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Hancock County Historical Society: Volunteer Driven
A crackerjack group of volunteers keeps the energy humming at one of the most respected historical societies in the country.
- story by Rebecca Orfila, photos by Rebecca Orfila and Ellis Anderson
The HCHS volunteer cohort consists of individuals with a love for history or a desire to give back to their community. Gifted with various talents and interests, each volunteer is invited to work in their area of interest or, with the assistance of the volunteer staff, match their skills with new or unfinished projects. With a smile, Charles Gray, the Executive Director of HCHS, confirmed that volunteers are provided a wide berth on their volunteerism and schedule: "Whatever works for you, works for us."
Volunteers can serve in many ways at HCHS. Several professional and avocational historians contribute quality articles to the monthly newsletter, The Historian of Hancock County. During a post-luncheon chat with a few of the volunteers, James Keating spoke of being inspired by Eddie Coleman (the editor of The Historian) to pursue his interest in the economic history of this area.
Keating, a New Orleans native and retired physician, has been published in The Historian several times, most recently in the April 2016 issue with his article "The Turpentine Industry in Hancock County." Other well-known contributors to The Historian include Coleman, Scott Bagley, and Russell Guerin. According to Coleman, submissions for The Historian are invited. If you are interested in submitting an article, contact the Society via the address or number listed below.
Historical societies gather, organize, and share information with researchers, genealogists, visitors, and other interested parties by making paper or digital documents available to the public. HCHS maintains documents and indexes of local cemetery records, for example. These resources — and much more — are available to the general public at the Lobrano House in downtown Bay St. Louis and on the Society's ever-expanding website, where the cache of digitized records available for research increases every day.
Through the efforts of volunteer researchers, writers, computer aficionados, organizers, and "boots on the ground" folks, the Society continues to add to their collection. Many local and New Orleans families have donated records and images, which are scanned for archival and research purposes.
Personal materials, including private letters, tell stories and even provide details on confidential matters. According to Gray and Coleman, the Society does not censor when asked for information. No matter what the contents of a letter, album, or image, any donation will be made available to the public. "We don't want any secrets," Gray said.
The amount and accessibility of resources at the Hancock County Historical Society has raised the bar for other county and city societies to provide research materials and educational events to the interested public. As noted by Gray, "Our ultimate goal is to consign all the written documents on Hancock County history that we can gather into a database that will provide instant access to information being sought."
"We all learned a great deal from Katrina," recalled Coleman. The hurricane was a major impetus for increased focus on digitizing.
Over the years, HCHS has received and cataloged thousands of primary (original papers, images, and maps) and secondary (books, annuals, and reproduced images) resources. Cataloguing documents takes a great deal of time. A collection of photographic negatives from Anthony Scafidi, a prolific Bay St. Louis photographer of the late 1940s through the early '60s, for example, took multiple volunteers an entire year to clean, scan, and print for conservation purposes.
Marianne Pluim, volunteer webmaster and computer pro, shared her thoughts on digitizing materials for public access and archival protection. According to Ms. Pluim, having access to cemetery, marriage, divorce, and land records online has made it possible for researchers at a distance to find key elements to their genealogical or historical research.
Also, between 125 and 150 people actually visit the HCHS each month for research purposes, and having the digitized materials helps to make research time less lengthy. It also secures these important resources in case of natural disaster.
Volunteer Beth Weidlich, like Marianne, is interested in saving a large quantity of materials for posterity. A regular Tuesday volunteer, Beth is deep into a project to scan materials located in the vertical files for uploading.
Ana Balka works alongside Weidlich on the resources archive project, and recognizes the importance of history to county residents, but also to newcomers to the area. A transplant herself, Ana sees opportunities to expand our understanding of history in Hancock County by researching for example, the economic ebb and flow of businesses before and after catastrophic weather events, or for deepening our understanding of African American history in the county.
Dot Larroux Kersanac, another volunteer, is working on her own project. She is crusading to gain a Magnolia Marker for Cedar Point, where her family has had a presence for many years. A former teacher and respiratory therapist, her work-in-progress began in October 2015.
The Historical Society is concerned with more than paper documents. The Society and the Bay-Waveland Garden Club work together to register Hancock County's oldest live oak trees, with volunteer Shawn Prychitko at the helm of those efforts. Read in-depth stories from the Cleaver about live oak registration here and here.
Jim Thriffiley, 1st Vice President, is in charge of scheduling the monthly speakers. When asked what qualities a speaker should have, Thriffiley responded, "Warm, receptive, and clever."
Eddie Coleman said that people from many countries and states have contacted the Historical Society for assistance in research or genealogy. Between in-person visitors, telephone calls, and email inquiries, the daily workings and research fill the day for volunteers.
The HCHS Board of Directors are all volunteers: Board President is Marco Giardino; Jim Thriffiley is 1st Vice President; Jackie Allain 2nd Vice President; Lana Noonan, Secretary; Georgie Morton, Treasurer. Scott Bagley, Publicity Chairman; John Gibson, Historian; and Ames Kergosien, Member-at-Large.
This year on October 31st, the Society will hold its 23rd annual cemetery tour in Cedar Rest Cemetery. According to Gray, the event needs many volunteers every year to be successful: 10-12 to portray historical figures buried in the cemetery, another 10-12 to serve as guides, and several to welcome visitors to the Lobrano house, where guests are invited after the tour.
As noted on the Society website, "All talents are welcome. No experience required." Come join in the fun and help preserve Hancock County history.
For more information on volunteering, possible submissions to the newsletter, or research, contact HCHS at _PHONE_ or _EMAIL_.


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A general theory is used to describe the correlation properties of polarization mode dispersion (PMD) in a birefringent, linear, dispersive medium such as optical fibers. The theory includes the effects of frequency dependence of birefringence on all orders, and it is capable of providing statistical information about second- and higher-order correlations among the polarization and PMD vectors. We apply the general theory to study pulse broadening induced by different-order PMD and PMD-induced pulse distortion through the third- and fourth-order temporal moments (related to skewness and flatness, respectively). Our analytic results are in good agreement with numerical simulations.
© 2003 Optical Society of America
(_PHONE_) Fiber optics and optical communications : Fiber optics communications
(_PHONE_) Fiber optics and optical communications : Optical communications
(_PHONE_) Fiber optics and optical communications : Pulse propagation and temporal solitons
(_PHONE_) Physical optics : Dispersion
(_PHONE_) Physical optics : Polarization
Qiang Lin and Govind P. Agrawal, "Correlation theory of polarization mode dispersion in optical fibers," J. Opt. Soc. Am. B 20, 292-301 (2003)

source: m-a-p/FineFineWeb


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The History Of St. John Lutheran Church
The history of St. John is really a history of the Reitz family. James and Sarah Reitz lived with their children in Washington Township, Pennsylvania. The year was in the 1910's. James and operated a general store. He suffered from some health issues and was discussing with his family regarding moving to a warmer climate. In 1920, the decision was made to move to a little known area of Sunset Harbor, Florida where James was informed he could get land for cheap. So, it was settled. James sold his general store and fourteen Reitzes made the journey from Pennsylvania to Sunset Harbor, Florida. When they arrived, Sunset Harbor was pretty much uninhabited. However, a few neighbors werespread around here and there. The Reitz's first thoughts were of the Lord, and they began attending church at Weirsdale Presbyterian Church.
The distance was an issue for them and they began searching for a Lutheran pastor to conduct services in their home. With some luck, they were able to locate a Lutheran pastor willing to travel to Sunset Harbor to conduct services. Will Reitz opened his living room to family and a few neighbors. Thus, the first congregation of St. John Lutheran was born. The year was 1922.As the congregation began to grow, the need for a church building was inevitable. In 1927, a church building was erected at the corner of present-day Sunset Harbor Road and SE 158th Place.
It started out as a skeletal building with just four walls, a door and a piano. However, it was a real building and everyone was grateful. The church saw a lot of ups and downs from the 1920's through the 1960's. Interim pastors came and went but the church did not see its first full time pastor until 1984 when Reverend Hugh Mozingo III accepted the calling. Pastor Hugh led services at St. John from _PHONE_. In 1992, the Church Council met to discuss the need for a new church building. The fellowship hall had been added in the 1960's which provided some relief for a growing church but a new church building was again inevitable. Around this time, church member Esther Anderson passed away peacefully in her home. She left her property to St. John Lutheran Church.
Construction shortly began for a new church building that would house such a growing congregation. Not to mention, a parsonage and beautiful view of Lake Weir. Construction was completed in 1997 and the new church building was ready to be moved into. In April, 1997, the congregation of St. John Lutheran held its final service in the old church building at the corner of Sunset Harbor Road and SE 158th Place. The service began in the old building and the congregation proceeded down the street to the new building singing, "Lift High the Cross." Stuart Reitz, grandson of James and Sarah Reitz had reported a heavy heart on such a move, but understanding of the need and gladness to see growth. Since then, St. John has served its community by praising God, sharing the Word, and proclaiming Christ.
I can personally attest to having many happy memories in this church and am overjoyed to watch my children make the same kind of happy memories I did. From youth outings, plays, seafood boils, and congregation picnics, this congregation is its own family. It has been 94 years since my great-great grandparents James and Sarah Reitz and their family organized the first congregation of St. John. I fully intend for another 94 years of history to unfold itself. Thank you for reading about the history of my family, the history of St. John Lutheran. If you haven't already, I hope you will visit this unique part of Sunset Harbor history very soon. We look forward to seeing you.


You are here
472. 12 U.S.C. § 3405—Administrative subpena and summons
A Government authority may obtain financial records under section 3402(2) of this title pursuant to an administrative subpena or summons otherwise authorized by law only if--
 1. there is reason to believe that the records sought are relevant to a legitimate law enforcement inquiry;
 2. a copy of the subpena or summons has been served upon the customer or mailed to his last known address on or before the date on which the subpena or summons was served on the financial institution together with the following notice which shall state with reasonable specificity the nature of the law enforcement inquiry:
 "Records or information concerning your transactions held by the financial institution named in the attached subpena or summons are being sought by this (agency or department) in accordance with the Right to Financial Privacy Act of 1978 [12 U.S.C.A. § 3401 et seq.] for the following purpose: If you desire that such records or information not be made available, you must:
 1. Fill out the accompanying motion paper and sworn statement or write one of your own, stating that you are the customer whose records are being requested by the Government and either given that the records are not relevant to the legitimate law enforcement inquiry stated in this notice or any other legal basis for objecting to the release of the records.
 2. File the motion and statement by mailing or delivering them to the clerk of any one of the following United States district courts:
 3. Serve the Government authority requesting the records by mailing or delivering a copy of your motion and statement to.
 4. Be prepared to come to court and present your position in further detail. "
 5. You do not need to have a lawyer, although you may wish to employ one to represent you and protect your rights.
 If you do not follow the above procedures, upon the expiration of ten days from the date of service or fourteen days from the date of mailing of this notice, the records or information requested therein will be made available.
 These records may be transferred to other Government authorities for legitimate law enforcement inquiries, in which event you will be notified after the transfer."; and
 3. ten days have expired from the date of service of the notice or fourteen days have expired from the date of mailing the notice to the customer and within such time period the customer has not filed a sworn statement and motion to quash in an appropriate court, or the customer challenge provisions of section 3410 of this title have not been complied with.
Updated May 20, 2015


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Special
Syndicate content
Typically in QuickBase, forms usage is determined at either the role level, or at the report level. You can, however, use a formula URL button to call upon specific forms regardless of forms usage settings. This is useful if you've created multiple data entry forms, each with their own layout, that you wish to call upon at various stages of the record entry process.
August 6th, 2010 - 11:08 AM
You can easily do this in QuickBase. You'll need to create a few new fields in both your customer and quotes tables, relate these tables and then set up a special field to capture this combination number. To do so:
1. In your Customer table, create a Numeric field called "Customer Number".
February 5th, 2009 - 6:02 PM
Here is an example of a formula that returns a different price for each of several kinds of fruit. The data type of the result is Number.
case ([Fruit Name], "Apples", .5, "Pears", 1, "Berries", 4)
If the [Fruit Name] doesn't match any of the cases, null is returned. To return a default value when there is no match, add one more Number argument to the end.
February 5th, 2009 - 6:02 PM
There are two techniques. The first technique is to convert the field from what ever type (i.e. numeric, text, date) it is to a formula field of the same type (i.e. formula-numeric, formula-text, formula-date). Then convert it back to the type it was. This erases the contents of the field. To learn how to change the type of a field please read the following:
February 5th, 2009 - 6:02 PM
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The first version of this mud brick Friday mosque, begun in 1962, took the form of a rectangular hypostyle prayer hall with the projecting mihrab as the only secondary volume. In subsequent repairs a central dome was added and four corner towers built. Each tower is an individual sculpture with banded tapering walls becoming gradually more elaborate toward its pinnacle. Crenellations of half circles decorate the parapets and rounded cones mark the corners. Mud brick structures require cyclical maintenance, alterations and repairs. For the Yaama mosque this activity was from the beginning an act of religious devotion in which the entire community participates, and so it continues to be. Everyone contributes to the caretaking of the mosque in proportion to his or her ability to do so. Some make mud bricks; others carry them to the building site. Women carry water for brick and mortar production while others cut and gather wood. The jury commended the manifest will to use traditional techniques in a creative manner, to experiment with them and to achieve results that induce a new awareness of their possibilities.
AKAA 1986 Resources
Other 1986 Cycle Recipients
© 2007 The Aga Khan Development Network. This is the only authorised Website of the Aga Khan Development Network.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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You've just finished giving a 15-minute presentation at an event for people to practice giving speeches in English. Now you want to give the audience a chance to ask you questions. You say:
So now I'll open the floor for questions.
You can use this expression to transition between different activities when you're leading a group of people. For example, after a science teacher has finished explaining one topic he can say:
So now let's move on to Chapter 15, "Biodiversity".
If you're presenting a new piece of software at work, you can explain what it does first and then use this phrase when you want to start showing the audience how to use it:
So now I'm going to demonstrate precisely how that works. Take a look at the screen here...
To "open the floor to questions" means to allow people to ask questions in a large meeting, lecture, conference, or other group. This phrase is pretty formal, so you use it at the end of a formal speech.
"The floor" is also used to talk about who has the right to speak in a formal discussion. For example:
Senataor Meeks has the floor.
This means that Senator Meeks is allowed to talk. Other people are not allowed to talk at that time.
Chairman Kline, may I have the floor?
This is how you ask for permission to speak in a very formal discussion, like in a political committee or a company stockholders meeting.
(Print this lesson)


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The National Park Service (NPS) has granted Detroit's Vaughn's Bookstore a $15,000 grant as part of the organization's move to preserve history in underrepresented communities.
Vaughn's Bookstore is one of 17 projects within 14 states that the NPS is allocating $743,531 in preservation grants, Michigan Advance reports. The book store was owned and operated by former state House member Ed Vaughn between 1959 and the late 1990s and has been housed in its second location since its inception.
"As the first Black-owned bookstore in Detroit and a hub of African American journalism and conversation, Vaughn's Bookstore played a key role in the tumultuous Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s," Mark Rodman, Michigan's State Historic Preservation Officer said.
"An important priority of the National Register program is to document those sites associated with significant events that have contributed to broad patterns of our history."
Vaughn's Bookstore is credited as one of the nation's most significant publishers of Black poets. It was also one of the few places where Black authors could host readings and book signings to promote their work.
— Michigan Advance (@MichiganAdvance) December 22, 2021
During the 1967 Detroit riots, the bookstore was firebombed but reopened. No matter how many times the bookstore has closed and reopened, Vaugn has always stayed true to making an accessible space for Black authors.
"Vaughn's Bookstore was certainly something that was new in the community. There had not been a bookstore here before," Vaughn said in a 1989 interview.
"I got into the business because I was looking for a book called A Hundred Years of Lynchings" by Ginsberg, and I was told downtown that they didn't have the book in stock and I decided that I'd see if I could find it. When I found it and my friends at the post office said that they'd like to read that and other Black books, I began to order them and sell them out of the trunk of my car. Then I opened Vaughn's Bookstore and we were beginning to sell books rather briskly, people were asking questions, and that was pretty much the mood around the bookstore. There was a consciousness that was being raised throughout the community."
At 87 years old, Vaughn is happy to see his historical bookstore recognized as a site worth preserving.
"We were a game-changer," Vaughn said. "People in the community had a place where they could buy books in their neighborhood and didn't have to order them by mail."


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Virtual workshop – ISTRO Working group B Subsoil Compaction
"Spatial detection, distribution and assessment of soil loads, soil compaction and soil compaction risks – approaches, tools and models"
In the workshop we want to bring together colleagues, working in the field of spatial distribution of soil compaction and discuss current approaches, tools and models. This may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:
- Distribution of soil loads in agricultural fields, analysis of field traffic intensities;
- Detection of soil compaction, compaction effects and soil compaction patterns (UAV, Sensors etc.);
- Approaches and models to analyze and assess the spatial distribution of soil compaction and soil compaction risks at different scales.
The aim is to (i) discuss new insights of soil compaction research, (ii) activating new partnerships and (iii) search for potential new collaboration.
We invite all colleagues interested in presenting their work and/or participating in the discussion to contact us:
Please send an email with an expression of interest to participate or a brief description of your potential contribution by 06/30/2022. You will have the opportunity to present recent results, concepts, ideas or on-going projects. There will be sufficient time for discussing in-between the presentations.
The exact date and schedule of the workshop will be coordinated and announced later, depending on interest and number of contributions. We are currently planning the workshop preferably in Sept./Oct. 2022.


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QAṢR IBN HUBAYRAH
QAṢR IBN HUBAYRAH (Kasr ibn Hubayrah), town that was situated south of the ruins of ancient Babylon, west of the Euphrates (i.e., then its eastern arm, which was known as the Sura River). Qaẓr ibn Hubayrah was founded by Omar ibn Hubayrah, the last governor of Babylonia appointed by the
G. Le Strange, The Lands of the Eastern Caliphate (1930), 70f., 83.
Source: Encyclopaedia Judaica. © 2008 The Gale Group. All Rights Reserved.


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My father-in-law just asked me an interesting question:
How much would an inch of water covering an acre weigh?
It's not such a difficult question. It seems like a perfect query for Wolfram Alpha.
WA doesn't get the question at all. In fact, it seems to have classified an acre as an animal. Maybe I should have said hectare? Nope. It does no better.
Interestingly, Google makes solving this problem trivial, thanks to the useful "convert" command. I solved the problem in two steps. (It helps to know that a cubic centimeter of water weighs a gram – in fact, that's the definition of a gram.)
Convert 1 inch x 1 acre to cubic centimeters -> 102 790 153 cubic centimeters
We already have the answer, 102,790,153 grams, but to put it into terms that are more human I Googled:
and got the correct answer, 113.306748 short tons.
No matter that my father-in-law used a calculator, we both got the same answer, proving that Google is, in some cases, better at numeric analysis than Wolfram Alpha.
The real problem with WA is that it's not easy to formulate a query that produces the results you're looking for. Type 'blood alcohol' and you'll get fascinating results (thanks to Chris Heath for finding that, by the way), but not necessarily results you can expect. And, as it turns out, predictability is an important feature of any search engine, or computational knowledge engine for that matter. Before it's useful you need to have some idea of what kind of answers you might get, and, for the moment, Wolfram Alpha's results seem utterly random. I'm rooting for it, but it may be that it's just too smart for The Rest Of Us.
(Thanks to Edward Coffey who points out that the query "1 acre * 1 inch * 1g / cubic centimetre" works on Wolfram Alpha. Quite well, in fact. But I don't think that changes my point.)


Interleaving and Lock-Step Semantics for Analysis and Verification of GPU Kernels
Abstract
Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) from leading vendors employ predicated (or guarded) execution to eliminate branching and increase performance. Similarly, a recent GPU verification technique uses predication to reduce verification of GPU kernels (the massively parallel programs that run on GPUs) to verification of a sequential program.
Prior work on the formal semantics of lock-step predicated execution for kernels focused on structured programs, where control is organised using if- and while-statements. We provide lock-step execution semantics for GPU kernels that are represented by arbitrary reducible control flow graphs. We present a traditional interleaving semantics and a novel lock-step semantics based on predication, and show that for terminating kernels either both semantics compute identical results or both behave erroneously.
The method allows reducing GPU kernel verification to the verification of a sequential, lock-step program to be applied to GPU kernels with arbitrary reducible control flow. We have implemented the method in the GPUVerify tool, and present an evaluation using a set of 163 open source and commercial GPU kernels. Among these kernels, 42 exhibit unstructured control flow which our novel lock-step predication technique can handle fully automatically. This generality comes at a modest price: verification across our benchmark set was on average 2.25 times slower than using an existing approach that specifically targets structured kernels.


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- Built in 1933, Thao Suranari Monument was built in the memory of the Thai Heroine 'Khunying Mo' who is also popularly known as Yo Mo. This grand monument is built over her ashes and has a 1.85 metres high statue holding a sword and facing the city of Bangkok. Every year people offer prayers to this lady known for her valor who was honored the title of Thao Suranari by King Rama III on the success in the battle against Chao Anuwong. The Thao Suranaree Fair is celebrated every year to commemorate her victory and most residents of the city and nearby villagers flock here to seek her blessings.
- © wcities.com 2013


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Julie started doing genealogy to get her mother into the DAR, and to discover the identity of her grandmother. Now she hopes to use her knowledge and experience to help others learn about their ancestors. She is a member of Johnson County Genealogical Society, Ozarks Genealogical Society, the Association of Professional Genealogists, the James Ross Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, and Soule Kindred. She has recently started Walnut Hill Genealogy to help others find their family connections. You can read her blog where she writes about books about history, historical fiction, and biography at walnuthillgenealogy.com.
What happened to the Pilgrims? – Julie Crain Miguel; Intermediate; (Saturday at 12:45 PM)
I discuss how/where in England early colonists came from and what influenced aspects of their lives, including naming traditions and probate. I also trace one Pilgrim line through different locations and denominations.


United States Senate & United States House of Representatives
Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans
Hatch Opening Statement at Joint Committee Hearing Examining the Financial State of America's Pension Insurer
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WASHINGTON – Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans Co-Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) today delivered the following opening statement at a committee hearing examining the state of the Pensions Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC).
This is the Joint Select Committee's second hearing to delve into issues concerning operations of the multiemployer pension system.
As I noted last time, it is critical for us to remember that the mandate of the Joint Select Committee is not just to develop reports and recommendations on the multiemployer plans, but to also review the solvency of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. To do this, we have brought in one of the nation's top experts on the PBGC, Tom Reeder—who happens to also be the current director of the corporation, which insures benefits for the more than 30 million Americans in defined benefit pension plans.
To provide context, one of the core issues confronting pension policymakers is the issue of benefit security.
Pension benefit security and protection can be approached in a number of ways, including strong pension plan funding rules, robust asset management requirements, and meaningful disclosure mandates. In the United States we have historically used a benefit guaranty system—essentially a form of insurance—for many defined benefit pension plans to cover lost pension income if a retirement plan becomes insolvent or sponsoring employers go bankrupt.
The problem is that the U.S. system is very complicated and often difficult to effectively operate. There are a lot of moving parts, and numerous variables for which to account. Some of those variables include questions on how plans are insured, to what extent are benefits guaranteed, and how can we sufficiently fund the system while still ensuring employers are properly incentivized to sponsor retirement plans?
The problems don't end there though. It is clear that since its inception in 1974, the PBGC has faced design and operational issues that have made achieving its policy goals difficult.
This morning, Mr. Reeder will provide an overview of the PBGC's structure and finances, answering key questions about the organization, including how it is structured and, most important, how it is financed. It is imperative that the Joint Select Committee develop a solid base of knowledge about the corporation and how it is funded before turning to the PBGC's current funding status. And, in a word, that funding status is troubled. I won't recite the grim statistics because we have all read them, and we are all deeply concerned.
Over the course of the next weeks and months in the Joint Select Committee, I trust that we will learn more about the economic and demographic forces that impact the multiemployer system, and consequently the financial health of the PBGC.
But today, let's dig into the fundamentals first. After all, it's hard to plot a course without getting a good map of the terrain. As we work today with Mr. Reeder, here are some fundamental questions I think both sides should keep in mind:
What is the corporation's charter, and how does that effect its operations and success?
What does it mean to be a wholly-owned government corporation?
What are the PBGC's core functions and how is it structured to achieve those functions?
Does PBGC have the right tools and flexibility to intervene in the management and operation of troubled multiemployer plans?
How does the corporation manage the funds under its management?
Also, importantly, how do the insurance premiums work to fund the plan guarantees?
And, is this all the right model for the economic and demographic markets in which these plans operate?
Frankly, I believe we need to get these answers and then spend some time understanding what those answers mean before the Joint Select Committee can effectively consider any proposals to repair the multiemployer system.
United States Senate & United States House of Representatives
Joint Select Committee on Solvency of Multiemployer Pension Plans
219 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20510
Phone _PHONE_


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Big Buck Bunny
This article relies too much on references to primary sources. (September 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)
|Big Buck Bunny|
|Directed by||Sacha Goedegebure|
|Produced by||Ton Roosendaal|
|Written by||Sacha Goedegebure|
|Music by||Jan Morgenstern|
Big Buck Bunny (code-named Project Peach) is a 2008 short (roughly 10 minutes) computer-animated comedy film featuring animals of the forest, made by the Blender Institute, part of the Blender Foundation. Like the foundation's previous film, Elephants Dream, the film was made using Blender, a free and open source software application for 3D computer modeling and animation made by the same foundation. It was released as an open-source film under Creative Commons License Attribution 3.0.
The plot follows a day in the life of Big Buck Bunny, during which he meets three bullying rodents, Frank (the leader of the rodents), Rinky and Gimera. The rodents amuse themselves by harassing helpless creatures of the forest by throwing fruits, nuts and rocks at them.
Following the deaths of two of Bunny's favorite butterflies (one by an apple being fallen on it and the other by Frank smashing it with a rock) and an offensive attack on Bunny himself, Bunny sets aside his gentle nature and orchestrates a complex plan to avenge the two butterflies.
Using a variety of traps, Bunny first dispatches of Rinky and Gimera. Next, Frank, who is unaware of the other two's fate, is seen taking off from a tree and gliding towards a seemingly unsuspecting Bunny. Once airborne however, Bunny's final series of traps are set off, ultimately distracting Frank from his task of flight, and causing him to crash into a tree branch and plummet into a spike-trap below. At the last moment, Frank is able to grab onto what he believes is the branch of a small tree, but quickly learns is just a twig being held up over the spikes by Bunny. Rather than being impaled by the spike trap, Frank is snatched up by Bunny to become his prisoner.
The movie concludes with Bunny pleased with himself, as a butterfly flies past him, holding a string at the end of which Frank is attached as a kite (flying).
Following Elephants Dream (2006), Big Buck Bunny is the first project by the Blender Foundation to be created by the Blender Institute, a division of the foundation set up specifically to facilitate the creation of open content films and games.
Work began in October 2007. The film was funded by the Blender Foundation, donations from the Blender community, pre-sales of the film's DVD and commercial sponsorship. Both the final product and production data, including animation data, characters and textures are released under the Creative Commons Attribution License. It was rendered on Sun Microsystems' grid computing facility Sun Grid.
As in Elephants Dream, Blender developers worked extensively to improve the software in accordance with the needs of the movie team. Improvements were made in hair and fur rendering, the particle system, UV mapping, shading, the render pipeline, constraints, and skinning. Also introduced during the project was approximate ambient occlusion. These features were released to the public with Blender v. 2.46.
High-resolution and stereoscopic versions of the film were released in 2013 by Janus Kristensen.
The film was followed up with an open game titled Yo Frankie!, in August 2008.
The main character (called Big Buck Bunny) was also used in short films created by Renderfarm.fi: What is Renderfarm.fi? (2011) telling about the advantages of render farms and BBB loves CC (2012) promoting Creative Commons licences. The bunny's voice was given by Jan Morgenstern, who was the composer of a Big Buck Bunny movie soundtrack.
- "Sacha Goedegebure". IMDb. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
- "Sacha Goedegebure". Retrieved 20 February 2016.
- "Premiere Big Buck Bunny today!". 2008-04-10. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
- "The release!". 2008-05-11. Retrieved 2008-05-30.
- "Big Buck Bunny builds a better Blender". Linux.com. 2008-06-30. Retrieved 2010-10-04.
- McConnachie, Dahna (January 15, 2008). "Open source on the big screen: Matt Ebb tells tales of Elephants Dream". Computerworld. Archived from the original on 2008-02-18.
- Paulo, Rui; Diogo, Sanguinheira (December 2007). "Modelling 2.50". Linux-Magazin.
- "BigBuckBunny.org About". Retrieved 2013-04-20.
- "About". Peach Open Movie. Blender Foundation. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- "Blender Institute". Blender Foundation. Retrieved 2008-02-04.
- "Sun's Network.com Renders Computer-Animated Movie "Big Buck Bunny"". Sun Microsystems. Archived from the original on 7 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- "The Renderfarm (how it works)". Blender Foundation. Retrieved 2008-06-22.
- "Blender Changelog for 2.46, with BBB-added features".
- "BBB Premiere". Peach Open Movie. Blender Foundation. Retrieved 2008-03-04.
- "BBB Files released". Peach Open Movie. Blender Foundation. Retrieved 2008-06-06.
- "Big Buck Bunny 3D". bbb3d.renderfarming.net.
- "Renderfarm.fi » Category » Tags » Big Buck Bunny". Renderfarm.fi. Archived from the original on 2012-03-30. Retrieved 2014-07-04.
- Video on YouTube
|Wikimedia Commons has media related to Big Buck Bunny.|


text:
See what questions
a doctor would ask.
Matrix Attachment Regions: Regions of the CHROMATIN or DNA that bind to the NUCLEAR MATRIX. They are found in INTERGENIC DNA, especially flanking the 5' ends of genes or clusters of genes. Many of the regions that have been isolated contain a bipartite sequence motif called the MAR/SAR recognition signature sequence that binds to MATRIX ATTACHMENT REGION BINDING PROTEINS.
Source: MeSH 2007
These medical condition or symptom topics may be relevant to medical information for Matrix Attachment Regions:
Search to find out more about Matrix Attachment Regions:
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text:
Re: Poll: How important is the notion of "gaining advantage over your partner" in your aikido training?
If I understand Mark Uttech, I agree. To my thinking, you cannot be correctly practicing aikido without "gaining advantage" over your partner. So, I suppose it's really about how one interprets "Gaining advantage".
To me, it means being in control of oneself, and the situation, perhaps through physically controlling the attacker, or perhaps through mentally being confident in the situation. If we're talking exclusively about practice in classs, it's usually both. For me.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
Posted: Sep 26, 2012 9:56 AM by Adam Bell - MTN News
Updated: Sep 26, 2012 8:02 AM
WEST YELLOWSTONEYellowstone National Park moving forward with new steps to help revive the native cutthroat trout population.
Re-establishing the cut throat trout population in Yellowstone National Park is one of the park's top priorities. And now the park is stepping up their efforts with chemicals.
The streams were stocked with non-native Brook Trout decades ago, but their presence brought a decline in the native Cutthroat Trout in the park's lakes, rivers and streams.
Biologists will introduce a fish toxin known as Rotenone into the streams this week to remove the Brook Trout.
While the chemical will be introduced in small quantities, the park advises visitors not to swim in or drink from the streams through October 7. Warning signs will be posted at all treated areas.
This year's treatment is the first in a series that will be conducted until the Brook Trout have been completely removed from the streams. The park will then re-introduce genetically pure native Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout to the streams.
The long-term plan is not only to support native species restoration, but also for these streams to provide a brood stock population of Cutthroat for future restoration efforts.
The Rotenone chemical will be introduced to the Elk Creek and its tributaries, near Tower Junction. Park Officials say this project will not impact the nearby Yellowstone River.


text: Francesco Rinaldo Talenti obtained his master degree from the flemish university of Brussels, the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB), graduating in Physics and Astronomy in July 2019. Here he discovered the fascinating field of nonlinear and quantum optics, finding interest in the several applications attainable from the state of the art research, as well as in the rich physics behind the observable phenomena. During his internship he joined the INO Institute of Pozzuoli, close to Naples, where he studied the locking technique and the thermal effects of an optical cavity for frequency comb. Francesco carried out his thesis at the B-phot team of the applied physics and photonics group, at the faculty of engineering of the VUB. Here he studied the spectral broadening of a chirped pulse propagating through nonlinear waveguides, considering also the case of a graphene top lay.


text:
StarBase 118 Staff Posted December 1, 2016 Share Posted December 1, 2016 Phasers, transporters, warp drive, replicators! Star Trek has given us glimpses of many technologies that may be or are close to happening in the real world. But there is one Trek Tech that is common for most science fiction and indeed the very thing we need to figure to make long term spaceflight viable: artificial gravity. Star Trek uses synthetic gravity generators and grav-plating to provide simulated planetary gravity. These utilize graviton stabilizers that modulate the level of gravity produced, allowing gravity to be altered at will. Other science fiction – and many real world – designs for creating gravity on a spaceship feature rotating hulls. That simulate gravity on their interior surface using centripetal force and has to contend with the Coriolis force and its effects. Yet another popular science fiction source of gravity generation is through engine thrust using linear acceleration, where the ship's engines that create the downward pull and if they are off, so is the gravity. This week we ask what form of gravity generation do you think humanity will use when we take to exploring our solar system and the stars? Tell us in the forums! This question comes from our "Trek Technology and Science" category, where we often ask questions that bridge science fiction of Star Trek and real world science. The post Artificial Gravity, Please! appeared first on UFOP: StarBase 118 Star Trek RPG. View the full article Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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In Files
 - scanf.rb
Class/Module Index [+]
scanf for Ruby
scanf for Ruby is an implementation of the C function scanf(3), modified as necessary for Ruby compatibility.
scanf for Ruby scans an input string or stream according to a format, as described below ("Conversions"), and returns an array of matches between the format and the input. The format is defined in a string, and is similar (though not identical) to the formats used in Kernel#printf and Kernel#sprintf.
Basic usage
require'scanf.rb'
# String#scanf and IO#scanf take a single argument (a format string)
array = aString.scanf("%d%s")
array = anIO.scanf("%d%s")
# Kernel#scanf reads from STDIN
array = scanf("%d%s")
Block usage
str = "123 abc 456 def 789 ghi"
The following conversions are available. (See the files EXAMPLES and tests/scanftests.rb for examples.)
Matches an optionally signed decimal integer.
Same as d.
Matches an optionally signed octal integer.
Matches an optionally signed hexadecimal integer,
Matches an optionally signed floating-point number.
Assignment suppression
See the files EXAMPLES and tests/scanftests.rb.
scanf for Ruby compared with scanf in C
Unimplemented flags and specifiers
 - The only flag implemented in scanf for Ruby is '*' (ignore upcoming conversion). Many of the flags available in C versions of scanf(4) have to do with the type of upcoming pointer arguments, and are literally meaningless in Ruby.
Altered specifiers
Return values
Return values
Without a block, scanf returns an array containing all the conversions it has found. If none are found, scanf will return an empty array. An unsuccesful match is never ignored, but rather always signals the end of the scanning operation. If the first unsuccessful match takes place after one or more successful matches have already taken place, the returned array will contain the results of those successful matches.
Test suite
scanf for Ruby includes a suite of unit tests (requiring the TestUnit package), which can be run with the command ruby tests/scanftests.rb or the command make test.
Current limitations and bugs
When using IO#scanf under Windows, make sure you open your files in binary mode:"filename", "rb")
so that scanf can keep track of characters correctly.
Technical notes
Rationale behind scanf for Ruby
The impetus for a scanf implementation in Ruby comes chiefly from the fact that existing pattern matching operations, such as Regexp#match and String#scan, return all results as strings, which have to be converted to integers or floats explicitly in cases where what's ultimately wanted are integer or float values.
Design of scanf for Ruby
scanf for Ruby is essentially a -toconverter.
When scanf is called, a FormatString object is generated from the format string ("%d%s…") argument. The FormatString object breaks the format string down into atoms ("%d", "%5f", "blah", etc.), and from each atom it creates a FormatSpecifier object, which it saves.
Each FormatSpecifier has a regular expression fragment and a "handler" associated with it. For example, the regular expression fragment associated with the format "%d" is "([-+]?d+)", and the handler associated with it is a wrapper around String#to_i. scanf itself calls Scanf::FormatString#match, passing in the input string. Scanf::FormatString#match iterates through its FormatSpecifiers; for each one, it matches the corresponding regular expression fragment against the string. If there's a match, it sends the matched string to the handler associated with the FormatSpecifier.
Thus, to follow up the "%d" example: if "123" occurs in the input string when a FormatSpecifier consisting of "%d" is reached, the "123" will be matched against "([-+]?d+)", and the matched string will be rendered into an integer by a call to to_i.
The rendered match is then saved to an accumulator array, and the input string is reduced to the post-match substring. Thus the string is "eaten" from the left as the FormatSpecifiers are applied in sequence. (This is done to a duplicate string; the original string is not altered.)
As soon as a regular expression fragment fails to match the string, or when the FormatString object runs out of FormatSpecifiers, scanning stops and results accumulated so far are returned in an array.
License and copyright
© 2002-2003 David Alan Black
Distributed on the same licensing terms as Ruby itself
Warranty disclaimer
Credits and acknowledgements
scanf for Ruby was developed as the major activity of the Austin Ruby Codefest (Austin, Texas, August 2002).
Principal author
David Alan Black (
Hal Fulton (
Project contributors
Nolan Darilek, Jason Johnston
Thanks to Hal Fulton for hosting the Codefest.
Thanks to Matz for suggestions about the class design.
Thanks to Gavin Sinclair for some feedback on the documentation.
Bugs and bug reports
If you want to help improve the Ruby documentation, please visit
blog comments powered by Disqus


Splitting Flightlines
Some PIs will request that processed flight lines are split in to smaller lines, especially if the files generated are of a large size.
Fenix Splitting
It is recommended that you do this after you have found the correct SCT offset values and are ready to generate the final files, as the splitting is done by aplcal when you submit the jobs to the grid. The splitting of the flight lines can be done by following this process:
 1. Find out the number of smaller segments the PI wants the flight lines split in to. This could be in the ticket or in emails. Ask someone if unsure.
 2. If it is not already there, append cal_args_extra = -lines to each flight line section of the config file. This tells aplcal which raw lines to process for this particular flight line section, using the -lines argument of aplcal.
 1. Note: If there is a global cal_args_exrtra = record in the config file (i.e. in the [DEFAULT] section, at the top of the file), this will be overridden by ones local to flight lines. Therefore, you will need to copy the arguments from the global section in to each flight line section to overcome this.
 3. Copy and paste each flight line section in the hyperspectral processing file <number of segments required> -1 times below the original flight line section so that the number of sections for each line is equal to the number of segments required by the PI.
 4. Divide the number of lines in each raw header file (the lines record in the raw header files (found in .../<root project directory>/hyperspectral/fenix) by the number of segments required and round it up/down to something sensible.
 5. After the cal_args_extra = -lines, put in the numbers of the raw flight lines to process.
 1. For the first one, this will be 1 (the first flight line) and the number you obtained in the previous step.
 2. If no overlap is required, the next section should be double the result, and so on. If an overlap is required, the first number used in the latter of the two should be <overlap in metres> less than the second number used in the section before it.
 6. Change the header of each flight line section so that the numbers in the section headers are sequential, and change the line_id and line_number fields to match this.
 7. Change the raw_filebase in each flight line section so that they point to the raw files. Do this by changing what's already there to raw_filebase = %(fenix_filebase)s-<original line number>. You can find this out by doing <new flight line number> / <number of sections required by PI>, and rounding it up.
Below is part of an example config file that was used for splitting hyperspectral data. In this example, each flight line was split in to three segments and used an overlap of 500m.
[fenix_-1]
process_line = false
line_id = -1
line_number = 01
altitude = 2037
airspeed = 137
track = 102.0
raw_filebase = %(fenix_filebase)s-1
output_filebase = f%(julian_day)s%(sortie)s%(line_number)s
sct = 0.98
cal_args_extra = -lines 1 8000
[fenix_-2]
process_line = false
line_id = -2
line_number = 02
altitude = 2037
airspeed = 137
track = 102.0
raw_filebase = %(fenix_filebase)s-1
output_filebase = f%(julian_day)s%(sortie)s%(line_number)s
sct = 0.98
cal_args_extra = -lines 7500 16000
[fenix_-3]
process_line = false
line_id = -3
line_number = 03
altitude = 2037
airspeed = 137
track = 102.0
raw_filebase = %(fenix_filebase)s-1
output_filebase = f%(julian_day)s%(sortie)s%(line_number)s
sct = 0.98
cal_args_extra = -lines 15500 24557
[fenix_-4]
process_line = true
line_id = -4
line_number = 04
altitude = 1922
airspeed = 141
track = 282.0
raw_filebase = %(fenix_filebase)s-2
output_filebase = f%(julian_day)s%(sortie)s%(line_number)s
sct = 0.96
nav2_args_extra = -force
cal_args_extra = -lines 1 8000
[fenix_-5]
process_line = false
line_id = -5
line_number = 05
altitude = 1922
airspeed = 141
track = 282.0
raw_filebase = %(fenix_filebase)s-2
output_filebase = f%(julian_day)s%(sortie)s%(line_number)s
sct = 0.96
nav2_args_extra = -force
cal_args_extra = -lines 7500 16000
Following is part of the raw header file used for the first flight line for the above example flight:
ENVI
description = { Copy of FENIX88-14-1.hdr with wavelengths replaced by wavelengths from /users/rsg/arsf/calibration/2014/fenix/fenix_201405.txt.}
samples = 384
lines = 24557
bands = 622
header offset = 0
file type = ENVI Standard
data type = 12
interleave = bil
byte order = 0
himg2 = {1, 384}
tint1 = 29.3000
tint2 = 25.9000
x start = 0
fps_set = 33.003
fps_qpf = 32.976
qpfTiming = {655.66, 744687.31}
GPS Start Time = UTC TIME: 10:47:32.0000
NavSync Timing = {0, 0}
GPS Stop Time = UTC TIME: 10:59:57.0000
sw_binning2 = {1, 1}
Splitting LiDAR point clouds
Discrete LiDAR
In the case of purely discrete point clouds we can use lasmerge to produce equal divided files.
A script exists to do this automatically:
split_las.py (-d INPUTDIR | -i INPUTFILE | -l INPUTLIST... ) -o OUTPUTDIR (--time time | --speed SPEED --distance DISTANCE )
This can be run on either a single file, a space separated list or a directory of las files. You can specify the number of seconds for overlap using --time (default is 1s aka 65ish metres), you can also specify the overlap in metres if you specify the plane speed too. If you dont want overlap use --time 0. This script will split full waveform and discrete LAS files.
lassplit Is a C++ program which will split LAS files based on a GPS time range.
lassplit -l las_input_file -o las_output_file -s gps_start_time -e gps_end_time
Full Waveform
Left this in as it is still useful.
It is worthwhile using the script above to divide a discrete line then using the x/y coordinates from each section for your division. This will give you a consistent split across the waveform data. If you have variable pitch/roll you will likely have to process each line seperately.
To give a fence in alspp go to filters > points on the ground. In the dialogue that displays click "selected projection (x,y,z)" then enter the min/max of your x/y coordinates for a square.
Alspp will not run on waveform data simultaneously with another alspp instance.
Seemingly at random some lines will not process with the fence options that every other line in the dataset will run under. This will result in an output of 22.6 k las files, you will need to change the fence size or in some cases create an entirely new alspp reg file to overcome this bug.
Once waveform data is completed you should test a couple from each segment in lashistoviewer or a similar waveform visualiser to check they are valid.
Last modified 9 years ago Last modified on Jul 2, 2015, 10:45:46 AM


text:
Famous tree-lined French Canal du Midi in danger of losing all its trees
The 42,000 plane trees lining France's historic Canal du Midi are being felled because of a fungus brought to Europe by US soldiers in World War II. Will the planes that decorate the streets of cities such as Paris and London share the same fate?
Story from PRI's The World. Listen to the above audio for a full report.
It's noon in the farmlands outside Toulouse, but the light on the Canal du Midi is dim, almost like twilight.
The deep shade is created by the leafy branches of huge plane trees that tower above both banks, and arch across the water creating a dense canopy.
It's an exquisitely beautiful scene. And one that runs the length of the canal on its 150 mile course from Toulouse to the port of Sete on the Mediterranean.
It was five years ago that Jacques Noisette realized something was wrong.
"In the spring of 2006, I began to notice that some of the plane trees were dying," says Mr Noisette, who works for the French government agency that manages the canal.
"Their new leaves should have been opening up, but they weren't. We asked ourselves why."
Specialists soon identified the deadly fungus, Ceratocystis platani, for which there is no apparent cure.
"Even a small scratch or cut on a plane tree is enough for the fungus to get inside and attack. It thrives deep in the tree trunk," says Mr Noisette. "Within three to five years the tree is fully infected. There's nothing we can do except cut the trees down, and burn them on the spot."
Researchers say the trees must be felled before they die. Otherwise they could fall on boaters, who travel along the canal - spreading the fungus as they go.
"We know the fungus travels through the canal water," says Mr Noisette. "The trees can get infected when boats scrape up against the roots. Or when uninformed boaters tie-off their boats to the plane trees themselves."
French agronomist Andre Vigouroux, who has been studying the fungus for years, says it's been traced to the munition boxes American soldiers brought over to Europe in World War II, which were made from North American plane trees.
It's been spreading through Europe, from Italy, and Steve Woodward from the University of Aberdeen, says it is likely eventually to kill the planted planes that line the streets of cities such as London, Paris and Berlin.
"There really are millions of these trees planted in non-native areas.
"We are talking about a massive disaster if the disease continues to spread," he says.
Along the canal tree-felling has begun - 1,000 trees were cut down last winter, 2,000 more will be felled in the coming months.
It will take years to clear all 42,000 of them, but once the trees have gone, so may the two million tourists who visit the canal every year.
"It is so hot in the Midi that it would just change it totally without the trees," says retired British tourist Graham Barley, who has been travelling up the canal from the Mediterranean in a wooden houseboat.
His wife Linda agrees. "In practical terms, it would make cruising between noon and 4pm unbearable," she says, even in September.
The Canal du Midi wasn't originally designed for pleasure boats.
Completed in 1681, it was designed to link up with another waterway further west - now known as the Canal de Garonne - to allow merchants to move between the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, without having to sail around Spain and Portugal. The sea route was long and arduous, and ships could fall victim to storms and pirates.
The plane trees were a later addition, planted in the 1830s in part to provide shade to those using the waterway.
UNESCO declared the canal a world heritage site in 1996, saying it had "provided the model for the flowering of technology that led directly to the Industrial Revolution and the modern technological age". To retain this status, however, France will have to replant the trees it chops down.
So that's the plan. To replant a variety of trees where the plane trees now stand. Trees with strong root systems to maintain the canal banks, and with thick leaves to create shade.
And ironically, given that American GIs brought the fungus to Europe in the first place, among the new trees to replace the old are 7,000 disease-resistant plane trees - all the way from Mississippi.
Whether colder parts of Europe will be able to use the Mississippi strain to replant any planes they lose in the future, is as yet unknown.
PRI's "The World" is a one-hour, weekday radio news magazine offering a mix of news, features, interviews, and music from around the globe. "The World" is a co-production of the BBC World Service, PRI and WGBH Boston. More about The World.


text: The rustling of the wind echoes in the silence of nature: a visual reference to canes, creating light, evocative and reassuring pieces of furniture. The new Palù collection portrays a concept of small-scale architecture, formed from the relationship between presence and absence. The distinctive features of these complements, a bedside table and bench seat, are the linear effect of solids and empty spaces, and profound harmonies. The curves created using a sequence of wooden rods define the space, indicating the sense of the limit in a neat and feminine series. The frame embraces suspended volumes, made out of air: an upholstered seat, a Vienna straw shelf, elegant drawers. In the bedside table, the round drawer rotates towards the bed, transforming into a second shelf.


Degrees of Separation
Identity Formation While Leaving Ultra-Orthodox Judaism
Schneur Zalman Newfield
Book Cover
PB: $34.95
EAN: 978-1-4399-1896-8
Publication: Apr 20
HC: $99.50
EAN: 978-1-4399-1895-1
Publication: Apr 20
Ebook: $34.95
EAN: 978-1-4399-1897-5
Publication: Apr 20
228 pages
6 x 9
How exiting ultra-Orthodox Judaism is not a single act of defiance, but an interactive process that extends for years after leaving
Read a blog entry by the author
Read an excerpt from Chapter 1 (pdf).
Those who exit a religion—particularly one they were born and raised in—often find themselves at sea in their efforts to transition to life beyond their community. In Degrees of Separation, Schneur Zalman Newfield, who went through this process himself, interviews seventy-four Lubavitch and Satmar ultra-Orthodox Hasidic Jews who left their communities. He presents their motivations for leaving as well as how they make sense of their experiences and their processes of exiting, detailing their attitudes and opinions regarding their religious upbringing. Newfield also examines how these exiters forge new ways of being that their upbringing had not prepared them for, while also considering what these particular individuals lose and retain in the exit process.
Degrees of Separation presents a comprehensive portrait of the prolonged state of being "in-between" that characterizes transition out of a totalizing worldview. What Newfield discovers is that exiters experience both a sense of independence and a persistent connection; they are not completely dislocated from their roots once they "arrive" at their new destination. Moreover, Degrees of Separation shows that this process of transitioning identity has implications beyond religion.
"At its most compelling, Degrees of Separation offers numerous inside(r) portraits of the emotional cost of exiting.... Degrees of Separation should be received as a significant contribution to the emergent field of OTD studies. (off the derech, or path, way) In light of the current vogue of memoirs, novels, film, and television shows by and about the so-called formerly Orthodox, Newfield cautions against partial or breezy generalizations; his intervention highlights the limits of our current understanding of what 'going OTD' represents in its religious, sociological, and psychological dimensions."
—Contemporary Jewry
"Degrees of Separation offers a fresh perspective on…following those who have chosen to exit Hasidic communities…. The book takes readers on a generally convincing journey into how exiters become something new while never fully separating from the people they used to be…. Degrees of Separation is a welcome addition to a nascent body of literature looking into Jewish ultra-Orthodox life from the vantage point of its restless, unruly, and permeable social margins."
—American Journal of Sociology
"(T)his book is an important contribution to the field and is ideal for graduate or advanced undergraduate courses in the sociology of religion or social psychology. It is an interesting read, the writing is accessible and relatively jargon free, and Newfield allows the data to do most of the talking. Moreover, as an exiter himself, Newfield writes in an engaging, empathic way that does not exoticize the Ultra-Orthodox Hasidic community. Overall, this book will make a great addition to the library of anyone interested in religious exit, identity transformation, and the social construction of reality."
Symbolic Interaction
" Newfield's book on the exiting of Ultra-Orthodox Jews from their communities is a welcome addition to the sparse literature on this topic.... The book is informed by sociological theory and concepts and describes the historical context of these two Hasidic movements.... The book is well conceptualized and contains rich examples of the reported experiences of exiters."
—American Jewish History
" Newfield's book offers a deep, descriptive accounting of the experiences of exiters from ultra-Orthodox Judaism. In so doing, it contributes substantial insight into ultra-Orthodox communities. It also provides clear evidence of liminality in the lives of ultra-Orthodox exiters, as they navigate between their worlds of origin and their new communities."
—Contemporary Sociology
"(Newfield) builds on interviews with 74 men and women from the Chabad and Satmar Hasidic communities to focus on the 'exit process' they underwent.... Sociologists will appreciate how much Newfield employs from sociological theory, especially the concepts of liminality and hybridity, and how he compares exiting Hasidism to exits from other 'total institutions,' such as convents, prisons, and totalitarian countries.... (N)o scholar of "exiting" should ignore Newfield.... Summing Up: Recommended."
"(An) excellent analysis of exiting from ultra-Orthodoxy.... (T)his is a most opportune book.... (Newfield) is to be congratulated on this exemplary work of scholarship and also on his contribution to public sociology."
Social Forces
"(A)n important scholarly work precisely because of popular interest in sensationalist stories of departure (liberation!) proffered in books and films."
"Degrees of Separation is an original and imaginative investigation of the character and consequences of exiting closed and closely knit religious communities. On the basis of extensive interviews and observation of two Ultra-Orthodox Jewish communities in New York—Lubavitch and Satmar—Newfield examines the experiences and consequences of exiting. He rejects the taken-for-granted assumption that exit can be clean and decisive and hence prefers to talk about 'exiting.' Like whistleblowers, exiting individuals are typically subject to symbolic attacks and are often regarded as psychologically unstable by the community. Exiting can never be complete, because individuals have deeply ingrained habits acquired from early socialization in the community. Degrees of Separation is not simply a study of religious communities; it offers important insights into membership of and exit from any community or 'total institution.'" —Bryan S. Turner, Presidential Professor of Sociology, Emeritus, Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and author of The Religious and the Political: A Comparative Sociology of Religion
"Degrees of Separation is a nuanced, sensitive book about 'exiters'—those who leave their Hasidic communities of origin—for all kinds of reasons. Newfield's account moves beyond a simple binarism, that of staying or going; instead he foregrounds the complicated ways that exiters experience long-term liminality, simultaneously attached to and independent of the totalizing communities in which they grew up. Newfield has written an accessible, fascinating book sure to be of great interest to a wide audience—a real accomplishment.—Ayala Fader, Professor of Anthropology at Fordham University and author of Hidden Heretics: Jewish Doubt in the Digital Age
"Newfield treats both his subjects and their former communities with fairness and empathy. He presents the world of these exiters as they see and experience it, with admirable clarity and honesty. Degrees of Separation is truly an excellent book. It follows the gaze of Newfield's subjects back at their former communities. But it's the complexities of the hybrid lives they are living now that are the real and enduring revelations here."
"This is a fascinating book in which Newfield attempts to understand why people leave (Ultra-Orthodox Judaism). The complexities of life and religious experience are such that there is not a single answer. However, a common thread is that many exiters had deep questions that were either not answered or minimized.... What parents and educators can learn from this book is that sophisticated questions must have an equally sophisticated response."
Jewish Link
" Newfield has made a significant contribution to the body of social scientific analysis of contemporary Hasidism through his book.... There are a number of key findings.... Beyond shedding considerable light on the specific phenomenon of those who choose to leave Hasidic communities, the book also offers the reader important insights into the communities they have left.... (T)his book goes a long way towards filling a significant gap in our knowledge of communities whose increasing presence and importance make them well worth knowing on a more than superficial basis."
Ethnic and Racial Studies
Table of Contents
1. You Can Check Out, but You Can Never Leave
2. Permeable Boundaries
3. Exit Narratives
4. Habits of Action and Habits of Thought
5. Strategies for Managing Liminality
Appendix A: Three Structural Factors That Enable Exiting
Appendix B: Demographics and Method of Study
Appendix C: Interview Protocols
About the Author(s)
Schneur Zalman Newfield is an Assistant Professor of Sociology in the Department of Social Sciences, Human Services, and Criminal Justice at the Borough of Manhattan Community College, City University of New York. Visit him online at


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In 1890, the Board of Trustees commissioned Merry L. Pence to survey prospects for a campus lake. The early campus catalogs describe the university lake as deriving from the "natural conformation of the ground and an abundant supply of water from the Maxwell Spring." These two things rendered the construction of an artificial lake with a boating course a quarter of a mile in length, "thus providing for a beautiful sheet of water to add to the attractions of the landscape." It was six feet deep at the Limestone Street end and three feet deep at the other.
|Barker Hall, left and the Main Building, right.|
In the summer, students boated on the lake and in the winter, they ice skated. But by 1917, the lake had become an eyesore for the campus and it had essentially become a swamp. Discussions by the Board of Trustees to either restore it as a lake or turn it into a botanical garden ensued. The problem was resolved in the 1920s during preparation of the ground for building the Alumni Gymnasium and McLean Stadium.


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See also: NIMBY
- (usually pejorative) Someone who objects to the building of an undesirable structure in their neighborhood, especially in public policy debate.
- politically correct green (as in vegetation) nimbies (may object to nuclear power plants, polluting factories, etc.)
- socially conservative brown (as in shirts) nimbies (may object to the building of jails, prisons, housing for ex-convicts, drinking or adult entertainment establishments)
- fiscally conservative green (as in money) nimbies (may object to the building of anything which may decrease preexisting property values)
- Not wanting to have to deal with unpleasant or distasteful things near them.
- Their vote against measures to help refugees has been perceived by the socially conscious margin of society as a typically nimby attitude.
2010, Timothy J. Dunn, Blockading the Border and Human Rights, page 32:
- […] to be obvious exaggerations of the threats, but rather focused on critiquing the means employed—i.e., the various enforcement techniques that adversely affected innocent bystanders—and in a very nimby (not in my back yard) sort of way.
- BANANA - acronym similar to NIMBY


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that correlate with short survival times for patients with glioblastoma.
Several university-operated visualization tools can address this question. Oncoprints at MSKCC cBio Portal show survival curves associated with genomic alterations in the Survival tab. Alternatively, the University of California Santa Cruz Cancer Genomics Browser lets you probe associations between an array of clinical parameters and genomic data for many data sets. Click on Cancer Genomics Browser at the top of the menu on the left to be directed to the list of data sets. After choosing a data set, click on the Heatmap box in the tab that appears on the right to view genomic and clinical heat maps. You can explore associations between a clinical feature and genomic changes by clicking the Features button above the clinical heat map. This opens a window in which you can create two patient groups based on various differences, say, in age at diagnosis. Select Student's T-test from the Statistic drop-down menu and hit Generate Statistics to view all the statistically significant genomic differences between the groups: red bars and green bars indicate that genomic variation is more likely in group 1 or group 2, respectively. You can zoom in to get genomic data from individual samples, which are arranged vertically above the corresponding chromosomal position, says Jing Zhu, who manages the UCSC Cancer Genomics Browser. She encourages researchers who want more information about these clinical parameters to contact her team at _EMAIL_.


The importance of feedback in the recruitment process
Written by
Changeboard Team
16 Aug 2010
16 Aug 2010 • by Changeboard Team
Not the right 'cultural fit'?
Imagine being a candidate who has just been through two interview processes and just missed out on both jobs. So thats two sets of research; two briefing calls with recruitment agents; six interviews; maybe two lots of preparation time if the client wants a PowerPoint presentation (very often these days) so about 15 hours of time invested.
Imagine being told at the end of all this by one firm that you werent quite the right 'cultural fit', and by the other firm that you 'were just edged out by another candidate'. Most people would find that rather infuriating.
The importance of honest feedback
Over the last couple of years, market conditions and employer and jobseeker behaviour has changed in a number of ways, as our previous Changeboard article outlined. There has always been an imbalance between the amount of effort and commitment a candidate puts into a process and the feedback (or lack of it) they often get at the end, but this imbalance seems to have magnified in recent times.
As organisations have become more rigorous in their selection processes, the candidates applying for available positions are often expected to do more research; meet more people; do presentations; jump through more hoops. If they're ultimately successful and get the job, then great and good on them. If they are not successful, they will be keen to get something out of the process, apart from the feelings of disappointment and frustration. As one candidate said to us recently: what I really want is honesty, how else can you learn from your experiences if feedback (however harsh) is not honest?
What does useful feedback look like?
The dictionary definition of the word feedback is: knowledge of the Results of any behaviour considered as influencing or modifying further performance.
Being told you are not the right cultural fit is therefore not feedback, it's a cop out (the definition of cop out by the way is 'evasion'). Being told, as one of our candidates was told last week, that: you were great and strong but we don't wish to take things forward is not feedback either.
In fact, this same candidate had three interviews for one firm, was told he was down to the final two and was then told they went with the other candidate and never heard another thing. He is assuming he was the wrong cultural fit.
Reasons for evasive feedback
So why do firms not give better feedback on so many occasions? Here are some possible theories:
 1. The employer switches off when they find the correct employee and deem that mission accomplished? So, they forget.
 2. They dont think it's important and certainly not a priority?
 3. It's too difficult to either get the feedback from the hiring manager, or too difficult to articulate it?
 4. They dont want to give negative feedback in case the candidate gets the hump with their firm?
It is a bit of all of the above. The reality is that a candidate will think more highly of a firm if they give feedback, even negative, than if they dont get any at all. The candidate mentioned above was left with a sour taste in his mouth about a firm he was hoping to join and has really liked until that point.
Good feedback really counts
Another interesting aspect is that when some HR/recruitment managers do give good feedback - and some are very good at it - it really does stand out and makes a huge difference to how the candidate, and the recruitment consultancy involved, views that person and firm.
You really do see which HR/recruitment professionals have been involved in the process and decision making and those that havent; which HR people have a personal view and input and those that havent; which people care about the person and those that dont.
It really is very interesting what you learn about a senior HR person from how they manage a recruitment process and subsequently deal with the fall out from of the process - good and bad.
What does good feedback look like?
Constructive and useful feedback can come in many shapes and sizes, but could include:
 - How the candidate came across and any concerns that this raised with the interviewers.
 - Gaps in experience that the interviewers spotted and have deemed important.
 - Questions they didn't answer well; gaps the interviewers spotted in the candidate's knowledge or research.
 - Skills that other candidates had that put other people ahead of them.
 - Advice as to how they could approach things differently in future interviews.
A candidate will perceive they come across in a certain way and have a view as to how an interview went - sometimes they read it right and sometimes they don't. Knowing what others think of how you came across and performed is invaluable, and any of the above information can help mould future behaviour and really help, as well as leaving the candidate with the feeling that they got something out of the process, even if it wasnt a job.
Feedback please!
At First Counsel, two of us have worked as in-house recruitment managers so we know how difficult it can be to find the time to drag feedback out of line managers and pass it down the line.
However, it's also not easy for candidates to find time to get out of work to attend interviews, do research and write presentations at weekends etc. So when they do find such time they deserve good, constructive feedback.
If you dont like this article, please do tell us, and tell us why. Please dont just say it was the wrong cultural fit, or that you have read better.


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Pecan, mesquite and Texas red oak are some common trees found in Texas. Texas is home to many regions and growing climates that support their own unique tree varieties.Continue Reading
Pecan trees are a strain of large hickories that grow naturally along Texas stream banks. They can reach up to 100 feet in height and thrive in sunny conditions and rich, well-drained soils.
Found throughout Texas, mesquite trees are common in dry environments. These thorny trees range from small to medium height and produce beans that can negatively impact cattle, horses and goats.
Texas red oak trees normally range from 30 to 50 feet tall but have occasionally been known to reach over 75 feet. With a high heat tolerance and low water requirements, the Texas red oak is often found west of the Pecos River in central and north central Texas.Learn more about Trees & Bushes


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To report on the evaluation of error of a face matching system consisting of a 3D sensor for obtaining the surface of the face, and a two‐stage matching algorithm that matches the sensed surface to a model surface.
Rigid mannikin face that was, otherwise, fairly realistic was obtained, and several sensing and matching experiments were performed. Pose position, lighting and face color were controlled.
The combined sensor‐matching system typically reported correct face surface matches with trimmed RMS error of 0.5 mm or less for a generous volume of parameters, including roll, pitch, yaw, position, lighting, and facecolor. Error accelerated beyond this "approximately frontal" set of parameters. Mannikin results are compared to results with thousands of cases of real faces. The sensor accuracy is not a limiting component of the system, but supports the application well.
The sensor supports the application well (except for the current cost). Equal error rates achieved appear to be practical for face verification.
No similar report is known for sensing faces.
Stockman, G., Payne, J., Sadler, J. and Colbry, D. (2006), "Error measurement and analysis for a 3D face surface matching system", Sensor Review, Vol. 26 No. 2, pp. 116-121. _URL_ as .RIS
Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2006, Emerald Group Publishing Limited


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The "Black Dutch" have long been an enigma in American genealogy. Their descendants are widely reported, yet no authoritative definition exists for this intriguing term. Many claims are made about the Black Dutch, but are any valid? Clues to this genealogical mystery were sought by contacting their descendants. Who were the Black Dutch? Where did they live?
The first in-depth survey of the mysterious "Black Dutch" appears as a special feature in American Genealogy Magazine,Vol. 12, No. 1. This 20-page, illustrated report discusses the physiognomy, ethnology, and geography of over 100 American families of Black Dutch descent.
This issue of American Genealogy Magazine has 88 pages. Other features of this issue include: "Cherokee-White Intermarriages, Part VIII" and "Index to Estate Papers, Sumter County, South Carolina (_PHONE_), Part V (Surnames R - S)."
Price includes first class postage. TX residents add 8.25% sales tax.
Order from Google Checkout (above)
or from our secure website (below)
GenealogyMagazine.com - Copyright © 2000-2013 Datatrace Systems


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To identify the atomic number of superheavy nuclei produced in 48Ca-induced fusion-evaporation reactions, an experiment aiming at measuring characteristic X-rays is being prepared at GSI, Darmstadt, Germany. The gas-filled separator TASCA will be employed, sending the residues towards the multi-coincidence detector setup TASISpec. Two ionoptical modes relying on differing magnetic polarities of the quadrupole magnets can be used at TASCA. New simulations and experimental tests of transmission and background suppression for these two focusing modes into TASISpec are presented.
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Physics and Astronomy(all)


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Should you visit Yokohama or Hiroshima?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Yokohama or Hiroshima, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Located on the western coast of Tokyo Bay just south of Tokyo, Yokohama is Japan's second largest city and one of the most-visited cities by foreigners. It features one of the largest Chinatown's in the world as well as many parks and architectural landmarks.
Hiroshima is positioned on the coast of the Seto Inland Sea and is an industrial city made up of many zigzagging rivers and wide boulevard streets. Today Hiroshima is a modern and vibrant city with great food and an energetic nightlife, but the image that remains in most visitor's minds is the Hiroshima of 1945 when it became the horrific sight of the first atomic bomb attack. Hiroshima shares the colorful neon atmosphere of other major Japanese cities and its hard to recognize the city immortalized all those years ago on that fateful day.
Which city is cheaper, Hiroshima or Yokohama?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Yokohama is $138, while the average daily cost in Hiroshima is $112. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Yokohama and Hiroshima in more detail.
A hotel room in Yokohama is about $154 This assumes double occupancy and modest accommodations.
Travelers usually pay around $144 for a double occupancy room in Hiroshima If you want to be in a premiere location or have high end amenities, you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food in Yokohama costs travelers about $41 per day on average. Restaurants can vary significantly in price, so choose wisely if you're trying to save money. Fast food and street stalls are typically your cheapest options, which sit down restaurants can be significantly more expensive.
In Hiroshima travelers spend around $32 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
Meals for one day
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yokohama
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Yokohama.
2 hour Japanese Food tour in Yokohama:
Premium tour with cooking experience Yokohama Winery Ingredients Premier:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Hiroshima
For Hiroshima, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
Enjoy a Private Japanese Cooking Class with a Local Hiroshima Family:
Hiroshima No1 food!! 'Okonomiyaki'-cooking class:
Hiroshima No1 food!! 'Okonomiyaki'-cooking class and a guided-tour of the museum:
Hiroshima Bar Hopping Food Tour:
Local Favorites Private Night Food Tour:
Hiroshima ・Night Food Tour Visiting Recommended Bars by Locals & Cycling:
Private Hiking and Country Cooking Experience in Yuki:
Best of Hiroshima Food Tour:
Cooking class: learn from a Washoku chef in Setouch:
The cost of a taxi ride in Yokohama is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $23 per person, per day, on local transportation in Yokohama.
To get around in Hiroshima, the average visitor spends $11 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yokohama
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Yokohama:
5-hour Tokyo Tour + Transfer Between Yokohama and Narita Airport:
Low Cost Private Transfer From Tokyo International Airport to Yokohama City - One Way:
Transfer from Yokohama To HND Airport by Private Car for Nighttime Flight:
Private Departure Transfer : Yokohama City to Narita International Airport:
Transfer from Yokohama To HND Airport by Private Car for Daytime Flight:
Yokohama Osanbashi Port to Main Tokyo Private Transfer Haice bus for pax1-9:
Yokohama Private Departure Transfer : from Yokohama Port or Hotels to Tokyo Hotels:
Yokohama Osanbashi Port to Main Tokyo Private Transfer Alphard bus for pax1-5:
Shared Departure Transfer : Yokohama City to Narita International Airport:
Private Departure Transfer : Yokohama City to Haneda Airport:
Yokohama Port Shared Transfer : from Yokohama Port to Haneda Airport:
Shared Departure Transfer : Yokohama City to Haneda Airport:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Hiroshima
Also for Hiroshima, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
Shared Departure Transfer : Hiroshima City to Hiroshima Airport:
Is it cheaper to fly into Yokohama or Hiroshima?
Prices for flights to both Hiroshima and Yokohama change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.
Entertainment and activities in Yokohama typically cost an average of $33 per person, per day. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
In Hiroshima, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $6.00 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Yokohama
Here are a few actual costs in Yokohama for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
7-hour Kamakura tour to/from Yokohama City With Private Car:
7-hour Tokyo tour, with Private Car, from/to Yokohama:
Baseball Experience with DeNA BayStars in Yokohama:
Guided architecture tour in Sankeien garden:
Japanese cuisine Making tour with Wine experience by Yokohama Winery:
Kamakura Day Tour:
Kamakura One Day Hike Tour with Nationally-Licensed Guide:
Private Tour to see Highlights of Kamakura, Enoshima, Yokohama from Tokyo:
Private Yokohama Tour - History, Culture and Food:
Romantic Tour In Yokohama:
Sankeien Garden Audio Guide Tour:
See Tokyo On Your Cruise-Over:
Tours and Activities in Hiroshima
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Hiroshima.
'Guided Tour' Premium Boat Tour Around Stunning Hiroshima Castle:
Hiroshima Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour:
Hiroshima Cycling Peace Virtual Tour with Local Guide:
Japanese traditional archery experience Unlimited shooting:
Hiroshima Like a Local: Customized Private Tour:
Peace Park Tour at Rest House in Hiroshima:
Hidden Gems and Highlights Private Walking Tour:
Hiroshima Cycling Peace Tour with Local Guide:
Japanese archery Guide Tour with trial shooting experience:
Hiroshima in a Nutshell: Morning Bike Adventure:
Aikido Experience in Hiroshima. Feel the spirit of the ultimate martial art!:
Experience Japanese Martial Arts - Iaido (Art of Drawing the Japanese Sword):
While the amount that someone spends on alcohol while visiting Yokohama may vary from person to person, on average a person spends $19 per day on alcoholic beverages.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Hiroshima, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $13.
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yokohama and Hiroshima, we can see that Yokohama is more expensive. And not only is Hiroshima much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Hiroshima would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Hiroshima and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Yokohama would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yokohama than you might in Hiroshima.
Related Articles for Yokohama
Related Articles for Hiroshima


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This week, researchers from Norway have reported that people who take part in or attend 'cultural' activities tend to have better physical and mental health. And cultural activities are defined as creative – such as playing music or drawing; and they're defined as receptive – such as going to the theatre, a museum and watching sport.
Publishing in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Koenraad Cuypers and his team sent surveys to tens of thousands of people in a rural region of Norway asking questions about their activities, happiness and perceived health. The researchers then took the results, ran some statistical tests and found this association between cultural activities and health.
Cuypers, who's from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, found that it was especially men in whom this relationship was most apparent. More than females, males reported higher levels of satisfaction, happiness and better perceived health if they took part in the receptive activities such as watching sport or going to a museum.
They also found that people in lower socioeconomic groups were less likely to attend either type of cultural activity, and that women were especially happy if they took part in more creative forms of culture. In addition, people tended to take part in more cultural activities the older they became up until they reached their forties, when it started to decline again.
The researchers stress they can't identify a causative relationship; they don't know if a bit of culture makes you happier or if happier/healthier people tend to involve more culture in their lives.


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The REVEST Program will offer the following program options free of charge
(Including the cost of tuition and books):
Program Training Options:
1) Vocational English for Speakers of Other Languages (VESOL) Program
2) Employability Skills Seminars
3) Vocational Credit Certificate Programs & Continuing Workforce Education Courses
4) Vocational Skills Labs
5) Citizenship, language and civics instruction
Vocational English for Speakers of Other Languages (VESOL) Classes:
- The REVEST Program offers various levels of VESOL.
- All students must take the CASAS test (an English placement test) before registering for classes to determine the appropriate level of instruction.
- Each level of VESOL lasts 16 weeks and includes one week of the Employability Skills Seminar.
- Books are distributed to students free of charge. Students may keep their books if they complete the class. If a student withdraws from class, s/he must return the books to the REVEST Program.
- Each level of VESOL has a CASAS test and a departmental final exam.
- Students completing VESOL Level Three and who are interested in PSAV courses must take the Test of Adult Basic Education (TABE). Students will be informed of test dates and times by their instructors.
Career Technical Education (Formerly PSAV) & Continuing Workforce Education Courses:
The REVEST Program offers a limited number of short-term vocational training programs in high-demand fields. Students who complete the Career Technical Education Program graduate with a Certificate of Completion.
Citizenship Program (CP):
The REVEST Program offers citizenship, English language skills and Civics instruction for lawful permanent residents who reside in Miami-Dade County. Classes meet three times a week for 2 hour sessions. Courses last 16 weeks, Students who successfully complete the course receive a Certificate of Completion.
Back to REVEST Home Page
Back to REVEST English Page


Change how long Netdata stores metrics
The database engine uses RAM to store recent metrics. When metrics reach a certain age, and based on how much system RAM you allocate toward storing metrics in memory, they are compressed and "spilled" to disk for long-term storage.
The default settings retain about two day's worth of metrics on a system collecting 2,000 metrics every second, but the Netdata Agent is highly configurable if you want your nodes to store days, weeks, or months worth of per-second data.
The Netdata Agent uses two settings in netdata.conf to change the behavior of the database engine:
page cache size = 32
dbengine multihost disk space = 256
page cache size sets the maximum amount of RAM (in MiB) the database engine uses to cache and index recent metrics. dbengine multihost disk space sets the maximum disk space (again, in MiB) the database engine uses to store historical, compressed metrics. When the size of stored metrics exceeds the allocated disk space, the database engine removes the oldest metrics on a rolling basis.
Calculate the system resources (RAM, disk space) needed to store metrics#
You can store more or less metrics using the database engine by changing the allocated disk space. Use the calculator below to find an appropriate value for dbengine multihost disk space based on how many metrics your node(s) collect, whether you are streaming metrics to a parent node, and more.
You do not need to edit the page cache size setting to store more metrics using the database engine. However, if you want to store more metrics specifically in memory, you can increase the cache size.
⚠ This calculator provides an estimate of disk and RAM usage for metrics storage, along with its best recommendation for the dbengine multihost disk space setting. Real-life usage may vary based on the accuracy of the values you enter below, changes in the compression ratio, and the types of metrics stored.
By default, the Agent collects metrics once per second (1). See the update every setting in your netdata.conf file if yours may be different. If you have streaming nodes, use the average of their settings.
To find this value for an Agent, scroll to the bottom of the dashboard to find the number of metrics your Agent collects. If you have streaming nodes, input the average of these values.
To find this value, click on the Netdata Monitoringdbengine items in the right-hand menu and look at the first chart under the dbengine section. You can also use your browser's search feature to look for compression savings ratio. Estimate an average value to input into the calculator.
Open your netdata.conf file and find the page cache size setting in the [global] section.
With the above configuration, Netdata will use the following resources to store metrics:
MiB in total disk space MiB in system memory
To enable this setup, edit your netdata.conf file and change the dbengine multihost disk space setting to the following:
Restart your Agent with service netdata restart for the setting to take effect.
Your Agent now stores metrics for 1 day using a total of MiB in disk space.
Notes on the database engine calculator
 - The database engine requires a minimum disk space, which is reflected in this calculator. This required space is the maximum between your dbengine multihost disk space/dbengine disk space setting and dimensions-being-collected * 4096 * 2.
 - The system memory figure above is only for the database engine, and it may be higher in real-world situations due to memory fragmentation. The Agent will require additional memory for collection, visualization, and alerting features.
Edit netdata.conf with recommended database engine settings#
Now that you have a recommended setting for dbengine multihost disk space, open netdata.conf with edit-config and look for the dbengine multihost disk space setting. Change it to the value recommended above. For example:
dbengine multihost disk space = 1024
Save the file and restart the Agent with service netdata restart to change the database engine's size.
What's next?#
For more information about the database engine, see our database reference doc.
Storing metrics with the database engine is completely interoperable with exporting to other time-series databases. With exporting, you can use the node's resources to surface metrics when viewing dashboards, while also archiving metrics elsewhere for further analysis, visualization, or correlation with other tools.
If you don't want to always store metrics on the node that collects them or run ephemeral nodes without dedicated storage, you can use streaming. Streaming allows you to centralize your data, run Agents as headless collectors, replicate data, and more.
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