text:
AT HOME WITH DAVIDSON OWUMI
By Our Reporter On Mar 23, 2014
FINDING one word that suitably describes Davidson Owumi, former Nigerian international and incumbent MD/CEO of Warri Wolves FC, may not be so difficult: Classy, stylish, sophisticated , elegant – can all be used interchangeably.
"l love the good things of life," declared Davidson, as he ushered The Nation Sport & Style crew into his palatial home in Enugu.
After a tour of the 9-bedroom, three-storey 'wonderland', it is easy to conclude that the former chairman of Rangers International FC of Enugu is indeed a man of style and he's truly living his dream.
Located in the exclusive Government Reserves Area (GRA) in the heart of Enugu which houses the high and mighty in the state, Owumi and family quietly live like a king and his royal family.
The house's design, in itself, is a blend of the English and Arabian, while the internal and external decor comes from different parts of the globe.
In the garage, Owumi equally displays an exquisite taste for automobiles with outstanding brands like Nissan Xterra, Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Mercedes-Benz 190SL Coupe, Infiniti QX56, 406 Golf and Toyota Sienna SUV.
When Owumi eventually sat down with our correspondent, his passion for football and philosophy 'to always do it right' came to the fore. Owumi touched on the rot in Nigerian football, the League Management Company (LMC) and dug up the faces and forces behind his premature ouster as chairman of the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) in 2010. The interview is spicy, down-to-earth, revealing and it is Davidson Owumi at his vintage best. Excerpts…
The truth is that I cannot remember precisely the very first time I kicked a football, but as long as Davidson Owumi has been alive, I have always identified with football. I played for my primary school; The Roman Catholic Mission School in Warri where the likes of Sam Okpodu and the rest, I can't remember too well, now also started out. We played together then in Warri up to secondary school. We played for Uvwere College Koko and moved on to Urhobo College, Efuru, where we emerged state champions in the Principal's Cup for about two, three times and from there I went to Government College, Ughelli for my Higher School Certificate (HSC) and I played the HSC games and Governor's Cup and we won them on several occasions.
Meanwhile, I was also playing for club sides. They would come and pick me in school and l would play for them and they would bring me back to school. Some of them were NEPA Warri and NNPC Warri and from there I moved to Flash Flamingoes; then called Nigerian Rubber Board, which metamorphosed to Flash Flamingoes and later Bendel United. It was the same club that actually changed name and ownership. Then I moved on to the University of Port Harcourt, and switched on to play for Sharks of Port Harcourt. After my diploma course, l started my degree course, and then along the line, Flash Flamingoes came back for me and transferred my course to the University of Benin so l could play for them.
It was here that the national call up came, even while I was in Sharks, but it was extremely difficult to combine education with national camping. I'm talking about '81 to '82. It was easy at the club level because it was in the same vicinity but greatly difficult when you have to move to a distant national camp. I also had a stint in Kaduna with Ranchers Bees during my Youth Service year. After my education, I travelled out and had professional stints in Greece, Cyprus, Qatar and Spain. But I had to come back to Nigeria because of some contractual disagreement, which was well publicised then in the country and pitched my tent with Rangers.
In 1993, I emerged the highest goal scorer, though there was some controversy there, in the Nigerian League. I was recalled to the national team alongside some other home-based professionals under Clemens Westerhof.
That was it for me, and in the 1996/97 season I stopped playing and I was drafted into the technical crew of Rangers. I coached the club and the following season I became the Welfare Manager, the next season I became the Team Manager of the club and from there, the Chairman of the club. I later became the Special Assistant to Governor Chimaroke Nnamani on Rangers Matters and it was like that until I left for the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF), and by the special grace of God, won the election and became the chairman of the Nigeria Premier League in 2010 and by implication, the second vice-president of the NFF.
But true to type, some people did not like my style and they worked tooth and nail to ensure that that dream did not last. Till today, Nigerian football is still suffering from that seed that was planted. After that, I came back to my base and got myself busy with the little business that l was running and my environment and you could see the outcome of my time off. I made up my mind never to go near Nigerian football again because of the extreme politicking that is happening there. A lot of people were not comfortable with my style, and so I left to face my business. But when the Warri Wolves offer came up, it became necessary for me to take it because I had not done anything for my state for some time. For about 20 years now, I have not done anything concerning football for my state, so l decided to take it on. So, I accepted the job to restructure the place in line with global content. I do expect new challenges in new environment, but by the special grace of God I think these things would be taken care of.
Transition from player to administrator
One, l read political science and public administration, and that is germane. When l was playing, l knew l had some content in me and even as a player l would tell my colleagues that l would give them something for scoring. l was giving them bonuses as a player. I was dashing jerseys and clothes out to motivate and that was when l realised it was inbuilt. I had it in me. People noticed it and when the transition came, it was easy and natural. I quickly adjusted from player to administrator and in all modesty, a lot of people still talk and see the legacy we left in Rangers in terms of structure, in terms of taking Rangers to a level every one can identify with it again and in terms of players' welfare.
Education and football
By way of introduction, I am the first son in a family of 21 and out of the 14 sons I was the first. My father was a strong disciplinarian and the only condition he gave to me to allow me play football was to go to school. So, if I needed to carry out my dream and joy of playing soccer, l had to read and earn my degree. So I wasn't looking at my colleagues as my role models but at myself as an educated person for me to be allowed to play this beautiful game.
I have a wonderful family. Apart from my big, extended family; my mum is still alive but my dad is dead. I have a sweet family, as you can see. I have a home, a sweet home; a peaceful one for that matter. My wife, Vivian Owumi, and two wonderful children, Tosan and Temisan Owumi. Temisan is 11 years old and Tosan is 10. So, that is what God has blessed us with.
I did not meet my wife on the playing field. Our meeting was purely coincidental. I was doing my youth service in Kaduna and coincidentally she came to Kaduna from Lagos to help her sister nurse a new baby and we met and that was it. Since that meeting in 1990, we have been together.
She loves football and feels the kind of passion that men don't even feel for football. Her favourite club is Man United because that is the club l support too.
Passion and style
After family, after football, the next passion I have is for good things of life. I have passion for good clothes, good shoes, good cars, and good wristwatches. Those are the kind of things that make me happy. Outside family, the next thing that makes me crazy are good dresses and cars. Basically, I mean the good things of life. They make me happy.
Hidden cameras found in changing room of women's handball…
Wonders on wheels
You can see in the car port, we have six cars there ranging from Nissan Xterra, Mercedes-Benz R-Class, Mercedes-Benz 190SL Coupe, Infiniti QX56, 406 Golf and Toyota Sienna SUV. These are the cars that God has gifted us and we are onto him to increase the fleet. I have always been a Benz man; since 1992 as a player, I was driving Mercedes 230, later in 1995 I bought Mercedes 300 and it's been like that. All the classes of Mercedes I have driven at one time or the other. Mercedes has always been my machine. So when I saw the R-Class I simply went for it and I hope to go for more of it if God spares my life. Mercedes is a rugged car and I must say it doesn't disappoint. It is also meant for people of class.
Dress sense
I wear anything that is good for fashion, ranging from knickers, good suits and good blazers. I don't go with what is in vogue. I simply go for things that make me feel good; that I feel good in. It could be T-shirt, shirt, French suit and what have you. I go for things that fit my style.
Love for shoes
I can't do without shoes. If you see where l keep my shoes you will know what l am talking about. I simply love shoes and cannot take my eyes off good shoes. I have so many that I have not even worn. Every year I look into my shoe racks and dash out some and they are not even all here. I keep some locked away. These are the things that keep me going. I can spend anything on having a good pair of shoes. There is one, with pure crocodile skin that l bought for $1000 dollars. Once I can afford it I can spend anything on good shoes. This morning my son told a friend of mine that 120 men cannot finish my daddy's shoes in five years'. There is no good shoe that l see, no matter how expensive it is l will buy it. And there are about 70 pairs of those shoes l have not touched with my leg, not once. I just buy them and keep them. After some time, if l see somebody does anything good I dash it out. That is my passion for shoes.
Peace house
I have travelled all over the world and as a man of taste and style I picked from every place l go to. The whole building is compacted because of the ideas on my head. There are about nine bedrooms in this building and it is just my style. Look at my seat-out for instance, it is Arabian; it is like a half moon. The building is like a blend of the English and the Arabian. From outside you would think it is a bungalow and when you step into the gate you think it is a duplex but when you go behind you would see that it is actually a three-storey building because I had to sink a basement to contain my gymnasium. It gulped a lot of money but I got what l wanted.
My philosophy is 'doing it right'. Whatever endeavour in life that l get into, l just want to do it right. I am not from this part of the country. I am not of Igbo origin but l came into this area, l did my best and today l am more comfortable in this part of the country. If l was doing it wrongly I would not be here today. The unity, the respect, and the cooperation that people have given me here; it is rare to see that kind of thing. I am in the NPL, l did it same way, rightly and I am going to Warri Wolves to do it right too. If you want to fight a certain system it would fight back, but l am afraid if the system would not allow me do it rightly then l pack my load.
Relationship with Dr Chimaroke Nnamani
I must say a big thank you to the big-hearted, the then Governor of Enugu State, Dr Chimaroke Nnamani. He is a totally detribalised Nigerian. He did so much for me, a common stranger in this place. He elevated me and for anything l have achieved in this state, it is through him and the then Enugu State Sports Commissioner, Afam Nnaji. He was instrumental to discovering my potential and recommending me to the governor. He empowered me and for eternity l would be grateful to him. The subsequent governor on coming in also made me a director in Rangers, so it is not really in having a personal relationship with them but in doing it right for me.
League Management Company
I would say that they have great ideas but the difference between my board in 2010 and the LMC is that my board was an elective board. The board elected me as the chairman of the league and I got my powers from the congress, which is statutorily based. If you look at the ladder of football, you will see FIFA on top, followed by CAF, then NFF and then the League board. They are all in the statutes. So, I drew my power from the congress of the Premier League. So when we take decisions and once it is rectified by the NFF it becomes a binding force that nobody can contest. Not even in the law court. And that was the major difference.
But the LMC is a child of circumstance. You cannot compare the degree of legitimacy, the degree of mandate given to both parties. I could tell the clubs do this and it is binding on them because it is taken in a congress and since Nembe is part of that decision and it is rectified by NFF, it is binding on Nembe too and they cannot question it.
Granted they have good packages, great ideas but there are wrong ways of doing the right thing. If you do the right thing in a wrong way, it gives you the same negative result and that is the difference between league board and the LMC. The process of approach is different.
If l can take you back after our congress in Ijebu-Ode, a resolution was taken that all clubs must play their matches in television-friendly stadia; that all clubs must submit a letter of commitment from their respective sponsors. When they talk about licensing, it is not a new thing. In 2010, we were already building on licensing but we did not celebrate it this way. You know, seven new pitches were established within three months. Gombe, Akure were taken out and they had to play outside their homes. So they had to rush to put their respective home stadia in order. That was part of licensing.
Two, that we say every club must give us their guarantee that they can finance the club for that season, so, if they bring it, we register them and on the basis of that if you are found wanting in terms of contractual agreement with your players of officials, you automatically lose your slot but based on what you agree. So, it became a statutory thing because the NFF has given it full powers.
Even the issue of getting the public enterprise to cut down on the government interest was ongoing. And the way we tackled it was simple. We said before you register, give us evidence of a least 200 to 300 card carrying members of the club who are financially committed. By so doing, if you have 300 people that are paying N5000 to the clubs this season, the next season you take it to 600 paying fans. So without fighting over it, you have a strong fan base because people tend to put their heart where their money is. So the money they are putting in represents about 20 percent of what the club needs. So that is 20 percent off government funding. So the process of making them a limited liability company has commenced. It was a logical sequence of making sure that clubs move away from the 100 percent grip of government.
But today LMC has its own ideas, so l cannot say mine is superior but we leave it for posterity to judge.
Also money coming into the league is a major issue. When I came on board, Chief Obaseki was in court with another of our partners then that was handling the title sponsorship, and as soon as l came in l sent emissary to them for us to settle out of court for the sake of peace. One way or the other there was a disagreement and so l opened up the system and asked bidders to come. We set up a bidding committee and one company came with N3billion while the other came with N1.8billion. That was in 2010. Today the system has lost over N2billion not activation. The contract l signed, activation was going for about N5billion, but what happened thereafter, l ended up in EFCC about three times; people were paid to tell all sort of lies against me, but today, Nigerian football, with all the hypes, has gone back to N1.6billion and nobody is talking. We are busy celebrating mediocrity. If in 2010 an elected board could garner N3 billion from one sponsorship, then what are we talking about? I don't want to cast aspersion on LMC but l must state the fact as it is. If the essence of managing the league is to bring in more money, then l would say my board did well. Let's leave the rest to posterity.
Warri Wolves
Good! First of all, l want to thank His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Emmanuel Uduagha, who deemed it fit to approve the recommendation of the chairman of the Sports Council. The idea is to try and see a restructuring of Warri Wolves, not just as a government outfit….they brought in experts from different fields: Emmanuel Ibru, Kenneth Uwaomucha, Godwin Abigor, Ogheneochuko Ambakederemo, Lawrence Omohwo and the legal luminary, Stephen Agbeyegbe, as legal adviser. And these are guys that have strived in their respective areas in life and we are expected to bring our areas of work to breathe life into Warri Wolves.
The mandate given to us is to; first of all, bring Warri Wolves back to the people so that you have a fan base so that every Delta people must be able to identify with the club as their own. And in so doing, there must be the Private Public Participation initiative so that we can start attracting sponsors in different areas and get money to run the club instead of waiting for government at all times. Different partners in different areas, like we have the jersey sponsorship already intact, we need a beverage partner, oil partners, and motor partners. So in the name of Warri Wolves government enter into marriage with many corporate bodies. So the club is taken from just the level of government financing to the where everybody on the streets can identify with the club. That is our dream and focus. The team has done so well in time past and all we are trying to see how we can add some value to what is on ground. And I like to add that Owumi is not a magician; I have to work given the environment l find myself and l pray to God that I will have a free hand to do all l dream of, but if l do not find the kind of environment that l need to succeed, I will take a walk.
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Q: Correct flow of a VSS backup - VSS_E_BAD_STATE error I'm having issues getting a backup job working in VSS and C++. It is now at the point of working and backing up files but it fails when I call BackupComplete() with the result VSS_E_BAD_STATE so I would like some input from anyone familiar with VSS on whether my flow is correct. I'm currently doing the following:
if( !CHECK_HRESULT(::CreateVssBackupComponents(&m_pBackupComponents))  )
{
    throw;
}

if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = m_pBackupComponents->InitializeForBackup())) )
{
    throw;
}

WCHAR wszVolumePathName[MAX_PATH];
GUID snapshotId;
BOOL supported = TRUE;
HRESULT hr;
SnapshotMap::iterator it;
BOOL bWorked = ::GetVolumePathName(path.c_str(), wszVolumePathName, MAX_PATH);

if( !bWorked )
{
    throw;
}

if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = m_pBackupComponents->IsVolumeSupported(GUID_NULL, wszVolumePathName, &supported))) || !supported )
{
    throw;
}

GUID snapshotSetId;
if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = m_pBackupComponents->StartSnapshotSet(&snapshotSetId))) )
{
    throw;
}

m_SnapshotIdList.push_back(snapshotId);

if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = m_pBackupComponents->AddToSnapshotSet(wszVolumePathName, GUID_NULL, &snapshotId))) )
{
    throw;
}

if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = m_pBackupComponents->SetBackupState(FALSE, FALSE, VSS_BT_COPY, FALSE))) )
{
    throw;
}

CComPtr<IVssAsync> pPrepareForBackupResults;
if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = m_pBackupComponents->PrepareForBackup(&pPrepareForBackupResults))) )
{
    throw;
}

if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = pPrepareForBackupResults->Wait())) )
{
    pPrepareForBackupResults.Release();
    throw;
}

HRESULT hrPrepareForBackupResults;
if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = pPrepareForBackupResults->QueryStatus(&hrPrepareForBackupResults, NULL))) )
{
    pPrepareForBackupResults.Release();
    throw;
}

pPrepareForBackupResults.Release();
if( hrPrepareForBackupResults != VSS_S_ASYNC_FINISHED )
{
    throw;
}

CComPtr<IVssAsync> pDoSnapshotSetResults;
if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = m_pBackupComponents->DoSnapshotSet(&pDoSnapshotSetResults))) )
{
    throw;
}

m_VssSyncList.push_back(pDoSnapshotSetResults);

VSS_SNAPSHOT_PROP snapshotProperties;
if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = m_pBackupComponents->GetSnapshotProperties(snapshotId, &snapshotProperties))) )
{
    throw;
}

TSTRING newPath(snapshotProperties.m_pwszSnapshotDeviceObject);
m_SnapshotMap.insert(SnapshotMap_Entry(TSTRING(wszVolumePathName), newPath));
newPath.append(path.substr(2));

<Backup files here>

::VssFreeSnapshotProperties(&snapshotProperties);

for( SnapshotIdList::iterator it = m_SnapshotIdList.begin(); it != m_SnapshotIdList.end(); it++ )
{
    LONG cDeletedSnapshots;
    GUID nonDeletedSnapshotId;
    m_pBackupComponents->DeleteSnapshots(*it, VSS_OBJECT_SNAPSHOT_SET, TRUE, &cDeletedSnapshots, &nonDeletedSnapshotId);
}

m_SnapshotIdList.clear();

for( VssSyncList::iterator it = m_VssSyncList.begin(); it != m_VssSyncList.end(); it++ )
{
    (*it).Release();
}

m_VssSyncList.clear();

CComPtr<IVssAsync> pBackupCompleteResults;
if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = m_pBackupComponents->BackupComplete(&pBackupCompleteResults))) )
{
    throw;
}
else
{
    if( !CHECK_HRESULT((hr = pBackupCompleteResults->Wait())) )
    {
        throw;
    }

    HRESULT hrBackupCompleteResults;
    if( CHECK_HRESULT(pBackupCompleteResults->QueryStatus(&hrBackupCompleteResults, NULL)) )
    {
        if( hrBackupCompleteResults != VSS_S_ASYNC_FINISHED )
        {
            throw;
        }
    }

    pBackupCompleteResults.Release();
}

m_SnapshotMap.clear();

It seems that something I'm calling is in the wrong order but looking at the documentation and various sources I cannot figure out what is in the wrong order.
Is there anything blindingly obvious that I've missed?

A: Are you calling SetBackupSucceeded after each component has been processed and prior to calling BackupComplete??

A: I have been caught with this errors when I was learning VSS, mostly the error was due calling the VSS sequence with CoInitialize(). Please check whether you have CoInitialize and CoUninitialize before and after the VSS sequence.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Electric field inside a diode When a voltage is applied to a diode (forward or reversed bias) the depletion zone is changed due to charges change in this region. My question is in both case (forward or reversed bias), how the electric field that is responsible of moving the charges in the P and N region is established ? Is it the same mechanism of electric field establishment inside a conductor i.e surface charges density making the electric field?

A: I don't think any of the current answers address your question as I understand it.
My understanding is that your question is effectively: What spatial distribution of charge gives rise to the electric field in a diode?
In the case of a uniform dielectric, the internal field is created by surface charges on the two surfaces,  such are usually very small in width. In a pn junction this is not the case.
https://ecee.colorado.edu/~bart/book/book/chapter4/gif/fig4_3_1.gif
 Figure a of the above image shows the charge density profile of a pn junction.  Notice that you have both nonzero charge density in a sizeable area,  the depletion region. In the case of two dielectrics, instead of a pn junction,  you would get charge accumulating only along the surface of the interface. This non uniform charge density also means that the electric field is not simply a constant in the material, but rather varies along the depletion region, something that ia very different than for a simple resistor.
This charge density comes the bare donors/acceptors that cannot move,  and are neutralized at the ends of the depletion region by the electrons and holes which accumulate in very small regions due to being free to move.

A: You are talking about a p-n junction which forms a diode. Now a diode junction is very small compared to the rest of semiconductor. The diode junction can in a first approximation be taken as an insulator since it does not have any mobile charges compared to the rest of the region. When a voltage is applied at the ends the region outside the junction can be viewed as a conductor and hence in a fist approximation has no potential drop or electric field. Therefore all the applied voltage shifts to the p-n junction and an electric field is added or subtracted from original electric field arising from the built-in voltage. In case of forward voltage the electric field due to the applied voltages oppose that due to the built in voltage and opposite is for reverse voltage. Remember the built-in voltage is always from n side to p side.

A: The electric field inside the diode will be opposite to that of the electric field of the source. Thus will cause a barrier potential of 0.3 or 0.7 volts opposite to the source when its forward biased. That is why the the diode start conducting when forward biased when source is at more than 0.3 or 0.7 volts. Less than 0.3 or 0.7 volts it will conduct very low current or no current. When reversed biased diode will again built polarity opposite to the source which would be equal to the potential difference of the battery. Thus there is no conduction in reverse biased diode.

A: The inner workings of a diode is a very complex topic, so I will start with some basic diode theory.
The current in a diode consists of two parts, diffusion current and drift current.
The diffusion current is due to differing electron or hole concentrations at a location in the diode. If electrons are concentrated at one location they will diffuse into the neighbouring area similar to how a drop of inc diffuses in a glass of water.
Then we have the drift current which is due to the electric field which exists the depletion region (I will come to the origin of this field later). If an electron diffuses into the depletion region it is swept by the field to the positive side. This is the drift current. Of course, it applies to both types of charge carriers, that is, both to electrons and holes. Electron-hole pairs formed in the depletion region (for example by thermal excitation or light absorption) will also be swept out of it and contribute to the drift current.
Let's consider a p-n junction. At the junction interface, we have   excess holes (holes in the conduction band) in the p-region, say to the left; and negatively charged electrons (electrons in the valence band) in the n-region, to the right. Consider the hypothetical situation when we suddenly bring a p-semiconductor together with an n-semiconductor. What will happen? Excess holes will now diffuse to the right because the hole concentration to the right is lower in the n-region than in the p-region. Similarly, excess electrons will diffuse to the left because of the lower electron concentration in the n-region. These holes and electrons occasionally collide and recombine which means that an electron "fall" into a hole and those charge carriers are "lost" because they are no longer in the conduction and valance bands respectively. At this point, they become immobile because charge can only be transported in the conduction band for holes and in the valence band for electrons. However, they have diffused from their original positions which were initially uncharged (they are built from atoms, which are neutral after all), but because they have left, the holes leave behind a negative charge while the electrons leave behind a positive charge and so the p-side becomes negatively charged and the n-side becomes positively charged. It is this charge that gives rise to the electric field inside the depletion region.
At equilibrium (0 V over the diode) the two currents, diffusion and drift, must cancel as no net current can pass through the diode. (If there would indeed be current at 0 V, we would be able to create energy from nothing from that diode, violating conservation of energy.) The question may now arise as to what happens when we short a p-n junction. We indeed have a field over the depletion region so we we might expect current to flow. However, what actually happens is that so called contact potentials arise at the semiconductor-metal interface cancelling the potential of the field in the depletion region precisely, so in the end, we do not get any current flow. (I'm not going to go into the details of exactly why these potentials arise.)
When we have zero bias, due to the electric field in the depletion region, charge carriers have a hard time passing through it, and only diffusing carriers that happen to have enough kinetic energy will go through (around 0.7 eV for silicon diodes), and hence there will be very little diffusion current.
Looking at an equation called the Shockley diode equation: (which is an approximation)
$I = I_S(e^{V/nV_t} - 1)$
The left term within the parentheses is due to diffusion current, while the right term is due to drift current. (Note that at 0 V, they cancel precisely.) Here, $I_S$ is called the scale current and is proportional to the junction interface area, which is constant for a given diode; $n$ is the grading coefficient, which is also constant and depends on the doping profile of the junction; and $V_t$ is the thermal voltage, which is constant for constant temperature. $I$ and $V$ are current through and voltage of the diode, respectively.
We see that increasing the voltage increases the diffusion current, but leave the drift current constant. This is somewhat unintuitive because normally drift current is proportional to voltage as in Ohm's law. However, because there are so few charge carriers in the depletion region, Ohm's law does not apply there and virtually every charge carrier ending up there is very quickly swept into one side of the junction by the field. The drift current is due to minority carriers (for example, electrons in the p-region) diffusing into the depletion region or electron-hole pairs forming in the depletion region. Because the amount of minority carriers in each side and electron-hole pair formation are quite independent of applied voltage, so is drift current.
So what happens when we forward bias the diode then? We are essentially counteracting the electric potential barrier created by the field in the depletion region, lowering the barrier and in turn lowering the required energy that a charge carrier needs to pass the barrier. Hence, current can pass in the forward direction in the diode. Because we have a lower effective field over the depletion region, less charge must be displaced and thus the depletion region must be smaller than for the equilibrium case.
When a diode is reverse-biased, the opposite happens; The electric potential barrier is essentially increased and even less diffusion current will go through. The drift current will remain constant, though, so we will see a small current (called leakage current) going in the reverse direction of the diode. For reverse bias, more charge is displaced and the depletion region is larger compared to the equilibrium case. For forward bias, drift current is usually considered negligible.
Even though this answer is lengthy, it is a major simplification of of the inner workign of a diode and many explanations have been left out on why certain things happens as they do. To get a better understanding of p-n junctions (and semiconductors in general) I can recommend the book "Solid State Electronic Devices" by Streetman and Banerjee.

A: In a diode, two processes are at play, first one is the "diffusion" and the second one is the "drift" , now even at room temperature electrons on the n-side try to go the p-side so as to stabilize themselves or to reduce their potential energy to a minimum, but when they do that they get stuck in the holes on the p-side, now those electrons were first in the conduction band that's why they were able to go haywire but now when they enter that hole ( a hole is essentially a vacancy in the valence band ) , they release their extra potential energy, and gets stabilized by entering in the valence band, now they are stuck and can't move due to the normal thermal energy that we get at the room temperature, due to this a "depletion region" is formed, we call it depletion because electrons are not able to go crazy in that region, same happens on the n- side, as electrons initially move from n-side to p-side, this exposes the +ve charge of the dopant atom and we call it a "hole" ( I don't like holes though ). Now this depletion layer has a voltage associated to it that tries to prevent more diffusion and tries to revert it back, so for example diffusion tries to kick electrons from n-side to p-side whereas drift tends to take them back to their initial configurations, when these two processes are balanced, we get stable equilibrium.
Now to distort that equilibrium, we can do two things.

*

*Forward Bias : We know that "diffusion" and "drift" are fighting with each other, but under normal conditions no one wins, but what if we make one of them win! Aha! Thats what we do when we bias a diode. In forward bias we attach +ve pole of battery on the p side and -ve pole of battery on the  n-side, as we do that -ve side of battery pushes electrons in the n-side and slides them towards the p-side, due to this that depletion layer starts vanishing, and now is the fun part when it vanishes electrons are no longer prevented to diffuse over to the p-side  and diffusion current increases heavily.electrons were trying to go all the way to p side ever since we made a pn junction but they were not able to do so due to that depletion layer, what we did in forward bias is reduced that depletion layer and then diffusion did its work.

*Reverse Bias : exactly opposite happens, in this case depletion layer increases and diffusion almost stops  but drift continues its work in the opposite direction, that's why we get a small current in the opposite direction.


text:
<?php
/**
 * Author: Todd Motto | @toddmotto
 * URL: html5blank.com | @html5blank
 * Custom functions, support, custom post types and more.
 */

require_once "modules/is-debug.php";

/*------------------------------------*\
    External Modules/Files
\*------------------------------------*/

// Load any external files you have here

/*------------------------------------*\
    Theme Support
\*------------------------------------*/

if (!isset($content_width))
{
    $content_width = 900;
}

if (function_exists('add_theme_support'))
{

    // Add Thumbnail Theme Support
    add_theme_support('post-thumbnails');
    add_image_size('large', 700, '', true); // Large Thumbnail
    add_image_size('medium', 250, '', true); // Medium Thumbnail
    add_image_size('small', 120, '', true); // Small Thumbnail
    add_image_size('custom-size', 700, 200, true); // Custom Thumbnail Size call using the_post_thumbnail('custom-size');

    // Add Support for Custom Backgrounds - Uncomment below if you're going to use
    /*add_theme_support('custom-background', array(
    'default-color' => 'FFF',
    'default-image' => get_template_directory_uri() . '/img/bg.jpg'
    ));*/

    // Add Support for Custom Header - Uncomment below if you're going to use
    /*add_theme_support('custom-header', array(
    'default-image'          => get_template_directory_uri() . '/img/headers/default.jpg',
    'header-text'            => false,
    'default-text-color'     => '000',
    'width'                  => 1000,
    'height'                 => 198,
    'random-default'         => false,
    'wp-head-callback'       => $wphead_cb,
    'admin-head-callback'    => $adminhead_cb,
    'admin-preview-callback' => $adminpreview_cb
    ));*/

    // Enables post and comment RSS feed links to head
    add_theme_support('automatic-feed-links');

    // Localisation Support
    load_theme_textdomain('html5blank', get_template_directory() . '/languages');
}

/*------------------------------------*\
    Functions
\*------------------------------------*/

// HTML5 Blank navigation
function html5blank_nav()
{
    wp_nav_menu(
    array(
        'theme_location'  => 'header-menu',
        'menu'            => '',
        'container'       => 'div',
        'container_class' => 'menu-{menu slug}-container',
        'container_id'    => '',
        'menu_class'      => 'menu',
        'menu_id'         => '',
        'echo'            => true,
        'fallback_cb'     => 'wp_page_menu',
        'before'          => '',
        'after'           => '',
        'link_before'     => '',
        'link_after'      => '',
        'items_wrap'      => '
%3$s
',
        'depth'           => 0,
        'walker'          => ''
        )
    );
}

// Load HTML5 Blank scripts (header.php)
function html5blank_header_scripts()
{
    if ($GLOBALS['pagenow'] != 'wp-login.php' && !is_admin()) {
        if (HTML5_DEBUG) {
            // jQuery
            wp_deregister_script('jquery');
            wp_register_script('jquery', get_template_directory_uri() . '/bower_components/jquery/dist/jquery.js', array(), '1.11.1');

            // Conditionizr
            wp_register_script('conditionizr', get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/lib/conditionizr-4.3.0.min.js', array(), '4.3.0');

            // Modernizr
            wp_register_script('modernizr', get_template_directory_uri() . '/bower_components/modernizr/modernizr.js', array(), '2.8.3');

             // Waypoints
            wp_register_script('waypoints', get_template_directory_uri() . '/bower_components/waypoints/lib/jquery.waypoints.min.js', array(), '2.8.3');

            // ScrollTo
            wp_register_script('scrollto', get_template_directory_uri() . '/bower_components/jquery.scrollTo/jquery.scrollTo.min.js', array(), '2.8.3');

            // fancyBox
            wp_register_script('fancyBox', get_template_directory_uri() . '/bower_components/fancybox/source/jquery.fancybox.js', array(), '2.8.3');

            // throttle/debounce
            wp_register_script('throttle', get_template_directory_uri() . '/bower_components/throttle-debounce/dist/throttle-debounce.min.js', array(), '2.8.3');

            // Custom scripts
            wp_register_script(
                'html5blankscripts',
                get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/scripts.js',
                array(
                    'conditionizr',
                    'modernizr',
                    'jquery',
                    'scrollto',
                    'waypoints',
                    'fancyBox',
                    'throttle'),
                '1.0.0');

            // Enqueue Scripts
            wp_enqueue_script('html5blankscripts');

        // If production
        } else {
            // Scripts minify
            wp_register_script('html5blankscripts-min', get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/scripts.min.js', array(), '1.0.0');
            // Enqueue Scripts
            wp_enqueue_script('html5blankscripts-min');
        }
    }
}

// Load HTML5 Blank conditional scripts
function html5blank_conditional_scripts()
{
    if (is_page('pagenamehere')) {
        // Conditional script(s)
        wp_register_script('scriptname', get_template_directory_uri() . '/js/scriptname.js', array('jquery'), '1.0.0');
        wp_enqueue_script('scriptname');
    }
}

// Load HTML5 Blank styles
function html5blank_styles()
{
    if (HTML5_DEBUG) {
        // normalize-css
        wp_register_style('normalize', get_template_directory_uri() . '/bower_components/normalize.css/normalize.css', array(), '3.0.1');

        // fancybox
        wp_register_style('fancycss', get_template_directory_uri() . '/bower_components/fancybox/source/jquery.fancybox.css', array(), '3.0.1');

        // Custom CSS
        wp_register_style('html5blank', get_template_directory_uri() . '/style.css', array('normalize', 'fancycss'), '1.0');

        // Register CSS
        wp_enqueue_style('html5blank');
    } else {
        // Custom CSS
        wp_register_style('html5blankcssmin', get_template_directory_uri() . '/style.css', array(), '1.0');
        // Register CSS
        wp_enqueue_style('html5blankcssmin');
    }
}

// Register HTML5 Blank Navigation
function register_html5_menu()
{
    register_nav_menus(array( // Using array to specify more menus if needed
        'header-menu' => __('Header Menu', 'html5blank'), // Main Navigation
        'sidebar-menu' => __('Sidebar Menu', 'html5blank'), // Sidebar Navigation
        'extra-menu' => __('Extra Menu', 'html5blank') // Extra Navigation if needed (duplicate as many as you need!)
    ));
}

// Remove the
 surrounding the dynamic navigation to cleanup markup
function my_wp_nav_menu_args($args = '')
{
    $args['container'] = false;
    return $args;
}

// Remove Injected classes, ID's and Page ID's from Navigation
 items
function my_css_attributes_filter($var)
{
    return is_array($var) ? array() : '';
}

// Remove invalid rel attribute values in the categorylist
function remove_category_rel_from_category_list($thelist)
{
    return str_replace('rel="category tag"', 'rel="tag"', $thelist);
}

// Add page slug to body class, love this - Credit: Starkers Wordpress Theme
function add_slug_to_body_class($classes)
{
    global $post;
    if (is_home()) {
        $key = array_search('blog', $classes);
        if ($key > -1) {
            unset($classes[$key]);
        }
    } elseif (is_page()) {
        $classes[] = sanitize_html_class($post->post_name);
    } elseif (is_singular()) {
        $classes[] = sanitize_html_class($post->post_name);
    }

    return $classes;
}

// Remove the width and height attributes from inserted images
function remove_width_attribute( $html ) {
   $html = preg_replace( '/(width|height)="\d*"\s/', "", $html );
   return $html;
}

// If Dynamic Sidebar Exists
if (function_exists('register_sidebar'))
{
    // Define Sidebar Widget Area 1
    register_sidebar(array(
        'name' => __('Widget Area 1', 'html5blank'),
        'description' => __('Description for this widget-area...', 'html5blank'),
        'id' => 'widget-area-1',
        'before_widget' => '
',
        'after_widget' => '
',
        'before_title' => '
',
        'after_title' => '
'
    ));

    // Define Sidebar Widget Area 2
    register_sidebar(array(
        'name' => __('Widget Area 2', 'html5blank'),
        'description' => __('Description for this widget-area...', 'html5blank'),
        'id' => 'widget-area-2',
        'before_widget' => '
',
        'after_widget' => '
',
        'before_title' => '
',
        'after_title' => '
'
    ));
}

// Remove wp_head() injected Recent Comment styles
function my_remove_recent_comments_style()
{
    global $wp_widget_factory;
    remove_action('wp_head', array(
        $wp_widget_factory->widgets['WP_Widget_Recent_Comments'],
        'recent_comments_style'
    ));
}

// Pagination for paged posts, Page 1, Page 2, Page 3, with Next and Previous Links, No plugin
function html5wp_pagination()
{
    global $wp_query;
    $big = 999999999;
    echo paginate_links(array(
        'base' => str_replace($big, '%#%', get_pagenum_link($big)),
        'format' => '?paged=%#%',
        'current' => max(1, get_query_var('paged')),
        'total' => $wp_query->max_num_pages
    ));
}

// Custom Excerpts
function html5wp_index($length) // Create 20 Word Callback for Index page Excerpts, call using html5wp_excerpt('html5wp_index');
{
    return 20;
}

// Create 40 Word Callback for Custom Post Excerpts, call using html5wp_excerpt('html5wp_custom_post');
function html5wp_custom_post($length)
{
    return 20;
}

// Create the Custom Excerpts callback
function html5wp_excerpt($length_callback = '', $more_callback = '')
{
    global $post;
    if (function_exists($length_callback)) {
        add_filter('excerpt_length', $length_callback);
    }
    if (function_exists($more_callback)) {
        add_filter('excerpt_more', $more_callback);
    }
    $output = get_the_excerpt();
    $output = apply_filters('wptexturize', $output);
    $output = apply_filters('convert_chars', $output);
    $output = '
' . $output . '
';
    echo $output;
}

// Custom View Article link to Post
function html5_blank_view_article($more)
{
    global $post;
    return '... ID) . '">' . __('View Article', 'html5blank') . '';
}

// Remove Admin bar
function remove_admin_bar()
{
    return false;
}

// Remove 'text/css' from our enqueued stylesheet
function html5_style_remove($tag)
{
    return preg_replace('~\s+type=["\'][^"\']++["\']~', '', $tag);
}

// Remove thumbnail width and height dimensions that prevent fluid images in the_thumbnail
function remove_thumbnail_dimensions( $html )
{
    $html = preg_replace('/(width|height)=\"\d*\"\s/', "", $html);
    return $html;
}

// Custom Gravatar in Settings > Discussion
function html5blankgravatar ($avatar_defaults)
{
    $myavatar = get_template_directory_uri() . '/img/gravatar.jpg';
    $avatar_defaults[$myavatar] = "Custom Gravatar";
    return $avatar_defaults;
}

// Threaded Comments
function enable_threaded_comments()
{
    if (!is_admin()) {
        if (is_singular() AND comments_open() AND (get_option('thread_comments') == 1)) {
            wp_enqueue_script('comment-reply');
        }
    }
}

// Custom Comments Callback
function html5blankcomments($comment, $args, $depth)
{
    $GLOBALS['comment'] = $comment;
    extract($args, EXTR_SKIP);

    if ( 'div' == $args['style'] ) {
        $tag = 'div';
        $add_below = 'comment';
    } else {
        $tag = 'li';
        $add_below = 'div-comment';
    }
?>

    <<?php echo $tag ?> <?php comment_class(empty( $args['has_children'] ) ? '' : 'parent') ?> id="comment-<?php comment_ID() ?>">
    <?php if ( 'div' != $args['style'] ) : ?>
    <div id="div-comment-<?php comment_ID() ?>" class="comment-body">
    <?php endif; ?>

    <?php if ($args['avatar_size'] != 0) echo get_avatar( $comment, $args['avatar_size'] ); ?>
    <?php printf(__('%s says:'), get_comment_author_link()) ?>

<?php if ($comment->comment_approved == '0') : ?>
    <?php _e('Your comment is awaiting moderation.') ?>

<?php endif; ?>

<a href="<?php echo htmlspecialchars( get_comment_link( $comment->comment_ID ) ) ?>">
        <?php
            printf( __('%1$s at %2$s'), get_comment_date(),  get_comment_time()) ?><?php edit_comment_link(__('(Edit)'),'  ','' );
        ?>

    <?php comment_text() ?>

    <?php comment_reply_link(array_merge( $args, array('add_below' => $add_below, 'depth' => $depth, 'max_depth' => $args['max_depth']))) ?>

    <?php if ( 'div' != $args['style'] ) : ?>

    <?php endif; ?>
<?php }

/*------------------------------------*\
    Actions + Filters + ShortCodes
\*------------------------------------*/

// Add Actions
add_action('init', 'html5blank_header_scripts'); // Add Custom Scripts to wp_head
add_action('wp_print_scripts', 'html5blank_conditional_scripts'); // Add Conditional Page Scripts
add_action('get_header', 'enable_threaded_comments'); // Enable Threaded Comments
add_action('wp_enqueue_scripts', 'html5blank_styles'); // Add Theme Stylesheet
add_action('init', 'register_html5_menu'); // Add HTML5 Blank Menu
add_action('widgets_init', 'my_remove_recent_comments_style'); // Remove inline Recent Comment Styles from wp_head()
add_action('init', 'html5wp_pagination'); // Add our HTML5 Pagination

// Remove Actions
remove_action('wp_head', 'feed_links_extra', 3); // Display the links to the extra feeds such as category feeds
remove_action('wp_head', 'feed_links', 2); // Display the links to the general feeds: Post and Comment Feed
remove_action('wp_head', 'rsd_link'); // Display the link to the Really Simple Discovery service endpoint, EditURI link
remove_action('wp_head', 'wlwmanifest_link'); // Display the link to the Windows Live Writer manifest file.
remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_generator'); // Display the XHTML generator that is generated on the wp_head hook, WP version
remove_action('wp_head', 'rel_canonical');
remove_action('wp_head', 'wp_shortlink_wp_head', 10, 0);

// Add Filters
add_filter('avatar_defaults', 'html5blankgravatar'); // Custom Gravatar in Settings > Discussion
add_filter('body_class', 'add_slug_to_body_class'); // Add slug to body class (Starkers build)
add_filter('widget_text', 'do_shortcode'); // Allow shortcodes in Dynamic Sidebar
add_filter('widget_text', 'shortcode_unautop'); // Remove
 tags in Dynamic Sidebars (better!)
add_filter('wp_nav_menu_args', 'my_wp_nav_menu_args'); // Remove surrounding
 from WP Navigation
// add_filter('nav_menu_css_class', 'my_css_attributes_filter', 100, 1); // Remove Navigation
 injected classes (Commented out by default)
// add_filter('nav_menu_item_id', 'my_css_attributes_filter', 100, 1); // Remove Navigation
 injected ID (Commented out by default)
// add_filter('page_css_class', 'my_css_attributes_filter', 100, 1); // Remove Navigation
 Page ID's (Commented out by default)
add_filter('the_category', 'remove_category_rel_from_category_list'); // Remove invalid rel attribute
add_filter('the_excerpt', 'shortcode_unautop'); // Remove auto
 tags in Excerpt (Manual Excerpts only)
add_filter('the_excerpt', 'do_shortcode'); // Allows Shortcodes to be executed in Excerpt (Manual Excerpts only)
add_filter('excerpt_more', 'html5_blank_view_article'); // Add 'View Article' button instead of [...] for Excerpts
add_filter('show_admin_bar', 'remove_admin_bar'); // Remove Admin bar
add_filter('style_loader_tag', 'html5_style_remove'); // Remove 'text/css' from enqueued stylesheet
add_filter('post_thumbnail_html', 'remove_thumbnail_dimensions', 10); // Remove width and height dynamic attributes to thumbnails
add_filter('post_thumbnail_html', 'remove_width_attribute', 10 ); // Remove width and height dynamic attributes to post images
add_filter('image_send_to_editor', 'remove_width_attribute', 10 ); // Remove width and height dynamic attributes to post images

// Remove Filters
remove_filter('the_excerpt', 'wpautop'); // Remove
 tags from Excerpt altogether

////////////////////////// Random stuff
function serviceQuery($query){
    if($query->is_main_query() && $query->is_tax()){
        $query->set('post_type', 'services');
    }
}
add_action('pre_get_posts', 'serviceQuery');

function custom_excerpt_length( $length ) {
    return 20;
}
add_filter( 'excerpt_length', 'custom_excerpt_length', 999 );

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Muzeum Ilany Goorové (hebrejsky מוזיאון אילנה גור) je soukromé muzeum v Tel Avivu, v klikatých ulicích staré části města Jaffy (Old Jaffa). Muzeum bylo založeno v roce 1995 izraelskou umělkyní a sběratelkou umění Ilanou Goorovou. Jejich neobvyklá sbírka se někdy nazývá "umělecká džungle".

Historie
Muzeum se nachází ve Staré Jaffě v budově z roku 1742 nad přístavem. Hlavním stavitelem budovy byl Jakob Zonana, jeden z vůdců židovské komunity v Konstantinopoli. Ve druhé polovině 19. století byla v budově továrna na mýdlo a parfémy. Po druhé světové válce sloužila budova různým účelům, včetně synagogy a ubytovny.

V 70. letech 20. století byla Stará Jaffa stále více objevována umělci, kteří v ní žili a pracovali, včetně Ilany Goorové. Otevřena byla četná malá studia a galerie. V roce 1983 koupila Goorová zchátralou křižáckou rezidenci v historickém centru města Jaffa a renovovala budovu, kde původně bydlela a měla studio. V září 1995 otevřela umělkyně v budově muzeum.

Sbírky
Umělecká díla jsou vystavena na několika podlažích budovy a na střešní terase s výhledem na moře. Kromě vlastních děl Ilany Goorové - soch, neobvyklých šperků a futuristického retro nábytku - kolekce zahrnuje africké a orientální umění, starověké artefakty, posvátné umění středověku a moderní umění novověku; mimo jiné sochy Henryho Moora, Alexandra Archipenka a Diega Giacomettiho, obrazy Josefa Alberse nebo designové křeslo Franka Gehryho.

Muzeum je otevřeno od neděle do pátku od 10 do 16 hodin, v sobotu od 10 do 17 hodin místního času.

Ilana Goorová
Ilana Goorová se narodila v Tiberiasu v Izraeli. Její dědeček, Josef Sapir, byl na počátku 20. století spoluzakladatelem uměleckého hnutí Bezalel School v Palestině. Goorová začala sochařit v Los Angeles na konci šedesátých let. V roce 1972 představilo Kalifornské muzeum vědy a průmyslu první výstavu jejích děl v Los Angeles. Následovaly celosvětové výstavy; její sochy jsou například v památníku Jad vašem v Jeruzalémě.

Odkazy

Reference

Externí odkazy

 Internetová prezentace muzea Ilany Goorové (anglicky)
 Muzeum Ilany Goorové na stránkách Židovské virtuální knihovny

Muzea založená roku 1995
Stavby v Tel Avivu
Muzea v Tel Avivu

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Home Storage 3PAR, Maranti Rake It In
3PAR, Maranti Rake It In
By Paul Shread | February 10, 2004
VCs never shied away from the storage sector during the three-year tech downturn, and now that IT spending is picking up, they're really opening their wallets.
3PAR and Maranti Networks announced a couple of big funding rounds this week. Maranti yesterday reported $26 million in third-round funding, and not to be outdone, 3PAR followed with today's announcement of a $32 million fourth round.
These larger, later rounds could reflect a number of changes in the venture capital landscape. First, the IPO market has gotten tougher to crack, so companies must go to the VC well at later stages to carry them over to profitability.
And for VCs, investments in established start-ups reflect a more cautious approach, according to Vikram Gupta, principal of JPMorgan Partners, which led Maranti's latest funding round.
Start-ups with "super high complexity" and high capital needs may find it difficult to get funding at the development stage, Gupta told Enterprise Storage Forum. But a company like Maranti, with mature products and customer traction, represents "an attractive risk-reward ratio," according to Gupta, with additional funds largely going to sales and marketing expansion.
With IT budgets for next-generation storage products finally growing, Gupta sees an opportunity in Maranti's "very compelling differentiated architecture."
Maranti's round comes just two months after the company debuted to rave reviews. The round was led by JPMorgan Partners, with participation by prior investors Menlo Ventures, Trinity Ventures, and Alliance Ventures.
Venture funding brings with it corporate maturity, and to that end, Maranti also announced the appointment of Debbie Miller as president and CEO, a post she previously held at Egenera, 2Bridge Software, and Covia. Miller has also held senior positions at IBM, SGI, and Digital Equipment Corporation. Former CEO and co-founder Kuldeep Sandhu will become Chief Strategy Officer.
Miller says Maranti currently has five customer installations, "and a whole lot of excitement in the pipeline."
"Storage is such a pain point," Miller told ESF. "I think if you polled CIOs, they'd tell you that 50 cents of every dollar is spent on storage. It's a very competitive world, and they need to do more with less."
Maranti claims to offer the first enterprise-class network storage services controller, resulting in a scalable, highly available storage infrastructure that reduces total cost of ownership and delivers centrally managed storage services such as replication, snapshot, and mirroring from any storage device to any server in the network.
"They secured this round after they had product out at customers, which has to indicate that the customers are very positive about the solution," says Nancy Marrone-Hurley, senior analyst at Enterprise Storage Group. "VCs will not fund unless they can talk with the users. Certainly, this level of funding indicates that the VCs believe Maranti will be successful, even in this crowded market."
3PAR Nets a Bundle
3PAR made its own splash today, with a round led by Menlo Ventures, with participation from Mayfield, Worldview Technology Partners, Oracle, Sun, and VERITAS. The round was oversubscribed, and included significant participation from 3PAR's existing investors, according to the company.
3PAR's technology treats storage as a utility, and just last month, the company partnered with ONStor to set a storage performance record.
"We are seeing VC money going to companies that have established themselves to the point where they are shipping product and have gained customer traction," Marrone-Hurley told ESF. "3PAR has over 20 customers and a lot of repeat business — this is the kind of traction that VCs are looking for before they invest significant amounts of money these days."
The funds will finance further expansion in the U.K., Europe, and Asia, the company says. Craig Nunes, 3PAR's senior director of product marketing, says the funds will be enough to carry the company to profitability.
"Utility Computing based on server and storage virtualization is recognized as the next wave of IT infrastructure development," Nunes says. "This wave appears to be fueling some market activity in both the venture circles as well as recent M&A activity."
3PAR boasts customers such as American International Group (AIG), American Management Systems (AMS), Hitachi ULSI, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Matsushita, NIWS (a Nomura-IBM joint venture), Unique Solutions, VERITAS, and Merrill Lynch, and the company claims that more than half of its customers have already made repeat purchases.
Back to Enterprise Storage Forum

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Samurai Shodown (Samurai Spirits в Японии) — серия видеоигр в жанре файтинг, разработанная компанией SNK. Действие игр серии происходит в средневековой Японии.

Первая игра серии, Samurai Shodown, была выпущена в августе 1993 года для аркадного игрового автомата (платформа Neo-Geo. Впоследствии она была портирована на некоторые игровые консоли и получила несколько продолжений, также изначально выходивших на игровых автоматах.

Игры серии использовали двухмерную графику до выхода Samurai Shodown 64, выпущенной в 1997 году в виде игрового автомата на платформе Hyper Neo-Geo 64. Помимо игр в жанре файтинга была выпущена игра Shinsetsu Samurai Spirits Bushidō Retsuden, выполненная в жанре JRPG. По мотивам игр серии были выпущены аниме и манга, а также карточная игра.

В 2019 году состоялся перезапуск серии.

Персонажи Samurai Shodown периодически появлялись в качестве камео и играбельных персонажей в других играх, например в серии The King of Fighters и Capcom vs SNK.

Игры в серии

Компьютерные игры о ниндзя


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Rock Rail East Anglia's new trains for Greater Anglia receive industry accolade for accessibility innovation
Rock Rail East Anglia's fleet of new Stadler bi-mode trains for Greater Anglia has been recognised for a design innovation that makes getting on and off a train easier for many people with restricted mobility
The new trains are the first in the UK to have both a low floor and a retractable step – which automatically bridges the gap between the train and the platform when at a station.
This means that for many disabled and older people, or those with pushchairs or heavy luggage, there is no longer the need for a ramp to board on the majority of Greater Anglia's regional, intercity and Stansted Express services.
The retractable step sets a new benchmark for accessible rail travel in the UK and received the accolade of Highly Commended in the Innovation category at the National Rail Awards 2020.
Rock Rail East Anglia, a joint venture between Rock Rail, Aberdeen Standard Investments and GLIL Infrastructure, financed the trains and is leasing them to Greater Anglia.
Mark Swindell, CEO Rock Rail and Director Rock Rail East Anglia, said "Rock Rail is delighted that its new trains have received such an accolade and that passengers will benefit from the vastly improved accessibility features. The award is testament to the focus our operator partner, Greater Anglia, together with Stadler and Rock Rail, place on delivering a truly passenger-focused travelling experience."
Greater Anglia's Managing Director, Jamie Burles, said, "We developed our new trains jointly with the manufacturer, Stadler, and a customer and stakeholder group, with their input shaping the final design and specification for the trains.
"The benefit of this collaborative approach to the design of the accessible carriage, involving a close, positive partnership with disabled stakeholders and customers, was to create a train that isn't just 'compliant', but truly customer friendly.
"As a result, passengers can now get on or off the train without needing a ramp at the vast majority of stations on Greater Anglia's regional, intercity and Stansted Express routes."
Greater Anglia carried out extensive public consultation both online and in person, with disabled stakeholders and customers visiting a full sized 'mock-up', built in Norfolk, and taking part in two international visits to Stadler's factory in Switzerland.
As part of this programme, a full-sized adjustable model platform was created which enabled engineers to test how the sliding step would work at different stations. Every station was surveyed, recorded and mapped to ensure the best stopping location was identified to maximise the effectiveness of the step.
Mr Burles adds, "This proactive approach, allied with our genuine desire to produce a train which met and, where possible, exceeded customers' needs, resulted in further real enhancements to the train's design and features."
Changes made to the layout of the accessible area as a result of the consultation included the location of priority seating and charging points, installation of privacy screens, design of the coffee table, colour contrasts on handrails and an additional "call for aid" button in the accessible toilet.
Feedback from customers and stakeholders about the improved accessibility features has been very positive, with a widespread welcome for the easier, better and more convenient rail journeys that are now available.
The upgrades also benefit users of Rock Rail East Anglia's trains for Greater Anglia's intercity services, which have the same accessibility features.
Ralf Warwel, Stadler's sales director for the United Kingdom and Ireland, commented: "Stadler is very pleased to see our sliding step technology recognised in this prestigious award.
"While it has been widely deployed on new Stadler trains throughout mainland Europe, it's a UK first. And, as well as featuring on the new trains for Greater Anglia, it will also be installed on trains for our other live UK contracts, namely Liverpool City Region, Transport for Wales Rail Services, and Nexus. This means that over the next few years, around 190 new trains will be operating in the UK with Stadler sliding step technology, improving the travel experience for passengers up and down the country."
Photograph: Greater Anglia retractable step
Transforming tomorrow's infrastructure today
London: Capital Tower, 91 Waterloo Road, London, SE1 8RT
©2020 Rock Rail Holdings Ltd | Website by Cude Design


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Three Types of Extreme-Energy Space Particles May Have Unified Origin
One of the biggest mysteries in astroparticle physics has been the origins of ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays, very high-energy neutrinos, and high-energy gamma rays. Now, a new theoretical model reveals that they all could be shot out into space after cosmic rays are accelerated by powerful jets from supermassive black holes and they travel inside clusters and groups of galaxies. It also shows that these space particles could travel inside clusters and groups of galaxies.
The model explains the natural origins of all three types of "cosmic messenger" particles simultaneously, and is the first astrophysical model of its kind based on detailed numerical computations. A scientific paper that describes this model, produced by Penn State and University of Maryland scientists, will be published as an Advance Online Publication on the website of the journal Nature Physics on January 22, 2018.
"Our model shows a way to understand why these three types of cosmic messenger particles have a surprisingly similar amount of power input into the universe, despite the fact that they are observed by space-based and ground-based detectors over ten orders of magnitude in individual particle energy," said Kohta Murase, assistant professor of physics and astronomy and astrophysics at Penn State. "The fact that the measured intensities of very high-energy neutrinos, ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays, and high-energy gamma rays are roughly comparable tempted us to wonder if these extremely energetic particles have some physical connections. The new model suggests that very high-energy neutrinos and high-energy gamma rays are naturally produced via particle collisions as daughter particles of cosmic rays, and thus can inherit the comparable energy budget of their parent particles. It demonstrates that the similar energetics of the three cosmic messengers may not be a mere coincidence."
Ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays are the most energetic particles in the universe -- each of them carries an energy that is too high to be produced even by the Large Hadron Collider, the most powerful particle accelerator in the world. Neutrinos are mysterious and ghostly particles that hardly ever interact with matter. Very high-energy neutrinos, with energy more than one million mega-electronvolts, have been detected in the IceCube neutrino observatory in Antarctica. Gamma rays have the highest-known electromagnetic energy -- those with energies more than a billion times higher than a photon of visible light have been observed by the Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope and other ground-based observatories. "Combining all information on these three types of cosmic messengers is complementary and relevant, and such a multi-messenger approach has become extremely powerful in the recent years," Murase said.
Murase and the first author of this new paper, Ke Fang, a postdoctoral associate at the University of Maryland, attempt to explain the latest multi-messenger data from very high-energy neutrinos, ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays, and high-energy gamma rays, based on a single but realistic astrophysical setup. They found that the multi-messenger data can be explained well by using numerical simulations to analyze the fate of these charged particles.
"In our model, cosmic rays accelerated by powerful jets of active galactic nuclei escape through the radio lobes that are often found at the end of the jets," Fang said. "Then we compute the cosmic-ray propagation and interaction inside galaxy clusters and groups in the presence of their environmental magnetic field. We further simulate the cosmic-ray propagation and interaction in the intergalactic magnetic fields between the source and the Earth. Finally we integrate the contributions from all sources in the universe."
The leading suspects in the half-century old mystery of the origin of the highest-energy cosmic particles in the universe were in galaxies called "active galactic nuclei," which have a super-radiating core region around the central supermassive black hole. Some active galactic nuclei are accompanied by powerful relativistic jets. High-energy cosmic particles that are generated by the jets or their environments are shot out into space almost as fast as the speed of light.
"Our work demonstrates that the ultrahigh-energy cosmic rays escaping from active galactic nuclei and their environments such as galaxy clusters and groups can explain the ultrahigh-energy cosmic-ray spectrum and composition. It also can account for some of the unexplained phenomena discovered by ground-based experiments," Fang said. "Simultaneously, the very high-energy neutrino spectrum above one hundred million mega-electronvolts can be explained by particle collisions between cosmic rays and the gas in galaxy clusters and groups. Also, the associated gamma-ray emission coming from the galaxy clusters and intergalactic space matches the unexplained part of the diffuse high-energy gamma-ray background that is not associated with one particular type of active galactic nucleus."
"This model paves a way to further attempts to establish a grand-unified model of how all three of these cosmic messengers are physically connected to each other by the same class of astrophysical sources and the common mechanisms of high-energy neutrino and gamma-ray production," Murase said. "However, there also are other possibilities, and several new mysteries need to be explained, including the neutrino data in the ten-million mega-electronvolt range recorded by the IceCube neutrino observatory in Antarctica. Therefore, further investigations based on multi-messenger approaches -- combining theory with all three messenger data -- are crucial to test our model."
The new model is expected to motivate studies of galaxy clusters and groups, as well as the development of other unified models of high-energy cosmic particles. It is expected to be tested rigorously when observations begin to be made with next-generation neutrino detectors such as IceCube-Gen2 and KM3Net, and the next-generation gamma-ray telescope, Cherenkov Telescope Array.
"The golden era of multi-messenger particle astrophysics started very recently," Murase said. "Now, all information we can learn from all different types of cosmic messengers is important for revealing new knowledge about the physics of extreme-energy cosmic particles and a deeper understanding about our universe."
Credit: psu.edu
Tags: black hole, cosmic rays, galaxy, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Universe
john October 24, 2018 at 5:17 AM
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A parrot who sung Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star to children has been stolen from a nursery in Rochdale.
Thieves broke into Seeros Day Care Nursery, on Belfield Road, and took Mitoo, a green Amazon parrot.
Mitoo had lived at the nursery for four years, becoming the day care's "mascot" and even getting a mention in last year's Ofsted report.
Samira Ansari, managing director of Seeros, said the children had found it "heartbreaking".
"It's devastating really. I've had him for four years now, he had been at the nursery ever since.
Mrs Ansari, 40, who lives nearby in Rochdale, said the children had made posters to put in shops around the area, but to no avail.
The nursery was broken into in February too, with IT equipment and some money stolen.
Mrs Ansari believes it was the same people "trying to get lucky again".
She has bought two parakeets, Ruby and Coco, in the meantime, and has stepped up security.
Amazon parrots are from South America and the Caribbean but are popular pets in the UK.


A single of the most preferred sorts of engineering degrees at the moment is the Bachelors of Chemical Engineering. This is a pretty thrilling and prosperous field, and it is a profession path that is in higher demand. Probably the most effective aspect of this profession and field of study is the excellent salary that students can earn straight away immediately after getting their diploma.
The most current survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers has Chemical Engineering all the way at the quantity two slot for the highest typical beginning salaries. The typical annual beginning salary is about $65,000, and certainly that is a massive sum, and is a lot more than double what lots of men and women are anticipated to get straight from college. This higher figure tends to make the field pretty enticing for potential students.
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As you can see, there are lots of diverse vital points to believe about when it comes to chemical engineering. With the appropriate background and the appropriate system, you can come out on the other side with one particular of the highest paying degrees that is offered appropriate now, and land an thrilling profession that will spend dividends for years to come.


With its likable characters, local color and cross-cultural sparks, "Signature Move" has unsentimental sweetness and pluck.
While this likely will appeal strongly to LGBTQ audiences, I hope it finds a wider viewing, as the acting and the dialogue make for excellent drama.
It doesn't all work. But the film's gently erratic personality is winning nonetheless, and it's interesting to watch Reeder, in the first project she has done without a hand in the writing, make sense of the tones.
This plays like a hipster version of a Nia Vardalos comedy.
Vivid details can animate almost any old chestnut, and many of the variations on this timeworn tale help to give the film its appeal.
It's nice to see another story of minority women overcoming adversity through sport. If only there was a bit more.
Refreshingly, director Jennifer Reeder keeps the deeper themes gurgling strongly under the surface and resists preaching to the audience.
Signature Move is unabashedly a romantic comedy that still manages to include serious content, albeit in a lighthearted way.
A sweet, uncynical romantic drama that feels thoroughly contemporary largely because it isn't trying to be.
Seen on its own, "Signature Move," while intermittently quirky and fun, is a misfire that's down for the count. But seen on the spectrum of progress, it's hard not to appreciate this wily fighter.
The movie is a perfectly pleasant bonbon for its target audience.
Signature Move is visually stunning and does a great job of capturing Chicago and the diversity folded throughout the city.
There are no featured reviews for Signature Move at this time.


Hero Glamour, 125cc sporty motorcycle, is well known for its unique design. It offers the shades like candy blazing red, black with vibrant orange, black with sports red and black with tornado grey metallic. It gets 124.7cc, air-cooled, four-stroke, single cylinder OHC engine. The engine can deliver peak power of 9 bhp at 7000rpm and peak torque of 10.35Nm at 7000rpm. It measures 2005mm in length, 735mm in width, 1070mm in height. The wheelbase of Glamour is 1265mm while the ground clearance is 150mm. It includes telescopic hydraulic shock absorbers for front suspension and rectangular swing arm suspension at rear side. The fuel tank capacity of Super Splendor is 13.6 litre and a usable reserve capacity is 1 litre. It is available at a price in the range between Rs.54,025 to Rs.56,025.
* Prices of Hero Glamour indicated here are ex-showroom price not the on road price of Glamour. Price list is subject to change and for the latest Hero Glamour India prices, submit your details at the booking form available at the top, so that our sales team will get back to you. Hero Glamour mileage mentioned here is based on ARAI test drive made under standard test conditions.
"The prime specs of Hero Glamour are listed here. The overall length, width of the bike should give you an idea about its manoeuverability to sneak and run through the traffic jams.Engine specs of Glamour are also listed here. With the power (in bhp) and torque (Nm) figures the most important ratios - power to weight ratio of Glamour and torque to weight ratio. The displacement (in cc) is the measure of cubic capacity of the engine. The performance figure of the bike zero to sixty and zero to 100 in seconds will give you the sense of the power the bike possess and its on road performance. The lesser the time taken by the bike to reach 60kmph or 100kmph the faster it is over it competitors "


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Q: How to fix signal 11 (SIGSEGV), code 1 (SEGV_MAPERR) error? I am trying to parse corrupt .EMF image file.After successfully parsing and attempting to construct the image using Picture(android.Graphic) getting the Fatal signal 11 (SIGSEGV) at 0x00000004 (code=1) error.
I searched on net and found that this is memory exception and also attempted the fix suggested by them fix1, fix2[recycle bitmap].There are lot of question related to this in Stackoverflow but nothing solve my problem.
And image size is around kb only.Is there any way to validate or check the .EMF file.
Platform:
4.2 & above
Devices:
Nexus 7.


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Another Country is a studio album by singer Cassandra Wilson, featuring the guitar, songwriting and production of Italian guitarist and producer Fabrizio Sotti. The record was released on  via eOne Records label.

Background
The album also marks the end of her 20-year contract with Blue Note label. Another Country features a blend of new songs, instrumentals and arrangements that resulted from the collaboration between Sotti and Wilson. The final track, "Olomuroro" also features backup vocals from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Chamber Choir.

The album was recorded in Florence, Italy and New Orleans, Louisiana, and was mixed by Piety Street engineer John Fischbach. The album was released by Ojah Media Group and E1 Entertainment.

Reception

Thom Jurek of AllMusic stated: "On her 19th album, Cassandra Wilson, ever the musical chameleon, changes directions once more. She is arguably the greatest living female jazz singer. Well known for her blues, soul, pop covers, and jazz standards, her smoky alto bends almost everything to its will. Wilson's phrasing is utterly unique, as original as any horn player's or pianist's music.... Though there are a couple of missteps here, Another Country is a welcome new phase for Wilson. Not only are her boundaries as a singer expanding with her musical choices; her songwriting instincts and languages are developing exponentially as well." The Buffalo News review by Jeff Simon noted, "there is so much to glory on this personal and intimate disc of voice/guitar dialogues that you might as well join the ranks of those who have long since learned that Wilson's career is one that one eavesdrops on, rather than basks in while a performer pursues an incorruptible desire to ingratiate."

Daniel Spicer of BBC wrote: "Another Country is an album that radiates warmth. Not just the warmth of southern seas and skies, but the human warmth that beams directly out of Ms Wilson's heaving heart." Mikael Wood of Time Out added: "Whatever the flavor or provenance of her material, Wilson summons the shadowed sensuality that has become her artistic trademark. It's hard to imagine a location in which that voice couldn't make itself at home."

Nate Chinen of The New York Times commented: "Cassandra Wilson named her new album after one of its strongest tracks, a love song that compares the bloom of a new relationship to the discovery of a new world. Singing in her languorous drawl over a fluttering samba rhythm, she paints a vivid, sensual picture, affectionate and self-contained. The song represents a sigh of romantic fulfillment, but also a small shudder of apprehension."

Track listing
"Red Guitar" (Cassandra Wilson)
"No More Blues" (Wilson, Fabrizio Sotti)
"O Sole Mio" (Arranged by Wilson and Sotti)
"Deep Blue" (Sotti)
"Almost Twelve" (Wilson, Sotti)
"Passion" (Wilson, Sotti)
"When Will I See You Again" (Wilson, Sotti)
"Another Country" (Wilson, Sotti)
"Letting You Go" (Sotti)
"Olomuroro" (Wilson, Sotti, Olalekan Babalola)

Personnel
Band
Cassandra Wilson - Vocals, Acoustic Guitar
Fabrizio Sotti - Electric Guitar, Acoustic Guitar
Mino Cinelu - Percussion
Lekan Babalola - Percussion
Nicola Sorato - Electric Bass
Julien Labro - Accordion
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts Chamber Choir - Vocals on "Olomuroro"

Production
Produced by Cassandra Wilson and Fabrizio Sotti
Engineer at Larione 10: Max Bacchin
Assistant Engineer at Larione 10: Francesco Baldi
Engineer at Sotti Studio: Simone "Keemo" Tonsi and Giorgio Piovan
Engineer at Piety Street: John Fischbach
Assistant Engineer at Piety Street: Wes Fontenot
Mixing: John Fischbach and Wes Fontenot
Mastering: John Fischbach

Charts

References

2012 albums
Cassandra Wilson albums
MNRK Music Group albums


...to Map Maker's Guide: a free interactive web application that helps you in choosing suitable mapping methods.
Note that by pressing the button you explicitely give permission to store data (a.k.a. cookies) on your computer. This data will only be used to run Map Maker's Guide and will not be used for other purposes.
Maps are valuable sources of information in policy assisted research. It is therefore important that the right methods are used to produce these maps.
This site offers you a helping hand in selecting the right method.
After pressing the start button, you have to answer several questions about your mapping problem.
A knowledge system driven by fuzzy logic and linked to comprehensive databases will analyze your answers to give you advise on suitable map making methods.
Environmental scientist, geographers, engineers, earth scientists, geologist, pedometricians, ..., etc.
In short: everyone who (occasionally) needs to make accurate (digital) maps.


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Dear Strand Baptist Family,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
On Monday, 23 March 2020, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced a 21-day national lockdown which will commence at midnight on Thursday. The previously announced state of disaster has already led to the suspension of our Sunday Worship Services. The lockdown means that all other church activities will also have to be suspended until the 16th of April 2020.
How will the lockdown affect our SBC family?
Sunday Services: These will remain suspended until the 19th of April 2020. A new message will still be made available on the website every Sunday.
Bible Studies and Prayer meetings: These have been suspended from today until Saturday, the 18th of April 2020.
AGM: The Executive felt that it would be irresponsible to continue with our AGM and put our members at risk on the eve of a national shutdown. The AGM will be rescheduled for the 29th of April 2020, pending the end of the lockdown on the 19th of April.
Office: Our church office will be closed from Friday, the 27th of March to Thursday, the 16th of April 2020. Where possible work will continue from home. Because of the national lockdown Pastor Pieter has delayed his sabbatical, which would have commenced on the 1st of April. You will be able to contact Pastor Pieter on his cell phone or via email. We will provide as much pastoral support as we are able.
Care: Our care ministry is in contact with those who need our support and assistance. Should you need help or support you can contact Dieter Meyer, our elder for care. We request that those who contribute to our food parcels rather make a financial contribution, which will be distributed to those in need. Please earmark such donations "Care Contribution".
In 2 Corinthians 4:16 the apostle Paul says something remarkable: "So we do not lose heart…" How could he not lose heart? Earlier in the chapter he mentioned being "afflicted" and "perplexed" (v. 8), "persecuted" and "struck down" (v. 9). He even mentioned "carrying in the body the death of Jesus" (v. 10). Paul and his fellow labourers suffered for the sake of the gospel, yet "we do not lose heart". How was that possible?
Paul had a different perspective on his suffering. First, he understood that God was renewing him day by day. Outward suffering was countered with inward renewal (v. 16). Through his trials the Lord sustained and sanctified him. Later Paul would even say: "I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me." (2 Cor. 12:9).
Second, he understood that God had something better planned for his children. Paul spoke of "an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison" (v. 17). Trials put things into perspective. When we remember all God's glorious promises to his children, the present world and its difficulties are put in their proper place. Compared to the "glory beyond all comparison" our trials are "light" and "momentary" (v. 17).
Third, he understood where his treasure should be. Paul instructs us to "look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen" (v. 18). Don't lose sight of eternity. Why? Because "the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal." Our hope is secure with Christ in glory. Nothing will change that. Isaiah 54:10 speaks volumes of God's faithfulness in times of calamity: "For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain."
These three truths help us to "not lose heart". The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God the Father and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.
(on behalf of the SBC Executive)
Corona Announcement
PLAY AUDIO VERSION
To our dear Strand Baptist Family,
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. On the 31st of December 2019 health officials in China alerted the World Health Organization of a pneumonia outbreak that they had never seen before. On the 7th of January 2020 the new virus was identified as Covid-19, a new Coronavirus (which includes the common cold and the SARS virus). To date more than 150 000 people have been infected worldwide, with almost 6 000 deaths. While more than half of these cases are in China, the last few weeks have seen the virus spread rapidly in other parts of the world. Currently 143 territories are affected, including South Africa.
While there are comparatively few confirmed cases of Covid-19 in South Africa, the number is expected to rise rapidly. The infection spreads by being near those who have been infected and inhaling droplets when they cough or sneeze, and through touch (handshakes, hugs and kisses). Our best defence against the virus is to slow its spread. We have already taken precautions at our worship services to protect, as far as we are able, our members and adherents. There are, at present, no confirmed cases of the virus in our church family. We praise the Lord for his mercy.
The response from government
On the 15th of March 2020 President Cyril Ramaphosa declared the Covid-19 virus a national disaster. As part of the measures to control the spread of the virus, President Ramaphosa announced the following: "it is essential that we minimise the risk of the spread of this virus by limiting contact amongst groups of people. While we appreciate the economic, religious, and cultural significance of social and community gatherings, the coronavirus is spread through contact between persons… Gatherings of more than 100 people will be prohibited." This has serious implications for churches and calls for a prayerful and faithful response.
Lessons from church history
This is not the first time the Lord's church has had to deal with an epidemic like this. In both the 14th and 15th century the Black Plague devastated Europe. The first outbreak killed nearly a quarter of Europe's population. When the plague struck Martin Luther's hometown of Wittenberg in August of 1527 many of his fellow citizens fled for their lives. Luther's prince, Elector John, ordered Luther to leave as well. Luther stayed and continued to minister to those affected by the disease.
At the time Luther wrote: "You ought to think this way: Very well, by God's decree the enemy has sent us poison and deadly offal. Therefore I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine, and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance infect and pollute others, and so cause their death as a result of my negligence." Luther encouraged his congregation to spend time in the Word of God and in prayer. He also attended the ill and dying, which he viewed as his duty as their shepherd (Matt. 25:36 and 1 John 3:16).
Another pandemic, the Spanish Flu, wreaked havoc all over the world from 1917 to 1919. It is estimated that more than 500 million people contracted the disease, with mortality rates close to 10%. It is considered one of the deadliest epidemics in human history. To combat the spread of the disease the District of Columbia, USA banned all public gatherings, including church services. How did the church respond?
An emergency meeting of all Protestant ministers was called and they "voted unanimously to accede to the request of the District Commissioners that churches be closed in the city". They went on record "as cheerfully complying with the request of the Commissioners, which, we understand applies to all churches alike. We furthermore recommend that our people shall conduct in their own homes some form of religious worship remembering in prayer especially the sick".
A few weeks later, when the spread of the disease began to subside, religious services resumed as normal.
The teaching of Scripture:
We believe that the Lord is sovereign over all his creation and that he does whatever pleases him. Psalm 135:6 declares: "Whatever the LORD pleases, he does, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and all deeps." Even when Job was sorely afflicted, it was the Lord who allowed Satan to "touch his bone and his flesh" (Job 2:5), but the Lord did not allow Satan to take his life (v. 6). Job responded to this calamity the way he had responded to the others: with faith. "Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil?" The Bible affirms that in "all this Job did not sin with his lips" (v. 10).
When the Lord called Moses, he was reluctant and afraid, because "I am slow of speech and of tongue." (Ex. 4:10). The Lord reminded Moses: "Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the LORD?" (v. 11). Even here the Lord was sovereign.
Lamentations 3:37-38 helpfully reminds us who is in control: "Who has spoken and it came to pass, unless the Lord has commanded it? Is it not from the mouth of the Most High that good and bad come?" Again, the Lord declares: "I am the LORD, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the LORD, and there is no other. I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the LORD, who does all these things." (Isa. 45:5-7).
When a pandemic strikes, it is a comfort to know that our Lord is in control. We know where to turn: "call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me." (Psalm 50:15).
Admittedly it does not give us all the answers. There are still a number of "why" and "what now" questions that need to be answered, but we can proceed knowing that the "LORD is on my side; I will not fear." (Psalm 118:6). What does God expect of us in the midst of calamity?
Trust: "Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock." (Isa. 26:4)
Pray: "do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Phil. 4:6-7)
Read: "the precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart" (Psalm 19:8)
Love: "You shall love your neighbour as yourself." (Matt. 22:39)
The church has weathered worse storms and Christ has carried us through. Let us be an example to our children, our neighbours and the watching world of calm, prudence and compassion.
The response from Strand Baptist Church
In love for our members, adherents and visitors, and in obedience to the government (Romans 13:4; 1 Pet. 2:13-14), we have taken the following steps:
The Executive has decided to suspend our Sunday morning worship services for the time being. This is not an act of fear, but of love and obedience, for "God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control" (2 Tim. 1:7).
While we cannot gather for corporate worship a message will be made available on our website each Sunday morning. We want to encourage our members and adherents to spend Sunday mornings in worship. Read Scripture, sing and pray together. You can also listen to the message from the website.
The current state of emergency will last until after the Easter Weekend. If anything changes, we will notify everyone via email, sms or whatsapp.
The government directive does not affect our Bible studies, prayer meetings, and the Annual General meeting planned for the 25th of March. These will continue, but with strict precautions to protect everyone's wellbeing. We ask everyone to refrain from physical contact (hugs and handshakes) at these greetings.
If you have any flu-like symptoms, however mild, please refrain from attending these meetings and contact your doctor as soon as possible. As per healthcare guidelines, we also advise our senior members (those over 70) and those with underlying health conditions (for example those with diabetes, cardiovascular conditions, or chronic lung disease and those who are immunocompromised or smokers) to self-isolate for the time being. These groups have been identified as high-risk.
Please do not hesitate to contact the office or the pastor should you be in need of assistance. We would love to support and help in any way we can.
The pastor, elders and deacons will refrain from any unnecessary visits so as not to put our members at risk.
Calamity has a way of bringing some needed perspective. This pandemic serves as a reminder of our own mortality. We will all die and appear before the judgment seat of God (Heb. 9:27). Let us take comfort in the fact that the Lord has provided for our greatest need. When we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8). In doing so Jesus opened the way to the Father (John 14:6), offering forgiveness of sins and eternal life to all those who would repent and trust in him (Acts 10:43; Col. 1:14).
This is our hope. The Heidelberg Catechism offers this comfort: "What is your only comfort in life and death? That I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him."
This pandemic will pass. Let us keep our eyes firmly fixed on our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
(on behalf of the Executive of Strand Baptist Church)
Ladies Book Club
Saturday Seminars


Harold Payne is a multi-platinum and Posi award winning songwriter whose soulful uplifting songs and husky heartfelt vocals have graced stages around the world. He has written songs for such diverse artists as Rod Stewart, Patti Labelle, the Temptations, and long time collaborator, Bobby Womack—literally from Peter Paul and Mary to Snoop Dogg. His most recent charted music was Daylight by Kelly Rowland and the summer 2012 release "Bravest Man in the Universe" by Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee, Bobby Womack co-written by Payne, Womack, Damon Albarn (Gorillaz & Blur frontman) & Richard Russell (XL Recordings head) In 2011, he flew to London to partner with Damon Albarn and Richard Russell to, collaborate on new songs for Bobby Womack. The album won the prestigious "Q" award in the UK for "Best Album of the Year." Although a major part of Harold Payne's career has involved songwriting, he has maintained a performance schedule over several decades that averages 200 plus dates per year. Harold has played just about every imaginable venue… from amphitheaters, festivals & Houses of Blues to corporate events, Houses of worship & House concerts. He has opened for the likes of Van Morrison, Kenny Loggins, & Hawaiian legend "Iz" (Israel Kamakawiwo`ole). In 2001 he launched the Power of Positive Music® series which led him to performing with motivational speakers like Mark Victor Hansen and Robert G. Allen, and at conferences and positive music events. He often uses his uncanny gift for spontaneity to create recap songs of talks just presented and custom material for various tributes, "team building" and leadership activities to help make these events more entertaining and interactive while still imparting important content. His performances are soulful, heartfelt and humorous and he plays both solo and with the group Gravity 180.
Beverly Hills Cop II, Splash, Summer Rental, Experts, Back To The Beach, That Was Then, Psychic Force I & II (Japanese animated feature score), Manzanar Fishing Club.