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One of the most evocative images from any Christmas scene must be that of the Wise Men attending Jesus' birth, and the star hovering over the stable where He was born. But so few people actually know what the Bible really says about this event, or what it actually means for us today.
Bible Q&A Podcast – Is Christmas a Pagan Holiday?
The event is recorded in Matthew 2:
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem.
When did the event take place?
The actual journey of these wise men could easily have taken a long time. It would appear from Matthew 2:7 that the star, which the wise men had seen, had appeared at the moment of Jesus' birth. But the wise men had arrived after the birth. If they saw the star at the moment of Jesus' birth, then it would have taken at least a few months for the wise men to arrive.
We will say something about Herod — who he was and what he was like — a little later. For now, we should note that he wanted to know the exact time the star had appeared, presumably so he could pinpoint the exact moment of this special child's birth. He later proceeded to have all baby boys killed who were two years old and under (Matthew 2:16). This would indicate that Jesus had been born up to two years previously. So the wise men did not arrive at the same time as the shepherds, who arrived the same day as the birth (Luke 2:11). Indeed, Jesus' family was no longer in a stable; they were living in a house at that time (Matthew 2:11).
Who were the Wise Men?
The Greek word for the wise men is μαγοι, (magi). It is from this word that we get our word magician. At that time, the boundary between those who attempted to perform occult experiments and those who performed legitimate science would have been blurred. For example, early chemists were alchemists, trying to change one substance into another (usually gold) by all sorts of methods, including incantations, but also including methods that we would recognize today as experimental chemistry. Similarly, these magicians could probably be referred to as scientists in a broader sort of way.
As they came from the East, they could have been associated with the magicians mentioned in Daniel. In Daniel 2, King Nebuchadnezzar is speaking to people who are referred to as magicians, astrologers and wise men. These could very well be the same group of people. There is some additional evidence for this below.
Before continuing our investigation into who the wise men were, we should briefly comment on how many there were. In fact, we do not know how many there were. The word magi is plural, so there must have been at least two. However, there could have been many more. The legend that there were three, and that we know their names, is just a legend. The idea of three wise men may have developed, because there were three types of gifts presented by the wise men to Jesus (Matthew 2:11).
In Daniel 2, the wise men were unable to tell King Nebuchadnezzar his dream, before attempting to interpret it. The king therefore threatened to have them all put to death (Daniel 2:12). Indeed, it would appear that the order to kill the wise men had already begun (Daniel 2:13), when Daniel heard of it. Daniel and his companions were already counted among the wise men, because they had been trained as such and interviewed for inclusion in the ranks of the wise men (Daniel 1:18-20). Daniel's inclusion among the wise men shows that the wise men were not necessarily occultists, as Daniel and his companions accepted their inclusion, even though they had refused to eat the meat sacrificed to idols in Daniel 1.
When Daniel told the king his dream and its interpretation, he made clear that he was not able to do this because of his own wisdom, and that the wise men had been correct in stating that no man could do what the king had asked. Instead, Daniel gave glory to God, stating that he could only do this amazing thing, because God had revealed the dream and interpretation to him. At the end of Daniel 2, we read that Daniel was to be chief administrator over the wise men, who, presumably, were to be spared.
How did the Wise Men know the significance of the star?
If we are right about the identity of the wise men, this gives us a clue as to why they would know about the star. The star is mentioned in Numbers 24, and is prophesied by an unusual character, called Balaam.
Balaam seems to have been a sort of traveling soothsayer, and as such was probably a sort of "ancestor" to the Babylonian wise men of Daniel's time. He was based at Pethor, which is not only near the River Euphrates (Numbers 22:5), but also close to Babylon. Balaam was contracted by Balak to curse the Israelites. Balak was the king of Moab at that time, and the Israelites were moving through Moabite territory as part of their long sojourn to the Promised Land. The Israelites were not going to settle in Moab, so the Moabites had the opportunity, as had the Edomites and Amorites before them, to show hospitality to the Israelites and enable them to go on their way (Numbers 20:17-18; 21:22-23). Like the Edomites and Amorites, the Moabites were to disobey God, but they were to do so by contracting this magician named Balaam. The account of what happened to Balaam — how he was commissioned, how he was warned about his behavior by God, how God rebuked him by making his donkey talk and how his every attempt to curse the Israelites simply led to them being blessed — can be found in Numbers 22 through 24. In one of Balaam's attempts to curse the Israelites, he ended up uttering this prophecy:
I see Him, but not now; I behold Him, but not near; A Star shall come out of Jacob; A Scepter shall rise out of Israel, And batter the brow of Moab, And destroy all the sons of tumult. (Numbers 24:17)
In one sense, the prophecy applies to Israel itself, particularly with reference to David's conquest of the Moabites (2 Samuel 8:2). However, the concept of the scepter, a symbol of kingship, refers not only to David, but to David's greater son, and refers back to Genesis:
The scepter shall not depart from Judah, Nor a lawgiver from between his feet, Until Shiloh comes; And to Him shall be the obedience of the people. (Genesis 49:10)
This passage from Genesis refers to the coming Messiah, to be descended from Judah so, by inference, we can suggest that Numbers 24:17 also refers to the coming Messiah. If Balaam is the ancestor of the wise men of Babylon, then it is likely that these wise men knew about Balaam's oracle. It would also make sense that Daniel could have spoken to them about this, especially as Daniel himself prophesied much about the Messiah (Daniel 9:25-26).
Evidence for this link between Daniel's wise men and Balaam is underlined by reference to what the wise men did not know, as well as what they did. They knew about Balaam's messianic prophecy, and possibly Daniel, but not that of Micah:.
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Though you are little among the thousands of Judah, Yet out of you shall come forth to Me The One to be Ruler in Israel, Whose goings forth are from of old, From everlasting. (Micah 5:2)
If they had known about Micah, they would never have traveled to Jerusalem, proceeding instead directly to Bethlehem. After all, if they understood the significance of Numbers 24 and possibly Genesis 49, they would certainly have known what Micah was talking about. But instead they had to be told about this by the chief priests and scribes in Jerusalem, especially as these chief priests coupled Micah 5:2 with a reference to Genesis 49:10, as adapted in 2 Samuel 5:2..
One final piece of evidence for this Babylonian wise men connection is the implication that the wise men were looking for the star. Why were they looking for Messiah's star at that particular period of time? Or had they been looking for such a star for centuries? The latter idea seems unlikely. If these wise men were the Babylonian wise men formerly led by Daniel, then they were probably aware of Daniel's prophecies, including Daniel's reference to the timing of the coming of the Messiah, in Daniel 9.
Who was Herod?
Herod clearly considered himself to be the King of the Jews. Therefore, the wise men's question in Matthew 2:2 would have greatly disturbed him. Indeed, not only the king was troubled, but Jerusalem as a whole, as well. (Matthew 2:3). King Herod clearly knew that the title "King of the Jews" did not properly belong to him.
Herod was Jewish by choice only. He was not Jewish by descent; he was Edomite. This ties in neatly with prophecy, because we have already seen that in Numbers that the Edomites were rejected by God because of their inhospitable attitude to the Israelites. However, Herod had chosen to be Jewish by practice, as had most other Edomites of the time. This was convenient for him. He was selected to be "King of the Jews" by the Roman Senate, which means that he was really a puppet of the Roman occupiers. As an adopted Jew, he had the Second Temple rebuilt and enhanced — so much so that it is now often referred to as Herod's Temple. With this use of his position vis-a-vis the Temple, he must have known the messianic significance of the title "King of the Jews." For Herod and the Roman Senate to have used that title, they had to know that the title had significance. It is no wonder that he was troubled when he heard about the birth of the real King of the Jews, accompanied by this miraculous star.
By his actions, we know that Herod was brutal. He knew that the King of the Jews was someone who he ought to worship, which is why he pretended that he wished to do so in Matthew 2:8. The wise men also knew that this person was the One to be worshiped (Matthew 2:2). In his questioning of the chief priests and scribes, Herod shows that he knew that the real King of the Jews was to be the Messiah (Matthew 2:4).
As a Jew by adoption, why did he not actually want to worship the Messiah? Why did he want to destroy Him instead? It is likely that this is because he knew that his own title was blasphemous. He was not really interested in worshiping as a Jew. He was interested in power, and his assumption of kingship with a Messianic title, as well as his work on the Temple, was part of this pursuit of power. Therefore, he would resort to any length to keep his blasphemous title and position. So hungry for power was he that he was prepared to have hundreds of innocent children slaughtered in his vain attempt to have the new Messiah destroyed.
What was the star?
We are first told this by the wise men: "We have seen His star in the East."
The wise men knew that this was not just any star. It was His star — that is, the star of the Messiah. This also indicates that they knew the prophecies in Numbers 24 and Genesis 49. But where did the star appear? There is actually a great deal of ambiguity in the phrase "star in the East." This could mean that they saw the star in the Western sky, while they were still in the East (i.e. Babylon). Or it could mean that the star had appeared in the East. The word for East is ανατολη (anatolē). This actually means a rising of light, and only means East by implication. This could imply that the phrase is referring to the Messiah as the Morning Star. This would fit, for example, with what Peter says in 2 Peter 1:19, and with Jesus' own declaration of Himself in Revelation 22:16. The Morning Star is also a reference to the planet Venus, when it appears in the morning, but the star of the Messiah cannot be Venus, or any other planet, for reasons outlined below.
I would suggest that this star is not an astronomical object. Let us examine what this star actually did. The star appeared at the moment of Jesus' birth, and was visible to the wise men in Babylon. If they saw the star over Israel, it would indicate that the star was not astronomical, because stars do not rise in the West — they rise in the East. If it rose in the East, then it must have been special, because star-gazers like these wise men would not have had difficulty recognizing the planet Venus.
Traditional images show the wise men travelling over the desert, following a star. However, Matthew 2 does not say that they followed the star to Israel. In fact, it would appear, from their reaction, that the star was newly reappeared in Matthew 2:9:
And, behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them.
How could a star in the universe go before the wise men? It could not. Bethlehem is to the south of Jerusalem. Stars do not move south; they move west. Also, stars do not settle over houses, as this one did.
In fact, the Greek word which has here been translated as star, aster (αστερα) implies something that is strewn. What could it be that could move easily, from West to East if need be, appearing as strewn light? A good candidate for this phenomenon would be the pillar of fire:
Moreover You led them by day with a cloudy pillar, And by night with a pillar of fire, To give them light on the road Which they should travel. (Nehemiah 9:12)
This effect is seen in the presence of God at the Tabernacle (Tent of Meeting):
Then the cloud covered the tabernacle of meeting, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tabernacle of meeting, because the cloud rested above it, and the glory of the LORD filled the tabernacle. Whenever the cloud was taken up from above the tabernacle, the children of Israel would go onward in all their journeys. But if the cloud was not taken up, then they did not journey till the day that it was taken up. For the cloud of the LORD was above the tabernacle by day, and fire was over it by night, in the sight of all the house of Israel, throughout all their journeys. (Exodus 40:34-38)
This effect is often known as the Shechinah glory of God, from the Hebrew word for rested (in Exodus 40:35), shâkan (שׁכן).
Because this Shechinah glory was a light that could move, and could point to the presence of God, I would suggest that the star mentioned in Matthew 2 was not an astronomical object, but actually the appearance, after a few hundred years' absence, of the Shechinah glory of God.
In this scenario, then, the wise men reached Bethlehem about two years after the birth of Jesus. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were now in a house, not the stable. There could have been any number of wise men, and they were probably representatives of the wise men of Babylon. They were aware of the promised Messiah from their former leader, Daniel, and from the oracle of their founder, Balaam. Under Daniel's leadership and influence, many of them had no doubt turned from their paganism to the worship of the true God. They were unaware, however, that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem because Micah's prophecy was received many years later and many miles away, back in Israel. Their intention was to seek the Messiah, in order to worship Him. They knew to make their journey because of an appearance of the Shechinah glory of God. This same pillar of fire led them from Jerusalem to the house in Bethlehem. Herod's response was to seek to destroy the Messiah by any means possible.
Put into this context, we can see that the events of Matthew 2 are even more significant than the traditional Christmas card scene. And in worshiping the Messiah, the wise men made a prophecy of their own in their choice of gifts.
Gold: A gift for a king.
Frankincense: This is obviously an incense, the burning of which represents prayer. It is used by priests, and indicates the priestly nature of the Messiah.
Myrrh: A fragrant perfume, used in embalming bodies. The inclusion of this gift can be seen as prophetic of the death of the Messiah. The three gifts together also underline the Messiah's offices as prophet, priest and king.
Our response should therefore be that of the wise men themselves: to worship the Messiah, Jesus Christ — our Prophet, Priest and King.
Further Study
Article: The Star of Bethlehem: Fact or Fiction?
Podcast: Are there Christmas Contradictions in the Bible?
Presenter Rick Larson walks you through Biblical and historical clues revealing the incredible significance of this celestial event as well as the vastness of God's creativity.


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1000 Mbps with Google Fiber; find out more
Google Fiber has so much beauty, people are literally begging Google to bring it to their cities. Yet fiber doesn't come without caveats. Here's a look at some pros and cons.
Pro: ISPs Will Have to React
Competition is good for consumers and it means the cable companies are going to have to switch things up, or die.
For $100 a month, Comcast's premium Internet connection offers downloads up to 50 Mbps and uploads up to 10 Mbps and that's with no TV whatsoever. ISPs are going to have to get faster and cheaper, which is good news for consumers.
Pro: No Bandwidth Caps
To its credit, Comcast, which is the leading ISP in the U.S., doesn't count streaming from its own streaming video service against caps. But check this: Google doesn't have any caps at all and even includes Netflix in its service when it could have given preferential treatment to its own YouTube and Fiber TV products.
This is huge, especially for people who live in places where cable hasn't yet arrived (still true in many rural areas) and can only get high speed Internet access through a cellular carrier. In such cases, most of these folks can forget about streaming anything, unless the exorbitant cost of blasting through data caps doesn't bother them.
Watch Youtube Video here
Pro: A Super Cool Remote and Option for a Chromebook
The Google Nexus 7 tablet is so hot, you can't even find one in a store now—at least the 16GB version. But not only is Kansas City the envy of every other metropolis in the U.S., people there who ante up for the Google Fiber with TV get a free Nexus 7 that they can use as a remote, or for consuming media all on its own. While there's no word on if the free tablet is the 8GB model or 16GB version, does it really matter?
The Google Fiber site also shows the Chromebook as an option for $299. Even though some people have criticized the web-centric laptop, Google recently announced some important improvements to the device. And let's be honest—you're not going to find a laptop much cheaper.
Pro: Storage Galore
The DVR box that comes with Google Fiber TV lets users record up to eight shows at one time. Its 2TB hard drive also means you can store as much as 500 hours of HD video. That's a lot of episodes of "30 Rock" you can have at your beck and call.
And people who opt for the Internet-only version get 1TB of cloud storage on Google Drive. That means a user's every digital asset can be accessible from any Internet-connected device or computer whenever he or she needs it.
Con: No ESPN
Sports fanatics won't like this. A lot of people can probably live without some of the channels not currently included in Google Fiber TV, such as Disney, AMC, TBS, TNT, and HBO; but the exclusion of ESPN might be a deal killer for some.
Apparently Time Warner's channel is too rich for Google's taste. "ESPN charges cable providers around five times more than the average network," reports Time.
The good news is Google appears to be negotiating with some networks so as to get a more complete offering. By the time Fiber goes live, maybe some of these big guns will be on board.
Con: Don't Expect it Anytime Soon
Speaking of the rollout of Fiber in Kansas City, it's not going to happen overnight. After September 9, Google will announce a calendar that shows which neighborhoods will get it when.
The neighborhoods toward the top—based upon which ones have demonstrated their longing for Fiber the most by preregistering the most homes—likely won't be flying around on the Internet like lightning until mid-2013. As for the rest of the world . . . well, there's no telling.
Con: Now Google Will Really Know Everything
Google already knows a lot about its users—where we go online, what kinds of things we buy, where we take our Android phones. Some people don't have a problem with this, and—like Google—feel it helps the search and advertising giant better serve them.
But Google's track record on privacy is far from spotless. Some people aren't going to be comfortable with Google also having their TV and movie consumption data, on top of everything else. If that concerns you, check out the Google Fiber Privacy Notice.
Con: For Now, A Gigabit Connection Can be Underwhelming
Fiber users with less-than-stellar equipment or those trying to communicate with others on the Internet not blessed with a great connection aren't going to hugely impressed with what they'll get. If you've ever tried to Skype with someone working with either of these scenarios, you know what I mean.
As GigaOm points out, "the Internet is reciprocal so it's no fun if you have the speeds to send a holographic image of yourself but no one on the other end can receive it." In fact, "underwhelming" describes the experience in Chattanooga, Tennessee, where for the past two years the public utility has offered customers a gigabit fiber-to-the-home connection for about $300 a month.
Source: GoogleFiber

subset: commoncrawl


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1. Introductions
kuuyee760726 Mar 18, 2011 1:55 AM (in response to hpeters)My name is Kuuyee(Chinese programmer)!
I am a fan of Seam/Weld. Our products have been integrated using the Seam.I would like to participate in Seam/Weld document translation, I can be acceptable?
By the way, I participated seam2 document translation !Gavin King has made this a signature T-shirts to us!
2. Introductions
luiz.filipe.abrahao Apr 8, 2011 4:20 AM (in response to hpeters)Hi,
My name is Luiz, I'm Brazililan and I have been living in London for the past 3 years. I work in a compliance training company and among other things I manage a small team that develop a software suite that supports the bussiness and our clients.
We have been developing using JSF 1.2, Hibernate and Seam 2, targeting Glassfish and Tomcat. We have plans to upgrade the existent software to JEE 6 though, so CDI will play a major role in our future.
I would like to help with the translation of the Weld documentation to Brazilian Portuguese.
Thank you,
3. Introductions
ldelima Apr 10, 2011 9:31 PM (in response to luiz.filipe.abrahao)Bom dia Luiz,
Bem vindo à equipe de tradução do JBoss.
A sua conta de tradutor já foi ativada e adoraríamos receber sua contribuição na tradução do Weld.
Letícia McLean
4. Re: Introductions
jeromem Jul 21, 2011 5:22 AM (in response to hpeters)Hi,
My name is Jérôme Meuret, I'm a french programmer.
Fond of JEE6, I'm very interested in Weld, which I use quite often for my professional et personal projects.
I would like to help with the translation of the Weld reference guide to French.
5. Re: Introductions
fabien.charlet Jul 21, 2011 5:30 AM (in response to hpeters)Hi !
As you already guessed with my login, my name is Fabien Charlet.
My mother tongue is the french and I'll be pleased to help in documentation translation.
I see this as a good way to perfectly know JEE 6 and a good contribution for other developpers.
I hope to start quickly !
6. Re: Introductions
hpeters Jul 21, 2011 7:45 PM (in response to hpeters)Hi Jérôme, hi Fabien,
bienvenue and welcome! Thanks for joining... every bit of help counts. Make sure to also have a squiz through the French Translation space under http://community.jboss.org/en/translators/french_translation for anything related specifically to your language. You have now both been granted translator permissions in Zanata - Happy translating!
Also a belated welcome to Kuuyee and Luiz - I never actually got around to saying hello. I hope you settled in fine!
7. Re: Introductions
jgaliana Nov 10, 2011 5:45 AM (in response to hpeters)Hi,
My name is Jose Galiana an I'm a project manager from Spain. As you guess my preferred language is Spanish. I'm 45 years old. In my early student years the computers book only were writing in English, so I had to translate to Spanish in my mind.
I'll be glad to help you into spanish translations.
Greetings, Jose.
8. Re: Introductions
hpeters Nov 10, 2011 5:24 PM (in response to jgaliana)Hi Jose,
Thanks for joining! You now have translators permissions in Zanata.
Feel free to also bring some life into the Spanish Translation Space at http://community.jboss.org/en/translators/spanish_translation .
Happy translating!
9. Re: Introductions
juherr Dec 3, 2011 12:58 PM (in response to hpeters)Hi,
My name is Julien Herr and I'm a french developper.
I would like to give some help to translate some documentation to improve my knowledges in JEE.
I plan to start with the Weld reference guide.
10. Re: Introductions
hpeters Dec 4, 2011 5:07 PM (in response to juherr)Welcome Julien!
You now have translators permissions in Zanata, so feel free to translate away!
11. Re: Introductions
michel.strogoff Feb 7, 2012 10:40 PM (in response to hpeters)Hello,
My name is Eric Manuguerra. I'm french software architect and Agile project manager. I live currently in New Delhi where I work as a consultant. I met Bruno Georges at JUDCon 2012 in Bangalore and he proposed me to contribute to JBoss AS 7 documentation translation. I was thinking about working on the administration or development guides. But I think that Bruno expects me to work on the AS7 console strings first.
Best regards,
12. Re: Introductions
hpeters Feb 7, 2012 10:49 PM (in response to michel.strogoff)Hi Eric,
Great to see that the word is spreading (and thanks Bruno! ;-))
Could you please tell me your JBoss/Zanata user name so that I can give you the translators permissions for Zanata (...I can't find you in Zanata's user list at the moment).
If you don't have a JBoss/Zanata login yet, follow the instructions in our little Getting Started Guide under https://community.jboss.org/docs/DOC-16540
Cheers, Hedda
13. Re: Introductions
michel.strogoff Feb 7, 2012 11:10 PM (in response to hpeters)Hi Hedda,
My username is michel.strogoff (a very brave and clever russian hero). I could not change my "name" field in Zanata so that it would appear associated to michel.strogoff.
Best regards,
14. Re: Introductions
hpeters Feb 7, 2012 11:15 PM (in response to michel.strogoff)Aaah, no wonder I couldn't find you :-) I have just assigned the translator role to your Zanata account, so you're ready to start translating!
Best, Hedda


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Things to do in Zambia
As you close your eyes and hear the thundering roar of the mighty Victoria Falls, one of the most popular tourist attractions in Zambia, it's hard to believe that you're only a short 1-hour-and-40-minute flight away from Johannesburg. Harder still to believe, given your proximity to some of the most awe-inspiring tourist attractions in Zambia that you can visit when staying at the most beautiful accommodation in Zambia: The Royal Livingstone and the AVANI Victoria Falls Resort.
A land of natural diversity and overwhelming beauty, there are so many tourist attractions in Zambia.
Although landlocked, Zambia is the proud home of three great rivers. The most famous being the majestic Zambezi River that leads to Victoria Falls. The other two are the Kafue River that winds lazily through the country's borders for about 960 kilometres, and the other is the Luangwa River, that flows through one of Africa's richest wildlife sanctuaries. The trio of rivers and their surrounds are home to the most popular tourist attractions in Zambia.
Top things to do in Zambia
- Stand Beneath the Smoke that Thunders
Victoria Falls or Mosi-oa-Tunya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. A place that you just have to see for yourself to appreciate its scale, the magnificence of Victoria Falls can't be accurately captured on film or in words. Those lucky enough to witness this natural wonder will appreciate why this is one of the most unforgettable tourist attractions in Zambia. The Royal Livingstone and the AVANI Victoria Falls Resort guests have unlimited, free access to Victoria Falls via an exclusive private entrance. That's one of the many reasons why The Royal Livingstone and the AVANI Victoria Falls Resort are considered the top accommodation in Livingstone. - Explore the Hidden Pathways around Victoria Falls
Take a stroll on the many pathways upstream from The Royal Livingstone, where your Victoria Falls view is unobstructed by any fences – you've been warned – and watch the energetic flow of water moments before the final vertical descent. - Seek out the Knife-Edge Bridge
Venture across the aptly named Knife-Edge Bridge for excellent views of the Eastern Cataract of Victoria Falls. If the wind and the mist bless you with their absence you will be treated to unimaginable views of Victoria Falls and the mind-bogglingly gorge below. Experience the natural phenomenon of "inverted rain" as the spray from the falls shoots upwards. - Witness the magic of a lunar rainbow
On a guided evening tour turn your gaze skywards and experience the glow of a "moonbow" or "white rainbow". Victoria Falls is one of only a few places in the world that this natural spectacle occurs regularly making this one of the must-see tourist attractions in Zambia. - Take a trip out to Livingstone Island
Located in the centre of the Zambezi River, Livingstone Island marks the exact spot the David Livingstone first took in the sight of Victoria Falls. Arrive at the island by boat from The Royal Livingstone hotel or swim or even walk across when the tide is low. One of the most unique tourist attractions in Zambia, on the island, you can enjoy High Tea while soaking in the atmosphere of this profoundly sacred space. Access to the island is limited, with only 16 visitors allowed per trip to preserve the integrity of the island. - Take a dip in Devil's Pool
For many years Devil's Pool remained one of the best-kept secrets in Zambia, but for the brave it is no secret that this is one of the most popular and daring tourist attractions in Zambia. Those who have been brave enough to dive into this adrenaline-pumping infinity pool – set almost impossibly on the edge of Victoria Falls – know that this experience is certainly no urban legend. Devil's Pool is an inspiring experience set to invigorate and amaze even the most experienced travellers. - Travel back in time at the Livingstone Museum
Established in 1934, the Livingstone Museum located in the heart of Livingstone, is the oldest and largest of Zambia's four national museums. Exhibiting a vast collection of fascinating archaeological and ethnographic treasures, the museum also has one of the oldest libraries in the country. The museum also includes an insightful collection of its namesake's memorabilia: Scottish explorer Dr David Livingstone.
Zambia is the perfect destination for outdoor enthusiasts and adventurers
The Activity Desk at The Royal Livingstone hotel and the AVANI Victoria Falls Resort will take care of all your Zambia adventure bookings. The experienced staff at the Activity Desk are also an excellent resource when deciding which tourist attractions in Zambia to experience first.
Why not explore this list of exciting tourist attractions in Zambia?
- Bungee-jumping from Victoria Falls Bridge
- White water rafting on the Zambezi River
- Elephant safaris and game drives
- Helicopter tours over Victoria Falls
Inviting travellers to experience a lifetime's worth of memories, Zambia is an inspiring destination that celebrates the meaning of African warmth and natural wonder. Like all of the best things in life, you just have to experience it for yourself.
The Royal Livingstone and the AVANI Victoria Falls Resort offer guests exclusive accommodation in Livingstone, surrounded by the top tourist attractions in Zambia.
Sun International Zambia Hotels and Resorts
Sun International's Partner Hotel in Zambia
AVANI Victoria Falls Resort
Get that perfect blend of AVANI style and comfort in the heart of Zambia. AVANI Victoria Falls Resort gives you the perfect spot to work, rest, stay, and play with iconic Victoria Falls at your doorstep. Visit AVANI Victoria Falls Resort Website.


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Fight the wrinkles
Retinol – a form of vitamin A – is one of the most potent anti–aging skin care ingredients on the market, promoting normal cellular turnover. EmerginC Vitamin C + Retinol Mask removes dead skin cells and renews skin, leaving it looking younger instantly. With an additional boost of vitamin C, wrinkles don't stand a chance.
Hydrate, inside out
Beauty starts from the inside out, and optimal hydration is key. Drink and consume plenty of water each day. Raw fruits and veggies deliver more water to cells than the liquid itself.
Morning wash
Start your morning off right. Begin each day with a calming, moisturizing wash. Avoid cleansers that contain harsh or foaming ingredients such as laurel sulfates, as these can strip natural oils and leave skin vulnerable to the elements. Dermatologist-recommended Neutrogena Extra Gentle Cleanser is a great non-soap formula that adds back moisture without leaving a filmy residue that can clog pores.
Nighttime cleansing
In the evening, remove makeup with products containing natural oil extracts that eliminate makeup build-up with ease and help to condition skin, leaving your complexion soft and hydrated. Purity Made Simple by Philosophy is an award-winning daily face wash formulated to gently cleanse, tone and remove all face and eye makeup in one step.
Protection from the sun
Most signs of aging are caused by overexposure to the sun, so the first line of defense against lines, wrinkles and discoloration is to wear sunscreen. An easy way to always stay protected is to apply a moisturizer with UV protection built in like Olay Regenerist UV Defense Regenerating Lotion SPF 15 every morning after cleansing.
Hydrating masks
Treat skin to a hydrating or brightening skin care mask once a week. These work especially well on dehydrated, irritated and sensitive skin. Juice Beauty Green Apple Hydration Mask is a nutrient-rich mask that blends an alpha hydroxyl acid (AHA) complex of organic apple, grape and lemon juices with age-defying peptides and vitamin C to help replenish your complexion.
Antioxidant serums
Refining antioxidant serums such as Rhonda Allison Grape Seed Hydrating Serum offer rich blends of vitamins and necessary antioxidants. Apply one under your favorite night cream to heal and restore dry skin while boosting its efficacy.
Protect your hands
Your hands will likely be the first part of your body to show signs of aging, so don't forget to protect them. Niacin, found in NIA24 Sun Damage Repair for Décolletage and Hands, is one of the best ingredients for repairing damaged skin.
Whiten your smile
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Ansonborough, Ashley Acres, Ashley Forest, Ashley Hall Manor, Ashley Harbor, Ashley Heights, Ashley Villas, Ashleyville, Avondale, Brownswood Village, Byrnes Downs, Cainhoy, Cannonborough Elliotborough, Charleston Farms, Charleston Heights


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How Twitter Is Changing the Geography of Communication
New research suggests that location plays a smaller role now in who we talk to and what we talk about.
Since academics first began studying communication, they've been trying to figure out who we talk to and how those networks change with the invention of new mediums of interaction. Who you could talk to, and even what you might talk about, obviously differed between the eras of the covered wagon and the cell phone. And now we have an instantaneous, global and (mostly) free platform for talking to virtually anyone: the Internet.
So how has it altered the real-world geography of communication? Some previous efforts to address this question have come out of the workplace (researchers can't query Google for all of our gmail data, but large international companies can do this with their own employees). There's only so much to be learned, however, from the email correspondence between a company man in L.A. and his coworker in China.
"The holy grail has been to look at people in real life, to look at people outside the workplace, to see when people are on their own, communicating as part of their general course of life, how has the electronic revolution changed that?" says Kalev Leetaru, a University Fellow at the University of Illinois Graduate School of Library and Information Science. "That has been a difficult thing to look at because there hasn't been much data."
Now, however, there is more data than most computers can process coming from public social networking platforms like Twitter. We wrote in late 2011 about some early research suggesting that many Twitter users in fact follow other people located within their same city, evidence, Richard Florida wrote, that the Internet is reinforcing the value of place instead of eliminating it.
But now that Twitter is a few years older – and considerably more global – Leetaru and several colleagues have conducted a massive new analysis of the site that suggests the opposite: "In effect," Leetrau says, "location plays a much lesser role now in terms of who we talk to, what we talk about, and where we get our information."
Read more at The Atlantic Cities.
(Image via Verticalarray/Shutterstock.com)


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Latest Lion Aid News
Canine distemper virus, domestic dog vaccination, lions and cheetahs
Wednesday 21st December 2011
In a recent article Alienor Cauvenet and co-authors from the Institute of Zoology, London looked at the impact of domestic dog canine distemper vaccination campaigns, the positive impact on lion populations in the Serengeti, and the possibly negative implications on cheetah populations in the same ecosystem. Basically, their conclusions were that the vaccinations and the resulting diminution of canine distemper virus in the ecosystem benefited one species (lions) but had a consequent negative effect on cheetah populations, as the subsequently rebounding lion population had adverse effects on cheetah reproduction. The article was written as a supposed cautionary message against promoting the conservation of one species over another. The article was based on selective use of information, a lack of understanding of introduced diseases on susceptible carnivore populations, and evident unfamiliarity of evolutionary relationships among carnivore species. In short, it is no more than a series of assumptions. But let's start with a bit of history. In 1994 a canine distemper virus outbreak swept through the Serengeti, killing an estimated one third (1000) of lions in the population. The outbreak also killed lions in the Masai Mara and in the Ngorongoro Crater. The virus was isolated and genetically typed – but then compared to a South African strain in claims that it was a genetic variant of possibly higher virulence. The outbreak, according to authors in the journal Nature (Roelke-Parker at al, 2006), also affected hyenas, bat-eared foxes, and leopards. In the Masai Mara, an earlier outbreak resulted in local extinction of the African Wild Dog population (Alexander et al 1993, J. Zoo Wildl. Med; Alexander & Appel 1994, J. Wildl. Dis; Alexander et al 1995, J. Zoo Wildl. Med), and a subsequent outbreak in the northeastern Serengeti killed more Wild Dogs in 2007 (Goller et al 2007, Vet. Microbiol). The outbreak also likely affected carnivores like jackals (Canis adustus, Canis mesomelas, and Canis aureus) at least. Canine distemper has a very wide host range, extending from Lesser Pandas to raccoons, canids to felids. In response to the 1994 outbreak, Project Life Lion was established to vaccinate domestic dogs in the area, the source and maintenance host population for further epidemics. Was this necessary? I believe so. Canine distemper is an introduced and emerging disease among African carnivores. The virus, like the most prevalent form of rabies in Africa, comes from domestic dogs, a carnivore introduced by humans to sub-Saharan Africa and Tanzania not much more than 500 years ago. After the distemper outbreak with high mortality among lions, subsequent sampling among a number of survivors indicated that 85% had antibodies. In other words, not all infected lions died, another widely observed consequence of canine distemper virus among a diversity of susceptible carnivores. With that level of protective antibodies among survivors, was the vaccination programme necessary among domestic dogs? The answer is again yes, as that maintenance host population will probably spawn repeated epidemics, and apart from lions, very many other carnivores will be affected. Now let's return to the paper by Cauvenet et al. Their assertion is that the vaccination programme (despite the evidence of protective antibodies among lions) was responsible for a resurgence in lion populations in the Serengeti, much to the disadvantage of sympatric cheetahs. They say that this "unintended" consequence of protecting one species (lions) with a vaccination programme of domestic dogs could lead to the demise of another species (cheetahs) – because lions kill cheetah cubs and adults. Not only do Cauvenet et al ignore the fact that a great number of other species were negatively affected by the distemper outbreak, they also ignore three other important pieces of information. First, lions and cheetahs have probably been interacting negatively on the African savannahs for tens if not hundreds of thousands of years. Lions also cause mortality among other sympatric predators like hyenas, Wild Dogs, and leopards. Lions are apex predators after all, and the composition of the entire predator and prey community is shaped by their presence. Second, tacitly accepting that an unchecked and introduced disease should alter this ancient formula to the benefit of a single species (cheetahs) is nonsensical. And third, their naïve acceptance that cheetahs are not themselves affected by canine distemper is unsubstantiated. For example, studies in Namibia by Munson et al (2004 – J. Wildl. Dis) indicate that 24% of a sample of 81 free-ranging cheetahs in an area of likely contact with domestic dogs had canine distemper antibodies. They say "Antibodies against CDV were detected in cheetahs of all ages sampled between 1995 and 1998, suggesting the occurrence of an epidemic in Namibia during the time when CDV swept through other parts of sub-Saharan Africa. This evidence in free-ranging Namibian cheetahs of exposure to viruses that cause severe disease in captive cheetahs should direct future guidelines for translocations, including quarantine of seropositive cheetahs and preventing contact between cheetahs and domestic pets." Given the wide host range of canine distemper, it is very likely that cheetahs will also be susceptible, and suffer population consequences of an epidemic. In summary, introduced and emerging diseases among wildlife populations should be actively addressed. Assertions that one species (cheetahs) might benefit from unchecked outbreaks among competitors (lions) are specious. Especially when such outbreaks could affect cheetahs themselves, and also have significant consequences on a great number of other sympatric carnivores. Cauvenet et al's paper should have been more vigilantly reviewed. Picture: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Cheetah_portrait_Whipsnade_Zoo.jpg Tags: lions, cheetahs, Serengeti, Canine Distemper, wildlife diseases, vaccination programmes, Categories: Wildlife Diseases |
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Baby Growth: % Hunger: 0% |
Owner: silverygit Breed: Zantosaurus (Class Obsidian) Mother: Valentis Father: Rothnal Gender: Female Age: 1059 Days Visits: 215.5 Uniques: 101.1 Description: Currently, there are only two well-known classes of Zantosaurus, the Garnet and the Obsidian, though more are suspected to be living throughout the realm. Of the two known classes, however, each have been observed to display very distinct differences in both personality and habits. Where the Garnets tend to be much more sociable with other species and curious, Obsidians are often more oriented for violence towards other races and a desire for solitude. The former, apart from the latter, also seem to be much less magically inclined than their counterparts, preferring to delve in physical, "natural" experiments and explorations rather than deepening their experience into magical ones such as spellcasting. Though the two classes do have their differences, they do share similarities in some aspects. Though neither species of Zantosaurus care for their young after the eggs are laid, the parents do provide somewhat for their chicks before leaving the nest to its own. This is done through their forming of their nests from strongly scented flowers and plants that not only help to ward off predators, but also to attract insects and pollenating animals such as hummingbirds for the young to eat as they grow. Eggs are most frequently laid singularly, but clutches have been found holding up to three eggs at a time. While the incubation period for eggs is currently unknown, it has been observed that hatchlings will remain in the nest anywhere from a couple of months to a year as their wings develop and start to strengthen enough to allow them flight. When the chicks are first born, they are only about four inches in length from muzzle to tail tip, have very soft, vulnerable skin, and no evidence of wings. In their first week of life, they will begin to form scales and gradual size, though their wings will not often start to form until the chick is at least two weeks old. Also, though a Zantosaurus may reach full adult size (which is about eight feet in height and twelve in length) by its first five years of life, most do not reach full maturity for ten to twenty years, and they will often only live for fifty or so years in total. Life stages:
See other pets which silverygit adopted.
Adopt your own pet here.


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Contact Lens FAQs
A few examples of Contact lenses are:
Daily Disposables
The shortest replacement schedule is single use (daily disposable) lenses, which are disposed of each night. These may be best for patients with ocular allergies or other conditions, because it limits deposits of antigens and protein. Single use lenses are also useful for people who use contacts infrequently, or for purposes (e.g. swimming or other sporting activities) where losing a lens is likely.
Two-week Replacement Disposables
The main advantage of wearing disposable lenses is that you put a fresh pair of lenses in your eyes every two weeks. Another advantage is ease of care with multipurpose solutions.
One-month Replacement Disposables
Similar to two-week replacement lenses but you throw them out every 30 days.
Conventional Contact Lenses
These are the original soft contact lenses. It is recommended these lenses be replaced on a yearly basis. Conventional lenses are more care intensive than disposable lenses.
Color Contact Lenses
Certain soft contact lenses come in colors to either enhance your eye color or completely change it.
Toric for Astigmatism
Toric lenses are made from the same materials as regular contact lenses but have a few extra characteristics:
- They correct for both spherical and cylindrical aberration.
- They may have a specific 'top' and 'bottom', as they are not symmetrical around their center and must not be rotated. Lenses must be designed to maintain their orientation regardless of eye movement. Often lenses are thicker at the bottom and this thicker zone is pushed down by the upper eyelid during blinking to allow the lens to rotate into the correct position (with this thicker zone at the 6 o'clock position on the eye). Toric lenses are usually marked with tiny striations to assist their fitting.
- They are usually more expensive to produce than non-toric lenses.
Bifocal Contact Lenses
Multifocal soft contact lenses are more complex to manufacture and require more skill to fit. All soft bifocal contact lenses are considered "simultaneous vision" because both far and near vision corrections are presented simultaneously to the retina, regardless of the position of the eye. Of course, only one correction is correct, the incorrect correction causes blur. Commonly these are designed with distance correction in the center of the lens and near correction in the periphery, or vice versa.
These lenses were the original contact lenses made several decades ago from a plastic called PMMA. For a long time they were the only kind of lens but they are seldom used anymore as they have several drawbacks and have been superseded by "rigid" lenses. Rigid, or gas permeable, lenses are similar to hard lenses in design and appearance, however as the name suggests, the material they are made of is permeable to gases.
"Soft" lenses
Soft lenses are slightly larger and more flexible than rigid or hard lenses. Soft lenses are made of materials which soak up water, and it is this uptake of water that allows oxygen to transfer to the cornea. Soft lens material itself is impermeable, so the oxygen is transmitted via the water.


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In case you missed them, here are the 10 most popular public relations posts from my blog in 2009. Seven of them got most of their traffic from referrals (Twitter, blog posts, Facebook, email etc) and three of them from simple search – the National Express, Obama and social media research statistics ones.
National Express East Coast: Lions led by donkeys – 10 comments
In January I used my blog to express dissatisfaction with National Express East Coast's abysmal customer service. At the end of November it was time to rejoice as it lost its franchise and the east coast mainline once again became a nationalised rail service (however temporarily). In just one month service has improved phenomenally.
Public relations is about reputation, not SEO – 16 comments
This post on the relative merits of public relations v. SEO resulted in me being asked to debate with Antony Mayfield at the New Media Knowledge event on online PR. It was a bit of an artificial debate as despite now working for a search agency Antony is a PR person so we agreed on far more than we disagreed. The arguments in my post focus on the fact that far too many people don't know what they are talking about when discussing PR and SEO. I'd like to see more facts and less opinion.
Obama shaking hands with black policeman at No 10 Downing Street – 4 comments
A photograph showing the evident pleasure on the face of a black policeman as he shakes hands with President Barack Obama.
If you want to be a thought leader, blog don't Twitter – 3 comments
Steve Rubel shutters his blog in favour of a 'lifestream', for once I agree with Robert Scoble and argue that thought leaders need to blog, not Twitter.
The only three questions you need to ask your prospective PR social media agency – 14 comments
A post that generated lots of retweets and was in a similar vein to one of my most popular posts of 2008 – Top ten ways not to choose a social media consultant.
How can local government use social media? – 1 comment
The IDeA asks how local government should use social media and I provide some answers based on not only on my public relations and social media experience, but also as an ex-councillor who served as Lead Member for Corporate Communications.
Will PR ever be free of the curse of AVEs? – 5 comments
The Central Office of Information announces it will stop using AVEs to evaluate public relations, I blog about hoping that the rest of the PR industry will follow suit.
Lots of interesting new social media research statistics – no comments
Short post that simply points to two other of my posts – Forrester publishes third global social media and social networks research report and Teens DO use Twitter: real research with the facts and statistics, not myths and hype on the Wolfstar blog. Illustrates the importance of search friendly headlines.
Social media campaign hammers the Daily Mail – 5 comments
When the Daily Mail ran a racist poll on its website, a vigorous Twitter campaign meant that it didn't get the result it hoped for, a useful illustration of the power of social media.
Mandelson v. Marr: Master class or disaster class – you decide – 6 comments
YouTube videos of Lord Peter Mandelson getting the better of Andrew Marr, in what I think is a master class of how to handle a media interview.


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Terms & Conditions
These terms and conditions apply to all attendees who have registered for linux.conf.au 2015 and/or linux.conf.au 2015-related events.Registration
Registering for the event does not guarantee your ticket until it has been paid for in full. To secure your ticket pay the registration invoice as soon as possible.Security and credit cards
All transactions are performed through a payment gateway facility and use SSL with 128-bit encryption. The facility accepts MasterCard and Visa. All transactions are performed by the event organisers on behalf of Linux Australia.Cancellation policy
- Cancellations made prior to 1 December 2014 - any registration fee paid will be refunded in full.
- Cancellations made between 1 December and 31 December 2014 - will incur a 15% cancellation fee, which will be deducted from any registration fee paid and the balance will be refunded.
- Cancellations made after 31 December 2014 - no refund.
You may substitute another person, however you must contact us with this person's details. If you wish to substitute someone after 30th November 2014 please note that we will not be able to provide any personalised items.Privacy notice
In the course of registering for the event and related events personal information will be collected about attendees such as their name, contact details, etc. This information is required to facilitate registration to the event, for catering requirements and for organisers or their agents to contact particular attendees as and when required in respect of the event. Attendees who do not disclose this personal information will be unable to complete registration at the event and will therefore not be able to attend.
Personal information will only be disclosed to Linux Australia and to Government agencies where organisers believe disclosure is appropriate for legal compliance and law enforcement; to facilitate court proceedings; to enforce our terms and conditions; or to protect the rights, property, or safety of the event, our attendees, or others. Linux Australia will not sell your personal information to third parties and will not use your personal information to send promotional material from any of our affiliated partners and/or sponsors.
As part of the registration process attendees will be asked if they would like to subscribe to the event Mailing Lists and/or the event Announce Mailing List. Attendees who subscribe to one or more of these lists will be sent emails from the event organisers and other subscribers to the mailing lists. If, at any time, attendees wish to unsubscribe from any of these mailing lists, please follow the "how to unsubscribe" directions on the bottom of any message you receive from these mailing lists.
From time to time event organisers update their information and website practices. Please regularly review this page for the most recent information about the event privacy practices. All personal information will be kept private and used only for event registration purposes, statistics for future events, and convenience for future event registration.
The event may provide attendees with access to a wired and/or wireless network. The access to this network is a privilege, not an entitlement, and must be used appropriately. Inappropriate use includes, but is not limited to: unlawful activities, interfering with the equipment or network access of others and not respecting the reasonable expectations of privacy that attendees have for traffic flowing through the network.
Any deliberately malicious activities on either the wired or wireless networks will be grounds for instant dismissal from the conference (without reimbursement). If any attendees use the network inappropriately then the linux.conf.au organisers will take any enforcement action they consider appropriate. Enforcement action includes but is not limited to:- suspending access to the network
- disconnecting the network permanently
- asking the alleged offender to immediately leave the venue and/or prohibiting them from continuing to attend linux.conf.au (without reimbursement)
- reporting the incident to the New Zealand Police
- any other measure the linux.conf.au organisers see fit
Event organisers may provide recordings of talks (audio and/or video) given at the event. This service is provided on a best-effort basis only. Any recordings will be released as and when they are ready, which may be some time after the conclusion of the event and the recordings may be of varying quality.Discrimination and anti-social behaviour
Linux Australia is proud to support diverse groups of people in IT, particularly women, and will not tolerate in any fashion any intimidation, harassment, and/or any abusive, discriminatory or derogatory behaviour by any attendees at the event and/or related events. Examples of these behaviours, and measures the event organisers or Linux Australia may take, are set out in the Code of Conduct. By registering for and attending any Linux Australia event you agree to the Code of Conduct. This also extends to presenters in mini-confs and the main conference.Media and media passes
There are a limited number of media passes available to media personnel. Media passes are free-of-charge and entitle media personnel to attend the event with all the entitlements of a Professional registration. Please note, due to the limited numbers of media passes available, all media passes will need to be approved by the event organisers. Any media attending the event are required to identify themselves as "media" to attendees prior to speaking on the record with any attendees of the event. It is the responsibility of the media to introduce themselves to the persons they wish to interview and to arrange any interviews with those persons. The event organisers will not make introductions or arrange interviews on behalf of media.To apply for a media pass, please contact media @ lca2015 . linux . org . au
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Please consume alcohol responsibly. Please note, licensed premises in New Zealand are prohibited from selling or supplying alcohol to intoxicated persons. Please adhere to local liquor laws which are available in most licensed establishments.
All event venues including the social event venues are smoke-free. If attendees wish to smoke during the event and/or related events, they must do so in signed areas. Please consider others and refrain from smoking directly outside the venues' entrances.Health and safety
If you are attending the event as a keynote presenter, speaker, Miniconf organiser or Miniconf presenter it is your responsibility to ensure that your talk meets the Health and Safety requirements under New Zealand law and that the Code of Conduct is followed at all times. If you are unsure, please contact linux.conf.au organisers on contact @ lca2015 . linux . org . au to discuss it further.Immigration/Entry requirements
Anyone who lives outside New Zealand will need a passport and may require a visa to gain entry into New Zealand.
The following page allows you to easily check visa requirements when visiting New Zealand from overseas: Visa Options Check
You should take into account the Cancellation policy above and verify your visa requirements well in advance of the event.


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« Prev | Canon XLVII. | Next » |
Canon XLVII. (Greek li.)
Concerning [the Donatists and447447 Found only in the Greek.] the children baptized by the Donatists.
Concerning the Donatists448448 Not in the Greek. it seemed good that we should hold counsel with our brethren and fellow priests Siricius and Simplician concerning those infants alone who are baptized by Donatists:449449 Latin reads "among them" instead of "by Donatists." lest what they did not do of their own will, when they should be converted to the Church of God with a salutary determination, the error of their parents might prevent their promotion to the ministry of the holy altar.
But when these things had been begun, Honoratus and Urbanus, bishops of Mauri464tania Sitifensis, said: When some time ago we were sent to your holiness, we laid aside what things had been written on this account, that we might wait for the arrival of our brethren the legates from Numidia. But because not a few days have passed in which they have been looked for and as yet they are not arrived, it is not fitting that we should delay any longer the commands we received from our brother-bishops; and therefore, brethren, receive our story with alacrity of mind. We have heard concerning the faith of the Nicene tractate: True it is that sacrifices are to be forbidden after breakfast, so that they may be offered as is right by those who are fasting, and this has been confirmed then and now.
Ancient Epitome of Canon XLVII.
When those in infancy baptized by Donatists are converted, this shall be no impediment to them. And the Holy Mysteries, as is right, are to be celebrated only by them fasting.
This canon is made from Canon xxxvij. of the Synod of Hippo, a.d. 393, and from Canon j. of the Synod of Carthage of August 28th, a.d. 397.
See Can. 41.
The pretence that the Donatists had for making a schism was, that Cæcilian, Bishop of Carthage, had, in the time of persecution, been a Traditor, i.e., given up the Bible to the heathen inquisitors; this was denied by the Orthodox, who charged them with the same crime in effect, viz. of being too favourable to the Traditors, and those that had lapsed. They likewise are charged with Arianism.
I have omitted what is here mentioned concerning the Council of Nice; because I do not find that any one has been able to penetrate into the meaning of the Fathers as to that particular.
« Prev | Canon XLVII. | Next » |


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As befits a Life magazine-styled look at firemen (and a post-9/11 one, at that), Ladder 49 is full of ceremony: a Catholic mass, a bestowing of medals, a wedding, a parade, a funeral, a birth. Juxtaposed baptisms by fire and water depict the everyday life-and-death struggles of heroes too often taken for granted. I have, then, no bad will, as such, against this "thank you" letter to thankless heroes. The cynical-minded might call Ladder 49 a re-hash of Backdraft, with its Irish-inflected firefighting drama at home and on the deadly job; what's more, they might call the film's timing as fiscally sound as it is well-intentioned. All I know is that Ladder 49 is conventional, lacking in depth, and reliant on the artifical tension of action scenes to goose along an otherwise watchable but dull movie.
At least director Jay Russell hands off the paper-thin characters (credit where it's due to screenwiter Lewis Colick, who also wrote Travolta's dud Domestic Disturbance) to capable actors. Joaquin Phoenix (who increasingly resembles his Signs co-star Mel Gibson) plays Jack Morrison, a firefighter whose career we track, in flashback, while Jack lies trapped in the debris of a rampaging fire. As a probationary firefighter, Jack faces a trial by you-know-what at the hands of his high-spirited fellows, including John Travolta as the chief and den mother Mike Kennedy (Robert Patrick, Morris Chestnut, Billy Burke, Balthazar Getty, Jay Hernandez, and Tim Guinee are among the other manly fire fodder). Jack's wooing of a gal named Linda (Jacinda Barrett) fills out the passing of at least a decade in Jack's life, though no one seems to change much as time hopscotches along.
One colleague horribly injured and another killed serve as buildup to Jack's life-threatening situation and Linda's worst fear. William Ross supplies a blandly heroic score (with an Irish lilt, natch), and Russell handles the action well, from the P.O.V.-cam of sliding down the pole to suit up to the torrents of flame which face the men at the end of each ride. The male bonding extends to practical jokery around the station (the Ladder 49 of the title), team-flirting at the grocery store (Jack's pick up-line: "I actually hold the nozzle and put the fire out"), carousing and karaoke ("Fire" by The Ohio Players) at the local watering hole. Travolta has little more to do than repeat the old chestnut "Firefighters run into a burning building when everyone else is running out" and smile comfortingly, though I guess them's better pickings than Robert Patrick's (he has to say, not once but twice, "I'm getting too old for this shit"). Russell fares best with his extended climax, the proof to the pudding of the observation "You get enough fires, you find God."


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In 2013 Christian world celebrates 1700 years since the day when the Providence of God spoke through the holy Emperor Constantine and freedom was given to the Christian faith. Commemorating the 1700 years since the Edict of Milan of 313, Sebastian Press of the Western American Diocese of the Serbian Orthodox Church published a book by Bishop Athanasius Yevtich, Holy Emperor Constantine and the Edict of Milan. The book has 72 pages and was translated by Popadija Aleksandra Petrovich. This excellent overview of the historical circumstances that lead to the conversion of the first Christian emperor and to the publication of a document that was called "Edict of Milan", was originally published in Serbian by the Brotherhood of St. Simeon the Myrrh-gusher, Vrnjci 2013. "The Edict of Milan" is calling on civil authorities everywhere to respect the right of believers to worship freely and to express their faith publicly.
The publication of this beautiful pocket-size, full-color, English-language book, has been compiled and designed by Bishop Athanasius Yevtich, a disciple of the great twentieth-century theologian Archimandrite Justin Popovich. Bishop Athanasius' thought combines adherence to the teachings of the Church Fathers with a vibrant faith, knowledge of history, and a profound experience of Christ in the Church.
In the conclusion of the book, the author states:"The era of St. Constantine and his mother St. Helena, marks the beginning of what history refers to as Roman, Christian Empire, which was named Byzantium only in recent times in the West. In fact, this was the conception of a Christian Europe. Christian Byzantine culture had a critical effect on Europe; Europe was its heir, and then consciously forgot it. Europe inherited many Byzantine treasures, but unfortunately, also robbed and plundered many others for its own treasuries and museums – not only during the Crusades, but during colonial rule in the Byzantine lands as well. We, the Orthodox Slavs, received a great heritage of the Orthodox Christian East from Byzantium. Primarily, Christ's Gospel, His faith and His Church, and then, among other things, the Cyrillic alphabet, too."


text: Allergens are impurities in the air that can bring on an allergic reaction. In an urban environment, a mixture of these allergens with other impurities present in the air – called adjuvant substances – such as Diesel Exhaust Particles (DEP's) produced by engines and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's) present in building materials, cosmetics, etc. can turn allergens into heavy allergens. These in turn can have increased negative health effects such as aggravated symptoms and the triggering of latent allergies.


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Is liberal fascism a misnomer? Perhaps Sinclair Lewis's antecedent question is more basic, Can it happen here?
Fascism comes in several varieties without losing its distinctive structural-ideological-political features, all of which point to an hierarchical societal framework characterized by extremes of wealth and power, a system of government authority, its opaqueness shielding it from accountability in both domestic and foreign policy, and, because of its secrecy, able to hide its disconnection from the public interest, as for example a dereliction of responsibility to the working class in terms of job creation, the preservation of the social safety net, and adequate funding for public education, and meanwhile, able as well to hide its connection, rather, to ruling groups and upper social strata through beneficial economic and fiscal policies, subsidies, the wider geopolitical strategies for wealth accumulation in international affairs, and the protective cover of military strength and involvement to preserve order and a martial spirit at home and trade and investment opportunities abroad—ensuring the resultant generation of wealth will not be channeled inward to democratize the social order.
Prevention of democratization at home, unilateral exercise of dominance on all major indices of power and a broad counterrevolutionary posture abroad, pretty well sums up the paradigm of fascism in a skeletal form, its methods varying to suit historical circumstances and cultural tastes, repression in some cases, persuasion and a promotion of false consciousness in others, so long as the basic objectives are served: inequality, secrecy, militarism (all, under Obama, brought to fruition via the warm glow of rhetorical liberalism).
Liberal fascism is an elusive historical formation; instead of goosestepping automatons, gas chambers, Stuka dive bombers, the bombastic Leader, all is normality on display, although, to be sure, some traces of the nonliberal variety of fascism remain.
For goosesteppers substitute the seemingly more innocuous militarization of the total culture, under constant reinforcement, with Second-Amendment gun-rights zealots rubbing their hardware in our noses.
For gas chambers substitute the structural reinforcement of gun violence, incarceration of an underclass, surveillance—admittedly far less painful, but expeditious in its social-control consequences.
For the Stukas, we actually go one better, with armed drones for targeted assassination, directed to terrorizing, as did the Stukas along with the closer analogue, buzz bombs, whole populations.
And for the bombastic Leader, we have the reformer manque, blithely at work in planning and executing assassination, smiling all the while and, now, advertising his "Fireplace Hangouts" in a phony effort to imitate FDR's Fireside Chats.
Even were large numbers of individuals the victims of political murder abstracted from the record, there would still be ample grounds for treating the presidential context as the flourishing of liberal fascism. Militarism, beyond drones, beyond the global network of bases, beyond extravagant budgets and exotic weaponry, beyond expanding the role of CIA operations, beyond the Pacific-first strategy of enlarging the US presence in Asia and containment of China, is alive and well in the Obama White House through a grand design of permanent war carried on largely by paramilitary forces with the heavy hitters, viz., supercarriers, etc., in the background, and the "modernized" nuclear weapons gently out of sight.
Still, liberal fascism requires more, given that America has been in the business of counterrevolution, militarism, and intervention for some time, as it has, through government-business interpenetration, in support of monopolism and economic consolidation generally.
Now, however, is qualitatively different, or rather, the intensification of previous key trends, with still less protest than perhaps at any time since 1933. In broadest terms, America has absorbed its own negativity, and by America I mean a culmination of tendencies toward the systemic integration of capitalism, now at a mature stage of development, and correlative mechanisms of support, previously inchoate or less operant, starting with the bludgeoning of a radical political consciousness through several decades of applied public and private pressures toward conformity: i.e., internalized boundaries of acceptable doctrine and modes of protest.
Obama can begin from where the long-term formation of a dissipative consciousness leaves off, extolling "change" as the formula for acquiescence—submission to authority, war, assassination, bank bailouts, military budgets, false either-or alternatives in social policy, whatever it takes to keep the ship of, not state, but monopoly capitalism, on course. Why liberal? Because rhetoric trumps reality, and the attachment of leader and led is bound up in an apolitical moral vacuum, affecting each, altogether resistant to critical thinking and analysis.
Yet more, liberalism has itself demonstrated its bankruptcy, as when, for example, a majority of the American people support the armed drone program. Assassination is cost-effective in protecting America from the Nefarious Other.
Whether we had created the conditions of international hostility to the US, is unthinkable. Better to plod ahead. Draw together in classless harmony. Celebrate America as the Land of Opportunity, as societal dislocation proceeds apace, whether unemployment, foreclosures, renditions, torture, nonregulation, crumbling infrastructure, gun rampages, or presidential unctiousness papering over war crimes, wealth concentration, and destruction of the environment.
Keystone XL, anyone?
Addendum: I commend Obama, though, for exposing liberalism, in its journey of transvaluation, from the New Deal to the present, for what it is, a right-of-center political-ideological position hardly worthy of the name, as understood during the New Deal. Liberalism, once centrist, or moderately left of center, could not withstand—nor even try to—the anticommunist hysteria beginning with McCarthyism in the aftermath of World War II, becoming increasingly, as with Americans for Democratic Action and National Security Democrats, part of the red-baiting political-ideological universe of cultural discourse translated into a marked rightward shift in politics which distinguished the major parties solely on who was fairest of them all (i.e., most patriotic).
Under the liberal banner, the US ventured into the Cold War arena. Its anticommunism became a spacious umbrella for sacrificing dissent on the altar of respectability, so that by the 1960s at the latest, liberalism should have been, but was not, detected for being more antiradical than progressive (and, in fact, rendering so-called progressivism as, at bottom, antiradical). Obama could have stepped forward two decades earlier without missing a beat, from a policy- if not racial- standpoint, and his conservatizing thrust has now touched race, with blacks in prominent positions firmly installed in the Praetorian Guard of Vested Interests. Neither Paul Robeson nor Dr. King would be admissible in the political culture of today (lip-service to the celebration of the latter notwithstanding, in light of his Poor People's Campaign and opposition to war).
Liberalism has been a chief contaminant of democratic theory and practice, joined at the hip to a Democratic party solicitous of Wall Street and the whole flock of interests defining predatory capitalism, from health insurers to defense contractors, and further joined at the hip to a White House that can find no better exemplification of its stewardship than the nomination of John Brennan, closing tightly the circle of secrecy so as to hide the practically daily exhibit of war crimes.
Norman Pollack is the author of "The Populist Response to Industrial America" (Harvard) and "The Just Polity" (Illinois), Guggenheim Fellow, and professor of history emeritus, Michigan State University.


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Tag: JOE BIDEN
Hypermiling: The Art of Maximizing Fuel Efficiency
Hypermiling, a term that might sound unfamiliar to many, refers to the practice of driving techniques and vehicle maintenance habits aimed at maximizing fuel efficiency.
The Importance of Ladder Safety
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Understanding How Power Imbalances Fuel Workplace Harassment
From subtle microaggressions to blatant abuses of authority, workplace harassment finds fertile ground where power differentials exist unchecked.
Addressing Myths & Misconceptions for Brain Injury Awareness Month
In 2024, as we observe Brain Injury Awareness Month, it's crucial to dispel myths and misconceptions surrounding this often misunderstood condition.
Unlocking the World of Car Security Systems
With car theft rates fluctuating, understanding the nuanced world of car security systems is essential.


text: Rental Properties Street, City State / Province State / Province Alabama Alaska Arizona Arkansas California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District Of Columbia Florida Georgia Hawaii Idaho Illinois Indiana Iowa Kansas Kentucky Louisiana Maine Maryland Massachusetts Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Missouri Montana Nebraska Nevada New Hampshire New Jersey New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Puerto Rico Rhode Island South Carolina South Dakota Tennessee Texas Utah Vermont Virginia Washington West Virginia Wisconsin Wyoming Alberta British Columbia Manitoba New Brunswick Newfoundland and Labrador Northwest Territories Nova Scotia Nunavut Ontario Prince Edward Island Quebec Saskatchewan Yukon Zip Beds Baths Min $ Max $ Type For Rent See something you like? Take a closer look and schedule a showing with us today! Schedule a Showing Have a specific home in mind? Let us know what you're looking for and we'll find a rental for you! Let us Search For You About Us At Mountain Shamrock Properties, we are a multi-service company who BUYS, REPAIRS, MANAGES, and SELLS HOMES while focusing on providing you with Fast, Friendly, and Flexible service. News Why For Sale By Owner Is A Bad Idea 5 Things To Expect When Meeting with An Investor How To Sell Your House Faster Two Truths About Closing Deals How to Spot A Real Deal Categories Buy Credit Home Ownership Land Rent Rent To Own Sell Contact Us Mountain Shamrock Properties 809 W Riordan Rd, Suite 100 - #382 Flagstaff AZ 86001 (623) 282-4342 [email protected]


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Home › Forums › Xiaomi Device Forums › Redmi Note 5 Pro – whyred › [LINEAGEOS] OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 for Redmi Note 5 Pro – Android Oreo ROM
Tagged: Android Oreo, OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1, Shahan_mik3, vasishath
- This topic has 0 replies, 1 voice, and was last updated 5 years, 7 months ago by Linux User.
- AuthorPosts
- July 17, 2018 at 5:53 PM #40693Linux UserParticipant
Android 8.1 Oreo based OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 for Redmi Note 5 Pro (whyred) is now available to download on the OFFICIAL LineageOS website. This is a step by step guide that explains how to install the Official Redmi Note 5 Pro LineageOS 15.1 ROM.
[su_note note_color="#D7E3F4″ text_color="#728095″ radius="3″ class="" id=""]This a very old Android update for the phone. As far as the latest OS version goes, we already have the latest Android 11 for Redmi Note 5 Pro.[/su_note]
Follow the links to get LineageOS 16 and Android Pie ROM builds.
This Redmi Note 5 Pro LineageOS 15.1 OFFICIAL build is maintained by vasishath and Shahan_mik3.
Starting from LineageOS 15.1, LineageOS team has made stringent device support norms, which ensures that almost every important piece of hardware present on a phone MUST be in a working state on an OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 build. Which clearly means that users will enjoy a stock like upgrade experience on OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 updates.
Well, making a standard guideline to support LineageOS 15.1 for a specific device will undoubtedly increase the reliability on LineageOS custom Android ROM and subsequent ROMs derived from LineageOS such as: Resurrection Remix OS, crDroid ROM etc.
DONATION TO PROJECT/DEVELOPER(s):
If you like this ROM then do consider for a small contribution to vasishath, Shahan_mik3 and LineageOS project:
– donation to Shahan_mik3
– Donate to LineageOS project
– No donation link found for vasishathDISCLAIMER:
THIS IS AN INITIAL OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 BUILD WHICH MAY HAVE MINOR BUGS. HAVE A BACKUP BEFORE FLASHING THIS AND TRY AT YOUR OWN RISK.
Installing a custom ROM may require an unlocked bootloader on Redmi Note 5 Pro, which may VOID your warranty and may delete all your data. Before proceeding further you may consider backup all data on the phone. You are the only person making changes to your phone and I cannot be held responsible for the mistakes done by you.REQUIRED LINKS AND FILES FOR OFFICIAL Redmi Note 5 Pro LineageOS 15.1 ROM BASED ON ANDROID OREO 8.1:
- TWRP recovery for Redmi Note 5 Pro– Here is the how to install TWRP for Redmi Note 5 Pro. This recovery guide requires an unlock bootloader on Redmi Note 5 Pro.
- OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 for Redmi Note 5 Pro
- GApps download for OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 ROM
Root binary is NOT inbuilt in the OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 ROM, so you need a separate SuperSu package or LineageOS su binary to install to gain ROOT access on the OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 ROM build. Here is LineageOS 15.1 Rooting guide
If there is no in-built ROOT or it does not work for some reason then you can try SuperSU rooting guide to enable ROOT access.
HOW TO UPDATE/INSTALL Redmi Note 5 Pro LineageOS 15.1 OFFICIAL ROM:
Follow this if you are flashing LineageOS 15.1 for Redmi Note 5 Pro for the first time, or coming from UNOFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 ROM or any other custom ROM of any Android version:
Points to NOTE:– Try to avoid restoring apps backup using Titanium Backup. It may break things up.
– Don't restore system data using Titanium Backup! It will definitely break the current installation.
– It is also discouraged to Restoring Apps + Data using Titanium Backup.- Download and Copy the GApps and Redmi Note 5 Pro OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 ROM ZIP files to your phone.
- Boot into the TWRP custom Recovery to install this LineageOS 15.1 for Redmi Note 5 Pro.
– Make sure to have a Custom recovery like a TWRP recovery or any other custom recovery.
If not then download the TWRP recovery from Downloads link and follow the Custom Recovery Installation Guide (it's a generic guide which will work for TWRP as well as CWM recovery or any other recovery) - Wipe the data partition (or do a factory reset), Cache partition, Dalvik Cache or ART cache and Format the System partition.
– Here is a guide explaining how to wipe using TWRP recovery.This will delete all your data on your phone. You may consider complete backup of your phone data or take a NANDROID backup of the current ROM
– How to backup all data on your Android Device
– how to take NANDROID backup using TWRP recovery - Install the Redmi Note 5 Pro OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 ROM file that you have copied into the phone.- Here is a post explaining how to install LineageOS
- Then reboot into recovery (don't skip this) and install the Oreo Gapps for LineageOS 15.1 package.
– Here is a post explaining how to install GApps using TWRP recovery. - Reboot and Enjoy the Android 8.1 Oreo LineageOS 15.1 on Redmi Note 5 Pro.
Upgrading from earlier version of OFFICIAL LineageOS 14.1 or LineageOS 15.1 for Redmi Note 5 Pro (whyred):
- Copy the latest OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 for Redmi Note 5 Pro ROM ZIP file, Oreo 8.1 GApps and/or supersu ROOT package to the phone or use the updater app to download the LineageOS 15.1.
- Boot into Recovery.- Make sure you have a latest custom Recovery that should be able to flash the LineageOS 15.1 ROM update.
- Format or wipe the system partition from the custom recovery menu.
- First install the OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 ROM ZIP file from device.- Here is a post explaining how to install LineageOS
- Reboot and see you have the GApps and ROOT access or NOT.- Gapps is built in such a way that it will sustain across ROM updates.
- If you don't have GApps after upgrading the OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 on Redmi Note 5 Pro, then flash the GApps.- Here is a post explaining how to flash GApps using TWRP recovery.
- If you don't have ROOT after upgrading the OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 on Redmi Note 5 Pro, then flash the SuperSU or Magisk or the Lineage SU binary.- Here is a post explaining How to Enable ROOT for LineageOS 15.1 ROM
- Once everything is done, reboot and Enjoy the OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 for Redmi Note 5 Pro.
If you have found any BUG on this Redmi Note 5 Pro OFFICIAL LineageOS 15.1 ROM then you can raise a jira ticket on LineageOS website.
Stay tuned or Subscribe to the Redmi Note 5 Pro (whyred) forum For other Android Oreo 8.1 ROMs, LineageOS 15.1 ROMs, other ROMs and all other device specific topics. - AuthorPosts
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.


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Pediatric Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB) Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is epidermolysis bullosa (EB)?
A child with epidermolysis bullosa (EB) has an inherited skin disorder that causes blisters after even the mildest trauma. EB is never contagious because it is a genetic disease.
Most commonly, EB causes blisters on the skin, but EB can also affect the mouth, esophagus, lungs, muscles, eyes, nails and teeth.
There are four types of EB, all caused by different genetic mutations:
- EB simplex (EBS)
- Junctional EB (JEB)
- Dystrophic EB (DEB)
- Kindler syndrome
The effects of the disease can be mild, disabling, or life threatening and depend on the type of EB. EB simplex is the mildest and most common form of EB, while Junctional EB and Dystrophic EB are less common and can affect the patient more severely.
What are some symptoms of EB?
- Blisters on the skin, usually beginning in infancy
- Blisters or sores on the mucous membranes (mouth, throat, respiratory tract)
- Thickened skin on the palms of the hands or soles of the feet
- Thickening or absence of fingernails/toenails
- Anemia (more common in severely affected individuals)
How common is EB?
Based on statistics collected through the National Epidermolysis Bullosa Registry, EB is estimated to occur in 20 newborns per 1 million live births in the United States. The exact number of persons with EB is unclear, but estimates suggest that 25,000 - 50,000 people in the United States have EB.
How is EB treated?
Many patients with mild forms of EB require little or no treatment. In fact, people with the most common form of EB, the Weber-Cockayne Subtype of EB Simplex, rarely seek medical help.
However, patients with severe forms of EB require hours of daily intense care that is usually provided by their families. The care given to these patients is similar to the care provided for burn victims; blisters are wrapped in dressings and the dressings are changed daily.
Currently, treatment for severe forms of EB is focused on:
With the more severe forms of EB, it is often necessary to have several physicians involved in the care of the patient, including a
Additional help is provided by nutritionists, physical and occupational therapists, social workers and other health care professionals. This multidisciplinary approach is needed for children with severe EB.
What are the forms of EB?
There are many types of EB Simplex. Most are caused by an autosomal dominant genetic mutation that leads to a defective keratin protein. Keratin proteins function as the scaffolding for the skin. When this scaffolding is not formed correctly, the skin is more likely to fall apart and form blisters.
EB Simplex can be split up into two main types, Generalized and Localized. Blistering occurs all over the body in Generalized EB Simplex. Blistering only occurs in areas that receive the most trauma, usually the hands and feet, in the more common Localized EB Simplex.
Junctional EB is an autosomal recessive condition that is caused by mutations in the genes that code for collagen 17 or laminin 5. Collagen 17 and laminin 5 are proteins that help anchor the skin together. Without them, the skin separates easily, causing blisters.
Because this disease is autosomal recessive, parents can carry the genetic mutations and be completely healthy. Affected patients receive one copy of the abnormal gene from each parent (see "How is EB inherited?" below).
There are many types of Junctional EB, and all of them cause widespread blistering. Some forms of Junctional EB improve as the patient gets older. A rare form of Junctional EB can be fatal in infancy.
Dystrophic EB is caused by a mutation in the collagen 7 gene and can be dominant or recessive. The collagen gene codes for the collagen 7 protein that anchors the deeper layer of skin (dermis) to the superficial layer of skin (epidermis). When an individual has an abnormal collagen protein, the skin is fragile and separates easily, forming blisters.
Both dominant and recessive forms of Dystrophic EB cause scarring. An individual with dominant Dystrophic EB generally experiences mild to moderate blistering of the skin, but only a small amount of blistering of the mouth, esophagus, and GI tract. This type rarely causes a deformity of the hands or feet caused by the fusion of the fingers or toes (pseudosyndactyly).
Recessive Dystrophic EB is the most severe, chronic type of EB. Blistering begins at birth or shortly afterwards. Much of the skin is covered in blisters and there is extensive internal blistering. Children can develop deformities caused by the recurrent scarring of the fingers and toes (pseudosyndactyly) and the hands and arms become fixed in stiff positions (contractures). It is painfully difficult for a child with recessive Dystrophic EB to ingest food due to the internal blistering that occurs in the mouth, esophagus, and gastrointestinal tract.
Kindler syndrome is an extremely rare form of EB that has features of skin blistering and sensitivity to the sun.
How is EB inherited?
EB is passed to a child from the mother and/or father's chromosomes. All of the genes that cause EB are autosomal, meaning the genes are not carried on the sex-determining (X and Y) chromosomes. Chromosomes are two sets of instruction manuals that contain information on how to make everything in your body. One instruction manual is from your mother and the other is from your father. Genes on chromosomes are like pages or sections of the instruction manual that focus on a specific part of the body, like eye color.
In individuals with EB, some of the pages (genes) of one or both instruction manuals (chromosomes) are missing or incorrect. These pages should contain the instructions to make the proteins that hold the skin together. Faulty instructions lead to missing or abnormal proteins, and the skin is not as strong as it should be. One or two sets of bad instructions produce different forms of EB.
Autosomal Dominant Inheritance
Most forms of EB Simplex and Dominant Dystrophic EB are autosomal dominant - only one abnormal gene is needed to produce disease. The abnormal gene is able to disrupt the function of the normal gene.
A person with a dominant form of EB has a 50% chance in each pregnancy of passing the disease on to their child.
A person may have a dominant form of EB and not have an affected parent. In these cases, a new mutation in the egg or sperm of one parent occurred.
Autosomal Recessive Inheritance
All forms of Junctional EB and Recessive Dystrophic EB are autosomal recessive - two abnormal genes are needed to produce disease.
A carrier has one abnormal copy of the gene for the disease and is completely healthy. If a carrier has a child with another carrier for the same disease, their child may be affected. When two carriers for a disease produce a child, there is a:
- 25% chance the child will have the disease
- 50% chance the child will be a carrier
- 25% chance the child will have completely normal genes.
This information is most useful to parents who have had one child with a recessive form of EB in determining their risk of having another affected child in the future.


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A recent article at Foreign Policy noted that the $10 trillion global black market is now the world's fastest growing economy, and that in 2009, the OECD concluded that half the world's workers (almost 1.8 billion people) were employed in the shadow economy. By 2020, the OECD predicts the shadow economy will employ two-thirds of the world's workers. This new economy even has a name: 'System D'.
According to an IMF economic study, black market, also called the shadow, underground, informal, or parallel economy, "includes not only illegal activities but also unreported income from the production of legal goods and services, either from monetary or barter transactions. Hence, the shadow economy comprises all economic activities that would generally be taxable were they reported to the tax authorities."
The IMF study also outlined the the potentially serious consequences of worlds fastest growing economy:
- The growth of the shadow economy can set off a destructive cycle. Transactions in the shadow economy escape taxation, thus keeping tax revenues lower than they otherwise would be. If the tax base or tax compliance is eroded, governments may respond by raising tax rates—encouraging a further flight into the shadow economy that further worsens the budget constraints on the public sector. (On the other hand, at least two-thirds of the income earned in the shadow economy is immediately spent on the official economy, resulting in a considerable positive stimulus effect on the official economy.)
- A prospering shadow economy makes official statistics (on unemployment, official labor force, income, consumption) unreliable. Policies and programs that are framed on the basis of unreliable statistics may be inappropriate and self-defeating.
- A growing shadow economy may provide strong incentives to attract domestic and foreign workers away from the official economy.
Based on an estimate by BusinessWeek, "[G]iven US GDP of $14.26 trillion, the world's largest, that could still be as much as $1.2 trillion in taxable income that slips through Uncle Sam's fingers each year."
In fact, shadow economy is part of the contributory factors to the current Euro crisis in the context of reduced government tax revenue and driving up consumer price levels. The IMF study showed in the 21 OECD countries in 1999–2001, Greece and Italy had the largest shadow economies, at 30% percent and 27% of GDP, respectively. In the middle group were the Scandinavian countries, and at the lower end were the United States and Austria, at 10% of GDP, and Switzerland, at 9%.
More importantly, the rise of System D highlights the inadequacy of global governments policies, processes, red tapes, and bureaucracies. This infographic lays out everything about the black market, how it affects our economy and our culture.