text:
DBSync's "Sage 100 & PocketAdvantag Bidirectional Integration" is easy to use solution template which integrates data both ways between the Sage 100 & PocketAdvantage app. The template is also useful in migrating historical Sage 100 data into PA and can also be used to do a periodic swipe of historical accounting data into PA. This template provides Bi-directional the flexibility for more complex and dynamic mapping capability.
One of the most important prerequisite prerequisites of Sage 100 and PocketAdvantage system is to setup set up the ODBC data source connection on the server where Sage 100 is hosted. The below steps explain how to setup set up the ODBC connection so that Sage 100 opens a connection to DBSync.
- Go to Control Panel -> Administrative services of the server on which the Sage 100 is hosted.
- Select the service ODBC data source 32-bit/64-bit based on server configuration. This will open a pop up as shown in the image below.
- Choose the Tab user DSN and click on the Add button. This will open a pop up with various drivers.
- Choose MySQLODBC5.3 unicode Unicode driver. This will pop open a window to enter connection properties.
- In the MySQL connection window, enter the following Parameters Data Source Name: dbsyncqueue, TCP/IP server: dbsync-queue.cvglyvvn64dx.us-east-1.rds.amazonaws.com, user:dbsync, Password:, DatabaseDatabase: Sage.
The steps below show how to import the job file script provided by DBSync - it is mandatory for the integration to work.
- Login to Sage 100 with valid credentials.
- On the left navigation, select a visual integrator. This will provide a list of options.
- Choose the "Job Import" option from the available values.
- Choose the file provided by DBSync. The file can be downloaded by clicking on the following link.
- From the file dialog box, choose the file. It will show the list of all the jobs that are required for DBSync to perform the integration.
- Select all. And then, click on the Accept button as shown in the following screen shotscreenshot.
- Login to Sage 100 with valid user credentials.
- Search for the Task Scheduler from the search. It will return the search results.
- Clicking on the search result name of Task Scheduler will open a popup - as shown in the image below.
- Key in the desired job name. Moving the cursor to next text box will auto-populate the company code, Sage 100 user logon login, and server user logon.
- The user will have to key in the Sage 100 Account Password and Server Password. Then, s/he will have to choose the type to "Visual Integrator ".
- Set the schedule job intervals by choosing the appropriate options.
- Choose the tab "Tasks".
- Select the V/I Job Type to to Export, in case of reading data from Sage 100. Or, choose Import in case of writing to Sage 100. Then, choose the V/I Job Name as appropriate.
- Click on Accept to save the job.
A question may arise - what happens to the Sage data after it being is read from the Sage 100 application? How does DBSync process the data and write to the PocketAdvantage? Below steps explain how Sage Data is being processed to the PocketAdvantage.
- The Scheduled jobs within the Sage 100 application, helps to read from Sage and processes to DBSync.
- The DBSync holds the Sage data in a queue - i.e. a buffer - before applying the required transformations and writing to the PocketAdvantage.
- The workflows - with the naming convention "Merge" within the DBSync - will help DBSync to sort any duplicate records that are processed into the DBSync's buffer.
- DBSync internally uses a chaining technique for the merging process. The technic enables DBSync to identify unique records and separate duplicate records from the unique ones.
- Then, another workflows workflow will process the data from DBSync buffer to PocketAdvantage.
DBSync Integration of Sage & PocketAdvantage can be triggered by:
- Clicking on the Run-now button from the process listing page of DBSync.
- Using DBSync Scheduler.
Clicking on Run-Now Buttons From DBSync platform
The user can login log in to DBSync with his/her valid credentials and click on the Run-now button from the process listing page or from the workflow listing page. The order of execution, of the process, must follow the following path:
- Scheduler available in DBSync Account can be used to schedule the integration. For further details on the scheduler, please click on the following link _URL_
PockeAdvantage Configuration steps link: PocketAdvantage Connector (How to do the connector configuration in DBSync Platform)
Sage 100 Configuration steps link: Sage 100 Connector (How to do the connector configuration in DBSync Platform)


Consultants: 10 Mistakes that Most People Make
Tips on Finding a Political Expert
Campaigning periods in any country are normally very intense and full of controversies. A professional approach is therefore needed. A good consultant will help the candidate on pooling people together to go out and vote. He or she will also help in tackling the opposition and building media relation. Hence, manifestos will be sold to the public by the party through the help of a political consultant. These crucial roles are reason why they are always caught between scandals and media trolling. A consultant who can avoid the scandals or one that can turn attention from himself if caught in any should be considered for hire. When hiring a political consultant the following tips are important.
The most crucial tip to consider when hiring a political consultant is their specialty.A political consultant specialty should be the primary consideration when hiring. Identify the gap that is existing in one's campaign first. Always acquire from the interested consultant their area of specialty during an interview. Political consultancy has different areas of specialization hence the need. These areas include dealing with issues at the grassroots or consultancy at media level. If specialization matches the needs of the campaign, only then should one hire.
One ought to inquire on the level of experience. Provision of evidence of previous work done should be primary before hiring. A background history should also be demanded so that one can track their progress during their career period. A good political consultant should have a decent reputation for good skills and remarkable progress, growth.
One should gauge the reputation of a political consultant before hiring by asking around. A verbal communication is an important tool. Friends in the political arena should be consulted to inquire on the reputation of a certain political consultant. One may also evaluate their reputation any demanding on references. A prospective political consultant like Neal Kwatra should have well known and respected referees in his or her references. calling the provided referees from the potential specialist, is crucial to verify that the information given is true and authentic. The references should be consulted for a second opinion.
Always sign a contract before hiring the political consultant. By abiding one to the agreed terms and conditions, a contract therefore protects once resources. Ensuring that one is comfortable with the choice is paramount before the hiring party or politician signs the contract. One should hold on signing the contract in case some questions were not answered to satisfactory. It is primary that the interview be called back for an interview and hence addressing the issues first.
Finally, always work within your capital capacity. When hiring make sure to hire within the proposed budget. Negotiations on the demand of the political consultants should always take place. The higher percentage of the campaigns budget should be spent on the campaign activities and not on the political consultant fee.


text:
A storm system brought snow and record-cold temperatures to much of New England, Monday, May 9, 1977. In fact, at Sikorsky Memorial Airport in Stratford, a trace of snow fell, and the temperature dropped to 37 degrees that morning, establishing a record low for this date. Other than a trace of snow which was reported May 27, 2010, it's the latest Spring day on which any snow has ever fallen in southwestern Connecticut.
The storm was quite shocking for this time of the year. Consider the normal high temperature for May 9 is 65 degrees, and the normal low temperature is 48. Snow in southwestern Connecticut is almost unheard of seven weeks after the Vernal Equinox. The coldest temperature ever recorded this month was 31 degrees on March 10, 1966.
According to the Naugatuck Daily News, "A Spring storm dumped several inches of snow on some parts of Berkshire County in Massachusetts. The area hardest hit by the storm was Great Barrington, Massachusetts, where police reported 10 inches of snow on the ground. Similar amounts were reported in parts of Vermont. Great Barrington police said there 'were about 100 trees down, wires are down, and we've got reports of accidents we can't get to.'"
Residents in the northwestern Connecticut rural communities of Goshen and Cornwall reported unofficial snow depths of up to five inches. The snow began to fall heavily in the Hartford area at the height of the commuter rush, slowing traffic considerably on most roads. The National Weather Service said a deepening area of low pressure over Connecticut produced a variety of weather conditions across Western Connecticut.
I consider myself a local weather history buff, but I honestly don't remember this storm. Special thanks to viewer Ralph Fato for recalling it and bringing it to my attention. It certainly had to be memorable for those who had to dig out of nearly a half-foot of snow in the northwestern corner of the state. I'm sure they were wearing their Winter coats, too, with the mercury plunging into the 30s.

source: m-a-p/FineFineWeb


What capital costs are associated with a VRF system compared to district energy?
VRF systems require upfront capital costs to install. Additionally, the average life of a compressor is about 10-15 years, and they range in costs from $5k to $15k in commercial buildings. Because district energy does not require cooling or heating equipment onsite, there are typically no upfront costs associated with connecting to a district energy system—unlike the high upfront capital costs required for boilers, chillers, and cooling towers. Many district energy providers are even willing to invest in connecting a building to the district system and will cover the cost of any potential street repairs and beautification. Plus, existing ductwork in a commercial building can often be retrofitted to accommodate district energy.
Learn more


text:
The history behind ancient musical instrument organ reaches back to approximately 270 B.C. when a Greek engineer named Ctesibius of Alexandria invented water organ. In the Middle Ages, swell-organs were built in all the largest European cathedrals. Nowadays, organ with its ranks of pipes of different tonalities possesses a unique ability to produce sounds, similar to trumpet, oboe, trombone, violoncello and even a human voice and the instrument itself has acquired the status of European cultural heritage. The mission of the Netherlands-based organization Stiching Voor de Wind is to make it familiar to wider audience. Initiated and organized by Stiching Voor de Wind, the festival Connecting Arts has set off in autumn 2011 and is based upon the success formula of the previously held Wind Art Festival (2002-2010). It links the sound of organ to fine samples of other art disciplines, like choreography and acrobatic circus acts, spanning musical masterpieces from Brahms' Requiem to famous compositions of Bach and Verdi. Moreover, the interdisciplinary festival encourages usage of this ancient instrument in most various spheres of art. Churches in Denmark, Sweden, France and Netherlands acquire entirely different and surprising artistic settings during this festival, becoming a platform for audiovisual installations, dance improvisations, musical theatre productions, poetry readings and amazing interplays of jazz and organ music.
For more detailed information and the Festival event calendar, please visit the website: _URL_
Keywords: Copenhagen, festival, festivals

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


text:
PROSHAR Gender Impact Assessment
This study examines the Program for Strengthening Household Access to Resources (PROSHAR)'s impact on gender issues in southwestern Bangladesh. PROSHAR improves livelihoods (Strategic Objective (SO) 1); builds local knowledge of and access to health and nutrition services (SO2); and strengthens people's capacities to respond to chronic disasters such as cyclones, drought, or flooding (SO3).
PROSHAR has integrated gender considerations throughout each of these SOs to ensure that men and women have equal opportunities to participate in and benefit from project activities. This gender impact assessment examines how PROSHAR's gender integration efforts have affected men and women's time allocation, mobility, and decision making. It also studies the most significant changes that occurred because of PROSHAR's work with gender issues.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
Create a tidy GHCND dataset from a single monitorSource:
This function inputs an object created by
ghcnd and cleans up
the data into a tidy form.
keep_flags = FALSE,
var = "all",
date_min = NULL,
date_max = NULL
(character) A character vector giving the identification of the weather stations for which the user would like to pull data. To get a full and current list of stations, the user can use the
ghcnd_stations()function. To identify stations within a certain radius of a location, the user can use the
TRUE / FALSE for whether the user would like to keep all the flags for each weather variable. The default is to not keep the flags (FALSE). See the note below for more information on these flags.
A character vector specifying either
"all"(pull all available weather parameters for the site) or the weather parameters to keep in the final data (e.g.,
c("TMAX", "TMIN")to only keep maximum and minimum temperature). Example choices for this argument include:
PRCP: Precipitation, in tenths of millimeters
TAVG: Average temperature, in tenths of degrees Celsius
TMAX: Maximum temperature, in tenths of degrees Celsius
TMIN: Minimum temperature, in tenths of degrees Celsius
A full list of possible weather variables is available in NOAA's README file for the GHCND data (_URL_ Most weather stations will only have a small subset of all the possible weather variables, so the data generated by this function may not include all of the variables the user specifies through this argument.
A character string giving the earliest date of the daily weather time series that the user would like in the final output. This character string should be formatted as "yyyy-mm-dd". If not specified, the default is to keep all daily data for the queried weather site from the earliest available date.
A character string giving the latest date of the daily weather time series that the user would like in the final output. This character string should be formatted as "yyyy-mm-dd". If not specified, the default is to keep all daily data for the queried weather site through the most current available date.
A data frame of daily weather data for a single weather monitor, converted to a tidy format. All weather variables may not exist for all weather stations. Examples of variables returned are:
id: Character string with the weather station site id
date: Date of the observation
prcp: Precipitation, in tenths of mm
tavg: Average temperature, in degrees Celsius
tmax: Maximum temperature, in degrees Celsius
tmin: Minimum temperature, in degrees Celsius
awnd: Average daily wind speed, in meters / second
wsfg: Peak gust wind speed, in meters / second
There are other possible weather variables in the Global Historical
Climatology Network; see
_URL_ for a full
list. The variables
have all been converted from tenths of their metric to the metric (e.g., from tenths of degrees Celsius to degrees Celsius). All other variables are in the units specified in the linked file.
The weather flags, which are kept by specifying
keep_flags = TRUE are:
*_mflag: Measurement flag, which gives some information on how the observation was measured.
*_qflag: Quality flag, which gives quality information on the measurement, like if it failed to pass certain quality checks.
*_sflag: Source flag. This gives some information on the weather collection system (e.g., U.S. Cooperative Summary of the Day, Australian Bureau of Meteorology) the weather observation comes from.
More information on the interpretation of these flags can be found in the README file for the NCDC's Daily Global Historical Climatology Network's data at _URL_
Brooke Anderson _EMAIL_


text:
We are delighted that Brookfield is one of five Camden primary schools taking part in a year long project to promote gender equality, run by Lifting Limits. The project helps schools to examine their own practices and to help their pupils recognise and challenge the gender stereotypes which surround them as they grow up. These pictures, for example, show some of the ways in which toys and clothes give children messages about the different sorts of jobs they might aim for when they grow up, or that give very different messages about what is expected of boys (to be tough) and of girls (that appearance is valued more than maths skills).
Although they might seem harmless, we know that gender stereotypes influence many future outcomes for children such as their mental health and their academic future. For example, gender stereotypes are a factor in the low numbers of girls choosing physics and computer science and the low number of boys choosing English and Art and Design at A Level. Gender stereotypes can limit children's aspirations, choices, behaviour and even achievement. The aim of the pilot is to lift these limits through schools – making staff and children more aware of gender stereotypes and better able to challenge them.
Lifting Limits ran an inset session for school staff at the start of the school year and have provided us with a package of resources we are using throughout this academic year to discuss gender stereotypes and gender equality with the children through lessons, assembles and activities. We hope that your children will talk to you about what they are learning. Many of you have already attended workshops run by Lifting Limits for parents and carers and a 'guide for families' distributed at those workshops is available here.
Lifting limits also has a great list of books, videos and activities for families and schools to help challenge gender stereotyping with children. The PDF can be downloaded here, or click on the image:


text:
Many people often wonder about the merits and demerits of owning a used and new car. It has grown to be a dilemma.
The differences between owning a new and used car are as follows:
- Buying costs
A brand-new car can cost up to 30–50% higher than a car that is used. However, the cost of the used car is subjective as it depends on how it has been maintained by the previous owner. Additionally, costs of repairs during the usage in the future should also be taken into account. Additionally, the quote of the used car itself varies from person to person. Several cars have a lower resale value and their warranty value also goes down when sold.
- Warranty coverage
The additional cost paid for a new car may be worth it for a few buyers as they get a warranty which will cover the car for a reasonable amount of time. Most of the new cars come with warranty plans that last for three years/36,000 miles or four years/50,000 miles, whichever comes earlier. Used cars can be bought with extended warranty packages like two-year/24,000-mile or a three-year/36,000-mile warranty, depending on your usage pattern. If you want to use your car for a longer period, the three-year plan is good.
- Running costs
Along with mileage and periodic maintenance charges, there are several other factors that contribute to the running costs. Most of the car manufacturers offer extra coverage period on powertrain parts like the engine, transmission, axles, and computer control systems. Some new cars even come with free scheduled service and maintenance. While such initiatives for new cars ensure they are maintained well and are returned in good condition, used cars too can have good quality parts.
Power trains parts can cost a lot on repairs. Hence, if the car itself is unreliable and your usage is rough, extended warranty packages can be useful. These warranty packages can save a lot of money in the long run, including repairs and replacements of AC system components, engine manifolds, etc. Along with that, free towing and other services like free delivery of your vehicle as also provided. Also, you can have peace of mind without having to worry about spending a lot of money at the time of repairs.
- Peace of mind
While buying a new car one does not need to worry about its history of repairs and the entire process of purchasing it is easy as the dealer completes most of the procedures as well. But if it is a used car, the process is tedious as you will have to spend a lot of time verifying the car's history, getting an independent mechanic for pre-purchase inspections, etc. Additionally, you will have to be aware of the previous maintenance routines, accidents, and the wear and tear that might pose unexpected problems while you are using it.


Draft PH customs rule guides handling of stores aboard foreign air, sea...
Draft PH customs rule guides handling of stores aboard foreign air, sea craft
The Philippine Department of Finance (DOF) and Bureau of Customs (BOC) have released the draft administrative order that will implement the provisions of the Customs Modernization and Tariff Act (CMTA) on how to use different types of stores aboard international vessels and aircraft.
"Air stores" refer to items supplied for consumption or use on board an aircraft, such as supplies for crew and passengers, while "stores in vessel" are articles, especially foodstuff, that are for use or consumption only by the passengers and crew on board the vessel upon its voyage. "Ships' stores," meanwhile, consist of spare equipment such as chains, anchor, and the likes that are necessary to safely navigate the ship.
Position papers on the draft CAO are accepted until April 20, the same day as the holding of a public hearing.
The draft CAO, which is subject to public scrutiny, will cover stores—whether sold or not—for use or consumption by passengers and crew on board vessels or aircraft engaged in foreign trade.
It also covers stores carried by vessels or aircraft that will dock or land at one or more ports or airports in customs territory, to be used or consumed on board during the stay of these transport craft at these intermediate ports or airports and during their voyage or flight between such ports or airports.
Its scope includes stores for sale to the passengers and the crew of vessels or aircraft with a view to being landed, which are either on board upon arrival or are taken on board during the stay in the customs territory of vessels or aircraft.
Lastly, it covers supplies needed by the vessels or aircraft on their voyage or flight out of the Philippines, including those goods transferred from a customs facility warehouse to the aircraft.
The draft CAO states that BOC requires the submission of a Stores List of inflight commissary items, including duty-free bonded items, that are arriving at the customs territory. Upon departure, no separate declaration concerning stores is required from the vessels or aircraft.
Inflight duty-free items and catering supplies and equipment delivered to the aircraft from a bonded warehouse are to be covered by the Stores List.
BOC will devise a uniform Stores List that must be accomplished and signed by the shipping lines and airlines, and submitted to the customs officer once the vessel or aircraft arrives or leaves.
The draft notes that importations of stores arriving at the Customs territory will be exempt from duties and taxes, subject to certain circumstances.
For international aircraft that intends to land at one or more airports in each port of entry, BOC will establish procedures for the transport and delivery of stores needed during the stay of the aircraft at such intermediate airports and during its flight between such airports.
Stores will not be have to go through physical examination by BOC except if there is derogatory information or alert order issued against them by the commissioner or authorized customs officer. BOC will be applying risk management principles when conducting a physical examination of stores.
Image courtesy of khunaspix at FreeDigitalPhotos.net
7 + 7 =


Degus vs Gerbils – What Is The Difference?
Rodents, in the past, were considered pests, but nowadays, they are quickly becoming the leading choices for pets. Their popularity might be because of their small sizes that translate to minimal care needs.
Degus and gerbils are among the leading pet options. Though most people assume that these animals are the same because they both belong to the Rodentia order, several aspects differentiate them.
Below are guidelines on the elements that differentiate degus and gerbils.
Physical Differences
The degu generally resembles a domestic rat. It has small black eyes, and its ears are large. These ears have little fur, but their ear canals have slightly coarse and longer hairs. Degus have fingers on their rear and front feet.
The front paws have a nailed digit that helps the animals to hold food when eating or grazing. Their moderately long tails have small black brushes at the tips, whereas their coats are soft and short. This rodent has twenty teeth comprising six molar pairs, two premolar pairs, and two incisor pairs.
There exist over 85 wild gerbil species. Gerbils have large dark eyes that are less protruding and bulbous than other rodents. Though this gives them a somewhat sleepy look, they are alert and have excellent peripheral vision.
Gerbils have six lower cheek teeth and six upper teeth. Their short club-shaped tails are generally adapted to store fat. Most of these rodents have dense, soft fur, and their tails' sizes differ according to their species.
Size Differences
The most evident difference between degus and gerbils is their sizes. Degus are bigger than gerbils and will thus need more living space. They can grow up to thrice the size of gerbils. In general, degus are 5-7 inches long with average weights of 6-10 ounces.
On the other hand, gerbils grow to adult body lengths of approximately four inches with an extra four inches for their tails. Their weight ranges from 1.7-3.2 ounces.
Color Differences
Wild gerbils have sand-colored fur that makes them camouflage with their dry natural habitats. However, domestic gerbils come in several colors because of selective breeding.
These include black, white, cinnamon, and lilac, along with combinations of these colors. The fur on gerbils has tan, gray, reddish-brown, or brown upperparts and grayish to white underparts.
The thick, soft fur of a degu is yellowish-brown on its upperparts, while its underparts are creamy yellow. Degus are a natural light agouti color.
Since their introduction as pets, this color has evolved to include light grey, dark brown, blue, champagne, sandy brown, cream, and white patched degus.
Behavior Differences
In the wild, gerbils live in colonies. As such, they are very social animals and will not thrive as solitary animals.
It is best to keep two same-sex gerbils for them to remain healthy. Gerbils are generally friendly and will often only bite when threatened. They are mainly nocturnal animals.
It is easy to tame degus if you handle them from an early age. The rodents are instinctively social and will be healthier when kept in same-sex pairs. They are also curious and playful.
As such, degus will become neurotic and might fight you when you do not give them enough interaction and exercise. Like gerbils, they will rarely bite you unless they feel threatened. Degus are diurnal animals.
Diet Differences
The diets of gerbils will comprise specially formulated gerbil food that is generally a loose seed mixture. Sunflower seed mixtures are best used as treats in a gerbil's diet. The ideal feed should contain 4-7% fat and 10-12% protein.
For feeding, opt for a heavy ceramic bowl for your gerbil because this is harder to tip over than a lightweight bowl. Ensure the rodent has a constant supply of clean, non-chlorinated water from a water bottle.
Degus thrive on a diet that is low in carbohydrates and high in roughage. This informs the mixing of guinea pig pellets, a rodent block, and a chinchilla feed to make the perfect degu feed.
Nutrient-rich grass such as alfalfa or timothy hay and fresh water should be available in a degu's cage throughout. Peanuts and sunflower seeds make perfect choices for degu treats.
These rodents should not have any sweets in their diets because they are prone to diabetes.
Care Differences
A pair of gerbils will comfortably fit in a 12 x 24 x 24-inch cage. Since they are very active, getting a larger cage than this is ideal.
Glass aquariums are better than wire cages because they offer a deep bedding layer through which gerbils can burrow. Have lots of enrichment and climbing options in your gerbil's cage, as well as an exercise wheel to keep it active.
Two degus can comfortably fit in a 24 x 18 x 24-inch cage. Since these rodents are avid chewers, opt for a metal or wire cage rather than a plastic or wooden one.
To satisfy their chewing, include chew toys and woodblocks in the degus' cage. There should also be a dust bath in a shallow bowl so that the rodents can keep their coats in optimal condition.
Breeding Differences
The average gestation period for degus is three months, and they will get 3-10 pups per litter. Newborn degus are 14.6g on average and are quite developed.
The gestation period for gerbils is 24-26 days, after which they get 5-6 pups per litter. The pups are born deaf, blind, and hairless. They cannot survive without the mother until they are about six weeks.
Lifespan Differences
You can expect your gerbil to live for 2-4 years while a degu's average lifespan is 5-8 years.
Wrapping Up
Despite the above differences, both degus and gerbils will need quality healthcare. Get your pet to a vet immediately you bring it home and ensure its vaccinations are up-to-date.
This is because degus and gerbils can become infection carriers into your home when not properly vaccinated. Aim to imitate your pet's natural habitat as much as possible.
After all, even pets need some semblance of their natural habitats for them to feel at home and remain emotionally healthy.
Rodents - Updated: December 1, 2020
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text: Accurately placing virtual objects in a scene is a challenging tasks in handheld augmented reality (HAR). To add and arrange virtual objects in HAR, users must manipulate 6 degrees of freedom (DoFs) of the virtual object, namely: position (3) and orientation (3). However, it is difficult to manipulate all DoFs with the two-dimensional display of the handheld device. We present SlidAR+, a method for controlling the position and orientation of objects in HAR. SlidAR+ is an extension of SlidAR , a technique that allows users to control the position of a virtual object by manipulating only 1 DoF. We use the direction of gravity as a constraint to improve the user's control and reduce the time it takes to adjust the orientation. Upon comparing it with a state-of-the-art object manipulation method, using SlidAR+, user were able to complete the tasks faster under our expected conditions and were also preferred by most participants.


Learner Survey Mid-Programme 2020/21
The responses you provide will be used for the purposes of evaluating the training and learning programmes you are involved with. Your responses will be seen by Nova Training and may be shared with Government departments who have an interest in monitoring the effectiveness of such programmes. All responses are confidential. By completing this questionnaire you are agreeing to the above
This survey is designed to give us feedback on how you feel about the service we are providing to you.
1. What course are you studying with Nova Training? *
2. If you attend a Nova Training Centre, which centre do you attend?
3. If you are on an apprenticeship, what vocational subject are you studying?
4. If your programme involves work experience/placement/employment, does your employer give you sufficient time to complete learning tasks set by Nova Training? *
5. My course or programme meets my needs *
6. I receive the support I need *
7. I am treated fairly by Nova Training staff *
8. Lessons and training sessions are delivered in a way that helps me build on my existing knowledge, skills and behaviours *
9. I am given feedback that helps me to improve *
10. My course or programme is preparing me for what I want to do next *
11. I have access to the resources that I need to do well on my course or training *
12. Nova Training has created a safe, disciplined and positive environment for me to learn *
13. I am well informed by Nova Training about the career choices available to me and understand what I need to do to succeed in my chosen career *
14. I am able to give my views about things that affect me and feel listened to *
15. Would you recommend Nova Training to a friend? *
16. What does Nova Training do well? *
17. What could Nova Training do to improve? *
18. What is it like to be a learner at Nova Training? *
19. Would you like to speak to a staff member about your feedback? *


text:
Anyone can tell me why the imwrite make the image background become black, i inserted an image of something with background of white but after using code below i got perfect image but the background become black :
rgbImage = imread('wtmk.png'); redChannel = rgbImage(:, :, 1); greenChannel = rgbImage(:, :, 2); blueChannel = rgbImage(:, :, 3); reconImage=cat(3,redChannel,greenChannel,blueChannel); imwrite(reconImage,'watermark.png','png');
Anything wrong with my code?
Please check whether size(rgbImage) is exactly the same as size(reconImage), and whether
all(rgbImage(:) == reconImage(:))
Your png file might be returning an alpha layer that you are not writing out to the new file.
What is the class of reconImage just before you call imwrite? You didn't somehow convert it (with code not shown) into double did you? Is it still uint8? Can you show the code where you "inserted an image of something with background of white" into your original rgbImage?
By the way, you don't need the third imwrite() argument of 'png' - it figures that out from the filename.


while @.j\=='' /*compute until a NULL value is found.*/
y=strip( x2b( d2x( @.j )), 'L', 0) /*force removal of all leading zeroes.*/
if y=='' then y=0 /*handle the special case of 0 (zero).*/
say right(@.j,20) 'decimal, and in binary:' y /*display the number to the terminal. */
end /*j*/ /*stick a fork in it, we're all done. */
output is identical to the 1st REXX version.
concise version[edit]
This version handles the case of zero a bit more obtusely, but concisely.
/*REXX program to convert several decimal numbers to binary (or base 2). */
@.=; @.1= 0
@.2= 5
@.3= 50
@.4= 9000

do j=1 while @.j\=='' /*compute until a NULL value is found.*/
y=word( strip( x2b( d2x( @.j )), 'L', 0) 0, 1) /*elides all leading 0s, if null, use 0*/
say right(@.j,20) 'decimal, and in binary:' y /*display the number to the terminal. */
end /*j*/ /*stick a fork in it, we're all done. */
output is identical to the 1st REXX version.
conforming version[edit]
This REXX version conforms to the strict output requirements of this task (just show the binary output without any blanks).
/*REXX program to convert several decimal numbers to binary (or base 2). */
numeric digits 200 /*ensure we can handle larger numbers. */
@.=; @.1= 0
@.2= 5
@.3= 50
@.4= 9000
@.5=423785674235000123456789
@.6= 1e138 /*one quinquaquadragintillion ugh.*/

do j=1 while @.j\=='' /*compute until a NULL value is found.*/
y=strip( x2b( d2x( @.j )), 'L', 0) /*force removal of all leading zeroes.*/
if y=='' then y=0 /*handle the special case of 0 (zero).*/
say y /*display binary number to the terminal*/
end /*j*/ /*stick a fork in it, we're all done. */
output:
0
101
110010
10001100101000
1011001101111010111011110101001101111000000000000110001100000100111110100010101
101010111111101001000101110110100000111011011011110111100110100100000100100001111101101110011101000101110110001101101000100100100110000111001010101011110010001111100011110100010101011011111111000110101110111100001011100111110000000010101100110101001010001001001011000000110000010010010100010010000001110100101000011111001000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
Ring[edit]

see "Number to convert : "
give a
n = 0
while pow(2,n+1) < a
n = n + 1
end

for i = n to 0 step -1
x = pow(2,i)
if a >= x see 1 a = a - x
else see 0 ok
next

Ruby[edit]
[5,50,9000].each do |n|
puts "%b" % n
end
or
for n in [5,50,9000]
puts n.to_s(2)
end
Output:
101
110010
10001100101000
Run BASIC[edit]
input "Number to convert:";a
while 2^(n+1) < a
n = n + 1
wend

for i = n to 0 step -1
x = 2^i
if a >= x then
print 1;
a = a - x
else
print 0;
end if
next
Output:
Number to convert:?9000
10001100101000
Rust[edit]
fn main() {
for i in 0..8 {
println!("{:b}", i)
}
}
Outputs:
0
1
10
11
100
101
110
111
S-lang[edit]
define int_to_bin(d)
{
variable m = 0x40000000, prn = 0, bs = "";
do {
if (d & m) {
bs += "1";
prn = 1;
}
else if (prn)
bs += "0";
m = m shr 1;

} while (m);

if (bs == "") bs = "0";
return bs;
}

() = printf("%s\n", int_to_bin(5));
() = printf("%s\n", int_to_bin(50));
() = printf("%s\n", int_to_bin(9000));
Output:
101
110010
10001100101000
Scala[edit]
Scala has an implicit conversion from Int to RichInt which has a method toBinaryString.
scala> (5 toBinaryString)
res0: String = 101

scala> (50 toBinaryString)
res1: String = 110010

scala> (9000 toBinaryString)
res2: String = 10001100101000
Scheme[edit]
(display (number->string 5 2)) (newline)
(display (number->string 50 2)) (newline)
(display (number->string 9000 2)) (newline)
Seed7[edit]
This example uses the radix operator to write a number in binary.
$ include "seed7_05.s7i";

const proc: main is func
local
var integer: number is 0;
begin
for number range 0 to 16 do
writeln(number radix 2);
end for;
end func;
Output:
0
1
10
11
100
101
110
111
1000
1001
1010
1011
1100
1101
1110
1111
10000
SequenceL[edit]
main := toBinaryString([5, 50, 9000]);

toBinaryString(number(0)) :=
let
val := "1" when number mod 2 = 1 else "0";
in
toBinaryString(floor(number/2)) ++ val when floor(number/2) > 0
else
val;
Output:
["101","110010","10001100101000"]
Sidef[edit]
[5, 50, 9000].each { |n|
say n.as_bin;
}
Output:
101
110010
10001100101000
Simula[edit]
BEGIN

PROCEDURE OUTINTBIN(N); INTEGER N;
BEGIN
IF N > 1 THEN OUTINTBIN(N//2);
OUTINT(MOD(N,2),1);
END OUTINTBIN;

INTEGER SAMPLE;
FOR SAMPLE := 5, 50, 9000 DO BEGIN
OUTINTBIN(SAMPLE);
OUTIMAGE;
END;

END
Output:
101
110010
10001100101000
SkookumScript[edit]
println(5.binary)
println(50.binary)
println(9000.binary)
Or looping over a list of numbers:
{5 50 9000}.do[println(item.binary)]
Output:
101
110010
10001100101000
Smalltalk[edit]
5 printOn: Stdout radix:2
50 printOn: Stdout radix:2
9000 printOn: Stdout radix:2
or:
#(5 50 9000) do:[:each | each printOn: Stdout radix:2. Stdout cr]
SNOBOL4[edit]

define('bin(n,r)') :(bin_end)
bin bin = le(n,0) r :s(return)
bin = bin(n / 2, REMDR(n,2) r) :(return)
bin_end

output = bin(5)
output = bin(50)
output = bin(9000)
end
Output:
101
110010
10001100101000
SNUSP[edit]

/recurse\
$,binary!\@\>?!\@/<@\.#
 ! \=/ \[email protected]@@[email protected]+++++#
/<+>- \ div2
\?!#-?/+# mod2

Standard ML[edit]
print (Int.fmt StringCvt.BIN 5 ^ "\n");
print (Int.fmt StringCvt.BIN 50 ^ "\n");
print (Int.fmt StringCvt.BIN 9000 ^ "\n");
Swift[edit]
for num in [5, 50, 9000] {
println(String(num, radix: 2))
}
Output:
101
110010
10001100101000
Tcl[edit]
proc num2bin num {
# Convert to _fixed width_ big-endian 32-bit binary
binary scan [binary format "I" $num] "B*" binval


Number 2475 facts
The odd number 2,475 is spelled 🔊, and written in words: two thousand, four hundred and seventy-five. The ordinal number 2475th is said 🔊 and written as: two thousand, four hundred and seventy-fifth. The meaning of the number 2475 in Maths: Is it Prime? Factorization and prime factors tree. The square root and cube root of 2475. What is 2475 in computer science, numerology, codes and images, writing and naming in other languages. Other interesting facts related to 2475.
Interesting facts about the number 2475
Asteroids
 - (2475) Semenov is asteroid number 2475. It was discovered by L. V. Zhuravliova from Nauchni on 10/8/1972.
Distances between cities
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,983 km) direct distance between Amman (Jordan) and Nashik (India).
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,983 km) direct distance between Amritsar (India) and Shenzhen (China).
 - There is a 1,538 miles (2,475 km) direct distance between Anyang (China) and Quezon City (Philippines).
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,983 km) direct distance between Bandung (Indonesia) and Bangalore (India).
 - More distances between cities ...
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,982 km) direct distance between Baotou (China) and Vadodara (India).
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,982 km) direct distance between Casablanca (Morocco) and Jerusalem (Israel).
 - There is a 1,538 miles (2,475 km) direct distance between Da Nang (Viet Nam) and Zhu Cheng City (China).
 - There is a 1,538 miles (2,475 km) direct distance between Dar es Salaam (Tanzania) and Soweto (South Africa).
 - There is a 1,538 miles (2,475 km) direct distance between Fort Worth (USA) and Montréal (Alberta).
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,983 km) direct distance between Guwahati (India) and Hiroshima-shi (Japan).
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,983 km) direct distance between Hangzhou (China) and Visakhapatnam (India).
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,983 km) direct distance between Hengyang (China) and Peshawar (Pakistan).
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,983 km) direct distance between Hyderabad (Pakistan) and Xianyang (China).
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,982 km) direct distance between İstanbul (Turkey) and Multān (Pakistan).
 - There is a 1,538 miles (2,475 km) direct distance between Luanda (Angola) and Soweto (South Africa).
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,983 km) direct distance between Lucknow (India) and Taichung (Taiwan).
 - There is a 1,538 miles (2,475 km) direct distance between Mandalay (Burma / Myanmar) and Srinagar (India).
 - There is a 2,475 miles (3,983 km) direct distance between Maracay (Venezuela) and Ottawa (Alberta).
History and politics
 - United Nations Security Council Resolution number 2475, adopted 20 June 2019. Protection of civilians in armed conflict. Resolution text.
What is 2,475 in other units
The decimal (Arabic) number 2475 converted to a Roman number is MMCDLXXV. Roman and decimal number conversions.
The number 2475 converted to a Mayan number is mayan number 2475
Decimal and Mayan number conversions.
Length conversion
2475 kilometers (km) equals to 1538 miles (mi).
2475 miles (mi) equals to 3984 kilometers (km).
2475 meters (m) equals to 8120 feet (ft).
2475 feet (ft) equals 754.389 meters (m).
Power conversion
2475 Horsepower (hp) equals to 1820.11 kilowatts (kW)
2475 kilowatts (kW) equals to 3365.52 horsepower (hp)
Time conversion
(hours, minutes, seconds, days, weeks)
2475 seconds equals to 41 minutes, 15 seconds
2475 minutes equals to 1 day, 17 hours, 15 minutes
Codes and images of the number 2475
Number 2475 morse code: ..--- ....- --... .....
Sign language for number 2475:
Sign language for number 2475 Sign language for number 2475 Sign language for number 2475 Sign language for number 2475
Number 2475 in braille:
Number 2475 in braille
Images of the number
Image (1) of the numberImage (2) of the number
Number 2475 black image Number 2475 red image
More images, other sizes, codes and colors ...
Number 2475 infographic
Gregorian, Hebrew, Islamic, Persian and Buddhist Year (Calendar)
Gregorian year 2475 is Buddhist year 3018.
Buddhist year 2475 is Gregorian year 1932 .
Gregorian year 2475 is Islamic year 1910 or 1911.
Islamic year 2475 is Gregorian year 3022 or 3023.
Gregorian year 2475 is Persian year 1853 or 1854.
Persian year 2475 is Gregorian 3096 or 3097.
Gregorian year 2475 is Hebrew year 6235 or 6236.
Hebrew year 2475 is Gregorian year 1285 a. C.
The Buddhist calendar is used in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Laos, Thailand, and Burma. The Persian calendar is the official calendar in Iran and Afghanistan.
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Advanced math operations
Is Prime?
The number 2475 is not a prime number. The closest prime numbers are 2473, 2477.
The 2475th prime number in order is 22079.
Factorization and factors (dividers)
The prime factors of 2475 are 3 * 3 * 5 * 5 * 11
The factors of 2475 are
1, 3, 5, 9, 11, 15, 25, 33, 45, 55, 75, 99, 165, 225, 275, 495, 825, 2475.
Total factors 18.
Sum of factors 4836 (2361).
Prime factor tree
Powers
The second power of 24752 is 6.125.625.
The third power of 24753 is 15.160.921.875.
Roots
The square root √2475 is 49,749372.
The cube root of 32475 is 13,526696.
Logarithms
The natural logarithm of No. ln 2475 = loge 2475 = 7,813996.
The logarithm to base 10 of No. log10 2475 = 3,393575.
The Napierian logarithm of No. log1/e 2475 = -7,813996.
Trigonometric functions
The cosine of 2475 is 0,839186.
The sine of 2475 is -0,543844.
The tangent of 2475 is -0,648061.
Properties of the number 2475
Number 2475 in Computer Science
Code typeCode value
PIN 2475 It's recommended that you use 2475 as your password or PIN.
2475 Number of bytes2.4KB
Unix timeUnix time 2475 is equal to Thursday Jan. 1, 1970, 12:41:15 a.m. GMT
IPv4, IPv6Number 2475 internet address in dotted format v4 0.0.9.171, v6 ::9ab
2475 Decimal = 100110101011 Binary
2475 Decimal = _PHONE_ Ternary
2475 Decimal = 4653 Octal
2475 Decimal = 9AB Hexadecimal (0x9ab hex)
2475 BASE64MjQ3NQ==
2475 MD5fec87a37cdeec1c6ecf8181c0aa2d3bf
2475 SHA1cede2cae344654d839d77e65651ebfd1472332a0
2475 SHA224c77a806de3690e7b15f29f121eedd08fc3a886a4440a8e7790347269
2475 SHA256142522997f0a1ec79df3f8788969baaa9ed0306afdeb66b036a3e486cc458a83
2475 SHA384346f31fba792b4fb3a5353c06df27077606da6d36e10de7246172c9e79d96cd230e035068b5b3e7659601b75dea89a0c
More SHA codes related to the number 2475 ...
If you know something interesting about the 2475 number that you did not find on this page, do not hesitate to write us here.
Numerology 2475
The meaning of the number 7 (seven), numerology 7
Character frequency 7: 1
The number 7 (seven) is the sign of the intellect, thought, psychic analysis, idealism and wisdom. This number first needs to gain self-confidence and to open his/her life and heart to experience trust and openness in the world. And then you can develop or balance the aspects of reflection, meditation, seeking knowledge and knowing.
More about the the number 7 (seven), nu


Heaven Questions.com
Your Subtitle text
Questions & Answers About Heaven
With Randy Alcorn
Will there be animals in heaven?
Elijah was taken up to heaven in a chariot pulled by horses (2 Kings 2:11). We're told there are horses in heaven (Revelation 6:2-8; 19:11). In fact, there are lots of horses, enough for the vast armies of heaven to ride (Revelation 19:11; 2 Kings 6:17).
Other animals aren't mentioned in the Revelation passages, presumably because they don't play a role in Christ's second coming (an army bringing deliverance rides horses, not Dalmatians or hedgehogs). But isn't it likely that since there are innumerable horses in heaven there are all kinds of other animals too? Why wouldn't there be? Why would we expect horses to be the only animals? If there were no other animals, there wouldn't be horses.
In Isaiah 65:17 God refers to creating a New Heavens and a New Earth. In subsequent verses the text seems to move back and forth from the millennial kingdom to the New Earth. God makes clear he will have animals living there-either in the millennium or the New Earth or both (Isaiah 65:25).
Some also argue for animals being in heaven based on Ecclesiastes 3:19-21, which says "Man's fate is like that of the animals...all go to the same place." However, in the larger context of Ecclesiastes Solomon is simply talking about the outward appearance of death. Men and animals both die and we can't see where they go. Scripture tells us elsewhere, however, that man has an eternal soul. It tells us he goes one of two places at death. Animals are not said to have eternal souls. They are not said to relocate when they die. The presumption would be that at death they cease to exist.
However, this doesn't mean beloved animals won't be in heaven. I once read Billy Graham's response to a little girl's question, "Will my dog who died this week be in heaven?" Graham replied, "If it would make you any happier, then yes, he will be." Animals aren't nearly as valuable as people, but God is their maker and has touched many people's lives through them. It would be simple for Him to recreate a pet in heaven. I see no reason to believe he wouldn't if it would bring his children pleasure.
Romans 8:18-22 says that the whole creation was subject to suffering and futility because of human sin. The creation groans in longing for the liberation that will come to humans, and thereby to all creation itself. Creation is under man's dominion and will share the rewards of his redemption just as it shared the punishment for his sin. Animals are a central part of that creation, next to man himself the most significant part. After all, besides his wife, Adam was called upon to give names only to one other part of the creation-the animals (Genesis 2:19-20). He worked the garden, but he wasn't invited to name the vegetation. Clearly, the animals had certain qualities that set them above other creation. They were to be special to man, and his naming them makes his connection with them personal.
If the New Earth is all the best of the old earth and more, then we should expect it to contain animals. If animals weren't part of the New Earth, this would seem an obvious oversight. Eden was ruined through sin and will be restored through Christ's reign of righteousness. All that was part of Eden, and then made wrong through the sin of the first Adam, we would expect to be part of the New Earth, made right through the virtue of the Second Adam.
Would God take away from us in heaven what he gave, for delight and companionship and help, to Adam and Eve in Eden? Would he revoke his earlier decision to put animals with man, and under man's care? If he remakes the New Earth with new men (who look very much like the old men, only perfect), wouldn't we expect him also to make new animals (who will presumably look like the old animals, only perfect)?
2 Kings 2:11
Revelation 6:2-8
The Second Seal--War
The Third Seal--Famine
The Fourth Seal--Death
Revelation 19:11
2 Kings 6:17
Isaiah 65:17
Isaiah 65:25
The wolf and the lamb will graze together, and the lion will eat straw like the ox; and dust will be the serpent's food They will do no evil or harm in all My holy mountain," says the LORD.
Ecclesiastes 3:19-21
Romans 8:18-22
Genesis 2:19-20
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By Randy Alcorn
Eternal Perspective Ministries
39085 Pioneer Blvd. Suite 206
Sandy, OR 97055
_PHONE_
Website Builder


author = {H. Schepker and A. Dekorsy},
 year = {2011},
 month = {Nov},
 title = {Sparse Multi-User Detection for CDMA Transmission using Greedy Algorithms},
 URL = {_URL_
 address={Aachen, Germany},
 abstract={A possible future application in communications is the uplink transmission with Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) in wireless sensor networks. Assuming that each sensor has a low activity factor, than the transmitted multi-user signal is sparse. Known detectors for Multi-User Detection (MUD) are not well suited to detect sparse signals. However, Compressive Sensing (CS) theory introduces detectors that are able to recover sparse signals reliably. These detectors are even able to detect sparse signals in under-determined systems. Thereby allowing the CDMA system to be overloaded, which increases the symbol-rate for a given bandwidth. This paper will explain how greedy CS algorithms can be used for sparse MUD and analyze their errorrate performance in the case of an overloaded CDMA system. Here we will focus on greedy algorithms as they are more efficient than other sparsity exploiting algorithms of CS.
 booktitle={8th International Symposium on Wireless Communication Systems (ISWCS 11)}


Nanticoke, Ontario
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Unlike the majority of Haldimand or Norfolk County, Nanticoke is a highly industralized community. Its industries supply up to 4000MW of electric energy to Southern Ontario through the Nanticoke Generating Station. This community is southeast of Simcoe in neighbouring Norfolk County and south of Brantford. Nanticoke's residential area is bordered on the west by the Nanticoke Industrial Park, home to the U. S. Steel Canada Lake Erie Works and a number of smaller businesses, including Nelson Steel, Charles Jones Industrial, ESM, and Air Products. The neighbouring Esso Refinery Nanticoke on the northeast, and the Nanticoke Generating Station on the southeast are not part of the Industrial Park land, although this is frequently confused due to their proximity.
One of Nanticoke's natural landmarks is Peacock Point; which is surrounded by modest working class houses.[1] Camp Guinane is a camping spot that is located near the core of Nanticoke.[1] One of the closest communities to Nanticoke is Jarvis; which is only 11.4 kilometres or 7.1 miles to the north-northeast.[1] There are plenty of streams, valleys, and even a lake within a short driving distance from Nanticoke.[1] Selkirk Provincial Park is approximately 11 kilometres or 6.8 miles away and is the closest provincial park to Nanticoke.[1]
Nanticoke is also the home to one of the world's active seaports; located at 42°47′09″N 80°04′41″W / 42.785764°N 80.078015°W / 42.785764; -80.078015 (Seaport of Nanticoke, Ontario).
Once considered to be a bustling farming and fishing community inhabited since the late 18th century, Nanticoke adapted itself to the Industrial Revolution and became a desired spot for heavy industry to move in through the decades.
In 1974, Nanticoke was incorporated as a city within the Regional Municipality of Haldimand-Norfolk through the amalgamation of the towns of Port Dover and Waterford, the village of Jarvis, and parts of the townships of Rainham, Townsend, Walpole and Woodhouse. In 2001, the town and all other municipalities within the region were dissolved and the region was divided into two single tier municipalities with city-status but called counties. What was the city of Nanticoke is now split between Haldimand County (Ward 1) and Norfolk County (Wards 6 and 7).
Wind turbines are scheduled to be implemented in this community by the year 2013.[2]
Census Population
1981 19,816
1991 22,727
1996 23,485
Notable people[edit]
 1. ^ a b c d e Nanticoke, Ontario at
 2. ^ Daniel Pearce (2011). "Green projects receive go-ahead". Brantford Expositor. Retrieved 2012-01-24. The big news, however, was in Haldimand County. That community was awarded a project that could see up to 100 wind turbines along the lake-shore in the Nanticoke area. As well, the proposal that includes the Port Dover windmills extends into Haldimand, where another 40 or more turbines could be located. mirror
Coordinates: 42°48′41″N 80°04′20″W / 42.8115°N 80.072308°W / 42.8115; -80.072308


King Edward Primary School Excitement + Determination = Success
Mr Men CoEL
We use the Characteristics of Effective Learning (CofEL) across EYFS (FS1 and FS2). They are the building blocks of how children learn and the qualities they require to be effective learners. If your child comes home with one of these stickers, they have shown that they are an effective learner in their play or learning! We aim for all children to learn our CofEL.


text:
Euphorbia oblongata Griseb. (SE-Eur.) – A very rare alien, most probably an escape from cultivation. A single plant of Euphorbia oblongata was discovered in woodland in Roeselare (Sterrebos) in 2008 (later confirmed but now gone). It grew in half-shade by a ditch. Its origin is obscure: the Sterrebos is an old park (with, among others, long-established populations of Euphorbia dulcis and Trachystemon orientalis) but E. oblongata appears to be a recent, independent introduction. Since 2011 a small population of Euphorbia oblongata also persists by river Schelde in Eine (Oudenaarde). This species is, surprisingly, not mentioned by Carter & Cullen (1997) and Jäger & al. (2008) although a garden origin seems most likely.
Euphorbia oblongata is a poorly known species (see also Barrett 1996). It is one of the few species with 2(-3) cyathial glands (4 in nearly all widespread species in Eurasia). It furthermore usually has densely pubescent stems (although nearly glabrous forms also exist).
Similar plants have been recorded by a ditch in Brugge around 2000 but the population was destroyed soon afterwards (and voucher specimens are lacking).
Barrett D. (1996) Euphoria oblongata Griseb. in S.E. Hampshire (v.c. 11). BSBI News 71: 46-48.
Carter S. & Cullen J. (1997) Euphorbia. In: Cullen J. & al. (eds.), The European Garden Flora, vol. 5. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge: 81-101.
Clement E.J. (1979) Adventive news: 14. Euphorbia oblongata Griseb. in Britain. BSBI News 22: 16-17.
Jäger E.J., Ebel F., Hanelt P. & Müller G. (eds.) (2008) Rothmaler Band 5. Exkursionsflora von Deutschland. Krautige Zier- und Nutzpflanzen. Springer Verlag, Berlin: 880 p.
Petch C.P. (1979) Euphorbia oblongata. BSBI News 23: 26.


text:
If you are a "Letter of Intent" homeschooler in the state of Maine (i.e. Option 1), at the end of your school year, you will need to have an assessment of some type completed. The results are then submitted to both the state and the superintendent along with your Subsequent Letter of Intent by September 1st for the new school year.
There are various ways you can comply with this part of the law. (Read the actual statute by clicking HERE and looking under Statute 3.A.4.b.). Links and information for resources can be found at the bottom of the page.
You must do one of the following methods of evaluation at the end of the year (prior to September 1st when your Subsequent Letter of Intent is due):
- Standardized achievement test administered via the school district – this needs to be arranged with the school if you opt for this option
- Standardized achievement test administered by the parent or another individual
- A portfolio review of the student's work for the year done by a Maine certified teacher
- A group portfolio review that a Maine certified teacher still signs off on.
Please note – if you opt to have a Maine certified teacher do a portfolio review we strongly encourage that you:
- Make sure the teacher is homeschooling friendly! You will not want a teacher who is against homeschooling to review your portfolio.
- The teacher should only be looking for progress made. They should not be comparing your child to anyone but your child! It does not matter if the little Jimmy is in "fifth grade" but not doing the same things that the local fifth grade public school are doing. If little Jimmy has made progress since last year, that is all that matters!
So what exactly is a portfolio anyway?
A portfolio is simply a sampling of your child's work over the course of the year that shows progress made. There are many, many ways to go about doing this. Just remember, you need someone to look through it so make it as easy and organized for them as you can. They will appreciate it.
A favorite method is simply the "3-ring binder" approach. Over the course of the year there is a lot of paper generated in a homeschool. Simply take worksheets and/or tests for each subject from the beginning of the year, the middle of the year, and the end of the year that shows how your child has progressed through a subject and place them in a 3-ring binder. Organizing them by subject is the most helpful method.
Since this assessment is required for Option 1 families, you will want to be sure you have covered all the required subjects and that your portfolio shows this. A short write up about how you covered the subject can also be very helpful to the reviewer and a nice reminder what you did outside of textbook learning.
Included should also be:
- A record of your attendance (175 days is required by law)
- A log of all books read by the child, to the child, and include audiobooks as well.
- A log of field trips taken (this can be done via reports by the child, photos taken at the event, or a simple listing of where you went).
Alternative methods from the 3-ring binder:
- A digital photo book (scans of work samples could and should be included)
- A completely digital presentation (such as Power Point) contained on a disk or thumb drive or loaded online. If your child sings or plays an instrument as part of their school or participates in plays or other types of fine arts activities that may be hard to contain in a paper portfolio, videos and the like can be included in this type of portfolio.
- While it's not recommended, you can simply bring all your child's work for the teacher to flip through. However, be considerate of the time constraint to this method.
There are a few helpful sites on the internet that will may be of help.
- Oklahoma Homeschool – Recordkeeping. Please be advised that this is set up for Oklahoma laws. You do NOT need to include your child's medical records. Learning objectives are helpful, but also not required. The same goes for the resource list. This should be used as a guideline only to help give you some ideas.
- AtoZ Homeschools Cool Portfolio Examples – lots of different examples listed.
- Successful Homeschooling – great page that includes links to printable forms.
- How to Create a Homeschool Portfolio – straightforward and helpful advice.
Standardized Testing Options:
- California Achievement Tests – can be administered at home by the parent either in a paper form or online. Can be purchased through Seton Testing Services ($25 – paper version only) or through Christian Liberty ($25 – offers either paper or online versions).
- IOWA Testing – can only be administered by someone with a bachelor's degree. Can be purchased through Seton Testing Services. Cost varies by grade.
- SATs or ACTs or PSATs can count for students in high school.
- You can also contact your local school district if you would like your child to participate in any of the national or state tests administered at the district.
- Sarah Cook. Located in North New Portland. Homesschooling Mom. Cost: $20 first child and $15 for each subsequent child. Email – _EMAIL_. Able to do long-distance reviews via email.
- Robin Merrill. Located in Madison. Homeschooling Mom. Cost: $25 each. Email – rmerrill44
- Jackie Chovanes Email – _EMAIL_
- Laura Sholtz Email – _EMAIL_
- Laurie Wolfrum Email – _EMAIL_ Able to travel some and will do long distance reviews.
- Sheriann Y. Jalbert. Located in Bangor. Homeschooling Mom. Cost $30 (offers a family discount and will also barter). Can also administer standardized tests. Email – _EMAIL_
- Amy Bartlett. Homeschooling Mom. Email – _EMAIL_. Able to travel. Able to do long-distance reviews.
- Michelle Grimbilas Email – _EMAIL_. Turner
- Christine Hazard located in Farmington. Homeschooling mom. $20 per portfolio (family discounts). Email: _EMAIL_ Phone: _PHONE_
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Read what we are doing to keep campus safe and healthy –
Danner named Samuelson Student Distinction Award winner
An award is always nice to win, but there is something special about an award from your peers. That's what makes the Dr. Jeanine B. Samuelson Student Distinction Award so unique.
This year's winner is Clare Danner, a double-major in communication and English. Danner's classmates spoke strongly of her commitment to the core qualities of what make a HAC student. They mentioned her ability to rally students together for study groups. Her general positivity was an inspiring quality that was noted to be on display even when she was having a bad day. Said one student, "People just like her. They gravitate to her."
Mention was made of her commitment to her values and faith, and how those around her admired that in her. Those values shine through in her integrity in and outside of the classroom, with her unwillingness to ever take the easy route out and copy someone's homework or even study guide. It was maybe best summed up by one nominator who said, "Clare embodies everything that the award stands for in a fun-sized, red-headed package, and I am so proud of who she is, what she has accomplished, and where she is going."
Danner is a sophomore who plays soccer for Trine University. Additionally, she has worked this past year as part of the HAC Media Team, writing articles for this website.
The Samuelson Student Distinction Award is given each year. Faculty from the department choose based on nominations from other students. They are asked to pick a classmate that best exhibits the key qualities the department feels are instrumental to a successful Humanities and Communication student. Those are:
 1. Teamwork, exhibiting great communication skills
 2. Leadership in the classroom and departmental activities
 3. Valuing of diversity in the classroom and across campus
 4. Commitment to academic excellence
 5. Dedication to the HAC department and his or her professional field
 6. Excitement and passion in the classroom and departmental activities
 7. Ethical behavior and decision making in and outside of the classroom
The award is named for Dr. Jeanine Samuelson, who worked at Trine University for over 20 years. In that time, she served primarily as a German instructor, who also taught many sections of speech and developed student trips to Europe as part of the study abroad program. She was beloved by her students as she took a personal interest in their lives, and brought them cookies on Friday afternoons—all the while demanding and receiving academic excellence. She remains active with the department.


text:
|Authors: ||S. Spiegel, R.R. Martin|
Determining the virological status of in vitro grown rosaceous plant material requires, in most cases, removing plantlets from test tubes and growing them out in a greenhouse to fully developed plants which are then indexed by grafting onto virus indicator plants.
Detection of strawberry mild yellow-edge disease (SMYE), among other virus diseases, in strawberry plantlets grown in vitro has followed this procedure.
This is a time-consuming process which causes delays in the release of plant material to breeders and/or growers.
Two approaches were made to detect virus directly in plantlets grown in vitro: a) Leaves were excised, under axenic conditions, from known infected plantlets and grafted onto greenhouse-grown Fragaria vesca indicators.
Following a protocol which resulted in high graft survival, indicators showed typical SMYE symptoms within 20–25 days. b) To detect the filamentous particles associated with SMYE in plantlets grown in vitro by immunosorbent electron microscopy.
Rod-shaped particles were trapped from homogenates of infected plantlets and not from healthy plants by the antiserum made against an expressed fusion protein.
This polypeptide consisted of the putative coat protein of the potexvirus associated with SMYE fused to glutathione transferase in the GEX-1 expression vector.
Blind tests performed with known-infected plantlets from five countries gave positive results consistently.
These results were later confirmed by grafting onto indicators.
It was also found that the concentration of particles in leaf homogenates was higher than in root homogenates.
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URL _URL_ Hosted by KU Leuven


text:
Sintra National Palace
Situated in the town's historic centre, Sintra National Palace is a unique monument, distinguished by its outstanding historical, architectural and artistic value.
Of all the palaces built by the Portuguese monarchs throughout the Middle Ages, only the Palace of Sintra has survived to the present day virtually intact, still maintaining the same essential features of its shape and outline since the mid-16th century.
The Capuchos Convent, also known as the "Cork Convent", was founded in 1560.
The convent is remarkable for the extreme poverty of its construction and the extensive use of cork in the protection and decoration of its tiny spaces, thus embodying the ideals of the Order of St. Francis of Assisi: the search for spiritual perfection by removing oneself from the world and renouncing the pleasures associated with earthly life.
The Palace was designed by the architects Thomas James Knowles (father and son) and built in 1858, having been commissioned by Sir Francis Cook, Viscount of Monserrate.
It was the Cook family's summer residence.
One of the finest landscape gardens of the romantic era. It contains a remarkable botanical collection of species from all over the world.


Bypass Navigation Bar
Word Search
Find and circle ten words hidden in the puzzle below that describe tools used by scientists at the Environmental Science Center to study the environment. The words are listed to the right of the puzzle. Circle the words by clicking your mouse on one end of the word and dragging the mouse to the other end. Once you have circled the word, it will disappear from the list on the right. Words may be hidden horizontally, vertically, and diagonally in the puzzle.
Look below the puzzle to find out what the words mean.
Analyze To break down a sample into different parts in order to identify each part.
Beaker A glass or plastic container that chemists use to measure and pour liquids.
Buret A glass tube marked with a scale that scientists use to measure how much space a liquid takes up.
Chemistry The study of matter. Matter is anything that occupies space, from very small objects like atoms to very large objects like the sun.
Technology Tools that make people's lives easier and help them understand the natural world.
Microscope A laboratory tool that uses a lens to make a small object look larger.
Petri Dish A glass or plastic dish used by scientists to grow tiny single-celled organisms called Bacteria (see below).
Bacteria Tiny single-celled organisms that live in water, soil, plants, and animals. Bacteria are usually round, spiral-shaped, or rod-shaped. Bacteria are so small that they can only be seen with a Microscope (see above).
Laboratory A place where scientists perform experiments and use tools like a microscope or petri dish to study different kinds of matter.
Solvent A liquid that helps to separate the different parts of a sample. The separated parts can then be identified by the scientist. An example of a solvent is acetone, an ingredient in nail polish remover.


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The Federal Communications Commission (the "FCC") recently released its Declaratory Ruling and Order regarding the requirements of the Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 (the "TCPA"). The FCC Order provides some good news for the healthcare industry, clarifying the TCPA's application regarding calls to patients by healthcare providers, and granting an exemption from the TCPA's prior express consent requirement for certain healthcare calls that are not charged to the end recipient. Here's what you need to know:
Prior Express Consent:
- The General Rule. The Ruling clarifies that when a patient provides his telephone number to a healthcare provider, such provision constitutes prior express consent for healthcare calls subject to HIPAA. The express consent only extends to HIPAA covered entities and business associates acting on their behalf as defined in the HIPAA privacy rules and only to calls made within the scope of the consent given, and absent contrary instructions.
- Incapacitated Third Parties. The FCC Order additionally addressed the issue of whether a third party may provide a telephone number and prior express consent for incapacitated patients. In doing so, the FCC recognized that in certain situations, it may be impossible for a caller to provide prior express consent due to incapacity. The Order therefore allows for a third party to provide prior express consent to make healthcare calls subject to HIPAA where a party is unable to consent because of medical incapacity. In those situations, prior express consent to make healthcare calls subject to HIPAA may be obtained from a third party. As such, healthcare providers may make healthcare calls subject to HIPAA, to an incapacitated patient based on the prior express consent of a third party. At the time the patient is considered capable to grant consent on his own behalf, the third party consent is no longer valid. At that point, the healthcare provider must obtain prior express consent from the patient himself.
Free to End User Calls:
The Order also provides a limited exemption from the TCPA's prior express consent requirement for certain non-telemarketing, healthcare calls that are not charged to the receiving party.
- What Calls are Exempt?
- Calls have a healthcare treatment purpose
- Appointment and exam confirmations and reminders,
- Wellness checkups,
- Hospital pre-registration instructions,
- Preoperative instructions,
- Lab results,
- Post-discharge follow-up intended to prevent readmission,
- Prescription notifications
- Home healthcare instructions.
- What Calls are Not Exempt?Calls regarding accounting, debt collections, payment notifications, Social Security disability eligibility or other financial content.
- Requirements for Exempted Calls:
- Voice calls and text messages must be free to the end user and not counted against any plan limits to the recipient;
- Voice calls and text messages may be sent only to the wireless telephone number provided by the patient;
- Voice calls and text messages must state the name and contact information of the healthcare provider (for voice calls, these disclosures must be provided at the beginning of the call);
- Voice calls and text messages are strictly limited to the purpose permitted in the FCC's ruling;
- Voice calls and text messages must not include any telemarketing, solicitation, or advertising;
- All communications must comply with HIPAA privacy rules;
- Voice calls and text messages must be concise
- one minute or less in length for voice calls (unless more time is needed to obtain customer responses or answer customer questions)
- 160 characters or less in length for text messages;
- A healthcare provider may initiate only one (1) message per day, up to a maximum of three (3) voice calls or text messages combined per week from a specific healthcare provider;
- A healthcare provider must offer recipients within each message an easy means to opt out of future such messages;
- voice calls that could be answered by a live person must include an automated, interactive voice and/or key press-activated opt-out mechanism that enables the call recipient to make an opt-out request prior to terminating the call,
- voice calls that could be answered by an answering machine or voice mail service must include a toll-free number that the consumer can call to opt out of future healthcare calls, text messages must inform recipients of the ability to opt out by replying "STOP," which will be the exclusive means by which consumers may opt out of such messages; and,A healthcare provider must honor the opt-out requests immediately.


text:
Professor of the Practice of Electrical and Computer Engineering
Walter Collett, professor of the practice of electrical and computer engineering, was a member of the engineering faculty at Western Kentucky University for the past 18 years. He received B.S. and M.S. degrees in electrical engineering and his Ph.D. in engineering from Tennessee Technological University where his doctoral research topic was investigating an electromagnetic wave technique to calculate radiation pressure forces on laser-driven micro-gears.
Four early-career academics have also joined the teaching faculty as assistant professors of the practice as well.


Difference between revisions of "Implement interface contracts"
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[[Category:CLASP Activity]]
[[Category:CLASP Activity]]
[[Category:BP4 Implement secure development practices]]
Latest revision as of 07:50, 3 June 2009
 - Provide unit-level semantic input validation.
 - Identify reliability errors in a structured way at the earliest point in time.
 - Implementer
 - As needed; generally as functions or methods are modified.
Interface contracts are also commonly known as assertions. They can be a formidable tool for preventing security problems - particularly if applied consistently, and rigorously.
In many application development processes, interface contracts are not enabled in production software. They are removed by habit in order to improve efficiency. If the efficiency impact is nominal for the project, CLASP strongly recommends leaving such checks in the code for the sake of security.
Otherwise, checks of security critical parameters should be implemented using a permanent mechanism, such as code directly at the top of the function, as discussed in activities below.
Implement validation and error handling on function or method inputs
For each method or function visible outside its compilation unit, specify in code what the expectations are for valid input values. One should validate that each input variable has a valid value in and of itself, and should determine validity in relation to other inputs. Validation checks should contain no side effects. Failures should be handled as specified in design. See CLASP Resource B for the concept on input validation.
Input variables should not be constrained to parameters. Any variable read by the function or method should be considered an input variable - including global variables, and class and method variables. Note that some interface contract facilities will allow specifying invariants for an entire class - i.e., things that must always be true about class data before and after each method invocation - once.
Implement validation on function or method outputs
Perform the same validation between relationships before exiting a function or method. Output specifications are meant to provide a clear behavioral specification to calling code to prevent accidental misuse.
Generally, output validation code is most useful in implementation. It is reasonable to disable such code for deployment or even use pseudo-code if absolutely necessary.


text:
A recent piece from historian Erik Linstrum over on Aeon may be of interest to AHP readers. In "The Empire Dreamt Back" Linstrum explores the role of psychoanalysis in British colonial rule. The piece begins:
Every state needs to know about the people it rules. Censuses, property surveys and tax records are familiar and tangible expressions of the state's need to maintain power by accumulating knowledge. This is not just a matter of tedious bureaucratic record-keeping: especially when confronted with unfamiliar problems, states often turn to cutting-edge technologies and forms of expertise to make sense of the populations under their authority. In the early 20th-century Age of Empire, when European colonies stretched across the world, psychoanalysis was the novel technique of the moment. In an attempt to better understand their colonial subjects in those years, officials in the British empire undertook a curious and little-known research project: to collect dreams from the people of South Asia, Africa and the Pacific. The results were not what they expected.
Read the full article here.


text:
Please see here posting on a small dog.
a small dog photoset
A dog (the scientific name is Canis lupus familiaris) is a four-legged mammal from a category of dogs, a subspecies of a wolf that were domesticated nearly 15, a new subspecies of a wolf that had been domesticated 15 000 years back and was the first domesticated animal. Since then dogs have been spread around the globe and are accompanying people generally in most of days gone by and existing cultures, such as for example working animals, guards, hunting assistants or pets just. In accordance with recent rough estimates, the entire world people is between 700 mil and 1 billion canines, with the biggest number of predators on Earth.
For the activities of mating, education and informal study of dogs, a standard term kinology is used, and canines are usually studied by zoologists scientifically.


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|Version 2 (modified by simonmar, 7 years ago)|
GHC Commentary: The Code Generator
Storage manager representations
The code generator needs to know the layout of heap objects, because it generates code that accesses and constructs those heap objects. The runtime also needs to know about the layout of heap objects, because it contains the garbage collector. How can we share the definition of storage layout such that the code generator and the runtime both have access to it, and so that we don't have to keep two independent definitions in sync?
Currently we solve the problem this way:
- C types representing heap objects are defined in the C header files, see for example includes/Closures.h.
- A C program, includes/mkDerivedConstants.c, _TAG_ the runtime headers. This program is built and run when you type make or make boot in includes/. It is run twice: once to generate includes\DerivedConstants.h, and again to generate includes/GHCConstants.h.
- The file DerivedConstants.h contains lots of _TAG_ like this:
_TAG_ OFFSET_StgTSO_why_blocked 18which says that the offset to the why_blocked field of an StgTSO is 18 bytes. This file is _TAG_ into includes/Cmm.h, so these offests are available to the hand-written.cmm files.
- The file GHCConstants.h contains similar definitions:
oFFSET_StgTSO_why_blocked = 18::IntThis time the definitions are in Haskell syntax, and this file is _TAG_ directly into compiler/main/Constants.lhs. This is the way that these offsets are made available to GHC's code generator.


text:
Image segmentation is one of the difficult problems in computer vision research. Recently spectral clustering has a wide application in pattern recognition and image segmentation. Compared with traditional clustering methods, it can cluster samples in any form feature space and has a global optimal solution. Originating from the equivalence between the spectral clustering and weighted kernel K-means, the authors proposed a spectral clustering algorithm with spatial constraints based on the spatially coherent property of images, also named continuous property. The spatially coherent property means that pixels in the neighbor region should share the same label assignment with the centre one with a high probability. The algorithm adds a term of spatial constraints to the objective function of weighted kernel K-means and makes the minimization of the objective function be equivalent to the spectral clustering through approximation. Experimental results show that our proposed algorithm outperforms the traditional spectral clustering in image segmentation.
JIA Jian-Hua, JIAO Li-Cheng. IMAGE SEGMENTATION BY SPECTRAL CLUSTERING ALGORITHM WITH SPATIAL COHERENCE CONSTRAINTS[J]. Journal of Infrared and Millimeter Waves,2010,29(1):69~74Copy


DSS works to ensure accommodated quizzes, tests, and exams for students registered with DSS and who have testing accommodations. Other requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis and will depend on the current demands and workload of the DSS office.
The Accommodated Testing Process is as follows:
 1. Students with testing accommodations will request to take a test with DSS via "DSS Test Request" Google Form.
 1. One request must be made for each test.
 2. Students are required to make the request at least seven (7) days before a test is to be scheduled. If requested later than this deadline, it is not guaranteed that the student will be able to take the test with accommodations.
 3. If there are any changes to the request (e.g. test date) or if there are any concerns, please email _EMAIL_ immediately.
 2. Seven (7) days before the scheduled test, DSS will notify the instructor via email that their student has requested to take a test with DSS and will ask them to reply with test details.
 1. Instructors should respond within at least 2 days of receiving an email from DSS.
 2. Instructors will be asked for the following test details:
 1. Date and time of the test
 2. Duration of the test
 3. Test platform (Blackboard, Examsoft, etc., or in-person)
 4. Emergency phone number
 3. If there are any updates to test parameters, please email _EMAIL_.
 4. Note: Because DSS is responsible for ensuring testing accommodations are in place, it is critical that faculty respond to our accommodated testing emails, even if proctoring services are not needed. If a professor's failure to respond to DSS about testing accommodations becomes habitual, DSS will contact the Dean or Department Chair to address this matter.
 3. DSS will work with the instructor to ensure that testing accommodations are in place. When the exam is confirmed, DSS will send the student a calendar invite for the proctored exam.
 4. If a student wants to change the date and/or time of the test, students must email DSS (_EMAIL_) and the instructor to engage in the rescheduling process. DSS will work with the student and instructor to coordinate the rescheduled test.
Proctoring Information for Faculty
DSS will offer an option of Zoom and in-person proctoring for all students with testing accommodations whose professors are also Zoom/in-person proctoring their classmates (who do not have accommodations). If students without accommodations are not being proctored, DSS cannot proctor students with accommodations.
DSS Zoom Proctoring Schedule:
 - Monday: 2-5pm
 - Tuesday: 9am-12pm, 2-5pm
 - Wednesday: 9am-12pm, 2-5pm
 - Thursday: 2-5pm
 - Friday: 9am-12pm, 2-5pm
Please note the following regarding proctoring sessions:
 1. Each test proctoring session will take place via Zoom/in person; each proctored test session will have a limited capacity, likely including students from different classes.
 2. All students will be required to begin at the same time in order to minimize distractions during testing time.
 3. Some students may not be taking their exam proctored by DSS at the same time as their classmates. DSS will work to place students in a proctored time slot as close to their classmates as possible without missing other classes.
 4. DSS cannot guarantee student placement in a given test slot.
 5. DSS will assist with Comps/Hesi proctoring on a limited basis this semester. Any request for DSS proctoring for Comps/Hesi must submit a request at least 30 days in advance for consideration. DSS will work with the faculty and/or dean to determine whether DSS can provide proctoring.
Please note the following regarding proctoring scheduling:
 1. For the proctoring option to be successful, DSS will require professors to communicate their proctoring needs well in advance of the testing date, in order to coordinate student scheduling with proctoring times.
 2. When DSS emails faculty regarding a student's accommodated test request, it is imperative that professors respond as soon as possible, especially if they wish to request proctoring.
 1. Specific deadlines will be included in the student accommodated test emails sent to faculty.
 2. Faculty who do not adhere to these deadlines will no longer be able to engage DSS for proctoring and will need to proctor their own exams.
 3. DSS is not able to provide technical support for any lockdown browser issues.
 4. DSS is not able to control student submission of tests when they finish.
Please email DSS at _EMAIL_ if you have any questions.


While I was in Thailand in February (Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Krabi), I noticed low visibility throughout the country. It was like smog and it never got away. When flying I noticed this "smog" was instantly gone after reaching a couple kilometers of altitude.
Is this a normal phenomenom and what causes it?
enter image description here
The haze in northern Thailand is indeed a yearly phenomenon, but the main driver for it is local farmers burning fields to prepare for planting in the following wet season. Since it's the dry season, there's nothing to contain or tamp down the smoke and dust, plus there's 'normal' air pollution from cities, cars etc in the region. Throw in the local topography — valleys surrounded on all sides by mountains, no open ocean nearby — and you get pretty bad haze.
Some of this obviously filters down all the way to Bangkok as well, although that city has pretty bad air all year around thanks to plain old smog. You were pretty unlucky to get hit in Krabi as well though.
This is all somewhat different from the Indonesia/Malaysia/Singapore haze, which is caused by (mostly illegal) jungle clearance. Having experienced both first hand, this style of haze is both much more unpredictable, as it depends on wind direction, and much worse on a bad day, since a burning jungle produces a lot more smoke than a few piles of rice straw on a paddy. Since most of this originates from Sumatra and Borneo, it's unusual for it to make it as far north as Thailand, but if Malaysia really gets walloped then the southernmost bits of Thailand may be impacted as well.
 - 3
 The main driver for the March haze is not farmers, but is forest fires burning in the region. Farmers burning the rice stubble contributes, as do locals burning off the winter fallen leaves, but forest fires are a more major contributor. Look at the NASA fire spotter website - firms.modaps.eosdis.nasa.gov/firemap/… You will notice that the hot spots are in the mountainous regions, not in the flats where farmers would be burning rice field stubble. Farmers get blamed because their fires are visible. – user13044 Mar 19 '15 at 18:00
 - FYI, for current Air Quality Index (AQI) readings in English and live photo in Chiang Mai, see Chiang Mai Air. For live 48-hour readings in English in various places in Thailand, see World Air Quality Index Project such as in Bangkok or Chiang Mai. – Basil Bourque Mar 16 '18 at 1:50
While I can't be sure, I think this is a case of haze due to smoke from biomass burning.
There was an episode with a lot of burning events in February and March in Northern South-East Asia (the pictures are satellite pictures where active fires are highlighted). This has been reported in the region (news article, Singapore meteorological service), and is a well-known and annually recurring problem. Most of the fires are started by farmers to clear land, or for various other reason and tend to go out of control.
It also makes sense that the smoke will stay in lower altitudes (depending on weather). Of course this could be due to some other phenomenon that I am not aware of. If it was indeed smoke, then you might have noticed a burning smell in the air. Note that this seems to be a not so bad case and that visibility can get way worse.
Your Answer


I hate pandas
This report reminded me why I hate pandas.
I mean, why is an animal without the sense to eat anything more nutritionally valuable than bamboo shoots and won't even screw to save its species so uncritically loved by 99% of the world's humans? Pandas are ABSOLUTELY USELESS CREATURES.
Pandas are TOO FUSSY. Only a small number of bamboo species are acceptable dinner to them, and they change their minds all the time. No species with such food faddisms deserves to be exempted from Darwinism.
Pandas are STUPID. Just sitting around expecting the food to come to them? Pandas have a ridiculous sense of entitlement: if they were human, they'd be stars of CCTV and reality shows, and we'd be deriding them as lazy trailer trash. They're the chavs of the animal world.
Pandas DON'T REPRODUCE. You'd think that when breeding seasons are few and far between, they'd at least be able to make the effort for a night or two. But apparently romance is dead in panda country. Few pandas show any interest in sex, and it can't be just because they all look the same. Or are they just too selfish to bring fresh pandas into the world?
And lastly, saving useless pandas TAKES RESOURCES AWAY from creatures who'd be more grateful. Many termite species are in trouble, but – because termites don't look out at you from a fat furry face with big soulful black eyes, nobody cares about termites. And yet termites are AMAZING creatures. Just a few thousand neurons each, yet together they build architecture whose equivalent human scale would be buildings the size of Everest. Termites are incredible. And yet some species are in terminal decline. All because of those bastard pandas.
I hate pandas.
11 thoughts on "I hate pandas
 1. Because of people like you pandas are almost extinct. If everybody had that same additude then there would be no such thing as opptimism your just a self seeking pesmisit who doesnt care about animals. Pandas may not do anything but alot of animals dont do anything. Heres some advice get s job other than bagging on pandas they didnt do anything to you GET OVER YOUR SELF!
 - Not true. A LOT of animals do something. Wolves are constantly on the move, looking for prey and actually taking care of their young unlike some pandas here. Horses, cows, elephants. All those animals DO something! Pigs, ants, birds, fish. A panda is just DUMB. It's people like YOU that waste precious money on stupid pandas. That money could be going to other animals who would use it better! YOU get over yourself! Learn your panda facts! They're NOT WORTH IT. I'm an animal lover and have been all my life. I'm obsessed with animals, but even I know when an animal doesn't deserve to be on this planet.
 2. I totally agree.
 1. Pandas ditch their babies A LOT because they're too stupid and lazy. Hear that panda lovers? THEY'RE HORRIBLE PARENTS!!
 2. They are fat and lazy.
 3. All they do is eat all the time. They have ZERO personality. Why like an animal just for looks?
 4. They waste SOOO much money! Save the tiger! Or whale! C'mon, at least those animals are smart and resourceful! It's like giving money to a fat lazy slob who just burns your money but you give money to him anyway cuz he's cute! In so doing, you're killing the other kid who's super smart and could use ur money to create a small buisness. UGH.
 I WISH ALL PANDAS WERE EXTINCT ALREADY!!! Why are they — how are they — still alive?! They're so frickin DUMB!
 p.s. did you know they can't even count to 3? Dogs and squirrels and etc can. In a lab scientists did, the panda FAILED.
 3. Did you know that pandas are actually CARNIVORES? but they're so LAZY they can't stand to lift a fucking finger to hunt!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Thats why they have to eat so fucking much! Ugh i HATE PANDAS!
 4. dO you own a life? discriminating against any animal on your blog is just wrong … what good will this seriously bring to you? grow a dick and suck it.
 5. I agree with most of the negatives regarding the wonderful,cute,adorable,precious Pandas! They are stubborn,bloated,useless creatures; also ill tempered,and to me they always appear dirty around their undercarriages! Ugh!!!
 6. If only we could get people to enjoy polar bears as much as panda's then maybe we could keep a worthwhile creature around.
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