November 2015 Newsletter | Strong Hearts International, Inc.
I had the privilege of visiting the center a couple weeks ago. Once again (as with the visit in August), I am so happy to report that things are fantastic! The staff is working hard to maintain the best of conditions for our families there. Only God can orchestrate all that is going on at Strong Families.
The first thing that stands out is the fact that we have very little staff turnover. The caregivers continue to love on each of the children they have in their care, like their own. They are always full of laughter and smiles along the way. They get paid a fair wage, but they are clearly not there just for the money, (although it helps support their families) they are there because they are fulfilling God's calling to serve these families. This is why I always ask for anybody coming to visit, to bring a small token of appreciation for them if they can. I am always looking for ways to say thank you for their service. I have never seen any other cooks or cleaners do their job so joyfully. One staff person is a cleaner and she reminds me of an Ethiopian version of Lucille Ball. The leadership that the lead caregiver gives, social worker, nurse, manager and from our main office of Strong Hearts, is so vital to the sustainability of this program. I cannot say enough positive things about these individuals and how their servant leadership is key to the center.
When working in Ethiopia, especially with NGOs, unfortunately there are more stories of failed projects and corruption, than there are success stories. We are thankful that we can already see the fruits of our labor through this ministry. We have women that are now baptized, families that have stayed together because of the support we have been providing, and families that are better equipped with education and job training because of their participation with SHSF.
I want to close by sharing a story about our newest family. The neighbors (in Kore) found a woman and her 6 children living on the streets. They had made their way to Addis from the countryside. The neighbors just had a death in the community, so there was a vacant room available. They took in this woman and her children and gave her this room to use so they would be off the streets. The community of people I am referring to, are not people that have much themselves. They certainly would not be seen as having a situation that we would view as being privileged enough to take care of somebody else that needed more help than their own family. But they did. They wanted to help. This same group of neighbors then came to our center and asked if we would please take the 2 smallest children during the day. The mom had found work temporarily but now leaves the 6 children during the day, with none of them in school and no food or anything. She is doing what she can to provide for her family, but it is a slow and hard start to provide for so many children on her own. Our staff made the decision to accept the two little ones at our center (even though we are at very much at capacity). This mom (Serkalem) is so thankful for our assistance and happiest that they (Rediet and Yared) are in such a great place during the day and most of all, that they are fed. We do not normally help with materials for family's homes, but have made a few exceptions when the family is in dire straits. This is certainly one of these cases. They have nothing. Imagine having nothing at all. Not a pot, a mattress, a blanket, only the clothes you are wearing. That is this family. We provided some essentials to this family now, and we pray that she can get on her feet. Again and again I am able to witness the love between a mom and her children when I see her pick them up at the end of the day. All smiles and hugs from both mom and the kids. It is the best scene ever and it never gets old to watch. This family still needs sponsors. So do others, but please pray for the 7 of them specifically, as they are encountering a new life in a new town, and thankfully experiencing Jesus' love in a very tangible way.
Many blessings to you as we celebrate Thanksgiving. No matter your life situation, I am positive we can all be thankful for Strong Families. I know I am so thankful for all of you and making Strong Families possible with Christ's guidance.
We are thankful to our partners for their support to expand our work.
If you share our vision and are interested in partnering with Strong Hearts, please contact us!


text:
Detroit archbishop speaks out against Terry Jones rally
Archbishop Allen Vigneron speaks at the Synod for the Middle East in Oct. 2010
, Apr 26, 2011 / 06:16 am (CNA).-
Detroit Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron joined with a group of religious leaders in opposing a Florida pastor's plan to hold an anti-Muslim rally during Holy Week.
"It is possible for an interfaith community of believers to live in peace and liberty, and to do so while promoting social justice and moral values," the archbishop said in an April 21 appearance at the Islamic Center of America in Dearborn, Michigan. "May we never let the negative voices of the few deter us from working together toward these worthy goals on behalf of the many."
Pastor Terry Jones, whose burning of a Quran in March caused international controversy and prompted violent retaliation in Muslim countries, had planned to hold a rally outside the Islamic center on Good Friday. Jones' demonstration was scheduled to demonstrate in the evening in front of the center. He announced that the protest would be against "jihad, sharia, and the radicalization of Muslims in America."
More than 700 members and supporters of the Interfaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit held a vigil outside the center, in opposition to Jones' plan.
"Mutual respect and a common purpose should not just be the hallmarks of relations between Catholics and Muslims," Archbishop Vigneron said at the rally. "Rather, they they should be the hallmarks of relations between peoples of all faiths living together in our community." He praised the heavily Muslim city of Dearborn as an example of peaceful coexistence.
"We have an opportunity to show the nation and the world that it is possible for peoples of many different faiths to respect one another and to foster mutual understanding. It is possible for an interfaith community of believers to live in peace and liberty, and to do so while promoting social justice and moral values."
He cited the Second Vatican Council's document "Nostra Aetate," which urges cooperation between Christians and those who practice other religions. "The Fathers of the Second Vatican Council," he noted, "explain the goals that Catholics and Muslims should work toward in society" – including "mutual understanding for the benefit of all men," and peace between their respective religions.
"As a Christian leader," he stated, "I am committed to this respectful attitude and to these worthy goals." Imam Hassan Al-Qazwini, a scholar and religious leader at the Islamic Center of America, said local Muslims were "indebted to our Christian friends who have showed us absolute support."
The show of support for Muslims, however, was not what ultimately caused Pastor Jones' planned demonstration to be canceled. City officials denied him permission to hold the public demonstration, and used an 1846 law to require him to post a one-dollar "peace bond," as a pledge to the city that he would not cause a disturbance.
Because he refused to pay the bond, Jones was arrested along with his assistant, Wayne Sapp, who is said to have carried out Jones' previous threats to burn a Quran during a March 2011 mock-trial of the book. The two men spent a brief time in jail on Friday evening, and were released after someone else reportedly paid the bond on their behalf.
Jones described the incident as a "mockery of the judicial process" and a "total violation of our constitutional rights." He also stated that he was considering suing the city of Dearborn, and holding another protest outside its city hall on April 29.
Christians in San Diego hold 'Choose Life!' rally as Obama speaks at Notre Dame
As President Obama is honored at the University of Notre Dame, hundreds of San Diego Christians...
Panama archbishop speaks out against death penalty
Archbishop Jose Domingo Ulloa of Panama City recently denounced a proposal to legalize the death...
Archbishop Gomez 'perfect choice' to head Los Angeles, remarks Archbishop Chaput
Reacting to the Vatican's appointment of Archbishop Jose H. Gomez as coadjutor archbishop for...

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Singapore Eases Covid-19 Restrictions
As of 26 September 2020, Singapore's Covid-19 cases stood at 57,665. There were 29 cases remaining in hospital, none of whom in critical condition. 268 asymptomatic cases or those with mild symptoms were cared for at community facilities. There had been no new community cases nor new clusters in the past few days. As a result, Singapore government announced on 23 September 2020 relaxed Covid-19 restrictions. With guidance from your economics tutor Singapore in economics tuition Singapore, discuss the purpose of relaxing these restrictions.
More Workers Allowed At Workplaces
From 28 September 2020, the government will allow more workers to return to their workplaces. However, working from home remains the default mode of working. The overall percentage of staff (those who are able to work from home) working in the office must not exceed 50 per cent. Staff who are able to work from home must continue to do so for at least half of their work time. You may discuss with your economics tutor Singapore in your economics tuition Singapore class its impact on productivity.
With more workers returning to workplace, employers are advised to stagger their staff's reporting times, so as to minimize travelling during peak hours. Employers are also advised to embrace flexible work arrangements to address the same purpose. Workplace events and activities like meetings may be allowed to resume too. Details will be announced later. However, employers must continue to practise workplace safe distancing measures. Any non-compliance may result in penalties, suspension of workplaces or withdrawal of government payouts such as Jobs Support Scheme and Jobs Credit Scheme. To know more about Jobs Support Scheme and Jobs Credit Scheme, you may sign up for economics tuition Singapore with a reputable economics tutor Singapore.
The legal cut-off age to wear masks will be raised to six years old from two years old effective 28 September 2020. However, some pre-school operators and parents prefer to stick to the current practice for extra protection for children. Mr Edmund Quek is the best economics tutor Singapore. His economics tuition Singapore centre is conveniently located within five minutes' walk from the Bishan MRT Station.
The relaxed rules on cinemas are welcomed by both cinema operators and their customers. From 1 October 2020, large cinema halls with over 300 seats can have up to 150 patrons. The condition is to separate the hall into 3 zones with a maximum of 50 patrons in each zone. In consultation with your economics tutor Singapore in economics tuition Singapore, discuss its implications on cinema operators.
Restrictions on worship services will also be relaxed from 3 October 2020. A maximum of 100 attendees will be allowed at worship services, up from the current 50. Same applies to wedding receptions. The government will explore possibility of allowing up to 250 attendees divided into five zones of 50 each. Many expect the government to announce for the phase 3 safe re-opening in a few weeks' time. In discussion with your economics tutor Singapore in your economics tuition Singapore class, explain the pros and cons of a gradual re-opening.
Earlier this month, the government also announced that pilot MICE events would be allowed from 1 October 2020. Event organisers are required to submit their applications to the Singapore Tourism Board. Applications are subject to approval and once approved, event organisers are required to divide the event space into five zones with a maximum of 50 attendees in each zone.
Vincent Chew


Casting rod specially designed for vertical fishing in slow jigging mode. Thanks to its lightness and super parabolic action, it's perfect for effortless fishing hour after hour. Mounted with K guides and FUJI ACS reel seat + TVSK. Cloth rod bag.
Welcome to our Hart Toro Slow Jig 63C special deal. At waveinn, not only can consumers find the best price for their nautical & fishing equipment, but also expert information on nautical & fishing products they are looking to buy. Product prices are up-to-date and all the necessary filters are available, enabling you to compare similar products from top categories like Rods head-to-head.


The owner manager of an orthotics and mobility company lacked financial information and systems to support his decision making. In addition, the owner was heavily involved in the day to day manufacturing operations of the business, to the detriment of strategic planning.
I agreed with the owner that I needed to prepare management information rapidly to provide an overall view of the financial situation of the business. In addition I undertook a detailed review of the business, including systems and SWOT analysis.
I prepared user friendly management accounts for the trading period to date, and engaged a bookkeeper to prepare monthly management accounts thereafter. After concluding a thorough review of the business, I was able to present the report to the owner and stakeholders.
The owner gained an immediate insight into the state of the orthotics and mobility business. This enabled the owner, together with my assistance, to begin planning a strategy for the future development of the two strands of the business, using improved financial information.


text:
Q: How to add a calculated member to all members of a level? To describe in more details, I have a cube with data about workers salaries and other fees in a big consortium (several companies). Therefore I created dimensions Time, FeeType and CompanyWorkers.
I also created a CompanyHierarchy in CompanyWorkers dimension, which obviously is Company->Worker.
Now I need to get average values of fees in each Company. I suppose that means I have to create a calculated member in the CompanyHierarchy.
I know how to do that for a single member:

CREATE MEMBER
  CURRENTCUBE.[CompanyWorkers].[CompanyHierarchy].[Company].&1.[Average]
  AS ....

Copying this line of code for every Company in my cube seems not correct. Can I write one command to add Average to EVERY Company?
UPD: The result I'm trying to achieve is something like this:
Sample

A: You need to have a calculated Measure that has your average logic. Now call this measure for your hierarchy and it will give you the average for each company. You dont need to add it for each member. To add a calculated measure you need to go to the calculations tab in the cube.
Edit : Added a sample Query
You can take a look at the sample below, I would prefer calculating averages in this manner and arranging them on the UI to look like the screen shot you shared
with member
[Measures].[Reseller Sales AmountAverage]
as
case when [Geography].[Geography].currentmember is [Geography].[Geography].defaultmember then null
else
([Geography].[Geography].currentmember.parent,[Measures].[Reseller Sales Amount])/([Geography].[Geography].currentmember.parent,[Measures].[Reseller Order Quantity])
end
select
{[Measures].[Reseller Sales Amount],[Measures].[Reseller Order Quantity],[Measures].[Reseller Sales AmountAverage]}
on columns,
[Geography].[Geography].members
on rows
from [Adventure Works]

Now if you want to have it displayed exactly like your picture then you can take the approach you suggested of adding average member at each level.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Hope Springs Trailer 2012 - Official movie trailer in HD - starring Meryl Streep, Tommy Lee Jones and Steve Carell - directed by David Frankel - after thirty years of marriage, a middle-aged couple attends an intense counseling retreat.
"Hope Springs" movie hits theaters on August 10, 2012.
The first trailer for Great Hope Springs features Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones as a couple who has been married for more than 30 years but lost the spark in their relationship along the way. In order to get it back, the couple decides to attend a retreat led by a renowned counselor, Dr. Bernie Feld (Steve Carell). Great Hope Springs trailer 2012 is presented in full HD 1080p high resolution.
Hope Springs official movie trailer courtesy Sony Pictures.


text:
package net.ssehub.easy.producer.ui.productline_editor.instantiator;

import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Stack;

import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.AlternativeExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.ForStatement;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.IRuleBlock;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.IVisitor;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.InstantiateExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.JoinExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.JoinVariableDeclaration;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.LoadProperties;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.MapExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.Rule;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.RuleCallExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.Script;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.StrategyCallExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.VtlRule;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.WhileStatement;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.ruleMatch.ArtifactMatchExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.ruleMatch.BooleanMatchExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.ruleMatch.CollectionMatchExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.ruleMatch.CompoundMatchExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.ruleMatch.PathMatchExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.buildlangModel.ruleMatch.StringMatchExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.common.Advice;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.common.Compound;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.common.ExpressionStatement;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.common.Typedef;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.common.VariableDeclaration;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.common.VilException;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.CallExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.CompositeExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.ConstantExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.ContainerInitializerExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.Expression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.ExpressionEvaluator;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.FieldAccessExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.IExpressionVisitor;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.MultiAndExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.ParenthesisExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.ResolvableOperationCallExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.ResolvableOperationExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.StringExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.ValueAssignmentExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.VarModelIdentifierExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.VariableExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.VilTypeExpression;
import net.ssehub.easy.instantiation.core.model.expressions.CallExpression.CallType;

/**
 * A visitor turning a VIL script into a tree suitable for SWT display.
 *
 * @author Holger Eichelberger
 */
public class RuleTreeVilVisitor implements IVisitor, IExpressionVisitor {

    private List<RuleTreeNode> rootNodes = new ArrayList<RuleTreeNode>();
    private Stack<TreeNode> parents = new Stack<TreeNode>();

    /**
     * Returns the root nodes.
     *
     * @return the created root nodes
     */
    RuleTreeNode[] getRootNodes() {
        RuleTreeNode[] tmp = new RuleTreeNode[rootNodes.size()];
        return rootNodes.toArray(tmp);
    }

    /**
     * Returns the current parent.
     *
     * @return the current parent
     */
    private TreeNode getCurrentParent() {
        return parents.isEmpty() ? null : parents.peek();
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitVariableDeclaration(VariableDeclaration var) throws VilException {
        return new VariableDeclarationTreeNode(getCurrentParent(), var);
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitAdvice(Advice advice) throws VilException {
        return null; // ignore
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitExpressionStatement(ExpressionStatement statement) throws VilException {
        return statement.getExpression().accept(this);
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitTypedef(Typedef typedef) throws VilException {
        return null; // ignore
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitPathMatchExpression(PathMatchExpression expression) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitStringMatchExpression(StringMatchExpression expression) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitArtifactMatchExpression(ArtifactMatchExpression expression) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitCollectionMatchExpression(CollectionMatchExpression expression) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitBooleanMatchExpression(BooleanMatchExpression expression) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitCompoundMatchExpression(CompoundMatchExpression expression) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitScript(Script script) throws VilException {
        for (int v = 0; v < script.getVariableDeclarationCount(); v++) {
            script.getVariableDeclaration(v).accept(this);
        }
        for (int r = 0; r < script.getRuleCount(); r++) {
            script.getRule(r).accept(this);
        }
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitLoadProperties(LoadProperties properties) throws VilException {
        return null; // ignore for now
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitStrategyCallExpression(StrategyCallExpression call) throws VilException {
        Object result;
        if (CallType.TRANSPARENT != call.getCallType()) {
            result = new StrategyCallExpressionTreeNode(getCurrentParent(), call);
        } else {
            result = null; // don't show conversions
        }
        return result;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitRuleCallExpression(RuleCallExpression ex) throws VilException {
        return new RuleCallExpressionTreeNode(getCurrentParent(), ex);
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitJoinExpression(JoinExpression ex) throws VilException {
        return new JoinExpressionTreeNode(getCurrentParent(), ex); // preliminary
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitJoinVariableDeclaration(JoinVariableDeclaration decl) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitAlternativeExpression(AlternativeExpression alt) throws VilException {
        AlternativeExpressionTreeNode node = new AlternativeExpressionTreeNode(getCurrentParent(), alt);
        TextTreeNode ifNode = new AlternativeBranchTreeNode(node, true);
        visitRuleBlock(ifNode, alt.getIfPart());
        if (null != alt.getElsePart()) {
            TextTreeNode elseNode = new AlternativeBranchTreeNode(node, false);
            visitRuleBlock(elseNode, alt.getElsePart());
        }
        return node;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitRule(VtlRule rule) throws VilException {
        // do nothing, this is just a virtual concept
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitRule(Rule rule) throws VilException {
        RuleTreeNode node = new RuleTreeNode(rule);
        rootNodes.add(node);
        parents.push(node);
        visitRuleBlock(node, rule);
        parents.pop();
        return node;
    }

    /**
     * Visits a rule block and add the created nodes as children of node.
     *
     * @param node the node to be modified
     * @param block the block to be visited
     */
    private void visitRuleBlock(TreeNode node, IRuleBlock block) {
        List<TreeNode> children = new ArrayList<TreeNode>();
        for (int e = 0; e < block.getBodyElementCount(); e++) {
            try {
                Object o = block.getBodyElement(e).accept(this);
                if (o instanceof TreeNode) {
                    children.add((TreeNode) o);
                }
            } catch (VilException ex) {
                // ignore
            }
        }
        TreeNode[] tmp = new TreeNode[children.size()];
        node.setChildren(children.toArray(tmp));
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitMapExpression(MapExpression map) throws VilException {
        LoopExpressionTreeNode result = new LoopExpressionTreeNode(getCurrentParent(), map);
        visitRuleBlock(result, map);
        return result;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitWhileStatement(WhileStatement stmt) throws VilException {
        WhileTreeNode result = new WhileTreeNode(getCurrentParent(), stmt);
        visitRuleBlock(result, stmt);
        return result;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitForStatement(ForStatement stmt) throws VilException {
        LoopExpressionTreeNode result = new LoopExpressionTreeNode(getCurrentParent(), stmt);
        visitRuleBlock(result, stmt);
        return result;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitInstantiateExpression(InstantiateExpression inst) throws VilException {
        return new InstantiateExpressionTreeNode(getCurrentParent(), inst);
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitParenthesisExpression(ParenthesisExpression par) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitCallExpression(CallExpression call) throws VilException {
        return new CallExpressionTreeNode(getCurrentParent(), call);
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitMultiAndExpression(MultiAndExpression ex) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitConstantExpression(ConstantExpression cst) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitStringExpression(StringExpression ex) throws VilException {
        return ex.getExpression().accept(this);
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitVarModelIdentifierExpression(VarModelIdentifierExpression identifier) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitVilTypeExpression(VilTypeExpression typeExpression) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitVariableExpression(VariableExpression cst) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitExpressionEvaluator(ExpressionEvaluator ex) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitExpression(Expression ex) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitValueAssignmentExpression(ValueAssignmentExpression ex) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitContainerInitializerExpression(ContainerInitializerExpression ex) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitCompositeExpression(CompositeExpression ex) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitFieldAccessExpression(FieldAccessExpression ex) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitResolvableOperationExpression(ResolvableOperationExpression ex) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitResolvableOperationCallExpression(ResolvableOperationCallExpression ex) throws VilException {
        return null;
    }

    @Override
    public Object visitCompound(Compound compound) throws VilException {
        return null; // currently ignored
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
short takes (1)
* Based on a German movie of 1933, the new comedy Victor/Victoria gives Julie Andrews the most -- well, complicated role of the season: a woman pretending to be a man impersonating a woman. Yes, it's a bit like a Chinese puzzle, and filmmaker Blake Edwards takes more than two hours to work out all the ridiculous ramifications.
The result has a PG rating, reflecting a few vulgarities and the homosexuality of a character played by Robert Preston. In other ways, however, ''Victor/Victoria'' is a surprisingly old-fashioned picture, full of familiar variations on time-tested gags. Edwards is in a nostalgic mood, and clearly relishes the not-quite-real atmosphere of his setting, Paris during the '30s.
Focusing on a woman who finds an unusual gimmick for success in show business , the film recalls a number of earlier entertainments, from ''Sylvia Scarlett'' -- where Katharine Hepburn wore the mannish exterior -- to ''Some Like It Hot.'' Lending some depth is its message of tolerance toward nonconformity, and its insistence that personal values and a sense of inner worth are the real measures of any human being. As for the comedy, some moments are downright inspired, as when two penniless heroes confront a grumpy waiter in a restaurant, or when sheer chaos is provoked by a rampaging cockroach. Other scenes drag on too long, or sink into dubious jokes, such as the irritating puns on ''gay Paree.''
Eventually the scrambled genders are set right again, and the confusion comes to a noisy but cheerful conclusion. In sum, ''Victor/Victoria'' is a mixed bag, not up to Edwards's best work with Peter Sellers, but leagues above his last picture, the clumsy ''S.O.B.'' It's good to hear he is now hitting the ''Pink Panther'' trail again, with a compilation film -- Sellers's best moments as Inspector Clouseau -- and a farce with a new actor in the leading role. It looks like the PP has become a permanent part of the cinema scene, and I say more power to him.
A new memoir from Julie Andrews expected in fall 2017
James Garner, renowned film and TV actor, dies
Top Picks: 'To Kill a Mockingbird' Blu-ray, Michael Feinstein's musical journey, and more


text:
How can the universe be infinite?
I've heard from renowned astrophysicists that we don't yet know whether or not the Universe is infinite. How is that possible regarding the big bang theory is accepted (as they all do)? Are they referring to the existence of other Universes when they say it could be infinite, or what?
universe big-bang-theory size
harogastonharogaston
$\begingroup$ Please clarify: why do you think that Big Bang theory and an infinite universe are somehow incompatible? Are you imagining that an infinite universe is incapable of expanding, perhaps? Or is it something else? $\endgroup$
– Stan Liou
$\begingroup$ What I mean is, even if it is capable of expanding, if everything originated at the big bang how can that space turn to be infinite in a finite time - the age of the universe. $\endgroup$
– harogaston
$\begingroup$ Comments are not for extended discussion; this conversation has been moved to chat. $\endgroup$
– called2voyage ♦
What I mean is, even if it is capable of expanding, if everything originated at the big bang how can that space turn to be infinite in a finite time - the age of the universe.
In the standard ΛCDM model of the Big Bang, the universe is infinite and has always been such. The Big Bang singularity happened everywhere, in the sense that far back enough in time, the density diverges to infinity at every place.
But this is just a particular model--it assumes that the universe if spatially flat and is globally homogeneous and isotropic. There are extended models in which it is not exactly flat, and so could be finite even if it is still homogeneous and isotropic (if the curvature is even slightly positive). And of course we don't actually know whether it is homogeneous and isotropic at scales much larger than we actually see. Some inflationary models imply that it isn't.
To clarify: the ΛCDM model uses the assumes a spatially flat FLRW solution of general relativity, in which space is the Euclidean $3$-space The Euclidean $3$-space is the only flat homogeneous and isotropic $3$-manifold, so there no way to make it finite without violating at least one of those modeling assumption (e.g., a flat torus could have the same form for the metric, but would not be globally isotropic).
Stan LiouStan Liou
$\begingroup$ I don't see how this model implies that the universe is infinite. Taken from the wikipedia page you referred to: "The model includes a single originating event, the "Big Bang" [...], which was not an explosion but the abrupt appearance of expanding space-time [...]. This was immediately (within 10−29 seconds) followed by an exponential expansion of space by a scale multiplier of 1027 or more, known as cosmic inflation." "expanding space-time" doesn't seem infinite to me. I'm not implying you are wrong, but I understand a different thing from that article. $\endgroup$
$\begingroup$ @harogaston: "expanding space-time" says nothing about either finiteness or infiniteness, but I've edited the answer to point to the specific part of the model that implies the universe is infinite (if we take the model more literally than is justifiable, anyway). $\endgroup$
$\begingroup$ @Stan when you say that the BB singularity happened everywhere, do you mean that there were an infinite number of BB singularities, one for each point? $\endgroup$
– set5
$\begingroup$ @mick No, because thinking of singularities as necessarily point-like is inappropriate. If you cut a hole in a sheet, it's not useful to think of it as infinitely many holes, especially since there's usually no way to 'fill in' the 'missing piece' anyway. Singularities are even more varied in GTR. $\endgroup$
$\begingroup$ The age of the universe (or multiverse) is not necessarily finite, although logical considerations require that any asymptotically-exponential expansion of space (known as inflation) be balanced between opposite directions, to allow it to be eternal to the past as well as to the future, thereby giving it an infinite age. This is described in cosmologies such as Aguirre and Gratton's "Steady state eternal inflation" and Nikodem J. Poplawski's "Cosmology with torsion". Poplawski has numerous related papers (available free on the Arxiv website), written between 2010 and 2020. $\endgroup$
– Edouard
I think the source of confusion between the two concepts - the Big Bang singularity and an infinite universe - is the misconception that the universe began as a finite expanse originally. This misconception easily arises from analogies using present-day logic and numbers that were not applicable in the early universe. For example, I've heard it said that shortly after the Big Bang, the entire observable universe was the size of a grapefruit, but that explanation neglects to mention that grapefruits would have been much larger then.
The problem is that space is where we can measure how large something is, but space expands, so something that is a certain distance away currently was a lot closer a long time ago, even if neither object has moved in the normal sense. As an analogy to help illustrate the effect:
You and I are standing on a preposterously large deflated balloon. You set down a meter stick, make a mark on the balloon at each end and we each stand on one mark and are now a meter apart. Then I turn on a pump and start inflating the balloon. As the balloon inflates, the surface stretches out and you and I appear to get farther from each other, when though we're not 'moving' (e.g. walking away from each other): now we have conflicting sets of information to consider; according to the marks on the balloon surface we're still one meter apart, but according to the meter stick in your hand (which is not expanding) the distance is greater than that.
Note that while I called the balloon "preposterously large," it could have been infinitely large and still behave the same way. I point this out because I've seen in comments on other answers that you don't see how space could be both infinite and expanding - that if it's expanding, then it must have been previously finite. That is incorrect: in fact, because infinity is the quality of unboundedness, something that is infinitely large can always get bigger, because by definition there is no upper bound on its size.
Note also that if you recorded the earlier analogy in reverse, it would appear that space was shrinking such that a several-meters distance between us reduced over time to one meter. If you continue shrinking the universe in such a manner, it eventually becomes the case that there is zero distance between us. And if you apply that to a scenario where there are people infinitely distributed across the balloon, all of them would come closer together as the balloon deflated, until there was zero distance between any two people... in theory, at least, since real human beings have size. Energy and space don't have size, however, so at the point of the Big Bang, space was still infinite (since an infinite/unbounded space cannot shrink to become finite/bounded) but the distance between any two points in space was zero.
So if you could go back in time to the Big Bang you'd see an infinite ocean of energy, since all the energy was "shoulder-to-shoulder" (infinitely dense) but it rapidly expands (and therefore cools) to the point that basic particles can form, then later matter and molecules. Of course since your size would depend on the metric of space, it wouldn't necessarily look like space was expanding, but simply like the energy and matter were cooling down. In fact we still see this as an effect of spatial expansion in the redshift of light from distant sources: the light "cools down" or loses energy along the way because it is stretched out on its journey through space.
AsherAsher
$\begingroup$ When you write "grapefruits would have been much larger then", did you mean smaller? $\endgroup$
– Allure
$\begingroup$ @Allure I suppose that's a tricky question on a system where the measuring stick is changing size. Think of it this way: the Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are each 100k to 200k light-years across and about 2.5M light-years separated; but at some point in the past each galaxy in its entirety was squeezed into a centimeter wide space and they were within centimeters of each other; a 10cm grapefruit then would be a viable cosmic-scale measuring device. Today you'd need a lot more of the small modern grapefruit. The expansion of space is what gave everything room to spread out like it is today. $\endgroup$
– Asher
$\begingroup$ I understand what you mean, but the language is ambiguous - I was thinking that if we had a grapefruit today and wound back time, the grapefruit would shrink. If the Milky Way were 10cm across for example, the grapefruit would be ~$10^{-22}$ cm in size, i.e. much smaller. $\endgroup$
$\begingroup$ @Allure on the other hand, grapefruit aren't currently expanding with the universe because they are bound by various forces. Language is ambiguous, but that's why we have mathematics; I only meant to indicate that 10cm used to go a lot further than it does now. $\endgroup$
It is known that the universe that we can see in our telescopes is less than the total universe. Since we cannot see what is beyond the visual edge, we cannot determine if the universe is infinite or finite.
LDC3LDC3
$\begingroup$ Sorry, that doesn't answer my question. Even if we cannot see beyond our observable universe, if everything originated at the big bang how can that space turn to be infinite in a finite time - the age of the universe. $\endgroup$
$\begingroup$ @harogaston I think this was answered in other answers, but you're right. Finite space can't become infinite. For the infinite universe model to work, the big bang itself would have happened across infinite space. We don't know that to be the case, but it's a popular model among people who study this. $\endgroup$
– userLTK
"How" can the universe be infinite? So I am inferring that there must be a 'procedure' of sorts to make it infinite.
Space can exist by itself without having anything. Vacuum, Intergalactic space, the huge voids seen in the large scale structure maps are examples.
This is means no matter how much the universe expands, space cannot break apart like atoms. One may say it has no elastic modulus. One may use this as a basic premise to explain how there can be an infinite universe.
Alternatively, theories of cosmic topology are in good agreement with the predictions of our universe's matter density being very close to 1 which points to a universe expanding forever. (see http://www.scholarpedia.org/article/Cosmic_Topology#fabre:2013)
It cannot be infinite in a finite time because time is space and time are more or less the same. They are one entity called spacetime.
Krishna Kumar KowshikKrishna Kumar Kowshik
It would be cool if Hubble saw a signpost marked: "please do not go beyond this point, this is the edge of the universe." perhaps even a wall or a balustrade.
How can the universe be infinite? infinite size, infinite age, infinitely small quantum constructs? The main problem we have with infinity is that it defies human understanding.
Spherical and circular equations pervade the universe: Stars, CMB, planet and moon orbits, atoms, photons, Pi, they all can use sine-cosine equations. Rotations are infinite. Pi and sine-cosine are infinite.
If the cosmos is made up of infinite maths functions, why would it not be infinite?
How many angles does space have? infinity. how long does a galaxy turn around? eternity. The circles of angular momentum go on ad-eternum. rotations are infinite.
Why would there be a spacial limit to infinitely large or infinitely small space? Because it defies human understanding? that's not a good enough reason.
Everything in the known universe depends on mathematical principles which are infinite, numbers are infinite, angles are infinite, generally sine-cosine, linear, circular and spherical objects have infinite turns.
The mandelbrot set is infinite. It's a much simpler equation than the objects of the universe, and it is infinite. So, i'd encourage you to study the mandelbrot and ask yourself: how can it be infinite? Then you will have some advantage to apply that study to objects of the universe.
There is a curious thing that bridges the infinitely large and small objects in the universe: Black hole singularities are nearly entirely composed of sine-cosine maths descriptions, but they withhold millions of suns of atoms in the space the size a money coin or a CD or a nano-meter, all inside a sine-cosine disk, which is a circular phenomenon weighing billions of stars. If suns can fit into basketballs, and perhaps atoms, how can we judge what is big or small at all? If very big things are reborn to very small, and grow to very big again, it's kind of like the circle of life, and it means that you are the center of the universe, which is a good feeling. Atoms and Stars don't matter compared to you.
LifeInTheTreesLifeInTheTrees
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Vrikodara is the personification of bhakti, jnana, vairagya, prajna, medha, dhruti, sthithi, yoga, prana and bala — devotion, knowledge, detachment, grasping power, retention (of wisdom), courage, steadfastness, endeavour, activity and strength respectively.
Let us look at an incident during the mahabharata war that shows the immense 'sthithi' (स्थिथि) or 'sthairya' (स्थैर्य) that bhimasena possessed. Sthairya is a guNa which allows one to be extremely firm under any situation. Bhima's main goal in the mahabharata was to be always on the path of shuddha-bhagavata-dharma, the highest path of dharma. Such a commitment required immense sthairya, which bhima had in abundance.
On the 15th day of the war, due to combination of a great strategy by sri krishna, in asking yudhisthira to tell drona that ashwathama had died, and the subsequent realisation of drona that his time had ended, the elder brahmana warrior gave up his weapons and sat down for tapas — right in the middle of the battlefield. Very soon, his atma deserted the body and proceeded towards urdhva lokas. At the same, dhrishtadyumna cut off the head of the lifeless body of drona and fulfilled his own vow.
Soon, the news of his father's death, through debatable means, reached the ears of ashwathama. Being an avatara of rudra, he was naturally prone to anger. However, his father's demise meant that his anger knew no bounds this time. He undertook a terrible annihilation of the pandava warriors. He also took a vow that he would kill drupada and dhristadyumna as revenge for his father's death.
I shall strive to kill panchala through all means. I shall (definitely) kill the sinner dhrishtadyumna.
Ashwathama also undertook to release the most powerful 'narayana' astra that was in his possession.
Ashwathama claimed at this moment that even lord krishna cannot survive this particular weapon. Of course it doesn't occur to him (at that moment) that sri krishna was none other than narayana himself. So there was no question of the weapon hurting him!
Shortly thereafter, ashwathama kept his word and launched the narayana astra on the pandava army. The weapon began its task of mass annihilation. It started to burn away the soldiers from the pandava camp. Every single moment, the weapon grew bigger and bigger — into a massive ball of fire. Hundreds and hundreds of soldiers were caught unaware of the power of the weapon — only to pay a dear price in the form of their lives.
Yudhisthira noticed that ashwathama has released the great narayana weapon and also saw the havoc it was causing on his army. He assumed that there was no way out of this, and prepared to die!
However, as on every other situation, sri krishna, the great protector of the pandavas guided them with the way out. He announced to all that the only way to survive the weapon was to give up one's weapons and climb down from their chariots. In other words — to surrender to the narayana astra.
Put down your weapons quickly. Get down from your vehicles. The great one (narayana) himself has devised this as the way to resolve (this weapon).
This astra shall not destroy those men who get down from their vehicles and put down their weapons.
All the pandavas followed the advice of sri krishna and put down their weapons and surrender to the narayana astra. The astra pardoned all of them!
Even arjuna surrendered to the great astra.
When the entire pandava camp was thus prostrating before the divine astra, bhima declared that he shall not surrender to the weapon!
Bhima had a vrata of following the highest dharma of a kshatriya — the bhagavata dharma. One of the rules of bhagavata dharma was that a kshatriya should never quit battle, no matter what the circumstances of the war were. Therefore, bhima refused to get down from his vehicle and prostrate at the weapon.
It was a life-and-death situation, and yet bhima refused to compromise. Truly a measure of his amazing 'sthithi'.
The bhagavata dharma required that an adherent also try to keep others in the same path. Therefore, bhima made a passionate plea to the others not to surrender to the weapon.
"No one should give up their weapons. I shall stop the son of drona through my weapons. Even if there is none in either camp to face the astra, I shall do so. Just like how shakra is the most powerful amongst the devas, I am the most powerful one here.
Bhima made it a point to tell his younger brother not to give up the mighty gandiva. However, arjuna responded by saying that he had a vrata to follow — which required that he does not challenge any weapon belonging to narayana.
I have undertaken a vrata due to which I shall not engage my gandiva against cows, brahmanas and the mighty narayana astra!
Thus, every single warrior in the pandava camp surrendered to the weapon, except bhimasena, due to his unflinching commitment to bhagavata dharma.
Does bhima violate sri krishna's words?
In the entire mahabharata, bhimasena is known for having never violated the words of sri krishna or sri veda vyasa. Naturally, in this particular incident, a question arises whether he disregarded the words of sri krishna to get down from the vehicle and surrender.
Sri madhwacharya in his mahabharata tatparya nirnaya has clarified that sri krishna's words at that moment was delivered as a solution to those wanting to escape the weapon and not as a specific order to surrender. In other words, sri krishna says those who wish to live should surrender. Since bhimasena was clear in his mind that adhering to bhagavata dharma was more important than his own life, he chose not to surrender. There was thus absolutely no violation of sri krishna's words.
The words of sri krishna, as quoted above (shloka number 41) also make this point very clear (that sri krishna's words were just suggesting the solution and were not an absolute order).
The narayana astra, due to its very nature, began to engulf bhimasena since he had refused to surrender. It started to grow bigger, and more menacing, every moment. In the midst of such a terrifying attack, bhima continued his engagement in the battle. He showered ashwathama with hundreds of arrows and surrounded him with a maze (of arrows). As a counter, ashwathama too fired numerous arrows at bhima.
The battle between the two mighty warriors continued thus. Looking at the massive fire which was surrounding bhima, the entire pandava camp panicked.
At that moment, arjuna, out of great affection for his brother and due to instructions from sri krishna invoked the varuna astra and sent it towards bhima. Of course the varuna astra was no match for the superior weapon of narayana. But it served as an indicator of the love arjuna had for his brother.
Sri krishna then, along with arjuna, rushed towards bhima's chariot. Having reached the vehicle, sri krishna climbed into the chariot and held bhima's hands and dragged him out. He snatched the weapon from bhima's hands. Once bhima became weaponless, the narayana astra left the battlefield.
Sri madhwacharya has explained the reasons behind the survival of arjuna and bhima.
Arjuna was surrounded by the effects of the varuna astra. He had the company of narayana himself — in the form of sri krishna. He also had the avesha of nara in him. Due to these three factors, the astra did not harm arjuna. Of course, he had also surrendered the gandiva.
Bhima did not get hurt by the weapon due to a very unique reason. Every astra has a abhimani devata and a pratipadya devata. The abhimani devata is the presiding deity. The pratipadya devata is the deity professed or propagated by the weapon. For the narayana astra, vayu was the abhimani devata and lord sri hari was the pratipadya devata.
Vayu is the abhimani devata for the (narayana) astra. The pratipadya devata is hari himself. Therefore, since the weapon was the very form of vayu, it did not hurt bhima — just like how fire does not burn fire.
Since the original form of bhima — vayu — was himself the presiding deity of the weapon, it naturally did not harm bhimasena. In fact, he started glowing as an after-effect of being surrounded by the weapon!
O Bharata! When the divine tejas of that astra left the place, bhima shone just like the rising sun that shines after the night has gone!
Sri krishna then led arjuna back to his chariot and the war resumed.
Thus, the narayana astra episode provides an example of the extra ordinary स्थिथि or commitment that bhimasena possessed towards his shuddha-bhagavata-dharma – a commitment that did not flinch even under fatal circumstances.


text:
Hanged on a legal quibble
Byron Rogers
Haw-Haw Nigel Farndale
Macmillan, pp.374, 20
Who killed Lord Haw-Haw? It was I, said Hartley Shawcross. I was the attorney general who led his prosecution personally under the Treason Act, even though my constitutional expert advised me that we did not have a case in law, and one of my predecessors in office had confessed himself 'incredulous' at its being brought at all against someone who was not, and had never been, a British subject.
It was I, said Frederick Tucker. I was the high court judge who heard the case even though six years earlier I had described the accused as 'a traitor', and should thus have considered myself ineligible. It was I who, instead of leaving it to the jury to decide, in the course of it ruled that the possession of a British passport in itself brought allegiance to the Crown. I did this even though it was known that the accused had lied to obtain it, an act for which the maximum penalty at the time was £2.
So what was the offence of William Joyce, called Lord Haw-Haw, this American-born German citizen and graduate of Birkbeck College, that brought him to a British gallows? In the 1930s he had been a London street fighter and fascist, but there were many such, the Daily Mail trilling in 1934, 'Hurrah for the Blackshirts.' He had also been an Eng. Lit. lecturer, and, like many another, had seduced one of his students (though she was only 16, and looked alarmingly like the young Margaret Thatcher).
But then in the early 1940s Joyce had discovered another talent, this time as a broadcaster. He proved such a success at this that the BBC, which had been relying on 10 daily hours of organ music by a Scotsman, had to rejig its schedules to compete. They brought on George Formby and Vera Lynn against a man who was attracting nine million listeners, two thirds of its potential audience. The only thing was, Joyce had discovered his new talent during the second world war, and in Germany.
Some 40 British subjects who really were British subjects broadcast from Germany during the war, one of them an old lady with photographs of the King and Queen on her desk, and another Joyce's own second wife, a dancer from Carlisle. Of these only two were executed, the other being John Amery, the son of a cabinet minister, who virtually choreographed his own route to the gallows by pleading guilty to treason, no other penalty being provided for under the Act.
But why Joyce? The answer seems to be that he was too good at what he did. In the beginning people found him and his accent funny. When a British PoW, asked about their reaction, told him that they thought him 'very amusing', Joyce, it was reported, 'seemed surprised and annoyed'. But then something very odd happened: he passed into myth, and they became frightened.
In Wolverhampton they believed that when their town clock stopped at five to nine one night Joyce reported the fact 20 minutes later in Germany. There was a lot about time and clocks, even though neither Joyce nor any other German broadcaster ever mentioned one. In Cambridge they believed he had said darkly that they had no need to worry about their new Guildhall clock, he would put that right for them. And it wasn't just clocks. In the Midlands an ammunition factory suffered a drop in production when it was believed that Joyce had threatened to bomb their new paint shed.
For they had become convinced that Joyce, who was never to meet Hitler, his nominal boss, Goebbels, or any of the Nazi hierarchy, could, when he wished, direct the bombing. In Shoreditch they believed that he had had one street bombed because he had been beaten up there. Yet all he ever did was broadcast, it all turned on the broadcasts.
And it is the one fault of this good book that there is not enough on them. There should have been a full transcript of two or three, or more, not just excerpts from them, to underline what he actually said in those 20 minutes every night as part of the two-hour 'Jairminny Calling' programme. This would have enabled the reader to see him in context.
At one level a biography of Joyce is irrelevant, for the man became a phenomenon formed not out of what he was but what people thought he was, and I got no impression of what first made them laugh, then frightened them. Was it because his side- swipes about capitalism, public schools and inherited privilege, the rich exporting their children to the safety of the United States, disturbed their trust in their own side? His last broadcast was a chilling prophecy of the coming of the Cold War, but why people should have gone on listening night after night to what were basically editorials I don't know.
The effect is that Joyce dwindles, becoming a sad rather than a tragic figure. As his first wife said when she heard that he had been sentenced to death, 'Poor little swine! Why did he get himself into this mess? He won't show any fear, you know. He's always very brave.' Yet this is a book without a hero.
There is humbug aplenty, chiefly among the British lawyers who, having hanged her husband, chose not to prosecute his wife, who, as a British subject on a passport that did not expire until 1943, made nearly 500 broadcasts in that time, and really had been guilty of treason. There are also some headbangers, most of them in MI5, amongst them Ian Fleming's M, who had actually recruited Joyce to report on the Blackshirts, and was to tip him off about his impending arrest in 1939. This man, Maxwell Knight, a homosexual devotee of the occult, lived in Chelsea with a bear, a baboon and a cockatoo. After his retirement he wrote How to Keep an Elephant, followed the next year by How to Keep a Gorilla. To have someone that bizarre padding round the furniture just makes Joyce dwindle even more.
He was excited when they brought him back to face trial, chiefly at seeing the white cliffs again, and was heard to say, 'God bless old England, God bless old England.' In return, many found his last broadcast very moving.
I did not like the ghastly gallows gossip, the hangman murmuring, 'Follow me, sir, it'll be all right', and the pinioned hands whitening in the pit. But Nigel Farndale's heart is in the right place: he leaves the reader in no doubt that this was a judicial lynching.
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