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question:It's every city's favorite excuse for a party. Here are ten spectacular ways to ring in 2009. Brilliant and colorful fireworks light up Australia's Sydney Harbour Bridge last New Year's Eve. Bangkok: A fresh tradition . If Times Square's light show doesn't cut it for you, head to the capital of Thailand, where a 52-foot-high Greeting Ball Tower signals the arrival of midnight. Outside of the giant CentralWorld shopping mall, about 500,000 revelers join hands to count down to the New Year. Earlier in the evening, events include seven concert performances by Thai stars. Grab a glass of Chang beer from an outdoor garden for about 1.50. BudgetTravel.com: See slideshow of New Year's hot spots . Details: handsbangkokcountdown.com or tourismthailand.org. Hot tip: Catch traditional Thai dance and folk music on the city's historic parade ground, Sanam Luang. At midnight, fireworks explode over the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Berlin: The best and the wurst . Despite temperatures of around the freezing point, Berliners host an open-air New Year's Eve bash, and the city claims that it is the largest such party in the world. Roughly one million merrymakers pack the nearly mile-and-a-quarter-long stretch between the Victory Column and the Brandenburg Gate. Colorful lasers illuminate the sky while music -- mostly pop and dance -- blares from giant speakers. Elsewhere in town, Germans are as law-abiding on Silvester (New Year's Eve) as always, lighting their private fireworks in designated spaces under police watch. But they also cut loose with practical jokes, such as filling homemade doughnuts with mustard instead of the usual jelly. Details: silvester-berlin.de. Hot tip: If you need a breather, duck into one of the scattered party tents. Rest on free heated benches and munch on specialty sausages, such as bratwurst for around 3. Or else head to Unter den Linden Boulevard, which presents a clearer, less claustrophobic view of the fireworks. Cape Town: Where the Second is best . A slave's only day off in 18th-century South Africa was on January 2, and so it's on Tweede Nuwe Jaar (Second New Year) that Cape Town parties the hardest. Up to 2,800 minstrels paint their faces white and storm the streets for the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival. Expect crowds of more than 80,000. Clad in bright colors, participants carry instruments (such as whistles) and umbrellas while parading from Keizersgracht Street past City Hall and into Rose Street. South African wares and local delicacies are hawked along the route, and troupes compete for titles like Best Dressed. Details: capetownminstrels.co.za and tourismcapetown.co.za. Hot tip: Pop into a café along the cobblestone streets of the Bo Kaap residential neighborhood. Watch from indoors as minstrels perform patterned dances past brightly painted houses. Edinburgh: Scottish night lights . The Scottish capital toasts every New Year with a four-day festival called Hogmanay (pronounced hog-muh-NAY). On the Monday before New Years 2009, a torchlight procession along Princes Street whisks a giant wicker lion to Calton Hill, where it's torched. Then on New Year's Eve, indie rockers like Glasvegas blast away in the streets, while more mainstream rockers like Paolo Nutini perform at the Princes Street Gardens. Nearby, there's a ceilidh, a traditional Scottish party where locals dance gigs and reels to a piper's beat. Details: edinburghshogmanay.org and visitscotland.com. Hot tip: Practice the traditional Scottish song Auld Lang Syne in advance. Everyone belts it out when the clock strikes 12. Hong Kong: Reaching for the stars . The waterfront promenade Tsim Sha Tsui is a fine vantage point to take in the midnight pyrotechnics above the city's tallest building, 2 IFC. For an even more memorable view, jump aboard the Shining Star Ferry for a two-hour cruise of Victoria Harbour. It departs from the Tsim Sha Tsui pier; price has still not been set but will probably be around 20 per adult. Details: discoverhongkong.com. Hot tip: A carnival in Sha Tin Park will include roving street performances of music and puppetry. It's a 15-minute tram ride from downtown (plus a roughly 7-minute walk). Las Vegas: The glittering Strip . Vegas lives up to its rep as a party town on December 31, with lunatic stunts, a massive light display, and performances by well known entertainers. The Strip hosts the free portion of America's Party, an extravaganza with a fireworks display launching from various spots. On Fremont Street, folks pay 20 a head to see Tribute-Palooza, a set of eight bands that imitate major acts like U2, Kiss, and Elton John. Details: For Fremont Street, see vegasexperience.com. For the Strip, see visitlasvegas.com. Hot tip: The Las Vegas Monorail runs until 3 a.m.; a special one-day pass costs 12. New Orleans: Gumbo and pigskin . As in years past, New Orleans puts its own twist on New York City's ball drop. Its spotlit gumbo pot drops from the Jax Brewery at midnight. Its fall prompts a nightlong bar crawl in the historic French Quarter. This year, is the 75th anniversary of the Sugar Bowl, and the football matchup takes place on January 2. Expect a football theme for most of the weekend's events. For example, in Jackson Square after the gumbo pot drop, a light-and-sound display will synchronize the fight song of each team playing in the Bowl this year with the appearance of each team's colors in the sky. Details: neworleansonline.com. Hot tip: Hop the ferry from Canal Street to Algiers Point (friendsoftheferry.org), where you can get a comparatively peaceful view of fireworks. The free ferry departs every 30 minutes from 6:15 a.m. to 1:15 a.m. on New Year's Eve. Reykjavík: Fantasy and flames . Icelandic law allows a firework free-for-all on New Year's Eve, making for a raucous night in the capital city. Friends and neighbors sing folk songs at roughly half-a-dozen bonfires scattered across Reykjavík. Note that on this holiday, local bars and clubs open a little after midnight. Details: visitreykjavik.is. Hot tip: Temperatures typically dip to about 23 degrees Fahrenheit. The warmest way to enjoy the celebrations is to take a coach tour. Iceland Excursions' Gray Line stops at the largest bonfires for 71 per adult. A midnight toast of sparkling wine is included, of course. Rio de Janeiro: Beach party . The two-and-a-half mile stretch of Copacabana Beach plays host to more than two million partygoers decked out in traditional white. Cariocas (as the locals call themselves) make offerings of red roses and white gladioli to Iemanjá, the goddess of the waters, before an all-night whirlwind of dancing and live concerts. Head to majestic Sugarloaf Mountain for a somewhat quieter vantage point for taking in the fireworks display. Details: rioconventionbureau.com.br. Hot tip: Looking for passion? Wear a hint of red to send the right message. Sydney: First to cheer . Because of its location, Sydney is among the first major cities to greet the new year. The city will synch up its pyrotechnics with colorful lighting effects on the arches of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Revelers gear up earlier in the day. Waterfront events attract crowds of Sydneysiders in T-shirts and shorts -- plus indigenous people in traditional garb. Between 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., aircraft will run hourly flyovers above Sydney Harbour Bridge. After 9 p.m., 55 illuminated ships circuit Sydney Harbour, foreshadowing the barrage of light and sound to come. Details: sydneynewyearseve.com.au ; the site lists dozens of vantage points and other info. Hot tip: Lay down a blanket at North Head at Sydney Harbour National Park, a relatively uncrowded hangout for gazing at the fireworks. Additional reporting by Amy Cassell. Get the best travel deals and tips emailed to you FREE - CLICK HERE! Copyright © 2008 Newsweek Budget Travel, Inc., all rights reserved. Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

answer:Here are ten spectacular ways to ring in 2009 around the world: 1. **Bangkok, Thailand**: A 52-foot-high Greeting Ball Tower signals midnight at the CentralWorld shopping mall, where about 500,000 people gather for concerts and a countdown. Fireworks light up the Chao Phraya River at midnight. 2. **Berlin, Germany**: Despite freezing temperatures, Berlin hosts one of the world's largest New Year's Eve parties, with a mile-long stretch of festivities between the Victory Column and the Brandenburg Gate. Lasers, music, and controlled fireworks create a vibrant atmosphere. 3. **Cape Town, South Africa**: On January 2, the city celebrates Tweede Nuwe Jaar with the Cape Town Minstrel Carnival, featuring 2,800 minstrels parading through the streets in bright costumes, competing for titles like Best Dressed. 4. **Edinburgh, Scotland**: The city's four-day Hogmanay festival includes a torchlight procession, live music, and a traditional ceilidh. At midnight, everyone sings Auld Lang Syne. 5. **Hong Kong**: The Tsim Sha Tsui promenade offers a great view of the

question:A palindrome number is a positive integer that reads the same both from left to right and from right to left, such as 22, 121, 3443, 94249, etc. Clearly, there are 9 two-digit palindromes: 11, 22, 33, ..., 99. There are 90 three-digit palindromes: 101, 111, 121, ..., 191, 202, ..., 999. Then, the number of (2n + 1)-digit palindromes, where n in mathbb{N^*}, is ( ) A: 9 times 10^{n-1} B: 9 times 10^n C: 9 times 10^{n+1} D: 9 times 10^{n+2}

answer:Let's approach this by considering the symmetry of palindromes. The first and last digits of the palindrome cannot be zero, which gives us 9 possibilities for these positions. For the remaining digits, which are determined by their symmetric counterparts, every pair has 10 different choices. As for the middle digit in a (2n + 1)-digit palindrome, it also has 10 possible values. Because only the first half of the palindrome (not including the middle digit) needs to be determined to ensure the number is a palindrome, there are n digits to choose (not counting the middle digit), each with 10 options, except for the leading digit which has 9 options since it cannot be zero. Therefore, the total number of (2n + 1)-digit palindromes can be calculated as follows: - For the first digit, there are 9 options. - For the next n-1 digits, there are 10 options for each. - For the middle digit, there are 10 options. This gives a total of 9 times 10^{n-1} times 10 = 9 times 10^n palindromes. Thus, the correct number of (2n+1)-digit palindromes for n in mathbb{N^*} is boxed{9 times 10^n}, which corresponds to option B.

question:What are the general issues that can arise in datasets which can cause analysis issues.

answer:When working with datasets, several issues can arise that can cause analysis issues. Some of the most common ones include: Missing values: Gaps in the data can lead to biased or incomplete analysis. Missing values can occur due to various reasons such as non-response, data entry errors, or equipment malfunctions. Outliers: Data points that are significantly different from the rest of the data can skew analysis results. Outliers can be due to data entry errors, measurement errors, or unusual events. Noisy or erroneous data: Inaccurate or imprecise data can lead to incorrect conclusions. Noisy data can be caused by various factors such as instrument errors, sampling errors, or data transmission errors. Data inconsistencies: Inconsistencies in data formatting, coding, or measurement scales can make analysis challenging. For instance, date formats may be inconsistent, or categorical variables may have different levels of granularity. Sampling bias: If the sample is not representative of the population, analysis results may not generalize well. Sampling bias can occur due to various reasons such as biased sampling methods or low response rates. Non-representative data: If the data is not representative of the population or phenomenon being studied, analysis results may not be applicable. Non-representative data can occur due to various reasons such as biased sampling methods, data quality issues, or changing population characteristics. Correlated variables: Highly correlated variables can lead to multicollinearity, making it challenging to identify the relationships between variables. Data scale issues: Different scales of measurement can affect analysis results. For instance, analyzing data with different units or scales can lead to incorrect conclusions. Non-normal distributions: Non-normal distributions can affect the validity of statistical tests and models. Non-normal distributions can occur due to various reasons such as outliers, skewness, or underlying data generating processes. Duplicate or redundant data: Duplicate or redundant data can lead to biased analysis results and affect the efficiency of analysis. These issues can significantly impact the quality and reliability of analysis results. It is essential to identify and address these issues before proceeding with analysis to ensure accurate and meaningful insights.

question:Can standard deviation be used in a population of non normal data.

answer:While standard deviation can be calculated for non-normal data, its interpretation and usefulness can be limited. Standard deviation is a measure of spread or dispersion that is typically used for normally distributed data, where it is a reliable and efficient estimator of the population's variability. In non-normal data, the standard deviation can be affected by outliers, skewness, and other departures from normality. As a result: 1. **Standard deviation may not accurately represent the data's spread**: In skewed distributions, the standard deviation can be heavily influenced by extreme values, making it a poor representation of the data's typical spread. 2. **Standard deviation may not be a reliable measure of variability**: In non-normal data, the standard deviation may not capture the underlying structure of the data, such as multiple modes or asymmetry. That being said, standard deviation can still be used as a rough estimate of spread in non-normal data, especially when: 1. **The data is not extremely skewed**: If the data is only mildly skewed, the standard deviation may still provide a reasonable estimate of spread. 2. **The sample size is large**: With large sample sizes, the central limit theorem can help to mitigate the effects of non-normality, making the standard deviation a more reliable estimate of spread. However, when working with non-normal data, it's often recommended to use alternative measures of spread that are more robust to departures from normality, such as: 1. **Interquartile range (IQR)**: IQR is a measure of spread that is less affected by outliers and skewness. 2. **Median absolute deviation (MAD)**: MAD is a measure of spread that is more robust to outliers and non-normality. 3. **Percentiles**: Using percentiles, such as the 25th and 75th percentiles, can provide a more accurate representation of the data's spread. Ultimately, the choice of measure depends on the specific characteristics of the data and the research question being addressed.