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The advancements in technology have reshaped the way architects work. One of the latest design philosophies is parametric design. Read on to learn more about what this style is all about.
With the advancement of new technologies, there’s hardly an industry that hasn’t benefited from new tools. Architecture is no different in this regard.
Just a couple of decades ago, architects drew all their designs by hand. Not only was this process more complicated, but it was also much more time-consuming.
Today, architects have CAD and similar technologies that help them speed up the design process.
In accordance with these changes, the design ideas have started evolving as well. In fact, the endless refinement of design processes, backed up by prototyping in an entirely digital space, has accommodated a rethink in the approach to various application areas.
One of the latest design philosophies that help architects in their work is called parametric design.
And in this article, you’ll learn what parametric design is and how it is reshaping architecture as we know it.
What is Parametric Design?
For the longest time, the “old is new again” approach to design has dominated different industries. Most architectural styles followed straight lines and sharp corners. But thanks to the ground-breaking innovations of the parametrics design, the long-standing guidelines have been put on hold.
“Parametricism” is a term first coined by an architect called Patrick Schumacher. It’s used to describe free-form architectural concepts featuring sweeping lines, irregular shapes, and curves. This design gives character to a building that often looks futuristic or out-of-this-world.
Here’s what defines parametric architecture today:
- Blends complexity and variety and rejects homogenous utilitarianism
- Priorities involve urbanism, interior design, and fashion
- Interdependent and adaptable design elements
- Algorithmic and computerised design processes
Also, what makes this approach special is how it draws much inspiration from nature. The designers look at the earth’s complex ecological system and follow the systematic patterns around specific biomes. For example, forests have their own distinctive flora, and coral reefs come with their unique structures, supporting a wide range of organisms. All of these elements don’t just exist in a vacuum but are interdependent.
According to the parametrical approach, the same goes for the cities we inhabit.
Urban jungles that are our conglomerations also need a systemic approach that adapts to the surroundings, all while placing emphasis on their form and function, which, in turn, is an essential part of urban planning for the future.
Parametric Design in Action
The whole parametric design fuss isn’t only theoretical. More and more architects have managed to realise their projects into actual buildings.
Frank Gehry’s “Fish” in Barcelona, Spain, is just one example of his many parametric buildings. He takes organic shapes to a whole new level, even coming up with a structure that resembles a crumpled paper bag.
Zaha Hadid Architects is a well-known company that specialises in parametric design buildings. They were behind the famous Beijing shopping mall, the Galaxy SOHO. This stunning building serves as an office space, retail, and entertainment complex with minimal sharp edges and corners. As visitors walk across the mall, they have the impression of a continuous space, which is precisely the point of parametric design.
Another famous example is Santiago Calatrava’s World Trade Centre Transportation Hub in New York. Also known as the Oculus, this otherworldly building pushes architectural boundaries further with its interior and exterior design.
Yet another example is Jean Nouvel and his parametric design buildings, such as the Louvre Abu Dhabi. While the French architect has designed many parametric structures, the Louvre is more subtle than his other works, although it features an impressive intricate dome.
How Will Parametric Design Change Architecture?
It’s evident by now that this innovative approach in design brought a fresh new perspective to architecture.
Here are 7 ways on how the parametric design will change architecture in 2021 and beyond.
#1 – Aesthetics and Functionality Enhancement
The parametric design offers robust tools in solving visual, perceptive, material, and structural issues in architecture. It also infuses a purely functional process with a designer’s aesthetic vision.
Usually, architects have individual aesthetic aims, while their designs solve functional and contextual issues. Parametric design combines aesthetics and function in a way that it’s impossible to separate the two during the design process.
And with advancements in the technology world, almost every aspect of the building industry is affected. The design process is highly dependent on digital methods, and the project management changes evolve as well. This revolution indeed affects building aesthetics, allowing more freedom of form from automated manufacturing methods.
Just as significantly, it improves the overall quality and functionality of the design. Thanks to the numerous optimisation and management solutions of complex issues, building use and contextualisation are sure to improve.
#2 – Replacing the Classical Modernist Education
Modernism represents an ideology dependent on universalism, mass production, standardisation, and homogeneity. On the flip side, parametric design is contextual, highly adaptive, mass customised, and heterogeneous. There is this fundamental difference between these theories, and the primary aim in terms of architecture students is to change the way they look at and think about designs.
Usually, professors introduce architecture students to parametric design through simple parameters inside their projects. The design emerges from methods, materials, and significant variables. However, a designer from a modernist background will have a more challenging time initiating this way of work.
But thanks to the more enhanced visual coding tools, designers can deal with more complex and adaptive experiences. Basically, the main shift is inside the designer’s mind, between the old and the new way of thinking.
#3 – Computation as the Main Design Tool
As we know from the past, architectural styles are prone to changes as they follow trends. However, parametric design can be considered a set of tools and methods that help make high-quality buildings for a modern society.
As we talk about these tools, it’s important to know the difference between what makes them possible.
There are two terms that need distinction: computerisation and computation. The first is about putting a design into a digital format. For example, drawing a 3-D model of a building. Computation, on the other hand, is an algorithmic and mathematical process used by the computer, and it’s what parametric design is about.
#4 – Bringing the Third Industrial Revolution into Architecture
With parametric design entering the architecture world, both theory and practice begin to change. The ongoing third industrial revolution is the era of robotics, computation, and mass customisation.
As a profession that makes physical end products, architecture needs to adapt to the ongoing changes, new programming languages, digital processes, and much more. Parametric design is a direct result of architecture undergoing the changes associated with the third industrial revolution.
#5 – Making Room for Complexity Management
Together with computation, parametrics allow designers to become better at dealing with complex issues. All of these processes are integrated into the architects’ work.
The parametric architects work with parameters that range from programs, site context, user interface, environmental factors, material technologies, and manufacturing. They keep pushing the boundaries of what they can do with modern technology. Accordingly, architecture improves as well.
#6 – Making Data Management More Straightforward
There are virtually no limits to what parametric architecture can do. Tasks that took months to complete before can be done in an instant today.
Take a look at the office building design process. Traditionally, the first step is to figure out the client requests. Then, designers need to make sure these requests fit natural laws or laws that affect a building’s durability.
But thanks to the AI system, designers only have to insert the initial parameters and the computer will proceed with all the work. In a way, parametrics serves as the architect programming language. As they input specific parameters and add data, a set of new, unseen forms emerge. It takes seconds to design countless outputs with a combination of the past and new data.
The same goes for creating new, enhanced tools according to the designer’s needs. For example, when designing a tower in an often-cloudy city, it now only takes minutes to test the number of daylight hours at any given time.
#7 – Helps Adapt Architecture to Building Smart Cities
Thanks to computation and parametrics, architecture teams can finally shift their focus from specific structures or neighbourhoods to entire cities. And as technology keeps improving, cities can be built as individual systems on their own.
Parametrics – Reshaping the Building Industry
As modern technologies make their way to more and more industries, architecture follows suit. The development of more sophisticated software made room for much more contextualised, innovative, and highly functional design – the parametrics.
That’s why, thanks to its enhanced aesthetics and functionality and room for complexity management, parametrics has quickly become one of the main aims of architects and designers worldwide. It also makes data management more effortless and prepares architects for new ventures such as building smart cities.
Archistar’s platform’s parametric design generator uses AI to create tons of potential designs. You can use our 3D modelling engine to create your own parametric models. Utilise every centimetre of your development property and maximise its value.
If you’re interested, you can book a demo with the Archistar team by clicking on this link.


Mike Graham, Prospect National Secretary, said: “This is fantastic news for West Cumbria. It will mean long-term jobs and help to secure the future of the Energy Coast Initiative.
“The building of new nuclear power stations will create many hundreds of construction jobs in the near future, with massive positive impact on the local economy. In the longer term it will mean thousands of long-term, high-value and skilled jobs for West Cumbria, helping the region become a world leader in nuclear technology.
“These are jobs for apprentices, graduates and future generations of West Cumbria’s young people. Prospect very much welcomes this announcement.”
Both the sites for which RWE npower has options are currently farmland, one in mid-Copeland near Sellafield, and the other in south Copeland in the Millom area.
Prospect estimates that each new nuclear power station built in the UK will create 500-600 permanent jobs.
Prospect represents 15,000 engineers and scientists in the nuclear industry.


Unprotected electrical system inside a turbine can be damaged as a result of direct lightning strikes on the turbine. To protect against damage and loss of production as a result of a lightning strike, ABB protection products are used throughout the turbine.
ABB’s surge protection devices (SPD) protect systems throughout the turbine from direct lightning strikes, both Type 1 and Type 2. ABB’s SPD’s also protect from switching impulse current.
− From 24 V to 690 V electrical systems
− Provides equipment protection
− Reduces downtime resulting from equipment reset
− Helps prevent damage due to over voltage and impulse currents


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Online casinos offer an excellent gambling experience with plenty of choices. One way that you could choose to play is by downloading the entire casino software to your device’s hard drive. But the other way is by playing the game directly on the server. This is known as Instant Play and it offers you many conveniences. As a matter of fact, while not every casino offers instant play, this option is becoming very popular these days. If you haven’t tried instant play gambling, then it’s a good idea to read on so that you can find out why it is gaining in use.
Why Bother Downloading Gaming Software?
Most people who opt for instant play casinos do so because the casinos they like to play on have very bulky software. In fact, some of the best casinos have hundreds of slots and casino games in addition to extra stuff comprising of tutorials, blog, loyalty club information, and bonus offers, and saving the entire thing to your device’s hard drive can take up a lot of space. If you don’t want to overload your machine and can do without all the extra information then it is best to avoid downloading the gaming software. You’d be better off playing flash or instant play.
Instant Play and Security Issues
It’s very important to be conscious of online security when you gamble on the internet. Therefore, you should be aware that you can infect your computer simply by downloading software from a risky site. Since you’ll be gambling with money and providing your banking and financial details to the site, you need to be careful about the software you download. Of course, this won’t be an issue with high-quality casinos because they make use of encryption software and other safety measures.
Instant Play Offer Excellent Flash Gaming Options
There was a time when people did not like gambling directly on their browsers because of the poor performance of the software, especially with regards to the graphics. Furthermore, many casinos did not even offer most of their games to be played on the instant play platform. However, it’s quite different these days and flash gaming is really very exciting. The best online casinos in the industry have realized that there is an immense demand for flash gaming and therefore they offer a wide range of games for instant play and that too with excellent graphics.
What to Watch Out For in Instant Play Games
Not every gaming site works in the same way, and some of them do not have high-quality software to support their operations. In case the supporting software is not good enough then the games will not play properly on your computer. Besides, your computer’s hard drive will be so full that it will begin to work slowly. Keep in mind that you’ll have to download lots of other software depending on what you use your computer for. Therefore, if insufficient memory is a problem then instant play will work best for you.
Opt For Fast and Instant Play
If you like switching from one site to another, perhaps on account of the bonus offers that could come your way, then downloading software might be too much of a commitment. Instant play permits you to move from one site to another. You don’t need to bother downloading the software and removing it when you are done. If you, just like an increasing number of online gamblers, like to play using your mobile phone then this is another reason to play using your browser since mobile gaming sites offer fast and easy games. Irrespective of whether you play via download or browser make sure that you choose a reliable casino.

domain: entertainment


Researchers have discovered around 45,000 instances of Jenkins servers that are exposed online, making them susceptible to the critical remote code execution (RCE) flaw, CVE-2023-23897. Jenkins is a prominent open-source automation server that developers use to streamline processes such as building, testing, and deploying. It supports a wide range of plugins and caters to organizations of all sizes and types.
On January 24, 2024, Jenkins released versions 2.442 and LTS 2.426.3 to address CVE-2023-23897, a vulnerability that allows arbitrary file reading and can lead to the execution of arbitrary command-line interface (CLI) commands. The flaw stems from a CLI feature that replaces an @ character followed by a file path with the file's content. This feature, which is enabled by default, can be exploited by attackers to read arbitrary files on the Jenkins controller's file system. Depending on their permissions, attackers could potentially access sensitive information, including the first few lines or even entire files.
As per the security bulletin released by the software vendor, unpatched instances of Jenkins are exposed to potential attacks, including RCE, by manipulating Resource Root URLs, 'Remember me' cookies, or CSRF protection bypass. Depending on the configuration of the instance, attackers could decrypt stored secrets, delete items from Jenkins servers, and download Java heap dumps.
Security researchers have warned of multiple working exploits for CVE-2023-23897, significantly increasing the risk for unpatched Jenkins servers and the likelihood of exploitation in the wild. Researchers monitoring Jenkins honeypots have observed activities that appear to be genuine attempts at exploitation, but there is no conclusive evidence yet.
Threat monitoring service Shadowserver reported that its scanners have detected approximately 45,000 unpatched Jenkins instances, suggesting a vast attack surface. The majority of these vulnerable instances exposed on the internet are located in China (12,000) and the United States (11,830), followed by Germany (3,060), India (2,681), France (1,431), and the UK (1,029).
Shadowserver's statistics serve as a stark warning to Jenkins administrators. It is highly probable that hackers are already scanning for potential targets, and successful exploitation of CVE-2023-23897 could have severe consequences. Users who are unable to immediately apply the available security updates should refer to the Jenkins security bulletin for mitigation recommendations and potential workarounds.


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A judge has accused Northern Ireland Water of having an attitude of "extraordinary complacency" for the time it took to react to a major sewage pollution incident.
Judge Philip Babington made the comment as he fined the company £40,000 for a spillage from its waste water treatment works into the Moyola River at Maghera Road in Tobermore.
The discharge, which contained noxious, poisonous and polluting matter, continued for almost 17 hours after the alarm was first raised on the morning of February 15 of last year. Previous pollution cases involving NI Water, which is effectively owned by the Department for Infrastructure, were dealt with at Magistrates Court level, but this was the first time the company had been prosecuted in the Crown Court.
The company's director of customer service delivery Sean McAleese stood in the dock as Judge Babington described the company's response to the spillage as inexcusable.
"One can only conclude that the attitude of those who dealt with this matter was one of extraordinary complacency on this occasion," Judge Babington said.
He added: "The environment in which we live is a precious heritage and it is incumbent on the present generation, including the courts, to play a part in preserving it for the future."
Judge Babington said although there was no fish kill in this case, the aquatic life of the river was endangered and samples taken were 142 times greater than an EU directive limit for poor water quality.
He said an aggravating factor in the offence, which the company admitted, was its poor previous record for similar offences.
Imposing the fine of £40,000, Judge Babington said he had fixed the amount "to bring the necessary message home to the particular defendant in order to deter future breaches".
In the wake of the verdict, NI Water said the company viewed its responsibility to the environment with the utmost seriousness, having invested £500m in the network over the last three years towards "helping make our rivers and beaches the cleanest that they have ever been".
It added: "Unfortunately, on this occasion, we failed to maintain the highly exacting standards that we set ourselves and we have already begun the process of implementing lessons learnt (from the case).
"A full survey and investigation of the drainage system at this site has been conducted and remedial actions to mitigate the risk of such an occurrence arising in the future are being put in place.
"It should be noted NI Water treats 340m litres of waste water every day through a network which comprises over 15,000 kilometres of pipes and more than 1,000 wastewater treatment works."

domain: news


NEWS & ADVICE
Articles from RotoWire's fantasy archives that mention Ilya Bryzgalov's name.
January 11, 2016
Ice and Fire: Hockey-Tonk
Dan Pennucci likes the change of scenery for Ryan Johansen in Nashville and is impressed with the surprisingly strong work Louis Domingue has been doing in Arizona with Mike Smith injured.
December 3, 2015
Thursday Daily Puck: Stars Not Game
The All-Star Game is pointless so why not embrace its pointlessness even more?
February 14, 2015
Sunday Daily Puck: Fallen Star
Tyler Seguin is down for the next three to six weeks with a lower body injury. What will the Stars do to replace him? What should fantasy owners do?
February 12, 2015
From the Press Box: Value in the Crease
Paul Bruno explains why we could have a goalie win the Hart Memorial Trophy this season.
February 10, 2015
FanDuel NHL: Value Plays for the Week
Michael Clifford dives into some FanDuel value plays, including the Ducks' goalie of the future being the goalie of right now.
February 6, 2015
Friday Daily Puck: Pretty Ducky
Anaheim's 5-2 win against Nashville vaulted them to the top of the league. Are they really the league's best team?
January 29, 2015
Friday Daily Puck: Everything's Coming Up Clendening
The world has ended and the Canucks have consummated a trade with the Blackhawks. Can Clendening fill in for Bieksa?
December 27, 2014
Sunday Daily Puck: It's The Fall That Will Kill You
The Saturday Daily Puck looked at the teams that improved the most since last year, so now take a look at the teams that declines the most.
December 19, 2014
Friday Daily Puck: Not The Good Kind of Blues
The Blues blew a 3-0 lead Thursday night against the Kings, which begs the question - are they good enough to win the Cup?
December 7, 2014
NHL Schedule Analysis: Not Missing A Beat
Even with Corey Crawford injured, the Blackhawks have six in a row.
December 4, 2014
Thursday Daily Puck: Funny Bryzness
Martin Brodeur and Ilya Bryzgalov are back, but are they really worth a look in your league? Plus, why do you still have Yakupov and Lecavalier on your team?!
October 3, 2014
Darryl's Dispatch: Draft Day Strategy
Tuukka Rask tops Darryl Houston Smith's goalie chart, one that goes a whopping 80-deep.
May 7, 2014
In his final FanDuel column of the season, Michael Clifford touts the Ducks' Jonas Hiller as his top goalie option for GPP lineups.
May 1, 2014
From The Press Box: The Quick and The Ducks
Paul Bruno expects the Kings to prevail over the Ducks in 7.
Neutral Zone Wrap: Second Round Preview
Evan Berofsky believes that the second round will be Tuukka Time in an Original Six matchup against the Habs.
FanDuel NHL: Value Plays for the Second Round
Minnesota's Charlie Coyle figures to match up against Chicago's third line in their upcoming series, making him one of Michael Clifford's top FanDuel value buys in the second round.
April 21, 2014
After David Backes fell victim to injury in Game 2, Patrik Berglund could be one of the week's better value plays, with top-line minutes headed his way.
April 17, 2014
Morning Skate: Bear Season
Both Dan Pennucci and Janet Eagleson have Zdeno Chara and Boston winning The Cup
April 16, 2014
From the Press Box: First Round Preview
Paul Bruno laments that the Kings and the Sharks have to meet up in the first round of the playoffs, and he predicts each of the first round series.
April 14, 2014
NHL Barometer: An Unlikely Champ?
RotoWire's Jan Levine lays out his playoff scenarios in advance of his playoffs player rankings. Will Gabriel Landeskog be hoisting the Conn Smythe at the end of the Cup Finals?
April 12, 2014
Sunday Daily Puck: It's Curtains
As the regular season draws to a close on Sunday, there are still some questions left unanswered.
April 10, 2014
Thursday Daily Puck: Back In Black
Kris Letang is back for the Pens, Horton scores without playing, and the case is made for Erik Haula.
April 8, 2014
Tuesday Daily Puck: Mr. Universe Is Back
April 6, 2014
NHL Schedule Analysis: Going Out With a Bang
Ryan Suter and the Wild have four games this week, one of 20 teams to have that many games.
April 5, 2014
Saturday Daily Puck: Captain Serious-ly Missing
The Blackhawks shut down Jonathan Toews for the rest of the regular season. What does this mean for the defending champs?
April 3, 2014
Thursday Daily Puck: Harding Practices Again
Josh Harding returns to the lineup, Corey Perry is made of magic, and both the Coyotes and the Maple Leafs need to get it together.
March 31, 2014
NHL Schedule Analysis: Sweet Schedule In Anaheim
Jonas Hiller and the Ducks should have smooth sailing down the stretch.
March 18, 2014
Tuesday Daily Puck: Broadway Blues
Martin St. Louis has just two points -- and no goals -- in seven games since joining the Rangers at the trade deadline.
March 16, 2014
NHL Schedule Analysis: Fives Are Wild
Ryan Suter and the Wild have five games this week, but how do those games look for fantasy production?
March 15, 2014
The Waiver Wire: Wild Week Ahead
With five games this week, Minnesota Wild players dominate our recommendations in this weeks' Waiver Wire.
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It’s nearly impossible to make it through a day in this constantly connected world without hearing about Twitter. The microblogging site is all the rage these days, and now it seems that everybody’s social media BFF—along with its cohort Facebook—is a crime fighter as well.
Turns out the cyber community helped track down Lance Armstrong’s time trail bike after it was nabbed from the Astana team truck earlier this week during the Tour of California.
Armstrong broke the news about the theft in a tweet to his 140,000 followers on Sunday: “Whoa! They just came to my room and said our truck was broken into and someone stole my time trial bike! Wtf?!? APB out to the twitterati.” (Yes, you’ll now want to enter twitterati into your expanding new media vocab)
Four days later, after a Facebook group called “1 Million Citizens Looking for Lance Armstrong’s Stolen Bike” (incidentally the group had about 1,200 members) popped up, the bike was on its way back to Armstrong.
Probably not, admitted the Sacramento P.D., which investigated the heist.
Sgt. Norm Loeng told the UK’s Telegraph: “All the technology involved really kept the story alive and moving. It was clear that most of the people in the community were looking for this bike. It makes it hard to transport the thing; you can’t ride it or sell it because it is that hot of an item.”
Granted, Lance’s Trek is one-of-kind and even without all the online love, it would’ve been pretty tough for the thief to sell it, but you got to think the buzz on Twitter and Facebook played a big role in getting the word out, especially when the word came from the man himself.
Kinda cool, but I’m guessing I can’t expect the same results if my bike gets lifted.
By the way, Lance was back on the web on Wednesday to tell his Twitter crowd that the bike had been recovered. The Twitter folks must love all this free pub!


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Tuesday, March 29, 2016
Music Theory Lesson Resources
Use these resources to teach your students music theory.
Music Theory Resources
How to make a minor scale
Intervals from famous songs
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domain: artistic


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Railing decorative panels are available in numerous designs. New Vogue Panel shown in this style of balustrade, can be powder coated to an suit existing colour scheme. With the option of internal or external placement, this eye catching balustrade design will be a positive addition to any home.
Aluminium privacy slat screens are a practical and secure addition to your home. This design can be used for side gates, fixed panels, free standing panels, in any area of your home that requires a stylish soft barrier. Again this design can be modified by the customer, perhaps with a wider slat or larger spacing… Read more
A softening wave top design, betwwen the two top rails of this balustrade, creates a flow on effect throughout the installed product. This style of balustrade creates an impact where ever it is installed. Displayed in the powder coating colour of Primrose, with an extensive colour choice available.


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Poll of the Day
Kingdom Hearts χ NewsTweets by @KH13chi
Featured ContentTweets by @KH13community
Recent Status Updates
Finished watching Guilty Crown today. It definitely will be one of my favorite anime :)
Anyone else notice that the keyhole on the Clock Tower in Neverland in KH1 is on the 13th minute increment? https://media.discordapp.net/attachments/363299919584428032/389279990694543371/Screenshot_2017-12-09-23-54-36.pngShow comments (2)
Kingdom Hearts manga series available digitally at select retailers
According to KHInsider, the manga were formerly available for purchase at Amazon Kindle, Google Play, Book Walker, and Kobo as well. It is unknown if the Kindle version of the manga volumes will be available for purchase again soon.
The Kingdom Hearts manga series is a comic book adaptation of the video-game by artist Shiro Amano, with the final volume of the English Kingdom Hearts II manga coming out on May 23rd, 2017. The video-game has also been adapted into a series of light novels by Tomoco Kanemaki; Yen Press has in fact recently announced the future localization of the novels for Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days, Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep, and Kingdom Hearts II Vol. 1 & 2.
Will you be purchasing the digital versions of the Kingdom Hearts manga? Let us know in the comments!

domain: hobby


text:
Oduro Bright Amoh
Kiss From A Distant Love
The grass is greener where I squat,
My heart is bluer too.
Amidst the quietude of my yearning heart,
Silence whispers a thousand words.
Alone below with stars above, I squat and stare
but my mind has travelled far,
Seeking a kiss from a distant love.
Oh how I wish this were here
To bring to reality a dreamy kiss
And put inside this body
The warmth that occupies my mind.
My head is bowed, I will not cry.
Yet those lonely tears are falling.
The longing is here, but it is far away
The dream is real, the reality remains a dream.
When will that day be?
When the silence shall see a smile,
And the lips so dry shall be wet again
By the very lips I sit here dreaming of?
On this romantic spot I squat alone and stare alone
Longing for the kiss from a distant love.
Oduro Bright Amoh's Other Poems
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Importance of Reversed Mortgages.
For cash-strapped retirees or those searching for a second source of salary a reverse mortgage credit can be the best approach to accomplish their objectives. The number of people securing this type of loan has increased in the recent past have increased because there no costs related to the loan. However, expanded control in a previous couple of years has made it a considerably more practical alternative for lots of mortgage holders. This article highlights some of the advantages of reversed mortgages for seniors.
The first advantage of reversed mortgage is that it allows homeowners to have quick access to cash. It is important to note that many people consider saving part of their income today to help them live a successful life after they retire. Despite making savings during working days, many people tend to lack cash when they retire. As clearly shown by research studies, individuals rarely save enough money to help them sustain themselves after they retire. Many families rarely have any savings. It is therefore important to use the reverse mortgage as a source of income especially for individuals who have equity homes.
The second advantage of reversed mortgage is that there is no mortgage payment needed. Since there is no mortgage loan installment from the reverse mortgage advance, the cash acquired can be utilized to pay down debt, dispose of other reoccurring installments and upgrade the way of life of the borrower.
Reversed mortgage tends to improve the life of other retirement savings. It provides an individual with several options to obtain the cash. With the extra cash an individual makes from this scheme, they can use to travel and engage in activities they have always dreamed of doing. For many people approaching the retirement age, their biggest worry is to save for social security benefits. Tragically, numerous begin gathering Social Security at age sixty two, and in this way don’t get their full retirement advantage. This is because the benefits tend to grow as a person delays the tie period they take the social benefit loan. According to various reliable reports, the increased may be up to nine percent. It is important to note that delaying the social security benefit for the amounts to increase may not be a good decision especially to individuals who have a fixed salary and therefore they need to consider taking reverse mortgage loan.
In summary, reversed mortgage loan has many benefits as explained in the this article especially to individuals who are planning to retire and a good life.

domain: sociology


text:
Known as one of the fanciest neighborhoods in Mexico City, Polanco is an area where you can find (of course) excellent restaurants and bars, nightclubs and cantinas, numerous art galleries, theaters, shopping centers…
Guide, information, and tips to make your trip to Mexico a memorable experience. You will discover lots of unimaginable places you wouldn’t believe!
The Roma neighborhood in Mexico City is popularly known for the beautiful architecture of its houses and buildings, with styles that vary between art nouveau, eclectic or French, and many gourmet cafes decorated with great elegance and the best flavors.
Of indescribable beauty, the Baja California peninsula beaches are some of the most peculiar on the planet. Read more…
The grutas de Tolantongo is one of the natural wonders of the Mexican state of Hidalgo.
Playa Paraiso, in the Riviera Maya, is like heaven on Earth; tourists worldwide rank this beach as the best in Mexico and one of the best in the world.
Tuxtla Gutierrez is a city of unparalleled natural and cultural beauty, besides being the capital of the state of Chiapas in Mexico…
Las Nubes Waterfall is just another reason to fall in love with Chiapas, a place that will never cease to amaze you with its natural wonders.
Puerto Morelos is a coastal town in Quintana Roo, Mexico, that has not been invaded by mass tourism, despite being located between Cancun and Playa del Carmen.
The Baja Peninsula has access to two of the most productive ocean fisheries in the world. From big marlin to beautiful roosterfish, you will find some amazing opportunities with access by road or boat.
Visiting Bucerias in the Mexican State of Nayarit will be an experience full of entertaining moments.

domain: geography


text:
Get your copy of the 7th Annual State of Smart Manufacturing and hear from 300+ manufacturers in this new survey report!
I always welcome conversation about this statement – “ERP is much cheaper to run if I just own the software instead of renting it in the cloud.” It’s an opportunity to expose the true cost of legacy software ownership. TCO analysis is too often limited to comparing one-time license costs to ongoing subscription costs, ignoring more significant ‘ownership’ costs that add up. Without understanding true costs and overlooked opportunity costs, manufacturers only have a narrow TCO view.
Legacy ERP purchases involve large upfront capital costs with incremental increases as companies add users and modules. Added to that is an annual maintenance cost, typically 20-30% of the total value of the software which increases as the number of user licenses and modules increase. This means companies pay double for the software in four years or less – once up front and again in annual maintenance costs.
Then there is IT support headcount (database administrators, IT support), consultants for customizing software, IT infrastructure and equipment upgrades, rack space, power and cooling. IT has to provide redundant servers (backed up and upgraded regularly), install bugs and patches, and maintain software version control.
Upgrades take weeks if not months of planning, overtime, weekends, around the clock support, and downtime workarounds. Think of the costs involved in salaries and time away from peoples’ primary jobs, which legacy software vendors conveniently avoid in their TCO analysis. Multiply this cost and complexity by the number of locations requiring an upgrade.
Cloud ERP delivers a totally different model, eliminating the headaches of the past. Versionless (always current), subscription-based cloud ERP software includes all hardware and software maintenance, scale, data and system redundancy, transparent feature additions and uptime SLAs (Plex offers 99.9% reliability, for example). Plex uniquely includes unlimited users, enabling customers to add their partners, customers and additional employees at no added cost.
Companies neglect to consider opportunity costs – in this case the lost value when choosing legacy ERP over cloud ERP. Software loses value if it’s not routinely upgraded, and most manufacturers don’t upgrade with every new release, falling behind a few revisions. They miss out on any new features until that next upgrade, which could be years down the road.
Modern manufacturing also drives increasing amounts of data, which needs analysis in order to add value. Technical business and data analyst skills are in high demand, but manufacturers running legacy ERP are stuck spending most of their IT headcount budget on infrastructure and software support and maintenance, missing an opportunity to drive meaningful data-driven changes.
Native cloud ERP is versionless, adding constant value with real-time enhancements which manufacturers use immediately. Cloud ERP frees technical resources for use in more strategic data and business analyst roles, creating new processes and driving efficiencies. In fact, a recent Mint Jutras report showed that 93% of Plex customers do just that after moving to cloud ERP, redeploying staff to needed strategic positions. With no upgrades and no ERP hardware or software maintenance to manage, cloud ERP customers focus more resources on manufacturing and driving results.
One last benefit rarely accounted for. When all customers run on a single software version, they freely share best practices and tools through user communities which other customer can implement, gaining value from one another. Legacy ERP users often run many different software versions, often within the same company, limiting the ability to implement shared practices and tools.
When you think about your next ERP decision, make sure to weigh all costs – both obvious and hidden – before making a decision. Make sure each vendor accounts for all of the above in providing an accurate comparison.
Please also see our post, Debunking Cloud Myths – Security and Reliability.

domain: finance


29 September 2017 05:59PM
“From Russia With Love” with the Voxare Quartet, the third in the four-concert Leaf Peeper Concert Series, comes to Time & Space Limited in Hudson, NY, on Saturday, October 7. Performance time will be 7:30 p.m.
The Voxare Quartet has received critical praise for its inventive programming, technical prowess and passionate performances. In this unique mixed-media concert, the audience will view “Man with a Movie Camera,” Dziga Vertov’s 1929 Soviet Union-era film masterpiece, usually listed as the greatest documentary of all time, while Voxare will provide a “live” soundtrack, featuring music by Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Mosolov.
“I’ve had the pleasure of performing with the Voxare Quartet, and their energy, insight, and elegance always inspires me,” says Eugenia Zukerman, flutist and Leaf Peepers’ music director. “Erik Peterson, the violist of the quartet, will add entertaining commentary to the evening.”
With the long-held idea of accompanying a silent film with music, the Voxare Quartet were only able to realize their hopes when, as they relate: “We came across Vertov’s ‘Man with a Movie Camera’ and almost instantly knew that it was the perfect movie for us. It is one of few silent movies whose incredible visual energy (over 18,000 edits over the course of 66 minutes!) means it could stand as an equal partner to the music we would choose.”
Documenting urban scenes in Moscow and Ukraine, “Man with a Movie Camera” captures citizens from dawn to dusk in all aspects of life—mundane, athletic, dangerous, and breathtaking. Drawing on the feast of Soviet-era quartet music composed during the same time period as the film, Voxare has created a unique visual and sonic experience. The music includes quartets by Shostakovich, Prokofiev, and Mosolov.
“With rustic melodies made edgy through piquant harmonies, and in passages of turbulent mechanical chugging, the music neatly corresponded to Vertov’s jumpy barrage of images,” noted The New York Times.
“Breathtaking Baroque,” with flutist Eugenia Zukerman, harpsichordist Anthony Newman, oboist Stephen Tayler and bassoonist Peter Kolkay, will conclude the 2017 Leaf Peeper Concert Series on Saturday, October 21, 5 p.m. at Saint James Place in Great Barrington. This, the Annual Newell Jenkins Memorial Concert, will feature works by baroque masters, including Bach, Handel and Telemann.


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Social Security: By the Numbers
Here are five facts about Social Security that might surprise you.
Have A Question About This Topic?
Around the country, attitudes about retirement are shifting.
Lifestyle considerations in creating your retirement portfolio.
This calculator compares employee contributions to a Roth 401(k) and a traditional 401(k).

domain: economics


text:
Biotech Teams Up with Nanotech
Imagine swallowing a pill containing microscopic magnets. After these “magnetic nanoparticles” make their way to the stomach, they are absorbed into the bloodstream to uncover disease associated proteins and other molecules. Envision these tiny explorers relaying their findings to a band worn discretely on your wrist.
The potential to identify disease early with nanoparticles, rather than later with more conventional technologies, is a game changer. In fact, Google X’s (Mountain View, CA) life sciences arm announced this very vision last fall. While the details of the plan are not public knowledge, their goal is to make this type of nanotech available in five years.
Nanotechnology is defined as the understanding and control of matter at an extremely small scale, and pairing it with biotechnology makes for some powerful possibilities. In this WEEKLY we’ll take a look at a few applications a little less secretive than Google’s nanoscale disease detectives.
A 3D cancer vaccine released from nanomaterials is in the works at the Harvard Weiss Institute for Biological Engineering (Cambridge, MA). It builds upon the concept behind Dendreon’s (Seattle, Washington) personalized prostate cancer immunotherapy Provenge.
3D vaccines are micro-sized silica rods suspended in liquid, injected under the skin, and once inside, the rods reassemble into a three-dimensional structure. The silica rods contain nano-sized pores loaded with a combination of chemical messengers and antigens meant to attract and activate dendritic cells. The freshly activated dendritic cells diffuse out of the structure, circulate throughout the body, and alert the immune system when they encounter a hit (think cancer cell or pathogen).
3D vaccines can be quickly modified to target different disease antigens by simply changing the load in the nanopores of the silica rods—imagine that speed and flexibility during epidemics and pandemics. To date mice testing has shown significant delayed tumor growth.
MagForce’s (Berlin, Germany) NanoTherm is approved by the EMA to treat gliablastoma and sights are set on a future FDA approval. NanoTherm is a highly specific solid tumor treatment and is classified as a “ferrofluid”—a liquid that reacts to the presence of a magnetic field. The water contained iron oxide nanoparticles are the actual component of the therapy that reacts to the magnetic field.
NanoTherm is injected directly into a tumor and the location subjected to a magnetic field. Iron oxide nanoparticles convert the magnetic energy into heat, which is enough to either kill the tumor directly or to increase the tumor’s sensitivity to other treatments such as chemotherapy. MagForce is conducting clinical trials for prostate cancer in both the U.S. and E.U.
Cocktail Fodder: Tiny Doctors
A nanotechnology lecture given in 1959, called There’s Plenty of Room at the Bottom, may have very well spurred the idea of nanomedicine. The idea of swallowing a “tiny doctor” to work on individual cells in the body certainly brightened the eyes of science fiction writers at the time. Today, the roots of the field are credited to the lecturer—Nobel Prize winning physicist Richard Feynman.
Nanocombo: Particles and Antibodies
Another magnetic nanoparticle approach to treating cancer is in development at Bay Area biotech Accurexa. Instead of targeting solid tumors, their aim is to “mop up” circulating tumor cells (CTCs). CTCs are cancer cells splintered off from a tumor that circulate in the bloodstream and may lead to metastasis. Antibodies (specific to the CTCs) attached to magnetic nanoparticles are injected into a patient prior to surgery. The concept: the antibody locks onto the CTC and the magnetic nanoparticle reacts to a magnet and corrals the CTCs into one site. A magnetic field is exacted on the congregated nanoparticles, where heat destroys the CTCs. Plans are in the works for a clinical trial in breast cancer patients undergoing surgery.

domain: health


Letter to Parents 20/21 School Year
If you would like to apply for free or reduced price meals, you can do so at: www.lunchapplication.com.
The meal distribution hours are from: 4:30PM - 6:30PM.
Breakfasts and Lunches will be distributed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
(Tuesdays-2 days of meals Thursdays-3 days of meals)
All Schools have Meals Available.
If you're currently eligible for free or reduced priced meals for the 20/21 SY, there will be no charge for the meals.
If you're not currently eligible for free or reduced priced meals for the 20/21 SY, at this time, there is no charge for the meals, however there may be a charge for these meals at some point during the SY. You will be notified in advance if there is a change.


text: A new $110 million appropriation for teen pregnancy prevention and the Obama administration’s elimination of funds for abstinence-only education has revived what seems like a never-ending debate about how best to spend federal dollars to protect the sexual health and development of young people. Read more.Hey! Thanks for being a part of the Youth Today community. Can’t see the content you wish to view? Click here to become a subscriber and get access to all our subscriber only content, including our grant opportunities column.

domain: politics


Omnivision Technologies Inc. (Santa Clara, Calif.) has launched what it claims is the world’s smallest image sensor for eye and face tracking in AR/VR/MR and metaverse consumer devices.
The global shutter OG0TB has a package size of 1.64mm by 1.64mm and a 2.2-micron pixel in a 1/14.46-inch optical format (OF).
The CMOS image sensor features 400 by 400 pixel resolution and low power consumption making it suitable for battery-powered wearables, such as eye goggles and glasses. The OG0TB BSI GS image sensor consumes less than 7.2mW at 30 frames per second.
The market for AR/VR headsets grew 92.1 percent year over year in 2021, with shipments reaching 11.2 million units, according to Omnivision, which referenced market research firm International Data Corporation. Headset shipments are forecast to grow 46.9 percent year over year in 2022.
The sensor is built on the PureCel Plus-S stacked-die technology and has multiple interfaces, including MIPI with multi-drop, CPHY and SPI.
The OG0TB GS image sensor will be available for sampling in 3Q22 and in mass production in the 2H23.
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.


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The South as an American Problem: An Interview
Though perceptions of the South, and the South itself, have changed in the last two decades, it still remains isolated from "American" consciousness, culture, and economy specifically as a "problem." Don H. Doyle, Professor of History, and Larry J. Griffin, Professor of Sociology and Professor of Political Science, have organized the 1992/93 Fellows Program at the Robert Penn Warren Center for the Humanities around this notion of the "problem" South. They and their Vanderbilt colleagues from various disciplines, including English, law, economics, and political science, will spend the year at the Center holding weekly discussions and sponsoring lectures and colloquia investigating "The South as an American Problem." Letters recently spoke with professors Doyle and Griffin about the origins of the topic and what they anticipate in the coming year.
DOYLE: When Larry and I first met and started talking about a year-long interdisciplinary examination of the South, it was Larry who first came up with the idea of posing the South as "a problem." Together we cast that slightly differently by saying that it was an American problem, in other words, a problem that the United States had with this region within it. Then as we started talking about how the South has been a problem, our conversation unfolded in a combination of historical and thematic ways. For instance, the fact that the South once had a commitment to slavery and a certain system of labor posed a problem for Americans, and for Southerners as well. It was a specifically national problem in that it contradicted the basic commitments to liberalism, democracy, capitalism, and Christianity. We're interested in how the South as a problem gets defined by those outside the region, in particular but not exclusively, and then what kind of solutions they propose.
GRIFFIN: And we're interested in the defenses, that is, the reconceptualization by the South that it truly is not a problem. It's the natural order of things, or it's a function of misunderstanding. So there arises that kind of dialectic between problem and definition, problem defusing, and then solution and counter solution. This is an historical dynamic; it takes place through time, quite literally and not in an idealized sequence. There are collective understandings which are then fought against or more broadly disseminated, from which proposals for solutions emanate which are countered in the South, etc.
DOYLE: America's problem with the South, oversimplified as slavery, becomes the South's problem with America. The North's solution to the problem of slavery was to mount growing public opinion to persuade and then to legislate against it, first to restrict it and eventually to abolish it. The South's problem was to defend a vital institution, an economic institution but also a system of racial control. Their solution was to secede, to create a separate nation that would sanction this institution by law.
GRIFFIN: Which then created a problem for the Constitution.
DOYLE: So then you have another problem. Secession poses a problem for the United States, since according to some you cannot do that. So their definition of the problem was "this is rebellion, treason, and there is no legitimate Confederate States of America. This group has taken over the legitimate governments of South Carolina and other states and they must be defeated and the governments restored." So it was for the North a civil war instigated by rebels. The South's position, of course, was that this was a war between states that had a legitimate right to withdraw. With the war the South presents an obvious problem, as the cause of the war. That too has evolving solutions: the Emancipation Proclamation, and the escalating commitment to what becomes a total war. As you can see, this has been a kind of ongoing dialectic between North and South.
GRIFFIN: It really does play itself out, in fact so neatly that I'm personally afraid! It's too schematically neat. But still, the war, and slavery, was solved by Reconstruction, which Southerners then viewed as a problem which needed a solution. They thus acted on their perception of their interest to remove Reconstruction governments and military occupation, thereby creating a national problem, Jim Crow, which cried out for solutions, which created self-defenses, rationalities, and elaborate ideological justifications.
DOYLE: There is a sense too that the South as an American problem becomes a way of America defining its values, defining itself. So the South serves as what C. Vann Woodward calls an "American counterpoint," something that is the opposite, or counter to what America wants to be, or is, or sees itself as.
GRIFFIN: It also allows America a chance to funnel its own understanding of its darker side to the South. At least it did function that way for a very long time until the sixties, when it was very clear that this darker side was not specific to a region. You could almost date it: 1965, with regard to race, with the Watts Rebellion.
DOYLE: Also with busing and the huge white backlash in Boston, Detroit, and elsewhere in the North.
GRIFFIN: The de facto segregation of the North as opposed to the de jure segregation of the South, that is right. See, that is very interesting: the solution to America's problem with Jim Crow in the South was the emancipation, fully now, at least politically, of blacks. And thereby the problem of America vis a vis race was exposed. That is an interesting notion.
DOYLE: One strand of this dialectic after the Civil War remains focused on race relations. But then there are others that have a less continuous character. One is economic development. A number of us in the Fellows Program have an interest in the South as a problem in terms of economic development. The South remains a region that is notable for its poverty and for its lack of economic development within a prosperous industrial capitalist society. During the Depression, the South was identified as "America's number one economic problem."
GRIFFIN: And all these problems are very clearly related. The economic problem was part and parcel of the cause and consequence of the race problem and both in turn were deeply intertwined with the problem of politics: the one party South, disenfranchisement, the lack of effective political participation by the vast bulk even of whites in the South. They are all linked together in a very tightly interwoven nexus.
DOYLE: There is also this focus on the South, slightly different, as a region of not only economic poverty but of a poverty of the human condition. I was thinking of public health problems and educational backwardness. This is another aspect that was not as integrally related, but was a problem that intellectuals had in the South. Some of this is a problem that intellectuals in the South themselves define, that there was no place in the South from which the intellectual could criticize their society. It was instead a place from which intellectuals had to flee, go into exile.
LETTERS: You mentioned that in your proposal for the fellow's program.
GRIFFIN: It's absolutely true, many did. Some explicitly in order to criticize the South. With others it was more subtle, about economic opportunities, for example. And that is certainly continued right on through to today.
DOYLE: There is this theme that the South is a closed society that shuts out criticism. This goes back to Antebellum times win Hinton Rowan Halper was driven out of the South for proposing an end to slavery.
GRIFFIN: There is another great irony here. Many analysts of the South, both before W.J. Cash and after John Shelton Reed, emphasize that one of the very distinctive things about the South is its individualistic ethos. Southerners are highly individualistic, which is why we choose not to have big governments, why we don't like rules and regulations. And it is thought to explain partially our violence, our sense of frontier justice, etc. And yet, superimposed on that individualism, or undergirding it, is this really striking conformist ethic. So you can be individualistic as long as you conform to dominant norms and understandings.
LETTERS: Is this a Southern understanding of the South you are reviewing?
GRIFFIN: Well, it's certainly developed by Southerners, and I don't know how it is with popular discourse or consciousness. I think that there is a fair sense among many Southerners that "we are less apt to put up with petty rules and regulations." Think about George Wallace's 1968 and 1972 campaigns as a reflection of that.
DOYLE: Southerners do not look to the state in the same way that modern Americans outside the North are supposed to. So that strain of individualism comes thorough more than a family-centered or individual centered view of the world. One of the people who exemplifies the intolerance of the South, or who was a victim of it, was James Silver.
GRIFFIN: He was a history professor at "Old Miss" who basically had to leave.
DOYLE: He was a graduate student here at Vanderbilt. He became a critic of the existing racial order in Mississippi.
GRIFFIN: ...and at the University of Mississippi. Classrooms were being bugged by the administration to find out whether or not "atheistic communism" was being spread under the guise of modern race relations. And that was a generation ago. It was not the dark ages, at least chronologically.
DOYLE: Probably the Scopes trial was the best example of the intolerance of ideas which threaten in this case religious orthodoxy. And that was one of H. L. Mencken's targets as a benighted ignorant, but intolerant region. That would be a good example in which the South's intellectual intolerance became defined by outsiders as a problem.
LETTERS: Isn't there a way in which seeing this all as a problem almost prefigures what you are calling a dialectic, and prefigures that there has to be a solution? I'm thinking of Southern literature as a way of thinking outside that.
GRIFFIN: Yes, I totally agree with that. To me, that is a complete and direct consequence of everything we have been talking about. It's inconceivable that we would have had Faulkner anywhere but in the South.
DOYLE: Faulkner always seemed to thrive on being an alienated intellectual observer within a society and culture that did not fully appreciate him. There is a kind of perverse creativity that comes out of that. So you might say that too much acceptance might destroy something, so that it's not always a problem.
GRIFFIN: But he always came back from his alienation. He and other writers left for Hollywood, but always came back. Lots of people did that.
DOYLE: So somehow out of this "Sahara of the Bozart," as Mencken called the South, came a terrific amount of creativity, particularly in literature.
GRIFFIN: Even as the condemnations were being levied at the South, they were being contradicted in that very way.
DOYLE: I thought that Mencken inspired some of that! "We'll show him!" But I think his point was not that they were incapable, but it was not a culture or society that supported creativity. The Agrarians and the Fugitives were responding to some of that ridicule by cultivating something uniquely Southern. The poet Donald Davidson, who stayed here at Vanderbilt, was very interested in showing that only an agrarian society like the South could support artists who were really in connection with their society.
GRIFFIN: Sort of "organic" in a way that a mechanized, industrialized society could not have. That is a very old argument, one which monarchists and reactionaries, real reactionaries, have used for centuries.
LETTERS: What other problems are you taking up as American problems? Race, of course, and the civil rights movement...
GRIFFIN: Well, to a degree the nature of Southern politics. For an extremely long time there really was, with the exception of eastern Tennessee, just one party. That was a problem for the national Republican party, and it was certainly a problem for Southerners, even though many of them appeared to recognize it. And that too had its own kind of dialectic in terms of how national political processes responded to, modified, or adapted to the "solid South." There is an excellent book called The Vital South by Earl Black and Merle Black. They try and explain why it is that the South is now solidly Republican, more or less, with isolated pockets of Democratic support. We have seen a true transformation of the nature of politics in the South, from solidly Democratic to solidly Republican in a generation.
DOYLE: So the South has presented a problem to the national Democratic party, which had a deep tie and commitment to white and black support since the 1930s, and has had to cater to this divided constituency in the South. They keep coming up with Southern candidates who do not often play well in the North, and who themselves have to straddle this black and white constituency.
DOYLE: It's really been a national problem for the Democrats, but it's been the South, and the Democratic party's commitment to the civil rights movement and its aftermath, that has been a great boon to the Republican party.
GRIFFIN: That is Black and Black's point, that having the South solidly in the presidential Republican camp means that they need marginal support everywhere else, just a few states and they can pull it off. So the Democrats somehow have to work twice as hard everywhere else, because they can almost count on the South going Republican.
LETTERS: What do you see now, with the South in a period of economic growth, for example in Charlotte, Atlanta, or here in Nashville? Will the Fellows Group be considering contemporary issues in the South?
DOYLE: To a large extent, the changes that have swept over the South, outside of the political process that we were talking about, have ended the South's status as an American problem. I mean, we do not talk about the nation's number one economic problem, we talk about the "Sun Belt," while the "Rust Belt" is now the problem. And no Northerner or outsider would talk about the race problem as being a Southern problem. That illusion has been destroyed. John Egerton has a book called The Americanization of Dixie, with the subtitle The Southernization of America, in which he looks at things like the race problem. He shows that it was always present in the North. It was exported from the South to some extent, with the black migration, but the ethnic and racial tensions were always there. It was partly a matter of how the problem was perceived. So that idea of the South as a special problem for America has receded in the American mind in a lot of ways. I think this political problem we are talking about is still an issue.
GRIFFIN: And there is still cultural stereotyping of Southerners from the outside. Someone, I think Roy Blount, Jr., a Southerner living in Manhattan, wrote that no other ethnic group in America would be receiving the kinds of slurs that Southerners routinely do in polite conversation. So I do think there is still a perception of Southern backwardness and intolerance. But I think Don is right. It would be very naive to talk about "the South's" race problem these days.
LETTERS: I know people from Boston who have moved here and are relieved at the sense of racial harmony. It's relative, of course. Now, Professor Doyle, you grew up in the west?
DOYLE: Yes, the San Francisco Bay area.
GRIFFIN: I grew up in Mississippi. But this is my first year back in the South.
DOYLE: This is great, a Southern exile and a carpetbagger! So we can see it from all different angles, inside and out. And that is what this program is about. Not just to look at the South and its special characteristics, but to look at the South as a special problem for America....In the reality of contemporary America, the issues that define the South as a problemrace relations, economic underdevelopment, and the repression of intellectual and cultural lifethey do not define a national problem.
LETTERS: You mentioned a Southern Studies program in your proposal.
DOYLE: Yes, one of the legacies of this Fellows Program will be, we hope, an academic program at Vanderbilt where we would offer graduate students an interdisciplinary concentration in Southern Studies that would draw from diverse disciplines.
GRIFFIN: There is a fairly large number of faculty here, more here than there would be at other, even Southern, universities, whose teaching and research has focus on things Southern.
DOYLE: And they are in all corners of the University. Economics, the Law School, the Divinity School. At least since the time of the Agrarians, and earlier in the century, the South has been part of Vanderbilt's mission. I think of Edwin Mim's book The Advancing South. He was very much conscious of the South as a problem, and he wanted to transcend it. I always remember that in the aftermath of the Scopes trial, Chancellor Kirkland said that Vanderbilt's answer to the trial was to build more laboratories. They actually used the embarrassment and ridicule of the Scopes trial for a fundraising campaign in the North. The Agrarians, on the other hand, really this whole notion that the South was a problem by saying that the problem was the North; the South was an American problem because the industrial North was trying to destroy the agrarian South, and we must "take our stand" here and develop an alternative to urban, industrial society. This view was at the time an embarrassment to Vanderbilt, though you would never know it now. The Agrarians pulled together a large number of people at Vanderbilt who had an interest in the South.
GRIFFIN: Yes, people from political science, literature. I think even philosophy.
DOYLE: There were a lot of people who were Southerners, who thought a lot about the South, whose intellectual identity was shaped within this region.
GRIFFIN: Including Robert Penn Warren!
For more information, contact the Center's executive director, Mona C. Frederick.
[ RPW Center for the Humanities | About the Center | Visiting Fellowship Information | Howard Lecture Series | Seminars and Programs | Programs since 1987 ]
Created by Vanderbilt University Publications & Design.
Copyright © 1998, Vanderbilt University


text:
Ice Age Village Hack Tool v1.5
Discover Dino World! Buck, the hero from the third Ice Age movie, is back and invites you to join him in his underground world. Populate it with your favorite animals, as well as brand new dinosaur species!
√ Immerse yourself in the unique world of Ice Age!
√ Complete tons of missions with your beloved heroes
√ Play mini-games featuring Scrat, the mischievous squirrel
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Ice Age Village is free to play, but if you wish you can enrich your experience by purchasing game items with real money. You can disable in-app purchases by adjusting your device’s settings.
New hack tool version is here !
It’s tested and working fine with last
Ice Age Village version.
Works fine with iOS and Android devices

domain: game


text:
Ekzay Luzani , coming on the heels of his recently released single “NSOGBU“; once again shows his street cred as he drops yet another club/street banger in this fast tempo rap rendition he titles – “OKWA STREET” a track that takes you through the labyrinth of lyrics that will keep you dancing, nodding and reeling in excitement as you feel the intensity of the song cascading down your whole system.
OKWA STREET is a hot track that resumes on a rather racy tempo, filled with punch rhymes and dropped party style. I loved the energetic display that characterized the delivery, you could feel the sense of purpose coupled with the sheer strength, that defines the forceful personality of Ekzay Luzani.
And going by the lyrical dexterity he showcases in bars and rhymes, it becomes an established fact that he indeed is one of the hottest indigenous rappers currently blazing the trail as far as this industry is concerned. One other thing I loved about the song is the use of native beats, fused with contemporary tones and blended superbly with top notch lyrics and vocals that rock!
The track was produced by Kenny Brown who employed the signatory oriental gong- the ogene , to make this song quite unique, you could feel his deft touches and also applaud his subtle use of local beats to match the tempo of the song. So much kudos also goes to Ekzay who lived through the course of this song, ensuring that his rhyming pattern was in perfect sync with the beats and of course the vocals.
OKWA STREET is a track that sends our boy Ekzay Luzani on top of the lyrical food-chain , to rub shoulders with the high and mighty in the game, especially with the proliferation of MCs with no juice and flow making the rounds in the industry. So I urge y’all to go feel this hot track by downloading, sharing and of course dancing then singing in chorus with Ekzay Luzani:
“…ebelebe … okwa ina kwa ina…. ke ife ineme biko chanu uzo…”


text: Martin M. Winkler argues for a new approach to various creative affinities between ancient verbal and modern visual narratives. He examines screen adaptations of classical epic, tragedy, comedy, myth, and history, exploring, for example, how ancient rhetorical principles regarding the emotions apply to moving images and how Aristotle's perspective on thrilling plot-turns can recur on screen. He also interprets several popular films, such as 300 and Nero, and analyzes works by international directors, among them Pier Paolo Pasolini (Oedipus Rex, Medea), Jean Cocteau (The Testament of Orpheus), Mai Zetterling (The Girls), Lars von Trier (Medea), Arturo Ripstein (Such Is Life), John Ford (westerns), Alfred Hitchcock (Psycho), and Spike Lee (Chi-Raq). The book demonstrates the undiminished vitality of classical myth and literature in our visual media, as with screen portrayals of Helen of Troy. It is important for all classicists and scholars and students of film, literature, and history.

domain: library


text:
In the previous article Using your Histogram - Topside and Underwater, I
discussed using your histogram for getting optimal images. Digital SLR’s and some of the newer digital
compact cameras are capable of displaying separate histograms for each color channel - red, green and blue tones.
Your regular histogram is an average of each of these tones. It may not show a spike occuring in one of those
For underwater images, this can be very helpful. The red channel can guide you on your strobe power. The sun or
your strobe are the only things that provide the red light. Turn up your strobe, or get closer to your subject,
so the red channel just touches the right edge. If there is a spike, just power down or move your strobe back some.
The blue channel is a guide for your water exposure (in tropical waters). Here, slow down your shutter speed until
the blue channel just touches the right edge. We get a terrible cyan blue if we expose too far to the right, and it
can’t be fixed in Photoshop. This is a perfect example of where we can produce a perfect blue background in the
camera and not in the computer.
In macro photography, we are filling the frame with our subjects, and they come in an array of colors, so we
must use all three histograms. In macro, our strobes and aperture are the main players, so these are the adjustments
we need to make to get the most prominenet histogram to expose to the right.
For colder, darker, green waters, your green histogram will be your guide for proper exposure.
So, get out there and experiment, and you will find you will have more keepers with better tones – and you can
spend more time diving and doing photography. Take it from one who hates sitting in front of the computer on a
beautiful day – do whatever you can to minimize your time in Photoshop.


text:
My icon is one I took of my dog years ago.
My dog Dude’s face after I start to throttle my boat!!
This is our ten week old wiggle butt, Citra, taking a break from trying to heard the kitties
This is how she cooled herself down
Scared at the vet
Fonzi giving kisses to Fritz
Mr Darcy the Dachshund has been relearning to walk in hydrotherapy :)
my mom told me to put the dog to bed but didn’t specify which bed

domain: pet


text:
Sacred texts hold a significant place in various religious traditions around the world. These texts are revered as divine revelations and are considered to contain profound spiritual wisdom. While they may differ in content and context, sacred texts share a common thread – they offer spiritual dimensions that transcend their literal meanings. Exploring the spiritual dimensions of sacred texts can provide valuable insights into the beliefs, practices, and teachings of different religions. In this comprehensive guide, we will delve into the spiritual dimensions of sacred texts, examining their symbolism, allegorical interpretations, moral teachings, and transformative power.
The Symbolism of Sacred Texts
Sacred texts often employ symbolism to convey deeper spiritual truths. Symbolism allows for layers of meaning beyond the literal interpretation of the text. For example, in the Bible, the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden is often interpreted symbolically as an allegory for the human experience of temptation, sin, and redemption. Similarly, the lotus flower in Hindu scriptures symbolizes purity and spiritual enlightenment. By understanding the symbolism within sacred texts, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the spiritual messages they convey.
Examples of Symbolism in Sacred Texts:
- The Cross in Christianity symbolizes sacrifice, redemption, and resurrection.
- The Yin and Yang symbol in Taoism represents the balance of opposing forces in the universe.
- The Star of David in Judaism symbolizes the connection between God and humanity.
- The Om symbol in Hinduism represents the ultimate reality and the sound of the universe.
Many sacred texts contain allegorical passages that require interpretation beyond their literal meaning. Allegory is a literary device used to convey abstract ideas through symbolic characters, events, or settings. By exploring the allegorical interpretations of sacred texts, we can uncover deeper spiritual truths and moral lessons. For instance, the parables of Jesus in the New Testament are often understood as allegories that teach moral and spiritual principles. The story of the Good Samaritan, for example, is interpreted as an allegory for compassion and the importance of helping others.
Allegorical Interpretations in Sacred Texts:
- The Bhagavad Gita in Hinduism is interpreted allegorically as a dialogue between the individual soul and the universal consciousness.
- The story of the Exodus in the Bible is seen as an allegory for liberation from bondage and the journey towards spiritual freedom.
- The story of the Buddha’s enlightenment in Buddhism is understood as an allegory for the awakening of the mind and the realization of ultimate truth.
- The story of the Prophet Muhammad’s night journey in Islam is interpreted allegorically as a spiritual ascent and communion with God.
Moral Teachings and Ethical Guidance
Sacred texts often provide moral teachings and ethical guidance to their followers. These teachings serve as a compass for leading a virtuous and righteous life. They offer insights into how to navigate ethical dilemmas, cultivate virtues, and foster harmonious relationships with others. For example, the Ten Commandments in Judaism and Christianity provide a moral framework for adherents to follow, emphasizing principles such as honesty, respect for others, and the sanctity of life. By studying the moral teachings within sacred texts, individuals can gain wisdom and guidance for their own ethical decision-making.
Moral Teachings in Sacred Texts:
- The Five Precepts in Buddhism guide followers to abstain from harming living beings, stealing, engaging in sexual misconduct, lying, and consuming intoxicants.
- The Quran in Islam provides guidance on various ethical issues, including justice, compassion, honesty, and the importance of fulfilling one’s obligations.
- The Tao Te Ching in Taoism offers teachings on living in harmony with the Tao, emphasizing virtues such as humility, simplicity, and non-attachment.
- The Guru Granth Sahib in Sikhism promotes equality, social justice, and the importance of selfless service to others.
The Transformative Power of Sacred Texts
Sacred texts have the potential to transform individuals and communities. They offer spiritual guidance, inspire devotion, and provide a source of solace and comfort. By engaging with sacred texts, individuals can deepen their understanding of their faith, strengthen their connection with the divine, and experience personal growth. For example, the recitation of mantras from the vedas in Hinduism is believed to have transformative effects on the mind and spirit. Similarly, the daily reading of the Bible and reflection on its teachings is a common practice among Christians seeking spiritual transformation.
Examples of the Transformative Power of Sacred Texts:
- The practice of reciting the Quran in Islam is believed to bring spiritual blessings and purification of the soul.
- The chanting of sutras in Buddhism is considered a means of attaining enlightenment and cultivating mindfulness.
- The study of the Torah in Judaism is seen as a way to deepen one’s knowledge of God’s commandments and strengthen one’s relationship with the divine.
- The reading of the Guru Granth Sahib in Sikhism is believed to bring spiritual enlightenment and guidance for living a righteous life.
Sacred texts hold profound spiritual dimensions that transcend their literal meanings. By exploring the symbolism, allegorical interpretations, moral teachings, and transformative power within these texts, individuals can gain valuable insights into the spiritual wisdom of different religious traditions. Whether it is through understanding the symbolism of the Cross in Christianity, interpreting the allegorical teachings of the Bhagavad Gita in Hinduism, or seeking moral guidance from the Quran in Islam, sacred texts offer a wealth of spiritual knowledge and guidance. Engaging with these texts can lead to personal growth, deepen one’s connection with the divine, and foster a greater understanding of the spiritual dimensions of life.


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text:
Over the last two months, Democrat state Rep. Sonya Williams-Barnes has pursued multiple unsuccessful challenges on the residency status of her fellow Democrat opponent in the District 119 election, Jeffery Hulum III. Hulum served on active duty until late 2017 before being discharged on 100% disability.
On April 15, a judge in Hinds County Circuit Court finally ruled in favor of Mr. Hulum, who was not represented, and against Williams-Barnes, represented by former state representative and Democrat party insider Brandon Jones. The claims, that Hulum didn’t meet the two year residency requirement due to his active duty commitments.
Rep. Williams-Barnes filed her first petition on March 7 with the Mississippi Democratic Party Executive Committee, they voted 4-3 in Hulum’s favor. Then the Mississippi Democratic Elections Committee held a hearing on the petition, ruling 32-2 in Hulum’s favor. The committee then certified Hulum to run. Williams-Barnes appealed the ruling, taking the decision to court.
Judge Larry Roberts with the Mississippi Supreme Court was then assigned to the case. According to court transcripts filed this week, he also ruled in favor of Mr. Hulum.
You can view the court transcripts here:
According the the transcripts and a conversation with Mr. Hulum, for the last 22 years he has been serving in the United States Armed Forces. He served from February 1996 until February 2018. After retiring from service he returned to Gulfport where he was born and raised.
“I wanted to do something good for my community so I decided to run,” said Hulum. “The power of God prevailed and we won’t the court case.”
Transcripts from court also show that the judge was presented with facts that on January 24 of 2018 the Army delivered Mr. Hulum’s belongings to a Gulfport residence. This gave the Judge a “strong indication” that this was his home.
From the transcripts of the Judge Roberts speaking:
When asked if she would appeal the decision from Judge Roberts, Williams-Barnes said:
“I am respecting the Judge’s decision and am excited about meeting Hulum on the campaign trail.”
Below is the petition for Judicial Review:


Large-scale atmospheric conditions during DEEPWAVE-NZ
Abstract:The field phase of DEEPWAVE-NZ (DEEP propagating gravity WAVE experiment
over New Zealand) was conducted in June and July 2014. Key instruments
were the NSF/NCAR GV and the DLR Falcon research aircraft, a suite of
ground-based instruments provided by various international partners
(e.g. NCAR's Integrated Sounding Station, DLR's Raman lidar, University
of Utah's Advanced Mesospheric Temperature Mapper and Airglow Imager, ..)
and satellite sensors as the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS).
During DEEPWAVE-NZ operational forecasts of the ECMWF's integrated
forecast system (IFS) were used to provide guidance for planning the
research flights of NSF/NCAR GV and the DLR Falcon during intense
observing periods (IOPs). The IFS has 137 vertical hybrid levels,
a model top at 0.01 hPa and a horizontal resolution of about 16 km
globally. For certain cases, an astonishing agreement was noticed between
the forecasted wave events in the upper atmosphere and observations.
Here, operational ECMWF analyses and forecasts are used to characterize
the atmospheric state from the Earth's surface to the mesosphere during the
DEEPWAVE field campaign. Special focus of the presentations is put on the
atmospheric conditions conducive to deep gravity wave propagation from
various sources as the flow across the Southern Alps, coupled jet-front
systems and the polar night jet. Furthermore, resolved gravity waves will
be analysed and compared with observations as aircraft flight level data,
radiosondes and ground-based lidar measurements.