text:
It woz Roy wot started it
Submitted by rickeyre on January 31, 2008 - 7:29am
Justice Hansen's report on the Harbhajan Singh appeal case arrived from the ICC in the form of a 22-page document yesterday evening. The Australian has converted it to one very long HTML page - but beware, it contains:
Frequent Coarse Language (in English and Punjabi),
Violence (Harbhajan Singh slapping Brett Lee's buttock),
Sexual References (see Frequent Coarse Language and Violence),
Horror (the ICC's disciplinary records database),
Adult Themes (discussion of the appropriate standard of proof with reference to "The Queen on the application of Dr Harish Doshi v the Southend-On-Sea Primary Care Trust"), and
Not-At-All-Adult-Themes (see Frequent Coarse Language, Violence, and Horror).
Read more about It woz Roy wot started it
Welcome to Collusion Central
Harbhajan Singh's successful appeal against his Level 3 transgression, and its replacement with a Level 2 charge, seems on the surface of things to be the right decision, though I think the penalty imposed (50 per cent of his "match fee" - whatever that is) is light. The use of obscene language in an abusive context, regardless of the language in which it is spoken, is abhorrent.
We will know later today more about Justice Hansen's reasons for the findings when he releases his full written statement. Meanwhile, the reports that are coming out concerning back-room deals before the appeal hearing are very disturbing.
Read more about Welcome to Collusion Central
Conflict resolution? What's that?
Submitted by rickeyre on January 8, 2008 - 7:28am
Absurdity follows absurdity in the latest contretemps that positions world cricket somewhere on the spectrum between WWE wrestling and the personal life of Britney Spears. Frankly, it has elements of both. There's the hyped-up petulance and faux conflict of the prima donnas dressed up as professional sportsmen.
Read more about Conflict resolution? What's that?
The Sydney Test (possibly part 1 of several)
Submitted by rickeyre on January 7, 2008 - 4:19pm
A bit of preamble before I write my thoughts about the off-field events of the past 24 hours.
I have seen very little of the Sydney Test, won by Australia late yesterday afternoon. I was on holidays with my daughter for most of the week and listened to the second half of Sunday's play on the radio at home. (If I really wanted to, I could probably have made the dash across to the ground when they threw the gates open for free at 4.30pm.)
Read more about The Sydney Test (possibly part 1 of several)
Gabba day one: Great moments in press licensing, er, freedom
Submitted by rickeyre on November 10, 2007 - 9:58am
Ah yes, the home Test cricket season has begun. All the familiar trappings of the opening day.
The quiet buzz of the crowd still finding their seats as the first ball of the day is bowled. The sedate crack of willow on leather which echoes around the stadium as the ball is struck defensively to the leg side. The same act repeated five more times as Phil Jaques blocks Chaminda Vaas' inswingers. The return of the drizzle at the end of the over, the covers are driven on as the players and umpires walk off.
Yes, it's summer again. None for none after one over, rain stopped play.
phil jaques
ca:t1845
Read more about Gabba day one: Great moments in press licensing, er, freedom
Of terrorists and cricketers
Submitted by rickeyre on May 18, 2007 - 6:26pm
Ever worried about all these new anti-terrorist laws? Ever worried that their wide-ranging discretionary powers would be used for entirely non-terrorism related reasons? Well, it happened in Australia this week.
The Australian cricket team was threatened with action under the Australian Passports Act 2005 if they went ahead with this September's planned tour of Zimbabwe.
alexander downer
Read more about Of terrorists and cricketers
Decision: good. Method: ?
JOHN HOWARD: Well the Government, through the Foreign Minister, has written to the organisation, Cricket Australia, instructing that the tour not go ahead. [..]
BARRIE CASSIDY: What is the legal basis for this? How can you put out that instruction?
Read more about Decision: good. Method: ?
Sponsorship update: Cricket Australia 1 Queensland Cricket 0
Submitted by rickeyre on February 9, 2007 - 9:06pm
So who's a pretty bully boy then?
While Cricket Australia was crying foul over the world cup organisers' objection to their choice of sponsor, they had the boot on the other foot getting stuck into Queensland Cricket over a very similar issue.
queensland cricket
Read more about Sponsorship update: Cricket Australia 1 Queensland Cricket 0
It's just as well no airline sponsors the World Cup
Cricket Australia has responded within hours after losing their appeal to the ICC disputes committee (see my earlier posting today).
Emirates, the UAE-based airline best known in Australia for sponsoring Collingwood Football Club, will be the official team sponsor for the Australian team for the world cup in the Caribbean in March and April. Emirates, of course, is also the naming rights sponsor of the ICC Elite Umpire Panel and is the "official airline" of the Dubai-based ICC.
Read more about It's just as well no airline sponsors the World Cup
Sponsorship update: ICC 1 Cricket Australia 0
Submitted by rickeyre on February 9, 2007 - 9:39am
Travelex (Thomas Cook in a past life) has been the naming rights sponsor for Australian touring teams overseas since 2001, even to the point of the "Ashes Tour" officially becoming the "Travelex Tour of the UK and Ireland".
But with less than five weeks till the start of the one-day world championships in the Caribbean, Cricket Australia's arrangements with Travelex have been blocked under ICC ambush marketing rules, and confirmed yesterday by its Disputes Resolution Committee.
Read more about Sponsorship update: ICC 1 Cricket Australia 0


Almost every visitor visits Central Maui during their trip, but most just pass through and don't take full advantage of what is offered in the region. There are a lot of Central Maui Things to Do that most guests do not experience. Central Maui is the cultural and commercial hub of Maui. There are plenty of shops, schools, and other places of interest here. Guests staying in Central Maui won't be bored because of the number of Central Maui Things to Do. If you prefer lush rainforests and emerald mountains and hikes, then you will love Central Maui.
The Iao Valley is located here. The Iao Valley is 4000 acres of lush tropical rainforests filled with streams, tropical fruit trees, and the famous landmark "The Iao Needle". This 1200-foot tall spire is a historic location. The needle is actually a ridge that looks like a spire when viewed from a certain angle. The Maui Arts and Cultural Center is also located in Central Maui. There are shows here most of the days of the month. From comedy to music shows, MACC is a great way to spend the night out and is Maui's largest entertainment venue.


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Some agents will do the bare minimum and cross their fingers for a sale. They might have gotten their license in hopes of making a quick buck. Then there is South Carolina Real Estate Buyers. We are real estate professionals that genuinely want to help people! We believe everyone should love the real estate they own.


text:
Annette Paulsen
'EDS without a doubt has helped me to achieve my goals of getting a degree...'
Annette hadn't originally planned to go onto university study, but was inspired after attending her eldest son's UC graduation ceremony.
'At the ceremony I watched all these mature students walk across the stage, and I thought "if only I could do something like that". I said to my son afterwards, and he said there is no reason why you can't mum. For me I thought of many reasons not to. In 2012, with a back injury, a mother dying and a failing marriage I decided to take that leap of faith that maybe I could.
'I entered into a Polytechnic course at the beginning of 2013 as I thought if I failed then it wouldn't be so much of an issue. However, I passed with a B+ average in a year of heartaches, so where to then? My eldest son said Canterbury, and I wasn't so sure. University has exams and the doubt seeped in that I would fail there. Anyway, I took a deep breath and applied.'
Having lived with dyslexia, Annette made the most of support services on offer at UC to overcome the initial academic hurdle.
'My most support has come from the team at the Equity & Disability Service from whom Nicola has been a constant support for all my learning needs. I had a notetaker in all of my lectures and when I sat exams I had a reader/writer and extra time. This service without a doubt has helped me to achieve my goals of getting a degree.'
As such, she found her place at UC, and enjoyed 'everything' about being a part of the community there.
'I discovered Annette,' she says. 'It was a new start after the end of a 25 year marriage. My classmates were around the age of my children, yet they embraced me and invited me to all the activities the UC students get to go to.
'I had been to a few events at UC, the most memorable being the Pride dance party at the Foundry which was a fantastic night.'
Choosing to pursue a Bachelor of Social Work, after her Human Services study at Ara, she soon found her passion towards a new career path.
'I loved the team within the Social Work department, from Denise in the office to the lecturers always willing to help, no question is too big or small. They are a supportive team that looks out for their students and when life throws you a curve ball they are only too willing to help as I learnt over my 4 years.
'As part of my final year at UC I completed two 480-hour placements. My second placement struck a cord with me and has led me on the career path that I am now on. I work for the Department of Corrections, with high risk offenders. As part of my role I work around the offenders' rehabilitation and reintegration back into community. I work with a diverse set of individuals and love my job.
'I still have a passion around our military, and as I was a wife of a soldier for over 25 years, I feel there is a need to support Army personnel and their families in that environment and hope to get the opportunity in the future.'
Having gained so much from doing university study, Annette strongly persuades other adult students to consider the same journey.
'I would be lying if I said university was easy. However, I have discovered so much about me, society, different perspectives on life and found a love of gaining knowledge that I've never known.
'I would like to encourage other mature students to make that leap of faith as I did. It is well worth finding the new you.'
Frederica (Freddie) Duncan
'The Social Work degree teaches students to communicate in ways that are understanding, effective and empowering...'
Dallace Lilley
'I love empowering others and having the opportunity to learn from others...'

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Is my double being altered? So I have
double a= 199812280115

When I
System.out.println(a);
I get
1.9981228E13

This representation of double a does not imply that the value stored has been altered right?

A: The double value printed in the console has been formated, according to the default toString() vaue, but the value remains the same. If you wish to print the value "as is", you should use a NumberFormat to format and print.

A: A good way to check if your value is altered is by doing something like this:
double a= 199812280115;
double b= 199812280000;
double c = a - b;
System.out.println(c);

You'll see yourself if your double has lost precision.

A: YES, the output you see does show that the value has been altered.
Note that you see only 8 digits after the decimal point. The double data type has enough precision for 15-16 digits after the decimal point. The default formatting in Java outputs the least amount digits that are required to distinguish the number from its neighbors so you should see all of the digits.
Besides, the exponent is wrong. The expected output is 1.99812280115E11.

A: You could use
System.out.format("%12f", a);

To see the number in its full glory.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
'Krypton' isn't just a Superman prequel - it's got more DC characters than 'Justice League'
It's a time travel extravaganza!
By Chris Taylor on July 22, 2017
The most famous house sigil in history. Credit: DC/Syfy
SAN DIEGO -- If you thought Krypton was just going to be a poor man's Gotham, think again.
The Syfy show, slated for 2018, has thus far been pitched as a prequel set on Superman's homeworld following the Man of Steel's grandfather, Seg-El, played by British newcomer Cameron Coffe, as a young man.
But as DC Comics president Geoff Johns revealed at Comic-Con Saturday, the show has a whole raft of DC characters in it -- because it's also a time-traveling extravaganza.
"You'll see a lot of DC characters in this," Johns told a capacity crowd. "It's about a conspiracy from the present that's trying to stop Superman from ever being born."
So far, those characters include well-known Superman enemies Braniac and Doomsday, plus Hawkwoman and Adam Strange, an old-school DC hero who can teleport between planets. Two ancient Krypton Gods, Nightwing and Flamebird, will also show up -- DC's answer to Game of Thrones' dragons.
Johns promised unnamed other old DC favorites would appear in the show -- and as fans noted in the panel, there's the opportunity to use many characters from Jack Kirby's famous New Gods series. He did, however, appear to rule out any crossover with that other time-traveling DC show, Legends of Tomorrow.
The show also gives us an ancestor of General Zod, Superman's infamous Phantom Zone-bound enemy seen in the original movies and Man of Steel. No word yet on whether anyone will be required to kneel before Zod in the show, but we're sure it's just a matter of time.
Related Video: This 'Star Wars' themed dress was made using over 10,000 lego bricks
More in Comic-Con


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As I begin to prepare this newsletter it is now almost 4 weeks since we moved to our new home in Ballynahinch. All that is said about the stress involved in moving house has proved to be accurate but thankfully many 'loose ends' are gradually being tied up.
We give thanks to God for His faithfulness and are confident that in due course all outstanding matters will be successfully concluded. Enclosed by separate letter are fuller details of the move as it has impacted on "Take Heed" Ministries.
As this landmark 'millennium' year draws to a close it is evident that the forces of darkness are flexing their spiritual muscles, confident that the tide of popular opinion is flowing their way. This should come as no surprise as Paul tells us of such a time when people "will not endure sound doctrine" [2 Timothy 4:3]. His remedy for such a situation was simple and concise "Preach the Word" [v 2]. Your prayers and continuing support for "Take Heed" are coveted that we may faithfully take an effective stand for truth in these days of great compromise.
"THERE SHALL BE FALSE TEACHERS AMONG YOU" – 2 PETER 2:1
Peter like Paul predicted the appearance and presence of false teachers within the professing church and more and more examples of such teachings and their tolerance are emerging as time passes. The next articles will cite several examples of teachings that in former days would have found no acceptance amongst God's people and yet today they have caused barely a ripple of comment
'JUDAS MAY BE IN HEAVEN' – REV JAMES FRASER
On Sunday 20 August the Radio Ulster broadcast service came from Portrush when Rev James Fraser was the preacher. His sermon related to the crucifixion as seen through the eyes of Judas Iscariot. I obtained from Mr Fraser a transcript of his sermon and he also kindly supplied an audiotape of the service. I was extremely disturbed by the content of the sermon and wrote to Mr Fraser on 20 September. I am setting out herewith an edited version of my letter to Mr Fraser – the editing entails removing some of the overlapping scripture references that were included in totality in my letter to Mr Fraser. My concerns over what Mr Fraser preached will be clearly evident as I raise various issues in the course of my letter.
Dear Rev Fraser,
God's Word makes clear that Pastors have a grave responsibility to be "rightly dividing the word of truth" [2 Timothy 2:15]. As I both read and listened to your sermon I found myself confronted with information and views that appeared to either add to the Word of God or to distort the Word of God. I should therefore be most grateful if you would respond to a number of questions that were raised in my own understanding as a result of your sermon.
At the start you painted a background picture of Judas growing up and conveyed the following impressions
(a) That the father of Judas was versed in the scriptures
(b) That Judas was used to handling animals including the donkey
(c) That Judas was more politically energised than the disciples from Galilee and bore a greater resentment against the Romans because of their occupation of the country and this would influence his later decision to betray Christ.
You then moved on to the Lord's requisitioning of a donkey for His entrance into Jerusalem and stated
(a) That John was sent because he knew the family that owned the donkey and
(b) That Judas was sent because he was used to handling animals.
At this point can I ask if you have any what I might term 'substance' to verify these impressions and statements or are they based purely upon 'speculation'? Paul did instruct in 1 Corinthians 4:6 "not to think of men above that which is written".
Moving on you suggest that Judas believed that Christ could have set up a kingdom that day but that for whatever reason 'he let it go' and for the rest of the week Christ reverted back to a daily diet of preaching.
Going on you suggest if I read you rightly that Judas decided that he would have to bring matters to a head if Christ was going to set up His kingdom – 'Then I decided! If he wouldn't do it, I would! I would bring the whole thing to a head'. The decision to betray Christ according to your sermon was apparently motivated by this political ambition of Judas and when Christ meekly went with the arresting guards Judas saw his plan had apparently backfired – 'Then it all went wrong. They grabbed him and he didn't raise a finger to defend himself…I could hardly believe it as they led him off. He went without a word – only a look – at me'.
Earlier you infer that Judas was confused when Christ said to him at the last supper 'to go and do quickly what I must do' and that by accident rather than design he found himself 'at the High Priest's House'. You convey the impression that Judas was uncertain about where Christ would be later that night – 'I didn't know. Probably the garden of Gethsemane'. The whole picture painted in your sermon is that what happened in the garden was not pre-planned and not pre-meditated and when it did happen it was politically motivated.
My reading of God's Word paints a different picture entirely. I find no hint of Judas being politically motivated in his betrayal of Christ but rather being motivated solely by greed – and that his actions were premeditated and planned
John 12:4-6 "Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him, Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor? This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein". [Greed!]
[Matthew Henry – In Judas a foul sin is gilded over with a plausible pretence].
Matthew 26:14-16 "Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests, And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver. And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him". [Greed and premeditation!]
[Matthew Henry – It is not the lack, but the love of money, that is the root of all evil. After he had made that wicked bargain, Judas had time to repent, and to revoke it; but when lesser acts of dishonesty have hardened the conscience men do without hesitation that which is more shameful].
Mark 14:10-11 "And Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went unto the chief priests, to betray him unto them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. And he sought how he might conveniently betray him". [Greed and planned premeditation!]
[Matthew Henry – Covetousness was Judas' master lust, and that betrayed him to the sin of betraying his Master; the devil suited his temptation to that, and so conquered him].
Luke 22:3-6 "Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. And he PROMISED, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude". [Greed and planned premeditation]
[Matthew Henry – Christ knew all men, and had wise and holy ends in taking Judas to be a disciple. How he who knew Christ so well, came to betray him, we are here told; Satan entered into Judas. It is hard to say whether more mischief is done to Christ's kingdom, by the power of its open enemies, or by the treachery of its pretended friends; but without the latter, its enemies could not do so much evil as they do]
John 13:2 "And supper being ended, the devil having now put into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, to betray him"; [No hint of a noble political motive here]
[Matthew Henry – What way of access the devil has to men's hearts we cannot tell. But some sins are so exceedingly sinful, and there is so little temptation to them from the world and the flesh, that it is plain they are directly from Satan].
Matthew 26:45-49 "Then cometh he to his disciples, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: behold, the hour is at hand, and the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us be going: behold, he is at hand that doth betray me. And while he yet spake, lo, Judas, one of the twelve, came, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and elders of the people. Now he that betrayed him gave them a sign, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he: hold him fast. And forthwith he came to Jesus, and said, Hail, master; and kissed him". [Prophesied, planned and premeditated]
When Peter denied the Lord we have biblical witness that Jesus gave him 'a look' [Luke 22:61] – can you supply any biblical witness to what you preached namely 'He went without a word – only a look – at me'?
Now to the suggestion that Judas may be in heaven – what saith the scriptures?
The Lord Himself outlined the purpose for which He came to earth – "For the Son of Man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" [Luke 19:10]. He came to save a people given to Him by His Father as we see in Matthew 1:21 and John 17:9 and their salvation is assured by the testimony of the Lord's own words in John 6:37. No one for whom Christ died will be lost. Was Judas numbered amongst the 'saved' or the 'lost'?
John 17:11-12 "And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled".
The gravity of the expression "son of perdition" is emphasised by the fact that it is only used on one other occasion in 2 Thessalonians 2:3 when we read of Christ's destruction at His second coming of "that man of sin" and we can be certain that anyone called "son of perdition" by the Lord is eternally lost.
Matthew 26:21-25 "And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me. And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? And he answered and said, He that dippeth his hand with me in the dish, the same shall betray me. The Son of man goeth as it is written of him: but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! it had been good for that man if he had not been born. Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I? He said unto him, Thou hast said".
Before Judas was conceived he didn't exist. After his death if he had gone to heaven that would surely have been better ["having a desire to depart and be with Christ which is far better" Philippians 1:23] than having never been born. But that is not his state – his state is worse than if he had never been born leaving only one clear-cut teaching in this passage from the lips of the Saviour Himself and that is that Judas is now in hell.
I believe in the light of the foregoing that you in your sermon were not "rightly dividing the word of truth" [2 Timothy 2:15] and the fact that this was a broadcast service means that your erroneous teaching reached an even wider audience.
In humility of spirit I would ask you to respond to the questions I have put to you but more than that I would humbly ask you before God to consider publicly admitting your error through your pulpit to your congregation and through the media [press or broadcast] to the wider listening/ reading audience.
The Lord has for over 10 years called me to a 'watchman' ministry known as "Take Heed" Ministries and I would intend to inform my readership in my December newsletter of what has hitherto taken place. Let me assure you I take no joy in bringing these matters before them and my earnest prayer is that through this letter you will by the Spirit of God come to acknowledge your error and repent of it – that would truly be a 'happy ending'.
Cecil Andrews – "Take Heed" Ministries
In the light of no response to my letter I contacted Rev Fraser by phone on 13 November. He confirmed receipt of my letter and explained he had been too busy thus far to reply although he might get round to it. He made 3 points to me.
1. He felt the scriptures were unclear about the final fate of Judas so I referred him to what the Lord said in Matthew 26:21-25 [see page 6].
2. He felt my readers would not really be interested in the fate of Judas. I explained they would be very interested in correct biblical teaching and would also appreciate being alerted to false teachers [see Romans 16:17].
3. He stated that many people had welcomed and had been helped by what he had preached. I stated that this was simply a confirmation of what the scriptures predict in 2 Timothy 4:3.
In conclusion Mr Fraser requested that a copy of my newsletter be sent to him and I would confirm that I will be forwarding a copy to him. May God grant him the insight and humility to repent and recant.
'JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES WILL BE IN HEAVEN'
SIR CLIFF RICHARD
A brother in Christ loaned me a video called 'Cliff – When The Music Stops'. The video, which is distributed by Word (UK) Ltd, appears to have been made back about 1992 for in it Cliff refers to himself as a 52 year old and of course just in recent months he celebrated his 60th birthday. Basically this video showed Cliff preparing for a question time with a group of young people who were there to specifically ask him questions related to his professed Christian faith.
When asked why there was sickness in the world, Cliff was unable to offer an explanation for its presence and reality. When asked about young people involving themselves with the occult he stated that it was 'dangerous'. Yes, that is true but it is also "sinful" according to God's word and "sin" would also have explained the entrance of sickness into the world but for whatever reason Cliff appeared to be allergic to using the word "sin". Perhaps you think I'm being overly critical but let me quote in full Cliff's reply to the following question.
QUESTION – ' WHY DID JESUS DIE?'
SIR CLIFF RICHARD'S ANSWER
'It's funny that should come up because only last night, I read my bible every night, and there was a scripture there in Hebrews and it says Jesus had to come as a human being so that he could die. So it meant that God in His preplanning of things had planned that Jesus would die. Now the question is why – why death?
He had to die to prove to you and me that death was not something to fear, that he could take us into a life with Him after our death.
What that life is – the bible says that it is so wonderful that no eye has seen and no ear has heard of the glory that God has waiting for us. I don't know what that means.
I don't really know what heaven is other than being with God for ever but the knowledge that Jesus is alive is the reason why I believe that one day Christians will be with him. And not just Christians – there'll be Jehovah's Witnesses there too – not all of them – not all Catholics – not all that call themselves Christians – not everyone that goes to church will be there.
It'll just be the people who have recognised Jesus and have humbly said – I'm yours – take over'.
In explaining why Christ had to die Sir Cliff Richard has just managed to avoid using words like "sin", "sacrifice", "substitution", "salvation", "ransom", "redemption", "remission", "reconciliation". An explanation of Calvary that omits any reference to these biblical doctrines is a flawed and unfaithful explanation and puts a question mark over a person's understanding of Christ who Himself declared at the last supper when speaking symbolically and prophetically of His death
"this is my blood of the new testament which is shed for many for the remission of sins" Matthew 26:28
As for Cliff's claim that 'there'll be Jehovah's Witnesses there too – not all of them' – this is a most disturbing claim. Yes of course God can and does save Jehovah's Witnesses but in consequence they leave that organisation and its false teachings and many in fact seek thereafter to bring the scriptural truth of the gospel to those still led astray by the Watchtower. Perhaps Cliff has somehow convinced himself that his close friend Hank Marvin [lead guitarist with Cliff's former backing group 'The Shadows'] who is a Jehovah's Witness is somehow going to get to heaven even though he is following the false Christ of the Jehovah's Witnesses. It is tragic that such a pop-icon missed a marvellous opportunity to trumpet forth the truth of the glorious gospel of Christ and Him Crucified. One can only question the wisdom of putting this video into the public domain where it can serve only to sow seeds of error and confusion and we do well to remind ourselves that "God is not the author of confusion" [1 Corinthians 14:33].
AN 'ALPHA' ASSESSMENT – NICKY GUMBEL'S 'GOSPEL'
On Monday 25 September 2000 I went to hear Nicky Gumbel and his ALPHA team in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast. According to the Belfast Telegraph advert [16 September] this was 'An opportunity to explore the meaning of life'. In this assessment I want to focus exclusively upon my first hand encounter at the meeting with Nicky Gumbel's 'gospel' presentation.
1. The whole thrust of Nicky Gumbel's message focussed upon man and his problems – there was nothing said about the world and mankind as seen from God's perspective. Those attending were never made aware that because of Adam's sin/mankind's fall, unsaved sinners in this world are "dead in trespasses and sins" [Ephesians 2:1] with the "wrath of God abiding on them' [John 3:36]. God's love was mentioned frequently but "the fierceness of his anger" [Joshua 7:26] never got a mention. As a result there was no attempt to induce 'reverent fear' of the Lord, which is of course the beginning of true "knowledge" [Proverbs 1:7].
2. There was studiously no reference to or use of the word 'sin' [shades of Sir Cliff Richard again]. Man's problems were identified as 'wrongdoings' but never was any yardstick identified [ie God's law, which of course is "the schoolmaster" ordained "to bring us unto Christ" Galatians 3:24] in the context and light of which mans actions could be classified as 'wrongdoings'.
3. The result of these 'wrongdoings' was apparently 'guilt' and 'addiction' and these are, we were told, what Christ can set people free from. Again reference to or use of the word 'condemnation' as found for example in John 3:19 was studiously avoided.
4. Jesus was presented as one who would be able to 'satisfy' people – Matthew 1:21 immediately sprang to my mind "Thou shalt call his name Jesus for he shall SAVE his people from their sins".
5. The answer to what was being put across as what I can only call man's 'pity party' is according to Nicky Gumbel friendship and companionship with God. Whilst that is in part true, the vital truth about the first step that can lead to such a relationship was hardly mentioned at all. The real answer to happiness with an ensuing friendship and companionship with God is found in Psalm 32:1 "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered'. Friendship was elevated and exalted above forgiveness as being the means to happiness for man.
6. A story was told of a man who retrieved a bottle from the sea and inside was a 'will' bequeathing money to whoever found the bottle. The man wasn't going to bother about it but others encouraged him to 'check it out'. He did and ended up inheriting a small fortune. People were then encouraged to likewise 'check Jesus out'. Never at any time was the eternal consequence [ie a lost eternity in HELL – another word never referred to or used] spelt out for those who would not 'check Jesus out'.
7. When Peter preached on the day of Pentecost those listening "were pricked in their heart" [Acts 2:37]. There was no attempt made to likewise confront people in the Waterfront Hall with the reality of and consequences of their lost and sinful condition because the truth was that Nicky Gumbel unlike Peter in Jerusalem and Paul in Ephesus 'shunned to declare unto them all the counsel of God' [Acts 20:27].
8. Overall an inaccurate and incomplete view of God was presented and a faulty diagnosis of man's problem was presented. Christ was presented as a 'satisfier' and not a 'Saviour'.
9. Throughout the message a blatantly 'free will', 'take it or leave it' 'Arminian' view was presented and Nicky rounded his talk off with a typical easy-believism 'sinners prayer'.
10. I do not for one moment doubt the sincerity and loving zeal of Nicky Gumbel. The problem is that he and Alpha are attempting to 'evangelise' people their way [they don't offend people by confronting them with the truth about SIN] and are not evangelising people in God's biblically ordained way. They prefer the Robert Schuller approach [he regards any attempt to make people aware of their lost and sinful condition as being 'uncouth and unchristian'] as opposed to the John the Baptist approach – a straight forward approach where sin is concerned such as we find in John's direct challenge to Herod about his sinful relationship with Herodias [Matthew 14:4].
This meeting served to confirm what I stated during my ALPHA talk in Belfast in May that the Alpha Course does not truly evangelise people. References also during the meeting by Nicky to Christians within a wide range of denominations including Roman Catholicism also served to demonstrate that ALPHA does not equip people to discern false 'gospels' such as the one presented in Roman Catholicism. In consequence it is clear that ALPHA does not present the answer to the 'meaning of life' because they fail in the light of biblical truth to clearly and accurately identify man's true condition before God. Likewise they fail to clearly and accurately proclaim "the gospel" [see 1 Corinthians 15:1-4] of the Lord Jesus Christ who by His person and work alone can save man from his true condition and bring true 'meaning to life'.
"Men with great zeal and little knowledge are inventing ingenious methods for catching men but for my part I believe in nothing but letting down the gospel net"
'Circumcision – a criteria for fellowship'
Rev Trevor Morrow
The current moderator of the Presbyterian Church, Rev Trevor Morrow, has made no secret of his enthusiasm for the ecumenical movement and since his installation in June he has regularly participated publicly in ecumenical events. He has been keen to foster 'fellowship' in particular with those who label themselves as 'Evangelical Catholics'. He was one of a number of leading ecumenical Protestant churchmen who wrote favourable commendations in the 1998 Evangelical Catholic publication entitled 'Adventures in Reconciliation – 29 Catholic Testimonies'. In his commendation Mr Morrow suggested that Evangelical Christians [like myself] who will not fellowship with those claiming to be 'Evangelical' but still 'Catholic' were guilty of copying the error of the Judaisers by our refusal to fellowship. This is how he worded it –
'The Jewish Christians from Jerusalem had come down to Galatia and were fearful that Paul's message of justification apart from the work of the law would undermine the traditions and identity of their Jewish inheritance. They were insisting that it was not enough for a Gentile to believe in Jesus Christ. They also had to follow the laws of Judaism; to be circumcised, to keep the dietary requirements, to observe the Jewish sabbaths and festivals, in order for them to be accepted as Christians. It became for them a criteria for fellowship. Paul rails against this. If someone insists that something else is required, apart from faith, in order to accept a person as a fellow Christian, or as a basis for fellowship, then they says Paul are preaching a false gospel'.
This teaching by Mr Morrow represents a clear misrepresentation of the scriptures. The Judaisers were not insisting upon circumcision etc as a 'criteria for fellowship' – they were insisting on CIRCUMCISION etc as being NECESSARY FOR SALVATION.
We read in Acts 15 verse 1 – "And certain men which came down from Judaea taught the brethren and said, Except ye be circumcised after the manner of Moses, ye cannot be saved".
The real irony of Mr Morrow's false teaching is that he is actually wanting genuine Evangelical Christians like myself to fellowship with the modern day equivalent of the Judaisers – namely the Roman Catholic Church which insists that ritualistic observance [baptism, mass etc] is necessary for salvation.
Responding to Rome's 'Dominus Iesus'
Protestant ecumenists were forced to 'lick their wounds' following the publication in September of the Vatican approved document 'Dominus Iesus'. It was drawn up by Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger [head of 'The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith' – today's name for 'The Inquisition'] and was ratified and confirmed by the Pope. After 30 years of discussion and dialogue Rome stated 'the Church to whom this truth has been entrusted [ie Rome]…must be missionary. Inter-religious dialogue therefore as part of her evangelising mission is just one of the actions of the Church in her mission ad gentes'.
Rome's aim in all of this 'dialoguing' is clear – to bring the wandering 'separated' sheep back to Mother Church. And these 'wanderers' were firmly put in their secondary place with statements like 'there exists a single Church of Christ, which subsists in the Catholic Church governed by the Successor of Peter and by the Bishops in communion with him' – 'the ecclesial communities which have not preserved the valid Episcopate [Pope etc] and the genuine and integral substance of the Eucharistic mystery [transubstantiation etc] are not Churches in the proper sense' – 'separated Churches and communities as such, though we believe they suffer from defects have by no means been deprived of significance and importance in the mystery of salvation'.
The content of this document was too much for a Mr Breen who wrote to the Belfast Telegraph complaining how that in his opinion Rome had labelled him as a 'second-class' Christian. This prompted a response from 'Father' Patrick McCafferty and this in turn opened the door for a published exchange of letters between 'Father' McCafferty and myself – a selection of these published letters is included herewith.
This document unveiled Rome in full heretical flow as she once more poured forth the consistent claims found in her "golden cup…full of abominations" [Revelation 17:4]. Her arrogance is breathtaking – 'it must be firmly believed that the Church [Roman Catholic] a pilgrim now on earth, is necessary for salvation' – 'The Church [Roman Catholic] is the universal sacrament of salvation' – 'God has willed that the Church founded by him [ie Rome] be the instrument for the salvation of all humanity'. These claims could be summarised as Rome saying to the rest of the world – 'We are the way, the truth and the life – you must come by us'.
In a response to this document, former Priest, Richard Bennett aptly commented – 'This is the spirit of Diotrephes "who loveth to have the pre-eminence" [3 John:9] gone mad'.
As stated in my last [September] 'newsletter' we are currently organising a series of conferences and meetings next March on the theme 'Bible Truth and Roman Catholicism'. In view of his forthcoming marriage [we wish him God's blessing] Tim Kauffman will not be taking part but his place will be filled [DV] by former Roman Catholic, Stephen Murphy who is pastor of the Dundalk Baptist Church. The provisional schedule of meetings is as follows.
17 March – 10.30am – London – actual venue to be finalised
20 March – 7.00pm – Crich Baptist – Derbyshire [topics 1 & 2]
24 March – 10.30am – Darlington – Geneva Road Baptist
31 March – 10.00am – Lisburn Congregational Church – N Ireland
Four topics will be covered as follows
(1) Cecil Andrews – 'The Papacy'
(2) Stephen Murphy – 'Mary'
(3) Rob Zins – Baptism & Justification
(4) Mike Gendron – Purgatory & The Mass
Other meetings for Rob and Mike have been lined up as follows during their time in Ireland.
26 March – 8.00pm – Dundalk Baptist
27 March – 8.00pm – Ballyclare Baptist
28 March – 8.00pm – Limavady Reformed Presb
29 March – 8.00pm – Lurgan Baptist Church
1 April – 11.00am – Prince's Drive Evangelical
1 April – 7.00pm – Hillsborough Free Presb.
26 March – 8.00pm – Stonepark Baptist
27 March – 8.00pm – Ballee Baptist
28 March – 8.00pm – Coleraine Independent Methodist
29 March – 8.00pm -Ballymoney Free Presbyterian
1 April – 11.00am – Rathcoole Baptist
1 April – 7.00pm – Crumlin Baptist .
These visits will be a major undertaking and your prayers for and, if at all possible, your presence at these meetings is earnestly coveted.
The Rev. Robert Walsh who has faithfully served on our Council of Reference since it was set up has moved into a different sphere of Christian service. The result is that he is no longer able to attend our regular meetings and so he is standing down from the Council. We are very grateful to both Robert and his wife Linda for their unswerving support at all times during the past years and we wish Robert in particular God's blessing as he settles into his new administrative role.
"TAKE HEED" – NEW CONTACT DETAILS
Following our move to Ballynahinch I would confirm the following contact details.
Cecil Andrews,
"Take Heed",
29 Edengrove Park,
Ballynahinch,
BT24 8AZ,
This should be used for all future mail being sent to me
Telephone/Fax 028 9756 5511.
E-MAIL – takeheed@aol.com
Website – https://www.takeheed.info
This entry was posted in Alpha, Cliff Richard, Dominus Iesus, Ecumenism, Jehovah's Witnesses, Mike Gendron, News From The Front, Nickey Gumbel, Presbyterian Church, Rob Zins, Roman Catholicism, Stephen Murphy, Take Heed Ministries and tagged Judas, Nicky Gumbel, Rev James Fraser, Rev Trevor Morrow on December 28, 2000 by takeheed.
← An 'Alpha' Assessment – Nicky Gumbel's 'Gospel' News From The Front – March 2001 →


text:
Die Thyen-Werft in Brake war ein Werftbetrieb, der von 1876 bis 1916 bestand.

Geschichte der Thyen-Werft (1876–1916)
Mit der Übernahme des 1848 für die Deutsche Reichsflotte in Brake erbauten Trockendocks, begann 1876 die Geschichte dieser Werft, die sich anfangs auf Grundlage des Trockendocks nur mit Dockungen und Reparaturen von Schiffen beschäftigte. Die Neubautätigkeit begann 1892, in diesem Jahr wurde als erstes Schiff die Schonerbrigg Falke für eigene Rechnung gebaut, 1894 folgte als zweiter Neubau der Dreimastschoner Bussard für F. Thyen. 1916 wurde die Werft als eigenständiger Betrieb geschlossen.

Übernahme von der Frerichswerft (1916–1920)
1916 wurde die Thyen-Werft von der Frerichswerft übernommen, anfangs wurden hauptsächlich Reparaturarbeiten an Schiffen durchgeführt, ab 1919 wurde auch das Neubaugeschäft weitergeführt. Es entstanden bis 1920 weitere drei Segellogger und zwei Motorlogger mit rund 120 BRT, vorwiegend für die Bremen-Vegesacker Fischerei-Gesellschaft.

Auf der Thyen-Werft gebaute Schiffe
Ab 1898 entstanden auf der Werft vor allem Segellogger, die mit der Verwendung von Treibnetzen als Heringslogger zum Heringsfang eingesetzt wurden. Die Logger wurden größtenteils an die örtliche Braker Heringsfischerei abgeliefert. Daneben war jedoch auch die Elsflether Heringsfischerei ein wichtiger Kunde, und ab 1907 kam auch die Leerer Heringsfischerei als Kunde dazu. So wurden alleine von diesem Schiffstyp rund 15 Schiffe abgeliefert. Für die Bremer Reederei D.D.G."Hansa" wurde 1912 als Bau-Nr. 28 die Motorschute Hansafahrt für den Einsatz im Hamburger Hafen geliefert. Nach ihrem Verkauf 1936 wurde sie in Hamburg zum Bunkerboot umgebaut und fuhr bis 2020 als Loh-Tank II. Im Oktober 2020 wurde sie in Haren/Ems verschrottet. Auch drei Feuerschiffe entstanden auf dieser Werft. Eines davon, die Weser, war für das Tonnen- und Bakenamt Brake bestimmt. Das andere, die Ausseneider ab 1965  Fehmannbelt (II) wurde nach Tönning geliefert (sie liegt heute als Museumsschiff Fehmarnbelt in Lübeck) und das dritte, die Minsener Sand erhielt die Kaiserliche Werft Wilhelmshaven.

Insgesamt wurden über vierzig Schiffe abgeliefert, neben den Segelloggern und Feuerschiffen waren es Gaffelschoner, Leichter, ein Wohnschiff und ein Fährdampfer.

Quellen
 Herbert Karting: Deutsche Schoner. Band 1–5: Die Entwicklung des Schiffstyps und der Bau hölzerner Schoner nach 1870 an der Deutschen Nordseeküste (von der Ems bis zur Weser). Hauschild Verlag, Bremen.
 N. N.: 100 Jahre Schiffahrt, Schiffbau, Häfen. Schiffahrtsverlag "Hansa", Hamburg, 1964.
 Mehrere Autoren: 125 Jahre Verband für Schiffbau und Meerestechnik e. V. Verband für Schiffbau und Meerestechnik (Hrsg.), Hamburg 2009.
Peter-Michael Pawlik: Von der Weser in die Welt, Band 2. Hauschild Verlag, Bremen.

Ehemalige Werft (Deutschland)
Unternehmen (Brake (Unterweser))
Frerichswerft
Produzierendes Unternehmen (Landkreis Wesermarsch)
Ehemaliges Unternehmen (Landkreis Wesermarsch)

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Thank you for this recipe! I made it, threw in 3 tomatillos (idea from your Cafe Rio dressing) and used it to make coleslaw- it was delicious!
Found your site through Once a Month Meals Gluten free Dairy free menu planner.. Looking forward to finding great inspiration for Dairy Free!
Thanks for your question Amanda! I haven't tried canned coconut though I'm guessing it should be fine. It'll change the flavor slightly but as long as it's unsweetened it should work. I've also subbed plain unsweetened rice milk and that worked great as well. Hope that helps!


Every week a large quantity of 'lost' property is handed into the School Office. To ensure that your child is able to identify any items they have misplaced please ensure that you label clothing/belongings with their name where possible/practical.
Lost property is recorded and dated on receipt. Items are kept for one calendar month following which they are disposed of, or donated to charity as appropriate.
Pupils who have misplaced an item of clothing or a possession should visit the School Office who will reunite them with their property should it have been handed in. Parents/guardians are welcome to visit the School Office on Fridays between 12 noon and 1 pm to view the lost property being held, and to identify items belonging to their child.


Just as Westworld got Season 2 hype rolling early with a first trailer, so too is HBO proving surprisingly forthright with its breakout hit. We've long known Season 2 would premiere at some point in 2018, while a new HBO announcement seemingly narrows to a spring return.
Granted, HBO didn't utter a peep about Westworld's Season 2 premiere from its otherwise-expansive TCA press tour panel, but a new post from the Medium PR page seems to confirm that new episodes are "debuting in spring 2018." Production has only just begun, but creators Jonah Nolan and Lisa Joy made sure to have all scripts in advance this time, lest Season 2 suffer the delays that made people nervous about Season 1.
It also makes sense that HBO would want to angle Westworld Season 2 in the first half of 2018, given we may not have any Game of Thrones for the rest of the year. Season 7 moved the aging flagship from a spring perch into summer, and with the final season potentially pushed to 2019, HBO needs one of its strongest dramas out front and center.
Elsewhere of Westworld Season 2, producers have kept the lion's share of details under wraps, though the 2018 "Journey Into Night" is expected to answer practical questions about the park, potentially even a date for the show's setting. Ed Harris will be back to play Season 2 on extreme mode (no guarantee for William), while Talulah Riley and Louis Herthum have also been upped to series regular. We'll also finally get answers on the mysterious "SW" park, and hopefully learn what became of poor Elsie and Stubbs (the latter of whom might be visible in the first trailer).
New additions include Leftovers alum Katja Herbers and Fargo big bad Zahn McClarnon, along with Neil Jackson and American Gods star Jonathan Tucker. Tucker will play Major Craddock, a military officer whose presence suggests the robot uprising will meet significant resistance.
We'll see what other Westworld Season 2 details come online in the coming weeks, so stay tuned.


text:
NewsMontana News
Judge deals blow to Montana absentee ballot gathering restrictions
Montana tribes say the Ballot Interference Prevention Act, approved by voters in 2018, suppresses Native votes.
By: Eric Dietrich - Montana Free Press
Posted at 8:01 AM, Jul 09, 2020
A Billings judge struck a blow this week against a Montana law restricting how mail ballots can be gathered, siding with a coalition of tribes and Native American advocacy organizations that had argued the rule, passed by voters in 2018, suppressed Native voters.
The July 7 order, a preliminary injunction, doesn't bring a lawsuit filed by the Native groups to a definitive end — but does indicate the judge believes the groups are likely to win their case, and keeps state government from enforcing the Ballot Interference Prevention Act while the litigation is pending, reports the Montana Free Press.
READ THE ORDER
"The Court finds that BIPA serves no legitimate purpose; it fails to enhance the security of absentee voting; it does not make absentee voting easier or more efficient; it does not reduce the costs of conducting elections; and it does not increase voter turnout," wrote District Court Judge Jessica Fehr.
Testimony by the plaintiffs, Fehr also wrote, indicates "that BIPA will significantly suppress voter turnout by disproportionately harming rural communities, especially individual Native Americans in rural tribal communities across the seven Indian reservations located in Montana by limiting their access to the vote by mail process."
Prior rulings in the case and another legal challenge had already kept BIPA from applying to Montana's June primary election, which was conducted entirely by mail in response to the coronavirus pandemic. It wasn't immediately clear Wednesday whether litigation over BIPA, which could ultimately end up before the Montana Supreme Court, will conclude by the November general election.
The Ballot Interference Prevention Act was placed on the 2018 ballot by the Montana Legislature and became law after winning approval from 63% of Montana voters. The law was enforced beginning with local elections held last year.
In an effort to target so-called ballot harvesting operations, BIPA restricts who can collect absentee ballots to family members, other household members, caregivers or acquaintances and also keeps Montanans from collecting more than six ballots each. In practical terms, the law also means any Montanan dropping off an absentee ballot at their local election office for a friend or family member must fill out a form and face a potential $500 fine for each ballot they deliver without proper documentation.
In court filings, the Native groups argue that Native Americans living on reservations often live in homes that are geographically isolated from polling centers and often don't have access to reliable mail service they can use to return absentee ballots from their residences.
It's common, they say, for tribal members to receive mail at post office boxes and rely on neighbors and friends for mail runs that could include handling ballots. Additionally, they say, the rural poverty common in reservation communities means Native voters may not have reliable access to the transportation necessary to collect and drop off their ballots.
Two of the groups involved in the lawsuit, Western Native Voice and Montana Native Voice, say ballot collection efforts forbidden under BIPA have been a "critical part" of their get-out-the-vote efforts in Native communities. They say 9% of the absentee ballots returned from tribal nations during the 2018 election were delivered by their community organizers.
The Native groups and their attorneys from the American Civil Liberties Union celebrated the ruling, calling it a voting rights victory.
"For our democracy to function, Indigenous people living on rural reservations must have access to the fundamental right to vote," ACLU of Montana legal fellow Lillian Alvernaz said in a statement. "BIPA, however, was contributing instead to the disenfranchisement that Indigenous people have experienced since the beginning of colonization."
Marci McLean, executive director of Western Native Voice, said in a statement she was pleased her group can continue its get-out-the-vote and ballot collection efforts on Montana reservations.
"This ruling means that Indigenous voters living on rural reservations are better able to participate in our democracy," McLean said.
State Sen. Al Olszewski, the Kalispell Republican who sponsored the bill that put BIPA before Montana voters, expressed disappointment in the ruling in an interview Wednesday and said he hopes to see it appealed. The bill, he said, had been initially spurred by reports of elderly voters in his district and elsewhere being confronted at their homes by aggressive ballot collectors.
"The people voting on a legislative referendum is the highest form of democracy in Montana," Olszewski said, criticizing Fehr as an "activist judge" who had sided with a "special interest who doesn't like the law."
In her order, Fehr wrote that the state attorneys defending BIPA had "failed to present any evidence of Montana voters being subjected to harassment and insecurity in the voting process or even a general lack of integrity in Montana's elections."
The state, she also said, hasn't demonstrated a good reason to interfere with constitutional voting rights via BIPA provisions that in effect make it harder for some Montanans to vote.
"While the Montana Supreme Court has held that a statewide initiative passed by Montana voters can indicate a compelling state interest," Fehr wrote, "initiatives must still pass constitutional muster."


text:
Q: biblatex citation includes given name, how can I get rid of it? I have following literature in my .bib file:
@inproceedings{lang2017earth,
title={Earth observation for humanitarian assistance},
  author={Lang, Stefan and Schoepfer, Elisabeth and Zeil, Peter and Riedler, Barbara},
  booktitle={GI Forum--J Geogr Inf Sci},
  volume={1},
  pages={157--165},
  year={2017}
}

When I try to cite it with \parencite{} or with \citet{} it always appears with the name of the author in the .pdf file:

(Stefan Lang, Schoepfer, et al., 2017)

I want to get rid off the "Stefan"
same here
@article{lang2015earth,
  title={Earth Observation for Humanitarian Operations},
  author={Lang, Stefan and F{\"u}reder, Petra},
  journal={GI\_Forum},
  volume={2015},
  pages={384--390},
  year={2015},
  publisher={Verlag der {\"O}sterreichischen Akademie der Wissenschaften}
}

I cite it with \citet{...} and it appears like this in the .pdf:

Stefan Lang and Füreder (2015)

and again "Stefan" appears!
What can I do against this, because all the other citations work perfectly except of these two.


text:
Q: Opposite of FORMULATEXT in Excel Is there a function that does the opposite of FORMULATEXT
For example in Cell B2 I have:
='[Workshop Schedule 2020.xlsx]Lisburn'!D7

In C2 i am using FORMULATEXT and REPLACE, to replace LISBURN with CANNOCK:
=REPLACE(FORMULATEXT(B2),32,7,"CANNOCK")

Which returns the below as a string.
='[Workshop Schedule 2020.xlsx]CANNOCK'!D7

I now want to use this string as a formula. I cannot use INDIRECT as it points to an external workbook.

A: You could create a User Defined function like:
Public Function eval(s As String) As Variant
    eval = Evaluate(s)
End Function

So if A1 contains the text string:
=1/2 & " some text"

Then:

User Defined Functions (UDFs) are very easy to install and use:

*

*ALT-F11  brings up the VBE window

*ALT-I
ALT-M opens a fresh module

*paste the stuff in and close the VBE window

If you save the workbook, the UDF will be saved with it.
If you are using a version of Excel later then 2003, you must save
the file as .xlsm rather than .xlsx
To remove the UDF:

*

*bring up the VBE window as above

*clear the code out

*close the VBE window

To use the UDF from Excel:
=eval(A1)

To learn more about macros in general, see:
http://www.mvps.org/dmcritchie/excel/getstarted.htm
and
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ee814735(v=office.14).aspx
and for specifics on UDFs, see:
http://www.cpearson.com/excel/WritingFunctionsInVBA.aspx
Macros must be enabled for this to work!

A: I laud your willingness to use VBA and the UDF's that make so many things easier. UDF's are a great place to become comfortable with VBA for those who are not so it's a gateway use as well as often a great solution.
You CAN do it without a UDF if you wish though. Very fast to do and requires no planning of approach like a UDF often does since you are going to let Excel do the work of figuring out how to evaluate the result.
It also has the point of being a direct Yes to your desire for something akin to the INDIRECT() function.
You can use the old macro language (25 years old) function EVALUATE. It is available BUT ONLY IN THE NAMED RANGE FUNCTION. (And in macros, but a good macro has already been done by Gary's Student.) Typing the function into the sheet itself will fail.
Create a Named Range (perhaps named "horsey"). For its Refers to value enter the following formula:
=EVALUATE(C2)

and save things, closing the Named Range manager.
Now typing
=horsey

into ANY cell on the sheet (well, except B2 and C2!) will do exactly what INDIRECT() would do with a cell reference. It takes the string (including the "=" or NOT including it makes no difference) in C2 and treats it as a formula.
People often think of EVALUATE() in the restricted role of turning some cell entry like 17-5+32 into a calculated result even though it was text and had no equal sign, so they figure it's of no great value. But it can do hugely more involved stuff, like exactly what you are asking for today.
Especially since we now have FORMULATEXT() so we can easily modify working formulas.


text:
Roseanne Barr/Cindy Sheehan
I haven't settled on my 2012 vote just yet, other than I will NOT be voting for either Mitt Romney or Barack Obama - both of whom are corporatist whores looking to complete the nation's move to neo-feudalism.
I am debating voting for Jill Stein of the Green Party.
But I am intrigued by the Peace and Freedom Party, which is running Roseanne Barr and Cindy Sheehan on its ticket.
Here's what Roseanne is running on:
Roseanne Barr thinks America has been "bamboozled and hoodwinked." She is referring to the government, which she says is "owned by bankers." Her solution is simple: "Vote for me. I'm not a liar. I'm not a thief. I'm not a whore," she says. "And I'm not a politician. I think that uniquely qualifies me to become president of the U.S."
"There is no real third party in America," she says. "There's this one party that has two sides to it—the Democratic and Republican side. It's one party that has two heads. We want to give voters a choice for people not owned by Wall Street."
"Our party is about peace and freedom—Americans have been been bullshitted into forgetting that war does not mean freedom ... When I'm president, I'm gonna outlaw bullshit."
Among the key points in her platform, Barr says she wants to cut back on military spending and bases abroad, bring troops home, create a financial-transaction tax, crack down on corporate outsourcing of jobs overseas, and remove caps on taxes for the rich. She also wants to create a single-payer health-care system and legalize marijuana.
She believes prison time should be reserved for violent criminals—with the exception of the Wall Street bankers who have "defrauded the working class and middle class," she says. "Those people should be in jail."
She thinks her history as a comedian works in her favor, not against. "In order to be able to write a good joke, you have to find the truth," she says. "I've spent 30 years as a comedian focused on working-class issues. Working-class people do not have a vote in this country. That's the real reason why I'm running and why I've put up my own money to seek ballot access in all 50 states. I will keep running till I win."
Barr says the government is "not supposed to be run like a business" and is "supposed to protect people from fat cats." She adds, "They had the big bubble that they created. If you watched cable TV, you just saw all the time: 'Time for a second mortgage!' That was a scam, just theft." She calls the battle between Republicans and Democrats a choice between "Satan and Satan." And Romney? "About the most corrupt person that ever lived."
When asked if she would accept donations from companies or political action committees, she says, "Special interests don't want no part of me—they know I can't be bought. Their god is money, and they are devout. I'm just trying to get signatures and get on ballots. It does cost money. We would rather take it from people with a decent heart and clean hands. We'd rather take $5 from a grandmother."
Barr, who grew up in a working-class family in Salt Lake City, Utah, says she knows what it's like to struggle. "I was raised on government cheese," she says. "As an adult, in my first marriage, my husband and I worked real hard just to go bankrupt. I happened to write some jokes about it. I did real well for myself."
I really like what she's saying here.
Labels: Roseanne Barr
Barr is a better choice than the two blowhard corporate whores named Obama and Romney. However, lets hope that Romney's billionaire friends provide Romney with 10 times as much money as Obama. Then we see Romney outspend but barely win in a very close election. We would then see witness the plutocrats bark like pitbulls in a mudpit about their campaign finance laws. It takes a large number of shit-eating lawyers and pantywaist politicians to ruin what was once a great nation!
NYC Educator August 9, 2012 at 8:54 AM
Kind of disappointing she would run as a Green, fail, then abandon and oppose the party.
reality-based educator August 9, 2012 at 9:44 AM
That's a good point, NYC. A very good point.
OTE admin August 9, 2012 at 5:33 PM
I am out here in Oregon and am looking at voting for Rocky Anderson for president.
I absolutely will NOT vote for either of the two major party candidates. Not a dime's worth of difference between them.
Sarah Saad August 25, 2020 at 8:35 AM
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Dear Frank Bruni
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The Machines Have Taken Over


This page is divided into 7 parts. They cover selected primary and secondary EU law, other selected legal documents, selected EU press releases, selected lists of frequently asked questions about the EU, EU reports, and a range of archives of EU institutions. Finally the last section provides some IMF reports.
European Commission Communication reporting the proposal of the creation of the European Semester – a mechanism to "align national budget and policy planning for economic policy coordination, so that MSs would benefit from early coordination at European level as they prepare their national budgets and national reform programmes", as they prepare "Stability and Convergence Programmes and National Reform Programmes.
ECB Post Governing Council Meeting Press Conference of 2 December 2010 informing the media that the Securities Market Programme is "ongoing".
European Council March 24 & 25 Conclusions – Comments on European Semester, Rules of the ESM and the Euro Plus Pact.


You've had a chance to meet half of our new E-Series Switchvox appliance lineup, the E510 and E520, and now it's time to meet the varsity players on our roster.
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It's well known that Digium has a fantastic, US-based, technical support team. And with the new E-Series appliances, every appliance is supported by 24×7 critical-down support.
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The Lo Fidelity Allstars journey includes full mega-stadium tours of the USA and headlining live band shows around the world.
Worldwide charts hits such as 'Battleflag' are a small part of the story. Their soon to be re-released debut album sold half a million copies in the USA alone and a "Best Of" compilation saw them acclaimed "influential genre-mashing electronic mentalists" in a glowingly reverential NME review.
Phil Ward's Lo Fidelity Allstars DJ sets have always been one step ahead of the times.
From being co-resident at Skint's Boutique alongside Fatboy Slim to recently headlining in front of 150,000 people on a Thai beach, Phil's Lo Fi Allstar DJ appearances have taken in Cream, Turnmills, Amnesia, Ministry Of Sound and a headline slot at Glastonbury's dance stage along the way.


The base URLConnection API was designed with multiple protocols in mind, nearly all of which are now defunct (ftp, gopher, etc.).
The API predates HTTP/1.1 and is too abstract.
It is hard to use, with many undocumented behaviors.
It works in blocking mode only (i.e., one thread per request/response).
It is very hard to maintain.
The API and implementation will not be part of Java SE.
The API will live under the jdk.incubtor namespace.
The module will not resolve by default at compile or run time.


Developed by legendary professional bass angler, Kevin VanDam, the Mustad KVD Grip-Pin Soft Plastic Hook features Mustad's Big Mouth Tube hook design with a new plastic keeper molded around the hook shank to firmly secure your soft plastic baits. The integrated pin rigs easily, doesn't tear plastic, and securely anchors baits to the hook, while Mustad's Big Mouth design provides for a perfect Tex-posed presentation and a precise point-to-eye angle that facilitates rock solid hooksets. Available in several sizes, the versatile "no slip/no slide" design of the Mustad KVD Grip-Pin Soft Plastic Hook offers a superior presentation for a wide range of soft plastic baits - from big creatures baits to jerk baits.


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Neuroscience & Neurology
BioPsychoSocial Health
Drugs & Clinical Trials
Living with a Brain Disorder
Best and Worst of Neuroscience and Neurology – November 2015
by Viatcheslav Wlassoff, PhD | December 17, 2015
Maybe this is just a reflection of the annual funding cycle, but it is common to see a lot of high quality publications towards the end of year. And as the end of 2015 is approaching, choosing the most interesting articles for this review becomes a more challenging task. Here, I'm presenting only few of the studies that are worth talking about. As usual, the choice of article for inclusion mostly reflects my personal opinion about their significance.
This month, scientific community marked the birthdays of two scientists: Charles Scott Sherrington and Edgar Adrian. Both Englishmen are best known for their shared Nobel Prize in Physiology received in 1932. Their research established the function of neurons in sending the messages within the neural system and demonstrated the basic rules governing this phenomenon. The works of Adrian and Sherrington laid foundation of modern experimental neuroscience.
Fitness level correlates with strength of brain connections in elderly
Resting-state functional connectivity in the brain is a measure of brain health, and it tends to deteriorate with age. A new study demonstrates that brain connectivity in older adults correlates well with the level of cardiovascular fitness.
The measure, however, is not dependent on the level of person's physical activity: this means that even those who are not particularly active physically but managed to remain fit in old age still rate better in the brain health measurements. The findings help to understand how fitness protects against age-related neurodegeneration and dementia.
Sensors for proprioception found
It is often said that people have five senses, but this is not really correct. At least one obvious sense which is not on the classical list is proprioception: this sense tells us where our body parts are relative to each other and space around us. Obviously, this sense is important for our balance and body movements.
Finding the neural circuits related to the sense of proprioception has turned out to be a difficult task, however. An article published this month identifies Piezo2 as a sensor protein that translates stretching of muscles and tendons into the proprioceptive signal. Interestingly, the same protein mediates the sense of touch.
Human brain more responsive to environmental influences compared to other primates
The term plasticity refers to the propensity of brain to be altered by its environment. New research shows that compared to chimpanzees, our closest evolutionary relative, the human brain is shaped to a much larger degree by social and cultural influences and other adaptations to the changing environment. The brain organization of chimpanzee, on the other hand, is highly heritable (i.e. genetically determined) and shows little variability.
It is quite likely that high brain plasticity was one of the major evolutionary advantages of human species allowing successful adaptation to a vast range of environments.
Where happiness happens?
Happiness is rather elusive thing. Even defining it in scientific terms is far from straightforward: different people feel happy for different reasons.
Japanese scientists used MRI scans to try and locate happiness within the brain structure. It turned out that people who score higher on happiness ratings have a larger mass of grey matter in their precuneus. The precuneus is a part of superior parietal lobule between the cerebral hemispheres. Interestingly, some research demonstrates that meditation causes increase of grey matter in this region.
New concussion biomarker predicts cognitive impairment
Although most concussions get resolved relatively quickly, approximately one in five patients suffers cognitive impairments that last for several months or even longer. It is now believed that diffuse axonal injury associated with concussion may cause degradation of more damaged axons. The degradation process causes formation of some byproducts, including protein SNTF.
Researchers demonstrated that the level of SNTF is higher in people who suffer from greater cognitive dysfunction. Thus, SNTF level can be used as a marker of axonal injury and indicator of potential cognitive impairment in patients.
THE WORST
The worst doesn't really mean the results are that bad – this is more a reflection of getting some data that do not meet expectations or defy the currently hold views. Very useful lessons can be learned from such findings.
Working memory: not as simple as it looks
Working memory is called upon when a piece of information needs to be kept in mind for a short period of time. It was always assumed that underlying process should be rather simple.
Measuring the brain activity during various memorizing tasks revealed that it involves rhythmic activity of hippocampus which alternates between less excited and more excited states twice per second. The absence of this rhythmic pattern was associated with mistakes in memorizing. Even though the processes behind the pattern are not clear, it is obvious that formation of working memory involves rather complex processes.
Long-term memory formation: unexpected player
Investigation of the functions of ghrelin receptors in the brain yielded an unexpected discovery. Ghrelin is a hormone involved in the control of appetite but it is not present in the brain.
It turned out that ghrelin receptors in the brain play a different function altogether: they can bind to the dopamine receptor and alter its functions. This double dopamine-ghrelin receptor complex is responsible for synaptic plasticity, the ability of synapses to grow and expand. Synaptic plasticity is considered as one of the major processes behind the long-term memory formation. Blocking of ghrelin receptors was shown to inhibit the formation of memory in animal models.
Dopamine signaling and learning process
Another interesting insight into the process of learning was made using a unique technique of very rapid measurements of changes in dopamine levels. And again, the findings were quite different from previous assumptions.
Using a model of an investment game, scientists expected that dopamine response would correlate with the expected reward and actual outcome. It turned out to be more complex: dopamine responses reflected the so-called reward-prediction errors. Dopamine pulses were combining information about what might have happened with information about what actually happened during the game. This is a more informed approach to learning, and it is interesting that it can be studied by direct experimental measurements.
Neurological component of obesity
Obesity, as it turns out, is not just a result of poor diet and lack of exercise – there is also a neurological component to it. Researchers exposed two groups of children, one with normal body weight and one with BMI in obese range, to the smell of food while measuring their brain activity with fMRI. In obese children, the smell of food (smell of chocolate in these experiments) activated brain areas associated with impulsivity. These brain areas are also known to be linked with the development of obsessive-compulsive disorder. These areas remained inactive in children with normal body weight during this experiment.
More probing study may reveal further clue to the neurological triggers of obesity.
Bipolar disorder associated with low level of omega-3 fatty acids
Fatty acids are very important for the health of the brain, and their lowered level ash been shown to be linked to some diseases. A new pilot study has shown that the level of omega-3 fatty acids is lower in people with bipolar disorder, even though the dietary intake of these acids by the patients does not differ from healthy controls. It also appears that the severity of symptoms in patients correlated with the omega-3 deficit.
Previous studies, however, indicated that omega-3 supplementation cannot help in alleviating the symptoms of bipolar disorder. It remains to be seen if any diet modifications can help to the patients.
Dies-Suarez P et al. (2015). Obese children fMRI brain connections for food odor stimuli. Radiological Society of North America 2015, Accepted Scientific Posters. Press Release.
Gomez-Robles, A., Hopkins, W., Schapiro, S., & Sherwood, C. (2015). Relaxed genetic control of cortical organization in human brains compared with chimpanzees Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1512646112
Johnson, V., Stewart, W., Weber, M., Cullen, D., Siman, R., & Smith, D. (2015). SNTF immunostaining reveals previously undetected axonal pathology in traumatic brain injury Acta Neuropathologica DOI: 10.1007/s00401-015-1506-0
Kern, A., Mavrikaki, M., Ullrich, C., Albarran-Zeckler, R., Brantley, A., & Smith, R. (2015). Hippocampal Dopamine/DRD1 Signaling Dependent on the Ghrelin Receptor Cell, 163 (5), 1176-1190 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2015.10.062
Kishida, K., Saez, I., Lohrenz, T., Witcher, M., Laxton, A., Tatter, S., White, J., Ellis, T., Phillips, P., & Montague, P. (2015). Subsecond dopamine fluctuations in human striatum encode superposed error signals about actual and counterfactual reward Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1513619112
Leszczy?ski, M., Fell, J., & Axmacher, N. (2015). Rhythmic Working Memory Activation in the Human Hippocampus Cell Reports, 13 (6), 1272-1282 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.09.081
Sato, W., Kochiyama, T., Uono, S., Kubota, Y., Sawada, R., Yoshimura, S., & Toichi, M. (2015). The structural neural substrate of subjective happiness Scientific Reports, 5 DOI: 10.1038/srep16891
Saunders, E., Reider, A., Singh, G., Gelenberg, A., & Rapoport, S. (2015). Low unesterified:esterified eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) plasma concentration ratio is associated with bipolar disorder episodes, and omega-3 plasma concentrations are altered by treatment Bipolar Disorders, 17 (7), 729-742 DOI: 10.1111/bdi.12337
Voss, M., Weng, T., Burzynska, A., Wong, C., Cooke, G., Clark, R., Fanning, J., Awick, E., Gothe, N., Olson, E., McAuley, E., & Kramer, A. (2015). Fitness, but not physical activity, is related to functional integrity of brain networks associated with aging NeuroImage DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2015.10.044
Woo, S., Lukacs, V., de Nooij, J., Zaytseva, D., Criddle, C., Francisco, A., Jessell, T., Wilkinson, K., & Patapoutian, A. (2015). Piezo2 is the principal mechanotransduction channel for proprioception Nature Neuroscience, 18 (12), 1756-1762 DOI: 10.1038/nn.4162
Image via sfam_photo / Shutterstock.
The Brain of an Introvert
Human and Bat Echolocation in the Brain Vs Vision
The Brain and Genetics in Addictive Behavior
Viatcheslav Wlassoff, PhD
Viatcheslav Wlassoff, PhD, is a scientific and medical consultant with experience in pharmaceutical and genetic research. He has an extensive publication history on various topics related to medical sciences. He worked at several leading academic institutions around the globe (Cambridge University (UK), University of New South Wales (Australia), National Institute of Genetics (Japan). Dr. Wlassoff runs consulting service specialized on preparation of scientific publications, medical and scientific writing and editing (Scientific Biomedical Consulting Services).
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Full Recovery from Schizophrenia?
The Anti-Psychiatry Movement
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Is Schizophrenia Really a Brain Disease?
Vaccines – A Two-Edged Sword
Social Isolation and Mental Illness
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New 'Brain Games' Exclusive Preview – Times Square Mass Mind Reading
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text:
Giovanna Segre
Giovanna Segre is Associate Professor of Economic Policy at the Department of Economics and Statistics "Cognetti De Martiis" of the University of Turin, where she is Deputy Director for the Third Mission; Vice-president of the official biennial Master in "Economics of environment, culture and territory"; Director of the international Master in "World Heritage and Cultural Projects for Development" jointly organised with Politecnico di Torino and International Training Centre of ILO, in collaboration with UNESCO World Heritage Center; Deputy Director of the international Master in "Cultural property protection in crisis response" organised in collaboration with the Italian Army and the Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Cultural Heritage; member of the Board of Advisors of the EU Marie Skłodowska-Curie COFUND PhD in "Technologies for Cultural heritage"; Director of the inter-department Urban Studies Research Center OMERO; and member of the Scientific Committee of the Santagata Foundation for the Economics of Culture.


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24 Jan Predictions On The Future: How Climate Change Will Affect Southern Africa
Posted at 18:53h in Faithful to Nature	by	Guest Writer 5 Comments
As the reality of a changing climate becomes irrefutable and extreme weather phenomena occur around the world with more regularity, the looming question for all of us is; what comes next?
The truth is, nobody is exactly sure of the details. But experts do know that not all regions will be affected equally. And, according to Future Climate for Africa, the African continent will be hit hardest by climate change.
CLIMATE IMPACT: AFRICA'S BIG FOUR:
Before we look at the changes southern Africa will face, it's helpful to know what all of Africa can expect. There are four key reasons why scientists believe Africa will experience the most drastic changes;
African society is closely connected to the land; hundreds of millions of people depend on rainfall to grow their food.
The African climate system is controlled by an extremely complex mix of large-scale weather systems, which, compared to almost all other inhabited regions, is vastly understudied. It's therefore capable of all sorts of surprises.
The two most extensive decreases in rainfall on the planet by the end of the century are expected to occur over Africa; one over North Africa and the other over southern Africa.
Finally, the capacity for adaptation to climate change is low; poverty equates to reduced choice at the individual level while governance generally fails to prioritise and act on climate change.
It's important to note that our understanding of climate change in Africa is disturbingly poor as a result of gaping holes in historic data and a lack of climate research in Africa. For example, there are more reporting rain gauges in the UK county of Oxfordshire than the entire Congo Basin. Nevertheless, many experts believe Africa is sleepwalking into a potential catastrophe.
What particular changes can we expect in the climate in southern Africa?
HIGHER TEMPERATURES, LESS RAINFALL
Unless concerted action is taken to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, temperatures may rise by more than 4°C over the southern African interior by 2100, and by more than 6°C over the western, central and northern parts of South Africa. This is according to models built by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Many towns in the Karoo are already experiencing a process of desertification.
The IPCC also projects these warmer temperatures to intensify existing precipitation patterns, with increases in rainfall in equatorial regions of up to 30% and decreases of 10-20% in southern Africa. There's also a general agreement that extreme events (higher max temperatures, longer periods between rainfall, more intense rainfall) and variability will increase, but little certainty on the extent or precise locations.
VIRUSES, DISEASE + INCREASED HEALTH COMPLICATIONS
Global warming has already been implicated in the increased transmission of malaria, Rift Valley Fever, schistosomiasis, cholera and other diarrheal pathogens, and Avian influenza in South Africa. Africa is also likely to face new disease challenges caused by the impacts of climate change outside the continent. For example, the thawing of northern hemisphere permafrost will free long trapped viruses that will use avian migration to move across continents. Specific predictions are impossible, but the majority of infectious diseases that have emerged in the last 100 years have had a zoonotic origin (from animals). Health systems in and outside of Africa will face new challenges.
Climate change will affect water availability and potentially the quality too, which in turn, could have serious impacts on health. 'If every person in South Africa has continuous access to water that's clean and safe to drink and in the quantities needed, the health impacts from water-borne diseases, such as cholera, can be greatly minimised,' writes Professor Rebecca Garland, principal researcher of the climate studies modelling and environmental health research group at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR). 'However, the opposite is also true. If people do not have access to water that's clean and safe to drink, the health impact from deteriorating water quality from climate change will be worsened.' Garland also writes that exposure to high ambient temperatures, including those experienced during heatwaves, has been associated with increases in mortality from heatstroke, cardiovascular, cerebrovascular and respiratory diseases.
Food access is already an issue in South Africa given the existing levels of poverty. The situation is expected to worsen given that crop yields are likely to decline in several provinces, which would lead to a loss of livestock. To confound the matter, any negative impacts of climate change on the country's economy will have major implications for food prices, which is largely contingent on affordability.
THE POOR WILL SUFFER MOST
Simply put: if an individual's or household's socio-economic status is robust, they will have a greater ability to withstand shocks induced by climate change. In South Africa, however, about a quarter of the population are unemployed and over half live below the poverty line.
According to the Financial and Fiscal Commission report from CSIR, the 20 most vulnerable municipalities in South Africa are rural, small towns and secondary cities. Their vulnerabilities are expected to increase due to the high levels of informal housing and the lack of efficient management of these growth areas. 'Rural areas are particularly vulnerable due to their dependency on climate-sensitive resources such as water and an agrarian landscape,' says Professor Garland.
Rising temperatures will also influence the habitability of some areas. However, the largest climate-related migration will likely result from poor farming opportunities, adding to the inevitable movement of people from rural to urban areas already underway and, to a lesser extent, to movement across national boundaries.
THE SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL ADAPTATION STRATEGY
Globally, the response to climate change is gradually gaining momentum as the impacts of climate change unfold. In South Africa, however, it's increasingly apparent that delays in responding to climate change over the past decades have jeopardised human life and livelihoods. While slow progress, especially in the energy sector, has garnered much attention, focus is now shifting to developing plans and systems to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
The CSIR says it is critically important for planners and decision-makers to move from 'reactive crisis management approaches' to proactive climate change and disaster risk management approaches.
In 2017, the second draft of the South African National Adaptation Strategy was made open for public comment. This is a 10-year plan, which describes key strategic areas, with measurable outcomes. The implementation priorities for health are listed as water and sanitation, early warning systems for effective public health interventions during extreme weather events, and occupational health.
SO, WHAT'S NEXT?
While the effects of climate change will be significant, we're not powerless. Technological innovations (more research in Africa by Africans, more investment in research, adaptive health systems) and smart governmental decisions can still make a difference. Ironically, a shared interest in climate solutions can perhaps provide an avenue for new forms of cooperation between African states and be the opportunity the continent needs to see the common humanity that unites us all.
Posted at 11:42h, 05 February Reply
What energy alternative such as Solar,hydro, wind . What would it take to motivate studies in this area? How can investments be made in this country for alternative fuel & energy?
Planet saver
This is very easy,only that resources are being channelled into politicians's bellies.We can reverse desertification by drawing water from the sea and irrigating the arid lands to make forests.The power to draw this water will be derived from solar plants in the same desserts.My having vast rain Forests water will be recycled easily.Another issue is to watch our population as humans. The more there are many people to feed the more strain mother nature takes.Intense birth control measures should be put in place,if we are to save this planet.
Nirvana Cassie
In addition to decreasing human numbers, we should do the same with animals wrt decreasing carbon emissions from agriculture. Clearing out the amazon for agricultural farming is reckless and greedy. Theres a tremendous amount of things we could do but can only accomplish things in unity.
Planet Saver Too
I fully agree with intense birth control. This is an issue not addressed in climate change debates and is the glaring white elephant in the room.
There are many God fearing people living in South Africa. God will protect us through the last days. Time to draw even closer to Him.


The glow-worm does not have universal symbolism, but in some systems it is a symbol of the Unit of Energy.
In effect it is either on or off, and it is symbolically connected to Light.
It curls up in a spiral and interestingly enough it is often a Fibonacci spiral, and the unit of energy is a spiral.


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How one family s tragedy ultimately revolutionized contemporary Christian music.
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Q: JBehave and Java varargs - how to pass parameters to varargs method? I have a problem with connecting my method with JBehave framework. Namely, I have JBehave scenario like this:
Scenario: test1
Given all the data with attr1, attr2

Now in steps class I have a method with varargs because dependently on the situations i will use one or many parameters
@Given ("all the data from $attribute1, $attribute2")
    public void testinggg(String... attributes){

    int a = attributes.length;
    for(int i=0;i<a;i++){
        System.out.println(attributes[i]);
    }
    }

Unfortunately I get an error:
Given all the data with attr1, attr2 (FAILED)
(org.jbehave.core.steps.ParameterConverters$ParameterConvertionFailed: No parameter converter for class [Ljava.lang.String;)

Is there workaround for this? How can I pass my parameters to  my testinggg(String... attributes) method?

A: If you can control the separators between your attr strings (and you can arrange for them to appear at the end of the step candidate), then you can just pass them in as one long string, use split to convert to a String array, and then work with that array.
It worked perfectly for me in this example, where I could guarantee spaces as string element separators:
@Then("$tabbedPaneName tabs are $tabs")
public void testTabExistence(String tabbedPaneName, String tabs) {
    String[] tabsArray = tabs.split(" ");
programEntryScreen.tabbedPane(tabbedpaneName).requireTabTitles(tabsArray);

}

A: Another alternative is JBehave's built-in Parameter Converters that convert to List<T> arguments, for supported types of <T>.  The caveat I've found when using this approach is that the converters require the delimiter between elements to be a comma(,) and without any whitespace around the delimiter.
The Given step definition in this setup:
Scenario: test1
Given all the data with attr1,attr2
!-- Note no spaces on either ^ side

Could be satisfied by this step-def method:
@Given("all the data with $attrs")
public void givenAllTheData(List<String> attrs) {
   // do something, e.g. attrs.size()
}

One of the advantages of this approach is it supports multiple such parameters, and it is not limited to the last parameter in the method argument list (as with Java varargs).