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PMRW Members
Archive of News&Features
In my father's shoes
by Capt. Cecilio E. Rahon Jr.
I remember having a fatherless childhood because my father was a seaman. He was always absent and out of the picture most of the time. I then resolved never to be a seaman.
One time, my father's ship came to the Philippines with foreign officers and a Filipino crew on board. My mother and I traveled all the way from Ilocos Norte just to visit him in Manila Bay where the vessel was anchored. I was in my elementary days then and I can still recall the experience. I got sick when I had a tour of the engine room where my father worked. That incident was strike two for me to never venture into seafaring as a future career.
Fast forward to 2015, I am now a father of two children and a seaman myself. What changed my perspective for this profession?
My parents have always believed in a good education. I studied in a provincial science high school in Laoag City. I stayed in a boarding house since our hometown was at least an hour's drive away from where I studied. I had planned to take up veterinary medicine at the University of the Philippines, Los Baños campus, (UPLB). Unfortunately, I was not able to take the UPCAT (University of the Philippines College Admission Test) or entrance exam since I had already spent my allowance for that week.
Instead, I enrolled in Bachelor of Science Major in Maritime Studies in one of the private schools in Manila. The school's slogan that I read in the newspaper advertisement was, "See the World Free". That was very tempting for a young adventurous person who dreamt of stepping on foreign shores and meeting diverse groups of people.
My father did not encourage me to take up this course. It was my mother who broached the idea. One summer, before the opening of the first semester, my mother told me that I still have other siblings that will need my help in sending them to school. (In our culture, it is the responsibility of the older siblings to help the younger ones to finish their education, especially when parents could not fulfill such responsibilities anymore.)
I finished my three-year academic schooling without much trouble. Unfortunately, however, the school's building was razed by fire including the registrar's records. It was quite a predicament constructing our grades and looking for our previous instructors. Due to the lack of necessary papers, the college dean turned down my request for a guarantee letter so that I can take a scholarship to a maritime cadetship to Japan that year. Hence, it took a longer time for me to process my documents.
After arduous months of waiting and completing all the requirements, I was able to take and pass the Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA) cadetship program. I belonged to the third batch. The cadets came from different maritime schools in the Philippines. We stayed at the Philippine Merchant Marine Academy (PMMA) for two weeks prior to our departure for Japan. We were treated like regular PMMA cadets. We did the exercises and other activities of a regimented life inside a military academy. My body ached from the exercises but later adapted to it. Discipline and orderliness were emphasized.
When we arrived in Japan, we still had the mentality of a military cadet. We stood still and sat up straight and were very quiet in the classroom. The Japanese instructors in the school told us to ease up because they felt intimidated. We stayed for about two months in the Marine Technical College (Kaigi Daigakko) in Ashiya, Hyogo Ken. While waiting for our respective ships to arrive in Japan, we studied college core subjects as refresher courses, including the Japanese language and culture
The school's dormitory was located near a housing complex. I observed that the streets were always deserted. Even the homes always seemed empty and quiet though the lights inside the houses were turned on. The municipal library's books, audio and video collections were impressive. I always went there to watch classical movies like "War and Peace" and "Gone with the Wind." I would stay there for hours when I did not have my regular classes. The dormitory was just walking distance to a mall, secondary school, tennis courts, Junichiro Tanizaki's Memorial Museum and other museums. The school also conducted a tour, and together with the other cadets, we visited Kyoto, the old capital city of Japan, and the port of Kobe. In Kyoto we went to see the Kinkakuji Temple, while we took a boat and toured the working port of Kobe.
I was twenty years old when I first went onboard. It was a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) vessel plying Japan- Middle East Asia carrying crude oil. (The ship was just one year younger than me then.) The higher ranking officers were Japanese while the junior officers and ratings were Filipinos. In the 1990's, the vessel had a radio officer, chief cook, second cook, messman for officers and one messman for ratings.
Nowadays, ship owners observe the minimum manning requirement per flag state where the vessel is registered. Some of the crew complements were removed to reduce the cost of the ship's operations. Due to fewer work crew, the workload became heavier. With the advent of more regulations imposed by maritime organizations for safety and security reasons, more paperwork and documentation needed to be accomplished. Technology required job automation which required a steep learning curve for non-techies. It also made the vessel's turn-around in port faster, giving no respite to seafarers who like to go for a shore leave.
The policing of the Port State Control became a venue for corruption in some countries. As officer of the vessel, you would never want your ship to have deficiencies, so one can negotiate for a "clean chit". Sometimes ship management makes a stand against these kinds of practices and the problem is reverted back to the ship captain for him to solve. Port stay for seafarers is becoming more stressful because cargo operations, bunkering, provisioning, inspection and emergency repairs, would happen almost all at the same time.
With regard to my family life, I have two teenage kids. My wife died way back in 2010 but I am very lucky that my sister looks after my children. I missed their growing up years due to my work. Fortunately, online mail is now available onboard so I would send my kids email on a daily basis. I also call them weekly using the vessel's satellite phone to keep in touch with them.
Being a guilty absentee parent, I would substitute my presence with presents. I would usually treat my children to out-of-town swimming and overnight stays in resorts, or visit museums and nearby interesting places in the Philippines. I always tell them that it is better to see the beauty of the country first before going abroad for vacations. Recognizing the importance of an extended family, I would always look forward to the usual little get together meal with the rest of my siblings and their children, whenever I arrive from my stint onboard. This is a time to be reunited, bond and talk about life and plans of the rest of the members of the family.
There was no turning back for me after my apprenticeship program in maritime studies. Being now in my father's shoes, I also long for my family whenever I am on-board or in the middle of tempest at sea, far away from my kids. I missed birthdays, anniversaries, deatsh and burials of close relatives, as well as graduations and school events of my children.
At 43 years old, I am presently taking up Master in Maritime Administration Specializing in Maritime Education, Training and Certification. Once I finish my graduate studies, I will be qualified to become a maritime instructor in case I opt to stay on land for an extended period of time. It is also a preparation for my retirement. I want to be active in this profession in one way or another, for as long as I can.
Like my parents I also put a premium on education. I believe that quality maritime education is the key for the country to keep its number one position as the preferred manning capital of the world. I have been asked by parents and relatives of maritime cadets to assist them in getting an on-board experience, although this is supposed to be the duty of the maritime schools. In shipping, there is an issue of the lack of maritime officers and a disproportionately oversupply of graduates of maritime courses. Finding solutions to address this dilemma will help solve the sourcing of capable seafarers by the maritime industry as a whole, as well as the employment problems of young people in the country. This is going to be my advocacy and I do hope to make a difference.
I have experienced fair and bad weather. I have lived through our ship being swayed by big waves or chased by pirates. I have worked through extreme heat and cold conditions. I have faced discrimination but also the kindness of those I have met overseas.
In one way or another, I was able to help my siblings finish their education. Although I was not able to study in UPLB, I managed to send one of them there. I have mentored younger seafarers for them to understand the intricacies of our job and I am happy to see them rise from the ranks as cadets to officers. I traded a lot to be in my present position but I hope that someday, my children will understand the sacrifices that I did. Just like my father did before me.
Cecilio E. Rahon, Jr., seafarer, Captain. Like any parent, raising kids is one of the many big challenges of an OFW parent. Capt. Rahon would see to it that whenever he is on vacation he balances his attendance to trainings and schooling for his career advancement with spending quality time for his kids.
Labels: Capt. Cecilio E. Rahon Jr., In my father's shoes, MSMV5, OFW, seafarer, Volume 5
Cecilio Rahon February 13, 2016 at 9:03 PM
You really make a "DIFFERENCE" and because you have fulfilled making it, you can become a role model to all especial to the youth of today, yesterday, tomorrow, and in the next generation. Congratulations for being a "HERO".
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Taylor's blind skink (Dibamus taylori), also known commonly as the Lesser Sunda blind lizard, is a species of legless lizard in the family Dibamidae. The species is endemic to the Lesser Sunda Islands.

Etymology
The specific name, taylori, is in honor of American herpetologist Edward Harrison Taylor.

Reproduction
D. taylori is oviparous.

References

Further reading
Greer AE (1985). "The Relationships of the Lizard Genera Anelytropsis and Dibamus ". Journal of Herpetology 19 (1): 116–156. (Dibamus taylori, new species, p. 151).

Dibamus
Reptiles of Indonesia
Reptiles described in 1985

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Your mind, your ability to think, plan and decide, is your most powerful tool for overcoming procrastination and increasing your productivity. Your ability to set your goals, plan and take action on them determines the course of your life. The very act of thinking and planning unlocks your mental powers, triggers your creativity and increases your mental and physical energies.
Your ability to plan well, in advance of beginning, is a measure of your overall competence. The better the plan you have, the easier it is for you to overcome procrastination, to get started , and then to keep going.
One of your top goals at work should be for you to get the highest possible return on your investment of mental, emotional and physical energy. The good news is that every minute spent in planning saves as many as ten minutes in execution. It only takes about ten or twelve minutes for you to plan out your day, but this small investment of time will save you at least two hours (100-120 minutes) in wasted time and diffused effort throughout the day.
When you consider how helpful planning can be in increasing your productivity and performance, it is amazing how few people practice it every single day. And planning is really quite simple to do. All you need is a piece of paper and a pen. The most sophisticated Palm Pilot, computer program or time planner is based on the same principle. It is based on you sitting down and making a to do list of everything you have to do before you begin.
Make out your list the night before, at the end of the workday. Move everything that you have not yet accomplished onto your list for the coming day and then add everything that you have to do the next day. When you make out your list the evening or the night before, your subconscious mind works on your list all night long while you sleep. Often you will wake up with great ideas and insights that you can use to get your job done faster and better than you had initially thought.
There are different lists that you need for different purposes. First, you should create a master list on which you write down everything you can think of that you want to do some time in the future. This is the place where you capture every idea that comes to or every new task or responsibility that comes up. You can then sort out the items later.
Second, you should have a monthly list that you make up at the end of the month for the month ahead. This may contain items transferred from your master list.
Third, you should have a weekly list where you plan your entire week in advance. This is a list that is under construction as you go through the current week.
Finally, you transfer items from your monthly and weekly lists onto your daily list. These are the specific activities that you are going to accomplish that day.
As you work through the day, tick off the items on your list as you complete them. This activity gives you a visual picture of accomplishment. It generates a feeling of success and forward motion. Seeing yourself working progressively through your list motivates and energizes you. It raises your self-esteem and self-respect. Steady, visible progress propels you forward and helps you to overcome procrastination.


Tags: attack, miles mcpherson, mind, rock church, satan, thought, thoughts, weapon, who are you?
In that battle, Satan, your enemy, primarily wages war on the battleground of your mind, instigating thoughts that challenge your identity in Christ.
God has "blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ," according to Ephesians 1:3. But, if Satan can confuse you about your identity, he can get you to not use those blessings and resources that God has made available to you.
Answer: What spiritual blessings that God has made available to me have I left on the table? Ask God to show you your true identity in Him, and how to use the spiritual blessings he has made available to you.


No one likes to issue or receive an invoice for a cancellation fee and we avoid it where ever possible.
Situations however do occur when late cancellations cost us a great deal of time and money. We do not charge deposits for portrait sittings at the time of the booking because we are convinced that if we treat our clients with integrity they will do the same to us.
Late cancellations for the studio sittings are generally not a problem and we can usually be very understanding!
Late cancellations for at home sittings are a serious problem and at best it means I have to spend 4 hours in a lay bye. At worst it can cost us up to �750 in lost revenue and make a whole trip unprofitable, to say nothing of it's affect on other peoples travel fees and the fact that I still have to pay hotel bills and motoring costs.
We are always very understanding in a real emergency but we do find it hard not to invoke a cancellation fee when we are told we are being cancelled because someone forgot they had a hair appointment!
Cancellation policy for AT HOME SITTINGS while on tour.
All cancellations fees are worked out as a percentage of the sitting fee.
The percentage gets higher the closer to the sitting date.
RGP Ltd retain the right to be flexible as to whether this policy is implemented or not.
UK tour sittings cancelled within two weeks of a sitting may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
UK tour sittings cancelled within 72 hours of a sitting may incur a 75% cancellation fee.
UK tour sittings cancelled within 24 hours of a sitting will incur a 100% cancellation fee.
USA tour sittings cancelled within two weeks of a sitting may incur a 50% cancellation fee.
USA tour sittings cancelled within one week of a sitting will incur a 75% cancellation fee.
USA tour sittings cancelled within 24 hours of a sitting will incur a 100% cancellation fee.
A non returnable deposit is taken for all weddings and social functions.
Please include this liability in your function insurance.
The percentage gets higher the close to the sitting date.
RGP Ltd maintain the right to be flexible as to whether this policy is implemented or not.
Portrait sittings cancelled within 24 hours of the sitting may incur a 50% cancellation fee.


Gabriela Mendoza-Garcia Ph.D. is a scholar, choreographer, and an educator. As a young adult, Mendoza-Garcia performed in the Laredo Ballet Folklorico, El Grupo de Danza y Arte Folklorico de la Universidad de Tejas (UT Ballet Folklorico), and Roy Lozano's Ballet Folklorico de Tejas. She earned a Bachelor and Master's degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Upon graduation from the University of Texas at Austin, she returned to Laredo, Texas. Dr. Mendoza-Garcia and six university students founded the Texas A&M International University Ballet Folklorico (TAMIU) in 1996. She served as the Director of the Texas A&M International University Ballet Folklorico from 1996 to 2007. She also directed a folkloric dance group for children in Laredo, Texas, known as the TAMIU Ballet Folklorico Juvenil from 1997 to 2007. Dr. Mendoza-Garcia is a member of the Asociacion Nacional de Grupos Folkloricos and has served on the Executive board of this organization as Membership Chair and Vice-President.
In 2013, she earned a doctoral degree in Critical Dance Studies from the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Mendoza-Garcia began her own folkloric dance company in Laredo, Texas in 2013 after finishing her doctoral studies. She has presented her scholarly research at the Congress on Research in Dance, National Association for Chicana/o Studies, Sal Castro Memorial Conference on the Emerging Historiography of the Chicano Movement, and the Global Reach of the Fandango. These conferences were located in Albuquerque, New Mexico; San Antonio, Texas; City University of New York; at the University of California at Santa Barbara; and in Claremont, California. In 2016, Dr. Mendoza-Garcia was inducted to the City of Laredo, Commission for Women Hall of Fame representing Arts/Media/Communication for all her contributions in promoting Mexican folkloric dance to the community of Laredo, Texas.
Hi Michael, thanks for your feedback. Yes, imported is a great word to describe folklorico in the U.S. There are some people that bring the dances with them as the migrate–the guelaguetza of Los angeles is an example. Another example are mexican choreographers and dancers that migrate to the U.S. Some groups hire Mexican choreographers to teach their groups. So, it is imported. Well, this blog is a way for me to think through my ideas. Will let you know when my article is published. Thanks again.


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Nease, Creekside, St. Joseph set to move up in class for football next season
DANNY KLEIN
Nease, Creekside and St. Joseph will likely move up in class starting next season, resulting in a county-driven football schedule that should feature games with more playoff implications than in recent years.
The Florida High School Athletic Association released its tentative district assignments for the 2013-15 cycle on Friday, and the most noteworthy county change is coming to District 4-6A.
Bartram Trail and St. Augustine will now be joined by Nease, Matanzas and Creekside.
Last season, Duval schools Lee, Englewood, Atlantic Coast, Stanton and Wolfson made up the rest of the district.
The change leaves Menendez and Ponte Vedra in District 4-5A with Clay, Palatka and Ridgeview. The Falcons and Sharks were previously in District 4-5A with Creekside, Matanzas, Nease and Palatka.
St. Augustine beat Bartram Trail by a point in 2012 and won its ninth straight district title. Ponte Vedra cruised past Creekside to notch its second straight, with both the Bears and the Knights coming off back-to-back runner-up spots.
St. Joseph moves to District 1-3A, which won't be any easier than the brutal District 2-2A the Flashes joined two seasons ago.
Bishop Snyder, Episcopal, Pensacola Catholic, Providence and Trinity Christian make up the six-team district.
Pensacola Catholic's move to 1-3A may be the strangest of all.
The school is roughly 400 miles away from St. Joseph, and would have some serious travel issues in a group that includes five teams from the First Coast.
St. Joseph athletic director Patrick Keane said the school would meet after the holiday break and decide if it plans to stay or opt out and possibility return to being independent.
If the Flashes decide to leave, it would be easy to understand why.
St. Joseph, coming off a 2-8 year, would have trouble winning a single game in this loaded group.
Trinity Christian is one of the area's historically better smaller schools and lost just 27-18 to St. Augustine this past season. The Conquerors, who finished 9-2, also lost to Pensacola Catholic. Providence is a team that beat Creekside 21-17 in 2012.
Jan. 18 is the cutoff for schools to make their appeals and have them heard. Until then, nothing will be finalized.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


photographs. Boston: Horticulture Limited Partnership, 1989. 1st. 10 13/16" x 8 1/8"
"The Secret Garden of Tasha Tudor" by Wayne Winterrowd, pp. 3, -41 and front cover. 8 color photographs by Ivan Massar accompany the text describing Tudor's gardens and how she built them with the help of Joe Eck.


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Recall of Tip Top Poultry products due to listeria risk expanded
A chicken recall triggered by possible listeria contamination has been expanded. (Source: USDA/CNN)(GIM)
Tip Top Poultry's recall of ready-to-eat poultry products due to possible listeria contamination has been expanded, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The company issued the recall on Sept. 28, and
expanded it Tuesday
"to alert consumers that the recalled ready-to-eat poultry products were used in additional products," the USDA said.
The expanded recall includes chicken products sold under multiple brands in dozens of stores, including Kroger, Aldi, Food Lion, Piggly Wiggly and Jersey Mike's.
"Some of the products may have been served from the deli counter in grocery stores," the USDA said.
The initial recall was announced after "multiple samples of product produced by Tip Top Poultry" tested positive for Listeria monocytogenes, according to the USDA.
So far, no one has gotten sick, but the USDA said it's likely that eating chicken contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes will result in serious adverse health consequences, and could possibly be fatal.
The items were produced between Jan. 21 and Sept. 24.
for a list of retail locations affected by the expanded recall.
to see a list of items affected.
Copyright 2019 CNN. All rights reserved. Gray Media Group, Inc. contributed to this report.


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Sex Gets Real 179: Flogging & spanking, a boot fetish, & porn festivals
Guess what? LOLA is sponsoring this week's episode. You can get pads, tampons, and liners delivered to you, via their rad subscription service, at 60% off your first order when you subscribe. Just use promo code SGR when you visit mylola.com and get started.
This week it's you and me and all your emails.
But before I answer your questions, let's talk about the Seattle Erotic Film Festival and Dan Savage's HUMP! Festival, both of which I attended this week.
The Seattle Erotic Film Festival had a lot of films that really weren't my cup of tea. Which is OK, but it did tell me a lot about what I enjoy watching and what I don't.
I mentioned "Cake" by Anne Hu, and you can see the trailer here. It was truly delightful. Boner Loaner and How to Date a Couple were also favorites. Oh, and two films with scat play! Color me surprised.
HUMP had a lot more that I enjoyed and laughed over, but I was still bummed that the best sex films were both awarded to thin, young, cis, hetero-presenting couples.
Jnix wrote in wanting to know what the definition of "cis" is. Great question.
Shane not only showers me with love but needs some help with a new girlfriend who is scared of spanking and flogging. What can Shane do? I share my first experience with flogging and how I didn't really enjoy it. But now flogging and spanking are huge parts of the sensation and kink I enjoy.
Marisa is worried that her new love of being restrained might become a problem is she does it too much. Will it stay exciting if she does it a lot or should she try and hold back so it continues to feel special? My thoughts include adopting an attitude of curiosity and wonder - whether we're talking about monogamy, restraints, or anything else in our life.
I also touch on why newness doesn't always have to be the goal, despite what we're constantly sold in this world.
Hopelessly Devoted to Boot is desperately in need of help because his boot fetish is ruining his marriage of 20 years. He needs boots, and while his wife used to accommodate his fetish by wearing boots, more recently she's been refusing to wear the boots he needs for sexual arousal and pleasure. Now their sex is virtually gone. What can he do?
All the thoughts on fetishes, the humanity of our partners, and navigating tough spots in relationships.
Sad Gay Millennial wrote a long, eloquent letter to me about his loneliness, his violations with gay male culture, and his fear of bottoming even though he loves it. I adore that he acknowledges a lack of consent culture and widespread patriarchy which is present in gay male culture. In addition to therapy & professional sexual help, hear my thoughts on how to navigate love, dating, and trauma when you feel alone and totally empty.
Resources mentioned in this episode
My Sex Map game is only $9 and can help you find new ways to talk about sex. Grab it here.
About Dawn Serra
I am the creator and host of the laughter-filled, no-holds-barred weekly podcast, Sex Gets Real. I lecture at colleges and universities on sex and relationships, too.
When I'm not speaking and teaching, I also work one-on-one with clients who need to get unstuck around their pleasure and desire.
But it's not all work! In my downtime, I can often be found watching an episode of Masterchef Australia, cooking up something delicious, or adventuring with my sexy AF husband.


Automatic retrying of failed requests, with an exponentially increasing delay between retries.
Automatic re-polling on success, separated by a small randomized delay. Pass a function for the URL to be able to dynamically adjust the polling target.
Workarounds for browser "busy" indications.
JSON-P fallback for cross-domain requests on older browsers (requires server support).
As you may know, Fanout Cloud supports delivering data to both HTTP and XMPP clients/endpoints. What you may not know is that the Fanout Cloud API itself is accessible via both protocols, too. This means that not only can you publish messages or make configuration changes via REST, you can perform these same tasks by sending XMPP stanzas. Why would you want to do this? Well, in certain cases, XMPP may be a more convenient or more optimal way of accessing the Fanout Cloud API. Additionally, the fact that you can use the API via one protocol but publish data to an endpoint of the opposite protocol allows for crossover possibilities. For example, you can use the REST API to fire off XMPP stanzas, or use XMPP ad-hoc commands to stream data to HTTP clients.


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'Out Of Touch': Democratic Think Tank Delivers Blow To The Party's Prospects For 2024
A Democratic think tank released a memo Monday that pointed to the Democratic party being out of touch with voter priorities, values and ideologies.
Third Way, a center-left think tank, criticized the Democratic party following a poll that showed a majority of voters did not identify with the party, predicting trouble for Democrats if things do not change before the 2024 election, according to the memo. The memo further confirmed what recent polls have shown, that the economy, inflation and crime are determining factors for voters as opposed to abortion and climate change.
"If Democrats manage to hold on to the House and Senate, it will be in spite of the party brand, not because of it. Despite a roster of GOP candidates who are extreme by any standard, voters see Democrats as just as extreme, as well as far less concerned about the issues that most worry them," the group wrote in the memo.
Inflation and the economy were the top concerns for 42% of voters, while only 10% were concerned with abortion and 11% were concerned with immigration, according to the poll. When respondents were given the chance to choose multiple problems facing the country, 59% chose inflation and the economy, 30% immigration and the border and 17% protecting abortion rights.
Third Way, centerleft think tank, surveyed 800 likely voters nationwide, w 200 swing voters oversample
Respondents equally likely to describe Ds, Rs as too extreme; Rs seen as more patriotic, valuing hard work; Ds described as not focused enough on economyhttps://t.co/ltNY53ddgu pic.twitter.com/srOB6f5ALn
— Catherine Rampell (@crampell) November 7, 2022
Voters found more ideological common ground with Republican candidates compared to Democratic candidates, according to the poll. On a ten point scale, with zero being far left, five being middle ground and 10 being far right, the poll showed that the respondents believed the ideal candidate was slightly right at 5.6.
For voter values, the think tank reported that only 43% of voters believe Democrats value hard work, less than half, 46%, think Democrats are patriotic and more than half, 55%, believe that the party is too "preachy" or "woke." A majority of the respondents, 61%, believe that the Democratic party is too aligned with special interest groups, notably ones backing the Biden administration's climate agenda.
One such example was the Biden administration's voter-backed Clean Energy Fund, created to bring renewable energy to Portland, Oregon, but after the first round of funding went to "planning," the fund ended up spending $14 for every $1 of environmental benefit. The administration also offered an incentive for renewable energy production if companies would comply with union wage and apprenticeship demands, effectively satisfying a political ally at the expense of what he called an "existential threat to human existence."
The Third Way and Impact Research poll was conducted with 800 likely voters and 200 swing voters from Oct. 21 to Oct. 28, with a margin of error of 3.5%.
Psychologists Support Jewish Students After Professor Allegedly Said 'It's Not Your Fault You Were Born In Israel' - January 31, 2023
Missouri AG Moves to Protect Kids From Sexual Instruction After School Takes Kids to Drag Show - January 31, 2023
Temple University Graduate Students Go On Strike, Demand 'Living Wage' - January 31, 2023


Association for Defending Victims of Terrorism (ADVT) is a non-governmental organization which has been in Consultative Status with ECOSOC since 2014 and was founded by the families of the victims of terrorism in Iran. ADVT has a cultural approach to humanitarian efforts in order to create discourse for the human rights of the victims and cultural countering terrorism. So, it paves the way for a global peace and elimination of all forms of violence and extremism. ADVT does not seek to take revenge on individuals, but believes that those captivated in the cults are the first circle of victims. One of the effective ways of countering the idea of terrorism is raising awareness among human communities regarding the destructive effects and consequences of the heinous phenomenon by the victims of terrorism. It can provide the conditions for the trial and condemnation of the ringleaders of terrorist groups as the guarantee for non-recurrence of crimes. ADVT's approach in the civil movement is proactive and based on two elements: 1) providing an all-out support for the victims of terrorism and promoting their dignity 2) mounting a fundamental struggle against the thought of terrorism. It can be achieved through the voluntary help of personalities, elites, academics, and cultural and scientific assemblies based on the following plans: 1- Empowering victims of Terrorism, 2- Creating discourse for human rights of the victims of terrorism, 3- Organizing psychological plans for promoting health of the injured so that they can return to their ordinary life, 4- facilitating right to lawsuit and access to justice and truth for victims of terrorism, 5- Promoting a dialogical approach and its expansion, 6- Making efforts to break the immunity of terrorism and the escape from punishment. ADVT's ideal is based on defending human dignity regardless of color, language, race, ethnicity, religion, and nationality.


The term "thread" here is used interchangeably with "stringing materials".
Beading thread has uses in more areas than jewelry making. They can be used to string or sew beads into jewelry, accessories, and garments. Natural as well as synthetic threads are used as beading threads and each has its own specific qualities and features, and each are best for different beads and projects. If you are using thread to string beads, make sure that the beads' holes are smooth to avoid weakening and breakage of the thread from rough abrasions.
You can get beading thread in different sizes, colours, waxed (also called pre-waxed) and un-waxed. Waxed thread is less likely to break and fray. It also glides through beads much more easily. You can also use beeswax to thread your own threads.
Find out about the applications, sizes and types of bead threads.
Silk, Linen, Cotton, Leather thongs, Hemp are amongst the most common and popular of natural stringing materials. Even though hemp can be used for beading, it is generally reserved for chunkier designs, can be knotted and braided to great effect (e.g. as in macrame).
Silk and Linen threads are certainly not as strong as synthetic threads but they remain popular and have specific purposes for which they are traditionally and admirably suitable. These natural beading threads are available in different colours and sizes.
Silk threads are used mostly for pearl, small mineral, or gem beads ~ especially those with small holes. In fact, silk thread is the traditional thread for stringing pearl. It still remains very popular for stinging pearls as the other stringing materials can hurt the pearls. But be aware that silk threads then to fray and stretch. And silk will break down within 3-5 years hence anything strung with silk threads have to be restrung.
However, it is not advisable to use silk thread with glass beads.
Silk threads can come on cards, sometimes with a useful integral needle. This is also described as "pre-threaded" which you may come across when you are looking to buy. You can also buy them in spools.
Gudebrod (best quality) - piled from pure Chinese long filament silk. This is sold under the brand "Champion".
Made of flax, linen thread is the strongest natural textile fiber.
Waxed cotton cord can be very strong. Woven cords can can even be stronger than leather.
Nylon, polyester, bonded nylon threads are all synthetic beading threads.
Synthetic threads are the modern way of bead stringing as they do not fray nor stretch as much. Polyester thread is usually used for beadwork that requires a needle. Give yourself plenty of extra thread if you intend to weave or knot with these threads.
Silkon Bonded Nylon - can be used as an alternative to silk. It has many of the qualities of silk - like supple drape, deep colours. It is also strong and fray-resistant.
Kevlar - great for heavy beads. Made from the same material as that in bullet-proof vests. Easy to cut but difficult to break. Usually only available in 2 colours - natural yellow, and dyed black. Use Fisherman's knot with this as they hold the strongest.
Nymo - one of the most popular. Very fine. Can be used for delicate beadwork. Is an extremely strong synthetic thread.


text:
Q: Get maximum value of nested class property - Kotlin I have a class that has the following format:
  class Student(var name: String) {
   var name: String? = null
   var Math: Course? = null
   var English: Course? = null
   var Spanish: Course? = null

   }

  class Course {
    var id: Int
    var courseGrade: Int? = null
   }

And I have a variable that is of type Student
    var studentData = Student("test")

I need to iterate through all courses and get the grade of the highest course that's in class Student, to assign it to a "highestScore" variable.
How can I iterate through the properties that have values in other class types?

A: The Student class is not designed properly for such a feature (you would need reflection to do what you want, which is really not advised here).
If you need to consider courses as a collection of things (to be able to iterate on them or perform operations on them), you should represent it as such in your class. For instance, you can use List<Course>:
class Student(
    val name: String? = null,
    val courses: List<Course> = emptyList(),
)

class Course(
    val id: Int,
    val name: String,
    val courseGrade: Int? = null
)

Then you can easily get the information you need:
val maxGrade = studentData.courses
                          .filter { it.courseGrade != null }
                          .maxOfOrNull { it.courseGrade!! }

But probably it would be better to not have a nullable grade here. Is it expected to have some course instances without a grade? If not, making it non-nullable makes the code even simpler:
val maxGrade = studentData.courses.maxOfOrNull { it.courseGrade }

If you really have to stick with this class structure, then I see mainly 2 solutions to get the list of courses (and then apply the above):

*

*list properties by hand

*find properties via reflection

For #1:
val courses = listOfNotNull(student.Math, student.English, student.Spanish)

Or to make it less verbose if you have many courses properties:
val courses = with(student) { listOfNotNull(Math, English, Spanish) }

For #2 (requires kotlin-reflect and honestly I really don't advise this):
private fun KProperty1<Student, *>.isNullableCourseType() = returnType.isSubtypeOf(Course::class.createType(nullable = true))

And then:
val courses = Student::class.memberProperties
                            .filter { it.isNullableCourseType() }
                            .mapNotNull { it.get(studentData) }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
FROM MISSION TO MISSION
A Resource for Mission and Transition
Who Do We Serve?
Celebrating 40 Years: Our Impact
Re-Entry Workshops
Workshop Dates
Short-Term Mission
Helpful Practices
Thank you for supporting our 40th Anniversary Virtual Fundraiser! Together we raised over $54,000!!!
Our re-entry publications are a great asset for those in need and are now available through Amazon.
Returning Home: A Guide for Missioners and Volunteers in Transition
After time living and working in another culture, volunteers and missioners face the difficult transition of leaving and returning home. Whether they were somewhere close to home or on the other side of the world, for a few weeks or for decades, the process of re-entry can be challenging. This book offers suggestions, reflection guides, and support for the person experiencing the process, from the time of preparing to leave through their return and readjustment to their home culture.
Transition includes the three phases of Endings, the Neutral Zone, and Beginnings, each with its own emotional, spiritual, and practical challenges. The book offers a deeper understanding of the transition process, exercises for personal reflection and processing, important reminders, and tips for storytelling. This book is one in a series of five volumes published by From Mission to Mission. The guide shares insights from decades of experience with those returning from a time of living and serving in another culture.
Several months before my husband and I were leaving South Africa after two years as missioners, an earlier version of this book came in the mail. It gave us the words and questions that we most needed to hear and answer as we said our goodbyes and returned from the bush to the high powered suburbs of Washington DC. As I worked with many returned missioners in the following years, I found this book continued to be both a revelation —"these feelings are normal"— and a consolation to know that they were experiencing the acute life transition dozens of missioners and volunteers had known before them.
– Maureen Conners, PhD
Welcoming Them Home: A Guide for Families and Friends of Returning Missioners and Volunteers
When a volunteer or missioner returns home after service in another culture, people at home face many questions about how to best support them during their transition. Many people find that the person they knew has changed, missing their cross-culture experience and struggling to feel comfortable in the place they call home. Friends, co-workers, parishes, families, religious communities, and mission sending organizations all play important roles in helping the volunteer or missioner thrive as they transition to a new place.
This book is intended to help those at home better understand the experience of re-entry and offers some suggestions for helping make this time of transition life-giving for those returning and for their receiving community. The book includes information about re-entry, transition, and practical advice for those at home who want to support their loved one. This book is one in a series of five volumes published by From Mission to Mission. The guide shares insights from decades of experience with those returning from a time of living and serving in another culture.
In my seven years as Executive Director of From Mission to Mission, a frequent question I received from families, religious communities, and parishes about a returning missioner or volunteer was: "How do we welcome them home?" This practical guide helps all concerned avoid inappropriate comments, plan meaningful liturgies or prayer services and promote understanding of the life transition the volunteer or missioner is experiencing.
Finding Life After Trauma: A Guide for Missioners and Volunteers and Those Who Care for Them
By Michelle A. Scheidt, DMin and Maureen R. Connors, PhD
People who live and work in a culture different from their own often have experiences of trauma, including experiences such as natural disasters, interpersonal conflict, violence, grieving, abuse, stress, and generally feeling overwhelmed by poverty and the needs of others. Volunteers and missioners typically face trauma experiences with strength and resiliency, but those who help others sometimes need help themselves.
This book offers resources for volunteers and missioners, leaders of mission sending organizations and religious communities, and those at home who want to better support their loved one who has experienced trauma. Including information and learning about trauma, practical suggestions and tip sheets, and emotional and spiritual practices, the guide helps equip those who have experienced trauma with the internal resources they need to heal and thrive.
This book is one in a series of five volumes published by From Mission to Mission. The guide shares insights from decades of experience with those returning from a time of living and serving in another culture.
I have worked with trauma survivors for the past fifteen years. This is a wonderful book for missioners who have so much to process when they return to their first home. Sometimes that includes traumatic events, and this book is a useful guide, while recognizing that some will need additional professional support. It's also a great resource for the people who love those returning missioners and want to understand and support them.
– Rev. Kenneth W. Schmidt, MA, LPC, NCC, Executive Director, Trauma Recovery Associates, Kalamazoo, MI
At Home in the Journey: Theological Reflection for Missioners in Transition
By Jo Ann McCaffrey
This title is out of print. A new version of this title is in progress and is expected to be available for purchase on Amazon by Fall 2019. Contact us with questions.
From Mission to Mission assists people in their preparation and processing of their cross-cultural, ministerial, and life transitions to continue their Christian call to mission.
200 5th Avenue NW #120696
info@missiontomission.org
View FromMissiontoMission's profile on Facebook
View @FromMission's profile on Twitter
View frommissiontomission's profile on Instagram


text:
John Bagterp Jørgensen
Research - Methods
Research - Applications
Diabetes Control
Smart Energy Systems
Process Systems
Minor Project
John Bagterp Jørgensen - Biography
Section for Scientific Computing, DTU Compute, Technical University of Denmark
John Bagterp Jørgensen is a Professor in Model-based Control in the Scientific Computing section of the Department of Applied Mathematics and Computer Science at the Technical University of Denmark. He is also a faculty member at the Technical University of Denmark's Center for Energy Resources Engineering (CERE). His research focus is concentrated on Model Predictive Control including computational aspects and applications. The applications include industrial processes, intelligent control of smart energy systems, production optimization and closed-loop reservoir management of oil fields, and an artificial pancreas for people with type 1 diabetes. His research is to a large extent conducted in collaboration with industrial companies.
Professor Jørgensen received his M.Sc. in Engineering from the Technical University of Denmark in 1997. His major focus was simulation, optimization and control of chemical processes with a strong focus on process chemistry and chemical engineering. During the summer of 1993 he was employed as a process consultant for TarcoNord A/S. In 1994 he won an energy research award from the Nordic Council to study and works as a research assistant for Professor Sigurd Skogestad at NTNU in Trondheim, Norway. During 1997-2000 he worked on his Ph.D. degree with Professor Sten Bay Jørgensen as his thesis advisor. January-August 2000, he spend at University of Wisconsin-Madison as an honorary associate, working with Professor James B. Rawlings on Model Predictive Control. When he returned from Madison to the Copenhagen area in 2000, he co-founded 2-control ApS. 2-control ApS is specialized in model predictive control technologies. In 2-control ApS he has developed software for model predictive control and scientific computing in chemical engineering. He has been a consultant on model predictive control, simulation and numerical optimization to major multi-national companies in the energy industry, the pharmaceutical and biomedical industries, and the chemical process industries, as well as to large financial institutions. He is currently a partner in 2-control ApS. By 2005, he obtained a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering based on a thesis entitled "Moving Horizon Estimation and Control". Since September 2005, he has been a faculty member of the Scientific Computing Section at DTU Compute (formerly DTU Informatics) at the Technical University of Denmark.
He currently teaches graduate courses on numerical methods for optimization, differential equations, and model predictive control. Already during his Ph.D. studies he established a model predictive control course. He has given courses in model predictive control to industrial companies. At the Technical University of Denmark he gives a model predictive control course to graduate students on a regular basis. Previously he has been involved in teaching process control, Matlab programming, and introduction to scientific computing.
Page generated 2019-07-06 08:18:53 CEST, by jemdoc.


There are cakes left from the cake sale today. We will be selling them at breaktime tomorrow.
Year 1 are on their way back from a wonderful trip at the Discovery Centre. They should arrive back for normal pick up time.
Congratulations to Paddington Class. 100% attendance!!
My daughter loves coming to school, she would come on weekends if she could.
My son has come on leaps and bounds since coming to this school.
Both my children are very happy at this school.


Gaurav bcbc3e7b8c README update ..
You are able to create events with properties such as venue, event date and time, duration. You can assign topics dynamically to the events.
A dummy user has been created against which all the events are created. This can be easily changed with dynamic users and authentication functionality but to keep it simple, the logged in user has been set up already which is accessed via current_user.
You are able to filter events by searching on location/venue, event date and topics. When the search is made, it is automatically saved and is available to the user on the next visit.
When a new event is added, the details are sent out as an email via Sidekiq. This is done for users who have the exact search criteria saved.


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"Much disputed" ? By Jove, it does sound like that, phonetics ! It is the first time in all my life that I can see this obvious link between Socrates and solipsism ! I don't believe you might have meant "scepticism" ! No, no! Your faith allows you to see clearly the slightest difference between 'solipsism' and "scepticism" just as in the last analysis everything is clearly either "Moslem" or "non-Moslem"!
Yes, Islamically speaking this Socrates was a minor prophet . Allah made him say : "I know I know nothing". But later on second thoughts Allah grew angry with this idle prophet for his insisting on this double-edged saying. He advised Socrates' mujahedeens to denounce him before a qadi in the city of Athens , then a major Moslem emirate. The qadi referring to Allah's wrath ordered Socrates to drink poisoned wine. The qadi stated : "If you really know you know nothing then you don't know even what Allah forbids and allows. Drink and die then ...to know , you ignorant solipsist ! " From that time on no one drank wine in Athens as it was said that Allah had told the qadi to poison all wine available.
If you hope I understand what you mean you must be a sophisticated solipsist , indeed!
> Of course beliefs in religion is something that corresponds more to God than to humanity, or are you not another secularist?
As a matter of fact I am a Moslem. A modern neo-Socratic Moslem, you know. I flush down or burn Qurans on regular bases inviting friends and relatives to contribute with their saliva. I take pictures of that , send the Quranic ashes to the Saudi embassy. I also distribute pork and bottles of wine -called "Solipsist's Wine" - to mosques and Islamic centres across the country. I profess a credo-quia-absurdum-Islam ! So to speak a neo-Socratic Islamism. I modernized Socrates' saying to please Allah , the supreme solispist ! I-know-I-know-everything and I-know -you-know-nothing Islam ! It's great! 100% correspondence with God and 0% correspondence with humans! I am sure you'll never reach so pure Islamic standards unless you join my modern Moslem faith !
> or do you now want the whole world to follow God and only your God and beliefs?
As a neo-Socratic Moslem I deny the existence of the whole world with the exception of the Supreme Solipsist! It would make things too complicated and our life unhappy if we as modern Moslems admitted its existence, wouldn't it ?
How do I sound, phonetics ? "Terrorist" and yet "not Islamic" ??? ... How can you call me a terrorist and at the same time not Islamic? I would be ashamed and dishonoured to terrorize without professing Islam!!!
> maybe Irish? last remnants of the IRA? hmmm... you've all forgotten about them haven't you?
Aren't they at their heart already Moslems? I mean Moslems by deed , not be name ?
> Or are they muslims too?
If they aren't they will become. We could convert them , couldn't we ?


text:
NAS Pensacola, Whiting Field named 2021 Great American Defense Communities
NAS Pensacola & NAS Whiting Field Community, home to Naval Station Pensacola and Naval Air Station Whiting Field, are counted together as one of five communities across the country named to the 2021 Class of Great American Defense Communities, the Association of Defense Communities (ADC) announced today in conjunction with USAA, the program's official sponsor.
The communities recognized by the Great American Defense Communities program demonstrate exemplary work in improving the quality of life of military personnel and their families through programs, initiatives and partnerships in their regions.
The 2021 class also includes Altus, Oklahoma; Coastal Georgia; Everett, Washington; and Great Falls, Montana.
Shortly after the announcement, Sen. Rick Scott tweeted his congratulations.
"As the proud home to more than 1.5 million veterans, 20 military bases and three unified commands, Florida is the most military and veteran friendly state in the nation," Scott wrote. "Congratulations to (NAS Pensacola) and (NAS Whiting Field) for being named Great American Defense Communities by (the Association of Defense Communities).
Living shoreline:How a $9 million grant will help a 'living shoreline' come to life near NAS Pensacola
Alcohol limitations:NAS Pensacola enforces policy limiting young sailors to one six-pack of beer per day
The Great American Defense Communities program, now in its sixth year, recognizes the role that communities and regions with active installations in the U.S. play in supporting service members and military families.
Communities are chosen through a competitive nomination process based on community building and integration, support and collaboration, and educational and employment opportunities, and family support – and this year, diversity and inclusion initiatives and COVID-19 programs were taken into consideration.