text:
Producers have overwhelmingly voted to continue the efforts of the North Carolina Peanut Growers Association (NCPGA).
In the once-every-sixth-year referendum, 341 peanut producers voted to continue the NCPGA. Only seven producers voted no in the referendum
“I was thoroughly pleased with the majority of North Carolina peanut producers expressing faith in the activities we conduct,” says Bob Sutter, CEO of the grower organization. “We will try to continue to look out for the interests of the peanut producers in North Carolina.”
Producers who produced one or more acres or had an interest in the 2000 crop voted in a March 1 referendum at county FSA offices.

domain: economics


text:
NEW parents get your dollar bucks ready for a very wackadoo way to celebrate your new bundle of joy.
02nd March 2020 4:03 PM
A woman who allegedly faked her pregnancy has been arrested in connection with the murder of her “close friend” and the...
21st Dec. 2019 5:12 AM
A deplorable father who shook his five-week-old baby so violently he caused life-threatening injuries and left the newborn...
06th Dec. 2019 11:12 AM
"Baby is two-weeks-old....Can give you the baby four-year-old sister for free."
27th Nov. 2019 1:11 PM
Eight days ago 20-year-old Zoe gave birth to Archer. Now, she and her partner have lost their home to the devastating...
09th Nov. 2019 6:11 PM
The mother of a newborn baby whose body was found in a NSW backyard has been located by police in Sydney.
21st June 2019 12:06 PM
The newborn baby discovered dead during a routine check-up had been carried in a soft fabric sling that warned of the risk...
05th May 2019 4:05 PM
A NEW photography craze in turning mothers' memories of childbirth from utter pain to true beauty.
23rd March 2019 5:03 AM
YES, cuddling other people’s babies is a thing. And this maternal marvel has cuddled 1200 of them in her stellar...
25th Feb. 2018 6:02 AM

domain: news


I saw on the TED blog this morning a proposed solution to, in the short term, control global warming. The global warming problem we have built up over the years that is now being seen as a crisis, won’t be fixed overnight. We built up the problem over a long time and it will take a long time for the change we are making now to start having an effect on the environment.
The worry now is that while companies and industries change and we ourselves change the way we live to be more environmental friendly, over the years our environment will have gotten so bad that we start truly feeling its effects, in flooded coastal cities and such.
At TED, Environmental scientist, David Keith, talks about a cheap, effective, shocking solution to climate change, meant to be a short term solution to global warming till such a time that change has propagated throughout society, at which time we can remove the environmental crutch.
And the solution is:
What if we injected a huge cloud of particles into the atmosphere, to deflect sunlight and heat? As an emergency measure to slow a melting ice cap, it could work. Keith discusses why geo-engineering like this is a good idea, why it’s a terrible one — and who, despite the cost, might be tempted to use it.
It sounds brilliantly simple and perfect. In fact, if you watch his talk, you’ll see that this solution was proposed way back when, but wasn’t carried further, I suppose because of the adverse effect it would have on the ozone layer.
In his talk David explains his idea and thoughts around this solution the pros and cons, how to overcome the impact this solution would have on the ozone layer and proposes a discussion take place around it. Lets further research and explore the pros and cons. Do we do it? How do we go about doing it, if we decide to go ahead? Who will control it? etc.
This is a very serious issue that would have a massive effect on the whole world, it needs to be thought out very clearly and agreed upon. Go check out his talk, very interesting.


text: There is something about the romanticism of old jewellery. I made this beautiful piece from 1940s and 1950s jewellery to make a truly unique necklace. Kind of Victorian/gothic in styling. Dramatic of course. Who wants to get lost in the crowd? Now is a good time to buy as my 20% sale finishes in 2 days.

domain: artistic


Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America savor four pieces of good news Thursday. First, they are encouraged by a new poll showing the the Kavanaugh fight has Republican voters fired up, erasing a big enthusiasm edge for Democrats just a month before the midterm elections. They also welcome statements from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley and other senators that there is nothing in the new FBI report to corroborate the eleventh hour accusations against Judge Kavanaugh and they also get a kick out of Democrats suddenly denouncing the FBI because of it. They applaud Sen. Chris Coons for explaining that Democrats have nothing new on Kavanaugh despite suggesting otherwise on Wednesday. And they applaud the Capitol Police for arresting the person apparently responsible for publicizing the personal information of three Republicans on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America applaud Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley for not humoring scurrilous accusations against Brett Kavanaugh and for demanding Dr. Ford turn over the evidence she claims will back up her allegations. They also shake their heads as Sen. Jeff Flake suggests Kavanaugh’s demeanor towards committee Democrats is not something that belongs on the Supreme Court, making them wonder whether Republicans really have the votes for confirmation. And they throw up their hands at how both sides react to Ford’s former boyfriend stating under oath that she helped a friend prepare for a polygraph examination, which would contradict her sworn testimony. Some conservatives are treating the allegation as fact while liberals are suddenly horrified by the prospect of reporting uncorroborated accusations.
Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America growl in frustration as the questioning of Dr. Christine Ford and Judge Brett Kavanaugh is chopped up into five minute chunks for each party, preventing any sort of flow to the GOP’s line of questioning. While some on the right want it to be true, Jim and Greg are skeptical of reports that two men have come forward to the Senate Judiciary Committee suspecting Dr. Ford might be remembering something they did to her. And they fume as California Sen. Kamala Harris forwards an anonymous accusation against Brett Kavanaugh containing virtually no details to the FBI for further scrutiny, leading Jim to suggest the FBI give lawmakers some clues about what they need to conduct an investigation.
As they celebrate seven years of the Three Martini Lunch, Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America also applaud Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley for requesting testimony from the FBI informant behind the explosive reports of Russians engaging in bribes, kickbacks, and Clinton Foundation donations in order to get Hillary Clinton’s help in steering 20 percent of U.S. uranium to Russia. They also wonder just how deep the unmasking scandal goes, as former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Samantha Power says she had nothing to do with the vast majority of the 260 unmasking requests done in her name. And they have fun with the absurd but viral contention among liberals on social media that someone else was pretending to be First Lady Melania Trump during a recent appearance with the president.
Jim Geraghty of National Review and Greg Corombos of Radio America applaud Republicans for backing Attorney General Jeff Session even in the midst of President’s Trumps invective against him, including the warning from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley that there is no time left in 2017 to consider another person as attorney general. They express their continuing disgust as six Senate Republicans who voted to repeal Obamacare in 2015 refused to do so now. And they fume as former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor admits Republicans never believed they could repeal Obamacare if they took back control of Congress but used voter anger and expectations to win elections. Finally, rumors are swirling that former White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer might join the cast of the ABC reality show, Dancing With the Stars.


Hey, high-rollers: Nevada’s exclusive casino salons will
require you to wager at least $20,000 a hand, according to new rules proposed by
the state Gaming Control Board.
The salons, designed to help the state’s resorts compete
with international casinos, would also demand a $500-a-pull minimum on slot
“That doesn’t sound too far off to me,’’ said Alan
Feldman, spokesman for MGM-Mirage, which was instrumental in winning legislative
approval for the salons. Caesars Palace, the Venetian and the Aladdin are also
champing at the bit to start dealing.
“This is an effort to create a new market and generate
new revenue,’’ Gaming Control Bo Board member Bobby Siller said.
Some gaming companies, however, expressed concern that the
betting requirements might be a bit rich. Station Casinos, among others, said
during the last legislative session that high-rollers at neighborhood casinos
are a breed apart from the whales who gamble at the megaresorts along the Strip.
Industry observers believe there may only be about 250
high-end players who meet the betting profileÂ proposed by the Gaming
According to the guidelines, players may be accompanied by
non-wagering guests. But no more than three of them will be allowed to gamble.
These “secondary patrons’’ must play at least $500 a hand.
Siller said the board doesn’t want to “lower the
bar’’ by creating different salon levels for different casinos. “This is
not about redefining an existing market,’’ he told GamingToday.
Feldman agreed, noting that existing high-limit areas are
available to accommodate players who do not meet the state’s exclusive
Casinos seeking to open private gaming salons will have to
apply for a license and pay a non-refundable $5,000 fee to the state. The rooms
must be equipped with high-powered surveillance equipment connected to the
offices of the Gaming Control Board, allowing agents to monitor the games.
Resorts also must set financial and recruitment standards for players.
In addition, Siller said detailed logs will be required on
each player. Participating casinos also must notify the agency when they open
and close their salons.
A workshop on the proposed rules will be conducted Sept. 25
at the Sawyer State Office Building on East Washington Ave.


PARIS (AP) -- The French tennis federation fired Davis Cup captain Arnaud Clement on Friday after growing tension between him and the players.
The federation said that Clement, who led France to a runner-up finish in the team competition last year, was dismissed because of his struggles to unite and motivate the team.
Clement, a popular player among fans, became France's captain three years ago a few days after ending his playing career. He said at the time his goal was to win the Davis Cup, something France last did in 2001. France lost to Britain in the quarterfinals this year.
Among Clement's possible successors is Yannick Noah, who captained France to the 1991 and 1996 Davis Cup titles. Noah is also the last Frenchman to win a Grand Slam title, the 1983 French Open.
Despite France's 3-1 home loss in last year's final to a Swiss team featuring 17-time Grand Slam champion Roger Federer and Stanislas Wawrinka, Clement was given a new two-year contract by the French federation last December.
Clement faced criticism after the final for deciding to send out Jo-Wilfried Tsonga for the opening singles match, even though he sustained a forearm injury before the competition. Clement reproached Tsonga for not letting him know that he was not ready to play. Their discord reached a boiling point after the 3-1 loss to an Andy Murray-led British team in London in July, where Clement was angered by a perceived lack of commitment from Tsonga.
The French federation said the loss to Britain, ''which followed other disappointing performances,'' triggered a series of meetings that led to Clement's dismissal.
According to L'Equipe newspaper, Noah has recently spoken with France's main players - Tsonga, Richard Gasquet, Gilles Simon and Gael Monfils - and wishes to meet them all before the Paris Masters in November.
''Regarding Yannick Noah, it is hardly a secret that he has showed an interest in taking over,'' French federation technical director Arnaud Di Pasquale said. ''It's a long process with many discussions taking place.''


The dimensionless groups that govern the Davis and Raymond non-linear consolidation model, and its extended versions resulting from eliminating several restrictive hypotheses, were deduced. By means of the governing equations nondimensionalization technique and introducing the characteristic time concept, both in terms of settlement and pressures, was obtained (for the most general model) that the average degree of settlement only depends on the dimensionless time while the average degree of pressure dissipation does it, additionally, on the loading ratio. These results allowed the construction of universal curves expressing the solutions of the unknowns of interest in a direct and simple way.
The soil consolidation problem under linear behaviour is governed by the diffusion equation of excess pore pressure, with well-known analytical solutions for the usual boundary conditions. However, under the hypotheses of non-linear dependencies of hydraulic conductivity and void ratio with the effective stress, as well as under the consideration of variable volume elements in thickness, numerical solutions are used. Among the most common non-linear models used in literature are those of Davis and Raymond [1, 2], Juárez-Badillo [3, 4, 5] and Cornetti and Battaglio [6, 7]. The interest of the non-linear models against the linear ones is consequence of the important deviations that emerge from their solutions, above 100%  both in relation to the time characteristic of the process and the evolution of the average degree of consolidation.
In this paper, we address, on the one hand, the deduction and verification of the dimensionless groups that govern the solutions of the Davis and Raymond model and the extensions derived from eliminating one or more of its restrictive hypotheses (constant 1+e, cv and dz) and, on the other hand, based on these groups, construction of universal curves that allow the engineer to obtain the solutions of the most important unknowns of the problem in a direct way. In order to verify the results obtained, a set of significant cases has been simulated, widely covering the range of values of the physical and geometric parameters and the loading ratio (final and initial effective stress) that can take place in real problems. In each case, the value of one or more of the parameters involved has been significantly altered, but the numerical value of the dimensionless groups has been retained so that it is verified that the same pattern of solutions is obtained for the whole set of cases; or the value of the groups has been modified appropriately to confirm that the form of the solutions changes.
As a deduction technique for these groups, the nondimensionalization of governing equations [8, 9, 10] has been used, a form of application of the pi theorem , thus allowing the dimensionless parameters involved in the problem (void ratio and compression index), and that they would form independent dimensionless groups, to be included in the inferred groups. In the nondimensionalization process, which has been carried out in terms of both excess pore pressure dissipation and settlement, the characteristic time of consolidation is introduced as a reference, an unknown that is incorporated into one of the resulting monomials and whose dependency with the rest of the groups is established by the pi theorem. Despite suppressing the restrictive original hypotheses of the authors , the resulting number of dimensionless groups is small enough to be able to represent their dependencies by means of universal curves obtained through numerical simulations using the network simulation method [12, 13].
For the most general and precise case (non-constant 1+e, cv and dz), the characteristic time in terms of settlement is defined by a single group, so it has a direct relationship with the parameters of the problem and a single test is sufficient to obtain the proportionality factor. However, in terms of pressure, the characteristic time is a function of the final and initial effective stress ratio. On the other hand, the average degree of settlement is a direct function of the dimensionless characteristic time, while the average degree of pressure dissipation depends, additionally, on the loading ratio, so its universal representation needs to be done by means of an abacus.
2 Davis and Raymond consolidation model
2.1 Davis and Raymond proposed model
The general consolidation equation is obtained by matching, in a soil element, the temporal change in water volume with the temporal change in void volume . This balance, together with the constitutive equation that associates the variables flow and pressure gradient (Darcy’s law) and the empirical expressions that relate the parameters of the problem with the dependent variable (excess pore pressure, u, or effective pressure, σ′), allows to deduce the consolidation equation for the general case (linear or non-linear processes) expressed in terms of the independent variables position and time. In linear cases, this equation has a semi-analytical solution for all geometries, while for non-linear cases, in general, the use of numerical calculation is required. In short, equalling the expressions
Using Darcy’s Law,
expression (1) is finally written in the form
where k (hydraulic conductivity) and e (void ratio) are, in general, parameters that depend on the effective stress (σ′) through the so-called constitutive equations of the ground. In turn, the excess pore pressure (u) and the effective stress are related by the Terzaghi’s hypothesis under oedometric conditions, σ = σ′ + u, from which it follows that
In their model , Davis and Raymond assumed the following classical hypotheses: i) secondary consolidation is ignored, ii) soil particles and pore water are incompressible, iii) soil is saturated, iv) soil weight is negligible and v) the thickness change is considered negligible compared to the initial thickness, this is, 1+e constant. In addition, they assumed a constant consolidation coefficient based on the fact that, in a real mass of soil, compressibility and hydraulic conductivity vary during the consolidation process, both decreasing while increasing the effective pressure but in such a way that the changes in both are compensated so that the consolidation coefficient cv =
where Ic is the compression index, a constant parameter.
From the definition of the volumetric compressibility coefficient,
which gives us the volumetric compressibility coefficient as a function of the effective stress.
Finally, the assumption of a constant value for both the consolidation coefficient and the factor 1+e allows writing
an equation equivalent to assuming that k and σ′ change inversely during the consolidation process.
an expression very similar to that of equation (2), with the exception that the factor 1+e does not appear squared (note that, in this case, e = eo). Since k and σ′ vary inversely (kσ = koσo) and
which, after mathematical manipulation, results in
and, from expression (5), since cv is constant we have
The authors, for the usual boundary conditions , obtained the analytical solution for the variable (u), which besides depending on position (z) and time (t) also depends on the ratio σ′f/σ′o . In this way, the average degree of pressure dissipation throughout the domain (Ūσ′) will depend only on time and the ratio between the final and initial effective pressures.
On the other hand, looking for a simplification (by means of a change in variable) that reduces the consolidation equation (9) to a linear one, the authors proposed the introduction of a new variable (w), to which they did not assign any explicit physical meaning, whose relation with the effective stress is in the form
The introduction of this new variable, through its spatial and temporal derivatives, into equation (9) leads to a pure diffusion equation
What is diffused in this linear equation, then, is a new local magnitude (w) that, although the authors did not mention, is directly related to the settlements (changes in the void ratio) of the problem. Thus, from equation (3), it is easy to obtain that
It follows from equation (11) that the solution for the variable w depends on position and time, and therefore, as the authors conclude , the average degree of settlement in the domain (Ūs) is only function of time.
2.2 Extended models
Within this section, we will consider two models that eliminate some restrictive hypotheses considered by Davis and Raymond, giving rise to more general and, therefore, more precise models: i) the first one in which the value of 1+e is assumed to be non-constant but keeping the consolidation coefficient cv constant and ii) a more general second model in which both 1+e and cv are considered non-constant.
2.2.1 Model with non-constant 1+e and constant cv
In this case, we start from expression (2), which represents the general consolidation equation under the hypothesis of 1+e non-constant. For the changes in the void ratio with the effective stress, we maintain the constitutive relation (3). On the other hand, if we consider that cv is constant throughout the process, on this criterion it is true that
so that the relation between the hydraulic conductivity and the effective pressure, necessarily, becomes now
that is, the changes in k are inversely proportional to those in σ′, but, in addition, they also depend on the changes in the factor 1+e. With all this, equation (2) can be written as
After mathematical operation, it is deduced that
which, from the deduction of expression (13), finally leads to:
2.2.2 Model with both non-constant 1+e and cv
For this extended model, we again begin from expressions (2) and (3). Maintaining the Davis and Raymond philosophy, we return to the relation kσ′ = koσ′o to represent the variation in the hydraulic conductivity versus the effective stress. In this way, now we have
With all this, equation (2) can be written as
which expressed in terms of the consolidation coefficient takes the form
or, in terms of the initial consolidation coefficient (a constant parameter), results in
3 Dimensionless characterization of the Davis and Raymond model and its extended variants
In this section, we proceed to obtain the dimensionless groups that govern the solution of the non-linear consolidation scenarios presented in the previous section to subsequently address a universal representation of the main variables of interest: average degree of consolidation and characteristic time of the duration of the process. By defining the variables of the problem (effective stress, medium depth and characteristic time) in a dimensionless form, the non-linear equation is nondimensionalized. Given the different hypotheses assumed in the different models, the nondimensionalization process deduces different dependencies in each case and, at the same time, different solutions.
It will also be analyzed, for the models in which 1+e is non-constant, the influence of the elimination of another restrictive hypothesis, consequence of this, which is the consideration of the variation in the volume element size dz. This last question, which implies addressing a moving boundary problem (and even closer to the real consolidation problem), involves changes in the governing equations, which will result in different solutions for the variables of interest, as we will see in the following.
The consolidation problem describes an interesting phenomenon whereby as the excess pore pressure is relaxed (allowing water to escape from the system), the ground settlement takes place. Two processes closely linked but, due to the non-linearity of the problem, develop in a different way, with dependencies that are not always equal. Therefore, the characterization of the problem will be carried out, for all scenarios, both in terms of pressure and settlement.
3.1 Characterization of the model proposed by Davis and Raymond
3.1.1 Nondimensionalization of the model proposed by Davis and Raymond in terms of pressure
For the nondimensionalization of this model (9a), we will adopt the following dimensionless variables:
normalized to the interval [0, 1]; τo,σ′ is the characteristic time that takes the excess pore pressure to relax to approximately the value of zero (throughout the domain). Substituting (22) in equation (9a), through mathematical manipulations, we get
As they are normalized variables, all derivative terms of (σ′)′, z′ and t′ are averaged to the unit, while the value of σ′ is averaged to an arbitrary (characteristic) value σ′m. In this way, the coefficients of this equation (once simplified), of the same order of magnitude, are three:
from which, dividing by the first, monomials result:
that, by means of the pi theorem, provide the solution for the characteristic time (πI = Ψ[πII])
where Ψ is an arbitrary and unknown function of its argument. Adopting for σ′m the value, for example, σ′o (it can also be the value σ′f or the average between them), the above equation is simplified to
which means that the characteristic time taken by the excess pore pressure to relax to approximately the value of zero is a function of the ratio between the final and initial effective stresses, in addition to being directly proportional to
In short, the monomials that govern the solution of the characteristic time associated with the dissipation of interstitial pressure throughout the soil are two:
and, therefore, the average degree of pressure dissipation (Ūσ′) will also be a function dependent on π1 and π2.
At the local level, the characteristic time will depend, additionally, on the depth z, which when expressed in dimensionless form is
where Ψ, an arbitrary function of its arguments, can also be written in the form
a result that coincides with the analytical solution (Davis and Raymond ) in terms of argument dependencies.
3.1.2 Nondimensionalization of the model proposed by Davis and Raymond in terms of settlement
Davis and Raymond did not seem to notice that the new local magnitude (w), equation (10), is proportional to the differential void ratio ‘ef – e’, equation (12) and, under this dependency, also the local settlement. It would have seemed more illustrative and didactic, although in essence it is the same approach, starting from the empirical relation e = e(σ′), equation (3), written in the form
where ef denotes the final void ratio (corresponding to the final effective stress σ′f), and define the new variable ζ = e – ef, with a clear physical meaning (differential local void ratio, a kind of local degree of settlement, difference between the current void ratio and the final void ratio, in each position; a positive number). It is evident that the variable ζ thus defined must lead to a pure linear diffusion equation, with universal solutions. Indeed, we can rewrite (32) as
while its partial derivatives with respect to position and time are
By calculating the partial derivatives of σ′ with respect to position and time, we obtain
expressions from which it is deduced that
Now, starting from (9a), it is immediate to reach
A pure diffusion equation of the local variable differential void ratio directly related to the local degree of settlement. For its nondimensionalization, the dimensionless variables are defined as
normalized to the interval [0, 1], with τo,s as the characteristic time taken by the variable ζ to cover approximately its entire range of values. Substituting in equation (40), through mathematical manipulations, we reach
The coefficients of this equation, once simplified, result in
that, by division, provides a single monomial solution
and a value for the characteristic time of settlement (τo,s) of the same order of magnitude as that obtained by Davis and Raymond , independent of the loading ratio
In this way, and based on the result obtained, the average degree of settlement (Ūs) is expressed as
a result also coinciding with that obtained by Davis and Raymond in terms of argument dependencies.
3.2 Characterization of the model with non-constant 1+e and constant cv
3.2.1 Nondimensionalization of the model with non-constant 1+e and constant cv in terms of pressure
In this case, starting from equation (17), which we repeat here for convenience
and with the dimensionless variables of the expression (22), we reach
from which the following coefficients result in:
where the values of σ′ and e have been averaged to arbitrary characteristic values (σ′m and em). Dividing the coefficients by the third coefficient, we obtain the monomials
that provide the solution for the characteristic time (πI = Ψ[πII, πIII]).
Adopting for σ′m and em, for instance, the values σ′o and eo, the previous monomials can be simplified to
allowing to write now more comfortably (π1 = Ψ[π2, π3])
On this occasion, the evolution of the average degree of pressure dissipation (Ūσ′) can be expressed as
If, in addition, we take into account the variation of the volume element size dz throughout the consolidation process, considering the relation
resulting in the coefficients
and, dividing by the third coefficient, the monomials
Once we adopt the values
3.2.2 Nondimensionalization of the model with non-constant 1+e and constant cv in terms of settlement
and with the dimensionless variables of the expression (41), we obtain
The coefficients of this equation, once simplified, result in
that, dividing by the second, provide the monomials
of which it is easy to reach
what allows, finally, to write
For the case of variable dz, proceeding as in the previous section, the coefficients obtained are
providing the monomials
from which it is easy to reach the same monomials (61) as for the case of constant dz, allowing to write now for the characteristic time of settlement (τo,s), from π1 = Ψ[π2]
whereas the evolution of the average degree of settlement (Ūs) can be expressed a
3.3 Characterization of the model with both non-constant 1+e and cv
3.3.1 Nondimensionalization of the model with both non-constant 1+e and cv in terms of pressure
In this case, starting from equation (21), which we repeat here for convenience
and with the dimensionless variables of expression (22), we have
from which the following coefficients result:
Dividing these coefficients by the first, we get the groups
Adopting for σ′m and em, again, the values σ′o and eo, the previous monomials can be simplified to (after the necessary partition of the group πI)
Now we can write for the characteristic time in terms of pressure (τo,σ′), from π1 = Ψ [π2, π3]
and for the evolution of the average degree of pressure dissipation, Ūσ′
For the variant dz, proceeding as in the previous sections, we have the coefficients
which, dividing by the first, provide the monomials
that can be simplified to
being able to write for the characteristic time in terms of pressure (τo,σ′), from π1 = Ψ [π2] more comfortably
and for the evolution of the average degree of pressure dissipation, Ūσ′
Thus, in view of the expressions (69–71) and (74–76), the fact of adopting the more general (and more precise) hypothesis, dz variable, decreases in this case the number of argument dependencies of the problem, which is reduced to only two monomials.
3.3.2 Nondimensionalization of the model with both non-constant 1+e and cv in terms of settlement
and with the dimensionless variables of expression (41), we have
The coefficients of this equation, once simplified, result in
that, by dividing, provide the monomial
and, proceeding as in the previous sections, we reach
So the expressions for the characteristic time (τo,s) and the average degree of settlement (Ūs) remain
Finally, adding the condition of variable dz in expression (78), the following coefficients are obtained:
These coefficients provide the monomial
and the expressions for the characteristic time (τo,s) and the average degree of settlement (Ūs) are
Thus, in view of the expressions (81–83) and (85–87), the fact of adopting the more general (and more precise) hypothesis, dz variable, decreases in this case the number of argument dependencies of the problem, which is reduced to a single monomial.
Governing equations for the different variants of the Davis and Raymond model
|Davis and Raymond|
|Davis and Raymond 1+e ≠ constant∗ cv constant|
|Davis and Raymond 1+e ≠ constant∗ cv constant|
Dimensionless groups that characterize the solutions for the different variants of the Davis and Raymond model
|Davis and Raymond|
|Davis and Raymond 1+e ≠ constant cv constant dz constant and dz ≠ constant|
|Davis and Raymond 1+e ≠ constant cv ≠ constant dz constant|
|Davis and Raymond 1+e ≠ constant cv ≠ constant dz ≠ constant|
4 Verification of results and universal curves
The objective of this section is the verification of the deduced dimensionless groups that govern the consolidation problem of Davis and Raymond and, once tested, the obtention of universal curves based on these groups for the variables of greatest interest to geotechnical engineers: characteristic time and average degree of consolidation.
In order not to make this section too extensive, we exclusively stick to the most general and precise Davis and Raymond model, that is, the one that considers both 1+e and cv non-constant, with the added hypothesis of variable dz. For the rest of the models, of less interest, universal solutions can be found (based on the monomials obtained ) in the works of Davis and Raymond  (for the original model of the authors with constant cv and 1+e) and García-Ros  (for the extended models with constant cv and non-constant 1+e).
4.1 Verification of results and universal curves for the model with both non-constant cv and 1+e and variable dz
Table 3 shows a series of nine simulations for the most general Davis and Raymond model (non-constant 1+e and cv, with variable dz) in which several parameters or initial values are modified in order to check and verify the dependencies of the different solutions of the models with respect to the monomials of Table 2: π1 and π2 in terms of pressure (hereinafter π1σ′ and π2σ′) and π1 in terms of settlement (henceforth π1s). The objective is to show (and verify) that, independently of the values that the particular parameters of the problem take, the monomials π1σ′, π2σ′ and π1s govern the solution pattern of the problem.
Verification of the dimensionless groups for the extended Davis and Raymond model with both non-constant cv and 1+e and variable dz.
|Case||Ko (m/yr)||eo||Ic||σ′o (N/m2)||Ho (m)||σ′f (N/m2)||cvo (m2/yr)||τo,σ′ (yr)||τo,s (yr)||π1σ′||π2σ′||π1s|
For this purpose, a first reference case is established, on the basis of which we will modify the different parameters or initial values to define the other cases. For all models, the potentially variable physical and geometric characteristics are ko (m/yr), eo, Ic, σ′o (N/m2), Ho (m) and σ′f (N/m2). The values of cvo (m2/yr) and π2σ′ are deduced from them, whereas π1σ′ and π1s are obtained once we know the values of τo,σ′ and τo,s (yr), characteristic times corresponding to pressure or settlement, respectively; these times are recorded once the simulation has been performed. As a criterion for the choice of the value of the characteristic time, it has been considered to take this time value for which 90% of the definitive settlement (τo,s), or 90% of an average pressure dissipation (τo,σ′), has been reached.
In Table 3, cases 01–05 represent different consolidation scenarios, but the monomial remains π2σ′ =
Regarding the dimensionless form π1s of the characteristic time of settlement (τo,s), it is verified, as it has been deduced from the nondimensionalization process, that its value does not depend on any group of parameters of the problem, remaining constant at all times (π1s equals to 0.847). In this way, from expression (85), where π1 is of the order of magnitude of the unit, once the problem has been numerically solved and the veracity of the proposed dimensionless groups verified, the universal solution for the characteristic time in terms of settlement is reached:
Once the expression for the characteristic time in terms of settlement (τo,s) has been obtained, we can represent the universal curve for the average degree of settlement (Ūs) as a function of the dimensionless time t/τo,s (Figure 1). Considering the reader that, to obtain this curve, only a single simulation (of any consolidation scenario) has been necessary.
Regarding the problem in terms of pressure, as can be deduced from the expressions (74–76), the dimensionless form of the characteristic time is a function of
Finally, once the value for the characteristic time in terms of pressure (τo,σ′) is known, we can represent the universal curve for the average degree of pressure dissipation (Ūσ′) as a function of the dimensionless time t/τo,σ′ and the monomial
5 Final comments and conclusions
The search for the dimensionless groups that govern the non-linear consolidation problem based on the Davis and Raymond original and extended models, by means of the nondimensionalization technique for governing equations, has led to simple solutions despite the enormous set of physical and geometrical parameters, in addition to those referred to the boundary conditions, involved in the problem.
By introducing as reference different characteristic times of consolidation (parameters of great interest in ground engineering) in order to nondimensionalize the real time, the groups have been deduced by means of the dimensional coefficients derived from the mathematical treatment of the governing equations. In this way, these same characteristic times can be expressed as a function of the emerging dimensionless groups.
The comparison between the most complex model (non-constant 1+e and cv and variable dz) and the original (whose groups can be deduced from the analytical expressions reported by Davis and Raymond) has given rise, curiously, to the same number of monomials, one for settlement and two for pressure (despite having introduced two new parameters in the extended model: initial void ratio and initial consolidation coefficient), which can be considered a contribution of great interest given the higher precision of the extended model.
It is worth mentioning that in the less general extended models, case i) non-constant 1+e and constant cv and dz, and case ii) non-constant 1+e and cv and constant dz, one more group has emerged in both settlement and pressure, which is undoubtedly due to the inconsistencies resulting in, the first case, assuming 1+e non-constant but keeping constant cv and, the second case, assuming both 1+e and cv non-constant but dz constant.
The application of the pi theorem has allowed to represent the results as a function of the dimensionless characteristic time, for both the average degree of settlement and the average degree of pressure dissipation, in the second case by means of an abacus that used the loading ratio as a parameter. It has been observed that the characteristic time of settlement is always lower than the characteristic time in terms of pressure and that this decreases depending on the loading ratio. This is, undoubtedly, due to the non-linear nature of the e∼σ′ constitutive relation, according to which as the effective soil stress is more, an increase of this leads to a diminution of the void ratio every time smaller.
Communicated by Juan Luis García Guirao
A cross section area
consolidation coefficient (m2/s or m2/yr)
initial consolidation coefficient (m2/s or m2/yr)
volume element size (m)
initial volume element size (m)
void ratio (dimensionless)
final void ratio (dimensionless)
mean void ratio (dimensionless)
initial void ratio (dimensionless)
soil thickness (m)
final soil thickness (m)
mean soil thickness (m)
initial soil thickness (m)
compression index (dimensionless)
hydraulic conductivity (m/s)
initial hydraulic conductivity (m/s)
volumetric compressibility coefficient (m2/N)
void volume temporal change (m3/s)
water volume temporal change (m3/s)
time (s or yr)
dimensionless time (dimensionless)
excess pore or interstitial pressure (N/m2)
average degree of consolidation (dimensionless)
average degree of settlement (dimensionless)
average degree of pressure dissipation (dimensionless)
void volume (m3)
water volume (m3)
water velocity in the vertical spatial direction z (m/s)
auxiliary variable of Davis and Raymond (dimensionless)
spatial direction z (m)
dimensionless spatial direction z (dimensionless)
unknown arbitrary function
volume element thickness (m)
initial volume element thickness (m)
water-specific weight (N/m3)
total pressure or stress (N/m2)
effective pressure or stress (N/m2)
dimensionless effective pressure or stress (dimensionless)
final effective pressure or stress (N/m2)
mean effective pressure or stress (N/m2)
initial effective pressure or stress (N/m2)
characteristic time (s or yr)
characteristic time of settlement (s or yr)
characteristic time of pressure dissipation (s or yr)
differential local void ratio (dimensionless)
final differential local void ratio (dimensionless)
initial differential local void ratio (dimensionless)
Davis, E. H., & Raymond, G. P. (1965). A non-linear theory of consolidation. Geotechnique, 15(2), 161-173.
Juárez-Badillo, E. (1983). General Consolidation Theory for Clays. Soil Mechanics Series (No. 8). Report.
Juárez-Badillo, E., & Chen, B. (1983). Consolidation curves for clays. Journal of Geotechnical Engineering, 109(10), 1303-1312.
Cornetti, P., & Battaglio, M. (1994). Nonlinear consolidation of soil modeling and solution techniques. Mathematical and computer modelling, 20(7), 1-12.
Manteca, I. A., García-Ros, G., & López, F. A. (2018). Universal solution for the characteristic time and the degree of settlement in nonlinear soil consolidation scenarios. A deduction based on nondimensionalization. Communications in Nonlinear Science and Numerical Simulation, 57, 186-201. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cnsns.2017.09.007
Seco-Nicolás, M., Alarcón, M., & Alhama, F. (2018). Thermal behavior of fluid within pipes based on discriminated dimensional analysis. An improved approach to universal curves. Applied Thermal Engineering, 131, 54-69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applthermaleng.2017.11.091
Gibbings, J. C. (1980). On dimensional analysis. Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General, 13(1), 75.
Buckingham, E. (1914). On physically similar systems; illustrations of the use of dimensional equations. Physical review, 4(4), 345.
González-Fernández, C. F. (2002). Applications of the network simulation method to transport processes.
Wood, D. M. (2009). Soil mechanics: a one-dimensional introduction. Cambridge University Press.
Taylor, D. W. (1942). Research on consolidation of clays (Vol. 82). Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
García-Ros, G. (2016). Caracterización adimensional y simulación numérica de procesos lineales y no lineales de consolidación de suelos. Doctoral thesis.


text:
- Gold witnessed some short-covering move on Wednesday from the $1800 mark.
- COVID-19 vaccine optimism might cap any strong gains for the safe-haven metal.
- Investors now eye US macro data, FOMC minutes for a fresh directional impetus.
Gold edged higher during the early European session and was last seen trading near the top end of its daily range, just below the $1815 level.
The precious metal managed to find decent support near the $1800 mark, just ahead of a technically significant 200-day SMA and for now, seems to have stalled its recent downward trajectory. Sustained US dollar selling bias extended some support to the dollar-denominated commodity and prompted some short-covering amid near-term oversold conditions.
Investors also seemed inclined to lighten their bearish bets ahead of Wednesday's top-tier US macro releases and the latest FOMC meeting minutes. That said, the upside is more likely to remain capped amid the optimism over the progress toward remedies for COVID-19, which has been undermining demand for traditional safe-haven assets, including gold.
This makes it prudent to wait for some strong follow-through buying before confirming that the XAU/USD has found a near-term bottom and positioning for any further appreciating move.
Market participants now look forward to a flurry of top-tier US macro data for some short-term trading opportunities. Wednesday's US economic docket highlights the releases of the preliminary (second estimate) GDP report, Durable Goods Orders, Initial Weekly Jobless Claims and final Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index for November.
The key focus, however, will be on the latest FOMC meeting minutes, which will be scrutinized for the possibility of any further policy easing by the Fed in December. The Fed's policy outlook will play a key role in determining the next leg of a directional move for the non-yielding yellow metal.
Technical levels to watch
|Today last price||1813.36|
|Today Daily Change||5.85|
|Today Daily Change %||0.32|
|Today daily open||1807.51|
|Previous Daily High||1839.05|
|Previous Daily Low||1800.41|
|Previous Weekly High||1899.14|
|Previous Weekly Low||1852.8|
|Previous Monthly High||1933.3|
|Previous Monthly Low||1860|
|Daily Fibonacci 38.2%||1815.17|
|Daily Fibonacci 61.8%||1824.29|
|Daily Pivot Point S1||1792.26|
|Daily Pivot Point S2||1777.02|
|Daily Pivot Point S3||1753.62|
|Daily Pivot Point R1||1830.9|
|Daily Pivot Point R2||1854.3|
|Daily Pivot Point R3||1869.54|
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Lyft has become the latest ride-sharing service to begin testing autonomous vehicles.`
The pilot program, launched in Boston this week, is being run in partnership with self-driving tech firm nuTonomy. Lyft has also been working with both Ford Motor Co. and General Motors, two carmakers that share its long-term goal of going completely driverless in a bid to slash costs while also improving safety.
“Based on feedback from pilot participants, nuTonomy’s engineers will adapt and improve our system, so that we can deliver an autonomous transportation experience that is extremely safe, efficient, and comfortable,” nuTonomy said in a statement.
Lyft’s autonomous pilot program follows similar efforts by arch-rival Uber, which has put self-driving vehicles into use in several communities, including both Phoenix and Pittsburgh. Meanwhile, Waymo has been running an autonomous ride-share pilot of its own in the Phoenix area and, last week, the Google spin-off’s CEO John Krafcik said he is looking at the option of expanding into other cities.
(Ford moving EV production to Mexico to open up Michigan plant for driverless vehicles. Click Here for the latest.)
It will shortly add some fully driverless vehicles to the Phoenix program. Uber is running some driverless models in that Arizona city, as well, though some recent incidents have raised concerns about safety.
For now, Lyft will stick with autonomous vehicles, meaning a driver will be stationed behind the wheel, ready to assume control in the event of any problems.
The first semi-autonomous vehicles, such as Cadillac’s CT6 with Super Cruise and the Tesla Model S with Autopilot, are already available for retail buyers and fully self-driving models are expected to reach showrooms by the end of the decade. Such vehicles are expected to not only ease driver stress but improve highway safety and reduce congestion.
But a number of traditional automakers, start-ups and suppliers are moving towards next-level technology that can eliminate the need for a driver entirely. GM plans to begin production by 2019, it announced last week, Ford following in 2021. Driverless vehicles will initially target fleet buyers, and largely “is being pushed by ride-sharing services,” Gil Pratt, the director of the Toyota Research Institute, said during an appearance at the Los Angeles Motor Show last week.
(Click Here for more about GM’s ride-sharing plans.)
Currently, Pratt noted, it costs an average $1.65 per mile for a trip in a ride-share vehicle, about 80 cents more than for a personally owned automobile. Companies like Lyft and Uber have estimated that they can drop their costs using driverless vehicles to the point where they will be less expensive than a privately owned vehicle. And the Boston Consulting Group recently estimated that as much as a quarter of all travel on U.S. roads by 2030 will be taken in driverless ride-share vehicles.
The Boston program marks a first step for Lyft, which is racing to catch up with rivals like Uber and Waymo. The San Francisco-based company has launched its own autonomous research program but also is partnering with a number of companies that could help it speed up development. That includes both Ford and GM – the larger maker investing $500 million in Lyft in 2016. The ride-sharing service also is working with Waymo and nuTonomy.
The latter tech firm, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, was purchased by auto supplier Delphi in October for $450 million. Delphi itself recently spun off its traditional powertrain unit while renaming itself Aptiv. It plans to focus on next-generation vehicle technologies, including autonomous driving.
(Chinese ride-sharing giant Didi eyeing opportunities in North America. Click Here for the story.)


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Having already drawn plaudits for last year’s EP and zombie music video, Chickenhawk are ready to step up another gear on a string of new UK dates.
With support lined up from The Computers and Outcry Collective, these shows are not to be missed. The band is expected to preview tracks from their forthcoming second album, as well as old set regulars and live favorites.
15th – White Rabbit w/ THE COMPUTERS Plymouth
16th – The Cavern w/ THE COMPUTERS Exeter
17th – The Croft w/ THE COMPUTERS Bristol
18th – Rock City w/ THE COMPUTERS Nottingham
19th – Uncle Alberts w/ THE COMPUTERS (FREE ENTRY) Middlesborough
20th – King Tuts w/ THE COMPUTERS Glasgow
21st – Roadhouse w/ THE COMPUTERS Manchester
23rd – Corporation w/ THE COMPUTERS Sheffield
24th – The Flapper w/ THE COMPUTERS Birmingham
25th – Club Ifor Bach w/ THE COMPUTERS Cardiff
26th – Ibar w/ THE COMPUTERS Bournemouth
16th – Garage w/ CANCER BATS & TRASH TALK London
1st & 2nd – Camden Crawl, London
21st May Soundcity Festival, Liverpool


text:
Thuan Hung Asian Grocery
We provide a wide range of Authentic Asian products, including fresh fruit and vegetables. The in-house butcher provides fresh cut meats offering beef, Pork and Poultry.
Monday 8am-7pm Tuesday 8am-7pm Wednesday 8am-7pm Thursday 8am-7pm Friday 8am-7pm Saturday 8am-7pm Sunday 9am -7pm
- Credit Card

domain: food


text:
SAN DIEGO -- Before the Padres committed an error in the ninth inning of their victory over the Rockies on Tuesday night, they had gone 64 innings without an error.
But an error by shortstop Andy Parrino during Wednesday's 6-2 loss to the Rockies opened the door to Colorado's decisive four-run sixth inning.
San Diego finished play Wednesday with 31 errors, which trailed only San Francisco for the highest total in the National League.
"Early in the year, getting off to a slow start, we weren't really hitting. I think that went out to the field," Padres manager Bud Black said prior to the game. "You have the bad at-bats, and it goes out to the field. We've addressed that. Hopefully, we've smoothed that out. I still think we're going to play good defense over the next 125 games."
Before center fielder Cameron Maybin's fielding error in the ninth in Tuesday's victory at Petco, the Padres' last error was shortstop Jason Bartlett's fielding error in the first inning of the Padres' 2-0 victory over the Brewers on May 1 at Petco.


text:
You Are Eligible For 15% Discount This Month!
https://marycudahyewrt1a.files.wordpress.com/2013/…In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s famous short story, ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’ the issue of aging is fundamentally turned on its head. Traditionally, we think of gray hair, whiskers and wrinkles as outwards signs of chronological age. Similarly, we always assume that a baby or a toddler is under two years of age. Neither of these holds true for Mr. Button. The question I am posing here is both philosophical and metaphorical:What is the point of having a protagonist age in reverse? What does it ask us to consider about our world, our lives, our interactions with others? How can you connect this ‘science fiction’ to the real world? What might it help us understand about our own lives? Be creative in your answer. （400 words）


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310 N State St Suite 302
Lake Oswego, OR 97034
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domain: geography


text:
Alyson HanniganTop 99 Women
Getty Images More Alyson Hannigan pics
Why is She famous
After many years of work as a child and teen actress, Alyson has achieved recognition playing Willow on the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its popular spin-off, Angel. She also had the notorious role of Michelle, the "band camp girl" in the American Pie movies.
Related Video :Alyson Hannigan
Alyson Hannigan Quote
" Cat in the Hat is fine, but not during sex."
83 Sex Appeal
At 5'6" and 114 pounds, there's a lot of sexiness packed into Alyson Hannigan's lithe frame. She's an alumna of FHM's "100 Sexiest Women Poll," scoring as high as position No. 10. Not only that, but the age-old arbiter of sexiness, Play..boy, declared that in her sapphic role of Willow on Buffy, with her raunchy dialogue and on-screen girl-on-girl kisses, Alyson was "fueling the threesome fantasies of goth boys everywhere."
The secret to Alyson's sexiness lies in her exciting blend of the wholesome and the wanton. Her slight figure and cutie-pie looks (used to such advantage in movies like American Pie) seem at odds with her exuberant sexuality; for example, she once tried to have a chain-link headboard made for her bed (alas, it was too much trouble). But the opposite sides to her allure double her sexiness instead of canceling it out.
Alyson Hannigan's accomplishments as an actress are laudable, though modest. Aside from her roles on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and American Pie, she has had to put up with bit parts in mostly forgettable movies and TV shows. A greater accomplishment is her perseverance during the lean years and her cool-headed appraisal of her most recent successes.
Naturally enough, Alyson's fame reflects her accomplishments. Though her name has yet to reach marquee status, her Buffy role has earned her a devoted, if limited, following. After several nominations for her portrayal of Willow, she finally picked up the Teen Choice Award as Favorite TV Sidekick in 2002. She graciously makes time to visit fan conventions and even has an action figure of herself in her Willow persona -- "Oh look, they gave me boobs," she dryly quipped on first seeing it. Anyone with her own action figure has to be at least moderately famous.

domain: entertainment


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domain: design


text:
Since the end of January, many have been trying to figure out what exactly is going on with Jussie Smollett. Following initial reports that the actor had been attacked outside of a Chicago Subway while filming the Fox series Empire, fans have questioned everything from whether he was actually attacked to just how much trust we should put in the Chicago Police Department's statements. The tale included former Empire extras, a racist and homophobic letter being sent to the Empire set, and Jussie declaring himself the "gay Tupac."
On the morning of Feb. 21, the case took a major turn, with Smollett turning himself in to Chicago police after being considered the orchestrator of what they're now calling a hoax. For those who might have been following the situation or just need some clarification on the ordeal, here's a timeline of the case and everything we know thus far.
Jan. 22, 2019: The letter
Less than a week before the attack, a letter arrived at the offices of Fox's Empire is filmed. It was addressed to Smollett and not only contained racist and homophobic language, but is said to have contained white powder.
Threat letter sent to Empire show address a week before actual attack have several things in common: target is Jussie Smollett, knowledge of where he works, rope around neck, hate language, MAGA ref, & **mark under eye,** -- strong connection between letter & alleged attack.  pic.twitter.com/iLOp9qoAP2— Jolie Adams (@Jolieishere) February 13, 2019
Jan. 29, 2019: The attack
On the morning of Jan. 29, 2019, multiple news outlets reported that Smollett had been hospitalized after an attack at 2 a.m. Initial reports said that Smollett had been on his way to a Chicago Subway when he was attacked by two white men outside of the restaurant; the men, who wore ski masks, were said to have shouted "this is MAGA country" while beating him, putting a noose around his neck, and ultimately fracturing one of his ribs, although a spokesperson from the Chicago Police Department told Complex that "there is no report of that being said." From there, the Chicago Police Department launched an investigation into the reported attack, looking into it as "a possible hate crime."
Jan. 30, 2019: The security footage
The Chicago Police Department's chief communications officer Anthony Guglielmi tweeted that "detectives [had] located a surveillance camera that shows potential persons of interest wanted for questioning." Images from the footage were distributed in hopes of helping police catch these individuals.
Jan. 31, 2019: The Smollett family responds
Smollett's family released a statement on the attack: "We want to be clear, this was a racial and homophobic hate crime. His story has never changed, and we are hopeful they will find these men and bring them to justice." After calling the attack "domestic terrorism," they continued: "We want people to understand these targeted hate crimes are happening to our sisters, brothers and our gender non-conforming siblings, many who reside within the intersection of multiple identities, on a monthly, weekly, and sometimes even daily basis all across our country."
Feb. 1, 2019: Jussie speaks
One day after his family spoke out on the incident, and days after everyone from John Legend to the NAACP released statements, Jussie released a statement of his own via Essence, saying, “My body is strong but my soul is stronger. More importantly I want to say thank you. The outpouring of love and support from my village has meant more than I will ever be able to truly put into words.”
Feb. 2, 2019: "I'm the gay Tupac!"
After dropping his first statement, Jussie performed on the Troubadour stage in West Hollywood, where he spoke out about the situation during a live performance. After clarifying that he wasn't hospitalized (he'd just visited a doctor) and that his ribs weren't broken, he made it clear that he fought back against his assailants. Smollett was met with supportive cheers and applause, and went on to call himself "the gay Tupac."
Feb. 12, 2019: Smollett's phone records submitted, rejected
Smollett cooperated with the police investigation, including submitting his phone records from the night of the attack. However, according to USA Today, the documents were rejected by police; Sgt. Rocco Alioto stated that the phone records did "not meet the burden for a criminal investigation as they were limited and heavily redacted."
Feb. 13, 2019: Arrests made
Eleven days later, Chicago Police arrested two men in connection with the attack, later identified as Nigerian brothers Olabinjo and Abimbola Osundairo. According to The Wrap, Olabinjo appeared as an extra on Empire in 2015.
Feb. 14, 2019: The Good Morning America interview
ABC scored Smollett's first full-length interview after the attack, where he said he was "pissed off" at people questioning his story and the incident.
That evening, more details surfaced about the Osundairo brothers. Chicago police raided their home, seizing five bottles of bleach, electronics, shoes, and other items. Police also stated that the brothers had left for Nigeria on the day of the attack.
As this information was released, some media reports indicated that Chicago PD believed Smollett had staged the attack. Guglielmi tweeted that the media reports alleging that the attack was a hoax were "unconfirmed by case detectives," as there was "no evidence to support their reporting." He referred to the supposed CPD sources these outlets had spoken to as "uninformed and inaccurate."
Feb. 15, 2019: The brothers are released
While Chicago PD continued to dispute reports that they thought the attack was staged, the two men they arrested were released without being charged. "Due to new evidence as a result of today's interrogations," Guglielmi tweeted, "the individuals questioned by police in the Empire case have now been released without charging and detectives have additional investigative work to complete."
Feb. 16, 2019: Was it staged?
The next day, more reports suggested that Jussie orchestrated the attack. CNN reported that two police sources had indicated that Chicago PD believed Jussie had paid the two men in question to participate in this staged attack. That same night, Deadline confirmed via a statement from Chicago PD that the department had shifted the trajectory of their investigation "based on the premise that Mr. Smollett was an active participant in the incident." Two days later, Smollett's attorneys said that while they'd keep an "active dialogue" with Chicago PD, there were no plans to meet with detectives.
Feb. 19, 2019: The brothers speak
Amid questions of Jussie's role on Empire being diminished, sources told CBS Chicago that the brothers, who were previously arrested as suspects, said that Jussie was the one who sent the letter to the Empire set and that the attack was orchestrated because the letter didn't receive a "bigger reaction."
Feb. 20, 2019: Jussie is a suspect
Guglielmi returned to Twitter with an official statement: "Jussie Smollett is now officially classified as a suspect in a criminal investigation by #ChicagoPolice for filing a false police report (Class 4 felony). Detectives are currently presenting evidence before a Cook County Grand Jury." Attorneys representing Smollett told People that they were mounting an "aggressive defense," noting that, “Like any other citizen, Mr. Smollett enjoys the presumption of innocence, particularly when there has been an investigation like this one where information, both true and false, has been repeatedly leaked."
Feb. 21, 2019: Jussie is in police custody
Early Thursday morning, Smollett turned himself in to Chicago police. The resulting class 4 felony charges against Smollett could result in up to three years in prison and an estimated $25,000 in additional fines.
Chicago police has released Jussie Smollett's mugshot and a statement regarding his charge of disorderly conduct - false report of offense. pic.twitter.com/bERdd4flCD— Tasneem N (@TasneemN) February 21, 2019
During the subsequent press conference (which you can see in full below), CPD superintendent Eddie Johnson called this incident a "publicity stunt" and "a scar Chicago didn't earn and certainly didn't deserve." They repeated claims that Smollett sent the original letter that started the entire ordeal and confirmed that he'd paid the two brothers $3,500 for their part in the incident. The reasoning? According to Johnson, Smollett was "dissastified" with the amount of money he was making on Empire. Chicago PD also called his Good Morning America appearance "shameful" and asked that Jussie apologize to the city of Chicago.
Later that day, Smollett was released from police custody after posting $10,000 cash towards the $100,00 bond he was being held on. Multiple outlets reported that he made his way to the Empire set. Fox, who'd stood behind Smollett while this case developed, released a statement saying that they "are evaluating the situation and we are considering our options." Meanwhile, Smollett's legal team released their own statement: “The presumption of innocence, a bedrock in the search for justice, was trampled upon at the expense of Mr. Smollett and notably, on the eve of a mayoral election. Mr. Smollett is a young man of impeccable character and integrity who fiercely and solemnly maintains his innocence and feels betrayed by a system that apparently wants to skip due process and proceed directly to sentencing.”
Feb. 22, 2019: Smollet cut from final episodes of Empire
On Friday, Fox announced that Smollett's character Jamal will not appear in the last two episodes of Empire's fifth season, which are currently being filmed in Chicago. A statement from the executives behind Empire, which include Lee Daniels, Danny Strong, Brett Mahoney, Brian Grazer, Sanaa Hamri, Francie Calfo, and Dennis Hammer, said that the "disturbing" nature of the allegations lead to their decision.
"The events of the past few weeks have been incredibly emotional for all of us. Jussie has been an important member of our Empire family for the past five years and we care about him deeply," it read. "While these allegations are very disturbing, we are placing our trust in the legal system as the process plays out. We are also aware of the effects of this process on the cast and crew members who work on our show and to avoid further disruption on set, we have decided to remove the role of ‘Jamal’ from the final two episodes of the season." As of right now, there's no word on if Smollett's character will be removed completely from the series.
The Hollywood Reporter looked into Smollett's contract situation, and while unconfirmed, it's said that Smollett went from reportedly making around $40,000 per episode to $125,000 per episode, although he might have been signed to a 360 deal. Regardless of that, one source is said to have told THR that there was no word of Smollett speaking to Fox regarding being unhappy with his salary, which calls into question the motivation the Chicago Police Department issued during their press conference on February 21.
Feb. 23, 2019: More questions...
Less than 24 hours after the news of his scenes in Empire being cut, a number of questions regarding Jussie’s case came about. Initially, there were reports claiming that Jussie had modeled his alleged hoax after the attack Empire executive producer Lee Daniels’ cousin suffered in January, which Daniels said only occurred because he is gay. Meanwhile, the FBI said that they weren’t certain that Jussie sent the letter that kicked this whole ordeal off in the first place. Finally, there was talk that Jussie’s Empire character might be recast.
Feb. 24, 2019: What was the check for?
Amidst support from Empire co-star Terrence Howard, TMZ reported that the $3,500 check that Chicago PD said Jussie sent to the alleged fake attackers wasn’t for a hoax attack at all, but for fitness training for a video Jussie was planning on shooting. The memo line on the check read "5 week Nutrition/Workout program Don't Go.”
Mar. 7, 2019: Hospital employees fired, internal investigation begins
CBS2 Chicago reported that dozens of workers and nurses at Northwestern Hospital are said to have been fired for accessing Smollett’s hospital records inappropriately. This was the medical facility that Smollett was treated at after his alleged attack.
That same day, the Chicago PD launched an internal investigation into information leaks that went to the media. In a statement, Chicago PD Sergeant Rocco said he "would like to point out that a lot of the information out there was inaccurate and there were numerous agencies involved in this investigation. As a standard procedure when there are allegations of information being leaked, an internal investigation has been opened and we are also looking at our vulnerabilities."
Mar. 8, 2019: Jussie gets indicted
A day later, a Cook County grand jury indicted Jussie on 16 felony counts (he was originally charged with one felony count for filing a false police report). According to ABC 7, the grand jury hit Jussie with two separate sets of charges, one based on what he originally told police about the attack, and the second based on a second interview later that day.
ABC 7 also reported that each set of charges carries a sentence of probation; the thought is that Jussie would plea out and not have to face jail time.
Mar. 11, 2019: The brothers feel they were "taken advantage of"
Gloria Schmidt, the lawyer of brothers Abindola and Olabinjo Osundairo, made an appearance on Good Morning America to speak out on their behalf. "My clients were just taken advantage of by someone they trusted. This was someone who the brothers thought could help their career. Obviously, Mr. Smollett has connections, he had a good position with Fox, so this was someone that they had trusted to consider their best interests."
Schmidt also reiterated that the $3,500 check was for fitness training, but did indicate that it might have also been used as a part of this alleged attack. "It's unfortunately," Schmidt said, "a very complicated relationship for them because if you are friends and I'm saying, 'Hey, I am going to pay you for training, I am also asking you to do me a favor'... and the favor was to stage the attack."
Mar. 14, 2019: Jussie pleads not guilty
Smollett made an appearance in court to enter a plea of not guilty to the 16 felony counts of disorderly conduct he's facing. He's set to appear back in court on April 17.
Mar. 26, 2019: All charges dropped
On Tuesday morning, after word of an emergency hearing in Smollett's case was being held, his attorneys released a statement saying that "all criminal charges against Jussie Smollett were dropped and his record has been wiped clean of the filing of this tragic complaint against him." State District Attorney Kim Foxx also released a statement, saying that "After reviewing all of the facts and circumstances of the case, including Mr. Smollett's volunteer service in the community and agreement to forfeit his bond to the City of Chicago, we believe this outcome is a just disposition and appropriate resolution to this case."
Feb. 11, 2020: Smollett is indicted by special prosecutor
Almost a year to the day of the initial arrests being made in this case, Jussie Smollett was indicted by special prosecutor Dan Webb on six counts of disorderly conduct in his case. Webb released a statement, saying “further prosecution of Jussie Smollett is in the interest of justice." Webb was appointed to this case back in August of 2019 to investigate why all of the charges against Jussie were dropped back in March of 2019.
Word is that Smollett would have been facing 50 years in prison if there was a conviction on all 16 counts against him in 2019. Smollett is due back in court on February 24, 2020, and if convicted, could face jail time.
Feb. 24, 2020: Smollett pleads not guilty, wants new charges killed
To the surprise of no one, Jussie Smollett entered a plea of not guilty on the new felony charges brought against him earlier this month. He also filed a motion to have the new charges dismissed, saying that the indictment "wasn’t proper because the special prosecutor was appointed incorrectly.”
“The circumstances surrounding the initial case in 2019 did not reach the legal level warranting the appointment of a special prosecutor,” their paperwork stated. “Under the terms of the law, in order to appoint a special prosecutor, the office (of Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx) had to file a former recusal with the court, and that didn’t occur here.”
Smollett is due back in court on March 18.


text:
Got a novel bursting to get out these tips from novelist and lecturer sally o'reilly may surprise you. Writing a query letter for your romance novel is no small task learn the intricacies and nuance to capturing attention and enticing a traditional publisher. Ten rules for writing fiction get an accountant, abstain from sex and similes, cut, rewrite, think of what you skip reading a novel:.
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domain: literature


U.S. Special Operations Command just announced the DoD had formally chosen a modified SIG MCX upper to fill the request of the Suppressed Upper Receiver Group or SURG program.
SIG wasn’t the only company to submit a design for the SURG RFP, however. At least two other companies delivered specialized, functional SURG designs that were inched out by SIG’s modified, piston-driven MCX upper.
The first was from long-time sound suppressor manufacturer, GemTech. Founded in the 1970s, GemTech has been producing military and civilian suppressors for decades. With their massive breath of experience, the engineers at GemTech submitted their Integra Upper to the SURG RFP.
As its name suggests, the Integra features a sound suppressor integrated into the barrel itself. In fact, only the first 10.5 inches of the barrel are rifled, and the remaining 5.5 inches are simply a sound suppressor — though this is mostly in line with the SURG requirements set forth by SOCOM (GemTech’s submission actually offers 1.7 additional inches of rifled barrel)


XICHANG, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- When the Chinese invented the compass, humanity steered into uncharted waters. Now China is navigating the world in the new era of global exchange with a new option -- its fledging BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS).
With the launch of two new BDS-3 satellites on Monday, China will complete the basic navigation system and start to provide services for countries participating in the Belt and Road initiative by the end of this year.
"This is a key step for BDS developing from a domestic Chinese system to a regional and then a global navigation system," said Yang Changfeng, chief designer of the BeiDou system.
China plans to launch another 11 BDS-3 satellites in the coming two years. By the end of 2020, the BeiDou system, named after the Chinese term for the Big Dipper constellation, will become global, and provide high-precision, reliable positioning, navigation and timing services anywhere in the world.
"China developed BDS through a unique technological approach, contributing Chinese wisdom to the theory and construction of international satellite navigation systems," said Xie Jun, deputy chief designer of the Beidou system.
Altogether 18 BDS satellites have been sent into space from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in southwest China's Sichuan Province in 2018.
Chi Jun, head of the BDS-3 satellite team from the China Academy of Space Technology (CAST), has been in the valley of the launch center for more than six months.
As head of the team, Chi has never seen a BDS satellite launch, as he has to monitor data on a computer each time.
"This year has seen the most intensive launch of the BDS satellites. We improved our work efficiency by reforming the management process. The number of satellite staff at the launch center has been reduced by nearly half, and the testing time before launch has been shortened by nearly a third," said Chi.
In the CAST production base in Beijing, several BDS satellites are being manufactured at the same time.
"We try to improve intelligent manufacturing capability, and cut down production times. Construction of the BDS-3 system has accelerated," Chi said.


White House: Administration Would Block 'Truth Commission'
• "The White House and the Democratic leadership in the Senate signaled on Thursday that they would block for now any effort to establish an independent commission to investigate the Bush administration's approval of harsh interrogation techniques," the New York Times reports. "In doing so, they sought to reduce pressure for a full inquiry" from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and others "that has grown more intense since President Obama suggested on Tuesday that he would be open to such an investigation."
• The last five CIA directors, including Leon E. Panetta, "and Obama's top counterterrorism adviser had expressed firm opposition to the release of interrogation details in four 'top secret' memos in which Bush administration lawyers sanctioned harsh tactics," the Washington Post reports. "Seated in Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel's West Wing office with about a dozen of his political, legal and security appointees, Obama requested a mini-debate in which one official was chosen to argue for releasing the memos and another was assigned to argue against doing so."
Congress: Gonzales Delayed Notification Of Harman Wiretap
• Then-CIA Director Porter Goss "concluded in late 2005 that a conversation picked up on a government wiretap was serious enough to require notifying Congressional leaders that Representative Jane Harman, Democrat of California, could become enmeshed in an investigation into Israeli influence in Washington," the New York Times reports. "But Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales told" Goss "to hold off on briefing lawmakers about the conversation... despite a longstanding government policy to inform Congressional leaders quickly whenever a member of Congress could be a target of a national security investigation."
• "Harman was promised the chairmanship of the Intelligence Committee," The Hill reports based on a letter it obtained. "But that pledge was made by Dick Gephardt, not Nancy Pelosi."
• "The Senate Thursday took a step toward finishing work on the FY10 budget resolution when it appointed conferees, following House action earlier this week," CongressDailyAM (subscription) reports. "Congressional Democratic leaders and the White House hope conferees can finish quickly, but major differences might take time to resolve."
Politics: Tedisco No Longer In It To Win
• "A GOP source on Capitol Hill said Thursday afternoon that Republican Jim Tedisco's camp has abandoned hope of winning New York's 20th district special election but that the former state Assembly Minority Leader won't concede the race to Democrat Scott Murphy until technical legal questions surrounding voter residency issues are resolved," Roll Call (subscription) reports.
• "Federal election laws barred" Obama "from writing a big check to help settle Hillary Clinton's gaping campaign debt, but he and other Clinton allies found another way to help the Secretary of State pay most of the bills left over from her presidential campaign," Politico reports. "Obama's inaugural committee and a slew of other groups ranging from Bill Clinton's charitable foundation to Media Matters to the Democratic gubernatorial campaigns of Gavin Newsom in California and Terry McAuliffe in Virginia combined to pay nearly $2.1 million in the first three months of the year to rent the list of supporters' email addresses Clinton assembled during her unsuccessful campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination."
• "Can a bitter U.S. Senate primary bring Kentucky Democrats together?" CongressDailyAM (subscription) reports. "Even though the candidates vying for the seat held by Republican Sen. Jim Bunning have already mixed it up, Democratic leaders say the prospect of an ultimate victory has energized and invigorated a state party desperate for a win."
Economy: Financial Risk Cuts Deeper, Poll Finds
• "In a new Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor poll, fully 64 percent of adults said they think that today's economy presents them with more financial risks that could endanger their standard of living than their parents confronted," National Journal (subscription) reports. "That's nearly six times as many as the 11 percent who say that today's economy presents fewer risks."
• "Federal Reserve Chairman Ben S. Bernanke and former Treasury secretary Henry M. Paulson Jr. threatened to remove the management and board of Bank of America if it backed out of its deal to acquire ailing investment house Merrill Lynch late last year, according to documents released" Thursday "by New York Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo," the Washington Post reports.
• "As they try to cope with gaping budget deficits, at least 15 states from every region... are in various stages of considering or carrying out furloughs," the New York Times reports. "But furloughs can be a problem for states in a way they may not be for a private company where demand for a product has dropped."
National Security: Iraqis Fear Bombings Indicate A Sunni Resurgency
• "Two large suicide bombings Thursday renewed fears among Iraqis that Sunni insurgents are regaining strength and lethality as the U.S. military has started disassembling its massive wartime architecture," the Washington Post reports. "The blasts, which killed more than 80 people in the bloodiest day here this year, came after Sunni insurgent groups warned that they would step up attacks against U.S. troops and Iraq's Shiite-led government, which is backed by the United States."
• "The Obama administration's effort to return the largest group of Guantánamo Bay detainees to Yemen, their home country, has stalled, creating a major new hurdle for the president's plan to close the prison camp in Cuba by next January, American and Yemeni officials say," the New York Times reports.
• "House Armed Services Chairman Ike Skelton," D-Mo., "and ranking member John McHugh," R-N.Y., "will introduce a bill Monday aimed at overhauling the way the Pentagon buys weapons by establishing regulations and oversight mechanisms to rein in ever-escalating costs on major procurement programs," CongressDailyAM (subscription) reports. "The bill, which the Armed Services Committee is expected to mark up as soon as next week, follows similar Senate legislation."
World: Pakistan Continues Losing Grip On Parts Of Country
• "Islamic extremists killed a paramilitary officer, set up checkpoints and ransacked homes Thursday as they enforced their control over a district 60 miles from Pakistan's capital, while other reports said they were infiltrating districts even closer to Islamabad," McClatchy Newspapers reports. "The White House called the growing crisis in the nuclear-armed South Asian nation 'deeply disturbing,' and several key U.S. lawmakers told" Secretary Clinton "that the Obama administration's new $7.5 billion plan to help stabilize Pakistan could be doomed by the failure of its government and military to battle the insurgents."
• "North Korea said Friday that two U.S. journalists will stand trial following an investigation into allegations they entered the country illegally and committed 'hostile acts,'" AP reports. "Laura Ling and Euna Lee, journalists working for former Vice President Al Gore's San Francisco-based Current TV media venture, were arrested March 17 near the North Korean border while reporting on refugees living in China."
Commentary: Party Bashers
• One commentator mocks the GOP while another chastises Democrats for "overreaching" on energy legislation in Earlybird's Pundits & Editorials section.


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Maryland’s neighboring state of New Jersey wants its parents to commit to “Do the Right Thing for Your Kids.” That is why the state’s office of Child Support Services is offering a get-out-of-jail-free opportunity for parents who are in arrears for their child support payments. Parents who are facing possible arrest for their overdue amounts could be eligible for payment restructuring under the amnesty effort.
Those parents who are interested in pursuing child support modifications may do so through the first weekend in May. If they reach an agreement for a payment plan, the parents can have their arrest warrants expunged. Even those parents who are unable to agree to a proposed payment plan may be temporarily exempted from arrest.
The last time such a program was offered in the state was 10 years ago. Parents were able to avoid jail time through a similar initiative that occurred in 2004. State authorities say that the program is only administered infrequently because they do not want to give parents the impression that child support is an optional commitment. However, there are some people who have fallen on hard times and could pay an even higher price for their failure to pay child support. Those parents deserve a second chance; luckily, the state of New Jersey is reaching out to provide needed assistance.
Although parents who find themselves making delinquent child support payments are unfairly characterized as “deadbeats,” there are a variety of reasons for noncompliance with child support. In many cases, parents fall behind on their weekly or monthly bills, and they are unsure how to break out of the financial mire. Those well-intentioned parents deserve the chance to make good on their overdue child support and demonstrate their commitment to their children, no matter their economic struggles.
Source: NorthJersey.com, “NJ offering child-support amnesty” Colleen Diskin, Apr. 18, 2014

domain: sociology


FLINT, MI -- Even as a high school student growing up on Dupont Street in Flint, Brian Larkin knew he wanted to be involved in revitalizing his city.
"My mother, Lynn Larkin, at the Community Foundation of Flint always instilled pride in the community and the need to give back," said the younger Larkin.
So after graduating from Flint Northern High School in 2002, Larkin pursued a business degree at Morehouse College in Atlanta, then a degree in urban planning at Florida State University. He is now completing his doctoral work at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor in the field of urban and regional planning.
A month ago, Larkin was asked to head up the Flint office of the newly created Governor's Office of Urban and Metropolitan Initiatives. He sees the position as a culmination of his passion and studies since youth.
"I always knew I wanted to come back and help lead the charge and revitalization of the city, said Larkin. "It has been my No. 1 interest throughout all these years."
Working out of an office on the fifth floor of the State of Michigan Building in downtown Flint, the 27-year-old is now employed as the associate director within the state's Urban and Metropolitan Initiatives group. He is one of four associate directors across the state.
There are offices in Grand Rapids, Detroit and in Kalamazoo. The Flint office, with Larkin in charge, is responsible for the state's efforts on urban planning in Flint, Saginaw, Bay City and Midland.
"This is all the result of the governor's commitment to bring back the inner cities and the urban core," said Larkin.
The intent of the office, he said, is to help identify areas of economic development, housing, land use, public safety and transportation in urban communities. Also key to his research will be identifying which groups are involved in these projects and how state financial assistance is playing a role in those developments.
"Our office acts as a clearing house for growth and activity. I am getting out and talking to stakeholders in all the communities in my jurisdiction," said Larkin. "In Flint, for example, I am talking with UM-Flint and the other colleges and hospitals and the Flint River Corridor Alliance, and the Flint Area Reinvestment Office, and the Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce and local foundations and others."
"The governor feels a lot of these communities are at the tipping point for restoration," he said. "We are trying to find out what is necessary to move forward."
To ensure success, Larkin says, the governor wants to phase out the scattered approach to development that has historically been the case with housing and economic development.
Instead, the concept is to develop an urban plan within communities and across communities to achieve a greater return on the state's investments in urban areas.
"As an example, we know that MSHDA (the Michigan State Housing and Development Authority) and HUD (Housing and Urban Development) and MEDC (Michigan Economic Development Authority) are all involved in projects in the Flint area," said Larkin. "By brining all the resources and projects together in one plan, many can move ahead more efficiently."
He offers an example in which integrating plans for urban centers across the state can be effective.
"For example, if an organization in Flint wanted to do something like the Kalamazoo Promise (which offers a college tuition for any student who completes high school in the city) we can bring people who helped establish best practices with that concept to share information."
Larkin says the Office of Urban and Metropolitan Initiatives will continue to serve as a clearinghouse of development information even after the urban plan for the state is developed. He sees the impact of urban planning in long-term goals.
"For example it could help transform the area around University Avenue and the Flint River corridor one day," he said.
Larkin points out that research already indicates that 10,000 people use that corridor on a daily basis. But there is what he calls "economic leakage," because the community is not capturing the potential economic impact from those who pass through.
"Students from the University of Michigan-Flint come out of residence halls at some point,"Larkin said. "They will look for housing. We need a coordinated effort with code enforcement and businesses to look at rehabilitation of housing or retail development to serve the population. That is where the coordination of this office will help. "
Larkin foresees a plan that could leverage city, business, foundation and state resources to promote economic growth in the area.
"We might use a system of tax incremental financing that would allow interested parties to develop business and housing and things of that nature in the area," said Larkin. "We accomplish that by looking at who the current consumers do business with, who are the contractors, and how to bring funds to accomplish our goals."
Larkin is convinced that by capturing the resources that exist, and bringing duplicate resources together under an urban planning initiative, the community would be better able to leverage state financial resources.
"And if it is successful, " Larkin concluded, "then the area would begin to see the effects of transformation that would benefit the entire community."