text:
Deploying Experimental Vaccines Against Ebola
Joshua Cohen Contributor
I write about drug value, market access, and healthcare systems
FILE - In this undated colorized transmission electron micrograph file image made available by the... [+] CDC shows an Ebola virus virion. Congo's Ebola outbreak has spread to a city, the capital of the northwestern Equateur province, a worrying shift as the risk of infection is more easily passed on in densely populated urban areas. (Frederick Murphy/CDC via AP, File)
The current outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo is the worst since the 2014-2016 epidemic in West Africa. More than 2,500 people have been infected, and 1,800 people have died. In July, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global public health emergency.
Last week, the WHO announced it intends to substantially increase the number of people eligible to be vaccinated against Ebola as it tries to contain the outbreak.
WHO officials have said that they currently have roughly 245,000 doses of an experimental vaccine manufactured by Merck. This vaccine has been extensively tested in multiple jurisdictions in Africa, and proved to be effective in Guinea during the West African Ebola epidemic of 2014-2016. In light of the new spate of Ebola cases, Merck plans to supply 900,000 doses over the next six to 18 months.
At present, Merck's vaccine is being deployed in the Congo in what's known as a ring vaccination strategy. People who are contacts of confirmed Ebola cases, and contacts of those contacts, are offered the vaccine. This includes health workers who have cared for Ebola patients.
But, there's an acute need for additional vaccine options. In part, this is due to a potential shortage of supply of the Merck vaccine.
A second Ebola vaccine has been developed by Johnson & Johnson. The product is a two-dose vaccine that was specifically designed to offer long-lasting protection. Unlike Merck's single dose vaccine which provides protection against Ebola within 10 days of the shot being given, the Johnson & Johnson vaccine is administered in two shots, about two months apart.
In concert with the ring vaccination strategy, officials intend to use the Johnson & Johnson experimental vaccine outside of the rings of contacts - as a protective wall - in order to stop the spread of Ebola.
Johnson & Johnson's chief scientific officer, Paul Stoffels, said the company will donate enough vaccine to administer to 1.5 million people.
However, Johnson & Johnson's experimental Ebola vaccine has not yet been deployed in the Congo, though it is being researched in Uganda.
The most expedient way to test an investigational Ebola vaccine on humans is to administer it to people during an outbreak, which is precisely the way the first vaccine manufactured by Merck was successfully deployed in Guinea in 2015.
Locally, however, there are fears people in the Congo could be used as guinea pigs. Also, the Congo health minister who resigned last month had argued against deployment of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, saying a second vaccine could create "confusion on the ground."
Requiring that people come back for a second injection, as is the case with the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, does add complexity to the vaccination process. And, ensuring people are adequately vaccinated with the two-shot regimen would be especially challenging among populations fleeing conflicts.
In brief, in order to successfully deploy available experimental vaccine options to contain the Ebola upsurge, a number of logistical and cultural hurdles will need to be overcome.
Joshua Cohen
I'm an independent healthcare analyst with over 20 years of experience analyzing healthcare and pharmaceuticals. Specifically, I analyze the value (costs and benefits) o...


text:
VE-Day: Why Dutch-Canadian connections have stayed so strong
Ties that have grown between Canada and the Netherlands since the Second World War will be at the forefront once again as ceremonies here and on the other side of the Atlantic this week mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
Second World War ties, liberation of Holland still cherished by Dutch-Canadians
Janet Davison · CBC News · Posted: May 03, 2015 5:00 AM ET | Last Updated: May 4, 2015
Seventy years after Dutch civilians celebrated the liberation by Canadian soldiers in Utrecht on May 7, 1945, the ties between Canada and the Netherlands remain strong. (National Archives of Canada/Alexander Mackenzie Stirton/Canadian Press)
When Edie Bijdemast lays a wreath at the cenotaph in White Rock, B.C., on May 4 each year, it's an emotional reckoning that extends beyond honouring those who died in her Dutch homeland during the Second World War.
She also thinks of the Canadian soldiers who brought freedom to the Netherlands, along with the fundamental role that liberation 70 years ago played in her own life.
CBC Digital Archives: VE-Day: Canadians liberate Holland
How Canadian forces brought 'sweetest of springs' to Netherlands
"If the Canadian soldiers hadn't come, I don't even think my mom and dad would have survived the war, and I wouldn't even be here," says Bijdemast, who immigrated to Canada with her family as a five-year-old in 1956.
Edie Bijdemast says she needs ties to both her homeland of the Netherlands and Canada, where she has lived for almost 60 years. ((Courtesy Edie Bijdemast))
"I wouldn't exist, so I feel a very deep emotional connection with that, the fact that a foreign country would come in and assist. I find that very deeply moving personally."
Bijdemast's emotional connection to her birth place is a very personal example of the ties that have grown between Canada and the Netherlands, and which will be at the forefront once again as ceremonies here and on the other side of the Atlantic this week mark the 70th anniversary of Victory in Europe.
"These connections are at all sorts of levels," says Jeff Noakes, the Second World War historian at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa.
"They can range quite literally from the national — official commemorations — all the way down to the very personal where you still have people staying in touch 70 years after the end of the war."
Today, an estimated one million people of Dutch heritage live in Canada.
'Significant' partner
Another factor in the Dutch-Canadian connection is that business ties between the two countries are considered strong, with the federal government describing the Netherlands as "one of Canada's most significant trade, investment and innovation partners."
Tulips bloom every spring on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, one of the more visible signs of the ties that have grown between the Netherlands and Canada. (Sean Kilpatrick/Canadian Press)
Imports and exports between the two countries each exceeded $3.5 billion in 2014.
The Dutch ties to Canada were growing before 175,000 soldiers in the First Canadian Army and other Allied forces pushed the Nazis out of the Netherlands in April and May 1945.
Members of the Dutch Royal Family had a Second World War sojourn in Canada. Princess Margriet was born at Ottawa Civic Hospital in 1943, after a federal proclamation had declared the maternity ward extraterritorial.
Out of that Second World War experience grew one of the more visible reflections of the links between the Netherlands and Canada: the Tulip Festival in Ottawa that was inspired by a gift of 100,000 tulips from Queen Wilhelmina.
Abdicating Dutch queen was a wartime Ottawa schoolgirl
The immediate post-War experience also saw many Dutch families find new hope in Canada as their war-ravaged homeland offered little in the way of opportunity. Farmland had been devastated. The economy was in shambles. Jobs were scarce.
The winter of 1944-45 had been particularly brutal. Food and fuel had been in short supply.
Eating tulip bulbs and sugar beets
Bijdemast's mother's family was in Haarlem, one of the last places to be liberated.
"We had an exceptionally cold winter that year so they were living predominantly on tulip bulbs and sugar beets," she says. "Things were very dire."
After the war ended, the government gave people financial incentives to leave.
Canada, with its wide open spaces, became an attractive option for some, with an estimated 150,000 Dutch — including 2,000 war brides — immigrating in the two decades or so after the war.
The Bijdemast family leaves the Netherlands for Canada via Schiphol airport near Amsterdam on Nov. 28, 1956, with Irma, 3, in her mother Henderika's arms, and Edie, 5, carried by her father Hendrik. (Submitted by Edit Bijdemast)
"Canada was relatively close," says Noakes." It's a trip across the Atlantic Ocean, which you can do on an ocean liner and later on by plane, and its economy, compared to just about any other economy in the world at the time, was in relatively good shape."
Bijdemast's family came by plane to Canada in November 1956, flying on her fifth birthday to Montreal and then taking the train west as far as they could go and hopping the ferry for Victoria.
"Mom said the major thing for her to leave was the fact that they could not get a home of their own. Otherwise she never would have left. She was very strongly tied to her family."
To support Dutch immigrants, cultural organizations popped up across Canada, and Dutch import shops were common.
But the passage of time is prompting change. Those who were the heart and soul of the thriving clubs in the 1950s and '60s are in their very senior years now, their numbers dwindling.
And in a world of instant communication, the cultural support the clubs provided for those of a shared heritage has also faded.
King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands are expected to visit Canada from May 27 to May 29.
The visit will include a wreath-laying at the National War Memorial in Ottawa on May 27. A reception for the Dutch community will be held in Toronto on May 29.
Now there's social media like Facebook, and "when something [happens] you pretty much know it half way around the world within a few minutes," says Adri de Groot, a director of Club The Netherlands in Ontario's Niagara region.
"It's funny how times change like that."
Some cultural clubs, like the Netherlands Association, of which Bijedmast is president, have looked for events and activities they feel will be more relevant to younger generations.
Others are calling it quits after seeing membership decline. "Basically it's a change in time. Our club feels like it's served its purpose," says de Groot.
Membership, which hit 1,600 in the 1960s, has fallen to 120. A final event to celebrate the club's final year will be held later this month.
Still coming
But while Club the Netherlands may be drawing to a close, de Groot doesn't see any lessening of Dutch culture in Niagara.
Adri de Groot, his wife Leigh de Groot and their daughter Morgan de Groot donned orange to cheer on the Netherlands during last year's World Cup. (Submitted by Adri Degroot)
"There are still lots of people immigrating here."
De Groot came to Canada with his family from the Netherlands as a 12-year-old in 1997, two years after they hosted a family from St. Catharines during the 50th anniversary celebrations of the liberation.
He still has friends in the Netherlands, and proudly wears orange and cheers for Holland during the World Cup.
Bijdemast also dons the orange and cheers during the World Cup. She needs, she says, a tie to both countries. She cherishes Canada for its freedom and opportunity, vast open spaces and rich natural environment. The Netherlands she values for the deep history and roots that lie there.
"I really do feel like I have a foot in both countries and have the best of both worlds."
VE-Day 2015: London marks 70th anniversary with church service
Veteran Art Boon's travel predicament ends after school board gives son time off
WWII vet marks Dutch Liberation Day in Kitchener
Dutch Royalty visits Hamilton
Canadians, Dutch mark WW II liberation
Canadian veterans feted by the Dutch
Dutch-Canadians honour liberators with memorial
Canadian War Museum: News reports on liberation of the Netherlands
Netherlands Embassy: Visit to Canada by King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima
Netherlands Association in Greater Vancouver

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Flares, fireworks, alcohol, knives, weapons, laser pointers or any device that has the potential to cause injury or harm.
Entry to EPIC is free, but patrons may incur a charge for some events, activities and purchases within the EPIC site.
Management reserves the right to inspect and search bags brought into or out of the EPIC site.
Patrons bringing personal items to EPIC do so at their own risk. EPIC management will not be held responsible for any damage to, loss or theft of personal property.
Patrons must obey all signs, notices and directions given by EPIC Management.
Users, volunteers, spectators and event participants enter the EPIC site at their own risk. EPIC Management will not be held responsible for the death or injury of any patron during their attendance at EPIC.
Participation in activities at EPIC may be dangerous and could result in possible injury, death and/ or property loss or damage.
Unless approved by Management, the sale of goods or services, or the conduct of charitable collections, raffles and fundraisers is not permitted.
To the extent permitted by law, the Australian Capital Territory excludes all liability, including but not limited to liability for and consequential loss or damage of any kind arising from the use and / or entry to EPIC, whether in contract, by personal injury, death, property damage, property loss, negligent act or omission, or any other tortious activity.
Refuse entry to any person who attempts to bring any restricted or prohibited item into the EPIC site.
The safety of our guests is of prime importance; please do not exceed the posted speed limit of 20 KPH while on site.


text:
MSU to play Michigan twice in Big Ten basketball season
MSU and Michigan will meet twice during the 2016-17 basketball season, and the Spartans' Big Ten road schedule is tough.
MSU to play Michigan twice in Big Ten basketball season MSU and Michigan will meet twice during the 2016-17 basketball season, and the Spartans' Big Ten road schedule is tough. Check out this story on lansingstatejournal.com: http://on.lsj.com/28Jy9Cj
Chris Solari, Lansing State Journal Published 11:48 a.m. ET June 20, 2016 | Updated 12:03 p.m. ET June 20, 2016
MSU coach Tom Izzo smiles during the Spartans' 89-73 win at Michigan on Feb. 6. That was the only meeting between the two teams last season, but they will play twice in 2016-17.(Photo: Lansing State Journal file photo)Buy Photo
Michigan State and Michigan will meet twice during the upcoming basketball season. The Spartans' Big Ten schedule also holds its share of road challenges this winter.
MSU has Illinois, Indiana, Maryland and Penn State as its one-play road conference games next season. The Spartans will host Iowa, Northwestern, Rutgers and Wisconsin for their only meetings in 2017.
That means MSU will face the Wolverines, Minnesota, Nebraska, Purdue and Ohio State in home and away contests. Last season, the Spartans played Michigan just once, an 89-73 road victory in Ann Arbor on Feb. 6.
Game times and dates will be released later this summer.
The Spartans already have a number of difficult non-conference games lined up for the 2016-17 season: against Arizona in at the Armed Forces Classic on Nov. 11 at Pearl Harbor in Hawaii; versus Kentucky in the Champions Classic on Nov. 15 in New York's Madison Square Garden; at Duke on Nov. 29 in the ACC/Big Ten Challenge; and potentially against Louisville as part of the eight-team field in the Battle 4 Atlantis on Nov. 23 to 25 in Nassau, Bahamas.
MSU went 29-6 overall and 13-5 in the Big Ten, finishing in second place behind regular-season champion Indiana and eventually winning the postseason tournament in Indianapolis.
Contact Chris Solari at (517) 377-1070 or csolari@lsj.com.
6 facts on MSU basketball guard Steven Izzo
Vote for the LSJ high school athlete of the week: Jan. 13-18
Spartan Speak: Jalen Terry, Tom Izzo contract, IU/Minnesota preview
Made-up mailbag: How many wins does Dantonio need next season?
Couch: Rocket Watts' electricity can still change MSU's season
Behind Moira Joiner, MSU women's basketball knocks off Rutgers


text:
Q: How to access and edit a value of a existent key of a map that's inside a list on Dart/Flutter? I'm create a list of maps, each map have two keys ["title"] and ["time"], all the values of keys is submitted in a setState method, with the values submited as Strings by a button, and a map object is added inside the list, that's List _tasks = [], so what I would like to do is access the ["time"] element of the last Map added in the list and be able to change the value.
This is part of a little project of application, to help me to learn more about Flutter. The repository of application is on Github on https://github.com/jsdaniell/remindme
The list is declared:
List _tasks = [];

The function that's adding a map object to the list:
void _addTask() {
    setState(
      () {
        Map<String, dynamic> newTask = Map();
        newTask["title"] = _taskController.text;
        newTask["time"] = _timeGlobal.toString();
        _taskController.text = "";
        _tasks.add(newTask);

      },
    );

  }

The point is that I want to subtract a value of 1 every second of variable _timeGlobal, what's a int in the global scope and is the value that is set as a String in the ["time"] in the Map, so I write this code:
  String countdownTime(Map newTask) {

    Timer timer = new Timer.periodic(new Duration(seconds: 1), (timer) {

        // Here I want to access the value of ["time"] element, where's in the last position of list and update the value.

        _saveData();

        return Home();

    });

    // Stop the periodic timer using another timer which runs only once after specified duration

    new Timer(new Duration(minutes: _timeGlobal), () {
      timer.cancel();
    });
  }

I hope that have some way to access the last map in a list of maps, and a specific key on this map.

A: to access to the last element in the list you can use :
_tasks[_tasks.length - 1];
so if you want the "time" key from the Map thats inside the last element of your list use :
var lastTime = _tasks[_tasks.length - 1]["time"];

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Oftentimes we get calls from customers who don't see visual mold in their homes, but they have a high mold spore count in the air. Yes, mold can be airborne and home inspectors find this when they take air samples and run air quality tests.
Usually the homeowner's first question for us is, 'How can I have mold if I don't see it?' The answer is simple, mold is living in the air. As mentioned in our previous post, mold favors areas of the home with moisture intrusion and high humidity. Usually it is found airborne in the basement with no visual signs but high humidity over time has caused it to grow. Even with a dehumidifier running in the basement, mold can grow because normal sized dehumidifiers are not large enough to control the humidity levels in most basements.
When we get calls about a high mold spore count in a home, we do an inspection to see if the home inspectors missed any visual mold. If not, we simply use our hospital grade fogging chemical diluted with water in a fogging machine and fog the entire house including the attic and crawl space. After fogging, we turn on our Air Scrubber with a HEPA filter and leave it in the home overnight. This further cleans the air and ensures mold spores are reduced to a healthy level.
If you or members of your family are feeling sick or allergic maybe you should have your air tested for spore counts! We do air quality testing in addition to mold removal!


On February 11, the Center for Technology Innovation hosted an event at the Brookings Institution titled "Smart cities and artificial intelligence". Watch video from the event here.
Fifty-one percent of Americans prefer to access public services through digital technologies or mobile apps, according to a national survey undertaken by researchers at the Brookings Institution. Only 13 percent say they prefer accessing services through phone calls, 9 percent favor personally going to government offices, and 27 percent don't know.
The survey was an online U.S. national poll undertaken with 2,081 adult internet users between February 5 and 7, 2019. It was overseen by Darrell M. West, vice president of Governance Studies and director of the Center for Technology Innovation at the Brookings Institution and the author of The Future of Work: Robots, AI, and Automation. Responses were weighted using gender, age, and region to match the demographics of the national internet population as estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.
We asked whether relying upon digital technologies saves cities money, improves productivity, or exposes people to cybersecurity problems. Forty-seven percent say it saves money, 51 percent believe it improves productivity, and 49 percent feel it raises cybersecurity problems.
With the ubiquity of smartphones, some government agencies have developed mobile apps for public service delivery. We asked people whether they have used a mobile app in the last year to access public services. Thirty-six percent say they have, 43 percent indicate they have not, and 21 percent do not know whether they have done so.
When asked to rate the quality of mobile apps, 27 percent say they are positive, 26 percent are negative, and 47 percent do not know.
We asked people the kind of mobile app for public services they would value, and 31 percent say an app for parking and transportation issues, 25 percent for public safety, 9 percent for tax services, 4 percent for water and air quality, and 31 percent are unsure.
Almost half say they would encourage cities to invest financial resources in technologies designed to provide access to public services. When asked about mobile app investments, 45 percent would encourage cities to do this, 21 would discourage cities, and 34 percent are unsure. In regard to digital technologies in general, 43 percent would encourage cities to invest, 21 percent would discourage them, and 36 percent are unsure.
How Much Does Digital Technology Help?
To get a sense of whether people believe digital technologies would help residents deal with urban issues such as parking and transportation, we asked for their overall views. Twenty percent say digital technologies help residents a lot, 33 percent believe they help some, 16 percent feel technologies do not help very much, and 31 percent are unsure.
1. Some cities use digital technologies to help residents deal with urban issues such as parking or transportation. How much do you think technologies help with these issues?
2. Would you encourage cities to invest financial resources in digital technologies that allow people to access public services?
3. Would you encourage cities to invest financial resources in mobile apps that allow people to access public services?
4. Do you prefer to access public services through digital technologies/mobile apps, calling government offices, or personally going to government offices?
5. In the last year, have you used any mobile app that allowed you to access public services?
6. Overall, how would you rate the quality of these mobile apps?
7. In what area would you most value having a mobile app for public services?
8. Do you think relying upon digital technologies for service delivery saves cities money?
9. Do you think relying upon digital technologies for service delivery improves productivity?
10. Do you think relying upon digital technologies for service delivery exposes people to cybersecurity problems?
This online survey polled 2,081 adult internet users in the United States February 5 and 7, 2019 through the Google Surveys platform. Responses were weighted using gender, age, and region to match the demographics of the national internet population as estimated by the U.S. Census Bureau's Current Population Survey.


text:
To Ireland, I
This reissue of Paul Muldoon's exceptional debut as a critic and literary historian is a brilliant exploration of Irish writing.
The four pieces that make up this work are taken from Muldoon's Oxford Clarendon Lectures of 1998. Together, they take the form of an A-Z, or abecedary of Irish literature, in which his imagination forges links between disparate aspects and individuals in the Irish literary landscape, ranging back and forth between modern and medieval. From Beckett and Bowen, through MacNeice, Swift and Yeats – and guided throughout by Joyce – To Ireland, I moves lightly through the long grass of Irish writing. The result is a provocative handbook for the literary traveller, who is treated to an astonishing display of scholarship and idiosyncratic inwardness from Irish literature over the course of a millennium.
PaulMuldoon
Paul Muldoon is the author of fourteen collections of poetry, including Moy Sand and Gravel, for which he received the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Poetry, and the most recent, Howdie-Skelp (2021). His other awards include the 1994 T. S. Eliot Prize, the 2003 Griffin Prize, the 2015 Pigott Prize, and the 2017 Queen's Gold Medal for Poetry. Born in County…
More books by Paul Muldoon
The stirring, mindful and deeply humane new collection of poems from Paul Muldoon
Frolic and Detour
** Signed edition ** The stirring, mindful and deeply humane new collection of poems from Paul Muldoon
Frolic and Detour (Signed Edition)
Meeting the British is Pulitzer Prize-winner Muldoon's fifth collection of poems – reissued in poetry typographic look.
Meeting the British
Selected Poems 1968-2014 offers forty-five years of work drawn from twelve individual collections by a poet who 'began as a prodigy…
Selected Poems 1968–2014
Why Brownlee Left, a Poetry Book Society Choice and winner of the Geoffrey Faber Memorial Prize, confirmed Paul Muldoon's reputation as…
Why Brownlee Left
'The most significant English-language poet born since the Second World War.' TLS
One Thousand Things Worth Knowing
The Word on the Street by Paul Muldoon, 'The most significant English-language poet born since the Second World War.' (Times Literary…
The Word on the Street
Maggot, by Paul Muldoon – 'The most significant English-language poet born since the Second World War.' (TLS)
This selection of Lord Byron poems, selected by Paul Muldoon, joins a series in which Faber and Faber presents eight beautiful…
Maggot (Limited Edition)
The End of the Poem: Oxford Lectures by Paul Muldoon is an engaging, rigorous and insightful investigation of a diverse group…
The End of the Poem
Horse Latitudes by Paul Muldoon is another stunning book of poetry, carrying its heavy emotional and conceptual weight with a skip…
Horse Latitudes
In this series, a contemporary poet selects and introduces a poet of the past. By their choice of poems and by…
Contemporary Irish Poetry, edited by Paul Muldoon, includes ten poets of huge talent and historical importance: Patrick Kavanagh, Louis MacNeice, Thomas…
Contemporary Irish Poetry
Moy Sand and Gravel demonstrates Paul Muldoon's trademark ability to combine emotional affect, political statement, linguistic innovation, historic sensitivity and a…
Moy Sand and Gravel
Quoof
The much-loved classic anthology of poems about the animal kingdom is a must-read for animal lovers of all ages.
The Faber Book of Beasts
W. H. Auden Prose Volume 3 (1949-1955) is a new volume, published in Auden's Centenary year.
W. H. Auden Prose Volume 3 (1949-1955)
W. H. Auden
This reissue of To Ireland, I – Paul Muldoon's exceptional debut as a critic and literary historian – is a brilliant…
Poetry in the Making: A Handbook for Writing and Teaching is a classic anthology of creative writing by Ted Hughes, a…
Poetry in the Making
Ted Hughes
Twenty-five illuminating essays on writers and artists from one of the keenest critics of contemporary literature.
A rich collection of prose, including the final major piece David Jones would write, exploring his deep connection to Wales, reissued…
The Dying Gaul and Other Writings


text:
INN ON THE BLUES: DJ Wiz Kid at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 17; and Throw Down Band (rockin' blues) at 9:30 p.m. Oct. 18, $6.
COMMUNITY VOLUNTEER WORK DAY: 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 19. Volunteers will be "rock'n and a roll'n" with Mount A land stewards to maintain the summit and trails. Help repair eroded trail sections and harden tread surfaces by moving rock and gravel into place. If the weather cooperates and we have enough participants we will also look to do some painting on the viewing platform. to RSVP, email robin@agamenticus.org or call 361-1102.
FASHION SHOW: International Women's Club of New England will hold its Fall Fashion Show on Sunday, Oct. 19, at the Stage Neck Inn in York. Store owners Carla Perkins of Portland and Kennebunkport and Dorinda Putnam of Queen of Hats will dazzle you with the latest creations from New York, Paris, Canada and Germany, including such premier brands as Saint James, Jude Connally, Joseph Ribikoff, Christine Moore, Lillie and Cohoe and Stetson for Women. View the perfect clothes for the holidays and special occasions, including this year's vibrant colors and patterns. Enjoy a stunning array of hats, including custom made or off the shelf, from silk and flowers to fedoras, felt and fur. And, there's much more: gift certificates for all guests, a raffle with valuable prizes, cocktail hour, and an elegant lunch with live piano music by Nick Spinelli. Admission is $55. www.IWCNE.net.
YORK ELKS LODGE EVENTS: 1704 Route1, York. 361-2788.
VFW POST 6977 EVENTS: Sunday morning breakfasts served every week from 8 to 11 a.m.; Public welcome at all social events. 75 Cape Neddick Road, Route 1A.
"A Call to Artists": The Village Gallery has a room set aside for single or group artists who would like to have a show. Please visit The Village Gallery at 244 York St., York, or call 363-4000.
The Village Gallery: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sundays. Artists include Gail Claes, oils; Gloria Gustafson, oils and watercolors; Eileen Robert, Pastels; Joanne Campbell, watercolors; Chris Greco, acrylic; Mary Sweeney, pottery; Elise Pratt, jewelry; Bryony-Brett, stained glass; Doris Newson, oils; Oleg Kompasov, oils, sculpture; Barbara Hochadel-Heintz, oils; Nina L. Bisognani, photography; Alex Cascioffe, photography; Ania Kowalska, Davis jewelry. 244 York St., York. 363-4000.
GEORGE MARSHALL STORE GALLERY: Hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday through Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, and by appointment. 140 Lindsay Road. 351-1083 / www.georgemrshallstoregallery.com.
THE CLOWN: Store/gallery hours are Monday through Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. The gallery is located at 659 U.S. Route 1 in York. 351-3063 / info@the-clown.com.
RIVER CURRENT STUDIO/ART GALLERY: Open daily at the corner of Lindsay and Mill Dam roads. 351-3262.
THE SEA ROSE GALLERY: 325 Long Beach Ave., is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. 363-4014.
FREE SPANISH CLASS: "Spanish for Gringos" is an introductory course in conversational Spanish for those who know little or no Spanish — basic skills in reading, speaking, and understanding the Spanish language. The class will run from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in York, running for 15 Thursdays (until Dec. 18). The course is free and open to the public, but class size is limited. For registration, class location and other details, email Señor Dan at spanishfaculty@gmail.com.
SPANISH READING GROUP: An intermediate Spanish Reading Group will meet in York from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Sundays,for 15 weeks, until Dec 14. For information, contact Señor Dan, at spanishfaculty@gmail.com.
KNIGHT'S QUILT SHOP: A working quilt and gift shop, Knight's offers private and semi-private quilting classes. 361-2500 / www.mainequiltshop.com.
POTTERY CLASSES: River Arts in Cape Neddick offers adult and teen clay workshops, as well as, ongoing classes. Call 351-5155.
KNITTING LESSONS: Group and individual lessons are held at The Yarn Sellar at 264 Route 1. 351-1987.
Chicks with Sticks: Each Tuesday from 6 to 9 p.m., chicks with sticks gather to knit at The Yarn Sellar. Knitters, crocheters and spinners all come to craft, talk and relax. Free, fun and open to the public. Also, a casual group of knitters gathers at The Yarn Sellar from 1 to 3 p.m. each Wednesday. Meet some fellow knitters, chat and knit. Free.
YORK ADULT EDUCATION: Classes are held at York High School unless otherwise noted. 363-7922.
ACTING CLASSES: Taught by Lisa Stathoplos, classes are private, for beginners to advanced actors. 646-3389 or e-mail lstathopolos@yorkschools.org.
MRS. MURPHY'S KITCHEN: Offers cooking classes and parties for adults and children. 363-4217 / www.mrsmurphyskitchen.com.
YOUNG AT ART: Registration is open for after-school art classes. Fine art instruction in watercolors, drawing and sculpture. Small classes, home studio in York Harbor. Please call Kathryn Carter at 363-6381 to register.
LEARNING EXTENSIONS: The program is an extended learning experience for children ages 4 and 5 with classes from 12:30 to 3 p.m. Class sizes limited. 351-3274.
THE FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER at Landmark Hill: Located at 518 Route 1, Kittery, the center has weekly programs that include Drop in and Play, Toddlers Morning Out, Messy Art, Movers and Shakers, and more. All programs are free. 451-9291 / www.connectingfamiliestogether.org.
Living Well Center: York Hospital's medically-based fitness center includes gym equipment, strength/balance classes to improve everyday function, yoga and tai chi classes, low/medium and high intensity aerobics classes, medically supervised exercise programs and more. 351-3700 / www.yorkhospital.com.
YOGA FOR MATURE ADULTS: With BodySense for Health, un-learn a lifetime of bad habits as you remove stress and strain from every joint, improve balance and equilibrium, experience increased energy and endurance. Invite the power of breath and alignment into your daily routine. Offering private and group sessions. 361-4131 / www.sue.luby.com.
CURVES: A proven and complete 30-minute workout for women that includes strength training and cardio. Also, CurvesSmart, Curves Circuit with Zumba, and weight management. 363-9637.
YOGA ON YORK: Drop-in style classes for all levels, no need to pre-register. Classes include Gentle Yoga and Meditation (from 6-7 p.m. Tuedsays), Speciality (pre-registration) classes include: TRX Suspension Training, Parent and Toddler Yoga, YogaMOVES (for ages 3-5), YogaKIDS (for ages 6-10), and YogaTEENS (for ages 11-15). 363-9642 / www.yogaonyork.com.
AEROBIC CLASSES: Yogalates classes and weight-training classes available at York Fitness Center, Route 1, York. 363-4090.
OUTDOOR CIRCUIT TRAINING: and women's beginning weight-training class are offered by certified health and fitness instructor Heidi Oliver at York Fitness Center. Call 363-7340 or e-mail holiver@maine.rr.com.
WEEKLY YOGA AND MEDITATION: Taught by Paramhansa Yogananda at York Cottage Place, Suite 208, Unit F, Route 1. 361-2124 / www.anandamaine.org.
YORK PADDLE TENNIS CLUB: Welcomes interest in or application for membership. gcampbel@smcusa.com or www.yorkpaddletennisclub.org.
ROAD TO RECOVERY: The American Cancer Society needs volunteers to drive cancer patients to their doctor's appointments. (800) 227-2345.
HOSPICE OF YORK: The hospice needs men and women to become volunteers. 363-7000.
MAINE MENTORING PARTNERSHIP: The partnership promotes and supports child and youth mentoring programs throughout Maine. Ethel's Tree of Life Inc. serves those 14-25 who live with disabilities. 451-3041/e-mail LHigg93409@aol.com. or visit www.ethelstreeoflife.org.
THE MAKE-A-WISH FOUNDATION OF MAINE: The agency needs caring volunteers, called wish granters, to help bring magic to children living with life-threatening medical conditions in York County. Wish-granting volunteers work in teams of two and act as the primary contact between the "wish children" and the Make-A-Wish office for the duration of the wish process. Each wish takes an average of 10 to 20 hours over an average of a four-month time period. 221-2306 or e-mail kvickery@maine.wish.org.
MENTORS NEEDED in York schools: The goal of the mentor program is to build students' self-esteem, inspire hopes and dreams, and help increase academic achievement. Mentors are asked to provide guidance and support to students one-on-one for an hour a week during school time. Training given. 351-3016.
WRITERS WANTED: Fifth-grade teachers at York Middle School are seeking a few good writers. Units of study will focus on different, real-world genres of writing. It doesn't matter what you write, but that you want to share your experience with students. ageranis@yorkschools.org.
MEETINGS AND CLUBS
The Southern Maine Clay Guild: All are welcome to attend the group firings, workshops and meetings. The guild was formed in 2005 out of a desire among southern Maine potters to foster increased interaction and support for each other and the medium. The group's focus is to expand and promote opportunities in clay techniques, glaze chemistry and varying methods of firing. Members range from beginner to professional. 439-5671 / reddoorpottery@gmail.com.
AMERICAN LEGION POST NO. 56: The post holds bingo at 7 p.m. every Wednesday. 363-0376.
THE DIVERSE BUSINESS ADVANTAGE CHAPTER OF BNI: The chapter meets every Thursday at the York Golf & Tennis Club, 62 Organug Road. Meetings run from 8 to 9:30 a.m. All visitors welcome. 363-2418.
MOTHERS OF PRESCHOOLERS (MOPS): The group meets the first and third Tuesday of the month at York Street Baptist Church, 61 York St., York. 363-2177.
THE NUBBLE LIGHTHOUSE KEEPERS SQUARE DANCE CLUB: All dances are held at the Wells Activity Center, Sanford Road, Route 109, off Route 1, Wells.
THE TEN NO TRUMP DUPLICATE BRIDGE CLUB: The club meets at the Masonic Temple on Long Sands Road (located next to the Lucas & Eaton Funeral Home). 363-7415.
Seacoast Ruggers: All rug hookers are invited to a general "Hook-In" from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the third Thursday of the month (October through May) at the York Public Library. Jan Smith, (603) 431-8894.
THE YARN SELLAR: The store, located at 264 Route 1, hosts Chicks with Sticks from 7 to 9 p.m. every Tuesday. Also, there is now a Sunday Sit & Knit group that meets from noon to 5 p.m. every Sunday. Just drop in, it's free. All experience levels are welcome. 351-1987.
York Democratic Town Committee meeting: 4 to 5:30 p.m. June 11 at the Seacoast Democrats office in the Meadowbrook Plaza, 647 US Rte. 1. The purpose of the meeting is to elect a vice-chair and to formulate an endorsement policy. There will be an update on local campaigns and opportunities to volunteer. All York Democrats are welcome.
YORK COUNTY DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE: The committee meets at 6:30 p.m. on the third Thursday of every month at the York County Government Building (Old County Jail) at 149 Jordan Springs Road (Route 4), Alfred. Doors open at 6. 604-0838 / rogdi@roadrunner.com / www.ycdc.me.
THE YORK DIVERSITY FORUM: A grassroots organization formed to honor, protect and defend the growing diversity of the York community, the group meets at 4 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at York Public Library. New members welcome; e-mail mainemullens@gmail.com.
THE YORK LIONS CLUB: The club meets at 7 p.m. the first and third Tuesday of each month at the Grant House on Route 1. All are welcome. We serve. If you would like to meet new people and help others, call 363-7382.
THE YORK KIWANIS CLUB: The club meets at 7 p.m. Thursdays at the York Harbor Inn. Guests welcome. 363-5110.
THE YORK ROTARY CLUB: The club meets at 7:30 a.m. Fridays at the York Harbor Inn 363-5110.
York Hospital's Breast-Feeding group: The group is offered every Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon at the Hall House on the York Hospital campus. A lactation consultant is always available for consultations and families can weigh their babies at this weekly session. The group is free and all parents with babies are welcome. 351-2129.
VOLUNTEER REIKI PRACTITIONERS wanted: York Hospital is looking for Level II Reiki practitioners to provide Reiki services to oncology patients at the hospital. 351-2224 or e-mail rsullivan@yorkhospital.com.
FREE MAMMOGRAMS AND PAP TESTS: For women ages 40 to 64, the tests are administered by the Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program. (800) 240-2407.
HOME HEALTH VISITING NURSES: The nurses offer skilled foot assessment and nail cutting at community health clinics throughout York County each month. Blood pressure checks are free; skilled foot care is $15; toenail cutting is $3. 284-4566.
BAHA'I FAITH: Sunday morning devotional meetings and fellowship. 363-4591 or 361-1722.
CAPE NEDDICK BAPTIST CHURCH schedule: Sunday worship service and Junior Church at 10:15 a.m.; Sunday school at 9 a.m.; choir rehearsal, 5 p.m. Wednesdays; Bible study, 2 p.m. Friday. 34 River Street, Cape Neddick. 363-3566 / www.cape-neddick-baptist.org.
FIRST PARISH CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH: 180 York St., offers thought-provoking sermons, special music and child care and church school for all ages. Sunday worship services are held at 9:30 a.m. 363-3758.
St. Peter's By-the-Sea: 535 Shore Road, Cape Neddick, just south of the Cliff House.
St. CHRISTOPHER CATHOLIC CHURCH: Lenten offerings include Stations of the Cross and free Lenten meals. March 7: Stations at 6:30 p.m., meal at 5:30; on the menu is baked rigatoni, cheese, salad and bread and beverages. Also offered March 14, 21, 28. 4 Barrell Lane.
ST. GEORGE'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH: Holy Eucharist Rite II spoken at 8 a.m. Sundays, Spiritual Formation & Church School at 9:15 a.m. Sundays, Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with choir at 10 a.m. Sundays; and Holy Eucharist with optional laying on of hands for healing at 10 a.m. Thursdays. 407 York St., York Harbor, 363-7376 / www.stgeorgesyorkharbor.org.
Trinity Episcopal Church: Holy Eucharist at 10:30 a.m. Sundays. Corner York Street and Woodbridge Road, York Harbor. 363-5095 / www.trinityyorkharbor.org.
UNION CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH: Union Congregational Church is a full-service church serving the community year-round. Summer weekly worship services commence at 10:15 a.m. Sunday through the Labor Day weekend. The services include full content with the presentation of regularly scheduled sacraments, and the participation of the full church choir. The church is located at 18 Church St., York Beach. 363-4821 / ybcc@maine.rr.com / www.ybcc.org.
YORK-OGUNQUIT UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: 1026 Route 1, York, is a Reconciling Congregation. Sunday School is at 9:15 a.m. Sunday worship begins at 10:30 a.m., with refreshments and fellowship afterward. Nursery care provided. Handicapped accessible. The Light, a contemporary worship opportunity, begins at 5 p.m. Sundays. The Light combines contemporary music and praise in a less formal setting.
YORK STREET BAPTIST CHURCH: 61 York St., holds its Sunday morning service at 9 a.m.; Sunday School (for all ages) begins at 10:45 a.m. 363-2177.
ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS: Open meetings are held in York at the Methodist Church on Route 1 at 7:30 p.m. Mondays and at 8 p.m. Tuesdays; at the Union Congregational Church on Church Street at 7:30 a.m. Mondays; at St. George's Episcopal Church on Route 1A at 6 p.m. Mondays, at 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, at 7:30 p.m. Fridays and at noon Saturdays; and at York Hospital Hall House at 8 p.m. Saturdays. Anyone is welcome to attend.
ANXIETY SUPPORT GROUP: Meets from noon to 1 p.m. the first Monday of every month at the Meadowbrook Plaza, Suite 209, Route 1. 363-7142.
BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP: York Hospital Hospice is offering a new bereavement support group, The Grief Journey, facilitated by Jessica Sharpe. The group will meet the fourth Tuesday of the month from 10:30-11:30 a.m. at the York Senior Center, 36 Main St. (behind the Police Station). Register for this free group by calling (800) 933-5593, ext. 4904. www.yorkhospital.com.
CAREGIVERS FOR ALZHEIMER'S SUPPORT: Group meets every third Tuesday of the month at Sentry Hill at York Harbor. The meetings run from 3 to 4 p.m. Come to the main entrance. 363-5116.
THE CELIACS TOGETHER: Support group meets at 7 p.m. the third Thursday of every month at the Senior Center in York Beach. Celiac is an intolerance of wheat, rye, barley and possibly oats. All are welcome. 363-1036.
The Cottage Program: York Hospital's substance abuse program offers a support/educational group for family members of addicts. The group meets Wednesdays from 5:30 to 7 p.m. 351-2118.
FOOD PANTRY: York Community Service Association's food pantry is open on a walk-in basis to clients from 12:30 to 3 p.m. with extended evening hours beginning Feb. 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursdays for food distribution. Those clients who cannot come at this time can be serviced after hours if necessary by contacting the York General Assistance office, one of the local churches, or by calling the food pantry manager, Maureen Monsen. Accommodations can be made for delivery of food to shut-ins. Donations are accepted during business hours, or from 8 to 11:30 a.m. Thursdays or by calling the food pantry at 351-1928.
GAMBLERS ANONYMOUS: Group meets from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturdays in the Hall House, a gray building next to York Hospital. Meetings are open to any person with a gambling problem or seeking help for someone with a gambling problem.
NAMI CONNECTIONS: Support group is open to York residents and meets weekly on Tuesdays from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Eliot United Methodist Church, Route 236, Eliot. This is a recovery program for adults living with mental illness that is expanding in communities throughout the country. These groups provide a place that offers respect, understanding, encouragement and hope. Each group meets weekly for 90 minutes; is offered free of charge; follows a flexible structure without an educational format; and does not recommend or endorse any medications or other medical therapies. All groups are confidential; participants can share as much or as little personal information as they wish. 363-3429 or 363-2450.
NAMI Family–York: The group meets the second Tuesday of every month from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at United Methodist Church in Eliot, Route 236. Meetings are open to anyone who has mental illness or any family member, friends, professional or caregivers who need support with the challenges of mental illness. Call Kim Perham 363-3429.
OVEREATERS ANONYMOUS: Group meets from 10 to 11:15 a.m. Fridays at the First Parish Church Parish House, York Street, and from 9 to 10:15 a.m. Saturdays in York Hospital's Ellis Conference Room, 15 Hospital Drive. Baby-sitting available. (603) 433-5464.
THE PARKINSON'S DISEASE SUPPORT: Group is for individuals with Parkinson's disease and their families. Offered at 2 p.m. the first Sunday of each month, this group meets in York Hospital's Ellis Conference Room, 15 Hospital Drive. 363-6039 or 781-1735.
THE POSTPARTUM SUPPORT: Group is for the immediate postpartum period for mothers and infants. Group meets at York Hospital through the Wellness Center and the Parent Resource Center of Sanford. 351-3402.
SEACOAST POSTPARTUM ADJUSTMENT GROUP: A new, six-week series for women who have given birth within the last year, this peer support group offers a caring, nonjudgmental space to share stories, challenges and concerns. Participants are encouraged to give and receive support from other group members. Led by women trained and experienced in birth and postpartum, the group meets Tuesday mornings at Whole Life Health Care, Newington, N.H. Pre-registration required. 363-1379.
A SUPPORT GROUP FOR PARENTS OF INFANTS AND TODDLERS: Group meets from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday at York/Ogunquit United Methodist Church, 1026 Route 1, to facilitate handling and socializing toddlers. 363-2749.
THE TABLE OF PLENTY in York Village: Free weekly meals from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. each Tuesday at First Parish Church Fellowship Hall on York Street. There's no paperwork and no questions are asked.
THE WOMEN'S PROJECT: A People's Regional Opportunity Program, the project provides nurses who offer free and confidential statewide services for women affected by substance abuse. (800) 611-1588 or use TTY line 874-1013.
THE YORK HOSPITAL BREAST CANCER SURVIVOR GROUP: Group meets from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. the third Monday of every month in the Ellis Conference Room. New members welcome. Friends welcome.


text:
Q: Groovy script from docker container I'm trying to get the html response from my web page using docker and groovy script. Normally I could use curl as below:
curl 10.1.1.167:1410

...and get the response "OK"
But when I'm trying to get the same with starting docker and groovy:
[mycomp@my-host script] cat run.sh
#!/bin/bash
docker run                                                          \
    --rm                                                            \
    -e TZ=Europe/Warsaw                                             \
    -v /home/user1/monitoring/:/home/user1/monitoring/:Z      \
    -w /home/user1/monitoring/script                             \
    --name groovy2 groovy:2.4.11-jdk8                               \
    groovy run.groovy

[mycomp@my-host script] cat run.groovy
def server = "10.1.1.167"
println "http://$server:1410/".toURL().text

... I'm getting such an Timeout error (after many seconds...):
[mycomp@my-host script] ./run.sh
Caught: java.net.ConnectException: Connection timed out (Connection timed out)
java.net.ConnectException: Connection timed out (Connection timed out)
        at run.run(run.groovy:2)

I don't know what I'm doing wrong. Maybe you can tell me? Maybe you can propose my something other solution (but still using docker and groovy)

EDIT:
Program is ok, I had a problem with connection to this ip address.


Other eco-friendly flooring options exist, such as certain carpet and ceramic floor products. The green flooring experts at Rod's Carpet Tile & Wood can help you evaluate all the green flooring options available for your home improvement or remodeling project. Rod's Carpet Tile & Wood – Proudly serving the Volusia & Flagler Counties area. Call us today for a free green, eco-friendly flooring consultation!


Description: Create a seductive ambiance! Adds a little extra to your sensual experience whether it's by creating a trail of petals to the bedroom or scattering them across the bed. Silky, unscented rose petals. Can be sprayed with linen spray to add scent.


22mm maple leaf. Wholesale supplies for jewellery. Dream maker diy. Spoon bait metal lure spoon lure. 20mm dark mint. Mix sequins. 30mm flat 9#. Children's girls shoes. 4cmlaserwhitewithbighole. Mix star heart moon snowflake dot plum and so on. Is_customized: Wholesale paillette diy. Junao-10mm flowers. A7-frm41.
5mm dot mix. Spring autumn summer winter. Cp0812. Hb069. Vovlora. Frosted #m34. Women's vulcanize shoes: Sku162509. Pearls shoes. Wholesale plum tree blossom. Red shoes. Orange blossom flowers. Cup sequinsMixed white blue pink purple. Cup circle. Trendy. Bags red green. 10mm snow flakes. Love heart. 4mm deep cup.
Hazy beauty. Prepare time: Glass beads rhinestone for wedding dresses. 6*13mm oval. Package weight: Flat round sequins. Material : Laser silver color. Transparent pink. Violet. Color classification: 10mm fold matt white.
Galaxy s5. Waist: 4mm flat sequins. Centre latche. 3mm cup glistening. 10mm matte pink. Nail 4mm heart. Use2: 3/4/8mm square sequins. Wholesale heart home decoration accessories. 6mm heart.


text:
Maxime Loïc Feudjou Nguegang (Douala, 14 april 1992) is een Kameroens voetballer die uitkomt als doelman. In januari 2021 verruilde hij Union Douala voor Napsa Stars. Feudjou maakte in 2014 zijn debuut in het Kameroens voetbalelftal.

Clubcarrière
Feudjou speelde vanaf 2010 bij de Kameroense derdeklasser Botafogo uit Buéa. In december 2011 verkaste hij naar Cotonsport Garoua. In eerste instantie werd hij gehaald als derde doelman, maar al snel veroverde hij een vast plekje onder de lat. In 2012 stond Feudjou naar verluidt onder interesse van Reading, maar tot een overstap kwam het niet. In 2013 kroonde hij zich met Cotonsport tot landskampioen. In november 2014 verkaste Feudjou naar het Soedanese Al-Hilal. In 2018 werd Al-Orobah in Saoedi-Arabië zijn nieuwe club. Feudjou liet een jaar later zijn contract ontbinden en zat hierop acht maanden zonder club. Union Douala haalde de doelman terug naar Kameroen. Eind 2020 tekende hij een voorcontract bij Napsa Stars.

Interlandcarrière
Feudjou maakte zijn debuut in het Kameroens voetbalelftal op 29 mei 2014, toen er met 1–2 werd verloren van Paraguay. Op 2 juni 2014 werd bekend dat de doelman was opgeroepen voor de Kameroense selectie op het WK 2014 in Brazilië.

Bijgewerkt op 13 december 2022.

Referenties

Kameroens voetballer

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Holden Colorado & HSV SportsCat
Holden & HSV VE-VF2
Euphoric power, precision engineering, cutting-edge technology and a striking, iconic design combine to deliver a high-performance sports car range that pushes boundaries and gives new meaning to the word legendary.
Chevrolet has put over 100 years of pickup truck know-how into the Chevrolet Silverado. With its bold proportions and broad-shouldered appeal, the Chevrolet Silverado owns the road.
One glance at their striking and sophisticated lines is enough to get your heart pumping. Get behind the wheel and you'll quickly discover you're in complete control of a 4x4 that takes driving dynamics to a whole new level. If you're looking for Australia's premium sports 4x4 range, you've found it.
The E Series journey began with a blank canvas and a mission statement to redefine every aspect of world-class performance car design. The boundaries of product investment, testing and development were taken to unprecedented new levels. So the quest began to create the most powerful, technologically advanced and dynamic range of vehicles to date. In May, 2013 the HSV GEN-F range of vehicles was launched to be the greatest range of performance production cars ever built in Australia.


One of the greatest comeback stories of the modern era is about to reach its most exciting chapter.
Just five months since rupturing his ACL, Sandor Earl is now only 2-3 weeks away from returning to full training at Melbourne Storm.
That is 8-10 weeks ahead of schedule.
It has been 1694 days (and counting) since Sandor Earl lan ran onto an NRL field.
However the 28-year-old winger is determined to put his hand up at the business end of the year if an opportunity arises to pull on the purple jersey.
"It's going to be one hell of a preseason by the time I'm done," Earl told the Sunday Herald Sun.
"I'm not coming back to ease into it or have a warm-up game ... I'm coming to smash it from the get go.
Read the full story in today's Sunday Herald Sun.


text:
ULTRA SIDE HUSTLE
Rachel's Quirky Corner
Mr. B
I'd been dreaming of having my own adventure mobile ever since I moved to Portland in 2014. The vision had gone through all types of iterations, 170" and 110" wheel base Sprinter vans, Ford Econolines and Astros. Tyler experienced a Toyota Previa on his 2017 TransAlaska Running Road Trip, with a motley crew of pals and he said it was the perfect little beast (not his words, but my interpretation). This was the nidus which began my search for a healthy Previa. I found one out in Sandy, OR with just under 250k miles, "runs like velvet," the Craigslist ad proudly proclaimed. After a few phone conversations with the seller, we planned a trip out there to check it out. Tyler picked me up from the Edgefield McMenamin's where I was at our annual MD/PhD retreat (my 4th!) and we headed out to Sandy to check out the red van from Craigslist.
Figure 1: Mr. B and I at the beach.
We quickly learned from the seller, Heather that the van had been her father's, and he passed away the year prior. He was the original owner and took meticulous notes of the maintenance done on the van, easily rivaling our fathers in terms of car upkeep, which is hard to imagine! We took a long test ride in the van, and we learned that Heather had attended the same school where Tyler teaches! I fell in love with the van and knew I'd be real sad to part with him, so I decided to buy him! It was such an incredible feeling driving back to Portland in my very first vehicle, feeling free! So excited, in fact that Tyler and I decided to drive out to the Oregon coast that night and have our very first adventure! We took out the back seats, threw in a foam pad and some sleeping materials and were on our way to Cannon Beach. We found a gravel parking lot right on the beach and snuggled up for our first night in Mr. B's tummy! I named him Mr. B after the late Theodore Henry Bokemeier, the original owner.
Figure 2: Mr. B pokin' on down the road. First adventure in Ecola State Park.
The next day we headed to Ecola State Park, where Mr. B enjoyed poking on down the fern-lined road. He isn't much of a zippy guy, but I think that's just what I need, to slow down and appreciate what's around me. We're grateful for him getting us to Ecola and waiting patiently while Ty and I got in a great forest bath, running from Ecola to Tillamook Head.
For Christmas last year, my brother gave me a coupon for helping me build out my van and, boy, did he follow through! Ryan and his girlfriend Kim flew out to Portland for a whirlwind weekend of Pimp My Ride, Mr. B edition. His egg-shaped body habitus made for some technical obstacles, but Ryan's engineering brain, Kim's architectural brain and my enthusiasm were up for the challenge! We'd planned out nearly everything prior to their arrival, complete with comprehensive blueprints and even a cardboard replica of the proposed buildout (Fig 3a-d) so we were ready to hit the ground running when they arrived. The plan was to build a "mud room" behind the passenger seat, where we would hang our muddy trail shoes, a cabinet system with custom wooden drawers and a work surface that could be used by someone in the back seat for doing work on the road.
We used our aunt's place in Hood River as a home base, and my future father in law,
Poppa Green, graciously lent us his arsenal of power tools. We did the entire build out in a day and a half, giving us time to enjoy the gorge and take the long way home through Government Camp
Sitting in Mr. B feels like the inside a snowglobe, amazing views but drafty windows. After a chilly night in the Enchantments I decided we needed insulated curtains. I drew inspiration from a local van couple and adopted their technique of sewing a fabric sleeve that would hold a piece of Reflectix (insulating material). There would be black fabric on the outside and patterned fabric facing inward. I wasn't much of a seamstress before, but I learned a lot from our family friend Sheri. She got me started and by the end I was flying solo!
Figure 3: (a-c) anatomical blueprints, (d) cardboard simulation, (e) Reflectix cut into the shape of a window, (f) first completed window covering, (g) grouchy sewing buddy Lily, (h) I'm really doin' it!, (i) all packed up and ready for an adventure with Poppa Bear, (j) sleep mode
Tyler and I had our first adventure with the new plush curtains just after Christmas when we drove up to Bellingham to explore the Chuckanut Mountains with one of my favorite trail runners, Yvonne who I'd met at the Sean O'Brien 100k last February! (She's also a pediatrician!) Our first night of sleep in Mr. B with the curtains was amazing! They provided insulation from the cool temps and the blackout curtains facilitated 10 hours of sleep! This was great for Tyler, especially as he was preparing for the Bandera 100k in less than a week.
Mr. B wears a lot of hats. He takes me to early morning forest runs with friends, pottery class, waits patiently outside lab late at night or on the weekends. He is also our beloved May Day basket delivery van!
Mr. B provides us with a warm and safe place to rejuvenate after difficult efforts on the trail. I'm exceedingly grateful for his existence and hope his story can empower others to experience the freedom of the road on a budget.
Figure 4: Goodnight Mr. B (Larrabee State Park)
©2018 by Ultra Side Hustle. Proudly created with Wix.com


How to Register - The Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc.
In order for The Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc. to maintain a high degree of integrity and effectiveness in our programs, it is essential that you understand the following information BEFORE enrolling in an F.A.S. course. Our courses fill rapidly -- often as far in advance as 6 weeks prior to the scheduled class. Guest-instructed courses often fill within weeks of their announcement on this website. Please register as early as you are able.
Read the course description, prerequisites and other requirements for students. Register by clicking the link at the bottom of desired course description.
* Online registration is preferred as it immediately reserves your place in class, many of which fill rapidly.
Print out and complete this registration form and send or Fax to F.A.S. at the address on the printable form.
* We advise that you call to check class availability before mailing in a registration form.
You may also register by phone by calling 1-360-978-6100, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m., Monday-Friday with VISA or MasterCard number.
Registrants are sent a confirmation letter, map to the range, and other information needed to attend the class.
Please understand that due to the advanced nature of the material presented, it is necessary to "screen" those private citizens to whom we teach police based, advanced self-defense and firearms instruction. F.A.S. requires a valid State Issued Concealed Weapons Permit, police ID or military ID, presented to the instructor before training begins for all courses except Level 1 Rifle, Defensive Shotgun, Fundamentals of Home Defense, Concealed Carry 101 and the Handgun Safety Seminar. Students in these programs will be required to sign a statement that they are legally allowed to own handguns prior to participation.
Deposits or prepaid tuition are required to register in a class and when you submit your registration you are committing to attend that class. Online registration is set up to handle the entire tuition fee, but if you prefer to make a non-refundable tuition deposit of 1/2 Tuition for multi-day classes, you can call us at 360-978-6100 and we will take your deposit by credit card and hold your spot in the class. Students are asked to prepay the full tuition for one-day classes or Special Interest Seminars.
Upon receipt of your payment and registration form, you will be sent maps and directions to the range, and all other information necessary to attend the classes, including equipment lists, and lodging information for Centralia/Chehalis. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to give us a call, Monday thru Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm.
It is necessary to pre-register for all F.A.S. classes.
Call us at 360-978-6100 or e-mail us at The Firearms Academy of Seattle, Inc. with your questions or click on the links at the left.


The Retired Racehorse Project announced trainer acceptances last week for the 2019 Thoroughbred Makeover and Symposium, presented by Thoroughbred Charities of America. Becoming an increasingly-popular event for off-track Thoroughbred lovers and often a gateway goal for first-time OTTB owners, the Makeover is in its fifth year in its current format and location. A total of 673 trainers and teams were accepted to compete October 2-5, 2019 at the Kentucky Horse Park.
Trainers come from 44 states and four Canadian provinces, representing professionals, amateurs, juniors and a new team entry format. For initial application, trainers selected a primary discipline in which they had the most experience, though they're not locked into entering this discipline for October. Eventing and show hunter are the most popular disciplines heading into the 2019 training period; a total of ten disciplines are represented at the Makeover including barrel racing, competitive trail, dressage, eventing, freestyle, field hunter, polo, show hunter, show jumper, and ranch work.
Several big names will be participating in this year's Makeover: world champion colt starter Dan James of Double Dan Horsemanship, world champion barrel racer Fallon Taylor, two-time Breeders' Cup-winning jockey Rosie Napravnik (now an eventer) and many more. Elisa Wallace is also returning to defend her title!
Trainers don't need to have selected their Makeover horses yet; in fact, some may not acquire their horses yet for several months. Others are well on their way in training already. Trainers will take to social media to share their progress; check out the #TBMakeover hashtag to follow along. We're also planning to line up some bloggers across all three Nation Media sites, so keep an eye out for those as well!
Find the full list of trainers at the Makeover website and follow their journeys!


text:
Jurassic World Evolution 2 è un videogioco gestionale pubblicato da Frontier Developments. Il gioco è uscito in versione digitale in tutto il mondo il 9 novembre 2021 per Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One e Xbox Series X e Series S.

Sequel di Jurassic World Evolution, uscito nel 2018, il gioco è basato sul franchise Jurassic Park ed è ambientato dopo gli eventi del film Jurassic World - Il dominio. Come per il primo capitolo, anche questo gioco include le voci di personaggi della saga di Jurassic Park e di Jurassic World tra cui Jeff Goldblum e Bryce Dallas Howard.

Modalità di gioco
Simile al predecessore, Jurassic World Evolution 2 è una simulazione aziendale in cui il giocatore costruisce un parco a tema preistorico di Jurassic World. Il gioco presenta più di 75 specie preistoriche, inclusi vari dinosauri, pterosauri e rettili marini. I giocatori devono costruire recinti, voliere e lagune per contenere questi animali e farli vedere ai visitatori. Questi animali hanno esigenze diverse, come il tipo di cibo che mangiano e l'estensione della forestazione di cui hanno bisogno nel loro habitat, che devono essere soddisfatte per mantenerli sani e tranquilli. Il gioco presenta un sistema di territorio dinamico che vede gli animali combattere l'uno contro l'altro per le risorse se vivono nello stesso habitat. I loro territori si spostano costantemente a seconda delle risorse disponibili nel loro habitat. Rispetto ai suoi predecessori, il gioco presenta un'intelligenza artificiale più complessa per le specie preistoriche, che ora cacciano in branco e interagiscono con gli altri in modo più frequente e realistico. Lo strumento del terreno è stato completamente rielaborato, con i giocatori che devono piantare gli alberi e gli arbusti appropriati per far mangiare gli erbivori.

I giocatori devono costruire varie strutture e reclutare scienziati per la ricerca e l'incubazione delle specie preistoriche. Gli scienziati reclutati offrono diversi vantaggi di gioco, ma i lavoratori oberati di lavoro e scontenti saboteranno il parco e lasceranno scappare intenzionalmente gli animali. Per incubare un animale preistorico, il giocatore deve prima estrarre il proprio DNA dai fossili. Il loro DNA può essere adattato per conferire agli animali tratti unici, come la resistenza a un certo tipo di malattia.  I giocatori devono anche reclutare ranger e veterinari per mantenere gli animali felici e in salute. Per intrattenere gli ospiti, i giocatori possono costruire diverse giostre come le Girosfere, che ora possono attraversare più recinti ed essere attaccate da animali preistorici. Gli ospiti sono suddivisi in diversi gruppi con interessi diversi. Ad esempio, gli amanti della natura sono più interessati a vedere gli erbivori, mentre gli avventurieri sono più interessati a vedere i carnivori. Anche servizi come servizi igienici, negozi di articoli da regalo e ristoranti devono essere costruiti e i giocatori possono personalizzarli con diversi moduli e decorazioni per soddisfare le esigenze dei diversi ospiti.

A differenza del primo gioco, ambientato in un arcipelago, Jurassic World Evolution 2 è ambientato negli Stati Uniti contigui e presenta vari biomi come foreste e deserti, ognuno dei quali offre sfide uniche per il giocatore mentre progetta i propri parchi. Le mappe presenti nel gioco sono significativamente più grandi di quelle del predecessore. Il gioco presenta varie modalità, inclusa una campagna ambientata dopo Jurassic World - Il regno distrutto, una modalità Chaos Theory che rivisita i momenti narrativi chiave dei film (come la costruzione della struttura di Jurassic Park vicino a San Diego, come si vede in Il mondo perduto - Jurassic Park) e le modalità Sfida e Sandbox. Jeff Goldblum e Bryce Dallas Howard tornano per fornire la voce rispettivamente a Ian Malcolm e Claire Dearing.

Sviluppo
Come il suo predecessore, Jurassic World Evolution 2 è stato sviluppato e pubblicato da Frontier Developments. Il gioco è stato annunciato da Jeff Goldblum nel giugno 2021 durante il Summer Game Fest. La modalità campagna del gioco è considerata canonica con i film, essendo ambientata prima del film del 2022 Jurassic World - Il dominio. Frontier ha lavorato a stretto contatto con la Universal Pictures, assicurandosi che il gioco si adattasse ai piani futuri dello studio per il franchise. La società ha avuto accesso alla raccolta di effetti sonori e colonne sonore dei film della Universal.

Distribuzione
Jurassic World Evolution 2 è stato rilasciato nel mondo il 9 novembre 2021 per Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One e Xbox Series X e Series S. I giocatori che hanno preordinato il gioco riceveranno tre skin per veicoli ispirate a Il mondo perduto - Jurassic Park.

DLC e aggiornamenti
Come il suo predecessore, Jurassic World Evolution 2 è stato supportato dopo il lancio con il rilascio di DLC a pagamento e aggiornamenti gratuiti. Il primo DLC, Early Cretaceous Pack, è stato rilasciato un mese dopo il lancio del gioco e aggiunge quattro creature di quell'era. Il secondo pacchetto DLC aggiunge dinosauri provenienti dalla serie animata Jurassic World - Nuove avventure ed è stato rilasciato l'8 marzo 2022. La prima espansione del gioco, Dominion Biosyn Expansion, presenta una nuova campagna, nuove specie e nuove apparizioni basate su Jurassic World - Il dominio ed è stata rilasciata il 14 giugno 2022, quattro giorni dopo l'uscita del film negli Stati Uniti. Il pacchetto del tardo Cretaceo rilasciato il 15 settembre 2022 ha aggiunto quattro specie: Barbaridactylus, Styxosaurus, Australovenator e Alamosaurus.

Accoglienza
Il gioco ha ricevuto recensioni generalmente positive al momento del rilascio secondo l'aggregatore di recensioni Metacritic.

PCGames N ha assegnato al gioco 7 su 10: "Migliora il suo predecessore in modi intelligenti e vanta ancora i dinosauri più belli mai realizzati in un gioco. Ma affrontare eventi disastrosi al di fuori del tuo controllo non è ancora divertente, anche se è in tema con Jurassic Park".

Le prime vendite su PC sono state inferiori alle aspettative, poiché il gioco è stato rilasciato durante la stessa settimana di molti altri giochi per PC di alto profilo. Le versioni per console domestica sono state vendute come previsto e il gioco ha avuto circa 500.000 giocatori su tutte le piattaforme entro due settimane dalla sua uscita. Frontier si aspettava che il gioco avrebbe raccolto maggiori entrate rispetto al suo predecessore entro il suo primo anno, in parte a causa dell'imminente rilascio di Jurassic World - Il dominio.

Note

Voci correlate
 Jurassic Park (franchise)
 Jurassic World Evolution

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Videogiochi di Jurassic Park


text:
Q: Void Pointers : how to use as a general class pointer? I have two cpp classes let's say ClassA and ClassB. I have two pointers that points accordingly to that classes, let's say pointerA and pointerB. Now I have a generic void* pointer that I want to point either ClassA or to ClassB depending some conditions. In this case get error  error C2227: left of '->GetPosition' must point to class/struct/union/generic type type is 'void *'.
How to avoid this kind of errors ?
ClassA {
   void GetPosition();
}

ClassB {
   void GetPosition();
}

main() {

   ClassA  *pointerA;
   ClassB  *pointerB;
   void    *generic_pointerAorB;

   pointerA = GetAddrOfClassA();
   pointerB = GetAddrOfClassB()

   generic_pointer = pointerA;

   //********************** error at the code below ******************************
   //error C2227: left of '->GetPosition' must point to class/struct/union/generic type.
   //type is 'void *'

   generic_pointer->GetPosition();

   //*****************************************************************************

}

A: A void pointer doesn't have a method called GetPosition, and the pointer itself can't possibly know it's pointing to one of your classes, since it stores the memory address, not the type. You need to use a cast:
reinterpret_cast<ClassA*>(generic_pointerAorB)->GetPosition();

But to be honest, you should do something else - derive the classes from some base class which has an virtual GetPosition() method, and then declare a pointer to the base class.
class Base{
   virtual void GetPosition();

ClassA: public Base {
   void GetPosition();
}

ClassB: public Base {
   void GetPosition();
}

main(){
   Base* basePointer;
   // <-- other code here
   basePointer = pointerA;
   basePointer->GetPosition();

A: You cannot dereference a void * type.
The reason is simple, the compiler cannot know by void * type that how much memory is actually pointed to by generic_pointer (in your case).
Use it this way:
((ClassA*)generic_pointer)->GetPosition();
or equivalently,
((ClassB*)generic_pointer)->GetPosition();

A: If you are using C++, a better way to do it would be to define a dummy base class
class Base
{
public:
   virtual void GetPosition();
};

Then derive both ClassA and ClassB from Base
class ClassA: public Base
{
   void GetPosition();
}

class ClassB: public Base
{
   void GetPosition();
}

Then in your program instead of declaring void*, use Base*;
Base* generic_pointer;

Then instead of casting,
generic_pointer->GetPosition();


A senior education department official in Malaysia has received a death threat via a letter demanding the transfer of a school principal, Malay Mail Online reports.
Upon receiving the threat on January 25, the official contacted police who seized the letter and are now investigating the matter.
"In the letter, the writer had wanted the complainant to transfer the principal of Sekolah Menengah Kebangsaan Dr. Burhanuddin Taiping before Chinese New Year," a police source told Malay Mail Online.
Initial investigations showed no names were attached in the letter, nor was there an address of the sender.
"The letter was sent via normal post but the envelope had been discarded by the complainant's personal assistant," said the source.
The case is being investigated under Section 507 of the Penal Code for criminal intimidation.


Introducing our brand new innovative THRIVE fitness systems! Thrive fitness systems accommodate multiple users at once, reducing wait times and providing a wide range of training options at every station. Thrive makes it fun and easy for people of all fitness levels to spend more time outdoors training for sports, races or everyday life. Check it out in our 2018 Fitness Catalog now!
GTfit Base Series outdoor fitness equipment is a fun and flexible way to create fitness areas for adults in your Greater Vancouver or British Columbia community. GTfit Base Series approach groups a selection of strength, endurance or core fitness equipment adjacent to a playground. Parents can enjoy a full body workout while their children are playing on the playground. GameTime designs the outdoor fitness area with clear site lines to the playground equipment so parents and children can easily see one another.
GTfit Advanced Series products are designed to look like products you might find in a professional health club. The clean lines and gentle curves make the products inviting to new users. Moreover, our Vancouver outdoor fitness equipment experts used advanced anthropometrics and ergonomics to design the seats, hand grips, pedals and handles to create a comfortable exercise experience for adults of all shapes, sizes and fitness levels.
With so many GTfit Fitness Stations to choose from, it's easy to design a dedicated fitness park that will help every member of your community achieve his or her personal fitness goals. From college freshman to working parents to senior citizens, people of all ages can benefit from an GTfit Elite Series Training Area. Install your GTfit Fitness Stations at regular intervals so users walk or jog between fitness activities to maintain an elevated heart rate throughout the training session. Consider a separate green space for stretching, group fitness and other activities like sports team training.
Give Suttle Recreatoin a call today at 604.293.1569 for more information about Outdoor Fitness Equipment in Vancouver or the rest of BC.
To see more of what we offer, visit our products page.


Our next meeting will be held at Cannock Chase Hospital, 3rd floor conference room on Monday 18th March at 18:30.
We are delighted Dr Chalam from the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust will be attending the meeting to talk about lupus & bone health as well as answering questions from the audience. Dr Chalam will also give details of the equipment to be purchased with money donated from The Hibbs Lupus Trust.
This is a great opportunity for people living with lupus to meet and share experiences with others in a similar situation.


Police investigate fatal shooting in 1700 block of North 127th – Welcome to Wyandotte Daily!
Kansas City, Kansas, police have initiated a homicide investigation into the death of a man from apparent gunshot wounds Saturday night in the 1700 block of North 127th Street.
At about 11 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, police responded to a disturbance call at the address and found a man in his late 40s, dead from apparent gunshot wounds to the abdomen.
The victim was inside the residence. The area is near Delaware Parkway.
The identity of the victim is being withheld until positive identification and family notification, police said.
The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department's Criminal Investigations Division is investigating. Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS hotline at 816-474-TIPS.


text:
Prophet Muhammad was a man of impeccable character. He was born among the idol worshippers but he never worshipped an idol even during his childhood and never participated in activities which would in any way lead to idol worship. He was born a Haneef and remained as such till he was divinely commissioned to Prophethood at the ripe age of forty. He was a man known for his matchless integrity and honesty. He never told a lie. This was testified by Abu Sufiyan when in the court of Emperor Heracles of Byzantine he admitted that the Prophet never lied and always adhered to his commitments. On account of his reputation as the most trustworthy person in Makkah, he became the custodian of people's property. The polytheists continued to trust him even after the commencement of his Prophetic mission. He had the natural gift of intellect and ingenuity and could resolve difficult problems peacefully without displeasing and embarrassing any one. This was eloquently illustrated when the issue of fixing the black stone (Hajr al-Aswad) in its place turned into a critical issue of conflict and confrontation among the leading tribes of Makkah, He resolved the issue gracefully, made them all happy, honoured and satisfied. They gladly agreed that Muhammad, the man, should fix the stone in its place. That he was a man of noble character is even testified by the Qur'an. "And verily you O Muhammad are an exalted standard of character" (Nun; 68:4)
His role as a Prophet abundantly illustrated that because of his strong spirituality, he was above all temptations and no amount of worldly pleasure and wealth could tempt him from his chosen path of conveying the divine message of unity and supremacy of Allah and fulfilling his mission. In Makkah, he was subjected to severest hardship and even threat to his life. He stood firm against all odds. Even under these inhuman and brutal conditions his noble qualities of honesty, justice and truthfulness were never abandoned. He adhered to them even more firmly. He forced Abu Jahal to pay the right price for the camels he had bought from a trader from outside Makkah. Before his migration to Madinah he asked Ali to hand over to the owners of the articles they had left in his custody. He was brave and fearless, for he feared only Allah. He was always soft spoken, mild mannered, pleasant tempered. He was always patient and seldom lost his temper. He was never rude, or rough or indecent in his behaviour but always tolerant even under harshest conditions. Indeed he was a perfect human being. No one like him was born before him and none will be born after him. Despite these super human qualities he always stressed that he was a human being like any other human. This point has been repeatedly stressed in the Qur'an also.
In Madinah, the role of the Prophet dramatically changed. Firstly he moved in a totally different social and cultural environment. Besides being a Prophet performing missionary activities, he had to act as a political leader and head of an Islamic State which he had founded. He had to act as a military leader because he had to fight many battles for the survival of Islam and for the existence and stability of the infant state of Madinah. He excelled in his role as the head of a state and ensured not only the survival of the state of Madinah but also its emergence as a militarily powerful state between the two great empires; Roman in the North and West and Persian in the North and East. He excelled as a military leader and military strategist. His human qualities were in full display when he assumed political power as the head of a state. He was ever graceful, merciful, generous, tolerant and mild tempered as ever. His Prophetic qualities and divine support in some of his crucial battles were in full display. Some of the miraculous conversions both in Makkah and in Madinah reflect strongly on his magnetic qualities and character as Prophet.
Muhammad (saws) as a Man:
As stated earlier, the Prophet always used to say that he was a human being like any other person and liable to err. He was mildly reprimanded also by Allah for some of the errors of omission inadvertently committed by him. As for instance in Chapter 80 (Abasa) the Qur'an is critical that the Prophet ignored the blind man and was irritated with him who was sincere and keen to learn about Islam while Prophet was busy explaining Islam to some rich and prominent tribal leaders who cared little about it (Abasa; 80:1-7). The Prophet was again mildly reprimanded in Chapter 18, Surah Al-Kahaf, when he forgot to say 'Insha Allah' when he told the polytheists that he would tell them the next day the facts about the men of the caves. He was put in an embarrassing position when Jibrael did not descend with the revelation for a few days (Al-Kahaf; 18:23-24). These were mere reminders that a Prophet should be careful when he talks and what he talks. Nonetheless Prophet Muhammad enjoyed a most honoured position in divine estimation. He enjoyed a most elevated status in the eyes of Allah (Alam Nashrah; 94:1-4) and who enjoyed the highest blessings of Allah and whose all sins past, present and future were pardoned by Allah (Al-Fath; 48:l-3). He also conferred on Prophet Muhammad the unique and glorified title of "Mercy unto the worlds." (Al-Anbiya; 21:107).
Consultation with the companions and building up consensus was the key policy that the Prophet adopted in his decision making process. Before the Battle of Badr, the Qur'an revealed two alternatives to the Muslims with assured success in either case. On one side was a huge stock of worldly wealth, which could be easily accessed and over-powered while on the other side, was going to be a hard fought and well earned victory over the polytheists, which would demoralize them with their shock defeat at the hands of the Muslims. The majority was in favour of the easy option but the Prophet and a few of his companions wanted to opt for a difficult course of action which he argued would benefit Islam most. He managed to persuade them to agree to his view point and we are aware of the tremendous impact on the future growth of Islam because of the remarkable victory in the Battle of Badr. As regards the Battle of Uhud, the majority was in favour of moving out of the city of Madinah and draw battle lines in the background of the mountain of Uhud. Initially the Prophet and Abdullah bin Ubaiy were against this idea but the Prophet eventually agreed to the majority viewpoint and marched out with his forces to meet the enemy. The consultative process was again helpful in deciding about the strategy in the Battle of Trench. While he was discussing with the companions about the strategy to be adopted in meeting the challenge of the mighty confederate forces that Salman Farsi came out with the bright idea of digging a deep and sufficiently wide trench to prevent the enemy from attacking the city. It was enthusiastically welcomed by all and promptly implemented. The Prophet always welcomed and encouraged such innovative and ingenious ideas. It was only in the Treaty of Hudaibiya that the Prophet went against the majority point of view. In signing the Treaty of Hudaibiya, he was being divinely guided. The Companions were not far-sighted enough to visualize the underlying beneficial consequences. It was only when Surah Al-Fath (The Victory) was revealed and stated that the Treaty was "Manifest Victory" (Al-Fath; 48:1) that the companions could appreciate its significance in the history of Islam.
The companions recognized the dual role of the Prophet, one as a Prophet of Allah when his decisions were based on the light of divine revelations. They will never challenge these decisions, implicitly accept them and implement them. However, if it was Prophet's personal decision then they would politely and respectfully discuss its pros and cons with him and the Prophet would gladly welcome it.
As for instance, in the Battle of Badr, the Prophet marched out with his force to the springs of Badr and camped near a small spring. Meanwhile, ibn al-Mundhar arrived, asked the Prophet if he was divinely guided to camp at that spot or it was his personal decision. When the Prophet replied that it was his personal decision then ibn al-Mundhar suggested a better strategy of camping near the biggest spring well which will prevent the enemy from accessing water. The Prophet appreciated the suggestion, accepted and implemented it. In another situation during the Battle of the Trench the Muslim forces were encircled and overpowered by the superiority in equipment and number of the confederate forces. He therefore thought of weaning away the Ghatfan from the confederate forces and conceived of a plan to break and weaken the coalition by offering the leaders of Ghatfan one third of the dates of Madinah if they agreed to break away from the coalition and return to their lands. Before implementing his plans he consulted the two Sa'ds, leaders of Aus and Khazraj. The Sa'ds asked the apostle; "Is it a thing you want us to do or something Allah has ordered you which we must carry out." The Apostle replied it was his idea; "By God I would not do it, Sa'd bin Mundhar respectfully rejected Apostle's move and said; "Now after Allah has honoured and guided us to Islam and made us famous through you, are we to give them our property? We certainly will not. We will give them nothing but sword until Allah decides between us". The Apostle said; "You shall have it so." Sa'd erased what was written in the draft treaty saying; "Let them do their worst against us."
Women in Madinah were socially more active and the Prophet fully protected their right to speak and listen to their views. His daughter Zaynab gave protection to her polytheist husband Abul 'As without the knowledge of her father. She announced it next morning in the mosque. He recognized her right and that of any woman to grant protection. Bararah, a slave girl of Ayesha, was granted her freedom. She was married to slave and had children from him. As soon as she earned her freedom she wanted to break relations with her slave husband who loved her immensely. Nonetheless she insisted on divorce. The Prophet advised her against it and suggested that she should reconsider her decision. She very politely asked the Prophet if it was the command of Allah or his personal advice. The Prophet told her that it was his personnel advice. Then she respectfully told him that she did not accept it. The Prophet respected her decision and finalized the divorce proceedings. It is thus very clear that no woman should be forced to continue her marriage with a man she does not want to live with.
The Prophet encouraged the critical faculty of both men and women and never curtailed their freedom even if it implied a criticism of his own policy. This is also highlighted by the fact that when Mua'dh bin Jabal was appointed Governor of Yemen, the Prophet asked him as to how he would judge and decide matters. Mua'dh replied,"Through the Book of Allah." Muhammad then asked if you find nothing in the Book of Allah?" Mua'dh replied: "I shall judge according to the tradition of Allah's Messenger." The Prophet further asked if you find nothing in the Messenger's tradition." Mua'dh answered; "I shall exercise my own intellect to reach a decision." The Prophet was immensely satisfied and pleased.
Prophet's love for nature and animals was great. He forbade the cutting of trees or destruction of standing crops during wars except under compelling circumstances. In his view quenching of thirst of a dog was rewarding as quenching the thirst of a man. A man went down a well to drink water when he came out he found a thirsty dog. He went back into the well, filled his shoe with water, and quenched the thirst of the dog. According to Prophet it was a most rewarding deed. Similarly, in his march to Makkah in 8 Hijra which led to its conquest, he found a litter of puppies and wanted to protect them from being trampled upon. He assigned the duty to a Muslim soldier to see that the puppies were fully protected.
The Prophet welcomed virtues and goodness irrespective of the quarter it came from. He was always proud of being a participant in the covenant of Hilful Fudul in the house of Abdullah bin Jundal al-Tayami when he was only twenty years of age. Its object was to protect the weak against the oppression of the strong. Although this covenant was agreed in the Jahiliya Period he was always proud of his participation even after the commencement of his Prophetic mission. (Moinul Haq; op. cit., pp:89-90) He did not hesitate to use the services of non-believers where their services were professionally required. His guide and camel driver during his migration to Madinah was a non-Muslim Bedouin Abdullah bin Uraiqu't. His most trustworthy confidant in Makkah, besides Abu Bakr, was his own polytheist uncle Abbas bin Abdul Muttalib.
Similarly he favoured cultural assimilation if it did not go against the fundamentals of Islamic creed and values. When he migrated to Madinah he had moved to a totally different social and cultural environment. He saw no harm in assimilating some of the values cherished by the Madinites. Similarly he saw no harm in his wife Ayesha watching and listening to the song of traditional singing girls. He had also observed that the Ansars always enjoyed singing by professional singing girls during marriages. He arranged to send two singing girls to the house of an Ansar where a marriage function was being held.
The Prophet never got easily provoked. Once a Bedouin came to meet him. The Bedouin stayed in the mosque for some time and urinated in it. The companions rushed to beat him. The Prophet said; "Leave him alone just throw a bucket full of water on his urine." and added; "God is gentle (haleem) and loves gentleness. There are in you two qualities that Allah loves: clemency ('afu) and fore-bearance (sabr), "nobleness" and "tolerance". These are the very essence of Prophet's teaching (Ramadhan; op. cit., p.:l13).
Prophet's tolerance was indeed proverbial. A delegation of sixteen leading Najran Christian called on the Prophet. They owed allegiance to the orthodox Christian sect head-quartered in Constantinople. They came to question him about Islam and to learn if his mission was a continuation of the mission of Christ as also the culmination of his mission. Before their departure, some of the Christians wanted to say their prayer inside the mosque. The companions were against it but the Prophet allowed them to perform it right in the mosque. They prayed inside the mosque facing east with their cross in front of them. It was a great moral lesson to his companions: "They were to draw from it the substance of the respect that Islam demands of its faithful, whom it invites to go beyond tolerance, to learn, listen and recognize other's dignity." (Ramadhan; op. cit., p:16)
The Prophet strictly advised and taught his companions never to act in vengeance. After the conquest of Makkah, lkrima bin Abu Jahal came to the Prophet to offer his allegiance to Islam. As the Prophet sighted lkrima he told his Companions "Ikrimah, Abu Jahal's son, is coming as a believer. Do not insult his father for insulting the dead hurts the living without reaching the dead." (Ramadhan; op. cit., p:78)
The Prophet was thus a great teacher in human behavior, etiquette and spiritual acquisition. Towards the end of his life in Madinah he was the ruler of the powerful Islamic State. He could have lived an affluent life but he chose to live the life of the poor and completely identified himself with them and continued to serve them till the end of his life. He respected the dignity and honour of others and was tolerant to the maximum extent. He signed the Hudaibiya treaty on their terms because he never wanted to humiliate the Quraysh and hurt their ego and honour. He gave a powerful lesson in clemency, tolerance, generosity and respect for other religions, when he allowed the Christians of Najran to offer their prayer in the mosque. He was brave and courageous in the battle fields but an epitome of humility in times of victory. The conquest of Makkah eloquently testifies to it. After the conquest of Makkah he was not revengeful. He never acted with vengeance and granted amnesty to all Makkans whether believers or non-believers. The bloodless conquest of Makkah was and has remained till to date unexcelled and without parallel in the annals of history.


In two days, even though the "real feel" might tell us otherwise, winter will officially be behind us. With that in mind, I decided to turn to a classic recipe to welcome Spring and urge it to hasten its arrival; Spaghetti alla Primavera.
Primavera supposedly has its genesis in New York City during the 1970's, though I have seen similar dishes on Trattoria menus in Italy. With that said, I made a wonderful version last night and thought I'd share it.
The key to this recipe is getting everything chopped and then sauteing the vegetables in a certain order so they're all cooked properly when the dish is done. First, steam the broccoli and set aside.
In a pan large enough to hold all the vegetables and pasta, begin cooking the onions and garlic in some olive oil until they begin to soften, about 3 minutes over medium heat. Add the carrots and cook, stirring occasionally until softened, about 5 minutes. Add a drizzle of olive oil if need be. At this point, begin cooking the Spaghetti and then add the scallions and peppers to the pan.
Next, add the mushrooms. You want to slice them into smaller pieces – I quartered them first – so that they'll cook quickly. The goal is to have little bits of vegetables clinging to the Spaghetti; not large chunks that you're forced to stab with a fork. After the mushrooms soften, add the chicken stock and cream and stir through. Check seasoning and adjust salt and pepper if needed.
The steamed broccoli goes in next. Make sure it's cooked to your liking because all it will do at this point is get warmed through with the peas.
Check seasoning one last time and then once the pasta is cooked, drain directly to the pan and toss through. Garnish with chopped parsley or basil if desired and serve!
Wine pairing for this dish is fairly easy. I'd suggest a crisp, dry Tuscan white such as Vernaccia di San Gimignano from either Castello di Montauto or Campochiarenti. If you really want to go red, I'd think a crisp Barbera d'Alba or even a slightly chilled Lambrusco would be great!


The most common cheat foods have got to be cheese, pizza, pasta, and ice cream…right? Yes, I've come up with paleo pizza recipes, but there are still two pizza places out there that have me beat! Tonight I got extra creative in the kitchen because the gym is about to start a 60 day paleo challenge and I want to help my fellow Paleo Princess get through the next three months without a cheat day! I'm really excited about this recipe. Does it take some time to put together? Yes. Is it worth it? Yes.
Chop tops off garlic heads to expose cloves. Wrap garlic heads in aluminum foil and bake at 350°F until the exposed gloves are browned and the garlic is soft, 45-60 minutes. Rice cauliflower in your food processor and combine all crust ingredients into a dough. Spread crust over a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake crust at 450°F for 15 minutes. For the sauce, squeeze the roasted garlic out of the bulb and into your food processor. Clean, thinly slice, and saute two leeks in 1/2 tbl. olive oil until tender. Add leeks, coconut milk beverage, olive oil, xanthan gum, kosher salt and red pepper flake to garlic in the food processor and blend until smooth. Spread sauce over crust. Top with prosciutto and chicken. Whisk together 2 tbl. olive oil and 1 tbl. lemon juice and toss with arugula. Top the pizza with half of the arugula and bake at 450°F for an additional 10-15 minutes. Optional: top finished pizza with remaining arugula.
I can't wait to make this!! It was SO good!!!! It will get me through this challenge 🙂 Pizza has become a weakness!
Xanthan gum is a binder/thickener, it will help the sauce hold together with the right consistency. So glad you liked the pizza!!!