Italy has a wonderful celebration for the Christmas season. Many towns light up streets in elaborate lights. There are Christmas markets to buy things and religious ceremonies at local churches. Non are better than midnight mass at the Vatican. If you are going to Italy during Christmas season click here to see a list of towns and what they have to offer. Page 2 of the above site has Christmas markets by city.
In the north of Italy you may get a white Christmas to celebrate. These cities are cold and may have snow on the ground but the stores, bars and restaurants are warm and inviting. Stroll the streets and take in the lights and decorations. Stop in a bar for a hot coffee or chocolate. Warm up and then continue your light tour.
In the south of Italy things are warmer but the Christmas spirit is strong. Naples has wonderful mangers. You may not see snow but it can rain in this season so be prepared. Stopping at a bar for a refreshment is mandatory here. Don't forget Naples is home of the pizza. Enjoy the thin crust pizza here.
Shopping all over Italy is wonderful. The stores are crowded but it is the season to be in crowded and shop. Enjoy your trip. Buon Natale!


As millions of Orlando tourists can attest, the New Year's celebration at Disney World is one of the world's best. After the first week of January is over, however, things settle down and attendance decreases. This gives you a great opportunity for your family to schedule a Disney vacation at a time when you're more likely to see and do everything that's on your agenda.
If you visit anytime from January 9th through the 13th, then your Disney vacation will include race-themed events like Goofy's Race and a Half Challenge, Walt Disney World Marathon, and Kids Races. Whether you decide to join in or simply watch the runners is entirely up to you. The longer races will actually go through all four of the theme parks, but even the smaller races provide plenty of fun and exercise. Just don't forget that it will be a little busier because thousands of runners will show up.
From January 18th through February 25th, your Disney vacation can include a festival celebrating the visual, performing, and culinary arts. You and your family can enjoy gallery exhibits, artists appearances, living statues, and a whole bunch more. This is one part of your Disney vacation where you can just relax and enjoy the sights with your loved ones.
Disney World is certainly not going to leave you hanging, even in months when there is lower attendance. There's still plenty of events to attend and attractions to see, and you can discover the highlights by checking out the Disney World event calendar for January and February.
Although many kids are in school during the month of January and the beginning of February, parents will often bring them to Disney World. Either that or their child is home-schooled, which frees up their schedule a bit more. One big advantage of scheduling your Disney vacation for the beginning of a new year is that the smaller crowds keep children from being so overwhelmed from the number of people or bored because they're waiting so long to get on the rides.
Since the beginning of the year is still the winter time, it's important that you pack your suitcases accordingly. The last thing you want is for your Disney vacation to be ruined because you're too cold while waiting for the rides and events to begin or simply not prepared. Yes, Orlando is generally a warm area, but you should definitely check the weather report before heading in and pack items like blankets, cold medicine, and even rain gear. Don't forget your swimsuit, because you just never know.
If you're planning to take a Disney vacation any time of the year, doing so with private Disney World tours are definitely the way to go. Reach out to World Class VIP and we'll handle all of the details so you can enjoy a stress-free vacation. We'll even help book your Disney Hotel Reservations. With World Class VIP tours, you'll be guided through each park with a private tour guide that knows Disney well. They'll be there every step of the way to ensure you and your family have the best possible Disney experience.


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Q: Jasper - sort by field with char and int values I have a report which uses a SP to get a list of fields numbered from 1 to ~1700 but also including some char values (H44, HH4 etc.)  The db stores these as char(5) types. The report field class is java.lang.String. The output is pretty much random and I would like to sort the fields ascending, starting with the numbers.   I am using JasperSoft Studio 6.2.1.
From the Outline view I selected Sort Fields.  I created a new sortField using the name of the field I want to sort by.  It shows Type as a 'field' and  Order is sorting 'asc'.   These are the only options in the properties for the sortField.
In the Source it shows:
<sortField name = "myfield"/>

When I run the report I get the fields listed in order, but only by the first digits.   It shows 1,10,100,1002,1003,1004...103,1030(there is no 101,102,1001).  It put 2,3,4,5 etc. elsewhere in the list.
I tried creating a variable and converting the string but I found I cannot use:
Integer.parseInt("myField")

since it seems to choke as soon as it hits a non-int. In fact I get an JRExpressionEvalException when I try to run it.  It seems the string in this case is "1511 " - with a space at the end?
I can't control the SP so is there a way to sort this mess?

A: I had the same problem today while creating an Ad Hoc View on Jasper Server. I've solved it as follows:
1) create a calculated field which contains the full string (e.g. "--" resulting in "1-2-3", "2-2-3", "10-2-3", ...)
2) add this field as a column to the report
3) sort the report's resultset as follows: value1, value2, value3
Is this helpful for your problem?
Sven

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Анто́н Зино́вьев:
 Зиновьев, Антон Андреевич (1912—1983) — старшина Красной Армии, полный кавалер Ордена Славы.
 Зиновьев, Антон Самуилович (1926—2003) — советский патологоанатом.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Don't miss that re-broadcast of Firme Radio tonight with Lucy and Choice One who are hanging out with LBC & Pomona City Movement!
The two crews are on tour with Snoop Dogg on the Puff Puff Pass Tour and they talk all about it on the show.
Make sure you watch because they drop two exclusive tracks and don't forget that #TeamCheckOne2 was in the building too!
DJ Rell was live in the mix playing some good music, it all goes down tonight at 8p.m on PharcydeTV.com Channel Z click here to watch now.
**Don't miss another live broadcast of Firme Radio this and every Thursday at 9:30p.m PST on PharcydeTV.com with Lucy and DJ Choice One.


View phone numbers, addresses, public records, background check reports and possible arrest records for Mark Clayton in Missouri (MO). Whitepages people search is the most trusted directory. Sign up to gain access to mobile numbers, public records, and more.
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The latest Tweets from SPENZO (@TheRealSpenzo): "Achieve yo goals Fr " SPENZO · @TheRealSpenzo. Englewood, Chicago. Englewood-raised rapper Spenzo had planned to release his follow-up to 's In Spenzo We Trust last spring, but came to a close with. Stream 01 Englewood (Produced By Dj L)Spenzo by Kgolden from desktop or your mobile device.
MC from EngleWood, Chicago, IL.. Chicago. 44 Tracks. Followers. Stream Tracks and Playlists from Spenzo on your desktop or mobile device. Spenzo took it back to his 73rd neighborhood in Chicago's South Side community for his single "Englewood," an ode to one of the most. Englewood by Spenzo - discover this song's samples, covers and remixes on WhoSampled.


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News | March 17, 2007
Free EMR Offered to Physicians
March 19, 2007 — "Health IT Strategist" reports that San Francisco-based Practice Fusion is offering its Web-based electronic medical record and practice management solutions to physicians for free with the costs of the service subsidized by Google advertising. It has reported that 600 small physician practices have already signed up.
Because of its partnership with Google, Practice Fusion is offering its products without licensing fees or hosting charges, and the company said its system doesn't require any software to implement and manage.
All of the practices that have signed up for the service are in California, but the company is aiming for national expansion.
News | Electronic Medical Records (EMR) | April 19, 2019
HHS Extends Comment Period for Proposed Electronic Health Information Interoperability Rules
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is extending the public comment period by 30 days for two...
News | Electronic Medical Records (EMR) | March 06, 2017
Logicalis Healthcare Solutions Announces Service Desk for Epic
March 6, 2017 — Logicalis Healthcare Solutions announced in February a new service desk offering – Service Desk for E
News | Electronic Medical Records (EMR) | February 21, 2017
HIMSS Survey Reveals Challenges Ahead for Advancing Health IT Outside Hospital Environment
A new study from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), unveiled at the 2017 HIMSS...
News | Electronic Medical Records (EMR) | January 26, 2017
Heartbeat Could Be Used as Password to Access Electronic Health Records
Researchers at Binghamton University, State University of New York have devised a new way to protect personal...
News | Electronic Medical Records (EMR) | September 07, 2016
AMA Study Finds Clerical Demands of EMRs Make Care More Complex, Lead to Physician Burnout
Technological and administrative obstacles are significantly cutting into available time for physicians to engage with...
Image courtesy of IBISWorld
News | Electronic Medical Records (EMR) | June 07, 2016
New Report Says EMR Software Prices Will Continue to Fall
According to market research firm IBISWorld, the average price of electronic medical record (EMR) software is forecast...
ONC Survey Shows Electronic Health Record Adoption at 96 Percent
According to data from a new survey, nearly all of the nation's hospitals have adopted certified electronic health...
CMS Replacing Meaningful Use Program with Meaningful Outcomes
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced Monday that it will be ending the Meaningful Use program...
Proposed Medicare Guideline Would Require Appropriate Use Justification in Medical Imaging

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Being a good sport part of tire marketers' plans
AKRON—"Fore!" "That ball is out of here!" "Nothing but net."
All common sports catchphrases that tire makers are cozying up to as they try to gain more traction with potential customers, many of whom are what you might call "rabid" sports fans. And the trend of tire manufacturers' becoming the "official tire" of various sporting leagues, sponsoring sport teams and even individual events has put tires in the center of the ring.
The most recent illustration of this trend is the deal Falken Tire Corp. struck to be the "official tire" of Major League Baseball (MLB).
"Our brand has evolved a lot in the past five
to six years, and we've evolved from a high-performance company that sold mainly performance tires to a company that now offers everything from small car tires all the way up to medium truck tires," Rick Brennan, Falken's executive director of marketing, told Tire Business.
"And our past activity has all been centered around motorsports, which worked great for the high-performance market, but as we go into other markets with new kinds of tires, we find that we need a little bit more of a broad message than just a motorsports message taking out to the normal consumer."
Entering into sports marketing is the "next evolution of our brand" to get the attention of the people Falken needs to reach with all the products it sells today, Mr. Brennan added.
"When you look at the opportunities that are out there, you have to really understand the difference between the different sports series that are out there...," he said.
"And then also, do you sponsor a team? Or do you sponsor a league? So the challenges with just sponsoring single teams are that you really only hit a single market. And for us, our vision was to be able to talk to the whole United States."
While Falken Tire is the official tire of MLB, other tire manufacturers still have the opportunity to sponsor individual teams in the league, Matt Bourne, MLB spokesperson, told Tire Business.
"How we designate sponsorships at the league level and the team level is really the difference between national and local. So, Falken as a Major League Baseball sponsor has the right to do national promotions, national advertising, encompassing MLB logo and the collection of all 30 teams together," he explained.
Mr. Bourne added that if a company is a sponsor of a team, "then you have the ability to promote your partnership with the team in that market, in that region and just using team marks....
"Falken is a sponsor of the Tigers before they became a sponsor of Major League Baseball, so in that instance, there is a defined area in and around Detroit where they could do advertising, promotions and marketing activity in conjunction with the Tigers logos and...Detroit Tigers intellectual property inside that specific area."
Prior to this, Bridgestone Americas' Firestone brand was the official tire of MLB, from 2010 through 2014. John Baratta, president of consumer tire replacement sales, called that deal in 2010 a "tremendous opportunity to elevate the Firestone brand to new heights of consumer awareness and visibility."
Falken's contract kicks off with this year's post season and will interface with fans directly at all of the post-season games, including the World Series, as well as at next year's All-Star Week. The Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.-based tire marketer also will have activation on-site and have Falken giveaways, including a seat giveaway at the first game of the World Series, where one attendee will win a set of Falken tires.
The company's contract runs through 2017, with plans to continue it if things go well, Mr. Brennan said. Neither Falken nor MLB disclosed the value of the contract.
Falken also recently revamped its motorsports strategy, ending a six-year engagement with the Tudor United Sports Car Challenge and moving more heavily into support of "grass-roots" racing venues. (See story on page 15.)
Kal Tire also recently announced that the Canadian Football League (CFL) has partnered with the company and Michelin North America Inc.'s BFGoodrich brand, which will become the official tire of the CFL. Kal and BFG will become sponsors of the CFL, the 2015 CFL playoffs and the 2015 Grey Cup game to be played in late November. Additionally, Kal Tire said the company, along with BFGoodrich Tires, will have a physical and digital advertising presence both on the sidelines at Canada's biggest celebration of football and digitally on the league's www.CFL.ca website.
The sports marketing trend is not just in the tire industry, according to Lisa Wood, brand development manager, Continental Tire the Americas L.L.C., but one across various markets. "It has large impressions and a captive audience," she said.
When selecting sports marketing as an avenue, she said Conti knows where the audience is going to be every week for those campaigns, which fits a target market the company is pursuing.
"Sports are in our company's DNA," said Phil Pacsi, vice president of sports/event marketing and training, Bridgestone Americas. "Harvey Firestone became the first sports marketer after he went to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the early 1900s.
"In 2016, we will celebrate the 100th running of the Indianapolis 500 mile race. Fire-stone tires were on the winning car in 1911 and will be on the winning car in 2016."
Bridgestone has scaled back its motorsports involvement the past few years, moving more heavily into sports/event marketing support, both in North America and globally, Mr. Pacsi said.
Sports marketing has an active audience, which can differ from some other venues.
"Sports are an arena where people are taking in the environment and soaking up the atmosphere," said Kyle Roberts, director of marketing for Nexen Tire America Inc., which has had ties with soccer, baseball and college basketball in recent years.
With sports, the marketing message may be more easily digested by consumers, as they become more predisposed to tune out messages distributed by print, radio or television, he said.
In addition to its longtime motorsports sponsorships in NASCAR and the NHRA, Goodyear has launched a season-long marketing program focused on its involvement in college football. For the second year in a row, the Akron tire maker will be the title sponsor of the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic, a semi-final game in the college football playoff that will be played on New Years Eve in Dallas.
For the rest of the story—including how companies choose the markets where they want brand exposure, and the various marketing initiatives by tire marketers—go to www.tirebusiness.com.
To reach this reporter: [email protected]; 330-865-6143; Twitter: @jenniferkarpus


"By honoring and embracing diversity on television, Born his Way is uniquely redefining the art of honest storytelling and altering the way society views individuals with differences," Elaine Fontain Bryant, EVP and Head of Programming for A&E said.
The show will be returning for its second season featuring 10 brand-new episodes on Tuesday, July 26 at 10 PM ET/PT. The first season was launched during an event on Capitol Hill hosted by RespectAbility featuring Rep. Brad Sherman (D-CA) and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA).
Rachel is still enjoying her job working for an insurance company but is looking forward to being the "best person" at her brother's upcoming wedding. She is open to new experiences, but after an eye-opening visit with the doctor, Rachel is forced to take action and start adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Sean takes a big leap toward independence when he and buddy Steven move into their own apartment. Sean claims he's no longer a ladies man and wants a girlfriend, so after a few blind dates, he gives one lucky woman a promise ring, hopefully putting an end to his tendency towards romantic entanglements.
John continues to pursue his music career, but his parents tell him that the clock is running out on how much longer they'll financially support him. This motivates John to work harder than ever to achieve his dreams before having to look into other career options.
Steven is hoping to find a girlfriend in the near future, but struggles with the idea of dating someone else with a disability. He's hoping that since his new roomie, Sean, has a lot of dating experience, he'll be able to pick up some helpful tips from his "babe magnet" friend.
Cristina and her fiancée Angel continue to look forward to their wedding, but have a lot of life skills to master before they are ready to live on their own. Their relationship is put to the test when Cristina starts taking ballroom dance lessons and spending time away from Angel.
Megan's line of clothing, "Megology," exploded with orders and she is working hard, alongside her mom, to keep up with her successful business. Currently living in Colorado, she is determined to move back to Los Angeles alone but her struggle for independence causes conflict with her closest ally; her mom.
Elena struggles to find her place in life and within the group. After a fight with her mom that shocks her friends, Elena is forced to take responsibility for her actions and learn alternative ways to express her feelings.
RespectAbility, a nonprofit organization working to empower people with disabilities to achieve the American dream, is on the front lines in the battle to reduce stigmas, failed government policies and other obstacles that deny people with disabilities the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.
One area of concern is entertainment; films and television can and must do much more to reshape attitudes so that people with disabilities can more fully participate in and contribute to society. We know that by putting people with disabilities on TV – in scripted television, reality TV, the news and in jobs behind scenes — it can help empower people with disabilities to achieve as much of the American Dream as their abilities and efforts permit.
Entertainment contributes to the values and ideals that define us; and what we desire to share with our children. What we see, we feel. And what we feel impacts how we act.
RespectAbility encourages arts and entertainment leaders – just as we encourage businesses in every sector – to recognize the disability but respect the ability. We ask them to focus on what people with disabilities can do, rather than on what they cannot. We want the power of arts and entertainment to help move the needle of perception regarding people with disabilities so that people of ALL abilities can achieve the American Dream.
Born This Way will be returning for its second season on July 26, 2016. Don't forget to watch live and tweet using #BornThisWay!


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Q: How to Consume a WebService using CXF in Eclipse I am trying to consume a WEBSERVICE (http://www.detecno.mx/WCFTimbrador/DetecnoPac.svc?wsdl) using Eclipse and Apache CXF.
I already downloaded the latest Apache CXF version (2.5.2) from http://cxf.apache.org/ and already configured its location in Eclipse Preferences > Web Services > CXF 2.x Preferences

When trying to create the new Web Service Client in my project, I can't select Apache CXF as the WS runtime (OK button is disabled)

My project is not a dynamic web project, does it have to do with this? It is a normal Java Project, whose JAR is included in other Dynamic Web Projects.

A: The reason that the OK button is disabled is that you have not selected an existing server. Since it is a normal Java Project, you probably don't have or need to configure a server.
You can also create the web service client without using the Eclipse wizard, which may be simpler.
Using the wsimport command (available in the JDK), you can generate the required Java source files from the WSDL.
wsimport -s E:\workspace\cxf\src http://www.detecno.mx/WCFTimbrador/DetecnoPac.svc?wsdl

Below is an example of a method accessing the web service.
public static void main(String[] args) {
    ServiceDetecnoPAC serviceDetecnoPAC = new ServiceDetecnoPAC();
    IDetecnoPac port = serviceDetecnoPAC.getPort(IDetecnoPac.class);

    ((BindingProvider) port).getRequestContext().put(BindingProvider.ENDPOINT_ADDRESS_PROPERTY, "http://www.detecno.mx/WCFTimbrador/DetecnoPac.svc?wsdl");

    Client client = ClientProxy.getClient(port);
    org.apache.cxf.endpoint.Endpoint cxfEndpoint = client.getEndpoint();

    port.obtenerHoraServidor();
}


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Tiny Tina's Wonderlands: gameplay, date and price for the crazy Borderlands spin-off
Game news Tiny Tina's Wonderlands: gameplay, date and price for the crazy Borderlands spin-off
While waiting for a Borderlands 4 which is undoubtedly not about to arrive, 2K Games will offer us very soon a nice spin-off of the sweet name of Tiny Tina's Wonderlands. For the first time, the PlayStation Showcase allowed us to see concretely what awaits us.
Unveiled a few months ago, Tiny Tina's Wonderlands was still a little discreet: It was without counting on the PlayStation Showcase last night which was the opportunity for the publisher to unveil its next baby in much more detail. As a reminder, this spin-off of the talented Borderlands saga will revolve around the story of Tina, a crazy young girl well known from the series and with an overflowing imagination. As a narrator, it will therefore tell the story that we can live through one of the four types of characters offered.
If the genre of the shooter-looter will always be part of the game, this new adventure will, however, be part of the fantastic-medieval: we will therefore find trolls, bladed weapons at all costs, magic chests, mystical caves and dragons, all punctuated by guns and constant humor. We can also rely on weapons that are sometimes more original for a Borderlands, like axes or crossbows.
To give you an overview, we advise you to take a look to the video above which sums it up pretty well. As a bonus, we even have some additional information: Tiny Tina's Wonderlands le 25 mars sur PC, PS5, PS4, Xbox Series et Xbox One. Pre-orders are also open and display a price of 69.99 euros for the PS4 / Xbox One version, and of € 74.99 for the bundle including the PS4 / PS5 and Xbox One / Xbox Series edition, with the added bonus of the Golden Hero Armor and Dragon Lord packs. At last, a final edition, the "Merveilleux Chaos", is offered at 89.99 euros and will include the elements mentioned above plus the season pass. Make your choice.
Summary of the night: Giannis Antetokounmpo fends off the Hornets
Benzema's girlfriend betrays herself…


Casa Verdiana is a villa in traditional toscan style, with wood and handmade terracottaroofs and attics. The floors on the ground floor are in porcelain gres (similar to the terracotta), whilst on the first floor it's in a traditional wood.
The name of the villa is Verdiana because it is mostly green inside. Green has a balancing action and general welfare. The green is 'the color of nature and it promotes harmony because it has a calming influence on the nervous system.
The desire for green lawns and trees that comes after a period of time between the gray stones and red brick of the city is the instinctive yearning for toning the color of nature. Green is peace and refreshment.


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Visit Malta: Majjistral Natural & History Park
The Majjistral Natural & History Park is located in the Northwest part of Malta, extending from Golden Bay to Popeye Village, or Anchor Bay. Majjistral Park is the only natural park in Malta and it includes coastal cliffs and a rich ecological and rural heritage.
The park contains a diverse of habitats that include: clay slopes, boulder screes, maritime and clifftop garigue, agricultural land, a sandy beach and an associated dune. Native trees, shrubs and smaller plants are being planted and taken care of in the area after it was cleared of rubbish. In Majjistral, you can also find cart-ruts, rubble walls, farmhouses, tombs dating back to the Classical period, caves and a number of 'giren' that were used by hunters for storage and shelter. You can explore remains of British military architecture, dating to the early 20th century, amongst which is a military shooting range.
Majjistral Park was declared a National Park in 2007 and since then over 1300 plants were planted including olives, Evergreen oak, Carob, Myrtle, Golden Samphire and more. There are around 430 different species of plants in the park, including some very extreme species and other plants endemic to Malta – such as Maltese Spurge, Maltese Sea Chamomile, Maltese Pyramical Orchid and the Maltese Sea Lavender. The park is also home to 9 bird species known to breed there and several migratory species who visit. You can also come across different reptiles and mammals such as hedgehogs, various bat species, weasels and wild rabbits. The area is mostly composed of Blue Clay, the rock layer sandwiched between the Globigerina limestone and the Upper Coralline Limestone. Being one of the softer rocks, clay erodes easily with the action of the elements, collapsing limestone structures and leaving a stretch of scattered boulders. Erosion created the sandy beaches of Fomm ir-Rih, Gnejna, Ghajn Tuffieha, Golden Bay and Paradise Bay. The relative inaccessibility of these beaches makes them less frequented and they remain amongst the most pristine and picturesque bays of the island. The amazing landscape at Majjistral Natural Park
attracts several trekkers during autumn, winter and spring.
You can explore the site at your own leisure or join guided nature walks held every Sunday from October to May, subject to a minimum participation. You can book your walk by sending an email to walks@majjistral.org.
Find out what's happening in Malta by contacting the Concierge Desk at this luxury 5 star hotel and they will definitely give you some great tips on Where to Go and What to Do during your next holiday to Malta.
This entry was posted in About Malta, Country Walks in Malta, Excelsior Hotel Malta, Luxury Malta Hotel, Malta, Malta Attractions, Malta Sightseeing, Malta Tours, Maltese History, Things to do in Malta and tagged 5 star hotel, bays, beaches, landscape, luxury hotel, malta, malta holiday, nature, parks in malta, places to visit, things to do in malta, visitmalta, walks on May 25, 2016 by Denise Camilleri.
Explore Valletta: The Palace Armoury
The Palace Armoury in Valletta is one of the world's largest collections of arms and armour that is still housed in its original building. The Knights of St John were a unique brotherhood of resolute warrior monks. From Malta, their island stronghold, these combatant aristocrats from the noblest houses of Europe, carried out their relentless crusade against the Ottoman Turks in defence of the Catholic faith.
The Palace Armoury is certainly one of the most visible and tangible symbols of the past glories of the Sovereign Hospitaller Military Order of Malta. Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt transferred the Order's arsenal to the Magisterial Palace in 1604 where it was the pride of the Order. Apart from being lavishly adorned with elaborate trophies of arms, it held enough arms and armour to equip thousands of soldiers. It was housed in the magnificent hall at the rear of the building, right above its present location.
At present, it is displayed inside two halls that were originally the stables of the palace. Following the forced departure of the Order of St. John from Malta, the armoury somehow lost much of its original grandeur. However, it was restored and was officially opened as Malta's first public museum in 1860. Although only a fraction of its original splendour remains, the Armoury still contains abundant material of Italian, German, French and Spanish origin from principal production centres. Also displayed is an exotic selection of Islamic and Ottoman arms and armour. Apart from the massed arms of the common soldiers in the collection, the enriched personal armours of the nobility still manage to make a statement. Various areas of the Palace State Rooms and Armoury are currently undergoing restoration. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.
Reasons to Visit:
1. Unique display of suits of armour owned by Grand Masters Alof de Wignacourt and Jean de La Valette.
2. Arms and armour used by the Knights of St. John between 1530 -1798 and by the Ottoman Empire during the Great Siege of 1565.
3. A varied selection of firearms used for both military and sporting purposes.
4. A chance to see a selection of artillery pieces originally used for battle on the fortifications.
Valletta will have the honour of holding the esteemed title of European Capital of Culture in 2018. If you plan to visit Malta be sure to visit interesting places around the capital, Valletta. Contact the Concierge Desk at this luxury 5 star hotel on the doorstep of Valletta for some great tips on places worth visiting during your next holiday to Malta.
Photo credit: Aaron Briffa & Viewing Malta
This entry was posted in About Malta, Holidays in Malta, Malta, Malta Attractions, Malta Sightseeing, Maltese History, Maltese Islands, Things to do in Malta, Valletta and tagged 5 star hotel malta, 5 star malta hotel, capital city, European Capital of Culture 2018, holiday to malta, knights of st john, malta, museum, places of interest malta, things to do in malta, valletta, visit malta on May 5, 2016 by Denise Camilleri.


November 22, 1963: What if Kennedy were not killed that fateful day? What would the 1964 campaign have looked like? Would changes have been made to the ticket? How would Kennedy, in his second term, have approached Vietnam, civil rights, the Cold War? With Hoover as an enemy, would his indiscreet private life finally have become public? Would his health issues have become so severe as to literally cripple his presidency? And what small turns of fate in the days and years before Dallas might have kept him from ever reaching the White House in the first place?
The story begins on the morning of November 22, 1963, with the assumption that all events prior to that date happened just as they did in history. However, one fateful decision would be made this day, a change that would alter the course of history. It was something that very possibly could have happened: The bubble top was left on Kennedy's limousine and he survived the assassination attempt in Dallas, similar to what happened to Ronald Reagan years later in the actual historical timeline.
The author goes on to imagine the Kennedy presidency maintaining plausibility by using real events and actual quotes from history. I was hoping for a fictionalized story about an alternate America, but that is not what this book is about. The focus is on political issues and predictions, on how they would have turned out had a Kennedy Administration been making the decisions. For example, knowing that Kennedy wanted to avoid an all out war in Vietnam, how would that have affected his relationship with Congress and the ability to pass other legislation such as the Civil Rights Act.
To become truly immersed in this book the reader needs a good foundation in the history of the era. Political junkies will appreciate the detail and the research that went into this novel. The casual reader may not catch a lot of twists in history and I'm sure I missed a few of them myself. I liked the author's use of actual quotes from real historical figures and attributing them to other people, times or places. For example a joke told by Johnny Carson about Nixon was attributed to Johnson in the alternate time line. There were more but I was listening to the audio and didn't write them down.
The book was written as if it were non-fiction and is read in a news documentary style. Tom Stechschulte did a nice job with the narration. His clear tone and authoritative voice made it easy to believe I was listening to an investigative report.
It's been fifty years since John Kennedy's assassination but the topic is as fascinating and timely as ever. If Kennedy Lived will be appreciated most by political buffs but you don't have to be a historian to enjoy this speculative tale.
I'm anxious to read this one. A story line that never gets tiresome.
I feel like the real story is so compelling that it would completely overshadow this fictionalized version for me.


text:
Texas: Central, South, and Gulf Coast » Gulf Coast » Wharton to Danevang » Wharton (Wharton County) » Texas and New Orleans Railway Passenger Station
Texas and New Orleans Railway Passenger Station
Wharton Texas
Texas: Central, South, and Gulf CoastGulf CoastWharton to DanevangWharton (Wharton County)
Stern and Bucek
railroad stationsmuseums (buildings)
Brooks-Dennis House
Goodsey-Hamilton House
Commercial Building (W. A. Harrison Building)
Brooks House
Gerald Moorhead et al., "Texas and New Orleans Railway Passenger Station", [Wharton, Texas], SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley, Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/TX-01-WD12.
Buildings of Texas, Gerald Moorhead and contributors. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2013, 450-451.
1915; 2006 rehabilitation, Stern and Bucek. 100 block of N. Sunset St.
The Southern Pacific Railroad absorbed many Texas railways, which tended to be underfinanced and often traversed such underpopulated territory that they had inadequate market base. One of the Southern Pacific's early Texas subsidiaries, the Texas and New Orleans (T&NO), acquired the insolvent New York, Texas and Mexican Railway in 1885, only four years after its completion. The passenger and freight station built by the T&NO adhered to the Southern Pacific's standardized design for small-town stations. Its distinctive feature is the wide hipped roof, projecting over the platform to provide shade and shelter. The station was rehabilitated for the City of Wharton as a railroad museum and regional transit center in 2006. It lies at the west end of the central business district, adjacent to the west-side African American neighborhood stretching between the bank of the Colorado River and Spanish Camp Road.
Gerald Moorhead et al.
Wharton, Texas
Gulf Coast, Wharton to Danevang, Wharton (Wharton County)


John 20 and 21 contain the resurrection narratives of the Fourth Gospel. John 20:30-31 seems to be a conclusion and there are significant stylistic differences between chapter 20 and 21. On the basis of those facts most scholars believe that John originally ended with chapter 20 and that chapter 21 was added on at a later stage in the gospel's development. Different scholars suggest a variety of theories, but essentially the point is that chapter 21 appeared as part of a second (or later) edition. If such a theory is true there is no special flow of thought from chapter 20 to chapter 21. However, for the purposes of this study we can easily deal with the individual stories in each chapter in order.
There are two main scenes in chapter 20 with two episodes in each scene. The first scene is the tomb. The first episode is the discovery of the opened tomb and Peter and the beloved disciple's visit to the empty tomb described in John 20:1-10. The second episode is the encounter between Jesus and Mary Magdalene in the garden outside the tomb described in John 20:11-18.
The second scene is the locked room where the disciples are gathered. The first episode in this scene involves Jesus' appearing to the disciples in verses 19-23. The second episode revolves around Thomas - his doubt and Jesus' appearance to him - described in verses 24-29. John 20:30-31 then state the purpose of the gospel and would have served as an adequate conclusion if there was, in fact, a 20-chapter edition of John's gospel.
John 21 also features two major episodes. The first, described in verses 1-14, portrays Jesus' appearance to the disciples while they were fishing with a concluding breakfast. The second episode is a two part discussion between Jesus and Peter, described in John 21:15-23. Chapter 21 then presents another conclusion to the gospel in verses 24-25.
After John 20:2-10 had focused on Peter and the Beloved Disciple, the narrative returns to Mary Magdalene who had discovered the opened tomb and had reported it to the disciples. Apparently she had followed the two men back to the tomb, but when they left she remained weeping. Verse 13 clearly indicates that she was weeping because she thought Jesus' body had been removed. When she bent over to look into the tomb she saw two angels who asked her why she was weeping. The other gospels contain the theme of fear or amazement as the response of the women and the disciples. For John, weeping is the sign that Mary has not yet imagined the possibility of the resurrection. In her reply she used the title "Lord" to refer to Jesus. However, the fact that she still assumed that Jesus' body had been stolen shows that resurrection faith did not come easily to Mary.
Evangelical Christians, especially, are so trained to accept every word of Scripture without questions that they often miss the wonder and difficulty of faith. Mary (and the other followers of Jesus) who had been with Jesus throughout his ministry could not conceive that he had been raised from the dead. They understood the scientific impossibility of resurrection better than many of their spiritual descendants. Their reaction both to Jesus' death and to the empty tomb was despair. Even when she saw Jesus, according to verse 14 she did not recognize him. She was not expecting to see him alive.
John very careful unfolds the resurrection story to show how gradually and almost how reluctantly Jesus' first followers came to understand the resurrection. To condemn them for a lack of faith shows how little we understand faith. We have the advantage of almost 2,000 years of hindsight. Jesus had only been raised a few minutes or hours when they were trying to comprehend it.
Part of the reason the early church "turned the world upside down" is that they were overwhelmed by the resurrection. God had done the most impossible thing. They didn't believe it "because the Bible said so," or because "God said it." They believed only after they had experienced a meeting with the Risen Lord himself. The mind-boggling, impossible, incomprehensible thing had happened. God had done it! They had seen Jesus! Their lives would never be the same. Until we recognize that Jesus' resurrection was impossible, but we are convinced that God did it anyway - until then we will never know the incredible awe and joy felt by the disciples. It is when we don't recognize Jesus and then discover him that our lives are most powerfully changed.
Even when Jesus himself appeared to Mary verse 15 tells us that she responded to him with the same despair with which she had addressed the angels. Only when Jesus called her by name did recognition come. Lindars beautifully states, "Now, like the Good Shepherd, he calls his own by name, and she turns to him, because she knows his voice."
This highlights another important aspect of the resurrection. The resurrection is not just a matter of formal doctrine, that you have to believe in the resurrection to be a Christian. The New Testament always understood the point of the resurrection to mean that personal relationship with Christ continues here and now. There is a very real sense in which that personal relationship never really happens until we hear Christ calling us by name and we recognize his voice and respond.
Mary's response has occasioned much discussion. Verse 16 states that she turned when she heard her name. The implication is that she was not facing Jesus. However, verse 14 seems to say that she had turned to Jesus then for the conversation of verses 14 and 15.
The word "turned" was also used by the early church for the turning away from the former life into the life of faith. Some even translate it "be converted" in some contexts. Perhaps John meant to explain that at the sound of her voice Mary "was converted" or turned from the old life to her new life in Christ. She called Jesus, "Rabboni." This word appears only here and in Mark 10:51 in the New Testament. It is a lengthened form of "rabbi." "Rabbi" meant "my great one" and was used as a title of respect for a teacher. Rabboni would have expressed greater respect and honor. There is no evidence that it showed any recognition of deity even though Jews sometimes called God by that very title. John's translation of "teacher" shows what he understood Mary to mean.
The most puzzling part of the story of Jesus' appearance to Mary Magdalene comes in verse 17. Jesus' command, "touch me not," in the KJV should probably be translated, "do not cling to me" (NASB) or "do not hold onto me" (NIV and NRSV). Part of the problem is why Jesus should forbid Mary to touch him here when he will command Thomas to touch him in verse 27.
Some answers to the question have been incredible. However, the Greek word and construction suggest that Jesus was not concerned about Mary touching him, but clinging to him. She is not to cling to him for he has not yet ascended to the Father. After she thought Jesus was gone, when Mary found that he was back she wanted to never let him go. However, Jesus was still bound to fulfill the will of the Father. From a disciple's perspective it looked like John 14:28, "I am going away and I am coming back to you," had been fulfilled. Surely, Jesus' resurrection was what he had meant in John 16:22, "Therefore, you have grief now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you."
However, Jesus' command to Mary begins John's teaching that the resurrection is not the end of sorrow and separation but the beginning of ministry. She is to go to the disciples and proclaim the resurrection to them. The glorious presence of the Risen Lord is not a possession for us to grasp to ourselves, but a message to share with the world.
There are two episodes in verses 19-29. Verses 19-23 describe Jesus' appearance to the disciples in a closed room. When they tell Thomas, who was not present, about the appearance he refused to believe until he could physically touch Jesus. The story climaxes with Jesus' appearance to Thomas and Thomas' confession of faith. The very significant gift of the Spirit is given in verse 22, but the whole passage appears designed to lead to the climax of Thomas' confession.
We might guess that the appearance took place in the upper room, but this is not stated. How many disciples were present is also not indicated. Those present were locked into a room for fear of the Jews. It is not clear why they should be afraid of the Jews at this point in time. Jesus had already been crucified. There is no indication that any attempt to arrest or harass the disciples was ever made in conjunction with Jesus' crucifixion. The Jews understood better than the disciples did that a follower of Jesus was nothing without Jesus.
Furthermore, the resurrection had already been reported to them; the disciples should have been rejoicing not fearing. Again, it is too easy for us to look back and to assume that the disciples should have known as much the first night as we know after 2,000 years of Christian faith. John gives no indication that the Jews knew about the resurrection - even the disciples didn't really believe it yet. The disciples could have easily thought that the Jews would be after them after disposing of Jesus. However, John's point of mentioning the locked door is really to show the miraculous nature of Jesus' resurrection body. Jesus was flesh enough to eat and solid enough to touch, but also able to pass through closed doors. John does not explain how this could happen. Paul's concept of a spiritual body, described in 1 Corinthians 15:44, may explain the matter, but we cannot be sure.
Jesus' first words were, Peace to you. Perhaps this is the translation of the tradition Jewish greeting, "Shalom," which literally means peace. However, as Lindars notes, this normal greeting now has "incredibly greater depth of meaning." Assuming the Hebrew concept of an effective word, Jesus' very greeting brought the peace of God into the disciples' lives. In the midst of their fear, as their lives were totally torn apart, Jesus spoke a word of peace and peace came. As Paul promised in Philippians 4:7 the peace of God would form a garrison guarding the hearts and minds of those who are in Christ. After Jesus had shown them his hands and side the disciples responded appropriately. They rejoiced.
Verses 21-23 then lay out Jesus' commissioning of the disciples to continue the work that he had begun. It is significant that he began by repeating the greeting of peace. Authentic witness arises out of a genuine peace with God. Many believers today are pushed toward Christian service before they have stopped struggling against God and found their rest in the will of God. Ministry and witness for them is always an agonizing struggle of duty. Only when we open ourselves to the peace that Christ offers can we really be sent as God sent Christ.
As the Father sent me, so send I you echoes Jesus' prayer in John 17:18. There the sending of the disciples was to flow from the work of God in sanctifying them. A similar train of thought holds here since Jesus' next words were, "Receive the Holy Spirit." The empowering and cleansing work of the Spirit were a part of the equipping necessary to be really sent like the Father sent Jesus.
Many Christians are puzzled by verse 22 and do not know how to relate it to the Pentecost experience of the early church described in Acts 2. Several observations are in order.
First, John did not write the book of Acts, nor is there any evidence that he knew that the book of Acts had been written. He was about to end his gospel, but he could not end it without mention of the gift of the Spirit.
Second, John's description of the gift of the Holy Spirit accomplishes two important Johannine purposes. It shows the fulfillment of the promises of the Paraclete made during the Last Discourse. Perhaps more important to John is that it shows that the Holy Spirit comes to us from the Father through the agency of Jesus. John 16:13-14 had clearly stated that the Paraclete would not speak on his own, but would take the words and ministry of Jesus and apply those words and ministry to the believers' lives.
John lived in an era when some Christians were separating the Holy Spirit from Jesus. The result was more emphasis on power and charismatic-type activity and less emphasis on Christlikeness. John certainly expected powerful ministry from the disciples (see John 14:12), but the Spirit would always be pointing to Christ and never to Himself.
A third important point appears in the preceding words He breathed on them. The Greek word is the same word used in the Greek Old Testament in Genesis 2:7, "God formed man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life." The same verb is used in Ezekiel 37:9 where life is breathed into the bones in the Valley of the Dry Bones. The church is a new creation whose life is breathed into it by Christ.
Verse 23 should not be separated from verse 22. Verse 23 does not promise the Church an intrinsic power to forgive or to refuse to forgive sins. Rather, the church as the body of Christ, filled with the Spirit, continues the work of Christ. It proclaims the message of forgiveness and confidently affirms that when one seeks forgiveness God grants forgiveness. Lindars (a Roman Catholic) interprets the verse this way, "The disciples preach repentance and the forgiveness of sins in preparation for the rule of God. To those who respond forgiveness is assured, and ratified by God himself. But to those who refuse, there is the divine warrant for asserting that their sins remain unforgiven."
The powerful impact of Jesus' appearance to the disciples that first Easter night can hardly be exaggerated. However, John is concerned with those of us who were not present that first moving night. The story of Thomas has the purpose of telling all of us that we too can meet the Risen Lord. John expresses almost no criticism of Thomas' doubt. In fact, Thomas' desire to put his hand and fingers into Jesus' wounds actually will strengthen John's case against the Docetists.
Thomas' doubts can be relieved. All that was required was another appearance of the Risen Christ. Jesus granted that need to Thomas without condemnation. God has plenty of resources at His disposal to convince "here and now, flesh and blood, tangible, materially oriented" people of spiritual realities. Sometimes God is less successful at convincing the "heavenly minded" to get busy and do some "earthly good."
Jesus' challenge to Thomas in verse 27 is to move from unbelief to faith. Thomas' confession in verse 28 represents such a move. My Lord and My God! represents the highest confession of Christ made in John's gospel. When one really sees the Risen Lord the right theology will come out. The Emperor Domitian who ruled the Roman Empire while John's gospel was written and was the emperor responsible for the persecution John apparently suffered once required that people address him as, "our lord and god." If John was aware of Domitian's arrogant claim, he powerfully counters it here. Only Jesus is worthy to be called Lord and God. We should also note that John 1:1 had declared the Word not only to be with God, but also to be God. As we come near the end of the gospel, the same affirmation of the deity of Christ appears.
Verse 30 states an important principle that needs to be remembered in the interpretation of any of the gospels. Only a tiny portion of Jesus' life and work are described in the New Testament. Lots of other things could have been said. However, the purpose of the gospels and especially the purpose of John was not to just record part of the life of Jesus. The purpose of the gospels is to convince people to believe.
The verb "believe" in verse 31 can be constructed two ways in Greek. One construction (the aorist tense) suggests that John had in mind people coming to believe or beginning to believe. That is to say, the purpose of the Gospel is to evangelize unbelievers. The other construction (a present tense) means to continue to believe or to keep on believing. This construction would mean that the purpose of the book was to enable believers who had already made a decision of faith to continue to grow and mature in their Christian faith. It is fascinating that oldest copies of John are almost equally split between the two constructions. Both meanings were understood to be the purpose of John in the early days of copying this gospel.
Many times sincere Christians argue with each other whether evangelism or nurture is the most important purpose of the church. The different copies of John's gospel tell us that this argument has gone on from the earliest days of church history. Perhaps the copies also should suggest that we should stop arguing about whether evangelism or nurture is more important and get busy doing both. John's purpose is not just a profession of faith, but also the experience of eternal life. It is clear by this point that eternal life is not "pie in the sky by and by" for either Jesus or John. Eternal life begins the moment relationship with God through Christ begins.
John (or whomever might have written chapter 21) was concerned that we understand that verses 1-14 reveal Christ. In both verse 1 and 14 the word "reveal" ("showed" in some translations) is used to describe the effect of this event. The same word was used in John 1:31 where John the Baptist stated that he was baptizing in order that the coming one might be "revealed" to Israel. The first sign at Cana is concluded with the comment in John 2:11 that Jesus "revealed" his glory to the disciples. Jesus' whole ministry was a process of revealing himself to the world and revealing the Father to the disciples. It is especially interesting that John now describes a fishing story as "revealing" Christ.
The story begins by identifying seven disciples who respond to Peter's decision to go fishing. The lake is identified as the Sea of Tiberias. This was the Gentile name for the Sea of Galilee. There is no indication that John thought Peter's desire to fish was wrong. Beasley-Murray comments that no fishing trip has ever been as severely judged as this one. Some see Peter's remark as evidence that he and the disciples had abandoned the ministry and were returning to their "secular" jobs. Others have thought that the comment showed Peter's desperate aimlessness.
However, there is no reason to assume that the fishing trip was undertaken for any reason except food or entertainment. The former fisherman had been through a lot. An evening in the boat hauling the nets in and casting them out would have relieved a great deal of stress and given him time to think while being active. However, John was not particularly interested in the fishing trip. The narrative quickly mentions that they caught nothing in a whole night of fishing. The point of the story is the appearance of Jesus and the way the disciples recognized him.
When Jesus appeared he immediately took control of the situation. The Greek question, "Have you any fish?" is constructed to show that a negative answer was expected. "You don't have any fish, do you?" By this construction John shows that Jesus knew before asking what their luck had been all night. The same miraculous knowledge is displayed by his command to cast the nets on the right side of the boat. In Greek thought the right was considered to be lucky when compared to the left. However, Jesus was not suggesting a lucky cast. He was displaying his knowledge.
The correctness of his suggestion was immediately proved when they caught more fish than they were able to pull into the boat. The story is very similar to one found in Luke 5:1-11. The beloved disciple may have known the event described in Luke or simply recognized that such miraculous knowledge belonged only to Jesus. In either case, he announced his belief that the man shouting instructions from the shore was Jesus. It is important that he refers to Jesus as the "Lord." As the disciples became more aware of the meaning of the resurrection and confident of Christ's presence they more clearly realized that titles like "rabbi" and "prophet" were no longer adequate. Jesus is Lord even of the fish and the fishermen.
Peter's response is typical. He had been working in his tunic - an undergarment. He grabbed his outer garment, pulled it on, and jumped overboard to swim or wade to Jesus. This description of Peter's response is important. It shows his repentance. John did not mention Peter weeping bitterly after denying Christ. In the gospels the positive movement toward Jesus is regarded as just as clear a sign of repentance as confession and weeping is.
When the other disciples arrived they found Jesus with a fire prepared and bread and fish already in place. After the freshly caught fish were brought to the fire, Jesus served the disciples bread and fish. Some of the language used in verse 13 reflects the language of the Eucharist. However, there is no other indication that John had communion symbolism in mind.
The most fascinating aspect of story is the fact that a hundred fifty-three are mentioned. Even if they had been specifically counted out stories like this usually round off the number. Most scholars believe that there is some special symbolism to the number 153. Many theories have been proposed, but none is particularly convincing. The purpose may have been to show that the gospel was available to all peoples but we cannot prove any of the theories.
Perhaps more important is the fact that Jesus "revealed" himself in the midst of a fishing trip. In the ordinary and everyday circumstances of life Jesus entered and gave of himself. The goal of Christian living is to be able to "reveal" Jesus in the ordinary circumstances of our lives.
The final scene in John's gospel takes place on the shore after the breakfast Jesus provided the seven fishermen. Three times Jesus asked Peter if he (Peter) loved him (Jesus). After Peter responded positively, Jesus then commanded him to feed or care for his sheep. There have been many sermons preached on this passage that build on the Greek words for love that are used. In the first two questions of Jesus the verb agapao is used, but Peter's response is phrased with the verb phileo. The third question, found in verse 17 asks the question with phileo. Research into the way John uses both words has caused most scholars to no longer believe that there is any special significance in the choice of words. The variation may simply have been stylistic.
The really important part of this passage is often overlooked. Three times Peter was instructed to feed or tend the sheep. Jesus' concern was the care and nurture of the sheep - the church. He gave Peter - the disciple who had dramatically failed - the responsibility to care for and nurture the church. God has risked the future and security of the church by placing it in the hands of people, people like you and me. The charge to Peter is a charge to all of us to care for the ones that God places in our sphere of influence. Regardless of where God may lead some other disciples, each of us is called to be faithful in the responsibilities which Christ has given us.
These readings and study questions are a summary and reflection of the entire Bible Study.
As you study each day ask the Lord to speak to you through His Word and for the Holy Spirit to make the Scripture alive to you that day. You may wish to spread the study and questions of Days 2-6 out over a longer period of time. You may wish to spend a week on each chapter of John or a week on the questions of each day.
First Day: Read the notes on John 20:11-21:25. Look up the Scripture references given.
1. Identify one or two new insights that were important for you.
2. Select a truth for which you see a specific and personal application to your own life. Describe how it would apply to you.
3. Have you heard Jesus call you by name? How have you responded? Write a brief prayer telling the Lord how you want to respond to his calling of your name.
Second Day: Read John 1-4.
1. List the main themes that are introduced in chapter 1 that will play an important role in the rest of the book. Which one is your favorite? Why?
2. What result emerged from the two main events described in chapter 2? Describe how those events can contribute to your faith.
3. List words or phrases in chapter 3 that describe the Christian life? How many of them apply to your life? Write a brief prayer asking God to begin to build one characteristic into your life.
4. What insights do you receive from chapter 4 about what God wants to provide for believers? What kinds of things does God want believers to do?
5. Describe the overall impact of John 1-4 on you now. What is the greatest challenge to your life that comes from these chapters? How will you live up to that challenge?
Third Day: Read John 5-8.
1. Describe how Jesus' statement in John 5:17 summarizes all of chapter 5.
2. Briefly describe the ways chapter 6 presents Jesus as the Bread of Life. What needs to happen in your life for Jesus to truly be bread for you?
3. The Feast of the Tabernacles emphasized light and water. How does chapter 7 reflect the Festival emphasis? Does the Spirit flow like living water from your innermost being? Write a brief prayer asking God to pour out His Spirit into your life in a new and fresh way.
4. List several important spiritual themes that appear in John 8. Which one seems most important to you? Why?
5. What overall impression does John 5-8 leave with you? What is the most significant truth that you see in these chapters? Why is it so important?
Fourth Day: Read John 9-12.
1. Describe how verses 39-41 provide a meaningful conclusion to chapter 9.
2. List some important insights you receive from the picture of Jesus as the Good Shepherd. How could your life be different in the future if you would truly let Jesus be your shepherd?
3. Write a brief paragraph explaining how John 11:25 is the key verse in chapter 11. What application could it have in your life?
4. What are the three or four most important concepts presented in chapter 12? Which one is most meaningful to you? Why?
5. What overall impression do you get from John 9-12? What areas of spiritual growth is the Spirit leading you toward as you have reviewed these chapters?
Fifth Day: Read John 13-17.
1. Compare and contrast the actions and teachings of Jesus and those of Peter and Judas in chapter 13. What insight do you receive that could help you become more Christlike and less like Peter or Judas?
2. What is your favorite promise from John 14? Why is it important to you?
3. How does the rest of chapter 15 illustrate the meaning of abiding in Christ mentioned in verse 4? What does the concept of you abiding in Christ and him in you mean to you personally?
4. Identify two or three important teachings in chapter 16. Which is most meaningful to you now? Why?
5. List the requests that Jesus prays for believers in John 17. Which would you most like to see fully answered in your life? What do you need to do so God can answer that prayer of Jesus?
6. Summarize the overall teaching about the Holy Spirit in John 13-17. Write a brief prayer asking the Holy Spirit to work in your life.
Sixth Day: Read John 18-21.
1. List the main events described in John 18. With which event do you most closely identify? Why?
2. What portion of chapter 19 has the strongest impact on you? Why? Jot down some of your feelings about Christ's death on the cross.
3. Briefly describe the responses of Mary and the various disciples to the appearances of Jesus in chapter 20. You have not seen the Risen Christ directly. Why would or do you believe in him?
4. How does chapter 21 illustrate the truth that we should live with our eyes on Jesus and not on other people? Write a brief prayer asking the Lord to help you live with your focus on Christ.
5. What truth presented in John 18-21 has had the strongest impact on your life? Briefly describe the way you want to live in response to that truth.
Beasley-Murray, George R. John, Vol 36 of the Word Biblical Commentary. Waco, Texas: Word Books Publisher, 1987. This commentary often has very useful insights. Its format is a bit complicated. Sometimes he uses Greek and Hebrew; he often is responding to other scholars; and some of his comment is verse by verse while other is by paragraph.


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B'WAY SONG & DANCE
HOME / IN-PERSON PROGRAMS / B'WAY SONG & DANCE CHALLENGE
6-Day Musical Theater Summer Intensive for Students ages 9-18
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Time Spread Law and Legal Definition | USLegal, Inc.
Time spread refers to the selling of a nearby option and buying of a more deferred option with the same strike price. It is an option strategy involving the purchase and sale of put options and call options having the same strike price but different expiration dates. It is also called horizontal spread.


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Q: Get Join table data as a result of ActiveRecord:Relation I am using rails 5 and oracle as a database. My query look like this..
DefaultConfig.where("role_id = ?","1001").joins(:config_param)

Now i want to get the result object as a config_param object not a default_config..
is it possible to do? Thanks for any help
class DefaultConfig < ApplicationRecord
    self.table_name = "default_config"
    belongs_to :role
    belongs_to :config_param
end

class ConfigParam < ApplicationRecord
    self.table_name = "config_param"
    has_many :default_configs, foreign_key: "param_id"
end

A: ConfigParam.joins(:default_configs).where(default_config: { role_id: 1001 })


The proliferation of violent extremist groups in Sub-Saharan Africa has provoked a renewed focus on the region in the post-9/11 global security context. From a Western perspective, particularly that of the Europeans, the notion of the al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), Boko Haram (BH) and al-Shabaab each forming a terrorist arch across the continent certainly presents a real security threat. However, our preoccupation with the ideological nature of these groups often serves to obscure the fundamental structural nature of this phenomenon. These organisations possess a number of similar characteristics; they operate by exploiting territories within a country with a weak State, recruiting from populations with genuine political grievances, all the while receiving most of their financial support from illicit transnational networks.
BH, for example, is headquartered in northern Nigeria, an area of the country that has suffered from institutionalised socio-economic exclusion since the years of colonisation. Africa's rapidly growing population has exasperated employment problems across the continent and northern Nigeria, where 60 to 70 per cent of the population is already impoverished; unemployment has risen to 35 per cent. Another factor to consider is the large number of Soviet era weapons that continue to circulate throughout the area, which are now available to new insurgent groups. Without intending to over-simplify the dynamics at play, the equation seems clear: there are a ton of guns, weak state institutions, and many unemployed, un-educated and frustrated young men.
Image courtesy of UN Photo, ©2012, some rights reserved.
Not only is this population exceptionally vulnerable to the warped ideological narrative that promises redemption and glory espoused by groups like BH; there is also a potential for economic opportunity as the organisations have become increasingly involved in organised criminal networks. Latin American drug cartels involved in smuggling cocaine through Africa and into Europe now contribute to a panoptic array of illicit transnational activities that finance these terrorist organisations. As such, it becomes unclear to what extent Islamic extremism serves as a guise for what are essentially criminal organisations.
As important as it is to acknowledge the structural problems that produce these problems, it is equally important to recognise that they are not exclusive to Nigeria, Africa, or the developing world. To this point, my hometown of Baltimore, Maryland serves as an interesting parallel. Only 45 minutes east of the national capital, Baltimore City has become notorious for its endemic violent drug crime, which was dramatized on HBO's The Wire. A study from the Brookings Institute ranked Baltimore the tenth most unequal city in America, which, to put this number in perspective, means a full twenty years separates the median life expectancy of two neighbourhoods that stand a few miles apart.
Criminal gang activities are physically relegated to certain sections of the city, but produce enough violence to make it one of the most dangerous cities in the country and to warrant the city's unfortunate nickname, 'Bodymore, Murderland'. It is not surprising that neighbourhoods like Sandtown or Harlem Park, where over 20 per cent of inhabitants are unemployed; turn to violent and illicit sources of income and security to fill the void left by the inability of the state to react. While these organisations are not politically motivated like those in Nigeria may be, they are both a reaction to the same essential socio-economic factors—a dynamic that their respective security responses both seem to overlook.
Counter drug trafficking approaches are generally split by two opposing assumptions about the structure of organised crime, the 'concentrated industry' hypothesis and the 'cottage industry' hypothesis. The 'concentrate industry' hypothesis is largely accepted by Federal drug enforcement agencies and asserts that drug smuggling is largely controlled by a few, very secret and well-resourced organisations, which operate separately from every-day retail activity. Effective counter drug trafficking tactics involve dismantling these major organisations, which, apparently, cannot be rapidly replaced.
In contrast, the 'cottage industry model' is more accepted by local security agencies and assumes that the drug industry is dominated by a host of small, non-specialised groups, whose weak structures are in constant flux. Thus, the removal of any one of these groups will not have a substantial effect on the drug trade—Barksdale will be quickly replaced by Marlo. While the latter theory disrupts federal notions of the drug industry, it relates a more nuanced construction of criminal activity as micro-responses to macro-processes.
To extend the comparison, BH is not a monolithic group; it has no clearly articulated mission, nor an established leadership. If security forces were somehow able to dismantle and demobilise BH entirely, there is no reason to believe that a new group will not immediately replace it. In addition, fans of The Wire will know that bureaucratic corruption and direct government complicity in organised crime—the 'Clay Davis's of the world—creates another dimension to the structural obstacles to consider.
The analogy between gangs in Baltimore and terrorist groups in the Sahel is obviously imperfect, but portraying them as entirely distinct is also inadequate. Undoubtedly, approaches to counter drug trafficking and counter terrorism could both benefit from a re-evaluation of what exactly constitutes the phenomenon they are responding to. Ideally, the way to deal with violent disenfranchised youth would not involve military or police force at all, but instead, focus on building livelihood opportunities, poverty alleviation and inclusive institutional development. However, given that neither inner city Baltimore nor northern Nigeria is likely to experience major socio-economic transformation in the near future, a concerted change within security agencies is needed.
In Nigeria, and across the Sahel, it is important that security responses do not play into the narratives propagated by extremist groups—for instance heavy-handed Western military involvement. Investments in policing over the military sector would be a helpful start, but not to replace the more fundamental need for institutional reform. Furthermore, if Islam is not really the problem, then it may offer 'the solution'—an approach Morocco has taken more recently. This means strengthening indigenous religious institutions, whose inherent legitimacy is key to offering a compelling counter-narrative for the local youth and avoid further radicalisation.
The threat of terrorism in North Africa and the Sahel is very real and it presents a significant humanitarian and security challenge to domestic, regional and international actors. However, terrorism and crime have long been tools of last resort, for those with no other political voice or economic opportunity. The post-9/11 fear of Islamists should not blind us to the true source of conflict, nor should we allow these perceptions to magnify the reality of the threat.
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Short Stories & Articles
Lang & Bev Kidby
2000 An Indonesian Odyssey
Lang Kidby
The totally expected transport-arrangement debacle took place and the expedition finally got away just on dark, instead of the planned 6.00am departure.
I had a 500-kilometre/12 hour journey in front of me, from Ujung Pandung (the old city of Makassar) to the INCO nickel mine at Soroako in Sulawesi, Indonesia.
There were 5 of us in the ubiquitous Toyota, 3rd world station wagon, the "Kijang". As the short tropical twilight faded it became obvious that this was going to be an interesting trip. The main highway was a thin, two-lane strip of bitumen winding its way across paddy fields and through patches of jungle and it was immediately apparent that only the hardiest 98.5% of the population used the road at night.
The heavy flow of vehicles, travelling in both directions, occupied only half the road – a quarter each side of the white line. It was not because they are bad drivers (which they are) that this continuous game of chicken took place, it was because the outer half of each lane was occupied.
Moving in an endless, unlit stream were throngs of pedestrians, bicycles, motor scooters, food vendors pushing their makan (muck-arn) carts and pedal taxis. Occupying the limited space remaining between humans and the spectacular variety of minor transport, were representatives of every species known to the animal kingdom.
These travellers either stood idly gazing at the passing panorama while firmly positioned on the carriageway or trotted purposefully along on a mission known only unto God and themselves.
While all this was happening the main game was unfolding in the centre of the road. The rules of the game are thus:-
At a distance of half a kilometre each vehicle centres itself on the white line. At this time, both drivers commence continuous beeping of the horn. At night their dexterity is such that they synchronise the horn blowing with continuous flashing headlights.
At a distance of 100 metres they take their hand off the wheel to wave the other driver over (simultaneously loudly casting doubt on the other fellow's parentage). As soon as the wave is completed, the beeping horn becomes a continuous blast as both vehicles move across just enough the give 10 centimetres clearance while passing. Experienced players gain extra points by retaining possession of the white line throughout the entire manoeuvre.
The horn beeping continues for approximately 5 seconds after the vehicles have passed for, by this time, a new challenger has probably entered the lists and the succeeding joust commences.
In the unlikely event the road ahead is clear, the driver randomly toots the horn at 20-second intervals just to make sure it is on its toes for the appearance of the next opponent. Likewise, occupation of the white line is studiously practised even on those short stretches where no other traffic exists.
All this begs the question "What happens when the distance between oncoming vehicles is too short to carry out standard jousting procedure?"
It soon became apparent to me that the majority of points are gained in the final standoff and passing manoeuvre. In the case of heavy traffic, the driver leaves his hand continuously on the horn (in accordance with the "Under 100 metre rule"). He dispenses with the wave and replaces the verbal abuse by reacting to the moving game with short exclamations appropriate to his fear level.
The white line must be reoccupied immediately upon passing, regardless of how close the next oncoming vehicle is.
The result of this behaviour, in a long stream of traffic, is a majestic synchronised slalom effect rippling down the line like a suicidal Mexican Wave. There are even a few hardy souls on motor scooters who participate but they are not taken seriously by the professionals. During the night we regularly came upon the result of a B-grade player trying his hand in the big league and zigging when he should have zagged.
These incidents ranged from the standard deceased pedestrian to a finely executed head-on collision between two trucks.
Adding to the flavour of the evening was the selection of broken down vehicles – at least one for every kilometre of the whole journey! Breakdowns also have a compulsory set of rules as follows:-
Immediately the engine ceases to run you must make no attempt to vacate the centre of the road as you roll to a stop. Immediately turn all lights (if any) off. Have your passengers instantly disembark on the road side of the vehicle and mill around across the whole carriageway. All passengers should preferably be dressed in dark clothing, deaf and blind (or a reasonable facsimile thereof).
Take some of the strongest passengers from the milling mob and drag a large log across the road at least 2 metres behind the vehicle to give early warning to following traffic. Should no log be available, a row of rocks no smaller than a basketball, will suffice. In the unlikely event cleaning the windscreen or gathering everybody to stand motionless staring into the engine bay gets the vehicle going, under no circumstances should you remove your warning log or boulders from the road before driving off.
The assumption that the above broken down vehicle would have lights to turn off brings me to the next point. So rare was it to have an oncoming vehicle with two headlights that it caused a short comment from the boys. To discover a vehicle in front of you actually carrying two working tail lights was a source of a couple of minutes delighted discussion among my fellow travellers.
The exceptions to this rule were the numerous trucks. These knights of the road are very keen to see ahead and like truck drivers all over the world, are slaves to fashion. Spotlights are all the rage in downtown Sulawesi trucking circles. They must, of course, be incapable of being extinguished and be as multitudinous as the driver's pecuniary situation allows.
At a refuelling stop I counted on the front of one truck, no fewer that 26 spotlights! We passed a number of others carrying even more. No doubt this driver charged through the night incinerating small roadside mammals, starting grass fires and using enough power to run a city only slightly smaller than New York. Need I add, his tail lights were completely inoperative?
The lack of tail lights spilled over into the passenger-carrying arena. I did notice that some of the drivers of these small 20-seat busses had their 50 passengers' safety in mind. A few had gone to the expense of screwing as many as three 50 cent reflectors to the back of the bus on the optimistic assumption they would warn an overtaking vehicle (without head-lights?) that they had no tail-lights.
By the time I had made sufficient observations to formulate the above theories, death had its hand firmly upon my shoulder. So, after wiping out two dogs, sideswiping a makan cart and running authoritatively up the arse of an unlit truck, I called a halt to proceedings. We spent the rest of the night in ½ star luxury in Palopo.
In the warm light of day the following morning the remaining four hours to Soroako went smoothly and without incident – except for the cyclist.
We were sailing along minding our own business, occupying the white line, when I heard a light thump on the side of the car.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw a cyclist launching over the handlebars into a full pike with tuck and twist (degree of difficulty 4.5). He actually had passed from my sight before the twist but he had sufficient altitude and, had completed the first part of the manoeuvre so well, I gave him the benefit of the doubt.
There was only one small thing that slightly took the edge off the fun of the journey. For the entire 12 hours, the fellow in the seat behind me had been continuously clearing his throat and every 5 minutes spraying the back of my neck with a violent hacking cough.
The boys casually let drop a couple of days later the fact the poor fellow was suffering from advanced TB.
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Q: Can I use a C# string format with the number of inputs decided at run time? I have a program which has various unit conversions defined in a configuration file including string formats for how they should be displayed. To display metres, centimetres, etc. only one input is required for the format, however for feet and inches two inputs are required (and potentially more could be needed for other unit conversions).
I know the number of arguments at run time from the length of a List<> generic containing input values. Can I then somehow input this into a C# String.Format?
Clarification with an example:
So the format defined in the configuration could be "{0} ft. {1} in." in the case of feet and inches or "{0} cm." in the case of centimetres. The code generates one or two values accordingly and puts them in a List<float> generic container. I then need to get the code into a String.Format statement, however String.Format does not take List<float> as an argument (as far as I am aware).
I know Python much better than C# and thanks to its dynamic nature I can unpack arguments in a list using the asterisk. i.e. my_format.format(*args_list) where my_format is a format string.
Is there anything similar in C#?

A: The parameters after the format string can be supplied as an object array.
Example:
string format = "{0} feet {1} inches";
object[] parameters = { 4, 2 };

string formatted = String.Format(format, parameters);

A: String.Format can take an array of objects, and you can get an array of objects from a List with yourList.Cast<object>().ToArray().
List<float> a = new List<float>();
a.Add(1.0f);
a.Add(2.0f);

string fmt = "{0} ft. {1} in.";
Console.WriteLine(String.Format(fmt, a.Cast<object>().ToArray()));

Or if you're using .NET 2.0 (and there may be a neater way to do this; I don't know much about C#):
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Text;

namespace ConsoleApplication1
{
    class Program
    {
        static object[] ToObjectArray(List<float> a)
        {
            object[] b = new object[a.Count];
            for (int i = 0; i < (a.Count); i++)
                b[i] = (object)a[i];
            return b;
        }

        static void Main(string[] args)
        {
            List<float> a = new List<float>();
            a.Add(1.0f);
            a.Add(2.0f);

            string fmt = "{0} ft. {1} in.";
            Console.WriteLine(String.Format(fmt, ToObjectArray(a)));

            Console.ReadLine();

        }
    }
}

A: Alternative
string format = "{0} feet {1} inches";
string[] parameters = { "4", "2" };

string formatted = format;
for(int i=0; i<parameters.length; i++)
{
    //Replaces("{0}", parameters[0]);
    //Replaces("{1}", parameters[1]);
    formatted = formatted.Replace("{"+i+"}", parameters[i]);
}


This project is connecting mathematicians and mathematics teachers in middle schools by offering summer workshops and continued communication throughout the year. The workshops focus on mathematical problem solving and include activities that offer multiple entry points. The goal of the workshops is to increase teachers' knowledge of mathematics for teaching and to help teachers use their knowledge to improve student learning of mathematics.
The Math Teachers' Circles project (MTC) is connecting mathematicians and mathematics teachers in middle schools by offering summer workshops and continued communication throughout the year. The workshops focus on mathematical problem solving and include activities that offer multiple entry points. The goal of the workshops is to increase teachers' knowledge of mathematics for teaching and to help teachers use their knowledge to improve student learning of mathematics. In addition to conducting workshops, researchers are investigating what mathematics teachers learn by participating in the workshops and how teachers use what they have learned in their mathematics teaching. The American Institute of Mathematics (AIM) is facilitating Math Circles in 26 states with research sites in Albuquerque, Denver and San Francisco Bay area. Their research questions include: (1) How is the MTC model being implemented at local sites? (2) What are the effects of participation in a MTC on Teachers' Mathematical Knowledge for Teaching? (3) What is the impact of MTC involvement on teachers' approaches toward mathematics and classroom practice? Twelve case studies, based on classroom observations, are offering insights into how teachers use their mathematical knowledge in planning, implementing, assessing, and reflecting on their instruction. Math Teachers' Circle leaders and participants are connected by a digital network organized by AIM. Workshops are offered for mathematicians who would like to be leaders and organizers of local Math Teachers' Circles, and help is provided to local Circles. The purpose of the local workshops is to develop teachers' content knowledge, problem-solving skills, and mathematical habits of mind. The Math Circles supplement other professional development efforts that focus on pedagogy. The MTC model includes five criteria: content focus, active learning, coherence, approximately 50 hours of professional development, and collective participation. Participants are expected to continue to work within the networked community to develop their mathematical knowledge. The research effort is measuring teachers' mathematical knowledge and conducting case studies to investigate the impact of the MTC on mathematics teaching. They are videotaping lessons and using the Mathematical Quality of Instruction observation protocol. The project evaluator is from Colorado State University.