to support a great cause while enjoying a good meal — a win-win situation for all of us.
Volunteers are very much welcomed — call 736-7024 to get set up or for more information.
The Changing Lives Coalition would like to express their appreciation and gratitude to Luis Reyes and his staff at the Artesia Center.
The menu for the coming week will include:
Chicken nuggets, mashed potatoes, green beans, milk
Tacos, beans, fruit cup, milk
Barbecue chicken sandwiches, side salad, watermelon slices, milk
Chicken penne, side salad, broccoli, milk
Ham grilled cheese, grapes, broccoli, milk
For the remainder of the summer, the coming week's menu will be published in each Sunday's Community Living section of the Daily Press.


text:
Don't worry about the price!
Benny Boyd's Price Guarantee:
All monthly payments are estimates. Actual payment will depend on vehicle year make, model, and are subject to bank approval. Plus tax, title and license. Based on Credit. Customers must qualify.
call Now for Special Internet Savings !!! For the Best Price Call Now!!!! Please click on the 'view details' link for all vehicle information including window sticker on new vehicles.A Better Buy from Benny Boyd!
*Although every reasonable effort has been made to insure the accuracy of the information contained on this site, absolute accuracy cannot be guaranteed. This site, and all information and materials appearing on it, are presented to the user "as is" without warranty of any kind, either express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, title or non-infringement. All vehicles are subject to prior sale. Price does not include applicable tax, title, and license. Not responsible for typographical errors.


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He may have announced a new anti-terror plan, but did you know that Barack Obama can also fight alien invasions - and is a barbarian? New comics due in June reveal our president's hidden sides.
Apparently, it's never too late to jump on a bandwagon, as publisher Devil's Due is eager to point out by declaring June "Obama Month," and featuring the president in two new comics.
The more straightforward of the two is Drafted: One Hundred Days, which places Obama into its regular alien-invasion setting and watches as he fights the extra-terrestrial bastards to the best of his ability. The second comic, however, is just plain odd:
BARACK THE BARBARIAN: QUEST FOR THE TREASURE OF STIMULI: Devil's Due and Larry Hama (G.I. Joe, Wolverine) take political satire to a whole new level. Hama, a surprise hire to some, but not to those who truly know his tastes, will take a look at the current state of politics both past and present and isn't afraid to point fun at Washinton's sacred cows. In the distant future the story of Barack Obama has become a little... distorted. According to THE MADDOWIAN CHRONICLES he was the one destined to save the great republic of America and dethrone the overpaid despots of the time. Join Barack, Sorceress Hilaria, her demi-god trickster husband Biil, Overlord Boosh and Chainknee of the Elephant Kingdom. Who can the lone barbarian trust, if anyone?
What that press release doesn't mention is Barack the Barbarian's nemesis, "Red Sarah." Yes, really, they're making Sarah Palin into Red Sonja. This is supposed to be an ongoing monthly series, people. Be very afraid.


text:
After only four days with Grandma Connie, Michael is now reading.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Michael received his first eye exam this week. We were not sure if Dr. Schulz was planning to mine for coal or check out Michael's eyes! All is well with his eyeballs says Dr. Schulz.
Dr. Schulz can be seen at the Eye Mart in Ankeny or Ames if you're in need of an exam.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Michael got his first haircut on Sunday. His long locks growing over his ears so we thought it was time to bust out the clippers.
I'm move'n now!
Vodpod videos no longer available.
Michael wanted me to say a big thank you to our family in Pocahontas. Thanks Great Grandpa and Great Grandma Karhoff for letting us hang with you guys for a couple days! Michael had fun watching Great Grandma pick up everything he threw on the floor EVERY time. She was a good sport.
Thanks Papa Mike and Grandma Rose for the new soft, cuddly friend they gave Michael yesterday. When the thumb heads for the mouth within seconds of touching something you can be sure of two things:
1. it's really soft
2. you most certainly don't want to try taking it away
Uncle Greg and Aunt Erin Marie recovered enough by Sunday morning to play with Michael before leaving for home.
Michael and I have been in Pocahontas visiting Papa Mike, Grandma Rose, Great Grandpa Bob and Great Grandma LaVonne. Today Michael got to visit his Papa Mike at work.
Uncle Greg and Aunt Erin Marie were in town this week and offered to watch Michael and our niece Addi tonight. This is how we found them when we got home. Needless to say, they may wait a while before having kids of their own.
Michael is forward-facing in his car seat now and LOVES it! Who knew a new view could make such a difference?
Our niece, Addison turned one last Saturday. It's hard to believe a year has gone by already! Happy Birthday Cutie!
Week after week I get an email inviting Michael and me to a play date at a local Tae Kwon Do studio and week after week something comes up and we are unable to go. Last week when I got the email I decided that we were just going to make it happen. Michael is nearly 10 months now and from my observation is in desperate need of some peer interaction. I watched a friend's little boy on Monday and you would have thought I just gave Michael the best present on earth. He loved having Josiah around. He watched his every move.
This morning after Michael awoke from his morning nap he quickly had a bottle and then out the door we went. He was dressed in one of his most handsome outfits because his aunt and uncle are coming today and they were the ones who purchased it for him. We arrived at the play date and it was just as I expected – Michael loved it! He watched all the kids run around and began to warm up when he saw his friend Josiah. Josiah was eating a snack of pretzel fish and wanted to share with Michael. I gave him permission to share his snack. The first one went down great but the second one wasn't so smooth. I think a piece of salt got caught in his throat and he started gagging and crying. The next thing I know he was covered in barf and so was the floor of the studio.
Poor little guy! It really was unfortunate that he made such a terrible first impression… and spoiled the fashion show he was scheduled to give his aunt and uncle tonight.
Vodpod videos no longer available.
This is the rattle I mentioned in a previous post. Our friend Peter Swanson made it for Michael. Thanks Peter!!


text:
Did you know that domain names are like fingerprints? They are all unique, as they must be, so that only one website can be housed at that digital location. There is one entity in charge of keeping track of all domain names and to whom they belong in order to ensure that there are no duplicates—ICANN: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers. Recently ICANN enacted changes to some of their policies in an effort to improve security and prevent fraudulent domain trades and transfers. We'll break that down for you…
Domain Name Basics
Before you can understand the policy changes, you need to be familiar with a few of the terms:
- Domain: the virtual address where a website may be located—it's the part of the URL after "www" and may end with .com, .edu, .gov, .net, .us, etc.
- Registrar: the party with whom a domain name is registered—companies like GoDaddy and Network Solutions are registrars. Registration of a domain name usually involves paying an annual fee, giving you exclusive ownership of that domain (through the paid term).
- Registrant: the individual who registers the domain name with the registrar.
- Trade: the change of registrant contact information from one party to another (even if the parties may be the same)
- Transfer: the movement of a domain registration from one registrar to another.
What makes domains a bit tricky is that most registrations are temporary. If you allow your registration to lapse (i.e. you do not pay the annual registration fee on time), the domain name becomes available to the public, so someone else could register it. Domain names can also be transferred or traded, sometimes through an auction in which the current registrant transfers domain name ownership to the highest bidder.
About those ICANN Changes
The most significant changes ICANN has made affect their Inter-Registrar Transfer Policy (IRTP). Here's the short version—any change to the registrant's first name, last name, organization name and/or email address is now considered a domain registration transfer.
So, if ABCorp.com was initially registered by Joe Smith (firstname.lastname@example.com), updating contact information to Joseph R. Smith and/or firstname.lastname@example.com would "trigger" the new policy. The new policy will, of course, also apply to actual domain trades as in the case of XYZinc.com from Mary Daly (firstname.lastname@example.com) to Richard Bismarc (firstname.lastname@example.com).
Two things happen when ICANN detects a domain registration transfer:
- Both the old and new registrant will receive an email from the registrar notifying them of the change. The email requires response from both email addresses (even if they belong to the same individual) to approve the trade.
- Because trades are now considered domain transfers, upon completion of the change/ update of registrant information, the domain is automatically locked for 60 days, which means that no further changes to the registrant information can be done.
Because many registrant trades occur before a registrar transfer, as often happens when businesses change management or ownership, it is important to make sure that correct individual and contact information is entered for the new registrant since no further changes will be allowed for the next two months.
What ICANN's Changes Mean for You
ICANN's policy changes do not affect website hosting or your website's performance. They only affect domain registrants and registrars. If SonicSEO.com manages your domain registration or you have no need to trade or transfer your domain, then you likely will not notice any change at all. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.


text: Play the best challenge games online for free at TheFrozenGames.com.We have 2 challenge games for girls that can be played online. Play all our cool free challenge games online at our site. Vote for the best challenge games for girls. It is all about Frozen Games with new Elsa Games every day. Share all the Frozen games with your friends! Enjoy playing challenge now.


text:
Title: Memor
Author: aphrodite_mine
Summary: Octavia remembers. Prompt for rome100: Past.
She doesn't like to think about it, understandably. She's grown; matured a lot since then, since seducing her brother for information, since lying with him, naked, avoiding his eyes. She doesn't like to return to that place, when she was so desperate for Servilia's adoration that she denied everything that she held sacred and still felt a twinge of pleasure as she watched her brother go hard for her.
The crowd below cries out his name, "Augustus, Augustus," and she allows herself, for the briefest of moments, to remember that this god which the people behold has come inside her.


text:
Pump & Machinery Co. Celebrate 50 Years of Selling WildenMarch 2013
This year, Pump & Machinery Co. (PMC) are thrilled to be celebrating a half century of selling Wilden air operated double diaphragm pumps. PMC's history of selling and working with Wilden pumps dates back to the Levingston Brothers days in 1963. Some of the original staff are even still working on Wilden at PMC from the Levingston purchase, so many years ago. It's this kind of experience and knowledge that PMC are proud to celebrate.
"We don't just sell Wilden pumps, we know Wilden inside-out", says Managing Director, Frank Macé. "These are genuine Wilden products, parallel imported by Pump & Machinery co. for the best value." PMC are very confident in their Wilden product: A full PMC 5 year warranty backs all their Wilden pumps. The knowledge comes into play again at maintenance time, so customers know they are in good hands. For an added bonus, a fantastic lowest price guarantee ensures peace of mind that customers have made the best purchase possible.
Pump & Machinery's local distributors can be contacted on 0800 PMCWILDEN (0800 762 945) or by email to email@example.com