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God Is Still Seeking Worshippers
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The Raw, Naked Truth About Homosexuality
7:00AM EDT 7/22/2014	 Bert M. Farias
Gay rights and gay marriage have become one of the major issues of our culture. (Elvert Barnes/Flickr/Creative Commons)
In a moment I am going to speak very plainly and straightforward about homosexuality. As a preacher, I have a great responsibility before God to speak the truth in love—to convince, rebuke and exhort with all longsuffering and teaching (2 Tim. 4:3)—to never shun to declare the whole counsel of God (Acts 20:27).
If you are involved in a gay relationship, or have a loved one who is, please do not get upset with me. I am for you and not against you. If you will listen long enough, you will see that I am actually trying to help you.
I know a wonderful godly Christian couple who have had to die a thousand deaths when their son recently arrived home from college and admitted to them that he was practicing a homosexual lifestyle. That is a very heart-wrenching trial for any God-fearing parent to have to face. They have my deepest admiration for handling this situation with love and honor. Even though these kinds of situations should move us with great compassion, we cannot afford to lose our convictions. This couple has chosen to love their son while firmly holding to their strong biblical convictions and opposing the lifestyle he leads.
If you are a minister, a pastor, or even a priest I also would like to speak frankly and forthrightly to you today.
The government of Denmark has made it mandatory for all churches to conduct gay marriages, regardless of religious beliefs, conscience or convictions. No church or minister in Denmark is exempt from complying with this new law.
Could America be next? Could a law be passed that would order American churches to perform gay ceremonies if they want to maintain their tax-exempt status?
The writing is on the wall.
What will you do on that fateful day? Obey man or obey God?
Gay rights and gay marriage have become one of the major issues of our culture today. In such times, Christians cannot afford to lose their moral compass or compromise the scriptures.
Here is a reminder that will strengthen our moral bearings:
The devil hates it when someone brings the truth out into the open. He likes to keep all light and truth hidden in the darkness. He hates it when someone speaks plainly and clearly about sin. On the other hand, he loves to promote all that is abominable and evil. "Off with his head," has always been the cry against those who confront sin and preach repentance.
So here is the raw, naked truth on homosexuality that we must never forget:
The Bible says that homosexuality is unnatural. Men in gay relationships have given up the natural use of the woman and women the natural use of the man.
"For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due." (Rom. 1:26-27).
The Bible does not say that God changed what was natural. Neither does it say that nature, or the environment, or the culture, or his parents, nor did his birth genes change what was natural. It says that lesbians and homosexuals changed themselves. Yes, that's right! The Bible says it is people who change their natural sexual desires in exchange for unnatural ones. The Bible sweeps away every argument, excuse and destructive reasoning for unnatural sexual activity. Some things are against nature, and therefore against God, because God created nature.
Homosexuality is not ordained by God, nor is it even biologically right or natural. People are gay because they choose to be--not because they can't help it. It's a choice in the same way I could choose as a sexually normal red-blooded male to go out and commit adultery. Being gay is a choice just like a heterosexual couple chooses to have children, or a man decides to remain celibate and enter the monastery, or a woman chooses to be a nun. Men don't say, "I can't help being a monk!" Women don't say, "I couldn't help being a nun!" Just as normal couples make a choice to marry, or not to marry, have sex or not to have sex, have children or not have children, so it is with being gay.
The choice to be gay, however, has far greater risk in that it ties one to lust, illicit passions, and unclean practices that open up a person to the demonic. I will explain this further below.
We've got this whole thing muddled up because people don't speak plainly and clearly anymore. They beat around the bush and are obsessed with political correctness and being loving and tolerant. The truth is that everyone makes choices every single day. You can choose to believe in God or not. You can choose to believe the Bible or not. You can choose to surrender your life to Jesus Christ or not. You can choose to be a liar, a thief, a whore-monger, a murderer, an alcoholic or a drug addict. Quit blaming it on your genes or your addictive personality, unfortunate circumstances, or your background and upbringing. Yes, our culture and surroundings influence us, but we don't have to yield to its evil influences.
For example, I could say to my wife, "It's so natural for me to have sex with other women, so I think I will. I just can't help myself!" Just because a woman opens her blouse to me and entices me to have sex with her doesn't mean that I will. The fact is some people just want to do what comes naturally or what feels good, and the devil eats them up. He will feed you all the lies and perversion you are willing to receive.
Here's the raw, naked truth: Homosexuality is actually a demon spirit. It is such a putrid-smelling demon that other demons don't even like to hang around it. A genuine prophet of God told me that the Lord allowed him to smell this demon spirit, and he got sick to his stomach. And yet as humans, many embrace this demon. Yes, you heard me right: Being gay is demonic.
There is an account in the Bible where Jesus casts 2,000 demons out of a man. The demons came out screaming and begged Jesus to send them into the pigs. The pigs didn't want them, so they ran down a steep hill and were drowned in the sea. Pigs have more sense than some humans. Some people embrace homosexual demons, but the pigs would rather die than be possessed with demons.
"Now a large herd of swine was feeding there near the mountains. So all the demons begged Him, saying, 'Send us to the swine, that we may enter them.' And at once Jesus gave them permission. Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine (there were about two thousand); and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea, and drowned in the sea." (Mark 5:11-13).
From a biblical perspective, the rise of homosexuality is a sign that a society is in the last stages of decay. And here is another terrible truth: As people continue to reject God, He gives them over to increasingly immoral and self-destructive activities. There are destructive physical, emotional and spiritual consequences of homosexual behavior.
All human beings know deep in their hearts that God exists, and they all know something of His moral standards. But people's unrighteousness leads them to suppress the truth and believe false views of God and the Bible, and they twist the scriptures to their own destruction, because they know that the truth would require them to repent.
Allow me to school you in Basic Sex 101. If being gay was natural, two men or two women could produce a baby, but they can't. Their sexual reproductive organs do not complement each other therefore making it impossible for them to procreate. It can never be natural for two men or two women to get married and live together. Our culture's acceptance and celebration of gay behavior will never make it right. Wrong is wrong no matter how many people are for it. And right is right no matter how many people are against it. Homosexuality is not new. It's been around for thousands of years. It's as old as the devil himself.
Just as a fornicator or an adulterer can stop being sexually active, any gay person who claims to be a professing Christian can stop being gay. There are still plenty of strong brothers and sisters in the Lord who will be more than willing to offer help, prayer, counsel and deliverance. There are also many godly pastors and mentors who will be glad to minister to you so you can be free. If natural feelings for the opposite sex do not return, then honor the Lord by waiting and choosing to remain celibate. In the same way I would give account to God for living in adultery, so the Bible says one day homosexuals will pay the penalty for the error of their ways. Just because something is pleasurable and feels good will never make it right if it is outside of the boundaries God has set.
No one has to preach controversial subjects and "rock the boat" type of messages. But in times like these when homosexuality is being embraced and celebrated by much of our culture, and now by many churches, preachers have a responsibility to preach sound doctrines and truths that will warn people of the consequences of sin. I charge every preacher of righteousness today to preach these truths and warn your people of the wrath to come on those who delight in unrighteousness and wickedness. The scriptures are full of warnings, and true love always warns.
If you struggle with same-sex attraction, please take your will and put it in God's hands and let Him begin to break you of the power of its addiction. The process of breaking any addiction starts with a hatred for the thing and then a turning to God in sincere repentance. He will never cast out the one who comes to Him for help (John 6:37). When you realize that all impenitent homosexuals are among the dead who have no inheritance in the kingdom of God and whose end is destruction, the sweetness and pleasure of your sin will suddenly turn sour in your belly.
"Stolen water is sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant. But he does not know that the dead are there, that her guests are in the depths of hell." (Prov. 9:17-18).
Do not be deceived.
"Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God." (1 Cor. 6:9-10).
May God grant godly repentance to more homosexuals and cause them to shun the horrors of hell while gaining the glories of heaven. May many more of them be washed, sanctified and justified for the honor and glory of God.
"And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God." (1 Cor. 6:11).
Bert M. Farias, founder of Holy Fire Ministries, is the author of The Real Gospel and co-host of the New England Holy Ghost Forum. He is a missionary evangelist carrying a spirit of revival to the church and the nations. Follow him at Bert Farias on Facebook or @Bertfarias1 on Twitter.
Related topics: Christianity | Homosexuality | Same-Sex Marriage | Spiritual Growth


Please select options for Airaid PowerAid Throttle Body Spacer (12-18 3.6L Jeep Wrangler JK) at the top of this page.
The Sound of Power... the "Whistle" Means Its Working!
Now, throttle body spacers are a little bit controversial. Some people think that they have a large effect, others think that they don't have as much of an effect on your engine. But it really comes down to you and what you wanna use your Jeep for. If you've done other power adders, if this is something that you're adding on just to squeeze that little bit of extra out of your Jeep, then it's gonna be an option for you. Now, there are going to be a couple different versions of this throttle body spacer, one for those of you with the 2007 to 2011 3.8 liter, and one for those of you with a 2012 and up 3.6 liter. So, make sure you get the right spacer for your Jeep. Today we're going to talk through the installation of this throttle body spacer, which is a very simple one out of three wrench install. Even though this is something that's on the engine and some of you might be a little bit worried whether or not you can do this in your driveway, it's a very, very simple install, will take less than an hour to do, and anyone can do it in their driveway, but we'll talk more about that install in just a second.The idea behind the throttle body spacer is to spin the air as it goes into the engine which will accelerate it allowing you to get more air and therefore more fuel into the engine, giving you more power. Now, you might notice this in the way of fuel efficiency, of a little bit of additional throttle response, or actual horse power especially at the top end of the RPM range which unfortunately isn't an area that we spend a ton of time in. If you've just installed 33s or big 35 inch tires on your Jeep and you don't like that down on power feeling that you have, I wouldn't go with the throttle body spacer right off the bat. You're gonna wanna go ahead and regear the Jeep, get it back to the factory final drive ratio before going ahead and adding other power adders. But again, if you've already done a bunch of stuff, you want to squeeze that little extra bit out, this is gonna be an option for you.Now, this one from AIRAID is going to be one of the more expensive throttle body spacers that we have on this site. There is an option out there that's about $100 less expensive than this one. However, this has that Helix design on the inside of it. Really designed to spin the air and cram as much air into the engine as possible, where that other version doesn't have that. This spacer is made out of an aircraft quality 6061-T6 aluminum which is a very high-quality material. It's going to be very strong and very lightweight, but then again this is just a throttle body spacer, it doesn't need to hold up to a lot of wear and tear. This comes covered with a red anodized finish, which is a nice feature, it keeps the aluminum from oxidizing. This is also going to come with all of the hardware that you're going to need to get it installed because you are going to need some longer bolts once you have the spacer installed.Now as I said before, this does have AIRAID's patented Helix design. It has that corkscrew pattern on the inside of the throttle body spacer really designed to spin the air and that's something that you're not going to get from some of the other throttle body spacer manufacturers out there. Like I said before, this is something that anybody can get installed in their driveway. It's a very simple one out of three wrench install and it'll take you less than an hour to get bolted up.Now, the first step in the process is going to be removing the ambient air temperature sensor out of the intake tube so that you can then unbolt the clamps that hold the intake tube in place and get it out of the way. Once it's moved, it's really just a matter of removing the four bolts that are holding the throttle body down. Completely remove it, place your gasket, your throttle body spacer in place, put the throttle body back down on top of that, and use the longer, included bolts to get everything torqued down. Once it's tight, just reinstalled that air intake tube and your ambient air temperature sensor and you're finished. Again, even if you're not somebody who's comfortable doing engine work, this is something that you can very easily do. It's just a couple of bolts, very simple to install.This spacer is going to run you right around $140 and it is a very high-quality spacer. It's very well built, it's going to fit right, it has the red anodized finish on it, and it has that Helix on the inside of it, designed to spin the air, that some of the less expensive options do not have. If you've added a lot of other power adders, you want a throttle body spacer to squeeze every last little bit of power out of your engine, and you have the budget for it, I think this is a really well-built choice.So, if you've already done some work to get as much power out of your Jeep as possible and you want every last drop, adding a throttle body spacer can help with some throttle response, some torque, a little bit of power, and as long as you have the budget for it, this is gonna be an easy install.So, that's my review of the AIRAID Powerade throttle body spacer fitting your 2007 and up JK that you can find right here at extremeterrain.com.
Better Performance and Fuel Economy. Airaid's simple to bolt-on Poweraid Throttle Body Spacer was engineered to improve throttle response and unleash the low to mid-range torque hidden in your Wrangler's 3.6L engine. After installation you will see notable torque gains between 800 to 3000 RPM. Not only does this Throttle Body Spacer improve the power and performance of your Jeep JK, but with its patented "Helix Bore" design, it also maximizes fuel efficiency saving you money at the gas pump. The Helix Bore creates a spinning action to the incoming air to provide superior atomization of the air fuel mixture for better combustion.
Aircraft Grade Billet Aluminum Construction. Airaid manufactures their PowerAid Throttle Body Spacer from the highest quality, aircraft grade, 6061-T6 billet aluminum available. CNC machined to precise specifications, this Throttle Body Spacer is completed in red anodized finish for great under hood looks and long lasting corrosion resistance.
Simple, Bolt-On Installation. Airaid engineered their Poweraid Throttle Body Spacer to be a simple bolt-on upgrade. Featuring brand new hardware and gaskets, installation can be completed in under an hour with just simple hand tools. Easy to follow instructions are included.
No Tune Required. This Airaid Poweraid Throttle Body Spacer is designed to improve the performance of your 3.6L powered Wrangler without the need of reprogramming your Jeep's computer. The engineers at Airaid really did their homework to improve your JK's power using the factory tune.
CARB Certified. Best of all, this Airaid Throttle Body Spacer is 50-state emissions-legal under Carb EO# D-609-10 for use on 2012-2018 JK models.
No Hassle Lifetime Warranty. Airaid backs their products with a "No Hassle" Lifetime Warranty. If you are ever dissatisfied with the materials, workmanship or performance of this product, just give Airaid a call. Some exclusions may apply, please see manufacturer's warranty for complete details.
Application. The Airaid Poweraid Throttle Body Spacer is designed to fit all 2012-2018 3.6L V6 Jeep Wrangler JK models with a stock/factory throttle body installed.
A throttle body spacer can help add throttle response and low end torque, in addition to this it will create a great sound!
can anyone please tell me the foot-pounds of torque needed for a 2015 3.6L JK? Thank you.
When installing the Airaid PowerAid Throttle Body Spacer, the bolts should be torqued to 5.5 Ft-Lbs.
why doesn't the factory put this on if its so good???
There are plenty of products that would be advantageous if installed that do not come factory. However, not everybody wants the positives that a device like this would supply, so Airaid offers it aftermarket for those interested.
Is this compatible with the AEM Brute Force Cold Air Intake?
This would be compatible with that CAI.
Can someone confirm if the AIRAID Poweraid Throttle Body Spacer 300-637 is compatible with the 3.6L on the new Wrangler JL's? On Airaid's website it appears that this should be good to go however, Extreme Terrain has it labeled only for JK's. Interested in combining this with a new cold air intake and exhaust.
It does apprear this item will fit the JL with the 3.6L motor.
The Airaid PowerAid Throttle Body Spacer will not include the CARB EO sticker, if needed you can contact Airaid directly and they will mail you the sticker.
Hello! Airaid is a company that has been around for awhile and has made a name for themselves of having very high quality, reliable parts. That is why their products usually come at a premium price.
Opened the package, read the install instructions a.nd off you go! Improved performance on my 2015 std. transmission Wrangler.
A noticeable change in performance!
Easy to install, took about 10 min and does exactly what it says.
I put this throttle body spacer on the same time I installed a KandN system. I'm not sure if I can tell a difference or not. Between the both of them together, there's some extra horsepower.
As far as I can tell, this has done nothing for performance or mileage. If you feel the need for one, by a cheaper version. Blame myself for not noticing that it actually makes the inlet of throttle body smaller.
Very easy to install. I purchased this with a cold air intake. What a difference. It's hard for me to keep off the gas!!
I do not think it works. There is no "whistle" that tells you it is working as the manufacturer states. Absolutely NO performance gains.
Looks great and compliments very well with the Red Rock Cold-air intake. Also very easy to install.
Let's be clear. You can't expect a dramatic change in performance by changing the CFM, but I am pleased. I have a KandN cold air intake,Flow master exhaust and superchips tuner. It definitely helped a little on the low end torque. And a bit of a whistle... that said, it's good. Is it worth the money? Is anything we do to our Jeeps worth the money?
I added this thing as well as a KandN S77 Cold air intake and a Borla Atak exhaust. My Jeep has so much throttle response now and POWER. 2 times as much throttle response. I also gained 2 mpg with this throttle body spacer. The coolest part is that the thing whistles and everyone thinks you have a Turbo! LOL!!!!
The install was quick and easy. This gave the Jeep better throttle response and changed the sound just a touch.


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Flu vaccinations up 33% from last year in New York City, mayor says
Coronavirus update for NYC
Flu vaccinations continue to surge this season compared to last year in New York City.
NEW YORK CITY (WABC) -- As the city awaits a COVID-19 vaccine, flu vaccinations continue to surge this season compared to last year in New York City.
1.5 million New Yorkers got their flu shot, up 33% from last year, Mayor Bill de Blasio said.
New York City health officials released Tuesday additional flu vaccination data for this year's flu season, showing continued increases compared to the same time last year.
From July 1 - November 7, 2020, according to officials there was a 41% increase in the number of adults aged 19 and older who have received the vaccine compared to the same time last year -- an increase of 265,279 adults (648,123 last season to 913,402 this season), and a 23% increase for children six months to 18 years old -- an increase of 114,188 children (498,523 last season to 612,711 this season).
In total, over 1,500,000 New Yorkers have received this year's flu vaccine based on doses entered into the Citywide Immunization Registry, however, since adults are not required to be reported to the Registry like children are, likely more doses have been given than captured.
RELATED: New York City schools remain open as city remains below key threshold
The city is on track to have a historic flu campaign this season, with more New Yorkers getting vaccinated than ever before.
Health officials recommend all New Yorkers older than six months of age should get a seasonal flu vaccine. It is especially important for adults 50 years and older, pregnant people, children six months to five-years-old, and people with underlying conditions to get vaccinated.
The Health Department recommends people 65 years and older receive one of the two vaccines for this age group (high dose or adjuvanted vaccine).
"As we await a COVID-19 vaccine, let's not forget the safe, effective, lifesaving one we already have-the flu shot," Health Commissioner Dr. Dave Chokshi said. "To all the New Yorkers who have protected themselves and their loved ones, by getting vaccinated-thank you. This year's vaccination may be the most important one you ever get."
The flu vaccine is widely available for all New Yorkers. Check with your regular health care provider to see if they have flu vaccine.
Many community health centers and hospital clinics, along with all NYC Health + Hospitals clinics, provide no or low-cost flu vaccines. Flu vaccines are also widely available at chain pharmacies, like CVS, Rite Aid, Walgreens and Duane Reade, and at many independent pharmacies. Pharmacists can vaccinate children as young as age two.
Check with your local pharmacy to confirm if they provide flu vaccine and the age ranges they serve. New Yorkers can use the Health Department's NYC Health Map, call 311, or text FLU to 877-877 to find a flu vaccination location. There are over 900 sites listed on Health Map which can be searched to find locations that serve people without insurance to find a free flu vaccination.
The health department also provides a list of community flu vaccination events. Flu vaccine is covered by most health insurance plans without a co-pay.
This year, New York City is supporting expanded flu vaccination activities with the Department's partners, such as NYC Health + Hospitals, community health centers, community-based organizations, urgent care centers and is offering flu vaccine at many COVID-19 testing sites. The Department has also launched a new program this year to deploy teams of community vaccinators throughout the city to meet New Yorkers' needs. Examples may include community-based testing sites, public clinics, places of worship, among others. Establishing these contracts may help when the City offers COVID-19 vaccination services once a vaccine is available.
Additionally, the Department's citywide, annual flu vaccine campaign is underway and appears on the subway, bus shelters, Staten Island Ferry, in neighborhood businesses, newspapers, television, radio, as well as digital and social media channels. Ads are running in English, Spanish, Mandarin, Cantonese, and in additional languages for newspaper ads.
Flu season usually starts in the late fall and lasts throughout the spring. Since influenza activity can be unpredictable and influenza viruses can be found year-round, it is important to get the vaccine as early as possible, though it is never too late to be vaccinated.
A flu vaccine is necessary each year because the vaccine provides protection for only one season. This year's flu vaccine contains four virus strains, three of which are new this year.
Flu-like symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue. Some people, especially children, may have vomiting and diarrhea. People may also be infected with flu and have respiratory symptoms without a fever.
The steps New Yorkers take to prevent COVID-19 are also applicable to flu. Face coverings, frequent hand washing with soap and water or alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water are not available, distancing and staying home if ill can prevent the spread of flu. Additional ways to reduce the spread of germs like flu:
- Try to avoid close contact with sick people.
- While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
- If you are sick with flu-like illness, stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.)
- Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. After using a tissue, throw it in the trash and wash your hands.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.
- Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like flu.
Find where you can get a flu vaccine from this health map.
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Coronavirus by zip code - New York City
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New York, New Jersey, Connecticut out-of-state travelers information
New CDC guidelines on masks
New York City Positivity Tracker
HEALTH & FITNESS NEW YORK CITY CORONAVIRUS NEW YORK CITY MEDICAL REOPEN NYC CORONAVIRUS HOSPITALS CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC CORONAVIRUS NEW YORK COVID 19 PANDEMIC COVID 19 OUTBREAK COVID 19 HOSPITAL NYC NEWS

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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← Tell The Boys I Am Waiting For Them In Heaven
Fable Si, Prescient No: How Legend Becomes Fact →
Castro Brothers To Sue Over H.R. 4645 Debacle
Posted on October 1, 2010 by Jorge Costales
The news Tuesday from the House Foreign Affairs Committee was just too much to bear. Yesterday, the Castro brothers, on behalf of the Cuban government, filed suit in the United States Federal District Court of Connecticut yesterday alleging gross negligence on the part of its apologists working out of the United States.
"We have done 50 years, and could do another 20 more, when it comes to depriving the people of Cuba the basic necessities of life, no problem. [There was a brief interruption in the news conference as Jeffrey Goldberg turned to ask Julia Sweig what that could mean]. But we do have limits as to the effectiveness of the revolution's so-called apologists," Raul Castro was quoted as saying. He then added, "Since promises were made, they should know that only the Revolution gets to determine which promises are broken. Men in our position cannot be made to look ridiculous [beyond the whole sub-third world economy-thing]. We were counting on those dollars. Now what?"
Committee chairman Howard Berman (D-CA) appeared to add insult to injury when he noted in his statement postponing consideration of H.R. 4645 that, "when we debate and vote on the merits of this legislation, and I intend for it to be soon…." The Castro brothers and apologists, in unison perhaps for the last time, openly mocked the notion that progress could be made after the Tea Party wave expected in November. After all, they basically had two years to bring this issue to a vote in a Democratic controlled Congress, with a Democratic President and they came up as empty as actual food derived from Cuban ration cards.
Named as defendant's in the lawsuit are as follows:
Berman, Howard (D-CA)
Booth, William
Clemons, Steve
Calderon, Felipe
Cuba Study Group
Del Toro Sanchez, Benicio Monserrate Rafael
Dodd, Christopher (D-CT) – Emeritus
Davidow, Jeffrey
Lee, Barbara (D-CA)
Myers, Gwendolyn and Walter
New York Times Editorial page
Peters, Philip
Perry, James DeWolf VI
Rothkopf, David
Saladrigas, Carlos
Stephens, Sarah
Sweig, Julia
Tennant, Don
Thompson, Ginger
Watson, Allison L. – Microsoft
This entry was posted in Cuba. Bookmark the permalink.


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The AOFM meets the Australian Government's financing requirements by issuing Australian Government Securities (AGS). Issuance by tender or syndication is known as a 'primary' market operation. The trading of AGS in financial markets between investors and banks is known as 'secondary' market activity and does not involve the AOFM.
Early buybacks of AGS are conducted at regular intervals to reduce the size of repayments at maturity and to enhance market liquidity. Buybacks may also be held concurrently with a syndicated issue or transacted directly with the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). The RBA regularly buys AGS as part of its liquidity operations and reports its holdings on its website.
The RBA operates a Securities Lending Facility for Treasury Bonds and Treasury Indexed Bonds on behalf of the AOFM. This aims to support liquidity in the 'secondary' AGS market.
Retail investors can invest in AGS through a product on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). Exchange-traded Treasury Bonds (eTBs) and exchange-traded Treasury Indexed Bonds (eTIBs) are electronically traded and settled through the ASX. For more information, please visit: https://www.australiangovernmentbonds.gov.au/.
Active issuance
Pay a fixed interest rate (a coupon) twice per year. The face value of the bond is repayable at maturity. Maturities range out to 30 years.
The capital value of these bonds is adjusted quarterly for movements in the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Interest is paid quarterly, at a fixed rate, on the adjusted capital value. The adjusted capital value of the bond is repayable at maturity. Maturities range out to 30 years.
These are short-term discount securities used for within-year borrowing. Treasury Notes do not pay coupons, however the face value repaid at maturity is higher than the price at which it is issued (i.e. they are purchased at a discount to the face value). The volume on issue varies depending on the AOFM's need to manage the mismatch of within-year cash flows of government receipts and expenditures. Maturities can be as long as 12 months but typically range from 3 to 6 months.
Buyback Tenders
The AOFM repurchases outstanding AGS through competitive tenders. The amount and maturity of securities to be repurchased are announced by the AOFM ahead of time. Registered Bidders can make offers to the AOFM that are accepted in descending order starting from the highest interest rate (lowest price) until the buyback amount has been filled.
The Australian Government maintains a group of bank accounts known as the Official Public Account (OPA). The balance of the OPA represents the government's daily cash position. Cash proceeds not required for immediate purposes are invested in short-term liquid assets. Investment holdings are published monthly on the AOFM's website (see 'End of Month Positions' then select 'Portfolio Aggregate').
Operated by the RBA on behalf of the AOFM, this is a facility to lend Treasury Bonds and Treasury Indexed Bonds to institutions when they are not readily available from other sources in the market. The aim is to support the efficient functioning of the 'secondary' market by allowing banks to cover demand when there are temporary gaps in availability for particular bonds.
Exchange-traded Treasury Bonds (eTBs) and Exchange-traded Treasury Indexed Bonds (eTIBs)
eTBs and eTIBs provide a way for retail investors to invest in Treasury Bonds and Treasury Indexed Bonds. eTBs and eTIBs are quoted and traded on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX). An eTB or eTIB holder has beneficial (as opposed to legal) ownership of Treasury Bonds or Treasury Indexed Bonds in the form of CHESS Depositary Interests (CDIs). This means obtaining all the economic benefits (including coupon and principal payments) of the Treasury Bond or Treasury Indexed Bond over which the CDIs have been issued. A single unit holding of an eTB or eTIB provides beneficial ownership of $100 Face Value of the Treasury Bond or Treasury Indexed Bond over which it has been issued.
Historical instrument and activities
Australian Savings Bonds
Australian Savings Bonds (ASBs) were debt securities aimed at retail investors from 1976 until 1987. There were many series of ASBs, each with a different interest rate and maturity date (generally up to 7.5 years). The ASBs were issued 'on tap', as demanded by retail investors, and were available in banks and post offices. During this time, Australian financial markets were more regulated than today. Whenever interest rate policy settings changed, the existing ASB series would be replaced by a new series reflecting the new rate. Investors could redeem ASBs early without penalty after a minimum holding period by giving a month's notice.
Bearer securities
A negotiable instrument, akin to cash, which evidences a payment obligation to be met on presentation at designated dates. The issuer of the instrument does not record the identity of the security holder, and the physical possession of the certificate is sufficient proof of ownership. The certificates for bonds issued as bearer securities normally carry detachable coupons. In the past, many Australian Government Securities (AGS) were issued in bearer form. Bearer securities have not been issued since 1984 (all securities now record the owner on a register).
A cross-currency swap is a floating/floating swap where two parties borrow from – and simultaneously lend to – each other an equivalent amount of money denominated in two different currencies for a predefined period of time.
In 1988, a program of cross-currency swaps commenced to maintain a 10-15 per cent share of the Commonwealth's debt portfolio in US dollars. In December 2000, the Treasurer initiated a review of this policy. In September 2001, the Treasurer endorsed the review's conclusion to discontinue the policy. The AOFM then commenced a phased reduction of the foreign currency exposure in the Commonwealth debt portfolio to zero. By March 2004, all foreign currency derivative exposure had been eliminated from the portfolio.
Interest Indexed Bonds
Interest Indexed Bonds were a type of inflation-linked bond. Quarterly coupons were paid as a fixed real rate of interest rate plus an indexed amount applied to the face value of the bond. The indexed amount varied over time according to movements in the consumer price index (CPI). The bonds were repayable at face value on maturity. These bonds were issued between 1985 and 1988 and have all matured.
Interest rate swap
An agreement between two parties to swap interest payments. It usually involves one party exchanging a stream of fixed interest cash flows for a stream of floating interest cash flows. The AOFM undertook a program to unwind its existing interest rate swaps in 2008-09.
Overdue securities
Securities which have passed their maturity date, but have not been redeemed by stockholders. Overdue securities issued by the Australian Government are predominately Treasury Bonds, Australian Savings Bonds and War Savings Certificates. The Australian Government repays the amount due when the stock is presented for payment. No interest accrues on the stock following its maturity date.
Residential Mortgage-Backed Securities (RMBS)
A debt instrument issued by a special purpose vehicle to finance the securitisation of a pool of residential mortgages. A description of the principal features of a typical RMBS transaction can be found on pages 30-31 of the AOFM's 2008-09 Annual Report.
Special Bond
Special Bonds were a retail instrument issued on tap with an original maturity of around 7.5 years. There were numerous series of Special Bonds, each with different interest rates and maturity dates. A feature of Special Bonds was that the interest rate paid to investors stepped up over time until the maturity date. The face value of the instrument repaid to investors increased over time to a maximum of 103 per cent of the par value. Special Bonds were issued between 1959 and 1976. They were the forerunner of the Australian Savings Bond.
Tax Free Stock (TFS)
Stock with no fixed date of maturity issued by the New South Wales, Victorian and South Australian Governments prior to 1 January 1924. Under the Financial Agreement Act 1994, Tax Free Stock is administered by the Australian Government on behalf of State governments.
Treasury Adjustable Rate Bond (TAB)
A medium-term debt security issued by the Australian Government from 1994 to 1997 that carried an interest rate adjusted quarterly in line with movements in the bank bill swap reference mid-rate, payable on the face value of the security. TABs were repayable at face value on maturity.
War Savings Certificates (WSC)
War Savings Certificates were securities issued by the Australian Government in bearer form to raise funds during both World Wars. The securities had maturities ranging from 3 to 10 years in the case of World War I, and 5 to 7 years in the case of World War II. Certificates were issued at a discount, with interest being incorporated in the face value of the certificate payable at maturity. All outstanding War Savings Certificates are now overdue securities.


text:
Q: Compare database schema with MySQL workbench I am using MySQL Workbench on my Windows 7 PC, and have a saved database model.
I am running MySQL on a Linux server.
Using MySQL Workbench's "Manage DB Connections", I am able to connect to MySQL running on the Linux server.
Using MySQL Workbench Community Edition, can I compare the MySQL Workbench model schema to the MySQL database schema running on the Linux server?  If so, how?

A: If I understand you correctly what you want is to reverse engineer a live database. Here's the manual entry on how to do it in mysql workbench.
http://dev.mysql.com/doc/workbench/en/wb-reverse-engineer-live.html

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Chapter Menu - Hollywood Museums ================================= Madame Tussauds Wax Museum Hollywood History MuseumHollywood Entertainment Museum The DeMille Barn / Heritage Museum The Warner Bros. Museum The Museum of Television & Radio Forrest Ackerman's Sci-Fi Mansion Gene Autry Western Heritage Museum Movieland Wax Museum Hollywood Wax Museum Max Factor Museum Celebrity Lingerie Hall of Fame Petersen Automotive Museum Ripley's Believe It Or Not Guinness World of Records The Natural History Museum The Getty Museum =================================
Seeing Stars Website Menu ================================ Seeing Stars Homepage Stars' Fan Mail Database Calendar of Events Where the Stars Live Where the Stars Shop Restaurants Owned by Stars Restaurants Popular With Stars Where the Stars Play Movie & TV Filming Locations Schools of the Stars Churches of the Stars The Movie Studios The Television Studios Free Tickets to Studio Tapings Touring the Studios Where the Stars Died Where the Stars Are Buried (index) Where the Stars Are Buried Where the Stars Are Immortalized Hollywood Award Ceremonies Hotels of the Stars Hollywood Landmarks Hollywood Movie Palaces Special Celebrity Events News Hollywood Museums Stars On Stage Famous Hollywood Streets How YOU Can Be a Star! Star Indexes Site Index ================================
Seeing Stars: Hollywood Museums
6780 Hollywood Boulevard (at Highland),
Hollywood, CA. / (323) 466-6335
Shades of "Jurassic Park"! It's not every day that you can see the mammoth head and shoulders of a fearsome Tyrannosaurus Rex protruding from the roof of a building in downtown Hollywood.
Well, actually, it is now... since this T-Rex is a permanent part of the new Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum.
This giant, toothy dinosaur looks as if he has just broken through the roof of the museum, and he's chewing on their huge clock... (The hands of the clock, incidentally, move backward, yet it keeps accurate time.)
Step into the museum's open lobby, and you're in for another surprise: there you'll find the massive feet of the T-Rex, smashing down through the roof, partly crushing the box office!
The new Ripley Museum is located right across the street from the old Hollywood Wax Museum, and just a few doors east of the new Guinness World Record Museum; the Ripley people obviously hope to give their neighbors a run for their money.
Any new sign of life is certainly welcome on the moribund Boulevard, but the Ripley museum actually has little to do with Hollywood. (It is included in this chapter mainly because it is located right in the center of the Hollywood Boulevard tourist district.) Their so-called "Hollywood section" is filled with busts of human freaks, not movie stars. Then again, Ripley's glitzy presentation and overblown hype is pure "Tinseltown."
There are almost 300 items on display here, running the gamut from miniature pool tables to giant scale models of the Queen Mary. Alas, this museum displays the same inclination towards the grotesque as the Orange County Ripley's. If shrunken heads, human freaks, and three-headed babies are your thing, then step right in. But if the idea of seeing a man impaled on an iron rod (sticking in through his cheek, and emerging out of the top of his head) gives you pause, then you might prefer Madame Tussaud's wax museum nearby.
The bizarre and the fantastic are what you will see here. At least replicas of the bizarre and the fantastic; only a few of the exhibits are originals. Most appear to be facsimiles of objects, and wax figures of people (except for that shrunken head, which is supposed to be real).
Bear in mind that Robert Ripley - who traveled to 190 countries collecting these oddities - never said that all of his items were genuine. He said "believe it or not"! And many of these supposed oddities are indeed very hard to believe.
For instance, there is not one, but three separate wax figure displays of men who could supposedly climb into a red-hot oven holding an item of food (an apple, a leg of lamb...), remain in the oven until the item they were holding was cooked, and then emerge personally unscathed. Yeah... sure.
And are we really supposed to believe that "The Lighthouse Man " of Chunking, China lived his life with a candle growing out of the top of his head?
Other items are more believable, but just slightly disgusting, such as a tiny fake "mermaid" once displayed by P.T. Barnum as the real thing, or a video that shows a man doing revolting things, such as putting a live mouse in his mouth, and blowing up a balloon via his eye socket...
Some displays cater to our sadistic curiosity: a torture chamber uses wax figures to demonstrate such exotic forms of torment as nailing a man's hat to his head (a deed attributed to Ivan the Terrible), or placing a person inside a spiked beer barrel and rolling it down a mountain, or making a naked man climb a fiery-hot greased pole, while bound and gagged. The walls of this chamber of horrors are lined with actual instruments of torture: leg shackles, flesh pinchers, etc.
Nearby, a black-hooded executioner stands next to a pig dressed as a man. The pig was convicted of killing a child, dressed in clothing, and executed.
Still other items on display are merely peculiar: a life-size portrait of John Wayne created out of household lint, for example, or a lumpy statue of Marilyn Monroe made out of shredded dollar bills ($250,000 worth, or so they say). Or how about a scale model of the Golden Gate Bridge made out of toothpicks? Or a human hair bikini (created by a barber)?
And what are we to make of a dragon boat made out of beef bones? Paintings made from butterfly wings? A life-size cake in the shape of George Washington? A gum-wrapper paper chain representing $1000 worth of gum? A beer bottle with a piece of wood driven through it? A life-size figure of a child made out of buttons?
Then it's back to the gross. Another room resembles an industrial boiler room, and is filled with grotesque accident victims. One figure is of a man (Phineas P. Gage) impaled by a 4-foot-long crowbar, which enters his face beneath his left eye and emerges from the back of his head. Another victim is impaled on a 27' wooden plank, which is thrust through his back and out his chest - he supposedly walked over half a mile under his own power after the accident. Most of these galleries include video displays, which constantly run bizarre movies of other assorted oddities.
One of the more interesting items is a large, genuine slab of the Berlin Wall (decorated with graffiti), which visitors can touch.
One attractive display is a mock jungle of plants and animals, tiki gods & waterfalls. But as you might expect, this hillside is studded with the busts of natives who practice disfiguring arts - such as the Ubangis of Africa, who insert large disks in their lips, or the ring-necked women of Burma. On one wall is a life-size figure of a Mandan Indian man being strung up by hooks embedded in his flesh in the rite of o-kee-pa (ala "A Man Called Horse"). Step out on a balcony here, and a crocodile at your feet suddenly leaps at you from out of the shadows, with a loud roar.
The exhibit labeled as "Hollywood" has little to do with Tinseltown. Instead, it contains figures of a man who set records walking backward, villagers who share excess fingers on their hands, and a triple-amputee who hitch-hiked across the continent. This "Hollywood" room also includes a figure of the world's tallest man (8', 11" Robert Wadlow ), as well as a dwarf kept in a bird cage, and a table full of people who have set bizarre eating records - one man ate an entire birch tree. (Ironically, the Guinness Museum right next door also has a life-size figure of Robert Wadlow...)
Another minor caveat: near the museum's entrance is a mirror, with a sign that invites you to try to mimic a bizarre, "girning" face. Near the end of the tour, you pass this same mirror (from the other side), and you see that it is really a two-way mirror, where visitors can watch other visitors making fools out of themselves - while a sound track laughs uproariously in the background. (This same tactless stunt was found at Ripley's Buena Park museum.)
On a lighter note: have you ever seen a 20-foot T-Rex wearing a Santa hat and a white beard? Drive by Ripley's at Christmas time, and you will!
[ Update: I am told that they have made significant changes at Ripley's since my visit, and they have replaced many of the more gruesome exibits with more family-friendly fare. I will revise this review after my next visit. ]
Open every day (except Oscars day): 10 AM to midnight.
Admission Price:
Adults (13-over): $17.99
Children (5-12): $ 8.99
There are online package deals online offering one low price for all three of these smaller museums (Ripley's, Guiness, and the Hollywood Wax Museum) In 2015, you could get the combo for just $29.95 (click here),
or a single ticket to Ripley's for $14.99.
Getting there: The museum is located on the southeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Highland Avenue, just one block east of the Grauman's Chinese Theatre. / From Hollywood & Vine, go west on Hollywood Boulevard (about 3/4 of a mile) and the museum will be on your left (south) side. Look for the T-Rex!
[For more information on this subject, you can access the official Ripley's website at:
http://hollywood.ripleys.com.]
Looking for something in particular? Search the Seeing-Stars website!
Click Here to Return to the Main Menu
Advertise on seeing-stars.com
Copyright © 2020-Gary Wayne
This webpage is not associated with any business described in the article above, and does not constitute an
endorsement of this or any other business. The photos of celebrities on this page also do not constitute
endorsements by them of any kind, and are used by the author solely to illustrate this online article.
(Click here to read other disclaimers)


With an array of new pop bands flooding TV screens every day, it is becoming more difficult for the newbies to stand out in the music scene.
Aspiring idols, thus, are turning to acting to swiftly gain popularity from the public and broaden their presence in showbiz.
Now it is common to see idol stars in the Monday-Tuesday and Wednesday-Thursday dramas on major TV networks.
Among them are two girls -- Krystal of K-pop quintet f(x) and Sooyoung of megahit girl group Girls' Generation -- who are vying to win the hearts of viewers in the dramas being aired in the same time slot.
Krystal plays the female lead in the Wednesday-Thursday SBS drama "My Lovely Girl" costarring with global star Rain. Sooyoung, meanwhile, plays the heroine in the rival MBC drama "The Spring Days of My Life" with veteran actors Kam Woo-sung and Lee Joon-hyuk.
Some idols play a small part. Secret's Hyosung and ZE:A's Park Hyung-sik star in the daily drama "My Dear Cat" and weekend drama "What's with This Family," respectively.
According to local newspaper Seoul Daily, idols starred in 32 dramas, or 45.1 percent, of 71 dramas that aired on three major broadcasters and cable channels this year.
There are two reasons why drama producers increasingly seek idols for their shows: idols' fame and influence.
"There are not many 20-something celebrities who retain popularity and star power that can promote recognition of dramas," Ham Young-hoon from KBS drama department was quoted as saying.
Another official from SBS also agrees with Ham. "We lack actors and actress in their 20s in the drama scene as most of those with fame and popularity move to the film industry. When we fail to cast one of a few popular 20-something stars, we turn our eyes to idols," he was quoted as saying.
In fact, marketing TV series becomes easier when using idols' clout and popularity.
Many of the stars have solidified their fandom abroad by closely communicating with fans through social media networks such as Weibo and Twitter. That means when the idol-featuring dramas are aired, they can have a wider appeal to viewers all over the world.
Above all, acting is what really matters. In the past, many of the idols-turned-actors and actress were criticized for their unskillful acting, but nowadays most of them gain high acclaim for their professional performance.
But concern remains. "Idol-turned-actors and actresses have a strong image as lovely, cool idols for teenagers. Some idols have difficulties shedding the image and playing the characters in dramas," a culture critic pointed out.


How Big is The Harley Owner Group?
A marketing club organized by Harley-Davidson, the Harley Owner Group aims to promote the Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The organization of the club contributed to the improved financial performance of the company in the 1980s and 1990s. The members of the club receive discounts when they buy the motorcycles. The club was organized in 1983 to develop strong and long lasting relationships with the enterprise's customers as well as employees. Whenever the organization hosts special events, members receive souvenir items like clothing. To know the size of the group, it is best to look at the number of members of the organization.
How big is the Harley Owner Group? The size of the organization can be measured in terms of the number of the members of the club. The total membership of the organization in 1985 is 60,000. Membership in the organization improved in 1991 to 151,600. After eight years, the membership of the club increased to half million. In the early 2000s, the club's total membership reached a million.
Another way of measuring the size of Harley Owner Group is by determining the number of the chapters of the club. In 1985, the organization has 49 chapters. Six years after, the number of chapters increased and reached 685. In 1999, the total number of chapters was 1,157.
Harley Owner Group offers consumers and employees three types of membership, namely the full membership, the associate membership and the life membership. Those who like to apply for full membership, they should prepare $45 dollars for the membership for a year, $85 for two years and $120 for three years. On the other hand, associate membership costs $25 for a year. Members who want to renew this type of membership should allot $45 for two years and $65 for three years.
Harley Owner Group full members are entitled to all the club's benefits. Such type of membership is only open to those who own Buell as well as Harley-Davidson motorcycles. The benefits of associate members include the membership card, the bronze HOG pin as well as the embroidered HOG patch. In addition, they can participate in the ABCs of Touring competition and the Mileage Program. Moreover, associate members can join the Safe Riders Skills Program. The full and associate members of Harley Owner Group are also members of the Ladies of Harley organization. Above all, the members of the group are welcome to join in the special events organized by Harley Owner Group.


text:
Shadows In Mind Production Retrospective
Shadows In Mind - There and back again…
By MARK SCHWAB
@June 10, 2022
There is quite a bit to the story regarding the journey of Shadows In Mind. From its improbable production schedule to its hectic and frustrating distribution. A lot of it has been written down by me in book form (over 110 pages so far) which hopefully will see the light of day after legal people comb it over. Even thought the adventure of Shadows In Mind is far from over, I can hit some of the main bullet points of my memory on it.
Principal photography began on August 9th, 2017 in San Jose, CA. We had an impossibly difficult 11-day shooting schedule but I didn't know that at the time. There's no way we would have made it if it wasn't for my DP Dante Yore and his extraordinary crew. Even though it was super tight with a good amount of night shooting, the imagery Dante pulled off was astonishing.
With my co-owner Mark Balunis, we edited Shadows concurrently; he edited all of the "crisis hotline" scenes and I edited the rest. Together we delivered a rough cut to a potential sales agent. Although offered a contract, we decided not to take it at that time to wait for any other potential offers and soon enough we got one. This time it was from a distribution company that specialized in a lot of slasher and science fiction titles - none of which seemed to apply to Shadows in Mind. When I asked the CEO why wanted our film, he said that he wanted to start a new division in his company…one which focused on "higher-end/artistic films".
Unfortunately, we quickly became an all-too-typical indie film horror story. After two years, we never saw a dime from our distributor and they tried to market Shadows as a cheap slasher film called Crisis Hotline. It goes without saying they were totally unsuccessful in marketing our film despite the fact we got great reviews and a lot of press (almost exclusively garnered from my own legwork). Once we got word that this distributor was facing criminal and arbitration lawsuits, we decided to get the film back in the hands of Diamond in the Rough LLC. Thankfully, we were able to re-acquire the rights without much difficulty (I'm pretty sure this distributor had bigger issues on its plate).
Now, we are very proud to be able to show Shadows In Mind as it was meant to be. With all-new color grading, some new editing, a new prologue, new commentary by myself and former San Francisco Film Critics Circle President Tim Sika and a fully enhanced and new original music score, Shadows In Mind is at full speed and hitting on all cylinders. I'm truly excited to get the film out there again the way it always should have been.


dovecot(e). Circular, polygonal, rectangular, or square building, like a short tower, called columbier or columbarium, the interior of which is fitted with small niches (columbaria) all round the walls for nesting pigeons or doves. If it is a tall building it is called a dove-tower.
"dovecot(e)." A Dictionary of Architecture and Landscape Architecture. . Encyclopedia.com. 25 Apr. 2019 <https://www.encyclopedia.com>.


Grounds Maintenance Services in St Louis, MO. Quiet Village Landscaping provides landscape maintenance including grounds maintenance for residential, commercial, and municipal properties in St Louis and the surrounding areas. Our grounds maintenance includes a complete range of services such as mowing, fertilizing, trimming hedges, planting flowers, trees and shrubs, maintaining plant health and more. The grounds maintenance experts of Quiet Village will ensure that the grounds of your St Louis home or property uphold beautiful, neat, and healthy conditions year-round. Our goal is to provide the landscape maintenance necessary to create and maintain your ideal outdoor environment. For more information on our grounds maintenance service, contact us today.
Quiet Village Landscaping has been a landscape design and maintenance provider in the Greater St Louis area for over 10 years! We offer a complete range of landscape maintenance services including gardening, edging, fertilization, weed and pest control, lawn mowing and trimming, irrigation, and more. Regular lawn and grounds maintenance services from Quiet Village can positvely affect the overall appearance of your St Louis home or property and can even add to your property value! When you're in need of high-quality grounds maintenance for your home or property, allow the experts of Quiet Village Landscaping to assist you.


text:
package org.onosproject.net.newresource;

import com.google.common.annotations.Beta;
import com.google.common.collect.ImmutableList;
import org.onosproject.net.DeviceId;
import org.onosproject.net.PortNumber;

import java.util.Arrays;

import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkArgument;
import static com.google.common.base.Preconditions.checkNotNull;

/**
 * Utility class for resource related classes.
 */
@Beta
public final class Resources {
    // public construction is prohibited
    private Resources() {}

    /**
     * Create a factory for discrete-type with the specified resource ID.
     *
     * @param id resource ID
     * @return {@link DiscreteFactory}
     */
    public static DiscreteFactory discrete(DiscreteResourceId id) {
        checkNotNull(id);

        return new DiscreteFactory(id);
    }

    /**
     * Creates a factory for discrete-type with the specified parent ID and child.
     *
     * @param parent ID of the parent
     * @param child child
     * @return {@link DiscreteFactory}
     */
    public static DiscreteFactory discrete(DiscreteResourceId parent, Object child) {
        checkNotNull(parent);
        checkNotNull(child);
        checkArgument(!(child instanceof Class<?>));

        return new DiscreteFactory(new DiscreteResourceId(ImmutableList.builder()
                .addAll(parent.components())
                .add(child)
                .build()));
    }

    /**
     * Create a factory for discrete-type with the specified device ID.
     *
     * @param device device ID
     * @return {@link DiscreteFactory}
     */
    public static DiscreteFactory discrete(DeviceId device) {
        checkNotNull(device);

        return new DiscreteFactory(new DiscreteResourceId(ImmutableList.of(device)));
    }

    /**
     * Create a factory for discrete-type with the specified device ID and components.
     *
     * @param device device ID
     * @param components resource ID components other than the device ID
     * @return {@link DiscreteFactory}
     */
    public static DiscreteFactory discrete(DeviceId device, Object... components) {
        checkNotNull(device);
        checkNotNull(components);

        return new DiscreteFactory(new DiscreteResourceId(ImmutableList.builder()
                .add(device)
                .add(components)
                .build()));
    }

    /**
     * Create a factory for discrete-type with the specified device ID, port number and components.
     *
     * @param device device ID
     * @param port port number
     * @param components resource ID components other than the device ID and port number
     * @return {@link DiscreteFactory}
     */
    public static DiscreteFactory discrete(DeviceId device, PortNumber port, Object... components) {
        checkNotNull(device);
        checkNotNull(port);
        checkNotNull(components);

        return new DiscreteFactory(new DiscreteResourceId(ImmutableList.builder()
                .add(device)
                .add(port)
                .add(components)
                .build()));
    }

    /**
     * Create a factory for continuous-type with the specified resource ID.
     *
     * @param id resource ID
     * @return {@link ContinuousFactory}
     */
    static ContinuousFactory continuous(ContinuousResourceId id) {
        checkNotNull(id);

        return new ContinuousFactory(id);
    }

    /**
     * Creates a factory for continuous-type with the specified parent ID and child.
     *
     * @param parent ID of the parent
     * @param child child
     * @return {@link ContinuousFactory}
     */
    static ContinuousFactory continuous(DiscreteResourceId parent, Class<?> child) {
        checkNotNull(parent);
        checkNotNull(child);

        return new ContinuousFactory(new ContinuousResourceId(ImmutableList.builder()
                .addAll(parent.components()), child));
    }

    /**
     * Create a factory for continuous-type with the specified device ID and type.
     *
     * @param device device ID
     * @param cls type of resource the returned factory will create
     * @return {@link ContinuousFactory}
     */
    public static ContinuousFactory continuous(DeviceId device, Class<?> cls) {
        checkNotNull(device);
        checkNotNull(cls);

        return new ContinuousFactory(new ContinuousResourceId(ImmutableList.builder().add(device), cls));
    }

    /**
     * Create a factory for continuous-type with the specified device ID and components.
     * The last element of the components must be a {@link Class} instance. Otherwise,
     * an {@link IllegalArgumentException} is thrown.
     *
     * @param device device ID
     * @param components resource ID components other than the device ID.
     * @return {@link ContinuousFactory}
     */
    public static ContinuousFactory continuous(DeviceId device, Object... components) {
        checkNotNull(device);
        checkNotNull(components);
        checkArgument(components.length > 1);

        Object last = components[components.length - 1];
        checkArgument(last instanceof Class<?>);

        return new ContinuousFactory(new ContinuousResourceId(ImmutableList.builder()
                .add(device)
                .add(Arrays.copyOfRange(components, 0, components.length - 1)), (Class<?>) last));
    }

    /**
     * Create a factory for continuous-type with the specified device ID, port number and type.
     *
     * @param device device ID
     * @param port port number
     * @param cls type of resource the returned factory will create
     * @return {@link ContinuousFactory}
     */
    public static ContinuousFactory continuous(DeviceId device, PortNumber port, Class<?> cls) {
        checkNotNull(device);
        checkNotNull(port);
        checkNotNull(cls);

        return new ContinuousFactory(new ContinuousResourceId(ImmutableList.builder()
                .add(device)
                .add(port), cls));
    }

    /**
     * Create a factory for continuous-type with the specified device ID and components.
     * The last element of the components must be a {@link Class} instance. Otherwise,
     * an {@link IllegalArgumentException} is thrown.
     *
     * @param device device ID
     * @param port port number
     * @param components resource ID components other than the device ID and port number.
     * @return {@link ContinuousFactory}
     */
    public static ContinuousFactory continuous(DeviceId device, PortNumber port, Object... components) {
        checkNotNull(device);
        checkNotNull(port);
        checkNotNull(components);
        checkArgument(components.length > 1);

        Object last = components[components.length - 1];
        checkArgument(last instanceof Class<?>);

        return new ContinuousFactory(new ContinuousResourceId(ImmutableList.builder()
                .add(device)
                .add(port)
                .add(Arrays.copyOfRange(components, 0, components.length - 1)), (Class<?>) last));
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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2004 November 04 Thursday
1965 US Army Deserter Tells Of Life In North Korea
US Army Sergeant Charles Robert Jenkins from North Carolina, age 64, deserted his unit in South Korea and crossed over into North Korea in 1965. He eventually married a Japanese woman there when the government chose her for him and they had two children. He has finally left North Korea after his wife was let go as part of a deal between North Korea and Japan. In a trial that sentenced him to 30 days in a US military jail in Japan Jenkins and his wife described life in North Korea.
The Americans, he said, were forced for 10 hours a day to study and memorize the writings of North Korea's founder, Kim Il Sung, writings that he called "class struggle from the perspective of a crazy man."
Six months ago, while he was still in North Korea, such a statement could have earned Sergeant Jenkins execution. He said here on Wednesday that if he had once criticized Mr. Kim or his son and successor, Kim Jong Il, there would have been no forgiveness. "Go dig your own hole, because you are gone,'' he testified. "I have seen that done."
With no heat or electricity in their Pyongyang house during most of the winter, she said that to sleep in the cold "we would wear everything we owned in terms of clothing when we went to bed." Warm water never flowed from faucets. Warm baths were rare luxuries.
Reading at night was by candlelight. When the candle wick had burned, she said, her husband "would collect the melted wax in a can and use it for a homemade candle." With the food rationing system breaking down, she said, they grew vegetables and raised chickens in their yard, but the family often went to bed hungry.
The family was forbidden to leave the house without their political supervisor. Coils of barbed wire surrounded their house, she told the court.
North Korea is a cold place in winter to not have heat. My guess is their clothing was poor as well.
One can not refuse anything the government in North Korea tells you to do.
Jenkins's day in court was charged with emotion as he tearfully described his reasons for deserting, the drunken night on which it happened, and his life in Pyongyang, the capital. He was found guilty on the count of aiding the enemy by teaching North Koreans English. "You don't say no to North Korea. You say one thing bad about Kim Il Sung and you dig your own hole, because you're gone," he said.
Jenkins said he realized his mistake within one day of being in North Korea.
His former commanding officer thinks Jenkins should be imprisoned for life but others think he has suffered enough.
"Desertion is a very serious crime, especially in wartime. ... Jenkins ought to be in jail for the rest of his life," said Darrell E Best, now a retired lieutenant colonel.
Others argued that Jenkins had suffered enough by spending most of his life in one of the world's most impoverished and oppressive countries.
"He has done his tour in hell already," said Brendon Carr, a former military intelligence official. "His daily punishment the last 40 years must have been waking up and realising what a fool he had been to defect to North Korea."
From 1965 to 1972, Jenkins was put in a one-room house in North Korea with three other former American soldiers.
The men slept on the floor, bathed once a month and more in summer, and were forced to study the teachings of leader Kim Il Sung.
"Each day for the first 15 years I wished I would just die."
I think 40 years in North Korea is such severe punishment that the man has suffered enough for desertion.
Share | By Randall Parker at 2004 November 04 01:49 AM Korea
Invisible Intellect said at November 4, 2004 12:39 PM:
Here is a cold war joke about communism... It's from France:
One day, the Soviet President Leonid Brejnev is visiting Georges Marchais,
the leader of the French Communist party, in Paris.
But the son of Marchais is a terrible kid, and he trains their parrot who speaks both
French and Russian, to say bad things against communism and the Soviet system,
so that his father is embarassed. The bird starts saying " Down with communism and the Soviet Union,
Brejnev is an idiot, etc..". And the bird just won't shut up, just when Brejnev is on his way from the
airport to the house of Marchais. Brejnev and his body guards are at the door, and the bird keeps
saying all these embarassing things against the Soviet Union and communism... Marchais is desperate
because he worries that if Brejnev hears this parrot, he will think that the bird is just repeating what
Georges Marchais and his family are saying every day. As a desperate measure, just before Brejnev
is admitted to the house, Marchais grabs the parrot by its neck, opens the refrigerator in the kitchen,
and imprisons the bird inside the freezer, so that nobody can her it.
Brejnev finally enters the house, and says that he is very happy to be among French communists. Brejnev
opens his briefcase and shows a bottle of specially made Russian vodka he wants to present the Marchais
family as a gift. "Comrade Marchais", says Brejnev: " This is the best Russian vodka made by our working
class people in state owned factories, where only
the finest grain harvested by our hard working communist farmers, is used.". But just before Marchais
opens the bottle, Brejnev adds: "Before we open the bottle and drink it together, this vodka must be
chilled in the freezer for at least one hour, let's go to your kitchen and put the vodka in the freezer immediately
while we are starting with the apetizers." Marchais says that the refrigerator is full, and that he would rather
drink the vodka immediately, but Brejnev insists, grabs the bottle and runs to the kitchen to place it in the
freezer personally. At that moment, Marchais stops Brejnev just before he enters the kitchen, and
says: " Listen comrade, I have an embarassing confession to make, the real reason I was not letting you
open the freezer, is because I have just locked our parrot inside, because my terrible son intentionally made
the bird memorize anti-communist sentences, in order to embarass me." At that precise moment,
Brejnev says: "Don't worry comrade, I understand, my kids are much worse! If you knew what terrible things
they did in Moscow!" With the misunderstanding resolved, Brejnev and Marchais open the freezer to remove the
parrot and to put the bottle of vodka inside. But when they open the freezer, the bird starts screeming: "Long
live Russia and the Soviet Union, down with capitalism, long live communism!" Marchais is surprized, but
Brejnev then comments: "You see, comrade, what a few minutes of Siberia did to the bird!"
Infidel said at November 4, 2004 9:14 PM:
The NK jokes are to be expected, but really will Jenkins's sentence stop soldiers from deserting in places like Iraq? Also, this is an insult against any soldier who perhaps did not want to serve his/her full term, but did, and did not defect. How many soldiers every day go missing out of spite, on a bender, or miss a formation intentionally, but do not defect. There's a story here, yes. Why did he defect?
Share the jokes, even as the Norks chuckle about conservative moral values, but Jenkins is Pyongyang's best argument that westerners lack moral fiber. After all, we can't control our pitying impulses!
Invisible Intellect said at November 4, 2004 9:39 PM:
Absolutely no insult was intended for the military people, the cold war era
joke was about communism, and the cold weather in Korea and Russia.
It is true that the defector in North Korea and the disobeidence among US soldiers in Iraq,
have different reasons.
For the anti-communism wars like Korea and Viet Nam, the American rebels argued that communism was
not so bad and that we are the ones who are imperialists... Somehow, in addition to saying that we went
to war in Viet Nam to protect the interests of the upper class, the American rebels also argued that
the foreign ideology and our enemies were not that bad after all. It was argued that even if the
communists defeat us and force the United States to become communist, at least we shall have equality with them,
since they are not supposed to be imperialists like us.
But in the case of the war against Islam, the situation is interesting, because even though some of us
will correctly argue that it was for the interests of our oil companies and other evil groups that
we are fighting the war against Muslims, it also is clear that if Al Qaeda wins the war against
the West and occupies the US and Europe, then we will NOT be given equality with them.
Randall Parker said at November 4, 2004 9:43 PM:
Infidel,
What happened to Jenkins in North Korea is a deterrent to any American soldier serving in South Korea.
The bulk of the US soldiers in South Korea who didn't want to complete their terms who did not defect did not do so for many reasons. One reason is is that the vast bulk of the US soldiers understood that North Korea was and is a hell hole. Jenkins was a fool to defect. He's like those two NSA guys who defected to the USSR back in the 50's because they believed some Soviet propaganda magazine about life in the Soviet Union. Except Jenkins is even more foolish since North Korea was and is far worse than the post-Stalin era of the Soviet Union.
Since the vast bulk of US soldiers did not defect to North Korea the Jenkins defection says little or nothing about the West.
gene berman said at November 5, 2004 4:48 AM:
Without commenting on any other aspect of the case, I just thought I'd pass some information regarding the contemporary--1965--and germane to Jenkins' own specific knowledge. I was in the Army in Korea in 1961 and 2, which is roughly comparable.
At that time, there were still being repatriated (according to regulations of the Geneva convention) Korean nationals who had ended up in
Japan (most as former Japanese soldiers or our prisoners). Most POWs had been repatriated not long after the war but many stayed in Japan and, later changing their minds and desiring of repatriation , had to be offered the choice beween North and South (as the division had not existed when they'd left.
The choice of these men was overwhelmingly, something like 90%, in favor of North Korea. From our present perspective, and for those much younger than I, this seems hard to understand. But in that time (and in the prior years), what we now call South Korea was a very
backward agricultural area. It had only one city--Seoul--of importance; even there, a great many of the inhabitants,perhaps even more than half, were simply people from North Korea who'd managed to get out to the South before (and during) the Korean War. Viewed geographically, one could even say that Seoul was the southernmost city of the northern part of Korea (whereas now it's the northernmost part of the southern half). The north had everything: education, roads, electrification, heavy industry, mining, busy ports, major cities and cultural centers and activities, newspapers; even the topography was varied and interesting. The south was just a broad agrarian plain and populated by the more backward segment of the population. Just to impress on the spectacular change which has occurred over the years, I'd point out that in 1961, the exports of South Korea to the US would not have amounted to the value of the houses on my block; the
largest such export was about $50,000--the efforts of a US sergeant who bought reed mats from elderly villagers (who made them during winter months) and sent them to his wife to sell in the US. A further reason (for the choice of the north by the returnees) was that the gov't.
of the south, headed by those who'd historically opposed Japan, had not yet "normalized" relations with that country and thus had no trade,
diplomatic relations, or media connection; the north had all of these things. Just some perspective. And the present situation could hardly present a more stark comparison or a clearer lens throughwhich to appreciate the differences between collectivism and capitalism.
Invisible Mind said at November 5, 2004 5:24 AM:
The North Korean version of collectivism, is probably the worst example of
collectivism, since the monopoly belongs to the ruling family and thugs over there.
The Scandinavian countries, on the other hand, always had a nurturing family
capitalism, which was not called collectivism, but a certain form of civilization.
Infidel said at November 5, 2004 10:52 PM:
That you, Gene, for that point.
However, generally, the disagreement I have, is that Jenkins's case is purely a legal one. It also concerns recruitment policy during a time when joining the military in the US is beginning to look like an open-ended contract favoring the government. Serving in the military then was even worse than it is now. As a matter of fact, the experiences in Korea and Vietnam prompted reforms which the Iraq war threaten to undermine, like the end of conscription and rotation. Now, along comes Jenkins, as if out of a time machine. When soldiers today are deserting and going to Canada, Jenkins's case is a precedent Washington doesn't need.
Irrelevant to this issue, but very useful, is the information he brings about NK. As far as Jenkins's case is concerned, though, that's irrelevant. Jenkins could have defected to France, and there's still a problem. Discipline is a commander's decision within the legal bounds set by the UCMJ. Moral arguments about leniency and mitigation belong to policy at the national and congressional level, not at the theater level. The judge overstepped his perorogative. Its not the judge's job to make policy, just interpret the law. The facts are, that Jenkins willfully broke his oath by deserting. And then, he stayed and did more than just live. Then, he frustrated the American government's attempt to prosecute him by pitting Pyongyang against Washington. At one time he involved at least Beijing, Jakarta, and Tokyo. He strained relations between Tokyo and Washington. Whether or not he was injured or chronically ill is still debatable, but it seems probablr that he lied to his own advantage. All this was done while Jenkins was technically a soldier, because the military acted as if he never left. That little photo-op propaganda stunt, showing his emaciated body in a uniform he never wore was either Washington's greatest ploy or a defense lawyer's brainchild, but it was disgusting. What soldier in any situation would get mitigating circumstances for running all over Asia looking for a place to hide. If this man is not cowardly, I don't know the meaning of the word. He deserves not sympathy, but scorn. He deserves to be in jail until death, because I don't want him near good people.
I don't have to spare a kind thought for Jenkins. I do worry about the soldiers who are disgruntled but do not defect to make a cheap political point. Obviously he was intelligent enouigh to know the difference between his home, South Korea, and North Korea, and he was intelligent enough to be duped by propaganda. Stupid people just follow leaders blindly, but it takes some intellectual defect to be susceptible to lies. He knew the political ramifications enough, because the military teaches all recruits enough politics just so they know that desertion is bad. None of us know much about NK, but we know its not going to be a good place to visit and that the consequences will probably be bad, expecially if we work for the government. Why not just join the commies in the SK mountains? No one ever found most of them, at least during the war. Or back to Japan? Because the US military would never go North unless there was an invasion, which during this long truce no one would conceive of, except the conspiratorially minded and Pyongyang. That means he deliberated about his choices. This man committed a crime by any definition. he just didn't go on a bender and shack up with his girlfriend for a few days.
The more I think about Jenkins, the more I believe he's duped us all. He's not telling the whole truth about his intentions and actions. Or Washington is so embarrassed by him and his stunts that they want him out of the headlines quickly, because of the elections, to avoid a bigger international fracas involving an already explosive region. And that is just so wrong.
gc said at November 5, 2004 11:24 PM:
infidel...
Or Washington is so embarrassed by him and his stunts that they want him out of the headlines quickly, because of the elections, to avoid a bigger international fracas involving an already explosive region. And that is just so wrong.
The whole point of militaries is that sometimes you have to choose the less bad choice - i.e., sometimes you *do* have to kill. Most on the right understand this.
Unless you can argue that the demoralizing effect on our soldiers in Iraq was greater in effect than the alienation of millions of Hello Kitty types in Japan - who we need on our side for any shenanigans the Norks might pull - then I don't think you can make a coherent case that our treatment of Jenkins was not the "least bad" outcome.
Infidel said at November 6, 2004 12:57 AM:
Just for argument's sake, since this is the first good comment, as opposed to the mawkish many, I have read on this issue, taking Karl Rove's lesson from the election, its better to secure the base than to convert the opposition. Those who support the US position on NK in Japan outnumber the dissenters, so assuring them that the US military will be strong is better than assuaging the dissenters' concerns. Also, at some point some of the moderate dissenters will recognize that a strong military is better, too, leaving the minority to support appeasement.
Eric said at November 6, 2004 9:59 PM:
Infidel:
Those who support the US position on NK in Japan outnumber the dissenters, so assuring them that the US military will be strong is better than assuaging the dissenters' concerns.
The population in Japan who support the hardline position against NK are not focused on Jenkins; he's just some random foreigner sideshow. To them, Soga, the victim of North Korean atrocities, is the central figure of this story. That means that in the mind of the most hardline elements of the Japanese public, the main effect of punishing Jenkins to the maximal extent would not be to demonstrate strength against North Korea. On the contrary, it would be piling more hell onto a real victim of N. Korea (Soga).
If Jenkins wasn't married to Soga, I (and most people in Japan) would say shoot the traitor. He sure deserves it. But his wife doesn't deserve to have her husband shot, after already having had everything stolen from her once by North Korean kidnappers. Nor do their daughters deserve to have their father shot after having been forced to grow up in hell.
Anyway, I don't think that not punishing Jenkins sets a particularly reprehensible precedent; as far as I understand (please correct me if I'm wrong), the trial pretty much turned on Soga's statements, not on Jenkins' cooperation in providing "information" about North Korea (which is probably less than what any tourist would know about the country, and certainly nothing that the stream of defectors to S. Korea haven't already told us).
Randall Parker said at November 6, 2004 10:40 PM:
Various reports on this story claimed that the US government was pressured by the Japanese to go easy on this guy because the Japanese have sympathy for him and his Japanese wife. So I really doubt that this judge who sentenced him made up his mind thinking about Iraq. Given the value of good relations with Japan the light sentence was probably the correct move - especially since 40 years in North Korea is a pretty severe self-inflicted punishment.
For closure's sake, I'll agree that Soga and the girls are more important than Jenkins and his guilt. Even if the judge did not take the other prblems into consideration, this does set a precedent, if only for bad judging.
Nikolas Maragoudakis said at August 28, 2005 7:56 PM:
I have no good thoughts about this turncoat. Now Senator Smith in Oregon who has voted against the VA Medical bill is a turncoat also as he has his medical his vacation money his travel money and to boot 8 million dollars. Oh how wonderful if you have a yellow streak down your back and refuse to answer just 4 queations i.e. (1. How come you didn't take on the VP and the money he received from Halliburton. (2. How come you didn't question about Iraq more at the begining. (3. Why don't you ask the Pres and VP that thier children who are now of age to serve and go to Iraq. (4. Why did you vote against the VA health medical bill. These are very simple questions or is he to ascared?
Nikolas Maragoudakis a disabled Veteran
Richard E. Norris said at July 10, 2010 8:02 PM:
my dad served in the army during the Korean War.Some of the stuff did and saw haunted him untill he died in 2000. He aid we all had our demonds. But he would serv again if called. He was a true patriot and loved hi country. I dont now what went threw this person's mind, no one knows but him and God. My dad said we do what we do,an pay for our sins. Thank God for those people who maid our freedom possible.


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British military bishop returns Marian statue taken during Falklands War
October 30, 2019 CNA Daily News News Briefs 0 Print
Vatican City, Oct 30, 2019 / 04:00 pm (CNA).- In a conciliatory gesture 37 years after the Falklands War, military bishops from Great Britain and Argentina exchanged statues of the Virgin Mary Wednesday in St. Peter's Square.
Argentine troops brought a statue of Our Lady of Lujan, patroness of Argentina, with them as they invaded the Falkland Islands, a British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, in April 1982.
When the military conflict ended fewer than three months later in a victory for Britain's Royal Navy, the Marian statue, left in a church during the Argentine retreat, was brought to Great Britain.
The statue of Our Lady of Lujan was subsequently placed in the Cathedral of St. Michael and St. George in Aldershot where it remained until this month.
Bishop Paul Mason of the UK Forces returned the statue Oct. 30 to Bishop Santiago Olivera of the Argentine Forces in St. Peter's Square after the pope's General Audience. In return, Bishop Olivera offered a replica statue to serve as its replacement in the Aldershot cathedral.
Pope Francis blessed both of the statues, and was visibly moved by a plaque honoring the war dead in Argentina presented at the audience. A total of 907 people died in the Falklands War on both sides.
"It was an intriguing story that met me when first installed as Bishop of the Forces and I immediately realised what a good opportunity it was, not only to return the statue, but also to demonstrate a united faith across two countries that have experienced political division," Bishop Mason said in a statement announcing the statue exchange.
The sovereignty dispute between Argentina and Britain over the Falkland Islands, a South Atlantic archipelago located 300 miles off the coast of Argentina, dates to the 19th century. Great Britain has had control of the islands since 1833, and rejects Argentina's claims of sovereignty over the territory.
Amid negotiations over the territory, an Argentine military junta led by General Leopoldo Galtieri invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ordered a task force from the Royal Navy to retake the islands and the conflict ensued until June 20.
St. John Paul II made an unscheduled 32-hour pastoral trip to Argentina during the Falklands War, following a visit to Britain.
"Today I come to pray with you during these important and difficult events, which have been taking place for some weeks now. I come to pray for all those who have lost their lives, for the victims on both sides, for families who are suffering, as I have also done in Great Britain," St. John Paul II said in Buenos Aires June 11, 1982.
"I come to pray for peace, for a worthy and just solution to the armed conflict," he said.
One this trip, the pope prayed before the original statue of Our Lady of Lujan in the Basilica of Our Lady of Lujan during the conflict. Both of the statues exchanged in St. Peter's Square Oct. 30 are both copies of this original image that dates to 1630.
Pope Francis used to make frequent pilgrimages to Our Lady of Lujan when he was Archbishop of Buenos Aires, and would hear confessions in the basilica, according to Vatican News.
"May the Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, comfort and encourage you in this. At the feet of this sweet Mother we met yesterday in her Shrine of Luján, the Marian heart of Argentina. Together we pray for peace," St. John Paul II said in Argentina during the Falklands War.
"Not only for that peace which consists in the silence of arms, but also for that, full, which is the attribute of hearts reconciled and free from resentment," he said.
Bishop Barron goes to Washington
Becciu says $200 million London property deal was 'accepted practice'
Be champions of virtue, Pope Francis tells Coppa Italia finalists
May 16, 2017 CNA Daily News 0
Vatican City, May 16, 2017 / 12:23 pm (CNA/EWTN News).- Two opposing Italian football teams came together on Tuesday to meet in a private audience with Pope Francis, where he encouraged the Coppa Italia finalists to be upstanding role models of virtue, especially to the youth.
"I would like to reflect, briefly, on the importance of sport and consider the fascination it exerts and the impact of professional football on people, especially young people, towards whom you have a responsibility," Pope Francis told the Italian football teams May 16. The staff, coaches, and players of both teams were present during the papal audience.
"Those who are considered 'champions' easily become role models. Therefore, every match is a test of balance, of self-mastery, of respect for the rules."
"He, who through his behavior, puts all of this into practice, provides a good example for his followers, and this is what I wish for each of you: to be witnesses of loyalty, honesty, harmony and humanity," the Holy Father continued.
The two Serie A teams, Juventus (from Turin) and Lazio (from Rome), are the finalists in the upcoming Coppa Italia tournament which will take place Wednesday at the Stadio Olimpico in Rome. Juventus is the defending champion of the tournament, and has won the title 11 times, to Lazio's six.
During their meeting, Pope Francis lamented the occasions of violence that sometimes occur during the football games, saying, "sadly, there are episodes of violence which affect the serenity of matches and the healthy enjoyment for the fans."
However, the Holy Father encouraged the players to remain good sports and be "promoters of harmony," even when tensions rise during the game.
The two teams presented Pope Francis with honorary football jerseys during their audience, along with a replica of the tournament's trophy, the Coppa Italia. The Holy Father also wished both sides a good game.
"I thank you for your visit with all of my heart," Pope Francis stated, "and I hope you play out a great match."
Vatican Museums will reopen June 1 as Italy opens borders to tourists
Vatican City, May 23, 2020 / 08:35 am (CNA).- The Vatican Museums announced Saturday that it will reopen on June 1, two days before Italy opens its borders to European visitors after nearly three months of lockdown.
Entrance to the Vatican Museums wil… […]
Vatican has 'no information' on Gänswein leave of absence report
February 5, 2020 CNA Daily News 1
Vatican City, Feb 5, 2020 / 08:10 am (CNA).- After a German Catholic weekly reported that Archbishop Georg Gänswein was asked to take a leave of absence from his position as head of the papal household, the Vatican has said it cannot confirm the report, and the archbishop is still in his job.
Die Tagespost reported Feb. 5 that the German archbishop had recently been asked by Pope Francis to "focus on his role as private secretary to pope emeritus Benedict XVI."
A Vatican source told CNA that the Die Tagepost report was on the mark. Gänswein has been requested to "stay away from his office [as prefect of the papal household] indefinitely," the source said.
But the Holy See press office told CNA Wednesday that it has no information regarding Ganswein being on a leave of absence from the prefecture
Regarding the bishop's absence from papal audiences in recent weeks, the press office stated "it is due to an ordinary redistribution of the various commitments and duties of the Prefect of the Papal Household, who, as you know, is also the personal secretary of the Pope emeritus."
In January, Gänswein was absent for several weeks from his usual official seat at public appearances of the pope – such as the general audiences on Wednesdays – due to being ill with bronchitis.
Gänswein's continued absence in the immediate wake of controversy over a new book on priestly celibacy written by Cardinal Robert Sarah and Benedict XVI, led to speculation the personal secretary of the pope emeritus had been removed as head of the papal household for this reason.
Fr. Leonardo Sapienza, regent of the prefecture, has been filling in for Gänswein at general audiences as representative of the papal household.
Church teaching on "same sex marriage" is clear—unless you're a journalist.
Back on March 27th, Dr. Ed Peters posted "A primer on Church teaching regarding 'same-sex marriage'", which said nothing that should have come as a surprise to knowledgeable Catholics or anyone with a decent familiarity with […]