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With game programmers, optimization and performance are interesting things to discuss. We all love to squeeze our hardware as much as possible, to achieve more stunning graphics, more attracting gameplay, with the best performance (damn that's greedy). Object Pool is one of the common technique of optimizing game performance, and today I'll show you my object pool implementation. It's simple, easy to do and most of all, its real-life use is very close to Unity's mechanism of creating and destroying objects.
A quick look at the pattern's intention
At its simplest, the pattern looks for reusing the frequently-used objects, rather than constructing and destructing them continually. Some examples of frequently-used objects are bullets of the player or tiny creeps that keep coming to bite him, no matter how much he has slain.
You would ask "Why reusing?". First off,
Instantiate and
Destroy are expensive calls. Just turn on your Profiler, and take a look at how many seconds they cost when they are called. If your game object is complex, you should prepare for a more time-consuming function call.
Secondly, they create garbage. C# is a language where you just need to allocate the memory for an object without minding about deallocating this memory chunk. C# provides a garbage collector to automatically collect the chunks that are no longer in use for you. These chunks are called garbage. The more garbage in your memory, the more work for the garbage collector. And the more work it does, the worse your game's performance, simply put.
And last but not least, they cause memory fragmentation. Dynamically allocated objects are stored in a zone in your RAM, called the heap memory. Basically, your game would scan its heap, to find a chunk large enough for the object that would be created. This is not cheap.
It can get even get worse. If your game cannot find a place to put the object, it has to ask the operating system for expanding its heap. Sometimes it is fast, sometimes it is slow. The operating system is busy, so it cannot guarantee an immediate response to your game.
I don't mean to frighten you, but it can even get worse, in some extreme cases. Sometimes, when your RAM is full, the operating system cannot expand the heap for your game – "Hey dude, I'm sorry but I'm out of memory". Then you will see your game crashes into dust…
So, the Object Pool pattern looks to prevent this, by reusing objects rather than creating and destroying them. This approach provides some benefits:
- Activating and deactivating objects are much cheaper than creating and destroying. Imagine "crafting a chair every time you want to sit" vs. "craft a chair once, then put it somewhere in your home and take it out when you need to use it", and you will get what I say.
- No more headaches that are caused by the garbage collector.
- No more worry of memory fragmentation for pooled objects.
The Pool class
At its core, the pattern has the
Pool class for creating a number of reusable objects. This class is derived from
MonoBehaviour since it is designed to be attached to a game object in your scene.
public class Pool : MonoBehaviour { [SerializeField] GameObject prefab; [SerializeField] int initialPoolsize = 10; }
This is how it looks like when you use this class in your scene. Just create an empty game object, attach the
Pool component to it, drag the prefab of the objects that you want to use and set the initial pool size. This value would determine how large the initial chunk of objects is.
public class Pool : MonoBehaviour { Stack pooledInstances; List aliveInstances; void Awake() { pooledInstances = new Stack(); for (int i = 0; i < initialPoolsize; i++) { GameObject instance = Instantiate(prefab); instance.transform.SetParent(transform); instance.transform.localPosition = Vector3.zero; instance.transform.localScale = Vector3.one; instance.transform.localEulerAngles = Vector3.zero; instance.SetActive(false); pooledInstances.Push(instance); } aliveInstances = new List(); } }
When the pool object is created, I would instantiate objects from the provided prefabs, and deactivate them and put them in the pool. I use a stack for conveniently take the object out of the container, but you are free to use an array or a queue. I also maintain a list of alive objects, which are taken out from the stack. With that in mind, we start to implement the function for activating objects.
public class Pool : MonoBehaviour { public GameObject Spawn(Vector3 position, Quaternion rotation, Vector3 scale, Transform parent = null, bool useLocalPosition = false, bool useLocalRotation = false) { if (pooledInstances.Count <= 0) // Every game object has been spawned, so we have to spawn a new one and add it to the pool. { GameObject newlyInstantiatedObject = Instantiate(prefab); newlyInstantiatedObject.transform.SetParent(parent); if (useLocalPosition) newlyInstantiatedObject.transform.localPosition = position; else newlyInstantiatedObject.transform.position = position; if (useLocalRotation) newlyInstantiatedObject.transform.localRotation = rotation; else newlyInstantiatedObject.transform.rotation = rotation; newlyInstantiatedObject.transform.localScale = scale; aliveInstances.Add(newlyInstantiatedObject); return newlyInstantiatedObject; } GameObject obj = pooledInstances.Pop(); obj.transform.SetParent(parent); if (useLocalPosition) obj.transform.localPosition = position; else obj.transform.position = position; if (useLocalRotation) obj.transform.localRotation = rotation; else obj.transform.rotation = rotation; obj.transform.localScale = scale; obj.SetActive(true); aliveInstances.Add(obj); return obj; } }
The pool would try to take the first available object, in my case, that is the topmost one in the stack, and assign it the given transform parameters. If the stack is currently empty, there is no other choice but to create a new one by calling
Instantiate function.
Note that the spawned object (either by taking from the pool or instantiating) is put in the
aliveInstances array. This is useful when we deactivate the object.
public class Pool : MonoBehaviour { public void Kill(GameObject obj) { int index = aliveInstances.FindIndex(o => obj == o); if (index == -1) { Destroy(obj); return; } obj.SetActive(false); obj.transform.SetParent(transform); obj.transform.localPosition = Vector3.zero; obj.transform.localScale = Vector3.one; obj.transform.localEulerAngles = Vector3.zero; aliveInstances.RemoveAt(index); pooledInstances.Push(obj); } }
As you can see, the
aliveInstances array is scanned to see if the object
obj is instantiated by this pool or not. If it is, we reset its transform and put it back to the waiting stack. Otherwise, it is destroyed normally.
Who manages these Pool objects?
I admit, this Pool class alone so far is a piece of useless shit. It is not easy to access the pool, given that you have a prefab object in your hand. It is also very inconvenient and inefficient if you have to perform a search for available
Pool objects via
FindObjectOfType. So having an object that manages currently available
Pool objects is a handy solution for this.
The first solution that comes to my mind for a global access point is the Singleton pattern. However, it is more like a global variable for me, and it encourages tight coupling between classes. Therefore, it's much better to have a solution that can "Provide a global point of access to a service without coupling users to the concrete service" (thank you once again, Bob Nystrom!).
The implementation of the
PoolManager class would look like this:
public class PoolManager : MonoBehaviour { private static Dictionary<GameObject, Pool> currentPools; private void Awake() { currentPools = new Dictionary<GameObject, Pool>(); Pool[] childrenPools = gameObject.GetComponentsInChildren(); for (int i = 0; i < childrenPools.Length; i++) { currentPools[childrenPools[i].Prefab] = childrenPools[i]; } } public static GameObject Spawn(GameObject prefab, Vector3 position, Quaternion rotation, Vector3 scale, Transform parent = null, bool useLocalPosition = false, bool useLocalRotation = false) { // Locate the pool that provides the prefab if (!currentPools.ContainsKey(prefab)) { return SpawnNonPooledObject(prefab, position, rotation, scale, parent, useLocalPosition, useLocalRotation); } return currentPools[prefab].Spawn(position, rotation, scale, parent, useLocalPosition, useLocalRotation); } public static void Kill(GameObject obj, bool surpassWarning = false) { foreach (KeyValuePair<GameObject, Pool> pool in currentPools) { if (pool.Value.IsResponsibleForObject(obj)) { pool.Value.Kill(obj); return; } } Destroy(obj); } }
Since all the details are kept inside the
Pool class, the
PoolManager class simply just need to find the correct pool of the provided prefab, which is quite easy as we use the prefab objects as dictionary keys. If the prefab object has not been pooled, we would simply call
Instantiate function as usual. The deactivating process is similar, as the dictionary is scanned to find the pool that is responsible for the provided object. If there is no pool takes the responsibility, or in other words, the game object is not spawned by the pool, it would be destroyed.
Spotted the ObjectPools object, the parent of all pools? That is the object where we attach the
PoolManager component. When the scene is constructed, this object would get all the
Pool component in its children and initialize the dictionary.
Final touches
PoolManager class makes things much easier for us. Now we can access the appropriate
Pool object conveniently, without being coupled into that concrete
Pool instance.
Anyways, I like something more convenient. I want something that can be called easily as a part of the
GameObject class, so that other programmers may even don't know of the
Pool class's existence. Luckily, C# provides a feature called extension methods. With that in mind, I create a static class which serves as the extension of Unity's
GameObject class. This is totally a matter of personal preferences – you can safely skip this section without harming.
public static class GameObjectExtensions { public static GameObject Spawn(this GameObject prefab, Vector3 worldPosition) { return PoolManager.Spawn(prefab, worldPosition, Quaternion.identity, prefab.transform.localScale, null); } public static GameObject Spawn(this GameObject prefab) { return PoolManager.Spawn(prefab, Vector3.zero, Quaternion.identity, prefab.transform.localScale, null); } public static GameObject Spawn(this GameObject prefab, Transform parent) { return PoolManager.Spawn(prefab, Vector3.zero, Quaternion.identity, prefab.transform.localScale, parent, true, true); } public static GameObject Spawn(this GameObject prefab, Vector3 position, Quaternion rotation, Vector3 scale, Transform parent = null, bool useLocalPosition = false, bool useLocalRotation = false) { return PoolManager.Spawn(prefab, position, rotation, scale, parent, useLocalPosition, useLocalRotation); } public static void Kill(this GameObject obj) { PoolManager.Kill(ob); } }
The static class exposes a set of functions for activating and deactivating objects. The bodies of those functions are trivial since those functions are just wrappers for the
PoolManager .
With the existence of this static class, I can spawn a new instance of a prefab or deactivate it in a natural way:
// Spawn a new instance at (0, 0, 0) world position GameObject instance = prefab.Spawn(); // Spawn a new instance at current object's position and take it as the parent node GameObject instance = prefab.Spawn(this.transform); // Deactivate the instance instance.Kill();
A few usage notes
The pattern's implementation is ready to use. You just need to create a
PoolManager object and create concrete pools as its child and you are all set. When you need to spawn those registered prefabs, you just need to call
Spawn function as I do above. Happy spawning!
There are some pitfalls, though. First of all, you have to reiterate your initialize functions (
Start or
Awake) because these functions will not be called when the object is reused the second time and beyond. I'd suggest you move all your variables for health or other states to the
OnEnable function, which is called when the object is activated.
Also, be very wary of objects with components that rely on objects' transforms. For example, I have a script that moves the object forward:
public class Movement : MonoBehaviours { public float moveSpeed; Vector3 forwardVector; void OnEnable() { forwardVector = transform.forward; } void Update() { transform.position += forwardVector * moveSpeed * Time.deltaTime; } }
… and I spawn an instance of a prefab with Movement component like this
GameObject instance = prefab.Spawn(); // Let's assume prefab object has Movement component instance.eulerAngles = new Vector3(70f, 34f, 41f);
… then the rotational change will have no effect to the moving direction of the object. Due to
OnEnable is called immediately after the object is activated, the
forwardVector variable is set to the value of
transform.forward before it's changed. You should pay very close attention to this detail.
And that's all for this post. I hope it is useful for you and your game. The complete source files can be found here.


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Win 10 just installed a major revision on my computer. Afterwards, I had to allow Norton to take control of my computer to fix things on their end because the latest Win 10 update changed (apparently) a lot of major things. Now the latest BW update says it can't complete.
A lot of people have been having to "fix" things from the latest Win 10 update, so BW might want to take a look into this.
Here's the error message:
"The error patch was not successfully installed error ept0025. Verify of new filed failed. Possible Internal Error. The file the updated (PATCH) built is not valid. Users should never see this message: Patch BibleWorks Executable (10.0.8.527)"

subset: commoncrawl


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Tanzania - Zimbabwe
International friendlies - 16 June 2019
International friendlies – Follow the Football match between Tanzania and Zimbabwe live with Eurosport. The match starts at 18:00 on 16 June 2019. Our live coverage lets you follow all the key moments as they happen.
Who will come out on top in the battle of the managers Etienne Ndayiragije or Joey Antipas? Find out by following our live matchcast.
Have your say by voting on who will win between Tanzania and Zimbabwe? Enjoy some pre-match reading with related articles about these two Enjoy some pre-match reading with related articles about these two Football teams.
Head-to-head: see historical stats and visit our detailed profiles for Tanzania vs Zimbabwe. Get all the latest on Football: fixtures, results and tables.
No comments for this event.


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Friday, June 23 Show @ 7PM | Party @ 8:30PM
Written by ANDREW R. BUTLER
Directed by JORDAN FEIN
Performed & Arranged by RICK BURKHARDT, ANDREW R. BUTLER & MAYA SHARPE
(Parkland/Weathers) is a nesting doll double-bill of sci-fi folk music concerts that unpacks the lives and relationship of singer-songwriters Rags Parkland and Beaux Weathers. In the 2200s, music is their best shot at winning over a world that insists only one of them is human.
Party with the artists post-show in our swank AF lounge! We're servin' up hot slices & cold brews at the straight-up cheapest bar in midtown. All the cool kids will be there.
Photo by ELIZABETH MANEY


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This year's Nobel Peace Prize went to Indian child rights campaigner Kailash Satyarthi for her work rescuing trafficked children from servitude, and to Pakistani teenager, Malala Yousafzai, whose voice for children and the right to education made her a target of extremists in her country. Although different in its causes and strategic aims, the work toward children's rights is a global one and has been championed by many groups in the United States. The Journal of Educational Controversy has written about these concerns in a number of issues.
One of the centers that we highlighted in Volume 7 was the Center for Children and Youth Justice. The Center was started by former Washington State Supreme Court Justice Bobbe Bridge. The issue contains an article by Justice Bridge, with co-authors, Leila E. Curtis and Nicholas Oakley, entitled, "No Single Source, No Simple Solution: Why We Should Broaden Our Perspective of the School-to-Prison-Pipeline and Look to the Court in Redirecting Youth from It." Along with the article is a video interview with Justice Bridge. Other children advocate groups that contributed to the issue were Team Child, the ACLU of Washington State, the League of Education Voters and the Office of Education Ombudsman of Washington State.
The Center for Children and Youth Justice reveals the kinds of problems young people can face in a highly industrialized affluent nation. On the center's website, Justice Bridge states her concerns and goals succinctly: "We can no longer be satisfied with change, however positive, without substantial change in outcomes for all children involved in Washington child welfare and juvenile justice systems. We're leaving too many children and youth behind. Systems need to work together for all these kids. And we need to hear their voices, respect them and respond to them. That's what CCYJ is all about."
In her response to learning that she was receiving the Nobel Peace Prize, Malala Yousafzai dedicated it to the "voiceless." We sometimes forget that even in a nation with institutional welfare structures in place, too many still feel voiceless and powerless. Indeed, the Center for Children and Youth Justice reveals the ways in which the foster care system, the juvenile justice systems and the public schools have often failed our children. The Center advocates for a more systemic approach that unites community forces to bring about real change. To read about recommendations to combat the School-to-Prison Pipeline, check out Justice Bridge's article in our Volume 7 issue. To learn more about the work of the center, check out the website at: http://www.ccyj.org/
Saturday, October 11, 2014
Nobel Prize Focuses on Children's Plight, Rights and Education
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You can check the reviews. When you buy this furniture online means you can read some of reviews, ensuring the dining table of your dreams wings its way to you speedily. I bought this furniture for my friends. They absolutely loved it. Quality is good. Impressive quality for the price. All in all, very happy I purchased this.
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From Dolce & Gabbana's opera and Prada techno beats to Robbie Williams performing at Emporio Armani, Milan Fashion Week offered a sparkling, colourful extravaganza. Ahead of Tuesday's closing shows, we take a look at some of next season's biggest trends.
Racing back to the 80s Apart from big hair and legwarmers, the eighties also gave us high-waisted cycling shorts. These are now making a major comeback, except that this time they're not relegated to the sports arena.
Worn with heels or chunky trainers, models running for Fila, Fendi and Cavalli paired the mid-thigh shorts with cinched jackets and belted shirts. For slightly more conservative tastes, Ferragamo and Antonio Marras have put a chic spin on their bermuda version.
Under your belt Designers have looked to an unlikely source of inspiration for one of the coming season's top trends -- the world of DYI. The reinvented tool belt is the ultimate accessory for a style that's both practical and chic.
While Fendi, Tod's and Ferragamo have opted for elegant leather versions, Prada and Fila bank on a sportier nylon look. From the smartphone to lipstick, there's a pocket for everything, solving the issue of having to rummage through your bag.
Crazy for cognac Expect cognac to become a staple colour in your wardrobe next season. From light golden hues to toasted chestnut shades, it featured heavily in outfits inspired by safari, jungle and military looks in Milan this week.
Max Mara and Ferragamo went all out and dressed their models from head to toe in cognac tones. The Fendi collection, meanwhile, featured large cognac-coloured pockets on transparent coats or on a corset dress.
Light touch The new collections showcased innovative textiles as designers sought to push boundaries and play with high-tech materials. Emporio Armani and Fendi used breathable, micro-perforated fabrics for some of their outfits.
Chez Missoni preferred a more traditional style with delicate hand-stitched materials.
Ethnic inspiration Yves Saint-Laurent may have been the first to use ethnic elements in his work but since then numerous designers have followed suit and weaved travel memories into their collections.
Moroccan handicraft provided a key inspiration on Milan runways this week. Robert Cavalli used sequins and bobbles on shorts and tops, while Philosophy by Lorenzo Serafini flaunted caftans and scarf dresses.
Other far-flung influences on display included Japan, Ethiopia and Benin.(AFP)
please add photo credit: catwalkpictures.comphoto credit: catwalkpictures.com


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Celebrate Spring with Style
Posted March 21st, 2017 by Lizzie Greenaway, LoveAntiques and filed under Interior Design
Spring has sprung, a time that encourages rebirth and change, when we are inspired to start afresh. It is a time of new beginnings and what better way to signal in the lighter days and longer nights than by refreshing your interior.
Buyers Guide - Chest of Drawers
Posted August 31st, 2016 by LoveAntiques and filed under Interior Design
When purchasing Antique furniture it is often an investment for a lifetime, especially when it comes to an item as durable and solid as an antique Chest of Drawers. If you're unsure of what to consider when buying a Chest of Drawers, our Buyers guide should help
Incorporating Georgian Furniture in the Modern Home
Posted June 22nd, 2016 by Lizzie Greenaway and filed under Interior Design
A large amount of our day-to-day experiences are played out in our interior spaces, our homes can largely affect how we feel, if a room is cluttered it is often harder to relax and unwind. As summer is here many of us have begun to clean away the remnants of winter and the inevitable hibernation that accompanies it and think about redecorating. With this in mind we have taken a look at how you can incorporate Georgian furniture into your modern home.
French Garden Antiques
Posted May 23rd, 2016 by Lizzie Greenaway and filed under Interior Design
Getting your garden summer ready need not be a daunting task; you can create a stylish space with little time and minimal effort. Alongside French garden antiques there are a number of rules to adhere to when creating a French feel in your exterior area.
Introducing Art Deco into your Interior
Posted May 4th, 2016 by Lizzie Greenaway and filed under Interior Design
The Art Deco movement emerged in France after World War I, it was a move away from the hardship endured during this time and was known as the roaring 1920's; a time of glamour, jazz, frivolities, fashion and luxury.
How to incorporate Victorian Antiques in the Modern Home
Posted February 24th, 2016 by Lizzie Greenaway and filed under Interior Design
How can you integrate modern Victorian interior design into your home? How is it possible to incorporate the charm of Victorian style into your modern home without appearing too fussy? We've taken a look at a number of achievable ways to bring Victorian style into your modern interior.
Item of the Week - A Pair of Mahogany Mirrors
Posted December 11th, 2015 by LoveAntiques and filed under Interior Design, Item of the Week
These 19th Century antique toilet mirrors are a rare find, made circa 1895 they are a wonderful addition to the home. The beautiful pair of mirrors are usually placed in a bathroom or on a dresser and are simply perfect as a gift for a couple. These mirrors are made from durable mahogany wood, a solid material that will withstand the test of time.
Winter Warmers
Posted November 4th, 2015 by Lizzie Greenaway and filed under Interior Design
Shorter days, darker nights and cold weeks approach us with winter looming, it is the time of year when we all move inside and our creature comforts are more important than ever. Snuggled up on the sofa in front of the fire, we truly enjoy our living spaces and what better way to celebrate this than with some welcome winter antique accessories for the home.
The Season to be Inspired by Gothic
Posted October 23rd, 2015 by Lizzie Greenaway and filed under Interior Design
Halloween is upon us next week and is the inspiration for our interior design theme this week, however this does not mean it has to be haunting. Gothic interior design often conjures up images of black, dark, cluttered rooms; spooky and depressive yet the gothic style is far from this when it is implemented in the homes interior properly, it then evokes grandeur and drama.
Autumnal Inspiration - Interior Design
Posted October 13th, 2015 by Lizzie Greenaway and filed under Interior Design
The transition from summer to winter is well upon us, the long, light nights evaporated and the shorter days, colder months and bleaker weather has ignited our desire to hibernate. It is a time when we move inside, the home becomes paramount as we seek comfort in our living space.
The History of Interior Design
Posted October 2nd, 2015 by Lizzie Greenaway and filed under Interior Design
The interior design is central to your day-to-day living, with a large amount of time spent indoors, where does the art of interior design come from? Where did it all begin and where did it originate?
A Flirtation with the Forties
Posted September 2nd, 2015 by Lizzie Greenaway and filed under Interior Design
There are many periods of history to draw inspiration from when decorating your home, from the Victorian's to vintage. For an elegant, vintage look try emulating a touch of 1940's in the home, based on the glamour of post World War II.
Where to find the best antiques for your interior design
Posted August 14th, 2015 by LoveAntiques and filed under Antique Fairs, Interior Design
If you are interested in creating your own traditional interior full of antiques then it's important that you know where to find the best items.
Antiques vs Modern Furniture - which is better for the environment?
Posted April 15th, 2015 by LoveAntiques and filed under Interior Design, LoveAntiques University
When we want furniture for our homes, we will usually think of buying new items. But did you know that antiques are a better buy? Not only are antiques a great investment, they're built to last, beautiful, and they're more environmentally-friendly to buy than their modern day equivalent too! Antique Furniture is Greener…
Good News For Antiques Lovers - John Isaac
Posted March 12th, 2015 by John Isaac and filed under Interior Design
Interior Design Consultant, John Isaac, explodes the myth that antiques have no place in the modern home. Over the past year, I have written a series of articles about the design and decoration of rooms in the modern home, and how a few carefully chosen antique pieces can introduce character and individuality. This has been…
Antique Mirror Mirror, On The Wall - John Isaac
Posted October 24th, 2014 by John Isaac and filed under Interior Design
Of all household artefacts, the mirror, or the Looking Glass, as it is still referred to in aristocratic circles, is one of the most ancient. Uniquely, it combines total practicality with elements of mysticism and primitive superstition. You may recall from my previous articles that I favour using pictures, lamps, wall lights, cabinets and other…
Does size really matter? - John Isacc
Posted July 4th, 2014 by John Isaac and filed under Interior Design
Yes, it certainly does – especially when it comes to furnishing a room. Last month, I wrote scathing comments about the ghastly "3 piece suite" which, in my view, is as much of a passion killer to the style and mood of a room as a large pair of grey knickers on a gorgeous girl. The current taste…
Antiques in the Modern Home ~ Occasional chairs - John Isaac
Posted April 15th, 2014 by John Isaac and filed under Interior Design
Most newly built homes today seem to feature large kitchen/diners at the expense of space in the sitting room. This problem – if I can call it that – is further compounded by the insane practice of filling a small lounge with a gargantuan 3-piece suite which is simply too large for the room. Many…
Antiques in the Modern Home - John Isaac
Posted February 13th, 2014 by John Isaac and filed under Interior Design
Every month, Interior Design Consultant, John Isaac, presents a feature on how to use antiques to furnish and enhance the aesthetic of homes in the twenty-first century. When I started out in my design career forty years ago, the style favoured for classic interiors was English Country House. Period-style rooms, inspired by the likes of…
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We differ from our ancient ancestors in ways similar to how dogs differ from wolves.
"Chimpanzees and Human Evolution" features chapters by current and former KCP researchers.
Adult chimpanzees retain their maternal grooming style rather than conforming to a group norm.
Chimpanzee mothers who reproduce faster end up with smaller infants.
A serial killer torments Kanyawara's monkeys.
A new study finds that adaptive strategies, not human impacts, best explain chimpanzee lethal aggression.
The Kanyawara community has grown slightly over the past 25 years, avoiding the worst impacts of human contact.
Carbon and oxygen data from Kibale chimpanzees and associated fauna help to reconstruct ape and hominin habitats. See Dr. Sherry Nelson discuss this new research.
The Kibale Chimpanzee Project, established by Dr. Richard Wrangham in 1987, is a long-term field study of the behavior, ecology, and physiology of wild chimpanzees. Our researchers and field staff conduct daily behavioral observations on a group of approximately 60…
Despite Kibale National Park's protected status, people still enter the forest illegally to poach animals and extract resources (e.g. logging, collecting firewood, burning wood for charcoal, gathering medicinal plants, grazing livestock). In Kibale, most poaching occurs on a small scale,…
Kibale National Park is located in rural Uganda, where economic and educational opportunities are still quite limited. Because we work closely with the local community that makes up our field staff, and because community development is an essential component of…
We differ from our ancient ancestors in ways similar to how dogs differ from wolves.
Richard Wrangham discusses the illegal trade in apes.
Richard Wrangham discusses doll play by chimpanzees at Kanyawara.
The Kibale Chimpanzee Project is dedicated to the conservation and welfare of chimpanzees and their habitats. We are committed to promoting long-term research on chimpanzees and their ecosystems, to further our understanding of primate diversity, conservation biology, and the evolution of the human condition. We also work with government agencies and international partners to improve the lives of people living near chimpanzees. These programs increase awareness of the benefits of protecting rainforests and their inhabitants, and help to increase income in local areas, to reduce the destruction of the rainforest.
The Kibale Chimpanzee Project is a registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Your tax-deductible donations support research, conservation, and education efforts in Kibale National Park. Try the links below to make a donation directly via PayPal, buy fabulous KCP gear, or register with our affiliate programs to make donations with your online purchases. Visit our support page for more details.


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Curious? Seems like just yesterday that Adobe's CS4 suite of applications launched. You can sign up for the lookey see!
I have no idea what Adobe is going to do to enhance an already awesome suite of products. I've registered and will save the date. I'm positive that it will be very interesting. See ya there. April 12, 2010.


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Hi A. …I've responded below. Look for these arrows: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>
I just found your website and ordered your e-materials and have just read some of your great stuff. It makes sense. We have struggled with my oldest who is now 15 ...almost 16 his entire life! We have 3 children. We both work full time. I own my own business and work from home but travel often. I would guess that all 5 of us are ADD ...so structure and consistency have always been and continues to be a real struggle.
We both grew up with nothing and have very obviously been the over indulging parents.
As I read this I feel good that we have done some things right. We try (despite incredibly busy schedules) to have dinner as a family of 5 at LEAST 5-6 nights a week. We try to attend Church together at least 2 times/month. They are all doing ok in school. My youngest does GREAT! They are all involved in organized sports and school sports and have all done fairly well.
We have really tried to get better over last 6 months. Overall despite all of our imperfections the other 2 kids are warm, happy affectionate and more or less compliant. Yes, they are a bit whiney and lazy as a result of our mistakes but overall when we try all of the good solid tips you recommend they definitely respond and respond well!! So I know this can work.
For some reason our Ryan has always been different. He is very moody. He is very manipulative. He can seem very troubled and depressed which gets us into a horrible cycle of feeling badly for him...etc. He makes ok choices but lately has been faced with a TON of peer pressure. We live in an affluent, highly permissive area where things happen as you mentioned …adult-sanctioned under age drinking, etc.
We have tried to crack down of late but this has led to a HUGE, and LONG power struggle. He has effectively used the Silent Treatment and Withdrawal. Of course this KILLS my husband and myself. We have tried for HOURS (no exaggeration) at a clip calmly asking him to tell us
How he feels…
What is one thing he likes about us/his life…
One thing he would like to see changed…
We have even lobbed possible topics out there...that may be tough for him. I stepped up and did actually admit that I have not been the best mom...but I am trying to change, etc. There was no connection/no empathy/ just disgust. To NO avail! We have tried counseling for a few months now and have seen NO improvement!
I am proud that we have started to do many of the things you mentioned here.
1. We caught him lying about a party he went to...we had discussed this calmly and even put it in writing weeks before...and followed through beautifully. But now I am thinking it was too harsh. WE said 4 weeks grounding. Then we said any disrespect which he does DAILY he would lose his cell, pc, xbox, computer, etc. And again followed through. But I am thinking that the time frames are SO LONG and the punishment so severe (after years of being lax) that this could be causing him to be so despondent and confused?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> 3 days works best.
I tried to get him his electronics back earlier by saying …you can earn them back by being respectful for one hour. Do you know he flatly refused?
>>>>>>>>>> "Being respectful for one hour" – what does that mean exactly? If I were to video-tape him being disrespectful, what would I see? Be very specific when telling your son what he has to do to earn his way off discipline.
Digging in and preferring to punish himself over complying and reaping the rewards. Guessing he is at Stage 3?
Q: Is this normal? Is he just adjusting to our new style? Should we follow through on the 4-week deal? We have 2 more to go or give him an option to earn back the privilege?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Yes…very normal. Four weeks is about 3 ½ weeks too long.
2. I realize that I try so hard to stay calm but am in a constant power struggle. I try to be calm but he pushes my buttons all day/every day.
Q: When I say "What do you have going on today? What time is basketball? Any tests today sweetie?" and he does not make eye contact or answer...what should I do? IGNORE him or discipline him?
>>>>>>>>>>>>>> I would ask one short question …then either listen to his response, or ignore his lack of response.
When he responds with a grunt...same question? When he is going to bed. I say I love you...and he does not answer or leaves the house in the morning without saying good bye back...
>>>>>>>>>>>Pick your battles carefully ...you have bigger fish to fry. It doesn't matter whether he responds or not. What matters is you are doing the nurturing piece that is so vital to the overall success of these strategies.
I would LOVE to get coaching from you, either on line or via phone. We live in NJ ...not sure if in person is an option.
>>>>>>>>>> Not currently unfortunately.
PLEASE let me know ...how you work/ how fast we can get started/can you address very specific questions like I have outlined here?
Thank you so much!!
Hopeful in NJ
Ryan has always been different...
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- Want Some Peace In Your House Again?
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President's Report: 2011 SLA Leadership Summit
By UNYSLA President, Amelia Birdsall
I left this year's Leadership Summit in Washington, D.C. feeling great. Three days in the company of smart, dedicated and fun information professionals left me feeling reinvigorated, and eager to get things done in our Upstate New York Chapter. I spent much of the train ride home writing to-do lists and circling things in my notes, ready to get to work.
This feeling isn't a new one for me. I usually feel this way when I leave an UNYSLA event. No matter what our topic, at the end of the day I have new ideas to bring back to my office, and renewed energy about our profession. Spending time with my SLA colleagues empowers me to think about my job and my professional life differently.
The research shows that the more you put into your involvement in a volunteer-based organization, the more you get out of it. With that in mind, I'd like to encourage you all to step-up your UNYSLA involvement this year. Consider running for an elected position for 2012. Join the board as a local area meeting planner or mentoring chair. Or participate on one of several committees, like communications, vendor relations or membership. Don't feel that you have time for an official position? Consider taking on a short term task, like coordinating carpooling to the SLA Annual Conference in Philadelphia or researching virtual meeting tools. It's time to revisit the kinds of programs and educational opportunities the Chapter provides. Contribute to the chapter by providing your ideas on types and topics of programs you'd like to see. Invest you energy into your local chapter, and I bet you'll be rewarded with more energy in return.
A few highlights from the Leadership Summit:
- Web changes aplenty: Expect to see some major revisions to SLA.org, putting resources you need and use right up front. There will also be changes to unit (Chapter & Division) webpages. An SLA committee has created a Wordpress template to unify the unit pages and make us look like we're all part of the same organization!
- Philadelphia 2011 is going to be pretty cool. Not only is it super-close for our Upstate New Yorkers, keynote speakers Thomas Friedman and James Kane should be great. If you haven't heard of him, Kane is an expert on loyalty, and will also be working with one lucky chapter on a loyalty-related project.
- SLA President Cindy Romaine's Future Ready 365 blog is dynamic and exciting. We're all invited to share a post on how we're "future ready," preparing ourselves for what's next in the information world. It's alignment in action.


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Palms to try in zone 7a/7b?
NC_Palm_Enthusiast, in COLD HARDY PALMS
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I'm not sure if this belongs in the weather/climate section, but I read this phenomenon occurs after extended periods without rain and little/no wind allowing the natural oils to develop on the surface of the water. I captured these photos recently at a local swamp.
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This afternoon while walking the Piedmont Trail (off Strawberry Road) in Greensboro, I stumbled upon a couple dozen or more sabal minors growing in a swampy area parallel to Lake Brandt. There were volunteers coming up everywhere, along with several older palms. My guess is somebody threw some seeds along the trail or planted a couple and they reproduced. Greensboro is around 80 miles west of the fall line, so pretty far away from the native range of dwarf palmettos. Here are some pictures I took:
I also saw some of what I think are Southern Magnolias coming up. Here they are:
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The Sabal minor population in and around Congaree National Park, which is just Southeast of Columbia, South Carolina, look really cool. They have basically 360° fronds that stick kind of upright. Look at this observation of them that I saw on iNaturalist in their habitat. I would recommend looking around the observation map as well, you can literally see the different ecotypes around the Southeast.


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What you can do to help...
Don't condemn the person: Condemnation seldom accomplishes anything more than causing the addict to become defensive and angry. It could very well make him even worse off than before you tried to help him.
Show them love: People usually don't get into porn to harm or offend others. They are drawn into porn by their own desires, and then discover that they're hooked. Love is the tool that will help rescue them.
Break secrecy: Sex addicts like to stay in the dark. Family and friends fear embarrassment and judgment if they tell others. Breaking secrecy helps dispel the fear and open doors for getting help, both for you and the addict. Ways to help break secrecy:
Don't visit the porn sites that your friend or loved one is visiting. It's like jumping in the lake to save a drowning person when you don't know how to swim. We've heard from many people who looked at porn our of curiosity. That one glimpse could give you unwanted memories for a lifetime.
Don't enable their habit: If you are doing things that help them continue their sex addiction, we encourage you to stop. If you are a parent of a porn addict, you could:
More help is available...
Have you been trying to tackle your loved one's sex addiction in your own strength? Are you feeling like you're up against something that is bigger than you can handle? Gaining freedom from sex addiction is a difficult task. We believe that breaking the addiction is a healing process. We have found that God is the source of reliable power that helps people walk to freedom. God helps those who ask him for it. To learn more about God and how he can help you with this, please visit our Peace with God page.
Other pages you may find interesting:


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I have some holiday shopping opportunities for you…
In person:
My book, "My Ukrainian American Story" is for sale at The Ukrainian Museum Gift Shop, in New York City.
Various items (including my book) will be for sale at the Christmas Bazaar at St. Michael's Ukrainian School, New Haven, CT on December 10th from 10am-1pm.
My book, Oksana Dolls and Greeting Cards are available from "My Ukrainian American Story" Shop and my Etsy Shop. Cute Ukrainian Food pillows, notepads and cards are also available in my Etsy Shop.
Items featuring my illustrations such as pouches, phone cases, curtains, t-shirts, rugs, towels and more are available from my Society6, Redbubble and CafePress Shops.


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When Jill and Kevin Kheinz walked down the aisle, they chose to give up on the boring traditional wedding march, and opted instead to dance down the aisle to 'Forever' by Chris Brown.
The couple posted the dance to YouTube (you can watch it above) to show off their creative couple style. The 'Forever' Chris Brown wedding aisle dance definitely isn't traditional, but it was tons of fun to watch. Check it out!
Implications - **What implication does this trend have for businesses who don't plan weddings? What does this say about consumers and how will it evolve in the future?
For the most part, the Western wedding ceremony hasn't had its formula changed for centuries. Hoping to express their intimate partnership in an equally personal way, engaged couples are more commonly opting to choreograph their weddings. With this emerging reality in mind, wedding organizers should provide more personalization options to their customers, lest they decide to plan their wedding themselves.
Couple Dances Down the Aisle to Chris Brown
Rachel — July 23, 2009 — Pop Culture
References: youtube & zoomdoggle


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More on Louisiana Explosion
June 10, 2010 Leave a comment
This is in reply to a Comment from John on https://aogs.wordpress.com/2010/05/03/australian-pentecostals-sleep-while-louisiana-burns/:
Thanks for the Comment.
It was weeks before the Louisiana explosion made anywhere like headlines in Australia. Australia had the bushfires – and rapid mobilisation of volunteers and emergency workers. Aren't they worried about catastrophes outside Australian waters?? No, particularly when the oil industry is so powerful in the Australian political scene and its oil leaks, messes might be looked into. (We're talking of huge offshore explorers like BHP, Exxon, and Woodside (34% owned by SHELL, of Southern Nigeria infamy – search 'Ogoni People') Some years ago, Christian leader Jim Wallis [author: God's Politics] visited Australia and asked "Where are the Martin Luther Kings (MLKs) today??" Well… Today's Church leaders are politically weak as water. Steve Fielding and Fred Nile have tried to emulate MLK. The Pentecostals are too busy creating palaces.
Some more links: http://www.wafb.com http://www.wlox.com Laurie Kendrick


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Creed or Chaos
What you believe matters.
In time, your creeds will shape your character and your actions. Perhaps this is why James Spiegal argues in his book "The Making of an Atheist: How Immorality Leads to Unbelief," that many who leave church and later forsake God do so for moral reasons and not intellectual ones.
I should be more clear. Your creeds will either shape your actions, or your actions will reinvent your creeds. In May of 1940 Dorothy Sayers delivered a lecture which she entitled Creed or Chaos. She later expanded this presentation into a book published in 1947. Sayers, as was one of the first female graduates from Oxford University, was closely watching Germany's posture towards England. The Nazis had just invaded Poland on their mission to purge the human race and further Hitler's reign.
Sayers took this opportunity to evaluate the underlying beliefs of the German leadership:
"The rulers of Germany have seen quite clearly that dogma and ethics are inextricably bound together. Having renounced the dogma, they have renounced the ethics as well – and from their point of view they are perfectly right. They have adopted an entirely different dogma, whose ethical scheme has no value for peace or truth, mercy or justice, faith or freedom; and they see no reason why they should practice a set of virtues incompatible with their dogma."
In her speech Sayers said that Germany provided a "visible and and physical form which we cannot possibly overlook, the final consequences of a quarrel about dogma. A quarrel of that kind can go on for a very long time beneath the surface, and we can ignore it so long as disagreement about dogma is not translated into physical terms…But if that man goes on to translate his point of view into action, then, to our horror and surprise, the foundations of society are violently shaken, the crust of morality that looked so solid splits apart, and we see that it was only a thin bridge over an abyss in which two dogmas, incompatible as fire and water, are seething explosively together."
Just five months after Sayers lecture, Hitler began bombing London in what would later be known as "The London Blitz." The bombing lasted for 76 consecutive nights. Within just one year of her speech 43,000 British civilians were killed as a result of the bombing. This number pales in comparison to the millions of mass murders in other places like Auschwitz. Perhaps Sayers was right, we will either have a creed or we will have chaos.
If understanding the foundations of our beliefs, which clearly shape our morals and behavior, is truly this important, then there is no better place to look in all of the Bible than the Epistle of Romans. This is not to say that Christians are the only group to possess a basis for morality. America is said to have been founded upon a Judeo-Christian worldview, for example. Additionally, as a result of common grace and the Imago Dei (humans created in the image of God), all people possess a basic sense of God's moral character. However, as Sayers points out, if we fail to understand the foundation of such beliefs we will be in jeopardy of losing them, what she calls chaos.
In his letter to the Romans, the Apostle Paul doesn't waste any time in getting down to business. After a brief greeting he uses the opening verses of Romans to remind his audience that Christianity's basis for belief begins in the historical person of Jesus Christ. The Apostle shows how Jesus is worthy of the title Son of Man as a descendent of King David, and more importantly as the fulfillment to Old Testament prophecy. It is the bodily resurrection, Paul says, that declared Jesus to be the Son of God. Both titles are critical for our understanding of the person of Christ as fully man and fully God, what theologians call The Hypostatic Union.
Xenos Fellowship, an Ohio church, quotes Pulitzer prize winning historian Will Durant in emphasizing the historical evidence of Jesus. Durant, who was no Christian, refused readers the option of dismissing the historicity of Jesus:
"The denial of that existence seems never to have occurred even to the bitterest gentile or Jewish opponents of nascent Christianity…That a few simple men should in one generation have invented so powerful and appealing a personality, so lofty an ethic and so inspiring a vision of human brotherhood, would be a miracle far more incredible than any recorded in the Gospels." (Durant, The Story of Civilization, vol. 3, 555-557).
Of course the Christian makes much larger claims about Christ than his mere existence. As Son of Man, anyone can trace Jesus' lineage to David. It is the resurrection that validated Jesus' claim as the Son of God. While C.S. Lewis was an atheist teaching at Oxford he found support for the historicity of the gospels in an unlikely source, as he records in his autobiography:
"Early in 1926 the hardest boiled of all the atheists I ever knew sat in my room on the other side of the fire and remarked that the evidence for the historicity of the Gospels was really surprisingly good. "Rum thing," he went on. "All that stuff of Frazer's about the Dying God. Rum thing. It almost looks as if it really happened once. "… Was there no escape?"
by C. S. Lewis Surprised by Joy (New York: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1942, 223-224)
Paul concludes his lengthy introduction with what could be considered the thesis to his entire letter:
"For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, 'The righteous shall live by faith.'"
If the resurrection is true, as Paul claims, then there could be no more appropriate statement. If Christ truly died in our place, how can we feel anything like shame in sharing his story. A fitting illustration to conclude with, like Sayers lecture, can be found in the midst of the turmoil of World War II.
His story is recounted on numerous websites devoted to preserving the history of Holocaust victims:
"In July 1941 a man from Kolbe's barracks vanished, prompting SS-Hauptsturmführer Karl Fritzsch, the deputy camp commander, to pick 10 men from the same barracks to be starved to death in Block 13 (notorious for torture), in order to deter further escape attempts. (The man who had disappeared was later found drowned in the camp latrine.) One of the selected men, Franciszek Gajowniczek, cried out, lamenting his family, and Kolbe volunteered to take his place.
During the time in the cell he led the men in songs and prayer. After three weeks of dehydration and starvation, only Kolbe and three others were still alive. Finally he was murdered with an injection of carbolic acid."
Kolbe will forever be remembered for his selfless act of sacrifice. His statue stands among 19 others memorializing worldwide martyrdom above the Great West Door of Westminster Abbey, London. The man he saved, Franciszek Gajowniczek, has spent his life retelling Kolbe's story:
"I could only thank him with my eyes. I was stunned and could hardly grasp what was going on. The immensity of it: I, the condemned, am to live and someone else willingly and voluntarily offers his life for me – a stranger. Is this some dream?
I was put back into my place without having had time to say anything to Maximilian Kolbe. I was saved. And I owe to him the fact that I could tell you all this. The news quickly spread all round the camp. It was the first and the last time that such an incident happened in the whole history of Auschwitz."
Gajowniczek died in 1995. After one of his last US appearances, his translator Chaplain Thaddeus Horbowy remarked, "so long as he … has breath in his lungs, he would consider it his duty to tell people about the heroic act of love by Maximilian Kolbe."
Gajowniczek was survived by his second wife who spoke not only of Franciszek's gratitude, but also his guilt. He carried to his grave a sense of shame over allowing Kolbe to take his place. While there are clear parallels between the selflessness of Kolbe and that of Christ, the natural result of the gospel is not shame at all. As Paul concluded, "I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God. It is here, in the gospel of Christ, that our creed begins.


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Liam Brown, aka Pizzagirl, is back with my favorite brand of 80s nostalgic electro-synth that I'll be working to at the gymnasium later this week. Every generation has its sound of carefree good times and as cool as the nineties and early aughts are these days with the undergrad crowds, let's please continue to make more tunes of this late 80s ilk. Even the website is on brand from head to toe.
From his bedroom studio – 'The Beatzzeria' – Pizzagirl has been crafting music that completely encapsulates my favorite era. "Gymnasium" is the second single to come from the upcoming EP Season 2, which is due for release this November via Heist or Hit.
Check it out below:


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Although nude lips are really popular right now it can be difficult to find the right one for your individual skin tone. There are different nude shades and finding the best one can be a bit of a daunting task. There are some experts who have discovered the secret behind finding the perfect shade. The right one is going to make your teeth appear to wither, and your complexion appears brighter. Nude shouldn't be taken too literal being that there are many different shades of it.
1. Exfoliate and Prime
When this is included with a dramatic and a stylish smoky eye, it is the overall look. There are a couple of secrets to getting the best nude lips.
See More: TWO COLOR DOUBLE EYELINER STYLE
By exfoliating your lips first with petroleum jelly you will get rid of all the dead skin cells that tend to stagnate. You can also put a little bit of liquid foundation on your lips or around them. This will help to keep the lipstick on for a longer period of time as well.
2. Go for Apricot Shades
If you have a bit of a lighter complexion, the beige tones can wash it out a little bit. Go for a pink or peach shade. Try out Revlon's Soft Nude, Glow Baby Glow in Secret or MAC's Crème d'Nude. These are all great choices for your tone of skin.….READ MORE ON THE NEXT PAGE


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Another less frequented trek, but otherwise Manaslu trek has always been the domain of the mountaineering expedition. Manaslu (8,156 m) was attempted by Japanese expeditions every year from 1952-1956 when the first ascent was made. Manaslu came to be known as Japanese Mountain.
Manaslu trek is another interesting and challenging trek in Nepal. This trek revolves around Mt. Manaslu which is the eight highest mountains in the world and provides one of the most awesome mountain scenery on earth. It is geographically spectacular and culturally fascinating. Manaslu trek trail is rough and steep and it often literally hangs on a bluff high above the river. Also the trek is remote and has no rescue facilities or opportunities to bail out if you are tired. A rough trail heads up to Nupri through wild Gurung country. Nupri which has been inhabited by Tibetan immigrants provides a fantastic mountain views.


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Our blog is a hub for news, analysis and debate written by, and for, development and humanitarian professionals both inside and outside of Oxfam.
Andrew Wells-Dang is Senior Governance Advisor at Oxfam in Vietnam. Beginning in 2012, he co-managed the Advocacy Coalition Support Program, an initiative to facilitate multi-stakeholder cooperation on environmental and social policy issues in Vietnam, including land rights and agricultural market access. Based in Vietnam for over 15 years, Andrew has also worked as a researcher and NGO representative in China, Laos, Cambodia, and other Asian countries.
He holds a PhD in political science from the University of Birmingham, UK and an M.A. in international development and economics from the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Washington DC, USA. Andrew is the author of Civil Society Networks in China and Vietnam: Informal Pathbreakers in Health and the Environment (Palgrave Macmillan, 2012) and is a frequent contributor to publications on politics and development in Southeast Asia.
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Co-author and editor J.E. Martin signs God's hand on My Shoulder, the biography of Joe Carl Martin, Jr.
J.E. Martin is a Yankee, hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but she's lived in Houston, Texas, most of her life. While attending Houston Community College to get an associate's degree in Business Administration, she discovered that HCC offered a creative writing course. Her college path changed directions, and she's been writing ever since. Published as a freelance writer in various magazines, she is also a former copy editor for Cowboy Sports & Entertainment magazine as well as AAA Texas and AAA New Mexico magazines. A long-time member of Romance Writers of America, she is the former Newsletter Editor for West Houston RWA, past Membership Chair, and current Emily Contest Chair. As a PRO member, she is actively seeking publication for her two inspirational contemporary romances, which have finaled in various contests. She is working on a third inspirational contemporary romance and has completed the memoirs of her father-in-law, a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross during World War II, titled "God's Hand On My Shoulder."
GOD'S HAND ON MY SHOULDER is the true story of Joe Carl Martin, Jr., an ordinary man of extraordinary faith. His story is one of quiet courage and great humility, from the Great Depression through World War II to building churches in Mexico.
After joining the United States Army Air Corps during his second year of college, Martin went through basic training followed by flight school to learn how to fly a B-17 bomber in World War II. After earning his wings as a 2nd Lt., he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lt. and Airplane Commander and was assigned to the 349th Bomb Squadron of the 100th Bomb Group at Thorpe Abbotts Air Base in England.
One of the home-bound veterans of the air war said that the 100th was a hard luck outfit. It was known as the "Bloody 100th" because the Luftwaffe had a vendetta against the group, repeatedly singling it out for attack. For 1st Lt. Joe Carl Martin, Jr., and his crew, that attack would occur on 7 April 1945.
"When I was in flight school, our theory of flight instructors explained the rule in physics that governs why an airplane must have a tail to fly. I didn't question their wisdom then. But less than a year later, on 7 April 1945, God made an exception to the rule for nine very lucky airmen." Lt. Col. Henry Cervantes, USAF (Ret., Strategic Air Command) (former copilot of the B-17 E-Z Goin' piloted by 1st Lt. Joe Carl Martin, Jr., on their 25th mission after they were rammed by a German Me-109 during WWII)


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Over the three days between Friday 14 to Sunday 16 April, a total of 8,360 migrants were rescued in the Mediterranean by the Italian Coast Guard, the many Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) rescue ships, Frontex, EunavforMEd and commercial ships.
The migrants were travelling on 55 rubber dinghies, each carrying between 110 and 150 people, and three big wooden boats, carrying 200, 250 and 500 people respectively. Those rescued were brought to various locations in Italy including: Catania, Messina, Augusta, Pozzallo, Palermo, Porto Empedocle, Lampedusa (Sicily), Reggio Calabria, Vibo Valentia (Calabria) and Cagliari (Sardinia).
A total of approximately 32,800 migrants have been brought to land since the beginning of 2017. The total number of arrivals is predicted to reach about 36,000 in the next two days.
So far this year, at least 900 migrants have died or have gone missing while attempting to cross the Mediterranean according to IOM's Missing Migrants Project.
Improving weather appears to have motivated smugglers to put as many migrants to sea as possible. The overwhelming majority of the rescues occurred off Libya's coastline, as migrants are sent to sea in overcrowded dinghies, easily overwhelmed by waves.
Almost 90 per-cent of the 900 migrant deaths in the Mediterranean have been recorded on the Libya-to-Italy route. In one incident on 13 April, 23 people were rescued and 97 are estimated to have gone missing (77 men, 15 women, and 5 children from Africa) off the coast of Gargaresh, near Tripoli, Libya. In another incident off the coast of Qarabulli, Libya, on the night of 14 April, 101 migrants were rescued, and 5 migrants died.
Thirteen other bodies were recovered by NGO rescue operations, including the ships of MOAS, Sea Eye, and Jugend Rettet. Between 1 January and 18 April last year, IOM's Missing Migrants Project (MMP) recorded 1,263 migrant deaths and disappearances in the Mediterranean. The higher number of deaths at this point in 2016 is largely due to deaths on the Eastern Mediterranean route, in which 376 deaths were recorded between January and 18 April 2016, compared to only 14 so far this year.


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Orthopedic surgical implants help replace deteriorated joints. This deterioration could be due to various causes like disease, aging, injury or osteoarthritis. This is especially common in geriatric populace. Orthopedic surgical implants relieve pain, restore movement and offer stability to the patients. It could involve the usage of bone cement. Main reconstructive surgeries involve joints.
Global market for hip and knee orthopedic surgical implants was valued at USD 17 billion in 2015. Demand will be driven by growing geriatric population across the world. Over 324,000 people underwent total hip replacement surgery in 2015, in the U.S. itself. This has been possible due to technological advancements over a period of time. Computer-assisted total hip replacement, a recent development, has revolutionized the total hip replacement surgery procedure.
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However, reduced reimbursements by insurance companies are adversely affecting market growth. This is forcing cost-cuts across the supply chain. Manufacturers of orthopedic implants provide medical instruments that are used by orthopedic surgeons while performing surgeries. The choice of implant by a surgeon depends on his/her expertise with a particular implant, the diagnosed condition, and the fitment of the chosen implant with the patient. Often, surgeons pick devices that have the highest success rate.
Interdisciplinary dialogue amongst the various stakeholders is a key driver of growth for the global hip and knee orthopedic surgical implants market. Collaborations and system partnerships lead to intensive exchange of information. This results in continuous improvements in patient care. Vendors aim to actively contribute to betterment of procurement, application and logistic processes in the medical space.
Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare Market Research Related Reports:
Global Bioabsorbable Stents Consumption Industry 2016 Market:
Global Orthopedic Orthotics Industry 2016 Market:
The medical community aims to perform more efficient joint implant surgeries in healthcare establishments. Factors aiding the decision of the most suitable implant model include type of ailment, level of activity of the patient, and the quality of bone.
A wide variety of artificial hip replacement implants are currently available. There exists little differentiation in the various products on offer. Most models are technologically superior. Zimmer is the leading manufacturer of implants in the global market. Zimmer Kinectiv Technology enables a more accurate fit of the implant to the hip joint.
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GILGIT: Hasan stands outside a house in a Gilgit street. He is visibly nervous.
"Should I knock on the door," he hesitantly asks a group of boys surrounding him.
"Yes you have to," replies a boy in the group.
Excited to be doing it for the first time, Hasan pulled down his mask and knocks on the door.
When the door opens, the entire group of children rushes in and starts performing a traditional play.
The 14-year-old was part of 'Shaap', a traditional form of street theatre popular in Gilgit. It is a nascent form of entertainment for children.
The shows are performed by groups of around 15 young boys, aged between 10 and 17. During the cold winter nights of December and January, they go house-to-house knocking on doors. When someone lets them in, they start performing the musical play.
The main characters in 'Shaap' are "Jaro" and "Jari" – a old man and an old woman, respectively. The couple's characters are usually performed by teenagers under the age of 15. Their props are generally limited to masks and walking sticks to add a bit of visual depth to their characters.
The boys also bring their own musical arrangements, with the senior-most member of group carrying a drum.
The drummer usually goes door-to-door, beating the drum to alert residents about the arrival of Jari and Jaro, as the rest of the team who follow in tow.
"Apart from alerting the residents, the drumbeat 'heats up' the frozen atmosphere and the actors," said city resident Altaf Khan.
The boys only visit around four houses a night before returning to their respective homes due to the extreme cold.
But in some cases, residents are not interested in allowing the kids into their homes. They simply tell the boys off at the gate.
But the boys are stubborn and do not leave without exacting a 'tip' - which could range from Rs10 to Rs200.
Once the 'tip' exchanges hands, the boys move on to the next house, happy to have at least earned something.
Dying tradition
While boys continue to perform the traditional theatre in areas such as Nagral, Kashrot, Majini Muhalla, Barmas, Amphery and Napura, its prevalence has decreased considerably over the years.
Technology is the chief culprit in this regard, keeping young and old alike preoccupied.
"There was a time when we had free time for such activities," Khan told The Express Tribune.
"But now our kids only have time for technology," he said, fearing that the decades old tradition was at risk of being forgotten.
Published in The Express Tribune, January 9th, 2017.


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Post WWII Roleplay
Abdul Kalam wrote:All wars signify the failure of conflict resolution mechanisms, and they need post-war rebuilding of faith, trust and confidence.
Year 1950
Good afternoon, leaders of the world. I am talking to you about the state of Europe. After the great conflict of WWII, the nations have been divided. Two coalitions reign supreme, while a few allied nations are partnered. After many disagreements, the American-Europe Coalition expelled the Soviet Union. It only include England (Leader), America and France. The Soviet Union then went to create the Eastern Europe Pact, including Soviet Union (Leader), Germany and Turkey. The Better Europe Coalition was created to improve Europe and problem solves, it includes Sweden (Leader), Italy and Spain.
Great Divisions exist between the American-Europe Coalition and the Eastern-Europe Pact, both imposes trade embargoes on the other. Despite Better Europe's best efforts, divisions plague Europe, causing many conflicts. Vast Arms Races are happening, and the Easter-Europe's expansion efforts are worrying Europe's other leaders. This is where you step in, it is your job to command your countries and bring them to greatness.
This Role-play takes place after WWII. After War-torn England and France captured other countries, the only place spared by war was America. To fix these problems, countries banded together to make coalition superpowers. These created rivalries between others, which later turned into pure hatred. Each trying to become the sole power, Easter-Europe and American-Europe both impose trade embargoes on each other. The Better Europe Coalition was created by Sweden and Spain, both relatively unscathed by WWII, banded together to help other European Countries. Shortly after, Italy joined, seeking help. The Better Europe Coalition has a small rivalry against the Soviet Union, but not a large one.
- No gold usage.
- To declare war on someone you need to have a good reason, which will be expressed in the Newspaper.
- Use OOC sparingly
- Be nice!
- Cursing is allowed, but keep it to a minimum
- Have Fun
- Please post daily in the newspaper
Failure to comply and/or break these rules will be reported to Call of War team immediately.
---Top Secret---
Dear (insert name here),
(Insert message here.)
Thanks, sincerely (insert name here)
How to apply
Name of Country wanted
I hereby agree to the rules and promise I will not violate them.
To build, you must first destroy.


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- reception building with café
- pitches with electric hook-up
- water tap and grey water drainage (unless temperatures fall below freezing)
- Wifi internet access on the pitch
- 6 bathrooms available for hire
- 1 bathroom designed for disabled guests
- 1 family bathroom
- 2 children's bathrooms with baby changing table
- drying room
- laundry room
- dishwashing room
- animals welcome
Camping site
The Camping Site "Lindlbauer" in the holiday resort of Inzell opened in June and offers now 90 camping pitches arranged on terraces, having each a size of about 80 to 120 sqm.
Our camping ground is situated at the edge of the village of Inzell in a natural environment and offers a marvellous view over the Bavarian Alps of the "Chiemgau" and "Rupertigau" districts.
The entrance building houses the reception and a small café. Our amenities block, which we call "Waschalm", features generous shower and washing facilities, such as 6 bathrooms available for hire, a bathroom for disabled guests and two children's bathrooms with baby changing table. There is moreover a drying room and a launderette with washing machines and tumble dryer as well as a dishwashing room


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Today I'm not just talking about the satisfaction of a job well done; I'm talking business. Rates, skills, and time.
Alongside my usual freelance work, I recently edited friends' grad school portfolios and cover letters. I'm happy to help them out; I'm invested in their success and I want to support them however I can. But far too many people out there don't realize the pecuniary worth of a writer. Continue reading


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Central London
We are working with a leading global manufacturing business who are looking for an experienced Legal Specialist to join their team in London on a permanent basis.
The ideal candidate will have experience working in-house and be a real self-starter who is keen to get involved in all aspects of the team's tasks and responsibilities. You will have good knowledge of corporate law and be familiar with commercial compliance and regulatory practices, and it is preferable that you have experience in trade compliance.
You must be willing to get stuck in to any and all tasks that might come up on any given day, and you will be given the opportunity to shape this role into your own. Exceptional written and oral communication skills are a must as well as substantial experience of working with a wide range of stakeholders.
If this position sounds of interest please get in touch for further details.
Please note our advertisements use PQE/salary levels purely as a guide. However we are happy to consider applications from all candidates who are able to demonstrate the skills necessary to fulfil the role.
Please note that your personal information will be treated in accordance with our Privacy Policy.


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Cryptography Apps: How To Keep Your Personal Info Private
If anyone had insisted a year ago that there was a giant government warehouse in Utah that was poring through every electronic communication sent from around the world, from text messages to emails to web traffic, they would be accused of having paranoid delusions. Now in 2014, though, it's yesterday's news.
After former NSA contractor Edward Snowden leaked information on the United States' security programs that are looking through each piece of data we transmit, thus pulling back the curtain on how much our privacy has truly been invaded, the world has changed as our eyes were opened. Encryption is becoming a very important topic in online news, and so is the underlying field, called cryptography.
As consumers living in a post-Edward Snowden world, we should remain aware of what cryptography applications are out there, and how we can utilize them to keep our information (and thus, ourselves) safer. This article is intended to discuss some of the more practical usages of cryptography in modern computing, including PGP/GPG encryption, encrypted chat programs such as Cryptocat, the anonymous Tor browser, and will touch on a major buzz item of 2013, Bitcoin.
All technologies written about in this article are currently (at the time of publishing) legal to use in the United States.
Some Common Cryptography Terms:
Cryptography: The study and practice of techniques for secure communication in the presence of adversaries.
Adversary: A third party who may attempt to decipher an encrypted message. Hackers, rival companies, and identity thieves are all common adversaries in the cryptographic sense.
Encryption: The process of encoding messages or information in such a way that only authorized parties can read it.
Code: A method used to transform a message into an obscure form called codetext so it cannot be understood without special information, called a key.
Cipher: An algorithm used to perform encryption on plaintext to obscure it into ciphertext.
The encryption that is probably most useful for the average consumer is online message encryption. People have used cryptography to secure sensitive messages for millennia (such as the famous "Caesar Cipher" used by Julius Caesar to communicate with his generals). However, most modern email is sent through the web as plain text, which means anyone intercepting it needs to do minimal work to read the messages you are sending. As well, Google can effectively read all of your email sent through its services, and it was revealed that the NSA also has access to your email's metadata (information about an email such as time sent, size, location of origin and destination). This creates issues of privacy and security for users of these email services, and thus, they may want to take certain precautions to protect themselves.
One of the most common email encryption methods dates back to 1993, and is modestly dubbed Pretty Good Privacy, (PGP for short). The PGP package of encryption tools for business is owned and distributed by digital security company Symantec. There is also a GNU open-source version called GNU Privacy Guard, (GPG) that is available free for home and business use.
PGP uses a public key encryption scheme, meaning it utilizes two separate keys for encryption and decryption. The first, a public key, is sent out to those who users want to send them encrypted messages, which they then install on their device. The second, a private key, is used to decrypt the messages sent to the user, and should never be shared. Thus, users of PGP need to keep track of public keys shared with them, (most encryption software keeps a digital "keychain" for public keys) and should encourage their friends, family members and business associates to also utilize such a system to ensure that all emails sent remain encrypted at both ends.
While it may seem like a hassle to use, since you need certain software to utilize these keys, and the software encrypts everything sent in the email's contents (including any malware, making antivirus virtually useless until you open the email, and then it's too late), it can keep sensitive information from prying eyes when used properly. PGP and GPG are software implementations of cryptography that are worth looking into for peace of mind in business and home use.
GPG is available for free download on both Windows and Mac OS X. More information on the software can be found on the GNU Privacy Guard website.
Secure, Encrypted Web Browsing
Besides reading emails and chat messages, the government, hackers, and other adversaries can typically glean a lot of information about a person based on their internet browsing patterns and history. To prevent this, one good technology to use is Tor.
Tor, which previously stood for "The Onion Router", is a software package used for internet anonymity and prevention of censorship. The Tor package, when installed on a device, allows users to channel their internet browsing through multiple other computers on the network, each with its own level of nested encryption (much like the layers in an onion). Each time information is passed between computers, the data only knows what layer it came from and where it is going next. Thus, if it is ever intercepted, it is very difficult to trace what IP address the information originated at.
The layered nature of the Tor network also makes it useful for avoiding firewalls imposed by a government. As well, sites can be hidden in the Tor browser from the rest of the internet. Further, the peer-to-peer nature of Tor means that the network exists as long as there are computers running it, so it cannot be taken down. While this may seem like a source for shady anonymous activity, government agents and the military also use Tor.
The Tor Browser Bundle uses a modified version of the Firefox web browser which allows for low latency anonymous browsing, and is available for download for free from The Tor Project.
In late January 2011, during the Arab Spring revolutions in the Middle East, the Egyptian government shut down nearly all internet and cellular service in the country. Popular bloggers had already been imprisoned in Egypt for years for speaking out against the government or religion, and Twitter was fast becoming one of the fastest and most reliable news sources regarding the revolution. The huge amount of censorship and attempting to "pull the plug" on the internet shows just how much power a government can have over their people's freedom of information.
To avoid this type of persecution by governments, activists can turn to cryptography applications for aid. Cryptocat, for example, offers encrypted chat services in an easy-to-use and visually appealing browser extension. Though it does not mask a user's IP address (and thus, their identity), chat is encrypted to the point that even the Cryptocat network can't read what you're writing. For full anonymity, Cryptocat's creators suggest using the Tor browser.
Twister, a microblogging application currently being developed in Brazil following the mass protests there, uses the BitTorrent and BitCoin protocols to function as a peer-to-peer, decentralized, and encrypted Twitter-like service, intended for revolutionaries and other activists to use to spread news without fear of the government persecuting them.
Cryptocat is available for free as a browser extension for Chrome, Opera, Firefox, and Safari, as well as on Mac OS X. Twister is currently in alpha and thus is very difficult to compile without software development experience, but you can learn more about it by visiting the development site.
In 2013, the online currency known as Bitcoin surged in prominence, popularity, recognition and value. Bitcoin is a cryptocurrency, which means that it is both created and distributed through cryptographic means (in this case, Bitcoins are created through SHA256 cryptographic hashing on specialized hardware, and transferred using public-key encryption).
Bitcoin uses a peer-to-peer network, meaning that the Bitcoin economy is not located on one physical server (and thus is not controlled by the creators directly). Instead, a "block chain" exists on all Bitcoin "nodes" (devices where the Bitcoin client is installed) which checks against all other nodes whenever a transaction is made. This prevents double-spending of Bitcoins, for example, and ensures consensus on the value of a Bitcoin.
Getting involved in Bitcoin trading is as easy as installing a client program, downloading the block chain, and setting up a digital wallet. Many online (and offline) retailers and service providers worldwide, from restaurants and hotels to web developers and mohels, allow payment in Bitcoin. It is a fast, cheap and effective method for making financial transfers when compared to services like PayPal that have a transaction fee.
While its real-world exchange value currently fluctuates based on the popularity and perceived value of the currency, Bitcoin values are likely to get more "sticky" as more coins are mined and more vendors begin accepting it as a form of payment.
Legal Status of Cryptography Programs
As mentioned above, at the time of publishing, all technologies mentioned in this article are legal in the United States. However, understanding the legal implications of the programs throughout their history is still useful. As of early December 2013, Chinese banks cannot exchange Bitcoin for the Yuan, but the Bitcoin traders themselves still exist.
An interesting story from the history of cryptography concerns Phil Zimmermann, the creator of PGP. In 1993, Zimmermann became the target of a criminal investigation by the US government for "munitions export without a license" after PGP made its way across the border, as cryptosystems using keys larger than 40 bits were considered munitions alongside guns and bombs at the time. To get around this restriction, Zimmermann printed the entire source code of PGP in a hardback book, which was distributed and sold, and could be scanned using a character recognition program (or typed in by hand), thus allowing anyone to compile their own version of PGP. After all, the export of books was protected under the First Amendment. Since this incident (which never reached court, and the charges against Zimmermann were eventually dropped), it has been ruled by two federal courts that cryptographic source code is speech protected by the First Amendment. PGP no longer qualifies as a non-exportable weapon, though certain restrictions on cryptographic software exportation do remain in place.
The government may take action against certain services and their providers should they feel that the encrypted data or means of encryption could compromise national security. Shortly after Edward Snowden revealed the extent of the NSA's eavesdropping, secure email service provider Lavabit was leaned on by the NSA to release the emails and information of a specific unnamed user of the service (which was used by Edward Snowden… read between the lines). However, rather than compromise the security of its users and the integrity of the service, Lavabit chose instead to close down while dealing with the courts (though they hope to re-launch with improved encryption once the legal matters have passed).
An interesting case of some of these technologies being used in tandem is the recently taken down Silk Road website. Used as a trading hub and black market for illicit goods and substances, The Silk Road was notorious for its security as much as for the wares it pushed. The site was only accessible to users using a Tor browser, and accepted payment only in Bitcoin to help preserve anonymity of both buyers and sellers.
Silk Road's Bitcoin wallet was seized following the site's takedown in October 2013, and the federal government plans on auctioning off its contents (currently worth about $24.5 million USD). This will be the first auction by the federal government of a cryptocurrency. Silk Road's founder, Ross Ulbricht, (aka "Dread Pirate Roberts"), was arrested on charges of narcotics trafficking, computer hacking, money laundering, and soliciting murder-for-hire in connection with the site.
The lessons to be learned from these examples are twofold. First, cryptography can be a very powerful tool, and if used for illegal purposes, it can be very hard to deal with. Second, users should know not to rely on any one service too heavily. After all, should it go away or be compromised, one may be very much out of luck in terms of finances, safety and privacy.
Even after reviewing all these applications, it is important to remind all readers this that just encrypting communications doesn't mean your data is necessarily secure. You must take a holistic view of security to ensure your safety in today's digital age. Putting a password on your machine, configuring your network properly, avoiding malicious sites, patching software regularly, only sharing personal information with trusted recipients, and checking your router logs to make sure that it isn't compromised are just as important to maintaining security as encrypting your traffic and checking for vans parked outside with antennas sticking out of the top.
In light of recent revelations regarding the NSA's PRISM program, it has become clear that software and practicing safe computing are only part of the equation. Organizations like the NSA may lean on companies such as Intel who create the pseudorandom number generators that cryptography programs rely on to have them use certain prime numbers for generation, or pay companies to put in backdoors to their cryptography programs for easier access (as has happened in the past with RSA Security's BSAFE toolkit from 2004 to 2013, among others). Thus, the hardware you are using may itself be compromised from the start by certain parties. Even if you take all necessary precautions, someone could break into your residence and install a keylogger on your computer, and so on.
While it may seem futile to attempt to secure your computer against such monolithic entities as the NSA, it is not a waste of time. Consumer-level encryption technology at the least will make sure that anyone attempting to intercept your data has to put in their due diligence to reach you, and will likely keep out run-of-the-mill hackers and other interested parties.
Like home security systems, encryption does not make your computer impervious to all break-in attempts. However, sometimes it just needs to be harder to break into your property than to break into a neighbor's down the street to keep you and your privacy safe.
"You can't stop the signal."