If $X^n$ is a diagonal matrix with distinct eigenvalues, then is $X$ also a diagonal matrix with distinct eigenvalues?

Question: Assume that there exists an invertible matrix $P$ such that $P^{-1}X^nP$ is a diagonal matrix with distinct eigenvalues, then can I say that $P^{-1}XP$ is also a diagonal matrix with distinct eigenvalues? If so, how do I prove it?
Comment: The question in the title and the question in the question body aren't equivalent. What do you want to ask?
Comment: @nbubis Take $A$ such that $A^n=0$ and $A^n=P^{-1}X^nP$. Then of course $A^n$ is a diagonal matrix, but, even though $A$ might be diagonal, the equality $A=P^{-1}XP$ need not hold.
Comment: @GitGud - this would mean that $A$ is nilpotent, meaning that it has all zero eigenvalues, so I don't think youre example is valid.
Comment: You're both right, but I still maintain that the question isn't properly put. Reference to all the eigenvalues being different doesn't appear in the question body, plus $A$ and $X$ aren't quantified. I really can't understand what's being asked. Oh well... just as long as others do, I guess that's fine.
Comment: @GitGud - I believe they are equivalent..
Comment: @GitGud: I edited the question and I hope that now it makes sense.  Thank you for your time.
Comment: @Radu I'm still having trouble understanding your question. If $A^n=P^{-1}X^nP$ and $A^n$ is a diagonal matrix, do you wish to prove that $A$ is a diagonal matrix and $A=P^{-1}XP$?
Comment: @Git Gud : more interesting with distinct eigenvalues.
Comment: @GitGud Yes, I want to know if the following implication is true: $A^n$ is a diagonal matrix with distinct eigenvalues then A is a diagonal matrix with distinct eigenvalues
Comment: @Radu Now I understand and adam W has already provided a counterexample.
Comment: @GitGud You see, he didn't. As $I$ does not have distinct eigenvalues.
Comment: You're right...
Comment: @did I think you forgot to mention that the "root" matrix should have distinct eigenvalues.
Comment: @GitGud Corrected now. Thanks.
Answer: consider nth roots of unity - $X^n=I$ but $X \ne I$. Example : $$\pmatrix{0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0 \\}^2 = \pmatrix{1 & 0 \\ 0 & 1}$$
Comment: and take $P=I$..
Comment: @nbubis yes the question is not clear if *existence* is the main concern.
Comment: @nbubis and also you are correct, $P=I$ is implied.
Comment: @AdamW thank you for your response. Existance is not a concern, as in the title I specified that $X^n$ has distinct eigenvalues, so $P$ does indeed exist. Your example assumes that $X^n$=$I$, but this doesn't have distinct eigenvalues.
Answer: Assume that $M^n$ is the diagonal matrix with diagonal $(a_j)$ of distinct entries, in particular $\prod\limits_{j}(M^n-a_j)=0$. Thus $\prod\limits_j\prod\limits_{\ell=1}^n(M-b_{j,\ell})=0$ where, for each $j$, $x^n-a_j=\prod\limits_{\ell=1}^n(x-b_{j,\ell})$, that is, the $b_{j,\ell}$ are the $n$th roots of $a_j$. Since all the coefficients $(b_{j,\ell})_{j,\ell}$ are distinct, the polynomial $\prod\limits_j\prod\limits_{\ell=1}^n(x-b_{j,\ell})$ has simple roots and is null when evaluated at $M$. Thus $M$ is diagonalizable with a diagonal of distinct entries, say, $M=QDQ^{-1}$. Hence $M^n=QD^nQ^{-1}$ and $D^n$ must have diagonal entries $(a_j)$ since $M^n$ and $D^n$ are similar. In other words, $M^n=RD^nR^{-1}$ where $R$ is a permutation matrix and $(R^{-1}Q)M^n(Q^{-1}R)=M^n$. Thus, $Q=R$, that is, $Q$ was a permutation matrix from the onset and $QDQ^{-1}$ is also a diagonal matrix.
Finally, if $M^n$ is diagonal with distinct elements, so is $M$. Using $M=A$, this answers the question the OP asked in a comment. To answer the one the OP asked in the main post, apply this to $M=P^{-1}XP$.
Comment: Thank you very much for the answer.
Answer: It is true that if $X^n$ is an invertible matrix, then $X$ is an invertible matrix, and that if $X^n$ has all eigenvalues distinct, then so did $X$.
What remains to show is that if $P$ is an invertible matrix that diagonalizes $X^n$ (by similarity transformation $P^{-1} X^n P$, then $P$ will also diagonalize $X$.
If $X$ has all eigenvalues distinct, then it has a basis of eigenvectors, and we may take them as columns forming invertible matrix $Q$ such that $Q^{-1} X Q$ is diagonal.  Also $Q^{-1} X^n Q$ is diagonal, and up to a permutation of columns in $Q$, we will get the same diagonal matrix as $P^{-1} X^n P$.
Lets call that diagonal matrix $D$, bearing in mind all its diagonal entries are distinct.  Then $P^{-1} X^n P = D = Q^{-1} X^n Q$ implies $P D P^{-1} = Q D Q^{-1}$.  Hence $Q^{-1} P D = D Q^{-1} P$, and we have $D$ commutes with $Q^{-1} P$.
Claim: $R = Q^{-1} P$ is an invertible diagonal matrix.  Proof: Invertibility is clear as both $P$ and $Q$ are invertible.  It remains to show $R$ is diagonal.  Let $R_{ij}$ be an off-diagonal entry of $R$, $i \neq j$.  Then the equality $R D = D R$ means the *ij*th entry is the same, i.e. $R_{ij} D_{jj} = D_{ii} R_{ij}$.  Since those diagonal entries of $D$ are distinct, the off-diagonal entries of $R$ must be zero.  QED
Thus $P$ is $Q$ times an invertible diagonal matrix $R$, and it follows that $P$ diagonalizes $X$ just as well as $Q$ did: $P^{-1} X P = R^{-1} Q^{-1} X Q R$ is diagonal.
Comment: I assumed work over an algebraically closed field such as $\mathbb{C}$.  However if $P$ and $X$ happen to be real, the result still follows.
Comment: Excellent. Exactly what I was trying to find. Thank you.
Comment: I am not certain, but it looks as though your argument boils down to this statement: if $Q^{-1}D_0Q = D_1$ where both $D$ are diagonal, then $Q$ is diagonal. (The "up to permutaion" part maybe confusing me.) For that there is a counter-example: $\pmatrix{1 & 0 \\ 0 & 2}\pmatrix{0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0} =\pmatrix{0 & 1 \\ 1 & 0}\pmatrix{2 & 0 \\ 0 & 1}$
Comment: Is this a good digest of your answer? Short version using $X^n$ already diagonal:
$X^n=D$, $D$ is diagonal. Some $Q$ that diagonalizes $X$ (diagonal or not) gives $QX^nQ^{-1}=D$. $Q$ must be diagonal; look at $QD = DQ$.
Comment: @adamW: On your first commment, I was abrupt in treating "up to permutation", but your "counterexample" illustrates that a permutation matrix can rearrange the diagonal entries.  The second comment is a good digest except we must stress that $D$ has distinct diagonal entries (in order to conclude $Q$ diagonal).  After all if $X^n = D$ were the identity, it wouldn't tell us anything about $Q$ (except as assumed, $Q$ invertible).
Answer: Since your question title and question body don't quite match, I will try to answer both. Presumably you are working over an algebraically closed field $\mathbb{F}$, otherwise that $X^n$ have eigenvalues in $\mathbb{F}$ doesn't necessarily imply that $X$ has eigenvalues in $\mathbb{F}$.
Now, suppose $X^n$ is a diagonal matrix that, as the question title suggests, has $n$ distinct eigenvalues. Then $X$ also has $n$ distinct eigenvalues. Therefore there exists an invertible matrix $S$ (that contains eigenvectors of $X$ as columns) and a diagonal matrix $\Lambda$ such that $X=S\Lambda S^{-1}$. By assumption, $X^n=S\Lambda^nS^{-1}$ is also a diagonal matrix. As both $X^n$ and $\Lambda^n$ are diagonal matrices sharing the same set of eigenvalues, we must have $X^n=P\Lambda^nP^T$ for some permutation matrix $P$. Therefore $S\Lambda^nS^{-1}=P\Lambda^nP^T$, or $P^TS=(\Lambda^+)^n(P^TS)\Lambda^n$, where $\Lambda^+$ denotes the Moore-Penrose pseudoinverse of $\Lambda$. Since $\Lambda$ has distinct diagonal entries, it follows that all off-diagonal entries of $P^TS$ are zero. Thus $S=PD$ for some invertible diagonal matrix $D$. Hence $X=S\Lambda S^{-1}=PD\Lambda D^{-1}P^T=P\Lambda P^T$ is a diagonal matrix. So the assertion in the question title is correct.
We now turn to the question in your question body. If $P^{-1}X^nP$ is a diagonal matrix with distinct eigenvalues, let $Y=P^{-1}XP$. Then $Y^n$ is a diagonal matrix with distinct eigenvalues. By the previous argument, $Y$ is also a diagonal matrix with distinct eigenvalues.


Find all integers less than $m$ that are relatively prime to it

Question: Find all integers $n$ between $0\le n < m$ that are relatively prime to $m$, for $m =
4,5,9, 26$. We denote the number of integers $n$ which fulfill the condition by $\phi (m)$,
e.g. $\phi (3) = 2$. This function is called "Euler's phi function". What is $\phi (m)$ for $m =4,5,9,26$?
Comment: The instructions seem clear enough to be carried out. First problem, $m=4$. We are to look at $0,1,2,3$, identify which ones are relatively prime to $4$, and count them. That count will be $\varphi(4)$. Then move on to $m=5$.
Answer: $m$ and $n$ relatively prime is equivalent to $gcd(m,n)=1$.  Consider the prime factorizations:
$4=2^2$, $5=5^1$, $9=3^2$ and $26=2^*13$
Answer: Instead of providing a solution i'll suggest you to consider looking and proving the properties of the totient function. (And so you'll be able to finish a wider class of excercise of this kind)
You are interested in multiplicativity and behaviour of the function with power of a prime.


Prevent phone from automatically lowering media volume

Question: I have a Samsung Galaxy SII Skyrocket. Everytime I unplug my headphones/auxiliary cord from my phone and plug it back in, the media volume gets lowered to about 60%, system-wide, regardless of media player. As much as I appreciate that Android is looking out for my hearing, I don't want it to do this. Any way to prevent the phone from lowering the volume of its own accord?
Comment: Maybe have a look in the settings of your media player. And more details would be helpful like: which media player? which phone?
Comment: Updated with more detail.
Comment: There is a setting "Limited Headphone Volume" or something it should prevent too loud sound. You can toggle it in Settings->Sounds, i'm using CM10 but i'm not sure if it works on other ROMs(ie Touchwiz)
Comment: @wayback no such luck on default ROM.
Answer: I'd say this is solvable with an automation tool like Tasker, Llama & Co. Rawly described profile:
Condition: Headphones plugged
Action: Set audio level to X
Where "audio level" in many cases (at least with Tasker) can be defined more specific (e.g. different levels for notification, alert, incoming call...) -- and "X" being the specific level you'd like it to have.
This done, everytime you plug your headphones in, you'll have the same media volume you've defined.
Answer: Here is how to fix the problem without root and without setting the volume to some predefined volume (such as 100%).
This "feature" is controlled by a System.Global property audio_safe_volume_state, which is also reset automatically every 20 hours (this is why the volume periodically gets lowered all of a sudden even without plugging / unplugging the headset).
This excellent tutorial shows how to prevent volume lowering by changing the value of this property.
I cannot repeat the tutorial here, but the main points are:

Install Tasker and AutoTools
Grant AutoTools WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS permission (no root required, but this is to be done from a computer via USB debugging with ADB; the command is adb shell pm grant com.joaomgcd.autotools android.permission.WRITE_SECURE_SETTINGS)
Create tasks in Tasker (using AutoTools plugin) for start and for every several hours; you will probably need also to catch the event of plugging in a headset
In this task, set System.Global property audio_safe_volume_state to 2.

The value of 2 tells the system that it has shown you the "Do you REALLY want to increase the volume?" dialog and you have agreed.
Answer: There's an Xposed module to fix that: http://repo.xposed.info/module/com.pyler.nosafevolumewarning
It does the trick for me on the Galaxy Nexus I have plugged into my sound system.
Comment: This is not correct. Even with the mod installed the volume is still reduced. You're just not prompted when you try to raise it.
Answer: Hey Guys ive had this problem... volume decreasing to mute and youve got no control of it, even when going to settings of media player.. volume goes to mute, its was a simple solution in phone settings.
I went to settings/ my device /Sounds & notifictions. There youll see option for sound mode/ Make sure its set to sound and not vibrate or mute. Fixed my Problem with galaxy S4 . Dont know how the setting got changed but it while my phone was connected to my laptop via USB & the internet was on, Sum bug may have changed settings Possiblaly. Fix now
Answer: There's no hardware issue.  It has a software issue. Problem can be solved in this way

Install an anti-virus software on mobile. I recommend AVG.
Scan device and delete threats apps.
Problem solved
Comment: And how did you reach to this conclusion? Consider mentioning the source which lead you to this answer.


What would be the cheapest way to get video signal?

Question: I have an OSD that I would fiddle around with till I'll get new camera. For OSD to work, I need PAL video signal, it may be anything, like black only.
I was thinking may be test video signal generator would help, but those things are way too expensive for such task, may be it is possible to make something simple using arduino?
I don't have any analog video source at home, like VCR, my notebook does not provide S-Video.
Comment: Does your notebook have VGA? get ana adapter cable and use DPT.exe as a test pattern generator (free)
Answer: You can use an Arduino to output NTSC/PAL Video.
See: http://code.google.com/p/arduino-tvout/
I have used this and it does work, easy to set up too.
Answer: Simple board cameras are pretty cheap, and many are available in PAL or can be configured to it with a change of a strapping resistor on the board.
With a DAC (possible an R2R ladder) you can generate PAL in an FPGA.
There are various simple video game kits, such as the YBOX based on a Propellor chip, which output video.  Not sure if they do PAL with the stock firmware, but it could probably be modified for that if someone hasn't done it already.
Using a general purpose micro, a common trick is to get the clock speed to some multiple of the colorburst frequency, and then work out all the timings in relation to that.  You can output a square wave at various phases (then use a passive low pass filter) to make colors.  And if your goal is only to make some color bars or a bounding rectangle on the screen, working it all out in assembly language and counting cycles is within reason.
If you place a want add in a local publication you could probably pick up an old video game system quite inexpensively.
Answer:
S-Video to VGA/RCA adaptor cable which looks like this:
Configure external video port as PAL TV.
Then use your computer to generate video
Dozens of LCD test patterns here freeware with DPT.exe
Comment: wondering if I could fry my notebook accidently using this cable?
Comment: VGA RGB signals are 75ohm terminated impedance signals. The TV does not inject power on these ports. Just a passive terminator resistor. Dont be scared by the word "Terminator" it just means end of the cable. DPT is also an excellent test pattern for your TV so you can calibrated it for PC driven movies.


Facebook public feed API

Question: i'm working on project which mostly is a data-mining from social networks, so far, i've done twitter and it have really nice API, which allows me to pick an endpoint and recieve alredy filltered twits as streaming data. Now i'm working on a facebook, and there comes the question: with Graph API i would be able to get public feed of some definite page, but what if i would like to recieve posts from as many people as possible? Does Facebook Public Feed API works as Twitter's, and gives me data from as many sources as possible, or i missunderstood something?
Comment: I have same Question but right now getting one Clue that us `public feed API` but how to use i don't know so if you know please comment it
Answer: Facebook has restricted public feed api usage and its now available only to handful no of teams: https://developers.facebook.com/docs/public_feed

Access to the Public Feed API is restricted to a limited set of media publishers and usage requires prior approval by Facebook. You cannot apply to use the API at this time.
Answer: You're look for the Facebook Search API. https://developers.facebook.com/docs/reference/api/search/
You'll need an app with a token to access these. Some might need higher permissions though, but the generic one will work to search commons actions types (post, places, etc) who're publicly available on the platform.
You won't be able to search for private publications. Unless you search user who gave you direct permissions to read their timeline (one by one).
Comment: But if i need to search specific keyword like "#Odoo" then in search `#` is ignored then what can i do ?

Facebook public feed API


Long Breakeven inflation

Question: I want to go long bei by going long individual 10 year tips and short individual 10 year treasuries. How do I calculate and match the duration?
Answer: "In order to setup a breakeven trade, one needs to make an assumption about the beta between real yields and  nominal yields. Typically investors assume a beta of 1 however this could be changed based on historical relationships. In a breakeven trade with an assumed beta of 1, the risk weights are a function of the relative DV01 of the linker and nominal comparator bond" - JPM Inflation Linked Markets Guide 2017
My guess is most people would not "calculate" duration (or DV01) but rather just pull it up on Bloomberg or Eikon.
Comment: unfortunately i dont have access to either
Comment: DV01s for OTRs here: https://www.cmegroup.com/tools-information/quikstrike/treasury-analytics.html#

Long Breakeven inflation


Why use harmonic mean for precision and recall (f1 score) instead of just the product of precision and recall?

Question: General question here, I understand the purpose of using the harmonic mean to generate the f1 score for model evaluation. I'm not exactly sure though why we don't just take the product of precision and recall (precision x recall) and just use that number instead? What is the benefit of a harmonic mean over just the product of the rates?
Answer: Recall the definitions of precision and recall:
$$p=\frac{TP}{TP+FP}, r=\frac{TP}{TP+FN}$$
Both of them have meaning and focus on false positives or negatives. On the other hand, $F_1$ score seeks a common ground between them and has a meaning as well:
$$F_1=\frac{TP}{TP+\frac{1}{2}(FP+FN)}$$
where instead of taking only the false positives or negatives, their average is taken as false classifications.
All of the three formulas, in some way, define their true and falses and calculate success.
Of course, one could use $pr$ (or another measure) as a means for model selection, but note that you wouldn't reach a similar meaning with either $(p+r)/2$ or $pr$.


How do you turn this statement into a Mathematica formula?

Question: I'm reading a book on Nucleosynthesis.  It has this formula for the number density of a species:$$n_i=g_i\space e^{\mu_i/T}\int\frac{d^3p}{(2\pi)^3}e^{-E_1/T}$$I don't recognize this notation.  How do you implement $\int{d^3p}$ in Mathematica?
Comment: This, regrettably, has nothing to do with Mathematica though. Once you figure out what the formula means (which we cannot do considering that you do not provide a link to the source), then you could ask for help implementing it.
Comment: @MarcoB - Thanks for the suggestion.  I've tried to make it more focused for Mathematica users.
Answer: $d^3p$ is the volume element of momentum space, I think. So, $p$ is a point in 3 dimensional space; therefore an infinitesimal volume element in this space will be sort of...thrice $d$'d, one time for each axis. In other words, $d^3p = dp_1\ dp_2\ dp_3$, where $p=(p_1, p_2, p_3)$.
Note that $\int d^3p$ is notationally equivalent to $\iiint dp_1\ dp_2\ dp_3$, and unless you're in a weird analysis setting, you can perform each separate integration in whatever order you choose, e.g. $\int dp_2 \left(\int dp_1 \left(\int dp_3 f(p_1,p_2,p_3)\right)\right)$. Luckily, Mathematica doesn't require you to explicitly nest integrals like this; you can account for all of the integrated-over variables in a single Integrate.
So, you could implement the integral part of that formula as something like
Integrate[Exp[-Ei[{p1, p2, p3}] / T] / (2 Pi)^3,
          {p1, -Infinity, Infinity},
          {p2, -Infinity, Infinity},
          {p3, -Infinity, Infinity}]

which will integrate over the full extent of all variables (newlines not important, just for layout here).
Comment: Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been [moved to chat](https://chat.stackexchange.com/rooms/121062/discussion-on-answer-by-thorimur-how-do-you-turn-this-statement-into-a-mathemati).
Comment: @Kuba We specifically stayed in comments because there is no latex support in chat—I tried to move it to chat at one point, but  given the latex-heavy nature of this particular discussion, reading it was just impractical. Would it be possible to move it back? (Though, it might be over now anyway, so the point might be moot.)
Comment: I understand but that still does not make comments a place for discussions :) It is over anyway. :)
Comment: @Kuba - You are not cleaning up the board, you are destroying useful information.  We were not talking about the weather, we were working out a practical solution to the question with the only language available to do this: MathJax.  Until you support MathJax in chat, you're doing more harm than good.
Comment: @Quarkly I have nothing to do with MathJax in chat, moderators are part of the community, not the SE team. I did not say it was about the weather or spam. I said that comments are not for discussion and then you say they are because of MJ... The truth is that SE model does not fit all needs. They have rules we try to obey, those comments were even automatically flagged to us. I have nothing against a comment or two with useful or not information. But 20+ of them is only confusing. It also seems the thread was over yet no one cleaned it up. I have no remorse.


why can't I connect ubuntu 19.04 installed on windows 10 Hyper-v to the internet?

Question: I quick installed ubuntu on windows 10 hyper-v, it has a default virtual network adapter along with the virtual switch but it doesn't want to connect to the internet.
Comment: I am having the same issue with Hyper-V and Ubuntu 19.04. Were you able to solve it?
Answer: I know this is old but deserves an answer.

Go to network adapters and settings
Right click the adapter that is giving you internet
Click properties
Click the tab Sharing
Check the box allow other network users to connect through this computers internet connection

Doing this will also give your machine a 192.168 address instead of a 172.17
I am assuming, by default, it will not let you connect to the outside world, unless you choose external. I usually create an internal adapter, apply these settings, give it the IP address range I want through powershell. Then give the vm a static IP address.
Hopefully this helps someone.
Comment: To clarify:

- Add virtual switch (internal) in Hyper-V manager

- Add to VM

- Configure sharing options in host network settings


Do deep belief networks minimize required domain expertise, pre-preprocessing, and selection of features?

Question: I'm trying to get a basic layman's grasp of deep belief networks and deep learning in general.  I've read a few papers and watched a few presentations, but there's one aspect I'm hoping someone can clarify.
From what I gather, one of the enormous benefits or promises of deep learning is the ability to perform feature selection and pre-processing automatically, without requiring a lot of domain knowledge or external feature manipulation from the user. In addition, larger feature sets seem to improve performance.
I was reading over an interesting paper, titled, "Applying deep learning to enhance momentum trading strategies in stocks," Takeuchi and Li (2013)."  In the paper, the authors were able to improve performance over the well known momentum based approach to portfolio selection (jagadeesh et al.).  But rather than allow the learner itself to discover and manipulate features, they still manually decided on what features to use (e.g. 12 month and 20 day momentum) as inputs to the learner.
Does this mean that we will still be required to use existing domain knowledge and pre-processing in order to feed features to a belief network, or is the idea that some day, we could just throw huge data sets into the network (explosive time series, etc) and let it do all the feature selection and pre-processing on its own.  I'm familiar with data dredging, and the perils, but again, I'm just trying to understand if the promise of deep belief networks could conceptually handle this and minimize the need for domain expertise in some learning problems. Or did I misunderstand the promised benefit of greatly reducing the need for specialized feature engineering as one of the major benefits.
Here's an example blog that makes a similar assertion.
"What makes Deep Belief Networks so special?...DBNs are able to discover many of these features by itself from the input data. This greatly reduces the amount of Feature Engineering work required freeing up the data scientist to search for new and higher level features, or go skiing."
Comment: From what I've read so far - rather than obviating the need for domain knowledge, DL puts the requirement at a higher level of abstraction. E.g. for image analysis the idea of taking patches of images is a particular piece of domain knowledge, but a more general one than hand-crafted features.
Answer: You are right - Deep architectures should be able to learn those features that they 'handcrafted'.
Honestly - there is way too much hype around deep learning. To an extend where people are just using them for no reason. In fact, I've seen several papers where people handcrafted features then used deep architectures. This indeed, is sort-of against the entire philosophy of deep learning.
However - the deep architecture would be able to still learn abstractions between the handcrafted features. Whether this is useful or not, is up to the application at hand.


Overlapping images - how to slice in photoshop CS5

Question: I got pretty simple example of site layout (link below), and i need to slice it.
The problem is, when i have 2 images, or image and title overlapping, and when i try to make slices of both, i get one of the images cut into 3 or more parts. Which is not good. Is there a way to make slices overlap? So i get each image in one part?
Comment: I wouldn't use Photoshop's slice tool for web design. Export the images in full and position them with CSS
Answer: Slicing is pretty unnecessary in most cases since browsers support Cascading Style Sheets (CSS).
CSS allows you to specify and image as a background for an html element. This is far more efficient than sling up some image and then placing pieces in various table cells or block elements to reconstruct them.
CSS also allows you to very easily overlay live text over background images.
Unless there is some mandatory reason you must slice an image, I wouldn't.
Comment: Well, I got requested to use slices, but it's so bad it cuts everything into small pieces, i resigned from the idea, and just did as you said. Thanks
Comment: Clients, or those unaware of how web sites are built in modern times may request things using "buzzwords" just to sound like they are a bit knowledgable. It's not uncommon. However, if you know your stuff, as I'm sure you do, you should ignore such comments. After all, you would never build a web page using a bunch of ``, ``, ``, or `` tags now.


Why does the Holy Spirit not take the form of a human being just like Jesus did?

Question: The Holy Spirit in the Bible takes the form of:
Dove, Oil, Light, Wind and Tongues of Fire. But never a human being. Why?
Comment: The Father was not sent to be a sacrifice for sin, nor was the Holy Spirit. Only the Son took human nature to be a sacrifice. The son would have never become incarnate if it was not for this.  It would be needless for someone else to die for sin in addition to the Son, therefore the Holy Spirit and the Father wold never take upon human nature as the Son did.
Comment: The Holy Spirit makes manifest the will of God the Father which is Jesus Christ!
Comment: According to Unitarians, he did! :P
Answer: According to Trinity theology, there are three persons in God and they are one.

Father
The Word or the Son
Holy Spirit

They are all spirit according to John 4:24.

God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth." (John 4:24, NIV)

Though there are three persons, only one of them took the form of flesh.

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the
  Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14, NIV)

The Bible doesn't tell us whether all three of them can become flesh, but there is no reason why they cannot do so, because God is All-powerful. All we know is that only The Word became flesh and is called the Son of God. There is a strong reason why The Word became flesh and it was a necessity. It was all planned by God that His Son should become human and die on the Cross. It was the will of the Father that the Son should born from a woman and die for all mankind. Since it was necessary for the Son to die as human on the cross, the Son/Word became flesh.

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast--all whose names
  have not been written in the Lamb's book of life, the Lamb who was
  slain from the creation of the world. (Revelation 13:8, NIV)
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has
  blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in
  Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to
  be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for
  adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his
  pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has
  freely given us in the One he loves. (Ephesians 1:3-6, NIV)

The three persons in the Trinity have different roles. The Father plays the role of a father, the Son plays the role of intercession between God and men, the Holy Spirit dwells inside the believers and help them to live a holy life.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my
  name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I
  have said to you. (John 14:26, NIV)
But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away.
  Unless I go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I
  will send him to you. When he comes, he will prove the world to be in
  the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment (John 16:7-8, NIV)

God can live inside the believers in the form of the Holy Spirit. Though the Father and the Son are in Heaven, the Holy Spirit is in this world to help the believers.

Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? (1 Corinthians 3:16, ESV)
Comment: Please read the question before answering. The question is about 'why does the Holy Spirit not ...' WHY?! Maybe you can explain what question you answered - then you will make sense.
Comment: @gideonmarx Thanks for reminding me. I addressed that part also.
Answer: The member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believe this:

The Father has a body of flesh and bones as tangible as man's; the Son also; but the Holy Ghost has not a body of flesh and bones, but is a personage of Spirit. Were it not so, the Holy Ghost could not dwell in us. (Doctrine & Covenants 130:22)
Comment: Good description of LDS view.
Comment: This answer makes perfect sense as it answers 'why'? Well done sharp and to the point. +1
Answer: That's a very good question and I'd like to think that we can find an answer in John 16. Why did Jesus ever say the following words:

7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you. - Verse 7 (NKJV)

Since Jesus, the Son of God became flesh, He could only be in one place at a time. What a sacrifice, that God the Son would be confined and restricted in and by a human body so as to redeem man. Think about it! Is it possible that " ... it is to [our] advantage ... " that he Holy Spirit did not become flesh. That way He can be everywhere at the same time:

8 And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 of sin, because they do not believe in Me;
10 of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more;
11 of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.  Verses 8 - 11
Comment: Does that make sense?  If you say he could only be at once place at a time, how could Jesus be on earth and the Father be in Heaven?  (and let's not forget the holy ghost)
Comment: Nothing about Jesus really makes sense. In human terms that is. I am not sure I understand the rest of your question, or is it rhetorical, and how the Father and the Holy Spirit tie into the current subject.
Answer: Revelation 19:

6 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of
  rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting:
"Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be
  glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his
  bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, bright and clean, was given
  her to wear." (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God's holy
  people.)
9 Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Blessed are those who are
  invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!" And he added, "These are
  the true words of God."

Perhaps the Bride of Christ, the Church, is the body of the Holy Spirit?
(See John 15, Romans 12 and 1 Corinthians for extended analogies comparing the Church to a single body.)


Deriving Equation for Engel Curve

Question: I have a utility function of $U = B^{.67}Z^{.33}$ with Income $Y$, Price of Good B is $P_b$ and price of Z is $P_z$ I now need to derive an engel curve for this. I have no idea where to start.
Comment: This might help http://www.udel.edu/johnmack/frec343/engel.html
Answer: It is quite simple. The engels curve is the change in demand for a good as a function of income, keeping prices fixed
Solve the constrained maximisation problem
$$
\max B^{0.67}Z^{0.33}-\lambda(P_bB+P_zZ-Y) \Leftrightarrow \\
B=\frac{0.67Y}{P_b} \\
Z=\frac{0.33Y}{P_z} \\
\lambda = \frac{0.5303709372}{P_z^{33/100}P_b^{67/100}}
$$
Fix prices at some level. I choose 1 for simplicity. Then the engels is simply
$$
Y=\frac{1}{0.67}B \\
Y=\frac{1}{0.33}Z
$$
Answer: To derive the Engel curve follow the following steps:

Derive the demand functions by maximizing the Utility function subject to the budget constraint.
For this you can use either:

The Lagrange method like in @Rud-Faden solutions;
Or set $MRS = P_b/P_z$;
Or even better since we have a Coub Douglas Utility let's use a common knowledge, for any utility function of type $$U = B^{\alpha}Z^{\beta}$$ ${\alpha}$ and ${\beta}$ shows the share of income spent on each good. Thus the demand functions will be $$B = \frac{{\alpha}Y}{P_B} $$ $$Z = \frac{{\beta}Y}{P_Z} $$ In your utility function ${\alpha}=0.67;{\beta} = 0.33$ so $$B = \frac{0.67Y}{P_B} $$ $$Z = \frac{0.33Y}{P_Z} $$

On the demand functions derived 1, Treat the price as constant.
The demand function itself is the Engel Curve but you need to treat it as a function of income not price because price is constant. $B(Y), Z(Y)$.

To plot the Engel curve we usually set the income on the $y$ axis and the quantity in the $x$ axis. Just arrange the demand functions so that you will have Income in the left and quantity of goods in the right. and fix prices to a certain constant.

$$Y(B) = \frac{B*P_B}{0.67} $$ $$Y(Z) = \frac{Z*P_Z}{0.33} $$

The price for both goods were fixed to 1.

Deriving Equation for Engel Curve


error when trying to write file

Question: I am trying to write a file.  I keep getting an error though and I'm not sure what to make of it. Is there anyone who has an suggestions on this.  Thanks so much
The error:

Warning: fopen(Library/WebServer/Documents/gasDev/test_files/850_855_csv_tests/855_export/GUNB0855.Z9000404): failed to open stream: No such file or directory in /Library/WebServer/Documents/gasDev/src/controller/containerController.php

this is the function I am using:
<code>public function saveFile($saveFile,$content){
    $newFile = fopen($saveFile, 'w');
    fwrite($newFile, $content);
    fclose($newFile);
}//end saveFile()
</code>
Answer: You cant read or write to a directory which doesnt exist. Code in this answer should be run before trying to open it
PHP: fopen to create folders

error when trying to write file


How can I trigger a rule when there's no more scheduled content?

Question: I have a Drupal 7 blog where I write content in advance and publish it using the Scheduler module. I'd like to be able to write a rule to send me an email when the site has published the last scheduled node available. I have a View set up which lists all the scheduled nodes, but I can't figure out how to get the result count of that view into the condition of a rule. I've got Views Bulk Operations and Views Rules installed, but I can't figure out how to use either of those how I need to.
Answer: You can make this work also by using Rules in combination with the Views Bulk Operations module, as further detailed below.
Step 1
Use the Views Bulk Operations module to create a view of all your "nodes to be published" (as in your question), in which you add a VBO field to it. Simply include a field like nid for each node (no need for any other fields). Just make sure you get exactly 1 row for each node you want to take into consideration.
Step 2
Create a Rules Component with a Rules Condition "Check number of results returned by a VBO view". And select the VBO view created in the previous step. If the number of results is below 1, then perform a Rules Action (in that Rules Component) to trigger your eMail.
Step 3
Create a Rule like so:

Use some relevant Rules Event related to those nodes to be published.
Don't use any Rules Conditions (there is no need for them in this rule).
Perform a Rules Action to execute the Rules Component from Step 2.

If you cannot think of any relevant Rules Event that would fit for such rule, then just create a Rules Component which has (only) 2 Rules Actions:

Perform a Rules Action to execute the Rules Component from Step 2.
Reschedule this (extra) Rules Component itself, eg after X mins or hours

Then trigger the very first execution of this Rules Component using the Rules UI.
Done!
Comment: Ah! I was so close; I just didn't have any VBO fields on that view. Thanks!
Answer: Since you also have the Views Rules module enabled, you could use a completely different approach like so also:

Before starting the Views Rules loop (Rules Action) to iterate over all results of the view, define some boolean (or integer) variable which you set (initial value) to FALSE (or 0).
Within each iteration of your Views Rules loop, set the value of the variable to TRUE (or 1).
After the Views Rules loop completed, use the Conditional Rules module to check the value of your extra variable: if it is still FALSE (or 0), you know there were no nodes to be processed, so that's when you want to send that eMail.


NFC sample Application for Nexus S Emulator

Question: I'm  new to Android development. I am trying to Integrate NFC application on my Nexus S emulator which is installed in my windows machine. I am struggling a lot  to develop the application for NFC demo. Can anyone give me the idea  on how to crate the sample NFC  demo application. My intention is that I need to get some output during the smart card swiped over my Nexus s mobile and I should read the Unique id from that smart card I swipe. Can anyone please help me in developing the application for this. Can you send me the application for this  if you have.
Thanks in advance,
Dilip.
Answer: According to this

the Android emulator does not support NFC emulation

Also: There is some NFC example code here.


Paint dumped into our garden, how bad is it?

Question: We recently had some work done on our house and it included painting a room. After the contractors left we discovered, through our security cams, that they had been using our backyard to clean their painting equipment, over a 3 day period. They were mostly using our nomo grass area to washout water soluble paint from brushes, rollers, pans and buckets. They would then spray down the paint until it wasn't visible from the surface. They also left a lot of paint residue on surrounding plants and trees from flicking the brushes dry. It's a water soluble latex paint, both matte and gloss. My question is, how bad is this for the lawn and garden?
Comment: From my experience having painters I do believe that this is normal practice for painters and is kind of a last remaining option ensuring the paint does not make it into sewers, water ways or landfill, all banned methods of disposal for paint in most locations.  Taking waste water with them to a water recycling plant that accepts paint waste would be theoretically ideal but I don't know what facilities exist or how many painters offer this.  The only other way is letting it fully dry out and then it can be disposed of but doing so with waste from brush clean up may be difficult
Answer: A quick search indicates that latex paint can be a nasty pollutant in large quantities, but not in the small quantities  you're talking about.
This site has a good discussion of paint contents and their toxicity, if any. It does not discuss contaminated soil, however.
I doubt that the amount of point in your yard is a concern because you say that the painting crew only dumped diluted paint onto the grass and then watered it in, effectively diluting it further. I would be more concerned if they had done this in a vegetable garden.
Comment: Concur - its not ideal, but better than dropping the wash-water into a sink or drain.
Comment: the main problem is cleaning the sink afterwards.
Comment: @Criggie Is it really? Does even water-based paint clog sewers when diluted, or is there some other problem with washing in the sink?
Comment: @Jasen starting with a wet sink, and washing the bristles first under running water, then with soap, then plenty more running water is no problem.  The paint stains in my utility room sink are from leaving my daughter's paint to soak - fine with tempera, not with acrylics
Comment: it's not so bad if the sink is trainless steel.  but on plastic even very dilute acrylic paint can leave a mark.
Comment: Thank you, that's very helpful, really appreciate it.
Comment: @Jasen yes, plastic sinks are horrible.  The one in work gets stained from coffee - its main use.  I wash brushes in stainless, and would only fit  that or ceramic
Comment: "amount of point" -> "amount of paint"
Answer: I did this in my backyard without thinking twice. No issues with plants.
From the theory:
Latex paint is actually biodegradable and what is not biodegradable is mostly mineral content.
It is also safe to touch for humans and pets, otherwise we would not use it in the first place.
Comment: Titanium dioxide is also a very common ingredient in sunscreens. It's one of the two main UV filters that cause sunscreen to have a white cast. The carcinogenic risk is pretty negligible.
Comment: Titanium dioxide is a carcinogen but is in 70% of latex paints and mercury may be in some exterior paints (see the link in my answer below for a little more info). Titanium dioxide would only be a problem when the paint is wet, I believe, and then at high levels of exposure like those experienced by professional painters. Just because we're allowed to use something doesn't mean it's perfectly safe - especially pesticides.
Comment: @blues - yep, the risk with titanium dioxide is with prolonged exposure, which is what I was trying to say in my comment but probably didn't. Sunscreens may have other problems, but they involve Oxybenzone, which MAY be a reef-killer and/or endocrine disrupter. Or not. The lack of info on some of this stuff is disappointing...
Comment: Wow. This is real a bad and ignoring behavior.
Comment: @Jurp the biggest risk with TiO₂ is from powder, by inhalation
Comment: @ChrisH Thanks for the confirmation. I had assumed that, but had also found info that dermal contact from wet paint over time could be an issue. Definitely not a problem with the OP's situation.
Comment: @Jurp, Don't know where you heard that, "titanium dioxide would only be a problem when the paint is wet," but whoever said it first probably meant that the stuff cannot hurt you once it's been bound up in the cured acrylic resin. But, when the wet paint is diluted with water during clean up, both the resin and the TiO2 particles will be dispersed into the environment and neither one will be bound up as solid, cured paint. Whether or not the _diluted_ resin and/or pigment particles pose an environmental hazard is a whole different question.
Comment: We literally use to put lead in our house paints
Comment: @redfrogcrab yes, we really did. Lead makes medicore white that turns black after a while and really good and long-lived orange and some other colors as well. And we used arsenic (green). And even uranium (bright, saturated yellow). We are better now, aren't we?
Answer: This is really annoying and I feel sorry for you. It is very important to know exactly what kind of paint was used. Names and bills can help. From the names of the paints/buckets, you can find the safety data sheets (online, too). They'll explain what hazardous substances maybe mixed inside them - or mixed not into it.
For example, there are water soluble paints, that contain really long-lasting and dangerous anti-fungal substances, that can kill nearby plants. It depends on the amounts of water, color and other substances dumped there. This is all we don't know.
Also part of decision making: Where is the painted building located? Is it in a water protection area? Is it close to a municipal water plant? Can the water with the solution flow into a lake or sewage and sewage treatment plant?
There can be significant fines, if you get caught, when a jealous neighbour sneaks on you.
If you'd just think of the environment, call or sue the company to remove the contaminated soil on their money.
Comment: Note that safety data sheets tend towards the alarmist side of things: they're intended for people who deal with the materials in bulk quantities on a daily basis, not the small amounts you'd find in an end-of-day paintbrush cleaning.
Comment: The safety data sheet is based on complete emotionless verifiable data and proven knowledge in terms of impact, that chemicals have on living things. I want to focus on the sheet and suggest to take measures better soon than late.
Comment: This is a good point - while the risk is probably low in practice, some paints especially for damp areas have anti-fungal agents added.  You may not want such biocides in the garden even dilute, but it's probably too late already
Comment: @Semo, I suggest you take a look at the following safety data sheets for [ethanol](https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/89308.htm), [sodium chloride](https://www.fishersci.com/store/msds?partNumber=S64010&vendorId=VN00033897&countryCode=US), and [water](https://www.fishersci.com/store/msds?partNumber=W6500&vendorId=VN00033897&countryCode=US).  In particular, note the first-aid measures for spilling ethanol on your skin, the large number of "no information available"s for salt, and the eye/face personal protective gear recommendations for water.


Crystalline materials in someone's bloodstream -- what effect would they have?

Question: What effect would a crystalline material that is inert under ordinary environmental conditions have on someone if it was injected into their bloodstream? Examples materials include finely pulverized silica or alumina, and the quantities under consideration are at the gram level.
Comment: Ever hear of Gout? That's when a crystal re-forms inside you.
Answer: They would clog up the capillaries at the end of where they were injected. Effect depends on the place of injection.
If they were injected into a vein, they would clog up capillaries in lungs, essentially leading to the person efficiently suffocating due to reduced oxygen absorption.
If they were injected into any of arteries that branches off into brain, they would clog up brain blood flow, causing effects equivalent to a serious stroke, and likely death or at least serious brain damage from lack of oxygen.
The least serious effects would be if they were injected into a vein leading to a limb. They would clog up capillaries of that limb, incapacitating it, and eventually leading to necrosis (and death) unless treated (amputated) before that happens (a couple days of gradually worsening conditions as the concentration of anaerobic bacteria developing in the limb increases, causing organism-wide infection).
apaul34208's examples unfortunately shows crystalline material outside bloodstream. In the bloodstream, yes, it will be excruciatingly painful, but unless it dissolves, it will stop somewhere, and where is matter of the grain sizes; fine dust will end up in capillaries.
Comment: @Shalvenay: Probably about the size of blood cells (6-8 μm), and better if they don't have sharp edges. In capillaries blood cells literally squeeze between cells of the tissue (firm contact allows better exchange of oxygen and CO2.)
Comment: How fine would the particles have to be to pass through capillaries without clogging them?
Answer: A lot of the things that can crystallize inside the human body can cause excruciating pain if they crystallize in the right spot, or if you eventually need to pass or excrete the crystal at some point.
Think of things like:

Gout
kidney stones
Gallstones

The body will pass an awful lot of contaminates, we consume them all the time, so I'm not too sure about specific doses. I'm sure for common dangerous contaminates you could some info or at least anecdotes.
Comment: Silicosis, AIUI, only occurs when you have silica dust in the lungs, where it triggers an inflammatory reaction there -- it's a *non sequitur* for my question, which deals specifically with mineral powders in the bloodstream.
Comment: I wanted to upvote the first half but I agree Crystalline Silica isn't directly relevant so I can't :(
Comment: Most of solid contaminates in bloodstream appears in amounts that are harmless. It does get stuck at some point and forms a cyst to isolate it, the cyst usually staying there to the end of your life unless it grows big enough to pierce through the skin. If there's more of the solids though, they *will* block the system, especially that each 0.1mm particle will result in 1mm or more of inflamed and engorged tissue.
Answer: SiO2, and Al2O3 are both chemically inert, water insoluble and can only be reduced by strong as acids. In the body, they will not participate in any chemical reactions. However, the body will recognize them as alien objects and seek to seal them off with antibodies and plaque.
They will very quickly be coated with antibodies and white blood cells eventually forming a protein shell. This is the same effect that happens when a bullet or flint arrowhead is stuck in the body. It gets "walled off".
If the particles are mostly microscopic, They will be engulfed by white blood cells, carried to the lymph system and from their eventually pumped through the lymph system and dumped in the lower large intestine.
If larger, say a normal grain of sand, they will likely be adhered to the side of major blood vessels and then walled off under a shell of protein, fats and cholesterol.
If they wedge in capillaries in any layer of the skin, they will be pushed out of the skin out of few months.
I can say all this confidently because quite some while ago I read a book on military medicine. One of the injuries that occurred fairly often was personal being penetrated by grains of sand accelerated by explosions. In most cases, the sand is pushed out of the skin over a period of weeks or months. However, autopsies on soldier who died much later of other causes found what first appeared as cholesterol plaque in the blood vessels but upon examination contained grains of sand inside.
You couldn't actually inject inert substances without making a suspension of them in water, either mechanically, or by attaching them some sticky protein like albumin (found in egg whites.) They'd have to be injected slowly or they would simply block, rupture or implode the view or artery.
Answer: Interestingly enough, the experiment was performed (on rabbits, guinea pigs & frogs) in the last century:
Effect upon Platelets and on Blood Coagulation of Injecting Foreign Particles into the Bloodstream: Tair and Elvidge, 1926
Coagulation can take place, i.e., forming a blood clot around the particles. Generally, blood clots within a blood vessel are Bad Things Indeed, depending on where the clot ends up. A pulmonary embolism, e.g., is Very Bad and is considered an emergency condition; a deep vein thrombosis Not Quite Bad Yet, and needs to be addressed.
Note that injecting quartz granules did not always cause coagulation. Several of the experimental animals died as a result of the injection, but apparently not because of a clot.
Note also that that the experimenters injected up to 0.5g/kg. An English rabbit might weigh 3 kg, so that animal would receive 1.5 g of pulverised quartz. You're proposing an injection of perhaps 1g/100kg, which is relatively minuscule: same dose, 33 times the mass!
I would hazard the guess that very little would happen at that dosage, based on the experimental results. It's unclear what the rabbits actually died of, so there is the possibility that your victim could similarly die.
Answer: Lets say it does absorb and the initial injection doesn't cause death:
Aluminum is considered toxic in high amounts...there really isn't much for biological processes that make use of Aluminum and it tends to gather in the brain and bones.  It gets compared to mercury poisoning (though mercury is far more toxic).  In high enough concentrations, it will result in general confusion, speech problems, and potentially seizures...brain lesions is a potential as well.  Bone issues (spurs, deformations, and brittleness) can also be an issue.  Lung and nervous system issues can be linked to Aluminum as well and it can interfere with the bodies ability to absorb iron.  There appears to be a link between aluminum toxicity and Alzheimer as well, but thats a long term effect.
However it should be noted that most of these concerns are from long term high volume exposure (a child's development can be adversely effected, especially bones and brain function).  Short term exposure doesn't quite have the same effect, however the body can hold on to aluminum for a significant amount of time.  (incidentally, there is a movement against the amount of aluminum we ingest.  It's in a significant amount of drugs...after birth vaccines given to children contain disolved aluminum.  If we are injecting it into newborns, adults can handle it).
Silica is a bit different and our body can make a bit more use of it...infact it's usually included within dietary supplements and I believe you can outright find silica supplement pills.  There are some warnings in Silica's ability to break down certain vitamins such as B1 which can cause a vitamin B1 deficiency, but that is a long term and high volume exposure before that occurs...not a single injection.  High enough volumes could lead to issues where the substance is crystallizing joints and on bones, which would be gout like I'd imagine, potential for kidney stones?...but for the most case, silica is dissolved within blood stream and comes out in our urine.
From a body harm standpoint...one injection isn't going to do much if the substance is able to dissolve into the blood.  The aluminum and silica examples you give here would only start to see health issues through prolonged injections...risk would be higher in a developing human as opposed to a full grown adult.
The issue that I'm less sure on here is the substances ability to dissolve into the blood stream.  If the substance only partially dissolved, then you are getting into issues around clogged veins and arteries...the risk here is significantly higher than what the substance could do had it simply dissolved.
Edit:
Alum (aluminum and sulphur or potassium) apparently acts as quite the blood coagulant...injecting a strong coagulant into someones blood stream can't be a good thing.
Comment: I'm talking about Al2O3 -- not metallic or soluble aluminum.
Comment: !  That's closer to a death sentence...if it doesn't dissolve, it'll do everything from gather in the lungs and block blood flow to slice open arteries and veins for some internal bleeding.  I'm not fully sure if the body can even refine that out...at very least this will lead to multiple blood clots which will likely be fatal as well.  Solid metal in the blood stream is not good.
Answer: They could be planted to blood vessel walls, where they could make blood vessels harder to move about, negatively affecting circulation. Or, if they drift about, there will be stuff accumulating on them, until they get stuck. Basically, those crystals, unless removed, will block off blood flow, and can cause a fatal heart attack and/or stroke.


"willful sin" and forgiveness

Question: Hebrews 10:26 speaks of willfully sinning after knowing grace and forgiveness. I suppose this the same as "backsliding". Is there no hope for the back slider who goes back to their sin, regardless of what that sin is? Is there a limit to God's grace? How many times will the prodigal son be welcomed home? We're told to forgive people 70 times 7 but does Jesus have to do that?
Comment: Welcome to the group, Derek210. Your question has stimulated some thoughtful answers. Please do take the Tour (link at the bottom of the page) to get oriented.
Comment: As a side note, Christianity tends to view deliberate sin as worse than accidental sin, while Islam holds the opposite position. If one is starving, one might eat pork while fully aware that doing so is a sin, and a deliberate sin for a good reason is easily forgivable, but if people eat pork accidentally, simply because they didn't bother to ensure that the food was halal, that is a much more serious sin. The real sin wasn't eating the pork, it was being too lazy or careless about one's behaviour, not taking it seriously enough. (Compare with driving through a red light.)
Comment: Can you not cite several references for any of that, in support or denial?
Comment: This is a great question. Just be aware that it can get into theology and doctrine, while we focus on specific meanings of specific Bible passages or on specific interpretation methods and hermeneutics. We will need to be alert to keep this question on topic. That said, it is a good question. Thanks for asking.
Answer: Hebrews 10:26 talks about those people who deliberately keep on sinning or make a practice of sin, a sin that is not an isolated sin in a moment of weakness due to imperfection but an intentional one. And their sins are not the result of ignorance. It's like they do evil on purpose. The Bible compares such a person to a leopard that cannot change its spots. (Jeremiah 13:23). Take the case of Adam and Eve, who directly sin to God. Their sinning was willful and deliberate and therefore inexcusable.
But it is reassuring to know that not everyone who has sinned is beyond recovery. God is very patient and takes no delight in punishing those who have sinned on account of ignorance or in a moment of weakness. They can be forgiven by the power of the ransom sacrifice of His Son as long as they display genuine repentance.
Answer: The OP asks, in the context of willful sin and Hebrews 10:26:

How many times will the prodigal son be welcomed home?

Hebrews 10:26

26 If we deliberately keep on sinning after we have received the knowledge of the truth, no sacrifice for sins is left,

The question lies at the heart of what atonement is and how it works, topics discussed and disputed for centuries.  The paradox is that omnipotent immutable God is free to forgive at will (Exodus 33:19) without condition, such as sacrifice. Yet Scripture pervasively records that sacrifice is required for atonement by unlimited God, which is impossible.
Why then might unlimited God require sacrifice, specifically of blood, at all?  One analysis is that God doesn't need it, rather it is for man's benefit, to remind man of death and the consequence of breaking covenent with God (i.e. sin). In Abraham's time of patriarchal Israel, some more serious covenants were ratified by preparing a sacrifice, cutting it in two pieces and halving it exactly. This symbolized the seriousness of intent to keep the covenant, because the divided carcass represented what would happen to the parties if they broke oath.  They placed their lives at risk, they were pledging their life. Then after they walked between the pieces, the carcass was burned, ratifying acceptance. Abraham's crucial covenant with God was sealed this way (Genesis 15).
Sacrifice as part of atonement can be viewed similarly. A re-ratification of covenant with God for man's benefit as a reminder of what is at stake.  What God has always asked of man in restoring covenant by atonement is sincerety in repentance:
Isaiah 1: 11-12 NIV

I am sick of your sacrifices. Don't bring me any more of them. I don't want your fat rams; I don't want to see the blood from your offerings. 12-13 Who wants your sacrifices when you have no sorrow for your sins?

And the remedy in verse 16:
Isaiah 1:16 NIV

16 Oh, wash yourselves! Be clean! Let me no longer see you doing all these wicked things; quit your evil ways.

To address the OP question, Hebrews 10:26 does not concern the limit of God's capacity to forgive.  Rather, it concerns the limit of man's capacity to repent.  This is demonstrated in Hebrews 6
Hebrews 6:4-6 NIV

4 It is impossible for those who have once been enlightened, who have tasted the heavenly gift, who have shared in the Holy Spirit, 5 who have tasted the goodness of the word of God and the powers of the coming age 6 and who have fallen away, to be brought back to repentance.

That is to say, it is not impossible for unlimited God to forgive, rather it becomes increasingly difficult and eventually impossible for man to repent. "....lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.." Hebrews 3:13.
How many times will the prodigal son be welcomed home? As many times as he is capable of returning home in repentance.
In summary then, a cautionary message.
Answer: "Willful sinning" is explained in v29, as "spurning the Son of God". The argument is not "If you sin, you are spurning Christ", but "If you spurn Christ, you are sinning."
Taking the epistle as a whole, it seems to be addressed to Christian Jews who are getting impatient with Christ given the lapse of time and are in danger of giving him up and returning to their original reliance on the law of Moses.
Comment: This is an important insight. I would add that this verse must be balanced with others such as Paul's admission that he continues to sin and must rely on God's grace. The line between willful sinning and losing the battle for perfection because of being weak-willed is not always easy to draw.
Comment: @ Stephen Disraeli -  Good answer. Commentators forget the main title of this book; it is written to Hebrews (Jews). For Jews to spurn the Holy Spirit-anointed Jesus leaves them with no viable alternative. **There is no other Name whereby we must be saved!** To return to the Dead Letter of the Law is willful theological suicide.  "Grace and truth came only by Christ" (John 1) Without Him, no grace, no mercy, no salvation!
Answer: The broader context of the book of Hebrews is an extended exhortation to Jewish Christians to endure steadfastly in the faith while undergoing persecution which was in large part at the hands of the Jews. This persecution risked driving people to reject Christ and especially to revert to Christless Judaism.
Hebrews addresses this primarily by drawing from Old Testament passages and proving how they speak of Christ, and really how all of the Old Testament was written about Christ. Thus as the fulfillment of those past things, Jesus is better than the Old Covenant.
By the point of chapter 10 the author is beginning his transition from proving his point to applying it, with the main application being to hold on to Christ with a public witness. In this context, it appears that the author is not necessarily speaking of the common sins of daily life, but specifically the sin of apostasy from Christ through hypocrisy. You can see this more clearly by looking at verses 23 and following.
Some would be tempted to reject Christ outright and return to a comfortable condition of Judaism. Others, would be tempted to not necessarily reject him outright, but to withdraw the profession publicly: to neglect to meet and to live as if Christ had not died. This would be to knowingly reject Christ out of fear even while one knows that Christ really is true. Such a person does not have faith in Christ and thus no longer has an expectation of forgiveness.
Thus the correct application is not that every day Christians run the risk of damnation because we may sin intentionally, since nearly all sin involves some degree of consent to it. Rather, it is a willing reversion from Christ, drawing back (v38) and not following Christ.
Answer: Of course there is no limit! What a blasphemy to think that God will not forgive a backsliding! And who does not backslide? Saint John Chrysostom says that we, baptized Christians, himself Chyrsostom included, sin as frequently as there are waves in the Mare Nostrum. Thus, absolutely not! God's forgiveness is not limited.
Then what Hebrews 10:26 means? It means that God through His Son's incarnation, crucifixion and resurrection has done everything for our salvation, nothing more can be done, for the abovementioned is perfectly enough. So, if a person having this perfect means for salvation still wrongly considers that it is not enough and having fallen to sin would expect something still higher and more than that which already has been provided, as if it were not enough, then such an ungrateful, wrongheaded and wrongly desperate nominal Christian will forfeit his salvation not because of God not forgiving him, but because of his very ungratefulness, wrongheadedness, and wrong-desperatedness by which he blocks God's otherwise limitless forgiveness for himself.
Answer: Short Answer: There will always be Hope for the back slider.
All sins are Willful.
There is the willful sin from ignorance of Gods laws
There is the Willful sin even with knowledge of Gods Laws.
What does that passage then mean?
Young's.
For we -- willfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the truth -- no more for sins doth there remain a sacrifice," (YLT)
It means that Repentance is the only way out from damnation not another Atonement.  For the atonement has be done once
To reject that atonement is to assume that God has another way to make you right with him.  But HE DOESNT!
Answer: Forgiveness and reward are different
Many people have this question, which is why Paul addressed it with a great word picture:
1 Corinthians 3:12-15 (NASB, emphasis added)

12 Now if any man builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13 each man's work will become evident; for the day will show it because it is to be revealed with fire, and the fire itself will test the quality of each man's work. 14 If any man's work which he has built on it remains, he will receive a reward. 15 If any man's work is burned up, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

The Church of Thyatira had a similar problem with one lady doing this and leading others to do this...
Revelation 2:23 (NASB, emphasis added)

And I will kill her children with pestilence, and all the churches will know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts; and I will give to each one of you according to your deeds.

It is our deeds that we get reward for. Forgiveness is available to everyone, but the mentoring and teaching of the New Testament presents this question to people who believe Jesus and have his forgiveness:
Sure, you can be forgiven, but is that all you want?
Comment: I had to give you a vote for distinguishing rewards and salvation.  I did want to ask though, wasn't the entire world forgiven of sin at the cross?  Belief in that (1 Cor 15:1-4) is when salvation occurs...correct?  It is not that we can BE forgiven, it is that we ARE forgiven.
Comment: @MarkVestal TY! The extent of the whole world being forgiven and how that compares to "eternal punishment" is almost a different question. I kept this short to avoid that also. :-) My point is that "anyone can be forgiven by anyone, *but is that all you want*?" Remember to mark a correct answer after a week or so.
Answer: Lifting phrases and words away from the surrounding verses makes it more difficult to understand the whole.  Every sin is a willful sin as we consciously choose to commit the act, or fail to do what we should do.  The point of Heb 10:26 is not the sinning but the sacrifice required.  Read the better translation in Young's.

For we -- willfully sinning after the receiving the full knowledge of the truth -- no more for sins doth there remain a sacrifice," (YLT)

Keeping the time frame of the author (probably not Paul) in the first century AD, about 65-66 AD (1), then picture the background where that temple in Jerusalem was still in operation. The practice of animal sacrifices were still continuing under the old Law which was about to be abolished (Heb. 8:13).  The new converts to Christ were still learning and adjusting to the gospel, the new covenant.
The point of Heb. 10:26 was that there was no need any longer to take an animal to be sacrificed for any other sins that they may have committed after having been immersed into Christ.  Their (and our) only sacrifice is Yeshua, our Messiah.  There is no other - there remains no other - sacrifice for sin.
So, when we slip, make a mistake and do something we should not have done we sorrowfully, sincerely repent and beg God's forgiveness.  For if we are faithful to confess our sins to Him, He is faithful to forgive (1 John 1:19).
If we do not confess our sins, if we are not truly repentant but continue in our sins, then we have scorned Christ and made His sacrifice of no effect.  That is not backsliding; that is contempt and outright rejection of Him.
See my post "No More Sacrifice For Sin" for a full explanation of Heb. 10:26 ShreddingTheVeil
Note:

DatingTheNewTestament
Answer: Consulting the Jewish library aka Tanach is a bit like Trick-or-Treating. You can reach into the bag and find love, hate, joy, misery, rewards, punishment, fidelity infidelity, etc. If you have a negative personality, you will pull out more negative ideas, but if you are of a positive bent, you will likely find wonderful things.
The author of "To the Hebrews" was apparently a sourpuss. Luther had no use for "To the Hebrews" and rejected it. The fact is that its inclusion in the canon was based on a lie. The Roman cabal lied about Hebrews and said it was written by Paul, even though all of Paul's canonical writings begin with his name and credentials, and even though the text itself says plainly that it was not written by an apostle, let alone Paul:
Hebrews 2:1-4 NASB95

1 For this reason we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, so that we do not drift away [from it.] 2 For if the word spoken through angels proved unalterable, and every transgression and disobedience received a just penalty, 3 how will we escape if we neglect so great a salvation? After it was at the first spoken through the Lord, it was confirmed to us by those who heard, 4 God also testifying with them, both by signs and wonders and by various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit according to His own will.

Paul would gag if he tried to say those words.
Contention about the suitability of Hebrews as a canonical text did not end after its inclusion by the Romans. History tells us that acceptance of Hebrews as canonical is still a matter of dispute.
Personally, I consider Hebrews to have no authority, and I find the first part of the text to be particularly disingenuous (for example):
Psalms 104:4 NASB95

He makes the winds His messengers, Flaming fire His ministers.

Either he or his LXX reverses this:
Hebrews 1:7 NASB95

And of the angels He says, "WHO MAKES HIS ANGELS WINDS, AND HIS MINISTERS A FLAME OF FIRE."

However, his comparison/contrast of the New Covenant vs Ye Olde Covenant is brilliant. I can appreciate Luther and the Roman cabal's difficulty in letting it go, even though it was not apostolic, and had obvious textual issues and translation mistakes.
So now we are saddled with a profoundly compromised text, based on a corrupt LXX, espousing a "yer only as saved as ya are holy t'day" gospel, claiming to be written by Paul, endorsed by the Roman cabal, and trying in vain to apply Habakkuk 2:4 to our own lives.
Here's the Hebrew:
Habakkuk 2:4 NASB95

Behold, as for the proud one, His soul is not right within him; But the righteous will live by his faith.

And the Greek:
Habakuk 2:4:

4 If he draws back, my life does not find pleasure in it, but the righteous one will live by my faith.
Brannan, R., Penner, K. M., Loken, I., Aubrey, M., & Hoogendyk, I., eds. (2012). The Lexham English Septuagint (Hab 2:4). Lexham Press.

The author of Hebrews (who is decidedly not an apostle) seems to adhere to the idea of Christian perfectionism. IE: Once you repent, you persist in holiness and never fail. This is not unheard of in the ranks of Christianity. Hebrews takes it to the next level. A single slip (unless in ignorance) condemns even the most apparently holy. It is a faith-crushing text.
All of the texts in the Protestant NT canon beginning with Hebrews were moved to the back of the Protestant Bibles, as Luther ordered them, indicating that they were suspect and distant from the theology of Paul.
Related: Can you please outline 1 Corinthians 5:1-13 for a sermon?
Comment: This answer is poorly received by others in the community. However, I somewhat enjoyed it, albeit I don't agree. It is tempting to delete this answer as "rude/abusive", but the only actual problem is with the longer discourse. Could you kindly edit down your paragraphs so they focus on the problem of Hebrews being in the canon? I have never seen such a good dissent on Hebrews as this, but it must be 25% the word count and read 10% more like an encyclopedia and 10% less like a political column, then it can stay. Please, please, would you? Could you? :-)
Comment: If you kindly edit it down, I'd even upvote it. Promise.
Comment: God can call a person, give that person His spirit and save that person, but God cannot and will not force us to remain in a repentant attitude.  That is up to the individual.  God will encourage us to be repentant, but he can't make us repentant.  So salvation is, in one sense, "assured" (I hesitate to use that term), but in another sense, at the same time, it's a day to day affair.  You're only as saved as your level of repentance each night when it's lights out, because you can't repent while asleep, and you might die in your sleep.

"willful sin" and forgiveness


Why can't an adapter be designed to turn normal headphones in to noise canceling headphones?

Question: I have been looking for options to add noise cancelling to my existing normal headphone, however there does not seem to be any product that will do this.  Why isn't it possible to make a device that can listen to sound and output the right sounds to add noise cancelation to other headphones?
Answer: In short, no, It's not possible.
The distances & times are measure in microns & nanoseconds. Any retro-fit kit would need to be made for each specific headphone model, which is simply not financially viable, even if physically possible.
Answer: Active noise cancelling works (and i'm simplifying) by taking sound from the headphone exterior and playing that, out of phase with itself. This causes cancellation.
As tetsujin alluded to, the scope we are working with is really small, and really fast. If there's a 40hz sound, then it needs to get 40hz, 180° out of phase, to your ears. This needs to happen at the same time the actual outside sound gets there. You can't have an adapter somewhere, because even a millisecond would reduce cancellation enough that it doesn't work.
When it's built into the headphones, it can just delay the sound for some minute fraction of a second, and that would do it. If the Mic is somewhere else, it would become infinitely more complex. To the point that no one makes anything like that.
EDIT: Be sure to check AJs comment below, as it clarifies the issue a bit more.
Comment: It is also worth pointing out that the intensity of the playback needs to be very precisely controlled as well and the exact response of the headphones as well as the sound transmission characteristics (for outside sounds) of the headphones would also make a substantial difference.  The delay is something you could possibly calibrate, but the sound transmission details and volume is a much harder problem to solve.
Answer: Active noise cancellation requires recording the outside signal with a microphone and injecting an out of phase version of what would reach your ears into the headphone signal.  This works best and cheapest with a fixed known mechanical combination of a specific microphone and specific headphone.
Of course, noise cancellation can also be adaptive: hands-free phone speaker systems work in that manner in order to do echo cancellation.  The suppression is worse and artifacts are introduced, also the computational requirements are much higher.
The quality tradeoffs will be acceptable if the goal is speech intelligibility but are not really suitable for high-quality music consumption.
Answer: It would be very easy to do.  The Bose QC20s have the NC hardware in the audio cables, and not the earbuds.  There are similar designs from Audio Technica.  Acura also includes NC functions in the stereo systems of their cars.
Comment: If you have a reference showing that this is easy, please edit your post to include that. Based on industry references, everything so far suggests this is very difficult...


How do I block a specific JS file on Safari?

Question: I have tried adding the full URL to the JS file on Adblock Filter, but it still loads. Is there anyway that I can block specific JS files? (Or any files, really). I know how to block hosts, but not specific urls/files.
Comment: I just tried adding the full URL of a JS file to Adblock and it blocked the file successfully. Which version of AdBlock are you using? Can you tell us which JS file you are trying to block?
Answer: Did you already try JavaScript-Blocker?
They claim to block frames, XHRs, embeds, objects, and videos from loading and even images. Probably similar to NoScript in the Mozilla-universe.
Comment: I have had JavaScript-Blocker and there is something seriously wrong with it, it makes my safari crash a lot.


Two views and unable to select the ListView

Question: New to Android Studio 3x, first noticed it gave me two views in design mode. 2x has only the left one, what's this right one for and what's good about it? Can I get rid of it?

2) After placing a ListView on the left view and gave it a name, it supposed show like this in older versions. It doesn't. So can I select this ListView later?
Answer: Just found answer to 2nd question, I noticed a red ! at the upper corner of design mode, clicked on it, "Failed to load AppCompat...". Found the 2nd answer on this thread solves my problem, now ListView appear at left hand side.
After that, it also addresses my 1st question as below. Still don't know how to get rid of the right one.


How can I know my job number when I executing a COBOL program through a shell script

Question: How can I know my job number when executing a COBOL program through a shell script?
Comment: @slm - Duh, I normally only forget to look at the title of a post... %-)
Comment: What shell are you using? Also an an example of how you start the script and what the script contents are could help.
Comment: @Anthon - looks like Bash basead on the tag.
Comment: @Anthon - I often miss them too 8-)
Answer: Can you explain a little bit more what you're doing? There are several "numbers" related to your program.
NOTE: In my examples the dollar sign ($) denotes the command prompt and isn't meant to be typed as part of the command.

Process ID
When a program runs in Unix it's assigned a process ID. Say I have the program sleep, and I run it for 100 seconds.
$ sleep 10000

I can then find out its process ID using the command ps. The process ID would be 9263, for example:
$ ps -eaf|grep sleep
saml      9263  5736  0 05:48 pts/1    00:00:00 sleep 10000

Backgrounded job
When a program is backgrounded, it can continue running without being directly connected to the shell from where it was executed.
$ sleep 10000 &
[1] 9370

Here I'm runnning the program sleep for 10000 seconds. The ampersand (&) at the end tells the shell to background it. When jobs are backgrounded they'reassigned a job #. In this case it was assigned job # 1. The 9370 is the process ID.
We can find out what jobs are running using the jobs command:
$ jobs
[1]+  Running                 sleep 10000 &

We can use the job # to act on this process either by killing it, or bringing it back into the foreground.
$ kill %1

$ fg
-or-
$ fg %1

at and batch commands
There are additional places where "numbers" show up in a job # capacity. Scheduled tasks that are queued up using the commands at or batch are also assigned numbers.
$ at -f mycrontest.sh  10pm tomorrow
job 14 at Sun Jul  8 22:00:00 2007

Compute clustering technologies
Further still, if you're site is using a clustering technology such as Grid Scheduler/Grid Engine, SLURM, or others, these systems too have job #'s assigned to each individual task.
Answer: #!/bin/bash

cobol_program &
echo "The COBOL program is running in the background with PID: $!"

See the man page for bash under 'Special Parameters'


Are there any specific method get all Nfts by their GroupPointer of `findAllByUpdateAuthority` in the SPL-token 2022?

Question: I'm trying to find all the nft from a same group for a newly created SPL-token-2022 nfts. Previously doing that with metaplex was easy, But now i'm using the new standards.
Answer: There's no way to do it with the current libraries, but you can probably code it up yourself.
The question is a bit vague, because you mention all NFTs from the same group, but then bring up their GroupPointer extension. The GroupPointer extension just points to another account that has the group info. If that points to a metaplex collection, then everything works as normal!
But if you're using the new TokenGroup and TokenMember extensions, then you'll need to search through all token-2022 mints with getProgramAccounts and parse their data to see if they belong to a particular group.
Many RPCs limit getProgramAccounts for token programs, so you may need to look for some other solution.


Restore a deleted Perforce client

Question: If I accidentally deleted a client with command "p4 client -d ". Is there any way to restore it? Or at least see the client spec (root folder path, view, host, etc...)
Answer: The Perforce knowledge base has an article on this. It sounds like it will probably need some co-operation from your Perforce admin. :-(
Answer: If you have a spec depot, then all client specs are stored there with all their versions. If you delete a client, you can always retrieve the client spec of "yesterday" or whatever previous version you want.
Otherwise, no you can't get it.

Restore a deleted Perforce client


Where can I find scenarios to work through T-SQL

Question: I've been working through the exam guides for the new 70-461 MCSE data exams and i'm at a point where I want to practice my T-SQL.  Does anyone know of any good resources whereby scenarios are posed and you have to create a solution through practice.  For example, when I learned C# I would work towards a goal of creating a certain type of system or project like a web app or a console app that did a certain thing.  I'm struggling to come up with test scenarios to improve my T-SQL experience because I don't have a frame of reference for what professionals in SQL do in their day jobs.
Comment: One way is to answer questions on stackoverflow.com. There are a lot of requests there asking for crazy/complex tsql solutions. Try to figure out an answer and learn from answers by others.
Answer: You could try to answer query-related questions here or on Stack Overflow. The nice thing about this is that you are solving real problems, not made-up ones, and you can also gain knowledge by seeing how other folks solve those same problems. You're also helping folks, potentially.
Answer: Microsoft has some virtual labs you could work through here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/hh859579.aspx including one on the t-sql improvements for 2012 among other things.  They aren't directed at the exams but are still good.  Personally I like using practice tests such as those from Transcender and Measureup.  And last but certainly not least prowl the forums and try to answer peoples questions.  These are true examples of people working as DBAs and even if you can't answer the question, reading it and then reading other people's answers will help you out tremendously.
Comment: No, and certainly don't expect the exams to tell you everything you need to know.  I usually take the practice exams to point out areas I need to study further.  If I get a question wrong on query hints, I study query hints in general, not just that particular one.  That and to be honest, to practice taking exams.  There is certainly some stamina involved in going through 40-50 questions where some of them may have full page questions, all in a time limit and you have to stay on your game till the end.
Comment: Well it certainly helps that I've been a DBA for something like 20 years.  Mostly I just have to study the specifics of things that I don't use on a regular basis.  In the case of query hints I went to BOL looked them up and read the list a couple of times.  If it is something like the MERGE statement or partitioning I'll read BOL then force myself to write a working example without reference to BOL.  Any mistakes and I start again until it works flawlessly first try.  Then I do it again a week later.
Comment: Thanks, some great suggestions! I've got the practice exams with the training guides but they are all multiple choice and i'm told the exam doesn't follow a multiple choice format in its entirety.
Comment: When you say you "study" query hints, whats your strategy?  Do you use management studio and just keep practicing your code skills?  How did you learn to pass this exam?
Comment: I also wrote a blog on another method I use here: http://sqlstudies.com/2013/01/07/how-i-like-to-learn-a-t-sql-command/


Compatibility mode

Question: When I downloaded 2007 files into 2010, Compatibility Mode in 2010 changed the format.
How can I convert back to the old format?
Answer: In Word 2010 under File / Info / Versions check if anything is listed. If so, you can try reverting to a previous version of the document:

If the document's formatting has been changed and saved and no previous versions are listed, I think you're out of luck unless you have a backup somewhere.

Compatibility mode


What will humanity do IF and when technological progression ends?

Question: Humans are always looking for the next big thing and since science is everything; much of what humans are amazed by have some basis in science. We aren't sure if technology will end; but if it does; what will humans strive to achieve in?
Comment: Technology does not evolve _per se_. Technology is intended to satisfy human necessities. So, it will stop evolving the day humans become gods. Then, you can be sure, you will not need it anymore.
Comment: If technology ever reaches the limit of what it can theoretically do, the world will look *very* different from the present. Theoretically, technology could one day augment human minds, alter human biology, or simulate minds in a computer. In a world like that, what we think of as "human" may be obsolete.
Comment: welcome to philosophy.stackechange. Please take some time to get familiar, also look at what questions are welcome here https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/help/on-topic and what kind of questions are better not asked: https://philosophy.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask
Answer: To answer this question, we should inquire on the roles of technology. Then we should inquire on the points of absolute sufficiency for these roles. But first, let us take a definition (from Wikipedia):

Technology can be most broadly defined as the entities, both material and immaterial, created by the application of mental and physical effort in order to achieve some value. In this usage, technology refers to tools and machines that may be used to solve real-world problems. It is a far-reaching term that may include simple tools, such as a crowbar or wooden spoon, or more complex machines, such as a space station or particle accelerator. Tools and machines need not be material; virtual technology, such as computer software and business methods, fall under this definition of technology.[12]

Perhaps the most common example of technology is the making and use of tools. This goes way back for humans, with early tools like hammers and later tools like paper. These are essentially instruments of extended function for the body and mind. Hence, one key answer to the question of technology's role appears to be extending the human into its environment.
A more abstract, yet still common, example of technology is science. Here, as with many other aspects of culture, rather than extending the human into the environment, the environment is extended into the human. Specifically, the human is following externally arrived guidelines or methods to achieve an end.
The overarching theme for technology seems to be extension or integration between a being and its environment. As technology grows, ever more of the environment is repurposed toward the will of the being. Taken to the absolute, every part and wave of substance would bend to the will of the animal. Every aspect of energy and matter were working as one unified lifeform.
On the energy side of things, Nikolai Kardashev proposed the Kardashev scale, which grades civilizations by the amount of energy they extract and consume cosmically.
Still, different configurations presumably exist for the will and control of the system. If humans are the ones running the place, then as long as reproduction were kept reasonable, practically unlimited energy and resources per person could allow a fairly decent quality of life. Assuming full automation of production and other unfun activities, we would be left to find meaning outside of work. Those interested in competition or spotlight could play sports and other games, or produce works of art. Those wanting more social touch might consider role playing and story telling. And those in need of cognition could study philosophy, religion, or history. Basically all the usual leisure activities apply here.
Even with all material needs met, some moral dilemmas could remain, as asked about here.
Answer: It crucially depends why you think progress will stop.
Average living standards of an Ancient Roman citizen were not matched again until London in the 1720s. Nuclear war and following nuclear winter, could see something similar to the sack of Rome - what Joseph Tainter calls 'rapid simplification' in his book 'The Collapse of Complex Civilisations'. Tainter associated these with civilisations depleting their resources, then experiencing a shock which there were no longer materials and social-cohesion to adapt to. Quite a plausible outcome in the face of climate change, also. Though these kind of scenarios would reverse technological development, maybe for a very long time, they would be unlikely to end it.
China developed the three technologies Francis Bacon called 'the cornerstones of the modern age': canals with locks, gunpowder, magnetic compasses. Also paper, and the Treasure Ships  trade-exploration missions able to reach Africa by the 1420s. The puzzle that the modern age did not then begin there, is called The Needham Question, and the scholarly consensus is that it related to being such a relatively cohesive political unit compared to Europe, where many small wars acted as selection pressures against social conservatism and entrenched power (the death toll of the Three Kingdom War of Ming to Ching dynasty transition in 3rd C AD, was not exceeded until WW2 - it was an era of exceptional technological development). It is possible to imagine an unchallenged global superstate making a decision to prevent technological developments as disruptive, along the lines of the Japanese ending almost all international trade and having two extra centuries of feudalism until modern weaponry arrived. This scenario would see a kind of stasis or stagnation of technological change, but would be unlikely to end it.
I guess you may have something utopian in mind, a kind of maximisation of the agency of minds or species. You could say extend the Kardashev scale to the harnessing of supergiant blackholes, or supernovas, the most energetic phenomena we know of. Or a VonNeumann machine like the obelisks in Asimov's 2001, capable of replicating themselves to face any task. Penrose pictures a future of humans being able to create almost anything needed even from the 'emptiest' parts of space, using fusion of the cosmic dust there to generate matter and energy, another picture of maximising. I don't see how even there technological possibilities could end. In Penrose's Conformal Cyclic Cosmology the final distribution of photons after the last matter evaporates, could shape the initial conditions and maybe even laws of the next cycle, seeing even the end of the universe as not an obstacle.
It's interesting to look at Schumpeter's technological & entrepreneur-driven business cycles of "successive industrial revolutions":

"Typically, a long upswing in a cycle started when a new set of
innovations came into general use—as happened with water power,
textiles and iron in the late 18th century; steam, rail and steel in
the mid-19th century; and electricity, chemicals and the
internal-combustion engine at the turn of the 20th century. In turn,
each upswing stimulated investment and an expansion of the economy.
These long booms eventually petered out as the technologies matured
and returns to investors declined with the dwindling number of
opportunities. After a period of much slower expansion came the
inevitable decline—only to be followed by a wave of fresh innovations
which destroyed the old way of doing things and created the conditions
for a new upswing." -from The Economist, 'The long cycles of
industrial innovation are becoming shorter'

In the absence of technological change, Schumpeter expects competative-equilibrium. A longer cycle we can examine also has that: evolution. And there we find cycles of Punctuated-Equilibrium, boundary-events driven by comets, volcanoes, ice-ages, and so on, where radial-evolution of survivors refill emptied ecological niches.
Change continues. Replicators that replicate more, become more numerous, compounding replication advantages. This is true among memes, as with genes. I don't see any more than temporary stasis, and average-net increase in technology over time as highly likely, given the dynamics of exponential growth.
For goals in the absence of material needs, I would look to play, as the means to explore the apex of the hierarchy of needs, discussed here: Video games as new art
Answer: I do not see how technology would end. But that was not your question of course.
So it is hypothetical.
I think that if technological progression ends, this would equate to everything remaining the same.
That is the short answer.
I find it difficult to see any progress at all if there is no technological progress anymore. It would effect daily life in a major way though. Imagine never getting a new flavor anymore of your favorite drink. Life would start to get pretty boring it seems.
An other thought that comes to mind is why/when would this happen. Would it end if we seize to exist? I don't think so, because there are animals that use technology as well. It's rather simple, but it is there. Multiple animals do this as a matter of fact. So this goes out of the window.
Than maybe it would happen if there is nothing to learn anymore. We know everything that there is to be known. I find it hard to imagine that this would happen at all, but if this were to happen it would be in a point far far in the future. However, in this scenario humans will likely not be recognizable anymore because of the time elapsed between now and than (Darwin and all that ...). In addition, the technology has obviously progressed up to this point and allows for additional changes to our species. In this scenario we would have a solution to all our health problems because we know everything right? We would understand everything there is to know about our DNA and the workings of our brain. You may than even conclude that humanity does not exist anymore. We are talking about such a long time in the future that even without technology the human species would have likely evolved into a different species. So basically humanity will do nothing, simply because it does not exist anymore.
That was too much side tracking.
As to what will humans strive to achieve without technological progress I also struggle. Back to the first one I threw out of the window. If we do not exist anymore, than there is nothing to thrive for. The second scenario is a lot harder. If we live in an environment where we already know everything, it would likely be limited to physical performances such as sports or living arts (acting singing) and stuff like that. Since anything else would likely involve some development. And that in turns implies that we did not know everything. Which is not an option by default of the question asked.
I like your question, but I do not like the thoughts that come to my mind. But I stick to the simple version of my answer. If technological progress stops, everything will remain the same.
Joey