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The 'Two Witnesses' vs. DNA/Biotech: A Theory Like No Other!
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[quote:Uncle Mikey:MV8yMDY5MDk2XzM0ODIwMDQxX0NCQzQxMTBD] Thanks for da pin! :chorus: [/quote]
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The 'Two Witnesses' vs. DNA/Biotech: A Theory Like No Other!
Are you tired of the same old Two Witnesses stories of people you've never met or heard of before... much less see in your lifetime?
Are you tired of vague interpretations that ignore detailed descriptions such as...
*) The Candlestick
*) Golden Oil
*) Olive Trees/Branches
*) Seemingly Supernatural Powers of Destruction
*) The Cap Stone
*) Zerubabel
*) Day of 'Small Things'
... and other fascinating hints and clues?
If the answer is yes, then I have something very special to share with you. It's a theory that not only ties all of this together and more, but does it in such a way as to actually make sense to those without any previous knowledge of scripture.
Like the title says, it's unlike anything you've ever heard before, and that's because (as you are about to see) it reveals mysteries about our past, present and future, that church leaders and government agencies, absolutely do NOT want you to know about.
In addition, it does away with all of the 'agendas' and 'egocentric' spin you often here with Biblical Translations and puts *you* in control... not them.
The more you look at it, the more it all makes sense, and after a while you begin to realize that the TPTB *must* have known about this stuff for generations and have kept quiet about it.
I will simply let the passages speak for themselves, and allow math and science to translate them for us.
Also, let me say that what I'm about to cover is considered 'As Below' or more precisely 'As Within'. In other words, we are going to mostly focus on the very small things…
Zechariah 4:10
"Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel"
The point being is that, this isn't the 'final say', and that all other Two Witnesses interpretations are still valid. BTW… Zerchariah 4 will play a large part in helping us with these translations.
Please refer to my previous post for an educational primer to this one…
Thread: The Secret Meaning of 'Kingdom of God Within You'... Now Revealed - It's Cell Biology!
To understand this very unique Two Witnesses theory, we must first have a basic understanding of DNA.
Here is a simplified graphic of the basic structure of DNA…
Notice we have Hydrogen at the center and Phosphorus on the ends. Think of how our Solar System is. The Sun (Mostly Hydrogen) is at the center, with the planets revolving around them… 'As Without, So Within'.
Now let's examine each of these components individually to begin matching up with Scripture.
Hmmm? Did someone long ago know something extra ordinary about our history?
Right away we are seeing some amazing matches. Please note that Wikipedia is my main source outside Scripture for facts and figures. Much of this is easily verifiable.
Do you notice something controversial? Yes, Lucifer is part of our chemical makeup. Don't get mad at me. This isn't my opinion. Go look at the description for Phosphorus and see for yourself…
link to en.wikipedia.org
As a Christian myself, I find it a bit disturbing to say the least… but then again it actually makes sense according to Scripture. There are many, many passages that refer to our bodies as being 'corrupted'.
1 Corinthians 15:52-53
52) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
53) For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
I'm sure most can agree we certainly are not perfect… yet.
The Candlestick
In my previous post we were introduced to The Candlestick (otherwise known as a Menorah). Instructions for making The Candlestick are given to us in Exodus 25:31-37, and are very detailed!
When we follow the instructions exactly, we find that the Candlestick we are used to seeing is in fact something very different!
There are bowls and flowers all over the place. There are even 'branches' as well. This sounds like a tree!
Why are there so many bowls and flowers? Maybe there are bees going to and fro, pollinating them all.
What happens if we try and fill those bowls with our DNA components…
But is this just 'wishful thinking' or is there Scripture backing this all up?
Let's look at Zechariah 4 in its entirety and compare…
The Gold Lampstand and the Two Olive Trees
1) Then the angel who talked with me returned and wakened me, as a man is wakened from his sleep.
2) He asked me, "What do you see?" I answered, "I see a solid gold lampstand with a bowl at the top and seven lights on it, with seven channels to the lights.
3) Also there are two olive trees by it, one on the right of the bowl and the other on its left."
4) I asked the angel who talked with me, "What are these, my lord?"
5) He answered, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I replied.
6) So he said to me, "This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: 'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord Almighty.
7) "What are you, O mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of 'God bless it! God bless it!'"
8) Then the word of the Lord came to me:
9) "The hands of Zerubbabel have laid the foundation of this temple; his hands will also complete it. Then you will know that the Lord Almighty has sent me to you.
10) "Who despises the day of small things? Men will rejoice when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel. "(These seven are the eyes of the Lord, which range throughout the earth.)"
11) Then I asked the angel, "What are these two olive trees on the right and the left of the lampstand?"
12) Again I asked him, "What are these two olive branches beside the two gold pipes that pour out golden oil?"
13) He replied, "Do you not know what these are?" "No, my lord," I said.
14) So he said, "These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth."
Wow. Now we're getting somewhere. In addition to The Candlestick, we have…
*) Golden Oil = Deoxyribose / Honey
*) A 'Capstone' = Telomeres
*) Seven 'Eyes' Roaming the Earth
*) Two Olive Trees/Branches = Two Witnesses!
We now see that The Two Witnesses are next to the Candlestick! On top of that, we have some more amazing matches. Golden Oil sounds like honey or Deoxyribose!
Telomeres are the 'End Caps' to our Chromosomes. It's what keeps DNA from damage!
If The Two Witnesses are associated to The Candlestick, then maybe we can get a match on them too. What may they be?
There you go.
Remember… DNA is not only like a book, but it's also like a witness… recording everything that's happened to it during its lifetime. If there was natural evolution, it's recorded. It there was *intervention* (GMO), it's recorded.
The millions of little A.C.G.T. bits are like computer code. If there has been tampering, the Two Witnesses are going to know!
So who's recording? Are angels recording our DNA for future resurrection?
Check this out…
Revelation 11:1
"And there was given me a reed like unto a rod: and the angel stood, saying, Rise, and measure the temple of God, and the altar, and them that worship therein"
The 'Temple of God' is the human body… and 'The Worshippers' are being measured!!!
What about the so called 'Non Believers'? Are their DNA going to be recorded for new bodies? The next line reads…
"But, the court which is without the temple leave out, and measure it not; for it is given unto the Gentiles: and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two months"
Yikes! There's an actual 'Naughty or Nice' list after all. Maybe that explains all of those cattle mutilations. The Elohim are checking in on their Witnesses.
Keep reading if you dare. Next line please…
"And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesy a thousand two hundred and threescore days, clothed in sackcloth"
Ah, the Two Witnesses again. Wait… what's that? "Clothed in Sackloth"?
What does a Chromosome look like?
Next line…
"These are the two olive trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth"
Now we really have solid proof that these elements are all related.
Warning: The next line is the scariest one of all…
"And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed."
"These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will"
Is this the price for GMO tampering? Is this our fate?
We already know all too well what our Two Witnesses are capable of… AIDS, Bio-Warfare, Chimeras… there seems to be no limit to the hell they have been unleashing already.
As you read further, you can see how this all ends. The Earth Experiment is terminated. All life is extinguished. A new Earth is created.
Any Pastor will tell you… if you really, *REALLY* want to make the Elohim angry… all you have to do is put an idol in the Most Holy Place (Chromosomes). Get it?
Now that you have a good understanding of all of this, we can look at the following slide and ponder the beauty of it all…
Oh, I should mention that tomorrow is Dec 03… and an unusual alignment is taking place. That alignment just so happens to match a previous slide I made in which I assigned planets to the Candlestick…
Is this a sign? We'll see!
Masonic Artwork
I've been fascinated lately by all of the Masonic Artwork that show the Two Pillars. They are like the Two Witnesses. Masons are all about 'rebuilding the temple' or human body.
Will they go to far? Only time will tell.
Here are some slides I made to see if there may be a connection to DNA…
I hope you enjoyed this presenation. Thanks GLP for helping me make this!
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KISS – Ace Frehley solo album (1978, Casablanca Records)
- Rip It Out
- Speedin' Back To My Baby
- Snow Blind
- Ozone
- What's On Your Mind?
- New York Groove
- I'm In Need Of Love
- Wiped Out
- Fractured Mirror
Ace Frehley – Lead & Background Vocals, Lead & Rhythm Guitar, Acoustic Guitar, Guitar Synthesizer, Bass
Anton Fig – Drums & Percussion
Will Lee – Bass on tracks 4, 7, 8
Carl Tallarico – Drums on track 9
David Lasley & Susan Collins & co. – Background Vocals on tracks 2, 5, 6
Larry Kelly – Background Vocals on track 1
Bill 'Bear' Scheniman – Bell on track 9
Bobby McAdams – Power Mouth on track 6
Producers: Eddie Kramer & Ace Frehley
Country: USA
Total Time = 36:38
Ace Frehley
Ace Frehley MySpace page
Ace Frehley has always been my favorite member of KISS. From the time I was a young kid in 1977 when I discovered KISS, straight through to present day, Ace Frehley has always been one of my guitar heroes and one of the reasons KISS is my favorite band. He had that outer world persona, the cool silver, black and blue makeup with matching costume, that made him look more like a superhero than the rest. The focus was always on Gene Simmons & Paul Stanley in magazines and interviews so I always waited for an article featuring Ace but there weren't as many and this gave Ace an extra aura of mystery to me. Back in the early '80s when I started to really get into music, I started to look at KISS as more than a superhero, comic, cartoon entity and that of an actual band. I started to collect their albums on cassette, paying close attention to every small detail I could find in newspapers, magazines and record stores about each record. By the time KISS released CREATURES OF THE NIGHT (1982), I had almost every KISS album on cassette except the solo albums and THE ELDER (1981)…..these albums had become scarce due to their cut-out/delete bin status. First on my list…..Ace Frehley.
I remember exactly where & when I bought my Ace Frehley solo album cassette – Good Vibrations in Seekonk, Massachusetts for $7.98 sometime in the Fall of 1982. Every weekend my mom would go to the Seekonk to do food shopping at the area's first mega-grocery store, Heartland, and it was always packed. This turned into a 2 hour odyssey every weekend so I would go to the Good Vibrations in the same plaza and look at ALL the vinyl, tapes and magazines and that's how I got my Metal education. Back then I had a want list and all the missing KISS album were at the top…..but on cassette! That store had tons of vinyl (this was before CDs took over) and they had copies of all four solo albums but I needed the cassette and it wasn't in the "K" section of the cassettes…..until I asked the guy at the counter and he found it under "F" for Frehley! That is something that gets discussed regularly, especially by KISS fans, is it a KISS record or a solo album? Technically it's a solo record but unified by the band name KISS so I always file my solo albums in my KISS discography. Enough of my collecting rules, on to the album!
As many a young kid my age did back in the day, you listened to the first couple of songs on each side first because you knew they were probably the best songs. Then you hit <<Rewind>> and listened to those first couple of songs again and again until they were etched into your mind. If you knew which songs were the hits, the single, then you could get to the rest of the tape later. I knew from KISS articles in magazines that 'New York Groove' was played on the DYNASTY tour so I re-wound Side 2 and listened to that song first…..a lot of the time I would let the tape run into 'I'm In Need Of Love'. Same thing with Side 1, 'Rip It Out' was the official single and I played that over and over, letting the tape run so I knew 'Speedin' Back to My Baby' as well. These four songs were the entire basis for me listening to this album and it wasn't until months after I bought, maybe even a couple of years actually, until I started to listen to the album as a whole. 'Rip It Out' and 'Speedin' Back To My Baby' sounded like typical KISS songs sung by Ace so I really got into them quick but 'Snow Blind' and 'Ozone' were songs that I couldn't get into right away. Both songs seemed weird to me back then and, when I was told by some older metalheads in my neighborhood that the songs were about drugs, I didn't like them. Remember "Say No To Drugs"? Once I started listening to them I started to like both songs because they were different, spacey, kind of out there just like Ace was. Now these two tracks are couple of my favorites on the record. Last song on Side 1 is 'What's On Your Mind?' and it is definitely a lost Ace classic that has a really catchy melody and chorus…..it's one of those songs that gets you singing along right away and it could have easily fit on LOVE GUN (1977) or even DYNASTY (1979) a year later. I think this is one of Ace's best vocal performances on the album.
Side 2 opens with the DYNASTY tour performed 'New York Groove', a song written by Russ Ballard and previously recorded by a British Glam band, Hello, in 1975. Now I didn't know that this was a cover song back when I bought the album and I have never heard Hello's version so my long standing rules against cover songs doesn't apply. I knew this was a song KISS played live, it was the only hit single from any of the solo albums (#13 on the Billboard charts in 1978) and it was a catchy song that instantly stuck in my brain. 'I'm In Need Of Love' is a spacey kind of song, similar to 'Snow Blind' and 'Ozone' with different guitar techniques and sounds. I've always liked the song, it has this mid-tempo pace that borders a ballad at some points but the song picks up at the guitar solo…..one of my favorites on the record. The title is a pure KISS type of song title so that was another reason I gravitated to it. Back in the day I didn't care much for 'Wiped Out' or 'Fractured Mirror', I always thought that the opening surf-styled guitar riff was corny and I never really cared about instrumentals. Today I'm a huge fan of 'Fractured Mirror' but 'Wiped Out' is probably my least favorite song on the album. 'Fractured Mirror' had turned into one of Ace's signature moments and he uses it to this day as an intro when he hits the concert stage., I still find 'Wiped Out' a little corny but the song takes on that spacey kind of feel like 'Ozone' or 'Snow Blind'.
Bottom Line:
For me, the best solo album is the Ace Frehley solo album, not just because he has always been my favorite member of KISS but because the album is an extension of what Ace had done up to that point in KISS. The songs sound like Ace sung KISS songs but there is a lot of experimentation, a lot of freedom with sound and guitar effects, that could never fit onto a proper KISS album. I like every song on the album, even 'Wiped Out', and you can tell that Ace put all his creativity into making the record, I also think that his vocals on this record were more confident and better than anything he had sung with KISS at that point in time. From a personal historical standpoint, this was the album that made me seek out the other three solo albums, in the hopes that they would be just as good, and started me following both Ace's and Peter Criss' solo careers. I own the original cassette I had from back in the day and that is an original Casablanca Records pressing, not a Polygram Records reissue…..I also have the first pressing on CD through Polygram and the 1997 remaster. I would like to track down an original pressing vinyl LP with the poster but those go for big bucks online or at conventions.
Favorite Songs:
I like every song on the album but if I had to pick four songs then they would be: 'Rip It Out', 'What's On Your Mind?', 'Speedin' Back To My Baby' & 'I'm In Need Of Love'


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What a great weekend! After running around like crazy for umtpeen weekends in a row-this weekend was spent near home, taking it easy.
Troy and Steve headed out for another weekend of bird hunting and setting up deer stands for the great hunt in November. Tyler decided to stay home with me. What a treat! We hung out, watched a few movies and went out to dinner.
Friday I took Tyler to his surgeon for an update on the appendectomy business that is carried over from February ( our 11 day stint in the hospital). It looks as if Ty will have surgery either next week or wait until after deer hunting. I'll call to schedule tomorrow. His surgeon remembered us as Tyler with the ruptured appendix and Mom as the extreme ultra endurance runner.
Topaz and I had great weekend of running. It's been sunny and in the 60's the past few days! Yesterday morning was cool-30's when we started out in the dark, but 25 miles later it was warmer and sunny. Tyler and I headed over to gym; I got in an hour on legs and hit some PR's. I am just amazed at the leg strength after all of the miles I have been putting in-it is true "that which doesn't kill you will make you stronger". I have maxed out the sitting leg press. It goes to 400 lbs and I hit that yesterday. I can still get plenty of plates on the laying leg press, though.
Today was another long run on the trail while Tyler slept. Topaz and I ran 30, I was back home by 9, in time to get Tyler up and off to his paint ball match. I met my client at the gym for an hour and then lifted back/shoulders and stair stepped.
It's such a beautiful day! I didn't even mind going out to wash the windows. It will probably be the last time before spring comes along. Toffee, my indoor cat, enjoyed laying on the deck while I washed. He doesn't go outside very often. He pretended he was hunting leaves.
The whole grain bread tastes good..I had a slice post run today..but could have used a bit more rise. I may add some vital gluten next time. The Stollen..amazing. Man, I watched the yeast feed and grow right before my eyes! 4 tsp of yeast mixed in 1/2 c of whole milk warmed to 100 degrees..it foamed and bubbled for an hour before I created the rest of the recipe. Definitely a keeper.
Next Saturday is the Anoka Gray Ghost 5K. Members from three of my running classes will be entered. I'm sure looking forward to it! I ran this race as one of my goal races when I first began to run, I can't wait to run it again.
The UMTR AwardFest is November 1! It dawned on me that I will receive two awards: 1 for the Afton Championship Race and 1 for the Fab 50's. I'm excited...yes, I become excited over the little things :)
We'll have the Surph the Murph 50K before the party, then it is time to clean up and party on! I need to decide what to bring for the pot luck. I'm thinking a hearty meal in a crock pot with bread and a dessert. Oh, and what to wear?


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There's losing, and then there's having-the-guy-who-ran-your-goalie-basically-call-you-a-bunch-of-pansies-while-everyone-in-the-NHL-nods-their-head-in-complete-agreement. The Sabres opted for the latter last night, which is a shame because even good teams get creamed 6-2 every once in a while. A typical 6-2 loss is something we could handle with grace (I mean, not all Sabres fans could handle a 6-2 loss with grace, but most of the sane ones could), but a 6-2 loss AND allowing Milan Lucic to completely emasculate everyone both on and off the ice? NOT COOL, SABRES. NOT COOL AT ALL.
I'll be honest, I didn't watch much last night because I was playing a concert, so I'm not exactly in a position to analyze/throw-overblown-tantrums about this game. For the sake of this post I briefly considered watching the DVR recording this afternoon, but I quickly came to my senses. I mean… no. I watched 3/4th of the Bills game today, and that was quite enough soul-scorching suckiness for one Sunday afternoon. (BTW, thanks for nothing, Bills. Geez.)
But since when has a lack of, "watching the game," or, "knowing what I'm talking about," stopped me from loudly proclaiming my opinion? NEVER! That's when! Why start today? So, here's what I think, in convenient, easy-to-read bullet points.
- Seriously Sabres, that was lame.
- Most people reading this blog know that I'm not a big fan of fighting in the NHL. In fact, if I had my way, fighting would be eliminated and instead of everyone freaking out about how so-and-so should've clobbered Lucic (which may or may not have led to success), we'd be freaking out about how HARD the Sabres defense SUCKS ASS.
- It's not that I don't think it would be satisfying to see someone clobber Lucic, but it seems to me that the best way to handle someone like him is to calmly score on the power play, and then WIN THE GAME. Then, after the game you can be all, "Yeah, that guy's a dick. It's a good thing we're so much better at hockey than those clowns." In my opinion, punching is not the only correct response in a situation like that. Winning convincingly also works. Sadly, instead of turning steely, the Sabres turned spastic, and everything went to hell.
- Although… I'd like to point out that the game did not immediately go to hell after Lucic's hit. The Sabres played 14 minutes of decent hockey between the hit and when Boston tied it up, and another 6 minutes after that before the [feces] really hit the fan. There isn't much evidence to suggest that the hit or the lack of "stepping up" lead directly to a team meltdown. It's seems to me that playing terrible hockey was the Sabres biggest mistake last night.
- Last night I was reminded of Game Six of the playoffs when Mike Richards completely boarded Tim Connolly, thus providing the opportunity for the Sabres to SUCK ON THE ENSUING POWER PLAY IN HUMILIATING FASHION. (I think there might've even been a 5-on-3 involve with that play if my memory serves me right. [And my memory probably doesn't serve me right because I was both drunk and extremely desperate to forget after Game Six.]) That play and the ensuing power play was where I think the Sabres lost that Flyers series. Again, I'm no proponent of hockey violence, BUT, in the absence of punching, you sure as hell better not get all scared and emo about your game. If the Sabres are going to get all, "hold me mommy, I'm scared," every time something hardcore happens, they're doomed to repeat Game Six forever. (Only, in the future it won't be Ville Leino scoring against us in OT, because sadly, he plays for us now.)
- What I'm trying to say is this: You have two choices, Sabres. 1.) Be really good at hockey and make teams pay for being a-holes by winning, or 2.) Punch Milan Lucic into submission. (I'm not going to lie, punching Milan Lucic into submission sounds really hard to me too. I'd go with option #1 if I were you.)
- I have no idea what's wrong with Tyler Myers (AGAIN), but now he's getting his stink on Sekera, and HE MUST BE STOPPED. BENCH HIS SKINNY ASS, LINDY.
- And since we're talking about the defense, you know who probably would've been willing to get his butt kicked by Lucic in the name of "revenge" last night? MIKE WEBER.
- We learned last night that the Sabres are a bunch of weenies, but despite the tone of this post, I don't think it's the end of the world. The season is still really young. The Sabres are still settling into the New
WorldPegula Order. Ryan Miller is still all wonky and not right (the hit to the head probably didn't help with that). This was no ordinary loss. Losses of this magnitude don't come around every day. Mid-November is the perfect time for a loss like this. If Lindy is really the coach that everyone believes he is, he'll find a way to turn this loss into an overall win. A loss like this can galvanize a team. I'm not ready to predict that this loss will galvanize the Sabres into positive change, but I do believe it's possible. This was, if nothing else, a gut-check game. Maybe the Sabres needed this humiliation and maybe (just MAYBE, I'm saying) it will ultimately do them some good. *fingers crossed*


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SEATTLE (AP) The San Francisco 49ers will be without defensive tackle Justin Smith because of an elbow injury, ending his streak of consecutive starts at 185.
With Smith out, the 49ers will start Ricky Jean Francois at defensive end against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night. The 49ers will also be without backup linebacker Clark Haggans with a shoulder injury.
Both Smith and Haggans were questionable, but San Francisco did have receiver Mario Manningham active despite a shoulder injury.
Seattle was without starting right guard John Moffitt, who was not listed on an injury report this week.
Rookie J.R. Sweezy started in his place. Seattle was also without cornerbacks Walter Thurmond and Marcus Trufant, both with hamstring injuries. Rookie Jeremy Lane will start his second straight game at cornerback.
Wide receiver Sidney Rice was active for Seattle after being questionable with a knee injury.


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Salt to the Sea (Pre-Recorded Audio Player)
Staff Reviews
In 1945, as Germany fell, refugees and Germans alike streamed towards the Polish coast to evacuate across the Baltic Sea ahead of the invading Russians. The evacuation was called Operation Hannibal. One ship, the Wilhelm Gustloff, carried almost 10,000 passengers--more than half of them children--and was torpedoed by a Russian submarine, becoming the largest maritime disaster in history. Sepetys has created a masterful story, incliuding historical detail that grounds readers in those terrible moments. Told in four voices, this stunning novel allows readers to not only bear witness to the loss of so many, but also celebrate the humanity that may be found even in wartime.— Cathy
The author of"Between Shades of Gray"returns to WWII in this epic novel that shines a light on one of the war's most devastating yet unknown tragedies.
In 1945, World War II is drawing to a close in East Prussia, and thousands of refugees are on a desperate trek toward freedom, almost all of them with something to hide.Among them areJoana, Emilia, and Florian, whose paths converge en route to theship that promises salvation, the "Wilhelm Gustloff." Forced by circumstance to unite, the three find their strength, courage, and trust in each other testedwith each step closer toward safety.
Just when it seems freedom is within their grasp, tragedy strikes. Notcountry, nor culture, nor status matter as all ten thousand people aboard must fight for the same thing: survival.
Told in alternating points of view, and perfect for fans of Anthony Doerr's Pulitzer Prize-winning "All the Light We Cannot See," Erik Larson's critically acclaimed #1 "New York Times" bestseller"Dead Wake," and Elizabeth Wein's Printz Honor Book"Code Name Verity," this masterful work of historical fiction is inspired by the real-life tragedy that was the sinking of the"Wilhelm Gustloff"--the greatest maritime disaster in history. As she did in"Between Shades of Gray," Ruta Sepetys unearths a shockingly little-known casualty of a gruesome war, and proves that humanity can prevail, even in the darkest of hours.Praise for"Salt to the Sea"
"Ruta Sepetys is a master of historical fiction. In "Salt to the Sea" the hard truths of her herculean research are tempered with effortless, intimatestorytelling, as her warm and human charactersbreathenew life into one of the world's most terrible and neglected tragedies." Elizabeth Wein, "New York Times" bestselling author of Printz Award Honor Book "Code Name Verity"
A rich, page-turning story that brings to vivid life a terrifying and little-known moment in World War II history. Steve Sheinkin, author of Newbery Honor and National Book Award finalist "Bomb"
* "Sepetys excels in shining light on lost chapters of history, and this visceral novel proves a memorable testament to strength and resilience in the face of war and cruelty." "Publishers Weekly, "starred review
"The inevitability of the ending (including the loss of several characters) doesn't change its poignancy, and the short chapters and slowly revealed back stories for each character guarantee the pages keep turning. Heartbreaking, historical, and a little bit hopeful." "Kirkus"
Praise for "Between Shades of Gray"
A"New York Times"Notable Book of 2011
A"Wall Street Journal"Best Children's Book of 2011
A"Publishers Weekly"Best Book of 2011
The iTunes 2011 Rewind Best Teen Novel
A"School Library Journal"Best Book of 2011
A"Booklist"Best Book of 2011
A"Kirkus"Best Book of 2011
2012 Indies Choice Young Adult Book of the Year
A Carnegie Medal Finalist
A William C. Morris Finalist
A"New York Times"Bestseller
An International Bestseller
Few books are beautifully written, fewer still are important; this novel is both. "The Washington Post"
* A harrowing page-turner. "Publishers Weekly," starred review
* A gripping story. "School Library Journal," starred review
* Bitterly sad, fluidly written Sepetys' flowing prose gently carries readers. "Kirkus," starred review
* "Beautifully written and deeply felt an important book that deserves the widest possible readership. Booklist, starred review
Stalin deported and murdered millions, but he could not destroy the seeds of memory, compassion, and art that they left behind. From those seeds, Ruta Septeys has crafted a brilliant story of love and survival that will keep their memory alive for generations to come. Laurie Halse Anderson, bestselling author of"Speak"and"Wintergirls"
In terrifying detail, Ruta Sepetys re-creates World War II coming of age all too timely today. Between Shades of Gray is a document long overdue. Richard Peck, Newbery Award winning author of"A Year Down Yonder"
"Between Shades of Gray" is a story of astonishing force. I feel grateful for a writer like Ruta Sepetys who bravely tells the hard story of what happens to the innocent when world leaders and their minions choose hate and oppression. Beautiful and unforgettable. Susan Campbell Bartoletti, Newbery Honor winning author of"Hitler Youth"
"From the Hardcover edition.
About the Author
Ruta Sepetys (www.rutasepetys.com) was born and raised in Michigan in a family of artists, readers, and music lovers. She is the award-winning, bestselling author of "Between Shades of Gray" and "Out of the Easy." Ruta lives with her family in Nashville, Tennessee. Follow her on Twitter at @RutaSepetys. "From the Hardcover edition."


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The gap between the projected need for global infrastructure investments through 2030 and projected spending is expected to reach $25 trillion.
Cities remain key to a country's economic success. As such, it is essential to invest in and maintain the right infrastructure to support those cities. Growing city populations are straining out-of-date structures and transport systems, and there remains a significant—and growing—gap between the need for new or improved infrastructure and the projected delivery of that infrastructure.
In the face of budgetary pressures, governments have to find ways to drive effective infrastructure improvements. Tomorrow's cities need to harness smart technologies, link to rural areas and other cities, and become financial and social hubs that will attract more private sector investment, which in turn can fund further infrastructure improvements.
There is an estimated $25 trillion gap between the projected need for global infrastructure investments through 2030 and projected spending. But capital alone will not solve the challenges that exist today. Cities should also rethink the way new infrastructure projects are selected, executed, and managed.
Cities can narrow their infrastructure gaps by transforming the efficiency of the entire infrastructure lifecycle. This requires action in four key areas:
Targeting the right investments is the foundational first step. It demands an institutional solution with several components, including a rigorous, transparent, and independent review of all proposed investments, as well as a performance tracking mechanism. Decision-makers must also identify any assets that could be more efficiently managed under a privatized model.
An effective infrastructure strategy is focused on broadly meeting the needs of the public rather than delivering a specific asset or financial outcome. This requires new revenue models and better collaboration with the private sector.
Governments should embrace the lean processes typical of large efficient manufacturing operations. This includes dividing construction into small subprojects, managing logistics to ensure efficient material and resource flow, and creating a process that detects defects early and allows for quick corrections.
The first three steps won't succeed unless done in a stable macroeconomic, political, regulatory, and business environment. To build such an environment, cities need to establish strong governance of and coordination among public-sector institutions, facilitate investment by private sector players, and support the development of robust capital markets.
In the end, countries that invest in and manage their infrastructures effectively stand to reap significant gains in economic growth and the quality of life of their citizens.
The gap between the projected need for global infrastructure investments through 2030 and projected spending is expected to reach $25 trillion.


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I am new to Java and was looking into implementing a simple Publish-Subscribe pattern using **only** J2SE and not use any other libraries.
Since i am pretty new to java, all i have done till now is write 3 classes
Publisher class:public class Main { /** * @param args */ public static void main(String[] args) { // TODO Auto-generated method stub Subscriber s = new Subscriber(); Publisher p = new Publisher(); p.subscribe(s); } }
Subscriber class:public class Publisher { /** * @param args */ ArrayList<Subscriber> subscribers = new ArrayList(); public void subscribe(Subscriber s) { subscribers.add(s); } public void unsubscriber(Subscriber s) { subscribers.remove(s); } public void Notify() { for(int i = 0; i< subscribers.size(); i++) subscribers.get(i).update(); } }
public class Subscriber { /** * @param args */ public void update() { System.out.println("here"); } }
I understand that they are basic classes but since most of resources which i have found on the web all point to JMS i wasnt able to move forward and have come here.
Any pointers on moving forward would be helpful.
here's some additional info on how the program could work.
*Suppose the following events are specified in the input:*
*Then the following results can be expected:*
Sam notified of a Physics book from Dover
John notified of a ComputerScience book from PrenticeHall
Mary notified of a ComputerScience book from PrenticeHall
I asked this question even in stack overflow but i never received any answer so i thought i could find some pointers here .. thank you for your time.


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Life No Matter Where, No Matter When
Tonight I was riding home on the bus, reading SaLuSa. A passage arrested my attention and, surprisingly, left me close to tears:
"For many lifetimes your Guides have travelled with you, and proportionate to your level of development have led you to the truth and real purpose of life. … Clearly … there are those who profess little interest in the purpose of life. They will be ill prepared to take the opportunity to ascend, in view of the few years left to this cycle." (1)
I thought to myself: you know what the purpose of life is. Most people in the Ascension 2012 community know it as well. But supposing someone doesn't? Are you willing to risk looking like a fool for writing on the subject?
Yes, I am.
Is there anything that can be said about the purpose of life that would be true for us, for the galactics, for the spiritual hierarchy, and for every other life form, at any place and any time?
Yes and here it is. The purpose of life, in any place and age, is enlightenment. Whatsoever the life form or region of space, the purpose of life is that God should meet God and in that moment of Self-Realization, experience Its own bliss.
For this moment was all of life created, from the lowliest cell to the most elevated Being.
One thing the Formless cannot do is experience Itself. Since It is One without a second, what object could there possibly be to experience? And who would know Itself as the experiencer? Consciousness exists without an object.
So the Creator created illusory finger-puppets or shadow dancers, bestowed upon them consciousness and the capacity for Self-Realization, allowed them to convince themselves that they existed separately, and assigned them the purpose of realizing themselves.
At the moment of Realization, when form sheds form and, with its created faculties, realizes formlessness, the Formless has an experience of Itself.
This we share with all the galactics, ascended masters, angels and archangels. All of us have come from God and are returning to God again. All of us are experiencing higher and higher levels of enlightenment.
One could say, in light of this, that the Divine Plan is spiritual evolution. We are designed to evolve in spirit from the lowest forms of life to the highest.
It is not that Darwin was mistaken: the physical life form does evolve, but it evolves to suit the needs of the evolving spirit.
The spirit dives in and out of the sea of materiality, evolving as it goes until it returns to the One.
Our "Ascension" is another level of enlightenment accomplished. Since we take our physical bodies with us, I think of it as "enlightenment plus."
God did not offer us at the end of this cycle a return trip to the Pleiades. God offered us an experience of enlightenment.
* * * *
God meets God in an experience of enlightenment. But there are many levels of enlightenment.
One level occurs when the spiritual energy (the kundalini) reaches the heart chakra. Another when it reaches the brow chakra. Another when it reaches the crown chakra.
We are not liberated until the energy reaches the spiritual heart or hridayam, beyond the crown chakra and different from the heart chakra. At that moment we experience what sage Ramana Maharshi called "sahaja nirvikalpa samadhi." "Sahaja" means permanent and "nirvikalpa samadhi" means the samadhi state in which there is no movement in the mind.
But enlightenment goes on from there. Even ascended masters are achieving higher levels of enlightenment; witness Lord Kuthumi's statement last year that the masters too will be ascending.
Even buddhas go further. Even the angels become archangels and pass on from there to seven more realms, all of increasing enlightenment.
If time persisted, which I am told it does not, then we are talking about endless aeons passing, all the while with us achieving higher and higher levels of enlightenment.
For all practical purposes, we could say that enlightenment is virtually endless.
The galactics and the hierarchy talk about the 100th Dimension. And there are quite possibly countless dimensions beyond that.
(1) SaLuSa, Feb. 27, 2009, at http://www.treeofthegoldenlight.com/First_Contact/mike_quinsey/channeled%20messages/February%202009/salusa__27february2009.htm.


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originally by: The Voice
published: 20 August 2012
"NO BODY, no burial, no justice, no peace." This was the cry from hundreds of demonstrators who marched through Birmingham to protest about the suspicious death of Kingsley Burrell, whose body has still not been buried almost 18 months after his death.
The 29-year-old father of two died on March 30, 2011, just days after being arrested by West Midlands Police. His family said he had dialled 999 asking for help after allegedly suffering intimidation from a gang while out with his five-year-old son.
When officers found him they detained him under the Mental Health Act and he was later admitted to the Mary Seacole Mental Health Unit.
He was soon transferred to Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital, where he was pronounced dead four days later.
Burrell's family has said he has no history of mental health problems and alleged Burrell also had unexplained physical injuries when he died.
On July 18 this year, Burrell's body was finally officially released, but his family members were then ordered by the coroner to delay his funeral arrangements for more weeks.
They hope to bury him at the end of this month.
Image Gallery from Birmingham Mail >


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The penny-pinching cheapoids at The Simple dollar came up with twenty five gadgets that actually save you money when you use them.
Some may take longer to reach the break-even point than others—like the Toyota Prius and a residential windmill, for example—but a couple of them should see returns in a few weeks.
Some notable examples are the battery charger, the electricity usage monitor, an espresso machine, a coin sorter, and even a laptop. Laptop? Yes, if you're cheap enough that you take your laptop to the library or the book store to siphon off their electricity, you can indeed save money with a laptop.
25 Gadgets That Actually Save Money [The Simple Dollar]


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First up is my card for sketch 110 at the CPS Blog this week! We were sponsored by Hero Arts this week...and the stamps are just fabulous!! I had lots of fun working with them, and I can't wait to break them out again! Hopefully I will get that chance in the next couple of days so I can share some more projects with you!
Next up is my project for Be Inspired #26 at the Cuttlebug Challenge blog. The challenge this week was to do an Easter themed project with embossed vellum. Well, the only vellum-y thing I had was the treat bag...so I went with it! I used a lot of Renaissance By Design product here. Check them out!! The stamp set is SO darling!!
Bunny Love Clear Stamp Set
Mineral Ice Satin Dot Printed Ribbon
Glassine Lined Paper Bag
So....any thoughts on American Idol this week? Danny, Matt, Alison and Adam rocked it. That is for sure. And the bottom three were definitely who I figured. I think I am a little sad about Scott leaving though. Vocally he wasn't as talented as the others. But, there is just something so endearing about him. I would have loved to have him around for at least another week, and would have been okay with Lil going home. She just isn't doing anything for me in this competition.
Well, check back tomorrow for another post! It is reveal day at a new kit club that I am designing for now. I would love to hear what you think about it!
Until later,
13 comments
LOVED your CPS card this week Lea...my favorite:) & your card & bag are cute too....love the sentiment!!ReplyDelete
Your creations always put a smile on my face! So colorful and whimsical! Love it ALL! ♥♥ KayReplyDelete
- AnonymousApril 9, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Fabulous!! Yum! You are making me want a cuttlebug SO bad.. lol! Simply for the SwissDot folder.. haha~! Can't wait to see your reveal tomorrow!ReplyDelete
I couldn't agree more with American Idol this week, it's like you typed what I've been thinking!ReplyDelete
Love your cards! Keep 'em coming can't seem to get enough! :)
I ♥♥ your CPS card...sooo happy and your Be Inspired card and bag are simply a-dorable!!ReplyDelete
Cute, cute, cute!! I'm loving your work as always Lea!ReplyDelete
Just got my April CARDS and all of your projects in there are great too...congrats on the cover :)
Such cute and cheerful creations Lea, beautiful! Love the embossed bag and the card that goes with it is so sweet - I just love that sentiment!ReplyDelete
Thanks for the American Idol update, lol!
Hugs Mrs Jx
love the bag and the card, so cute- what did we ever do before swiss dotsReplyDelete
Totally adorable creations Lea! LOVE that fab CPS card and of course the Cuttle bug stuff is fabulous!ReplyDelete
(-: Heidi
just darling lea!! i love those bunny silhouettes!ReplyDelete
Gorgeous cards Lea. Love your style. You make it look so easy. Thanks for the American Idol update. We are also having the South African version of Idols running here on Sunday evenings in South Africa. Hugs from DesireReplyDelete
Such a pretty combination! Love the bright happy colors you used for the card and treat bag!ReplyDelete
How cute Lea!!! Love your project this week for CBC! Beautiful colors.ReplyDelete


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OK so how hot is Jennifer Lopez looking at the moment, I am seriously obsessed with how good her body is, don't get me wrong she has always looked amazing but right now she is insanely hot.
Her Instagram has become a daily pleasure for me, I love that she shares behind-the-scenes shots of her tour, gets her fans to vote on her outfits and even post no make-up selfies of herself. I have to be honest but move over Beyonce, J-Lo is taking your reign as my Instagram queen!!!
One of Jennifer's Instagram's that caught my eye this week was this stunning piccie of the singer, showing off her great pins and fabulous hair, and the cutest jumper ever that I instantly recognised as Markus Lupfer, basically the only designer you want to buy if you are after a statement sweater.
Shop Her Style: Jennifer Lopez
The cotton pink sequinned Markus Lupfer 'Love Myself' sweater is perfection and I have found it on FarFetch so you too can look like J-Lo, I just wish buying it also meant her glamsquad came and styled me up as she looks flawless in this picture.
Love J-Lo's sweater – check out 10 of my favourite Markus Lupfer sweaters right now:


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There has been a decent amount of press about Kia's tech audit of their attorneys. Basically, they gave the attorneys they employed or were considering employing a test to see if they could do basic technical tasks. None of them passed. Not one. And Kia did not hire firms or paid them less based on their failure.
If you need to know how to do something technical – learn! There are literally thousands of tutorials available to you on the web for free. Search for things like how to Bates stamp documents video or how to use sort and filter using Excel video or how to use style and template in Word. Basically, look for tutorials on topics you don't know about – Adobe and the Microsoft Office Suite are a good place to start. If you want more thoughts – look at a site you have to pay for to see what videos they offer. Then you can search for those types of videos or pay if you have to.
No matter how you do it, brush up on your tech skills early and often!


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Maroon 5's 'Maps' Video Is Seriously Intense
Maroon 5 premiered the video for their new single, 'Maps,' and wow, is it intense.
The music vid wastes no time with cutting straight to the dramatics and begins with Adam Levine rushing to the hospital, only to find his girlfriend brutally wounded and bloodied on the operating table after being struck by a car. (Be warned: This video does not shy away from the gory.)
The video then enters a series of flashbacks that show Levine and his lady love estranged at a party. As he continues to pound back drinks, he gets entangled with another woman at the bash, which causes his girlfriend to run off -- where she is then hit by a car and thrown onto the hood on impact. But the saddest scene of all may be towards the end of the vid, when you see Levine and the girl in happier times, before everything went wrong. Heartbreaking.
Check out Maroon 5's 'Maps' video above.


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Woodlands have a direct impact on the environment, climate, and local ecosystem. British woodlands are incredibly diverse in both flora and fauna and are great for wildlife.
Our woodland's estate has been developing for around 30 years - in that time, we have purchased or been bequeathed a number of sites that we manage and maintain for their unique biodiversity value and benefits to wildlife. Woodlands are not static - they are dynamic - living entities - that grow and develop uniquely, based the habitat and species that grow or live there.
Above is a new meadow and lake recently restored.
Save Me's woodlands are managed to provide a broad variety of habitats needed for our native wildlife, but also to provide the mosaic of habitats for the flora and fungi.
Woodlands are unique and individual - they adapt to the soil and local climatic conditions. The UK has a range of woodland habitats such as Upland, Lowland, Ancient, Wet, and even rain forests! Each with its own unique mosaic of habitats and diversity of fauna and flora.
Woodlands are great for air quality too, they are the lungs of country. With their potential to 'soak up' CO2 from the atmosphere they are becoming even more vital to clear the pollution from modern living.
As plants 'breathe' and 'exhale' they help cool the atmosphere. Plants consume carbon dioxide - a significant greenhouse gas -in the process of photosynthesis. The reduction of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has an indirect cooling effect, that is particularly valuable in urban areas and inner cities.
Woodlands play a key role in the UK's flood management plan. The techniques we incorporate are often referred to as Natural Flood Management. This is a range of natural features that seek to store or slow down flood waters through measures such as the species and tree planting patterns, the addition of Lakes and waterways, wetland area creation, river restoration, or the creation of intertidal habitats
Save Me's woodlands are 'Forever Homes' for wildlife, providing safe, natural habitats for foraging, burrowing, perching and hiding - everything our native wildlife needs to live 'natural' wild lives.
And, of course, Woodlands can be great for people too. The physical benefits of walking, cycling or horse riding through woods have long been enjoyed, and finally, the mental health and well-being aspects of being 'out in nature' are being recognised for the real benefits they can bring to people's everyday wellbeing and those with mental illness.
For more information e-mail us firstname.lastname@example.com
It's been three years since the first saplings were planted in May's Wood in Dorset by people who came along voluntarily to help Dr Brian May realise his dream of creating a native woodland. On September 28th, 2013, hundred's gathered to listen enthusiastically as 'Dr Brian' shared his vision of a place where wildlife and humans could enjoy the peace and tranquillity that trees and meadows can provide. "It was truly one of the most memorable and different days of my life." Dr May said after he had mingled happily with the eager participants, mainly from the nearby villages of Bere Regis and Shitterton.
In our second year, we have successfully completed the final western phase of new woodland with the planting of over 30,000 trees. This includes species such as ash and field maple woods and oak woods which are usually associated with fertile soils, forming a continuum from base-rich to more acid soils with the addition of Beech and Yew.
May's Wood. Despite the fact that Britain is one of the least wooded countries in Europe, Dr Brian May's Save Me Trust believe woodland is vitally important and a key feature in the British landscape. It provides valuable habitat for wildlife and a wide range of benefits to society, including contributing to the economy, education, recreation, health and well-being.
Overview of the 2013/14 Year. May's Wood is a long-term project to return the former agricultural land to native woodland that will provide for the people and wildlife of Bere Regis in Dorset. Over 72,000 trees and shrubs have been planted to date in an area of approximately 45 hectares.
Dr Brian May, Queen guitarist and founder of Save Me Trust will plant the first tree and mark the start of a Save Me Trust project to establish a new native woodland on a 157-acre site in Bere Regis, Dorset, next week (28th September 2013) during a community planting day. In total, more than 100,000 trees and shrubs will be planted over the next year in what is one of the largest new woodland planting schemes in the south of England this year.
Dr May's woodland planting scheme aims to create a significant wildlife haven and enhanced ecological habitat on a site on the southern side of the village of Bere Regis which was previously agricultural land. The proposals include open, responsible pedestrian access and involve the gradual transformation of intensive agricultural land to a woodland and wildlife reserve
We added another 160 acres of farmland that is currently being used for both cattle and arable farming to the land already owned in Bere Regis area. In September 2013 the farmland started to return to its ancient state and become a woodland, once again. It provided a corridor for wildlife and a recreational space to be enjoyed by all.
Over 100,000 mixed trees were planted which will not only provide a varying canopy height but will also provide a variation from dappled to dense shade. The woodlands will have over 60 acres of open area and with hazel coppice and other tree coppices that will provide homes for a multitude of wildlife.
We hope the scheme will complement the existing area and will provide a wonderful space for all creatures including humans to enjoy. Part of the land has been retained by the Parish to be used for a village school and a nature reserve that will link to the newly named "May's Woods"
There are Special protection areas already within the vicinity and this woodland scheme will complement the existing areas.
We had a great day in Bere Regis today, and that little village so colourfully named Shitterton, or, to the more coy visitors, Sitterton! It was a public meeting, to enable me to explain our plans to restore an ancient woodland in this area, and also to seek advice and comments from the local folks. It's a beautiful area, a wonderful place to bring up your children, and at the time I was contemplating purchasing, there was a threat of the surrounding area being built on to the tune of hundreds of houses. This was a horrific prospect for the villagers.
Having purchased the farmland in question, we then set about evolving a plan to return the whole site to its ancient glory as original British woodland. My hope that, under the advice of experts who have been working in this district for generations, is to evolve better ways of Husbandry of the woodland, more humane, with no Culling, no pesticides no herbicides, and of course no hunting for pleasure. This will be a safe place for all creatures, and an environment in which the local people can interact with animals in a way which will benefit everyone. Well, that's my hope anyway.
The reaction I got today was incredibly positive. The place was packed to overflow, and in fact, we had to make two presentations instead of one. We got great comments, great ideas and a real feeling of a community moving forward in an exciting new project. I'm very excited myself. I think my favourite memory will be a tiny little girl in purple, who came up to me afterwards and said, "Thank you for doing what you're doing".
I hope we get this right. My feeling and my hope is that in 100 years time people will be sitting around in Bere Regis discussing this project and saying - "Our grandparents did the right thing for us!"
The only sour note of the whole day, was an article in the Daily Telegraph which was pitifully misinformed, mistakenly describing this project as a 'badger sanctuary' - with one of those quotes from NFU boss Peter Kendall saying that a rock star should not be interfering with Farmers' affairs. Mr Kendall is such a nice man that I'm sure he would not be slagging me off unless he's been misinformed. The project, of course, has nothing whatsoever to do with the Badger Cull. And I should perhaps mention that we will not be bringing any animals in from other areas – that would be a very irresponsible thing to do, especially as this is a TB affected area. The purpose of this project is to provide care for the animals who already inhabit these parts, a corridor where they can enjoy life, and enrich the lives of the local people. For me, it's also an opportunity to learn. More soon - and the plans will be in full view to the public.
Cheers - and my big thanks to all who attended the meeting today with such positive energy. Bri


text:
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On September 29, 2019, I will hike the Grouse Grind in support of the Alzheimer Society of B.C. Climb for Alzheimer's is a team-oriented fitness fundraising experience. With your generosity, we can make a difference to estimated 70,000 British Columbians who are currently affected by Alzheimer disease or other dementias.
Join me in ending the stigma of Alzheimer's disease as it isn't just about our parents' generation – it's about ours. Thank you again and we invite you all on the top at our Summit Celebration to cheer us on as we complete our journey!
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text:
Efforts by the credit card industry to boost merchant security are likely to flounder unless tighter regulations are accompanied by punishments against transgressors.
The Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) methodology aims to improve the security of cardholder data among banks, service providers and the merchant community. The industry self-regulation standard is more prescriptive and detailed than earlier regulatory regimes (such as Sarbannes-Oxley) but still leaves plenty of room for interpretation. Although voluntary, at least in theory, those subject to a breach who aren't able to show they've followed best practice by signing up to PCI DSS risk having their ability to process cards taken away.
Merchants and service providers need to validate compliance against an audit by a qualified assessor.
But there are major holes in the process of becoming compliant, and even greater challenges in staying compliant as networks are evolving, according to panelists discussing the issue at the NetEvents technology summit in Malta on Thursday. Hundreds of qualified assessors attempting are audit hundreds of thousands of merchants creating a potential gap in the system.
Neal Hartsell, VP of product marketing at IPS supplier TippingPoint, said that although the high profile credit card security beach at TJX has stole the headlines problems at small merchants also present a severe risk. For example the link between a scanning device through to the software application on the PC in a small store is often unencrypted, even though the data is encrypted is placed in an encrypted tunnel after it leaves the computer. A keystroke logging planted on such machines therefore presents a severe security risk.
The problem is that small shops don't know PCI DSS exists and, if they do, they don't take the process seriously enough. "SMEs are not able to make these kinds of decisions, which ought to be the responsibility of vendors," Hartsell said.
Bob Walder, chief scientist at testing and certification firm NSS Labs, said small merchants using self-assessment will be tempted to just tick boxes saying they had set up a firewall or secured their network. Part of the problems is that assessors act more like consultants than health inspectors. Nothing will happen unless you take away merchant accreditation.
Many merchants wonder why they should invest in PCI DSS compliance when it does little to help them sell more products, Walder added.
Hartsell criticised SOX compliancy as a "wasted effort" from a security perspective because it failed to outline tactics for achieving strategic directions. PCI DSS is better because it outlines best practice, such as using a firewall and a secure wireless LAN, but doesn't go far enough. "DSS and it tells me what I have to do, but it doesn't actually tell me how I'm going to do it", said Walder, who added a product accreditation scheme was needed. ®


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|simple dialog feature
AT core team member
|10 July 2013 08:18
1. Requirements
From rally: (US1985)
- create a simple dialog classor widget, it must support animations. Full list of propertiesto be specified at dev time. See kitchen sink for examples.
- enhance the existing PopupManager to support touch events
- special care to be taken on Safari Mobile to cope with the address bar (height of page changes when it shows or hides)
2. Use Cases
There's a need for a lighter version of the existing aria Dialog widget
Use cases should be used to create the sample pages and/or tutorials.
Marc's Kitchen sink pages on overlays and tooltips
3. Technical solution
That's where the question is: What is the best way to implement this new Dialog ? I'm thinking of doing an HTML Dialog widget, with an HTML body content, and 4 properties only:
"animateIn" : {
so to create a new Dialog you'd do:
-is this a an acceptable solution ?
-what do I need to bind to the data model: is the 'visible' property enough ?
-is it better to create a widget or a class ?
-for this dialog to support animations, it's probably best to enhance the existing popup.js class to support animations. So add these 4 properties in aria.popups.Beans.js, and use this new enhanced popup to display the dialog: am I correct ?
4. History
10/07/2013 Matthieu DADOU creation
(This post was last modified: 11 July 2013 09:33 by mdadou.)
AT core team member
|10 July 2013 09:09
Hi Matthieu,
rather than @html this should be a @touch widget.
- it took me some time to understand 'position', which anyway should include 'center' as well
- the widget should probably have a 'size' property or is it done in CSS by the user?
- regarding animations, like what's been done for the page engine, it should be possible to specify an 'out' animations. For more flexibility it could be nice to specify also the css classes that we add on opening and closing, so that people can skin them differently or create other type of animations
- in the kitchen sink all dialogs are 'modal' and 'close on click', should this be configurable?
AT core team member
|10 July 2013 09:41
ok for a touch widget, but I understood from Marc that it didn't have to be touch specific.
-position property: ok
-about the size property: please do let me know what the best way is. As an ariatemplate user I always wanted to set the size of a widget via the CSS, I've never really understood why there is a size property in widgets.
-Animations: I need to look ata the page engine, as I don't know how it works.
-Making the dialogs more configurable: sounds like a good idea, so are you suggesting more properties on the widget ? Only those 2 (modal / close on click ) ?
Marc Laval
AT core team member
|11 July 2013 11:22
For me, this is not a touch specific widget, but it has to work on mobile browsers too. It is more a simple dialog widget where the content is simply HTML provided by the application, so it could be put in the html widget library.
Then for the configuration, any property from aria.popups.Beans should be usable (unless some limitations are found).
In fact, the 4 new ones should be implemented directly in aria.popups.Popup, and then be available to be used inside the new widget.
AT core team member
|11 July 2013 12:59
So far the widget libraries are
- aria: for amadues UI following internal guidelines, desktop only
- html: standard html components with easy binding and listeners, not additional behavior
- embed: include external elements in the page
- touch: advanced components that play nicely with touch devices, as well as with desktop
Given that a Dialog has complex behavior (positioning, closing...) and that there's no equivalent in html, I'd say it's either embed or touch, more touch because it must provide the same feeling on touch enable or non enabled devices.
And yes, html:Template was a mistake
|11 July 2013 16:14
(11 July 2013 11:22)Marc Laval Wrote: Then for the configuration, any property from aria.popups.Beans should be usable (unless some limitations are found).
(11 July 2013 12:59)fabio.crisci Wrote: Given that a Dialog has complex behavior (positioning, closing...) and that there's no equivalent in html, I'd say it's either embed or touch, more touch because it must provide the same feeling on touch enable or non enabled devices.
Considering the definitions you gave I would:
- agree it belongs to "touch" and, at the same time
- point out that it's a poorly chosen name that suggests those widgets are not fit for desktop apps.
It's a bit off-topic but I'd rename this lib if we keep these definitions (which are fine to me.)
AT core team member
|15 July 2013 13:28
I am now thinking that the only differences between the existing @aria:Dialog and the one we want to create are:
- possibility of having animations to display the dialog ( 'animateIn', 'animateOut' )
- support touch events
- having a free HTML content.
the 2 "new" position properties ('position' and 'fullScreenAxis') are actually already covered by the existing Dialog properties.
=> Rather then having a new widget, isn't it better to enhance the existing one with these new features ?
I'm not convinced by the utility of having a free Html content btw, can someone explain to me why it'd be useful ?
AT core team member
|15 July 2013 13:38
The main drawback of @aria:Dialog is that it's hard to skin: any change should be done through the skinning file and the markup is not a contract. Users cannot simply change some CSS to adapt this widget to their needs.
Dialog widget after all should simply be a specialized Div inside the Popup utility, so all the features already available are coded into aria.popups.Popup which should make it simple to create a new widget.
What we could start with is to add animations for every Popup, this could be our first delivery.
Marc Laval
AT core team member
|12 September 2013 13:22
I still think that having more positioning options in the Touch:Dialog widget is required in order to implement hings such as action menu (top, bottom), side menu, notification center in the right bottom corner.
The suggestion of 2 new properties ('position' and 'fullScreenAxis') wasn't probably the most elegant solution.
Today, the dialog container is always absolute positioned to top and left, with calculations done if it has to be centered or any other specific alignment. This logic is in aria.popups.Popup class.
Here is a suggestion to modify this class:
- instead of creating 'fullScreenAxis', we could change 'maximized' to support 4 values: false, true, "x-axis", "y-axis"
- for what I called 'position', I see 2 solutions:
1) Modify aria.utils.DomBeans:Position to add right and bottom, which could the be used in the widget via 'absolutePosition'. But it seems complex as there are many impacts in the full framework.
2) Create one new 'origin' property with default value "topleft", other possible values: "topright", "bottomright", "bottomleft"
Please discuss the solutio which will be implemented in the following GitHub issue:
AT core team member
|13 September 2013 10:08
What you describe here Marc for the action menu, side menu, notification is more an Overlay widget than a Dialog one....
To me a dialog should need fit the whole screen, or even just a part of it. The edges of the dialog should never aligned with the viewport.
If you need to (and i think it's more or less what exist in other libraries) we should then introduce and Overlay widget
(This post was last modified: 13 September 2013 10:08 by benoit.charbonnier.)


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How to find the best insurance for your small business
Small Business Guides
8 min read
It's a wise decision to make insurance part of your business plan. If you plan for unexpected events you'll always have a safety net. Without insurance, a simple lawsuit could wipe out your company. So how can you protect your business from disastrous events?
Insurance gives you peace of mind
Insurance may seem like an unnecessary additional expense. But the right small business policy can mean the difference between the survival or demise of your business in the event of something catastrophic happening.
Insurance can provide coverage against accidents in the workplace, harm to clients through oversight or error, medical expenses, fire, malpractice, data breaches and much more.
The risk of anything like this happening to your business might seem small, but the consequences if it did happen could be severe. You could find yourself on the wrong end of costly legal action and you might lose all your assets.
Insurance offsets that risk. In exchange for a small fee, you are covered for much larger pay-outs if the worst should happen. There are many considerations when deciding which type of coverage is best for your small business. Here are some points to bear in mind.
It's important to be aware that policies will vary from state to state. This guide provides a general overview and you should read all documents carefully before buying.
What are the legal requirements?
If you're an employer, there are some types of small business insurance that you are required to have, by federal law.
The US Small Business Association states that, "Businesses with employees are required by law to pay for certain types of insurance: workers' compensation, unemployment, and depending on where the business is located, disability."
Other requirements vary from one state to another. Those are just the basics, though. The actual types of coverage you'll need will depend on the type of business you want to insure.
What type of business do you run?
What's suitable for one company won't be suitable for another. If you make a living as a self-employed computer programmer for multiple financial institutions, you'll need a different policy than someone who employs five people to make craft beer. So make a list of your business operations:
- Where do you conduct business?
Where is your head office, where are your other offices, which states and countries do you operate in? Different locations have different insurance needs.
- How many people do you employ?
The number of employees at your company will affect your premium: larger businesses pay more, though not always on a per-employee basis.
- What do you own?
Which assets are yours outright, which ones are leased, which ones have other debts outstanding on them? This will affect your policy cover.
- Who do you do business with?
The size of your clients and their areas of operation may have an effect on how much you are charged for insurance.
- What type of work do you do?
This is an important one. Different areas of work have different risks associated with them and different levels of pay-out in the event of a claim. Insurance companies need this information so they can analyze the risk and charge you the right premium.
It pays to shop around
Talk to a few brokers to get a feel for the type of coverage available to you and how much it's likely to cost. If you don't know which brokers to choose, ask for recommendations from friends and business associates. Make sure you give the brokers all necessary information, including:
- Your business operations (as described above)
- Name and address of your company
- How long you have been in business
- Corporate structure (such as S-Corp or LLC)
- Annual sales
- Number of employees
- What property belongs to you and what belongs to your employees.
Some companies, particularly smaller brokerages, specialize in different market sectors. This can be useful when shopping around. For example, if you're running a farm you will want to talk to someone about coverage that's specific to your needs and not general small business insurance.
If you don't know which brokers to choose, ask for recommendations from friends and business associates.
Decide whether you want a Business Owners Policy (BOP)
This will come up in your discussion with brokers. A BOP meets the needs of small offices, retail stores and small service businesses. But it doesn't cover professional liability (claims arising from wrongful practice by professionals), auto, worker's compensation, health or disability. These would all need to be purchased separately.
Discuss with your broker whether a BOP is suitable for you. If your budget is tight you could perhaps insure just a few vital aspects of your business and save money. But a policy that's tailored specifically to your own business might be a wiser choice.
Consider the different types of coverage available
There's a wide range from which to choose. Some of the more common forms of policy include:
- Homeowners
Many businesses start from home, and different states handle this in different ways. So check if your Homeowner (HO) insurance would be void if you were running a business from home. If so, upgrade your policy to home and business. HO usually provides coverage for fire or flood, but not for computer data loss or other business risks.
- General liability (also known as slip and fall)
This is important because of potential accidents or claims of negligence. It will protect you against claims relating to injury, property damage, defending yourself in a lawsuit and medical expenses.
- Product liability
Important if you sell products where safety could be an issue, such as where a product defect could lead to bodily harm or injury. That might include electrical equipment, food production or almost any kind of manufacturing.
- Professional liability
Also known as errors and omissions insurance, this protects the business against malpractice or issues occurring from the level of service you provide to your customers.
- Commercial property
This covers loss or damage related to your property, usually as a result of fire, water, vandalism or related causes, though it might not always include more dramatic events such as earthquakes or hurricanes.
- Workers compensation
This provides coverage to employees who are injured on the job. It makes up for lost wages and covers medical expenses, in return for which the employee usually gives up the right to sue their boss. In most states this is a legal requirement for W-2 employees, so don't skimp on it or the state may penalize you heavily.
- Data breach (also known as cyber liability insurance)
Important if you store sensitive information such as payment data or credit card information. It provides coverage after the theft or loss of both first-party and third-party data. So that means you're covered regardless whether the data breach happens directly to your company or to a company whose data you are working with.
- Auto liability
If you do business using your vehicle, make sure you're covered for injuries while you are using your car for business. If your employees use their own cars, consider getting employer's non-owned liability insurance, because it protects you against injury or damage caused by your employees when they are driving their own vehicles for your business operations. This would be in addition to any liability coverage carried on the employee's vehicle.
- Inland marine insurance
This includes loss to movable or specialized types of property, historically as an addition to ocean marine insurance. It may include options for tools, equipment and merchandise while they are in transit, in the business vehicle or at a job site. It also includes property coverage for construction equipment, medical diagnostic equipment, fine arts, solar panels and wind turbines, cameras and movie equipment, musical instruments and a wide variety of other types of property.
Quiz the brokers: Six questions to ask
Once you've worked through all the options with different brokers, you'll be offered a selection of their small business insurance products that they believe are best suited to your business. Now is the time to ask a few questions of your own:
- What are the broker's qualifications, as a business and as a team?
- What is their experience with similar companies (number of employees, revenue, industries)
- Will you be working with the same contact or do they rotate their staff?
- Why they are better than the competition?
- What resources are available?
- Will you have online access to your account and all policy details?
Be sure to get all bids and cost estimates in writing so you can compare them in your own time.
Review the products and make your decision
You'll have a lot of information to take in once you've collected all the offers from your prospective brokers. Review their bids carefully and consider these points:
- Price
It's not the most important factor, but it certainly does matter.
- Level of coverage
Make sure you're happy with this, in all areas of your business.
- Costs and consequences if you are sued
How much would you have to contribute before the coverage kicked in?
- Stability of the company
Is the broker backed by a financially secure insurer?
- Service
Are you happy with the level of service you've received so far? If not, walk away.
- Understanding of your business needs
Their awareness here will tell you a lot about how well they know your business.
- Packages and discounts
There are many variables that can impact costs, but you could consider package deals (such as BOP) and ask for discounts when buying multiple forms of coverage.
- Additional options
Experienced agents will mention other items you should insure. Don't think of this as aggressive selling, but rather useful information about the available types of coverage for small businesses.
Get the coverage right
It's always advisable to get the most appropriate form of small business insurance, whether you're selling to consumers, other businesses or the public sector. Coverage is available for almost any kind of risk, so if you shop around you should find one that works well for you.
Do your homework before buying. Understand federal and state regulations and make sure you know which parts of your business are vulnerable and might need coverage.
Writing this all down, or recording it in your accounting software so you can access it more easily, will help you figure out what kind of insurance you need. It will also help you see what you might lose if you don't get the right coverage.


text:
The Gender Genie is a Web site which purports to be able to guess from a text (preferably of more than 500 words) whether the writer of the text is male or female (some algorithm is involved). Well, I was curious how "The Sagan Diary," which is "written" by a woman, reads to this algorithm, so I fed in the text. The response:
The Gender Genie thinks the author of this passage is: female!
Just to be sure to it doesn't think I'm natively girly, however, I also fed it the first chapter of The Android's Dream, in which, as you know, someone farts someone else to death. The result: The algorithm believes the author of that passage is male.
I'm authorially hermaphroditic! Cool.


text:
July 28, 2009 | 1:13 pm
Reflecting on my Jew-ish journey
Posted by Brad A. Greenberg
It seemed pretty obvious that the week before last wouldn't really be my last at The Jewish Journal.
After packing up my desk, I still needed to pen my reflections on being a Christian reporter for a Jewish newspaper. And, not surprisingly, I struggled to get it done.
So last Tuesday I turned in my final version, slipped into the office to see a story on the page for the final time and grabbed the three boxes I'd left behind.
The first-person piece, "My So-Called Jewish Life," ran Thursday. I think I've only done this once before—not coincidentally when I celebrated Yom Kippur for the first time—but I'm going to republish the entire article below.
Here goes:
Should I tell him I'm not a Jew? I wondered this over and over as I sat in the Cal State Long Beach office of academia's leading anti-Semite.
People make many assumptions about a reporter named Greenberg who lives in Los Angeles and writes for The Jewish Journal. Maybe, I wondered, Kevin MacDonald, a professor whose books on Jews have been compared to "Mein Kampf" and "The Protocols of the Elders of Zion," would speak more freely if he knew I was, in fact, a practicing Christian.
But then I thought about the personal setback I would be subjecting myself to for the sake, possibly, of a few good quotes.
I'd been writing for The Journal for a year, and while I was open about being a churchgoing Christian — my father, a Jew, and my mother, who was raised Catholic, both converted to Protestantism when I was a kid — I was adamant in my belief that the Jewish story was also my family's story, that purpose and promise and persecution link my ancestors to Moses and Einstein and the Beastie Boys.
So I kept quiet. I let the professor think of me whatever he was inclined to think. As the interview progressed, I realized the disclosure would not have mattered to MacDonald. But it certainly would have mattered to me.
When, in 2007, I joined The Journal — which I am leaving now to enter law school at UCLA — the impetus was as personal as it was professional. Sure, I saw an opportunity to advance my career — and having received some top honors from the Los Angeles Press Club during my time here, including best blog and journalist of the year, I'd say the Prophets couldn't have promised anything more. But, maybe more importantly, I thought the move would help me sort out my complicated Judeo-Christian identity.
I typically observe Passover in a church, and growing up in a San Diego suburb, the extent of my Jewish upbringing was being the target of money jokes. Despite having three Jewish grandparents, including both grandmothers, and facial hair that draws comparisons to Matisyahu, I was, at best, Jew-ish.
But at The Jewish Journal I began working on my Yiddish tongue; I went to Yom Kippur services for the first time. I traveled to Israel and even got hassled by El Al security screeners; I observed Shabbat in Sderot and experienced the terror of hearing a red alert and having only a few seconds to run for a bomb shelter; I haggled at a market (OK, I was already pretty good at that); and I learned that I had an incredible amount more in common with the Jews I was sojourning among than the gentiles I grew up with.
There was speculation among a few colleagues that my joining this paper was an indication that a Prodigal Son was coming home. But this had not been my father's house for more than two decades. And not everyone welcomed me back.
"The 'Jewish' journal continues to employ this Christian with a Jewish name to tell us about Jews," a reader of my blog, The God Blog, wrote in one of a handful of similar comments in 2007. "How 'bout this: let the JJ change its name to the 'Apostate Journal,' and BG can change his name to Christian Berg."
Those sentiments didn't surprise me. In fact, I had assumed such opposition would be prevalent, and when Journal Editor-in-Chief Rob Eshman contacted me at the Los Angeles Daily News and asked me to lunch, I quickly let him know that he might want to move on to a candidate who better fit the bill.
"It's OK," he responded. "Some of my best friends aren't Jewish."
Still, I had no illusions about the insider-outsider place I would occupy in the community. Nevertheless, I found that most readers evaluated me by the quality of my work, not by the fact that, much like most L.A. Jews, I didn't daven daily.
I didn't struggle with the alphabet soup of Jewish communal life — with discerning JVS (Jewish Vocational Service) from JFS (Jewish Family Service) from JFL (Jewish Free Loan) — but remembering all the holidays ... oy. I also found that there is much more to understanding the Jewish community than just being able to differentiate between an eruv and a mikveh.
Never was this more apparent than when I visited the Jewish State.
Not all Jews, I learned, looked like me: poor-sighted, fair-skinned, curly haired. In Los Angeles you could go years without running into a Jew who wasn't either from Eastern Europe or Iran. But the breadth of diversity in Israel — where Jews arrive from India and Ethiopia and Australia and China and Argentina — pushed aside everything I thought I knew about who is a Jew, and what it means to be a Jew, and what it is to live a Jewish life.
Whether writing about the fragility of life in Israel or economic pressures on Jewish communal life or L.A.'s Jewish hoops hero, Jordan Farmar, I met Jews who had grown up with a strong identity and those just developing one; Jews who were Jews in name only and others who considered themselves Jewish only when others wanted them to be; Jews who felt a God-given obligation to defend the faith and those who felt just as strong a responsibility to reform it.
Like Los Angeles itself, I found that Jewish life is a vast landscape, ranging from sandy beaches to snow-capped mountains, from hardscrabble desert to dense forest. It's a place where even a Christian named Greenberg could find a home.
I'm not a Messianic or a Jew for Jesus. I've never pretended to be a partial practitioner of Judaism. But I've also found that I deeply appreciate Jewish life — the commitment to community-building and supporting the less fortunate, to education and culture, to reading and writing, to remembering God.
Pretty early during my employment at The Journal, I realized how to definitively answer the question I had gotten so used to hearing: "Are you Jewish?"
"Well," I would say, "that really depends on who's asking."
The issue of Jewish identity is, after all, a thousands-year-old debate; I don't expect to be the answer.
I'm happy to be accepted by those who can accept me, but I understand if you can't. Personally, I don't think I could feel more Jewish. Except for that whole faith-in-Jesus thing. And he is kind of a deal-breaker.