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Hard News: Mandela
219 Responses
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Russell Brown, in reply to
Solidarity doesn't just go across space, it also goes between times, and I think it's perfectly possible to remember the struggles of the past and feel a sense of solidarity with the people who fought against apartheid even if you weren't born then.
Nicely put.
Colin Espiner and I agree! http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/opinion/blogs/bull-dust/9498849/Put-Minto-on-the-plane-to-South-Africa
Rob Hosking, in reply to
There was however a very Wellington/Auckland thing going on (later on it also became an ANC vs. PAC thing with one group supporting one and one the other) – probably also caused by the various left factions that were locally ascendant at the time.
This is a bit of theme in Geoff Chapple's book on the Tour, which I sat up re-reading last night & which captures so much of the vibe of the time it gave me bloody nightmares.
I remember Hiwi Tauroa coming back from South Africa in (I think) either late 1980 or early 1981 - certainly not long before the Tour started.
I think he was already Race Relations Conciliator but I'm not sure: he had been coach of Counties, a very very successful one, and was a real local hero.
He was interviewed on TV after he came back - I think by Ian Fraser - and said, eventually and very heavily, he didn't think the 'Boks should come.
It was a real 'more in sadness than in anger' declaration - at least, that is my memory of it - but you could hear the cocks crowing thrice between Pukekohe and Waiuku. Because it was such a rugby mad area, and it was seen as a massive betrayal by Tauroa.
I also recall it being a surprise to a lot of people: there was a feeling Tauroa would be in the 'bridge building' camp.
Alec Morgan, in reply to
Agree Hebe, Mr Espiner makes some cogent points. The Stuff comments section confirms that the dark "don't know, don't wanna know" kiwi stereotype is still with us.
One says John Minto should go to RSA and hopefully stay there. Another–"but whether or not the South African Government would actually allow him through customs. I bet they wouldn't. If he's so desperate to go, he should call 0800 QUANTAS and have his credit card handy, just like the rest of us."Of course John Minto has already travelled to South Africa as a private citizen in the 2000s which visit included Robben Island and various towns and cities which informed his views of the post Apartheid scenario as he has outlined since and in the last few days. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/opinion/news/article.cfm?c_id=466&objectid=11169600
Craig Ranapia, in reply to
He doesn't give a date for this incident, but it would seem to be some time in 1917, as it happened when he was being shipped off to the First World War.
Well, my father (who happened to support the Tour) didn't have to go to South Africa to experience that kind of racism. He got it in Wellington, in the fifties, when he and his (white) wife were told "we don't rent to your sort." More than once. It was a little more subtle than the 'No Dogs. No Blacks. No Irish' signs he saw in the windows of boarding houses in London a few years before, but I can understand why it was a hair he didn't want to split very far.
Dad didn't have the luxury of missing the irony of well-intentioned people who were very long sighted about institutional and casual racism on the other side of the world (be it in South Africa or below the Mason-Dixon Line) but in their own backyard? Not quite so much.
Rob Stowell, in reply to
but in their own backyard?
The '81 tour did give NZ a great lurch in the right direction, imho. Looking forward to watching Patu! again.
Meanwhile, looks like the NZ delegation has been cut to only two, Key picked Cunliffe, who has offered his seat to Sharples. Not sure where that's going, but the live coverage will go all night.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=dbIhuEyo0sI -
Sacha, in reply to
Cunliffe, who has offered his seat to Sharples
RNZ notes that development. Smart leadership from one person, at least.
Craig Ranapia, in reply to
RNZ notes that development. Smart leadership from one person, at least.
Jesus, give it a bloody rest. Seriously. Nice gesture from David Cunliffe, and full credit, but if you wouldn't have had something nasty to say about the Prime Minister "snubbing" the Leader of the Opposition at an occasion that should be absolutely non-partisan plenty would have lining up. I know Key just can't catch a break around here, but try.
Paul Williams, in reply to
RNZ notes that development. Smart leadership from one person, at least.
This is as it should be. It is critical to the validity our nation's tribute to Mandela that Tangata Whenua are represented there quite apart from 'left' and 'right'. Well done David for recognising this.
but if you wouldn't have had something nasty to say about the Prime Minister "snubbing" the Leader of the Opposition
I might've yeah, fair point. Regardless, I'm happy that both people - Key and Sharples - represent us.
Yeah Key had to offer Cunliffe the second seat, and Cunliffe had to offer that seat on to Sharples. It was correctly played by both.
1981 it was a civil war - well almost.
An image seared in my mind was looking up the railway line from Morningside to Kingsland and see riot squad members placed about ever 20 metres apart all the way around the bend.
I can remember thinking, "I was so relieved we didn't have a gun culture". .
Although I have in my mind his story when thinking of Nelson Mandela the images of the 1981 tour protests are stronger than any image I have of him as a person/statesman.
I couldn't be dismissive of anyone involved in countering prejudice as "well-intentioned people who were very long sighted about institutional and casual racism on the other side of the world".
Nelson Mandela's passing has, for me, become about overcoming prejudice and being glad people, not just here, but all over the world got up to meet the challenge.
Craig Ranapia, in reply to
I couldn't be dismissive of anyone involved in countering prejudice as "well-intentioned people who were very long sighted about institutional and casual racism on the other side of the world".
That's nice, Dexter. Please quote the rest of the sentence, "...but in their own backyard? Not quite so much." I would warmly recommend another viewing of Patu, because that's a point Merata Mita (and many many Maori, not just in the anti-Tour movement) made with considerably more asperity than my father ever mustered. And, just between us, I don't think my father was talking out his arse when it came to everyday racism.
Hebe, in reply to
everyday racism.
It's still here. About five years ago I was crossing the road at my then local shops in South Brighton when a white trash-mobile roared past with bellows of "black cunt'. I was appalled and looked around to find the target. Then I remembered my t-shirt, a Rakiura production featuring a pounamu spiral, and dark hair and tanned olive skin and realised they were talking to me. I have never before experienced or forgotten that feeling of shock, anger, disbelief and vulnerability. I realised then, truly, what that everyday racism is and can do to its targets. I multiply that feeling day after day, year after year, of feeling not included, not counted and despised and I weep for those who live with that their whole lives.
Yeah, the Tour marked a huge change in our society, but the racism is still there. Every day.
Hebe, in reply to
I can remember thinking, "I was so relieved we didn't have a gun culture". .
I too had that thought in 1981, more than once on the streets of Wellington. Though after Molesworth Street I was never sure if the guns would not come out: that night we as young people lost our innocence. I missed Molesworth St because, unglamorously, I couldn't be bothered going out in the cold that night. After that it was civil war; grim determination rather than the more upbeat gatherings earlier in the winter. I happily agreed to my parents' requests from afar not to go to the Wellington game protest: they felt I was physically too small to stand a chance against the batons and too young and fiery to keep myself out of trouble. They were probably right.
Someone mentioned earlier in the thread the pall that hung over the country; I only now have revisited it: it seemed the dank grey winter went on forever.
John Key speaks to Newstalk ZB:
The Prime Minister admits not to knowing much about Nelson Mandela before he was released from prison.
Mr Key says his early memories of South Africa's first black President are vague.
"I only really remember him sort of fundamentally coming out of prison and that time where he was president of South Africa, really.
"And he always kind of struck me as this very gentle guy."
So, not only does he not remember 1981, but he then managed to avoid a major international news story for another decade.
Paul Campbell, in reply to
After that it was civil war; grim determination rather than the more upbeat gatherings earlier in the winter.
it was a very long, cold winter, we started marching at least a month before every Saturday, the cops had been touring the pubs showing off their shiny new batons for a couple of months by then - remember they didn't just play a few tests, they went up and down the country playing provincial teams too, 2 games a week for a month or so, which meant 2 marches a week for a month or so - my car was stolen sometime in the middle of it, the cops weren't that interested in me getting it back.
It was also wonderfully empowering for young Maori - I went to Invercargil, we were terrified of this redneck town, many of us had been arrested in Carisbrook a few days before (who knew only one guy was allowed to blow whistles there ....), we rented furniture vans, filled them with mattresses and snuck into town after the crowd had gone into the game - there were all these local Maori kids who were excited to join us, standing up and proud in public for what seemed to me to be the first time - we snuck back out of town before the game let out, but they stayed behind.
As I said I was more part of HART nationally after the tour - things changed, the whole Maori sovereignty movement sprung to the fore, with more of a "pakeha go home" vibe to it that carried it's own tensions - I think the tour helped move us all, pakeha in particular, forwards to a realisation that the Treaty was unfinished business.
That last day in Dunedin the rain was horizontal in places, and yet everyone came out, it was important, and we completely bamboozled the police, our teams had shutdown TV both in Dunedin and Timaru, as a result there were angry rugby fans outside pubs, unable to hide from the protests because they no longer had a game to watch - and then after that last day it was simply over, and a let down because we hadn't stopped the tour, we felt we'd failed, it was all for nothing - it wasn't obvious until much later that really we had succeeded in the larger sense, we'd redeemed NZ despite the tour.
Kracklite, in reply to
I like this piece from the Guardian about how Mandela would have laughed at the rightwing fawning over him.
Noted it myself earlier, hence my scepticism over Hooton's sanctimonious and carefully advertised posturing over this and "Willie" and "JT". Considering how egregiously racist and cynical he's been in the past, I would have hoped that people would have assumed that he hadn't had a sudden visit ("visit", goddamnit, not "vista" - fucking autocorrect!) from the Ghost of Christmas Future.
Leopards, spots etcetera.
I won't be strumming any guitars or singing "Kumbaya", but please don't confuse the public theatrics of sentimentality with real feelings that may be kept private. I'm afraid that my Scottish heritage makes me sceptical of any public display of sentiment.
Kracklite, in reply to
Well put.
Lilith __, in reply to
hence my scepticism over Hooton's sanctimonious and carefully advertised posturing over this and "Willie" and "JT".
On the contrary, I think these situations allow for moments of solidarity between disparate groups, and we should celebrate that opportunity.
I also respect those who over the years have changed their views and have the guts to admit it, and apologise, like Jim Bolger did.
Ignore this if you like.
We all have different ways of grieving. For some people it has to be overt, and some try to exploit that by theatrical displays or demands, but for some it's a private or discrete matter that is tacitly understood by others. Please don't undervalue the importance of tacit understanding or demand - even by implication - displays of "proper" feeling.
I'm a little bit disturbed by the implication by a few here (no, I will not finger-point - that would be silly) that people should express their grief in "acceptable" ways, without qualification. The Grauniad article that Hilary and I have pointed to shows just how much celebration and loss can be manipulated. That doesn't mean however that sceptics feel any less.
Kracklite, in reply to
Hi Lilith, regarding Bolger and Meurant, I would certainly agree. Possibly Hooton... but his conversion seems rather recent and sudden and too well advertised. Many of his past statements have been truly revolting.
On the contrary, I think these situations allow for moments of solidarity between disparate groups, and we should celebrate that opportunity.
Yes... though I'd wait a while to see if there is consistency and if the glass is half full or half empty...
mark taslov, in reply to
I'm a little bit disturbed by the implication by a few here (no, I will not finger-point – that would be silly) that people should express their grief in "acceptable" ways, without qualification
A well made point Kracklite, a recently imported and more restrictive rule of etiquette it would seem, neither as open or as accepting as the inherited culture(s) of these lands:
visitors come, sometimes from great distances despite only a distant relationship, to address the deceased. They may speak frankly of his or her faults as well as virtues, but singing and joking are also appropriate. Free expression of grief by both men and women is encouraged.
mark taslov, in reply to
...and on that D♭...
Euan Mason, in reply to
Rob, thanks for the link. That's a great song.
What I remember most from that dramatic day in Hamilton is a comment from one of the Springboks' coaches, "If this was South. Africa we'd send in the police with batons and teach them a lesson they'd never forget" . Kinda highlighted what we were marching for.
As for Mandela, what a graceful human being. So glad he lived.
Hebe, in reply to
On the contrary, I think these situations allow for moments of solidarity between disparate groups, and we should celebrate that opportunity.
I also respect those who over the years have changed their views and have the guts to admit it, and apologise, like Jim Bolger did.
You've said it well Lilith.
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ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS Saturday, 29 June 2013 11:38 AM EDT
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In Ann Arbor, University of Michigan President Mary Sue Coleman announced in April that she would step down in July 2014.
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Coming up with a short list of candidates is usually turned over to executive search firms. Ohio State hired Chicago-based Heidrick & Struggles when it started the search in 2006 that ended with Gee. Penn State hired executive search firm Isaacson, Miller, with offices in Boston, San Francisco and Washington, D.C., to look for Erickson's replacement.
In Michigan, the search will be made easier — at least for the university — by the state's Sunshine laws, which shield the names of applicants for the University of Michigan job from the public. Penn State is also confident it can shield candidate names under Pennsylvania law.
"You're simply going to have fewer candidates, certainly fewer sitting president candidates, if the search is a public search," said Peter McPherson, president of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities and the former Michigan State University president. "That isn't what campuses would prefer to do, but it is a problem if you don't do it that way."
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Concerns about walking into such situations are outweighed by the lure of these top jobs, Rawlings said.
"When you've had some difficulties, that really gives the new person a chance to start afresh with her or his own agenda," Rawlings said. "And that's often seen by candidates as an opportunity."
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subset: commoncrawl


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Graceling is the debut novel by American author Kristin Cashore. It is a stand-alone secondary world fantasy, although I'd hesitate to call it an epic fantasy. The writer is planning at least two more books set in the same world (the next one will be a prequel, called Fire), but Graceling is a single work mercifully lacking a cliffhanger ending. Interestingly, the American publishers are marketing it as a YA novel, although the British ones aren't.
Seven kingdoms sit uneasily alongside one another, constantly raiding and counter-raiding one another. A secretive organisation known as the Council is helping the common people of the lands survive in these harsh times. Meanwhile, certain people in the world are born with extraordinary abilities called Graces. Someone with the Grace of swimming can hold their breath for huge amounts of time underwater and swim like a fish, whilst someone with the Grace of swordsmanship is a brilliantly talented warrior, able to predict an enemy's moves with stunning speed.
Katsa, neice to King Randa of the Middluns, has the Grace of killing. She is the King's assassin, his enforcer and, when necessary, his torturer. She hates the role and yearns for a less violent existence. When her role in the Council leads her into a conspiracy over the kidnapping of the King of Lienid's father, she is forced into an uneasy alliance with Po, the Prince of Lienid, a Graced warrior of exemplery skill. The path they follow leads to startling discoveries over their own abilities, and their confrontation with someone whose Grace makes them almost unstoppable.
For a debut novel, Graceling is well-written, nicely-structured and easy to read. The characters are well-drawn and the storyline intriguing enough to draw the reader along at a good speed. The notion of Graces, although not hugely original, is nonetheless explored in-depth throughout the book with some nice, logical extrapolations of the abilities on show.
However, there are some issues. The names of the characters and kingdoms are all somewhat whimsical and occasionally distract from the seriousness of the tale. This wasn't a huge problem for me, but given that I know that some people pointblank refused to read The Red Wolf Conspiracy because of it, I know it will put some people off. Also, the ending feels a little bit too neat. True, the author throws a wrench into the final couple of chapters that was genuinely unexpected and means the ending is hardly all happiness and light, but still, all the storylines are tied off nicely. The only big unanswered question, the background and motivations of the main villain, will be explored in the next book.
Balanced against these issues is a well-drawn tale featuring interesting protganosits in a decently-realised setting. Whilst Graceling won't be generating Rothfuss or Lynch levels of excitement for a debut novel, it's certainly enjoyable and well worth a read.
Graceling (***½) will first be released by Gollancz in the UK as an export edition on 20 November 2008, followed by standard tradeback and hardcover releases on 22 January 2009 (by coincidence, my 30th birthday). The US edition will be published by Harcourt Books on 1 October 2008. The author maintains a blog at this location.
Saturday 19 July 2008
3 comments:
- Chris, The Book Swede said...
Good review :) I enjoyed this one also. I think I sort of agree with the YA marketing -- not sure whether it's a Gollancz type book, in fact.
Enjoyable, nonetheless :D
I'll probably review it in a little while -- have to get round to Greg Bear's latest first. It's rather large :O
The Book Swede - 19 July 2008 at 18:51:00 GMT
- Adam Whitehead said...
Yeah, I've got that one too, but couldn't quite face it. I had flashbacks to Bear's Songs of Earth and Power, which is two weeks of my life I'll never get back again. When he's good, he's awesome, but when he's bad he's nearly unreadable. I'll probably try it 2 or 3 books down the line
- 19 July 2008 at 21:34:00 GMT
- Mihai A. said...
Very nic review that made me curious about the book. And the cover art is interesting too :)
- 21 July 2008 at 08:39:00 GMT
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Switzerland recognises the acquisition of Swiss citizenship through paternal or maternal descent, through jus sanguinis, regardless of place of birth.
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Art. 1 SCA Acquisition by descent
1 The following persons are Swiss citizens from birth:
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text:
I get my CSA box on Thursday. Really a perfect day to get it. Yes, I know that I seem to have a love/hate thing going on with my box…
This weeks box had some really beautiful looking beets in it. One of them was huge, about the size of my youngest daughters head! It also came with my weekly newsletter. For their newsletter they always feature 2 recipes, come ingredients and a bit of farm news. One of the recipes caught my eye. It was for a Chocolate Beet Cake and as soon as I saw it I knew I had to make it.
See how moist and delicious it looks? Ummm, nope (see after recipe)!
Chocolate Beet Cake (from About.com)
- 3 large beets
- 1 tsp. olive oil
- 1/2 cup applesauce
- 1-1/2 cups granulated sugar
- 1 cup vegetable oil
- 3 large eggs
- 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
- 1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
- 1-1/2 tsp. baking soda
- 1/2 tsp. salt
- 2 cups mini chocolate chips
- Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 13 pan with cooking spray.
- Trim stems off beets, and wash off dirt. Drizzle olive oil over beets. Wrap loosely in foil and place on a sturdy baking sheet. Roast 45-55 minutes, until tender when pierced with a fork.
- Remove from oven and let beets cool 10-15 minutes. Peel and cut into chunks.
- Place beet chunks and applesauce in a food processor, fitted with a metal blade. Pulse until smooth.
- Beat sugar, oil and eggs together in a large mixing bowl. Add cocoa powder and beet mixture. Mix well.
- Sift together flour, baking soda and salt. Gradually mix into batter until no clumps of flour show. Do not over mix.
- Stir in half of the chocolate chips. Pour into prepared pan.
- Bake 40 minutes. Sprinkle with chocolate chips. Bake another 2-10 minutes until cake is done. (I skipped this as the cake was domed and the chips would have been everywhere so I just sprinkled it with powdered sugar!)
Results: I am so, so very sad. I just did not like this cake! It didn't have the beautiful color that I thought it would have once cooked. Before it was baked the color of it was just gorgeous. A beautiful, deep, rich red but once it was baked it looks like chocolate cake.
I also think that the flavor of it is a little "irony" or "earthy". That may have been my fault. The recipe does not have a measurement for the beet and apple sauce mixture and that could add up to a big fail right there. The beets I had were very large. I even removed some of the chunks but I guess not enough. I probably had about 2 cups of pureed beets. I expected something like carrot cake or zucchini cake and this was too strong for me.
I am very picky though…my girlfriend Shellie liked it, as did the girls. I think if I used less beet puree it would be perfect but I still would not have the color I was looking for.
Would icing instead of the chocolate chips or powdered sugar help? I don't think so. I may just save the icing for another really good banana cake!
Will I make this again? I am not sure. Roasting the beets and pureeing them is a pain in the butt and took a while. I was also disappointed by the color so maybe not but I would love to get the flavor right so you never can tell! It will not be my go to cake for sure!
Maybe we should just try these…Double Dark Chocolate Beet Muffins by Pinch My Salt
As Always…
Happy Entertaining!!!


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AURANGABAD, INDIA — India's Varroc Group is setting up a third automotive lighting plant in China.
"The third plant will likely to start operation in beginning of second quarter," said Vineet Sahni, president of the company's automotive lighting unit, in a telephone interview. Varroc and its Chinese partner, TYC Brother Industrial Co. Ltd., are investing $30 million in the Chongqing, China, plant over the next three years.
Varroc's existing plants in China are in Changzhou, Jiangsu province, and have annual sales of about $130 million.
Sahni said the new plant will start off by serving a Ford Motor Co. assembly plant. The factory will be Varroc's largest in China, and he expects it to reach $100 million in sales within five years.
"Initially, the Chongqing plant will supply Ford, but later on [it will serve] other car OEMs," Sahni said.
The China plant will be part of Varroc Lighting System which was recently formed after Varroc Group's acquisition of Visteon Corp.'s automotive lighting business, which has operations in Europe, North America and Asia.
In total, about 1,450 manufacturing, engineering and administrative employees are part of China facilities.
Sahni added that Varroc is wrapping up a study on establishing a manufacturing plant in Russia or Brazil. The company will finalize plans in the second quarter.
Meanwhile, Varroc has 23 plants in India and is in the midst of setting up another in southern India. The Aurangabad-based company offers design, development and manufacturing of plastic and metal automotive products.


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- This event has passed.
SONG CIRCLE w/ TRICIA ALEXANDER
September 29, 2022 @ 6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
$5Round robin song circle led by TRICIA ALEXANDER– (performer, poet, healer, "with a voice, music and lyrics that resonate the heart") done informally, not from the stage, no microphones. This is a lovely gathering of singers, songwriters, musicians and music appreciators, poets, and storytellers held somewhat regularly on the last Thursday of each month (unless interrupted by a pandemic).
Traditional Round Robin protocol applies – everyone is part of the circle and has an opportunity to: play, pass or request a song from someone in particular or from anyone in the circle.
Everyone is welcome to attend. $5 cover for musicians and audience. Come early and have a bite to eat- therein lies our sustenance.


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Buy this premium domain before it's taken!
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You can request a price for this domain by filling out the following form.
Chad Weinman: "The keyword itself - 'running shoes' - is a pretty high traffic keyword. It's one that's tightly associated with a product category that we participate in. So that helps to justify the purchase price in this particular instance."
Read more: Practicalecommerce.comPeter Coppinger, co-founder and CEO: "We have a great product but we haven't been concentrating on marketing as much as we could. This domain is part of strengthening our marketing efforts. I think we can quadruple our sales in the next year with better marketing, and using this domain name is part of that".
Read more: Domainnamewire.comNoah Kagan, founder: "Ultimately, $1.5 million is a lot of money, but worth the cost. Sumo is a brand we will have forever. I've come around on the importance of branding because it shows our customers, future employees and competition that we're serious and here to stay."
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Read more: Businesswire.comHomeAway Founder and CEO Brian Sharples: "The only reason we bought it was so Expedia couldn't have that url."
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Premium domain names are easy to remember, easy to type and instantly associated with a product or service. Also they appreciate in value over time.
Your website's domain name is the digital real estate your entire brand is built upon. Great domains are easy to remember, type in and share.


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May sales activity highest ever recorded for Calgary
There were 2,948 sales in Calgary in May, a 16 per cent increase compared to the same time last year.
The numbers are the highest recorded in Calgary for that month, ever.
"Strong sales activity is a reflection of improving fundamental conditions such as a growing population, favourable lending rates and rising wages," said Ann-Marie Lurie, CREB's chief economist.… Read More


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Privileges and Immunities
Statute of the Tribunal
The Statute contains general provisions concerning the privileges and immunities of the members of the Tribunal. According to article 10 of the Statute, the members of the Tribunal, when engaged on the business of the Tribunal, enjoy diplomatic privileges and immunities. The salaries, allowances and compensation received by elected members of the Tribunal, members chosen under article 17 of the Statute and the Registrar are free of all taxation (Statute, article 18, paragraph 8).
Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities
The Agreement on the Privileges and Immunities of the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, adopted by the seventh Meeting of States Parties on 23 May 1997, was deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations and opened for signature at United Nations Headquarters for twenty-four months from 1 July 1997. The Agreement is subject to ratification or accession and entered into force 30 days after the date of deposit of the tenth instrument of ratification or accession, on 30 December 2001. There are 41 States Parties to the Agreement.
Headquarters Agreement
The Agreement between the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea and the Federal Republic of Germany regarding the Headquarters of the Tribunal defines the legal status of the Tribunal in Germany and regulates the relations between the Tribunal and the host country. The Agreement recalls in its Preamble that "the Tribunal should enjoy such legal capacity, privileges and immunities as are necessary for the exercise of its functions". It contains provisions on matters such as the law applicable to the headquarters district, the immunity of the Tribunal, its property, assets and funds, and the privileges, immunities and exemptions to be accorded to the Members of the Tribunal and its officials, as well as to Agents representing parties, counsel and advocates and witnesses and experts who are required to appear before the Tribunal.
The Headquarters Agreement was signed on 14 December 2004 in Berlin and entered into force on 1 May 2007.


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January 4, 2013 - Virgin Mary: The times ahead will be challenging for all Christians
My dear children, you must pray that the Christian Churches wake up to the Truth of these Messages. It will be by the power of their numbers that they will continue to uphold the Teachings of my Son.
He, my precious Son, desires the loyalty of all of His followers. You must pray that those amongst His Churches, with responsibility for the daily proclamation of His Holy Word, remain loyal to Him at all times.
I must urge you not to listen to any new doctrine which will be presented in the Name of my Son, Jesus Christ, which does not come in His Holy Name.
The times ahead will be challenging for all Christians. You will need great perseverance if you wish to remain true to God.
When you are challenged, bullied and persecuted, by other Christians, to accept new laws, which you will know in your heart are not from God, then you must recite this Crusade Prayer to keep you true to your Faith.
Crusade Prayer (91) Keep me true to my Faith
O Blessed Mother of Salvation, protect me in my hour of need, when I am confronted with evil.
Help me to defend the Word of God with strength and courage, without any fear in my soul.
Pray that I remain loyal to the Teachings of Christ and that I can fully surrender my fears, my worries and my sadness, completely.
Help me, so that I can walk fearlessly ahead on this lonely path, in order to proclaim the Truth of the Holy Word of God, even when the enemies of God make this task almost impossible.
O Blessed Mother, I ask that, through your intercession, the faith of all Christians remains strong, at all times, during the persecution. Amen.
Children, you must remember that when your faith is constantly being challenged, insulted and sneered at, that my Son suffers with you. This suffering and persecution is as it was during His cruel trial, during which He was accused of heresy for simply speaking the Truth.
The Truth, when spoken, attracts controversy, anger and, sometimes, violence. Know that my Son will give you the strength you will need, to endure this time of great difficulty.
Listen children to my call. I will intercede, on your behalf, to keep you strong, and my Son will shower you with special graces to enable you to avoid being bullied into accepting blasphemous laws, which will cause a great rift in the Christian Churches and, in particular, the Catholic Church.
I love you and offer you my prayers at every stage of your journey on the path of Truth.
Your beloved Mother
Mother of Salvation


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It was quiet when we woke up this morning. Snow quiet. Over night, we received a couple of inches of snow on top of the previous few from the other day. Snow acts as muffler and creates a calm, especially on the weekend when the concern about a nasty work commute isn't there. Unfortunately, snow gets a bum rap; it just isn't winter without it.
Today's was a dry, fluffy snow, which meant the temperatures outside were rather cold. Anyone who's shoveled snow will quickly remark that it's better to shovel this snow than the "warmer" weather, heavy wet snow. With the light stuff, one can clear the walkway, driveway and car in a matter of minutes, which is exactly what we did.
It was too pretty outside so we opted to go out for breakfast. Before leaving the house, though, we dressed in our L.L. Bean winter jackets and, most importantly, put on our favorite winter boots: Bogs. We learned about Bogs a few years back from Deb Paisley of Paisley Farm & Greenhouse in West Boxford, MA. We thought, "When a New England farmer recommends a boot, he (or in this case she) knows this from practical use. We picked up ours at the Kittery Trading Post in southern Maine. It's turned out to be one of the best things we ever did. Though Bogs aren't from New England, they're perfect for our region.
With Bogs on and feet warm, we hopped in our S.U.V. Yes, it has four-wheel drive (4WD) to make the journeys around Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut a little easier when the white stuff falls. 4WD, unfortunately, does not turn a New England country road with 14 inches of snow into a flat dry interstate in summer. We see more 4WD vehicles on their roofs during a snowstorm than regular cars. Nonetheless, it helps, but only with a healthy dose of Yankee pragmatism.
We went out, had a great breakfast that included Rhode Island-style jonnycakes with real Vermont maple syrup. After a pleasant and warm trip out into the snow, we're now back home, sitting by the fire, and happily telling you about it. Thank goodness for warm shoes and four-wheel drive.
-The Two Palaverers
Photo credit: The Two Palaverers


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In In re: Grand Jury Subpoena Duces Tecum Dated March 25, 2011, the Eleventh Circuit released a published opinion and reversed a district court's order finding Doe in civil contempt.
Doe was subpoened to testify before a grand jury and to bring his external hard drives with him. "The subpoena required Doe to produce the 'unencrypted contents' of the digital media, and 'any and all containers or folders thereon.'" In total, there were approximately 5TB of hard drives and they were encrypted with TrueCrypt. "Federal Bureau of Investigation forensic examiners analyzed the digital media, but were unable to access certain portions of the hard drives" and "the forensic examiners were unable to recover any data." As the court noted, "[e]ssentially, TrueCrypt can make certain data inaccessible; in doing so, the program can create partitions within a hard drive so that even if one part of the hard drive is accessed, other parts of the hard drive remain secured."
After Doe informed the
United States Attorney that he would not decrypt the hard drives, the U.S. Attorney sought and obtained an order providing Doe "immunity for the act of production of the unencrypted drives, but [did] not convey immunity regarding the United States' [derivative] use of the decrypted contents of the drives."
Doe appeared before the grand jury and refused to decrypt the hard drives. "The U.S. Attorney immediately moved the district court for an order requiring Doe to show cause why Doe should not be held in civil contempt. The court issued the requested order, requiring Doe to show cause for his refusal to decrypt the hard drives. Doe, responding, explained that he invoked his Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination because the Government's use of the decrypted contents of the hard drives would constitute derivative use of his immunized testimony, use not protected by the district court's grant of immunity...The court rejected Doe's alternative explanations, adjudged him in contempt of court, and ordered him incarcerated."
The court stated:
We turn now to the merits of Doe's appeal. In compelling Doe to produce the unencrypted contents of the hard drives and then in holding him in contempt for failing to do so, the district court concluded that the Government's use of the unencrypted contents in a prosecution against Doe would not constitute the derivative use of compelled testimony protected by the Fifth Amendment privilege against self-incrimination. This is so, the court thought, because Doe's decryption and production of the hard drives would not constitute "testimony." And although that was the Government's view as well, the Government nonetheless requested act-of-production immunity. The district court granted this request.
For the reasons that follow, we hold that Doe's decryption and production of the hard drives' contents would trigger Fifth Amendment protection because it would be testimonial, and that such protection would extend to the Government's use of the drives' contents. The district court therefore erred in two respects. First, it erred in concluding that Doe's act of decryption and production would not constitute testimony. Second, in granting Doe immunity, it erred in limiting his immunity, under 18 U.S.C. §§ 6002 and 6003, to the Government's use of his act of decryption and production, but allowing the Government derivative use of the evidence such act disclosed.


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Trump calls impeachment hearings 'total nonsense,' pushes conspiracy theories
By Deb Reichmann
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Offering his own take on five long days of public hearings, President Donald Trump brushed off the impeachment inquiry as "total nonsense" on Friday and bad-mouthed a number of the U.S. diplomats who testified to Congress about his Ukraine pressure campaign.
In one breath, Trump said House Democrats looked like "fools" during the hearings on Capitol Hill. In another, he offered a window into his political strategy ahead of an expected House vote to impeach him. If that happens, the Senate would hold a trial on whether to oust him from office.
"I think we had a tremendous week with the hoax," Trump said at the White House.
At the same time, he talked up debunked conspiracy theories that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 election, speaking just one day after a former White House adviser testified that the claim was a "fictional narrative" that played into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump also repeated claims that Obama administration officials spied on his campaign and underscored the need to keep Republicans unified against impeachment.
"I don't think I've ever seen support in the Republican party like we do right now," he said.
In a 57-minute, animated phone interview on "Fox & Friends," Trump said he did not expect to be impeached. But he added that if the House did vote to impeach him, he would welcome a trial in the Republican-led Senate.
"Frankly, I want a trial," he said.
A trial, he said, would give Republicans a chance to question Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who led the hearings as chairman of the House intelligence committee. Procedures for a Senate trial still are being worked out, but Republicans may well be hesitant to adopt Trump's idea of turning a lawmaker into a witness.
"I want to see Adam Schiff testify about the whistleblower, who is a fake whistleblower," the president said, adding that he knows the identity of the whistleblower whose formal complaint launched the impeachment inquiry.
Trump's professed confidence came after impeachment witnesses testified under oath that the president withheld aid from Ukraine to press the country to investigate his political rivals. Trump insisted he was trying to root out corruption in the Eastern European nation when he held up nearly $400 million in military aid to help Ukraine battle Russian aggression.
"I think it's very hard to impeach you when they have absolutely nothing," Trump said.
He denied there was any quid pro quo, extortion or bribery. He also denied holding up a White House meeting or military aid to get Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy to launch investigations of former Vice President Joe Biden and his son's dealings in Ukraine.
Uncowed by witnesses who warned against playing into the Russians' hands, Trump repeated a debunked conspiracy theory that Ukrainians might have hacked the Democratic National Committee's network in 2016 and framed Russia for the crime.
"They gave the server to CrowdStrike, which is a company owned by a very wealthy Ukrainian," Trump said. "I still want to see that server. The FBI has never gotten that server."
Trump's claim on Ukraine being behind the 2016 election interference has been discredited by intelligence agencies and his own advisers.
CrowdStrike, an internet security firm based in California, investigated the DNC hack in June 2016 and traced it to two groups of hackers connected to a Russian intelligence service — not Ukraine. The company's co-founder Dmitri Alperovitch is a Russian-born U.S. citizen who immigrated as a child and graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Fiona Hill, a former Russia adviser on the White House National Security Council, admonished Republicans in her testimony on Thursday for pushing unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about Ukrainian interference in the 2016 presidential election.
"This is a fictional narrative that has been perpetrated and propagated by the Russian security services themselves," Hill said.
Trump continued to distance himself from other impeachment witnesses, including Gordon Sondland, U.S. ambassador to the European Union.
Sondland said he was working on a deal to arrange a White House visit if Zelenskiy publicly announced investigations into Burisma, a Ukrainian gas company. Democrat Joe Biden's son Hunter was a Burisma board member.
Speaking of Sondland, Trump said, "I hardly know him, OK? I've spoken to him a few times."
The president said Sondland left out of his opening statement his account of a phone conversation in which Trump said: "I want nothing. No quid pro quo. Have Zelenskiy do whatever is right."
Sondland "didn't put that in," Trump said. "That was the end of him. I turned off the television."
He also denigrated the testimony of David Holmes, a counselor at the U.S. embassy in Kyiv. Holmes testified that he overheard a different phone conversation Sondland had with the president. Holmes said he heard the president talking loudly about Zelenskiy, asking, "So, he's gonna do the investigation?" Ambassador Sondland replied that "He's gonna do it."
Trump said he didn't believe Holmes could hear the conversation since it wasn't on a speaker phone. "That was a total phony deal," Trump said.
And Trump continued to disparage former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch. Trump recalled her from her post in Kyiv before her tenure was to end. Trump called her an "Obama person" and claimed she didn't want his picture to hang on the wall of the embassy.
Ian Kelly, the former U.S. ambassador to Georgia, tweeted in Yovanovitch's defense, saying: "Our official White House portraits did not arrive at Embassy Tbilisi until March 2018. This was because the WH (White House) was late getting them to all embassies."
Trump said he asked why some administration officials were being so kind to Yovanovitch. He claimed they told him, "Well, sir, she's a woman. We have to be nice."


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Updated at 8:37 p.m. ET
As the number of coronavirus cases in China jumped dramatically once again on Thursday — to more than 31,000 — other countries where the new strain of viral pneumonia has spread are stepping up efforts to limit the epidemic.
Health authorities in China on Friday reported 31,211 confirmed cases there, with 637 people having died from the virus, officially known as 2019-nCoV, that was first identified in December. Nearly 200 other cases have appeared outside of China and Hong Kong, with one additional death, in the Philippines.
In Hong Kong, authorities said that beginning this weekend they would mandate that anyone entering the city from mainland China "self-quarantine" for the 14-day incubation period of the virus. The decision is part of an effort to quell public fears of the virus' spread in the semiautonomous territory, which has seen at least 18 confirmed cases, according to the World Health Organization.
Hong Kong's medical staff went on strike starting Monday, calling for the city's chief executive, Carrie Lam, to completely cut off movement with mainland China in an effort to prevent further transmission of the virus.
Lam has halved the number of flights from mainland China and closed down cross-border trains, but refused to formally seal the border.
Outside China, several newly confirmed cases have been traced to an international business meeting held in Singapore in mid-January. Malaysia and South Korea have confirmed three cases related to the meeting at the Grand Hyatt Singapore hotel, where four new cases have been discovered, bringing the city-state's total to 28.
In the U.S., a 12th case was confirmed on Wednesday in Wisconsin.
Two flights chartered by the State Department from Wuhan, China — where the virus first emerged in December — arrived at Travis Air Force Base near San Francisco on Wednesday morning carrying approximately 350 Americans. The passengers will be quarantined at U.S. military facilities for 14 days.
About 200 Americans evacuated from Wuhan on an earlier flight remain in quarantine at March Air Reserve Base in Riverside, Calif., until Feb. 11.
In 2003, severe acute respiratory syndrome, or SARS, which also emerged in China, caught authorities there by surprise and Beijing was heavily criticized for initially hiding the disease and then of underreporting infections and deaths.
The Chinese government initially got good marks from the international medical community for its handling of the latest crisis, with an editorial published in The Lancet last month that said Beijing had "quickly isolated and sequenced the virus and shared these data internationally."
"The lessons from the SARS epidemic — where China was insufficiently prepared to implement infection control practices — have been successfully learned," the editorial said, adding that China had met "international standards" of disease control and prevention.
But troubling questions about the government's response are beginning to emerge. In an interview aired on China's state television last week, Zhou Xianwang, the mayor of Wuhan, acknowledged that authorities in the city "lacked timeliness in disclosing information."
"As a local government official, I can only disclose this information after I've obtained approval to do so. Many people do not understand that," he added.
Despite the steadily increasing numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases, the World Health Organization estimates the mortality rate from the virus is about 2% and that most of those infected will experience only mild, flu-like symptoms before recovering.
By comparison, SARS had a mortality rate of nearly 10%. Even so, officials are worried that the new virus could spread rapidly, as people who are either asymptomatic or have only mild symptoms infect others.
"A relatively mild virus can cause a lot of damage if a lot of people get it," Michael Ryan, director of the WHO's emergencies program, said at a briefing on Wednesday. "And this is the issue at the moment. We don't fully understand it."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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The security of your 1Password data does not depend on the security of SSL/TLS. 1Password keeps your data encrypted with your Master Password. This means that, even if an attacker is able to intercept the communication between your system and a sync server, they will not be able to decrypt your 1Password data.
From the beginning, 1Password has been designed with the expectation that some people would have their 1Password data captured. As unfortunate as it is, these things happen, whether it could get stolen from synchronization servers, from people's own devices and computers, or during transit. Because 1Password provides end-to-end encryption, it does not rely heavily on the security of the communication channel used for storing and synchronizing 1Password data.
This is good news, because the bad news is that there is a serious bug in Apple's implementation of the SSL/TLS in some versions of iOS and OS X. If you haven't already done so, update your iPhones, iPads, and iPod Touches to at least iOS 7.0.6 (or iOS 6.1.6 if you are still using iOS 6) by launching the Settings app and going to General > Software Update.
Do this as soon as you can. Put this blog post on hold and do it right now, if you can (then come back and finish, because this is important). Keep an eye out for an OS X update, too, as we all hope it's coming soon.
What's all this about?
SSL/TLS is the protocol used to secure most internet connections. It puts the "s" in "https". The bug means that attackers who have sufficient control of a portion of a network you are using can break some of the "secure" connections between your device and some server. That is, some of these "secure" connections are not as secure as we would hope.
The actual details of the bug are very interesting and suggest a number of important lessons, but I will have to leave that for a separate article. Instead, let's talk about what this means (or doesn't) for 1Password.
How can this SSL bug affect 1Password
The SSL bug does not affect 1Password's protection of your data in any way since 1Password does its own encryption of your data. This means that wherever your data resides, it is protected by strong encryption and your Master Password. So please do make sure that you have a strong, unique, memorable, and easy to type Master Password; that is your best protection.
The bad news
While Apple's SSL bug doesn't affect 1Password directly, it does open up a way for an attacker to learn some of your passwords if you use them over a compromised connection. When you use Safari and other clients (though not Chrome or Firefox), a supposedly secure connection between your browser and the web server could be intercepted. This means that when you submit a password on a web page, whether or not the password is handled by 1Password, it can be intercept en route to the web server.
This not only applies to Safari, but also Mail and other software running on Macs that make use of Apple's SecureTransport tools. 1Browser, the 1Password web browser built into 1Password for iOS, would also have been subject to this along with Mobile Safari and many other apps and tools on iOS.
But of course, you have all performed the software update on your iOS devices by now, right?
We have no reason to believe that this vulnerability has been actively exploited, but now that it is known it is important to get a fix out for OS X quickly. Until that is done, I am taking a little break from my beloved Safari and switching to another browser on the Mac. Fortunately, 1Password supports Firefox, Chrome, and Opera in addition to Safari, so I can make this switch with ease. Unfortunately, that switch does nothing for Mail.app and other utilities that rely on OS X's SSL implementation.
To exploit Apple's SSL bug, an attacker needs to be in a "network privileged" situation. They need to control a portion of the network between you and the service you are trying to talk to. Any Internet Service Provider or telecoms operator is obviously in a position to do so, as are governments that can compel those operators to participate. So are the operators of local networks such as in coffee shops, hotels, work places. If they (or anyone who breaks into such systems) will also be in a "network privileged" situation.
Back to the good news
As I now say for the third time (and what I tell you three times is true), the security of your 1Password data does not depend on SSL. 1Password does its own encryption, so even if your SSL connection is compromised, no one will be able to decrypt your 1Password data without your Master Password.
There are a couple of places where 1Password does use SSL/TLS, but these do not effect the security of your 1Password data.
Fetching 1Password
When you update 1Password or download it from us, that connection uses SSL. In this case, the goal isn't to keep the download secret but to ensure that you are fetching 1Password from a bona fide source. Apple's SSL bug could enable an attacker to subvert that check and the authenticity of your download. That check, however, is only one of several checks and safety measures to ensure that your copy of 1Password is the real deal. It is neither the last nor the most important defenses against "evilgrade" updates.
Both our updater and your operating system check the digital signature of the application before installing or running it. The details differ between 1Password for Mac and 1Password for Windows. On the Mac there is a check performed by the 1Password updater, and there is also a check performed by Gatekeeper. A failure of SSL to do its job only means that some potential attacks make it through the first of multiple defenses.
Rich icons
If you have enabled Rich Icons in 1Password 4, then the fetching of site and application icons takes place over SSL. An attacker who has been able to exploit the SSL bug would be able to monitor that traffic. However, such an attacker is already able to read your SSL web traffic and would have little need to know what rich icons 1Password is fetching, as they already know what websites you visit by watching you visit them.
A big blunder
Apple's SSL/TLS bug is a big blunder. Hopefully it has not, and is not, being exploited. It also tells a number of stories: some about how errors can sit in plain sight without being noticed, others about how backwards compatibility enable downgrade attacks, and others the importance of systematically testing software. But those are stories that will have to be discussed elsewhere, so please join us in our discussion forum.


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Unfurling a fine handmade tool roll is such a pleasure I find myself almost hoping for a flat:
So order one for yourself if you haven't already, and if you have then order another one because who the hell has only one bike?
Also, they make lovely gifts.
Remember: anything else is just carrying your crap around in a plastic bag.
Secondly, I'm pleased to present you with a quiz. As always, study the item, think, and click on your answer. If you're right you're right, and if you're wrong you'll see a c-c-c-c-r-r-r-r-a-a-a-a-s-s-s-s-h-h-h-h.
Thanks very much for reading, ride safe, and Happy Mother's Day.
--Wildcat Rock Machine
1) Which is not a reason Horace Dediu, a "prominent analyst of disruptive technologies," gives to support the idea that bikes will "disrupt" cars?
--"You can park a bicycle in your home or your office."
--They're "more affordable per mile."
--"Whenever I open my mouth about electric bicycles, the enthusiasm I get back is literally deafening."
--"What? I can't hear you because I'm literally deaf from the enthusiasm generated by electric bicycles."
2) When you need to speed up in order to catch the green light, "Flo" shows you the image of:
--A rocket
--A rabbit
--A "+" symbol
--Bret, the Time-Traveling, T-Shirt-Wearing Retro-Fred From the Planet Tridork
3) The Cipollini NK1K has:
--A "massive bottom bracket shell and taut front end"
--"Chainstays like soppressata"
--"The biggest headtube in the industry"
--"Glandular issues"
4) Campagnolo's new road bike disc brakes require use of a dedicated crankset.
5) Which is not one of Tullio Campagnolo's patents?
--The quick-release skewer
--The sliding hub rod shifter
--The self-centering wine bottle opener
--The self-hoisting pant waist
6) Fill in the blank:
"Full _____ ahead!"
--Scalded perineum
7) The Tour of California has:
--Just started
--Just ended
--Just been moved
--Just been cancelled
Waiting for a crabon version with ceramic bearings.


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Challenging status quo suggestions, the inventive work of seasoned sculptor Douglas Walker blurs the lines between form and function, art and craft, the surreal, sublime, whimsical and joyous toward the often mysterious and ultimately profound.
The award winning Canadian sculptor of semi-precious metals includes brass, copper and silver, bound with...
more"I first met Douglas Walker in June 2009 in pursuit of a magazine article I was writing about the man and his work. Long fascinated by improbable machinery, interactive art and creative recycling, I was attracted to his extraordinary creations from the moment I saw a sample of them on his website. Upon meeting Douglas - quite the charmer, I must say - he gave my wife and I an anecdote-peppered tour of the small collection of his work dotted about the yards of his Black Creek home. There were maybe seven or eight pieces, the only unsold examples of over six hundred created in a mere five years. This may tell you something of the universal appeal of his spectacular kinetic sculptures.
Since seeing them up close in all their elegant mechanical glory, we have remained spellbound by Douglas' joyous, whimsical garden art. They're like the boyhood dreams of a romantic engineer come to life. I maintain that no one has made better use of a saxophone since Clarence Clemons on "Born to Run" or of a French horn since Wolfie Amadeus penned concerti for it. And just like those particular peaks of human creativity, Douglas' offerings are powerful, beautiful, and make you feel good in their company. There is, of course, no true substitute for experiencing the real thing, but the images contained within the lush pages of this book will, as the originals intended, make you smile, gasp and sigh. Enjoy them. I sure do."


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What is faith?
Romans 5:1-10 Matthew 6:22-33
In the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Lord tells us today, brothers and sisters,
"The light of the body is the eye. If thine eye be therefore sound, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness."
He is speaking about the eyes of the soul. We have two kinds of eyes: those that see things in the world, of matter, and those that see spiritual things. Now how is it that we can have our spiritual eyes seeing things in the light?
It comes from understanding about God and about ourselves.
First of all, you must understand why you were created and live on this earth. God created you so that you would know Him intimately, and you would see Him and be glad eternally. This is the purpose of your earthly life: to be able to know God, to be able to see Him with gladness, and with a joy that no one can take away from you.
Second of all, the world and our flesh is temporal and everything can be taken away. We can have wealth one moment and poverty the next, health one moment and sickness the next, happiness one moment, and then a tragedy befalls us and we are sad. We might have friends at one time and these same friends may at another time turn upon us and treat us as enemies.
If a person can see with spiritual eyes that are sound, one can see the spiritual nature of things, the true nature of everything that you do from the time you rise in the morning to the time you lay your head on your pillow. You can see that everything that is happening to you has a purpose.
Now if you know that the purpose of your life is to know God, then everything must somehow contribute to your knowing God, but you cannot know someone unless you become like them, and share in their life. The Apostle Paul refers to this sharing in Christ's life in a mystical way in today's Epistle reading. He says,
"We are justified by faith, and therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by Whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God."
What is this faith that He speaks of?
Most people in the world don't know what faith is. They think faith is belief about or being very sure about something. This is not faith! In another place, the Apostle Paul says,
"We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose, for whom He did know He did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son."
Faith is to be conformed to the image of His Son. Faith is to live as His Son taught us to live.
Our Lord Jesus Christ taught us all that is necessary for eternal life, and, more than a mortal teacher, He made us able to do what He taught us. He taught by example, and then He made that example possible, and we have access to the ability to become righteous through faith in Jesus Christ.
Faith is not only believing dogmas, such as: He was born of a Virgin, was crucified, died and resurrected, and that the Holy Spirit came. Faith is attempting, because of His beauty, to be conformed to this beautiful image, which means desiring to change, put off anything that is corruptible, or is incomplete in us, or dark, and to become beautiful.
He has promised us that we will be adopted as sons and daughters. Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who had the glory of divinity before all the ages, and all the privileges of a Son of God, before the ages, has promised us that we will be adopted, and be sons and daughters, by grace, because our nature cannot withstand such things, but by grace God makes us capable.
And the way we are made capable is by our cooperation with this grace, by our entering into the life of Christ.
Then our eyes see things as they really are. When someone slanders us, we don't see this as some sort of slight against us -- how dare such a person say such a thing against me? -- we see this as evidence that we're unworthy ourselves, and we rejoice that we can, if only just a little, bear slander, as our Lord bore slander. For any other circumstance in our life, any other difficulty, we should always see such things in this way. God allows, or God brings about, things in our life, and all is according to God's providence.
"All things work together for good, for those who love God, and who are called according to His purpose."
And what is the purpose to which you are called, brothers and sisters? It is knowledge, joy, completeness -- things that cannot be taken away from you, because they abide eternally.
Now, how do we enter into this knowledge? There is no substitute for experience. We must experience our Lord Jesus Christ, and taste Him, to see how sweet He is.
To the world, He is bitter. To the world, the things that He says are nonsensical. When your brother smites you on the cheek, turn the other cheek to him also, but the world would want to smite. Love your enemies? Do good to those who hate you? No, the world doesn't want these things. He was a king, and yet He allowed Himself to be crucified, to be mocked. The world thinks that when you have authority, you should have the tokens of authority—the respect of others, or at least the fear of others.
Our Lord's message is not understood by the world, even by most of those who call themselves Christians, because they don't understand that faith is living according to His life, becoming as He is, changing ourselves, being conformed to His image of perfection.
This is what the Lord wants for you and I -- perfection, not merely belief in dogmas, but to be completely changed, to be "all eye", able to see things as they really are, able to see the beauty of God and not be afraid, but be glad. And the only way that we can see His beauty and be glad is to have obtained some of His beauty here on earth, with our efforts, our toil, and our desire. He makes us capable. All we need do is struggle, even in things that are difficult.
The apostle says, "we have access by faith," that is, by living according to the way Jesus is, "into this grace wherein we stand, and we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God".
Shouldn't we rejoice? The Lord is going to make us complete, lacking nothing, nothing changing anymore, no sadness, no insecurity, no infirmities. Knowledge and joy are what He promises us, and that we will be His sons and daughters. This is the hope that we have, and should make us rejoice, and such a hope should make us endure anything for this hope -- even when our ego is pricked, or when someone is unfair to us, or in any other tribulations.
Now, when the apostle spoke, or wrote these words, there was tribulation in the church. There were people who were sometimes being killed by the government. It's continued till this day, in various times and epochs of our history. But he says,
"we glory in tribulation also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience, and patience--experience, and experience -- hope."
If you don't enter into the life of Christ, by entering into the way He lived, the way He thought, the way He breathed, what He considered important each day, then you will not have His experience. You must enter into His life, a life full of tribulation. We must not be afraid of tribulation, because tribulation produces patience, and patience -- experience, and from experience -- from seeing God work in our lives, seeing God change us, and feeling His beauty, and seeing a little of it -- we have hope, hope that we will be completely changed someday, completely happy, completely full of knowledge.
This is the purpose of our life. This is what the Lord promises to us. He has made us sons by grace, but we must enter into this grace, we must stand in this grace, by faith.
And what is faith, again?
It is to live, with desire, as Christ lived; to enter into His life - to forgive your enemies because he forgave us, to pray for others, to give way to others, to lay down our life for others, since He lay down his life for us.
What a glorious thing it is to be a Christian! We who are unworthy, the Lord has taken to Himself, given us all that we need, promised us happiness and perfection, things that we could never obtain on our own and by ourselves. What a glorious thing it is to be a Christian! Is there any greater name, than that one is a Christian? What a glorious thing, if we live by faith.
Brothers and sisters, enter into the life of Christ, in everything you do, in every circumstance of your life. Let thine eye be whole and sound, and see the true nature of things, in every circumstance, so that you can live, and react, as our Lord Jesus Christ would have reacted to each circumstance.
May God bless you and help you to live by faith. Amen.
Priest Seraphim Holland 2002.
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Advice for Students on Conscientious Objection
Some courses within biological science, veterinary and human medicine still involve the harmful use of animals. You may not have anticipated that such animal use would be part of your degree, and if you realise now that there is a tension between your personal ethics and the expectations of some of your teachers, then use this guide to conscientious objection to help find a creative solution. It is based on the experience of other students who have been in the same position as you. Securing humane alternatives to harmful animal use is not always easy, but there is a growing number of teachers who recognise students' rights to freedom of conscience and who are aware that high quality 'alternatives' are already the norm in many institutes.
1. Find out the exact situation
Choose an active role. Don't rely on being told. Talk to your tutor or course leader as early as you can. Find out whether animals are used in the course you have chosen. Ask what species of animals are used, how many and for what purpose. Ask if there is a policy of student choice. Are alternatives provided, and if so, what are they?
2. Decide where you stand. Examine your motives. Know yourself.
According to your own personal ethics, where exactly do you draw the line with respect to animal use? Be able to defend your position. Decide what is an acceptable alternative. Certainly you require a relevant and educationally-valid alternative practical, with equivalent time, effort, learning quality and academic credit - after all, you are paying for your education and you came to university to learn. You can succeed on your own, but there can be great strength in numbers. Ask around to discover which other students feel the same as you. Gain the support of friends, and of other teachers if they are sympathetic. Read the student testimonies on this site to appreciate the possible actions and reactions of all stakeholders. Contact InterNICHE at any time you want practical advice and support. Get a realistic feeling of how far you are willing to go in order to stand up for what you believe: if a co-operative solution to the problem can't be reached then it may be necessary to adopt a more challenging approach.
3. Approach your teacher
Calmly but firmly explain to your teacher that the practice of using animals conflicts with your ethical, moral or spiritual beliefs. You want to learn the course material, but not by harming an animal. Specifically ask for a good alternative, as you intend not to participate in the animal practical and would like to reach a mutually agreeable solution to the problem. Don't let the teacher intimidate you: you are justified in your feelings and views. But don't be self-righteous or confrontational, and be prepared to discuss the issue. Anticipate what you might be asked. If your teacher is open to change and you are told that you can use an alternative that is acceptable to you, then ask for this in writing.
If the response is non-committal, ask for an answer. If it is negative then you need to present your case in greater depth. It is wise to keep a written record as you go through the process. Include action you have taken, meeting dates and times, the people involved, subjects of conversation and statements or decisions made. Keep copies of written communication and all relevant printed material. Do this now.
4. Research more information
Understand the concept and practice of humane education, and be aware of similar courses in other universities or countries which allow student choice and offer alternatives, or do not use animals at all. Contact InterNICHE for support. Familiarise yourself with the range of alternative methods that are available and the issues around their use such as teaching potential, cost and quality, and what equipment, if any, is needed. Use the resources and background information available on this site, and order some of our other material. Read up about alternatives and their educational validity, and consider borrowing and familiarising yourself with some of the best products, available through our Alternatives Loan System. Find out in detail the teaching objectives of the practical. You could also design a proposal for replacing the animal practical with a combination of alternatives suitable for meeting the teaching objectives, or write a fuller submission arguing your case.
Find out what formal procedures there may be for resolving difficulties at the university. Ask a supportive member of staff or your InterNICHE national contact for details about staff-student boards, ethics or review committees, and the opportunities for formal exemption from animal use. Consider demanding the implementation of an official student choice policy. Gain the backing of the Students Union and the welfare officer. Understand any national or international legislation that can support your position. Begin the process now.
5. Submit your case
Present to your teacher an information pack which includes your position and requests, your proposal for replacing the animal practical with full details of suitable alternatives, and all relevant literature. Consider including a copy of the InterNICHE video Alternatives in Education, the forthcoming book From Guinea Pig to Computer Mouse, and details of the InterNICHE Alternatives Loan System. Request a written response from your teacher. Copy the material to the head of department, the dean, and your supporters, explaining the situation fully. If your requests are met, well done! Ask for confirmation in writing.
6. Use pressure
If the response is still negative then you need to apply pressure. Meet with your supporters for further discussion. Visit the head of department and the dean. Begin formal procedures such as applications to university review committees, if you have not already done so, and appeal to the relevant bodies at national level if your rights are still denied. Inform national civil liberties organisations of your situation, and keep in close contact with InterNICHE. Make the problem public: use your student newspaper and local and national press. Launch a petition, or call for a deluge of faxes and e-mails to the university from around the world. Arrange speakers and organise a debate on animal use, alternatives and students' rights. If the pressure brings a positive change, congratulations! Ask for confirmation in writing.
7. Consider legal action
If the university still refuses to respect your rights, and you are prepared to continue, then there is the option of a legal challenge. It is possible to take your university to court, and several students in Germany and the USA have indeed won in such cases. Others have lost. Consider carefully the time, money and energy needed for such action.
Support is always available from InterNICHE. Please keep the network informed of your progress - your experience could help other students in the same situation.
Read the Student Testimonies to see how other students have dealt with the challenge of demanding alternatives, and use the supporting texts and submissions.


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In this post, you'll learn about the Win32 Error "0x00000FDF – PEERDIST_ERROR_INVALID_CONFIGURATION" that you get when debugging system erors in Windows.
The System Error Codes in Windows is a standard computer errors that occurs on Windows PCs. The System Error are usually intended for the developers troubleshooting issues related to the messages returned by the GetLastError.
Most of these Windows Errors are defined in the WinError.h file. The description of these error codes are very general and requires some bit of analysis to understand the exact issue.
Error Message
0x00000FDF – PEERDIST_ERROR_INVALID_CONFIGURATION
Error Description
A configuration value is invalid.