71.5 Acre Ranchland Development Opportunity in Aggieland!
2.85 acres in College Station!
Location Location! 2.854 acres in College Station ready for your dream home! Country living with the convenience of city amenities. Desirable neighborhood, deed restricted lot, electricity on site, Wixon Valley Water.
Country Living located in the in Opportunity Zone. This spacious 3 bedroom 2 bath barndominum sits 2.6 acres minutes from Bryan College Station. Interior incudes stainless steal appliances, wet bar, walk-in closets, and plenty of storage. The exterior sits on 2.6 acres, has 5 full travel trailer hooks ups and free internet. The covered carport would make a great home for and RV. Shuffle Board and detached carport to convey. Seller is giving $7500 in flooring allowance. Check it out today.
Hwy 6 & Arrington Rd.
Incredible opportunity here. Investors / Developers...Very high traffic count with many uses. CHECK OUT THE VIDEO! Would make a great fast food location!!! The only approved stand alone pre-owned car lot in College Station. Completely paved with detention area in place. Pipe fenced. Pole lighting. All utilities.
Welcome home! Make this property your ranchette, game day house, recreational head quarters, or develop as you desire. This land is located about a mile south of College Station city limits, minutes from shopping and Texas A&M. This unrestricted parcel has 130 ft of highway 6 frontage about 900' of access road and main body is about 2,200' wide and 650' deep. It is about 70% wooded and 30% cleared with small creek. About 5-6 acres along the back is the flood plain an oil field easement on the front of the property (Navasota Ridge Rd) serves oil pads beyond the subject property and allows ingress and egress for land owners and more distant properties. 6" waterline close.
One of the last Lake Arapaho frontage lot in desired Villages of Indian Lakes. With 13.378 acres on a quiet Cul-de-sac, this property provides a quiet country setting but close to City amenities. Close proximity to schools, retail and medical facilities. Build your own secluded Estate on this mostly wooded lot. Indian Lakes subdivision has many amenities for the residents such as equestrian trails, hiking and recreational trails. A gorgeous Recreational Preserve has resort like infinity pool, Outdoor BBQ grill, Tennis courts and club house that are located on the shore of Lake Arapaho. A must see!!!
Very desirable parcel of land approx. .44 of an acre less than 1 mile from Texas A&M. Amidst densely populated part of the College Station, it has great potential. A rare find close to University, retail and restaurants. Located on the corner of Wellborn and Southland Street! Commercial land -seller planned for Laundry facility/ Washeteria. Seller is willing to share plans. A must see!!!
This prime College Station real estate is in the Wellborn area is for sale & ready for development or your new home! Zoned for CSISD, this gorgeous property on Stousland Rd provides you with one of the best options in the area to build your new home. Beautiful oak trees & the property is currently under an agricultural exemption. Wellborn water & BTU electric are in area.
Great potential! This property includes 2 homes, one of which is currently leased month to month. Downtown Wellborn area. The square footage total is the two houses combinded. It has three street fronts, FM 2154, Live Oak, and Madison St. Property is R zoning. Buyer needs to investigate fully. Shown by appointment only. There are two homes, the one on 2154 is owner occupied, please call (979)220-4809 to set up appointment. The second home is occupied by a tenant (14942 Live Oak). Call tenant Jason Stone to show at (979)587-6273.
This is a partition sale for the district court. An easement was granted to it from Stousland Rd. An adjoining cleared Right of way is now used for temporary access. Buyer will have to clear trees, brush etc on the permanent easement.


Individual sessions of your Ten Series may or may not contain movement work and awareness explorations. If additional movement work interests you, then entire sessions can be created. These sessions can be done before, during, or after a Ten Series.


5 Forest Ln. is a $499,900, 2,902 square foot, 4 bedroom, 3.5 bath home on a 8.26 acre lot located in Boise, ID.
This gorgeous home in Wilderness Ranch is perfect for year-round living or a quiet weekend retreat from the city. 2,000 sq. ft. deck overlooks the pristine forested property that backs up to State Forest land. Home is open & spacious with soaring ceilings & plenty of light from the many skylights. Hardwood flooring on main level, office with built-ins, well-appointed kitchen with huge breakfast bar & upstairs guest room has a full-bath & kitchenette – would also make a great bonus room!
I am interested in 5 Forest Ln., Boise, ID 83716.


text:
Spectacular murder trial occurred 90 years ago
The case produced headlines from this one, right after the murder, to the hanging of the murderer
This photo shows where Wiggins' car was when Vidrine, standing where the "X" is, shot him. The caption described the place where the murder occurred "happens to be one of the beauty spots on the public highway between Mamou and Ville Platte."
Euzebe Vidrine was convicted and hung for murder
Leo Wiggins was the murder victim
The Weekly Gazette was 10 years old when it covered the most sensational murder case in the parish. The victim, Robert Leo Wiggins, was the son of former Sheriff R.L. Wiggins.
It was 90 years ago, in 1924, when the newspaper published the story about the murder on May 24. Wiggins was shot while he was driving on the Ville Platte-Mamou highway.
The article described Wiggins' funeral as "the largest ever held in this parish." There were more than 200 cars parked at Sacred Heart for the funeral, and more than 1,200 people followed the casket from the church to the cemetery.
Euzebe Vidrine, who had faced murder charges before, was arrested and confessed to the murder. An article in the May 31 edition of The Weekly Gazette described the start of the murder trial. It described Vidrine as "the cold blooded assassin." The article stated he "trembled visibly" as he entered the courtroom, and speculated that "sleepless nights, torture of mind, fear of the rope left him a semi-cringing human wreck."
The defendant looked at his two brothers in the courtroom but the article stated he never looked at Wiggins' relatives.
He said in court that he had left school in the fourth grade and that he drank all night before he shot Wiggins.
The June 7 issue of The Weekly Gazette reported that Vidrine was sentenced to death and that he wanted to be "hanged immediately." However, according to law, the governor had the responsibility of setting the execution date.
Vidrine's attorneys had tried to have him declared insane and therefore not eligible for the death penalty. When that failed shortly before the execution day, Vidrine is quoted in The Weekly Gazette as saying, "I guess that ends it. The jig's up."
The story ended, again with large crowds and large headlines. The headline, in the August 9, 1924, edition of The Weekly Gazette -- which stretched across the entire length of the front top page, in all capital letters: EUZEBE VIDRINE PAYS PRICE FOR MURDER.
The article stated it was the first "legal hanging" in the parish. Sheriff Charles H. Pucheu and some deputies brought Vidrine from his cell to a stockade next to the jail house a few minutes after noon. By then, thousands of bystanders were outside on the courthouse grounds. The newspaper reported "the crowds were remarkably orderly
Vidrine delivered a rambling 25-minute talk to the witnesses in the stockade, while the sheriff stood by with a hatched that he would use to cut a rope restraining the trap door the condemned prisoner was standing on.
When he finished talking, Vidrine said to the sheriff, "Cut it Charley and be my friend." At 12:45 p.m., "the trap door opened and the soul of Euzebe Vidrine was swept into eternity," the article reported. Vidrine was pronounced dead at 1:21 p.m.
Vidrine's body was placed in an open coffin in the jail house. For the rest of the afternoon, the thousands of people who had been outside on the courthouse grounds viewed the body in the open coffin.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Grout cleaning is one of the more difficult challenges we face.
Article in Cleaning and Maintenance Management this month laid it out step by step with some discussion of the tradeoffs in using different procedures.
Guy who wrote it is describing cleaning the very high volume restrooms at the Orioles' Camden Yard.
1) Use a grout specific cleaner – he uses a hydrogen peroxide formulation (as do we) but there are others.
2) Dwell time is important !
3) Pressure washers and or cylindrical brush cleaners are recommended.
4) Use a grout specific floor sealer / impregnator – normal vinyl or concrete seals are not as effective.
5) Two applications of sealer.
6) At least 48 hours "curing time" before wet mopping the floors again.
This entry was posted in bathroom, Hydrogen Peroxide, Restrooms, Tile Floor Care. Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Silicon Valley Clean Energy welcomes new CEO in…
Silicon Valley Clean Energy welcomes new CEO in February
Photograph courtesy Silicon Valley Clean Energy Girish Balachandran will take over as the new CEO for Silicon Valley Clean Energy, an agency providing clean energy to Santa Clara Valley cities at rates comparable to PG&E. He begins his leadership in February.
By Jasmine Leyva | jleyva@bayareanewsgroup.com | Bay Area News Group
PUBLISHED: January 19, 2018 at 9:00 am | UPDATED: January 20, 2018 at 10:40 am
Girish Balachandran will take the helm at Silicon Valley Clean Energy next month as its new chief executive officer.
Balachandran brings more than 28 years of utility experience, most recently as the general manager of Riverside Public Utilities in Southern California for the last four years.
He replaces Tom Habashi, who left in July for the same role at Monterey Bay Community Power, after serving just over a year in the South Bay.
"As a board, we were thrilled to have found someone with such a deep knowledge of the electric industry, as well as the leadership experience necessary to take Silicon Valley Clean Energy into our next chapter," the agency's board chairman, Rob Rennie, said in a prepared statement. "Mr. Balachandran was the best match not only in terms of his experience but also his shared passion for our work, providing carbon-free electricity at competitive costs."
Balachandran began his career in public power utilities as an analyst for Pasadena's Department of Water and Power. He then moved to Santa Clara County to work as a resources planner for Palo Alto. From 2001 to 2007, Balachandran moved up the ranks of the City of Palo Alto Utilities. Previous to his Riverside stint, he was the general manager of Alameda Municipal Power from 2007 to 2014.
"I am excited to return to the Bay Area, especially into the heart of Silicon Valley, where I will join a strong team of energy professionals and visionary elected leaders who have the noble mission of advancing a carbon-free future, not only for the region but for the entire electric grid," Balachandran said in a statement from the agency.
The clean energy agency provides carbon-free and renewable electricity to Campbell, Cupertino, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Mountain View, Saratoga, Sunnyvale and unincorporated Santa Clara County. Energy is sourced by the agency, and PG&E delivers it via current utility lines. Bills, programs and maintenance are still provided by PG&E.
Jasmine Leyva
Jasmine Leyva is a writer for the Silicon Valley Community Newspapers reporting on news in the city of Campbell. She is a San Jose State University alum, enjoys reading and can be found practicing yoga in her spare time.
Follow Jasmine Leyva	campbellreporter Follow Jasmine Leyva	@leyvaleyv3


text:
Is Your Brand Getting VUC'D
March 21, 2017 / WORK IS A FOUR LETTER WORD
Shawn Parr Guvner and CEO of Bulldog Drummond
Shawn Parr is the Guvner and CEO of Bulldog Drummond, and Co-founder and CIO of YouSchool. He writes for Fast Company, PSFK and is a sought-after speaker.
From The CMO To The Chief MC by Shawn Parr
Why We Should Become Neo-Generalists - DO WHAT YOU SAY by Nicole Antonio-Gadsdon
Winning At Retail: The 9 Habits Of The Best by Michael Irwin
If you're an executive who's responsible for the health and performance of a retailer, restaurant group, hotel chain, airline, or fill-in-the-blank for almost any other business category, you are likely getting VUC'D. If you're a leader with any responsibility for people, innovation and growth today, you are most certainly operating in a constant, just-in-time, everything-feels-like-it's shifting storm. As a leader, you're under a new level of pressure in this new operating environment.
The U.S Army War College introduced the idea of VUCA at the end of the Cold War to define the volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous multilateral world that we now operate in. Add in constant digital disruption and that's when you can get VUC'D.
Working alongside leaders of both multi-billion dollar organizations and early stage startups, we help them to examine the consequences, and anticipate and manage the impact of this VUC'D world. The business categories they operate in are changing constantly and the leadership principles built on anticipation, preparedness and adaptability have never been more relevant. Leaders today must be masters of situational awareness and have a high EQ to manage businesses and guide teams through the new business climate change that we are experiencing. With the one-touch, empowered consumer who has 24/7 access to instant information, peer-to-peer reviews, greater selection, convenience and value, almost every established business category has been (or is in the process of being) VUC'D.
Meet the VUC'Rs. The digital natives and the category disruptors who, like jujitsu masters, are rewriting the rules of every category. The founders of these brands see where the consumer is underserved, understand the impact of the inefficiencies and inconveniences, have identified the glaring gaps and where the untapped value hides, and they are delivering a radical new solution to disrupt a category or create a new one. Think Amazon, Airbnb, UBER, Snapchat and Stitchfix to name but a few. They are operationally excellent, agile, strategic and know how to deploy teams. They understand the powerful equation of convenience, value, service and empowerment and how to execute. Decisively. If your brand has become complacent or tired, look around for the VUC'R in your category. Do you know who they are? What are they doing that you can learn from? How are they changing your category and customer expectations? How should you adapt?
General Stanley McChrystal's book, Team of Teams outlines some incredibly practical principles on how to operate in today's ever-changing environment. It's a reminder of how imperative tools like common sense, data-driven insights, design thinking and clear communication are when dealing with complex challenges. When you're pinned down in the middle of the fight and taking flak on all fronts, it's easy to look past these brilliant basics. While nothing can fully prepare leaders for, or prevent the effects of such a volatile climate, these Uncommon Principles will remind us to:
1. FRAME THE MISSION
Identify the enemy, whether it's an inefficiency, complacency or a competitor. Define the problem you're going to solve.
2. ASK THE RIGHT QUESTIONS
Leaders don't have to be the smartest people in the room, but they do have to ask the right questions and create the space for others to thrive.
3. DATA IS KEY, BUT INSIGHTS TELL STORIES
Make sure you're paying attention to the right indicators. Turn data into insights that tell a story, keep your head up and pay attention to the world outside.
4. USE SIMPLICITY LIKE A SUPER POWER
Complexity is like a business cancer. It creates layers of people, time and cost. Examine every area of your business and ask why we do it this way. Redesign for the agile and simplified way.
5. CRAWL. WALK. RUN.
Move too fast and you will likely crash and burn. Move too slow and you will get crushed. The mantra of Crawl. Walk. Run. keeps it real.
6. DIGITAL IS JUST FOR STARTERS
If you don't understand the power of digital or you're discounting its power to disrupt your business, you're going to get VUC'D.
7. AND DON'T FOGET, IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT YOU
Put the customer at the center of every decision you make and every solution you design for and you won't go too far wrong. And that means you really do have to know who your customer is.
Uncommon Quotes to Get Shit Done by Bulldog Drummond
Where Play and Exercise Meet by Bulldog Drummond


BDK America presents The Canonical Book of the Buddha's Lengthy Discourses, Vol. III, as a free PDF download, catching up with print versions of the book to provide downloads completing the three-volume set of this important work.
The print version of the publication is the latest entry in the BDK English Tripitaka series, and now the PDF version of the book is available for free downloads to all Buddhist scholars.
See our complete library of dBET and other free PDF downloads here.
DON'T MISS OUT -- Subscribe to the BDK Bulletin for such announcements in future.


Jackson Commercial Real Estate has a long history of investing in and developing commercial property. Since 1971, Jackson Commercial Real Estate has developed over 4,800,000 square feet of industrial, office and retail product. It is our commitment to develop projects that improve the community and provide economic strength to the surrounding area. Jackson Commercial Real Estate takes pride in its success of building strong relationships with clients while meeting their needs in land development, design, construction and leasing of business facilities. Our exceptional portfolio portrays a diversified mix of commercial properties including commercial office building and business parks, industrial distribution, flex and incubator buildings, and retail centers.
Copyright © 2019 Jackson Commercial Real Estate . Powered by WordPress. Theme: Ample by ThemeGrill.


text:
LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods Advertiser Profile
Apparel & Accessories Holding Company
19 East 57Th Street, New York, NY US 10022
www.lvmh.com/
LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods is part of:
Top Print Advertisers
Top Apparel & Accessories Advertisers
LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods is part of LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SA. They spent over $100 million on advertising in digital and print in the last year. They are currently not investing in any premium ad units, but advertised on over 250 different Media Properties in the last year across multiple Media formats. LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods launched and advertised 25 new products in the past twelve months.
We have 26 people on file in marketing roles at LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods, and 16 at their agency.
We have identified 43 decision makers for you to contact at LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods, including Executives, Strategists, Media Buyers and Agency contacts.
Billy P.
Chief Marketing Officer, Belvedere Vodka
Katherine P.
Senior Director of Paid Social
Media and Digital Communications Director
MediaRadar captures creative run on the top websites, magazines and national television stations for over 3 million brands. Here are 3 recent advertisements placed by LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods and its subsidiaries.
Last ran on Snapchat on 11/16/2020.
Last ran on MyRecipes.com on 1/13/2021.
Last ran on The New York Times in the 01/2021 issue.
LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods Advertising Spend:
OVER $100 Million
LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods recently placed a direct ad on www.lespac.com/. See where else they recently placed direct ads.
LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods recently placed a programmatic ad on www.hdvideopro.com. In the last 12 months, they have partnered with DoubleClick and 12 other providers. Which providers do they use most?
LVMH Fashion & Leather Goods launched campaigns supporting 25 new product lines in the last twelve months, including Loewe (Men).


Once a year a very special day comes around, and I wanted to make sure that you know about it, why it's special, and hopefully, to motivate you to do something special for someone on it.
The day is National Senior Citizen's Day. It occurs each year on August 21st in the United States, and on October 1st in Canada. Maybe you know a few seniors, or maybe you are one yourself, either way, it is a special day, and all of our Seniors deserve special recognition.
Senior citizens lived through the Great Depression, and fought for our future, against nature, and against man. The past fity years has accelerated the changes that they have been witness to, the most radical changes in all of human history. Changes that not only happened out in their world, they also happened at home, within their families.
Seniors changed our world, and continue to do so to this very day. Maybe they weren't the person who performed the world's first organ transplant, but they served them pie. Perhaps they didn't put man in space, but they woke up the people who did, then fed them breakfast, kissed them, handed them their lunch and sent them off to school.
The roads that we take for granted today, are trails that they blazed decades ago. The technology that we have today, is the result of their imagination. The freedom that we enjoy, they paid for with their blood, sweat and tears. Before you make fun of their bent backs and arthritic limbs, pause to remember that they are like that because of the grueling work that they did, in conditions that we can't begin to imagine.
So, I would highly recommend that you do something special for them on Senior's Day. Write a letter to one in your life. And, I mean 'write' them a letter. They would love to get a letter from you, hand written by you. Seniors didn't grow up wired into a computer like today's youth. They grew up with everything hand written, and still love to get cards and letters that way.
Tell them you are thinking about them, and wanted to thank them for being who they are. Take them out to lunch, and let them read your letter. The impact that this simple little gesture by you will have on them, is immense. And if you are a senior citizen reading this, thank you.
You gave birth, cared for, nurtured and educated the future generations. You helped give us our freedom. You gave the world standards to live up to, and to surpass. You are a living library of sights, sounds and experiences. You have served your family, nation and the world, and have served them well.
To all senior citizens, I want you to know that when I have a chance to open a door for you, or to carry your heavy bags, it is truly an honour to be able to serve you too. So, on this special day, do something special for a very special person. Visit them, and give them your undivided attention. Again, I thank you. I really do appreciate you, and love to tell you in person, when given the chance. So, just say when!
Bob Urbanovitch is a Certified Professional Consultant on Aging (CPCA)®.
A CPCA is committed to providing exceptional service, and have supplemented their professional training by learning about the unique and changing needs of the 50+ population. Make sure that the professionals serving you have taken the time and made the commitment to learn more about YOU!


Travel is for me education and relaxation. But travel costs money, so I searched the entire month of September for some small pieces of nature in my surounding area. Where I crossed the green path of nature, I stayed a little while to enjoy and took all the images in me. Every time I was in the middle of some nature, I put off my smartphone and took my camera.


Gonzalinho da Costa—a pen name—teaches at the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, Makati City, Philippines. He is a management research and communication consultant. A lover of world literature, he has completed three humanities degrees and writes poetry as a hobby.
Is It Okay If I Write This Article About Female Authority?


Amulets and Juzu Prayer Bead Bracelets: Available for sale at the Toronto Nichiren Buddhist Church on scheduled service dates.
Omamori(お守り) is a Japanese amulet (Lucky charms/Talismans) that serve to provide various forms of luck, blessings, or protection. They are replaced each year to ward off the bad luck form the previous year.
Traffic Safety; Protection for drivers and travellers.
For singles and couples to ensure love and marriage.
For prosperity in business. Success in business and matters of money.


Do you have a favorite Polish female name? Here's your chance to vote for the best Polish name. Back to Polish opinion polls page.
What is your favorite Polish name for a girl?
My favourite name is not here!


text:
WaterWorldTV
Global Thought Leaders
MunicipalIndustrialInternationalTechnologiesGlobal Thought Leaders
EventsMagazineWaterWorldTVWhite PapersWebcasts
Infrastructure Funding
House holds hearing on Administration's proposed budget cuts for EPA
As the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing yesterday on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) fiscal year 2006 budget, it's clear that proposed cuts to the agency's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program are untenable and the federal government needs to commit to long-term clean water funding, stated the Association of Muncipal Sewerage Agencies...
WASHINGTON, DC, Feb. 17, 2005 -- As the House Transportation & Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment held a hearing yesterday on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) fiscal year 2006 budget, it's clear that proposed cuts to the agency's Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF) program are untenable and the federal government needs to commit to long-term clean water funding, stated a national group representing municipal sewage authorities.
The Bush Administration has proposed to dramatically cut clean water funding by seeking to slash EPA's budget for fiscal year (FY) 2006 by $500 million (from $8.1 billion to $7.6 billion). The vast majority of this reduction would be achieved by a proposed cut of about $360 million (from $1.09 billion to $730 million) to the Agency's CWSRF program. The CWSRF, a loan program that helps local communities repair and replace aging treatment plants, has been the primary source of federal support for clean water infrastructure projects since its creation in 1987.
Studies by EPA, the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Accountability Office, and the Water Infrastructure Network estimate a water infrastructure funding gap exceeding $300 billion over the next 20 years. Given this mounting funding gap, the Association of Metropolitan Sewerage Agencies (AMSA) said in a news release, that it believes it's untenable for the federal government to cut support for clean water in America. AMSA is urging Congress to support both full funding for the CWSRF in the short-term, and a dedicated trust fund to guarantee clean and safe water in America for the long-term.
"This proposed cut is the wrong measure at the wrong time," stated AMSA executive director Ken Kirk. "Without a long-term, sustainable federal-state-local partnership communities will not be able to tackle essential capital replacement projects needed to meet federal Clean Water Act mandates and improve the quality of the nation's waters."
Facing similar shortfalls in funding for critical national infrastructure, Congress has established trust funds supported by dedicated revenue sources. Congressionally established trust funds for highway infrastructure ($30 billion/year) and airport infrastructure ($8 billion/year) provide a strong precedent for moving forward with a similar trust fund for clean and safe water. "Clean and safe water is certainly as important to the nation's economic and public health as our highways and airports," said Kirk. AMSA, together with other stakeholder groups, will work aggressively with Congress and the Administration -- both to ensure full funding for the CWSRF and to establish a trust fund dedicated to clean and safe water in America.
AMSA (www.amsa-cleanwater.org) is a national trade association based in the nation's capital that represents hundreds of publicly owned wastewater treatment utilities across the country. AMSA members serve the majority of the sewered population in the United States and collectively treat and reclaim over 18 billion gallons of wastewater every day. AMSA members are environmental practitioners dedicated to protecting and improving the nation's waters and public health.
The Carlyle Group, VICO Infrastructure to invest in U.S. water infrastructure
EPA issues $218M in WIFIA funding to Silicon Valley Clean Water
Potable Water Quality
Reclamation awards $5.1M to research new ways to desalinate, treat water
EPA awards $130,000 to improve water quality in Oklahoma
Potable Water Management 4.0
More in Infrastructure Funding
Intelligence for machine and process control
Illinois American Water invests over $1.8M in City of Farmington Water System
Reclamation issues $9M in WaterSMART funding
EPA awards $2,451,000 to Minnesota to protect public drinking water systems
EPA awards $3.9M for PFAS research
EPA announces availability of $87M to improve drinking water for schools, small and disadvantaged communities
EPA releases draft guidance on PFOA, PFOS
Bluefield Research: $25B in government funds deliver critical dollars for water infrastructure in 2018
WaterWorld Weekly Newscast, April 29, 2019
King County selects Brown and Caldwell to develop Clean Water Plan
US Water Alliance, Council of State Governments release State Policymakers' Toolkit for Water
Water Utility Management
Applications open for Utility of the Future Today recognition program
EPA accepting nominations for Stormwater Finance Workgroup members
Miami-Dade County receives nearly $100M in WIFIA funding
Majority of voters support increasing federal investment in water infrastructure
New WIFIA Funding available for water infrastructure projects


text:
// TODO(benh): Optimize LearnedMessage (and the "commit" stage in
// general) by figuring out a way to not send the entire action
// contents a second time (should cut bandwidth used in half).

// TODO(benh): Provide a LearnRequest that requests more than one
// position at a time, and a LearnResponse that returns as many
// positions as it knows.

// TODO(benh): Implement background catchup: have a new replica that
// comes online become part of the group but don't respond to promises
// or writes until it has caught up! The advantage to becoming part of
// the group is that the new replica can see where the end of the log
// is in order to continue to catch up.

// TODO(benh): Add tests that deliberatly put the system in a state of
// inconsistency by doing funky things to the underlying logs. Figure
// out ways of bringing new replicas online that seem to check the
// consistency of the other replicas.

#include <unistd.h>

#include <list>
#include <map>
#include <set>
#include <string>
#include <vector>

#include <boost/lexical_cast.hpp>

#include <process/dispatch.hpp>
#include <process/process.hpp>
#include <process/run.hpp>

#include <stout/fatal.hpp>
#include <stout/foreach.hpp>
#include <stout/result.hpp>

#include "zookeeper/zookeeper.hpp"

#include "log/coordinator.hpp"
#include "log/replica.hpp"

using namespace mesos;
using namespace mesos::internal;
using namespace mesos::internal::log;

using namespace process;

using std::list;
using std::map;
using std::pair;
using std::set;
using std::string;
using std::vector;

// class Drop : public Filter
// {
// public:
//   Drop
//   virtual bool filter(Message* message)
//   {
//     return  == message->name;
//   }
// };

// class PeriodicFilter

char** args; // Command line arguments for doing a restart.

void restart()
{
  LOG(INFO) << "Restarting ...";
  execv(args[0], args);
  fatalerror("Failed to exec");
}

bool coordinate(Coordinator* coordinator,
                uint64_t id,
                int end,
                map<int, int> truncations)
{
  const int attempts = 3;

  uint64_t index;

  int attempt = 1;
  while (true) {
    Result<uint64_t> result = coordinator->elect(id);
    if (result.isError()) {
      restart();
    } else if (result.isNone()) {
      if (attempt == attempts) {
        restart();
      } else {
        attempt++;
        sleep(1);
      }
    } else {
      CHECK_SOME(result);
      index = result.get();
      break;
    }
  }

  uint64_t value = 0;

  if (index != 0) {
    attempt = 1;
    while (true) {
      Result<list<pair<uint64_t, string> > > result =
        coordinator->read(index, index);
      if (result.isError()) {
        LOG(INFO) << "Restarting due to read error";
        restart();
      } else if (result.isNone()) {
        if (attempt == attempts) {
          LOG(INFO) << "Restarting after too many attempts";
          restart();
        } else {
          attempt++;
          sleep(1);
        }
      } else {
        CHECK_SOME(result);
        const list<pair<uint64_t, string> >& list = result.get();
        if (list.size() != 1) {
          index--;
        } else {
          try {
            value = boost::lexical_cast<uint64_t>(list.front().second);
          } catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast&) {
            LOG(INFO) << "Restarting due to conversion error";
            restart();
          }
          break;
        }
      }
    }
  }

  value++;

  srand(time(NULL));

  int writes = rand() % 500;

  LOG(INFO) << "Attempting to do " << writes << " writes";

  attempt = 1;
  while (writes > 0 && value <= end) {
    if (truncations.count(value) > 0) {
      int to = truncations[value];
      Result<uint64_t> result = coordinator->truncate(to);
      if (result.isError()) {
        LOG(INFO) << "Restarting due to truncate error";
        restart();
      } else if (result.isNone()) {
        if (attempt == attempts) {
          LOG(INFO) << "Restarting after too many attempts";
          restart();
        } else {
          attempt++;
          sleep(1);
          continue;
        }
      } else {
        CHECK_SOME(result);
        LOG(INFO) << "Truncated to " << to;
        sleep(1);
        attempt = 1;
      }
    }

    Result<uint64_t> result = coordinator->append(stringify(value));
    if (result.isError()) {
      LOG(INFO) << "Restarting due to append error";
      restart();
    } else if (result.isNone()) {
      if (attempt == attempts) {
        LOG(INFO) << "Restarting after too many attempts";
        restart();
      } else {
        attempt++;
        sleep(1);
      }
    } else {
      CHECK_SOME(result);
      LOG(INFO) << "Wrote " << value;
      sleep(1);
      writes--;
      value++;
      attempt = 1;
    }
  }

  exit(0);
  return true;
}

class LogProcess : public Process<LogProcess>
{
public:
  LogProcess(int _quorum,
             const string& _file,
             const string& _servers,
             const string& _znode,
             int _end,
             const map<int, int>& _truncations);

  virtual ~LogProcess();

  // ZooKeeper events. TODO(*): Use a ZooKeeper listener?
  void connected();
  void reconnecting();
  void reconnected();
  void expired();
  void updated(const string& path);

protected:
  virtual void initialze();

private:
  // Updates the group.
  void regroup();

  // Runs an election.
  void elect();

  // ZooKeeper bits and pieces.
  string servers;
  string znode;
  ZooKeeper* zk;
  Watcher* watcher;

  // Size of quorum.
  int quorum;

  // Log file.
  string file;

  // Termination value (when to stop writing to the log).
  int end;

  // Truncation points.
  map<int, int> truncations;

  // Coordinator id.
  uint64_t id;

  // Whether or not the coordinator has been elected.
  bool elected;

  // Group members.
  set<UPID> members;

  ReplicaProcess* replica;
  GroupProcess* group;
  Coordinator* coordinator;
};

class LogProcessWatcher : public Watcher
{
public:
  LogProcessWatcher(const PID<LogProcess>& _pid)
    : pid(_pid), reconnect(false) {}

  virtual ~LogProcessWatcher() {}

  virtual void process(ZooKeeper* zk, int type, int state, const string& path)
  {
    if ((state == ZOO_CONNECTED_STATE) && (type == ZOO_SESSION_EVENT)) {
      // Check if this is a reconnect.
      if (!reconnect) {
        // Initial connect.
        dispatch(pid, &LogProcess::connected);
      } else {
        // Reconnected.
        dispatch(pid, &LogProcess::reconnected);
      }
    } else if ((state == ZOO_CONNECTING_STATE) &&
               (type == ZOO_SESSION_EVENT)) {
      // The client library automatically reconnects, taking into
      // account failed servers in the connection string,
      // appropriately handling the "herd effect", etc.
      reconnect = true;
      dispatch(pid, &LogProcess::reconnecting);
    } else if ((state == ZOO_EXPIRED_SESSION_STATE) &&
               (type == ZOO_SESSION_EVENT)) {
      dispatch(pid, &LogProcess::expired);

      // If this watcher is reused, the next connect won't be a reconnect.
      reconnect = false;
    } else if ((state == ZOO_CONNECTED_STATE) && (type == ZOO_CHILD_EVENT)) {
      dispatch(pid, &LogProcess::updated, path);
    } else if ((state == ZOO_CONNECTED_STATE) && (type == ZOO_CHANGED_EVENT)) {
      dispatch(pid, &LogProcess::updated, path);
    } else {
      LOG(FATAL) << "Unimplemented ZooKeeper event: (state is "
                 << state << " and type is " << type << ")";
    }
  }

private:
  const PID<LogProcess> pid;
  bool reconnect;
};

LogProcess::LogProcess(int _quorum,
                       const string& _file,
                       const string& _servers,
                       const string& _znode,
                       int _end,
                       const map<int, int>& _truncations)
  : quorum(_quorum),
    file(_file),
    servers(_servers),
    znode(_znode),
    end(_end),
    truncations(_truncations),
    id(0),
    elected(false),
    replica(NULL),
    group(NULL),
    coordinator(NULL) {}

LogProcess::~LogProcess()
{
  delete zk;
  delete watcher;
  delete replica;
  delete group;
  delete coordinator;
}

void LogProcess::connected()
{
  LOG(INFO) << "Log connected to ZooKeeper";

  int ret;
  string result;

  // Assume the znode that was created does not end with a "/".
  CHECK(znode.size() == 0 || znode.at(znode.size() - 1) != '/');

  // Create directory path znodes as necessary.
  size_t index = znode.find("/", 0);

  while (index < string::npos) {
    // Get out the prefix to create.
    index = znode.find("/", index + 1);
    string prefix = znode.substr(0, index);

    LOG(INFO) << "Log trying to create znode '"
              << prefix << "' in ZooKeeper";

    // Create the node (even if it already exists).
    ret = zk->create(prefix, "", ZOO_OPEN_ACL_UNSAFE,
		     // ZOO_CREATOR_ALL_ACL, // needs authentication
		     0, &result);

    if (ret != ZOK && ret != ZNODEEXISTS) {
      LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to create '" << prefix
                 << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
    }
  }

  // Now create the "replicas" znode.
  LOG(INFO) << "Log trying to create znode '" << znode
            << "/replicas" << "' in ZooKeeper";

  // Create the node (even if it already exists).
  ret = zk->create(znode + "/replicas", "", ZOO_OPEN_ACL_UNSAFE,
                   // ZOO_CREATOR_ALL_ACL, // needs authentication
                   0, &result);

  if (ret != ZOK && ret != ZNODEEXISTS) {
    LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to create '" << znode << "/replicas"
               << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
  }

  // Now create the "coordinators" znode.
  LOG(INFO) << "Log trying to create znode '" << znode
            << "/coordinators" << "' in ZooKeeper";

  // Create the node (even if it already exists).
  ret = zk->create(znode + "/coordinators", "", ZOO_OPEN_ACL_UNSAFE,
                   // ZOO_CREATOR_ALL_ACL, // needs authentication
                   0, &result);

  if (ret != ZOK && ret != ZNODEEXISTS) {
    LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to create '" << znode << "/coordinators"
               << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
  }

  // Okay, create our replica, group, and coordinator.
  replica = new ReplicaProcess(file);
  spawn(replica);

  group = new GroupProcess();
  spawn(group);

  coordinator = new Coordinator(quorum, replica, group);

  // Set a watch on the replicas.
  ret = zk->getChildren(znode + "/replicas", true, NULL);

  if (ret != ZOK) {
    LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to set a watch on '" << znode << "/replicas"
               << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
  }

  // Set a watch on the coordinators.
  ret = zk->getChildren(znode + "/coordinators", true, NULL);

  if (ret != ZOK) {
    LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to set a watch on '" << znode << "/replicas"
               << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
  }

  // Add an ephemeral znode for our replica and coordinator.
  ret = zk->create(znode + "/replicas/", replica->self(), ZOO_OPEN_ACL_UNSAFE,
                   // ZOO_CREATOR_ALL_ACL, // needs authentication
                   ZOO_SEQUENCE | ZOO_EPHEMERAL, &result);

  if (ret != ZOK) {
    LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to create an ephmeral node at '" << znode
               << "/replica/" << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
  }

  ret = zk->create(znode + "/coordinators/", "", ZOO_OPEN_ACL_UNSAFE,
                   // ZOO_CREATOR_ALL_ACL, // needs authentication
                   ZOO_SEQUENCE | ZOO_EPHEMERAL, &result);

  if (ret != ZOK) {
    LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to create an ephmeral node at '" << znode
               << "/replica/" << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
  }

  // Save the sequence id but only grab the basename, e.g.,
  // "/path/to/znode/000000131" => "000000131".
  result = utils::os::basename(result);

  try {
    id = boost::lexical_cast<uint64_t>(result);
  } catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast&) {
    LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to convert '" << result << "' into an integer";
  }

  // Run an election!
  elect();
}

void LogProcess::reconnecting()
{
  LOG(INFO) << "Reconnecting to ZooKeeper";
}

void LogProcess::reconnected()
{
  LOG(INFO) << "Reconnected to ZooKeeper";
}

void LogProcess::expired()
{
  restart();
}

void LogProcess::updated(const string& path)
{
  if (znode + "/replicas" == path) {

    regroup();

    // Reset a watch on the replicas.
    int ret = zk->getChildren(znode + "/replicas", true, NULL);

    if (ret != ZOK) {
      LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to set a watch on '" << znode << "/replicas"
                 << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
    }
  } else {
    CHECK(znode + "/coordinators" == path);

    elect();

    // Reset a watch on the coordinators.
    int ret = zk->getChildren(znode + "/coordinators", true, NULL);

    if (ret != ZOK) {
      LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to set a watch on '" << znode << "/replicas"
                 << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
    }
  }
}

void LogProcess::initalize()
{
  // TODO(benh): Real testing requires injecting a ZooKeeper instance.
  watcher = new LogProcessWatcher(self());
  zk = new ZooKeeper(servers, 10000, watcher);
}

void LogProcess::regroup()
{
  vector<string> results;

  int ret = zk->getChildren(znode + "/replicas", false, &results);

  if (ret != ZOK) {
    LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to get children of '" << znode << "/replicas"
               << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
  }

  set<UPID> current;
  set<UPID> added;
  set<UPID> removed;

  foreach (const string& result, results) {
    string s;
    int ret = zk->get(znode + "/replicas/" + result, false, &s, NULL);
    UPID pid = s;
    current.insert(pid);
  }

  foreach (const UPID& pid, current) {
    if (members.count(pid) == 0) {
      added.insert(pid);
    }
  }

  foreach (const UPID& pid, members) {
    if (current.count(pid) == 0) {
      removed.insert(pid);
    }
  }

  foreach (const UPID& pid, added) {
    dispatch(group, &GroupProcess::add, pid);
    members.insert(pid);
  }

  foreach (const UPID& pid, removed) {
    dispatch(group, &GroupProcess::remove, pid);
    members.erase(pid);
  }
}

void LogProcess::elect()
{
  vector<string> results;

  int ret = zk->getChildren(znode + "/coordinators", false, &results);

  if (ret != ZOK) {
    LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to get children of '" << znode << "/coordinators"
               << "' in ZooKeeper: " << zk->message(ret);
  }

  // "Elect" the minimum ephemeral znode.
  uint64_t min = LONG_MAX;
  foreach (const string& result, results) {
    try {
      min = std::min(min, boost::lexical_cast<uint64_t>(result));
    } catch (boost::bad_lexical_cast&) {
      LOG(FATAL) << "Failed to convert '" << result << "' into an integer";
    }
  }

  if (id == min && !elected) {
    elected = true;
    process::run(&coordinate, coordinator, id, end, truncations);
  } else if (elected) {
    LOG(INFO) << "Restarting due to demoted";
    restart();
  }
}

int main(int argc, char** argv)
{
  if (argc < 6) {
    fatal("Usage: %s <quorum> <file> <servers> <znode> <end> <at> <to> ...",
          argv[0]);
  }

  args = argv;

  int quorum = atoi(argv[1]);
  string file = argv[2];
  string servers = argv[3];
  string znode = argv[4];
  int end = atoi(argv[5]);

  map<int, int> truncations;

  for (int i = 6; argv[i] != NULL; i += 2) {
    if (argv[i + 1] == NULL) {
      fatal("Expecting 'to' argument for truncation");
    }

    int at = atoi(argv[i]);
    int to = atoi(argv[i + 1]);

    truncations[at] = to;
  }

  process::initialize();

  LogProcess log(quorum, file, servers, znode, end, truncations);
  spawn(log);
  wait(log);

  return 0;
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Published at Friday, October 12th, 2018 - 17:25:27 PM. Beanbag. By Sally Buchanan.
Beanbag furniture has been around sense the '60s. They quickly became popular and have remained so today. There are plenty of reasons that beanbags are the best if you want comfort and convenience. They are easy to move, more comfortable then anything on the market, affordable, and can fit in event he tightest living spaces. It's no surprise that the beanbag is the prime choice for many people looking for a new place to sit. Beanbags are typically filled with PVC "beans" which give them their name. With all the small beans in the bag they are incredibly lightweight for their size, and can be moved with very little effort. On top of that, you are not limited by shape. Sense they are not made of pre-cut padding, you are able to adjust them and flex them into any space you desire.
Beanbag chairs are the ultimate furniture for creating a relaxed, informal environment at home or elsewhere. They're ideal for rooms with children, both in bedrooms or playrooms, and for teenagers as well. Wherever you put them, beanbags are the perfect lounging chair. Beanbag chairs first became popular in the 1960s and 1970s in Europe, Canada and the United States as a symbol of the counter-culture. They resumed their popularity in the 1990s for those seeking informal but extremely comfortable furniture, and continue to be especially popular among young people and in spaces not associated with work or school activities.


The Rossi Traditional Power Reclining Sofa with Full Chaise Cushion by New Classic at Wilcox Furniture in the Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Calallen, Texas area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
The Rossi collection is a great option if you are looking for Traditional furniture in the Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Calallen, Texas area.
Browse other items in the Rossi collection from Wilcox Furniture in the Corpus Christi, Kingsville, Calallen, Texas area.


text:
Twin Cities Daily Planet (https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/president-bush-infuriates-jewish-world/)
President Bush infuriates Jewish world
By D. T. Lancaster | December 13, 2013
Generally speaking, the Jewish community has had a fairly good relationship with bushes, ever since Moses heard God speaking to him from within a burning bush on Mount Sinai. So how did former President Bush find manage to inadvertently infuriate Jews all across America last month?
The trouble started when the Messianic Jewish Bible Institute (MJBI) in Dallas scheduled former President George Bush as the keynote speaker at its November 14, 2013 fundraiser. Bush is not the first big-name conservative to attend the event. In 2012, the MJBI booked media mogul Glenn Beck to speak at their fundraiser.
Prior to the event this year, a reporter from Mother Jones took advantage of the opportunity to cast Bush in a negative light and published an article criticizing Bush for associating with Messianic Jews. The article titled "George W. Bush to Raise Money for Group That Converts Jews to Bring About Second Coming of Christ" pointed out that "Messianic Jews have long been controversial for Jews of all major denominations, who object to their proselytizing efforts and their message that salvation by Jesus is consistent with Jewish theology." The Mother Jones article generously included links to the anti-messianic website of Jews for Judaism.
The Mother Jones article got the Anti-Defamation League involved and raised the ire of the broader Jewish community. Suddenly high-profile Jewish leaders around the country were expressing outrage, and the promotional postings for the event abruptly vanished.
Poor President Bush.
He never saw it coming. He probably assumed he was doing something positive for the Jewish community without realizing just how controversial Messianic Judaism still is. Sources close to the former president said that an aide recommended accepting the engagement without understanding Jewish sensitivities. It's not clear if Bush initially understood what an appearance at a Messianic Jewish event would signify. After facing the wider reaction, former president probably felt something like a man who unexpectedly steps in a fresh cow pie. Nevertheless, to his credit, Bush went ahead with the event, albeit behind closed doors and with no further promotional listings.
The Times of Israel ran a good follow-up story about President Bush's brush with Messianic Jews, titled "Has the Time Come to Accept Messianic Jews?" The Times piece offered a more balanced look at the story and some thoughtful analysis of the visceral reaction Bush's appearance evoked from the Jewish world. The Times summed up the 2,000 year-old religious debate in a few words:
Messianic Jews embrace Jesus as the messiah but hew to Jewish traditions, observing Jewish holidays and reciting Hebrew prayers in services. Many, but by no means all, are born Jews who have come to accept Jesus and see their practices as legitimate expressions of Judaism.
Mainstream Jewish groups generally have rejected Messianic Jews, seeing them as luring Jews into Christianity under the pretense that they can maintain their Judaism even while accepting belief in Jesus.
The Times piece also included reaction from Messianic Jewish leaders Jonathan Bernis (Jewish Voice International), Russ Resnik (Union of Messianic Jewish Congregations), and Mitch Glaser (Chosen People Ministries). Moreover, the Times cited a recent Pew Survey which finds that 34 percent of Jewish people polled believe it is possible to believe in Jesus and still be Jewish.
What does the story mean for Messianic Judaism? It means that, despite the opinion of 34 percent of Jewish people, Messianic Judaism is still the most controversial form of Jewish expression. Nevertheless, under the adage that "all press is good press," we can look at the event a success, forcing the wider Jewish community to at least recognize that we exist. Messianic Jewish synagogues now exist in virtually every major population center in North America, including the Messianic, Sabbath-keeping synagogues in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul area of Minnesota.
Jewish objections to Messianic Judaism need to be understood within the context of the long ugly history between Christianity and the Jewish people. The Messianic Jewish movement was birthed out of missionary efforts to proselytize Jewish people into Christianity. Messianic Judaism is still viewed as a façade intended to lure Jews to abandon Judaism and convert to another religion. The overwhelming negative reaction in the Jewish press should remind us all that we still have a long way to go to repair our reputation and the reputation of the most famous Jew in the world.
D. T. Lancaster


text:
Greenspace
Greywater Report looks at wastewater's potential
Nov. 23, 2010 12:11 PM PT
About 50% of the water used inside U.S. homes can be reused to irrigate landscapes and flush toilets, according to a greywater report released by the Oakland-based Pacific Institute last week. The Overview of Greywater Reuse examined the application of greywater systems worldwide to determine how the wastewater generated from sinks, baths, showers and clothes washers could be reused to reduce demand for more costly, high-quality drinking water.
'In California, there are a lot of reasons why we're looking for new and innovative water sources, including the legal restrictions that are coming to bear on our ability to move water around the state,' said Juliet Christian-Smith, senior research associate at the Oakland-based research institute. 'Climactic changes are occurring.... We are looking at a future with less of a natural reservoir in our snow in the Sierras and less water available from the Colorado River system.'
In 2009, California modified its plumbing code to allow the reuse of certain types of gray water. The Pacific Institute was interested in examining how that change might affect the state and aid its development of a 'soft path of water management.'
'The 20th century was dominated by a paradigm of water supply and water extraction which focused on large-scale centralized resources like reservoirs, canals and pipelines that have been very successful at moving water and providing a higher standard of living but also come with social, environmental, energy and economic costs that weren't apparent from the beginning,' said Christian-Smith. 'As we move into the 21st century, we're starting to think about other options ... such as demand management -- conservation and efficiency -- and to look at new technologies that reuse water.'
Australia is the most progressive country in terms of gray water policy. The government for this drought-prone continent not only promotes gray water reuse but provides monetary incentives for systems that recycle wastewater from showers and sinks to flush toilets and irrigate outdoor plants. Korea, Cyprus, Japan and Germany are also at the forefront of gray water technology implementation.
While there is no national policy in the U.S. regarding gray water, about 30 of the 50 states have some sort of gray water regulation, some of which require treatment of the wastewater before its reuse. Other states, including Arizona and California, use a landscape's soil as a natural filter to reduce potential contaminants.
According to the report, which cited a study conducted in Barcelona, Spain, this year, factors determining public acceptance of gray water include a perceived health risk, perceived cost, operation regime and environmental awareness.
The Overview of Greywater Reuse is a starting point, Christian-Smith said, to 'a larger project that will start to outline supportive and protective instruments' for understanding the long-term impacts of gray water reuse.
California may adopt more lenient gray water code
Graywater: UCLA gives Southern California a mixed grade
After two years of eco-living, what works and what doesn't
-- Susan Carpenter


text:
Mešní víno je označení vína, používaného některými křesťanskými církvemi jako svátostná materie při eucharistii, jež musí splňovat zvláštní požadavky na způsob výroby; tyto požadavky se u jednotlivých církví liší. Římskokatolická církev používá z praktických důvodů nejčastěji bílé víno (purifikatorium, textilie, jíž se vytírá kalich po eucharistii, se snáze pere), pravoslavné církve používají symbolické červené. Neoficiálně a spíše slangově se za "mešní víno" označuje víno bez přídavku cukru.

Status mešního vína
Podle českých zákonů je nutné, aby k označení vína za mešní byl vydán souhlas příslušné církve, totéž pravidlo platí pro košer víno. Většinou mají jednotlivé církve tzv. pověřené výrobce mešních vín, tedy vinařské firmy, které se specializují na výrobu mešního vína pro onu konkrétní církev.

§ 6, odstavec 16 vinařského zákona: "Na etiketě vína lze uvést, že splňuje požadavky pro účely církví a náboženských společností, například, že jde o mešní víno, košer víno apod., pokud byl vydán písemný souhlas příslušné církve nebo náboženské společnosti s uváděním takto označeného vína do oběhu; bez předchozího písemného souhlasu příslušné církve nebo náboženské společnosti je zakázáno uvést takto označené víno do oběhu."

V této věci je poměrně známý soudní spor mezi Českou biskupskou konferencí a společností Arcibiskupské vinné sklepy Kroměříž. ČBK odmítla v roce 2006 firmě povolit označovat jí vyrobené víno jako mešní. Firma, která v minulosti vedla řadu soudních sporů s arcibiskupstvím olomouckým (které bylo dříve jejím podílníkem), podala na ČBK žalobu pro údajné omezování hospodářské soutěže, Městský soud v Praze žalobu však odmítl s tím, že nemá pravomoc rozhodnutí ČBK přezkoumávat. Firma podala proti tomuto rozhodnutí kasační stížnost, kterou však Nejvyšší správní soud 29. ledna 2008 taktéž zamítl. Podle jeho verdiktu Římskokatolická církev zastoupená Českou biskupskou konferencí má výlučnou pravomoc stanovit, které víno smí být označováno jako mešní, a její rozhodnutí nemohou přezkoumávat soudy. Představovalo by to nepřípustný zásah do autonomie církve.

Mešní víno podle římskokatolické církve
Mešní víno se používá při římskokatolické liturgii jako materie k transsubstanciaci v Kristovu krev. Musí být vyrobeno pouze z hroznů, bez dalších příměsí a přidaného cukru, vinohrad poskytující úrodu nesmí být chemicky ošetřován (fakticky jde o přírodní a ekologicky pěstované víno). Dříve bylo vyráběno výhradně v klášterech, dnes je produkují i soukromé společnosti. Církev si pro udělení souhlasu s označením produktu za mešní víno vymiňuje podmínku, že nesmí mít pochybnosti o tom, zda výrobce bezpodmínečně a soustavně dodržuje správný výrobní postup. Tento souhlas mají v ČR dvě firmy: Arcibiskupské zámecké víno Kroměříž a Ampelos, šlechtitelská stanice vinařská ve Znojmě.

Mešní vína jsou vždy vína s přívlastkem, tedy kabinet, pozdní sběr, výběr z hroznů, výběr z bobulí, výběr z cibeh, ledové i slámové víno. Mešní vína mohou být bílá, růžová i červená. Obsah alkoholu není v nich regulován, vždy však musí jít o alkohol, který vznikl zkvašením cukru obsaženého přímo ve zralých hroznech, v žádném případě se vína nesmí doslazovat. Definitivně mešním vínem se stává víno slavnostním žehnáním.

Odkazy

Reference

Literatura
 Zdeněk Koudelka: Mešní víno před soudem, Vinařský obzor 3/2008, s. 94-95.
 Zdeněk Koudelka: Košer a mešní víno, Vinařský obzor 5/2010, s. 236-239, ISSN 1212-7884.
 Rozsudek Nejvyššího správního soudu z 29. 1. 2008, sp. zn. 2 As 54/2007 Dostupný online

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There seems to be a competition amongst some of the bars in Hangzhou as to who can stock the most types of beer, and One Pint might be winning. The beer selection here breaks the 1000 mark, plus countless whiskeys, wines, Chinese alcohols and more to take advantage of.
Once you begin navigating their iPad-style menus, you realise the extent of the alcohol library. The layout is very clear, allowing you to organise drinks by region, type, price, or size; then a couple a clicks later, your drink is on its way. If you don't want to spend so much time going through the list, take a risk and press the 'randomise' button and see what you'll be drinking. It is difficult to find a fridge big enough to store 1000 types of beer, and so the drinks here are not kept chilled. Instead, they are served up with ice-cold steel cubes, so your drink may take a couple minutes to cool but will stay cold that little bit longer. We tried the Epic Hop Zombie (67RMB) as recommended by the staff, a little stronger than the average beer and, unsurprisingly, with a strong taste of hops. Beers start from 15RMB (Franzikaner, 500ml) and offers are ongoing.
Despite the focus on beer, One Pint makes a really good go at cocktails, and if it doesn't taste good, you only have yourself to blame. All the cocktails here are DIY, so after choosing your cocktail, a member of the bar staff will prepare the ingredients for you, and, along with a PPT, will guide you through the steps. The process was really a lot of fun, and the result didn't taste too badly either – we tried the Midsummer Night (55RMB), very minty and refreshing.
One Pint also has over 300 types of whiskey and has the great idea of offering sample size glasses as cheap as 8RMB, meaning you can try a mouthful before you commit to a whole glass or have a tasting session of a few different blends.
For food, they have some simple bar snacks plus a couple of Hot Dogs (American 15RMB) at fair prices. The meat dishes of the Black Beef (29RMB) and When Taiwan Meets Turin (20RMB), containing two types of sausage with mustard dip, would both act as the perfect partner to a night of drinking.
One Pint is located on the 3rd floor of Tianhe Building on Tiyuchang Road. Smoking permitted, parking limited.


text:
Suno Designer Max Osterweis Previews Artist Nick Cave's New Book
by Stephanie LaCava
From his first trip to his mother's vacation home in Kenya, Max Osterweis began collecting vintage Kenyan textiles that provided early inspiration for Suno, the rather fantastic ethical line he co-designs with Erin Beatty, which was shown at Milk Studios earlier this week. We caught up with Osterweis about the book Nick Cave: Meet Me at the Center of the Earth (Yerba Buena Center for the Arts/ D.A.P. $50; artbook.com) coming out in wide release next week. Cave, a dancer and visual artist, designed handmade costume creations that remind us a little of the spirit of Suno. Turns out, Osterweis already had the book, in fact, a copy inscribed for his mother, "To Suno." It was a gift from Kenneth J. Foster, executive director of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, when he came to visit the house in Kenya. (Foster wrote the foreword and the museum did a limited run on the book to coincide with the show last spring.) Both Beatty and Osterweis are drawn to Cave's work, in particular for Beatty, a costume of metal flowers and kaleidoscopic bodysuit embellished with embroidery, beads, and sequins, and for both, the "twig sound suit," an outfit of tiny wooden stumps that makes noise, as many of Cave's costumes do. "His pieces are positive, exuberant, connecting people on many levels," says Beatty. Osterweiss continues, "His use of color, texture, and material is surprising, whimsical inventive, and sometimes shocking." He likes a suit covered in neon polka dots and hair. "How can it not make you smile?" he asks. We'd say the same about Suno.


You must also recognize how you can your appliances correctly. They are the primary aspects in the increase in your monthly payments. It is best to start replacing your old home appliances and buy new designs. The old home appliances are usually inefficient and they more energy so buying a new one will probably be beneficial. New designs do not consume plenty of energy and they can be more efficient than old designs. It is also important to unplug your home appliances when you're not utilizing them because they will still consume energy when they are turned off and you leave them plugged on the outlet.


text:
5th Aug, 2020 By admin_nlm
Filling our food gaps with fish farming
To counter a n ever-growing threat to food security, the Kenyan government has identified fish farming as a workable solution.
By Antony Mutunga
The threat of desert locusts and the COVID-19 pandemic have seen food insecurity grow as crops are destroyed and those dependent on them for a living are forced to hike prices in order to survive. In fact, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over 25 million people are expected to face food shortages in East Africa in the coming months as a result.
To counter this growing threat to food security, the Kenyan government has identified fish farming as a workable solution. The government, in partnership with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), has come up with an initiative that will see fish farmers benefit from a Sh15 billion fund that will allow them to boost production.
This is in line with the government's ten-year agriculture sector transformation and growth strategy, which was launched last year. The strategy identifies fisheries as an important sector in boosting food security.
According to Prof. Muchemi Ntiba, Fisheries Principal Secretary, the government is using the funds to provide seed money for the farmers. "The government will provide up to 70 percent of the funds required for a fish farm, while the farmers will cover the remaining 30 percent," she said.
In addition, the government wants to increase fish consumption per capita in the country. Currently, fish consumption per capita in Kenya stands at 4.5kg as compared to the world where it stands at over 20kg in accordance with data from FAO.
Kenyan government has a target to raise this to 10kg by 2030 as they identify fish as not only a solution to food insecurity but also as a nutritious source of food to help the young generation in their growth and health.
Through the partnership, the government wants to focus on supporting community nutrition initiatives, capacity building for farmers, developing enterprises, and building an enabling environment and support services for aquaculture farming. As a result, this will not only help the farmers alone but it will also help other businesses that the fisheries sector will depend on, such as transport.
This is expected to create job opportunities especially for the youth, after the pandemic saw a large number of people either lose their jobs while others were forced to close down their businesses. With funding now available, more people can farm fish as an alternative livelihood. In fact, according to Prof Ntiba, the project will double fish production, and also provide opportunities for over 35,000 households in the fish value chain.
In 2015, the government in collaboration with the Indian Ocean Commission SmartFish Programme (co-implemented by FAO) and supported by the European Union, initiated the 'Eat Fish for a Better Life' campaign in 2015 to promote the consumption of local fish and to inform the public about the importance of fish consumption for our health and growth. And in 2009, the government also identified the sector as a key economic enabler under the economic stimulus Programme, and put in place policies to boost fish production. However, the fund was mismanaged and the project failed.
Because of non investment in fish production, the sub-sector has declined in recent years, as a result of which fish imports from China rose sharply. In 2017, the country imported over 12,000 tonnes of fish from China.
The current initiative is a commendable move by the government. But, to avoid previous challenges, there is a need for transparency, accountability and strict laws to govern the operations of the current initiative. The fisheries sector is indeed a boost to food security, it needs to be nurtured to support the country during times such as these.


RCS Motor Club has two electronic mailing lists. The first is 'rcsmc-list', whilst the other is 'jez-mechanics'. You do not have to be a student of Imperial College to join either list, so please feel free to sign up if you're interested.
This list is the "regular" mailing list for the club. It is through this list that we advertise our events and outings, and also keep club members up-to-date with the progress of the club. All club members should be a member of this list.
To join this list, please visit the mailman rcsmc-list site.
This list is intended for those with an interest in the maintenance and repair of Jezebel. This list can sometimes generate large bursts of emails discussing a particular technical issue, especially in the run-up to events or in the event of significant mechanical failure. Members of this list should also be a member of the rcsmc-list, as most events will not be publicised via jez-mechanics.
To join this list, please visit the mailman jez-mechanics site.


2020 Chevy El Camino Interior, Exterior, Release Date, Engine – The two 2019 and 2020 are going to be vital for the expansion of the pickup truck sector say car industry veterans. GM Company is a single of the managers within this segment and features some significant plans for the following year as is evident by reviewing the most recent actions with 2020 Chevy El Camino model. The US car huge is revamping well-liked models and will also release new. Nonetheless, the company is difficult working on its well-known El Camino model that might be published in 2020.
Little information is there on exterior styling of the forthcoming 2020 Chevy El Camino. However, it is probable that GM can take a design cue from the pre-existing Chevy Silverado selection. So, a prominent grille with chrome emphasises and led lights are predicted. The overall look might be boxy with a handful of curves. GM may use each lightweight aluminium and light-weight metal very much like the new Silverado 1500 range. The design may also be sleek by nature. The truck can also get recommended off-road functions such as underbody skid plate and many others. Whether or not it will probably be bought from a handful of trims or not- is not clear.
The cabin style of forthcoming 2020 Chevy El Camino pickup truck model might be affected by the new Chevrolet Silverado selection. The interior will be roomy and ergonomically made. It can have a sleek dash panel, high chairs with lumbar help. Safe-keeping options will likely be aplenty. 2020 Chevy El Camino is likewise designed with new Chevy Mylink infotainment installation. Nonetheless, some services and safety features might be presented as options.
The new Chevy El Camino will in all probability show up using the powerful 6.2L V8 in addition to a superior 8-speed smart transmission. Internet outputs might head out mainly because of 422 HP within 5,300 RPM as accurately as 410 lb-ft from 4,600 RPM. Its engine may well blend VVT (the independent device the right time) as correctly as tube deactivation to continue to keep fuel economy in order. The EPA figures could continue to be close to 22 mpg in the city, 25 miles per gallon associated to highways and also 23 mpg on a merged dimension. The most up-to-date information maintain that Chevrolet is set up to lay a much more focus towards pickup-like abilities of this impending El Camino.
The 2020 Chevy El Camino truck could be unveiled, but the company is a mummy on this matter. If GM, in fact, brings it back, it must use a sound powertrain, and costs need to be affordable. The anticipated starting up the price of 2020 Chevy El Camino pickup truck may be all around $35.000. However, from some speculation, it would debut at the finish of 2019.


text:
A Politics of Conscience
by Steve Chance	| published on Jun 23, 2007
It's great to be here. I've been speaking to a lot of churches recently, so it's nice to be speaking to one that's so familiar. I understand you switched venues at considerable expense and inconvenience because of unfair labor practices at the place you were going to be having this synod. Clearly, the past 50 years have not weakened your resolve as faithful witnesses of the gospel. And I'm glad to see that.
It's been several months now since I announced I was running for president. In that time, I've had the chance to talk with Americans all across this country. And I've found that no matter where I am, or who I'm talking to, there's a common theme that emerges. It's that folks are hungry for change – they're hungry for something new. They're ready to turn the page on the old politics and the old policies – whether it's the war in Iraq or the health care crisis we're in, or a school system that's leaving too many kids behind despite the slogans.
But I also get the sense that there's a hunger that's deeper than that – a hunger that goes beyond any single cause or issue. It seems to me that each day, thousands of Americans are going about their lives – dropping the kids off at school, driving to work, shopping at the mall, trying to stay on their diets, trying to kick a cigarette habit – and they're coming to the realization that something is missing. They're deciding that their work, their possessions, their diversions, their sheer busyness, is not enough.
They want a sense of purpose, a narrative arc to their lives. They're looking to relieve a chronic loneliness. And so they need an assurance that somebody out there cares about them, is listening to them – that they are not just destined to travel down that long road toward nothingness.
And this restlessness – this search for meaning – is familiar to me. I was not raised in a particularly religious household. My father, who I didn't know, returned to Kenya when I was just two. He was nominally a Muslim since there were a number of Muslims in the village where he was born. But by the time he was a young adult, he was an atheist. My mother, whose parents were non-practicing Baptists and Methodists, was one of the most spiritual souls I ever knew. She had this enormous capacity for wonder, and lived by the Golden Rule. But she had a healthy skepticism of religion as an institution. And as a consequence, so did I.
It wasn't until after college, when I went to Chicago to work as a community organizer for a group of Christian churches, that I confronted my own spiritual dilemma. In a sense, what brought me to Chicago in the first place was a hunger for some sort of meaning in my life. I wanted to be part of something larger. I'd been inspired by the civil rights movement – by all the clear-eyed, straight-backed, courageous young people who'd boarded buses and traveled down South to march and sit at lunch counters, and lay down their lives in some cases for freedom. I was too young to be involved in that movement, but I felt I could play a small part in the continuing battle for justice by helping rebuild some of Chicago's poorest neighborhoods.
So it's 1985, and I'm in Chicago, and I'm working with these churches, and with lots of laypeople who are much older than I am. And I found that I recognized in these folks a part of myself. I learned that everyone's got a sacred story when you take the time to listen. And I think they recognized a part of themselves in me too. They saw that I knew the Scriptures and that many of the values I held and that propelled me in my work were values they shared. But I think they also sensed that a part of me remained removed and detached – that I was an observer in their midst.
And slowly, I came to realize that something was missing as well – that without an anchor for my beliefs, without a commitment to a particular community of faith, at some level I would always remain apart, and alone.
And it's around this time that some pastors I was working with came up to me and asked if I was a member of a church. "If you're organizing churches," they said, "it might be helpful if you went to church once in a while." And I thought, "Well, I guess that makes sense."
So one Sunday, I put on one of the few clean jackets I had, and went over to Trinity United Church of Christ on 95th Street on the South Side of Chicago. And I heard Reverend Jeremiah A. Wright deliver a sermon called "The Audacity of Hope." And during the course of that sermon, he introduced me to someone named Jesus Christ. I learned that my sins could be redeemed. I learned that those things I was too weak to accomplish myself, He would accomplish with me if I placed my trust in Him. And in time, I came to see faith as more than just a comfort to the weary or a hedge against death, but rather as an active, palpable agent in the world and in my own life.
It was because of these newfound understandings that I was finally able to walk down the aisle of Trinity one day and affirm my Christian faith. It came about as a choice, and not an epiphany. I didn't fall out in church, as folks sometimes do. The questions I had didn't magically disappear. The skeptical bent of my mind didn't suddenly vanish. But kneeling beneath that cross on the South Side, I felt I heard God's spirit beckoning me. I submitted myself to His will, and dedicated myself to discovering His truth and carrying out His works.
But my journey is part of a larger journey – one shared by all who've ever sought to apply the values of their faith to our society. It's a journey that takes us back to our nation's founding, when none other than a UCC church inspired the Boston Tea Party and helped bring an Empire to its knees. In the following century, men and women of faith waded into the battles over prison reform and temperance, public education and women's rights – and above all, abolition. And when the Civil War was fought and our country dedicated itself to a new birth of freedom, they took on the problems of an industrializing nation – fighting the crimes against society and the sins against God that they felt were being committed in our factories and in our slums.
And when these battles were overtaken by others and when the wars they opposed were waged and won, these faithful foot soldiers for justice kept marching. They stood on the Edmund Pettus Bridge, as the blows of billy clubs rained down. They held vigils across this country when four little girls were killed in the 16th Street Baptist Church. They cheered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial when Dr. King delivered his prayer for our country. And in all these ways, they helped make this country more decent and more just.
So doing the Lord's work is a thread that's run through our politics since the very beginning. And it puts the lie to the notion that the separation of church and state in America means faith should have no role in public life. Imagine Lincoln's Second Inaugural without its reference to "the judgments of the Lord." Or King's "I Have a Dream" speech without its reference to "all of God's children." Or President Kennedy's Inaugural without the words, "here on Earth, God's work must truly be our own." At each of these junctures, by summoning a higher truth and embracing a universal faith, our leaders inspired ordinary people to achieve extraordinary things.
But somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and started being used to drive us apart. It got hijacked. Part of it's because of the so-called leaders of the Christian Right, who've been all too eager to exploit what divides us. At every opportunity, they've told evangelical Christians that Democrats disrespect their values and dislike their Church, while suggesting to the rest of the country that religious Americans care only about issues like abortion and gay marriage; school prayer and intelligent design. There was even a time when the Christian Coalition determined that its number one legislative priority was tax cuts for the rich. I don't know what Bible they're reading, but it doesn't jibe with my version.
But I'm hopeful because I think there's an awakening taking place in America. People are coming together around a simple truth – that we are all connected, that I am my brother's keeper; I am my sister's keeper. And that it's not enough to just believe this – we have to do our part to make it a reality. My faith teaches me that I can sit in church and pray all I want, but I won't be fulfilling God's will unless I go out and do the Lord's work.
That's why pastors, friends of mine like Rick Warren and T.D. Jakes and organizations like World Vision and Catholic Charities are wielding their enormous influence to confront poverty, HIV/AIDS, and the genocide in Darfur. Religious leaders like my friends Rev. Jim Wallis and Rabbi David Saperstein and Nathan Diament are working for justice and fighting for change. And all across the country, communities of faith are sponsoring day care programs, building senior centers, and in so many other ways, taking part in the project of American renewal.
Yet what we also understand is that our values should express themselves not just through our churches or synagogues, temples or mosques; they should express themselves through our government. Because whether it's poverty or racism, the uninsured or the unemployed, war or peace, the challenges we face today are not simply technical problems in search of the perfect ten-point plan. They are moral problems, rooted in both societal indifference and individual callousness – in the imperfections of man.
And so long as we're not doing everything in our personal and collective power to solve them, we know the conscience of our nation cannot rest.
Our conscience can't rest so long as 37 million Americans are poor and forgotten by their leaders in Washington and by the media elites. We need to heed the biblical call to care for "the least of these" and lift the poor out of despair. That's why I've been fighting to expand the Earned Income Tax Credit and the minimum wage. If you're working forty hours a week, you shouldn't be living in poverty. But we also know that government initiatives are not enough. Each of us in our own lives needs to do what we can to help the poor. And until we do, our conscience cannot rest.
Our conscience cannot rest so long as nearly 45 million Americans don't have health insurance and the millions more who do are going bankrupt trying to pay for it. I have made a solemn pledge that I will sign a universal health care bill into law by the end of my first term as president that will cover every American and cut the cost of a typical family's premiums by up to $2500 a year. That's not simply a matter of policy or ideology – it's a moral commitment.
And until we stop the genocide that's being carried out in Darfur as I speak, our conscience cannot rest. This is a problem that's brought together churches and synagogues and mosques and people of all faiths as part of a grassroots movement. Universities and states, including Illinois, are taking part in a divestment campaign to pressure the Sudanese government to stop the killings. It's not enough, but it's helping. And it's a testament to what we can achieve when good people with strong convictions stand up for their beliefs.
And we should close Guantanamo Bay and stop tolerating the torture of our enemies. Because it's not who we are. It's not consistent with our traditions of justice and fairness. And it offends our conscience.
But we also know our conscience cannot rest so long as the war goes on in Iraq. It's a war I'm proud I opposed from the start – a war that should never have been authorized and never been waged. I have a plan that would have already begun redeploying our troops with the goal of bringing all our combat brigades home by March 31st of next year. The President vetoed a similar plan, but he doesn't have the last word, and we're going to keep at it, until we bring this war to an end. Because the Iraq war is not just a security problem, it's a moral problem.
And there's another issue we must confront as well. Today there are 12 million undocumented immigrants in America, most of them working in our communities, attending our churches, and contributing to our country.
Now, as children of God, we believe in the worth and dignity of every human being; it doesn't matter where that person came from or what documents they have. We believe that everyone, everywhere should be loved, and given the chance to work, and raise a family.
But as Americans, we also know that this is a nation of laws, and we cannot have those laws broken when more than 2,000 people cross our borders illegally every day. We cannot ignore that we have a right and a duty to protect our borders. And we cannot ignore the very real concerns of Americans who are not worried about illegal immigration because they are racist or xenophobic, but because they fear it will result in lower wages when they're already struggling to raise their families.
And so this will be a difficult debate next week. Consensus and compromise will not come easy. Last time we took up immigration reform, it failed. But we cannot walk away this time. Our conscience cannot rest until we not only secure our borders, but give the 12 million undocumented immigrants in this country a chance to earn their citizenship by paying a fine and waiting in line behind all those who came here legally.
We will all have to make concessions to achieve this. That's what compromise is about. But at the end of the day, we cannot walk away – not for the sake of passing a bill, but so that we can finally address the real concerns of Americans and the persistent hopes of all those brothers and sisters who want nothing more than their own chance at our common dream.
These are some of the challenges that test our conscience – as Americans and people of faith. And meeting them won't be easy. There is real evil and hardship and pain and suffering in the world and we should be humble in our belief that we can eliminate them. But we shouldn't use our humility as an excuse for inaction. We shouldn't use the obstacles we face as an excuse for cynicism. We have to do what we can, knowing it's hard and not swinging from a naïve idealism to a bitter defeatism – but rather, accepting the fact that we're not going to solve every problem overnight, but we can still make a difference.
We can recognize the truth that's at the heart of the UCC: that the conversation is not over; that our roles are not defined; that through ancient texts and modern voices, God is still speaking, challenging us to change not just our own lives, but the world around us.
I'm hearing from evangelicals who may not agree with progressives on every issue but agree that poverty has no place in a world of plenty; that hate has no place in the hearts of believers; and that we all have to be good stewards of God's creations. From Willow Creek to the 'emerging church,' from the Southern Baptist Convention to the National Association of Evangelicals, folks are realizing that the four walls of the church are too small for a big God. God is still speaking.
I'm hearing from progressives who understand that if we want to communicate our hopes and values to Americans, we can't abandon the field of religious discourse. That's why organizations are rising up across the country to reclaim the language of faith to bring about change. God is still speaking.
He's still speaking to our Catholic friends – who are holding up a consistent ethic of life that goes beyond abortion – one that includes a respect for life and dignity whether it's in Iraq, in poor neighborhoods, in African villages or even on death row. They're telling me that their conversation about what it means to be Catholic continues. God is still speaking.
And right here in the UCC, we're hearing from God about what it means to be a welcoming church that holds on to our Christian witness. The UCC is still listening. And God is still speaking.
Now, some of you may have heard me talk about the Joshua generation. But there's a story I want to share that takes place before Moses passed the mantle of leadership on to Joshua. It comes from Deuteronomy 30 when Moses talks to his followers about the challenges they'll find when they reach the Promised Land without him. To the Joshua generation, these challenges seem momentous – and they are. But Moses says: What I am commanding you is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven. Nor is it beyond the sea. No, the word is very near. It is on your lips and in your heart.
It's an idea that's often forgotten or dismissed in cynical times. It's that we all have it within our power to make this a better world. Because we all have the capacity to do justice and show mercy; to treat others with dignity and respect; and to rise above what divides us and come together to meet those challenges we can't meet alone. It's the wisdom Moses imparted to those who would succeed him. And it's a lesson we need to remember today – as members of another Joshua generation.
So let's rededicate ourselves to a new kind of politics – a politics of conscience. Let's come together – Protestant and Catholic, Muslim and Hindu and Jew, believer and non-believer alike. We're not going to agree on everything, but we can disagree without being disagreeable. We can affirm our faith without endangering the separation of church and state, as long as we understand that when we're in the public square, we have to speak in universal terms that everyone can understand. And if we can do that – if we can embrace a common destiny – then I believe we'll not just help bring about a more hopeful day in America, we'll not just be caring for our own souls, we'll be doing God's work here on Earth. Thank you.


text:
package com.example.xmatrix.popularmovies.data;

import android.content.ContentValues;
import android.content.Context;
import android.database.Cursor;
import android.database.sqlite.SQLiteDatabase;
import android.os.Bundle;
import com.example.xmatrix.popularmovies.BundleKeys;
import java.sql.SQLException;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;

public class MovieDataSource
{
    // Database fields
    SQLiteDatabase m_database;
    MovieDbHelper m_dbHelper;

    String[] MOVIE_LIST_COLUMNS = {
        MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_ID,
        MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_MOVIE_ID,
        MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_TITLE,
        MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_IMAGE_URL,
        MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_THUMBNAIL_URL,
        MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_OVERVIEW,
        MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_RATING,
        MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_RELEASE_DATE
        };

    /**
     * Creates a Datasource object
     */
    public MovieDataSource(Context context) {
        m_dbHelper = new MovieDbHelper(context);
    }

    /**
     * Opens the database connection
     */
    public void open() throws SQLException
    {
        m_database = m_dbHelper.getWritableDatabase();
    }

    /**
     * Closes the open connection
     */
    public void close()
    {
        if (m_database != null)
        {
            m_database.close();
            m_database = null;
        }
    }

    /**
     * Inserts movie information to database and returns the unique id
     */
    public long insertMovie(Bundle bundle)
    {
        ContentValues values = new ContentValues();
        values.put(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_MOVIE_ID, bundle.getLong(BundleKeys.MOVIE_ID));
        values.put(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_TITLE, bundle.getString(BundleKeys.TITLE));
        values.put(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_IMAGE_URL, bundle.getString(BundleKeys.IMAGE_URL));
        values.put(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_THUMBNAIL_URL, bundle.getString(BundleKeys.THUMBNAIL_URL));
        values.put(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_OVERVIEW, bundle.getString(BundleKeys.OVERVIEW));
        values.put(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_RATING, bundle.getString(BundleKeys.RATING));
        values.put(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_RELEASE_DATE, bundle.getString(BundleKeys.RELEASE_DATE));

        long id = m_database.insert(MovieDbHelper.TABLE_MOVIE_LIST, null, values);
        return id;
    }

    /**
     * Deletes the movie information from the database
     */
    public void deleteMovie(long id) {
        m_database.delete(
                MovieDbHelper.TABLE_MOVIE_LIST,
                MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_ID + " = " + id, null);
    }

    public ArrayList<Bundle> getAllMovies() {
        ArrayList<Bundle> lstMovies = new ArrayList<Bundle>();

        Cursor cursor = m_database.query(
                            MovieDbHelper.TABLE_MOVIE_LIST,
                            MOVIE_LIST_COLUMNS,
                            null,
                            null,
                            null,
                            null,
                            null);

        if (cursor.getCount() > 0)
        {
            cursor.moveToFirst();
            while (!cursor.isAfterLast()) {
                Bundle movieBundle = cursorToMovie(cursor);
                lstMovies.add(movieBundle);

                cursor.moveToNext();
            }
        }

        // Close the cursor
        cursor.close();

        return lstMovies;
    }

    /**
     * Get movie bundle for the given id. If not found, it returns null
     */
    public Bundle getMovie(long movieId)
    {
        Bundle movieBundle = null;

        Cursor cursor = m_database.query(
                            MovieDbHelper.TABLE_MOVIE_LIST,
                            MOVIE_LIST_COLUMNS,
                            MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_MOVIE_ID + " = " + movieId,
                            null,
                            null,
                            null,
                            null);

        if (cursor.getCount() > 0) {
            cursor.moveToFirst();
            movieBundle = cursorToMovie(cursor);
        }

        // Close the cursor
        cursor.close();

        return movieBundle;
    }

    /**
     * Creates Movie bundle given a valid cursor
     */
    Bundle cursorToMovie(Cursor cursor) {
        Bundle bundle = new Bundle();

        bundle.putLong(
                BundleKeys.MOVIE_DB_ID,
                cursor.getLong(cursor.getColumnIndex(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_ID)));

        bundle.putLong(
                BundleKeys.MOVIE_ID,
                cursor.getLong(cursor.getColumnIndex(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_MOVIE_ID)));

        bundle.putString(
                BundleKeys.TITLE,
                cursor.getString(cursor.getColumnIndex(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_TITLE)));

        bundle.putString(
                BundleKeys.IMAGE_URL,
                cursor.getString(cursor.getColumnIndex(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_IMAGE_URL)));

        bundle.putString(
                BundleKeys.THUMBNAIL_URL,
                cursor.getString(cursor.getColumnIndex(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_THUMBNAIL_URL)));

        bundle.putString(
                BundleKeys.OVERVIEW,
                cursor.getString(cursor.getColumnIndex(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_OVERVIEW)));

        bundle.putString(
                BundleKeys.RATING,
                cursor.getString(cursor.getColumnIndex(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_RATING)));

        bundle.putString(
                BundleKeys.RELEASE_DATE,
                cursor.getString(cursor.getColumnIndex(MovieDbHelper.COLUMN_RELEASE_DATE)));

        return bundle;
    }
}


Why a photo of a mauled bun? Why not? Really though, it's because I wanted to share what Mr. Leonard T. Kat did today. Lenny Boy is a counter jumper. Ugh. So now I have to be careful of everything, EVERYTHING, I leave on the kitchen counter. Until I can figure out some way of keeping him off the counters. So, food, dirty dishes (yes, I have to at least rinse off dishes, every day now, not just when I feel like it! No more sink full of dirty dishes.) knives, etc... And I have to be aware of when a burner is on or has been on and make sure the brat isn't jumping up there. He's wearing me out.
Anyway, Shawn's mom brought this bun over thinking Shawn might want it with his lunch or something. He mentioned to her that she better make sure it's not sitting out on the counter otherwise it's fair game. Just like the chicken breasts that were thawing the other day. Shawn calls me while I'm out and asks me to guess what he has sitting on the table in the basement. Not knowing where to begin guessing I assumed something to do with Lenny Boy. A frozen chicken breast he says. In the baggie.
Apparently, Leonard T. Kat pulled the chicken breast off the counter and then took it downstairs. That's where Shawn saw him playing with it and took it away. Well there was two. So when I got home, indeed, the other chicken breast was gone. As I walked back into the living room I see Mr. Leonard T. Kat running from under the chaise to the chair with chicken breast in the baggie in his mouth. Then he proceeds to roll around with the chicken breast under the chair. Luckily, neither baggie was punctured and the breasts were still frozen and unscathed.