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Prophecy Update Blog
Prophecy Update Newsletter
IN TODAY'S NEWSLETTER...
Featured Article: The Feast of Tabernacles
Despite UNESCO vote on Jerusalem, Israel hails small step forward
Israel Knows That Putin Is the Middle East's New Sheriff
Does Scripture Reveal Middle East Nuclear Wars Before the Tribulation?
European Union: Don't Label Muslim Terrorists as Muslim
New Obama Executive Order Hints at Devastating Space Event
Daily Jot: The truth behind positive media for Clinton
Daily Devotion: Following the Captain
The Feast of Tabernacles - A Bible Study by Jack Kelley - https://gracethrufaith.com/topical-studies/holidays-and-holy-days/the-feast-of-tabernacles/
The Feast of Tabernacles takes place each year beginning five days after Yom Kippur and lasts for over a week. Adherents to tradition make a shelter in their back yard of branches and leaves decorating it with fruit and vegetables to commemorate the time when the Lord dwelt with them in the wilderness. Then they at least take their meals in the shelter and perhaps spend a night or two as well. For this reason, Tabernacles is sometimes called the Feast of Booths.
Being a fall feast, Tabernacles also celebrated the harvest in ancient Israel and in fact was the inspiration for the Thanksgiving Day celebrations held in the US and other countries.
Additionally, Tabernacles was the crowning event in the series of fall feasts that began with Rosh Hashanah, or New Year, and Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. As Yom Kippur was a solemn and awe inspiring day, Tabernacles was a time of celebration and thanksgiving. The Lord had freed their forefathers from the bondage of slavery in Egypt, He had given them a bountiful harvest, and He had accepted their annual sacrifice for the sins of the people. It was time for a party. And what a party it was.
The Israelites came from all over the nation to Jerusalem to celebrate for an entire week. They built their booths on every available piece of ground and the aroma of delicious foods cooking over open fires permeated the whole city. For seven days where ever you went there was an air of joy and festivity as the people remembered El Shaddai (God our Provider) and gave thanks.
You might wonder how they could drop everything and take a whole week off to celebrate. Simple; the Lord picked up the tab. In three passages from Deuteronomy, He explained how He was going to do this, commanding the people to put aside one tenth of their annual production for Him. (Deut. 8:6-18, 12:4-7, 14:22-29). He called it their tithe. Then they were to take the Lord's tithe to Jerusalem each fall after the harvest and use it for a big feast to celebrate His blessings upon them.
The reason He commanded them to separate the tithe was that He wanted to remind them it was His. Also if He hadn't required them to do so, most wouldn't have set anything aside for the feast. It would all have been absorbed into their living costs and they would have missed out on the celebration. Obviously, the Lord didn't need their money. He only wanted them to remember Who had blessed them. By celebrating, they were reminded. Further, He commanded that the celebration be at His house, not theirs, so they wouldn't start thinking they had created their own blessings.
What about the Poor?
Every third year, instead of celebrating they gave the tithe to the priests in their city to help the poor and indigent, first within the community and then from among their visitors. There was always enough to last until the next contribution three years later.
Because it felt good to obey, they learned the joy of giving. When it came time to donate the tithe to the poor, they did so with a generous spirit, knowing that they were giving away the Lord's share not theirs. (It's always easier to be generous with some one else's money.) Because each community helped its own poor directly everyone got the help they needed, and the people could see the effect of their generosity.
Contrast that with the way of giving today. We no longer believe that one tenth is the Lord's and we no longer credit Him for our blessings. We think we're being asked for some of our own money, and we're not clear about the benefit. We're told that the Lord's work will be hindered without our help. He's portrayed as a cash poor beggar in some circles and as an inflexible creditor in others.
This approach makes us feel bad. We resent being made to feel guilty so we give only as much as is necessary to ease our guilt. No wonder the joy has gone from our giving.
Some "religious" groups even require 10% of their members' income and conduct periodic audits to make sure they're getting it all. Some even teach that tithing is evidence of salvation. It's the most glaring example of man's religion working at cross-purposes with the intent of God's laws.
A Blessing or a Curse?
Today, tithing is thought by many to be a curse for believing rather than a celebration for blessing. People go around looking for a church that "doesn't talk about money all the time." Because they never learn the true purpose of their giving, they are deprived of the blessings of abundance the Lord promises to those who "bring the whole tithe into the storehouse." (Malachi 3:9-10 & Luke 6:38) For its part, the church merely survives when it should thrive. (The church would actually receive more income and their members would be a lot happier doing things the Lord's way) And perhaps most sadly, those in need don't receive the help from the church they could otherwise have ... help that could have come in the name of the Lord, and perhaps prompted a life change in the heart of the recipient. Satan wins again.
Because it doesn't rain in Israel from about the end of May till the middle of October, somewhere along the way a Water Libation Ceremony was incorporated into the Feast of Tabernacles celebrations. Each day a contingent of priests all dressed in white would go out from the Temple to the Pool of Siloam and with a silver pitcher would take some water from the pool back to the Temple. There a paving stone beside the altar had been removed just for this event. Arriving at the altar, a priest would pour the water from the silver pitcher upon the ground where the paving stone had been. As the dry ground absorbed the water the priests would pray for rains to moisten the fields in preparation for the fall planting. Thousands of people watching the ceremony would join in, praying and singing praises to God.
On the last day of the Feast, the High Priest Himself would officiate in all his finery, and the entire priesthood would follow him to the pool and back, singing and playing their instruments. On this day the pitcher was golden and the whole nation would be in attendance. Compare it to a sports stadium of today, packed to the rafters with spectators, all watching as the High Priest lifted the golden pitcher high over his head to pour the water into the ground near the altar. And then as with one voice they would break into song praising God and praying for rain. Talk about a joyful noise!
Then one year something happened as the priest was pouring the water that stunned the crowd and literally shocked them into silence. Listen to John's eyewitness account. "On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, ' If anyone is thirsty let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him.' By this He meant the Spirit Whom those who believed were later to receive." (John 7:37-39)
On hearing His words, some of the people said, " Surely this man is The Prophet." Others said, "He is the Christ." (John 7:40) Even the Temple guards were impressed. Being rebuked for letting Jesus disrupt the ceremony, they declared, "No one ever spoke the way this man does."
And so on the Feast of Tabernacles, it's fitting that we remember Jesus, the God Who dwells within us, the Giver of every good and perfect gift, and the Source of living water. O Lord, save us! O Lord, grant us success. Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord. From the House of the Lord we bless you. (Psalm 118:25-26)
Despite UNESCO vote on Jerusalem, Israel hails small step forward - By Raoul Wootliff - http://www.timesofisrael.com/despite-unesco-vote-on-jerusalem-israel-hails-small-step-forward/
PA says decision reminds Israel it is an occupier, after UN cultural arm okays resolution that ignores Jewish, Christian ties to holy city
The Palestinian Authority on Tuesday hailed the newly approved UNESCO vote on Jerusalem as a reminder to Israelis "that they are an occupying power," while Israel's envoy attempted to put a positive spin on the widely criticized decision.
The resolution, passed Thursday in the committee stage of the United Nations cultural body, referred to the Temple Mount and Western Wall only by their Muslim names and condemned Israel as "the occupying power" for various actions taken in both sites.
The resolution effectively disregards Jewish and Christian ties to Jerusalem holy sites, and has led Israel to cut ties with the cultural body.
In spite of an Israeli effort to delay a final vote, the UN cultural agency on Tuesday adopted the controversial Arab-sponsored resolution, though without the support of Mexico, which changed its "for" vote to an abstention in a surprise move.
The Palestinian Authority's deputy ambassador to UNESCO, Mounir Anastas, told reporters Tuesday the resolution "reminds Israel that they are the occupying power in East Jerusalem and it asks them to stop all their violations."
These violations include archaeological excavations around religious sites, Anastas said.
Israel's ambassador to UNESCO Carmel Shama-Hacohen said that although only Mexico changed its vote between Thursday and Tuesday, Israel is one step closer in its mission "to dismantle the automatic majority enjoyed by the Palestinians and Arab states."
The ambassador also praised Brazil for expressing reservations over the language of the resolution, even though Brasilia did not change its vote. Such reservations will make it harder to Brazil to support such motions in future, Hacohen said.
Mexico's changed vote means that 23 nations approved the motion on Tuesday, six voted against (including the US, UK and Germany) and 25 abstained.
Mexico's ambassador Andres Roemer, who walked out of last Thursday's session and considered resigning in protest at his country's initial support for the resolution, was fired from his post on Tuesday.
All resolutions passed at this year's General Conference were validated by the UNESCO executive board in a blanket vote.
Despite Israeli diplomatic missions being closed Tuesday due to the observance of the Sukkot festival around the world, the Foreign Ministry allowed the UNESCO mission in Paris to work in a last-ditch effort to try to prevent the resolution from being adopted, though a bid for a revote after Mexico's Monday night announcement of a change of heart was later withdrawn.
"Our [diplomatic] efforts will continue and we expect all countries to support our position on this issue," the ministry said in a statement after the resolution was adopted.
The resolution Thursday drew widespread Israeli anger, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu calling the body "absurd" and others accusing UNESCO of backing anti-Semitism.
The director-general of UNESCO, Irina Bokova, also Friday signaled her dismay and opposition to the motion, saying that efforts to deny history and Jerusalem's complex multi-faith character harm UNESCO.
"The heritage of Jerusalem is indivisible, and each of its communities has a right to the explicit recognition of their history and relationship with the city," Bokova said in a statement.
Bokova's statement came after Israel announced it was suspending its cooperation with UNESCO over the vote, with Education Minister Naftali Bennett saying the motion was a denial of history that "gives a boost to terrorism."
Israelis and many Jews around the world view the move as the latest example of an ingrained anti-Israel bias at the United Nations, where Israel and its allies are far outnumbered by Arab countries and their supporters.
Israel Knows That Putin Is the Middle East's New Sheriff - Shmuel Rosner - http://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/18/opinion/israel-knows-that-putin-is-the-middle-easts-new-sheriff.html?_r=0
In 2001, shortly after he was elected prime minister of Israel, Ariel Sharon traveled to meet with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia at the Kremlin.
According to Danny Ayalon, who was an adviser to the Israeli prime minister at the time, Mr. Putin, as is the habit of world leaders, urged Mr. Sharon to hand over territory in the West Bank to the Palestinians. Mr. Sharon, as is the habit of Israeli leaders, got tired of it. Israel, he said, is a tiny place, and for it to give away territory can be dangerous. On the other hand, he said, Russia is such a large country. So it might want to consider giving back the Kurile Islands, which Russia claimed from Japan at the end of World War II. "Russia never cedes territory," Mr. Putin supposedly retorted. "How else do you think it has gotten so big?"
Two years after that meeting, Mr. Sharon, who grew up speaking Russian, called Mr. Putin "a true friend of Israel." His unmatched humor made it possible for him to say such things with straight face.
Mr. Putin has a similar ability to hide his true feelings. For evidence, see how he was able to string along the Obama administration over a plan for a cease-fire in Syria. For more evidence, see Russia's recent announcement that the Kremlin plans to initiate a summit meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinian Authority president, Mahmoud Abbas, in Moscow.
Mr. Netanyahu doesn't speak Russian, yet he still seems to have found a common language with Mr. Putin, one he speaks even more fluently than Mr. Sharon. That should not be a surprise. Necessity breeds friendship. In Israel's case, the Kremlin became a necessity for two very much related reasons: Russia's growing presence in Middle East affairs and the simultaneous American withdrawal from the region. To put it bluntly, Israel trusts Russia's intention to become a key player in the region more than it trusts the United States' intention to stop that from happening.
Israel has long been a pawn in the great superpower game, and so we Israelis have occasionally suspected that the Russians have a sturdier backbone than the Americans. When it comes to foreign affairs, Russians often seem less sentimental and always seem more brutal. These aren't necessarily virtues, but they are traits that other countries must keep in mind.
Nonetheless, not that long ago, Israel rarely questioned the United States' basic commitment to contain Russia's influence in the Middle East. The strategic arrangement was simple: Israel deals with the small dogs of the neighborhood, and the United States makes sure that no big dogs interfere to tip the balance against Israel.
Mr. Putin began challenging this arrangement years ago. In 2008, Russia invaded Georgia. In 2014, it invaded Crimea. And it got away with both. For Israel, this was not a sure sign that things were changing. Israel could still hope that the United States was letting Mr. Putin toy around only with those countries that had the misfortune of residing too close to Russia's borders.
Then, in the summer of 2015, Russia sent its armed forces to Syria. And while President Obama was still contemplating his response, Mr. Netanyahu boarded a flight to Moscow to meet with the Middle East's new sheriff. The two leaders may have disagreed in their meeting, but Mr. Netanyahu was clearly recognizing that he had to deal with the Russians. In daringly supporting President Bashar al-Assad of Syria, Mr. Putin had sent a strong signal about Russia's intentions. And with Russian warplanes flying not far from its northern border, Israel couldn't ignore it.
For the Russian president, intervening in Syria and inviting talks between Mr. Netanyahu and Mr. Abbas are ways to demonstrate Russia's stature and annoy the United States. What better sign is there of Russia's import when even longtime American allies, like Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Israel, consult with Mr. Putin? Secretary of State John Kerry tried to convene the Israeli and Palestinian leaders but failed. Mr. Putin can succeed, because he is the leader whose invitation Mr. Abbas and Mr. Netanyahu will find much harder to decline.
But that doesn't mean that the proposal for Russia-backed peace talks is sincere.
Mr. Putin may pretend that he wants to advance peace in the Middle East, but as we have seen in recent months, an unstable region works better for him. He may pretend to want a diplomatic settlement to Syria's civil war or to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but his allies in Syria - Iran and Hezbollah - will do everything in their power to prevent any peaceful arrangement in Syria except for total victory for the Assad government and, likewise, to prevent any peaceful arrangement between Israel and the Palestinians.
Thus, Palestinian leaders are hardly enthusiastic about Mr. Putin's initiative. They understand that Russia's president has little interest in the plight of a people who lack political rights. Mr. Putin has little interest in a people who are irrelevant to making Russia more powerful. Yet they know that they still might have to play along. In the ladder of Middle East concerns, the Palestinians currently occupy the bottom rung.
Mr. Netanyahu is hardly more excited about a meeting with Mr. Abbas in Moscow. His motivations are no less calculated. It is less the Palestinians that he wants to engage by having talks, and more the Russians - and with them the Egyptians and the Saudis, who are also getting closer to Russia and to Israel, and are also wary of and disillusioned with the Obama administration.
All of this means that the next American administration will face a unique challenge in the Middle East. Rather than having to maintain American influence, Washington will have to regain it. For the next president, the challenge might be even more daunting: to make the region both more trusting and more fearful of her or him than it is of Mr. Putin.
Does Scripture Reveal Middle East Nuclear Wars Before the Tribulation? - By Kit R. Olsen - http://raptureready.com/featured/olsen/k18.html
Select excerpts from Israel's Guaranteed Glory. (First printing June 3, September 2016 distribution, World Bible Society)
God's protective angels: Israel is the center of the earth where God's covenant people live and belong. I would not be surprised if right now at this very moment-the LORD God of Israel has His heavenly host holding flaming swords, securely guarding and protecting every inch of Israel's borders in the spiritual realm.
Some students and commentators of Bible prophecy suggest that there will be a nuclear exchange during the Gog-Magog battle and even attempt to derive a nuclear holocaust from the passages in Ezekiel 39:11-16; pure speculation which cannot be substantiated. We dare not allow any commentators to take away from God the great victory of this battle.
Scripture tells us in no uncertain terms that it is He who will be magnified. Scripture tells us that it is distinctly God who will obliterate the enemy. Radioactive material from the nuclear weapons would affect not only the invading troops, but the Israelis as well. Even if nuclear weapons could be used successfully only against the enemy, then those who would deliver them would receive the credit, and not the Lord.
If we stop and think things through carefully, it would become obvious that when anyone takes any particular Scripture and tries to turn it into a massive Middle East nuclear war before the Tribulation, he or she is doing so based on nothing but one's own imagination or a hypothesis determined outside of the Scriptures.
If a nuclear war takes place before the Tribulation the radioactive contamination would linger and create so much damage (fallout) that too many areas would be affected and even rendered uninhabitable. The nations prophesied to invade Israel in the Gog-Magog incursion would be greatly affected and could not fulfill Ezekiel's prophecy.
Some commentators mistakenly believe a nuclear incursion will happen during the battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39 (Gog-Magog), and some go so far out on a nonsensical limb saying a major nuclear event will happen in the Middle East even before the battle of Ezekiel 38 and 39, and before the Tribulation.
But does that make sense? ISIS is the most vicious dangerous Hitlerian group on the planet today-frightening. It is true, ISIS is sending out messages that they are planning a nuclear holocaust somewhere. Only God can know where these demonically possessed maniacs would do such a thing.
We must trust what Scripture teaches. No one, including ISIS can stand in the way of the fulfillment of God's prophetic Word. Prophecy must be fulfilled as it is written, and the Gog-Magog war is a major prophecy that must take place. It will change the entire dynamics of the Middle East-when God destroys Russia from the North and Islam, "those who dwell securely in the isles [coastlands] (Ezekiel 39:6).
When God sends fire upon the invaders, the destruction will be far-reaching. If you look on a map you can see that there is a densely populated Islamic ring surrounding the globe. At that point I think God will have had about enough of Allah's terror loving followers who desecrate and blaspheme his holy Name.
It makes more sense that if ISIS does fire off nuclear weapons it would be possibly in the U.S., Europe or another part of the world. They are too hell-bent on taking over the world to destroy themselves; the key players of ISIS in the Middle East are not about to become martyrs and lose all the impact they have already made. If ISIS detonates a nuclear bomb in the Middle East, the fallout would affect them too much or even destroy them.
Twisting the meaning of Scripture to make a case for a nuclear event cannot be claimed as a new discovery revealed by the leading of the Holy Spirit. For example, the verses from Jeremiah 49:34-39 are used by some with over active imaginations to fabricate outlandish suppositions claiming a massive nuclear war will precede the Tribulation and the Gog-Magog war. We have claims for yet another overlooked "prophecy!" Biblical scholars of old must have been a dumb old bunch to have missed that one.
No doubt, Iran's nuclear program is a major threat. If Israel does have to attack Iran for self-preservation it would make much more sense that she would use bunker buster bombs but even much more likely, subterfuge, such as a Stuxnet type operation. The battle between Israel and Iran is not a battle of brawn which must result in nuclear devastation prior to the Tribulation; it is a battle of moxie and brain power. Israel is clearly superior in those areas.
Anyone who loves God's chosen people will want to read Israel's Guaranteed Future Glory. Kit R. Olsen's wonderful new book highlights the State of Israel showing that God'sprophetic promises have not been broken, and that He still has a plan for mankind. The history of the Jews proves the validity of His Holy Word; and the geopolitical climate unfolding today falls in line with God's prophetic messages. Kit has been my dedicated editor/writer for the site for over four years (2012) and I am very pleased to share some of her additional work with our readers and feature her book on the site.." --Todd Strandberg
Amazon link to: Israel's Guaranteed Future Glory: http://tinyurl.com/z5sq6ss
European Union: Don't Label Muslim Terrorists as Muslim - Todd Strandberg - http://raptureready.com/rap16.html
The European Union's Brussels headquarters has asked the British government to bar the media from identifying Muslims terrorists as being Muslim. If witnesses recall a terrorist scream "Allahu akbar!" or asking people if they're Muslim before opening fire, the press is now expected to play dumb in their reporting.
The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) justified this attack on free speech by saying there has been an increase in hate speech and racist violence over the past seven years. Pointing a finger at the press, ECRI Chair Christian Ahlund, said, "It is no coincidence that racist violence is on the rise in the UK at the same time as we see worrying examples of intolerance and hate speech in the newspapers, online and even among politicians."
It's absolutely stunning that leaders in European would think that Islamophobia is a problem. The reason why there is an increase in racial strife is because of Muslims are attacking people. If a follower of Muhammad goes into a restaurant and kills 20 people, it's common sense to identify his religion. He didn't kill those people because he thought the food was bad. His faith is what motivated him to carry out his heinous act.
When I read in the news that Jamel Ahmed Mohammed Ali Al-Badawi is wanted by the FBI for conspiracy to use weapons of mass destruction, it's all too easy to guess that he's Muslim.
Last Week, German police units were hunting for a man suspected of planning a bomb attack. I didn't need to know he was Syrian-born, his name was Jaber Albakr, or that he had internet contact with the ISIS to conclude he was Muslim. The words "bomb attack" was all I needed to know that there was a connection to a certain Middle East based religion.
One common argument for avoiding the Muslim label is that if we don't mention the name of their religion, Islamists won't be inflamed to carry out more acts of terror. Muslims don't murder people because they feel oppressed. They're motivated by the idea that the killing of infidels is a useful way to advance their religion.
Our unwillingness to link Islam to terrorism only make the problem worse. What we should be doing is condemning Islam every time one of its followers carries out a terrorist act. If a Christian Minister openly endorsed terrorism, the hate crime laws would put him in jail.
The practice of banning the link between Islam and terrorism is already at work on the Internet. Several search engines have blocked words that relate to Muslim terrorism. Last week, I was trying to find an article I saw on Drudge Report. I typed in about a dozen different phrases and nothing came up. When I switched to Yahoo, twenty stories instantly popped up.
This censorship has even found its way to images of Muslim terrorists. Several French news organizations have said they will no longer publish photographs of people responsible for terrorist killings, to avoid bestowing "posthumous glorification."
I don't buy this glorification argument. There are thousands of photos of Adolf Hitler, and don't see them giving him glory. He has become the opposite-a symbol of evil. The French papers decided not show images of terrorists because they got into trouble over their coverage of the attack on Nice. Instead of showing photos of Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel in his Muslim clothes, they went with alluring images of him working out at the gym.
I can only wonder what will be the end of this craziness. If we continue along this path, the press will start censoring the coverage of major terrorist attacks. The murder of 49 people at the Pulse, a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida shows we are headed in that direction. The attack occurred in June and the media has already dropped all coverage of what was the deadliest mass shooting by a single gunman in U.S. history.
I think the reason why the devil has been working so hard to shield Islam from criticism is because of his plans for the Harlot church, where all the major faiths will unite under the leadership of the False Prophet. The extreme measures now being taken to accommodate Islam tells me that the end must be very near.
"And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
So he carried me away in the spirit into the wilderness: and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven heads and ten horns. And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stones and pearls, having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthiness of her fornication:
And upon her forehead was a name written, MYSTERY, BABYLON THE GREAT, THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH. And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the saints, and with the blood of the martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration" (Rev. 17:1-6).
My Review of "Rapture Ready...Or Not?"
Over the last 35 years, I have literally read hundreds of books on Bible Prophecy and End Time signs. I especially enjoy books on the Rapture, and I have read almost every Rapture-related book published. In all those years, devouring thousands of pages, and millions of words, I have not read a better book on the Rapture than, Rapture Ready...Or Not?
Terry James might be physically blind, but he is spiritually sharp and well discerning beyond most authors. In "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" Terry has nailed the pre-trib Rapture, and removed any doubt what so ever about the Church going through the Tribulation. With great insight and Godly discernment, Terry explains with simple, yet profound words, why and how that he has come to believe the ways he does about the Rapture, the Tribulation, and the End Times scenario. I think after reading "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" you too will believe as Terry does, and be Ready for the Rapture like never before! - Randy Thomas - Publisher / Editor - Prophecy Update
For more information and or to get your copy of "Rapture Ready...Or Not?" use this link: http://www.raptureready.com/terry/book35.html
New Obama Executive Order Hints at Devastating Space Event - By Mac Slavo - http://www.prophecynewswatch.com/article.cfm?recent_news_id=727
Once considered a fringe conspiracy theory, it appears that the Obama administration is now actively preparing for a massive solar event that could wipe out life as we have come to know it.
Space weather events such as solar flares, solar energetic particles, and geomagnetic disturbances have long been believed to pose a significant threat to our technologically advanced society with the ability to not only affect global positioning satellites, but on-earth electronics that include the entire domestic (and global) power grid.
In the latest Executive Order signed by Barack Obama, the President calls for coordination between various government agencies including the Department of Defense and Department of Homeland security should a major "space weather event" come to pass.
Via WhiteHouse.Gov
Executive Order -- Coordinating Efforts to Prepare the Nation for Space Weather Events
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and to prepare the Nation for space weather events, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Space weather events, in the form of solar flares, solar energetic particles, and geomagnetic disturbances, occur regularly, some with measurable effects on critical infrastructure systems and technologies, such as the Global Positioning System (GPS), satellite operations and communication, aviation, and the electrical power grid. Extreme space weather events -- those that could significantly degrade critical infrastructure -- could disable large portions of the electrical power grid, resulting in cascading failures that would affect key services such as water supply, healthcare, and transportation.
Space weather has the potential to simultaneously affect and disrupt health and safety across entire continents. Successfully preparing for space weather events is an all-of-nation endeavor that requires partnerships across governments, emergency managers, academia, the media, the insurance industry, non-profits, and the private sector.
Though often dismissed as nothing more than fear mongering, the threat of space weather events is not only possible, it is quite probable, as evidenced by a massive solar flare which narrowly missed earth in 2012.
"The speed of this event was as fast or faster than anything that has been seen in the modern space age," said Baker.
Had it hit Earth, the July 2012 event likely would have created a technological disaster by short-circuiting satellites, power grids, ground communication equipment and even threatening the health of astronauts and aircraft crews.
We have proposed that the 2012 event be adopted as the best estimate of the worst case space weather scenario...
Is it possible that the Obama administration has scientific evidence supporting the fact that a space weather event is imminent? One Congresswoman thinks so, having claimed that there is a 100% chance of a crippling event.
The Executive Order signed by Obama on October 13, 2016 certainly suggests this may be the case:
It is the policy of the United States to prepare for space weather events to minimize the extent of economic loss and human hardship. The Federal Government must have
(1) the capability to predict and detect a space weather event,
(2) the plans and programs necessary to alert the public and private sectors to enable mitigating actions for an impending space weather event,
(3) the protection and mitigation plans, protocols, and standards required to reduce risks to critical infrastructure prior to and during a credible threat, and
(4) the ability to respond to and recover from the effects of space weather. Executive departments and agencies (agencies) must coordinate their efforts to prepare for the effects of space weather events.
Coupled with a previous Executive Doomsday Order signed by the President in March of 2012, the federal government now has the ability to take full control of all critical national infrastructure elements including food resources, energy resources, farms, health facilities, water resources and even the nation's workforce.
While millions of people have been preparing for the possibility of a catastrophic event by relocating to rural homesteads or farms, as well as stockpiling food, water, personal defense armaments and other essential supplies with the intention of utilizing these preparations if the worst happens, the latest executive order signed by President Obama on March 16, 2012 makes clear that in the event of a nationally deemed emergency all of these resources will fall under the authority of the United States government.
Recent projections from a secret Homeland Security report suggest that as many as 100 million Americans could be left without power should a powerful enough solar storm strike earth.
Another report paints an even more terrifying picture, indicating that without access to power via our grid, America would literally come to a standstill. Critical supplies including medicine, gas, and food would be undeliverable and within one year as many as 90% of Americans would be dead if the grid were not restored.
The problem, according to The Prepper's Blueprint author Tess Pennington is that over 90% of Americans are not only lacking any preparation for such a catastrophic scenario, but even if advance warning was sent to the population 12 hours ahead of time, it would simply be too late:
Unfortunately, that "12 hours" number doesn't tell the whole story. It's probably true that during a worst case scenario, it would take 12 hours for a solar storm to reach Earth. The only question is, can our scientific instruments detect a solar storm in that time frame?
Currently, our planet's early warning system consists of a satellite called DSCOVR, which launched in February of this year, and reached its destination between the Earth and the Sun last June. The satellite it replaced could give us a 15 minute warning, but the DSCOVR satellite isn't much of an improvement. It only gives us a 30-45 minute warning.
Pennington warns that a breakdown could happen very quickly and catch most people by surprise:
This is the point in this cycle where herds of people go to the grocery stores frantically grabbing supplies. Most grocery stores will not be able to meet the demand of the people's need for supplies, and many could go home empty handed.
Bracing for the disaster, the prepared and unprepared will be hoping for the best outcome. What many do not realize is the hardest part of this event is soon to be upon them. Within days, the descent into the breakdown will begin.
And it is this very descent into breakdown that will require an unprecedented government response and Obama's Doomsday Executive Order has given them the pretext to do so.
Do government officials know that a life-threatening solar event is becoming increasingly more probable?
Or is the Obama administration simply taking proactive steps to prepare?
Whatever the case, it is important to note that Americans are not prepared to deal with the aftermath of such a scenario.
Perhaps the actions being implemented on the federal level should be a wake up call to all Americans to prepare for disaster now.
Daily Jot: The truth behind positive media for Clinton - Bill Wilson - www.dailyjot.com
The Center for Public Integrity's mission is "To serve democracy by revealing abuses of power, corruption and betrayal of public trust by powerful public and private institutions, using the tools of investigative journalism." It prides itself as being one of the nations oldest and largest nonpartisan, non-profit Pulitzer Prize winning investigative news organizations. So when it reveals that the vast majority of journalists contributing to the presidential election are supporting Democrat Hillary Clinton, one has to look at the gravity of what is being reported. The Center reports some 430 people who work in journalism have donated about $382,000 to Clinton-that's 96% of all the money donated to both candidates from journalists.
The results are as would be expected. One example, reported by the Center says, "New Yorker television critic Emily Nussbaum, a newly minted Pulitzer Prize winner, spent the Republican National Convention pen-pricking presidential nominee Donald Trump as a misogynist shyster running an "ugly and xenophobic campaign." What Nussbaum didn't disclose in her dispatches: she contributed $250 to Democrat Hillary Clinton in April." While $250 doesn't sound like much, it is a statement of tremendous import. In my days of reporting, my personal policy was that I would never show any kind of bias toward a candidate by contributing to the campaign or becoming too cozy with members of a campaign staff.
We can see that isn't the case in this election. Even Trump mentioned in the last debate that it was three to one against him, a reference to how the so-called "impartial moderators" were favoring Clinton. This comes as no surprise, however, as even a May 2015 poll by Rasmussen suggested that the majority of Americans expect biased coverage. Rasmussen reported, "When it comes to the 2016 presidential campaign, only 23% believe most reporters will try to offer unbiased coverage. Fifty-nine percent (59%) think that coverage will be slanted instead, with 36% who say most reporters will try to help Hillary Clinton during the campaign and 23% who say they will try to hurt her bid for the White House instead."
There is an old adage that covers just about anything: Follow the money. The money says that journalists favor Clinton by some 96% of the donations they give. And these are just the ones who do not see it as a conflict of interest to give to a political candidate. Those polled thought the media would be slanted, and the contributions by journalists prove it. They wouldn't be giving to Clinton if they didn't support her. That automatically biases anything they would report. As Isaiah 59:14 says, "And justice is turned back, and righteousness stands afar off: for truth is fallen in the street, and equity cannot enter." Truth, indeed, has fallen in the street, and these so-called "journalists" don't even try to hide their iniquity.
Daily Devotion: Following the Captain - Greg Laurie - www.harvest.org
For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish which they had taken. . . . So when they had brought their boats to land, they forsook all and followed Him. -Luke 5:9, 11
Peter was a seasoned fisherman. He knew all about the movement of fish. He knew the best time to fish. He knew the right moment to pull the nets in. He was an expert. But one day Jesus showed up and said, "Launch out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch" (Luke 5:4).
Peter had been fishing all night without catching anything. Think about it. If you were a sailor and some guy came along who was neither a sailor nor a fisherman and told you what to do, you might think, Do you really know what you are talking about? Peter was the fisherman. Jesus was effectively the landlubber.
I love Peter's response. He said, "Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing; nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net" (verse 5). By the way, it is implied in the original language that Peter was using a nautical term with Jesus, as if to say, "You are the captain of the boat. You are the admiral here. At Your word, we will do it."
You probably know the rest of the story. They pulled in so much fish that the boat began to sink under the weight of them. Peter was blown away. Jesus had just invaded Peter's world in a way he could understand. Peter fell down before Him and said, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!" (verse 8). In other words, "Don't waste your time on me. I'm going to let You down."
But Jesus told him, "Do not be afraid. From now on you will catch men" (verse 10).
Will you let Jesus be the captain of your boat? He won't force His way on board. He's waiting for you to invite Him.
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Book Recommendation Missing Presumed
Some of our suggestions for "Missing Presumed" book searches. Get the complete book FREE for you, please register your account. We are happy to welcome you. Easy and Fast.
Missing Presumed by Susie Steiner
Publisher : HarperCollins
For readers of Kate Atkinson and Tana French comes a page-turning literary mystery that brings to life the complex and wholly relatable Manon Bradshaw, a strong-willed detective assigned to a high-risk missing persons case. Manon Bradshaw is a devoted and respected member of the Cambridgeshire police force, and though she loves her job, what she longs for is a personal life. One night, after yet another disastrous internet date, she turns on her police radio to help herself fall asleep, but she soon receives an alert that sends her to a serious crime scene. Edith Hind—a beautiful graduate student and daughter of the Royal Family's surgeon—has been missing for nearly twenty-four hours. Her home offers few clues: a smattering of blood in the kitchen, her keys and phone left behind, the front door ajar but with no signs of forced entry. The investigation starts with Edith's loved ones: her attentive boyfriend, her reserved best friend, and her patrician parents. As the search widens and press coverage reaches a frenzied pitch, secrets begin to emerge about Edith's tangled love life and her erratic behavior before her disappearance. With no clear leads, Manon summons every last bit of her skill and intuition to close the case, and what she discovers will have shocking consequences not just for Edith's family but for Manon herself. Suspenseful and keenly observed, Missing, Presumed is a brilliantly twisting novel of how we seek connection, grant forgiveness, reveal the truth about who we are.
Missing Presumed Dead by Emma Berquist
Category : Young Adult Fiction
When eighteen-year-old Lexi foresees the brutal murder of a young woman outside a club in downtown L.A., she is powerless to stop it. But then the girl's ghost appears, seeking vengeance, and Lexi is swept into a dangerous search that could put her directly in the path of a serial killer. From the author of Devils Unto Dust, this fast-paced and literary thriller will haunt fans of Maureen Johnson's Truly Devious and Karen M. McManus's One of Us Is Lying. With a touch, Lexi can sense how and when someone will die. Some say it's a gift. But to Lexi it's a curse—one that keeps her friendless and alone. All that changes when Lexi foresees the violent death of a young woman, Jane, outside a club. Jane doesn't go to the afterlife quietly. Her ghost remains behind, determined to hunt down her murderer, and she needs Lexi's help. In life, Jane was everything Lexi is not—outgoing, happy, popular. But in death, all Jane wants is revenge. Lexi will do anything to help Jane, to make up for the fact that she didn't—couldn't—save Jane's life, and to keep this beautiful ghost of a girl by her side for as long as possible. Emma Berquist's second novel is a haunting and atmospheric murder mystery that tackles themes of depression, loneliness, love, and identity. This high-concept novel is for fans of Holly Black's The Coldest Girl in Coldtown and Tahereh Mafi's Shatter Me series.
Missing Presumed by Alan Bailey
Publisher : Liberties Press
Category : True Crime
Between 1993 and 1998, six Irish women, ranging in age from eighteen to twenty eight, disappeared. The area in which these disappearances occurred became publicly referred to as 'The Vanishing Triangle'. To date, none of the missing females have ever been located. These six unsolved cases resulted in the creation of the specialist Garda task force 'Operation Trace', set up in the hope of finding a connection between the missing women. None was found. The task force investigated dozens of unsolved cases of women gone missing in Ireland. Alan Bailey served as the National Coordinator for the task force for thirteen years, and the revealing stories in Missing, Presumedall come from his personal experiences in this role. Missing, Presumed details, and reports on, the Garda investigations into the case studies of fifteen women who disappeared over a time span of twenty years. In almost half of the cases, the women's badly mutilated bodies were recovered, sometimes months later, buried in shallow graves. Each chapter focuses on one woman's story, and details the timeline of events that led to her disappearance, beginning on the day of her disappearance through to the ensuing investigation, and up to - when lucky - a conviction. These stories are haunting, terrifying, and true. 'It is now sixteen years since Trace was established. The families and friends of both the disappeared and those whose bodies were found still await closure.'
Missing Presumed Dead by Mark Tedeschi
It was the double murder case that gripped Australia, and former Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi QC is finally able to share all the shocking details. Dorothy Davis and Kerry Whelan were both happy, healthy, affluent, middle-class women from conservative, loving families. Such women are hardly ever among the ranks of the missing. They were not hitchhikers, or associates of drug dealers, or unhappy with their family relationships, or suffering from mental health issues. Dorothy Davis and Kerry Whelan came from different parts of Sydney, mixed in quite different circles, and led completely different lives. They had never met each other, and if they had, they would have had little in common. In fact, Dorothy Davis and Kerry Whelan had one thing in common – they both knew Bruce Allan Burrell. The disappearance without trace of these two women caused massive police investigations and resulted in sensational trials that gripped the nation of Australia. This book explores the intricacies of those investigations and delves into the twisted, tortuous processes of the legal proceedings, while exploring the dark recesses of the mind of Bruce Burrell. 'Gripping writing, from an expert on the inside of some of the state's worst murders and disappearances.' Peter FitzSimons
Persons Unknown by Susie Steiner
From the author of Missing, Presumed, a complicated detective investigates her most personal case yet. Detective Manon Bradshaw is five months pregnant and has given up on finding romantic love. Instead, she is in hot pursuit of work-life balance and parked in a cold case corridor—the price she's had to pay for a transfer back to Cambridgeshire. This is fine, she tells herself. She can devote herself to bringing up her adopted twelve-year-old son, Fly Dent, and the new baby. Fly needed a fresh start anyway—he was always being stopped and searched in London by officers who couldn't see past the color of his skin. Yet when a wealthy businessman is found stabbed close to police headquarters, Manon can't help but sidle in on the briefing. She's horrified to discover that the victim and the prime suspect are more closely linked to her than she could have imagined. And as the Cambridgeshire police force closes ranks against her, Manon is forced to contemplate the unthinkable: How well does she know her loved ones, and are they capable of murder?
Missing Presumed Dead by Gale St. John
Publisher : Llewellyn Worldwide
Take a rare insider's look at a mysterious world most people have only seen on television. Join Gale St. John on her amazing journey as a psychic sleuth who has helped find missing persons from Ohio to Kathmandu, with victims ranging from innocent young children to Mafia bosses. Missing and Presumed Dead shows you how Gale is able to tune in to a missing person, describing what she sees, hears, and feels to detect whether the individual is alive or not. Discover her extensive work with specially trained dogs that search for the missing. Experience high profile cases, including the ones where spirits help Gale save lives. Each extraordinary account—from those that made national headlines to those that are still unsolved—sheds light on the dramatic life of a psychic detective. Praise: "The heart-pounding suspense will keep you turning pages thinking you know the answers, while realizing nothing is like it seems."—Marta Sosa, producer and host of the online radio show "Missing in America"
Missing Presumed Dead by James Hawkins
Publisher : Dundurn
Short-listed for the 2002 Arthur Ellis Award for Best First Novel Detective Inspector David Bliss has been transferred from London, England, to Hampshire in what appears to his new subordinates and superiors as a move down the career ladder. His first day on the job begins with a murder: Jonathan Dauntsey, son of the Major, willingly confesses to murdering his father. It's an open-and-shut case, until the investigation stalls when the police can't find the body. D.I. Bliss follows a trail of clues that lead him back in time to the point where the central presumption of the case - a murdered father - comes into question. Who did Jonathan Dauntsey murder, if anyone at all? As the mystery of the murder begins to resolve itself, so does the mystery of Bliss's transfer from the big city to a small town.
Missing Presumed Missing by Paul Harris
Publisher : Troubador Publishing Ltd
Michael is an anxious twelve-year-old. He is bullied at school and has a strained relationship with his parents. He worries about anything and everything.
Missing Presumed Alive by Gary Wasson
Detective Paul Hanley relocated to Chesapeake, Virginia from Connecticut under a dark cloud that cost him his marriage. During a freak snowstorm in Tidewater a young girl is found frozen and brutally murdered. Hanley, while fighting a shattered personal life, must piece together the facts surrounding the murder of Jane Doe. Hanley and his partner find themselves moving through an investigation filled with politics and personal secrets. As local headlines scream for action, Paul turns the investigation into a personal quest for justice in his search for the truth that takes him to Washington and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. His search leads him into a maze of intrigue that goes back seventeen years.
Missing Presumed Murdered by Dick Kirby
Publisher : Pen and Sword True Crime
Murders in any form, and the more gruesome the better, hold a morbid fascination to the British public but never more so than when the bodies of the victims are never found. Aside from the lack of closure for relatives and friends, this factor creates problems for police and prosecutors and has macabre appeal for the public. Muriel McKay, wife of a senior News of the World Executive was kidnapped in 1969. Although her body, believed to have been fed to pigs, was never found, the perpetrators were convicted. The same fate was suffered by the business partner of a Polish farmer. James Camb murdered a glamorous actress feeding her to sharks but this did not stop women flocking to see him in court. John Haigh confessed to disposing of his nine victims in acid. Again, his trial was a sell-out. Dick Kirby, former Scotland Yard detective turned best-selling crime writer has 'unearthed' a fascinating collection of disappearances such as the dismemberment of a gay man's wife who had threatened to expose him in the 1950s. Later, when a woman's head was discovered near his home, he confessed only to find that it dated from Roman times. These and numerous other cases make Missing, Presumed Murdered a riveting, if grisly, read

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Nielsen: GDP, Population and Governance Data Alone are Not Enough to Predict Brand Success in Africa
New report shows hard retail data, consumer needs and behavior,
combined with macro-economic datasets,
are better indicators of opportunity and success in African markets
New York and Nairobi – Feb. 25, 2015 – For brands eager to tap into the growing African markets and the region's estimated 350 million middle class consumers, relying solely on macro-economic data such as GDP growth, population trends and regulatory governance data to identify opportunities and predict success can lead to costly missteps, according to a new report from Nielsen.
The findings, which are featured in Africa: How to navigate the retail distribution labyrinth – a new report released today – show it is the companies that combine retail data from both modern and traditional trade and consumer shopping behavior with broader macro-environment indicators that are better positioned to identify the right markets, products, marketing and retail execution strategies that lead to sustainable growth and profitability in Africa.
"Conventional knowledge has held that where there is growth in population and GDP, and a stable business environment, a brand can succeed by being launched in the market. Those insights alone don't provide a complete picture of Africa's consumer opportunities," said Allen Burch, Head of Africa for Nielsen. "We found that successful consumer brands in Africa understand three key pieces of retail information: who shops where and for what, which retail outlets are the best for the product to generate sales, and how to build demand amongst retailers and consumers."
In 2013, Nielsen began conducting a quarterly analysis of consumer, retail and business outlook data, as well as macro-economic data across seven Sub-Saharan countries – Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda and Zambia – with plans to expand to additional countries over time. Historically, one complaint has been the lack of market data within Africa. Without that insight, even companies with the right products for the right market can fail to get them in the right stores, leading to poor sales growth. By bringing together the standard macro-economic indicators with more granular consumer, retail and business data, it is possible to solve the distribution challenges that are so central to success in Africa.
Understanding the retail habits of Africa's consumers
Companies that understand who shops where, for what, and when can use that knowledge to inform resourcing and distribution strategies.
For most of Africa, the percentage of sales through modern trade is still small. While international retailers are making investments in modern trade formats, traditional retail, like the kiosk and table top – a stall set up on the roadside or in a local market area to capture passing trade – is where the majority of consumer retail transactions occur. Even in South Africa, which has the most modern trade within Sub-Saharan Africa, 40% of sales come from traditional retailers. And while the preferred traditional retail channel varies by country (i.e., table tops, kiosks, market stalls, grocer, etc.), traditional retail outside South Africa accounts for roughly 90% of all consumer goods spending within the region.
What a given retailer stocks, in what quantity, the price, the supplier and how often stocks are replenished, varies by retail format. This also influences the purpose and frequency of consumer visits. Depending on the country or urban area, consumers may shop at grocers or supermarkets less frequently because of transportation challenges, but visit local table tops daily to stock up on day-to-day items.
Understanding the willingness of Africa's consumers to try new products is also essential. There is a strong preference amongst consumers for brands and products they know, have tried before or that have been recommended by a trusted source, but the level of openness differs by country. Nielsen analysis shows that, for example, in Nigeria consumer willingness to try new products increased to 73% in Q3 2014, but decreased in Ghana to 53%.
Identifying the right retailers
Even with an understanding of consumer preferences and shopping behaviors in Africa, brands still have to identify the best retail outlets for a product. In fact, a small proportion of outlets can account for a disproportionate amount of sales.
For example, Nielsen's research and analysis of distribution and turnover of particular goods and products shows that in Lagos, laundry detergents are available for sale in 100,000 outlets, but that 80% of all laundry detergent sales come from 35,000 of those outlets, and a full 50% come from just 10,000 retail outlets.
With this type of data, companies can not only identify the right channels, store clusters, outlets, product formats and sizes to meet the needs of Africa's consumers, they can also optimize supply chains by improving route-to-market planning, availability, trimming waste and eliminating unnecessary costs to consumers, which can strengthen the whole market.
Creating retailer and consumer demand
Many brands have experience working with modern retailers to develop assortment, pricing and promotion strategies that can increase demand at a given location. But applying the same approach to traditional retail won't produce the same results. Understanding the retailer's environment – how often certain products are replenished, how new products are selected for stocking, use of wholesalers, refrigeration capabilities, etc. – can help brands drive sales.
The vendor makes the ultimate decision on how and when products are introduced to consumers, as well as how an item is presented and priced. In some cases, if a branded package is too expensive, the retailer may open the pack and split it up; there may be no loss in revenue to the manufacturer, but the brand identity and intention is much weaker.
That's why matching the flexibility of the vendor in product and pricing strategies is key to increasing demand and sales over time, such as providing branded cooler boxes to table top vendors for items that require refrigeration, or providing free samples appropriate to the time of day and the way a given outlet is used by the consumer.
"With six of the 10 fastest growing economies in the world located in Sub-Saharan Africa, and populations that are growing in size and spending power, there is tremendous promise and opportunity for consumer brands in Africa. Companies – be they global multinationals or the rapidly growing slate of home-grown African brands – that look beyond macro-environment data will be best positioned to meet the needs of consumers in this important region," said Burch.
Nielsen will host a live Twitter Chat about Africa: How to Navigate the Retail Distribution Labyrinth on Thursday, March 5, 2015, at 8 am ET/11am GMT with Allen Burch (@allenburch) by using the tag #NielsenAfrica. Questions can be submitted in advance by tweeting @Nielsen with #NielsenAfrica included.
A full copy of the report is available by clicking here.
Nielsen has capabilities in more than 40 countries across Sub-Saharan Africa, including major commercial operations in South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Cameroon and Ghana. As a strategic partner to several global and local brands, the company has been providing insights into the diversity of Africa's consumers and markets for more than 20 years, with deep expertise and understanding of both traditional and modern trade. Nielsen's trade data provides a comprehensive view of the retail environment in Africa, covering ongoing measurement of retail universes in 14 countries, and store level census data of more than 1.5 million outlets across 30 cities and 10 countries.
Anne-Taylor Adams: annetaylor.adams@nielsen.com; +1.646.654.5759 (o); +1.646.256.3022 (m)
Drew Mccaskill: Andrew.mccaskill@nielsen.com; +1.646.654.5577 (o); +1.347.331.5725 (m)
Ailsa Wingfield: Ailsa.wingfield@nielsen.com; +27 760691119 (m)
https://www.nielsen.com/us/en/press-releases/2015/nielsen-gdp-population-and-governance-data-alone-are-not-enough-to-predict-brand-success-in-africa/
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Home Exclusive Opinion Judges Are Not Above Law; Judicial Appointment Process Must Be Made Transparent;...
Judges Are Not Above Law; Judicial Appointment Process Must Be Made Transparent; holds Supreme Court
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Dinesh Singh Chauhan, Advocate
High Court of Judicature, Jammu.
The importance of transparency is paramount, and it is identified in the Lilongwe Principles and Guidelines as an overarching principle that should "permeate every stage" of the selection and appointment process. As indicated in the explanatory text, transparency is a cross-cutting principle that is necessary for enhancing the integrity of, as well as public confidence in the process.
The Supreme Court Collegium's decision to disclose the reasons for its recommendations marks a historic and welcome departure from the entrenched culture of secrecy surrounding judicial appointments. It will provide a window of understanding into the mind of the Collegium. Judicial independence is not a shield to protect wrong. It is not a carte blanche to arbitrary behaviour.
Penning separate but concurring opinion while dismissing the appeal against Delhi HC Judgment that held Office of Chief Justice of India is under purview of RTI Act, 2005 Justice D. Y Chandrachud observed that the basis for the selection and appointment of Judges to the Higher Judiciary must be defined and placed in the public realm.
This would promote confidence in the appointments process, and also would foster a degree of transparency and promote accountability in decision making at all levels within the Judiciary and the Government, observed Justice Chandrachud.
The Collegium is a victim of its own birth – pangs
The Collegium owes its birth to judicial interpretation. In significant respects, the Collegium is a victim of its own birth – pangs. Bereft of information pertaining to both the criteria governing the selection and appointment of Judges to the Higher Judiciary and the application of those criteria in individual cases, citizens have engaged the constitutional right to information, facilitated by the RTI Act.
There is a vital element of 'Public Interest' in knowing about the norms
What needs to be emphasised is that the substantive standards which are borne in mind must be formulated and placed in the public realm as a measure that would promote confidence in the appointments process. Due publicity to the norms which have been formulated and are applied would foster a degree of transparency and promote accountability in decision making at all levels within the Judiciary and the Government. The norms may also spell out the criteria followed for assessing the Judges of the district judiciary for higher judicial office. There is a vital public interest in disclosing the basis on which those with judicial experience are evaluated for elevation to higher judicial office particularly having regard to merit, integrity and judicial performance.
the criteria followed in making Judicial appointments in the public domain will fulfil the purpose and mandate of Section 4 of the RTI Act, engender public confidence in the process and provides a safeguard against extraneous considerations entering into the process.
If the content of right and enforcement of statute are to possess a meaningful dimension in their application to the judiciary – as it must, certain steps are necessary. Foremost among them is that the basis for the selection and appointment of Judges to the higher judiciary must be defined and placed in public realm. This is the procedure which is followed in making appointments but also in terms of the substantive norms which are adopted while making judicial appointments. There can be no denying the fact that there is a vital element of public interest in knowing about the norms which are taken into consideration in selecting candidates for higher judicial officer and making judicial appointments. Knowledge is a powerful instrument which secures consistency in application and generates the confidence that is essential to the sanctity of the process of judicial appointments. This is essentially because the Collegium system postulates that proposals for appointment of judges are initiated by the judges themselves.
"Essential substantial norms in regard to judicial appointments include: (i) The basis on which performance of a member of the Bar is evaluated for the purpose of higher judicial office; (ii) The criteria which are applied in determining whether a member of the Bar fulfils requirements in terms of: a) Experience as reflected in the quantum and nature of the practice; b) Domain specialization in areas which are geared to the evolving nature of litigation and the requirements of each court; c) Income requirements, if any, having regard to the nature of the practice and the circumstances prevailing in the court or region concerned; d) The commitment demonstrated by a candidate under consideration to the development of the law in terms of written work, research and academic qualifications; and e) The social orientation of the candidate, defined in terms of the extent of pro bono or legal aid work; (iii) The need for promoting the role of the judiciary as an inclusive institution and its diversity in terms of gender, representation to minorities and the marginalized, orientation and other relevant factors.
A batch of three Civil Appeals raised questions of constitutional importance having bearing on 'the right to know', 'the right to privacy' and 'the transparency, accountability and independence of the judiciary'. In one of the appeals (the appointments case), the Central Public Information Officer of the Supreme Court of India challenged an order dated November 24, 2009 of the Central Information Commission, whereby, the CPIO was directed to provide information sought by the respondent in application under the Right to Information Act 2005 with regard to the correspondence exchanged between constitutional authorities together with file notings, relating to the appointment of Justice H. L. Dattu, Justice A. K. Ganguly and Justice R. M. Lodha (superseding the seniority of Justice A. P. Shah, Justice A. K. Patnaik and Justice V. K. Gupta).
On November 26, 2010, a two Judge Bench of Supreme Court directed the Registry to place the batch of appeals before Chief Justice of India for constituting a Bench of appropriate strength and framed the following substantial questions of law:
1. Whether the concept of independence of judiciary requires and demands the prohibition of furnishing of the information sought? Whether the information sought for amounts to interference in the functioning of the judiciary?
2. Whether the information sought for cannot be furnished to avoid any erosion in the credibility of the decisions and to ensure a free and frank expression of honest opinion by all the constitutional functionaries, which is essential for effective consultation and for taking the right decision?
3. Whether the information sought for is exempt under Section 8 (1)(j) of the RTI Act?
On August 17, 2016, a three Judge Bench referred the Civil Appeals to a Constitution Bench for adjudication.
Judges are not above law
Judicial independence is not secured by the secrecy of cloistered halls. It cannot be said that increasing transparency would threaten judicial independence. The need for greater transparency and accountability in the appointment procedure or the lack of the same, has also been highlighted by other eminent retired Judges such as Justice J. S. Verma & Justice Ruma Pal in "Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association v Union of India (NJAC'), 2016 5 SCC 1. In an Article quoted in Justice Lokur's separate concurring opinion in the NJAC decision, Justice Verma while speaking about the Collegium system observed:
"546…Have any system you like, it's worth and efficacy will depend on the worth of the people who work it! It is, therefore, the working of the system that must be monitored to ensure transparency and accountability."
Furthermore, Justice Chelameswar, in his dissenting opinion, referred a speech made by Justice Ruma Pal, where she stated thus:
"The process by which a judge is appointed to a Superior Court is one of the best kept secrets in this country. The very secrecy of the process leads to an inadequate input of information as to the abilities and suitability of a possible candidate for appointment as a Judge. A chance remark, a rumour or even third-hand information may be sufficient to damn a judge's prospects. Contrariwise a personal friendship or unspoken obligation may colour a recommendation. Consensus within the Collegium is sometimes resolved through a trade-off resulting in dubious appointments with disastrous consequences for the litigants and the credibility of the judicial system. Besides, institutional independence has also been compromised by growing sycophancy and lobbying 'within the system."
The transparency of criteria and the process is a logical extension of the judicial appointment being 'meritorious', and that doing so would remove the 'arbitrariness' of the process, leading to upholding of Rule of Law. The transparency is necessary to ensure the public perception of the judiciary as independent. In the context of judicial appointments, appointments may happen on a proper, well- justified, substantive understanding of judicial merit. However, in order for the same to be truly independent, they must include within themselves the transparency of the criteria and openness of the process.
"56. Judicial independence does not mean the insulation of judges from the rule of law. In a constitutional democracy committed to the rule of law and to the equality of its citizens, it cannot be countenanced that judges are above the law. The notion of a responsible judiciary furthers the ideal for which an independent judiciary was envisaged. It is the exercise of the decision making authority guaranteed by judicial independence in a just and responsible manner, true to the ethos of judicial office that sub-serves the founding vision of the judiciary …….To be continue ………."
Judicial Appointment
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Home » World News » Apple defends App Store control in court, saying it doesn't want to be Android
Apple defends App Store control in court, saying it doesn't want to be Android
Epic Games argued that Apple purposely locks in its customers in the first day of a landmark trial with Apple over the rules of the App Store.
Apple is arguing that it built the App Store and gets to set the rules — which are designed to ensure that apps are high-quality and secure.
On Monday, Apple and Epic's lawyers both made their opening statements, and Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney testified.
Epic is looking to force Apple to open up iPhone software distribution so it could use its own payment processor, bypassing Apple's customary 30% fee on digital goods. A favorable ruling could even allow Epic to offer its own app store for iPhones.
Apple is arguing that it built the App Store and gets to set the rules, which are designed to ensure that apps are high-quality and secure.
"Epic wants us to be Android, but we don't want to be. And our consumers don't want that either. They want the choice," Apple lawyer Karen Dunn said.
Epic's argument is that Apple's App Store is anticompetitive, and that its arguments about quality and security are essentially an excuse to exclude competitors like Epic Games' title Fortnite, which was booted from Apple's store last year after it introduced a direct payment mechanism.
On Monday, Apple and Epic's lawyers both made their opening statements, and Epic Games founder and CEO Tim Sweeney testified. The trial is expected to last three weeks.
A core part of the debate centers around the relevant market that Apple allegedly dominates.
Epic is arguing that the relevant market is is iPhone app distribution. Apple says it is game distribution, and that users can easily switch to other phones and game consoles.
To bolster its definition, Epic is trying to show how Apple works to lock users into its products, making it more difficult to switch to Android or other platforms. On Monday, Epic lawyers cited several internal Apple documents, some over a decade old, while arguing that Apple executives built a "walled garden" brick by brick.
"Getting customers using our stores (iTunes, App, and iBookstore) is one of the best things we can do to get people hooked into the ecosystem," current Apple online services senior vice president Eddy Cue wrote to Apple CEO Tim Cook in 2013, according to an email revealed by Epic Games.
"Who leaves Apple products once they've bought apps, music, movies, etc!" Cue concluded.
In another exchange, Apple executives discussed in 2013 whether releasing a version of iMessage for Android would make it easier to switch phone brands. iMessage is still exclusive to Apple products.
"I am concerned that the iMessage on Android would simply serve to remove and obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones," Apple software senior vice president Craig Federighi wrote in 2013.
In 2016, a customer emailed Apple saying that iMessage amounts to "serious lock-in." As part of an internal conversation about that email, Apple's current head of marketing, Greg Jozwiak, wrote to colleagues, "we hear this a lot."
Most recently, Federighi wrote to Cook about Apple's sign-in feature which enables users to log into apps with an Apple login, saying that the feature is likely to "make our platform more sticky" in 2019.
Epic also argued that Apple doesn't need the App Store approval process to keep iPhone users safe. Epic argued that because Apple has sometimes approved low-quality apps for the store, its approval process is ineffective and doesn't protect user security.
In an email produced as part of proceedings, former Apple marketing boss Phil Schiller wrote in 2012 "Is no one minding the store? This is insane!!!!!!!" in response to a report of an "obvious rip off" app becoming the top free app on Apple's platform.
Apple doesn't want to be Android
In Apple's opening statement, it emphasized that its rules have helped created a vibrant ecosystem that benefits iPhone developers, with over 1.8 million apps in the App Store.
Apple said that Epic made $750 million from the App Store, implying that the trial is merely about money and that Epic wants to use Apple's technology without paying. Apple also said that Epic was looking at the wrong market and cannot show anticompetitive conduct in the gaming market.
Apple also defended its "walled garden" without using those terms, citing its App Review department that manually reviews an approves apps and filters out "obviously malicious apps." It said that based on its research, iOS represents only 2% of malware infections among all computing platforms.
"Take away from the security particular to the iPhones and the bad actors have a field day. This is why Android security statistics are so much worse," Dunn said.
"We thought about the fact that the iPhone is a phone that you're carrying around, you need it to work for you as a phone, and we cared deeply about the security of that device so it would be more protected and more reliable than PCs were at the time," Apple cited Schiller saying.
That's why Apple doesn't allow "sideloading," or manual installation of apps, like Android does, Apple argued. If Epic wins, Apple argued, it would mean a less secure iPhone operating system.
What's the App Store margin?
In its opening argument, Epic lawyers said that Apple's App Store generates large profits, with operating margins of 78% in 2019 and 75% in 2018.
Epic cited Ned Barnes, one of its expert witnesses, who says he used internal Apple documents to come up with the calculation.
The profitability of Apple's App Store will be part of Epic's argument that Apple uses its market power to extract excess fees from software developers.
"We have documents, long detailed PowerPoints prepared for Apple's senior executive team that lay out the profitability of the App Store in regular presentations given multiple years in a row," Epic lawyer Katherine Forrest said.
Apple disputes the accuracy of the number and has said that the company doesn't look at profit and loss for specific units, instead looking at Apple's financials on a higher level.
"They're going to pull documents out of context in this case. This is incredibly misleading," said Apple lawyer Karen Dunn. She said in court on Monday that Apple doesn't internally allocate to the App Store the costs of building the technology for the store, and that the company has an integrated business model.
"Apple is concerned that analysts, investors, reporters, and others in the marketplace could misinterpret the public disclosure of non-public, unaudited financial information," Apple lawyers previously wrote in a court filing.
Apple's App Store is part of Apple's services business, which executives have highlighted to investors as a source of growth. Apple reported $53.77 billion in sales in its services line in its fiscal 2020 with a 66% gross margin (its fiscal year ended Sept. 26, 2020). Apple's services sales also includes subscriptions like Apple Music, AppleCare warranties, and licensing fees in addition to the App Store.
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How I Met My Mother — 27
Challenging my Devotion
Please click here for part twenty-six.
On April 09th at the Yajna Shala, we were told to be at the temple after 8:30 pm, as Guruji would visit the temple the following day to perform the puja. We vacuumed, cleaned, and decorated the temple at night; there was so much love in the temple that night. We were trying to be quiet, as we were all aware that Sri Hari Ji was resting.
The next day, Sunday, April 10, was just an ordinary day on the calendar, but it was memorable for all of us. It was Lord Rama's birthday. Ram Navami is celebrated to mark the birth of Lord Ram (the seventh incarnation of Lord Vishnu) to King Dasharath and Queen Kaushalya. We got up early (4 am) for our Sadhana, then rushed to the temple for Lalita Sahasranama.
Unfortunately, an alarming incident took place in the temple with me. That shook me from the inside. Yes, it was my pain, but then it was every devotee's pain. That incident triggered that pain; it was always inside, waiting to burst out. During this trip, I hardly (seldom) saw Sri Hari Ji at the time of aarti. I am not tall; if a more elevated person stands in front of me, I can't see (darshan) Sri Hari Ji.
Every devotee, just like me, has equal love and devotion in their heart, but they are just patiently and painfully waiting in the back for their chance to bow to the Divine in peace.
My chest became heavier. The burden of pain was unbearable. I came here to be with my Bhagwan Sri Hari Ji and Guruji; why am I facing this pain of harsh words?
Yes, darshan can be done in your heart in a larger scheme and a non-duality concept. This is all Maya around us; we shouldn't get caught in it. I get that, understand and accept that too.! But at least one time, a devotee deserves a chance to be a little closer or to see the Divine. Aren't we all here for the Divine?
In the middle of Lalita Sahasranama, I ran outside the temple towards the swing. I sat there, and I cried, sobbed, and cried more. I was upset at the Divine; I was upset at myself! He is the one who calls us here; now, why is he ignoring us? I called him, and I called him. I was sobbing for him.
I took a vow and said to my Guruji, "I understand you are busy with your work to make the world peaceful. I respect that and support that. I am not someone special, and you need to give up everything and listen to my plea. I am just here for Sri Hari's darshan and you, like every devotee. I guess I am better off in Dallas, where you are always with me, and I don't have to face this pain, humiliation, and agony. If you wish I would come back again, show me a sign, do something, and make a change. Tell me that you are watching everything, what is happening around here.
Can every devotee ever get a fair chance to be blessed with your darshan face-to-face and in peace? Please, please, show me a sign, my Divine ma, that you are listening to me". Please open the door for me, my Guruji. I said it out loud, surrendering at his feet, assuring myself that Guruji was listening.
योगी पावन मनाचा साही अपराध जनाचा
विश्व पट ब्रह्मदारा ताटी उघडा ज्ञानेश्वरा
(A yogi is of clear mind bears the faults of humankind,
A saint uses words in teaching, "the world is a cloth and Brahma the thread." Open the door, Gyaneshwara!)
I know that not even the Divine has that much power to shake my faith and trust in my Guruji, the Divine himself. I don't know if it was the test for the Divine or the test of my devotion, trust, and surrender.
Ria Ji and Gunngun Ji came running toward me; they saw me bawling my eyes out. They hugged, consoled, and tried to convince me that I should come inside the temple. It was almost getting close to 7 am. I refused; I couldn't put my step in there anymore. I was disappointed with the situation. I told them, "Unless Guruji opens the door today, I will never return. It's his turn now; I tried everything". I was hurt inside, but I put my utmost devotion and love to the test of Guruji.
Gunngun Ji gently reminded me, with so much concern and love, "One never puts the Divine to the test!" But I thought I had no choice, I felt I was helpless, plus it was done; I couldn't take it back now. When both girls refused to go to the temple without me for aarti, I had no choice but to go with them. At the temple, I sat away from the negative vibes but a bit close to my Gunngun Ji and Ria Ji. Gunngun Ji, my soul sister, was holding my hand, waiting for the Divine, our Guruji.
Please click here for part twenty eight.
Which is Your Favourite Discourse by Swamiji?
Sri H asked in Spiritual Wisdom 1mo ago 1136 views 5
Jai Shri Hari!
Mine is Insight on How to Meditate.
I would love to know your favorites.
Also please provide links to the respective video.
Side Note: As I don't know hindi, please add links to the videos that are available with english subtitles (almost every video of swamiji is present with english CC except few)
Har Har Mahadev!
ajay S replied 1mo ago Goto discussion
Hello Sri ji,
Very hard question you have asked, to pick favorite video of Swamiji 🙂 . I just love his each and every video. I have picked two which i saw quite long back and loved it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEXUBtf2ET0 - Suffering and You
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lp22PH6BUO0 - The Journey of Self-Evolution
- Jai Shri Hari!!
Why do you think Swamiji endured Baba ji's tormenting behavior?
Aparna S asked in Spiritual Wisdom 1mo ago 473 views 15
Last day of the year and I chose to re-read Swamiji's memoir, because it fills me with inspiration. Somehow I cannot still process and it really makes me upset every time I read, how could someone like Swamiji who was so well sorted in this mind about his goal let Baba ji treat him like that? Or use him and let him do so?
Was it a sense of surrender ? Was it just the faith that he would take him closer to his goal? In either case, should we not use our mind to analyze at all?
PS- I am already sorry if I shouldn't derive such meaning out of it, it is what was evidently happening though.
A replied 1mo ago Goto discussion
Aparna,
I used to think that way too but I have come to appreciate Swamiji's life story in a new light. As we move along the path one of the changes that occurs in the mind of a sadhak is the ability to take a step back and gaze at the big picture of life more and dwell less on the details. IMO, Swamiji would not be the guru that he is today if Naga Baba had not been the guru he was back in the day. Things people have come to love and revere like Os.me, Sadhana app, Black lotus App, Swamiji's Ashram and all the initiates of Swamiji etc etc ..none of that would exist today as we know it if it weren't for Naga Baba. In a way, all of us owe Naga Baba a huge debt of gratitude if you think about it.
All the things we are grateful for with respect to Swamiji came about as fruits of his intense tapas in the Himalayas. However, If Naga Baba was even ever so slightly different in his disposition, Swamiji would never have left the ashram in the first place and his life story would have taken a different trajectory. It eventually might have led to his realization in some other form no doubt, but It would have looked different from the story we have come to love and appreciate right now in our present. Therefore, when you step back and gaze at the totality of it, you will find that all the characters in a story add so much color and beauty to the story. That's why in a movie or a novel, the person playing an antagonist is just as important as the protagonist. Because the role of a villain is to make you fall in love with the Hero and root for him! The character of Ravana makes us fall in love with Rama and Sita and aren't we grateful that he exists in the story?
When you take a step back and reflect on the big picture in its totality, you will start to appreciate the intricacies and nuances in a whole new light and glimpse at the immense beauty contained in it! Beauty is an emergent quality. To give you a music analogy, the high and low notes together is what makes a song so beautiful and melodious :).
I will also add one final note which is that sometimes great beings go through enormous challenges not necessarily for themselves but to show the world how to handle such situations if the rest of us ever find ourselves in one. Isn't that what inspiration is all about? 🙂
Wishing you a brilliant 2023!!!
On Death: Choosing How To Die. Ever thought about this?
Alok S asked in Spiritual Wisdom 2mo ago 440 views 29
Death is going to visit us sooner or later. And so many people die everyday on this planet. Have you ever thought about how you would like to die?
We can't choose our death. Or can we? And if yes, to how much extent? Should we even choose our death? If you had the choice, how would you like to execute your passing? Let me know in the comments. 🙏🌸
Promit R replied 2mo ago Goto discussion
1. Yes, with a smile.
2. How we live determines how we die. As humans, we have a great degree of freedom in choosing our actions, responses and conditions.
3. Check out the life of Diogenes the Cynic. Dude just stopped breathing through sheer force of will.
4. I imagine a beautiful way to die would be to expend every ounce of our life energies in service of this world, then...detachedly watch it merge away. From a no-thing, to nothing.
Jai Sri Hari 🙏
Question Regarding Self Realization.
Sri H asked in Spiritual Awakening 3w ago 364 views 13
Today I got an uncommon doubt which never arouse within me, I always thought I was capable of becoming more spiritual and Attain Mahadeva within this lifetime, but by looking back at myself I became more emotional and depressed 😔 than ever. (Sorry for this long question)
Can a normal person like me who is struggling to break the hardened tendencies of mind, who is indisciplined to practice meditation or sadhana, who is less mindful of his thoughts, speech and actions, who is controlled by the mind instead of making it listen to him, who is fallen under the trap of worldy pleasures, who is wasting his precious time, who forgets the wisdom received from his intellect and gets engaged in the guidance of his five senses, who is less compassionate or truthful (finds hard to follow all the virtues of a sadhak), who is bombarded with impure and negative thoughts, who is egoistic and overconfident, who often gets angry to small things, who has no spiritual experiences so far, who is less devotional, who finds it hard to surrender, who isn't even worthy to worship his isht, who isn't even capable of becoming a recipient of Divine's grace: Can become self realised within this lifetime?
I know it's never late but something inside really haunts me: What if
Neelam Om replied 3w ago Goto discussion
Congratulations and I deeply respect your courage to accept your infirmities (I won't call them flaws) as nobody is flawless. It's only those who knows and accept them and start to work on each flaw step by step, one at a time can remove them and replace them with the positive one. That's what spiritual transformation is. Good news is that, there is no age limit to begin with. You can start anywhere and anytime. And of course, Mahadev is purely bhole, innocent. Why not, walk the path, see how Mahadev takes you.
And don't worry about afflictions, if you desire this, then you must have the courage to remove them to walk towards light. All it takes your willingness. Have a happy journey!!
How to pray when things are completely out of your control?
Shailu asked in Spiritual Wisdom 2mo ago 305 views 10
I am talking about situations where you are absolutely helpless and at mercy of others whims and fancies. The only recourse is prayer. How should one pray as there is absolutely no other action that is possible and one is engulfed with worry and anxiety? Also the decisions will take 2-3 months to be made, so very difficult to maintain calm during this time. How to channelise one's fear and worry into prayer?
Komal Om replied 2mo ago Goto discussion
I am sorry to hear that you are going through a tough situation, Shailu.
It isn't easy but the best way is surrender.
In such situations as long as you have done the best you can and things are out of your control, speak your heart out to the Divine and leave the outcome at His feet.
Surrendering and after telling Him that now it is for Him to handle, you will feel a burden be lifted off your shoulders.
Additionally what Anu suggested about relying on a trusted friend is super helpful. If you don't have such a friend, I'd suggest praying for one or life guides if you feel completely overwhelmed.
MeditationSpiritual AwakeningSpiritual Wisdom
Sona Om
Dallas, US
I am offering complete surrender and devotion to my beloved Guruji. My existence to my love, Sri Hari Ji, is my Divine Ma in the form of Om Swami! 💓🙏 🙏💓 Feel free to reach out to me at sonasriom@gmail.com
https://sonaom.medium.com/
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