text:
Basij
Title: Basij
Subject: Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, Death of Neda Agha-Soltan, 2009 Iranian presidential election protests, Propaganda in Iran, Aerospace Force of the Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
Collection: Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution, Human Rights in Iran, Iranian Revolution, Organizations of the Iranian Revolution, Paramilitary Organizations in Iran, Pro-Government Factions of the Syrian Civil War, Religious Paramilitary Organizations, Terrorism Committed by Country
Army of the Guardians of
the Islamic Revolution
Supreme Leader of Iran
Senior officers
Military Branches
Aerospace Force
Quds Force
Intelligence Organization
Intelligence Protection Organization
Ranks insignia
Baqiyatallah University
The Basij (
Articles containing potentially dated statements from October 2009
CS1 Persian-language sources (fa)
CS1 uses فارسی-language script (fa)
Organizations of the Iranian Revolution
Paramilitary organizations in Iran
Religious paramilitary organizations
Human rights in Iran
Army of the Guardians of the Islamic Revolution
Terrorism committed by country
Pro-government factions of the Syrian Civil War
Part of the Arab Spring
1963 coup d'état
1970 "Corrective Revolution"
1979–82 Islamic uprising
1999 Latakia protests
2000–01 Damascus Spring
2004 al-Qamishli riots
Syrian occupation of Lebanon
2005 Damascus Declaration
Human rights in Syria
(Jan–Apr • May–Aug • Sep–Dec)
Death of Hamza Ali Al-Khateeb
Siege of Daraa
Siege of Baniyas
Talkalakh siege
Siege of Rastan and Talbiseh
Jisr ash-Shugur operation
Siege of Hama
Siege of Homs
Jabal al-Zawiya operation
Siege of Latakia
Deir ez-Zor Clashes
Rif Dimashq clashes
Battle of Zabadani
Battle of Douma
Daraa Governorate clashes
First Battle of Rastan
Shayrat and Tiyas airbase ambush
Idlib Governorate clashes
Jabal al-Zawiya massacres
al-Midan bombing
Second Battle of Rastan
First Idlib operation
First Battle of Idlib
First Battle of al-Qusayr
Second Idlib operation
Battle of Taftanaz
Third Battle of Rastan
Houla massacre
Battle of al-Haffah
Al-Qubeir massacre
Battle of Tremseh
Battle of Damascus
Damascus bombing
Battle of Anadan
Siege of Base 46
First Rif Dimashq offensive
Darayya massacre
Battle of Khirbet al-Joz
Battle of Maarrat al-Nu'man
First Siege of Wadi Deif
Battle of Harem
Second Rif Dimashq offensive
Battle of Darayya
Aqrab massacre
First Hama offensive
Halfaya massacre
Quneitra Governorate clashes
Talbiseh bakery massacre
(Jan–Apr • May–Dec)
Battle of Safira
Battle of Shadadeh
Damascus offensive
Battle of Raqqa
Daraa offensive
Third Rif Dimashq offensive
Battle of Jdaidet al-Fadl
Ghouta chemical attack
Al-Qusayr offensive
Second Battle of al-Qusayr
Bayda and Baniyas massacres
Second Hama offensive
Hatla massacre
Khan al-Assal chemical attack
Khan al-Assal massacre
Adra massacre
Battle of Ras al-Ayn
Fourth Rif Dimashq offensive
Aleppo offensive
(Jan–Jul • Aug–Dec)
First Inter-Rebel Conflict
Battle of Markada
First Deir ez-Zor Offensive
Battle of Mork
2nd Daraa Offensive
Maan massacre
Al-Otaiba ambush
4th Idlib Offensive
Battle of Hosn
2nd Latakia Offensive
Battle of Al-Malihah
Kafr Zita chemical attack
Second Siege of Wadi Deif
2nd Qalamoun Offensive
Battle of Arsal
First Battle of the Shaer gas field
Eastern Syria Offensive
Battle for Tabqa Air base
3rd Hama Offensive
Quneitra Offensive
Sixth Rif Dimashq offensive
Siege of Kobanî
Third Daraa offensive
Second Al-Safira offensive
Idlib Raid
Second Inter-Rebel Conflict
Second Battle of the Shaer gas field
Battle of Al-Shaykh Maskin
Second Deir ez-Zor offensive
An-26 Crash
Fourth Daraa Offensive
Southern Syria Offensive
Al-Hasakah Offensive
Battle of Sarrin
Battle of Bosra
Fifth Idlib Offensive
Second Battle of Idlib
Battle of Nasib Border Crossing
Second Battle of Yarmouk Camp
Tell Abyad offensive
Kobanî massacre
2nd Quneitra offensive (2015)
Northwestern Syria offensive (October 2015)
Aleppo offensive (October 2015)
Spillover
Spillover into Lebanon
Lebanese–Syrian border clashes
Battle of Sidon
Iranian Embassy Bombing
Northern Lebanon Clashes
Syrian-Turkish border clashes
December 2011 Syrian–Turkish border clash
Turkish aircraft shootdown
October 2012 Syrian-Turkish border clashes
Reyhanlı bombings
January 2014 Turkish airstrike in Syria
Israeli–Syrian ceasefire line incidents
Jordanian-Syrian border clashes
April 2014 Jordanian–Syrian border airstrike
Spillover into Iraq
Akashat ambush
Operation al-Shabah
April 2014 Iraqi–Syrian border airstrike
Foreign involvement
American-led intervention
American rescue mission
Hezbollah involvement
Jordanian intervention
Iranian involvement
Russia's involvement
military intervention
Turkish involvement
Parties involved
Syrian Government
Syrian Ba'ath Party
Army & Militias
Syrian Armed Forces
Syrian Arab Army
Syrian Arab Air Force
Syrian Arab Navy
National Defense Force
Jaysh al-Sha'bi
Lijan militias
Ba'ath Brigades
al-Abbas Brigade
PFLP-GC
Syrian Resistance
External support
Basij (Iran)
Hezbollah (Lebanon)
Houthis (Yemen)
Revolutionary Guards (Iran)
(SRCC)
NCSR Government
National Coalition
Local Co-ordination Committees
Syrian National Council
Supreme Council of the Syrian Revolution
National Coordination Committee for Democratic Change
Syrian Revolution General Commission
Syrian Support Group
Adopt a Revolution
Paramilitaries
Islamic Front
Syrian Turkmen Brigades
Army of Mujahedeen
Sham Legion
Smaller groups
Kurds & allies
Rojava government
Democratic Union Party
Kurdish National Council (Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union)
Paramilitary groups
People's Protection Units (Syriac Military Council)
Jabhat al-Akrad
Asayish
Sutoro
Jihadist groups
Muhajirin wa-Ansar Alliance
Jabhat Ansar al-Din
Military of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant
Yarmouk Martyrs Brigade
Jaysh al-Jihad
Ammar Abdulhamid
Ali al-Abdallah
Adnan al-Aroor
al-Assad family
Rifaat
Rami Makhlouf
Hafez Makhlouf
Riad al-Asaad
Anwar al-Bunni
Fahd Jassem al-Freij
Haitham al-Maleh
Moaz al-Khatib
Kamal al-Labwani
Hamza al-Khateeb
Tal al-Mallohi
Fida al-Sayed
Riad al-Turk
Ammar al-Qurabi
Suheir Atassi
Ali Sadreddine Al-Bayanouni
Aref Dalila
Farid Ghadry
Burhan Ghalioun
Razan Ghazzawi
Ghassan Hitto
Salim Idris
Randa Kassis
Michel Kilo
Bassma Kodmani
Ali Habib Mahmud
Ali Mahmoud Othman
Ibrahim Qashoush
Dawoud Rajiha
Bouthaina Shaaban
Adib Shishakly
Abdulbaset Sieda
Riad Seif
Fadwa Soliman
Mohamad Anas Haitham Soueid
Yaser Tabbara
Razan Zaitouneh
Rami Jarrah
Peace process
Damaged heritage sites
International reactions
International demonstrations and protests
Refugees (European migrant crisis)
Sectarianism and minorities
Syrian reactions
Arab League monitors
Friends of Syria Group
Kofi Annan peace plan
UN Supervision Mission
Lakhdar Brahimi peace plan
U.S.-Russia Syria peace proposal
39th G8 summit
Geneva II Conference
2015 Zabadani cease-fire agreement
2015 Vienna talks
2014 Syrian detainee report
Fourth Extraordinary Session of the Islamic Summit Conference
International recognition of the Syrian National Council
Syria Files
Syrian media coverage
The Return to Homs
Silvered Water, Syria Self-Portrait
Video Archive of Basij
Letters from Iran on YouTube – The Basij in the Universities
Basij Students Organization official website at the Wayback Machine (archived 3 August 2004)
Heavy Weapons for Baseej Volunteer Militia at the Wayback Machine (archived 23 April 2006) from Rooz Online
Iran Primer: The Basij Resistance Force by ALI ALFONEH, 21 Oct 2010
Golkar, Saeid. (2012) Paramilitarization of the Economy: The Case of Iran's Basij Militia, Armed Forces & Society, Vol. 38, No. 4
Golkar, Saeid. (2015) Captive Society: The Basij Militia and Social Control in Iran. Woodrow Wilson Center Press and Columbia University Press.
^ a b c d e f John Pike. "GlobalSecurity.org Intelligence: Mobilisation Resistance Force". Retrieved 10 November 2014.
^ AEI Outlook Series: What Do Structural Changes in the Revolutionary Guards Mean?
^ "The New York TimesBasij Militia" (2 December 2011) "". Retrieved 10 November 2014.
^ Molavi, Afshin, The Soul of Iran, W.W. Norton, (2005), p. 88, 316–318
^ Neil MacFarquhar (19 June 2009). "Shadowy Iranian Vigilantes Vow Bolder Action". New York Times. Retrieved 19 June 2009.
^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m iran primer the basij resistance force by ALI ALFONEH, pbs.org, 21 October 2010
^ a b c d e f g h Basij Militia. NYT.com 19 June 2009
^ a b "Supreme Leader's Speech to Basij Members". Khamenei.ir. 3 May 2008. Retrieved 8 April 2013.
^ Molavi, Afshin, The Soul of Iran, W.W. Norton, (2005), p.88
^ a b Hosein Taeb Iran Rises. 30 August 2009. accessed 23-September-2009
^ a b "Iran's unfinished crisis. Nazenin Ansari, 16 – 09 – 2009". openDemocracy. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
^ "Amnesty urges Iran to stop using Basij militia". The Gazette. 23 June 2009. Retrieved 23 September 2009.
^ a b Khomeini: life of the Ayatollah By Baqer Moin]
^ Cited in: Erich Wiedemann, Mit dem Paradies-Schlüssel in die Schlacht, in: Der Spiegel, no. 31/1982, p. 93.
^ Hiro, Dilip, Iran under the Ataytollahs, Routledge and Kegan, 1985, p.237
^ a b c d e f g h i "Iran's Basij Force – The Mainstay Of Domestic Security. 15 January 2009". RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
^ by Hojjatoleslam Rahmani in a 1985 Iranian News Agency report, quoted in Niruyeh Moghavemat Basij Mobilisation Resistance Force
^ a b c d e Iran: Paramilitary Force Prepares For Urban Unrest, September 2005 GlobalSecurity.org
^ a b Molavi, The Soul of Iran (2005), p. 89
^ Molavi, The Soul of Iran (2005), p. 318
^ The Christian Science Monitor. "Iran's angry young adults erupt in political protest 16.6.2003". The Christian Science Monitor. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
^ Jon Lee Anderson: "Understanding The Basij". 19 June 2009
^ Will Iran's Basij stay loyal? By Jon Leyne 13 August 2009
^ Basij Commander: US Hiring Agents for Soft Overthrow of Islamic Republic
^ Police, Basij 'imposters' arrested in Iran PressTV, 29 June 2009
^ Iran opposition says 72 died in post-poll unrest Reuters. 3 September 2009
^ "Iranian Forces on the Golan?". Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
^ Clarrification needed
^ "'"The Arab world fears the 'Safavid. Jerusalem Center For Public Affairs. Retrieved 10 November 2014.
^ Gordon, Michael R. (21 May 2013). "Iran and Hezbollah's Support for Syria Complicates U.S. Strategy on Peace Talks". The New York Times.
^ Iran boosts support to Syria, 21 February 2014
^ The Use of Children as Soldiers in the Middle East and North Africa Region at the Wayback Machine (archived 13 August 2004), Jordan Institute of Diplomacy, August 2001
^ Abrahamian, Ervand, History of Modern Iran, Columbia University Press, 2008 p.175-6
^ a b c d e Iran's Basij Force – The Mainstay Of Domestic Security, By Hossein Aryan, RFERL, December 07, 2008
^ McDowall, Angus (21 Jun 2009). "Iran's Basij force: the shock troops terrorising protesters". London: Daily Telegraph.
^ "Profile: Basij militia force". BBC. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
^ Final report on the situation of human rights in the Islamic Republic of Iran, UNHCR, (E/CN.4/1994/50)
^ Report 2001, Islamic Republic of Iran, Amnesty International
^ Human Rights Watch, Overview of human rights issues in Iran, 31 December 2004
^ Advarnews.com (Persian)
^ Iran protester slain after huge pro-reform rally (AP)
^ Protestors shot in Tehran (Channel4.com)
^ AP Top News at 2:05 a.m. EDT (AP)
^ "'"Iran militia raids 'target homes. BBC. 27 June 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2009.
^ "Tehran Police Gunshot 20 June 2009" (in Persian). Youtube. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009.
^ "Tehran-Iran Police Gunshot 20 June 2009" (in Persian]). Youtube. 22 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009. CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (Category:CS1 maint: Unrecognized language)
^ "Police shoot to people in Iran – Tehran" (in Persian]). Youtube. 22 July 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 22 July 2009. CS1 maint: Unrecognized language (Category:CS1 maint: Unrecognized language)
^ "IRAN: Shooting at the crowd". Youtube. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
^ "Iran Police Forces Shoot into Pro-Mousavi Crowd". Youtube. 17 June 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
^ "Iran riots latest news about Basij shooting showing dead body of young boy". YouTube. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
^ "Basij/Anti Riot Police Open Fire on Iranian Protesters". YouTube. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
^ "Basij Attacking People's Condo at Night". YouTube. 17 June 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2009.
^ "Kooye daneshgah – کوی دانشگاه" (in Persian). YouTube. 18 June 2009. Archived from the original on 28 July 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
^ "Tehran University Dorms, Ravaged by pro government armed militia. June 15th" (in Persian). Youtube. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
^ حمله به كوي دانشگاه 24 خرداد 88 (in Persian). YouTube]. 18 June 2009. Retrieved 18 June 2009.
List of armed groups in the Syrian Civil War
Hezbollah of Iran
Supreme Leader Khamenei, to whom the Basij have been described as very loyal to, described Basij as "the greatest hope of the Iranian nation" and "an immaculate tree".[8]
"openly backed Ahmadinejad's principalists (osulgarayan)". In February 2008, Major General Jafari was quoted as saying that "the principlists are in control of the executive and legislative branches and, God willing, the judiciary will soon follow suit." Hasan Taeb, then deputy commander of the Basij, similarly stressed that Basij members should have a "maximum presence" in the elections.[34]
In theory the Basij are banned from involvement in politics by the Iranian constitution, but its leadership is considered active, particularly during and after the 2005 election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.[6] According to American state-sponsored broadcaster RFERL, "Basij support contributed to Ahmadinejad's victory in the 2005 presidential election". In the March 2008 parliamentary elections, the Basij and IRGC commanders
According to allegations received by the UNHCR "tens of thousands of Basijis had been ordered to prowl about every factory, office and school to ensure that everyone adhered to the Islamic code. [...] After the summer 1999 riots Basij units were revived, rearmed and sent out into the streets to help enforce Islamic law. The Basijis are reportedly under the control of local mosques. It was further said that the Basijis set up checkpoints around the cities and stopped cars to sniff their occupant's breath for alcohol and check for women wearing make-up or travelling with a man not their close relative or husband. It was reported that the Law of Judicial Support for the Basijis, published in the Official Gazette No. 13946 of 8.10.1371 (December 1992), provided no redress against arbitrary detention by the Basijis." Iran's permanent representative to the U.N. denied these charges.[37]
Amnesty International claims that "investigations by Parliament and the National Security Council indicated that actions by Revolutionary Guard officials and Basij (Mobilization) forces, among others, precipitated the unrest and injuries following the July 1999 students demonstrations".[38]
Supreme Leader these groups set up arbitrary checkpoints around Tehran, uniformed police often refraining from directly confronting these plainclothes agents. "Illegal prisons, which are outside of the oversight of the National Prisons Office, are sites where political prisoners are abused, intimidated, and tortured with impunity."[39]
On 13 November 2006, Tohid Ghaffarzadeh, a student at Islamic Azad University of Sabzevar was reportedly killed by a Basij member at the University while Ghaffarzadeh was talking to his girlfriend. The killer reportedly approached Ghaffarzadeh and stabbed him with a knife explaining that what he did was according to his religious beliefs.[40]
On 15 June 2009, reports linked the Basij militia to murder of civilians in Azadi Square, Tehran, during the 2009 Iranian election protests.[41][42] News agencies reported 7 dead and over 50 wounded.[43]
On 27 June 2009, Human Rights Watch said the Basij were raiding homes at night, destroying property, beating people, and confiscating satellite dishes. They said the raids were to stop anti-government chanting and to prevent people from watching foreign news broadcasts.[44]
During this same period, several Basij members have been filmed breaking into houses and shooting into crowds.[45][46][47][48][49][50][51][52]
During the 2009 election protests, the IRG and the Basij also attacked Universities and students' dorms at night,[53] and destroyed property.[54][55]
Human rights controversies
Human rights and political activism
As the Basij is a volunteer paramilitary organisation, most Basiji are not permitted to carry a firearm except for special requirements. This means that only about 25% of Basij carry firearms, usually an AK-47. However, there is no rule saying that they cannot use any other weaponry, an issue which has brought major controversy.
In past elections militia members have voted for both hardliners and reformists. President Ahmadinejad enjoys significant support from militia members, many of whom have benefited from his policies.[36]
Benefits for members of the Basij reportedly include exemption from the 21 months of military service required for Iranian men, reserved spots in universities, and a small stipend.[7] Members of Basij are more likely than non-members to obtain government positions, especially security related positions within government controlled institutions. Many Iranians reportedly join Basij only to take advantage of the benefits membership and to get admission to university or as a tool to get promotion in government jobs.[35]
According to a 2006 report from Globalsecurity.org Basij membership is thought to comprise "mainly boys, old men, and those who recently finished their military service,"[1] while in 2009 the New York Times describes them as "ranging in age from high school to about 30 years old."[7]
Benefits and profile of members
As of 2008, "government construction and economic projects can be contracted to the Basij",[34] and in 2010, "thousands" of basiji "were educated in blogging and filtering of dissident websites" on the internet.[6]
Duties may vary by province, with Basij deployed against drug traffickers in the eastern border regions, banned goods smugglers in Hormuzgan and Bushehr, and "carrying out border-guard duties" on the border with Iraq.[34]
In their capacity of maintaining law and order, Basiji act as "morality police" in towns and cities by "enforcing the wearing of the hijab; arresting women for violating the dress code; prohibiting male-female fraternization; monitoring citizens' activities; confiscating satellite dishes and 'obscene' material; intelligence gathering; and even harassing government critics and intellectuals. Basij volunteers also act as bailiffs for local courts."[34]
Duties and activities
An earlier study in 2005 by a Washington think-tank, the Center for Strategic and International Studies, put "the number of full-time, uniformed, and active members at 90,000, with another 300,000 reservists and some 1 million that could be mobilized when necessary."[6]
According to a former commander of the Basij, Brigadier General Mohammad Hejazi, the strength of the force in 2004 was 10.3 million. By 2007, its strength stood at 12.6 million. The current commander of the Basij, Hasan Taeb, told the semi-official Fars news agency on November 25 that the force now numbers 13.6 million, which is about 20 percent of the total population of Iran. Of this number, about 5 million are women and 4.7 million are schoolchildren. ... In fact the Basij may be able to mobilize no more than 1.5 million men and women of military age.[34]
Estimates of the number of Basij vary, with its leadership giving higher figures than outside commentators. According to RFERL,
The first deputy commander General Mirahmadi was formally installed on 4 September 2005. The Tehran commander is Seyyed Mohammad Haj Aqamir. The deputy Basij commander for Tehran, General Ahmad Zolqadr, was formally installed on 5 September 2005; the new Basij commander in Tabrizi, Brigadier General Mohammad Yusef Shakeri, on 29 September 2005.[18]
The current commander of the Basij is Mohammad Reza Naqdi, who replaced Hossein Taeb in October 2009.[16] Hossein Taeb was appointed commander of the Basij on 14 July 2008.[10][11]
In addition, since 2007 the Basij have established "30,000 new combat cells, each of them 15–20 members strong, named Karbala and Zolfaqar". The cells "cooperate closely" or in emergency situations are "controlled by" the Revolutionary Guard.[16][33]
Basij form the fifth branch of the Army of the Revolutionary Guard, and the "three main armed wings" of the Basij are the Ashoura and Al-Zahra Brigades, the Imam Hossein Brigades (composed of Basij war veterans who cooperate closely with the IRGC ground forces) and the Imam Ali Brigades (which deal with security threats).[6] According to Radio Free Europe, the "backbone" of the Basij comprises 2,500 Al-Zahra battalions (all women) and Ashura battalions (male), numbering 300–350 personnel each. The IRGC aims to arm 30 percent of these battalions with semi-heavy and heavy weapons. However, all members of the battalions are trained to use light arms and rifles.[16] They are trained "in riot-control tactics and how to deal with domestic uprisings,"[16] and officially tasked with "defending the neighborhoods in case of emergencies."[6]
Regular members, "who are mobilized in wartime and engage in developmental activities in peacetime. Regular members are volunteers and are unpaid, unless they engage in war-time duty."
Active Members, "who have had extensive ideological and political indoctrination, and who also receive payment for peacetime work." and
Special Members, "who are paid dual members of the Basij and the IRGC and serve as the IRGC ground forces."[6]
Basij has been called "a quasi-decentralised network". Its organizational structure and training "varies from one province to another, according to the nature and severity of the potential threats identified by the IRGC and Basij commanders in different regions."[16] The Basij have "branches in almost every Iranian mosque",[32] with rooms marked Paygah-e-Basij or Basij base, "which serves as a kind of Islamic club where students study the Koran, organize sports teams and plan field trips."[7] According to the Tehran Bureau, the Basij "statute distinguishes between three types of members":
Subgroupings of the Basij include the Pupil Basij [Basij-e Danesh-Amouzi], the Student Basij [Basij-e Daneshjouyi], the University Basij, the Public Service Basij [Basij-e Edarii], and the Tribal Basij,[16] (aka Basij-e Ashayer or the former tribal levies incorporated into the Basij). In the Student Basij, middle-school-aged members are called "Seekers" (Puyandegan), and high-school members are called the "Vanguard" (Pishgaman).[18] Tehran Bureau also lists a "Basij of the Guilds" [Basij-e Asnaf], and a "Labor Basij" [Basij-e Karegaran].[6]
Organization and membership
As of December 2013, a Western analyst believed thousands of Iranian paramilitary Basij fighters were stationed in Syria.[31]
Syria's geopolitical importance to Iran and its role as one of Iran's crucial allies prompted the involvement of Basij militiamen in the ongoing Syrian Civil War. The Basij militia, similar to Hizballah fighters, has been working side by side with the Syrian army against rebel forces. Such involvement poses new foreign policy challenges for a number of countries across the region, particularly Israel and Turkey as Iran's influence becomes more than just ideological and monetary on the ground in the Syrian conflict.[27][28] The Basij involvement in the Syrian Civil War reflects previous uses of the militia as a proxy force for Iranian foreign policy in an effort to assert Iranian dominance in the region[29] and frightens Salim Idriss, head of the Free Syrian Army.[30]
Syrian Civil War, 2011–present
Following the protests, Hojjatoleslam Hossein Taeb, commander of the Basij, "cautioned" Iranians that the US was "hiring agents and mercenaries in an effort to continue its plots for a soft overthrow of the Islamic Republic," according to the Iranian Fars news agency.[24] Taeb has also stated that the anti-government riots "killed eight members of the Basij and wounded 300 others."[25][26]
Mir Hussein Moussavi, opposition presidential candidate in 2009, has "decried the violence carried out by the Basij" during protests following the disputed presidential election, complaining that the basij attack the demonstrations "with hoses, clubs, iron bars, truncheons and sometimes firearms," 'just before the police show up.'[7] The tactics used by the Basij against election demonstrators have been described as involving choosing "targets at the edges of the crowds, going for the vulnerable and unwary stragglers," attacking "surreptitiously ... jumping demonstrators as they return home on darkened streets at night,"[22] and also wielding "tiny knives or razor blades to use against protestors from behind their backs."[23] There have also been reports of poor performance by basij after the 2009 election, with some basij failed to suppress demonstrations, "deserted their assignments", and being unwilling "to beat up neighbors who protested against the election result by chanting 'God is great' from their homes."[6] According to Tehran Bureau, "from June 22 onward, the Basij constituted only a minority of the forces cracking down on protesters," after having had "trouble maintaining order in major urban centers" particularly Tehran. This was thought to be a reason for the replacement of commander Hossein Taeb and the Basij's formal integration into the Revolutionary Guards ground forces in October 2009.[6]
2009 election protests
The Basij came "under the formal authority of the Revolutionary Guard (IRGC) commander in 2007 and were incorporated into IRGC ground forces in 2008."[6]
Some believe the change in focus of the Basij from its original mission of fighting to defend Iran in the Iran-Iraq War to its current internal security concerns has led to a loss in its prestige and morale. According to an unnamed "seasoned analyst" quoted by csmonitor.com, "You define yourself by your enemies, and those were the superpowers back then. ... But now they are fighting young people who put gel in their hair. That's the enemy. So it's demeaning, and not at all elevating for their self-image."[21]
Along with the Iranian riot police and the [7]
The Iranian Government has drawn up a number of different plans to keep the Basij alive. Among these plans is the emphasis on ideas such as Development Basij (Basij-e-Sazandegi). Fars News Agency reported. "Among the most important tasks of the Basij are boosting everlasting security, strengthening development infrastructures, equipping resistance bases, [and] increasing employment," Mohammad Hejazi added. He described the prohibition of vice and the promotion of virtue in society as the "divine policy" of the Basij.[18]
In late September 2005, the Basij staged a series of urban defense exercises across the country. Its first deputy commander announced the creation of 2,000 "Ashura battalions" within the Basij that will have "riot-control responsibilities." Some speculated the "revival" of the Basij was connected "with preparations for possible civil unrest."[1]
According to the Mahmud Ahmadinejad (elected in 2005) that the Basij appeared "to be undergoing something of a revival."[18]
The Ashura Brigades are reported to have been created in 1993 after anti-government riots erupted in various Iranian cities. These Islamic brigades were made up of both Revolutionary Guards and the Basij and by 1998 numbered 17,000.[1]
Basij also act as an emergency management service, being mobilized in case of earthquakes or other natural or human-made disasters. It may supplement law enforcement by setting up street inspection posts in urban areas to intercept drug smuggling and potential insurgency.
In 1988 college Basiji organizations were established on college campuses to fight "Westoxification" and potential student agitation against the government.[19] Basij members played "a central role" in breaking up the student riots in Tehran in 1999. They were also instrumental in quelling several outbreaks of ethnic unrest in the oil-rich province of Khuzestan, which is home to the majority of Iran's ethnic-Arab population.[16]
By the end of the war, most of the Basijis left the service and were reintegrated back into their lives, often after years of being in the front. After the war, the Basij was reorganized and gradually developed into one of the Islamic regime's "primary guarantors of domestic security."[16] By 1988 the number of Basij checkpoints dramatically decreased, but the Basij were still active in monitoring the activities of citizens.[18] They enforce hijab, arresting women for violating the dress code, arrest youths for attending mixed gender parties or being in public with unrelated members of the opposite sex,[19] seized 'indecent' material and satellite dish antennae.[1]
Duties after the war
According to Dilip Hiro, by the spring of 1983 the Basij had trained 2.4 million Iranians in the use of arms and sent 450,000 to the front.[15] Tehran Bureau estimates the peak number of Basijis at the front at 100,000 by December 1986.[6] By the end of the war between 700,000–800,000 Basij volunteers were sent to the front.[16] In 1985 the IRNA put the number of Basijis at 3 million.[17]
The typical human wave tactic was for Basijis (often very lightly armed and unsupported by artillery or air power) to march forward in straight rows. While casualties were high, the tactic often worked. "They come toward our positions in huge hordes with their fists swinging," an Iraqi officer complained in the summer of 1982. "You can shoot down the first wave and then the second. But at some point the corpses are piling up in front of you, and all you want to do is scream and throw away your weapon. Those are human beings, after all."[14]
During the Iran-Iraq War hundreds of thousands volunteered for the Basij, including children as young as 12 and unemployed old men, some in their eighties. These volunteers were swept up in Shi'i love of martyrdom and the atmosphere of patriotism of the war mobilization. They were encouraged through visits to the schools and an intensive media campaign. The Basij may best be known for their employment human wave attacks which cleared minefields or draw the enemy's fire.[13] It is estimated that tens of thousands were killed in the process. Some reports have the Basiji marching into battle marking their expected entry to heaven by wearing plastic "keys to paradise" around their necks.
During the Iranian revolution, [13]
Origins 1.1
Duties after the war 1.2
Revival 1.3
2009 election protests 1.4
Syrian Civil War, 2011–present 1.5
Organization and membership 2
Commanders 2.1.1
Duties and activities 2.3
Benefits and profile of members 2.4
Human rights and political activism 3
Human rights controversies 3.1
Politics 3.2
As of October 2009 Mohammad Reza Naqdi was the commander of the Basij.[10][11] The force was often present and reacting against the widespread protests which occurred immediately after the 2009 Iranian presidential election and in the months following.[12]
The Basij are set up as[7] subordinate to, receiving their orders from, the Iran.[9]
[6] is an individual member.basiji is the name of the force; a Basij [5][4]
Syrian Civil War, Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia
Iranian presidential election, 2009
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, Mohsen Rezaee, Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani, Mohammad Khatami
Death of Neda Agha-Soltan
YouTube, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Tehran, Cnn, Bbc
2009 Iranian presidential election protests
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Mir-Hossein Mousavi, YouTube, Mohammad Khatami, Qom
Propaganda in Iran
Iran, Propaganda, Censorship, Iranian presidential election, 2009, Foreign relations of Iran


Got work on a commercial fishing boat last month, the "Aguero". It's been a big plus that Jeremiah, the captain, liked Job so much and allowed me to take him with us everyday. I've missed working on the water...and will.
Got a new job working with and training animals at a private zoo.
Something has to give. There will come a day when we will say "we can't keep living like this." I don't know when that day will be. When an irresistible force meets an immovable object something has to give or something is going to break. Though I've felt broken many times, oxygen continued to enter my lungs and I continued to live. The truth in me is both irresistible and immovable though I have tried to resist it and the world has tried to move it. I can not change the world, but I can change my life. I can be responsible for what I am aware of and behave accordingly. I can refuse to condone what my conscience, my higher power, my instincts, tell me is unacceptable. In every worldly instance, the truth is either the irresistible force or the immovable object and when they collide, the hard truth will be revealed. We can choose to embody the truth that we are aware of or we can choose to ignore it until the choice is no longer ours. The longer we wait the more likely we will discover it truly is an irresistible force and we truly are not an immovable object as we lay in its wake. The sooner we choose to accept it the better chances we have to align ourselves with it so that we may embody it's universal and timeless character.
As a young man, I choose to believe that any true statement about life is universal to all and useful to all those willing to be honest with themselves. I had "found myself" by, finally, being truly honest with myself and this solidified a loyalty to the truth. Honesty being the pathway to the truth. Though I was not perfect, I naively believed and attempted to be honest in every situation I found myself in with the faith that something miraculous would happen. This was a very difficult way to live and I often found myself trapped in situations where to be truly honest would sabotage my success in a specific situation. So, I would remain silent, keep my head down and work twice as hard hoping it would somehow distance me from the lie I was aware of until eventually I would have to leave not being able to go along with it anylonger. I believed others who believed the same would recognize my efforts and we would establish a genuine connection. In short, I believe it takes one to know one. Though many times I found myself completely alone in the truth that I see, I have no choice, now, once again, to accept that it is an irresistible force and I must become movable to align myself with it. For those who believe the same, to tell our stories driven by honesty, not ego, we help one another on our individual journeys as well as keep one another connected on our universal one.
For the past year, I have attempted to live differently and I have been unsuccessful in my eyes. Always succeeding at finding work and earning respect from my employers, I've had ten jobs in 12 months in a wide range of fields. The previous year was more of the same. All the while I've been care-taking on a piece of property that I had told the owner I was only interested in taking on if the possibbilty of buying it someday existed. As the things progressed and it became clearer that this was not a real possibility it prevented me form investing my own time and energy into it especially when even getting paid for the caretaking I had done during this past year's was so difficult when a winter of heavy rains required me to come and go everyday by canoe. It always came as a surprise to whoever I was working for when I would decide to move on. They were very happy with my work because I took their "business" and it's responsibilities very seriously. They liked me for what I did for them, but pleasing them was not going to address everything I see and am painfully aware of regarding how we are living as culture. They all required me to turn a blind eye to things that are too important to ignore. I realize this is "just a part of life" and all jobs require this to an extent, but the compromise is far too great for me. Neglect is part of the formula for disaster. If a situation prevents us from being ourselves it can turn our gifts into curses. Every job required me to forget about the life I have lived and everything I have learned up until now and just join the crowd. I have toughed it out long enough, but there is no point in it. If I had reasons to justify "sucking it up" for the sake of my family or other immediate responsibilities maybe things would be different, but I don't and all I am doing is trying to sustain an unsustainable lifestyle that doesn't make me happy. There is a reason why I don't have these things and it is because I have deliberately chosen not to start that chapter in my life until I had adequately addressed the world in which I would be starting it in. This has given me an opportunity to do what others can not do because of their responsibilities and I am going to take this opportunity and do what I believe I still have a responsibility to do. And this time, I am not going to sacrifice my own health and well being to do it like I have in the past. If I believe so deeply in the message, I need to take better care of the messenger. This is one thing the last two years has taught me.
I think Job is ready to hit the road. Carrying enough dog food for this guy and providing myself with enough electricity to power my laptop sufficiently were the needs I wanted to address.
Left the property in late afternoon on foot for the maiden voyage of the newly built wagon. Had to wear my rubber boots to negotiate the flooded driveway. Took them off and stashed them by the roadside. Flip-flops are much more comfortable.
The wagon did well. After the familiar embarrassment of doing something that looks weird to people was gradually replaced by the growing faith in the functionality of my new contraption, I started to feel pretty good. Didn't flip one person off:) I didn't have big plans for this first little trip. In attempts to persuade myself to finally try out the wagon and postpone making every little improvement that needs to be made before doing so, I told myself "You don't have to go far. Just walk out to the bay" which is only a mile or two down the quiet country road that my little cabin in the woods is located on. I knew I was right. A statement which is dangerously close to talking to myself or insanity. I had to leave. I had to do something. I was going mad out there in the woods everyday by myself not for any internal chemical imbalance or whatever psycho/medical terminology they use these days, but by the simple nature of my predicament. I was trapped by my own stubbornness and I had to go. I had to get out. Bad things were coming if I didn't.
Sitting in the warm sun by the bay playing my guitar, Job rolling and wiggling around on his back in the grass the way dogs do when they're happy, a peaceful euphoric sigh of relief was let out of someplace deep inside me. I wasn't prepared to say "I made it." If I was going to do what I was contemplating doing with this little wagon I had built complete with a solar panel mounted on it, I wasn't even close to beginning. What I had done though was put an end to the rut I have been in for the last year and a half trying to force myself to live a life I wasn't ready to live and for this I was serenely happy.
Give your energy something good to do or it will find something bad to do. It's hard for one person to know what's best for themself when they keep their own audience for too long. I have spent days, weeks, months at a time alone and it has completely suited me. I never thought twice about it in regards to my mental well-being. Though my heart, on the other hand, has always longed for connections, especially a romantic one. Camped on a table rock under the desert stars at night, for instance, is only bittersweet because I wish someone else was there with me to share in its beauty, but bittersweet is survivable. Spending days, weeks, months alone in a completely unnatural setting is very dangerous I've come to find out in the last year and half. I didn't just find myself lying in an amazing place staring up at the moon in the southwest desert of Arizona. I had walked there from San Diego and though this may seem unusual to some people it is completely natural. Walking is the most natural form of transportation known to man.The fact that this may be surprising to some is just one indication of how far off course we truly are as a people. It took a sufficient amount of energy to get me there from the coast. It took me a healthy amount to get me there from the spot I'd camped the night before 30 miles or so away. Had it not required a healthy amount of energy, lying there in the middle of nowhere at night in a place that could possibly resemble the surface of Mars might be unsettling to a person because all the energy they hadn't use to get there naturally would now fester in their mind not allowing them to be at peace with their surroundings and situation. A lot of times, life simply comes down to energy management and most of us are not using anywhere close to the amount of physical energy we need to be using everyday to be healthy and relaxed. Personally, I found it more difficult to fall asleep on the rare occasion I find myself in a motel room even if I had used up a lot of physical energy that day to get there.
Every so often, I would meet someone who would insist out of sheer generosity that I let them get me a room for the night. I remember paying for my dinner at a diner in White House, Tennessee when a nice family was leaving at the same time. The father struck up a conversation with me. I always stuck out a little carrying my back-pack with a big American flag on it and the next thing I knew they were dropping me off at a motel where I had a room waiting for me. I say "the next thing I knew" because even riding in a car moving at such a speed and talking with the nice family happened at a pace that was surreal to me. Forty-five minutes later sitting in a nice motel room having just taken a shower my socks that I had just washed in the sink drying on the heater I'm wide awake looking at all the creature comforts like a bed, a t.v., lights, chairs, a table, hot running water, heat, a vending machine just outside the door, clean towels feeling like a lab rat. All this stuff for one person. What in the world was I going to do with it all? Maybe it was all the straight lines and right angles that formed the box I was in. Maybe it was the bright lights when I was used to the dark, but it would take me hours to finally fall asleep as tired as I should have been. I can't imagine what it would be like if I hadn't carried 55lbs on my back for eight hours that day.
This is something I hadn't accounted for when depression set in after spending months stranded in a small one room "house" in the woods flooded in by the winters rain with nothing to do but stare at the walls for days on end. All life requires a proportionate amount of energy in the form of work to sustain itself. It's a beautiful, harmonious, natural balance. Alter that balance artificially and it will eventually catch up with you.
After strumming out the same two chords over and over for ten minutes and never growing tired of it, I decided we should probably get a move on as Job done playing with the empty juice bottle I'd thrown at him kept coming up to me trying to interrupt as if to say "C'mon, it is that it? Let's keep going." Before putting my guitar away hidden in the pocket of the case I found an old print I'd stuffed in there three years ago. I'd salvaged it from the rubble of an old camper I was cleaning out to live in up in Astoria, OR. What a pleasant surprise. I'd forgotten all about it. It depicted a man on a horse meandering down a country road with a dog walking along behind them. The road winded along a creek just like the one we lived on. It was even called "November Evening". Hmph. I packed up his water dish, threw the chewed up 2qt. bottle of Juicy Juice in the wagon and we headed down the busy road along the bay. It was almost 5:30 and people we're rushing home from work. Fortunately, California has bike lanes on many of it's scenic roads. I wasn't sure where we were headed, but I still had lots of energy and plenty of daylight to make it up as we went.


There are five regular markets in Phimai town: the night market, two morning markets, the Monday market and the Eight market.
1. The night market (talat night) is located in Anantachinda Street, in the town centre adjacent to the Town clock. The night market opens daily at about 6pm or just before. Things for sale there include clothes, fruit and vegetables, meat and fish, CDs and DVDs.
3. The Monday market (talat jan) takes place on Monday evenings on the streets near the main bus station (from about 4pm to 8pm). Items for sale include clothes, food and household goods.
4. The Eight market (talat pairt) is located on land near Pratu Chai and Phimai Vocational college. It takes place on dates with an eight in them, so there's an "Eight market" on the 8th, 18th and 28th of each month. The Eight market is open from 6/7am to about 2pm. You'll find a lot of clothing and fruit for sale there but you will also find household goods (including kitchenware and tools), linen, plants, puppies and pet fish.
The Thai word for market is talat (ตลาด).
Above is a map showing the locations of the four regular markets in Phimai town.


Think you know emoji? With the fun-filled Emojinary Card Game you'll need to use your skills of deduction to work it out!
Put together a sequence of cards to make a picture-perfect combination... can you work out what it says? Perfect for families and friends, this hilarious game offers hours of word-play based fun.


Looking to pursue a career in the NYC hairstyling industry? Lovella is looking for talents!
provide you with the opportunity to watch closely our professionals at work, to experience the technicques and use top rated products, all in a supportive environment. Our skilled hairstylists are partners in making Lovella NYC a leading salon and in establishment and cultivation of its loyal clientel.
Please send us you resume for review at info@lovellanyc.com. Or fill out the form below to submit your contact information.


For much too long ago I got a request from "Anonymous", who was looking for marquee lights. I'm sorry for the delay but I have been trying and trying and it just didn't look right. But then something happened yesterday… I found the perfect layer style and now I can finally deliver. I hope these marquee lights are not too late and that they live up to your expectations/needs.
If you want to make your own lights in other colours I can highly recommend the layer style I used: "Neon Glow Superset" by Rommeo. It's available from graphicriver for only $4.
After this little break from Halloween I'll go back to work on more spooky freebies for you. Come back soon and see what I come up with.


Découvrez tous les produits de santé pour la gamme BODY CREAMS de votre parapharmacie en ligne.
An indulgent beauty ritual of summer glamour, illuminate your skin with Golden Shimmer Perfumed Body Cream by Roger & Gallet.
Enriched with a cocktail of 6 nourishing oils (macadamia, argan, camellia, evening primrose, sesame and sweet almond), this luxurious body cream with a delicious and enchanting fragrance, moisturises and softens your skin for lasting hydration. Its delicate flecks of gold give a subtle, illuminating effect.


Great Rail Journeys is the UK's leading operator of holidays by rail with over 300 individual tours available across over 40 countries within Europe, America, Canada, Far East, Russia, India & Australasia. There are short and long-haul journeys with your every need taken care of – really letting the train take the strain!
Tagged train, train journeys, travel by train.


Two Delray Beach men have been suspected of taking part in a scam when they were found participating in profiting from illegal brokering practices involving the urine of patients with substance abuse problems who are in treatment and recovery programs.
It is reported that the urine collected from substance abuse treatment patients is a highly lucrative item for the labs that test it. When a lab acquires a contract with a treatment center in need of extensive urine testing they stand to profit quite a bit because insurance companies, though they often only pay for a portion of the charge, are billed up to $5,000 for the process.
In the state of Florida, it has been outlawed with a patient-brokering law in place prohibiting the acceptance of "any commission, bonus, rebate, kickback, or bribe, directly or indirectly, in cash or in kind," to protect against treatment centers and labs from profiting illegally through patient and lab service referrals.
A police officer for the New York Police Department was fired for a positive drug test result showing methamphetamines in his system, but the cop has denied the allegations and stated the results were compromised by his apparel.
Nearly 20 years ago the NYPD began implementing drug testing through collection of hair instead of the previously used urine tests. This method was chosen as the best way to ensure officers were not under the influence of narcotics due to the fact that testing the hair is reportedly more reliable, can detect substances in the system for a much longer period, and are less costly than urine sample tests.
33-year-old NYPD officer Brian Quire served on the Manhattan warrant squad and held a position with the police department for 12 years. Quire earned the nickname "Legs" by his colleagues due to his regular choice of shorts for his attire.


I had considered writing a few words to introduce or explain each of these images, since there is a story behind each. But upon reflection I decided to leave it to the photos and you to tell their story. A bit like Songs without Words.
This entry was posted in 2019, Culture, Media, Photos and tagged 2019, Media, Photos, Streets. Bookmark the permalink.


Hello and happy New Year from group four!
We have been very busy since our last blog with visits to new places and challenging ourselves through our class work and experiences.
We have enjoyed learning about ourselves and how our actions have impacts on the people around us. We have enjoyed learning about keeping safe, especially with fire. We have used these new skills when in the woods and outside of school.
In our maths lessons we have stretched and challenged ourselves to gain some fantastic new skills. We have carried this enthusiasm for learning into our topic lessons where we have learnt about the Celts and crime in new ways. We have enjoyed the freedom to learn in our own way. We really enjoyed making rockets using coke bottles and mentos! Our rockets zipped across the tennis court!
We have a new system in our classroom where we have choice of work. We like to prioritise our own tasks and work through them at our own rate.
One of our favourite things to do is visit new places. We enjoyed a lunch out at Pizza Hut where the restaurant staff said that all of our class were polite and friendly.
Our visit to the Royal Armouries was very exciting. We were able to find the weapons that we have learnt about recently. One of the best parts was using a bow and arrow machine to test how strong real archers have to be!
We are looking forward to the new term and investigating the laws of the UK and setting up our own class court.... Judge Rinder style!


This academic year is quickly coming to a close. It has, no doubt, had its ups and downs and lefts and rights. All of these interesting twists and turns have surely increased your mental flexibility and pushed your and your students' learning to new levels. The time has come to reflect on the growth that you have all made throughout the year.
When reflecting, the general tendency is to focus on areas that need improvement. While that step is vital for continual growth, it's equally important to recognize and celebrate our successes. Noticing areas in which we've made progress is extraordinarily motivating and gives our souls the boost necessary to take on the next project with a renewed sense of purpose and the energy to achieve it. Both you and your students should take some time to truly celebrate your successes this year and bask in the glory of that growth (no matter how small).
The chart below is similar to the chart we used to set our goals, but there is one difference. This time we are focusing on the progress that we've made and the positive impact that growth has had. As often as possible, try to quantify the positive impact of the progress with hard evidence (% fewer absences, % more parent involvement, improved quality of student projects and mastery of topics, etc). This evidence will keep your reflection grounded in data and offer even more validity & credibility to your celebration.
Student reflection: This year students have learned about growth mindsets and attempted to nurture such thoughts in themselves. They have been given opportunities to determine their preferred learning styles and to use that knowledge to get the most out of every lesson. The survey included in this month's featured free resource will help your students recognize their progress in these areas and give them an opportunity to provide you with valuable feedback about the ways you have supported students throughout the year. There is a reminder to celebrate their successes at the bottom of the first page. Spend a good amount of time on this celebration in order to help students recognize the joy in reflection and growth.
Play a motivating song as each student shares one success and high fives all members of the classroom.
Pair students up to share successes and then invent their own secret high five.
Have students share successes for the whole class and recognize their growth with a unanimous clap (or other sign of approval and support).
Allow students to create a visual representation of their growth and parade it around the classroom with pride.
Take the time to really relish the highs of your successes. Next week you can all revisit the charts and surveys to set goals for improvement ... but save that for next week.


text:
package io.mpos.ui.shared.model;

import android.os.Parcel;
import android.os.Parcelable;

import java.math.BigDecimal;

import io.mpos.transactions.Currency;
import io.mpos.transactions.RefundTransaction;
import io.mpos.transactions.RefundTransactionCode;
import io.mpos.transactions.TransactionStatus;
import io.mpos.transactions.TransactionType;

public class RefundTransactionDataHolder implements Parcelable {
    private BigDecimal mAmount;
    private Currency mCurrency;
    private long mCreatedTimestamp;
    private RefundTransactionCode mRefundTransactionCode;
    private TransactionType mTransactionType;
    private TransactionStatus mStatus;
    private String mTransactionIdentifier;

    public RefundTransactionDataHolder(RefundTransaction refundTransaction) {
        mAmount = refundTransaction.getAmount();
        mCurrency = (refundTransaction.getCurrency() != null) ? refundTransaction.getCurrency() : Currency.UNKNOWN;
        mCreatedTimestamp = refundTransaction.getCreatedTimestamp();
        mRefundTransactionCode = (refundTransaction.getCode() != null) ? refundTransaction.getCode() : RefundTransactionCode.UNKNOWN;
        mTransactionType = (refundTransaction.getType() != null) ? refundTransaction.getType() : TransactionType.UNKNOWN;
        mStatus = (refundTransaction.getStatus() != null) ? refundTransaction.getStatus() : TransactionStatus.UNKNOWN;
        mTransactionIdentifier = refundTransaction.getIdentifier();
    }

    @Override
    public int describeContents() {
        return 0;
    }

    @Override
    public void writeToParcel(Parcel dest, int flags) {
        dest.writeSerializable(this.mAmount);
        dest.writeInt(this.mCurrency == null ? -1 : this.mCurrency.ordinal());
        dest.writeLong(this.mCreatedTimestamp);
        dest.writeInt(this.mRefundTransactionCode == null ? -1 : this.mRefundTransactionCode.ordinal());
        dest.writeInt(this.mTransactionType == null ? -1 : this.mTransactionType.ordinal());
        dest.writeInt(this.mStatus == null ? -1 : this.mStatus.ordinal());
        dest.writeString(this.mTransactionIdentifier);
    }

    public RefundTransactionDataHolder() {
    }

    protected RefundTransactionDataHolder(Parcel in) {
        this.mAmount = (BigDecimal) in.readSerializable();
        int tmpCurrency = in.readInt();
        this.mCurrency = (tmpCurrency == -1) ? Currency.UNKNOWN : Currency.values()[tmpCurrency];
        this.mCreatedTimestamp = in.readLong();
        int tmpRefundTransactionCode = in.readInt();
        this.mRefundTransactionCode = (tmpRefundTransactionCode == -1) ? RefundTransactionCode.UNKNOWN : RefundTransactionCode.values()[tmpRefundTransactionCode];
        int tmpTransactionType = in.readInt();
        this.mTransactionType = (tmpTransactionType == -1) ? TransactionType.UNKNOWN : TransactionType.values()[tmpTransactionType];
        int tmpStatus = in.readInt();
        this.mStatus = (tmpStatus == -1) ? TransactionStatus.UNKNOWN : TransactionStatus.values()[tmpStatus];
        this.mTransactionIdentifier = in.readString();
    }

    public static final Parcelable.Creator<RefundTransactionDataHolder> CREATOR = new Parcelable.Creator<RefundTransactionDataHolder>() {
        @Override
        public RefundTransactionDataHolder createFromParcel(Parcel source) {
            return new RefundTransactionDataHolder(source);
        }

        @Override
        public RefundTransactionDataHolder[] newArray(int size) {
            return new RefundTransactionDataHolder[size];
        }
    };

    public BigDecimal getAmount() {
        return mAmount;
    }

    public Currency getCurrency() {
        return mCurrency;
    }

    public long getCreatedTimestamp() {
        return mCreatedTimestamp;
    }

    public RefundTransactionCode getRefundTransactionCode() {
        return mRefundTransactionCode;
    }

    public TransactionType getTransactionType() {
        return mTransactionType;
    }

    public TransactionStatus getStatus() {
        return mStatus;
    }

    public String getTransactionIdentifier() {
        return mTransactionIdentifier;
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Husband and wife team Billy and Lucy Crothers set up "Handmade Shoes" farriery supplies in Buckinghamshire in 1998. Billy shoes horses on a daily basis, training apprentices within a multi-farrier practice. Billy's passion for shoeing and shoemaking is as strong today as it has ever been – he has now trained in excess of 15 apprentices and successfully competed in many farriery competitions throughout the world including winning the prestigious World Championships no less than five times.
Close in quality to a hand forged shoe, this shoe has a symmetrical, elliptical shape, 'forged' upright heels, unique 'bob punch' clips and crisp nail holes which offer excellent fit and correct pitch.
Hind shoes are sided with safe inside heel and toe.
Sold in boxes of 10 pairs, available in toe clipped and unclipped front, hinds available side clipped or unclipped.
Handmade Shoes Pre-Cut Concave Steel cut to 6 foot lengths.


What's the Park Foundation All About?
If you've ever wondered why foundations pay to be sponsors of NPR, and have their names dropped on "All Things Considered" or "Morning Edition," here's one reason: Because people like me notice. Which is to say, people who are in a position to spread the word about that funder or otherwise expand its footprint in elite consciousness.
Earlier this week, for instance, I heard the Park Foundation mentioned on NPR, and I realized that we hadn't really dug into Park lately at Inside Philanthropy. In fact, while we'd written a few pieces a while back on its media funding, we hadn't touched its environmental work. Well, we've now changed that. This week one of our writers, Tate Williams, took a dive into Park, exploring its environmental funding in depth. Another writer is now looking again at its media funding, so hopefully we'll have updated coverage of Park in this area next week.
Park's environmental funding is interesting because Park is super out front on the fracking fight at a time when a lot of funders are more equivocal on this issue, and we're always intrigued by funders who take strong stands, along with how they translate those stands into grantmaking.
But another reason we wanted to dive into the Park Foundation is because this is a place that definitely keeps its door open to new grantees. And it's also a place where small activist organizations can really get a hearing. Alas, the same can't be said for a great many funders we write about.
One of the best things about the Park Foundation is that, for such a substantial funder, they are relatively proposal- and grantee-friendly. For one, while they gave more than $27 million last year, it was spread over 339 grants, which is quite a lot. The average grant in 2013 was around $80,000, and this is actually much higher than previous years. So grants typically hover around $50,000, but range quite a bit, as low as four figures, most large grants not much over $100,000, and the rare grant in the millions for its scholarship programs.
They are wide open to proposals with quarterly deadlines, and accept letters of inquiry or just preliminary phone calls and emails. They do recommend potential new grantees send LOIs first, and of course, stay within program interests to save everyone time.
One reason that Park is pretty accessible is that they have a decent level of staffing and an executive director, Jon Jensen, who is a veteran grantmaker -- something that's often not the case for family foundations that are slow to professionalize. And get this: Park puts all its staff emails on its website, whereas we know lots of funders their size -- or bigger -- that don't even have websites and where it's difficult to even learn who works there.
One final note on the Park Foundation, it's heavily involved in the movement toward mission related investing, which means moving a foundation's trust away from companies that conflict with program goals. Park is one of 17 original foundations of Divest-Invest Philanthropy, an initiative to have funders publicly pull their assets from the fossil fuel industry.


text:
Moore-Sponsored Cystic Fibrosis Bill Signed into Law
Posted by AMD Staff | Dec 5, 2017
Senator Michael O. Moore (D-Millbury) announced that legislation has been signed into law that officially designates the month of May as "Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month". The Moore-sponsored bill was signed by Governor Charlie Baker after having received unanimous approval from the Legislature.
Cystic Fibrosis is a genetic disease that affects around thirty thousand people in the United States. The condition is characterized as a progressive genetic disease that causes persistent lung infections and limits the ability to breathe over time. Due to the nature of the disease and the wide range of symptoms, treatment plans must be closely coordinated with a medical professional and tailored for individual needs.
"I hope that this effort will help raise awareness about this condition, which impacts thousands of individuals and their families," said Senator Moore. "It's important to understand the dangers of cystic fibrosis, and to promote better treatment options for our residents. I was proud to help usher this bill through to the Governor's desk, and was pleased to learn that the legislation was signed into law."
"As the world's leader in the search for a cure for cystic fibrosis, we're grateful for the designation of Cystic Fibrosis Awareness Month in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts," said Pamela Simms Spitzer, Executive Director of the Massachusetts and Rhode Island chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. "We are pleased to have champions like Senator Moore and Governor Baker spreading awareness about cystic fibrosis. Thanks to efforts like these in the Bay State and nationwide, every day brings us one step closer to finding a cure for everyone with CF."
The bill has been codified as Chapter 134 of the Acts of 2017. To learn more about Senator Moore's legislative efforts, please visit www.SenatorMikeMoore.com.
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Home Technology Buffalo LinkStation Pro Duo review
Buffalo LinkStation Pro Duo review
The LinkStation Pro Duo is the latest product in Buffalo's LinkStation network attached storage (NAS) family. Representing the highest performing generation of Buffalo's small-business NAS solutions, the LinkStation Pro Duo V-Series—like the LinkStation Pro and LinkStation Pro Quad—boasts speed improvements, data management, remote access and content sharing features that aim to elevate it above the raft of other NAS solutions on the market. How does it fare? Let's find out.
What is it and who is it for?
The LinkStation Pro Duo is an easy to use NAS for individuals and small business. Available with a capacity of 2TB or 4TB, the wholly-black device sports a compact footprint (86 x 127 x 204mm, 1.7kg) that takes up minimal space on a desk. Encased entirely in a plastic chassis, the LinkStation Pro Duo model we reviewed combined two 1TB Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm (3.5-inch, SATA) drives for a maximum capacity of 2TB (the 4TB model uses two 2TB drives). Connections on the back of the device are minimal and include 10/100/1000 Gigabit Ethernet and USB 2.0 support—there's no eSATA connection or a Mac-friendly FireWire 800 port.
Pricing & setup
The LinkStation Pro Duo 2TB costs a competitive £266, while the 4TB raises the cost to £312. This means the 2TB LinkStation Pro Duo reviewed here costs just 11p per gigabyte, making it one of the least expensive two-disk NAS devices on the market. The drive supports Windows 7 (32- and 64-bit), Windows Vista (32 and 64-bit), Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows XP Media Center Edition 2004/2005, Windows Server 2003/2008 (32 and 64-bit), and Mac OS X 10.3.9 or later. It actually comes NTFS formatted, so Mac users will have to reformat for Apple HFS+. Setup is relatively straightforward as the LinkStation Pro Duo is managed via a Web-based interface. The software isn't pretty, but it has plenty of features. The two drives are setup to use RAID 0 striping by default, but RAID 1 mirroring is also supported.
Does it do it well?
The LinkStation Pro Duo is a decent all-rounder. The drive is compact and easy to use, and the front panel is easily removed to expose the two hard drives. Gadget buffs will also appreciate its DLNA certificiation for streaming to any DLNA-compatible media device, including Sony's PlayStation 3 and Microsoft's Xbox 360. Plus, the LinkStation family supports Apple's Time Machine for easy backup and Apple's Bonjour, making it well suited for Mac environments.
For Windows environments, the LinkStation Pro Duo is equipped with NovaBACKUP Business Essentials for automatically backing up Windows Server files with SQL 2008 and Exchange 2007 support. Other cool features include device spanning, mapped drive recognition, virus scanning, data encryption and open file backup support.
The BitTorrent download manager is useful for downloading files without having to leave a computer on, and advanced users might even try using the LinkStation Pro Duo as a Web server. Support for MySQL databases means it's also possible to create e-commerce sites, though we're not sure anyone would realistically host their own sites. Files can also be accessed remotely via FTP or using a remote access Web interface. You can create folders, users and groups, set folder attributes, and set up a print server (that's what the USB port is for).
What's really interesting is its iTunes app, 'WebAccess i' (Android version coming soon). The app allows users to save and access digital photos, video and other data to any Buffalo Network Attached Storage (NAS) device remotely. So, anyone who uses an iPad, iPhone or iPod touch can now download the app for free and start to download and upload digital content, in real time, to and from the office or home-based NAS product from anywhere in the world.
The app is easy to configure and use and works seamlessly while moving from local to remote networking environments, including 3G. The app can even "share" any file on the NAS with others remotely by e-mailing them a link that they can click and then download the file from the NAS through a browser. For security reason, the link stops working after a certain number of days. Users can download multiple files in the background and multitasking also works for uploading and music playing. WebAccess i even lets you create new folders, copy, move, rename, and delete files on the LinkStation Pro Duo remotely.
Where does it disappoint?
While the front panel might be easy to remove, the drives are ludicrously difficult to extract thanks to the metal ring pull-style grips. And as neat as WebAccess i app is for reducing the consumption of valuable memory on an i-device, the app can't upload multiple photos or video files simultaneously and video file formats not native to Apple can't be played by this app (so no AVI or Xvid). Using the Web interface via an iPhone's Safari browser to access the files on the LinkStation Pro Duo is clunky and the app is not AirPlay capable, which is a real disappointment.
Would we recommend it?
Protecting and managing digital content is a time consuming task for home and small-business users. The LinkStation Pro Duo is an affordable NAS box with an array of highly useful features and performance to match. The drive's RAID redundancy for data protection and user "removable" hard drives makes servicing possible without the need for tools, and the ability to perform scheduled backups to an external USB hard drive or any other Buffalo NAS device adds an extra level of data protection or disaster recovery preparation. It's also easy to administer, though we wish the interface was more attractive and the hard drive tray more refined. Overall, it's a well-rounded, practical network storage system that can be used for backup, as a media server, or both. [7.5]


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