How to know how much space an uncompressed zip will take

Question: Given a (really long) list of zip files, how can you tell the size of them once uncompressed?
Answer: You can do that using unzip -Zt zipname which prints a summary directly about the archive content, with total size. Here is an example on its output:
unzip -Zt a.zip
1 file, 14956 bytes uncompressed, 3524 bytes compressed:  76.4%

Then, using awk, you can extract the number of bytes:
unzip -Zt a.zip | awk '{print $3}'
14956

Finally, put it in a for loop as in Tom's answer:
total=0
for file in *.zip; do # or whichever files you want
    (( total += $(unzip -Zt $file |awk '{ print $3 }') ))
done
echo $total

Answer: If you type unzip -l <zipfile>, it prints a listing of files within the zip, with their uncompressed sizes, then the total uncompressed size of all of them.
This is human-readable output, but you can get a machine-readable number using unzip -l <zipfile> | tail -n1 | awk '{ print $1 }'.
To get a total size:
total=0
for file in *.zip; do # or whichever files you want
    (( total += $(unzip -l $file | tail -n1 | awk '{ print $1 }') ))
done
echo $total

Answer: unzip -l lists the size of each file and prints a final line with their sum. So you can loop through the zip files and add up the output of unzip -l "$zip" | awk 'END {print $1}' or of unzip -Zt "$zip" | awk 'END {print $3}'. For a shell loop, unzip -Zt may be a little faster:
total=0
for z in *.zip; do
  set $(unzip -Zt -- "$z")
  total=$((total + $3))
done

That only tells you the total size of the files. Each file has a small overhead: the space to store its name, the space to store some of its metadata, and possibly a bit of unused space because most filesystems allocate files in blocks. On typical filesystems, the overhead can be up to a few kilobytes. It isn't exactly predictable because the overhead depends on the file size, on the directory structure (because of the directory overhead), and on the filesystem's capabilities to merge multiple small files in the same block.
If most the files are more than a few kilobytes, don't worry about this. But if the files are very small, you might want to take the overhead into account. Once again, the overhead depends on the filesystem. On ext4, each file fills a full block (4kB by default on most systems). The following script approximates the total size by rounding each file up to 4kB and adding the length of the file name plus a few bytes.
for z in *.zip; do
  unzip -l -- "$z"
done | awk '
    $2 ~ /^[0-9][0-9][0-9][0-9]-[0-9][0-9]-[0-9][0-9]$/ {total += ($1+4095)/4096*4096 + length($0)}
    END {print total}
'

Comment: +1 for mentioning small files and the fact that filesystems don't pack small files together the way a zip does.  AFAIK, no mainstream filesystems on win/OSX/Linux/BSD (i.e. ones you could recommend that someone use for / and /home on their desktop or server) have small file packing as an option.  Reiserfs had an option to do this this (and tails of larger files), but it's unmaintained.  I hadn't thought of massively long file *names*, though.  Good catch.
Comment: You might also add in a constant 256B or 512B per file, as that's the size of an inode (on XFS).  I think ext4 still statically allocates inodes, though, so space not used for inodes couldn't hold other data anyway.  (This is why ext4 has such a low number of free inodes (`df -i`), compared to XFS which can dynamically allocate as much space to inodes as it needs.)
Answer: Look ma, no loops!
Here is another solution, that may be slightly faster, because it doesn't use loops, but still arrives at the same answer.
unzip -l \*.zip|awk 'BEGIN{total=0}/        [0-9]+ files/{total=total+$1;}END{print "total bytes: "total}'

The "BEGIN{total=0}" part isn't strictly required.


What's the furthest possible range that an unarmed strike could have?

Question: From what I have seen, the furthest that I could get it was 20 feet, however, I'm sure it's possible to increase it further, so, how far can an unarmed strike truly reach?
Comment: Related: https://rpg.stackexchange.com/questions/111256/what-build-maximizes-reach/113595#113595
The top answer happens to involve an unarmed strike.
Comment: Related: "[What is the maximum distance you can cause damage from?](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/159459)" and "[What build maximizes reach?](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/111256)"
Comment: Can we use Unearthed Arcana?
Answer: 35 Feet (40 feet with an optional rule) without shenanigans.
Here's what we need:

Bugbear's Long-Limbed trait adds 5 feet.
Battlemaster Fighter's Lunging Strike adds 5 feet.
Way of the Four Elements Monk's Fangs of the Fire Snake adds 10 feet.
Rolling 51-55 on the Flesh Warping table after contacting demon ichor in Avernus adds 5 feet.
Potion of Giant Size adds 5 feet

For a grand total of 35 feet.
Using the optional Mixing Potions rules, roling a 91-99 on the Potion Miscibility table while drinking a second potion of some kind can double the increase to reach granted by the Potion of Giant Size:

The numerical effects and duration of one potion are doubled. If neither potion has anything to double in this way, they work normally.

This brings the total to 40 feet.
1030 feet with shenanigans.
Same build as above, except we take the Echo Knight subclass instead of Battlemaster. The Echo Knight has two important features. Manifest Echo, which says:

When you take the Attack action on your turn, any attack you make with that action can originate from your space or the echo's space. You make this choice for each attack.

And Echo Avatar, which says:

You can temporarily transfer your consciousness to your echo. As an action, you can see through your echo's eyes and hear through its ears. During this time, you are deafened and blinded. You can sustain this effect for up to 10 minutes, and you can end it at any time (requires no action). While your echo is being used in this way, it can be up to 1,000 feet away from you without being destroyed.

You use Manifest Echo and Echo Avatar, as well as having the relevant features listed above, and you can make an unarmed strike from the Echo's space, and it can be up to 1030 feet away from where you actually are. The language of Manifest Echo is actually very important here:

When you take the Attack action on your turn, any attack you make with that action can originate from your space or the echo's space. You make this choice for each attack.

The feature is clear that you are making the attack that is originating from the Echo's space, and since your reach for the unarmed strike is 30 feet, we can get out to 1030 feet.
Comment: With Unearthed Arcana there is the Primeval Guardian Ranger's Guardian Soul feature adding 5 more to reach. There's also the option of becoming gargantuan or another larger size which doesn't increase you *reach* but it does allow you to attack more total squares
Comment: [This Q&A](https://rpg.stackexchange.com/q/179763/62294) details why I didn't (can't) use Eldritch Claw Tatoo.


Stop scheduled reminders for an event after the event is finished

Question: We occasionally have participants get registered for an event by our back-office staff while the event is in progress or even after it is finished.  Our events have scheduled reminders set for 1 day and 1 hour before the event.  These people who are registered during or after the event do get these scheduled reminders sent to them and it is both confusing to them and spammy of us to send them.
Six years ago someone asked if there was a way to turn this off.  I'm hoping that in six years maybe there has been some progress or changes.
Is it possible to get scheduled reminders that are set to "XX time before the event starts" to not fire once the event start time has passed?
Thank you
Answer: There is a outstanding PR's for the fix which needs some feedback on test,

https://github.com/civicrm/civicrm-core/pull/20432
https://github.com/civicrm/civicrm-core/pull/19973
Comment: Awesome!!  Thank you!


changing brake response

Question: My car's brake seems to having some problems. Before Whenever I brake, I only use around 20 - 40% of the brakes(I kinda half step through the brake pedal) and the brakes seem to work instantaneously. But ever since I drove the car through a flood(the water was just around a centimeter below the car's ground clearance), My car does not respond that well when I brake lightly, instead I have to brake at around 70 - 90%  just so the car would brake immediately. I have tried cleaning the rear brakes(drum brakes), but I am still experiencing a lot of brake fade. Is there a way I could adjust the brake response? Or do I also have to check my front brakes? I had just replaced my rear brake pads around 3-4 months ago, and I've just done around 1.5k ever since the replacement. Are tires also a factor as well?
Comment: Did you adjust the rear brakes correctly after cleaning them?
Comment: @mikes I kinda increased the brake adjuster(Made the brake pad closer to the surface). Is it better if I do it that way?
Answer: Having the rear shoes adjusted will help with the pedal travel issue. Another possibility is that the brakes, both front and rear were contaminated by something in the water. It could have been oil, silt, mud etc. This may have glazed the brake material leaving a hard smooth surface that doesn't generate a lot of braking friction. You can try to remove the rear drums and spray the shoes and interior of the drums with quality brake specific cleaner. It wouldn't hurt to rough the shoes up with some sandpaper to breakup any glazing that may have occurred. I would do the same with the front pads and rotors as well.
Comment: I might bring it to a auto repair shop, I've noticed something's wrong with my suspension as well, I'd probably bring it there than to fix it myself, I do need to overhaul the entire thing as I've got an annual vehicle inspection coming up. I could probably ask the mechanic to check on the pads. Thanks

changing brake response


Client likes to fiddle with my designs

Question: I am designing a logo for a client. I've given her a few ideas and she wants to take 3 of them and work on them herself with her sister. We have a contract and she'll pay me so that's not the issue. I don't want her compromising my design! How do I share my feelings without being condescending? Thanks.
Comment: What *exactly* is she asking for? [Native files?](http://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/21324/how-do-you-explain-the-value-of-native-files-to-an-uneducated-client)
Comment: @Scott Yes. She wants the native files.
Comment: Wait and see what she comes up with and then discuss the merits (or lack thereof) of what you see on a purely objective manner. At the end of the day, though, some client are like this. Might be best to smile, take the check, and then slink away.
Comment: Native files should be sold at high price and not be included with your final files. Native files are like a "recipe" of your work, you don't provide this for free or as part of the logo final files. Final files can be vectors but should not include the fonts or editable text. Plus, some people confuse these files and send them to printers or other designers... without the fonts vectorized... arghh.
Answer: While I think this is a duplicate in general, I'd like to add some info based on context of the question.
This is a logo. When I deliver final logo files, included are fully working vector files. There's no point in maintaing or restricting delivery of native files for logos. The client actually needs native files for their logo.
So, to this end, I'd probably provide some basic native files and let the client play with them. I'd strip out any custom patterns, brushes, etc. and simply provide basic flat files. I'd essentially "dumb down" the files to only the necessary elements and send those. Certainly no harm would come of this due to the nature of the project.
Now, if things start devolving into "I can't edit this, can you send it to me in Word?" Or some such nonsense, then you'll need to explain that you have specific tools you use and altering the working files to allow her to make adjustments was not what was agreed upon.
I state this because it is a logo project. My attitude towards providing native files is markedly different for non-logo projects.
Answer: I personally think you shouldn't give her the files, since that's why she hired you. I think it's kind of a slap on my face if it's done to me even though the client will pay me for it.
I think you should just tell her that as a designer, it is with regret that you have to keep the designs and she would just have to tell you what she wants within the contract rules.
If you want to appear technical, tell her that you can give her the files, but it will require selling her the copyrights, which in turn will require them to pay a huge amount for each design, but this will remove your rights over the designs. Tell her that because you will no longer be able to place these in your portfolio or reuse the elements in the design, you will have to charge her more for it, although I think this option seems rather intimidating and passive aggressive.
If she insists, then I suggest giving her the files in minimal detail (maybe in one entire layer or in five layers and then in low resolution, or with a watermark, or something. If she complains, give her the first reason I stated, or make something up :)
I hope she doesn't insist, and I hope she just lets you design them within the contract rules!
All my hopes.

Client likes to fiddle with my designs


Fingering for playing three octave scales on the violin

Question: What is the standard fingering for playing three octave scales on the violin?
Comment: I'm not sure there is a standard. Certainly in the practise books for the [ABRSM](http://gb.abrsm.org/en/home) grade exams often the three octave scales will have one suggested fingering above and an alternative below the stave.
Comment: @dumbledad, to be able to play fast, intonated and smooth, there are not many options. To change 2 times on the same string is not so good and to change position more than 2 times is not optimal. Also to end up doing last note with finger 4>4+>4, is not option either. The fingering in the answer under is optimal and I taught at university level.
Comment: I don't understand; your comment suggests that you know the answer, so why pose the question?
Comment: @dumbledad, StackExchange is about sharing knowledge. I cannot just post an answer without a question, so I posted the question also.
Comment: You are right, I don't think I had realised that posing questions with the intent of answering them is so encouraged on Stack Exchange: http://blog.stackoverflow.com/2011/07/its-ok-to-ask-and-answer-your-own-questions/
Answer: I'd say there is no "standard fingering".
Ask yourself the question "Why learn scales?" It could be that once, walking down the street, you heard the sound of a beginner violinist practising his or her scale work over and over and over again and you thought "That is such a beautiful run of notes; I must learn that too."
But for most of us scales are a means to an end, and the end is increasing mastery of keys and their fingering. Thus when we encounter a piece of new music (which may or may not include fragments of scales) our fingers know where to go.
So it makes sense to learn our scales in many different positions and starting points and fingerings.
However, for grade exams we need to demonstrate our mastery of a scale to an examiner and then we need to get one fingering as close to perfect as we can. There's a runners adage "race your strengths and train your weaknesses" and exams are a moment to demonstrate practised strengths. The ABRSM (the exam board of the Royal Schools of Music) includes a three octave G major in its Grade 7 violin scales:

You will see they include two suggested fingerings, one above and one below the stave.
Comment: IMHO reaching the last F#-G-F# with the same finger 4-4-4 is a bad idea. The intonation precision and rythm precision will suffer with such finger solution.
Answer: Take the G scale to start with. The most of it fits all the other scales.
Here is the fingering for the G scale (starting from from open G string)
I posted some images of the part/notes were there are position changes happening. String G and D should be just first position.
On the way up, the most used fingering is to go up on the A string to the 3rd position, take D with first finger. And up again to the fifth position in the E string taking again D with the first finger.

On the way down (taking A in the E string with first finger) the C will be 3rd finger on 3rd position. The second position change will be down to first position (having the B with first finger) the C will be second finger.

There are three aspects that are of big importance for being able to tune properly and to have a good technique for changing position.
1.st - Always know were your first finger is when changing position. On the way up leave the fisrt finger pressed thru other notes/fingers. This will give you a reference/anchor for the other fingers to tune with and help the hand/arm to be stable on each position. On the way down do the same. The fisrt finger is there, pressed, when you change position even if C is the note you want after D on the way down. And keep the first finger until it has to go up. Less work actually.
2.nd - Always change position with the arm and not with the fingers. The arm goes up/down first and the hand follow. (Think that when the 4th finger is playing that is probably the perfect position to have already from the first finger. The hand/arm position should not change from having one or more fingers). SO not the fingers stretching to the next position and the hand and arm following. Do instead as I wrote above, using this technique the hand position is always the same and you will not have speed and intonation problems later on.
3.rd - when training go slow. Make a glissando so you can hear were you are during the position change.
On other scales do the same, up with 1st fingers on the last 2 fifth note in the scale and down with first finger pressed and then also the next tone in the scale (the finger playing the forth in the scale) also pressed.
Comment: That's an A minor natural scale.
Comment: @AmericanLuke, I just posted the relevant parts were there are position changes. The other 2 strings are just the same position, easy playing. But good point, I will add that in the answer also.


Training multiple arts at the same time.

Question: Is it possible to effectively train in two (or perhaps even more) martial arts/combat sports at the same time?
What are ways to minimize concerns like technique and muscle memory confusion?
Does it help to have varying experiences in the various arts?
Comment: Yes, I'm aware of what muscle memory is. I was being sarcastic, as I hear inaccurate terms like that and "muscle confusion" being tossed around all the time. If you have "muscle memory confusion", that just means you are trying to do the techniques too soon without thinking about them. Your muscles don't get "confused", you just send them the improper signals by not thinking about what you are doing.
Comment: Where in a muscle is the memory located?
Comment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muscle_memory
Answer: It's possible, and the dangers are entirely dependent on which two arts and which two teachers.
I study Isshinryu Karate. I also studied iaido for a few years while in my pre-black belt years. After about a year of the cross-training, I noticed that the iaido training had affected my empty-hand training in subtle but negative ways, such as the way my weight was shifted in stances, and it took me a while to fix it and create a proper mental separation between the skills I was learning that were specific to the purpose of handling a sword, and the skills I was learning that were specific to the purpose of working empty-handed.
As far as techniques to avoid confusion, try to create as many memory markers as possible, like the smell of the school, the equipment you wear, the way you bow (or don't). These, of course, would become Bad Things(tm) if you intended on using your skills outside for self-defense, because it creates a layer of separation between you and the skills, but by the time you're ready to use them, you should be properly aware of that anyway.
Answer: Yes it is possible without causing any problems and it is very good if the styles complement each other because they would fill in gaps you might have from one style.
For instance a striking are will be a very useful addition to a grappling art. If you are a beginner it may be a bit hard at first because there is a lot of information to take in especially if you are training both during the same day.
Answer: I'm actually doing this (Kalari and Wushu).

Is it possible to effectively train in two (or perhaps even more) martial arts/combat sports at the same time?

Yes of course. In my experience it takes about 2 months to get used to it mentally and physically. You can get over the psychical exhaustion in a about two weeks. The mental part (muscle memory) takes longer.
It would be like learning two new musical instruments. If you have had experience with music before it can be a lot easier to do it.
If you want to learn more than two fighting arts however I think you should consider MMA.

What are ways to minimize concerns like technique and muscle memory confusion?

I think motor memory has two phases of learning - short term but fast learning phase where neural processes (or motor maps) are formed to perform a set of motor actions. Followed by a longer term (slow learning phase) where new  modifications are made on specific motor modules to improve efficiency.
What helped me is understanding common patterns in your fighting skill. This involves breaking up a sequence to understand the basics of a move (e.g How to perform a certain block) and then perform it over and over till you get the hang of it. Once you've got it internalized, including that move in an elaborate sequence will be a lot easy.

Does it help to have varying experiences in the various arts?

This will entirely depend on what you want to get out of it. Are you in it competitively?
Is it just for self defense? Your choice in the martial arts you learn depends on what you fancy really.
Learning to wield different kinds of weapons and the attaining the skills associated with it motivates me. I've never had interest in sparring or actual combat.
This is similar to choosing courses at college. Will they help you in real life? Is it worth your investment in time/money?. How much time are you willing to put into it? Are your choices dissimilar (eg some grappling art like jodo - combined with style changquan or some soft taichi combined with hard style muay thai)

3-years-later-edit: There is also the concern of recovering from injury and body repair. You will need to sleep for 10+ a day and eat a lot of food. Drink 2 liters of water. After a few months of trying it got too exhausting for me. You will need days off for rest.
PS: It is better you tell both instructors that you are training in another discipline at the same time. Some of them are competitive and don't like that. They should be comfortable with you declining doing any exercise.
Answer: I have done multiple martial arts at the same time and it just takes a bit longer to achieve the same skill level if you learning dissimilar arts at the same time.
Too be honest I believe the best progression is made when your arts are similar or very dissimilar. Lets say you do boxing and grappling then the chances of your boxing being influenced by grappling is less than say doing boxing and Shaolin Kung Fu, since you are learning completely different techniques - punching vs grappling. The same if you are doing wrestling and BJJ for instance you might also have less of an issue than say doing Wing Chun and Boxing as they teach the same concepts but in very different ways.
I know in this modern world of MMA and instant gratification we do not dedicate ourselves to one thing anymore, but my advice is; Start with one art and work on it until you are comfortable with it and then move on to a 2nd art.
Answer: Totally possible.  You could learn a few and use what works for you.  My teacher had studied a few arts and eventually boxing and thai boxing.  He coached the olympic boxing team sometime in the 80s.  In class we sometimes would have "boxing days", "leg days" and "stick day" (rattan sticks).  While not the same as multiple schools/teachers, the idea was the same.  We learned how to throw punches like a boxer and elbows like a thai boxer.
My answer is biased.  I was trained by a teacher that also 'taught' jeet kune do, so I'm more into learning different things and mixing it up myself than the alternative, which to me seems like it's pre-mixed by people telling you "this is what works in the ____"
TL;DR
The more stuff you know, if it ever comes down to having to defend yourself or loved ones, it could make it harder for your opponent to figure out what you know.
Answer: In the good old days before the fragmentation of the 'original' martial arts ways into all the 'different schools' There was really not this style or that - it wasn't stand and be counted - or lay down in your pyjamas and hug people. The martial 'arts' were complete systems in and of themselves. The old masters took on very few students. They were very carefully chosen. They were trained upright AND laying down. They were living in a world of constant war and danger (sounds like about now 'eh) "Know you enemy" was a simple but profound edict. Your enemy may be a pugilist, a grappler, an oarsman, a farmer, brigand, mad monk, etc, etc. He may have a sword, a spear, a halberd, an oar, a club, etc, etc.
The fragmentation came about when old masters passed away and families fractured and members went their separate ways. We became aware of this in Australia. In 1958 we had the Polish man Slagowski in Blacktown roughing it out with many pugilists, wrestlers,bouncers,policemen, prison guards, and brawlers. In the early 1960's We had little Merv Oakly return from Japan with Go Ju Kai (came from the Go Ju Ryu systems of Okinowa to Japan. In 1966 we had Tino Ceberano in Melbourne doing Go Ju Kai. We had many people of kyu grades leave these schools and start up there own way. We then had Richard Bradford (founded Goshin Ryu). We also had Dan grades like Bob Jones (created Zen Do Kai) -  then came Go Shin Kan and Go Kan Ryu (Door Knocker Karate). Many styles many ways - some very effective others not so.
An old Okinowa master asked of prospective students (masters of other schools, ways,countries) What they did for a living - what was their profession. If they answered that their school was their profession he would dump them. You must have a separate means of funding your life and household. If you get money solely from your school you will be sorely tempted to adopt more students so that you could prosper and survive. This seems to be the modern institutional system, or way where you are guaranteed a black belt within 12-15 months !!!! More students - bigger school - bigger school - bigger reputation - bigger rep - more schools ad infinitum. Hence we have the stand ups versus the grapplers. The kickboxers versus the boxers. etc. etc. Now we have UFC, MMA, ABC etc. etc. Where EVERYONE is yearning for the COMPLETE system. You may indeed have to train in 2 or more separate martial arts these days to find a completeness - a wholeness in your martial arts. People nowadays even want to belittle, cheapen, or even negate the 'ART' part of Martial arts. The 'martial' is the fighting for survival part of it. The 'art' part is the ability to heal what has been damaged or redress the balance.
In the 'pure' Tai Chi (supreme ultimate pole - modern day is Chuan or fist) the practitioner is an observer of all that is. When other 'martial artists' see a conflict or an enemy approaching they adopt the force to force principles or right is might!!!! Sadly a mistaken assumption - they will have already lost because they have enmeshed themselves with 'the opponents' inner demons. The Tai Chi practitioner does not see a 'confrontation' they see only that the other person is out of balance - they are unwell - or are beset by some inner demons. The Tai Chi person then activates the 'art' system of healing and rebalancing. They become smoke to the other persons mirror. They do not become the mirror THEY BECOME THE OTHER PERSON (borrow their congested and/ or leaking energy) they return to their own source and then release that 'borrowed' energy back into the unbalanced or imbalanced person. This puts congested energy and leaking energy through the yin - yang tumbler and restores it to a balanced flow. The person then no longer seeks a 'confrontation' with themselves by the use of LATERAL VIOLENCE !!!!! (taking it out on your fellows - family - friends etc.). The future comes soon where all 'ways' - 'schools' 'styles' and 'systems will blend once more into the one true way of the MARTIAL ARTS !!!!
Comment: -1, this reads like incoherent ranting...  What is your point?
Comment: I read this in an aussie accent, it was thus enhanced. Im my case I am actually not seeking to train a striking art and a grappling art. I am going for MMA and SCA sword-fighting (which will be supplemented with historical German long-sword classes by the translator of one of the manuals)
Comment: I have merely made comment on the mixing of different martial arts, to answer the OP's question, and the statements by way of answers from other contributors.To the great Btuman what is MMA if it does not involve 'striking art' and 'grappling art'?
Comment: The differnce is that in MMA, they are taught as a single system, they work from the same stance (or the stances are connected in training), the moves are trained in connection with each other, ect.
Comment: If, as you say, they are indeed taught as a single system, it actually validates my point that 'striking' and 'grappling' are indeed involved in MMA training. This statement also validates my comment, by way of answer to you, that The future comes soon where all 'ways' - 'schools' 'styles' and 'systems will blend once more into the one true way of the MARTIAL ARTS !!!! It seems great Btuman that the future is now. I too have always trained MMA - Karate - Balisong - Arnis de Mano - Mano y Mano - Ju Jitsu - Kenbo - Bo - Jo - Dulo - Tai Chi. These allowed me to be a 'complete' martial artist.


What happens to Temporary Hit Points when you Wild Shape?

Question: I have a character that has Inspiring Leader, and I can grant temporary hit points to my team members.  We have a Druid in the group that tends to use Wild Shape frequently.  When the Druid uses Wild Shape, do the Temporary Hit Points transfer over to the new form, or are they "attached" to the original form?  Is there anything in the books that handle this?
Answer: You retain all temporary hit points when using wild shape.
There is nothing in the rulebook that addresses this directly, however I think we can figure this out using what we do know.
Temporary HP are not real HP because:

Temporary hit points aren't actual hit points; they are a buffer against damage, a pool of hit points that protect you from injury.

When a Druid uses wild shape:

...you assume the beast's hit points and Hit Dice. When you revert to your normal form, you return to the number of hit points you had before you transformed.

This would seem to imply that your hit points before wild shape are replaced with the hit points of the beast you've shaped into.  But!  Temporary hit points aren't actually hit points per the rule book; they are a buffer against damage.
Furthermore...

Because temporary hit points are separate from your actual hit points, they can exceed your hit point maximum. A character can, therefore, be at full hit points and receive temporary hit points...

So even if your hit point maximum increases from wild shape, your temporary hit points remain because they are separate from your actual hit points and they can exceed your HP maximum.
Also...

Unless a feature that grants you temporary hit points has a duration, they last until they're depleted or you finish a long rest.

Since there is nothing in wild shape that explicitly denies you your temporary hit points, they last until you have either used all of them or until you have completed a long rest.
Even better, if you still have your temporary hit points when you shape back to your original form, you will still retain them, although your "real" HP will revert to whatever level they were at before you wild shaped.
Answer: I would assume that would be the case, as PHB 198 states:

Temporary hit points aren't actual hit points; they are a buffer against damage , a pool of hit points that protect you from injury.

Also, according to PHB 67,

You retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source and can use them if the new form is physically capable of doing so.

So, I believe that the temporary hit points would be retained by the druid if it uses Wild Shape.
Comment: SageAdvice has some information that while not outright contradicting the the section on Arcane Ward's interaction might draw a slightly different conclusion. This would depend on whether the DM treats Wild Shape as a separate entity like Arcane Ward.
Comment: I don't really see how this answers my question
Comment: @DForck42, I said that the PHB seems to affirm your assertion, as it says that you "retain the benefit of any features from your class, race, or other source". So, I think that this applies to temporary hit points.


How do the Scrum Master's responsibilities change over the years?

Question: If a team already practices Scrum method successfully, how does the Scrum Master participate in further development? Will he/she continue to fulfill the same responsibilities?
Answer: The Scrum Master is a coaching role. Lyssa Adkins borrows the Shu-Ha-Ri approach from Aikido when talking about coaching teams. (I only know this model from coaching, I have no idea how faithfully it's adopted).
Early in Scrum maturity, the team is in the Shu level. They need to understand how the mechanics of Scrum work, develop discipline in the practices, and learn how to be effective in the new approach. The Scrum Master acts as a guide in these areas.
In the Ha level, the team understands the rules of Scrum and wants to bend them or expand on them to adjust the method of working to their needs. Here, the Scrum Master helps the team structure these experiments and drives transparency so that the team gets the most out of these improvements.
Finally, in the Ri level, the team has a deep understanding of how and why Scrum works and can apply these principles to develop completely new and novel ways of working. The Scrum Master here acts in a purely coaching role, stimulating and encouraging the team in their thinking.
There is no timeline for this. If the team has never followed Scrum as recorded, they've never really settled into the Shu level. Similarly, if they have always stuck by the rules, they've probably had this level mastered for a long time, but never moved on.
This is just in coaching the team. Of course, there is a whole organization around the team to work with. This checklist shows some things the Scrum Master can be working on each day with and around the team: http://scrummasterchecklist.org/pdf/ScrumMaster_Checklist_12_unbranded.pdf
The checklist is by no means comprehensive, but gives a taste of the many things a scrum master can be doing to help the team.
Answer: The scrum master in such a scenario will need to spend less time with the team, freeing them up to be able to work with two or three teams at the same time.
Answer: There is more than one question here.
You can check the Scrum website for the 'by the book' definition of the Scrum master role, which includes a whole tonne of general management, consultancy and project management stuff in it. Plenty to fill a FTE.
Then you have the reality of most work places, where the Scrum Master is seen as a consultant position which can be dropped after you have switched from whatever you were doing before to scrum, or filled by a random employee, say the lead dev or a project manager, if you don't want to hire a consultant.
And then you have the career advice aspect 'I'm a scrum master but my team don't need me' question.
I think like any job, the title doesn't really define the role. It's down to the individual to carve a niche in the system.


effective way to determine if a message is spam?

Question: Is there a way to determine if the given message is a spam? For example those who posts on forums and advertise their own sites for various products.
Answer: There are many ways, non of which are fool proof.
The current technology that achieves the best results is bayesian inference for statistical analysis.
Answer: One way is to look at where it came from.  Most spam comes from certain ISPs and there are lists of those available.
Another way is to check where the posts links lead.  IE if the links in the post lead to a completely unrelated site or a known spammer haven, it's probably spam.


periodic spectrum?

Question: I'm relatively new to signal processing, so please excuse me if this is a trivial question. Why is the spectrum of a frame of speech samples periodic? What is the meaning of a periodic spectrum? And if a spectrum is periodic, doesn't that mean that it is not band-limited (i.e. it goes on to infinity)? How is the spectrum of a speech frame affected by the windowing function (does it change the amplitude or period of the periodic spectrum)? This is mostly out of curiosity, and to help me get a better qualitative understanding of cepstral analysis. Thanks in advance.
Answer: The spectrum of a vowel sound typically contains many harmonics. These harmonics are of course evenly spaced in the frequency domain (i.e. you see peaks at f0, 2*f0, 3*f0, 4*f0, etc). The spectrum can therefore be considered to be "periodic", with a "period" equal to f0. (This is usually called quefrency in the cepstral analysis literature).
Comment: I think you might be looking at two different things here - the DFT spectrum is periodic in a strict mathematical sense, since the whole spectrum repeats ad infinitum - I think this is what is being discussed in one of the other answers. However in the context of cepstral analysis I think we're talking about a loose periodicity within the spectrum due to the harmonics in a complex sound - the amplitudes are not particularly important - the important point is that we can identify f0 from this periodicity.
Comment: With harmonics though, isn't there a decay in the amplitude of the harmonics as the frequency increases? Wouldn't the harmonics need to have a non-decaying amplitude in order to be considered harmonic (to satisfy X(w + W) = X(w) )?
Answer: Discrete functions and periodic functions are Fourier transform pair, i.e. if one domain is periodic, the other is discrete, and vice versa. Applying the windowing function to the signal will always change the spectrum, i.e. the amplitude and period could both change.
Comment: @phoenixheart6 DTFT always produces periodic spectrum. Discretize the periodic spectrum, and choose one period, then you have the spectrum of DFT.
Comment: So the DFT and DTFT always result in a period spectrum?

periodic spectrum?


What are the requirements for a Democratic nomination in primaries?

Question: Who decides how many candidates and which of them will be nominated by the Democratic party in a presidential election?
Answer: The candidates
In the United States, candidates are self-nominating.  So as many candidates as want to do so can appear.  There is no upper limit.  This is not specific to the Democrats but true of the Republicans as well.
There are some limiting factors.  To appear on the ballot, a candidate generally has to gather signatures from registered voters.  That is done separately in each state and candidates don't have to appear in all states.  However, I don't believe that there are any states that have started that process yet.  So no one has succeeded in getting on a ballot.  Nor failed.  Right now, candidates self-nominate.
There are some informal limits.  For example, some people will be invited to debates and some won't.  That will be determined by those who manage the debates, traditionally the national parties in the primaries.  So you could assert that the national parties choose who participate in the debates and thus who is considered a serious candidate.  The news organizations also tend to ignore certain kinds of candidates as gadflies.
According to Politico:

For its first two debates this year, the DNC said a candidate may qualify for the stage either by reaching 1 percent support in three separate polls — including national polls or early nominating state polls — or by meeting a grass-roots fundraising threshold.

The 2016 general election threshold was 15%.  But as a practical matter that only counts if Andrew Yang runs as an independent in the general election, not as a Democrat in the primary.  Regardless, this is a threshold for appearing in debates, not a ballot threshold.
Single nominee
Only one candidate will be the Democratic nominee for president in the general election.  That person is officially chosen by the convention but has traditionally had some claim to be the plurality winner of the popular vote in the primaries.  In 2008, two candidates, Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama, could claim to have won in the primaries.  This is because a state had limited votes due to moving their primary dates earlier than allowed.  So Hillary Clinton won the vote including that state (Michigan) and Barack Obama won without it.
My point is that if you are asking how many candidates can seek the Democratic nomination officially, that's unlimited.  Only one candidate will be nominated by the Democratic party.  That person will almost certainly have a claim to having won the popular vote, although it's technically the convention that chooses.
Comment: If we are claiming that there are thousands of candidates, then mostly because they didn't have the resources.  It took millions of dollars for Gary Johnson to get on the ballots in all fifty states.  Jill Stein was not able to do so.  Candidates need either money or volunteers to get on the ballot (or preferably both).  In 1992, it was estimated that it took 1500 contributors or volunteers to run a competitive Congressional campaign.  For president, that same number might be over a million now.  The number might be lower in the primaries, but it's not going to be within normal means.
Comment: Thanks. Why didn't more from the thousands of Democratic candidates strive to get on the ballot in more states, then?
Comment: Thanks so much. I got to this because in one article, they discuss whether Yang will be able to gain 15 % support. Is there some kind of consensus that's about the minimal support one has to have to stand a chance? https://shift.newco.co/2018/10/01/can-andrew-yang-get-to-15-percent/
Comment: 15% was the debate limit in 2016.  Gary Johnson (and Stein) did not appear in the debate due to not making that limit.  Note:  "We could be, if Andrew Yang can poll above 15 percent in time for the Democratic debates next year."  I'm not sure that 15% is going to be the limit in the Democratic debates.  But it might be.  Apparently the NY Times think it will be (there's a link in the article that may be behind their Heisen-paywall).  I found more information.  I'll edit the question.
Comment: Also, 15% is the vote share needed in a state in order to get a share of delegates for the Democratic convention.


Only Lovers Left Alive quote explanation?

Question: I just watched Only Lovers Left Alive and in a moment one of the characters, Adam, says: "I just feel like all the sand is at the bottom of the hour glass" or something.
What does this mean?
Answer: The problem with Adam is that he's struggling through deep depression.  Adam refers to modern humans as "zombies".  He is disgusted by them because they have infected their blood with drug use and unhealthy diets.  Most human beings are so unhealthy and infected, that for a vampire to drink their blood is to risk becoming terribly sick.  Adam is also too much in love with the past and nostalgia.  He is unable to deal with most of modern culture or media.  This is why he stays alone in his house at night, just sitting there in the darkness, brooding and contemplating what has been wrecked by the modern world.

Eve: "What is it, you look tired."
Adam: "Do I?  I guess I am.  Yeah."
Eve: "… So what is this then? Can't you tell your wife what your
  problem is?"
Adam: "It's the zombies and the way they treat the world.  I just feel
  like all the sand's at the bottom of the hourglass or something."
Eve: "Time to turn it over then."

By Adam making this statement, he is simply expressing his disgust that he is immortal in a world that he doesn't want to be in anymore.
Comment: I didn't see what this had to do with sand in an hourglass at first, but now I think I get it: his depression has made him feel like his life has run out. Whatever time he had to enjoy life is gone, and now his activity has ceased, like an hourglass that you can't turn over. So he just broods in the dark and waits to die. What does Eve say next? Is that when she offers to fly to Detroit? Adam can't turn over the hourglass himself, just like it doesn't work to tell a depressed person to cheer up. This would also explain why Adam didn't want to go to Tangiers: he's drained.
Comment: To answer my own question: Eve agreed to go to Detroit later in that scene. I never quite understood that scene until now. Thanks elf.
Answer:
..all the sand is at the bottom of the hour glass

Time has run out.
An hourglass (seen below) contains sand that runs from the top to the bottom through a small hole, over a fixed period of time.
⌛


How to remove or smooth the comb filter effect in real time audio signal mixing?

Question:
I have been working on a project where I have to mix multiple audio signals of the same source coming from different slave smartphones on one master smartphone in a distributed way. Now I have aligned multiple audio packets **(Packet level synchronization)** in real-time (still unable to do **sample-level synchronization**) but when I mix them I get a comb filter effect.
My packet contains **40ms of data** at a **sampling rate of 48KHz**. How can I eliminate this effect?
I am more into ways of making it smooth rather than subtracting delayed signals? Is there any kind of filter somewhat "**Antiomb Filter**" to make this happen?
Best Regards.
Answer: Repeating what I suggested before:
Your best shot is to time align the signals before you mix them and avoid the comb filter in the first place.
An "anti-comb" filter can be done, but you  have to match the fundamental frequency, the depth and the "Q" of the comb very carefully, otherwise the correction will make things only worse. You will also get a lot of noise amplification in the "teeth" of the comb.
For a very simply comb, you can write the difference equation as
$$y[n] = x[n] + g\cdot x[n-M]$$
The transfer function is than simply
$$H(z) = 1 + g \cdot z^{-M}$$ and the inverse is
$$H^{-1}(z)= \frac{1}{1 + g \cdot z^{-M}}$$
However, most real world combs are not nearly as simple.
Comment: I am aligning signals on smartphone and so far I am unable to align packets on sample level. I have successfully aligned it to packet level i.e in 40ms of difference
Comment: What prevents you from doing sample alignment ? A simple running cross correlation should do the trick
Comment: First, the processing of smartphone as I have to do it in real-time. There is a constraint that I can't use the server. Data is causal, I can have real-time data of present and past packets.
Same audio packets (in terms of source) are being recorded by different slave smartphones to master phone where I am performing Packet level alignment. There is a jitter and packet missing. These are all the constraints so far.
I know GCC-PHAT will work amazingly well in terms of speech. But is it possible to perform crosscorrelation under such circumstances?


How to autoshare uploaded YouTube videos to Facebook fan page?

Question: The only way I have found is the Cueler App which has a relevant setting:

However, new uploaded videos are still not shared on the fan page and I cannot reproduce why.
Are there any alternatives that I could try?
Answer: This IFTTT recipe Post YouTube upload to Facebook Page should do the trick. You'll need to create an IFTTT (stands for If This Then That) account if you don't have one and add your FB Page and YouTube as "channels" but that's not nearly as difficult as it might sound and you'll be able to customize formatting etc. for posting your vids to the page, among other things.
Comment: the recipe from IFTTT is working like a charme and was really easy to set up. Thanks!
Answer: If have found that IFTTT recipies like this one, does have some limitations to the autosharing of youtube videoes. I ran into the problem of autosharing scheduled videos. IFTTT support confirmed this for me when I contacted them.
If you want your video to be published at the same time it is uploaded, there's no problem in using IFTTT, but if you (like me) want to control when you video goes live, and don't want to sit at the computer to upload the video at this specific moment, scheduled publishing is a must.
Scheduling requires you to be a YouTube partner, see how to become one here. Do not mind that he says that monetization is different from being a partner, you will have to turn it on to become a partner.
The free service Zapier, on the other hand, can solve this problem for you. I modified this zap a little and it works like a charm. (I modified it because it was tailored towards pages, and I wanted to use it for a normal Facebook user).
I do not know how the mechanics of each service is set up, but I think the reason why Zapier handles the scheduled videos well, is that it checks a specific user every 5th minute, and doesn't rely on some kind of trigger from YouTube.
I do not know if IFTTT will support scheduled publishing in the future, but at the moment Zapier seems like the best solution if you want to be able to use scheduling in the future.


Academic Writing other than Publication for Grad School Admission

Question: I've graduated from a Chemical Engineering department and I am planning to apply for a Master's degree. I wasn't involved in research that produced a publication when I was an undergrad. Is there any other option for academic writing that I can use to strengthen my application?
Answer: When you apply to a Ph.D. or research-based Master's degree program, we often look to see how much prior experience you have with the academic research process. This includes successfully working on research alongside a faculty advisor, and when possible producing the oral conference presentations and co-authoring the scholarship (publications) that document the findings.
When faculty evaluate graduate school applicants, we are excited when we see someone who already has experience with the research process that is fundamental to graduate school and when our peers (applicant's former advisors) can recommend her based on her performance. Producing publications is an incredibly important part of the research process, so it is obviously best when someone has seen work through to that finish line. We also understand that this sometimes just doesn't happen for undergraduate researchers for a variety of reasons.
While it is also helpful for us to simply see examples of your writing, this is not really why we value the publications of an applicant. Don't be too worried if you have not yet worked on research leading to publications; you still may be considered a high-potential applicant. Be sure to impress with clear and cogent writing in your Statement of Purpose, on your resume, on your linked webpage/blog, etc. Good luck!
Answer: Absolutely. Peer-reviewed publications are the most valuable, but other writing can show your abilities and interests. For unpublished academic work, I recommend posting it at a pre-print server. In Chemical Engineering, this looks like a good one to reach your audience: https://engrxiv.org/ . It's becoming more popular lately: https://cen.acs.org/acs-news/publishing/Chemistry-preprints-pick-steam/97/i3
You can also write about the field, or science, or science and society. The best pieces go to leading outlets like Scientific American, The Conversation, or as an opinion-editorial to major newspapers. That's hard to do, so you can also target smaller services. At the easier level, you can publish yourself, for example at Medium.com, Twitter.com, or Reddit.com. However, you're unlikely to get as many readers as using an existing news service.
Comment: Thanks, I'm thinking about writing some literature review and post it and give a link to download on medium


What catastrophic event could plausibly cause the destruction of society but not eliminate humanity as a whole, allowing some pockets of survivors?

Question: Any kind of apocalypse that could plausibly happen is good. As long as if it were to happen, it wouldn't realistically wipe out the population completely, would temporarily destroy all civilization (as in countries governments no population), and would leave the environment scarred and a bit inhospitable, but not so much that it wouldn't be able to come back from it within a century.
Comment: Normally it's a good idea to wait at least 24 hours before accepting an answer so that people from every timezone have a chance to weigh in. You can accept and un-accept an answer freely without penalty.
Comment: @JoshFensler Don't worry about it, it's all part of the learning process. You'll pick these things up over time, though I'd also recommend taking the [tour](https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/tour) and visiting the [help center](https://worldbuilding.stackexchange.com/help).
Comment: This may be a bit too broad a question and/or too opinion-based to get good answers.
Comment: [Nuclear winter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_winter), major volcanic eruptions, climate change, meteor strikes, neoconservatism, neoliberalism....
Comment: In what ways does it need to be more specific?
Comment: This question title seems a little verbose xD maybe "How can I destroy society but leave survivors?"
Comment: I literally just signed up yesterday, so I have no knowledge of who this is...
Comment: It's a bit tricky, because wiping out governments means you have to wipe out nearly all people, 99%+, and that's hard to do while damaging the natural environment a bit. Anything that can kill almost everyone is more likely to damage it not at all (plague) or a lot (nuclear war, asteroid impact).
Comment: Yeah, I noticed that. I just need a scenario in which the government would collapse enough for modern medicine to be scarce along with food, this would create the right conditions to spread a pandemic...
Comment: I'm new to this site, so I don't really understand this very well. So pardon me for being completely terrible at the system thing...
Answer: Wow, okay there are many ways society can collapse without killing off humanity as as a whole.
Does history give us any examples?
Why yes, it does. Let us review a few of those...
Fall of the Roman Empire. From the link:

The Fall of the Western Roman Empire (also called Fall of the Roman Empire or Fall of Rome) was the process of decline in the Western Roman Empire in which it failed to enforce its rule, and its vast territory was divided into several successor polities. The Roman Empire lost the strengths that had allowed it to exercise effective control; modern historians mention factors including the effectiveness and numbers of the army, the health and numbers of the Roman population, the strength of the economy, the competence of the Emperor, the religious changes of the period, and the efficiency of the civil administration. Increasing pressure from barbarians outside Roman culture also contributed greatly to the collapse. The reasons for the collapse are major subjects of the historiography of the ancient world and they inform much modern discourse on state failure.

Fall of the Maya Empire. From the article, we see several vectors mentioned, though no consensus is reached. These include foreign invasion, collapse of trade routes, epidemic diseases, and drought / ecological collapse / climate change.
Fall of the Chinese Qing Dynasty: Basically seems to boil down to civil unrest resulting in assassination.
Fall of Egypt's New Kingdom. Egypt was taken by Assyrian conquest.
Fall of the Aztecs. The Aztecs were conquered by the Spanish.
The Hittite Empire. was largely destroyed by drought.
I could go on listing other empires throughout history, but this proves the point that empires do collapse, taking their civilization with them.
So what factors can we condense from this?
There are a list of factors that can decimate a civilization but leave survivors in some capacity. These include:

climate change (especially drought)
disease
inept/corrupt rulers
conquest by other rulers
natural disasters (for small city-state scale civilizations primarily)

And then there are some situations that we as a species have not yet suffered through, but that could cause modern civilizations to collapse as well:

nuclear war
biological/germ war
alien invasion
meteor/asteroid impact
climate change/ice age/etc
massive solar flares
gamma ray burst from some nearby neutron star

Given that our civilizations span so much more territory than ancient civilizations often did, and the fact that global trade insulates us in some respects, we have some natural defenses from localized disasters. Civilization is much more intertwined now than ever before. So things like volcanic eruptions, tsunamis, or earthquakes are not really able to destroy entire civilizations anymore. They are disruptive and deadly, yes. But not to humanity as a whole or even a civilization as a whole.
But modern civilization is heavily dependent on technology. Take away our electrical grids (via massive solar flares for example), and civilization might collapse as chaos consumes the cities and spreads outward.
Answer: One of the simplest ways is to let Homo Sapiens continue his current job and hope to have something better than cockroaches among survivors.
... but this may not be what You're looking for ;)
It really depends on what You need for your plot.
If you need "natural events" then asteroid hit, huge supervolcano eruption or a global pandemic are good candidates.
If you want something willingly done You can think about a gang of super-terrorists targeting all oil production sites at once (or some other way to have oil production stop). Strategic reserves will last few months and in the meantime global transports would come to a grinding halt with a terrifying domino-effect (almost no  country in the world is self-sufficient to feed its own population, even countries that are (e.g.: U.S.) would be hard pressed to maintain the same production levels without oil).
Rogue A.I. is not really out of the way.
For generic "good reasons" for Civilization to fall see also Wikipedia
Answer: Climate Change
At this point, the most likely thing that could cause the collapse of global human civilization would be drastic climate change. If the earth's temperature raised to an unlivable level, the cities we currently have would become completely unlivable as well because they are, for the most part, exposed to the elements, and many are within range of coastlines that could swallow the cities themselves. Billions would die as all our crop plants wither in the heat.
But, small groups of humans could survive in underground, climate-controlled bunkers, a la the Fallout series. The largest dangers of post-nuclear wastelands are shared by climate change raising the temperature drastically: Namely, food and potable water shortages and radiation exposure (albeit the types of radiation are different, nuclear vs. heat/UV radiation). So, many of the tactics employed by the vault dwellers in that series (EG labs where plants are grown from cell cultures to ensure maximum food output in the bunkers and strictly controlled populations to ensure the number of people does not exceed food production capacity) could also work for your survivors.
Of course, depending on the technology level of your civilization pre-warming, they may be faced with some different problems, such as how to generate electricity for their bunkers (in Fallout powerful nuclear reactors are used which take fuel that lasts hundreds of years; your civilization may not have this technology level), but there should not be anything insurmountable for a small group of highly intelligent people. I imagine solar panels would become very valuable in this world.
It would be up to you if your bunkers also involved deranged experiments on the residents the way the vaults in Fallout did.


How to backup apps and data on non-rooted Android without needing a PC?

Question: I know there's ADB backup and Helium and something called Droid Explorer that can help you backup your Android software and data to some extent using a PC, but I want a fully functional non-root, Android-only backup solution (basically, a replacement for Titanium Backup which does it all but requires root). It needs to be able to fully backup and restore apps and data in state. Any ideas?
Answer: Such a solution cannot exist without having provisions in the OS itself. The default provision in the OS is the Android backup service   which apps use to backup their data to Google accounts and which adb taps into when a user makes an app backup request. Any solution outside of tapping into backup service would require breaking apart the security model of Android and tap into the private data of apps. Naturally, such a solution is not going to be available without root access.
So your choices come down to these two:

use a PC with a software using adb in the background for app backups, or, use an app which requires adb running in wireless mode (such as what Helium requires; adb wireless needs to be started using PC though) so that the app can use adb to backup apps without further needing a PC.
root the device and do whatever you want with any app and its data without needing the PC.


How would I go about designing a logic circuit that multiplies two 2-bit numbers?

Question: I'm just starting to dive into digital logic and I'm stuck on making a circuit that multiplies two 2-bit numbers. I partially understand that you need to use adders but I just cant fully wrap my head around the concept. I have made my truth table and then proceeded with the K-maps, but that's where I'm stuck. Any help would be much appreciated!
Comment: Olin's answer is an example of why you need to show what work you have done and what specific problem you are having.  His answer demonstrates how a professional would solve the problem given modern business requirements.  But it's likely that using Olin's answer for your homework would result in your losing marks from your work as that's not the lesson your instructor wants you to learn.  Please [edit] your question to more better state the problem you're solving and what specific issue you're having with your work.
Comment: Please show what you have done.
Comment: @Glen: While I understand what you're saying, and agree with it, I don't want people to think that my answer is flippant.  Your comment may leave people thinking that I found a way to answer the letter of the question without actually being useful.  Implementing a multiplier as a lookup is a valid approach that certainly has been used in real world situations.  If the point is to learn about combinatorial logic, then it's not useful.  If the point is to get the job done, then it may well be a good approach.
Comment: @OlinLathrop - My apologies.  In re-reading the earlier version of my comment, I can see how someone might misconstrue my words.  I think your answer is a good answer from a professional's perspective.  I have updated my earlier comment to better reflect the difference between academic and professional expectations.
Comment: I actually figured out what I was doing wrong, I will post my work next time I have a question. Thanks for the help gentlemen!
Answer: Since there are only 16 possible inputs to this multiplier and its output is only 4 bits, it can be easily implemented as a lookup.  In case you think that sounds silly, consider that many FPGAs actually implement soft logic this way.  All you need is a memory with 16 words of 4 bits each.


MariaDB (MySQL) Replication Slave Lags Behind a Certain Amount

Question: I have 4 MariaDB replication slaves sync'ed with single master via SSL.  Slaves keep up-to-date, until somehow they permanently lag behind a certain amount of updates.  Has anyone seen this before?  Here's what I mean.  On the master:
SHOW MASTER STATUS \G

displays its current log position as 881134, then on each slave:
SHOW SLAVE STATUS \G

displays the master's Exec_Master_Log_Pos: 862183.  As you can see, the 2 numbers are quite different.  It never catches up on its own, no matter how long I wait.
If I issue a few more updates to the master, eventually the slaves will catch up to where I'm expecting them to, but they still remain several updates behind the master.
If I restart the slave MariaDBs, they catch up immediately and stay caught up for a few days until it happens again.
Things I have checked: No errors reported by the replication.  There is no CPU usage and no slow queries holding things up.  There is plenty of free memory and disk space on all MariaDB hosts.  No major network latency or outage.  Nothing in the MariaDB logs.  All slaves have separate server_id settings.  All are running INNODB. All system clocks are synchronized within a second of each other.
Comment: What version MariaDB you have?
Comment: mariadb-server-5.5.52-1.el7.x86_64 on CentOS 7
Comment: Looks like you could found answer in this question: https://stackoverflow.com/questions/8547827/mysql-replication-slave-lagging-behind-master
Answer: Please show us all of SHOW MASTER STATUS; and SHOW SLAVE STATUS;.
Sometimes this helps:
STOP SLAVE;
START SLAVE;


U.S. stock sales- tax on sale for NR Canadian

Question: I am a Non-resident Canadian living in Thailand on a Retirement Visa and my non-residency status dates back to 2013.   I have no income except for CPP,. OAS, and a company pension all of which total $28,000 per annum.  In February of this year I purchased through my Canadian bank's Web broker.approx $30,000 of AAPL stock.  If, for the sake of argument. I were to sell this stock for $40,000, what would be the amount of tax that I would owe Revenue Canada?  Thanks in advance for any info you can provide!
Comment: What address do you use for banking and how do you determine you're a non-resident?  I think you are but do you have something official?
Comment: Yes, Revenue Canada has me listed as a Non-Resident and I am only subject to Federal Sales tax.  I will have to check to see what address the have me officially but my mail comes to my Thai address...now that I think about it, I am paperless but provided with on-line statements, so yes. I will have to see what is on their records besides the new address in Thailand.
Comment: What federal sales tax?  Canada has no such thing, maybe GST, but you don't pay that.
Answer: If you're a non resident then you owe no capital gains tax to Canada.
Most banks won't let you make trades if you're a non-resident.  They may not have your correct address on file so they don't realize this.  This is not tax law but just OSC (or equivalent) regulations.
You do have to fill out paperwork for withholding tax on OAS/CPP payments.  This is something you probably already do but here's a link .  It's complicated and depends on the country you live in.
Of course you may owe tax in Thailand, I don't know their laws.


What is the file structure and directories of where CLEOS saves its data and user data for Ubuntu?

Question: I am running Ubuntu 18.04 and was wondering where does cleos store its data? And where are user's wallet data stored when importing or creating a new eos wallet?
Answer: In the beginning create the wallet. you can see the 'eosio-wallet' directory in /home/username.
And EOSIO program stored the data in .data folder you can see user's home folder


"la frase francesa" or "la frase en francés"?

Question: In English, when referring to a sentence written in French, I could say "the French sentence" or "the sentence in French". English is not my first language, but I think those two variants can be used interchangeably. Does the same apply to Spanish, i.e. could I use both "la frase francesa" and "la frase en francés", or is one better/more idiomatic than the other?
Answer: Both can be correct.
That said, en francés is much better, mainly because when using the adjective form, it could be interpretted either as a phrase either rendered in the French language (en la lengua francesa) or as a phrase with its origin in France (del país francés) which may or may not be rendered in the French language:

la frase española: maybe in Spanish, maybe a Spanish saying
la frase en español: definitely in Spanish (may or may not be from Spain)
la frase de España: definitely from Spain (may or may not be in Spanish)
Answer: If you believe RAE (Royal Academy), francesa as an adjective cannot mean French. Therefore "Literatura francesa de Quebec" would be a contradiction.
This means that according to RAE you should say "la frase en francés".
Whenever I read "la Wikipedia inglesa" (14,300 times in Google) I agree with RAE, because to me that sentence means "Wikipedia from England".
Comment: An alternative could also be to use "la Wikipedia anglófona".  Note, however, that the RAE doesn't necessarily encapsulate every single use especially when meaning my be transparent.

The RAE itself published a book titled _La primera versión castellana de Eneida_, where clearly _castellana_ refers to the language, though like _francés_, _español_, or _inglés_, there exists not adjectival definition similar to "perteneciente a la lengua castellana".

Context will rule everything.


Character deforming with rigging and adding automatic weights

Question: Im super new to blender so.. I have no idea what I'm doing wrong. I added some bones and IK and every time I add automatic weights his body gets all twisted and deformed and distorted. I tried a bunch of things and googled a whole lot but I still can't figure it out... I'd really appreciate some help so I can rig a character properly in the future. Thanks!!!! :)
Here is the file:
http://www.filedropper.com/characterforz
Comment: Welcome. The best thing, being new to blender, is to follow a basic rigging tutorial. Automatic weights are nice, but good rigging often needs a lot of tweaking of weights, settings... since you googled a lot, are you following one? which? It's easier to support you if people can follow what you're trying to do...
Answer: Select the armature, go to pose mode, select all bones, Ctrl A: "Apply pose as rest pose". Then you can parent your mesh to the armature. It's a good habit to apply rotation and scale (Ctrl A) to both mesh and armature also. You will have to tweak the pole angle of your IK leg ion order to get the right deforming direction of the legs. Search for Nathan Vegdahl free rigging course for advanced rigging techinques.


Please help me increase my credit score. Take a look

Question: Its been a journey paying off old debts and getting some creditors to wipe the slate clean. Below is my current situation. Any tips/recommendations on which way to go? 2 accounts are closed.
Comment: A high credit score is a tool not a goal.  What are you planning to use it for?  Recommendations are different if you're trying to get a mortgage vs if you have your eye on a specific rewards credit card.
Comment: How much debt do you have? How long have you had the debt? There seems to be a discrepancy here: You day that you have old debts, but your screenshot says you have no payment history, no account age, and no credit card utilization. Something seems to be wrong with the data. Have you seen your credit report, and does it match reality? Where did this screenshot come from?
Comment: @BenMiller I recently paid off all my accounts. The 2 accounts you see here are only my car loan that I owe  1200 and its paid off (i havent been the best at paying  hence the low score) 2nd would be a bank loan that is closed out 6 yrs ago. Now I have absolutely nothing on my report except the low score that is trending upwards but slowly. How would I kick start this to apply for mortgage? Relatively soon as I hate my living situation but well....im making way more money now ;)
Comment: A credit score is simply a score that tells the lender "this person likes paying banks money".  Financial Expert Dave Ramsey has this to say about growing your score: https://www.daveramsey.com/blog/the-number-one-way-credit-score.  It's better to have no score than to waste money building an artificial one.  Even for a mortgage, if you have a strong down payment, you can do manual underwriting.  (Not every lender does manual underwriting,)
Comment: Try reading the following books from the library before looking to increase your score:  Total Money Makeover, Millionaire Next Door and Everyday Millionaire.
Answer: From what I can tell your problem is simply that you have too little credit. You have too few credit cards and loans, with too small of credit limits, and your open accounts are not old enough.
Also you have a few hard inquiries, but those will go away soon enough. Nothing you can do about that but wait.
You need to do the following:

Don't close credit card accounts.  Especially not your oldest account.  You don't have to use them (just use them enough to keep them alive), but don't close them. For at least the next decade, do not close any accounts.
You will want to open some more accounts, though you will likely need to wait until your score goes up when those hard pulls inquiries off.  Store credit cards (like a J C Penny card) are one option if you can't get a good credit card.  Also consider opening a line of credit with your savings account bank.  Again, don't use it, just have it.  Wait a while until at least one hard pull falls off and then open a credit card somewhere you know you will get approved (don't want another hard pull without getting the benefit of a new credit card).
As your credit gets better, ask for an increase in your credit limit for each credit card you have. Do this once a year, or once every 6 months if your credit gets good.
Make payments on time on all your accounts, always. Obviously.
Keep balances low on any credit cards you get.  Maybe buy something really big with them but then pay it all off as soon as you can.

That's really it. Having good credit is not rocket science. You just need lots of credit cards and a loan or two, all with 100% on-time payment and plenty of unutilized credit capacity. And you need it for some years. It sounds like you have been doing the opposite of what's needed (by closing accounts and maybe avoiding opening them).
Comment: Just when I started typing, your answer popped up. You nailed it. +1.
Comment: Do you know how long it typically takes for Hard Inquires to fall off your report?
Comment: @a10ciod: Usually 24 months to fall off the report (the version people besides you can see), but only 12 months to fall out of the score calculation.
Comment: I wouldn't say "lots of credit cards"... My parents have 1 and 0 loans and they have a 800+ credit score. I would argue the best way is to just pay your debts on time.


How do i cut out a shape from multiple objects with different fills?

Question: I want to cut out some text out of a rectangle made up of different objects with different patterns as fillings so that I end up with the text in negative space, but whatever I try, it doesn't work. I tried clipping mask, pathfinder, making a mask and inverting it. Nothing seems to work. In the picture, you can see the artboard with the shapes filled with patterns. In black the text that I want to cut out. I already changed the text into outlines. All help and tips are welcome!
Comment: You want the text in negative you say? Why not just make it white? Or do you want the patterns to only be visible inside the letters?
Comment: I want to print it on a white shirt. So I need a file that is just one collor and everything that needs to be white has to be negative space
Comment: Take it easy! I guess your printer wants a PNG file where non-printed areas are 100% transparent and the printed areas filled with the same blue as we see in the question. The text OWC should be transparent too (=shirt fabric with no printed color). Right?
Comment: Possible Duplicate: https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/106031/mask-a-shape-in-front-of-many-small-shapes-in-illustrator-cc and https://graphicdesign.stackexchange.com/questions/25818/how-to-punch-through-all-the-layers-in-adobe-illustrator
Answer: Should be fairly simple:
I've got similar artwork -

Convert text to outlines by selecting the text, and going to Type > Create outlines

Then go to Transparency menu (if you don't have it open, you can find it by going to Window > Transparency)

You'll have to group any background layers together, and then group any transparency layers together like the below.  Transparent layer will need to be on top.

Select both groups and click "Make Mask"

Play with the "Clip" and "Invert mask" options until you get it right.  I have to deselect "Clip" and select "Invert mask" to show the transparency layer as transparent against the background.  (By default, masks show black is transparent and white is visible).

Now when you export as PNG, the white area will show as transparent - see below.

Good luck.


Mouse and Keyboard Interaction Design for People with Arthritis

Question: Is there any advice or best practices for the design of a desktop mouse and keyboard interface for people who suffer from arthritis, or has any research been done in this field?
Comment: I think there are plenty of questions on here where the users context is not defined, but the tool or interaction method is; here the users context is defined specifically but the tool is not. I would say both are reasonably scoped and not likely to generate a books worth of answer.
Comment: This is a bit of a broad question here. Do you have a specific requirement in mind? - A particular situation or application? The requirements would differ significantly for users wanting to work with 3ds Max compared to usage of Microsoft Word for example. What is the particular situation that you have that you need this catered to?
Comment: I don't think this is too broad, accessibility guidelines are a set of best practices covering much broader scope so I think a good, useful and specific answer can be given to this question. I don't think the specificity needs to be in the software, it can be in the interface (specifically mouse and keyboard) or the disability (arthritis)
Comment: It's broad because it can't really be answered simply in a Q&A post. As stated in the [What types of questions should I avoid asking?](http://ux.stackexchange.com/help/dont-ask) section - *"Your questions should be reasonably scoped. If you can imagine an entire book that answers your question, you're asking too much"*. An answer left to this question is either going to just be a link to a big paper (link-only answers aren't suited to this site) or it's potentially going to be huge. We'll leave the question open for now to see the type of answers that come in, but it's quite a broad subject.
Answer: You could also think of alternative interfaces, like gesture recognition as implemented by Leap Motion, Kinect and Qualcomm amongst others.
This type of sensors use infrared light and other frequencies to determine the position of the users hands and the position of their fingers.
Based on the information retrieved by those devices you could define gestures that are easy to perform, without any strenuous finger positions so that the user doesn't have to exert himself.
This combined with a good user interface and maybe even speech recognition (List of Speech Recognition Software) would give you a path completely independet of the current Mouse-Keyboard restriction.
So my sugestion:

Gesture recognition
Custom user interface which can be controlled solely by said gestures
Speech recognition to eliminate the keyboard for typing text
Answer: Using a roller ball rather than a mouse seems to help people with arthritis.
For research, it might be worth picking up the phone to these people (UK):
Helen Hamlyn Centre for Design
Age & Ability Research Lab
Googling "Assistive Technology" will also find some useful information.
Comment: I felt it was rather more useful to provide some kind of answer - rather than a very good answer.  I may have time to improve the answer in the future.  Or I may not.
Comment: Can you give some reasoning around the roller-ball suggestion? There may be some interesting ideas there. **However**, suggesting the OP goes and phones an agency to get an answer isn't really a constructive answer so you should focus on the Rollerball idea. Of course *you* could phone that agency and detail what they have to say, and *that* would be a good answer but don't suggest everyone reading this post should go and do the same if they want to get an answer.
Comment: The rollerball came from trying to help someone who had arthritis and it seemed to help - it was a design with a large ball on top which the user moved rather than trying to move the mouse itself.
Answer: Best practices:
1. Assume everyone has arthritis (because eventually, if we're lucky and we live long enough, we all will).
2. Avoid Fitts' Law violations and make it easy for the user to acquire the target.


Wireless router for mac, pc, linux and learning

Question: I have a macbook pro, some old windows laptops, some of which I plan to put linux on, mostly to play around with.  I'd like to get a wireless router to use with all of these and maybe also to try fiddling with the firmware.  I don't know anything about them yet, I'm not sure what to look for in a router, esp. one that's open but will work with all these different wireless cards.  Any suggestions on routers or what specifically to focus my research on?
Answer: WiFi is an industry standard, so all your devices should play nice. Get with with a/b/g/n though because n is blazing fast. To look for a specific router, I would check DDWRT's list of compatible hardware (and since most firmware hacks theoretically has the same bootstrap codebase, a DDWRT compatible router should work for more than one firmware).
Answer: I agree with @digitxp, but you should also consider the excellent AirPort Extreme for its USB connection that shares any external hard drive or zero-conf (Bonjour) printer wirelessly. It can't be loaded with DD-WRT, but has most of the common features that people look for in DD-WRT, plus it does a/b/g/n and can broadcast two wireless networks simultaneously.


Aged beer, yeast

Question: I have aged my bourbon brown in secondary with bourbon and wood chips thrown in, it's been aging for 6 months now.  It's time to bottle, is there anything I need to do differently than normal before bottling ?  I have yeast nutrition that I could add couple of days before bottling, but is that really needed ?
Comment: What are you trying to achieve?
Comment: What I'm trying to make sure is that I will have enough carbonation
Comment: I have brewed and bottled beer with wood chips before. The process was exactly like any other beer I did, except that I put wood chips in secondary. Why do you think it should be different?
Answer: After long secondary, only change I world market would be to add fresh yeast slurry, either from vigorously fermenting batch, or from a packet of dry yeast.
Do not add nutrients now. There is a high chance yeast will not eat them and you will be left with nutrient taste.
Comment: I have a slurry from the first vessel, I can start that up with some LME and add before sugar and bottle.  Good to hear the no go on adding nutrients.

Aged beer, yeast


Does praying to God help attain that which is not present in our destiny

Question: Can praying to god/deity help a person attain something if that is not present in their Destiny/Prarabdha?
If it is not present in your destiny/prarabdha and you pray for it like you really want it, can you get it?
Comment: better to pray to the gods for things of this world. To pray to God for things of this world is like asking a diamond merchant for glass beads. You will get what you ask for, but when it comes you may not want it.
Comment: so true @SwamiVishwananda .
Answer: As per the story of Satyavana-Savitri from Matsya Purana and Mahabharata, answer seems Yes but much difficult:
Satyavana's destiny:
Matsya Purana:

Narada said: "Satyavana is going to die within a year."

Mahabharata:

Narada then said, 'He hath one only defect that hath overwhelmed all his virtues. That defect is incapable of being conquered by even the greatest efforts. He hath only one defect, and no other. Within a year from this day, Satyavan, endued with a short life will cast off his body!'

What was done to change Satyavana's destiny?
Matsya Purana:

When only four days of the appointed life span were left,Savitri observed a religious rite that has now become famous savitri vrata. Amongst other things, this involved fasting for a period of three days.

Mahabharata

And having ascertained that her husband would die on the fourth day following, the damsel fasted day and night, observing the Triratra vow (fast for three day-nights together).

Finally, how Savitri got Satyavana's life back from Yama?

On Forth day, Satyavana went to collect fodder, roots and fruits in the dense part of the forest and Savitri also accompanied her husband. When they were tired, Savitri sat down beside a pond to rest. Satyavana continued to collect fodder and firewood near the pond. While he was thus engaged, he started to suffer from a splitting headache. "Savitri," he said, "I cannot bear this pain any longer. Let me rest for a while with my head in your lap."
While Satyavana was resting with his head on Savitri's lap, Yama arrived to claim Satyavana. Yama's complexion was dark and he was dressed entirely in yellow. His crown was golden. Armlets graced his arms and necklaces hung around his neck. In each human body there is an entity that is only the size of a finger in length. This is the part of the body that is claimed by Yama and taken to his abode.
When this is done, only the dead body is left. Yama tied up Satyavana's minute body in a noose and prepared to take it to his abode. But when Yama left, Savitri followed him.
"Where do you think you are going?" asked Yama.
"I am following my husband," replied Savitri.
"There is no greater duty for a wife than serving her husband. Since my husband is leaving, I have to leave with him."
"I am pleased at your devotion," said Yama. "Ask for a boon and I shall grant it to you. The only thing that you cannot ask for is that Satyavana be brought back to life."
"My father-in-law has become blind," replied Saviti. "He can therefore no longer be the king. Please grant me the boon that his eyesight is restored so that he can become the king again." "I grant you that." Said Yama. "Now please return. You will unnecessarily get tired if you follow me."
"How I can get tired if I follow you?" asked Savitri. "You are the chief of all the gods. Is it possible to get tired if one follows you?"
"That pleases me even more," said Yama. "Ask for another boon. But under no circumstances are you allowed to ask that Satyavana be brought back to life." "My father has no sons," replied Savitri. "Please grant me the boon that he may have a hundred sons." "I grant you that," said Yama. "Now return. Go and perform your husband's funeral rites. Serve your parents and parents-in-law well. You are unnecessarily tiring yourself by following me around."
"I thank you for your advice." Replied Savitri. "But I have already told you that I cannot possibly get tired. You are the lord of dharma, the lord of righteousness. Can one possibly tire oneself by following such a person?"
"Your devotion is truly amazing, Ask for another boon. But do not ask for Satyavana's life." "Please grant me the boon that Satyavana and I may have a hundred sons," requested Savitri. Yama granted the boon without thinking and Savitri then pointed out that what Yama had agreed to would be impossible if Satyavana died. Yama had no option but to restore Satyavana to life. Yama blessed Savitri and went away.
In due course, Satyavana and Savitri had a hundred sons named that Malvas. Savitri is a model for all devoted wives to follow. (-This narration is from Matsya Purana, this can also be read from Mahabharata)


Two questions close without any notification? Why?

Question: I dont understand, there was an attack on my profile while the whole controversy about the election when some of my questions are closed although edited and approved by the moderators jakebeal and others.
Negative downvoted was reversed but these closed questions are shocking to me, Does this imply that I am ineligible to apply for this grant?
Comment: If you think that you should be notified when your question is closed, I agree with you and [here](https://meta.stackexchange.com/q/93842/255554) is the pertaining discussion on [meta.se]. If you want to dispute the closure of a specific question, please elaborate why you think it should not be closed, but please first read the close reasons and the links it contains. If you think that individual users are targetting you, please provide some evidence (and consider flagging for moderator attention as there is no point to take this out in the public).
Comment: The question you link to was closed March 2 - its closure doesn't seem to have anything to do with the election at all
Comment: What other one? You only seem to have linked one question.
Comment: @SSimon: The dates are [in the close notice](https://i.stack.imgur.com/xgTY2.png).
Comment: @SSimon we can see things if we know where to look. It is helpful if you provide links to tell us where to look and a clear description of what we are looking for.
Comment: @Wrzlprmft can you tell me the date when those questions are closed? and how I can see that?
Comment: @ff524 what about other one?
Comment: @TobiasKildetoft https://academia.stackexchange.com/questions/62176/is-there-a-concept-of-qualification-examination-in-u-s-ph-d-programs-and-how-d?noredirect=1#comment148193_62176
Comment: https://academia.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/2194/edited-question-but-reviewers-refuse-to-reopen-it-why @Wrzlprmft thank you
Comment: @TobiasKildetoft I thought moderators can see all closed queestions, in which is easy to notice that most of them are close in time of election
Comment: @StrongBad I am sorry, I didnt know that I assumed worngly, please take a look on the question linked in comment and qustion where I tag you. the one closed on 3rd march and 12th march. I appologize for inconvinience
Answer: The SE system has a bot, a program running in the background, that attempts to handle "revenge" down voting and other inappropriate actions. The bot sometimes misses things and moderators, or even the SE team, need to step in and try and figure out what happened. In order to do that, we need a clear description of what we are looking for and why you think it is inappropriate.
Personal attacks are not allowed and claiming that your profile has been attacked is a big deal. Please provide us with the information we need so we can understand why you feel you were attacked and determine if it is in fact a target attack against you.
Comment: one is close as of topic, which is clearly not, I mean two moderators were involved in that question, one answered other one edited. non of them seemed to agree, other one was close after many years. I dont understand why since jakebeal did good job in editing


Transfer all data EXCEPT pre-installed game (and possibly that game's data) from one 3DS to another

Question: As mentioned in my other questions, I currently have an Animal Crossing 3DS-XL that came with Animal Crossing New Leaf pre-loaded on there.  I want to transfer my data to a New 3DS (the New model), which means I'll be migrating my Nintendo ID as well of course.
Through various other answered questions, it seems that the process to transfer all of this is relatively simple (at least by Nintendo standards) as the game becomes tied to your Nintendo ID and is treated like an eShop game, but some other questions have mentioned that pre-installed games are tied to the system, NOT the ID.
So let's say I wanted to transfer all of my data, eShop games, themes, etc. & Nintendo ID to my new 3DS but I wanted to create another Nintendo ID for my Animal Crossing 3DS and keep the pre-loaded game installed WITH the save data (if possible).
The process broken down looks like this.

I have my current Animal Crossing 3DS with NNID, all games, pre-loaded AC:NL
I have a new, unopened NEW Nintendo 3DS (I dislike their terminology)
I transfer all data and my NNID to NEW 3DS
I create a new NNID on the original Animal Crossing 3DS

I am able to play the pre-loaded Animal Crossing: New Leaf with a existing save or create a new one. (Both possible? One?  Neither?)

Is there a way to do this?  Or will the transfer process move the pre-installed Animal Crossing license to the new system with my Nintendo ID?
Answer: I'd say the quickest way to figure this out would be to call Nintendo Support at 1-800-255-3700. That way you get a quick answer and a walkthrough.


In Final Fantasy XIII, what is Fang & Vanille's relationship?

Question: In Final Fantasy XIII, what is Fang & Vanille's relationship? Are they companions or just friends - fan art seems to suggest the former.
Comment: Fan art can suggest *any two* characters are in a relationship, regardless of canon.
Comment: @Bellatrix very true just thought it might be based on plot or official background material / story
Answer: It would seem that they have been friends since childhood.

Fang and Vanille hail from the village of Oerba on Gran Pulse. During the War of Transgression between Pulse and Cocoon, Fang and Vanille lost their families at the hands of Cocoon's l'Cie and fal'Cie and befriended at Oerba's orphanage

Source
Answer: Vanille of the Dia clan, and Fang of the Yun clan both lived in the communal village (everyone lived together in one residence) of Oerba which revered the fal'Cie Anima. They are technically best friends, but practically family as they see themselves more as sisters.
Explanations: I've played through the game several times, and its easy to see that they're definitely very close (I don't think anyone would argue that). As I said, technically "best friends". Another theory is whether they have a romantic relationship, I don't believe this to be the case because they never kiss or do anything more than what looks like a friendly hug (no hands rubbing all over each other or anything). There is a (probably famous) scene of them; just after finding each other from being separated for many days (since Euride on Day 5, I believe), Fang lifts up Vanille's skirt to check her brand which is RIGHT beneath her butt cheek, lol like I said very close.
Now, for me personally once I've been "best" friends with someone for quite a few years I really consider them more like family. In the case of Vanille and Fang they literally grew up together in a very small village and they probably even shared bunk beds (they show two sets of bunks in the house that everyone supposedly lived in) considering they did sleep in the same house. It's also very obvious that Fang takes the role of protecting Vanille very seriously, similar to how a big brother or sister would act. So, again, I guess it is just my theory that they would view themselves as "sisters," but when you actually grow up living with someone for many years its just natural to want to think of them as family, and it seems like Fang and Vanille's behaviors reflect that.
Comment: Can you provide any sources of information for your claims? Any specific instances where they've expressed their opinion that they're more like sisters then just friends.
Comment: I guess I am basically stating an opinion as far as the sisters thing goes, but I can definitely try to explain my reasoning.