ROBERT SHELDON DUECKER of Fort Wayne, Ind., 85, a Bishop of The United Methodist Church, died on October 28, 2011 at Fort Wayne. He was born in Lafayette Township, Medina County, Ohio on September 4, 1926 to Howard LaVerne and Sarah Faye Simpson Duecker. He was confirmed in the LeRoy (Ohio) Methodist Episcopal Church and is a 1944 graduate of Westfield High School in Westfield, Ohio. R. Sheldon Duecker and Marjorie Louise Clouse were united in marriage on June 13. 1948 and celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary this year.
Bishop Duecker held degrees from Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion, IN (B. Rel. and A.B., 1948); and, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, IN (B.D. and M.S., 1952). He did additional work at Garrett-Evangelical Seminary in Evanston, IL. He attended special session in Boston University and Mansfield College, Oxford University in England. He held honorary degrees from Christian Theological Seminary and Kendall College in Evanston, IL.
Bishop Duecker was ordained an Elder in the former North Indiana Conference by Bishop Richard C. Raines in 1953. He served as an associate pastor of Kokomo Grace and as pastor at Dyer, Gethsemane (Muncie), Hartford City, First (Warsaw), Simpson (Fort Wayne) and High Street (Muncie) United Methodist churches. He also served as North Indiana Conference Council Director from 1973 to 1977 and as Fort Wayne District Superintendent from 1977 to 1982.
Bishop Duecker served on the board of directors of Parkview Hospital in Fort Wayne, from 1977 to 1982, while District Superintendent of the Fort Wayne District of the former North Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church.
He also served on many boards and committees of the former North Indiana Conference, including the Board of Ordained Ministry, chairperson of the Board of Education, and chair of the Commission on Camps and Conferences.
He was elected delegate to four sessions of the General Conference from 1962 through 1988 and to six sessions of the North Central Jurisdictional Conference from 1968 through 1988.
He was the author of several articles and of one book, Tensions in the Connection, published by Abingdon in 1983.
He was a member of the General Council on Ministries and chaired the Unit on Evaluation and Coordination. He served as secretary of the General Advance Committee, was a member of the Committee on Africa Church Growth and Development, and the Commission to Study the Mission of the Church.
He was named "Sagamore of the Wabash" by Indiana Governor Robert Orr in September 1988.
Duecker was elected a Bishop in 1988 by the North Central Jurisdiction of The United Methodist Church and was assigned to the Chicago Area. While an active Bishop, he served the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, the General Board of Publication, and the University Senate of The United Methodist Church. He chaired the Council of Bishops committee to develop materials for the church-wide study of the denomination's Theological Statement, as well as the Mission Statement of The United Methodist Church adopted in 1988. He was president of the Council of Religious Leaders of Greater Chicago and president of the North Central College of Bishops.
He was a trustee of the University of Evansville, North Central College and Kendall College. He also served as trustee of Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, United Theological Seminary in Dayton, Ohio, and Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Ill.
Following retirement in 1996 as Bishop of the Chicago Area, he served as Bishop in Residence of First Wayne Street United Methodist Church in Fort Wayne, contributing in innumerable ways to the life of the church. He also served as Volunteer Consultant to the Development Office of Africa University, where a residence hall was dedicated in his honor. He has served on the Board of Directors of Erin's House in Fort Wayne. At the time of his death, he was serving as Honorary Chair of the Indiana Camps and Conference Capital Fund Campaign. The first new lodge at Epworth Forest Conference Center in North Webster, Ind., in a generation, Duecker Lodge, was dedicated and named in honor of Bishop Duecker and Marjorie Duecker on June 4, 2011. He was an eight-year cancer survivor.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Bishop Duecker will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, November 5, at First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 East Wayne Street in Fort Wayne, Ind. Survivors include: wife, Marjorie Louise (Clouse) Duecker; a daughter, Cristine Holman (David) of Fort Wayne; and three brothers: Heyman (Jean) of Marion, Ind.; Ronald (Ethel) of Wooster, Ohio; and Dennis (Patti) of Medina, Ohio; three grandchildren, Carrie Haney of Atlanta, Ga., Robert Haney of Morristown, N.J.; and Lori Haney of Fort Wayne; and a great-granddaughter, Jaden Housman of Fort Wayne. He was preceded in death by a son, the Rev. Philip Lee in 2000 and by two brothers, Sherrod and Victor. Memorial contributions can be made to The Bishop R. Sheldon and Marjorie L. Duecker Scholarship Fund of Africa University, c/o General Board of Higher Education and Ministry, P.O. Box 340007, Nashville, TN 37203-0007 or to The First Wayne Street United Methodist Church, 300 East Wayne Street, Fort Wayne, IN 46802. Condolences to Marjorie and the family can be sent to Cristine Holman, 7614 Hermitage Place, Fort Wayne, IN 46815.


text:
Q: Jquery - How to get elements in a list item I have the following code:

                    €
                    £
                    $
                    R

When an item is clicked I want to set the class to the clicked item and get the ID of the item clicked. This is what I have so far:
$('.shop-currencies').click(function() {

    var id = $(this).attr('id');

    alert(id);

    /**
     * Remove the classes from the currency elements
     */
    $('.shop-currencies').find('a').each(function(e) {
       $(this).removeClass();
    });

    /**
     * Set the class of the clicked element
     */
    $( '#' + id).addClass('current');

});

The ID is being returned as 'undefined' How do I get the ID of the clicked link?
Thanks

A: You need to attach click handler to child anchor element :
$('.shop-currencies a').click(function() {

var id = $(this).attr('id');

alert(id);

 /**
 * Remove the classes from the currency elements
 */
   $('.shop-currencies').find('a').not(this).removeClass('smclass')
 /**
 * Add class to current elements
 */
   $(this).addClass('smclass')
});

A: There are a couple of options, Milind Anantwar has one, the other is to use the originally clicked element, which is passed to the event as a target property on the event argument. You can also simplify your code a lot. Please note that your bookmark anchors will cause the page to spring to the top, so also add         e.preventDefault(); to any solution you choose:
$('.shop-currencies').click(function(e) {
    e.preventDefault();
    $('a', this).removeClass('current');   // remove related anchor current class
    $(e.target).addClass('current');
});

JSFiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/TrueBlueAussie/5Lsuazvt/
The one downside to this is that clicking inside .shop-currencies, but not on a currency link, will clear the current selection. Because of this you are better off targetting the links instead:
$('.shop-currencies a').click(function(e) {
    e.preventDefault();
    $(this).siblings().removeClass('current');   // remove related anchor current class
    $(this).addClass('current');
});

JSFiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/TrueBlueAussie/5Lsuazvt/1/
Which can be reduced to one line:
$('.shop-currencies a').click(function(e) {
    e.preventDefault();
    $(this).addClass('current').siblings().removeClass('current');
});

JSFiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/TrueBlueAussie/5Lsuazvt/2/
Saving the best for last
And one last point... It is more efficient (but hardly noticeable) to add a single delegated event handler, instead of attaching 4 seperate handlers:
$('.shop-currencies').on('click', 'a', function(e) {
    e.preventDefault();
    $(this).addClass('current').siblings().removeClass('current');
});

JSFiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/TrueBlueAussie/5Lsuazvt/3/
Final thoughts:
The IDs on the links are unnecessary if you have an appropriate this available. You can remove them from the HTML. You have the currency value you require in data-currency attributes, so you could use it like this:
$('.shop-currencies').on('click', 'a', function(e) {
    e.preventDefault();
    $(this).addClass('current').siblings().removeClass('current');
    alert($(this).data('currency'));
});

JSFiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/TrueBlueAussie/5Lsuazvt/7/

A: your click, is attach to li instead of each a tag
so do $('a').click();instead

A: Shortest and fastest answer
$('.shop-currencies > a').click(function(){
  $(this).siblings('a').removeClass('current');
  $(this).addClass('current');
});

The code pen link is here, you can play with the code your self

A: $('.shop-currencies a').each(function() {
 $(this).on("click", function(event) {
  event.preventDefault();
  var id = $(this).attr('id');
  $('.shop-currencies a').removeClass("current");
  $(this).addClass('current');
  alert(id);
 });
});

http://jsfiddle.net/nj37g5rm/8/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Rue du Midi 135, 1000 Brussel, België.
Located in the heart of brussels only 450 meters from the famous grand-place, close to the midi and central station (eurostar and thalys) and easily accessible from all major business areas of the city, the bedford hotel includes 326 modern rooms and suites equipped with the latest facilities, a gastronomic restaurant, a piano bar, a cyber corner, a fitness centre with a panoramic view, a covered parking suitable for 200 cars and 18 natural lighted and air conditioned meeting rooms. For any kind of venue, the bedford perfectly combines the flexibility and the traditions of a private owned hotel with the experience and the efficiency of a professional staff.
The Magellan Restaurant seating for 250 divided into a buffet and "à la Carte" restaurant serves in a British decor French and Belgian gastronomy and international buffets. The Cook Restaurant seating also for 250 serves the American buffet breakfasts and 1-hour business lunches. Opening hours: 12:00 – 14:00 and 19:00 – 21:30. Being on the same floor and area, both can be used for a large party. The Bedford Lounge piano bar is the place to be to enjoy famous cocktails and tasty snacks in a cosy atmosphere. The Bedford Lounge provides also a large choice of Belgium Beers.


text:
Statement by Notre Dame President Rev. John I. Jenkins, C.S.C., on presidential orders and actions
"We have for many years supported the cause of Dreamers, those young men and women who were brought to the United States as minors and have known only this country as their home. They have lived with the possibility of deportation hanging over their heads. We're thankful that President Biden has taken immediate action through an executive order to preserve and fortify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals and for his support for legislation to provide permanent status and a path to citizenship for Dreamers. The University is also heartened by executive action putting an end to the restrictions to entry directed primarily at people from Muslim-majority countries.
"These two decisions advance racial justice and assist underserved communities, a cause to which we at Notre Dame likewise remain committed.
"Finally, the action to rejoin the Paris Agreement on Climate Change coincides with Notre Dame's long support of sustainability, including sponsorship of two Vatican summits on reducing dependence on fossil fuels."
Originally published by Notre Dame News at news.nd.edu on January 21, 2021.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Alexa Rae, née le  à Atlanta, Géorgie, est une actrice de films pornographiques américaine.

Biographie
Adolescente, elle participe à des compétitions hippiques d'un niveau national.

Elle étudie dans une école catholique St. Pius X Catholic High School à Atlanta.

Alexa est danseuse au The Gold Club sous le nom de Fantasy.

Son pseudonyme s'inspire du nom de la fille de Billy Joel, Alexa Ray Joel.

Elle apparait dans le clip Complicated du groupe de filles Lo-Ball. Elle apparait aussi dans l'article de Time magazine sur le Cybersex.

Distinctions
 2003 : AVN Award Meilleure scène de sexe en couple (Best Couples Sex Scene) pour Lex the Impaler 2 (2002) avec Lexington Steele

Filmographie

Source : IMDb

Références

Voir aussi

 Avy Scott
 Belladonna

Liens externes

 Site officiel

Actrice pornographique américaine
Naissance à Atlanta
Naissance en décembre 1980
Actrice ayant reçu un AVN Award

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
{"domain":"4-patriots.myshopify.com" }
Update: Due to current events, demand for survival supplies is surging. Your order may ship 1 week after the purchase date. New orders ship on a 1st come, 1st served basis from Utah, USA.
Log In Cart View cart
Patriotic Collectibles
A New Development in the Flint Water Crisis
A few months ago there was an important U.S. Supreme Court decision. The Court ruled that residents of Flint, Michigan could sue the government. Due to lead contamination in their water.
Previously, Flint officials had proclaimed "qualified immunity" to protect themselves.
As you know, Flint is the poster child for lead contamination. A decision was made in 2014 by Flint officials to switch the city's water supply. From Lake Huron water treated in Detroit to the Flint River. It resulted in lead-contaminated water.
Sure enough, the lawsuits came in hot and heavy. And now there is a new development in this case.
$600 Million Settlement Reached
Dana Nessel is the attorney general for Michigan. She recently announced that a $600 million preliminary settlement had been reached. It's between Flint and those who sued the city.
She said a majority of the victim compensation fund will go to settling claims on behalf of children. A formal settlement is expected by early October.
Interim Co-Lead Counsels of the Class Action lawsuit say the preliminary settlement is the result of five years of litigation. And 18 months of deliberation.
Those who filed lawsuits have an option. They can accept their portion of the settlement. Or they can continue with legal action against the city.
Focus Is on Children
The settlement involves claims against the State of Michigan, officials and state workers.
The lawsuits against the federal government and two engineering firms remain in litigation. The two firms are Veolia North America and Lockwood, Andrews & Newman.
In her statement, Nessel said, "This settlement focuses on the children and the future of Flint.
"I hope we can begin the process of closing one of the most difficult chapters in our state's history. And writing a new one that starts with a government that works on behalf of all of its people."
Blood Reports Were Damning
For 18 months after the switch to the Flint River, many residents complained. They said their tap water was discolored. And that it smelled bad and tasted strange.
They also reported skin rashes and hair loss. As time went on, various groups tested the water. It was learned it contained dangerous levels of lead.
Far more disturbing to parents than the taste and rashes was this finding. The levels of lead in children's blood were double or triple what they had been.
The blood reports showed that 9,000 Flint children had been drinking contaminated water for 18 months.
Lead Produces Multiple Problems
Lead can cause lower IQ in children. As well as affecting physical growth and behavior. Plus contributing to anemia, hearing impairment and cardiovascular disease. It can also create serious health issues for adults.
Mona Hanna-Attisha is a Flint pediatrician. She said, "Lead is one of the most damning things you can do to a child in their entire life-course trajectory."
Local residents petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency to take action. But that action ran into a wall.
A federal judge then stepped in, arranging for the delivery of bottled water. The water went to every Flint home without a properly installed and maintained faucet filter.
Changes Have Been Made
Since then, the City of Flint has completed 90 percent of its service line replacement project.
Water lines were excavated at approximately 26,000 homes. There are about 2,500 homes that still need to be checked.
Following those excavations, 9,700 lead or galvanized steel service lines were replaced. Copper lines were not replaced.
In addition, water reservoirs were renovated and expanded. A back-up water source was also built. Water mains were replaced and new household water meters were installed.
Lead Contamination Is Widespread
But the damage had already been done. The temporary settlement is being well received by most. But nothing can bring back the health of a child.
And the problem of lead in tap water is not limited to Flint. That's just one of the more high profile cases. Between 2015 and 2018, approximately 5.5 million Americans unknowingly got their water from systems exceeding the federal lead action level.
And the biggest issue is that by the time the extent of the problem is known, it's too late. We've learned we can't depend on the government to protect our water supply.
We have to take matters into our own hands if we wish to ensure that our families always have safe, clean water to drink.
That's why I'm thrilled to tell you about a revolutionary new water pitcher. It's from our friend Jeff over at Patriot Health Alliance. It's called the Patriot Pure Water Pitcher.
This pitcher filters out most heavy metals. Including lead, copper, mercury aluminum, and more. As well as radiological elements.
It gives you all the convenience of a water pitcher that fits right in your fridge. Yet it can filter out truly scary stuff that other pitcher brands fall short on removing.
>> Make your drinking water safe again with THIS
72-Hour Survival Food Kit
4Patriots
Meat & Protein Deluxe Survival Food Kit
Grab-N-Go Survival Food Kit
1-Week Survival Food Kit
Patriot Power Cell 1 Pack
Emergency Food Bars 4 Pack
Survival Food Isn't a Luxury – It's a Necessity
Prior to 2020, if anyone debated as to whether they...
The Best Survival Tools for Stocking Stuffers
Christmas is right around the corner, so it's time to...
What Are the Best Long-Term Food Storage Meals?
There are a few reasons why someone might want to...
Pandemic Brought on Food Supply Chain Disruptions
By now, pretty much everyone knows the food supply chain...
Gear, Gear, Gear
Fighter pilots strap into their weapon. In the SEAL Teams,...
Cooking Food Without Electrical Power
Our minds have been on the global pandemic for quite...
Freeze-Dried Food: One Necessity You Can't Forget in Your Food Supply!
When shopping for food, most people probably aren't thinking about...
How Best to Prepare for a Power Outage
Power outages can be scary, and they can cause significant...
Previous article Bug Out Bag Checklist: Make Sure You Don't Forget Anything
Filed in: food, gear, power, survival
rachel - September 28, 2020
Elected officials, and the EPA, have not protected the environment. Instead they have
allowed big business, fracking industries, and animal agriculture to pollute and use the
earth as a toilet. Unfortunately pitchers allow the plastic and filter sit in water; not healthy!.
We all have a responsibility to eat low on the food chain, go vegan and use fewer resources,
pollute a lot less, improve your health, for multiple reasons; peace.
Elizabeth - September 28, 2020
Shalom,4Patriots,I received the kettle for the water. I will use the kettle today,for the first time. Please be careful,thank you for your email and please stay prayed up,God bless you and 4Patriots
Vernon and Jacki Davis - September 25, 2020
we would like to know what actions were taken by the Obama administration and what actions were taken by the Trump administration.
4Patriots, LLC
2920 Berry Hill Dr., Suite 300
This is the corporate office.
No customer drop-ins, please.
help@4patriots.com
All 4Patriots Reviews
Survival Food Reviews
Solar Generator Reviews
Preparedness Blog
4Patriots Careers
Join the Text Club
2020 © 4Patriots LLC - All Rights Reserved. Terms & Conditions - Refund Policy
Testimonials featured on this site are from real people. Sometimes names & pictures are changed to protect their privacy & safety; some were given free products in exchange for honest feedback. Testimonials represent exceptional results, don't apply to the average purchaser, and don't guarantee that you'll achieve results.
Cade Courtley is a former Navy SEAL who served 9 years of active duty and has been compensated by 4Patriots for his hard work in helping us test and endorse products.
The United States Military (including the U.S. Navy SEAL Team) and other organizations, publications and people referenced on this site, are not affiliated with 4Patriots. They have not endorsed, sponsored or recommended this product; no affiliation or endorsement is claimed.


In the November Trinitarian Mother Jean wrote, "God desires healing of brokenness. That term 'brokenness' includes a full range of conditions including physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual and social issues. Any kind of brokenness creates a barrier to receiving divine grace and healing."
Many of us are using the Living Compass Living Well Through Lent 2017 as a guide for our journey through Lent. This resource uses the topic of 'Listening With All Your Heart, Soul, Strength and Mind' as its guide for various reflections. The April 3rd reflection uses the title "The Healing Power of Listening" as its focal point.
This is what the Healing prayer ministry teams do as well in their practice of healing prayer—they listen to the concerns of those who come for prayer, they try to listen to how the Holy Spirit is guiding their prayers and then they pray for and with each other for healing by God through Jesus Christ and finally they offer thanks and praise to God.
Healing Prayer can be done on a daily basis within our families too. We can make time to listen to the concerns of our children, spouse, siblings and friends and then allow some time to reflect together about how you may be being led by the Holy Spirit to pray and then simply ask Jesus to heal a particular concern or issue and then finish with a prayer of thanksgiving.
Healing in the family is important to Jesus and we can find how concerned He was about this by reading a passage in Matthew's Gospel, "And when Jesus entered Peter's house, he saw his mother- in-law laying sick with a fever. He touched her hand, and the fever left, and she rose and began to serve him . . . This was to fulfill what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah: He took our illnesses and bore our diseases" (ESV Matt. 8:14-17). Jesus expects and empowers us to follow his example.
Just as in listening, the more we do it the easier and the more natural it becomes for us. So also it is with praying for healing in the family. It may seem awkward at first to initiate healing prayer at home with the family, but the more we do it the easier it gets.
If you are interested in knowing more or joining this ministry please contact the church office.


JUST A SALAD Contest: the blog turns two years old - OLE!
To celebrate the second birthday of the Just a Salad blog, we had the pleasure of engaging in a cooking photo contest held under the slogan: "The second Just a Salad birthday PHOTO challenge". The challenge was rather easy but required some ingenuity and a high dose of creativity. It was based on composing your favourite salad and taking a beautiful and tasty photo. OLE! sponsored the main prize: a Nutribullet and a bundle of OLE! products. The contest was really worth entering because the blogger gave out numerous consolation prizes to other entries before announcing the Winner.


"Trust me when I say there's no doubt you're going to go far in this industry with a talent like yours. I for one will definitely be working with you again!"
"Your work is stellar and very impressive!"
The music sounds absolutely amazing and I couldn't be happier with what you have sent! I can't wait to hear what else you send us.


text:
Climate and Climatology
Inventions and Innovations
Mining and Metallurgy
Pseudo-Science
Displaying 81-100 of 826 results
Depression, see GREAT DEPRESSION.
Most of the criminological research in Canada has been done at those universities where centres focusing on research have evolved. The Université de Montréal established Canada's first School of Criminology with Denis Szabo in 1960.
Wireless Internet the Next Big Tech Thing. No, really.
HOT CURRY POWDER. That's the secret ingredient Matthew MacGillivray likes to add to his rice dishes - that or cumin. He leans over the sizzling pan and sniffs the aroma, then glances at his laptop computer - sitting right beside the stove.
Dietetics (from the Greek diaita, meaning "mode of life") has been implicated in the cause, cure and prevention of disease from earliest recorded history.
de Havilland Dash 7
De Havilland Dash 7, DHC-7, STOL aircraft designed for efficient transport from city centres. It first flew March 1975 after a long development costing $120 million, four-fifths of which was paid by the federal government. Its
de Havilland Caribou
De Havilland Caribou, DHC-4, twin-engined STOL aircraft capable of taking off in only 220 m. It was characterized by the sharp upward angle of the rear fuselage, providing access for large loads. It first flew July 1958, and was used mostly in a military role.
Death, the irreversible cessation of life, has always intrigued and frightened mankind. Every known culture has attempted to provide an explanation of its meaning; like birth or marriage it is universally considered an event of social significance, amplified by ritual and supported by institutions.
David Dunlap Observatory
David Dunlap Observatory, see OBSERVATORY.
Churchill Falls
The project was undertaken by a subsidiary of British Newfoundland Corp Ltd (Brinco), and was at the time the largest civil engineering project ever undertaken in North America. Eighty strategically placed dikes pooled the vast waters of the Labrador Plateau in the Smallwood Reservoir.
Cod Liver Oil was in the past a primary source of vitamin A, essential for bone growth, health of skin and mucous membranes, and night vision. Today, many other preparations containing vitamin A are available. Before the 1920s, most cod liver oil came from Norwegian COD.
Contraception, see BIRTH CONTROL.
Conestoga Wagon
The Conestoga wagon was a large wagon, with broad wheels and a white hemp or canvas cover, used for the transportation of persons and goods across the North American continent prior to the introduction of the railway in the
Computer Communications
Like most modern communication technologies, the computer had its origins in the military.
Communications technologies include the techniques, tools and methods used to facilitate communication. Information technologies include those used to create, record, modify and display the content being communicated.
Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories
Chalk River Nuclear Laboratories, see Nuclear research establishments.
Research may focus on a variety of topics. Mass media are studied for the content of their programs, the way those programs are produced and the impact of various influences on programming. Media economic structure and the media's role in political life are also topics of research.
During the 1950s, 4 main areas of focus emerged. "Hardware" concentrated on the construction of reliable equipment with faster central-processing units (CPUs), larger memories and more input and output devices to solve increasingly ambitious problems.
Computer Systems Applications
MATHEMATICS spawned the computer in the 1940s and gave it its name. Its first application was the computation of theoretical ballistic tables for traditional bombs, but calculations for the atomic bomb and then for guided missiles soon became the driving force for computer development.
Commodity Inspection and Grading
Before the multiplication of engineering disciplines in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, engineers were either military or civilian. Civilian engineers built nonmilitary structures; those in the military concentrated on FORTIFICATIONS.


We are again running a Christmas light display for Help for Heroes because the excellent work they do needs all our support.
Thanks for taking the time to visit my Just Giving page.
This is the third year of running my Christmas lights in the Harrow area.
It has taken a lot of work to design and program the display and again this year I have added extra items. I hope those that visit will enjoy the display and for those of you who cannot get here I will be putting pictures and videos here http://www.paul-h-lunnon.co.uk/pauls-christmas-lights-2018/ you can also see pictures/videos from previous years.
I ask you to help me support a very worthwhile charity doing amazing work for our Heroes. if you watch The Invictus Games you will see and hear many stories where Help for Heroes has helped..


text:
Q: Check form fields and insert value to database I have a simple php/html form wich inserts data to my mysql database.
I have a column on my database called type.
When a form is submitted with various values I want to be able to check the value of those submitted fields and add a value to the column type based on those values:
If the submitted form field field1 has the value value1 and field field2 has the value value2 then insert value3 to column type on my database.

A: You can manage this with code, if I understand your question right.
Remember, it is a good idea to check the post values, before insert or update some values in the database.
I am using post for the form method, if you use get, replace $_POST with $_GET
<?php
if ($_POST["field1"] == "value1" AND $_POST["field2"] =="value2")
{  $type = $value3
}
else
{  /// create some defaultvalue if the condition is not true.
   $type = "youdefaultvalue"
   // or you use some other value from your form, for example $_POST["field3"]
}
// here create your sql-action like "insert into ... " or update ....

A: I am not sure whether you need this exactly. But after reading your question, i hope you are looking like this only.
if($_POST['field1'] == "value1" && $_POST['field2'] == 'value2' ){

       // INSERT field3 to type
}


"Better Angels" is about learning to allow yourself to be vulnerable and to ask for help when you need it. The story is told from the perspective of a loved one observing your destructive behaviors and telling you it's okay to fall apart - that you can come back together stronger - and that you don't have to do it alone.
"As Above, So Below" is about reconciling your head and your heart - it's about accepting the good and the bad, understanding that you can make equally emotional and thoughtful decisions and that you can move forward with a focus on using those experiences to live a more fulfilled life.


This Swiss Alps engagement session (or any other session in any other Alps to be honest) was a long time dream of mine. Finally it came true, thanks to Marta & Reto who invited me to visit them in Flims Switzerland. Even thou this was a dream come true, that doesn't mean I don't plan on doing it again. So many mountains to climb, so many differents paths to take, and so so many amazing people to meet, spend some time with and shoot some photos.
Now, some trivia about the area. Flims is, according to Wikipedia, a municipality in the Imboden Region in the Swiss canton of Graubünden. The town is dominated by the Flimserstein (the big rock visible on few photos) which you can see from almost anywhere in the area.


While everyone is making plans to go out with their significant other on Valentine's Day, you should never EVER forget your BFFs in this month of love. With Galentine's Day just around the corner (February 13), it's the perfect time to spend it with your friends watching these classic films.
This early 2000s rom-com is a must-watch with your BFFs. I mean, Mean Girls is so iconic, it's seeped into today's pop culture and even made an appearance in Ariana Grande's "thank u, next" music video.
Starring Lindsay Lohan, Rachel McAdams, Amanda Seyfried, Tina Fey, and an appearance by "cool mom" Amy Poehler, Mean Girls is definitely on my list of movies to watch this Galentine's Day.
Female director? Check. Badass female protagonist? Check.
Wonder Woman is such a great film to get you and your BFFs feeling empowered, and a great reminder that nothing can stand in your way—not even the patriarchy.
How could I not include Clueless? As if!
This '90s film is amazing, and even 20+ years later, it's still hilarious and relatable. Clueless stars Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy (R.I.P.), and Paul Rudd (who just never seems to age).
Adapted from Jenny Han's novel, this romantic comedy took Netflix by storm in 2018—and with good reason.
This is a great film to watch with your BFFs to appreciate Asian representation, Laura Jean's cute outfits, and perhaps swoon over Peter Kavinsky.
We owe Legally Blonde for many famous moments, like teaching us the "bend and snap" and giving us quotes like "If I'm going to be a partner in a law firm by the time I'm 30, I'm going to need a boyfriend who's not such a bonehead." This is a perfect film to watch as a reminder that we girls can do anything we want if we really put our mind to it and stick with each other.
A rom-com with a full female cast who are all incredibly hilarious? Yes, PLEASE.
Bridesmaids—featuring Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, Melissa McCarthy, Rose Byrne, Ellie Kemper, and Wendi McLendon-Covey—reminds us of the importance of friendship and really being there for each other.


text:
Dolores Huerta Joins Right-To-Die Bilingual Push In 4 States
Published March 4, 2019 at 11:12 AM PST
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Civil rights leader Dolores Huerta is joining a push in four states to legalize medically assisted suicide for terminally ill patients.
The advocacy group Compassion & Choices announced Thursday that the 88-year-old activist will take part in a bilingual education campaign promoting legislation to expand end-of-life care options in New Mexico, Nevada, New Jersey and New York.
The campaign will involve bilingual videos for sharing on social media.
Huerta in the videos will urge Hispanic residents support state legislation allowing doctors to prescribe life-ending medication.
Medically assisted suicide is legal in seven states and Washington, D.C.
The New Mexico-born Huerta is known for starting the United Farm Workers union with the late Cesar Chavez in California during the late 1960s.
News 88.9 KNPR Nevada & the SouthwestNewscast headlinesHeadline Newsright to diephysician assisted deathphysician assisted suicide


text:
Q: change image opacity onclick menu items I'm trying to change image opacity when I click on items menu; For example, if I click on the item Newsletter on my menu or on the arrow navigation, I would like that my image past to the opacity 0 to 100.
In my css, I declare my image opacity to 0 an in my jquery code I did:
$("#newsletter").click(function () {
    $('#img1').fadeTo(3000,1);
});

But nothing happens. I'm totally lost. Do you have any ideas how to do that?
Here my fiddle :http://jsfiddle.net/jarod51/4RvWY/

A: Your anchor tag doesn't actually have an id of "newsletter":
You need to change add the id attribute:

Newsletter

$("#newsletter-button").click(function () {
            $('#img1').fadeTo(3000,1);
    });

i've changed the id for the button so that it doesn't conflict with the panel.
working example here
unless you meant for the click event to be wired up to the actual panel?

A: @skeryl had the right answer to the immediate problem (no id) but why tie this up with jQuery animation when CSS can do it? When you're finished with the scrolling animation, add a class to the active panel. Then use css and css transitions to animate the opacity of images within panels of that class.
Within your animation function:
    $('#wrap').find('.shown').removeClass('shown');
    $target.addClass('shown');

And in your CSS:
.panel img {
    opacity:0;
    -moz-transition: opacity 3000ms ease-in-out;
    -webkit-transition: opacity 3000ms ease-in-out;
    transition: opacity 3000ms ease-in-out;
}

.shown img {
    opacity: 1;
}

Additionally, skipping the ID will stop you from chasing your tail as you add more images to the slider/nav.
Here's an updated Fiddle.

A: is it possible for the actual panel ? because I need to have everytime this effect when for example newsletter is active.


text:
WWF distances itself from rights abuses at U.S. congressional hearing
Nov 2, 2021 / Mongabay / Story by latoyaabulu
At a U.S. congressional hearing last week, WWF was accused of refusing to take responsibility for its failure to meet its human rights commitments at national parks in Africa and Asia.
John Knox, former U.N. special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, testified that WWF not only knew about abuses allegedly committed by the rangers it funded and supported, but also mischaracterized a 2020 independent review as exonerating the organization.
WWF insists the rangers in question were government employees of the countries in which it operated, even though it funded and equipped them, and effectively ran the national parks where they were employed.
WWF is criticized for the practice of "fortress conservation," where Indigenous peoples and local communities are displaced from their ancestral lands to create "pristine" protected areas, often involving the abuse of their human rights.
WWF has come under fire at a U.S. congressional hearing over its funding of rangers who allegedly carried out rights abuses against Indigenous peoples and local communities in Africa and Asia.
Members of the House Committee on Natural Resources and former U.N. special rapporteur on human rights and the environment, John Knox, said at the Oct. 26 hearing that there's enough evidence supporting the accusation that WWF had engaged in "fortress conservation."
In 2019, Buzzfeed News published a series of investigative articles alleging that WWF financed and equipped park rangers accused of torturing, raping and killing dozens of people at six national parks that it managed or co-managed in Cameroon, Congo, Nepal and India.
Facing pressure from the U.S. government, WWF commissioned an independent panel of experts, chaired by Navi Pillay, a former U.N. high commissioner for human rights, to determine whether it played a role in the abuses. A systematic review of the organization's practices was also conducted. The final report was published in November 2020.
In his written testimony to the congressional committee, Knox, who served on the independent review panel, now spoke in individual capacity. According to him, while WWF's social policies had strong human rights commitments, its implementation and monitoring of what was occurring on the ground was inconsistent and, in some cases, ineffective.
A man bails rainwater out of a WWF pirogue (dugout canoe) on the shore of Lac Tumba in Ntondo, DRC. Image courtesy of Molly Bergen/WCS, WWF, WRI / Flickr
He said WWF's response to the report at the time was disappointing, as it refused to apologize and accept responsibility for its failures to meet its own human rights commitments in those regions. In WWF's statement and management response to the report, the organization expressed deep sorrow for those who had suffered at the hands of "government rangers," emphasizing that the panel's report found the accused rangers were not technically employed by WWF.
"We have worked diligently since the panel released its report to embrace their 79 recommendations, driving change at all levels of the organization," WWF told Mongabay, reiterating its values and commitment to human rights.
'Government park rangers'
Almost a year later, WWF's position remains the same. At last week's congressional hearing, WWF refused to take responsibility for the alleged violations of human rights brought against it after members of the committee called on it to do so.
Shortly before WWF's senior vice president of wildlife conservation, Ginette Hemley, testified at the hearing, Republican Congressman Cliff Bentz urged WWF to admit that it was at fault, calling its refusal to do so "embarrassing."
Democrat Jared Huffman, chair of the subcommittee on water, oceans and wildlife, also criticized WWF for not accepting responsibility over its failure to meet its own human rights commitments while equipping the rangers and patrolling with them in the knowledge of the human rights abuse allegations against them. If organizations like WWF want to continue their work, Huffman said, they need to be held accountable for their actions.
But Hemley distanced the organization from the allegations. According to her, WWF condemns human rights abuses wherever they occur and does all it can to support communities and hold governments accountable in their human rights obligations. In the Central African Republic, it helps manage Dzanga-Sangha Special Reserve, which employs mostly Indigenous Baka people through ecotourism opportunities. In Africa, WWF testified, it has built free health facilities, supported local women, provided Indigenous children with scholarships, supported hundreds of local development committees, and created more than 70 community forests with hunting zones.
Notably, Hemley said, the instances of "government park rangers" committing human rights abuses were not only intolerable, but the independent panel of experts found no evidence of WWF staff being involved in those crimes.
coguards gather in Monkoto, DRC for a ceremony commemorating the completion of their latest round of training. Image courtesy of Molly Bergen/WCS, WWF, WRI / Flickr
"The panel found that WWF has no direct management responsibility for the government rangers implicated," Hemley said, including no evidence that WWF purchased or procured the weapons that the rangers allegedly used against the people living near the WWF-backed part. Staff did not direct, participate in, or encourage human rights abuses of any kind, she said.
Knox, however, said WWF was giving a false impression of the panel's findings.
"It is frankly shocking to hear WWF portray the report as if it largely exonerated WWF, when in fact, the panel found that WWF knew, often for many years, about alleged human rights abuses at the parks it supports in each of the countries," he said at the hearing. "WWF nevertheless continued to provide financial and material support. Most importantly, WWF often failed to take effective steps to prevent or respond to the abuses."
In Cameroon, WWF's program office allegedly knew since 2008 of human rights abuses committed by eco-guards against local Indigenous Baka people in three conservation areas it supports: Boumba Bek, Nki, and Lobéké national parks. WWF commissioned three reports between 2015 and 2017 that found widespread allegations of beating, torture and the burning of huts, but did not make these reports public. While continuing to provide financial support to park rangers, it also provided support for at least 63 raids on villages between 2014 and 2018, according to Knox's testimony. Some WWF staff accompanied the patrols.
The panel found a similar pattern in Salonga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), which WWF has managed since 2015; WWF also appoints the park's director and pays the rangers who work there. The abuse allegations that Buzzfeed raised in 2019 were not the first at Salonga, the panel found. Its report showed that in 2016, a WWF DRC staff member reported to the organization's country director and conservation director that Salonga park rangers were regularly accused of abuses against communities living near the park.
Knox testified before Congress that WWF and park directors seemed to prefer avoiding conflicts with the ICCN, the DRC government agency that oversees conservation in the country. According to him, WWF perhaps believed the ICCN would react negatively to efforts looking into past human rights abuses. WWF DRC and Africa offices chose not to investigate, ignoring the alleged crimes of the rangers in the process. However, allegations of human rights abuse at the park surfaced in 2019 and WWF was forced to commission an independent investigation, three years after the first alarm was raised.
Rangers from Garamba National Park, in the north eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) ford the Dungu river on a barge at the start of their deployment into the park, 2015. Image courtesy of Jerome Starkey / Flickr
The report on the incidents at Salonga was never published by WWF, which continues to provide funding and other support for the park. Knox said nearby communities still don't have access to the park territory, and there is no evidence to prove the abuses have stopped.
"WWF has had policies that are supposed to recognize the rights of Indigenous peoples since 1996," said Sophie Grig, senior research and advocacy officer at Survival International, an Indigenous rights organization that documents abuses committed in conservation areas. "Yet, it has turned a blind eye to the most horrific abuses for decades."
Survival International said it doesn't expect WWF to apologize to victims or take responsibility for its actions, and that WWF is treating the problem as a PR issue.
Engaging in fortress conservation
The creation of Salonga National Park in 1956, under the colonial Belgian authorities, has been criticized as an example of fortress conservation, where Indigenous and local peoples are displaced from their ancestral lands without consideration of their role as environmental stewards. When its borders were expanded in 1970 under the newly independent government, it became Africa's largest forest national park, home to approximately 40% of the world's threatened bonobo population. WWF joined the ICCN in managing the park in 2015.
The practice of forcefully expelling communities living within the boundaries of a designated conservation area isn't new. The creation of "pristine" protected areas free from human presence is an initiative that's part of the draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework's "30 by 30" target: protecting 30% of Earth's land and ocean by 2030. Proponents see it as urgent in addressing global biodiversity loss.
Active fishing camp on the Lualaka River. Fishing is a common way of life around the DRC's Salonga National Park. Image courtesy of olly Bergen/WCS, WWF, WRI / Flickr
The estimated number of conservation-displaced people worldwide currently runs into the millions. According to one analysis, 250,000 individuals were displaced in 15 countries from 1990 to 2014. Some Indigenous and local peoples who have tried to regain access to these lands have faced violence or detention. An investigation by Rainforest Foundation UK and Actions pour la Promotion et Protection des Peuples et Espèces Menacées (APEM) found that 56 of 231 community members near Salonga National Park reported being victims of physical violence by eco-guards or the soldiers working with them.
In an interview with Mongabay two days after the congressional hearing, Knox said there's a direct link between fortress conservation and human rights abuses. When Indigenous peoples are forcefully displaced from their ancestral territories, they often lack proper alternatives, as their culture, way of life and material and spiritual well-being are tied to these lands.
"Fortress conservation in itself is a human rights abuse," he said. "They have a right to their lands. This displacement of Indigenous peoples then leads to a host of other human rights abuses. WWF's statement to the subcommittee shows that WWF leadership is still in the state of denial about its own role in fortress conservation and human rights abuses."
WWF said it's been implementing meaningful actions to ensure its efforts to protect biodiversity also protect local communities. These steps have been presented to the committee as examples of better conservation practices as new legislation for conservation organizations is developed.
"We have hired new leaders in key roles and expanded human rights and safeguards specialists across our programs," WWF told Mongabay concerning its response to the panel's recommendations. "All our staff are trained to be better allies to Indigenous peoples. Most importantly we've made many significant changes to ensure that we support the human rights of communities and take a strong stand with governments to bring perpetrators to justice."
Gorillas, chimpanzees and bonobos face a bleak future due to human-driven factors: climate crisis, growing human population, and the clearing of wild areas. Image courtesy of tsauquet / Pixabay (CC0)
During the hearing, Huffman said that organizations like WWF should stop thinking that equipping a conservation park with heavily guarded borders will solve the complex geopolitical problems that already exist in a given region.
While not all park rangers are bad actors, it is widely known that some are often poorly paid, trained, supported and monitored. The instructions they are given inherently put them in conflict with Indigenous peoples and local communities when barring them access to lands. Some of these confrontations have then led to abuses. The NGO investigators who visited a few of the villages around Salonga National Park found multiple credible allegations of murder, rape and torture. In fact, it was concluded that some rangers used torture and other cruel and degrading treatment as a regular part of their patrol operations.
Recommendations for U.S. government
According to Knox, organization like WWF will not make efforts to implement effective strategies to address human rights violations unless major donors, such as the U.S. government, force them to do so by withholding grants until they make the much-needed changes.
"The U.S. government needs to have stricter requirements for funding and carefully monitor the actions of these conservation organizations," he told Mongabay. "Or there shouldn't be any funding at all."
In his testimony, Knox recommended putting systems in place to ensure money does not reach parks and organizations unless they respect Indigenous peoples' free, prior and informed consent and can vouch that rangers are well-trained, monitored and overseen. For WWF, he reiterated his previous recommendations that weren't addressed: the organization needs to do more to build capacity to implement its human rights commitments, have at least one Indigenous person on its board, and be more transparent by admitting that it made mistakes and by publishing its internal reports.
Wall surrounding WWF's office in Mbandaka, DRC. Image courtesy of Molly Bergen/WCS, WWF, WRI / Flickr
During the hearing, Huffman added that the involvement of Indigenous peoples and local communities as core stakeholders in conservation projects is critical. He promised legislation to address the issues of human rights abuses in international conservation.
"The gap between commitments and implementation is not a problem unique to WWF," Knox said. "Other conservation organizations say they reject fortress conservation but they haven't brought leadership in that is actually driven by rights-focused biodiversity protection. The next generation of leaders may well bring that change but we don't have time for it. We need that change to happen now."
Banner image: '1600 pandas' campaign installation by WWF in Nantes, France, April 4, 2009. Image courtesy of DocChewbacca / Flickr
Related listening from Mongabay's podcast: Reporter Katie Baker details Buzzfeed's explosive investigation of WWF's human rights violations against Indigenous and local communities. Listen here:
← 2°C warming limit? More like 3°C and hotter, leading climate scientists say
Reducing Deforestation and Methane Emissions Take Center Stage at Glasgow →


text:
Browse > Home / Monthly Report, News / Lives for ransom: Consequences of kidnappings in southern Karen State
Lives for ransom: Consequences of kidnappings in southern Karen State
HURFOM: Recent kidnappings committed by unidentified armed groups have caused a sharp increase in uncertainty and fear experienced by residents living around Three Pagodas Sub-township, Kyainnseikyi Township in Karen State. In the face of eight cases of kidnapping since April and demands for exorbitant amounts of ransom, local authorities have yet to adequately address the threats, leaving residents to feel abandoned by local government and security forces. Some families sell their properties to pay for the safe return of kidnapped individuals, but poor households cannot do anything but manage their anxiety, pray for relatives, and wait. A recent field report demonstrates how, while political transition and precursors to peace are occurring in major cities, rural villages and peripheral areas still regularly experience injustice and security risks.
The field assessment discussed herein includes the villages of Pyaung Ma Htain, Sisone, Kumar, Kyawphalu, Anankwain, Hlootshan, Winkhana, Pharpya, Kyawinkha won and Chaung Zone. Interviews were conducted with the various ethnic groups represented in the Three Pagodas area, such as Mon, Karen, Lao-shan and Burmese, and research extended to villages around Three Pagodas Pass such as Ywathit, Kyonkwee, Kyaw phalu, Dhama yaikthar, and Japanese Well.
Absent rule of law despite presence of numerous security forces
Many areas have seen a surge in the presence of security forces, including Burmese Arms troops, ethnic ceasefire groups, border guard forces, local police, and civilian militia. At the same time as the No.3 Burmese tactical troops are settling in to Anan Kwin village in southern Kyainnseikyi Township, Karen State, LIB No.284 troop is establishing a battalion on the main road in Three Pagodas Pass (TPP). Alongside government troops, ethnic ceasefire groups lay claim to local sites as well. General Tin Hlaing Oo who leads the Karen National Union (KNU) ceasefire group positioned the KNLA troop No. 16 in Mae katar and Thabarwa villages, and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) General Ye Htaik and Karen Peace Force (KPF) General Yan Shin, leaders of the border gourd force, settled in TPP Township. The Mon ethnic ceasefire group is situated in Japanese Well and Kyan Taw, areas that hug the Thai-Burma border in TPP. There are many peace and security forces located in the region, yet authorities have not successfully stopped the threat and occurrence of kidnapping and extortion. For this reason, and as field interviews elucidate, residents who have lived through four decades of civil war want to believe in political transition and the rule of law, but they remain doubtful because the cooperation between local armed groups has been ineffective.
In accordance with agreements made at their monthly meeting, Burma military troops, border guard troops, police militia forces, and armed groups are jointly providing border protection. In addition, NMSP, KNU, DKBA, and Karen ceasefire groups are delivering border guard security in different areas. Since April, there have been eight incidents of kidnapping in spite of the fact that there are several border security groups, and villagers do not understand why these problems are still occurring. Frustrated local residents said that, increasingly, kidnapping is happening regardless of the presence of security forces and without authorities issuing penalties or pursuing justice against the perpetrators.
"For instance, we live in Kyonkwee village, and we have to pay monthly security taxes to the militia force. We have paid for "development, peace, and security" many times in my life, and we sometimes have to pay in response to the demands of ethnic armed groups. So, we are used to having to pay taxes, but we are never given anything in return. Now is the time for political transition and ceasefires. But while others think there are transitions, here we are still facing the terrible threat of kidnapping. I am disappointed and want to say that local officers are disregarding their responsibilities," expressed U Kan Aye, 62, a retired civil servant originally from Kyainnseikyi Township.
Although the perpetrators are currently known as an "unidentified armed group," upon their release, many victims allege that "Nai Htun" is leading the group. Several families reported that when members of the group contacted them to demand ransom, they called themselves "Nai Htun's armed group." Upon his escape, 30-year-old Ko Oo (alias), who lives in Quarter No.3 in TPP and was a victim of one of the eight kidnappings, said most of the group members speak in Mon language and are settled on the Thai-Burma border 40 miles from Sangklaburi, Thailand. On June 2, Nai Oo attempted escape without waiting for the captors to demand ransom because he knew his family would be unable to pay the amount requested.
Nai Nyan, a 50-year-old Mon villager whose home is located in a New Mon State Party (NMSP) controlled area, reported that he has observed the suspected Nai Htun kidnappers somewhere near the border of Thailand and Burma. He estimated there are seven members in the group and each member was equipped with new guns and ammunition.
"Most people in this area know the notorious captor Nai Htun; I think I met his group accidently near Baan Mai, a village close to the Thai-Burma border, two months ago. I was there cutting wood in the forest and I saw them 200 yards away. As soon as I recognized them as Captor Nai Htun's group, I hid myself and tried to observe them as much as I could. I saw three plain-clothes people with the armed group and thought they must be hostages," Nai Nyan explained.
Excessive ransom demands
Over the past 15 years, many households have shifted to working in the production of raw materials, such as on a rubber plantation, moving away from growing lemon, pomelo, betel nut, and other seasonal crops. According to a revenue inquest conducted by local authorities, over half of the population, estimated at 50,000, living in the areas affected by the kidnappings survive by working on rubber plantations.
According to information gathered by the field researchers, the highest ransom paid by a family occurred on August 7, 2011. A source close to the family said they were originally asked for 500,000 Baht to ensure the family member's freedom, but the armed group ended up agreeing to 300,000 Baht and one baht of gold ("baht" is used as a unit of measurement for gold and silver in Thailand and Burma, and one baht of gold is equivalent to 25,000 Baht in currency, according to one gold market source). The hostages were Nai Maung and two of his plantation workers originally from Kyainnseikyi Township. The three were taken while working on Nai Maung's eight acres of rubber plantation located near Kyonkwee village.
A 52-year-old rubber plantation owner and villager from Joehablu expressed his opinion during an interview on June 2, 2012, by stating "Most of us whose livelihoods depend on rubber plantations are facing economic crisis, the only difference being whether it is more or less crisis. I own five acres of rubber trees and survive by tapping these trees to produce rubber sheets and sell the products. However all rubber cultivators need to spend large amount of profits on fertilizer, maintenance and labor costs. These expenses total more than half of my profit. We can only rely on this remaining 50%, which is just enough to feed my family. We don't have extra money to pay huge ransoms demanded by kidnappers."
Nai Ngwe Maung, 45, is a resident of kyonkwee village and is frightened to be captured by the infamous kidnappers that are active in the area where he works. He said that civilian kidnappings have been common over the past ten years as a method for insurgency groups to obtain support from local people. But in those cases, the captors only asked for ransom that family members could reasonably pay. The ransoms being demanded now are almost impossible for many families to afford.
"I do not mean the past kidnappers were better. It's just that I'm terrified of Nai Htun and his troops because I don't have extra money to pay their required ransom. I don't own a plantation and survive only as a hand-to-mouth worker." Referring to the case of Nai Maung and the two rubber tappers who secured their release by paying more than 300,000 Baht, Nai Ngwe Maung said, "500,000 Baht to release three people is too much for me. If it was me, I would rather die than pay them."
In February of this year, a group of four kidnappers suspected to be from Nai Htun's group kidnapped two Mon residents near the Dama Giri Buddha Temple, two kilometers northwest of Three Pagodas Pass, as well as another two young villagers outside of town. According to three sources from the victims' families, the kidnappers demanded 130,000 Baht to release all four hostages.
Less than three months later, on May 8, 2012, another case of kidnapping occurred in Quarter No. 2 of Three Pagodas Pass even though local authorities had set-up security troops in town. At that time, 12 local villagers were taken hostage, and the local residents believed the kidnappers were from the same group. Field interviews demonstrate how most of the victims were extremely poor and their families could not afford to pay the kidnappers' demands. Fortunately, all victims were freed after one of them pleaded with the captors for release.
In many cases, the kidnappers targeted local merchants or rubber cultivators in the hopes of receiving more money. However, in mid-2011, seven woodcutters from Mudon, Kyainnseikyi and Kawkareik Townships were kidnapped, although they had been barely getting by as illegal woodcutters for almost five years in TPP and New Mon State Party (NMSP) administered areas. A source from one victim's family confirmed to HURFOM that the families managed to pay 80,000 Baht [2,600 USD] for all of the hostages to be freed. The family member tried reporting the kidnapping, but local authorities were unhelpful. One staff member from the Township administration office replied that they, too, had received ransom demands from the kidnappers to release the apprehended woodcutters. "I am a relative of U Soe, one of the seven men kidnapped. [The kidnappers] use Burmese language on the phone to ask for ransom money for the seven hostages from the administration office, but I don't know how much they requested. Finally, [the victims'] families collected Baht 80,000 to pay the kidnappers.''
HURFOM field reports show that the majority of rubber cultivators and woodcutters working in areas to the southwest of Three Pagoda Pass (TPP) are affected by the insecurity. On April 25, an unidentified armed group that included an estimated five armed personnel came and demanded money from 50 families that work on rubber plantations and as woodcutters. U Myo Aye, the owner of three acres of plantation said, "One armed man, approximately 38 years of age and speaking Burmese, said that his group wanted 5,000 to 10,000 Baht per family per year, as 'support' funds. The amount requested would depend on the stability and size of each family's income. Most of us have not made any payments yet. He seemed to be one of the heads of the group, and he threatened that if we reported them to the authorities, we would be punished."
Plight of local inhabitants in unstable conditions
"Local villagers have been afraid to harvest bamboo-shoots and mushrooms in the forest. We are day workers from poor families, and if a kidnapper catches us, what do we have to pay them? If they captured rich men, then of course it's possible to receive some ransom from these people. For us, we have no money to pay and will end up to dead," said one Pyaung Ma Htain villager.
Since last year, the unidentified armed group has been increasingly engaged in the kidnappings of local inhabitants, resulting in direct threats to people's safety and livelihoods. Villagers do not have any details about the kidnappers and have no idea how to avoid them or protect themselves from unexpected attacks while working in the forest or on rubber plantations. The level of fear regarding arbitrary kidnapping seems to be increasing every day. Based on the accounts of local villagers and laborers who live in unstable areas around Kyawphalu village, the threat of kidnapping prevents people from working, and reduction to daily income has created conditions of food insecurity and even starvation.
"At first, we thought the security situation surrounding the kidnappings was going to improve with the protection of local authorities and various security forces. However, it seems no one is willing to protect us, and now, and the situations have been getting worse, which we did not expect. We are now very concerned about our survival due to lack of income for several weeks," said Ko Yan Naing, 48, one of thousands of rubber tappers who stopped going to work as a result of kidnappings around Three Pagodas Pass area.
Even rubber plantation owners have been impeded by the risk of attack. Since the kidnapping has been happening with more frequency, the owners do not dare tap their rubber for fear that they will be kidnapped and asked to pay ransoms they cannot afford. Many reported that not tapping rubber was the safest option for them.
"We have three acres, and we only make enough from that land to cover daily expenses. This kidnapping is really terrible for us. The amount of money asked for ransom is higher than ever before—we have never seen ransoms of hundreds of thousands of Thai Baht. Now, we haven't been able to tap rubber for two weeks. We don't know how long this will go on," explained a Kyawphalu village resident, who did not want to reveal her name, in June.
According to plantation worker Ko San Aye, there was an eyewitness account on the May 27, 2012, of an armed group of seven people kidnapping four local residents. Ko San Aye, 45, is worried about the impact these activities have on his daily income in southern Kyainnseikyi.
"On that day, I visited my friend below Quarter No.3 on a cashew nut plantation. When I was coming back, I heard that two workers from the cashew nut plantation where I worked had been kidnapped, so I returned to my friend's cashew nut plantation. I didn't dare to go back again. The next day, we heard on the news that ten villagers had been kidnapped. On the evening of May 28, near U-Doung lake, some people were kidnapped again. If day workers like us had been captured, you can imagine what would happen to them. Kidnapping is for [the sole purpose of] extorting money. If we can't afford to pay, we will lose our lives. Like others, my family didn't dare to work. Although kidnapping is not targeting poor people like us, the kidnappers don't know who is poor or rich. Because we were evading capture by staying away from the plantation, it became difficult for us to cover daily expenses. If we couldn't work, we couldn't live either, so today I must go to work. This is our faith," continued Ko San Aye.
1,200 households of residents from the villages of Ywathit, Kyonkwee, Kyawphalu, Dhamma Yeiktar, Japanese Well, and Kyantaw were concerned about kidnapping. According to a member of the NMSP department located in Japanese Well, none of these people could work for three weeks. In that area, there are also many workers from Pyoung Ma Htain, Sisone, Komar, Kyawphalu, and Anankwin villages worried about kidnapping.
"Recent kidnapping news has worried villagers from outside of Three Pagoda Pass, Kyainnseikyi Township, Lohshan, Win Kha Na, PharPya, and Kyonkhawon villages. The kidnappers are part of an armed group that does whatever it wants. In my 60 years, I have often heard about kidnapping. Most of the kidnappers are believed to be associated with some armed group, or maybe robber groups that are active in the areas. Previous kidnappers asked realistic amounts of ransom from people, but the current kidnappers ask too much money. It's not fair at all. If it was me, I would have to pay with my life because I couldn't afford to earn that much money," said one Lohshan resident who owns a betel nut plantation.
"We really appreciate the words of rule of law. Whichever government controls the country, we are satisfied, as long as we can live and work freely under the protection of the rule of law," said U Kan Aye.
The kidnappers' shift from targeting businesspeople to seizing common, often poor, villagers has resulted in serious impacts on local residents' lives. In the afflicted areas, there is a lack of security and a sense of fear that is reminiscent of the periods of armed conflict before ceasefires were signed. The persistent incidents of kidnapping and extortion, along with the associated fear that disrupts the livelihoods of local residents, must not be allowed to continue. The current government, as a strong proponent of democracy and a signatory of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), is obliged to enforce the rule of law and protect its citizens from such violent and crippling threats. Also, the use of extortion and arbitrary taxation by various militia and security forces is illegal and must be immediately punished and prohibited. Local residents' feelings of isolation and mistreatment are not consistent with the current political goal of achieving meaningful social and political change, and without remedy, constitute a stain on the country's path to democratic reform.
Written by HURFOM · Filed Under Monthly Report, News
What is working between the Union and State levels of government, and what needs to change? : Responses from parliamentarians
NLD selective meetings with winning ethnic party candidates damaging unity, says MUP
Civic education must come first before the new GAD election
Child sexual abuses cases : 1/3rd of the perpetrators are family members
NLD sends 17 objection letters to UEC following 2020 election: One concerns election of MUP Deputy Speaker to Mon State Parliament
Six-year-old sexually abused in Mudon
Meeting between NLD and MUP canceled
MNEC needs hundred thousand supporters for Mon national education
Child sexual abuse on the rise
MUP seeks common ground before accepting NLD request to form a Democratic Federal Union
Articles in Mon (PDF Format)
Alternative ASEAN Network on Burma
Chin Human Rights Organization
Human Rights Treaties ratified by Burma
Karen Human Rights Group
Copyright © 2008 Human Rights Foundation of Monland - Burma. All Rights Reserved. XHTML


Take a long, hard look, folks. This is the refreshed 2016 Mazda CX-5, which makes its debut at the Los Angeles Auto Show today. And if you're thinking, "Say, that looks just like the old one," you really aren't alone. The visible updates certainly aren't major – Mazda has instead focused on giving the already-good CX-5 some thoughtful upgrades to make it a more attractive package than ever.
Outside, there are some slight changes to the styling, including new LED light signatures at the front and rear, as well as redesigned foglamp housings. Uplevel models also ride on attractive new 19-inch alloy wheels, with a dark finish.
Under the hood, it's all the same. Mazda's Skyactiv 2.0- and 2.5-liter four-cylinder engines carry over, with 155 and 184 horsepower, respectively. Front-wheel-drive, 2.5-liter models get a small bump in fuel economy, too – the CUV is now rated at 26 miles per gallon city and 33 mpg highway, up from 25/32. Models equipped with the automatic transmission now benefit from different drive modes, as well.
Moving inside the cabin, the biggest news is the upgrade to the newer Mazda Connect infotainment system that debuted in the Mazda3. It uses a larger screen, with a cleaner, better-designed interface. This is an update that couldn't come soon enough. Additional interior improvements include more sound deadening, a new electronic parking brake, as well as some improved material and trim finishes. There's a host of new active safety features available, too, including radar-based cruise control with auto-brake support, lane-departure warning, and so on.
Read the full list of updates in Mazda's press release, below, and have a look at the 2016 CX-5 in the gallery above.
Standing at the vanguard of Mazda's new-generation product lineup, CX-5 was the first model to fully adopt SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY and the KODO-Soul of Motion design language. The model offered much more than the basic values of utility and practicality that customers expect from an SUV; KODO design imparted a powerful sense of vitality, and SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY delivered high levels of both driving pleasure and environmental and safety performance. Not surprisingly, the model was exceptionally well received by customers around the world, and has grown to become one of the company's core products alongside Mazda3. Since the launch of the original model, Mazda has made steady refinements to the CX-5 each year, aiming to deliver customers even greater value and sophistication. For this round's update, the company aimed to bring new levels of depth and maturity to a variety of areas, including design, the quality and functionality of the interior, ride comfort and quietness, as well as safety performance.
The 2016 Mazda CX-5 features the following enhancements. While the exterior retains its distinctive SUV looks, the updates to the front grille and other design features refresh the model with the latest design expression of the Mazda brand. For the interior, particular effort went into improving the quality feel of the ornamentation and materials used, and also to improving the functionality and usability of the cockpit zone, based on Mazda's unique Human-Machine Interface (HMI). Enhancements to dynamic performance include updates to the front and rear seats and suspension system, as well as to sound insulation performance throughout the body. The result is greater ride comfort and cabin quietness that makes time spent in the vehicle more pleasant. Mazda's renowned AWD system is also updated and real-world fuel economy improved. The 2.5L FWD engine has seen an improvement in its fuel economy as well.
Launched in 2012, CX-5 was the first production model to adopt Mazda's KODO design language. Features unique to KODO design, including a front nose with presence, a forward-leaning stance, as well as the rearward placement of the A-pillars and compact cabin, realized an exterior design with a sharper sense of vitality and dynamism. SUV styling completely different from anything that came before has earned the CX-5 high acclaim.
For this round's update, Mazda added further polish to these unique characteristics in the pursuit of higher quality. The front grille was evolved to create a design that is bolder and tauter, while the eye-like design of the headlamps further heighten the car's look of vitality. The refreshed CX-5 also adopts a new 19-inch aluminum wheel design and newly developed body colors. Taking to new heights its presence and powerful looks as a crossover SUV, as well as its level of quality, the refreshed CX-5 realizes a sophisticated exterior design that conveys the evolution of the brand.
- The front grille was evolved to create a design that is bolder and tauter with horizontal fins painted metallic gray.
- The headlamps create an enhanced sense of vitality by adopting a redesigned interior layout and new LED lighting signature (optional with Technology Package).
- The rear combination lamps feature an LED lighting signature (optional with Technology Package).
- The 19-inch aluminum wheels adopt a new design with machining that highlights a look of three-dimensionality.
- The lineup of nine colors includes the newly developed Sonic Silver Metallic and Titanium Flash Mica, which was first applied to Mazda3.
The interior design for the CX-5 features an expression of SUV power and a driver-oriented space that heightens anticipation of the drive to come.
While retaining a design that supports confident operation by positioning each function where the driver can recognize it at a glance, particular effort for this round's update went into enhancing the quality of every related detail. The design of the center stack and floor console were greatly evolved, while the coordination of the ornamentation and mating of parts aim to achieve a unified look. In addition to SUV functionality and a look of power, the new interior design conveys a sense of taste and high quality. The refreshed CX-5 adopts a variety of advanced functions, including Mazda Connect*, Mazda's next-generation car connectivity system, and an Electrical Parking Brake (EPB), while greatly evolving the convenience and ease of use of storage space by increasing the capacity of the door pockets and floor console box.
- The interior fuses a driver-oriented cockpit design based on the Heads-up Cockpit, Mazda's new Human-Machine Interface (HMI) concept, and SUV functionality and a look of power, as well as a sense of taste and high quality.
- Adopting an Electrical Parking Brake (EPB) gives the floor console a clean and uncluttered look of higher quality.
- The design features metallic-finish trim that produces solid-looking forms and a sense of power extending out to the sides on a horizontal plane.
- Three types of decorative panels are available for the instrument panel: an aluminum-look panel featuring a vertical hairline finish and a thin satin chrome strip, a metallic-finish panel, and a piano black panel.
- The refreshed CX-5 continues to offer a black leather interior, as well as black or sand fabric interiors. Leather interior choices include a new Parchment leather offering. For the fabric interiors, the center of the seats adopts newly developed materials.
- The Mazda Connect car connectivity system paired with a smartphone makes it easier to take advantage of functions including internet connectivity and access to social networking services.
- Storage space with increased capacity includes an open space in front of the shift knob, floor console cup holders and storage for small items, a console box, and front door pockets.
CX-5 was the first in the Mazda product lineup to adopt SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY for its engine, transmission, body and chassis. It added further polish to all the basic performance attributes of driving, turning and stopping to realize dynamic performance that delivered driving pleasure with a tangible sense of oneness between the car and driver. The results of this round's update include the suspension system, NVH performance and seat performance achieving a more sophisticated and higher quality driving experience. The SKYACTIV-DRIVE automatic transmission newly adopts Drive Selection, which brings greater pleasure to driving.
The powertrain lineup for the refreshed CX-5 includes the 2.0-liter and 2.5-liter SKYACTIV-G direct-injection gasoline engines, and the six-speed automatic SKYACTIV-DRIVE and six-speed manual SKYACTIV-MT transmissions. It also continues to offer Mazda's new-generation AWD system. All variations deliver the right balance of linear, powerful acceleration, as well as excellent fuel economy and environmental performance.
- A smooth, flat ride realized by adopting a new structure for the front and rear dampers and optimizing the bushing shapes for the front lower arms.
- Further evolved NVH performance realizes a cabin environment in which occupants can better enjoy conversation while driving. Cabin noise when driving at highway speeds is reduced by approximately 10 percent over the previous model.
- The evolved front and rear seat structure provides a feeling of comfortable snugness and a good fit, excellent holding characteristics, as well as ride comfort. The length of the rear seat cushions was also extended, enabling the occupant to relax and sit naturally.
- CX-5, powered by a gasoline engine and paired with SKYACTIV-DRIVE, adopts Drive Selection, which allows drivers to switch drive modes for a more responsive driving experience.
Mazda pursues safety performance based on its Mazda Proactive Safety*1 philosophy. The fundamental performance of the Mazda CX-5, based on SKYACTIV TECHNOLOGY, has been further polished. This combines with Mazda's i-ACTIVSENSE*2 advanced safety technologies to achieve world-class safety performance, allowing customers to enjoy the drive with peace of mind, whatever the driving scene.
In constant pursuit of providing higher levels of safety, Mazda made a concerted effort with this round's update to keep the driver more aware of conditions so they can enjoy driving at night or at highway speeds with greater reassurance. The CX-5 also newly adopts features such as Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) and Smart Brake Support (SBS). Supporting the driver with this variety of technologies reduces risks and provides the right condition for driving with reassurance, which results in a reassuring driving experience for all cabin occupants. With this in mind, the updates implemented this round employ a wide range of advanced safety technologies.
*1 Mazda Proactive Safety is Mazda's safety philosophy that aims to minimize the risks that can lead to an accident and maximize the range of conditions in which the driver can safely operate the vehicle. The various technologies it provides enable the driver to act appropriately through all driving processes, including cognition, judgment, and operation. It thereby helps prevent or minimize damage in the event an accident cannot be avoided. Mazda Proactive Safety will continue to evolve in the future.
- Among the variety of i-ACTIVSENSE advanced safety technologies, Mazda made a particular effort to keep the driver more aware of conditions so they can enjoy driving at night or at highway speeds with greater reassurance.
- Mazda's Blind Spot Monitoring (BSM) detects vehicles approaching from the blind spot areas at the sides and rear. BSM also incorporates Mazda's Rear Cross Traffic Alert (RCTA) function, which alerts the driver when it detects vehicles approaching from either side as the driver backs up.
- Available as an additional feature, Smart Brake Support (SBS) helps avoid frontal collisions or minimize damage when travelling mid- to high-speed.
- Mazda Radar Cruise Control (MRCC) is another additional feature that automatically controls the vehicle speed to maintain the safe following distance in accordance with the target speed set by the driver.
See also: 2016 Mazda6 gets a facelift in LA, 2016 Mazda CX-3 is a 2 cute ute, Mazda CX-3 almost ready for LA Show.


text:
Who has banned Zoom? Google, NASA, and many more!
Ever wondered how data gets leaked to dark web and what happens after it does?
Hackers are always looking for data leaks VIA some back doors, loopholes or weak points in the system to get hands on any kind of information. By using techniques like
To name a few.
This information is then sold on the dark web which may include
Which can further be used for fraud and identity theft.
With the rise in technology, with now almost everyone shifting towards digital data. Whether it is economic transactions or your cheap assignment writing services UK; there is no surprise that cyber threats have increased drastically. And with almost all of our data now saved digitally, it is of utmost importance to keep them safe.
According to 'Cybin Solutions' approximately $6 trillion is expected to be spent in year 2021 globally, on cybersecurity.
Non-compliant and weak security measures are the main reasons because of which 'Zoom' experienced it's fall from grace.
How, you ask?
What is zoom and why did it become so popular?
Zoom is a video hosting site that provided cloud platform for video and audio calling, conferences, webinars, meeting etc and is supported on almost every device e.g. smartphones, laptops, PCs etc.
Zoom experienced boom when the organizations, companies and offices switched to work from home due to the ragging novel corona virus pandemic.
Having interactive user interface
Not requiring signing up or logging in any where
The free version supporting 100 attendees for almost 40 minutes
Were some of the features that the world had never seen before. Especially the ability to connect 100 attendees in a single call, a feature not provided by any video hosting platform distinguished it from others.
As this allowed
Large office meetings
Lectures and classes
Congregational events
Government meetings, UK's prime minister Boris Johnson used zoom rooms for UK cabinet meetings.
To take place without any kind of hinderance.
The impact it had on global market
These novel features in a video hosting platform and the demand of time, skyrocketed zoom's reputation and clientele base.
Over a period of just months zoom's revenue increased almost 85%, raiding it's market value to an astounding $42 billion. This also boosted its founder's, Eric Yuan's, net worth more than $4 billion, to an aggregate of $7.9 billion
The company made its way into 2 of the renowned stock exchanges of the world
NASDAQ (national association of securities dealers automated quotations), a stock market that ranks 2nd in the list of stock exchanges by market capitalization.
FTSE 100 boardroom (financial times stock exchange) 100 index, which is a shares index of top 100 companies of London stock exchange in terms of market capitalization.
Currently zoom has almost 300 million daily active users, more than any other video hosting platform. And it rules the competition of being the most preferred video hosting platform in the world.
Controversies over security
The sudden and exponential boom of zoom did expose a lot of security flaws and issues in the software. Issues that were related to leaking of data and information, security breaches and its vulnerability.
Even the CEO and founder of zoom, Eric Yuan, admitted the company's shortcomings and stated that they 'moved too fast and made mis-steps' in an interview with CNN.
One of the major problems was of 'Zoom Bombing', as zoom ID codes are easy to guess, random people could barge in and disturb the meeting like shouting, sharing of obscenities and profanities.
Another major problem was that as zoom calls were not end-to-end encrypted, hackers could get information about email IDs of people, their pictures and videos, the data being shared in-between the meeting.
Moreover, attackers could modify installer without anyone noticing, which allowed them to easily gather personal information about the users.
The thing that caused the biggest outcry was 'Business Insider's' report that stated that over half a million zoom accounts were available on dark web and costed about less than a cent each.
How did the world react?
Companies and private organizations that banned zoom
SpaceX, who's CEO is Elon Musk, was one of the first countries to ban zoom, due to security and privacy concerns for the company
Google also banned all its employees from using zoom, moreover, they made their premium version of 'Google Meet' free, which had the ability to support almost 250 people simultaneously in a single call.
Standard Chartered was the first major bank that notifies its employees to discontinue zoom.
Government organizations that banned zoom
NASA banned all its employees from using zoom services.
Singapore discontinued zoom from all of its schools and colleges after lectures started to get 'zoom bombed'.
Similarly, New York City stopped usage of zoom in all of the classroom citing security concerns.
German Foreign Ministry limited the usage of zoom in only emergency situations and that too only on personal computers, not the official ones.
Taiwan was the first country to ban zoom in all of its government organizations.
Australian Defence Force were forced to shut down zoom after an Australian comedian 'zoom bombed' one of the meetings.
Similarly, many other companies and organizations have banned zoom for internal usage and in some cases, completely.
How has zoom responded to it?
Zoom responded with some immediate patching,where some updates will be launched that would deal with major problems of zoom bombing, by enabling passwords for each room. Room ID to be shared with specific people and room admin having administrative power of the room.
Secondly it vowed on increasing security aspects of the software by incorporating encryption and other safety measures.
Adam Sheen has a PhD in accounting and finance from University of Sheffield. His expertise lies in writing for topics related to finance and management. And have an astounding 10 years' worth of experience.
PHP vs. Python: Which One is Ruling the Market?
How to fix Java Error Code 1603 Java did not complete


Despite the termination of slavery following the civil war in America, oppression continued to exist through prejudice without any necessary halt. In Ralph Ellison's novel, Invisible Man, a black man in his youth stumbles upon the troublesome route of self identification as he voyages from the South to Harlem, New York. As a result of the evident complexity in portraying the abstract idea of identity with accuracy, Ralph Ellison utilizes the symbol of a briefcase throughout the novel to permit the distinct comprehension of such a higher notion. The contents within the briefcase reflect the changeability of the narrator's identity as he attempts to adapt to a prejudiced American society.
Searching for Identity: An Analysis of Richard Wright's "Native Son" and Ralph Ellison's "Invisible Man"
Sports Mascot or The Survival of Sambo?


"The officers then came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, "Why did you not bring him?" The officers answered, "No one ever spoke like this man!" The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?"
"Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." So the Pharisees said to him, "You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true." Jesus answered, "Even if I do bear witness about myself, my testimony is true, for I know where I came from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. You judge according to the flesh; I judge no one."
"But there will be no gloom for her who was in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he has made glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who dwelt in a land of deep darkness, on them has light shone."
This image of light would have also been very fresh in the minds of His hearers because of what goes on at the Feast of Tabernacles. According to the oral tradition of the rabbis called the Mishnah, four huge lampstands stood within the court of women in the Temple and were illuminated at the end of the first day of the feast. Each of the four is said to have been nearly 75 feet tall. Each lamp had four branches, at the top was a large bowl. Four men carrying large pitchers of pure oil would climb to the top on ladders and fill the bowls on each lamp. The oil was then ignited and the entire complex was illuminated. Back in Episode 48 I talked about how much gold and marble was used in the construction of the Temple. So the light from the sun or any sources as large as these lamps would create a beautiful reflection off of the structures of the Temple.
So picture 16 blazing lights reflecting off of the gold and marble in the Temple at night. Remember that the Temple was set above the rest of the city on a large platform, so these lights would probably be illuminating the city in the evenings of the feast. As God had promised, Israel was to be a light to the rest of the nations, the people who would reflect His glory as servants and the people through whom all the other nations would be blessed. Just as John the Baptist had done and just as Jesus had done throughout His ministry thus far, He once again requires Israel to follow Him in order to have life and to obtain their covenantal blessings. Obeying the law perfectly or simply being a physical descendant of Abraham is insufficient.
The lamps in the Temple were also set up to remind the people that God led them out of Egypt through the wilderness by a pillar of fire at night. Remember, Tabernacles celebrated the Exodus and anticipated the time when He would plant them in the land permanently. Now with these things in mind, what is Jesus doing when He says "I am the light of the world"? He's setting Himself up as the light itself. This would have been unbelievably offensive to the Pharisees. He is essentially saying that He is the one who led Israel out of Egypt. He also said that those who followed Him would not walk in darkness but would have the light of life. In both of these instances, He is putting Himself in the place of their God, Yahweh. To anyone even remotely familiar with the purpose of Tabernacles and the story of the Exodus, Jesus is identifying Himself as the God who gave them this feast. Wow.
The dialog that ensues in the rest of John 8 is pretty significant, and I'd encourage you to read it on your own. Jesus harshly rebukes the Pharisees for their hypocrisy, their pride, their seeming loyalty to the Law, and their lack of love for God. But several times in this chapter, something even more offensive is coming from Jesus' lips, and that is the two short words "I am". In Greek, the words are "ego eimi". Some translations render this somewhat odd Greek phrase as "it is I" or "I am he", but the Greek does not have the word "he" in there. Our ignorance of the original language really places us at a disadvantage here. If we were readers of John's gospel in the first century, we would notice this odd Greek phrase seven times. Two of the seven we've already looked at - the first was in John 4 and Episode 52 with the woman at the well, and the second was in John 6 and Episode 76 with Jesus walking on the water. And three of them are here in John 8. First, John 8:24, Jesus says "if you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins." The second is just four verses later in John 8:28, "when you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am" and then again in John 8:58, probably the most well-known one, Jesus says "Truly, truly, I say to you, before Abraham was, I am".
"God said to Moses, "I am who I am." And he said, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'I am has sent me to you.' " God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel, 'The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.' This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations."
What God said to Moses here, "I am", is often called the "tetragrammaton" by Biblical scholars. This was written in Hebrew with four letters, which is why it's called the "tetra-grammaton". God revealed Himself to Moses using this name. Scholars most often make the link here between God's name to Moses and Jesus' words in John 8. Jesus is powerfully and clearly saying that He is the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.
"'See now that I, I am He, And there is no god besides Me; It is I who put to death and give life. I have wounded and it is I who heal, And there is no one who can deliver from My hand. 'Indeed, I lift up My hand to heaven, And say, as I live forever, If I sharpen My flashing sword, And My hand takes hold on justice, I will render vengeance on My adversaries, And I will repay those who hate Me. 'I will make My arrows drunk with blood, And My sword will devour flesh, With the blood of the slain and the captives, From the long-haired leaders of the enemy.' "Rejoice, O nations, with His people; For He will avenge the blood of His servants, And will render vengeance on His adversaries, And will atone for His land and His people.""
In each of these instances, the God of Israel is declaring Himself as the only true God who was before all things, the one who made all things, the one who delivers Israel, and the one whom they will worship. So for Jesus to use the Greek phrase "ego eimi" is for Him is to identify Himself as the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Three times here at the Feast of Tabernacles, Jesus does this. Do you see how the Jewish authorities would have been so angered by Jesus, and do you see how glorious Jesus is for saying these things?
I believe Jesus is making it so clear to them - the one they want to kill is doing more than just claiming to be the Messiah (which He is), He's claiming to be God Himself (which He also is). Their hatred for Him is revealing their hatred for God. And in less than six months, they are going to express that hatred and put Him on a cross, sealing their fate and bringing the covenantal curses upon them. Oh Israel, Israel, if you could only see what you were about to do!
Well we are out of time for this episode, but come back next time and we'll continue working through this Late Perean and Judean ministry. As always, you can find all the episodes of this series on my website, www.joshuahawkins.com/gospels - so if you've missed any of the episodes, go back and check them out there. Blessings to you, I hope you come back next time.
This day over two thousand years ago, the Sabbath of the Passover feast - was likely a very quiet yet extremely emo… t.co/Ro0IgeA9Sx 3 days 2 min ago.


Composed by Jerome Grey : Arranged, Orchestrated & Conducted by Opeloge Ah Sam for the SAMOA Tsunami relief by Opera Nation Samoa 2009.
In 2009, I got married to my lovely wife Margot. As we prepared to head off to Samoa for our honeymoom, my father suddenly fell ill. Over a few days, we came to the decision to cancel our honeymoon at Coconuts Beach Resort to be home with my dad who was still in hospital at the time even though my father was adament we should still go because it wasn't life threatening.
A few days later as my wife and I were reminiscing our lost honeymoon, we woke to the news that Samoa had been devastated by a Tsunami and the resort we would have been in during the tsunami had been wiped out. It was a surreal feeling and one that still haunts me today to think what could have been had we decided to go ahead with our honeymoon.
It was then natural both as a Samoan musician and as a human being to do my part to help Samoa through the talents given to me by God. We are Samoa was composed by Samoan music legend Jerome Grey and here is my arrangement/orchestration sung by some of Samoa's greatest overseas operatic talent with the help of some amazing Kiwi musicians who gave their time to play for this song.
Featuring the amazing operatic talents of Samoa's own Sani & Eddie Muli'aumaseali'i, Aivale Cole, Daphne Collins, Jonathan Lemalu & Ben Makisi with the MVE choir.