text:
Brunei's key task for eco-sustainability
2:20 am August 14, 2014
An article by Aaron Wong, The Brunei Times.
FINANCIAL capital is the Sultanate's biggest strength in progressing towards environmental sustainability. However, it has to take steps to lower consumption of subsidised amenities that represent the nation's biggest challenge, according to a Singaporean environmental consultant.
Speaking to The Brunei Times on the sidelines of the Seventh National Environment Conference, Chief Operating Officer of The GreenAsia Group, Vinod Kesava said that the government, as state regulator held the key in consolidating different viewpoints on environmental issues as the market becomes increasingly specialised.
"The concept of an 'eco city' has to be lead by the government," he said.
"With the government of Brunei being the largest stakeholder and employer, the country's population being well controlled and natural resources available, Brunei in some ways has it better than Singapore, with potential to make a quicker changes (relating to the environment)."
One solution Kesava noted, was to begin building an incinerator, whereby all trash would be first separated from organic waste, with the latter then depleted of its moisture to render it much more compact before it is incinerated.
This saves space in landfills, and remaining waste could be recycled.
Meanwhile heavy subsidies on fuel and electricity means that awareness on climate change has to be at the forefront of the public's mind if consumption is to be lowered, Kesava added.
"You cannot change the rate of electricity from say 10 cents per kilowatt to 30 cents per kilowatt, or you risk a huge amount of instability."
"It (dramatic, sudden increases) will never happen, so you need to incentivise people from the climate change perspective – make the public see the incredible value of these subsidies and to remain eco-conscious through education over time."
Meanwhile the British High Commissioner David Campbell said the move to "eco-city" required a legal framework that is supported by the free market's ability to self regulate provided shifts in consumer attitudes take place.
"In the UK, we have legally binding targets in terms of reducing emissions, as supported by all the parties," he said.
With this overarching law, there are standards in place, he added, "but it's a mix of legal requirements and trying to encourage consumers to be more environmentally aware when making purchases."
"When a customer buys a freezer, as the government we don't say you have to buy this freezer specifically; but we are trying to educate the consumer to see that the economical choice and the environmental choice can be the same choice. The better product for the environment which uses less energy will cost you less to run."


text:
Q: Warning: mysqli_fetch_array() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result, boolean given Tengo este error:

Warning: mysqli_fetch_array() expects parameter 1 to be mysqli_result,
  boolean given in C:\xampp\htdocs\conteo-votos-master\estadisticas.php
  on line 62

Y este es mi codigo:
<?php
    session_start();

    if(empty($_SESSION['dni']) && !$login){
        header('Location: login.php');
        exit;
    }

    require "config.php";

?>
<!doctype html>

        <meta charset="utf-8"/>
        <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0"/>
        <title>Conteo de Votos</title>
        <link rel="stylesheet" href="http://dhbhdrzi4tiry.cloudfront.net/cdn/sites/foundation.min.css">

Registrar Votos

Estadisticas

                Total
                1
                2
                3
                4

            <?php

            $sql = "call get_votos()";

            $res = mysqli_query($link,$sql);

            while($row = mysqli_fetch_array($res)){
                echo "

                    {$row['c0']}
                    {$row['c1']}
                    {$row['c2']}
                    {$row['c3']}
                    {$row['c4']}

                ";
            }

            ?>

Esta es la consulta SQL
<?php
    require "config.php"; $mesa = $_GET['mesa'];
    $sql = "select count(*) as total from votos where mesa = '$mesa'";
    $res = mysqli_query($link,$sql);
    $row = mysqli_fetch_assoc($res);

    echo json_encode($row);
    if ($row['total'] > 0 )
    {
        echo "fail";
    }else{
        echo "ok";
    }
?>

Agradecere vuestro apoyo.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
DC.AD
Barroca Museum / DC.AD
11:00 - 13 September, 2016
© Francisco Nogueira
7490 Mora, Portugal
Year of project
Francisco Nogueira
Love ST. Studio
Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Mora
More Specs Less Specs
Text description provided by the architects. Design of the architectural project for the Barroca Museum began in 2014 and featured as its core premise the reorganisation of a building located on the Barroca Estate just outside the Portuguese town of Mora.
The building, that had been recently restructured before this intervention, had retained its origins within the Alentejan vernacular architectural style of which it represents a fine example. It is composed of a long, single storey volume, located in a raised area of this agricultural estate, which previously served as the manger for the estate. The structure is characterised by extensive sections of white wall, with controlled openings throughout the construction. The gable roof is held in place by wooden trusses that endow the space with the amplitude of a pavilion. The finishings are typified by the whitewashed plastered walls and the red ceramic paving, which recall the traditional architectonic language of this region.
The project undertaken defined the installation of an exhibition about the history of the local council based upon hitherto unpublished photographic records that illustrate and highlight the social and economic transformations ongoing in the region ever since the early 20th century.
The exhibition layout redesigned the existing spatial logic and in accordance with the diverse specific requirements of the exhibition content. Conceptually, the project was designed with a strong reference to the surrounding built and natural environments in a play on the interior-exterior relationship.
Exhibition Floor Plan
The intervention extended to the construction of a volume within the interior of the main nave, which stands apart from the walls and the ceiling to become an object unbound in the centre of this space. This self-standing, white structure proves reminiscent of the outer sections of stone masonry and functions as a replication of the existing construction logic.
This volume gets intersected across the two axes transversal to the surrounding space in alignment with the metric of the existing openings and thus enabling the circulation of visitors inside and outside of the exhibition as well as the controlled entrance of natural light. These divisions result in three distinct spaces which, in turn, correspond to the three main exhibition sections.
There are also occasional pieces of fixed furniture that act to embed the diverse programs of the museum space of which the reception and store are examples.
In the interior, various means of support and stands ensure visitors accompany the pace of the exhibition and fostering the interaction of the public with the exhibited content. The green colour of the furniture reflects back to the natural exterior environment in continuity with the premises established in the general project concept.
Location to be used only as a reference. It could indicate city/country but not exact address.
Wood Concrete
Projects Built Projects Selected Projects Cultural Architecture Museums & Exhibit Museum MoraPortugal
Cite: "Barroca Museum / DC.AD" [Museu da Barroca / DC.AD] 13 Sep 2016. ArchDaily. Accessed . <https://www.archdaily.com/794639/barroca-museum-dd/> ISSN 0719-8884
巴罗卡博物馆 / DC.AD

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Back issues of Oakwood are made available exclusively for educational purposes such as research or instruction. Literary rights, including copyright for published works held by the creator(s) or their heirs, or other third parties may apply. All rights are reserved unless otherwise indicated by the copyright owner(s).
(1985) "Oakwood," Oakwood: Vol. 1 : Iss. 11 , Article 1.


Experts in digital strategy, design and technology.
We are a digital development house in the heart of Brisbane, a team of strategists, information architects, designers and user experience specialists. We work in partnership with our clients on long term digital solutions that that use best practice in design, development and usability and consistently deliver a great user and CMS experience.
We create beautiful & usable websites, online applications, eCommerce stores, mobile websites and intranets that are custom built and integrate with Umbraco and other client back end systems.
Our passion is delivering the best solution that we can and we work in close partnership with our clients, as an extension of their team and as a trusted voice to call upon when needed.
We have extensive experience with Umbraco, being one of only a handful of Umbraco Gold Partners in Australia, and can do everything needed to build and maintain an Umbraco website including new builds, redesigns, upgrades, training and on-going support. So come and talk Umbraco with us.
Or send a note to Elizabeth at elizabeth.gibbons@zeroseven.com.au who'll help you out!


text:
November 2021 - Cruise Ship Accident Lawyer
Dealing with a medical emergency probably isn't the first thing you think about when planning a cruise vacation. You're focused on the destination. The sights and experiences you'll get to enjoy. The amenities offered on the cruise ship itself.
Unfortunately, medical emergencies are not landlocked. While not exactly common, they can happen anywhere and to anyone, and cruises are no exception. In fact, just a few weeks ago Royal Caribbean's Serenade of the Seas became the first cruise ship to call in Key West since the beginning of the COVID pandemic due to a medical emergency — an 81-year-old man needed urgent medical care to help with septic shock.
The ship's crew was able to get the passenger to a
Coronavirus | COVID-19
COVID has been in the headlines for nearly two years. It has impacted the lives of everyone during that time. From work to leisure, COVID remains a concern for many, and its effect on the cruise industry cannot be understated.
Part of this comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's conditional sailing order. It was set to expire on November 1 but has now been extended to January 15, 2022. This was done out of an abundance of caution and concern regarding the spread of the deadly Delta variant of COVID-19.
What does this mean for the cruise industry? And how are COVID cases on cruise ships looking right now? Read on to find out more.
COVID on


text:
Meta chief information security officer
Meta names Guy Rosen chief information security officer
Guy Rosen, who has been at Facebook since 2013 and most recently led the company's product safety and integrity efforts, said on Twitter in his new role he "will continue to oversee and look across the breadth of safety & security risks the people who use our services, our company and industry face."


text:
2 University of Wisconsin Information Processing Consultant Salaries
University of Wisconsin Information Processing Consultants earn $47,000 annually, or $23 per hour, which is 12% lower than the national average for all Information Processing Consultants at $53,000 annually and 29% lower than the national salary average for all working Americans. The highest paid Information Processing Consultants work for University of Washington at $56,000 annually and the lowest paid Information Processing Consultants work for University of Wisconsin at $47,000 annually.
$47K University of Wisconsin Information Processing Consultant without location (2 salaries)
-$6K (12%) less than national average Information Processing Consultant salary ($53K)
Be the first to see new University of Wisconsin jobs
Utilant - Buffalo, NY
Account Manager - Toyota
Michael Page - Farmington Hills, MI
Humanetics Innovative Solutions - Farmington Hills, MI
ACT Consulting - Zelienople, PA


Almost every broker of binary options offers various range of options to the traders. As a trader, you will always wonder how many kinds of binary options are available and what exactly mean of these types of options. Many binary options traders started trading with the common type which is a high-low binary option. Once they get experienced, they will look to more advanced types of options to get an edge on the market. Leading financial advisors provide binary option trading tips to give guidance to the trader regarding which type is best for better earning.
1. High/ Low – This is the most basic type of binary options trade is the High/Low trade. In this trade, investors can trade in an asset, which might be a stock, currency or commodity. This type of options is famous worldwide and the core of binary options trading. Here, you hypothesis whether the underlying asset will be higher or lower than the predetermined value after a specific time in future.
2. One Touch – This is another type of options available in binary options trading. They are known as a one-touch option among most of the brokers and it is a little bit complex than the traditional High/Low options. In one touch options you don't need to estimate whether that rate will be lower or greater on a specific time period but instead of doing this an investor has to ascertain if the option will touch a specific rate or not on the maturity date.
3. Range or Boundary Options – Boundry options also known as range options. In this, an investor does a double no touch trade means you are stating a price that will stay within a certain range which is bounded by two points. If price remains within that predetermined range during the entire trade then you win but if it crosses that range during the trading period then you lose. What is good about boundary trading is that it allows you to make income even in flat markets when the price is stable. Since in most trading, a trader makes a profit based on price movement. This is a useful opportunity in the binary options which you will not find elsewhere.
4. 60 Second Options – This type of options trade have become so popular in recent times. Almost every binary options broker now offers this type of trade to the investors. It works exactly like standard High/Low trades which I explained above, the difference is the time frame. The expiry time for 60-second options is one minute only. There is nothing more complicated than involving in a trade with a chance to gain or lose that much fast. This trade needs a high level of market expertise in options.
5. Long-Term Options - One of the most interesting types of trades binary options brokers are providing is long-term options. This type of options is just opposite to 60-second options. Instead of being in trading for a very short time period, they include being in trading for many days, weeks, or even months. You will get various types of expiry times available in the long-term options.


As part of Markham's ongoing commitment to the environment and the production of our improved Environmental Policy, Imogen Napper a representative of National Geographic, who has recently completed her doctorate at the Plymouth Marine Laboratory in the UK, was invited into school to talk to students.
Imogen spoke to the students about her investigation in micro-plastic and how she was in Peru due to the invitation she received from the Peruvian Government and The British Council in order to encourage further research and dialogue regarding the Peruvian fishing industry and the negative impact that plastics from clothing and cosmetics are having on fish.
She encouraged practical affirmative action and to think ahead by using "toma-todos", "tuppers", involving others in their plans but above all to remain flexible in the approach to tackling pollution.
At Markham, we are very much aware of our role in the long road to reducing plastic reliance and are trying to teach and promote awareness in an inspirational way and encourage students to retain their personal contact with the ocean as it plays such an important role in Peruvian life.
Imogen gave an inspirational talk that was attended by over 120 students and teachers and it was a credit to her that she was able to reach out and inspire students from P6 to 6B with her message.


How can I create a form in PmWiki to send mail?
The pmform.zipΔ module provides a variety of forms processing capabilities. The module is still under development.
PmForm blocks directives from data being saved to pages by converting markups: thus "(:" becomes "( :" and ":)" becomes ": )". These are managed by the $PmFormPostPatterns array.
which says that the 'text' field must not contain "[[".
The recipe requires pmwiki-2.2.56 or later.
20130413 - replace htmlspecialchars() with PHSC() for better PHP5.4 compatibility; update change summary if a 'csum' form field is posted.
20110216 - added variable $EnablePmFormMailSubjectEncode (PITS:01238).
20100904 - added $PmFormExitFunction, $PmFormRedirectFunction (PITS:01179), fixed carriage returns (PITS:01175).


Commonwealth Games boss nervous about..
Commonwealth Games Chairman Peter Beattie admits he's nervous ahead of Wednesday's opening ceremony on the Gold Coast.
The former Queensland Premier tells Alan Jones forecast rain is the main thing weighing on his mind at the moment.
"I am a little. The weather worries me a bit.
"But frankly look a few showers are not going to disrupt us. They are not!
Mr Beattie also elaborates on syringes being found at the athletes' village.
The Indian team has been cleared of doping speculation despite breaching a needle ban.
"The needles were tested, no drugs found, which is great.
"You can't bring needles into the village unless you've got prior approval… there wasn't approval.


Here at Marsh Lane Dental, we always try to make you as comfortable as possible during a tooth extraction procedure. You will likely feel a lot of pressure or pulling, but will feel no pain.
We make every attempt to complete all teeth needing extractions at our office. But sometimes the extraction procedure can be extremely difficult, or the tooth needing an extraction is in a very difficult location. In cases where the extraction is difficult to complete, we will refer you to a highly trained and qualified oral surgeonclose to our office.


The Nigerian Meteorological Agency, NiMet, for Tuesday predicted cloudy to partly cloudy weather conditions and localised thunderstorms over most parts of the country.
NiMet's Weather Outlook on Monday in Abuja predicted dust haze condition over the Northern parts of the country Tuesday.
It said partly cloudy to cloudy morning with prospects of localised thundery activities would prevail over the central states like Abuja and Lokoja.
"The extreme north is expected to be in dust haze conditions.
"Partly cloudy to cloudy conditions will prevail over the central states down to the southern states in the morning hours with scattered thunderstorms in the afternoon and evening hours," NiMet predicted.


text:
Кальміу́ський райо́н (до 2016 — Іллічі́вський)  — район на півночі Маріуполя, найбільший за площею та за рівнем розвитку промисловості район.

Історія
Кальміуський район виник наприкінці 1929 року завдяки зусиллям щойно створеного Відділу капітального будівництва (ВКБ). За проектами ВКБ із заводом імені Ілліча поєднали поселення (колонії, як їх тоді іменували) колишніх маріупольських заводів «Нікополь» і «Російський провіданс», що і утворили Кальміуський район радянського на той час міста.

Саме включення колоній до району і обумовило наявність у ньому історичної забудови кінця 19-початку 20 ст., тобто капіталістичного періоду. Подібну забудову доби сецесії в Маріуполі має лише Центральний район.

У районі до 1917 року були —

 перший в Маріуполі «Народний будинок» для дозвілля пролетаріату (відкритий 1905 року),
 Варгановські казарми для робітників,
 церква Петра і Павла при заводі «Нікополь» (висвячена 1901 року),
 особняк директора заводу,
 церква біля ринку,
 лютеранська церква,
 амбулаторія (відкрита 1897 року)
 лікарня,
 сквер,
 приватний кінотеатр
 церковна школа,
 Освітня школа при заводі «Нікополь», Маріуполь (1912—1914 рр., арх. Нільсен Віктор Олександрович, нині школа № 21)
 каплиця (нині семафорна будка),
 цвинтар зі склепами (нинішня вул. Заозерна (Маріуполь), склепи доби капіталізму знищені),
 Кінний двір
 Катерининська залізниця (Маріуполь) тощо.

За часів СРСР всі церковні споруди і склепи доби капіталізму в районі знищені.

27 червня 1940 указом Президії Верховної Ради УРСР в місті Маріуполі створений (відновлений) Іллічівський район.

Вартісними пам'ятками архітектури Кальміуського району залишаються будинок Кальміуського відділення швидкої медичної допомоги (1913 рік, Прокатний провулок), Освітня школа при заводі «Нікополь», Маріуполь (арх. Нільсен Віктор Олександрович 1912-1914 рр.,), Варгановські казарми, сучасний Палац культури імені Карла Маркса (доба сецесії).

Виконання завдань першої п'ятирічки (1928—1933 рр.) вимагало від мешканців Маріуполя надзвичайно напруженої праці з перетворення міста в індустріальний центр. Широко використовувалась і рабська праця численних в'язнів сталінського режиму.

волонтерівський клуб (Маріуполь) на вул. Брестській — непоправна втрата вартісної архітектурної пам'ятки в стилі сталінського ампіру наприкінці 1990-х років. Споруда клубу була вибудована радянськими в'язнями. В старовинному поселенні волонтерівка, віддаленому від центру Маріуполя, клуб мимоволі став центром суспільного життя, де були власна бібліотека, кінозал, низка приміщень гуртків для дітей і юнацтва. волонтерівський клуб відвідували мешканці дальніх поселень — з Приморська, Сартани, що збільшувало можливості культурного дозвілля для юнацтва і молоді на околиці Маріуполя. Споруда клубу не була в комунальній власності міста і його безжально продали у приватну власність, скоротивши робочі місця. Ігнорування власних працівників і їх потреб, що стало законом в добу дикого капіталізму, призвело до повного занепаду двоповерхової будівлі. Розлючені байдужістю місцевої влади, мешканці поселення почали руйнувати покинуту споруду і розбирати її на будівельні матеріали. Небезпечні залишки споруди були остаточно поруйновані працівниками заводу ім. Ілліча, позаяк руїни могли обвалитися на людей.

Загальні відомості

За часів СРСР у район увійшли такі поселення:
 «Азовкільце»
 Селище Апатова
 «Гугліне»
 «Мирний»
 «Волонтерівка»
 «Україна» І та II
 «Садки»
 «Річний»
 «Зірка»
 «Ворошилівське»

«Ворошилівське» належить до зниклих поселень району. Воно починало історію з довоєнних (до 1941 р.) часів і було розташоване на західній ділянці району. Його віддали під поселення стахановців, тодішніх ударників виробництва. Поселення мало шість вулиць, котрі не мали назв, а йшли за номерами — Перша, Друга, Третя, Четверта, П'ята, Шоста. П'яту вулицю ще називали Панькова. В поселенні розмістили робочі гуртожитки, центральну площу, лікарню, одноповерховий клуб, АТС, дитячий садок, школу семирічку № 23, магазини № 14 та № 33, базар, дитячий будинок і кладовище. Завод Ілліча первісно вибудував сто два (102) житлові будинки. Будинки будували за кошт заводу та методом толоки у вільні часи, а згодом віддали працівникам заводу під довгострокові кредити. Жінки поселення також працювали на сусідніх полях радгоспів «Зірка» та «ім. Ворошилова». Поселення було пов'язане із заводом залізницею від селища Старого Криму та робочім автобусом.

Після розбудови заводу імені Ілліча його селищна земельна ділянка віддана під нові цехи, а поселення з 1967 р. було поступово ліквідоване. Його заклади переведені у різні райони Маріуполя. Про колишнє поселення стахановців нагадують лише старий шлагбаум та ділянка шосе навпроти сучасного трамвайного депо № 3.

«Мирний», «Річний» та «Садки» — найбільш депресивні поселення Кальміуського району з поруйнованою інфраструктурою.

У районі розташовані Маріупольський металургійний комбінат імені Ілліча, концерн «Азовмаш». На території району — найбільший у місті стадіон імені Володимира Бойка, плавальний басейн «Нептун», парк екстремального відпочинку, Палац ігрових видів спорту, Маріуполь, три палаци культури, Міська лікарня №1 (Маріуполь), колишній колгоспний ринок.

Адміністративний устрій
Райадміністрації підпорядковано 5 населених пунктів: смт Сартана — 10 410 ос., смт Старий Крим — 5902 ос., смт Талаківка — 3955 ос., с. Гнутове — 590 ос., с. Ломакине — 317 осіб.

Населення
За даними перепису 2001 року населення району становило 102946 осіб, із них 6,03 % зазначили рідною мову українську, 93,60 % — російську, 0,07 % — вірменську, 0,06 % — грецьку, 0,04 % — білоруську, 0,03 % — циганську, 0,01 % — молдовську та єврейську, а також болгарську, німецьку та румунську мови.

Транспорт
У районі розташовані станція Сартана, а також залізничні платформи Заводська Площадка, 1256 км, 1253 км, 1249 км.

Головні вулиці Кальміуського району

 Нікопольський проспект
 Проспект Металургів
 Вулиця Карпинського
 Вулиця Макара Мазая
 Вулиця Заозерна
 Вулиця Маміна-Сибіряка
 Вулиця Ракетна (Маріуполь)

Цікаві факти
Попри те, що Кальміуський район єдиний у Маріуполі, який не має виходу до моря, у ньому розташований суднобудівний завод «Плаз».

Галерея вибраних фото

Див. також
 Міська лікарня №1 (Маріуполь)
 Бібліотека профспілки заводу Ілліча (Маріуполь)
 Палац культури «Іскра», Маріуполь
 Волонтерівський клуб (Маріуполь)
 Зоопарк (Маріуполь)
 Центральний район
 Лівобережний район
 Приморський район

Примітки

Посилання

Джерела

 Газета «Ильичёвец» от 13 марта 2001 года
 Газета «Ильичёвец» от 19 мая 2009 года
 Газета «Ильичёвец» от 23 мая 2013 года
 «Приазовский рабочий» от 15 октября 2008 года

Райони Маріуполя

Виборчий округ 57

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: ScrollToPosition() do not work well on RecyclerView with Images I have a RecyclerView page like this:
 <android.support.v7.widget.RecyclerView
                    android:id="@+id/rv_chat"
                    android:layout_width="match_parent"
                    android:layout_height="match_parent" />

The xml of RecyclerView item is an ImageView:
<ImageView xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
        android:id="@+id/iv_chat_item_content"
        android:layout_width="wrap_content"
        android:layout_height="wrap_content"
        android:adjustViewBounds="true"
        android:maxHeight="@dimen/height_xl"
        android:maxWidth="@dimen/width_l"
        android:scaleType="centerInside"
        android:src="?attr/chat_image_loading" />

Adapter:
public ChatAdapter(Context context, List<String> urls)
{
    @Override
    public void onBindViewHolder(RecyclerView.ViewHolder holder, int position) {

         //download image from internet
         downloadImage(url);
    }
}

MainActivity:
    //image urls
    List<String> urls;

    @Override
    protected void onCreate(Bundle savedInstanceState) {

        //initialize recyclerview
        chatListView = (RecyclerView) findViewById(R.id.rv_chat);
        chatListView.setHasFixedSize(true);
        chatListView.setLayoutManager(new LinearLayoutManager(this, LinearLayoutManager.VERTICAL, false));
        chatListView.setItemAnimator(new DefaultItemAnimator());

        chatAdapter = new ChatAdapter(this,null);
        chatListView.setAdapter(chatAdapter);

        //add datas
        chatAdapter.addDatas(urls);

        //scroll to bottom
        chatListView.smoothScrollToPosition(chatListView.getBottom());
    }

I just want to do this:after downloading images,let the recyclerview scrolls to the bottom.But because of the asynchronous image loading ,the recyclerview could not correctly scroll to the bottom——it just scroll to the middle. So how I do to make it working well?

A: Get image size before downloading it and set blank image in view.

A:
RecyclerViewScroller :

public class RecyclerViewScroller {
RecyclerView recycler;
LinearLayoutManager manager;
private boolean isMove = false;
private int index = 0;

public RecyclerViewScroller(RecyclerView recycler, LinearLayoutManager manager){
    this.recycler = recycler;
    this.manager = manager;
    recycler.addOnScrollListener(myScrollListener);
}

public void scrollTo(int position){
    recycler.scrollToPosition(position);
    int firstItem = manager.findFirstVisibleItemPosition();
    int lastItem = manager.findLastVisibleItemPosition();
    if (position <= firstItem) {
        recycler.scrollToPosition(position);
    } else if (position <= lastItem) {
        int top = recycler.getChildAt(position - firstItem).getTop();
        recycler.scrollBy(0, top);
    } else {
        recycler.scrollToPosition(position);
        index = position;
        isMove = true;
    }
}

private RecyclerView.OnScrollListener myScrollListener = new RecyclerView.OnScrollListener() {
    @Override
    public void onScrolled(RecyclerView recyclerView, int dx, int dy) {
        super.onScrolled(recyclerView, dx, dy);
        if (isMove) {
            isMove = false;
            int n = index - manager.findFirstVisibleItemPosition();
            if (0 <= n && n < recycler.getChildCount()) {
                int top = recycler.getChildAt(n).getTop();
                recycler.scrollBy(0, top);
            }
        }
    }
};

}

Activity:

        LinearLayoutManager linearLayoutManager = new LinearLayoutManager(this);
    chatListView.setLayoutManager(linearLayoutManager);
    RecyclerViewScroller scroller = new RecyclerViewScroller(chatListView, linearLayoutManager);
    scroller.scrollTo(chatListView.getBottom());


A major component of IWA's work is to provide girls in need with the technology needed to link them with educational resources and mentors around the world. You can follow the progress of our students on their own leadership blogs.
Mia attends a middle school in Guizhou China. She has been connected with mentors in Dulwich College International High School Programme Suzhou, and SIAS International University in Zhengzhou.
May attends a high school in Guizhou China. She has been connected with mentors in Dulwich College International High School Programme Suzhou, and the University of Cambridge, UK.


text:
Шамсуддин Мухаммад ибн Ахмад аль-Мукаддаси (более правильный вариант нисбы: аль-Макдиси, ;
946/947, Иерусалим — после 1000) — средневековый арабский географ, автор труда «Ахсан ат-такасим фи марифат ал-акалим» («Лучшее разделение для познания климатов»).

Биография
Аль-Мукаддаси родился в 946 или 947 году в Иерусалиме. Он получил прекрасное образование и, совершив в 20 лет паломничество в Мекку, решил посвятить себя изучению географии. Для сбора всей необходимой информации для своего труда он совершил ряд поездок, в итоге охвативших все исламские страны его времени. И только в 985 году ему удалось собрать весь необходимый материал для работы.

Литература

Примечания

Ссылки
 Al-Muqaddasi

Арабские географы
Персоналии по алфавиту
Палестиноведы


text:
#include <fstream>
#include <zmq.hpp>
#include <quidpp.h>
#include <time.h>
#include "protoc/processjob.pb.h"
#include "chella.h"

/* Module specific commands */
void ModChella::sumbitJob(int paramc, const std::vector<std::string>& params) {
	std::string data;
	if (paramc < 1)
		throw TooFewParameters(1);

	if (params[0].empty())
		throw InvalidParameter("jobname empty");

	if (paramc == 2)
		data = params[1];

	srand (time(NULL));
	zmq::context_t context(1);
	zmq::socket_t socket(context, ZMQ_REQ);

	socket.connect("tcp://localhost:5566");
	std::cout << "Connect to Chella master... " << std::endl;

	std::ifstream fjob(params[0]);
	std::string jobobject;

	fjob.seekg(0, std::ios::end);
	jobobject.reserve(fjob.tellg());
	fjob.seekg(0, std::ios::beg);

	jobobject.assign((std::istreambuf_iterator<char>(fjob)), std::istreambuf_iterator<char>());

	ProcessJob job;
	job.set_name(params[0]);
	job.set_id(rand() % 1000 + 1);
	job.set_quid(quidpp::Quid().toString(true));
	job.set_state(ProcessJob::SPAWN);
	job.set_content(jobobject);
	job.set_data(data);

	std::string serialized;
	job.SerializeToString(&serialized);

	zmq::message_t request(serialized.size());
	memcpy(reinterpret_cast<void *>(request.data()), serialized.c_str(), serialized.size());
	socket.send(request);

	/* Get the reply */
	zmq::message_t reply;
	socket.recv(&reply);
	std::cout << "Job submitted" << std::endl;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
The largest container ship to call at the Port of Liverpool arrived this week. The HS Paris is the first post-Panamax vessel to stop at Liverpool, and has a capability of carrying more than 6,500 shipping containers.
Previously, the Port of Liverpool's existing container terminal could only accommodate vessels with a capacity of up to 4,500 shipping containers.
The HS Paris called at Liverpool using the new £400m Liverpool 2 deep water container terminal which opened in November, and increased the size of vessel that the Port can accommodate.
Post-Panamax is a desciption within the shipping industry for vessels that could not fit through the Panama Canal, a significant 48-mile waterway that connects the Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean, prior to its expansion last year. The original locks were 110ft wide, meaning that it couldn't take wider, more modern ships.
While the new Liverpool 2 berth can accommodate the largest deep sea container vessels, take-up for use of the terminal has been slow. The berth opened a year late due to weather delays, and last month suffered a 10m-wide sinkhole, although according to Peel Ports this did not impact on operations.
Mark Whitworth, chief executive of Peel Ports Group, said: "This is a huge milestone for Peel Ports and the Port of Liverpool. The whole team is delighted to welcome HS Paris to the city for the first time. While we have the capacity to handle vessels up to 20,000 TEU, smaller post-Panamax ships are still very much part of our overall strategy and it's essential that can accommodate those too. We can now do that thanks to our £400m investment at Liverpool2, providing a shorter route to market for UK importers and exporters, which reduces their costs, congestion and carbon emissions."
Peel Ports recently announced that it had secured 150 advocates for its 'Cargo200' initiative. The campaign calls on importers and exporters whose goods begin or end their journey in the North of the UK to switch delivery of ocean freight from South East ports to the centrally-located Port of Liverpool.
Peel has previously said it is hoping to increase Liverpool's share of the UK container market from 8% to 20%.


Tickets were still available as of 8 a.m.
"We decided to give it a try," Franklin said. "So here we are, in the city of Brotherly -- and Sisterly -- Love."
Rice, better known as a diplomat and national security adviser, will accompany Franklin singing her hits "(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman'' and "I Say a Little Prayer." Rice said she's been practicing furiously for her performance of Mozart's piano concerto in D Minor with the orchestra.
Franklin's repertoire will include songs from her new album "A Woman Falling Out of Love,'' to be released later this year.
Rice's given name is derived from the Italian opera stage instruction con dolcezza, meaning "with sweetness.'' Long a musician of note, she played from elementary school through college and beyond, in quartets and performing chamber music.
She has even played with cellist Yo-Yo Ma but "this will be the first time I've played with an orchestra since I was 18,'' she said.
Rice told the AP their plan to play together was borne of their mutual appreciation for music and determination to keep it near and accessible to children.
Franklin, relaxing in her hotel suite and holding a single long-stemmed peach-hued rose, deplored school budget cuts of music and arts programs as "a travesty'' that cannot be allowed.
Rice, in a separate interview, agreed.
"Nothing makes me more unhappy than when I hear people talk about music education in the schools as extracurricular," Rice said.
Both women lauded each other's talents, and abilities, but Rice made it clear she'll leave the singing to Franklin.


The GAA have again reiterated their commitment to the ongoing educational development of its players and members by announcing details of the 2018/2019 GAA National Student Bursary scheme. Now in its eleventh year, the scheme is open to members of the Association who are attending a full-time Higher Education course except those who hold another GAA-related or college scholarship/bursary and who are active participants in their Higher Education club; to date the GAA has invested over 2million in the past decade that the Bursary Schemes have been in existence.
Applications in Munster for the scheme will be considered by a sub-committee of the Munster Council and each bursary granted will be for 750.
Students should apply using the relevant application form to the Provincial Council of their home GAA Club.
closing date for applications is Friday October 5th.
Senior Inter-County players who were on their Countys Senior Panel in 2018 should apply for Bursaries via the Gaelic Players Association; further information at www.gaelicplayers.com.


I was totally intending to do the obligatory Resolution post: do a cleanse, lose 100 lbs, be organized, blah, etc. Obviously that motivation came and went. But this morning I was reminded of a greater goal in which to be resolute: be kind, be thoughtful. I went later than usual to my regular Starbucks; I have been out of my morning routine since Christmas and haven't been there over the holidays. One of my favorite baristas, Patrick, went to work on my drink before I'd even ordered (creature of habit), and when I made my way to the pick up counter he handed me an envelope and gave me a hug. He had written me a holiday card wishing me happy holidays and thanking me for being a valued customer. He had been carrying it in his apron pocket since the day before Christmas, waiting for me to come in. The front is a statement from Starbucks called "Why We're Here". It reads: To provide an uplifting experience that enriches people's daily lives. It may seem sappy, but that's exactly what Patrick and his co-workers do. They do their jobs with gusto and always with a smile, often at an hour when I personally dislike everyone, and still go an extra mile to spread cheer and joy. It made my eyes do that thing where they water. It reminded me that we could all take a cue from them: smile more, care more and give more. The little Pinspiration I found above highlighted some of these qualities I see every morning at my local coffee shop. If we're going to make resolutions, it should be these things, and I'm going to challenge myself to be more like my barista this year.
If you're wondering Raleighans, (yup, I made that up) it's the Starbucks in Cameron Village. Go give Patrick a hug. I also recommend the Starbucks across from the movie theater in North Hills.
That is fantastic! What a great way to start the day and something important for us all to remember.
Thanks Christine! It really moved me!


ML18147 showed continued bevcizumab(BEV) with second-line chmotherapy for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) treated with bev plus standard first-line chemotherapy, represents an option for patients with mCRC independent of KRS status. EAGLE study evaluted two doses of bev (10 mg/kg or 5 mg/kg) combined with FOLFIRI in the second-line setting after first-line treatmet with bev plus oxaliplatin-based therapy. Bev 10 mg/kg plus FOLFIRI as second-line treatment did not prolong pogression-free survival (PFS) compared with bev 5mg/kg plus FOLFIRI in patients with mCRC.
Outcomes according to tumor KRAS status were evaluated as an exploratory analysis. KRAS data were collected from each institution. Survival analyses using Cox regression and Log-rank test were conducted by subgroups of the KRAS status.
Of 387 patients, 326 (84%) had KRAS data; 164 (50%) had KRAS wild-type tumors and 162 (50%) had mutant KRAS tumors. The median PFS was 7.1 months for bev 10 mg/kg and 5.9 months for bev 5 mg/kg (P = 0.568; HR = 1.04; 95% confidence interval (CI) : 0.76-1.43) for wild-type KRAS and 5.6 months fo bev 10 mg/kg and 6.5 months for bev 5mg/kg, respectively ( P = 0.89; HR = 1.10; 95% CI: 0.80-1.51) for mutant KRAS. The P value of test for treatment-subgroup inteaction was 0.956. The median overall survival (OS) was 17.9 months for bev 10mg/kg and 15.5 months for bev 5 mg/kg, respectvely (P = 0.244; HR = 0.80; 95% CI : 0.55-1.17) for wild-tpe KRAS and 15.9 months for bev 10 mg/kg versus 17.7 months for bev 5 mg/kg, respectivly (P = 0.312; HR = 1.21; 95% CI 0.84-1.74) for mutant KRAS.
Although possible differences of treatment effect between bev 5 mg/kg and 10 mg/kg groups were observed for patients with wild-type KRAS, these results revealed bev 10mg/kg plus FOLFIRI as second-line treatment did not prolong PFS compared with bev 5 mg/kg plus FOLFIRI in patients with mCRC depending on KRAS status.
S. Iwamoto: I have honoraria to disclose from Chugai, MerckSerono; T. Takahashi: I have honoraria to disclose from Chugai, Takeda, Taiho, MerckSerono. Bristol-Meyers Squibb; T. Kato: I have honoraria to disclose from Chugai, Yakult; T. Denda: I have honoraria to disclose from Taiho, Lilly, Sanofi; H. Baba: I have honoraria to disclose from Chugai, Takeda, Taiho; H. Mishima: I have honoraria to disclose from Chugai, Takeda, Taiho, Yakult. Ono, Tsumura, MerckSerono. Bristol-Meyers Squibb, Medicon. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.


Different River » The do-it-yourself electric truck — saves money?
I would give the guy a bit more credit. First he said the batteries should last about 20,000 miles. The rest of the parts will last a lot longer. The batteries are only $1800 of the cost. I am sure a lot of people said horses were a lot cheaper and easier than the first generation of cars. Then what if there is a gas shortage. In the tricities TN local stations ran out of gas 3 weeks ago and the price shot up $1 in one day. Imagine if gasoline was shut off for a month. $9 would be a bargain. But Mr. Lawrence will be driving along.
The truck is already 15 years old; let's assume for the sake of the argument it has 60,000 miles left in it. That's about 5 years of driving, if he drives 40 miles a day, 5-6 days a week. I think that's a fairly generous assumption as to the condition of the rest of the car.
That's equivalent to a gas price of $7.175 per gallon.
I still think he's losing money.
Now we have $20,000 for the conversion, plus $3600 times 2 for two more rounds of batteries. That's $27,200. 60,000 miles at 40 miles per charge is 1,500 charges, or $1,500 dollars. Thus, the total cost of 60,000 miles is $28,700. That's 47.8 cents per mile.
Well, this is a pilot project. He will at least be able to put a similar system in his next truck, which is likely to be newer than a current one. And if things work out well, he can begin massproducing them, in which case his system is likely to be cheaper than gasoline.
And ven though gas dropped to $3/gallon just before the election, $7-$10 gas prices at some point in the near future are not totally inconceivable.
Well sure, if you want to justify it as an experiment, that's fine. But in the article he claims he is saving money on this truck — and he isn't. Even if the car lasts forever, he's losing money at current prices. If the car goes another 200,000 miles, he breaks even if gas averages $3.975/gallon. But how likely is that for a car that's already 15 years aold?
And, he still can't drive it in the rain!
The mileage on the truck doesn't matter. The setup essentially bypasses the transmission and clutch. Everything else is easy and cheap to repair. And who care's if he's losing money, seems like a really cool project. You don't drive a motorcycle in the rain either, and people dump way more money in to those things. Just my 2 cents.
1) The cooling requirements are much lower for electric cars.
2) There is no required oil changes for the electric motors.
Driving in the rain is a solved problem, think, diesel electric trains, electric trains (even old ones like the CG-1), electric powered submarines … . Lots of examples of electric powered vehicles going in damp environments.


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Our entire week revolves around the holy Shabbos. It is the glue that holds the Jewish family together. It is a physical and spiritual recharge and the only reason we work for 6 days. Shabbos in our house is so beloved and so cherished that we make sure to do a little something in honor of and in preparation for Shabbos each and every day of the week. I alluded to this on my July 21st Q & A Thursday Facebook Live video and promised I'd write down my schedule for you in a bit more detail. So here it goes.
We put a fresh white tablecloth on the Shabbos table and place flowers down the center. Now don't freak, but I'm a (good quality!) fake flowers girl -- always in bloom, they brighten my table all week long.
We plan the menu. Literally fresh off of Shabbos we will often decide to repeat faves from last week, reach back into the archives for oldies but goodies, and try something new -- usually in the form of some recipe I have to test for the site or magazine. The menu gets taped to the kitchen cabinet (along with our weekly dinner menu -- the kids simply must know what they're eating when) and the week is off to a great start.
We create a list of all the ingredients we need separated into categories much in the same way the supermarket is organized -- fresh fruits and veg, shelf stable grocery items, frozen foods, etc. We often have multiple lists organized by location. So the butcher or fish store each have their own list. The more specialty fruits and veg will be on the fruit shop list, there could be a list for the health food store, and so on. (Oh and usually this is the night when we eat Shabbos leftovers for dinner, if there are any).
On Tuesdays we shop for the non perishables and I actually cook anything I plan to make in bulk and freeze. I usually have some project or another -- whether I'm making 100 carrot muffins, 10 dozen chocolate chip cookies, 25 quarts of soup, meatballs, kugels, cupcakes, brisket and more. Now mind you I don't make them all on the same day but my crazy, busy, insane in the membrane schedule necessitates that I am able to pull some food from my freezer on any given Shabbos -- especially when we find ourselves entertaining at the last minute.
By Wednesday night we set the table for Shabbos. We do have the luxury of having a kitchen table where we eat all our weekday meals and hang out as a family. So the Shabbos table is reserved especially for Shabbos and that makes me happy. We do a full set -- just in case Shabbos comes early we will be ready!
The bulk of the cooking and baking is done on Thursday with the exception of challah. We make the challah dough on Thursday and let it rise in the fridge overnight.
By 8 am Hubby is already home from the center of town with all my final fresh goodies. This is when we prep any salads and make fruit platters.
By about 1 pm on Friday the kitchen is closed. The kids have had lunch. I've finished cooking, save for some challahs (already shaped) that may still be waiting for their turn in the oven and "the dishes are done man" (extra points if you know where that line is from!). We are now ready to mop the floors - which we do every week in honor of Shabbos. Showers start, beds are made and we are often ready a few hours before candle lighting.
I absolutely loathe the feeling of rushing into Shabbos all "farmisht" which is Yiddish for crazy frazzled. This weekly plan helps us stay sane but more importantly it reminds us of our purpose in life -- each and every day.
I would love for you to share what you do to make Shabbos special in your home.


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text:
Joel Part 4 – 3:1-18
Joel Part 3 – 2:18-32
For those who want a change from the Gospel
Advent Sunday – Isaiah 64:1-9
Sorry to begin Advent on a downer, but this passage is all about disappointment. I wonder if any of us are feeling that as we look back over the Year of Our Lord 2020? As part of a longer Psalm of Lament (63:7 – 64:12), it is the nation's cry of anguish because things hadn't worked out as they expected. Situated after the return from exile in Babylon, as promised by the middle section of the Book of Isaiah (chapters 40-55), this section, part of what is known as Third- or Tritio-Isaiah, is the response of the people to the fact that the glowing predictions of Deutero-Isaiah about Jerusalem being returned to its former splendour and prominence hadn't quite come to pass, and that in fact life was all about hard slog and discouragement rather than triumph and glory.
It begins with a cry for God to do something, and preferably something dramatic, to show Israel's enemies who's boss (v.1-3). It moves onto an accusation: we have sinned because you have been absent. Like cheating spouses who blame their infidelity on a lack of attention from their other half, they tell God that if only he had been there for them they would have behaved (v.5-7). Then there seems to be a recognition, perhaps dawning gradually, that actually it is them, not the nations, which need God to turn up and make a difference. This leads to an admission that they were powerless to shape their own destiny, as powerless as a lump of clay, but nevertheless 'we are all your people' (v.8-9), so there ought to be hope, surely? It's almost as if, in the composition of this passage, the prophet was coming to a dawning recognition of the real state of affairs.
So why had God apparently absented himself with such disappointing consequences? The clue, I think, lies in v.4: God acts for those who wait. As Christians I expect we know that most of our disappointment and frustration with God comes not because he hasn't done something or other, but because he hasn't done it yet. As believers in the resurrection, the new heavens and the new earth we know that in the end things will pan out fine; we really do believe that all things work together for good for those who love God and are called according to his purposes. But O my goodness isn't it taking a long time? And there we have the absolute heart of Advent: it teaches us to wait. We know what's coming, we believe it's coming, so why on earth doesn't it come? That's the agonised cry of the Church for 2000 years: that's the at times despairing cry of Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus.
Of course we don't really do waiting nowadays. Ever since the launch of the Access Card in October 1972, with its strapline 'Taking the waiting out of wanting', we have increasingly grown to expect everything instantly. If a web page doesn't load within two seconds we don't bother, and any social media post more than a few lines long is greeted with 'tldr'. The charismatic renewal movement has been accused of 'triumphalism', which I define as 'wanting our triumph now rather than later'. Yet God is definitely a God who makes us wait, and who promises to reward those who wait – eventually.
This year we have learnt a lot about waiting: for many there hasn't been much else to do during lockdown, furlough or even redundancy. As I write we're waiting to be told if and how we might celebrate Christmas this year, within our families and within our churches. We're waiting for the magic vaccinations which will make this horrible thing go away and put life back to normal again. We're waiting to see how the wonderfully prosperous life outside the EU we were promised will actually pan out. And yes, as we look back, we're disappointed. Disappointed about our jobs, our livelihood, those cancelled holidays, marriages and get-togethers, and some of us above all are disappointed that those we love have died, sometimes without us being able to hold their hands as they went.
So what does this text tell us about our disappointments? The same as Advent tells u every year, although this year with much greater poignancy: wait. We're powerless, ultimately, so all we can do is recognise that we're in the hands of a skilled potter who is making something both beautiful and useful, but who is certainly taking his time to do it. Our job, yes, is to cry out in anguish 'for goodness' sake get on with it!', but it is also to discern, see and wonder at what we're becoming as we wait. It's also about proclaiming triumphantly, but sometimes through gritted teeth, with v.9 'We are all your people.'
Christ the King – Ezekiel 34:11-16, 20-24
1 Timothy 2 urges us to be constant in prayer for our earthly leaders, and you can't argue with that, although at times I find myself very tempted about what exactly to pray for them! Every night's news brings further reports of our government's failures, incompetence, downright lies, and internal warring. Even those who voted this lot in in order to get Brexit done seem to have grown quieter and quieter about its promised merits as we seem no closer to any kind of a deal which will lead to a prosperous future. Today, the Feast of Christ the King, reminds us that beyond fallible human leaders there is a real King who is both reigning and also getting ready to reign. Ezekiel 34 provides a helpful link between the reality of 2020 Britain and the coming reign of Jesus.
The chapter as a whole is an oracle of judgment against the rulers of Judah, and verses 1-6 list their shortcomings every bit as clearly as Laura Keunssberg does every evening with ours. The text is strangely up-to-date: they look after themselves while neglecting their duty of care for the poor; they have done nothing to heal the broken or comfort the sorrowing. They have ruled harshly and brutally, so that the people were lost and scattered, and they did nothing to bring them back together. For those reasons, says Ezekiel, God is against them. So what is he going to do?
Our reading starts here, in v.11: because of the failure of human rulers, he is going to come and do the job properly himself. Ezekiel then goes on to give us four characteristics of the reign of God as opposed to the current human rulers.
The people, not themselves.
The picture used throughout the chapter is of shepherds, those whose job is to care for, nurture and protect the sheep in their care. OT Kings are often seen in terms of shepherding, and it is no mere chance that the greatest king ever, David, began as a shepherd boy. When the Good Shepherd comes, he will not be interested in feathering his own nest (forgive the change of metaphor!) but will do what shepherds are meant to do: care for the flock, rescue them from danger, and bring them to good pasture. The lovely picture of them lying down in v.15 is reminiscent of Psalm 23, and provides a great picture of a nation at rest, free both from external oppression and internal anxiety.
Active, not passive.
God the King will actively seek out those who are lost and scattered, those who have lost their way or become excluded. Rather than not caring, like the earthly rulers, the new King will take the initiative and the lost will be found and the broken healed.
The community, not just individuals.
If there is one difficult or politically incorrect motif in this chapter, it is the words of judgement (which, surprise surprise, have been filleted out). But they have to be there, because the Shepherd King, who is totally committed to the flock and its wellbeing, has no choice but to deal decisively with anything or anyone who threatens their safety, and tragically it is the rulers who have become a danger to the people. Our King is paradoxically committed to each individual, but he is against anyone who threatens the life of the community. As I have said many times in preaching, God is not tolerant! He has to stop those who would harm his people, and he will.
Unity, not division.
Our reading ends with the vision of a united people, yes, brought back from exile to their own land, but also under the reign of one King who will bless them, not harm them. Under his reign there will be no Leavers and Remainers, no North/South divide, no Democrats and Republicans, nor any of the other divisions which have been allowed to wreck our world.
Historically this chapter marks the turning point on Ezekiel's prophecy. Before chapter 33 he has written only in warning of the coming judgement, in the shape of the Babylonian exile. But the mood changes here as he begins for the first time really to talk about restoration. The coming of the new King, whom we know to be Jesus, and for which we are still waiting, holds out hope for healing and restoration, not just for poor and broken people, but also for a sick and divided world. What a hope! And, as we head into Advent next week, what a stimulus to prayer. Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus!
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Galatians Part 8 – 6:1-18
Part 7 – 5:1-26
Bible Sunday – Nehemiah 8:1-12
Yet another departure from the Sundays of Trinity this week as I base my reflections on Bible Sunday. I said last week that I'm not all that keen on Saints, but I am very keen on the Bible, so let's see what it has to say about itself.
If I were choosing a Gospel to go with this theme, I would choose the Emmaus Road story from Luke 24, because both that and the Nehemiah reading concern both the power and the limitation of Scripture. Ezra reads from the Torah, the Law of Moses, to the assembled Jews who have returned from exile in Babylon, with dramatic effect. But this raises the question 'Why?' Why now do the people fall to their knees in worship and weep in penitence? They must have heard the Law read many times before. Yes, they had been in exile in a foreign land, but that doesn't mean that they had forgotten the Law. It is usually recognised that the worship of the Synagogue started during the exile, when they could no longer attend the sacrificial worship of the Temple, and Synagogue worship was all about gathering round the Torah in order to learn to live well. Yet on this day, as the Scriptures were read, there was a dramatic effect. What was different?
The same dynamic is present on the Emmaus Road. The Stranger expounded the Scriptures to the two disciples, but it was not until later, as he broke bread, that they were allowed to see who he really was. Only with hindsight did they realise that their hearts had been burning as Scripture was expounded. In each case, it seems that Scripture alone was not enough. There had to be some added ingredient which meant that they wept and their hearts burned. Maybe that ingredient was the presence of the Holy Spirit.
Week by week, in thousands of churches across our land, the Scriptures are read and expounded, but with very little evidence of weeping or burning among those who hear. I wonder what people expect as readings are announced, as the sermon begins. And I wonder what readers and preachers expect. We have probably all known times when something from God's Word has struck us, or spoken exactly into a situation we're facing, but that tends to be the exception rather than the rule. The Bible can be powerful, but so often it seems to be read and expounded with little visible effect on those who hear. Obviously each Sunday can't be more special than the one before – that's too much pressure for any church leader! – but might we hear Scripture better if we raised our expectations and prayed more earnestly for the Holy Spirit to speak to us through the Liturgy of the Word?
But back to Nehemiah, and there does seem to be a progression through the passage which might shed some light on a strategy for raising the profile of Scripture in our churches. First of all, reading between the lines, there is a sense of hunger for the Word. The people gather, urge Ezra to bring out the scrolls, and listen attentively from day beak until midday, around six hours. No-one was going to tell him off if he went over his Anglican seven minutes. What might we do to help people feel hungry for Scripture?
Secondly, there is respect for the Word. As when we read the Gospel, people stand, but one senses not out of tradition, but out of genuine welcome and reverence. Rarely though do we complete this verse and bow with our faces to the ground at the sight of the Gospel book. Not all churches will go in for lavish Gospel Processions, but are there things we can do to foster this kind of respect?
Thirdly, there is a response to the Word. Conviction of sin sweeps through the crowd and weeping breaks out. I wonder what proportion of our preaching is about disturbing the comfortable as opposed to comforting the disturbed. The Torah is all about how you must live to honour God and please him, and the people clearly realised how far they had come from that kind of a lifestyle. It broke their hearts. Oh for more broken hearts in today's church!
Finally though, at the urging of those who really got it, there was joy in the Word. Conviction of sin is great, because it leads you out of the dark corner, whereas condemnation for sin keeps you trapped there. The first is the work of the Holy Spirit, the Helper; the second the work of Satan, the accuser. The people are filled with joy because they now understand both the holiness and the mercy of God. Note too that joy leads to generosity, as food and hospitality is shared.
Whether you will be preaching, reading or listening to Scripture tomorrow, let this passage inspire you to pray and prepare for God to speak. Whether weeping or burning, pray for the Holy Spirit to speak powerfully through the Word, to change lives, and to bring freedom and rejoicing.


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