text:
Abdalla Ali Duh
Activities, faith inspired development and securitization.
Faith-based organizations (FBOs) have a long history of working with poor communities around the world, and Islamic as well as Christian FBOs are very active in the context of international relief, humanitarian and development work. Five types of FBOs can be identified: faith-based representative organizations or apex bodies; faith-based charitable or development organizations; faith-based missionary organizations; faith-based socio-political organizations; and faith-based illegal or terrorist organizations.
This article examines the second type of Muslim FBOs in the context of Somalia and Kenya. The aim is to briefly highlight the development activities of Muslim FBOs that in general are not well-known to the wider audience as well as some of the challenges they are facing due to recent securitization measures.
Dozens of transnational Muslim FBOs
Gerard Clarke and Michael Jennings conceptualize FBOs as "any organization that derives its inspiration and guidance for its activities from the teachings and principles of the faith or from a particular interpretation or school of thought within the faith".
FBOs are heterogeneous even within a particular religion. For instance, within Islam there exist diverse strains between Shia and Sunni organizations. Moreover, they may have different methods of operation and objectives, and belong to different Islamic schools of thought.
Vision of the Young Muslim school. The school is supported by various transnational Muslim FBOs. Photo: Abdalla Ali Duh 2011
However, majority of them share the basic principles of Islamic ethics: believing in oneness of Allah; prayers; giving of alms; fasting during Ramadan; pilgrimage to Mecca, and six pillars of faith: belief in Allah; Angels; holy books; all Prophets; life after death; and divine decree. The emergence of Muslim FBOs have been prompted by political events such as the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Israeli invasion of Lebanon in 1982, and the Soviet defeat in Afghanistan in 1989. Also, the general growth of NGO sector in the 1970s and 1980s has been behind the rise of FBOs, including Muslims FBOs.
In Somalia and Kenya, Muslim FBOs are involved in a wide range of development and humanitarian activities from emergency relief to education, provision of clean water, healthcare, skills training and income generation projects.
Prior to civil war in Somalia, Muslim FBOs were not active due to various restrictions imposed on them by the military regime. In 1991 Somalia´s educational and health institutions were destroyed by clan-based militia groups, resulting in a humanitarian crisis and the United Nations peacekeeping operation for Somalia (UNOSOM) in 1993. As a result of the US-led UNOSOM operation, various Muslim FBOs joined UN and Western agencies to deliver humanitarian aid. Following the collapse of the UNOSOM mission, UN agencies and Western NGOs fled the country and relocated their field offices to Somalia in Nairobi, Kenya.
However, most Muslim FBOs continued their operations and presence inside Somalia. This presence gave them an opportunity to spread their conception of socioeconomic development by focusing on key social sectors of education, including primary, secondary and university levels, and health.
There are dozens of transnational Muslim FBOs working in Somalia and Kenya. The largest of these are Islamic Relief (UK), World assembly of Muslim youth (Saudi Arabia), Muslim Aid (UK), Muslim World League (Saudi Arabia), African Muslim Agency (Kuwait) and International Islamic Relief Organization (Saudi Arabia).
The following two cases will provide characteristics of Muslim FBOs and their development activities. The remaining sections of the article then examine the sources of funding, notion of development and securitization of these NGOs after the 11th of September 2001 terrorist attacks.
The article is based on a section of my forthcoming PhD research. The empirical data was collected in 2010–2012 in Kenya (Garissa and Mandeera) and in Somalia (Bosaaso and Garowe) through participant observation, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with various stakeholders as well as through the analysis of unpublished Arabic documents produced by Muslim FBOs and Islamic schools.
Case 1: Muslim Aid
Muslim Aid (MA) describes itself as "an international relief and development organization working to alleviate poverty worldwide". (Souvenir Brochure, Muslim Aid, 2010) The organization works in 70 countries in Africa, Asia and Europe, and focuses mainly on the following sectors: responding to emergencies, education, healthcare, income generating programs, provision of clean water, and vocational training.
There are Muslim Aid field offices in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Indonesia, Bosnia, Lebanon, Jordan, Gambia, Kenya (coordinating office), and Cambodia . The East Africa field office is located in Nairobi, and development activities of the organization in Somalia are managed by the field office in Nairobi.
Muslim Aid is believed to be one of the first Muslim FBOs that started development and relief projects in Somalia after the collapse of the Somali state in 1991. The first Muslim Aid field office was established in Mogadishu in 1993 and a branch office in Kismayo in 1999. Explaining the beginning of the organization, a member of management staff in the Muslim Aid regional coordination officer in Nairobi says:
"MA was established in 1985 when concerned British Muslims saw humanitarian crises in various parts of Muslim Ummah including the Horn of Africa, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Palestine. Although in the beginning we were concentrating on emergence relief work, by 1994, long-term development programs accounted for 50% of our activities." (Interview, Muslim Aid regional coordinator, Nairobi, July 2009.)"
A British convert formerly known as singer Cat Stevens became the first chairman of Muslim Aid. The organization grew from a small UK charity focusing on distribution of emergency aid to a transnational Muslim FBO with a budget of 73 million US dollars and 1,200 permanent staff. It has also grown in terms of development activities, staff and partnership with other international development NGOs. The history of governance of Muslim Aid shows that almost all members of Muslim Aid's Board of Trustees are prominent UK Muslim individuals who have close links to Pakistan or Bangladesh.
Some of the Muslim Aid Trustees. Photo: Muslim Aid annual review 2012
Main development activities of the organization in Somalia include disaster and emergency relief, education, nutrition and healthcare. In education sector, Muslim Aid supports the Bosaso College for Training and Computing (now renamed Bosaso University) which was established in 2006 to provide vocational training for youth. The college started with 215 students and with teaching staff of 15, all supported by Muslim Aid. The organization has also funded another school in Sanaag region of Puntland, the Kulaal primary school with more than 400 pupils attending the school.
In healthcare and nutrition sector, Muslim Aid has 9 mother and child clinics, 6 TB treating clinics, 5 nutrition centres and 2 mobile clinics across Somalia. In 2012, Muslim Aid funded an education program aiming to help children from internally displaced persons (IDPs) to enroll in schools. The program enabled successful enrolment of 8,596 students in 36 primary schools and 24 child friendly centers. More than 4,000 of the beneficiaries were girls.
In Puntland, Muslim Aid was praised for their achievements in a water-trucking project in drought affected areas: following a prolonged drought, access to water was provided to more 45,000 people in the Puntland region of Somalia.
In Kenya, Muslim Aid focuses on water programs in Mandera district where the organization provides clean drinking water by digging boreholes, constructing water reservoirs, and installing hand pumps.
Case 2: World Assembly of Muslim Youth
World Assembly of Muslim Youth (WAMY) was established in 1972 as a non-governmental youth and student organization. The international headquarter of WAMY is located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but there are regional and local offices in 55 countries and they work with some 500 Muslim youth organizations in five continents. WAMY´s activities in both Somalia and Kenya are part of their wider work with Muslim youth worldwide.
The organization summarizes its main objectives as supporting Muslim students and youth organizations; publishing and distributing Islamic literature in different languages; sponsoring Muslim youth camps to build their capacity in both spiritual and non-spiritual skills; establishing schools and providing financial support to needy Muslim students.
WAMY offices in Somalia and Kenya try to achieve the stated objectives by organizing Muslim youth and student camps, conferences and meetings; establishing schools; and providing financial support to Muslim youth NGOs. In various organizational materials WAMY focuses on the importance of enhancing Muslim youth livelihood, skills, and capacity through educational and social projects.
Iman al-Nawawi primary school in Garowe, Somalia supported by WAMY. Photo: Abdalla Ali Duh 2013
WAMY´s main development activities in both Somalia and Kenya concentrate on supporting schools; youth leadership capacity building programs; training religious leaders; supporting medical camps; providing financial assistance to orphanage centers; and supporting agricultural programs in lower Juba, Somalia.
WAMY has development projects in south Somalia (Beletwein), Puntland (Bosaaso) and Somaliland (Hargeisa). In Bosaaso, WAMY supports various schools including Imam al-Nawawi schools and a WAMY School, and a youth program aiming to expand opportunities for education for young persons who did not get formal school education as the impact of 23 years of instability and conflict in Somalia.
The well-known Hargeisa Veterinary College in Somaliland is supported jointly by WAMY and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Sources of funding for Muslim FBOs
Unlike secular NGOs, main source of funding for Muslim FBOs are Waqf (endowment); Zakat (obligatory almsgiving); Sadaqa (voluntary charit); Zakat Al-fitr (compulsory charity giving after the holy month of Ramadan); Al- udhiya (animal sacrifice after the completion of the pilgrimage) and Al-tabaru'at (various types of donations and gifts from rich individual Muslims).
According to Islamic sacred texts there must be four essentials for a charity to qualify as Waqf: Al-niyyah (declaration and intention); a property or any other tangible asset; known beneficiaries; and the beneficiary of Waqf cannot be the same as the donor. Good examples of Waqf are land, hospitals, and schools donated to Muslim FBOs. Once the property is donated as Waqf, it ceases to be the property of the donor.
It is obligatory for every able Muslim to pay 2.5% of his/her annual monetary savings as Zakat. Agricultural crops, gold and other savings have their own Zakat calculation. The Quran (chapter 9, verse 60) describes eight categories of people who are eligible to receive funds from Zakat: Fuqara (the poor); Masakin (the needy); Al-amilin (those administering Zakat); Al-mualafa qulubuhum (potential converts); to free the captives; those in debt; those who are in Allah's cause; and the wayfarer.
Mission of the Young Muslim school, Garissa, Kenya. Photo: Abdalla Ali Duh
Both WAMY and Muslim Aid understand this Quranic verse in a way that allows them to use income from Zakat for their development projects in disaster and emergency relief, poverty reduction, education and healthcare programs.
Third source of funding is Sadaqa which is voluntary donation given for the sake of Allah. For example, when Muslim FBOs want to launch a development project, they usually remind their fellow Muslims of various Quranic verses that encourage Sadaqa (e.g. 9: 10, 57: 18) and ask them to generously donate money for the project.
Fourth, obligatory charity giving after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, Zakat Al-fitr, is required from every Muslim who possesses wealth in excess of his family needs. In 2013, for the Muslims living in Finland, Zakat Al-fitr was estimated to be €7 per person. Zakat Al-fitr must be given to eight categories of people who are entitled to receive the obligatory Zakat (see above).
Fifth source is Al-udhiyyah (sacrifice of camel, cattle, sheep or goat) in the end of Hajj (pilgrimage) season: every able Muslim is encouraged to sacrifice an animal as charity and in commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim's story.
Finally, Muslim FBOs launch fund-raising campaigns during big Islamic events using the importance of Al-tabaru´at (voluntary charity giving) in Islam. Recently, some Muslim FBOs (especially those based in the West) established collaboration partnership with various international development agencies including the European Commission for Humanitarian Aid (ECHO), UN agencies, other FBOs and secular NGOs. For example, the financial resource and charitable income of Muslim Aid has increased from just 7 million US dollars in 2004 to 72 million US dollars in 2009.
WAMY does not publically disclose their annual charitable income. However, based on Arabic documents produced by the organization, direct observation of their development activities in Kenya, Somalia and my own analysis of their work in 55 countries, I can assume with absolute certainty that WAMY´s charitable income must be more than that of Muslim Aid in 2009.
Muslim FBOs and concepts of development
"Development" is an ambiguous and complex concept which lacks a universally accepted definition. In the 1950s and 1960s, the term "development" was perceived as synonymous with economic growth and removal of traditional values and customs which were considered as constraints for socioeconomic development in the South, following the processes of Western-style modernization process. However, in the 1970s it was recognized that economic growth had been accompanied by worsening income distribution in developing countries and the conception of development focused rather on redistribution strategies, channeling economic growth into investments in agriculture, education and health to increase the income of the poor.
In the late 1980s and beginning of the 1990s, neo-liberalism dominated development discourse and promoted ideas such as private capitalists, entrepreneurs, meager role for the state, and unrestricted market mechanism. However, in 2000, the international community shifted to poverty and inequality themes which were reflected later in the UN Millennium Development Goals.
Young girls in a learning session. Young Muslim Primary school, Garissa, Kenya. Girls and boys are separated in the class: they are in the same class but seated separately. Photo: Abdalla Ali Duh
Although there are various disagreements between the preceding concepts of development over the methods and routes to development, they all agree that "development" is desirable and means "good change". The problem then is explaining what is good and what sort of change is necessary for development.
Muslim FBOs conceptions of development are based on their Islamic ideals. Their primary motivation for providing development aid is based on the concept of ummah in Islam. The Quran urges Muslims to be one community of believers helping each other and cooperating in what is Ma´ruf (what is righteous including helping to ease the suffering of the poor) and forbidding what is Munkar (forbidding all what is wrong including injustice and human rights abuses).
Both Muslim Aid and WAMY have their own conceptions of who is poor and what poverty means. Islamic sacred texts describe some specific categories of people as poor and in need of assistance: Masakin (the needy who possess some provisions but cannot meet all their basic needs ), Fuqara (the poor who have no income), Kufar (non-Muslims: spiritual poverty), Al-riqab (captives who were wrongly imprisoned), Al-yatama, Al-shuyukh, Al-aramil (orphans, elderly and widows), Al-dein (those who are in debt), and travelers who are in need of assistance to get back to their home.
All Muslim FBOs in Kenya and Somalia use ideas that can be considered as Islamic concepts of development. For example, they encourage Muslims to develop spiritually and morally before any economic or social development is possible. They see development as being both spiritual and material development. Explaining to me how he defines development, a director of WAMY in East Africa expressed his views as follows:
"Our primary objective is to help the poor, the needy, orphans and provide education to young Muslims. Development for us is not only economic growth, but also spiritual development. We believe that ´al-Daruriyat al-Khams´(five basic human needs in Islam) are essential for any human progress. These needs are al-Din (religion), al-Nafs (life), al-Aql (intellect), al-Nasl (family institution) and al-Mal (wealth). In our development cooperation activities we focus on protecting these needs which are the foundation for socio-economic development."
WAMY´s conceptualization of development is based on their strong belief in youth as being building blocks of Muslim ummah. They see development as serving Muslim communities through youth education and preserving their Islamic identity. In various organizational materials, WAMY emphasizes the importance of social justice for socioeconomic development. Social justice and development are seen as integral to each other.
Islamic social justice system should lead to real socioeconomic development where the most impoverished and marginalized segments of society are empowered. Muslim Aid also describes its vision of development as embedded in their Islamic ideas of protecting Maqasid al-Sharia –five basic human needs in Islam.
Securitization of Muslim FBOs
The events of the last decades – the terrorist attacks of 1998 on the U.S Embassies in Kenya and Tanzania, the 11th of September 2001, the 2002 attack on an Israeli-owned tourist resort in Mombasa, Madrid attacks of the 11th of March 2004, the 7th of July 2005 terrorist attack on the London transport network – have all dramatically affected the humanitarian and development work of the Muslim FBOs through new securitization measures.
Muslim FBOs have faced various allegations such as having links with extremist groups; spreading extremism; financing extremist groups such as al-Shabab in Somalia and al-Qaida; recruiting future combatants for violent groups; and lacking humanitarian principles of neutrality in their development interventions. Muslim Aid, for example, was previously praised by various British politicians including Gordon Brown and Prince Charles. However, in April, 2010, The Sunday Telegraph, accused Muslim Aid as having links to Hamas and other Palestinian Muslim organizations.
No evidence was found linking Muslim Aid to extremist groups. However, such allegations damaged their reputation and development activities. Similarly, American security agencies suspected WAMY of having links to extremist groups and it came under FBI scrutiny after 9/11. In May 2004, FBI raided the WAMY's office in Alexandria, Virginia, USA, and took all computers. After investigations, they arrested a volunteer board member of WAMY on immigration charges. Law enforcement sources mentioned reasons for the raid as being part of an investigation into some Muslim FBOs activities around the world. After the allegations, the secretary general of WAMY said:
"If they have any evidence against us, they should go to court. We believe that the court will be fair to both parties. There is no doubt that governments all over the world — whether Muslim or non-Muslim — are under pressure from the American government in particular (to act against Islamic organizations). But we should not yield to the American pressure. We should resist and ask for proof. And if they have any proof, we have courts that can take care of it." (Arab News, 26 March 2004.)
After terrorist attacks in Kenya in 1998, five transnational Muslim FBOs were banned to operate in the country and this created dilemmas for both security agencies and beneficiaries of Muslim FBOs' development interventions. For example, al-Haramain Islamic Foundation (Saudi Arabia) was working in the fields of orphanages, healthcare services, education and income-generating projects for poor families in Kenya. The US accused al-Haramain of funding terrorism and shut down offices of the organization in Kenya, Saudi Arabia and Somalia. Some inhabitants in northeastern Kenya still feel the pain and anger over the closure of al-Haramain:
"Al-Haramain was supporting thousands of vulnerable Muslims, schools, hospitals and income generating projects in Garissa and Mandera. In only one city in northern Kenya, Isiolo, al-Haramain was funding a complex with an orphanage of over 200 children and primary schools. We feel our government was pressured by foreign powers. The foreign governments that banned Muslim organizations such as al-Haramain did not provide any development assistance to us." (Interview, local religious leader, Mandera 2011.)
To reduce mistrust and suspicion about their development intervention, many Muslim FBOs started using mainstream development language such as notions of universalism, common humanity and Millennium Development Goals. Muslim Aid emphasizes in their organizational materials the importance of cooperation with non-Muslim aid agencies and promoting interfaith partnership. For example, in 2006, Muslim Aid established a formal partnership with United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) and many Muslim FBOs became members of international non-governmental organizations' forums.
After 9/11 terrorist attacks, Muslim FBOs also attempted to professionalize their development activities. For example, Muslim Aid describes its current vision of development as "alleviation of poverty, education for all, and the provision of basic amenities for those in need; capacity building, disaster mitigation, microfinance for development and helping local communities achieve the underperformed targets in the UN Millennium Development Goals, especially in educating the girl child, women health, maternity and poverty eradication" (Souvenir Brochure, Muslim Aid 2010).
There are various types of Muslim FBOs that are active in the context of international relief, humanitarian and development work. They have different objectives and methods of operation, and they belong to different Islamic schools of thought, but they share the basic principles of Islamic ethics. Muslim FBOs see development as both spiritual and material development. In the context of Somalia and Kenya, Muslim FBOs are involved in a wide range of development and humanitarian activities, and their fundraising is based on Islamic principles regarding endowment and charity.
The securitization of Muslim FBOs is mainly based on concerns that they might act as a financial channel to extremist groups, spread radicalism, recruit future combats for violent groups and could be used as safe havens for terrorists. These allegations are denied by the interviewed Muslim FBOs, various Muslim leaders and local beneficiaries.
Those who are skeptical about the work of Muslim FBOs point to conservative beliefs of some Muslim organizations that can be used as a stumbling block to development and their work as being proselytizing. Proponents of Muslim FBOs on the other hand argue that these NGOs can be used as a resource for development in areas such as conflict prevention, peace building, wealth creation, education and health.
Both Islamic Relief and Muslim Aid that have been used here as examples of Muslim FBOs conceptualize "development" in terms of fulfilling five basic human needs in Islam: al-Din (religion), al-Nafs (life), al-Aql (intellect), al-Nasl (family institution) and al-Mal (wealth). This implies that the two NGOs´ conception of development is embedded in their Islamic ideas of protecting Maqasid al-Sharia –five basic human needs in Islam. Some of these needs are similar to the United Nations´ Human Development Index (HDI), which stresses the importance of education (al-Ilm: knowledge), health (al-Nafs: sacredness of human life in the Quran), and income (al-Mal: wealth).
From the start, secular development theories generally overlooked the role of religion and assumed that religion would be a matter of private life. However, in recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the role of religion in development. Transnational Muslim FBOs in north eastern Kenya and Puntland region of Somalia are involved in a wide range of development activities with implications for socio-economic development and Western counter terrorism concerns. These FBOs can be used as a resource for development as well as a hindrance to development. We need greater understanding of the Muslim FBOs´ conceptions of socioeconomic development and their potential challenges.
The author is a PhD candidate at the Department of Political and Economic Studies, University of Helsinki, Finland. He graduated from the faculty of Social Sciences, University of Helsinki, where he studied Development Studies and Sociology and earned both Bachelor and Master of Social Sciences. He worked as a University lecturer from 2008–2010 at the Department of World Culture, University of Helsinki. His research interests include NGOs' development interventions, education in post-conflict settings, poverty reduction strategies, development cooperation, Islam and socio-economic development.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Abdullahi, Abdurahman Moallim (2011). The Islamic movement in Somalia: A Historical Evolution with a Case Study of the Islah Movement. Institute of Islamic Studies. Montreal: McGill University.
Alterman, Jon B. & Karin von Hippel, eds. (2007). Understanding Islamic Charities. Washington DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies.
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Benthall, Jonathan & Jérôme Bellion-Jourdan (2003). The Charitable Crescent: Politics of Aid in the Muslim World. London/New York: I. B. Tauris.
Benthall, Jonathan (2007). Islamic Charities, Faith Based Organizations, and the International Aid System. In Jon B. Alterman & Karin Von Hippel (eds.): Understanding Islamic Charities. Washington DC: Center for Strategic and International Studies, 1–12.
Burr, J. Millard & Robert O. Collins (2006). Alms for Jihad: Charity and Terrorism in the Islamic World. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Clarke, Gerard (2010). Trans-faith Humanitarian Partnerships: The Case of Muslim Aid and the United Methodist Committee on Relief. European Journal of Development Research 22(4): 510–528.
Clarke, Matthew (2011). Development and Religion. Theology and Practice. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar Publishing.
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Organizational materials
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- WAMY regional director, Nairobi, July 2009.


Until two years ago Oklahoma typically had about 50 earthquakes a year, but in 2010, 1,047 quakes shook the state.
In Lincoln County, where most of this past weekend's seismic incidents were centered, there are 181 injection wells, according to Matt Skinner, an official from the Oklahoma Corporation Commission, the agency which oversees oil and gas production in the state.
The U.S. natural gas industry pumps a mixture of water and assorted chemicals deep underground to shatter sediment layers containing natural gas, a process called hydraulic fracturing, known more informally as "fracking." While environmental groups have primarily focused on fracking's capacity to pollute underground water, a more ominous byproduct emerges from U.S. government studies – that forcing fluids under high pressure deep underground produces increased regional seismic activity.
As the U.S. natural gas industry mounts an unprecedented and expensive advertising campaign to convince the public that such practices are environmentally benign, U.S. government agencies have determined otherwise.
According to the U.S. Army's Rocky Mountain Arsenal website, the RMA drilled a deep well for disposing of the site's liquid waste after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency "concluded that this procedure is effective and protective of the environment." According to the RMA, "The Rocky Mountain Arsenal deep injection well was constructed in 1961, and was drilled to a depth of 12,045 feet" and 165 million gallons of Basin F liquid waste, consisting of "very salty water that includes some metals, chlorides, wastewater and toxic organics" was injected into the well during 1962-1966.
There is a significant divergence between "possibility," "established" and "was causing," and the most recent report was a decade ago. Much hydraulic fracturing to liberate shale oil gas in the Marcellus shale has occurred since.
According to the USGS website, under the undated heading, "Can we cause earthquakes? Is there any way to prevent earthquakes?" the agency notes, "Earthquakes induced by human activity have been documented in a few locations in the United States, Japan, and Canada.
Overseas, last month Britain's Cuadrilla Resources announced that it has discovered huge underground deposits of natural gas in Lancashire, up to 200 trillion cubic feet of gas in all.
Sensitized to the issue, the oil and natural gas industry has been quick to dismiss the charges and deluge the public with a plethora of televisions advertisements about how natural gas from shale deposits is not only America's future, but provides jobs and energy companies are responsible custodians of the environment.
It seems likely that Washington will eventually be forced to address the issue, as the U.S. Army and the USGS have noted a causal link between the forced injection of liquids underground and increased seismic activity. While the Oklahoma quake caused a deal of property damage, had lives been lost, the policy would most certainly have come under increased scrutiny from the legal community.
While polluting a local community's water supply is a local tragedy barely heard inside the Beltway, an earthquake ranging from Oklahoma to Illinois, Kansas, Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas is an issue that might yet shake voters out of their torpor, and national elections are slightly less than a year away.


text:
Q: Jenkins doesn't detect my VS19 installation, even though MSBuild.exe exists I'm trying to build a VS19 project using CMake in a Jenkins pipeline. I had some issues with installing CMake, but after explicitly EXPORTing it to the PATH (as opposed to using the --installargs flag, I was able to get past that.)
Now, I've installed visualstudio19buildtools (and later visualstudio19community), in order to get the command cmake -g "Visual Studio 16 2019" -A "x64" -S . -B out to work. But everytime I get the error:
CMake Error at CMakeLists.txt:6 (project):
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I know that MSBuild.exe is present, because in my pipeline I checked before trying to run the cmake command above.  I'm super confused and not sure what to try next. Any suggestions appreciated, thanks.
+ ls 'C:\VS2019\MSBuild\Current\Bin'
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AssemblyFolders.config
FileTracker32.dll
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MSBuild
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
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What will you see in the Big Garden Birdwatch?
World's largest garden wildlife survey returns, 28-30 January 2022
• In 2021, more than a million people across the UK took part – making it the biggest Birdwatch ever!
• 17 million birds were counted over a three-day period with the house sparrow keeping its title as the UK's most seen bird.
• Over its four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world, giving the RSPB an astonishing amount of insight into how our wildlife is faring.
The world's largest garden wildlife survey returns, with hundreds of thousands of people watching and counting the UK's garden birds over the last weekend in January for the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch.
Over a million people took part in 2021, counting 17 million birds – making it the biggest Birdwatch ever!
Over the past year, we've seen how important the natural world is to our mental health and wellbeing. There has been a surge in interest in the nature on our doorsteps and many people have come to rely on garden birds to bring joy and comfort in these unsettling times.
This year's event takes place on 28, 29 and 30 January 2022. The public is asked to spend just one hour watching and recording the birds in their garden, balcony or local park, then send their results to the RSPB.
Just one hour every year, for the last four decades, has made the RSPB's Big Garden Birdwatch the largest garden wildlife citizen science project. Now in its 43rd year, over 150 million birds have been counted giving the RSPB an astonishing amount of insight into how our wildlife is faring.
Beccy Speight, the RSPB's Chief Executive, said: "We were blown away by the enthusiasm with which people took part in the Birdwatch in 2021. We know that for many people, garden birds provide an important connection to the wider natural world and bring enormous joy. Over the last year, there has been a broad and much-needed realisation that nature is an important and necessary part of our lives especially for our mental health and wellbeing. But nature needs us too.
"By taking part in the Birdwatch, you are helping to build an annual snapshot of how our birdlife is doing across the UK. It is only by us understanding how our wildlife is faring that we can protect it. We know that nature is in crisis but together, we can take action to solve the problems facing nature."
For four decades, Big Garden Birdwatch has highlighted the winners and losers in the garden bird world. The house sparrow remained at the top of the Big Garden Birdwatch rankings as the most commonly seen garden bird with 2.6 million sighted in 2021. The blue tit and starling completed the top three.
While house sparrows and starlings may be the UK's most commonly sighted birds, a closer look at Big Garden Birdwatch data shows that numbers have in fact dropped dramatically since the Birdwatch began in 1979. House sparrows are down 58% while starlings are down 83%.
To take part in the Big Garden Birdwatch 2022, watch the birds in your garden or local park for one hour at some point over the three days. Only count the birds that land, not those flying over. Tell us the highest number of each bird species you see at any one time – not the total you see in the hour.
Beccy added: "Whether you saw one blackbird, twenty starlings or no birds whatsoever, it is really valuable information as it helps us build a picture of how our garden birds are faring from one year to the next."
The parallel event RSPB Big Schools' Birdwatch takes place during the first half of spring term, 5 January – 21 February 2022. In 2021, it celebrated its 20th anniversary of connecting children with nature in their school grounds. Since its launch, over a million school children and teachers have taken part. Further information can be found at www.rspb.org.uk/schoolswatch .
For your FREE Big Garden Birdwatch guide, which includes a bird identification chart, top tips for your birdwatch, RSPB shop voucher, plus advice on how to help you attract wildlife to your garden, text BIRD to 70030 or visit www.rspb.org.uk/birdwatch
Registration for Big Garden Birdwatch 2022 opens 8 December 2021.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Friday's post discussed the standing issue in Levofloxacin Damages. This post discusses the three other contentious issues, quantum, pre-judgment interest, and mitigation .
Damages are assessed as the difference between the patentee's actual position and the position it would have been in but for the infringement. The main issue respecting quantum was a purely factual one as to which "but for" scenario was most likely. Hughes J resolved this in favour of the scenario preferred by Janssen's expert , with a few relatively minor modifications. While that finding was based on the evidence as a whole, it seems that Teva's witness did not help his case by arguing that the infringement actually benefitted Janssen to the tune of $4 million .
Because a generic cannot normally ramp up its sales immediately on expiry of the patent, absent infringement there will be some period post-expiry during which the patentee has lingering elevated market share. Consistently with established law (see 2013 FC 751, blogged here), Hughes J allowed recovery of damages for these lost post-expiry sales, on the general principle that the patentee is entitled to recover losses caused by the infringement . On the facts, the runoff period allowed by Hughes J was two months for retail sales, and one year for hospital sales .
Hughes J also allowed a claim for price suppression – that is, the losses due to the reduced price at which LEVAQUIN was sold in order to compete with infringing generic entry. This is nothing new ; the loss is caused by the infringement whether a patentee loses sales entirely, or makes the sales but at a lower price. Of more interest, Teva was eventually forced to withdraw from the marketplace as a result of the injunction granted by Hughes J at the end of the liability phase, but the evidence showed that as a practical matter, Janssen could not raise its price to hospitals after Teva withdrew; the price reduction was effectively locked in, as a matter of customer relations . Hughes J allowed recovery for that continued price suppression. Given the factual finding, recovery for locked-in price suppression follows directly from the principle that the patentee is prima facie entitled to recover losses caused by the infringement. The point was raised again in the context of the argument that Janssen should have mitigated its loss by raising its prices again . Hughes J dismissed this argument on the basis that the burden lies on the defendant to prove that mitigation was possible and the plaintiff failed to make reasonable efforts to do so, and Teva had not discharged its burden in this regard.
Some interesting issues were raised with respect to whether pre-judgment interest should be compounded, with Janssen US relying on Zinn J's decision in Cefaclor Damages 2014 FC 1254 (blogged here) , but Hughes J held that the terms of the liability judgment 2006 FC 1234, , awarding pre-judgment interest, not compounded, applied to Janssen US as well as to Janssen Canada , so the substantive issues were not really engaged.


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Essential for a company, the administrative and HR departments perform tasks that require a range of skills and expertise.
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Hospitality is the very essence of our DNA. Welcoming and hosting your customers / contacts / suppliers requires a friendly smile, good language skills and an enthusiastic ability to provide solutions.
Collaborating with your Finance & Accounting department requires in particular faultless integrity, technical expertise and absolute rigour in data processing. Our selection integrates these criteria completely.
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Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work > News & Events
Sept 2022: Spotlight on Dr. Ashley Vandermorris and the SHARE Project
June 2022: New report reveals the reality of anti-Black racism in Ontario child welfare service delivery
Apr 2022: Barbara Fallon appointed U of T's Associate Vice-President, Research
Jan 2022: FIFSW scholars (including Professor Barbara Fallon) named Canada Research Chairs
Nov 2021: Renowned paediatrician and U of T professor becomes inaugural Edwin S.H. Leong Chair in Child Health Intervention
May 2021: Researchers call for improved access to safe, outdoor spaces to reduce the pandemic's devastating impact on children & youth
September 2012: The Fraser Mustard Institute for Human Development
November 18, 2022 – 9am-4:30pm EST
1st Annual Leong Centre Symposium: "Seizing the Opportunity: Child Health Equity Research in Post-Pandemic Recovery"
This inaugural full-day symposium will gather leading Canadian and international academics and policymakers to discuss the role that research should play in addressing equity in children's health outcomes in an era of pandemic recovery.
To register and for more information, please visit the conference website here. Please note that there is no cost to attend but registration is limited and will close on November 11, 2022.
May 17, 2022 – 12-2pm EST
Opportunities to Support Children and Families with Prenatal Substance Exposure:
From Policy to Practice
This symposium brought together experts from the domains of maternal and child health, medicine, and social sciences to offer different perspectives on the issue of substance use during and post-pregnancy as well as implications for research, policy, and practice. Panelists presented the latest evidence on the impacts of prenatal substance exposure as well as findings from clinical and community-based programs that provide support to families with substance use problems in Canada.
Dr. Laura Best, Post-Doctoral Fellow, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health and University of Toronto
Andi Camden, PhD Candidate, Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto; Child Health Evaluative Sciences, The Hospital for Sick Children
Dr. Naana Afua Jumah, Obstetrician Gynaecologist and Medical Lead, Maternity Care & Perinatal Service, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre
Dr. Mary Motz, Clinical Psychologist and Research and Evaluation Lead, Mothercraft's Breaking the Cycle program
Slides from the symposium are available here.
COVID-19 AND SCHOOLS, CHILD HEALTH & WELL-BEING
Interdisciplinary panel discussion bringing together experts from the fields of health, education, and social sciences to offer different perspectives on the issue of school closures during COVID-19 and how this has impacted children and their families, including academic achievement among other outcomes.
1. Dr. Scott Davies – Professor in the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto and Canada Research Chair in Data, Equity and Policy in Education
2. Dr. Hélène Deacon – Professor in the Department of Psychology and Neuroscience at Dalhousie University, and Director of the Language and Literacy Lab
3. Dr. Sloane Freeman – Pediatrician in St. Michael's Hospital's Inner City Health Program; Assistant Professor in the University of Toronto Faculty of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics; Founder and lead for the Model Schools Pediatric Initiative
4. Dr. Jessica Omand – Registered dietitian and CCHCSP; Postdoctoral fellow at the Hospital for Sick Children
Dr. Catherine Birken – Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto; Senior Scientist, SickKids Research Institute
> Event info
COVID-19 VACCINATION & CHILD HEALTH
This webinar included presentations by experts from the domains of medicine, social work, and public health to offer perspectives on issues surrounding COVID-19 vaccination that are relevant to children's health and development. Topics explored included key considerations for the implementation of COVID-19 vaccines in children; insights gained from research on parental decision-making for early childhood vaccines; evidence from early childhood programs to support families and communities to improve vaccination rates and outcomes; and guidance for the prioritization and delivery of the COVID-19 vaccine in Canada.
Shaun Morris – Clinician-Scientist, The Hospital for Sick Children: COVID-19 Immunization in Children: Laying the Foundation
Kate Allan – PhD Candidate, Factor-Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto: Getting A Head Start: What Decades of Vaccine Hesitancy Research Can Teach Us About Parents, Kids, and the COVID-19 Vaccine
Chloe Ferguson – Director, the Early Years, Martin Family Initiative; and Charlene Rattlesnake (Wapikeesigooikway) – Family and Cultural Coordinator, Maskwacis Health Services: Community Driven Change- How Early Childhood Programs Can Improve Immunization Outcomes in Indigenous Communities
Sarah Wilson – Public Health Physician, Public Health Ontario: COVID-19 Immunization in Children: Looking Towards the Future
Slides from the webinar are available here.


The ability to use SQL-LDAP to query between 2 different data sources and/or 2 different containers to do a relational query would be extremely helpful. Being able to query members of a group & do a join or something that would allow you to look at those members for a specific attribute value or if it exists.
Thank you for your suggestion. We'll consider implementing it in the future releases.


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38 minutes | May 12, 2017
Ep 6: 10 print "Invasive Species"
Aside from humans, what other things are invasive to their native habitat? Mr. Tim Porter and Dr. Nathan Richardson discuss what on this earth, and specifically in the north east are some of the most invasive species. The best part.. spoilers! Most of these are killing the native species because of what man brought in (known or unknowingly)
40 minutes | May 5, 2017
Ep 5: 10 print "Touring Breweries in Asheville, NC"
Asheville, NC: known for it's craft beers and awesome all around progressive little city in the south. The old man and young gun take a weekend to go sample some of the beers and places. Enjoy talk of Green Man, Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and more!
42 minutes | Apr 27, 2017
Ep 4: 10 print "Why We Love Music"
As humans we all love music, but why? Today young Tim and old man Nate discuss the history of music, what genre where close to our hearts growing up, and most things in between. So if you enjoy record store day, vinyl, the history of music, thoughts on why we as humans like music, and just want to know what kind of music we like - get stuck in the infinite loop with us!
Ep 3: 10 print "Self Publishing"
Ever want to self publish your own work? Well Nathan from this very podcast has done so. Tim asks Nate questions about it and you get all the answers. Nathan has self published 4 issues of his own comic, Perdition's Edge and talks about it's up's and downs. Take a listen and enjoy the history. Learn from his mistakes and follow your dreams!
Ep 2: 10 print "Foley"
Episode 2 of 20 goto 10 the boys talk about one of the most technical and cool aspects of cinema, Foley! Incase you didn't know, Foley is the art of taking what was recorded on film and re-creating the sounds of the actors ( like walking, running, cars etc...) so you get a nice crisp sound on the final cut. We also play a game where Tim plays some (pseudo) Foley sounds and I (Nate) have to guess them. PLAY ALONG! Yes that was the mummy during the into song. Watch some cool examples of Foley after you listen to us here: https://vimeo.com/170948796 http://mentalfloss.com/article/75464/10-iconic-movie-sounds-and-how-they-were-made
43 minutes | Apr 6, 2017
Ep 1: 10 print "Ghost In The Shell"
Episode one of 20 goto 10 has Nate and Tim stuck in an endless loop of Ghost In The Shell, the 2017 movie directed by Rupert Sanders and staring Scarlett Johansson. During this loop we discuss what we thought about the film, our thoughts on 3D movies in general, the technology in the film that we could see in real life, and of course the so called 'whitewashing' controversy. While your stuck with us, enjoy and please join in the conversation by following the show on Twitter and Facebook. BoxOfficeMojo: http://www.boxofficemojo.com/ Ghost In The Shell: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1219827/?ref_=nv_sr_1


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The O'Malleys Release 'Can You Hear Me'
The O'Malleys have just released their long awaited debut album, 'Can You Hear Me' .
The O'Malleys started out as a three piece band playing a mix of country, blues and folk. They recorded an EP in Germany and were a main feature in the large folk scene across Europe. They returned to Limerick and like Dylan went electric. The full band really gelled together with the legendary gigs in the Savoy.
Under the stewardship of Brendan Murray they began a comprehensive touring schedule of Ireland, playing all the main venues (Midnight at the Olympia, Whelan's, Dolan's, Lobby, Cork City Hall, The Waterfront). They released 'The O'Malleys, The Record'.
Then the television appearances, The Late Late, Pat Kenny Show, Sunday night at the Olympia, the Brendan Grace Show and Shay Healy's Nighthawks weekly show.
As the band got bigger, so did the tours, Europe (in a red V.W. Van, God Bless it), the States, England and Russia. The current line-up has been together for about thirty years, with other people coming in when certain members were unavailable. The members are, Peter Donnelly, AKA Peter O'Malley, Ger Costelloe, Dave Keary, James Hanley, Ralf Lindheim and Brian Mulcahy. Their big exposure was them featuring in the massively popular Father Ted series as the backing band for Ted and Dougal's arch rival Dick Byrne in the famous Eurosong episode!
The band has always been open to all types of music and this is reflected throughout this album, through the nine originals and the four specially chosen songs by different artists. The originals reflect these influences brilliantly, from the soulful Irishness of 'Can You Hear Me' to the Louisiana swing of 'One Things For Certain'. The eclectic range of songs continues from the cinematic 'Man On Wire', the mesmerising instrumental 'The Resilient Sun' to the anger of 'Denmark Street'.
This unique album by long travelled song writers and seasoned musicians, is beautifully captured and produced by Dave Keary and James Hanley in 'The Red Door Studios'
'Can You Hear Me' was released on 6th June at the sold out concert at The Lime Tree Theatre, Limerick, Ireland.


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Supreme Court Vs. Raging Bull
Filled Under: All Things Hollywood, Blog, Dangerously Uninformed Commentary, Entertainment, Worth Reading and Watching
In what will likely be a significantly more pugilistic than average oral argument, the United States Supreme Court has agreed to take on a case concerning Director Martin Scorsese's 1980 boxing masterpiece "Raging Bull" (also one of Robert De Niro's greatest performances). If (for some insane reason) you haven't watched this classic, DO SO NOW.
But wait… Hold on – a 1980 movie?? Is the Court really that out of touch with popular culture? Well, not exactly. In fact, that's precisely the issue under dispute. According to the plaintiff, daughter of the late screenwriter Frank P. Petrella who (allegedly) collaborated with boxer Jake LaMotta on the original script and also wrote other related works (including one entitled "Raging Bull" on which the film's script may have been partially based), her father's intellectual property rights were violated by MGM when the studio (again, allegedly) relied on his work in violation of federal copyright law. Putting aside whether or not Ms. Petrella's charges are true, she first faces a bigger problem and that's what gets us to the impending Supreme Court argument: Ms. Petrella didn't file her case until 2009 – 29 years after the alleged copyright violation occured.
Interestingly, under pure copyright law that's not necessarily a problem. Although the statute of limitations for copyright infringement is three years, infringement is defined as the "last infringement." Raging Bull has obviously been shown countless times (for profit) since 1980. Its popularity (and earnings) have steadily grown. Therefore, argues Ms. Petrella, suing in 2009 was entirely proper. Congress had passed a law (the Copyright Act) that expressly allowed her to wait as long she wanted – at least if infringements were continuing.
MGM, however, sees things a little differently. Invoking an ancient equitable theory stemming from British law (something called "the doctrine of Laches"), the studio asserts that Ms. Petrella allowed such an extreme amount of time to pass before suing (despite having been able to do so earlier) that it would just be fundamentally unfair to allow the lawsuit to proceed given the difficulty of defending a case in which principles are now deceased and much of the original evidence may no longer exist or be sufficiently verifiable.
Petrella counters that MGM's argument violates a core Constitutional provision: the separation of powers. Because Congress has the exclusive authority to draft laws (including statutes of limitations), allowing the judiciary to overturn a fully constitutional and unambiguous law merely because MGM might face some sort of theoretical hardship would itself be an unconstitutional act.
MGM's response to that? Courts invoke Laches all time and have done so for hundreds of years . . . If separation of powers is relevant, then surely this is one case where the Court – NOT Congress – can and must exercise its power in the interest of preserving MGM's "pre-Constitutional" right to fair process.
The ultimate implications, of course, extend far beyond Raging Bull and will likely have a profound impact across multiple industries – particularly entertainment, pharmaceuticals and technology where copyright (and patent) suits are basic realities of doing business.
Whatever happens, you can be confident Scalia is looking forward to this one…
Brief Comments On The Government Shutdown and Possible Default Next Post:
Political Strategist Joe McLean On Speaker Boehner's "Hamlet Moment"


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Q: "Visual Studio issue": When I'm adding the statement "from sklearn import preprocessing" the program learns endlessly in Visual Studio It is a Visual Studio issue. It's running fine on other platforms like IPython notebook. Can you please suggest what is the issue.
Though it is a very simple code, it is running infinitely and not giving any output.
from sklearn import preprocessing

X = [3,4,5,1,8,7,6,9,2]
X= preprocessing.scale(X)
print (X)

sklearn is installed. I have also tried adding:
from sklearn.preprocessing import scale

There is no syntax error. I'm using Python 2.7 on Visual Studio, Ubuntu.


Back in the 1500's, there was a man by the name of Hugh Latimer. Hugh Latimer was a preacher in England during the reign of King Henry VIII. And according to Christian author Michael Corcoris, Hugh Latimer had a problem.
The problem was this. Latimer had just finished preaching a sermon. King Henry VIII was in attendance. Something in his sermon had angered the king so much that the king ordered Latimer to preach a new sermon for him the next Sunday, but to include an apology for what he had said the previous Sunday. No one had to tell Latimer that offending someone like Henry VIII could mean imprisonment or death.
The next Sunday arrived. Latimer climbed into the pulpit. From there he could see the king, waiting for his apology. In essence, Latimer began his sermon with these words: "I know I stand before a king, who is able to take my life. But I also stand before Christ Jesus, who holds my immortal soul." And with that, Hugh Latimer proceeded to preach the same sermon he had preached the week before.
Perhaps you are someone who attends church regularly. If you do, then you know that preachers can come in all different styles and personalities, weaknesses and strengths. You also know that if a preacher is being faithful, he is going to hit a nerve from time to time. He is going to tell you something that your old sinful self does not want to hear.
Or perhaps you are someone who is searching for a church home. If that's you, remember what the purpose of a preacher is. His purpose is not to just make you feel good about yourself, to avoid difficult subjects, to avoid hurting your feelings. Rather, his purpose is to preach Christ. It is to call sin what Jesus calls sin. Because only then can Jesus' message of forgiveness bring real healing for our hurts and real rescue from our guilt.
By the way, Hugh Latimer survived to preach many more sermons.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray for preachers. Make them faithful in proclaiming your Word. And bless my hearing of their message to me. Amen.


René, Minal and I make a trek to Watts, one of LA's oldest neighborhoods, where we manage to catch sunset at Watts Towers (Simon Rodia, the artist who created the structure, called the work "Nuestro Pueblo"). Though the towers are lower than they appear in photographs, I'm still stunned by how one man – using found objects (glass, bottle-tops, steel, scrap metal etc.) – created these structures over a span of thirty years. Rodia's house no longer exists but one of the arches (see photo below) marks what was once the entrance to his home.
Though I'm generally drawn to art that has direct relationship to social justice issues – such as Tropical America (1932) by David Alfaro Siqueiros that I experience thanks to my friend writer Veronica Reyes – I still appreciate the creation Rodia's installation. As we peer at the mosaic through the fences, I'm reminded of Houston's Orange Show and the Beer Can House.


I've been following you for 4 years or so and reading your thoughts and articles has changed my life for the I'm am so sorry to hear about your wife and send my kind regard.
I've always been a rebellious, somewhat anti hero type of individual and prided myself for not confirming to norms and group type thinking.But you have connected the dots for me and given me hope when I needed it.
I'm dying of a genetic disease called V H.L and it runs in my family and I know I have it.I have a adrenal mass that's been called a Pheocromocytoma, I have hamangiomas- blastomas on my back and liver.I know I have these growths all over my body, and I have the same symptoms as my family who's had this disease.But despite this I cannot get a 100% diagnosis of it.If the medical cartel was to give me this diagnosis they would look liabil to helping fix it.Which would be expensive hospital stays and multiple surgeries.
I'm left in pain without enough proof to even convince my family how bad I am medically.And not able to get enough pain relief.
I have filled out a health Directive with a Law firm so I can get certain things controlled that I want done. And I will be getting a PRIVATE autopsy done after my death so I can prove V.H.l and my parents can sue them for pain & suffering.The U.S medical cartel is horrendous and callous.I believe I'm being stopped at the imaging level and administration level at multiple hospitals.Sounds impossible, but it's true..
Thank God for people like you and a real, unbiased, objective, light shedding, compassionate view of what's really going on.


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AD-gifted. What a lush day to visit the fair! We had the loveliest day @carterssteamfair today. I've written a little review on the blog - link in my bio if you fancy a read, and to see some more photos. This was our third visit and definitely won't be our last.


While the sheep grazed peacefully, David reached down and picked up another rock. Placing it in his sling, he twirled it about before releasing it and watching it soar through the air. David was out in the field tending the sheep day after day, playing his harp, spending time with the Lord, and he had no idea that his future was being formed while doing it.
David had seven brothers, all who were older and bigger than he was, but God chose him because He looked on David's heart. David spent time with God in the field when he was tending sheep, and God took his life to a new level while he was doing it.
Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for bringing me this far. Guide me into all that You have and help me to make the most of my time here on earth. Help me to know You in a deeper way Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray.
Note: Good morning! For those who may not know and are interested, we have started an online Bible Study with interactive quizzes as part of our RHM Live weekend services! We are started with the book of Luke, and will be bringing Luke Chapter Four this week. For links to joining our RHM Live Services and the Bible Study, go to the top of the Home page, in the Announcements. Have a blessed day!
Yahuah will use the simple to confound the wise.
Amen, it's me O Lord , down on my knees in prayer .
God speaks to us from unexpected sources. His timing is always perfect!
This message could not have come at a better time than this in my life for me...with both my daughters gone out for higher studies,,,,I was suddenly lonely. After the basic household chores post lunch I was left with nothing to do! I would lie awake in the nights and pray God shows or gives me something meaningful and constructive to do. First week or so tried social media, some You tube videos...nothing interested me. I wanted to hear His Word! Tried some sites....nothing! I was preparing to appear for an Online Bible Quiz and co incidentally it happened to be Luke! the same book on which Refreshing Hopes is doing a Bible Study!! I intended to just study for the quiz. Then I went through the site and found it interesting! And by His Grace, through Pastor's message, I got an insight into my status in life today . It was like God answering me.!! Like David I too should sincerely do my best in whatever n wherever I have been placed and continue to strengthen my relationship with Him by seeking Him and studying His word! That's all that needs to be done! To prepare myself to meet my Lord. Till he comes!!!!
Thank you Refreshing Hope for refreshing my hope!
Good for you Sister! Yes He is mighty, knows all things!!!!!! Amen! Bless You!!!
As mentioned being brought in Faith too The Lord as a boy, learning His ways, I've kept in mind everything is for a purpose and reason! In My suffering with Him, it excites Me in the toughest challanges, knowing their there for good reason!! Praise God every second! He sees whats going on in this Earth! His timing things will be brought-aright!!!
One never knows how or who God will use next. Talking with God is so important, when He is ready, He can and will speak back and chances are, you will understand what He is saying! Father, train each of us to hear you more clearly!
It is Gods work! He created me for a purpose, He just keeps doing what He does and wants to involve me in His plan.
Amen! He chooses the weaker person to confound the wise.
Heavenly Father, show me the way to follow. Lead me to what You want me to do,in Your Holy Name I pray. Amen.
Amen! Lord God, dear heavenly Father, please give me a heart like David, totally devoted to you, always sensitive to Your voice, always putting You first and always seeking Your will! In the name of Jesus Christ I ask and pray, Amen!
Prayer: Heavenly Father I thank You for bringing me this far. Guide me into all that You have and help me to make the most of my time here on earth. Help me to know You in a deeper way Lord, in the name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen!
Amen. Praise God! Thanks Pastor Todd! Heavenly Father I thank You for bringing me this far. Guide me into all that You have and help me to make the most of my time here on earth. Help me to know You in a deeper way Lord, in the Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.


Gustus Vitae has released Probiotic Ocean Salt. The product is what it says on the tin, salt infused with a probiotic. The US company has a history of innovations in the seasoning, salt, and sugar categories, and they state that this is the first product of its kind in the industry.
Similar products have existed, but for establishing bacterial colonies in aquariums, not for consumption by people.
"Probiotics often come bundled in things like fermented veggies or yoghurt – we wanted to create a way for people to easily and seamlessly integrate probiotics into their daily life, augmenting rather than defining what they're already planning on eating," Scanlon continued.
According to Gustus Vitae, Probiotic Ocean Salt has no taste difference, so can be used and enjoyed just as salt usually is, but with functional benefits usually reserved for specific foods like yoghurt.
In terms of storage, magnetic bases allow the tins to stick to most metal surfaces, from fridges to ovens to BBQ's, to make the spices and salts easily reachable.
A tin of the salt is priced at US$10 for 3.4 ounces on the company's website.


As the British public eagerly awaits the UK release of his latest film, the Golden Globe-winning American western Django Unchained, Quentin Tarantino is being named in the press as the world's most influential director.
The Collins English Dictionary now recognises the word "Tarantinoesque" as an adjective and the Guardian newspaper is acknowledging him as a massively significant Western director.
Django Unchained, set to be released to the general public on 18th January, is described by online film review site Rotten Tomatoes as an "incendiary masterpiece" and has been nominated for five academy awards.
CNN's Tom Charity, who describes the new release as "typical, even quintessential Tarantino", has drawn links to some of the director's earlier films such as Inglourious Basterds.
Other reviewers have explained how Django Unchained fits into another Tarantino film type – the world of heightened reality. Such films are said to be realistic and would be relatable, were it not for the "frequent outbursts of casually brutal violence".
Those who believe this film to be an extension, or addition, to some of Tarantino's earlier works are recommending the films Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, True Romance and Death Proof – all of which are available to rent – for those who enjoyed Django Unchained and wish to further explore the world of Tarantino. Thanks to new technologies, watching movies online has never been so easy.
Read our review of Django Unchained here.


NTU with the support of Assayst Apparel Pakistan, has joined hands with TUKATECH USA for the establishment of TUKA center at NTU (Main Campus and Karachi Campus). In addition to this, two CAD labs having 50 TUKA-CAD stations for virtual pattern making, draping and 3D modeling will be established in the Department of Design and the Department of Garment Manufacturing.
The inauguration ceremony of TUKA center and Labs was performed by Mr. Ram Krishan Sareen (Founder and Managing Director, Tukatech) and Prof. Dr. Tanveer Hussian (Worthy Rector, NTU). Credit of efforts goes to NTU Team comprising of Dr. Zafar Javed and Dr. M. Salman Naeem under the leadership of honourable Rector NTU.
The National Textile University highly acknowledges ASSAYST APPAREL for helping in the establishment of TUKA center. Special thanks to Mr. Tariq and Imran Nazir for their continued support and help for the accomplishment of TUKA Centre and Labs.


This meeting will involve confirming why you are seeking advice and explaining our advice to you. It is important you understand the recommended strategies and associated risks so you can make an informed decision about achieving your financial goals.
We also provide you with educational information, which explains strategy and investment concepts contained in the Statement of Advice (SoA).
You will also be provided with Product Disclosure Statements (PDS), or other disclosure documents relating to any recommended products in your financial plan.
These important documents will detail and explain the features, benefits, risks and product specific costs, fees and charges.


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Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Digital Recognition Network (DRN) in Antitrust Case
/Blog/Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Digital Recognition Network (DRN) in Antitrust Case
Posted on November 9, 2018 by Susan Crandall News.
Location Services Loses to DRN Again with the Court Noting "[A]ntitrust laws were enacted for 'the protection of competition, not competitors'"
FORT WORTH, TX – NOVEMBER 9, 2018 – Digital Recognition Network (DRN), an AI and data analytics company that provides vehicle location data and analytics to auto lenders, insurance carriers and other commercial verticals, today announced that on November 5, 2018, a U.S. District Court Judge in the Northern District of Texas ruled in its favor and dismissed an antitrust case brought by Location Services, LLC.
"We are pleased with the Court's decision and are grateful for its time and attention to the application of the facts and the law in this case," said Todd Hodnett, Executive Chairman and Founder of DRN. "But the truth is: our judicial system never should have been burdened by such a frivolous lawsuit. Since the moment this suit was filed, DRN has adamantly maintained that it was nothing more than a marketing campaign disguised as an antitrust lawsuit. The timing of the suit was suspect, as it was filed just days before the largest repossession conference in the U.S. Plus, its complaint read more like a marketing slick sheet for its products and services than a legal complaint. We feel vindicated by the Court's ruling."
In the case, Location Services asserted that DRN "is violating antitrust laws by unlawfully maintaining monopoly power in the market for license plate recognition ('LPR') data used for vehicle repossessions and recoveries." Specifically, Location Services alleged "DRN's dominance stems from its large network of vehicle repossession agents and its prohibition against those agents working with competing LPR providers for a full year after they terminate their contract." The Court cast aside Location Services' arguments, finding that its allegations were speculative, conclusory and did not have any factual support.
With regard to Location Services' claim that DRN has a monopoly on the LPR market, the Court agreed with DRN that it lacks the requisite power to exclude competitors from collecting LPR data and that "nothing prevents [Location Services] from collecting the same information." It noted that Location Services "admits that [DRN] was the first to develop and market the product," and further observed that DRN has built up its network of agents "[t]hrough its hard work, superior product and business acumen."
In addition to being speculative, the Court concluded that Location Services' arguments in this regard "make no sense."
Moreover, the Court noted that "[a]ntitrust laws were enacted for 'the protection of competition, not competitors'", and agreed with DRN that Location Services' own allegations demonstrated no harm to competition: "The paragraphs of the complaint to which [Location Services] cites do not support its contention that competitors have been harmed. For example, [Location Services'] own allegations show that one competitor has grown market share."
"We have already put this case in our rearview mirror and remain committed to offering superior value and continuing to invest in technology, systems and customer service processes that benefit recovery agents, and continuing to pay those agents industry-leading revenue shares," added Hodnett.
Susan Crandall
Susan brings over 15 year of business experience in the data and technology field, holding leadership roles in business development, product development, market strategy and marketing. As the Vice President of Marketing and Legislative Affairs, Susan is responsible for the VaaS global brand, public relations and communications strategy. Additionally, she will support Vigilant Solutions and DRN in their continuing efforts to help customers and partners navigate the legislative landscape to ensure the continued safe and responsible use of data.
Partner Profile: Victory Recovery Services - February 20, 2019
Motorola Solutions Acquires VaaS International Holdings, Leader in Data and Image Analytics for Vehicle Location - January 7, 2019
Location Services, LLC Pays DRN $325,000 After Federal Court Rules in DRN's Favor - November 15, 2018
Thank You, Veterans - November 12, 2018
Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Digital Recognition Network (DRN) in Antitrust Case - November 9, 2018
Consolidated Asset Recovery Systems and DRN Join Forces to Provide License Plate Recognition-enabled Recovery Services to the Auto Lending Market - November 7, 2018
Digital Recognition Network Marks Key Milestone: More Than 20,000 Live LPR Recoveries in One Month Facilitated by Its Technology and Data - October 26, 2018
Federal Judge Rules in Favor of Digital Recognition Network (DRN) - October 12, 2018
Digital Recognition Network's New FinTech Client Services Unit Helps Clients Be More Strategic and Demonstrates an Average of 193 Percent Return on Investment for Clients Using DRNsights - September 24, 2018
DRN Introduces Solution to Help Alert Car Owners of Safety Recalls - May 9, 2018
Consolidated Asset Recovery Systems and DRN Join Forces to Provide License Plate Recognition-enabled Recovery Services to the Auto Lending Market	Thank You, Veterans


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Creo drawing datum curve from equation inaccuratel...
Creo drawing datum curve from equation inaccurately
Emerald I
(in response to UrsaMajor)
Re: Creo drawing datum curve from equation inaccurately
Accuracy used to have a big effect on file size. I remember doing a test with different size cubes and the file size of a 1000" cube was mammoth compared to a 1" cube when absolute accuracy was enabled. I just did a quick test in Creo 6 and that doesn't appear to be the case any longer. PTC product managers are actually recommending absolute accuracy now but they are hesitant to make that the default, out-of-the-box behavior.
FrankSSchiavone
Topaz II
Creo has a number of "hidden" config.pro settings, some of them very important, and I agree with you about some of them. I think they do that so that only experts get in there and change the hidden config settings, because you can get yourself into a bunch of trouble if you don't know what the results will be. Like I said, these are issues new users run into, it's to be expected. That's why you can come here and find answers. when i started Pro/E back in late '95 or so (community college) and even in the early days, there was no forum to learn from, only the HUGE stack of PTC's manuals for the software (I REALLY miss those). So, it was a lot tougher to learn, and you mostly had to figure things out for yourself.
Usually you get the weird numbers when there are other features, I don't remember seeing anything like that with the first feature with the settings I have, but my config.pro is going to be unique.
As to "why", that's up to the code-monkey's, you'd have to ask them.
(in response to TomU)
Interesting, I never tested just different sized cubes (did you have mass properties assigned?), but I did test the same geometry with different accuracy settings and noticed a difference, sometimes a big one. You would EXPECT that with different accuracy levels, on complex parts (especially complex surfaces) that there would be a big difference in file size. I would expect little difference in file size from a 1" cube to a 1000" cube as it can be tessellated into 12 triangles. Interesting...
I wonder what Creo 6 did to change things? Like I said, with complex parts/surfaces, you'd expect a big change in file size.
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Museum Day Art Books Design Food Music & Film Video Newsletter
The Tuskegee Airmen Plane's Last Flight
The final voyage of a World War II biplane evokes the exploits of the legendary fighting force
The PT-13D prepared Tuskegee Airmen for war. (Ray Pittman)
By Owen Edwards
Smithsonian Magazine | Subscribe
Parked on the tarmac at Lincoln, California's municipal airport, the open-cockpit biplane looked as if it had just rolled off the assembly line, circa 1944. This past July, the World War II-era two-seater's pilot and owner, Air Force Capt. Matt Quy (pronounced Kwai), took off from Lincoln in the PT-13D U.S. Army Air Corps Stearman, bound for Washington, D.C. and, ultimately, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture (NMAAHC), whose new home is slated to open in 2015.
From This Story
[×] CLOSE
Tuskegee Airmen, in 1944, in the shadows of one of the Mustangs they flew. (PhotoQuest / Getty Images)
This past July, Air Force Apt. Matt Quy took off from Lincoln in the PT-13D U.S. Army Air Corps Stearman, bound for Washington, D.C. and, ultimately, the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture. (Tina Quy)
The "Spirit of Tuskegee" Stearman Lands in DC
On the Flight Path of the Tuskegee Stearman Winging its Way to the Smithsonian
Up in the Sky! Tuskegee Airmen Plane Barnstorms Into the Smithsonian Collections
The Stearman was standard issue for training fledgling pilots during the war. But what makes this particular plane—with its Air Corps blue, yellow, red and white color scheme—an important addition to the new museum's holdings is its backstory. It was used to ready America's first African-American military pilots, the Tuskegee Airmen, for aerial combat.
Primary training took place at Moton Field in Tuskegee, Alabama, which is where Quy's Stearman was originally based. The first class of five Tuskegee pilots graduated in March 1942, three months after Pearl Harbor.
The Airmen manned both fighter planes and bombers. Their 332nd Fighter Group was commanded by West Point graduate Lt. Col. Ben Davis Jr., the son of America's first African-American general. The 332nd was deployed in April 1943 and flew more than 1,500 missions over Italy and the Mediterranean from various bases in North Africa.
Quy's love affair with the PT-13D seems almost fated. "I grew up in Apple Valley, Minnesota," Quy recalled as he and I prepared to board the plane for a flight over California farmland. "When I was 7 or 8, my family lived at the end of a grass runway. There was a guy with a Stearman who dragged advertising signs. He'd come right over our house pulling those banners, and I was hooked." After graduating from Minnesota State University in Mankato, Quy became a pilot for Sun Country Airlines. In 2002, he reversed the typical pilot's career path and joined the Air Force. He bought the Stearman, which had been wrecked in a crash, in 2005, sight unseen, by telephone.
In Houston, Quy, along with his wife, Tina, a pharmaceutical rep, and an aircraft-mechanic friend, Robbie Vajdos, began a three-year effort to make the plane as good as new. "Luckily for me, after the war many of these planes became crop-dusters," he said, "so there are still parts available." And, in Texas, there was ample space available too. "We had three garages for all the stuff," Tina told me. In 2008, Quy and Vajdos finally got the plane aloft, taking it out for a 40-minute spin. "That first flight," says Quy, "was pretty emotional."
Not long after buying the plane, Quy discovered through research that it had been used by the Tuskegee pilots at Moton. Once restoration was complete and the Lycoming engine was back in working order, Quy—who flew a tour of duty in Afghanistan during this period—began taking the plane to air shows and meeting Tuskegee Airmen. Today, the underside of a fuselage compartment door contains the signatures of 45 Airmen. In 2008, an article in the U.S. Air Force Journal brought the story of Quy and his aircraft to the attention of Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum curator Dik Daso; he alerted NMAAHC curator Paul Gardullo.
Gardullo and Daso attended an air show at Edwards Air Force Base in Southern California in 2009, where they met Quy, his wife and two Airmen, Lt.Cols. Alexander Jefferson and Bill Holloman. The Quys agreed that their plane belonged at the Smithsonian, where it would symbolize the Tuskegee Airmen's story for millions of visitors.
On August 2, after a transcontinental journey that included stops at the Air Force Academy in Colorado, air shows in Minnesota and—most significantly—at Moton Field, Quy and his plane touched down on August 5 at Dulles International Airport outside Washington for the official hand over. The landing was timed to coincide with a national convention of Tuskegee Airmen in nearby Oxon Hill, Maryland.
Gardullo witnessed the landings at Moton and at Dulles. "It was a powerful experience seeing that plane brought back to its original home," he says of the Stearman's arrival at Moton. And of the plane's final touchdown, he told me, "When this tiny airplane came in among all the big airliners, for several minutes everything was just quiet. That was when the impact of this story really hit me."
Owen Edwards is the author of the book Elegant Solutions.
About Owen Edwards
Owen Edwards is a freelance writer who previously wrote the "Object at Hand" column in Smithsonian magazine.
Read more from this author
African American History African American History Museum Planes


[Node][node] >= 7.10 is required.
Yarn is recommended for package management.
[Firebase][firebase] is used for some simple data storage.  Since Firebase is initialized in the `server.js` file, you will need a Firebase account and a project set up.  Firebase is owned by Google so a Google account will do.  The basic Firebase plans are free.
When you create a firebase project, add a user to the project.  Then get all of the relevant project details and add them to a `.env` file.  The file `.sample.env` has an example of the required fields. Replace the values with your Firebase project values and save as `.env`.
To run the application, just run `npm start`.  It will start up the server and serve on port 5000.
To access the application locally, navigate to `http://localhost:5000`.
If you want to access on mobile, determine the IP address of your computer.
Then, on your mobile device, navigate to `http://<YOUR IP>:5000`, e.g. `http://192.168.0.2:5000` and you should see the page load up.  This will only work if you have the local server running on the computer and your mobile device is connected to the same network.
This will build the assets, but it will not minify the JS.  Slightly easier for debugging.
Also, `build-dev` will hide the movie poster images, which saves some bandwidth and time if you're constantly refreshing the page.
This will build a "production" version of the files.  The JS will be minified and the movie posters will be displayed.


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GREENSTEIN BILL TO ENSURE MEDICAL CARE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS HEADS TO GOVERNOR
Linda Greenstein News & Releases
TRENTON – A bill sponsored by Senator Linda R. Greenstein that would ensure New Jersey's first responders receive medical care and compensation for conditions resulting from their actions in the line of duty, particularly medical conditions that may not manifest until long after the event, gained final legislative approval today by the Assembly with a vote of 45-23.
"Our first responders run toward danger to protect us, while the rest of us seek safety. They put their health and safety at risk every day to serve others, and are the first exposed to any serious communicable diseases or biological toxins in the line of duty," said Senator Greenstein (D-Middlesex, Mercer). "If they suffer harm while carrying out their work as public safety workers, they should receive the care and treatment they need, no matter how much later their symptoms start following exposure to hazardous substances."
Senator Greenstein noted that emergency personnel who worked in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks were exposed to carcinogens that have proven to cause cancer and lung disease. Her bill would carve out an area of workers' compensation that presumes illnesses such as cancer are directly correlated to the job, yet still provides an avenue for appeal.
The legislation is named after the late Thomas P. Canzanella, a Hackensack firefighter who spent several weeks at Ground Zero after 9/11 and championed coverage of firefighter occupational diseases, including cancer.
The bill, S-264, would create a rebuttable presumption for workers' compensation coverage – shifting the burden of proof from the employee to the employer – for any death or disability that arises from the physical impact injury experienced by the public safety worker during response to a terrorist attack, epidemic or other catastrophic emergency. The bill would apply to paid and volunteer firefighters, first aid or rescue squad members, police, corrections officers, nurses, medical technicians and other medical personnel.
"In a post-9/11 era, our current system of immediate cause and effect has proven inadequate to account for the delayed effects of toxic substances on first responders following exposure," said Senator Greenstein. "This legislation looks after our public safety workers in New Jersey and ensures that no matter when symptoms occur, they will be protected."
The September 11 attacks on the WorldTradeCenter in New York caused thousands of tons of toxic debris to enter the air in the aftermath of the attacks, leaving emergency responders and individuals in the area susceptible to increased health risks. Research into these toxins' effects on rescue workers has been well-documented. A MemorialSloan-KetteringHospital doctor cited a 70 percent illness rate among first responders; a 2010 report of 14,000 rescue workers found that on average workers lost 10 percent of their lung function. Further, a 2012 study by The Journal of the American Medical Association reported that the incidences of prostate cancer, thyroid cancers and multiple myeloma was elevated among 9/11 rescue workers; and a recent Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives study found a 15 percent overall increased risk of cancer in World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers.
The bill would provide that any firefighter with seven or more years of service would receive a rebuttable presumption for workers' compensation if they suffer an injury, illness or death caused by cancer.
The "Thomas P. Canzanella Twenty First Century First Responders Protection Act," which passed the Senate last year by a vote of 22-12, now heads to the Governor's desk for action.
first respondersS-264S264Thomas P. Canzanella
Van Drew: Predictions Of Active Hurricane Season Underscore Need To Update Coastal Evacuation Plans
TRENTON – Citing forecasters' predictions of an extremely active 2010 hurricane season, Senator Jeff Van Drew today urged action on legislation he sponsored to update the state's emergency evacuation procedures.
"It's impossible to predict exactly what Mother Nature has in store for us this hurricane season, but coordination and planning will ensure we are prepared in the event a large-scale storm hits our coast," said Senator Van Drew (D-Cape May/Cumberland/Atlantic). "While this is something we should be doing regularly, predictions that this hurricane season will be extremely active make it that much more necessary that we update our emergency evacuation plans. We must also make sure residents know what to expect if, god forbid, disaster strikes."
GREENSTEIN BILL TO ENSURE MEDICAL CARE FOR FIRST RESPONDERS ADVANCES
A bill sponsored by Senator Linda R. Greenstein that will ensure New Jersey's first responders receive medical care and compensation…
Van Drew/Girgenti Coastal Evacuation Bill Advances
TRENTON – Legislation Senators Jeff Van Drew and John Girgenti sponsored to improve state emergency evacuation plans in preparation for a catastrophic event or natural disaster, such as a hurricane or tropical storm, was unanimously approved yesterday by the Senate Law and Public Safety Committee.
Developed from the recommendations of a legislative task force, the bill (S-264) addresses a number of areas involving emergency response, from ensuring that plans are consistent among counties, to making the public aware of the procedures to follow in the event of an evacuation.
Van Drew/Girgenti Coastal Evacuation Bill Clears Senate Budget And Appropriations Committee
TRENTON – Legislation Senators Jeff Van Drew and John Girgenti sponsored to improve state emergency evacuation plans in preparation for a catastrophic event or natural disaster, such as a hurricane or tropical storm, was approved today by the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Developed from the recommendations of a legislative task force formed in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the bill (S-264) addresses a number of areas involving emergency response, from identifying adequate shelters to be used in the event of an emergency to establishing evacuation strategies on major coastal roadways to ensure that residents are able to vacate an affected area in an orderly fashion. A key piece of the legislation would require that evacuation plans are consistent among counties and ensure the public is made aware of the procedures to follow in the event of an evacuation.
Van Drew Coastal Evacuation Bill Now Law
TRENTON – Legislation Senator Jeff Van Drew sponsored to improve state emergency evacuation plans in preparation for a catastrophic event or natural disaster, such as a hurricane or tropical storm, was signed into law today by Governor Chris Christie.
Developed from the recommendations of a legislative task force formed in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the law (S-264/A-3224) addresses a number of areas involving emergency response, from identifying and creating additional shelters to be used in the event of an emergency to establishing evacuation strategies on major coastal roadways to ensure that residents are able to vacate an affected area in an orderly fashion. A key piece of the law requires that evacuation plans are consistent among counties and ensures the public is made aware of the procedures to follow in the event of an evacuation.
Senator Van Drew said the evacuation of Cape May and Atlantic counties, as well as areas across New Jersey, during Tropical Storm Irene – then, believed to be a hurricane – demonstrated the need to improve and update emergency plans. For example, the state must take steps to ensure that shelters are available and equipped to house residents long term in the event of a severe storm that results in people being displaced for several weeks. In addition, the state needs additional pet shelters, which will better ensure that residents do not stay behind out of fear for their animal's safety.
"Hundreds of thousands of residents were evacuated from their homes in preparation for Irene, and because of the work of emergency personnel at all levels it was done with very few complications," said Senator Van Drew (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). "However, we learned there is still much work to do when it comes to creating a comprehensive emergency response plan for our state. In the event the storm directly impacted our coast, we may not have had the capacity to place residents in shelters for long periods of time. This law will begin the process of identifying and creating additional shelters across the state."
Van Drew Coastal Evacuation Bill Approved By Senate
TRENTON – Legislation Senator Jeff Van Drew sponsored to improve state emergency evacuation plans in preparation for a catastrophic event or natural disaster, such as a hurricane or tropical storm, was approved today by the full Senate.
Senator Van Drew said the recent flooding resulting from a storm that hit the Delaware Bay area, in particular, the shore community of Downe Township, along with Maurice River and Commercial townships, was a grim reminder of the need for an updated, comprehensive evacuation plan. Areas in the northern region of the state have also experienced significant flooding following recent storms.
"The recent flooding we experienced served as a reminder that there is still much work to do when it comes to creating a comprehensive emergency response plan for our state. If moderate storms can wreak that kind of havoc on our communities, imagine what a major storm would do," said Senator Van Drew (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). "Updating our emergency plans is critical to ensuring that we are prepared for any weather activity that comes our way and is particularly important to protecting our residents in the event a large-scale storm impacts the coast."