text:
NGO Leader Shares Thoughts on the Future of Belarus
Alexander Lukashenka’s regime in Belarus has often been called by international media “the last true remaining dictatorship in the heart of Europe”. Gennady Grushevoy, the 1999 Rafto Prize laureate, shares his thoughts on the current political situation in Belarus.
Monday, 05 March 2012, by HRH Bergen, based on Rafto Foundation infromation
The following article is based on the interview the Rafto Foundation did with Gennady Grushevoy in January 2012. Grushevoy, who chairs the Belarussian organisation "For the Children of Chernobyl", shared his thoughts on the current political situation in Belarus - how it has been possible for Lukashenka’s regime to hold onto power for such a long time and rule the country the way he does it.
Lukashenka’s rise to power
Gennady Grushevoy described circumstances under which Lukashenka established his powerbase as a direct consequence of the collapse of the USSR. Following dissolution of the Soviet Union, Belarus, like other former Soviet republics, faced the same problems of political instability, massive unemployment and social discontent. During his presidential campaign, Lukashenka promised what people wanted - closer union with Russia and social security guaranteed by the state. Instead of focusing on the future – moving towards democratisation, developing a market economy and respecting human rights – Lukashenka’s message was more clear and simple: it offered the familiar and understandable solution to the problems faced by Belarus, and therefore was perceived by constituents as a good and viable alternative to the uncertainty at the time. This allowed Lukashenka to win the first presidential election in 1994. Widespread disillusionment with the lack of immediate benefits after Belarus had become independent produced a wave of nostalgia for the relative stability of the Soviet Union and Lukashenka was quick to exploit it. As early as May 1995, Lukashenka organised a referendum in favour of reinstating the flag and coat of arms of Soviet Belarus as national symbols. In 1996, by a second referendum, he changed the constitution and disbanded the legitimately elected Parliament, replacing it with a group of handpicked loyalists. In so doing, Lukashenka eradicated the separation of powers which formed the basis of democratic governance, and began to build the totalitarian system that exists today.
Consequently Lukashenka managed to obtain significant concessions from Russia, such as power supplies, imports and exports and commodity markets, which brought billions of USD into the state budget. This income was then further used to build an extensive social welfare programme for citizens of Belarus and allowed the country to stand out from its neighbours with relatively high pensions, and an extremely low level of unemployment. This led to a certain social contract between the president and his constituents – the nation supports Lukashenka while receiving social benefits in return. What citizens of Belarus did not realize was that this system was artificial and sustained exclusively by Russian subsidies. The opposition forces trying to expose the unpleasant truth were subject to an “informational blockade”, since virtually all the media in Belarus work for the president.
During this seemingly affluent period for the Belarusian economy, Lukashenka managed to build a large oppressive apparatus consisting of dozens of secret service institutions, executing complete control over society and eliminating any signs of political plurality. Lukashenka’s regime has proven to be skilful at both strengthening state institutions and using the country’s powerful state-security services—there are no fewer than eight of them—for coercive purposes. Belarus has also one of the highest ratios of police officers to residents in Europe, and ranks third in the number of prisoners per one thousand people.
Relations with Russia deteriorated after 2005, subsidies diminished, and the social benefits had to be cut. People started questioning the regime they had relied upon. The impact was felt immediately in Belarus. The price hikes boosted inflation, foreign indebtedness, and the trade deficit. There was a small run on the banks as people lost confidence in the Belarusian ruble and tried to buy more stable foreign currency. In a 2007 interview with Reuters, Lukashenka himself admitted that Belarus’s losses from the “energy wars” amounted to $5 billion, or 10 % of GDP. In many ways, the uneasiness of late 2006 and early 2007 was a precursor of the spring 2011 events. In response to protests by the opposition, hundreds of people were imprisoned by the Belarusian authorities. Intimidation, firing and beating of opposition activists became the usual practice on the grounds that they either were enemies of the state or infiltrated by Western secret services. It all echoed very closely Stalin’s repressions in 1937. Fear for themselves, their family, children, job and health simply stopped people from expressing their views openly.
The role of NGOs in Belarus
Belarus does not have a developed civil society, although there were first minor signs of self-government and organisation (Chernobyl movement, youth and legal activity) before Lukashenka came to power. Today relatively small numbers and fragmentation of civil society elements do not equate to any serious influence on government or mass actions. The organisation For the Children of Chernobyl is one of the few established and developed before the regime came into power (20 years ago), and according to Mr. Grushevoy it has several advantages compared to other NGOs in the country.
First of all, the organisation successfully combines civil activity, practical issues and political demands, and moreover, a strong social inclination allows it to operate even under constant scrutiny and oppression, as the system does not dare to attack openly an organisation helping children affected by the Chernobyl disaster. Over the years, For Children of Chernobyl has established cooperation with countless NGOs all over the world, as well as involved many citizens of Belarus in its activities. Together, more than half a million children and young people in Belarus have had a chance to be in touch with their counterparts abroad, get acquainted with their lifestyle and values, and develop a positive attitude towards democratic trends, which hopefully will provide a solid basis for change towards democratisation and westernisation of Belarus in the future.
Rafto Foundation asked Gennady Grushevoy what his vision for Belarus for year 2020 was. “There are two possible scenarios, an optimistic one and a pessimistic one,” said Grushevoy. The optimistic scenario predicts a constitutional crisis around 2015-2016 caused by different conflicts within the country, in its relationship with Russia, among ruling clans, etc. This would create the necessary conditions to start demolition of Lukashenka’s personal power and the established regime, resulting in Lukashenka’s removal from politics and creation of an interim government which would introduce the legal framework for a democratic system, for example the separation of powers, a legal system and freedom of information.
The second scenario is also connected with the same constitutional crisis, but instead of democratisation it would lead to a Putin-Lukashenka pact, a closer union with Russia, eliminating any attributes of sovereignty and turning Belarus into Russia’s dominion at best. The role of NGOs, and particularly For Children of Chernobyl, is to educate and prepare society for this potential crisis – to be ready to exert strong influence, even political pressure on the government of Belarus, Russia and international society, in order to avoid the worst scenario. This is the most important investment in the future of Belarus.
HRH Bergen, based on Rafto Foundation infromation

domain: politics


text:
Feliway - will it work in the scenario?(14 Posts)
(Long post warning as several factors to consider)
We have a rescue cat (about 6 years old) who we got as a kitten with her brother at about 4 months. They settled in with is quite well, her brother was the more sociable and she was always shyer and avoided visitors or loud, sudden noises/movements but otherwise fine and no issues behaviourally
About 2 years ago, we lost her brother and she seemed lonely but coped and we didn't look to get another cat as we had a house move planned, that happened about a year ago. Following the move she has become very much an indoor (upstairs) cat and the closest she got to the outside was sitting at the back door watching us in the garden, she has slowly got braver and will now venture outside carefully on her own but doesn't go far. (She may be more nervous of the outside as she was clipped by a car about 3/4 years ago)
As she appeared to have settled we did get a 2nd cat (kitten) and after initial scuffles they appear to have settled together but she will mess and spray in the house.
The house is over 3 floors and other than messing upstairs during the settle in period she does only spray/mess downstairs.
We have a litter tray in the downstairs toilet which both cats use overnight and as she was messing in the hall we added a second litter tray there to help (both cats have free access to outdoors as well) but she has now started to mess and spray in the dining room I have throughly cleaned and deodorised but she keeps at it daily.
I am tempted to try the Feliway diffuser in there but they aren't cheap and on reading up I see suggestions that it should go in the room she feels safest in (our bedroom)
So - questions for those with experience;
Do you think it might help?
Should I get 1 or 2?
And, as I have reacted with asthmatic type symptoms to plug in air fresheners, I am wary about plugging anything in to our bedroom so do I need one in there?
Thanks to anyone who gets through that back story and will offer opinions and advice.
There is now two different type of Feliway, you need Feliway Friends. You also need one per cat plus one of each of your facilities litter tray, water and food bowls. Check the products you are using to clean up to make sure they do not contain ammonia.
I would put one diffuser on your middle landing is the answer to how many and where. I have not know Feliway cause problems for asthmatics even the spray formulation.
Thanks Lonecat, def no ammonia in the cleaning products
I have been wondering about an additional litter tray but don't want it in the dining room where she is currently choosing to go but maybe if I put one in the bathroom she will prefer that.
If I put one on the middle landing (next to the bathroom) would you think it would stop her using a litter tray in there?
The cats do get along now (they don't fight just ignore each other the way cats do but happily pass each other by with normal pace and body language) just took a little settling in so I would have thought the original was the one to go for (been reading reviews and goggling this morning) as the issue appears to be the mess and spray in the house
You may not want the litter tray in the dining room but the cat does!
Weeing and spraying are two separate issues really - is she doing one or both? And has she been to the vet? For example mine sprays when she is in pain from FLUTD which has been sorted with diet.
If she is weeing in the dining room you have to suck it up and put the litter tray there which is what the cat wants. Once the cat has stopped making a mess of your dining room you may get to move it to what you think is a more desirable location.
You have to be a bit cat detective to work out why the dining room has suddenly become so desirable - so weeing or spraying? is other cat guarding litter tray downstairs? Have you really eradicated all smells right down to underlay? On going stress? And so on. Vicky Halls cat behaviour books are excellent for this.
I used feliway when I first got my babies and one of them was weeing on the sofa. It didn't work. Having the same problem Again and the vet was adamant I needed more feliway even though I said it had no effect. Bought one to say I'd ticked all the boxes but it still doesn't work. Tried zykelene and cystophan and all the sprays with no effect. Though they are very chilled on zykelene! Good luck.
It seems she doesn't like the other cat so I'm not sure how effective the Feliway will be. Let us know how it works out.
I don't think she likes the new cat either. Unless she's always messed in the house.
I agree - cats are matriarchal, so 2 females in the house, especially if original cat is nervous - not good.
Try putting a Feliway Friends (didn't know about the Friends version before today Lone) on each level of your house, ensuring there's one in the dining room.
And try some Zylkene. All can be bought from Amazon if cost is an issue.
...PS, I think Simple Solution is the most recommended on here, failing that a solution of bio washing powder, for removing smells and discouraging your cat from carrying on the crap/piss cycle. I think white vinegar has been mentioned too?
Thank you for all your input, I am currently using a white vinegar solution to clean along with a pet deodoriser but as I am not always there when she does it it does soak in eventually we will replace the carpet with hard flooring but that is a couple of years away as other things are taking priority plus I don't want to move the issue to another part of the house
I may have to suck it up and put a litter tray there but really don't want to be sitting down to dinner and one of them come in to use the facilities (they won't use trays with a lid)
Both cats are female but have kept predominantly female groups before without issue ...
I will try one of the feliways and see how it goes, not sure on the Zylkene as getting her to take the capsule will cause more stress than it may alleviate
You open the capsule and sprinkle it over food, lots of meds can be crushed if you ask the vet.
No way on gods earth I'd try putting a capsule into mine.
Have you tried taking the flappy door off the lidded trays, then reinstating it once they're confident using it?
Perhaps add another litter tray, and scoop the poops and wee clumps out, but try holding back on the deodorising etc. They like a clean tray, but like it to smell of "themselves".
I have two very territorial sisters, 7 years old. Similar problems to yours. Feliway Friends has made a difference. It's synthetic hormones of the sort that mum cat makes. I also got two very large enclose flitter trays in two different rooms (so they can't block)
I started with 4 and gradually reduced them over time. We now have no spraying issues and I've even caught them sleeping on the bed. Together. And very occasional, brief, mutual grooming.
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domain: pet


how to pair dual media player xdm27btprayer to mother mary for healing of cancerPosted by on May 21st, 2021
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text:
Ring of Elysium’s Thailand International Invitational Begins in April
15 teams will duke it out from all over the world in Ring of Elysium at Garena World on April 7th. These international teams will begin the Ring of Elysium Thailand Invitational then, and there are some very interesting teams coming to this Invitational. Hydra Gaming, Impact Gaming, Noble Esports, No Rrcoil, Team Force, STellar Four, MDY, King and Zoo, with two more teams coming from Taipei and four from Thailand. The teams will be battling it out on the Europa Island map in a best of four with four TPP round and four FPP rounds. Each team will earn points during their matches comprised of ranking points, elimination points, and boarding points, with the highest scoring team claiming victory.
The Thailand International Invitational will be the first international esports event for Ring of Elysium and will have a prize pool totaling 1M Baht. Audience members both online and at the invitational events will receive gift packages including skins and rare props. The Invitational will feature multiple rounds of intense competition that both Ring of Elysium and esports fans are sure to enjoy.
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domain: game


McKay’s 3 TD passes help Montana St. beat Drake 45-7
BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Matthew McKay threw three touchdown passes, including two to Willie Patterson, and Montana State beat Drake 45-7 on Saturday night.
McKay was 19-of-25 passing for 256 yards with no interceptions and added eight carries for 61 yards. Lance McCutcheon had seven receptions for 121 yards, including a 45-yard touchdown.
Montana State (1-1) opened the scoring when Blake Glessner kicked a 29-yard field goal fewer than four minutes into the game. McKay connected with Patterson for a 23-yard touchdown on the final play of the first quarter and Patterson’s 31-yard TD catch midway through the second quarter made it 16-0.
Ian Corwin was 14-of-23 passing for 149 yards, including a 2-yard touchdown pass to Cross Robinson for Drake (1-1).
Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.


text:
JOSHUA BELL AND JEREMY DENK
RECORDING WORKS BY
RAVEL, SAINT-SAENS AND FRANCK
AT LANDMARK NEW MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MUSEUM IN PHOENIX
FROM SONY CLASSICAL
On JOSHUA BELL's new album, FRENCH IMPRESSIONS, Grammy-award-winning violinist Bell and his longtime friend and recital partner, pianist Jeremy Denk offer a passionately nuanced interpretation of works by Saint-Saens, Ravel and Franck. French Impressions boasts a number of milestones: it's Bell's first CD of sonatas since joining Sony Classical in 1996; it is Bell and Denk's first recital album together, and it's the first commercial recording made at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix. Produced by multiple Grammy-award-winner Steven Epstein, French Impressions will be released January 10 on Sony Classical and features Camille Saint- Saens Sonata No. 1 for Violin and Piano in D Minor Op 75 (1885); Cesar Franck Violin Sonata in A Major (1886), and Maurice Ravel Sonata for Violin and Piano in G Major (1927).
Cesar Franck's Violin Sonata is Bell's homage to his mentor, Josef Gingold, with whom he studied at Indiana University in Bloomington. The sonata honors Bell's lineage as a violinist going back to Belgian violinist Eugene Ysaye for whom Cesar Franck wrote this very piece on the occasion of Ysaye's wedding. Gingold, whom Bell has described as "the most memorable and significant person in my musical life," was a student of the Ysaye, and first introduced Bell to the work at age 12 at his studio. Bell relishes the memory of Gingold describing and imitating the nuance and charm Ysaye brought to the sonata and today regards Ysaÿe as his "musical grandfather."
"Gingold captivated me with his affection for these three jewels of the violin/piano repertoire --Franck, Ravel, and the Saint-Saens sonatas. This is music notable for its nuance, sensuality, and transcendent beauty, and one's contemplation of these profound works is a life-long journey. French Impressions is the culmination of my last decade of exploration and performance with pianist Jeremy Denk, and I hope that with this recording we can affect the listener with the same joy and spiritual enrichment that these masterpieces have provided us with over the years," says Bell."
Each of the sonatas features romantic moments which traverse lyrical sweetness to urgent drama and reveal enchantingly complex and challenging layers of sound. Franck's Violin Sonata in A Major, written at the height of the French Bell Epoque, is a work of uncommon beauty and expressive elegance. The oldest of the French composers on the CD, Franck was born in Belgium in 1822, but it was in Paris where he became a citizen and made his career as a composer and teacher at the Paris Conservatoire. Franck's attention to instrumental music rather than opera made him an influential musical force in his country, with his sonata being regarded as an important component of French chamber repertoire.
Saint-Saens, born in 1835, was revered as a piano prodigy. At age 13 he crossed paths with Franck upon entering the Paris Conservatoire and it was in Paris where he wrote the Violin and Piano Sonata in D Minor, his first of two, among famous works including "The Swan" and "The Carnival of the Animals." The gentle singing violin motto, heard in the sonata's first and last movements, is believed to have inspired writer Marcel Proust to imagine the "Vinteuil sonata" that is a virtual love theme in the first part of his great novel known in English as Remembrance of Things Past. Today, the Saint-Saens remains one of the most exciting sonatas in the repertoire, the piece features rich sensuality contained with a formal scheme, and a gloriously feverish finale.
Ravel was born in 1875 and lived in Paris after he turned six. His elegant music has him arguably regarded today as a "Post Impressionist." His sonata, at turns ethereal, earthy, abstract and sensual, offers a kaleidoscope of different thrills, as seen in the unexpected yet beautiful blending of genres in the slow "Blues" movement.
Denk and Bell's collaboration was a long time in the making. Denk was entering Indiana University as Bell was graduating; Denk studied with pianist Gyorgy Sebok, whose close friend and esteemed teaching and chamber-music colleague was Josef Gingold. Both Bell and Denk would hear of each other over the years, until they finally performed together at the Spoleto Festival in 2004. They have performed more than 80 recitals since then, including many performances of the works recorded for this CD. When Bell and Denk performed Saint-Saens Violin Sonata No. 1 in D Minor during their 2010 recital tour, The New York Times raved "Mr. Bell and Mr. Denk gave a passionate performance... There were plenty of fireworks in the whirlwind of the concluding movement." And a Philadelphia critic noted their "equal partnership, with no upstaging." Denk also joined Bell in-studio to perform on the recent At Home with Friends CD.
Mr. Bell and Mr. Denk's CD is unique in being the first commercial recording made at the MIM Music Theater located within the Musical Instrument Museum, a 192,000 square foot complex that includes the 299-seat theater and audio-video enhanced exhibits featuring musical instruments from every country in the world, drawn from MIM's vast collection of over 15,000 instruments and objects. Since its opening on April 24, 2010, MIM has become a significant addition to the worldwide community of museums devoted to music making and musical culture.

domain: entertainment


text:
TASTE: Over Indulging or Just Improvising? The Dark Side of Taste
For people who are addicted to certain vices such as drugs, sex or alcohol there are typically meetings in which people who have addictions can attend and seek the help they need. The 12 step programs, sharing circles and accountability buddies are all within the nomenclature for the individual with an excessive habit they need restrained. But what if your problem isn’t big enough to seek help for? Many people know when too much of something good is enough while others indulge a bit too much. So is it true that too much of a good thing can harm you?
An exacerbated indulgence of any of the aforementioned categories can leave a person with an unwavering co-dependence and even transpire into an ultimately death. The number one cause of people over indulging in something is caused by stress. We as humans tend to stress and spread ourselves thin and so we find ways to cope with the stress instead of ending whatever is that is causing us to stress out. A significant amount of people eat or have sex unconsciously when problems occur in their lives. To gather clarity on this phenomenon I asked a few people their opinions regarding food and sex and if they utilized either of the two as their outlet from their everyday obstacles.
The majority of women I asked said that food is something they do find comfort in as their method of alleviating anxiety and/or stress. One woman who spoke with me specifically explained that she finds herself overeating when she arrives at her ‘time of the month’. We as women know when Mother Nature arrives on scene, so do the inevitable symptoms including food cravings, anxiety, and irritability amidst many more. In addition to this, the bulk of men said they do find sex as their respective outlet however, they find it not as dangerous to find that same outlet in food. A man whose identity prefers to be anonymous said that when he finds himself stressed his first choice of outlet is sex. Both of these do something that eases that small part of our soul, which at times almost feels impossible to complete.
However, it is important to keep in mind that if you see yourself personally struggling with either of these two that there are alternatives to curving those desires. It is essential to realize that our mind controls the body. When we see food, smell food or think about sex that our minds develop a focus on just that and tell us that we are in need of that thing. We have to be able to distinguish our needs from our wants and take a moment to exercise patience and evaluate just what the result of our actions will give us, an ephemeral benefit, or long lasting hardship.
Written By: Taelor Cage
Edited By: J. Thompson

domain: sociology


text:
With The Walking Dead television series looking to come to a close, it makes sense that the team at Telltale Games would decide to bring an end to their own story set within the zombie-filled apocalypse. And according to their latest announcement, that's exactly what's about to happen.
Over on the Telltale Blog, they've offered a sneak peek at what they're calling "The Final Season" for The Walking Dead. We've got a pretty impressive background to work with, too, which makes it clear that quite a bit of time has passed since we last saw our heroes struggling to survive in a world gone mad. In it, Clementine has clearly aged several years, which is also evident by the fact that the baby she was looking after now appears to be about four or five. Clementine is still wearing her trademark baseball cap and wielding an axe as a bunch of walkers shamble in her direction
Telltale has set the stage for the big reveal at PAX East, saying they will give more details on the final season of The Walking Dead once the big show rolls around. For those planning on attending, or those who simply want to tune in online, the reveal will take place on Friday, April 6, from 12:30 to 1:20 p.m. ET in the Albatross Theatre.
The show will be hosted by Kinda Funny's Greg Miller, alongside members of the team. The voice of Clementine, Melissa Hutchison, will also be on stage to share news, answer question and the like. The on-stage team will do a retrospective on the entire Telltale series, following Clementine's journey from terrified kid to terrifying (if you're a zombie) badass. If you have the time, the show will be broadcast live through Telltale's Twitch feed.
Looking back, it's hard to believe we've been following this story for five years at this point. The Walking Dead is the series that made Telltale Games into a household name for gamers. They had released a few titles up to that point based on IP like Back to the Future and Jurassic Park, but The Walking Dead was the first time they truly nailed the formula. And while some folks feel the choose-your-own-adventure mechanics could be pushed further, they've basically set the standard for the industry and spawned a pretty great fad of more games offering players choices that have an actual impact on the narrative.
We've followed Clementine through a handful of seasons at this point, as well as ventured into other adventures with a couple of shorter spin-off adventures. Filling the gaps between those games were a ridiculous number of series based on other IP ranging from Minecraft and Game of Thrones to Batman and Borderlands. So, yeah, it's been a wild ride, and we're definitely looking forward to seeing how it ends.
Your Daily Blend of Entertainment News
Staff Writer for CinemaBlend.
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Mortal Kombat 2: What We Know About The Next Installment In The Video Game Film Franchise


text:
Gamma Knife Radiosurgery For Patients With Imaging-diagnosed Orbital Cavernous Hemangioma.Xiaomin Liu, MD, PhD11Department of Neurosurgery and Gamma Knife Center, 2ND Hospital of Tianjin Medical University Keywords: brain tumor, orbit, cavernous hemangioma, gamma knife, outcome
To evaluate clinical outcome and tumor control of imaging-diagnosed orbital cavernous hemangiomas (OCHs) treated with gamma knife radiosurgery (GKS).
Between 1995 and 2008, a total of 23 imaging-diagnosed OCHs were treated with GKS and complete follow-up was available.
The mean treatment volume was 2.02 cm3 (range 0.15-10.10); the mean tumor margin dose was 15.3 Gy (range 12-20) and the mean follow-up was 23.5 months (range 6-120).
Decrease in tumor size was found in 20 cases and no tumor progression was observed after GKS. Eleven of 14 patients with affected visual function prior to treatment showed improvement in visual acuity at the last assessment. Side-effects included orbital pain in 3 patients and chemosis in 2 patients.
This is a retrospective study.
In this preliminary experience GKS proved to be an effective treatment modality for imaging-diagnosed OCHs.
Additional follow-up is necessary and long term side-effects are yet to be determined. Project Roles:
X. Liu ()

domain: medical


How to ensure Maximum Test Coverage?
By Shreya Bose, Community Contributor - January 9, 2023
The test coverage report provides information about parts of the software where test coverage is being implemented. Essentially, it provides information about the tests executed on an application or website, letting QAs managers make informed decisions about resources, test duration, and other essential parameters. It is a black-box testing technique.
In the following sections, let’s get into the details, types of test coverage, and how a test coverage matrix can streamline your SDLC.
What is Test Coverage?
Test coverage monitors the number of tests that have been executed. Test cases are written to ensure maximum coverage of requirements outlined in multiple documents – FRS (Functional Requirements Specification), SRS (Software Requirements Specification), URS (User Requirement Specification), etc.
- Functional Requirements Specification – Describes the service that the software must offer, the software system, and its components.
- Software Requirements Specification – Describes how the software is expected to perform, as well as the expectations of stakeholders (managers, users, etc.) is must fulfilled.
- User Requirement Specification – Describes what users want/need/expect from the system.
Types of Test Coverage
1. Product Coverage
Product coverage answers the question: What product parts have been tested? Let’s take the example of an app that lets users create checklists or to-do lists for each day.
Testers would start by verifying the primary function – the ability to make and save lists. But they have to go beyond this feature to test secondary functions.
- How many lists can be made and saved?
- Can the user set alarms to be reminded of tasks at regular intervals?
- Can the alarm be recurring for tasks that need to be repeated at intervals?
- Can lists be made in multiple languages?
- What happens when an unexpected user action occurs?
Increased product coverage leads to more features and functions being tested for expected performance standards and reveals what is going wrong at what juncture of the user experience.
Read More – Test Coverage Techniques Every Tester Must Know
2. Risk Coverage
Risk coverage evaluates any application’s risks when used by real-world users. Once the risks are known, testing can be structured to ensure that potential risks are not translated into actual negative consequences. When tests are designed to cover said risks, the software stands a much higher chance of attaining technical and commercial success.
- Take an app for stock market investment, for example.
- Let’s say it uses a third-party API to search and retrieve financial data – exchange rates, stock prices, etc.
- If this API becomes unresponsive (a major risk), how would the app respond?
Risk coverage would consider this and design tests accordingly to ensure the software does not become paralyzed and useless if such a risk occurs.
Read More: What is risk-based testing in agile?
3. Requirements Coverage
Before developing any website or app, stakeholders draw up a requirements document that covers what the software seeks to provide its users. In other words, which of its customers’ needs is it fulfilling?
- Think of the app from the last example – the stock market app. It has been comprehensively tested and performs flawlessly in real user conditions.
- But the app gets primarily negative reviews on Google Play Store and App Store. This would confuse its makers.
- With further examination, developers might find they missed out on including some aspects of the requirements document when designing test cases.
- One of them was the ability to automatically deposit profits from a sale to the user’s bank account. The tests missed that this feature has not been incorporated into the app’s features.
Given the competitive nature of the digital market, this is something users are bound to expect. No one will sit around and manually transfer money from an app to their account. Requirements coverage would have ensured that the requirements document was scanned thoroughly and implemented.
How to ensure Maximum Test Coverage?
Strategize a Test Coverage Matrix
Start with a comprehensive enterprise testing strategy that considers all the application’s requirements and testing methods. First, create a list of devices, browsers, and operating systems included in the test coverage matrix.
- A test coverage matrix is created and utilized to ensure that software has been tested thoroughly.
- It includes all categories of test coverage outlined in the previous section.
- The test coverage matrix traces and matches requirements from the client to the tests that must be run to verify software quality and ensure that the requirements are fulfilled.
- When devices/browsers/OS’es are updated, the list needs to be changed accordingly.
- The list should consist of device-browser-OS combinations popular in the market and those that customers of a particular software would be most likely to use.
Next, plan the requirements of the tests themselves.
- How often should tests be run?
- Which tests should be run to verify which functions?
- What real-world conditions (unstable network, low battery, incoming calls) should the software be tested in?
- Consider the duration of each test’s execution, the resources it requires, and match it to the deadlines and budgets in hand.
This is where QA managers have to decide risk vs. resource and figure out the direction of testing. Remember that test coverage, no matter how expansive, can still leave room for flaws to get through into production. This is why testing in production is just as necessary.
Additionally, set clear goals to work towards. Determine the breadth of test coverage required and the percentage of test coverage and code coverage essential to make the software a minimum viable product for release. In true Agile fashion, goals and strategies must be consistently evaluated, reworked, and improved to match user feedback and expectations.
Expand Code Coverage
Code coverage is performed to verify the extent to which the code has been executed relative to each software component. It answers the following questions at the unit test level:
- Are there enough tests in the unit test suite?
- Do more tests need to be added?
How to calculate code coverage?
Code Coverage% = (Lines of code executed / total lines of code created) X 100
CI/CD tools ensure that code coverage is high since all code pushed to version control is automatically run through a series of tests. Try to keep code coverage at 80% or higher and strive to fill the gap by writing missing tests when possible.
High code coverage reduces the number of undetected bugs that might get through to end users. However, remember that code coverage doesn’t reveal other significant factors like code quality. That requires a human overview to some extent.
Increase Test Automation
Manual testing alone cannot be depended upon to ensure that a considerable number of tests are executed within a tight deadline. Automation testing, especially parallel testing, must run the requisite tests within days or hours.
- The easiest way to run automated tests is to use a cloud-based testing service that enables automation on real browsers and devices.
- Automated Selenium testing is easy on BrowserStack’s cloud Selenium grid of 3000+ browsers and real devices.
- The grid facilitates parallel testing, speeding up their builds and resulting in faster releases.
- With pre-built integrations across over 20+ programming languages and frameworks, BrowserStack Automate fits easily into existing CI/CD workflows by providing plugins for all major CI/CD platforms.
Maximize Device Coverage
Test on as many device-browser-OS combinations as possible. Each device model, browser, and OS has multiple versions that need to be considered.
Agian, it is best to choose and leverage a cloud-based testing platform like BrowserStack that offers access to the latest and legacy devices, browsers, and operating systems. As mentioned in the previous section, users can access 3000+ real devices and browsers to test on.
For example, tests can be run on Chrome, operating on a Samsung Galaxy S20, Safari operating on iPhone 14, and the like. There are thousands of combinations to choose from. Try now.
Ensuring sufficient test coverage is essential to release software that meets users’ expectations. It establishes a high-quality user experience and keeps QAs from releasing bug-ridden software into the real world.


text:
- CD Title: The Wayman Tisdale Story
- Label: RENDEZVOUS RECORDS
Includes feature length documentary DVD + CD
The Wayman Tisdale Story offers a detailed account of the life of former basketball star and jazz musician Wayman Tisdale. Told through his own words,
The Wayman Tisdale Story journeys through Tisdale's life from this childhood as a preacher s son to his battle with cancer.
The Wayman Tisdale Story is available as a special edition CD + DVD combo (Disc 1 has 13 audio tracks; Disc 2 is the 66 minute documentary, plus special bonus features). The soundtrack featuring 13 tracks, includes the previously unreleased track, "Slam Dunk".


text:
If carrying a gun is counter productive because the bad guy will just take it away from you and use it against you then you don’t have anything to worry about with bad guys having guns. This is because you can just take the gun away from them and use it against them.
If you then don’t have anything to fear from the bad guys having guns then there is no problem with good guys carrying guns. Therefore there shouldn’t be any laws restricting gun ownership or carrying in public.
Anti-gun logic fails again.


text:
If you've never thought about shopping in Chile, you don't know what you're missing. Check out everything you can buy at great prices in the country below.
Does is it worth shopping in chile? This question is always on the minds of many people who travel there, and its answer is quite satisfactory: yes, it is worth it, however, as in any destination, you need to research and have a good basis for comparing prices to really make a good one. business.
With regard to the types of products that can be purchased during a trip to chile there is also reason to be excited, as there is a very diverse range. But we reinforce: research and go there with some prices noted, so you'll know if you're paying cheaper or if it's worth waiting to buy a specific item here in Brazil.
Shopping in Chile: Examples of products worth buying
When the subject is shopping in chile not everyone thinks about Santiago, after all, this city is known for other attractions such as snow and wineries. But don't forget to take extra luggage with plenty of space, as you might be surprised by the products you'll find there.
Some examples of products to buy in chile, more specifically in Santiago, are:
Perhaps because of its fame, and because it is an imported product, Chilean wine is not usually very cheap here, but in Santiago you can find dozens of labels at more than attractive prices, just go to the big supermarkets or specialized stores. The only rule for buy wine in chile is to be careful not to exceed the 12 liters that are allowed to enter Brazil.
Many electronics, including Apple's darlings, can also be had at really incredible prices on their shopping in chile. Those who are in need of notebooks, for example, can find discounts that are close to 50% when comparing the price of Santiago with that of Brazil.
Clothes suitable for winter
As a rule, buy clothes in chile this is not always an advantage, as prices are usually similar to ours, but when it comes to clothing for the cold, this scenario changes completely. Many people consider one or another piece to be expensive, but the truth is that even though the price of a coat or similar is a little high, it is still much cheaper than here.
Santiago also has great outlets that work with famous brands and, of course, numerous places where you can buy local handicrafts.
Where to shop in Chile tax-free
Besides Santiago, other cities that cannot be missing from the itinerary of those who intend to do shopping in chile are Punta Arenas and Iquique, known for their free zone policy and, consequently, tax-free products.
THE Iquique Free Zone is considered the most important in South America and, like the Punta Arenas Free Zone, offers a plethora of options that include electronics, clothing, footwear, perfume, beverages, and more. When visiting one of them, make sure you have free time in your itinerary, as there is a lot to see and buy in both places.
Now that you already know that it's really worth doing shopping in chile, there are no more excuses to postpone your trip. Make a list of what you want to buy, write down the prices here to have a parameter and don't forget to leave a good space in your suitcase or buy extra luggage.
* This trip was made at the invitation of the Chile Travel in collaboration with the Better Travel Guide.
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domain: travel


on the Big Ten Situation
Aug. 10, 1:45 p.m. CDT-- BIG TEN IN TOTAL DISARRAY:
Either Dan Patrick's source is full of it, or the Big Ten is in total,
no-holds-barred backpedal mode (I'm voting for #2). Multiple sources
reported this afternoon that the Big Ten presidents did NOT vote on the
fall season last night. The most recent report is that the Big Ten
presidents will meet at 5:00 p.m. CDT today to make a "final" decision
on the fate of the fall season. This move comes after a wild night and
morning of blowback after initial reports had the Big Ten and Pac-12
gearing up to announce the cancellation of fall football.
The Big Ten itself has released no statement during the antics of the
past two days. The NCAA, of course, remains in hiding, hoping the
conferences work this out for themselves, so it doesn't have to make a
real, actual decision.
Stay tuned. More fun to come...
Aug. 10, 8:45 a.m. CDT-- Dan Patrick is reporting
that last night's Big Ten meeting featured a vote to cancel the season.
Patrick reports that the vote was in favor, 12 to 2, with only Iowa and
Nebraska voting to continue with the 2020 season.
Patrick further reports that both the Big Ten and the Pac-12 are expected to cancel the fall season on Tuesday.
Also, per Patrick:
* The ACC and Big 12 are "on the fence."
* The SEC, as expected, is plowing ahead and trying to get teams to join them for a season.
AUG. 10, 7:00 am CDT-- A
group of Power 5 star players organized a "We Want to Play" social
media campaign late Sunday night, responding to reports that the Big
Ten conference had all but decided to scrap the 2020 season, and the
other Power 5 conferences were mulling over their possible response.
The Big Ten has not made any formal decision, but media reports
indicated that a decision could be hours away, and an announcement
could come by Tuesday. It is likely that the Big Ten would have already
announced the cancellation if the other Power 5 leagues had aligned
with the Big Ten on Sunday.
AUG. 9, 7:00 pm CDT--
Per Darren Rovell, a Big Ten source stated tonight that "there's no
path forward that medically is safe. Hope we can all realize this as
the season should have been called a month ago. No decisions today."
The reason why there were no decisions tonight appears to be the Big
Ten's need to have a cancellation announcment be unifform across the
Power 5 conferences. There are several reasons why the conference would
want the other four leagues to go along with cancellation: if there is
a holdout conference (or conferences), there will likely be a flood of
transfers to the teams still playing. If there Power 5 conferences act
as one body, transfers are cut off. Also, the Big Ten-- and likely the
other conferences-- likely want to prevent further attempts by the
student players to organize. Cutting off the season now across the
board possibly stops efforts by the players to unionize.
AUG. 9, 5:30 pm CDT-- Multiple
stories are developing this afternoon. Adam Rittenberg at ESPN is
reporting that yesterday's Big Ten presidents' call revealed that the
"vast majority" of presidents favor cancellation. Big Ten commissioner
Kevin Warren is reported to have spoken Sunday midday with the other
Power 5 commissioners to discuss the situation.
Pat Forde, writing about the broader situation with CFB in general,
notes that "attempts to salvage the fall 2020 college football season
are "all but over. 'It's gotten to a critical stage,' one [source] told
SI. 'I think all of us will be meeting with our boards in the coming
days. We have work to do that is no fun.'"
Yahoo Sports' Pete Thamel released perhaps the most ominous message on
Sunday afternoon: "Sources: Big Ten presidents and chancellors [are]
scheduled to speak tonight to discuss the future of the season.
Sentiment from the [Big Ten presidents'] call yesterday indicated that
there was momentum at the presidential level to cancel fall sports.
Unclear when a decision will come."


text:
Once in a lifetime, something incredible comes along. One of those things is Andrew Lloyd Webber’s The Phantom of the Opera. Loosely inspired by the Gaston Leroux novel, it follows the tragic story of a man forced by his deformity to dwell beneath the Paris Opera House, and the woman he loves.
The Opera House has seen its share of misfortunes, so many in fact that the current manager has decided to retire – to New South Wales. He gladly turns over his former responsibilities, including a diva in the form of Carlotta (Wendy Ferguson), her tag-along fellow performer and friend Piangi (Wynne Evans), and of course an Opera Ghost… one that demands Box Five be kept empty for his use, and also a salary of 1500 francs a month. When Carlotta refuses to go on after an upsetting backstage incident, the performance is turned over to the young and inexperienced Christine Daee (Sierra Boggess), whose voice catches the attention of a former childhood sweetheart, and the newest patron of the arts, Raoul de Chany (Hadley Fraser).
What neither the new managers nor Raoul know is that the ballet dancer turned singer Christine is being trained in the musical arts by a mysterious man that lives beneath the Opera House. Known to her as the Angel of Music (Ramin Karimloo), to the managers as the Opera Ghost, and to the empirical ballet mistress Madame Giry (Liz Robertson) as the Phantom of the Opera, he will do anything in his power to see to it that Christine remains on stage, that she continues to pursue her education beneath his influence, and that Raoul will not win over her heart… even if it leads to his own destruction.
The only true way to experience this magnificent musical is live, but this 25th anniversary production is the next best thing. Its incredible performances outshine the film’s while still maintaining the integrity and structure of the stage production. Quibbles have been made over the cast but in my opinion the pairing of Sierra Boggess, Ramin Karimloo, and Hadley Fraser is perfection. Ramin has the stage presence needed to convey the total control Erik (the Phantom) has over Christine. His delivery of certain lines is unique and there is such heart-wrenching agony in his final moments that I defy you not to be in tears. Sierra is the finest Christine I have ever seen, and I’ve seen a lot of them. Her facial expressions, her innocent wonder, and her utter heartache are mesmerizing. Hadley gives the un-empathetic (and at times downright foolish) Raoul a gravity and strength that well offsets his considerably more formidable co-characters.
Veterans of the original production will notice some changes here and there – lyrics have been altered, and the infamous mannequin is missing – but none of it intrudes on the flow and in some instances strengthens it. The stage is limited in the sense that crashing the chandelier is not possible and much of the background is made up of enormous screens, but it’s easy to become accustomed to them and there are times (particularly when the Phantom is sending notes) that it actually assists in the narrative style. On occasion, the camera sweeps across the stage behind the audience but for the most part we forget it is live (other than the well-deserved applause) until the end, when the original cast and four of the most famous Phantoms take the stage. That Michael Crawford does not sing is unfortunate… but that John Owen Jones, Anthony Warlow, Colm Wilkinson, and Sarah Brightman do is glorious.
The costumes are lovely, and if you have never seen the production live it will be an eye-opening glimpse of the cleverness that goes into transitioning between scenes on stage (including costume changes!). If you have never experienced The Phantom of the Opera, or have never seen any performance of it other than the film, rent this, or better yet, buy it. It is truly the performance of a lifetime.
Parental Concerns: Some of the lyrics contain suggestive themes, particularly woven throughout “Past the Point of No Return,” in which Don Juan and his latest conquest contemplate an intimate future encounter (“I have imagined our bodies entwining, defenseless and silent…”). One song (“Poor Fool”) laughs at an unwary husband whose wife is cheating on him with a mute servant boy. Theatrical ogling intrudes; sensuality is present in various songs, and in the influence the Phantom has over Christine (he caresses her, but never inappropriately). Mild profanity intrudes.


Uchiko Powder is a usable item in Nioh.
- A sack of powder made from a ground-up sword sharpening stone. Temporarily raises familiarity.
Temporarily raises the Familiarity of a weapon - a temporary version of a Whetstone.
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text:
It’s officially almost too late for a Christmas post. Nevertheless, I did take a few shots of my upgraded mantel decorations, and I wanted to share a couple.
Wishing you all light, beauty, and time with those you love most over the next few days. Merry Christmas!
Valentine’s Day is Wednesday. That means many of us are thinking of romance this week and evaluating the love in our lives: presence, absence, and quality. As in years past, I’m celebrating the non-romantic love in my life and encouraging others who find themselves without that someone to share the evening with to do the same.
To me, looking for someone just for the sake of being in a romantic relationship seems like a game. Perhaps I wouldn’t know. I’ll admit I’ve never really gone looking.
I have my family for now, and my cat as well. Like previous years, I’ve sent cards and letters to some family members to let them know they are loved, and I am thinking of them. But my cup does not run over with love. I could be more loving in so many ways, even without looking for a romantic relationship. This year, I find myself wanting to strengthen the ties I have with my family and befriend new people – wanting to learn greater kindness and empathy for others. That is my love goal for 2018.
Next Month: Archive Nature
You can probably tell I haven’t shot any still life/table top in over a year. I’m so out of practice. What I did shoot last year was nature. Since I didn’t blog much, I have a good sized backlog of unedited photos to work on.
Here are my ten favorite shots from 2015. I had some good trips last year, but other life events cut into my photography time, so it was not my best year. I’m looking forward to devoting more time to photography in 2016. Happy New Year everyone! May 2016 be a year of growth and understand.
This year, I did things differently for Christmas Decorations. For one, I decided to hang my little beaded whatever it is off my living room lamp. I like it so much I’m not sure why I didn’t think of it sooner.
Then, my mother thought I should change up my mantle decorations a bit, so she gave me a tall round glass vase to put ornaments in. After looking online for ideas, I decided I wanted pine cones too. I thought I’d have some fun with the reflections and surface curvature while photographing the end result.
Merry Christmas Everyone!
Wishing you peace on earth today and throughout the coming year.
As I was decorating my home for Christmas on Monday, it occurred to me that a lot has changed this year. Still, many things remain the same as they have for years. I listen to the same music for Christmas, and I still hang this lovely angel on the tree every year. She’s been mine since my first Christmas.
I just barely squished a trip to the fireworks into my 4th of July weekend. Since it was quite possible that my schedule for the next month or more would be tighter than usual, I decided to wait and post them as a regular post rather than a special 4th of July edition that weekend.
When it comes to photographing fireworks, just like many things in life, there is more than one school of thought. The way I originally learned involves very long shutter speeds where the light is entirely in trails. This allows me to have all the colors produced and include several bursts in one shot at the small town show I attend. The other method is to use a much shorter shutter speed and capture a lot of the sparkle we know fireworks for. This makes timing trickier. It also makes it more difficult to get multiple blasts in frame at smaller shows that are more likely to send one up at a time. Personally, I also tend to capture more smoke when I have shorter shots with a higher ISO. But sparkle is part of the fireworks, so this year, I experimented with getting a few of the blasts cut short a bit so I’d have some more.
Next Time: Change and Archive
Well, it’s happening. I’m going to be rather occupied with other matters for the next month. A necessary pain to accomplish a much desired end. I will probably post some archive material that I’ve shot in the past few years and never posted. Who knows, I may even go back to college stuff. Anyway, squirrels will most likely figure in the mix somewhere. Maybe I’ll post my college photo contest finalist shot too.
A bit of a late Happy Valentine’s Day to all of you. This is the time of year I really start wanting it to be Spring. It is also the time of year you can easily purchase a floral bouquet. Last week, I purchased a single rose and some “pompoms” at a local supermarket. I’m pretty sure “pompom” is just florist for big showy mum. Anyway, I set up the light and some backgrounds and pulled out the macro lens.
This was my pinkish rose. Lovely while she lasted.
Twirly in the center and a beautiful hue.
I stuck one of my old rings in it in honor of Valentine’s Day. There is nothing like a macro lens to show you how cheep your costume jewelry is. I spent some time retouching this one, and I’m about to swear I will never shoot it again. Nonetheless, it does look kind of romantic.
A little less seasonal, here is the “pompom”. This was more fun with the macro lens than the rose. I loved the long, spiky petals in the center.
Kind of off topic, but I wanted to say I know this can be a tough day for single people. Personally, I think our culture is a little overboard when it comes to celebrating romantic love. There are other kinds of love and relationships in most people’s lives that are worth remembering and celebrating on this day. So if you can this weekend, take a few minutes to call or message a friend or relative and let them know you love them. And remember, the chocolate goes on sale tomorrow.

domain: artistic


text:
The Western New York Artists Group
One Linwood Avenue Buffalo, New York 14209-2203 716-885-2251 www.wnyag.com
ARTFUL GIFTS Call for Work 2020
CALLING ALL ARTISTS
WE NEED YOU!! The success of ART OFF THE WALL relies on generous donations of your creative 5 x 7 original artwork.
Volunteer as an art mentor to young artists!
The Seaway Center in Hamburg, NY is now accepting proposals for a sculpture to be on permanent display on the Lake Erie shoreline.
Interested artists should contact Francine Geyer at 716-308-9754 or email firstname.lastname@example.org.
The Western New York Artists Group 29th annual Juried Regional Artists Exhibition will run from October 16th to November 20th, 2020.
BSA Open Members Exhibition
Carnegie Art Center to Host Various Classes and Workshops in March
Call for Work
Deanna Weinholtz will be teaching three different watercolor and acrylic workshops during March and April.
Main Street Arts is always interested in seeing new work.
DEC 2, 2019
THIS IS AN OPEN EXHIBIT, ALL WORKS OF ALL THEMES MAY BE ACCEPTED.
Victorian Christmas is the TR Inaugural Site’s largest annual fundraising program. The ten-day series of events traditionally draws more than 2,000 people to our beautifully decorated historic home and Visitor Center. Opening night, highlighted by a basket raffle and silent auction, will be held on Thursday, December 5 from 5:30 and 8:30 p.m.
WNYAG presents Artful Gifts, small works for the purpose of gift giving or for individuals looking to add to their own collection.
Become a member of the Fine Arts League.
The Carnegie is planning their annual "Art Off the Wall" fundraiser event for Thursday, December 5, 6-9 PM.


- Pick Up Available
- Australian Warranty
- Checkout Securely
The J4859CST is an HP J4859C compatible fiber transceiver module that has been designed, programmed and tested to work with HP¨ brand switches and routers. It delivers dependable 1 GbE connectivity over fiber cable, for 1000BASE-LX compliant networks, with a maximum distance of up to 10 km (6.2 mi).
- Wavelength: 1310 nm
- Maximum Data Transfer Rate: 1.25 Gbps
- Type: Single Mode / Multi Mode Fiber
- Connection Type: LC Connector
- Maximum Transfer Distance: 10 km (6.2 mi)
- MTBF: 3,092,408 hours
- Power Consumption: Less than 1 Watt
- Digital Diagnostics Monitoring (DDM): Yes
This SFP fiber module is hot-swappable, making upgrades and replacements seamless by minimizing network disruptions.
All StarTech.com SFP & SFP+ transceiver modules are backed by a lifetime warranty and free lifetime multilingual technical support. StarTech.com offers a wide variety of SFP modules and direct-attach SFP cables, providing the convenience and reliability you need to ensure dependable network performance.
- Replacing defective or damaged SFP modules_in HP switches and routers
- Expand your network to remote segments
|Industry Standards||IEEE 802.3z 1000BASE-LX|
|Compatible Networks||1000 Mbps (1 Gbps)|
|Fiber Operating Mode||Full-Duplex|
|Max Transfer Distance||10 km (6.2 mi)|
|Maximum Data Transfer Rate||1.25 Gbps|
|Type||Single Mode / Multi Mode|
|Local Unit Connectors||1 - Fiber Optic LC Duplex Female|
|Special Notes / Requirements|
|System and Cable Requirements||MSA or HP compliant SFP port|
|For use in Gigabit fiber networking equipment and media converters|
|Power Consumption (In Watts)||< 1 W|
|Operating Temperature||0¡C to 70¡C (32¡F to 158¡F)|
|Storage Temperature||-40¡C to 85¡C (-40¡F to 185¡F)|
|Product Height||0.5 in [1.3 cm]|
|Product Length||2.2 in [57 mm]|
|Product Width||0.6 in [14 mm]|
|Weight of Product||0.6 oz [16 g]|
|Package Height||1.3 in [32 mm]|
|Package Length||3.7 in [93 mm]|
|Package Width||4.6 in [11.8 cm]|
|Shipping (Package) Weight||1.6 oz [45 g]|
|What's in the Box|
|Included in Package||1 - SFP transceiver|
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text:
The specialists at Mr. Frame It take pride in preserving and enhancing memories in all of their physical embodiments—from artworks and photographs to prized sports souvenirs. They draw on more than 1,000 samples from brands such as Larson-Juhl to create custom frames that either serve as focal points or blend in with room decor. In addition to encasing children’s artwork and family portraits, the staff stretches canvases, mounts mirrors, and builds shadow boxes to house awards and first-edition time-share brochures.
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Catylist, the software provider behind the Houston Association of Realtors\u2019 commercial real estate listing portal, was purchased Monday by the risk assessment firm Moody\u2019s. The association expects that to be good news for its portal, CommGate. Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Catylist not only provides the software for CommGate and hosts the site, but also supplements the listings for offices, retail centers, warehouses and other commercial properties advertised on the site with additional data gleaned from public and proprietary sources. For example, those who visit the site can see the nearby demographics or traffic counts for any property listing. On HoustonChronicle.com: 'Wave of foreclosures' expected to hit commercial real estate market Sam Scott, the association\u2019s director of commercial services, said that if Moody\u2019s makes some of its own vast trove of data available to brokers through the software, it could result in more bang for members\u2019 bucks. Stephen Tulenko, president of Moody's Analytics, commented in a press release that buying Catylist fit in with Moody's strengths and would expand the range of analytic solutions it could provide brokers. Scott also hopes that some of Moody\u2019s existing relationships with brokers across the nation could convince more of those brokers to become members of Houston\u2019s commercial listing service. "Catylist has been an excellent technology provider, and the Moody's Analytics platform will bring additional resources, data and marketing reach to the commercial brokers that use the CommGate information exchange," said Mario Arriaga, chairman of the association's Houston Realtors Information Service, in a statement.


text:
Aluminium overload after 5 years in skin biopsy following post-vaccination with subcutaneous pseudolymphoma.
J Trace Elem Med Biol. 2012 Mar 14. Epub 2012 Mar 14. PMID: 22425036
CHU Poitiers, Department of Biochemistry, 86 021 Poitiers, France.
Aluminium hydroxide is used as an effective adjuvant in a wide range of vaccines for enhancing immune response to the antigen. The pathogenic role of aluminium hydroxide is now recognized by the presence of chronic fatigue syndrome, macrophagic myofasciitis and subcutaneous pseudolymphoma, linked to intramuscular injection of aluminium hydroxide-containing vaccines. The aim of this study is to verify if the subcutaneous pseudolymphoma observed in this patient in the site of vaccine injection is linked to an aluminium overload. Many years after vaccination, a subcutaneous nodule was discovered in a 45-year-old woman with subcutaneous pseudolymphoma. In skin biopsy at the injection site for vaccines, aluminium (Al) deposits are assessed by Morin stain and quantification of Al is performed by Zeeman Electrothermal Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. Morin stain shows Al deposits in the macrophages, and Al assays (inμg/g, dry weight) were 768.10±18 for the patient compared with the two control patients, 5.61±0.59 and 9.13±0.057. Given the pathology of this patient and the high Al concentration in skin biopsy, the authors wish to draw attention when using the Al salts known to be particularly effective as adjuvants in single or repeated vaccinations. The possible release of Al may induce other pathologies ascribed to the well-known toxicity of this metal.


text: This is caused by instability of the preocular tear film, which lies on the surface of the eyeball between the eyelids. It consists of 3 layers: an outer lipid layer, a middle aqueous layer and an inner mucin layer (Fig. 1). Consequently, the tear film can be affected by disorders relating to the production of lipids, mucin or tears in the secretion glands of the conjunctiva and lacrimal glands. Other causes of Dry Eye Syndrome are defects in the eyeball’s surface or edges of the eyelids, reduced blinking, internal ailments or environmental and work-related factors (e.g. air conditioning and working with computers). The most common symptoms are irritation, a sensation of foreign matter being present, burning, photophobia and complaints of dry eyes. An ocular examination and special tests (Schirmer’s test, break-up time test, rose bengal staining, LIPKOF and others) are necessary to diagnose Dry Eye Syndrome. In some cases an internal medical examination is required. If the Dry Eye is caused by the diminished production of tears, the remedy consists of applying “artificial tears”, sometimes in combination with anti-inflammatory agents. Otherwise, the treatment depends on the given case and its particular cause.


A representative from GoodSports Enterprises, which is seeking taxpayer funds to develop a sports complex near Bojangles’ Coliseum, declined to name the source of the company’s financing for the proposed $76.7 million venture at a meeting with city officials Wednesday. ...Read More »
CHARLOTTE –Call Wendy Field one of the post-recessionary urban pioneers, a bellwether for what expert observers say is a slowly re-emerging trend in Charlotte multifamily development: Small for-sale town house projects – and even a few condo efforts – in ...Read More »
CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte City Council on Monday night voted unanimously to extend for six months a fee-in-lieu program that allows developers to pay the city instead of installing stormwater mitigation measures on redevelopment sites. The post construction controls ordinance, ...Read More »
CHARLOTTE – The contentious streetcar project, which Mayor Patrick Cannon said has now been in front of four mayors, last night got a boost when the City Council approved spending $12 million to advance the design of the $126 million ...
Tagged with: Balfour Beatty Construction Blythe Development Co. Charlotte Area Transit System Charlotte city council CityLynx Gold Line ed driggs Electrolux Kenny Smith Lynx Blue Line Extension Michael Barnes Ron Carlee streetcarRead More »
CHARLOTTE – Just about every political leader – a certain Canadian mayor notwithstanding – works to be remembered for fixing issues for their constituents and leaving their jurisdiction a better place. Whether that’s solving the poverty problem, vanquishing corruption or ...
Tagged with: Charlotte city council Clarion Associates Dave Simpson David Howard ed driggs Joe Padilla John Autry Kenny Smith Michael Barnes Patrick Cannon Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition zoningRead More »
Last week, in a 4-0 vote, the council’s public safety committee gave its support to the proposal, which calls for rental property owners to give the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department their contact information, including business and home addresses and phone numbers.
Tagged with: Andy Dulin Charlotte Regional Realtor Association Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department Greater Charlotte Apartment Association Michael Barnes Patrick Cannon Real Estate & Building Industry CoalitionRead More »
Charlotte’s real estate community often cites three ordinances accused of making developing sites cumbersome and costly: the Urban Street Design Guidelines, the Post Construction Controls ordinance and the tree ordinance. Residential design standards for single-family homes in the city have ...Read More »
The Charlotte City Council has decided to award $2.5 million, rather than $10 million, to the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority, in a blow to the embattled tourism-booster group. The council is expected to vote July 25 on the remainder of ...
Tagged with: Anthony Foxx Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority Edwin Peacock Michael Barnes Nancy Carter Patrick Cannon Patsy Kinsey Warren Cooksey Warren TurnerRead More »


text:
4-methylamino-antipyrin (4-MAA) pharmacokinetics was investigated in 6 pigs ( 3 female and 3 male) after intramuscular injection of methamisole (Analginvet 50 % - injection solution) at a dose 25 mg/kg body weight. The plasma concentration of 4-methylamino-antipyrin was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography with UV-detection. The blood concentration of 4-MAA was calculated with a compartmental and noncompartmental method using pharmacokinetic computer software (TopFit, v. 2.0.).
Investigation of pharmacokinetics on marker active metabolite - 4-methylamino-antipyrin (4-MAA) after injection in pigs with drug form Analginvet, containing methamizole

domain: biology


SUSOBRINO - Winner Of The Champion Sound Beat Battle 2018
We had a talk with Susobrino, winner of the Champion Sound Beat Battle 2018. He's a talented young producer who's inspired by ethnic music from around the world. He's also a field recorder who uses his own recorded sounds to create his own beats.
Interview by Ingmar Doumen. Video by Michiel Lateur, Eric Boni & Sacha Claes.


Projects per year
The use of two separate ultraintense laser pulses in laser-proton acceleration was compared to the single pulse case employing the same total laser energy. A double pulse profile, with the temporal separation of the pulses varied between 0.75-2.5 ps, was shown to result in an increased maximum proton energy and an increase in conversion efficiency to fast protons by up to a factor of 3.3. Particle-in-cell simulations indicate the existence of a two stage acceleration process. The second phase, induced by the main pulse preferentially accelerates slower protons located deeper in the plasma, in contrast to conventional target normal sheath acceleration.
|Number of pages||4|
|Journal||Physical Review Letters|
|Publication status||Published - 5 Nov 2010|
FingerprintDive into the research topics of 'Spectral enhancement in the double pulse regime of laser proton acceleration'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
- 1 Finished
KEY PHYSICS FOR INERTIAL CONFINEMENT DIAGNOSED BY ION EMISSION
EPSRC (Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council)
1/10/07 → 30/09/11


text:
Skip to comments.Breaking the Stovepipes: Improving Intelligence Sharing for Homeland Security
Posted on 08/28/2005 1:09:32 PM PDT by Enchante
VIDEO OF REP. CURT WELDON IN 2002, PRESENTING MUCH OF THE SAME INFO THAT HE NOW SAYS HAS BEEN AVAILABLE BUT IGNORED BY THE 911 COMMISSION:
May 23, 2002
Featuring: Rep. Curt Weldon (R PA) United States House of Representatives
Hosted by: Kim Holmes, Ph.D.
Anyway, I'll try to watch all of this video when I have more time, but if anyone gets to it and wants to report, here's the link:
Oh, I'm so glad you posted this as its own thread. Thank you Enchante. Be sure to use your ping list on this one.
Kabar sent the link for the Weldon/Heritage Foundation to NewsMax, and they wrote an article on the talk and the chart featured in this video:
Washington Monthly has a blog comment from a couple of weeks ago, they also found this video but think it's somehow terribly important that Weldon doesn't say the name 'Atta' in relation to the chart. Well, when he is discussing FIVE cells that had been identified and could have been taken out, it's actually not significant at all that he does not get into discussing particular terrorist names - it certainly does not mean that Atta's name did NOT appear on that chart or on the more elaborate 'classified' version that Weldon said existed. Here's the Wash. Monthly blog if anyone cares how leftists try to dismiss all evidence that does not conform to their world view:
"...Well, when he is discussing FIVE cells that had been identified and could have been taken out, it's actually not significant at all that he does not get into discussing particular terrorist names - it certainly does not mean that Atta's name did NOT appear on that chart or on the more elaborate 'classified' version that Weldon said existed."
Thanks for ping. Well put. I only have 56k dial up so I avoid the unbearable download times for videos. Main concern I have is we continue to hear forward progress, with a minimal amount of resistance from L/MSM. And of course date set for Specter's Judiciary committee to start their investigation. Your's and other's postings on AD and related issues should provide all Freepers the opportunity to bookmark and downloaded html pages for future ammo to show those not paying attention, that it was not GWB's admin that fouled up but clearly the Saxophonists admin, and misused DoD and military assets. Thanks for the post.
This proves that Weldon has been saying this for a very long time. Let's hope that he keeps pushing this info.
FWIW I just transcribed part of the Q&A session (and posted excerpts of it on my page at http://FreedomKeys.com/slimeball.htm ):
(The chart of the Al-Qaeda organization -- done one year before 9/11 -- is in the 33rd minute).
"When people like Peter Lightner started to blow the whistle on the transfer of technology to China in the mid-'90s, and said, 'This is wrong; my reports are being changed.' What was the response? It was to isolate him, to basically come down hard. I know; I was a member of the Cox Committee and for 7 months sat behind closed doors with the FBI and the CIA and saw all the evidence. Individual people, that instead of being praised for their work, even though it might have run counter to what the ultimate policy objective was, they're not being paid to all the time support a policy objective. They're being paid by the taxpayers to give us objective analysis as professionals. And when the policy makers reach down and attempt to get the analysts to sanitize their analysis, as the CIA did in the 1995 NIE, 95-19, which was the assessment of the threat to our national security, and when the CIA briefer came over in a classified room, and gave me the brief, David Osias, and I said, "This is ridiculous," it was because in my opinion, and I won't be able (inaudible) if it was agreed to by the CIA, that the analysis, in fact, had been basically watered down so it would support the President's decision that year to veto our defense authorization bill. That whole process ... is an example of the lack of integrity that can occur within the intelligence community. ... [intelligence analysts] have to have the confidence that, when they make a judgment or an assessment, that they're not going to have their head chopped off. I could give you a litany of people who had their heads chopped off ... who did the politically incorrect thing when they were doing their job as best they could professionally and in the end paid the price because they basically, crossed hairs with elected politicians who didn't like what they had to say.
"We've allowed the technology transfer to places like China, where they have massive high-speed computers as a result of some presidential decisions on exports back in '96, that they didn't have prior to that. You know, originally we were told those high-performance computers in the 8-10,000M top range and above would only go to their academic institutions. Well, surprise, surprise! Where do we find them today? At their weapons labs! Helping them miniaturize their nuclear warheads. Helping them develop a whole new element of the PLA, focusing on cyber-warfare."
-- Rep. Curt Weldon, speaking before the Heritage Foundation, May 23, 2002, recorded here:
That's helpful, thanks!! Chinagate rears its ugly head....
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text:
One million anti-smoking kits will be distributed free of charge at pharmacies and GP surgeries as part of a major New Year health drive.
They will include free nicotine replacement patches for the first time and will replace current NHS "quick kits" including details of helplines and motivational material.
The patches normally cost about £10 for a week's supply and are regarded as effective. The Patient UK website says that 17 per cent of smokers who use nicotine replacement therapy manage to quit.
Andrew Lansley, the Health Secretary, is changing the Government's public health strategy from what he calls the "top down, nanny state" campaigns under Labour to embrace the "nudge" theory of encouraging people to change their behaviour.
Critics of the anti-smoking campaign say it has a declining success rate despite rising budgets under Labour. They claim the number of people trying to kick the habit has halved over the past three years and that fewer than one in five smokers is trying to give up.Reuse content

domain: news


text:
We know that the only two definite things in life are death and taxes. The first is perhaps easier to avoid than the second. For most Americans, April 15 is the day of doom, the day that tax returns must be filed and payments started. Even Americans living abroad must file and those earning above a certain amount must pay as well. The United States is the only industrialized country in the world with a system of double taxation; possess an American passport and you are liable for taxes.
President Obama went before the American public on Wednesday to lay out his plan for reducing the spiraling U.S. deficit. While partisan politics had almost shut down the government the week before, he called for bipartisan cooperation to stop the rapid growth of the national debt. He soberly described his proposals for long-term spending cuts, tax increases and some changes to the social welfare programs that make up a large percentage of government spending.
Having recently announced his plans for running for re-election, the President clearly targeted middle class families in his warnings about wealthy individuals benefitting from tax cuts and corporations having little or no capital gains taxes. We have been shown over and over again that the wealthy have benefitted from tax a cut, something that Obama promised to stop but hasn’t yet changed. A front page NY Times article on March 25 asserting that General Electric, which made $5.1 billion last year, did not pay any income tax set off a national debate and outcry. Whether or not the story was entirely accurate is beside the point; it merely pointed to two fundamentally different positions on economic growth.
By and large, the Republicans are arguing that cutting taxes will increase private spending and hence stimulate growth and job creation, even with the social programs. As a result, they claim, more money will come back to the government through taxes after the initial cuts. Democrats are arguing for greater redistribution and trying to keep government spending for social welfare programs as government guarantees. President Obama continually referred to the elderly and handicapped as his responsibility as well as the comparatively low investment in infrastructure in the U.S. compared to China, India and Brazil. He made several moral claims about the injustice of the growing wealth distribution curve in the United States, harkening back to core Democratic values and distancing himself from a Republican proposal to privatize basic social programs. He even went so far as to quote a high-ranking military officer saying that the national debt is the greatest threat to American security.
I am neither a tax expert nor an economist. I am merely a dual citizen who just sent off his U.S. tax return and began payments. Despite the Obama rhetoric of shared sacrifice, I still don’t see why I should pay taxes to Washington when I earn my living in Switzerland; I still don’t see why I should pay more taxes than wealthy individuals or corporations who have tax shelters; and I certainly don’t see why the U.S. military budget is so out of proportion compared to all other countries in the world. I thought President Obama was trying to speak to me, but then again I have no direct representation in Washington to defend me and resent the unfairness of the “taxation without representation” situation for overseas Americans.
As I said, April 15 is a gloomy day for most Americans.
April 14, 2011

domain: economics


text:
Where gangs choose who will rule
Is this an election campaign or a war zone? asked Francisco Garfias. With less than two months to go before Mexicans vote for president and congress, the “blood is spilling unceasingly.” Abel Montúfar Mendoza, a mayor who was running for a legislative seat in violent Guerrero state, was found shot dead in his car last week, bringing the total number of candidates or sitting politicians killed since the campaign began to at least 90. And that figure doesn’t include the soldiers, police, and bodyguards who have died defending candidates or investigating their murders. Even human rights activists have failed to denounce the relentless assault on law enforcement, because for them the cops are also “bad guys.” At this rate, voters won’t be given a chance to decide whom they want to represent them. The choice “will be imposed upon them by organized crime,” through the physical annihilation of candidates who oppose the cartels and gangs. It’s not about party loyalty—candidates from every faction have been targeted. “Nobody is safe.” The authorities at every level look “impotent, even helpless,” against this evil. Our leaders bristle at the suggestion that Mexico “is a failed state.” But when gangs, not voters, rule, what else can we call it?


text:
Description: Color photograph of a man, Gerry Doyle, standing with a poster that reads, "But our handwriting doesn't seem to be getting much better." He is teaching handwriting as a craft in the one-room school on the Texas Folklife Festival grounds. He is holding up the poster near a female pupil of his handwriting class, who is seated at a desk and has a personal-sized chalkboard in front of her. She is leaning sideways to get a better look at the poster. A sheet with ampersands written in red hangs on the wall in the background.
Contributing Partner: University of Texas at San Antonio Libraries Special Collections


text:
Utilize este identificador para referenciar este registo:
|Título:||The histopathological approach to inflammatory bowel disease: a practice guide|
Mantzaris, G. J.
de Petris, G.
Rubio, C. A.
Stepherd, N. A.
|Palavras-chave:||Inflammatory bowel disease|
|Citação:||Langner C, Magro F, Driessen A, Ensari A, Mantzaris GJ, Borralho Nunes P, et al. The histopathological approach to inflammatory bowel disease: a practice guide. Virchows Arch. 2014 Feb 1. [Epub ahead of print]|
|Resumo:||Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) are lifelong disorders predominantly present in developed countries. In their pathogenesis, an interaction between genetic and environmental factors is involved. This practice guide, prepared on behalf of the European Society of Pathology and the European Crohn's and Colitis Organisation, intends to provide a thorough basis for the histological evaluation of resection specimens and biopsy samples from patients with ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease. Histopathologically, these diseases are characterised by the extent and the distribution of mucosal architectural abnormality, the cellularity of the lamina propria and the cell types present, but these features frequently overlap. If a definitive diagnosis is not possible, the term indeterminate colitis is used for resection specimens and the term inflammatory bowel disease unclassified for biopsies. Activity of disease is reflected by neutrophil granulocyte infiltration and epithelial damage. The evolution of the histological features that are useful for diagnosis is time- and disease-activity dependent: early disease and long-standing disease show different microscopic aspects. Likewise, the histopathology of childhood-onset IBD is distinctly different from adult-onset IBD. In the differential diagnosis of severe colitis refractory to immunosuppressive therapy, reactivation of latent cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection should be considered and CMV should be tested for in all patients. Finally, patients with longstanding IBD have an increased risk for the development of adenocarcinoma. Dysplasia is the universally used marker of an increased cancer risk, but inter-observer agreement is poor for the categories low-grade dysplasia and indefinite for dysplasia. A diagnosis of dysplasia should not be made by a single pathologist but needs to be confirmed by a pathologist with expertise in gastrointestinal pathology.|
|Versão do Editor:||http://rd.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00428-014-1543-4|
|Aparece nas colecções:||ESTeSL - Artigos|
Ficheiros deste registo:
|The histopathological approach to inflammatory bowel disease.pdf||1,81 MB||Adobe PDF||Ver/Abrir Acesso Restrito. Solicitar cópia ao autor!|
Todos os registos no repositório estão protegidos por leis de copyright, com todos os direitos reservados.


text:
Have you said or heard your partner say any of these to you: “John makes tea for his wife and you don’t do the same for me; Janet cooks all the time for her man but you barely cook around the house… What about these questions: How come you don’t take me to nice places like John takes his girl? How come your career is not advancing like your friend? Why don’t you open the car door for me like our neighbor does for his wife?”
One of the silent killers of relationship that people don’t pay much attention to is comparing their relationship to another one. What thatcomplain does is tear your home apart little by little. When you compare your relationship to a friend’s relationship or to a previous relationship you were in, it is perceived by your partner that you either prefer to be in the shoes of your friend or want to go back to your old relationship. Just because your relationship is not where you want it, juxtaposing it is a wrong idea.
You need to understand that fingers are not equal. You might be rich and need children. Other people with children want the kind of money you have. Know that your partner is wired differently and have a unique destiny. It is demeaning to your partner when they are being asked or told to be like someone else. Therefore cut your relationship according to its size. Whenever that thought of someone else relationship is better than yours comes to mind, think again. Everyone is lacking one thing or the other. That’s just life. Embrace and be thankful for what you have.
Written By Oluwafemi Ogunjinmi
Gfem Talk Show/Gfem Promos


The bizarre bromance between Dennis Rodman and North Korea leader Kim Jong Un took yet another weird turn, as the ex-NBA player went ballistic on Chris Cuomo of “New Day.” Rodman is leading a group of former ballers into the communist country to play an exhibition game for the supreme leader’s birthday, but when Cuomo questioned him about Kenneth Bae, a US citizen who has been imprisoned in North Korea for murky reasons, the Worm lost his mind. For one thing, he didn’t seem to know anything about Bae.
“Kenneth Bae did one thing … If you understand what Kenneth Bae did,” he said in a perturbed tone, waving around a cigar. “Do you understand what he did in this country? No, no, no, you tell me, you tell me. Why is he held captive here in this country, why?”
Cuomo, of course, turned the question back around on Rodman. “You tell me, what did he do?” It sounded like a family fight over Christmas dinner, with the NBA veterans seated around Rodman who looked horribly uncomfortable (including former Celtics forward Vin Baker) playing the part of weirded out relatives. Then again, these players hang out with Dennis Rodman. They followed him to North Korea. What do they expect?


AdventureBox: Rise of an Empire
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By Kevin Lozano.
Today, one of David Bowie’s final songs, “Killing a Little Time” has been released. It is one of three new songs he recorded with the ? band and Tony Visconti. Yesterday, “When I Met You” and “No Plan,” the two other songs recorded during the session were released. They will all be included on the Lazaruscast album, out Friday via ISO/Columbia/RCA. Listen to “Killing a Little Time ” here (via David Bowie’s website).
Read “[How to Mourn an Icon: Rob Sheffield on the Brilliant David Bowie Book He Wrote in a Month](http://pitchfork.com/thepitch/1215-how-to-mourn-an-icon-rob-sheffield-on-the-brilliant-david-bowie-book-he-wrote-in-a-month/)” on the Pitch.
This story originally appeared on Pitchfork.
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