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| SUMMARY: NESTED | FIELD | CONSTR | METHOD | DETAIL: FIELD | CONSTR | METHOD |
A
- a strongly-typed binding to the service provider's APIpublic interface Connection<A>
A link to a service provider user.
Allows the client application to access or update user information using the provider's API.
Exposes a set of operations that are common across all service providers, including
the ability to access user profile information
and update user status
.
| Method Summary | |
|---|---|
ConnectionData |
createData()
Creates a data transfer object that can be used to persist the state of this connection. |
UserProfile |
fetchUserProfile()
Fetch a normalized model of the user's profile on the provider system. |
A |
getApi()
A Java binding to the service provider's native API. |
java.lang.String |
getDisplayName()
A display name or label for this connection. |
java.lang.String |
getImageUrl()
A link to a image that visualizes this connection. |
ConnectionKey |
getKey()
The key identifying this connection. |
java.lang.String |
getProfileUrl()
The public URL of the connected user's profile at the provider's site. |
boolean |
hasExpired()
Returns true if this connection has expired. |
void |
refresh()
Refresh this connection. |
void |
sync()
Sync's this connection object with the current state of the external user's profile. |
boolean |
test()
Test this connection. |
void |
updateStatus(java.lang.String message)
Update the user's status on the provider's system. |
| Method Detail |
|---|
ConnectionKey getKey()
java.lang.String getDisplayName()
sync()
java.lang.String getProfileUrl()
sync()
java.lang.String getImageUrl()
sync()
void sync()
boolean test()
api
will fail.
Used to proactively test authorization credentials such as an API access token before invoking the service API.
boolean hasExpired()
test()
return false, and any service API invocations fail.
If expired, you may call refresh()
to renew the connection.
Not supported by all Connection implementations; always returns false if not supported.
void refresh()
hasExpired()
returns false.
Not supported by all connection implementations; if not supported, this method is a no-op.
UserProfile fetchUserProfile()
void updateStatus(java.lang.String message)
message
- the status messageA getApi()
ConnectionData createData()
|
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org.apache.xmlbeans
Class CDataBookmark
java.lang.Object
org.apache.xmlbeans.XmlCursor.XmlBookmark
org.apache.xmlbeans.CDataBookmark
public class CDataBookmark
- extends XmlCursor.XmlBookmark
Represents a CDATA bookmark.
When XmlOption UseCDataBookmarks is setted on parse methods,
the loader will set these CDataBookmarks in the store on the respective
TEXT fields that were represented as CDATA.
Users can modify the 'look' of TEXT fields, by annotating them with
this bookmark, or remove the bookmark.
Additionaly if setted on save methods, the output will look for these
bookmarks and will output the text as CDATA.
Note: The SaveCDataEntityCountThreshold and SaveCDataLengthThreshold
options and their default values still apply.
Note: Due to the store representation, a CDATA will not be recognized
if it is imediately after non CDATA text and all text following it will
be considered CDATA.
Example:
<![CDATA[cdata text]]> - is considered as: <![CDATA[cdata text]]>
<![CDATA[cdata text]]> regular text - is considered as: <![CDATA[cdata text regular text]]>
<c>text <![CDATA[cdata text]]></c> - is considered as: <c>text cdata text</c>
- Author:
- Cezar Andrei (cezar dot andrei at gmail dot com)
- See Also:
XmlOptions.setUseCDataBookmarks()
,
XmlObject.Factory.parse(String, XmlOptions)
,
XmlTokenSource.save(java.io.OutputStream, XmlOptions)
,
XmlOptions.setSaveCDataEntityCountThreshold(int)
,
XmlOptions.setSaveCDataLengthThreshold(int)
|
Field Summary |
static CDataBookmark |
CDATA_BOOKMARK
The actual bookmark object representing CData.
Users must use this bookmark in addition to UseCDataBookmarks
option to make use of CDATA representation in XML text. |
| Methods inherited from class java.lang.Object |
clone, equals, finalize, getClass, hashCode, notify, notifyAll, toString, wait, wait, wait |
CDATA_BOOKMARK
public static CDataBookmark CDATA_BOOKMARK
- The actual bookmark object representing CData.
Users must use this bookmark in addition to UseCDataBookmarks
option to make use of CDATA representation in XML text.
CDataBookmark
public CDataBookmark()


In Power BI Desktop, your report is dynamic. When you make a selection on one visual in the report, other visuals might change to reflect that selection. Similarly, if hierarchies are in your data, you can move up and down the hierarchy to see the data at different levels.
The following sections explain how the basic interactions work and how you can use hierarchies in your visuals.
When multiple visuals exist on the same report page, they all interact with each other. For that reason, you should become familiar with these interactions to see how your report changes.
Compare the following two images. In the first image, the data displays at a high level.
When you select an element in a visual, such as Components in the Product Category visual, the other visuals update to reflect your selection, as illustrated in the second image.
When you have become familiar with the interactions, you might want to make changes to control how those interactions flow between the visuals. This process is further explained later in this module.
A hierarchy is a structure in which groups are ranked one above the other according to a specific status. Think of your own organizational hierarchy, where the CEO is at the top level, then managers in the middle level, and employees at the lower level. Similarly, you'll likely have hierarchies for your data in Power BI. For example, you could have a time hierarchy with levels such as year, quarter, month, and day, or a product hierarchy with levels such as category, subcategory, and product.
Regarding dates, Power BI creates hierarchies for you automatically. When you select the hierarchy in the Fields pane, the date hierarchy is added to the Axis field on the Visualizations pane and a blank visual is created for you, which is ready for additional fields. The hierarchy icons are located above the visual, as illustrated in the following image.
When you add another field to the visual, the visual becomes useful, and you can then use the hierarchy icons to navigate through the hierarchy. Power BI creates a predefined drill path for the data. In the following image, the Gross Sales field was added to the visual and you can see the data at the highest level (year). Then, when the Expand all down one level in the hierarchy button was selected, the hierarchy was expanded down by one level (quarter). If you were to select the button again, the visual would update to display the next lower level in the hierarchy (month), and so on.
Another navigation option is the Go to the next level in the hierarchy button. When you select either hierarchy option, select the Drill up button to move back up the hierarchy.
The default date hierarchy feature in Power BI is quick and simple to use. However, if you have your own date table, you can use it to create the hierarchy instead. In the following image, the Year, Month, Quarter, and Day fields were added to the Axis field well on the Visualizations pane. The data result is the same as the default hierarchy, so you can navigate through the hierarchy in the same way.
You can also predefine the hierarchy path for your report users to remove any guesswork. For example, you might want to prevent users from viewing a particular hierarchy level. To do so, remove all fields from the Axis well and then, in the Fields pane, right-click the field that you want to set as the top level of the hierarchy and select New hierarchy. The new hierarchy displays in the list in the Fields pane. You can now drag and drop other fields into the new hierarchy or right-click each field and select Add to hierarchy.
Ensure that your visual is selected, and then select the New hierarchy field in the Fields pane to apply it to the visual.
You can use the hierarchy buttons above the visual to expand the hierarchy and drill back up again.


Iota is a voxel based slicer that can handle textured meshes for 3d printing. Iota can generate image slices for inkjet/powder based machines, GCode files for color FDM/FFF printing with multiple extruders and mixing extruders, and DXF files for creating stacked models with laser cutters.
Download unsigned experimental binary release for macOS here.


Random:
http://explainshell.com/
paste a shell command and get an explanation of flags
https://www.mailinator.com/
create a 'burner' email addres
Multi character converter/payload encoder:
https://hackvertor.co.uk/public


Upcoming Event
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Start Date: Apr 5th
End Date: Apr 25th
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Costs will vary depending on the length you wish to stay on the route, make sure to plan accordingly for stopping points and fees if you wish to stay in hotels or HOA sites. You will also need to purchase(if you don't already own) a camal backpack to stay hydrated, as well as a regular pack for food and emergency supplies.
Requirments include: Food/Rations, Water, Entrance fees for parks, and emergency supplies (a bike is not listed as if you wish you can walk the path as well)


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--- title: Cards in Python and NBDev keywords: fastai sidebar: home_sidebar summary: "Example tutorial from https://nbdev.fast.ai/example.html on how to create a project in nbdev" description: "Example tutorial from https://nbdev.fast.ai/example.html on how to create a project in nbdev" nb_path: "index.ipynb" ---


Hi, My name is William! I’m currently a second year student studying Graphic Design at San Jose State University. From time to time, I like to work on small side projects. Fishies.me, Doggo Bar, Beluga on my Desk, Woof are among the many projects I have created! I’m open for new opportunities for making and discovering new ideas.


In this project, you'll use generative adversarial networks to generate new images of faces.
You'll be using two datasets in this project:
Since the celebA dataset is complex and you're doing GANs in a project for the first time, we want you to test your neural network on MNIST before CelebA. Running the GANs on MNIST will allow you to see how well your model trains sooner.
If you're using FloydHub, set data_dir
to "/input" and use the FloydHub data ID "R5KrjnANiKVhLWAkpXhNBe".
data_dir = './data'
# FloydHub - Use with data ID "R5KrjnANiKVhLWAkpXhNBe"
#data_dir = '/input'
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL
"""
import helper
helper.download_extract('mnist', data_dir)
helper.download_extract('celeba', data_dir)
show_n_images = 25
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL
"""
%matplotlib inline
import os
from glob import glob
from matplotlib import pyplot
mnist_images = helper.get_batch(glob(os.path.join(data_dir, 'mnist/*.jpg'))[:show_n_images], 28, 28, 'L')
pyplot.imshow(helper.images_square_grid(mnist_images, 'L'), cmap='gray')
The CelebFaces Attributes Dataset (CelebA) dataset contains over 200,000 celebrity images with annotations. Since you're going to be generating faces, you won't need the annotations. You can view the first number of examples by changing show_n_images
.
show_n_images = 25
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL
"""
mnist_images = helper.get_batch(glob(os.path.join(data_dir, 'img_align_celeba/*.jpg'))[:show_n_images], 28, 28, 'RGB')
pyplot.imshow(helper.images_square_grid(mnist_images, 'RGB'))
Since the project's main focus is on building the GANs, we'll preprocess the data for you. The values of the MNIST and CelebA dataset will be in the range of -0.5 to 0.5 of 28x28 dimensional images. The CelebA images will be cropped to remove parts of the image that don't include a face, then resized down to 28x28.

You'll build the components necessary to build a GANs by implementing the following functions below:
model_inputs
discriminator
generator
model_loss
model_opt
train
This will check to make sure you have the correct version of TensorFlow and access to a GPU
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL
"""
from distutils.version import LooseVersion
import warnings
import tensorflow as tf
# Check TensorFlow Version
assert LooseVersion(tf.__version__) >= LooseVersion('1.0'), 'Please use TensorFlow version 1.0 or newer. You are using {}'.format(tf.__version__)
print('TensorFlow Version: {}'.format(tf.__version__))
# Check for a GPU
if not tf.test.gpu_device_name():
warnings.warn('No GPU found. Please use a GPU to train your neural network.')
else:
print('Default GPU Device: {}'.format(tf.test.gpu_device_name()))
Implement the model_inputs
function to create TF Placeholders for the Neural Network. It should create the following placeholders:
image_width
, image_height
, and image_channels
.z_dim
.Return the placeholders in the following the tuple (tensor of real input images, tensor of z data)
import problem_unittests as tests
def model_inputs(image_width, image_height, image_channels, z_dim):
"""
Create the model inputs
:param image_width: The input image width
:param image_height: The input image height
:param image_channels: The number of image channels
:param z_dim: The dimension of Z
:return: Tuple of (tensor of real input images, tensor of z data, learning rate)
"""
# TODO: Implement Function
inputs_real = tf.placeholder(tf.float32, (None, image_width, image_height, image_channels), name="inputs_real")
inputs_z = tf.placeholder(tf.float32, (None, z_dim), name="inputs_z")
learning_rate = tf.placeholder(tf.float32, (None), name="learning_rate")
return inputs_real, inputs_z, learning_rate
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL THAT IS BELOW THIS LINE
"""
tests.test_model_inputs(model_inputs)
Implement discriminator
to create a discriminator neural network that discriminates on images
. This function should be able to reuse the variables in the neural network. Use tf.variable_scope
with a scope name of "discriminator" to allow the variables to be reused. The function should return a tuple of (tensor output of the discriminator, tensor logits of the discriminator).
def discriminator(images, reuse=False):
"""
Create the discriminator network
:param images: Tensor of input image(s)
:param reuse: Boolean if the weights should be reused
:return: Tuple of (tensor output of the discriminator, tensor logits of the discriminator)
"""
# TODO: Implement Function
alpha = 0.1
with tf.variable_scope("discriminator", reuse=reuse):
x = tf.layers.conv2d(images, 128, 5, strides=2, padding="same")
x = tf.maximum(alpha*x, x)
x = tf.layers.conv2d(x, 256, 5, strides=2, padding="same")
x = tf.layers.batch_normalization(x, training=True)
x = tf.maximum(alpha*x, x)
x = tf.layers.conv2d(x, 512, 5, strides=2, padding="same")
x = tf.layers.batch_normalization(x, training=True)
x = tf.maximum(alpha*x, x)
flatten = tf.reshape(x, (-1, 4*4*512))
logits = tf.layers.dense(flatten, 1)
out = tf.sigmoid(logits)
return out, logits
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL THAT IS BELOW THIS LINE
"""
tests.test_discriminator(discriminator, tf)
Implement generator
to generate an image using z
. This function should be able to reuse the variables in the neural network. Use tf.variable_scope
with a scope name of "generator" to allow the variables to be reused. The function should return the generated 28 x 28 x out_channel_dim
images.
def generator(z, out_channel_dim, is_train=True):
"""
Create the generator network
:param z: Input z
:param out_channel_dim: The number of channels in the output image
:param is_train: Boolean if generator is being used for training
:return: The tensor output of the generator
"""
# TODO: Implement Function
alpha = 0.1
k_init = tf.random_normal_initializer(stddev=0.02)
# Idea to add kernel_initializer from @theiagoqd
# https://github.com/thiagoqd/queirozdias-deep-learning/blob/master/face_generation/dlnd_face_generation.ipynb
with tf.variable_scope("generator", reuse=(not is_train)):
x = tf.layers.dense(z, 7*7*512)
x = tf.reshape(x, (-1, 7, 7, 512))
x = tf.layers.batch_normalization(x, training=is_train)
x = tf.maximum(alpha*x, x)
x = tf.layers.conv2d_transpose(x, 256, 5, strides=2, kernel_initializer=k_init, padding="same")
x = tf.layers.batch_normalization(x, training=is_train)
x = tf.maximum(alpha*x, x)
x = tf.layers.conv2d_transpose(x, 128, 5, strides=2, kernel_initializer=k_init, padding="same")
x = tf.layers.batch_normalization(x, training=is_train)
x = tf.maximum(alpha*x, x)
logits = tf.layers.conv2d_transpose(x, out_channel_dim, 3, strides=1, kernel_initializer=k_init, padding="same")
out = tf.tanh(logits)
return out
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL THAT IS BELOW THIS LINE
"""
tests.test_generator(generator, tf)
Implement model_loss
to build the GANs for training and calculate the loss. The function should return a tuple of (discriminator loss, generator loss). Use the following functions you implemented:
discriminator(images, reuse=False)
generator(z, out_channel_dim, is_train=True)
def model_loss(input_real, input_z, out_channel_dim):
"""
Get the loss for the discriminator and generator
:param input_real: Images from the real dataset
:param input_z: Z input
:param out_channel_dim: The number of channels in the output image
:return: A tuple of (discriminator loss, generator loss)
"""
# TODO: Implement Function
_, d_logits_real = discriminator(input_real, reuse=False)
gen = generator(input_z, out_channel_dim, is_train=True)
d_out_fake, d_logits_fake = discriminator(gen, reuse=True)
smooth = 0.1
d_loss_real = tf.reduce_mean(
tf.nn.sigmoid_cross_entropy_with_logits(logits=d_logits_real,
labels=tf.ones_like(d_logits_real)*(1-smooth)))
d_loss_fake = tf.reduce_mean(
tf.nn.sigmoid_cross_entropy_with_logits(logits=d_logits_fake,
labels=tf.zeros_like(d_logits_fake)))
d_loss = d_loss_real+d_loss_fake
g_loss = tf.reduce_mean(
tf.nn.sigmoid_cross_entropy_with_logits(logits=d_logits_fake,
labels=tf.ones_like(d_logits_fake)))
return d_loss, g_loss
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL THAT IS BELOW THIS LINE
"""
tests.test_model_loss(model_loss)
Implement model_opt
to create the optimization operations for the GANs. Use tf.trainable_variables
to get all the trainable variables. Filter the variables with names that are in the discriminator and generator scope names. The function should return a tuple of (discriminator training operation, generator training operation).
def model_opt(d_loss, g_loss, learning_rate, beta1):
"""
Get optimization operations
:param d_loss: Discriminator loss Tensor
:param g_loss: Generator loss Tensor
:param learning_rate: Learning Rate Placeholder
:param beta1: The exponential decay rate for the 1st moment in the optimizer
:return: A tuple of (discriminator training operation, generator training operation)
"""
# TODO: Implement Function
t_vars = tf.trainable_variables()
g_vars = [var for var in t_vars if var.name.startswith('generator')]
d_vars = [var for var in t_vars if var.name.startswith('discriminator')]
all_update_ops = tf.get_collection(tf.GraphKeys.UPDATE_OPS)
g_update_ops = [var for var in all_update_ops if var.name.startswith('generator')]
d_update_ops = [var for var in all_update_ops if var.name.startswith('discriminator')]
# Update Opts idea from Zhenyu Wang on Slack
# https://www.tensorflow.org/api_docs/python/tf/layers/batch_normalization
with tf.control_dependencies(d_update_ops):
d_train_opt = tf.train.AdamOptimizer(learning_rate, beta1=beta1).minimize(d_loss, var_list=d_vars)
with tf.control_dependencies(g_update_ops):
g_train_opt = tf.train.AdamOptimizer(learning_rate, beta1=beta1).minimize(g_loss, var_list=g_vars)
return d_train_opt, g_train_opt
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL THAT IS BELOW THIS LINE
"""
tests.test_model_opt(model_opt, tf)
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL
"""
import numpy as np
def show_generator_output(sess, n_images, input_z, out_channel_dim, image_mode):
"""
Show example output for the generator
:param sess: TensorFlow session
:param n_images: Number of Images to display
:param input_z: Input Z Tensor
:param out_channel_dim: The number of channels in the output image
:param image_mode: The mode to use for images ("RGB" or "L")
"""
cmap = None if image_mode == 'RGB' else 'gray'
z_dim = input_z.get_shape().as_list()[-1]
example_z = np.random.uniform(-1, 1, size=[n_images, z_dim])
samples = sess.run(
generator(input_z, out_channel_dim, False),
feed_dict={input_z: example_z})
images_grid = helper.images_square_grid(samples, image_mode)
pyplot.imshow(images_grid, cmap=cmap)
pyplot.show()
Implement train
to build and train the GANs. Use the following functions you implemented:
model_inputs(image_width, image_height, image_channels, z_dim)
model_loss(input_real, input_z, out_channel_dim)
model_opt(d_loss, g_loss, learning_rate, beta1)
Use the show_generator_output
to show generator
output while you train. Running show_generator_output
for every batch will drastically increase training time and increase the size of the notebook. It's recommended to print the generator
output every 100 batches.
def train(epoch_count, batch_size, z_dim, learning_rate, beta1, get_batches, data_shape, data_image_mode):
"""
Train the GAN
:param epoch_count: Number of epochs
:param batch_size: Batch Size
:param z_dim: Z dimension
:param learning_rate: Learning Rate
:param beta1: The exponential decay rate for the 1st moment in the optimizer
:param get_batches: Function to get batches
:param data_shape: Shape of the data
:param data_image_mode: The image mode to use for images ("RGB" or "L")
"""
# TODO: Build Model
_, l, w, c = data_shape
input_real, input_z, _ = model_inputs(l, w, c, z_dim)
d_loss, g_loss = model_loss(input_real, input_z, c)
d_train_opt , g_train_opt = model_opt(d_loss, g_loss, learning_rate, beta1)
idx = 0
with tf.Session() as sess:
sess.run(tf.global_variables_initializer())
for epoch_i in range(epoch_count):
for batch_images in get_batches(batch_size):
# TODO: Train Model
idx += 1
batch_images = batch_images*2
# Sample random noise for G
batch_z = np.random.uniform(-1, 1, size=(batch_size, z_dim))
# Run optimizers
_ = sess.run(d_train_opt, feed_dict={input_real: batch_images, input_z: batch_z})
_ = sess.run(g_train_opt, feed_dict={input_z: batch_z})
if idx % 10 == 0 :
train_loss_d = sess.run(d_loss, {input_z: batch_z, input_real: batch_images})
train_loss_g = g_loss.eval({input_z: batch_z})
print("Epoch {}/{}...".format(epoch_i+1, epoch_count),
"Discriminator Loss: {:.4f}...".format(train_loss_d),
"Generator Loss: {:.4f}".format(train_loss_g))
if idx % 100 == 0 :
show_generator_output(sess, 25, input_z, c, data_image_mode)
Test your GANs architecture on MNIST. After 2 epochs, the GANs should be able to generate images that look like handwritten digits. Make sure the loss of the generator is lower than the loss of the discriminator or close to 0.
batch_size = 32
z_dim = 100
learning_rate = 0.0001
beta1 = 0.5
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL THAT IS BELOW THIS LINE
"""
epochs = 2
mnist_dataset = helper.Dataset('mnist', glob(os.path.join(data_dir, 'mnist/*.jpg')))
with tf.Graph().as_default():
train(epochs, batch_size, z_dim, learning_rate, beta1, mnist_dataset.get_batches,
mnist_dataset.shape, mnist_dataset.image_mode)
Run your GANs on CelebA. It will take around 20 minutes on the average GPU to run one epoch. You can run the whole epoch or stop when it starts to generate realistic faces.
batch_size = 32
z_dim = 100
learning_rate = 0.0001
beta1 = 0.5
"""
DON'T MODIFY ANYTHING IN THIS CELL THAT IS BELOW THIS LINE
"""
epochs = 1
celeba_dataset = helper.Dataset('celeba', glob(os.path.join(data_dir, 'img_align_celeba/*.jpg')))
with tf.Graph().as_default():
train(epochs, batch_size, z_dim, learning_rate, beta1, celeba_dataset.get_batches,
celeba_dataset.shape, celeba_dataset.image_mode)
When submitting this project, make sure to run all the cells before saving the notebook. Save the notebook file as "dlnd_face_generation.ipynb" and save it as a HTML file under "File" -> "Download as". Include the "helper.py" and "problem_unittests.py" files in your submission.


Whisp is an open source chat application that will work on your browser, desktop, and device indistinctly. It provides secure communications and a rich messaging experience (Text / Audio / Images) through a clean, modern, and intuitive user interface.
Unlike the modern messaging apps, Whisp does not run in the background keeping you online all the time, you will be online just meanwhile you keep the app open.
Whisp takes the essence of the most popular modern messaging apps, and transports it to the world of the traditional open & anonymous chats. Because of its decentralized condition, you are not bound to the Whisp official server, but to any available public server, managed by third parties. You can even, if you choose, create and set up your own private server.


Road Marking
Machines
for All Areas of Use
Customer service is not only a major part of
our range of services but also the philosophy
we use when interacting with our customers
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Chestermere Lake Temperature
Coming soon, a website that actively updates with the water temperature of Chestermere Lake.
Developers: Our REST API for grabbing temperatures can be accessed at api.chestermerelaketemperature.comDocumentation soon.
contact@chestermerelaketemperature.com


| Similar to other battle royale games, Fortnite's Battle Royale consists of 100 players fighting until the last man/team is standing. All players start with only their glider and a pickaxe. Once on the ground, players must scavenge buildings, their surrounding areas, and chests to find weapons and items for survival, such as shield potions, resources for building, and medical supplies for healing.  Fortnite: Battle Royale adds the game's unique building skills and destructible environments to traditional 3rd person shooter combat. Player's can utilize their building skills to fortify current buildings or even create new ones. Items like traps add additional options for building and fortifying structures. |


Apply for faster entry to the USA and Canada
1. Overview
You can apply to get through border control faster in the USA and Canada.
There are 2 schemes:
- USA - Global Entry: faster entry at some airports in the USA
- Canada and USA - Nexus: faster entry at Global Entry airports, some Canadian airports and between the Canada-United States border
You’ll need a UK background check to apply. You can only get a UK background check if you’re a British citizen.
If you have a US Green Card or a Canadian Permanent Residency Card, you don’t need a UK background check. You can apply directly for Global Entry or Nexus.


Pull Request flags are issues that have been categorized but have yet to be resolved. Many of the important issues are handled by team members here at Angular, but you're more than welcome to help us out! If you are able to effectively resolve an issue you will be noted as a contributer in the next release, but more importantly you'll be a hero in our hearts.
Below are some of the more recent issues Angular.js has had unresolved. Feel free to search for any issues you find interesting and explore.


AV / IT Professor
Camden County College
Blackwood, NJ
05/2017 - Present
• Taught 3 courses: Fundamentals of Music for Sound Engineers; MIDI DAW; Business of Music
• Generated 17% increase in event bookings by creating AutoCAD drawings of theatre's equipment
• Installations of Crestron, QSYS, and VoIPs; Terminate cables XLR, RJ45, and RS232 to EIA-568B
Broadcast Engineer
Youtube Space LA
Los Angeles, CA
06/2015 - 07/2016
• Control room engineer for the World 50 Expo, keynoted by Mark Wahlberg
• Operate motion-tracked cameras; compile 3D edits in post-production for client deliverables
• Operate Yamaha CL5 and Avid Pro Tools
Digital Production Strategist
Graywave
New York, NY
06/2007 - 07/2019
• Co-developed PHP app for The IMA Awards; used by 50,000 bands for 24% increase in web traffic
• Audio engineer for This American Life, Serial, and other top podcasts for Podtrac
Philadelphia, PA
April 2020
Philadelphia, PA
May 2006


lcc.stars_processing.systematic_search package¶
Submodules¶
lcc.stars_processing.systematic_search.stars_searcher module¶
-
class
lcc.stars_processing.systematic_search.stars_searcher.
BaseStarsSearcher
¶ Bases:
abc.ABC
-
filterStar
(star)¶ This method filter given star. In case of match method “matchOccured” will be performed
Parameters: star (Star instance) – Star to filter Returns: If star passed thru filtering Return type: bool
-
getPassedStars
()¶
-
matchOccured
(star)¶ What to do with star which passed thru filtering
Parameters: star (Star instance) – Star object which will be saved as fits Returns: Return type: None
-
queryStar
(query)¶
-
-
class
lcc.stars_processing.systematic_search.stars_searcher.
StarsSearcher
(stars_filters, save_path=None, stat_file_path=None, db_connector=None, save_coords=False, multiproc=False)¶ Bases:
lcc.stars_processing.systematic_search.stars_searcher.BaseStarsSearcher
The class manages systematic searching in databases. It also can be used as base class for other star searchers.
-
stars_filters
¶ FilteringManager object – Filter which is prepared filter star objects
-
save_path
¶ bool, str – Path from “run” module to the folder where found light curves will be saved
-
stat_file_path
¶ str – Status file name
-
save_coords
¶ bool – Save params space coordinates of inspected stars
-
status
¶ pandas.DataFrame – Status table about results of queries
-
multiproc
¶ bool, int – If True task will be distributed into threads by using all cores. If it is number, just that number of cores are used
-
getStatus
()¶
-
queryStars
(queries)¶ Query db according to list of queries. Stars passed thru filter are managed by matchOccured method.
Parameters: queries (list, iterable) – List of dictionaries of queries for certain db Returns: Return type: None
-
uploadStatus
(status, passed_info)¶ This method generates status file for overall query in certain db. Every queried star will be noted.
Parameters: - status (dict) – Information whether queried star was found, filtered and passed thru filtering
- passed_info –
Returns: Return type: None
-
-
class
lcc.stars_processing.systematic_search.stars_searcher.
StarsSearcherRedis
(stars_filters, db_connector, save_path=None, job_name=None, save_coords=False)¶ Bases:
lcc.stars_processing.systematic_search.stars_searcher.BaseStarsSearcher
-
getPassedStars
(wait=True, timeout=None, verbose=True)¶
-
getStatus
(wait=True, timeout=None, verbose=True)¶
-
queryStars
(queries)¶
-
uploadStatus
(status, passed_info)¶
-
lcc.stars_processing.systematic_search.worker module¶
-
lcc.stars_processing.systematic_search.worker.
run_worker
(burst=False)¶
-
lcc.stars_processing.systematic_search.worker.
run_workers
(n_workers=None, burst=False)¶


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--- layout: post status: publish published: true title: Quick Sorting User Stories author: display_name: Fabio Pereira login: admin email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>url: http://fabiopereira.me author_login: admin author_email<EMAIL_ADDRESS>author_url: http://fabiopereira.me wordpress_id: 39 wordpress_url: http://fabiopereira.me/blog/?p=39 date: '2008-11-17 21:34:12 +0' date_gmt: '2008-11-18 04:34:12 +0' categories: - Technical tags: - Agile - ThoughtWorks - IterationMgmt - Photo comments: [] ---
We had 8 user stories and we came up with this quick way of sorting them in the office. It was pretty quick... and simple.


PRINTED
Saturday, December 1, 2007
We helped Craig and Carla pack and load things from the house to be taken to their new house. Craig had six other people also come to help. It was interesting that some people just don’t know how to pack to move. I guess all the moves we have made, have made us more conscious of how to prepare to move. Mae would have most small items all packed with the boxes labeled as to what was in the boxes. This made it much easer to load and pack the moving trucks or trailers, besides making it much easier to put things away in the new location. Mae and I then waited at the house for the FedEx truck to come. At noon we got concerned and tried to call. However the first thing that they wanted to know was the tracking number and this we are not able to get until Monday morning. Peter finally was able to make contact with a live person in the Idaho Falls office and he said that they didn’t make deliveries to the Victor zip code area on Saturdays. I talked it over with Craig and Peter and they think that they can install the part when it comes Monday. Mae and I left at 3:30 PM for home. Although the roads were slick in the Valley they were ok once we got out of the Valley. We traveled straight home and got there at 8 PM. Mae had read about ½ of the book that Gail and Jeff had given us for Christmas. It is really very good.
Sunday, December 02, 2007
We slept in, watched the Spoken Word and Tabernacle Choir broadcast and then other talks and reports on the BYU channel. We attended Tithing Settlement and then our Ward Block. We went from the Church to Jeff and Gail’s for dinner and played games. Marcy also vas invited. Gail, Mae and I watched the First Presidency’s Christmas Program. Jeff went into the other room. When we got home Bob sent two pieces of Apple pie down to us. They were sure good.
Monday, December 03, 2007
We over slept and I woke at 8 AM. I called Durk’s Plumbing and had them find the shipping number for Craig and Carla. I next called Carla and told what I had found out. Shellie called and visit with Mae for over an 1, which really doesn’t matter except that it cost us minutes and we are often over out minutes. Bryce called and wants me to inspect his house and then he added that he wants me to put in a lock set. I am trying to get to Danny and Shanna’s and figure Randy’s house for heat and air condition. Mishelle called and their water heater is going out so I need to replace that. Bob has invited us to dinner at 1:30 PM today. I feel like I am loosing it. I went back to Bryce’s and spent the rest of the afternoon visiting with him as to what he can do to improve his home for sale. Most of this evening, I was on the phone with Peter. We were working out problems with the heat system. We got to bed about 11:30 PM very tired.
Tuesday, December 04, 2007
I woke at 3 AM and couldn’t go back to sleep. I was worried about the problems with the heat system. I went over to Durk’s at 8 AM and visited with Jarred about Craig and Carla’s heat system. We called the factory and determined that I have the water flow going in the wrong direction through the boiler. Also I need three transformers added to the electrical circuit. Peter went to Jackson to get them. He made the corrections. I picked up a water heater for Scott’s house. At 11 AM Mae and I went to Standard Optical and got out eyes checked and new glasses. When we got home I took a nap. I then went to Scott’s and changed the water heater. I was there about 6 ½ hours before I got the new water heater installed and working. While I was at Scot’s, Craig and Peter called me. The water does not seem to be circulating through the lines. I had them shut the heat off, attach a water hose to the bottom of the main loop to force water in and another hose to the top of the loop going to the floor drain. This will force water into the zones to clear out any air locks. When I got home Mae had a nice dinner cooked and warmed mine up again. We watched a cute Christmas story of the Walton’s and then I filed out my journal. We then went to bed but it was late.
Wednesday, December 05, 2007
We slept in until 8 AM. Craig called me this morning to let me know that the system is working and the house is now warming up. That is sure good news. He will keep me informed. Bob came down and invited us come up for biscuits and gravy. Time went fast and the morning went by. After lunch Mae and I went shopping. We did our Christmas shopping and had a lot of fun being together. Peter called me and there is still some problems to work out. I may have to go up again to change some plumbing. We bought a fish sandwich and two baked potatoes at Wendy’s for dinner. We came home and watched a DVD.
Thursday, December 06, 2007
I got up at 7 AM and after reading my scriptures I laid back down with Mae. I tried to record Mitt Romney’s talk this morning. Irven and Sandy had to go to S.L. at that time and so missed the talk. It was very good but I couldn’t get the recorder to work. I went to Durk’s and talked over the problem of Craig and Carla’s heat system and decided that we would have to re-plumb the boiler loop. Jared also had Randy’s plans estimated, so I took them. I went to Love’s Heating and Air Condition but Rober was not in the office. I will have to come back tomorrow. I talked to Craig and we decided that I will go back up on Monday to re-plumb the boiler. I helped Mae get our Christmas letter ready to mail. Bob and I cleaned the yard of the fall leaves this afternoon. It was late when we finished but we got it looking much better. We tended David and Shauna’s children this evening while they went to a company Christmas party. We watched a movie on Hall Mark this evening. I worked on the computer for a while before we went to bed.
Friday, December 07, 2007
I got up at 6:30 AM so that I could be at Robert Love’s Heating & Air Conditioning at 8 AM. I went over Randy & Judy’s house plan to get a bid for the air conditioner. I had let Mae sleep in but when I got home she was up and ready for Gail to come with Benji for her to tend while Gail goes to the Temple. Benji sure enjoyed having us play ball with him. Gail stayed when she returned and ate lunch with us and visited for a while. This evening we picked up Irven and Sandy and went to the Bell of Temple Square performance at the Conference Center. It was snowing when we got there so I let Mae, Sandy and Irven off at the Conference Center and I drove to South Temple and 300 West where I parked. The performance was very enjoyable. When we got out Mae went with me to get the car. It has really snowed hard and the cars were covered with snow when we got there. I should have had Mae stay with Irven and Sandy so they could of stayed in the building until I arrived with the car. Mae and I could have then communicated by phone when I got close to the center. But I didn’t and we were a long time getting out of the parking lot and getting back to the center with the car. Irven and Sandy were very cold when we got there. The roads were very slippery and traffic was slow but we did well in returning home. We did stop at Slim Olsen’s in Bountiful to use their restrooms and for some treats. It was a very enjoyable evening. We got home about 11:30 PM and to bed late.
Saturday, December 08, 2007
We slept in and had breakfast about 9:30 AM. We went to a Senior Citizens lunching today. Bob, Carroll, Mark, also Roy and Linda went with us. Roy and Linda arrived here yesterday. They came back to our place and visited until Mae and I had to leave to watch Kylan play in a basketball game. It was fun watching Kylan visit. We went from there to Gail’s mother’s home and from there Mae & I road with Jeff and Gail to the Hale Theater in West Salt Lake. We saw the production of Christmas Carol. It was with out exception one of the best performances I have seen. We then went out to eat at Apple Bee’s and enjoyed that. We sure enjoyed being with Jeff and Gail for the evening.
Sunday, December 09, 2007
Bob came down and woke me as today is Stake High Priest meeting at 7 AM. I had to hurry for it was 6:30 AM when Bob came down. We did make it to the meeting on time. The meeting was very enjoyable. When I got home we went over to Jeff and Gail’s for breakfast. Jeff cooked omelets and added sautéed mushrooms to his and my omelets. It was very good. After eating we played a game of Rook. We had to quite so that Mae and I could make it to church. Jeff and I were able to set the gals on the last hand so we quite with the highest hand. When we got home I took a 25 minute map before meetings. Meetings were very good and the nap helped me. Bob invited us to dinner and that was very good. I talked to Roy this evening and he decided not to go with me to Idaho as he doesn’t have warm clothing. I couldn’t blame him with the weather being as cold as it is here. Mae and I were on our computers for a while before we finished getting ready to go in the morning and went to bed about 8 PM.
Monday, December 10, 2007
We left for Idaho about 7 AM. It was lightly snowing but the roads were ok. After going over the Malad pass the snow increased. By the time we got to Inkom it was staying on the roads so we had to drive much slower. From Teton on the roads were covered and it was still snowing. Even with the bad roads and we also stopped twice to stretch our legs, we still arrived at Craig and Carla’s at 1PM. I went right to work on the boiler and got the pipes re-routed and the furnace back before quitting this evening. When I came upstairs Mae and Carla was starting a game of Rummy. I joined with them and we played until 11PM.
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
We slept in, having gone to bed so late last night. I went Driggs for some more parts and when I returned Mae had some breakfast ready for us. I worked until 3PM getting a valve installed on the distribution loop, so that I could force water into the zone lines. I then opened each zone valve separately and forced the water through each zone until I was sure that the lines were full of water and the air purged out. While I was bleeding the lines I also changed the water mate lines so that a re-circulating line can be connected from the furthermost hot water destination back to the water mate. This will allow them to receive hot water faster to each outlet. As soon as I finished purging the upstairs zones we packed the pickup and left for home. As we drove Mae read to me the instruction manuals for Temple and Family History Work and A Member’s Guide to Temple and Family History Work. These were the two manuals were given me so that I might learn how to fulfill my calling as a Ward Family History Consultant. The two manuals provide a lot of instructions as to how to do the research, but my concern is that it often tells you that when you has a question, ask your Ward Family History Consultant. I am sure not ready to answer questions. We stopped in Idaho Falls ate dinner. I then leaned back in the truck seat with a pillow and blanket and Mae with me and I slept for about ½ hour. Mae continued to read as I drove. She read from the book “The Gift”. It is a novel but very good. We got home about 9 PM. When we walked in the house, Mae noticed her poinsettia which I had bought her and it looked like it was dead. We were only gone two days, but without water for that long all the leaves were wilted and looked dead. It was a large beautiful poinsettia so Mae felt bad. She gave it some water and we will see what happens. After getting unpacked and some of the things put away we crawled into bed and continued to read the last of the book. It was mid-night when we went to sleep. I need to add some place that I have sure enjoyed having Mae come with me on this trip. She is sure special.
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
I got up at 6 AM but went back to bed. We then slept until 8:30 before we got up. By the time we got through with our morning routine I prepared breakfast and we ate at 11 AM. I worked on my journal getting it caught up. Mae was excited to see that the poinsettia was beautiful again. I guess it just needed water, but we didn’t think it would make it. We were both happy to see that it did. My Palm day planner will not work. I don’t know what happened to it but there is just a black mark on a silver screen and all the information seems to be lost. I was going to take it back to Staple’s where I bought it as I bought a warranty with it. I went to the bank to deposit Scott’s check. I also had Mae’s prescriptions refilled at the Pharmacy, bought some groceries for Mae and filled the car with gas. I decided to wait until tomorrow to take the Palm back. I will be in Layton tomorrow anyway and it is to cold and too much traffic to go today. Bob and I went Home Teaching this evening. we were able to visit all three families. With the Casey’s we only get to speak to them on the steps, the Fallis’s weren’t feeling well so we just visited for a minute on the door steps also. Patriarch and Sister Johnson is always a nice visit. Mae had made pumpkin bread for me to take to each of our families and Bob brought each of them a Christmas cake. Mae tended Kylan and Ashley this evening while Scott and Mishelle went shopping. They sure enjoy their Grandma. Scott isn’t feeling very well this evening so they didn’t shop very long tonight. After they picked the children up and went home, Mae and I watched the 1933 Holiday version of the Christmas Carrel. I filled in my journal and we went to bed.
Thursday, December 13, 2007
I got up early so that I could take our car over to Dee’s Service and have it tuned up. This is the first time we have had a turn up on this car. I had no idea how to do a tune up on this car. Bob followed me over and brought me back. I took my trailer and went to work at Linford’s. on the way I stopped at Staple’s and got a new Palm pilot. They said that mine was damaged by pressure being put on the screen. I am not sure how I did that unless it was when I carried out my tools from Craig and Carla’s. Staple’s still replaced it on warranty. I next went to The Home Depot and got some supplies for Linford’s. I worked 7 hours today. when I came home there was several accidents on the freeway so it took me over an hour to get home. Bryce and Irven came over and borrowed on of my nail guns and some staples. Mae had dinner ready when I got home. She had her Book Group this evening. I watched a movie staring Clark Gable called “Across the Wide Missouri”. After it finished I made this entry. I came down with a head cold today. I think I got it when Scott came to get the children last night. He wasn’t feeling well then.
Friday, December 14, 2007
I got up to go to work but I felt so bad that I called Shanna and stayed home. I stayed down all day and this evening I stayed home from the High Priest social. Mae went and enjoyed the evening. I did work on the computer and restored my new Palm Pilot. I had to download some additional programming witch without high speed internet took several hours. When I did get it restored even the scriptures were there.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
I slept well last night but still stayed down. I did some work on my computer and set up every member of our family on a birthday calendar. I started watching a western series directed by John Langdon Jr. at 10 AM and we watched it all day. Scott and Mishelle brought Kylan and Ashley over today so they, Scott and Mishelle could do some Christmas shopping. Scott didn’t come in this time as he didn’t want to take the chance of infecting me more. I think there is either 5 or 6 shows in the series and we watched all of them and the first one a second time. It was after 11 PM when we got to bed. I went to bed before Mae was ready and I was out before she came to bed.
Sunday, December 16, 2007
I woke at 3AM and was up for at least ½ hour. I almost went into the living room to set in the recliner but decided to try going back to bed. I did go back to sleep and slept until almost 8AM. We laid in bed and watched The Mormon Tabernacle Choir and The Spoken Word. Today they also had The Bells and Orchestra along with some dancers. We next lessoned to some Fireside talks on the BYU channel. I did some figuring to see if we needed to pay more tithing but found that until we get some money from Sherman’s and Linford’s then I have gone in the hole with my extra work. That is a little discouraging to realize. We attended our Block program and then returned home. Bob had prepared dinner for all our family. We had Roy and Linda, Irven and Sandy, Bob and Carroll, Mark and Mae and I. The dinner was very good and then Bob had made pumpkin pie and apple pie for desert. We set around for a while and just visited. We broke up about 9 PM. Roy and Linda had given us a special Christmas card with a lot of meaning with it. It was a 12 inch spike to be hung on the tree. As we didn’t put up a tree this year we laid it with the Nativity setting. I filled out this entry of my journal while Mae called and talked with Mike. We then each played a game of spider solitaire on the computer before we went to bed.
Monday, December 17, 2007
We got up early and I went to work this morning as I feel much better. While I was saying my morning prayers I heard Mae shout “Oh No! and several other explanations.” I excused myself and rushed into the kitchen. She had turned the wrong burner on and melted a measuring cup. I told her I didn’t think it was worth the heart attack she about caused me to have. I really had to chuckle over her excitement. I worked until after 5PM. Sandi was going to come out but she had to many things going so she called and canceled. I called Mae to let her know. She had dinner already so I had her ask Georgia and Rick but they had other plans. She invited Bob, Carroll and Mark to come down. She had a lovely meal and then Bob, Carroll, Mae and I played Canasta. We didn’t have time for a complete game but when we quite the girls were ahead so we gave the game to them. I filled out this entry and we went to bed.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Mae was so special in helping me get off to work. Just after I left the house my phone rang. When I saw that the call was from Mae I wondered what I forgot. Mae just called to tell me how much she is enjoying the Poinsettia that I had bought her. She is such a wonderful wife and sweetheart. I worked all day at Danny and Shanna’s. Deanna came over after lunch to tend children for Shanna. She came down and visited for a few minutes until the baby woke and she went to take care of her. It was good to visit with her about their mission. I was really tired when I got home. Mae had dinner ready after I showered. I relaxed in the recliner for a few minutes and then we turned the TV on. The Hallmark show called “The Note” was just coming on so we watched it. It was really a good story and we sure enjoyed watching it. I filled in this entry while Mae took a plate of goodies to the Larsen’s. Sister Larsen is going into the hospital for cataract operation tomorrow. She has sure had her share of trials. She is also fighting cancer for the sixth time. Good night!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
I worked at Danny and Shanna’s today. I stopped on the way this morning for a texturing brush and a drop cloth. I finished at 3 PM so I had time to pick up Randy’s plans from Robert Love’s on the way home. Mae had a Relief Society Enrichment Night this evening. Sandy came over and went with Mae. Irven came over and spent time with me. We watched a show on Hallmark “Grandpa for Christmas”. We then were going to play a game when Mae and Sandy came so we played a game of Knock and a game of Harts with them. It is late so we will go to bed.
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Mae didn’t sleep very well so I let her sleep and I got myself off to work. She had prepared my lunch for me while she was up. I worked hard all day and quite at 3 PM. I will have to come back tomorrow. I showered and cleaned up after getting home. I then laid on the inversion table for a few minutes and then on the Chee machine. I fell asleep while on the machine. We ate dinner and then we watched a show on Hallmark that was cute. Mae has been busy getting things ready for our Family Christmas party tomorrow night and getting clothes cleaned, pressed and packed for going to Arizona. She worked all day and all evening. It’s now 9:30 PM and I think we are about ready to go to bed.
Friday, December 21, 2007
I went to work at Danny and Shanna’s and worked until 1:30 PM. it snowed last night and the roads were very slippery this morning. I finished and cleaned up. I ate my lunch on the way home. When I got home I showered and cleaned up. I then went down to Randy’s and he gave me a treatment. Mae has been very busy all day getting things packed and ready for this evening and for our trip to Arizona tomorrow. She is about beat already. I stopped on the way home and deposited my checks from Sherman’s and from Linford’s. We quickly packed the things into the pickup for the family party tonight and went up to David’s. We had all our family, except Shellie’s family, at David’s this evening. We had a nice dinner, played games, sang Christmas carols and had the Christmas nativity. As we are not going to be hear for Christmas we exchanged Christmas gifts this evening. Mae got a electric grill, some jewelry and a wagon. I received a gift certificate for a Flaming Gorge Fishing Guided Lake Trout Chartered Service. Wow! What a gift from all of my family. I will be looking forward to that trip. We got home after 10 PM. Sandi and Nike stopped by and got the snowmobiles and Mike came home with us and I gave him the snow blower. He used my truck to take it home. We were tired so I filled out this journal entry and we went to bed.
Saturday, December 22, 2007
I didn’t sleep too well and got up at 4 AM. I slept in the recliner for a while before getting up and again trying the bed. After a couple of hours I went back to bed. We slept until almost 8 AM. Mae woke up very discouraged over not having gifts for our great-grand-children at the party last night. I held her in my arms and she cried for a while. I told her we could drive out to Tooele and take gifts if she wanted. We ate breakfast and got packed but didn’t rush. It was noon before we left. We tried to call JaNae but she wasn’t home. We stopped at Chelcie’s but they we also gone. We then decided to just leave them at Sandi’s. We were glad that we did because it gave us a opportunity to see Sandi’s decoration. She does have her home decorated very nice. We went south from Tooele towards Delta and then South east to Fillmore. We went across highway 20 to highway 89, stopping at Panquige for gas and then we went to Page Arizona. Just as we were going to turn into Page a police car light turned on behind me. the officer said that the light on my license plate was out. Also I had weaved across the center line three times since he had been following me. He checked the apple juice that I was drinking, asked if I was tired and asked if I was on medications. He suggested that we stop and get some rest which was our intent anyway. I think that the three times that I weaved was 1st I pulled onto the center line to show Mae the vibration markers, 2nd as we crossed the dam there was a decoration in lights on the dam that I was trying to see and the 3rd was I was debating on where the turning lane was to go into town. Anyway we stopped at the Motel 6 and stayed the night.
Sunday, December 23, 2007
We didn’t get us until after 8 AM, so we were to late to make the 9 AM Sacrament meeting. We got ready and went to breakfast. After eating we went to the 11 AM block meetings. It was a Lamanite Ward with Bishop Whitehorse conducting. We first met the Bishop of the earlier Ward and visited with him for a few minutes. We next met a sister that had over heard us tell the Bishop where we were from. She said that she know where Clinton was as she had been on the Indian Placement Program living in West Point. We told about us having Grace Upshaw with us on the program and she said that she had met Grace and that her and her husband had given Grace a ride to Newgallip New Mexico where Grace lived. Attending the Lamanite Ward was a very enjoyable experience. From there we stopped at the Maverick gas station so I could get a frozen yogurt but the station was under total remodeling and closed. We drove on to Flag Staff and stopped at a Maverick there where we got gas and some frozen yogurts. We drove on to the Phoenix area and stopped to stretch our legs before driving on to Shellie and Roy’s. While we were stopped Mae called Mike to let them know that we arrived ok. Mike said that he had spent most of the day working on the snow blower in order to get is repaired and running. He was really proud that he could do it. We visited with the family for a little while before going to bed.
Monday, December 24, 2007
We slept in although I had got up earlier but was able to go back to sleep. I decided to cook biscuits and gravy for breakfast. I took a shower and shaved and then started breakfast. Shellie came in and helped me. We visited almost more than we cooked but finally got breakfast ready. Roy worked on his truck most of the day. I tried to find parts for our car to get the license plate light repaired but will not be able to get the part until Wednesday morning as they are closing for Christmas Eve. We helped wrap Christmas presents. I helped Roy a little with his truck. Mae and Shellie went shopping. Mae was able to buy her some sweaters at Mervin’s where Garrett works, so not only were they on sale but we also got Garrett’s discount. This evening we help deliver some presents to a single mother and her daughters that are friends of Shellie and Roy. They need the help. The gifts were delivered anonymously. By the time we got presents wrapped and set under the tree and I entered my journal it was after mid-night.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
I woke just before 6 AM and had asked myself why no one was up by now on Christmas morning when Quint came over the intercom and said, “Mom and Dad it’s now 6 o’clock! When can we get up?” We were soon all up and it was a very enjoyable Christmas morning. The children were very good at watching others open their gifts and were excited to give others a gift from them. I got a pair of new pajamas, a new jump suit, a tie, an adjustable ranch, a DVD, a bottle of peanuts and of course the fishing trip from all my children and the picture album that Shellie made for us of the Israel trip. I gave Mae a dress, a sweater and a DVD plus all the gifts from the grandchildren. As the gifts concluded the last gift for the children was a large box. They all gathered around while it was opened. It had bricks plus a note in the box. The note inside the box, lead them on a treasure hunt that all the children participated in. It was fun to see them include Jase in the fun. It ended up taking them to the toy hauler in the driveway and inside was a sandy buggy. Mae and I took a nap as did Roy and Shellie. Garrett also took a nap but the other boys just kept going all day. Cheryl called us to wish us a Merry Christmas and to thank us for our Christmas letter that we sent to her. Mike called to wish us a Merry Christmas and said that they had got several inches of snow and he sure enjoyed using the snow blower to clean his walks and driveway as well as several other peoples in the area. I help Roy get the sand buggy out and everyone enjoyed a ride with it. Garrett and I drew on plans for Randy’s house for a while. There is some things that Garrett was able to show me with the AutoCAD and some things I showed him. Shellie, Garrett, Mae and I watched a movie but it wasn’t that good. Mae and Shellie got visiting and I fell asleep. It was after mid-night when I finished this entry and we went to bed.
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
We slept in and then Mae and I took showers and I shaved. Shellie cooked omelets for breakfast. Roy worked most of the day getting his machines ready to go to the sand dooms. I went to a Chevrolet dealer in Chandler and got the parts to repair the light over the license plate and when I got back home I replaced the broken one. It was almost 5 PM before we were able to get away. We drove to Yuma and then crossed the Arizona, California state line. It was about another 20 miles to the sand duns. There were quite a large number of camps but we found a spot that Roy liked and set up the camp.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
We slept in. The day was spent with Roy and the boys riding the sand machines. Mae and I did go out for a little while with the new sand buggy. I was surprised that the boys spent quite a few hours watching videos. I got pretty tired of them and went for a walk. This evening Roy was trying to repair the muffler on the new sand buggy when the trailer gas supply tanks ran to empty. I volunteered to go to Yuma to get more propane. Shellie wanted to go with me. We only had to go about 10 miles when I saw a Shell service station and took a chance of them having propane. They did and the also had most of the items that Shellie wanted. Roy was surprised when we returned to camp so quickly.
Friday, December 28, 2007
We wished Mae a happy birthday. Mae and I had decided to go shopping for her a birthday gift after Christmas but She and Shellie went Wednesday afternoon and bought her 4 sweaters for her Birthday gift from me. Oh well it saved me some shopping. Again the boys and Roy went riding. Shell and Roy went out together for a while. The boys again spent a lot of time watching Gilligan’s Island on DVD. Mae and I took a long walk. I took a map for a while. Shellie cooked Mae a Birthday Cake.
Saturday, December 29, 2007
This morning was about the same with the boys playing for a while on the machines and then coming back and watched more DVD’s. I went outside and read for a while. Mae and I went for a longer walk today. I laid down and took a nap and about 1 PM was woke up. We packed up and left about 4 PM for home. We stopped at Yuma and got something to eat. It was about 9 PM when we got home. We unpacked and put things away. Mae and I were tired so after showering we went to bed.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
We got up after 8 AM and soon started getting ready for church. We attended meetings with Roy and Shellie. The boys road to church with us. Mae had asked me it I know where the church house was and I said that I did. How ever as I started to go to the church Garrett ask me why I was going the direction that I was. I was then told that they attended a new building since we were here last. It was a good thing Garrett road with us as I think Quint and Kevis would not have noticed that I was going the wrong direction until we arrived at the wrong chapel. We arrived just as the meeting was starting. We enjoyed the spirit that was in the sacrament meeting. The testimonies and speakers did a very good ob. I was especially impressed with the Sister that spoke as she told of an experience that happened to her in her senior year at high school. She was on the golf team and towards the end of the tournament her ball went into a sand trap. It took her 14 strokes before she got out of the trap. I can’t imagine still having the courage to finish the game. Shellie teaches the Gospel Doctrine class and did a very good time. Veldon and Pattie Seymore also attended Shellie and Roy’s ward. We enjoyed attending the Gospel Doctrine Class as Shellie is the teacher. She was well prepared and got good class participation. We were very proud to be her parents. After the meetings Shellie cooked a very nice dinner. Roy’s parents also came over and had dinner with us. Before they left Roy’s father read us an experience of his 2nd cousin who served as a helicopter pilot in the Vietnam conflict. It was a very interesting experience.
Monday, December 31, 2007
We slept in and after getting up I showered and shaved. I had a call from Nike that we missed yesterday so I called it back. I couldn’t reach either Nike or Sandi but Sandi soon called me back to let me know that the Flaming Gorge fishing had to be scheduled or loose it so they scheduled it for August the 7th. We will try to work a trip out of it for more than Nike and I. Shellie cooked hot cakes for breakfast. Roy prepared his hot cakes and as he went to pour syrup over them the bottle separated for the lid and handle. The bottle dropped onto his plate but syrup splashed all over Roy, Shellie and Mae plus the table chairs and floor. Everyone stopped all activity and set very quiet but my mind remembered getting mad at the cow for kicking over the bucket of milk.  The milk that had remained in the bucket splashed back into my face. Mike and David held their laugh for a minute and then roared with laughter. That is just what I did with this instance and it did break the tension as I told my experience. After breakfast I helped Roy empty the sewer tanks on the trailer and return it to the storage lot where he keeps it. This afternoon Mae and I went to the grocery store to get a few items. We then took the car to a car wash where we washed and vacuumed it out. We came back home and waxed and polished the car. It sure looks much better now. Roy and Shellie went over to some friends for a New Years Eve party. Mae and I stayed home with the kids. The kids were playing video games so Mae and I put on a DVD. It was one that we had watched before but we still enjoyed it. I am disappointed that Shellie and Roy’s children just want to watch or play the selection of entertainment that they do. They don’t watch TV because of the pour selection of shows on it but I am not sure that a lot of these selections are not just as bad. I don’t know and only time will tell. I came in and worked on my journal rather that watch the show Garrett had put on. Garrett went to a party with some of his friends so I put the DVD of “The Times and Teachings of Joseph Smith” volume 1 on and we watched it. Shellie and Roy came home and we played games until just before mid-night. We then stopped and prepared for a count down and wished the New Year in with noise makers and a toast of non-alcoholic wine. I finished up this journal entry and started 2008’s journal.


Preparation time
30 mins to 1 hour
Cooking time
30 mins to 1 hour
Serves
Serves 6-8
Dietary
All the sweetness in this cake comes from honey and a maple cream topping, balanced beautifully by candied grapefruit and blood orange.
Equipment and preparation: you will need a deep 20cm/8in round tin and a kitchen thermometer for this recipe.
For the cake, preheat the oven to 170C/150C Fan/Gas 3.
Line the base of a deep 20cm/8in round tin with baking parchment and grease with butter.
Combine the almonds, polenta, flour and bicarbonate of soda in a bowl and set aside.
In a free-standing mixer, beat the butter until smooth, then add the honey and grapefruit zest.
Gradually beat in the eggs and reserved dry ingredients. Pour the batter into the tin and bake for approximately 30 minutes.
For the citrus syrup, mix the grapefruit and orange juice and honey in a saucepan and heat gently until the honey has melted. Bring to the boil and simmer until temp reaches 105C on a sugar thermometer. Remove from the heat.
Once the cake is baked, set it aside to cool. Prick the surface of the cake with a skewer and drizzle with half the citrus syrup.
 Use a potato peeler to remove slices of the citrus fruit skin.
Add the peel to a saucepan and cover with boiling water. Boil for 2 minutes, then remove the peel and discard the water. Repeat this process twice until the bitterness has been removed from the peel.
Add the remaining citrus syrup to a saucepan. Add the peel and cook for 5-10 minutes until translucent. Set aside to cool.
For the maple cream, heat the maple syrup in a small pan and boil until reduced by half. Set aside to cool. Beat the mascarpone until smooth, then add the reduced maple syrup.
To assemble the cake, cover with the maple cream and arrange the candied peel on top.


Configuration
Username
Screenshot Folder
Choose a Folder
Delete Screenshots
Ignore String
Bot Channel
Bot Token
Webhook URL
save
Configuration Saved.
configure


During the summers of 2017, I worked on the Gameblox project with the MIT Scheller Teacher Education Program Lab. Gameblox is a block-based programming encironment, developed by the STEP Lab. The environment is designed for making games online, and intended for classroom use. The novice friendly programming allows for students and teachers alike to create games and enhance the learning experience.


Auf Wiedersehen Dropbox
So, a few years back, I almost moved away from Dropbox. In fact, I generally got away without using Dropbox at all, which worked out nicely. However, I went back and for a while, I’ve also had Dropbox lurking away on my system.
That is until today where I fell foul of the three device limit. On the free, basic tier, Dropbox only permits three devices to be used. This hadn’t effected me, as for the past year and a bit, I had my personal account linked to my Pro, office account. It seems that where the paid for account was linked, the three device limit didn’t apply.
However, I hadn’t been working for that company now for almost a year, and it looks like they’ve now stopped paying for my account and the account has lapsed. Which now means that my ability to add additional items has now lapsed.
This has caused some issues initially when I came across it, as I was trying to add Dropbox to a new device.
Resilo Sync
The reason I don’t have a paid for Dropbox account is Resilo Sync. This allows me to sync all my files between my PC’s and devices without having to pay a monthly fee. The downside perhaps, is that one device always has to be on for the files to sync. However, it has worked pretty reliably for me since I bought it.
One main downside is that as it is based on BitTorrent, it doesn’t seem to work on some internet connections that may block torrents (my workplace wifi springs to mind). This has never proven to be particularly problematic, as it isn’t often I’ll be on a wifi for a long period of time.
OneDrive
However, there are still times when using a cloud based service comes in handy, and for that, I’ve switched over to Onedrive. By default, this is installed on Windows and working, so it seemed like the best solution. I can also run it alongside my work Onedrive as well, as it allows you to link different accounts to it - it also links to Teams/Sharepoint folders and can sync those to the local drive as well.
Whilst I’ve found the syncing to be slightly slower perhaps than Dropbox, it performs equally as well with the sync of files so far, and it also supports selective sync on the free version, which is better than the free version of Dropbox (Resilo Sync does as well).
By having the online service, I can sync files back to my Mac and Hazel can file them for me and I can add these from anywhere.
Sacrifices
There are some issues with switching fully to Onedrive - for example, a lot of iOS apps use Dropbox as the file system. Some of these are being updated to use the iOS files app, so those ones work quite nicely, but where the apps haven’t been updated to take this in to account, then these apps are stuck using Dropbox and I can’t access the synced files on the desktop.
This mainly effects writing apps - Editorial for example still uses Dropbox as it’s file storage and it’s a shame, as this one of my favourite editors on the iPad. However, as I seem to have moved to Inspire Writer on Windows for writing blog posts and use plain text for my notes, which are accessible in Onedrive on the iPad Files app, I don’t have much of a problem.
Overall, it’s been a fairly decent breakup, and currently no signs of having to return!


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Package pit_ut_pkg
Implementation package for type PIT_UT This output module is used for unit tests only and writes messages to the UT_PIT package. This way, the outcome of unit tests can be automatically checked by the UTPLSQL framework
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log
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Method to pass log information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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log
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Method to pass state information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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print
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Method to pass general information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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notify
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Method to pass notification information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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enter
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Method to pass enter information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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leave
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Method to pass leave information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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context_changed
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Method to pass context change information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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initialize_module
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Method to pass initialize information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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log
Procedure log(p_message in message_type)
Method to pass log information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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Method implements the LOG member procedure of type PIT_UT and passes the message instance to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT.
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p_message
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Instance of MESSAGE_TYPE
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log
Procedure log(p_params in msg_params)
Method to pass state information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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Method implements the LOG member procedure overload with MSG_PARAMS of type PIT_UT and passes the MSG_PARAMS instance to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT.
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p_message
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Instance of MESSAGE_TYPE
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print
Procedure print(p_message in message_type)
Method to pass general information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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Method implements the PRINT member procedure of type PIT_UT and passes the message instance to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT.
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p_message
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Instance of MESSAGE_TYPE
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notify
Procedure notify(p_message in message_type)
Method to pass notification information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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Method implements the NOTIFY member procedure of type PIT_UT and passes the message instance to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT.
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p_message
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Instance of MESSAGE_TYPE
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enter
Procedure enter(p_call_stack in call_stack_type)
Method to pass enter information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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Method implements the ENTER member procedure of type PIT_UT and passes the CALL_STACK_TYPE instance to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT.
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p_call_stack
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Instance of CALL_STACK_TYPE
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leave
Procedure leave(p_call_stack in call_stack_type)
Method to pass leave information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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Method implements the LEAVE member procedure of type PIT_UT and passes the CALL_STACK_TYPE instance to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT.
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p_call_stack
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Instance of CALL_STACK_TYPE
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context_changed
Procedure context_changed(p_ctx in pit_context)
Method to pass context change information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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Method implements the CONTEXT_CHANGE member procedure of type PIT_UT and passes the PIT_CONTEXT instance to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT.
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p_ctx
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Instance of PIT_CONTEXT
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initialize_module
Procedure initialize_module(self in out pit_ut)
Method to pass initialize information to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT
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Method implements the INITIALIZE_MODULE member procedure of type PIT_UT and passes the status of PIT_UT to UT_PIT.SET_RESULT.
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p_message
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Instance of MESSAGE_TYPE
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“Queer grammar!” said Holmes with a smile as he handed the paper back to the inspector. “Did you notice how the ‘he’ suddenly changed to ‘my’? The writer was so carried away by his own story that he imagined himself at the supreme moment to be the hero.”
— Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (1859–1930), Three Gables
In books like this one the word “player” is overused. There are at least three identities involved in play: the person typing and reading (“player”), the main character within the story (“protagonist”), and the voice speaking about what this character sees and feels (“narrator”). There is a triangle of relationships between them, and it's a triangle with very different proportions in different games.
1. Protagonist and player. “What should you, the detective, do now?” asks ‘The Witness’ pointedly on its first turn. Numerous games (‘Zork’, for instance) take the attitude that anyone who turns up can play, as themselves, regardless of gender or attitudes. This is to equate player with protagonist, making them almost the same. Sometimes the equation is actually engineered: ‘Leather Goddesses of Phobos’ notices into which bathroom the player chooses to move the protagonist and decides the protagonist's gender accordingly. ‘Seastalker’ (Stu Galley and Jim Lawrence, 1984), aimed at a younger audience, asks for the player's name and gives it to the protagonist, too. At the other extreme is Amy Briggs's much underplayed ‘Plundered Hearts’ (1987), which has as its heroine a specific girl whisked away by pirates in the West Indies. Reviewing in SPAG 4, Graeme Cree wrote that:
In ‘Zork’, you're just some anonymous guy who was walking by the white house. You have no particular personality, or history before this point. ‘Planetfall’ makes an effort to paint your character with the enclosed diary, but it is all chrome … ‘Plundered Hearts’, more than any other game gave me the feeling of really being inside someone else's head. Throughout the game, who you are plays an important part. Disguising your identity and altering your appearance is important in several places to elicit a desired reaction from other characters …
Either approach presents difficulties. If the protagonist is uncharacterised, the story may lack literary interest. If heavily determined, the protagonist is likely to be highly unlike the player and this risks losing the player's sense of engagement.
▲ Few players have minded becoming the Reverend Stephen Dawson, the middle-aged clergyman of ‘Muse, an Autumn Romance’ (Christopher Huang, 1998), whose behaviour is constrained by his emotional blockage. But there are players who resent being obliged to identify with gay protagonists. On the whole this is their problem, not the game's, and it was for them that Neil James Brown wrote his pointed spoof ‘The Lost Spellmaker’ (1997), the exploit of Mattie, a lesbian dwarf Secret Service agent addicted to sweets.
· · · · ·
In an interactive medium, the beliefs and abilities of the protagonist are more than simply a painted backcloth, because the player participates in them. These special abilities might be called the “magic” in the game's model world, in the broadest sense:
For magic and applied science alike the problem is how to subdue reality to the wishes of man.
(C. S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man.) In ‘The Witness’, for instance, the magic might be said to be the detective's ability to arrest or call for forensic analysis, and in ‘Ruins’ we have the camera and the packing case. The magic is the imaginary fabric of the world, and it is as essential for the magic to have a coherent rationale as it is for the map to suggest a coherent geography.
Because the magic is part of the background, it should not be allowed to become too crudely a way to solve puzzles. An “open door” spell should be a general technique, with several different applications across its game. Better yet, these techniques should be used indirectly and with ingenuity, for instance opening a locked door by casting a “cause to rust” spell on its hinges. And plenty of puzzles should have solutions which don't involve the magic at all, or else the player will start to feel that it would save a good deal of time and effort just to find the “win game” spell and be done with it.
▲ In a few games a linguistic surrealism is the reality: for instance ‘Nord and Bert Couldn't Make Head or Tail of It’ (Jeff O'Neill, 1987) is entirely based on puns and the T-Removing Machine of ‘Leather Goddesses of Phobos’ can transform a rabbit into a rabbi. A literary critic might call this a “postmodern” magic, which dislocates language from what is “really” happening in the game. This is exceptionally hard to do well.
▲ Games with magic in the authentic fantasy sense seldom follow the austere example of Tolkien, where – although there are spells, as where Gandalf sets light to fir cones in (the book) The Hobbit – the sign of a wizard is more often a priest-like ability to question out motives in what people say and a sage-like wisdom about nature and history. Instead, perhaps for easy parsing and convenient subdivision and perhaps simply to imitate Gary Gygax's role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, interactive fiction has tended to follow the Dying Earth stories (c. 1950) of Jack Vance† where spells are at once dramatic flourishes, complex mental exercises which must be memorised, and highly specific tools with outré names like “Xarfaggio's Physical Malepsy” and “The Excellent Prismatic Spray”. Many schemes of magic have been tried, and naturally each designer wants to find a new one. Sometimes spells take place in the mind (‘Enchanter’), sometimes with the aid of certain objects (‘Curses’); sometimes halfway between (Level 9's ‘Magik’ games, David Williamson and Pete Austin, 1985–6). Keying magic to objects is advantageous because objects are tactile and part of the game's other play. In other respects, too, magic needs to be subject to the discipline of being easily subdivided and described. “Change a belt or staff into a small poisonous serpent” is far more amenable to designing (and parsing) than “convert up to 1000 cubic feet of rock to mud or quicksand”.
▲ If the map is very large, or a good deal of moving to-and-fro is called for, designers have frequently used magic to provide rapid transport: such as the magic words in ‘Advent’, or the eight colour-coded collars in ‘Dungeon Adventure’, or the teleport booths in ‘Planetfall’ (Steve Meretzky, 1983), or the black and white dots in ‘Adventure Quest’ (Mike, Nick and Pete Austin, 1984, 1983). Finding and deducing how to use this transport system can be a puzzle in itself, one whose solution is optional but rewarding.
· · · · ·
2. Narrator and protagonist. Some narrators behave like a French “new novelist”, reporting only what the protagonist is currently seeing and doing. Others enjoy access to what the protagonist thinks and believes:
Aunt Jemima has two cats, Jane and Austin, but she finds Austin especially annoying – this ought to make Austin your natural ally, but as it is you tend to glower at each other.
Here the narrator of ‘Curses’ (Graham Nelson, 1993) tells the player that the protagonist doesn't like somebody. In a different game this could have been established by events, showing rather than telling. Indeed, the protagonist's relationship with Austin might have been neutral until established by the player's choices.
It is the narrator who speaks the game's opening words, sometimes called the “overture” and conventionally used to say what sort of person the protagonist is, and what he or she is trying to do. Overtures vary widely in how direct and indeed how honest they are. Many, like ‘Curses’, leave the player guessing or misdirect as a form of tease. This is a reaction against the overture style of the 1980s, exemplified by ‘Snowball’ (original version):
The interstar freezer, Snowball 9, has entered its target starsystem. And it will soon enter the star unless you can do something!
Such directness was itself a necessity considering that players of the day expected any game to be a treasure hunt unless they were told otherwise. The overtures to quest games became highly predictable: here is ‘Enchanter’ (Marc Blank and Dave Lebling, 1983):
You, a novice Enchanter with but a few simple spells in your Book, must seek out Krill, explore the Castle he has overthrown, and learn his secrets. Only then may his vast evil…
And so on and so forth. What makes such briefings disappointing is partly that they often run on far too long and are full of words like “dread” and “imbue”, and either take themselves very seriously or, which is worse, don't. Here is about a quarter of the “overture”, or opening text, of ‘Beyond Zork’ (Brian Moriarty, 1987), a game not meant as a comedy:
Y'Gael's dry chuckle stilled the murmur of the
crowd. “You forget your own history, Gustar. Are you not author
of the definitive scroll on the Coconut of Quendor?”
A tumult of amphibious croaks and squeals drowned out Gustar's retort.
Y'Gael hobbled over to a table laden with mystical artifacts, selected
a small stone and raised it high.
“The Coconut is our only hope,” she cried, her eyes shining
in the stone's violet aura. “Its seed embodies the essence of
our wisdom. Its shell is impervious to the ravages of Time. We must
reclaim it from the Implementors, and hide it away before its secrets
are forgotten!”
Self-indulgent, self-parodying, slack, told in the past tense, uninteractive and basically dumb. If Moriarty felt that the quest of the game was hackneyed, a better response would have been to restructure the game, not to allow the narrator to show disdain for it. The same author's overture to ‘Trinity’ was by contrast honed to perfection:
Sharp words between the superpowers. Tanks in East
Berlin. And now, reports the BBC, rumors of a satellite blackout.
It's enough to spoil your continental breakfast.
But the world will have to wait. This is the last day of your $599
London Getaway Package, and you're determined to soak up as much of
that authentic English ambience as you can. So you've left the tour
bus behind, ditched the camera and escaped to Hyde Park for a contemplative
stroll through the Kensington Gardens.
A good deal has been achieved in these two paragraphs. Apart from details – mention of the BBC, of continental breakfasts, of the camera and the tour bus – you know who you are (an unadventurous American tourist, of no consequence to the world), where you are (Kensington Gardens, Hyde Park, London, England), and what is going on in the world beyond (bad news: World War III is about to break out). Also, nobody knows where you've gone. In style, the opening of #8216;Trinity’ is escapism from a disastrous world out of control, and notice the way the first paragraph is in tense, blunt, headline-like sentences, whereas the second is much more relaxed. For a second example, ‘Ballyhoo’:
As you trudge along in the wake of the outflowing crowd,
you thumb through your memories of this evening. Your experience of the
circus, with its ballyhooed promises of wonderment and its ultimate
disappointment, has been to sink your teeth into a candy apple whose
fruit is rotten.
Never mind the outrageous prices, the Mt. Everest
vantage point, the communistically long lines, the audience more savage
than the lion act. And it wasn't the shabbiness of the performances
themselves that's got you soured on Spangleland. No, instead it's that
the circus is a reminder of your own secret irrational desire to steal
the spotlight, to defy death, and to bask in the thunder of applause.
Many players will have no desire for any of that: but then the narrator is not talking about the player, only the protagonist.
▲ More detailed briefing information, if it is needed at all, can be placed interactively into the game – and not necessarily made available all at once: see the books in the library of ‘Christminster’ (Gareth Rees, 1995).
· · · · ·
3. Player and narrator. The narrator chooses how much to tell the player and which scenes to show instead. When the game lapses into a cut-scene, a passage of text in which something happens which the player cannot interact with, it is because the narrator has chosen to override the player. Gareth Rees (Usenet posting 8/8/95):
I decided not to use this technique, partly because I think it's an admission of defeat, a statement that the medium of adventure games is too inflexible to write the kind of character interaction we want to.
Cut-scenes risk dislocating the player's engagement with the game, and the level of trust between player and narrator. By the end of a successful game, the narrator can take greater risks, taking advantage of friendship so to speak. At the start, and especially in the overture text, the narrator does well to avoid cut-scenes and presumptions. Thomas Nilsson advises designers to
Create an image of him or it [the narrator] and stick to it. Receiving comments about your (limited) progress in the game might be funny, as long as they are not out of character.
Indeed many narrators are self-effacing and unintrusive so long as the player pursues the “correct” line of choices, but immediately emerge as wry, sardonic or knowing once this line is deviated from. The tiniest phrases betray this:
>wave
You wave, but nobody waves back. Life's like that.
>look behind hanging
Nope, no more keys.
You are falling towards the ground, wind whipping around you.
>east
Down seems more likely.

‘Kingdom of Hamil’; ‘Sorcerer’; ‘Spellbreaker’; ‘Curses’. It is no coincidence that these responses are often jibes at the player's progress. Like the player, but unlike every character in the game (including the protagonist), the narrator knows that it is a game: it's the narrator who announces the rules, awards points and offers clues. The un-mimetic passage from ‘The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy’ quoted in the previous section…
Ford lowers his voice to a whisper. “I'm not supposed to tell you this, but you'll never be able to finish the game without consulting the Guide about lots of stuff.”
…is funny (if it is) because Ford is usurping the narrator. Nobody would turn a hair at the more conventional alternative:
Ford hands over the book and turns away.
[Please type “consult guide about stuff” to look up its
entry on “stuff”, and so on.]
Indeed in some games it might be said that the parser, who asks questions like “Which do you mean…?” and in some games speaks only in square brackets, is a fourth character, quite different from the narrator.
Playing games with the narrator is one of Steve Meretzky's favourite comic techniques. Here is a more moderate, more typical example:
(It's no wonder this section of Mars is considered the Ruined Castle Capital of the Solar System.)
More moderate, yet even in ‘Leather Goddesses of Phobos’ such a remark feels the need for parentheses. It is only in parody that the narrator goes in for commentary full-time.
▲ This is a common tactic for designers of juvenile or silly games, who hope thereby to suggest that because the game is knowing about its shortcomings it is therefore more sophisticated, more mature. But it seldom is. Cf. the numerous ‘Zork’ pastiches which were intended to be parodies, or Big Al's ‘BJ Drifter’ (1998).
•
REFERENCES
For surveys of the quite extensive range of approaches to player identity
in the canonical games, see ‘Character Gender in Interactive
Fiction’, parts I and II, by Doug Anderson (XYZZYnews
3 and 6) and ‘Player Character Identity in IF’, John Wood
(XYZZYnews 9). Notable gender ambiguities include the ‘Snowball’
trilogy, whose protagonist is one Kim Kimberley, and ‘Jigsaw’,
which attempts a romantic sub-plot without specified genders on either
part.
•In later life, W. H. Auden (1907–73)
considered the ghostly identity narrating a poem to be one of its two
gifts to the reader: “The first question [the reader asks] is
technical: ‘Here is a verbal contraption. How does it work?’
The second is, in the broadest sense, moral: ‘What kind of guy
inhabits this poem?’ ”
† Though Dave Lebling cites the Earthsea novels of Ursula K. LeGuin as the main influence behind ‘Enchanter’.


Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. Our nation needed a symbol national symbol to unite us, which we can each display that shows our united front against terror. Now we do! This symbol, in a way, can spiritually protect us and deliver us from evil.
The American Flag unites us! Authentic flags, as President Abraham Lincoln might say, represents the better angles of our nature. As the Philosopher Aristotle might say, our flats represent each of us, the essence of who we are, our souls, our ethos.
Why stop at one flag when you could have both! Show your pride and fly them together!


zana
is a collection of (mostly) Clojure and (a small amount of) Java utilities, generally related to high performance numerical computation. @author John Alan McDonald @version 2015-11-27


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