Hey there! As part of the A to Z Challenge, I'm going to talk a little bit about the things that I'll be posting throughout the month of April 🙂 a.k.a. the theme reveal!
This is the April calender that's keeping me in check. As you can see, I've already had quite a number of pre-scheduled posts. Those ticked ones are the ones that I've done writing, and those without are the ones I haven't, which is still up for consideration by the way. I've changed my mind a couple of times already, as you can tell from the white blobs. Heh.
This category is primarily made up of short stories, but when I suddenly feel like it, I would drop a poem or some random quote I come up with once in a while, too. My short stories are of the Teen Fiction or Young Adult genre, so if you're interested in that kind of stuff, do check 'em out 😀 Oh and by the way, character names are intentional, so you might see the same character(s) appear more than once.
Which stands for Malaysian University English Test. I only have 2 posts in that category, and I won't be adding more, ever. MUET is basically an English proficiency test here in Malaysia and in the posts I've posted, I talked about my experience facing it, and apparently quite a number of Malaysians visit my blog for that reason alone. Especially during peak times.
This is where I briefly talk about my life, mostly about the stuff that I liked, things I've been doing recently. It's not in the "format" of those lifestyle bloggers where they take tons of pictures and write a freakin' long post about their day though, it's too much work for me. Besides, the main focus of my blog isn't about my life anyway.
Nerd Talk is basically a place where I talk about books I've read, or book reviews as most people would call them. I'm no professional and I'm not very analytical when it comes to reading novels. After all, they're for leisure right? So yeah, if you like books, maybe check those out? I'm still trying to figure out how to write them though, so I apologize in advance for my inconsistency.
Sometimes I have certain thoughts floating around my mind that's just screaming to be let out, otherwise I would just think and overthink whatever that's in my head. It gets kind of crowded in there sometimes, so yeah I have to let it out.
This category is pretty self-explanatory. I write whatever's bugging me at the time because talking about it is just not satisfying enough for me. I just have to write it out, it's like releasing my emotions in a way.
My short stories have an underlying tone of love to it, whether love in its best form, or the harsh reality that love could do to you (i.e. heartbreak), while my other posts in the other categories involve things or people that I love, which is also another form of love, I guess.
And if you'd like, you could check out the other blogs that are participating as well! Just click below!
You already know what's it going to be about 😉 Haha.


It is sometimes hard to decipher if an item that is original to an older home is something integral to its character, or just plain ugly. Our decisions about an item can change over time, too. Something we find hideously offensive at one point in time, a decade later can be appealing and stylish. Pair the item with something from another decade and of poor quality...like let's say an 80's faux wood grain vanity... and one can be all the more ready to throw out the baby with the bath tile.
I knew when we were making the initial decisions about the scope of work on our project house, that less is more. Less disturbed is less money needlessly spent. Also, items that were in keeping with the style and era of the 1950's structure should be kept in place. The bathroom above's tile was original, and thankfully it was in great shape. Could it be paired with new items that would make it look intentional and beautiful in a house that needed to appeal to a 2011 buyer?
I guess it can be said it is all about the company we keep. With a new ceramic tile floor that brightened the room and made sense with the era of the house, a wall color that resonates and complements, charming new fixtures and hardware, the vintage mid-century tile now can shine.
AND I could not believe my luck when I found the PERFECT shower curtain to compliment the room at HomeGoods. Wow.
I am happy to know that the a piece of the original history of the house will remain intact....hopefully for another 61 years or more.


It was 1984. I was 13 and my family had just moved from Southeast Asia back to New England. Among the important tasks that had to be completed (there was a very long list on a yellow legal pad) was for my Dad to purchase a "station" car. Commuting into New York City from the Connecticut suburbs happens one of two ways: you take your life into your hands, pay a small fortune, and drive in every day or you drive to the train station and relax in the quiet serenity of the Metro-North railway. At the time, my dad opted for the latter and wanted a cheap, fun car that he didn't mind leaving at the station. The Jensen-Healey was on the short list, and we went to look at a car remarkably similar to this nice red Mk II/JH5 example which can be found here on Craigslist in Appleton, Wisconsin with an asking price of $4500.


- not my real name. Why? I run a well known Arab company and blogging lets me say what I really think without worrying about who is reading. I am an Iraqi who has lived nearly all my life in London. I feel blogs give people a small snapshot into the worlds of ordinary people from their front door, which the media cannot. Without blogging you would only ever see the journalists side of the picture.


Impact test is recommended particularly for fragile metals and alloys. ISO 148-1 (EN 10045-1) or ASTM E23 standards are being used in this case. Charpy pendulum impact (V-notch and U-notch) testing method is used for determining the energy absorbed in an impact test of metallic gaskets materials. Impact test is recommended particularly for fragile materials in specific temperatures. Unless otherwise specified, test shall be carried out at 23±5°C, where the test can be carried out in a wide temperature range including sub-zero.
In most cases the original inspection certificate 3.1 for raw materials includes some results of the impact test. Any special requirements on request.


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Hypokalemia, Paralysis, Myalgia, and Tea-colored Urine: What's the Diagnosis?
Veronica Hackethal, MD
A patient presented to the hospital with sudden-onset flaccid muscle weakness. Her family history was notable for sudden cardiac death of unknown etiology.
CHALLENGING CASE
A 30-year-old woman presented to the emergency department (ED) of a hospital with sudden-onset flaccid muscle weakness, which was present bilaterally in the proximal lower extremities.1 She had just eaten a meal heavily laden in carbohydrates. She denied nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and rash. She was not currently taking any medications.
She described three similar attacks during the past year, all of which occurred after consuming a large amount of carbohydrates and drinking alcohol. During those attacks, she was treated in the ED, where she received IV potassium for hypokalemia and experience full symptom resolution. The reason for the hypokalemia remained unknown.
Her family history was notable for sudden cardiac death of unknown etiology in her father, paternal uncle, and brother.
Vitals were within normal limits. Physical exam was notable for symmetrical flaccid muscle paralysis mostly affecting the thighs and calves, areflexia without sensory involvement, and positive Trousseau sign.
Initial labs were notable for severe hypokalemia (1.6 mEq/L), and hypophosphatemia (0.8 mg/dL). ABG revealed respiratory alkalosis (pH 7.48, PaCO2 29 mmHg, PaO2 106 mmHg, bicarbonate 22.3 mmEq/L, oxygen saturation 98.8%), thought to be caused by hyperventilation due to her muscular symptoms.
Urinary excretion of potassium was 2.5 mmol/L, urinary osmolarity was 326 mOsm/kg, and the transtubular potassium gradient was 1.67, as expected in hypokalemia.
Total calcium, LFTs, CBC, plasma renin activity, aldosterone, and thyroid hormone levels were within normal limits. Blood and urine cultures both came back negative. Serology for HBV, HCV, and HIV were all negative. EKG was notable for prolonged QT indicative of hypokalemia.
Clinical course
While in the ED, the patient suddenly developed tetany and severe myalgia in both calves. Urine output decreased, and she began to produce tea-colored urine.
Labs at that time indicated rhabdomyolysis, with elevated creatine phosphokinase (45720 IU/L), and lactate dehydrogenase (1686 U/L). Myoglobin levels were not measured.
She received hydration, spironolactone and 6 hours of IV potassium, with gradual resolution of her symptoms.
What's the diagnosis?
A. Thyrotoxicosis
B. Alcohol intoxication
C. Cushing syndrome
D. Primary hypokalemic periodic paralysis
For the answer, see the next page >
The correct answer is D. Primary hypokalemic periodic paralysis
Using a step-wise approach that ruled out other causes of hypokalemia (e.g. thyrotoxicosis, hyperaldosteronism, renal or GI loss), the patient was diagnosed with primary hypokalemic periodic paralysis. Family history and past history of attacks supported the diagnosis. The patient refused DNA analysis, so the diagnosis could not be confirmed.
Hypokalemic periodic paralysis represents a rare cause of rhabdomyolysis, a medical emergency that can cause life-threatening complications, including kidney injury, disseminated intravascular coagulation, and cardiac arrythmias. Causes of rhabdomyolysis include: muscle trauma, muscle enzyme deficiency, electrolyte abnormalities, infection, toxins, endocrinopathy, and drugs (e.g. β-mimetics, insulin, laxatives or diuretics).
While the mechanism of hypokalemic rhabdomyolysis remains unknown, it may be related to muscle ischemia. Potassium is an important regulator of muscle blood flow. Severe hypokalemia is associated with capillary contraction, reduced blood supply to muscles, and muscle cell damage.
Primary periodic paralaysis (PPP) represents a rare cause of hypokalemic rhabdomyolsis. PPP is a rare genetic disease that causes periodic attacks of muscle weakness related to decreased or increased potassium levels (though potassium levels can also be normal). The disorder is inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, and is caused by mutations that affect potassium-sensitive muscle membrane excitability. Common triggers include: a high carbohydrate meal, alcohol, and strenuous activity.
Diagnosis is based on patient history and symptoms, and confirmed by the long exercise test (LET, which measures the action potential that triggers muscular contraction), or genetic testing. Treatment depends on whether the patient has hyperkalemic or hypokalemic periodic paralysis. In hypokalemic periodic paralysis, carbonic anhydrase inhibitors or potassium sparing diuretics are used, along with potassium supplementation when necessary.
Take home points
• Primary periodic paralysis is a rare genetic disorder with autosomal dominant inheritance and characterized by attacks of flaccid muscle weaknes and levels that are increased or decreased (though sometimes normal)
• Hypokalemic periodic paralysis is a rare cause of rhabdomyolysis, which may result when very low potassium levels contribute to muscle ischemia and injury
1. Jung YL, Kang JY. Rhabdomyolysis following severe hypokalemia caused by familial hypokalemic periodic paralysis. World J Clin Cases. 2017;5:56-60. https://www.wjgnet.com/2307-8960/full/v5/i2/56.htm. Accessed October 19, 2018.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Q: CMake Eclipse project, make targets not available I use CMake as a build manager for a C++ project. All my sources are in a src subdirectory, and I created a sibling build directory. Following the directions from https://cmake.org/Wiki/Eclipse_CDT4_Generator, the build commands I use are:
cd build
cmake -G"Eclipse CDT4 - Unix Makefiles" -D CMAKE_BUILD_TYPE=Debug ../src

This creates the .project and .cproject files used to import an existing project in Eclipse. In the IDE, everything seems to work perfectly, except that the make target does not work.
When I click on a build target, the CDT build console opens, but nothing occurs. Also when I click on Project / Clean in the Eclipse dropdown menus, nothing occurs. I checked the commands invoked by the targets, and they are of the form /usr/bin/make -j8, which should work.
Can anyone help me get the make target work ?

A: An automatic update to CDT just occurred and everything works now. So check for updates I guess.

A: Hope this is followed to create target....
The docs for eclipse says:
Your project name should be different from your executable name and different from your build folder name. Otherwise, Eclipse will NOT pick up your executable as you build them. Since my build folder name is certi_build, a CMakeLists.txt file like below should work (notice the difference in project name and executable name)
 PROJECT(AwesomeProject)

 ADD_EXECUTABLE(AwesomeProjectMain
   main.cpp
   util.h
   util.cpp
               )

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Rab Ne Bana Di Test Match!
What a way for Sachin Tendulkar to finish the match by hitting a boundary to get his 41st Test Hundred!
Chasing 387 in Chennai against a strong English Test team, India overhauled the highest fourth innings chase (276 by the West Indies at Delhi n 1987-88) on Indian soil on the fifth and final day to go 1-0 up in the two-Test series.
Full credit to Virender Sehwag to setup the victory. He single-handedly changed the course of the match. England were coasting to victory. 387 in a day4-5 Chennai wicket is almost impossible. As David Lloyd said, the wicket looked like the moon….full of craters. But Sehwag put all space-time calculations to rest and played in a different dimension altogether.
Tendulkar's hundred, chasing a test victory in the 4th innings is the innings critics said Lara achieved but Sachin didn't. Now even Brian Lara will give a standing ovation to India's Bradman.
But lets also applaud the English players for coming to tour India after the Mumbai terror strike and showing that the only losers in this Test match were not the brave English cricketers but the cowardly terrorists who desperately wanted India to live in fear and not enjoy the freedoms of a democratic nation. If England hadn't toured India, then the terrorists would have won. India winning with the final stroke by a Mumbai cricketer, was perhaps a romantic's delight.
Sport wins, Freedom wins, Terror loses…always.
How would you define brand Chennai? The question was thrown at economist and Rajya Sabha MP Jairam Ramesh at the CII Brand Summit. Ramesh, without giving a definitive answer, simply said that you cannot brand yourself on what could be.
But what is. Chennai is no Bangalore, the acknowledged IT capital of the country. Neither is it Mumbai, the entertainment hub. Nor is it Delhi, the seat of political power.
So what then is Brand Chennai? To get a feel of the city, which according to Ramesh could be the Detroit of India, agencyfaqs! hit the streets, to get a fill and feel of the sights and sounds of the city, the home to biggies such as Ford, Hyundai, Murugappa Group, Titan and Cognizant among others.
The first thing that strikes a first-time traveller is the sheer number and size of the billboards. Yes, there are enough in Mumbai, but here the giant vinyl boards dwarf everything else in comparison. Everything from a local Appam brand to state-of-the-art Bose speakers, to the housing schemes that promise impossibly green parks where happy blonde families frolic in the pools, jewellery and saree shops grab the eyeballs. The famous Tamil fascination for everything larger-than-life is obvious here.
Walk into a shop such as Nuts and Spices, and you will see rows of nutmegs and cardamoms, sharing shelf space with Pringles chips and Kraft food products. Imported tortilla chips and bars of Hershey seem to be as popular as imli goli and MTR ready-to-eat meal packs. Qwiky's and Barista seem to be on the same keel as the roadside juice shop selling pineapple, fig, watermelon and mango juice. Sachin da Dhaba is close to Aiwo, a health food joint, which is just a stone's throw away from ChicKing selling fried chicken and Mexican wraps, which is next to Anand Bhawan which serves vegetarian fast food.
Walk down Pondy Bazaar, the streets bustling with frantic shoppers, and you can buy sarees in every conceivable and inconceivable colours at shops which are like large halls with a rail of counters on either side. Visual merchandising is given a different twist here. Inside the gigantic stores, traditional kanjeevarams are as hot as Karishma sarees, which are as sizzling as Lehngas (thank you Karan Johar, thank you Manish Malhotra). One tagline even says: Experience Moksha in a lehnga!
On the streets, elegant women in silks and flowers in their hair drive through the irrepressible traffic, while dhoti-clad sadhus ride their bikes barefooted. On television, bearded and moustachioed men, serenade heavy-set women in technicolour sets spruced up with mind-boggling special effects, while children dance to their version of Boogie-Woogie.
And last but not the least, there is fusion in the air redolent with the sounds of mridamgam, ghatam, guitar and keyboards accompanied with the unmistakable Carnatic-style of singing.
As Prof Richard Harriss had remarked during the Brand Summit, "With heightened globalisation, comes a heightened sense of the local. Interconnectedness breeds individuality." Perhaps, he had Chennai on his mind.


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Palm Treo 500v smartphone announced by Vodafone
12 Sep 2007 | Palm , Smartphone , Vodafone | 0 comments
Now that the Foleo is out of the picture, Palm can finally focus on what it does best: smartphones. The company today announced together with Vodafone Europe the new Treo 500v smartphone that will run on Windows Mobile 6. The...
RIP Palm Foleo 2007-2007
5 Sep 2007 | Palm , Smartphone | 1 comment
Yes, it's true, Palm has cancelled the Foleo. To tell you the truth, we didn't see this one coming, even though it was the worst idea that Palm has ever come up with. The announcement was made by Palm CEO...
Samsung i620 smartphone announced
3 Sep 2007 | Samsung , Smartphone | 5 comments
Last week at the IFA in Berlin, Germany, Samsung unveiled its latest slider phone, the i620. At only 16mm thick, the i620 smartphone comes equipped with a 2" 65k color TFT QVGA display (320x240 pixels), a 2.0 megapixel camera, QWERTZ...
Nokia N95 8GB announced
29 Aug 2007 | Nokia , Smartphone | 1 comment
&uotAfter months of rumors and leaked photos, Nokia has now officially announced the upgraded version of the Nokia N95, now featuring 8GB of built-in memory and a 2.8" QVGA display. Unfortunately, the upgraded memory, bigger screen and new black color...
Sony Ericsson W960i to launch in October?
4 Jul 2007 | Smartphone , Sony Ericsson | 47 comments
Remember that tri-band W960i Walkman Phone announced last month by Sony Ericsson? It looks like the Symbian OS based handset will launch earlier rather than later. According to a poster on the SE-NSE forums, the company's newest smartphone will roll...


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Terence Corcoran: Free SNC-Lavalin, victim of inadequate laws and political incompetence
Set SNC free to negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement so it can get on with its business, making money for shareholders and creating jobs
Terence Corcoran: SNC long ago became mere backdrop scenery for the theatrical bumbling, stumbling and scrambling of civil servants and politicians from all political parties.Julien Besset/AFP/Gettty Images
Terence Corcoran
Canada's real corruption scandal: How Ottawa bungled a flawed OECD code and triggered the SNC crisis
A legal analysis of the roads forward for SNC-Lavalin
Here's what a 10-year ban on federal contract bids would mean for SNC-Lavalin
It is time to liberate SNC-Lavalin from the Liberal scandal now engulfing Ottawa. With each passing day of leaks, innuendo, smears and new revelations of power games it becomes ever more obvious that the global engineering firm is the victim of in-house political wrangling, palace intrigues and serial acts of incompetence.
An indicator of how far off the rails the scandal has rolled was Andrew Coyne's insightful column in which he critiqued the latest development— ignominious leaks about internal cabinet bickering over a Supreme Court appointment — without once mentioning SNC.
The fact is that SNC long ago became mere backdrop scenery for the theatrical bumbling, stumbling and scrambling of civil servants and politicians from all political parties over how to implement inadequate laws they had recently introduced.
Terence Corcoran: SNC-Lavalin would get a deal anywhere else. Why not here?
Terence Corcoran: Trudeau's inner circle was right to try sparing SNC-Lavalin's life
If the Ottawa Political Theatre Co. wants to keep the exposition of their skulduggery and misfortunes running, fine. Let them drown in their own swampy re-run of Robert Lepage's Stratford production of Shakespeare's Coriolanus. But let's get SNC-Lavalin off the stage.
Says Coriolanus at one point: "This enemy town. I'll enter: if he slay me, He does fair justice; if he give me way, I'll do his country service."
There is no explanation as yet as to why SNC cannot be granted an opportunity to negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement that would liberate the company from the risk of being debarred from government contracts for 10 years. Maybe the Public Prosecution Office has reasons, but we don't know what they are. Maybe former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould has reasons, but we don't know what they are, beyond the fact that she was "not keen on exercising her authority" and there might be a risk of perceived political interference.
Whatever legal obstacles exist that prevent a federal Attorney General from acting within Canada's version of the U.S. Foreign Corruption Prevention Act, they are a function of both Liberal and Conservative ad hoc bungling of anti-bribery regimes introduced first by the Harper Conservatives and later the Trudeau Liberals under pressure from the OECD. For details on this, see my recent commentary.
It's worth noting that Wilson-Raybould became "not keen" on intervening to help save SNC as early as Sept. 5, 2018, two weeks before the new legislation came into force. The amendments to the Criminal Code were new law, never been tested, with no precedents and no previous cases to review.
If the Trudeau Liberals have the courage, they can still liberate SNC from Coriolanus on the Rideau. In a legal commentary on this page Tuesday, Kenneth Jull from Gardiner Roberts LLP concludes that the federal Attorney General has the authority under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act to overrule the public prosecutor's decision not to negotiate an agreement with SNC.
The AG's authority to issue directives in specific prosecutions is clear through clauses within section 10 of the prosecutions act: "The Attorney General may, after consulting the Director, issue directives respecting the initiation or conduct of prosecutions generally. Any such directives must be in writing and be published in the Canada Gazette."
In an interview, Jull outlined what hypothetically may be valid reasons for allowing the AG to intervene to allow SNC to negotiate an agreement. "If the facts are that — for example — five or six or ten people in certain divisions of a company committed bribery but other people in other divisions knew nothing about it – engineers building bridges—knew nothing about it, had no complicity in it, knew nothing and had no reason to know about it … that's a case where the Attorney General, quite properly in my view, can have a debate with the prosecutor." And, presumably, following such a legal discussion, an Attorney General could issue a directive to the prosecutor's office.
Issuing such a directive in the middle of the current drama in Ottawa would come with a political cost, but it need not be horrendous. The political cost could be minimal if the decision is seen as a genuine attempt to protect whatever number of jobs might be at risk if SNC is denied a deferral agreement and is banned from contracting with governments in Canada.
More importantly, it may be the only way to extricate SNC from the black hole created by successive pieces of flawed Liberal and Conservative legislation. The specific prosecution at the heart of the current scandal, now heading to possible trial, involves SNC's relationship with Libya's former dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, leader of the Great Socialist People's Libyan Arab Jamahiriya. Gaddafi became a corrupt despot before he was hunted down and lynched in a gruesome death recorded by mobile phone in 2011.
Whatever SNC's culpability in its Libyan deals, the transactions precede Canada's 2015 adoption of the Harper Conservative's integrity regulations that retroactively put the company at risk of debarment for bribery crimes committed years earlier. By all accounts, the company has gone through major reforms that would preclude further involvement in the ugly business of bribery.
The goal is to set SNC free to negotiate a deferred prosecution agreement so it can get on with its construction and engineering business, making money for shareholders and creating jobs around the world. Then let the politicians fight it out in Coriolanus on the Rideau.
• Email: tcorcoran@nationalpost.com | Twitter: terencecorcoran
There are better, cheaper ways to get Canadians the medications they need
Jack Mintz: Alberta panel studying foreign funding of environmentalists is necessary
Peter Foster: The 'fraud of the century' finally reaches the end of the line after clogging up our court system for 7 years
The NDP's new tax-the-rich plan is terrible, even by their standards


Concluding Remarks presented at The 8th International Buddhist Research Seminar & The 2nd International Conference on Buddhadāsa Studies on 25 May 2017 at the Buddhadāsa Indapañño Archives, Bangkok, in honour of the 111th Anniversary of Buddhadāsa.
I wish to express my deep appreciation for the invitation to give these concluding remarks at the end of numerous activities to commemorate the 111th Birth Anniversary of Venerable Buddhadāsa Bhikkhu.
Bangkok, Thailand. July 8. Buddhadasa Bhikkhu, a monk whose non-traditional ideas transformed Thai Buddhism and earned him an international following, died today at his temple in Southeastern Thailand. He was 87 and was reported to have suffered a stroke in May.
As a critic of superstitious beliefs, materialism and militarism, Buddhadasa provoked re-examination of the religion that is followed by 95% of Thailand's 58 million people.
In 1932, Buddhadasa founded Wat Suan Moke, a monastery in the forest about 300 miles southeast of Bangkok and a popular center for meditation for Thais and foreigners, including Europeans and North Americans. His numerous books and pamphlets have been translated into several languages.
Buddhadasa's teaching challenged social convention, the monastic hierarchy and, occasionally, the Government. In the 1960's Buddhadasa was accused of being a communist because of his attack on the growing materialism of Thai society.
Again breaking with tradition, Buddhadasa said in his will that he wanted to avoid the elaborate cremation ceremonies often held for high-ranking monks. Instead, he asked to be buried at Wat Suan Moke without delay.
According to Confucius, we can gauge filial piety by seeing whether the children still keep the wishes of their parents after 3 years of their passing away.
It has been twenty-four years since Ajahn Buddhadāsa passed away in 1993. We are commemorating his 111th Birth anniversary today with these events. In some way, we do not only feel our gratitude to this great teacher of Buddhism, we are also doing something to show our love, respect and gratitude.
In the age of globalization, the rise of Asian Super-powers and the conflict-ridden evolving ASEAN economic community, the issue of religion and economic-materialist relationships have to face more serious challenges. In the traditional past, religion as a major force of culture seems to exert positive influence on the lives of people, whose imagination of a good life almost always include religious and spiritual elements. In today's world, the answer to any and all ills seems to lie in the marriage between technological innovations and market economy. A transcendent Utopia, either Nirvana or Heaven seem more and more irrelevant. In this age of hyper-materialist globalization, when you have environmental problems, you create green technologies; when you have ageing population, you build care-giving robots; when you have problems in education, you build more internet networks; when you have extremist terrorists, you invest more in advanced apparatus of intelligence and technology of weapons. The list goes on.
There are 3 wishes in my life: 1) Help Buddhists or followers of any religion attain the deepest meanings of their religion. 2) Develop good understanding among religions. 3) Usher fellow human beings out of the influence of materialism. And I have constantly worked towards the perfection of these 3 wishes. If people in each religion fail to attain the heart of their religion, there would be no way an inter-religious understanding could be fostered. Thus, we must all try to help each other attain the heart of our religion together. Ultimately, they will be above the influence of materialism together.
I'd like to offer four observations, by taking the three wishes as pre-requisites of each other. Especially the first two wishes as a pre-condition of the last wish.
2) Inter-religious understanding is possible only after people in each religion attain the heart of their religion.
3) All religions face a common obstacle, namely, the influence of materialism.
4) Followers of all religion need to work together to rise above the influence of materialism.
In my concluding remarks today, I'd like to propose three points for further thinking and discussion. I truly believe that a lively discussion among friends is the only way to search for and establish any collective commitments.
1) I'd like to bring out the inter-connections of the three wishes.
2) I'd propose to place some of his specific teachings into the framework of the three wishes.
3) I'd offer some reflections on the recent developments of the materialist world in the past decades, which put new challenges for the last wish of Ajahn Buddhadāsa.
Second, only after we have achieved this, we can build bridges in this socio-cultural world connecting with other religions. In other words, good understanding among religions is a result of a deeper understanding of one's own religion.
Third, once wishes One and Two are achieved, we can work together to rise above the influence of materialism.
I understand that the teachings of Ajahn Buddhadāsa on Nirvana here and now, of empty mind points to the attempt to create a new looking glass or a new vista to "truly" see Buddhism as a cure for suffering. In other words, as Ajahn Phra Paisal Visalo puts it so well, when Thai Buddhists face sufferings, they go for merit-making. Both the poor and the rich perform merit making as a way of alleviating sufferings. Ajahn Buddhadāsa, on the other hand, points to another path, that is, the core teaching of Buddhism is actually a system of practice which cultivates the practitioner to see the world as "no-me and not-mine" (ไม่มีตัวกู ไม่ใช่ของกู) Instead of "Bun" Ajahn Buddhadāsa speaks of "Kusala" which is a gradual reduction of the ego, while "bun" if not properly understood, is a gradual accumulation of bigger egos. In this sense, "empty mind" is both ontological and epistemic-psychological ("no-me": ontological, "not-mine": epistemic-psychological).
Moreover, I understand that Ajahn Buddhadāsa's teaching of ภาษาคน-ภาษาธรรม (Human Language-Dhammic Language) is a way of providing liberating possibility of attachment to symbols, most importantly, religious symbols. As I understand it, symbols are arbitrarily constituted signs through convention, which are supposed to lead people from the concrete material world to the abstract spiritual world. Take the cross, for example. As a physical tool of public punishment used by the Romans, it comprises of two planks of wood, put together in a certain angle. As a religious symbol, the cross becomes a symbol of the sacrifice of Jesus in his attempt to reconcile human beings to God. Ajahn Buddhadāsa gives the example of the term "Buddha" which on the level of human language indicates the historical Buddha who was spreading his Dhamma in Northern India over 2000 years ago. On the Dhammic level, Buddha indicates the "Dhamma" or the universal truth of Buddhism. This theory of ภาษาคน-ภาษาธรรม provides a philosophical basis for inter-religious understanding.
I may be wrong, but I understand that when Ajahn Buddhadāsa used the term "วัตถุนิยม" I suspect that he was using it in the sense of "นิยมวัตถุ," that is, more of an ethical, psychological sense of a person losing out over greed of things or attachment to things in the material world. I suspect that he did not use it in the more comprehensive sense of a world of reality constructed by and generated through scientific technology dealing with the physical material aspect of the world. I will use the example of ผ้าจีวร or the monk's robe as an example. As a physical thing, the monk's robe could be made of cotton, wool or synthetic materials. As an object of commerce, the monk's robe could be for sale in ห้างสังฆภัณฑ์. The monk's robe could become a commodity. But symbolically, the monk's robe is meant to indicate a way of life for those who follow the 227 precepts whose main objective is to lead a noble path to the cessation of suffering for oneself and for others. The reason we pay respect to the yellow robe (ไหว้ผ้าเหลือง) in Thai culture is not because of the cotton or the wool, nor for the market price of the robe, but for the symbolic value of the garment of those in pursuit of the noble path in Buddhism.
It seems to me at this point in time, some twenty-four years after the passing away of Ajahn Buddhadāsa, the materialist world does not primarily indicate the world of commercialized commodities in terms of goods and services, but it indicates a world of hyper-materialist reality, made possible by the advancement and proliferation of digital technologies. New businesses are created every day, new avatars are being created every second, new projections of the future are making decisions on the lives of many marginalized people (I am thinking of the building of huge dams along the Mae Kong River and a spate of infrastructure mega projects in various regions of Asia). How do we overcome or rise above this "materialism?" It is no longer just materialism of things, sitting there waiting for our consumption or greed, it has become a master monster who conjures up new things, forming new selves, deciding new government policies, dictating new international trades, nurturing new dreams for the younger generation. How does Buddhism deal with this new form of hyper-materialism? I feel awkward to say this. But it seems to me the Dhammakaya has come up with an answer, conjuring up a version of hyper-materialist form of Buddhism.
This brings me back to the entrance to Suan Mokkh's main hall, where three Dhamma puzzles are inscribed on the doors.
Do not let Sons of Common Folks Conceal the Sangha.
How do we invigorate the symbolized, through a proper understanding of the symbols?
With these three puzzles and a final question, I offer my concluding remarks as token of appreciation to the organizers for giving me this precious opportunity to share my thoughts with you today.


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After child loss, many families are left not being able to afford a retreat after burial and funeral expenses. This sponsorship would ensure twenty parents could attend a retreat. WOHLF has four retreats per year.


text:
Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney Review (Nintendo 3DS)
Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney on the 3DS
Tim B
7.62/10 from 6 user ratings
Ham and Pineapple. Cheese and Vegemite. Just a couple of examples of humanity's penchant for mixing two tastes into a combined flavour explosion. Sometimes the result is a delicious savoury treat, a classic for the ages. And sometimes, the experiment produces an unholy chimaera, an unfortunate hellbeast that should have been put down at birth for the sake of all Mankind... But that's what happens when you put fruit on a pizza.
It's hideous!
So the question is, what category does Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney fall into? Delicious sandwich or pizza abomination?
The answer of course is neither. It's more like...a box of chocolates. You nev- ..what?
Alright, Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney is basically this:
As is obvious from the title, Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney is a crossover between two of the best handheld franchises of recent times. But much like Nuts and Gum, (the concoction beloved by white males aged 18-49), the combination doesn't always blend as well as one might hope.
The game takes place in the mysterious town of Labyrinthia, where our protagonists must work together to unravel the secrets and learn the truth behind recent events in the town, whilst rumours of witchcraft lurk around every corner. The setting gives the stars of both franchises a chance to shine, but rather than a delicious melding of the gameplay styles from the two series, the game is mostly split between the two distinctive styles of its progenitors.
...Maybe not that distinct.
The Adventure sequences follow the style of the Layton games- Moving around the map, talking to people, solving puzzles and tapping away for hint coins. The other half of the game, the 'Witch Trials', are where Phoenix takes up his usual Defense Attorney position, complete with cross-examination of witnesses and presenting evidence.
This is where the game really misses an opportunity- Outside of a few rare instances, there is not much overlap between what is essentially two very distinct halves. In the Ace Attorney series, the investigation phase was a chance to gather clues from people utilising evidence already collected. Unfortunately there is none of that in this game, as the meat of the investigation phase consists mostly of puzzles.
Similarly, it would have been nice to see some brainteasers integrated more into the courtroom settings, with the solution of a puzzle leading to a logical 'Aha!' moment by the defense team. Again though, this is sadly not the case.
Yes, I'm disappointed too.
There are a small handful of times when Nick and Hershel briefly step onto each others turf, but such instances are rare and only serve to highlight the disparity between the two game styles.
The only real consistent use of crossover gameplay comes in the form of the hint coins. Not only do they unlock tips for solving the various puzzles of the game, but they can also used to help narrow down which evidence should be used or what sections of witness testimony should be pressed, helping to point Phoenix in the right direction when mounting his defence.
Looking at the two gameplay styles separately, it's easy to see where the bulk of the effort effort was focused. The Adventure sections add a nice feature with the addition of counters that show how many hidden puzzles and hint coins there are still to be found in each area. This is a welcome additions that really cuts down on unnecessary screen tapping. But apart from this small change, it's standard Layton- Or it would be if the puzzles weren't (generally speaking) much easier than those in the mainstream games.
On the Ace Attorney side of the equation though the court sections really shine, with the introduction of a few new techniques. These revolve around the unique court setup introduced in this game- Multi-witness cross examinations.
Instead of interrogating witnesses one at a time, they will all occupy the stand at once. This allows Phoenix to play the witnesses off against each other in real time, comparing their statements against each other, and noting their reactions to the stories of their fellow witnesses. Of course this can backfire too.
I think they're planning something.
At the end of the day, the somewhat awkward pairing of the source material means that anyone who only considers themselves a fan of one or the other franchise is going to probably be disappointed with at least 50% of the game. But for those of us those who enjoy both, Professor Layton vs. Ace Attorney is a solid title with the top notch visual and aural presentation we've come to expect from both franchises.
Posted: 09/07/14, 01:51:51 - Edited by
Zelda Oracles Announced for Japanese E-shop- UPDATE: US and PAL on 30/5/13
Legend of Zelda Trading Cards- Available in June
Nintendo Makes Bank- Yearly operating profit rises 261%
Firmware Update June 18th- New Mii Plaza Streetpass games
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask 3D Discussion (Nintendo 3DS)
Tomato is a fruit, son! Fruit and pizza go together like...ham and pineapple!
Love the Simpsons ref, though. And nice review.
TriforceBun
@TriforceBun
Bah. I knew someone would trot that out .
Fresh fruit then? I'm not a fan of tomato pieces on my pizza. Sauce form only.
Shadowlink
A bit disappointing that they couldn't figure out a way to blend the two into something "new", but I'm still pretty excited.
Good review, and how I feel about the game, mostly.
It is important to mention that the North American release is just the UK release, including the Voice Actor for Luke. Pretty lazy localization there.
ploot
@ploot
Is it really that noticable? I'd have to defer to you on this. The first couple of Layton games on DS I imported, but the last few games I've bought locally, meaning I'm basically used to the UK style localisation now and can't remember if the NA one was different.
You've insulted both Ye Holy Hawaiian Pizza and Ye Holiest of Holies Margherita Pizza in the same place.
I hate Shadowlink.
kriswright
@Shadowlink
It's very noticeable, particularly since I've played all six of the other games with the NA voice actor. Check the differences online.
I'm also not a fan of Phoenix's trial cries in this game. They sound unenthusiastic.
Nit-picky perhaps, but it does take me out of the experience a bit.
At least you actually get to play as Phoenix Wright for more than a third of the game. And Maya is in it, which is a huge relief. The games aren't the same without her.
Not a huge concern to me about Luke's voice actor. The fact that this game even exists is kind of a miracle so I'm going to try not to be nitpicky about it.
PogueSquadron
@PogueSquadron
I admit it's nit-picky but it's a weird decision, especially since The Azran Legacy JUST came out and they used the NA Luke.
But yeah, it's nice to see Maya again.
That's actually another minor negative that I didn't put in the review- The game only features two main characters from each franchise. Sure that's all you really need technically, but it would have been nice to see some of the supporting players get some of the limelight.
I suppose that's probably more to do with the games setting more than anything. It was hard enough getting the main characters into the same place. Getting more would have probably smacked of contrivancy. Oh well.
Nice review! It reflects my opinion of the game as well. After playing the 3 Layton prequel games, it's been kind of nice to see Luke and Layton back to their old style without Emma. I did like Emma and the prequels, but after four years I kind of started to miss Luke's original design.
Hero_Of_Hyrule
@Shadowlinkjust having Maya is more than enough for me! I can use a game without Apollo.


(Tuesday June 18, slide 8/10).
The summer monsoons are bringing hot and sticky weather to Hong Kong, where Adolfo Arranz drew a group of people taking refuge from the strong torrential rains — you can feel the heat just by looking at the woman holding the hand-fan. All the while in Europe, cows graze at a French chateau and people take to the swimming pools in Berlin. It's all in a day of sketches around the world. Click through the slideshow for the complete report.


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W/D, Fridge, D/W, Microwave, Cooktop, Oven, Soaker Tub, 1 Locker. Amenities Include Indoor Pool With Glass Wall, Saunas, Change Rooms, Gym, Yoga Studio, Boxing Gallery, Tech Lounges, Party Room, Terrace W/ Bbq, Fireside Lounge, & Sundeck.
This condo apt property at 3109 - 8 Eglinton Avenue East, Toronto, M4P 1A6 is currently for lease for $2,150. This property has been listed on Home.ca for 7 days.
8 Eglinton Avenue East is a Concrete Condo Apt Apartment home. The home's closest main intersection is Yonge & Eglinton. The property is located in the Mount Pleasant West neighbourhood in the city of Toronto, in the regional municipality of Toronto. Nearby neighbourhoods are Yonge-Eglinton, Mount Pleasant East, Lawrence Park South, Lawrence Park North, Leaside.
This home has 1 beds and 1 bathrooms and is new. The flat level contains the living room, dining room, kitchen room, master room, den room.
Ensuite laundry is located on the Main floor of the property. Things of note for this property include Public Trans. The garage is undergrnd. The property has central air for air conditioning and does have a central vacuum.
8 Eglinton Avenue East has a total of 5 rooms. Date of possession for this property is Flex. This home was listed by CONDOMAN REALTY INC., BROKERAGE according to MLS® Reciprocity.
8 Eglinton is a residence the community of Mount Pleasant West of Toronto. While Eglinton Avenue has 45 homes currently available, the district of Mount Pleasant West has 254 postings available. That's just 2% of the 12677 total properties for sale in the city of Toronto.
Homes in Mount Pleasant West are listed for an average asking price of $843,673, or an estimated monthly mortgage of $2,858. That is 1.6 times less the average list price of $1,312,371 in Toronto. Mount Pleasant West listed properties average 699 sq ft, 1.5 beds, and 1.7 baths. Apartments make up 18.5% of homes for sale in the neighbourhood around 8 Eglinton Avenue East. If this home is not to your liking check out other condos for sale in other areas of Toronto.


Edward Brazier is enlisted by Prime Minister William Pitt to assist his investigation into smuggling activity in Deal. However, with his love Betsy now locked into a loveless marriage with Tom Spafford, a useless drunk, and living as a prisoner, Brazier is distracted from his mission. Having foiled Spafford's plan to steal Betsy away to her family-owned plantation in the West Indies, Brazier finds himself taken captive. Only his ingenuity will help engineer his escape and his cunning use of subterfuge will then allow him to infiltrate the smuggling gangs of Deal in a determined bid to unmask those in control.
But with suspicion raised around him and his enemies banding together, can Brazier survive long enough to bring those responsible to justice?


text:
Q: Dreamweaver CS5 - CSS Website design tool Is there a better CSS Website design/editor tool to design CSS Websites other than Dreamweaver that could be considered a great tool for a developer?
Thanks

Thanks for your answers.
I am an ASP.NET developer. I need an easy way (GUI-like) to design Websites layouts with pure CSS however I am not planning to master CSS as I cannot allocate time to that.
I haven't used Dreamweaver yet, I am just checking on the relatively easiest and best tool for css layouts.
Appreciate your help.
Regards

A: If you're serious about front-end development, you shouldn't need anything more than a text editor with syntax highlighting for HTML, CSS and Javascript.
On Windows, Notepad++ does a pretty decent job, another good option is Aptana, especially for Javascript, although it can be a bit heavy weight depending on the job. I've also used Sublime but not in any great depth, and then there's Microsoft Expression Web which is very similar to Dreamweaver (I thought they had a free 'Express' edition but apparently not).
On Mac, as mentioned CSSEdit is worth a look as is TextMate or Coda or Espresso. CSSEdit is squarely aimed at CSS, although to be honest the only feature I really use is sectioning with @group comments (I usually use TextMate for HTML and Javascript along side it).
Or for the hardcore on any platform there's vim. Check out vim casts for some great tutorials.

A: If you are on Mac use MacRabbit's CSSEdit its the best money i've ever spent :)
Also I would insist upon my stack:

Left-to-Right:
Transmit, Billings, CodeBox, Coda(Just testing), TextMate, CSSEdit, Versions, Git Tower, Kaleidoscope, MAMP Pro, MarsEdit
All are non WYSIWYG.

A: BlueGriffon has a free version and is very good at CSS3/HTML5


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Pages in this thread: 1 2 3 ... 12 13 14 15 16
Yeah, my kids were ok with the actions and so on up to a point but after that point was reached ...
I thought of this thread yesterday as we were driving through the university town next to us. There's a church, located in lan old supermarket building, that used to be called Victory Christian Fellowship, but now the sign simply says VICTORY. Its trademark, for lack of a better term, is a shield bearing a lion's head, half white, half black...that's on all their properties and advertising. There's also a youth division callled "Ignite." The website seems like standard crypto-Baptist, but I find the iconography unnerving. When I see the building I expect black-shirted fascists to come marching out, torches in hand. I honestly can't fathom why anyone would say, " Out of all the churches in this city, I think I'll go to the one that looks like a neo- Nazi clubhouse."
Helen-Eva
I think it's somewhere that has a safe area in the main body of the church with toys and rugs for small kids and their parents to play in during the service. Or at least that's what it is where I go. The kids take part in the bits of the service that they can. They take their own collection in e.g. a plastic tea pot and then it goes in the salver with the rest up to be blessed and then onto the altar. Seems to work.
I thought the radio 3 announcer said "Weber" but it turned out to be Webern. Story of my life.
Posts: 637 | From: London, hopefully in a theatre or concert hall, more likely at work | Registered: Aug 2009 | IP: Logged
Maybe they've got a particular mission to those likely to be attracted to fascism.
Originally posted by Helen-Eva:
The kids take part in the bits of the service that they can. They take their own collection in e.g. a plastic tea pot and then it goes in the salver with the rest up to be blessed and then onto the altar. Seems to work.
Why do so many churches "train" children to take up a collection before they teach them anything else? (I'm not just referring to your church Helen-Eva -- I've seen this in various churches all my life.)
That reminds me of a song we used to sing at Sunday School:
Hear the pennies dropping, listen as they fall;
Every one for Jesus - he shall have them all.
But even quite young children can also be encouraged to do other jobs like serving, handing out books, blowing out candles etc. etc.
There comes a time, of course, when such things pall...but that's another story!
And actually, of course, in many A-C churches there are, or can be, lots of jobs that children can do, or help with.
Arethosemyfeet: If you mean they have a mission to testosterone- pumped 20- and 30- something men who want to feel manly and "win" at something, since they're not einning at life, that seems to be the demographic they're targeting. But -- LOL -- I think fighting fascism isn't a goal.
Originally posted by Pigwidgeon:
I assume because it's a simple part of the service that's easy to join in with that can easily be understood by kids. We used to take in a penny for charity at my first year primary school too.
Originally posted by Karl: Liberal Backslider:
Well, maybe they've outgrown that kind of thing. Or else they've just taken after their introverted, ageing, bookish parents!
Seriously though, most churches are poor at children's work in general. I'm not pointing the finger; it's the outcome of a long-term decline in adult engagement, and a plethora of alternative leisure activities, etc. Churches can't get the staff, and access to training is patchy. Moreover, activities that are suitable for 3 year olds won't appeal to 6 year olds. If they're already dancing and singing along to Beyonce what use is a kiddy song with actions?
But to insist that all kids and their parents will or should respect the traditional aura of the CofE, as is being implied above, seems to be unwise.
I'm sure this is true, to an extent.
However, David Voas of the CofE's Church Growth Resource Programme also makes the point that there's no clear solution to decline, and that we can't assume that success in one church can be transferred wholesale to another. What works at your popular, child-friendly AC church might not be helpful or feasible in another AC church in another setting.
Voas suggests that churches need to be engaged in a process of reflection. I'm sure this means that 'trends' have to be considered.
(But old ladies singing along to 'The Wise Man Built His House upon the Rock' with the little uns really doesn't feel like a trend to me. Weren't people doing this at churches years ago? Ordinary MOTR churches. Maybe not in the CofE.)
I would say reflection was required to help a church understand its own beliefs to build that confidence and to know how it can offer a Christian presence in its own community. That does not mean chasing trends. The reflection tools encourage churches to review prayerfully their mission, ensuring that visions are shared and agreed in advance.
Originally posted by Albertus:
Yeah, this is often said, but my kids had absolutely no interest in doing them. These jobs (which they did try for a few services) didn't make the service any less tedious and dull to them.
Depends how it's done and depends on the kids. Some would like being the centre of attention, wandering around with candles and incense: others would hate it.
But I didn't say that children shouldn't sing songs with actions, or that the adults shouldn't join in. What I said was, if some of the adults don't join in then they shouldn't be made examples of, and particularly not by telling the children that said adults don't like them. This seems particularly unkind to both adults and children even if it is the case!
It's a long time since I was a child, but if anyone had suggested it, I would not have been interested in or attracted by dressing up in robes and being some sort of acolyte - though through most of my childhood we didn't go to churches that were high enough for that sort of thing. So it didn't arise. The only real area of involvement for youngsters in those days was choir, but as I couldn't sing in tune, nobody ever suggested it.
Thankfully, those days were before 'actions', but I don't think I'd have reckoned much to them.
I was a parent by the time I first encountered adults doing them (family services, late seventies). One was told Christians are supposed to be child-like. But it struck me as childish rather than child like, and really rather silly.
Of course, it was you who focused on 'trends', not myself.
Considering the community is indeed important. I don't think chasing pell-mell after trends is a huge issue for the Christian communities I'm most aware of, but you may well find it to be an intractable and corrosive problem where you are.
And as I said, old ladies occasionally participating in action songs isn't really a 'trend' from my perspective!
Seriously though, most churches are poor at children's work in general.
Most churches? That may be your experience but it's not mine at all.
Thinking of side doors ...
Like most Ministers, I stand at the church door after the service and shake hands with folk as they leave.
The other week I went to King Charles The Martyr in Royal.tonbridge Wells as a civilian (ie not a MW), and we were invited to the hall for tea.
Unfortunately, we couldn'tget out of the church because the vicar was engaged in a *very* long conversation with someone *in* the doorway and there was just no way past!
At that point I really wished we'd been on duty!
(And the fact we couldn't actually find the hall)
Your post made me wonder what kind of church activity would appeal to my own kids ...
After all, they grew up in 'lively' church settings and that didn't float their boat. They are aware of more traditional settings but haven't had a great deal of direct exposure to them ... although they used to refer to this as 'strict church' when they were little as they assumed that anything with a bit of decorum would be harsh in some way ...
The answer is, I don't really know.
They went on a few 'Youth for Christ' type residential events and came back singularly unimpressed and doing toe-curlingly accurate impressions of what they'd been subjected to ...
'And yeah, right ... God is just awesome, right? Listen to this from the Bible right? [insert verse of choice]. Isn't that amazing?! Awesome! Whoaaoahhhh ...'
And so on and so forth ...
But then, someone swinging a thurible wouldn't have impressed them much either ...
Because one of the most important facets of christianity is generosity
I was brought up as very traditional.
we used to go to a children's church club at our local pentecostal church, which I loved.
One week we were invited to their Sunday service.
It was awful. I was really scared in the service, because it was very full-on and intense.
that one experience put me off that kind of worship.
I still find it very hard to join in with that kind of worship.
<shudder>
I should apologise for not including the word 'British' in that sentence. I wasn't referring to churches throughout the world.
It's not a mere opinion, sadly; I've read research that highlights the problems that many British churches face with regards to offering adequate provision for children's work.
Congregations have reduced in size, parents value religious education less, and there are so many more exciting leisure options. It's unsurprising therefore that what's on offer at most churches isn't going to meet the standards that children are likely to have.
As an example of the problem, 48% of CofE churches have fewer than five children under the age of 16.
(one of the Organist's twins here)
The sight of any of the following: drum kit, microphone stand, screen, theatre lighting.
Or a vicar who greets newcomers with "call me Tony" and seems not to own a pair of proper shoes.
Chorister
Completely Frocked
But, presumably, a Rood Screen would be just fine?
Retired, sitting back and watching others for a change.
Posts: 34626 | From: Cream Tealand | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged
Much favoured, in fact. One of my two alternate shacks has an exquisite rood screen - beautiful, detailed, and see-through.
There is a painting over the altar at All Souls, Langham Place, not that it is often on view. Normally it is covered by the screen on which to project whatever, I guess words of anything sung and images.
Images?
At All Souls, Langham Place?
Is Outrage!
the altar at All Souls, Langham Place,
Communion table?
Went back to a former church to discover that a large screen had been put up - it would completely block off the choir stalls from the nave pews! I think different types of church furniture sends a strong message, although it might be misleading you'd be forgiven for thinking that you can read a lot about a church from just walking in through the door. Apparently the same church has decided the pulpit is no longer needed, so they have put it in a shed.
Originally posted by Chorister:
Apparently the same church has decided the pulpit is no longer needed, so they have put it in a shed.
Some sermons might be improved by being preached from a shed. (But I assume the preacher is in the church, just not using the pulpit.)
All Soul's LP had a lot of very fine church furnishings which simply "vanished" when the reordering took place.
I want yes at the church and it was prayed and bread and it was good
balaam
Making an ass of myself
Call me biased, I'm the drummer.
Guilty of all of these except the vicar isn't called Tony and has decent shoes. Plus we have 2 Sunday morning serviced so you can avoid hearing the drums and hear the organ instead by attending the 9am service.
As for screens, we now has 2, which block the view to bits of boring wall, replacing the one which blocked the view to our rather nice east window. When we installed the first obtrusive screen congregational singing improved as the were now singing with heads raised, rather than mumbling down into hymn books.
Last ever sig ...
Posts: 9049 | From: Hen Ogledd | Registered: May 2003 | IP: Logged
Originally posted by balaam:
Plus we have 2 Sunday morning serviced so you can avoid hearing the drums and hear the organ instead by attending the 9am service.
Churches that assume that everyone who appreciates traditional music and liturgy is up at the crack of dawn.
If that is not an option, one can skip Sunday worship and leave it until mid-week Communion, say on a Wednesday and it may be traditional rite.
Does your mid-week Communion include full choir and organ?
Rather unlikely, I would think, though some of the churches in the City of London do have a fairly traditional (not necessarily BCP) Eucharist with hymns (or even a full-on Sung Eucharist) at or around lunchtime during the week.
Bishops Finger beat me to it in answering your question and I would have made reference to mid-week Sung Eucharist in London as well. Outside London, mid-week morning said Euchist (on a Wednesday or a different day) are quite commonplace, sometimes using a traditional rite.
Churches with only one worship space means that one service is too early and the other you will not be out until 12.30.
The first service is the one which has a set finish time, communion with hymns takes around one hour. The contemporary service can be open ended (but not too long or people with food cooking will leave early.)
Having said that, having music that is played well, regardless of style, is what attracts. We're fortunate in having a wealth of musicians.
Churches with only one worship space means that one service is too early and the other you will not be out until 12.30. ....
Churches with more than one worship space capable of being used for two different services simultaneously must be be very rare. That's even before one considers whether there's something fundamentally wrong in the concept of encouraging the members to meet in some other way than as one body.
Agreed. But several churches have different services of different styles spread through the day, from early BCP Communion to Parish Eucharist to Family Service to Messy Church ... your dictum would say every church should have a single service only. And perhaps you're right.
Orthodox churches only have one Eucharist a day, apparently. So you couldn't have an 8am one and an 11am one, say, for different congregations within the same parish with a different 'style' for each.
In the West, though that particular horse has long since bolted.
I'm uncomfortable with two services within a single congregation, such as the pattern at our local parish church, but at least a 9am service allows respite and refuge for those who don't want to be subjected to the silly stuff that goes on at 11am ...
Occasionally, I have heard of two worship services, each of a different worship style, held on the same church premises at the same time. Such as one eucharistic and the other non-eucharistic. I don't go to a church where that happens, but if I did, I would normally select the eucharistic service.
Forthview
In orthodox churches,as Gamaliel says, the eucharist is only celebrated once each day.The Sunday liturgy comprising both Matins and Eucharist lasts for several hours.The faithful are not obliged to attend all or indeed any of the Divine Liturgy.Many worshippers will come and go just as they wish.
What you will not find,however, are the sort of things you find in many Western churches such as outreach,all age,or family oriented services.There is not really anything like 'simple Low Mass'
The Western church established the idea of a number of services,cutting down the length of these.
Byzantine rite Catholic churches will sometimes have more than one Divine liturgy celebrated on the same day,but it is not common.
Posts: 3444 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Feb 2007 | IP: Logged
Liturgylover
If anything that particular pattern of having more than one service is growing, at least in the part of London where I live. Two nearby churches have an 8am BCP Eucharist, another at 9.15 which is aimed more at families, and a sung Eucharist at 10.30. Another nearby church has around 60 to 90 people at its 8am with many families attending at this hour.
Posts: 452 | From: North London | Registered: Jun 2010 | IP: Logged
This "market segmentation" not only raises profound questions about the nature of our "gathering" but poses a real problems for churches which only have the resources to offer one service. To put it bluntly, many people seem to want church to be done "their way"; if it isn't, they will wipe the dust from their feet and look elsewhere. Churches that must try to satisfy everyone may well find it impossible to please anyone!
They probably are quite rare.
But in some cases the only realistic alternative to running two services for different people already attending a single church is for the unfavoured group to leave that church entirely - and how does that encourage the notion of 'one body'?
Moreover, there are plenty of churches that raise much needed funds by renting rooms out to a second (or third, etc.) congregation from another denomination. Should that be discouraged because it goes against 'one body'?
The idea that we should all be doing the same thing in the same way at the same time also feels rather anti-democratic to me. It's not very Protestant, is it? It also seems quite reactionary, in that it denies the reality of our pluralistic, multicultural, diverse communities.
The great (if maybe now rather forgotten) Fr Conrad Noel, who was vicar of the splendid parish church in Thaxted, had a vision of such churches as being like a cathedral. Not in the sense of lots of formal services, but as the mother church which (our Lord's image, not necessarily his) gathers all her children under her wings. So that alongside a splendid Eucharist with colour and music and incense etc, you would have a Quaker meeting taking place in another room, an evangelical praise service in another, and so on. All would be able to worship in accordance with their traditions and 'comfort zone', but they would be conscious of being members of the same Body and would come together from time to time for joint acts of worship. Instead of seeing this as divisive it could be a pattern of true ecumenism. Catholic as being inclusive, celebrating the Body; Protestant as allowing for freedom of conscience and expression.
Liverpool Cathedral already operates a bit like that. There is a formal sung eucharist in the nave, while simultaneously in the crypt is something more like café church. Later is a Persian-language eucharist for the many recent immigrants from the near east.
Church halls are fairly commonly used for services - while it's unusual for them for be used at the same time as a service in the actual church, it does happen. So usually the space is there (churches that don't have a church hall must be relatively uncommon), but most churches seem uninterested in doing that - it does seem lacking in togetherness.
Megachurches will have multiple buildings and even multiple campuses, like universities.
I have been in the church and it was good 1


text:
The Big Screen: Reel FX Makes A Movie
by Stephen Becker 31 Oct 2013 8:20 AM
This week, we talk about the creative studio's first feature film with its CEO, Steve O'Brien.
CTA TBD
In the animated feature Free Birds, Owen Wilson a Woody Harrelson play a couple of turkeys on a time-traveling mission to the first Thanksgiving. Their goal: To get turkey off the day's menu.
If you're a regular Big Screen listener, that might sound a little kiddie for our tastes. (And quite a contrast from last week's show.) But my co-host, Dallas Morning News movie critic Chris Vognar, and I were interested because it's the first movie produced completely in-house by Dallas creative studio Reel FX. So this week, we spoke with Reel FX CEO Steve O'Brien about the process. And he told us to expect more of the same.
"We're already half way through our second film, actually," he says. "Our second film will come out Oct. 17 of 2014, so we're less than a year away from that release. And then we're in the process of setting up our third film for distribution as well."
It sounds like a hectic schedule. But O'Brien says the pace is important to keeping Reel FX running smoothly.
"We employ 350 people down in Deep Ellum. And a big part of our job is making sure that we don't have big breaks in production, because those people aren't utilized and that's money down the drain."
Be sure to subscribe to The Big Screen on iTunes. Stream this week's episode below or download it.
http://artandseek.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/10990_The-Big-ScreenOct31.mp3
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Reel FX
The Big Screen
About Stephen Becker
Stephen Becker produces the shows Think and Anything You Ever Wanted to Know for KERA. As part of the Art&Seek team, Stephen produces radio and digital stories, along with the podcast "The Big Screen," with Chris Vognar, movie critic of The Dallas Morning News. View more about Stephen Becker.
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Next up – Self Esteem!
Most of us make it through the first two galleries in very good shape. We are well cared for by our families, educated or given a set of skills, and we learn to get along with others. We have a sense of who we are and where we belong.
However, once we have these things, we want more – it is only human. The more that we want involves the next big step of self-esteem. We want to feel good about ourselves and our accomplishments. We want to feel appreciated, that we make a difference, and we even strive for prestige and the recognition of others. This is all very normal and to be expected. It is in this third gallery of the exposition that all of this happens, and in two phases.
The first phase involves distancing ourselves from others through schools, clubs, hobby groups, civic, cultural and religious organizations and our places of employment. This phase generates flow beyond what the second gallery could deliver. The flow from this first phase of self-esteem gives us a sense of appreciation and confidence. But, we have not yet suffered any loss of reputation or finances. And, we have not yet earned the prestige and recognition of others leading to high self-esteem.
Next post, I will provide some artistic examples supporting the theory.
This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged happiness, Self-esteem, Self-help book on September 11, 2013 by oliver.


text:
Gareth Bale reveals role in convincing Liverpool's Ben Woodburn to snub England for Wales
Ben Woodburn made his Wales debut against Austria on Saturday (2 September).
By Pradhan Muthanna
September 5, 2017 08:13 BST
Five biggest Premier League transfer deals of 2017	Newsweek
Gareth Bale has confirmed that he played a role in convincing Ben Woodburn to pledge his allegiances to Wales and reject the advances from England.
The 17-year-old Liverpool winger announced his arrival on the international stage with a well-taken goal four minutes into his Wales debut during their 2-1 win over Austria in a World Cup qualifier clash on Saturday (2 September).
Zlatan Ibrahimovic expected to return to action in three months as injury comeback gathers pace
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Barcelona flop Arda Turan rules out Turkey move, says he remains happy at Nou Camp
Woodburn is likely to play again when Wales take on Moldova in what is a must-win game for their hopes of qualifying for the showpiece event in Russia in 2018. The winger is eligible to play for England as he was born in Nottingham to English parents.
England have made a number of advances to convince the Reds winger to defect to the country of his residence, but he committed his international future to the Wales national team. Bale revealed that he played his part in swaying Woodburn during a friendly against Netherlands in 2015 when the two were seated in the same box.
"I remember meeting him. I was injured for the Holland game and he sat in the box next to me because we're in the same agency, Stellar," Bale said, as quoted by the Daily Mail.
"I had a little chat with him, and obviously I wanted to get him on board because we knew he was a great player. He's a typical winger, likes to take on a player, likes to shoot, likes to cross. We're delighted to have him. He's Welsh anyway, so he's ours," the Real Madrid star added.
Bale, however, is aware that such an explosive debut will bring added pressure to deliver in every game. But the former Tottenham Hotspur attacker is keen to shield the youngster from the spotlight and make him feel comfortable in his new surroundings.
"I've been in his position before, as youngster it's a lot to come in. So we don't want to put pressure on shoulders," the Wales international said. "I know he's scored a great goal and done great on his debut, but we want him to feel comfortable. Put the pressure on us – we have the experience to deal with it and we can guide him."
Gareth Bale revealed that he played a role in convincing Ben Woodburn (L) choose Wales over England Getty
Bale, meanwhile, continues to be linked with a move away from the Spanish capital club with Manchester United touted to be his next potential destination. He was linked with a move away this summer, but that was quickly rubbished by his agent.
The Red Devils, however, are not willing to give up and according to ESPN, they are ready to wait for another year and make a fresh move next summer. The Welshman is not guaranteed a regular place in the starting XI following the emergence of Marco Asensio and Isco and if he fails to play regularly United manager Jose Mourinho, who has already confirmed his interest in signing him, is likely to make a move again.
Related topics : Liverpool FC Real Madrid Premier League


text:
Q: Validating a set of dates in Microsoft Sharepoint I am trying to validate dates in a task request form that has a column of [Date of Request] (which would be the day that they are adding the task to the main hub.
I, then, want that [Date of Request] to see the [Requested Posting Date] column and not allow it to post a date that is before the [Date of Request].
I have tried everything I can from:
=[Requested Posting Date]<=[Date of Request]

to
=[Requested Posting Date]<[Date of Request]

to
[Due Date] > [Created]

and none of those work for what I am trying to do here. I am doing all of these formulas in the validation settings section if that helps. Please help me if you can everything I try fails or just doesn't do anything, let me know how to resolve this and get it working. Just nothing will affect the date pickers whatsoever they do exactly the same thing no matter what formula I throw in, im completely lost, let me know Thanks!

A: Try:
=[Requested Posting Date]>=[Date of Request]
If I'm reading this right, you don't want to allow the Requested Posting Date to fall before the Date of Request. The validation fails only if the formula evaluates to FALSE. With your formula:
=[Requested Posting Date]<=[Date of Request]
a Requested Posting Date that falls before the Date of Request will evaluate to TRUE. Earlier dates have lower values.
You can confirm this is the issue by attempting three test cases: date before, date after, and same date.


text:
package AsposeCellsExamples.LoadingSavingConvertingAndManaging;

import com.aspose.cells.LoadOptions;
import com.aspose.cells.Workbook;
import AsposeCellsExamples.Utils;

public class GetWarningLoadingAnExcel {
	public static void main(String[] args) throws Exception
	{
		// The path to the documents directory.
		String dataDir = Utils.getSharedDataDir(GetWarningLoadingAnExcel.class) + "LoadingSavingConvertingAndManaging/";

		//Create load options and set the WarningCallback property
		//to catch warnings while loading workbook
		LoadOptions options = new LoadOptions();
		options.setWarningCallback(new WarningCallback());

		//Load the source excel file
		Workbook book = new Workbook(dataDir + "sampleDuplicateDefinedName.xlsx", options);

		//Save the workbook
		book.save(dataDir + "outputDuplicateDefinedName.xlsx");

	}
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Home Industry Newark Penn Station to get $190M facelift
Newark Penn Station to get $190M facelift
5-year plan to upgrade, renovate, rebuild and remodel includes immediate spend of $30M to improve overall aesthetics
Tom Bergeron
Newark Penn Station is the most important transit hub in the state. It also may be the most outdated. That will soon be changing. Gov. Phil Murphy announced Tuesday morning the station is getting a much-needed facelift.
In an announcement that included hosts of transit and elected officials, Murphy said work to bring $30 million in improvements will begin immediately — with another $160 million in upgrades coming in the next five years.
The first phase of renovations will focus on aesthetics such as restoration of the classic benches in the waiting room, installation of brighter lighting, updating of the bathrooms, improved HVAC and air handling, fresh paint and tile, and a deep clean of the limestone exterior to once again showcase the architecturally significant façade.
There will be improved directional and way-finding signage to help make sense of this station's labyrinth of platforms and hallways. And the bus lanes will get new lighting and improved drainage — all in an effort to improve the rider experience, officials said.
Longer-term enhancements will focus on improving the station's openness, light and overall commuter and visitor experience.
The ultimate goal is to make Newark Penn Station more of a destination, with added dining and shopping in the concourse, officials said.
The upgrades will be funded by the state.
"Penn Station is a vital hub, not just for those heading to New York City each day, but it is also a gateway to Newark and the resurgence that has taken place here over the past two decades," Murphy said. "We are thrilled to announce these renovations, which, when completed, will help restore this historic station to its former glory."
Newark Penn Station is the seventh-busiest rail station in North America and one of the busiest stations in the region. The station is served by New Jersey Transit commuter trains, the Newark Light Rail, the PATH and Amtrak's Northeast Corridor services. The station also serves as Newark's main bus terminal.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka said the project to upgrade, renovate, rebuild and remodel the facility is important for New Jersey as a whole, for the region and for Newark particularly.
"Newark is the largest city in the state and Penn Station is a major gateway for commerce, employment and economic development," he said. "It is good news that this administration understands the importance of this, and are committed to ensuring that this critical piece of infrastructure has significant investment."
Few were happier to hear the news than the heads of Onyx Equities, which own and operate Gateway One, Two and Four.
Onyx co-founder and Principal John Saraceno said the upgrades will be a key to revitalizing the area.
"Today's announcement represents the single most critical moment in Newark's revival as a business location in a generation," he said. "Many companies are rethinking their long-term plans, and the shared vision for Newark Penn Station among NJ Transit, the city of Newark and the Murphy administration is sure to elevate Newark as a prospective location for businesses.
"With the improvements Onyx is making to our Gateway complex, nearly $200 million is being invested in Newark's front door, which is sure to stimulate even more activity in an area that already had renewed energy."
Opened in 1935, Newark Penn Station is listed on both the State and National Registers of Historic Places. The station was originally designed and still operates as an intermodal facility serving pedestrian, taxi, bus and private vehicle traffic generated by the more than 50,000 transit customers who use the station each day.
Department of Transportation Commissioner and NJ Transit Board Chair Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti said the upgrades will serve multiple purposes.
"(The station) deserves this significant investment to see its grandeur restored," she said. "At the same time, we'll be improving the overall customer experience at the station."
NJ Transit CEO Kevin Corbett said the announcement is another step in the organization's plans.
"Consistent with the goals laid out in our recently released 10-Year Strategic Plan, NJT2030, this additional funding will allow us to perform the necessary work that will improve the travel experience for the thousands of customers who travel through Newark Penn Station every day," he said.
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text:
Chrisette Michele "Epiphany" (2009)
From the May 11, 2009 issue of The Miami Herald (web / print)
Chrisette Michele deserved better production than she was getting. Although she shined recently on Nas' Nat King Cole tribute "Can't Forget About You" and The Roots' energetic go-go-infused "Rising Up," her smoky jazz vocals were sometimes out of place on her 2007 debut, I Am.
Epiphany is an attempt at a new direction for Michele. Executive-produced and co-written by Def Jam R&B labelmate Ne-Yo, the album deals with heartbreak and the full range of emotions it entails: from the initial realization on "Epiphany (I'm Leaving)," a sassy breakup song accompanied by spacey synthesizers and robotic percussion, to "I'm Okay." The latter is a slowly bubbling piano ballad with a crescendo that finds Michele finally finding solace over layered harp plucks and electric guitars.
Her vocals are the main attraction throughout. Michele has a dynamic range, and her sultry voice often channels jazz greats Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. The best moments include the self-deprecating "Blame It On Me," where she accepts responsibility despite the breakup not being her fault, and the upbeat doo-wop-influenced "Mr. Right."
But sub-par production often detracts from her great vocals. Even with a strong opening and a stronger ending, some of Epiphany's middle area, including "All I Ever Think About" and "Playin' Our Song," are generic and unmemorable both musically and lyrically, resorting to standard adult contemporary balladry.
Regardless, Michele proves to be a unique voice in contemporary R&B. Epiphany further solidifies her talents and proves that soul singers don't need to cater to pop and hip-hop sensibilities to be noticed.
Tagged Chrisette Michele, Epiphany, Nas, Ne-Yo, Rising Up, The Roots
One thought on "Chrisette Michele "Epiphany" (2009)"
Chrisette Michele + The Roots « Ruhi's Ranting says:
[…] Fallon last night and she performed the title track from her new album, "Epiphany" (read my review) along with The Roots, Adam Blackstone, and her backup […]


Expertise: utilization of fruit processing wastes, enhancement of quality and nutraceutical potential of foods, handling/storage of fruits and vegetable fermentations.
Dr. Farooq Ahmed Masoodi is currently heading the Department of Food Science & Technology at University of Kashmir. He received his doctorate from G. B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar, India. He obtained his masters in Food Science & Technology from Punjab Agriculture University, Ludhiana, India.
Prof. F. A. Masoodi has a basic degree in Agricultural Sciences. He has lectured in many reputed institutions/universities of India like Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, AMU Aligrah, Pondicherry University. He has worked as a regular faculty member in some reputed institutions of India. Dr. F.A. Masoodi played a pioneering role in establishing the Department of Food Science & Technology at University of Kashmir. Prof. Masoodi is currently on the expert panel of eight national level committees which play an important role in formulating the policies of various research institutions like National Dairy Research Institute (NDRI) Karnal, India besides being a member of various academic bodies of universities all over India.
He has authored about 130 research papers in reputed journals and three book chapters. Prof. Masoodi has been on the editorial board of some journals besides being a reviewer of many others. He has developed a strong linkage with food processing industry in the region and created opportunities for students/scholars to work in industry during the course of their study.


My daughter, Ava, has received speech therapy since age three for articulation difficulties. She is now four and has made wonderful progress. Her speech therapist really provided great learning activities while focusing on the production of target sounds. This helps make therapy fun and interesting. Ava really enjoys therapy and tells me how much she loves her therapist. She really puts compassion and hard work into all that she does for her patients. We appreciate all she has done to help Ava!


text:
kneat.com (CVE:KSI) Trading 4.7% Higher
Posted by MarketBeat News on Jan 21st, 2023
kneat.com, inc. (CVE:KSI – Get Rating)'s stock price traded up 4.7% during mid-day trading on Friday . The company traded as high as C$4.30 and last traded at C$4.25. 114,332 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 166% from the average session volume of 42,978 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$4.06.
kneat.com Trading Up 4.7 %
The business has a 50-day moving average of C$4.25 and a 200-day moving average of C$4.25. The firm has a market cap of C$325.27 million and a price-to-earnings ratio of -30.80. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 24.11, a current ratio of 2.47 and a quick ratio of 2.41.
About kneat.com
kneat.com, inc. designs, develops, and supplies software for data and document management within regulated environments in the United States, Ireland, Canada, internationally. The company offers Kneat Gx platform, a configurable commercial off-the-shelf application focused on validation lifecycle management and testing for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device manufacturing industries.
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text:
PSL Statement
Cuba: 61 years of socialist victory
By Party for Socialism and Liberation
photo: Needpix
Exactly 61 years ago today, Cubans poured into the streets to cheer the triumph of the Rebel Army led by Fidel Castro. Fulgencio Batista's U.S.-backed dictatorship was defeated after he fled the country hours before.
Cuba stands tall and proud today, receiving salutations from all over the world for the heroic tenacity and humane principles of its socialist revolution, defended by a people that has withstood a ferocious U.S. blockade and aggression for 61 years.
President Miguel Díaz-Canel tweeted a message to the people today: "We Cubans are winners of the impossible. And this is the right time for us to set out for another exceptionally positive year."
Despite an especially challenging year for Cuba as it faced heavy U.S. economic attacks, it is encouraging news that its 2019 economy will end on the plus side when statistics are tallied. In comparison, according to Alejandro Gil Fernández, minister of economy and planning, growth in Latin America and the Caribbean last year was only 0.1 percent.
Escalated aggression and tightening of the blockade
2019 is a year that Trump escalated U.S. aggression and a severe tightening of the blockade.
The most harmful of U.S. measures was Trump's recent implementation on May 2 of Title III of the 1996 Helms-Burton law.
Now in effect, Title III entitles any U.S. corporation or individual — even a Cuban individual who became a U.S. citizen after 1959 — to sue any corporation or individual in the world that invests in former U.S. property in Cuba. All U.S. properties were expropriated in the early 1960s by the revolutionary government in Cuba's exercise of independence and sovereignty. Although Cuba offered compensation, the U.S. government prohibited U.S. entities from accepting such payment.
The U.S. government also blocked in 2019 the critically important oil shipments from Venezuela to Cuba by sanctioning the ships that deliver fuel. This has forced temporary suspension of some development projects, in addition to impacting public transport and agricultural production.
But Cuba's planned economy and socialist priorities assure that no medical facilities or schools are closed, nor are gasoline prices raised.
Cuban doctors are now under attack in a U.S. campaign demonizing Cuba's medical international missions. The medical workers have also been forced to leave Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia with the rise of right-wing, pro-U.S. governments.
Cuba's doctors left Bolivia after the right-wing coup of November 2019, despite — or because of — 14 years realizing 73 million medical consultations and 1.5 million operations that saved so many lives. Washington's war on Cuba's medical internationalism means that millions of people in Brazil, Ecuador and Bolivia will be left as equally deprived as the more than 40 million U.S. people who have no access to health care, thanks to the capitalist system.
Cuba's free and universal health care system is a moral threat to the United States system, which makes super profits exploiting every human being's need for health care. This is why it is targeted.
Trump also severely limited travel to Cuba for people of the United States, first by eliminating the people-to-people category for legal travel. Then, on Dec. 10, he banned U.S. airline flights to eight Cuban cities, leaving only Havana as a destination.
"The enemy has made the Cuban economy the primary target to destroy. Every minute of resistance to the attack is just saying that only socialism makes the miracle of a small victorious nation in face of a mighty empire unable to crush it," Díaz-Canel has written.
In the never-ending U.S. propaganda war, officials like to point to Cuba's economic difficulties and blame it on socialism, while enforcing the longest and most extensive economic blockade ever. Twelve U.S. presidents and 17 administrations have each proclaimed and tried to bring down Cuba's socialism.
But it is precisely socialism, where Cuba's people come before all else, that has enabled the island to survive and thrive. The unity and deep revolutionary consciousness of the Cuban leadership and the people is a great inspiration to justice-loving peoples of the world.
The Party for Socialism and Liberation salutes Cuba for its stellar example of struggle, resistance and victory. We for our part will not only continue our international solidarity with Cuba, all Latin America, and the world, we are committed to the struggle for what the people here and abroad need most of all, socialism in the United States.
cuba, latin america, socialism
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