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TSA rolls out new pat-downs, some travelers say they're invasive
Mar 5th 2017 7:53AM
The Transportation Security Administration has rolled out changes to pat-downs at airports, which some travelers said resulted in more invasive screenings at airports.
The pat-downs don't involve any additional areas of the body, and will still be performed by agents of the same gender as passengers, the agency said.
Previously, agents used several different types of pat downs to choose from after travelers set off the metal detector or were otherwise flagged for security concerns, but the new rules establish one standardized pat-down procedure that is more comprehensive.
RELATED: Strangest weapons found by the TSA
The strangest weapons found by the TSA
Holy purple projectiles, batman! All batarangs, no matter the color, must be packed in your checked bags. This one was discovered in a carry-on bag at Providence (PVD). #zlonk #glurp #blap #vronk #powie
This small knife was discovered in a pill bottle inside a carry-on bag at Jacksonville (JAX). Intentionally concealing a knife (no matter how small) can lead to headaches such as fines and arrest.
#TBT April 2012: Flying fish are found in the ocean, not on commercial aircraft. We hate to be a wet blanket, but spear guns are not allowed in the cabin of an aircraft and must be packed in checked baggage. This spear gun was discovered in a carry-on bag at Raleigh-Durham (RDU).
Holy cow! This cattle prod was discovered in a carry-on bag at the Chicago Midway (MDW) Airport . All shocking devices, especially cattle prods, are not allowed in carry-on bags. Please pack them in your checked bags with the batteries removed.
Which is mightier, the pen or the knife? This pen-knife was discovered in a carry-on bag at San Juan (SJU). Concealed knives can lead to fines and arrest.
We're pretty sure this isn't a letter opener. A bladed dragon claw perhaps??? Whatever it is, it should be packed in checked baggage. It was discovered in a carry-on bag at Atlanta (ATL).
Is this some kind of confangled rotisserie contraption for turkeys? Nope. These are Sai. If you're a #TeenageMutantTurtle fan, you'll know the Sai as Raphael's weapon or choice. If you still have no clue, a Sai is a weapon used for striking, bludgeoning and punctures. Whatever it is you use them for, please know they must be packed in checked baggage. These were discovered in a carry-on bag at Boise (BOI). #TheMoreYouKnow
This ornate flask of black powder was discovered in a carry-on bag at Allentown (ABE). While it is a fancy flask, the black powder contained within is an explosive and is strictly prohibited in both carry-on and checked bags.
Packing list: Socks. ✅ Toothbrush. ✅ Curling Iron. ✅ Post-apocalyptic bullet-adorned gas mask. ❌ While gas masks are allowed in carry-on bags, replica bullets are not. This was discovered in a carry-on bag at Miami (MIA). Maybe he was catching a one way flight to #FuryRoad?
#TSATravelTips - Don't pack your homemade replica suicide vest. The traveler who packed this vest in his checked bag at Richmond (RIC) stated it was a prop intended for use in a live-action role-playing game (LARP). TSA explosives experts raced to the checked baggage room and the airport police were called immediately. Fortunately, the explosives experts determined the vest posed no danger. It has yet to be determined if the officer who searched the bag needed a change of clothing.
While about to receive a pat-down after opting out of body scanner screening, a Chicago O'Hare (ORD) traveler remembered that he had a throwing knife necklace under his shirt. All knives are prohibited and concealed knives can lead to fines and arrest. #TSAGoodCatch
While some travelers are worried about packing nail clippers (they are allowed), others pack a pair of five-bladed floggers. You guessed it; these are not allowed in carry-on bags. If you're in a situation where you're going to need your floggers, they'll have to be packed in checked baggage. These were discovered last week in a carry-on bag at the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas (IAH). #TSATravelTips
You've likely heard that you're not supposed to bring a knife to a gunfight? Well, you're not supposed to bring either in your carry-on bag. Both replica weapons and knives are not allowed in carry-on bags. If you find yourself needing to travel with your gun knife, please pack it in your checked bag. This gun knife was discovered in a carry-on bag at the Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW).
This 4-bladed throwing star was discovered in a carry-on bag at the San Francisco International Airport (SFO). These must be packed in your checked bags. Sorry Prince Colwyn. #Krull
This belt buckle knife was discovered in a traveler's carry-on property recently at the Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE). Concealed weapons can lead to fines and arrest.
Naruto's ninja gear was discovered in a carry-on bag at Las Vegas (LAS). Please pack all ninja gear in your checked bags. #TSATravelTips
This knuckle knife was discovered in a carry-on bag at Memphis (MEM). Knives of any size are not allowed in carry-on bags. They must be packed in checked bags. #TSATravelTips
This impaler cane was discovered amongst a traveler's carry-on property in Baltimore (BWI). These must be packed with checked baggage. Concealed weapons can lead to fines and arrest.
Many things can be hidden in shoes, but explosives are what concern us the most. This shoe is a replica of the bomb Richard Reid attempted to use in 2001 on his flight from Paris to Miami.
Nico Melendez, a public affairs manager at the TSA, said the procedure was streamlined to reduce confusion and lessen the cognitive burden of officers after the TSA faced a record number of firearms detection during the week of February 20. Agents found 79 firearms, 21 of which were round chambered, setting a new record from its highest number of 18 firearms in 2014.
Some travelers called the new pat-downs invasive.
Seasoned traveler Joel Stratte-McClure said when he was catching a flight from Redding Municipal Airport to Egypt on Thursday the agent warned him the new procedure "would involve a more intense horizontal and vertical pat down" to look for concealed weapons that people typically hide in their pants.
"This was the most intriguing, intense and invasive pat down I've had by the TSA since they came into existence," Stratte-MCClure said in an email to NBC News. "Usually it's comparatively perfunctory (the gold bracelet on my right wrist sets off every security alarm in the US)."
Stratte-McClure said he is curious why it took the TSA fifteen years to understand that people conceal weapons in their pants, and doubted that the new pat-downs would be much more effective than the old ones, which he said didn't work in the first place.
"Seasoned travelers might take it in stride but infrequent travelers will be embarrassed and shocked," he said.
Some Twitter users criticized the new system, calling it "legalized groping."
https://t.co/LHr94gZerK#TSA Pure theater to groom Americans to accept tyranny. When was the last they prevented a terrorist plot?
— Bullwinkle (@JaneGal00036592) March 4, 2017
This is infuriating. It's legalized groping. #TSA#TrumpsAmerica#SexualAssault#RapeCulture
— Punkkitty312 (@PunkKitty312) March 4, 2017
Department of Homeland Security spokesman Bruce Anderson said the new pat-downs will continue to use enhanced security measures implemented several months ago.
"TSA continues to adjust and refine our systems and procedures to meet the evolving threat and to achieve the highest levels of transportation security," Anderson said in a statement.
The change comes on the heels of the agency's study of a 2015 report by the Department of Homeland Security's Inspector General that drew headlines. The audit lambasted TSA for not detecting handguns and other weapons and suggested the termination of the "managed inclusion program."
More from NBC News:
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Trump Address to Congress: Budget, Immigration, Health Care and More
At a Glance: 12 Highlights From Trump's Speech to Congress
airport screening
tsa pat downs


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text:
© 2018 | Giant Armadillo Project | ICAS
Giant Armadillos
About Giant Armadillos
Priodontes maximus
Weight: Up to 50 kilograms (110 pounds)
Length: Up to 1.5 meters (5 feet)
This is the largest of the armadillo species. Although giant armadillos range over much of South America, very little is known about them and most information is anecdotal. Due to its cryptic behavior and low population densities, this animal is very rarely seen. The giant armadillo is threatened with extinction and is currently classified as Vulnerable (A2cd) by the IUCN/SSC Red List of Threatened Species.
Strong Claws for Digging
One of the most striking features of the species is the large scimitar-shaped foreclaws, the third of which is greatly enlarged and can reach over 20 cm (7.9 in).
The project confirmed that giant armadillos are nocturnal, spending the daytime period deep in their burrows. They are extremely powerful diggers and their very large excavations are easily recognized. On average, openings are 35 cm (13.8 in) in diameter. These holes are often the only evidence of the species presence in an area.
Ecosystem Engineers
On average, a giant armadillo spends three nights in a burrow before digging a new one. By doing so, they alter their physical surroundings and constantly create new habitats.
Our team has analyzed over 55,000 images confirming at least 57 vertebrate species use these burrows as a thermal refuge, shelter against predators, and as a feeding ground.
Many of these also rest in the soft sand mound in front of the burrow. This rarely seen creature may play a crucial role in the lives of many of the most popular species in the South American landscape.
Armored Giants
Giant armadillos have a large, dark dorsal armor with many narrow bands. The armor is marked laterally on its edge by a distinctive lighter band that surrounds the entire carapace.
Legs, tail and head are also covered with tough pentagonal scales. Underneath the carapace, the bare skin is pinkish, wrinkly, and unprotected.
Rare in Their Range
Although widespread, giant armadillos are rare over their entire distribution range including the Pantanal. Giant armadillos range over much of South America in 12 different countries (Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, French Guiana, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, and Venezuela) and are found in a diversity of habitats ranging from tropical forests to open savannas.
In Brazil, except in the Northeast, the species is found throughout most of the country, although it is probably extinct or near extinct in the South.
In addition to the Pantanal, the species has been registered throughout the Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and Cerrado biomes in Brazil.
Fast Digging for Food
One night, our team observed a giant armadillo digging 6 holes an average of 80 cm deep in less than fifteen minutes to feed on ants. Collection of fecal samples confirms their myrmecophagous (ant-eating) nature. They can break through termite mounds in a matter of minutes. In the Pantanal, over 90% of the termite mounds regenerate themselves in a matter of weeks.
No reliable information is available on their reproduction. However, the Giant Armadillo Project recorded the first evidence of mating and birth. Our observations showed that the gestation period last 5 months and only one young is born.
Already naturally rare throughout their distribution, it appears giant armadillos are becoming even rarer because of anthropogenic impacts.
Due to the large size of adult giant armadillos, these animals can become a preferred hunting target of local communities and subsistence hunters in the Amazon. Although difficult to quantify, it may also be targeted by collectors for its giant middle foreclaw.
Other impacts contributing to the decline of populations include fire and roadkill. Currently, virtually nothing is known about the effect of infectious diseases on giant armadillos.
Many collaborative efforts are required if giant armadillos and all the species they depend on are to survive.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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A & M Records
A compendium of musical delights by Alan and Margaret Ashworth
Home Off the Beaten TracksWill the real John Martyn please stand up?
By Alan Ashworth Posted on Feb 25, 2019 April 9, 2019
Will the real John Martyn please stand up?
THERE were many embarrassing moments in my journalistic career, and some still have the capacity to make me cringe. One such came on a Sunday in 1976, at the July Wakes Festival. It was held at a site named Park Hall, adjacent to Charnock Richard services on the M6, which in the 1980s would become the Camelot theme park before being abandoned in 2012.
I was there to see Bert Jansch and John Martyn, the latter being top of the bill. Surveying the crowd basking in the sunshine (it was one of the hottest summers on record), I saw to my amazement that the bearded Martyn was actually sitting in the crowd on the grass watching whoever was then on stage (possibly Five Hand Reel). I wasted no time in approaching him, identifying myself and asking if he was up for an interview.
He looked a bit reluctant but said OK, so I engaged in an anodyne conversation to loosen him up before coming in with some killer questions. I was surprised how boring he seemed, but was nevertheless excited to be speaking to a living legend. After a few difficult minutes, I said: 'And what time are you on, John?'
'On what?' came the reply. 'And why are you calling me John? My name is Clive.'
He wasn't John Martyn, of course, just a bloke with a beard. And when the real JM took to the stage, I realised they didn't look like each other at all.
Martyn, accompanied by the peerless Danny Thompson on double bass, delivered an excellent 90-minute set which was recorded and released as an album more than 30 years later. I tried to enjoy the performance while still smarting from my stupidity. But all things considered, I wish I hadn't gone to Charnock Richard that day.
John Martyn was born Iain David McGeachy in New Malden, Surrey, on September 11 1948. His English mother and Scottish father were both singers of light opera. They divorced when he was five and his subsequent childhood was divided between Surrey and Glasgow, which accounts for his tendency to alternate between broad Scots and Mockney accents.
Leaving art college in the mid-60s, he rapidly became a leading figure in the folk scene and in 1967 became the first white act signed to Island Records. The following year saw his first album, London Conversation, which included Back To Stay, later recorded by Bridget St John (yes, her again). Also in 1968 he released The Tumbler, a jazzier affair than its folky predecessor.
The 1970 album Stormbringer!, recorded as a duo with his wife Beverley (nee Kutner, a former squeeze of Bert Jansch and Paul Simon), introduced Martyn's new sound, acoustic guitar run through a fuzzbox and Echoplex, a tape delay effect. This was swiftly followed by The Road To Ruin, the title track of which is lovely.
It was decided at this point that John should go solo again and in 1971 he released Bless The Weather, which was a great leap forward. The title track, featuring super work from Danny Thompson, Head and Heart and Just Now are all great songs, while Glistening Glyndebourne is the first full-blown Echoplex track he recorded.
In 1973 came Solid Air, where Martyn's signature blend of slurred vocals, echoing guitar and Thompson's double bass were now fully realised. The title track is a tribute to John's troubled Island labelmate Nick Drake, who was to die soon afterwards from an overdose of antidepressants.
The simple, heartfelt message to a friend, May You Never, would become one of Martyn's best-loved songs. With its benevolent theme it anticipates Dylan's Forever Young which appeared on 1974's Planet Waves album. Whether John inspired Bob is open to conjecture. Solid Air came out in February 1973 and Dylan recorded a demo of Forever Young in June that year.
My own favourite Martyn album is the next, also from 1973, Inside Out. It opens with the gentle, beautiful Fine Lines, and the penultimate track is Ways To Cry, another classic. In between we have music more concerned with feel than structure, and it works. For me, Danny Thompson is just as much the star of this album and deserves a joint credit.
This was followed in 1975 by a more conventional set, Sunday's Child, which reflects Martyn's then happy state of mind and joy in his young family – he and Beverley had a son and daughter. Highlights are You Can Discover and the traditional Spencer the Rover.
That same year Island was unwilling to release his album Live At Leeds, recorded with Thompson and drummer John Stevens, so Martyn decided to sell it mail-order from his home in Hastings. It came in a plain white sleeve stamped with his name and the album title. Having ordered it the day it was announced, I was delighted to receive a copy marked in felt-tip with a 1 in the box headed 'Limited Edition Number . . .' Later I realised he probably put 1 on all of them.
Martyn then took a sabbatical in Jamaica, spending time with the reggae producer Lee 'Scratch' Perry, the result of which was the 1977 record One World. The best bits for me are Couldn't Love You More and the last track, the sublime Small Hours, which was recorded in the open air and includes the sounds of birds and water. Sadly, this album shows the diminishing influence of Danny Thompson, who plays on only two tracks and not at all on subsequent albums.
Despite the inner peace of his music, John Martyn was a turbulent character whose life was dominated by drink and drugs. His marriage to Beverley ended in the late 70s amid claims of domestic violence and their break-up is chronicled on the 1980 album Grace and Danger. Here's a live version of Sweet Little Mystery from the BBC rock programme The Old Grey Whistle Test, plus the truly agonised Hurt In Your Heart. Phil Collins appears on the album on drums and backing vocals, and he produced Martyn's next outing, 1981's Glorious Fool. This is a pretty pedestrian effort but worth seeking out for the penultimate track Please Fall in Love With Me, even if Collins's drums are somewhat unsubtle. The next release, 1982's Well Kept Secret, is in similar vein and gave Martyn his first top 30 album. By now his ethereal meanderings were long in the past and, no doubt encouraged by the zillion-selling Collins, his music was firmly in the humdrum mainstream. I kept buying his stuff out of loyalty, and usually regretted it.
By the way, for those interested, there is an amazingly good-value triple CD retrospective. Fifty-eight tracks for a mere £5.99.
Martyn's later life was a chaotic tale of excess. In 2006, after he had moved to Ireland with his long-suffering new partner, the BBC showed the documentary Johnny Too Bad which told how his right leg had to be amputated as a result of his self-destructive lifestyle. He was appointed OBE in the 2009 New Year Honours list and died in September that year of acute respiratory distress syndrome, aged 60.
While John Martyn clearly had his faults – he came across as pretty unpleasant in the documentary and Beverley describes him as 'Luciferian' – he was blessed with huge talent and a wonderful voice. And it is clear that he inspired great loyalty in his friends – I am told by a mutual friend that Danny Thompson is still grieving for him. In his heyday he was one of the giants of the British music scene and was idolised by his peers.
At the 2008 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards he was presented with a lifetime achievement gong and Eric Clapton sent a message saying that John was 'so far ahead of everything else it was inconceivable'. Martyn responded: 'At last I'm a celebrity.'
alanj126@yahoo.co.uk
Categories: Off the Beaten Tracks
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A's Assortment
A's Track of the Day
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M's Classical Choice
M's Miscellany
M's Track of the Day
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Johnny Preston: Running Bear
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Alex Luna - "Vamos a Bailar"
on May 13, 2021 Video No comments
Alex Luna is an artist and songwriter based in The Bronx. Originally from the Dominican Republic, Santiago moved to New York when he was a kid, and later started to move his first steps within the local music scene. Ever since he was a kid, he was always passionate about stunning Latin ballads and their romantic feel.
Back in the late 90s, Alex debuted on the scene with his first album, a release titled "Alex Y Aniel: Bachata De Miel." Most notably, he recorded the first version of "Pegame Tu Vicio" around that time. The track went on to become incredibly popular just a short time later, after a well-known bachata musician performed a new recording of it.
Throughout the years, he became one of NYC's most sought-after Latin music performers and beyond, reaching a broad international audience with his sound.
Don't miss out on Alex's amazing songs and catch him live if you get the chance: he's even better on a stage! Soon he will be releasing his new Reggaeton single: "Vamos a Bailar".
Follow @alexlunasinduda on instagram and Click Here to listen to "Vamos a Bailar" on Spotify.


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text:
Home Covid-19 pandemic Wan-Ifra & World Editors Forum Asia Chapter launch Young Media Leaders Fellowship
Wan-Ifra & World Editors Forum Asia Chapter launch Young Media Leaders Fellowship
YMLF fellows to gather online over the next six months
Temasek Foundation Team Photo: Temasek Foundation
The second annual round of the Young Media Leaders Fellowship (YMLF) is launched today with a new batch of twenty-eight high-potential mid-career editors and journalists from nineteen publications in eleven countries. The YMLF is an initiative of the World Editors Forum Asia Chapter and Wan-Ifra supported by the Temasek Foundation. The program offers leadership and professional development and networking opportunities through dedicated online and physical platforms.
The program seeks to nurture the next generation of media leaders committed to shaping the regional future. The aim is for YMLF fellows to contribute effectively to the pursuit of good journalism, foster dialogue and greater connectedness among one another, and build up newsrooms to meet the needs of their societies in these uncertain times.
They will gather online over the next six months to share experiences, exchange ideas, amplify the impact of news reporting, and learn to lead in an industry transformed by technology. This is especially relevant as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten the news publishing industry.
"These are challenging times for the media all around the world, and our young newsroom leaders have many big issues to grapple with ahead of them. We want to help equip them with the leadership skills to face those challenges, from the need to transform our newsroom for digital-first operations to inspiring teams with a sense of purpose for public service journalism. Through this program, we also hope they will build bridges and form their own networks for collaboration across our region," said Warren Fernandez, President of the World Editors Forum and Editor-in-Chief of The Straits Times and English/Malay/Tamil Media Group, Singapore Press Holdings, who mooted the initiative.
Wan-Ifra being thankful to Temasek Foundation for the YMLF initiative
"The news industry is counting on young, dynamic changemakers to create a strong, vibrant media ecosystem which can continue to serve society with timely, accurate news, information, and analysis. Thanks to generous support of Temasek Foundation, we are able to help groom the next generation of industry leaders at a region-wide level," said Thomas Jacob, Chief Operating Officer of Wan-Ifra.
"The media industry recognizes the need for innovation, possibly disruptive ones, to take on the challenges brought about by the changing times, including those arising from the current pandemic. How can media products and services be enhanced and made more relevant? What are the ways to grow an audience and sustain the viability of operations? Through this program, we hope participants can share with one another from their wealth of experience so as to strengthen the role of the media in supporting and advancing our respective communities," said Benedict Cheong, Chief Executive of Temasek Foundation International.
Due to the spread of COVID-19, the YMLF program will take place mostly through online platforms. Participants are attending a week-long online executive leadership program tailored for newsroom leaders currently. They will attend the virtual Digital Media Asia conference in August, plan events, activities, and stories to mark World News Day on 28 September 2021. They will gather in Singapore in January 2022 for the Fellowship finale, conditions permitting.
Fellows will also continue to deepen their engagement with one another during and beyond the program by establishing an alumni community on social media and through future speaking opportunities.
The full list of Fellows and their publications is available under this link.
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Two Stevenage postcodes are currently being affected by a power cut.
Electricity is out in the SG1-1 and SG1-3 areas of Stevenage, affecting houses and offices in the town – including the Comet offices in Stevenage Old Town.
According to UK Power Networks, an underground electricity cable faulted on its high voltage network – causing an area-wide power cut.
UK Power Networks say power is expected to be back on between 11.30am and 12.30pm today.
We have also received reports that the outage has affected the town centre and the railway station, with the fire service called to attend people stuck in the lift.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
34th Qutb
Hazrat Sultan Ali Shah Gonabadi
http://www.soltanalishah.ir سايت حضرت سلطانعليشاه
The Master of all Gnostics, pride of all the Sages, head of all jurisprudents, the perfect ascetic and great moralist, His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah Gonabadi.
His noble name was Hajj Sultan Mohammad son of Mulla Hydar Mohammad an inhabitant of Baydukht Gonabad. His esteemed father Mulla Hydar Mohammad was taken captive in one of the raids made by the Turkamens who had come to Gonabad for robbery and plunder, after sometime in captivity, his relatives paid a ransom and he was set free and chose to live in Noodeh farm, and during the same time, had the honor to meet His Holiness Nour Ali Shah the first and be initiated into dervish hood or Sufism. Then in the year 1254 AHL. with the intension of visiting the Holy Shrines and the purposes of visiting and being in the presence of His Holiness Hussain Ali Shah to renew the covenant started the journey by way of India and did not return back from the journey, never to be seen again.
His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah was born on the 28th Jaumadi-al-ula 1251 AHL and from the age of 3 years was deprived of seeing his father; His Holiness till the age of 6 years grew up in the care of his mother, who was a devoted believer, then, his mother entrusted him to a school, overflowing intelligence and a strong memory made him capable to recite the Koran and read books in less than six months.
His Holiness after reading a few Farsi books had to leave school due to financial reasons and started helping his elder brother Mulla Mohammad Ali, who had taken the responsibility to look after him and his mother, to earn a living he used to help his brother and for a while was engaged in grazing sheep. His Holiness till the age of seven, thus, for a livelihood was a helping hand to his brother, till one day by chance with the intention of seeing his sister he went to the village of Baylond which is about twelve kilometers from Baydukht and passed by the village school and remembered his schooling days, the enthusiasm to study set ablaze within him again, on returning back to Baydukht, he expresses to his mother that he saw all his friends who were of the same age going to school to study and I also wish to go to school to study. His mother accepts his request subject to the permission and consent of his elder brother, when his elder brother comes home at night, his mother informs him of His Holiness's keenness to study and he says, my dear mother, you know that we do not have the financial ability to hire a Shepard to look after the sheep and we have to do all the work ourselves and I need my brother to help me. After a few days, His Holiness again insists to his mother, and at last, his mother persuades his elder brother and His Holiness starts to go to school in the Baylond village.
On behalf on His Holiness, it has been narrated, that he had said, at the time of schooling he was always careful in executing religious duties and in worship and was always internally at unrest, that, it would be better if my own ideas are looked into and I should merely not stay in the condition of imitating (following a religious teacher). In the presence of one of the teachers started reading a chapter on Hadi Ashar, one day the teacher was in a position to prove the oneness of Almighty God and referred to the noble verse of the Koran.
"If there were in them gods besides Allah, they would have been in disorder. So glory be to Allah, the Lord of the Throne, being above what they describe" (Chapter 21 Al Anbiya, verse 22).
Involuntarily, in this citation, in my opinion there seemed to be a complexity and I said to the teacher, that, we are still in the rank of proving the Oneness of God and after proving this the necessity then to prove our claims should be made, it is that time that we will reach the proof of common and special prophesy, till the truth and fullness of the Koran is known to us, it is only then, we can reason and search for such verses, whereas, we are still in the beginning to prove the Oneness of God. Hence, to deduce from the verses of the Koran is not permissible and logical for us. The teacher remained confounded from the reply, his helplessness shook me up, that these are teachers and the learned and they are baffled like me, then which is the way to arrive at the truth?
This thought created a fear in me, agitated and distressed, I went after the truth searching for it in every science and if I found something extraordinary in science somewhere, I put it in a pot as a reward till maybe the purpose was obtained, but the face of purpose in between the school and scientific books was not manifested, till the blessings of God and I got the assistance of the Saints by pounding at the door of the heart and seized the pond of knowledge and the shining face of purpose. Thanks to God.
Nevertheless, His Holiness acquired mastery in the external science of religious jurisprudence and its principles, logic, rhetoric and theosophy and was made a contemporary peer in that area, but at the same time being engaged in studies his heart was always towards the direction of the Almighty and he had complete attention for the execution of the minutest religious duties, even staying awake and reciting the Koran during the nights and the performance of the supererogatory prayers. For this reason, some people sometimes used to witness signs in him, the school janitor where His Holiness used to study had said to one of the teachers by the name of Sheikh Zia-e-din, that most of the nights he used to see a light from the room of Mulla Sultan Mohammad, but when I used to go behind the door of the room, I could see no light. However, till the time he could gain scientific knowledge from religious authorities of Gonabad he did so, and when their satchel was drained out, he came to his mother to obtain permission to go on a journey, out of Gonabad for further studies.
She said: a journey such as this involves expenses and you know that we do not have the means to afford it, but at last, as a result of his insistence, his mother consented and gave him a sum of seven Kran ( which is equal to 7 rials ) as a present and with blessings and prayers saw him off.
His Holiness departed for Mashad on foot, entered the renowned school called the Mirza Jaffar School and was engaged in studying and learnt the science of jurisprudence and principles of jurisprudence, interpretations and traditions as much as he could by the side of esteemed teachers and during the period of his studies he used to subject himself to mortification and be content with little food,
Just as he had said that the 7 rials which was given to him by the kindness of his mother, in the first month I gave one rial and received 80 <<Jandak>> change money of that time, he used to put the Jhandak under the rug and everyday used to spend a few Jhandak from it for food and during the end of the month used to have a few Jhandak remaining. He used to live in this manner and used to continue his studies with the notion that he did not want to burden his brother and did not ask for his help and with contentment and renouncement of his soul used to continue his livelihood. He even refused to receive the customary salary for religious students from the school and never made use of it, till the entire amount he had finished and passed a few days with difficulty and hardship.
During this time, a group of religious students of the school of which His Holiness was among them was invited to a private house in a village nearby the city for lunch. His Holiness started off early in the morning to go to the invited house with his friends, outside the city door, saw a group of people harvesting wheat from the fields and another group behind them was busy engaged in gathering them. He had said: because I saw them I said to myself going to this invitation the intentions of which was not known and from where the money was provided for. What aspect does it have? My heart did not consent to go to this invitation and I slowly kept myself back from my friends and as they passed on, I started gathering the wheat till evening when my friends returned back from the invitation, I hid myself from them and in the night with a quantity of wheat I went to the city and left the wheat with the baker and for sometime in exchange for the wheat used to obtain bread till I received a sum of money from Gonabad.
In short, he completed most of the conventional acquired sciences in Mashad, but for the completion of this formal science, the inner heat and the unrest of the heart did not keep him back and his desired purpose was not visible and did not find the inner light which he was searching for. From this side, the fire of his quest became sharper and his disturbed mind more intense. In this state, he thought of traveling to one of the countrysides of Mashad. And as he had mentioned, since I was in doubt about the distance when prays become curtailed (shortened) or recited complete, I referred to one of the jurisprudents, who was also among the scholars and in this regards asked him a question.
He in reply said: My judgment in this matter is such, although I was acquainted with religious jurisprudence, the answer of this person shocked me severely. It was strange, I was asking him for God's decree and he is saying my judgment. is such . I desire to hear God's decree and not to hear others judgment. This matter discouraged and perplexed me completely from the regular and acquired sciences I had gained to that day and increased my anxiety.
In these circumstances, I heard that in Sabzewar, there is a theosophist by the name of Hajj Mulla Hadi and that in the science of theosophy he was a master among his contemporaries and his school is different to other schools of jurisprudence and its principles.
The eagerness to meet him and to study in his school of Theosophy took me to Sabzewar in the presence of this aforementioned teacher. For a long time, I was engaged in the studies of theosophy in his presence, because I saw his teachings to be superior to past teachings and very close to the truth. I was certain that I had reached the main highway and the channel to arrive at the truth is the channel of theosophy. Therefore, with full reverence, was at his services and with diligence and adherence was engaged in studies, and made such an endeavor in this way that very soon was to the teacher's attention and favor from the rest of the students. Anyhow, His Holiness was in the services of the late Hajj Sabzewari and became a skilled master in Mashsha and Eshragh theosophy, wrote marginal notes on the book Asfar and in all senses taking precedence from others.
Then, he made a journey to the Holy Shrines and reached the external sciences to the furtherest degree of perfection and when returning from the Holy Shrines stopped in Teheran and established a studying session.
Most of the religious students, knew him to be more learned and of a strong character than their previous teachers and like a butterfly around a candle used to gather round him to such an extent that caused the envy of contemporary theologian teachers and professors and because he also used to teach theosophy, they made this an excuse and accused him of being a follower of Bahaism, which was a severe charge then. Therefore, His Holiness was forced to leave Teheran and returns back to Hajj Sabzewari and like before started to gain knowledge in his presence.
During this time which was the year 1280 AHL. His Holiness Hajj Mohammad Kazem Saadat Ali Shah with a group of disciples and chiefs of the Bakhtiari tribes set out for Mashad and arrived in Sabzewar at an Inn. Hajj Sabzewari during a teaching session informed his students that a wise and learned Mystic of a dignified and high position has come from Teheran and staying at an Inn in Sabzewar, it would not be bad that you all go to meet and see him, but when in his presence, be careful of your manners and modesty.
A few students of Hajj Sabzewari including His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah decide to go and meet him, and saw a group of people sitting in silence with discipline, submissive and humble in his presence. Naturally, those who had just arrived also sat in discipline and silence. The group of students in a whisper said to each other, it would be good if we ask this gentleman the question we asked Hajj Sabzewari and the answer which was postponed to a later time, till the degree of this gentleman's perfection is known to us. Then permission was requested for to ask a question, the matter was put forward.
His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah in the beginning said: I am not well versed in the Arabic language and do not have much scientific information, from this reply, they looked at each other and smiled. Then, what was Hajj Sabzewari saying about him? His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah immediately said: but you read the exact passage from the book, till whatever reaches my mind I shall give my views. These words was mostly to their surprise with the confession made as to not having much knowledge about Arabic, now he says, you read the exact passage.
Although in the same one or two meetings His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah was drawn towards His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah and attracted by his eloquent speech, but through the spiritual strength and forbearance and innate self preservation would not surrender himself in Sabzewar as a seeker, but after His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah left Sabzewar, the fire of yearning in his heart set ablaze and the one he longed to see had journeyed, drove him helpless. Then with the permission of his teacher Hajj Sabzewari left for Mashad and when in Mashad inquired about his lost wish in every lane and street till he finally found his wish and declared his submission. By chance at the same time, the envoy sent by His Holiness's mother from Gonabad entered Mashad to take him home and found His Holiness in the presence of Mr. Saadat Ali Shah, who when informed of this matter and in reply to the request of his declaration to submission said: presently, to obey your mother's commands is more necessary.. Comply to your mother's orders and go to Gonabad, God willing, we shall see each other again. His Holiness according to orders, set out for Gonabad and when in Gonabad his mother insisted that he should get married, but His Holiness would not agree and the desire to fly to the place of his true beloved was in his head, till finally, to obey his mother's orders, he agreed on condition that before he takes his wife to his home, he would go on the required journey which he had on mind and then got ready to marry the dignified daughter of Hajj Mulla Ali Bayduckti, who was the honorable mother of His Holiness Nour Ali Shah the second. Then in the year 1280 AHL set out for Isfahan to visit His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah. It is said, at the same time His Holiness started from Gonabad, His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah had said in a gathering of the Fugara (faithful): a fire of eagerness from Khorasan has set ablaze which will reach here soon.
Anyhow, His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah, from the road of Tabas and Yazd set out for Isfahan on foot, nearing Isfahan, he met and traveled with Syed Hedayatullah custodian of the Holy Shrine at Mahan and who was among the Fugara. In between the journey and the slow movement of his fellow travelers, which was not in conformity with his burning desire separated from them and alone started towards his purpose.
After having entered Isfahan and finding the residence of His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah, he said to himself that His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah is aware of my condition, I shall not knock on the door and inform of my arrival, till His Holiness comes out himself, this thought was still within him that the door opened and His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah comes out of his house. Involuntarily, he falls at the feet of His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah and starts crying. His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah with a smile said: Gonabadi theologian, what do you want from me? He with severe enthusiasm declared his submission and with ardent desire requested to be initiated into Fagr. His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah says, for the time being, go to one of the schools and lodge there, for the attending of the affairs of the Fugara, I have specified a special time, you also come at that time and put your request forward to be initiated, but His Holiness does not give up and increases his crying, till he is initiated to Fagr. It is said on the third day of His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah's initiation, His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah says in the gathering of the Fugara. The road which a Faghir (Faithful) goes through in 60 years; this Khorasani has gone through in 3 nights.
However, His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah, used to spend the nights at the school and during the day used to spend in the companionship of his honorable Pir. After seeking for sometime, took leave from the presence of His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah and returned back to Gonabad and settled down in Bayduckt and took his wife to his home and occupied himself in Agriculture, which is considered as one of the best occupations. Till the year 1284, four days after the birth of his son His Holiness Nour Ali Shah the second, with the intension to visit the Holy Shrines and to have the honor to be in the presence of his honorable Pir, he set out from Gonabad and after visiting the Holy Shrines, he went to Isfahan to be in the presence of his honorable Pir.
For sometime, he was under the training of His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah to cultivate with care and effort the purification and brightness of the heart to full capacity and obtained the decree to be the successor of His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah and take up the guidance of people and was given the spiritual title Sultan Ali Shah. His friend and companion traveler His Eminence Mirza Abdulhusssain also in the same decree was appointed as an aid and assistant with His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah as a guide to the seekers. The Caliphate of His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah and the guidance ship of His Eminence Mirza Abdulhussain are written in the same decree. Then His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah commanded His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah to return to Gonabad. His Holiness with up most grief and with a heavy heart left according to the orders of His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah and returned to Gonabad.
His Holiness after returning to Gonabad got occupied and tangled from several directions. From one side , the death of Hajj Mulla Ali, his wife's father who was the leader of the Friday prayers in that locality and as he did not have a son to succeed him, His Holiness was compelled to accept for sometime to be the leader of Friday prayers. From the other side, on account of the death of his honorable wife, he had to take full responsibility to look after the affairs and care for his two children he had from his esteemed wife. From another side he was over burdened by those who referred to him for asking religious and canonical questions, from another side, the constant flow of the Fugara from various provinces and large cities to be in his presence and to look after their external affairs in a village which was lacking in everything and to pay attention to their spiritual affairs and to lead them was His Holiness's responsibility over burdened him.
The most difficult and grievous was the allegation and hostility of the infidels and the envy of the jealous traitors towards His Holiness. Although, through his genius in the external science and his perfection in asceticism and self restraint and virtue of intellect was to the attention and affection of all far and near and this was the cause of jealously from the resentful and hostility from the enemy specially from the religious authorities of that locality who openly started opposition and conflict and back biting against His Holiness. Nevertheless, tired from the many entanglements, he postponed his planned journey due to family and domestic affairs, till gradually his intention to journey was substituted to always stay in Gonabad. Seven years had passed since the death of his wife; the author's mother. His Holiness got married to the daughter of Mirza Abdulhussain Riyabee who was appointed a guide and assistant by His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah. His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah, after appointing His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah as his successor, seldom used to initiate seekers and most of the time he used to send them to Gonabad to His Holiness Sultan Ali Shah, who out of respect used to refrain from initiating them and used to send them back to his honorable Guide (Pir), till in the year 1293 AHL when His Holiness Saadat Ali Shah passed away and vacated the robe of guidance. His Holiness independently sat on the throne of guidance and was engaged in the guidance of worshippers and in the month of Shaban of 1305 AHL with a few of his disciples and sincere followers set out on a journey to the House of God ( Kabah ) and from Hejaz visited the Holy Shrines, at the Holy Shrines he met and discussed with a few important religious authorities, such as the late Haj Sheikh Zeinalabedin Mazandarani and Ayatollah Haj Mirza Hassan Shirazi and other ordinary jurists, and in Jamadi - ul - Sani 1306 AHL returned back to his homeland as usual and in a short time with virtuous morals and extensive knowledge and fatherly compassion with the public and attending to the conditions of the poor, helpless and the needy, and with devotion and self restraint, cheerfulness and firmness in social relations drew people from near and far towards himself in such a way that not only the inhabitants of Gonabad but rather where ever his name was mentioned and said the people used to turn their hearts towards His Holiness and in times of difficulty knew him to be a refuge and asylum and considered his threshold as a place of safety and security.
His Holiness in the year 1308 AHL visited Mashad, the shrine of the eight Imam Hazrat Reza (As) and in that journey with the hands of one of the atheist and the disbelievers pretending to be clergy was poisoned by means of dry bread and suffered with a severe fever in such a way that his companions had become restless and expressed their anxiety, but His Holiness had said, be sure this obstacle will be removed. But as he was not invited to the hour of death, he was treated and cured and returned back to Baydukht.
His Holiness besides being engaged in Agriculture was a resolver of difficulties for those who referred to him, from farmers, peasants etc and to arrange provision for their convenience and outward comfort and to pay attention to the spiritual training of the Fugara that a large number of them were from Baydukht's villages. His Holiness had two orderly programs everyday. First, in the early mornings at sunrise, he used to start medical practice and attend to the sick people, who used to come from far and near, even from thirty, forty leagues (1 league is 6Kms) to be treated. His Holiness used to spend two hours to examine the patients and to give them prescription and orders, that all the, medicine he prescribed was of a herbal base and home made. If a patient or a traveler or helpless person was from another village and not in a position to call back to his home or locality, he used to take him to his own house and used to give orders to prepare his medicine and food in the house and for a day or two used to be his host till he was in a position to return back to his house or locality. He used to treat the patients with one prescription and that there was no need for a second prescription.
His other program was in the evening nearing two hours to sunset he would go to the school and till sunset teach the Fugara and those present the interpretation of the Holy Koran and from the book the Principles of Kafi. Anyhow, although Baydukht was a village far away from great knowledge and big cities and unknown, nevertheless his external and spiritual fame and attainment, renowned perfect ness in science and the fame of his morals and character and goodness and his sociability and specially his specialization in medicine, made him famous everywhere and his noble name went far and near, even in the near foreign countries and well known countries and his name was mentioned with respect and affection and day by day his fame in excellence and virtues increased.
From the other side, the fire of jealously in the resentful set ablaze and specially enmity in the pretending to be learned and devoid of senses increased and enmity reached its zenith and with the instigation of a group outside of Gonabad and jealously of some persons from Gonabad, who were unaware and ignorant of God, and that a few of them were under the shelter of His Holiness. In the early dawn on Saturday the 26th Rabi al-Awwal 1327 AHL during the time of performing the ablution in the garden connected to his house, His Holiness was attached and with sinful hands, his blessed throat which was a passage of the remembrance of God was so much squeezed that His Holiness was martyred and was united with his beloved. During this time, his blessed age was 76years, out of which 34 years of his life he sat independently on the throne of guidance and was engaged in the guidance of the worshippers and seekers.
His Holiness in the year 1314 AHL according to his own handwriting appointed his son His Eminence Mulla Ali as his Caliphate and successor with the spiritual title Nour Ali Shah.
His Holiness has authored several books:
1) Marginal notes on the book Asfar of Mulla Sadra,
2) Commentary on Tahzib-ul-Mantegh of Mulla Saad Taftazani called Tazhib-ul-Tahzib,
3) Booklet on Arabic Syntax (not published yet),
4) A book Sa'adatnameh on science and its nobleness and what is relevant to it,
5) A book called Velayatnameh a commentary and explanation on the rules of the heart and affairs relating to Velayat,
6) A book Besharat-ul-Mumenin and Tanbih-ul-Naemin,
7) An exegesis of the Holy Koran called Bayan-o-Sa'adeh,
8) An Arabic explanation on Aphorisms (short wise phases) of Baba Taher Oriyan called Izah,
9) A Farsi commentary on Aphorism (Short wise phases) of Baba Taher called Tozeeh,
All above has been published.
Marriage and children of His Holiness:
His Holiness had two wives; his first wife was the daughter of the late Hajj Mulla Ali Baydukhti and from this dignified lady, he had two children, the first was a girl called Khatoon, second His Holiness Mulla Ali Nour Ali Shah, his successor. After the death of his first wife, he married the daughter of His Eminence Mirza Abdulhussain, guide of the Fugara and from this honorable lady till the time of his martyrdom had five children, four daughters with the names Zobaidah, Zahra, Gohar and Kokab and one son who is the author of this book and called Mohammad Baqer.
Authorized Sheikhs and persons on behalf of His Holiness:
1) Mr. Mirza Mohammad Sadeq Namazi endowed with the spiritual title Faiz Ali
2) Hajj Mulla Mohammad Jafar Barzoki endowed with the spiritual title Mahboob Ali
3) Hajj Sheikh Abdullah Haeri ibn Sheikh who was endowed with the spiritual title Rahmat Ali
4) Mr. Mirza Agha Sadr ul Orafa the second son of His Excellency Hajj Mirza Zainulabedin Shirvani, Mr. Mast Ali Shah who was authorized to instruct the litanies and special remembrance of God and did not have the permission to initiate.
Contemporaries of His Holiness:
1) Hajj Mulla Hadi Sabzewari
2) Mr. Hajj Mirza Hassan well known as Mirza Shirazi
3) Mr. Syed Mohammad Hussain Shahrestani
4) Akhond Mulla Mohammad Kazem Khorasani
5) Mr. Syed Mohammad Kazem Yazdi
6) Mr. Syed Mohammad Tabatabaie
7) Mir Syed Abdullah Behbahani
8) Hajj Mirza Habibullah Rashti
9) Hajj Mirza Hussain Hajj Mirza Khalil
10) Mirza Abulhassan Jelveh
Those related to mysticism and the Spiritual path and dignitaries of other Sects:
1) Hajj Agha Mohammad well known as Monawar Ali Shah
2) Hajj Mirza Hassan named as Safi Ali Shah
3) Hajj Mohammad Karim Khan Kermani well known as Sarkar Agha
4) Aghakhan Mahallati head of the Ismailieh sect
5) Mirza Mohammad Hussain Asamme Eshghi Zahabi
From Kings and Chiefs:
1) Nasser Din Shah Kajar
2) Muzaffar al din Shah
3) Mohammad Ali Shah
4) Mirza Ali Asghar Khan Atabak
5) Mirza Ali Khan Amin o douleh
6) The late Saraj al Malek
From Poets:
1) Mirza Mohammad Taghi Sepehr
2) Hajj Mahdi Hejab Shirazi
3) Mirza Ahmad Vaghar Shirazi
4) Mohammad Kazem Saburi Kashani
5) Mirza Akhtar Tousi
صفحه اصلي - سلسله اولياء - كتب عرفاني - پند صالح - تصاوير - بيانيه‌ها - پيوند - جستجو - يادبود - مكاتبه - نقشه سايت - اعلانات
استفاده و كپی برداری از منابع، مطالب، محتوی و شكل این سایت با رعایت امانت و درستی آزاد است.
تصوف ايران ۱۳۸۵
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FAMILY After 60 years, I Came to Really Know My Dad On November...
After 60 years, I Came to Really Know My Dad On November 20, 2012
By Greg Holt
I know every guy's Dad is special, and of course, I've known my Dad all my life and have always loved him. Dad's 85 and in a single day, at 60 years old, I came to know he has qualities I have never really understood or appreciated.
I had always known he had been an All American football player in college 67 years ago. It was part of family history, but of course before my time, so I can't say I ever thought about that deeply or much considered the meaning of that achievement. At the most difficult of times I was blessed to be given a deeper understanding of my Dad. I finally met the football player of 67 years ago. I saw inside the soul of a champion.
From Broken Leg To Brain Tumor To Chemo To Rehab To a Day at Home
On May 11th Dad broke his right leg, which led to a titanium rod insertion. The broken leg also led to an MRI, which led to suspicion of a tumor on June 7th, a brain biopsy on June 9th, which led to confirmation of a central nervous system lymphoma on June 17th, which led to 8 chemo treatments in June & July, which led to rehab August, September & October. Follow up brain scans in late September had shown great success in tumor reduction from the chemo. He finally got home on Halloween. It was for a single day.
Renewed Symptoms and Return to Hospital
He was back in the hospital November 1st. Symptoms aroused suspicions that despite the chemo's apparent success the tumor had resumed its growth. I flew up to Chicago from Florida as Dad began radiation treatments. On the third day of radiation he experienced significant weakness, which doctors thought was an adverse reaction to the radiation.
There was, however, something else going on. Dad's a tough guy and through the last six months when asked how he felt, he would always say great, when it was obviously not true. On the third day of radiation, just moving the sheet on the hospital bed caused a pained look on his face, and the source of pain was his left knee, which was beginning to swell.
Greg Holt
About the author: Greg is a strong believer in Jesus Christ and is also a political analyst, author, and is the Editor-in-Chief for the National War Council. By day he is a self-employed non-emergency medical transport driver, as well as being an author and blogger. His articles are first published on TCP News and Inspirational Christian Blogs, and from there the articles are widely published on many well-known conservative websites. If you would like to republish his articles, please feel free to do so leaving all links intact and crediting the author and the website that the article appeared on. Greg is the author of the newly released book: Spiritual Darkness is Destroying America and the Church. Subscribe to my daily newsletter, and join hundreds of daily readers and receive news and relevant commentary. Don't forget to follow TCP News on Parler, USA Life, Gab, Facebook, and Twitter
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David Shestokas January 11, 2015	At	11:40 pm
Thanks so much for sharing Dad's story….
Greg January 12, 2015	At	12:13 am
Hi David, thanks so much for stopping by! That was a great story, I hope many see it and find comfort and strength in it. What a great dad!


text:
Q: How can I find solution of this equation? Equation: $$Ge^{-G} = \frac{1-G}{e-1} $$
I like to find solution $G$ of the equation.
Please give some direction
Thanks

A: This kind of equation does not show solutions in any closed form and numercical methods need to be used.
You could use it as it is written or, using componendo and dividendo, rewrite it as $$f(G)=e^G (G-1)+(e-1) G=0$$ It first derivative $$f'(G)=e^G G+e-1$$ is always positive and then $f(G)$ is an increasing function.
To find the root, let us use Newton method which, starting at a "reasonable" guess $G_0$ will update it according to $$G_{n+1}=G_n-\frac{f(G_n)}{f'(G_n)}$$ Let us be very lazy and start iterating from $G_0=0$; the iterates will then be $0.581977$, $0.490695$, $0.486239$, $0.486230$ which is the solution for six significant figures (you could notice that we had one overshoot of the solution; this is normal since $f(0) f''(0)=-1 <0$ - Darboux theorem).
Using higher order methods such as Halley (cubic convergence), still starting at $G_0=0$, the  iterates would have been $0.483420$, $0.486230$.
Being less lazy and having looked at the plot of the function, we could have developed $f(G)$ as a Taylor series at $G=\frac 12$ and get $$f(G)=\frac{1}{2} \left(-1-\sqrt{e}+e\right)+\left(-1+\frac{\sqrt{e}}{2}+e\right)
   \left(G-\frac{1}{2}\right)+O\left(\left(G-\frac{1}{2}\right)^2\right)$$ from which the solution would be $$G\approx \frac{3 \sqrt{e}}{2 \left(2e+\sqrt{e} -2\right)}\approx 0.486321$$ This would have been the first iterate of Newton method satrting at $G_0=\frac 12$ and the convergence would have been quite faster (only one extra iteration). Pushing Taylor expansion to second order and solving the quadratic would give as estimate $\approx 0.486229$.
Edit
May be, you could be amazed to hear that using the simplest Pade approximant (instead of Taylor), we should get $$f(G)\approx \frac{a_0+a_1(G-G_0)}{1+b_1(G-G_0)}$$ (I shall not report the expression of the coefficients). Doing it at $G_0=0$  the approximate solution would be $$G\approx \frac{2 e-2}{3-4 e+2 e^2}\approx 0.497693$$ while doing it at $G_0=\frac 12$ the approximate solution would be $$G \approx \frac{9 \left(-\sqrt{e}+e+e^{3/2}\right)}{2 \left(8-5 \sqrt{e}-11 e+5 e^{3/2}+8
   e^2\right)}\approx 0.486230$$ which is the solution for six significant figures.

A: $\frac{G}{e^G}=\frac{1-G}{e-1} \implies \frac{e^G}{e-1}=\frac{G}{1-G}$.
Now applying componendo and dividendo, we get $\frac{e^G-e+1}{e^G+e-1}=2G-1 \implies G=\frac{e^G}{e^G+e-1}\implies $
$(G-1)e^G+Ge-G=0 \implies G \approx 0.48623$ (I used wolfram here for this equation))

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
"Brand New" Lyrics by Pharrell Williams
"Brand New" is a song from Pharrell Williams's album G I R L. The song was released in 2014. The lyrics of the song speak about the feeling of moving on after a failed relationship, and the new beginning that can be made possible by the new person in one's life. The song has a catchy beat and is a song about being excited about life. The song is about feelings of being new, not being too old to learn, and learning to love yourself. The song is about being a new person, and the lyrics are very catchy. "Brand New" is a song that is worth listening to.
"Brand New" by Pharrell Williams – Song Credentials
Song Title Brand New
Artist Pharrell Williams
Genre Funk, Disco, Dance Pop
Album G I R L
"Brand New" by Pharrell Williams Lyrics
My love, ooo
And a quitter never wins
I thought about what I wanted
And you were on my list
Remember where I was?
In the desert with no love
No cactus's, just dust
And you swept me from above
So I just wanna say
'Cause it is so good
Honey, you got me feelin' brand new
You got me feelin' brand new
Like the tag's still on me
Got the tags still on me
Jumpin' 'round in your bag
So good morning, ooh girl
You are the feeling I'm jammin' to (brand new)
Life to me is easy
People make it complicated
When love is the tool
No reason we can't make it
Come on, let's go, be brave
Feel somethin' that they'll praise
Once we know that we're made
Then give it all the way
Got the tags still on me, oh
Listen, all my life, when I describe
What I want, I've been misunderstood
The more I try, at bein' satisfied
And didn't think that I could
But then you came along, and you made me strong
Like God said you would
Watch "Brand New" by Pharrell Williams Song Video
Categories B, 2014 love songs lyrics


text:
Adult & Contemporary Romance
Scardust
By (author) Suzanne Van Rooyen
Dead Rock, Texas, 2037 Raleigh Williams made a promise to his brother before he died, that he'd scatter his ashes on Mars. Desperate to leave a life of bad memories behind and start over in the Martian colony, Raleigh fully intends to keep that promise. But his plans are thwarted when a meteor near-misses him in the desert, and Raleigh finds in its crater not debris or even a spacecraft, but a man covered in swirling scars and with no memory of who he is. At least he looks like a man-a man Raleigh can't seem to keep his eyes off of-but whenever they touch it ignites a memory swap between them. Raleigh agrees to help Meteor Man piece together his life through their cosmic connection. But the memory share goes both ways, and Raleigh becomes inexplicably entangled with a guy who is everything he needs-everything good that Raleigh is not-but might not even be human. As their minds and worlds collide, reality unravels and Raleigh must face a painful truth, one that could shatter his dreams of finding love, reaching Mars, and fulfilling his brother's last wish.
Publication date 08 Feb 2016
Publisher Entangled Publishing
Illustrations note Illustrations, black and white
Bestsellers rank 1,556,490


text:
Q: How can do simple DOM -manipulation in UL-LI -block with Javascript? We have had quite long chat here with rlemon about DOM manipulation. Basically the question is 'How can I change the UL-LI DOM with Javascript?' For example, suppose I want, instead of "

1

2

", to display something like this "

Hello 1, have a nice day!
...
" -- how can I do that just with DOM -manipulation?
I know this is simple question so instead of reinventing-the-wheel, I am happy with references.

Simple demo about DOM manipulation, can you do something like this?

Input

1

2

Output

Hello beautful lady 1!

Hej gentleman 2.

Perhaps useful for other newbies to get familiar with functional nature of JS

*

*https://chat.stackoverflow.com/rooms/17/conversation/learn-javascript-videos

*http://ejohn.org/apps/learn/

A: The short way, using innerHTML:
var lis = document.getElementById("uid").getElementsByTagName("li");
for(var i = 0; i < lis.length; i++)
    lis[i].innerHTML = "Hello "+lis[i].innerHTML+", have a nice day!";

jsFidlde: http://jsfiddle.net/eZv4D/3/
The long way, with true DOM manipulation:
var lis = document.getElementById("uid").getElementsByTagName("li");
for(var i = 0; i < lis.length; i++) { // Loop through all
 elements
    // Create an  element to contain the text
    var el = document.createElement("i");

    // Add the start of the text to the
    el.appendChild(document.createTextNode("Hello "));
    // Add everything in the
 to the  (they are removed from the
)
    while(lis[i].firstChild)
        el.appendChild(lis[i].firstChild);
    // Add the end of the text to the

    el.appendChild(document.createTextNode(", have a nice day!"));

    // Add the  to the

    lis[i].appendChild(el);
}

jsFiddle: http://jsfiddle.net/eZv4D/2/

A: One approach is as follows:
var liElems = document.getElementsByTagName('li'),
    strings = ['Hello beautiful lady ','Hej gentlemen '];

for (var i = 0, len = liElems.length; i < len; i++){
    elem = liElems[i].firstChild,
    curText = elem.nodeValue;
    if (i%2 == 0){
        elem.nodeValue = strings[0] + curText;
    }
    else {
        elem.nodeValue = strings[1] + curText;
    }
}

JS Fiddle demo.
References:

*

*arrays.

*document.getElementsByTagName().

*for () {...}.

*node.firstChild.

*node.nodeValue.

A: Here's another approach:
http://jsfiddle.net/cWRPZ/
starting with:

1

2

and the js is..
var demo = {
    __elems: false,
    replacement: 'This is element __replaceme__',
    go: function(){
        this.__elems = document.querySelectorAll('li');
        for(var i = 0; i < this.__elems.length; i++){
            elem = this.__elems[i];
            elem.firstChild.nodeValue = this.replacement.replace('__replaceme__',elem.firstChild.nodeValue);
        }
    }
}

demo.go();

Some important things to remember, there are a few nodeTypes in the DOM, and not all of them will be what you are after, so you should be filtering. If there was a comment node, for example, in front of the text then this wouldn't work as you expect.

A:
"Unlearning Is Pretty Hard."

I am analyzing their codes with a tool JSLint here introduced in the video about 44.00 point here. Brilliand's simple version has the smallest amount of spec(?) mistakes. Video mentions that something called ES3.1 is coming, anyway I am not qualified to say whether they are now right-or-wrong -- depends on the specs (the current one from 1999 according to the video). Anyway, I am inclined to use the simple -method, feedback about the analysis?

David Thomas
'document' was used before it was defined.
var liElems = document.getElementsByTagName('li'),
line 2 character 40Missing space between ',' and 'Hej gentlemen '.
    strings = ['Hello beautiful lady ','Hej gentlemen '];
line 4 character 6Move 'var' declarations to the top of the function.
for (var i = 0, len = liElems.length; i < len; i++){
line 4 character 6Stopping. (30% scanned).

Brilliand

Simple
'document' was used before it was defined.
var lis = document.getElementById("uid").getElementsByTagName("li");
line 2 character 4Missing space between 'for' and '('.
for(var i = 0; i < lis.length; i++)
line 2 character 5Move 'var' declarations to the top of the function.
for(var i = 0; i < lis.length; i++)
line 2 character 5Stopping. (66% scanned).

DOM -version
'document' was used before it was defined.
var lis = document.getElementById("uid").getElementsByTagName("li");
line 2 character 4Missing space between 'for' and '('.
for(var i = 0; i < lis.length; i++) { // Loop through all
 elements
line 2 character 5Move 'var' declarations to the top of the function.
for(var i = 0; i < lis.length; i++) { // Loop through all
 elements
line 2 character 5Stopping. (12% scanned).

danp
Unexpected dangling '_' in '__elems'.
    __elems: false,
line 4 character 17Expected exactly one space between 'function' and '('.
    go: function(){
line 4 character 19Expected exactly one space between ')' and '{'.
    go: function(){
line 4 character 19Missing space between ')' and '{'.
    go: function(){
line 5 character 9Missing 'use strict' statement.
        this.__elems = document.querySelectorAll('li');
line 5 character 14Unexpected dangling '_' in '__elems'.
        this.__elems = document.querySelectorAll('li');
line 5 character 24'document' was used before it was defined.
        this.__elems = document.querySelectorAll('li');
line 6 character 12Missing space between 'for' and '('.
        for(var i = 0; i < this.__elems.length; i++){
line 6 character 13Move 'var' declarations to the top of the function.
        for(var i = 0; i < this.__elems.length; i++){
line 6 character 13Stopping. (46% scanned).
undefined
document 'go' 4

rlemon
'document' was used before it was defined.
var list = document.getElementById('uids'), // get the parent ul
line 3 character 45Expected exactly one space between 'function' and '('.
Array.prototype.forEach.call(items, function(item) { // because nodeLists are not arrays we do this for a forEach
line 4 character 5Missing 'use strict' statement.
    var value = item.textContent || item.innerText; // gets the text content cross browser
line 5 character 10Expected exactly one space between 'while' and '('.
    while(item.hasChildNodes()){ // this just removes the contents of the li without innerHTML, and is faster for this amount of data
line 5 character 32Expected exactly one space between ')' and '{'.
    while(item.hasChildNodes()){ // this just removes the contents of the li without innerHTML, and is faster for this amount of data
line 5 character 32Missing space between ')' and '{'.
    while(item.hasChildNodes()){ // this just removes the contents of the li without innerHTML, and is faster for this amount of data
undefined
document 'items' 3
clear

A: var list = document.getElementById('uids'), // get the parent ul
    items = list.getElementsByTagName('li'); // get the items as a nodeList
Array.prototype.forEach.call(items, function(item) { // because nodeLists are not arrays we do this for a forEach
    var value = item.textContent || item.innerText; // gets the text content cross browser
    while(item.hasChildNodes()){ // this just removes the contents of the li without innerHTML, and is faster for this amount of data
        item.removeChild(item.lastChild);
    }
    item.appendChild(document.createTextNode("Wuddup " + value)); // append your new message :P
});

Here is my take one it, however as it stands if possible do this all on the server before you output the list to the document... makes much more sense that way.
Here is a DEMO with a little spin on message generation ;)


text:
George Albert Newberry (6 de março de 1917 — 29 de dezembro de 1978) foi um ciclista britânico. Competiu nos Jogos Olímpicos de 1952, em Helsinque, onde ganhou uma medalha de bronze na perseguição por equipes.

Ciclistas do Reino Unido
Ciclistas olímpicos do Reino Unido
Ciclistas nos Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 1952
Medalhistas nos Jogos Olímpicos de Verão de 1952
Naturais do Reino Unido

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


After a rendition of the FUDGE rules in the first half of the corebook, The Unexplained turns to encapsulating some of the most prominent varieties of paranormal phenomena discussed today, including ufology, cryptozoology, shadow people and psychic powers. Each subject gets a competent rundown of symptoms and phenomena, as well as some discussion of prevalent theories about causes. Are shadow people, for example, ghosts, time travelers, or occupants of an adjacent dimension? The Unexplained doesn't push one theory over another, but encourages GMs to make their own decisions about the true nature of any particular paranormal phenomena.
In honesty, that's where I got frustrated with the book. Everything is presented in terms of signs and symptoms typically associated with a phenomena. The underlying causes are always left up to the GM's imagination, with a few starter suggestions to get one's mind going. Such a paucity of answers is perfectly in keeping with the paranormal, it's the nature of the field to generate questions without answers, particularly due to the lack of traditional physical evidence, but it's maddening as hell for someone like me, who's looking for material to twist to taste, rather than generate it wholecloth from a starting point. Maybe it's just the way my brain works, but I have an easier time saying, "No, this is how my version goes" in reaction to someone else's material, than creating something out of the air. Over the years, I've gathered I'm in the minority on that one.
In terms of covering its chosen subject, The Unexplained is a great starting point for someone interested in running paranormal investigation games. It provides the essential information about various phenomena, as well as how it's investigated, and by whom. As a field populated largely by hobbyists and amateurs, paranormal investigation has a variety of tools and techniques that come from making do with limited means and resources. The Unexplained explains all those gadgets one sees people waving around on shows like Ghost Hunters and why they're considered useful in looking for signs of paranormal phenomena, and their pitfalls – an EMF detector does just that: detect the presence of electro-magnetic frequencies; where they come from and what they signify is another matter entirely. Regrettably, the PKE meter has yet to be invented.
Brad has a very conversational style throughout the book, often directly addressing the reader. He frequently uses anecdotes from his own experiences running games of The Unexplained when discussing matters of mixing role-playing with paranormal phenomena. It's a dramatic step away from the detached voice one finds in role-playing game material. From my own perspective, it was familiar, as I know Brad and have talked with him enough to have a sense of his modes of speech. If we were strangers, though, I suspect I would find the direct address approach off-putting. Proof of testing in play, however, is always a helpful thing, and that makes the direct address approach worthwhile.
Reading The Unexplained helped me figure out what does and does not work for me about the genre of paranormal investigation. From a player's perspective, particularly one who tends to the explorer's mindset of mapping and charting, an unending series of questions with no sign of answers can become fatiguing. So the book was very helpful in showing me what I would need to do to make the genre work for me. The Unexplained also works as a resource for GMs needing an introduction to the tropes and received wisdom of both the genre as represented in fiction and practices people utilize in real life, particularly inventive types who just need a starting point to start spinning their own creative webs.
The Unexplained, written by Brad Younie, is published by Carnivore Games. It's available in soft cover through the publisher's website and PDF from Paizo.com.
This entry was posted in Role-Playing Games and tagged read 'em 'cause you got 'em, Role-Playing Games, supernatural, the unexplained, weirdness by Tyler. Bookmark the permalink.


Zoe laughed in delight as Stella twirled her around, spinning in delight. When she returned to facing Stella she quickly placed a hand on her friend's waist, swaying with her happily. "This is so fun!" Zoe beamed, spinning the both of them around. It was surprisingly hard to keep her thoughts straight with Stella's face so close now that they were dancing, and Zoe found herself struggling to find something else to say. "You're a good dancer!"
Stella laughed along with Zoe, gleeful at the fun of motion and the odd exuberance that came with dancing with Zoe, and being sio close to her. Zoe's hand on her waist was unexpected, but nice, and Stella put her own hand on Zoe's shoulder in imitation of some of the couples dancing around them, and to keep them together as they spun around. Stella didn't think she'd ever had her face so close to Zoe's, and she found herself preoccupied with the beautiful dark brown of Zoe's eyes, so wide and alert. "You're pretty," she blurted, then blushed. But why should she be embarrassed? It was true.
Zoe was taken aback a little by the compliment from Stella but she smiled back brightly, feeling her cheeks heat up slightly. "You're pretty too!" She said quickly, trying to ignore the same flutter in her heart she had felt seeing Stella in her dress for the first time. Zoe searched Stella's gaze, trying to see if she could detect any indication of the same nervous excitement she was feeling, but part of her worried that she was just seeing her own feelings reflected, and misreading Stella's expression. While she was trying to figure out what was happening between them, Zoe was startled by the song shifting to a slower one. Not wanting to break this moment yet, Zoe paused a moment before moving closer to Stella, putting both arms around her friend's waist. "Is... this okay?" She asked a little nervously, suddenly conscious that they were close enough for Stella to feel her breath.
Stella smiled awkwardly, nervously . . . why was she nervous? There was nothing to be nervous about. Just two friends having fun . . . or was it? "Thanks," she said hesitantly. As Zoe made eye contact, Stella realised her heart was pounding, harder than it would just from the light exercise of dancing. She was apprehensive, but not in a bad way. Nothing with Zoe could ever be in a bad way, even their frequent arguments were always light and good-natured. Stella felt safe with her. So why was she feeling like this? And then Zoe's arms were close around her and their faces were almost touching and there was an electric excitement in the air between them. "I . . . yes. Yes, this is good." Stella put her arms around Zoe too, awkwardly, using her greater height to reach around her shoulders and hold her close. Zoe's hair smelled like citrus, tangy and sharp, and her breath on Stella's cheek was warm on Stella's cheek. "This is really good."
The fluttering in Zoe's heart only increased as Stella spoke, and she knew now that she wasn't imagining the same kind of nervous excited energy coming from her friend. This was... something new, and Zoe had never been one to shy away from the new. Not letting her nervousness stop her, she met Stella's eyes, leaning a little closer. If things between them were different now, Zoe wanted to see where they were going. "Can I kiss you?" She asked softly, nerves clear in her voice despite the confidence she was trying to convince herself she felt. Surely if Zoe had misread the situation Stella would understand, but part of Zoe was still a little scared of losing a friend over this.
Stella realised suddenly that, unheard of for her, she hadn't been thinking, and if she had thought she might have realised far sooner what was going on. Conversely, perhaps she wouldn't. She had never been very good at understanding her own emotions. But she hadn't thought, and she had no definition for her feelings, this wild nervous exhilaration that rushed through her. When Zoe spoke, Stella froze. This was a tipping point. Whatever happened now, things would never be the same between them, and that terrified her. But she wanted this, and she knew that Zoe did too. Of all things, she was thankful that Zoe was more self-aware than she. "Yes, I'd like that. Yes." And then, without giving herself any more time to hesitate, Stella put her hand on the back of Zoe's head, and pulled her close, and kissed her.
The moments after Zoe's question felt like they lasted an agonising, nerve-wracking eternity. As confident as Zoe was trying to be, part of her wanted to run and hide and apologise, certain that she had ruined this friendship forever. It only lasted a moment though, and a fresh grin spread across Zoe's face at Stella's response. Stella felt it too, and Zoe's heart thumped at the rush of realisation that this was really happening. Before she even had time to figure out how she wanted to kiss Stella, how she wanted her first kiss to go, Stella had pulled her close, and it was already happening. Nervous and excited, Zoe kissed back, entirely distracted from the sway of their dancing. Kissing someone was nicer than Zoe had expected, and her heart wouldn't stop thumping. She was reluctant to break the kiss, eventually pulling back and meeting Stella's eyes with a nervous smile. "Wow..."
Now that she was kissing Zoe, Stella couldn't think why she hadn't realised she wanted this before. Zoe's lips were soft and her face was warm next to Stella's. For a long, sweet moment she forgot about everything else, the music and the dancing and the people all around them. If she'd considered it before, Stella would have been horrified at the idea of doing something so personal out in public like this, but with Zoe she felt she could do anything. Fly to the stars and land on the moon and when they got there kiss some more. All too soon it was over, and Zoe was pulling away. Still nothing was real but Zoe's face, her eyes, her smile, the smooth silky feel of her hair against Stella's palm. "Yeah," she murmured, breathless. But her mind was already whirring again. One of the few things Stella had never bothered to ponder was romance. It just hadn't seemed relevant to her life. But now, it undoubtedly was - or, at least, she wanted it to be. "So, um. Was that. Are we. Do you want to . . . ?" Stella couldn't seem to form coherent words, but she hoped that Zoe understood what she was talking about. Hoped above anything that she agreed.
Zoe was quite sure there was no force on earth powerful enough to wipe the grin off her face. Her lips felt cool now, in comparison to Stella's warmth, and she really, really wanted to kiss her again. Stella's expression mirrored everything Zoe was feeling inside, to Zoe's relief, and as Stella spoke Zoe's heart soared all over again. "Yes!" She said quickly, before even really processing the question. "I mean, do you mean, like, dating and stuff?" She asked nervously, hoping she hadn't misread the situation. "Because I mean, like, yes to that."
Stella's elation knew no bounds. Zoe's grin told her that she felt the same, and everything was right with the world. She giggled as Zoe agreed before clarifying her miserable excuse for a question, all her tension falling away as she received that confirmation that they were in the same place. "Yes, that's exactly what I mean. Good. Sorry, I didn't do very well there, did I?" She pulled Zoe into a quick hug and kissed her on the cheek, wondering how long she'd wanted to do that without realising it. "Hey, you wanna go get a drink or something?" Stella's energy and willingness to stand here in the iddle of this very public dance floor were fading fast, and they probably needed to talk about this in more detail.
Zoe beamed, relieved when Stella confirmed exactly what she had hoped. She hugged back, smiling wider as Stella kissed her on the cheek. This all felt almost surreal. Her girlfriend - was it too soon to be thinking that? Zoe didn't know, but she knew she was happier than she had been in a long, long time. She nodded eagerly in response to Stella's question, quickly linking their fingers. "Yeah, let's go." She said happily, leading Stella away from the dancefloor, to a place where they could talk more.


Village Board members have agreed to buy a neighboring property for expansion of the Village Hall and its parking lot.
They will purchase the one-story vacant house at 1310 S. Broadway Ave., and close on it within the week for $62,000.
The building will be used for storage until the board decides exactly what they want to do with the property, said John DuRocher, village administrator. "We absolutely need more space," said DuRocher.


text:
Pharmacy in Kampala
A conversation with Ronald Onegwa, Pharmacist at Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Kampala, Uganda.
From a young age, Ronald was set on pursuing a career in health care; "it was my passion to be a healthcare worker, in order to achieve it I had to work hard". The sad loss of family and friends to HIV/AIDS fuelled Ronald's passion to work in healthcare, at a time when awareness of drugs and treatment guidelines was sparse. His first job was with an HIV/AIDS management and treatment organisation, NGO Mildmay International. Ronald went on to pursue a career in Pharmacy; a growing profession in Uganda.
"Due to the lack of pharmacists in the country, the population suffers with drug related complications and minimal technical assistance. Therefore, I decided to join the pharmacy profession in order to bridge that gap."
Ronald during a visit to Cambridge University Hospitals
The Kampala-Cambridge Infection Prevention Control and Antimicrobial Stewardship partnership began in early 2019. Building on obstetric and maternal health links with Kawempe National Referral Hospital, Makerere University and Mulago Specialised Women and Neonatal Hospital, this partnership focusses on reducing healthcare associated infections on the obstetric and neonatal wards. Ronald has become a key stakeholder in the partnership.
After discussions with the Hospital Director and Dr Musa Sekikubo, Consultant Obstetrician and Uganda clinical lead, Ronald joined the partnership.
"The Hospital Director invited me to his office, together with Dr. Musa Sekikubo, they briefed me about the partnership and some of the key objectives it intends to achieve. I knew we needed to change practices in the hospital and was keen to get involved."
Every partnership is unique and organic. Whilst there are good practices such as the Principles of Partnership, which one must adhere to, partnerships are a journey and over time relationships strengthen and bonds form.
"Honestly, I didn't know what to do at first, but Dr Sekikubo was very helpful in so many ways. Above all he gave me a good reception and was very honest."
Ronald (front centre) with colleagues, UK partners and CGHP team members during a visit to Cambridge
Since joining the partnership, Ronald has enjoyed significant personal and professional development. Sharing knowledge is the bedrock of health partnerships, and Ronald has charted improvements in his interpersonal and technical skill base thanks to knowledge exchange. He has gone on to train numerous Pharmacy Interns, teaching them how to produce alcohol gel, rational dispensing, and supply chain management.
"It has allowed me to interact with colleagues from Cambridge in areas of antimicrobial stewardship and infection prevention control. In doing so, I have gained a lot of technical support from them. Furthermore, we borrowed some of the ideas and applied them to our department, for example each pharmacist is assigned or specializes in a role, leading to improved departmental efficiency."
When reflecting on the impact of the partnership within the hospital, Ronald noted that he had seen tremendous change.
"The partnership sponsored the establishment of an alcohol hand rub production room, the procurement of a water distiller, alcohol meter, and many other types of equipment. This has helped us to produce our own alcohol gel for hospital use. This has reduced costs, time and improved access, and as a result we have registered lower cases of sepsis."
Ronal has championed the on-site development of alcohol gel. The gel dispensers are refilled daily and line critical areas of the hospital from the entrance gate, to clinical wards, through to the administration block located out back. With the arrival of COVID-19, he highlighted the timely introduction of the now readily available gel,
"It has been a blessing for our staff, patients and care takers, who are making use of them especially during this critical time of COVID -19".
Ronald making alcohol gel and filling dispensers around the hospital
Over the past 15 months, the partnership has been a hive of activity. Looking to the future, Ronald is excited by the prospect of continued partnership development and opportunities for collaborative research between Kampala and Cambridge. Whilst the arrival of COVID-19 has placed some activity on hold, the partnership continues to thrive as partners meet on zoom to share stories and expertise relating to pandemic management.
Amid an all-encompassing global crisis, health partnerships maintain an openhearted culture of sharing and bidirectional learning. Ronald concludes,
"Above all, we have enjoyed the cordial relationship we have with partners and are overjoyed by their heart of giving at all times. Even in the most difficult times, for example during COVID-19 when every country is taking care of its own people and their problems are at home, partners are still giving a helping hand to Ugandans. For this we are very grateful".
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