TrueGrit - Page 203 of 203 - My mother told me: never discuss religion or politics. That is about all I talk about.
At the foundation of Ryland's comments is the question, "What is a Christian?" and the what of the expectations of how that looks in action in the real world.
Anyone can say they love you, but you have particular ideas and concepts about how love acts and looks and whether something really qualifies. That is the same thing at work in defining "Christian".
Along the way we get an awful lot of smoke, mirrors, and disguises. That is why we get so confused. I say we, because I have had more than a few times when what I thought was a lamb took a bite out of me.
But on the big scale that Ryland is talking about it helps to look into some definitions of "fringe elements" and "silent majority". What were they? What are they now? And how do they fit with "Christian" in the real sense of someone who wants to follow and obey Jesus in this hard-bitten world. Lambs among wolves, it's been said.
What is the silent majority in the USA?
Do Christians want to hurt anybody? What are they willing to do or not to do in that context?
First, I think the silent majority is no more. I think that was a reality only after the long cultural siege of the liberal politics and religionists had assassinated much of the idea of God and the old style patriotism of the fifties. The old ideas of "God and Country". At that time there was a long silent majority of people who still held such concepts as a priority, but they held it in individual mixes.
I believe that that 'majority' broke down into the various conservatives, new-cons, Christian Conservatives, and fundamental groups of today. Maybe even some of the different sorts of liberals that you see, but that have strong ideals of religion and country.
Now such groups are aligned more along their priorities, whether political/cultural or religious. Although there are no definitive lines that you can count on.
So, I have to say you can't really call on a movement of strongly allied 'silent majority' in either the cultural or the religious sense.
In fact, of the two, I think the religious community is going through some serious throes in defining their concepts and priorities.
The second question is one that requires more of it's own post.
I read this entry-plea in the blog, a boy and his computer. I thought about commenting until I saw 57 entries were already posted. I knew two things at that point: most of those comments would be crap and I would probably end up angry, which would mess up something I wanted to say in sincerity to what I perceived to be a sincere post.
And so, here I am, making something of it on my own blog.
Nice ones? As in compliant and mealy mouthed ones …no, that isn't what is meant, because it is the ones who actually listen to Jesus and take His words to heart.
Ok. I can live with that context. I wouldn't call those the nice ones, but I would call them the real ones. No names, no labels, no markings of import, but some real-life sincere desire to be disciples of Jesus, actually following in His steps.
What is it to "take responsibility for ones co-religionists"? Stuff a sock in their mouths, I suppose. But you know, real gagging doesn't look like that. It looks oppressive, it looks discriminating and cruel. It looks ugly.
And very like the thing which is wished to be shut up. Very much like …just on the other side.
And that is the problem with the worlds solutions for what one does with religionists or politicos of another color, or those who ignite our wrath, however they manage to do that. Crush the scum. Nuke 'em…and we will be on with our version of the perfect world.
But that doesn't sound like taking Jesus to heart. Not really.
So let's look at what might be said behind the frustration. First, I wouldn't lump George Bush and Fred Phelps together. President Bush is an elected official with authority to lead the country. Every president is chosen by God in that sense.
The opinion would be whether that was a blessing or curse, but no one rises to leadership of a country without somehow fulfilling the will of God. Not that we understand all the purposes.
And yet the frustration that Christians are not listening… that should be changed.
Christians should listen to those like Ryland. And dialog, and allow their views to not only be presented, but examined. Let's dialog!
…. let's divide the questions and the answers and try to understand the reasoning and the meaning.
And yes, we are our brother's keeper. It is our responsibility speak against the evil and uphold the good. Let's figure out what that is. And for those who are not Christians, don't be surprised if you then start hearing something of what Jesus teaches on that.
You could find yourself surprised.
Lots has changed. Short time -much change. I suddenly became very ill the other day. Horribly. 911 horribly. ( The call to the medics, not the date). But here I am…not quite right, but ok. It seems to be the same vertigo as last fall, but came in on the wing of some horrendous flu or something.
Now I feel sheepish that I agreed to the 911 call. If I had known it was flu I would've toughed it out. Cheaper, with much less intervention and no trips to the doctor. And certainly no group of EMT men in my living room while I heave in a can. Aggghhh. That has to be the low point.
But I did repent of all known sins.
I did. I think that is a rational response to thoughts that you are dying 🙂 Although I wasn't, but it was a punishing experience, anyway. And now some people on my hatelist are forgiven. I guess it takes something like that. Pretty nitty-gritty, eh?
I wish I didn't have any hatelists, but sometimes I do. I decided that it isn't worth it, and it just makes my blood pressure go off the chart. But I know I'm not single minded about that. I'll have to be careful of waver….
Which brings me back to the Iraq problem. The events there are so disturbing. If bully tactics of kidnappings and killings, of terrorism and dictatorship are rewarded, to what end will the nations drive the destiny of this situation? It is like the proverbial tiger by the tail. Letting go is not the answer, but little else is either. Just hold on and hope for help.
Praying for help -shouting for some, might work, too.
Did you know that is what Hosanna means? Lord Save Us.
It is Hosanna season, but we will have to be willing to do things other than our own way. Can we see that? Can we submit to it?
In World Blog article via Clint was another surprised reaction by Christians to our society's interpretive view.
Yes, Marvin. It is something that makes the circles with more than one variation., and not just an intimidation tactic. One variation is the assertion that Christians are not ecologically minded due to emphasis on an idea of "rapture" or even from being "too heavenly-minded", believing that they will go to heaven. Numbers in our society are thinking and speaking along this line.
I don't think altering ones doctrine is going to be the answer. It certainly isn't from my view of the firm standard of scripture, but it won't from the other view of making Christian doctrines more "modern" or to make more sense to modern society.
Because that isn't the problem.
The problem is that there is hostility and that will find other excuses to pick a bone. On some other doctrine or some other wayward Christian brothers or sisters belief or TV show or something. Because what is really bothering them is that we are not showing consistancy in our life and the ethical living out of that life. It is that again. Not whether we believe in a rapture or not.
When people pick fights with you they either have a reason or they don't. IOW, Either they have foundation for complaint, which you need to attend to, or they just want a fight for some reason. And if it is that, then nothing you do to placate them is going to be enough.
It is then you being you that is the problem.
So if a Democrat, or anyone else has a concern or an accusation, the Christian community needs to have a reasoned response backed with a consistent Christian witness of a life. That will handle the slippery slopes and the false syllogisms.
What it won't handle are the natural hostilities to faith in Christ Jesus. We need to understand that, I think.
I said I wasn't going to turn this blog into a pseudo-forum discussion and I'm not. But anyone who knows me, knows that I will bull-dog the opposition when the topic is important for some reason.
Evolution as it is now used in our culture is important to the Christian. Not the least, for the reason that so many use it to promote misunderstandings of Christians. Note I said it is used -not is. Subjects can be used for purposes totally outside their intended and proper use. More on that later.
And so, rather than drag out the discussion in the earlier format (although I can do that if I get my back up;)…. I thought I would use it to take a look at how logical fallacies are often put into play in the cultural agendas out and about the sphere of public discussion.
I am using Ed's 2nd response to me as the basis of illustration.
Most seasoned pundits in these discussions are going to steer clear of outright ad hominems. They aren't going to go straight for the jugular and call you a fool. But there will be a bit of a dance around it, a chisel here and there. The first paragraph laid a thin layer that gets built upon as the post goes on. It is subtle in a couple of ways, with bits of red herring and appeals to authority thrown in.
"she has a very shallow understanding of the scientific method".
Now, is that depth of understanding necessary in the case of the argument at hand? While there is some circular reasoning later on, in citing science that heavily relies on the evolution theory itself, (such as geology and paleontology for examples of science which uses observation and theorizing in lieu of replicated experiments), what is the real purpose of this statement?
It is to throw doubt on the ability of the opposition to make the statements they do. Does one need a high level of expertise to make an observation that evolution is mainly conjecture? One might look at statements by the scientists themselves, as they piece together their (ever-changing) theory.
When this essay was first written the idea of Neanderthal man was limited to a sort of low intelligence "Ape-man". With modern discoveries including DNA research, the picture of this in the evolutionary story has changed. This is happening all the time to many scientific theories.
In building Ed's sort of circumstantial ad hominem, the validity of the opponent's claim is not disputed, but a diminishing of their understanding becomes the case at hand in the argument. This is then built upon throughout the argument. The "eighth grade" modifier is used (in the later comments) to underscore the point, yet perhaps that is exactly where one should start in explaining the overwhelming argument for the certainty of evolutionists claims. Or just admit that evolution has problems.
You know black holes are theory, too, but no one makes this the monolith of information on space. It is important theory… but it isn't adhered to with religious fervor. Evolution as information is adhered to in that way, it is considered heresy to entertain the ID theory.
Statements like "the ID crowd has yet to produce anything like a testable hypothesis…. and "the model offered by YECs has been falsified over and over again and fails to explain the data entirely".
Wait. Does evolution "explain the data entirely", has it ever "been falsified "?
The Bad Reasons Fallacy is worth looking at here. Maybe the ID guys haven't come up with the best model, but does that mean evolution is fact and that it is true?
So we get to the "burden of proof". Is it up to ID theorists to provide an air-tight model, when evolution can't do that? Can both be used as theories? No one is saying that evolution theory be completely replaced. It's tenuous hold on fact status ought to be admitted.
One thing that Ed has done in his posts, which is common enough, is ignore the most pointed difficulty. When we talk about evolution we are talking about two separate definitions sharing the same word, and some of the concepts.
Organisms do modify, they do hybridize often. We just don't see much in the way of "transformations". Why is that part of evolution so hard for the proponents to put in perspective?
I think because it is part of a desire to believe, rather than the conviction of proof.
And that is where I would like to see honesty.
It is in this vested interest that many of the ad hominems and appeals to ridicule, etc. come about.
Then a straw man makes his appearance.
And how does science explain facts except by proving their validity through the scientific method? Science explains the "what is there" … but it has to determine whether what is seen is in truth what is.
So "empirical" is both observation and experiential experiments. It does involve that part of method called "replication".
but what does this have to do with the price of eggs? Or more importantly, on what basis does the the flat statement "And humans evolved from apelike ancestors whether they did so by Darwin's proposed mechanism or by some other, yet to be discovered." get its support, its facts?
Why, upon, the strawman argument, "Evolution is not a "proven fact" because A) nothing in science is ever "proven".
Now we are in a universe where nothing is ever proven …… a state of mind familiar to the philosopher, aka syncreticism. Evolution of the mind, I suppose we could call it.
We don't know where it comes from, and we don't know where it ends up, but we sure do know what we know we are saying right now. Work with that.
No wonder origin questions are thrown out the window, that is where philosophy is, basically, right now. The big questions get thrown out the window, so we can get on with the details.
And this sort of thinking always ends up in materialism. The material universe is all there is…because that is all we can handle. Prove. Whatever word you want to use.
It is no longer an idea of what is proven or what is true…. not in philosophy or in scientific pursuit, but what best suits us.
How can we expect to make real progress in science with this sort of viewpoint?
How do we ascertain whether information is accurate when there is no "proven fact" and all is weighted in what is presented as the going thing in the "experts opinion"?
Well, back to more illustration of false logic.
Ed said "Facts are the world's data.
The apple ideas are using replicable evidence. Apples fall downward. There are different explanations for why or how. But evolution? how is this comparable in replication?
ummm. I think I choose 'commuting the conditionals' because the condition of two different theories for the replication of the apple falling downwards is then given to the unreplicated ideas of evolution. Voila… evolution gets the identification with apples falling downwards and ID proponents get the alternative of apples rising on the 'morrow. And wham!…. appeal to ridicule for anyone having the audacity to question the evolution theory.
I am getting tired now… I felt there was lots of manipulated thinking, but I didn't realize how much til getting into it here….
all for questioning that evolution theory is unquestionable fact.
I can only guess that it was an exercise in futility to post those references to "materialism" and "naturalism" in a previous post.
I do believe God is omnipotent, but I have been in this sort of discussion also, and the God of the Bible is not the same as the hypothetical "unrestrained" being of many in the public forum.


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Q: Why is it easier (in a statistical sense) to estimate standard deviation than the mean? Way back when I was still a student, I was listening to one of my stats lecturers talk about robust statistics. He showed (on the board) a series of transformations/derivations which concludes that it is easier to measure standard deviation, than it is to measure the mean. I can't remember the details, but the conclusion has stuck with me. It might have had something to do with influence functions or something similar.
Anyone have any idea about what his reasoning could have been?

A: I found some lecture notes from the course I asked about. I will relate the core idea here, as best I can.
First, I am going to assume any reader is familiar with the standard error of the sample mean: $$se(\mu) =\frac{\sigma}{\sqrt n}$$
Second, from here we get that the standard error of the sample variance for any distribution is: $$se(\sigma^2)=\sqrt{\frac 1 n (\mu_4-\frac{n-3}{n-1}\sigma^4)}$$
where $\mu_4$ is the fourth central moment: $E(X-\mu)^4$.
For a normal distribution $\mu_4 = 3\sigma^4$ so this simplifies to
 $$se(\sigma^2)=\frac{\sqrt 2 \sigma^2}{\sqrt{n-1}}$$
Lastly, use the delta method to derive an approximation of the standard error of a transformed parameter with a known standard error. Here the parameter with the known standard error is variance, and the transformation is $g(\theta)=\sqrt \theta $. The link in the second point uses the delta method for just this purpose, and arrive at a result of
$$se(\sigma)\approx\frac 1 {2\sigma}se(\sigma^2)$$
Substitute in the value of $se(\sigma^2)$ and we get
$$se(\sigma)\approx\frac \sigma {\sqrt {2(n-1)}}$$
So the conclusion is that the standard error of the sample standard deviation is smaller than the standard error of the sample mean by a factor of $\frac 1 {\sqrt 2}$, for large n, for a normal distribution, and so is in this (very limited) sense, easier to estimate.
So the result isn't as general as what my memory suggested, but interesting nonetheless.
PS: the result holds for any distribution and sample size where kurtosis is small enough. Specifically when
$$\frac{\mu_4}{\sigma^4} < 4 + \frac{n-3}{n-1}$$

A: It can't be about JUST 'measuring' them. The main reason is that for 'measuring' standard deviation, you need to first 'measure' mean. Thus, the statement mentioned in your question doesn't make much sense.
Also, mean is a measure of central tendency and the standard deviation is a measure of spread. They both need to be studied together to better understand the distribution of a variable.
I think the lecturer actually meant something else and perhaps you interpreted it in a different way!
Cheers

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Chelsea youngster signs for Viitorul Constanta on a free transfer
The young Romanian player, who joined the team from the Ligue 1 club, had already played for the team in the international arena. He scored the first goal in the Champions League zone for the club, which was followed by a goal in Serie A.
The transfer of the young player from the team of the legendary coach, Cristian Mungiu, is a good sign for the future of the team. The new coach, who is also the owner of the club and the head of the football federation, has already managed to strengthen the team and bring it closer to the top of the standings.
The team's performance in the domestic arena has improved noticeably. In the first half of the season, the team managed to win only three matches. However, this is not a bad result considering the fact that the team has already won the Europa League and the Champions Cup.
Moreover, the club is now in the second half of its domestic season. The team has a good chance of winning the champion title. The main task of the new coach is to strengthen his team in order to compete for the title in the next season.
In the next few months, the fans will get to see the results of the game of the "Livescores" team.
Livescore results of Romanian football teams
The season of the Romanian championship has already ended, and the fans of the championship are eagerly waiting for the results. The fans can follow the livescore results on the website of sports statistics.
This season, many teams from the country have already reached the Champions' League zone. The most interesting clubs are:
* "Cluj";
* the "Dinamo" from Bucharest;
* "Inter".
It is interesting to note that the 'Inter' team has been the main favorite of the tournament for a long time. The club has won the Champions' Cup in the first season of its existence.
After the first round, the 'Inter' team was in the zone of the Europa Cup. In this tournament, the main goal is to win the title.
"Clicar" is the team that has not yet reached the zone. It is interesting that the club has not won the title for a number of years. The reason for this is the fact, that the coach of the squad, Cristi Puiu, has not been able to find the right combination of players for the game.
Fans can follow livescore football results of "Clicar'" on the sports statistics website. The website provides information on the results from all over the world.
Cristian Tarcai and the team"Dino"
The summer transfer campaign of Cristian Tocan, the head coach of "Clica", has come to an end. The head coach, whose name is also known for the fact he has managed to bring the team to the Champions league zone, has decided to terminate the contract.
However, the new season of 'Dino'' is not going to be easy for the coach. The coach of this team has to find a new solution for the problem of the lack of motivation of the players.
One of the main reasons for this lack of enthusiasm is the failure of the transfer of Cristiano Ronaldo. The Portuguese player has left the team, which is now called "Dino'." The reasons for the departure of the Portuguese player are the following:
1. "lack of motivation" of the player.
2. Failure of the transfers.
3. Lack of the participation in the matches of the Champions club.
4. The failure of transfers of other players.
Fans of the sport can follow sports statistics on the site of sports information.
Main results of Romania championship
The championship of Romania has already come to a close. The season has been very successful for the country, which has won a lot of trophies. The championship of the country is held in the summer, and this year the fans can expect to see a lot new achievements.
Among the main trophies won by Romania, the most interesting are:
1) The title of the champion of Europe.
1a) The victory in the Europa league.
a) The victory of the Cup of Romania.
b) The win in the Cup Winners Cup. It is worth noting that the Cup won by the team is the most prestigious trophy in the country.
Another important trophy is the victory in Super Cup. The Super Cup is held every year, and it is the best club trophy in Romania. The winners of this trophy are able to participate in the main club tournament of the year, the Europa tournament.
Thanks to the livescores football results, fans can always follow the results on a convenient platform. The site provides information from all parts of the world, which allows the fans to follow the progress of the teams in the championship.
Latest football news from the world of Romania
The football season in Romania has come and gone. The country has a lot to show, and fans can watch the results thanks to the information on livescored.com.
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An Enquiry Concerning the Principles of Political Justice and Its Influence on General Virtue, Fourth Edition : Book 1, Chapter 06 : Of the Influence of Climate
OF THE INFLUENCE OF CLIMATE
Means by which liberty is to be introduced.-Their efficacy illustrated.-
Facts in confirmation of these reasonings.-Inference.
Two points further are necessary to be illustrated, in order to render our view of man in his social capacity impartial and complete. There are certain physical causes which have commonly been supposed to oppose an immovable barrier to the political improvement of our species: climate, which is imagined to render the introduction of liberal principles upon this subject in some cases impossible: and luxury, which, in addition to this disqualification, precludes their revival even in countries where they had once most eminently flourished.
An answer to both these objections is included in what has been offered upon the subject of the voluntary actions of man. If truth, when properly displayed, be omnipotent, then neither climate nor luxury are invincible obstacles. But so much stress has been laid upon these topics, and they have been so eloquently enforced by poets and men like poets, that it seems necessary to bestow upon them a distinct examination.
"It is impossible," say some, "to establish a system of political liberty in certain warm and effeminate climates." To enable us to judge of the reasonableness of this affirmation, let us consider what process would be necessary in order to introduce political liberty into any country.
The answer to this question is to be found in the answer to that other, whether freedom have any real and solid advantages over slavery? If it have, then our mode of proceeding respecting it ought to be exactly parallel to that we should employ in recommending any other benefit. If I would persuade a man to accept a great estate, supposing that possession to be a real advantage; if I would induce him to select for his companion a beautiful and accomplished woman, or for his friend a wise, a brave and disinterested man; if I would persuade him to prefer ease to pain, and gratification to torture, what more is necessary than that I should inform his understanding, and make him see these things in their true and genuine colors? Should I find it necessary to inquire first of what climate he was a native, and whether that were favorable to the possession of a great estate, a fine woman, or a generous friend?
The advantages of liberty over slavery are not less real, though unfortunately they have been made less palpable in their application to the welfare of communities at large, than the advantages to accrue in the cases above enumerated. Every man has a confused sense of the real state of the question; but he has been taught to believe that men would tear each other to pieces if they had not priests to direct their consciences, lords to consult for their tranquility, and kings to pilot them in safety through the dangers of the political ocean. But whether they be misled by these or other prejudices, whatever be the fancied terror that induces them quietly to submit to have their hands bound behind them, and the scourge vibrated over their heads, all these are questions of reason. Truth may be presented to them in such irresistible evidence, perhaps by such just degrees familiarized to their apprehension, as ultimately to conquer the most obstinate prepossessions. Let the press find its way into Persia or Indostan, let the political truths discovered by the best of the European sages be transfused into their language, and it is impossible that a few solitary converts should not be made. It is the property of truth to spread; and, exclusively of any powerful counteraction, its advocates in each succeeding year will be somewhat more numerous than in that which went before. The causes which suspend its progress arise, not from climate, but from the watchful and intolerant jealousy of despotic sovereigns. - What is here stated is in fact little more than a branch of the principle which has been so generally recognized, "that government is founded in opinion."1
Let us suppose then that the majority of a nation, by however slow a progress, is convinced of the desirableness, or, which amounts to the same, the practicability of freedom. The supposition would be parallel if we were to imagine ten thousand men of sound intellect, shut up in a madhouse, and superintended by a set of three or four keepers. Hitherto they have been persuaded, for what absurdity has been too great for human intellect to entertain? that they were destitute of reason, and that the superintendence under which they were placed was necessary for their preservation. They have therefore submitted to whips and straw and bread and water, and perhaps imagined this tyranny to be a blessing. But a suspicion is at length by some means propagated among them that all they have hitherto endured has been an imposition. The suspicion spreads, they reflect, they reason, the idea is communicated from one to another through the chinks of their cells, and at certain times when the vigilance of their keepers has not precluded them from mutual society. It becomes the clear perception, the settled persuasion of the majority of the persons confined.
What will be the consequence of this opinion? Will the influence of climate prevent them from embracing the obvious means of their happiness? Is there any human understanding that will not perceive a truth like this, when forcibly and repeatedly presented? Is there a mind that will conceive no impatience of so horrible a tyranny? In reality the chains fall off of themselves when the magic of opinion is dissolved. When a great majority of any society are persuaded to secure any benefit to themselves, there is no need of tumult or violence to effect it. The effort would be to resist reason, not to obey it. The prisoners are collected in their common hall, and the keepers inform them that it is time to return to their cells. They have no longer the power to obey. They look at the impotence of their late masters, and smile at their presumption. They quietly leave the mansion where they were hitherto immured, and partake of the blessings of light and air like other men.
It may perhaps be useful to consider how far these reasonings upon the subject of liberty are confirmed to us by general experience as to the comparative inefficacy of climate, and the superior influence of circumstances, political and social. The following instances are for the most part abridged from the judicious collections of Hume upon the subject.2
1. If the theory here asserted be true, we may expect to find the inhabitants of neighboring provinces in different states widely discriminated by the influence of government, and little assimilated by resemblance of climate. Thus the Gascons are the gayest people in France; but the moment we pass the Pyrenees, we find the serious and saturine character of the Spaniard. Thus the Athenians were lively, penetrating and ingenious; but the Thebans unpolished, phlegmatic and dull. 2. It would be reasonable to expect that different races of men, intermixed with each other, but differently governed, would afford a strong and visible contrast. Thus the Turks are brave, open and sincere; but the modern Greeks mean, cowardly and deceitful. 3. Wandering tribes closely connected among themselves, and having little sympathy with the people with whom they reside, may be expected to have great similarity of manners. Their situation renders them conspicuous, the faults of individuals reflect dishonor upon the whole, and their manners will be particularly sober and reputable, unless they should happen to labor under so peculiar an odium as to render all endeavor after reputation fruitless. Thus the Armenians in the East are as universally distinguished among the nations with whom they reside as the Jews in Europe; but the Armenians are noted for probity, and the Jews for extortion. 4. What resemblance is there between the ancient and the modern Greeks, between the old Romans and the present inhabitants of Italy, between the Gauls and the French? Diodorus Siculus describes the Gauls as particularly given to taciturnity, and Aristotle affirms that they are the only warlike nation who are negligent of women.
If on the contrary climate were principally concerned in forming the characters of nations, we might expect to find that heat and cold producing an extraordinary effect upon men, as they do upon plants and inferior animals. But the reverse of this appears to be the fact. Is it supposed that the neighborhood of the sun renders men gay, fantastic and ingenious? While the French, the Greeks and the Persians have been remarkable for their gaiety, the Spaniards, the Turks and the Chinese are not less distinguished by the seriousness of their deportment. It was the opinion of the ancients that the northern nations were incapable of civilization and improvement; but the moderns have found that the English are not inferior in literary eminence to any nation in the world. Is it asserted that the northern nations are more hardy and courageous, and that conquest has usually traveled from that to the opposite quarter? It would have been truer to say that conquest is usually made by poverty upon plenty. The Turks, who from the deserts of Tartary invaded the fertile provinces of the Roman empire, met the Saracens half way, who were advancing with similar views from the no less dreary deserts of Arabia. In their extreme perhaps heat and cold may determine the characters of nations, of the negroes for example on one side, and the Laplanders on the other. Not but that, in this very instance, much may be ascribed to the wretchedness of a sterile climate on the one hand, and to the indolence consequent upon a spontaneous fertility on the other. As to what is more than this, the remedy has not yet been discovered. Physical causes have already appeared to be powerful till moral ones can be brought into operation.
Has it been alleged that carnivorous nations are endowed with the greatest courage? The Swedes, whose nutriment is meager and sparing, have ranked with the most distinguished modern nations in the operations of war.
It is usually said that northern nations are most addicted to wine, and southern to women. Admitting this observation in its full force, it would only prove that climate may operate upon the grosser particles of our frame, not that it influences those finer organs upon which the operations of intellect depend. But the truth of the first of these remarks may well be doubted. The Greeks appear to have been sufficiently addicted to the pleasures of the bottle. Among the Persians no character was more coveted than that of a hard drinker. It is easy to obtain anything of the negroes, even their wives and children, in exchange for liquor.
As to women the circumstances may be accounted for from moral causes. The heat of the climate obliges both sexes to go half naked. The animal arrives sooner at maturity in hot countries. And both these circumstances produce vigilance and jealousy, causes which inevitably tend to inflame the passions.
The result of these reasonings is of the utmost importance to him who speculates upon principles of government. There have been writers on this subject who, admitting and even occasionally declaiming with enthusiasm upon the advantages of liberty and the equal claims of mankind to every social benefit, have yet concluded "that the corruptions of despotism, and the usurpations of aristocracy, were congenial to certain ages and divisions of the world, and under proper limitations entitled to our approbation." But this hypothesis will be found unable to endure the test of serious reflection. There is no state of mankind that renders them incapable of the exercise of reason. There is no period in which it is necessary to hold the human species in a condition of pupilage. If there were, it would seem but reasonable that their superintendents and guardians, as in the case of infants of another sort, should provide for the means of their subsistence without calling upon them for the exertions of their own understanding. Wherever men are competent to look the first duties of humanity in the face, and to provide for their defense against the invasions of hunger and the inclemencies of the sky, it can scarcely be thought that they are not equally capable of every other exertion that may be essential to their security and welfare.
The real enemies of liberty in any country are not the people, but those higher orders who find their imaginary profit in a contrary system. Infuse just views of society into a certain number of the liberally educated and reflecting members; give to the people guides and instructors; and the business is done. This however is not to be accomplished but in a gradual manner, as will more fully appear in the sequel. The error lies, not in tolerating the worst forms of government for a time, but in supporting a change impracticable, and not incessantly looking forward to its accomplishment.
1 Hume's Essays, Part I., Essay iv.
2 Essays; Part I., Essay xxi.
Alpha Material : Preface
Alpha Material : Preface 2


text:
package com.victor.kaiser.pendergrast.glass.notes.auth;

import org.json.JSONObject;

import com.victor.kaiser.pendergrast.glass.notes.preferences.PreferenceConstants;

import android.content.SharedPreferences;

public class DeviceCodeJsonParser {

	/**
	 * The fields that are expected in the JSON response
	 */
	private static class JSONFields {
		public static final String DEVICE_CODE = "device_code";
		public static final String USER_CODE = "user_code";
		public static final String VERIFICATION_URL = "verification_url";
		public static final String EXPIRES_IN = "expires_in";
		public static final String INTERVAL = "interval";
	}

	private String mDeviceCode;
	private String mUserCode;
	private String mUrl;
	private long mExpiration;
	private int mInterval;

	public DeviceCodeJsonParser(String jsonResponse) {

		try {
			JSONObject obj = new JSONObject(jsonResponse);

			mDeviceCode = obj.getString(JSONFields.DEVICE_CODE);
			mUserCode = obj.getString(JSONFields.USER_CODE);
			mUrl = obj.getString(JSONFields.VERIFICATION_URL);
			mExpiration = obj.getLong(JSONFields.EXPIRES_IN);
			mInterval = obj.getInt(JSONFields.INTERVAL);

		} catch (Exception e) {
			e.printStackTrace();
		}
	}

	public void writeToPreferences(SharedPreferences prefs){
		prefs.edit()
			.putString(PreferenceConstants.DEVICE_CODE, mDeviceCode)
			.commit();
	}

	public String getDeviceCode(){
		return mDeviceCode;
	}

	public String getUserCode(){
		return mUserCode;
	}

	public String getUrl(){
		return mUrl;
	}

	public long getExpirationTime(){
		return mExpiration;
	}

	public int getRequestInteral(){
		return mInterval;
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Generate running MAT from Quarter data I have list of quarters in my db table as below:
enter image description here
I need to populate Running MAT based on above quarters. The expected records are as below:
enter image description here
Can you please help me to achieve this in SQL server?
Thanks in advance.

A: Your requirement or final result is not very clear for me.
On the other hand, if you can check below SQL CTE query, I believe it can help you
I hope the result is as  you wish
There is a cross join between the quarters table and the CTE expression which transforms the quarter names into a new format
; with cte as (
select
    SUBSTRING(Period_Qtr,1,4) + ' MAT Q' + SUBSTRING(REVERSE(Period_Qtr),1,1) as p
from quarters
)
select *
from cte, quarters

Output:


We all want our dogs and baby to be best pals!
Prepare your dog for one of the biggest changes in his life. Ensure you have all the tools to create that loving, safe, inter species relationship we dream of.
* what to do every trimester.
- FIRST YEAR - Keep them happy!
We would love to hear from you. info@helpingpawsnw.com, call or text: 503.496.9968 or through our social media.
Not at all, we would rather if you didn't actually. Better for the environment. Just show your ID when you arrive.
We want to hear about your furry members of the family and help answering any dog training questions you may have. Only humans can attend this class though. As always, Assistance Dogs are welcomed.


In America — with its foundational tenet of religious freedom and expression and with its fanatical devotion to sport participation and consumption — a prominent and perplexing marriage weds fierce competition and sincere faith on our playing fields, televisions, and newsfeeds. In kneeling Tim Tebow and post-game-midfield prayers, in evangelistic Athletes in Action and in a no-Sunday play policy for Hope College's 22 intercollegiate teams, the social institutions of sport and religion seem to walk hand-in-hand down the aisle of American life on a regular basis, joined together at the hip and in seeming lock step to help their followers build character and faith.
Yet, upon further review, examples abound when these two devoted partners can appear to be strange bedfellows at best. Turn on ESPN's SportsCenter almost any day of the week to find the country's newest sporting controversy simply not jiving with ethical behavior, let alone Christian principles. Sport-and-religion compatibility is questioned when competitive priorities overpower moral sensibilities.
So, why do we even combine the practices of sport and religion in the first place? (And when we talk about sport and religion, let's be honest, we are usually exclusively thinking about sport and Christianity.) Why are Christian athletes more vocal about this combination than those from other major religions? And what does this all look like and are there lessons to learn at Hope College, a vibrantly Christian school with an excellent athletic program?
At first blush, it makes sense that sport and religion would be attracted to each other. When juxtaposed, they seem to be more the same than they are different, their relationship so seamless and symbiotic that even eHarmony would deem them to be good mates.
And what does this all look like and are there lessons to learn at Hope College, a vibrantly Christian school with an excellent athletic program?
To wit, renowned American sport sociologist Jay Coakley surmises in his seminal text, Sports in Society: Sport and religion both have places for communal gatherings and special events; both have procedures and dramas linked to personal betterment; both emerge out of the same quest for the perfection of the body, mind, and spirit; both have heroes and legends; both can evoke intense excitement and emotional commitment; and, both can give deep personal meaning.
Skeptics, though, like to trot out the obvious disconnect between sport and religion when humility succumbs to pride, when an opponent is viewed as a hated enemy rather than an equally loved child of God, when competition casts dark shade over compassion, and when the "me-before-you" refrain strikes a selfish discord. Even Jesus said, "the first shall be last and the last shall be first." There may be no greater dissonance for a Christian competitor than that.
"I don't want to get rid of this whole project of Christians playing sport just because we sin or just because our emotions get the best of us from time to time. That happens in every area of our lives," reasons Carlson, whose research on sport and religion with colleagues at rival Calvin College can be viewed as the epitome of cooperation between sport and religion.
To that end, Sears and her captains have planted and grown a team culture that revolves around an ethos of both self-improvement and servanthood, backed up by biblical scripture. Together, coach and student-athletes have thoughtfully implemented several team themes over the years — Team Over Self, Actions Over Emotions, Positive Attitude, Work Hard, and Team of Grace — making their message as applicable to three months' worth of practices and games as everyday life, even beyond the college years. Win or lose, Sears — a kinesiology faculty member whose teaching specialty is human nutrition —makes sure her players view victory and defeat on the field and off in the healthiest way possible.
Her point: Sport may be vulnerable to 50-50 outcomes, much like anything else in life, but student-athletes' reactions to those outcomes — be they agreements or differences, successes or frustrations — should embody a doctrine of merciful consistency.
And so it goes for each of Hope's 15 other head coaches, too. Competition and faith in perspective. As much as all of Hope's intercollegiate teams want to win an MIAA championship and advance to NCAA post-season, they realize the real reward is engaging Christian fundamentals and fair-play essentials far beyond the realms of church and win-loss columns. Whether blatantly expressed or softly evident, the teachings of sport and religion insist that their adherents use character-building and faith-filled lessons for the sake of Christ and community, in careers and calling.
The collective sport-and-religion debate—contentious at times, gracious at others—winsomely teaches any Hope student-athlete who bravely wades into the fray that the lessons divined from putting faith and play in action are applicable to all of life, not just four athletic collegiate years.
Schoonveld sees it in Isaiah-eque stylings: the lion of sport shall lies down with the lamb of religion, and a small child will lead them. Though no longer small (she stands 5'9") or a child (at 22 years of age), senior soccer and basketball player Elizabeth Perkins is one such Hope student-athlete whose impact extends to those much older, from coaches to athletic directors to even fans in the stands. Her energetic, hard-nosed competitor identity, obvious and respectful, is only surpassed by her committed Christian appellation, also clear and reverent. Admittedly, getting those two priorities to coexist peacefully in one heart was no overnight epiphany but a slow roll toward revelation.
The collective sport-and-religion debate — contentious at times, gracious at others — winsomely teaches any Hope student-athlete who bravely wades into the fray that the lessons divined from putting faith and play in action are applicable to all of life, not just four athletic collegiate years. Despite competitive derision or personal differences, the message combed from the married mesh of competition and faith is one of bilateral inclusivity, not mutual exclusivity, and it looks more like a pretty present than a heavy burden. Because in the end, the story of sport and religion is a redemption story, a tale of rising and falling but getting back up to play and believe again.
Author Eva Dean Folkert '83 is a regular contributor to News from Hope College, but she has also lived the subject of this story directly. She is a former assistant professor of kinesiology and co-director of athletics at Hope, where she has also taught a Senior Seminar entitled Sport, Society, and the Sacred.
The illustrations accompanying this story are watercolors by Bruce McCombs, professor of art.


text:
October 7, 2009 | General News
REAPPOINTMENT OF DR DAVIES IBIAMU IKANYA FOOPP CHAIRMAN INTO THE RIVERS STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL – A FURTHER STUDY IN POLITICAL UNITY
By Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
With the reappointment of Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya into the Rivers State EXCO, today 7th October, 2009 will remain in the annals of Rivers political history as a day Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi truly consolidated his position as a trail blazer in political reengineering in Nigeria.
Dr Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, immediate past Commissioner of Special Duties on the cabinet up until its dissolution this past June, is also the Chairman of the FOOPP; a coalition of over 46 opposition political parties in the state. We see his reappointment to the Rivers State Exco as a further indication of Governor Amaechi's intentions to propagate a truly unity government even as he remains committed to rebuilding the state in the company of seasoned technocrats irrespective of party affiliations. It is now evident that the Governor's promise at the 7th July 2009 Courtesy visit/formal presentation of the FOOPP at the Government House in Port Harcourt, when in response to a call by the body, he agreed to reappoint Ikanya to his cabinet, was not a mere political spin but the statement of a man of integrity who honours his word.
Not a few had expressed doubts as to the follow through on the widely publicised promise of reappointment. But today twelve weeks down the line, this pledge has not only been honoured but in addition, the choice of the strategic portfolio –with its attendant challenges-, buttresses the fact of Amaechi's confidence in the opposition to deliver on a sector that has been a bane to his administration.
Reacting to Ibiamu's reappointment and swearing in, Prince Tonye Princewill Leader of the Forum and BOT Chairman congratulated Chief Ibiamu, urging him to prove his mettle yet again in the strategic office to which he had been placed as helmsman. He expressed his gratitude to the Governor for the honour bestowed upon Ibiamu and his obvious confidence in the ability of the opposition to deliver. He enthused thus "with Ibiamu's reappointment, Amaechi has proven yet again that my respect for him is not a decision I regret. He is without doubt a Leader we all can trust and in my opinion what he needs most is our prayers as he persists in the onerous task of leading the state". Prince Tonye also applauded the governor for his well informed choice of Ms Ibim Seminitari a seasoned journalist and Communications expert as Commissioner for Information.
Shortly after the being sworn in, Dr Ikanya on his part offered profound thanks to the Almighty God and expressed gratitude to Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi for the appointment and also reiterated his support of the ideals the governor represents hence informing his decision to embrace his inclusion in the cabinet. He assured all of his readiness to collaborate with partners in government and stakeholders to ensure the necessary dividends during his tenure.
Barrister Osima Ginah, Urban Development Commissioner and also opposition candidate in the Cabinet currently on assignment in Europe, in a telephone conversation following receipt of the news, congratulated Dr Ibiamu and expressed gratitude to the Governor for this great gesture that gives the opposition yet another strong voice in the EXCO.
Mr Garshon Benson the Secretary General of FOOPP and Rivers State Chairman of DPP who accompanied Dr Ikanya to the Govt House Executive Council chambers for the epoch making event stated that today is one of the greatest days in my life. "This is a new dawn for genuine democracy in Rivers State aimed at the emancipation of our people. Today, we can proudly state that we are sons and daughters of Rivers State without any inhibition. Today, a new chapter is introduced in the annals of our democratic evolution as a State where people can now practise their political beliefs without any form of molestation or intimidation all to our today's embodiment of democratic tenants - Rt. Hon. Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi,"
Chief Eze Chukwuemeka Eze,
Media Consultant, FOOPP, Rivers State
FORUM OF ORGANISED OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIE (FOOPP)


57 percent of enterprises with a mainframe currently run more than half of their business-critical applications on the platform—with that number expected to increase to 64 percent by next year.
72 percent of customer-facing applications are completely or very dependent on mainframe processing.
Enterprises have only replaced 37 percent of the mainframe workforce lost over the past five years.
Many organizations surveyed are not currently measuring velocity or efficiency key performance indicators, putting them at a disadvantage in the digital age.
DETROIT—March 22, 2018— The mainframe is becoming more important to large enterprises, with the percentage of organizations running at least half their business-critical applications on that platform expected to increase next year. However, the loss of skilled mainframe staff, and the failure to subsequently fill these positions, pose significant threats to application quality, velocity and efficiency.
While 55 percent of respondents cite application quality as "extremely important," only 42 percent put the same emphasis on development velocity and 46 percent on efficiency.
These findings and others suggest that mainframe investments, culture and management practices need to evolve significantly in light of changing market realities. Insufficient emphasis on velocity, for example, is a holdover from an earlier era that predates the demands of today's fast-paced digital economy. Inadequate attention to efficiency likewise reflects an era when the mainframe development and quality assurance staffs were significantly larger and extraordinarily stable.
The complete Forrester Opportunity Snapshot study, entitled "Modern Mainframe KPIs Are Key To A Successful Digital Strategy," can be found here.


text:
Q: Set custom date format on iOS I am using the iOS 9 beta and I am trying to change the date format to
dayofweek-dayofmonth-month-year.
For example today would be:

Tuesday, 25 Aug 2015

In Settings I have looked under 'Language & Region', and at the bottom of the page there is something that shows 'Region Format Example', but I cannot find a way to set a custom date format without changing my region (which still doesn't allow custom, but it will change it).
Under 'Date and Time' there isn't anything either.

A: It's currently not possible to set a custom date format on iOS, unlike macOS. On iOS you can only change the date format by changing the region as you discovered.


text:
Home News Dropping the knife: One woman joins the fight for women's rights in the Gambia
Dropping the knife: One woman joins the fight for women's rights in the Gambia
Aja Babung Sidibeh used to gather girls for the FGM ritual. She comes from a family considered custodians of the tradition. © UNFPA/Kasandi Mulaa
JAJANBUREH, The Gambia – For years, Aja Babung Sidibeh would gathered girls together in the Central River Region of the Gambia and prepared them to take part in an initiation rite. The girls would come stay with her until a circumciser arrived to cut them – a practice known as female genital mutilation (FGM).
Ms. Sidibeh inherited her role from her family – members of her clan are considered custodians of the tradition – and had no reason to question it until five years ago, when two girls fell seriously ill after undergoing the ritual.
Some community members blamed witchcraft for the sudden illness, but when the girls were taken to a nearby medical facility, health workers determined it was an infection caused by FGM.
"In the hospital, they explained everything to me," Ms. Sidibeh later told UNFPA. "It was the cutting that made them sick, and I knew they were right about it."
The infection was excruciating, but both girls eventually recovered.
"After that, I gathered all circumcisers in the region and shared my experience with them. I told them to drop the knife," Ms. Sidibeh said.
"If we never go out of the dark, we will never see the light."
"Against our rights as women"
Today is the International Day of Zero Tolerance for FGM. Over 200 million women and girls around the world have been subjected to the practice, which can be found in communities around the world.
It is widespread in the Gambia. A 2013 survey indicated as many as 75 per cent of women have been cut – nearly all of them as children. Eighty-five per cent reported the practice involved the cutting and removal of flesh. For some, a seal is formed over their genitals, to be opened later in life.
FGM is internationally recognized as a violation of women's and girls' rights. And, as the girls in Ms. Sidibeh's community demonstrated, the practice is dangerous – and can even be deadly. In addition to infection, FGM can cause shock, haemorrhage and severe pain. Later in life, it can cause complications during childbirth.
Women around the world are rising up against FGM. Marinela Panchi Cortes supports ending the practice in Colombia. © UNFPA/Daniel Baldotto
Ms. Sidibeh began working with Gambia Committee on Traditional Practices Affecting the Health of Women and Children (GAMCOTRAP), a UNFPA-supported organization dedicated to improving sexual and reproductive health in the country.
Through GAMCOTRAP, Ms. Sidibeh learned about the health and social consequences of FGM. She also learned that the practice is not required by religion, a common misconception.
Ms. Sidibeh is now a staunch advocate for ending FGM. "We know it is part of our culture, but it is not in accordance with Islam, and it is against our rights as women," she said.
Seeing "the light"
She began to reach out to religious leaders, circumcisers, local authorities and community members about abandoning the practice.
"Only by working together can we end FGM," Ms. Sidibeh said.
She is now a key figure in the movement to abandon FGM in the Central River Region, where communities and circumcisers have publicly declared they would stop the practice.
And through her activism to end FGM, Ms. Sidibeh became aware of other rights violations affecting girls in the Gambia, including child marriage.
Video of End FGM in Gambia
"It is very linked to FGM. Some of the girls who are being married off without their permission also need to deal with the fact that they have been sealed," she explained. "Each circumciser has her own way of sealing so sometimes when they want to remove the seal, they don't know how to do it again, so the little girls suffer double pain."
Today, she is also strongly involved in efforts to fight gender inequality, such as inheritance laws that leave young widows with nothing. "I have signed an agreement with the government to protect these girls and their properties," she told UNFPA.
Dropping the knife has given her the knowledge and confidence to take on these challenges.
"If we never go out of the dark, we will never see the light," she said.
Population : 2.4 mil
When quarantine is unsafe: Domestic violence survivors seek help in Ukraine
Millions more cases of violence, child marriage, female genital mutilation, unintended pregnancy expected due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Pandemic heightens vulnerabilities of persons with disabilities
Guidance Note for Applying a Human Rights-Based Approach to Programming in UNFPA
Elevating Rights and Choices for All: Guidance Note for Applying a Human Rights Based Approach to Programming provides a road map for institutionalizing a human rights-based approach in the work of UNFPA, guided by the principles of: equality and non-discrimination, quality a
read publication >
Compendium of Indicators on FGM
Several compendiums of indicators have been produced in the last 10 years in the fields of gender, youth, sexual and reproductive health and rights and child protection.
Policy Brief: Enabling Environments for Eliminating Female Genital Mutilation
This policy brief builds on evidence emerging from the review of key policy and legal developments in all countries where female genital mutilation is prevalent, and in particular experiences from the UNFPA-UNICEF Joint Programme on the Elimination of Female Genital Mutilatio


Lumen Christi Institute offers Catechetical course for catechists and laity for effective evangelization in the rural areas of East Africa. The target group of this course is Catechists or laity who have not undergone any Catechetical training but are engaged in ministry in the parishes or sub-stations as Catechists.
To impart sound knowledge in Christian doctrine, Scared Scriptures and Spirituality.
To train Catechists/laity for effective evangelization and leadership in the parishes, sub-stations and small Christian Communities (SCC).
To help the parishes to deepen faith of laity.
The Catechetical training programme is of one month duration for three consecutive years. The course also can be completed in one year by attending all three courses continually. The new intake begins in September.
• Admission is given only at the recommendation the Parish Priest.
• Completion of Class Seven.
• Fair level of emotional maturity.
• Capacity to work well individually and in groups.
• As a rule candidates should be in the age group of 20 – 50.
Also available from the Director per mail or post.
The last date of submitting duly filled form is the 15th of August.


text:
You probably haven't failed to notice the gap between this and any previous posts. The international break didn't help, but I found myself unable to speculate on the games coming up between two sides that had just been promoted from League One.
Norwich City, with the obvious connection for Mark Robins plus the visit to Oakwell of the former "mighty Leeds United", should have given me tons of material, but somehow it simply failed to materialise in time. But both outcomes have given various writers a field day, haven't they?
How often, can one side be responsible for more than a single goal in one game, yet still come out of it on the losing side? Someone out there will have the stats. But allegedly, unlike an England versus Pakistan test match, a result like this could never be forced.
So to Tuesday night. I would have to leave it to others to provide a match report, but for those of you who didn't manage to make it, you missed some breathtaking performances.
Garry O'Conner was outstanding. Strong, intelligent and battled throughout, which can't have gone unnoticed by his fellow professionals. I believe it was this attitude that gained the result last night, despite going down 0 - 1 to an early strike from Howson.
From that moment on, Leeds were never really back in the game, enduring long periods in their own half before the Reds justly equalised.
Adam Hammill basked in the songs of the Ponty End, and he truly was "a Red" throughout.
Jim O'Brien was inspirational, a goalscorer early in the second half, but also a constant thorn in the side of Leeds.
For the club to treat it as a Cup Tie on a par with Chelsea or Liverpool is their decision. Apparently there is a pending release of a DVD plus car stickers. But I'm sure there's many a Barnsley fan that works in West Yorkshire and nobody in that area would have seen last night's result coming.
Will more fans now make it in to Oakwell regularly as a result? Time will tell.
One thing is certain though. Mark Robins has assembled a team that has the potential to beat anybody in this league. If consistency can be attained and with the support of that so-called 12 man, us the fans, this season has plenty to offer.
My writers block seems to have disappeared. There's tons to consider and look forward to as the Reds now look to gain and sustain a position in the top six.
Bring on Derby County!
Imperious Adam Hammill inspires as Barnsley run riot at Leeds (guardian.co.uk)
Prem eyes on Tykes star (skysports.com)
I think over enthusiasm has got the better of you. Based on one result where Leeds didn't play brilliant and the belief is for the Reds to sustain a top six finish - are you mad?!!
Robins is building a team in progress, there is no way you can expect us to be competing way up there! Can I point to the performance against Reading - shambolic.... and Robins pointing to the result at Scunthorpe an uninspiring 0-0 draw as "a step forward."
No I think not - a step forward would have been a win against a team likely to be in a relegation scrap this season.
Cardiff this weekend - I won't be shouting from the rooftops about our chances in that one!!
Mid table - top half at most would be a solid return for Barnsley this season.
WILKY said...
Mad? Maybe. Perhaps I'm more of a glass half-full than a sandwich short of a picnic kind of fella!
Scunny are no whipping boys on their ground, with only six losses in total last season, probably keeping them at this level. Incidentally, we lost eight at Oakwell (1 for every three we played).
Still early days with plenty of promise for me!
After the two 3-0 losses this week - mid table looks an amazing place to finish right nbow if we can't win away from home!!
Mimic The Masters
Take A Trip: Around The Grounds
Barnsley Man Of The Moment: Adam Hammill
Fools Gold?


Attempt #92385 at potty-training : FAIL!
Many parents have been blogging about their potty-training success/progress as early as when their kids turn 1YO. Me, I never! Why? I tell friends I didn't find it crucial for her to be stressed out going diaperless. And then,.. I add "It's also because I am lazy". Most moms can understand that even as a stay-at-home-mom, there are other more pressing issues or higher priority errands to complete in our day-to-day management of the house & the kiddo.
Anyway, I think I properly started in summer of last year. She was 2YO and could understand simple instructions so I thought it would be a good idea. It didn't work, so now I am trying again.
Some days diaper off, some days on. Usually I find it too tiring the next day after a full day of diaperless having to wipe, disinfect, clean her & changing her to new trousers. So the next day I just left her diaper on. Recipe for failure!
Sometimes after a minor-accident, I rush her to the toilet & tell her to "shuu shuu" there. I stand there for a minute & then left her to do her stuff. I'd be cleaning up the accident-site. I asked her "Did you shuu shuu?", "YES MOMMY! I also wash my hands already!". I will accept her answer & that's it. I never knew or have actually seen her peeing, to be honest. She could be taking me for a ride all this while.
It also didn't help that the pre-school that I want to enrol her in this Sep says not to force them to go diaperless. "Let them naturally get used to it & master it". Hey, I love this motto.
Continuing from her fascination with puzzles, she has been trying to tackle more "complicated" pieces. Since last week, she will sit down quietly & patiently piecing this 48-piece puzzle that my brother and his girlfriend got for Shean Wenn.
That day she came running to me displaying proudly her finished work! Well done. This, is definitely not from my genes because I never liked playing with puzzles, I have no patience for it & will give up before I even start the job. Nevertheless, I am so glad she isn't like me in this case!
"Look mom, I did it!", I heard her little voice say as the pitter-patter of footsteps came running over.
Lest you think this is amazing, I have heard my friend telling me that her daughter (who is now almost 5YO) when at around SW's age, finished a 100-piece puzzle all on her own.
The past week has been "eventful".
The hub flew off on Tue to somewhere in North Africa. The same day, I had invited my friend Laura over for lunch. Five minutes before she arrived, there was a small accident in the kitchen - something fell on something and causing everything to come crashing down, and my pyrex with the wat tan hor in it crashed to the ground & smashed into a hundred pieces. Needless to say, we did not have lunch at home that day. After cleaning up, Laura suggested we go out for lunch. We ended up in Nandos.
Thur morning I read reports of the Eyjafjallajoekull volcano ash disrupting flight services in the UK. When I first read it, the grounded rule should only apply to 1800 that evening. Meng was due to fly back the day after. However by Thur afternoon, flights were cancelled until early Sat morning. He rescheduled for a Sat PM flight but that had to be cancelled too. More disruptions ensued. On BBC website today, a grim message reads "The UK is enduring a fourth day as a virtual no-fly zone, as the travel chaos caused by volcanic ash drifting from Iceland shows no sign of ending."
Shean Wenn misses her dad alot. Her mornings, when he will the the one cheerfully greeting her & picking her up from her cot, has being replaced with a grumpy & very sleepy mommy. First few days of Meng's absence, I had to leave her in her cot for a few minutes to give her some "time-out sessions" because she simply didn't want MOMMY! After she has gathered her thoughts (usually by singing to herself or just playing), she will call out for me again.
The volcanic ashes travel chaos continues...... Meanwhile, on twitter-land, volcanic jokes are making the rounds, one chuckles "Last time you Poms (read : Brits) got the Ashes you were over the moon. There's no pleasing some people." Another witty one "Heard on the radio "Britain to Iceland : "We said send cash, not ash!""
To top off the eventful-ness, our dear daughter last night decided to play with the curtains despite me warning her few minutes before that not to do so, she must have tugged and pulled on it really hard because the curtain & the rods came tumbling down. It scared her. Luckily she is fine. But she still deserved a few smacks on the bottom for misbehaving.
On more positive notes : This week, weather-wise it has been fabulous! Average of 15c (but felt like 19c) and highs of 19c (which would mean if you stand in the sun, it may feel like 24c. VERY WARM!). Just too bad Meng isn't here to enjoy the glorious sunshine with us. Hopefully he will come back as scheduled in the next few days & 3 of us will be a happy family again. Yayy!
The Chip-Peas bought a trunki for Shean Wenn as early birthday present & she gets to choose it. Trunki is a luggage/ride-on/pull-along. She chose a ladybird design. It arrived within 2 days & she is so ecstatic! She was riding it at home telling me "Ok, bye bye mommy, I'm going to the supermarket." "Hi mommy, I am back! I bought some vegetables" - when asked what vegetables? "Carrots & tomatoes".
A really ingenious product for the kids, especially to while away their time at the airport!
The REALLY NOISY fishing game!
This weekend being Easter Long weekend (Good Friday is a Bank Holiday* & Monday is a replacement holiday for Easter Sunday), saw us spending our Friday in a shopping mall. Meng went "mad" shopping for Shean Wenn at the toy dept.
Toy 1 : This "create & play" toy from ELC.
It consists of chunky shapes, nuts & bolts and you can assemble & create various designs with it - the box gave many different ideas such as a robot, trucks, a car, shopping trolley & a wheelbarrow!
When we got home, SW excitedly told us she wants to build a car. Meng taught her what is a screwdriver & a spanner. And she helped out Meng with the whole project and was very very enthusiastic with it too. The next day, she asks daddy to make a truck for her. After seeing that there is a shopping trolley that she can also build with it, she requested us to help her build one. So, this time MUMMY dearest - the "engineer", had to help her out. I sat down with her & taught her the nuts & bolts too. The good thing is, daddy also taught her a system to arrange the nut & bolt together so she was very good at it. We build ourselves a nice looking trolley, but obviously not nice enough for her because she then "demanded" that I should put flowers on it. She looked for the flower petals in the box - and found it (I told her they didn't give it to us, but not satisfied with my answer, she rummaged until she found it!).
Toy 2 : THE VERY NOISY FISHING GAME!
Oh boy, the title says it all. Actually I have been telling Meng that Shean Wenn will sometimes swing her scribbler board by holding to its pen. When asked in horror what is she doing : she replies she is FISHING! Where did she get the idea from? I really don't know. But I was SO afraid she might swing it and it accidentally fly off from her grasp & hit herself, or the tv, or me! So Meng says let's just buy her a fishing game if we can find it. We managed to find one in Smyths and bought it straightaway . Meng also bought a Hello Kitty DVD, and 2 Wiggles DVD for her.
This is a video of her "fishing" - this was taken this morning, her first morning playing with it! She is very excited because everytime she comes home from outside, she will run to find it and sit down & fish!


June 30, 2018 in Miss Universe, News.
June 30, 2018 in Miss Universe, Miss World, News.
June 29, 2018 in Miss Universe, News.
June 25, 2018 in Miss Earth, News.
June 25, 2018 in Miss International, Miss Universe, Miss World, News.
June 25, 2018 in Miss World, News.
June 22, 2018 in Miss International, News.
June 21, 2018 in Editorials, Femina Miss India, Miss World, Miss World India, News.


text:
using System.Collections.Generic;
using Umbraco.Core.Models;
using Umbraco.Core.Persistence.UnitOfWork;

namespace Umbraco.Core.Persistence.Repositories
{
    public interface IDataTypeDefinitionRepository : IRepositoryQueryable<int, IDataTypeDefinition>
    {
        PreValueCollection GetPreValuesCollectionByDataTypeId(int dataTypeId);
        string GetPreValueAsString(int preValueId);

        void AddOrUpdatePreValues(IDataTypeDefinition dataType, IDictionary<string, PreValue> values);
        void AddOrUpdatePreValues(int dataTypeId, IDictionary<string, PreValue> values);
    }
}


Members will be assigned to one of the following categories which may be obtained through formal application with the payment of annual dues. Membership renewals will be conducted annually beginning January 1st.
1. Credentialed Veterinary Technicians: The first year fee is $50.00. Annual renewal fees will be $35/year. Renewal for Credentialed Veterinary Technicians will require the successful completion of 12 hours of CE credit.
2. Associate Member: The fee is $30 per year.
3. Student Member: For full time students of an AVMA accredited veterinary program membership fees are waived. A valid student ID and/or transcript indicating full time status is required.
The membership year of the CTVTA shall be January 1st through December 31st.
Only Credentialed Members in good standing (i.e., dues of current year paid, and completion of 12 hours CE) may vote for officers or in other affairs of the CTVTA.
The Executive Board Credentialing Committee of the CTVTA will act as the credentialing body. All certification matters will be forwarded to the credentialing committee for review and approval.
For membership forms and more information on each membership category follow the drop down links under "Join CTVTA."


We finished a rewarding trip with two of our clients.
and managed to photo 10 species.
5 species of Hornbills got photos of all.
and Sulawesi Ochre-bellied Boobook good shots.
White-Brested Imperial Pigeon, Silver-tipped Pied Iimperial pigeon.
We were lucky to see 50 Knobbed Hornbills fly over our head.
and eastern tarsiers and crested macaque.
Langkawi was easy birding as it was at our backyard.
Brown Wing kingfisher and all three resident Hornbills.
Our next Oversea trip will be Victoria Australia.
© 2007-2009 ASIAN SAFARI SDN BHD All rights reserved.


text:
Falcon Lake may refer to:

 Falcon Lake (Manitoba), Canada
 Falcon International Reservoir, at Falcon Dam on the Rio Grande river between Texas and Tamaulipas
 Falcon Lake (Colorado)
 Falcon Lake (Alaska)
 Falcon Lake (Washington)
 Falcon Lake (film), a Canadian drama film

See also
 Falcon Lake Estates, Texas
 Piracy on Falcon Lake

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Step into the fully renovated Deluxe Double Rooms of Homeric Poems Hotel that are named after some of the most famous Gods and heroes of Greek mythology. The valiant hero of Iliad Hector and his wife Andromache; the god of the seas Poseidon and his wife Amphitrite; Adonis and Paris, symbols of male beauty; and persevering Penelope inspired the beautifully appointed Deluxe Double Rooms where you will live a precious Santorini experience. Indulge into the beauty and comfort while you are gazing the caldera of Santorini from the private balcony of your elegant room!
The Deluxe Double Rooms of the Homeric Poems hotel can accommodate 2 to 3 people. Let us see in detail the areas and their facilities.


text:
Q: Pointer to Static The class Student have a static member Year which is a pointer to std::string that should point to a dynamically allocated array.
class Student
{
private:
    string name;
    int year;
    string semester;
    int AmtClass;
    static string *Year[4];

    //Skipping the public members
};

string *Student::Year[4] = { "Freshman", "Sophomore", "Junior", "senior" };

Problem occurs when trying to initialize Year:
ERROR: Cannot convert 'const char*' to 'std::string*' in initialization

Why do I get the error?

A: struct A
{
    static std::string *cohort;
};

std::string * A::cohort = new std::string[4];

It is not clear why you want to allocate dynamically the array. You could use
std::array<std::string, 4> or std::dynarray<std::string>
As you updated your post then either you should write
std::string * Student::Year = new std::string[4] { "Freshman", "Sophomore", "Junior", "senior" };

Or
struct Student
{
    static std::string Year[];
};

std::string Student::Year[4] = { "Freshman", "Sophomore", "Junior", "senior" };


text:
Q: pass relative url in signalR hub connection I am trying to implement signalR in angularJS,
I want to pass relative url to hub connection, but it's making current url (on which my angular application is hosted)
My API base url : http://localhost:81/NrsService/api/TestSignal
My angular application running at
http://localhost:81

Here is my signalR setup :
$.connection.hub.url = "/NrsService/api/TestSignal";
//Getting the connection object
connection = $.hubConnection();

Like it is sending request at  http://localhost:81/signalr/negotiate? but I want it to be  http://localhost:81/NrsService/api/TestSignal/negotiate?

A: You have to edit the generated JavaScript code where the client proxy is defined. As of SignalR 2.4.0 there is a createHubProxies function defined where you should find this line of code:
signalR.hub = $.hubConnection("/signalr", { useDefaultPath: false });

Change it to the following to prevent the "/signalr" ending in your requests:
signalR.hub = $.hubConnection("", { useDefaultPath: false });

After that, you can simply change the url which should be called the way you provided in your question, e.g.:
$.connection.hub.url = "/NrsService/api/TestSignal";

If you also want to change this Url dynamically, you can use the document.location properties. In my case, I did something like this:
var subPath = document.location.pathname.substr(0, document.location.pathname.lastIndexOf("/"));
$.connection.hub.url = subPath;      // subpath equals to "/NrsService/api"

Hope this helps.


We are a friendly, passionate and hard-working bunch - that love to meet new people and enjoy a good laugh! We all add something special to the team and love working together here at Train Together. We all come from very different places but join together with a shared core passion for people and fitness.
Testimonials are curated by Train Together and are not independently reviewed or verified.
"I started going to Train Together at the beginning of December last year following major surgery a few weeks earlier. The surgery was followed up by nearly 6 months of Chemotherapy. My wellbeing and fitness levels have been maintained and improved thanks to the wonderful support and encouragement I have received from Neil, Sarah and Anna. I felt and still feel cared for too. I would not be this well in either mind or body without you all. Thank you!!"
"The classes are great, they are enjoyable and every class is different which keeps it interesting. The social atmosphere is an added bonus, I have a good laugh when I am at TT, which helps battle through the exercises. Initially I joined because it is close to my workplace. However, regardless of this if I had tried it I would have joined anyway. It fits my work ethic perfectly - personal, challenging and the classes vary.
I continue to beat my personal bests at the Train Together challenges - It's hard not to be motivated when they are up on the board in front of you every class. It also makes it much easier to see the results. My highest recommendation. I have been to a lot of gyms in the area, and this is the only one that has kept my interest and I look forward to going to. Prior to this, the gym was an annoyance."
"First time at train together tonight. Was BRILLIANT! Will be returning :) Really enjoyed, went at a steady pace and didn't feel any negative vibes from trainer when I needed a rest! (Very different from other gyms I have experienced). Plus my mum loved it! She has never been to a gym but said she will be returning the next day :) Love the small groups :)"
"The support and encouragement they give you is fantastic."
"Absolutely love training here...the atmosphere is so friendly and inviting, small classes where you get to know everyone.
Neil and Sarah's knowledge is second to none and the support and encouragement they give you is fantastic. Cannot recommend Train Together highly enough :)"
"Cannot praise this place highly enough."
"Love this place. Classes are small, personal and supportive. Neil and Sarah are fantastic. They provide help and support in all areas of exercise and also help you with correct techniques. Have also provided brilliant advice about dietary requirements. Will never go back to a mainstream gym again. Cannot praise this place highly enough."


Rushing another player to 70 and Rifts Rifts Rifts! Diablo 3 Eternal Collection Switch Gameplay!
Overwatch Ranked is Still BROKEN – Blizzard Send HELP!
I found a DOUBLE PUMP glitch in Season 7 of Fortnite..
Fortnite – Update 7.4.0 Delayed!!
Destiny 2 GLITCHES – EXOTIC ROCKET LAUNCHER GLITCH – USE TO BEAT ARGOS IN EATER OF WORLDS LAIR!!


My Canadian coach is a versatile teammate. Lynda is a hard worker, life coach, and leader. Her qualifications include: CCF Certified Life Coach, a Certified Passion Test Facilitator for Adults as well as Kids and Teens, and a Certified Grief Recovery Model Specialist. Lynda runs her own website and is a singer songwriter in her free time. She is very much the glue that holds the team together and is a helping hand in all of the projects the team undergoes.
Andrea has a unique approach to life and business coaching. She mainly uses her experience in offering "coaching while walking sessions". Being outdoors and having a coach to listen is a great combination and makes people relax and open up. Hiking and walking in nature, are a great metaphor for life. Taking time out of your business life to spend time in nature has a beneficial impact on your mental and physical well being.
Bob has led many seminar sessions, developed work experience programs, presented WEVAS workshops (Working Effectively with Violent and Aggressive Students) and held leadership positions in many areas of education. He was also a Coaching Course Conductor for the Manitoba Hockey and Baseball Associations. Most notably, Bob has coached at the Spengler cup, Swiss National A league, and the German Elite league (DEL).
Kaitlyn is my daughter and was a long track speed skater. She now works with me at my leadership development camps. She explains the drive, motivation, and desire needed to be at the top of your field. She was regarded as one of the best junior speed skaters of all time, #2 in the world, and has a decorated career both in hockey and speed skating. With her focus now on personal development, leadership and coaching, she works with me in a variety of sessions.
Raised in a family of entrepreneurs and after Art academy, Nicole has worked for 22 years with great pleasure for ABN AMRO, the last 15 years she gathered a lot of experience with HR, change and behavioral development projects. Nicole discovered that her results-oriented contribution to the development of people is one of her strengths. Nicole focuses on all kinds of challenges that have to do with (personal) leadership, organization- and behavioural change and team development. Some of the organizations to which she has contributed are ABN AMRO, Ministry Social affairs and employment, Solvay-Farma, PWC, EY, Unicef and Rabobank.
"I can definitely recommend Kathleen as a person, coach and facilitator. She has great one on one skills emotional intelligence and provides many insights for people in her feedback sessions. I get Kathy involved as a coach as often as I can and she always adds value to any program. Her experience is invaluable and she keeps growing and learning herself which is what i like its called "walk the talk".
A coach, a writer, a teacher (Bachelor of Education, Honors) and an artist. In addition to English, Gillian is fluent in Swiss- and High German. She has a passion for people and a talent for unlocking their potential. She will work with empathy, but challenge her clients to recognize, understand and address the main stumbling blocks in their lives. Her clients get to know themselves inside-out; their values, their visions and their lives. We work together with this insight for you to become the best you can possibly be.


The second, set in the past, tells the story of the mother of a young boy Henrietta encounters at the house in Paris. In both narratives, the book explores themes relating to the importance of living a life of emotional freedom, the nature and power of motherhood, �... Cranford by Elizabeth Gaskell - Henry Altemus Mary Smith and her friends live in Cranford, a town predominantly inhabited by women. The return of a long-lost brother named Peter is the most dramatic event to occur over the course of the sixteen tales that comprise the novel.
The Map by Elizabeth Bishop. .Land lies in water it is shadowed green. Shadows or are they shallows at its edges showing the line of long seaweeded ledges where weeds hang to the . Page Land lies in water it is shadowed green.
Read online or download for free graded reader ebook and audiobook North and South by Elizabeth Gaskell of intermediate level you can download in epub, mobi, fb2, rtf, txt , mp3 English e-books graded readers ebooks � best choice to learn English.


Want to know a person's real age, just look at their hands. The face and hands are the two most visible areas of aging. When your goal is to look more youthful, you may want to consider hand rejuvenation.
Age spots and pigment issues can be improved with IPL (light treatments) and light chemical peels. Fat injections and fillers, such as, Radiesse are used to plump up the skin and reduce the appearance of prominent veins. Dr. Chris and her aesthetic team will guide you through the available options. When you choose Sullivan Centre, know that we are with you every step of the way.


There is / There is not / Is there ...?
There are / There are not / Are there ...?
Exercice d'anglais "Il y a : Le traduire - cours" créé par anonyme avec le générateur de tests - créez votre propre test !
1. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas a sausage in my plate. It is a big one.
2. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas sausages in my plate, as well.
3. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas a book in the bookcase. It is empty.
4. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas children at school. They are on holiday.
5. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas a school in this village ?
6. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas good books in that library ?
7. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas an umbrella in the car ?
8. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas chairs in the room. We can't sit.
9. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas letters today ?
10. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas a bird in the sky. Where are they ?
11. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas coffee if you like.
12. Are there any Is there There are There are not any There is There is not Je ne sais pas lots of toys for the children under the tree.
Fin de l'exercice d'anglais "Il y a : Le traduire - cours"


Is Jump6 Right For Me?
Jump Start Your Weight Loss.
Jump6 was the first clinic in Canada to offer the intragastric balloon for weight loss and still continues to assist thousands of men and women in achieving their weight loss goals.
Click here to contact Dr. Arkan Alrashid and set up a consultation.
There is life and beauty after pregnancy with a mommy makeover. At Jump6 of Toronto, a mommy makeover is the combination and procedures.
Cosmetic surgery procedures for men can give men a thinner waist, fewer wrinkles and increased overall body confidence.


text:
Women should participate meaningfully in all discussions, decisions, forums, and action plans that affect business, government and society at large.
A pre-eminent group of South African business women gathered today at the Johannesburg
Stock Exchange (JSE) to assert their collective voice advocating that women should
participate meaningfully in all discussions, decisions, forums, and action plans that affect
business, government and society at large.
The group, representing 100 members of the South African chapter of the International
Women's Forum, was led by incoming President Ms. Irene Charnley (Founder of Smile
Telecom, Vice President Ms. Nolitha Fakude (Chairman of the Board of Anglo American in
South Africa) and Board Member Dr. Precious Moloi-Motsepe (Business Woman,
Philanthropist and Chancellor Elect of the University of Cape Town).
Unveiling the organisations renewed vision and strategic priorities, incoming President of the
International Women's Forum of South Africa (IWFSA) Ms Charnley said, "We have a crucial
role as women leaders to promote ethical leadership in our country and of being a leading
voice for women leadership in business, government and society at large,"
"We note in particular that a recent delegation of CEO leaders to visit President Cyril
Ramaphosa to discuss economic issues had not included a single woman, this needs to
change," Ms Charnley said.
"Our organisation has a rejuvenated focus to be a powerful voice advocating for issues that
affect women across the board. At the same time, we look forward to serious engagement
and building strategic alliances with government and other institutions of society, such as
business, academia, and civil society, so that our voice is heard and given the gravitas that
we as women leaders expect," she added.
Commenting on recent research that was released on 'The Status of Gender on Listed
Boards' – a study of the opportunities for gender balancing the boards of companies listed on
the Johannesburg Stock Exchange, Ms. Charnley said: " Whilst we welcome the
improvement on the number of women serving on boards we note with disappointment that
only 51 of the 310 companies surveyed publish a gender policy and make it easily
accessible on their website. This is not acceptable."
Ms Charnley further noted that the organization was mindful on the calls made by women at
marches held across the country in September regarding the spate of Gender Based
Violence (GBV).
"It is simply not good enough for business to continue to be silent on GBV. We wish to
underline the importance of economically empowering women and providing them with
financial education, so that they have the ability to manage their own financial
circumstances, without reliance on others."
Women are an integral part of every facet of the economy and every business in this
country. For business to refuse to take action against GBV is akin to the days in which they
refused to denounce the evil of apartheid."
"Government, civil society and business must together take proper responsibility for this evil
that has remained hidden in our society for too long. As an organisation, we are fully
committed to doing our part to be part of the solution to ensure that the women and girl
children of South Africa achieve their birthright to live in safety and free from any threat of
violence," she said.
Standing alongside Ms Charney for her 2-year term of office was the newly constituted
board of the organisation comprising:
Ms Irene Charnley, President
Founder and Deputy Chairman, Smile Telecoms
Ms Nolitha Fakude, Vice-President
Chairman of Anglo American, South Africa
Ms Lesego Sennelo, Treasurer
Founder and Managing Director of Gosele Advisory Services
Ms Dot Field, Secretary
Owner Dot Field Consulting
Dr Precious Moloi-Motsepe, Board member
Philanthropist and Chancellor Elect University of Cape Town
Ms June Crawford, Board member
CEO of the Board of Airline Representatives of South Africa
Dr Nomonde Mabuya, Board member
Chairman Health Squared medical scheme board of trustees
Ms Tryphosa Ramano, Board member
Outgoing CFO PPC
Ms Janine Hills, Board member
Founder and Executive Director, Vuma Reputation Management


Reason for the start of a Christian school:Pastor Gunter's educational background was in education. From the start of Pastor Gunter's calling to the ministry, he was burdened with ministering to the youth. Prior to his pastoral duties in Sacramento, Dr. Gunter served in the bus ministry and Sunday School for Landmark Missionary Baptist Church.
After two years of service, Pastor Gunter moved to Texas and served as an assistant pastor and bus minister at Canyon Creek Baptist Church in Richardson, Texas. The Sunday School and bus ministry grew by leaps and bounds under the direction of Dr. Gunter. After his three-year stint in Texas, Dr. Gunter moved back to Sacramento, where he would quickly start Tabernacle Baptist Church.
Pastor Gunter's main priority in Sacramento was to work hard to start the church side of his new endeavor. In the fall of 1978, Pastor Gunter's oldest son, Brad Gunter Jr., would enter 1st grade. With the emergence of his son's education and the positive outcry of his church, Pastor Gunter proceeded to start the school.
Student base at the beginning: Main goal of the school was ministering to the church families and their children.
The change from church school to a Christian school that would minister to the community:In 1994 the school had quietly grown and many pastors' children from local churches began to attend Tabernacle Baptist School (as it was originally called).
With the expansion of the school from the normal church body, Pastor Gunter decided to change the name of the school and broaden the school's outreach. The move proved to the church that God was ready to expand the ministry into the community. The school name was changed to Valley Christian Academy in 1994.
The expansion of Valley Christian Academysince 1994: Valley Christian Academy has seen tremendous growth since 1994. The existing 6.5 acres is almost filled to capacity. The school has brought in eight new classrooms, built a gymnasium, constructed a baseball field, and has expanded it's auditorium.
The student population has grown from an estimated 100 students in 1994, to nearly 360 students in 2003. The Ministry has recently purchased the 3.5 acres directly across the street and plans to build a second gymnasium, an elementary wing (which is estimated to house 400 elementary students), and a new auditorium. The new auditorium will house an estimated 450 people and will be used for drama productions, music recitals, concerts, graduations and other spiritual and community outreach programs.
The backside of the property will consist of a 70-yard practice facility to be used for football and soccer, and other outdoor functions. It will be used daily for elementary recess and P.E. time. The property will include a state of the art playground for the use of the school and church.