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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19384 | Tolkien Gateway
Revision as of 11:53, 10 March 2006 by Earendilyon (Talk | contribs)
A sweet-scented tree that grew in Númenor, and especially in the western region known as Nísimaldar. It was the custom among Númenórean mariners to place a cut bough of oiolairë on the prows of their ships, as a symbol of good fortune. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19390 | AliveInHim Wrote:
Dec 10, 2012 8:28 PM
Actually, Brucie, God actually does permit you your choice of whom to worship; you have the 'right' to defy the Commandment 'Thou Shalt Have No Other God Before Me'. That you have a 'choice' in no way negates the Truth of Who He is, and what He expects of us. And will in no way lessen the penalty you will pay for refusing Him. You keep trying, though. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19391 | Anti-Left Wrote:
Jan 01, 2013 7:05 PM
Tell them all to get bent! Tired of the games. The entire lot is after what they can get out of the deal for themselves. Speed up the process, if all go over no one wins. If only the middle class goes over, the rich will still be rich and the bottom feaders will only get fatter. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19399 | View Single Post
Old 12-28-2012, 09:36 PM #13
Join Date: Jun 2004
Posts: 272
Do you have the same swing speed on your second serve as your first? To fuzz's point, if your serve is technically sound and reliable as you say, racket head,speed + swing speed should be the close if not the same on both serves. The only difference is how much spin you put on the ball and where you aim.
Maybe the solution is to practice hard spinning first serves (kick, twist, slice, or however you hit your spin serve) so that you get get familiar feel with the control + motion of your spin serve. Once you get the hang of it, it will be a matter of how you decide to make contact.
badmice2 is offline Reply With Quote |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19402 | Can't Take Criticism
A character hates being criticized for his wrongs.
(permanent link) added: 2013-05-14 07:42:35 sponsor: 313Bluestreak (last reply: 2013-06-22 11:56:13)
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--Proverbs 15:5, King James Version
It's hard to listen to criticism, whether it's being put down in such a blunt manner because we aren't doing certain things correctly or if it's being criticized for our bad decisions, especially if it's moral. Instead of taking heed to it, some would breakdown miserably and are unable or unwilling to make themselves better. They are some would go as far as to become unexpectedly enraged by it.
This character hates being criticized in every way possible. At best, he often takes criticism as an insult more than a means of guidance or maybe the criticism was so unpleasant and harsh for him to handle. At worst, he just naturally hates criticism period and would rather listen to something he wants to hear. Even a more gentle criticism will cause the character to dish out Disproportionate Retribution. Not even a Compassionate Critic can deal with this character.
In moral situations, a character who resents being rebuked for taking a dark turn (usually a hero bordering to Anti-Hero territory) can make him worse than ever. If the character is a villain, showing displeasure in criticism for his wickedness can demonstrate how they cannot comprehend good, although justifiably, Good Is Not Nice. This can be seen as a character getting revenge on those who had a justifiable reason to criticize them, which makes them petty.
This encompasses narcissistic characters like the Insufferable Genius, Entitled Bastard, and The Prima Donna. It is also the hallmark of a Small Name, Big Ego character.
Compare Minor Insult Meltdown if they are shaken by the criticism instead of being enraged. Often overlaps into With Due Respect. The trademark method of ensuring a Bad Boss will be set on destroying you is to commit this trope. Can be a response to a Jerkass who actually is right for once. Contrast Heroic Self-Deprecation. This can be often Truth in Television.
Anime & Manga
• In Puella Magi Madoka Magica, it is implied that Isabel the Artist Witch was once a magical girl who didn't like criticism. Like what her card description says, "In order to defeat this Witch, remember to bring a critic."
• In Theatre of Blood Vincent Price plays an actor who kills the critics who gave him bad reviews, each murder in the theme of a Shakespeare play he was in which the reviewer panned.
• In The Railway Series, The Fat Controller threatens to paint James blue if he doesn't stop misbehaving. Upon hearing this, James was angry and banged the coaches so hard that he made a hole in one of their lead pipes, which requires a passenger's bootlace to fix it.
Live-Action TV
• Kitchen Nightmares has owners in this trope frequently when Ramsey tries to tell them their faults.
• In the final episode of the 6th US has Gordon Ramsey actually give up on the owners of Amy's Baking Company, because they were unwilling to listen. This is notable because this is the first episode he has ever done this.
• Revolution: General Monroe and Tom Neville have shown more than once that they respond very poorly to criticism. The sort of response that involves attacking or killing the critic.
• A lot of the cast in The Big Bang Theory has this to some degree, but Sheldon Cooper absolutely cannot abide it. When Stephen Hawking corrects his work, it's like a Logic Bomb: he can't accept that he made an elementary mistake, but he can't contradict the great Stephen Hawking... so he faints.
• The Bible: The Book of Proverbs has some verses that imply that those who resent reproof and correction are labeled as fools in contrast to those who are wise (see page quote above). It also insists that we should avoid this trope and just take heed to the criticism.
Western Animation
• The reason the main character was put in charge of the company's new project in the Dilbert Animated Adaptation is because he dared to suggest the Pointy-Haired Boss got the steps to making it mixed up on the slideshow (whether or not he did is undetermined, but either way he is vehement the name is the first and most important part of the project).
• Here's another example from the comic series:
Catbert: So you want a job here, Tubby.
Recruit: It's Toby.
Catbert: Did you just correct me?
Recruit: Er...
Catbert: I ALONE WILL DETERMINE YOUR NAME!!! ...Now what is your name?
Recruit: Tubby.
• In an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants during his review at work, Spongebob insists on being given some form of critism to improve upon. Eventually, despite being assured he is doing perfectly, his boss relents and suggests to put less sauce in the burgers, leaving Spongebob in a deranged whimpering BSOD.
• An episode of American Dad! revolves around Stan deporting his entire neighbourhood (including his own family) because he heard them criticizing him.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19403 |
->''" The whole point of this exercise was to bring a little choice into that sad, pathetic thing you used to call your life."''
-->-- '''Fox'''
Meet Wesley Gibson. Wesley's father abandoned him when he was eighteen weeks old, and things have gone steadily downhill since. He works for a disgusting boss at a job he hates before going home to a girlfriend who's sleeping with his best friend. But suddenly, Wesley is tapped to join The Fraternity, a shadowy cabal of comic book-style villains who claim they're behind all organized crime on Earth, and that further, Wesley's father was one of them.
And that's when Wesley's life gets ''much'' [[BrokenMasquerade more interesting]].
'''''Wanted''''' is a comic series by Creator/MarkMillar and JG Jones that operates on one simple principle: superheroes really ''do'' exist in our world. Well, at least they did until 1986, when all the supervillains in the world teamed up for the express purpose of defeating every superhero in the world. However, getting rid of the superheroes and divvying the world up into sections to make money unencumbered by spandex-clad do-gooders wasn't enough for the supervillains. Did we mention they are ''super''villains? They used magic and technology to alter reality and people's memories, removing the superheroes from all recorded history and recall.
You see, this ''still'' wasn't enough (''super''villains, remember). So they took the heroes who had survived and gave them meaningless lives, then left most of the heroes exploits around... in comic books.
The series has its origins in Millar's childhood, when his older brother convinced the young Mark that Superman and all other superheroes ''had'' existed before Mark was born, but had all been killed by the supervillains. And then Mark grew up and became a comic writer. [[http://www.newsarama.com/264-mark-millar-wanted-from-comic-to-film-1.html Was originally a proposed reboot for the]] ''Secret Society of Super-Villains'', but when rejected, Mark decided to go DarkerAndEdgier.
!!''Wanted'' (the series) provides examples of the following tropes:
* AdorableEvilMinions: The Doll-Master uses robot dolls to commit crimes.
* AdrenalineMakeover: Wesley trades in his jeans/t-shirts/windbreaker style for tailored three-piece suits.
* AffablyEvil:
** Professor Solomon Setzer seems like a fairly nice, easy to get along with guy. Then you remember that ''he'' was the person who engineered the heroic genocide...
** The Doll-Master is as evil as the rest of the Fraternity but he loves his family and won't swear in front of children.
* ALighterShadeOfBlack: Considering [[spoiler:what Mr. Rictus and The Future were planning, which included carrying out a second Holocaust in The Future's case,]] Wesley qualifies.
* ARealManIsAKiller: Wesley seems to believe this, talking up how "macho" he becomes after becoming a villain.
* AxCrazy: Mr. Rictus in a nutshell.
%%* BadassArmy: Composed of supervillains.
%%* BadassBookworm: Professor Setzer.
* BadassDecay: [[invoked]]Turns out that this universe once had a Franchise/{{Batman}} {{expy}}, who Mr. Rictus described as essentially being the "scariest man in the world" (and considering what Mr. Rictus is like, that says ''a lot''). After the villains effectively retconned the existence of superheroes, that same guy is now an expy of Creator/AdamWest, and is an actor who portrays a superhero in [[Series/{{Batman}} a campy TV show]].
* BadassNormal: Wesley. Yes, Wesley's marksmanship abilities are genetic, but aside from that he doesn't seem to have any powers -- although it's hinted that he might have the power to kill anything he wants to, as long as he has access to some kind of weapon.
%%* BadassLongcoat: Mr. Rictus.
* TheBadGuyWins: It already happened. Why do you think it's such a CrapsackWorld? [[spoiler:The main plot itself ends with power in the world changing from one mass-murdering supervillain to another mass-murdering supervillain.]]
* BestialityIsDepraved: Inverted; Mr. Rictus [[CrossesTheLineTwice ''makes love'']] to ''goats''. Plural. As he is part of a group of supervillains, nobody is overly bothered by this.
* BetterLivingThroughEvil: Rather than being recruited by assassins to become a badass hero, Wesley's trained to become a supervillain. The Fraternity of the graphic novel make no pretense of heroism or righteousness -- they KickTheDog on a regular basis ''[[EvilFeelsGood because it's fun]]'', and encourage Wesley to do the same. In fact, at the end, [[spoiler:in a fabulous deconstruction of the ComesGreatResponsibility [[AnAesop Aesop]], Wesley pretends to have a moral epiphany, tells his sidekick/fuck buddy that he was just kidding, then mocks the reader for having a moral compass. And then he rapes you.]]
* BewareTheNiceOnes: After Mr. Rictus [[SlasherSmile gloatingly informs him]] that his wife and daughters have been raped and murdered, [[spoiler: The Doll-Master orders ''all'' of his dolls]] to kill Rictus' gang. It doesn't work, but give him points for trying.
* BlackAndGreyMorality: One of the defining traits of the series.
* BlasphemousBoast: At the yearly conference of Fraternity heads, Adam One doesn't see the point in Mr. Rictus advocating for the Fraternity to step out of the shadows, since they're "already sitting here with more money than God".
* BlondGuysAreEvil: Invoked with [[spoiler: Wesley]] by the end.
* BreakingTheFourthWall: The entire series is [[spoiler: Wesley]] telling you, the reader, all of this after it's happened and giving you a TheReasonYouSuckSpeech for thinking it's just a comic book.
* BrotherhoodOfEvil: The Fraternity.
* BulletTime: This is shown to be part of the reason [[spoiler: Wesley]] is [[OneManArmy so good at killing people]].
* CanonWelding: Some bits of dialogue in both titles indicates that Millar's ''Chosen'' takes place in the same Universe.
* CardCarryingVillain: Pretty much every member of The Fraternity; they're evil and darn proud of it.
* CatchAndReturn: Done with a bullet. Using a ''knife''.
* ClassyCatBurglar: The Fox subverts it. She seems like one at first glance, but stick around and you'll find her to be crass, vulgar, and ultraviolent.
* ClusterFBomb: The Fox.
* ComicBookFantasyCasting: {{Eminem}} as Wesley, HalleBerry as Fox and TommyLeeJones as The Killer.
* ConquerorFromTheFuture: The Future. [[StupidJetpackHitler With Nazism.]]
* ContemporaryCaveman: Fraternity leader Adam-One, a millenia-old immortal from [[TheSlowPath the dawn of humankind]].
* ContractOnTheHitman: When [[spoiler: Wesley and The Fox]] escape him, Mr. Rictus goes about finding them by the simple expedient of revoking their Fraternity protection and letting their faces and names be plastered all across the news.
* CorruptPolitician: In a world run by super-villains, a number of world leaders have to be on the take.
* CrapsackWorld: Ever wonder why the world seems like it sucks? Because it does, thanks to the villains erasing superheroes.
* CreepyDoll: The Doll-Master's weapons of choice. Able to fly and loaded with Professor Setzer-designed weapons.
* {{Deconstruction}}:
** Not just of comic books and super-villains (see below), but to a larger extent, society's glorification of violence. It's a widely-established fact that becoming an action-hero and "manning up" is a power fantasy frequently entertained by adolescents (mainly males). Here, Millar suggests that such dreams are not only unrealistic, but just downright dysfunctional and reprehensible. For example, Wesley mentions several times about how his transition to cold-blooded killer changed his life for the better, but isn't portrayed sympathetically at all. In fact, at this point readers are most likely disgusted by his actions, with his callous murder of innocents, like the [[spoiler:moment where, on a whim, he decides to walk into a police station and kill every male officer and nearly rape the sole female survivor, all because he was bored]]. In fact, towards the end of the comic, as he [[spoiler:enacts his RoaringRampageOfRevenge against Mr. Rictus]], he confidently states "I am John Wayne, Bruce Lee, Clint Eastwood", among other action heroes. At this point, would you really cheer for him, even if he plays on your power fantasies like a videogame?
** ''Wanted'' explores the entire HerosJourney archetype of storytelling. Wesley is a [[{{Jerkass}} horrible, horrible person]], and every person he comes across seems tailor-made to cheer him on in his horribleness and [[EvilMentor mould him into a more competent horrible person]], offering moral support and justifying his actions for him, so that even when [[HeelRealization he has moments of introspection]] the answer is always "you're right, and you deserve all the power". Compare the journey of Wesley Gibson with the journey of a character like Franchise/HarryPotter. Lots of conveniently inherited guardians, assistants, resources, and lucky powers that save the day with bizarre ease. When changed to this context, the insidiousness of the archetype kind of comes to the fore.
* CrossOver: Millar was reluctant to do any crossovers but agreed to do one with the ''SavageDragon'' since he and Larsen are pals and had worked together in the past.
* DefectorFromDecadence: [[spoiler:Wesley's mother was a former supervillain who left the life of villainy after becoming a mother, coddling Wesley to the disgust of his father, who wanted his son to follow his legacy.]]
* DepravedBisexual: The original Killer occasionally engages in homosexual acts once in a while when he gets bored with women.
* DisproportionateRetribution: The main character gains the resources to do whatever he wanted. As an example, he deals with the frustration of a neighbor being ''too'' cheery with...a bullet to the face.
* DodgeTheBullet: Despite having a vast array of firearms used against him, Wesley never actually ends up getting shot, most likely due to this trope. His father is explicitly shown dodging bullets, and since Wesley got his powers from his dad, it makes sense that he would be capable of the same feat.
* DontThinkFeel: Wesley's first test is to shoot the wings off some flies. He's unable to even try until The Fox is literally about a second from blowing his brains out.
* DrivenToSuicide: In a way; [[spoiler:Wesley's dad can't stand the thought of not being the best killer in the world or of someone less talented than he is taking him out, so he gets Wesley to do it]].
* EvenEvilHasStandards: In spades. Wesley Gibson: Mass murderer and remorseless rapist? Oh yeah, absolutely. But at least he has a tiny sense of decency when he displays his appreciation of family. Mr. Rictus, on the other hand, commits such heinous atrocities that disgust even Wesley and most of the other villains. Fox mentions this as the reason she moved from Rictus's gang to Seltzer's. Sure, she kills people, but Rictus was shooting babies in cribs for the hell of it. In fact, Mr. Rictus' evil is pretty much the only reason you would cheer for Wesley when he [[spoiler: goes on his killing spree against Rictus]]: the latter is only slightly better than the former when it comes to morality. Just barely.
* EvenEvilHasLovedOnes: Wesley, Wesley's father, and Doll-Master all have families and sincerely care about them. Fox had a genuine love affair with Wesley's father in the past and with Wesley himself in the present. The immortal African dictator Adam-One is shown at his oldest son's death bed and hates it when he's interrupted because he wants to be with him in his last moments.
* EvilDuo: Wesley and The Fox, who by the end of the series [[spoiler:are the new leaders of the North American branch of The Fraternity.]]
* EvilMentor: The entire Fraternity serve as this to Wesley, but Solomon Seltzer and the Fox in particular. Their goal is to make him a powerful and feared supervillain like his father, but in a subversion they ''do'' have his best interests at heart. [[spoiler:Wesley's father is a more distant version, as he doesn't reveal himself until the end to complete his son's training.]]
* EvilOnlyHasToWinOnce: The premise of the setting is that the supervillains of the world finally decided to all team up and thus overwhelm the superheroes by sheer numbers. After their victory, the villains used one of their {{Reality Warper}}s to retroactively change reality so that the heroes became normal people (with ironic twists to their lives), and they themselves were set up as the secret rulers of the world. The only hint that anything was ever different is the existence of superhero comic books, which represent the ultimate victory of the supervillains -- although the comics depict actual events from the previous reality, nobody would ever take them seriously.
* EvilParentsWantGoodKids: It seems like The Killer wanted his son Wesley to stay out of the criminal life and therefore never contacted him. [[spoiler:Subverted at the end when it turns out that he very much wants him to become a mass-murdering supervillain and set up all the events of the comic book to get Wesley to follow him in his footsteps.]]
* EvilVersusEvil: The finale, with [[spoiler:Wesley and The Fox]] facing off against [[spoiler:Mr. Rictus and his crew.]]
* {{Expy}}: Inverted in-universe. In a twist, the comic book heroes and villains ''Wanted''[='=]s are based on are implied to be expies of ''Wanted''[='=]s "real life" versions, while the comic book versions are all that remain of humanity's knowledge of them after reality was edited. The book apparently started as a pitch for an AlternateReality take on DC's ''Secret Society of Super-Villains'', so all the characters can be traced back to Franchise/TheDCU villains in some respects.
** The Killer (especially the first one) seems inspired by Deathstroke the Terminator. Considering he started off with the "Batman enemies" group and has the power of infallible aim, he's also rather like Deadshot. [[http://www.newsarama.com/264-mark-millar-wanted-from-comic-to-film-1.html Millar confirms it here.]]
** Mr. Rictus has elements of SelfDemonstrating/TheJoker, but also [[Film/WhoFramedRogerRabbit Judge Doom]].
** The Fox is blatantly ComicBook/{{Catwoman}}.
** Professor Seltzer is pretty much a Golden Age LexLuthor.
** Franchise/{{Superman}}'s counterpart is not named, but he is explicitly ''shown'' as a paraplegic, like Creator/ChristopherReeve.
** Franchise/{{Batman}} is alluded to several times - as the Detective - before his post-1986 persona [[spoiler: who basically Adam West, along with Dick Grayson who has turned into Burt Ward, are placed in a death trap by Mr. Rictus and fed to an octopus.]] It's a bit of a TearJerker when [[spoiler: Mr. Rictus points out that the fat, pleading slob with the hood over his head was once the scariest man in the world.]]
** The Emperor is FuManchu. Given the DC origins of the pitch, he's also Ra's Al Ghul.
** Adam-One is VandalSavage.
** Shithead is [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGallery Clayface]].
** Deadly Nightshade is [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGallery Poison Ivy]].
** Imp is [[Characters/SupermanVillains Mister Mxyzptlk]].
** Fuckwit is [[Characters/SupermanVillains Bizarro]].
** The Doll-Master is [[Characters/SupermanVillains Toyman]], albeit with a [[FamilyValuesVillain slightly different personality]].
** Johnny Two-Dicks is Comicbook/TwoFace combined with [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGallery Scarface]].
** Brain Box is {{Brainiac}}.
** Sucker is [[Characters/SupermanVillains Parasite]].
** The Frightener is [[Characters/BatmanRoguesGallery Scarecrow]].
** The Puzzler is ComicBook/TheRiddler.
** The Future is Per Degaton, another fascist time-travel villain, but with the inversion that he's from the future like Kang the Conqueror at Marvel or the Lord of Time at DC.
* FaceDeathWithDignity: [[spoiler:Doll-Master is calm and accepting of his impending death when Mr. Rictus and his men come for him during their elimination of the American Fraternity chapter. All he asks of them is that they [[NotInTheFace leave his face intact]] for when his wife and children find him. When they reveal that they already killed his family beforehand, Doll-Master unleashes his dolls in retaliation.]]
* FakingTheDead: [[spoiler:Wesley's father faked his own death so he could set his son on the path to succeeding him and becoming one of the most powerful supervillains in the world.]]
%%* FiveBadBand:
%%** Rictus's gang:
%%*** BigBad: Mr. Rictus
%%*** TheDragon: Shithead
%%*** EvilGenius: The Future
%%*** TheBrute: [[spoiler:Sucker]]
%%*** DarkChick: Deadly Nightshade
%%** Seltzer's gang:
%%*** BigBad: Professor Solomon Seltzer
%%*** TheDragon: The Killer
%%*** DarkChick: The Fox
%%*** EvilGenius: Doll-Man
%%*** TheBrute: Fuckwit
* ForTheEvulz: This is specifically stated to be Mr. Rictus' entire philosophy. At least he's up front about it.
* FromNobodyToNightmare:
** Wesley Gibson at the start of the series is a harmless nebbishy doormat. The moment he finds out about his heritage, however, he turns into a completely unrepentant monster who is implied to have the power of killing anything he wants, as long as he has a weapon.
** Mr. Rictus was a kind and giving (though unremarkable) man who had a near-death experience and found out there was no heaven or hell. Upon realizing that all his good deeds had been ultimately useless, he pretty much said screw it all and decided to spend the rest of his life [[ForTheEvulz doing whatever the hell he wanted]].
* GambitRoulette: Everything is masterminded by [[spoiler:Wesley's father since he's hated how his mother raised him to be a "pussy" while The Killer still wanted to be a supervillain, so he made Wesley "man up" in his mind to take his place since age is catching up to him.]] It's even possible that [[spoiler: Villains on both sides dying until Wesley gets North and South America]] was part of the plan. [[spoiler: Consider that Wesley's father appears not a moment after Wesley kills Rictus. Shit, there's wanting the best for your son, and then there's turning him into the ''ruler of two continents.'']]
* GetOutOfJailFreeCard: All Fraternity members wear pins bearing the Fraternity symbol, or drive cars with it on the licence plate. This allows them to commit ''any'' crime, in ''full view'' of police and ''dozens'' of witnessess and just walk away.
* GodwinsLaw: Invoked in how Rictus is allies with super-nazi "The Future". Without that one character it would be much harder to see Rictus as worse than the other villains.
* GollumMadeMeDoIt: Johnny Two Dicks is CompositeCharacter of Two-Face and Scarface who is a meek bystander who is controlled by his evil side... [[RefugeInAudacity who talks through Johnny's penis.]] Yes, really.
* GunsAkimbo: Both Wesley and The Fox are fond of this one.
* GunFu: Wesley and his dad are the undisputed kings of this in the series.
* GunKata: Wesley's powers allow him to ''know'' just where and when to shoot.
* TheHedonist: Nearly everyone in The Fraternity. Which is bad for the universe at large since the thing that makes supervillains feel good is [[EvilIsPetty petty evil]] on a good day and vicious genocide on a bad one.
* HellBentForLeather: Wesley's costume, a black leather full bodysuit with several guns and knives attached.
* HereThereWereDragons: The whole point of the story in regards to Silver Age superheroics.
* HollywoodAtheist: Mr. Rictus, who turned evil because he found out there was no afterlife, and decided to just do whatever the hell he wanted for the rest of his life. It turns out he wants to do some evil, evil shit.
* ImAHumanitarian: Mr. Rictus is seen eating someone. The looks on Adam-One and The Emperor's faces suggest it may have been [[spoiler: Setzer.]] Considering [[NauseaFuel who killed him, and how]], one hopes that corpse was ''thoroughly'' cleaned.
* ImportantHaircut: Wesley goes from hippie dreadlocks to an {{Eminem}}-style crewcut to show how he goes FromNobodyToNightmare.
* ImprobableAimingSkills: In case you missed it earlier, Wesley ''shoots the wings off a couple of quarter-inch long houseflies''. '''And''' walks through a police station and shoots every cop in the place squarely between the eyes...even when he isn't looking.
* InsultBackfire: At the end of the meeting of the Fraternity heads, Wesley insults Mr. Rictus ("Happy goat-fucking, Mr. Rictus") as the latter is leaving. Rictus responds thus: "I don't fuck goats Mr. Gibson, I make love to them."
* InsultMisfire: Wesley calls Shit-Head "Fuckface", but Shit-Head thinks that Wesley is getting him mixed up with Fuckwit.
* LegionOfDoom: Every single supervillain in existence teamed up in the backstory to defeat every superhero alive, and then rewrote reality to make their victory absolute. Afterwards, they organized themselves into The Fraternity, and now control the entire world in secret.
* ALighterShadeOfBlack: Wesley and his allies are ever so slightly better than their opponents, which makes it possible to root for them.
* MadScientist: Professor Setzer, he even admits that he's probably certifiably nuts.
* ManOfWealthAndTaste: Mr. Rictus tries to pull off the whole "nice suit" deal, but it's kind of ruined by the fact that his face and hands look like rotting hamburger.
* TheMasquerade: Ostensibly this is to keep superheroes from across the multiverse from coming to this universe and saving the world. It has the added effect of making everyone completely ignorant of how things actually work.
%%* TheMole: [[spoiler:Sucker]] is this for Mr. Rictus.
* MsFanservice: The Fox, a hot, nymphomaniacal chick who wears leather and a pair of fox ears.
* TheMultiverse: To satisfy their supervillainous leanings, The Fraternity often raids other universes for treasure, as well as some trivial things.
* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: Adam-One bears a striking resemblance to President Mobutu.
* NotInTheFace: [[spoiler:Doll-Master asks Mr. Rictus that he leaves his face intact while killing him. He already knows that he's gonna die -- he just wants to make sure his family finds a relatively peaceful body. Mr. Rictus then reveals that he already killed them.]]
* NotMyDriver: [[spoiler:Shithead kills Seltzer by posing as his driver.]]
* NotSoHarmlessVillain: Professor Setzer doesn't look that threatening, does he? Now look at him again, while remembering that he ''personally killed this universe's Superman''. Worse: During the rewrite of reality, he made him into a quadriplegic -- that is to say, Creator/ChristopherReeve, the actor who played the titular character of the first ''Film/{{Superman}}'' movies.
* NumberOfTheBeast: Shit-Head is made up of the collected feces of the 666 most evil human beings in history.
* OffingTheAnnoyance: Wesley (once he's found out about his new powers) kills (among others) his neighbor, who annoyed him by always repeating the same mindlessly optimistic message every morning. His first step to becoming a {{supervillain}} is to go down the list of everyone who annoyed him in some way during his life and murder, rape, or torture all of them.
* PointyHairedBoss: Wesley's boss finds extreme sadistic glee in tormenting him daily.
* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: The Future, who is actually a Nazi ConquerorFromTheFuture and now rules over Europe. Not even the amoral Mr. Rictus is ''that'' petty. He even claims he's going to start a second Holocaust near the end.
* PowerParasite: This is Sucker's primary superpower (he's a [[Characters/SupermanVillains Parasite]] expy), but it's limited to a 24 hour timeframe. [[spoiler:After he defects to Mr. Rictus camp and betrays the protagonists he absorbs the Bizarro expy's FlyingBrick abilities, and boasts of his new powers. He's defeated when he forgets the time limit, and falls to his death just as the clock runs out.]]
* PragmaticVillainy: The stated purpose of The Fraternity. They've already conquered the world, and all they want is their pleasures. Widespread chaos threatens that. Solomon Seltzer just wants to party and practice MadScience. The Emperor just wants to party and run his empire. Adam-One just wants to party and enjoy his [[LivingForeverIsAwesome eternal life]]. However, the heroic genocide required more firepower than the three of them had, so they had to make alliances and therefore share power with less pragmatic types. The Future just wants to party and [[PoliticallyIncorrectVillain slaughter the]] [[ThoseWackyNazis inferior races]]. And Mister Rictus just wants to party ''WhileRomeBurns''.
* PrettyLittleHeadshots: Averted; they're neither pretty nor little.
* ProfessionalKiller: The Killer, who is Wesley's father.
* RealityWarper:
** At times it is subtly hinted that The Killer's powers make mundane objects like lead bullets and steel blades deadly to entities who would otherwise be immune.
** Imp is explicitly this, at least according to the appendix. For instance, he once turned the entire US into a marshmellow land for 12 hours before he reversed the effect.
* TheReveal: Several, though perhaps the most jarring is [[spoiler:Wesley's dad being alive, having faked his death in order to jumpstart Wesley's down the path of the supervillain]].
* RewritingReality
* RoaringRampageOfRevenge: [[spoiler: Wesley]] narrates a very detailed montage of him killing every single person in his life that gave him grief. And later, [[spoiler: Wesley and The Fox]] go on one of these after Mr. Rictus tries to kill them.
* RuleOfCool: They fly a jet through the portal back to their dimension in the second book. The portal inside of an office building. And all of this is part of a heist to steal a radioactive condom.
* ShinyNewAustralia: One of Mr. Rictus' grievances is that, when the villains divvied up the continents, he got stuck with Australia.
* ShoutOut: ''Wanted'' references other comic books very frequently, as the series is based on the idea that the supervillains of a comic book continuity won utterly and completely. For starters, the year they defeated the heroes was 1986 -- the same year that ''Franchise/TheDCU'' was doing its ''ComicBook/CrisisOnInfiniteEarths'' crossover which involved pretty much every hero and villain in the setting duking it out.
* ScaryShinyGlasses: Mr. Rictus ensemble includes a pair of red, shiny glasses.
* SlidingScaleOfVillainThreat: Mr. Rictus' idea of running roughshod over the world instead of staying in the shadows is repeatedly shot down by the other Fraternity heads, because if they ''did'' so, heroes from other realities would most likely show up to stop them and The Fraternity would lose everything. Perhaps unsurprisingly, [[AxCrazy Rictus doesn't care]].
* TheSociopath: Mr. Rictus. ''Ohhhh'', boy, Mr. Rictus.
* StupidEvil: Rictus is proud to be this.
* TalkingPoo: Shithead, a [[Franchise/{{Batman}} Clayface]] {{Expy}} creature made of the feces of the [[NumberOfTheBeast 666]] most evil people in the world, including AdolfHitler and Jeffrey Dahmer.
* TakeThatAudience: Wesley constantly, especially at the end.
* ThisLoserIsYou: Taken to truly sadistic levels. Wesley is a weak, cowardly, petty, jealous, racist, sexist, homophobic jerk who thinks it's a tragedy that he isn't rich and powerful. The world of supervillains seems purpose-built to glorify him and confirm all of his petty delusions of entitlement, and he uses his newfound powers to start raping and murdering to his jealous heart's content.
* TookALevelInBadass / TookALevelInJerkass: Wesley goes from a cuckolded corporate drone to a cold-blooded killer. [[ArsonMurderAndJaywalking Who's a dick.]]
* TrainingFromHell: Part of Wesley's physical training is being tied to a chair while a [[TheBrute Brute]] beats the shit out of him. Every day. Until, as part of Wesley's graduation, the ropes are left loose, allowing him to [[ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice shove a broken chair leg through the guy's throat and into his brain]].
* TrainingMontage: Wesley gets used to the training (which uses innocent civilians as targets, eventually) with glee.
* TurnOutLikeHisFather: Wesley's dad was watching him as a kid once and saw Wesley getting beat up by some other kids. Upon seeing Wesley not fight back and get rescued by his mom, who praised him for his actions, he realized that she knew, at least on a subconscious level, that if Wesley resorted to violence there'd be no turning back. [[YouCantFightFate And she was right]].
* UnwittingPawn. [[spoiler: Wesley]]. And how...
* VillainProtagonist: Wesley, who upon going evil shaves his head into an Eminem-style crewcut and freely commits murders and rapes just because he can. Not to mention being a misanthropist...
** VillainAntagonist: Mr. Rictus and The Future.
* VillainsNeverLie: Oddly enough, Mr. Rictus doesn't outright lie to Wesley until their final confrontation, and even then it's subtly hinted that he wasn't. He said that Lee Harvey Oswald killed Wesley's father, and [[spoiler:the Killer later mentions that he's "killed Presidents from Grassy Knolls"]].
* VillainousBreakdown: [[spoiler: Wesley]] seems to have one of these while talking with The Fox near the end of the series; then he admits he was just messing with her.
* VisionaryVillain: Professor Setzer convinced ''all the other supervillains in the world'' to [[EvilPlan team up in one massive attack that the superheroes wouldn't be able to stop]]. And it ''worked''.
* VoluntaryShapeshifting: [[spoiler:Shit-Head. He assumes Fuckwit's form so he can kill Professor Seltzer.]]
* WarOnCops: The equivalent of Deadshot walks into a police station and opens fire. There's no Batman to stop him...
* WhosLaughingNow: Wesley in spades, after he joins The Fraternity.
* WrittenByTheWinners: Literally. After they killed or brainwashed all the heroes, the Fraternity used their magic and mad science to [[RewritingReality rewrite history]], making everyone believe they were never real to begin with.
* YellowPeril: The Emperor, who is an {{Expy}} of FuManchu and other similar villains.
* YouBastard: At the end of the series, Wesley gives a speech to the audience because they suck compared to him. Of course, the fact that Wesley is nothing more then a comic book character makes [[ShutUpHannibal shutting him up]] as easy as closing the book. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19404 |
* '''TabletopGame/{{Battleship}}''', a guessing game originally created for scrap paper "boards" (akin to Tic Tac Toe), but successfully adapted into a commercial form by Milton Bradley. If characters are seen playing this, it usually indicates they've had ''way'' too much idle time to kill. Due to the deeply embedded memories of MB's marketing campaigns, nobody ''ever'' is depicted destroying a cruiser or carrier, but within 3 turns one player ''will'' finally announce "You sank my battleship!" (Particularly suspect, considering a battleship must be hit 4 times before it will sink.) This is more often than not done ironically, or with a {{lampshade|hanging}} on it, at least recently.
* '''TabletopGame/{{Chess}}''', [[SmartPeoplePlayChess the supreme Western test of intellect]]. Expect to see two characters staring at the board for long periods, looking like ''The Thinker'' statue. TheSpock, TheProfessor, the [[Main/{{CriminalMindGames}} riddling villain]], and ([[CaptainObvious of course]]) TheChessmaster will all play this superbly. Show them a game in progress, and they will confidently announce, "Mate in three/five/seventeen." In practice, even the world's best professional chess players would not be able to consistently do this well. Spock, of course, has the excuse that he's an alien. Sometimes, as in ''Series/{{House}}'' and Robert Heinlein's ''Sixth Column'', it's just a bluff.
** '''Three-Dimensional Chess.''' Several varieties of this exist, including one based on the complicated boards seen in ''Franchise/StarTrek''.
** And of course, sometimes a character plays ChessWithDeath.
* '''{{Go}}''', the supreme ''Eastern'' test of intellect. Several orders of magnitude more complex than chess (which is not quite the same as "more complicated than chess"). Knowing how to play well typically signals a character has likewise intellectually surpassed "mere chess". The aura of inscrutable Asian wisdom doesn't hurt either, though in reality playing either game at world championship level is equally difficult. And then, in the other direction, there's...
* '''{{Shogi}}''', finally, lies somewhere in between: a Japanese variant of chess, it is typically used in anime as an excuse for old men to sit on porches of rice-paper houses, above the stone lanterns and TheThingThatGoesDoink, and discuss in slow grunts the vagaries of life.
* '''TabletopGame/{{Monopoly}}''', a game for the whole family (so long as the whole family understands real estate, mortgages, land development, and math at at least the fifth grade level). Expect lots of squabbling, convenient luck and complicated trades, often [[{{Metagame}} extending outside the game]].
* '''{{Scrabble}}''', a game for people with big vocabularies. TheMagicPokerEquation applies here. The winner always has just the right letters for a long, high-scoring, but recognisable word, and there's somewhere on the board that it'll fit. They rarely resort to kind of obscure words common in professional Scrabble: ''aa'', ''cwm'', ''etui''. (Although one can occasionally expect ''ComicStrip/CalvinAndHobbes''-esque arguments over the [[ScrabbleBabble legitimacy of such words as]] "zarf", "[[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons kwyjibo]]," "jozxyqk" or "zqfmgb.")
* '''TrivialPursuit''', a combination of luck and knowledge. Entire books have detailed not only strategies for both asking and answering questions, but also the game's inaccuracies and ambiguities.
* '''[[DungeonsAndDragons Dungeons & Dragons]]''' While technically a roleplaying game, it is always portrayed using maps and minis. Shorthand for [[RevengeOfTheNerds NERRRRRRRRRRDS!!!]]
There are many more board games, but these are [[SmallReferencePools the only ones commonly played]].
Often, the trademarked ones will have an in-world BrandX equivalent.
Note: In Hollywood Board Games, it is important to let the [[Franchise/StarWars Wookiee]] win. |
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Funny: Arrow
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Season One
• The Take That delivered at Twilight in the Pilot episode:
Oliver: What's Twilight?
Tommy: You're so better off not knowing.
• Oliver takes a laptop to Felicity to get her to pull information off it claiming it was damaged when he spilled coffee on it. Felicity points out that the laptop has bullet holes in it.
• Oliver tries to convince Diggle to join his crusade, then ditches his new bodyguard Rob when he shows up, leading to the following exchange.
Oliver: Gotta use the bathroom.
(He leaves. Solid minute of silence before Dig turns to Rob)
Diggle: Man, that boy's long gone.
• Diggle being a fanboy over Oliver's gadgets.
Diggle: Oh, that's sweet.
• The quick Take That at Black Canary's infamous fishnet stockings, delivered by her comic identity no less.
• When Thea starts to think that Oliver is the masked vigilante because he got her an arrowhead, he delivers this brilliant quip.
Oliver: Good thing I didn't get you the panda shot glass or you'd think I was Panda Man.
• When Oliver meets Thea's boyfriend.
Oliver: Who's this Shane guy?
Thea: We rob banks and smoke crack together.
• Felicity's reason for not visiting Australia: Fear of kangaroos.
• Ollie's reaction when he sees Thea with a boy her age about to have sex.
Oliver (low voice, similar to Bryan Mills): Hit the road.
• And he aims his hand like he was gonna shoot him.
• Ollie waving off a proposed nickname for The Hood: Green Arrow. He thinks it sounded lame.
• The boy mentioned above shows up (invited) at the Queen Christmas party and runs into Diggle and Ollie at the front door. While Shane and Ollie have a short chat, you can clearly see Diggle in the background slowly shaking his head. Diggle's Genre Savvy knows no bounds.
• In "Year's End", Felicity saying that she doesn't understand why archery is all the rage, and that she finds it ridiculous in front of Oliver... Ah, the good old days when she didn't know better.
• When Tommy visits Laurel and finds her father there in her apartment.
Tommy: Merry Christmas. How are you?
Det. Lance (in a low voice): Proficient with firearms.
• Later that episode, during the Queens' Christmas party, Ollie and Diggle are talking when Thea's friend, Shane, shows up with a bouquet of flowers.
Shane: *Nervously* Hey, Man... Thea invited me. Hope that's cool...
Ollie: *Stares at him*
Diggle: *Standing behind Ollie, just shakes his head*
• Oliver being unable to pronounce Zack Galifinakis' last name.
• When Oliver asks Felicity to analyze some Vertigo for him, he tries to pass it off as a "sports drink" that he's keeping in a syringe because he "ran out of sports bottles." There is about a half beat pause as everyone absorbs the ridiculousness of that lie and Diggle just walks away.
Diggle:Your B.S. stories are getting worse.
Oliver: I'm aware.
• Ollie needs to kill someone in front of the Russian mob to gain their trust. Diggle is horrified, until they carry the body off to a car trunk and Ollie promptly wakes the guy up. Surprised, Diggle asks if Ollie's gonna teach him how to do it, but Ollie just says "No." and then punches the guy really hard in order to knock him out again.
• Dig is spying on Moira and, to that end, replaces her chauffeur. She enters a restaurant and tells him she doesn't need an escort. Dig ends up following her anyway, expecting her to meet some evil dude, but stumbles on the birthday party of one of Moira's friends. He has to pretend to look for the restroom. What sells it is the "Happy Birthday" addressed to the friend.
• This dialog snippet in "The Odyssey":
Felicity Smoak: I'm guessing how and why are Oliver Queen's least favorite questions.
John Diggle: Yeah, well, there's also when and where he's not too fond of.
• Also, Felicity's obsessive attitude towards technology:
Oliver: Then why did you upgrade my system?
Felicity: Seeing a system set up that poorly hurts me. In my soul.
• Also, Island!Ollie trying (and failing) to make fire for two hours, and then Slade whipping out his lighter. His answers to Ollie's protestations:
I know, I was watching you. Thank you for the entertainment.
• Oliver: "I'm stranded on an island, and my only friend is named Wilson."
• From "the Dodger":
Felicity: (helping catch the Dodger, a jewel thief, using a brooch donated by the Queen family as bait) [What are you going to do if] he absconds with your family jewels?
• Also, Ollie explaining how he typically gets the information he needs (putting the fear of God into the interrogated person), and then saying that they can try Felicity's way (slipping a bug in McKenna's phone)
• On the island, even while wounded and sick, Slade still has the strength to quip a bit, suggesting that Island!Ollie gets him a Maxim or Sports Illustrated while looking for Yao Fei's "Super herbs".
• In "Dead to Rights":
Diggle: You may not want to go after the girl who's hunting you down.
Ollie: Well, it's slim pickings for us vigilantes.
• When Malcolm visits the group.
Malcolm: They're bestowing me with their annual Humanitarian Award.
• Also, during Tommy's birthday at Laurel's place, after she says the ringing is probably for the food that she ordered
Ollie: Thank God she didn't cook.
Tommy: Amen.
• The look on Malcolm's face when told the Hood saved him.
• Slade sarcastically suggesting that Island!Ollie go gather enough bamboo to build a boat like on Gilligan's Island; later, his reaction when Ollie gets the radio working.
• There's also the Visual Pun that happened in that scene. Slade had just killed a boar and brought back to eat. He says Oliver will get the radio working when pigs fly. He gets it to work, and Slade throws the pig off his shoulders, meaning at least one pig did fly.
• John's calling out Oliver on the Double Standard between John and Helena. How he points it out: Would Oliver have killed John if he looked like the T-Mobile Girl?
• In "Salvation":
Felicity: It's just... you went over there to be all, "Grr, stop being bad or I'll arrow you," and now you want to rescue him.
*Felicity turns around and gives Ollie the "oh, really?" look*
Ollie: (exasperated) Somebody else.
• In "Unfinished Business":
Ollie: (As he watches Shado performing yoga "You know my mother does yoga."
• Later, Shado makes him punch water.
• The club's lost and found consists primarily of one type of item: Ladies' Underwear.
• The bad guy bets that Oliver couldn't aim a single arrow. So he doesn't. The guy's "oh, shit" look right before Oliver shoots is priceless.
• After Diggle obtains a sample of the new Vertigo:
Diggle: Alright. Person of color has successfully purchased your drugs.
Felicity: For the record, I offered.
• Home Invasion:
• Roy, while trying to find the vigilante.
Thea: Is that a police radio in your pocket?!
Roy: Nope, I'm just happy to see you.
• When Roy gives the radio back
Roy: You set this up just to get your radio back?
Det. Lance: Well, I do love that radio.
• After Roy tried, and failed, to get into contact with the Hood via a stolen police radio, Thea visits him later.
Roy: You probably think I'm an idiot.
Thea: Oh I already thought you were an idiot. Now, I think you're brain dead.
• Felicity's concern over hacking a Federal database.
Felicity: I really don't see myself fitting in well at Guantanamo Bay.
Ollie: Don't worry, Felicity, they don't send blondes there.
Felicity: I dye it, actually. [beat] I keep your secrets.
• A blink-and-you'll-miss-it about that last one is Ollie leaning in to inspect Felicity's hair.
• The Undertaking:
• Felicity's wearing an earbud so she can talk to Oliver inside the casino:
Oliver: That would be my preference.
• Darkness on the Edge of Town:
• Felicity's worried about Ollie:
Felicity: Well, no. The last time the Vigilante paid your mom a visit, you got shot, and I got to play doctor with you. (exasperated expression) Ahh! My brain thinks of the worst way to say things.
• A little later in the scene, Felicity notes that the purchase of UNIDAC was around the same time she and Ollie first met. The way she says it almost sounds like a perky subtle "You know, when our relationship first started. Nudge nudge wink wink."
• Needing direct access to Merlyn's mainframe in his office building to find some info, Team Green Arrow sneak Felicity into the building, providing cover. Once she's finished and leaves, she runs smack dab into an unexpected security guard and Ollie's too distracted to help. Enter Diggle who's posing as a security guard.
Diggle: There you are! Thanks a lot man, this one snuck past security. One of Merlyn Jr.'s bimbos; she's pissed he never called her back.
Security Guard: Copy that. I read the tabloids.
Diggle: Yeah, thanks again. (To Felicity) Let's go, Barbie. Your new last name ain't gonna be Merlyn.
Felicity: (Playing along) But I love him! He's my man! (Out of earshot, grinning and giggling) My Knight in Shining Armor!
Diggle: (Grinning right back) Let's go.
• Felicity is trying unsuccessfully to hack into the Merlyn mainframe. Ollie is apparently pestering her about it.
Oliver: Anything?
Felicity: Just for the record, I will pump my fist in the air and scream "Yes!" if I get anything.
• (Later, after successfully hacking into the mainframe and downloading the info.)
Felicity: (Pumping her fist in the air) Yes! (Looks at her fist) Wow, I really do do that.
• Oliver introducing himself to Roy as "Thea's disapproving older brother".
• Felicity, after Oliver swings her across an empty elevator shaft and takes her to the Merlyn Global mainframe, looks a little green around the gills. She mentions that her "about to hack" face (hack the computer or hack up her lunch is left ambiguous.)
Season Two
• "City of Heroes" gives us a few:
• Diggle and Felicity talking on the airplane:
Felicity: This is the only seat with a seatbelt.
Diggle: Which will come in handy when we hit the water at 180 miles an hour.
*Terrified look from Felicity*
Diggle: Which will not happen.
• Felicity throwing up after skydiving.
• And Diggle thanking her for waiting until they were on the ground to do so.
• Oliver sees Shado coming in while he and Slade are training, assuming he's done. Slade immediately cracks him on the head to take advantage of the situation.
• And after Slade whacks Oliver in the head:
Shado (to Oliver): Don't beat yourself up.
Oliver: Apparently that's his job.
Slade: And I love my job!
• This little dialogue is a subtle one:
Thea (berating Roy for playing hero): : The vigilante, who hasn't been seen since the earthquake, which means he did get buried alive and isn't coming back.
Oliver (just entering Verdant): I'm back!
• Felicity renovated the Foundry almost completely...except for the salmon ladder, just because she likes watching Oliver on it.
• "Identity" features Oliver noting that Felicity and Diggle need secret identities to continue helping him, leading to Diggle dryly commenting that his secret identity is the black driver. Which Oliver later uses as a Brick Joke.
• Felicity still can't stop her tendencies.
Felicity: And I love spending the night with you. (She immediately realizes what she said and grimaces)
• Even better, the way Oliver said that suggests that he actually said it that way just because he knew Felicity would fall for it.
• Also, Felicity's refusal to take her "secretarial" job lying down.
Felicity: You know, I would [get some coffee], Mr. Queen, but it seems that someone's broken our coffeemaker. [Whispers quietly to him upon leaving] Violently.
• Upon arriving in Verdant, Oliver is greeted by a surprised Thea, noting that she didn't see him arrive.
• In "Broken Dolls", Lance apologizes to the Dollmaker's attorney, who just got shot in the shoulder by the Arrow to get information
Officer Lance: I'm sorry, I guess he just gets enthusiastic sometimes.
• In "Crucible":
• Felicity adorkably making excuses for Ollie, all the while revelling in the chance to stroke his beard.
• Making herself look and sound like his over-doting girlfriend.
Felicity: How do you even cut yourself while shaving?
• The Mayor calling Black Canary a "bitch", and Arrow doing a face which just screams "Now you're really looking for an ass-kicking". Ass-kicking that Canary delivers.
Black Canary: I really hate that word.
• Dig makes a speech to Oliver about the weight of secrets. Ollie's answer?
Oliver: You see how hard I work out.
• In "League of Assassins":
• Felicity being Felicity about Sara coming back from the dead:
Felicity: I was happy to hear you were not dead anymore.
• Later, Felicity comparing her difficulties to get out of a gym membership to Sara's struggle to get out of the League of Assassins
• Felicity asking about the League of Assassins
Felicity: What's the League of Assassins? ...And don't say "A league made of assassins".
• Felicity telling Lance about the LoA.
Felicity: It didn't sound as crazy in my head.
Quentin: I doubt it.
• The Canary setting traps for the men that followed her to her hideout
• Diggle explaining why he's willing to get arrested in a foreign country, with a hideous amount of drugs. This situation - not funny. Felicity's reaction to the situation is a completely different story.
Diggle: Felicity... Lyla isn't my friend. She was my wife.
• After Oliver and Isabel have a one night stand, he's interrupted in his attempt to give an excuse for why he has to leave for his Arrow duties: "Do I really strike you as someone who needs to cuddle?"
• Oliver telling Felicity they need to work on her excuses.
• In "State v. Queen":
• Felicity has spotted what looks like a reflection in the eye of the hostage.
Ollie: Can you enhance?
Felicity: It hurts me that you feel a need to ask.
• When the Count sees the Arrow has come for him, he says this:
Count: Be still, my beating heart.
• When Felicity interrupts the Count as he's threatening to kill her, he simply snaps at her: "Quiet, please, I'm threatening."
• In "The Scientist":
• Quentin Lance just deadpan snarking his way through his moments of this episode.
Quentin Lance: Any idea what these guys were so hot to break in for? Didn't happened to leave a spare earthquake machine lying around, didja?
Oliver: (eyes Lance)
Quentin Lance: Sorry.
• Even more hilarious after Tremors. Because there really was a spare earthquake machine just lying around!
• And then he prompts an awesome Sight Gag.
Quentin Lance:You might wanna fill in our mutual friend in on this.
Felicity: Don't worry. I'm sure he's on it. (Camera pans over to Oliver)
• The funniest part, her slight grin and the awesomeness of her keeping her eyes focused on Lance.
• The Running Gag with Oliver taking shots at Barry's youthful looks.
Quentin Lance: Great. Who the hell are you?
Oliver: And do your parents know you're here?
Oliver: Time for a dance?
Felicity: Not really feeling like dancing with you, Oliver.
Oliver: I know. That's why I called him. (gestures to Barry who just entered) FYI, they will card him at the bar.
• Near the beginning of the episode:
Felicity: Mrs. Queen, welcome back to the company.
Moira: Thank you.
Felicity: You look fabulous. Really, better than ever. Did you do something to your hair?
Moira: (Dryly) Yes, I shampooed it without eight women and a guard watching me.
Felicity: (Awkward look) Is it ok to laugh? Because I was ordered not to say anything about you being in prison, just to avoid any awkward... (beat) exchanges. (Moira walks off)
Oliver: Like that one.
• Barry Allen entering with a trademark Felicity Smoak quality ramble.
Barry: Actually, it was only one guy. Uh, sorry, I'm late. But, actually my train was late. Well, the second one. The first one... I did miss, but that was my cab driver's fault. I've got this great traffic app. And he thought that...(trails off) he was right. But I'm here now, though. So...
• Oliver's attempt at nonchalance when Barry asks him a...interesting hypothetical question.
Barry: I'm guessing you don't know how hard it is to break someone's neck, hmm?
Oliver: Hmm? No. No idea.
• Barry and Felicity discussing Ollie-as-the-Vigilante:
Barry: Police reports show that he uses carbon arrows, but if he switched to an aluminum carbon composite, he would have far better penetration.
Felicity: Maybe he thinks he penetrates just fine.
• Ollie is a little suspicious of Barry:
Ollie: I want you to look into this Allen kid. There's more to him than he's letting on.
(Felicity and Barry are working side by side seamlessly, bumping shoulders.)
Diggle: (amused) His intentions seem pretty clear to me.
• "Three Ghosts":
Felicity: This is the point in a lifesaving emergency where you thank the person that did the lifesaving.
Felicity: Well, we didn't have time to get your vote, what with you unconscious and dying.
Ollie: What happens if he leaves here and goes right to the police?
Felicity: He wouldn't do that. Barry: (overlapping Felicity) I wouldn't do that.
Felicity: I trust him.
Ollie: I don't!
Felicity: What are you going to do, put an arrow in him?
Ollie: I am considering it.
Felicity: Don't worry, he's kidding.
(Barry does not look too comforted)
• The outcome of Oliver's choice to put an arrow into Roy's thigh. After a rather uncomfortable session in front of his sister and her friends, Oliver has to remove the arrow from Roy's thigh (who was given whiskey for the pain from Sin that was poured on his leg by Ollie), and it ends with a rather... awkward call to Diggle:
Oliver: Diggle, I need you to come to the Queen mansion. (Beat) Roy's been shot ... with an arrow. (Beat) It's a... long story. Look, just bring the first aid kit to Thea's room. Thank you.
• Felicity learns about Shado.
Felicity: Shado. Sara. How many women were you marooned with? Are you sure this wasn't fantasy island?
• Felicity has a little fun at Barry's expense for making assumptions:
Barry: So, any plans for Christmas?
• "Blast Radius":
• Felicity has returned...
Felicity: Ah, [Barry]'s still sleeping. I prefer sleeping to coma, 'cause coma sounds, you know, not fun.
• Ollie (as Arrow) meets Quentin Lance on the roof of a building:
Quentin: You know, most cops, they meet their informants in the backseat of a cruiser or maybe a coffee shop or something, but... (double take) What's with the mask?
Ollie: Gift from a friend.
• Funnier the second time around - Oliver's righteous indignation at being told to pull his head out of his ass.
• Quentin and Laurel are discussing a suspicious invoice:
Laurel: I'm trying to find someone named "Maya Resik." I searched the Internet, the DMV records, social security...Nothing.
Quentin: Why are you looking for a ghost?
Laurel: Sebastian's paying her bills. A woman who doesn't seem to exist; I find that suspicious.
Quentin: Thinking that your boyfriend's up to no good, that's typically more my thing than yours.
Laurel: Oh, he's not exactly my boyfriend.
Quentin: Well, that makes digging into his life a little less fun, then.
• Diggle's chagrin at being the referee between Felicity and Oliver instead of actually fighting with Oliver
Diggle: Hey, is this how it's going to be with you two from now on?
• Felicity and Diggle are disarming the trigger:
Diggle: He probably put in a safeguard. Tampering with it will set off a deadman's switch.
Felicity: That's a really depressing term. (beat) And a little bit sexist.
• The look on Shrapnel's face when he realizes Oliver had cut the cord to his detonator.
• "Blind Spot":
• Arrow is interrogating a crook with the help of an audio polygraph. However, Felicity tells him that the guy needs to say the truth at least once for it to work. Cue this question, suggested by Felicity, asked by Ollie with his filtered voice, angrily:
Arrow: What color are your shoes?
Crook: What?... Blue.
• Ollie is talking to Roy behind Verdant:
Ollie: It takes a lot to run towards danger, not away from it.
Roy: That sounded like praise. (looks skeptical)
• Laurel is meeting Arrow!Ollie:
Laurel: You're late.
• Diggle and Ollie about Roy:
Ollie: Roy isn't the kind of guy who's good at sharing his feelings.
Diggle: Not like you and me.
• Felicity Smoak's excellent takedown of Diggle's reasoning:
Diggle: Felicity, he's dedicated his life, risked his life to help the people of the Glades. And in his spare time, he's a murderer trying to create an army of human weapons?
• Felicity is talking to Ollie:
• Felicity being Genre Savvy, and reflecting the opinion of part of the fandom:
Felicity: His last name is Blood, that can't be a good sign.
• Roy asking Thea to lend Sin a slutty dress for a "date", and the latter telling Ms. Queen that she won't touch her hair.
• Also Thea awkwardly not knowing if Sin is going out with a guy or girl.
• "Tremors":
• So much of Felicity's screentime.
Ollie: Roy was mad at the world before he was injected with Mirakuru.
Diggle: You say you've seen this before?
Ollie: Slade Wilson. He was my friend.
Felicity: Troubling use of past tense there.
Ollie: You hacked into a prison system network?!
Felicity: Is that judgment I'm hearing?
Ollie: Pride.
(Felicity looks a little surprised and embarrassed)
Felicity: Iron Heights just put out a BOLO for Ben Turner, AKA Bronze Tiger, which, BTW, is a terrible nickname, because tigers are not bronze.
Felicity: You both scoffed when I said we should invest in an X-ray machine down here.
Felicity: I'm not trying to Monday morning quarterback hereit's Wednesday. Didn't this all start because you were worried that Roy's marble collection was on the short side?
Arrow: You don't know what you're dealing with.
Bronze Tiger: Big machine, makes earthquakes.
Arrow: Don't you know what happens if the wrong people have it?
Bronze Tiger: Yeah. I get paid.
• When Thea calls Oliver to tell him about Laurel getting wasted at the club, she asks if he's nearby. Oliver, who's in the lair, looks at the ceiling and says "I'm pretty close."
• Roy and Oliver...bonding.
Roy: Is this the part where you kill me because I know your secret?
Oliver: You actually think I'd kill my sister's boyfriend?
Roy: Well, you did shoot me in the leg. (beat) Forgiven, by the way.
• And the rules...
Oliver: Thea. She can never know.
Roy: I get the feeling that if I did tell her that would be when you kill me.
Oliver: Trust that instinct.
• Team Arrow welcoming Roy into the fold, officially.
Roy: Does this group have a name? Like "Team Arrow", or something?
Oliver: We don't call ourselves that.
Oliver: Stop.
• "Heir to the Demon":
• Felicity talking to Walter:
Walter: I'm no longer your boss, Felicity. So let's make it "Walter" from now on.
Felicity: Okay. Walter.
Felicity: That is the money Mrs. Queen used to do some really bad things. I mean, you guys did get divorced for pretty good reasons. Which is not my business.
• Again - situation, not funny. Felicity has found out Thea's actual parentage and was emotionally blackmailed by Moira Queen to keep her mouth shut. Oliver's physical reaction to the very weird eye contact between the two (imagine someone watching a tennis match.) - funny.
• Quentin's reaction when he learns about Sara's...relationship with Nyssa.
Quentin: Whoa.
• Sara's response when Quentin asks about where she met the Arrow, which he admits is Actually Pretty Funny, even as a joke.
Sara: Vigilante club.
• "Time of Death":
• Felicity comparing a small scar in her mouth to Ollie, Dig and Sara's battle scars.
• Felicity got shot saving the Canary's life, and needs to be sewn up. Instead of going to the hospital, she insists on getting it done on the Foundry, like the others. Except that she isn't as badass, and Dig gives her oxycodone, which he pretends is aspirin. Felicity on drugs is quite a sight.
Felicity: Dig gave me some of those aspirins... are you spinning?
• Upon seeing Sara for the first time since she was forced to leave Starling City, Sin promptly glomps her, much to everyone else's confusion. She quickly makes up a story about how she always does that when people come back from the dead due to a zombie fetish.
• The awkward moment between Oliver and Quentin after the latter apologizes over his treatment of the former following his return a year and a half earlier. There's a beat, then Lance quickly backs out before it gets too weird.
• "The Promise":
• Island!Ollie's first attempt at shooting trick arrows. Later we realize that he was just trying to show off, since there was no tactical reason for the shot.
Oliver: (flustered) There was a breeze.
• When Sara explains that in order to sell Ivo on the effect of the truth serum working, Ollie's going to need to act like he's stoned, Ollie simply smirks and says he has a lot of practice at doing that.
• Slade spending the whole episode in the present day trolling Oliver in the mansion, since the latter can't reveal the truth about Slade to Moira and Thea without revealing the truth about himself.
• "Suicide Squad":
• The Season Two trailer shows Diggle being introduced to the Suicide Squad, which contains Bronze Tiger, Shrapnel and Deadshot. His response:
Diggle: What, O.J and Charles Manson weren't available?
• This has to deserve a mention. Note: They all have surprisingly good singing voices. It was filmed in the mixed bathrooms.
• And this too.
• But this tops it off. Not only is Barrowman's singing really...special, but this was filmed in the "green room" and we can see Colton Haynes taking a leak! In the presence of Barrowman, Willa Holland and Emily Bett Rickards. Who filmed everything.
• Colin Donnell's girlfriend, Zelda Williams, made a gallows-humor tribute to Tommy's death.
• Colin Donnell's parody of "Someone To Watch Over Me" at the Arrow Christmas party is gold.
• Oh, dear, the Season One bloopers. From fart noises being dubbed into a date between Thea and Roy to Stephen and Katie falling off the bed during a steamy make-out session, but one scene that sticks out is Barrowman breaking out his Scottish accent, completely out of the blue.
• Even in the gag reel, the Once an Episode shirtless scene lives! And no, it wasn't a blooper where Stephen happened to be shirtless, it was just another gratuitous Shirtless Scene.
• John Barrowman's one condition for accepting his role.
Arrested DevelopmentFunny/Live-Action TVAshes to Ashes
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19408 | main index
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Recap: Pushing Daisies S 1 E 3 The Fun In Funeral
The Past
Ned experiments with his gift to learn how it works. He discovers the one-minute grace period by killing some fireflies; horrified, he vows to never again keep something alive again for longer than a minute.
The Present
Emerson's latest case has personal implications for Ned: it's an investigation into the untimely death of the Coeur d'Coeurs funeral home owner, the one who died in Equivalent Exchange for Chuck's life.
Leaving the Pie Hole in the care of Olive—who is unaware that she is being flirted with by homeopathic salesman Alfredo Alvarisio—the three investigators speak with the deceased's brother, eager to learn the location of the loot he'd stolen from corpses.
Some time later, Ned finds an unpleasant surprise in his freezer: the surviving funeral home owner, now dead and placed so as to frame Ned. The three investigators, surmising that he died in the Coeur d'Coeurs funeral home and not at the Pie Hole, drive the body back to the funeral home to replace it. There they find Wilfred Woodruff VI, the descendant of a Civil War veteran, whose heirloom sword was stolen by the funeral home owners. He had written a death threat; when he showed up to confront his target only to see him die unexpectedly, he decided to pin it on Ned rather than become a suspect himself.
Wilfred defeated, Ned stumbles across the cache of stolen items, and the three investigators take them back to the Pie Hole and prepare to send each one back to its next of kin.
Pushing Daisies S 1 E 2 DummyRecap/Pushing DaisiesPushing Daisies S 1 E 4 Pigeon
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19415 | Flat Earth
From Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia
(Redirected from Flat Earth Theory)
Jump to: navigation, search
“The world is flat? Are you on drugs?? Can I have some?”
Ptolemaic elements
If the earth is flat, how do you explain this motherfucker?
Flat Earth is the now widely accepted belief that the Earth is not spherical, but flat. Except for mountains.
In our modern scientific civilisation it seems incredible that for over 450 years, people like Stephen Hawking and Galileo Gallilee (the Biblical character) have claimed that the Earth is like some kind of giant beach ball, but so they did. Only since the advent of GoogleEarth has the real truth re-emerged (though the Illuminati tried to keep it secret by writing books such as Around The World In 80 Days and Balls In Space).
edit Conclusive Proof
edit Origins of the Flat Earth Theory
Whirled Map
Whirled Map S at top
edit Round Earth Theory
edit The Modern Flat Earth Theory
edit Connection with Creationism
People believing that the earth is flat call themselves Flat Urthers. Flat Urthers are allied with Creationists and Scientologists through the organisation called Creationists United with Numerologists, The Scientologists, and The Flat-Urthers, lead by Prof. Kent Hovind. After the Flat-Urther's took over the Macgellan space agency in Nigeria, the giant gorilla Condoleeza Rice took advantage of the large amount of bananas in the agency and proved the flat -earth theory.
edit Proof
edit Flat Earth and Global Warming
One consequence of the Flat Earth theory is a neat and indisputable disproof of the theory of Global Warming. The argument goes along the lines of "if you ain't got no globe, you don't ain't not got no global warming!" This consequence has led to an upsurge in political and scientific interest in the Flat Earth theory. Some have however stated that a flat world may be liable to Planar Warming, which (given that a flat world would have much less volume to contain heat than a spherical one) would be akin to living in a frying pan.
Others have suggested that Planar Warming might cause the surface of the planet to expand and become convex to the point that it becomes a sphere. This has led to another bunch of idiots pointlessly suggesting that the Earth was a disc as some point in the past, only becoming globular during the industrial revolution.
edit Famous Flat Earth believers
The bible says it is true... So it must be true!
edit See also
edit External links
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19418 | User:Wikitiki89/Classification of Jews
From Uncyclopedia, the content-free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
The Jews are a race of big-nosed and small-penised people. They are classified as the species Homo judaeus. The Jews, being so diverse of a race, were assigned a set of further classifications (sometimes called breeds).
edit Self-conscious Jew
These are the Jews that are not only constantly worried about their penis and nose sizes but are also extremely self-conscious about other things such as intelligence, strength, looks, women, and marijuana tolerance. These Jews are physically unfit, pussies in difficult situations, and obsessed with their heritage more than they are with their religion. Also, these Jews are often, but not always, vegetarians and/or atheists.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19422 | Little Horse on His Own
Betsy Byars, illustrated by David McPhail
Henry Holt and Co.
Chapter 1: "Dream"
Little Horse slept on a bed of soft straw. He dreamed.
In the dream, he was back in the Valley of the Little Horses. He ran in the meadow with the colts.
They frisked. They leaped into the air. Their hind legs kicked out behind them. They neighed with joy.
Suddenly the dream was scary. He heard his mother's long, high whinny. That meant danger. He ran for the cave. In the cave he would be safe.
Little Horse awoke before he got there. He stood up at once. His legs wobbled.
He heard the long, high whinny again. Then he knew the danger was not in his dream. It was real.
He moved shakily to the door of his stable. He looked out. The night was dark. There were no stars, no moon.
The high whinny had come from the stable of the big horses. One of the big horses whinnied, then another.
Little Horse's heart beat faster.
Big horse, little horse, that high whinny meant the same thing.
Copyright © 2004 by Betsy Byars
This text is from an uncorrected proof. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19448 | Take the 2-minute tour ×
I am done with html and css, NOW, what tools should I start with?
Shall I start with
Adobe CS3
Adobe CS4
Adobe CS5
Please let know. I am just confused.
Thanks :)
share|improve this question
Not clear what you're asking. Tools to do what? How are you 'done' with html/css? CS3/4/5 all do a perfectly good job of whatever applications your referring to - there isn't a massive amount of difference. – Anonymous Aug 25 '11 at 7:57
add comment
closed as not constructive by Su', Nick, John Conde Aug 25 '11 at 11:34
1 Answer
I suppose you are getting into web development.
I suggest you looking into Boilerplate. A really good start to have a solid template and setup for both HTML5, CSS and eventually your JavaScript.
As for tools/IDE, Adobe tools are great, but sometimes overwhelming. There are many other free alternatives out there, line Notepad++ for coding and paint.net for image editing. Whatever software you decide to use, just stick with it and learn to use it well.
You may want to look for writing the code yourself, not using any WYSIWYG functionality EVER.
One great thing to start coding and practicing is jsfiddle.
share|improve this answer
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19454 | FAQ How can I search the existing list of bugs in Eclipse?
From Eclipsepedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Visit the Eclipse bugs Web site to search for an existing bug report. The Eclipse Project uses Bugzilla for bug reporting and uses it to not only store bug reports but also feature requests, plan items, and architectural discussions. Before posting a bug, see whether it has been posted already. If you find yourself overwhelmed by the Bugzilla query page, you’re not alone. Look for the link at the bottom of the query page, Give me a clue about how to use this form.
See Also:
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19455 | WTP Release 1.5.1 Final Test
From Eclipsepedia
Revision as of 16:01, 25 September 2006 by Nitind.us.ibm.com (Talk | contribs)
Jump to: navigation, search
Purpose of this document
There is a final test pass planned for WTP 1.5.1 on Monday and Tuesday, 9/25 and 9/26.
Its main purpose is not to find new bugs (though document any new ones you find). The main purpose is to make sure all the bugs we expected to get fixed really got fixed, and, more important, that any of the prime use-cases did not regress!
This page is to simply document the type and coverage of testing we do. I'm sure the process and documentation can be improved in the future, but, would like to get started just with a rough documentation of what the different teams do, as well as any contributors from adoptors or the community of users.
Test Coverage
Describe main area(s) of testing (Servers, editors, ejbs, etc.)
Such as IBM, Sun, etc., include version, e.g. 1.5.0_08, etc.
Operating System
Windows, Linux, Mac, etc., please include version.
Minimum Fresh Install or Full Callisto Install
Links to Test Plans/Scripts, if any, or say "ad hoc"
Server(s) Used
Which App Servers and/or which RDB Servers used
Approximate Total Time spent focused on testing during 9/25, 9/26, 1 Hour, 4 Hours, 8 Hours, etc.
general comments or observations or significant results
David Editors IBM, 1.5 SR3 Windows Full Callisto ? Tomcat 5.0 8 This is really just an example line, I'll make accurate later.
Amy Editors IBM, 1.5.0 Windows WTP 1.5.1 SDK SSE 1.5 Test Plan Tomcat 5.0 8
Nitin D. Editors IBM, 1.5.0 SR2 Linux (RHEL4-ES U4) WTP 1.5.1 Runtime + Callisto SSE 1.5 Test Plan Apache Tomcat 5.5.16 8 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19457 | Executive Summary:
Learn about the primary Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) objects—Connection, Command, Parameter, Recordset, and Field—and follow example scripts that demonstrate how to use ADO within VBScript.
Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) provides a data access model that lets you use a similar approach for working with data from various data sources. For example, you can use ADO within VBScript to access a database in Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Access, or another relational database management system (RDBMS). You can even access data in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.
ADO, which is based on COM, acts as an interface between the program or scripting language and an OLE DB provider. The ADO objects let you connect to a data source, issue a command against that source, and retrieve data into a recordset, which you can view or modify without calling the data source repeatedly. In this article, I introduce you to the primary ADO objects and provide examples that demonstrate how to use ADO within VBScript. (For definitions of several ADO terms, see the sidebar “ADO Acronyms.”)
The ADO Object Model
When you use ADO to access data, you must create the objects necessary to connect to the data source and work with the data. Figure 1 shows the basic objects necessary to get started working with ADO. These objects include:
• Connection—Defines the connection to the specific data source.
• Command—Defines the command executed against the data source.
• Parameter—Defines a parameter that is used with a stored procedure or parameterized query.
• Recordset—Contains the result set returned by the query.
• Field—Contains a field (column) included in the Recordset result set.
Although Figure 1 shows the objects hierarchically, it’s a loose hierarchy. For example, you can create a Recordset object without creating a Connection object. I discuss all of the objects in more detail in the following sections of the article.
In addition to the objects shown in Figure 1, ADO supports several other objects, such as Record and Stream. The Record object provides access to hierarchical data such as a file system, and the Stream object provides access to data within a document. Although both objects are important components of ADO, they’re beyond the scope of this article. For more information about ADO objects, as well as their properties and methods, see MSDN’s “ADO API Reference.”
The Connection Object
The Connection object defines the connection to the data source. At the heart of this object is the connection string, which contains the information necessary to connect to a specific data source. When adding the Connection object to your script, you should create the object, define the connection string, and open the connection. Let’s take a look at an example to demonstrate how this works.
Listing 1 includes the ADO code necessary to connect to the SQL Server 2005 AdventureWorks test database. After I declare my variables, I use the CreateObject method to create the Connection object (ADODB.Connection). I then assign the object to the conSqlServer variable.
Next, I create the connection string and assign it to the csSqlServer variable. In the connection string, I specify the following:
• The OLE DB provider, which for SQL Server is sqloledb (Provider='sqloledb')
• The SQL Server instance I want to use as my data source (Data Source='ws04')
• Integrated security and the Security Support Provider Interface (SSPI), a common API for obtaining integrated security services (Integrated Security='SSPI')
• The database I want to connect to (Initial Catalog='AdventureWorks')
As you can see, the connection string defines not only the type of data source, but the data source itself. As a result, the information you provide in the connection string varies from source to source. For example, Listing 2 shows how you would connect to an Access database. In this case, the connection string specifies the OLE DB provider as Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0. In addition, the data source is simply the path and name of the .mdb file.
The connection string to an Excel file is similar to that for an Access file. As Listing 3 shows, the connection string once again specifies Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0 as the OLE DB provider and the path and name of the .xls file as the data source. However, the Excel connection string also includes the Extended Properties parameter, which is set to Excel (Extended Properties=Excel 8.0).
Now let’s take a look at another connection string. Listing 4 shows a connection to a MySQL database. The provider in this case is msdasql, which is the basic OLE DB driver for ODBC connections. To use this provider, I installed the ODBC driver that MySQL provides. I then created a system Data Source Name (DSN) that uses the MySQL ODBC driver. The DSN, which I named MySQL_AW, defines the ODBC connection to the MySQL database. Finally, I specify the DSN in the connection string in my script (DSN=MySQL_AW).
Notice that, for each listing, I first create the Connection object and assign it to a variable. Then I define the connection string. Finally, I open the connection. To open the connection, I use the Connection object’s Open method. For example, in Listing 1, to open the connection, I specify the variable that contains the connection, followed by a period and the Open method, as in conSqlServer.Open. Notice that the Open method takes as an argument the variable that contains the connection string (csSqlServer).
That’s all there is to setting up a connection. After you open the connection, you’re ready to move on to the Command object.
The Command Object
The Command object provides the structure for passing a command to a data source. The first step is to create the Command object itself. If you refer back to Listing 1, you’ll see that I once again use the CreateObject method to create the object (ADODB.Command). I then assign the object to the cmdContacts variable.
The next step is to associate the Connection object with the Command object, which you do by setting the Command object’s ActiveConnection property (cmdContacts.ActiveConnection = conSqlServer).
After you create the Command object and set the connection, you define the connection text. Because the connection shown in Listing 1 is accessing a SQL Server database, the connection text is a T-SQL statement. The statement retrieves the first 10 rows from the Person.Contact table in the AdventureWorks database. Listing 2 uses a similar SQL statement to access data from the Contacts table in the Access database. Listing 3, however, uses a different convention for the command text because I’m accessing an Excel spreadsheet. Notice that my command text specifies the name of the spreadsheet (Contacts) and the range of cells to retrieve (A1:B11). The command text in Listing 4, which is accessing data from MySQL, shows command text similar to Listing 1 and Listing 2, except that the SQL statement is specific to MySQL conventions.
In each listing, I assign the command text to a variable and then use that variable to set the Command object’s CommandText property. For example, in Listing 1, I assign the ctContacts variable to the CommandText property of the cmdContacts object variable (cmdContacts.CommandText = ctContacts). With the ActiveConnection and CommandText properties set, you’re ready to create your Recordset object.
The Recordset Object
The Recordset object is the workhorse in ADO. It holds the data returned by the command text, which you can then view and manipulate within VBScript.
As with the Connection and Command objects, your first step is to use the CreateObject method to create the Recordset object (ADODB.Recordset). In Listing 1, for example, I create the Recordset object and assign it to the rsContacts variable. I then use that variable to call the object’s Open method (rsContacts.Open). When I call this method, I pass the Command object (saved to cmdContacts) as an argument. This process executes the command text and populates the Recordset object with the result set. You can then use the properties and methods of the Recordset object to access that data.
In Listing 1, for example, I use the Recordset object’s Save method to save the result set to an .xml file. The Save method takes two arguments. The first argument specifies the path and name of the target file (C:\Info\SqlServerContacts.xml), and the second argument specifies the format of the data. In this case, I specify the adPersistXML constant (which equals 1). When you specify the adPersistXML constant, the data is saved in an XML format. (Refer to MSDN for details about an object’s properties and the methods and arguments they take.)
After I save the data to the .xml file, I use the Recordset object’s State property to determine whether the object is still open (by checking the adStateOpen constant). If it is, I use the object’s Close method to close the recordset. Notice that I use the same approach to close the Connection object.
The examples that I’ve used up to this point have all followed the same format. I create a Connection object, then a Command object, and finally a Recordset object. However, ADO often supports different ways to achieve the same results, allowing you to simplify your code when appropriate. For example, you don’t have to create a Command object. If you refer to Listing 5, you’ll see that, as with the other examples, I first create the Connection object, define the connection string, and open the Connection object. However, I then define the command text and assign it to the ctContacts variable, but I do not create a Command object. If your commands don’t require Parameter objects (which I describe later in the article) or special property settings, you often don’t need to create a Command object. For instance, if you simply want to retrieve a list of contacts from the database and you don’t need to pass any parameter values (such as a contact ID) into your SQL statement, you can simply define the command text and not bother creating a Command object.
After I define the command text, I create the Recordset object. When I open the object, I pass two arguments. The first argument is the command text (the ctContacts variable), and the second argument is the Connection object (the conSqlServer variable). After you open the Recordset object, you can access its properties and methods just as you saw in the previous examples.
You can also create a Recordset object without creating Connection or Command objects. Listing 6 shows an example of how this works. In this script, I first define the connection string and assign it to the csSqlServer variable. Next, I define the command text and assign it to the ctContacts variable. After this, I create the Recordset object and use the object’s Open method, passing the two variables as arguments to the method—first the connection text and then the connection string. As you can see, this approach is even simpler than the previous approach, and it works well if you plan to include only a single recordset. For example, if you want to retrieve a list of contacts only once and you need to connect to the database only once, then you probably don’t need to create a Connection object or Command object. However, if you have multiple recordsets maintaining multiple connections, you should first create the Connection and Command objects.
The Field Object
The examples I’ve shown you so far have all used the Recordset object’s Save method to save the returned data to an .xml file. However, in all likelihood, you’ll want to dig a lot deeper into the data than I’ve done. That’s where the Field object comes in.
As you’ll recall from Figure 1, the Recordset object includes the Fields collection. This collection is made up of one or more Field objects that each represent a field returned by the command text. For example, if your command text returns data from the FirstName, MiddleName, and LastName columns of the Person.Contact table in the AdventureWorks database, your Recordset object will include three Field objects, one for each of those columns.
Listing 7 provides an example of how you can use the Fields collection to access the Field objects. After I create the Recordset object, I create a FileSystemObject object and a text file to hold my data. I then use a Do Until statement to create a loop. I plan to loop through the result set and insert the data into the text file. The Do Until statement first uses the Recordset object’s EOF property to specify when to end the loop. When the loop reaches the end of the result set, it will stop.
Within the loop, I concatenate two Field objects: FirstName and LastName. To retrieve a value for a field, I call the Fields collection (rsContacts.Fields) and specify the name of the first field (FirstName) in parentheses. I follow this with the Value property so I can retrieve the specific value. I do the same thing for the LastName field and concatenate the two values.
After the concatenation, I use the Recordset object’s MoveNext method to retrieve the next row in the result set. As a result, for each row, the first and last name will be concatenated and written to the text file.
This, of course, is a simple example of how to access the Field object, but it does demonstrate the basic concepts behind using Field objects and gives you a better sense of the crucial role that the Recordset object plays in ADO. Now let’s take a look at another important ADO object—Parameter.
The Parameter Object
The Parameter object is similar to the Field object in that it’s part of a collection included in another object. In this case, the Command object contains the Parameters collection, which is made up of one or more Parameter objects. Each Parameter object contains a parameter that you can use for stored procedures and parameterized queries.
Parameters are particularly important when you want to modify data in your data source. Listing 8 shows an example of passing parameter values to a stored procedure that updates a SQL Server table. For the purpose of this example, I created the HumanResources.Vacation table in the AdventureWorks database. Along with the table, I created the UpdateVacationHours stored procedure to update an employee’s vacation hours. I used the following T-SQL statements to create the table and the stored procedure:
SELECT e.EmployeeID, c.FirstName, c.MiddleName, c.LastName, e.VacationHours
INTO HumanResources.Vacation
FROM Person.Contact c
INNER JOIN HumanResources.Employee e
ON c.ContactID = e.ContactID
CREATE PROCEDURE UpdateVacationHours (@EmpID INT, @HoursUsed INT) AS
UPDATE HumanResources.Vacation
SET VacationHours = VacationHours - @HoursUsed
WHERE EmployeeID = @EmpID
Returning to Listing 8, you can see that I first create and open a Connection object, and then I create a Command object. After I create the Command object (which I assign to the cmdVacation variable), I set several properties and create the necessary parameters. First, as you saw in earlier examples, I assign the Connection object to the ActiveConnection property. I then define the CommandText property, which in this case is the name of the stored procedure. Next I set the CommandType property to the adCmdStoredProc constant (which equals 4). As the name indicates, the command type is a stored procedure.
The next step is to add Parameter objects to the Parameters collection. To do this, I use the collection’s Append method. The argument that I pass to this method is the Command object’s CreateParameter method. The CreateParameter method takes two arguments: the name of the parameter and the adInteger constant (which equals 3). The constant specifies that the parameter should be an integer. For this example, the first parameter is @EmpID and the second is @HoursUsed.
That’s all you need to do to create the parameters. However, notice that I also assign initial values to them. To do this, I call the Parameters collection, specify the name of the parameter, and assign it a value of 1. This provides a default value for the parameters, and it allows me to easily test the code.
After I define the parameters, I can execute the command. However, because I’m updating records and not returning a result set, I don’t create a Recordset object as I did in earlier examples. Instead, I use the Command object’s Execute method (cmdVacation.Execute) to run the stored procedure. As arguments to the method, I first specify the RowsUpdated variable. This will hold the number of records updated when the stored procedure runs. The second argument, which is blank, can hold a Variant array of parameter values, an alternative method for passing parameters to a command. The third argument is the adExecuteNoRecords constant. Including this argument is important because, by default, the Execute method returns a Recordset object when it runs. However, because you don’t need this object, you should specify this constant to avoid the additional overhead.
When you run the script, it will call the stored procedure and return the number of rows affected by the update. Not surprisingly, numerous approaches are available for modifying data. For example, you can define command text that uses an EXECUTE statement to call the stored procedure, then pass in the parameter values through variables. Or you can define command text that uses an UPDATE statement rather than calling a stored procedure. ADO also lets you use methods in the Recordset object to update field data, which can then be persisted to the database.
A Place to Start
Although the examples I provided barely skim the surface of ADO, they should provide you with a good foundation to begin working with ADO. Once you understand how to implement the basic components of ADO in your script, you can start digging deeper into each object and try out the various ways to access a data source and work with the data. Again, refer to the MSDN Web site as necessary for details about the objects’ properties and methods. And when you’re ready, start playing with other ADO objects and see what you can come up with. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19462 | Take the 2-minute tour ×
I make basic formatting to the text in visual editor. When saving, everything got lost, formatting, spaces, paragraph.... everything got inline...
I will go crazy !... why it's doing that ?.. i can make testing as request to gt out of this problem.. thanks in advance
the DB and WP got reinstalled, and is hosted on hostpapa. I have others client on iweb and those work fine. I have no choice now, to make it work on hostpapa, the migration to iweb will be the LAST thing of last resort !
i am using qtranslate, wich can be the plugin the bug the editor
share|improve this question
Improve your question: Have you disabled all plugins and do you use TwentyEleven? – toscho Mar 19 '12 at 9:07
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1 Answer
up vote 1 down vote accepted
After a lot of research (2 day) i finally found a plaster... it's not a fix, but it make the editor work for most of the work. Here is the code to add to function.php of the theme:
function cbnet_tinymce_config( $init ) {
$init['remove_linebreaks'] = false;
$init['convert_newlines_to_brs'] = true;
$init['remove_redundant_brs'] = false;
return $init;
add_filter('tiny_mce_before_init', 'cbnet_tinymce_config');
and here is where i found it : HERE
share|improve this answer
Not perfect.... still remove a lot of linebreak and more.. but waiting for the fix... – menardmam Mar 27 '12 at 15:49
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19463 | Community Update
World Pulse Toolkits Available!
Mathematics, physics and the female mind
An electron facing an ancient dilemma: to pass a potential barrier, or not?
“You’ll never succeed!” There is nothing worse to say a child about h* ability to do something. Especially, when these words come from an authoritative person, say a teacher. And more-even-especially, when this tiny phrase is said without any real motivation - for example, because of gender.
The problem is so awkwardly complex I can say very little of it in general. I will restrict my attention to a very practical aspect: to state (and possibly prove) that gender is not an impediment to mathematical success - despite stereotypes.
Just a little bit of myth-dispelling.
An enduring myth: ”Mathematics is not for girls.”
That mathematics and physics are (considered) eminently male turf is also a commonplace, reinforced by many assumptions so common among the general public about how the female mind is supposed to operate, and how its characteristics are unsuitable for something so techy-nerdy as mathematics and physics are supposed to be.
Abstract discourses are seldom comprehensible (by me or course - I’m a practical person!) so I’ll give immediately an example.
One way the “female mind” is detected may be through tests. Of the many tests existing, one pretty nice has been developed by prof. Simon Baron-Cohen, and can be found at end of his popular book “The Essential Difference”.
The book is in itself fascinating and, in my opinion, is worth a reading. It presents a (very “male”) theory of the gendered brain, and identifies two key faces of brain function, “empathizing” and “systemizing”. These two faces can be tested (and in fact are), and the two scores you obtain can be used to see whether your brain is “female”, “male” or “balanced”.
Before writing this post I submitted myself to the test, and found the following scores:
-- Systemizing: 9 (“low”)
-- Empathizing: 61 (“above average”)
So, according to prof. Baron-Cohen, I should have an “E” or “female” brain.
You may try yourself. A version may be found on the Internet, at URL
Society games are lovely just because you can do with friends, but in this case I admit the excitement soon decreased, as I discovered that almost all people I know, women and men, are “E” or “Balanced” types. True “S” types in my clique are something like ten - all men, but this may be incidental (the sample is too small to authorize drawing any conclusion).
(Obviously there is a bias - that’s very unfortunate, and maybe we humans have a proclivity to chose friends with whom we can easily share our feelings - that is, similar to us. Evidently, I prefer interacting with other “E” types.)
The theory of brain type strongly suggests (to us, casual readers) some kind of “path of minimal resistance”. It is tempting to imagine a type “E” brain as a sort of ideal teacher or nurse, an “S” as an engineer, a “balanced” type as, say, a lawyer or physician. This view is in part sustained by the examples of brilliant systemizing minds listed in the book, all involved professionally in “systemizing” activities.
Is this true? (Honestly, the author did not said something like this, or at least I didn’t find. His life-interest is with autism and Asperger syndromes, cases prof. Baron-Cohen relates to an extreme form of systemizing (“male”) brain. All his examples, and most of the book, are devoted to this specific point.)
So, do “we average reader” understand correctly?
I go back to the sample of my friends: allow me to select all “type E” (almost an ineffective move: I just weed out a handful of nice systemizers). Then, retain women only (another something-like-30% flies away.)
Thinking to the more-or-less-70% remaining people, you discover something interesting: many of them are involved in professions one might imagine as “very good for type S people”.
There are even spectacular cases.
Two of them are top-notch mathematicians, with tens of published papers.
One is a software developer able (I witnessed personally) to design and begin developing a complex interactive Web site while breastfeeding her baby (and finishing her assignment in four days - the site was perfectly functional).
One other is an electrical engineer doing “something” (I don’t know exactly what - it’s too complicate for me, I just know from her words it’s related with “impedance matching”.)
Just examples, of the many.
My personal evidence is strong enough I can honestly say that nothing prevents a “type E” person dealing with mathematics, physics or something else “very hard”.
So, why?
Is there a “male bias” in the empathizing/systemizing theory?
As I mentioned, prof. Baron-Cohen is one of the big names on autism, worldwide. And his theory is, autism is related to a form of “extreme male (systemizer) brain”.
And, I add, he’s a man.
His use (in the divulgative book and there only, as far as I understood) of term “female brain” as a synonym of “type E” may be “reductive”, a sort of projection (in the mathematical sense) of “brain femaleness” over the “other”, male subspace.
And in fact, the female mind may have characteristics and potentialities besides (and possibly “beyond”) empathizing-more-than-systemizing.
Although not a nice thing to say, for example, we have to admit the (adult) female mind is “variable with time”. Women have a cycle, spanning the whole fertile life. In some phases of cycle (during ovulation, or for some individuals a couple days before menstruation) the mind and sensorial sharpness increases.
You may find yourself in a sort of “state of grace”, literally. You are in field, and can see the damned fault you imagined in the preceding days. Or, something inside you suddenly conceives the next family of the company’s meteorological processor, plus the steps to actually construct / test / deploy / sell it. Of course, these very good days are compensated (with interests) some days later.
But you can’t honestly say you can expect a constant level of performance. Even from cycle to cycle there are subtle and not-so-subtle variations.
Does this has cognitive consequences?
Who knows…
Another possible complication to the simple model may be connected to core motivation. If you look carefully (and de-construct) the empathizing vs systemizing test, you can see it does not deal with abilities, but rather with motivation.
(This offers to me a good escape way for my shameful systemizing score: it’s all because of lack of motivation! ;-) Just as an anecdote, it took me two years to realize the neat and tidy plastic cover of my car’s engine was just a cover, and not the (horribly dirty) engine itself - mainly because I have no interest in engines, as in many other techy things inessential to my life).
Motivation may act in complex ways.
For example: a “type E” person is doggedly motivated by relating with someone. What this “someone” is? Another person? Anything else? A system?
For some of my friends, this is exactly what happens. They relate mostly with people, but also with other things (most often living beings, but not rarely entire systems).
They are, and remain, “type E”. But, they can “systemize”, their way.
Our motivation may also be rooted in something more mundane: if you get a degree in applied mathematics and you find yourself catapulted into an industrial automation company (as happened to a friend of mine and myself), then your interest in understanding how a supervisory control and data acquisition system functions grows. Guaranteed.
Whatever the cause at the root of our motivation, it is this latter's power to make us daring or not.
My preferred analogy is drawn form quantum physics. We are like an electron facing a potential barrier. As it, we may pass the barrier or not, and the probability of passage depends on how high the barrier threshold is, and how large the energy we have.
If this analogy is something more than an analogy, it would be possible to convince more girls to "pass the potential barrier" working on the energy - imagining the barrier threshold is much more difficult to change. Sincerely, I strongly believe in this, but I have no proof.
By the way: if convinced to cross the potential barrier, the "type E" people systemize, and in fact often very well.
Now: is there some specific way women use to “systemize”?
Web-thinking and Root-expanding
In the (extremely intriguing) book "Women's Way of Knowing", by Mary Field Belenky, Blythe McVicker Clinchy, Nancy Rule Goldberg and Jill Mattuck Tarule, the knowing-individual growth process is followed for men and women, the latter conducing to a "subjective knowledge" (knowledge assumed dependent on the (relation between observed and) observer), which can further develop into a "constructive knowledge" (knowledge as a human construction, dependent on both the observer and cultural context, and potentially modifiable).
Knowledge (of a system) deepens and widens, mostly unobserved, under the drive of a sort of primitive desire to relate. I figure this process as roots and rootlets growing in many directions, in parallel. Some die, some others become larger and more robust.
This is largely unplanned.
Its end result is a complex web, constantly reconfiguring. This natural evolution of knowledge even reflects at conscious level, as the many descriptions of "web thinking" show. (An account of this concept may be found in "The First Sex" by Helen Fisher, and bibliography).
Is "web-understanding" (would we introduce this name to designate the women-related way of systemizing) really any different than the form of systemizing introduced by prof. Baron-Cohen?
Surely, seen from outside a web of knowledge seems:
-- complex
-- potentially ambiguous (not per se bad - in fact, a possible advantage in many situations)
-- subjective (in the sense of "dependent on the observer")
-- potentially (but not necessarily) very accurate.
Webs of knowledges, by the way, demand a lot of emotional energy - you form them, only if you support them in love for a long, potentially unpredictable, time.
Large webs of knowledges may have a potentially dangerous side effect: they are difficult to communicate (and even to just visualize: I tried using programs like Axon or the like to represent complex mental webs, but the results were quite disastrous: the more you encode, the more pops up - my limit: it takes me some effort to arrive to a sensible synthesis). Translating a large web of knowledge into a communicable body requires you become a bit "linear" (and do some kind of "topological sorting" of the various elements).
As far as I have personally experienced, the "web systemizers" I know build internal representations which are as accurate maps of reality as those of "conventional systemizers".
A room on one's own (once again)
You can pass your potential barrier, if conditions are favorable.
But this is not sufficient for large webs of knowledge to form and consolidate.
Time, friendly support, self-reliance and sustained will must operate. For a very long time. An entire life, possibly.
As Virginia Woolf said, you need a room on your own.
A room in space or, in these overbusy times, time.
A safe place, real or figurate, in which securely thinking and exploring.
To carve this place out, and protect it, may be a formidable task.
Sustainable only by an enduring passion (a huge responsibility!)
I close, with a name and a little story. The name is Sophie Germain, one of the major mathematicians in 18th and early 19th centuries. Her works, struggles and findings are now commonplace, and I have nothing to add.
I just remember one thing: her candle.
She was so passionate of mathematics that, once a girl, she devoted all her free time to it, and possibly some more. Her parents worried of her health, and "in her interest" attempted to cut anything she needed to go on, beginning with paper.
Their effort (fortunately for the human race) were unsuccessful. Sophie grasped any surface on which it was in principle possible to write, used shopping lists included. And a candle, that she secretly lighted once in her room to continue her studies.
All incredible she made was rooted in no more than this. An immense, indestructible passion and curiosity.
She crossed the potential barrier, and showed us this may happen.
Now: Ubi maior...
Sophie Germain
Sophie Germain's Candle - and notebook
Mauri's picture
Why I am a so terrible systemizer
One own's examples are particular and a bit yucky.
In this case I give it, as I imagine it may be of some interest to the point.
As I stated, my systemizing score was a "9".
Out of a maximum of 80, or something like that.
Quite good, isn't it? ;-)
Allow me a bit of de-construction, however.
Of the score I got, all referred to systems of "natural" type.
The systems in the "SQ test" encompass a very broad range, from relations among numbers to banking passing through engines, and much, much more.
Obtaining a high SQ score means being likely to be attracted at all these disparate kinds of systems at once.
That is (I imagine this is the actual meanings of the test) to be attracted by systems "as systems". To derive some joy from understanding their underlying rules, breaking codes, while remaining after all detached.
I admit am not detached. I had fallen in love with various subjects (all natural and human), and developed my own quirky web of knowledge about them (all messing together in a curious way).
But, I definitely am not interested in "systems" indiscriminately (as a sort of, please forgive me the ugly term, "mental promiscuity"). Breaking a code without any "love" seems to me unrewarding - I sometimes "have" to do at work, but that's just that: work. In very rare cases, entering in contact with a system I was not "in love with" may foster some curiosity. But in the end, if allowed, I don't do.
"Knowing" is, in my experience, an intimate journey. Always. With people as with nature.
It is never something "short" you can do on demand and on command. It involves participation, and an openness to "allowing this other to change you" (it does, invariably).
The difference between "being in love with systems as systems" and loving just few resembles me the difference between "understanding" a difficult mathematics book in the sense of reading it validating all passages (a cold experience, something you do to pass an exam), and "understanding in the real sense", that is, assimilating its contents deeply, to the point you begin to foresee the "beauty" into it.
So: towards systems I am a sort of "K-strategist". In them, I invest a lot. My mental energy, emotional commitment and time are finite, so I devote to the one I really feel "pertinent" to me.
What the "SQ test" scores high resembles me a sort of "r strategist's" attitude towards material world. Very "male", and maybe at a much deeper level that prof. Baron-Cohen described in his booklet.
Why just 9 points, by the way?
Could it be incidental?
I said the test deals with systems encompassing a very broad range. But real world systems are in reality almost countless, and a complete test may not be just devisable (it would take too much volumes, so many a single life may not be sufficient to just read them casually). Clearly the SQ test is a tiny subset. Another SQ test may be formulated on a different subset, and there (by chance) my score might change - it would depend on how many of these systems are attractive to me.
To be sincere, a score like "9" describes quite accurately my general attitude, and I would not change it intentionally, by doctoring data or ironing-out some of the answers. In my life I have dealt with systems of various types, and in some cases with sufficient success to win my breadcrumb as an engineer. But frankly, would all depend entirely on me, I'd try following my inclinations along different pathways.
And what of the "EQ"? I got a high score there.
But a same kind of inherent bias may apply. There are infinite ways to empathize, and I'm not proclive to all of them.
Formulating the test in a different manner would maybe yield a very low value.
Tests are always projection of the tester designer's mind.
I also have nothing special to say of my 61 in "EQ": it matches quite well what some teachers and other people told me of myself. I'm not that sure it's a good thing (actually, some of these teachers tried, based on their judgment on me, to address me towards some care profession instead of science (and "systems")).
You also have to be careful. That's my own impression, at least. I obtained a "score above average" on a character someone (a man, in this specific case) uses (let me say it plainly) as a proxy of "femininity".
That may be fine, if you like. You may even feel honored that someone find you belong to the human species after all.
But could also (meantime) be something reductive and extremely inaccurate when evaluating a whole person.
In Junghian terms (of which I'm not an expert) prof. Baron-Cohen high score of my "EQ" looks (also) as an "Anima projection". I know well some people did the same towards me many times; I imagine you have had the same experience - being the target of the "Anima projection" of someone else, even friends, isn't nice. There are so many other things in us (often terrible, or just neutral) - and besides, projections are just "models", so often ways to stereotype someone else denying any further real contact.
I feel that's almost all.
Forgive me of this long and inconclusive self-comment.
JaniceW's picture
So, naturally, I was drawn to the test and I scored 37 on the SQ and 63 on the EQ. What seems curious to me is that I scored higher than you on the SQ when you clearly have a much greater understanding of systems than me. But I put it down to my deep curiosity about things which does not necessarily lead to an understanding. I will read about a theory because I have a need to make sense of the world BUT doing so does not naturally lead to greater comprehension of the topic and sometimes, in fact, I am left more confused. Sometimes, I may have to read something over and over to grasp the meaning, e.g. entanglement in quantum physics.
An interesting and fun exercise that, as you state, is in the end just an exercise. Labels have a way of limiting one's perspective of another and so with any label, we take the results with a grain of salt and chalk it up to one more thing that adds to the complex beauty that make up each individual.
Mauri's picture
Oh "complex" systems...
Janice, thank of your reply!
Are you "really so sure" I have a "much greater understanding of systems" than you? ;-)
I'm a very finicky person - I am in deep love with "some" systems (mostly off-SQ-test, by the way), but not with the idea of "system" in itself.
Well, maybe. I recently "discovered" how many things are there to explore in the field of "complex" systems - more specifically, systems composed by large numbers of very simple parts exchanging information according to some simple rule. These systems, taken as wholes, behave in a way much more rich than the sum of their part. As an immune system, a swarm, a galaxy...
The very idea that something new can form from "almost nothing" fascinates me. It looks so much as a birth-and-growth process! Something warming heart and mind together. This attracts me...
Do you too have the impression that some theories "dispel"? Many years ago I met the "theory of catastrophes", after a friend of mine (a professor of quantitative ecology) asked me to check it. I read René Thom's classical presentation many times (and, it was very hard, mainly because I lacked sufficient mathematical skill on that time), until I felt sure I understood it logically. In some way, however, on that time I did not accept it at a deep level. I can't say exactly why, but I had the impression of something disturbing was buried inside of it. Maybe, its apparently rigid determinism (at least, as I imagined on that time - some months ago I revised again the same material, and found it much less threatening, if any at all.
Other theories, on the contrary, seem on a first glance "attractive". Entanglement, as you quoted it, is one of them. State correlation between two particles "far away" suggests they may not be that far, after all. Like as if the space of physics (even the "four-dimensional" macroscopic space-time we are used to) is described by an Euclidean variety only in first approximation. As, if space is a sort of hologram. As if my "here, now" is also a little bit of "where you are, in that moment". This may be a crazy way to conceptualize entanglement, but I feel it deeply "rewarding", in some way reassuring.
So... Let's continue to explore!
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19466 | Marc Hirsh en 'Parks And Recreation': Good For Nerds, Good For America <p></p><p></p> Sun, 12 Jan 2014 04:15:06 +0000 Marc Hirsh 51911 at About 'Mystery Science Theater,' A Bold Declaration. It's Bold! This is a big week for <em>Mystery Science Theater 3000</em>, or as big a week as can be had for a show that's been off the air since the waning days of the 20th century. The show first aired a quarter of a century ago this past Sunday, and the 25th-anniversary volume (XXVIII, if you're keeping Roman score of the ongoing DVD releases and not the anniversaries) hit shelves on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Thursday marks the return of an MST3K Thanksgiving tradition, the <a href="">Turkey Day marathon</a>. Wed, 27 Nov 2013 19:16:23 +0000 Marc Hirsh 49013 at Nothing Personal, But I'm Not Reading Your 'Breaking Bad' Analysis The closer we get to the end of <em>Breaking Bad</em>, the less I want to read about it.<p>I'm not calling for a moratorium on <em>Breaking Bad</em> content from now until the finale (and not only because of ... you know, futility.) From now until then, I expect an avalanche of recaps, interviews, think pieces, retrospectives, speculations and so forth. That's exactly as it should be with any show coming to a close, let alone a show as great as this one.<p>And I'm not even sick of the coverage that's taken place and the coverage to come. Thu, 12 Sep 2013 14:15:20 +0000 Marc Hirsh 43797 at The Beach Boys' Perfect Imperfect Box Set <p></p> Thu, 29 Aug 2013 21:24:19 +0000 Marc Hirsh 42871 at Tweaks, Retooling, And When To Give Up: A Tale Of Two Singing Shows As <em>The Voice</em> returns to NBC this week for its fourth season, viewers are seeing two new, if quite familiar, faces as Shakira and Usher occupy the coaches' seats vacated by Christina Aguilera and Cee Lo Green. Its talent-show rival over on Fox, <em>The X Factor</em>, will also see two new judges when (if? Wed, 27 Mar 2013 19:25:20 +0000 Marc Hirsh 32079 at A Farewell Salute To 'Ben & Kate,' A Show About Friends Who Are Actually Friends Whether this week's announcements that both ABC's <em>Don't Trust The B- In </em><em>Apt.</em><em> 23</em> and Fox's <em>Ben & Kate</em> are being yanked from the schedules mark the beginning of the Great Sitcom Massacre of 2013 remains to be seen. It almost certainly means the end of two strong shows whose casts were clearly having a blast making them.<p>In the case of <em>Ben & Kate</em>, it also means that television's current comedy slate is losing one of its rare shows where everyone likes everyone else. Mon, 28 Jan 2013 16:21:25 +0000 Marc Hirsh 27941 at Eliza Rickman: A Cockeyed Pop Song Eliza Rickman's "Pretty Little Head" is simple yet intricate, a contradiction which helps give it the feel of a nursery rhyme that's just starting to teeter off the rails. Except for the bridge, it's built entirely around two chords, a minor/relative-major pair that trade off inexorably in two-bar cycles without regard to differentiating between the verse and the chorus.<p>There's little mistaking the latter, though. Wed, 23 May 2012 11:03:00 +0000 Marc Hirsh 11814 at Long-Term Investments On Shaky Stocks: 'New Girl' And 'Smash' End Their Seasons As the networks are currently rolling out their plans for the future courtesy of their upfronts, it just so happens that they're also winding down the current season of shows, the ones that they touted last year at this very time. It's a good time for television viewers to reevaluate the investments we've made in the shows we bought into at the beginning of the season.<p>Television watching is ultimately an act of faith. Mon, 14 May 2012 20:06:00 +0000 Marc Hirsh 11053 at NBC Renews And Reduces Its Thursday-Night Comedies, And That's A Good Thing Everybody settle down.<p>News came in late yesterday that NBC was confirming that next season would be <a href="" target="_blank"><em>30 Rock</em>'s last</a> — and that that show, <a href=";utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+thr/news+(The+Hollywood+Reporter+-+Top+Stories)&utm_content=Google+Reader" target="_blank"><em>Community</em></a> and (unconfirmed as of this morning) <em>Parks and Recreation</em> would all receive short Fri, 11 May 2012 13:57:00 +0000 Marc Hirsh 10834 at James Cameron And Getting Trapped Inside Your Most Successful Creation Earlier this week, James Cameron made a rather bold statement <a href="" target="_blank">in the <em>New York Times</em></a>, effectively swearing off any and all non-documentary filmmaking that doesn't take place within the fictional world he invented in 2009's <em>Avatar</em>. Thu, 10 May 2012 20:50:00 +0000 Marc Hirsh 10776 at |
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• 21 Years of IBM Patent Leadership
21 Years of IBM Patent Leadership
Date added: 2014-01-14
IBM inventors received a record 6,809 U.S. patents in 2013 -- the 21st consecutive year that the company has led the annual list of patent recipients. IBM inventors patented range of inventions in 2013 that will position the company to compete and lead in strategic areas-–such as IBM's Watson, cloud computing, Big Data analytics and the new cognitive computing era. IBM Researcher Dr. Christian Cachin (pictured) is co-inventor of U.S. Patent #8,422,686, which describes a technique that automates the lifecycle of cryptographic keys used to encrypt and secure data, and can enhance security for cloud computing applications (courtesy: IBM)
• IBM Mike Rhodin with Watson
IBM Forms New Watson Group to Meet Growing Demand for Cognitive Innovations
Date added: 2014-01-09
IBM Senior Vice President Mike Rhodin demonstrates a Watson cloud service at IBM Research headquarters in Yorktown Heights, NY, announced on Thurs., January 9, 2014. Mr. Rhodin will lead the IBM Watson Group, a new IBM business unit headquartered in the heart of New York City's Silicon Alley that will develop products and collaborate with start-ups on cloud-based cognitive apps and services powered by Watson. The IBM Watson Group will focus on R&D and commercialization of software, services and apps that think, improve by learning and discover answers to complex questions by analyzing massive amounts of Big Data. IBM will invest more than $1 billion in the unit, including $100 million in venture investments to support an ecosystem of entrepreneurs developing Watson-powered apps. (Jon Simon/Feature Photo Service)
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19481 | Coalition's direct action plan
Coalition's direct action plan
Updated April 18, 2013 23:09:00
The Opposition's spokesman on Climate Action, Greg Hunt, discusses the Coalition's Direct Action plan and its intention to scrap the carbon tax within six months of winning government.
Source: Lateline | Duration: 14min 35sec
Topics: government-and-politics, climate-change, weather, australia
TONY JONES, PRESENTER: The Opposition spokesman on Climate Change, Greg Hunt, joined me just a short time. He was in our Parliament House studio.
Greg Hunt, thanks for joining us.
TONY JONES: Now, first of all, you've recommended jettisoning the all-in UN global climate agreement process in favour of a G4 process using the big players - China, the US, the EU and India. Can you imagine that happening as a Coalition government initiative?
GREG HUNT: Well I haven't said that we should walk away from the UN process at all. I think that we need to be part of that. But where a real global agreement will come is when China and the United States reach a point of common position and when that's backed up with India and the EU. Later this year, Australia will assume the chair of the G20. We are in a unique position to try to bring together what I call the G4 as the basis for a global agreement.
TONY JONES: On climate change. Now, that presumably would be a job for the Prime Minister, Tony Abbott, if he's Prime Minister by then.
GREG HUNT: Well it's the whole of the Government led by the Prime Minister, of course.
TONY JONES: That would actually be an interesting one because that would turn the climate change sceptic, Tony Abbott, into a global deal-maker on climate change.
GREG HUNT: Look, Australia has a great opportunity and Tony is committed to working towards our targets. He's committed on the science. He's committed to achieving our international objectives. But where we have a real fight with the Government's obviously over the carbon tax.
TONY JONES: Sure. We'll come to that. But I'm just saying, if this is your vision, Tony Abbott will have to lead it in the G20. Is that the way it is?
GREG HUNT: Well I think that he's an outstanding negotiator. When you are with him, you see this sense of somebody who's got a great respect for other people, for different views. There's a long track here and this is something which we could begin on our watch, whoever's in government in Australia - I'm not presuming anything there, but whoever is in government will have an opportunity as chair of the G20 to help bring China and the United States, India and the EU together and I think that is a fundamentally important role in dealing with global emissions.
TONY JONES: OK, let's get to some detail. It's unclear how your Direct Action plan deals with existing big polluters. Will you set baselines beyond which they cannot pollute?
GREG HUNT: So, let me just help your audience here because it's a technical point. There are two different approaches. There's the tax, which is essentially an electricity and gas and refrigerant tax and mums and dads end up paying it through their electricity and gas bills, or there's an incentives-based scheme, which is what we're proposing. Our approach is to say, "We don't want punishment. We want incentives." That's the fundamental difference. We have said that over the long run, Australian firms should be able to start from where they've been, and if they reduce their emissions, then they can have incentives to do that.
TONY JONES: OK. But the big point here is if they increase their pollutions, if the polluters go, "Well, actually, we don't have any penalties now. We don't have any price on carbon. We can just keep polluting as much as we like," what will stop them?
GREG HUNT: Well we've actually said all along that we would give firms their long-term average entitlement. We are not expecting to raise any revenue under our scheme. It's not a revenue scheme. But we are providing incentives to decrease.
TONY JONES: No, but is there gonna be a - sure, but is there a penalty if they increase?
GREG HUNT: Well we are not expecting to raise any revenue because we're not expecting firms to suddenly change their behaviour and to emit more. That's not the trend of history.
TONY JONES: But you have no idea whether they're gonna emit less or more because there's no penalty to stop them emitting more. If they decide, for example, just to keep burning the dirtiest type of coal right on into the future, you won't do anything to stop them, is that right?
GREG HUNT: No, our job as a country is to reduce our emissions. And often this outcome, the environmental outcome, is what's ignored by people in this debate. The Government is always talking about what a wonderful scheme it has, and unfortunately it has collapsed in the EU and it's neither serving an environmental or economic outcome ...
TONY JONES: Yes, I understand - we understand that. But, we're now talking about your scheme ...
GREG HUNT: Correct.
TONY JONES: ... and trying to work out how it works. So if a big polluter, a big coal-fired power generator says, "I'm just gonna keep burning the dirtiest coal and increasing my emissions, not reducing them, you won't stop them."
GREG HUNT: Our job is to reduce Australia's emissions. We are trying to stop people getting on with what they have ordinarily been doing. We are going to find the lowest cost ways to reduce emissions. And it's the same way in which the country has a water buyback, we have a carbon buyback. And that's buying back the lowest cost emissions reduction. Whether it's cleaning up power stations, cleaning up waste coal mine gas, cleaning up landfill gas, capturing carbon in trees or in soil, energy efficiency, which is a major opportunity. It's all about getting our emissions down, but without an electricity and carbon tax.
TONY JONES: OK, but if they - I'll just repeat my point. If they just continue the trajectory and continue to actually emit more and more over time, you'll do nothing to stop them, which means you'll have to increase the amount you spend on abatements, doesn't it?
GREG HUNT: No. With great respect, we have assumed certain areas of growth in the Australian economy, but the power sector is saying to us they are not expecting that they will be increasing their emissions. The Government is giving them ...
TONY JONES: So, but that means you take them at their word, but you provide no penalties if they decide to increase their emissions.
GREG HUNT: We haven't changed our system since day one. So, over three years we've been completely consistent. Our approach is this: incentives is the heart of what we're doing. We're not presuming any penalty revenue in our scheme.
GREG HUNT: If somebody went rogue, there's always the provision to take action, but we aren't expecting Australian firms to do that.
TONY JONES: The budget figures you've given us today, $300 million rising to $750 million in the third year, they're the same as the ones you took to the 2010 election, aren't they?
GREG HUNT: That's correct.
TONY JONES: So, how do you do that then, because now you've got three years less in order to achieve the cuts that you're talking about? You've got a 30 per cent reduction in the amount of the time, but you're claiming to spend exactly the same amount of money. How does that work?
GREG HUNT: Well it's very simple. We are simply working towards our 2020 target. What's Australia's task? Australia's task is to bring emissions down ...
TONY JONES: No, but I'm sorry, I'm going to just press you on this particular question ...
TONY JONES: ... because it does seem rather obvious. If you've got 30 per cent less time, i.e. three years less time to do it, how you can do it at the same cost that you were gonna do it over nine years?
GREG HUNT: Well I think what we're finding is that the amount of abatement or what Australians would think of as emissions reduction that is potentially available is more than we estimated. The cost of it is less than we estimated. We will achieve our targets and we will do it easily. The thing that would surprise most listeners and most Australians is that not only are we paying six times more than Europe as of today, but the Australian scheme doesn't actually reduce emissions, the carbon tax doesn't. It goes - it sees Australia's emissions increase from 560 million tonnes up to 637 million tonnes.
TONY JONES: OK, but we're here, to be honest, to talk about your scheme.
TONY JONES: So let's go through a couple more details. Two years ago you told Lateline that you believed that soil carbon could abate 150 million tonnes worth of carbon dioxide equivalent per year. Do you still believe that?
GREG HUNT: It has enormous potential, but the market will determine what is the lowest cost form of abatement and the amount of each.
TONY JONES: Do you still believe what you said two years ago, which is it could abate 150 million tonnes?
GREG HUNT: Well, actually, I looked at the third Garnaut report just the other day. Professor Garnaut did a whole chapter on land sector abatement. His figures were significantly higher than ours. So we were conservative. But we're not expecting or anticipating a particular volume from any sector. What we're saying is: we'll provide incentives, and whether it's waste coal mine gas, soil carbon, reforestation, whatever's the cheapest form of emissions reduction, that's what we'll support.
TONY JONES: It sounds like you might be stepping back from your initial claim of 150 million tonnes. For example, we've learnt - and you probably know the CSIRO's done a three-year study on this. They've just about to release their figures. It shows that soil carbon changes were within the range of 0.3 to 2.0 tonnes of CO2 equivalent per hectare per year or lower. Now, even the highest figures, two tonnes, we've calculated that's gonna take at least 75 million hectares, a vast section of Australian land put under soil conservation, soil carbon techniques to do that. I mean, do you really think it's possible to do what you initially claimed you could do?
GREG HUNT: With great respect, what we set out was written estimates from third parties that were verified by others in terms of the range of possible reductions across the field. We set out far more than we needed. Since we've set that out, even more abatement or emissions reduction potential has occurred. There's much more anti-efficiency ...
TONY JONES: Are you saying you could actually have more than 150 million tonnes?
GREG HUNT: Well, my view is I look at Professor Garnaut's estimates, which are significantly more than ours, and that's a pretty good starting place. You go beyond that and what you see is that we've set the upper limit of what we would expect. It doesn't matter where it falls, so long as it's the lowest cost emissions reduction, and for Australians that means you can reduce your emissions without an electricity tax and without a tax which is six times higher than the European Union.
TONY JONES: I'll just go back over this 'cause these were the figures you gave us a couple of years ago. So it actually gets worse under the CSIRO's lower figure. In that case you'd need to convert 500 million hectares, 65 per cent of the land mass of Australia. Is that really achievable?
GREG HUNT: I don't accept that that's what we're proposing. I don't accept that that's the only way to do it. One of the tricks that the Labor Party does, it will gross up all of Australia's potential emissions reduction and say it all has to come one way. And that's what they do. And I would encourage you not to do that.
TONY JONES: With all due respect, Greg Hunt, we're going on the figures you gave us two years ago. It sounds like ...
GREG HUNT: No you're not. You're not going on the figures that I did. My view here is that we won't just achieve our targets, we'll do it easily. That's the environmental outcome that Australians care about. And the economic outcome is we'll do it without a 10 per cent increase in electricity prices. We'll take that off. What is important today, and that is ...
TONY JONES: OK. Alright. We're running out of time.
GREG HUNT: And that's that Australia's completely out of sync now with what's occurring in the rest of the world.
TONY JONES: OK, once again, we're talking about your policy, OK? So, your Direct Action policy costs taxpayers $3.2 billion over the forward estimates to get a five per cent reduction of CO2 emissions by 2020. Now since key climate scientists say we actually have to reach 80 per cent emissions reductions by 2050 in order to avoid dangerous levels of climate change, how do you - can you use this system, the Direct Action system you're putting in place of paying for abatement by the Government, can you do that to achieve much higher levels of reductions?
GREG HUNT: Well of course you can. And the Government believes that because they've created a system called the Non-Kyoto Carbon Fund which is almost identical, and only this week the Japanese Government has set out a very similar system. The world is actually moving away from the European model, as you can see with the US and Canada, with Japan, and towards what we're proposing. This is the idea that you focus on the reductions rather than trying to drive a massive change in people's consumption of electricity by hiking up the cost of electricity for mums and dads.
TONY JONES: But the key point here is the Government pays for those abatements out of the budget figures. And when he was able to speak openly about this, your learned colleague Malcolm Turnbull called this policy a recipe for fiscal recklessness on a grand scale. Why is he wrong?
GREG HUNT: Well I think what we have set out here is a system which instead of being $9 billion a year and six times higher than the rest of the world, it's $300 million in the first year and $500 million and $750 million over the first three years. That is as opposed to $9 billion a year each year, every year.
TONY JONES: Malcolm Turnbull told this program two years ago that if you want to have a long-term technique of cutting carbon emissions in a very substantial way, as scientists want, then a Direct Action policy where industry is able to freely pollute and the Government was spending more and more taxpayer's money to offset it, that would become a very expensive charge on the budget in the years ahead. Is he right?
GREG HUNT: Well, we have set out our system. And I don't just believe in it, I believe it in passionately.
TONY JONES: But I'm just asking you: is Malcolm Turnbull right when he says if you were to try and use that system to increase ... ?
GREG HUNT: I have enormous respect, but I'm not going to be drawn on that. My view and our view and our commitment is that we can easily achieve the reductions. And let me look to the long term for a minute. The Government is always talking about what it will do in 2050. There've been eight significant changes in the carbon tax inside the first nine months - eight significant changes. It's a system which as of today has been declared by all of the major business groups to be completely unsustainable. That system isn't going to survive to 2050, to 2020; it's on the verge of collapse in Australia and it's not even achieving emissions reduction in Australia.
TONY JONES: Greg Hunt, we know you're racing off to an aeroplane. We'll have to leave you there. But thankyou very much for taking the time to talk to us tonight.
GREG HUNT: Thanks, Tony. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19484 | Skip to navigation | Skip to content
Loss of pain and smell has a genetic link
feeling pain
Pain and smell sensations have more in common than you think (Source: Shaun Lowe/iStockphoto)
Professor Frank Zufall, of the University of Saarland School of Medicine, in Germany, and colleagues, report their findings online this week in the journal Nature.
The researchers tested three people in their 30s with a rare genetic inability to feel pain (congenital analgesia) and found they were unable to smell at all (a condition known as anosmia).
Interestingly, none of the subjects had been aware that they could not smell.
Being unable to feel pain sounds enticing, but people with congenital analgesia frequently bite their tongues, break bones or burn themselves without being aware of it, sometimes leading to severe damage.
On the plus side, two of the individuals in the study had given birth with completely pain-free labour.
It is known that the inability to feel pain is due to a particular defective gene (SCN9A), which codes for a particular type of sodium channel protein. These sodium channels are essential for pain nerves to be able to send messages.
The researchers wondered if the sodium channels could be important in smell detection too.
The team first showed that the olfactory sensory nerves that relay smell information in both humans and mice did indeed contain the sodium channels.
Then they produced a genetically-altered strain of mice that lacked the sodium channels and were unable to smell.
They compared these mice with normal mice, carefully recording the electrical activity of single nerve cells as the animals were exposed to smells.
Surprisingly, the nerve cells responded normally to smell, but the signals were not reaching further into the brain.
The sodium channels appear to be essential for triggering the release of neurotransmitter, which is essential for transmission of information from one nerve cell to the next.
Zufall sees this work as being of fundamental importance in understanding how the brain processes smell, but there could be other advantages.
"You can imagine a spray which you use to temporarily knock out your sense of smell", he suggests, "which may be useful for people working in situations with awful smells".
Smell (or lack of it) may be a side-effect we have to consider when we take a drug for severe pain in years to come, as several pharmaceutical companies are racing to develop pain relief drugs targeting these particular sodium channels.
Tags: pain, neuroscience |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19487 | Giant spin art – Maker Faire 2011 Vancouver
I wanted to create a very simple project for Maker Faire Vancouver that I could do in a weekend and something that people could take home with them as a memento.
I read about the Giant spin art box in a Make magazine Volume 25. It seemed simple enough and I could spray paint the Maker Faire logo with a stencil.
The build was pretty simple. I found a AC washing machine motor at a local junk yard that had a max speed of 1700 RPM. I created a mount for the motor to sit in so that it wouldn’t shake around too much then attached a flat board to the top of the motor with some screws. The whole process took about 3 hours. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19531 | API Awarded Falcon 50 Winglet Certification
NBAA Convention News » 2012
October 29, 2012, 4:40 PM
Aviation Partners (API) in September received FAA supplemental type certificate (STC) approval for its “high-mach blended winglets” on Dassault Falcon 50 series jets. EASA approval is expected to follow by year-end, according to Seattle, Wash.-based API (Booth No. 5035) .
Certification marked the end of an 18-month development program. API had displayed a wingletted Falcon 50 at the EBACE show last May in Geneva. Installation of winglets on the first customer Falcon 50EX is already underway, explained Gary Dunn, API’s vice president of sales and marketing. API had obtained similar certifications for the Falcon 2000 series in April 2009 and the Falcon 900 series in September 2011.
The winglets provide a drag reduction, and corresponding range increase, of 5 percent at Mach .80. This gain can be more than seven percent at long-range cruise speed, which is in the Mach 0.72 to Mach 0.75 range. According to Dunn, an owner may find it worth installing the winglets even when flying a Falcon 50 only for short hops. This is as opposed to long-haul missions, when the winglets offer their greatest benefit. “The aircraft will still climb faster and its residual value will be increased,” Dunn said.
The Falcon 50 winglets are the same as those added to the other two Falcon series, including the factory Falcon 900LX and 2000LX. “Fundamentally, the wings of the Falcon 50, 2000 and 900 series are the same,” Dunn explained.
Installation is available through API’s network of authorized installers in North America, Switzerland and Singapore. The kit sells for $575,000, Dunn told AIN. “Labor costs may vary, depending on where the job is performed,” he added.
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Part 5: Examining the Occasion of Revelation of the Verses
The Noble Qur`an was revealed over the span of twenty-three years, following a chain of questions and answers [from the people] or with various events and incidents taking place.
Having knowledge of the history of revelation of the verses offers us a clearer understanding of the meaning of each verse. However, this does not mean that without knowing the history of revelation we are unable to go forth and explain the Qur`an. Rather, since the verses of the Qur`an are a source of guidance, clear proofs, and the distinguisher between right and wrong, just as we are told that:
هُدىً لِّلنَّاسِ وَبَـيِّـنَاتٍ مِّنَ الْهُدى وَالْفُرْقَانِ...
“…(this Qur`an is a) guide to mankind, and also clear (Signs) for guidance and judgement (between right and wrong)…1
.وَأَنْـزَلْنَا إِلَيْكُمْ نُوراً مُّبِيناً...
“…and We have sent down to you the manifest light (the Noble Qur`an)…”2
thus naturally, this is exactly what has been meant and even without referring to the history of revelation of the verses, we are able to clearly understand their meaning.
However, with shifting our attention to the history of revelation of the verses, their meaning will become clearer and even more manifest.
At this point, we present an example that proves what we have just stated.
It is mentioned in Suratul Tawbah (9) that:
وَعَلى الثَّلاَثَةِ الَّذِينَ خُلِّفُوا حَـتَّى إِذَا ضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمُ الأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْهِمْ أَنْفُسُهُمْ وَظَنُّوا أَنْ لاَّ مَلْجَأَ مِنَ اللٌّهِ إِلاَّ إِلَيْهِ ثُمَّ تَابَ عَلَيْهِمْ لِيَتُوبُوا إِنَّ اللٌّهَ هُوَ التَّوَّابُ الرَّحِيمُ
“(He - Allah - turned in mercy also) to the three who were left behind; (they felt guilty) to such a degree that the Earth seemed constrained to them for all its spaciousness, and their souls seemed straitened to them, and they perceived that there is no fleeing from Allah (and no refuge), but to Him. Then He turned to them that they might repent, for Allah is Oft-Returning, the Most Merciful.”3
There is no doubt that the meaning of the verse is clear, however a person would definitely have, in regards to the (deeper) meaning of this verse, the desire to know the following things:
1. Who are the three people referred to in this verse?
2. Why were they left behind?
3. How did the Earth become constrained for them?
4. How did their chests become straitened in regards to the life of this world and how did their souls face pressure?
5. How did they realize that other than Allah (awj), there is no other source of refuge?
6. What is the meaning of the ability or opportunity given by Allah (awj) to humans (Tawfiq) in relation to these people?
The answers to each of these questions can easily be achieved by referring to the history of revelation of this verse.
At this stage, it would not be out of place to remind ourselves of the following point which is that any narration which details the history of revelation of a particular verse of the Qur`an can not automatically be accepted. Rather, in regards to the trustworthiness of a tradition which contains the history of revelation (of a verse), there must be some measurements in place through which the correct and incorrect narrations can be weighed.
This is especially true when it comes to the history of revelation of the verses of the Qur`an which relate the stories of the previous prophets and the past generations of people as in this area of review, precaution must not be neglected as many of the narrations which discuss the history of revelation (of these types of instances) have been related from unknown and unfamiliar sources and as we know, we can never (blindly) accept historical narrations from such sources.
Unfortunately, many of the commentaries of the Qur`an do not take this point into consideration and therefore, some commentators have gone forth to relate any narration which accounts the history of revelation – even from people who are not trustworthy or reliable!
• 1. Suratul Baqarah (2), Verse 185
• 2. Suratul Nisa (4), Verse 174
• 3. Suratul Tawbah (9), Verse 118
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19540 | Find Your Next Favorite Book
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Gaia doesn't know who to trust anymore. She finds herself drifting further from Sam and confiding more and more in Ed. The more time that they spend ... Show synopsis
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'Until that moment, I hadn't realized how much I'd been needing to meet someone I might be able to say everything to.'They met at a party. It was ... Show synopsis
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the pages are turned or turning brown and it smells musty. More
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19557 | Find Your Next Favorite Book
(Hnos ) Alexander
William Alexander studied theater and folklore at Oberlin College and English at the University of Vermont. He currently lives, writes, and teaches in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His short stories have been published in many magazines and anthologies, including "Weird Tales", "Lady Churchill's Rosebud Wristlet", "Interfictions 2", and "Fantasy: The Best of the Year 2008". Visit him at
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19601 | Class 3 Calamity
Class 3 Calamity is a anime/manga concept
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The Class 3 Calamity is a curse that haunts the 9th Grade students of Yomiyama North Middle School's Class 3.
Every year in Yomiyama North Middle School's 9th Grade Class 3, past records are mysteriously altered and an unidentifiable dead person joins class as an extra student. Changing rosters or class assignments fails to solve the issue and eventually, the dead student brings enough bad energy into the classroom resulting in a student and one of their family members dying every month.
No permanent cure has been found, however, one class was able to stop the calamity after it began by using currently unknown methods and acts involving a shrine. After years of death, the students and teachers of Class 3 found a preventive measure with a success rate nearing 50%. The students and teachers simply ignore one student and act as if they don't exist, which figuratively puts the class count back at a normal level, and prevents people from dying.
26 years before the start of the series, star student named Yomiyama Misaki tragically died in an accident. Unable to cope with or accept his death, his classmates, teachers, and students acted as if he was still an active member of the class. After graduation, they noticed that he still appeared in class photographs despite being dead.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19602 | Suzanna Bluestein Enemies
Suzanna Bluestein is a anime/manga character in the Divergence Eve franchise
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19612 | In crime labs, there is little room for error. A mistake could place an innocent person behind bars, allow a serial criminal to operate unchecked or even cost lives.
However, the forensic scientists who work in public crime labs are often overburdened and unsupported, say experts such as Wendy S. Becker, PhD, an industrial/organizational psychologist who teaches management at the University at Albany, which is part of the State University of New York system. And in the rush to embrace technology-which has taken criminal investigations from fingerprint cards to entire databases of DNA-crime labs often forget the people needed to make the technology work, says Becker. To alleviate such problems, Becker uses her organizational expertise to help labs identify and address factors such as high turnover, lack of resources and overwork that affect staff performance. She is currently advising several state labs and has served on the accreditation committee for the New York City crime lab.
Crime and the organizational psychologist
Becker first became aware of crime labs' organizational problems about five years ago when W. Mark Dale-the head of the New York State crime lab at that time-took her course in human-resource management. Dale turned in a paper that reviewed employee problems in crime labs, such as turnover, problems retaining employees and large backlogs of DNA to be entered into databases. Becker encouraged him to publish and he asked for her help. Soon she was immersing herself in the culture of the crime lab. Dale and Becker went on to co-author several papers on human resource management and staffing in the crime lab. The papers focused on areas like turnover, managing workload, and recruiting and retaining employees.
"The problems with a forensic science lab are all of the typical problems that occur when you put technology on a pedestal," notes Becker.
For instance, the Federal Bureau of Investigations has a national criminal database of DNA-the National DNA Index System. State and local authorities are connected to this database by the Combined DNA Index System (CODIS), which allows them to exchange and compare DNA with any jurisdiction in the network.
But this means forensic scientists have to enter the DNA-a Herculean task that involves taking not only current crime scene and offender DNA, but DNA that was collected before this technology existed. And while technology can produce the profile, usually a human being still needs to analyze it, points out Joanne Sgueglia, a forensic scientist and technical manager of forensic biology at the Massachusetts State Police crime lab.
Massachusetts has legislation allowing DNA profiling of all convicted offenders, notes Sgueglia. The state crime lab often sends these samples to outside labs, but the profiles generated must still be reviewed by the state's forensic scientists, she says.
According to a census taken by the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2002, the 351 publicly funded labs ended the year with a total of approximately 49,000 backlogged requests for DNA analysis. Another DOJ study found that in the 50 largest crime labs in the country, for every single DNA analysis performed, two requests were outstanding. And DNA is not all that crime labs process-they also handle fingerprints, test firearms, and analyze trace evidence and any other evidence gathered at the crime scene. Thisexponential increase in evidence that technology has spurred is overwhelming labs, says Dale. Technicians constantly juggle priorities, and current cases take precedence over entering old samples to build the database.
Another problem that crime lab technicians often face is determining which task is most pressing. Some cold cases may become urgent because the statute of limitations is running out, says Dale. Although the Massachusetts lab has a case management unit to direct the work load, in many labs, technicians must do the juggling themselves, says Sgueglia.
Such inefficiencies frustrate employees, says Dale. One of Dale's analysts once noted, "It's like we have the cure for cancer and we can only cure 10 people a month."
The huge amount of work that many labs deal with is just one of the reasons why most facilities have high employee turnover rates, notes Becker. In a 2003 Web-based survey of 55 local, state and federal crime labs, Becker and Dale found that 34 percent said that turnover was a problem for their organization, and 48 percent said they were losing employees to the private sector.
People think forensics work is sexy, but in reality, forensics scientists need a lot of technical training and work for low pay with little hope of advancement, says Becker. Some fledgling forensic scientists come to public labs to get their training-which can take anywhere from six to 18 months-and then leave for more lucrative positions in private labs, explain Becker and Sgueglia.
Human solutions
Becker and her colleagues are helping crime labs address some of these problems, and do so with a limited budget. By applying what psychology knows about hiring and workplace design, labs can make the most of available resources, Becker says.
For instance, she recommended a number of measures to combat turnover and increase recruitment at the New York State lab. One innovation involved internships and "shadow" positions for college and high school students. By recruiting students early in their careers, the lab is widening the pool of applicants, and those that are hired are "self-selected," and more likely to stay, says Becker, who notes that all 17 interns hired from the initial programs were still with the lab after several years. Another method was to promote high-performing lab technicians to forensic science positions more quickly.
One way that employees can progress more quickly is through accelerated intensive training. Dale is currently teaching in the forensics department at the State University of New York at Albany, where he runs a 16-week program he has dubbed "DNA academy." Labs from around the country can send employees to gain DNA proficiency-a process that usually takes 18 months when new technicians learn as they go under a mentor system.
Labs can also give employees other reasons to stay. When salaries can't be increased, Becker has suggested that lab managers offer other incentives. For example, management can play to scientists' curiosity by letting them attend scientific conferences and participate in professional organizations. Other labs have paid for employees to attend conferences and train in related areas, says Becker.
Dale and Becker are also attempting to improve morale-and efficiency-in the lab by encouraging teamwork.
"What is really needed is high-performance self-directed teams," Dale says.
There are new machines that can process very quickly-in some cases 100 times faster than older machines. These machines, coupled with smart, efficient teams that Dale likens to "Indy pit crews"-could help labs handle their high workloads, he says-reducing the backlog and making case loads more manageable.
Work quality is linked to job satisfaction in any profession, notes Becker. By realizing that technology only works as well as the people who run it, crime labs can reduce the potential for errors. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19619 | My Paterson System-4 tanks don't leak either. There are a lot of older Paterson tanks (with screw tops, white plastic lids etc) which are so old now that the original soft plastic seals are either hardened or missing - perhaps it is those that people have problems with? Anyway, the 'tupperware lid' style tanks work fine for me.
Inversion agitation also seems to give better agitation, if there is enough air volume in the tank to let it work. That could be tricky if the developer is highly diluted and you need a large volume to hold enough active dev, but possibly in that case one would be (somewhat optimistically) trying a variant of stand-development and using minimal agitation. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19638 | Is Wiz Khalifa a Crip?
Wiz Khalifa is a rapper who was born on September 8, 1987. There have been many rumors regarding him being a Crip. Khalifa denies these reports and says that he has no affiliation with any gangs.
Q&A Related to "Is Wiz Khalifa a Crip?"
Wiz Khalifa is not in any gang, most of the people he hangs with however are affiliated with the East Side Long Beach Rollin 20's Crips. SIDE NOTE: Crips don't have a 'type' they
6'4'' seems to be the more common estimate, based on an interview found here: Embed
Cameron Jibril Thomaz, born September 8, 1987 is the Pittsburg rapper better known as
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Cameron Jibril Thomaz known as his stage name Wiz Khalifa, is a famous rapper born September 8, 1987. He was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He released his ...
Wiz Khalifa is best known for his hit song 'Roll Up'. Wiz Khalifa was born on September 8, 1987 and is 24 years old. ...
Wiz Khalifa has written over 400 songs, both published and unpublished. There is a list of Top 10 Best Wiz Khalifa party songs, but together by bloggers of Wiz ... |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19642 | • 0
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The artist-singer M.I.A. (nee Mathangi "Maya" Arulpragasam) became famous on the London club circuit in 2003 with her underground hit single "Galang." She then kept all eyes (and ears) on her with two follow-up singles, "Sunshowers" and "Bucky Done Gun," and her debut album, Arular (2005). She released her second album, Kala, in 2007, which included the hit "Paper Planes," the song that played...
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19648 | Which are the best audi Nav plus to get for a B5?
There are so many different ones out there but basically all I want is one with a colour screen that takes DVD that will work (fit) in a B5.
Can you give me the code for the ones that i need to look out for please. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19665 | or Connect
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post #1 of 7
Thread Starter
I'm seeing ads including images (by AVS reps) within posts themselves that have more information than the rest of the post. For me it comes across as spam and in the numbers some post it litters the forum. It's a thin line...
Edited by Charles R - 11/3/13 at 7:52am
post #2 of 7
Do you mean one of our advertisers, AV Science?
Just use the flag icon when it's happening and the mods will have a look.
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Originally Posted by Mike Lang View Post
Do you mean one of our advertisers, AV Science?
I mean this and I did report it.. simply repeated the above answer and posted an image ad within the post.
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Yikes...we're on it.
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I really like this forum and would love to talk to someone about advertising on it. I filled out the form but never heard back from anyone. Can a forum admin send me a private message with an email or something? Thank you so much!
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I'll let the right folks know to contact you.
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Thanks Mike! This forum is great. Keep up the great work!
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19688 | Comfort women: South Korea's survivors of Japanese brothels
Former comfort women at a protest outside the Japanese Embassy in Seoul Former "comfort women" at a regular protest outside the Japanese Embassy
Elderly women once forced to work in Japan's military brothels live out their days in a unusual retirement home next to a museum that records their suffering. Their numbers dwindling, the former "comfort women" feel they have never had a full and sincere apology - and are still waiting.
On a winding country road, shadowed by South Korea's mountainous countryside, sits a strange building, jutting awkwardly from the cottages and tomato farms around it.
A sweeping arched portico looks down sternly on the narrow lane, from where you can glimpse the striking statues and memorials inside. There's a gravel car park, bigger than the building's nine elderly residents would normally warrant, and leaflets at the door in English, Japanese and Korean.
Because, despite the game show blaring from the living room television, this isn't your typical retirement home. It's a living museum, known as the House of Sharing, and its statues and plaques tell the story of its residents' unusual lives - as "comfort women" for Japan's wartime army.
Lucy Williamson reports on the former "comfort women" made to work as sex slaves in Japan's military brothels
The youngest resident is now 84, but as young women during World War II, all say they were forced to work as sex slaves in Japan's military brothels.
Yi Ok-seon is a frail old lady with a walking frame who has difficulty speaking. But her eyes, when you meet them, are still sharp.
She says she was 15 when a Korean and a Japanese man forcibly took her to north-west China, then under Japanese control. She had been begging her parents to send her to school for years, but with a dozen children to feed, they couldn't afford it. At the time she was taken, Ok-seon was working away from the family home.
Once in China, she says she was forced into sexual slavery for three years, in "comfort stations" set up by the Japanese military to service its troops.
"I felt really violated, being tricked and taken like that as a young teenager," she says. "It was like a slaughter house there - not for animals, but for humans. Outrageous things were done."
Derelict comfort station in China, pictured in 2007 as it was earmarked for demolition A "military comfort women station" in Nanjing, China
She shows me old scars on her arms and legs - from being stabbed, she says. A volunteer at the house tells me later that she sustained other injuries from that time, preventing her from bearing her own children.
Statue in the grounds of House of Sharing The statue in the museum's garden
Up to 200,000 women are estimated to have worked as comfort women in Japan's military brothels, most of them Korean. Until the end of WWII, Korea was under Japanese occupation, and its people forced to learn Japanese, which meant Korean women were easier to corral - and communicate with - than women of other Asian nationalities.
Many died during their ordeal, and many others died later. Since the issue came into the light in 1981, 234 former comfort women have come forward in Korea. There are now just 59 known survivors - nine live together in the House of Sharing in Gwangju city in Gyeonggi province.
The house is a peaceful place, full of light.
But there's a disturbing quality too. Each resident has her own room, with a fridge, a bookshelf and a phone. The manager tells me that, because of what the residents have been through, having their own space is important. "They often trust no-one," he explains, "not even each other."
In the pretty garden outside is a haunting statue of a naked women half-risen from the earth, her face crumpled, her shoulders sunk. And opposite her, in the centre of the courtyard, a growing collection of memorial busts for residents who have already passed away.
The age of these last remaining survivors is a pressing issue for those who want to see greater acknowledgement from Japan over its past.
"We're all very old," Ok-seon tells me. "We're dying each year, one by one. Historically speaking the war might have stopped, but for us it's still going on, it never ended. We want the Japanese Emperor to come here, kneel before us and apologise sincerely. [But] I think the Japanese are just waiting for us to die."
Previously in the Magazine
Japanese people often fail to understand why neighbouring countries harbour a grudge over events that happened in the 1930s and 40s. The reason, in many cases, is that they barely learned any 20th Century history, says the BBC's Mariko Oi.
"When I returned recently to my old school, Sacred Heart in Tokyo, history teachers told me they often have to start hurrying near the end of the year to make sure they have time for World War II.
"I remember my teacher telling the class 17 years ago about the importance of Japan's war history and making the point that many of today's geopolitical tensions stem from what happened then."
In Oi's history textbook, there was one line - in a footnote - on "comfort women", the prostitution corps created by the Imperial Army of Japan.
Twenty years ago, the Japanese government did offer an apology.
A statement by then Chief Cabinet Secretary Yohei Kono admitted that "the Japanese military was, directly or indirectly, involved in the establishment and management of the comfort stations, and the transfer of comfort women.... that, in many cases they were recruited against their own will."
The government of Japan, it continued, would like to "extend its sincere apologies and remorse to all those who suffered immeasurable pain and incurable physical and psychological wounds as comfort women".
A private compensation fund was also set up.
But for many former comfort women, it wasn't enough. Textbooks in Japan remain virtually silent on the issue, and there are many Japanese politicians who continue to claim that the women worked in the brothels voluntarily.
One nationalist mayor recently described the past use of military comfort women as "necessary", and Japan's new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has appeared to question his country's earlier apology.
2013 protest in Osaka, Japan, in support of the former comfort women The comments sparked protests in South Korea and in Japan
To raise awareness and debate about the issue, the House of Sharing has built a historical museum at the site, housing official documents, old photographs and testimony from several survivors. There are vivid paintings, too - part of the therapy offered to residents.
The museum draws a small stream of visitors from around the world - including, on the day we visited, a group of American university students on a study tour of South Korea. Most, like history major Christopher DeWald, had never heard about Japan's wartime use of comfort women.
Women in WWII The brothels were termed "comfort stations"
"I was a history major for three years in college, and it makes me wonder why we don't learn more about it in America," he says. "Especially with the conflict between North and South Korea, and the Korean War, where America helped out South Korea. I think it would be very beneficial for America to say, 'Look, Japan, you've got to do something about this.' It's something that's very close to us because we're very close with South Korea."
Some US politicians have taken up the issue in recent years, but the home's general manager, Ahn Shin Kweon, says that international awareness still lags behind that of other major human rights abuses.
"In the US a lot is known about the Holocaust, for example," he says. "There are lots of museums and facilities to raise awareness. In contrast, the issue of comfort women is much less known. Partly, that's because Korea has had a late start - we've been so caught up in our own industrialisation, and we only have a limited number of scholars or academic papers on this issue. Also, a lot of the official documents are stored in Japan, with restricted access. We only have the oral testimonies of the women themselves. That's why we decided to build the museum."
These days, 40% of the visitors are Japanese, who come to find out about their country's past. For the moment, part of that history is still living, in the house behind the museum. Some of the women occasionally meet the museum's Japanese visitors - by prior arrangement - to try to get some kind of acknowledgement and to raise awareness.
But in perhaps just a few more years, this small collection of photos, belongings and mournful statues may be all that's left.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19740 | 2 Timothy 4:19-22 (New International Version)
View In My Bible
Final Greetings
19 Greet Priscillaa and Aquila1 and the household of Onesiphorus.2 20 Erastus3 stayed in Corinth, and I left Trophimus4 sick in Miletus.5 21 Do your best to get here before winter.6 Eubulus greets you, and so do Pudens, Linus, Claudia and all the brothers. 22 The Lord be with your spirit.7 Grace be with you.8
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19741 | Mark 2:16; Mark 2:18; Mark 2:24; Mark 3:6; Mark 7:1; Mark 7:3; Mark 7:5; Mark 8:11; Mark 8:15; Mark 10:2; Mark 12:13 (King James Version)
16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw him eat with publicans and sinners, they said unto his disciples, How is it that he eateth and drinketh with publicans and sinners? 18 And the disciples of John and of the Pharisees used to fast : and they come and say unto him, Why do the disciples of John and of the Pharisees fast , but thy disciples fast not? 24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful ? 6 And the Pharisees went forth , and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. 1 Then came together unto him the Pharisees, and certain of the scribes, which came from Jerusalem. 3 For the Pharisees, and all the Jews, except they wash their hands oft, eat not, holding the tradition of the elders. 5 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked him, Why walk not thy disciples according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashen hands? 11 And the Pharisees came forth , and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him. 15 And he charged them, saying , Take heed , beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, and of the leaven of Herod. 2 And the Pharisees came to him , and asked him, Is it lawful for a man to put away his wife? tempting him. 13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19742 | 2 Kings 24:1
2 Kings 24:1
In his days Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came up
Against Jerusalem; this was in the latter end of the third, or the beginning of the fourth of Jehoiakim's reign, and the first of Nebuchadnezzar, ( Jeremiah 25:1 ) ( 46:2 ) , when Jehoiakim was taken, but restored upon promise of subjection and obedience, and hostages given, at which time Daniel and his companions were carried captive, with some of the vessels of the temple; (See Gill on Daniel 1:1) (See Gill on Daniel 1:2)
and Jehoiakim became his servant three years:
which were the fifth, sixth, and seventh years of his reign:
then he turned and rebelled against him;
being encouraged by the king of Egypt, who promised to assist him against the king of Babylon; Nebuchadnezzar is the Nabocolasser in Ptolemy's canon; and Berosus F14 testifies, that seventy years before the Persian monarchy he made war against the Phoenicians and Jews, and it is from this time the seventy years' captivity is to be dated.
F14 Apud Clement. Alex. Stromat. 1. p. 329.
Read 2 Kings 24:1 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19802 | • Overcast
• 61°
How do insomniacs do it?
Every time I miss sleep, like say, last night, and try to function on four hours instead of my typical eight, I feel delirious. Yet I know many, many people struggle to get good sleep even once a week. How are they carrying on conversations, doing simple math, driving automobiles? I know Ben Franklin believed there was plenty of time to sleep in the grave. Maybe some folks just don't need their ZZzzs the way I need mine.
• Comment
Comments (2)
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Rattlehead 01/13/11 - 06:07 pm
You get used to it
I solve most of my work-related problems while lying awake, unable to sleep. Maybe I should start billing them for the time.
SaraWright 01/14/11 - 09:34 am
We'd all be rich...
I've thought about that, too. I'm usually such an exercise junkie because it keeps me too exhausted to ruminate. I've had an injury lately, though, so I'm not getting out the stress.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19806 | A Roman marble head of a man, possibly the Emperor Trajan
Lot 161*
A Roman marble portrait head of the Emperor Trajan
£50,000 - 70,000
US$ 83,000 - 120,000
Auction Details
Lot Details
A Roman marble portrait head of the Emperor Trajan
Early 2nd Century A.D.
Depicted turning to the left, his stern face drawn into a frown, his thin lips pressed together, his hair characteristically combed forward over his forehead, 11in (27.8cm) high, mounted
• Provenance:
French private collection.
François de Ricqlès, Drouot-Montaigne, Paris, 11 November 2001, lot 335. Accompanied by a copy of the French export licence.
Royal Athena Galleries, Art of the Ancient World, vol. XIV, 2003, no.20.
American private collection.
The Emperor Trajan (Marcus Ulpius Traianus) acceded to the Imperial throne when he was forty-five years and ruled from A.D.98 to 117. Under his rule, the Empire saw its greatest expansion through military conquests, conquering Nabataea, Dacia, Armenia and Mesopotamia.
Carved from marble from the Greek island of Thasos, this bust can be seen as one of Kleiner's 'postdecennial' types: D. Kleiner, Roman Sculpture, Yale, 1994, p.208, which includes those on the Trajan's Column in Rome and other posthumous portraits produced after Trajan's death in A.D.117. For a similar head of Trajan in the Uffizi, cf. G. Mansuelli, Galleria degli Uffizi. Le Sculture, Rome, 1961, no.83.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19815 | Forgot your password?
Seven against Thebes Quiz
Directions: Click on the correct answer.
Questions 1-5 of 25:
What type of violation is used to describe women being treated like treasures? (from Part 1)
Who does Eteocles accuse of bringing down the city's morale? (from Part 2)
What term does Eteocles and the Chorus use to describe the city of Thebes? (from Part 2)
According to the Chorus, what are the Gods a source of? (from Part 2)
Who does Eteocles express his disgust with in Part 2 of the play? (from Part 2)
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19847 | Grand Canal dAlsace
Grand Canal d’Alsace, English Great Alsace CanalGrand Canal d’Alsace at Breisach, Ger.Norbert Blauwaterway along the Rhine River, in eastern France, designed in 1922. The first section, at Kembs, opened in 1932, and three more pairs of locks were built between 1952 and 1959. The canal is now 50 km (30 miles) long and runs between Basel, Switz., and Breisach, Ger. It was built to improve navigation of the Rhine (hindered by shallows and a rapid current) and thus to increase traffic upstream from Strasbourg. Electricity is generated at the locks, the largest of each pair being 185 by 23 metres (600 by 75 feet). |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19899 | Doctor Who: The E-Space Trilogy - Full Circle/State of Decay/Warriors’ Gate (Episodes 112-114)
by BBC Warner
The Tardis has brought the Doctor, Romana and K9 to an alternate unvierse, E-Space, where huge poisonous spiders, space vampires and gateways between past and future are commonplace. DVD Features: Deleted Scenes Featurette Interviews Production Notes
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19902 | Meet Terror, The Turbocharged Tractor
Put a Volvo 240 turbo engine on your basic tractor and you’ve got Terror. Oh, those crazy Swedes! posted on
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/19935 | Bush’s Iran Argument Lacks Sense, Credibility
In a speech to the national convention of the American Legion last Tuesday, President Bush warned that U.S. failure in Iraq would lead to an increased Iranian threat to the region and beyond. It’s a strange and inaccurate argument. To the extent that Iran poses such a threat, it is largely a creation of the Bush administration’s policies.
It is not at all clear why a defeat of the Sunni-dominated insurgency in Iraq would be bad for Shiite Iran. Indeed, one could make a better case that further weakening the Sunnis would actually strengthen Tehran’s hand. The big loser would more likely be Saudi Arabia, which has provided funding and military hardware for various Sunni factions in Iraq.
Iran’s principal avenue of influence in Iraq is the forces backing the Shiite-led government of Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, whom Washington strongly supported when the Iraqi parliament chose him. These forces include the militias affiliated with the Dawa Party and the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council. Tehran’s ties with those factions are far stronger than they are with the more notorious Moqtada al-Sadr’s Mahdi Army.
The brutal truth is that it was almost certain from the day U.S. forces overthrew Saddam Hussein that Iran would be the main beneficiary of that action. Saddam had been the nemesis of the clerical regime in Tehran for nearly a quarter century. The two countries had waged an extremely bloody war throughout the 1980s, and Iraq’s Sunni political elite remained Iran’s mortal adversary. Iraq under Sunni rule was the principal strategic counterweight to an assertive Iran.
The United States did Tehran a huge favor by removing that political elite and paving the way for the Shiite-Kurdish alliance that now dominates Iraq’s political affairs. Having taken that step, it does little good now for President Bush to whine about Tehran’s expanded influence. It was predictable, and predicted by critics of the war, that Iraqi Shiites would embark on a close working relationship with their co-religionists across the border. That was a danger that administration officials should have considered far more seriously than they did before launching the invasion of Iraq.
The other problem Iran poses — its pursuit of a nuclear capability — is also not likely to be affected by the outcome of the insurgency in Iraq. Iran’s nuclear program long predates the onset of the current struggle to its west. Indeed, Iran’s nuclear ambitions date back the late 1960s, when the Shah, Washington’s close ally, was in power.
Tehran’s quest for nuclear weapons is an extremely thorny issue, and there are no easy solutions. But one thing is clear: A defeat of the insurgency in Iraq will not have a meaningful impact on it.
President Bush is ever more frantically grasping at straws to justify his faltering policy in Iraq. His argument that a victory in that country — even in the unlikely event one can be achieved — will check Iran’s strengthened position in the region is perhaps the least credible argument he has made to date.
Ted Galen Carpenter is vice president for defense and foreign policy studies and author of seven books on international affairs. He is also the author of the study, “Iran’s Nuclear Program: America’s Policy Options.” |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20001 | Click here to Skip to main content
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SQL-Builder by NQLSoftware
By , 30 Aug 2005
Editorial Note
Benefits of using SQL-Builder
Summary: This White Paper explains the benefits of using SQL-Builder - To save development time and to give the end user an extremely fast, flexible and effortless way to query relational databases.
Brief Background
Almost every software application using a database provides a way for the user to query the database, dialog base or submit a SQL Ad-hoc query. The Dialog base is not flexible, and because of this, many dialogs may have to be built. To enter even a simple SQL Ad-hoc query, the required structure of SQL syntax is too complicated for most end-users. SQL-Builder provides an efficient means to resolve these problems.
SQL is not a language for everyone.
The basic SQL query statement contains three clauses: "select", "from" and "where". Each of the tables or views that participate in the query have to be included in the "from clause". The "where clause" contains "select criteria" and "table joins" if more than one table participates in the query. Joining tables is time consuming and sometimes difficult. With this complexity, developers often spend hours, days or weeks writing a SQL query. To provide a more flexible, simpler and faster solution for the end-user, the programmer and the Database Administrator, NQLSoftware developed SQL-Builder as a tool to write SQL queries faster and with a simpler syntax. This what we refer to as NQL (Natural Query Language).
The basic NQL query contains two clauses: "select" and "where". The "from clause" is omitted completely. The "where clause" only contains "select criteria", and no "table joins" are needed. From the "select clause" and "select criteria" in the "where clause", SQL-Builder uses a proprietary algorithm to determine which tables participate in the query and joins these tables appropriately, then builds the SQL query.
The following are examples to demonstrate and simplify these instructions. Northwind, an example of MS-SQL database is being used .
NQL query:
show suppliers where customer city is London
SQL-Builder translates to SQL as follows:
SQL query:
WHERE ((Suppliers.SupplierID = Products.SupplierID)
AND (Products.ProductID = [Order Details].ProductID)
AND (Orders.OrderID = [Order Details].OrderID)
AND (Customers.CustomerID = Orders.CustomerID))
AND (Customers.City = 'London')
In the example above, "customer city" is an "alias" of "Customers.City" this makes the query closer to a natural English sentence.
NQL query:
show employees who live in London
SQL query:
SELECT Employees.* FROM EMPLOYEES WHERE Employees.City = 'London'.
NQL query:
show how many employees who live in London
SQL query:
NQL query is an easier language statement to understand than the SQL query statement isn't it? Now you see how simple the NQL query is compared to the SQL query statement.
Dialog base with NQL
Since the NQL query syntax is very simple, it needs only the "select clause" and "select criteria". If your application has a dialog to build the select clause and select criteria, this dialog can build any query. The "Click Query" feature of SQL-Builder is an example of such a dialog. There is no need to build many query dialogs, as is the case when using SQL. The Click Query of SQL-Builder is pick and click style. Unlike other products, Click Query allows user to select more than one search objects and filters on any object attributes. With this feature and the mouse only, users may issue and kind of query, simple or complex, programmers may quickly create views or stored procedures.
Ad-hoc query with NQL
With the simplicity of the NQL syntax, natural, English-like query, developers spend less time writing queries. Using NQL, It now takes only seconds to write queries, and virtually anyone can now write queries, they can write queries with their own spoken languages. The NQL Ad-hoc query or Natural Language Query may be an option for your software application. Natural Language Query of SQL-Builder features with auto-complete, highlight the closet matched word while user typing the query. Also users may save the query for later use.
SQL-Builder understands every word in the sentence and translates accurately to SQL.
Relational Database Keyword Query with NQL
Keyword searches are popular in the field of document searches. Are you able to query your relational database using Keywords? Yes, now you can. SQL-Builder uses a proprietary algorithm to index your database to locate the data. When search it locates the data and joins tables appropriately to return the correct results. SQL-Builder does not have any restrictions requiring all keywords to be located in one data cell. Here is an example; Suppose you are searching for Boston seafood products. You simply select "products" from the "search for" combo box and enter "seafood Boston" in the "with all the words" text box, then click the Search button. In the above scenario, "seafood" is in the "categories" table; however, "boston "is in "Suppliers" table. In actuality, NONE of the keywords searched in the above example need to be in the "products" table which we search on.
SQL-Builder features a dictionary that allows users to define words, define phrases, build their language, configure output, and save queries. When a word or a phrase defined it becomes a valid words, user may define new words, new phrases base on the defined words, recursively.
Data Location
Users can quickly locate where the data resides. If you know the keyword, say "Seafood", you may use the Keyword Query, don't specify the search object and search by keyword "Seafood", SQL-Builder will find all data cells (table and column) that contain the keyword "Seafood", for you. You may search by table name or column name. Suppose you want to know what tables store first name, you may use the WordBuilder of SQL-Builder, enter "first%name" in the new word edit box and click on the filter button, SQL-Builder will get all tables and all columns where the name is first%name ('%' is wild card).
SQL-Builder increases productivity over the entire enterprise by saving a significant amount of development time for the programmer and Database Administrator and gives the end-user a faster, more flexible method to query relational databases.
Further Information
For more information on SQL-Builder and other products by NQLSoftware please visit our website. Or contact NQLSoftware for a live-on-line demonstration.
SQL BUILDER V4.0 is available free of charge via download. These trial versions are fully functional and valid for 30 days.
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About DMS
DMS Uses the database to index documents resulting in a very quick response. You can specify directories to search and the maximum number of documents to return. You can search on almost any file including, but not limited to, the following file types: .doc, .pdf (DMS for oracle only), .txt, .rtf, .htm, .html, .xml, .asp, .aspx, .ppt, .xls, and .jpg.
DMS supports Incremental indexing, which detects the following changes to files and updates the index accordingly: Modification, deletion, addition, renaming.
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About the Author
Tran NQLSoftware
Web Developer
United States United States
No Biography provided
Comments and Discussions
QuestionAbout Code PinmemberJimish Parekh8-Oct-13 3:56
QuestionProducts and supplier PinmemberJörgen Sigvardsson31-Aug-05 11:16
Quite off topic, but I've always wondered if the classical product and supplier database originally came from C.J. Date? (For those who don't know who C.J. Date is - google on his name and database Smile | :) )
I always smile when I see these examples, because it reminds me of my first contact with relational databases. Smile | :)
An eye for an eye will only make the world blind.
AnswerRe: Products and supplier Pinmembercomputerguru9238225-Feb-06 12:14
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20002 | Click here to Skip to main content
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Secure Strings
By , 8 Nov 2011
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Often, String objects are used to contain sensitive data such as a user’s password or creditcard information. Unfortunately, String objects contain an array of characters in memory, and if some unsafe or unmanaged code is allowed to execute, the unsafe/unmanaged code could snoop around the process’s address space, locate the string containing the sensitive information, and use this data in an unauthorized way. Even if the String object is used for just a short time and then garbage collected, the CLR might not immediately reuse the String object’s memory (especially if the String object was in an older generation), leaving the String’s characters in the process’s memory, where the information could be compromised. In addition, since strings are immutable, as you manipulate them, the old copies linger in memory and you end up with different versions of the string scattered all over memory.
Some governmental departments have stringent security requirements that require very specific security guarantees. To meet these requirements, Microsoft added a more secure string class to the FCL: System.Security.SecureString.
Using the Code
When you construct a SecureString object, it internally allocates a block of unmanaged memory that contains an array of characters. Unmanaged memory is used so that the garbage collector isn’t aware of it.
These string’s characters are encrypted, protecting the sensitive information from any malicious unsafe/unmanaged code. You can append, insert, remove, or set a character in the secure string by using any of these methods: AppendChar, InsertAt, RemoveAt, and SetAt. Whenever you call any of these methods, internally, the method decrypts the characters, performs the operation in place, and then re-encrypts the characters. This means that the characters are in an unencrypted state for a very short period of time. This also means that the performance of each operation is less than stellar, so you should perform as few of these operations as possible.
Here is some sample code demonstrating how to initialize and use a SecureString (when compiling this, you’ll need to specify the /unsafe switch to the C# compiler):
using System;
using System.Security;
using System.Runtime.InteropServices;
public static class Program {
public static void Main() {
using (SecureString ss = new SecureString()) {
Console.Write("Please enter password: ");
while (true) {
ConsoleKeyInfo cki = Console.ReadKey(true);
if (cki.Key == ConsoleKey.Enter) break;
// Append password characters into the SecureString
// Password entered, display it for demonstration purposes
// After 'using', the SecureString is Disposed; no sensitive data in memory
// This method is unsafe because it accesses unmanaged memory
private unsafe static void DisplaySecureString(SecureString ss) {
Char* pc = null;
try {
// Decrypt the SecureString into an unmanaged memory buffer
pc = (Char*) Marshal.SecureStringToCoTaskMemUnicode(ss);
// Access the unmanaged memory buffer that
// contains the decrypted SecureString
for (Int32 index = 0; pc[index] != 0; index++)
finally {
// Make sure we zero and free the unmanaged memory buffer that contains
// the decrypted SecureString characters
if (pc != null)
Marshal.ZeroFreeCoTaskMemUnicode((IntPtr) pc);
The SecureString class implements the IDisposable interface to provide an easy way to deterministically destroy the string’s secured contents. When your application no longer needs the sensitive string information, you simply call SecureString’s Dispose method. Internally, Dispose zeroes out the contents of the memory buffer to make sure that the sensitive information is not accessible to malicious code, and then the buffer is freed.
Points of Interest
In version 4 of the .NET Framework, you can pass a SecureString as a password when:
• Working with a cryptographic service provider (CSP) - See the System.Security.Cryptography.CspParameters class.
• Starting a new process under a specific user account - See the System.Diagnostics.ProcessStartInfo classes.
• Constructing an event log session. See the System.Diagnostics.Eventing.Reader.EventLogSession class.
• Using the System.Windows.Controls.PasswordBox control. See this class’s SecurePassword property.
• 6th November, 2011 – Initial version
About the Author
India India
I spent some time working as a programmer and computer developer for several IT companies. I gained a lot of knowledge and experience in the process, and met some very supportive people in the industry. In May 2000' I joined LBS College for Higher studies.
I enjoyed my studies as much as academic studies can be enjoyed. I feel that I depend my understanding of computers because of them. The LBS College gives his students a high level of studying, but my main problem with it is that its tests are sometimes completely out of sync with the material that is learned, too long and/or too hard, and so students receive low grades and are frustrated. This is especially demotivating considering the fact that studying there is a lot of work.
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Comments and Discussions
QuestionA little confused at the value of SecureString [modified] PinmemberGreg Osborne14-Nov-11 8:40
AnswerRe: A little confused at the value of SecureString PinmemberAbhishekGoenka14-Nov-11 14:31
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20080 | How Dewey & LeBoeuf Became the Biggest Law Firm Bankruptcy Ever
Dewey & LeBoeuf was one of the world's great law firms, with 1,300 attorneys on five continents and revenues in excess of $900 million a year. This makes its bankruptcy quite simply the largest law-firm failure ever. So how did it manage to go broke? |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20085 | 13 votes
German Defense Minister Andreas Von Bulow Explains Why 9/11 Was Inside Job
Andreas Von Bulow Wiki:
He served as secretary of state in the German Federal Ministry of Defence (1976-1980) and Minister for Research and Technology (1980-1982), both during the Chancellor Helmut Schmidt administration, and was regarded as a "rising star" of German politics at the time.[1] He served for 25 years as an SPD member of the German parliament (1969-1994). In the late eighties and early nineties, he served on the parliamentary committee on intelligence services ("Parlamentarischer Kontrollausschuss")
Michael Meacher is a British MP.
Cliff notes, what this video will explain:
- Official story of 9/11 transparently false
- Some conspiracies are true
- Governments gain by false flag attacks
- Other possible reasons for 9/11 false flag:
- Resource grab
- war profiteering
- other foreign policy agendas
Von Bulow explains that to people who think they are "at war," casualties are acceptable, EVEN ON YOUR OWN SIDE. Chilling peek into the ruthlessness of governments.
This nicely frames the CIA-Mossad primary architects thesis, linked below.
Related thread: "Bush Neocons Urged Netanyahu to Use U.S. Forces to Remove Saddam, Five Years Before 9/11"
Comment viewing options
...Explains Why 9/11 Was BOTH
...Explains Why 9/11 Was BOTH an Inside Job and "Outside Job"...
Daily Paul will earn a commission on all of your purchases.
It proves who worked and executed those attacks
Saudi Arabia and Israel have always worked together.
Operatives vs. Architects
Just want to point out that the CIA and Mossad were not architects of the false flag terror attack, but operatives. They're the foot soldiers on the ground planting the explosives at 3AM in the WTC, attempting to blow up the GW Bridge, etc..
How was the CIA formed? It was a merger of the OSS and Nazi SS, both of which agencies were created by Knights of Malta. Similarly, Mossad was created by British Intelligence and trained by Knight of Malta Reinhard Gehlen.
oops duplicate
Release the Sandy Hook video.
I can buy that. The disloyal/criminal factions of CIA-Mossad
are probably not the ultimate hatchers of the plan, i.e. not the "producer," but crew bosses and "chefs," a chef is responsible for a particular "dish," the Pentagon op, the building demos, the air defense stand-down. I think Cheney was really just the chef for the Pentagon.
And of course the Saudis were just carpenters, in charge of getting 19 patsies on planes.
We get closer to the producers if we look at Pentagon Comptroller Dov Zakheim, who invented the technology to remote crash airliners from the ground, through his company SPC.
But I think the level you are talking about is a level above that, who are largely invisible, and stay well out of sight. You are talking about the Chess Players.
Release the Sandy Hook video.
Funny how German bestseller "The CIA and September 11" by
Von Bulow STILL has not been translated into English (go on Amazon, you won't find it.) I started reading the Wiki entry on it and its a joke. For example:
"The CIA and September 11" by Andreas Von Bulow
It does, however, attempt to demolish the "conventional" account of the 9/11 attacks, and while it does not build up a substantive account to replace it, it leaves insinuations and rumours to suggest possibilities. For instance, while it is argued that such well-organized attacks could only occur with "the support of the intelligence agencies, the exact details of that support are left unspecified. "
Same old disinfotard line that if you don't tell them exactly what happened, you can't tell them what didn't. Stopped reading right there, now I KNOW the book is good, if that's the best disinfo can come up with. Anyone who translates German to English should grab this gig.
Release the Sandy Hook video.
I found it on amazon.de
And here is the full book in pdf format:
It would be interesting to read a non-Google Translate translation of this book. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20086 | Comment: .
(See in situ)
does anyone mind taking the time to explain to me what MEGA would be used for and how it is used, for what purpose?
and what was the other (bit-torrent??) used for and how did the gvt shut it down? are there others like it or was this the only one used for its purpose?
Rand Paul 2016 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20090 |
China is struggling amidst a deluge of pirated material
Comments Threshold
RE: Piracy is rampant in China
By lhlinlhlin on 1/17/2008 9:35:01 PM , Rating: 3
In fact, at the beginning of December I saw fully packaged Crysis games and Die Hard dvds on the shelves in professional looking packaging that were illegal copies. They can't easily control is because the average income over there is so low and people don't have money that of course they turn to piracy and other illegal activities.
Those probably are not the illegal copies. The reason why they can be so cheap because the introductory video contains at least 15 minutes commercial (to sponsor the cost) which can't be Fast Forwarded to skip away. Most of the movie consumption are from the Internet Bar (Internet Cafe) not at the movie theaters or DVD rental/purchase. Those internet cafes (around 120,000 stores in China; at least 12 million sites) license the pirated content from some portal sites who offer bitorrent or e-mule like files of the movie content. The consumers pay of 2~3 RMB (roughly 30 cents) per hour to watch the movies. It is a very different country even from the aspect of the same race like me ( a Taiwanese). I got a friend who used to have distribution right of various (sports, comedy, episode .... you name it) contents in China. After 2 years of work, he burn out all of his money and gave up, because the content value is zero in China unless you can find a way to sponsor it. All of the TV stations won't pay you the money for the content, but just open a time zone for you to broadcast it (in fact you have to pay for it in a tricky way). In order to make the money, you will have to find the commercials to sponsor it.
BTW, if you take serious about whatever the Chinese government says, I will say that you are too naive.
|
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20097 |
Vision is AMD's attempt to simplify PC marketing for consumers
Comments Threshold
Marketing from R&D money
By fzkl on 9/10/2009 1:20:29 PM , Rating: 2
At what seems like a time when AMD needs every penny to invest in R&D and come out with products that make up for its shortcomings against Intel, they choose to spend money on marketing.
Sounds pathetic. Is the end near and consequently a desperate measure to sell something from their inventory (this is probably why I am not running a company, maybe the management has some secret weapon) ?
RE: Marketing from R&D money
By crimson117 on 9/10/2009 1:43:00 PM , Rating: 3
That's kind of what they're doing here, I think.
Their immediate shortcoming is that AMD's CPUs can't compete with anything Intel has above $200. Below $200 where they do compete reasonably well, profit margins get pretty tight.
So they need to distinguish themselves, and they're taking a page from Centrino (which was a hugely successful consumer platform campaign). Intel's marketing then boiled down to: Centrino means it's a wireless laptop that works out of the box. They timed it perfectly and executed it perfectly.
So AMD wants that too - they want people who bought a laptop with crappy Intel graphics a few years ago to tell the salesperson their old laptop stutters when they watch HD movies on it, or try to edit their own HD camcorder movies. And the salesperson says, oh, you want guaranteed multimedia capabilities? Then you want this PC powered by AMD Vision.
Intel has gotten away with keeping prices down by using cheap graphics. AMD wants to turn decent graphics into the norm (leveraging their ATI brand), so Intel will have to catch up and raise prices by buying third party GPUs.
What I'm wondering is whether AMD can make any money off of this before Intel comes out with Larrabee. . If they can make Larrabee look like it's Intel playing catch-up, AMD wins and their ATI investment really pays off. Otherwise, AMD will need a new plan.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20098 |
(Source: The Northern Myth)
Though they do not have enough evidence to back it up
Comments Threshold
RE: Seems Premature
By ltgrunt on 8/11/2010 1:18:38 PM , Rating: 2
I'm not seeing anything in this article to suggest that these researchers are specifically focusing on AGW climate change. It's widely understood at this point that climate change is happening; it's a real thing. The biggest point of contention is the cause, which is where the AGW vs. natural processes argument comes in. But this article doesn't really indicate that their research is going one way or the other on the causes, rather that they're just looking at the effects.
And while it could be argued that they're making their conclusions first, keep in mind that it's also part of the scientific method to make a hypothesis and then do your research and testing to support or falsify that hypothesis. They need to start their research with a bit more focus than something general like "what's happening with birds?" So they take the theory "global warming can cause bird die-offs" and they run with it to see what happens. They seem to be explicitly stating that they haven't finished (or started) research, to say nothing of testing.
RE: Seems Premature
By JediJeb on 8/11/2010 4:56:14 PM , Rating: 2
To better understand the future of these bird populations, Wolf and McKechnie have devised a mathematical model based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change's predictions that Earth's temperature will rise 3.5 to 6.5 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of the next one hundred years
They are basing their model off of what is probably the most pro AGW work out there, so I assumed they are also thinking along the same lines with their work. Maybe I guessed wrong.
|
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20100 |
Google's filing (Source: Scribd)
Comments Threshold
RE: Hmmm....
By Fritzr on 11/3/2010 7:57:17 PM , Rating: 2
Microsoft supports MOST of the open standards, not all. Their default document standards are NOT open standards. They did make an effort to have a "Standard" approved that would have covered most of their proprietary standards, but not even Microsoft could document the standard that Microsoft was submitting.
By forcing government agencies to use Microsoft products at every step, there is no need to use industry standard formats. The default Microsoft only document types work just fine with Microsoft products. That was probably a consideration in requiring Microsoft need to convert Microsoft standard format docs to industry standard format docs.
|
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20106 |
iOS 6.1.3 likely means the end for one popular jailbreak
Source: Forbes
Comments Threshold
RE: What a Nightmare
By JackBurton on 2/26/2013 11:58:03 AM , Rating: 0
RE: What a Nightmare
By mcnabney on 2/26/2013 1:46:47 PM , Rating: 2
...because Apple only releases one new model per year.
When the whole ecosystem is counted (dozens of new Android models each year) the scale tips back the other way.
RE: What a Nightmare
By Tony Swash on 2/26/13, Rating: -1
RE: What a Nightmare
By retrospooty on 2/26/2013 3:12:41 PM , Rating: 3
"What would those scales being weighing?"
They would be weighing how 5x more people choose Android than IOS. His post was a direct reply to your "in the real world Apple's iPhone is so popular" comment. Dont you remember, when you pulled another "Tony" and changed the subject from update breaking Jailbreak to a popularity contest? Then when we showed you that you are wrong and IOS is not winning a popularity contest, you then changed the subject to profit. Make up your mind man, what subject are you changing it to? :P
RE: What a Nightmare
RE: What a Nightmare
By retrospooty on 2/26/2013 5:12:23 PM , Rating: 3
Why does Apple popularity matter when the discussion was about an OS update breaking Jailbreak? You are the one that brought up trivial matters that were off topic, not me.
Related Articles
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20107 |
I. Background
PAM infection
[Image Source: Trevor Haggie]
N. Fowleri
PAM incidents by year
II. Hypothesis: Warming is To Blame
III. The Boy Who Cried Warming (Hypothesis Invalidated)
3. Urban population (people use more crowded water resources)
5. Mutations (hardy strains survive in new habitats)
PAM Correlation
PAM Correlation
NOAA warming by state
[Image Source: EPA]
Comments Threshold
By cactusdog on 6/28/2013 8:57:47 AM , Rating: 4
If only you spent all that energy debunking anti-global warming claims. I don't know why you would run a story that affects 0.00000001% of the population when there are plenty of real stories from climate scientists that will affect every one of us. With 99% of scientists saying global warming is a serious problem, this site gives way too much voice to the other side, which really isn't a side, its a tiny minority of conservatives and fossil fuel interests.
RE: hmmmm
62-66 5
67-71 13
72-76 5
77-81 20
82-86 9
87-91 16
92-96 10
97-01 14
02-06 12
RE: hmmmm
RE: hmmmm
RE: hmmmm
By JPForums on 6/28/2013 11:19:42 AM , Rating: 3
What a wonderfully political argument you make. Let's claim 99% of the intellectual crowd (scientist) for ourselves without giving any information to suggest its true. Let's misrepresent what they really say about it. Finally, let's call the opposition insignificant to isolate them and stereotype them into an undesirable group of people willing to "sacrifice the planet and everyone in it for their own short term agenda".
First, if you want to opposition to take you seriously, you have to admit there is opposition. More than just a tiny minority oppose the prevailing AGW theory.
Second, you need to understand their standpoint. You are never going to convince someone they are wrong if you don't even have a grasp on what they believe. I'm not sure how many people have seen the data and dismiss global warming entirely, but there seems to be a serious dispute over how much is due to man's contribution and how much man can do about it. Hence the opposition to AGW not necessarily global warming in general.
Third, if you are going to claim the intellectual high ground, you'd better be prepared to back it up. I don't believe you when you say that 99% of scientist are saying global warming is a serious problem. I might be inclined to believe that 99% of climatologists believe that global warming exists. I'd believe significantly less agree that man has a significant contribution or that man can do much about it. I personally know of more than a few climatologists that think the planet was better off 400 million years ago, when atmospheric carbon levels were over 6000ppm (less than 400 ppm today) and plants flourished So I'd wager significantly more than one percent don't perceive it to a serious problem. Some see it as desirable, some probably see it as a wash, more probably see it as a problem, but not necessarily a serious one.
Finally, you'll get a lot more support if you push a sensible solution to the problem. Blasting the opposition with no solution in mind is a side step at best. There should be no blank checks to do "whatever is necessary" to "save the earth". The earth will be here long after we are gone. What we are really doing is saving ourselves. Therefore, there is an upper limit to what we can reasonably do to keep the earth enjoyable for future generations. You should be selling the opposition on the long term benefits of any course of action.
Point of interest: most reasonable courses of action have auxiliary benefits. Moving over to cleaner sources of energy (hydroelectric, wind, solar, etc.) - You'd have less dependence on foreign oil (I think even the U.S. far right wing can get behind this). It will eventually be cheaper as cost goes down and the prices of non-renewable resources goes up. You'd keep pollution down. Come visit the industrial areas of Bangladesh and east India and you'll see the kind of pollution the U.S. had back in the industrial revolution. Then, you can decide the worth of pollution control.
Researching methods to collect pollution (carbon?) at the output of industrial smoke stacks would be of much greater benefit than simply charging them for carbon credits or forcing them to buy them from others. That's a cost they push along to the consumer without ever really reducing their output. While pollution collectors would also push cost to the consumer, there is a tangible benefit. If someone could find a method for separating the carbon from impurities relatively cheaply, then the output could be put back into production for things like carbon nanotubes and some of the cost could be reclaimed.
There are many other (probably better) examples, but I digress.
RE: hmmmm
RE: hmmmm
RE: hmmmm
By tng on 6/28/2013 1:34:22 PM , Rating: 1
Good sensible post.
I see this allot in the AGW community as a whole, people take the political rhetoric as scientific method and then discount the actual science behind both the pro and con.
IMO this is mainly just a way to make money off of peoples fears.
RE: hmmmm
RE: hmmmm
RE: hmmmm
RE: hmmmm
RE: hmmmm
If one can' should read in the last sentence.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20109 |
Image courtesy Akihabara News
iriver shows off the new S10
Comments Threshold
By othercents on 9/13/2006 10:51:06 AM , Rating: 4
This is a very good looking mp3 player (or maybe it's the model). However I like the clip functionality of the shuffle better. I personally wouldn't wear any mp3 player around my neck, but I wouldn't mind clipping the shuffle to my shirt. Plus I like the clip better than an arm band when doing workouts in the gym.
The FM tuner is a plus especially when your trying to watch TV in the gym.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20125 | Java Tips: 5 Ways to Upgrade Your Homemade Coffee
Tired of the same old boring cup of Joe? These great tips will help you give your homemade coffee an instant flavor upgrade.
Love coffee? Try cooking with it. Check out these drinks, dinners, and desserts that use coffee.
Text Size: A | A | A
Photo Credit Rich H Legg/Istock
More from Esquire
Amid all the chatter about coffee these days, you rarely hear about simple techniques and tricks for making home-brewed coffee better that don't require getting a degree from Coffee Geek University. Until now.
1. Cappuccino milk without the espresso machine
If you haven't dropped a major roll on a home espresso machine or mastered the art of perfectly steamed milk, try this: Pour warmed milk into a French press until it's one-third full. Press the plunger down into the pot, pull it to the top again, then back down, replunging a half-dozen times. You will be stunned by the flawless cappuccino milk you've just made. Note: This can be done with cold milk, too (see: iced coffee).
2. Deep "double clutch" extraction
Some 168 million Americans use a filter coffee brewer. But how many of them know how to crank up their brew by double-pouring? To do this, pour half the water you typically use into your coffee machine and let the maker do its thing. Once the brewer stops dripping (and, say, you've made toast), add the second half of the water. This will extract more flavor out of your bean in a way that will seriously please you, without changing a thing.
3. Motorize your grinding
If you're anything like me, you certainly appreciate freshly ground coffee, but the act of hand-grinding in the half-dark of your morning kitchen isn't the way you want to greet your day. Instead, power up by purchasing a decent inexpensive burr hand grinder, remove the crank handle, and clamp the chuck of a cheap variable-speed cordless drill onto the shaft, then grind to your heart's content. No more breaking a sweat making your favorite coffee.
4. Iced coffee that actually tastes of coffee
Pour your best strong, hot coffee into a stainless steel martini shaker, then place the shaker into an ice bucket or large bowl filled with ice and water. When the coffee is cool, add ice to the shaker as if making a martini (and sweet condensed milk if you wish), shake vigorously, and pour into a chilled mug, leaving the offending ice behind. You'll find it impossible to drink the watery mess found in chain cafés ever again.
5. Hard-core French
For the hardy coffee drinker: Add twice the amount of bean to your French press, this time (and this is important) using a gold-filter fine grind. Pour in the hot water as always, but this time stir the coffee quickly, allow to steep maybe 3 seconds — and I mean not a second more — then plunge the thing before the grinds swell and make it virtually impossible to plunge. Warning: Once you've tried this, you'll never use the chunky grind again. Sure, there will be silt, but the resulting brew is movingly good.
Try a combination of the above, like a hard-core French press using your new MacGyver-style grinder topped with your own perfect cappuccino milk, and say good-bye to your old cup of coffee.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20137 | Should or shouldn't block public ping to a website
All this while I'm not allowing any public ping to the website I'm
maintaining, but it's making me tougher to troubleshoot should any
user from the globe having trouble to access our website, as I can't
make them to send a proper traceroute report.
To your opinion, is it necessary to block public ping to a public
website ? Is this security practice still relevant in today exploit
technology ?
And if you think it's still necessary, how do I make sure my user's
traceroute still work when all ICMP is dropped from public ?
Thanks for any input, appreciated that.
This list is sponsored by: Information Assurance Certification Review Board
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20140 | Tue, 2011-02-15 09:46Mike Casey
Mike Casey's picture
Top EIA Energy Trends Watcher: No Definitive Count on Dirty Energy Welfare
The national conversation about wasteful welfare for highly profitable dirty energy corporations has gone from the dramatic statement by the Chief Economist of the International Energy Agency that fossil fuel subsidies are one of the biggest impediments to global economic recovery (“the appendicitis of the global energy system which needs to be removed for a healthy, sustainable development future”), to a speech by Solar Energy Industries Association President Rhone Resch (in which he called the fossil fuel industry “grotesquely oversubsidized”), to a call by President Obama to cut oil company welfare by $4 billion. Not to be outdone, House Democrats are now calling for a $40 billion cut.
Dirty energy welfare defenders have, predictably, responded with ridiculous, Palin-esque denials of reality, but the voter demands that wasteful spending be cut begs the question: just how much of our tax money is going to ExxonMobil, Massey, etc.? With the new deficit hawks in Congress going after insignificant items like bottled water expenses, you’d think they’d want to know the size of the really wasteful stuff, right?
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20183 | Bill Gates was the one who killed the awesome dual-screen Courier
Bill Gates is often credited for inventing the tablet and predicting its ubiquity 10 years before Apple released the iPad. That's why it's extremely saddening to finally find out that it was Gates himself that killed the amazing dual-screen Courier concept tablet that Microsoft was planning.
The story goes like this: J Allard was the thinking man behind the Courier — a tablet meant to complement a PC (not replace) and a smartphone. Allard's main problem with the Courier was that he didn't want it to run Windows (or at least not any bulky desktop version) and that's where things broke down.
Steven Sinofsky, President of the Windows Division at Microsoft didn't want any Microsoft hardware to not run Windows. The problem reached the top of the Microsoft chain and landed on CEO Steve Ballmer's desk. He didn't know what to do, so he asked his trusty pal Bill Gates for advice.
What'd Bill say? Kill it.
Okay, maybe not those exact words, but he was the one who suggested Allard's Courier project be canceled because it had no plans to include products such as Outlook into it. In hindsight, asking Gates for advice probably wasn't Ballmer's best decision. It's disappointing because Microsoft wouldn't be two years behind the iPad when it launches the first Windows 8 tablets next year if the Courier made it out alive.
Although the Courier concept never made it out of the concept phase, at least we know who to point fingers at. Sad, it's at Gates. When Gizmodo broke the Courier news in 2010, everybody went gaga for it. I admit, I was blown away too.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20188 | View Single Post
01-16-2013, 02:28 PM #5
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MS-8 is a 8 channel sound processor from JBL it has logic 7 a better logic 7
than what the HK has to my understanding its self adjusting also . It only has head unit power on those channels though 18 watts rms at 4 ohms. I haven't actually heard one so Technic can steer you better than I can.
The thing about it is most people that get an MS-8 end up putting an amp with some actual power on at least the front doors and underseat speakers and adding a center speaker to make work the way it should. If you add an amp you should upgrade the speakers because the stock speaker are not meant to handle a lot of power and are kind of cheap and cheap sounding.
So it all depends on how much you want to spend and what you like or can live with or think is good. _
It takes around 1k to 2k to upgrade but it will be way better than any of the stock systems.
Technic is an expert and has suggested many configurations with a budget in mind.
If you look at this thread you can see many of the systems in the thread are his.
look in the Hi Fi entry for reference systems
the other ones also have good info.
Were in Cali are you located?
Last edited by ctuna; 01-16-2013 at 02:34 PM.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20206 | THE opportunities are great. The resources with which to grasp them are great, as is the determination. Yet the obstacles are great too. Will they, can they, be overcome? When assessing his period in government after 1945, Dean Acheson wrote, in “Present at the Creation”, that:
To the responsibilities and needs of the time the nation summoned an imaginative effort unique in history. Yet an account of the experience, despite its successes, inevitably leaves a sense of disappointment and frustration, for the achievements fell short of both hope and need. How often what seemed almost within grasp slipped away.
Once again, a considerable imaginative as well as physical effort is being summoned. Already, a radically warmer relationship with Russia can be counted as an important achievement, closing the chapter of history that began in Acheson's time. Again, though, there will be disappointments. Anyone who thinks that an imperial, exceptionally dominant America can now achieve anything it wants to need only glance in the direction of Israel and Palestine where, whatever its will (which has certainly wavered at times), America lacks the levers with which to force peace on the protagonists.
There is, moreover, a long battle ahead against four sets of opponents. One is the terrorist organisation which began this war last September. Despite America's triumphant dislodging of al-Qaeda's Taliban hosts in Afghanistan last autumn, and despite the disruption that that war and the associated surveillance and police operations have caused to the terrorists' infrastructure, it is likely that the true battle has only just begun. It is hard to discern exactly what are the objectives of Mr bin Laden and his fellows, but high on their list must stand a desire to grab control of one of the Islamic states themselves—preferably Saudi Arabia or Egypt, or, even better, nuclear-armed Pakistan. As long as that remains feasible, al-Qaeda's losses in Afghanistan in the past nine months will represent just a setback, not a defeat, rather as the failed 1905 putsch in Russia was for Lenin and the other revolutionaries.
Early 20th-century Russia does not offer an exact analogy to Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Pakistan today, but like those countries it had a regime which failed to move with the times and failed to deal conclusively with a long tradition of terrorism and revolutionary ferment. Tsarist Russia looked secure after the shock of 1905, but then fell to the Bolsheviks in 1917. Rebels who have a cause can readily regroup and wait until a new opportunity presents itself. The Russian revolution shaped the 20th century, just as an al-Qaeda revolution in Saudi Arabia, Egypt or Pakistan could shape the 21st. It is not known whether Mr bin Laden is still alive, but it is also not known whether, in terms of this analogy, he represents the ultimate Lenin or Trotsky.
The second set of opponents is formed by countries which either have or are trying to acquire weapons of mass destruction. President Bush called three of them an “axis of evil” and drew down brickbats on his head for doing so. But although his phrase was over-simplified and implied a unity of behaviour and purpose between Iraq, Iran and North Korea that does not exist, he was nevertheless putting his finger on a real issue, one that is separate from the fight against terrorism. Neither nuclear nor biological nor chemical weapons can be uninvented, and it is doubtless unfair that they are already possessed by the traditional great powers and that those powers would like to prevent others from getting them. But such prevention is vital, for the thought of any of these weapons actually being used is so horrifying.
Iraq is the only country among the three that is likely to require a real fire-fight to persuade it (or, rather, Saddam Hussein) to give up its weapons programme. Iran should in time be persuadable once its own security fears (one of which is caused by Iraq) have been quelled, and once Russia and China have been persuaded to stop helping it edge in the nuclear direction. North Korea is likely to remain more a case of containment than of confrontation, in which a firm line must be drawn by America against new weapons research or testing, but in which a parallel process of engagement by South Korea will offer the main hope for longer-term peace.
There cannot be much doubt that, one way or another, Saddam Hussein will be toppled fairly soon by an American attack. There is, however, a lot of room for doubt about how smoothly the change will occur, and about what the consequences will be. At its simplest, to have punished the Iraqi dictator for breaking the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and thwarting UN inspections efforts will be a fine thing to have done, for the regional balance of power as well as for its deterrent effect. But the manner of his removal, and the popular response to it in Iraq and elsewhere, will also help determine how much of a disincentive his defeat will be to other would-be acquirers of weapons of mass destruction. If he proves able to use such weapons in order to raise the costs to America and any allies of removing him, then other countries and dictators could still think it worthwhile to develop them.
Also, however, an awkward pair of quandaries surround that war: one preceding it, the other following it. No prizes for guessing that the preceding quandary concerns Israel and Palestine, a conflict and set of dilemmas that has beset American foreign policy ever since Acheson's time, when Harry Truman decided to support the establishment of an Israeli state.
The immediate test for George Bush will be whether his diplomats can help stabilise that conflict; the historians' test will be whether he can then help bring about the establishment of a Palestinian state alongside something akin to the boundaries set up for Israel in the 1940s. In his favour are two things: a new determination on the part of the most important Arab country, Saudi Arabia, to press for a peaceful settlement and resolve the issue before it explodes in everyone's faces, including the Saudis'; and the strong feeling, which sustained peace talks during the 1990s, that there is no real alternative for either of the protagonists except a two-state solution. Against him is, well, history and everything else.
That seemingly eternal struggle may not prevent an American invasion of Iraq, if some sort of new stalemate can be achieved in the meantime. A mere stalemate would, however, make harder the other quandary, which concerns what follows a change of the Iraqi regime. The creation of a new Iraq, and with it a new relationship between America and the Arab world, will probably represent the most important single step in this long battle.
Such a step will bring a danger that the American invasion could help encourage revolutions or new alienation in the most powerful countries of the region, Egypt and Saudi Arabia, rather as Iran's revolution of 1979 caused two decades of fundamentalism and anti-American hostility there. It will also bring a hope that, if there can be a more placid Middle East, perhaps achieved with Saudi help, as well as a renewed Iraq that is run by Arabs but is no clear threat to other Arabs, it could become possible to remake ordinary Arabs' view of America, and of their own regimes.
The things beyond the Israeli conflict that irritate some Arabs—American bases in Saudi Arabia, military aid to the Egyptian government—could then be honourably phased out. The sort of broad institutional structures that help bind countries together and ease mistrust could become feasible in that torrid region. Detractors call them talking shops, but forums for security or trade, say, have helped ease tensions in other places, such as Asia and Latin America. So far the scope for such things has been limited in the Arab world and the rest of North Africa either by mutual hatreds or by the dividing lines set by the Middle Eastern conflict.
These first two sets of opponents are formidable enough. Even armed with his new friendship with Russia, President Bush is unlikely to repeat his father's mistake of talking dreamily of a “new world order”. For the third set of opponents that America faces consists of the many disorderly events that are liable to jump up and bite any foreign-policy maker foolish enough to think that he has everything nicely planned and under control.
The ever-present danger of war between India and Pakistan is a prime example. If war were to break out it would not only bring the horrific risk of nuclear conflict but could also, by deposing Pakistan's currently pro-American government, open the way for a more fundamentalist regime or for an anarchy within which Mr bin Laden's terrorists would thrive.
One American eye will also have to be trained on China. Before September 11th, China was many people's top tip as America's biggest long-term challenge, for reasons which have not gone away: its possible political fragility, its resentment of America's military presence in the Asia-Pacific area, and, the nastiest headache of all, its designs on Taiwan. Meanwhile, another American eye needs to be on Indonesia, which is the world's largest Muslim country and is basically friendly to the West but which nevertheless has a still-fragile democracy and piles of separatist problems.
With opponents like all of those, who would want a fourth? Certainly not America, if it has any sense. Yet it does look like facing another sort of opposition: from its friends—at least if the mutterings of politicians and commentators in Europe are anything to go by.
After all, the world will have one dominant power, throwing its military weight around and being none too helpful in international negotiations over trade, the environment and justice. And there will be many resentful countries, several of which think they know better than the bumptious Americans, full of intellectuals keen to argue that the American way is wrong, or bound to end in tears. Put like that, this period of Achesonian creation can easily look likelier to be one of destruction, especially of the transatlantic alliance but also possibly of others.
Yankee go home—but take me with you
Yet that is the wrong way to put it. A break-up must be a theoretical possibility, but it is extremely unlikely in practice. The bold heading at the top of this paragraph puts the prevailing view of America rather better. It was the title of a monograph written a couple of years ago by an Indian politician, Jairam Ramesh, for the Asia Society in New York around the time of Bill Clinton's visit to India.
Beyond the specific circumstances of the subcontinent, Mr Ramesh's argument captured well a wider sentiment. India, like many countries in Europe, Africa and Latin America as well as Asia, often wants to rebuff or keep at bay American pressure or influence. Yet at the same time Indians dearly want to be part of America's world and of the modernity and prosperity that it both brings and represents. Outsiders are often ambivalent about America, and especially about particular American policies. But these days the ambivalence is mostly warm and sympathetic, not a hotbed of hostility.
Far from a world fracturing away from the powerful United States, the reality is that the world has been moving closer to it, and to its values and ways. The clamour of Indians, Chinese, Guatemalans and millions more to go to America to work or to be educated is not merely a mercenary reaction to its wealth. It is a reaction to the blend of opportunity, knowledge and freedom that America provides, and that nowhere else comes close to matching.
That clamour is also a reflection of the fact that most of the world's big, populous countries—India, China and Russia, most notably—have been trying for the past decade or more to open up their economies to match more closely the sort of economic freedoms that have made American capitalism, and American society, so successful. They are not trying to reproduce America exactly, and they never will. But they have been, and are still, moving towards its way of doing things rather than away from it.
This could change. But it would take an extraordinary shock to make that happen. America, in its current bout of military activism and diplomatic engagement overseas, is certainly capable of errors as well as hubris. Its policies on trade are especially short-sighted and could slow the future progress of the very globalisation that it has long favoured. But nothing it seems to be envisaging now looks capable of causing a shock of the sort necessary to turn the world's back upon it.
The only possible candidate could be the venture causing the most neuralgia in Europe, namely the invasion of Iraq. To do so, though, that attack would have to turn into an astonishing, Vietnam-like morass, probably with other Arab countries joining in the conflict. And when pondering that unlikely outcome, it is worth remembering that even the Vietnam war itself did not cause a wholesale turning against America. In those days, the cold war made solidarity with the United States more imperative, perhaps, but these days there are many more countries that are broadly sympathetic to America than there were in the 1960s.
They have new democracies or want them; they have capitalism, they want prosperity, they want freedoms. America is not the only country that epitomises such things, but it is for now their ultimate expression. It is also, for now, the only country willing and able to provide leadership to others in all its dimensions—technological, economic, financial, diplomatic as well as military.
In the end, what is historically unique about American leadership is not its power but its ultimately self-denying purpose: the more that America succeeds in spreading its interests and values—in politics, security or commerce—the less relative power it will command. That is what happened to Western Europe and Japan after 1945; they narrowed the gap, especially in economics, between themselves and America, thanks to its help and values. In future, the more trade, the more investment, the more security, the more democracy the world has, the likelier it will be that an open, democratic China (or even India) will one day match American power. That day is many decades away. But as long as America leads the world and sheds its reluctance to act as sheriff, it will edge closer. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20207 | CAN people build machines capable of evolving into something better—able, perhaps, to invent solutions beyond human imagination? Using brute-force methods of calculation, computers can nowadays play a passable game of chess. In 1997, an IBM supercomputer called Deep Blue defeated Garry Kasparov. The world champion described the experience as being every bit as gruelling as playing a top-notch human challenger. In so doing, Deep Blue satisfied at least one of the criteria for artificial intelligence set in the 1950s by Alan Turing, the mathematical genius behind the Enigma code-breaking effort in wartime Britain.
Yet Deep Blue's victory left the world's artificial-intelligence community unimpressed. That was because the machine performed its feat merely by crunching numbers faster than any other computer had managed before. Its enormous processing power enabled it to predict a game's possible course up to 30 moves ahead, while its clever programming allowed it to work out which of the millions of possible moves would strengthen its position best. On its own, all that Deep Blue could do—and do brilliantly—was the mathematics. What it could not do was devise its own strategies for playing a game of chess.
Self improvement
But what if Deep Blue could have been given the ability to evolve and learn to improve itself using its trial-and-error experiences? A new technology called “evolvable hardware” (EHW) attempts to do just that. Like Deep Blue, EHW seeks solutions through trying billions of different possibilities. The difference is that, unlike Deep Blue, EHW continually crops and refines its search algorithm—the sequence of logical steps it takes to find a solution. It selects the best each time and tries that. And it does all this on its own accord, not according to some programmed set of instructions.
“Evolvable hardware can exploit the physics of materials in ways researchers do not even understand.”
Conventional wisdom has long held that a machine's abilities are limited by the imagination of its creators. But over the past few years, the pioneers of EHW have succeeded in building devices that can tune themselves autonomously to perform better. In some cases, the mechanical progeny appear to outstrip even their creators' abilities. In the field of circuit design, for instance, EHW is coming up with creative solutions to problems that have defied human beings for decades.
The first thing EHW needs is for the hardware in question to be reconfigurable. There is no way that a device can evolve if it cannot change its shape or way of doing things. Take a Swiss Army knife. Given the task of, say, opening a bottle, the user identifies the correct tool in the knife, opens it, and thereby transforms the device into an implement that can pry off a bottle cap.
In this case, the actual customisation is crude: no matter what the size and shape of the bottle cap, the shape of the bottle-opener does not alter. For a Swiss Army knife, the “program” (the decision about which implement to use) can be adapted, but the “hardware” (the bottle-opener) cannot. What EHW engineers are trying to do is invent a knife that can customise its shape to any bottle cap—and perform this adaptation on its own recognisance.
The trick with evolvable hardware lies in creating a device that knows how to make the correct structural adaptation at the correct time. To search out the best-suited design, engineers make use of a programming tool called a “genetic algorithm”—a software technique that deploys trial-and-error learning to mimic the process of natural selection that powers evolution in the living world.
The first step that a genetic algorithm takes is to generate a set of random blueprints which are used, one by one, to configure the device. After each reconfiguration, the device is tested to see how well (or otherwise) it carries out the desired task. The highest-scoring designs are retained as guidelines (“parents”) for a new generation of designs. These “offspring” designs are created by swapping portions of the parents' blueprints with one another, or by making some random changes. This marginally improved population of designs then undergoes further testing, and the cycle then repeats itself until the device achieves an optimal level of performance.
The target could be determined right at the beginning of the device's operation or it could be adjusted continually. Either way, the device alters its structure to perform the task at hand in the best way possible. In the case of the Swiss Army knife, it would work out what shape to morph into on its own and leave its “processor” (the user's brain) free to address other matters.
Today, it is possible to contain the entire genetic algorithm—blueprint creation, fitness evaluation and reconfiguration—within a single microchip, and to run thousands of evolutionary trials in a fraction of a second. Although they were invented some 30 years ago, genetic algorithms have hitherto been run generally in software, where they placed a large and often prohibitive burden on the processor's time. EHW avoids this problem by running its genetic algorithms in hardware.
That is the crucial difference. In any digital device, wiring instructions into the actual hardware, rather than running them as part of the software, invariably boosts the speed of operation. In EHW, the speed advantage is so significant that the genetic algorithm for problems that could not have been solved in software can be cracked in real time—ie, with the solutions being produced as fast as the problems are fed in. This speed and flexibility makes EHW ideal for handling situations that vary rapidly.
Designers, resign
The most notable application of EHW so far is in the design of analogue circuits. While digital devices have become ubiquitous, they still have to communicate with the real world—and the real world remains stubbornly analogue. The fact is that people do not talk, hear, see, touch and taste in the ones and zeros of digital computerspeak. Analogue circuits are needed to measure or produce the wave-like signals of light, sound or temperature. Other analogue circuits known as A-D and D-A converters are needed to translate these continuous wave-like signals to and from the discrete language used by digital devices. Analogue circuitry is thus an essential part of the sensors, receivers and display units that play such a vital role in the modern wireless world.
It is no surprise that, with so much emphasis on digital circuitry these days, the design of analogue devices is becoming a serious problem. First, coming up with an efficient analogue circuit has as much to do with instinct as with physics. John Koza of Stanford University in California claims that analogue-circuit design is the domain of engineers “off in a room wearing purple hats with gold stars.” Second, engineers with the necessary skills are in short supply. Texas Instruments, for instance, needs to recruit 500 analogue engineers a year—more than the number that graduate from all the universities in America.
A third problem is that even when a good circuit architecture is conceived, a large proportion of the devices fabricated turn out to be defective. In order to make a complicated job manageable, designers of analogue devices tend to assume that the components used in their circuits work in a uniform and predictable manner.
In the real world, however, environmental factors such as temperature and humidity can cause the electrical properties of a micro-circuit's resistors and capacitors to vary by as much as 20%. Such discrepancies matter far less in digital circuits, which simply have to detect whether an electrical current is more or less on or off. But such variations in analogue circuits can render them unusable. For instance, a cellular telephone will not work properly if its analogue filter allows the transmission frequency to vary by more than 1%. Until now, designers of analogue chips have tried to circumvent the problem by using larger components whose physical properties are more easily measured and controlled. Unfortunately, that leads to bulkier circuits that gobble power.
Tetsuya Higuchi and his colleagues at the Electro-Technical Laboratory in Japan have solved the stability problem by using EHW to accommodate the natural variations that occur between the components. His team use genetic algorithms to tweak the irregular analogue circuit components until they conform to the design specification. By testing the performance of each chip, the algorithm evolves an architecture that can adjust automatically for all the variations in its resistors and capacitors. The group has found that 95% of analogue chips can eventually be coaxed into acceptable performance. That is a higher yield than most digital chip plants achieve. Dr Higuchi expects the first cellular telephones exploiting evolutionary hardware to be on the market by next September. Output of such EHW chips will then be running at hundreds of thousands per month.
Machines that invent
But it is the work done by Dr Koza at Stanford that gives a real glimpse of the future. By running genetic algorithms on analogue circuits that have been simulated in a computer, Dr Koza's machines have already produced seven circuit designs that he calls “human-competitive” because they infringe on patents previously issued to human inventors. Currently, each circuit design costs around $10,000 to simulate, which means that it is still cheaper to do the job manually. But as Dr Koza points out, processing power is becoming less expensive all the time, while human designers are becoming scarcer to find and costlier to keep. Dr Koza is optimistic that, given time, a design for a wholly novel and commercially viable circuit will emerge from his “invention machine”.
While Dr Koza's simulated circuits are recognisable variations on human inventions, Adrian Thompson of Sussex University in Britain has evolved a circuit that is literally incomprehensible. Four years ago, Dr Thompson performed a seminal “proof of principle” experiment which described the evolution in hardware of a simple analogue circuit that could discriminate between two different audio tones.
The type of chip that Dr Thompson selected to carry out the evolution was a field-programmable gate array (FPGA). Unlike an ordinary chip, an FPGA's architecture is not “hardwired”. Instead of being fixed, a string of bits specifies the chip's design by telling it what linkages to forge between its various components (in this case, groups of transistors known as logic cells). By changing this bit string, the FPGA's circuitry can be altered on the fly. Thus, when a genetic algorithm runs on the chip, the effectiveness of each configuration can be measured directly on the circuit rather than in some costly simulation.
As it turned out, conducting the evolution in hardware produced some results that could not have emerged through mere simulation. After around 4,000 generations of bit strings, a unique circuit emerged. The surprising thing was that, while the new circuit relied directly on only a few of the FPGA's logic cells, it appeared somehow to take advantage of clusters of other cells nearby. These unconnected neighbouring cells could not be removed without damaging the circuit's performance. Further investigations revealed that these detached cells exerted some subtle electromagnetic influence on the wired-up part of the circuit, allowing it to perform its task efficiently.
Remarkably, the circuit had adapted itself in a way that allowed it to exploit the underlying physics of the FPGA's semiconductor material. And it had done this despite the fact that the human experimenters were completely unaware of the physical quirks in the semiconductor that the genetic algorithm was taking advantage of. Four years on, this bizarre circuit has still not been completely deciphered. What has become clear, however, is that EHW's ability to adapt automatically means that it can exploit the physics of materials in ways that researchers do not even consider, let alone understand.
Beyond the realm of analogue and digital electronics lie all manner of unconventional physical systems—including the microscopic world of nanotechnology and quantum dots—where there are no well-developed design rules. By testing layouts that would never occur to humans, EHW can capitalise on the physical properties of these unconventional materials—even when engineers cannot fully account for their behaviour.
It may seem ironic that the direction being taken with evolvable hardware speaks so eloquently of the ignorance of the human architect. But, then, the use of evolution in design is really an admission that researchers have not as yet found anything better. Over the next few years, evolutionary machines could show humans the way. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20215 | What's missing from each of these problems? An operation sign in the parentheses! Your child will use her pre-algebra skills and knowledge of arithmetic to calculate the missing operation: addition, subtraction, multiplication, or division. She'll problem solve and practice process of elimination to make each equation true.
Check out Find the Missing Operation #1 for a similar printable! |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20221 | Wardrobe Challenge: Fabiola Beracasa
Day 4
Where: I'm braving the elements to attend a friend's engagement party tonight.
What: Vintage Oscar de la Renta dress from Frock, Proenza Schouler shoes
Why: A formal velvet full-length dress warrants fuchsia pumps to kick it up a decade (or two)!
February 17, 2011
This Is A Developing Story
Don't Miss |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20223 | Street dates are invariably broken somehow, somewhere even when it comes to the biggest products and companies, and Microsoft is certainly no exception, with it now able to chalk up at least one sold copy on the Windows 7 charts thanks to an exceptionally eager college bookstore. While it didn't come in an actual retail box, this does indeed appear to be a legitimate education copy of the OS and, according to our tipster, it has been successfully activated. A little earlier than the usual slip-up to be sure, but we have a sneaking suspicion this won't be the last copy that drops before the big October 22nd date. Feel free to let us know in comments if you happen to come across one.
Windows 7 sold early at college bookstore, order somehow maintained |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20284 | Meta Question
jonsblond's avatar
What question would you ask again, if given the chance?
Asked by jonsblond (36865 points ) December 17th, 2009
Have you asked Fluther a question, maybe on a slow night, that didn’t get many responses and you wish that more people could have answered?
Have you been itching to ask a question that you asked before, because you’d like some input from the new neighbors?
Wouldn’t it be nice if you could ask it again?
Links would be great. Let’s get some old questions going again.
Observing members: 0 Composing members: 0
14 Answers
Symbeline's avatar
Corny, but I’d ask someone for forgiveness. They probably wouldn’t though. ^^
grntwlkr's avatar
What question would you ask again, if given the chance?
SeventhSense's avatar
I just want to know how to ask the question I need to ask but can’t seem to express.
AstroChuck's avatar
How does a limbless person get their identification taken?
I asked this a good while ago and never really got a definitive answer.
drdoombot's avatar
I’ve been planning on simply re-asking a couple of my old questions. I didn’t realize it was prohibited.
I’m gonna try it at some point, when I’m not feeling lazy.
AstroChuck's avatar
@drdoombot- Well? What are they?
wundayatta's avatar
@jonsblond I’d ask you to marry me, instead of that fellow you ended up with, together with his toe jam! ;-)
It’s a joke! It’s a joke. Put down that pitchfork now, @blondesjon. You might hurt yoruself.
YARNLADY's avatar
I am asking about the specific episode “Monk is the Best Man”. There are several other actors listed for other episodes, but not this one.
Jeruba's avatar
I don’t think it is prohibited. We get lots and lots of repeat questions, sometimes only days or even hours apart. Who’s to say that all repeat questions must come from unique askers? We don’t have a rule like that.
If someone went to the trouble of checking to see whether one of mine were something that I had actually asked before, I would probably give that person a great big >> SMOOCH << for being so adorably compulsive.
CMaz's avatar
What’s so special about salt and pepper?
Naked_Homer's avatar
@ChazMaz – they were the first real female rap group to be taken seriously.
Blondesjon's avatar
Would you all please help me in achieving my first orphan?
It lasted 22 minutes and then somebody went and answered the fucking thing.
YARNLADY's avatar
How about this one?
@Jeruba I like it better when all the answer to any one question are in one place, which doesn’t happen when the same question appears multiple times.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20327 | What is testosterone?
Updated: 4/11/2007 5:47 pm
Testosterone (tess-TOSS-tuh-roan), the primary male hormone, is produced in the testes (TESS-teez), and governs many functions throughout your body. It's necessary for sex drive in both males and females, though women have much smaller amounts. In men, testosterone is responsible for normal development of sex organs, the production of sperm, and male characteristics like facial hair and a deep voice. Testosterone also affects bone and muscle growth, the prostate, and your central nervous system. Levels tend to peak early in the morning, and fall to their lowest point in late evening. As you age, testosterone production gradually declines. By age 60, some men's levels become so low as to cause fatigue, lack of sex drive, and the inability to get or maintain an erection. Irritability, decreased muscle mass, reduction in facial hair, and increased breast size are other possible symptoms. Some younger men may also experience an abnormal drop in testosterone, a condition known as hypogonadism (hy-poe-GOE-nad-izm). In either case, hormone replacement therapy may be needed. The most recent method of supplementing testosterone levels is with a one-dose patch or topical cream. For more information on testosterone, consult a healthcare professional.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20381 | No recent wiki edits to this page.
In Dark Souls, Ariamis is a cold, snowy world that exists within a painting. It is the home of Priscilla, the dragon-human cross-breed. As a strange hybrid she had no place in the real world, and after clutching her Peculiar Doll for comfort she was somehow drawn into a painting. Ariamis can only be entered by player characters who possess the doll.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20391 | GM Truck Club
2004 Chevy Silverado 5.3 Z71
1500 ECSB
5.3 V8
6" NTD lift + Leveling kit and AAL's
35x12.5x17 BFG MT
17x9 American Outlaw Shotgun
Range Rover Front Clip Conversion, N-fab RSP Replacement front bumber, N-fab Cab Length Step bars, Black Euro Tail lights, K&N Air & Oil Filters, Throttle Body Spacer, Diablosport Predator Tuner, Performance Cat-Back Dual Exhaust System, HD tie-rod Sleeves, Steering Stabilizer, AVS BugFlector II, Sony CD player, 1200 watt Sony Xplod Amplifier, 2 12" AudioBahn's, Cobra 29 CB radio, dual 48" CB antenna's, WOLO Bad Boy Air Horn, Bully rear hitch lights, Pro-Net Prorunner Tailgate net
Next: Fiberwerx 1 Piece Conversion and Trophy Truck Bedsides, Cab Visor, Roll Bar, Roof Rack, winch, 6" KC daylighters, 4.88 gears, Camper-style Tow Mirrors
1. skid plate
2. side view
3. rear view
4. interior, next to the passenger side airbag shutoff is where I mounted the button for my 138 Db Air Horn!
5. ground view
6. ass end
7. my truck front view
8. my truck 2
9. my rims and tires
10. my truck
Showing photos 1 to 10 of 10 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20392 | GM Truck Club
Jimmeh's 2005 Silverado 1500 4X4
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Just a few shots of what my truck was to what it is now.
1. My custom center console that I built. Once again, I'll probably build another one, as this is the second version and while I like it, I want...
2. New pin stripes and less chrome trim. The rest will be coming off soon.
3. Removing the chrome trim.
4. How the truck sits as of April 30th, 2011.
5. Repainted the grille.
6. New headache rack!
7. Leveled, first buff, and about the 10th wax job, lol.
8. New wheels.
9. First paint job on the grille and mirrors.
10. First set of wheels and tires.
11. How I bought it!
Showing photos 19 to 29 of 29
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20395 | GM Truck Club
Results 1 to 2 of 2
1. #1
Default '99 CK Fuel Pump / Filter problem...
105 actual miles, babied 1999 5.7 4WD. 1500 hlf-ton.
Coming home the other day after operating perfectly; engine just died and wouldn't restart.
When I engage the switch, I still hear the pump buzzing.
Blocked filter?
Could the pump be defective and still making noises as though operating?
Something else entirely?
Thanks in advance,
2. #2
Maybe to all three questions.
Standard test for a blocked filter or defective pump at this point would be to test the fuel pressure. If the pressure is normal (~60 psi) and stays normal while trying to start, then a blocked filter/defective pump is not indicated.
My '98 did something very similar once. Turns out the wires going to the CKP had come out of their harness, laid across the exhaust manifold and burnt through. Diagnosis of this condition started by pulling codes from the computer, which showed a CKP/ICM code. If the fuel pressure test seems to pass, the next thing I'd do would be to pull codes from the computer and see if there are any clues there.
'98 K1500 Suburban LS 5.7 L 4L60E NV246 ARB
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20406 | How To Prevent Wrinkles: What Really Works
By Melanie Rud
neutrogena rapid wrinkle repair Back Next
Marko Metzinger/Studio D
Q. When is the best time of year to start using a retinoid?
A. Spring or summer. This gold standard wrinkle reducer is often irritating, an effect that can be exacerbated by dry air and cold temperatures. Your skin is better able to tolerate the powerful ingredient in moister, warmer weather, but keep in mind that retinoids increase sun sensitivity, so slather on a lotion with SPF every day. "If you find that your skin gets red or flaky when the mercury drops, try decreasing your retinoid use to every other day, or layering a retinoid under a plain moisturizer," advises Heidi Waldorf, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City. One retinol product to try: Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair Night Moisturizer ($21, drugstores).
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More Ways to Look Your Best |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20408 | Leap Motion – The Future of Computer Interaction
by Rachel Rothman
I recently met with the founders of startup company Leap Motion and was pretty wowed by their demonstration of their product, the Leap, which allows you to control an electronics display in 3D, using your natural gestures and movements. It works like the gaming system Kinect, in which you control the actions on screen using motions. However, since the Leap was built from the ground up with wider applications in mind (not just gaming on a big screen), the gesturing is much more accurate. After seeing the preview, I can honestly say that the Leap's founders' description of their product as "more accurate than a mouse, as reliable as a keyboard and more sensitive than a touchscreen" is spot-on.
The Leap was born out of the frustration of the inventor, David Holz, with 3D modeling. While he could quickly draw a 3D sketch on paper, it took him exponentially more time to translate what was on paper into the computer. Of course, the processing capabilities of a computer allowed him to manipulate the model and do much more than he could with pen and paper. So Holz set out to harness the power and capabilities of a computer, but create an easier, more natural way to interact with it. And so the Leap was born.
The Leap will be about the size of an iPod, and plug in to your computer's USB port. It'll create a 3D interaction bubble about 8 cubic feet in size on your display. Within this space you'll be able to interact and control software on any display that's touch enabled. The Leap is so precise, that not only will it recognize your hand swiping across the screen; it will create a precise digital replication of your hand (check out the video below to see what I mean!).
While the incarnation of the Leap that I saw was about 2" by 1", the founders explained to me that its sensors and technology could be implanted into a much smaller device. They chose the form they did because they could make a stylish product that wasn't so small that it would be easy to lose. However in the near future, it could easily be built into laptops or even smart phones. And while they couldn't get into any specifics, they did share that they're working swiftly and closely with electronics manufacturers. In the meantime, for only $70 it's not only a worthy add-on product, but in my opinion, a steal. It won't be available until around February 2013, but you can pre-order it now on the company website.
The applications for this product are really endless. Imagine being able to play video games, browse on your computer, and place a call your mobile phone without a mouse and/or a keyboard, just by using your natural gestures. Soon Carolyn Forté, Director of the Home Appliance & Cleaning Products department won't have to give you tips on how to clean your electronics as you won't be getting sticky fingerprints all over them!
Intrigued? Check out the video of the demo co-founders David Holz and Michael Buckwald performed for us at GHRI! |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20432 | Questions? (877) 643-7244
FutureNow Post
Monday, Apr. 16, 2007 at 7:40 am
Google Can Afford A Clue; Instead They Want Informers?
By Jeffrey Eisenberg
April 16th, 2007
Matt Cutts’ comments on how to report paid links raised a stink. It seems that paid links are undetectable by Google. The transactions take place by email or completely offline so, if it’s done well, Google wouldn’t know.
It seems Google wants to recruit the public to report on link buying. Good paid links aren’t obviously paid. So, Google will be divining whether or not those links are paid and then penalizing your site. Might some nasty competitor buy a textlink ad or, for that matter, a Yahoo! directory listing and then rat you out?
Here’s a summary of some of the questions and comments being raised:
Small Business SEM says: “Buying links is a form of advertising, and no search engine can decide when and where you should advertise. For me, the main takeaway from all this is that Google is admitting it has no clue how to identify paid links from non-paid links. ”
Scobleizer says: “The real message? They will swat down anyone who really does a good job of selling advertising into Google’s page rank system. PayPerPost is just the most public example of someone selling access to Google’s search engine’s result set but there are others and Matt’s series of posts makes it clear he’s looking to track others.”
Sugarrae says: “My general opinions on paid links aren’t important and neither are yours. This isn’t about whether or not paid links should or shouldn’t have value. What matters is that Google is going to decide whether you’re good or evil based on a guess they know full well has a coin flip toss chance of being accurate in the case of paid links done well. What is important is that Google stands up and admits their own weakness and finds another solution to their issue that doesn’t involve penalizing me or you, based on their “best guess” to a problem they themselves created when they based their entire algorithm on links.”
SEOCLASS offers a broad round up of comments in the blogosphere here: Google Wants To Tell You How To Run Your Website
Obviously, there are a lot of opinions on this. Few of them are full of love for Google. What do you think?
P.S. Do you think this might be hurting the Do No Evil brand?
Add Your Comments
Comments (6)
1. I don’t buy links or sell links on my websites, but I have a few problems with this:
1) Competitors can EASILY manipulate this system.
2) This is a Google double standard. How can Google penalize sites that sell paid links while at the same time encouraging them to place AdSense on their websites? Does Google want to be the only company that benefits from a popular website’s link love?
2. Julie, You make good points. These are the questions others are asking.
3. In one of my enthusiastic but brief flashes of participation in the SEO world, at an SES 4+ years ago, I stood up and asked the Google panelist how they could make a distinction between “just links” and links that were covertly paid for. (To me, that spelled a big hole in the premise that PageRank measured pure reputation.)
The Googler didn’t respond to my question, but did give me a speech about “what I need to do is to focus on x, y, and z for my site,” even though I really was raising it as a fundamental issue of concern, nothing to do with “my site.”
It was then that I learned that large search companies are prone to dodging fundamental issues of concern when it comes to organic spam tactics. Here we are in 2007 – 2007, Jeff! – and Google still seems to have this gaping hole in its algo.
4. I’d have thought if the system relies heavily on links then you’re going to need a LOT of links to make a real difference – and it would be cheaper to buy an adwords advert?
Of course advertising with adwords is a black art in itself and not cost effective for many sites, mine included.
5. [...] Google Can Afford A Clue; Instead They Want Informers? … form of advertising, and no … I don’t buy links or sell links on my websites, but … Google penalize sites that sell paid links while at the same time encouraging them to place AdSense on their websites [...]
6. Why would you ever report a good place to buy links? Getting back links is 80% of today’s seo game.
Thanks you Jeffery for all your hard work.
We look froward to having you on Webmaster Radio again
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20450 | Skip to Content
NASA Live-Stream event held Nov. 14
NASA logo
About the Lecture
The lecture "Reaching for the Stars: Space Exploration and Humanity's Quest to Understand Everything" by Dr. Dave Leisawitz explores how U.S. space science endeavors have practical and sometimes hidden benefits, and can be inspiring, but fundamentally they are a manifestation of human nature, and something in which we can all take pride.
Using NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer mission as an example, I'd like to bring a space mission "down to Earth." My goals are to demystify the machines that help us answer some of the deepest questions we've thought to ask, to share the joy of scientific discovery, and to shed a bit of light on the path that lies ahead.
About Dr. Leisawitz
Dr. Leisawitz received a PhD in astrophysics from the University of Texas at Austin, with Dr. Frank Bash as advisor, and then moved to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center as a National Research Council postdoc to analyze data from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) with Dr. Michael Hauser. Along the way, he became COBE Deputy Project Scientist and adopted Dr. John Mather as a mentor. Working with John and others, including Dr. Ned Wright, Dave developed concepts for far-infrared interferometers. He is Principal Investigator for the Wide-field Imaging Interferometry Testbed, and served as PI for a study of the Space Infrared Interferometric Telescope (SPIRIT) mission concept and as Goddard study lead for the Submillimeter Probe of the Evolution of Cosmic Structure (SPECS). In 2006, he became Chief of the Science Proposal Support Office at Goddard. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20463 | [Haskell-cafe] Collections
Thomas Conway drtomc at gmail.com
Wed Jun 20 18:38:36 EDT 2007
On 6/21/07, Andrew Coppin <andrewcoppin at btinternet.com> wrote:
> Lennart Augustsson wrote:
> like it in any other language.
Is it that special? How is it different to the C++ STL std::pair
template type? I must be missing something.
Dr Thomas Conway
drtomc at gmail.com
Silence is the perfectest herald of joy:
More information about the Haskell-Cafe mailing list |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20469 | base- Basic libraries
Safe HaskellTrustworthy
Handle operations implemented by file descriptors (FDs)
stdin :: HandleSource
A handle managing input from the Haskell program's standard input channel.
stdout :: HandleSource
A handle managing output to the Haskell program's standard output channel.
stderr :: HandleSource
A handle managing output to the Haskell program's standard error channel.
openFile :: FilePath -> IOMode -> IO HandleSource
Computation openFile file mode allocates and returns a new, open handle to manage the file file. It manages input if mode is ReadMode, output if mode is WriteMode or AppendMode, and both input and output if mode is ReadWriteMode.
If the file does not exist and it is opened for output, it should be created as a new file. If mode is WriteMode and the file already exists, then it should be truncated to zero length. Some operating systems delete empty files, so there is no guarantee that the file will exist following an openFile with mode WriteMode unless it is subsequently written to successfully. The handle is positioned at the end of the file if mode is AppendMode, and otherwise at the beginning (in which case its internal position is 0). The initial buffer mode is implementation-dependent.
This operation may fail with:
• isAlreadyInUseError if the file is already open and cannot be reopened;
• isDoesNotExistError if the file does not exist; or
• isPermissionError if the user does not have permission to open the file.
Note: if you will be working with files containing binary data, you'll want to be using openBinaryFile.
openBinaryFile :: FilePath -> IOMode -> IO HandleSource
Like openFile, but open the file in binary mode. On Windows, reading a file in text mode (which is the default) will translate CRLF to LF, and writing will translate LF to CRLF. This is usually what you want with text files. With binary files this is undesirable; also, as usual under Microsoft operating systems, text mode treats control-Z as EOF. Binary mode turns off all special treatment of end-of-line and end-of-file characters. (See also hSetBinaryMode.)
openFileBlocking :: FilePath -> IOMode -> IO HandleSource
Like openFile, but opens the file in ordinary blocking mode. This can be useful for opening a FIFO for reading: if we open in non-blocking mode then the open will fail if there are no writers, whereas a blocking open will block until a writer appears.
fdToHandle :: FD -> IO HandleSource
Turn an existing file descriptor into a Handle. This is used by various external libraries to make Handles.
Makes a binary Handle. This is for historical reasons; it should probably be a text Handle with the default encoding and newline translation instead.
fdToHandle' :: CInt -> Maybe IODeviceType -> Bool -> FilePath -> IOMode -> Bool -> IO HandleSource
Old API kept to avoid breaking clients
isEOF :: IO BoolSource
The computation isEOF is identical to hIsEOF, except that it works only on stdin. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20539 | Spiced Tuna Slices with Endive and Avocado Salad Recipe
Preparation Time5 MinCooking Time5 Min
Ready In10 MinDifficulty LevelEasy
Health IndexHealthyServings6
MethodMain Ingredient
Interest Group
Sushi grade tuna steak1 1⁄2 Pound, cut crosswise into 12 thick slices
Fresh lime juice3 Tablespoon
Chili powder1 1⁄2 Teaspoon
Salt1⁄2 Teaspoon
Freshly ground black pepper1⁄2 Teaspoon
Grated lime peel1⁄2 Teaspoon
Extra virgin olive oil2 Teaspoon
Belgian endive head2 , cut on an angle into thin slices
Arugula/Spinach2 Cup (32 tbs)
Radicchio head1⁄2 , cored and coarsely shredded
Red onion1⁄2 Small, thinly sliced to make 1/3 cup
Fresh cilantro leaves1⁄4 Cup (4 tbs)
Avocado1⁄2 Medium, peeled and cut into thin slices
Preheat the broiler.
Coat a baking pan with olive-oil cooking spray.
Place the tuna on a cutting board.
Sprinkle with 1 tablespoon of the lime juice.
In a cup, combine the chili powder and 1/4 teaspoon each of the salt and pepper.
Sprinkle over the tuna and place in a single layer in the prepared pan.
Set aside while making the salad.
In a large bowl, combine the lime peel, oil, the remaining 2 tablespoons lime juice, and the remaining 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
Add the endive, arugula or spinach, radicchio, onion, and cilantro.
Do not toss.
Broil the tuna 3" to 4" from the heat for 1 to 3 minutes, without turning, or until the fish is medium-rare.
Remove from the heat.
Toss the salad gently and spoon onto plates.
Top each with some of the tuna and the avocado. |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20544 | The 6th Day
Release Date: November 17, 2000
About This Movie
• Synopsis
• Movie Releases
Adam Gibson (Arnold Schwarzenegger), father, husband, pal, and pilot, is a little old fashioned. Which is funny you see, because it’s “the future.” Besides all the usual conveniences, like refrigerators that remind you to buy milk and virtual sex, the future also has cloning. Pet dies? Make a new one just like the old one. Need a new spleen? It can be done. They have the technology. There’s just one rule about cloning – no humans. Called The 6th Day law, this piece of legislation says that no human can ever be cloned, after a hinted-at disastrous testing cloning years before.
This is bad news for Adam when he’s accidentally cloned by megabucks powerbroker Drucker (Tony Goldwyn). Drucker has secretly had Dr. Graham Weir (Robert Duvall) perfect the cloning procedure for humans and is slowly working behind the political scenes to have The 6th Day law repealed. Having two Adams running around is obviously a little damning, so one of them has to go.
Release Date: Nov 17, 2000
Genre: Action
IGN Rating
out of 1 Ratings
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20570 | | Share
Praetorians (prētôrˈēənz) [key], bodyguard of the ancient Roman emperors. Growing out of an early troop that served as bodyguard to the general commanding in Rome, they were formally organized in the time of Augustus. The number of cohorts (from 500 to 1,000 men each) forming the guard varied, but in the days of the later empire it was 10. The Praetorians under a prefect attended the emperor wherever he went. They had special privileges and, in the period when the empire declined, held almost unchallenged authority. Constantine I disbanded them in 312.
More on Praetorians from Infoplease:
See more Encyclopedia articles on: Ancient History, Rome
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20589 | Berkshire Hathaway
Dictionary Says
Definition of 'Berkshire Hathaway'
A holding company for a multitude of businesses run by Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett. Berkshire Hathaway is headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska and began as just a group of textile milling plants, but when Buffett became the controlling shareholder in the mid 1960s he began a progressive strategy of diverting cash flows from the core business into other investments.
Insurance subsidiaries tend to represent the largest pieces of Berkshire Hathaway, but the company manages hundreds of diverse businesses all over the world.
Investopedia Says
Investopedia explains 'Berkshire Hathaway'
Because of Berkshire Hathaway's long history of operating success and keen stock market investments, the company has grown to be one of the largest in the world in terms of market capitalization. Berkshire stock trades on the New York Stock Exchange in two classes, A shares and B shares. The A shares are noted for their very high prices - in excess of $100,000 per share in 2007.
Early in his career Buffett came across the novel idea to use the "float" from his insurance subsidiaries to invest elsewhere, mainly into focused stock picks that would be held for the long term. Buffett has long eschewed a diversified stock portfolio in favor of a handful of trusted investments that would be overweighted in order to leverage the anticipated return. Over time, his investing prowess became so noted that Berkshire's annual shareholder meetings became a mecca for value investing proponents and the focus of intense media scrutiny.
Articles Of Interest
1. The Intelligent Investor: Benjamin Graham
2. Warren Buffett: How He Does It
3. Build A Baby Berkshire
4. David Sokol: Buffett's Former Right-Hand Man
Sokol contrasts sharply with Buffett's management style, but he can help Berkshire thrive once Buffett decides to move on.
5. Warren Buffett's Bear Market Maneuvers
6. Warren Buffett: The Road To Riches
7. Warren Buffett's Best Buys
8. Learn Simple And Compound Interest
9. Accelerating Returns With Continuous Compounding
10. A Study On The Wealth Effect And The Economy
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20593 | Movies: Hide Away
Hide Away
A successful businessman attempts to resurrect his life. Entering an idyllic harbor as a broken and haunted man, he buys and boards the dilapidated sailboat, Hesperus. Disturbed at night by unsettling dreams of his past, the boat becomes a beacon of hope as he begins the challenge of bringing back the shine to the tarnished vessel--and to his life. Rated PG-13 for a scene of sensuality, brief strong language and thematic material.
Cast: James Cromwell, Josh Lucas, Ayelet Zurer, Taylor Nichols, Jon Tenney
Produced by:
Directed by: Chris Eyre
Written by: Peter Vanderwall
Running time: 1hr 28min
Opens: May 25, 2012 Phoenix
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20642 |
Miniature Inertial Measurement Unit - IMU
Jump to: navigation, search
IMU sensors : 1 accelerometer MMA7260 from freescale (3 axis) coupled with 2 rate gyros ADIS16080 from analog device (1 axis each)
Implementation of a miniature Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) on a dsPIC microcontroller with Mathworks (tm) rapid prototyping tools coupled with the dsPIC blockset. Simulink is used to both simulate and generate the embedded software that is downloaded onboard the dsPIC microcontroller. This IMU estimates pitch and roll angles using two different types of Micro Electro Mechanical Systems (MEMS) sensors: rate gyro and accelerometers.
All files: simulink model, matlab script and data files (.mat) can be downloaded from the Download section at the bottom of this page.
The micro Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) It is an attitude indicator (ADI) or artificial horizon also called gyro horizon that estimates its attitude about both axis: pitch and roll. The electronics parts are:
The first part settle the inherent problem of angle estimation from inertial sensors using MEMS. Then, a first IMU based on a 5 DoF sensor board is presented. Its sensor board is described. Raw data measurement are recorded and different data fusing algorithms are compared with simulation based on the real data previously recorded. The implementation of the simulink model using a dsPIC is then described. I am using extensively the rapid prototyping tool described on this website (dsPIC blockset for Simulink) allowing generating the .hex code file for the microcontroller directly from the simulink model file (previously simulated) with a one push button procedure. Limitation of this 5DoF sensor board is explained and an IMU algorithm using a 6 DoF sensor board is presented and implemented
Problems of angles estimation from inertial sensors
Estimating angles from rate gyro
One rate gyro (ADIS 16080) with the simple material used for soldering. Thin wires come from a washing machine motor's coil.
A rate gyro measures its angular speed rate. Precision of theses MEMS sensors are usually good. Thus, integrating the value of the rate gyro over time provide a good estimation of the angular displacement. Provided the initial position of the system is known and the sensor has a zero mean noise, an integration will provides the angular orientation. The integration process also acts as a low pass filter and reduce the high frequency noise (despite the fact theses sensors has already low noise).
Unfortunately, the rate gyro sensor is not ideal. Integrating the rate gyro also integrate its DC value(bias) or its non zero mean noise. The integration of this error introduced a growing error on the estimated angle. As the gyro's DC value drifts slowly over time, it is not possible to cancel this bias by subtracting this DC offset value to the gyro output. Thus, Integration of a rate gyro results in an angular drift which is about 1° per minute (strongly depending on the rate gyro used!). It is necessary to use another sensor so as to recover the gyro bias and correcting for the angle error introduced by the integration process.
Estimating angles from accelerometers
Accelerometers measures both the acceleration and gravity induced forces (From Wikipedia definition). Accelerometers are usually quite noisy and needs to be filtered. In many situation, (induced force of) acceleration of a system could be considered as small compared to the gravity (induced force). If the system do not changes its velocity and orientation, (Hovering helicopters, plane in straight flight...), it is possible to extract the pitch and roll absolute angle using the measured gravity vector.
Let's consider:
Using the acceleration vector (i.e. gravity) measured with the accelerometers, we get the Equation and Equation angles :
Note than when the axis az and ay are in the horizontal plane, the result is undefined. But pitch or roll angle is not defined as well (eg: a plane which has its nose in the sky, perpendicular to the horizontal has its roll angle undefined). Calibration of the accelerometers gain is not necessary because a fraction is calculated within the trigonometric arctan function. The only point to care about is the gain and offset of all the three axes that must be equal.
However, the first weakness of the angle estimated from accelerometers is its sensibility to the acceleration of the system. In others words, the estimated angle is biased whenever the system accelerates (i.e. change its velocity or its direction). The second weakness is the noisy result that comes from the accelerometers sensors itself. This noise is even greater when the accelerometers sensor is placed onboard a vibrating vehicle (vibration from motors and propellers for plane and helicopters and vibration from displacement from wheeled vehicle). Low pass filtering may lower the noise from vibration but would correct the bias due to the system own acceleration. Adding to this, the low pass filter would add a phase (i.e. delay) that may be prejudicial in an Auto-Pilot feedback loop.
Merging estimation from accelerometers and rate gyro
Angle estimation from either a rate gyro alone or an accelerometer alone does not provide good results. However, the characteristics of these two types of sensors are complementary:
It is therefore possible to design a data fusion algorithm that merges the static reference angle computed from the accelerometers with the dynamic angle variation estimated from the rate gyro. If the system is regularly subject to high acceleration, the estimated angle should rely mostly on the rate gyro so as to remove the errors induced by the acceleration. Otherwise, the estimated angle could rely more on the accelerometers.
We have the following trade-off:
Thus, the fusion algorithm should take into account the dynamic characteristics of the system.
IMU based on a 5 DoF sensor board (2 rate gyro, 3 accelerometers)
Embedded Electronics
fig:IMU_SensorSchematic This IMU use three MEMS sensors : One Three axial analog accelerometer MMA7260QT and two one axis rate gyro ADIS16080 with SPI digital bus interface. The 3 axes accelerometer is powered by the 2.5V analog output reference generated by the 'Y axis' rate gyro component
The Embedded IMU Schematic is equipped with one three axis accelerometer MMA7260QT coupled with two one axis rate gyro ADIS16080 (see fig:IMU_SensorSchematic). This custom made board could be replaced by a commercial one like the SEN-00741 from Sparkfun called IMU 5 Degrees of Freedom.
The overall sensor board is supplied with a single stabilized 5V generated with a microchip MCP1252-33X50 component. The 2.5V alimentation required by the accelerometer chip is provided by the 2.5V voltage reference of one rate gyro. The low current required for the accelerometers does not disturb the rate gyro. Each rate gyro has two unused analog input. Thus, the two gyros have 4 analog input, 3 of which are used to convert the three analog values ax, ay, and az from the accelerometer. This sensor board transmits the 5 measurements (3 acceleration + 2 rate gyros) to the microcontroller through a digital SPI bus.
Log raw data from the 5 DoF sensor board
Data from the inertial sensors are logged with matlab. Theses real data feeds a simulink model allowing to develop/debug/compare different data fusion algorithm.
All sensor data are received through the SPI peripheral of the dsPIC. Data are received from the two gyros using the SPI Input/Output interrupt driven block. The code generated by this block is interrupt based. Thus, interruption that continuously occurs allows updating the 2 angular rates and the 3 acceleration measurement. At least, five interrupt must occurs within one model time step (1ms here) to get all values updated. Each block's output the last value received for the corresponding output through the SPI bus.
The dsPIC used (dsPIC 30f4012) run with a 10 Mhz quartz. This frequency allows using the UART at 115 200 bps which is the max baud rate available on most personal computers (Serial port's limitation).
Data are transmitted to the PC through the dsPIC UART peripheral. We have the constraints:
Two data logging methods are developed: The first logging method uses the Tx Output Multiplexed for Matlab-Labview block. It is the easiest method for viewing and recording variable evolution from a dsPIC. The second method uses the Tx Output block. This last method presented allows recording/viewing more data within one time-step. Both logging method use the graphical matlab interface developed: Interface Tx-Matlab
Using the UART Tx Output Multiplexed for Matlab-Labview block
IMU_dsPIC_30f4012_TestElectronics Simulink model: Once this model is compiled, the dsPIC (30f4012) transmit the values from the X, Y and Z axis of the accelerometer, and the Y and X axis of the rate gyro. Data are sent to Matlab (or labview) through the UART at 115200bps with the Tx Output Multiplexed for Matlab-Labview block. All data cannot be sent; there will be missing data thus this model is useful to check every component is working only.
The model IMU_LogData is compiled and the generated .hex file is loaded into the dsPIC (using the bootloader tinybld). The model sampling time is 1 Khz, corresponding to the time-step of 1ms. During 1ms, the UART can send 11,52 bytes when configured at 115200 bps (taking into account the start and stop bits). We log 5 int16 data that is a total of 10 bytes. The multiplexing protocol of the Tx Output Multiplexed for Matlab-Labview block]] adds one byte for each variable sent. Thus, the model should transmit 15 bytes through the UART at each time step. Because the simulink model try to send more than 11 bytes per time-step, some data will not be sent and will be lost. The Intelligent Spreading option will spread the data loss over all channels allowing to view all curves on the graph (If not checked, the two last channels may never be sent).
Because of the lost of some data, this method is easy and great for plotting data. It allows checking that all components are working. It is Not OK to use these data to feed a Simulink model! (You may interpolate the data but it is a bit tricky…)
The data that get out from the Tx Output Multiplexed for Matlab-Labview block are the sensor raw data. It is 16 bits data but only the 12 lower bits contains the measured value.
The dsPIC is connected to the PC COM port (using an equivalent to Max232 component for level translation) and data are logged using the graphical user interface. The following lines are typed at the maltab prompt to save data into a .mat file:
>> [R T] = padr(Rn,1,t_Rn); % remove NaN values
>> datas = [T R]';
>> save mydatafile datas;
padr is a command from the blockset. It allows removing the NaN from the Rn matrix. The resulting R matrix is transposed and time is added in its first line. The time T which is a modified copy of t_Rn is not accurate since it is estimated by the time at which values are received. We know that the data are sent at a 1Khz frequency so we can redefine the time of the AxelX_GyroY_AxelZ matrix before saving the file.
Keep in mind than missing data on columns [2 3 4 5] are stuffed with their previous non missing value. Missing data on column 1 suppressed the time step. In other word, datas are incomplete and should not feed a simulink simulation. If we decided to log 3 data only (2 accelerometers and 1 gyro), all data would be received (9 bytes sent each time step). However, another method described below allows logging all the 5 values at 1kHz without missing any data!
Using the UART Tx Output block
IMU_dsPIC_30f4012_LogData_Raw Simulink model: Once this model is compiled, the dsPIC (30f4012) transmit the raw values from the MEMs sensors. Data are sent to Matlab (or labview) through the UART at 115200bps with the Tx Output block. The UART buffer do not overflow with this mode, because 9 bytes are sent and the 115200bpd UART speed allow to send 11,52 bytes in one 1ms time-step. Thus all data are successfully transmitted to matlab. Logged data can feed a simulink simulation.
fig:RawData - Raw data from the sensor. On this experiment, the IMU box was rotated by 90 degrees with interval of about 5s. File Simulink_Dynamic_Calibration3.mat plotted using the script Caracterisation_Capteurs.m. Theses raw data are used to feed simulink simulation.
The UART at 115200 can transmit only 11,52 data within a 1ms time-step. Thus, the simulink model implemented on the dsPIC must transmit less than 12 data to have all data being sent. The method described is more complex but allow logging all 5 measurement without lost with a sampling rate of 1kHz.
5 values of 12 bits length must be sent. Each data is stored in a 2 data bytes length (16 bits) and the 5 values, thus 10 data byes are concatenated. One signature byte with the fixed 55 is sent first, before the 10 bytes frame and provides the synchronization reference. This signature is may also used to check that no data were lost (checking that 10 bytes are present between every 55 signature values).
From the matlab GUI interface >> rs232gui, data received are no more multiplexed with the Tx Output Multiplexed for Matlab-Labview block. The demultiplexing algorithm is switched off by pushing once the RAW button (bottom left of the graphical interface). The embedded script in the rs232gui interface should be cleared. The R vector contains the raw data stream received by the Serial port of the computer. Once the recording is finished, this R vector is saved (files Rawdatas*.mat). The script Extract_RawDatas.m load the saved R vector and extract the 5 values. The key part of the script is shown below.
R = reshape(R,11,n); % reshape : from vector to a matrix of 11 column
idxError = find(R(1,:) ~= 55) % Check data integrity
if ~isempty(idxError)
error('Data corrupted')
%% Reconstruct Raw data as received through the SPI bus
RawGyro_Y = R(2,:)*2^8 + R(3,:);
RawAccel_Y = R(4,:)*2^8 + R(5,:);
RawAccel_Z = R(6,:)*2^8 + R(7,:);
RawGyro_X = R(8,:)*2^8 + R(9,:);
RawAccel_X = R(10,:)*2^8 + R(11,:);
T = [0:.001:(length(RawGyro_Y)-1)*.001];
On the embedded simulink model, a mechanism allow to send data during a predefined time: The model embedded on the dsPIC send data only when the value variable60 is different from 0. This variable is changed through the UART using the same rs232gui graphical user interface with the send1 and send2 button. When receiving values [60 x], the embedded simulink model load the value x into the Simulink variable 'variable60'. The Simulink model decreases automatically this variable at a sampling rate of 1 second. This mechanism makes the user able to log data during a predefined time.
Data Analysis
fig:RawDataSpectre - Spectral Analysis of the Raw data from Simulink_Dynamic_Calibration3.mat. The IMU box was rotated by 90 degrees with interval of about 5s. The y-Gyro is perturbed by several high frequency peaks starting at 92Hz. This may due to a soldering problem. Theses high frequency peak have no influence on the angle estimation.
5 files corresponding to 5 different experiments are saved: 2 in static situation (IMU sensor board is keep static on the table) and 3 in dynamic situation while the IMU sensor board orientation is modified by a 90° rotation approximately every 5 seconds. The script Caracterisation_Capteurs.m plot the data previously saved for each different experiments.
The gain of the two rate gyro does not comply with the datasheet value. The datasheet give an angular speed rate of ±80°/s with a resolution of 0.039°/s. In practice, on the electronic sensor board, the Y rate gyro measures a range of ± 524°/s with a resolution of 0.26°/s. The X rate gyro can measure a range of ± 188°/s with a resolution of 0.09°/s.
the gain of the accelerometers is equal on all of the three axes and precise calibration is not necessary. A slight correction aligns the offset of each axis.
Figures RawData and RawDataSpectre show respectively the temporal and frequency analysis plot of the experiment stored in the Simulink_Dynamic_Calibration3.mat file.
This experiment is a dynamic one: with orientation changes. The temporal analysis shows that the rate gyro y axis contains more noise than the rate gyro x axis. This may be due to a soldering problem (It was very hard to sold all these parts with the very basic soldering material I have!), to a problem due to the ADIS16080 part itself or to the use of the y rate gyro ref voltage to power the accelerometer (that need a very low current). Anyway, the frequency analysis shows on the y rate gyro axis that this noise is mostly present within peaks frequency starting at 93Hz. As the gyro is integrated (integration act as a low pass filter) this high frequency noise has no influence on the angle estimation.
The frequency analysis also shows that the accelerometers are perturbed by the 50Hz component that probably comes from the European 50Hz general AC power. As the accelerometers is also low pass filtered, this high frequency noise has also no influence on the estimated angle.
Frequencies above 20Hz are considered as high frequency as the IMU is to be placed onboard a RC model airplane. The angular dynamic of theses aerial vehicle is far below 20Hz.
All files described can be downloaded (see bottom: Download section).
IMU Data fusion algorithms
IMU Simulation - Simulation of an IMU using real data. Several data fusion algorithms are compared including Complementary Filter and Non-adaptative Kalman Filter. The simulink model file IMU_Simulation.mdl can be Downloaded at the bottom of this page.
Simulation with real data
The model IMU_Simulation.mdl uses the logged data stored in .mat files. These data are used to design and simulate IMU algorithms. Using real data, the input of the simulation has the correct properties (noise, bias, nonlinearity...). The data stored are exactly the same data read at the output of sensors. Once the simulation provide correct results, the tuned algorithm is implemented as is (from simulink) directly in the microcontroller (PIC/dsPIC).
The raw data feeds the Sensor Calibration block. This block removes bias of rate gyro and accelerometers. Because we use the arctan function, the accelerometer axes do not need scaling. Only rate gyro measurements are scaled.
This Simulation compares Three angle estimation methods:
Complementary Filter
1st order
Complementary Filter for IMU angle estimation
A complementary filter combines the angle estimations from both the rate gyro and the accelerometers. High frequency part of the angle estimated from the rate gyro is added to the low frequency part of the angle estimated with the accelerometers. Thus, the low drift of the estimated angle from the gyro is filtered out and only the high frequency part of the rate gyro estimated angle is retained. The low (or DC) frequency part of the angle estimated rely on the accelerometers angle estimation.
Bode diagram of a 0.08Hz 1st order complementary filter. The blue curve is the low pass filter. The green curve is the high pass filter and the red curve is the addition of both filters. The red curve has a phase of 0° and a gain of 1.
The upper part of the complementary filter block estimates the Y axis angle computing the arctan of the X and Z accelerometers values. The lower part of the complementary filter blocks estimates the Y axis angle integrating the Y rate gyro. The dynamic of the gyro (low pass filter) is compensated for. The rate gyro is also high pass filtered to remove most of the DC part. The complementary filter, two first order filter (high pass and low pass) with cut off frequency at 0,08Hz. The final estimation of the angle is the addition of the resulting values from theses two filters.
This first order complementary filter gives fairly good results. However, the integrated rate gyro bias generates a ramp. The 1st order filter has a small steady state error while filtering the integrated rate gyro due to this ramp. An order 2 filter is however capable to remove this steady state error.
2nd order
We design a 2nd order complementary filter.
This 2nd order complementary filter compensates for the rate gyro bias with no steady state error.
Method described by Pisano 2005
This method is not developed here but is given for completeness (see simulink files). The results are very similar to the order 1 complementary filter with the drawback of the steady state error due to the rate gyro bias estimation.
State Space Approach
The state space structure tracks the rate gyro bias and estimate the angle by integrating the unbiased gyro.
The state space approach is equivalent to 2nd order complementary filter with the advantage of explicitly providing the estimated rate gyro bias and the unbiased angular rate of the system. The structure is a state space observer. The two states are the angle estimation and the gyro bias. The matlab function acker allows placing (through the gain K) the pole of the observer, defining the convergence of both the angle estimation and of the rate gyro bias. Defining a high speed convergence rate make the output more sensitive to the acceleration measurement, inducing noise from the accelerometers and sensitivity to the own acceleration of the unit that induce false angle estimation. A low convergence rate will make the bias estimation of the rate gyro very slow.
It is possible to set a different convergence rate for the two states. The gain K is static in this version. Using a variable gain K based on sensor noise measurement and system's own dynamic would result in the implementation of a Kalman Filter. However, added calculation are not worth because the characteristics of the system are fixed (Dynamic of the vehicle is fixe, and sensor noise is stationary). The gain obtained using a kalman filter does not justify its complexity.
Download : All Simulink and Matlab file used with data logged. (updated on 21 september 2008)
The demo version of the blockset could compile model with up to 6 I/O pins. The Simulink model presented could not be compiled as is with the demo version of the blockset because SPI bus uses 5 pins and UART uses 2 pins (total is 7 pins). Removing the UART blocks, makes possible compiling theses models. Adding for example one PWM output may give the possibility to get the result for one angle.
Models name containing 'Simulation' are simulation of algorithm based on real data logged from the electronics. Models name without 'Simulation' are model that are directly compiled to generate an .hex file that can be downloaded into the microcontroller (Works with the registered version of the dsPIC blockset).
List of files:
Implementation on a dsPIC
Complementary Filter Order 1
This model implements the complementary filter on the dsPIC and sends the result to matlab. It has the same behaviours as the simulated filter.
To design the filter for the dsPIC, the two precedent models are mixed up. The filter is inserted by copy-past into the first model used to log data. Data logged in real time from the complementary filter implemented on the dsPIC (30f4012 running at 10MHz). X axis: time in second. Y axis: angle multiplied by 100 (see model). The blue curve is the estimated angle from the X and Z accelerometers, resolving the gravity vector. The red curve is the estimated angle integrated from the Y rate gyro. The green curve is the angle estimated through the complementary filter that fusion the relevant information from both the Y axis rate gyro and the X and Z accelerometers.
The estimated angle using accelerometers (blue curve) is quite noisy. However, its steady value is correct. The estimated angle relying on the integration of the gyro is clean but drift (red curve). Note that the dsPIC has just been switch on and the High pass filter of the pseudo integrator of the gyro has not yet removed the remaining DC bias of the gyro. The DC bias of the Gyro has probably changed due to non constant temperature. Thus, the integrated angle drifts slowly from its real value. The green curves that use both data is clean and drift free. Its dynamics is as fast as the gyro dynamic. Note that at the beginning, the High pass filter (with a higher bandwidth than the gyro pseudo-integrator high pass filter) has not yet removed the gyro bias. However, at the end of the animation (11 seconds long: from 3, 5 to 14, 5), both curves (blue and green) are merging as in the simulation.
The IMU_ComplementaryFilter simulink model is a 'copy-past' mixture made of the IMU_LogData 'data management' part with the IMU_simu_RealData model tuned and optimize filter. This model implements the complementary filter on the dsPIC and sends the result to matlab. It will have the same behaviours of the simulated filter.
Fixed point
Fixed point version is working and can be downloaded in the .zip file at the bottom of the page.
IMU based on a 6 DoF sensor board (3 rate gyro, 3 accelerometers)
Limitations the IMU based on a 5DoF sensor board
The IMU based on the 5DoF sensor board have no rate gyro on the yaw axis. Thus, when the angular yaw rate is not null while the system is not horizontal, the pitch and roll angle of the system are modified despite the angular pitch and roll rate is 0! Thus, the pitch and roll angle estimation based on pitch and roll rate gyro is false, until the accelerometers information is taken into account and correct for the error (like a bias correction).
This problem is of particular concern when the IMU is used onboard a plane. When we decompose a plane change of flight direction:
Thus, the pitch rate which tends to make the plane climbing is compensated for by the yaw rate that compensates and maintains plane heading aligned with the horizon. The IMU based of a 5DoF sensor board does not take into account the yaw rate. For a change of flight direction, the IMU measure a growing pitch angle despite (the plane is climbing) despite the true horizontal maintained by the plane.
Adaptation of the 5DoF IMU algorithm for a 6 DoF IMU
Electronic board evolution
The electronic sensor board is base on the electronic board presented above except than one rate gyro was added for measuring the yaw axis.
The added rate gyro had an unexpected effect; il changes most of the gain of the others rate gyro. Thus, the calibration was done again starting from scratch. Hopefully, the calibration had to be done only once because the sensors parameters do not changed.
Extended IMU algorithm
The algorithm used is an extension of the previous complementary filter algorithm. I used the state space approach.
Two version of the extended algorithm were done. The simpler one simply used exactly the same state space subsystem, but modified the two gyro input for both the pitch and roll input. The new pitch and roll input are a combination of both pitch and yaw or roll and yaw. The new pitch and roll input value for the subsystem (state space model) are the pitch and roll rotational rate in the earth frame of reference (in opposition to the previous plane frame of reference). The two rate angle were combined using trigonometric relation (cosine or sine) based on the current estimated angle. This method improved the results. However, the state space model estimation of the gyro bias is difficult as its input is now a combination of two rate gyro.
A second version was developed where the state space model were modified. In this last version, the state space model is capable to estimate a bias for the two rate gyro separately (all 3 rate gyro bias are estimated).
Theses new IMU algorithms take into account angle coupling and provide a correct attitude estimate.
All files of this 3 DoF IMU are provided as is. All Simulink and Matlab file used with data logged for the 6DoF IMU. (Updated on 30 December 2008)
This IMU is being tested onboard a Remote Control (RC) flying wing. It is destined to become an important part of the autopilot currently under development. For more information, see page :
I would like to thanks companies that helped building this IMU by providing freely electronics components. Microchip provides microcontrollers and few others electronics parts. Analog Device provided samples of their great ADIS rate gyro part. Freescale also provide useful ds176 parts that acts like their MAX232 part but require less external component. Coil Craft provided really nice coil allowing to stabilize efficiently the sensor board's power lines.
Point to clarify, error, remarks? Please, leave your comment on the forum!
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Old 11-27-2002, 01:28 AM #544
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*Aidan looks sharply at the trio. His gargoyle's ears had let him in on parts of the whispered conversation. Lucky they couldn't have had experience with gargoyles...or mutants. He didn't understand any of what he'd heard, but it confirmed what he had suspected...these Aesir would only tell them what they wanted them to know.
They were in danger. How much, he couldn't know. But he could feel it in the air, making his skin tingle.
He had to convince Marin to leave.*
*Raschel looked behind her. No one was there except Guy* Orthos? Are you dreaming again?
Last edited by Redwing; 11-27-2002 at 06:51 PM.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20747 | New! Read & write annotations
well I bless my soul What's
wrong with me I'm?
itching like a man on a fuzzy tree My
friends say I'm actin wild as a bug I'm
in love I'm
all shook up Mm
mm oh oh, yeah, yeah, My!
hands are shaky and my knees are weak I
can't seem to stand on my own two feet Who
do you thank when you have such luck I'm?
in love I'm
all shook up Mm
mm oh oh, yeah, yeah, Please!
don't ask me what's on my mind I'm
a little mixed up but, I'm feelin fine When
I'm near that girl that I love best My
heart beats so it scares me to death She!
touched my hand what a chill I got Her
lips are like a volcano that's hot I'm
proud to say she's my buttercup I'm
in love I'm
all shook up Mm
mm oh oh, yeah, yeah, My!
tongue get tied when I try to speak My
insides shake like a leaf on a tree There's
only one cure for this body of mine That's
to have the girl that I love so fine
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rockerbaby95Jan 2, 2010 at 9:40 pm
it tells the story of whenever your in love w/ someone, how you get nervous whenever your around them. i've been that way on many occasions.
• CaliGirl31492
CaliGirl31492Dec 6, 2008 at 4:12 am
Whoever corrected this spelled "volcano" is spelled the way that i just wrote it and i just said that because the meaning has to be fifty letters long...
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Pumpkin Snake
After dark, this glowing snake will light the path to your front door.
The first and largest pumpkin forms the serpent's head, and the rest make up its long, scaly body. Each "body" pumpkin is drilled with holes of various sizes, then lined up with the others so the snake curves and slithers. Christmas lights are strung through the line of pumpkins; these lights illuminate the carvings and are not a fire hazard.
• Pumpkins
• Small utility saw
• Large-bulb white Christmas lights
• Plastic pumpkin-carving scoop, drill with borer tool and 3/4-inch and 1-inch bits
• Felt-tip pen; utility knife
• Extension cord
1. Step 1
Decide how long you want your pumpkin snake to be, and choose pumpkins in a variety of sizes, from large to small, to simulate the body of a snake. Choose a big, elongated pumpkin for the head.
2. Step 2
Using the utility saw, cut a hole in the top and bottom of the first "body" pumpkin. One hole should be about fist-size, in order for you to reach your hand in and remove the seeds, and the other just big enough for a string of lights to pass through.
3. Step 3
Hollow out the insides of the pumpkin with the scoop.
4. Step 4
Drill a series of holes into the sides of the pumpkin, varying the size of the bits. When drilling the larger holes, you don't have to puncture all the way through the flesh; the light will glow through partly drilled holes. Repeat with all pumpkins except for the head.
5. Step 5
Set the pumpkin head on its side, so that the elongated shape can form the jaw of the snake. Draw a serpent face with long fangs around the stem of the pumpkin (which you should remove when you cut out the mouth), using a felt-tip marker. Cut out the eyes and mouth with the small saw. With a fine-tip utility knife, carve out other snake features, such as nostrils.
6. Step 6
Once you have cleaned and drilled all your pumpkins, arrange them in a snaking line.
7. Step 7
Starting with the head (which should be farthest from the house), pass the string of lights through the holes at each end of the pumpkins (the larger pumpkins may require two to three lights; the smaller pumpkins near the tail, just one). You may need an extension cord to reach an electrical outlet.
Martha Stewart Living, October 2003 |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20783 | Documentation Center
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• Product Updates
Water Supply System
This example shows a water supply system consisting of three pumping stations located at 45, 25, and 30 m with respect to to the reference plane, respectively. All three stations are expected to pump water in a tank located at 61 m. All tanks are of very big volume, which makes it possible to assume that the fluid level remains practically constant and simulate them with the Constant Head Tank block. For display purposes only, the initial volume of water in each tank is set to 100 m^3. Each pumping stations consists of a tank, two centrifugal pumps, installed in parallel, and a prime mover rotating at 1700 rpm. The pumps are specified with the table lookup characteristics.
The objective of the simulation is to determine steady-state flow rates and pressures. For this reason, all pipes are simulated with the Resistive Pipe LP block. Three major sets of variables: flow rates and pressures at the output of pumping stations, and fluid volumes in the tank, are output via display facility, because no system dynamics are expected to be observed.
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20784 | Documentation Center
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Class: sdo.requirements.PZDampingRatio
Package: sdo.requirements
Evaluate damping ratio bound on linear system
c = evalRequirement(req,lin_sys)
c = evalRequirement(req,lin_sys) evaluates whether the poles of a linear system satisfies the specified damping ratio bound.
Input Arguments
sdo.requirements.PZDampingRatio object.
Linear system (tf, ss, zpk, frd, genss, or genfrd).
Output Arguments
• Signed distance of the damping ratio of each pole of the linear system to the bound, if the Type property of req is >=, <= or ==. Negative values indicate that the bound is satisfied while positive values indicate that the bound is violated. When ==, any value other than 0 indicates that the bound is violated.
• Negative of the damping ratio such that minimizing the values maximizes the damping ratio, if the Type property of req is 'max'.
Evaluate damping ratio requirement.
req = sdo.requirements.PZDampingRatio;
sys = tf(0.5,[1 3 3 1]);
c = evalRequirement(req,sys);
c is negative, which indicates that the system satisfies the damping ratio requirement.
See Also
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20785 | Documentation Center
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Data Store Read
Read data from data store
Signal Routing
The Data Store Read block copies data from the named data store to its output. More than one Data Store Read block can read from the same data store.
The data store from which the data is read is determined by the location of the Data Store Memory block or signal object that defines the data store. For more information, see Data Stores and Data Store Memory.
Obtaining correct results from data stores requires ensuring that data store reads and writes occur in the expected order. See Order Data Store Access and Data Store Diagnostics for details.
Data Type Support
The Data Store Read block can output a real or complex signal of any data type that Simulink® supports, including fixed-point, bus object, and enumerated data types.
You can use arrays of buses with a Data Store Read block. For details about defining and using an array of buses, see Combine Buses into an Array of Buses.
Parameters and Dialog Box
The Parameters pane of the Data Store Read block dialog box appears as follows:
Data store name
Specifies the name of the data store from which this block reads data. The adjacent pull-down list lists the names of Data Store Memory blocks that exist at the same level in the model as the Data Store Read block or at higher levels. The pulldown list also includes all Simulink.Signal objects in the base and model workspaces. To change the name, select a name from the pull-down list or enter the name directly in the edit field.
When Simulink software compiles the model containing this block, Simulink software searches the model upwards from this block's level for a Data Store Memory block having the specified data store name. If Simulink software does not find such a block, it searches the model workspace and the MATLAB® workspace for a Simulink.Signal object having the same name. See Symbol Resolution for more information about the search path.
If Simulink software finds the signal object, it creates a hidden Data Store Memory block at the model's root level having the properties specified by the signal object and an initial value of 0. If Simulink software finds neither the Data Store Memory block nor the signal object, it halts the compilation and displays an error.
Data store memory block
This field lists the Data Store Memory block that initialized the store from which this block reads.
Data store write blocks
This parameter lists all the Data Store Write blocks with the same data store name as this block that are in the same (sub)system or in any subsystem below it in the model hierarchy. Double-click any entry on this list to highlight the block and bring it to the foreground.
Sample time
The sample time, which controls when the block reads from the data store. A value of -1 indicates that the sample time is inherited. See Specify Sample Time for more information.
The Element Selection pane of the Data Store Read block dialog box appears as follows:
Use the Element Selection pane to select a subset of the bus or matrix elements defined for the associated data store. The Data Store Read block icon reflects the elements that you specify. For details, see Accessing Specific Bus and Matrix Elements.
Elements in the array or Signals in the bus (Prompt is specific to the type of data.)
For bus signals, lists the elements in the associated data store. The list displays the maximum dimensions for each element, in parentheses.
For data stores with a bus data type, you can expand the tree to view the bus elements. For data stores with arrays, you can read the whole data store, or you can specify one or more elements of the whole data store.
You can select an element and then use one of the following approaches:
• Click Select>> to display that element (and all its subelements) in the Selected element(s) list.
• Use the Specify element(s) to select edit box to specify the bus or matrix elements that you want to select for reading. Then click Select>>.
To refresh the display to reflect modifications to the bus or matrix used in the data store, click Refresh.
Specify element(s) to select
Enter a MATLAB expression to define the specific element that you want to read. For example, for a data store named DSM that has maximum dimensions of [3,5], you could enter expressions such as DSM(2, 4) or DSM([1 3], 2) in the edit box and then click Select>>.
To apply the element selection, click OK.
Selected Element(s)
Displays the elements that you select. The Data Store Read block icon displays a port for each element that you specify.
To change the order of bus or matrix elements in the list, select the element in the list and click Up or Down. Changing the order of the elements in the list changes the order of the ports. To remove an element, click Remove.
Sample Time
Specified in the Sample time parameter
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20786 | Documentation Center
• Trial Software
• Product Updates
Assertions for debugging
Use only in the MuPAD Notebook Interface.
This functionality does not run in MATLAB.
The statement assert(cond) declares that the condition cond holds true at the moment when the statement is evaluated. By default, MuPAD® does not care about assertions. After setting testargs(TRUE), however, MuPAD checks every assertion and stops with an error if boolean evaluation of cond does not give TRUE.
Assertions are a major debugging tool for programmers: by stating frequently what they think to have achieved, programmers make it easy for themselves to detect the first unintended intermediate result.
Example 1
Suppose we want to write a function f that takes an integer as its argument and returns 0 if that integer is a multiple of 3, and 1 otherwise. One idea how to code this could be the following: given an integer n, n modulo 3 must be equal to one of - 1, 1, or 0. In any case, abs(n mod 3) should do what we want:
f := proc(n: DOM_INT): DOM_INT
local k: DOM_INT;
k := n mod 3;
assert(k = 1 or k = -1 or k = 0);
Checking assertions is switched on or off using testargs:
oldtestargs := testargs(): testargs(FALSE): f(5)
The result does not equal 1. For debugging purposes, we switch on assertion checking:
testargs(TRUE): f(5)
Error: Assertion 'k = 1 or k = -1 or k = 0' has failed. [f]
This shows that the local variable k must have gotten a wrong value. Indeed, when writing our program we overlooked the difference between mod and the symmetric remainder given by mods.
A boolean expression
Return Values
assert returns TRUE or raises an error.
See Also
MuPAD Functions
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20787 | Problem Groups
Discover MakerZone
MATLAB and Simulink resources for Arduino, LEGO, and Raspberry Pi
Learn more
Discover what MATLAB® can do for your career.
Opportunities for recent engineering grads.
Apply Today
ASEE Challenge
Problems associated with the ASEE conference, June 10-13. Anyone is welcome to play!
Problem Group |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20792 | MATLAB Fundamentals for Financial Applications
Undergraduate-level mathematics and experience with basic computer operations.
Detailed course outline
Day 1 of 3
Working with the MATLAB User Interface
• Reading data from files
• Saving and loading variables
• Plotting data
• Customizing plots
• Calculating statistics and best-fit line
• Exporting graphics for use in other applications
Variables and Expressions
• Entering commands
• Creating variables
• Getting help
• Accessing and modifying values in variables
• Creating character variables
Analysis and Visualization with Vectors
Objective: Perform mathematical and statistical calculations with vectors, and create basic visualizations. Use MATLAB syntax to perform calculations on whole data sets with a single command.
• Calculations with vectors
• Plotting vectors
• Basic plot options
• Annotating plots
Analysis and Visualization with Matrices
• Size and dimensionality
• Calculations with matrices
• Statistics with matrix data
• Plotting multiple columns
• Reshaping and linear indexing
• Multidimensional arrays
Day 2 of 3
Automating Commands with Scripts
Objective: Collect MATLAB commands into scripts for ease of reproduction and experimentation. Divide scripts into logical sections for development, maintenance, and publishing.
• The Command History
• Creating script files
• Running scripts
• Code sections
• Publishing scripts
Working with Data Files
Objective: Bring data into MATLAB from formatted files.
• Importing from fixed-structure files
• Importing from spreadsheets and delimited text files
• Low-level file I/O
Working with Text and Dates
Objective: Access and manipulate text and date information using cell arrays.
• Cell arrays
• Converting between numbers and text
• Dates in MATLAB
• Plotting with dates
Multiple Vector Plots
• Graphics structure
• Multiple figures, axes, and plots
• Plotting functions
• Using color
• Customizing plots
Logic and Flow Control
Objective: Use logical operations, variables, and indexing techniques to create flexible code that can make decisions and adapt to different situations. Explore other programming constructs for repeating sections of code and constructs that allow interaction with the user.
• Logical operations and variables
• Logical indexing
• Programming constructs
• User interaction
• Flow control
• Loops
Day 3 of 3
Matrix and Image Visualization
Objective: Visualize matrix data in two or three dimensions.
• Vector and matrix data
• 3D matrix visualization
• 2D matrix visualization
• Indexed images and colormaps
Data Analysis
Objective: Perform typical data analysis tasks in MATLAB, including developing and fitting theoretical models to real-life data. Solve linear systems of equations with a single command.
• Dealing with missing data
• Correlation
• Smoothing
• Spectral analysis and FFTs
• Regression models
• Solving linear systems of equations
Writing Functions
• Creating functions
• Calling functions
• Workspaces
• Subfunctions
• Path and precedence
Troubleshooting Code and Improving Performance
Objective: Explore MATLAB tools for debugging and measuring code performance.
• Debugging with the MATLAB Editor
• Using breakpoints
• Measuring and improving code performance
Data Types
Objective: Create variables and access array elements for the various data types available in MATLAB. Convert from one data type to another.
• MATLAB data types
• Integers
• Structures
• Function handles
• Converting types |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20793 | Queuing Theory
• Contatto vendite
• Trials
Explore queuing theory for scheduling, resource allocation and traffic flow applications
Queuing theory is the mathematical study of waiting lines or queues. This approach is applied to different types of problems, such as scheduling, resource allocation and traffic flow. It is often applied in:
• Operations research
• Industrial engineering
• Network design
• Computer architecture
You can explore queuing theory by modeling, measuring and analyzing the arrival, wait and service times of queuing systems with MATLAB, Statistics Toolbox and SimEvents.
Examples and How To
Software Reference
See also: Discrete Event Simulation, SimEvents, Statistics Toolbox, Genetic Algorithm, Random Number, System Design and Simulation |
global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20794 | Documentation Center
• Trial Software
• Product Updates
Startup Folder on Macintosh Platforms
The startup folder on Apple Macintosh platforms depends on the way you started MATLAB®.
How StartedStartup Folder
Double-click the MATLAB application
The startup folder is the value returned when you enter userpath, which by default is userhome/Documents/MATLAB. MATLAB automatically adds the userpath folder to the top of its search path upon startup. To specify a different folder for userpath, and for other options, use the userpath function.
You can specify that the userpath be the startup folder by setting the value of the environment variable MATLAB_USE_USERWORK to 1.
Start MATLAB in a shell
The default startup folder is the folder from which you started MATLAB.
See Also
Related Examples
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global_01_local_0_shard_00000017_processed.jsonl/20827 | Aseptic Necrosis Index
Featured: Aseptic Necrosis Main Article
Aseptic necrosis (avascular necrosis or osteonecrosis) is a condition that develops when blood supply diminishes to an area of bone and causes bone death. Though aseptic necrosis may be painless, pain is often associated when the degenerating bone is used. If caught early, aseptic necrosis may be treated by grafting new bone into the degenerating area. In later stages, joint replacement surgery may be required.
Patient Discussions - Viewers share their comments
Related Diseases & Conditions
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• Systemic lupus erythematosus facts
• What causes systemic lupus erythematosus? Is lupus hereditary?
• What is drug-induced lupus?
• What are lupus symptoms and signs?
• How is systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for systemic lupus?
• How can systemic lupus erythematosus affect pregnancy or the newborn?
• What does the future hold for people with systemic lupus?
• Where can one get more information about systemic lupus erythematosus?
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Cushing's Syndrome Article
• What is Cushing's syndrome?
• What are the symptoms of Cushing's syndrome?
• What causes Cushing's syndrome?
• How is Cushing's syndrome diagnosed?
• How is Cushing's syndrome treated?
• What research is being done on Cushing's syndrome?
• For more information
• Sickle Cell Disease (Sickle Cell Anemia) Sickle cell anemia (sickle cell disease), a blood disease which shortens life expectancy, is cause by an inherited abnormal...learn more »
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Sickle Cell Disease (Sickle Cell Anemia) Article
• Sickle cell anemia facts
• What is sickle cell anemia?
• How is sickle cell anemia inherited?
• What conditions promote the sickling (distortion) of the red blood cells in sickle cell anemia?
• How is sickle cell anemia diagnosed?
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• What is the outlook (prognosis) for patients with sickle cell anemia?
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Leprosy Article
• Leprosy (Hansen's disease) facts
• What is leprosy?
• What is the history of leprosy (Hansen's disease)?
• What causes leprosy?
• What are the risk factors for leprosy?
• What are leprosy symptoms and signs?
• Are there different forms (classifications) of leprosy?
• How is leprosy transmitted?
• How is leprosy diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for leprosy?
• What are the complications of leprosy?
• How is leprosy prevented?
• What is the prognosis (outcomes) of leprosy?
• Where can I find more information on leprosy?
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Terms related to Aseptic Necrosis:
• Avascular Necrosis
• Osteonecrosis |
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