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A step yet further into the deadpan weird from Yorgos Lanthimos. A deep analysis of Psycho’s shower scene. A re-release of Satoshi Kon’s trippy anime horror.
Yes, here's this week's new releases. Click on for our reviews of The Killing of a Sacred Deer, Murder on the Orient Express, 78/52, Thelma, Perfect Blue, The Shining, Ferrari: Race to Immortality, Rise of the Footsoldier: The Pat Tate Story, The Silence of the Lambs, Sorcerer, The Stolen, and A Bad Moms Christmas.
If you’ve seen Dogtooth (2009) or The Lobster (2015), you’ll know that mere prosaic plausibility doesn’t bother Yorgos Lanthimos too much. And his latest film pushes the boundaries of bizarre yet further. Colin Farrell, in his second film for the Greek-born director (following The Lobster), plays Steven Murphy, a successful Cincinnati surgeon.
Murphy seems to have an ideal family life – a lovely wife, Anna (Nicole Kidman), plus two bright kids, Kim (Raffey Cassidy) and Bob (Sunny Suljic) – even if they do all address each other in oddly stilted, near-robotic tones.
But he also has a mysterious relationship with a saturnine 16-yearold, Martin (Dunkirk’s Barry Keoghan), whom he meets in scruffy downtown diners and lavishes with expensive gifts. So who is Martin – Steven’s toyboy? Oh, nothing as straightforward as that. Seems Martin’s dad died on the operating table and Steven feels responsible.
Crossing Sophie’s Choice with Cape Fear, and turning up the chill factor several notches, Killing met with boos no less than cheers at Cannes, where it shared the Best Screenplay prize with You Were Never Really Here. Easy to understand the mixed response; Lanthimos doesn’t do likeable, and nor do his characters. Least of all Steven, who often seems like he’s had his social conscience surgically excised. This is a man whose idea of party chat is, “Our daughter started menstruating last week,” and who, when his hospitalised son refuses food, threatens to make him eat his shaved-off hair.
Conversation, even at moments of high tension, meanders around inconsequential subjects – whether a metal watch-strap is better than a leather one, or ways of eating spaghetti. Lanthimos lets his camera track slowly in and out, fixing scenes with its cool clinical gaze, while on the soundtrack, modernistic pieces by the likes of Kubrick favourite György Ligeti clash and shudder.
Oh, and that title? It’s a reference to Greek mythology: after Agamemnon killed a deer belonging to Artemis, the goddess made him atone by sacrificing his daughter Iphigenia.
THE VERDICT: A step yet further into the deadpan weird from Yorgos Lanthimos. Disturbing and often distressing, but compulsively watchable.
In 1934, Agatha Christie stoked up a standard locked-room mystery by setting it on the titular steam locomotive as it hurtles from Istanbul to Calais. Four decades on, Kenneth Branagh finds interesting ways to grease the wheels of this new take on the oft-filmed novel.
The plot, though, essentially remains the same. Legendary Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (Branagh) accompanies his stupendous moustache aboard the famous train to join a throng of colourful characters: Princess Dragomiroff (Judi Dench); businessman Samuel Edward Ratchett (Johnny Depp) and his assistant Hector MacQueen (Josh Gad); widow Mrs. Hubbard (Michelle Pfeiffer); Professor Gerhard Hardman (Willem Dafoe); missionary Pilar Estravados (Penélope Cruz); Dr. Arbuthnot (Leslie Odom Jr.); butler Edward Masterman (Derek Jacobi); maid Hildegarde Schmidt (Olivia Colman); car salesman Marquez (Manuel Garcia-Rulfo); Count and Countess Andrenyi (Sergei Polunin, Lucy Boynton); and governess Mary Debenham (Daisy Ridley).
With nowhere to go – the train totters upon a towering trestle, derailed by a mini-avalanche – the scene is set for a handsomely old-fashioned whodunit full of larger-than-life characterisation, deep-buried secrets and devilish deduction. One by one Poirot interrogates his fellow travellers, sifting through their obfuscatory answers and a fistful of hard clues to piece together a startling revelation.
Shooting in 65mm, Branagh delivers all of the eye-saucering exteriors you’d expect, as mountaintops soar, sunlight glints at the end of tunnels and stations snuggle under a duvet of blue snow. More pleasing still is how well the format adapts to the cramped confines of the locomotive – elegant tracking shots navigate the space smoothly, the discovery of the murder scene is shot from above à la Hitchcock or De Palma, and close-ups perform keyhole surgery through every pore to scrutinise souls.
The script, by Blade Runner 2049’s Michael Green, throws in a few mischievous surprises and works hard to make Christie’s novel relevant to our troubled times as our protagonists’ dalliance with death brings out tensions and prejudices. Branagh’s take on Poirot allows room for fear, uncertainty and lost love, and duality is frequently suggested via reflections in glass and chrome – a technique overused in movies, no doubt, but one befitting such a classic narrative.
For all the fun, adventure and IMAX-sized images on display, there’s a whiff of Sunday-afternoon telly about Branagh’s reboot. Still, it can’t hurt that the on-form cast rivals the star power of Sidney Lumet’s 1974 ensemble, and a playful coda sets up a sequel. Might Poirot be pitching his wits against Avengers, Jedi and the Fast and the Furious family for years to come?
“These days, you’re lucky if you have one day to kill someone,” joshes Hardware (1990) director Richard Stanley, marvelling at the week Hitchcock spent shooting the shower scene in 1960’s Psycho. Director Alexandre O. Philippe (Doc of the Dead) devotes a film to Janet Leigh’s personal-hygiene hell in a splendidly geeky docu-tribute, turning what could have been a decent disc extra into a lively, loving case for Psycho’s perfect-storm impact.
Proof of genuine Psycho-love shows in the quality of commentators, ranging from Leigh’s body double to biographers, critics, stars, directors and beyond. If historical context is somewhat broadly set, film-centric developments focus Philippe’s pitch. Guillermo del Toro honours Psycho’s assault on director/audience trust; others note Hitch’s competitive urge to penetrate film history.
His pan oh-so dead, Hitchcock called the scene “a big joke”. But his attention to detail suggests he wasn’t kidding – and close study unpicks how the scene’s 78 setups and 52 cuts lock tight with surrounding material to pack an iconic punch. Melons, music, the minutiae of Anthony Perkins’ lead and the male gaze number among other themes warmly explored. A montage of copycat clips, meanwhile, makes this clear: Hitch’s cruellest cut is the kill that keeps on killing.
THE VERDICT: Does for Norman’s place what Room 237 did for the Overlook: reopens old haunts for welcome re-investigation.
Telekinesis and tenderness merge in Joachim Trier’s conflation of Carrie and coming-out drama. Eili Harboe is subtly heartbreaking as innocent Christian Thelma, whose suppressed sexuality and hidden powers jolt her sideways at uni.
A meditation on repressed desire with deep secrets, Thelma throbs with hypnotic intensity: it burns slow, but its magnetism holds right up to the teasing climax.
Vivid, colourful animation belies a dark, disturbing core in this cryptic anime receiving a 20th anniversary re-release. Giving up music to become a serious actress, pop idol Mima undergoes a severe identity crisis.
Toggling between scenes from Mima’s movie, her increasing delusions and a genuine, stalker-based threat, Satoshi Kon’s film deliberately obfuscates, to hypnotic effect.
Stephen King had a point when he bemoaned the “lack of emotional investment” in Kubrick’s 1980 adap of his novel. But it’s also one of the finest horror movies, attaining vertiginous levels of terror as Jack Torrance (Jack Nicholson) goes batshit in the Overlook Hotel.
With each scene shot ad nauseum – 60 bathroom doors got axed – The Shining buzzes madness and malevolence from every frame.
Taking its title from Ferrari founder Enzo Ferrari’s claim that his F1 drivers would become immortal, whether they won or died, this slick doc tells the stories of two of the team’s finest ’50s racers, Brits Mike Hawthorn and Peter Collins.
Blending archive footage, contemporary interviews and dramatic reconstructions, the film reminds us how dangerous the sport could be.
Number three in the Footsoldier saga is a prequel to the hateful 2007 Essex gangster flick that made DVD heroes out of real-life murderers.
Fans will enjoy 90 minutes of neckless spray-tans hitting each other with hammers (this time with an ’80s soundtrack and a Shaun Ryder cameo), but most people have better things to do.
FBI agent Clarice Starling (Jodie Foster), brainiac cannibal Hannibal Lecter (Anthony Hopkins) and tackle-tucking serial killer Jame Gumb (Ted Levine) make for one of cinema’s great ménages à trois.
Here given a 4K restoration, Jonathan Demme’s masterly 1991 thriller survives the three inferior Lecter movies and Bryan Fuller’s NBC show that followed.
Based on the same novel as The Wages of Fear, William Friedkin’s 1977 thriller about fugitives in Latin America was buried by Star Wars, panned by critics, and drags like an arthritic snail.
It also contains two of the most astounding sequences in cinema, featuring a dynamited tree and a storm-lashed truck on a splintering rope bridge – which may be reason enough to catch this re-release.
Alice Eve’s wealthy Englishwoman heads into the wilds of 1860s New Zealand to find her kidnapped baby in a western as inept as it is preposterous.
Largely set in a hive of scum and villainy that makes Deadwood seem sedate, it sees Eve’s widow unite with hoofers, whores and a tomahawk-wielding Maori against a baddie who dresses like Ross Poldark. Richard O’Brien adds some liveliness as a lascivious pimp.
Mila Kunis, Kristen Bell and Kathryn Hahn deck the halls for their critic-proof sequel, this time battling their own mamas (Christine Baranski, Cheryl Hines, Susan Sarandon).
While the film lacks Christina Applegate’s razor-sharp delivery (though she gets a LOL-worthy cameo) and most of the plot doesn’t make sense, the older ladies warrant a Bad Grans spin-off.


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Valeri is vexed…Body wash can cost $4 or more. Some shampoos cost .66 to .99 cents. Is there that much of a difference between the two products to justify the price? I use the shampoo for body wash.
Great question Valeri and an astute observation for even considering the possibility. The truth is that shampoos and body washes are so similar that they can be used interchangeably. In fact, in the early days of body washes it was not uncommon for a company to take its shampoo formula, put it in a different bottle, change the label and call it a body wash.
Let’s look at some of the things that the two products have in common.
1. Water & detergent. Shampoos and body washes are designed to clean which means they’re mostly water and detergent. And for cleaning oil off of surfaces nothing beats surfactants. Body washes like Dove, Olay and Herbalessences all use Sodium Laureth Sulfate. This is the same surfactant that many shampoos use.
2. Fragrance & Color. No differences here. Body wash and shampoo use the same ingredients to make the product smell good and look pretty.
3. Conditioning ingredients. Since detergents can be a bit harsh, ingredients are added to improve the after-feel of hair and skin. Often body washes and shampoos use the same types of ingredients.
While shampoos and body washes are quite similar there are some important differences.
1. Body wash uses less harsh detergents. Since skin is generally more sensitive than hair, body wash formulas are made with slightly less detergent and also less harsh detergents. The low cost shampoos use SLS or ALS which are excellent cleaners but can be drying to skin.
2. Different conditioning ingredients. Some of the ingredients that conditioner hair can also provide a nice feel on skin. However, many will not and this is often a key difference between shampoos & body washes.
A great comparison is to look at the list of ingredients of the Herbal Essences Body Wash versus their Shampoo. See the similar ingredients?
Companies have actually picked up on the similarities. In the Old Spice High Endurance Body Wash they show a guy washing his hair and body with the same product.
Shampoos clean and so do body washes. In general you’ll find it beneficial to use both a body wash and a shampoo. But there is really no reason you couldn’t use a shampoo to clean your entire body. If you use a daily moisturizer, then there is no need for a separate body wash.
For what it’s worth, there seems to be more than one opinion on this subject. I noticed I was getting styes all the time. So I went to my doctor and he confirmed that some people are just more prone to them. But he also said that wearing eye make up can exacerbate the problem. He suggested I stop wearing eye makeup for a while and see if it made a difference. I took his advice and my styes virtually vanished. I get one only about two or three times a year now. So I would say there can be a definite correlation. (Btw, I was using high quality eye makeup when I was getting the styes, so that doesn’t necessarily matter.) Anyway, hope this is helpful.
Next post: Is soft and beautiful relaxer safe for kids?
Previous post: Does wearing eye makeup cause styes?

industry_corpus2: Others


text: Interior Design For Non Slip Bath Mats In 39cmx69cm Baby Kids Safety Tub Shower Mat Skid Proof | Aliciajuarrero hunter green non slip bath mats. best non slip bath mats for elderly. bath mats non slip.

industry_corpus2: Real Estate & Construction


text:
Jeff Brazier shared a clip of his sons Bobby, 15, and Freddie, 14, cleaning their late mum Jade Goody's gravestone in celebration of Mother's Day on Sunday.
Taking to Instagram, the TV presenter, 39, who was also joined by his mother and wife Kate Dwyer, admitted he marveled at 'how much care the boys took over their mum's special place' during the time at the cemetery.
This year marks a decade since Big Brother star Jade passed away from cervical cancer aged 27 on Mother's Day 2009.
In the heart-warming video, the former professional footballer filmed his eldest son Bobby cleaning Jade's headstone with a watering can, while his mother also ensured the site was free from dirt.
Alongside the clip, the TV personality wrote a lengthy caption which documented his special day with his loved ones.
He revealed his family treated his mum to brunch at Fred & Doug's, before visiting the grave site.

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


text: Many of our customers are new to hand tool woodworking or want to take their skills to the next level. Our instructional videos explore a wide range of hand tool woodworking topics and feature many of today's master woodworkers. Learn how to get the most out of your hand tools and make your woodworking more precise, efficient, and enjoyable.

industry_corpus2: Manufacturing


text:
Continental sees itself as an innovation-oriented technology corporation and is among the leading suppliers to the automotive industry worldwide. The corporation employs some 167,000 employees at nearly 200 locations in 46 countries, and generated sales of over €30 billion in 2011.
In recent years, the corporation has undergone dynamic change, growing on a global scale, not least as a result of various acquisitions, and thus taking on an ever greater position in global competition. A fundamental experience that the corporation has gained throughout this process of change is what a decisive role corporate culture plays. Issues such as "sustainability", "forward-looking innovations" and "profitable growth" have consequently been pushed closer to the fore.
As a driver of innovation, Continental is on the leading edge of technology. This kind of top position can only have a sound basis if the people who stand behind this company have the opportunity to develop their ideas in an environment that inspires and motivates. An environment characterized by competence, cooperation and progress.
Join the Continental Talent Network today and stay up-to-date on our openings as they continue to become available!

industry_corpus2: Automobiles


text:
Accounting is second subject assess in GAT Subject in Management Sciences. It has 10 percentage of test.
In this test 10 multiple-choice questions are used.

industry_corpus2: Finance & Economics


text:
Simon Kuznets has suggested that in the early stages of economic development, the distribution of income would tend to worsen, while at the later stages it would be improved by the economic growth. Whatever the theoretical explanation for the Kuznets curve, the empirical validity of this relation for the developing countries is still discussible. With in this article, the secular relationship bctween economic growth and the level of inequality has been tried to be tested with a cross-section regression study for 56 countries as a first step. Then, it has been tried to find out the consequences of macroeconomic policies on income distribution based on the cross-section regression study for 42 countries.
Adelman, I.and Morris, C. T. (1973), Economic Growth and Social Equality in Developing Countries, Stanford University Press, California.
Ahluwalia, M. S. (1976), " Ineome Distribution and Development: Some Stylized Facts", The American EconoÃ½iÃ½ic Review, 66-2, 128-135.
AHLUWALIA.M.S-CARTER N.G and CHENERY H.B. (1979), "Growth and Poverty in Devepoping Countrics", .TourmÃ½l of Development Economics, 6, 299-341.
ILO, (1995), Yearbook of Labor Statistics, 1995.
Kravis, I. (1960), "International diffcrcnces in the Distribution of Income\ Revicw of Economics nnd St<Ã½tistics, 42-1,408-416.
Kuznets, S. (1955), "Economic Growth and Ineome Inequality", American Economic Review, 45-1, 1-28.
Kuznets, S. (1963), "Quantitative Aspccts of EconoÃ½nic Growth of Nations: Distribution of Ineome by Size", Economic Devclopme11t ;md Cu/tura/ Chnnge, 11-2, 1-80.
Lecaillon, J.- PAUKERT, F. - MORRISON, C. - GERMIDIS, D. (1984), IneomeDistribution and Economic Development: An Analytical Survey, International Labour Office, Geneva.
Oshima, H. (1962), "The International Comparison of Size Distribution of Family IncoÃ½nes WiÃ½h Spccial Rcl'crcncc lo Asia", Revicw of Economics nnd Stntistics, 44-1' 439-445.
Ãzmucur, S. (1995), TÃ¼rkiyede Gelir DaÃ°Ã½lÃ½Ã½nÃ½ Vergi YÃ¼kÃ¼ ve Makrockonomik GÃ¶stergeler, BoÃ°aziÃ§i Ãniversitesi YayÃ½nlarÃ½ YayÃ½n No.582, Istanbul, 1995.
Paukert, F. (1970), "IncoÃ½nc Distribution ofDiffercnt Levels of Development: A Survey of Evidencc", InteÃ½mÃ½tiomÃ½l L:Ã½bor Review, 108-2-3.97-125.
ROBERT!, P. (1974), "Incomc Distribution: A Time Series and a Cross-Scction Study", Economic JoumcÃ½l, 84, 629-638.
Saith, A. (1983),"Devclopmcnt and Distribution: A Critiquc of the Cross-Country UHypothesis", JounÃ½nl of Development Economics, 13.367-382.
WORLD BANK (1996), Development Report-From Plan to Market, Oxford University Press.


text:
@whale-av Thanks!, That resolved it.
@whale-av I noticed an error occurs on console, saying couldn't create 'list-something' or 'compare-any', 'import-disabled list abs'.
I'm using 0.48.1. Am I using the wrong PD?
@LiamG Thanks! This is what I was looking for and much more. I think this will come handy in general.
while working on a generative music patch, I had a struggle that is creating a sequencer saves pattern which written during the session.
I could see how I can achieve this easily with wiring but can this be possible with click of a button as how toggle does, which also saves it for the next time??

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


text:
Looking for a medium duty wallpaper pasting machine? Do you need fast, even paste coverage on wallcovering roll widths up to 56cm (22")? Do you want an easier and faster way to apply paste?
You'll feel confident in achieving impressive wallpaper paste application. This best-in-class Tapofix PROfix CS paste includes a roll-holder to make the process easier.
Produced with quality materials and designed to withstand years of professional use. The table mounted design quickly hooks onto a paste table.
You'll set the adhesive thickness and then pour your paste into the deep reservoir. Pre-load the applicator roller and pull through your wallcovering to your preferred length.
Choose a labour saving Tapofix machine for high quality and time-saving results. Avoid run-away rolls thanks to the integrated roll holder.
If you're looking for a pasting machine, the Tapofix 56cm Pasting Machine is an impressive choice for fast, even paste coverage. You'll appreciate the highest quality commercial grade materials designed to withstand years of professional use. If you want to be assured of great wallpaper pasting results, and reduced labour hours, a barrel applicator will deliver a fast, uniform coat of paste by pulling wallcoverings through the paste machine. You can expect a table top wallpaper pasting machine with integrated roll holder, made with a steel chassis and strong plastic components. To preserve the life of this machine, do not clean with hot water Order this Tapofix wallpaper pasting machine now and enjoy effortless quality work on your next project.


text: Copyright © 2005-2016 . Some Rights Reserved . .


text:
John’s Gospel John 21:20-25 Hover over the verse for the text or listen to the reading: Reflection “Peter turned and saw the other disciple …” How often do you look back at others instead of looking forward where Jesus is leading you? How can you keep your eyes on Jesus today?
Miraculous Fish John 21:1-14 Hover over the verse for the text or listen to the reading: Reflection Jesus appears to the disciples after they return to fishing. Where does Jesus show up in your day to day living?
Doubt John 20:19-31 Hover over the verse for the text or listen to the reading: Reflection Jesus appears and Thomas is not present. What would be the difference between doubt and not believing?
He is Risen! John 20:1-18 Hover over the verse for the text or listen to the reading: Reflection Jesus is Risen. I have seen the Lord. Imagine you encountered the risen Jesus, who is the first person you would run and tell?
Burial John 19:31-42 Hover over the verse for the text or listen to the reading: Reflection Jesus’ body is taken and prepared for burial. Both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus were important Jewish leaders. Why do you think they took it upon themselves to arrange for the burial of Jesus’ body?
It is finished John 19:17-30 Hover over the verse for the text or listen to the reading: Reflection It is finished. What had Jesus finished and how does that affect you today?
What it truth? John 18:15-40 Hover over the verse for the text or listen to the reading: Reflection What is truth? Who is Jesus?


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Peter’s career has progressed like that of an old school filmmaker – soaring up from being a camera assistant, through various roles to his current position as one of Spectrecom’s leading directors. He has trained at Ravensbourne, the BBC as well ARRI. Having worked in the industry for 10 years, he has a wide ranging background, having worked on; news, documentaries, live events, film productions, sport and adverts.
Career highlights include directing an advert for the Times, and working with other high profile clients like Vodafone, BMW and recent work for the Olympics.


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Explicitly specifying the optional NLS parameters for these functions enables the functions to be evaluated independently of the session's NLS parameters. This feature can be important for SQL statements that contain numbers and dates as string literals.
In this way, SQL statements that are independent of the session language can be defined where necessary. Such statements are necessary when string literals appear in SQL statements in views, CHECK constraints, or triggers.
All character functions support both single-byte and multibyte characters. Except where explicitly stated, character functions operate character by character, rather than byte by byte.
When SQL functions evaluate views and triggers, default values from the current session are used for the NLS function parameters. When SQL functions evaluate CHECK constraints, they use the default values that were specified for the NLS parameters when the database was created.
Table 7-1 shows which NLS parameters are valid for specific SQL functions.
In some languages, some lowercase characters correspond to more than one uppercase character or vice versa. As a result, the length of the output from the NLS_UPPER, NLS_LOWER, and NLS_INITCAP functions can differ from the length of the input.
"Special Uppercase Letters" and "Special Lowercase Letters"
NLS_DATE_FORMAT is not accepted as a parameter because it can interfere with required format masks. A date format must always be specified if an NLS parameter is in a TO_CHAR or TO_DATE function. As a result, NLS_DATE_FORMAT is not a valid NLS parameter for the TO_CHAR or TO_DATE functions.
The CONVERT function enables conversion of character data between character sets.
The CONVERT function converts the binary representation of a character string in one character set to another. It uses exactly the same technique as conversion between database and client character sets. Hence, it uses replacement characters and has the same limitations.
"Character Set Conversion Between Clients and the Server"
source_char_set is the source character set and dest_char_set is the destination character set. If the source_char_set parameter is not specified, then it defaults to the database character set.
In client/server environments that use different character sets, use the TRANSLATE ...USING function to perform conversions instead of CONVERT. The TRANSLATE...USING function must be used if either the client or the server has NCHAR or NVARCHAR2 data.
Oracle9i provides SQL functions that work in accordance with different length semantics. There are three groups of such SQL functions: SUBSTR, LENGTH, and INSTR. Each function in a group is based on a different kind of length semantics and is distinguished by the character or number appended to the function name.The members of each group of functions is distinguished by the character or number that is appended to the function's name. For example, SUBSTRB is based on byte semantics.
The SUBSTR functions return a requested portion of a substring. The LENGTH functions return the length of a string. The INSTR functions search for a substring in a string.
The SUBSTR functions calculate the length of a string differently. Table 7-1 summarizes the calculation methods.
Calculates the length of a string in characters based on the length semantics associated with the character set of the datatype. For example, AL32UTF8 characters are calculated in UCS-4 code units. UTF8 and AL16UTF16 characters are calculated in UCS-2 code units. A supplementary character is counted as one character in AL32UTF8 and as two characters in UTF8 and AL16UTF16. Because VARCHAR and NVARCHAR may use different character sets, SUBSTR may give different results for different datatypes even if two strings are identical. If your application requires consistency, then use SUBSTR2 or SUBSTR4 to force all semantic calculations to be UCS-2 or UCS-4, respectively.
Calculates the length of a string in UCS-2 code units, which is compliant with Java strings and Windows client environments. Characters are represented in UCS-2 or 16-bit Unicode values. Supplementary characters are counted as two code units.
Calculates the length of a string in UCS-4 code units. Characters are represented in UCS-4 or 32-bit Unicode values. Supplementary characters are counted as one code unit.
Calculates the length of a string in Unicode complete characters. Supplementary characters and composite characters are counted as one character.
The LENGTH and INSTR functions calculate string length in the same way, according to the character or number added to the function name.
The following examples demonstrate the differences between SUBSTR and SUBSTRB on a database whose character set is AL32UTF8.
The LIKE conditions specify a test that uses pattern-matching. The equality operator (=) exactly matches one character value to another, but the LIKE conditions match a portion of one character value to another by searching the first value for the pattern specified by the second.
LIKE calculates the length of strings in characters using the length semantics associated with the input character set. The LIKE2, LIKE4, and LIKEC conditions are summarized in Table 7-3.
Use when characters are represented in UCS-2 semantics. A supplementary character is considered as two code units.
Use when characters are represented in UCS-4 semantics. A supplementary character is considered as one code unit.
Use when characters are represented in Unicode complete character semantics. A composed character is treated as one code unit.
There is no LIKEB condition.
Two SQL functions, NLS_CHARSET_NAME and NLS_CHARSET_ID, can convert between character set ID numbers and character set names. They are used by programs that need to determine character set ID numbers for binding variables through OCI.
Another SQL function, NLS_CHARSET_DECL_LEN, returns the length of an NCHAR column.
The NLS_CHARSET_NAME(n) function returns the name of the character set corresponding to ID number n. The function returns NULL if n is not a recognized character set ID value.
NLS_CHARSET_ID(text) returns the character set ID corresponding to the name specified by text. text is defined as a run-time VARCHAR2 quantity, a character set name. Values for text can be NLSRTL names that resolve to character sets that are not the database character set or the national character set.
If the value CHAR_CS is entered for text, then the function returns the ID of the server's database character set. If the value NCHAR_CS is entered for text, then the function returns the ID of the server's national character set. The function returns NULL if text is not a recognized name.
The value for text must be entered in uppercase characters.
NLS_CHARSET_DECL_LEN(BYTECNT, CSID) returns the declaration length in number of characters for an NCHAR column. BYTECNT is the byte length of the column. CSID is the character set ID of the column.
The NLSSORT function enables you to use any linguistic sort for an ORDER BY clause. It replaces a character string with the equivalent sort string used by the linguistic sort mechanism so that sorting the replacement strings produces the desired sorting sequence. For a binary sort, the sort string is the same as the input string.
The kind of linguistic sort used by an ORDER BY clause is determined by the NLS_SORT session parameter, but it can be overridden by explicitly using the NLSSORT function.
Example 7-1 specifies a German sort with the NLS_SORT session parameter.
This example first sets the NLS_SORT session parameter to German, but the NLSSORT function overrides it by specifying a French sort.
The WHERE clause uses binary comparison rather than linguistic comparison by default, but this can be overridden by using the NLSSORT function in the WHERE clause.
Setting the NLS_COMP session parameter to ANSI causes the NLS_SORT value to be used in the WHERE clause.
If a German linguistic sort has been set, then the statement does not return strings beginning with Ä because Ä comes before B in the German alphabet. If a Swedish linguistic sort has been set, then strings beginning with Ä are returned because Ä comes after Z in the Swedish alphabet.
Comparison in the WHERE clause or PL/SQL blocks is binary by default. Using the NLSSORT function for linguistic comparison can be tedious, especially when the linguistic sort has already been specified in the NLS_SORT session parameter. You can use the NLS_COMP parameter to indicate that the comparisons in a WHERE clause or in PL/SQL blocks must be linguistic according to the NLS_SORT session parameter.
The NLS_COMP parameter does not affect comparison behavior for partitioned tables. String comparisons that are based on a VALUES LESS THAN partition are always binary.
If a linguistic sort is in use, then ORDER BY clauses use an implicit NLSSORT on character data. The sort mechanism (linguistic or binary) for an ORDER BY clause is transparent to the application. However, if the NLSSORT function is explicitly specified in an ORDER BY clause, then the implicit NLSSORT is not done.
If a linguistic sort has been defined by the NLS_SORT session parameter, then an ORDER BY clause in an application uses an implicit NLSSORT function. If you specify an explicit NLSSORT function, then it overrides the implicit NLSSORT function.
When the sort mechanism has been defined as linguistic, the NLSSORT function is usually unnecessary in an ORDER BY clause.
"Improving Case-Insensitive Searches with a Function-Based Index"
Several format masks are provided with the TO_CHAR, TO_DATE, and TO_NUMBER functions.
The RM (Roman Month) format element returns a month as a Roman numeral. You can specify either upper case or lower case by using RM or rm. For example, for the date 7 Sep 1998, DD-rm-YYYY returns 07-ix-1998 and DD-RM-YYYY returns 07-IX-1998.
Note that the MON and DY format masks explicitly support month and day abbreviations that may not be three characters in length. For example, the abbreviations "Lu" and "Ma" can be specified for the French "Lundi" and "Mardi", respectively.
The week numbers returned by the WW format mask are calculated according to the following algorithm: int(dayOfYear+6)/7. This algorithm does not follow the ISO standard (2015, 1992-06-15).
To support the ISO standard, the IW format element is provided. It returns the ISO week number. In addition, the I, IY, IYY, and IYYY format elements, equivalent in behavior to the Y, YY, YYY, and YYYY format elements, return the year relating to the ISO week number.
If January 1 falls on a Friday, Saturday, or Sunday, then the week including January 1 is the last week of the previous year, because most of the days in the week belong to the previous year.
If January 1 falls on a Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday, then the week is the first week of the new year, because most of the days in the week belong to the new year.
For example, January 1, 1991, is a Tuesday, so Monday, December 31, 1990, to Sunday, January 6, 1991, is in week 1. Thus, the ISO week number and year for December 31, 1990, is 1, 1991. To get the ISO week number, use the IW format mask for the week number and one of the IY formats for the year.
D (decimal) returns the decimal point character.
G (group) returns the group separator.
L (local currency) returns the local currency symbol.
C (international currency) returns the ISO currency symbol.
RN (Roman numeral) returns the number as its Roman numeral equivalent.
For Roman numerals, you can specify either upper case or lower case, using RN or rn, respectively. The number being converted must be an integer in the range 1 to 3999.
If the database character set replaces the vertical bar | with a national character, then all SQL statements that use the concatenation operator (encoded as ASCII 124) will fail. For example, creating a procedure fails because it generates a recursive SQL statement that uses concatenation. When you use a 7-bit replacement character set such as D7DEC, F7DEC, or SF7ASCII for the database character set, then the national character which replaces the vertical bar is not allowed in object names because the vertical bar is interpreted as the concatenation operator.
The user can use a 7-bit replacement character set if the database character set is the same or compatible, that is, if both character sets replace the vertical bar with the same national character.
The DBMS_LOB PL/SQL package can load external BFILE data into LOBs. Previous releases of Oracle did not perform character set conversion before loading the binary data into CLOBs or NCLOBs. Thus the BFILE data had to be in the same character set as the database or national character set to work properly. The APIs that are introduced in Oracle9i Release 2 (9.2) allow the user to specify the character set ID of the BFILE data by using a new parameter. The APIs convert the data from the specified BFILE character set into the database character set for CLOBs or the national character set for NCLOBs. The loading takes place on the server because BFILE data is not supported on the client.
Use DBMS_LOB.LOADBLOBFROMFILE to load to BLOBs.
Use DBMS_LOB.LOADCLOBFROMFILE for load to CLOBs and NCLOBs.


text: Tapu Koko is the seven-hundred-and-eighty-fifth Pokemon on the National Pokedex and was introduced in Generation 7 (Sun & Moon). Tapu Koko is a Electric/Fairy type Pokemon. It is a Basic Pokemon that does not evolve. Tapu Koko is a legendary Pokemon and one of four Island Guardians of the Alola Region.

industry_corpus2: Gaming


text:
Children walk around in costumes, looking to play games. Parents chat away, and people drink fresh, cold lemonade, and munch on popcorn. The air is crisp and smells like a fresh rain. Nobody could guess that the race of the century was about to begin.
At first it was between two people, me (Annabeth Chase) and Antonio (a gladiator). It was simply just a hope, not really competitive, just friendly. It was just amusing, nothing big. Until Antonio decided to put 24 tickets in. That was when everything changed.
It started by Ava giving the threat of using all her dollars to buy 84 tickets. She wasn’t really, she wanted to intimidate Antonio. Then Olivia (the mad hatter) and Nathan (the crazy tourist) joined in. In case you don’t know Nate is in the other class, room 14. Nathan didn’t put any tickets in, he was a guard. Olivia on the other hand put about 50 in and left it. She, because at the time she didn’t care if she won, was a guard as well.
We (me and Antonio) came up with a pact to not put any other tickets in the pail. In order to make sure we didn’t violate the pact we where assigned a guard, mine was Olivia and Antonio’s was Nate. We thought it was a good idea. Boy where we wrong.
of their tickets and slip it in their self’s. At first it worked out but then it got suspicious, after all when Olivia and Nathan went to deposit more tickets every five seconds. Then things got messy.
Shelby and Courtney (aka Thing One and Thing Two) showed up. With about 75 tickets. F or the scarecrow.
They had more than all of us put together. They just sat by the scarecrow and wrote, and wrote, and, wrote.
Since they sat by the scarecrow, we decided to also. Matthew joined us and put in 40. A few minutes later, the pact was forgotten, history. Now it was a desperate race. After a minute Olivia left, and asked to get the scarecrow if she won and to give it to her the next day. I agreed. Soon the cake walk people got annoyed. They asked us to leave, because our prize was in the middle, next to the pail. So we did, reluctantly.
Then it was time to get the results: We held our breath. Of course they announced ours last. The winner was………………………Thing One!! The race was over, she had won.
The race was for our Scarecrow.


text:
No autism commentary this morning. Great weather and we headed out for a walk on the trail to the Superstore to pick up a few groceries. More than the weather though Conor was in a great mood and wanted to get out doors and stretch his legs in the fresh air. Now 15 and 6 feet tall Conor is still our Run, Jump, Fly boy, on the trail, at the wetland observation deck and at the outdoor Lawrence Amphitheatre, called the Circle Place in our house. It has been a perfect Conor Summer Morning.
There is great joy in seeing our kids smiling and happy. Very Nice!
Such joy! Wonderful to see it!


text:
We recently shared news of the Smithsonian’s exhibition on contemporary food culture. It turns out there are also two more major food exhibitions opening to the public this week.
“FOOD: Transforming the American Table 1950-2000″ at the National Museum of American History in D.C. just opened to the public and will run for two years. It takes a look at the major developments in food production and consumption—along with the contributions from new immigrants—that brought us to the current juncture wherein bottles of Tapatío, Sriracha, and Tabasco can rest side-by-side on the table.
Meanwhile, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City takes a deeper look at “the complex and intricate food system that brings what we eat from farm to fork,” in its exhibition “Our Global Kitchen: Food, Nature, Culture.” The exhibition also just opened and will run through August 11, 2013.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


text:
"God I need some coffee"
Governor Schwarzenegger's "Get to Da Choppa" policies at work.
That line works so well given the look on the guy's face as he walks away from beating up the three thugs.
I liked all the Paul Blart and Kevin James jokes. It seems they make a lot of Paul Blart jokes in several Rifftrax, but this is the one time they really fit.
I really liked the Pokemon/Lord of the Rings comment. I wish I could quote it exactly.
Speaking of Paul Blart jokes..... where did I see that zookeeper guy before?
Edit: Oh wait. Now I recognize him. Recurring role on My Name is Earl.
Yup. He also played Jimmy's coworker on Yes Dear..
Sarah: "I'm not feeling too good. I'm just gonna go home."
Bill: "Wait, did they film one of my dates?"
Old Man: "Very good! Soon you will be able to beat me."
Kevin: "Beat me at running around really fast and waving sticks at nothing I mean."
Old Man: "The child bears the mark of the Red Dragon."
Bill: "Thus she will be granted 15% discount on orange chicken at Panda Express."
Mike: "Ah, that's how my dad died too."
Mike: "It's my Parish Priest. Father Riley!"
"Their plan of running away while the Dragon eats other people is working out pretty well."
"And 400 dead... And 500 dead..."
"And now, the greatest battle between two identical computer graphics since that DOS game where two gorillas threw bananas at each other."
"And now, the greatest remach since Ali/Frasier 2. Ali Larter vs Frasier Crane that is."
Those, and all the Al Pachino stuff.
"Ethan, you've done your countrymen a GREAAAT honor! We've defeated the evil BAAAraki!"
Yeah, that one was delivered perfectly. The other funniest line, wasn't even a line; it was just them laughing at the random shot of the old guy levitating.


text:
Published: March 29, 2019 at 10:29 a.m.
Coming off his first Pro Bowl season, Dallas Cowboys corner Byron Jones needed to go under the knife.
Jones underwent hip surgery this week that was described as a cleanup, per NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport. Jones has a shot at being ready for training camp, but is on a wait-and-see basis, per Rapoport.
ESPN first reported the surgery.
Jones dealt with the issue late last season but didn't miss a start. Apparently, time off didn't elevate all the discomfort, necessitating the late-March surgery.
Moving back to corner after two years at safety, Jones enjoyed his best seasons as a pro and played a pivotal role shutting down opponent's top targets. Able to play outside and inside in the slot, Jones compiled 67 tackles and 14 passes defended last season.
Entering the final year of his rookie contract, Jones is one several young, key Cowboys who will be looking for a massive payday soon.

industry_corpus2: Sports


text:
The Cherry Tree expansion project was a response to the need to provide more places for pre-school children in Lambeth.
The work at Cherry Tree Children's Centre was funded as part of the Government policy to increase the offer for early years places for two year olds.
The layout of the rooms in the Cherry Tree Children's Centre has been reorganised to provide a clear sequence, in order of the age of the child, to give a sense of progression.
Rooms have been increased in size and their layout remodelled to provide a clear open space for a variety of types of play for an additional 30 children. The new connection with the garden, improved daylight and natural ventilation and upgraded building fabric means the retrofit will help to reduce energy use.
Cullinan Studio was approached by Kate Atkins, Head of Rosendale School, to provide a strategy for providing additional places in the existing Children’s Centre.
We undertook a feasibility study to understand the organisation of the existing building.
All the rooms were small and had over provision of circulation with two entrances, two coat areas and a convoluted route for the children to the toilets which suffered from a poor layout for supervision, lighting and ventilation. There was a conflict of uses in the rooms between the children’s play areas and staff areas.
From our analysis, we proposed the youngest children were relocated from the front of the building to the quieter area nearer the garden. This allowed the Community Room to be relocated to this large space adjacent to the entrance. Further to this we proposed there should be a clear sequence in the layout of rooms in order of the age of the child to give a sense of progression.
We rationalised the room layouts and provided a single generous entrance with coat area for the children and parents. The second entrance was remodelled for a dedicated staff area with adult WC and kitchen area separated from the play space.
The Ladybird Room (age 2-3) and Butterfly Room (age 3-5) were increased in size and the layout remodelled to provide places for an additional 30 children.
The remodelled rooms, with new generous sliding doors, allow better connection with the garden and improved natural light. The layout has been adapted to create more clear open space for the children to enjoy a variety of types of play.
The access to toilets has been improved with an efficient layout and better visual connection for the staff from the main room. Natural materials such as wood finishes and rubber flooring have been chosen for their beauty, robustness and low maintenance.
A holistic approach has been taken to sustainability in the design of the project.
Firstly, improving natural light and reducing reliance on artificial light. This has been achieved by the remodelling of the existing layout, with a large sliding door to the garden. This creates a light and naturally, well-ventilated room for the children.
Secondly, by improving the fabric, with high insulation values in the new roof extension, the floor and sliding doors will help to reduce energy loss. We have replaced inefficient fluorescent strip lighting with low energy LED fittings.
Thirdly, in terms of health and wellbeing, the children can enjoy a better connection with nature in the garden and more space to explore and learn in the rooms.
We worked closely with an Artist in Residence to create the beautiful wall murals of the ladybirds and butterflies to give each room a stronger sense of place.
The children really enjoyed watching the artist at work and each child has their favourite insect.
The use of metallic colours on the steel post is both a learning opportunity and fun. The painted grasses are colourful and have different textures applied which provide opportunities for sensory development for young children.

industry_corpus2: Subject Education


text:
This is the aspect of writing a book where authors so often drop the ball. If you have a conventional publisher, you may think the promotion will be handled for you. Unfortunately, unless you are a celebrity or a best-selling author, promoting your book is your responsibility. If you self-publish or use one of the other methods, it is 100 percent your responsibility.
Write a marketing plan. Include your overarching goal, strategies for achieving it, and tactics (concrete actions you will take).
Choose social media that will reach your target readers; write your profile; have conversations; share ideas; answer questions; interact. Don’t use social media to sell, sell, sell!
Send advance readers’ copies (ARCs) to book reviewers (stamp them “galley proofs” or “readers’ copy”).
Submit articles on your topic to publications that target your readers and to online sites such as ezinearticles.com.
Share a table or booth with other writers at book fairs.
Offer to give free presentations at bookstores that carry your book.
Build your email list and send out an announcement when the book is published on Amazon; ask for reviews.
Put together a press kit, and send it to local radio and TV stations; post it in your media room.
Buy your own copy of 1001 Ways to Market Your Book by John Kremer, and read it!
This is only the tip of the iceberg, but you do it one tactic at a time. Let’s brainstorm ideas. Drop me a line at bobbi@writeanonfictionbook.com or give me a call at 314-968-8661.
I think I’m a bit tardy replying to your comment (just got it!), but thank you. One word is sometimes better than 100 words. You picked one I appreciate.

industry_corpus2: Literature & Emotions


text:
Compleat Beatles Treat - Stand and Deliver!
Beatles Anthologywas a mammoth project begun in 1992 that involved a mutli-part television documentary – later expanded for DVD release – plus three double-CD sets with unreleased songs and alternate versions of Beatles favourites, coming to fruition from 1995. The project actually began in 1970 with a 90-minute documentary entitled The Long And Winding Road. It was constructed by Apple boss (and former Beatles road manager) Neil Aspinall from all the Beatles footage he could get his hands on.
It appeared nothing would come of it until John Lennon referred to it in a court case brought against the producers of a stageshow entitled Beatlemania! in 1980. Lennon claimed that the Beatles were intending to stage a reunion concert that would form the ending of the Long And Winding Road doco. Yoko Ono concurs that it had been Lennon’s intention to return to England after he’d come out of retirement with the album Double Fantasy. His subsequent death put an end to the reunion and The Long And Winding Road.
In 1982, a two-hour documentary entitled Compleat Beatles appeared. It was not just an amazing revelation. At the time – when the remaining Beatles hated being described as ‘former-’ or ‘ex-Beatles’ and were so keen on retelling the story – Compleat Beatles told it through in-depth interviews with the likes of producer George Martin, Liverpudlian contemporaries like Gerry Marsden, Bob Wooler and Bill Harry, snippets of news footage and clips from throughout the ’60s, narrated by Malcolm McDowell. It was brilliant. So much so, it even had a brief cinema release in 1984.
Not that I ever watched it in its entirety. Not in one sitting anyway. Or rather, one standing. Because there was one summer when it was the hot video for Christmas, and was playing on endless loop on the biggest television the David Jones department store at Warringah Mall had at their disposal. It sat at the front of the audiovisual section, near the records (or ‘vinyls’ if must – but I prefer you didn’t) and on my regular pilgrimage – taking place more frequently than weekly, but not quite daily – I’d begin in the David Jones record department and end at the Mall Music Centre (one of the best independent record stores, in its time; my first summer job was at Mall Music, as was my first full time job).
I’d stand there for between 10 minutes and half an hour at a time – always at different stages (though never at the beginning or end, it seems) – utterly transfixed. I remember hearing George Martin divulge the way in which Paul McCartney’s ‘Got up, got outta bed’ interlude was inserted into John’s ‘A Day In The Life’, how the orchestral freak-out part was constructed and recorded to comply with Lennon’s desire that it be “orgasmic”. In a time before the Internet, this information, this footage and this detail was just not available anywhere else.
It was a massively successful video release, is my point, and my family did not have a video cassette recorder and would not, still, for some years. And when it got its limited cinema release, my area (possibly my country) wasn’t so blessed.
But it’s probably why EMI attempted to release The Beatles Sessions – a single album collection of the best completed but unreleased Beatles songs – in 1985.
Eventually, Compleat Beatles (and The Beatles Sessions) were superseded by Anthology. Yet, while Anthology was far more comprehensive, it was the official, sanctioned story, as approved by all the interested parties. Compleat Beatles provided an objective approach and a particular charm.
I know you can still get the Compleat Beatles VHS video from some sources. And I’m sure it’s doing the rounds as a bootleg DVD. But people've ripped their LaserDisc and VHS versions, and uploaded them YouTube, which is much nicer (ie cheaper). Enjoy it in all its un-remastered glory while you can.


text:
Isn’t that irritating when the soap dispensers starts dripping and the kitchen floor gets messy when the dispenser leaks after use? If you feel the same, then its time when you should replace the old ones with the new durable and leak proof plastic soap dispenser. Check this list of best Plastic Soap Dispenser for 2016-16 especially for you.
This is a set of amalgamation of the best plastic soap dispensers in one package. They are all transparent clear plastic soap dispensers which produces smooth foam suitable for bathroom and kitchen. Each bottle can store up to 8.5 oz easily and pumps the exact amount you require.
The openings of the bottles are wide making it enough for refilling it without any further mess. They look simple but works fine and can set themselves any corner of the house. The body and material of the product are durable and strong. It is even easy to install and use. To try this, you can bring a pack of it now.
One of the most demanding, this plastic Mason jar soap dispenser is carved simple, has got wide opening and the broad press button is ideal for smooth dispensing of the liquid soap. It can easily hold 12 oz of liquid and the clear body will keep you noticed when the quantity is getting over so that you can refill it before its nil.
You can change the colour of the dispenser from the color options you have got. The product weighs extremely less but it’s strong and the body is thick, so it’s not even hard to carry it to another place. Get this OXO plastic soap dispenser now.


text:
Gunmen in Pakistan have shot dead a journalist, 24 hours after a technician at the country's most popular news channel was killed in a similar attack.
KARACHI — Gunmen in Pakistan shot dead a journalist on Wednesday, police said, less than 24 hours after a technician working for the country’s most popular news channel was killed in a similar attack.
It was unclear who was behind the shootings in the southern port city of Karachi, or if they were linked. Police said bullet casings in the attack on the technician matched those from the recent murders of four policemen.
Pakistan ranks among the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists, with 14 recorded deaths in 2014, the International Federation of Journalists has said.
Militant violence and crime are common in the financial hub of Karachi, which is home to 20 million people, the country’s stock exchange and central bank.
The military launched a crackdown two years ago on armed gangs and suspected militants in Karachi, but a recent spate of attacks has raised questions about its effectiveness.
Police said Aftab Alam, the journalist killed on Wednesday, was on his way to pick up his children from school when he was attacked.
“As Aftab Alam came out of his house, two men on motorbikes fired shots at him and escaped from the scene,” Feroz Shah, a senior police officer told Reuters.
A former business reporter at news channel Geo News, Alam was unemployed at the time of his death.
Last year, Hamid Mir, the anchor of a top Geo political talk show, was shot and injured in Karachi, just weeks after television anchor Raza Rumi survived an attack in the eastern city of Lahore in which his driver died.
The Taliban, holed up in mountains on the Afghan border, have made repeated threats against reporters for portraying the insurgency in a negative light.
But the security forces and political parties have also been linked to the murders of some journalists.

industry_corpus2: Media & Journalism


text:
…and the pleasures of one of the most delicate of Italian dishes: Fiori di Zucca Friti.
What happens if you feel like serving stuffed Zucchini Flowers for you guests (My daughter Daphne and Udi), arriving for a visit from the UK to Tel-Aviv? and zucchini flowers are hard to impossible to get by? Here in the Mid East most zucchinis are of the Lebanese summer squash type (Kusa in Arabic) which are often lighter green or even white, and are sold fully matured with no flower in sight, not as baby courgettes or courgette flowers.
So at the nursery I chose The Best of British F1 Hybrid, which has the largest male flowers (easier to stuff) and fast to mature to their flowering state.Other variety to contemplate is Courgette Nano Verde di Milano (High yielding squash Flowers seeds).
So…Three weeks prior to the meal I saw the seeds in a small sawing pot and than move them into an outdoor large pot, where thereafter they seem to be growing by the minute (rather than the day) you could almost hear them growing into the summer sun and soon enough after two and a half weeks flower stems of green orange and yellow started to sprout, what a delightful sight… So bright yellow with a hue of dark orange, zucchini flowers are so alluring to look at, that you get your cooking ideas just as you look at them.
I did not expect all the 11 seeds to sprout or to get so many flowers off each plant, but there you go, all sprouted on time and yielded an enormous amount of flowers daily, for several weeks, which lasted us for, quit a few meals, Heaven!!!
Planting: Plant seed outdoors when the soil temperature has reached 15°C (60°F), not to worry we are in the Middle East the average outside temperature is around 30°C and over.
Watering: Zucchini like consistently moist soil. To prevent problems with disease, always water from below.
Fiori di Zucca are irresistible when you shop at farmer’s markets around Italy. My favorite way is to deep-fry them stuffed with goat cheese stuffing in a very light beer batter.
Choose freshly flowers picked early in the morning (these ones are tightly closed and bug bug-free). Do not rinse them and let them open with their stems in a water pot like any ordinary flowers if the petals do not spread out separate the petals gently with your finger. Male flowers only have a stems, no squash attached, female flowers with baby zucchini attached are delicious as the baby zucchini need very little cooking to become tender and 4 minutes frying is just right.
If you store them for a later time Zucchini flowers should be refrigerated and tightly sealed, they will keep as fresh for about 24 hours.
One of the pleasures of summer in Italy are fried stuffed zucchini flowers, thin, crisp fiori stuffed with melted Mozzarella cheese sometimes “spiced” with anchovies or various cheeses, or spread over a pizza.
Always use the blossoms as soon as possible after picking, as they will start to wilt after a day.
Whisk a bit of flour with one egg until thick, than add beer slowly (it foams at first, and dilutes the batter fairly quickly so add flour if needed to thicken the batter) to a consistency of light cream. Dip the flowers in the batter, give them a twirl to get rid of any excess batter, and deep fry them in hot oil constantly turning until they turn golden about two to four minutes.
In a small bowl, stir together the egg add some 2-3 tablespoons of flour and the salt. Add the beer and whisk just until blended.
Combine the cheeses; egg and herbs the anchovies to a thick consistency easy to role and stuff each blossom tighten the tip s of the petals together to prevent overflow into the cooking oil.
In a deep frying pan, pour enough oil to a depth of 5-7cm. heat the oil until a bit of the batter sizzles when dropped in.
4-5 at a time, dip the flowers into the batter dish, carefully turning to coat each flower completely. Lift out and let the excess drip off. Slip the battered flowers into the hot oil and fry until crisp and golden on all sides, about 4 minutes. Transfer the fried blossoms to paper towels to drain and season with salt. Serve immediately.
Fiori di zucca are so delicate and delicious you could / should be “creative” with your stuffing of choice. Stuffing with mozzarella will melt inside the fried blossom and ooze out as you bite on it, what else could you want.
*”Conserved” white Tuna following an old Italian tradition of preserving cooked fish in brine covered by olive oil, salt and herbs called conservata.
*A salad of roasted Endive, Arugula, white peach, Figs and Roquefort.
*Carpaccio of fresh scallops in Yuzu, Lime, Black Caviar and Nasturtium flowers.
*”Sashimi” of white Tuna in Yuzu, chili oil and wasabi sesame.
E. Barnaut Grand Reserve, NV Grand cru Champagne (from Bouzy) that was sublime and perfect with the scallops and “Sashimi” a real gem of a perfectly dry but fruity (citrus) champagne, with over 60% Pinot Noir you can actually feel the “traces” of strawberries and cherries on the nose and palate from this little known small champagne house.
The 2012 Cloudy Bay which in theory was the perfect wine for the occasion but turned to be on the floral side, with very little sauvignon blanc characteristics and leaning too much to the sweet side lacking the expected crispiness.
Don’t despair we don’t have to pop into a far away wine shop or even the local corner shop to find a good replacement for this “disappointment” just a few steps down to the basement and into the cellar where we gamble on an eleven years old Sancere: 2002 Domaine Roger Champault Sancerre Le Clos du Roy, Loire, France. Another go on a Sauvignon Blanc, this time left us surprised, after all this wine is over 10 years of age but the distinctively smoky, gunflint character of Loire Sauvignon Blanc from this area is so well defined here, this is a classic Sancerre palate that is described by Loire locales as: “pierre a fusil” – The aromas and flavour of Gun flint which define this wine (some say the pronounced minerality reminds the taste of the fossil stone, though the spelling should go like “pierre a fossil”, well in any case it had these qualities I guess I am drawn to wine through these oddities of odd flavours, its usual brilliant pale gold turned to deep gold and it felt more ripe than the crisp side, citrus aromas were felt with enough acidity to keep the wine fresh and appealing. The wine is round and by now lacking the sharp edges of youth, yet if felt fresh on the palate with a nice long finish. I guess that this wine was described as: “almost unripe” when tasted (by others at 2003), actually helped it to survive and our “patience” paid off a decade later.
O M G ! I am drooling!
What an excellent article, very helpful and informative. Thank you.


text:
Paris Saint-Germain have an excellent season.
They are on the first place in domestic League One and they managed to win in the first match against Valencia at Mestalla. That means Paris Saint-Germain will qualify to the quarter-final with draw on this match. Even a defeat of 0:1 is good enough for them. But the coach Carlo Ancelotti has big problems in front of this match. Two important players are suspended, one of them irreplaceable. The striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic received a red card in stoppage time in Spain and won’t play at Parc des Princes. He is the team top goalscorer this season and his absence is a very big handicap for Ancelotti. The other suspended player is Marco Verratti. It is not clear who will replace Verratti, Ancelotti can choose between Clement Chantome and David Beckham. Additionally, Thiago Silva and Thiago Motta are injured.
Valencia coach Ernesto Valverde has Ricardo Costa and Adil Rami sidelined due to injuries. It is a problem for Valencia, their absence makes the things even worse. Valencia have one-goal deficit from the first leg and that’s another problem. The history say that Valencia failed to progress on all three occasions when they have suffered a first-leg defeat in Uefa competition. Valverde has another problem, his team failed to win on the last two domestic fixtures. They played draw on both matches, against Levante and Zaragoza. At the moment Valencia are out of the top four places on the table. This situation add some nervous to the squad.
I expect an efficient match at Parc des Princes in Paris. Valencia have no space for calculations, they need to score at least two goals to keep their promotions hopes live. That means only one, Valverde will push his players for offensive. To attack Paris Saint-Germain is not an easy task, even they are without Ibrahimovic. Ancelotti has good players, Kevin Gameiro will lead the attack, while Pastore and Lavezzi are behind him. Valencia have big problems in the defense, both first-choice central defenders are out (Adil Rami and Ricardo Costa). In situation like this, I think Over 2.5 is a good option for this game.


text:
Green building, the new byword in home construction, means a home that uses energy, water and material efficiently with a minimal effect on the environment.
“Why should I care about green building?” a prospective homeowner asks. There are compelling reasons for changing the way we build and live as we become aware of the finite resources that are the earth’s riches.
The process of building green incorporates environmental considerations into every aspect of the building process. This includes design, construction and operation of a home, energy and water efficiency, lot development, resource-efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, owner maintenance and the home’s impact on the environment.
Lot design, preparation and development can reduce the environmental impact and improve the energy efficiency of new housing. This includes saving trees, constructing onsite storm water retention/filtration features and adapting to maximize passive solar heating and cooling.
Resource Efficiency involves using resource-efficient materials such as engineered-wood products in which more than 50 percent of the log is converted into structural lumber than conventional dimensional lumber. Since the average single-family home generates between 7000 and 12,000 pounds of construction waste, resource efficiency is also about reducing job-site waste and consequently reduce the quantity of landfill material.
Energy Efficiency is considered a priority in most green building programs. Energy performance does not end with increased R-values, the use of renewable energy or more efficient HVAC equipment. These need to be balanced with careful window selection, building envelope air sealing, duct sealing and proper placement of air and vapor barriers from foundation to attic. Water Efficiency is increasingly important, especially in areas affected by long and short-term drought conditions. The daily per capita indoor use of water in most homes tops 64 gallons. Water conservation methods can reduce usage to less than 45 gallons. More efficient water delivery systems indoors and drought-resistant landscaping choices outdoors can prevent waste of this valuable resource.
Indoor Air Quality is another top issue of interest in green homes. An increase in allergies and respiratory ailments and the use of chemicals that can off-gas from building materials have added to the heightened awareness of the air we breathe inside.
Operation and Maintenance, if improper or inadequate, can defeat the designer’s and the builder’s best efforts to create a resource efficient home. Air filters must be changed regularly; kitchen and bath fans need to be operated to remove moist air. Pesticides, fertilizers, and common cleaning agents also affect air quality. Global Impact is another guiding principle. An example is the selection of paints that contain low or no volatile organic compounds (VOC). The release of VOCs from wet paint help form ground-level ozone pollution which has a greater effect on a global scale than on the indoor environment.
Site Planning & Land Development can be part of the process if a builder is also involved in the development of a community. Considering the entire community in addition to the individual building can amplify the benefits of green building. For example, by improving a subdivision’s storm water management plan and preserving natural resources through careful design and construction practices, a builder can influence the resource efficiency of the entire subdivision and its overall environmental impact.


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The Basic Court of Pristina announced the 30-day detention of three Serbs arrested the day before, suspected of their involvement in the killing of the local Serb politician Oliver Ivanovic.
The suspects were arrested Friday by Kosovo police in northern Mitrovica during an action in the early hours of the morning.
In a court announcement it is stated that "the criteria and the grounded suspicion that the defendants N.S, M.R and D.M have committed the criminal offenses on the basis of the evidence, are also fulfilled, and the special conditions for determining the pre-detention measure are met".
The notice states that "the court has also found that the request for detention on remand against the defendants NS, MR and DM is an appropriate and necessary measure at this stage of the proceedings to ensure their presence in criminal proceedings and development without prejudice to the procedure, based on the manner and the circumstances in which the offenses were committed and their weight. If the defendants remain in liberty, they could repeat the same or similar criminal offenses," said the court's announcement.
The leader of the Serbian Civic Initiative, "Freedom, Democracy, Justice", Oliver Ivanovic was shot dead on January 16 this year in northern Mitrovica.
The accused are members of the Serb community and two of them are members of the Kosovo police.
The Special Prosecution of Kosovo has announced that the accused are suspected of assisting in the killing of Oliver Ivanovic. According to the prosecution about 40 witnesses have been interviewed for the murder of Mr. Ivanovic so far.

industry_corpus2: Law & Justice


text: Diamond Multimedia Stealth II S220 drivers will help to eliminate failures and correct errors in your device's operation. Download Diamond Multimedia Stealth II S220 drivers for different OS Windows versions (32 and 64 bit). After you have downloaded the archive with Diamond Multimedia Stealth II S220 driver, unpack the file in any folder and run it.


text: Alex is a 4-month-old playful kitten looking for a new place to call home. He is young and loves to play with string and balls. He would love to come to your house today. The Farmington Regional Animal Shelter is located at 133 Browning Parkway and can be reached at 505-599-1098. Check Petfinder.com for an up-to-date list of pets up for adoption.


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Make pastry crust: In large bowl, mix flour and salt. Cut in shortening with your fingertips until mixture resembles coarse meal. Sprinkle with 3 tablespoons ice water and toss to mix.
Add additional ice water, 1 tablespoon at a time, and work in gently until dough just comes together and isn’t too crumbly. Gather into ball then knead a few times to blend. Cut off one-quarter of dough. Shape both pieces into a disk, wrap in plastic wrap and chill at least 2 hours or up to 2 days.
Preheat oven to 450°F. In large bowl, combine parsnips, 1 teaspoon oil, thyme and 1/4 teaspoon salt and mix well. Transfer to baking sheet with sides and roast 10 minutes.
In same bowl, combine mushrooms, 2 teaspoons oil, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper and mix well. Add to baking sheet with parsnips and roast 8 to 10 minutes. Remove from oven and set aside.
In large pot, combine half the spinach and 1 cup water. Cover, bring to a boil and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes. Remove spinach to colander with tongs, rinse under cold running water and squeeze out as much moisture as possible. Repeat with remaining spinach. Coarsely chop spinach and set aside.
In large saucepan, heat remaining 1 tablespoon oil over medium heat. Add shallots and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 5 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring, 2 minutes. Gradually whisk in warmed soy milk a bit at a time, letting sauce thicken before adding more milk. When all soy milk is added, reduce heat to medium-low and cook, whisking often, 1 to 2 minutes. Stir in spinach, 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
Coat a 4-quart oval or rectangular casserole with vegetable cooking spray. Cut baking potatoes into 1/8-inch-thick slices and place in bowl. Add cold water to cover and let stand 5 minutes. Meanwhile, peel and cut sweet potatoes into 1/8-inch-thick slices.
Drain baking potatoes and arrange slices, overlapping, in bottom of prepared casserole. Sprinkle with rosemary and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Arrange sweet potato slices on top, overlapping. Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Spread spinach mixture evenly over sweet potatoes, then top with parsnips and mushrooms.
Preheat oven to 400°F. On lightly floured surface, roll out larger piece of dough 3 inches larger than shape of casserole. Place dough on top of filling; roll edges under and crimp onto lip of casserole. Roll out remaining piece of dough and, with cookie cutters and pastry wheel or knife, cut out leaves.
With pastry brush, lightly brush top of pie with water, then add pastry leaf decorations. Cut several vents in top crust for steam to escape. Place pot pie on baking sheet and bake until crust is nicely golden and filling is steaming hot, about 1 hour. Let stand 15 minutes before serving.

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


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She is a great story teller; very touching short stories of family and love relationships. The first one got to me the most, as I become “the old man” to my 2 grown daughters. Lahiri won the Pulitzer Prize with her superb writing (“The Namesake”).
The fly in the ointment is her constant name-dropping of Ivy League schools and higher education. Not that I am opposed to education, “au contraire”; I only argue that it does not confer superiority or maturity over people who have not had the same opportunities. If anything, “noblesse oblige”.
What about common Indian folk? No doubt she writes about her experiences and social strata, but, it would have been easier to swallow if she had included Indian immigrants from different backgrounds, just for spice. Nonetheless, this is a very good book.
1. The “spiritual center” of the Earth will move from Tibet to the Northern Chilean Andes.
2. Female sexuality needs to become more balanced with male sexuality. Yes, but the author says nothing about the reverse: what is good for the gander is good for the goose.
I loved it! This is my second book by a very Kafka-like author. This very simple story takes place in one night. The writing is even simpler and more condensed than Hemingway’s. I enjoy simplicity, especially from the pen of a mature human being.
If you enjoy alternative history you may want to read this book, that is, if you can put up with the writer’s egocentricity, rudeness and unscientific tone. Van Daniken sold millions of copies of his book “Chariots of the Gods”, which alleges that the Gods were ETs. In this book Van Daniken gets into gold plates and Mormon lore. He also tackles Enoch/Thoth, who is a favorite of mine; I keep his figurine on my desk, next to Don Quijote.
Wonderful book if you are into scholarly writing. A must read for those who enjoy Greek mythology. Bacon examines ancient legends, tales, myths and fables and the wisdom contained in them. Read my blog “Wisdom of the Ancients” if you want to get a feel for this book.
I took one of my Russian patients’ suggestion to read about the Bolshevik revolution (calm down- I am not a communist) in Ukraine through the eyes of a young doctor. Bulgakov also writes, symbolically, about the revolution raging in the hearts of Russians: rich versus poor, proletariat vs. intelligentsia, etc.
It is unfortunate that here in the USA we have allowed ideologies to ignore the suffering of millions of Russians who lost their lives and/or were unfairly imprisoned through their revolution and WW I & II. Their losses, through many other historical events, have shaped their souls and produced unparalleled music, literature and science.
Suffering has a way of refining the human spirit. Or, it may lead us to alcoholism, addictions and many other self-defeating behaviors. The choice is ours.
But, Bulgakov is no Tolstoy or Dostoyevsky; his writing does not flow, at least not for me. If you enjoy history and a style of writing somewhat similar to Faulkner’s (translation factored in) this would be a good book to read.


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We should all be thankful that 2006 is ending in so much better shape than it started. Media Matters’ recent round-up of the most outrageous right-wing comments of the passing year remind us what a huge victory was achieved with the routing of the Bush agenda and the continuing implosion of the Republican Party.
So here’s to a hopeful and happy New Year. Around the web, you can find plenty of ideas for resolutions for 2007. CodePink suggests talking to someone different from yourself about why you believe we need to end the war in Iraq, writing one letter to the editor each month, and joining a host of antiwar groups in Washington, DC, on January 27 to present the Mandate for Peace to Congress. (CodePink is also soliciting resolutions, which will be published online.) WireTap surveys young activists across the nation who share their own resolutions you can use to make a difference. Martha Rosenberg offers eleven useful resolutions for Big Pharma in a piece on CommonDreams.
Writing in the same WorldChanging series, Jason Kottke calls for a True Cost rating on food and products, like the nutritional information on a cereal box or the Energy Star rating on a refrigerator. True Cost, as he points out, would allow consumers to make legitimately informed decisions about how they spend their money. When True Cost is factored in, conflict diamonds become a more morally charged choice, as does clothing made in sweatshops. Organic blueberries flown in from Chile may be healthier for your toddler, but how much carbon dioxide was released into the atmosphere to get them to your kitchen? What’s the energy cost of living in the suburbs, compared to living downtown? Do the people who made the clock hanging on the wall get paid a fair wage and receive health care? Just how bad for the environment (and for me!) is the laptop on which I’m typing or the cell phone on which I’m talking?
Numerous economists have made the case that the value of transactions is determined far too narrowly by the reigning neo-classical economic model. True Cost tries to offer a counter-framework in which the value of an item includes a number of factors beyond its market price, centrally its environmental, social and health costs. The environmental cost of aviation, for example, could add five hundred dollars per passenger to airline travel. Farming and forestry prices reflect the immediate costs of labor and capital, but do not include long-run ecological costs. Paying two dollars per pound for supermarket chicken does not cover the cost of cleaning up rivers polluted by poultry factories. That charge goes to society at large.
In a nutshell, it seems to me that if we can ever make use of Kottke’s idea and have some kind of True Cost estimate available to consumers, it would be a major step forward. Working toward that seems to me a good resolution for 2007.


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Emits the current page for backends that support multiple pages, but doesn’t clear it, so, the contents of the current page will be retained for the next page too. Use CairoContext::showPage() if you want to get an empty page after the emission.
This is a convenience function that simply calls CairoSurface::copyPage() on CairoContext’s target.


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Thomson Power Systems resistive test load banks utilize coiled chromium alloy load elements supported with cool cast ceramic insulators. 4.5" maximum continuous spacing is provided between each support point.
All load resistor ends are fitted with silver soldered stainless steel connection studs.Thomson’s “cool load®” resistor design guarantee slower operating temperatures and extended life in the most adverse environments.
Each “cool load®” resistor is mounted in removable load resistor frames. Load resistor frames are designed for dual pass “cool load®” resistors. Removable racks and dual pass “cool load®” resistors provide superior serviceability and reliability.
Five standard load resistor frames are used in a single or stacked configuration for load banks from 20kW to 1500kW. Custom load resistor frames are available for engine radiator fan cooled load banks. Integral, direct drive, single or three phase cooling fans provide up to 25,000 CFM per load bank. Adjustable temperature and air flow sensors are provided to guarantee safety shutdown in case of airflow failure.
Load bank control compartments are located in a heat resistant compartment. Control components include load stepping contactors, load step selector switches and fault indicators. Optional features include AC metering, integral over-current protection and automatic load step control.
• Thomson offers two models of portable, single or multivoltage resistive test load banks: TLB-H and TLB-V. For other customized models, please consult factory.
bank. A weather sealed lockable cover protects all instrumentation and control.
• TLB-V models from 300kW to 650kW. The cooling air moves vertically across the cool load elements. The enclosure is constructed of 10 gauge aluminum, rests on four 6” neoprene castors and is complete with a steel push handle. The load bank width of 32” permits passage through typical access doors and elevators.
area with restricted air discharge or ceiling equipped with heat sensors, the TLBV load bank is designed to operate on its side with horizontal air discharge.
• Thomson offers two models of fixed mounted resistive test load banks: LBI and LBO.
• The LBI and LBO series load banks are fixed mount indoor or outdoor single voltage units and the cooling air moves horizontally. A remote load step control panel is provided as standard equipment for the LBI and LBO models. Auto load step control is optional.
• Automatic load control automatic load sensing controller maintains a constant load on the power source. There are up to 12 adjustable set-points and a kW load transducer.
To satisfy typical generator loading requirements, the load bank is normally sized between 75% and 100% of maximum generator capacity. The automatic load control incorporates a Man-Off-Auto mode selector. When the manual position is selected all load steps can be switched on and off (LBI and LBO only).
NOTE: For optional features not listed, contact Thomson Power Systems. Specifications subject to change without notice.

industry_corpus2: Power & Energy