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Category Archives: Sports
Director Sagar Joshi Completed The Shooting Of Chaal Gazab Hai With Actress Jannat Zubair Rahmani
February 26, 2019 Albums, Breaking News, Sports
Jannat Zubair Rahmani who recently joined the cast of Aapke Aajaane Se, complete the shoot for an album song titled by Chaal Gazab Hai which is directed by a young talent Sagar Joshi. The song was sung by the talented singers like Pawni Pandey and R Prince. Pawni Pandey's Laila O Laila song from Raees movie was a hugely famous.
The director Sagar Joshi told that the song is much entertaining and a full of energy where the young talents like Shivam Roy Prabhakar and Jannat Zubair are featuring in the song.
Jannat Zubair Rahmani now a days is playing the lead in TV serial Aapke Aajane Se and Shivam Roy Prabhakar started his career with Bajrangi Bhaijaan and now a days is shooting for a film which is also being directed by Sagar Joshi.
The producer of the song Laxman Singh Rajput is an actor himself and famous for playing roles in movies like Thackeray and Bharat. He said that Chaal Gazab Hai song would be released very soon.
Sushil Kumar Appoints Neeraj Gupta as Business Manager
December 5, 2017 Breaking News, Latest News, Sports
New Delhi, 4th December2017: Sushil Kumar, an Indian freestyle wrestler and the only Indian to win two individual Olympic medals, has appointed Neeraj Guptaas Business Manager to handle all brand endorsement activities for him. Neeraj Gupta is a renowned name in the field of media and entertainment and is well recognized for his strategic communication expertise in the industry.
Founder of NG Group, Mr. Gupta has extensive experience in handling communication requirements for Celebrities and Corporates and has been extremely successful in establishing them as exemplary brands. On this association, Mr. Gupta said, "it is extremely an honor for us to be associated with the country's wrestling superstar who has outshined everyone with his astounding performance on the International platform and won gold for the nation and gave impetus to the game of wrestling."
Coming from a modest background, Sushil Kumarhas come a long way started off his career as a promising wrestler in the junior levels to become World Champion.After winning a bronze medal at the Beijing Olympics, Sushil got due attention and acknowledged as one of India's best wrestler.His dedication and rigorous hard work bestowed him numerous medals and he has been honored with the Arjuna Award in 2005, the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna Award in 2008 and in 2011 with Padma Shri—the fourth highest civilian award in India.
Sushil Kumar is also being preferred for endorsing plenty of brands. He is undoubtedly a great role model in the field of freestyle wrestling and a major source of inspiration for many wrestling young aspirants.
About NG Group:
NG Group is a 15 years old diversified communication group, with six specialized functions of Film Production, Talent Management, Media, Digital, Events and NGO. After working for 15 Years as Rahi Communications, we have changed our name and made a group of companies as NG Group.
NG Group, a fully formed Production & Media agency, has been amidst the action of empowering and facilitating businesses with top of the line services for more than a decade.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Save Cover Preview for The Politics of Planting
The Politics of Planting
Israeli-Palestinian Competition for Control of Land in the Jerusalem Periphery
Shaul Ephraim Cohen
Buy this book: The Politics of Planting
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Rights and Permissions for The Politics of Planting
On the open landscape of Israel and the West Bank, where pine and cypress forests grow alongside olive groves, tree planting has become symbolic of conflicting claims to the land. Palestinians cultivate olive groves as a vital agricultural resource, while the Israeli government has made restoration of mixed-growth forests a national priority. Although both sides plant for a variety of purposes, both have used tree planting to assert their presence on—and claim to—disputed land.
Shaul Ephraim Cohen has conducted an unprecedented study of planting in the region and the control of land it signifies. In The Politics of Planting, he provides historical background and examines both the politics behind Israel's afforestation policy its consequences. Focusing on the open land surrounding Jerusalem and four Palestinian villages outside the city, this study offers a new perspective on the conflict over land use in a region where planting has become a political tool.
For the valuable data it presents—collected from field work, previously unpublished documents, and interviews—and the insight it provides into this political struggle, this will be an important book for anyone studying the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
Read Moreabout The Politics of Planting Read Lessabout The Politics of Planting
222 pages | 6 halftones, 5 maps | 6 x 9 | © 1993
University of Chicago Geography Research Papers
Geography: Social and Political Geography
2. Land and Trees in Historical Perspective
3. Afforestation in Palestine from the Turn of the Century through 1948
4. Afforestation as a National Enterprise, 1948-1967
5. Jerusalem Divided; Jerusalem United
6. Land Law, Policy, and Practice in the West Bank
7. Jerusalem's Green Belt
8. The Village of Sur Baher
9. Beit Iksa and Beit Surik
10. The Village of Abu Dis
11. An Overview: The Politics of Planting
Jerusalem 1900
Vincent Lemire
Beyond the Basilica
Chad F. Emmett
When Peace Is Not Enough
Atalia Omer
Freedom and Despair
David Shulman


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Ramirez wins again, Rays beat Nationals 6-1
MARK DIDTLER, Associated Press
Erasmo Ramirez pitched six scoreless innings and the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Washington Nationals 6-1 on Monday night.
Ramirez (6-2) won for the sixth time in his last seven starts following a winless stretch of 25 games that included 15 starts.
Tampa Bay won for the 12th time in 16 games. The Rays have held opponents to two or fewer runs in 32 of 65 games.
Tampa Bay slugger Evan Longoria left with a bruised left wrist after being hit by a Taylor Hill pitch in the fifth. X-rays were negative.
Gio Gonzalez (4-4) gave up five runs and eight hits over 3 1-3 innings for the Nationals.
Washington slugger Bryce Harper returned to the lineup and went 0 for 4 with two strikeouts and a walk as the designated hitter. He got hit on the inside of his left leg above the knee in the ninth inning Saturday by a 95 mph fastball from Milwaukee reliever Michael Blazek and didn't play Sunday.
The Nationals got a bases-loaded RBI single from Yunel Escobar in the ninth before Harper lined into a game-ending double play.
The Rays chased Gonzalez in the fourth when Longoria had a sacrifice fly and Logan Forsythe added a run-scoring single to make it 5-0.
Tampa Bay went up 3-0 with a two-run third as Forsythe had an RBI single that went off Gonzalez's heel and Jake Elmore hit a sacrifice fly.
Kevin Kiermaier's hustle helped the Rays take a 1-0 lead in the second. Running hard out the box, Kiermaier turned what looked a routine single to center into a double. He then stole third and scored on Rene Rivera's sacrifice fly.
Brandon Guyer had a fifth-inning RBI triple for the Rays.
Harper drew a two-out walk in the third to load the bases, but Ramirez got out of the jam by getting a grounder from Wilson Ramos. Clint Robinson lined out to first with the bases loaded to end the fifth.
Tampa Bay's Steven Souza Jr. tied a team record with walking five times. Strangely, he was left stranded on base all five times.
Nationals: Escobar got hit on the right hand by Ramirez's pitch in the third, but remained in the game.
Rays: LHP Matt Moore (elbow ligament replacement surgery) had his third rehab start for Class A Charlotte postponed by rain.
Rays RHP Alex Colome (3-2) and Nationals RHP Tanner Roark (2-2) are Tuesday night's scheduled starters. Colome has gone six or more innings three times this season and is 0-2 with a 7.00 ERA in those outings.


With almost everyone carrying some kind of phone or tablet, mobile optimisation is one of the best ways to bag high-intent customers for your small business.
Mobile searches have exceeded desktop queries for over 2 years — 57% of traffic comes from smartphones and tablets according to Search Engine Land.
Since investing in mobile web design is a must for SME marketing, these five ways to hook mobile customers will help you become the firm at everyone's fingertips.
How well your website performs on mobile devices can dramatically affect the User Experience (UX). And UX is vital for SMEs as it creates a powerful first impression of your business that lasts.
When your website looks good, is simple to navigate and ensures customers find crucial info fast, they're probably more likely to buy your products online or instore, return to your site later and/or refer you to a friend or colleague. And importantly, they won't ditch you for a more switched-on competitor.
Website loading at a high speed? Great! Focusing on reducing loading times can improve usability and customer experience.
With over half of mobile users estimated to leave a site if it doesn't load within 3 seconds and 70% of worldwide mobile connections still predicted to be 3G (according to Google), it's vital for businesses to prioritise faster loading times.
With a wide range of mobile devices on the market, it's almost impossible to know what type of device a customer is using.
But mobile optimisation means customers will enjoy an enhanced visual appearance across the board and be able to navigate your site no matter what size of screen or type of device they have.
That means they can find you on any device whenever the need arises — whether they're browsing the web at work, catching a train or crashed on the couch at home.
You've probably used the phrase 'near me' in Google when looking for a local business, and the search frequency of these queries is increasing year on year.
So by claiming a free Google My Business profile and ensuring all of your information is up-to-date, potential customers will know how to find your website, and learn more about what you do, where you're located and when you are open.
It's also an effortless way to plus into Google's powerful search network, so it's an easy win for your enterprise.
The compatibility of certain elements on your website should also be considered. For example, most modern mobile devices are unable to play Flash-based video and audio.
Video content can drive customer conversions and a short explainer video is a great way of letting customers know why you're special in under a minute — but seek advice from an expert about the best formats to use for phones before filming your mini-masterpiece.
By optimising your website for mobile users, your business will be the talk of your town and beyond. Start making your mark today with these five fab tips.
For more advice on mobile optimisation, get in touch with us today.


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Tsaghkavan (o Tsakhkavan o Tzaghkavan) può riferirsi a:
 Tsaghkavan – un comune dell'Armenia della provincia di Tavush (41°02'03"N 45°07'05"E);
 Tsaghkavan – un comune dell'Armenia della provincia di Tavush ().

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Summertime means increased outreach opportunities through Vacation Bible School, camps, and mission trips. Summertime also means vacation travel leading to decreased attendance in worship and LIFEgroups. For many, this also means a decrease in giving when their giving is tied to their attendance.
Have you considered the importance of ensuring that your gift is present even when you are not? Your gift helps our church continue its mission each and every day through the summer. To ensure that your gift is here even when you are not, set up your recurring gift through 1) the First Norfolk App or, 2) by texting firstnorfolk to 77977 or, 3) by navigating to www.firstnorfolk.org/give.
Each of these resources will provide a recurring gift option. Thank you for your generosity!


Research based and child focused, the curriculum implemented at SAECC uses a carefully designed process of learning whereby caregivers encourage infants to discover the world around them by exploring and playing. Our loving teachers spend a lot of time cuddling and talking to your baby to instill trust and provide a healthy early learning experience for movement, exploration and communication. The Infant Room teachers follow stringent state safety guidelines and you can be assured of a safe, secure, and positive environment where your child can grow and develop a sense of identity and self-confidence.
Each day your child will be discovering things using all five senses, copying simple actions of the people around them, experimenting with toy instruments, exploring textures, colors, and learning a variety of words and sounds through playing with other children. Enrichment activities include baby massage, story time and my gym.


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Climate-induced migration and health
Jonny Elliott
The issue of climate-forced migration, and its impacts on human health, is a discourse that is often underplayed when it comes to discussions about climate impacts and adaptation. The ramifications of ignoring it, and consequently failing to put in place appropriate policy frameworks to cope with increased levels of migrants at an international level, will be huge. The health problems associated with climate-related migration also pose a major challenge for existing healthcare systems and the international humanitarian response.
According to International Organisation for Migration and United Nations figures, between 200 million and 1 billion people could be forced to leave their homes between 2010 and 2050 as the effects of climate change worsen, potentially inundating current response strategies.
Climate change migration is already happening across the world - right now.
Some are migrating because of the direct impacts of natural disasters like floods, droughts and acute water shortages. Whilst indirect impacts such as conflict and increases in food prices can also contribute to people being forced to leave their homes.
There is no doubt that forced migration due to climate change will increase the pressure on existing infrastructure and urban services, especially in sanitation, education and social sectors and also consequently increase the risk of conflict over access to scare resources, even amongst migrants.
A study released on 28 November, entitled 'where the rain falls: climate change, food and livelihood security, and migration' reveals a much more nuanced relationship between projected climate variability and migration, which could provide key insights into likely drivers of migration the coming years. The study, carried out by CARE International and UN University, in 8 countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America, revealed that in nearly all instances in which rains have become too scarce for farming, people have migrated, but mostly within national borders.
At a side event at COP18 on this issue last week, one of the authors, Dr Koko Warner, remarked that "those resilient households use migration to reduce their exposure to climatic variability… In those households, migrants are in their mid-20s, single, move temporarily and send remittances back home. Those resilient households use migration to invest in even more livelihood diversification, education, health and other activities that put them on a positive path to human development."
However, there are also much starker consequences for more vulnerable households:
1. Households may migrate in an attempt to manage risk but suffer worse outcomes. They are found in countries with less food security and fewer options to diversify their incomes. They move within their countries seasonally to find work, often as agricultural labourers.
2. The study also described how migration could be an 'erosive coping strategy'; as a matter of human security, when few other options exist. These households are found in areas where food is even scarcer. They often move during the unpredictable dry season to other rural areas in their regions in search of food or work.
3. Lastly, the study found "households that are trapped and cannot move, and are really at the very margins of existence," according to Warner. These households do not have the capacity to migrate.
Health policy making in the context of migration can either been seen as a human rights issue, putting the needs of the individual first, or as a security issue, in terms of its threats to public health (eg. communicable disease control) and social stability. The latter approach relies principally on monitoring, surveillance and screening, and could be argues to be the modern-day cousin of centuries-old quarantine measures, without an individual-focused perspective. The human-rights based approach takes into account nuances and special needs of individuals, as well as the social determinants which may have affected individuals' health along the migratory pathway.
With respect to the UNFCCC process, the response to environmental migration is an area that is particularly underdeveloped.
The negotiating text elaborated at Tianjin in 2010 invited Parties to enhance adaptation action under the Adaptation Framework through: ['m]easures to enhance understanding, coordination and cooperation related to national, regional and international climate change induced displacement, migration and planned relocation, where appropriate'. The Cancun agreement in 2010 took some strides forward and laid out a roadmap for progress with reference to migration, but as yet it hasn't been implemented, and highlights the need for better and more equitable policy at a global level.
As Jane McAdam observes: "Finally—and perhaps most significantly—there seems to be little political appetite for a new international agreement on protection. As one official in Bangladesh pessimistically observed, 'this is a globe for a rich man'.
In "Migration and Climate Change," a recent publication by UNESCO, Stephen Castles, Associate Director of the International Migration Institute at the University of Oxford suggests that we may need to re-think our strategy. "The doomsday prophesies of environmentalists may have done more to stigmatize refugees and migrants and to support repressive state measures against them, than to raise environmental awareness."
We should be doing more, much more, to raise awareness of this issue, and we must start preparing to cope effectively with the health issues associated with it.
Hello and thank you for this article. So-called environmentally induced migration is multi-level problem. According to Essam El-Hinnawi definition form 1985 environmental refugees as those people who have been forced to leave their traditional habitat, temporarily or permanently, because of a marked environmental disruption (natural or triggered by people) that jeopardised their existence and/or seriously affected the quality of their life. The fundamental distinction between `environmental migrants` and `environmental refugees` is a standpoint of contemporsry studies in EDPs.
According to Bogumil Terminski it seems reasonable to distinguish the general category of environmental migrants from the more specific (subordinate to it) category of environmentally displaced people.
According to Norman Myers environmental refugees are "people who can no longer gain a secure livelihood in their homelands because of drought, soil erosion, desertification, deforestation and other environmental problems, together with associated problems of population pressures and profound poverty".
fleece blankets link
Yes, I completely agree with you now a days there has been a tremendous increase in the migration due to climate change. What all techniques you have thought to make the people aware of this issue.


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Egypt's Democratic Perspectives
A Shroud for the Revolution?
Egypt's revolutionaries have scotched the military agenda by throwing their weight behind Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi, says renowned Egyptian author Mansoura Ez-Eldin. But if they are to again seize the political initiative, they must now regroup and revise their strategy to date.
The election of the Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsi to the post of president heralds a new era in Egyptian history, even if this is still bogged down by the failings of the past.
Morsi is the first non-military president to rule Egypt since the Free Officers coup of 1952 (this was also billed as a "revolution"), the first president from the ranks of the Muslim Brotherhood and the first president who must be satisfied with 51.73 percent of the vote – for decades, Arab presidents have ruled with the typically falsified 99.99 percent.
Egyptians who had supported the revolution rejoiced at the election result – or more accurately: Most of them were primarily happy about the fact that Ahmed Shafiq, Mubarak's last prime minister, had not won. Many expressed their feelings with a sentence that quickly became common parlance: "My joy at Shafiq's defeat is only clouded by Morsi's victory."
Egyptian writer Mansoura Ez-Eldin believes that the drawing up of a civil, liberal constitution represents one of the greatest challenges for all Egyptians who want genuine change
Indeed, many leftwing and liberal revolutionaries threw their weight behind Morsi in the runoff to reduce Shafiq's chances, as his victory would have revived Mubarak's regime.
But this support was linked to conditions, primarily that a coalition government under non-Islamic leadership is established, that Morsi becomes a president for all Egyptians and that he retains a civil state.
Fear of a theocracy
But it was also striking that other liberals, left-wingers and nationalists (also those who had supported the revolution) sided with Shafiq and in doing so, turned a blind eye to just how entrenched the former general was within the old Mubarak system, that in his election campaign he relied almost entirely on the old cadre of the National Party and that he was secretly receiving support from the military council. They justified their decision by expressing the fear that Egypt could be turned into a theocracy, and ironically, as a military man they perceived Ahmed Shafiq as the "guarantor of a civil state"!
Other revolutionaries called on voters to spoil their ballot papers to rob the elections of any legitimacy – elections they said were taking place in a climate of arbitrariness and with a lack of transparency. They viewed Shafiq as a representative of the military dictatorship and Morsi as a symbol of religious tyranny and did not want to choose between "murderers" and "accessories to murder", as many described it.
This option was perhaps the most revolutionary, and it was supported by those who are adamant that they will see their battle for the goals of the revolution and the resistance against fascism of all hues through to the bitter end, without taking part in political game playing or horse-trading of any kind.
If we take a closer look at the election campaigns of the two run-off candidates, it is clear that Shafiq's team focused entirely on the supposed conflict between civil and religious state and the claim that anyone against a theocracy in Egypt would have to vote for Shafiq, although this was a candidate who was against the revolution.
"My joy at Shafiq's defeat is only clouded by Morsi's victory." The Muslim Brotherhood candidate as the lesser political evil: Many secular and liberal Egyptians voted for Mohamed Morsi not out of conviction, but because he appeared to be a better alternative to Ahmed Shafiq, representative of the authoritarian Mubarak regime
Morsi's campaign on the other hand interpreted the poll as a battle between the revolution as Morsi pretended to represent it, and the Mubarak regime embodied by Shafiq.
In reality this line of differentiation was drawn in rough exaggeration, and in the case of both candidates it required a great deal of generosity to accept this view of the situation. Shafiq was a representative of the military council and the old regime, and Morsi is also no protagonist of the revolution, but of the Muslim Brotherhood which has now reaped the rewards of the revolution, after initially hesitating to join it and abandoning it when it most needed support.
"Today we celebrate, tomorrow the work begins"
Many supporters of the revolution celebrated the Morsi's victory or Shafiq's defeat on the streets and squares of Egypt. They wanted to savour the victory over the Mubarak system and the military council, and many quoted the Arabic rhyme "Al-yaum chamr, wa-ghadan amr", which can be loosely translated as: "Today we celebrate, tomorrow the work begins." They were celebrating the fact that Egypt has received its first civilian president, and were absolutely determined to put up a fight should he break his promises and use his party to turn against democracy and freedom.
But their joy was also marred by the fact that the revolutionary candidates of choice had been knocked out of the race. And the military council had carried out a "gentle putsch" by dissolving the elected parliament and issuing a constitutional decree that curtails presidential powers and makes the army into a state within a state.
The decree foresees the transfer of judicial rights to army officers and the intelligence service, which would mean that as of immediate effect, thousands of civilians would have to stand trial in military courts. This would effectively make Egypt a prison whose inmates are subject to the despotism of the guards – exactly as though the military had lifted the state of emergency with one hand, only to impose martial law with the other.
"Gentle putsch": Before the formal handing over of power to the Egyptian president the head of the military council Hussein Tantawi dissolved parliament and secured control over legislation and the drawing up of the constitution
It has not escaped anyone's notice that these decrees, issued in parallel with the runoff, were aimed at degrading the new president to a civil servant of the military council and made a farce of a pledge to place power in civilian hands. These are the makings of a conflict between the military and Muslim Brotherhood, which will involve some negotiation and haggling, but could also lead to public altercations.
But civilian and liberal forces of the revolution must also close ranks to continue pursuing the goals of the rebellion, independently of the military council – Muslim Brotherhood polarity, because after all both these blocs are each following their own agenda which is wholly different to the revolutionaries' original aims.
For decades, the Muslim Brotherhood was an isolated clandestine organization with its own very particular agenda known as the "Renaissance project" which foresaw the reinstatement of a caliphate, while for their part the military wanted to turn the revolution into a military putsch to make it possible for them to completely control the country while at the same time safeguarding their economic and financial sinecures. And they also want to secure impunity for all those responsible for bloodshed over the past months.
Hate-filled Penelope
For one-and-a-half years, Egypt experienced continuous bloodshed claiming the lives of dozens of unarmed supporters of the revolution in Cairo and elsewhere, beginning on Maspero Square, via Muhammad Mahmud Street right through to the orgy of violence in front of the council of ministers building. In addition, thousands of civilians were brought before military tribunals, the torture continued and human rights were abused.
But the judiciary absolved all those who had killed demonstrators and behaved as though it was not the security forces who had shot at the protestors, but aliens from outer space.
And after the military council had billed elections to the People's Assembly or parliament as one of its greatest achievements in Egypt's political transitional period, it dissolved the parliament again after a decision by the constitutional court, which claimed that the electoral law was unconstitutional. The military council could have checked in advance with lawyers and constitutional experts whether the electoral law regulating parliamentary elections was in line with the constitution. Instead, a great deal of energy and money was wasted and the nation plunged into a pointless constitutional crisis.
Trying a new tack: "The civilian and liberal forces of the revolution must close ranks to continue pursuing the goals of the rebellion, independently of the military council – Muslim Brotherhood polarity," writes Mansoura Ez-Eldin
The military council is behaving like a Penelope who undoes everything that she has woven herself. But this is a vengeful Penelope full of hatred who weaves such a complicated and confusing labyrinth of traps that anyone standing in her way is caught up in it.
This Penelope is only loyal to the old regime, its elitist networks and its apparatus of repression, but it is a loyalty that also depends on her retaining her place at the top of the tree. In accordance with this principle, she has for the past one-and-a-half years tried to weave a shroud for the revolution and defeat the revolutionaries by setting traps for them and manipulating the laws to such an extent that she can detain anyone who rebels against her.
When the people stood up for freedom and dignity, the military council brought them before military tribunals and curtailed their freedom. When they demanded a constitutional state and many forfeited their health or their lives for a liberal constitution, the military saw that Copts and women were discriminated against, that rights were denied and that security forces used excessive force. Anyone who protested against this was branded a troublemaker and a law breaker and reminded of the fact that in the end, legitimate elections had taken place.
Win back the initiative
The revolutionary forces' support for the Muslim Brotherhood candidate has for the time being upset the military council's game and distorted its weaving pattern. But in order to be able to regain the initiative and realign themselves with the goals of the revolution and advocate these, the cards must be thoroughly redistributed to avoid being caught up in the constant friction between the two conflicting parties.
The ranks must be closed without disdaining politics due to arrogance. And the revolutionaries must approach all those people who are still on the sidelines, to convey to them the goals and the purpose of the revolution.
As part of this process, the fight over the hammering out of a new constitution is perhaps one of the greatest challenges. Immense hopes are pinned on this battle, as a constitution that guarantees general and personal freedoms and boosts the rights of women and minorities would be a foundation stone for true democratic change in Egypt. At the present time though, progress is halting.
Mansoura Ez-Eldin
The well-known writer Mansoura Ez-Eldin was named as one of the best Arab-language authors under 40 in the year 2010. The same year, she was the only woman to be nominated for the "International Prize for Arabic Fiction". Her novel "Wara al-Firdaws" ("Beyond Paradise") was published in German in September 2011 by Unionsverlag in Zurich.
Editors: Arian Fariborz, Lewis Gropp/Qantara.de
The Election of Mohamed Morsi in Egypt: A President without PowerThe Muslim Brotherhood's Morsi Egypt's New President: Damned to CooperationWomen's Rights in Post-revolutionary Egypt: A Second Revolt for Sheherazade's Daughters
Arab Spring, Arabellion, Democracy and civil society, Egypt Revolution 2011, Muslim Brotherhood, Sharia
Retrospective of Egyptian film director Atteyat al-Abnoudy
Advocate of the people
The Egyptian filmmaker Atteyat al-Abnoudy gave a voice to those people the state had forgotten – and preserved their pride and integrity. Her work provides a picture of social ...More
Previously unpublished work
Naguib Mahfouz' "The Quarter"
Last year, Egyptian critic Mohammed Shoair made an unusual and thrilling announcement: the discovery of never-before-seen stories by Egyptʹs only Nobel laureate for literature, ...More
Military dictatorships in the Middle East
The real enemies of the Arab Spring
For people in the Arab world to be able to throw off the yoke of military rule, a new balance must be struck between political and social forces and the military. Though it is now ...More
Social utopia on the Nile?
Sisiʹs new breed of Egyptians
According to the Egyptian government, Egypt is once again experiencing a great civilizational awakening. A campaign aimed at producing a new multicultural identity has been ...More
Book review: Susannah Heschel on "Jewish Islam"
Jewish Orientalism?
In her book Susannah Heschel investigates the role of Islam in the emergence of a Jewish identity and seeks to pay tribute to the academic legacy of Jewish-German scholars of ...More


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Lake Effect Snow in the Northeast
Northern Rockies/Plains Snow Tonight
Soggy Forecast for the Southern U.S.
More Snow for the Central Appalachians Tonight
Snow On The Way for the Four Corners
Fire Weather Concern Remains in the Southwest
All Weather News
Alaskan Earthquake
Earlier, around 3:58 AM EST (11:58 PM AST, yesterday) a 7.5 magnitude earthquake struck off the coast of Alaska, about 63 miles west of the town of Craig, and about 200 miles south of the capital, Juneau. There was a resulting tsunami warning issued for portions of southeastern Alaska and British Columbia, Canada after the quake, but they were taken down within a few hours. The highest measured wave heights were about 6″ above normal sea level.
Folks waited out in a high school in Sitka, Alaska, on the island of Baranof, which lies just south of Juneau. This image is from the AP.
Several smaller quakes, aftershocks occurred just north of the original earthquake. This image from the USGS.gov, lists the quakes in order from when they occurred. For about seven hours, the small quakes shook the ground, with most of a magnitude in the 4.0 range. So far, no damage has been reported. This was a strike-slip faulting event that occurred near the plate boundaries of the Pacific and North American Plate. That boundary between the two plates commonly sees seismic activity as it is part of the famous, Ring of Fire. Below is the image, from www.geology.com, of the plates of the world. The Ring of Fire is around the Pacific Plate, where numerous volcanoes and fault zones are located.
From Wikipedia.org, this image shows the Ring of Fire, and how it impacts so many nations, over such a large distance. A couple of volcanoes are listed along the ring, along with some of the deepest trenches. Trenches are where two plates are moving towards each other and one plate goes under another one, creating subduction zones. The Marianas Trench, just east of the Philippines, is the deepest of the trenches, and goes down as far as 6.85 miles at its southern point, Challenger Deep.
Take care and have a pleasant weekend.
Addison Green
@agreenWNTV
One response to "Alaskan Earthquake"
Thank you for this info. I'm in Wrangell AK. Have felt several in past week.


This week, broadband leaders from across the country convened at the Schools, Health and Libraries Broadband Coalition's annual conference to discuss key broadband policy issues important to communities and community anchor institutions such as schools, hospitals and libraries. NTIA had the opportunity to participate in several sessions at the conference to discuss our continued efforts to implement Obama Administration initiatives aimed at promoting broadband access, adoption and digital inclusion.
We also had the chance to meet with about two dozen officials from 15 states who work on broadband initiatives. The meeting was part of our efforts to keep an ongoing dialogue with state broadband leaders to sustain their peer network as a valuable vehicle for knowledge sharing.
Many of these state officials helped run programs that received funding through NTIA's State Broadband Initiative (SBI). The SBI grants provided funding to each state, territory and the District of Columbia to collect the broadband availability data that helped power the National Broadband Map. In addition, SBI grantees used some of the funding to identify and address obstacles to broadband deployment and adoption in their states or territories.
While the SBI grant program is finished, 41 of the 56 states and territories that received SBI funding are continuing their state broadband programs in some fashion using their own funds. Several states continue collecting data for their own broadband maps, including Minnesota, Wisconsin, Virginia and Utah.
NTIA is continuing to facilitate coordination and sharing of lessons learned by these states through the State Broadband Leaders Network. The network is an informal group of individuals working in a variety of disciplines at the state level. NTIA brings them together to support collaboration and to share contacts, resources and solutions to extend and improve meaningful broadband service across the nation.
State officials told us about some of the innovative initiatives that grew out of their SBI grants. Kelleigh Cole, who works with Utah's Broadband Outreach Center in the Governor's Office of Economic Development, described the importance of building and maintaining provider relationships to promote broadband deployment. To help with this goal, Cole's office created an Advisory Council, which convenes broadband providers — who are often competitors – to hear directly from communities about areas of need and to ask for support from the state to expand their networks. These conversations often inform state strategy. One such suggestion from a broadband provider gave vital suggestions on how to structure Utah's Economic Development Map and combine fiber availability with utility information, transportation assets, population statistics and lifestyle features.
And Jeff Sural from North Carolina's Department of Information Technologydiscussed the multi-agency planning effort his office is leading to develop a statewide broadband plan, which will be published in the next few months. His team surveyed 3,500 leaders, conducted two dozen listening sessions and consulted with 60 experts. Part of their planning includes preparing communities to engage with broadband providers. The state has a traveling team of technical experts to help instruct communities on promoting broadband deployment by aggregating demand and identifying funding opportunities.
NTIA values input from state broadband leaders and other stakeholders and will continue to support their efforts to be resources to each other and to the federal government. These broadband leaders provide an invaluable perspective about what is working and the barriers and gaps that persist at the state and local level. At the same time, we also hope they can serve as an important link to communities that may benefit from the services we offer through our BroadbandUSA program, which offers technical assistance to communities on a range of broadband projects.


Casey and Stacey with Potomac Vegetable Farm grows this particular mint for us on their pristine farmland in Purcellville, VA. The deep earthy mint perfectly cuts through the fat of the milk and cream delivering the quintessential mint flavor that has such a long finish. This is our go-to flavor all summer long and we like to fold in dark chocolate as it falls from the batch freezer.


text:
CBS 58 Investigates: One Year Later, Daycares Waiting for Lead Service Line Replacements
Posted: Feb 6, 2018 6:29 PM CST
CBS 58-- As the City of Milwaukee works to uncover why the childhood lead prevention program failed some kids, there are concerns from city leaders and community members that plans to replace lead lines at daycares are moving slowly.
In September of 2016 CBS 58 spoke to Milwaukee daycares with lead laterals. At that time, the Mayor's budget proposed spending millions to replace those lines. CBS 58 Investigates went back to those daycares to see if, more than a year later, those lines were replaced.
"We will use $5.2 million in 2016 and 2017 to remove lead lines at 385 licensed daycare facilities," said Mayor Barrett in the Fall of 2016.
In December of 2016, the city passed a budget that included funding the replacement of lead lines at all Milwaukee daycares.
"When we spoke a year ago, you got a letter saying there are lead laterals. Have you heard anything since then?" CBS 58 asked the owner of a Northside daycare, who does not want to be named.
"No I haven't," the daycare owner said.
The owner says she's frustrated.
"It makes me feel bad because being a daycare, I have to buy cases and cases of bottled water," the owner said.
Over at Cady's Kids, where children only drink filtered water, the owner says a few months ago the city had her sign an agreement to get the lead laterals replaced but it hasn't happened yet.
These two day cares are just a couple of the hundreds still waiting for new service lines, the exact numbers, though, aren't clear.
In January, both the Milwaukee Health Department and Milwaukee Water Works presented updates to Common Council committees.
The health department says of the 360 licensed daycares with lead lines, 146 have been replaced, 110 are scheduled and 104 did not respond to initial outreach.
Milwaukee Water works says there are 385 daycares. 144 have had lead laterals replaced, about 100 have given consent to have lines replaced, and they still are trying to reach 140.
CBS 58 Investigates asked the Health Department why their numbers are different than Milwaukee Water Works. We're still waiting for an answer.
Jennifer Gonda, the water superintendent, says lead lateral replacements at daycares that have consented, like Caddy's Kids, will start up again when the ground thaws.
"We're going to award a contract to do those as a package starting in March," Gonda told the Public Works Committee in January.
Aldermen questioned why the city isn't in contact with some 100 plus daycares.
"What are we doing in incentivize or compel childcare providers to replace the lead laterals?" asked Ald. Michael Murphy at the Public Works meeting.
Officials with Milwaukee Water Works say it's the daycares that aren't responsive and they're consulting with the city attorney to see what can be done to force daycares to consent to new lines.
"One of the reasons is we haven't been receiving a lot of favorable response is because of the disruption to businesses," Ghassan Korban, commissioner of the Department of Public Works, told the Public Works Committee.
But the owner of the Northside daycare says it's not that she doesn't want new lines, it's that the city isn't making an effort.
"I've tried a couple times to call down there, but kinda get the the run around," she said. "But I'm hoping after everything's been exposed, recently on the news, that they will take the initiative to start contacting people and correct the problem."
Milwaukee Water works says since January of 2016-- they've distributed 1435 water filters. The owner of that Northside daycare, says she never got one.
UPDATE: CBS received a response from the Milwaukee Health Department two days after the story aired. Sarah DeRoo, a spokeswoman for the department. now says there are 329 total licensed daycares with lead service lines. Of those, 146 have had complete service line replacements, 126 have appointments to coordinate replacement. DeRoo says "the total number remaining for appointments is 57 (44 of those we have
"The sign-off for replacement must come from the property owner," DeRoo said. "The person who operates the day care may or may not be the property owner. In our difficult-to-reach cases, we may be in touch with the day care provider, but cannot get a response from the actual property owner… or other varying issues that change by property. In addition, the MHD mailed letters to all licensed facilities offering water filters this past fall, and we also held pick-up days at one of our health centers for filters. We continue to reach out to facilities."


Chicken Bacon Ranch Spaghetti Squash Casserole is a flavorful fall casserole recipe. Even my squash-averse family loves this scrumptious, gluten-free dish!
We all know that kids are famous for turning up their noses at healthy foods, but what about 60-something year old Dads?
With a Figi snarl on his face and everything. Figi was my Mom's dog growing up who lived so long she developed RSF aka resting snarl face. That dog was…something else.
Anyway, I said, "Dad, come ON! It's spaghetti squash not chicken wings (hates getting saucy hands) plus it's got bacon and ranch in it. Also you are not 10 years old. Eat the dang squash." So he did. And guess what? He LOVED it!
My point? Even if you think you don't like spaghetti squash, give this healthy yet decadent-tasting, fall-ready casserole a try!
This recipe comes from the brilliant (and hilarious) mind of Juli from PaleOMG. The day after my parents babysat, my Mom emailed asking for the recipe and I'd made so many adjustments to fit our family that I decided to post the casserole with my adaptations. That said, the credit for this fun and delicious idea for enjoying spaghetti squash definitely goes to Juli!
Spaghetti squash is roasted, shredded, then combined with chicken, bacon, sauteed spinach, eggs, and YES, ranch dressing (!) to create a super filling casserole that's perfect for chilly fall nights. And it bears repeating that even my Dad, the squash hater, gave it two thumbs up.
Start by roasting a spaghetti squash. To save some time, I recommend you do this a day or even a few days ahead of time. Slice 1 medium-sized spaghetti squash (about 2-1/2lbs) in half then scrape out the seeds and place cut-side-down on a silpat or foil-lined half sheet pan. Roast at 400 degrees for 30-40 minutes, or until the squash shreds when you run a fork down the center.
Be careful not to over bake, otherwise the squash turns really mushy. Better to err on the side of al dente vs overdone as it will continue to bake inside the casserole. Once the squash has cooled slightly, shred the insides with a fork then add to a large bowl.
Meanwhile, add 6 slices chopped bacon to a large, 12″ skillet over medium heat then brown. Scoop the bacon onto a plate then remove all but 2 Tablespoons bacon grease from the skillet.
Turn the heat up to medium-high then add 2 chopped chicken breasts and 1 shallot or 1/2 onion. Season with homemade seasoned salt (or regular) and pepper then saute until cooked through. Add 2 cloves minced garlic and 5oz baby spinach that's been roughly chopped (UNPICTURED!) then saute until the spinach has wilted, about 1 minute.
Add the chicken and spinach mixture to the bowl with the spaghetti squash, along with half the cooked bacon, a scant 1 cup ranch dressing, 3 whisked eggs, and more seasoned salt and pepper then stir to combine.
I used Marzetti Simply Dressed Ranch Dressing and it was fantastic! I'm a die hard Tessamae's Creamy Ranch fan, but it's a bit too dill-flavored for my family's liking. Marzetti's tastes closer to a traditional ranch dressing and has a great ingredient list to boot.
Pour the mixture into an 8×8″ baking dish (or similar sized baking dish) then top with the remaining bacon and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes to an hour, or until the center has set and the sides are browned.
Let the casserole sit for 15 minutes or so before scooping out and plating. I hope you love this healthy, fall-ready casserole! Enjoy!
Preheat oven to 400 degrees then line a half sheet pan with a silat or foil. Slice spaghetti squash in half using a large, sharp knife then scrape out the seeds with a spoon and place cut side down on the prepared sheet pan. Roast for 30-40 minutes, or until the squash shreds relatively easily with a fork (don't overcook or the squash will become mushy.) Set aside to cool then turn heat down to 350 degrees. Once spaghetti squash is cool enough to handle, shred squash with a fork then add to a large bowl. Can be done a day ahead of time.
Meanwhile, add chopped bacon to a large, 12" skillet then place over medium heat. Saute until bacon has browned then transfer to a plate. Remove all but 2 Tablespoons bacon grease from skillet then turn heat up to medium-high. Add chicken and shallots or onion, season with seasoned salt and pepper, then saute until the chicken has cooked through. Add spinach and garlic then saute until spinach has wilted, 1 minute. Scrape mixture into the bowl with the spaghetti squash.
Add ranch, eggs, and half the cooked bacon to the bowl, plus additional seasoned salt and pepper, then mix well to combine. Pour mixture into an 8x8" baking dish (or similar sized baking dish) then top with remaining bacon. Bake uncovered for 45-60 minutes or until the center has completely set and sides are golden brown. Let cool for 15 minutes before slicing and serving.
I'm a bit squash-averse myself but can't wait to try this one! Up to what point could you make ahead? Could I make The whole casserole and then just bake it within a day or two?
I would like the answer to the above question too. Also would this be good for breakfast?
Molly, VERY good for breakfast – the eggs almost give it an egg casserole taste!
Kate, yep – you can roast the squash up to two days ahead of time then assemble the casserole up to 24 hours before baking. I hope you love it!
This is the best way I've ever eaten spaghetti squash. Loved it!
Ooo I'll have to look for the spaghetti pie recipe – thanks for the tip!
"Eat the dang squash, dad". You just made my morning.
Any tips on slicing spaghetti squash without slicing a finger off?
Poke the squash around the center a few times with a knife then microwave for 1-1/2 minutes before slicing.. Another option is to slice off the stem end so you have a very sturdy base to use when slicing through vertically.
Man, what is it with 60-somethings?!?!? I had a salad last time I was home that had kale in it and he asked if it was kelp. What?!?! My parents always tease us that we are the "healthy generation" but I can't figure out why they think eating SpaghettiOs is ok at 65!!!! Gross!!!
Hehehe – you got it – hopefully sometime you can try this recipe out with your dad too!
Looks delicious and I can't wait to try it! I love your casserole dish – makes such a pretty presentation.
Hi Christy! I tend to think that the squash will become very mushy if frozen, unfortunately!
My 60-something squash averse husband just went back for seconds. I may, or may not, eventually tell him WHAT he just ate!
YES – success!!! Thanks for the great feedback, Chris!
Hahaha, bacon DOES make everything better! ;) Thanks for the review, Maureen – I appreciate it!
Hi! I'm new to squash and was wondering what to do with the roasted squash if I wait to make the casserole. Do I cover it and refrigerate it? Do I shred it and put it in a bowl in the fridge? Any help is appreciated, I love all your recipes and can't wait to try this one!
Great question, Sarah! Roast then shred when the squash is cool enough to handle, then you can just store the shreds in a pyrex or gladware container. Let me know if any other questions at all!
This was delicious. I made it last night for my parents. My mom and I loved it. Very moist. I used a yogurt ranch from sprouts. Thank you!
WOW! This was so delicious. I prepped it over the weekend, popped it in the oven last night and it was perfect. Thank you for sharing. I love all your recipes!
Yah!!! So glad you loved it, Deirdre! Thanks for the great feedback!
I made this recipe for my husband and I and it quickly went to the top of our favourites list. It was delicious!
That is music to my ears, Elaine – thanks for your feedback!
This was excellent. I used turkey bacon. However, the Hidden Valley Ranch, with bacon, more than made up for the bacon flavor. Thanks for the recipe!
Yum – great idea, Michelle. Thanks for your review!
Any suggestions for swapping out the ranch dressing for some other dressing, I really am not a fan of it?
This is really good. My hubby was so distracted by the spaghetti squash , the spinach, which he hates cooked, went completely unnoticed. It was a big hit on this first day of 2018!
I made this, substituting on hand ingredients, which for me meant acorn squash, and green peppers, onions and mushrooms instead of spinach….still super awesome!
We really didn't enjoy the spinach in this at all, despite loving spinach. It almost had a seaweed flavor that was very unpleasant. Will leave out next time.
Making this tonight with spicy Chipotle ranch and I'm adding some cheddar cheese to the dish! Can't wait to try it!!
Can I reheat leftovers tomorrow??
Holy cow it was good. It was every bit as good as the comments said. Because I waited so long to prep and start cooking, my husband and I didn't eat until after my 15 month old triplets went to bed. So today they had the leftovers and between the three of them ate probably two adult portions worth. I heard them "mmm" while eating so you know it's good. This is definitely going in our repeat recipe folder!
Took a chance and made this as written for a family dinner today. HOLY SMOKES is it good!!! I didn't expect the sons-in-law or my husband to like it due to the spaghetti squash and spinach but it was a hit with everyone. I'll be making this again…often. Thank you for a constant supply of amazingly great recipes!
Do you think there's any way to make it DF? Sub vegan ranch or coconut milk yogurt? And how long do you think it might keep in the fridge, if it lasts that long? ;P TIA!
You could definitely use a DF ranch – I love Tessemae's!


The aim of this research is to investigate what kind of values are important to transfer when setting up a new subsidiary, in order to ensure successful performance of the subsidiary. In addition to this I examine how the culture influences the success of a new subsidiary. I also examine which mechanisms should be used during the transfer and what kind of factors enhances and support a successful transfer of the values. The empirical study is conducted by doing interviews with nine employees from the case company Meltwater Group.
This thesis reviews research on organizational culture and values as well as research regarding methods for transferring the culture over boarders. Several methods for transferring the culture, such as HRM processes, socialization, using cultural hubs, through employee transfers, by using expatriates, by organizing workshops and through internal and external communication are also presented.
The process of transferring values in the case company was in line with the methods presented in the literature. A higher emphasis was though put on a holistic approach, where the culture was put at centre of every activity. The biggest theoretical contribution of my research is the fact that certain employee specific mechanism influence whether the values are transferred successfully or not, such as for example success in the beginning, how close the organizational values are to those of the new recruit, trust towards the manager, how compellingly the values are communicated and how strong in terms of culture the founding team are. The results also indicates that it is important for managers to pay attention to values that are not stated as formally being the company's core values as these might not be incorporated into HRM practices and other processes in the same way as the stated values are.


COSRX BHA Blackhead Power Liquid is a must have for the impure skin! This liquid removes dead skin cells and blackheads. In addition, this liquid prevents excess sebum from turning into blackheads. Use this liquid regularly and you will see that your skin texture improves. Pores will be reduced and the skin will feel smoother.
The skin will feel smoother.
Take a small amount of liquid on a cotton pad and pat on the areas you want to tackle, such as T zone and cheeks.
Do not use on damaged skin and wounds.
Also check out our entire collection of facial care or curious about the entire collection of COSRX ?


Our Donor Advisory Board is composed of committed donors, called Founding Patrons. Founding Patrons support us in our fundraising goals through donations, corporate support, connections and advice.
The role of the Donor Advisory Board is to help Duchenne UK secure regular income, which gives us the freedom to commit funds on a repeat basis to the most promising projects. With this security, leading scientists and doctors can spend less time chasing funding, and more time in research and drug development.
Matt is Managing Partner of Talbot Hughes McKillop, a restructuring advisory firm. He previously worked at Andersen, in the consulting practice. Matt earned a BA from Corpus Christi, Oxford in Psychology and Physiology and is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants.
Matt is a keen cyclist and was introduced to Duchenne UK by Ben Monro-Davies in 2016. He has completed two Duchenne Dashes and the Dash Max 2017 from London to Monaco. Matt is a also non-executive director of SH:24, a Community Interest Company, focussed on bringing NHS services online.
Peter is the Founder & CEO of UK clothing brand Jack Wills. Founded in 1999 and grown organically from a single £40k investment, Jack Wills is now a global brand trading from c.100 company owned stores in Europe, North America and Asia, with franchises across the Middle East. As an expert in brand communications, Peter is considered to be at the leading edge of multi-channel retailing, social media and viral marketing. As well as supporting Duchenne UK, Peter is also a major supporter of Malaria No More UK.
David graduated from Magdalene College, Cambridge University in 1991 and joined the investment bank UBS (SBC). He is UBS Investment Bank's Global Head of Financial Institutions and the UK Country Head for UBS Group as well as being a UBS Limited board member, a member of the British Bankers Association board and of the Association for Financial Markets in Europe board. David is a trustee of the ClementJames Centre in North Kensington and a member of BiTC's Education Leadership Team.
Anthony is co-head of Investment Banking Services in EMEA and co-head of UK Investment Banking. He is a member of the Partnership Committee. He joined Goldman Sachs as a managing director in 2007 and was named partner in 2012.
Prior to joining the firm, Anthony spent seven years at Citigroup. Earlier in his career, he qualified as a corporate solicitor at Freshfields in London. Anthony earned a BA in Modern History at Worcester College, Oxford University, and a CPE and LPC degree from the London College of Law.
Anthony is a member of The Sutton Trust strategic advisory and development board.
Ben Monro-Davies is a TV journalist currently working for Sky News. He previously worked at The BBC and Channel 4 News, where he first met the founder of Duchenne UK, Emily Crossley. Through the charity he has become a reluctant but regular cyclist, completing four Duchenne Dashes to Paris and one Tour de Yorkshire.


SpineGuard, the company with the stated mission of making spinal surgery safer, has announced that data accepted by Spine on July 4, 2012, and published ahead-of-print online demonstrates that the Company's PediGuard® device reduces spine surgeons' radiation exposure from fluoroscopy by 30% while maintaining a 97.5% accurate placement of pedicle screws during lumbar spine fusion.
Pedicle screw placement, spinal surgery, the need for high intensity fluoroscopy and the attendant risk of increased physician exposure to radiation are all related themes which crop up periodically on our pages. SpineGuard are on the case however, their PediGuard product aiming to achieve accurate and safe pedicle screw placement with a minimal amount of fluoroscopic control, replacing imaging with sensing technology at the tip of its devices.
PediGuard uses electrical conductivity differentiation at its tip for assessing bone versus soft tissue in order to improve the safe positioning of pedicle screws. PediGuard not only warns of impending medial breach but also is the only real-time device available to non-radiographically detect lateral breach.
Now, in a forthcoming issue of Spine, one research team gives the company's technology a significant thumbs up, showing reduction in number of fluorosopy shots of 30% while maintaining a high degree of accuracy.
The paper, entitled "Reduction in Radiation [Fluoroscopy] While Maintaining Safe Placement of Pedicle Screws During Lumbar Spine Fusion" will appear in October's edition of Spine but has been published now ahead-of-print. The principal investigator was Christopher D. Chaput, M.D., Director of Spinal Trauma and Orthopedic Research at Scott & White Hospital, Temple, Texas and Assistant Professor of Surgery at Texas A&M Health Science Center.
The Chaput PediGuard study was a prospective, randomised, controlled study whose objective was to report the results of using the PediGuard device to reduce radiation exposure while drilling the pilot hole for pedicle screw placement. Reports of pedicle screw placement in the lumbar spine have shown medial pedicle perforations with nerve root impingement in addition to lateral pedicle and vertebral body perforations that can impinge the nerve root. Routine use of fluoroscopy is thought to reduce the risk of perforations but is associated with increased radiation.
"Like the four previously published studies, the value proposition of PediGuard for spine professionals and their patients has been clearly validated: pedicle breach anticipation, plus reduction of radiation exposure and surgery time," added Stéphane Bette, Chief Technology Officer and General Manager of U.S. Operations for SpineGuard.
The PediGuard® device is FDA-cleared and CE Marked for pedicle screw placement in spine surgery.


text:
Q: Add upsell products more than one time In order to add upsell products directly to the cart, we added an "Add to Cart" button to the upsell products list.
When an upsell product is added, Magento removes it from the upsell products list. Is it possible to avoid this so that it's possible to add the upsell products multiple times?

A: To accomplish this, create a custom module that rewrite Mage_Catalog_Block_Product_List_Upsell
/app/code/core/Mage/Catalog/Block/Product/List/Upsell.php
protected function _prepareData()
{
    ...

    if (Mage::helper('catalog')->isModuleEnabled('Mage_Checkout')) {
        /* removing code
        Mage::getResourceSingleton('checkout/cart')->addExcludeProductFilter($this->_itemCollection,
            Mage::getSingleton('checkout/session')->getQuoteId()
        );
        */

        $this->_addProductAttributesAndPrices($this->_itemCollection);
    }
 ...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
[ G.R. No. 138936, January 30, 2001 ]
PEOPLE OF THE PHILIPPINES, APPELLEE, VS. ROLANDO SOLIS Y SEGOVIA, APPELLANT.
D E C I S I O N
PANGANIBAN, J.:
Circumstantial evidence is considered sufficient only when the facts from which the inferences are derived are themselves duly proven. Well-established is the rule that an inference cannot be drawn from another inference.
Rolando Solis y Segovia appeals the February 22, 1999 Decision[1] of the Regional Trial Court of Bacolod City (Branch 49), in Criminal Case No. 9954, finding him guilty of the special complex crime of rape with homicide and sentencing him to reclusion perpetua.
In an Information dated February 4, 1991, Assistant City Prosecutor Eduardo B. Esquilla charged appellant as follows:[2]
"That on or about the 20th day of September, 1990, in the City of Bacolod, Philippines, the said accused, did, then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously, with intent to kill, attack, assault and stab Lilibeth Balbuena, a minor, 8 years of age, and a retarded child thereby inflicting upon her serious and mortal wounds, to wit:
"Wound, stabbed, 7.0 cm. in length, chest, anterior, level of the 6th and 7th intracostal space, extending from left parasternal line to left mid-clavicular line medial extremity c[o]ntused and lateral extremity sharp, fracturing sternum and the 6th and 7th ribs thereat, to enter thoracic cavity, perforating ventricle of the heart and lacerating inferior lob[e] of left lung.
which were the direct and immediate cause of her death and by reason or on the occasion thereof enabled the said accused to then and there willfully, unlawfully and feloniously succeeded in lying with and having carnal knowledge of the said Lilibeth Balbuena against her will and consent.
"That apart from the aforementioned aggravating circumstances, attend[ant to] the commission of the crime: That it was committed with abuse of superior strength and that there was cruelty by deliberately and inhumanly augmenting the suffering of the victim."
With the assistance of Counsel Romeo Subaldo, appellant pleaded not guilty when arraigned on September 27, 1994.[3] After trial, the Regional Trial Court rendered its Decision, the dispositive portion of which reads:
"WHEREFORE, finding the accused Rolando Solis y Segovia [g]uilty beyond reasonable doubt of the [s]pecial [c]omplex [c]rime of [r]ape with [h]omicide punishable by death under Art. 335 of the Revised Penal Code but considering that death could not be imposed by reason of the governing law at the time of the crime which automatically reduced the death penalty to [r]eclusion [p]erpetua, the Court hereby sentences the said accused to suffer the penalty of [r]eclusion [p]erpetua with all the accessories provided by law and to indemnify the heirs of Lilibeth Balbuena [in] the amount of P75,000.00 as compensatory damages, P100,000.00 as moral damages and another P100,000.00 as exemplary damages and to pay the cost.
"SO ORDERED."
Hence this appeal.[4]
Version of the Prosecution
The prosecution's version of the facts is summarized by the Office of the Solicitor General, as follows:[5]
"Lilibeth Balbuena, an eight (8) year old child at the time of the incident, was a retarded child. She could hardly talk and could communicate through hand signals only. She was the second of five (5) children of the couple, Sabiniano Balbuena and Lucia Balbuena (TSN, pp. 3-4, May 23, 1995).
"At about 9:00 in the morning of September 20, 1990, Sabiniano Balbuena and his wife, Lucia Balbuena, arrived home at Arabay I, Bacolod City after buying food and other household items from the market. Lilibeth and her younger sister were inside the house. They gave bread to Lilibeth and her sister. While the couple were cooking breakfast, they noticed a man about ten (10) meters away, later identified as appellant Rolando Solis, wearing white T-shirt and denim pants, cutting banana leaves at the back of their house. After Sabiniano finished cooking, he called for Lilibeth. Sabiniano received no answer. Sabiniano went around the house looking for Lilibeth. Unable to find her, Sabiniano proceeded to the adjacent purok searching for Lilibeth (TSN, pp. 7-11, May 23, 1995).
"When he came back, Sabiniano did not see appellant anymore. After searching for about half an hour, Sabiniano went home. Later, Sabiniano continued his search for Lilibeth. At this juncture, Sabiniano again saw appellant cutting banana leaves. Sabiniano inquired from appellant if he had seen a child. Appellant answered that he saw a child wearing black shirt and white pants cross a bridge leading to another purok. Sabiniano crossed the bridge and continued his search for Lilibeth. After spending half an hour without any result, Sabiniano returned home. Sabiniano saw appellant near his house still cutting banana leaves. Again he inquired from him if he had seen Lilibeth. As before, appellant answered that he saw the child crossing the bridge. Sabiniano asked a third time but the answer was the same. Sabiniano once more crossed the bridge and looked for Lilibeth. Unable to find Lilibeth, Sabiniano returned home. Momentarily. Sabiniano saw appellant running away, his pants wet, and carrying a small bundle of banana leaves (TSN, pp. 11-15, May 23, 1995).
"At about 10 in the morning of September 20, 1990, Zelbred Santillan went home from work. As he was passing the house of the Balbuenas, he met appellant along the road leading to the highway. Zelbred noticed that appellant was seemingly in a hurry. He was wet and was carrying banana leaves. Zelbred greeted appellant but appellant simply ignored him (TSN, pp. 3-6, July 27, 1995).
"Sabiniano became suspicious of appellant. He had sought the help of his neighbors in looking for Lilibeth (TSN, p. 15, May 23, 1995). Rolando Oliveros, a neighbor, was among those who volunteered to look for Lilibeth. He went inside the banana grove, located a little distance from his house. The[re] he saw signs of trampled grasses. Rolando followed the trail leading towards a ditch where he saw newly cut banana leaves. When Rolando was about to turn back, his eyes caught a glimpse of the exposed feet of a child protruding under a clump of banana leaves. Without much ado, Rolando dashed back to his house and informed his neighbors about his finding (TSN, pp. 6-9, February 16, 1996).
"Together with Rolando Oliveros, Sabiniano and other neighbors of his repaired to the place pointed to by Rolando. There, Sabiniano was shocked to see [his] daughter Lilibeth covered with banana leaves about 100 meters away from his house. Sabiniano called the police and a doctor (TSN, pp. 15-17, May 23, 1995).
"A police team, headed by PO3 Homer G. Vargas, of the Bacolod City PNP, responded. The police team was accompanied by Dr. Romeo Gellada, medico legal officer, PNP, Bacolod City. They removed the banana leaves and the slashed and naked body of Lilibeth was exposed. Lilibeth's black calico shirt and pajamas were laid beside her body. The naked body of Lilibeth lay on [its] back (TSN, pp. 17-22, May 23, 1995; TSN, pp. 11-12, February 16, 1996).
"Dr. Gellada examined the cadaver of Lilibeth. He found the chest of Lilibeth slashed. Dr. Gellada told the group that Lilibeth was raped (TSN, p. 12, February 16, 1996; TSN, p. 9, June 7, 1996). Dr. Gellada conducted an autopsy on the cadaver of the victim (TSN, pp. 5-14, April 11, 1997). The Autopsy Report (Exh. `D', p. 333, Record) shows the following findings:
`PHYSICAL FINDINGS:
Wound, stabbed 7.0 cm. in length, chest, anterior, level of the 6th and 7th intracostal space, extending from left parasternal line to left mid-clavicular line medial extremity contused and lateral extremity sharp, fracturing sternum and the 6th and 7th ribs thereat, to enter thoracic cavity, perforating ventricle of the heart and lacerating inferior lobe of left lung.
GENITAL FINDINGS:
Pubic hair absent, labia majora and labia minora markedly swollen and congested. Hymen with fresh bleeding lacerated at 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 o'clock. Fourchette lacerated, cervical smear positive for spermatozoa.
CAUSE OF DEATH: Shock and Hemorrhage due [to stab] Wound."
"On the basis of his autopsy, Dr. Gellada found one (1) stab wound located at the left anterior chest of the victim which penetrated the chest cavity and lacerated the left anterior lung. Upon genital examination, Dr. Gellada found that the `labia majora and labia minora were swollen and congested, hymen with fresh bleeding lacerated at 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 o'clock, the cervical smear was positive for spermatozoa'. Dr. Gellada concluded that the victim was raped (TSN, pp. 7-8, April 11, 1997).
"When informed that appellant was the only person last seen in the area, the police team proceeded to the house of appellant. When they arrived, appellant's parents told the police that appellant had left to sell banana leaves in the market. His parents, however, voluntarily surrendered a stainless knife which was left by their son in the house after cutting banana leaves. PO3 Vargas, who received the knife, found a sticky substance akin to blood stain. PO3 Vargas informed appellant's parents that their son was a suspect in the rape with homicide case that happened in Arabay I (TSN, pp. 8-16, June 7, 1996).
"Appellant eluded arrest and had remained at large for about four (4) years. The arms of the law finally caught up with him on July 18, 1994 (TSN. pp. 16-17, June 7, 1996; TSN, p. 16, July 16, 1997)."
Version of the Defense
Appellant, on the other hand, presented the following version of the facts:[6]
"On September 20, 1990 at around 7:00 a.m., [appellant] went to the house of Benjamin Oliveros to buy banana leaves because there was an order from a certain Fidel of Homesite. At around 8:00 a.m. he went out from the banana plantation and went to Benjamin's house to pay for the banana leaves. Since Benjamin was not around, he gave the amount of P10.00 to the daughter of Benjamin. He arrived at Homesite at about 9:30 a.m. to deliver the banana leaves to Fidel, after which, he went home at about 10:00 a.m. Upon arrival, his sister asked him to buy fish and rice at Burgos Market. He arrived at the market at around 10:30 a.m. and arrived at his residence at about 11:20 a.m. After taking lunch at about 12:00 p.m., he heard over the radio that he was a suspect in a certain killing. He went immediately to the Barangay Captain who advised him to stay away because it is very hard to be a suspect. The Barangay Captain was later shot dead at Burgos Market.
"[At] about 10:00 a.m. on the day of the incident, [Lanie Pagdatu] saw accused [pass] by going towards the direction of their house. She was sure that it was the accused because they were neighbors since childhood and she was also sure that it was 10:00 a.m. because the radiodrama series "Provincial Jail" ha[d] already started as it always start[ed] at 10:00 a.m. everyday.
"Lolita Solis, the mother of the accused, used to go with the accused together with another child to gather banana leaves. But on September 20, 1990 the accused went alone because she ha[d] work at San Miguel Corporation. Their customer, Fidel, ordered P10.00 worth of banana leaves.
"When Lolita Solis went home from work at around 11:30 a.m., she saw the accused chopping wood. At around 12:30 after finishing lunch, she noticed that there were policemen. They were looking for her son. She told them that her son was not around. The policemen asked for the knife that the accused used in gathering banana leaves and she gave it to them. When she gave it to them the knife was then clean and it had no handle. When she saw the accused at around 5:00 p.m. she inquired from him where he went. The accused told her that he went to Barangay Captain Basilio Flor and asked for advice. She also talked with Barangay Captain Basilio and the latter advised her that if her son didn't commit the crime, they must not surrender him because he might be manhandled and salvaged by the police. Following the advice, they sent their son to Iloilo for two weeks and after which he returned to their house and worked in a reclamation area. He [went] home every night after work."
Ruling of the Trial Court
The trial court gave credence to the testimonies of the prosecution witnesses. Although there was no eyewitness account, it believed that "the combination of all [the] circumstances point[s] unerringly to the accused, to the exclusion of all other persons, as the one responsible for the rape-slay of Lilibeth Balbuena."
Assignment of Errors
In his Brief, appellant imputes these two errors to the trial court:
"I
The trial court erred in relying mainly on circumstantial evidences presented by the prosecution as basis for the conviction of the accused.
"II
The trial court erred in finding the accused guilty beyond reasonable doubt of the special complex crime of rape with homicide."[7]
In the main, the Court will determine the sufficiency of the prosecution evidence.
The Court's Ruling
The appeal is meritorious.
Main Issue:
Sufficiency of Prosecution Evidence
There is no question that under our judicial system, an accused may be convicted on the basis of circumstantial evidence alone. But before such evidence can be considered sufficient for conviction, all the following requisites must be established: (a) there is more than one circumstance, (b) the facts from which the inferences are derived are proven, and (c) the combination of all the circumstances is such as to produce a conviction beyond reasonable doubt.[8]
In the present case, there is indeed more than one circumstance. However, the Court agrees with appellant that requirements (b) and (c), as quoted above, were not satisfied.
The trial court convicted appellant on the basis of the following pieces of circumstantial evidence supposedly proven by the prosecution:
"1) [O]n the morning of September 20, 1990 around 9:00 A.M. more or less, the accused was seen by Sabiniano and Lucia Balbuena, parents of eight (8) year old Lilibeth, cutting banana leaves alone in a banana grove behind their house some 10-15 meters away. In the yard of their house was Lilibeth;
"2) At the time the accused was seen by the Balbuenas, he was wearing white T-shirt and maong pants;
"3) Previously, the accused, when buying the banana leaves from the banana grove owned by Benjamin Oliveros was always accompanied by his mother and/or sister. They ha[d] always done this for over a year. But on September 20, 1990 he came alone.
"4) Prior to September 20, 1990 the accused was seen three (3) times by the Balbuenas cutting banana leaves in the banana grove owned by Benjamin Oliveros which was behind their house.
"5) When on the morning of September 20, 1990 the parents called Lilibeth for breakfast, she was nowhere to be found and she was no longer in the yard. When the parents of Lilibeth went out to look for her they likewise noticed that the accused was gone too. When the parents returned sometime after their search, they found the accused again cutting banana leaves;
"6) When asked by the parents if the accused had seen the child, the accused lied by saying that he saw her crossing a bridge to the other purok. When the parents followed the direction given by the accused, Lilibeth could not be found there. When asked again for her whereabouts the accused gave the same lie three (3) times to the parents;
"7) When the parents returned home from the search a third time, they saw the accused now running away with his pants wet and he was shirtless. He looked pale and terrified;
"8) The accused was the only person seen at the crime scene before, during and immediately after the incident;
"9) When Zelbred Santillan, a former co-worker of the accused in a construction project and a neighbor met him on the road, the accused was wet all over and hurrying carrying a bundle of banana leaves. He ignored the greetings of Santillan;
"10) It was only on September 20, 1990 that the accused bought for the first time banana leaves worth only P7.00 when in all previous cases he bought leaves worth between P20.00 [and] P30.00;
"11) When he paid with a P10.00 bill for leaves worth P7.00 he immediately ran away without waiting for his change;
"12) Near the place where the body of Lilibeth was found [was] a creek with flowing water;
"13) Lilibeth's chest was slashed open by a bladed instrument and she was covered by freshly cut banana leaves and the accused at that time was provided with a knife and scythe and gathering banana leaves;
"14) When the police authorities went to the house of the accused, after the discovery of the crime, his parents turned over a knife which they said was used by the accused in cutting leaves and which was left to them that morning by said accused. It was covered [with] a sticky substance resembling blood;
"15) Right after the incident and when the police authorities looked for him, he fled [from] his parents[`] home and could no longer be found nor reached by subpoena;
"16) The accused hid for almost 4 years after the crime until he was apprehended in a hospital being treated for stab wounds.[9]
Upon a careful study of the records of this case, we find that a number of the foregoing circumstances are not supported by evidence.
Alleged Lie of the Accused
The trial court found that the accused lied three times by saying that he had seen the victim crossing a bridge to the other purok. The father of the child, however, testified as follows:
"Q: What did you ask him?
A: I asked him, `'To, have you seen my daughter?'
Q: Did he answer you?
A: He answered me x x x, "Your daughter who was wearing black shirt and white pants?"
Q: What did you do after he told you?
A: He told me that [he] saw [my] daughter crossing the bridge.
Q: What did you do when he told you that?
I immediately crossed the bridge and looked for my daughter.[10]
A: I went back to him again,
Q: For the second time?
Yes, I asked him again and he answered me that [he] saw her crossing the bridge.[11]
The mother also testified to the same incident in this wise:
"Q: Now, what happened when you saw him cutting banana leaves again?
A: I asked him if he saw a child wearing black vest and white pants.
Q: What was the answer of this man?
The person answered x x x "the child who was wearing white pants and black vest [--] I saw her crossing the bridge."
Q: When he told you that what did you do?
We crossed the bridge and looked for h[er]."[12]
From the above, it is clear that according to both the mother and the father of the child, appellant only said that he had seen the child crossing the bridge. Whether the direction of the child was towards the other purok or back to the plantation is not clear from the records. The trial court merely assumed that the victim was going to the other purok when the accused saw her.
The Rules of Court clearly requires that the facts from which the inferences are derived must be proven. In the present case, to find that the accused lied, one must assume the following: first, that the victim did not cross the bridge, second, that the victim was killed at the banana plantation and that her body was not just dumped there; third, that appellant meant that when he said that he had seen the victim crossing the bridge, she was going towards the other purok -- not back to her home. Relying on these assumptions in order to come up with the finding that the accused lied was jumping to an unreliable conclusion. Such finding was clearly an inference based on another inference and cannot be used as a basis for conviction.
Appellant's Wet and Shirtless State
The mere fact that appellant was wet and shirtless did not prove the prosecution's case to the degree required by the law. From this, the trial court made another inference based on another inference. From the inference that he had thrown away his shirt, the trial court further inferred that he had done so because the shirt was spattered with blood. "The legal theorem, however, is that one can not draw an inference from another inference. If so, x x x in Moran's words `we would be entering upon a sea of inferences with no rudder or compass to control the direction.'"[13]
The Only Person at the Scene of the Crime
The trial court also found that appellant was the only person seen at the crime scene before, during and immediately after the incident. This is not supported by the records. Although he was in the banana plantation, he was never seen near the dry creek where the body of the child was found.
Considering that the house of the victim was 100 meters away from where her body was found and that appellant was seen by her parents about 10 meters from their house, then his location in relation to her body was about 90 meters away. When asked for assistance, Prosecution Witness Rolando Oliveros was in fact nearer to the crime scene than appellant was, being just 50 meters away from where the body of the victim was found[14] Furthermore, since Oliveros was the one who reported finding the body, then he, not appellant, was the only one who was certainly known to have been at the crime scene immediately after the incident. The trial court again made an erroneous finding of fact in this instance.
Location of Flowing Water
The trial court further found that the body of the victim was found near a creek with flowing water. The records show, however, that this creek was about 30 meters away[15]-- quite a distance from the body.
Supposed Blood on the Knife
Further, we cannot give weight to the allegation that there was a sticky substance resembling blood on the knife given by appellant's mother to the police officer. There is evidence on record that the knife was clean when handed to the police by appellant's mother, who testified as follows:
"Q
After the Policemen inquired from you where is your son Rolando, what did you do?
I answered the Policemen that he was there listening [to] the radio and I [was] also listening the radio and I did not notice where he [went].
After that Mrs. witness, what transpired next?
They asked me where was that knife used by [my] son in gathering banana leaves.
And who asked you that question?
The policemen.
So what did you do after certain policemen asked x x x you where was the knife used by your son in gathering banana leaves?
I got the knife from our kitchen and gave it to [them].
And what happened after you showed the knife to the policemen?
When I gave that knife to the policemen, that knife ha[d] no handle and it was clean.
And what did the policemen do after you ha[d] shown to them the knife?
They brought the knife with them."[16]
The prosecution itself had the evidence of the knife at its disposal. Police Officer Homer Vargas stated:
"Q:
You said that the knife was handed by the father of Rolando Solis. Could you tell us where is the knife now?
The knife is now in the possession of Sr. Insp. Dulaca, the Station Commander of Himamaylan, Negros Occidental.
x x x x x x x x x
Q: Did you exert efforts to look for that so that you can present that during the hearing?
A: We also asked Sr. Insp. Dudero to have it presented at this hearing but we failed to contact him to bring it today.
Q: In your mind that gun [sic] was lost?
I do not know, sir, because he has a certificate that he would present [to the] Court if for him to present [it] will [be] demand[ed]."[17]
If the knife was really smeared with a sticky substance similar to blood, the prosecution could have easily presented the knife itself during the presentation of its evidence in chief or even during rebuttal. That it did not do so raises the presumption that the condition of the knife was unfavorable to its case. As Justice Francisco had explained, "where a party fails to present a fact necessary to his case when it is within his power to do so, it will be presumed that such fact does not exist, and the same is true where evidence as to a certain matter is introduced, and the adverse party, having it within his power to refute such evidence if it is untrue, fails to introduce any refuting evidence."[18]
Furthermore, the testimonies of the two prosecution witnesses regarding the alleged blood on the knife are not believable. Police Officer Vargas testified thus:
"Q: When the parents gave you the knife, did they say anything about the knife?
A: I saw both surfaces of the knife had sticky substance similar to blood.
Q: You mean to say that the knife surrendered by the parents was still wet with substance?
A: Yes, sir.
Q: Similar to blood?
A: Yes, sir."[19]
Basic is the rule that evidence, to be believed, must not only proceed from the mouth of a credible witness but must be credible in itself, such that the common experience and observation of mankind can show it as probable under the circumstances.[20] In this case, Vargas testified that the knife given to him by appellant's mother was smudged with a sticky substance similar to blood. However, blood is not sticky but is more like water in consistency. It follows that either the substance on the knife was not blood; or the policeman was fabricating, and the knife really was clean as testified to by appellant's mother.
The testimony of Zelbred Santillan indicating that he saw fresh blood on the knife is not believable either. It must be considered that appellant, according to Prosecution Witness Benjamin Oliveros, had left the banana plantation around ten o'clock that morning.[21] The victim's body was found sometime before eleven o'clock in the morning. The policemen were handed the knife around noon. Thus, if the knife really was the one used in the killing, the alleged blood would have been on it for about two hours already by the time the police and Witness Zelbred Santillan saw it. Since blood starts to coagulate or clot after 15 minutes,[22] any blood that might have been on the knife must have already dried up at the time. Thus, any alleged blood that was on the knife would not fit the description of "fresh" blood.
Appellant Not in Hiding
The trial court and the Office of the Solicitor General also maintain that appellant had been in hiding for almost 4 years since the commission of the crime until his apprehension in a hospital while undergoing treatment for a stab wound. This allegation, however, is not supported by any convincing evidence, for it is based only on a manifestation by the public prosecutor, to wit:
"PROS. AMISOLA
Mr. Solis, you know for a fact that on October 11, 1990 a subpoena was sent to you by Asst. Prosecutor Eduardo B. Esquilla for you to answer the charges against you for rape with homicide?
I have not received any subpoena.
PROS. AMISOLA
I would like to manifest on record, Your Honor, that a return of the subpoena dated October 8, 1990 stated that then respondent [could] not be found at the given address and this was also returned on October 11, 1990."[23]
A mere manifestation cannot take the place of evidence to prove the existence of a fact -- in this case, that appellant was in hiding. Evidence to the contrary - that he was not hiding -- was in fact elicited from him by the trial court and the public prosecutor. Below, we quote the relevant portion of his testimony:
"Q: You said that you were apprehended 1994. Where were you apprehended?
A: At the hospital.
Q: Which hospital?
A: Provincial hospital.
Q: Why were you there?
A: I was stabbed in our place at Greensville I.
Q In 1980 where were you residing?
A At Camingawan.
Q That is your permanent residence?
A Yes, sir.
Q You were staying there continuously even up to September 20, 1990?
Q And you stayed there even up to September 20, 1990 to 1994?
Q You were staying there?
Mr. Solis, you answered that when you were stabbed you were residing at Greensville I. This Greensville is different from your residence at Camingawan, is that correct?
A Yes, sir. I am not residing at Greensville I.
You want to impress this Honorable Court that, Mr. witness, that from September 20, 1990 up to 1994 when you were arrested, you [had] continue[d] to live in your present residence at Purok Paho, Brgy. Camingawan, Bacolod City?
You mentioned in your examination that you were advised by your Brgy. Captain named Basilio to stay away. My question is, did you follow his advice or suggestion that [was] why you were only apprehended 1994?
A No, sir.
Q Meaning to say that you continued to stay in your residence as usual?
A Yes, sir."[24]
Clearly, the trial court's finding that appellant had been in hiding for almost four years is not supported by any evidence. In fact, he had been staying in his residence all the time.
Alleged Flight of Appellant
The trial court also found that appellant had fled and was pale and terrified right after the incident. We are not convinced that this was so. Lucia Balbuena and Zelbred Santillan testified only that appellant "seemed feared[sic]".[25] Indeed, there is more than enough room for the probability that appellant was not really afraid. He might have only appeared to be so to the prosecution witnesses whose competence in reading human emotions was, however, not established.
When material, independent facts or circumstances are relied upon to identify the person who committed the crime charged, they must necessarily be so linked as to complete a chain or series of facts pointing to the guilt of the accused, with each link established as firmly as the main fact.[26] The evidence presented by the prosecution fails to prove beyond reasonable doubt that appellant had been terrified at the time.
The records also show, as the prosecution witnesses themselves narrated, that appellant continued cutting banana leaves and, afterwards, arranging them. He then proceeded to the house of Benjamin Oliveros, asked how much the banana leaves were worth and paid for them before leaving. It was only after the former had completed all these acts that he left the area. These were not the acts of a terrified person in flight.
That appellant was hurrying while carrying a bundle of banana leaves is susceptible of a reasonable explanation consistent with his innocence. In the province, it is a common and normal behavior, when carrying a load, to hurry along to reach one's destination quickly and to put down the load and relieve one's muscles.
Verily, after weeding out the facts and circumstances that have not been proven beyond reasonable doubt, only those circumstances that are ambiguous remain, as follows:
"6) When asked by the parents if the accused had seen the child, the accused said that he saw her crossing the bridge. When the parents followed the direction given by the accused, Lilibeth could not be found there. When asked again or her whereabouts, the accused gave the same lie three (3) times to the parents;
"7) When Zelbred Santillan, a former co-worker of the accused in a construction project and a neighbor met him on the road, the accused was wet, shirtless and hurrying carrying a bundle of banana leaves. He ignored the greetings of Santillan;
"8) It was only on September 20, 1990 that the accused bought for the first time banana leaves worth only P7.00 when in all previous cases he [had] bought leaves worth between P20.00 [and] P30.00;
"9) When he paid with a P10.00 bill for leaves worth P7.00 he immediately went away without waiting for his change;
Since these remaining pieces of circumstantial evidence are consistent not only with the guilt of appellant but also with his innocence, we find that the quantum of evidence required to sustain his conviction has not been met by the prosecution. Indeed, the Court has consistently ruled that "if the inculpatory facts and circumstances are capable of two or more explanations, one of which is consistent with the innocence of the accused and the other consistent with his guilt, then the evidence does not fulfill the test of moral certainty and is not sufficient to support a conviction."[27]
In case of doubt, the Court has stated that "the scales must be tipped in favor of the accused. Circumstantial evidence as a basis for conviction of crime should be acted on and weighed with great caution x x x as our jurisprudence is built around the concept that it is preferable for the guilty to remain unpunished than for an innocent person to suffer a long prison term unjustly."[28]
The records show that appellant was indeed a very convenient suspect. It appears that aside from naming him as the suspect, the police investigators did nothing more than a perfunctory investigation to substantiate their suspicions. They should realize that it is on the result of their work, the evidence they have gathered, that the conviction and the punishment of criminals largely depend. They should not sit complacently and consider their work finished upon identifying a suspect. They should bear in mind that conviction can be based only on the basis of evidence that proves the guilt of the accused beyond reasonable doubt. This Court cannot and will not countenance a conviction on the basis merely of suspicions, no matter how strong.
The evidence on record does not point to appellant, "to the exclusion of all others,"[29] as the one who had killed and had carnal knowledge of Lilibeth Balbuena -- at least, not to the degree of moral certainty required in our judicial system.
WHEREFORE, the appeal is GRANTED and the appealed Decision is hereby REVERSED and SET ASIDE. On reasonable doubt, Appellant Rolando Solis y Segovia is ACQUITTED. The director of the Bureau of Corrections is ordered to cause the immediate release of appellant, unless he is being lawfully held for another cause; and to inform the Court of the date of his release, or the reasons for his continued confinement, within ten days from notice. No costs.
Melo, (Chairman), Vitug, Gonzaga-Reyes, and Sandoval-Gutierrez, JJ., concur.
[1] Written by Judge Othello M. Villanueva.
[2] Records, pp. 1-2.
[3] Records, p. 26.
[4] The case was deemed submitted for resolution on August 16, 2000, when this Court received the Appellee's Brief. The filing of a reply brief was deemed waived, as none was submitted within the reglementary period.
[5] Appellee's Brief, pp. 4-8; rollo, pp. 109-113. The Brief was signed by Solicitor General Ricardo P. Galvez, Assistant Solicitor General Antonio L. Villamor and Solicitor Raul J. Mandin.
[6] Appellant's Brief, pp. 6-8; rollo, pp. 59-61. The Brief was signed by Attys. Arceli A. Rubin, Bartolome P. Reus and Ma. Vanessa B. Donato-Balmaceda, all of the Public Attorney's Office.
[7] Appellant's Brief, p. 8; rollo, p. 61.
[8] Sec. 4, Rule 133, Rules of Court. People v. Asis, 286 SCRA 64, 71, February 9, 1998; People v. Llaguno, 285 SCRA 124, 141, January 25, 1998; People v. Quitorio, 285 SCRA 196, 208, January 28, 1998.
[9] Rollo, pp. 32-34.
[10] TSN, May 23, 1995, p. 12.
[12] TSN, June 27, 1995, pp. 20-21.
[13] People v. Flores, 186 SCRA 303,313, June 6, 1990, per Sarmiento, J.
[14] TSN, February 16, 1996, p. 15.
[16] TSN, January 21, 1998, p. 6.
[17] TSN, December 6, 1996, pp. 10-11.
[18] Francisco, Evidence, 1994 ed., p. 417.
[19] TSN, June 7, 1996, p. 13.
[20] People v. Alba, 256 SCRA 505, 513, April 25, 1996; Cosep v. People, 290 SCRA 378, 385, May 21, 1998.
[22] People v. Jara, 144 SCRA 516,538, September 30, 1986.
[23] TSN, July 16, 1997, p. 20.
[24] TSN, July 16, 1997, pp. 372-373.
[25] Records, pp. 158, 168.
[27] People v. Ale, 145 SCRA 50, October 14, 1986, per Gutierrez, J.
[28] People v. Salangoste, 188 SCRA 422, 443, per Bidin, J. (Citations omitted.)
[29] People v. Quitorio, 285 SCRA 196, 208, January 28, 1998.