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Opinion Interpretation of the news based on evidence, including data, as well as anticipating how events might unfold based on past events
Why does the U.S. government have to confiscate prisoner artwork from Guantanamo Bay?
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People look at an exhibit of artwork by detainees at the Guantanamo Bay Detention Camp, at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York on Nov. 27. (Seth Wenig/AP)
By Mohamedou Ould Slahi
December 13, 2017
Mohamedou Ould Slahi is the author of “Guantánamo Diary.”
During the 14 years I spent cut off from the world in the U.S. prison in Guantanamo Bay, I often found myself wondering whether people cared about the conditions under which I was being held. Since my release a little more than one year ago, I’ve been impressed by how many people do care — something that has been driven home to me again by the public reaction to reports of a change in policy toward artwork created by inmates in the prison. For several years, the U.S. government had a screening process that permitted artwork created by prisoners to be shared with family members and others outside the prison, but in November it announced it is no longer allowing prisoner art to be publicly released. As a result, these works can no longer be seen by anyone outside of Guantanamo. What’s more, the government has been saying that it owns the works of art and can destroy them if it wishes. I have been heartened by the individuals and organizations that have protested this cruel policy, as well as by the critical coverage in the U.S. and international press.
But I can’t say that I was surprised by the news itself.
In October 2014, one of my guards came to my cell to warn me that I would soon be moved to another block. I asked what I could take with me to the new cell. He said I could take only my copy of the holy Koran, nothing else.
And so, in the blink of an eye, I was separated from the life that I had built around me in that cell over the previous 10 years. That life, for me, included writing. It included a journal in which I recorded my life and thoughts in the years since I completed the manuscript for my “Guantánamo Diary,” which I wrote and delivered in a series of letters to my attorney in 2005. It also included stories I had written about my childhood, fictional stories and even a manuscript for a book I was working on called “Portable Happiness,” about how to stay positive in the most hopeless situations.
I never saw these things again. They disappeared, along with movies, books and other items that were given to me as gifts, sent to me by my family members or brought to me by my lawyers to provide me comfort. That is what they call these things in Guantanamo: “comfort items.” The comfort of these things, for me, was that they really were mine: They were things I had created and things that my lawyers, family and even interrogators and guards had given to me personally. They were expressions of myself and expressions of what others saw in me. They were proof that I existed.
What I learned that day was that those “comfort items” were given to me and to other detainees only so that our jailers could have another kind of leverage over us: to build a cloud of anxiety that anything we created or were given could at any time be taken away. They said, essentially, that today you may have something, but tomorrow you will again have nothing, because you are nothing.
Today, the U.S. government is still holding these parts of me. It did not return my manuscripts and scribblings after my shackles were finally removed when the military plane landed in my home city of Nouakchott, Mauritania, and it has not returned them to this day. It can do this, it claims, because these things I wrote are “classified.” It can do this because — in the words of a Pentagon spokesman who was interviewed about the new policy preventing the paintings and sculptures of Guantanamo prisoners from ever being seen outside the prison — detainee art is the “property of the U.S. government.”
I was born in a part of the world where freedom of speech and expression are a rare commodity, and I know dictatorial methods when I see them. I left my home country in North Africa just after high school to move to Germany so that I could live a life where I could say what was on my mind without being afraid that I would be kidnapped, killed or put in prison. I am not alone in this. Ask any person who emigrated from the Middle East to Europe or the United States to escape suppression of freedom of speech and expression, and they will tell you: I am what I believe, and if I cannot express it clearly and unequivocally, I am no one.
The censorship and human rights violations that are taking place in Guantanamo Bay have long been practiced in my part of the world. They do not work. They do nothing but demean us — all of us. As a positive person, I have to hope that the current policy of confiscating and permanently suppressing the artistic creations of Guantanamo detainees will be reversed. I hope this for the 41 prisoners who are still in Guantanamo, many of them unjustly. But not just for them. The United States deserves better than this, too.
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Automated dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
An innovative automated procedure, low-density solvent based/solvent demulsification dispersive liquid-liquid microextraction (automated DLLME) coupled to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) analysis, has been developed. The most significant innovation of the method is the automation. The entire procedure, including the extraction of the model analytes (phthalate esters) by DLLME from the aqueous sample solution, breaking up of the emulsion after extraction, collection of the extract, and analysis of the extract by GC/MS, was completely automated. The applications of low-density solvent as extraction solvent and the solvent demulsification technique to break up the emulsion simplified the procedure and facilitated its automation. Orthogonal array design (OAD) as an efficient optimization strategy was employed to optimize the extraction parameters, with all the experiments conducted auotmatically. An OA16 (4(1) × 2(12)) matrix was initially employed for the identification of optimized extraction parameters (type and volume of extraction solvent, type and volume of dispersive solvent and demulsification solvent, demulsification time, and injection speed). Then, on the basis of the results, more levels (values) of five extraction parameters were investigated by an OA16 (4(5)) matrix and quantitatively assessed by the analysis of variance (ANOVA). Enrichment factors of between 178- and 272-fold were obtained for the phthalate esters. The linearities were in the range of 0.1 and 50 μg/L and 0.2 and 50 μg/L, depending on the analytes. Good limits of detection (in the range of 0.01 to 0.02 μg/L) and satisfactory repeatability (relative standard deviations of below 5.9%) were obtained. The proposed method demonstrates for the first time integrated sample preparation by DLLME and analysis by GC/MS that can be operated automatically across multiple experiments.
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Q:
How to determine if user is an Administrator, even if non-elevated
In my C# application, I need to check if the current user is a member of the Administrators group. It needs to be compatible with both Windows XP and Windows 7.
Currently, I am using the following code:
bool IsAdministrator
{
get
{
WindowsIdentity identity = WindowsIdentity.GetCurrent();
WindowsPrincipal principal = new WindowsPrincipal(identity);
return principal.IsInRole(WindowsBuiltInRole.Administrator);
}
}
The problem is that this method returns false if the application is run on Windows 7 with UAC turned on as a non-elevated Administrator. How can I determine if the user is an Administrator even if the application is run as a non-elevated Administrator?
A:
There is a Win32 API GetTokenInformation that can be used to check the current token. If the returned token is a split token, it probably is an administrator user that is running i non elevated mode.
GetTokenInformation has an output parameter tokenInformation which takes one of three values:
TokenElevationTypeDefault = 1
TokenElevationTypeFull = 2
TokenElevationTypeLimited = 3
A value of TokenElevantionTypeLimited indicates that the user is running with a split token with limited privileges. When elevated the TokenElevationTypeFull value is returned. Non-admin user has a value of TokenElevationTypeDefault.
There is a complete code example for C# at http://www.davidmoore.info/2011/06/20/how-to-check-if-the-current-user-is-an-administrator-even-if-uac-is-on/
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Event History Timeline
The Event History Timeline provides a powerful stacked chart view for consuming large amounts of information. This Viewlet also has capability to drill down into smaller time periods and display user configurable events. The Event History Timeline is ideal to use when you’re interested in analyzing more than two trends with different units of measurement over a common time period (for example temp, cost, therms, kwh, and kw all in the same chart). Hovering over the chart displays all of the values for the charted variables as well as the time stamp. The user also has the ability to click and drag their mouse over the Viewlet to zoom into a specific time period. The time period selected can be adjusted by using the period selection tool at the bottom of the viewlet. The time period can be zoomed into further, expanded out, or you can click on the zoomed in portion at the bottom of the Viewlet and scroll left or right for a time sequence view of the data.
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Suspected sleeping van driver, 13 Myanmar workers killed in fire
A chartered van taking Myanmar workers from Tak to Bangkok crashed into the rear of a truck in Sing Buri early on Friday, causing a fire that killed the driver and all 13 passengers, police said.
Pol Captain Jiradej Duangrassamee, deputy inspector of Mueang Sing Buri police station, said he was alerted to the accident at 3am.
He called for a fire engine when he found the fire still raging when he arrived at the scene on the Bangkok-bound Asia highway in Moo 3 village in Tambon Bang Mun.
It took about 20 minutes for the fire engine from Mueang Sing Buri Municipality to put out the blaze. Fourteen charred bodies were found inside the van.
The 10-wheel truck that the van hit was parked on the roadside. The driver, Sunthorn Fakthong, 56, told police that he was driving in the left lane when the van violently hit his rear end and burst into flames.
The driver of a van from the same company told police that the vans were chartered to take documented migrants from Tak’s Mae Sot district to Nonthaburi’s Bang Bua Thong district.
The driver said he saw the first van suddenly hit the rear of the truck.
Police suspected that the van driver fell sleep behind the wheel, leading to the accident.
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Americans Observe Veterans Day
Millions of Americans took time to observe Veterans Day in cities across the nation on Sunday.
Ceremonies, moments of silence and parades were held to thank and memorialize the men and women of the U.S. armed forces who have served the country's military.
President Barack Obama placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia and made remarks in praise and tribute to America's military servicemen and women.
"No ceremony or parade, no hug or handshake is enough to truly honor that service," President Obama said.
In New York City, which is still recovering from the effects of Hurricane Sandy, thousands of spectators lined Fifth Avenue for New York City’s Veterans Day Parade. Stadiums across the NFL fell silent for a moment prior to games to mark the day.
Events to mark the day were held in Washington D.C., Atlanta and other cities on Saturday. The federal observance of the day is scheduled for Monday. It's the first Veterans Day since U.S. troops left Iraq in December 2011.
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Well it is has been more than two weeks for sure, and no report nor reply. Seems like a young person (or younger than me at least) is behind this, and i will just wait for evening CA time, and the probably cancelling the email i used, even if i don't get the report, as i feel someone has messed into the account.
A lot of my emails are also only coming hours after the sender sends, so have no idea what happened with this report :/ help?
Hello Miss Aida,
Sorry for being unclear. Just that i never got replies when I emailed the Church, nor did I get a report after more than two weeks from my order, so not sure which steps to take next. I trust that what I ordered worked though.
I'm probably cancelling my email now, as obviously whomever caused me the trouble or someone related to them, knows i got help from MISC and is trying to redo the damage, if only at least by blocking my emails for now...
Hi i hope someone can help, I had a Black Cat candle burned for me because i feel like my luck is non existent when it comes to gambling, and the report mirrors exactly what i thought ,
The candle burned leaving a band of dark, grey haze around the top half of the glass, with a ring of unburned wax on the bottom. The dark haze indicates delays and distractions, of a somewhat serious nature; while the wax ring indicates interference with the work, caused by unresolved past issues. Prayer and meditation can help with this, but, if you feel stuck, you may wish to re-burn this candle.
I am not sure if another candle burn will be enough with this, I wouldnt even know what past issues would interfere with my gambling luck ?
What should i do if i feel a huge blockage like this ? Because i really feel like something is a miss with my luck at present ?
Would burning 3 candles remove it and restore my luck or should i try something else ?
Hey Rosestar thank you for the reply, I did have a thought about having a blockbuster candle lit, I am quite short on funds at present so i really want to be sure what i am doing will help get rid of whatever it is that is currently blocking my luck, But a blockbuster does sound good ! I will consider it as i feel i really need something here lol
Somsweet Miss Aida! Thanks for the rely.
, i'm not upset at anyone, but a bit bleh as now it s obvious someone does not want me to get any help from what they did and it seems to be kind of working, clearly communications was one of the targets of their work, as i doubt the reports get lost that often...
But i will call the shop once i have phone credit and research which times your open as i am on the exact opposite side of the planet
Thanks again!
I just recently started working with St. Martha myself. Per the advice on the forum, I set up an altar for her and her alone, got her some water and red wine, lit a red candle and just started talking to her. I told her I wanted to establish a relationship with her so that she could help me with a spell because one of my spirit guides pointed me in her direction when I asked for help. Ever since, stuff has been happening like dominos lining up so I know this was the right thing for me to do.
When I talk to St. Martha the candle flame dances.
Immediately after asking St. Martha if she would work with me, I started seeing signs...a snake on a tv show, a specific song I asked to play on the radio, seeing people related to my target that I would not normally see.
While establishing a relationship with her, I told her that I sometimes get very impatient and let my fear get the best of me and to not think it was any kind of doubt or disbelief in her. We had a long talk about me and how I am sometimes when I want something badly and how I am trying to change and be more confident and patient.
I still have yet to receive my St. Martha Candle and Florida Water so I gave her a pendant and the other day I was in a store and saw a beautiful red stone in the shape of a large diamond...I bought that too and left it for her on her altar since I had promised her Florida Water and it hadn't come in yet.
I am still waiting for my St. Martha candle and Florida Water so that I can do the 9 Tuesday petition/novena with St. Martha but the day after I talked to her about how emotional I get and how I am trying to be better, out of nowhere my target's name - which is not at all a common name - popped up and another name associated with him at this time also popped up - both within an hour of each other - and I haven't even left her a petition yet - I just asked if she would work with me.
She is truly incredible. I am very grateful.
Good luck to you! St. Martha is great and you will like working with her.
I just wanted to saying i really adore this site and all of the help it has brought me with my own spiritual work. My rootworker is fabulous therefore she gets busy sometimes and i just wanted to ask for some help for what is currently happening. I just had a few questions, to start off.
I have had a rocky relationship with a wonderful person however its not time in his life to have a relationship. I have stepped out of his life for him to clean up a mess he made. During this time I wanted to stay on his mind and keep our connection. I did a honey jar to keep him sweetened to me.
During the making of this jar my roommate came out to make fun of me, I was upset but continued the work I started. i took my jar into my room where I started to say the sweetening part to me three times.
After the second time my son burst into the room where i hastily ran him out.
I finished this jar, but I made this jar bad, i put negative energy into it. I thought in my head if the jar was no good then it just wouldn't work..... but that was my mistake, its turned bad and it turned my situation bad.
3 days exactly after lighting this jar there was an apparent cosmic shift and the energy between us went for a hopeful future to practically him not thinking of me.
I was raised around tarot readings so I can pull a card and kind of see the situation. Now I am so overwhelmed by feelings I can't pull anything on him I can only pull myself. I always pull the High priestess, Which for me feels a pretty good sign as its empowering. Fortunately my spirits are telling me I am using my own cards as a crutch so I wont be pulling anything anytime soon again for myself.
Now comes to the opposition with my signs, A week into lighting this candle and the shift, I was driving and three separate times birds flew so close to my car I almost hit them. His name was popping out everywhere but I didn't pay much attention to it at the times it was happening.
Then the dreams started.... He would be there with another woman and asking me why I couldn't get over him, or he was looking forward to time with another woman. I didn't know what was going on at the time till I found this forum and read about signs and movement, however i knew for a fact that that jar was bad and I needed to get rid of it.
I burned the packet inside of the honey but these dreams will not stop. In fact i dream of him every night, i ask my spirits to stop the signs and dreams from this jar but they a less tense now. Tomorrow will be two weeks from the day I made this jar and the moving away from me signs will not stop.
I started a new jar Monday, I did this jar right but I feel the signs are being confused, is it still possible that the original jar is influencing my current jar?
i always knew magic was real but this little jar is so powerful, the signs stick out everywhere, and I honestly am a little scared because even though my intentions were serious and my goal was pure, I didn't take into consideration the ramifications of putting negativity into a spell. Its just a forewarning to people who are spiritually working, lots of a focus and meditation is needed and positive reinforcement during your spiritual work. I have learned a lesson from God and am currently seeking help from earthly guides to fix this?
I am waiting for the "love me" spell kit, this was before I started the jar as a back up. I have been wondering more or less what can be done right now to stop the signs so I can start over and move forward with mending what I have done?
Hey guys.... so I have requested a reading and still waiting on the response in the mean time I think my SO is hexed so I started an uncrossing candle on him until my reading is ready and I can be advise of what is really going on...but I think his ex crossed him up so anyways... Today he is doing all kinds of cleaning up....he doesn't do the cleaning I do...he hardly ever cleans even up after himself.....Could this be a sign? Thanks in advance lovelies.
Oh yeah I put LM uncrossing oil in his shower gel and shampoo... I know he is using the shower gel and I dress the door knobs with the LM uncrossing oils.
Was just wondering if these would be considered signs or am I being too optimistic. Having an AIRR rootworker work a super complex and crazy healing and reconciliation case for me. Since, I've been seeing random ads for Goose island ipa beer. Goose is his nickname and I've never noticed these ads prior. Also been noticing a lot of gnome things, he collects gnomes.
I had more questions. So before i started that honey jar I had another jar spell going for a different reason. it was working quiet nicely. Had tons of movement. I disposed of the two jars but ever since those honey jars everything has come to an abrupt halt. He has moved so far away from me that he is now seeing someone else and making sure my friends know that he is in another relationship. He is being beyond cruel and someone I completely don't even recognize him. i have continued to light my original jar that was working sweetly but now I wanted to know if those jars could have spoil my original jar? Should I dispose of that jar as well?
Ultimatly to answer this question would take a reading from a trusted reader. We of course recommend the readers over at AIRR (www.readersandrootworkers.org). In general though I do not believe disposing of your other jars would have an effect on your original jar. There are so many possibilities as to why things are happening the way they are it is difficult to provide a lot of guidance.
I would ask if you followed up with the Uncrossing and Blessing work that Miss Aida suggested. IF you did not then I would definitely do that. If you did you might just look into why this person has moved away and is being so strange to you now. I am not saying this is what is going since I am not doing any kind of reading but I have seen it where someone does some spiritual cleaning around their love life and all of a sudden their love interest disappears. They find out later that the person they were interested in would not have been a good match or was doing things that would have been dangerous. The uncrossing and blessing stuff ended up removing the things that were bad as it were. Just something to think about.
the negativity started exactly 3 days after i lit the candle on the honey jar. He tried to see me a few times but i could feel the shift and i wanted to stay away till i could fix it. i started the second jar and it didnt help. I received the information about cleansing/disposing of the jars and Saturday I started the cleansing with Psalms 118 praying out the jinx. Last Tuesday he actually started the bad stuff but I hadn't known because I was staying away from him. I prayed for three days and have a continuous 7 day candle going and have been using incense to clear my home. Followed by Blessing oil and Psalms 23. I started my new jar yesterday. the candle wax dripped down the side and by the end of the night I was in tears with how cruel he had become. I lit my jar this morning and he has stopped the harassment and taunting with the new girlfriend. I have a reader that is on this site but she is very busy at the moment. That's why I am reaching out to this forum. I guess the best thing now would be waiting to see how this new jar turns out?
I am sorry you are having such a tumultuous time with this at the moment. Yes you are correct in that I think waiting to give your new jar some time to work is a good idea and getting in with your reader when you are able to get some clarity on this. I hope things turn out for the best for you!
Hi,
I had my mother read my cards. It's extremely hard for me to get a reading by her because it's her biased opinion. She told me that he has had a change of heart and now doesn't want anything serious. That his ex has really don't things to his mind. Also that he loves me but she doesn't see him in love with me. That he will be back but not for anything serious and that he will eventually regret what he has done but not in the way I want him to. I received my "love me" spell kit a few days ago and I have been hesitant to use it. My mother did say that his change of heart started around the time of the honey jar but she doesn't believe it was my jar, as in she doesn't believe in hoodoo, she is wiccan. So when I asked her if it was because of my negative jar she wouldn't really answer the question with cards but just said that she didn't want me with him or think I should be with him. I guess what I really want to know if the possibility of the jar could have turned him away from me since just the week before he was completely in love and fighting for a life with me? If so, I want to use my love me spell and fix what has been broken.
So I casted a love spell around March 5th on someone who I hardly speak to because he claims to work too much. At first I kept having good dreams of us kissing and being together then on March 26 exactly on the third week he texted asking how I was doing and how he finally had a free day to speak to people but the conversation ended there.
We had not spoken in 3 month prior so this was BIG. I thought this was great movemeny but nothing has happened since that day except now I'm having constant nightmares of him being with someone else. Since these nightmares I've felt the urge to check up on his page and there is nothing about him seeing someone. I've even asked a mutual friend who told me that he wasn't with anyone and is as busy with work as he says he is.
Anyways I keep having these dreams which are freaking me out. I'm not sure if they're a sign or if it's my subconcious fears. I know that i've been doubting myself more and more since these dreams and having been light stalking his page because of it.
I know I'm going to get yelled at since this is probably what is ruining my spell work!
Also since then I've been seeing 7-11 a lot recently. I've casted a new spell just in case my last one was a flop. I saw these numbers before doing this new spell but now I'm seeing them frequently. Example: woke up today at 7:11, two days ago at work i looked up and the time was 7:11, I walked in a room and saw a pizza box and saw the number 711711 (although it was a 711 pizza box I found it strange. Even before writing this i went on a forum and saw the numbers 7.11 when i scrolled down the page.
I was wondering for those of you who have done spell work before are these positive signs?
One more thing is when I walked down the stairs today my mothers tv was on and I heard them talking about someone named Jezepi.. My ex's mom would always call him that and this is strange because I've never heard it anywhere before.
If your Mom cannot give you an un-biased reading then you need to have a reading done from someone who can. I would definitely pay the $10 to have someone Miss Aida linked to do a reading so you can get a more accurate one - just in case your Mom is allowing her bias to creep into her readings for you even unintentionally.
I've started working on a doll for love...
I don't know if I can consider this movement or a sign, but I've gotten messages from others with the same name as my target but not my actual target. It's only been one day since I baptized and named the doll. I received these messages from a dating site I'm not very active on... But I got three messages from different guys with the same name as my target.
Wondering if the hair, picture, name and birthday isn't good enough of a link?
The doll is also made with a bed sheet he had his sweat on it.
Red Glitter, as we tried to get through to you by email but apparently you are not receiving our messages -- and now you post that you will be cancelling your email service, i am afraid that there is something hard at work here.
We have two email addresses on file for you. We have used them both. We cannot post private or sensitive information here in the forum, so please, when you get a STABLE email address, send a message to Leslie Anne and in the subject line type "Red Glitter Test" And then ask again for what you need. She will then reply, and her reply will go to whatever email you sent from.
I just have to add that we have been doing this for many years and problems such as yours are not common. They may be caused by a spam filter on your email, by your changing emails but not telling us, by your using one email to order and expecting to receive results via another email but not telling us.... or ... you really are under a serious "miscommunication" attack. For real.
I'm really happy to give an update today. I had a reading last week with another AIRR reader. He put alot of things in prospective. The personal issues with the target are just too much for me to handle at this point in life. So I made the decision of moving on. However, my reading told me a few things that I wanted to ask about. I have had two readings with AIRR readers and one told me that HER spirits find me abundantly interesting and thats why she loves me on top of my conundrum of a star chart. I got in touch with my reader/rootworker and she told me that it would be a good idea to have a second opinion such as a second opinion from another doctor. I do adore my reader so I took her advice and went to a second AIRR reader and he told me that I had the gift of true dreams and a ton of messages were going to come in through the dream world the next two weeks and he has seen the blockage of insomnia. This insomnia is due to my spells, I'm currently afraid that my spells (signs) through the dream world could block what I should receive. (i have a fear of sleeping now because I am scared to see my old target with someone else or even to come back to me) As you can tell dreams have been a common occurrence in my comments on this thread, and yes I was able to ask what my spirits were trying to tell me. They are telling me that I can get exactly what I want but be careful to what I want because I will get EXACTLY what I want, that's why i took some time to reevaluate the situation with my target and I no longer want to pursue him at this time. I am starting a business and the success of my business was in my reading, therefore, i find it entirely more important to receive my messages than to spin in signs at night at this point.
My first question is, is it possible that these signs that I have created through my spells(love me spell and honey jar that i no longer work) interfere with messages that my spirits are trying to tell me?
If so how should i put a stop to these signs so I can receive my messages and explore my natural gifts? Is it another spiritual cleanse such as the bad honey jar that I started?
This is more of a general question that I've been thinking about lately and I'm wondering if someone could possibly answer. While we are seeing signs and movement on our work on a particular target, I wonder, are they experiencing this as well? I've never asked a target obvuously I mean this more in the sense of how With signs we see or hear their first/middle/last name everywhere. I'm wondering if they see our name everywhere as well?
I thought it was interesting to see how the energy might be playing out on both sides.
I laughed a little bit when I read that. Haha! I am definitely a conundrum in myself and can become a pain with depth on certain topics. You should see my star chart and imagine what I did to my parents growing up! haha! I will definitely take your advice and get more magical coaching. I'm excited to develope my gift into a GREAT power!
This is a rally interesting question. I believe the answer is both yes and no dependent on the person being worked on. Someone with a gift for dreaming true or who is a well practiced deviner I would say could absolutely see signs that they are being worked on. Some people who just are not particular tuned into spiritual workings in general may never notice.
In love work some folks have mentioned the they notice they kind of fell for someone they had no interest I at all which gave them pause to consider where that came from
In cursing work some folks will certainly notice a sudden turn of bad like. I personally had someone throw for me once and I was given rather direct signs that something was up and where it was coming from.
These signs can come in the same form as you mention , hearing names repeatedly and such or they may just have a tugging sensation that something is up and of course folks may always notice that their own behavior has become slightly out of character for them. There are also specific works you can do if you are suspicious of being worked on in order to reveal who it is or what direction it may be coming from.
I'm burning a love vigil glass candle as backup, so I can have something always on, at first it had a knob on it, and cleaned it myself. Then it formed again, this time I left it, but after my creating my doll baby, this morning the candles wick was clean, no knob, I'm taking this as a good sign right?
I know dumb question but I just need reassurance lol
Thanks in advance
I've sent emails this week enquiring about my reports but haven't received a reply to any of them.
Unfortunately I can't call them as I'm in the UK, so am a little stuck as to how to get clarification on how well my vigil candles 'performed'....I'm doing some important work right now and could really do with knowing if my direction is correct or not.
TIA.
Thank you St. Martha, St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael for your help and blessings.
I burnt a purple 8" candle I used compelling with bendover essence. I then wrote upwards with a knife xxxxx call me, xxxxx think of me, xxxxx propose to me. I lit the candle and read paslm 37.
My results well it burned down to a circle with a heart pendant. It's very beautiful it looks like a necklace it even got a little whole in the center. That night I dreamt I was in another state with a past lover and I'm looking for a ticket to get back to my current location NY to see my ex who I'm working on. In ny dream he came to supprise me and he was looking for tickers to get me back on a early flight...
All day I kept seeing hearts in th form of chewing gum on the street, cracks that are heart shaped, 11:11, 3:33, even heard church bells while I was outside thinking of my ex.
Does this mean he may really propose if so is it before my birthday which is 2 weeks ago being today being the 1st day that's all that happen but still he didn't call.
Well this has freaked the s**t out of me !
Went to dispose of my vinegar jar that I haven't been able to really work on much ( It's for my rival to breakup with my target.).A couple of shakes and that's it. Well it was my rivals birthday today and I saw something that made me snap( I overacted!) and I went and shook that jar and cried to God to break the couple up and I was swearing at the rival and all that jazz.
Went to the grave yard to deploy it , asked if any spirit who was willing to help to come forward and lead me to their grave.
A white moth started hovering around me then lead me to a spot where two graves were and kept going from one to the other. But then across from the graveyard is a farm house and this man had come out to see what was going on , I hid , he went back in and I freaked out threw the jar over the back of the graveyard, over into a wooded area , it smashed , threw some money over, apologized to spirit and left. When I was walking up the road to where I live I heard a song out of the blue and it was Dolly Parton's Jolene !! Well that is what my rival is sometimes called and her name is sort of pronounced like that sometimes.
I heard this:
" Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
I'm begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, Jolene, Jolene, Jolene
Please don't take him just because you can." Some man was singing it live from way off somewhere, sounded like a band was playing live.
I stood there for ages and ended up crying a little.
I am unsure which way to take it. But that was crazy as its kind of odd to be playing this kind of song at this time of night!
I need to make another one and actually work it this time !
Hi . I made a honey jar for my target on the 25th of april . The only personal belonging I had of his was a pair of sneakers that he gave to someone in my house. He wore them a few times before giving them away . 9 days later I heard his name randomly in a show that someone asked me to watch. I was about 4 episodes into it and almost didn't continue until I heard his name lol. A week after that I started hearing my targets name like crazy in phone conversations in my house . I saw his name pop up on someones phone in my house (they know him and have his number but that was the first time I witnessed it popping up in their phone as soon as it was shown to me to watch some YouTube video . After that a few days later I was listening to scarypastas (scary stories that are allegedly true) on YouTube and my targets name was mentioned in one of the stories . I keep hearing it in videos that I watch sometimes . Yesterday was extra weird because not only did he post a picture on social media but he posted a picture of a beer mug with his name! lmao what does this mean??
Last night I worked on my red love skull and within the first hour, a fly was in it! Is that a bad sign, I took it out right away. I had seen that fly around my room and wanted out but it ended up in my skull wax.... I hope it's not a sign of some sort
Here's a top tip for all of you who are in contact with your target and so in a position to gauge whether your workings are well, working or not.
Whilst praying, chanting or saying your petition ask the spirit or deity that you are working with to influence your target to say something specific to you that will indicate that your petition is being worked on.
For instance...say you are working a black penis spell to cause impotence or infection, and then your target admits to you in passing that they have developed thrush completely out of the blue and can't understand where or how it has happened.
Now THAT is a specific indicator.
Or if you are working a honey jar and they tell you that earlier that day they were watching a bee flying from flower to flower and were fascinated by it.
I always do this if I'm working on a difficult situation and the spirits that I work with always come up trumps...every single time.
It may just be a single word, but sometimes I have even heard them say a sentence (almost word for word) that is on my petition.
Thank you St. Martha, St. Michael, St. Gabriel, St. Raphael for your help and blessings.
I need someone else's perspective on something. I made a doll baby out of my "soon to be man again" and I've been working on candles. Anyways, I have access to his email, and there's this girl that he TRIED to hook up with. But she said on an email to him, that he was a turn off for her, when she went over his house, because he didn't want to kiss her or be with her, she was upset. She then didn't respond to his "I'm sorry, I didn't feel like making out" email. Does this mean, my work could be working because he didn't feel like being with her in any way, that he was with someone (me) and felt weird being with her, after getting out of a recent relationship (which was ours). She was upset coz he was acting uninterested.... Seems like they both had a very bad time together lol
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Author: admin
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Introduction {#s1}
============
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is an inflammatory lung disorder that is currently the third-leading cause of death in the USA and is noted to have an increasing incidence worldwide \[[@C1]\]. Mortality related to COPD is not solely associated with loss of lung function but is also associated with the development of associated cardiovascular disease.
Neutrophils play a critical role in the inflammatory response observed in COPD \[[@C2]\]. Although numerous mediators have been associated with acute neutrophilic inflammatory responses in disease (including interleukin (IL)-8 and leukotriene (LT)B4), there are few specific pathways that have been determined to regulate a chronic, neutrophilic inflammatory response. Recently, our laboratory has characterised a novel neutrophil chemoattractant, a tripeptide (PGP), which has a significant role in the chronic neutrophilic inflammatory response \[[@C3], [@C4]\]. Our research described a self-propagating inflammatory pathway that involves the activation of neutrophils, releasing matrix metalloprotease-9 and prolyl endopeptidase. This proteolytic cascade cleaves collagen to generate PGP \[[@C5]--[@C8]\]. PGP subsequently recruits additional neutrophils by mimicking a key sequence found in IL-8, which leads to further recruitment and activation of more neutrophils \[[@C4]\]. We further showed that acute inflammation can be terminated by LTA4 hydrolase (LTA4H) \[[@C5]\].
LTA4H is a major enzyme of the 5-lipoxygenase pathway, activation of which leads to the biosynthesis of proinflammatory leukotriene lipid mediators from arachidonic acid \[[@C9]\]. LTA4H catalyses the hydrolysis of LTA4 into LTB4, a potent proinflammatory lipid mediator that not only recruits but also activates neutrophils. More recently, our laboratory has demonstrated that PGP is regulated by the aminopeptidase activity of LTA4H \[[@C3]\]. LTA4H degrades PGP into PG and free proline, and decreases neutrophil influx. Thus, the regulation of the presence and activities of this enzyme has a crucial role in the regulation of the chronic neutrophilic inflammatory response in human disease. This finding demonstrated a central regulatory enzyme of inflammation that generates one chemoattractant (LTB4) and degrades another (PGP). Recently, our group has demonstrated that LTA4H aminopeptidase activity is reduced in COPD subjects, leading to increased PGP levels \[[@C10]\].
Genetic studies have reported associations of the promoter and coding region of *LTA4H* with vascular disease and COPD \[[@C11]--[@C17]\]. In this article, we explore the role of genetic variation in the expression of *LTA4H* in cell-based systems and confirm these findings at the population level in results from a previously published blood expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) analysis. Our results identify specific genetic variants that regulate the expression of *LTA4H*.
Materials and methods {#s2}
=====================
Cloning promoter fragment to reporter gene {#s2a}
------------------------------------------
To clone putative promoter fragments of *LTA4H*, we used human genomic DNA obtained from human cervical cancer cells (HeLa), purified with the Wizard Genomic DNA Purification Kit (Promega, Madison, WI, USA). All primers were ordered from IDT Integrated DNA Technologies (Coralville, IA, USA). Different fragments of the putative promoter were amplified by PCR using the Phusion Hot Start High-Fidelity DNA Polymerase Kit (New England BioLabs, Ipswitch, MA, USA). Fragments were sequenced at the Howell and Elizabeth Heflin Center for Genomic Science at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
Mutagenesis {#s2b}
-----------
In order to create all necessary single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) variants, DNA sequences were subject to mutagenesis utilising the QuikChange XL Site-Directed Mutagenesis Kit (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA). The obtained constructs were then verified through sequencing.
Luciferase reporter gene assay {#s2c}
------------------------------
To study the effect of SNPs on expression, we subcloned the DNA fragment with or without particular SNPs into a promoter-less vector containing a luciferase reporter gene. For luciferase expression, we used the Dual-Luciferase Reporter Assay System (Promega, Madison, WI, USA). HeLa cells were co-transfected with a pGL-Basic vector containing a firefly luciferase (which included our putative promoter fragments with or without SNPs) and an internal control pRL-TK vector expressing *Renilla* luciferase, as a control for transfection normalisation. The internal control provided the basal response, thus minimising experimental variability caused by transfection with different lengths of DNA.
Cell culture and treatment {#s2d}
--------------------------
HeLa cells were grown in Eagle\'s MEM plus 10% fetal calf serum, 2 mM [l]{.smallcaps}-glutamine, 100 U·mL^−1^ penicillin, 100 µg·mL^−1^ streptomycin and 1% nonessential amino acids (Sigma, St Louis, MI, USA), and incubated in humidified air containing 5% CO~2~ at 37°C. At 80% confluence, cells were transfected with different DNA constructs using Oligofectamine 2000 (ThermoFisher, Waltham, MA, USA) as a transfection reagent and incubated for 24 h before harvesting.
LTA4H eQTL data {#s2e}
---------------
To examine the impact of genetic variation near the *LTA4H* promoter *in vivo*, we queried two disease-associated SNPs within 6 kb of the ATG start site (rs17025122 and rs7971150) for evidence of association with *LTA4H* expression in publically available data from a previously published eQTL meta-analysis in whole blood samples from 5311 subjects (<http://genenetwork.nl/bloodeqtlbrowser/>) \[[@C18]\]. Local association data and linkage disequilibrium patterns based on 1000 Genomes EUR data were visualised using Locuszoom (<https://statgen.sph.umich.edu/locuszoom/>) \[[@C19]\].
Statistical analysis {#s2f}
--------------------
Descriptive statistical analysis, including calculation of means and standard deviations, were conducted for all quantitative measures. The two-tailed Student t-test was used for comparisons between two groups and one-sided ANOVA was used for comparisons between three or more groups for *in vitro* studies. The results were considered significant at the 95% confidence level, or p-values of 0.05 or less (p\<0.05).
Results {#s3}
=======
SNPs in promoter region of LTA4H {#s3a}
--------------------------------
The *LTA4H* gene was first described by M[ancini]{.smallcaps} and E[vans]{.smallcaps} \[[@C20]\], and their report served as a basis for further insight into its transcriptional regulation. Further investigation led to the description of a 2021-bp long promoter containing a positive regulatory region and two specific protein--DNA complexes in this element \[[@C21]\].
In the present study, we analysed two SNPs upstream of the reported promoter for *LTA4H*. These SNPs, rs17025122 (−4.1 kb from ATG) and rs7971150 (−5.4 kb from ATG), have previously been associated with vascular disease and showed a possible association with COPD in a European case--control cohort \[[@C22]\].
To explore the effect of these SNPs on the expression of *LTA4H*, we subcloned them into a promoter-less vector with a luciferase reporter gene ([figure 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}). As a result, we generated a 2173-bp (∼2.2-kb) control promoter that matched the previously reported promoter for *LTA4H* and did not contain any studied SNPs. Various extended promoter constructs were generated containing rs17025122 (termed the 4.1-kb fragment) or rs7971150 (termed the 5.4-kb fragment) ([table 1](#TB1){ref-type="table"}). FIGURE 1Putative promoter of the leukotriene A4 hydrolase gene (*LTA4H*). Visualisation of the putative promoter constructs includes two single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNPs) that overlap in association with cardiovascular disease and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Circles represent the ancestral/SNP version of the nucleotide. TABLE 1Generation of putative promoter constructs containing single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)**Distance from first methionine kbAncestralSNPConstruct versionAll ancestralAll SNPsSNP fragment5.4 kb4.1 kb2.24.1**G**A**G**A5.4**G**A**GG**AAA**GG**A**
The 4.1-kb promoter fragment was generated in two versions, one containing the ancestral allele (4.1 kb G) and the other containing minor allele (4.1 kb A). The four versions of the 5.1-kb long putative promoter fragment contained either or both of rs17025122 (minor allele A or ancestral allele G) and rs7971150 (minor allele A or ancestral allele G), in all possible combinations of the biallelic SNPs.
24 h after transfection of these constructs, HeLa cells were ruptured and luciferase expression was recorded as the luminescent signal generated in the enzymatic reaction. These results provided a robust readout of the luciferase expression level and imply a similar outcome for actual expression of *LTA4H in vivo*. Expression of luciferase in this system showed DNA length-specific activity, as evidenced by higher luciferase activity of the ancestral version of the 5.4-kb fragment (4.1 kb G and 5.4 kb GG) compared to the 2.2-kb promoter region ([figure 2a](#F2){ref-type="fig"}), suggesting a longer than anticipated promoter region. Of note, key constructs were tested in 16HBE14o- cells with similar results. FIGURE 2Expression of luciferase reporter gene in various promoter sequences. HeLa cells were grown to ∼80% confluence, and co-transfected with plasmids carrying a particular version of the putative promoter (with or without a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)) expressing a firefly luciferase as a reporter gene and expressing *Renilla* luciferase as an internal control that served as the baseline response. a) Putative leukotriene A4 hydrolase gene (*LTA4H*) promoter fragments (ancestral forms of SNPs for the 4.1- and 5.4-kb fragments) expressed the luciferase reporter gene at higher levels than the control promoter (n=10). b) The 4.1-kb putative *LTA4H* promoter (ancestral: G; SNP: A) expressed luciferase reporter gene at similar levels (n=10). c) The 5.4-kb putative *LTA4H* promoter demonstrated increased luciferase gene expression with SNP at the 5.4-kb position compared to the ancestral allele (n=10). d) The 5.4-kb putative *LTA4H* promoter demonstrated increased luciferase gene expression with the derived allele at both the 4.1- and 5.4-kb sites relative to the derived allele at the 4.1-kb site and ancestral allele at the 5.4-kb site (n=10). e) The 5.4-kb putative *LTA4H* promoter with derived alleles at both the 4.1- and 5.4-kb sites expressed the luciferase gene six-fold more than the 5.4-kb putative promoter fragment containing ancestral alleles at both the 4.1- and 5.4-kb sites. \*: p\<0.05.
We next utilised an online software tool from Genomatix (<http://www.genomatix.de/en/index.html>) to determine whether the studied SNPs may impact transcription factor binding sites (TFBSs) in this extended enhancer region. This software utilises a large library of matrix descriptions for TFBSs to locate matches in DNA sequences. For the 4.1-kb SNP site, the software identified one TFBS which was unchanged between the ancestral and derived allele. For the 5.4-kb SNP site, the software predicted six TFBSs for the ancestral version (5.4 kb G) and 12 TFBSs for the derived version (5.4 kb A) ([table 2](#TB2){ref-type="table"}). This *in silico* analysis showed how significant a difference in one base might be in gene expression. TABLE 2Software prediction of transcription factors binding to putative promoter of the leukotriene A4 hydrolase gene (*LTA4H*) containing particular single-nucleotide polymorphisms**Marker IDrs17025122rs7971150Distances from ATG bp**−4057−5381**Ancestral**GG Transcription factor binding sites1) Human acute myelogenous leukaemia factors1) cAMP-responsive element binding proteins2) PAR/bZIP family3) Cart-14) LIM homeodomain factors5) PAX3 binding sites6) GC-box factors SP1/GC**SNP**AA Transcription factor binding sites1) Human acute myelogenous leukaemia factors1) CLOX and CLOX homology (CDP) factors2) cAMP-responsive element binding proteins3) PAR/bZIP family4) Cart-15) LIM homeodomain factors6) Fork head domain factors7) HOX transcription factors8) Paralogue HOX genes 1--8 from the four HOX clusters A--D9) Cart-110) Paralogue HOX genes 1--8 from the four HOX clusters A--D11) CLOX and CLOX homology (CDP) factors12) GC-box factors SP1/GC[^1]
To explore the effect of SNP on the expression of the reporter gene *in vitro*, we used the luciferase assay. For the 4.1-kb promoter fragment, there was no statistical difference in luciferase expression between the minor allele (4.1 kb A) and the ancestral allele (4.1 kb G) ([figure 2b](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). This is in agreement with the transcription factors binding software prediction. Interestingly, when maintaining the 4.1-kb allele as the ancestral allele, the 5.4-kb derived allele (5.4 kb AG) demonstrated a statistically significant increase in luciferase expression relative to the 5.4- and 4.1-kb ancestral alleles (5.4 kb GG) ([figure 2c](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). Surprisingly, the presence of the derived allele at 5.4 kb in the derived allele background at 4.1 kb (5.4 kb AA) had a synergistic effect and expressed luciferase over three-fold stronger than the ancestral allele at 5.4 kb with the derived allele at 4.1 kb (5.4 GA) ([figure 2d](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). Overall, when the 4.1- and 5.4-kb sites contained the minor allele (5.4 kb AA), the putative promoter fragment expressed over six-fold higher reporter gene levels compared to the double ancestral form (5.4 kb GG) ([figure 2e](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). These results highlight that, although the 4.1-kb derived allele has little impact on luciferase expression, there is an additive effect of the derived allele at 4.1 kb and 5.4 kb, which has notable impact on luciferase expression. These data suggest that changes at the 5.4-kb site may have upstream effects on transcription factor binding at the 4.1-kb site and highlight the importance of downstream elements in regulation of the expression of *LTA4H*.
Genetic regulation and transcription factor binding at LTA4H promoter-region SNPs in vivo {#s3b}
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[Figure 3](#F3){ref-type="fig"} shows that two candidate SNPs, rs17025122 (4.1 kb) and rs7971150 (5.4 kb), are strongly associated with *LTA4H* expression *in vivo* in publically available eQTL data from an analysis of blood expression from over 5000 subjects \[[@C18]\]. These SNPs demonstrated notable p-values, with rs17025122 (4.1 kb) with p-value of 1.46×10^−147^ and rs7971150 (5.4 kb) with p-value of 2.06×10^−49^ ([table 3](#TB3){ref-type="table"}). FIGURE 3Expression quantitative trait locus (eQTL) expression of leukotriene A4 hydrolase (LTA4H) mRNA in peripheral blood. Locus plot showing eQTL association p-values for tested single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) near LTA4H in blood eQTL data previously published by W[estra]{.smallcaps} *et al.* \[[@C18]\]. Chr: chromosome. TABLE 3Cumulative data of two single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites in expression quantitative trait locus analysis: the effect of SNP on the leukotriene A4 hydrolase (*LTA4H*) expression**SNPChromosomal position bpp-valuers17025122 (**−**4.1 kb)**94 957 5531.46×10^−147^**rs7971150 (**−**5.4 kb)**94 958 8772.06×10^−49^
To determine whether there is evidence of transcriptional activity in these SNP sites in ENCODE (Encyclopedia of DNA Elements) epigenomic data, we queried the Haploreg web interface ([www.broadinstitute.org/mammals/haploreg/haploreg.php](www.broadinstitute.org/mammals/haploreg/haploreg.php)) for evidence of enhancer activity or experimental evidence of transcriptional factor binding in cell lines or primary cells at rs17025122 and rs7971150 or SNPs in perfect linkage disequilibrium. Both SNPs lie within enhancer regions (K562 cells for rs7971150 and multiple cell types for rs17025122) and both lie within regions of experimentally observed transcription factor binding \[[@C23]\].
Discussion {#s4}
==========
Inflammation is a critical feature of COPD and recent data have suggested that PGP peptide may serve as a critical component of the inflammatory response in COPD \[[@C4]--[@C6]\]. In fact, a recent report showed that PGP levels in COPD sputum improved during treatment with chronic azithromycin in concert with reduced exacerbation frequency. PGP was the only inflammatory biomarker that demonstrated marked responsiveness with azithromycin treatment \[[@C24]\]. The regulation of this peptide, therefore, is likely to be of critical importance in the progression of chronic lung inflammation. The results reported herein suggest that the promoter region for *LTA4H* is longer than previously thought and demonstrate allele-specific expression of *LTA4H* in an *in vitro* system, which may have significant implications for COPD biology. Therefore, it is possible that genetic variability might portend increased presence and/or activity of this enzyme, which in turn might create a more potent pro-inflammatory environment for people who smoke and/or have COPD with particular SNPs.
Importantly, population-level eQTL analyses confirm that SNPs near the *LTA4H* promoter impact *LTA4H* mRNA expression *in vivo*. Ongoing studies may suggest specific patient genotypes that confer high risk of development and progression of COPD. Indeed, our data strongly suggest that cigarette smoke exposure induces LTA4H expression in airway epithelial cells \[[@C3]\]. Future studies will focus on the expression of SNPs with cigarette smoke exposure to determine critical gene-by-environment interaction.
The combination of an *in vitro* expression system coupled with large COPD cohorts with genetic data, such as COPDGene, will also establish a paradigm for future studies of other enzymes critical to the unrelenting inflammatory response observed in COPD and may suggest new therapeutic disease targets in this disorder.
Support statement: This work was supported by an American Heart Association postdoctoral fellowship to T. Szul, a T32 training grant from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) to S. Oparil (Vascular Biology and Hypertension Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham) (5T32HL007457), and grants from the US National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (HL07783, HL090999 and HL087824 to J.E. Blalock, HL102371 to A. Gaggar, HL102265 and HL124233 to P. Castaldi, and HL097029 to M.H. Cho), the US Veterans Administration (1 I01BX001756 to A. Gaggar) and the Ismail Moustapha Scholar Fund (to A. Gaggar). Research reported in this publication was supported by the NIH, and the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the NIH or the US Food and Drug Administration. Funding information for this article has been deposited with [FundRef](http://www.crossref.org/fundref/).
Conflict of interest: None declared.
[^1]: PAR/bZIP: proline- and acidic amino acid-rich basic leucine zipper; Cart-1: cartilage homeoprotein 1; PAX3: paired-box transcription factor 3; SP1: specificity protein 1; HOX: homeobox.
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[A case of perforative peritonitis complicated with lung and intestinal severe tuberculosis].
A 27-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in September 18, 2000, complaining of fever, cough, appetite loss and body weight loss. He was diagnosed as advanced lung tuberculosis, because of chest X-ray findings and positive acid-fast bacilli in his sputum. He was administrated rifampicin (RFP), isoniazid (INH) and ethambutol (EB). Two days after starting treatment he complained of abdominal pain and the signs of perforating peritonitis. Emergency laparotomy was performed and we observed multiple ulcers and a perforation of ileum. We resected a part of distal ileum and ascending colon and made ileostomy. Histopathologic examination of resected ileum and colon showed multiple ulcers and epithelioid cell granulomas with caseous necrosis. Many acid bacilli were identified from the lesion by specially stained tissue sections. He was administrated streptomycin and INH by injection post-operatively while oral administration was impossible. Six days after the first operation, we found the signs of perforation in another part of the ileum. So we were obliged to perform second laparotomy and resect the part involved. Five days after the second operation, he was able to take RFP, INH, and levofloxacin per oral route. On February 8, 2001 we performed ileocolonal reconstruction with side to side anastomosis and closed ileostomy at the third laparotomy. He had continued chemotherapy and went back to Korea in April 7, 2001. Although intestinal tuberculosis has sharply declined in Japan thanks to development of effective antituberculous drugs, we should keep in mind that it could be a possible cause of the acute abdomen.
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Barbie Dress Up Games
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The media-hungry liberal leader yesterday accidentally revealed the inner workings of the Democratic Party’s “extreme” p.r. machine — hurting budget negotiations as both parties brace for an April 8 government shutdown.
Just before a conference call with reporters, Schumer (D-NY) was heard on the line giving his Democratic colleagues marching orders to spin the budget-battle story.
“I always use the word ‘extreme.’ That is what the caucus instructed me to use this week,” the spin-master said in an effort to color Tea Party lawmakers — apparently unaware reporters were already listening in on the call.
Schumer told the four senators preparing for the call to say House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) refuses to compromise on the budget because he’s cowed by extreme Tea Party members.
“The main thrust is basically that we want to negotiate and we want to come up with a compromise but the Tea Party is pulling Boehner too far over to the right,” Schumer instructed.
“The only way we can avoid a shutdown is for Boehner to come up with a reasonable compromise and not just listen to what the Tea Party wants.”
After apparently realizing his mistake, Schumer fell silent.
The conference call then got under way as if nothing had happened.
The four Democrats on the call — Sens. Barbara Boxer (Calif.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Ben Cardin (Md.) and Tom Carper (Del.) — dutifully followed Schumer’s orders, using the word “extreme” at least a dozen times to blast Boehner and the Tea Party.
Schumer spokesman Brian Fallon later made light of the slip-up.
“There’s nothing wrong with reporters overhearing him calling the House Republicans extreme because that’s what [they are],” Fallon said.
Schumer, who runs the communications war room for the Senate Democratic leadership, has been hammering home the “extreme” message for days.
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"Clear the way, people." "Superstar comin' through." "Superstar comin' through." "And her jet_set friend, Miss Lola Lafonda." "Lola Lafonda?" "If people figure out I'm Lilly, it's only a short jump to Miley." "Oh, very smart, Miss Lola." "Thank you, everybody." "I love you all." "Thank you." "This is totally insane." "Back off, people." "Back off." "Don't make me release Thor." "Yeah, you go get 'em, Thor." "Two pounds of pure piddle just looking for a target." "_ Actually, I think he just..." "_ Oh, man!" "Hannah!" "Wait!" "Oh, no. lt's Oliver again." "He snuck into my dressing room last week, nearly jumped on stage the week before and just when you think he can't get any more obsessed... he kicked it up a notch." "Look at those bony little elbows go." "That boy cuts through the crowd like a Weedwacker." "Let me through!" "Hannah, please." "Kiss my hand and I'll never wash it again." "Looks like he never washes it now." "Come on, Thor, make yourself useful." "Baby." "You're an animal." "I like 'em feisty." "_ Let's rock_'n'_roll, driver." "_ He's never gonna give up." "Better hope he does, because if he finds out your secret, he's not only gonna be in love with Hannah Montana, he'll be in love with you." "What?" "That's crazy." "The only thing that's the same about Hannah Montana and me is... me." "And me doesn't feel that way about him." "Don't worry." "I know guys, and sooner or later, he's gonna get tired of chasing after somebody that's not chasing him back." "Do a dude a favor and don't get on the freeway." "For you, my love." "Why did you have to be such a good kisser?" "It's all true." "Hannah actually kissed this hand." "_ You gotta be kidding me." "_ A big, slobbery wet one." "Look. it's still shiny." "Yeah, there's nothing like the romantic glow of dog drool." "Chad, dude." "Close up shop when you chew." "You're getting spit on the Hannah hand." "Miley, let's go." "You're cutting into my tan time." "Look at him." "He's never gonna quit." "What happens if he does find out?" "I really do care about Oliver." "And I just don't wanna weird out our friendship." "Unless, deep down, maybe, just maybe, you feel the same way." "Yes, and maybe, just maybe, that's insane." "And now that she's left her mark on me, it's time to take our relationship to the next step." "Tonight at her CD signing, I'm gonna stare into her eyes and say:" ""You are my love, my life." "Someday you'll be my..."" "Note to self:" ""Think of words that rhyme with 'life."'" "Dude, isn't that the Hannah hand?" "The CD signing. lf he stares into my eyes, he might recognize me." "_ That's never gonna happen." "_ But what if it does?" "You could learn to love him, like with my brother's hamster." "And here's the beauty part." "If Oliver dies, you won't have to bury him in the backyard." "When you talk, do you hear it, or is it like a big roaring in your ears?" "Step off, Chad." "Fine." "But you're gonna throw this away for me." "Take it off, dude!" "Take it off!" "Dude." "What's with you and the gum_chewing?" "Little Baby Ollie." "Aunt Harriet just wants to eat you up." "'Cause you're yummy, yummy, yummy." "Let me kiss that off you." "I hate that woman." "Been sitting' here all morning, I'm trying to write a song." "Can't remember when it ever took me this dang long." "Maybe I should just up and fly the coop 'Cause everything I've written sounds like... I got it, Dad, I got it." "Prepare to be blown away." "This better be good, son." "I was in the middle of a masterpiece." "Jackson Stewart, come on down." "You are the proud owner of a brand_new... used car." "Yes, over the last 1 5 years, this preowned beauty's been driven by heavy smokers and sloppy eaters and one Wilma McDermott, whose cat popped out six kittens on the front seat." "Yes, some stains just don't come out." "_ And you're happy about that." "_ Yes, I am." "Dad, it's mine." "It's not perfect, but it's my own car, and I bought it with my own money." "I'm proud of you." "Especially the bought_it_with_your_own_money part." "_ Let's take a look at this puppy." "_ Puppies." "_ That reminds me." "And in the back seat..." "_ I don't wanna know." "Yep, there she is." "Clean, no dents and... there's that stain." "_ Where is it?" "_ lt's right here." "This?" "I know." "I can't believe it's mine, either." "And I can't believe you just bought a girl car." "What?" "Jackson, only girls drive this thing." "It's a chick mobile, a babe bucket, a skirt scooter." "You might as well have bought a bra with tires, man." "You are so wrong." "This is totally a guy's car." "When I was driving home, there was guys honking and waving and..." "giving me kissy faces." "Oh, no, Dad." "Tell me I didn't just buy a chick car." "You didn't buy a chick car." "Now say it like you mean it." "I'd like to, son, but you know how ladies like to have the final word." "Thank you so much." "I love you all." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Let's boogie, driver." "That was great." "Oliver stared right into my eyes and never had a clue." "Kinda like the look he has in Spanish." "I don't know what I was so worried about anyways." "Better pull over, driver." "Don't be scared." "It's me _ Oliver Oken." "Wow." "You're even more beautiful upside down." "Thank you." "You're so sweet." "He was talking to me." "Look, you are very sweet, but I have a boyfriend." "A boyfriend?" "Wait, I don't understand." "Then why did you kiss me?" "I didn't." "The dog did." "Ah, man!" "Those are the lips I've been thinking about for the past 24 hours?" "I'm sorry." "I was trying not to hurt your feelings." "It's just that..." "I'm just not interested." "OK?" "OK. I get it." "Now get down off the roof, son, before you dent it." "This is a rental." "Fine. I won't bother you anymore." "If it helps, the dog hasn't stopped talking about you." "_ You must think I'm pathetic." "_ No. I think you're sweet." "_ And maybe if I didn't have a boyfriend..." "_ I'd have a chance?" "_ I never said that." "_ But you implied it." "And that's good enough." "I'll wait for you forever." "_ I never said that." "_ Forever." "Do you hear me, Hannah?" "Forever." "That was close." "He almost got you tonight." "Ya think?" "You know what that boy needs?" "A real girlfriend." "Dad, that is..." "the smartest thing you've ever said." "You know what they say _ every now and then, even a blind pig snorts up a truffle." "And that is the weirdest." "That's right _ it's me." "_ Yo, locker man." "_ I'm up." "_ I owe you." "_ I'll be back to collect." "Locker man." "You're amazing, Oliver." "I've been told that." "_ Having trouble with your locker, Chad?" "_ Yeah." "Could you?" "Well, locker man is on the job, but... not for you, sucker." "Oliver." "See that girl Pamela over there?" "_ She thinks you're cute." "_ Can't say that I disagree." "Too bad I'm cruising down the Hannah Highway." "What about Kyla Goodwin?" "She is so desperate she'll go out with anybody." "My type of woman." "Too bad I'm taken." "What about Lilly?" "You guys would be perfect together." "_ Excuse me?" "_ You're both stubborn." "_ I am not." "_ See?" "You always agree." "_ No, we don't." "_ I am definitely seeing a couple here." "You're not... because I'm not..." "That's smart, because what if one friend loved another but didn't get loved back?" "Then things would get weird, and they couldn't be friends anymore." "And there is nothing more important than our friendship." "Oh, man, you love me." "No." "I mean, I do love you." "But like a brother or a pet fish." "I'd cry if I had to flush you down the toilet, but I don't wanna kiss you." "That's a relief, because you're my buddy." "I think Hannah and you could wind up being close friends." "_ Closer than you think." "_ Great." "Once Hannah and I are together, we'll have you over for some sushi." "Yeah." "Soon, my love, we'll be together." "You enjoy that." "This isn't over, pal." "Goodbye." "Hello again." "I know that look." "Either you have a great idea or you really gotta go." "Oliver is about to totally get turned off to Hannah Montana." "And I really gotta go." "I can't believe he wouldn't take the car back." "I thought I made a very convincing argument." "Well, technically, son, getting on your hands and knees and begging for a do_over is not really an argument." "_ Hey there, neighbor." "_ Oh, man, it's Mr. Dontzig." "And he's wearing his robe again." "Yeah, well, count your blessings." "At least this time it's the long one." "So..." "Stewart family." "What would another leaf from your tree be doing in my hot tub?" "I don't know." "Maybe it wanted to party." "_ Come on." "Just trying to be neighborly." "_ That's nice." "But I hate neighbors." "That's why I got the big hedge." "So, something needs to be done about this." "Yeah." "And I think something needs to be done about this." "I would recommend possibly some sit_ups or maybe a bigger robe." "Very neighborly." "Got a new car." "You know, my wife, she had a car just like this." "Traded it in." "She thought it was too girly." "Get your leaves out of my hot tub!" "I'll have you know that we Stewart men don't define ourselves by the types of cars we drive." "That's it." "This dolly wagon's going back where it came from." "_ But the salesperson already said no." "_ To you, not to me." "Face it, son _ I'm a bit more intimidating." "Lord, take me now." "_ I came as fast as I could. ls she still here?" "_ There." "I can't believe you saw Hannah break up with her boyfriend on our beach the moment I was getting home from the orthodontist." "_ I know." "Knock, knock." "Who's there?" "Fate." "_ Fate who?" "Just go." "_ This is it." "_ Good luck, Oliver." "But remember:" "If things don't work out, you're still Smokin' Oken." "_ Thanks, but it's gonna work out." "_ Absolutely." "But if it doesn't, Smokin' Oken." "'Nuff said." "It's me." "Oliver. I heard about your breakup, and I'm here for you." "If you need a hug, my arms are open." "_ Get away from me." "_ I can do that." "Hannah?" "Hi." "The kid from the moonroof." "Look at you, all upside right." "Where are my manners?" "Sit down, sweetie." "Join the party." "Here." "You want some gum?" "Load yourself up." "I didn't know you liked gum." "I've surfed all your websites, and none of them mentioned you're a chewer." "I'm a chewer, all right." "I love to chew." "I chew all the time, like a train." "I chew in the morning, the afternoon, the evening." "_ lf it can be chewed, it's in my mouth." "_ Good to know." "You should think about updating your websites." "Why?" "Does it bother you?" "It really turns off some people." "They can't even be around me." "They love me, but I disgust them." "Well, I'm not like that." "You're not?" "_ Because it's OK if you are." "_ No." "Relationships are about sacrifice, and I accept you just the way you are." "Good to know." "Move over, boys." "New chew comin' through." "Your mouth..." "It's..." "Turning black?" "It's licorice. I love licorice." "Don't make me laugh _ it comes out my nose." "_ You wanna see?" "_ No." "Too late." "She's about to blow." "Am I grossing you out?" "Because I totally understand if you want to transfer your obsession to Mandy Moore." "_ You know, she's blond again." "_ No, no, no." "My love is bigger than my disgust and your black drippage." "Black drippage." "Watch this." "Sacrifice, sacrifice, sacrifice." "How do you like me now?" "I... _ ...still love you _ What does it take with you?" "What more do I have to do?" "You and Hannah Montana are never gonna be together." "Why not?" "Because... I'm Hannah Montana." "Me." "Miley." "OK, that went well." "_ You were Hannah in the limo?" "_ Yeah." "_ Backstage when I hung out the window?" "_ Yep." "And when I hid in your bass drum and rode on your tour bus to Phoenix?" "_ You did what?" "_ Nothing." "_ How come you didn't tell me?" "_ I'm sorry." "It's just that I knew that you were so in love with Hannah that I was afraid that maybe you might..." "Be in love with you?" "Do you think I am?" "You tell me. I mean, have you ever pictured yourself with Miley, your friend the dork?" "_ You're not a dork." "_ Oh, come on." "What about the time I tripped in the biology lab and spilled frog juice all over you?" "Right." "Mom made me take off my pants in the school parking lot." "Or when we were at Andrew's birthday party and you accidentally knocked me into the pool in your one_man stampede for the cake?" "That's not fair." "It was an ice_cream log cake, and you know I have to get an end cut." "Come on, Oliver." "Let's face it." "The girl you thought you loved is standing right here, and the truth is... you don't love her." "Wow. I think you're right." "That's two years of my life I'll never get back." "Sorry about that." "So, what do you think?" "Are we gonna be OK?" "Yeah, we're OK." "_ Anything?" "_ No." "In fact, it's a little awkward." "Let's go grab a hot dog." "So..." "Mandy Moore." "You don't happen to have her number, do you?" "Boy, you bounce back fast." "Where's my dad?" "It's been hours." "He couldn't sell it _ that's what it is." "And now he can't face me." "Maybe something good happened." "Maybe he parked it and a bunch of cheerleaders stole it." "You think so?" "Here he comes." "Still driving it." "I knew it." "Failure." "You're a failure as a father." "Get a grip." "They wouldn't take the car back, but I did do something to beef it up a little." "Dad, changing the horn is not gonna make it a guy car." "I know." "But this might." "Dang." "This is tight." "_ Son, I primped your ride." "_ Oh, yes, he did." "Thank you!" "Thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you." "OK, son, you can let go now." "It was cute when you were five." "Now it just throws my back out."
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View full sizeGlenn Baeske / The Huntsville TimesHammad Memon, 14, looks out of a police car as he is transferred to the Madison County Jail complex Friday afternoon.
HUNTSVILLE, AL -- A Madison County judge has set a $75,000 bond for Hammad Memon, the 14-year-old accused of killing his Discovery Middle School classmate, Todd Brown, on Feb. 5.
District Judge Lynn Sherrod, after a 20-minute hearing, set the bond with the condition that Memon surrender his passport. His family is from Pakistan and Memon has dual citizenship in the U.S. and the United Kingdom.
He will now be transferred to the Madison County jail. His lawyer, Bruce Gardner, said Memon's family plans to let him stay in jail on suicide watch for the time being until they find a place to have him treated for mental issues.
Gardner said he thought he had made a good case for having Memon tried as a juvenile and was disappointed Sherrod certified him to stand trial as an adult.
He described Memon as having the mental maturity of an 8-year-old and serious mental illness.
"This young man is seriously mentally ill and acutely suicidal," Gardner said. "He is in tremendous need of inpatient psychotherapy and drug regimentation."
Gardner said what Memon did to Brown, who was shot in the back of the head in the Discovery Middle School 9th grade hall during a class change, "was indefensible."
"Without a doubt what he did was indefensible," Gardner said. "There was no real threat to Hammad at the time he shot him. It was a pretty doggone cold-blooded killing. You've got a tragedy and now you're going to compound that with another tragedy" by trying him as an adult.
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re there between 2:37 AM and 9:21 AM?
404
How many minutes are there between 1:56 AM and 2:52 AM?
56
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209
What is 202 minutes after 9:52 AM?
1:14 PM
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38
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492
What is 690 minutes after 10:28 PM?
9:58 AM
What is 444 minutes before 10:34 PM?
3:10 PM
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92
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485
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145
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641
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647
What is 394 minutes after 8:01 AM?
2:35 PM
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332
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103
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402
How many minutes are there between 6:38 AM and 2:12 PM?
454
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402
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376
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160
What is 264 minutes after 9:06 AM?
1:30 PM
How many minutes are there between 8:58 AM and 9:07 AM?
9
How many minutes are there between 8:26 PM and 10:09 PM?
103
What is 128 minutes after 7:49 PM?
9:57 PM
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641
What is 488 minutes before 9:18 PM?
1:10 PM
What is 277 minutes after 5:54 PM?
10:31 PM
How many minutes are there between 7:02 AM and 6:07 PM?
665
What is 421 minutes after 5:47 AM?
12:48 PM
What is 172 minutes before 4:28 AM?
1:36 AM
How many minutes are there between 9:30 AM and 12:08 PM?
158
How many minutes are there between 7:05 AM and 3:21 PM?
496
What is 406 minutes before 2:00 AM?
7:14 PM
What is 457 minutes after 1:37 AM?
9:14 AM
How many minutes are there between 11:07 PM and 10:22 AM?
675
What is 596 minutes before 1:43 PM?
3:47 AM
How many minutes are there between 8:37 AM and 12:32 PM?
235
How many minutes are there between 4:43 PM and 12:35 AM?
472
What is 610 minutes after 12:58 PM?
11:08 PM
What is 44 minutes after 9:05 AM?
9:49 AM
How many minutes are there between 12:04 PM and 7:03 PM?
419
How many minutes are there between 11:11 PM and 6:44 AM?
453
How many minutes are there between 9:02 AM and 11:17 AM?
135
How many minutes are there between 9:14 PM and 2:55 AM?
341
What is 279 minutes after 10:38 AM?
3:17 PM
How many minutes are there between 9:14 AM and 2:23 PM?
309
How many minutes are there between 1:28 AM and 8:51 AM?
443
What is 244 minutes after 3:56 PM?
8:00 PM
What is 682 minutes after 2:30 PM?
1:52 AM
What is 59 minutes before 4:16 AM?
3:17 AM
How many minutes are there between 7:11 PM and 3:04 AM?
473
How many minutes are there between 2:02 PM and 11:53 PM?
591
How many minutes are there between 11:24 PM and 11:49 PM?
25
What is 462 minutes after 2:06 PM?
9:48 PM
What is 553 minutes before 1:15 AM?
4:02 PM
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6:43 PM
What is 528 minutes after 3:09 AM?
11:57 AM
What is 98 minutes after 6:53 PM?
8:31 PM
How many minutes are there between 1:48 AM and 2:28 AM?
40
What is 286 minutes before 2:13 AM?
9:27 PM
How many minutes are there between 11:41 AM and 5:55 PM?
374
How many minutes are there between 4:14 AM and 10:40 AM?
386
How many minutes are there between 9:40 PM and 9:09 AM?
689
What is 596 minutes after 12:02 PM?
9:58 PM
How many minutes are there between 4:33 PM and 6:10 PM?
97
How many minutes are there between 6:59 AM and 4:45 PM?
586
How many minutes are there between 12:06 AM and 12:20 AM?
14
How many minutes are there between 7:46 AM and 8:42 AM?
56
What is 661 minutes before 5:09 AM?
6:08 PM
What is 587 minutes before 8:10 AM?
10:23 PM
How many minutes are there between 7:45 AM and 4:25 PM?
520
How many minutes are there between 8:34 AM and 9:41 AM?
67
How many minutes are there between 12:46 PM and 5:16 PM?
270
How many minutes are there between 2:24 PM and 9:50 PM?
446
How many minutes are there between 9:32 PM and 6:44 AM?
552
How many minutes are there between 4:53 PM and 7:22 PM?
149
What is 132 minutes before 9:53 PM?
7:41 PM
How many minutes are there between 9:33 PM and 4:00 AM?
387
What is 481 minutes before 1:29 PM?
5:28 AM
How many minutes are there between 3:17 AM and 3:16 PM?
719
What is 376 minutes after 5:02 AM?
11:18 AM
What is 148 minutes before 8:38 AM?
6:10 AM
What is 408 minutes before 3:34 AM?
8:46 PM
How many minutes are there between 11:04 PM and 7:17 AM?
493
What is 374 minutes after 10:26 AM?
4:40 PM
How many minutes are there between 12:02 PM and 9:21 PM?
559
How many minutes are there between 5:36 AM and 5:15 PM?
699
What is 405 minutes before 3:24 PM?
8:39 AM
How many minutes are there between 10:09 PM and 9:10 AM?
661
How many minutes are there between 8:10 PM and 6:53 AM?
643
How many minutes are there between 11:44 AM and 7:22 PM?
458
How many minutes are there between 11:45 AM and 6:19 PM?
394
What is 322 minutes after 4:45 AM?
10:07 AM
What is 599 minutes after 11:02 AM?
9:01 PM
What is 609 minutes before 8:26 PM?
10:17 AM
How many minutes are there between 4:52 PM and 10:17 PM?
325
What is 556 minutes before 9:22 PM?
12:06 PM
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556
What is 481 minutes after 3:07 PM?
11:08 PM
What is 82 minutes after 2:38 PM?
4:00 PM
How many minutes are there between 4:36 AM and 10:52 AM?
376
How many minutes are there between 9:25 AM and 1:40 PM?
255
How many minutes are there between 7:30 PM and 8:18 PM?
48
What is 607 minutes after 4:14 PM?
2:21 AM
How many minutes are there between 10:14 PM and 5:56 AM?
462
What is 387 minutes after 6:28 PM?
12:55 AM
How many minutes are there between 9:13 PM and 3:27 AM?
374
How many minutes are there between 1:22 PM and 2:29 PM?
67
What is 165 minutes after 2:00 PM?
4:45 PM
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708
How many minutes are there between 7:44 AM and 9:20 AM?
96
What is 655 minutes after 11:30 PM?
10:25 AM
What is 462 minutes after 11:37 AM?
7:19 PM
What is 421 minutes after 12:38 PM?
7:39 PM
What is 367 minutes before 11:52 PM?
5:45 PM
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700
What is 466 minutes before 3:07 PM?
7:21 AM
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596
What is 682 minutes after 11:37 PM?
10:59 AM
What is 636 minutes before 12:03 PM?
1:27 AM
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121
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223
What is 418 minutes before 7:31 AM?
12:33 AM
What is 491 minutes before 3:37 AM?
7:26 PM
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194
How many minutes are there between 7:35 AM and 5:32 PM?
597
How many minutes are there between 4:31 PM and 10:44 PM?
373
What is 491 minutes after 3:43 AM?
11:54 AM
How many minutes are there between 5:38 AM and 2:00 PM?
502
How many minutes are there between 1:10 PM and 7:51 PM?
401
What is 408 minutes before 10:29 PM?
3:41 PM
What is 313 minutes after 9:04 PM?
2:17 AM
What is 63 minutes after 1:04 PM?
2:07 PM
What is 137 minutes before 9:19 AM?
7:02 AM
What is 663 minutes before 10:09 PM?
11:06 AM
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664
What is 402 minutes before 7:19 PM?
12:37 PM
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387
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117
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292
What is 195 minutes before 8:01 AM?
4:46 AM
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646
How many minutes are there between 5:39 AM and 1:26 PM?
467
What is 514 minutes before 7:14 AM?
10:40 PM
What is 176 minutes before 9:53 AM?
6:57 AM
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149
What is 123 minutes before 9:24 AM?
7:21 AM
What is 310 minutes before 10:17 PM?
5:07 PM
What is 159 minutes before 11:04 AM?
8:25 AM
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687
How many minutes are there between 5:59 PM and 10:08 PM?
249
What is 662 minutes before 7:32 PM?
8:30 AM
What is 67 minutes before 2:25 PM?
1:18 PM
What is 525 minutes after 12:50 PM?
9
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Africa
An African Union treaty called the Kampala Convention comes into effect on Thursday in 15 African countries. For the first time, states will be legally accountable for upholding the rights of internally displaced people. By KHADIJA PATEL.
Some 10 million people are internally displaced across Africa, making up one third of the world’s internally displaced population. Last month, when Goma in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo fell, the sheer scale of the challenge of internally displaced people was brought into sharp focus.
According to the Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre (IDMC), there were at least 772,500 IDPs in the North Kivu province on 30 September 2012. In all, there are over 2,435,000 IDPs in the DRC. Sebastian Albuja, IDMC’s Head of Africa Development, said that when M23 began its advance on Goma last month, “They hit an internally displaced persons camp, the Kanyarucinya camp, forcing people to flee.” Albuja said the camp, which housed about 50,000 people, was emptied in just a few hours.
Some 300,000 people have been displaced by M23 since April this year. And even as M23 commanders and the Congolese government move tentatively towards negotiations, the clashes between the rebel group and the Congolese army have severely exacerbated the challenges of IDPs in the eastern Congo. This flare-up of violence has further displaced those who were already displaced.
Albuja describes it as a “cycle of violence and displacement”.
On Thursday, however, the “Kampala Convention”, also known as the African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Africa, comes into force in 15 African countries. It is the first legally binding regional instrument in the world to compel states to protect and assist IDPs, although South Africa has not yet ratified the treaty and neither has the DRC.
The enforcement of the Kampala Convention is being hailed as a historic achievement. Experts point out that while there is a legally binding refugee convention, dating back to 1951, there has been no equivalent international instrument for IDPs – even though there are at least twice as many IDPs in the world as refugees.
The Convention builds on international humanitarian law and international human rights law, as well as the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, promoting and strengthening regional and national measures to prevent, mitigate, prohibit, and eliminate the root causes of internal displacement.
“As a legal document potentially binding all African countries – a quarter of the world’s States – the treaty represents a significant step forward in the protection and assistance of internally displaced people in Africa,” said Bruce Mokaya Orina, the head of the International Committee of the Red Cross’ delegation to the African Union.
The IDMC’s Albuja added that “[t]he Kampala Convention is an African solution for and African problem.” He pointed out: “It is not a UN convention; it is an African Union convention, so it is a success for Africa.”
As such, he said the Kampala Convention had specific provisions for situations like the one in the DRC’s North Kivu province.
The Convention aims to establish the responsibilities and roles of armed groups and non-state actors towards IDPs with respect both to preventing internal displacement and providing protection and assistance to internally displaced communities.
Significantly, the Convention applies to displacement caused by a wide range of causes – from conflict and human rights violations to natural or man-made disaster and development projects. The Kampala Convention also provides standards for the protection of people from arbitrary displacement as well as the protection of IDPs while they are displaced and durable solutions for displacement.
The DRC is, of course, not the only African state currently struggling to come to grips with the challenges of a vast IDP population.
Last month the UN’s Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons, Chaloka Beyani, urged the Sudanese Government to boost its efforts to find durable solutions to the needs of IDPs there.
“I urge the Government of Sudan to adopt a comprehensive approach to durable solutions, which facilitates voluntary returns as well as local integration and resettlement,” Beyani said in a statement. He encouraged the Sudanese government and the international community to integrate displacement-affected communities into urban planning, development, and livelihood projects.
“A key step in this direction is addressing the very dire situation of IDPs in terms of safety, and their basic rights to adequate food, shelter, health, education, water, and livelihoods,” Beyani said.
According to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, there are some 2.4 million IDPs in Sudan who have been displaced by violence in various parts of the country, including Darfur, Blue Nile and South Kordofan.
“Finding solutions is a key way to preventing further displacements,” Albuja said.
Beyani added, “Concerted efforts are needed in order to meet these and other assistance and protection needs of IDPs, to create an enabling environment in which to achieve new political solutions, and put in place practical measures to ensure the implementation of agreements that have already been signed.”
Albuja explained that the Kampala Convention provided African states with a roadmap towards long-term sustainable solutions for the challenges of internally displaced people.
As well as calling for protection from arbitrary displacement, the Convention also determines the responsibilities of the African Union, multinational companies and private security actors. The ultimate success of the Convention may, however, lie in its advocacy for righting the wrongs associated with displacement, including the loss of housing, land and property.
Megan Bradley, an attorney working with the Brookings-LSE Project on Internal Displacement, wrote in October that the Kampala Convention “represents a critical new tool for tackling some of the largest and most complex IDP situations in the world”. She said the Convention’s directives regarding lost housing, land and property could prove crucial.
“The question of remedies for lost housing, land and property is particularly important, as land conflict is at the root of many internal displacement flows in Africa, and the resolution of hotly contested land claims represents a key barrier to solutions for thousands of IDPs,” she says.
“The Kampala Convention rejects a narrow focus on the restitution of housing, land and property rights, and offers a more pragmatic, contextually appropriate approach to remedying loss than we have seen in previous instruments.”
It is, of course, all far easier said than done.
As the Convention comes into effect tomorrow, there needs to be an emphasis on ensuring the solutions proposed by the Convention are actually made available to those affected by displacement.
“It’s been a long process, but the Convention is only a beginning,” Albuja said of the prospects of real life impacts of the Convention.
The Convention was first adopted in 2009 by the African Union. Since then 15 of the 53 AU member states have ratified the convention – Benin, Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Chad, Gambia, Gabon, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Niger, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and most recently, Swaziland. A further 37 of 53 countries in the AU have signed the convention, thus indicating a tacit agreement with its contents.
And while real-world implications of the Convention may require a greater commitment than a per functionary ratification, Albuja believes there has to now be a greater push for the values of the Convention to be institutionalised in law.
He argues as well that while some facets of the Convention do require time and legislation to implement, parts of it can actually be implemented immediately.
For him, implementation of the Kampala Convention starts off simply. “Things like providing identity documents to IDPs so they can access education and health facilities can be done immediately,” he said. DM
Read more:
A Great Day for Africa! A Great Day for IDPs! On the Brookings Institution blog
Photo: Refugees from the Malian town of Timbuktu, which is now under the control of Islamist forces, pose for a picture at their private accommodation in the West African country’s capital Bamako September 8, 2012. 26-year-old Arkia Ascofane (R) has been a resident in Bamako for some time. The others, including two of her sisters and a niece pictured with her, fled Timbuktu recently and are now staying with her. After a coup earlier this year rebels took over the entirety over northern Mali. The U.N. refugee agency says over 450,000 people have since fled their homes. Picture taken September 8, 2012. REUTERS/Simon Akam
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Could Perry be any more ready to write and star in an Off-Broadway play?
Jennifer Morrison and Matthew Perry
Joan Marcus
Matthew Perry is ready for new challenges—starting with his playwriting debut. The premise of his play, The End of Longing, sounds a little like the beginning of a good joke: “An alcoholic, an escort, a self-diagnosed neurotic, and a well-intentioned dimwit walk into a bar.” But Perry’s bittersweet comedy knows how to throw a punch—for his playwriting debut, the former sitcom star is willing to go to some dark places.
The End of Longing received its world premiere in the West End last year—where it broke box office records at the Playhouse Theatre—and arrives Off-Broadway this spring in a revamped production from MCC Theater. It’s the story of four deeply flawed strangers whose lives become irreversibly intertwined. At the center of the play is Jack, an alcoholic. Perry, who himself is an outspoken addiction recovery advocate, starred as Jack in the London production, and returns to play the role in New York.
Perry says that he was inspired to write The End of Longing by the idea that “people can change”—specifically, that “broken people can turn into better people.” “I’ve experienced a lot of changes in my life and I see people change every day,” he says. “There’s a common notion that people can’t change. I disagree with that.”
See Matthew Perry Make His New York Theatre Debut in The End of Longing
See Matthew Perry Make His New York Theatre Debut in The End of Longing
The dark comedy, which played a hit run on the West End last year, arrived Off-Broadway in a production from MCC.
Perry, who had previously written for television, says that he didn’t necessarily set out to write a play; it just happened organically. “I sat at my computer and started writing. I didn’t know what [was going to come out],” he says. “I realized I was writing a play, and didn’t stop until I was finished.”
Writing The End of Longing was a therapeutic process. Like most playwrights, Perry poured a lot of himself into the story. “All of the characters are a little bit of me, or an exaggerated version of me,” he admits. Does that make him feel exposed?
“I feel more vulnerable as a playwright,” says Perry, who has swapped the “actor dream”—in which you find yourself naked onstage—for the “playwright’s nightmare,” in which the actors mess up all of his lines. “My words are out there, and they’re so close to my heart.”
But it’s a welcome challenge for Perry, who says you’re not likely to see him popping up again in any sitcoms any time soon.
“I was solely an actor for the first half of my life. Now writing is something that really interests me,” he says. “It’s about challenging yourself and doing things that are foreign. Work that makes me use my brain.”
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Sarin Tips Keychain
Watch out for red flags with the 8-layer Sarin tip, tailor-made by Tiger Products. The first five layers are blue to indicate you’re in the safe zone, but keep your eyes peeled for the three red layers – a visual warning that it’s time to reload your tip.
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Article content continued
At 24, Jennings has the rare ability to find calm in the game’s biggest moments, to turn the temperature down when things are at their hottest. During Sunday’s game-winning drive , Lions receiver Bryan Burnham said the stress of the situation was starting to get to some of the veterans.
Then they looked at Jennings.
“He was just like, guys, relax,” Burnham said. “I’ve got this. When you see your quarterback do that, it just calms everyone down and gives us all confidence.
“You never see him get flustered or yell at anybody. It’s crazy to see a 24-year-old in his first full year of starting do that, but it’s not a surprise anymore. It’s just Jennings. We expect it.”
Jennings, of course, has demonstrated all the attributes of a franchise quarterback this year and they were all on display against the Blue Bombers. There’s the arm — in the third quarter he launched a 65-yard missile from his own goal line to Terrell Sinkfield that resulted in a pass-interference call and a 58-yard gain. There’s the accuracy — 11 for 11 in the fourth quarter says it all. There’s the mobility — he ran for 43 yards and two scores including the game-winner: “One of the greatest football plays I’ve ever seen,” said Burnham.
But it’s that ability to consume pressure and spit it out like sunflower seeds that might be the most impressive trait, and he’s done it in big ways and small this season.
Against Calgary in the Lions’ first game of the season, Jennings took the ball with 3 1/2 minutes left and directed a 60-yard drive that ate up the clock and produced a 20-18 win.
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DIY Book Scanner
Daniel Reetz, the founder of the DIY Book Scanner community, has recently started making videos of prototyping and shop tips. If you are tinkering with a book scanner (or any other project) in your home shop, these tips will come in handy. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCn0gq8 ... g_8K1nfInQ
Hey guys, back with yet another question about ST. It's not a huge issue, but I've noticed that if you use the automatic content selection it will be a bit aggressive in selection, and will more often than not cut off a few edges of the content. At the bottom this is usually the lower part of the letters "g", "y" or "p", at the right it can be the right part of the letters "e", "r", "f". At the top (or bottom) it can be the edges of the page numbers.
Here's an example:
Notice how the very bottom part of the letter "g" is cut off slightly, and after I've adjusted the selection box manually it's restored.
My question is if there is a way to adjust how "aggressive" ST is in selecting content? It's a bit cumbersome going through every page adjusting the content selection manually but that's what I've been doing since I've been unable to find any automatic way to prevent the edges of the text from being cut off.
FWIW, I work around this (and a few other) auto selection issues by not using the content auto-selection at all (I kept losing footnotes or image portions).
If your pages are fairly close to the same position in the scan field (I use a form feed scanner so they're always relatively close) you can get very good results by selecting just inside the actual physical page margins on one page and then applying that selection to all pages. If your pages alternate or you want better text centering, you can select on one page and apply to "every other" page, and then do the same thing on the following page.
Using that method, I only have to do manual adjustment for a handful of pages with unusually large images or that are out of alignment with the rest. Remember to turn off the extra marginal padding if you use this method.
Another alternative, with some similarity to alraban's suggestion, is to use BookCrop to first crop all pages and then use Scan Tailor Enhanced (an older fork, not the same as Scan Tailor Experimental) and a script to command line process with the whole page as content. With that method there is no manual steps inside ScanTailor at all, but one in BookCrop. Works well for text only scans.
or do I go insane working through hundreds of pages manually selecting content?
I do an automatic selection first, and then check one page after the other and apply manual corrections if needed.
Same with page separation or skewing.
Yeah that's what I've been doing too, the problem is that every page needs corrections on all 4 sides, so for a 200 page book you basically need to do 800 margin adjustments in order to prevent clipping of the edges. Add that to the usual necessary adjustments and suddenly you need to spend a LOT of time on each book simply because the automatic content detection has a small flaw.
According to Tulon there is apparently a simple fix, but without knowledge of C++ it is beyond my abilities. Maybe one day I can learn some basic C++ and fix it, if nobody else picks up the mantle.
EDIT: Oh hold on, I just saw that somebody is developing Scan Tailor Advanced, a new version of ST! This is amazing, perhaps the problem is fixed/can be fixed there! Excuse me while I try out this new version.
in that case I think that you are worrying too much. It's OK when the content box is drawn very tight.
I have to do corrections on some pages when a spot is erroneously taken for a piece of text, so that I have to draw the content box narrower to the actual text. Or when there is a title page with a graphic frame, and the automatic guessing thinks the frame to be some dark shadow to be removed.
Well, the bug does results in parts of letters being unnecessarily being cut off on every single page, simply because the content box is being erroneously drawn at a lower resolution. This is not something that happens just some of the time...it happens all the time on every single page. I guess we're all different, to me it's an issue.
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Save the Males
Save the Males: Why Men Matter. Why Women Should Care is a book written by Pulitzer Prize winner Kathleen Parker, and was published in 2008 by Random House. The book's main theme is based around the premise that modern feminism isn't what it used to be; in the past, this movement was fighting for the equality of the genders.
Contents
Parker claims "as feminism has reached most of the goals of equality... women have become hostile toward men and maleness in what seems to be a spirit of retributive justice." There are arguments for the idea that feminism has transformed from being something that was supposed to help women gain power in society. Instead it has become a tool for modern women to put men down. Using references to popular culture such as Murphy Brown and The Vagina Monologues, Parker points out how the media has slowly begun to portray men as brutish idiots or sexual predators, and the manners in which men are often portrayed today are doing more harm to families than many people realize. Murphy Brown and other shows that glorify the idea of being a single mother are doing a large amount of damage to the idea of the father as a possible caregiver. Ideas like this are used to support the argument that a more progressive, and male inclusive fourth-wave of feminism is in order.
Other topics
No-fault divorce – Parker argues that due to the common portrayals of men, it is easier to file for divorce and win custody of children as a woman.
Sperm donation – Due to the recession toward the end of the 2000s sperm donations have been on the rise., sperm banks have made it possible to turn single motherhood into a "sophisticated act of self-fulfillment". More mothers are choosing to forego the father as they could only be seen as "sperm and a wallet" anyway.
Reception
Reviews of Save the Males were mixed. Publishers Weekly said in their review, "Although Parker's deliberate provocations make for lively reading, the majority of her claims are too fanciful and unsubstantiated to be genuinely thought provoking or even interesting." Dylan Hales, writing for the Charleston City Paper, expressed mixed feelings on the book, saying, "Parker's tone jumps wildly from cynicism to seriousness and back again. Her pithy one-liners and sharp-witted observations often make for laughs, but they take away from the serious discussion her book seeks to become a part of. At times, the book comes across like a string of op-ed columns... Parker’s instincts may be right and her prose can be delightful, but the scattershot tone of the book is a weakness." The New York Times's Liesl Schillinger called it "arresting, entertaining and serious". Christine Whelan praised "Kathleen Parker’s sharp and witty criticism of the American male-bashing culture".
References
Category:2008 non-fiction books
Category:Gender studies books
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I use this workstation desk in my spare bedroom/playroom. I like the 54" desk because I could fit a keyboard, mouse, speakers, a
large LCD monitor and a printer on the work surface. The monitor does "dance" a little when printing since they all share the same space. The shelf below the desk won't allow you to orient your PC tower facing you. Instead, you have to turn it sideways which isn't a problem for me. I like the notched-out section at the back of the work surface. It allows you to push the desk against the wall and provide a cable pass-through area. Flexing is minimal, but a reinforcement on the underside of the desk should eliminate flex on the work surface. The casters are nice for frequent moving.
Hide full review
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Read more
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Experts in alternative cancer treatment have been warning cancer patients for decades that they need to give up all sugar. And sugar's role in diabetes is so well known it goes without saying.
Now these views are going mainstream in a way I've never seen before. We're still a long way from seeing either the government or the medical establishment condemn sugar and warn the public to avoid it. But a few voices are being raised. In ten years I suspect most people will think of sugar about the same way they think of smoking. The day is coming.
What prompts this thought is an article entitled "Is Sugar Toxic?" that appeared in the New York Times Magazine the Sunday before last (April 17). It's one thing for us "wackos" in the alternative cancer field to rant against sugar. But when an article like this appears in an establishment newspaper, quoting establishment medical doctors and scientists, it means there's real progress. But that's not what I found most interesting, this is...
I was shocked by what I didn't know about sugar!
Continued below. . .
These Doctors Were Forced to Admit
This "Crazy" Treatment Plan Works
Rev. Cobus Rudolph's doctor told him, "Congratulations! You're cancer free!" That was
six months after the same doctor had told him his case was hopeless and he should prepare to die. Rev. Rudolph saved his own life, at home, thank to a book by cancer expert Ty Bollinger.
Richard Wiebe's doctor told him, "You're a miracle from God!" Just a year earlier the same doctor told Richard he'd be dead in six months from terminal brain cancer. Richard treated himself with the tips and secrets Ty Bollinger recommends.
Kevin Irish's doctor was shocked. He asked Kevin, "Are you the terminal patient I saw two months ago? You look great!" Kevin saved his own life when he found Ty Bollinger's book on the Internet and started following the advice.
Frank Woll's doctor was stubborn: "Well, I know the cancer is here somewhere!" But the doctor couldn't find Frank's cancer with a magnifying glass. Only a month earlier, the same doctor had told Frank they'd have to cut off half his ear and part of his neck!
These four men got TOTALLY WELL with Ty Bollinger's secrets. Now, Cancer Defeated is proud to publish them in a new Special Report. Click here and discover an effective, cheap, at-home plan to get rid of almost any cancer in one month.
The Times article taught me some new things about sugar's dangers that I didn't know. And that's saying something, considering how much I read about the subject. The new developments are by far the worst news about sugar I've ever seen. If you take heed, this news could save your life.
The evidence indicates sugar is not just another food. It's a uniquely toxic, poisonous substance. It does strange things in and to the body.
Sugar doesn't just feed cancer. There's every sign sugar actually causes cancer — as well as obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes. Cancer Defeated has written frequently on the fact that all these problems are really one problem, but we didn't know the exact mechanism. Now the big picture is coming clear.
And as far as I know, authorities in alternative cancer treatment have missed this new angle. Here's what happened. . .
Among alternative cancer experts, it's well known that cancer cells consume vast amounts of sugar — far more than healthy cells do. That's why we tell cancer patients not to eat any sugar at all. Healthy people should eat as little as they can.
A well-known cancer treatment, insulin potentiation therapy or IPT (see Issue #33), is entirely based on cancer's hunger for sugar. So is a mainstream medical test, the PET scan, in which a patient is injected with radioactively-tagged sugar, because the sugar will concentrate where cancer cells are found, causing the cancer cells to light up the scan like a Christmas tree.
So there's absolutely no doubt that cancer feeds on sugar. In spite of that, few conventional cancer doctors will tell a patient to give up sugar. Most insist that what you eat makes no difference at all to your chances of beating cancer. That's why the New York Times article is surprising.
Alternative cancer experts are ahead of the mainstream on this important subject. But anybody can get too absorbed in his own little field, and maybe that's what happened. Those of us who research and write about alternative treatments have been totally absorbed with the way cancer cells metabolize sugar, but it turns out the real story is how a healthy body metabolizes sugar.
Cutting through the myths
and debunking the urban legends
Some experts will tell you that sucrose — granulated table sugar — is a bit healthier than high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), the sweetener found in sodas and almost every manufactured, processed food — even bread. These experts believe HFCS is the devil that's the source of many problems.
Other experts will tell you that fruit is completely healthy, even though it's high in fructose. And still others will tell a cancer patient that a carb is a carb is a carb, i.e. the digestive process turns all carbs -- potatoes, white rice, fruit, granulated sugar AND HFCS -- into blood sugar (glucose), so you need to cut back or cut out all these foods. These experts say not just sugar but ALL carbohydrates feed cancer.
It turns out all of these beliefs are off the mark or even dead wrong.
First, take the idea that granulated sugar -- sucrose, made from sugar cane or beets -- is different from HFCS. Wrong. They're essentially the same thing. Each is roughly half glucose and half fructose. It's the fructose that does the harm, as I'll explain shortly. Because health food advocates have created a storm about HFCS the last few years, some food manufacturers are switching back to cane sugar/sucrose and touting their products as "fructose free". In this case, the health nuts are wrong. It makes no difference.
I was disappointed to learn that fresh fruit MAY be a problem for cancer patients. It's high in fructose, the type of sugar the body has trouble metabolizing. Several years ago, I started making the switch from a typical American diet to a diet high in raw foods. Fresh fruit was a large part of my new eating plan, because I like it.
Now I have to tell you, if the new findings hold up, fresh fruit probably isn't a good idea for cancer patients. You should definitely eat fresh, raw foods — but those foods should be vegetables. Fruit consumption should be low to moderate. I'm basing this on the new theory. As yet, there's not much clinical evidence. But if you're fighting cancer, play it safe.
Fruit IS rich in vitamins, minerals and many other phytonutrients (nutrients found in plants). If you cut out fruit you'll need to take appropriate supplements. An example would be wine, which some people think is a health food. It's not. It's a megadose of sugar, even if it does contain some valuable nutrients. But you can get some of the benefits of wine by taking resveratrol supplements.
Use moderation, take small steps
If you don't have cancer, I believe moderate fruit consumption is still a good idea.
But don't do what I did for several years and make fruit a huge part of your diet. I believed and hoped it was a healthy way to keep indulging in sweets. Bad idea. By eating fruit, I was taking in tons of antioxidants, bioflavonoids and other good things, but also tons of fructose.
One thing fruit has going for it is that the fructose comes packaged with a large amount of fiber. Fiber fills you up, and has many other benefits too numerous to cover here. If you're in the habit of living on sodas, cakes, cookies and doughnuts, it's not likely you'll ever eat enough fruit to even touch the amount of sugar you get from these processed foods.
That means switching from these sugary foods to fresh fruit is a huge step in the right direction. A switch to no sweets at all is probably more than most people can handle. So, as long as you don't have cancer, a switch to fresh fruit is a good first step. But if you do have cancer, my view is that you need to stop EVERYTHING that contains either fructose OR sucrose.
Now for a good word about a few carbs. . .
To continue with the myth-debunking, the good news is that potatoes, rice and similar carbs may not be so bad. These contain neither sucrose nor fructose. The body breaks them down into glucose, the same kind of sugar that circulates in your blood.
All of your cells can directly utilize glucose with a minimum of effort. This type of sugar — this type of carb — puts the least strain on your body. The new theory is that fructose puts a unique, one-of-a-kind strain on the body that may be THE key to heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity and cancer. If this theory is true (and it sure looks to me like it is), then potatoes and rice aren't strongly implicated in these degenerative diseases, even though they're carbohydrates.
I don't recommend binging on these safer carbs, but it's okay to eat moderate amounts — very moderate, if you're a cancer patient.
Wheat is another story. Like rice and potatoes, wheat products are metabolized into glucose and seem to belong in the category of comparatively "safe" carbs. But allergy to wheat is so widespread in our society, I recommend giving it up anyway.
I don't want to digress here on the many dangers of wheat. I'll just say that if you suffer from ANY chronic disease — from arthritis to heart disease to indigestion — avoid wheat. Try giving it up for a few months. There's a good chance your medical problems will diminish or completely disappear.
One hundred calories doesn't equal one hundred calories
One of the dearly held beliefs of weight loss experts is that one calorie equals another. If you want to lose weight, it's a matter of calories in, calories out. If you don't burn up every calorie you eat, the excess is added to your flab.
If you want to lose a pound of weight, you have to burn up 3,500 more calories than you eat — and it doesn't matter if the calories you give up are fats or carbohydrates, steaks or chocolate cake. You're not going to lose the pound until you eat 3,500 fewer calories.
The new theory casts serious doubt on this old belief. One calorie isn't just like another. A hundred calories from fructose are NOT like a hundred calories of protein or even glucose, the kind of sugar your body's cells can take in directly.
There's something different about fructose. I'm going to briefly explain what it is. If you have a taste for science and you'd like to know the details, check out a 90-minute Youtube lecture by an M.D. named Robert Lustig, Professor of Pediatrics at the University of California, San Francisco.
Dr. Lustig is an expert on child obesity and a leading critic of sugar — both table sugar and HFCS — because both these sugars basically come down to fructose. He's the source of most of what was in the New York Times Magazine article and most of what I'm telling you here.
He didn't conduct the scientific studies himself, but he's a very effective speaker and he passionately believes sugar is a poison. He actually uses the word "poison" 13 times in his lecture. You can quickly find his talk by Googling "Sugar: The Bitter Truth".
The two-minute explanation of how fructose messes you up
The quick summary is that, unlike glucose, fructose has to be metabolized in the liver by way of a very complex and inefficient process. Your digestive system quickly breaks down a potato or a grain of rice into glucose, the "good" sugar. The glucose then passes through your intestinal wall into your bloodstream, and your cells are able to take it up and "eat it" with no problem.
Not so with fructose. Your liver has to convert fructose into glucose, the food your cells can take up. It's about like trying to turn a bowl of fish soup into a fish. The resulting process is so complex it puts a great strain on the liver. And here's the thing researchers say is key: 30 percent of the fructose is converted into fat and stays in your liver.
The growing load of fat in your liver causes disastrous damage over a period of many years. It appears to be the main cause of "metabolic syndrome" or "insulin resistance syndrome" — the breakdown in your insulin system that leads to heart disease, diabetes, hypertension — and cancer.
Glucose good (sort of), fructose bad (definitely)
If you eat "good" glucose-generating carbs, only one calorie out of five is stored in the liver. What's more, it's stored in a harmless form called glycogen. Your liver can store any amount of glycogen without getting sick.
When you eat fructose, three calories out of five are stored in the liver — three times as many as when you eat glucose. And the fructose calories are stored in the liver as a highly toxic fat.
The researchers in the field believe this accumulation of toxic fat in the liver is THE cause of the chronic degenerative diseases such as cancer and heart disease.
Fructose is a dietary catastrophe
According to Dr. Lustig, eating a high-fructose diet is effectively like eating a high-fat diet. That means you can think you're following a so-called low-fat diet when you really aren't at all. For more than 30 years, conventional medicine has told us to cut way back on fats for a healthy heart. Eat all the carbs you want, they've told us, eat all the pasta you want, but give up fats, especially saturated fats like those found in beef or butter or even guacamole.
In his lecture, Dr. Lustig provides persuasive evidence that this advice is all nonsense. You can eat a very low fat diet, but if you eat a lot of sugar — and Americans eat MASSIVE amounts of it — you'll still get fat. You'll still have an unhealthy heart and unhealthy arteries, you'll have hypertension, and very likely you'll get diabetes or cancer.
You can eat and eat and still feel hungry
Fructose has another oddity: You can eat a huge amount of calories and still feel hungry. Dr. Lustig says a kid can drink a Coke containing 200 calories and still go into McDonald's raving hungry and eat a heaping plate of food. The reason is that fructose does not suppress ghrelin, the "hunger hormone."
When you're hungry, your stomach and pancreas secrete ghrelin, and this hormone signals your brain that you need to eat. You feel hungry. Once you've eaten, ghrelin production falls off and you don't feel hungry anymore. Unless you've eaten fructose.
Ghrelin levels don't go down after consuming fructose, according to Dr. Lustig. You still feel hungry even though you've taken on board a huge dose of calories.
It gets worse. Most food stimulates the body to produce leptin, a chemical that signals the brain you've had something to eat. According to Dr. Lustig, this response fails to occur if the food is high in fructose. Your brain never gets the message you're full.
Fructose is a likely answer if not THE answer. There are other factors involved — certainly toxic chemicals and heavy metals, in the case of cancer. But fructose looks more and more like a major explanation for our problems. I'm convinced we'd see a rapid increase in health and well-being in our society if every gram of sugar disappeared tomorrow, for good.
Instead, we eat five times the amount of fructose people ate a hundred years ago. And most of their fructose calories were from fruit. Most of ours are from the pure junk, like mainlining heroin.
Here's a thought form the New York Times article: "One of the diseases that increases in incidence with obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome is cancer. . .The connection between obesity, diabetes and cancer was first reported in 2004 in large population studies by researchers from the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer. It is not controversial." (We wrote about the diabetes-cancer connection in issue #35.)
The Times also quotes Craig Thompson, President of the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center in New York. While the article does the usual song and dance that we need more studies (and it's true; we do), Dr. Thompson dropped this bombshell:
"I have eliminated refined sugar from my diet and eat as little as I possibly can, because I believe that ultimately it's something I can do to decrease my risk of cancer."
This comes from the very heart of America's cancer establishment. If the world's leading enemies of alternative medicine are saying this. . .well, you do the math.
I'll testify to the addiction bit, based on personal experience. Sugar is incredibly hard to give up. My own weakness is pastries, not candy or sodas. But when I was a child, I did drink soda by the gallon. Popcorn or pizza were unthinkable without a soft drink. To this day, I find sweets the most satisfying foods.
But don't look for the FDA or other authorities to get excited about the addiction problem. They don't have a long-term orientation. And warning the public about sugar would be like admitting that nutrition matters — that alternative health experts have been right all along.
Everyone knows alcohol is a toxin because it immediately affects the brain. There's no mistaking it. It's an "acute toxin." When you've had a drink you feel it within minutes, and hopefully you have enough sense not to drive. But fructose is what Dr. Lustig calls a "chronic toxin," and the FDA and other authorities have no interest in those. They don't look at long-term effects.
Most people know that excessive, long-term use of alcohol damages your liver. But that's not the reason it's so heavily regulated. The government is all over alcohol because of what it does to you within 20 minutes, not 20 years. But, says Dr. Lustig, a can of Coke is as bad for your liver as a can of beer in terms of the number of calories that hit your liver, and the stress the beverage puts on the organ. Soda belly, he says, equals beer belly.
The difference between an "acute toxin" and a "chronic toxin" is crucial. If you cut fructose out of your life, I'm confident you WILL see results, but not overnight results. This is a long-term issue. Most of us have been wrecking our health for as long as we've been on the planet — starting with sugary baby formulas and going on from there.
You have to give a sugar-free diet several months at least — and no "little treats" to reward yourself (you know what I'm talking about.) I'd say give it six months or a year. And better yet, combine it with a good supplement plan and a big increase in healthy vegetables (preferably uncooked) and oils.
Kindest regards,
Lee Euler,
Publisher
If you’d like to comment, write me at [email protected]. Please do not write asking for personal advice about your health. I’m prohibited by law from assisting you. If you want to contact us about a product you purchased or a service issue, the email address is [email protected].
Health Disclaimer: The information provided above is not intended as personal medical advice or instructions. You should not take any action affecting your health without consulting a qualified health professional. The authors and publishers of the information above are not doctors or health-caregivers. The authors and publishers believe the information to be accurate but its accuracy cannot be guaranteed. There is some risk associated with ANY cancer treatment, and the reader should not act on the information above unless he or she is willing to assume the full risk.
Reminder: We're the publishers of Natural Cancer Remedies that Work, Adios-Cancer, Cancer Breakthrough USA, Missing Ingredient For Good Health, German Cancer Breakthrough and How to Cure Almost Any Cancer for $5.15 a Day. You're getting this email because you purchased one of these Special Reports and gave us permission to contact you. From time to time we'll alert you to other important information about alternative cancer treatments. If you want to update or remove your email address, please scroll down to the bottom of this page and click on the appropriate link.
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Review: X Factor Games
The X Factor Games is a brand new site offering an assortment of exciting games and prizes. If you want to be treated like a superstar, then this is definitely the site for you. After all, The X Factor is only on TV for a couple of hours a week—how else are you going to pass the time?
The X Factor Games offers users a huge variety of slot, casino and Slingo games. As well as some old favourites, the site also features a range of new and exclusive games. While you won’t get a record deal out of any of these games, you will get the chance to win up to £100,000! Who could say no to that?
Welcome Bonus Package
Pros
Cons
Limited range of Slingo games
Lack of variety in promotions
Bottom Line
If you’re looking for a site with glitz and glamour, then this site is perfect for you. Plus, with exclusive X Factor-themed games, how could we resist its charms? One area for improvement is a lack of variety in terms of Slingo games. The site more than makes up for this, however, with its extensive list of slots and casino games. The X Factor Games is still in its early stages, so as the site continues to grow and develop, we’re expecting even more new features to be introduced and those initial niggles to be sorted out. For now, though, the site’s huge jackpots and exclusive VIP scheme means it’s definitely worth trying out.
Overall, although the site has improvements to make, we’re very happy so far!
In depth
Banking
So far, you can only make deposits via credit or debit card, or by mobile. This means users of Neteller and Skrill will have to wait a little while for the site to include more options. As the site is still new, though, we’re expecting this section to be expanded very soon!
Placing Deposits
Deposit through any of the following payment options:
Debit Card (Visa or Maestro)
Credit Card (Visa or MasterCard)
Mobile
Making Withdrawals
Your withdrawal method will be the same as your depositing method. If you pay with your debit card, then your winnings will be credited to this card. If you make a deposit with your mobile, meanwhile, then your withdrawal funds will be deposited into your bank account. Currently, the minimum automated withdrawal amount is £20—for any smaller amounts, you’ll need to contact Customer Services. The processing time should take up to 7 days. And don't forget to check you've met the site's wagering requirements, or you won't be able to make any withdrawals!
Games
Slot games
The X Factor Games offers users a huge variety of over 200 slot games, including brand new slots like Guns N’ Roses, TV-inspired hits like Family Guy, and the addictive Candy Cash.
Candy Cash
This sweet game is sure to make anyone feel like a kid in a candy store! Find combinations of matching sweets within the grid, either horizontally or vertically. At least 3 candies will win you a prize—and the more you find, the bigger the cash prize!
Casino Games
Traditional casino game lovers are in for a treat with a range of classic games including Blackjack and Texas Hold ’Em. Thanks to the site’s mobile version, you can play these casino classics at home or on-the-go!
Blackjack
You know the rules by now—beat the dealer’s hand, but don’t go higher than 21, or you’ll go bust! When you play, you can also get an exclusive blackjack insurance bet. This gives you an insurance bet if the dealer’s face-up card is an Ace, as this card gives them a better chance of winning. If you take the offer, then half your original stake will be returned to you if the dealer wins. How good is that?
Slingo Games
One real highlight of The X Factor Games is their exciting Slingo games! From Slingo Extreme to Deal or No Deal, you’re sure to be kept busy—especially since there are some impressive jackpots up for grabs! We just wish that the site had a few more Slingo offerings, because we can’t get enough of them!
Slingo Extreme
With super-quick games and huge jackpots, you’ll be sucked into Slingo Extreme in no time. Match 5 squares horizontally, vertically or diagonally to win. Plus, you could walk away with a massive cash prize of £20,000—now that’s a game with the X Factor!
Deal or No Deal Slingo
If you can’t get enough of the TV-themed thrills, then check out Deal or No Deal! This game combines the suspense of the classic gameshow with the excitement of Slingo—what more could you want? In this game, you’ll be faced with the familiar Deal or No Deal boxes. You’ll then pick from these boxes to uncover prizes, with the aim of unlocking the Banker’s Offer, which can multiply your winnings! Still need more reasons to play? How about a top prize of £100,000? We’d definitely say deal to that!
Promotions
At the moment, The X Factor Games is running only two promotions: their welcome bonus of 50 free plays, and a 100% first deposit bonus.
We’re sure this will increase during the next few months—after all, this site has only just launched. Keep an eye on its promotions page for any new additions!
Performance
The X Factor Games has a sleek and simple interface, making it easy and efficient to find exactly what you’re looking for. It boasts a wide selection of well-loved, well-tested games, meaning that even though the site is new, it still has a familiar feel. Its sheer volume of slot games is an indicator as to the site’s ambition: The X Factor Games is aiming towards becoming a major player, with something to offer for everyone. Plus, with its wide availability and ease of access, it also has its sights squarely on our very own ‘Award Winning Bingo Sites’ list!
Mobile
With The X Factor Games, you can play on desktop, mobile and tablet. This means you’re free to play whenever, wherever, and on any device! You won’t need to download an app to play The X Factor Games on-the-go—the site is optimized to work on mobile just as well as on desktop. This is a nice touch which makes the site easy to access for all players—just enter the same web address, no matter your device!
Support
If you need any help or advice—on everything from payment methods to gambling problems—the support team is there for you. You can contact staff via phone, email, or by using the site’s live chat feature. This will put you in direct contact with a member of the support team, who will then endeavour to respond to any queries you may have.
Queries: FAQsPhone: 0159 780 0022Email: [email protected] Chat: available on the site
Extra Features
VIP Scheme
The X Factor Games treats its VIPs like superstars. There are two levels of VIP status: VIP and Platinum VIP. You automatically receive VIP status when you reach a certain stage in your gameplay. VIPs get a range of special offers and deals on cashback, withdrawals, 24/7 support and even birthday gifts! Recent winners have walked away with Coldplay and Adele tickets, and even a hospitality day at the races!
Community and Social Media
The X Factor Games offer users the chance to be a part of their Facebook and Twitter communities. Admittedly, there’s not much to either at the moment—but as the site grows (and as The X Factor returns to our screens this autumn!), that’s sure to change soon!
Final Comments
The X Factor Games is a brand new site, so there are naturally a few teething problems—we at BingoPort would love to see more promotions and a wider variety of the site’s fabulous Slingo games!
Still, though, it’s worth noting that the site has plenty of time to reach its full potential—and it’s certainly made a great start. There’s already a great assortment of games, plus an exclusive VIP scheme with plenty of bonuses! So, take advantage of their great welcome bonus, and who knows—maybe you could win one of their huge jackpots! Whether or not you love the X Factor, you might well end up loving The X Factor Games!
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Related Links
Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo has given driver Fernando Alonso "eight out of ten" for his performance in the 2013 Formula 1 season.
While Ferrari s struggling to hold third position in the Constructors' Championship, and Felipe Massa is eighth in the drivers' standings, Alonso sealed the runner-up spot behind Sebastian Vettel at the 2013 US GP.
Alonso said this: "I am proud, because we clearly do not have the second fastest car. So finishing second is a great reward for me."
'FERRARI PAID A BIG PRICE'
He has had a somewhat fraught relationship with Ferrari in 2013, amid critical comments and rumours he toyed with moves to Red Bull and McLaren.
Asked to rank Alonso's season, president Montezemolo told CNN: "A good eight out of ten. I think he's really a very, very good driver."
Montezemolo insisted he is not making excuses but said Ferrari "paid a big price" for Pirelli's mid-season tyre switch.
He is happy F1's rules are changing radically for 2014: "I am very happy to change rules, because I don't like formulas where aerodynamics makes 90% of the performance."
Probably giving Alonso a higher ranking than eight is Ferrari's team principal Stefano Domenicali, who said the Maranello team "owes him a lot".
Domenicali said: "In 2014 we must do all we can to provide him and Kimi with what they need to win."
Alonso has admitted he is worried even the radical new rules in 2014, which many believe will be a clean slate for the pecking order, will not stop Red Bull's dominance.
Alonso said: "Red Bull has a one second (per lap) advantage, so they can put whatever exhaust blowing or engine in their car and they are still on pole."
Di Montezemolo said: "His (Alonso') frustration is our frustration. If you are not able to give a good car or a fast enough car to a driver who is always fighting like hell, it is very important that we focus on how we develop the car in the future."
24.com publishes all comments posted on articles provided that they adhere to our Comments Policy. Should you wish to report a comment for editorial review, please do so by clicking the 'Report Comment' button to the right of each comment.
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DIY Wood Pallet Floating Bar
We moved into our current house just over a year and a half ago. Since then, one area of our home has felt incomplete. Until now.
Just off of the kitchen in our home we have an area that I refer to as ‘the kitchenette’. Outside of an occasional homework assignment or family gathering requiring table space for food trays our kitchenette is rarely used.
DIY Wood Pallet Floating Bar
Last November my Aunt brought over a page torn out of a Pier 1 Catalog. As she pointed to the kitchenette she handed me the ruffled edge page and said, “I found the answer for this area and here is your inspiration”.
SHE WAS RIGHT! And my husband agreed.
After all, there was already a Kegerator in that space and we had discussed the possibility of adding a ‘bar room’ in this home similar to what we had in our last house.
This was the answer!At least the idea was the answer. My husband and I agreed on a Contemporary yet Industrial look. We also agreed that we wanted a wood pallet bar top.
After researching the height of barstools and considering the height of the kegerator we decided our bar would be 40 inches tall. To decide on the depth of the bar I measured the width of the pallet slats.
The wider pallet slats were 5.5 inches and the smaller slats were 3.5 inches. Two of each would make our bar an even 18 inches deep. Perfect. My husband calculated the length of the wall and concluded that the length of our bar should be 72 inches.
We purchased particle board to serve as the support for our bar; 72 inches long by 16 inches wide which would leave a two inch pallet overhang to ‘hide’ the particle board foundation. And then we got to work!
DIY Wood Pallet Floating Bar
DIY Wood Pallet Floating Bar
(1) Use a Circular Saw to cut the slats off of both sides of the wood pallet, then use a Double End Nail Puller to remove the nails from the center wood brace of each pallet.
(2) Place the Particle Board on Sawhorses, select the straightest Pallet Slats and lay them on the Particle Board in the desired design. Use a Circular Saw to make any needed cuts.
(3) Remove the Slats to paint the Particle Board the desired color of the Pallet Slats.
(4) Cover Particle Board with Wood Glue, place the Pallet Slats on the board in the desired design, then secure each side of the Bar with clamps and allow dry time.
(5) Paint the Slats attached to the bar top. Make sure all sides and cracks have been painted. Allow the paint to dry before moving on to the Epoxy Resin Finish.
Additional Steps for the Pallet Shelf:
(A) Match the size of Particle Board for the shelf to the exact size of Pallet Slats then follow steps 1 thru 4 above.
(B) To create a clean edge or molding around the pallet shelf cut pallet slats in half lengthwise with a Jigsaw.
(C) Secure the edging slats to the sides of the shelf with finishing nails. Then paint the entire shelf.
Epoxy Resin Finish:
Most importantly, allow three days for this process. It is best to complete the finish in a garage or another ventilated dust free space.
(6) Completely cover the floor under the Sawhorses with a drop cloth to protect the flooring. If desired, add a drop cloth over the Sawhorses as well.
(7) Place the Pallet Bar Top (and shelf) on Sawhorses.
(8) Follow the instructions on the Epoxy Resin to mix. Pour the Resin over bar top & shelf, then use a Putty Knife to level the coat of Resin. If noted, use a blowtorch to remove air bubbles from the finish.
(9) Over the course of the first few hours, wipe the underneath side of the bar top where the resin runs off to ensure an even surface absent of drip lumps.
(10) Allow three days (or as directed by the Epoxy Resin Instructions) for the Epoxy Resin Finish to cure.
3 days later… MOUNT IT!!! Finally.
Mount Brackets to wood studs in the wall. Place bar top and shelf onto brackets. Secure both using wood screws by driving them through the bracket holes into the Particle Board on the underneath side. Then pull up a barstool and have a drink.
As much as I like the bar in the Pier 1 ad and I am grateful for the inspiration… I like our bar a little more. Cheers!
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About Trish
When this sleep deprived self proclaimed tea addict is not creating messes with her six year old, Trish can often be found watching ESPN whilst debating penalties and plays with her college aged son. Along with tea, Trish could live off of licorice and popcorn. Her favorite place in the world is by her husband's side - preferably in a football stadium, at Disneyland or in San Diego.
View all posts by Trish
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Facebook is close to a deal to lease enough extra office space to add 1,000 staff in Dublin, according to people with knowledge of the matter.
Billionaire Mark Zuckerberg's social network plans to lease a 110,000 sq ft (10,220 sq m) building in Dublin's north docks owned by the Comer brothers. The property is between East Point Business Park, where Google and Cisco Systems lease offices, and The Point Village, where Yahoo! occupies space.
Facebook already has its European headquarters in Dublin, with around 1,500 staff at its offices in Grand Canal Square in the south docks. The cool, modern, building was designed by Daniel Libeskind with interiors by Frank Gehry. Facebook moved in after outgrowing a previous building nearby.
Read More
It wants additional office space in Dublin in order to expand operations but has yet to commit to a location, a spokesman for the firm said. The Comer Group did not reply to requests for comment.
In January, landlord Great Portland Estates said Facebook had opted against using an option to expand its major UK office on Oxford Street in London. (Bloomberg)
Irish Independent
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Lowcountry Golf Cruise with Perry Golf
Viewed from the air, the waterways of the Carolina Lowcountry look like the circulatory system gone haywire, an impossibly elaborate tracery of veins, arteries, capillaries, and vessels, all of them snaking and switchbacking along their mysterious courses. As networks go, the region’s roads pale in complexity—residents know that the best way to enjoy the Lowcountry is from the deck of a boat. From this vantage point the scenery—the grand homes and historic towns, the long stretches of shoreline clad in palmetto and live oak—scrolls by at the relaxed pace of a good glass of wine.
Oh, and there are golf courses, too. Consider how so many of the best of coastal Carolina and Georgia can be easily reached from the water—Kiawah Island, Harbour Town, and Sea Island, just for starters—and the idea of dumping the rental car for mint juleps aboard a piloted cruise starts to sound pretty appealing. This was the logic behind PerryGolf’s first-ever foray into the U.S. golf-travel market, and the company best known for its custom tours of the links of the British Isles came up with an offering as unique as it is luxurious.
The craft available for Lowcountry cruising is the Freedom, a 104-foot yacht owned by McMillen Yachts, Inc. of Beaufort, South Carolina and Newport, Rhode Island. The alliance between McMillen and PerryGolf was borne out of fortunate circumstances. Freedom, along with the rest of the McMillen fleet, spends its summer in Newport, but in the north spring and fall see less demand for charters. These seasons are, however, ideal for golf in the Lowcountry, and PerryGolf brought to the table a well-heeled audience accustomed to travel by boat. The connection was a natural one.
These days, the word “yacht” conjures up images of sleek behemoths—all tinted glass, hard lines, and aggressively modern interiors. But Freedom, named in honor of the American sesquicentennial year of its launch, 1926, is a product of a more elegant age. As with golf design, yacht-building had its own Golden Age—both arts flourished during the interwar period—and its architect was John Trumpy, who could safely be described as the Alister MacKenzie of his field.
Despite being the sole surviving sister ship of the former Presidential yacht, the Sequoia, this wooden-hulled treasure was a shadow of her former self when Earl McMillen acquired her in 2001 for all of $100. In the 1970s, Freedom had even been pressed into smuggling refugees from Cuba.
“A friend contacted me to say that if I did not step in at once the boat was going to be hauled out and cut up,” McMillen recalled. The doomed vessel had even been rechristened—ironically, depressingly—Sunset. “I immediately flew down to Florida, just south of Jacksonvile, and inspected the boat.”
What he discovered was a prime candidate for restoration, which took place over five years to the tune of $7 million. “We worked very hard to preserve as many of the original John Trumpy characteristics as possible. Mechanically she has been modernized, but aesthetically she’s 1926 Trumpy.”
It’s not known whether the original Freedom also came equipped with rainhead showers, making washing up onboard not dissimilar to the experience at, say, Merion or Walton Heath—except for the fact that the shower is approximiately the size of a phone booth. But we’ll leave that question to the historians. Suffice it so say they are very nice, as are the rest of Freedom’s spaces, which have been outfitted in sophisticated style by the interior designer Elizabeth McMillen, Earl’s wife, who touched the right thematic bases in terms of accent colors (red, white, and blue) without going overboard (sorry) with the nautical references.
Below deck there are five surprisingly spacious staterooms (Freedom sleeps ten), four of which enjoy en suite bathrooms. On the main deck there’s an elegant dining room paneled in mahogany; a sisal-carpeted living room with a bar, an array of comfy chairs, and a flat-screen TV tucked away within custom cabinetry. The place to be on the yacht, though, is the uppermost boat deck—reached by ladder, the oversized double chaise toward the stern is ideal for stretching out and enjoying the sun and scenery.
Our group, hosted by PerryGolf president Gordon Dalgleish, met the Freedom on the dock at Palmetto Bluff, south of Bluffton. This enormous 20,000-acre property is mostly given over to wilderness, enveloping the resort in a bubble of tranquility. The Inn and its surrounding cottages share the hallmarks of the region’s vernacular architecture—large verandas, high ceilings, hipped metal roofs, and plenty of cross-ventilation. Shade is found in abundance, too—if you have a thing for ancient gnarled oaks and Spanish moss, this is a good place to be.
Palmetto Bluff’s on-site golf offering is the May River Golf Club, a 2004 Jack Nicklaus design. Early the next morning, we arrived on the first tee and hit our drives into fog so dense that it felt like playing into the snow-covered screen of an old black-and-white television. We couldn’t see more than 20 yards in front of us, so the architectural features of those first three holes will remain undescribed in this space.
When the veil lifted, however, May River revealed itself to be a striking golf course—challenging, yes, but also attractively textured and full of variety. Some of the design decisions could even be called risky—the 7th, an enticingly short par four of 336 yards, features a splinter of a green flanked by marshland short and long. The second shot on the bold three-shot 10th, meanwhile, is menaced by both a broad swamp and a lone tree standing sentinel on the beeline to the green. And the 15th is home to a creatively shaped punchbowl green.
Not every gamble pays off, but quirky is not a term often used to describe the Nicklaus oeuvre, so it was nice to see something different. May River’s ambitious design combines with a terrific natural setting—the course clearly ranks among the Golden Bear’s elite, in a league with Muirfield Village, Mexico’s Cabo del Sol, and Mayacama, in the Sonoma wine country.
After lunch, we clambered back on board for a leisurely three-hour cruise up to Beaufort. Perhaps the most dramatic moment occurred when we entered the open waters of Port Royal Sound and the temperature dropped 20 degrees—our first reminder of the Atlantic’s proximity—sending everyone scrambling below deck for sweaters. That’s about as exciting as it should get on Freedom, though.
Beaufort, one of the wealthiest cities in America before the Civil War, was occupied by Union forces during that conflict, who for the most part left its buildings and infrastructure intact. Today, it’s a cozy town of boutiques, galleries, and leafy side streets, full of southern charm.
The next morning we cheated and drove southwest to the Chechessee Creek Club, in Okatie, South Carolina. (I hasten to add, though, that the club’s dock could have greeted the Freedom, had we wished.) After a brief warmup, we were out on the golf course, where this much quickly became clear: Chechessee is tailored to its swath of piney Lowcountry as perfectly as a Jermyn Street suit is to its wearer. The style of the course, designed by Coore & Crenshaw, is subtle yet sophisticated, the atmosphere of the club traditional yet relaxed. It’s a place where the game can be enjoyed in a simple, distilled form that’s nourishing to a golfer’s soul.
The beauty of Chechessee is that it’s a course that can be enjoyed equally by an eight-year old, an 80-year-old, or anyone in between. It sounds like a cliché and many clubs claim this, of course, but seldom is it actually true. The key, in this case, rests with Chechessee’s greens. Bill Coore has said he drew inspiration from Seth Raynor’s Yeamans Hall, just up the road in Charleston—most are push-up affairs, bunkered on the sides but open in front to encourage the bump-and-run. But more than a few—like the gorgeous par-three 7th alongside the eponymous creek—also feature false fronts, so the weight of the approach is put to the test. And once on the dance floor, the greens are well-contoured and often dangerously quick.
Chechessee is something of a golf purist litmus test. Our group agreed it is “quiet, understated”—this was Coore & Crenshaw’s mission statement here—though some doubtless value those qualities more than others. It is not long on “wow moments” or big, bold features—it’s just consistently solid golf with no frills.
The property is mostly dead flat, but if nothing else, it does make for an indisputably easy walk. Swift play is the club’s mantra, and our group finished in three-and-a-half hours without once rushing a shot. Devouring a plate of fried green tomatoes on the clubhouse patio afterward, I reflected on how easy (in every way) the morning had been, and had a fairly serious internal debate about tiptoeing away from the table and heading right back to the first tee. But it was time to say goodbye to Freedom.
When I checked back in this spring, Gordon Dalgleish reported that interest in the first full year of Lowcountry cruises has been strong. “Most potential clients look at the resorts, the public-access options, but we’ve had one fellow exploring the idea of playing private clubs like Frederica, Berkeley Hall, and Cassique.” One could also pull a group together and float up to Harbour Town for Heritage week, or explore Savannah and Charleston as part of a couples’ trip. Whatever one chooses, there’s no better way to take in the many varieties of Lowcountry golf in vintage style, so let your imagination be your guide. The yacht is called Freedom, after all…
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Q:
What does 1 with an inequality in the subscript mean?
I have not seen the following notation before (the 1 with a subscript in the density):
Consider the problem of sampling from the truncated normal
distribution $\mathcal{N}_t (\mu, 1, a)$, given by the random variable $X ∼ \mathcal{N} (\mu, 1)$ conditional on the event $\{X \geq a\}$. Its density is proportional to
$$f(x) \propto \mathrm{exp}\{-\frac{(x-\mu)^2}{2 \sigma^2}\}1_{x \geq a}$$
What exactly does that mean?
A:
$\mathbb{1}_{x\ge a}$ is an indicator function, that is equal to $1$ when $x\ge a$ and zero otherwise. Multiplying by it is a fancy, math way of saying that everything else is equal to zero. In this case, it says that only cases greater or equal to $a$ can be observed.
A:
The I in the formula is the indicator function. In this case it equals 1 when x>=a and zero otherwise.
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Blog
Nov 08
Flying Soon to a Porch Near You?
It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s … a commercial delivery drone!
We’ve heard for years about drones that can deliver packages, or even pizza, a few hours after we place the order online. It’s been long enough that you’d be justified in asking whether it’s ever going to happen.
Yes, unmanned delivery drones are still on the horizon. But current projections don’t see it happening until 2020 at the earliest. The Federal Aviation Administration is developing regulations for commercial delivery drones that can fly thousands of feet in the air, and the drafting of those standards isn’t expected to be completed for another three or four years. Currently, small drones are allowed for routine commercial use, but can’t fly higher than 400 feet and must remain within line of sight of the operators.
Another of the biggest holdups is the fact that these drones will be required to have sophisticated sensors to help them avoid collisions on the ground or in the air. The problem is, those systems don’t exist yet. Between the need for new technology and the onerous process of drafting regulations, it may be well into the next decade before we see widespread commercial drone flights.
Of course, that hasn’t stopped retailers like Amazon from trying to lobby lawmakers to make the rules more quickly. These companies are even developing their own technology. DHL created its own helicopter drone called the Parcelcopter. With the help of a remote operator, the Parcelcopter not only flies, but also autonomously loads and unloads packages. In its testing, the Parcelcopter took just eight minutes to travel the same distance a car would take 30 minutes to reach.
To be clear, these delivery drones aren’t likely to replace the longer legs of a shipment’s journey anytime soon. Instead, they’re designed to take care of that final, expensive stage, delivering the package from a local warehouse to the customer’s door.
These developments will clearly take more time, but the prospect of commercial delivery drones finally getting off the ground is pretty exciting!
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1. Introduction {#sec1-ijerph-16-02215}
===============
Family violence research over the last two decades has largely focused on child abuse and intimate partner violence. An issue that has received limited attention until recent years, however, is child-to-parent violence (CPV). In the current study, CPV is defined as violence, including physical and psychological violence, perpetrated by children or adolescents and directed toward their parents or caregivers. In this definition, the intention to control parents, which appears in the definitions of different experts (e.g., \[[@B1-ijerph-16-02215]\]), has been eliminated. Pereira et al. \[[@B2-ijerph-16-02215]\] have developed a practical definition which includes repeated violent behaviors of children towards their parents or caregivers when the child has a relationship of dependency with respect to the parent. Most studies have focused exclusively on community samples and children reports \[[@B3-ijerph-16-02215],[@B4-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Findings based on adolescent reports indicate prevalence rates ranging from 7.2% to 22% for physical aggression, and from 65.8% to 93.5% for psychological aggression \[[@B5-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In community populations, in which levels of physical CPV are expected to be low, the results of some studies indicate that the differences between sons and daughters as perpetrators are non-existent or negligible, but girls are more likely to have higher levels of psychological CPV \[[@B3-ijerph-16-02215],[@B6-ijerph-16-02215],[@B7-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In legal contexts, where physical CPV can be more serious, sons are more frequent perpetrators than daughters \[[@B8-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In a recent systematic review, Simmons et al. \[[@B9-ijerph-16-02215]\] concluded that there was an overall trend towards gender symmetry of the perpetrator in self-reported physical CPV in community samples, but in offender samples, males accounted for 59--87%. However, community research studies report that daughters tend to use more psychological or verbal abuse toward parents than sons \[[@B3-ijerph-16-02215],[@B4-ijerph-16-02215]\]. With respect to target gender, mothers are reported more frequently than fathers in offender samples \[[@B9-ijerph-16-02215]\]. For example, in a study by Ibabe and Jaureguizar \[[@B8-ijerph-16-02215]\], the most frequent victim of the aggression was the mother (97%) in both cases (when the perpetrator was the son or the daughter) and 83% of mother-abusers were sons. This could be due to the possible modeling of aggressive behavior when children witness intimate partner violence toward their mother, and it could also be because the children are frightened of their father. Although both parents are living in the household, the mother is still usually the victim \[[@B8-ijerph-16-02215]\]. However, some community studies found that fathers are as likely to be targeted as mothers \[[@B9-ijerph-16-02215]\]. This could mean that the victimization of the mother is related to the severity of the physical abuse involved.
The use of various sources of information (parents and children) in this type of study has been scarce. Recent research carried out in Spain by Calvete et al. \[[@B5-ijerph-16-02215]\] examined the consistency between parent reports and child reports when reporting on child-to-parent violence in a community sample. The results indicate that parents may underestimate the violence of which they are victims in a community population, although the effect size was small. The prevalence rates of psychological violence found in parent reports and adolescent reports were 93% and 89%, respectively, while the rates for physical violence were 22% and 11%. Some parents may blame themselves for their children treating them aggressively. In fact, society often interprets CPV as a failure in parental education and setting limits on their children \[[@B5-ijerph-16-02215]\], although other causes or explanations may be involved, such as children's personal factors (problematic substance use or psychological disorders) \[[@B10-ijerph-16-02215]\]. However, in the most serious cases, the opposite may be obtained. On the one hand, in legal contexts, adolescents may report lower levels of violence than parents in order not to incriminate themselves, and as far as possible, to avoid any consequences their actions may have. On the other hand, in such situations, parents are driven to report child-to-parent violence because they do not feel able to control the situation and are seeking a solution. Both adolescents and parents are key sources of information about family environment, and adolescent and parent reports of family relationships rarely converge \[[@B11-ijerph-16-02215]\]. De los Reyes, Ohannessina, and Raez \[[@B12-ijerph-16-02215]\] indicate that studying discrepancies between adolescent and parent reports of their relationships provides relevant information about family functioning and adolescent development. Divergence between adolescent reports and parent reports on family relationships, with adolescent reports being the more negative, predicts more internalizing problems in adolescents \[[@B13-ijerph-16-02215]\]. It would be interesting to study associations between adolescent--parent discrepancies in family relationships and adolescent adjustment.
One of the peculiarities of CPV is that parents seek protection from the same children they are responsible for protecting. Moreover, depending on the children's age, occasional conflict is likely to occur between children and parents living together, and there may be situations where aggression and violence are accepted as normal \[[@B14-ijerph-16-02215]\]. From a psychological perspective, conflict in parent--adolescent relationships arises due to the need of adolescents to detach themselves emotionally from parents or parental figures \[[@B15-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Adolescents perceive that their privacy has been invaded \[[@B16-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Family conflict generally arises from disagreements over everyday, routine issues \[[@B17-ijerph-16-02215]\], and this type of conflict has the potential to lead to violence and abuse \[[@B18-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Among the many potential risk factors analyzed in different studies, parent-to-child violence and marital violence are highly relevant when considering community samples \[[@B6-ijerph-16-02215],[@B10-ijerph-16-02215],[@B19-ijerph-16-02215],[@B20-ijerph-16-02215]\] and offender samples (child-to-parent offenders and other offenders) \[[@B21-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Numerous studies have shown that child abuse, exposure to inter-parental violence, and both in combination (e.g., dual exposure) increase a child's risk of internalizing and externalizing outcomes in adolescence \[[@B22-ijerph-16-02215],[@B23-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In fact, there is a great deal of empirical evidence for the hypothesis of bidirectionality of family violence \[[@B20-ijerph-16-02215],[@B24-ijerph-16-02215],[@B25-ijerph-16-02215]\]: children who have experienced parental abuse or have observed inter-parental violence tend to be more violent toward parents. In a community population, child aggression could represent a functional response to family strain or an attempt to cope with inadequate parental education \[[@B24-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Although there is a recognized relationship between family violence and child-to-parent violence, the mechanisms by which family violence affects child-to-parent violence are less well studied. In their review, Simmons et al. \[[@B9-ijerph-16-02215]\] concluded that exposure to family violence can have an indirect effect on child-to-parent violence by affecting social information processing and making an individual more vulnerable to violent behavior.
There is some evidence that family conflict is an important risk factor for psychological child-to-parent violence (e.g., \[[@B4-ijerph-16-02215]\]) and antisocial behavior \[[@B26-ijerph-16-02215],[@B27-ijerph-16-02215]\]. The escalation of a parent--child conflict can lead to the use of aggressive discipline \[[@B28-ijerph-16-02215],[@B29-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Three forms of aggressive discipline by parents can be distinguished: verbal aggression, physical aggression in the form of corporal punishment (CP), and physical abuse \[[@B29-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Aggressive discipline and child abuse can be considered variants of parental aggression, with most cases of child abuse emerging from the routine practice of physical discipline strategies \[[@B30-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In no case can aggressive parental discipline ever be justified as a way of controlling children. Aggressive parental disciplinary practices---including both physical punishment and harsh psychological discipline---can be viewed as clear forms of child maltreatment with significant consequences for both individuals and society \[[@B31-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Three forms of parental aggression toward children (psychological aggression, physical aggression, and physical abuse) represent different levels of severity on a continuum of parental aggression \[[@B32-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In this context, the use of physical force with the intention of causing a child pain or discomfort in order to correct or control the child's behavior is usually termed corporal punishment (CP) \[[@B33-ijerph-16-02215]\], while parental aggression causing visible injuries to children constitutes "crossing the line" from discipline to abuse \[[@B34-ijerph-16-02215]\]. However, in the present study, corporal punishment is also considered to be a form of child abuse because, as Straus \[[@B35-ijerph-16-02215]\] has indicated, many child-abuse injuries are the result of corporal punishment.
Inappropriate parental discipline strategies have negative consequences on the psychological adjustment of children \[[@B36-ijerph-16-02215],[@B37-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Specifically, discipline strategies administered inconsistently \[[@B38-ijerph-16-02215]\], power-assertive disciplinary methods (where a child's inappropriate behavior results in a negative consequence without explanation or justification) \[[@B4-ijerph-16-02215],[@B6-ijerph-16-02215]\], and especially corporal punishment have been related to CPV \[[@B3-ijerph-16-02215],[@B38-ijerph-16-02215],[@B39-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In a longitudinal study, Hoyo--Bilbao et al. \[[@B3-ijerph-16-02215]\] found that corporal punishment is related to CPV regardless of the context in which it is used or the age and sex of the child. In this study, 43% of the adolescents admitted that their parents had used corporal punishment during the previous year. However, earlier studies with Spanish samples indicated higher prevalence rates of corporal punishment (approximately 60%) (for a review, see Reference \[[@B37-ijerph-16-02215]\]). Although the use of CP may be decreasing in recent years in Spain and other countries, educational interventions should be applied to reduce this type of family socialization practice. For those raised in violent homes, conflict can escalate from a disagreement to abuse or use of violence, rather than move toward a resolution of differences through talking and involvement.
General strain theory \[[@B24-ijerph-16-02215],[@B40-ijerph-16-02215]\] and coercion theory \[[@B41-ijerph-16-02215]\] emphasize the instrumental functions of child-to-parent violence. Coercion theory describes a process of mutual reinforcement during which parents inadvertently reinforce children's difficult behaviors, which in turn elicits parent negativity, etc., until the interaction is discontinued when one of the members imposes him- or herself on the other. These theories assume that children respond violently to aversive family interactions, and such behavior serves to reduce strain presented by parents or family members. Forms of parental discipline aim to correct or monitor the child's behavior, ensure short-term obedience, and promote the internalization of long-term values \[[@B39-ijerph-16-02215]\]. An emphasis on child well-being and child rights can also be seen in the prohibition of corporal punishment \[[@B42-ijerph-16-02215]\], in place in the majority of European countries. However, in the United States, the approval of hitting children and adolescents is ingrained in cultural norms and supported by legal statutes \[[@B43-ijerph-16-02215],[@B44-ijerph-16-02215]\]. According to UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) \[[@B45-ijerph-16-02215]\], around 6 in 10 children between the ages of 2 and 14 worldwide (almost a billion) are subjected to physical punishment by their caregivers on a regular basis. Diverse studies have found that more frequent use of corporal punishment is related to a higher prevalence of violence and endorsement of violence at a societal level \[[@B46-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Gámez--Guadix and Almendros \[[@B47-ijerph-16-02215]\] found that Spanish parents tended to apply more discipline strategies to their children than Anglo-Saxon parents.
Objectives and Hypothesis
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The present study aims to analyze whether the prevalence of child-to-parent violence and perception of family environment changes as a function of the informant (parent or child), child's sex, and parents' sex in a community population. We hypothesize that the prevalence rate of physical and psychological violence found in adolescent reports will be slightly higher than in parent reports, consistent with the findings of Calvete et al. \[[@B38-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In line with these findings, higher levels of family conflict and lower levels of family cohesion will be expected in adolescent reports compared to parent reports. Daughters are expected to claim a higher prevalence of psychological aggression than sons, based on study samples in non-clinical populations, but no difference is expected between sons and daughters in terms of physical aggression \[[@B3-ijerph-16-02215],[@B4-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Parent sex is examined in aggressive family discipline because one parent could be more likely to use aggressive discipline practices than the other. The study also aims to evaluate the predictive power of family conflict and aggressive family discipline in child-to-parent violence depending on the informant (adolescent, father, and mother). In a structural equation model of child-to-parent violence based on family relationship, power-assertive discipline, and age of perpetrators, the explained variance was 57% \[[@B4-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In contrast to previous studies, which only contained adolescent reports, the present study will compare three models according to adolescent reports, mother reports, and father reports. Additionally, associations between adolescent--parent discrepancies in family conflict and cohesion will be explored with respect to child-to-parent violence (an indicator of adolescent maladjustment) and the children's interest in their studies (an indicator of adolescent adjustment). The inclusion of adolescent and parent reports may contribute to a better understanding of child-to-parent violence, thereby improving adolescent health and well-being.
2. Materials and Methods {#sec2-ijerph-16-02215}
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2.1. Participants {#sec2dot1-ijerph-16-02215}
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A sample of 586 adolescents (49% boys, aged 12 to 18) and their parents (*n* = 398, aged 27 to 65) from eight schools in the Basque Country participated in the study. The sample of parents was composed of 161 pairs of parents, 60 single mothers and 16 single fathers. Forty-three percent of the students were from state (public) schools and the rest were from private schools. A total of 75% lived in nuclear families, 14% in single-mother families, with 7% in step-families, and 4% in extended or other types of family.
2.2. Instruments and Variables {#sec2dot2-ijerph-16-02215}
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Socio-Demographic Data. A questionnaire was used to collect socio-demographic data on the children. Among the variables studied were sex, age, country of birth, family structure, educational level, and parental occupation. In order to measure the interest in studies, adolescents were required to indicate their level of interest in their studies on a Likert scale (1 = Very low; 5 = Very high).
Family Environmental Scale. (FES \[[@B48-ijerph-16-02215]\], Spanish version \[[@B49-ijerph-16-02215]\]). Two subscales of the Family Environmental Scale were administered to parents and children. These two subscales contained 18 items with a true/false response format: Cohesion (the degree of commitment and support family members offer each other, a sample item being: "In my family we really help and support each other") and Conflict (the degree of explicitly expressed anger and conflict among family members). In general, the alpha reliability coefficients in this study were acceptable: adolescents (Cohesion α = 0.76; Conflict α = 0.60), mothers (Cohesion α = 0.65; Conflict α = 0.51), and fathers (Cohesion α = 0.65; Conflict α = 0.50).
Conflict Tactics Scale Child--Parents (CTS1 \[[@B50-ijerph-16-02215]\]). This scale contains 13 items from three dimensions: psychological violence (e.g., "Insult or threaten my father/mother" or "My child insulted me or threatened me"), mild physical violence, and serious physical violence. Parents and children were asked to take the previous year as a reference and use a scale with the following values: 0 (Never), 1 (Hardly ever), 2 (Sometimes), 3 (Frequently), and 4 (Almost always). In general, internal consistency results were quite acceptable in the sample of adolescents (psychological violence, α = 0.85; physical violence, α = 0.86), mothers (psychological violence, α = 0.75; physical violence, α = 0.67), and fathers (psychological violence, α = 0.71; physical violence, α = 0.49).
Dimensions of Discipline Inventory (DDI-C \[[@B42-ijerph-16-02215]\], Spanish adaptation \[[@B51-ijerph-16-02215]\]). Although this inventory measures four general dimensions, the present study only measured punitive discipline (corporal punishment and psychological aggression). Family discipline was assessed from the children's point of view in their relationship with their father and mother. Items described different situations related to life and family upbringing, to which children were required to respond on a 5 point Likert scale, from 0 (Never) to 4 (Almost always). The subscales for corporal punishment (e.g., "How often did your father/mother shake or grab you to get your attention?") and psychological aggression (e.g., "How often did your father/mother shout at you?") had four questions each. In this study, the internal consistency for this dimension (α = 0.86) and two subscales (psychological aggression α = 0.81 and corporal punishment α = 0.82) was excellent. Furthermore, internal consistency alphas for corporal punishment by father (α = 0.70) and by mother (α = 0.74) were tolerable, as was the reliability of psychological aggression by father and (α = 0.77) by mother (α = 0.66) scales.
2.3. Procedure {#sec2dot3-ijerph-16-02215}
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This study was conducted in accordance with relevant international (American Psychological Association) and national (Código Deontológico del Psicólogo) ethics guidelines. The selection of the adolescent sample was performed using cluster sampling in secondary schools in the Basque Country. Eight schools participated after they had confirmed their availability and the willingness of their staff to take part in the research. Before collecting the data, head teachers were given detailed information about the objectives of the research in a one-hour presentation. A letter describing the study was sent to parents requesting that they indicate in writing whether or not they agreed to have their children participate in the research project. Participants were given guarantees of confidentiality and anonymity regarding their responses. In the classroom, the instructions for each questionnaire were read aloud before the students completed them. The questionnaires were administered during normal class time in one-hour sessions. Data collection was conducted during 2011, and administration time for the instruments was approximately 45 minutes. The order of presentation of the instruments was counterbalanced.
The procedure for collecting parent reports included the submission of an information sheet and evaluation protocol with an identification code linking them to their children. Once parents agreed to participate, they had to submit the completed questionnaire to the child's tutor or by post within one week.
2.4. Data Analysis {#sec2dot4-ijerph-16-02215}
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Univariate data analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics version 23 (IBM Corporation, Bilbao, Spain). First, two variables on violence toward parents (physical and psychological violence) were dichotomized in terms of the response format (0 = Never, 1 = Hardly ever, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Frequently, 4 = Almost always), with participants who chose option 1 or higher being considered as exercising or having exercised some form of violence towards their parents in the previous year. These dichotomous variables were used only to calculate the prevalence of two types of child-to-parent violence. Data analyses on the consistency of parent reports and child reports are presented in [Table 1](#ijerph-16-02215-t001){ref-type="table"}. These data analyses were done with 161 pairs of parents (161 fathers and 161 mothers) and their children. Family environment variables were analyzed by applying the paired sample *t*-test; in parent reports, the average of the father reports and the mother reports was calculated. The Wilcoxon test was applied to family environment, and differences were significant for family conflict (*z* = 2.75, *p* = 0.006) as well as for family cohesion (*z* = 3.05, *p* = 0.002). The results were not different from the *t*-test results. Differences between the prevalence of child-to-parent violence according to the sex of the children based on adolescent and parent reports were calculated. In order to examine whether victimization changes depending on parent sex, the perpetration rates of CPV toward fathers and toward mothers were calculated, taking into account adolescent reports and parent reports. The prevalence rates for corporal punishment by parents and psychological aggression by parents were computed, as well as the means comparisons depending on the parent's sex and children's sex.
In order to analyze associations between adolescent--parent discrepancies in reports of family conflict and family cohesion, the patterns of informant discrepancies were analyzed. In terms of family conflict, when an adolescent report \> parent report, it was considered a negative adolescent report, which was also the case for family cohesion when the adolescent report \< parent report. Dichotomous variables (negative report (NR) versus non-negative report (NNR)) for family conflict and cohesion, respectively, were thus created. Means comparisons of child-to-parent violence and interest in studies according to adolescent reports were subsequently explored as a function of informant discrepancies.
Cramer's V was calculated as a measurement of effect size for the chi-square test of independence. A small effect was reflected by values around 0.10, a medium effect by values around 0.30, and a large effect above 0.50. In order to study the differences in the means of family environment perception and frequency of child-to-parent violence, the Student's *t*-test was applied with Cohen's d for effect size.
Next, a correlation matrix was determined (see [Table 2](#ijerph-16-02215-t002){ref-type="table"}), in which ten quantitative variables were included. Finally, multiple regression analyses were carried out, entering family conflict and aggressive family discipline as independent variables, and female sex, children, and age as control variables with CPV (adolescent reports, mother reports, and father reports) as dependent variables (see [Table 3](#ijerph-16-02215-t003){ref-type="table"}).
3. Results {#sec3-ijerph-16-02215}
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3.1. Prevalence Rates of Child-to-Parent and Family Environment Perception {#sec3dot1-ijerph-16-02215}
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[Table 1](#ijerph-16-02215-t001){ref-type="table"} shows prevalence rates of CPV and family environment averages by informant (adolescent or parent). The prevalence rate of child-to-parent violence found in adolescent reports was higher than in parent reports for psychological violence against the father (81% versus 76, χ^2^ (1, *N* = 168) = 4.85, *p* = 0.03, Cramer's *V* = 0.17), while in the other types of child-to-parent violence the differences were not significant. Adolescents reported significantly higher scores in family conflict (*M* = 3.03) than their parents (*M* = 2.57), *t*(134) = 3.10, *p =* 0.002, *d* = 0.35, 95% CI (0.75, 0.17), and lower scores in family cohesion (*M* = 7.00) than their parents (*M* = 7.58), *t*(160) = 3.82, *p* \< 0.001, *d* = 0.35, 95% *CI* (0.28, 0.88).
On the one hand, the differences between males and females as perpetrators of child-to-parent violence were analyzed. When adolescents were the informants, daughters were psychologically slightly more abusive toward their mothers (88%) than were sons (81%), χ2(1, *N* = 548) = 5.70, *p* = 0.017, Cramer's *V* = 0.10. Taking into account means comparisons, daughters were psychologically slightly more abusive toward their mothers (*M* = 0.79) and fathers (*M* = 0.67) than were sons (*M* = 0.53 and *M* = 0.51), *t*(546) = 5.31, *p* \< 0.001, *d* = 0.28, 95% *CI* (0.35, 0.16); *t*(508) = 3.14, *p* = 0.002, *d* = 0.46, 95% *CI* (0.26, 0.06). On the other hand, we also analyzed the differences between fathers and mothers as victims of child-to-parent violence. With respect to adolescent reports, the perpetration of psychological child-to-parent violence toward mothers (84%) was slightly more frequent than toward fathers (81%), χ2(1, *N* = 518) = 209.22, *p* \< 0.001, Cramer's *V* = 0.64. According to parent reports, the prevalence rate of psychological violence toward mothers (82%) was also higher than toward fathers (76%), χ2(1, *N* = 155) = 64.40, *p* \< 0.001, Cramer's *V* = 0.67. In means comparison, mother victimization (*M* = 0.64) was more frequent than father victimization (*M* = 0.59) for psychological violence, *t*(518) = 2.46, *p* = 0.014, *d* = 0.10, 95% *CI* (0.09, 0.01). When parents were the informants, the difference was almost significant, *p* = 0.059. Moreover, according to means comparisons of family environment measures, girls perceived a greater level of family conflict (*M* = 3.26) than boys (*M* = 2.69), *t*(568) = 3.76, *p* \< 0.001, *d* = 0.31, 95% *CI* (0.86, 0.27), while fathers perceived (*M* = 2.63) a greater level of family conflict than mothers (*M* = 2.45), *t*(146) = 2.09, *p* = 0.038, *d* = 0.18, 95% *CI* (0.34, 0.01).
3.2. Relation between Child-to-Parent Violence and Other Family Variables {#sec3dot2-ijerph-16-02215}
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Aggressive family discipline was among the family variables studied. The prevalence rate for corporal punishment was 44% and 89% for psychological aggression by parents. Psychological aggressive discipline by the mother (*M* = 0.93) was more frequent than by father (*M* = 0.86), *t*(519) = 2.38, *p* = 0.018, *d* = 0.10, 95% *CI* (0.01, 0.14). Moreover, aggressive discipline by the mother was directed more frequently at daughters (*M* = 1.02) than sons (*M* = 0.86), *t*(549) = 2.25, *p* = 0.025, *d* = 0.19, 95% *CI* (0.30, 0.02).
To examine these relationships and influences, correlations between the family variables of the study were computed (see [Table 2](#ijerph-16-02215-t002){ref-type="table"}). The first three columns of correlations show that the CPV of different informants was related to aggressive family discipline (corporal punishment and psychological aggression) according to adolescent reports. It is evident that children's perception of family conflict was related positively to aggressive family discipline. Moreover, the mother's perception of family conflict was associated with aggressive family discipline by the mother.
3.3. Child-to-Parent Violence Models {#sec3dot3-ijerph-16-02215}
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[Table 3](#ijerph-16-02215-t003){ref-type="table"} shows the results of the multiple regression analysis testing the hypothesis that family conflict perception and aggressive family discipline are related to CPV. Three independent variables turned out to be significant predictors of CPV according to adolescent reports: corporal punishment by the father (*β* = 0.309, *p* \< 0.001), family conflict (*β* = 0.245, *p* \< 0.001), and psychological aggression by the mother (*β* = 0.214, *p* \< 0.001). However, two variables were significant predictors of CPV according to mother reports: family conflict (*β* = 0.331, *p* \< 0.001) and corporal punishment (*β* = 0.299, *p* \< 0.001). Finally, Model 3 shows that family conflict (*β* = 0.303, *p* \< 0.001) and psychological aggression (*β* = 0.218, *p* \< 0.01) were significant predictors of CPV according to father reports.
Child-to-parent violence was higher in the negative report group (NR) of family conflict (*M* = 0.47) than the non-negative report group (NNR) (*M* = 0.22), *t*(73.02) = 3.70, *p* \< 0.001, *d* = 0.68, 95% *CI* (0.38, 0.11), while interest in studies was lower in the NR group (*M* = 2.55) than the NNR group (*M* = 3.13), t(132) = 3.82, *p* \< 0.001, *d* = 0.65, 95% *CI* (0.28, 0.89). Child-to-parent violence was higher in the NR group of family cohesion (*M* = 0.43) than the NNR group (*M* = 0.23), *t*(90.51) = 3.74, *p* \< 0.01, *d* = 0.56, 95% *CI* (0.31, 0.08), when interest in studies was lower in the NR group (*M* = 2.64) than the NNR group(*M* = 2.99), *t*(158) = 2.38, *p* \< 0.05, *d* = 0.37, 95% *CI* (0.06, 0.65).
4. Discussion {#sec4-ijerph-16-02215}
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One objective of this study was to analyze whether the prevalence of child-to-parent violence and perception of family environment changed depending on the sex of the informant (parent or child) in a community population. As was expected, adolescent reports indicated higher prevalence rates of psychological CPV among daughters than sons, but no difference was found in physical aggression between sons and daughters. There are hardly any studies based on parent reports, but Calvete et al. \[[@B5-ijerph-16-02215]\] found that the prevalence rate in physical CPV of sons was higher than the prevalence rate of daughters, although the effect size was small (*V* Cramer = 0.16). These results are consistent with previous studies based on non-clinical populations and adolescent reports \[[@B3-ijerph-16-02215],[@B4-ijerph-16-02215],[@B6-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Gallagher \[[@B52-ijerph-16-02215]\] found that the survey data's overall gender symmetry for CPV contrasted markedly with the almost three-to-one gender imbalance in studies with clinical, medical, police, and court data. Curiously, this pattern of results is similar to that identified in the intimate partner violence literature: gender symmetry in community samples and gender asymmetry in legal samples \[[@B53-ijerph-16-02215]\]. An important reason why the results from community-based surveys are different from those based on medical attendance, police or court files could be the severity of the physical abuse involved.
Moreover, in this study, the target gender was examined for physical and psychological CPV as a function of the informant (adolescents and parents) with three categories (CPV toward mother only, CPV toward father only, and CPV toward both parents). A notable finding was that 77% of children direct psychological violence toward both parents. However, as was found in similar studies with a community population \[[@B19-ijerph-16-02215],[@B25-ijerph-16-02215]\], there was no difference in the victimization of fathers or mothers. Although most studies on this family problem (based on the evidence from clinical and legal fields) unequivocally agree that mothers are more likely to be victims of abuse by their adolescent children \[[@B8-ijerph-16-02215],[@B9-ijerph-16-02215]\], some studies focusing on serious CPV (e.g., parricide) have found that fathers are more likely to be victims of CPV than mothers (e.g., \[[@B54-ijerph-16-02215]\]). It would be interesting to discover whether the different findings regarding target gender are due to the severity of CPV or to different ways of measuring CPV. In any case, future research should consider gender-sensitive designs with reliable measures of two dimensions (i.e., frequency and severity) \[[@B9-ijerph-16-02215]\].
It was hypothesized that the prevalence rate of CPV in adolescent reports would be higher than in parent reports, but this hypothesis was only confirmed for psychological child-to-father violence. Moreover, as expected, family conflict scores in adolescent reports were higher than parent report scores, while the family cohesion scores of adolescent reports were lower than parent report scores. There were hardly any differences between adolescent reports and parent reports for CPV. However, the results of the present study indicated that parents underestimated the level of family conflict, perhaps due to the shame and blame their feelings of a negative family environment have on their own poor parenting practices. The perception of family environment varied by sex of the adolescent, with daughters indicating higher levels of family conflict and lower levels of family cohesion compared to sons. These findings are consistent with those of other studies \[[@B55-ijerph-16-02215],[@B56-ijerph-16-02215]\]. According to Nelson et al. \[[@B56-ijerph-16-02215]\], perceived family characteristics differed by gender; female participants reported higher levels of family conflict and parental monitoring, as well as lower levels of family social support. Female adolescents may experience an increased tendency towards interpersonal connectedness and concern for the well-being of others \[[@B55-ijerph-16-02215]\], which may cause them to be more sensitive when observing family processes \[[@B52-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Additionally, it has been found that the perceived family environment in which adolescents are raised plays an important role in their adoption of health risk behaviors (e.g., increased risk for substance use disorders), this being particularly true for female adolescents with respect to family conflict and family social support \[[@B55-ijerph-16-02215],[@B57-ijerph-16-02215]\]. Divergence between adolescent reports and parent reports on family relationships were analyzed. Negative reports of adolescents with respect to family conflict and family cohesion were associated with more child-to-parent violence, and less interest in studies. Measuring the distance between adolescent and parent reports of family relationships could help predict adolescent adjustment, but it is important to take into account the direction of adolescent--parent discrepancies. Particularly, when adolescents' perceptions are more negative than parents' perceptions, they appear to be relevant to adolescent functioning \[[@B13-ijerph-16-02215]\]. It is an emerging research field, and recent work supports the hypothesis that divergence between reports may not always predict negative adolescent outcomes \[[@B12-ijerph-16-02215]\].
In the present study, the corporal punishment prevalence rate was 44%, while for psychological aggression it was 89%. Aggressive discipline by parents may evoke feelings of fear, anxiety, and anger in children, and these emotions could interfere with a positive parent--child relationship, as was found in previous studies of corporal punishment \[[@B58-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In fact, aggressive family discipline was a valid predictor of children's family conflict perceptions. The regression model of child-to-parent violence based on family conflict and aggressive family discipline based on adolescent reports explained 38% of the variance. It is an excellent and parsimonious statistical model. The results of the present study corroborated the relevance of aggressive family discipline and family conflict as risk factors for child-to-parent violence. Numerous studies had previously indicated that aggressive family discipline and family conflict are valid predictors of child-to-parent violence \[[@B3-ijerph-16-02215],[@B4-ijerph-16-02215],[@B35-ijerph-16-02215],[@B36-ijerph-16-02215]\]. A longitudinal study with a national survey of male adolescents \[[@B31-ijerph-16-02215]\] analyzed whether child aggression represents a functional response to family strain, with results indicating a reciprocal relationship between parent-to-child violence and CPV, characterized by countervailing effects. Aggression by the adolescent may prove to be a partially successful means of combating family strain or negative intervention. Child-to-parent violence is, thus, not necessarily a form of pathology because it could be a survival response by children when their well-being is threatened \[[@B14-ijerph-16-02215]\].
The main limitation of this research is that it is a cross-sectional study. Cross-sectional data make it difficult to identify exactly how aggressive family discipline influences child-to-parent violence over time. It would be preferable to conduct longitudinal studies in clinical contexts. Aggressive family discipline was only measured through adolescent reports. The internal consistency of family environment subscales is lower than desirable (α ≥ 0.70) because this scale has positive and reversed items. When combinations of positive and reversed items are used in the same test, the reliability of the test is flawed \[[@B59-ijerph-16-02215]\]. However, it should be noted that father reports of physical CPV was low. A high proportion of missing data in father reports and mother reports was found, although missing data are frequent in studies based on multiple informant data. The fact that parents in the study represent a volunteer sample means that those parents who are most violent to their children were unlikely to participate. Such a skewed sample is, thus, likely to have had an impact on results. As sons and daughters were not from the same family, it was not possible to assume that we were analyzing the same family processes. Thus, we cannot be sure that daughters were more sensitive when observing family processes than sons.
Future research should obtain more detailed data on parental and child aggression in the events which occurred, including mild and severe forms of aggression, by using clinical or legal samples. Additionally, it would be interesting to study the directionality of interpersonal violence in child--parent relationships in order to know to what extent CPV is bidirectional or unidirectional violence.
5. Conclusions {#sec5-ijerph-16-02215}
==============
In conclusion, there was consistency between adolescent reports and parent reports for CPV, and aggressive family discipline can be considered an important risk factor for child-to-parent violence. Nowadays, CPV is still considered the most hidden, misunderstood, and stigmatized form of family violence, and an early-help approach to stop problems from spiraling is recommended \[[@B60-ijerph-16-02215]\]. In answer to the question "why parents hide their child-to-parent violence situation instead of asking for help", Concordia Gabinete \[[@B61-ijerph-16-02215]\] suggests five reasons for not requesting help: (1) parents do not really know the extent of the problem they have at home; (2) they are afraid; (3) they are ashamed to talk about the problem; (4) they have had bad experiences with professionals in the past; and (5) they do not want anything bad to happen to their son or daughter. The findings of this study could be applied to multiple disciplines and potentially lead to policy changes. Child and family services should take into account that parents may underestimate the levels of violence toward them and of family conflict, and in the future, it would be interesting to use a multi-informant approach to assess child-to-parent violence or family environment. Additionally, to prevent abusive family relations, including the occurrence of CPV, parents could benefit from training to reduce harsh discipline. However, when teenage and younger girls and boys use physical, psychological, emotional, and financial abuse and violence over time to the extent that parents live in fear of their child, parents need to be empowered to find a way out of such a situation.
Conceptualization, I.I.; methodology, I.I.; software, I.I.; validation, I.I.; formal analysis, I.I.; investigation, I.I.; resources, I.I.; data curation, I.I.; writing---original draft preparation, I.I.; writing---review and editing, I.I.; visualization, I.I.; supervision, I.I.; project administration, I.I.; funding acquisition, I.I.
This research was funded by Eusko Jaurlaritza/Basque Government, grant number M115/10.
The author declares no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.
ijerph-16-02215-t001_Table 1
######
Prevalence rates of different types of child-to-parent violence (CPV) and family environment perception by informant.
Variables Adolescent Reports %/*M* Parent Reports %/*M* χ2/*t* Effect Size ^a^
---------------------------------------- -------------------------- ---------------------- ----------- -----------------
*Psychological violence*
Psychological violence child-to-mother 84.2% 81.9% 1.14 0.07
Psychological violence child-to-father 81.1% 75.7% 4.85 \* 0.17
*Physical violence*
Physical violence child-to-mother 7.0% 1.9% 2.05 0.10
Physical violence child-to-father 5.3% 2.3% 3.23 0.14
*Family environment*
Family conflict (0--9) 3.03 2.57 3.03 \* 0.34
Family cohesion (0--9) 7.00 7.58 3.83 \*\* 0.35
Note: Zero tolerance criteria (when the response "Hardly ever" or more in terms of frequency was given in response to any item) was used to measure child-to-parent violence; \* *p* \< 0.05; \*\* *p* \< 0.001. ^a^ Effect size was evaluated by Cramer's *V* for chi-square analysis while Cohen's d was calculated for *t*-test analysis.
ijerph-16-02215-t002_Table 2
######
Correlation matrix of family variables studied.
Variables 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
----------------------------------------------------- ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------------ ------- ------------ ------------ ------------
**Child-to-parent violence**
1\. CPV Adolescent reports *-*
2\. CPV Mother reports 0.406 \*\* *-*
3\. CPV Father reports 0.302 \*\* 0.616 \*\* *-*
**Family conflict**
4\. Family conflict Adolescent reports 0.447 \*\* 0.368 \*\* 0.196 \*\* *-*
5\. Family conflict Mother reports 0.091 0.405 \*\* 0.291 \*\* 0.254 \*\* *-*
6, Family conflict Father reports 0.060 0.279 \*\* 0.327 \*\* 0.054 0.551 \*\* \-
**Aggressive family discipline** Adolescent reports
7\. Corporal punishment by mother 0.428 \*\* 0.324 \*\* 0.196 \*\* 0.444 \*\* 0.200 \*\* 0.136 \-
8\. Corporal punishment by father 0.455 \*\* 0.255 \*\* 0.227 \*\* 0.367 \*\* 0.013 0.126 0.590 \*\* \-
9\. Psychological aggression by mother 0.445 \*\* 0.301 \*\* 0.250 \*\* 0.442 \*\* 0.274 \*\* 0.090 0.580 \*\* 0.295 \*\* \-
10\. Psychological aggression by father 0.421 \*\* 0.243 \*\* 0.315 \*\* 0.340 \*\* 0.038 0.107 0.304 \*\* 0.572 \*\* 0.611 \*\*
\* *p* \< 0.05; \*\* *p* \< 0.0l; \*\*\* *p* \< 0.001.
ijerph-16-02215-t003_Table 3
######
Multiple regression models for child-to-parent violence depending on informant.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Variables Model 1\ Model 2\ Model 3\
CPV Adolescent Reports CPV Mother Reports CPV Father Reports
----------------------------------------------------- ------------------------ -------------------- --------------------
**Family conflict**
Family conflict Adolescent reports 0.245 \*\*\* \- \-
Family conflict Mother reports \- 0.331 \*\* \-
Family conflict Father reports \- \- 0.303 \*\*\*
**Aggressive family discipline** Adolescent reports
Corporal punishment by mother \- 0.299 \*\*\* \-
Corporal punishment by father 0.309 \*\*\* \- \-
Psychological aggression by mother 0.214 \*\*\* \- 0.218 \*\*
Psychological aggression by father \- \- \-
**Socio-demographic variables**
Female sex children 0.137 \*\*
Age of children 0.122 \*\*
Model *F* 50.43 \*\*\* 25.57 \*\*\* 12.25 \*\*\*
*R* ^2^ 0.377 0.241 0.139
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\* *p* \< 0.05; \*\* *p* \< 0.0l; \*\*\* *p* \< 0.001.
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Methods for axolotl blood collection, intravenous injection, and efficient leukocyte isolation from peripheral blood and the regenerating limb.
The vertebrate immune system comprises both adaptive and innate immune cells with distinct functions during the resolution of inflammation and wound healing after tissue injury. Recent evidence implicates a requirement for innate immune cells from the myeloid lineage during the early stages of limb regeneration in the Mexican axolotl. Understanding the functions of innate and adaptive immune cells in the axolotl has been hampered by a lack of approaches to isolate and analyze these cells. Here we describe a protocol to isolate myeloid cells from the regenerating axolotl limb that incorporates intravenous delivery of physiological labels. In addition we provide a protocol to enrich for leukocytes in the peripheral blood. These protocols produce single-cell suspensions that can be analyzed using flow cytometry or sorted into specific subsets using fluorescent-activated cell sorting (FACS). FACS is a routine approach to sort cells based on their physical characteristics as well as their cell surface antigen repertoire. Isolated cell populations can then be analyzed in a wide range of downstream assays to facilitate a greater understanding of leukocyte biology in the axolotl.
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This forum has been built using JForum. Would you recommend using JForum?
I need to create a forum. I have been researching the available packages. As far as I have learned, these are my prefered options:
1- JForum, because I’m a java developer and it would be easier to implement it and modify it, and maybe even integrate it with the rest of the site. It seems that it is the best java forum solution, among the few ones made in java that seem to be good.
2- vBulletin, because it is one of the two most-used packages, even though it costs US$200. It seems that is it one of the two most powerfull solutions. But it has been written in PHP, so I would suffer if I want to modify it.
3- phpBB, because it is the other most-used solution, and it is free and open-sourced. But this one has been also written in PHP, so it will be a pain to modify it.
I see that you used Jforum here in CodeRanch. Would you recommend it? I have started to check it (JForum) and there are some things that I’m worried about:
- This one is incredible: In Jforums’s forum (http://jforum.net/forums/list.page) I can’t register and post a question. It seems that since September 2009 nobody has been able to post anything else. Is this forum abandoned? What kind of support can I expect then?
- The documentation is rather poor, at least according to my expectations.
Thanks a lot for your response. I read the article, most part of it to be exact.
Considering that you are all java guys (as I am) so you obviously prefered a java solution, I guess you chose the best one among the few ones available (JForum, javaBB, MVNforum and Yazd). I guess JForum was/is the best. But what about support? Why is JForum's forum frozen in time? What is weird, specially considering that the forum I'm talking about belongs to an organizations whose supported product is... a forum!
It is weird. I don't know if the project is being continued or not. They are supposed to be creating vr3. But wether they are actively doing it or not, why did they freeze their forum? They have hidden the registration process, so nobody can register and post anything. Is that logical? What do they gain doing that? It doesn't make sense, even if they stopped mantaining their creation.
I can still manage myself to deal with challenges with JForum, it wouldn't be the first time I solve something without help, but it would be nice to know that there is some level of support out there.
Now, even if they are not improving JForum, is there any better forum solution developed in java? According to what I read, javaBB is not bad, but it is not as good as JForum. Have you evaluated javaBB? There are also a few other options, but it seems that they are not good. Did you evaluate other packages? I guess you did, and I would like to know what you think about them.
Anyway, I really wouldn't like to be forced to learn PHP in order to be able to make changes to phpBB. It would take me far more time to make easy changes to phpBB, than to do harder changes to any solution based on java.
Jeanne Boyarsky wrote:Brian,
When we converted to JForum, it was still under active development at jforum.net. I don't know why it isn't anymore, but I'm guessing the official project is abandoned.
While we are the largest install of JForum, there are others. For example, I know JavaBlackBelt is using it.
As far as support, we are Java developers. We can support our install ourself. We could have written it ourself, but that it time consuming.
I think it depends on whether you want to be able to tweak without learning PHP.
We did look at other packages, but it was over two years ago. Things change so I don't know that the results of our research are still valid.
It says they have been working on v3 for a long time. At the beginning that was activity in the forum discussing it. I think things have stopped based on the website.
Brian Braun Mitman
Greenhorn
Joined: May 26, 2010
Posts: 14
posted May 26, 2010 20:36:11
0
Do you remember which other packages were you considering? and what did you think about them? Even if it was one year ago, I would like to know that. My impression is that even one year ago, JForum was by far the best one.
Jeanne Boyarsky wrote:We did look at other packages, but it was over two years ago. Things change so I don't know that the results of our research are still valid.
It says they have been working on v3 for a long time. At the beginning that was activity in the forum discussing it. I think things have stopped based on the website.
The ones that were looked at -to the point of actually installing and playing around with them- were mvnForum and Jive, and both were found wanting for our particular purposes. I can't be more specific since that was before my time as a moderator here (which also means that both may have evolved significantly since then - and it looks as if at least Jive has indeed changed much). JavaBB was still pre-1.0 back then; maybe it's a contender now.
Brian Braun Mitman
Greenhorn
Joined: May 26, 2010
Posts: 14
posted May 27, 2010 08:14:49
0
Hi Ulf,
Jive seems to be too expensive, and not really just a forum but something more complex that I dont need.
I have almost decided to use JForum. Maybe it is not perfect, but as far as I have seen, its the best (among the ones made in Java). And the fact that it worked for JavaRanch makes me think it will work for me. And regarding support, I guess I can contact you guys!
Ulf Dittmer wrote:The ones that were looked at -to the point of actually installing and playing around with them- were mvnForum and Jive, and both were found wanting for our particular purposes. I can't be more specific since that was before my time as a moderator here (which also means that both may have evolved significantly since then - and it looks as if at least Jive has indeed changed much). JavaBB was still pre-1.0 back then; maybe it's a contender now.
Brian Braun Mitman wrote: And regarding support, I guess I can contact you guys!
Indeed, the official forums might be dead, but we're more than happy to help out right here.
Regarding other things we looked at: I know a little bit more about the Jive and Mvnforum efforts. Honestly, I think either one of them would have been OK, but neither effort gathered the critical mass of staff needed to see them to completion. Both products had some problems and JForum was superior in those respects: Jive was, at the time, virtually 100% implemented as scriptlet-heavy JSPs, which we didn't like as an architecture. mvnforum also had scriptlet-heavy JSPs, plus a very dense and confusing data access layer that we weren't too excited about mucking with. JForum has no scriptlets at all (since it uses velocity instead of JSPs!) and the data layer is really quite elegant IMO.
Thanks for your offer to help me, thanks a lot!!
Jive: went to their website, and didn't even see the word "forum". It seems that they sell a very expensive software that helps communicate with clients, and I guess that included a forum capability. It is certainly not what I im looking for.
Reagarding the other options, I definitely didnt spend the time you did learning about them. You definitely did a very deep evaluation!
By the way, this site was incredibly useful for my research: http://www.forum-software.org
Ernest Friedman-Hill wrote:
Brian Braun Mitman wrote: And regarding support, I guess I can contact you guys!
Indeed, the official forums might be dead, but we're more than happy to help out right here.
Regarding other things we looked at: I know a little bit more about the Jive and Mvnforum efforts. Honestly, I think either one of them would have been OK, but neither effort gathered the critical mass of staff needed to see them to completion. Both products had some problems and JForum was superior in those respects: Jive was, at the time, virtually 100% implemented as scriptlet-heavy JSPs, which we didn't like as an architecture. mvnforum also had scriptlet-heavy JSPs, plus a very dense and confusing data access layer that we weren't too excited about mucking with. JForum has no scriptlets at all (since it uses velocity instead of JSPs!) and the data layer is really quite elegant IMO.
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Q:
Limit of this power function when the base tends to infinity
Here is the function:
$$
y = b^{b^{-2}}
$$
It seems $\lim _{b \rightarrow \infty} y = 1$, but how do you prove this?
A:
You can write
$$
y=b^{b^{-2}}=e^{b^{-2}\log b}
$$
and observing that, using l'Hôpital's rule,
$$\lim_{b\to\infty}\frac{\log b}{b^2}=\lim_{b\to\infty}\frac{1}{2b^2}=0$$
and finally
$$\lim_{b\to\infty}b^{b^{-2}}=e^0=1.$$
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Q:
How to express “getting caught up on” in german
I was wondering if somebody could help me with the following translation:
“I didn’t expect him to like the entire plan. But the first step was the first thing he got caught up on.”
That is, “get caught up on” in the sense of have problems with/have serious questions about, etc. Is there a similar phrase in German? I tried some searches with “hängen bleiben”, but not sure if this is 100% correct.
A:
An expression that would fit would be
an etwas Anstoß nehmen
which would be used when the thing faced opposition by the subject
more neutral would be
das erste, woran er sich aufgehalten hat, war ...
wich would be closer to your "hängenbleiben", but much more common.
If you want to be more colloquial, you can use expressions like
das erste, über was er gestolpert ist, war ...
another colloquial expression would be
das erste, was ihm aber sauer aufgestoßen ist, war ...
(figuratively, a sour burp)
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Suppressor analysis of the mpt5/htr1/uth4/puf5 deletion in Saccharomyces cerevisiae.
The MPT5/HTR1/UTH4/PUF5 gene encodes an RNA-binding Puf-family protein in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Deltampt5 cells exhibit pleiotropic phenotypes, including the G2/M arrest of the cell cycle and weakened cell wall at high temperatures. The Deltampt5 disruptant was also hydroxyurea (HU) sensitive. In this study we screened deletion suppressors to rescue the temperature sensitivity of Deltampt5, and identified dsf1 (YEL070W), dsf2 (YBR007C), sir2, sir3, sir4 and swe1. Multicopy suppressors identified were PKC1 and its upstream genes, but not the downstream MAPK cascade genes. The overexpression of PKC1, however, did not suppress the HU sensitivity of Deltampt5. In contrast, both the HU- and temperature-sensitivities of a-type Deltampt5 cells were suppressed by each sir deletion or a multicopy of MATalpha2, suggesting that a diploid-type expression is involved. We found that a diploid-specific IME4 gene encoding an RNA-modifying protein was responsible for the suppression of the temperature sensitivity, but not of the HU sensitivity. Furthermore, the suppression of the HU sensitivity depended on PUF4, another Puf-family gene, and overexpression of PUF4 suppressed only the HU sensitivity of Deltampt5. The protein level of Puf4 was not affected by the sir mutation. Thus, these Ime4 and Puf4 proteins play complementary roles to rescue the defects in Deltampt5 Deltasir cells.
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Matthew
Chapter 20
Jesus, on the last leg to Jerusalem
Parable of day laborers disputing salary
20:1 "Let me describe the Kingdom of Heaven this way. A landowner went out early in the morning to hire some day laborers to work in his vineyard.
20:2 He negotiated a salary of one silver coin1 for the day’s work.
20:3 Later in the morning, around nine o’clock, he went to the village marketplace and noticed some men standing around with nothing to do.
20:4 He went over to them and said, ‘Go on over to my vineyard and join the other workers. I’ll pay you fairly.’
20:5 Off they went to the vineyard. The man continued recruiting workers off and on throughout the day. He went out again at noon and at three o’clock.
20:6 At about 5 o’clock he noticed some men just standing around. He went over to them and asked, ‘Why on earth have you been standing here doing nothing all day long?’
20:7 They said, ‘We’re standing here because no one hired us.’ He told them, ‘You’re hired. Head on over to my vineyard and get to work with the others.’
20:8 That evening, the vineyard owner told his foreman, ‘Call in all the workers and pay them their salary. Start with the people who came late in the day, and then work your way up to the people who started working early in the morning.’
20:9 The people hired at five o’clock came up and got their salary: one silver coin.
20:10 The people hired early in the morning saw that. And when they stepped forward to get their salary they expected more than one silver coin. But what they got was one silver coin.
20:11 Standing there with their silver coin in their hand, they started to grumble, criticizing the landowner.
20:12 They said, ‘What’s up with this? Those other guys worked one measly hour. You paid them as much as you paid us, and we worked all day in scorching heat hotter than blazes.’
20:13 The man said, ‘Buddy, I’ve been fair with you. Didn’t you agree to work for me today for one silver coin?
20:14 Take your money and head on home. I decided to give the workers who came last as much as I gave you. It was my choice to make.
20:15 Can’t I do what I want with my own stuff? Or are you jealous because I’m more generous than you are?’
20:16 So do you see? People who seem to be last and least get promoted to first. And people who seem to be first and most important get demoted to last."2
Jesus: I’m going to die soon
20:18 “We’re headed up to Jerusalem now. There, the Son of Humans will get arrested and handed over to the top priests and scholars.3 They’ll sentence him to death.
20:19 Then they’ll hand him over to people who aren’t Jews. They’ll do this so those people can ridicule him, beat him, and crucify him. Three days after that, he will be raised from the dead."
Disciple mom asks a favor
20:20 The mother of Zebedee’s boys4 came to Jesus with a request. She brought her sons with her and knelt by Jesus.
20:21 Jesus asked her, “What would you like?” She said, “Promise me that when you become king and sit on your throne in glory, you’ll give my sons top positions of authority, reporting directly to you.”
20:22 Jesus said, “You don’t understand what you’re asking.” Speaking to James and John, Jesus asked, “Do you really think you can drink from the bitter cup of suffering that’s waiting for me?” They said, “Yes we do.”
20:23 Jesus said, “And you will. You will drink from that cup. But it’s not up to me who will sit in places of greatest honor. My Father has reserved those seats for the people who will sit there.”
20:24 When the other 10 disciples heard about this, they were anything but happy.
20:25 Jesus called the disciples together and told them, “You’ve seen how rulers of other nations work. They flaunt their authority and dominate their people.
20:26 That’s not how it’s going to work for you. If you want to become a great leader, you have to become a great servant.
20:27 If you want the top position, assume the servant’s position.
20:28 The Son of Humans didn’t come here so everyone could serve him. He came to serve them. He’s here giving his life in a ransom payment to liberate a lot of people.”
Jesus heals blind men in Jericho
20:29 Jesus and his disciples headed out of Jericho, followed by a large crowd.
20:30 Sitting beside the road were two blind men. When they heard that Jesus was approaching, they started to yell, “Teacher. Son of David, please help us!”
20:31 The people near the men told them to shut up. But they yelled even louder, “Teacher. Son of David, please help us!”
20:32 Jesus stopped and called out to them, “What do you want me to do for you?”
20:33 They said, “Teacher, we want to see.”
20:34 Jesus was moved by the scene. He touched the eyes of the men. Instantly, they could see. They followed him.
Notes
120:2
The coin was a Roman denarius, weighing about 4 grams. That’s about the weight of a nickel or half of a euro. A silver denarius was apparently a common salary at the time for a day’s work.
220:16
More literally, “So the last will be first and the first will be last.” Jesus seems to be reinforcing what he said earlier in 19:30, “Many people who were last and least in this world will be first and foremost in the world to come.”
In the parable Jesus tells about day laborers working in a vineyard (20:1-16), the God character doesn’t seem to come across as the good guy. Sure, he is generous enough to pay the folks who worked a short day the same as he paid the folks who worked a long day. But he set up the payment scenario in a way guaranteed to irritate people who had worked the long day. What do you think is the reason Jesus created this story? Pick a point you think Jesus was trying to make, or create a guess of your own.
God is in charge and he can do what he wants.
God is generous.
People who are saved at the end of their life will get the full reward of heaven, like those who were believers all their life.
“Many people who were last and least in this world will be first and foremost in the world to come” (19:30).
2
Clearly, Jesus told his disciples he was going to die: “The Son of Humans will get arrested and handed over to the top priests and scholars. They’ll sentence him to death… Ridicule him beat him, and crucify him” (20:18-19). Yet the crucifixion will seem to catch them completely off guard. Why do you think they didn’t get what Jesus said?
3
Jesus tells his disciples that he’s going to be killed but that after three days “he will be raised from the dead” (20:19). We know he’s talking about rising from the dead. All we know about the disciples is that they didn’t know what Jesus was talking about. Mark’s version of this event says “they were too afraid to ask” (9:32). What do you think they may have thought he was talking about?
4
Mark’s version of this story tells of just one blind man (Mark 10:46-52). And Mark presents it with a funny-odd twist. When the man calls out for Jesus, Jesus calls out for the man. Jesus says he wants to see him. Then when Jesus asks what he can do to help the blind man, the blind man says he wants to see Jesus. Get it? The man calls for Jesus, then Jesus calls for the man. Jesus wants to see the man, then the man wants to see Jesus. What do you think we should make of this? Pick one of the following.
Nothing. We shouldn’t make anything of it.
Allegory. Maybe we should see Jesus in the man. What Jesus wanted, the man wanted. What the man wanted, Jesus wanted. At the end of the story, the man goes with Jesus toward Jerusalem.
Symbolism. Maybe we should see ourselves in the blind man. Here we sit on the side of the road abandoned, helpless, calling out to Jesus. Then he calls for us, heals us, and takes us on the journey with him to forever.
Nightcap. All of this is stretching a short little story intended only to show the power and compassion of Jesus. So maybe we should have a sip of brandy and go to bed. Or a sip of milk with a cookie.
5
Zebedee’s boys, with their mom’s help, asked Jesus for top jobs when Jesus sets up his kingdom. They apparently presumed he was going to become a king, like King David. When the other disciples found out about it, they got mad. Among the criticisms the disciples could have made, which one of the following do you think might best reflect the level of hostility that developed between James and John and the other 10 disciples?
“You want the top jobs in a nation, but you take your mommy on the job interview?”
“You do know that Peter is the leader among the disciples. His name will probably always appear first in lists that show up in the New Testament that someone will eventually write.”
“Back stabbers.”
“If you want the top jobs, assume the servant’s position like Jesus said. Wash my dirty feet.”
6
When the blind beggar called out for help from Jesus, why do you think he added the title “Son of David” (20:30)?
7
LIFE APPLICATION. The disciples of Jesus seemed to think that he was going to set up a kingdom on earth. That’s why two of his best friends, James and John—with the help of their mother—asked for top assignments in the new government. “Promise me that when you become king and sit on your throne in glory, you’ll give my sons top positions of authority, reporting directly to you” (20:21). Instead, Jesus gave them a lecture on humility: “If you want the top position, assume the servant’s position” (20:27). How exactly does that work?
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Nematic kink states in a laser field.
We have investigated the nonlinear optical interaction of uniform and kink states of a nematic and a ferrofluid-doped nematic (ferronematic) liquid crystal with an incident laser field. We find that the transition between the permitted uniform oreintational states of these systems is of first order in the case of nematics, and of second order in the case of ferronematics. In the latter case we also find the phenomenon of reentrance. We find new kink states in a magnetic field with topological winding different from pi in the case of nematics, and 2pi in the case of ferronematics. In ferronematics, due to grain segregation the phase diagrams for uniform and kink states are entirely different. In these systems we find a first or second order structural transformation from a single kink into a pair of kinks. Further, we obtain a rich variety of kink states as the intensity of the laser field is varied.
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Looking at Gautham Menon's Nadunisai Naigal
As he was busy making Nadunisai Naigal, two of Menon's home productions -- Veppam directed by his associate Anjana and Azhagarsamiyin Kudhiraidirected by Suseenthran are also in various stages of filming.
Once the work on Nadunisai Naigal gets over, Gautham Menon will start the Hindi remake of Vinnaithandi Varuivaya with Prateik Babbar and Trisha in the lead roles.
It will be a joint production between Gautham's home Production and 20th Century Fox.
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605 F.2d 910
Jimmy FRANK, Petitioner-Appellant,v.Frank BLACKBURN, Warden, Louisiana State Penitentiary,Respondent-Appellee.
No. 78-3452.
United States Court of Appeals,Fifth Circuit.
Nov. 2, 1979.Rehearing En Banc Granted Jan. 7, 1980.
J. Donice Alverson, New Orleans, La. (Court-appointed), for petitioner-appellant.
Robert Brinkman, Asst. Dist. Atty., Opelousas, La., for respondent-appellee.
Appeal from the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
Before GEWIN, AINSWORTH and REAVLEY, Circuit Judges.
REAVLEY, Circuit Judge:
1
Jimmy Frank was convicted by a jury in a Louisiana state court of armed robbery and sentenced by the court to thirty-three years in prison. In this 28 U.S.C. § 2254 suit, Frank attacks his conviction on the grounds that identification testimony was inadmissible and that the prosecutor's argument referred to Frank's failure to testify. He attacks the sentence on the ground that the trial judge impermissibly increased the term of confinement because Frank rejected a plea bargain offer and elected to stand trial. The federal trial court denied habeas corpus. We do not find fault with the conviction, but we remand this cause to the federal trial court to await and insure resentencing of Frank by the Louisiana court.
FACTS
2
Jimmy Frank was arrested within seven blocks of the Kajun Kitchen Restaurant shortly after it was robbed. The robber, a black male with a goatee, wore a coat, a knit cap, and sunglasses. Frank, a black male with a goatee, had a coat, a knit cap, and sunglasses in his possession when he was arrested. The robber took a twenty dollar bill, three fives, and some ones; Frank had a twenty, three fives, and nine ones in his possession. The robber was armed with a gun; no gun was found on Frank. The restaurant was robbed on Sunday night. On Saturday, Frank had told an auto mechanic he would pay him the $42.00 he owed for work done on Frank's car. When arrested, Frank had $44.00.
SUGGESTIVE IDENTIFICATION
3
Frank contends that the procedures by which he was identified were unnecessarily suggestive and therefore deprived him of due process. Frank was fully apprised of his Miranda rights when the police apprehended him and no claim is presented of an involuntary waiver of counsel. Immediately after his arrest, Frank was taken to the Kajun Kitchen and presented before Linda Young, an employee of the restaurant who was the robbery victim. At first appearance, Young was unable to identify Frank as the perpetrator of the crime. Young was then led into another room while Frank donned the clothing in his possession: the knit cap, coat, and sunglasses, items also worn by the robber. On reexamination, Young identified Frank as the robber with some hesitation and reservation. Frank contends that this one-on-one confrontation was impermissibly suggestive.
4
The Supreme Court has stated that "a claimed violation of due process of law in the conduct of a confrontation depends on the totality of the circumstances surrounding it . . . ." Stovall v. Denno, 388 U.S. 293, 302, 87 S.Ct. 1967, 1972, 18 L.Ed.2d 1199, 1206 (1967). A violation occurs when the procedure is "unnecessarily suggestive and conducive to irreparable mistaken identification." Id. As this circuit explained in Allen v. Estelle, 568 F.2d 1108 (5th Cir. 1978), the due process requirement takes two steps:
5
First, as a threshold inquiry, the Court must decide whether the identification procedure was unnecessarily suggestive. A finding of impermissible suggestiveness raises concern over the reliability of identification and triggers closer scrutiny by the Court to determine whether such a procedure created a substantial risk of misidentification.
6
Id. at 1112; Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 97 S.Ct. 2243, 53 L.Ed.2d 140 (1977); Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. 188, 93 S.Ct. 375, 34 L.Ed.2d 401 (1972).
7
In this case Frank fails to clear the first hurdle. Although "(t)he practice of showing suspects singly to persons for the purpose of identification, and not as part of a lineup, has been widely condemned," Stovall v. Denno, 388 U.S. at 302, 87 S.Ct. at 1972, exigent circumstances, such as "the interest served by rapid crime solution," may justify one-on-one confrontations. Allen v. Estelle, supra at 1112-13. Defendant was apprehended less than thirty minutes after the robbery seven blocks from the restaurant by police responding to a broadcast description of the suspect. Under these circumstances an immediate confrontation not only prevents the suspect from substantially altering his appearance and allows the witness to test her recollection while her memory is still fresh, but permits "expeditious release of innocent subjects." United States v. Wilson, 140 U.S.App.D.C. 331, 333, 435 F.2d 403, 405 (D.C.Cir.1970). "Additionally, where the innocent have been mistakenly apprehended, prompt identification allows the police to realize their error and to continue their search while the criminal is still within easy reach." Allen v. Estelle, supra at 1112-13.
8
No evidence is presented that indicates that the police acted improperly in utilizing this identification procedure. An accused can be required to don clothing, utter words, or in other manners exhibit physical characteristics without running afoul of the fifth amendment right against self incrimination. United States v. Wade, 338 U.S. 218, 221-23, 87 S.Ct. 1926, 18 L.Ed.2d 1149, 1154-55 (1967); United States v. Wilcox,507 F.2d 364, 367 (4th Cir. 1974), Cert. denied, 420 U.S. 979, 95 S.Ct. 1408, 43 L.Ed.2d 661 (1975). In the present case, there were no words or actions by police aggravating the suggestiveness of the confrontation. The suspect was asked to don clothing in his possession at the time of his arrest and was attired out of the presence of the witness. The confrontation was not impermissibly suggestive.
9
We add that Frank failed to establish any question concerning the reliability of his identification. The Supreme Court has identified five factors bearing on reliability: (1) the opportunity to view; (2) the degree of attention; (3) the accuracy of the description; (4) the witness' level of certainty; (5) the time between the crime and the confrontation. Manson v. Brathwaite, 432 U.S. 98, 114-15, 97 S.Ct. 2243, 53 L.Ed.2d 149 (1977); Neil v. Biggers, 409 U.S. at 199-200, 93 S.Ct. 375.
10
With the possible exception of factor number four, the level of certainty, a matter fully explored on cross-examination at trial, each factor supported the reliability of this identification. The witness, Linda Young, observed Frank when he entered the restaurant, walked to the cigarette machine, wandered into the dining room, and then returned to the telephone close to the counter where the witness was working. Apparently concerned at Frank's seemingly aimless path, she asked him if she could help him. Young stood directly in front of Frank, who was approximately one and one-half feet away, during the course of the robbery. Her description of the robber prompted police to arrest Frank who was carrying clothing identical to the robber's. The time between the crime and the confrontation was less than thirty minutes.
11
As noted earlier, Young was unable to identify Frank as the robber on first presentation. Even after Frank was dressed with the articles in his possession, Young's identification was made with reservations. The tentativeness of Young's identification was fully explored on cross-examination and, in any event, "(t)he fact that an identification is less than positive does not render it inadmissible." United States v. Malatesta, 583 F.2d 748, 758 (5th Cir. 1978), modified on other grounds, 590 F.2d 1379 (en banc), cert. denied sub nom. Bertolotti v. United States, 440 U.S. 962, 99 S.Ct. 1508, 59 L.Ed.2d 777 (1979). The admission of Young's identification testimony did not deprive Frank of due process.
PROSECUTORIAL COMMENT
12
During closing argument the prosecutor made the following statement:
13
The next aspect of this case I think that we have to consider very seriously, is that the defendant's defense in this case is an alibi, and the judge is going to explain to you that an alibi, just like any other specie of evidence, must be proven and must be believable. Can we believe the defendant's alibi that he was at the Airline Bar at the time this allegedly took place, and that the money he had on him was to pay a bill to Audrey Williams for car repairs. Audrey Williams told you that the defendant owed him $42.90 for repairs that he had done on the defendant's car one week before. Of course, now, the defendant, as I appreciate it, has been trying to convey to you that the automobile stopped because it was popping. It wasn't running well. But Audrey Williams told you he completely timed this car, timing gear, points and plugs, the whole thing, and that the car was running well, and that when the defendant called him on a Saturday the robbery takes place on a Sunday he made no complaints about his car running bad. Contrary, the car was running good. The officers proved that when they cranked the car over at the station. What does the defendant tell Audrey Williams on Saturday? "I don't have the money to pay you now, but I'll have it Monday." I don't have it now, but I'll have it Monday. Up until that point in the case, there was no real motive for this robbery, but now the defendant, with one of his witnesses, injects a motive. He has got to have $42.90 by Monday. I don't have it on Saturday, but I'll have it on Monday. When he's caught, he's got it. We know he doesn't have it Saturday, but when he's caught on Sunday night, he had it. Well, now what explanation does he have for that? He doesn't tell us where he gets the money with Willie Aaron .1
14
(State Record, Vol. II, pp. 185-86).
15
Defendant contends that this comment drew the jury's attention to the fact that he did not testify and therefore infringed his fifth amendment right, Citing Griffin v. California, 380 U.S. 609, 85 S.Ct. 1229, 14 L.Ed.2d 106 (1965), and United States v. Brown, 546 F.2d 166 (5th Cir. 1977). Our inquiry is (1) whether "the prosecutor's manifest intention was to comment on the accused's failure to testify" or (2) whether the comment was " 'of such a character that the jury would naturally and necessarily take it to be a comment on the failure of the accused to testify.' " United States v. Chandler, 586 F.2d 593, 603 (5th Cir. 1978), Cert. denied, 440 U.S. 927, 99 S.Ct. 1262, 59 L.Ed.2d 483 (1979), Quoting United States v. Rochan, 563 F.2d 1246, 1249 (5th Cir. 1977).
16
The court will not presume prosecutorial bad faith. "We cannot find that the prosecutor manifestly intended to comment on the defendant's failure to testify, if some other explanation for his remark is equally plausible." United States v. Rochan, 563 F.2d 1246, 1249 (5th Cir. 1977). The comment must be examined in context to determine if reversible error has been committed. United States v. Sorzano, 602 F.2d 1201 (5th Cir. 1979).
17
An examination of the comment demonstrates that it was not the prosecutor's manifest intention to comment on Frank's failure to testify, nor would the jury's attention naturally and necessarily be drawn to Frank's silence. Frank did not testify at trial but presented an alibi defense consisting of two parts: (1) that he was at the Airline Bar the evening of the robbery, and (2) that he had sufficient funds to pay his auto mechanic for repairs and therefore did not need to rob the Kajun Kitchen to acquire sufficient funds. When viewed in this light, the prosecutor's comment is but a reference to the weakness of Frank's alibi. The prosecutor's argument is replete with references to "the defendant's defense" and "the defendant's alibi." Having relied on Willie Aaron's testimony, Frank cannot now complain when the prosecution highlights the gaps in that testimony. The prosecutor can respond to defendant's argument, United States v. Corral-Martinez, 592 F.2d 263, 268-69 (5th Cir. 1979), and ask the jury to draw the natural inferences flowing from defendant's conduct. United States v. Ward, 552 F.2d 1080, 1083 (5th Cir. 1977), Cert. denied, 434 U.S. 850, 98 S.Ct. 161, 54 L.Ed.2d 119 (1977).
18
We believe the jurors would construe the argument about what defendant "doesn't tell us" to be response to the total case of the defense and the position taken by defendant's attorney rather than as an allusion to the personal silence of Jimmy Frank. It is not fatal under the test of United States v. Rochan, supra.
THE SENTENCE
19
Frank contends that because he failed to plea bargain and elected to stand trial, his prison sentence on conviction was increased in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment. Once before the trial and once during a recess in the prosecution's case, the trial judge conducted a plea bargaining session in chambers in which the prosecutor and defense counsel participated. On both occasions the judge, in response to a request from defense counsel, Personally stated that he would sentence appellant to a period of twenty years confinement in return for a plea of guilty. Frank rejected both offers, stood trial and was convicted by the jury, whereupon the judge imposed a sentence of thirty-three years in prison.
20
In response to Frank's assignments of error for appeal of the judgment of conviction and the sentence, the state trial judge, in his per curiam opinion, noted Frank's courtroom attitude, the seriousness of the crime of armed robbery, the risk of repetition, the threat to human life from Frank's conduct, and the legislative classification of armed robbery a maximum sentence of ninety-nine years imprisonment without the benefit of probation, parole, or suspension of sentence, LSA-R.S. 14:64(B) as factors bearing on his sentencing decision. None of these factors, however, demonstrate why Frank's sentence was increased beyond the twenty years proposed by the judge on the two previous occasions. "(A) court cannot sentence a defendant more severely Simply because he exercised his right to stand trial." United States v. Underwood, 588 F.2d 1073, 1078 (5th Cir. 1979); Baker v. United States, 412 F.2d 1069, 1073 (5th Cir. 1969). "(T)he imposition of such a punishment, 'penalizing those who choose to exercise' constitutional rights '(is) patently unconstitutional.' " North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. 711, 724, 89 S.Ct. 2072, 2080, 23 L.Ed.2d 656, 668 (1969), Quoting United States v. Jackson, 390 U.S. 570, 581, 88 S.Ct. 1209, 1216, 20 L.Ed.2d 138, 147 (1968).
21
A judge may consider a wide variety of factors, including a defendant's false testimony and his lack of remorse, in determining the proper sentence, United States v. Grayson, 438 U.S. 41, 98 S.Ct. 2610, 57 L.Ed.2d 582 (1978); United States v. Richardson, 582 F.2d 968 (5th Cir. 1978), and we usually accept a judge's statement that he did not increase the sentence vindictively. United States v. Rauhoff, 525 F.2d 1170, 1178-79 (7th Cir. 1975); See United States v. Noll, 600 F.2d 1123, 1130 (5th Cir. 1979). The mere fact that Frank received a longer sentence upon conviction than was offered at a pretrial hearing does not conclusively show vindictiveness, Cousin v. Blackburn, 597 F.2d 511 (5th Cir. 1979), nor does the fact that a term less than the statutory maximum was imposed demonstrate its absence. United States v. Wright, 533 F.2d 214 (5th Cir. 1976).
22
The Supreme Court has stated that before a defendant who has successfully attacked his first conviction can be more severely sentenced after a new trial, the reasons for doing so must "affirmatively appear." North Carolina v. Pearce, 395 U.S. at 726, 89 S.Ct. at 2081. "Those reasons must be based upon objective information concerning identifiable conduct on the part of the defendant occurring after the time of the original sentencing proceeding" in order to insure the absence of vindictiveness. Id. We see no reason why a similar rule should not apply to the plea bargaining process where the judge has personally stated what the sentence should be. A defendant may not be more severely sentenced after conviction by a judge, who earlier proposed a more lenient sentence in return for a plea of guilty to the same charge, absent reasons based upon conduct or nature of the defendant unknown to the judge when the lighter sentence was proposed.
23
This record demonstrates that the judge lacked reason to increase defendant's sentence over what he proposed in the plea bargaining sessions. At the preliminary examination held on February 21, 1975, before the same judge, the chief prosecution witness, Linda Young, testified, as did another eyewitness and one of the arresting officers. With regard to the conduct of the defendant during the course of the robbery and his subsequent arrest, their testimony at the preliminary hearing was virtually identical with their testimony at trial. Thus, prior to the start of the trial itself, the judge had a virtually complete picture of events on the night of the robbery. Furthermore, before trial at a pretrial conference, the judge, the assistant district attorney, and the defense counsel met in chambers. The prosecution "systematically presented the factual merits of this case against the defendant to the Judge, together with the pertinent criminal history of the defendant (rap sheet), and, after due consideration, the presiding Judge proposed to the defense attorney that a sentence of twenty years would be imposed in exchange for a plea of guilty. The defendant elected to pretermit a guilty plea and exercised his right to the trial." (State Record, Vol. I, pp. 49-50, Stipulation).
24
The trial began on April 24, 1975, and the evidence was concluded on that day. "During the course of the trial, at a recess, the defense attorney, in the presence of the Assistant District Attorney, in Chambers, requested the presiding Judge to propose a prospective sentence in exchange for a guilty plea at that time. The presiding Judge again proposed a sentence of twenty years, and the defendant elected to continue his right to a trial." Id. There was a recess after the prosecution's first and chief witness, Linda Young, testified, and we assume that the second plea bargaining conference was held at that time. After Young testified, the prosecution presented the other witness to the crime, another waitress working in the restaurant. She was even less positive than Young in identifying Frank as the robber, and she failed to elicit any new facts in the conduct of the robbery. Both arresting officers then testified; neither of them gave any indication that Frank had resisted arrest or refused to cooperate with the authorities. The remainder of the prosecution witnesses were introduced in the attempt to discredit Frank's alibi that he was at the Airline Bar at the time of the robbery. Frank did not testify, so there was no false testimony or insolent demeanor to reflect against him. We can find nothing in the record following Young's testimony which would bear on the decision to increase the sentence other than Frank's refusal to plead guilty.
25
The trial judge had heard a virtually complete statement of the prosecution's case on no less than three occasions, and he had twice proposed a sentence of twenty years. Nevertheless, on May 2, 1975, Frank was sentenced in open court to "thirty-three years at hard labor without benefit of parole, probation, or suspension of sentence." (State Record, Vol. I, p. 49, Stipulation). Under the unique facts of the present case, we must conclude that Jimmy Frank was penalized by the court because he exercised his constitutional right to stand trial. We hold that Jimmy Frank is now in custody under a sentence violative of the Constitution of the United States.
26
We presume that the Louisiana authorities will promptly see that Frank is resentenced to a term of no more than twenty years. Pending this action we remand the present cause to the district court for dismissal upon resentencing or for issuance of the writ.
27
REVERSED AND REMANDED.
1
Willie Aaron, defendant's friend and witness at trial, testified that Frank exhibited a large wad of bills the morning of the robbery, implying that Frank did not need to rob the restaurant to obtain sufficient funds to pay the auto mechanic
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Q:
BreezeSharp - Query with parameters against the local cache
I am trying to execute query with parameters against local cache or server (if nothing is found in cache).
public async Task<List<T>> Get(IDictionary<string, object> parameters, string resourceName = "", FetchSource fetchSource = FetchSource.None)
{
try
{
var query = resourceName == string.Empty ? EntityQuery.From<T>().WithParameters(parameters) : EntityQuery.From<T>(resourceName).WithParameters(parameters);
var queryResult = await this.ExecuteQuery(query, fetchSource);
var result = queryResult.ToList();
return result;
}
catch (Exception e)
{
return new List<T>(); // return empty result instead
}
}
FetchSource is our enum:
public enum FetchSource
{
None = 0,
FromServer = 1,
FromCache = 2,
FromCacheOrServer = 3
}
And here is ExecuteQuery method:
protected async Task<IEnumerable<T>> ExecuteQuery(EntityQuery<T> query, FetchSource fetchSource = FetchSource.None)
{
//...
if (fetchSource == FetchSource.FromCacheOrServer)
{
var result = query.ExecuteLocally(this.EntityManager); // Throws error
if (result != null && result.Any())
{
return result;
}
return await query.Execute(this.EntityManager);
}
//...
}
When I try to execute query locally this exception is thrown:
{"Unable to cast object of type
'WhereEnumerableIterator`1[StanleySteemer.Nimbus.Client.Common.Model.Proxy.RouteOrder]'
to type
'DataServiceOrderedQuery[StanleySteemer.Nimbus.Client.Common.Model.Proxy.RouteOrder]'."}
Although I couldn't find anything in docs specifically regarding to this subject, I have implemented similar functionality in BreezeJS which was working without issue(UPDATE: it doesn't work correctly):
findWithParametersInCacheOrServer = function (parameters, recordsLimit) {
var query = breeze.EntityQuery
.from(resourceName)
.withParameters(parameters);
var r = executeCacheQuery(query);
if (r) {
if (r.length > recordsLimit) {
return Q.resolve(r);
}
}
return executeQuery(query);
};
function executeCacheQuery(query) {
return entityManagerProvider.manager().executeQueryLocally(query);
}
Data architecture in JavaScript is similar to TempHire example.
Is this a known issue? Is there any workaround for it?
A:
Not sure I understand, neither breeze.js nor breeze.sharp can automatically perform a 'local cache query' that involves parameters. This is because the interpretation of the parameters is only really defined on the server and not on the client.
It sounds as though what you have done is define a custom implementation of your specific 'with parameters' query in breeze.js that completely bypasses Breeze's internal implementation. Is this correct?
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By: Hojjat al-Islam Shaykh Husain Ansariyan
O ye who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose
fuel is Men and Stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and)
severe, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from
God, but do (precisely) what they are commanded. [Holy Quran: Tahrim
66: 6]
Protect Yourself and Your Family from the Fire of Hell
A verse in chapter Tahrim places an extremely heavy responsibility on the head of household. If all the people, especially those responsible for their wife and children, paid close attention to this verse, then a large portion of family problems would be solved. There would be no more tension or insecurity in the house and all things would get settled easily.
O ye who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire whose fuel is Men and Stones, over which are (appointed) angels stern (and) severe, who flinch not (from executing) the Commands they receive from God, but do (precisely) what they are commanded. [Holy Quran: Tahrim 66: 6]
It is the responsibility of the head of the household to guide his family members towards unity, faith in the Hereafter, fear of God's punishment, piety, Islamic behavior; and to provide the means for their development, education and training. Hence he shall protect them from the torture of the Hereafter. Take note that the Quran says that men are the fuel for the Fire of Hell in the above verse. It is clearly understood from the Holy Quran that the roots of the torture in the Hereafter are sins; and the nature of crimes and their punishment is the same. As opposed to crimes in this world which have a different form of punishment, like demanding fines for driving rule violations; in the Herafter crimes are human acts, but their fine is not financial. The nature of property and action is different; however, in the order of the Creator, the nature of crimes and punishment is the same. This means that the penalty for a criminal in the
Hereafter is the crime itself which shall blaze out of the criminal like fire.When man commits any crime, be it a criminal action, a financial crime, a moral or spiritual crime, he has accepted the fire, which will appear and burn him in the Hereafter. Many people commit lots of sins for much of their lives and leave no part of their body pure from committing sins. In fact they have stored up much fire within themselves. This fire shall physically appear in the Hereafter when the curtains are drawn aside and the unseen becomes visible, and it shall enslave its owner forever. Please note the following two verses from the Glorious Quran.
Those who conceal God's revelations in the Book, and purchase for them a miserable profit, - they swallow into themselves naught but Fire; God will not address them on the Day of Resurrection, nor purify them: grievous will be their penalty. [Holy Quran: Baqara: 2:174] Those who unjustly eat up the property of orphans, eat up a Fire into their own bodies: they will soon be enduring a blazing Fire! [Holy Quran: Nisaa: 4:10]
In both verses, eating what is unlawfully earned is known as eating the fire. Although it looks like a delicious bite today; it will show its inherent nature as fire in the Hereafter. There are the words of the Glorious Existence which has willed and created the beings, the Jinns, the angels, the heavens, and men and women. He is the one who sees sins as being fire while we see a bad act as being a pleasant one. He sees the Fire of Hell blazing brightly while we do not even feel the heat. In the Hereafter, fire shall blaze from the eyes for looking at forbidden scenes; the ears for listening to forbidden sounds; the tongues for swearing, gossiping or vain talk; the stomach for eating what is unlawfully earned; from the lust for fornication, masturbating or gay acts; the hands for oppressing, cheating, deceit, forging signatures, corrupt writing; and feet for going to forbidden parties. The owner of these body parts shall suffer tortures from which he cannot escape.
O' heads of the households, protect your family and yourself from such a fire which is a result of committing sins. Adhere to divine piety in all aspects of life. Do not let this life's few days of temporary pleasure, or wealth which may be lost, cause you to suffer from eternal torture in Hell, whose fuel is man himself. Stone is one of the materials which can burn. You all know coal is a hard substance with high heat production capability, and a long burning time. For millions of years, rocks and lava have been burning at a high pressure such that at times they appear as a volcano. The flowing lava will burn and destroy everything in its path. This fire does not end, and as noted by the Holy Quran, it will cover all the earth, and put aflame all the seas.
When the oceans boil over with a swell; [Holy Quran: Takwir: 81:6]
This is a fact which scientists have now discovered. One day in the future, the earth will turn into a ball of fire.
One day the Earth will be changed to a different Earth, [Holy Quran: Abraham 14:48]
Thus considering the internal conditions of the Earth being a sea of molten rocks and lava, and the future of the Earth as a ball of fire, we can better understand the traditions which state that Hell and all its stages exist here on Earth. On that day, men and rocks will be the fuel for the fire. The combustible materials in the Earth are the rocks and the lava which may become eternal if God wills, as man which can become eternal if He wills. Then the family and its head should pay close attention to the following divine words.
O ye who believe! Save yourselves and your families from a Fire .... [Holy Quran: Tahrim 66: 6]
It is not easy to deal with the fire managers being angry angels. The residents of Hell are weak and there is no escape for them. Base people have a base place in Hell. The Hell that is on this Earth, whose fuel is rocks and men, whose managers are angry and harsh, whose torture is all-encompassing, burdensome, burning and ever-lasting. The residents of Hell neither die nor do they have a desirable life.
In which they will then neither die nor live. [Holy Quran: A'la 87:13]
A Scented Heaven
When the head of the household encourages his family members to do their obligatory religious duties, and abstain from doing physical, financial or moral wrong acts, then he has saved himself and his family from the Fire of Hell. Their road towards heaven will be paved. The Heaven which is near the lote-tree, its width being similar to that of the Earth and all the heavens.
Near the lote-tree beyond which none may pass:Near it is the Garden of Abode. [Holy Quran: Najm: 53:14-15]
It is clear that the above verse points out to a vast universe, so vast that the divine Heaven which is the same width as the Earth and all the heavens is a part of it. The Holy Quran instructs all people to become adorned with faith, good deeds and a good temper; and rush towards Heaven:
Be quick in the race for forgiveness from your Lord, and for a Garden whose width is that (of the whole) of the heavens and of the Earth, prepared for the righteous, [Holy Quran: Al-i-Imran: 3:133]
Dear readers, beware that sins are savings which you take with you to Hell, while faith, worship and serving the people are savings which you take with you to Heaven. Protect yourselves and the family members from saving for Hell, and encourage them to put things aside for Heaven. Your responsibility as the head of the household is a heavy one. Take the Prophet (Pbuh) as a model for your behavior with your wife, children and servants. Then you may be secure from the torture of the Hereafter, and may reach the eternal blessing of God, being the lote-tree leaves. The Prophet (Pbuh) was the best husband and father. He did not go to any extremes in kindness, love and affection, actions and behavior and was moderate in all respects. He was friendly and kind with them, and also admonished them regarding their religious duties, God's worship and the fear of the punishment of the Hereafter. He treated women as women, and acted like a child when he was dealing with children. He was a light of guidance and an example of politeness, nobility, morality, belief in the unity of God, and God's worship.
Four Important Duties
Several important duties of the head of the household have been mentioned in what follows. These help protect the family members from the fire.
1- Invite them to obey God. The head of the household should invite all members of his family to obey God's orders which are issued to improve our life in this world and the Hereafter. He should invite them in such a manner that it is not difficult for them to follow. It should be said kindly, so that the wife and the children become interested in obeying God, and consider this to be of the highest priority. I have tested this at home and it was useful. You should try it too. I am sure you will benefit from it. When your children start to obey God, you should encourage them, give them a prize, and hug them. Thus they will get used to obeying God. Woman too should readily accept their husband's call to obey God, so that the children learn to obey God.
2- Teach them about their religious duties. The head of the household should teach his family their religious duties, part of which is described in books on Islamic jurisprudence, Islamic ethics and in the practical treatise of Muslim scholars. If he cannot do this himself, he should take them to the mosque and religious ceremonies, or invite religious scholars to his house, so that his family members receive some training about their religious duties. It may be difficult for some people to read, yet understand the practical treaties of Muslim scholars. In this case, the children should be sent to classes so they learn about their religious duties near the time of maturity.
3- Instruct them to avoid doing what is considered to be bad. It is incumbent upon the head of the household to admonish the members of his family against wrongful acts and sins, and to eliminate any grounds for commiting sins at home.
4- Encourage them to do good deeds. It is incumbent upon the head of the household to encourage the members of his family to do good deeds such as charity; humbleness,;respecting the elderly; helping to strengthen people's friendship; saying what is right; seeking what is right; and whatever is considered to be a good deed.
The late Islamic scholar Allameh Majlesi has said that following these four guidelines is a sure way to protect one and his family from the Fire of Hell. Working for God's pleasure as such is extremely rewarding. When the Prophet (Pbuh) decided to dispatch the Commander of the Faithful to invite the people of Yemen to God's way, he told him: I swear by God that should God guide even just one person through your efforts, it is better for you than whatever the sun sets and rises on. [Bihar al-Anwar, v.21, p.361]
What a good deal, and how profitable a business it is to gain such a reward for guiding the wife and the children by being a good teacher! This reward is in addition to that gained by going to work to earn your living by lawful means. Such heads of household will receive a double reward; one for providing the material necessities of their family members and one for providing the spiritual necessities.
The Rights of Wives and Husbands in Islam
Those are limits set by God: those who obey God and His Apostle will be
admitted to Gardens with rivers flowing beneath, to abide therein
(forever) and that will be the Supreme achievement. [Holy Quran: Nisaa
4:13]
An Outlook on Family Rights
The rights of wives and husbands are completely described in the Glorious Quran. When studying them one can recognize these mutual rights as being one of the miracles of the pure culture of Islam. No other school of thought has so thoroughly attended to the rights of wives and their husbands until now, and none can do so from now until the end of time. These rights include obligatory and recommended rights. Disrespecting the obligatory rights without the other person's consent is the cause of divine punishment, and not honoring the recommended rights will lessen the sweetness of life. A major portion of these mutual rights are described in Vasa'il al-Shiaa, volumes 20-22, printed by Al-i-Bayt Press. As much as is required, I shall quote traditions from this volume, and instruct my dear readers to carefully read over those volumes.
Firstly, to bless the discussion I shall mention a few Quranic verses related to the matter and then I shall quote the traditions.
I will mislead them, and I will create in them false desires; I will order them to slit the ears of cattle, and to deface the (fair) nature created by God. Whoever, forsaking God, takes Satan for a friend, has of a surety suffered a loss that is manifest. [Holy Quran Nisaa 4:119]
And women shall have rights similar to the rights against them, according to what is equitable: [Holy Quran: Baqara: 2:228]
And yet they had already covenanted with God not to turn their backs, and a covenant with God must (surely) be answered for. [Holy Quran: Ahzab 33:15]
Isaq, the son of Ammac, said that he had asked Imam Sadiq what right does a woman have whose fulfillment by her husband implies that he is a good doer. The Imam replied that he should feed her properly and provide her with clothing. And when she does something out of ignorance, he should forgive her. Then the Imam said my father had a bothersome wife but he would always forgive her. The sixth Imam quoted the Prophet (Pbuh) as saying: Gabriel recommended on behalf of wives so much so that I thought divorcing her is not permissible unless she commits adultery. He also said good mercy be upon the man who performs all the affairs for himself and his wife well, since God the Almighty has granted to men the control of women, and established the husband as her guardian. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: One who ignores his wife's rights is deprived of God’s Mercy. He also said: The best of you is one who is the best for his family and I am a model for you in this regard. He also said: A man's wife is his slave and the person most loved by God the Almighty is the one who treats his slaves kindly.
The Rights of the Wife
1- Providing the means for living.
The Prophet (Pbuh) said one must provide the foodstuffs and clothing of his wife in the best manner. Imam Sajjad said: Going to the market and buying one Durham of meat which my wife desires is better than freeing a slave. The sixth Imam said: The most fortunate man is the one who manages the affairs of his wife and children.
2- Sexual intercourse.
The eight Imam was asked about a man who had a young wife whom he had not slept with for nearly a year due to a disaster that had come upon him. He had no intentions to bother his wife but the disaster caused him to do so. Was he sinning? The Imam answered: Of course. After four months passed, he was sinning. Abuzar asked the Prophet: Is a man's love-making to his wife divinely rewarded even though it brings pleasure? The Prophet (Pbuh) answered: Yes, of course. Is it not forbidden to satisfy your sexual desires unlawfully? Abuzar answered yes. Then the Prophet (Pbuh) said: Certainly its lawful form is divinely rewarded. It is considered desirable in divine teachings for a man to sleep with his wife for love-making once every four nights.
3-Improving the Living Conditions
The Prophet (Pbuh) said: When a man goes to shop for his wife, he is similar to one who takes charity to the house of the needy. When he gets home, he should first give what he has bought to his daughters. This is so because one who makes his daughter happy is similar to one who frees a slave from Ismael's generation. And one who makes his son happy by giving him something is similar to one who cries for fear of God given that God shall take such a person into Heaven filled with blessings.
Imam Musa said: Men's wives are their slaves. When God gives blessings to anyone he should use it to improve the living conditions of his slave or else that blessing might be taken away from him. The Prophet (Pbuh) has admonished against a man being full while his wife is hungry. The sixth Imam said: A man should try to do the following things even if it is against his own desires.
(1) Treating the family well
(2) Trying to improve his living conditions without being wasteful
(3) Being concerned about protecting the family's honor.
The fourth Imam said: God is more pleased with the one who brings about more improvement in his family's living conditions. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: Whatever a Muslim man buys for his wife has a reward similar to that of charity.
(4) Respecting the wife
The Prophet (Pbuh) said: Anyone who gets married should respect his wife. He also said: Anyone who hits his wife more than three times (at once), will be disgraced by God in the Hereafter. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: Can you expect to hug your wife at night, having beaten her in the day time? He also said: In fact a woman is a doll; Anyone who marries one should not commit sin with it. He also said: I wonder about a man who beats his wife, while he himself deserves to be beaten more. Do not beat your wives with a stick since there is retaliation for this act. The Commander of the Faithful said: The women you are responsible for are a trust for you. Don't be strict with them and leave them up in the air. Haola asked the Prophet: What rights does a women have over a man? The Prophet (Pbuh) replied: Gabriel made so many recommendations on behalf of women that I thought a man cannot say the slightest thing to her. Gabriel said: O' Muhammad, be afraid of God in regards to women. They bear the sufferings and hardships of life. Women have rights over you since they have placed their bodies in your control for pleasure, they carry your children within their bodies until the time for delivery and they experience dangerous pains. Be kind to them. Keep them satisfied so they'll get along well with you. Don't say your wives are ugly or you don't like them. Don't be greedy about what you have given as the nuptial gift or take any of it back by force.
(5) Grooming oneself and keeping clean
Just as men like to see their wives looking pretty, clean, wearing nice clothes and using good scent, women have the same desires for their husbands: cleanliness, grooming, taking baths, brushing teeth, washing one's hair, combing one's hair, cutting one's nails, using scent, wearing proper clothing and the rest of the allowed grooming. These acts will please the woman and increase her chastity. She will not go after other men and think about getting another husband. Hassan ibn Jahm said: The 8th Imam dyed his hair and I asked him why. He said that a man's grooming himself increases the chastity of his wife. Women abandon chastity because they never saw their husbands grooming themselves. Then the 8th Imam asked if I would like to see my wife in a disheveled state. Hazrat Reza quoted on the authority of his grandfather that the women of the Israelites turned away from chastity for no reason at all, except that their husbands didn't groom themselves. Then the Hazrat said: Women expect the same things of men that men expect of them. Some men are really unfair and don't groom themselves. They don't go to the barbers often and they smoke cigarettes. Therefore their teeth and mouth are dirty and bad-smelling. They don't wear the appropriate clothing and don't care about their looks. Yet they expect their wives to submit themselves to them. These men are oppressors who deserve to be blamed and punished.
(6) Speaking Decently and Courteously
Swearing, or using a vulgar language will force the person we are facing to react no matter who they are. When you complain too much your wife will be upset, and this will ruin your mutual life. The Commander of the Faithful has ordered men: Be patient with your wife under all circumstances and treat her with kindness.
(7) Be content with your share of control over life
Some men give up all their God-given free will and totally submit themselves to the will of their wives. Some women take full control of their husband's will and try to run their lives in any way they wish. This sort of life usually turns into a Satanic life with a lot of sin, waste and unlawful desires. The house and the family deviate from the main and divine principles when life is void of spirituality. Today, a large percentage of families suffer from this devastating catastrophe. Instead of life being dependent on the man's decision, it depends on the woman's. Instead of the man being the husband of the wife, the wife is her husband's master. God forbid that the man disobeys the woman's wants even if it is unlawful and ungodly. A fight will be started by the woman which will not end until the man surrenders or divorces her. Regarding such men who have lost control over their wives, Imam Ali said: Any man who gives his control over to his wife is damned. He also said: The man who totally submits to his wife shall be thrown into the Fire of Hell by God with his face down. They asked him why and he replied: Because the wife requests see-through clothing and he accepts it.
Regarding this issue, Imam Ali conducted a public sermon when a man complained against his wife: O' people! Never obey your wife. Do not give her any property. Do not grant the control of your life to her. If such people are left free to do as they wish, they will ruin everybody's life and disobey their husband's orders. We have discovered that these people are not pious when in need; quickly submit to lust; think about collecting gold and silver until very old and are selfish and haughty when they are weak. If some of what they want is not provided to them, they ignore all your kindness and favors and will always remember your bad actions. They will accuse without any hesitation and will never stop their rebellion and are constantly trotting on Satan's path. [Vasa'il, v.20, p.180, Al-i-Bayt Press]
The Rights of the Husband
A major factor in strengthening the ties of mutual life is dependent upon the woman respecting her husband's rights. The wife should only consider God and the Hereafter and not let anyone else interfere in regards to her husband's rights. Others may be mistaken or have bad intentions and it may even be that the cause of such interference in the life of the newly-wed couple is pure jealously. Women should remember that they are easily influenced by others. They should consider this element of their nature, and pay close attention to the possibility of others being wrong. They should remember God and their situation in the Hereafter and respect the man's humane, divine and religious rights.
The man likes the woman to be his woman. She should maintain her sex role as a woman, as this is her nature by creation. She should limit her beauty, appeal, seduction, and coquettishness to her husband. She should neither follow others nor should she accept the interference of distant or close relatives, neighbors or guests. Anyway, she should be the wife of her husband, and live based on his lawful desires. She should run the affairs of the home according to her husband's will, and be a good mother to her children. Some women forget that they are feminine. They become rough, harsh, bitter and man-like. This shall make man's life really bitter, and make him sorry about getting married. They may even get fed up with life. Some of the rights of the husband include: The woman should submit herself to her husband's sexual desires whenever he needs her. The woman should obey her husband in all moral and religious affairs. The woman should seek her husband's permission to leave the house, except for the required pilgrimage to Mecca.
1- Obedience:
Imam Baqir said: A woman came to the Prophet (Pbuh) and asked him what rights does the husband have over the wife? He said: She must obey the husband, and not be rebellious. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: A woman who performs her five required daily prayers, fasts for the month of Ramadan, performs the pilgrimage to Mecca obeys her husband, recognizes the rights of Imam Ali, being that he must be obeyed, shall enter Heaven from anyone of the eight gates which she desires to. Pay close attention to this very important tradition from the noble Prophet of Islam: Any good woman who worships God, performs the obligatory religious acts, and obeys her husband will enter Heaven. Any woman who says her prayers, does not leave the house unnecessarily, and obeys her husband shall be forgiven all her past and future sins by God. The Prophet (Pbuh) told a woman named Haola: By the God who entrusted me with Prophethood, a husband has rights over his wife. She should submit to his sexual desires. She should not disobey his orders, and not oppose or quarrel with him. In a very important and strong statement the Prophet (Pbuh) said: A woman has not fulfilled God's rights as long as she has not fulfilled her husband's rights. You should not conclude from the above traditions that the key to a woman's prosperity is solely obeying her husband. But she should also have faith, worship God, do her religious duties, and avoid doing what is forbidden. This means that she may prosper in this world and the Hereafter only if she gathers all these realties within herself.
2- Sexual submission:
It is obligatory for the wife to sexually submit herself to her husband at times when there is no religious excuse. It is even recommended that she declares her readiness to him. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: A woman should use the best perfume, wear her prettiest clothes, and groom herself in the best possible form. She should appear in front of her husband every morning and night displaying her beauties. The husband has even more rights than this. If a woman carries out the instructions of the Prophet (Pbuh) exactly, she can keep her husband for herself, and keep him away from looking at or chasing other women, even in a lawful manner. This is exactly the situation which causes conflicts. The wife wants to wear her best clothes, perfume, and make-up for going out to wedding parties or visit her friends and relatives, but appears in front of her husband as she is. Even after she returns from the party, she does not give her husband the slightest chance to see her. This hurts the husband's feelings and weakens their relationship and may prepare the grounds for other problems. Many young and middle-aged men have come to me to complain about their wives' indifference and lack of interest in sexual submission and not making themselves up for them. They have expressed their interest in temporary marriage or divorce and re-marriage and have asked me to solve their problem. My only recommendation to women at this stage is to wholeheartedly follow the instructions of the Immaculate Imams and the Noble Prophet. This way their husband will not become lustful outside the house and they will not have any marital problems. Or else your life will be ruined and you will be responsible for it in the Hereafter. In regards to man's attraction to his wife and her submission to him the Prophet (Pbuh) said: Do not elongate your prayers to avoid submitting to your husband.
3- Going out of the House:
Unfortunately, many women who have quit being a woman, and consider themselves to be men do not obey their husbands in regards to seeking permission to go out of the house. If it was deemed proper for women to freely go out of the house, then God would not have made it conditional upon the husband's permission. Some women left the house without their husband's permission. They caused sedition and corruption. They let out their hair and showed their face. They disturbed the pure atmosphere of the society. They acted sexy and coquettish in the streets. They even sometimes forced the men not to object in an attempt to protect their honor, so that these women could act as they pleased. They imitated the Western culture, that of the Jews and the Christians. They made such catastrophes for Islam and the Muslims that can never be compensated for. The Prophet (Pbuh) has ordered a woman not to leave the house without her husband's consent. And if she does so without his permission, all the heavenly angels and each jinn or man who passes by her will damn her until she returns home. Imam Sadiq said: One of the men from the Helpers (Ansar) went on a trip and ordered his wife not to leave the house until he returned home. Her father got ill while her husband was away. She sent a messenger to the Prophet (Pbuh) asking him if she could visit her father. The Prophet (Pbuh) replied that she should obey her husband and stay at home. Her father got worse and she sent another message but received the same reply. Her father passed away and she sent another messenger to go and pray for her father, but she received the same reply. They buried her father but the woman stayed at home. The Prophet (Pbuh) sent a messenger to her and he said that God forgave you and your father for obeying your husband. The Commander of the Faithful has instructed men as follows: Protect your women from the eyes of strange men, since this will better guard their chastity. The bad influences of bringing untrustworthy men to your house is the same as letting them go out to be seen in public. Make an effort so that they know no one but you.
4- Don't bother your husband, and don't be vulgar and ill-tempered:
The Prophet (Pbuh) has made an amazing speech regarding this issue. He delivered this lecture for women. O' women, pay charity in God's way, even though it be your ornaments, even a date, since many of you swear and are ungrateful to your husband and will be the fuel for the Fire of Hell. A woman said are we not mothers. Don't we carry the babies in our wombs for many months. Don't we breastfeed them. Aren't these girls the heads of some households, and these sisters sympathetic to their brothers? The Prophet (Pbuh) said yes. You get pregnant. You deliver children. You breastfeed them. You are kind. If women did not bother their husbands and got along with them, then no praying woman would burn in the Fire of Hell.
The sixth Imam said: These people's prayers are not accepted: A maid's prayers who runs away are not accepted until she returns to her owners huose; a woman whose husband is dissatisfied with her from night until the morning; and a leader who leads the people, but the people do not want him. Ali, the son of Jafar asked his brother Imam Musa Kazim: What is the status of a woman's prayers and conditions who angers her husband with her bad temper and vulgarity? He answered she is sinful until her husband is pleased with her. The Prophet (Pbuh) told Haola: I swear by God who appointed me to Prophethood through my honesty and trustworthiness that when a men gets angry with his wife, God too will be angry with her. The Prophet (Pbuh) has asked women not to expect of their husbands more than they can provide for them and not to degrade their status before anyone whether it be a relative or a stranger. The sixth Imam said: A woman who bothers her husband, and makes him sorrowful is damned. A woman who obeys her husband under any circumstances and respects him and does not bother him is prosperous.
5- Working at home:
The Prophet (Pbuh) told Haola: God shall prepare various delicious meals in Heaven for women who prepare delicious meals for their husbands. He will tell them to eat and drink as a reward for their efforts in this world. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: God shall look favorably at any woman who changes the decorations in the house to make the house look better. Whoever is favorably looked at by God will be saved from punishment. Imam Baqir said: Zahra (Pbuh) took care of the work inside the house such as preparing the dough and cooking the bread, and the Commander of the Faithful took care of the work outside the house such as shopping and collecting wood.
6- Respect your husband and treat him well:
The seventh Imam said: A woman's Jihad is to take good care of her husband. A woman Jihad is being grateful to her husband; being kind with him; bearing with him when he is poor; seeing him off when he leaves, and welcoming him when he comes home; totally submitting to her husband at allowed times; putting on good clothes and make up for him; properly running the affairs of the house; avoiding wastefulness and not asking him for more than he can buy. Such acts which are defined by the Prophet (Pbuh) and the Imams as a wife's duty towards her husband are her Jihad (Holy War) Imam Baqir said: Nothing can intercede on behalf of a woman in God's presence than her husband's consent. The sixth Imam said: Some people went to see the Prophet (Pbuh) and said we saw some folks who prostrated in front of their leaders. Will you let us do so in front of you? The Prophet (Pbuh) said: No, but if I were to issue such an order, I would order women to prostrate in front of their husbands. The Prophet (Pbuh) told Haola: God will make any woman who obeys her husband, and is patient with him under all circumstances a companion of the wife of the Prophet Jacob (Pbuh) in the Hereafter. God will grant any woman a reward for bearing the bitter words of her husband. For each word, He will count one day of fasting of a fighter in the way of God as her reward. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: A husband's right over his wife is that she should turn up the light of his house, cook the food; welcome him at the door when he comes home; prepare water and a towel for him to wash his hands and face; and submit herself to him sexually whenever she does not have a religious excuse. The Commander of the Faithful stood by the dead body of his wife Fatimah upon her death and said:
O' God. I am pleased with your Prophet's daughter. O' God, please be her companion, and alleviate her fears.
7- Do not make yourselves up except for your husband :
The Prophet (Pbuh) told Haola: Do not let anyone other than your husband see your ornaments and jewelry. Do not put on any perfume in the absence of your husband. Do not show off your attractive scarf and wrists. If you do so, you will ruin our religion and make God angry. The Prophet (Pbuh) admonished women against wearing attractive clothes outside the house. He also forbade wearing jewelry that might make noticeable noise. A very important tradition exists from the Prophet, and must be seriously considered by the Muslims. Any man, whose wife puts on make-up and leaves the house to go out and be seen in public with his consent, is a cuckold, and it is not a sin to call him so. For each step that she takes, a house full of fire will be prepared for him. Limit them in this respect, since these limitations are a cause of happiness and pleasure for you and family.
8- Do not use your husbands property without his consent:
The sixth Imam said: A wife is not free to let a slave free, give charity or bet without her husband's consent, however, the payment of the obligatory alms tax, visiting her relatives and doing good deeds do not need his permission. The Prophet (Pbuh) said: A woman should not donate any of her husband's property without his consent. Should she do so, she will be sinful and the reward of her act will belong to the man. I shall once again say that the material presented here regarding the rights of husbands and wives mostly comes from volumes twenty-one through volume twenty-two of the noble book "Vasa'il" printed by Al-i-Bayt Press, and several traditions have been cited from volume 103 of Bihar al-Anwar. Those who wish to study this subject further should refer to these valuable books.
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Q:
Custom php code in joomla 2.5 component
Hello is there any way to use a custom php code as component, in joomla 1.5 I was using Joomla PHP Pages Component from http://www.fijiwebdesign.com/products/joomla-php-pages.html.
With this component I could assign a php file to any menu and execute any php command including query to select/insert/update database.
Unfortunately is not updated to work with joomal 2.5
Is there any other component or tricks to do that?
Thanks
A:
Did you check following links ?
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/edition/custom-code-in-content/1023
http://joomlacode.org/gf/project/jincludes
http://www.kksou.com/php-gtk2/Joomla/DirectPHP-plugin.php
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/edition/custom-code-in-modules/6474
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/edition/custom-code-in-modules/15251
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/edition/custom-code-in-modules/4971
http://extensions.joomla.org/extensions/edition/custom-code-in-content/5051
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Prognostic markers in congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Left ventricular diameter and pulmonary hypertension.
The aim of this study was to investigate whether the outcome of congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH) in newborns can be predicted using left ventricular (LV) diameter and estimated pulmonary artery pressure. Patients in the newborn unit in 2012-2016 were screened retrospectively. Echocardiographic measurements of 35 patients with isolated left lateral CDH and 27 healthy newborns were compared in the first 24 h of life. Mean LV end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD) and end-systolic diameter (LVESD), and LV ejection fraction were significantly lower in the CDH group. Moreover, tricuspid regurgitation (TR) and pulmonary regurgitation (PR) were significantly higher than in the controls (P < 0.001). Six CDH patients died within the next 40 days after birth. Mean LVEDD and LVESD were significantly lower in the CHD patients who died compared with those who were discharged (P < 0.001, P = 0.016). Also, mean TR and PR (P < 0.001) and the frequency of pulmonary hypertension (PH; P = 0.001) were significantly higher in these patients. On receiver operating characteristic analysis of the CDH non-survivors, LVEDD < 11 mm (sensitivity, 100%; 95%CI: 87.9-100; specificity, 100%; 95%CI: 54.1-100) and TR > 3.5 m/s (sensitivity, 89.66%; 95%CI: 72.6-97.7; specificity, 100%; 95%CI: 54.1-100) were associated with poor prognosis. Decrease in LVEDD and presence of PH are associated with poor prognosis. Also, PH was associated with mortality in CDH patients. Thus, outcome may be predicted on careful echocardiographic evaluation of the LV diameters and pulmonary pressure.
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A major UK nuclear laboratory praised by Boris Johnson in his Conservative conference speech is heavily reliant on EU funding, it has emerged.
The prime minister lauded the Culham Centre for Fusion Energy in Oxfordshire during his address at the gathering, saying the lab “could soon be the hottest place in the universe” if scientists are able to make a breakthrough in producing energy from nuclear fusion.
But the main technology at the centre – a reactor named the Joint European Torus (JET) – is almost entirely funded by the European Commission and has been described as “a shining example of scientific cooperation between EU members”.
Under a contract that was extended earlier this year, 88 per cent of the JET running costs were paid for by the EU – totalling around £60m per year.
The new contract will see the EU provide at least €100m (£89m) of funding until the end of 2020 – the point at which the Brexit transition period is due to end.
The technology, which supports around 500 jobs at Culham, is used by scientists from across the EU and coordinated by the bloc’s EUROfusion project.
The government has committed to continuing UK funding for the project after Brexit, but the centre’s future is in doubt because it is overseen by EU atomic agency Euratom – which the government has said the UK will leave when it leaves the EU.
Mr Johnson told the Tory conference in Manchester: “Thanks to British technology there is a place in Oxfordshire that could soon be the hottest place in the solar system: the tokamak fusion reactor in Culham.
“And if you go there you will learn that this country has a global lead in fusion research, and that they are on the verge of creating commercially viable miniature fusion reactors for sale around the world, delivering virtually unlimited zero-carbon power
“Now I know they have been on the verge for some time – it is a pretty spacious kind of verge – but remember it was only a few years ago when people were saying that solar power would never work in cloudy old Britain and that wind turbines would not pull the skin off a rice pudding.”
Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference Show all 10 1 /10 Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference A Boris Johnson doll for sale at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on 29 September PA Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference Mugs with Boris Johnson's portrait for sale at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on 29 September AP Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference A Boris Johnson themed T-shirt for sale at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on 29 September AFP/Getty Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference Boris Johnson and other Conservative themed cards for sale at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on 29 September AP Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference Boris Johnson posters for sale at the Conservative Party Conference in Manchester on 29 September EPA Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference Copies of The Conservative newspaper are ready to be distributed during the Conservative Party conference on 30 September Getty Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference "GET BREXIT DONE" mugs alongside other Conservative merchandise at the party conference in Manchester on 29 September PA Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference Assorted Conservative merchandise for sale at the party conference in Manchester on 29 September PA Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference Books about Jacob Rees-Mogg and Jeremy Corbyn for sale at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on 29 September Getty Boris Johnson and Brexit merchandise for sale at the Tory conference A variety of books for sale at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester on 29 September Getty
JET is operated by the UK’s Atomic Energy Authority. When the contract extension was announced, its chief executive, Professor Ian Chapman, said: “JET has been a shining example of scientific cooperation between EU members, and this news means that these mutually beneficial collaborations will continue, allowing us to do essential experiments on the path to delivering fusion power.”
Experts also poured scorn on Mr Johnson’s claim that Culham was “on the verge” of creating commercially viable fusion reactors. The centre’s own website says that electricity produced by nuclear fusion is still “30-40 years” away.
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Inti Raymi
The Inti Raymi'rata (Quechua for "Inti festival") is a traditional religious ceremony of the Inca Empire in honor of the god Inti (Quechua for "sun"), the most venerated deity in Inca religion. It was the celebration of the winter solstice - the shortest day of the year in terms of the time between sunrise and sunset - and the Inca New Year, when the hours of light would begin to lengthen again. In territories south of the equator, the Gregorian months of June and July are winter months. It is held on June 24.
During the Inca Empire, the Inti Raymi was the most important of four ceremonies celebrated in Cusco, as related by Inca Garcilaso de la Vega. The celebration took place in the Haukaypata or the main plaza in the city.
According to chronicler Garcilaso de la Vega, Sapa Inca Pachacuti created the Inti Raymi to celebrate the new year in the Andes of the Southern Hemisphere. The ceremony was also said to symbolize the mythical origin of the Inca people. It lasted for nine days and was filled with colorful dances and processions, as well as animal sacrifices to thank Pachamama and to ensure a good harvest season. The first Inti Raymi was in 1412. The last Inti Raymi with the Inca Emperor's presence was carried out in 1535. After this, the Spanish colonists and their Catholic priests banned the ceremony and other Inca religious practices.
In 1944, a historical reconstruction of the Inti Raymi was directed by Faustino Espinoza Navarro and indigenous actors. The first reconstruction was based largely on the chronicles of Garcilaso de la Vega and referred only to the religious ceremony. Since 1944, an annual theatrical representation of the Inti Raymi has been taking place at Saksaywaman on June 24, two kilometers from the original site of celebration in central Cusco. It attracts thousands of tourists and local visitors.
Inti Raymi is still celebrated in indigenous cultures throughout the Andes. Celebrations involve music, wearing of colorful costumes (most notable the woven aya huma mask), and the sharing of food. In many parts of the Andes though, this celebration has also been connected to the western Catholic festivals of Saint John the Baptist, which falls on the day after the southern winter solstice (June 21).
References
External links
The celebration of the Sun
Inti Raymi - Cultura Interactiva
Category:Peruvian culture
Category:Festivals in Peru
Category:Inca mythology
Category:June observances
Category:New Year celebrations
Category:Winter holidays (Southern Hemisphere)
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In general, a construction machine is driven by using a hydraulic pressure. The hydraulic pressure is supplied from one or more hydraulic pumps operated by an engine. The hydraulic pumps pressure working oil and supply the pressured working oil to respective actuators. The working oil is properly distributed to the actuators via a distributor called a main control value.
An output of the engine is lost while the working oil passes through hydraulic parts, such as a pump, a pipeline, a valve, a main control valve, for driving a hydraulic pressure. The actuators are operated at an efficiency of approximately 20% of the engine output.
In recent years, studies on pump control systems equipped with pumps for supplying working oil in correspondence to respective actuators to increase an efficiency of a hydraulic system for an output of an engine are being conducted.
Such a pump control system is designed such that pumps driven by an engine directly supply working oil to respective actuators, and is a system for reducing the number of hydraulic elements passing through or controlling the working oil to reduce loss due to hydraulic friction. The pump control system ensures a high efficiency of an engine as a loss of a main control valve distributing the working oil is removed. Further, outputs of the actuators can be easily controlled by regulating an amount of the working oil supplied by the pumps.
In this way, a summary of the technology of such a pump control system has been known, but there are problems in that loads of the actuators driven by the pumps are different, and if an over load is applied to any pump, a flow rate of the working oil supplied to the pump becomes insufficient.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
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Jack Wilshere may have two children of his own, but the 24-year-old is not too old to wish his own 'papa' a happy birthday.
The Arsenal midfielder took to his Instagram account to post a 'selfie' of himself and his father to celebrate West Ham fan Andy Wilshere's 51st birthday.
It is not the first time that Wilshere has uploaded a photo to Instagram to celebrate an event involving his dad - he wished him a happy father's day on there last year.
Jack Wilshere wished his dad Andy Wilshere a happy birthday on his Instagram page on Monday evening
The 25-year-old tends to post photos of himself and his father to Instagram whenever they are celebrating
JACK WILSHERE'S INJURY HISTORY 2010: hamstring (January), back (November) 2011: ankle (August) 2012: foot (February), ankle (October) 2013: thigh (February), ankle (March), ankle (May), illness (June), ankle (August), ankle (September), ankle (October), ankle (November), ankle (December) 2014: ankle (January), hamstring (February), foot (March), knee (October), calf and ankle (November) 2015: fibula (August) Advertisement
Wilshere has been troubled by injury this season, not appearing a single time since the start of the campaign for his club.
However, Roy Hodgson remains confident that the midfielder will be among his squad for Euro 2016.
Asked about playing John Stones in a midfield role in France, Hodgson said: ‘I brought that subject up with him — “Have you ever played there? How would you feel about it?” — and as you’d expect he said he could do that job.
‘But with the players we have, and I believe Jack (Wilshere) will be one of them, it’s not something I’d be doing straight away because it would be putting someone in a position he’s not played before going into a big tournament.
Wilshere played in pre-season for Arsenal but suffered a fibia injury in August and has not appeared since
The midfielder has suffered a staggering 21 injuries since 2010, including a seven month injury this campaign
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger claimed at the beginning of February that Wilshere would be back within four weeks, a suggestion that has not proven to be true.
Wilshere has been injured since pre-season, when he broke his fibula during a training session.
He was expected to be absent for about a month, but underwent surgery on his leg in September before being ruled out for a further three months.
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Q:
Two forms of bytes to string decoding
Is there any difference between the following two conversions in python3?
>>> b'hello'.decode()
'hello'
>>> b'hello'.decode('utf-8')
'hello'
Just today I've come across the first method, which I had never seen before (does that default to utf-8, or is the encoding no explicitly set and inferred?
A:
The default is indeed 'utf-8'
>>> help(b'hello'.decode)
Help on built-in function decode:
decode(encoding='utf-8', errors='strict') method of builtins.bytes instance
Decode the bytes using the codec registered for encoding.
encoding
The encoding with which to decode the bytes.
errors
The error handling scheme to use for the handling of decoding errors.
The default is 'strict' meaning that decoding errors raise a
UnicodeDecodeError. Other possible values are 'ignore' and 'replace'
as well as any other name registered with codecs.register_error that
can handle UnicodeDecodeErrors.
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Q:
Embedding torus in space such that its 6-fold symmetry extends
The following question is Problem 1.1.2.c in Thurston's book "Three-dimensional geometry and topology". I have not managed to solve it despite quite a bit of effort.
One can obtain a 2-dimensional torus $T$ by identifying the sides of a hexagon in an appropriate way (see, for example, here). By rotating this hexagon, we can obtain an order $6$ self-map of $T$. The question is whether we can embed $T$ into either $\mathbb{R}^3$ or $S^3$ such that this self-map extends to an order $6$ self-map of the ambient space. My guess is that the answer is "no", at least for $\mathbb{R}^3$. I'm less sure about $S^3$.
Thanks!
A:
Lurking here on MO, I've noticed that unanswered questions get bumped to the top periodically. Since this question was answered by Ryan Budney in the comments, I've decided to write his answer here (marked "community wiki" so I get no reputation points) to prevent this from happening.
The answer is no for both $\mathbb{R}^3$ and $S^3$. I'll give the details for $\mathbb{R}^3$; the other case is similar. Fix an embedding $T^2 \hookrightarrow \mathbb{R}^3$. The first step is to show that $T^2$ is the boundary of a closed regular neighborhood $N$ of a knot. This is a nontrivial fact; for an exposition, see for example this. The space $N$ is a solid torus, and thus up to homotopy there exists exactly one simple closed curve $\gamma$ in $T^2$ which bounds a disc in $N$. Any homeomorphism $\phi : \mathbb{R}^3 \rightarrow \mathbb{R}^3$ which preserves $T^2$ must take $\gamma$ to a curve on $T^2$ homotopic to $\gamma$. In other words, the restriction of $\phi$ to $T^2$ must fix a nonzero vector in $H_1(T^2;\mathbb{Z})$. But the automorphism in the question fixes no such vector.
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Q:
Offline and online application using asp.net mvc
brief history of my project:
2 versions of application, one running in windows form, another running in the web using asp.net
current task: to revamp the project to use asp.net mvc 4 to use only one version of code base.
In final product, there will no more windows form; but only the asp.net mvc. this is with regards with short development timeline.
concern:
my concern is for offline users.
maybe i can host the asp.net mvc4 offline using localhost and sql lite.
When offline users click on check update, there will be able to get the latest version of asp.net mvc 4 ?
any other better solution that is feasible ? i prefer the architecture fits the vb.net
A:
Have you take a look at SPA. That kind of projects, by nature, can work in online and offline mode. One thing to take into account is the ammount of data that the offline mode should handle (most SPAs are using the local storage for offline use, which is a little small)
By looking at this site you will find a lot of resourses on SPA.
http://www.johnpapa.net/spa/
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The main objective of the research supported by "Genetics and Haloperidol Response" is to understand the factors associated with the genetic variation in haloperidol-response. The core working hypothesis is that response and non-response are regulated by the coherence level of the dopamine D2 receptor (Drd2) gene network. The research plan contains four specific aims. 1) To use transcriptome sequencing to determine the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) structure within transcribed sequences (striatum) in the DBA/2J (D2), BALB/cJ and LP/J (LP) mouse strains as compared to the C57BL/6J (B6) reference strain. Detailed SNP maps are necessary a) in order to align quantitative trait loci (QTL) haplotype structure with polymorphisms that may affect gene function e.g. non-synonymous coding SNPs and b) to mask striatal gene expression data. 2) To interrogate two QTLs found on chromosomes 1 and 14 and which have been repeatedly shown to be associated with the catalepsy response. The SNP data obtained in aim1 will be used to map these QTLs to a high resolution (1-2 megabase pairs [Mbp]), to confirm the QTL haplotype structure and to determine which genes within the intervals have non-synonymous coding SNPs that match the predicted QTL haplotypes. The SNP data will also be used to mask striatal gene expression databases to determine which genes (actually transcripts) within the QTL intervals show strong cis-regulation and strain specific alternative splicing and which genes show strong trans-regulation to the QTL intervals. 3) To confirm that haloperidol non-response is a) associated with a decrease in the coherence of the Drd2 gene expression network 4). To determine if the genes identified in aim 2 both affect the catalepsy response and influence the Drd2 gene network.The research plan utilizes several different methods fine mapping of QTLs in heterogeneous stock [HS] animals, the integration of QTL analysis, sequence data and functional genomics, high throughput DNA sequencing, the use of short term selective breeding to confirm the role of Drd2 network coherence in haloperidol response and the integration of the QTL and network based approaches using all possible methods but emphasizing viral mediated transfer of RNA interference. This project has been funded by the VA Merit system since 1991;the original project began with the idea that if one could understand why some individuals are very sensitive and others are essentially resistant to the extrapyramidal symptoms (EPS) induced by typical neuroleptic agents, it should be possible to develop an more effective regimen of antipsychotic drug therapy. Despite the introduction of the atypical antipsychotic drugs, there has been little to challenge this basic premise. Moving away from the specifics of haloperidol response, the proposed work will contribute directly and indirectly to our understanding of the functional organization of the basal ganglia and the extent of genetic variation in this organization. This data should prove useful in understanding a wide variety of neurological disorders, including Huntington's and Parkinson's disease. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: The proposed research described in "Genetics and Haloperidol Response" addresses one of our most difficult mental health problems both within and outside of the VA, namely the treatment of psychosis. Current treatment, while generally effective for reducing positive psychotic symptoms(delusions, hallucinations, thought disorder) frequently leads to a number of untoward side-effects. The side-effects of the typical antipsychotics such as haloperidol are Parkinson's Disease-like symptoms and with chronic use essentially permanent uncontrolled movements. The side-effects of the atypical antipsychotic drugs such as clozapine, include diabetes, severe weight gain and cardiac arrhythmias. The proposed research builds upon the observations of other scientists that in some animals, the side-effects caused by the typical antipsychotics either never occur or are at least greatly reduced. The research hopes to determine the genetic mechanisms associated with this diminished response. With this information in hand, it should be possible to design drugs with fewer side-effects. We also note that both typical and atypical antipsychotic drugs are widely used to treat the psychosis and agitation associated with dementia. The elderly population of veterans (which is dramatically increasing) is highly vulnerable to the untoward effects of the antipsychotic drugs;thus, improvements in the therapeutic index should be of particular value to this population. Finally, the data that will be obtained will be of general value in understanding the genetic structure of the extrapyramidal system which in turn will help our understanding of movement disorders that are prevalent in the VA population, such a Parkinsonism.
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Petitioner suffered a crushing injury to his left hand when it was drawn into a wringer by reason of the slippage of a clutch. The fact that a compensable accident had occurred was admitted. Permanent disability was awarded for 60% of the hand, in the amount of $5,232.50, and for 5% of total for post-traumatic neurosis, or $962.50. Petitioner's attorneys were awarded counsel fee of $900, payable $500 by respondent and $400 by petitioner.
The amount of counsel fee is the only element of the judgment under attack. Respondent claims that it had made a timely offer in the amount of 50% of the hand, and had therewith tendered payment of $805, representing payment for 23 weeks then due, and that the judge of compensation erred in concluding that the offer was not bona fide and in basing the counsel fee on the total award.
A brief review of events from the date of the accident to the making of the award reveals the following significant factors.
The accident occurred July 20, 1959. Petitioner was under the medical care of respondent from that date until discharge from treatment on November 16. The first three or four days were spent in St. James Hospital, where an operation was performed. He was then sent to N.J. Manufacturers' Hospital where treatment ranged from pills and changes of dressings in the first month to whirlpool and exercise treatment in the final months. The exercises, which included squeezing a ball with the injured hand, brought about no improvement in his condition. He was paid temporary disability for 17 weeks.
Upon discharge from treatment he reported to his employer for work, as he had been directed, but was told that they could not use him at that time because they had no "one-hand work." The employer promised to call him when there was something for him to do. Commencing January 4, 1960 he was put to work with light leather on a table machine, and he would work from one to four hours per day until the work gave out. Though there was other work available, he was unable to do it because it involved the use of both hands. A major problem in the use of the hand lies in the loss of gripping power due to the fact that soft tissue injury prevents him from making a fist. Dr. Willner, petitioner's examining physician, said that all of the fingers missed the palm by two inches, while Dr. Firtel, testifying for respondent, found that the fourth finger was one-quarter inch from the palm and that there was increased restriction in the other fingers.
On January 15, 1960 a claim petition was filed, alleging the hand injury and neurological involvement. Respondent was served on February 10 and filed its answer on February 15. In response to Question 11, "Nature of injury and resultant permanent disability," the respondent answered, "Undetermined in view of 26 week waiting period."
Dr. Firtel examined petitioner on March 21, 1960. He appraised disability at 50% of the hand. There was no proof offered as to when respondent transmitted its request from examination to the doctor. We are left merely with the conclusion of the doctor that it must have been more than a week or two before the date of examination since it usually takes several weeks for him to arrange with a petitioner's attorney to have a claimant come in for examination. It was stipulated that the physician's report was dated March 29 and that it reached the insurance carrier on April 4, 1960.
Sometime between April 8 and 10 petitioner received by way of his employer a "Memorandum of Payment" from the insurance carrier, stating his permanent compensation
to be 50% of the left hand. There was forwarded to his home a check for $805 in payment of 23 weeks of permanent disability then due. On April 12 petitioner's counsel was served with a notice of motion to amend the answer to Question 11 to read: "50% of left hand." Counsel was further notified that "Respondent herein tenders the payment of 115 weeks additional compensation for permanent disability at the rate of $35.00 per week."
On the factor of the timeliness of the respondent's offer to pay compensation Dr. Willner and Dr. Firtel offered opposing testimony.
Dr. Willner examined on January 5 and June 29, 1960, the latter being the date of trial. Though this witness stated at two points in his testimony that he had made another examination on March 1, he later corrected this by saying that March 1 was the date when he received the hospital reports and that petitioner had not been sent to him for examination on that date. The doctor diagnosed the hand condition as follows: severe compression type of injury to the entire hand, causing flexion contracture of all the fingers and causing marked restriction of motion of all the metacarpal phalangeal joints of all fingers and of the interphalangeal joints. On each examination the witness estimated disability at 85% of the hand.
He testified that his assessment of disability on the first examination was made with the idea that that represented not merely existing disability, but disability permanent in nature, and that the subsequent examination was not made because of the feeling that some change might have occurred. The final examination was not performed at the doctor's office, and the reason for performing it was that "the last examination was six months old." This witness was of opinion that the disability could have been reasonably evaluated at the time of discharge in mid-November. In the course of cross-examination, however, he admitted that this is the "type of hand" that might become better, become worse, or remain stationary, and that in some cases there
might be some improvement with use while in others restriction might become greater. He asserted that at the time of his first examination the maximum amount of improvement had been attained.
Dr. Firtel testified in a different vein. It was his thought that the possibility of change in this type of condition made it necessary to wait for a reasonable time after discharge from treatment before determining the permanent disability. Discharge from treatment, he said, marks the point where the maximum benefit from medical therapy has been achieved and it is then to be determined whether or not occupational therapy will bring about further improvement. He stated that since petitioner had used the hand for two and a half months in his work prior to the March examination, improvement, if any were to occur, would have manifested itself. However, when asked to assume that petitioner testified that "he has little if no use of his hand on his employment," he said: "Then we know that the employment will not have any effect on the hand," and he added: "And that we certainly are in a position to estimate the permanent disability."
The statute dealing expressly with the effect on counsel fees of timely offers of compensation for permanent disability is found in N.J.S.A. 34:15-64, as follows:
"When, however, at a reasonable time, prior to any hearing compensation has been offered and the amount then due has been tendered in good faith or paid, the reasonable allowance for attorney fee shall be based upon only that part of the judgment or award in excess of the amount of compensation, theretofore offered, tendered in good faith or paid."
The respondent argued that the foregoing provision has been considerably modified by the following language found in N.J.S.A. 34:15-16:
"* * * permanent disability, total or partial, shall not be determined or awarded until after 26 weeks from the date of the employee's final active medical treatment, or until after 26 weeks
from the date of the employee's return to work, whichever is earlier, or, if no time is lost or no treatment is rendered, then permanent disability, total or partial, shall not be determined or awarded until after 26 weeks from the date of the accident, except in cases of amputation or enucleation or death from other cause within that time and except when earlier determination of permanent disability is waived by the employer or his insurance carrier. Nothing herein contained shall prevent an employer or his insurance carrier from paying permanent disability compensation voluntarily prior to the expiration of the 26 week period."
It is urged that since the quoted language from N.J.S.A. 34:15-16 came about by enactment subsequent to the provisions of N.J.S.A. 34:15-64, the provision for a 26-week waiting period before a determination or award can be made "controls" the earlier enactment, so as to make it permissible and justifiable for an employer to refrain from making an offer until such time during the waiting period as it is reasonably apprised by its medical expert as to the disability he found.
This contention seems too broad. The cited statutes deal with different phases of the administration of the Workmen's Compensation Act. N.J.S.A. 34:15-16 merely sets up a bar of 26 weeks before permanent disability can be determined or awarded. It is general in its terms and applies to all controverted causes that come before the Division. There is no conflict between the two sections of the act that are here being considered, and I can see no reason to conclude that the Legislature by the waiting-period statute intended to set up a period of repose in all cases in respect to the performance of the obligation imposed upon an employer by N.J.S.A. 34:15-64 to act with due dispatch in according an employee the benefits due him following a conceded work-connected accidental injury. Indeed, such a conclusion would seem to be contrary to the provision empowering an employer or his carrier to make voluntary payments of compensation prior to the running of the 26-week period. The beneficent purposes that the Legislature had in mind in enacting N.J.S.A. 34:15-64
in its present form are set forth in Moore v. Magor Car Corp. , 27 N.J. 82 (1958), in the following language:
"In our judgment, the appraisal of the legislative language must be made in the light of the basic duty imposed upon the employer by the act in its entirety. After adequate notice of a covered work connected accident and resulting disability, the obligation of the employer or the insurance carrier is to pay promptly the benefits provided by the legislative mandate and to continue to do so during the full period of temporary and permanent incapacity. * * * Refusal or failure to comply with this affirmative obligation for an unreasonable period justifies the engagement of an attorney and the invocation of the formal procedure for adjudication of the rights of the parties.
Manifestly, the lawmakers had a dual purpose in promulgating the 1952 amendment. One was to give greater protection to the claimant's attorney who invests substantial time and effort in his client's cause prior to the offer to pay compensation. Davala v. American Bridge Co. , 36 N.J. Super. 274, 279 (App. Div. 1955). The other was to create additional incentive for a prompt response by the employer to the workman's claim for benefits. Thus, the more liberal provision for remuneration for professional services rendered must be administered with an eye to the timely character of the employer's performance in discharging his duty."
In Coponi v. Federal Industries , 31 N.J. 1 (1959), the argument was presented that by virtue of N.J.S.A. 34:15-16 the employer was under no obligation to offer to pay any specific percentage of permanent disability until the waiting period provided for in the statute had expired. The court held that this section had no applicability under the facts presented in that case, but it remarked that the cited statute "may play a role in determining whether an offer was made within a reasonable time."
I am of opinion that N.J.S.A. 34:15-16 has not effected any essential change in the scope and application of N.J.S.A. 34:15-64. The reasonableness of an employer's course of action under all of the facts and circumstances found in a particular case still remains the criterion by which the right to abatement of counsel fee should be determined.
In the instant case I feel that the offer of permanent disability came too late. The nature of petitioner's injury,
the complete control maintained by the carrier over his treatment which lasted almost four months, the fact that petitioner did not respond to the therapeutic exercises prescribed at the hospital, the failure of the carrier to check upon his condition following his discharge from treatment, and the failure to make any provision for permanent disability benefits for such a long period of time, cast grave doubt upon the bona fides of respondent in relation to the performance of its duty to petitioner. What happened when the employee first applied to be put back to work in mid-November and the long lapse of time to January 4 when the employer finally found some "one-hand" work for him to do bespeak no solicitude for petitioner's welfare. This is not a case where the employer might reasonably assume that permanent disability would be minimal in character. The facts make it appear certain that substantial disability would be the final result, and yet the employer or carrier did nothing until some time after the employee moved by petition to obtain workmen's compensation benefits.
I find that the counsel fee allowed in the Workmen's Compensation Division was properly assessed. A judgment, consented to as to form, may be submitted.
19610421
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Santa Claus elected to city council in North Pole
Mary Bowerman | USA TODAY Network
There’s a new city councilman in the small town of North Pole, Alaska, with a charming white beard.
A man legally named Santa Claus won a three-year city council term in the North Pole, according to election results released on Tuesday.
Following the win, Claus posted on Facebook and thanked his supporters.
"I'm happy to announce that I have been elected to the North Pole City Council ... I look forward to continuing to serve my community :-)," Claus said in the Oct. 14 post.
Claus legally changed his name in 2005, and launched a write-in campaign to fill one of two open city council seats in the Oct. 6 election.
Formerly known as Thomas Patrick O'Connor, he decided to change his name after growing out his beard and playing Santa Claus for children.
“I enjoyed playing Santa Claus immensely, and it was well received with the children," Claus told USA TODAY Network last week.
The 68-year-old is a monk and child advocate.
Claus, who has almost 300,000 likes on Facebook, said he strives to promote the Christmas message of giving and love throughout the year. He notes that while he may look like Santa Claus and shares his name, he doesn't share the unbridled message of consumerism that Claus has come to encompass.
"The message I try to share with children is that the greatest gift you can give is love and not presents," he said.
Claus, who formerly served as president of the town's chamber of commerce, said he planned on promoting responsible growth in the town.
"In our neck of the woods, one of the oil refineries has closed and everybody is cutting back on the budgets and looking for opportunity," Claus said.
Follow @MaryBowerman on Twitter.
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343 S.W.2d 768 (1961)
ORKIN EXTERMINATING COMPANY, Inc., Appellant,
v.
GULF COAST RICE MILLS, Appellee.
No. 3798.
Court of Civil Appeals of Texas, Waco.
February 9, 1961.
Rehearing Denied March 2, 1961.
The Kempers, John D. Richardson, Houston, for appellant.
Carnes & Martin, Houston, for appellee.
McDONALD, Chief Justice.
Gulf Rice Mills filed this suit against Orkin Exterminating Company. Plaintiff alleged that it entered into a written contract with Orkin in 1952 under the terms of which Orkin was to exterminate and control insects, rodents, and pests in plaintiff's mill; that in August, 1955, Orkin sprayed plaintiff's mill with an insecticide or pesticide known as Lindane; that Lindane is poisonous and prohibited by law to be so used; that the application of Lindane to the mill rendered the rice unusable; that the use of Lindane on the interior of the mill was negligence; caused the rice to be unfit for use and adulterated; caused the Federal authorities to prohibit sale of the rice; caused the rice to be injurious to health and unsafe within the meaning of the Federal Food and Drug Act. 21 U.S.C.A. § 301 et seq.; that the foregoing were proximate causes of damages suffered by plaintiff which were alleged to be some $96,000 (expense for remilling the rice and *769 loss of profits incurred while so remilling the rice.)
Plaintiff further alleged that Orkin defaulted and breached its contract in some 17 particulars, summarized: 1) in not controlling insects and mice; 2) in not exterminating in a manner to minimize the possibility of U. S. Food and Drug Administration citing plaintiff; 3) that it did not conduct inspections as agreed; 4) that it did not fumigate as needed; 5) that it used Lindane which did not conform to Federal, State and local laws and ordinances; 6) that it used Lindane which was not acceptable to the rice milling industry because it would contaminate the rice and the mill and subject the mill to civil and criminal proceedings; 7) that it failed to furnish a certificate of insurance showing public liability in amount of $250/500,000.; and property damage insurance in amount of $100/100,000.
By reason of the foregoing breaches of contract, plaintiff alleged its damages at $96,000.
Plaintiff further alleged that Orkin defaulted on the express warranty, and implied warranty of its contract, in failing to provide effective insect and rodent control in a safe manner, acceptable to the rice industry; for breach of which plaintiff alleged its damages at $96,000.
Plaintiff prayed for interest from January, 1946; as well as $200,000. exemplary damages for employing Lindane, which plaintiff alleged Orkin knew was a harmful poison, use of which was prohibited by Federal, State and local laws.
Defendant Orkin answered by general denial; contributory negligence; unavoidable accident; alleged that the injuries were caused solely by government agencies operating independently of defendant; alleged that plaintiff's damages resulted from plaintiff's voluntarily shutting its mill down and remilling the rice, without legal liability to do so; that the government inspector of the Food and Drug Administration requested plaintiff to remill its rice, threatening suit if it did not do so, alleging violation of the law in use of Lindane; and that plaintiff voluntarily compromised and settled the government's threatened suit, without being legally bound to do so, and without seeking a judicial determination of the government's claims.
Trial was to a jury.
Defendant filed motion for instructed verdict contending, among other things, that no negligence was shown on defendant's part; that there was no evidence to justify a finding of facts supporting any legal theory of recovery against defendant; and that plaintiff voluntarily remilled its rice without seeking a judicial determination of its liability to do so. This motion was overruled by the Trial Court.
Plaintiff made motion for instructed verdict, contending, among other things: 1) that defendant breached its contract with plaintiff in a number of particulars, and that the undisputed evidence establishes defendant's liability for plaintiff's damages which arose out of these breaches; 2) that the undisputed evidence shows defendant breached its express and implied warranty in its written contract in failing to provide effective insect and rodent control in a safe manner; 3) and in failing to carry out the provisions of its written contract, in using Lindane, which was prohibited by law to be so used.
The Trial Court entered an order granting in part and denying in part plaintiff's motion for instructed verdict. In such order the Court ordered the submission to the jury of issues inquiring whether Orkin's actions regarding the use of Lindane constituted negligence; whether such negligence was a proximate cause of the damages of plaintiff; and what damages, if any, plaintiff suffered from loss of profits. The Court found that plaintiff's damages for remilling the rice were $46,245.32. (The court further ordered issues concerning the plaintiff's right to recover interest as damages and punitive damages).
*770 The Trial Court then entered an order in Limine, in which the court ordered defendant Orkin not to make argument to the jury "upon the following matters which have been found and concluded as matters of law by the court"; 1) counsel may not argue, comment or remark in any way so as to question the legality, validity or propriety of any acts or omissions of Walter R. Moses or the Federal Food and Drug Administration. 2) Counsel may not argue, comment or remark in any way concerning the necessity of the remilling of the rice by the plaintiff. 3) Counsel may not argue, comment, or remark in any way upon what the law is, or whether any violation of law occurred on the part of any person. 4) Counsel may not argue, comment, or remark on any issues contained in the breach of contract case herein.
Defendant requested the submission of a number of issues, among which were: 1) issues inquiring if plaintiff acted as a volunteer without legal obligation to do so, in incurring the expense in remilling the rice; 2) and whether or not the actions of Inspector Moses in requiring the remilling of the rice was the sole proximate cause of plaintiff's injury.
The Trial Court refused all issues requested by defendant and submitted issues to the jury which, in answer thereto, found:
1) Application of Lindane by Orkin to plaintiff's rice mill in August, 1955, was negligence.
2) Such was a proximate cause of plaintiff's damages.
3) Gulf Rice Mill lost profits as a result thereof in the amount of $40,000.
4) Orkin's application of Lindane to the rice mill was gross negligence.
5) For which $10,000. exemplary damages should be granted.
6) and 7) Gulf Rice Mills should recover interest from June 7, 1956.
Defendant moved for judgment non obstante veredicto and alleged, among other things: 1) the findings of the jury cannot afford a valid basis for judgment for the plaintiff; 2) the undisputed evidence and the law conclusively show that no legal liability did exist as asserted by the Federal Agency; further that plaintiff incurred its damages by voluntarily compromising the litigation threatened by the Federal Agency, when no legal validity existed as to such threats; and plead for disregard of the findings on exemplary damages.
The Trial Court overruled such motion, except as to the findings on gross negligence and exemplary damages.
The Trial Court then entered judgment:
"and the Court having found breaches of their contract by the defendant, which breaches were proximate causes of the damages sustained by plaintiff; and the Court having found that defendant defaulted upon its express warranty proximately causing plaintiff's damages; and the Court further finding that * * * its implied warranty was breached, proximately causing damages to the plaintiff; and the Court further finding and being of the opinion that notwithstanding the aforesaid breaches of contract and warranty, the actual damages of $86,245.32 were proximately caused by negligent acts of the defendant as shown by the jury's answers to the special issues."
"It is therefore ordered * * * that (plaintiff) recover from the defendant * * * $105,219.29, being composed of actual damages in the amount of $86,245.32 plus interest from 7 June, 1956 at 6% in the sum of $18,973.97 * * *."
Defendant's motion for new trial was overruled by the Trial Court.
Defendant appeals on 42 points, included among which are: 1) the evidence is insufficient to justify any finding of facts *771 supporting any legal theory of recovery; 2) the Trial Court erred in granting the partially instructed verdict for plaintiff, thereby withdrawing from the jury any issue as to whether defendant breached its contract, and/or defaulted upon its express or implied warranty.
The record reflects that plaintiff Rice Mills entered into a written contract with defendant Orkin Exterminating Company in 1952, under which Orkin was to exterminate insects and rodents in plaintiff's mill; that the insect and rodent situation became so bad that in August, 1955 Orkin sprayed with an insecticide known as Lindane. Thereafter, the Federal Food and Drug Administration and the State Health Department and the City of Houston made some investigation of the use of Lindane at the Rice Mill. All agencies finally in effect delegated to Inspector Moses of the Federal Food and Drug Administration the right to act for them. Inspector Moses told the Rice Mill that the use of Lindane had violated the law; that the Mill was in serious trouble; that the Mill could ship no rice; that such rice was unfit for human consumption; that the rice would be condemned; the buildings padlocked and the Mill and its offices subject to prosecution both civilly and criminally. Inspector Moses' (and the government's) position was that no amount of Lindane was permitted on rice; that no tolerance was established for it, and for that reason the rice was contaminated, and would have to be remilled. The plaintiff Rice Mill relied on what Inspector Moses told it (speaking for the Federal, State and City Health Departments), and without contesting, disputing, or litigating, the validity or legality of the claims of Inspector Moses and/or the 3 Health Departments, plaintiff proceeded to remill the rice at an expense of some $46,245. and during such period lost profits which the jury found to be $40,000.
As further pertinent, we note that the record reflects that some 95% of the plaintiff's rice was intended for export to a foreign country. The record further reflects that a great many samplings of the rice were tested for Lindane and that the results of such samplings ran from none up to 3.6 parts of Lindane per million parts of rice. It is further reflected that such amounts are not injurious to health, in any manner.
The Trial Court granted instructed verdict for plaintiff on the contract and breach of express and implied warranty phases of this case. Our examination of the record leads us to the conclusion that there were numerous disputed factual issues in the contract and breach of warranty phases of the case, and that the Trial Court erred in granting an instructed verdict in these respects.
This brings us to a consideration of the tort phase of the case. The Trial Court's submission of issues to the jury is predicated upon the Trial Court's finding that the law had been violated when Lindane was sprayed by Orkin in plaintiff's rice mill. The fact that Inspector Moses certified that the law was violated did not foreclose such matter. (While plaintiff contended that the Federal, State and City of Houston laws had been violated both as to contamination by Lindane and contamination by filth etc., the case was actually developed and tried on the theory that the use of the Lindane violated the Federal law; and as noted, the State and City of Houston Health Departments, left the matter for both of their agencies, up to Inspector Moses of the Federal Agency. In any event, the proof of violation of the State and local laws, both as to use of Lindane and filth, is inadequate. The City of Houston Ordinances were not introduced in evidence). This brings us to the question of whether the Federal law was in fact violated as contended so earnestly by Inspector Moses on the trial, and by plaintiff's brief in the instant appeal. The Federal Statutes principally involved are Sec. 342, 346a, 321, 381, 21 U.S.C.A. (See also 1954 U.S. Code, Congressional and Administrative News; and 1955 Code of Federal Regulations). Sec. (12) 3.41 Title 21, 1955 *772 Code of Federal Regulations provides that such acts shall not become effective for Lindane on grain until October 31, 1955.[1] (Application of the Lindane to the rice was in August, 1955). Moreover, (See Section 1 (§ 321, Title 21 U.S.C.A.) 1954 U.S.Code Cong. & Adm.News, p. 2631), it appears that the statute does not attempt to regulate residue from pesticide chemicals which remain in or on processed commodities; and that food processed by operations such as milling are not subject thereto."[2]
Finally, 95% of plaintiff's rice was intended for export, and under Section 381[3] is not deemed adulterated under the instant chapter U.S.C.A.
From the record before us, we cannot say that the use of Lindane, in the quantities used, and under the factual situation here involved, was violative of the Federal law.
Moreover, as noted, the record fails to reflect the presence of Lindane in the plaintiff's rice in any quantity injurious to health.
From what has been said, it is our view that plaintiff has not shown a violation of Federal, State, or local law, and that the record does not support recovery on the tort phase of the case. See also: Florida Citrus Exchange v. Folsom, 5 Cir., 246 F.2d 850; United States v. Lexington Mill & Elevator Co., 232 U.S. 399, 34 S.Ct. 337, 58 L.Ed. 658; Wood Mfg. Co. v. United States, 7 Cir., 286 F. 84.
Defendant's contentions set up in this opinion, supra, are sustained, and the cause is Reversed and Remanded.
NOTES
[1] Code of Federal Regulations, Chap. 21, Sec. 120.1 Definitions & Interpretations (12) Section 3.41 "Pesticide Chemicals: extended dates on which statute shall become fully effective. "(a) * * * shall become effective on the dates specified for the following pesticide chemicals * * *.
"(2) Effective date October 31, 1955. * * * Lindane * * * Grain (from treating storage bins)"
[2] 1954 U.S.Code Congressional & Adm. News, p. 2631 "This bill does not attempt to regulate the residue from pesticide chemicals which may remain in or on processed, fabricated, or manufactured food other than by limiting the permissible residues on raw agricultural commodities. Food processed by operations such as cooking, freezing, dehydration, or milling would remain subject to section 406 rather than being regulated by this bill." "Section 406 contains a general declaration that any poisonous or deleterious substance added to food is unsafe except where the substance is `required in the production thereof and cannot be avoided by good manufacturing practice.' However, in any case where such a substance is so required or cannot be so avoided (and this is so in case of the use of pesticide chemicals in the production of most raw agricultural commodities) Sec. 406 directs the Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare to promulgate regulations limiting the quantity on the food to such extent as such Secretary finds to be necessary for protection of public health." p. 2632, 1954 U.S.Code Cong. & Adm. News.
[3] Title 21 U.S.C.A. § 381(d). "A food, drug, device, or cosmetic intended for export shall not be deemed to be adulterated or misbranded under this chapter * * *." (U.S.C.A.1961 pocket part, p. 357).
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Q:
What is the meaning of Maude words to Harold after throwing the gift?
In Harold & Muade, Harold gave her a small gift to maude:
Maude:This is the nicest present...that I've received in years.
Maude: (She threw the gift)
Maude: So I'll always know where it is.
What is the meaning of Maude words to Harold after throwing the gift?
A:
When you get a gift and keep it, you have to put it somewhere and then you have to remember where you put it. Each time you move to a new home, you have to pack the gift, then unpack it and put it in a new place that will also have to be remembered. Maude's action of throwing away the gift at the moment she got it meant she'll always remember exactly where it is, even though she will no longer have it.
The movie Harold & Maude is all about how age affects your perceptions of the world and of others. Young Harold sees a situation from one angle, but the elderly Maude looks at the same situation and has a totally different perception.
Maude has reached the age where possessions are not that important any more, but memories are. She's lived in many different places and has had many different things, and now realizes how ephemeral places and things are. But memories last as long as you do.
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Temporary inactivation of dorsal hippocampus attenuates explicitly nonspatial, unimodal, contextual fear conditioning.
The current study examined the effects of temporary inactivation of the DH on freezing, rearing, ambulating, grooming, and whisking behavior in an explicitly nonspatial contextual fear conditioning paradigm in which olfactory stimuli served as temporally and spatially diffuse contexts. Prior either to training, testing, or both, male Sprague-Dawley rats received bilateral microinfusions of saline or the GABA(A) agonist muscimol into the DH. Results indicate that temporary inactivation of DH produced both anterograde and retrograde deficits in contextually conditioned freezing, while sparing the acquisition and expression of freezing to a discrete auditory or olfactory CS. These data suggest that there is a decidedly nonspatial component to the role of DH in contextual conditioning, and that olfactory contextual conditioning is a fruitful means of further exploring this function.
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Time Running Out For Newsweek’s Editor Search
Since Jon Meacham left the editorship at Newsweek, the two staffers performing interim duties atop the magazine’s masthead have awaited Sidney Harman’s choice for a permanent replacement. And though the new owner said he expected to find someone by early November, Harman tells Keith Kelly at The New York Post that he will need more time.
Time, however, is of the essence at Newsweek. The acting co-editors, former managing editor Dan Klaidman and former foreign editor Nisid Hajari, have contracts that expire at the end of the year.
The 92-year-old audio magnate, who purchased the struggling publication in September, chalks up the delay to the attempts to hash out a deal involving a merger of sorts with Tina Brown, Barry Diller and The Daily Beast.
Harman admits to Kelly that the back-and-forth flirtation was an “unfortunate dalliance.” He still expects to find someone by the end of November, but the state of the search isn’t exactly promising.
“We are not at a point where I have a final candidate or two,” Harman told the Post. “But hopefully it will come to a conclusion before the end of the month.”
So, young scribes with ink-stained fingers — you still want to be Newsweek editor? Here’s your chance! If you recall, Newsweek‘s active social media arm posted this video to its Tumblr last week, asking you — yes, you! — to put your hat in the ring for its editor search. But you’ll have to beat all of our potential candidates to the punch. Good luck!
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The present invention relates to a connecting structure for electrically connecting an electronic part to a substrate.
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If this is your first visit, be sure to
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Michael Schumacher 'could recover in three years'
A French doctor who treated Formula One star after ski accident says driver is out of a coma but faces a long road to recovery
A French doctor who treated Michael Schumacher after a skiing accident that nearly killed him has said the Formula One star may recover within three years.
In his first public comments since the accident, Dr Jean-Francois Payen confirmed that Schumacher is out of a coma and has made "some progress", but said the driver faces a long road to recovery.
"I have seen some progress but I would say give him time. It's like other patients, we are in a timescale that ranges from one year to three years, so it takes patience," Dr Payen said.
Dr Payen, the head of Anesthesiology at Grenoble University Hospital where Schumacher was rushed after his accident last December, spoke about his celebrity patient in two interviews, with Le Parisien newspaper and RTL radio.
"Life after a brain injury is littered with stages," he said. "It must progress, we hope, but we must give him time."
Although Schumacher was moved from Grenoble to Lausanne in June, and has since returned to his family home in Switzerland to recuperate, Dr Payen remains in close touch with the family and has visited Schumacher at his home.
"I kept seeing him, first at the University Hospital of Lausanne, and now at home. It's to see how he progresses and tell his wife and children what changes I observed," Dr Payen said.
"He's in very favourable conditions. This plays a big role. The family environment is anyway best for the patient. His wife is surrounded by excellent advice and has implemented all it takes for it to move forward."
Schumacher was in a "critical condition" when he was first brought to hospital, Dr Payen said. He is still alive today "because there were decisions that were taken in a timely manner".
The anaesthesiologist spoke out in praise of Schumacher's wife, Corinna. She has "in every respect an extraordinary willpower," he said.
"Immediately she understood the seriousness of the situation and the long journey that lay before them. She sees things very clearly and will do anything and give everything to improve the condition of her husband."
Dr Payen also spoke for the first time about the media storm in which he was engulfed when he took on his celebrity patient.
"Nobody is willing to undergo such a flood of media [attention]," he told Le Parisien. "We quickly got organised by creating a sort of 'medical bubble' to protect us from the outside world, from the media pressure, in order to work properly."
At one point a journalist reportedly disguised himself as a priest to gain access to Schumacher's bedside, and some of his medical records were later stolen. Dr Payen told how he and his colleagues had to give up their mobile phones, and could only go to and from work via an enclosed car park.
It is quite tragic. He is awake and out of coma but not moving or speaking. I can't imagine what sort of life that is for him as he was always so active. I am happy for his family that he is recovering slowing. it must be really tough on all of them. Very little news about Jules Bianchi. Hope he recovers too
The Following User Says Thank You to Perdita For This Useful Post:
FORMULA One ace Michael Schumacher is "making progress" as he continues to recover from a near-fatal skiing crash in the French Alps, his manager has said.
Michael Schumacher won seven world champion titles
Speaking last night, his manager Sabine Kehm said the F1 star was “making progress” but added that people “must always keep the seriousness of his injuries in mind”.
The German driver suffered severe head injuries after an accident in Meribel in December 2013.
Schumacher spent several months fighting for his life in a coma following the crash, but last June was transferred from a hospital in the French town of Grenoble to a Swiss hospital after regaining consciousness.
His family have imposed a near-total news blackout on the care he is receiving at his Swiss mansion.
Yet in February he was understood to be mute with "limited awareness" of his environment and is also still unable to walk.
Schumacher was crowned the wealthiest driver ever to have raced in F1, with a fortune in excess of £520million.
But the seven-time world champion’s family is facing spiralling care costs with the current spending on his rehabilitation estimated at over £10million.
His family is said to be spending around £100,000-a-week looking after him.
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Something Insurance Companies Don't Want Jurors to Know
In many car accident cases, slip and fall cases, motorcycle accident cases, truck accident cases, or general liability cases, insurance companies try to blame the claimant for causing the accident or the injuries. When this happens, a judge is typically required to give the jury a question on its verdict form asking the jury not only if the defendant driver was negligent in causing an accident, but also whether the claimant was negligent in causing the accident or their own injuries. The evidence that is required to ask such a question, called a “contributory negligence question”, is minimal. Whenever any evidence of negligence is introduced, the judge is required to add such a question. The fact that the judge is asking about contributory negligence does not mean that the jury needs to answer “yes” to that question.
What happens if the jury answers “yes” to a question about negligence of the claimant? The jury is told to allocate the fault or negligence between the parties, using percentages. The insurance companies and other defendants prefer to keep jurors in the dark about what happens when a claimant is negligent. What does assigning a percentage of negligence to a claimant mean?
This is how it how it works:
An injured party’s damages are reduced by the percentage of negligence assigned to the plaintiff. If the jury awards $100,000, and determines the plaintiff is 40% to blame, the plaintiff recovers $60,000.
However, if an injured party is more at fault than a defendant, the injured party recovers nothing. In the above example if the injured party is 60% to blame, and the defendant is 40%, the injured party recovers nothing.
In cases where there are multiple defendants, for instance a multi-car accident, this comparative negligence law can work a hardship, as the negligence of each plaintiff is compared to each defendant individually, rather than as a group. If the claimant was 40% at fault, and there were two defendants, each 30% at fault, then the plaintiff recovers nothing. Even though the collective negligence of each defendant was 60%, it does not matter because the comparison is made with individual defendants.
The working’s of Wisconsin’s comparative negligence laws are not generally known by the public, and the insurance industry would like to keep jurors in the uninformed. There have been reported instances where a jury intends to award a claimant money, but because of the comparative negligence system in Wisconsin, the claimant ultimately collects nothing.
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1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an optical inverter and, more particularly, to an optical inverter that employs an intensity dependent optical inverting switch that includes a variable refractive index material at an optical interface.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
The art of digital logic systems consistently requires the need for greater processing speeds, increased channel bandwidths, and improved transmission reliability for information processing and transmission fields. Because of this continued need for improved system performance, the art is moving towards an increased focus on the optical domain. Digital logic systems typically incorporate a plurality of inverters. An inverter is a device which operates upon digital signals. These signals are composed of pulses having either a xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d state or a xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d state. The inverter produces a low output for a high input, and a high output for a low input. The output signal thus contains no more or less information than the input, and is merely a reversal of the pulse state. In an optical system, a logical xe2x80x9chighxe2x80x9d might be represented by the presence of a light pulse at a specific time in an optical waveguide, and a logical xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d might be represented by the absence of a light pulse at a specific time in the waveguide. The opposite representation is also possible, where the presence of light indicates a xe2x80x9clowxe2x80x9d and the absence of light indicates a xe2x80x9chigh.xe2x80x9d The mapping is arbitrary as long as it is consistent with the system in which the inverter is to be used.
Inverters are important in digital systems for many reasons, such as the application of Demorgan""s theorem. Demorgan""s theorem allows the combination of only AND gates and inverters, or the combination of only OR gates and inverters, to form a complete gate set. Also, optical inverters are a vital component of optical analog-to-digital (A/D) converters.
FIG. 1 shows a representation of an optical inverter 10 suitable for a typical optical digital logic application. The optical inverter 10 receives an optical input beam of a predetermined intensity on an input fiberoptic cable 12, or some other suitable optical waveguide medium, and outputs an optical output beam on an output fiberoptic cable 14, or some other suitable optical waveguide medium. The optical inverter 10 acts as an inverter in that when the optical input beam on the cable 12 is applied to the optical inverter 10, the optical output beam on the cable 14 is dark, or at a predetermined low optical intensity level, and represents a logical zero. Likewise, when the optical input beam on the cable 12 is off, or at a low optical intensity level, a predetermined intensity optical output beam is provided on the output cable 14, and represents a logical one. Thus, the optical output beam of the optical inverter 10 will be a high or low intensity optical output beam, depending on the optical input beam.
Various types of optical inverters are known in the art. One known optical inverter is referred to as a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) inverter. The SOA inverter is a saturable optical amplifier that includes a first optical input having a first wavelength, a second optical input having a second wavelength and an optical output that is a combination of the first and second inputs. The first input goes high and low as a digital high and a digital low, and the output conversely goes low and high as an inversion of the first input. The second input is maintained high. When the first input is low or zero, the output is simply the second input, thus representing a high state or logical one. When the first input goes high, the intensity of this first input is designed high enough to saturate the SOA, significantly reducing its gain for both wavelengths. As a result, the amount of light intensity in the output from the second input is reduced. The output beam is then passed through a filter which removes the wavelength of the first input leaving only the second input. This filtered output will then appear to go down when the first input goes high and come back up again when the first input goes low.
Because the main use of the SOA is a wavelength conversion device for use in wavelength division multiplexing technology, it is limited in its ability to be used as an inverter. Further, the SOA is an active device that is fairly complex and is generally not efficient as an optical inverter. What is needed is an optical inverter that is simpler and more effective than the optical inverters known in the art.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/133,032, filed Aug. 11, 1998, titled xe2x80x9cSaturable Absorber Based Optical Inverter,xe2x80x9d now U.S. Pat. No. 6,035,079 and assigned to the assignee of the instant application, discloses an optical inverter that employs a saturable absorber to distinguish between a logical one and a logical zero. A laser generates an optical beam that is split into a first beam that propagates along a first beam path and a second beam that propagates along a second beam path. The first beam and the second beam are then recombined as an optical output beam by an optical combiner. The first beam path and the second beam path have a length relative to each other such that the first and second beams are 180xc2x0 out of phase when they reach the optical combiner. The saturable absorber acts as an optical switch, and is positioned in the first beam path. The saturable absorber receives an optical input signal that causes the absorber to saturate and switch from an opaque mode to a transparent mode to allow the first beam to pass through the absorber. Therefore, if the saturable absorber is switched to the transparent mode, the first and second beams combine destructively and the optical output beam is dark, or a logical zero. When the optical input signal is not applied to the saturable absorber, the absorber is in the opaque mode, and the first beam is blocked so that the optical output beam is the second beam, providing a logical one.
Although the saturable absorber optical inverter has been used for inverting an optical beam, an optical inverter employing different optical inversion schemes may be better suited for different applications. It is therefore an objective of the present invention to provide an optical inverter.
In accordance with the teachings of the present invention, an optical inverting system is disclosed that employs an intensity dependent optical inverting switch. The inverting switch includes a first optical structure having an index of refraction that varies with the intensity of an incident beam and a second optical structure having a substantially constant index of refraction forming an interface therebetween. An optical digital pulse stream to be inverted is combined with a continuous laser beam, and the combined beam is applied to the first optical structure. The combined beam enters the first optical structure, effecting its index of refraction, and impinges the interface at a predetermined angle of incidence. If the angle of incidence is less than the critical angle defined by Snell""s Law at the interface, most of the combined beam is refracted into the second optical structure through the interface, and exits the second optical structure as an inversion of the optical digital pulse stream. Part of the combined beam is also reflected off of the interface. If the angle of incidence is greater than the critical angle, the combined beam is completely reflected off of the interface, and exits the first optical structure as a scaled version of the optical digital pulse stream.
Additional objectives, advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
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‘Breaking Bad’: ‘An appropriate response’
This week’s episode was not quite as go-go-go eventful as the rest of the season has been, but it did fulfill a major objective: It put Walt and Jesse back on the same side. And, as I’m sure we all suspected, it took something big, dramatic and deadly (assuming that everything happened the way that Jesse believes it did) to do it.
The action started with Skyler frantically packing up to head over to Hank and Marie’s, where the entire family would be under the DEA’s protective custody, the result of last week’s call from Saul. Walt was supposed to go, too, but opted against it, telling Skyler that everyone would be safer if he — Gus’ actual target — was not there: “No one will be safe at Hank’s if I’m there,” he said, adding that he had created this entire situation through an array of bad choices: “I alone should suffer the consequences of those choices. And those consequences — they’re coming.”
He squared things with Hank by calling to tell him that he had a carwash to run, and so he couldn’t join the family. Hank sees the protective custody as an over-reaction tied to his investigation of Gus (which is sort-of true), so he didn’t hector Walt into coming over. (Marie, of course, was more of a problem, and made multiple phone calls to try to get him to join them at the house.)
Hank tells Steve Gomez about his theory that Gus is not what he appears to be, and that the industrial laundry is not what it appears to be, either. He also indulges in a little trash talk to motivate Gomez to take a look around at the laundry…which he does, turning up nothing suspicious, though he and another agent do have a drug-sniffing dog in tow. (Steve snaps photos of the place, which he passes on to Hank, who is disappointed to find nothing overtly suspicious.) Jesse and Tyrus waited out the search. The instant they got the call that the search was over, Jesse continued the cook that was halted when Gomez arrived.
Gus called Jesse, telling him that the search was prompted by “your former partner.” Jesse responded that he would not OK the implied solution to this problem: “If something final happens to Mr. White, we are going to have a problem.” Gus responded that there would be “an appropriate response,” though he would not elaborate.
After leaving the lab, Jesse called Walt, got voice mail and did not leave a message. When he listened to his own messages, he had a slew of them from Saul, requesting a meeting. Jesse went to Saul’s office, where security has been tightened and the whole joint was in disarray. Saul told him he was going underground, and wanted to return Jesse’s cash stash to him; he also asked Jesse if he’d put in a good word for Saul with Gus.
Jesse then gets a call from Andrea, who is in the ER with her son, who has falled gravely, weirdly ill. Jesse goes there immediately; when he isn’t permitted to see the boy himself, he steps outside for a cigarette…and discovers that the cigarette which contained the vial of poison created with Gus in mind was gone. He ran inside, told Andrea to tell the doctors that Brock had somehow consumed the poison. Then he went to confront Walt.
Walt was in full paranoid mode. He had a coffee table against the front door, a handgun on his person, all the curtains drawn and he jumped at every sound outside. He did let Jesse in, and told him about his trek to the desert with Gus, and Gus’ threat to kill his entire family, something that Jesse knew nothing about.
Jesse then accused Walt of poisoning Brock, and even aimed the gun at him. He told Walt that Saul must have somehow gotten the poison and slipped it to Brock on Walt’s command. Jesse eventually smacked Walt across the fact, knocking him to the ground.
Walt suggested to Jesse that Gus had poisoned Brock, knowing that Jesse would hold Walt responsible and would come and kill Walt, eliminating that particular problem quite neatly. Walt pointed out that Gus had had no problem involving children in his business before.
Walt also grabbed Jesse’s hand, pressing the gun against Walt’s own forehead, and saying, “Do it. Do it.”
Jesse didn’t. He said he would, however, find Gus and kill him. Walt told him he should just run.
Instead, Jesse went to see the apparently dying Brock, something he’d been trying to do for a while. The nurse once again turned him down, threatening to call security. Jesse slept in a hospital hallway, awakened by Tyrus, who came to take him to work. Jesse refused to go. Tyrus called Gus, who eventually arrived at the hospital to talk to Jesse face-to-face.
Meanwhile, Walt was making some sort of explosive in his kitchen, and was watching the hospital parking garage from a rooftop across the street when Gus arrived.
Gus met Jesse in the hospital chapel. Jesse told Gus that Brock had been poisoned; Gus had no overt reaction to that news, though he did ask how that had happened. Gus went into paternal employer mode, telling Jesse he should stay with Brock and deal with that situation, and could return to work the following week. He even gave him a little pat on the arm.
Gus, Tyrus and another goon headed to the garage. Something felt off to Gus. He stood, several yards from his car; he scanned the horizon; Walt watched from across the street, trying to will Gus to his car…but he couldn’t do it. Gus turned on his heel, returned to the elevator and never got close to whatever-the-hell-it-was that had awaited him at the car.
And that, campers, was it for this episode, the second-to-last in the season. What do you think is going to happen next week? Anybody want to predict who will still be standing at the end of the season? I’m guessing that something will happen that will bring Hank a step or two closer to proving his theory about Gus — what that will be, I have no idea. Post your comments and theories below, and let’s have a conversation about the show.
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Stanford University has received $9 million to endow a program and professorship in Islamic studies -- gifts that could position the school to become a powerhouse in the study of the world's second-largest faith.
The field of Islamic studies has attracted more interest, research and students since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States.
In the last two years, student demand for classes on Islamic religion, culture, history and languages has soared. And many universities, including Stanford, have not been able to keep pace.
Retired Oracle executive Sohaib Abbasi and his wife, Sara, hope to change that, Sohaib Abbasi said. The Atherton residents, who were born in Pakistan, donated $2.5 million to establish the Islamic studies program, Stanford announced Friday.
In addition, Stanford alumna Lysbeth Warren gave $2 million to endow a new Islamic studies professorship. Both gifts were matched by the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, bringing the total to $9 million.
Abbasi said he and his wife made the gift "to ensure this becomes the premier program of Islamic studies in North America."
The money "enables Stanford to really jump-start and develop a major program," said John Esposito, founding director of the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at Georgetown University. "You don't have anything like that between the East Coast all the way over to the West Coast."
Alan Godlas, a religion professor at the University of Georgia who runs a prominent Islamic studies Web site, said there are fewer than a dozen endowed professorships in the discipline across the United States.
In part, he said, that's because Muslims have not donated to higher education to the extent that people of other faiths have.
"Now, I think, after 9/11, American Muslims realized that unless they endow Islamic studies programs, Islamic education is going to be in the hands of people abroad who have little understanding of the importance of developing a progressive Islam," Godlas said.
An estimated 7 million of the world's more than 1 billion Muslims live in the United States, according to a Georgetown survey.
Abbasi said the Bay Area is home to one of the country's largest communities of Muslims.
Robert Gregg, a Stanford religious studies professor who will direct the new program, said the gifts from Warren and the Abbasis will secure funding for graduate students; beef up offerings in Arabic and other languages widely spoken in the Muslim world; and strengthen Stanford's library.
While Stanford is noted for its archive of modern Middle Eastern writings, Godlas said, it lags behind the University of California-Berkeley when it comes to archives of classical Arabic and Persian texts.
The program endowment also will allow Stanford to sponsor visiting scholars, conferences and lectures. Courses from a range of disciplines, including history, religion, law and anthropology, will be woven into the new program, Gregg said.
Sohaib Abbasi said he and his wife began discussions with Stanford a year ago, after a friend introduced them to Sharon Long, dean of the School of Humanities and Sciences.
Abbasi joined Oracle in 1982 when it was a start-up with 30 workers.
By the time he retired in March, the software giant boasted 42,000 employees and yearly revenues of $9.5 billion.
Sara Abbasi is on the executive board of Developments in Literacy, an international non-profit that has built 200 schools in Pakistan since 1997.
The couple previously endowed a computer science professorship and fellowship at the University of Illinois-Champaign-Urbana, Sohaib's alma mater.
The Stanford donation is the couple's largest gift to date, and both will continue to help raise money for the program.
"We both feel very privileged to be a part of this," Sohaib Abbasi said.
pir_Rokhan
04-14-2010, 05:58 PM
No offence intended,but this is just another effort to find more advocates for the domination of the Arab culture and distracting [as ultimately what we call Islam turns out to be an Arab intepretation of some cultural and aesthetic wisdom] and a lot of talented people instead of contributing to science and technology to solve the problems of humanity at large end up falling prey to the old disease of scholasticism and intellectualisation [called Ilmul kalam in arabic literature] instead of creativity and intellectualism.
Talal
04-14-2010, 07:14 PM
" No offence intended,but this is just another effort to find more advocates for the domination of the Arab culture and distracting "
Sohaib Abbasi is a Pakistani, you think he will give 2 million to run an arab cultural program ?
pir_Rokhan
04-14-2010, 07:40 PM
Credere,For a moment get out of the Pakistani compulsive obsessive mind set and read what I wrote again.My post had nothing to do with Pakistani running an Arab cultural program but an apprehension about the spreading,propagating and promulgating of a certain interpretation of what he or his team or the faculty would normally call "Islam" and hence making no contribution to the progress of humanity rather hindering it by sapping the energies of a lot of talented persons.Give it a serious heed before passing any verdict of juristic nature.
Talal
04-14-2010, 07:54 PM
I did rokhan and believe me i have learned more about Islam here in the west than i have in Pakistan. Especially universities, the muslim student associations provide such a good atmosphere for bringing people together as a muslim nation and you really do learn a lot about each other cultures and an even greater deal about Islam. Just giving you the example of the MSA at my university, this last friday like most fridays the khutba was given by a shia guy and the audience included everyone from arabs to pakistanis, Iranis, Afghans and turks.
But you might be right, although i still fail to understand your objection to it. maybe if you elaborate a bit further as to 'how' a progressive approach to educate people about Islam will hinder people contributing to science and technology to solve the problems of humanity at large and instead they will end up falling prey to the old disease of scholasticism and intellectualisation
Laila
04-14-2010, 08:30 PM
Wow, Stanford University...nice....
Que, you should also apply to Stanford =) That way i can see you on a Saturday or something :P
Due to our state budget cuts, i hope they complete this project. Even if the money is donated, there are still other expenses.
Talal
04-14-2010, 08:34 PM
Ooo Stanford is nice is that where you go ?
Laila
04-14-2010, 09:05 PM
Ooo Stanford is nice is that where you go ?
He he he....maybe ::rolleyes::
nah i dont go to Stanford.....tuition is too high....and my parents make too much money so they would have to give a little bit over $50,000 out of pocket money for tuition.
Laila
04-15-2010, 02:48 AM
^you sound rich.
Ha ha if i was rich, then i could afford Standford tuition.
Are you the same person who said this before? :P
pir_Rokhan
04-15-2010, 10:48 AM
I did rokhan and believe me i have learned more about Islam here in the west than i have in Pakistan. Especially universities, the muslim student associations provide such a good atmosphere for bringing people together as a muslim nation and you really do learn a lot about each other cultures and an even greater deal about Islam. Just giving you the example of the MSA at my university, this last friday like most fridays the khutba was given by a shia guy and the audience included everyone from arabs to pakistanis, Iranis, Afghans and turks.
But you might be right, although I still fail to understand your objection to it. May be if you elaborate a bit further as to 'how' a progressive approach to educate people about Islam will hinder people contributing to science and technology to solve the problems of humanity at large and instead they will end up falling prey to the old disease of scholasticism and intellectualisation
While it is a fact that the religion or specifically Islam taught in Pakistan is the major reason for the retrogression of the Pakistani society [and all other societies in general] there might be a probability that it would not be the same case in the west.It is once we talk about what is being termed as progressive or or what is the concept of MSA,ISNA or other such societies that one can comment.However ,whatever I know about the very philosophy of religion or Islam is that after all the zeal , fervour and enthusiasm the new converts or the "born again" muslims turn out to be no different than those who glorify Arab culture,language and civilisation instead of having a serious ,sincere and intellectually honest approach to find out the reality ,if any ,in religion and how it can help solve the problems faced by humanity.
Talal
04-15-2010, 07:05 PM
^ to an extent you are right rokhan, but from my personal experience there is much to learn at these insititutions if one is willing to. I think you are referring to the administrative politics that goes on in these organisations, and how they influence "what" should be taught....I agree completely with that, but unfortunately there are is no way to get away from it.
pir_Rokhan
04-16-2010, 04:38 AM
Credere/Talal
No you got it wrong. I was referring to the ideological basis of religion itself.The version of religion taught at our madrassas [which I sometimes refer to as mad-rassas] is out of date and irrelevant to our contemporary problems and their solutions as the syllabus mostly was that proposed by the syllabus of Nizam.In the west,I am not sure untill I know about the syllabus being taught,however ,to the level I know it ,due to the faculty dominance or investment of the Arabs,what they teach to the common muslims is more of what is called organised religion in the academia which is aimed at the glorification of the Arab culture instead of a serious inquiry into the truth and reality of religion as a metaphysical discipline.
Roshina
04-16-2010, 10:32 AM
Pir Rokhana, don't worry about the Islamic Studies syllabi in the west :) Consider the syllabus I had for my Quran class, for instance.
The link is https://segue.middlebury.edu/view/html/site/reli0350a-s09/node/1890811. (No, that's not the university I go to, but the syllabus belongs to my teacher.)
I'm 107.86% sure that the syllabi here are NOTHING like what you might come across in "Muslim" countries. In fact, I'd encourage more and more Muslims to go into Islamic Studies because the Qrratugai you see here now is what she is only because of the classes she's taken IN Islamic Studies! (It's almost ironic, no? :celebrate:) And that's cause our professors aren't allowed to impose ONE perspective on us, or any at all; they are *obligated* to introduce us to as many as the semester time will allow. Some of my teachers say, "It's unfortunate that we don't have as much as time as we'd like so we can thoroughly study these points, but now that you're introduce to them and know that they exist, you should study them at your own pleasure and will when you can if you're interested."
In one of the first Islamic Studies classes I took here at my uni, my professor said to us, "We don't 'teach' religion; we don't aim to make anyone a better Muslim, Christian, Hindu, Jew, etc. We learn here the different ways the religion is interpreted and how/why that is possible and important, the religion's history, some prominent classical and contemporary scholars in that religion, and so on. We are NOT ALLOWED to teach you HOW to be a Muslim, Christian, etc."
And he said that because the misconception about religion is that the professors TEACH you how to become a "good Muslim/Christian/etc.," many parents are unwilling to allow their children to take classes on religion.
In all honesty, the types of classes we have here (my uni has a really, really amazing Islamic Studies program with brilliant professors that I wouldn't trade for anything else, da khwdey shukar dey) are such that one CANNOT make up one's mind. Since I'm specializing in the Middle East and South Asian studies combined with Islamic Studies, some of the classes I've taken and am taking currently are (in no particular order):
And some that I don't remember at the moment. In the Hadith class that I'm taking this semester, we have/had to read an entire Hadith Book; the professor chose Muslim's Sahih because it is more voluminous than Bukhari's, has more hadiths than Bukhari's. We've also had to read books that discuss the history and science of hadiths, along with hadith scholars, so you learn how it all works and, if they're important, why they are so.
Oftentimes, students will disagree on the things discussed in class. The teacher is not allowed to tell us what ANYTHING means; he CAN say, however, that "According to So-and-So, this is what it means." One of my favorite professors loves to say at times, "I'm not convinced" (lol! :D) if you present an argument and try to defend it. He'll let you keep on talking until you can convince him ;) Of course, he won't be convinced all the time, but at least you got yourself heard by someone who knows what he teaches.
So, yeah. You get to express your opinions about any particular hadith you want and virtually express a point of view that doesn't HAVE to match that of other Muslims, as long as you can defend it well. You get to question, you know ... I love the feeling. In other words, you're not graded by how good of a practicing Muslim you are but by how well you defend or explain your view, whether it agrees with what Ibn al-Salah (author of An Introduction to the Science of Hadith)or al-Bukhari has said or not. And the professors tell us that the more creative we become in our thinking, the better for class discussion and the better our grade.
I know this is how it is in at least most other institutions that have Islamic Studies, including UCLA and UC-Berkley because I've professors who graduated from there and who taught there.
UCLA is unfortunately going to be losing its Islamic Studies department, even though one of my most favorite scholars, Khaled Abou el-Fadl, is chair of department there, :lal8: but as of now, it's still there.
I've read that in terms of ranking, Duke, Emory, Princeton, and Chapel Hill are among the best. Emory, though, ranks #1 in Islamic Studies and #3 in Religious Studies in general. But my advisers think that with the kind of mind I have, I should go either to Emory or Duke for further studies; the others will disappoint me miserably, they say, lol. (That means they're not as open and welcoming in their thinking and are not AS welcoming to Muslim women's perspectives as they are to men's.)
So, bottom line: Don't worry :D Islamic Studies in the West is the BEST. I've heard Oxford in the UK and University of Toronto in Canada are just as good, by the way. So if anyone living in either of these countries and interested in Islamic Studies, there ya go; consider them :D :D
pir_Rokhan
04-16-2010, 01:56 PM
I am neither impressed by the contents of the syllabi nor the fact [rather assumption] that Islamic studies in the west is the best.What has been expressed seems to be all judgmental ,opinionated,subjective and esoeteric utterence of one's understanding which infact needs to be nuetral,objective and unbiased, instead, to be accepted in the academic world.
However My point and apprehension still stands out undebated.I would like to appreciate reflection about the point which I have mentioned in my post,that is, Islam [as taught in east or west] as a tool of Arab cultural domination instead of an honest inquiry into the realm of reality.
Badlun
04-16-2010, 03:14 PM
Pir Rokhan is pointing at a very important issue ..Islam as a religion and Arab Cultural propaganda in the form of Islam.
Religion is faith+worship+morality and its all some one´s private matter nothing to do with culture, politics, society, economy , law , science , philosophy etc. Whats is going on in the name of Islam is not only religion but beyond that and instead of justice faith, worship and morality, Arab culture , social norms, etc are propagated in the name of Islam.
We Pashtuns are the worst sufferers of this Arab cultural invasion that we are losing our Pashtunwali to Arab culture and Arab social norms. And we are more than Arabs in its propagating and its implementation. What Taliban is doing in the name of Islam is all to implement Arab culture, law etc on us.
We must differentiate religion from other aspects of life. If one wants to be Muslim because he or she likes Islamic beliefs, mode of worship and moral codes then must do it but may not promulgate Arab culture on others in the name of islam.
All these expenditures on promoting Islam is just a waste of financial resources nothing else. There are many other important areas where these funds can be spent more appropriately. People are dying of hunger and having no clothes and having no primary schooling facilities and you are spending millions of dollars in universities in promoting Islamic studies!! and why you dont spend it on science and technology and other modern sciences in place of teaching people religion which is one´s private affair.
Talal
04-16-2010, 03:46 PM
Qrratugai pretty much summed it up, you have some typing stamina girl :lal:
Master Khan
04-16-2010, 03:58 PM
He he he....maybe ::rolleyes::
nah i dont go to Stanford.....tuition is too high....and my parents make too much money so they would have to give a little bit over $50,000 out of pocket money for tuition.
When you go Afghanistan don't say that down there.
just giving you a advise:ninja:
Laila
04-16-2010, 05:35 PM
^^ umm okay
@ Que, why is UCLA losing its Islamic studies? They have one of the best Islamic departments there.
Looking forward to Stanford opening this department, i just hope it really goes through.
pir_Rokhan
04-16-2010, 07:16 PM
Pir Rokhan is pointing at a very important issue ..Islam as a religion and Arab Cultural propaganda in the form of Islam.
Religion is faith+worship+morality and its all some one´s private matter nothing to do with culture, politics, society, economy , law , science , philosophy etc. Whats is going on in the name of Islam is not only religion but beyond that and instead of justice faith, worship and morality, Arab culture , social norms, etc are propagated in the name of Islam.
We Pashtuns are the worst sufferers of this Arab cultural invasion that we are losing our Pashtunwali to Arab culture and Arab social norms. And we are more than Arabs in its propagating and its implementation. What Taliban is doing in the name of Islam is all to implement Arab culture, law etc on us.
We must differentiate religion from other aspects of life. If one wants to be Muslim because he or she likes Islamic beliefs, mode of worship and moral codes then must do it but may not promulgate Arab culture on others in the name of islam.
All these expenditures on promoting Islam is just a waste of financial resources nothing else. There are many other important areas where these funds can be spent more appropriately. People are dying of hunger and having no clothes and having no primary schooling facilities and you are spending millions of dollars in universities in promoting Islamic studies!! and why you dont spend it on science and technology and other modern sciences in place of teaching people religion which is one´s private affair.
Osho ,you are such a blessed soul.
pir_Rokhan
04-16-2010, 07:33 PM
Qrratugai pretty much summed it up, you have some typing stamina girl :lal:
Talal
What she summarised was the contents and methodology of the curriculum taught /offered in a westren varsity ,in her well elaborated post,which I am sure is just episode 1 of her reflections.
The contents of the curriculum ,for example, which have been mentioned, in no way prove that they are not used as a means to indoctrinate the Arab language and culture.
Just for reference,here is a glimpse of Darse Nizami syllabus as taught in Pakistan.One can see how far do they get from reality after studying for so many years.No wonder after getting "garduated" from Dars - Nizami , they start considering the masses around them as some lunatic aliens who need to be shown the right path.
On what basis are you arguing that we are losing our culture to Arab culture.
I think we still follow Pashtunwali.
Peshawar and Kandahar being the cultural capitals of Pashtuns both have a strong sense of Pashtunwali.
I understand how Arabs have intertwined their culture with Islam, but Pashtuns rarely accept foreginers imposing sactions.
The basis of my point is the fact that religion is misinterpreted to be taken equivalent to Arab culture of those times.The practices at those times which are known to the world through Traditions,are considered equivalent to standard practices of the religion and any critcism of those Arab traditions are considered as the critique of the prophtic methodology and an innovation into religion called " bidaa".
Islam, as preached by the prophet of Islam, was a set of reformative principles and practices for the Arabs to transform their society into a progressive one opposed to their earlier anti human cultural practices and retrogressive norms which were against the principles of evolution ,progress and prosperity.However it was used an an imperialist ideology to conquoer other lands and cultures.
Roshina
04-16-2010, 08:42 PM
@ Que, why is UCLA losing its Islamic studies? They have one of the best Islamic departments there.
Looking forward to Stanford opening this department, i just hope it really goes through.
I'm looking forward to Stanford's as well!
UCLA is losing it because of the complaints it has received from the students in the Islamic Studies department. But it's got really good faculty, so I'm upset!
Roshina
04-16-2010, 08:47 PM
^What did you learn about in Islam in Afghanistan.
We discuss the different ways Islam is practiced throughout the Muslim world, and it includes Afghanistan. I'm currently writing on what all I've learned on these classes, so once I'm done with them fully, ka khairee, I'll share it here on PF. Give me some time, though. :) It's part of a project I've currently got going on.
Roshina
04-16-2010, 09:15 PM
Talal
What she summarised was the contents and methodology of the curriculum taught /offered in a westren varsity ,in her well elaborated post,which I am sure is just episode 1 of her reflections.
It would be - if I weren't familiar with the graduate department of Islamic Studies in the same uni. I've friends in it who tell me about their experience as well (some are Muslims, some non-Muslims). And the same professors who teach us at the undergrad level teach at the graduate level as well. One class that's on graduate level is called Modernism & Islam, and I get to sit in on it when I have time; the teacher doesn't mind. So I assure you that it's not just an "episode" or the first episode :D I can't imagine why they'd be this progressive with the classes I'm taking with them and any less progressive with their graduate students. Yeah?
Rest assured, then, wrora ;) Islamic Studies in the west is out to transform us into active thinkers, not passive submitters (right word?) :D
The contents of the curriculum ,for example, which have been mentioned, in no way prove that they are not used as a means to indoctrinate the Arab language and culture.
Oh, I completely agree that it's a perfect way to indoctrinate our minds with the Arab culture. The kind of stuff they familiarize us with in Arabic courses is one of the best means of doing that! But because of the importance of Arabic (both language and culture, in a way) in understanding Islam, we have no choice BUT to learn it. I mean, you can't really go into Islamic Studies without knowing Arabic. If you don't know Arabic, you can't talk about translations and interpretations of the Quran, and since that's what I'm planning to pursue, I HAVE to fully learn Arabic.
I don't have a problem with learning other languages or accepting (what I consider) the good aspects of other cultures; it's when I have to abandon my OW language and culture to accept and appreciate others that I don't support.
Just for reference,here is a glimpse of Darse Nizami syllabus as taught in Pakistan.One can see how far do they get from reality after studying for so many years.No wonder after getting "garduated" from Dars - Nizami , they start considering the masses around them as some lunatic aliens who need to be shown the right path.
LOL! Yes, that's Pakistan and other Muslim countries for ya. That's why I couldn't handle Islamic Studies in Muslim countries. I'd study Arabic in a country like Egypt, Morocco, or Yemen, but take courses IN Islamic Studies in a "Muslim" country like Pakistan? Never.
Speaking of curricula, take a look at this description of Islamic Studies from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. (http://www1.georgetown.edu/departments/arabic/academics/graduateislamic/)
The Islamic Studies Ph.D. program at Georgetown seeks to advance knowledge and understanding of classical and modern Islamic religious thought and Islamic textual traditions, and to provide understanding of Islamic culture and intellectual history in the pre-modern and modern periods. The program offers undergraduate and graduate training in the study of the history, religion, culture, society, languages, literatures, and thought of the Islamic world, and introduces students to the traditional and modern scholarly approaches to the study of Islam.
Entering students must have at least three years of Arabic and are expected to enroll in advanced Arabic seminars. To upgrade their proficiency, students may be required to enroll in language classes concurrent with their graduate program. However, Arabic language courses taken to enable students to reach the seminar level do not count towards the degree credits. Students already enrolled in the terminal Master’s program at Georgetown must apply again if they are interested in joining the Ph.D. program; these students are not guaranteed admission, and will be considered by the admissions committee along with other applicants from outside the department.
Note their emphasis on intellectual understanding of Islam from both the classical and modern perspectives.
The courses offered (http://www1.georgetown.edu/departments/arabic/academics/courses/) in the same institution include:
- Several years of Arabic (reading, writing, formal Arabic, colloquial Arabic (Egyptian dialect), Morphology and Syntax, etc.)
- The Quran in History: A historical study of the Qur'an and other allied disciplines. Themes include the Islamic concept of the Qur'an; thematic and formal aspects of the Qur'an; modes of interpretation and principles of exegesis; and medieval and modern controversies regarding its history, formal structure, authorship and authority.
- Quranic Exegeses: This interactive graduate seminar presents an introduction to the corpus of Sunni Islamic Tafsir from the ninth to the 20th century. 1.) After a brief survey of the theoretical literature on the topic, 2.) the main authors of the Sunni Qur'anic Tafsir literature are identified; in this segment, each student (or a study group of several students) chooses a specific mufassir for in-depth analysis of this exegete's socio-political setting and intellectual/theological background and methodology. Thereafter, 3.) the seminar focuses on several Qur'anic sociopolitical concepts (such as qiwama and shura) where the students are called upon to identify patterns of continuity and change in Qur'anic hermeneutics over time. The seminar is conducted in English, but most of the readings are from the original (largely medieval) Arabic sources.
- The Quran: A linguistic, literary, and cultural analysis of the Qur'an, with special attention to its central position in these areas of Arab civilization. Fall: Suras of the Meccan period. Spring: Suras of the Medinese period.
- Islamic Law Concepts and Controversies (No description available on the website)
- Women in the Quran: The first part of this course introduces the women figures in the Qur'an and explores their role in the Qur'anic and later Islamic religious paradigms. In the second part, this course focuses on the Qur'an's gender-specific laws and regulations and their later interpretations.
- Islamic Legal Theory and Legal Change
The rest can be viewed at the link (http://www1.georgetown.edu/departments/arabic/academics/courses/) provided. I pasted only the ones that are of personal interest to me.
It's the same in all other major universities in the U.S., which include Duke, Emory, Yale, UCLA, Harvard, and University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill. I emphasize these ones 'cause I know some of the faculty there.
Roshina
04-16-2010, 09:38 PM
I am excited now.
LOL! Don't be ... then you might be disappointed.
But please remind me in, say, 2-3 months about sharing those here in case I forget.
pir_Rokhan
04-17-2010, 06:28 AM
Oh, I completely agree that it's a perfect way to indoctrinate our minds with the Arab culture. The kind of stuff they familiarize us with in Arabic courses is one of the best means of doing that! But because of the importance of Arabic (both language and culture, in a way) in understanding Islam, we have no choice BUT to learn it.
This is my basic point.I condem this approach.It is a cheating which the presenters and the propagators of the Islamic studies do.The serious students of Islamic studies should raise a voice against it.How is it a cheating? Here is the answer.
In 99.99% of cases Islam is projected as the way of life,the salavation for humanity,the only true philosoophy of life,the perfect system of life,correct code of life,the universl teachings of the prophets etc etc.
All these definitions if analysed by any student of epistemology are purely academic ones.If you say that it is an explanation of life and existence ,you need to refute the contemporary and/ or ancient ideas about life and existence. It encompasses ,the theory of origin of universe,the nature of life,the compostion and nature of human beings,all these are the topics of physics,biology and philosophy.
If you assert the existence of God and consider it a source for all Islamic teachings you need to discuss the scholarly arguments for the existence of God or the refutation of non existence of God.This includes among other things the basic conceptions about logic,ontology and physics.You cannot neglect creationist vs evolutionary approaches,the scholastic intepretations of for example, Shahwaliullah ,Jamaluddin Afghani,Syed Qutub,Mohmmad Qutub,Iqbal,Harun Yahya etc from the modern age and Ibne Rushd,Al Ghazali,Almawardi,Ibne Arabi etc from the medieval age and a lot more.
Similarly you need to question the modern sociological theories and concepts about society, its growth, institutions,civil rights etc in case of social and family related injunctions of the Quran etc.You need to be aware of the the role of various revolutions and their contribution to the make up of various defintions related to family,social group,community,soceity etc.
The same is true about a lot of other aspects of life which need to be considered.Without these considerations ,as I claimed earlier ,defining Islam ,is just an effort to arabise people in the name of Islam.Asking them to learn the science of religion [islam] while practically teaching them just about the language,culture and history of the nation who claimed to offer a solution to the problems of humanity and not critically evaluating te solution itself.This is same as asking people to learn science and technology and practically teaching them about British,European and American cultures instead of teaching them about Pure and Applied Sciences like Physics,Maths,Biology,Chemistry ,Engineering ,etc
I hope this necessarily explains ,thoug not sufficiently,what I wanted to commnunicate.
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Acute stress disorder: application to families of head-injured patients.
Families of head-injured patients may respond to the critical nature of the situation with anxiety and cognitive dissociation. This reaction may be classified as an acute stress disorder (ASD). Symptoms may occur 2-28 days after exposure to a traumatic event. Understanding this problem allows nurses to target assessment and interventions that focus on decreasing stress and facilitating coping.
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The All Progressives Congress (APC) assured Nigerians that President Muhammadu Buhari will spare no one, including ruling party members, in the President’s renewed efforts to imprison treasure raiders.
The barrage of attacks betrayed President Buhari’s threat to incarcerate corrupt people upon their arrival from London.
But the Democratic People’s Party (PDP) and other Nigerians demand that President Buhari begin with the ruling party’s national president, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and former Federation government secretary David Babachir Lawal, and other.
While dismissing the appeal that president leaves his cabinet and party members, APC AP. National publicity secretary Yekini Nabena challenged Nigerians to appeal to anti-corruption agencies against anyone they considered corrupt.
“It is not true that Mr. President is targeting opposition by that statement. We are all in this country to know that a serving APC Senator is currently facing trial over corruption. When he said he is going to jail more people, he was not targeting only the opposition.
“The law will always take its course and it does not matter where he starts. If Nigerians want Mr President to prosecute Oshiomhole or anyone close to the President, they should do the needful. If anyone can establish any case against them, let the law takes its course. Nobody is shielding anybody and we challenge the judiciary to live up to the expectations of Nigerians in handling corruption cases,” the party said.
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It is official. The deep state has admitted that Trump is now under their control and it is now business as usual — just like it was under Bush and Obama — and just like it would’ve been under Hillary.
For those who don’t remember, with the help of mainstream media—from The New York Times to Fox News—after 9/11, Americans were duped into accepting endless war by George W. Bush thanks to a constant bombardment of lies sold to the masses under the guise of “protecting freedom.” All one needs to do to realize no freedoms were protected by these wars, in which thousands of Americans died and hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians were slaughtered, is look around today.
With every action recorded, phone tapped, innocent family surveilled, right stripped, and citizen killed by their government, the term “Freedom” has become a mere symbolic representation of the brittle shell of America left behind after being gutted by unelected operatives in the deep state hell bent on total control and perpetual war.
Dick Cheney, Don Rumsfeld, Paul Wolfowitz and other neocons hailing from the notorious Project for the New American Century (PNAC), co-founded by neoconservative extraordinaire, William “Bill” Kristol, had their agenda of military hegemony clearly laid out, years before 9/11 which Bush would implement for them perfectly.
After Obama promised to end the wars, he quickly fell in line and started several more. And now, this very same thing is happening with Trump.
The deep state neocon/neolib faction has become so successful at shifting the narrative toward irrelevant infighting that no one even notices when their candidate gets into office and does a 180 on damn near every promise they made — Trump included. Here are just two powerful examples of Trump selling out to the deep state.
READ MORE:Trump Orders Media Blackout At EPA: Bans Use Of Social Media, Bars New Contracts
Afghanistan. Before he was elected, Trump was vehemently opposed to the quagmire in Afghanistan and called it “stupid,” “wasteful,” and “dangerous.” Now, just like his predecessors, he’s doubling down and send thousands more troops into an unwinnable war in which they will kill or be killed only to come home with PTSD or worse.
While many had faith that Trump would keep his promises, the fact is that all presidents are puppets and no matter who is in office, the shadow government always wins.
The deep state is so brazen, that the founder of PNAC actually took to MSNBC this week to admit they’ve finally gotten a grip on Trump.
After Trump made his UN speech, promising more war and to annihilate the millions of citizens in North Korea if they should make one wrong move, Bill Kristol himself went on MSNBC to praise him for it.
Kristol said Trump “sounded a little like George W. Bush to me” and that “for all of Donald Trump’s America First talk and repudiation of the Bush-McCain-Romney foreign policy,” it came across as “more standard,” even with the “Trumpian aspects.”
Kristol openly admitted that yes, Trump ran on a non-interventionist policy of peace and actually criticized Bush and Obama for their senseless wars, but now he is just like Bush. But it gets worse.
READ MORE:“She’s Been Through Enough” — Trump Caves, Will Not Pursue Charges Against Hillary
As to why Trump now sounds like Bush, according to Kristol, it’s because the deep state has officially attached their puppet strings.
“The people around Trump have gotten more of a grip on Trump, I think, in foreign policy, than I would have expected… This is a more normal speech by an American president than I might have thought three, four months ago,” said Kristol.
And just like that, on live TV, the neocon of neocons — who is an unmistakable member and policy writer of the deep state — said that Trump is now a puppet whose very strings are pulled by the Swamp he promised to drain, yet never did.
Now, the very same people who brought us the Iraq nightmare are giddy with excitement.
Neocons like John Bolton and Elliot Abrams are so happy to see this new Trump.
Today, the king of the warmongers Bill Kristol says Trump “sounded a little like George W. Bush to me”.
The people who have never been right, and have done unimaginable damage to the United States of America are gearing up to take us back into the abyss.
Donald Trump is their new W.
Welcome to the deep state Donald Trump, we hope you enjoy selling out your base.
About the Author
Matt Agorist is an honorably discharged veteran of the USMC and former intelligence operator directly tasked by the NSA. This prior experience gives him unique insight into the world of government corruption and the American police state. Agorist has been an independent journalist for over a decade and has been featured on mainstream networks around the world. Agorist is also the Editor at Large at the Free Thought Project. Follow @MattAgorist on Twitter, Steemit, and now on Facebook.
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1. Introduction {#sec1}
===============
The most common etiologies of acute upper airway obstruction include infection, neoplasms, trauma, foreign bodies, and angioedema. Tracheal neoplasm accounts for less than 0.1% of all malignancies \[[@B1]\]. Primary malignant tumors of the trachea are uncommon. The most prevalent histologies in adult primary tracheal tumors are squamous cell carcinoma and adenoid cystic carcinoma \[[@B2]\]. Although extranodal lymphoma is reasonably common, a primary presentation of extranodal lymphoma involving the trachea is extremely unusual. Relapsing lymphoma of the trachea is even more rarely encountered.
In non-Hodgkin\'s lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is the most common subtype which accounts for approximately 25% of cases \[[@B3]\]. The incidence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is approximately 7 cases per 100,000 people \[[@B4]\]. Relapse typically occurs in the first 2-3 years after treatment and usually occurs at a different site which is separate from the primary presentation \[[@B5]\].
We report the first case in the literature of relapsing non-Hodgkin\'s lymphoma in the trachea who presented with an acutely threatened airway requiring immediate surgical tracheostomy.
2. Case Report {#sec2}
==============
A 57-year-old female with a background of B-cell non-Hodgkin\'s lymphoma in remission presented to the emergency department with rapidly progressive noisy breathing and dyspnoea that was worse when supine over the last 7 days. There were associated symptoms of cough and hemoptysis as well as constitutional symptoms including fever, night sweats, and weight loss over this period. She denied voice changes, dysphagia, odynophagia, or trismus.
The patient was originally diagnosed with B-cell non-Hodgkin\'s lymphoma 6 months prior and had undergone six cycles of chemotherapy according to the German Multicenter Study Group for Adult Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (GMALL) 2002 protocol.
On review, she was afebrile with audible biphasic stridor. Both the stridor and dyspnea were significantly exacerbated in the supine position. On nasal endoscopy, there was a large round subglottic mass causing near-complete (\>80%) luminal obstruction of the airway ([Figure 1](#fig1){ref-type="fig"}). Chest X-ray was unremarkable with clear lung fields. Computed tomography (CT) imaging of her neck demonstrated a round subglottic soft tissue mass (1.3 × 1.4 × 1.9 cm) arising from the anterior wall of the upper trachea at the level of C6 ([Figure 2](#fig2){ref-type="fig"}).
Her airway was urgently secured with an awake tracheostomy in the operating theatre, followed by microlaryngoscopy, esophagoscopy, and bronchoscopy. The large flesh-colored subglottic mass was biopsied and debulked with a laryngeal Skimmer Blade (15 degree, 3.5 mm diameter). There were no other synchronous tracheal tumors or upper esophageal lesions. Pathology from the tracheal mass revealed cells staining positive for CD 20 ([Figure 3](#fig3){ref-type="fig"}) and MUM 1 and negative for CD 10, BCL 6, and CD 30. Overall, the features were consistent with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of activated B-cell phenotype. Bone marrow biopsy was negative. Whole body positron emission tomography (PET) scanning revealed multiple areas of active disease, including a high metabolic activity in the subglottis, suggesting recurrent disease.
Six days later, a second operation was performed for endoscopic evaluation and change of tracheostomy tube. Intraoperatively, the debulked tumor was noted to have rapidly regrown, reaching its original size, with evidence of distal extension, confirming its aggressive nature. The patient underwent palliative chemotherapy (procarbazine, gemcytabine, and dexamethasone) and radiotherapy with clinical and radiological remission at 4 months. Whilst she met all decannulation parameters, she remained tracheostomized due the aggressive nature of the disease and high risk of recurrence.
3. Discussion {#sec3}
=============
Even though extranodal lymphoma is reasonably common (e.g., in the gastrointestinal tract and the head and neck region), a primary presentation of extranodal lymphoma involving the trachea is extremely unusual. Seven series with a total of 425 tracheal tumors between 1930 and 1989 reported only 1 case of non-Hodgkin\'s lymphoma (prevalence of 0.23%) \[[@B6]\]. Relapsing lymphoma in the trachea is even more rarely encountered.
Tracheal lymphoma can cause symptoms and signs of upper airway obstruction (e.g., dyspnea and stridor), mucosal ulceration, and irritation (e.g., cough). Given the submucosal location of tracheal lymphomas, hemoptysis is uncommon. Airway obstruction has been reported in 87% of these patients, with half of them requiring emergency intervention \[[@B7]\].
Chest X-ray is commonly obtained as part of the initial radiological investigation but is rarely diagnostic, and tumors may be easily missed. CT is the most useful imaging modality for the assessment of tracheal tumors and is the gold standard imaging technique for the diagnosis and evaluation of tumor extent. Bronchoscopy is usually performed to diagnose and stage tracheal tumors as well as obtaining tissue samples.
Reports in the literature of relapsing lymphoma involving the trachea are exceedingly rare. To date there have been 4 published cases \[[@B8]--[@B11]\] summarized in [Table 1](#tab1){ref-type="table"} (the present case is the fifth). These included 4 females and 1 male. The histology of three cases was Hodgkin\'s lymphoma and of two cases was non-Hodgkin\'s lymphoma. Duration between treatment and relapse ranged from 6 months to 4 years. Tracheal obstruction was found endoscopically in 4 of the 5 cases. Management of relapse varies from surgery alone, such as electrocautery or resection of tumors, to the addition of chemotherapy and radiotherapy. To our knowledge, the present case is the second case reported in the literature with relapsing non-Hodgkin\'s lymphoma involving the trachea. This is the first case reported in the current literature presenting with an acutely threatened airway requiring immediate surgical tracheostomy.
It is highly unusual for relapsing lymphoma to involve the trachea causing tracheal obstruction. Despite its rarity, it can present with life-threatening airway obstruction which may be rapidly progressive requiring immediate surgical intervention such as tracheostomy. Clinicians should be aware of this possibility, as our case necessitated prompt securing of the patient\'s airway.
The authors wish to acknowledge Dr. Winny Varikatt, M.B.B.S. and F.R.C.P.A., and Dr. Valli Thanni, M.B.B.S., from the Department of Pathology, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia, for their assistance in the microscopic sections.
Disclosure
==========
There was no financial disclosure for this research. This case report was presented at the Australian Society of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery Annual Scientific Meeting, Perth, Australia, March 16--19, 2013, and the 20th World Congress of the International Federation of Oto-Rhino-Laryngological Societies (IFOS) Seoul, Republic of Korea, June 1--5, 2013.
Conflict of Interests
=====================
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.
{#fig1}
{#fig2}
{#fig3}
######
Case reports of relapsing lymphoma involving trachea.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Case report Sex Histology Symptoms Duration between treatment and relapse (years) Tracheal\ Treatment\ Outcome
obstruction of relapse
---------------------------------- ----- ----------- -------------------- ------------------------------------------------ ------------- ------------ -----------------------
Current study F NHL Stridor, dyspnea,\ 1/2 Y S, C, R Rapid regrowth of\
cough, hemoptysis tumor, tracheotomized
Boujaoude et al., 2012 \[[@B8]\] F HL --- 4 Y S Relief of symptoms
Erturan et al., 2004 \[[@B9]\] F HL --- 3 Y S Relief of symptoms
Martin et al., 2011 \[[@B10]\] M HL Dry cough, fever 1 N S, C Relief of symptoms
Ho et al., 1985 \[[@B11]\] F NHL Dyspnea, wheezing 1 Y S, C No recurrence
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
M: male; F: female; HL: Hodgkin\'s lymphoma; NHL: non-Hodgkin\'s lymphoma; Y: yes; N: no; S: surgery; C: chemotherapy; R: radiotherapy.
[^1]: Academic Editors: G. Paludetti and A. Rapoport
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Circulating immune complexes in localised juvenile periodontitis.
This study determined the quantity and type of circulating immune complexes (CIC) in the sera of 15 patients with localised juvenile periodontitis (LJP). There was a significantly higher level IgG and IgM in LJP patients as compared with the controls. The possible role of CIC in the pathogenesis of juvenile periodontitis is discussed.
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923 F.2d 844
Fryv.Thompson
NO. 90-7522
United States Court of Appeals,Second Circuit.
NOV 21, 1990
1
Appeal From: D.Conn.
2
AFFIRMED.
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I sought to create a style which vaguely mimicked the Fancy Winter Outfit; warm in appearance, but not savage furs draped over a body. More stately and regal than your average Norn, but not too far displaced from his roots.
Cool blues and gentle golds contrast the harsh fiery combat of this elementalist.
Any advice and/or tips are appreciated! Thanks!
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Like this:
The little big man down in Venezuela fully pegged the irony meter this week by first claiming that capitalism has destroyed the United States and that we should write a new constitution that frees us from the “dictatorship of the elite” that is banks and big corporations… and then placing an order for a bunch of laptops for schools that are made by a big U.S. corporation that is in many ways the poster child for capitalism. I guess Chavez is behind on his reading and hasn’t heard of One Laptop Per Child.
The computers, which the government started distributing in Portuguese primary schools this week at a subsidised price of 50 euros , will be delivered to Venezuela from December. They cost 285 euros in stores in Portugal.
The laptop is based on Intel Corp’s Classmate PC, a cheap computer that has been adopted in various formats in countries such as Brazil and Indonesia.
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Really now, Barack as Paris Hilton?
“On a day when major news organizations across the country are taking Senator McCain to task for a steady stream of false, negative attacks, his campaign has launched yet another. Or, as some might say, ‘Oops! He did it again.’ Our dependence on foreign oil is one of the greatest challenges we face. In this election the American people have a real choice — between Obama’s plan to provide tax rebates to American families while creating a renewable energy economy in America that frees us from our dependence on foreign oil, and Senator McCain’s plan to continue the same failed energy policies by handing out nearly $4 billion in tax breaks to oil companies while investing almost nothing in the new energy sources that represent our future,” said Obama campaign spokesman Tommy Vietor.
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Intracranial aneurysms in an African country.
Characteristics of intracranial aneurysms display ethnic variations. Data on this disease from the African continent is scarce and often conflicting. To describe site, age and gender distribution of intracranial aneurysms among Kenyans. Retrospective study at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. All records of black African patients with a diagnosis of intracranial aneurysms seen at Kenyatta National Hospital, the largest referral hospital in the Eastern and Central African region, over the period from January 1998 to December 2007 were examined for site, age and gender distribution. The data gathered were coded, analyzed with SPSS 11.50. Fifty-six cases of intracranial aneurysms were analyzed. The posterior communicating artery was the most affected (35.7%), followed by the anterior communicating artery (26.8%), while the posterior cerebral artery was the least affected (2%). Multiple aneurysms were present in 2%. The mean age at presentation was 50.9 years (range 21-80 years) and the gender distribution was equal. Intracranial aneurysms among Kenyans occur most commonly on the posterior communicating artery, in young individuals, and without gender bias. The distribution differs from that described in the literature and this requires search for risk factors.
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2014 Pakistani Telecom spectrum auction
Pakistan's next generation mobile spectrum auction for the electromagnetic spectrum's licenses was held on 23 April 2014 by Pakistan Telecommunication Authority.
2014 Spectrum Auction
On 14 April 2014, four companies submitted their bids to PTA, includes Zong, Ufone, Telenor and Mobilink for Next Generation Mobile Services. Mobilink and Zong bid for 10 MHz while Telenor and Ufone bid for 5 MHz.
Pakistan's first spectrum auction to enhance mobile broadband services was held in 2014. Technology neutral spectrum in two frequency bands, namely the 2100 MHz band and 1800 MHz was auctioned by PTA. The Government earned $903 million from auction in the 2100 MHz band and $210 million from auction in the 1800 MHz band with total revenue of $1.12 billion from both auctions. Zong launched mobile services based on 4G technology in Pakistan from 1800 MHz band. Another license for 4G was not won by any participant. In the 2100 MHz band, 3G services were launched by Zong along with Mobilink won 2x10 MHz license from 2100 MHz band. Ufone and Telenor won 2x5 MHz license for 3G from the same band.
Later 2X10 MHz spectrum was auctioned in the 850 MHz band in 2016 and 2X10 MHz in the 1800 MHz in 2017. The winners were Telenor and Jazz respectively and another USD 690 Million were paid for the same. Taking the total to USD 1.8 Billion earned through auction from 2014 to 2017. The broadband subscribers increased from 3.79 Million to around 64 Million as of February 2019.
Participants
Five companies participated in the auction were:
Zong
Ufone
Telenor
Mobilink
Warid
References
3
Category:2014 in Pakistan
Category:Spectrum auctions
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Even judges can get conned, a Santa Clara County judge all but conceded Friday.
Con man Vincent Cardinalli tricked Judge James Kleinberg and another judge last year into giving him blanket permission to file nuisance lawsuits in small-claims court from behind bars — in violation of state law.
The problem with that was Cardinalli had been declared a ”vexatious litigant,” or legal pest. Under the law, he must obtain permission from the presiding judge to sue anyone in any court.
Stopping short of admitting he made a mistake, Kleinberg put things right Friday and took the unusual step of explaining how things went wrong.
“I’m one of four civil-case managers,” he said, after the hearing ended and the court reporter stopped transcribing. “Each one of us is assigned 1,400 cases. So it’s not surprising things don’t always go smoothly.”
The mistake was particularly irksome to the people Cardinalli originally swindled because it came after Commissioner Greg Saldivar, for nearly a decade, overlooked obvious signs the towing company owner was running a scam in small claims court.
So far, Cardinalli has sued two jail guards on the grounds they might beat him up and the county for allegedly overcharging him $39 in jail medical fees.
Now, Cardinalli, who is serving a 14-year sentence in prison for filing fraudulent lawsuits, no longer can sue anyone willy-nilly. But the two lawsuits he already has filed in small-claims court still stand.
Cardinalli wasn’t present Friday, though the judge had tried to set up a telephone conference. But his presence was keenly felt through a series of erroneous legal arguments he made in writing, which the judge carefully rebutted for the record — one by one — in anticipation of an inevitable appeal.
Kleinberg’s ruling pleased John Castro Jr., a retired San Jose firefighter who filed the original request in 2007 to have Cardinalli declared a legal pest in all courts. At that time, Kleinberg agreed. But he changed his 2007 court order to exclude small claims after Cardinalli complained to then-presiding Judge Jamie Jacobs-May, and she sided with him. Both judges based their opinion on a 1993 case that was nullified by the state Legislature in 1994. “On behalf of myself and a whole lot of people, I thank you,” Castro told Kleinberg.
Outside the courtroom, Castro said, “It sounded like he was humbled. I think he feels good about correcting it.”
Jacobs-May admitted this week she made a mistake.
Castro credited Fairfield attorney Greg Adler for leading the crusade against Cardinalli and being the legal mastermind behind the long battle to have him declared a legal pest. Adler also exposed Cardinalli’s original lawsuit mill and brought the case to prosecutors.
“He’s my Erin Brockovich,” said Castro, comparing Adler to the environmental activist who discovered a systematic cover-up involving contaminated water against tall odds.
Cardinalli would tow vehicles, sell them without notifying owners and then sue the owners in small claims court for towing and storage fees, presenting phony information to justify his claims. Sometimes, he sued people who had never even owned the vehicle.
Adler, who also attended the hearing, praised Kleinberg.
“Judge Kleinberg is a very smart judge, and he has a very big caseload,” Adler said. “Good judges are the kind that make things right.”
Contact Tracey Kaplan at 408-278-3482.
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I have had a few requests to show in detail the production of the perfect fatty, with pics. I hope this helps. There has been some discussion of using bratwurst sausage in a fatty. I bought a couple packs of the johnsonville brat patties. They were on sale 2 lbs for 6 bucks. So thats what I used for this example. I am doing lots of fatties today, the first two just happen to be brat meat.
Roll them out as thick as you want, cold meat rolls better and sticks to the baggie less. these are rolled out to about 3/8" thickness.
Now cut up the sides of the baggie right along the seam, just lift the baggie side up and slip a knife down into the corner, poke it through, and slice up to the top. It should lay out flat like this!
2. Now fill with your favorite stuffing materials, this one is a mixture of cheeses, with a little bit of butt rub sprinkled below the cheese.
3. Now take the right side and start to fold it over the left (I am right handed). You may have to push some of the cheese back into the fold. Close it over and mate the ends together and it should look like this tube.
4. Keep working the roll towards the end of the split baggie. work on crimping the ends of the tube as you go. It should look like this.
5. On a seperate piece of celophane/Saran wrap, lay out 4-5 strips of bacon next to each other. Take the fatty over to the celophane, and roll it off the zip lock, onto the end of the bacon rolls.
6. Pick up the end of the celophane and allow your fatty to roll itself over the bacon strips.
7. Take it right to the end, it should appear something like this.
8. Now spin that whole work of art 90 degrees and get ready to roll it up in the celophane.
Add a little rub or desired spices and roll it up, this time folding the saran wrap in with itself to make a seal. It helps if the tray you are using is against the back of the counter, so it will stay pushed back.
9. Now take the twisted ends in your hand, lift and bring it towards you, set it back down and push away. keep doing this till it starts to tighten. Hold the ends tight and repeat a few times. The fatty will become shorter and fatter. The ends will seal themselves nicely and the bacon will tighten.
10. You are done. Now fold the tag ends under the fatty and stick it in the freezer for 5-15 minutes. This will firm it up so you can handle them without breaking them while putting them on the smoker.
After 2 1/2 hrs or when the internal temp reaches 160º - 170º, then take them off and let them rest/cool before slicing.
Ok, I hope that helps some folks enjoy the smoked fatty!
__________________
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Luke Stobart is a writer based in London and Barcelona
The battle around the October 1 independence referendum — called by the Catalan parliament but banned by Spain’s highest court — has become one of the most dramatic European developments in years.
As result of attacks on polling stations that were occupied by citizens to guarantee the vote would take place, around nine hundred people were injured by police — including many elderly people and a man likely to lose an eye after being shot using a banned rubber bullet. In Catalonia the violence led to mass participation in a general strike two days later that managed to shut down most public transport, farms, docks, smaller shops, and the public sector — albeit helped in the last case by the Catalan government subsidizing lost pay. This was a political strike of the kind not seen since the struggles against the dictatorship of General Francisco Franco.
That night, the king of Spain, Felipe VI, appeared on television screens across the country saying not a word about the victims nor recognizing any sense of grievance on the Catalan side. Instead, the new monarch, who since the abdication of his father in 2014 has tried to court an image of openness to dialogue, condemned the Catalan government (Generalitat) for situating itself “outside the law.” He promised the implementation of the rule of law and that Catalonia would stay in Spain. With the Catalan government expected to make a Unilateral Declaration of Independence (DUI) in the next few days it is likely that the speech was intended to prepare the ground for a new offensive and escalation.
The buildup to October 1’s confrontations was shocking too. Police arrested government officials and held them overnight, seized ballot papers and referendum materials, raided printers and newspapers, took over communication centers and websites (which were reopened by hackers across Spain), and “watched over” confiscated ballot boxes. The Spanish high courts even agreed to try pro-independence movement leaders — and the Catalan police chief — for “sedition,” threatened the arrest of over seven hundred of Catalonia’s mayors, and slapped hefty fines on the members of the Generalitat-appointed referendum board to force its collapse.
A Radicalizing Movement
Yet the most serious development has been a partial coup against Catalan self-rule. Madrid is “indefinitely” withholding the general funding sent to the Catalan government for the services it administers, including health and education, and attempted to take command through a paramilitary Civil Guard commander of the Catalan “Mossos” police force, which has resisted — making it harder to put down the civil disobedience carried out during the referendum.
Spain is a relatively decentralized state and despite the strong public attachment to “autonomy” in Catalonia, this may now be scrapped in the territory. A measure to take over the police and dismantle the power of the Catalan institutions is being demanded by the Ciudadanos party and is being considered as a resolution by the center-left Socialist Party (PSOE) — the second biggest party in Spain.
Many people, including plenty who are uninterested in independence, see the evolving coup and attacks as intolerable. During the strike against police repression on October 3, significant numbers of people wore Spanish flags — showing their opposition to independence — covered with messages of disgust against the undemocratic clampdown. Mass picketing and actions to occupy and defend the polling stations — led by grassroots Referendum Defense Committees — have brought together moderate Catalan nationalists with radicals, including many anarchists who have tended to treat all “nationalisms” as reactionary.
Those more versed in grassroots organizing against state repression, such as members of the anticapitalist and pro-independence party Candidatura d’Unitat Popular (CUP), are increasingly setting the protest agenda and winning the respect of others. The protest described by the BBC as an “anti-police strike” was originally called by militant unions (including the dockers’ union, the pro-Catalan IAC, and the anarcho-syndicalist CGT) based on the calculation that the larger unions who may feel the repression and backlash against it, support by members was too widespread not to support it. This calculation was correct, even if the union and moderate national movement leaders tried (and failed) to turn the protest into smaller testimonial “stoppages.”
The escalating events bring back dramatic historical memories. In the 1970s, large occupations and demonstrations were made to regain Catalan self-rule. Previously the Catalan government had been overthrown by force: by Franco in 1939 but also in response to its declaration of statehood in 1934, and much earlier, after a bloody military siege of Barcelona (ending in 1714). Arguably, in the last few weeks Madrid has been applying a state of emergency, which also evokes an authoritarian history, even though the country is supposed now to be a consolidated “democracy” (as well as one of the largest world economies).
Equally significant to the clampdown offensive has been the mass movement resisting it. On the day of the referendum, the movement repelled — in some localities with the help of firefighters — heavily equipped riot police using peaceful but assertive civil disobedience. Since the first arrests were carried out on September 20, university and sixth-form students have been on “permanent” strike, and collective pot-banging protests take place in neighborhoods every night.
As identified by Barcelona Marxist Josep Maria Antentas and, on the other side of the political divide, the La Vanguardia commentator Enric Juliana, the Catalan revolt is changing quickly. The national “sovereignty” movement has held pro-independence demonstrations of around a million people every September (on Catalonia’s national day, la Diada). These were peaceful, disciplined, visually powerful, and impressively executed events — for instance, with protesters forming a human chain that spanned the 400 kilometers of official Catalan territory. However, the protests were also stage-managed, media-focused, and nationalistic events that presented little threat to the status quo.
The main organizing body — the Catalan National Assembly (ANC) set up in March 2012 — adopted a plural approach almost exclusively limited to gaining statehood. It did not embrace a significant campaign seeking to introduce a constituent process within the process of independence (to bring about “a republic of the 99 percent” through a mass participatory process involving social movements such as the impressive PAH housing campaign). However spectacular the pro-independence protests, the movement ended up mobilizing little of the poorest layers of society (unlike Podemos and the new municipal coalitions).
However, as repression rose in the run up to the referendum — particularly after the September 20 arrests — the movement became less contained and more dynamic. On that day, a spontaneous rebellion emerged, encompassing civil disobedience in Barcelona and satellite industrial towns that prevented the police from raiding buildings (among them the CUP headquarters). By the evening the protests took on a flavor last seen during the indignados square occupations in 2011, and the massive anti-war protests a decade earlier. The protests are clearly developing from the bottom up and becoming increasingly working class — shown most clearly in Tuesday’s strike.
Juliana — an opponent of independence — said that after the protests on September 20 that the new “wave of outrage [indignación] . . . goes beyond the social limitations of pro-independence politics” and is “blurring some emotional boundaries between those pro-independence and those not,” suggesting that this trend would deepen if the crackdown continues.
This would seem to be confirmed by the workplace strikes, broad mobilizations led by the Referendum Defense Committees on Sunday, which include many non-independentistas, and the pot-banging in neighborhoods that tend to vote for pro-Spanish parties. But the shift should not be exaggerated. In Carmel, a poor neighborhood in Barcelona of mainly non-Spanish and Spanish immigrant families, turnout on 1 October was only 10 percent. There are still many working people – particularly in some of Barcelona’s former industrial “red belt” — who feel Catalan independence may only strengthen the local bourgeoisie or, at best, do little to improve their lives. Yet radical activists are right in describing how the repression has led to the battle lines being increasingly redrawn around defending democracy against authoritarian rule rather than around the more controversial national divide.
Further evidence of the transformation of the movement comes from outside Catalonia. The Basque country is another historic nation in the Spanish state where in the 2000s pro-independence movements, parties, and media were criminalized and repressed (aided by being seen as associated with the Basque separatist ETA’s armed struggle). In the territory, many tens of thousands have protested in solidarity with Catalans’ right to decide on two occasions. There is speculation about whether the governing right-wing Basque Nationalist Party can continue to provide parliamentary support for the minority Rajoy administration, which could even prevent the latter from governing.
Citizens in much of the rest of Spain have tended to be hostile towards Catalan national demands. Some conservative voters are mobilized behind Rajoy’s “defense of Spain,” as witnessed in the nationalist protests this weekend (for which many participants were bused in from outside Catalonia). Yet if the Madrid government assumed that it would simply gain popularity for its assault, it may have misjudged the country’s mood. Different reports suggest that the images of police confiscating ballot papers and boxes in the face of local protests went over poorly with many Spaniards. Moreover, the state apparatus scored the first of many several own goals when it banned meetings outside Catalonia in support of Catalan self-determination: the message conveyed was that the censorship and prohibitions that took place under Franco were returning . . . and not just to “Cataluña.”
Since September 20, dozens of protests in support of Catalan self-determination have been held in Spanish towns and cities. On October 1, Madrid’s symbolic Puerta de Sol was full of people opposing the police violence in Barcelona. In such protests — as in Catalonia — there is a notably large presence of the generation that fought against the dictatorship. It was moving to see demonstrators in a Madrid protest singing the 1970s song “L’Estaca” — a song in Catalan about how unity can pull down a dictator. Last Saturday, large rallies were held in the city and in Barcelona in which people wore white and held white flags, calling for dialogue between the two sides. While the protest mistakenly treated the Catalan independence movement as equally responsible for the growing conflict, it still represented a form of protest against the state violence in Catalonia. None of these protests mean that most Spaniards are sympathetic towards Catalan independence. However, opposition to the repression has been growing across the whole of Spain.
As this has took place, MPs in Podemos — the left-populist party arising in part from the 2011 indignados occupations — have been active and often effective in denouncing the authoritarianism of Rajoy (although they have been less critical towards that of the Spanish justice system, and have refused to recognize the binding nature of the recent referendum).
After September 20. Juliana tried to warn the establishment bubble in Madrid that Catalonia may be beginning its “separation from Spain” and that a “crisis of the state” had begun. But it isn’t only the independence movement that has advanced.
Because so many riot police were brought from across Spain, few were left in some regions. A group of elected representatives for Podemos and associated organizations meeting in Zaragoza (to unsuccessfully and somewhat theatrically attempt to bring about a new political dialogue in response to the growing crisis) were surrounded by hundreds of fascists. When the group requested greater police protection they were told that the local police were not available, as they had been sent to Catalonia. (On a more positive note, low police numbers in the Madrid region helped a group of migrants escape from a detention center.)
In southern Spanish towns, nationalists cheered Spanish riot police as they left for Catalonia, chanting “Go get them!” as if the police were an invading army. Thousands of police were then lodged in government-chartered cruise ships docked in Barcelona and Tarragona. One of these, incidentally, was covered with a giant cartoon of Tweety Pie surrounded by angry Warner Brother foes. Because this gained so much public attention, Tweety was then covered with a giant tarpaulin — described by one commentator as “a burka.” An ex-CUP MP quipped that the spectacle was an illustration of the shortcomings of state dependency on outsourcing. Dockers, who have recently waged a successful strike against restructuring, refused to service the ships.
The heavy coercion deployed to stop the referendum means that although the votes finally cast only reached 42 percent — a percentage that should be increased slightly to take into account the likely 294,000 completed ballot papers confiscated by the police, the 90 percent support for independence on the ballot is being taken as a mandate for continuing the move to statehood. The center-left Junts pel Sí (Together For Yes) coalition and anticapitalist CUP are pushing for a unilateral declaration of independence to be issued as soon as today. Clearly, the state onslaught is pushing the movement for Catalan democracy forward, not backward.
Is Catalan Nationalism Also a Problem?
There are many on the Left in Spain (and to a much lesser degree, Catalonia) that are strongly opposed to the state’s authoritarianism but see Catalan nationalism as also to blame for the crisis. There are a variety of perspectives leading them to adopt this attitude, but it’s clear that many do so because they accept the caricature of the Catalan movement as bourgeois-dominated and mainly interested in putting an end to sharing its relatively high tax revenues with other Spanish regions, including in the poorer south.
There are several reasons why we should reject this view. First, support for Catalan statehood is mainly left wing, which is how 72 percent of those that supported a Catalan republic before the summer self-identified (as compared to the figure of 40 percent percent for Catalans who would vote “no”). Polls also suggest that over half of those supporting independence do so mainly due to a desire to make policy changes, gain greater local governance, or because they feel “miscomprehended” — reasons that cannot be treated as reactionary. It should be pointed out that in Spain, minority languages and identities are almost absent in the media and sometimes treated as suspect. A few years ago the Constitutional Court, as well as the conservative government in the Balearic Isles (a territory where a Catalan dialectic is spoken), imposed rolling back the use of Catalan or related dialects in the school system. There is little tolerance of the Catalan language and identity in monolingual Spain.
A minority — less than a third — of those wanting independence are inclined to do so to improve the Generalitat’s finances. This view is wrongly treated as dominant within “catalanisme” because it is defended by the wing of the movement that remains its most public face. As well as the liberal-right nationalists of PdeCAT — previously Convergència — holding the Catalan presidency, this wing has drawn the center-left pro-Catalan ERC (Republican Left of Catalonia), movement activists, and individuals into Junts pel Sí, an electoral alliance that won the 2015 Catalan elections.
However, the Catalan Right is in fact considerably less hegemonic in pro-Catalan politics than it appears. Before the first giant pro-independence protest in September 2012, Convergència’s objective was the limited one of gaining greater fiscal powers within the existing territorial framework, and the party had been in a long-term coalition with a regionalist party — Unió — that later split in opposition to independence. It took a million people to demonstrate for full Catalan statehood for Convergència to embrace such a goal.
The 2011 “revolt in the squares” may have aided this conversion. After this, in which indignados surrounding the Catalan parliament forced pro-austerity President Mas to fly into work by helicopter, Convergència and other establishment parties were deeply delegimitized. This made it difficult for Mas to turn his back on the clamor for independence when it erupted.
Another sign of the largely progressive nature of the independence drive is that since “the process” began in the fall of 2012, the Left has advanced electorally. The center-left ERC has become the most popular pro-Catalan party, and, most inspiring, the CUP — a radical platform built through years of local activism — took ten regional seats in 2015. This breakthrough made the CUP the kingmaker for the Junts pel Sí alliance to form a minority government. A mass members’ meeting of the CUP in December 2015 was split down the middle about investing the pro-austerity Mas with the presidency. This led Mas to be replaced as president by Carles Puigdemont, an event that led the Financial Times’s Spanish editor to complain that a small group of anticapitalists were deciding a nation’s future.
The CUP’s new bargaining power (and militant spirit) also enabled it to hold Junts pel Sí to the commitment of organizing the October 1 referendum, as well as pressuring the coalition to pass legislation banning evictions, guaranteeing a basic income, and banning migrant detention centers. Whatever the limitations of pro-Catalan politics, it is impossible to see the process simply as a slide rightward. When the Spanish Right blame “anti-system” CUP activists for the referendum taking place, it is not entirely without merit.
The Catalan Issue Since the 2000s
The immediate reason for Catalonia’s “sovereignty process” is that attempts to treat the territory like a nation within the Spanish state — and grant it devolved powers comparable to those enjoyed by the Basque Country — were blocked in the 2000s. A reform of Catalonia’s Statute of Autonomy launched by the new Socialist-led tripartite government in 2003 was approved in a referendum in 2006, amended by the then also “socialist” central government, further reduced by Congress, and then, in 2010, left massively truncated by Spain’s Constitutional Court.
This came after a protracted campaign against the statute by the right-wing Partido Popular (PP). Particularly irritating to many Catalans was the striking down of a reference to Catalonia being a “nation”; a main slogan in protests against the verdict was “we are a nation.” After this development, independence (as opposed to a federal state or an autonomous region) soared in popularity.
A more locally rooted movement developed in 2009, when activists in the coastal village of Arenys de Mar held a symbolic referendum declaring the municipality independent from the Spanish state. Similar polls spread across Catalonia over the following years, helping create grassroots networks of municipalities and activists that would later structure the larger movement.
Parallel to these developments, pro-Catalan economic liberals developed and publicized the “economic case for independence,” according to which all Catalans would be 8 percent richer under independence. Its logic was summed up in the crude and now-discredited slogan “Spain robs us,” which was effectively defended by President Mas and helped win some new pro-independence converts among the many people suffering financially under Spain’s recession.
Of course, there were enough cases of economic discrimination against Catalonia to make claims of being robbed seem reasonable. The territory has received lower investments — for example, in transport infrastructure — than other economically similar regions, and when an energy firm controlled by the Catalan savings bank La Caixa attempted to take over large Spanish energy corporations the PP and Spanish employers claimed this would lead to “excessive” economic concentration in Barcelona.
While agitation for independence developed in Catalonia, things moved in the opposite direction in Spain. As the sovereign debt crisis accelerated, calls grew in political and media circles to recentralize policy making — supposedly to reduce spending on duplicated administration. PP General Secretary María de Dolores Cospedal led by example. As president of Castille-La Mancha, she reduced the number of MPs in the region’s parliament from 49 to 33, a not-so-subtle attempt to demonstrate how superfluous regional government was.
When the Catalan “sovereignty process” began, calls for reducing or ending regional autonomy subsided. But polls since that time show that these ideas held sway among a significant section of Spaniards and they are now being implemented in a big way.
Relatedly, some commentators have explained the Catalan crisis by referring to the limited reform of the Spanish state and right-wing politics during the transition from fascism. When the PP government weaponize the constitution against the referendum, it is the product of a negotiation dominated by Franco’s regime. The basic structures of the police forces and army remain little changed, something that at least partially explains the visible camaraderie between the far-right and police during this conflict (including a photograph of a police officer giving a fascist salute and the National Police tweeting its support for a right-wing anti-independence demonstration).
After all, the forerunner to the PP was set up by Franco’s brutal Interior Minister Manuel Fraga. The party’s despotic politics were displayed in its 2015 “gag law,” which permitted giving fines of several-hundred-thousand euros to those holding unauthorized protests or sharing photos of police brutality on social media.
Yet seeing current state actions as nothing but unreformed fascism has its limits.
Firstly, repression against peaceful national-liberation movements is not the preserve of ex-fascist dictatorships (as witnessed when a “democratic” British state carried out the Bloody Sunday massacre). Moreover, support for prohibition of the Catalan referendum is not limited to conservatives and central state institutions. Instead, it is backed by all of the mainstream Spanish media and the largest opposition parties except Podemos.
The social-democratic PSOE has been divided over the question at best. “Modernizing” leader Pedro Sánchez has been relatively quiet since the repression and backlash began. Yet the party leadership is sympathetic towards arresting Catalan ministers and its powerful right wing supports applying a constitutional article (Article 155) that would effectively end Catalan self-government.
The authoritarian response by the Spanish establishment can also be understood as a continuation of comparable practices in the 2000s against the Basque national movement. Then, pro-independence parties were banned, their leaderships imprisoned, and Basque-language newspapers closed down. There was a near-consensus among the Spanish political class in favor of this, and limited opposition on the street. However, today’s context is very different. The current crackdown takes place at a time of socioeconomic decline for a great many Catalans and Spaniards, and after major leftward political shifts (as demonstrated by 2014 municipal elections in which left-wing municipal platforms took over four of the five biggest Spanish cities).
This is a much less favorable scenario for serious acts of state repression to take place, even if there is some real popular support for repression. Perhaps more importantly, the movement being targeted this time is not — unlike the Basque Left — viewed as linked to armed organizations. But it is very possible that the out-of-touch Spanish establishment entered the current battle overconfident, leading it to make big mistakes and inspire a powerful response.
At the same time, we should ask whether the regime consensus in favor of repression also has roots that are not specific to Iberia. Certainly no capitalist state likes to have its power weakened. Such losses inevitably hurt a state’s relative global competitiveness. Losing Catalonia would represent a particularly big blow as it provides nearly a fifth of Spanish GDP and punches above its weight in areas such as tourism, culture, and sports. Furthermore, departure by Catalonia could also encourage secession by other national minorities — particularly the economically significant Basque Country. If we add to this the feeling of psychological loss that elites (and an important section of non-elites) feel when their “imagined community” is truncated (particularly if they perceive it as a single national entity), perhaps Madrid’s response is predictable.
Looking Back
Attachment to a nation is no less strong among many Catalan nationalists, who tend to treat Catalonia as a millenary nation. The boundaries more radical catalanistes draw include the area around Perpignan (France), the Balearic Isles, and the Valencia region, as well as what is officially known as Catalonia. These views are based on a long, but not unbroken, history.
The Kingdom of Catalonia was one of the first feudal states, with a constitution preceding the Magna Carta. It also developed one of the first parliaments, which tied the monarch to ruling through agreement with the propertied classes. In the late Middle Ages, a Catalan empire dominated much of the Western Mediterranean before Castile — the key power center of Spain — emerged as a world power.
“Catalunya” traded wool and slaves abroad, and its territory expanded as far as Sardinia, Naples, and Athens. The Principality of Catalonia confederated with Aragon in 1137, keeping autonomous institutions and developing its economy further through trading goods to the whole Iberian Peninsula. Historian Pierre Vilar argues that from the thirteenth century the development of a common market system, cultural community and language meant Catalonia was becoming an early nation-state.
However, the following period was tumultuous: social conflict between serfs and landowners, burghers and monarchs; the collapse of population and agriculture due to plague; an increasingly over-stretched empire; wars of succession; anti-Jewish pogroms; and civil war. King Joan II survived the latter by securing the support of Castile in exchange for joining Aragon-Catalonia to this kingdom through marriage in 1469. This union, which would form the basis of Spain, allowed Catalonia to self-govern but not to control foreign policy or trade with colonies.
In the sixteenth and seventieth centuries Catalonia declined economically and was increasingly administered from Madrid. The local presence of the Spanish army, which Catalans were excluded from joining but had to pay for, created resentment among the poor. In 1640, agricultural reapers led an uprising —alongside the Generalitat — that ended with the killing of the viceroy, Castile’s Catalan representative. Such a rebellion was temporarily aided by the backing of the French king until Phillip V of Castile reached an agreement with him and Catalonia lost any meaningful independence (as well as its territories that are now part of France).
After Catalonia supported an alternative pretender to the throne against the Bourbon king, its capital’s citizens were subject to military siege and bloody reprisals, and by 1714 seven centuries of Catalan autonomy had ended. After a ban on trade with the rest of the Spanish empire was finally lifted at the end of the century, Catalonia prospered again, later undergoing full-scale industrialization. By the nineteenth century it was the most economically advanced part of Spain — becoming the fourth largest cotton producer in the world and developing a powerful financial sector.
In the same century Catalans participated in a long history of revolts and led attempts to create a genuinely federal state. Barcelona became known as the “Rose of Fire” and Engels wrote that it was the city with “more struggle on the barricades than any other in the world.” The modern Catalan nationalist movement emerged as a force at the end of the nineteenth and beginning of the twentieth century.
It emerged politically under different ideological formations — including a Republican Left whose president, Lluís Companys, declared a Catalan republic in 1934. Even when Franco banned Catalanisme and suppressed the Catalan national language and identity — including banning Catalan names and punishing children that spoke it in schools — use of Catalan continued in homes (and in FC Barcelona’s Camp Nou stadium where suppression proved too difficult due to the venue’s size).
In 1979, after Catalonia had regained its institutions, a Statute of Autonomy was passed, and the Generalitat gained jurisdiction over health, education, social security, and cultural policies. Nevertheless, unlike the Basque Country, where at the time there was a larger and more violent national confrontation, the Generalitat was not allowed to collect and redistribute its own taxes — an issue that would encourage later attempts at gaining greater autonomy. Under the pro-Catalan government of the Jordi Pujol, the territory created a popular “autonomous” television network, established Catalan as the teaching language in schools, made Catalan compulsory in public information — somewhat controversially including shop names — and public sector employment. In 2000 it created the Mossos police force, which has proved its credentials as a national police partly through its ability to match or even surpass its Spanish equivalents in beating up protesters, migrants, and others.
Catalonia has a long history: sometimes proud — its economic, political, and democratic precociousness — and sometimes shameful, such as with respect to the considerable wealth it derived from slave production in Cuba. The important point is that expressions of its nation-ness, autonomy, and independence have been much more pronounced and frequent than is generally known outside the region, including in the rest of Iberia.
Catalonia Is a Failure of Spain
However, if we understand national consciousness as a sense of territorial “community,” which emerged in modern times as people began to have frequent interactions with states, it is questionable to present Catalonia and Catalan national consciousness as having a constant millenary history.
It is unlikely that the peasantry in the early Middle Ages had much day-to-day contact with the state or developed a strong sense of Catalan identity. Additionally, after the loss of the Catalan institutions in 1714, it took a century and a half for Catalan nationalism to reemerge. It is likely that one reason for this was the economic benefits accrued from being part of the Spanish Empire —particularly by the Catalan upper classes. There were pro-Catalan popular-class movements in the nineteenth century but these did not develop strength comparable to moments when relatively wealthy sectors combined with poorer groups (as in the years prior to 1714, in the decades before the civil war, the 1970s, and now).
Indeed, to best understand the Catalan question — as well as other minority “nationalisms” within the Spanish state — we need to focus on the limitations and failures of the Spanish national project. Spain went from being the world’s biggest empire after its conquest and pillage of the Americas to falling behind other states in Western Europe and North America. In the early nineteenth century, Spanish nationalism emerged in response to the Napoleonic invasion of the Peninsula.
In 1812 the Spanish Congress — meeting in exile in Cádiz — passed a relatively advanced constitution that would introduce universal male suffrage, freedom of the press, and land reform. This attempt at creating a modern liberal Spain was defeated, partly due to opposition to such measures from “juntas” governing Spain’s overseas territories. Later, a revolutionary struggle in 1868-1873 created a short-lived federal republic responding to minority aspirations. Yet this was overthrown in a military uprising, and Bourbonic rule reintroduced. Over the following decades the state would be monarchic, Catholic, oligarchic, and centralist. For Madrid-based Marxist Jaime Pastor, it looked “more towards a reactionary past, to the Catholic Monarchs and to a decaying Empire, than to a project . . . looking to the future.”
The Catalan bourgeoisie opposed the revolution and supported the restoration. Yet in the following period, disagreements emerged over protecting local industry against foreign competition. The pro-Catalan “Lliga de Catalunya” was formed to defend these interests. The party, which gained some support in the middle-classes and countryside, soon began demanding autonomy. After the Spanish-American War in 1898, when Spain lost its last big colonies Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines, Catalan regionalism grew as a force, promising modernization through building a Catalan polity that could counter-balance a backwards-looking Madrid.
The Lliga’s nationalism was not left wing. Catalan industry became competitive through high levels of exploitation, and employers funded violent groups to kill radical trade unionists. The league had a similar attitude to the class struggle. It joined with conservative Carlists to form Solidaritat Catalana (SC), which won the 1907 general elections in Catalonia. Two years later it supported the army’s repression of an uprising by Barcelona workers against conscription into Spain’s new colonial war in Morocco. A hundred local people were killed in what became known as the “Tragic Week.” In the face of radical workers’ struggle, including the historic Canadiense general strike that won the eight-hour working day, Primo de Rivera took power in a military coup in 1923. He was backed by SC and the Spanish monarchy.
Conservative Catalanism rightly paid a heavy price for this collaboration. In the municipal elections of 1931 the more radical Republican Left of Catalonia (ERC) displaced it as the main pro-Catalan party. A year later the Generalitat was created, while in 1934 the Second Spanish Republic was formed. The latter had many shortcomings — among them its approach to Catalan autonomy. The same year, a Generalit reform benefiting tenant farmers was struck down by the constitutional court, and when the far-right won the Spanish elections, Catalan President Companys declared a state within the Spanish Federal Republic.
The army intervened, autonomy was quashed, and a state of emergency declared. (There are disturbing similarities here with recent events.) The Generalitat was reintroduced in 1936 after the Popular Front government came to power.
The progressiveness of ERC’s politics had limitations that also need to be acknowledged. Most damning, these included leading party members sharing with conservative Catalan nationalism a pseudo-scientific racial view of Catalan identity (common in early-twentieth-century national movements) and helping to crush the anarchist revolution in Catalonia during the Spanish Civil War.
Yet Catalan republicanism was broadly of the Left. Its separatism made it a target of the Spanish Right, which some have argued hated minority nationalism even more than communism — an attitude summed up infamously in the slogan used by a 1920s right-wing MP “mejor una España roja que una España rota” (“better a red Spain than a broken Spain”). Ending attempts at self-government was certainly a major motivation behind Franco’s military uprising.
After Franco won the Civil War in 1939, Catalan institutions and public usage of the language were again banned. Many catalanistes fled into exile alongside other republicans. Companys was caught by the Nazis, handed over to Franco, tortured, and executed (a fate that PP spokesperson Pablo Casado has stunningly suggested could await the current Catalan president is he declared an independent republic). Spain officially returned to being “one.” To enforce this, members of the fascist Spanish Falange were given control of much of the state apparatus as well as the ministry of the economy. The Left and Catalanism were smashed.
But a pro-Catalan spirit did not disappear completely. One of the first significant battles under Franco was a mass tram boycott in Barcelona against a hike in prices that made tickets more expensive in Barcelona than in Madrid. The protest was fueled by the poverty of the postwar period, but also by a sense of national grievance. As had happened earlier in history, the movement grew stronger by combining the social and national struggle. The Catalan language survived by being spoken in the home, even if by the end of the dictatorship most Catalan speakers could not write in the language. The Catalan national movement re-emerged in the 1960s and played an important role in the movement for democracy in the 1970s (including in the Assembly of Catalonia). It allied with the working-class movements that eventually cracked open the regime, with workers raising the demand for national autonomy during strikes.
Surviving Dilution
After a section of the regime realized the dictatorship may not survive a mass strike wave in 1976 — and might even suffer the fate of the military regime in neighboring Portugal overthrown by a revolution two years earlier — it moved to negotiate a transition to democracy with opposition leaders. The “reformers” — including a monarch who had sworn to preserve fascism — accepted the legalization of opposition parties and unions, and organized elections held in 1977.
But there was more resistance to making concessions towards national minorities. Territorial reform proved particularly difficult. This was partly because the pro-Basque ETA was continuing an armed struggle which had killed Franco’s prime minister Carrero Blanco and many members of the security forces. But it is also likely that the Right saw Catalan and Basque nationalism as a particular threat. It thus made sure that the new constitution — today being used against the referendum and movement — affirmed that “the indissoluble unity of the Spanish nation” would be guaranteed by the armed forces. The constitution was only narrowly approved by Catalans in the 1978 referendum, largely due to a desire to avoid returning to dictatorship. Today, the same text is backed by less than a third of Catalans.
Autonomy was only returned to Catalonia and the Basque Country in 1981 and after the first giant protests of the democratic period. And crucially the territorial model introduced divided Spain into seventeen “autonomous communities” (ACs), allowing each a regional parliament and the chance of opting for different degrees of powers. Some of these ACs — for example, Cantabria or Madrid — were not based on any history of territorial identity. The point was to dilute and neutralize Basque, Catalan, and Galician identities.
This deeply flawed process fueled Catalanism. Political hegemony in the territory transferred relatively swiftly to Jordi Pujol’s Convergència (from the Communist PSUC). Under his presidency between 1980 and 2003, Pujol led a relatively successful project of “nation-building without a state” (at the same time as enriching himself and his family through charging percentage fees for all public contracts awarded by the Generalitat).
His project would not have been successful without two preconditions being in place. First, there was broad public support for normalizing and extending Catalan culture and language, which was helped by the cross-fertilization of national and working-class struggles in the previous period. Second, Catalan nationalism took a civic rather than ethnic approach. This was important because between the 1950s and 1970s over a million and a half Andalusians, Murcians, and Galicians had settled in Catalonia, attracted by a new wave of industrialization, and there were at first little or no instruments by which to socialize migrants and their children in the Catalan language and culture.
Pujol, who wrote profusely on immigration and Catalonia, won his fellow liberal-conservative nationalists to a view that a Catalan is someone “who lives and works in Catalonia and wants to be [Catalan]”—a relatively open approach that over the decades enabled Catalanism to integrate within it many people from a Spanish background. Pujol himself, however, was still a supremacist: he dismissed “the Andalusian” as being an “anarchic” and “ruined man” and wanted all migrants to be assimilated in a mono-cultural Catalonia. This attitude spilled over into racism when non-Christians began arriving in large numbers in the 2000s. Pujol’s embrace of “integration” therefore can be understood as a pragmatic attempt to avoid anti-Catalan politics from reemerging among the newer population as it had at the beginning of the twentieth century. Yet it also added to the positive force of Catalanism.
In all, throughout Catalonia’s modern history a general pattern can be identified: rather than Catalan national consciousness being a constant — ever-seeking to create or develop a national polity — it is a more variable reaction to the political and social limitations of the Spanish national project. Modern Catalanism has never been a working-class movement with a socialist dynamic, but it has often been a form of class struggle in which the classes excluded from political power — most often middle classes — have challenged ruling elites. The period since the dictatorship represents a partial exception, however, as Catalan employers and their political representatives have suffered little discrimination from the central state and yet have played a significant role within Catalanism.
Furthermore, the post-’78 regime has been able to live with substantial degrees of autonomy — even financial in the Basque case — as long as this avoided any assertion of nationhood. While nationalists acted within the boundaries of the post-’78 territorial framework, they were tolerated. A sign of this has been that both the PSOE and PP have reached parliamentary agreements with Convergència and the Basque National Party to govern in a minority.
Yet when the peripheries have attempted to gain legal recognition of their national status, the Spanish constitution is employed to sabotage and block them. This happened in the Basque case when President Ibarretxe (1999-2009) called a referendum on becoming a “community freely associated with the Spanish state.” The Zapatero government challenged this in the Constitutional Court. As with Catalan self-determination today, the “Ibarretxe Plan” was met by opposition from the whole establishment: judges, media, and the two parties that have dominated Spanish politics in recent decades.
Flaws in the process of political transformation at the end of the dictatorship are a factor in this but history suggests the problem has deeper roots: that assertions of minority nationhood are accurately interpreted as questioning the success of the Spanish nation-state and are therefore seen as incompatible with it. Such an analysis would suggest that Podemos’s attempt to combine “progressive patriotism” with a defense of the “plurinational” state has limited odds of success — even in the unlikely scenario that the party could soon reach a position of power in which it could implement its ideas. The far more likely outcome to the current crisis will be that Catalonia secedes or Madrid attempts to destroy what is left of its autonomy.
Some Catalanists might resent having their political project presented as driven more by events on the outside than the inside. They may even understand that treating Catalanisme as mainly reactive undermines the case for a Catalan state. Yet the question must be asked: why has the desire for Catalan and Basque nationhood only has emerged as a mass movement on the Spanish side of these historic territories? The obvious answer is that the French state has been far more successful at making people “feel” French. On the Spanish side, the mechanisms that attach people to a body politic developed late and were weak.
For instance a national education system was not created until the late nineteenth century. Surveys in the 2000s suggested that identification with the Spanish nation is still relatively weak, and interestingly, was found to be weaker in the monolingual area of Extremadura than in Catalonia. Precisely what makes Catalanism a possible route to a new emancipatory politics is that it contains within it an element of political and social critique that gives its struggle for expression an emancipatory potential. It is therefore necessarily seen as an affront by the powers that be, which respond by revealing their anti-democratic and violent nature.
Yet there are two souls in pro-sovereignty movement, as the CUP and others recognize, and the fight must also be for the progressive one to overcome the conservative. This requires class politics and strategy, as well as being honest about the limitations of all national projects. It means finding ways to ensure that a break with Spain is one in the interests of working people. The proposal by the Catalan Left to initiate a constituent process to create a new political and social framework through mass participation may help move in that direction.
Recognizing Catalanism as a reflection of (and boost to) the failure of Spain helps explain the belligerence of the Spanish state towards Catalan self-determination. This is as key to understanding the current crisis as recognizing the limitations of the break with Spain’s far-right past or the hubris acquired by the regime due to its successful shutdown of pro-Basque parties and referendums. It suggests that reform of the state was always an unlikely outcome.
In the coming days, we are likely to see more confrontations. Threats by Rajoy to suspend Catalan autonomy if independence is declared, and the likely moves to arrest government members that would follow, could provoke mobilizations that are bigger and more militant than we have seen so far. If this happens, we may be entering uncharted territory for contemporary Europe.
Catalan activists in militant unions, the CUP, and radical organizations, as well as many within Podemos, los Comunes, and the pro-sovereignty movements, will try to continue to propel the democratic struggle leftward. But it will be crucial for their success that solidarity is provided internationally — including by pressing the governments that are allowing Rajoy a free hand.
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Personal Property
Tax notices are no longer sent out by the commissioners office to existing residents in January; however, city ordinance requires residents to notify our office within 30 days if they change their address or acquire or dispose of a vehicle.
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Q:
WPF word alignment issues while MaxTextWidth is set
I am using FormattedText to display text. I need to align the text horizontally as per options provided. Everything works fine till I set the "MaxTextWidth" property(I need this for word trimming). How do I align the text along with word trimming enabled?
FormattedText formatted_text = new FormattedText(
text, System.Globalization.CultureInfo.GetCultureInfo("en-US"),
FlowDirection.LeftToRight,
typeface, em_size, brush);
formatted_text.TextAlignment = TextAlignment.Right;
drawingContext.DrawText(formatted_text, origin);
This works fine aligning the code as expected. But I need to trim the word w.r.t MaxTextWidth. I run into issues in setting MaxTextWidth. How do I calculate MaxTextWidth?
The point in the image is the origin.
This is what I get when I dont set MaxTextWidth
This when I set MaxTextWidth = 100
How do I calculate MaxTextWidth so I can align the trimmed sentence?
Edit: Adding more screenshots
Before setting MaxTextWidth, properly aligned,
After setting
I lose the word alignment, look w.r.t the reference point shown
A:
It is a strange behavior of
DrawingContext.DrawText
that MaxTextWidth
has an effect on origin.
If FormattedText is right aligned and MaxTextWidth = 0, i.e. default, DrawText puts the
text left of origin. If MaxTextWidth > 0, DrawText puts the text right of origin.
Hence you have to substract MaxTextWidth from origin.X if right aligned
and the half if centered. Here is an example. Blue dots are the desired origins and red ones the corrected.
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Media;
public void DrawTextTest(DrawingContext dc) {
var y = 100.0;
foreach (var align in new TextAlignment[]{
TextAlignment.Left, TextAlignment.Center, TextAlignment.Right}) {
foreach (var width in new double[] { 0.0, 150.0 }) {
DrawText(dc, new Point(400, y), align, width);
y += 25.0;
}
y += 45.0;
}
}
private void DrawText(DrawingContext dc, Point origin,
TextAlignment align, double maxTextWidth) {
var f = new FormattedText(
"This is a text with TextAlignment = " + align.ToString()
+ " and MaxTextWidth = " + maxTextWidth.ToString() + ".",
System.Globalization.CultureInfo.CurrentCulture,
FlowDirection.LeftToRight,
new Typeface("Arial"), 12.0, Brushes.Black
) {
TextAlignment = align,
MaxTextWidth = maxTextWidth
};
dc.DrawEllipse(Brushes.Blue, null, origin, 1.0, 1.0);
var correctionX = -maxTextWidth * (align == TextAlignment.Right ? 1.0
: (align == TextAlignment.Center ? 0.5 : 0.0));
origin.Offset(correctionX, 0.0);
dc.DrawEllipse(Brushes.Red, null, origin, 1.0, 1.0);
dc.DrawText(f, origin);
}
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CNET brings you live news from Apple CEO Tim Cook's interview at the D10 conference.
more
more+
Tim: You know, you could converge a toaster and a refrigerator. I just think that you wind up not building the best product when you try to converge. (Tim, ever hear of the toaster OVEN?)
Rafe5/30/2012 1:32:13 AM
Kara: What kind of tradeoffs?
dan.farber5/30/2012 1:32:33 AM
Cook/Jobs/Apple secret to success: "The more you look at a tablet as a PC, the more the baggage from the past affects the product."
Josh Lowensohn5/30/2012 1:33:04 AM
Cook said basically the same thing during Apple's most recent quarterly call with analysts. This was re: touch computing for Windows 8.
SJwasawesome5/30/2012 1:33:06 AM
what are those incredible things, tim. do tell.
Rafe5/30/2012 1:33:24 AM
Tim: You get clamshells and things, where the I.D. is not optimized for tablets. People want them incredibly thin. When you start with the notebook, you're not going to come out with a kick-ass product.
If you force them (PC, tablet) together, then the PC is not as good as it can be, and the tablet isn't as good as it can be.
Rafe5/30/2012 1:34:02 AM
Walt: Apple underwent a big loss with the death of Jobs. How is Apple different with you as the CEO so far? What did you learn from Jobs? How have you changed things?
Rafe5/30/2012 1:35:59 AM
Tim: I learned a lot fro Steve. It was the saddest day of my life when he died. (Chokes up).
But at some point, late last year, somebody said, "It's time to get on." That sadness was replaced by this intense drive to continue the journey.
What did I learn? That focus is key. You can only do so many things that are great, and you should cast aside everything else.
In our business, owning the key technology is very important.
Doing things great, not accepting things good or very good, that's embedded in Apple. Apple has a culture of excellence that is so unique and so special... I'm not going to witness or permit the change of it.
Rafe5/30/2012 1:36:34 AM
Tim: He also taught me that the joy is in the journey, which was a revelation for me. And that life is fragile.
dan.farber5/30/2012 1:38:35 AM
Cook echoes Jobs' the journey is the reward...and the post-Jobs journey has been sad but rewarding for Apple and Cook
Paul Sloan5/30/2012 1:39:31 AM
I know people want to hear about products, but hearing the Jobs influence is powerful stuff.
dan.farber5/30/2012 1:40:51 AM
Cook clarifies that Apple is not a museum to be preserved...the DNA of Apple's culture won't change, but some things will change and are changing.
Rafe5/30/2012 1:43:15 AM
Dropped offline. Should be back now.
dan.farber5/30/2012 1:43:29 AM
Cook's cone of silence: Apple investing like crazy in R&D and in "things I won't talk about today."
Paul Sloan5/30/2012 1:43:38 AM
Phew. Glad you're back, Rafe
Rafe5/30/2012 1:43:54 AM
Walt: What are you going change?Tim: Steve told me, I witnessed what happened at Disney when Walt passed away. People went to meetings and said, "What would Walt have done." And he told me to never do that.
Steve could flip on things so fast, that you'd forget he was taking the opposite position the day before.
It was an art!
I saw it daily!
This is a gift. It takes courage to say I'm wrong. I think he had that.
Walt: What has changed, then? Philanthropy?
Tim: Yes, I believe in my heart that to those to whom much is given, much is expected. So Apple has started a matching program. We let the employee decide. I think we could do even more.
Steve knew about the matching gift thing. He was alive then and he was for it.
Kara: I've heard you're a lot less secretive.
Tim: We're going to double down on secrecy on products. But there will be other things we do that we're going to be the most transparent.
Like social change, and doing the most we can for the environment. In this area I want people to copy us.
Josh Lowensohn5/30/2012 1:44:00 AM
Cook (credit: Asa Mathat/AllThingsD)
Rafe5/30/2012 1:44:16 AM
Kara: Assess the situation in China. Why doesn't Apple own a factory in China?
Rafe5/30/2012 1:44:53 AM
Tim: Steve told me that we should do what we're best at. Manufacturing isn't one of those. But the logistics, Apple is doing all of that.
dan.farber5/30/2012 1:45:06 AM
"We're going to double-down on secrecy. I'm very serious about this -- double-down," Cook said. On the other hand, Cook says Apple will be more transparent about working with its suppliers, a la Foxconn
Rafe5/30/2012 1:46:04 AM
Tim: We're taking overtime down, for example. This is hard, since some people want to work hard and then go back. We're measuring work for 700,000 people. And we're reporting it. Every month.
Rafe5/30/2012 1:46:47 AM
Tim: We micromanaging that, and showing a level of care, and doing it in a way that I don't see elsewhere. And I hope people rip us off.
Rafe5/30/2012 1:47:32 AM
Walt: You used to have factories, at least one in the US. Do you ever see the possibility. Will there ever be an Apple product made in the US?
Rafe5/30/2012 1:49:25 AM
Tim: I want there to be.
The engine for the iPhone is made in the US. Not just for the US but for the world. The glass for the iPhone is made in Kentucky.
There are things that can be made in the US and are good for the world.
There's an intense focus on the final manufacture. Could that be done in the US ? I hope so, one day. The truth is, the tool and die maker expertise in the US began to go down in the US.
I could call all the tool and die makers from the US together and it wouldnt fill a room.
dan.farber5/30/2012 1:50:16 AM
Cook sounds like a car maker from Japan: iPad and iPhone are made in America, sort of
Rafe5/30/2012 1:50:18 AM
Tim: You can bet we will use the whole of our influence to to this.
Walt: Will the back of an iPhone ever say, designed in the US, made in the US?
Rafe5/30/2012 1:50:25 AM
Tim: It may.
Paul Sloan5/30/2012 1:51:23 AM
I hope he explains this -- the notion of more U.S. manufacturing
Rafe5/30/2012 1:51:25 AM
Tim: Now, in the US, there are hundreds of thousands of people developing apps. Now, there's incredible innovation going on in apps. There are very few companies innovating like this on apps for the PCs.
Rafe5/30/2012 1:52:04 AM
Tim: But if you said, let's have a convention of people developing mobile apps, it'd fill several football stadiums. It's big enough to be in the bureau of labor reports.
Rafe5/30/2012 1:52:43 AM
Kara: So why have PCs?Tim: For some people, I see the tablet replacing the PC. It will probably extend the purchasing cycle (for PCs and Macs).
Rafe5/30/2012 1:53:32 AM
Kara: Let's talk about the patent wars. Is it a problem for innovation?
dan.farber5/30/2012 1:54:18 AM
Lots of app developers in the U.S., Cook says, but not enough tool-and-die makers to fill the room where he is speaking. I guess an iPhone Made in America isn't coming soon
dan.farber5/30/2012 1:56:19 AM
Cook says patents are a "pain in the ass" and he doesn't want someone else put their name on Apple's work
Paul Sloan5/30/2012 1:58:27 AM
Walt: "You just had settlement talks with Samsung, can't you solve this?"
dan.farber5/30/2012 1:59:10 AM
Cooks says no one should have an injunction for a "standards-essential" patent, such as connecting to 3G networks. Apple has not sued anyone over standards-essential patents the company owns, he stated...
Paul Sloan5/30/2012 1:59:49 AM
And Cook says he won't speak about Samsung patent issue: "The magistrate said I couldn't talk about that..."
comneard5t5/30/2012 2:00:12 AM
This is awesome, thanks!
Paul Sloan5/30/2012 2:01:09 AM
They're talking about mobile competitive landscape.
dan.farber5/30/2012 2:01:24 AM
Cook is asked about competitive landscape. Apple doesn't dominate he said, but "we have the best phone." Well, Apple does dominate in its share of the revenues
Paul Sloan5/30/2012 2:01:58 AM
And in share of App-economy . No contest
dan.farber5/30/2012 2:02:42 AM
"The smartphone revolution is still in the early stages," Cook says. An accurate outlook given how things can change. Just look at RIM
Paul Sloan5/30/2012 2:02:45 AM
Walt is asking why Apple doesn't release more than one version of the iPhone, the way they do with other devices.
dan.farber5/30/2012 2:06:18 AM
Cook is asked aobut Samsung Galaxy series and having one new iPhone at a time. He says Apple’s way is to make the best product, not for a specific price point or arbitrary schedule. “It’s to build the best.” True...Apple does not have an arbitrary schedule
Paul Sloan5/30/2012 2:07:34 AM
Walt asked about a $99 iPhone, and Cook says "who knows what we will do in the future."
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Minimally invasive esophagectomy by video-assisted thoracoscopic approach for esophageal carcinoma. A case report.
Esophageal carcinoma represents a pathological entity with a bad prognosis even if adequate multimodal treatment is applied. Because of the high operative morbidity and mortality, due especially to respiratory and infectious complications, the tendency nowadays is to mobilize the thoracic esophagus and to perform esophagectomy and mediastinal lymphadenectomy by thoracoscopy instead of thoracotomy. We present the case of a 55-year-old male patient who was diagnosed with a mediothoracic esophageal spinocellular carcinoma, in whom we successfully performed subtotal esophagectomy by cervico-thoraco-abdominal approach, the dissection of the thoracic esophagus being performed entirely by thoracoscopy.
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Gulch Distillers’ Purple Prairie Barley Whiskey started with a conversation
and the question, “What if…?”
The 2018 Release of Gulch Distillers Purple Prairie Barley Whiskey
Like good bread and good beer, good spirits come from carefully managed natural processes. And the very best fermented food and drink comes from skilled hands using ingredients from known and respected sources.
Grain-based products – like whiskey – can be made with any cereal grain including wheat, barley, rye, and “wheat relatives,” like spelt and emmer. All of which are grown in Montana. However, Gulch Distillers uses only Montana-grown grains in their grain-based spirits.
I had to ask, “How about partnering with Timeless Seeds to make whiskey out of our Purple Prairie Barley®?”
Most of the US forgets – or is simply ignorant of the fact – that the Northern Great Plains are a major part of the nation’s “bread basket.” They’ve been raised to think that wheat comes from Kansas.
The truth is that northern-tier states east of the Rockies produce millions of bushels of wheat, most of which is sold by the train carload to one of just a handful of huge commercial flour mills or is exported. In fact, 85% of the wheat produced in Montana – and 50% of the wheat produced in the US – is exported to over 70 countries.
Our goal at GoodFood World is to stimulate discussion by reporting on the critical issues affecting the production and use of organic wheat and other grains, especially the challenges to small-scale organic family farms, millers, and bakers. Have you bought locally grown grain, flour, or bread? Your comments and input are appreciated!
It was a hot and hazy August day when we drove 15 miles due west of Augusta, Montana, into the rolling hills where we glimpsed the foothills of the East Front of the Rocky Mountains and the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness. As we passed the Nilan Reservoir, we edged further into drier ranch country.
Ordinarily on a late August morning, you wouldn’t find a couple of dozen people in seed caps and brimmed hats gathered on a sunny hillside in west central Montana just for a chat. We were there to learn!
The day’s event, Day on the Range, hosted by the Lewis and Clark Conservation District (LLCD) and the Natural Resources Conservation Service Montana (NRCS MT), addressed an array of topics to both educate and enlighten ranchers and farmers – and a few lay people like us.
Farmers markets and CSAs sprout up every spring along with the lettuce and tomato plants. Supermarkets across the country, from small family-owned stores to big box chains, are all offering organic options throughout the store, not just produce any more.
And we have more and more options to choose from in the “middle of the store.”
So, we all think – or would like to think – that we’re eating nutritious food. Do we even know what good “nutrition” is?
When you pull into Prairie Grass Ranch, just a seven miles south of Havre MT in the northern foothills of the Bear Paw Mountains, you’re greeted with rolling hills and open skies. Jody and Crystal Manuel are organic dryland farmers and beef ranchers on this 4,000-acre spread.
Just 10 years ago, the Manuels began their conversion to organic farming and today they raise lentils, KAMUT® Khorasan wheat, emmer, spelt, rye, hops, and cover crops including yellow clover. Livestock ranges from broiler chickens and laying hens to grassfed beef and pastured hogs.
On a beautiful early summer day, more than 100 people gathered for a Montana Organic Association Farm Day to learn more about dryland cropping, cover-crop grazing, soil health, and control of the organic farmer’s nemesis: bindweed.
The Bounty of the Gallatin Valley
(Source: Nate Brown, Amaltheia Dairy)
Amaltheia Organic Dairy is more than an organic goat dairy and cheese maker and it’s more than the home of delicious organic whey-fed pigs. Amaltheia is also home to Nate Brown’s beautiful organic produce.
In a valley sadly being encroached on by developers throwing up cheaply made and expensively priced homes for Bozeman’s growing population, Amaltheia proudly produces a full menu of protein and produce.
It is operations like Amaltheia, run by livestock raisers and cheese makers Mel and Sue Brown, and their son Nate Brown, produce farmer, who need to be honored, respected, and protected, for the hard work they do to deliver some of the best food in Montana.
Look at those root vegetables! Look at those peppers! You can do your part by shopping at your local farmers market. And while you’re there, hug a farmer and thank them for your food!
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Book of the Month
Stand Together or Starve Alone: Unity and Chaos in the U.S. Food Movement By Mark Winne
“The Food Movement” is a pretty big concept – it can incorporate anything and everything from farming and food production to distribution, marketing, and retail sales. Then toss in farmers markets, food co-ops, and CSAs (Community Supported Agriculture) and it’s a topic that is hard to get your mind around.
In Stand Together or Starve Alone, Mark Winne uses the term “food movement” as an over-arching concept, however he rounds it up into a more straightforward description: “Food Security.” Read on...
A Video You Don't Want to Miss!
As a member of the Blackfeet Nation, Mariah Gladstone, IndigiKitchen, shares the importance of an Indigenous-based diet.
Gladstone poses the question of whether a nation can truly be soverign if they are unable to provide for themselves. Something we should all ask ourselves as we move farther from being able to do so.
LEARN MORE ABOUT HOW YOUR FOOD GETS TO YOUR PLATE
Select any collection from above; each contains multiple articles on a single topic.
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BOOK CATERERS FORYOUR EVENT
FOR MARKETS, FESTIVALS & EVENTS
From street food to festival caterers. Invite traders to cater at your event. Use our simple booking form. We connect you straight to the traders for your wedding, office do to larger events and parties.
BROWSEFOOD TRADERS
MEET THE TRADERS, VIEW THEIR PROFILES
Browse our traders profiles find out more about them, which street and festival food they are doing and where they'll be.
FIND WHO'S TRADINGNEAR YOU
ON THE STREET AND IN THE FIELD
Linking festivals, markets and followers with their traders. Finding out who's trading at which festival and at what market, or if just need a bit of information about that festival, event or market.
JOIN THENETWORK
FREE REGISTRATION FOR ALL FOOD TRADERS
Since our launch we have been growing our site. We have added many new features and benefits. Followers have been able to find traders, markets and festivals. Traders have been booked for private gigs, new traders have been noticed and people have been getting jobs. We have teamed up with organisers to promote events and have teamed up with festivals to make the application process easier.
Jobs
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If you are looking for work please add a brief outline of what you are looking for and send to [email protected]
Part-Time Assistant/Roti Chef
Jobs | OfferedNANNY OUTARS is the ultimate West Indian street food experience, operating every other Saturday at Venn Street (Clapham Common) and at UK Summer Festivals. Through its success, we are looking to expand into other weekday markets and are on the hunt for passionate and enthusiastic people to join the team.
We are seeking someone initially to assist with the daily operations at the stall but there will be opportunity for the right candidate to take on more of a leadership role as the business grows. Through our concept, the work is varied, exciting and a lot of fun.
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Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Barack Obama visited one of the world's most heavily fortified frontiers
US President Barack Obama has visited the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, amid rising tensions over the North's planned rocket launch.
At an observation post on the volatile border, he told US troops they were "at freedom's frontier".
The US has voiced concern that the rocket launch due in April is a pretext for a missile test. Pyongyang says it wants to put a satellite into orbit.
On Monday, Mr Obama will attend a nuclear security summit in Seoul.
He told a news conference with his South Korean counterpart that North Korea would achieve nothing with "threats and provocations".
A two-day conference in the South Korean capital will be attended by leaders from more than 50 nations.
Its main focus will be preventing criminal or militant groups from acquiring nuclear weapons.
Pyongyang's nuclear programme is not officially on the agenda and North Korea is not taking part in the summit.
But American officials have made it clear that Mr Obama will be discussing the programmes of both North Korea and Iran in bilateral meetings with the Chinese and Russian presidents, the BBC's Lucy Williamson in Seoul reports.
China's state media said the North Korea rocket launch had "stolen some of the limelight" but said the summit was "not an appropriate platform" to discuss it and urged the world leaders not to be distracted.
'Stark difference'
The DMZ, a 4km (2.5-mile) wide strip of heavily mined land, has bisected the peninsula since the end of the Korean War in 1953. It is considered one of the world's most heavily-guarded border areas.
Making his first visit to the DMZ, Mr Obama told US troops serving at Camp Bonifas: "I could not be prouder of what you're doing... You guys are at freedom's frontier."
The president said the contrast between the two sides of the border "could not be starker" and paid tribute to the military personnel who had been "willing to create the space and the opportunity for freedom and prosperity".
Mr Obama then spent about 10 minutes at an observation post, looking towards North Korea through binoculars from behind bullet-proof glass.
Earlier this week, Japan said it was readying its anti-missile defences ahead of North Korea's launch, expected between 12 and 16 April.
Pyongyang says the long-range rocket - which would mark the 100th birthday of its late Great Leader Kim Il-sung - would take a new southern trajectory instead of a previous route east over Japan.
Image copyright AFP Image caption North Korea's last rocket launch in 2009 triggered UN sanctions
US Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell has said an area between Australia, Indonesia and the Philippines could be affected by the flight path.
On Sunday, South Korean defence officials said the North had moved the main body of the rocket to a launch site in north-west of the country in preparation.
North Korea has shown a growing mastery of ballistic technology during its three previous long-range tests.
However, experts say none has succeeded in reaching orbit, and debris has fallen to earth at various stages during the launches.
Last month North Korea offered a deal involving the freezing of its nuclear and long-rang missile programmes in return for US food aid, which was seen as a signal that Pyongyang was moving towards exploring a diplomatic resolution to the stand-off.
But Washington has accused Pyongyang of acting in bad faith following the rocket launch announcement, which could put jeopardise the promised aid delivery.
Pyongyang has threatened that if South Korea discusses its nuclear programme at the Seoul summit it will retaliate with the "strongest counter-measures which no one can imagine".
Meanwhile, tens of thousands of people in North Korea have marked the official end of 100 days of mourning for late leader Kim Jong-il, who died of a heart attack in December.
Crowds gathered in the capital, Pyongyang, to pay their respects to Mr Kim and pledge loyalty to his son and successor, Kim Jong-un.
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100% brand new and high qualityThis is more suitable for feedingPlastic hooks to attach to cage.Suitable for small bird/ parrot, aviary, budgie, cockatiel, peony, etc.Strong molded plasticColor: Green&WhiteCapacity: 150mLSize
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Clinical and economic impact of incidental thyroid lesions found with CT and MR.
To estimate the prevalence and the clinical and economic consequences of management strategies for thyroid lesions detected incidentally on cross-sectional imaging of the head and neck. Two hundred consecutive CT scans and 200 consecutive MR images of the neck performed over a 1-year period in patients being examined for other purposes were reviewed retrospectively to determine the prevalence of unexpected thyroid lesions. After excluding patients with prior thyroidectomies, known thyroid disease, and inadequate examinations, 231 imaging studies were analyzed. Incidental thyroid lesions were originally reported in 14 (6%) of the 231 patients, but an additional 22 (9.5%) were found on retrospective review for a total of nearly 16% (36 of 231). Six of the 36 patients received further workup, consisting of nuclear medicine scintigraphy (n = 3), sonography (n = 3), thyroid function tests (n = 5), fine-needle aspiration (n = 4), and thyroid lobectomy (n = 1). Final diagnoses, obtained in four of the six patients, included three multinodular goiters and one follicular adenoma. Two patients, one with nondiagnostic findings at fine-needle aspiration and a second with normal thyroid function test results, are being followed up. The mean cost of the workup and treatment per examined patient was $1158. Incidental thyroid lesions are frequently present and often overlooked on cross-sectional images of the neck in patients being examined for other reasons. The cost of pursuing a workup of these lesions and their high prevalence in the population raise questions regarding appropriate management strategies.
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Linux Laptop
What's the best laptop for running Linux? I want the Wi-Fi to work,
the thing to sleep reliably, and so on. In the past I've favored
Thinkpads, but would willingly shift to something else if it had
better behavior with Linux.
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Americans Think The Air Force Is The Most Important Branch For Some Reason
“Wings over Solano” Air Show, Travis Air Force Base, Calif., May 5 & 6, 2017. The two-day event featured performances by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team, U.S. Army Golden Knights parachute team, flyovers, and static displays. Air Force photo by Heide Couch
If you ask most service members what the best branch of the military is, they’ll say their own branch, unless they’re in the Coast Guard. But have you ever wondered which service the American public considers the most important in U.S. armed forces?
It’s not the Army, nor is it the Marine Corps. It’s not even the Navy. Yep, that’s right; it’s the Air Force.
According to a May 26 Gallup poll of 1,026 adults, most Americans consider the Air Force to be the most important branch among 27% of pollees, with the Army taking second place with 21%, and the Marine Corps and Navy picking up 20% each. The Coast Guard, on the other hand, was viewed as most important by only 4% of those polled.
Though the branch is commonly referred to as the “Chair Force” and its enlistees and officers derided as entitled flyboys, airmen aren’t actually sitting back and twiddling their perfectly manicured thumbs, nor are they “flying desks,” as ground combat veterans claim. Air Force pilots are going head-to-head with ISIS in a number of offensives, performing reconnaissance, surveillance, and air strikes — and with the proliferation of surface-to-air missiles and other unusual weapons in the militants’ arsenal, they face plenty of danger downrange.
Overall, every branch was viewed in a “very” or “somewhat” favorable light by 75% or more of those polled. The Air Force came out on top with an 81% favorability rating, while the Marine Corps and Navy clocked in at 78%, the Army at 77%, and Coast Guard at 76%.
According to earlier Gallup polls, Americans ranked the Air Force as the most important branch in May 2001, four months before the terrorist attacks on September 11, and again in April 2002, shortly after the U.S. military invaded Afghanistan, but favorability quickly shifted to the Army and the Marine Corps once boots hit the ground across the region.
“Those views are consistent with Americans' high ratings of the military in general,” Gallup wrote in a statement. “In Gallup's annual Confidence in Institutions poll, the military has topped the list every year since 1998, with at least 72% expressing ‘a great deal’ or ‘quite a lot’ of confidence in the military in the past eight years.”
While the average Americans thinks the federal government sucks, we can surmise from the new Gallup polling data that they might just support a military coup d’etat, especially with Defense Secretary Mattis as America’s new Supreme Leader. Just kidding… or are we?
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Wrapify, the startup that will pay you to wrap your car with an advertisement, has raised $3 million in seed funding. As a refresher, the startup provides a two-sided marketplace that matches up drivers wanting to make some extra money with brands looking for a unique way to advertise. Eligible drivers will get their car wrap installed (and removed) for free, and on average are paid $450 a month for the duration of their campaign.
The entire round of funding will come from Avery Dennison, the global manufacturer of adhesive materials.
Interestingly, Avery Dennison is the manufacturer of the wraps that Wrapify uses on all of its cars. While the adhesive manufacturer has already provided Wrapify exclusive access to new adhesive wrap technology (wraps with fast installability and removability) that better fit the startup’s use case of short-term installations, being on the cap table should incentivize them to continue investing in wrap technology that will allow Wrapify to operate more efficiently.
Wrapify plans to use the new funding to grow the company’s sales and engineering teams, as well as build out more features for its brand-facing portal.
Brands can already see things like how many cars with their ads are currently on the road, routes these cars are driving each day and even estimates on how many impressions their campaigns are receiving. These statistics are provided to Wrapify directly from software running on the phones of all drivers currently participating in ad campaigns. Just like Uber uses a virtual phone-based “meter” to track rides, Wrapify uses a similar solution to figure out where and when its cars are on the road.
Wrapify is now live in 29 U.S. cities, and has 42,000 drivers signed up on its platform.
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Introduction {#sec1-1}
============
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a well-recognized cause of tubulointerstitial nephritis in renal allograft recipients. Only rarely is it associated with collapsing glomerulopathy or with necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis. We present this case for the rare association of CMV-induced tubulointerstitial nephritis, collapsing glomerulopathy, and necrotizing glomerulonephritis with cellular crescent formation.
Case Report {#sec1-2}
===========
A 58-year-old male patient with end-stage renal disease on hemodialysis underwent live donor renal transplantation on October 13, 2016. Triple regimen immunosuppression was given. Both the donor and recipient were CMV immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody positive and IgM negative. He was discharged on October 22, 2016 under stable conditions. His serum creatinine was 1.1 mg/dl, blood urea nitrogen 17 mg/dl and potassium was 3.7 mEq/L at the time of discharge. Serum creatinine was maintained between 1.3 and 1.4 mg/dl.
He had graft dysfunction from December 28, 2016, with serum creatinine of 2.6 mg/dl. Urine routine examination showed 2+ proteinuria with bland urinary sediments. Urine protein creatinine ratio was 2. His hemoglobin was 11.5 mg/dl, total leukocyte count was 4100 cells/cumm and platelet count was 1,70,000/cumm. Liver function test was normal, total protein was 7.0 gm/dl and serum albumin 3.6 gm/dl. Serology for anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic auto-antibodies was negative. Renal biopsy was performed to identify the cause of graft dysfunction. Renal biopsy showed cellular crescent \[[Figure 1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}\] along with segmental fibrinoid necrosis in one out of the 16 glomeruli. The segmental collapse of the capillary tuft was seen in another glomerulus \[[Figure 2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}\]. The remaining glomeruli were normocellular with patent capillary loops.
{#F1}
{#F2}
In two tubules, markedly enlarged 2--3 epithelial cells were seen with intranuclear and cytoplasmic viral inclusions. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for CMV (Cell Marque, DDG9/CCH2) was positive over these cells, confirming the diagnosis of CMVnephritis \[[Figure 3](#F3){ref-type="fig"}\]. C4d, IgG, IgM and IgA and complements C3 and C1q were negative. The diagnosis of CMV with necrotizing glomerulonephritis and cellular crescent was made based on the typical light microscopic and IHC findings.
{#F3}
He was treated with valganciclovir (450 mg), cyclosporine, mycophenolate mofetil, and everolimus. The initial CMV polymerase chain reaction (PCR) quantitative assay was 900 copies/ml of blood and after 3 weeks of treatment, it became negative. A repeat biopsy done on July 21, 2017 showed glomeruli which appeared morphologically normal. No viral inclusion bodies were identified. CMV IHC stain was negative on the renal tissue. Three months later, total leukocyte count was 9600 cells/cumm, protein creatinine ratio was 0.8, and the serum creatinine was 1.5 mg/dl.
Discussion {#sec1-3}
==========
CMV is one of the major viral pathogens complicating renal transplantation. It is a double-stranded DNA virus and belongs to the herpes viridae family. The human herpes virus family is composed of three subfamilies: alpha, beta, and gamma herpes virus. CMV belongs to the beta subfamily.\[[@ref1]\] The transmission of CMV occurs through saliva, body fluids, or through tissue. Seroprevalence of CMV in India among voluntary blood donors was 95%.\[[@ref2]\] In seronegative individuals, after primary infection, it establishes latency in CD34+ myeloid progenitor cells, CD14+ monocytes, megakaryocytes, and also in dendritic cells.\[[@ref3]\] Active viral replication does not occur during latency. When the person becomes immunosuppressed, reactivation of CMV occurs. The characteristic features of herpes viruses are latency and reactivation. Once CMV activation occurs, according to the clinical presentation, it can be CMV infection or CMV disease.\[[@ref4]\] CMV nephritis requires the detection of CMV along with histological features of CMV in a patient who has renal dysfunction.
Before transplantation anti-CMV IgG is used as it is more specific than IgM or combined IgG and IgM serologic tests. After transplantation, serology is not used to diagnose active CMV infection. The sensitivity of blood culture to diagnose CMV infection is poor. Viral load testing remains the cornerstone to diagnose and monitor CMV infection and disease. It can be done by pp65 antigenemia or by quantitative nucleic acid testing (QNAT).\[[@ref5]\]
pp65 antigenemia assays are rapid, but leukocytes from fresh blood are essential as the sensitivity decreases when the blood is processed after six hours.\[[@ref6]\] Its performance also decreases when the absolute neutrophil count is lower than 1000/mm^3^. QNAT is now the method of choice for diagnosis, preemptive treatment, and also for monitoring response to treatment. It uses DNA and its sensitivity does not decrease with blood storage. PCR-based methods can recognize CMV infection at least a week earlier than pp65 antigen assays. This helps in starting preemptive antiviral therapy.\[[@ref7]\] CMV detection in the tissue specimen is the definitive method to diagnose tissue invasive infection, and it should be confirmed by immunostaining or *in situ* DNA hybridization.\[[@ref7]\]
The risk of viral infection in transplant recipients is highest in the first few months following transplantation, when the patient is treated with high level of immunosuppressive drugs. CMV disease most often occurs in the first six months post transplantation.\[[@ref8]\] Cytopathic changes caused by CMV in the kidney are very focal and are seen in tubular epithelial cell cytoplasm and nucleus. The cells infected by CMV are enlarged, nucleus contains a central inclusion which is surrounded by a halo giving the owl\'s eye appearance. Occasionally, intranuclear homogeneous, smudgy inclusions are observed. Basophilic, small, lumpy viral inclusions are seen frequently in the cytoplasm of the cells harboring these intranuclear inclusion bodies.\[[@ref9]\]
Glomerular involvement occurs only rarely. Macaulay Onuigbo *et al*. in 2002 described a case of CMV glomerulopathy in which there was focal necrosis of the glomerular tuft without any crescent formation.\[[@ref10]\] Detwiler *et al*. in 1998 have published a case report of necrotizing and crescentic glomerulonephritis associated with CMV infection.\[[@ref11]\] There are case reports of collapsing glomerulopathy associated with CMV infection. Grover *et al*.\[[@ref12]\] reported a case of collapsing glomerulopathy associated with acute CMV infection in an immunocompetent host. Acute CMV infection was diagnosed based on the elevation of serum CMV DNA antibodies of both IgG and IgM and a high viral load. Although there were no CMV inclusions identified in the kidney biopsy by light microscopy and IHC stain, they attributed the etiology of the collapsing glomerulopathy to CMV infection as the patient\'s renal function improved with antiviral therapy for CMV. In our patient, we were able to demonstrate CMV infecting the kidney on light microscopy and it was confirmed by IHC. There was partial remission of proteinuria and creatinine decreased to 1.5 mg/dl with treatment. Furthermore, a repeat biopsy done after treatment showed no glomerular pathology. CMV IHC staining was negative on the biopsy post treatment. This is also the first case report having both necrotizing glomerulonephritis with cellular crescent and collapsing glomerulopathy associated with CMV infection.
T-cell directed adaptive immunity is thought to play a major role in the development of crescentic glomerulonephritis.\[[@ref13]\] It has been proposed that viral infections lead to collapsing glomerulopathy due to direct cytopathic effects or by activating immune system.\[[@ref14]\] In our case, viral activation of the immune system is speculated to cause both collapsing glomerulopathy and cellular crescent with glomerular tuft necrosis.
Ganciclovir, foscarnet, and cidofovir are currently available for treating CMV infection. There are multiple studies showing the efficacy of ganciclovir in prophylaxis and treatment. Foscarnet is nephrotoxic. Experience with cidofovir is limited. Maribavir is also used.\[[@ref15]\] Our patient responded well to valganciclovir.
Conclusion {#sec1-4}
==========
This case highlights the importance of identifying CMV-induced necrotizing and collapsing glomerulonephritis, thereby enabling the appropriate management that would prevent allograft loss.
Declaration of patient consent {#sec2-1}
------------------------------
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship {#sec2-2}
---------------------------------
Nil.
Conflicts of interest {#sec2-3}
---------------------
There are no conflicts of interest.
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Your Virtual Health Coach
Gill Athletics
Gill Athletics, in conjunction with USA Track & Field (USATF), recognize the effort, determination, and commitment necessary to build a successful High School track & field program. We honor these dedicated coaches and will annually award a High School boys’ team and girls’ team national coach of the year, based on criteria established by USATF and selected from six regional finalists as determined by a USATF selection committee.
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A court has heard CCTV failed to capture the moment the son of New South Wales MP Philip Donato allegedly assaulted police officers at Bathurst in the state's central west.
Peter Christopher Donato has pleaded not guilty after being charged with attacking the officers outside the Oxford Hotel in April 2019.
The alleged assault occurred after Mr Donato and his friends were denied entry to the pub because police believed they were intoxicated.
Senior Constable Kyle Bugden gave evidence about the moments leading up to the incident.
Senior Constable Kyle Bugden (left) gave evidence in Bathurst Local Court. ( ABC Central West: Joanna Woodburn )
The Bathurst Local Court has heard the hotel's CCTV did not record two minutes just before 10 o'clock that night, which is the time that the alleged assault occurred.
In cross examination, Senior Constable Bugden agreed with the defence counsel, Mason Manwaring, that it was "remarkable" that the security camera failed at that "critical" time, but told the court the hotel's CCTV had previously been faulty.
Senior Constable Bugden was also questioned about whether Mr Donato threw punches and whether they hit his colleague, Senior Constable Burden.
Senior Constable Bugden replied "Yeah, I believe they did".
Senior Constable Bugden told the court he believed Senior Constable Burden fell to the ground as a result of "physical contact" with Mr Donato.
"I don't know whether it was the result of punches or physical grabbing," Senior Constable Bugden told the court.
The trial continues.
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1902 Boston Americans season
The 1902 Boston Americans season was the second season for the professional baseball franchise that later became known as the Boston Red Sox. The Americans finished third in the American League (AL) with a record of 77 wins and 60 losses, games behind the Philadelphia Athletics. The team was managed by Jimmy Collins and played their home games at Huntington Avenue Grounds.
Regular season
Prior to the regular season, the team held spring training in Augusta, Georgia.
April 19: The season opens with a 7–6 home win over the Baltimore Orioles.
June 28: A forfeit is declared in Boston's favor during a road game against the Orioles. With Boston leading, 9–4 in the eighth inning, umpire Tom Connolly called a Baltimore runner out for missing second base. The call was argued by Baltimore manager John McGraw, resulting in his ejection. After McGraw refused to leave the field, Connolly forfeited the game to Boston.
July 8: In their highest-scoring game of the year, Boston loses at home to the Philadelphia Athletics, 22–9.
July 9: The team's longest game of the season ends as a 4–2 loss in 15 innings to the visiting Athletics.
July 19: The team's longest losing streak of the season, six games between July 12 and 18, comes to an end with a victory over the visiting Chicago White Stockings.
July 29: The team's longest winning streak of the season, eight games between July 19 and 28, comes to an end with a loss to the visiting Detroit Tigers.
September 29: The season ends with a 9–5 road win over the Orioles. This was the last game the Orioles played at Oriole Park in Baltimore; in 1903, they relocated to New York City as the Highlanders, then in 1913 became known as the New York Yankees.
Statistical leaders
The offense was led by Buck Freeman, who hit 11 home runs and had 121 RBIs, and Patsy Dougherty with a .342 batting average. The pitching staff was led by Cy Young, who made 45 appearances (43 starts) and pitched 41 complete games with a 32–11 record and 2.15 ERA, while striking out 160 in innings.
Season standings
The team had one game end in a tie; August 18 vs. Detroit Tigers. Tie games are not counted in league standings, but player statistics during tie games are counted.
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day lineup
Source:
Roster
Player stats
Batting
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Starters by position
Other batters
Pitching
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
Starting pitchers
Other pitchers
References
External links
1902 Boston Americans team page at Baseball Reference
1902 Boston Americans season at baseball-almanac.com
Category:Boston Red Sox seasons
Boston Americans season
Boston
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Parathyroid hormone-related protein induces insulin expression through activation of MAP kinase-specific phosphatase-1 that dephosphorylates c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase in pancreatic beta-cells.
Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) increases the content and mRNA level of insulin in a mouse beta-cell line, MIN6, and primary-cultured mouse islets. We examined the mechanism of PTHrP-induced insulin expression. The PTHrP effect was markedly augmented by SB203580, a mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase inhibitor, and SB203580 itself increased insulin expression extensively, even without PTHrP. Because SB203580 inhibits both p38 and c-jun NH(2)-terminal kinases (JNKs), we investigated the JNK-specific inhibitor SP600125. SP600125 also increased insulin content and its mRNA level. PTHrP induced dephosphorylation of JNK1/2, and PTHrP-induced insulin expression was blocked by a dominant-negative type JNK-APF. We suspected that dual specificity MAP kinase phosphatases (MKPs) may be involved in the PTHrP-induced insulin expression by inactivating JNK1/2. MIN6 cells contained at least five MKPs, among which only MKP-1 was inducible by PTHrP. PTHrP-induced insulin expression was blocked by the MKP-1 expression inhibitor Ro-31-8220, indicating that the PTHrP effect is mediated by MKP-1. Indeed, adenoviral MKP-1 expression increased insulin expression by decreasing a phosphorylation form of JNKs and a resulting phosphorylated form of c-jun in MIN6 cells. The phosphorylated form of c-jun is known to repress cAMP-dependent insulin gene promoter activity. Thus, MKP-1 controls the insulin expression by downregulating a JNK/c-jun pathway.
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*Nucleic Acids Research* (2017), <https://doi.org/10.1093/nar/gkx828>
The authors wish to make the following correction to their article:
Under **MATERIALS AND METHODS, Linnorm algorithm**, *Calculating the data transformation parameter*, ***λ***, on page 3, the text below equation (3)
Here, we use *[S]{.ul}***[(]{.ul}***[λ]{.ul}***[)]{.ul}** to represent the homoscedasticity and *S*(*λ*) to represent the skewness of the dataset. *V*(*λ*) and *S*(*λ*) are combined using the Euclidian distance, where the square root is omitted because it is a monotonic function.
Should be replaced by
Here, we use *[V]{.ul}***[(]{.ul}***[λ]{.ul}***[)]{.ul}** to represent the homoscedasticity and *S*(*λ*) to represent the skewness of the dataset. *V*(*λ*) and *S*(*λ*) are combined using the Euclidian distance, where the square root is omitted because it is a monotonic function.
The correction has also been made in the published article, in addition to a number of spelling corrections.
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Recommended Games
Clinton Kelly on His ‘What Not to Wear’ Co-Host Stacy London: ‘We’ve Had Our Ups and Downs’
Clinton Kelly and his 'What Not to Wear' co-host Stacy London (Jason Squires/WireImage)
“What Not to Wear” kicked off its tenth season earlier this month by giving ’80s pop star Tiffany an amazing makeover with Yahoo! TV noting that Stacy London and Clinton Kelly “knocked it out of the park.” But while the co-hosts clearly work well together, it doesn’t mean they haven’t had their struggles personally.
While chatting with omg!, Kelly admitted that he and London are not exactly besties when the camera stops rolling.
"Stacy and I have worked so closely together for 10 years – ridiculously close – that we’re at a point where...” the 43-year-old says, trailing off for moment. “We have had our ups and downs quite frankly. There were some seasons where we just could not look at each other,” he adds before clarifying, “Actually, I feel like that was one season to be perfectly honest.”
And now? “We’re at this point where Stacy and I have evolved so much as people over the past 10 years – we really have learned so much about ourselves in the process of doing ‘What Not to Wear’ – that we have both come to a peace. Not necessarily in our relationship, but in life,” shares Kelly, who juggles the popular makeover series with his other job as the lifestyles expert on ABC’s “The Chew” and is also writing another book.
“We’re both in places right now personally in our private lives that are just really peaceful,” continues Kelly, who married Damon Bayles in 2009. “So we come to work and we have a great time with each other. We just laugh together all day long. But at the same time, it’s like – she goes home and I go home and it is what it is. I would say we’re great friends at work.”
Labels aside, their chemistry has been keeping the makeover series rolling for over a decade, with many fun things in store for its milestone 10th season. In addition to “I Think We're Alone Now" crooner Tiffany’s major transformation, this season they’ll get their hands on former “Baywatch” babe Nicole Eggert (that airs tonight), “Family Ties” alum Tina Yothers, “American Pie” beauty Shannon Elizabeth,” and a bunch of regular ole folks, too.
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Q:
Executing string as a evaluation in PHP
I have the following code:
<?php
class test
{
private $linenum = "__LINE__ . \" - \" . __CLASS__";
function exec()
{
return $$this->linenum;
}
}
$x = new test();
print_r($x->exec());
I'm trying to declare a class variable with some contents that would be executed to a later time, I'm trying to achieve error_reporting and logging thru a function which doesn't need to use backtrace in order to find which file/line was executed previously.
eval() doesn't help as it would always report line 1 or 0 no matter what.
There is any possibility to achieve this in php without using debug_backgrace ? I'm working on a production env.
Thank you!
A:
As the documentation of PHP magic constants explains:
All these "magical" constants are resolved at compile time.
The compile time for strings passed to eval() happens when eval() is executed but __LINE__ is inside the source code it gets for evaluation (i.e. the one line you generated in $linenum).
There is no way to implement logging using this idea.
Stick to debug_backtrace(). Even if it contains "debug" in it's name, it is always available in PHP (except if it is specifically disabled in php.ini under the disable_functions entry). All the most used frameworks and libraries use it when they need to produce nice logging.
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Anal Fistulas in Severe Perineal Crohn's Disease: Mri Assessment in the Determination of Long-Term Healing Rates.
The European Crohn's and Colitis Organization recommends magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of anal fistulas to decide on the drug/surgery strategy. No evidence is available on the long-term impact of MRI features on fistula healing. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of combined drug/surgery strategies for the treatment of perianal Crohn's fistulas based on MRI factors at referral. The clinical event (anal abscess, new fistula tract, cellulitis), therapeutic intervention (introduction/optimization of immunosuppressant/biologics, anal surgery, intestinal resection, stoma), and MRI data were prospectively recorded for patients with Crohn's disease (CD) and anal fistulas. Healing was defined by fulfilment of all the following conditions: no discharge or pain, closure of the external opening of the fistula, no visible internal opening, no abscess, and no subsequent draining seton or drainage procedure performed during at least 1 year of follow-up. Seventy CD patients with anal fistulas and MRI evaluations were followed for 70 months. The cumulative rates of fistula healing were 25%, 40%, 50%, and 70% at 12, 24, 36, and 72 months, respectively. Severe, complex, branched, and high fistulas were associated with a less favorable outcome. Surgical closure of the tract improved the healing rates better than treatment with biologics or thiopurines. Male sex, A1 luminal phenotype, and anal ulceration at referral were independently associated with a higher healing rate. Therapeutic strategies for perianal fistulizing CD require robust anatomical and healing evaluations. Combined strategies using biologics to improve both drainage and secondary closure of the fistula tracts merit further study.
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+cleancoalflexfuel+ wrote:He asked me twice were I got the coal from he couldnt believe it was his, as the coal was still in soft lumps that appear as rock or clay!!!! The coal was from the burn that lasted over three days with a blue flame gasification and white tips as I stated before.The proof well be in the pudding.. Many inventers have spent many years trying to do a good burn, Im humbled and exited, well send out information as I get it
My favorite I tell my sons is this: How you do something determines the success.You must have a lot of patience and put hours of thought into your project, turn off the TV turn off the music, rethink and rethink,study than when it works well then go study what others say,dont fill your mind with the proven but be different in every way. You cannot invent something thinking exactly like the next person..You must see potental and be able to over come though design.My favorate line as a young man was, "they didnt engineer it right" Skip
Wear I sign up for stove? It beats law of Fisics awl to heck! You put 1000(thousand) BT You's in... And Poof Maguck You Getz Back 1,000,000 BT You's! (million)back in heet from this wunderfall invention. I just gotta tell my bruthers Darrel and Darrel about this new invinshun!!
I'm now de-veiping a new stale hard roll gasifacashun boilar that promisses to make 1,000,000,000 BeeTeeYou's. All U have too do is collect stale hard rolles from dumpers behind food stores and you have free heat for you and neighboreshood.Too be part of this put 1000 Americun dollers in brown bag, unmarked bills watch here for where to send money.
Guys Guys come down don't be so Judgemental. The man is in Alaska testing Sub-Bituminous coal in this unit . It pays to look into things before Judging someone or something . Easy Guys Relax on beating this Guy up. He is only tryingto protect his time and money invested in his invention. Wow all you guys all must have cabin fever or something because the way you are beating this guy up. comedown and have a few beers and be Happy
+cleancoalflexfuel+ wrote:He asked me twice were I got the coal from he couldnt believe it was his, as the coal was still in soft lumps that appear as rock or clay!!!! The coal was from the burn that lasted over three days with a blue flame gasification and white tips as I stated before.The proof well be in the pudding.. Many inventers have spent many years trying to do a good burn, Im humbled and exited, well send out information as I get it
Riiiight!!!
Good old Song have you seen what billy looks like today time was not kind on him
Lets bear in mind that the stoves we are using are little different from those of 100 years ago, many not as good.
The stoker designs are a step forward, but that's it.
Judging by the amount of problems many are having it's obvious that improvement is necessary and possible. Most stoves today look and work like they were designed by a handy man with seat of the pants engineering. Most can't even get the ash pan right.
Designing and fabricating a good stove is not an easy thing to do, a lot of work and money plus ongoing changes in the prototype.
I think anyone who makes the effort to design a better product should be applauded and encouraged regardless of the outcome whether good or bad.
franco b wrote:Lets bear in mind that the stoves we are using are little different from those of 100 years ago, many not as good.
The stoker designs are a step forward, but that's it.
Judging by the amount of problems many are having it's obvious that improvement is necessary and possible. Most stoves today look and work like they were designed by a handy man with seat of the pants engineering. Most can't even get the ash pan right.
Designing and fabricating a good stove is not an easy thing to do, a lot of work and money plus ongoing changes in the prototype.
I think anyone who makes the effort to design a better product should be applauded and encouraged regardless of the outcome whether good or bad.
Richard
Then there are those that engineer a good stove but don't know squat about customer service...hum what's the name of that stove company? I think maybe it begins with an "H"
+cleancoalflexfuel+ wrote: I have burned two hand loads of 90#s each and burned for over three days when closed draft being about 11/4 pound per hour. Pellets in my first proto-type burned 60 hrs on 80#lbs.skip
I'm a stoker guy, but don't some hand feed guys use as little as 90# over a 3 day period? Just sound like a big stove.
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Subsets and Splits
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