text:
Every body matters
Mark 2:1-5
And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. (KJV)
Bonventure, Life of St Francis, Chapter 1.5
Now on a day while he was riding over the plain that lieth beneath the city of Assisi, he met a certain leper, and this unforeseen meeting filled him with loathing. But when he recalled the purpose of perfection that he had even then conceived in mind, and remembered that it behoved him first of all to conquer self, if he were fain to become the soldier of Christ, he leapt from his horse and ran to embrace him. When the leper stretched forth his hand as though to receive an alms, he kissed it, and then put money therein. Then forthwith mounting his horse, he looked round him on all sides, and the plain was spread before him unbroken, and no trace of that leper might he see. Then, filled with wonder and joy, he began devoutly to chant praises unto the Lord, purposing from this to rise ever unto greater heights. (Trans. E.G. Salter)
About the Author
Scott D. Moringiello is an an assistant professor in the Department of Catholic Studies at DePaul University, where he teaches courses in Catholic theology and religion and literature. He blogs at dotCommonweal.
22 comments
- All
- Editor Featured
Thanks for posting it, Scott. So beautiful. That's what I thought of, too, when I saw it -- the man lowered from the roof.(I like your headline, too. Reminds me of the old song Mr. Rogers used to sing: "Every body's fancy, every body's fine. Your body's fancy, and so is mine!")
Like in the gospels where the evangelist quotes those in the crowd saying "God has visited his people." Whenever a follower of Christ loves another it is another way of God visiting. This pope is on message with his actions.
Here is another pope greeting a child with leukemia many decades ago:http://ww4.hdnux.com/photos/10/15/20/2151435/7/628x471.jpgOne of my favorite images.
"Authentic power is in service."
He looks and sounds like a wonderful priest, and he is very moving.Must resist. Must not fall in love with this pope. Must at least wait for decisions on the sexual abuse scandal, the new missal, or collegiality, before yielding to his charm. This is a hopeful wait.
I like Claire's post since my emotions could surely run away with him on this change of style and apparently on priorties. I hope that this is more than "infatuation" and there will rally be a "there," there. I, also, am self-restraingly hopeful
See this (4th picture down): http://blog.sfgate.com/parenting/2011/06/09/when-the-pope-visited-san-fr..."4. The biggest story of the Pope John Paul IIs San Francisco visit was a spontaneous moment. Four-year-old Brendan ORourke, one of 62 AIDS patients waiting for to be blessed by the pope inside Mission Dolores, touched the pope as he passed by and said Hi, Viva Papa! The pope turned and embraced the child, which was a much bigger deal in the pre-Magic Johnson-has-AIDS 1980s, when people still thought AIDS could be transmitted from casual contact. Brendan, who was born premature and contracted AIDS through a blood transfusion, lived for three more years. The pope died in 2005."JPII was not my favorite, but this gesture of his will always be remembered by all of us in the Bay Area.
Here's another charming addition to the lore about Pope Francis' spiritual practice. His favorite Marian devotion is said to be to Our Lady Untier of Knots. Never heard of it? Me neither, but it goes all the way back to the first century. There are even novenas to her. I love the metaphor. So simple, so expressive. http://www.taylormarshall.com/2013/03/mary-untier-of-knots-pope-francis....
Claire,You speak for me about Francis. Then I came across this in the WaPo, courtesy of Gene Palumbo: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/pope-francis-was-often-... Francis was often quiet on Argentine sex abuse cases as archbishopBy Nick Miroff, Monday, March 18, 5:40 PM Snips: Quiet is the least of it, actually."But during most of the 14 years that Bergoglio served as archbishop of Buenos Aires, rights advocates say, he did not take decisive action to protect children or act swiftly when molestation charges surfaced; nor did he extend apologies to the victims of abusive priests after their misconduct came to light.He has been totally silent, said Ernesto Moreau, a member of Argentinas U.N.-affiliated Permanent Assembly for Human Rights and a lawyer who has represented victims in a clergy sexual-abuse case.Victims asked to meet with Bergoglio but were turned down, Moreau said. In that regard, Bergoglio was no different from most of the other bishops in Argentina, or the Vatican itself....The case of Father Grassi has been particularly troublesome to childrens advocates here because Bergoglio was widely viewed as close to the young priest, who told reporters before his conviction that he spoke with Bergoglio often and that the archbishop never let go of my hand.Grassi was not expelled from the priesthood after the guilty verdict. Instead, church officials led by Bergoglio commissioned a lengthy private report arguing that Grassi was innocent.</iBergoglios critics contend in one of Argentinas most egregious abuse cases, another priest in the Archdiocese of Buenos Aires was assigned to work with children even when church leaders knew of allegations against him.After local parishioners accused Father Mario Napoleon Sasso of molesting children in a poor, rural province of eastern Argentina in the early 1990s, he was sent to a private rehabilitation center for wayward clergy, La Domus Mariae (the House of Mary), north of Buenos Aires. He lived for two years at the center and was then reassigned to work in a soup kitchen for poor children in a town outside the capital. There, he went on to sexually abuse girls as young as 3.His bedroom was adjacent to the cafeteria, and it had the only bathroom in the chapel, said Moreau, the attorney for the victims families.Moreau said that in 2003 he accompanied two nuns and a priest who had denounced Sasso, along with the victims families, to a meeting with the Vatican emissary in Buenos Aires. He said the families were told to be patient and were offered gifts of rosaries blessed by the pope.They just wanted to cover it up, Moreau said.Three years later, as the evidence against Sasso mounted, the families asked to see Bergoglio, Moreau said, but they never received a response. Sasso was convicted in 2007 and sentenced to 17 years in prison. He has since been released on parole.Religious-affairs scholar Fortunato Mallimaci, a sociologist at the University of Buenos Aires, said that as Pope Francis, Bergoglio will face an entirely different set of expectations for how to handle abuse claims. In the United States and Europe, there is a clear separation of church and state, he said. Not in Latin America. There, he said, civil society is often too weak to take on the power of the clergy, and suspicion falls first on the accuser, not the accused.But, Mallimaci added, as a bishop from Latin America, he is going to be very sensitive to what is going on in society around him and the politics of the era. If he wants to reestablish the churchs credibility, hell be the first to say that no abuse will be tolerated, whether in Washington or Rome or Buenos Aires.There is more in the article. Borgoglio is credited with "evolving" in his understanding. May it be a very fast evolution from perpetrator protector to child protector.I still have hope, given the sense of the man so far. But what a come-down this article is. I had not looked at the abuse tracker today, but apparently I should have.
Again, we have to be careful drawing conclusions from one or two articles. On the other hand there is this from Thomas Reese. "Pope Francis is on record as supporting zero tolerance for the sexual abuse of minors by priests. In a 2012 interview, then-Cardinal Bergoglio said that a bishop called him for advice on how to deal with it, and "I told him to take away the priests' licenses, not to allow them to exercise the priesthood any more, and to begin a canonical trial in that dioceses court." The rest of the short article is here. http://ncronline.org/blogs/pope-francis-supports-zero-tolerance-child-abuse
I wish he had taken his own advice, Bill. Let's see.
Thomas Reese has been busy. Check this out. "In an 2012 interview about celibacy, then-Cardinal Bergoglio notes that in the Eastern churches priests can be married and "They are very good priests." He says that "It is a matter of discipline, not of faith. It can change."He states his support for celibacy in the interview. "I am in favor of maintaining celibacy, with all its pros and cons, because we have ten centuries of good experiences rather than failures," he explains. "Tradition has weight and validity." That is as open to celibacy as any pope ever. The rest of Reese's article has more pithy stuff. http://ncronline.org/blogs/ncr-today/pope-francis-open-optional-celibacy
Carolyn, the WP article quotes the 90's. Even Bernardine was off center then as well as everyone else except Thomas Doyle. The other statements need to be verified as to veracity. Dont' jump to conclusions yet. Remember the consensus in the US was not widespread until after 2002.
Carolyn, Thanks for mentioning this. I've been wondering about it.
What a beautiful gesture by our new Holy Father.
Two more tidbits:A sign in the crowd at the inaugural Mass said, "Pope Francis, good morning".When asked about her meeting with Pope Francis, the President of Argentina, who is often at odds with him, replied, "Well, that's the first time I've ever been kissed by a pope".Now we'll get down to business. Sigh. When and how will the changes come?
A couple of contradictory thoughts:- Personal holiness of character does not imply good governance. It is possible to have someone who is a likable man but a disastrous pope. (I remember that George Bush was said to easily well up and have much empathy for the people he met, but it didn't prevent him from taking decisions that greatly increased the plight of the nation's poor). - Yet, personal holiness could provide direct influence and have a positive impact on the church from the grassroots up, by generating goodwill or by being a model and inspiring the people to individually change.
The movie "Elefante blanco", that just came out in the US, is about Argentina, priests, and the poor. It almost seems like a documentary at times. Seeing it might be a good way to get a sense of where Pope Francis is coming from.
A good development. Washing the feet of prisoners rather than retired priests gives a clearer message."In a sudden announcement this morning from the Holy See, Pope Francis has yet again turned Vatican protocol on its head shredding the earlier plan of beginning the Easter Triduum in St Peter's Basilica, the new pontiff has instead opted to go to a juvenile prison in Rome to celebrate Holy Thursday's Evening Mass of the Lord's Supper, at which he'll wash the feet of 12 inmates.The opening chapter of the church's most sacred moment of the year, while the rite normally takes place in at St John Lateran, this year's Evening Mass was previously slated to happen in the Vatican Basilica as the new pontiff has yet to take possession of the Lateran the "Mother and Head" of all churches, which technically serves as the cathedral of the bishop of Rome. Historically, the Popes have washed the feet of 12 retired priests of their diocese at the liturgy.
This does look more like St. Francis than any prettied-up foot washing I have seen.http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-14/cardinal-bergoglio-washes-woman27s... points out that the juvenile prison Francis is going to has both men and women inmates.
Sandro Magister speculates that Francis will change the hierarchical structure of the Church before he reforms the Curia. The Synod of bishops might form the foundation of the collegial structure. After it is established, speculates Magister, the Curia would be downgraded to assistants, not policy makers and enforcers.http://chiesa.espresso.repubblica.it/articolo/1350472?eng=y


text:
I whipped up a graph this morning plotting each user with more than 10 comments.
Neil Butterworth wins my world famous "Quality Volume Commentator of the Year" award. Of the top ten commentators, he has the highest average score.
Number of Comments vs Average Score by User
Also, I was looking for odd/interesting relationships between comment scores and whatever. The below graph shows 12 comment score bands versus:
- Average Comment Length
- Average User Id (vaguely, the average age of an account)
- Number of Comments
Note that the left side y-axis is logarithmic.
There most definitely seems to be a relationship between comment length and score--shorter comments score higher. And there is a vague hint that the older SO accounts score higher, but it seems slight.
Any other interpretations? Questions? Comments?
(I've also made an effort to keep these color blind-friendly. Please let me know how I did.)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Begin New Search
Refine Last Search
Cemetery Lookup
Add Burial Records
Help with Find A Grave
Top Contributors
Success Stories
Community Forums
Find A Grave Store
Log In
ad feedback
ad feedback
member for 4 years, 3 months, 12 days
Add to MyFriends
Bio and Links
No bio available.
Leave Public Message
Contributions to
Find A Grave
11 Memorials Added
16 Memorials Managed
1,116 Photos
80,323 Virtual Flowers
51 Fame Ratings
Messages left for Lance (363)
Leave Message
Anthony DelGobbo
Thank you
Your kindness in leaving flowers is heart warming. Thank you from my family
Added by
Anthony DelGobbo
on Jul 12, 2016 12:29 PM
Nadine Reasor
Gabriel Gonzalez
Thank you for leaving flowers for Gabe. I hope all is well with you and your family.
Added by
Nadine Reasor
on May 30, 2016 9:49 AM
Marilyn Moran
RE: flower for Lorraine
Ok, thank you
Added by
Marilyn Moran
on May 20, 2016 4:26 PM
Marilyn Moran
flower for Lorraine
Why did you leave a flower for Lorraine? Did you know her? I am curious because I am her mother
Added by
Marilyn Moran
on May 19, 2016 11:51 AM
Rita Lienhard
Flower for Lucille Albritton
Thank you for leaving a flower on my mother's memorial. It was thoughtful of you to do so.
Added by
Rita Lienhard
on Apr 29, 2016 1:59 PM
Linda Gravette Gentry
Flowers for Griffith Family Berry, Ky
Thank you for taking the time to leave flowers on the memorials for part of my family, I appreciate it. (Pythian Grove Cemetery in Berry KY) Davis and Phyllis Hillard Griffith. Also their 2 daughters that were murdered in 1991, Anita Griffith Burgess and Phyllis Angel Griffith.
Again, thank you for your time
Added by
Linda Gravette Gentry
on Mar 28, 2016 3:49 PM
kitty henson
Lorraine Suarez
Lance, are you related to Lorraine Suarez?
Thank you. I'm A courious Cousin.
Added by
kitty henson
on Mar 24, 2016 10:22 PM
Connor Baneck
Are you related to the vacho family
Added by
Connor Baneck
on Mar 04, 2016 1:24 PM
Frank Zwolinski
RE: a source, please
Thank you for the response.
Added by
Frank Zwolinski
on Feb 14, 2016 12:19 PM
Frank Zwolinski
a source, please
I saw that you left a memorial on the Find A Grave Memorial (#50520566) page for Admiral Robert Bentham Simons, who commanded the USS Raleigh (CL-7) during the bombing of Pearl Harbor. I wonder if you have a source for a photo of the man. The reason I want it is because my father, Frank John Zwolinski, Sr. served under him on the Raleigh and I am writing a story of my father's career. If you have any source for me I would appreciate hearing from you.
Thank you in advance,
Frank, Jr.
Added by
Frank Zwolinski
on Feb 13, 2016 7:15 PM
View all messages...
Privacy Statement
Terms of Service
ad feedback


text:
Transworld surf was created for the exy generation of surfers. We bring you with us to contests around the world, profiles on the new coming surfers, interviews with the seasoned pros, tips and amazing action photos.
Over 1,500 magazines at the lowest prices anywhere - no tax & free shipping


text:
Shipping Information Close
- United States
- International
Shipping is free with orders of $100 or more!
Estimate Shipping
Enter your destination to get a shipping estimate.
Padded Tops
Tropic Cubism Bikini
Cara One Piece
Amusing Muse Bikini
Lotta Dada Bikini
Bendito Cabo Bikini
Jade Brena Maillot
West Sundown Bikini
Kate Black Bikini
Claire One Piece
Maps & Claps Bikini
Bendito Tasco Bikini
Utopia Madrid Bikini
Haley Pool Bikini
Bendito Ica Bikini
Padded swimsuits and push up bikini tops come in a variety of top styles, such as halter, balconet, triangle, tankini, and bandeau. One of the most popular swimwear trends, padded swimwear tops work to accentuate and enhance your bust area while providing a flattering and comfortable fit around the chest. Many times, padded swimwear will be accompanied by an underwire for extra support and lift - this feature is an added bonus for those with small chests who seek a top that will give them the added enhancement they desire. The padding may also be removable, so you can can adjust the level of coverage and support that you get from one suit. Because of their versatility, padded tops can really work for women of all cup sizes as they help to create the ideal shape and fit. One of the best benefits of having a padded bikini is that the padding can be used to help the top's fabric stay in place and actually create additional cleavage, especially for small busts. Apart from the many benefits of padded swimsuits, our hand-selected designers make sure their swimsuit tops are made with just the right amount of padding, always mindful of the problematic "spongy" look that haunts poorly made padded bikinis. Our padded tops and push up bikinis are the best of the best, so The Orchid Boutique is your one-stop shop for padded swimwear. Discover our selection of padded bikinis and swimsuits today!


text:
Found some curious CSS in the source for http://contrastrebellion.com/:
font-family: restore-n8, restore-1, restore-2, sans-serif;
Restore-n8 and the like don't seem to be font names. What does this CSS snippet do?
Found some curious CSS in the source for http://contrastrebellion.com/:
It's Restore, served by TypeKit.
These fonts have been included using CSS3's
Here's a quick example of the CSS that defines one of those fonts:
Tried to do a search on it, but it seems like you can only use font-family for font families. Therefore i will assume that restore-n8 actually is a font (probably one that they made themselves). I suppose it's also possible that they used some tool to create the css and it failed somehow and spit out that line. don't know what else it could be.


text:
Drug Suspension Hits A-Rod, 12 Others
Major League Baseball banned slugger Alex Rodriguez for 211 games without pay for allegedly violating league rules prohibiting performance-enhancing drugs, part of the largest mass doping penalty ever handed down by a major American sports league.
Mr. Rodriguez, a New York Yankees third baseman whose 647 career home runs rank fifth on baseball's all-time list, is also accused of attempting to obstruct a league investigation into banned drugs. As such, he got a much harsher ban than the 12 other players who were penalized Monday. They each must sit out 50 games, which just about covers the remainder of the regular season.
The players are each connected to Biogenesis, a defunct South Florida clinic that the league says distributed the banned drugs to athletes.
Mr. Rodriguez's suspension is effective Thursday and theoretically covers the rest of 2013 and the entire 2014 regular season, though Mr. Rodriguez, 38 years old, said he would appeal. Under baseball's collective-bargaining agreement, Mr. Rodriguez can play and be paid during that appeals process, which likely will take a few months to complete.
If an independent arbitrator upholds it, the suspension would be the longest non-lifetime ban in major-league history and would cost Mr. Rodriguez more than $31 million in lost salary.
"I am disappointed with the penalty and intend to appeal and fight through the process," said a statement from Mr. Rodriguez, who was set to make his season debut Monday night after being sidelined all year with hip and leg injuries. "I am eager to get back on the field and be with my teammates."
All of the other suspended players—including Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz and Detroit Tigers shortstop Jhonny Peralta and San Diego Padres shortstop Everth Cabrera—accepted their suspensions and will begin sitting out immediately. Milwaukee Brewers slugger Ryan Braun last month accepted a 65-game ban for related drug violations.
The suspensions highlight MLB's evolution to a league that enforces its drug policy more aggressively than any other U.S. professional sports body. That is in part because of increased cooperation from players, who have supported more stringent testing and tougher penalties after seeing an entire era of their predecessors tainted by doping suspicions. But the players' union opposed the league's punishment for Mr. Rodriguez.
Union chief Michael Weiner said Monday that MLB "has not acted appropriately" under the collective-bargaining agreement. "Mr. Rodriguez knows that the union, consistent with its history, will defend his rights vigorously," Mr. Weiner said.
In a statement, MLB said Mr. Rodriguez's suspension is "based on his use and possession of numerous forms of prohibited performance-enhancing substances, including testosterone and human growth hormone, over the course of multiple years." The league said the ban also is for attempting to cover up his drug use "by engaging in a course of conduct intended to obstruct and frustrate the Office of the Commissioner's investigation."
Neither Mr. Rodriguez nor his attorney, David Cornwell, directly addressed the allegations in statements Monday. Mr. Cornwell said MLB "has gone well beyond the authority granted" by collective bargaining.
Mr. Weiner said he doesn't expect the arbitrator, Fredric Horowitz, to rule on Mr. Rodriguez's appeal before November, meaning the suspension, if upheld in its entirety, wouldn't take effect until 2014 and then would cover part of the 2015 season, when Mr. Rodriguez will be turning 40 years old.
After previously denying that he used performance-enhancing drugs, Mr. Rodriguez admitted in 2009 that he took steroids between 2001 and 2003, when he played for the Texas Rangers. (Penalties for steroid use didn't begin until 2004.) But he said his drug use was confined to those three seasons. "All my years in New York have been clean," he said in February 2009.
MLB launched its probe into Biogenesis in January, when a Miami newspaper published handwritten notes that purportedly linked Mr. Rodriguez and several other players to the clinic's operator, Anthony Bosch. The notes allegedly listed specific drugs, dosages and payment amounts dated from 2009 to 2012. At the time, Mr. Rodriguez denied having any association with Mr. Bosch and denied any wrongdoing.
None of Monday's suspensions were based on positive drug tests.
Write to Brian Costa at firstname.lastname@example.com
- 228


text:
Battery Hydrometer - Pacer Electronics
This float-type device is used to measure the concentration of sulfuric acid (Specific Gravity) of battery electrolyte ("battery acid"). From this reading you can easily and accurately determine a non-sealed battery's State-of-Charge.
Add to Cart and enter your Postal Code to determine the shipping charges and estimated delivery date.
Most products and orders leave our warehouse in 1 business day. However, select items may take more processing time. Alaska and Hawaii orders please add 1 additional warehouse processing day.
Standard Shipping Policies


text:
Kent: Restaurateurs, volunteers made 'Taste' event sing
"The Friends of Donna Casey" extend a heartfelt thank you to everyone who helped to make "A Taste of Kent" a spectacular success. More than 30 local businesses generously donated items for the Silent Auction (even some business that weren't asked to send items); the band Hummingbird donated its time and talent; Kent Greenhouse and the Gift Horse of Kent provided decorations. We also thank all the volunteers. Under the direction of Cyndy Osborne, this amazing group of people created a perfect evening that was truly "A Taste of Kent" because every restaurant in town donated food. Not one turned us down when they were asked to make enough food to feed 200 people! Many also provided us with hot storage, serving utensils and anything else we needed.
It would take most of the newspaper to list everyone who volunteered and all the businesses who donated, but we do want to thank the restaurants that made this evening possible: Bulls Bridge Inn; Wasabi; Doc's; Panini's; Annie Banannie at Back Country Outfitters; The Villager; The Kent Pizza Garden; Davis IGA; Shanghai; and the Fife 'N Drum. Add to that list Marble Valley Farm, for its donation of vegetables, and Kent School, for the brownies. Lorry Potter of Roasting Kings in Warren deserves an extra thank you. Not only did she and The Villager Restaurant provide and cook an entire Pig Roast for 200 people for "The Celebration of Donna's Life" but for "A Taste of Kent." Lorry donated an entrée for 200, as well as those wonderful little tarts that everyone raved about.
Read more of this story and more!
7-Day Subscribers have FREE access to everything on rep-am.com and our E-Edition.
CLICK HERE to register and activate your access,.
Not a subscriber?
You can purchase a single-day subscription for only $0.75 to read this and access all of our content and our E-Edition.
CLICK HERE purchase a single day subscription.
Become an electronic subscriber to the Republican-American for only $8 a month. CLICK HERE.
Follow Us
Post a reader commentWe encourage your feedback and dialog.
Please be civil and respectful.
If you're witty, to the point and quotable, your reader comments may also be included on the Around the Towns page of The Sunday Republican.
Readers must be registered and logged in to post comments on the site. Registration is free. Click Here to register.
A Subscription is not required to post comments only a Registration.
Log In
|Register / Forgotten Password?
More stories from Yourpage
- New Milford: Election winner thanks supporters for their votes
- Two Waterbury regiments hit hard at Fredericksburg
- Winsted: Soup kitchen offers thanks to donors
- Torrington: Salon owner grateful for help in cancer battle
- Kent: Restaurateurs, volunteers made 'Taste' event sing
- Winsted: Firefighters glad for 150 years of support
- Gift boosts programs for Litchfield Aid of CJR
- Litchfield Lacrosse group offers thanks
- Thomaston 'Polar Express' story brought joy to many children
- Waterbury Market provided help to VFW post


text:
I am currently a Masters student looking to change career from sales to IT, specifically Information Security. What are some good resources about finding jobs? What skills should I focus on to get a security job?
This was discussed recently here -> How do I get started with security? (beginner). There are some excellent answers there.
Additionally, Robin Wood has recently done some research on this topic and I think you will find it useful. He presented it at BSides London recently and has posted his findings on his blog - http://www.digininja.org/projects/breaking_in_part_1.php.
I also did a blog post with a friend (@securityninja) on something similar a few months ago - http://www.securityninja.co.uk/application-security/random-thoughts-on-education-learning-from-markofu/ - which you might find useful.
How far are you in your masters program? Can you switch to info sec? Maybe check out Security+ Cert from CompTIA, it's basic curriculum can give you a good intro so you can know if you really like the subject or not, and its valued throughout the industry.


text:
This Week's Liturgy
"Thinking as God does"
September 13th, 2015 (see other dates)
Twenty-fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Discussion Questions for Reading 1What is the personal cost of following Jesus Christ? What does it "cost me" to live the Beatitudes and the Commandments, to participate in the liturgy each week or oftener, to seek God in all things (as Saint Ignatius Loyola put it)? What do I want more of in my life of discipleship? How can I "open my ear" to hear God in my life? What do I need to stay away from if I am to be a more sincere disciple?
Reading 1 Isaiah 50:4-9a
Reading 1 ReflectionIn this reading, the prophet describes the servant of God who will lead Israel back to God. The servant will suffer, but God will uphold him. In New Testament, these words take on new meaning for us. Jesus was the suffering servant in Isaiah, the Messiah who was destined to suffer and so enter into his glory.
As followers of Jesus, we must follow him in his mission and in his trials and suffering. W e may not be asked to die for our faith, but we will be asked to live our faith with courage and full faithfulness.
Discussion Questions for Reading 2Think of a time when you asked someone for help and you received help. How did you feel? Think of a time when you asked for help and the person you asked said, more or less, "Goodbye and good luck!" without helping you. How did you feel?
The first Christians were known for their sharing with each other, their help to one another and to all in need. "See how these Christians love one another!" their neighbors said. We are witnesses to Christ. How does what we do bring people to Christ? When we neglect to help others, what does that tell people about Christ? How does it feel to be a witness, a representative, of Christ to the world--to have Christ's reputation resting on your actions?
Reading 2 James 2:14-18
Reading 2 ReflectionIn this reading the difference between merely talking about faith and practicing it is stressed. What good are kindly wishes to those who need clothing and food for today? Faith without good works is dead.
Let us be concerned for the people around us who are in need. Good intentions are not enough. The love of Christ urges us to act for justice and peace for all God's people.
Discussion Questions for GospelYou may wish to have the group respond to these questions in writing.
Why do people reject other people? Have you ever been rejected for doing what was right or for "not going along with the crowd"? (Remember: God created each of us as unique persons. The person who rejects knowing you is the real loser! He or she is missing a unique creation of God!)
What "crosses" do you have to "take up" in your life right now? Will you ask Jesus to help you?
Gospel Mark 8:27-35
Gospel ReflectionIn this reading, Jesus teaches his disciples what they have gradually come to discover: He is indeed the Messiah. But he is a Messiah who must suffer and die.
Peter found this hard to accept. For Peter, the Messiah would not, could not, suffer. Judging by human standards, not God's, Peter failed to accept God's will for the Messiah. Jesus assured all his disciples that they, too, must suffer: deny themselves, take up the cross, and follow him.
Proclaiming Faith Activities for Primary Grades
A Cross HuntShow the children pictures of various crosses. Encyclopedias and the internet are good references for crosses found in art. Then ask the children where they have seen crosses. Take the children on a walk around the building or into church and "hunt" for crosses. As each cross is found, stop and look at it as a group. Notice any unique qualities about it. When you return to the classroom, have the children discuss the similarities and differences of the various crosses seen. Then provide paper and markers and let the children illustrate their favorite cross that they saw.
Edible CrossProvide each child with six square crackers. Show them how to arrange these in the shape of a cross. Provide various toppings for the crackers such as cream cheese, jam, etc. Let the children put toppings on their crackers, if they would like, and then eat their crosses.
Proclaiming Faith Activities
Expressing Faith in ActionIn the second reading we are told that we need to do more than express our faith in words; we need to show our faith in actions. Tell how you can express in action each of the beliefs listed below.
1. God is more important than anyone or anything in my life.
2. Jesus is my Savior and gave his life for me.
3. The Holy Spirit lives within me.
4. I am called as a member of Christ's Church to bring the good news to others.
Note: Some possible ways to show faith in action are: making time for prayer every morning or evening; carrying my crosses out of love for Jesus; respecting my body as a temple of the Holy Spirit; respecting others as created and loved by God; helping the poor and the sick. Do these or similar ones express your beliefs?
Responding to Jesus' QuestionIn the gospel reading Jesus asked the apostles, "Who do you say that I am?" Write Peter's response here. "You are..."
What would you answer if Jesus were to ask you this same question today?
"You are..."
What words in today's gospel show that Peter did not understand what kind of Messiah Jesus would be?
What message was Jesus trying to teach about following him?
How would you share this message in the world today?
For Bibles and other scripture resources, please see the Sadlier Religion Catalog.
All rights reserved.
All rights reserved.


text:
Obama's words, actions & 'juice'
A lot of talk over the past couple of weeks about what President Obama can or cant do or should or shouldnt dogiven the mainly obstructionist agenda of the opposition party (there was this from Maureen Dowd, which sort of kicked things off, and there was this and this from Charles P. Pierce, who is, well, Charles P. Pierce).Now, on the Commonweal homepage, two new pieces that take a more considered approach to the question of how the president might proceed for the rest of his term. First, from Great Exhortations, James T. Kloppenberg:
It has been particularly fascinating to watch the seesawing of opinion on Obama in the past year. Often it seems that every day presents a new avalanche of commentary on the presidents performance, much of it devoted to sleuthing out backroom maneuvering in an attempt to explain what is happening. And yet perhaps because the cynicism that dominates contemporary political discourse militates against taking any politicians words at face value, surprisingly little analysis is devoted to what the president actually says in his principal public addresses. Americans are so busy figuring out Obama, they have stopped hearing him.
In American history, as in the Catholic tradition, the individual freedom prized by contemporary conservatives and liberals alike has always been bounded by the duties that democratic citizens owe one another. Only if the president insists that liberty still obligates every individualfrom the wealthiest to the poorest, from opponents of fracking to hunters paying dues to the NRAto shoulder the burdens we share in common, and only if he is able to translate that pledge into legislation, will his second term nudge the nation toward fulfilling its ideals. Government in a modern civilization, FDR reminded the nation in 1936, has certain inescapable obligations to its citizens, including protection of the family and the home and the establishment of a democracy of opportunity. Recent events have shown that the insecurity FDR targeted has returned to the United Statesand not only to our vulnerable populations, clustered in cities, but to suburban cinemas and schools and the impoverished populations of Americas reddest states. Inequality has so constricted opportunity in the United States that citizens in most European nations now enjoy not only greater safety but also greater economic and social mobility than do Americans. The dramatic decision of Switzerland, hardly a hotbed of socialism, to adopt the Minder Initiative limiting executive compensation indicates the distance separating European from American social democracy.
The president in his first term often talked about his easy working relationship with his young chief speech writer, Jon Favreau, a Jesuit-trained political activist committed to Catholic conceptions of bounded liberty, community, and justice. Now that Favreau has left the White House, we shall see whether the presidents references to these themes persist. In a moving passage in Dreams from My Father, Obama recalls telling the devout Catholics with whom he worked as a community organizer in Chicago that his motives were not much different from theirs, a revelation that may help explain why he and Favreau worked together so seamlessly for so long. But the president is now at a crossroads. Will he continue fighting against the Republican creed of individualism, confronting plutocracy with the principles of democracy?
Read the whole piece here.Then, E. J. Dionne Jr. encourages Obama to ditch the cool and clinical analysis and get back to what got him here:
When President Obama was asked by Jonathan Karl of ABC News at his Tuesday news conference whether he still had "the juice" to get his agenda through Congress, I wish he had replied, "Lighten up. This is the country where hope lives."[Obama] really is dealing with a novel situation. The GOP has moved far to the right. The Senate no longer operates on the basis of majority rule. The strong presidents with whom Obama is often compared, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan, did not face these obstacles. In his heyday, LBJ had huge Democratic congressional majorities. The Gipper could always count on winning votes from conservative Southern Democrats who had joined Republicans regularly for many years before he took office. Obama has every right to be frustrated: When Republicans obstruct, he takes the blame.But getting an "A" for analysis is not the goal here. In the areas he does control, Obama has to talk less about the hurdles he faces and more forcefully about what he's doing to get over them.
About the Author
Dominic Preziosi is Commonweal's digital editor.
30 comments
- All
- Editor Featured
The strong presidents with whom Obama is often compared, Lyndon Johnson and Ronald Reagan, did not face these obstacles.
Yes they did. Politics is politics and it has not changed. What has changed are the issues and the willingness to compromise on all side.When a relationship begins to break down, or has broken down, frequently the first thing the people do is begin to blame each other. Then, through a series of sometimes mediated discussions, the couple discover that each has contributed to the sorry state of the relationship. Each side owns their contribution and works and endeavours to contribute positively to the solution. This does not mean that there are not differences and important differences.In a democratic system, structured as it is in the US, differences are ultimately resolved through elections and right now people want divided government and that is not a bad thing. It is wise, Slow decisions down. Think it through.The partisans in the press need to just chill out and just start reporting on progress.
I really liked Jonathan Chait's take, too, on the "magical thinking" of commentators like Dowd. Although in her case "thinking" is probably too strong a term. And he quotes that same passage from Dionne.
@George D (5/2, 12:10 pm) True, politics itself has not changed, but political institutions can and do change. And, over the past generation it is the Republican Party that has changed most drastically.As Norman Ornstein has repeatedly observed recently, the Republican Party has changed so radically that it has, in large part, ceased to function as a mainstream political party in a (small d) democratic polity. It is now defined almost exclusively by its oppositional stance. As Republican Sen. Pat Toomey said about members of his own party on the recent gun-control vote, "There were some on my side who did not want to be seen helping the president do something he wanted to get done, just because the president wanted to do it...."This is a different kind of opposition than we saw from Democrats during the Bush and Reagan administrations, and a different kind of opposition than we saw from Republicans during the Kennedy, Johnson and Carter administrations. Can we agree on that?
Today's Republican opposition in Congress is definitely something new under the sun, a virtual monolith dedicatd to obstruction above all else. In the past, it didn't matter how angry opposition leaders might be, a President could always find mavericks, individuals or groups, willing to bargain if approached properly. Today, even overwhelming public opinion in favor of the President's position can't sway Congressional Republicans: They vote together, and they vote AGAINST Barack Obama, and that's it. The only way to break the stalemate is to get the obstructionists out of office ASAP. Until then, the Executive-in-chief is going to have to come up with creative ways around the Legislative barricades. Bush with all those executive orders may have inadvertently shown him a way. What else is there?
This is a different kind of opposition than we saw from Democrats during the Bush and Reagan administrations, and a different kind of opposition than we saw from Republicans during the Kennedy, Johnson and Carter administrations. Can we agree on that?
It is easy to romanticize the past as all of the conflicts from that era have been resolved, wounds healed over, and emotions less raw. So, it is easy to look at those periods of history with a more sanguine eye and see the conflicts as less sharp and less divisive than they were. My preference when dealing with conflict is to look at according to a "contribution" system as opposed to a "blame" system. Looked at in that light, Obama has contributed to the problem and the congressional Republicans have contributed to the problem. The media has also contributed to the problem as they are the ones who frame the issue for the public. And the public, too, has contributed to the problem.From that perspective, it is not so much about right or wrong, good or evil but differing contributions to a problem. And obviously, differing contributions to a solution. But, there will be a solution there always is!
The GOP first term agenda was to insure no second term for Obama. The GOP agenda is now to spoil Obama's 'legacy'. Of course neither I or any print comment magazine will be around in 2025 to record the GOP complaints about Obama legacy. What a stupid, shallow agenda with no hope of fulfillment. .
Either one of those articles could have been written immediately after the 2010 elections were in the books. The President's strengths, weaknesses and political situation hasn't changed appreciably since then. What has he done to change his field position, and how has he grown since then?I'm too young to have any memory of the Johnson Administration, but I don't think President Obama is particularly like Ronald Reagan. To me, he seems more like Bill Clinton in his desire to be pragmatic, and also in having to deal with a recalcitrant Congress, but unlike Clinton, I don't think he knows how to get there, or for reasons that I assume are politically motivated, he has no desire to get there.
@Jim Pauwels (5/2,11:33 pm) Take a look at today's column by Michael Tomasky: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/02/history-the-gop-and-gre...'s the first in what Tomasky promises will be an occasional series of columns giving historical examples to support his claim that "today's GOP is simply not a mainstream political party in the traditional American sense. It is a radical oppositionalist faction, way beyond the normal American parameters both in terms of ideology and tactics."Can you (or anyone) imagine today's Senate Republican caucus providing 16 votes in favor of a similarly controversial treaty?David Corn's book , "Showdown", provides an in-depth look at one year and one issue from President Obama's first administration. In the course of the book, Corn (though this is not his main point) makes abundantly clear that the president has been more than willing (and able) to use a variety of tactics and political strategies to try to accomplish his goals. Regardless of what he does, a significant faction of the Republican party is determined to oppose him. This is their failing, not his. (Or, alternatively I suppose, it is to their great credit.)
@George D (5/2, 8:28 pm) Thanks for the reply. I agree it's easy to romanticize the disagreements of the past. (Ah yes, remember those golden days when giants of political skill and comity like Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich ruled the land....)However, I find your conclusion that "there will be a solution there always is!" disturbingly Panglossian. I'm happy to look at conflict from a "contribution" rather than a "blame" perspective (and certainly none of us is blameless). Looking at our current national politics, it seems to me that the "contributions" to the conflicts that exist come from the Republican party in a ration closer to 80:20 than to 50:50.And yes, as long as there's a quarter (or so) of the electorate that's driven in large measure by racial resentment, fear and rage, then there's going to be a political party that will seek to represent them. (That was the Democratic party until sometime in the mid-20th century when the Republican Party made a conscious, strategic decision to recruit and represent that faction.) But that's an explanation for why today's Republican party is the way it is; it's not an excuse.
Obama needs a new rhetorical style. His response to the "juice" question the other day was witty enough, but most people didn't hear it and some wouldn't get it. He needs to talk faster with more punch and his argument should be explicit. Currently he talks slowly pauses between words! and sounds too casual. This may not be substance but it is performance before the public that is needed to turn the Congress. James Klopenberg's analysis praises the current substance of Obama's speeches, but as long as Obama's rhetoric sounds like your basic high school sophmore, he's convincing no one. I keep waiting for the universal "uh" or "you know"; that doesn't come, but it may as well.
todays GOP is simply not a mainstream political party in the traditional American sense. It is a radical oppositionalist faction, way beyond the normal American parameters both in terms of ideology and tactics.... and yet the GOP has managed to achieve a majority in the House that last two elections during President Obama's tenure, and for most of the time dating back to President Clinton's administration. And save for the first two years of the Obama Administration, has had either a significant minority or outright majority in the Senate, dating back to 1980. And that doesn't even get to the number of state houses and state legislatures the GOP controls. How is it that this marginal gang of extreme ideologues sends so many people to Congress?
I was trying to stay on the sideliines here, but...Margaret, remember the Lincoln movie? That squeaky voiced guy was never going to get anything done. Fortunately, he hired a speech coach, lowered his voice, dropped the homey comparisons, became commanding... oh? no? No, instead his enemies had the decency to secede and make him fight it out on their terms. And lost (something forgotten by some of Obama's foes).And Jim, those Republican majorities? Read Ornstein and Mann (start with "It's Even Worse than it Looks"{). In some districts, Lady Gaga could be elected as a Republican if she were nominated, and in other districts she could be elected as a Democrat. In about 370 of the 435 House districts, the voters have been selected by the candidates instead of vice versa. Let's remember to factor that into election analyses.
Tom - true, gerrymandering is ubiquitous. But that districts are mapped to demographic and psychographic reality doesn't really change my thesis. Unless there are a lot more rotten boroughs than we suspect, it appears that there is a real, live and substantial electorate that supports these guys in Congress. I.e. the makeup of Congress reflects, to some rough extent, the makeup of the American people. If the GOP has changed (and if the Democratic Party has changed), perhaps it's because Americans have changed.But all of these factors and trends are beyond President Obama's control. He is supposed to govern the country that elected him, and working with the opposition is part of the package. Pace Chait and Sargent, it's not Magical Thinking to expect a president to be able to build coalitions, strike deals, change positions, persuade, expend political capital, reward and punish, and deploy the other tried-and-true tactics that his predecessors have managed in order to get things done.
@Jim Pauwels (5/3, 12:53 pm) Throughout his political career, Barack Obama has deployed all of the tried-and-true tactics you listed. In fact, it was his ability to build coalitions, strike deals, persuade, etc., that first helped him rise to prominence as a state senator."Magical Thinking" is the failure to recognize that the Republican opposition led by Mitch McConnell is fundamentally different from, say, the Democratic opposition led by Tip O'Neill (or George Mitchell).
TB: Didn't see the Lincoln movie, so I don't get your point (who had the squeaky voice? Lincoln?)But then, Obama is no Lincoln. Just to keep in the weeds: Did he ever take a speech class? I know, I know, totally boring, but actually learned a few things in mine. All I'm saying is substance isn't his problem (or only problem). Political impasses can be broken if someone convinces enough voters. E.G. Michael Peppard's post about national parks and the livings locals make in Montana; the locals are now affected by the sequestration cutting national parks. Someone should tell them they voted for the wrong representative. Ditto Kelly Ayotte being confronted over her vote against gun control:"Ayotte's vote against the legislation has not only made her a target for gun control advocates nationwide, but also has left her fielding questions and complaints about her stance on the divisive topic of guns from voters across her state. During a town hall Tuesday in Warren, N.H., Ayotte was confronted by the daughter of Dawn Hochsprung, the principal of Sandy Hook Elementary, who was killed by Adam Lanza in the Dec. 14 massacre in Newton, Conn. Later Tuesday, in Tilton, N.H., members of the audience waved signs that read, "Demand action to end gun violence." Obama (and other Dems) should campaign during the 2014 house elections, saying precisely how the current representative of any given district has voted against the interests of his/her constituents. I believe this is called wholesale politics and it needs strong and certain voices. Obama (and other Dems) need to take speech lessons.
Jon Favreau takes the issue up today in the Daily Beast (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/03/leading-from-below.html ). Yes, Obama's supporters need to help Obama, but:"Ive also seen what happens to Republicans who dare to even contemplate cooperation with the White House. When Congressman Scott Rigell of Virginia accepted the presidents invitation to join him at an event highlighting the shipyard jobs that sequestration would destroy in his district, the two men had a warm and constructive conversation aboard Air Force One. The president talked about his willingness to pursue entitlement reform. Rigell said he was open to closing tax loopholes for the wealthy. In return, he was threatened with a primary challenge by his local Tea Party, attacked by Grover Norquist as a cheap date, and flooded with nasty calls and emails from conservative activists.If youre a Republican in Congress, whats more likely to sway your votea trip on Air Force One and a personal plea from Barack Obama, or the threat of a Tea Party challenge thats taken down so many of your colleagues in recent elections?"
Jim, More rotten boroughs than we suspect. From where I sit, Florida has 4.8 million registered Democrats and 4.2 registered Republican voters. From that, you would expect our elections to be close. And they are. Famously so. We have one senator from each party. But where district lines are possible, we have: 28 Rs and 12 Ds in the state Senate 75 Rs and 44 Ds in the state House 17 Rs and 10 Ds in the U.S. HouseNow, guess which party was in power and redrew district lines after the 2010 census.
Power is at an historic imbalance in Congress thanks to gerrymandering that elected a group of extremists to Congress who show no reticence when it comes to bullying members of their own party who don't do what they say. Clearly, this isn't the first time in history members of Congress have played dirty or strongarmed the opposition, but it IS the first time one party monopolized the bully tactics and used them with so few scruples about the public good for no apparent purpose other than making one man -- the President of the United States -- look bad.
Well, at least Obama managed to find time to speak to Planned Parenthood. Obama does remain unswervingly loyal to the abortion industry.
The good news this week is that a Pew report shows that many senators who voted against gun control have lost significant approval at home, while the few courageous ones, like Mary Landrieu, who voted for it have gained a lot. For her the gain might just be enough to keep her in office. And hopefully the votes will make a difference in other elections, especially in those involving Tea Partiers. Jim P. = Gerrymandering often gives an unfair advantage to one party. Why else would politicians vote for it?
[FLASH -- The Israelis have apparently launched an air strike against Syria. Hmmm. Won't that change the balance of power in the M.E. somewhat if the rebels finally win? Wouldn't Israel then have an Arab semi-ally?]
Margaret S suggests that Obama should be a smarter campaigner in 2014 and get Dems elected. Margaret, please tell us and him how can he change a Senate system that requires 60 votes... and win more Senate seats where four Red states Senators have states with a population of 3 million... these 8 senators have the same number of seats/votes as four Blue states with a total population of 80 million. The red states of Wyoming, Alaska, North Dakota and Montana have a majority of the small population believing that the Federal Government, who supplies them with beau coup dollars, will invade them and take away their guns.. I suggest your suggestion of Obama speech classes seems like a meager remedy. [maybe silly?]
Ed Gleason: I was generally thinking of the House races, in which, of course, everybody is up. I will grant that redistricting has emphasized partisan divisions and taking the House back is a major issue for the Dems. Nonetheless, ....voters need to be educated that ideological positions focused on Big Government, are screwing most ideological voters. Political speeches should point that out in detail with good examples, and at every opportunity. Obviously the candidates themselves (Dems) should be in the forefront, but strong language from Obama would help. I also grant you that the insistent racism that seems to lie at the heart of so much anti-Obama attitudes (I am not voting for this because I don't want him to get credit) is genuinely surprising at this point in history. Is it possible that another strong speech on race would call our collective attention to the issue? I don't know.Here is a piece in May 4 Times about the Senate races: no one wants to run! Here's your chance.http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/04/us/politics/as-senators-head-for-the-e...
Margaret O'S... I agree with your analysis of the House. But I have no sympathy that electable Dem candidates [think Indiana's Byah ] retire because of the Senate bickering. Not while GIs are dying by IED on Afghanistan dirt roads. Patriots serve, not bug out..
How about some of them retire, Levin and Harkins, for example, because they can't get anything done. To run again they'd have to spend a lot of time fund-raising. A Times' story this morning observed that it used to be that Senators with big committee assignments like Levin and Harkin were carried out in their caskets. If you've been there thirty or forty years, even GIs get to retire. I'm sorry to see those two go, but I wouldn't call them unpatriotic.
Evan Byah's excuse to retire was he could do more good teaching. He did even more real good.... for himself.. he lobbies..
Evan Byah is the son of Birch Byah, long-time senator. Are you confusing them?
No confusion.. Evan 'inherited' the Senate seat... as his father who was also a Indiana senator. My take is that both inherited money and inherited public office gets no respect from the recipient.That's why the US has no aristocratic titles and tax reform might take on the money transfer.
It should be clear by now to any honest, astute observer that before we can solve any of our other serious problems, economic, social, international, etc., we have to fix our broken political system. Three major reforms are required: 1. Take special-interest money out of politics. Other countries like Canada and the U.K. have done it, and so can/must we. 2. Put an end to gerrymandering of congressional (and state legislative) districts which keeps a person from one party or the other in office, in perpetuity, no matter what he does or fails to do. 3. Abolish the U.S. Senate's anti-democratic, much-abused filibuster rule, which enables a minority of 41 to prevail over the majority. Believe it or not, 51, not 60, is a majority of 100! Given the filibuster rule, we only need 41 Democrats in the Senate! Those who care about keeping our democracy should focus on these issues.


text:
Wahiawa, Hawaii Securities Lawyers and Law Firms
|» Step 1: Tell Us About Your Case
|» Step 2: Provide Contact Information & Submit
Start a Lawyer Search
Tell us about your case so that we can connect you with the right lawyers.
The Law Offices of Place & Hanley, PLLC
The Law Offices of Place & Hanley, LLC ,a nationally recognized securities and commodities arbitration law firm, represents investors in many states located throughout the United States and in some other countries as well.
Address: 1415 Panther Lane - Naples, FL 39401
Phone: (239) 455-1242


text:
Let $B_n$ be the braid group on $n$ strands. It's a theorem of Daan Krammer and Stephen Bigelow that there is a a faithful representation
$$B_n \to GL_{n \choose 2} \mathbb Z[t^{\pm}, q^{\pm}] $$
i.e. the range is the group of invertible matrices of rank $n \choose 2$ whose entries are from a Laurent polynomial ring over the integers.
My question for the community is, what kind of lower bounds are known on $k$ for there to be a faithful representation
$$B_n \to GL_k \mathbb C$$
Also, are there any analogous bounds for the same question but for mapping class groups?
I have a vague recollection that there are some good answers to this question but I forget who they're due to. I also strongly suspect if you restrict to unitary representations there are some stronger results, maybe due to Stoimenow or Marin?
edit: Marin has a lower bound $k \geq n+1$ provided $n$ is sufficiently large.
edit2: Korkmaz has a theorem that says no representation from the genus $g$ mapping class group to $GL_n \mathbb C$ can be faithful, provided $n \leq 3g-3$. http://arxiv.org/abs/1108.3241


text:
Blue makes a prosumer mic that you can connect directly to an iPod or iPhone via the dock port. I would love to have the same capability to do something similar for an Android phone or tablet. This would be really useful for field recording. I know that some tablets have support for various USB accessories to be plugged in, but I don't know if the OS can handle a microphone. Is this possible using existing or near future (Ice Cream Sandwich) hardware/OS combinations?
The range of USB device types supported "as is" by Android is limited and does not include microphones.
On the other hand, Android has the capability to work with an unlimited range of USB devices via their 'open accessories' sdk/kit/framework. This was added in Android 3.0.
I believe they had to do it this way: existing USB devices require driver support and they can't go adding all those drivers to Android (which is a static image). The open accessory framework will allow for devices that can be supported without loading a Linux driver.
So, you can't just go and buy a USB microphone and plug it into your Android device, but I expect we will soon start seeing USB accessories that are specifically designed to work with Android.
No, it's not supported on any Android version up to and including 4.0.3. (I've just tested this with my Zoom H4n and Asus TF101 upgraded to 4.0.3.)
There's no reason it can't be added in a future version, or maybe a third-party port. The driver exists in Linux, so it would just need to be included in Android's Linux kernel build and then given some interface for applications to get at the device.
It's still possible to use the H2 as a field recorder and then turn on its mass storage interface to access the recordings from a tablet or phone. It's not quite the same, and not useful for (say) Skype, but you could still use it for a record-edit-upload workflow.
Apparently it is now possible, but only in specific apps with custom drivers, as the OS doesn't support it:


text:
6 Insanely Violent Festivals You Won't Believe Aren't Riots
We're so afraid of celebrations getting out of hand that you can't even buy real fireworks in much of the Western world. Our definition of getting crazy is buying some plastic beads and showing off our boobs. But in some parts of the world, they still know how to party.
Sure, not everyone will survive the following festivals, but that just makes it all the sweeter for the ones still standing after ...
#6. Explosive Sledgehammer Day
Doing stupid stuff to impress our friends is a grand tradition that has existed ever since one caveman discovered fire and another caveman tried to top him by demonstrating how close he could hold it to his balls. It was just a matter of time until somebody turned it into a holiday involving explosives strapped to sledgehammers. Swing said sledgehammer into the ground and ...
Tales from Mexico
This absurdly dangerous tradition occurs every February in San Juan de la Vega, Mexico, and is part of a celebration of the village's namesake -- San Juanito, the patron saint of fuck yeah let's blow some shit up. We're having a little trouble working out the logic of celebrating a town's patron saint with exploding hammers -- but then who cares about logic, because that moment when the hammer meets the ground and you feel like a real-life Thor must be freaking magical.
El Sol Del Bajio
But of course when you have an entire village full of people pretending to be Asgardians with the help of not-pretend explosives, it's not all fun and games. People are injured every single year during these shenanigans -- a total of 50 in 2008 alone. And it's not hard to imagine how that could be the case when you watch the poor bastard at the end of this video, who got just a little overzealous about the amount of explosives he strapped onto his hammer. The resulting explosion flips him back like a rag doll and whirls the hammer out of the top of the camera frame, never to be seen again.
Maybe San Juanito caught it. Hopefully not in his saintly skull.
#5. Manasa Devi Festival: Getting Bitten by Venomous Snakes (on Purpose)
As legend has it, an Indian man by the name of Lakhinder was bitten by a snake. Then, no surprise, he died. But his widow Behula prayed to the hindu god Manasa Devi, who brought him back to life -- and not even as, like, zombie-Lakhinder. So today, devotees to Manasa Devi celebrate this by hosting a traditional festival during which people bathe themselves in herbs and then let a bunch of cobras bite them.
That's right: They. Let. Venomous. Cobras. Bite. Them.
"I said bite my face! No ... stop licking my forehead!"
So why isn't this known as the Annual Mass Death by Snake Venom Festival? Well, like a Big Mac, the secret lies in the special sauce -- the herbs that they bathe in and eat prior to the festival. They're an herb called Eklavi that, according to the participants, nullifies the effects of the cobra venom. But goddamn, that doesn't change the fact that deadly venom is being pumped into their bloodstreams. Or that holy shit they're allowing cobras to sink their monstrous fangs into their flesh again and again:
Because you needed to see a better shot of this. You're welcome.
During the course of the festival, the villagers parade the participants around on litters with the snakes hanging from their skin like the most metal piercings ever. Also, the devotees aren't allowed to speak anything except mantras for the duration of the festival. Given the fact that they have snakes gnawing on them the entire time, we're thinking those mantras are something along the lines of "Ow ow that hurts snakes FANGS FUCK AAAAHHHH!" We hope at least one of them goes something like "Hey, guys? I think those herbs maybe weren't quite adequate protection and I need some medical attention now. Because I'm dying, you see."
#4. Agni Keli: Throw Torches at Your Friends Day
Every year in April, an eight-day festival is held at Shree Kateel Durga Parameshwari Temple in India, and on the second night they host an event called the Agni Keli. During the Agni Keli, also creatively dubbed the Indian Fire Festival, thousands of spectators gather around the streets of Mangalore to watch a parade of bare-chested men march down the road and light hundreds of palm fronds on fire. These will soon be projectiles.
The best parties always start with shirtless men huddled around a fire.
They divide themselves into two teams and, for 15 minutes of hell on earth, play a big old game of Satan's dodgeball.
They've been doing this for centuries as a way to pay respect and show honor to their goddess Durga (presumably she's the goddess of gauze and poultices). The men each have five palm fronds that they're allowed to throw, after which they just have to stand there and try to look cool while dodging the opposing team's fiery assaults. Because even when it comes to pelting each other with fire, you've got to have some rules, goddammit.
Their only protection is a thin cloth tied around their waist, and if they get hit, their teammates spray them down with some special holy water called Kumkumarchane -- which we're thinking might be a bit of a mouthful to call out for when you've got a lit torch smoldering its way through your loincloth.
"Kum ... Kumkum ... OH DURGADAMMIT JUST PUT ME OUT!"


text:
Listeners joined Warm 106.9 and Matt Case at the Ballard Safeway store to pick up a pack of Trident Gum! While they were there, they stopped by the Warm tent for their chance to win fabulous prizes! Don't forget your Phone, Keys, and Trident Gum, check!Read More »
Matt Case
March for Babies 2014!
THANK YOU to everyone who came out to the 2014 Seattle March for Babies at Fisher Pavilion! Warm 106.9 brought the music, fun, and games as Matt Case and Laurie Hardie took the stage to welcome everyone to the event! With everyone's support the March of Dimes is working to ensure that every baby gets the healthy start they deserve. …Read More »


text:
Connected GPS watches for explorers and athletes.
Outdoor watch with versatile navigation functions for hiking and trekking.
GPS outdoor watch with useful tools for fishing, hunting and hiking, including moon phase calendar and shot detection.
The outdoor watch with altimeter, barometer & compass in a range of stylish design options.
A collection of superbly crafted timepieces - from urban jungles to epic expeditions.
All-in-one GPS watches for explorers and athletes.
Legendary outdoor watch with a solid track record of high-altitude performance.
Heart rate monitors for performance-oriented training.
A collection of fitness watches for easy real-time monitoring of heart rate and calories.
The perfect combination of functionality and style for underwater adventures and everyday wear.
Enter a valid email address


text:
Our Publications
- Aspen
- Atlanta
- Chicago
- Dallas
- The Hamptons
- Hawai'i
- Houston
- Los Angeles
- Miami
- New York
- Orange County
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- Scottsdale
- Washington, D.C.
Palatable Prelude
Loyal patrons of Laguna Art Museum were treated to an evening of mixing with fellow art enthusiasts and mingling with the creatives who were on tap to showcase their work at this year's main event—the Palette to Palate dinner, held every year at the museum. Let's just call this the party before the party. Longtime arts supporters—and Laguna power couple—Lou and Laura Rohl opened the doors of their home to host the crowd, which included the likes of Angela Tesselaar, Peter Blake and Stephanie Bachiero, along with artists Joshua Dildine and Chris Richter. They nibbled on the culinary artistry of 24 Carrots Catering and sipped wines by Dierberg and Star Lane vineyards. And they left with Roberto Cavalli goodie bags. A fine prelude, indeed! Photography by Ann Chatillon


text:
Let $V = \Pi_{1 \le i < j \le n} (a_j - a_i)$ be the determinant of the Vandermonde matrix where $1 = a_1 < \cdots < a_n = d$ (with $d >> n$). What is the smallest prime $p$ (or the lower bound) such that $p \nmid V$? Preferably $p < n$.
closed as not a real question by Gjergji Zaimi, Andrés E. Caicedo, Mark Sapir, Felipe Voloch, Qiaochu Yuan Jan 6 '11 at 12:33
It's difficult to tell what is being asked here. This question is ambiguous, vague, incomplete, overly broad, or rhetorical and cannot be reasonably answered in its current form. For help clarifying this question so that it can be reopened, visit the help center.If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
Not really clear about what is being asked. If the $a_i$ are all divisible by the same p (choose one) then this p does divide V. Suppose the $a_i$ are 1 ... n, then if $p < n$ then then with $a_i=1$ there is an $a_j$ with $a_j-a_i=p$. If $p \ge n$ then $p \nmid V$. If $p < n$ then in any n numbers there are two with the same residue mod p (pigeonhole) so $p \mid V$. Is a more general context intended?
To extend Mark Bennet's answer, one could have a_2 = a_1 + P_m, the mth primorial, giving that V is a multiple of P_m. So without parameters, there is no bound. If you want something in terms of V or the a_i, you might start with the idea that such a prime need be not much larger than the largest of (a_i - a_j), and is likely to be smaller.
Gerhard "Ask Me About System Design" Paseman, 2011.01.05
If $p<n$ then it must be that $p \mid V$. However if $p \ge n$ then it can be arranged that $p \nmid V$. If you set $a_i=2^m(i-1)+1$ then no prime greater than $n-1$ divides $V$. You could replace $2^m$ by $(n-1)!$ or anything else with all divisors less than $n$.
Considered as a polynomial in the $a_i$'s, $V$ is never divisible by p, since the monomial $a_1^{n-1}a_2^{n-2}\cdots a_{n-1}$ always appears with coefficient 1. However, by the magic of Fermat's little theorem, it can be that all of its values are divisible by p, even if the polynomial itself isn't. As Mark points out, this happens if and only if $p< n$.


text:
Casa Moda Stainless Steel Buffet Fondue for $17
Plus Shipping.
This Stainless Steel Buffet Fondue Set is perfect for bringing fun to serving food at parties and holiday gatherings. It includes everything you need to have four people gather round and enjoy chocolate or cheese dipped favorites. Set includes 1-13/16 quart stainless steel pot, stainless steel fork guard, stainless steel sterno burner, four 6 inch ceramic dishes, and four plastic-handled, color coded forks. Dishwasher safe.
2 Comments add a comment
Do you do fondue?
Family tradition, for holiday dinners we use a few of these with cooking oil instead of cheese or chocolate, and cut up a bunch of meats to use on the skewers. Everyone cooks to their own liking, and it's much more interactive - not to mention prep is way easier. I always recommend that folks have a good fondue set, even if just to entertain company with.


text:
viewer: 85426 | love: 0
Located on the eastern coast of Bangka Island, Pangkalpinang is the island's largest city and capital of the Province of Bangka-Belitung Islands. Aside from its role as the center of the provincial government, economic, and commercial activities, Pangkalpinang serves as gateway for visitors who wish to explore the enchanting beauty of Bangka and Belitung Islands.
Long known as the center of the tin mining industry, in its heydays Bangka produced some of the best tin ore and tin handicrafts. The tin mining industry drew Chinese workers and their descendants to the island, who brought their culture to root-down on Bangka, thus decorating the city of Pangkalpinang with visible Chinese nuances in its architecture and rituals. But besides its rich cultural heritage, Pangkalpinang also boasts some pristine beaches.
As visitors step down at the Depati Amir Airport, a huge sign welcomes them saying "Welcome to the land of Serumpun Sebalai". Serumpun Sebalai or Seiya Sekata in Bahasa Indonesia has deep meaning that unity only comes with actions that correspond to speech and promises. More than the Province's slogan, however, Serumpun Sebalai underscores the spirit that unites the plural society of the islands into one big family.
Pangkal or Pengkal in the Malay language means center or beginning. It refers to the city's role as the center of the tin mining industry. This once small mining town subsequently grew into the island's commercial center as well as connecting port among all the islands. Pinang on the other hand is the palm tree found abundantly on the island.
To trace the history of tin mining industry on Bangka and Belitung and in Indonesia in general, visit the Indonesia Tin Museum located at Jl. Jendral Achmad Yani no.17 in the heart of Pangkalpinang. Housing various collections on the subject of tin mining, the museum is the only museum of its kind in Asia. The building itself is a heritage of national history since it was once used as venue for a meeting between Indonesian leaders and Dutch representatives for Indonesia's independence from Dutch colonial powers.
Pangkalpinang also boasts pristine beaches. Located some 7 km from downtown Pangkalpinang, the Pasir Padi Beach offers beautiful scenery of white sand and clear blue ocean waters. The beach is also a perfect site to watch the sun rise in the morning. At ebb tide, visitors can walk to the nearby Punan Island and bathe in its calm waters. Not too far from Pasir Padi Beach, about 2.5 km from here is the Tanjung Bunga Beach which offers beautiful scenery of a flat beach decorated with huge granite rock formations.
Culturally, Pangkalpinang is heavily influenced by Chinese culture.which began around 1770 when Sultan Mahmud Badaruddin II of Palembang Darussalam Sultanate invited laborers from China to work at tin mining industries on Bangka and Belitung. Subsequently, Chinese laborers arrived from Siam, Malaka (in present day Malaysia) and the Southern part of China. Most are Hakka (Khek) ethnic descent from the province of Guang Xi in China, The migrants would soon marry locals, since Chinese authorities at the time forbade women from migrating with their men. Their intermarriage and their descendents call themselves: Peranakan Chinese. Therefore, today the Chinese and native Malay ethnic groups form the majority of the population in Pangkalpinang .
As part of the roots of Chinese culture, the Kwan Tie Miaw temple stands beautifully at the Mayor Syarif Rachman Street. Initially called Kwan Tie Bo temple, it is one of the oldest temples on the island and according to inscriptions on the temple's bell, it is estimated to have been built in 1841. Along with the nearby Mambo market and Singapore Alley, the area is the Chinatown of Pangkalpinang where are often held Chinese traditional ceremonies such as the ritual to repel misfortune called Pot Ngin Bun.
There are several hotels and modest inns you can choose from in the city. Here are among some of the accommodation to choose:
Hotel Menumbing
Jl. Gereja No. 5 Pangkalpinang
Phone: +62 717 422990,422991
Fax:+62 717 424485
Hotel Grand Millenium
Jl. Soekarno Hatta No. 198 A-B Pangkalpinang
Phone: +62 717 437600.
Email : firstname.lastname@example.com
Hotel Jati Wisata
Jl. Kartini No. 3
Phone: +62 717 431500, 431700, 431900.
Hotel Sabrina
Jl. Diponegoro No.73
Phone: +62 717 422424, 423511, 431300.
Penginapan Rachmat
Jl. Yos Sudarso No.1
Phone: +62 717 432735.
Hotel Griya Tirta
Jl. Semabung Lama No. 272
Telp. (0717) 433436, 433437, 433438 Fax. (0717) 423859
Hotel Mitra
Jl. Depati Amir No. 3
Phone +62 717 439071
Email : firstname.lastname@example.com
Wisma Timah 88
Jl. Merdeka 88.
Phone: +62 717 433300.
Jl. Girimaya Bukit Besar
Phone: +62 717 7020835
Fax: +62 717 434835
Email: email@example.com
More Hotels are available at find a hotel:
Pangkalpinang has 4 inter-city terminals that connect all districts on Bangka Island. If you wish to get around using public transport, keep in mind that they only operate from 06.00 to 18.00 Western Indonesia Time. Public transportat or locally known as Angkutan Kota (Angkot) come in 5 routes: Pangkalpinang- Air Itam (Black painted), Pangkalpinang-Mentok(Green painted), Pangkalpinang-Pangkalbalam(Red painted), Pangkalpinang-Depati Amir Airport(Yellow painted) and Pangkalpinang-Selindung (Blue painted). The charge of this public transportation is around IDR2.000 to IDR3.000 per person.
From Jakarta, there are daily flights from Soekarno-Hatta International Airport to Depati Amir Airport in Pangkalpinang, served by Sriwijaya Air, Batavia Air, Lion Air, and Garuda Indonesia. The city is also accessible from Palembang via daily flights served by Sriwijaya Air.
Pangkalpinang is also known as one of the major ports off the coast of Sumatra; tins, peppers, fish, and copra are exported from here. The Pangkalbalam seaport also acts as a passenger ports serving ferries to and from Jakarta and fast boats or Jetfoils to and from Tanjung Pandan in Belitung Island. The ships schedules from Tanjung Priok to Pangkalpinang or to Belinyu in Bangka as well as from Tanjung Priok to Tanjung Pandan or Tanjung Ru in Belitung are nevertheless irregular. It will be best to confirm beforehand with the port administrators.
Alternately, from Palembang you can also reach this city by sea via Muntok Seaport, in West Bangka. It takes about 3 hours by jetfoil from Bom Baru Palembang to Tanjung Kalian in Mentok, West Bangka, and 3-hour drive by public bus from Mentok to Pangkalpinang.
The only airline that serves direct flights from Pangkalpinang in Bangka Island to Tanjungpandan on Belitung Island, and vice versa, is the Sky Aviation. Flights are only available on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays. The 35 minutes flight departs from Pangkalpinang Thursdays at 10:15 Western Indonesia Time, and Tuesdays and Sundays at 10:45 Western Indonesia Time. From Tanjungpandan on Belitung, flights depart the same days,Thursdays at 11:20 Western Indonesia Time, andTuesdays and Sundays at 11:50 Western Indonesia Time.
For a complete schedule of Sky Aviation visit: http://www.sky-aviation.co.id/destinations/reguler-route/
Alternatively, you can also use the daily Bahari speed boat that will take 4 hours. This is by far the most convenient means of Sea transportation and comes complete with air conditioning. It costs around USD 17 per one way trip. Bahari Express leaves daily at 14.00 from Pangkalpinang, Bangka, to Belitung, and leaves at 07.00 from Tanjungpandan Belitung to Pangkalpinang.


text:
Invicta Camelot Citadel Stainless Steel Women's Watch
The Invicta Camelot Citadel Stainless Steel Women's Watch is a great way to make a lasting impression. The watch can easily be worn with professional or casual attire, and it features a polished finish on the watch case, multi-link bracelet band, coin-edged raised bezel and stylish blue dial face. It also has a full Roman numeral display with Tritnite luminous-tips, baton hands (with seconds hand), and a date window at 3 o'clock with magnifier. Other features include a scratch-resistant mineral crystal and water resistance to 50M.


text:
Event Information
Required workshops: 1/18, 1/25, 2/1
6:00 - 8:30 p.m. Kirkhof Center 2270
Description: A 3-week workshop series on valuing and advocating for inclusion and diversity. Learn concepts of diversity as you are challenged by stereotypes that inhibit successful leadership and team development. We will have guest presenters from Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA), LGBT, Women's Center, and Disability services.
Registration: TBA
Leadership email@example.com


text:
Suppose you have a discrete 2D grid where each point represents a person, for example $\mathbf{d} = (x_d, y_d)$. Each person can only move exactly one square up, left, right or down (or stay put) per tick of the clock. Let's say that $\mathbf{d}$'s velocity is $(c_x, c_y)$, which means that on average after $t$ ticks he will end up to point $\mathbf{e} = (x_e, y_e)$, which lies $t \cdot c_x$ squares left or right on the $x$-axis and $t \cdot c_y$ squares up or down on the $y$-axis. Therefore,
$$x_e = x_d + c_x \cdot t$$ $$y_e = y_d + c_y \cdot t$$
Let another person, $\mathbf{o}$, who is chasing after $\mathbf{d}$ and knowing his velocity tries to intercept him. He has to calculate the point $\mathbf{e}$ where $\mathbf{d}$ will end up after $t$ moves and then follow the shortest path of length $t$ there. Since no diagonal moves are allowed, $t = |x_e-x_o| + |y_e-y_o|$.
So, to find $\mathbf{e}$ we end up with a system with two equations and two unknowns, like so:
$$x_e = x_d + c_x \cdot (|x_e-x_o| + |y_e-y_o|)$$ $$y_e = y_d + c_y \cdot (|x_e-x_o| + |y_e-y_o|)$$
Is this whole reasoning correct or am I missing something? If so, how is this system solved?
Additional details: We have four predators $\mathbf{o_i}$ which are chasing after a single prey $\mathbf{d}$. To capture the prey, they need to surround it from all directions, ie up, down, left and right. The predators' movement can be defined as we like, except for the usual constraint, that each predator can move up to one square and diagonal moves are not allowed. The prey moves randomly, with $p=0.2$ to conduct any of its available move (up, down, left, right, stay still). However, if its path is blocked from one side by a predator, then it will never move towards that square. I'm not sure of the details but I assume "the dice" are thrown again and again until a non-obstructed move is selected.
Motivation for the question above: The point is that after some but not all the predators have reached their position beside the prey to use our knowledge of the prey's behaviour to predict its movement so that the remaining predators can move towards where it will be in the future, not where it is right now. Hence, I said "on average" above instead of saying all this.
Full disclosure: I'm working on a homework assignment for the pursuit domain (multiagent systems). This question is part of my latest approach which involves herding the prey. The previous approached involved surrounding it without getting too close and then moving in for the kill.


text:
There exists extensive theory for the concentration of Gaussian measure. Through that, it can be easily proved that the square of the $\ell_2$ norm of a length $n$ zero mean Gaussian vector ${\bf x}$ with covariance matrix ${\bf I}_n$ is concentrated around $n$ with overwhelming probability. Such a result also follows immediately from the Restricted Isometry Property that holds for Gaussian matrices. I was wondering if any concentration results could be inferred for inner products of Gaussian i.i.d random variables. Namely, if $\Pr(|{\bf x}{\bf y}|<\alpha)$ is overwhelming (or exponentially vanishing in $n$) for some meaningful $\alpha$.
If you have 2 standard Gaussians in $\mathbb{R}^n$, their inner product is the sum of $n$ i.i.d. variables, with their common distribution fixed (and having finite moments), so you will get convergence to the appropriate Gaussian distribution in line with the central limit theorem, with exponential bounds coming from Hoeffding's inequality, say. Do you need tight bounds or asymptotics is enough?
I am not sure if I am understanding you quite clearly: you have i.i.d Gaussian random variables $x_i, y_i$ so that for any $\alpha > 0$ the quantity $P[|\sum_i x_i y_i| < \alpha]$ goes to zero. What you are looking for is the rate of convergence to zero ? Or you are looking for a function $\phi$ that gives non-trivial bounds like $P[|\sum_{i=1}^n x_i y_i| < \alpha] \leq \phi(\alpha, n)$ ?


text:
Please enter a maximum of 5 recipients. Use ; to separate more than one email address.
Woodside Petroleum CEO Peter Coleman doesn't see any major softening in LNG demand as buyers anticipate future supply increases from North America and East Africa. Demand for LNG is "very strong, particularly for spot cargoes and we expect that demand to maintain strength [in coming years]," he said.
By STEPHEN BELL
PERTH -- Woodside Petroleum aims to finalize a $1.2 billion
a deal to buy a 30% stake in a big natural gas field in the
Mediterranean Sea by June, after talks with Israel were held up
by a general election.
Woodside CEO Peter Coleman said he hadn't been able to
meet with Israeli lawmakers for some time to discuss the stake
purchase in the Leviathan gas field because of the election
campaign in January and subsequent efforts to form a new
coalition government.
Leviathan, which contains an
estimated 18 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, is the world's
largest deepwater gas find in a decade. Its discovery with
other large fields off Israel's coast in recent years has
potentially set up Israel as an exporter of energy.
Woodside agreed a deal to acquire the stake in Leviathan in
December as it stepped up a search for overseas assets that
could increase its production within the next five years.
Several setbacks in Australia have dented its near-term
prospects, including a decision to shelve plans for the Browse
liquefied natural gas facility onshore Western Australia and a
shortage of gas to underpin an expansion of its $15 billion Pluto
Woodside's partners in the joint venture -- Noble Energy,
Delek Group, Avner Oil Exploration and Ratio Oil Exploration --
had expected the deal for the Leviathan stake to be finalized
by February.
Despite the delays due to the election, Mr. Coleman said
Woodside aims to complete the Leviathan deal before the end of
the first half of the current calendar year.
However, investors in Leviathan are still seeking clarity on
Israel's policy toward gas exports.
Earlier this month, Noble Energy CEO Charles Davidson said
production from Leviathan won't begin until Israel sets out
export rules dictating how much gas can be sold abroad. A 2012
government commission issued several policy recommendations, including an
export quota, that the government has yet to adopt. Some environmentalists and local
politicians have opposed the recommendations.
"Export options are now being mooted in Israel, potentially
pipeline options as well as liquefied natural gas options and
we need to consider those," Mr. Coleman told reporters
following Woodside's annual meeting of shareholders.
In an unusual move for an international oil company,
Woodside said Tuesday it will distribute the vast majority of
its profits to shareholders in dividends rather than invest it
in exploring for new resources or acquiring oil and natural gas
fields. That prompted analysts at Macquarie to say Woodside is
no longer a growth company, but a high-yield investment play
similar to Australian banks.
Mr. Coleman said Woodside retains "headroom" to pursue
acquisitions even though it will return more than $500 million
to shareholders this year through a special dividend.
He rejected a suggestion that Woodside has prioritized
dividends at the expense of big natural gas projects, such as Browse LNG, which
has been shelved for at least two years on the grounds that a
new onshore plant at James Price Point in Western Australia
wasn't commercial.
"We are still a growth company," he said, pointing to
Woodside's continued focus on exploration and development
activities in Australia and overseas.
"Those growth projects are still there -- they
haven't gone away," he said, adding that the only thing that
has changed is the timing of developments and the respective
capital requirements.
Mr. Coleman said Woodside has some sales contracts from the
Pluto and North West Shelf ventures that it operates in
Australia coming up for renewal.
But he didn't see any major softening in LNG demand as
buyers anticipate future supply increases from North America
and East Africa.
Demand for LNG at the moment is "very strong, particularly
for spot cargoes and we expect that demand to maintain that
strength over the next three or four years," he said.
Dow Jones Newswires
All comments are subject to editorial review.
All fields are compulsory.
Sign-up for the Free Daily HP Enewsletter!
A searchable database of project activity in the global hydrocarbon processing industry
Engineers and designers are highly skilled individuals. Forcing them to enter design changes using tables, forms and spreadsheets is unproductive and uneconomical, and it increases the likelihood of human error—this is the way that most instrumentation software systems currently work. For too long, software vendors have denied engineers and designers the simple practicality of a graphical visual engineering interface with "drag and drop" capability and inbuilt intelligence, ensuring changes are automatically replicated into all the associated data and databases.
Is 2016 the peak for US gasoline demand?
Too soon to tell
July 2016


text:
Use the notations form the Wikipedia article Paillier Cryptosystem , assume that the chipertext $c$ and $c^{\lambda} \mod n^2$ are both given, is it possible to compute $\lambda$ easily?
How hard are discrete logarithms problems in $\mathbb Z^{*}_{n}$ and $\mathbb Z^{*}_{n^2}$, where $n$ is the RSA $n=pq$
No, it is not possible to compute $\lambda$ easily. Specifically, if you have a black box that, given a random instance $c$, $c^\lambda \bmod n^2$, was able to recover $\lambda$ with nontrivial probability, you can use that to factor $n$ with nontrivial probability. Hence, if we believe the factorization problem is hard, we must also believe that this modified discrete log problem is hard.
One way to arrive at that is "if you can find $\lambda$ given a random instance, you can compute (a multiple of) the order of a random element, and if you can do that, you can factor".
To compute this order using the black box, you take your random element $r$, select a random exponent $k>1$ ($k$ needs to be relatively prime to $pq(p-1)(q-1)$, making it a large random prime works), and then query your DLOG oracle for discrete log $(r^k)^\lambda = r \bmod n^2$; once you know $\lambda$, you also know that $r^{k\lambda-1} = 1 \bmod n$ (because if $(r^k)^\lambda = r \bmod n^2$, then $(r^k)^\lambda = r \bmod n$ as well). That is, the order of $r$ is a divisor of $k\lambda-1$.
Once you have that multiple of an order $x = k\lambda-1$, you can then factor $n=pq$ by considering the odd value $y = x/2^j$, and then for random values of $s$ ($r$ works well for an initial guess), consider the sequence $(s^y, s^{2y}, s^{4y}, ..., s^{x})$. If we see a 1 in the sequence proceeded by a value $z$ other than 1 or $n-1$, then we can factor; the factors are $gcd(n, z-1)$ and $gcd(n, z+1)$. And, if $r$ was chosen randomly, then with high probability this procedure will find a factorization after a modest number of random $s$ values.


text:
We are entrusted
with your children
Our thoughts and hearts are with our educational counterparts and parents who make up the school community at Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut. The senseless tragedy and the number of lives that were touched by such horrible acts seem incomprehensible. We pray that they will draw strength from their faith and find comfort among their family and friends.
We, at Polk County Public Schools, realize that we are entrusted with parents' most treasured gift: their children. We take this responsibility very seriously and we will continue to do all that we can to provide our students with a safe and nurturing environment. Emergency practice drills, crisis support and contingency plans are in place at every school and given the highest priority. Our teachers and principals are keenly aware of their role as protectors and leaders and I have the highest regard and confidence in their ability.
We thank our law enforcement partners throughout the county and in each municipality. We take our emergency management guidance and procedures from them. Officers will remain active in our schools given the recent events in Connecticut. Their continued support and expertise is of vital importance.
We will continue to mourn the loss of these beautiful young students and their brave instructional leaders but we will persevere. Hope springs eternal even in the darkest days. God bless the Sandy Hook community as well as everyone in the educational community in our country.
John A. Stewart, Ed.D.
Superintendent of Polk County Schools


text:
The Committee of Social Protection has launched an awareness campaign to help combat domestic violence and child abuse, the Arab News reported today.
The Committee is a new organization that consists of various government departments acting in conjunction with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Affairs.
As part of the awareness campaign, health professionals at private and governmental health facilities in Jeddah are being trained to look for signs of physical, emotional or sexual abuse, and child negligence.
"We are working together with the police, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Justice and various other government bodies. We have sent a team to every health care facility in Jeddah to train health professionals and create awareness among the general public," Dr. Nawaf Al-Herthy, chairman of the committee's Jeddah branch and director of the Jeddah Psychiatric Hospital, said as quoted in the Arab News.
"One of the members from each team has direct contact with us who can immediately report cases," Al-Herthy said.
He added that the committee thoroughly investigates allegations of domestic violence, including conducting psychological assessments at the Jeddah Psychiatric Hospital, to ensure that the organization is not used for any reason other than protecting victims.
"For example in child custody cases, a parent may falsely accuse the other parent of abusing the child," Al-Herthy told the Arab News.
Al-Herthy said the committee is in contact with the head of the government department of each city where it has a presence to provide help in even the most complicated cases.


text:
The city's first phase of "Big Blue" recycling cart delivery has been completed, with carts provided to more than 17,000 recycling customers over the last two weeks. Some delivery corrections will take place today through Wednesday. After that, carts will be delivered to recycling customers who made a request for a blue cart after Nov. 1.
So far, the city has received requests from more than 750 customers who had not previously recycled. The city offers voluntary recycling at no additional charge for customers who request it and is delivering carts free of charge to those customers. Anyone who is a current recycling customer and didn't get a cart, or got the wrong size, should call the city's Solid Waste Division at 341-7875.
Any customer who wants a cart but does not currently recycle is asked to call the city at 341-7875 to get on a waiting list. The city will try to deliver carts to those on the waiting list by Christmas.
Residents are encouraged to use their blue cart as soon as it is delivered.
Beginning Jan. 7, 2013, recycling will be picked up every other week on the same day as trash collection, which will continue to be picked up weekly. Trash and yard waste will still be picked up weekly. Weekly recycling pick-up will continue until Jan. 7, 2013, when the new every-other-week schedule begins.
The city will save $220,000 in annual manpower costs with the new schedule, and expects the amount of materials to be recycled to increase by 15-20 percent.
Want to learn which week your recycling will be collected in 2013? Click here to find out and get more information.


text:
Q1: Do you known examples, where the different is not a principal ideal?
Q2: Is there a good interpretation for the reason, why this happens?
See e.g. Neukirch, Proposition 2.4, page 197.
The reason why I ask: the definition of the canonical additive character $\psi:x \mapsto \mathrm{e}^{2 \pi i (\mathrm{Tr}_{F / \mathbb{Q}} x \mod \mathbb{Z})}$ is somewhat unsatisfactory, if I want to identify the Pontryagin dual of the additive group of $\mathfrak{o}$ with the additive group of $F/\mathfrak{o}$, which simplifies some of notation involved when computing some $p$ adic integrals or Gauss sums.
Btw. with the canonical additive character, the Pontryagin duality is of the following form:
$$F / \mathfrak{D}^{-1} \cong \mathrm{Hom}_{ab.group} ( \mathfrak{o} , \mathbb{C}^\times).$$ where $\mathfrak{D}$ is the different and the isomorphism is given by $$ \xi \in F \mapsto \psi( \xi \cdotp).$$