We had some splendid hymns including my favourite "For all the saints..." which we sang at Cofton Park, when beloved Pope Benedict XVI celebrated the beatification Mass for Bl John Henry Newman.... We sang with gladness, and it is a joyful hymn but has a solemnity about it which strikes a deep echo today: "The golden evening brightens in the west..."
Afterwards, much talk at a gathering in the Throne Room at Archbishop's House...and in fact the whole of the building, and more, was being used as there was also a gathering in the Cathedral Hall, and in addition a room at the nearby Windsor Castle pub had also been pressed into service...and then later people were still chatting away as they made their final goodbyes in the piazza and Victoria Street.
This was one of those days when you could see English Catholicism in action and listen to its heartbeat. Pounding steadily with a strong and healthy rhythm, I would say.
Next morning, a robed choir with crisp white surplices accompanied a most glorious Mass, with a full church and lots of altar servers and a great roar of voices for all the Mass responses.
Most of today's school pupils are allowed to learn very little poetry: when I quoted Wordsworth On Westminster Bridge it didn't register so they couldn't respond with any opinion when I asked whether he was any good as a poet (daffodils?).
I found these young people cheering. Some are going to World Youth Day. Two or three plan to be RE teachers. Pottering home in the rain I felt a faint sense of comfort.
...here on Thursday evening, with glorious music. Mass in the Ordinariate form.
At first I felt a bit annoyed, wondering how to say "Excuse me...I want to cross the road..." in Korean, Japanese, and all the dozens of other languages...and then I stopped. ENJOY!!! HM's 90th Birthday is a day to take stock, give thanks for a long reign and the stability that we currently enjoy in Britain. The springtime sunshine, the Union flag waving out from the Palace flagpole (HM was at Windsor, so no Royal Standard), the cheerful crowds, and the sight of Guards marching superbly... Deo Gratias.
...had an important chapter in Cheltenham on Friday.
It begins 49 years ago.
As a Girl Guide, I wrote a feature for The Guide magazine, describing how, as a Patrol Leader (8th Carshalton Guides) I had taken my Patrol camping in the grounds of my school during the Easter holidays. I had just acquired my Patrol Camp Permit (entitling me to wear a green lanyard, which felt very important) - and the school grounds were approved as being safe, with access to clean water etc. It seemed very exciting, and rather weird, to be , busy with making fires and cooking sausages and so on, in a place that we normally knew only in its formal setting with lessons and teachers and school uniform. Indeed, the very place where we were camping - up in The Meadow, beyond the lake - would normaly have been Out of Bounds.
The magazine published my feature, complete with photographs, and a short while later I received a letter from a Guide in Gloucester, suggesting that it might be fun to be pen-friends.
Somehow we never telephoned, and even the arrival of Skype didn't change things...but the writing continued.
And then, a couple of months ago, Ann saw my name on the programme for the Cheltenham Christian Arts Festival (see Blog entry below). We fixed a date for lunch.
It is impossible to convey just what this day meant.
And if you have read this far and think it all just sounds a trivial story and isn't worth blogging about - well...you have simply missed out on the joy of life's adventure and the things that really matter.
Ann and I will keep on writing (we've already exchanged post-lunch emails with great joy). And it won't be another 49 years before we meet up again.
Thank God for Guiding and Scouting and all that it has given to the world.
...to the launch of a book SOMEDAY, by Corinna Turner. This is a novel based on the grim events in Nigeria, where the Moslem terrorist group Boko Haram (which literally translates as "Books Forbidden", ie "Education Forbidden") kidnapped a group of girls from a Christian school. The book launch took place on the 2nd anniversary of the kidnapping.
Proceeds from the book are going to the work of Aid to the Church in Need, which is supporting Christians in Nigeria.
It was good to be part of the Christian Arts Festival and to support Corinna's initiative: there was an excellent turn-out for the book launch, which took place at The Old Priory, St Gregory the Great church.
All of which I already knew, really. But it's somehow rather chilling to have it all discussed in a matter-of-fact way.
...the conference was superb and I have come away with so much to study and think about...among the best lectures was Dr Paul Vitz examining the complementarity of men and women, absolutely fascinating. Also Graham Hutton, whom I know well through our joint work with Aid to the Church in Need, spoke superbly on St John Paul's Theology of the Body.
I attended the conference with Patti Fordyce, chairman of the Association of Catholic Women. It was fascinating to meet Archbishop Gintaras Grusas of Vilnius, and the conversation we had with him is one I will never forget. We were discussing the film - recently shown in London - about the original "Divine Mercy" painting in Vilnius, and he said gently "Yes...I know about this film...I directed it..." Then as the conversation developed, we learned his story. His parents met and married before WWII, and the events of the war separated them, his mother remaining in Lithuania while his father, after being captured by the Germans, later remained in the West, finally making his way to America. For over ten years neither knew where the other was. Finally, through various contacts, each discovered that the other was alive...and finally, following the death of Stalin and some meetings between Soviet and American diplomats and officials, they were reunited and settled in the USA. He was born a year later, in 1961.
And, no, it doesn't say that remmarriage after divorce is acceptable to the Church or that people in such unions should go to Communion. So those who are poring over it desperately trying to announce that the Pope is about the initiate changes in Church teaching should stop wasting their time.
...to do a piece for an obituary programme about Mother Angelica. Radio 4: "The Last Word". Not sure when it will be broadcast.
It's been a while since I've done anything at Broadcasting House. They've moved the reception desk but otherwise it hadn't changed much.
But I had a few moments in which to sit and ponder in the entrance hall, and suddenly it did somehow feel quite poignant staring again at that magnificent inscription by Sir John Reith, dedicated this "temple of the arts and muses" to God with the prayer, echoing that of St Paul, that "all things foul or hostile to peace may be banished thence, and that the people inclining their ear to whatsoever things are lovely and honest, whatsoever things are of good report, may tread the path of virtue and wisdom." That was placed there in 1931. The Beeb that I have known in my working life has sometimes been of a rather different message. But today's discussion went well, and it is something to note and remember: Mother Angelica of EWTN was given a BBC obituary.
Over the past couple of years we've all become used to the new machines at Post Offices. These are steadily replacing the humans who used to do things: and how horrid it is. Today the one young man who was around to assist was hard-working, enthusiastic and extremely helpful: he obviously enjoyed knowing what to do and how to do it, and was quietly efficient and authoritative - and very kind to this irritating muddled lady who put the wrong stamps on her parcels and needed to be calmed down and helped. WE ALL APPRECIATE SUCH ASSISTANCE: it's what we humans are all about. And the Post office is a great British institution: it was a British invention, with the Penny Post and the glories of an efficient postal communication system which spread across the British Empire.
Post Offices can make money by selling items that we need,..the service they provide is central to people's lives and is going to stay that way. Trying to save money by using robots instead of humans isn't a real saving,and lacks a sense of enterprise and forward thinking.
...some research on catchetical materials. One "Childen's Liturgy" resource book is bad to the point of dark comedy.
There is an obsession with cutting and sticking and getting children to put glitter on to the cardboard tubes from the centres of lavatory rolls, and so on. This sort of thing, if it teaches children anything, teaches them about cutting and sticking and glitter.
making new beginnings." Which seemed a good summary and worth learning.
The FAITH Movement has always attracted a lot of men, and has been a focus for many priestly vocations over the past three or four decades. Of course women attend too...and the Sisters of the Gospel of Life - of which Sister Andrea is a member - the first new religious order to be founded in Scotland since the 16th century, has direct links with the FAITH Movement.
...which I have done routinely since my teens, is rather depressing at present because there are so many rather horrible advertisments. There is one for men's perfume which is vaguely sinister in its attempt to blur sexes so you can't tell if those pictured are male or female. And its huge and somehow attempts to fill all the space so even if you move further down the platform it still leers. There are several that are simply vulgar and sort of pornographic. I tend to read most of the time when travelling but it's annoying on a platform when you have to be alerrt to secure a place as the train arrives - the the nasty ads are omnipresent.
...has been arriving from various schools across Greater London in recent weeks for an ecumenically-sponsored project encouraging children to learn the Lord's Prayer. Today a team began the task of reading project entries and awarding prizes...my task was to help with wrapping and packing, which I enjoy as it involves lots of paper and sellotape and so on and is somehow very satisfying.
... or, rather, beneath London, in the crypt of St Patrick's Church in Soho, to view a new film about the original Divine Mercy painting.
With no personal talent or training in art, Faustina was helped by her confessor who found a painter who produced, under the nun's daily and detailed directions, a powerful image. Christ is seen in a white, simple but vaguely liturgical, robe, against a dark background, his eyes lowered and serious, one hand gently indicating his breast from where bright white and red light flows. It is subtly different in lots of ways from all the subsequent Divine Mercy images. One significant change is that his right hand, raised in blessing, is held at shoulder-level: apparently this was the liturgical rule at the time, and it is a different style from the larger generous sweeping gesture shown in the popularised images.
As the film explains, the events of World War II and its aftermath meant a complicated series of journeys for this picture - hidden in an atttic, displayed for years in a remote country church,...meanwhile devotion to the Divine Mercy swept Poland and a number of other paintings were commissioned by various people, but none were strictly accurate.
After the fall of Communism, the whole full story was pieced together: the original picture is now at the shrine in Vilnius.
I detected a faint Poland/Lithuania tension as the tale unfolded, though this was not mentioned by the (American) narrator or any of the other people and may not really have occurred...on reflection I think it was all just part of the tragedy of those years of the 1930,40s,and 50s and on through the 70s. The film features interviews with Lithuanian bishops, priests, a nun, historians, an art expert..., some speaking in English, others with sub-titles, who tell the whole story rather well and explain the background to each complicated chapter of the picture's history. Then as the discussion widens to include the whole Divine Mercy story, there are a number of well-known Catholic commentators (Cardinal Schonborn, Fr Leo Masburg, George Weigel): it is a fine and most interesting piece of work, well researched.
It was odd to hear Lithuaniians talking, in a grim but everyday way, about people arrested and sent to Siberia for years in prison-camps. For them, it is a normal thing to discuss. In a ghastly and somehow drab, ordinary sort of way, life in a Soviet-dominated land suddenly became real, instead of something dramatic about Iron Curtain Prisoners.
... for the Catholic Women of the Year in Britain 2016.
Any Catholic woman in Britain can be nominated - we are looking for the "unsung heroines": these may be women who are active in their local parish or community, in visiting the sick or imprisoned, in preparing children for First Communion or helping with projects for the aged or housebound. There are women upholding Catholic values in education or in public or professonal life. There are Catholic women who raise funds for charity, take sick pilgrims to Lourdes, or are simply good friends and neighbours to those in need and joyful examples of Christian living at work and at home. Nominators may think of women who have been particularly helpful to them in their own journey of faith or, in this Jubilee Year of Mercy, women who particularly exemplify one of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy.
All that is required is a letter, setting out, ideally on one page, the reasons why the person concerned is worthy of nomination. We are glad to receive nominations for women of all ages and backgrounds - single, married, consecrated religious.
There is no financial reward, but the chosen Catholic Women of the Year are special guests at the annual Luncheon, which will be held in the Autumn.
...April 1st in 2016 is that you really find it hard to know what is a spoof and what isn't.
I was told in advance: but what did you think when you read it?


text:
/* Includes ------------------------------------------------------------------*/
#include "USBD_CDC.h"
#include "usbd_desc.h"
#include "usbd_ctlreq.h"

/** @addtogroup STM32_USB_DEVICE_LIBRARY
  * @{
  */

/** @defgroup USBD_CDC
  * @brief usbd core module
  * @{
  */

/** @defgroup USBD_CDC_Private_TypesDefinitions
  * @{
  */
/**
  * @}
  */

/** @defgroup USBD_CDC_Private_Defines
  * @{
  */
/**
  * @}
  */

/** @defgroup USBD_CDC_Private_Macros
  * @{
  */

/**
  * @}
  */

/** @defgroup USBD_CDC_Private_FunctionPrototypes
  * @{
  */

static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_Init (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev,
                               uint8_t cfgidx);

static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_DeInit (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev,
                                 uint8_t cfgidx);

static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_Setup (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev,
                                USBD_SetupReqTypedef *req);

static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_DataIn (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev,
                                 uint8_t epnum);

static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_DataOut (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev,
                                 uint8_t epnum);

static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_EP0_RxReady (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev);

static uint8_t  *USBD_CDC_GetFSCfgDesc (uint16_t *length);

static uint8_t  *USBD_CDC_GetHSCfgDesc (uint16_t *length);

static uint8_t  *USBD_CDC_GetOtherSpeedCfgDesc (uint16_t *length);

static uint8_t  *USBD_CDC_GetOtherSpeedCfgDesc (uint16_t *length);

uint8_t  *USBD_CDC_GetDeviceQualifierDescriptor (uint16_t *length);

/* USB Standard Device Descriptor */
__ALIGN_BEGIN static uint8_t USBD_CDC_DeviceQualifierDesc[USB_LEN_DEV_QUALIFIER_DESC] __ALIGN_END =
{
  USB_LEN_DEV_QUALIFIER_DESC,
  USB_DESC_TYPE_DEVICE_QUALIFIER,
  0x00,
  0x02,
  0x00,
  0x00,
  0x00,
  0x40,
  0x01,
  0x00,
};

/**
  * @}
  */

/** @defgroup USBD_CDC_Private_Variables
  * @{
  */

/* CDC interface class callbacks structure */
USBD_ClassTypeDef  USBD_CDC =
{
  USBD_CDC_Init,
  USBD_CDC_DeInit,
  USBD_CDC_Setup,
  NULL,                 /* EP0_TxSent, */
  USBD_CDC_EP0_RxReady,
  USBD_CDC_DataIn,
  USBD_CDC_DataOut,
  NULL,
  NULL,
  NULL,
  USBD_CDC_GetHSCfgDesc,
  USBD_CDC_GetFSCfgDesc,
  USBD_CDC_GetOtherSpeedCfgDesc,
  USBD_CDC_GetDeviceQualifierDescriptor,
};

/* USB CDC device Configuration Descriptor */
__ALIGN_BEGIN uint8_t USBD_CDC_CfgHSDesc[USB_CDC_CONFIG_DESC_SIZ] __ALIGN_END =
{
  /*Configuration Descriptor*/
  0x09,   /* bLength: Configuration Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_CONFIGURATION,      /* bDescriptorType: Configuration */
  USB_CDC_CONFIG_DESC_SIZ,                /* wTotalLength:no of returned bytes */
  0x00,
  0x02,   /* bNumInterfaces: 2 interface */
  0x01,   /* bConfigurationValue: Configuration value */
  0x00,   /* iConfiguration: Index of string descriptor describing the configuration */
  0xC0,   /* bmAttributes: self powered */
  0x32,   /* MaxPower 0 mA */

  /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/

  /*Interface Descriptor */
  0x09,   /* bLength: Interface Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_INTERFACE,  /* bDescriptorType: Interface */
  /* Interface descriptor type */
  0x00,   /* bInterfaceNumber: Number of Interface */
  0x00,   /* bAlternateSetting: Alternate setting */
  0x01,   /* bNumEndpoints: One endpoints used */
  0x02,   /* bInterfaceClass: Communication Interface Class */
  0x02,   /* bInterfaceSubClass: Abstract Control Model */
  0x01,   /* bInterfaceProtocol: Common AT commands */
  0x00,   /* iInterface: */

  /*Header Functional Descriptor*/
  0x05,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x00,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Header Func Desc */
  0x10,   /* bcdCDC: spec release number */
  0x01,

  /*Call Management Functional Descriptor*/
  0x05,   /* bFunctionLength */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x01,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Call Management Func Desc */
  0x00,   /* bmCapabilities: D0+D1 */
  0x01,   /* bDataInterface: 1 */

  /*ACM Functional Descriptor*/
  0x04,   /* bFunctionLength */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x02,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Abstract Control Management desc */
  0x02,   /* bmCapabilities */

  /*Union Functional Descriptor*/
  0x05,   /* bFunctionLength */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x06,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Union func desc */
  0x00,   /* bMasterInterface: Communication class interface */
  0x01,   /* bSlaveInterface0: Data Class Interface */

  /*Endpoint 2 Descriptor*/
  0x07,                           /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_ENDPOINT,   /* bDescriptorType: Endpoint */
  CDC_CMD_EP,                     /* bEndpointAddress */
  0x03,                           /* bmAttributes: Interrupt */
  LOBYTE(CDC_CMD_PACKET_SIZE),     /* wMaxPacketSize: */
  HIBYTE(CDC_CMD_PACKET_SIZE),
  0x10,                           /* bInterval: */
  /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/

  /*Data class interface descriptor*/
  0x09,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_INTERFACE,  /* bDescriptorType: */
  0x01,   /* bInterfaceNumber: Number of Interface */
  0x00,   /* bAlternateSetting: Alternate setting */
  0x02,   /* bNumEndpoints: Two endpoints used */
  0x0A,   /* bInterfaceClass: CDC */
  0x00,   /* bInterfaceSubClass: */
  0x00,   /* bInterfaceProtocol: */
  0x00,   /* iInterface: */

  /*Endpoint OUT Descriptor*/
  0x07,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_ENDPOINT,      /* bDescriptorType: Endpoint */
  CDC_OUT_EP,                        /* bEndpointAddress */
  0x02,                              /* bmAttributes: Bulk */
  LOBYTE(CDC_DATA_HS_MAX_PACKET_SIZE),  /* wMaxPacketSize: */
  HIBYTE(CDC_DATA_HS_MAX_PACKET_SIZE),
  0x00,                              /* bInterval: ignore for Bulk transfer */

  /*Endpoint IN Descriptor*/
  0x07,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_ENDPOINT,      /* bDescriptorType: Endpoint */
  CDC_IN_EP,                         /* bEndpointAddress */
  0x02,                              /* bmAttributes: Bulk */
  LOBYTE(CDC_DATA_HS_MAX_PACKET_SIZE),  /* wMaxPacketSize: */
  HIBYTE(CDC_DATA_HS_MAX_PACKET_SIZE),
  0x00                               /* bInterval: ignore for Bulk transfer */
} ;

/* USB CDC device Configuration Descriptor */
__ALIGN_BEGIN uint8_t USBD_CDC_CfgFSDesc[USB_CDC_CONFIG_DESC_SIZ] __ALIGN_END =
{
  /*Configuration Descriptor*/
  0x09,   /* bLength: Configuration Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_CONFIGURATION,      /* bDescriptorType: Configuration */
  USB_CDC_CONFIG_DESC_SIZ,                /* wTotalLength:no of returned bytes */
  0x00,
  0x02,   /* bNumInterfaces: 2 interface */
  0x01,   /* bConfigurationValue: Configuration value */
  0x00,   /* iConfiguration: Index of string descriptor describing the configuration */
  0xC0,   /* bmAttributes: self powered */
  0x32,   /* MaxPower 0 mA */

  /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/

  /*Interface Descriptor */
  0x09,   /* bLength: Interface Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_INTERFACE,  /* bDescriptorType: Interface */
  /* Interface descriptor type */
  0x00,   /* bInterfaceNumber: Number of Interface */
  0x00,   /* bAlternateSetting: Alternate setting */
  0x01,   /* bNumEndpoints: One endpoints used */
  0x02,   /* bInterfaceClass: Communication Interface Class */
  0x02,   /* bInterfaceSubClass: Abstract Control Model */
  0x01,   /* bInterfaceProtocol: Common AT commands */
  0x00,   /* iInterface: */

  /*Header Functional Descriptor*/
  0x05,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x00,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Header Func Desc */
  0x10,   /* bcdCDC: spec release number */
  0x01,

  /*Call Management Functional Descriptor*/
  0x05,   /* bFunctionLength */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x01,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Call Management Func Desc */
  0x00,   /* bmCapabilities: D0+D1 */
  0x01,   /* bDataInterface: 1 */

  /*ACM Functional Descriptor*/
  0x04,   /* bFunctionLength */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x02,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Abstract Control Management desc */
  0x02,   /* bmCapabilities */

  /*Union Functional Descriptor*/
  0x05,   /* bFunctionLength */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x06,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Union func desc */
  0x00,   /* bMasterInterface: Communication class interface */
  0x01,   /* bSlaveInterface0: Data Class Interface */

  /*Endpoint 2 Descriptor*/
  0x07,                           /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_ENDPOINT,   /* bDescriptorType: Endpoint */
  CDC_CMD_EP,                     /* bEndpointAddress */
  0x03,                           /* bmAttributes: Interrupt */
  LOBYTE(CDC_CMD_PACKET_SIZE),     /* wMaxPacketSize: */
  HIBYTE(CDC_CMD_PACKET_SIZE),
  0x10,                           /* bInterval: */
  /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/

  /*Data class interface descriptor*/
  0x09,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_INTERFACE,  /* bDescriptorType: */
  0x01,   /* bInterfaceNumber: Number of Interface */
  0x00,   /* bAlternateSetting: Alternate setting */
  0x02,   /* bNumEndpoints: Two endpoints used */
  0x0A,   /* bInterfaceClass: CDC */
  0x00,   /* bInterfaceSubClass: */
  0x00,   /* bInterfaceProtocol: */
  0x00,   /* iInterface: */

  /*Endpoint OUT Descriptor*/
  0x07,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_ENDPOINT,      /* bDescriptorType: Endpoint */
  CDC_OUT_EP,                        /* bEndpointAddress */
  0x02,                              /* bmAttributes: Bulk */
  LOBYTE(CDC_DATA_FS_MAX_PACKET_SIZE),  /* wMaxPacketSize: */
  HIBYTE(CDC_DATA_FS_MAX_PACKET_SIZE),
  0x00,                              /* bInterval: ignore for Bulk transfer */

  /*Endpoint IN Descriptor*/
  0x07,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_ENDPOINT,      /* bDescriptorType: Endpoint */
  CDC_IN_EP,                         /* bEndpointAddress */
  0x02,                              /* bmAttributes: Bulk */
  LOBYTE(CDC_DATA_FS_MAX_PACKET_SIZE),  /* wMaxPacketSize: */
  HIBYTE(CDC_DATA_FS_MAX_PACKET_SIZE),
  0x00                               /* bInterval: ignore for Bulk transfer */
} ;

__ALIGN_BEGIN uint8_t USBD_CDC_OtherSpeedCfgDesc[USB_CDC_CONFIG_DESC_SIZ] __ALIGN_END =
{
  0x09,   /* bLength: Configuation Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_OTHER_SPEED_CONFIGURATION,
  USB_CDC_CONFIG_DESC_SIZ,
  0x00,
  0x02,   /* bNumInterfaces: 2 interfaces */
  0x01,   /* bConfigurationValue: */
  0x04,   /* iConfiguration: */
  0xC0,   /* bmAttributes: */
  0x32,   /* MaxPower 100 mA */

  /*Interface Descriptor */
  0x09,   /* bLength: Interface Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_INTERFACE,  /* bDescriptorType: Interface */
  /* Interface descriptor type */
  0x00,   /* bInterfaceNumber: Number of Interface */
  0x00,   /* bAlternateSetting: Alternate setting */
  0x01,   /* bNumEndpoints: One endpoints used */
  0x02,   /* bInterfaceClass: Communication Interface Class */
  0x02,   /* bInterfaceSubClass: Abstract Control Model */
  0x01,   /* bInterfaceProtocol: Common AT commands */
  0x00,   /* iInterface: */

  /*Header Functional Descriptor*/
  0x05,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x00,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Header Func Desc */
  0x10,   /* bcdCDC: spec release number */
  0x01,

  /*Call Management Functional Descriptor*/
  0x05,   /* bFunctionLength */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x01,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Call Management Func Desc */
  0x00,   /* bmCapabilities: D0+D1 */
  0x01,   /* bDataInterface: 1 */

  /*ACM Functional Descriptor*/
  0x04,   /* bFunctionLength */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x02,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Abstract Control Management desc */
  0x02,   /* bmCapabilities */

  /*Union Functional Descriptor*/
  0x05,   /* bFunctionLength */
  0x24,   /* bDescriptorType: CS_INTERFACE */
  0x06,   /* bDescriptorSubtype: Union func desc */
  0x00,   /* bMasterInterface: Communication class interface */
  0x01,   /* bSlaveInterface0: Data Class Interface */

  /*Endpoint 2 Descriptor*/
  0x07,                           /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_ENDPOINT      ,   /* bDescriptorType: Endpoint */
  CDC_CMD_EP,                     /* bEndpointAddress */
  0x03,                           /* bmAttributes: Interrupt */
  LOBYTE(CDC_CMD_PACKET_SIZE),     /* wMaxPacketSize: */
  HIBYTE(CDC_CMD_PACKET_SIZE),
  0xFF,                           /* bInterval: */

  /*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/

  /*Data class interface descriptor*/
  0x09,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_INTERFACE,  /* bDescriptorType: */
  0x01,   /* bInterfaceNumber: Number of Interface */
  0x00,   /* bAlternateSetting: Alternate setting */
  0x02,   /* bNumEndpoints: Two endpoints used */
  0x0A,   /* bInterfaceClass: CDC */
  0x00,   /* bInterfaceSubClass: */
  0x00,   /* bInterfaceProtocol: */
  0x00,   /* iInterface: */

  /*Endpoint OUT Descriptor*/
  0x07,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_ENDPOINT,      /* bDescriptorType: Endpoint */
  CDC_OUT_EP,                        /* bEndpointAddress */
  0x02,                              /* bmAttributes: Bulk */
  0x40,                              /* wMaxPacketSize: */
  0x00,
  0x00,                              /* bInterval: ignore for Bulk transfer */

  /*Endpoint IN Descriptor*/
  0x07,   /* bLength: Endpoint Descriptor size */
  USB_DESC_TYPE_ENDPOINT,     /* bDescriptorType: Endpoint */
  CDC_IN_EP,                        /* bEndpointAddress */
  0x02,                             /* bmAttributes: Bulk */
  0x40,                             /* wMaxPacketSize: */
  0x00,
  0x00                              /* bInterval */
};

/**
  * @}
  */

/** @defgroup USBD_CDC_Private_Functions
  * @{
  */

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_Init
  *         Initialize the CDC interface
  * @param  pdev: device instance
  * @param  cfgidx: Configuration index
  * @retval status
  */
static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_Init (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev,
                               uint8_t cfgidx)
{
  uint8_t ret = 0;
  USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef   *hcdc;

  if(pdev->dev_speed == USBD_SPEED_HIGH  )
  {
    /* Open EP IN */
    USBD_LL_OpenEP(pdev,
                   CDC_IN_EP,
                   USBD_EP_TYPE_BULK,
                   CDC_DATA_HS_IN_PACKET_SIZE);

    /* Open EP OUT */
    USBD_LL_OpenEP(pdev,
                   CDC_OUT_EP,
                   USBD_EP_TYPE_BULK,
                   CDC_DATA_HS_OUT_PACKET_SIZE);

  }
  else
  {
    /* Open EP IN */
    USBD_LL_OpenEP(pdev,
                   CDC_IN_EP,
                   USBD_EP_TYPE_BULK,
                   CDC_DATA_FS_IN_PACKET_SIZE);

    /* Open EP OUT */
    USBD_LL_OpenEP(pdev,
                   CDC_OUT_EP,
                   USBD_EP_TYPE_BULK,
                   CDC_DATA_FS_OUT_PACKET_SIZE);
  }
  /* Open Command IN EP */
  USBD_LL_OpenEP(pdev,
                 CDC_CMD_EP,
                 USBD_EP_TYPE_INTR,
                 CDC_CMD_PACKET_SIZE);

  pdev->pClassData = USBD_malloc(sizeof (USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef));

  if(pdev->pClassData == NULL)
  {
    ret = 1;
  }
  else
  {
    hcdc = (USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef*) pdev->pClassData;

    /* Init  physical Interface components */
    ((USBD_CDC_ItfTypeDef *)pdev->pUserData)->Init();

    /* Init Xfer states */
    hcdc->TxState =0;
    hcdc->RxState =0;

    if(pdev->dev_speed == USBD_SPEED_HIGH  )
    {
      /* Prepare Out endpoint to receive next packet */
      USBD_LL_PrepareReceive(pdev,
                             CDC_OUT_EP,
                             hcdc->RxBuffer,
                             CDC_DATA_HS_OUT_PACKET_SIZE);
    }
    else
    {
      /* Prepare Out endpoint to receive next packet */
      USBD_LL_PrepareReceive(pdev,
                             CDC_OUT_EP,
                             hcdc->RxBuffer,
                             CDC_DATA_FS_OUT_PACKET_SIZE);
    }

  }
  return ret;
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_Init
  *         DeInitialize the CDC layer
  * @param  pdev: device instance
  * @param  cfgidx: Configuration index
  * @retval status
  */
static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_DeInit (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev,
                                 uint8_t cfgidx)
{
  uint8_t ret = 0;

  /* Open EP IN */
  USBD_LL_CloseEP(pdev,
              CDC_IN_EP);

  /* Open EP OUT */
  USBD_LL_CloseEP(pdev,
              CDC_OUT_EP);

  /* Open Command IN EP */
  USBD_LL_CloseEP(pdev,
              CDC_CMD_EP);

  /* DeInit  physical Interface components */
  if(pdev->pClassData != NULL)
  {
    ((USBD_CDC_ItfTypeDef *)pdev->pUserData)->DeInit();
    USBD_free(pdev->pClassData);
    pdev->pClassData = NULL;
  }

  return ret;
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_Setup
  *         Handle the CDC specific requests
  * @param  pdev: instance
  * @param  req: usb requests
  * @retval status
  */
static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_Setup (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev,
                                USBD_SetupReqTypedef *req)
{
  USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef   *hcdc = (USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef*) pdev->pClassData;
  static uint8_t ifalt = 0;

  switch (req->bmRequest & USB_REQ_TYPE_MASK)
  {
  case USB_REQ_TYPE_CLASS :
    if (req->wLength)
    {
      if (req->bmRequest & 0x80)
      {
        ((USBD_CDC_ItfTypeDef *)pdev->pUserData)->Control(req->bRequest,
                                                          (uint8_t *)hcdc->data,
                                                          req->wLength);
          USBD_CtlSendData (pdev,
                            (uint8_t *)hcdc->data,
                            req->wLength);
      }
      else
      {
        hcdc->CmdOpCode = req->bRequest;
        hcdc->CmdLength = req->wLength;

        USBD_CtlPrepareRx (pdev,
                           (uint8_t *)hcdc->data,
                           req->wLength);
      }

    }
    else
    {
      ((USBD_CDC_ItfTypeDef *)pdev->pUserData)->Control(req->bRequest,
                                                        (uint8_t*)req,
                                                        0);
    }
    break;

  case USB_REQ_TYPE_STANDARD:
    switch (req->bRequest)
    {
    case USB_REQ_GET_INTERFACE :
      USBD_CtlSendData (pdev,
                        &ifalt,
                        1);
      break;

    case USB_REQ_SET_INTERFACE :
      break;
    }

  default:
    break;
  }
  return USBD_OK;
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_DataIn
  *         Data sent on non-control IN endpoint
  * @param  pdev: device instance
  * @param  epnum: endpoint number
  * @retval status
  */
static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_DataIn (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev, uint8_t epnum)
{
  USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef   *hcdc = (USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef*) pdev->pClassData;

  if(pdev->pClassData != NULL)
  {

    hcdc->TxState = 0;

    return USBD_OK;
  }
  else
  {
    return USBD_FAIL;
  }
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_DataOut
  *         Data received on non-control Out endpoint
  * @param  pdev: device instance
  * @param  epnum: endpoint number
  * @retval status
  */
static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_DataOut (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev, uint8_t epnum)
{
  USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef   *hcdc = (USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef*) pdev->pClassData;

  /* Get the received data length */
  hcdc->RxLength = USBD_LL_GetRxDataSize (pdev, epnum);

  /* USB data will be immediately processed, this allow next USB traffic being
  NAKed till the end of the application Xfer */
  if(pdev->pClassData != NULL)
  {
    ((USBD_CDC_ItfTypeDef *)pdev->pUserData)->Receive(hcdc->RxBuffer, &hcdc->RxLength);

    return USBD_OK;
  }
  else
  {
    return USBD_FAIL;
  }
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_DataOut
  *         Data received on non-control Out endpoint
  * @param  pdev: device instance
  * @param  epnum: endpoint number
  * @retval status
  */
static uint8_t  USBD_CDC_EP0_RxReady (USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev)
{
  USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef   *hcdc = (USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef*) pdev->pClassData;

  if((pdev->pUserData != NULL) && (hcdc->CmdOpCode != 0xFF))
  {
    ((USBD_CDC_ItfTypeDef *)pdev->pUserData)->Control(hcdc->CmdOpCode,
                                                      (uint8_t *)hcdc->data,
                                                      hcdc->CmdLength);
      hcdc->CmdOpCode = 0xFF;

  }
  return USBD_OK;
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_GetFSCfgDesc
  *         Return configuration descriptor
  * @param  speed : current device speed
  * @param  length : pointer data length
  * @retval pointer to descriptor buffer
  */
static uint8_t  *USBD_CDC_GetFSCfgDesc (uint16_t *length)
{
  *length = sizeof (USBD_CDC_CfgFSDesc);
  return USBD_CDC_CfgFSDesc;
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_GetHSCfgDesc
  *         Return configuration descriptor
  * @param  speed : current device speed
  * @param  length : pointer data length
  * @retval pointer to descriptor buffer
  */
static uint8_t  *USBD_CDC_GetHSCfgDesc (uint16_t *length)
{
  *length = sizeof (USBD_CDC_CfgHSDesc);
  return USBD_CDC_CfgHSDesc;
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_GetCfgDesc
  *         Return configuration descriptor
  * @param  speed : current device speed
  * @param  length : pointer data length
  * @retval pointer to descriptor buffer
  */
static uint8_t  *USBD_CDC_GetOtherSpeedCfgDesc (uint16_t *length)
{
  *length = sizeof (USBD_CDC_OtherSpeedCfgDesc);
  return USBD_CDC_OtherSpeedCfgDesc;
}

/**
* @brief  DeviceQualifierDescriptor
*         return Device Qualifier descriptor
* @param  length : pointer data length
* @retval pointer to descriptor buffer
*/
uint8_t  *USBD_CDC_GetDeviceQualifierDescriptor (uint16_t *length)
{
  *length = sizeof (USBD_CDC_DeviceQualifierDesc);
  return USBD_CDC_DeviceQualifierDesc;
}

/**
* @brief  USBD_CDC_RegisterInterface
  * @param  pdev: device instance
  * @param  fops: CD  Interface callback
  * @retval status
  */
uint8_t  USBD_CDC_RegisterInterface  (USBD_HandleTypeDef   *pdev,
                                      USBD_CDC_ItfTypeDef *fops)
{
  uint8_t  ret = USBD_FAIL;

  if(fops != NULL)
  {
    pdev->pUserData= fops;
    ret = USBD_OK;
  }

  return ret;
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_SetTxBuffer
  * @param  pdev: device instance
  * @param  pbuff: Tx Buffer
  * @retval status
  */
uint8_t  USBD_CDC_SetTxBuffer  (USBD_HandleTypeDef   *pdev,
                                uint8_t  *pbuff,
                                uint16_t length)
{
  USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef   *hcdc = (USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef*) pdev->pClassData;

  hcdc->TxBuffer = pbuff;
  hcdc->TxLength = length;

  return USBD_OK;
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_SetRxBuffer
  * @param  pdev: device instance
  * @param  pbuff: Rx Buffer
  * @retval status
  */
uint8_t  USBD_CDC_SetRxBuffer  (USBD_HandleTypeDef   *pdev,
                                   uint8_t  *pbuff)
{
  USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef   *hcdc = (USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef*) pdev->pClassData;

  hcdc->RxBuffer = pbuff;

  return USBD_OK;
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_DataOut
  *         Data received on non-control Out endpoint
  * @param  pdev: device instance
  * @param  epnum: endpoint number
  * @retval status
  */
uint8_t  USBD_CDC_TransmitPacket(USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev)
{
  USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef   *hcdc = (USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef*) pdev->pClassData;

  if(pdev->pClassData != NULL)
  {
    if(hcdc->TxState == 0)
    {
      /* Tx Transfer in progress */
      hcdc->TxState = 1;

      /* Transmit next packet */
      USBD_LL_Transmit(pdev,
                       CDC_IN_EP,
                       hcdc->TxBuffer,
                       hcdc->TxLength);

      return USBD_OK;
    }
    else
    {
      return USBD_BUSY;
    }
  }
  else
  {
    return USBD_FAIL;
  }
}

/**
  * @brief  USBD_CDC_ReceivePacket
  *         prepare OUT Endpoint for reception
  * @param  pdev: device instance
  * @retval status
  */
uint8_t  USBD_CDC_ReceivePacket(USBD_HandleTypeDef *pdev)
{
  USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef   *hcdc = (USBD_CDC_HandleTypeDef*) pdev->pClassData;

  /* Suspend or Resume USB Out process */
  if(pdev->pClassData != NULL)
  {
    if(pdev->dev_speed == USBD_SPEED_HIGH  )
    {
      /* Prepare Out endpoint to receive next packet */
      USBD_LL_PrepareReceive(pdev,
                             CDC_OUT_EP,
                             hcdc->RxBuffer,
                             CDC_DATA_HS_OUT_PACKET_SIZE);
    }
    else
    {
      /* Prepare Out endpoint to receive next packet */
      USBD_LL_PrepareReceive(pdev,
                             CDC_OUT_EP,
                             hcdc->RxBuffer,
                             CDC_DATA_FS_OUT_PACKET_SIZE);
    }
    return USBD_OK;
  }
  else
  {
    return USBD_FAIL;
  }
}
/**
  * @}
  */

/**
  * @}
  */

/**
  * @}
  */

/************************ (C) COPYRIGHT STMicroelectronics *****END OF FILE****/

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Get power on the go with this 140 Watt Power Inverter. A rugged rubberized housing protects it from damage. Mount it in a vehicle with the kit provided. Dual USB charging ports provide power for personal electronics, and a flexible, heavy-duty DC power input cord gets power to the inverter. The Power Inverter features short circuit and low battery protection to help prevent shocks and total battery drain. Built-in ground fault protection provides added shock prevention.


(array) $query_params JSON Schema-formatted collection parameters.
Filter collection parameters for the users controller.
This filter registers the collection parameter, but does not map the collection parameter to an internal WP_User_Query parameter. Use the rest_user_query filter to set WP_User_Query arguments.


text:
« Trinity on Trial : Act V | Main | The Worker of Signs & Wonders »
The "I AM"
Trinity on Trial : Act V continued...
One of the arguments devised to support the doctrine of the Trinity is that when Jesus said the words translated as I am he was almost always identifying himself with the Hebrew God YHVH. Evidence adduced from both Old and New Testaments will demonstrate the falsity of this claim.
Support for the claim is most often drawn from the 'burning bush' incident in Exodus Chapter 3:
"And the angel (messenger, ambassador) of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed.
"Behold, when I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers, hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What is his name? what shall I say unto them?
"And God said unto Moses, I am that I am: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I am hath sent me unto you.
"Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, the Lord (YHVH) God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, hath sent me unto you: this is my name for ever, and this is my memorial unto all generations". [verses 2, 13-15]
I am that I am - Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh
Ehyeh [1st person singular imperfect form of the verb "to be"] Asher [relative pronoun] Ehyeh [1st person singular imperfect form of the verb "to be"].
No simple comparison can be made between Hebrew and English tenses. Present tense forms of the verb "to be" - am; are; is; - are not included in Hebrew texts but merely implied! [Hebrew tenses are based on whether or not an action has been completed. The 'perfect' tense denotes a past, present or future action that is regarded as being completed: the 'imperfect' tense denotes action which may have begun in the past, is continuing in the present, but has not yet been completed.]
The verbs here are in the 'imperfect' meaning that the action may have begun in the past but will be completed in the future, or will continue in the future. I am that I am as a translation is inadequate. I will be what I will be is also inadequate. The full meaning of Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh is given to us in the New Testament : "I am the Alpha and the Omega, saith the Lord God, who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty." (Rev. 1:8)
It has been conclusively demonstrated by Claude Tresmontant* that the Greek gospels were originally composed from Hebrew originals or from Hebrew notes. It makes no difference whether Jesus spoke in Aramaic or Hebrew - his words were originally recorded in Hebrew, the 'sacred' language. I am is a translation of the Greek ego eimi which, in turn, is based on the Hebrew ani hou (I, he).
As already stated, the simple copulative forms of present tense "to be" are not written into Hebrew texts but merely implied e.g. I (am) sick; she (is) pretty; we (are) happy. The appropriate form, in this case AM, has been simply added, first to the Greek and then to the English, to conform with linguistic demands. The original words which Jesus uttered were simply "I, he" or, as we would say, "it's me!"
The New Testament also clarifies the burning bush incident - we discover that it was indeed an angel that appeared to Moses:
"This Moses whom they refused, saying, who made thee a ruler and a judge? the same did God send to be a ruler and a deliverer by the hand of the angel which appeared to him in the bush." (Acts 7:35).
Even if we ignore linguistic demands and pretend that Jesus could have said the words "I am," the claim that he was identifying with YHVH by repeating a messenger's explanation of the timeless "being" of YHVH is still exposed to the ridicule it so richly deserves. We can only hope that all the other teachings and doctrines which subvert the message of the New Testament will eventually be exposed to similar ridicule.
** Claude Tresmontant, The Hebrew Christ: Language in the age of the Gospels, Franciscan Herald Press, Chicago, 1989.
April 20, 2007 in The Doctrine of the Trinity | Permalink

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


We always love to see which weekend activities you're trying, so don't forget to share with us how it turned for you via our Facebook page. Happy Weekend!
Fall is here but there's still sunny weekend afternoons to enjoy the crisp air! Why not take your kiddos on a nature walk and stock up on beautiful colored leaves, acorns and pinecone to keep their little hands busy during the rainy days that are coming. Autumn bouquet by Justine Hand via gardenista.
Back to school rush and all its clutter are behind us but it seems like we can never have enough storage ideas at home. Why not taking advantage of the weekend and craft your own organizing solution to add a cozy feel to an otherwise purely functional item? Just like this lovely project by A Beautiful Mess.
If staying at home isn't your style, there's still plenty to do outside... Like throwing together a fall picnic! Good food, good friends, a few blankets and you're all set! Photo via Oh Happy Day.
Need some comfort after a busy week, but you don't want to slave in the kitchen for one more evening? Learn how to craft a perfect grilled cheese, you totally deserve it!
Beginning of fall is often the occasion to sort out through the clutter of our homes before the busy entertaining season. While there might be a lot of stuff to discard, you can find a creative way to recycle few items to create something truly amazing! We've been inspired by this sweater turned into a pillow by Veronica at Chef Scout.


text:
Q: Schematics: Capacitor Wondering if someone could explain what the 1 and 2 mean when placed by each capacitor on this snipit from a schematic.  Tried to use Google without success.

A: Simply put these are just the pin numbers of the component.
On a simple 2 pin non-polarized component they are normally of no use to someone reading the schematic. Most CAD software programs will even allow the designer to disable the display of these numbers.  However when a component is polarized or has multiple pins (for eg. an IC) the pin numbers are obviously much more important.
When a schematic component is designed using a CAD program every pin needs to have a designation.  Similarly when a PCB component pattern is designed each physical pin (pcb pad) will have a designation. When the schematic design is later converted to a PCB design the schematic pin numbers are matched up to same pin numbers of the component's PCB pattern.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Richard Barnes Mason (16. januar 1797 – 25. juli 1850) var en karriereofficer i den amerikanske hær. Han var militærguvernør i Californien inden området blev til en delstat.

Mason blev født i Lexington i Virginia som barnebarn af George Mason, en af grundlæggerne af De Forenede Stater. Han blev officer i hæren i 1817 og gjorde tjeneste i 1st U.S. Infantry regimentet under Black Hawk-krigen. I 1833 blev han overført til United States Dragoons som regimentets første major. Under den Mexicansk-amerikanske krig gjorde han tjeneste i New Mexico Territoriet og i Californien, hvor han nåede at få rang af oberst

Efter krigen blev han udvnævnt til militærguvernør i Californien, en post som han beklædte fra 31. maj 1847 til 13. april 1849. Da der blev fundet guld ved Sutter's Mill, skrev Mason en rapport om fundet til Præsident James K. Polk.

Mason døde i Jefferson Barracks i St. Louis, Missouri, i 1850.

I 1882, blev forlægningen ved Point San Jose i San Francisco, California omdømt til Fort Mason til minde om ham. Mason Street i den indre by i San Francisco er ligeledes opkaldt efter ham.

Referencer

Militærfolk fra USA

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Every Monday night I have a late meeting with our offshore team and so I try and get organized so I don't have to cook (or eat crap) on Monday evening. Every week I have the best intentions, but usually this doesn't so much happen and I end up eating one of Ichiban, takeout or a grilled cheese sandwich.
1. Cover chickpeas in cold water by at least 2 inches. Soak overnight and then drain.
2. Combine the soaked chickpeas, squash, carrots, onion, lentils, broth, tomato paste, ginger, cumin, salt, and pepper in your slow cooker.
3. Cook on low until tender – I left mine on for the full 10+ hours since I had a long day.


text:
VOL. 129 | NO. 151 | Tuesday, August 5, 2014
Republicans Rally In Bartlett
By Bill Dries
Print | Front Page | Email this story | Email reporter | Comments ()
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam told a group of several hundred Republicans in Bartlett Monday, Aug. 4, that he would like to see a statewide turnout in the August Republican primaries of 750,000.
Haslam and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander have been on a statewide bus tour since last week to pump up overall Republican turnout even as they face opposition in the GOP primaries for governor and the U.S. Senate. The goal is to also boost the turnout for Republican candidates in local general election races on the ballot.
They were joined at the Bartlett stop by U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher, Shelby County Mayor Mark Luttrell, Sheriff Bill Oldham, County Trustee David Lenoir and hosted by Bartlett Mayor Keith McDonald.
"The more we've opened our doors, the more success we've had," Haslam said of the goal. Haslam had said earlier in the campaign season that his effort in the primary would be geared more toward getting out the Republican vote and less concerned with his opposition in the primary.
Haslam's opposition in his Thursday primary statewide is not considered formidable. And the state Democratic party establishment is not backing any of the contenders in the companion Democratic primary.
Alexander faces Tea Party opposition in Thursday's primary from state Representative Joe Carr and opposition from Memphis by former Shelby County Commissioner George Flinn.
"We have an open primary. As a result of our open door, we have many candidates," Alexander said of the opposition. "The result is that we have a larger Republican party, a more conservative Republican party and thanks to Gov. Haslam and the state legislature a more successful Republican party. They are actually doing something with the majority."
Meanwhile, Democrats have a hard fought race in the four-candidate Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate that has been dominated by Knoxville attorneys Gordon Ball and Terry Adams who have each campaigned heavily in Memphis.


A secret society's risque ritual offers Maggie Brandeis an escape from dire straits. To start a new life, all she has to do is give herself to an Argentum member for four nights of steamy passionate rites.
Just purchased!! I'm gonna try to hold off till tomorrow morning. (It will be hard after reading the excerpt!) Hubby is having ankle/heel surgery at 6 a.m. and if I can contain myself until then, I'm hoping this will keep me company untill it's over.
Thanks to you and Emma for your hard work!
Have to say this was another steamy and enjoyable read! I love how you can get to know the characters and immediately fall into their lives . Great reality break that always leaves you wanting more . Also, if you haven't read her other book , The Nights of Yes, that is another good one!!!!


Around the world, irrigated agriculture is the largest consumer of water and one of the largest users of energy.
Michigan State University scientists are leading a $2.5 million USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture grant to better manage these resources and define more sustainable ways for irrigated agriculture to meet current and future demand for food.
The interdisciplinary team will focus its efforts on two major irrigated regions in the U.S. and an area that has seen a rapid increase of irrigation – the High Plains, California's Central Valley and Michigan's Lower Peninsula, respectively.
They will quantify the effects of projected increases in food production on energy consumption and water resources under a changing climate. They'll also simulate the effects of potential water policies and their associated influence on the energy and water footprints of U.S. agriculture.
In addition, they'll quantify the likely effects of large-scale shifts in irrigated agriculture over the next century on regional climate.
The project team includes scientists, farmers and policymakers – a network that will enable the research to have a significant impact on decisions and policies that can increase water, energy and nutrient use efficiency, while maintaining crop yields and farmer profitability, Hyndman said.
MSU scientists contributing to this study include: Annick Anctil, Bruno Basso, Anthony Kendall, Paolo Sabbatini, Jinhua Zhao and Adam Zwickle. Researchers from the University of Wisconsin, Kansas Geological Survey, NOAA-Great Lake Environmental Research Laboratory and Dartmouth University are also contributing.


Obviously we hope that nothing happens to you or your insured items. However if you do need to make a claim we are here to make sure the process is as quick and painless as possible.
If you need to make a claim please give our friendly team on 01730 233 101 and we will guide you through the process. It would be useful (but not essential if you had your policy number to hand). Alternatively, you can email us and we will aim to respond within one working day.
If you have breakdown recovery included in your policy and need to contact the recovery service, please call us on 01730 233 101 and select option 2.


text:
Rottenstein Law Group Alarmed but Not Surprised by Number of Hip Implant Complaints to FDA in Past Decade
The Rottenstein Law Group, which represents clients with claims stemming from the failures of defective hip replacement devices manufactured and sold by various companies, was not surprised by the large number of complaints about all-metal hip implants received by the FDA from 2000 to 2011, but the firm is nonetheless disconcerted.
The Rottenstein Law Group, LLP
New York, NY (PRWEB) June 25, 2012
According to a recent Bloomberg report, between 2000 and 2011, recipients of metal-on-metal hip implants lodged nearly 16,800 complaints—or, "adverse event reports"—with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
"The reports almost quadrupled to 682 in 2008 from the year earlier, and rose again after [DePuy,] a unit of Johnson & Johnson began recalling hip devices in 2010," according to the Bloomberg article, which cited a report posted on the FDA's website. "Adverse event reports in 2011 totaled 12,137 for the metal-on-metal devices, compared with 6,332 associated with other types of hip implants, according to the FDA document."
The FDA previously announced its intention to asking an advisory panel of experts to take a closer look at metal-on-metal hip implants late this month. "Though the FDA metal hip implant investigation is nothing new," reported Reuters in April, "it signals that the agency may be ready to subject the devices to stricter scrutiny."
After the August 2010 recall of 93,000 DePuy XL Acetabular metal-on-metal hips, the FDA ordered manufacturers to collect more post-implant safety data. Since then, the FDA has been investigating the safety of metal-on-metal hip implants and trying to decide if they should undergo more rigorous testing and premarket review. "Evidence suggests that such review may be necessary. A recent study from the National Joint Registry of English and Wales found that 6% of people with the implants needed additional surgery," reported Reuters. "This is high when compared to the 1.7 to 2.4% rate found in individuals with ceramic or plastic hips."
Rochelle Rottenstein, principal of the Rottenstein Law Group, implores anyone with a friend or relative who has received a dangerous medical device to reach out to that person and recommend that he or she consult a physician immediately and then speak to a qualified personal injury lawyer.
About THE ROTTENSTEIN LAW GROUP
The Rottenstein Law Group is a New York-based law firm that represents clients in mass tort actions. The firm was founded by Rochelle Rottenstein, who has more than two decades of experience as a lawyer, to represent clients in consumer product injury, mass tort, and class action lawsuits in a compassionate manner. http://www.rotlaw.com
Rochelle Rottenstein, Esq.
(212) 933-9500 (office phone)
(212) 933-9980 (facsimile)
rochelle (at) rotlaw (dot) com
http://www.rotlaw.com
recall - http://www.hiprecalllaw.com


Trust IDEST with your translations!
Quality control is the cornerstone of IDEST's strategy and enables us to deliver translations of the very highest quality.
deadlines that are often very tight (e.g. 24 hrs).
For example, for over ten years IDEST has translated all the sessions of the European Parliament from all languages into French. IDEST translates trademark and model descriptions for the European Union Intellectual Property Office (Alicante) and for the World Intellectual Property Organization (Geneva). Since 2000, IDEST has translated, on a subcontracting basis, all publications of the Directorate General for Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (DG MARE – European Commission).
Our quality control system is founded on the ISO-9001:2015 (formerly ISO-9001:2008) and ISO-17100:2015 (formerly EN-15038:2006) standards.
IDEST has held ISO-9001:2015 (formerly ISO-9001:2008) certification since 2011: Download the certificate.
IDEST has held ISO-17100:2015 certification (formerly EN-15038:2006) since 2010: Download the certificate - Access the database of the certification body (LICS).
IDEST Communication respects the privacy of its customers and suppliers, and of visitors to its website and content management site (SWAY). This privacy notice sets out how IDEST uses your personal data and for what purposes.
Personal data means any information identifying a natural person (either directly or indirectly), such as their name, phone number or date of birth.
If you offer your services to IDEST as a freelancer, we collect and process your personal data. We only use the information and personal data you provide when you complete the application form and send the requested attachments (letter, qualifications, CV and other documents) in order to process your application.
If you are applying for a job, we collect and process your personal data. We only use the information and personal data you provide when you complete the application form and send the requested attachments (letter, CV and other documents) in order to process your application.
If you wish to use IDEST's services, we only collect the data strictly necessary to process information requests and potential orders.
Data collected by IDEST is for the latter's sole use, and is used only for the purposes for which it was collected.
IDEST warrants that it will not transfer such data in any way whatsoever.
Your data will be retained unless you send IDEST a written request for its removal. This request should be sent by email to olietar@idestnet.com. IDEST undertakes to process any such request within one month of receipt of the email. It should be noted that the data will be immediately erased from the files used, but backups (accessible only by management and the IT department) will be kept for 1 year, after which all data about you will be deleted from our archives in full.
You have the right to access your personal data and, if there are any errors, request that they are corrected. Certain information can be amended directly in SWAY using your personal login and password. You can request a copy of your data by sending an email to IDEST at olietar@idestnet.com All requests will be processed within one month of receiving the email.
IDEST has taken appropriate measures to ensure that each use of and visit to our website is secure, and to prevent any abuse.
IDEST's core business is providing a comprehensive range of linguistic services to national and international institutions, both public and private. We are focused on providing premium quality translations.
Our primary goal is to provide you with high quality work to suit your needs. Our rates and turnaround times vary depending on various factors, such as language combination and the text's area of specialisation.
Request a quote or find out more in just one click.
Quality is our fundamental value at IDEST. That is why we are constantly looking for new talent specialising in different fields: external translators and revisers, employees for the in-house team or trainees.
Ask about joining our team or find out more in just one click.
February 2019 - The Vade Mecum Initiative (BQTA – CBTI) has already held 2 meetings which will eventually lead to the adoption of model specifications addressed to Belgian authorities and which will be put on-line on BQTA and CBTI's websites this Summer 2019.
October 2018 – IDEST won an important Long Term Agreement with a prestigious international institution active in the field of trademarks. This contract covers translation from and into English, Spanish and French and will last 7 years.
Summer 2018 - IDEST renewed its framework contracts for legal translations LEG17 from English, Spanish and Italian into French (2018-2022) and for financial translations FIN17 from English into French (2018-2022) with the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (Luxembourg).
February 2018 – As a result of the tendering procedure launched by the Council of Europe (Strasbourg) last autumn, IDEST was offered a long-term contract for translation from Azerbaijani, Bosnian, Romanian and Italian into French.
February 2018 – After a long procedure including translation tests, IDEST is currently finalizing the signature of a Long Term Agreement with the General Secretariat of UNICEF for translation from English into French and Spanish, from French into English and from Spanish into English.
In 2017, as a follow-up of our Long Term Agreement with UNESCO, the following UN institutions signed translation contracts with IDEST: the World Food Program, the UN Refugee Agency and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.
December 2017 - IDEST renewed its framework contracts for legal translation services from English, German, Spanish and Italian into French (2017-2021) with the European Court of Justice (Luxembourg).
October 2017 - IDEST renewed its framework contracts for general translation services from English, German, Spanish and Italian into French (2017-2021) with the Translation Centre for the Bodies of the European Union (Luxembourg).
Our secure area provides access to a range of information, useful links and documents.
These pages can only be accessed with the username and password provided when you first contacted IDEST. If you are having trouble logging in, or if you have not yet received this information, please contact us.
This area offers translators and revisers who are members of our external network a wide range of tools, links and documents to help them in their day-to-day work. All the information provided is related to translation, language and IDEST's organisation.
The information available is being constantly updated. Please check this page regularly.
SWAY is our online management platform. It enables our customers to send us their requests, the project managers to manage them from A to Z and translators/revisers to upload their tasks. From quote to invoice, from purchase order to delivery, everything is managed through SWAY on our internal servers.
Our MyStep platform is similar to SWAY but is used solely for our contract with the European Parliament.
Currently, not all modules are active, but all will be active by the end of the year.
This area offers our customers a range of documents relating to translation and the work of IDEST. It contains guides published by professional associations, tips for drafting texts that will be translated into several languages, as well as general advice on writing and translation in general.
Are you a customer, translator, or simply want to learn more about translation and how IDEST works?
Our frequently asked questions section contains a wealth of useful information about us. If you don't find answers to your questions there, please contact us through our contact form.
In Situ contains information, by category, found in IDEST's publications, as well as separate articles published as required. The articles include feedback from our customers and also cover grammatical, lexical and syntactic issues. The blog only exists in French.


text:
Art Handlers at MoMA PS1 Demand Same Pay as Manhattan Colleagues
The Early Days of the Nuyorican Poets Cafe
Published by admin at December 7, 2018
Warren B. Kanders
Whitney Museum
Decolonize
A graphic created by MTL+ and Decolonize This Place to protest Warren B. Kanders's status as vice chair of the Whitney Museum's board.
COURTESY MTL+ AND DECOLONIZE THIS PLACE
Following a letter signed by nearly 100 employees at the Whitney Museum urging the institution to take action against Warren B. Kanders, vice chair of the institution's board, the activist group Decolonize This Place has planned an assembly in front of the museum for 12 p.m. this Sunday, December 9. Titled "Assemble at the Whitney: No Space for Profiteers of State Violence," the event aims to raise awareness of Kanders's involvement in Safariland, a company that has manufactures tear gas canisters and other products used against asylum seekers on the U.S.-Mexico border.
A description on a Facebook event page reads, in part: "Many of us, our families, and our communities here and abroad have been on the receiving end of the products made and marketed by Safariland and its numerous subsidiaries like Defense Technology. We consider [Whitney director Adam] Weinberg's apparent decision to stand with Kanders a line in the sand. That line is unacceptable to us, and now the entire institution of the Whitney faces a broad crisis of legitimacy."
To complement the protest, Decolonize This Place and the collective MTL+ have produced materials that intermingle imagery related to Safariland and advertisements related to the Whitney's current Andy Warhol retrospective, for which Kanders is listed as a "significant contributor."
Decolonize This Place's action comes amid a series of open letters. The first—the one signed by 95 Whitney employees—was circulated internally at the museum this past Friday and was first published by Hyperallergic following a report that laid bare Kanders's purchase of Safariland in 2012. "To remain silent," the letter's signees stated, "is to remain complicit." They demanded that Whitney leadership consider asking Kanders to resign and to further explicate its policies regarding museum trustees.
On Monday, Weinberg, the museum's director, responded with a note of his own in which he called on the employees to have a dialogue. Weinberg called such conversation "the democracy of art." That same day, Kanders released a missive defending himself. "The staff letter implies that I am responsible for the decision to use these products. I am not," he wrote, adding that Safariland's business is "highly regulated."
On its event page, Decolonize This Place writes, "We have a responsibility to hold all of our institutions accountable, including the Whitney Museum. After much deliberation, reach outs, and consultation with collaborators, we are putting out this city-wide call. This is the beginning. See you in front of the Whitney Museum."
Street Art Artist
Frieder Burda, Prodigious Collector of German Expressionism Who Founded Private Museum, Has Died at 83 –
Lowry Burgess, the Godfather of Space Art, Talks About His Plan to Shoot an Ark Into Space | artnet News
Yayoi Kusama 'Infinity Mirror Room' Will Alight in Connecticut This Fall –
© 2018 Street Art Graffiti News. All Rights Reserved


There are many strange holidays out there that seem to slide under the radar and go unrecognized. Normally I let these holidays pass by unnoticed, but today's holiday caught my eye and inspired me to celebrate. Today my friends, is Chocolate Mint Day! I love chocolate, and chocolate gets its fair share of attention from the popular holidays (Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween etc.) so why not have a day to celebrate the delicious act of mixing chocolate with mint (if you're skeptical think: Thin Mints, mint chocolate chip ice cream and the little chocolates fancy hotels leave on your pillows). I'll be mixing up a cocktail that pairs these two ingredients (almost) as perfectly as a Thin Mint.
Chocolate candies, truffles, and all of the like are Valentine's Day staples. So why would cocktails be left out of the mix? Incorporating Crème de Cacao, or chocolate liqueur, into your Valentine's cocktail menu is a boozey way to achieve this cocoa-inspired flavor profile.
In other slightly related/slightly unrelated news, it also happens that today is Peppermint Patty Day. As an homage to that minty chocolate delight from York, here is the recipe. Great for both this Friday's Feature cocktail and for a sweet Valentine's dessert drink. To make it lean on the more romantic side, try switching up the garnish; instead of a candy cane, why not float candy hearts on the top of the drink? It'll add a more personal touch.
Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with a candy cane on the rim (or candy hearts for Valentine's Day).
Looking for a creative new way to look at peppermint schnapps? Well, you've come to the right place!
The seasonally-appropriate schnapps gains most of its popularity (or notoriety, take your pick) through a variety of shot recipes. However, the following recipe developed by Dr. Bamboo for a Thursday Drink Night calls for the use of peppermint schnapps…as a rinse!
Clocking in at 90-proof, I love this concept of using the Hiram Walker Peppermint Schnapps as a rinse to your cocktail glass. Plus, with a schnapps as flavor-packed as this one, it's icy, minty zest still manages to make its subtle presence known.
Shake everything with ice and strain into a well-chilled cocktail glass that's been rinsed with Hiram Walker Peppermint Schnapps. Garnish with a pinch of ground cloves.
Looking for a simpler musing from Dr. B? Read his take on the Madras in his December column for Bar None Drinks. You'll find my monthly contribution there as well.


text:
Could Okinawa Derail U.S.-Japan Relations?
April 2, 2015 Topic: Politics Region: Asia
"Averting an alliance crisis over Okinawa was Reischauer and Kennedy's challenge. Averting another one is ours."
by Jennifer Lind
No one shouted this time. A half century ago, the Okuma auditorium in Tokyo was the scene of a dramatic cry for a greater Japanese voice in its alliance with the United States—and a remarkable gesture, from a visiting Robert F. Kennedy, that it might be forthcoming.
This March, at a symposium at Okuma with a different Kennedy presiding, the theme of inclusion rang out again.
The symposium, which featured speakers Ambassador Caroline Kennedy, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, and former President Bill Clinton, honored the legacy of John F. Kennedy in U.S.-Japan relations. The John F. Kennedy Library Foundation organized the event, as well as a joint exhibition co-sponsored by the National Archives of Japan.
Both the exhibition and symposium discussed the Kennedy administration and its legacies in the realms of science and space, civil rights, and counterproliferation.
As I chronicled in a previous article for The National Interest, the Kennedy years were pivotal in U.S.-Japan relations. When the president took office, relations were deeply troubled. In May 1960, the streets of Tokyo swarmed with protesters opposing the renewal of the U.S.-Japan Security Treaty.
Many Japanese people feared that the alliance would draw Japan into war with the Soviet Union, and worried about the Americans' embrace of Japan's wartime leaders (now their anticommunist LDP allies). Many Japanese people also railed against U.S. control over Okinawa, which it had seized in the war. Locals resented the massive U.S. military footprint and the debauchery and violence committed by American servicemen.
The 1960 protests jolted Tokyo and Washington into realizing that they needed to do more to build support for the alliance among the Japanese people. Kennedy sent Japan scholar Edwin O. Reischauer to Tokyo as ambassador, who argued for an "equal partnership" between the two countries. Leaders on both sides also began planning a U.S. presidential visit to Japan, which would be the first in history.
This is not how it's supposed to be
In 1962 President Kennedy sent his brother Robert, the U.S. attorney general, to advance the visit. During his week-long stay in Japan, RFK visited farms, factories, and schools, and attended many talks and debates. One afternoon he went to Tokyo's Waseda University to participate in a debate in the Okuma auditorium.
Earlier that day, a Waseda student leader, Tachiya Yuzo, sat down with faculty planners and discussed the debate format. Tachiya, though deeply critical of U.S. policy, says he was impressed by the fact that the attorney general "was willingly walking into and having a open debate with students."
The Americans entered the large hall filled with the cacophony of three thousand people. U.S. State Department official Brandon Grove recalled, "There was unrest, booing, stamping feet; rival groups on the floor." Kennedy began to give a speech, using his interpreter from the U.S. embassy.
Tachiya, standing in a crowd in front of the stage, was shocked. He recalled, "I could see the confusion on Professor Nakajima's face, who was assigned to host and be in charge of the event proceedings." So Tachiya shouted, "This is not how it's supposed to be!" and demanded a proper debate, with Waseda faculty chairing and translating as planned.
Kennedy aide John Seigenthaler described "a skinny little Japanese boy, tense, shouting, shouting, shouting, screaming at the top of his lungs, really red-faced – just completely wrought up emotionally." Eventually a resigned Kennedy stopped talking and, gesturing to what Seigenthaler called the "little wraith of a kid," extended his hand and pulled Tachiya onstage. To debate. While Kennedy held the microphone for him, the student hollered a lengthy criticism of U.S. policy, beginning with a demand for the United States to restore Okinawa to Japanese sovereignty.
After Tachiya, Kennedy resumed speaking of shared American and Japanese goals, and of the importance of the exchange of ideas and free debate, which was impossible in Communist societies. Grove recalled that Kennedy's words and his gesture to Tachiya "really seized the imagination of the people there." And beyond: the event was televised.
The Japanese people saw, as Seigenthaler put it, "Bob's guts, and his obvious willingness to let the boy talk." The event ended with students regaling the Americans with a thunderous singing of Waseda's school song. The Americans, helped by their interpreter, chimed in gustily.
The drama at Okuma symbolized a broader effort during those years to transform the alliance. The Kennedy administration and their LDP partners created educational exchanges and forums for scientific, cultural, and political cooperation that would engage generations of people on both sides. Through such efforts American and Japanese leaders sought to change U.S.-Japan relations from a narrow military alliance imposed upon (and resented by) the Japanese people into an "equal partnership" embraced by both societies.
Finally onstage
The symposium last month, on that same Okuma stage, showed that indeed much has changed. Instead of showing an outsider shouting to be heard, the symposium on JFK's legacy showcased partners who today seek each other's talents and counsel to tackle shared issues of concern.
As the first of two panels showed, these issues extend beyond the realm of military cooperation to include societal challenges with which both countries are grappling. On this panel, the theme of diversity and inclusion was discussed along with JFK's leadership in space. Charles Bolden, former astronaut and now the NASA administrator, praised fellow panelist Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata for his highly inclusive leadership while managing a multinational team aboard the international space station, where Wakata had been the first Japanese commander.
Scholar Marie Oshima – a mechanical engineer and one of Tokyo University's few women faculty – spoke of the challenges Japanese women face in the fields of science and technology. "Young women feel they can't step forward," she said, "They feel reluctant and anxious to step forward."
Bolden, the first African American to head NASA, exhorted young people to forge forward despite exclusion: "Just go. Do." Panelist Carol Fulp, CEO of The Partnership, delivered a riveting personal testimony to JFK's leadership in civil rights legislation. "As an African American, a woman, and a disabled person," she said, she would have been invisible. "But because of what he did, I am visible to you."
One symposium attendee, 25-year old Tokyo resident Kasumi Iwama, commented that she was struck by the panel because inclusion was such a challenge in Japan – that "women, handicapped, and LGBT members of society" were undervalued. Iwama said that discussions of this "are not widespread and part of the public consciousness," but that she hoped that conversations like this would encourage greater debate.
Across town, another event the following day echoed the theme of inclusion. A visiting Michelle Obama announced with Akie Abe, wife of Japan's prime minister, a Japan-U.S. initiative on girls' education. "Like so many girls across the globe," Mrs Obama said, speaking of her childhood, "I got the message that someone like me wasn't supposed to have big dreams; that I should keep my head down, my voice quiet, and I should make myself just a little smaller to fit other people's modest expectations."
The First Lady said that the initiative between Japan and the United States, "Let Girls Learn," was a natural one because the two countries are both democracies that respect human rights, care about education, and contribute actively to international development projects.
Still shouting
Though the March symposium showed that the allies have made tremendous progress toward Reischauer's goal of an "equal partnership," noticeable exclusions remain. Although in 1962 a bold Tachiya brought the issue of Okinawa onto the stage, this time it wasn't invited back. A second symposium panel focused on the theme of JFK and foreign policy, but paid relatively little attention to contemporary alliance challenges—and no attention to Okinawa.
Peculiar, for two reasons. First, although the eventual return of Okinawa to Japan was legislated in 1971, it was actually an important accomplishment of the Kennedy administration. Reischauer believed that a crisis over Okinawa could happen at any time, and would damage or even destroy the alliance. So as ambassador he devoted tremendous energy to negotiating the reversion of Okinawa with both the U.S. military and the Japanese. This effort floundered for a while after the president's assassination, and was not realized until the Nixon years. But Reischauer's contribution was an important Kennedy-era legacy, and thus a strange omission from a panel on that topic. But that's the problem with non-events; though always eager to assign blame for a crisis that did happen, we forget to confer praise for one that didn't.
Okinawa also belonged on that stage because it still remains a vexing challenge in the U.S.-Japan alliance.
In the past few years, as Japan's dispute with China over the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands grows more heated, with aircraft and ships from each side circling around the disputed islands, Shinzo Abe's government has emphasized the dangers that Chinese military modernization and territorial claims pose to Japan. In this environment, the U.S.-Japan alliance and Okinawa's bases acquire even more significance than in the past. But also in the past few years, Okinawa's anti-base movement has accelerated, and in general alliance managers face a more complex political environment.


Why they have made dyslexia and dyspraxia such difficult words to spell and read I will never understand! Surely the people who invented these words already know we are struggling in this area! Anyway, in light of dyslexia and dyspraxia awareness week I wanted to share my own light-hearted story, recognise some amazing teachers and … Continue reading Dyslexia and Dyspraxia Awareness Week.
Can money buy happiness? I would argue not but I think that singular answer is very simplistic. Money alone cannot bring you happiness but even the happiest of individuals can become weighed down by financial woes. Recently this very happy but financially tormented individual has been me. I find every conversation I have turning to … Continue reading Money Matters, Or Does It?


World Of Preppers introduces the Smith & Wesson Men's Tactical SWAT Watch. It was Designed Round Black Face, Smith & Wesson Logo and a Stylish Leather Strap. It Features a Stainless Steel Case, Scratch-Resistant Hardened Crystal Glass & It's Water-Resistant up to 30 Meters. Plus it has a Glow in the Dark Back & Dial Hands. Get your today!


The nose has many different sub units and the nasal tip is one of it. The tip of the nose can be changed with the nasal tip surgery. The tip of the nose has many aesthetic features that can be altered with the Nasal Tip Rhinoplasty.
How much does Bulbous Tip Rhinoplasty surgery cost in Mumbai, Maharashtra, India? Check Bulbous Tip Rhinoplasty before and after images, Bulbous Tip Rhinoplasty reviews, Bulbous Tip Rhinoplasty price, Question and Answers, Book Appointment Online in Mumbai, India. Compare from 24 Bulbous Tip Rhinoplasty Centers, Hospitals, Clinics & Doctors from Mumbai, India.


LGI Homes' entry-level houses are meeting the demand of the largest homebuyer demographic in the U.S. today.
It looks like someone forgot to tell LGI Homes' (NASDAQ:LGIH) management team that housing starts were down in the third quarter because the company produced another record-setting quarter. On just about every metric that matters for homebuilders -- closings, backlog, new orders, average selling price -- LGI showed improvements.
There are two reasons for these outstanding results today. Let's take a look at them and the company's most recent quarter.
It's hard to find fault with any of the numbers LGI posted this past quarter. The 69% growth in revenue came from a 64% increase in total home closings for the quarter. In Q3, the company logged 1,729 total closings, the bulk of which came from its central region (Texas) division. It also helped that the average selling price increased 2.9% to $211,623, mostly from favorable market environments in its various markets.
From the operations side of things, LGI delivered some encouraging results as well. Net orders increased 49% to 4,883 and gave the company a backlog of $308 million at the end of the quarter. The slightly discouraging items in this report are that costs ticked up and gross margins slipped 120 basis points to 25.1% and that its cancellation rate increased 40 basis points to 24.1%. These changes are small enough that they didn't have much of an impact on overall results.
In fact, this quarter's results were strong enough that management raised its guidance for the second quarter in a row. LGI Homes now expects full-year earnings per share to come in between $4.75 and $5.15 per share.
Over the past quarter, housing starts in the U.S. averaged 1.175 million per month. That's still below the historical average rate in the United States, but the number has been steadily on the rise since the bottom of the housing market in 2009. So a lot of LHI's results are a reflection of an improving housing market. In fact, it's hard to find a homebuilder that's not posting outstanding results these days. That said, few companies are posting the revenue and income growth numbers as LGI has in recent years.
LGIH Revenue (TTM). Data by YCharts.
We could simply say that LGI is working from a smaller base than the rest of the companies here, which makes growth numbers like that easier to come by, but there are others that have allowed the company to achieve spectacular growth. One is that it has a presence in five of the 10 fastest-growing real estate markets in the U.S. today -- Denver, Portland, Orlando, Seattle, and Nashville -- and has a large concentration in Texas, where real estate growth has outpaced the national average for close to 10 years straight. Considering how much smaller LGI is than many of its peers, having a presence in all these markets is commendable.
Another aspect that is contributing to LGI's growth is its target market: first-time buyers. LGI Homes' offerings today are well suited for the millennial generation that is entering the housing market in droves. About 42% of new homebuyers are in the 18- to 34-year-old age cohort, which means the bulk of them are going into their first homes. LGI's lower selling prices and zero-down payment options make homeownership more accessible for the younger buyer.
After another highly successful quarter, CEO Eric Lipar highlighted the success LGI had filling its development communities and provided the company's updated 2017 guidance.
With a record-setting 1,729 home closings during the third quarter, we continued our trend of strong results and profitability highlighted by above average absorption of 7.6 closings per community per month. These results are a direct reflection of the dedication of our employees and our effective systems and processes that have enabled us to expand and replicate our success.
Based on our solid results during the first nine months of the year, we are well positioned to end the year very strong and are therefore raising our guidance. For the full year 2017, we now anticipate to close more than 5,400 homes and believe basic EPS will be in the range of $4.75 to $5.15 per basic share.
LGI Homes' business is hitting the sweet spot in the housing market today by targeting younger buyers in the most desirable real estate markets with more affordable entry-level homes. After almost a decade of lower-than-average housing starts in the U.S., it's clear that there is pent-up demand that could fuel LGI's growth for a while.
The one question that you have to ask when it comes to LGI is, "What happens when tougher times hit?" The company says that its communities are slightly outside the major cities, which were some of the places hit the hardest when the housing market hit last time. Also, courting customers with zero down payments likely means LGI's customers may not have as strong of a credit profile as someone who is moving up from an existing home or can make a down payment. As long as the music keeps playing, LGI is probably going to do incredibly well, but it's not hard to see this company struggling if the market turns.