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Best's Insurance News & Analysis
AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited
Luca Patron
luca.patron@ambest.com
Tim Prince
Director, Analytics
timothy.prince@ambest.com
Christopher Sharkey
Manager, Public Relations
+1 908 439 2200, ext. 5159
christopher.sharkey@ambest.com
Jim Peavy
james.peavy@ambest.com
LONDON - JANUARY 10, 2020
AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating of B (Fair) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating of "bb+" of Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited (CAI) (Nigeria). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. CAI is the wholly owned non-life subsidiary of Custodian Investment Plc.
The ratings reflect CAI's balance sheet strength, which AM Best categorises as very strong, as well as its strong operating performance, limited business profile and marginal enterprise risk management (ERM).
CAI's balance sheet strength is underpinned by its risk-adjusted capitalisation at the strongest level, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR), and a prudent dividend policy. Partially offsetting these balance sheet factors is the quality of CAI's assets, which are mainly non-investment grade investments, and its high dependence on reinsurance. The ratings also factor in the company's exposure to high levels of economic risk, and very high levels of political and financial system risk associated with operating exclusively in Nigeria. AM Best expects the ongoing development of CAI's ERM framework to be a positive factor in sustaining the company's balance sheet strength. In particular, the company's internal risk-based capital model has started to support strategic decision making in areas such as reinsurance placement and capital management.
CAI has a leading market position within its domestic market; however, its business profile is limited to Nigeria. The company has a track record of strong technical and overall profitability, as illustrated by a five-year average (2014-2018) combined ratio and return on equity of 87.6% and 23.6% (as calculated by AM Best), respectively. Over the past three years, the company has benefited from significant foreign exchange gains related to the devaluation of the Nigerian Naira against the US Dollar, as it holds approximately two-thirds of its liquid assets in foreign currencies. AM Best expects the return in 2019 to remain robust, helped by a reduction in the loss ratio.
This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper media use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best press releases, please view Guide for Media - Proper Use of Best's Credit Ratings and AM Best Rating Action Press Releases.
AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data provider specialising in the insurance industry. The company does business in more than 100 countries. Headquartered in Oldwick, NJ, AM Best has offices in cities around the world, including London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City.
For information about each company, including the Best's Credit Reports, group members (where applicable) and news stories, click on the company name. An additional purchase may be required.
AMB#
033868 Custodian Investment Plc
093617 Custodian and Allied Insurance Limited


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Feb 07, 2023 at 3:00 pm Invasive Species - Impacts & Identification
Feb 27, 2023 at 6:30 pm Cuyahoga SWCD Board Meeting
Mar 01, 2023 at 10:00 am Master Rain Gardener | March 2023 | In-person

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Norfolk under-5s to receive swine flu jabs
Dan Grimmer
dan.grimmer@archant.co.uk
@dangrimmer24
Children under five will now be offered the swine flu vaccine, health bosses revealed today.
NHS Norfolk has announced that an agreement has been made with local GPs for them to offer the jab to this next target group in the vaccination campaign.
The plans mean parents with children aged from six months to five years will soon be contacted by their GP practice to invite their child along to a vaccination session.
Children who are in this age group are the focus of phase two of the swine flu vaccination campaign, as national trends show they may be particularly vulnerable to the virus.
Dr Ian Hume, a GP and chairman of the Local Medical Committee, said: "I am very pleased to say that GPs will be offering children under five the vaccination against the swine flu vaccine. We know that children can be particularly vulnerable to the virus and this strain may be around for a number of years, so it is essential that parents take their child to receive the vaccination when they are invited."
The arrangement with local GPs comes after discussions between NHS Norfolk, the Local Medical Committee and the GPs themselves.
Following the agreement between these parties for GPs to provide the vaccinations to the children, practices will now be collating a list of patients who are in the relevant age group.


Cincinnati Food Tours has been sharing food, culture, and history since 2012. We specialize in walking tasting tours of Findlay Market and Over-the-Rhine. Public, private, and corporate food tours are available as well as information only and custom tours for your group. We also offer step-on, step-off Cincinnati Bell Connector Streetcar tours and have step-on guides available for your charter bus groups. If you want to explore the Cincinnati culinary scene, we can make it happen!


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Home ›Healthy Lifestyle Blog ›Perth Wildcats Stay Healthy With HIF
Perth Wildcats Stay Healthy With HIF
HIF News
ByHIF Australia
HIF and the Perth Wildcats are pleased to announce a renewed three-year partnership, which will see the association between the two Western Australian organisations extend to the end of the 2020/21 NBL season.
We first commenced a major partnership with the Wildcats in the 2013/14 NBL season and in that time have shared in the success of three NBL championships.
As the proud Diamond Partner, we'll continue to have its logo adorn the back of the Wildcats playing jersey and as such will be well immersed in the Wildcats famous Red Army of passionate supporters.
Perth Wildcats chief executive officer Troy Georgiu was delighted to see HIF reaffirm its commitment to the club.
"Having partners closely aligned to the Perth Wildcats culture and its values is extremely important. Like the Wildcats, HIF is a very proud and highly successful Western Australian brand and one that is committed to looking after and rewarding its members," said Georgiu.
"This demonstration of loyalty and long term commitment is a testament to the strength of our relationship and one that we are very grateful for."
HIF Managing Director Graeme Gibson is just as pleased to be continuing to build upon the partnership for another three years.
"The Perth Wildcats are an important part of the West Australian community and, having been founded in Perth back in 1954, HIF very much has its heart in WA," said Mr Gibson.
"Something that is central to HIF and the Perth Wildcats success is ensuring members are always put first. It is also important that you remain true to your core values - an admirable quality I believe we share with the Perth Wildcats."
As a part of the extended partnership, Perth Wildcats members will also receive a bonus 2017/18 Wildcats jersey when they purchase HIF Hospital & Extras Cover, along with a limited edition co-branded HIF membership card. Visit hif.com.au/fan for more details on this exclusive offer.
Category:HIF News
Health Insurance or "Self-Insurance"? What You Need to Know
Have you ever heard of the term "self-insurance"? It's being referred to as an alternative to the traditional process of taking out a health insurance policy as a safety net. But can you really afford to self-insure and is it the safest option? According to finance and insurance expert, Bessie Hassan from finder.com.au, "The answer is probably not. You never really know when a medical issue can pop up and how much it's going to cost you, the reality is that not everyone can afford to fork out $35,000 when the time comes." With this in mind, Bessie discusses the importance of having health insurance and being covered if the worst happened.
Introducing our New HIF Member App
Did you know there's a new and improved HIF Member app? Replacing our previous SmartClaim app, we've now made it even easier to make a claim and access your membership info, policy details and claims history all in one place. It's just one more way we're making a 'hifference' for our Members.
A Breakdown of Some of the Major Changes of the Health Insurance Reforms
Late last year, the government announced changes to the private health insurance industry in Australia. The goal was to make health cover more affordable, relatable and accessible to everyday Australians who may think that health insurance is not that easy to get. The changes, which will be rolled out gradually between now and February 2020, are mapped out in a 22-page document – not the most digestible format for everyday Australians! With this in mind, we caught up with finance and insurance expert, Bessie Hassan from Finder.com.au to breakdown some of the major health reform changes and how might they affect you.


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The name "Muszyna" probably originated from the Latin word musci which means "moss". Mosses used to grow on the banks of the town's brooks. Today, Muszyna is also associated with greenery and healing waters. Nevertheless, this picturesque town in Lesser Poland is a destination not just for those seeking therapy in sanatoria (health resorts). With its numerous monuments, a lime-tree nature reserve, foot and bike trails and above all, "wellness rooms", Muszyna is the town for people who appreciate the beauty of Polish mountains.
Muszyna TOURISM
Muszyna is a famous spa resort, attracting many tourists annually. It caters to those recuperating in the numerous sanatoria. But anyone can take part in the traditional spa culture of using the "wellness rooms" and drinking the free restorative mineral waters. Muszyna is not only a perfect place for those seeking wellness but also for leisure travellers. Every year the town organises festivals such as:
• Festyn Nad Popradem (Picnic by the Poprad river),
• Noc Świętojańska nad Popradem (St. John's Day by the Poprad river),
• Święto Wód Mineralnych (Mineral Water Day) and
• Jesień Popradzka (Fall in The Poprad).
Festivals asides, travellers can visit Obrozyska, located not too far from the town center, which has an extensive lime-tree nature reserve with the total area of 100 ha. Further points of interest include the Jewish cemetery, ruins of the elders' castle from the 15th century and the 18th century St. John of Nepomuk chapel.
Muszyna is also an ideal place for winter breaks. Connected by 10 ski slopes to the neighbouring town of Wierchomla Mala, it is ideal for winter sports. There are ample opportunities for sleigh rides, a treat for both children and adults. In spring, summer and fall, outdoors enthusiasts will enjoy hiking and biking along the town's trails, play tennis or dip in one of the numerous indoor and outdoor pools. The large forests around Muszyna are paradise for mushroom pickers and hunters.
Muszyna is a picturesque town in Lesser Poland situated at the altitude of 500 m above sea level. It lies in the Poprad river valley, 5 km from the border with Slovakia and 11 km from Krynica Zdroj. The Poprad Landscape Park, one of the biggest Polish parks, is in the vicinity.
The town is quite small with a total area of 23.96 km2 and population of 4,980. However, the visitor number increases greatly during summer season. Due to its mild mountain climate well suited for those with allergies and respiratory ailments, Muszyna attracts hundreds of tourists every year.
Muszyna's origins are strongly connected with an old "Hungarian" trade route that stretched along the Poprad river valley. The first records of the town are from 1209. It started as a colony belonging to the Niegowicki family. In 1288 Muszyna was inherited by Krakow bishops. However, two centuries later as a result of an argument with Jan Muskata, one of the bishops, it was handed over to King Wladyslaw I the Elbow-High. The next 80 years saw Muszyna under the reigns of Polish monarchs. The colony obtained town rights in 1356.
In 1391 Wladyslaw II Jagiello established an agreement with the bishops, resulting in the bishops regaining possession of Muszyna. From then on, the town was treated as an independent area with its own administrative and legislative systems, and its own army. Although Muszyna was legally bishop-owned, the real power was in hands of the so-called "elders". The most famous of these "elders" was Stanislaw Kepinski, a close friend to the outstanding Polish poet Jan Kochanowski.
Muszyna remained the bishops' property until 1781. After the partitions of Poland it fell under Austrian rule. It was in 20th century when the town was reunited with Poland and in the 20s it gained fame as a spa town. Unfortunately, the Second World War led to a complete devastation of the resort and only in 1958 it started to function as a spa again. These days, the spa is a destination for people with respiratory ailments and allergies.
Province: Lesser Poland
Accommodation: Muszyna hotels
Would you like to visit Muszyna? Browse the catalog of Poland tours
Pearls of the East 2023 dates available
undiscovered small cities in Eastern Poland
wild nature in Biebrza and Bialowieski National Parks (UNESCO)
small, exclusive groups for a maximum of 15 people


This wide variety of scripture from both the Old and New Testaments is suitable to be read at your baby's funeral or memorial service. If these scriptures don't suit you, certainly any passage of scripture that is meaningful to you would be acceptable. And, remember, funerals can be anything the family would like, so if there is nothing here that speaks to you, you might want to try secular poetry or passages for the service.
These selections were all taken from the Revised Standard Version (RSV). Consult with your priest or minister for the exact wording that will be available to you.
At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?" And calling to him a child, he put him in the midst of them, and said, "Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me"
"See that you do not despise one of these little ones; for I tell you that in heaven their angels always behold the face of my Father who is in heaven. What do you think? If a man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go in search of the one that went astray? And if he finds it, truly, I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine that never went astray. So it is not the will of my Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones should perish."
At that time Jesus declared, "I thank thee, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that thou hast hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to babes; yea, Father, for such was thy gracious will. All things have been delivered to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
And they were bringing children to him, that he might touch them; and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it he was indignant, and said to them, "Let the children come to me, do not hinder them; for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it." And he took them in his arms and blessed them, laying his hands upon them.
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose. What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, will he not also give us all things with him?
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life. We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
We know that our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin. For he who has died is freed from sin. But if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him. For we know that Christ being raised from the dead will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him.
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the spirit of sonship. When we cry, "Abba! Father!" it is the Spirit himself bearing witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him.
But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction, and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them.
In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them forever. Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.
But the righteous man, though he die early, will be at rest. For old age is not honored for length of time, nor measured by number of years; but understanding is gray hair for men, and a blameless life is ripe old age. There was one who pleased God and was loved by him, and while living among sinners he was taken up. He was caught up lest evil change his understanding or guile deceive his soul. For the fascination of wickedness obscures what is good, and roving desire perverts the innocent mind.
Being perfected in a short time, he fulfilled long years; for his soul was pleasing to the Lord, therefore he took him quickly from the midst of wickedness. Yet the peoples saw and did not understand, nor take such a thing to heart, that God's grace and mercy are with his elect, and he watches over his holy ones.
"For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; and the former things shall not be remembered or come into mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in that which I create; for behold, I create Jerusalem a rejoicing, and her people a joy. I will rejoice in Jerusalem, and be glad in my people; no more shall be heard in it the sound of weeping and the cry of distress.
No more shall there be in it an infant that lives but a few days, or an old man who does not fill out his days, for the child shall die a hundred years old, and the sinner a hundred years old shall be accursed. They shall build houses and inhabit them; they shall plant vineyards and eat their fruit.
Thus says the Lord: "A voice is heard in Ramah, lamentation and bitter weeping. Rachel is weeping for her children; she refuses to be comforted for her children, because they are not." Thus says the Lord: "Keep your voice from weeping, and your eyes from tears; for your work shall be rewarded, says the Lord, and they shall come back from the land of the enemy. There is hope for your future, says the Lord, and your children shall come back to their own country.
Now the word of the Lord came to me saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I appointed you a prophet to the nations." Then I said, "Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth."
But the Lord said to me, "Do not say, `I am only a youth'; for to all to whom I send you you shall go, and whatever I command you you shall speak. Be not afraid of them, for I am with you to deliver you, says the Lord."
My beloved speaks and says to me: "Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away; for lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth, the time of singing has come, and the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land. The fig tree puts forth its figs, and the vines are in blossom; they give forth fragrance. Arise, my love, my fair one, and come away.
David therefore besought God for the child; and David fasted, and went in and lay all night upon the ground. And the elders of his house stood beside him, to raise him from the ground; but he would not, nor did he eat food with them. On the seventh day the child died. And the servants of David feared to tell him that the child was dead; for they said, "Behold, while the child was yet alive, we spoke to him, and he did not listen to us; how then can we say to him the child is dead? He may do himself some harm." But when David saw that his servants were whispering together, David perceived that the child was dead; and David said to his servants, "Is the child dead?" They said, "He is dead."
Then David arose from the earth, and washed, and anointed himself, and changed his clothes; and he went into the house of the Lord, and worshiped; he then went to his own house; and when he asked, they set food before him, and he ate. Then his servants said to him, "What is this thing that you have done? You fasted and wept for the child while it was alive; but when the child died, you arose and ate food."
He said, "While the child was still alive, I fasted and wept; for I said, `Who knows whether the Lord will be gracious to me, that the child may live?' But now he is dead; why should I fast? Can I bring him back again? I shall go to him, but he will not return to me."
My soul is bereft of peace, I have forgotten what happiness is; so I say, "Gone is my glory, and my expectation from the Lord." Remember my affliction and my bitterness, the wormwood and the gall! My soul continually thinks of it and is bowed down within me. But this I call to mind, and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness.
"The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul that seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord.


Tune in for a walk down Shelife Lane with Caitlin and Cynthia as they talk about meeting Lauren Oliver, Kendare Blake, Beth Revis, and Victoria Schwab. Then join the pair as they discuss clones, conspiracies, and Lauren Oliver's spectacular Sci-Fi novel, Replica.
WARNING: This is a not a spoiler free review! If you have not read the book and do not like spoilers, we recommend reading the book before listening to this episode.
Have you read Replica? What did you think? Was it the most amazing thing you have ever read or did it fall flat? Did you agree with Cynthia that flipping the book caused a disconnet or was that your favorite part? Have you gotten to meet your author heroes? Share all of your thoughts in the comments below! We would love to hear them!
So, just in case you wanted proof there is Caitlin with Lauren Oliver and Kendare Blake! Awesome, right?


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Hadeeth & its Sciences
Commentary on Hadeeth
A question having to do with the hadith, "If one hair of a person turns white in Islam, it will be light for him…"
I am 23 years old unmarried girl. I had a very difficult time recently and two of my hair turned white. I read about a hadith that "If a person's hair turns grey in Islam, it will be light for him on the Day of Resurrection."
Does that mean I have received a reward in the form of white hair? Is it a reward for some good deed or only because of my stress?
Also, are the blessings of white hair particular to muslims (as the word "in Islam" is mentioned)?
It was narrated from 'Amr ibn 'Abasah that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "If one hair of a person turns white in Allah's cause, it will be light for him on the Day of Resurrection." Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (1635); he said: This is a hasan saheeh ghareeb hadith. It was narrated that Shurahbeel ibn as-Simt said: O Ka'b ibn Murrah, narrate to us something from the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) and be careful [in narrating]. He said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: "If one hair of a person turns white in Islam, it will be light for him on the Day of Resurrection." Narrated by at-Tirmidhi (1634) and an-Nasaa'i (3144). It was also narrated by an-Nasaa'i in as-Sunan al-Kubra (4/288) and by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad (29/606) with the words "… turns white in Allah's cause."
Based on the report which mentions "in Allah's cause", what is meant is the one whose hair turns white because of the difficulty encountered in his striving to do acts of worship. But with regard to the report which mentions turning white "in Islam", there is a corroborating report to support it.
It was narrated that 'Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) say: "If one hair of a person turns white in Islam, it will be light for him on the Day of Resurrection." Narrated by Ibn Hibbaan (2983). Its isnaad was classed as qawiy (strong) by the commentator on al-Ihsaan, Shaykh Shu'ayb al-Arna'oot, and it was classed as saheeh by al-Albaani in at-Ta'leeqaat al-Hisaan (5/21).
At-Teebi (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
"If one hair of a person turns white in Allah's cause…"
What is meant is: the one who strives hard in worship and obedience to Allah until a patch of his hair turns white will have reward beyond description. This is indicated by the fact that light is singled out for mention and it is mentioned in the indefinite form. Those who narrated the words "in Islam" instead of "in Allah's cause" meant by using a general word (Islam) something specific (in Allah's cause), or they called jihaad (striving) Islam, because it is the foundation and pinnacle of Islam. End quote from Sharh al-Mishkaat (8/2669).
But mentioning Islam instead of jihad does not rule out the fact that this is the reward of the one who engages in striving, for he will have an immense light because of his immense effort in striving, whereas other Muslims will have light because of their white hairs, commensurate with their level of faith and commitment to doing righteous deeds. This is supported by the fact that there are other reports which indicate that the light one may gain because of white hairs is for all Muslims, not only for those who strive hard, as in the hadith of 'Abdullah ibn 'Amr (may Allah be pleased with him), according to which the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) forbade plucking out white hairs, and he said: "It is the light of the Muslim." Narrated by Imam Ahmad in al-Musnad (11/550), at-Tirmidhi (4202), and Abu Dawood (4202). At-Tirmidhi said: This is a hasan hadith.
Ibn Hibbaan (2985) narrated from Abu Hurayrah that the Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "Do not pluck out white hairs, for they will be light on the Day of Resurrection. Whoever gets a white hair in Islam, one good deed will be recorded for him because of it, one bad deed will be erased from him because of it, and he will be raised one degree in status because of it." Its isnaad was classed as hasan by the commentator on al-Ihsaan, Shaykh Shu'ayb al-Arna'oot, and also by Shaykh al-Albaani in at-Ta'leeqaat al-Hisaan (5/22-23).
Al-Mubaarakfoori (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
The words "he forbade plucking out white hairs" refer to white hairs in the beard or on the head. He said: "They will be light for the Muslim," meaning that this is something that is specific to Muslims, because it is something that adds to the Muslim's dignity, which prevents conceit and leads to humility, and that will make him lose interest in physical desires and have no energy to pursue them. This in turn leads him to develop the light of righteous deeds, so that they will become light in his grave, and that light will go ahead of him in the darkness of the place of gathering [on the Day of Resurrection]. End quote from Tuhfat al-Ahwadhi (8/88).
The Muslim should pay attention to the fact that stress and worry, and the impact that they have on the Muslim of making him feel vulnerable and causing him to develop white hairs, and so on, are things in which there is something good for the Muslim, by means of which his sins are expiated.
It was narrated from 'Ata' ibn Yasaar, from Abu Sa'eed al-Khudri and from Abu Hurayrah, that the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) said: "No hardship, pain, worry, grief, harm or distress befalls a believer, not even the prick of a thorn, but Allah will expiate some of his bad deeds thereby." Narrated by al-Bukhaari (5641) and Muslim (2573).
What the Muslim should do is show goodly patience when faced with worries and stress, and what may result from that of white hairs. If he does that, then he is promised an immense reward.
Allah, may He be exalted, says (interpretation of the meaning):
"Indeed, the patient will be given their reward without account" [az-Zumar 39:10].
Shaykh 'Abd ar-Rahmaan as-Sa'di (may Allah have mercy on him) said:
This is general in meaning and applies to all types of patience, patience in accepting the painful decrees of Allah without resentment or complaint; patience in keeping away from disobedience towards Allah and refraining from sins; patience in obeying Allah and doing acts of worship. Allah has promised the patient a reward without reckoning, meaning an unlimited reward. That is only because of the virtue of patience and its high status before Allah, and indicates that Allah is the source of help in all situations. End quote from Tafseer as-Sa'di (p. 721).
And Allah knows best.


Prestressed Lintels gain their strength from high tensile wires that are ran along their length during manufacture. These wires serve to stress the concrete and distribute loads placed on the lintel.
Coping, Sills & Steps are among the most noticeable applications of precast concrete. These decorative yet functional pieces are designed to channel rainfall away from the structure, protecting from long-term erosion.
Precast Concrete is an extremely versatile material which is used across a wide range of structural and decorative applications. Our suppliers are able to create bespoke pieces to your specification.


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HMS Unicorn schools competition launched
National treasure, HMS Unicorn, has launched a new art competition for schools, entitled 'Stories, Myths and Legends', open to all nursery, primary, secondary, and additional support pupils in the Tayside area.
While the popular Museum and visitor attraction is currently closed to the public undergoing urgent roof repairs, the Unicorn Preservation Society has set a competition for schools to encourage pupils to get their creative juices flowing by creating artworks inspired by stories, myths and legends. The artwork can be created in any medium including painting, drawings, sculpture, collage, pottery, and textiles. The charity responsible for Scotland's oldest ship is encouraging pupils to be as creative and imaginative as possible.
There are six competition categories including Nurseries, Primary 1 to Primary 3, Primary 4 to Primary 7, Secondary Schools, Additional Support and Group Entries.
The winners of all categories excluding the Group category will have their artwork displayed on-board HMS Unicorn from 17 April until 25 June 2023, will receive an annual family pass, a Unicorn Medal, and a free school workshop on board HMS Unicorn. The winner of the Group category will have their artwork displayed on-board HMS Unicorn, will receive a free ticket to HMS Unicorn, a Unicorn Medal and a free school workshop on board HMS Unicorn. Runner up prizes will also be awarded in all categories for those in second and third place.
Matthew Bellhouse Moran, Museum Director at HMS Unicorn, said: "We've run an art competition for schools for a number of years now and we never fail to be impressed by the quality of entries. We're delighted to be launching a new competition, giving the opportunity for the winners to win free entry to the ship as well as a free workshop for their class to learn more about the rich history and heritage of this well-loved ship. When the ship reopens after the current emergency roof repair work it is undergoing, the artwork will also be displayed for all our many visitors to enjoy when they board the ship."
For further information on the Stories, Myths and Legends competition, and rules of entry, please visit: www.hmsunicorn.org.uk/news/artcomp-launch-2023
The competition entry deadline is Friday 31 March 2023. A prize giving ceremony will take place with the winners of the competition on Saturday 29 April.
Free New Year tours launched at The Helix


text:
Biomarker study detects onset of Alzheimer's up to 30 years before symptoms appear
By Rich Haridy
A new study has outlined nine different measures that can be used to identify Alzheimer's years before the onset of cognitive decline
tampatra@hotmail.com/Depositphotos
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New research from Johns Hopkins University has identified a variety of biomarkers that can be used to predict the onset of Alzheimer's disease years before symptoms appear. The study presents nine measures, produced from several decades of data, that can signal the onset of the disease up to 30 years before cognitive decline becomes apparent.
Many researchers believe the preclinical phase of Alzheimer's can commence over a decade before the disease becomes clinically visible. As a vast number of prospective Alzheimer's drugs have failed in clinical trials, it is hypothesized that the disease may be best treated in this preclinical stage, before any neurodegeneration progresses to the point of major cognitive decline.
Unfortunately, we do not have any clear diagnostic framework to identify the disease at its earliest stage. Blood tests, PET scans, eye tests, genetics, and even sniff tests, are all being investigated as ways to identify the earliest stages of cognitive decline, but no single biomarker has been wholly confirmed as clinically reliable so far.
This new Johns Hopkins Study reviewed medical data from 290 subjects considered to be at a higher than average risk of developing Alzheimer's or early-onset dementia due to the presence of a relative diagnosed with the disease. The subjects were tracked for almost 20 years, completing annual cognitive tests alongside bi-annual MRI brain scans and cerebrospinal fluid testing.
At the end of the project, 81 subjects had been diagnosed with either Alzheimer's disease or mild cognitive impairment (MCI), allowing the researchers to be able to effectively track the preclinical progress of those conditions across the pre-symptomatic years.
Looking at the cognitive tests, the researchers identified subtle changes that could be detected between 10 and 15 years before symptoms appeared. The MRI data revealed minor, but detectable, decreases in the size of a brain region called the medial temporal lobe. These changes could be tracked between three and nine years before any symptoms appeared.
Most interesting were the cerebrospinal fluid test results which signaled the earliest potential biomarkers for the disease. Increases in the presence of the tau protein in cerebrospinal fluid could be associated with Alzheimer's around 30 years before any cognitive impairment became apparent. Other proteins, including amyloid beta and phosphorylated tau, appeared between 10 and 15 years before symptom onset.
"Several biochemical and anatomic measures can be seen changing up to a decade or more before the onset of clinical symptoms," says Michael Miller, a biomedical engineer working on the project. "The goal is to find the right combination of markers that indicate increased risk for cognitive impairment, and to use that tool to guide eventual interventions to help stave it off."
Sample size is of course a significant limitation in turning this data into an effective diagnostic tool, and while the researchers do suggest the scale of the study is large enough to determine statistical significance, further work is underway to add more data to the model. The study notes an agreement is in place with five different research sites around the world to collect comparable data so the overall model can be improved.
The big challenge here is that this kind of research takes a lot of time. In order to identify patterns that signal the onset of Alzheimer's or MCI, subjects need to be tracked for years, or even decades. Despite this slow progress, the researchers are positive this work will ultimately lead to effective ways to detect Alzheimer's in its earliest stages.
"Our study suggests it may be possible to use brain imaging and spinal fluid analysis to assess risk of Alzheimer's disease at least 10 years or more before the most common symptoms, such as mild cognitive impairment, occur," says Laurent Younes, an author on the newly published study.
The research was published in the journal Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
Source: John Hopkins University
ScienceAlzheimer's DiseaseNeuroscienceDementiaJohns Hopkins MedicineNew Atlas Audio
Rich Haridy
Rich has written for a number of online and print publications over the last decade while also acting as film critic for several radio broadcasters and podcasts. His interests focus on psychedelic science, new media, and science oddities. Rich completed his Masters degree in the Arts back in 2013 before joining New Atlas in 2016.
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Pint-sized tiny house packs in plenty of home comforts
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notarichman May 16, 2019 12:26 PM
so if you are liable to be a candidate for Alzheimers, then you would probably have to be tested first with every possible test at maybe 30 years old and then maybe every 5 years after that?
paul314 May 16, 2019 05:53 PM
Imagine knowing that in 30 years you were going to end up desperately impaired and a burden of misery to friends and family. Sure, it wouldn't be like that if there were eventually working treatments and a health care system willing to deliver them, but in the meantime that could be a terrible thing to know. (We've already seen this with genetic testing of people at risk for Huntington's, which strikes in the prime of life.)


Image Title: Sweet Jojo Designs Emma 3 Piece Full Queen Size Comforter Set Throughout Sets Decor 15. Filename: sweet-jojo-designs-emma-3-piece-full-queen-size-comforter-set-throughout-sets-decor-15.jpg. Image Dimension: 600 x 600 pixels. Images Format: jpg/jpeg. Publisher/Author: Sammie Flatley. Uploaded Date: Sunday - April 08th. 2018 02:10:27 AM. Category: Bedroom. Image Source: houzz.com.
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Taiwan ranks 29th least corrupt globally.
In the 2017 Corruption Perceptions Index released by Transparency International, Taiwan ranks 29th out of 180 countries based on lower "perceived levels of corruption". Continuing its gradual improvement in the index, Taiwan placed well above both the Asia-Pacific regional and global averages.
Taipei has been nominated as Asia's most vegan-friendly city.


A number of former employees of the Nokia N9-division will develop smartphones based on MeeGo-system.
The company carries the Finnish name "Jolla", which in Danish means "Tender" or "sailing dinghy".
According to LinkedIn consists Jolla by a number of directors and core professionals from Nokia, who previously worked with MeeGo and N9.
Jolla has nothing to do with Nokia to do and will not provide support and updates to Nokia N9 and N950.
In the director's chair sits Marc Dillion, who worked at Nokia for 11 years.
The Open Tangent: Can Ubuntu Phone Compete?
When Will Nokia Lumia 920?


To remove dirt, oil and grease, Tork® Oil and Grease Liquid Soap is formulated with a fat-dissolving ingredient that's highly effective, yet gentle on the skin. The soap is perfume- and colour-free which reduces allergic reactions. Suitable for Tork® Liquid Soap Dispensers.


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Xiaomi Notebook Air 12.5-Inch Variant Launched With Intel Core i5 SoC
Xiaomi has launched a new 12.5-inch variant of its Notebook Air. It is powered by an Intel Core i5 processor. The new laptop sports a similar design as the 12.5-inch Mi Notebook Air (powered by Intel Core M3 SoC). Highlights of the device include up to 4GB RAM, 256GB storage, and 4G support. Read more to find about Xiaomi Notebook Air 12.5-inch Price in India, Specifications, and Features
Price CNY 3,999 (approx Rs 40,500)
The new Intel Core i5 variant is priced in China at CNY 3,999 (approx Rs 40,500). It is available for pre-sale on Mi.com and JD.com. Interested users can book their device by paying CNY 100 up front. As of now, there is no confirmation about the Indian price or launch date.
Also read: Samsung Notebook 9 Pen (2019) Launched With Improved S Pen, Bigger Battery
Processor 7th gen Intel Core i5-7Y54
RAM up to 4GB
Graphics Intel HD Graphics integrated graphics 615
Internal Storage 256GB SSD
Display 12.5-inch, full-HD (920 x 1080 pixels), 170-degree viewing angle, 300nits peak brightness, 300nits, 600:1 contrast ratio, 16:9 aspect ratio
OS Windows 10 Home Edition
The new Mi Notebook Air 12.5-inch model is powered by the 7th gen Intel Core i5-7Y54 processor along with Intel HD Graphics integrated graphics 615 and up to 4GB RAM. The 256GB SSD storage can be further expanded.
The new laptop supports 1C fast charge. It can last up to 8 hours of online video playback, 7.5 hours of local video playback, and 7.5 hours of web browsing. For HD (720p) video calling, the laptop sports a 1-megapixel web camera.
Also read: LG Gram 17, Gram 2-in-1 Laptops Announced Ahead of CES 2019
Windows 10 Home Edition OS
170 degrees viewing angle
3.5mm earphone jack
Silver color option
The Mi Notebook Air 12.5-inch runs on Windows 10 Home Edition operating system. Connectivity options include Bluetooth 4.1, Wi-Fi 802.11ac, 4G, USB Type-C port, USB 3.0 port, HDMI, and 3.5mm earphone jack.
In terms of dimensions, the laptop measures 292 x 202 x 12.9mm and weighs 1.07kg. It comes in a Silver color option. Additional features include a backlit keyboard.
The 12.5-inch display sports a full-HD display resolution (920 x 1080 pixels), 170 degrees wide viewing angle, peak brightness at 300nits, 600:1 contrast ratio, and 16:9 aspect ratio.
Also read: Lenovo ThinkPad L390, ThinkPad L390 Yoga Announced – Price, Specs, Features
The Intel Core M3 processor variant was initially launched in 2016. Last year, the company launched the Xiaomi Mi Notebook Pro in three variants. The Intel Core i7-powered variants with 16GB RAM and 8GB RAM are priced at CNY 6,999 (approx Rs 68,500) and CNY 6,399 (approx Rs 62,600), respectively. An Intel Core i5-powered processor with 8GB RAM comes at CNY 5,599 (approx Rs 55,000).
What do you think of the new Mi notebook? Do you like the design and specs? Share your views with us in the comments section below.
Tags:Laptop Mi Notebook Air xiaomi Xiaomi Notebook Air
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Youth Protection | Monmouth Council, BSA | Providing Scouting programs for young people throughout central New Jersey since 1917.
Every adult leader in the Monmouth Council is required to have a Youth Protection Training Certificate that is valid for the entire period of the charter.
In other words, every adult is required to undergo Youth Protection Training annually.
How Can I Take Youth Protection Training Online?
To help our volunteers stay current with the new Youth Protection Training requirements, we are offering multiple in person offerings at the Council Service Center.
If you can't make one of our in-person classes, you can take the new Youth Protection Training online at my.scouting.org.
What is Youth Protection? Is it more than just an online course?
If further information is needed please do not hesitate to email Monmouth Council's Youth Protection Champion or for immediate assistance during business hours please call Monmouth Council at 732-536-2347.


Your private Blue Badge guide will take you on a walking tour that covers the venues associated with Beatles – also known as the Fab Four.
We will show you to the Cavern quarter and its famous Cavern Club, the now-renowned venue that launched John, Paul, George and Ringo to eternal fame.
We continue through Liverpool city centre to see the clubs where the Beatles as boys met and played. Then on to the Hope Street, location for John Lennon's former art college, then to LIPA – Paul and George's performing arts school – the Philharmonic Pub and John's old drinking haunt Ye Cracke. We finish outside the awe-inspiring Anglican cathedral where Paul later produced his musical composition, The Liverpool Oratorio.
Book a private tour with a Liverpool Blue Badge Tourist Guide to fully appreciate the history in Liverpool of this iconic band.


Almost 900 years ago, King Olaf I gave land for an Abbey and so became the wonder that is Rushen Abbey in the south of the island. People have been drawn here ever since, from the monks who wrote the earliest account of the Isle of Man's history, to the tea-dances of the early 1900s and the heady days of 1980s disco. Nowadays, the medieval ruins still have the power to enchant, with large gardens complete with blossom trees and flowers that provide the perfect scenic location for picnics, gatherings and weddings.
Originally a home for monks of the Sauvignac Order, Rushen Abbey came under Cistercian control and was developed as the Isle of Man's seat of religious power housing the main body of knowledge and literacy for the Island. Take a stroll through the stunning Abbey Gardens to find remains of the substantial medieval buildings, blossom trees and an array of herbs and flowers – many used to cure common ailments.
For a more active visit, follow the family friendly 'Monky Business' and travel beyond the Abbey to the Monk's Bridge that leads to Silverdale park beyond. The Abbey also provides educational visits where you can discover medieval medicine, listen to sounds of the Abbey and play in the "Jam Factory".
Situated on Mill Road in Ballasalla.
Picnic Site - Visitors are welcome to bring a picnic to enjoy in the gardens.
Approx length of visit - 2 hours.
I had a short time here so did not really do it justice.


By combining crisp optics with a sturdy metal base the SMZ-143 stereo microscope provides a robust, versatile option for stereo microscopy.
Based on the Greenough zoom optical system, the SMZ-143 provides a zoom ratio of 4:1 and a standard working distance of 80mm to support most applications; modification with additional auxiliary lenses and eyepieces further increase the versatility of this stereo microscope.
With three optical carrier options and numerous stands and accessories, the SMZ-143 can be specifically configured to meet your requirements.
Additional accessories such as polarization or dark field attachments allow for different contrast methods and addition of a Moticam microscope camera allows capture of high definition photos and video for documentation purposes.


If you are looking for a high adrenaline action packed three week Gap Year experience is perfect option. After a busy year studying and what better than way to let your hair down by spending three weeks in Greece on a adventure of a lifetime.
Our Gap Year experience introduces you to three sports; Windsurfing, Diving and Dinghy sailing. Three weeks, three sports, three personal level qualifications. The package includes flights, accommodation and training.
Windsurfing, Scuba diving and Sailing are the most popular action sports in the Mediterranean. Getting competent and qualified gives you the option to travel and participate worldwide.
Spend three weeks with us in stunning resort of Vassiliki, Greece and get the base level qualification in each of these sports allowing you to rent equipment independently.
Vassiliki is a hub for water sports and buzzing with a great atmosphere and like-minded people. There is lots to do off the water including stunning beaches and parts of the island to explore as well as a rich social life to enjoy in the evenings.
Three weeks, three sports, three personal level qualifications, an experience of a lifetime!
The Bay of Vassiliki is the perfect place to learn the basic skills of sailing a dinghy and become competent to RYA level 2 standard. This will include skills such as sailing around a triangular course and parking the boat as well as launching and landing and high wind blasting!
This week you will complete the RYA Start Windsurfing Certificate in one of the best windsurfing destinations in Europe. Its likely you will get through this very quickly and will move on to the intermediate skills including using the harness and beach starts.
This week will take you through the PADI Open water in the warm, clear waters of Vasillike. By the end of this week you will be qualified to dive up to 18 meters with a Buddy.


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Home › Injury Articles › Assaulted While Texting?
Assaulted While Texting?
Friday has finally arrived. What better way to spend the evening than a date night with family or friends to see a movie. After arriving early to get good seats and mortgaging your house to buy a few snacks, you settle in to be lost in another world for the next couple of hours. Suddenly, you are jarred back to reality by the bright light of a cell phone some thoughtless patron has illuminated near you. While he checks his texts, you try in vain to ignore the light and focus on the movie. Should you ask him to put his phone away or suffer in silence? That was the dilemma that faced 54 year-old Brenda Goodwin this past April in Grapevine, Texas.
Both Dale Fout and Brenda Goodwin are 54 years old and they attended the same movie on a weekday in April and sat one row apart. They had never met before. Fout is a 220 pound guy. He describes himself as a "pretty big guy. I'm broad. I'm not fat, but I used to play football." Goodwin is a 136-pound skin care specialist.
Goodwin claims that Fout pulled his phone out and was looking at it. She kept expecting him to put it away, but when he didn't, she reached over and "tapped" him on the shoulder. "I was only trying to get his attention," Goodwin said.
Fout responded, "Don't ever touch me." He stood and said, "I am charging you with assault," and he dashed out of the theater.
Fout disagrees with Goodwin's claims. Fout states, "I got a text and I responded to it because it was something important. It was something that was a deadline situation, OK. I held it against my chest purposely where I could barely see it. She said something. I couldn't make it out. That's why I turned. She probably said something like, 'Get off your phone.' I turned and she pushed. She just happened to push my neck at the time my neck was in an awkward position. Kinda like having a little fender bender, and you get a little whiplash in your neck."
The police were called. Officer Emily Hays wrote in her report, "Fout advised he had been assaulted and his neck was in pain. He said a female sitting behind him grabbed him by the shoulder because he was texting during the movie."
Goodwin told police that she tapped him on the shoulder with one finger to ask him to stop texting. Fout stated he was offended by the contact and desires prosecution. Goodwin was issued a citation for assault by contact.
The police have said that they are in the middle when it comes to these situations. "Assault by contact is usually not something like this. It's usually a shove," Lt. Todd Dearing said. "We stay neutral in these things. That's what the courts are for."
What is Assault?
The law says, "A person commits an offense if the person…intentionally or knowingly causes physical contact with another when the person knows or should reasonably believe that the other will regard the contact as offensive or provocative."
Jeff Bellin, SMU assistant professor of law, says that a tap is not an assault but that a shove may be. "It would be a jury question, but I think most people would agree that tapping someone on the shoulder, even if you don't know them, is normal. We expect that kind of interaction in our everyday lives."
Fout's injury would be important according to Goodwin. "If he hurt his neck, that's probably because of the way he whipped around." Goodwin lives in Virginia, so she paid the $260 fine to avoid having to return to fight the charge.
Proving personal injury can be complicated. Not all injuries are personal injury claim. If you have suffered severe injury from the negligence of another person, contact a personal injury lawyer for more information.


Customers can't directly purchase from your online catalog but you can link your catalog to your online store. When your catalog is linked to your online store, customers who clicked on your products will be automatically redirected to the specific page on your online store. In order to link your catalog, just select the Links products to online store checkbox located in the catalog editor just above your catalog's pages.
We are also testing in private beta a shopping cart for wholesale catalogs. While users can't directly purchase from the catalog, an email is automatically sent to you with all the details of his shopping cart. Your customer will also receive a confirmation email. You can then follow up with him to finalize the purchase and process the payment. If you want to test this functionality, please send us an email at support@nowinstore.com.


Next HIGH TIDE in Mawari is at , which is in from now.
Next LOW TIDE in Mawari is at , which is in from now.
The local time in Mawari is . See the detailed Mawari tide chart and tide table below.
Tide Times are JST (UTC +9.0hrs). Last Spring High Tide at Mawari was on Sat 20 Apr (height:2.09m 6.9ft). Next high Spring Tide at Mawari will be on Mon 06 May (height:2.02m 6.6ft).
Mawari Tide Chart. The largest known tidal range at Mawari is 2.64m 8.7 feet.
The tide chart above shows the height and times of high tide and low tide for Mawari, Nagasaki, Japan. The red flashing dot shows the tide time right now. The yellow shading corresponds to daylight hours between sunrise and sunset at Mawari.
NOTE: Use of this site for Mawari, Nagasaki, Japan tide times is subject to our terms.


text:
Q: How to draw a ring inside another ring I have to present icons inside the circles, I tried to draw a ring inside an another ring but i cant to do, When i tried it is awkward position how can i do it

My Code
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<!-- Larger blue circle in back -->
<item>
    <shape android:shape="oval">
        <solid android:color="#f00"/>
        <size
            android:width="15dp"
            android:height="15dp"/>
    </shape>
</item>
<!-- Smaller red circle in front -->
<item>
    <shape android:shape="oval">
        <!-- transparent stroke = larger_circle_size - smaller_circle_size -->
        <stroke android:color="@android:color/transparent"
            android:width="10dp"/>
        <solid android:color="#fff"/>
        <size
            android:width="1dp"
            android:height="1dp"/>
    </shape>
</item>
<item>
    <shape android:shape="oval">
        <!-- transparent stroke = larger_circle_size - smaller_circle_size -->
        <stroke android:color="@android:color/transparent"
            android:width="11dp"/>
        <solid android:color="#f00"/>
        <size
            android:width="1dp"
            android:height="1dp"/>
    </shape>
</item>

A:     <?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
    <layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
    <item>
        <shape android:shape="oval">
            <size
                android:width="200dp"
                android:height="200dp" />
            <solid android:color="@android:color/transparent" />
            <stroke android:color="#ff0000" android:width="5dp"/>
        </shape>
    </item>

    <item
        android:left="5dp"
        android:top="5dp"
        android:right="5dp"
        android:bottom="5dp">

        <shape android:shape="oval">
            <solid android:color="@android:color/transparent" />
            <stroke android:color="#5BB534" android:width="5dp"/>
        </shape>
    </item>
</layer-list>

A: Try my code. You can rewrite the values as per your requirement.
When you add this drawable to any background, make sure that view is a square.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item
    android:left="6dip"
    android:right="6dip">
    <shape xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android"
        android:shape="oval">
        <stroke
            android:width="3dip"
            android:color="#f00" />
    </shape>

</item>

<item
    android:bottom="80dip"
    android:left="80dip"
    android:right="80dip"
    android:top="80dip">

    <shape android:shape="oval">
        <stroke
            android:width="1dip"
            android:color="#0f0" />
    </shape>
</item>

</layer-list>

Edit Added Image

A: Try to draw it with a Canvas:
DisplayMetrics metrics = mContext.getResources().getDisplayMetrics();
Bitmap bitmap = Bitmap.createBitmap((int) (15 * metrics.density), (int) (15 * metrics.density), Bitmap.Config.ARGB_8888); // 15dp x 15dp
Canvas canvas = new Canvas(bitmap);

// clear the bitmap with a transparent color
canvas.drawColor(Color.TRANSPARENT);
Paint paint = new Paint();
paint.setStrokeWidth(2 * metrics.density); // 2dp, the circle width

// the external circle, large as the bitmap
paint.setColor(Color.RED);
canvas.drawCircle(bitmap.getWidth() / 2, bitmap.getHeight() / 2, bitmap.getWidth() / 2, paint);

// the internal one, smaller than the first one
paint.setColor(Color.GREEN);
canvas.drawCircle(bitmap.getWidth() / 2, bitmap.getHeight() / 2, bitmap.getWidth() / 2 - 3 * metrics.density, paint);

You should adjust some numbers. The DisplayMetrics is just used to transform sizes in dp (rather than pixels). Once finished you can use your Bitmap with a BitmapDrawable if you need to use it into a View (for example as background).

A: try this code
<layer-list xmlns:android="http://schemas.android.com/apk/res/android">
<item
    android:left="3dp"
    android:right="3dp">
    <shape android:shape="oval">
        <stroke android:width="5dp"
            android:color="@android:color/holo_red_dark">

        </stroke>
    </shape>
</item>
<item
    android:bottom="10dp"
    android:left="10dp"
    android:right="10dp"
    android:top="10dp">
    <shape android:shape="oval">
        <stroke android:width="10dp"
            android:color="@android:color/holo_green_dark">

        </stroke>
    </shape>
</item>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Lessons from Amílcar Cabral: Revolutionary Democracy, Class-Consciousness, and Cross-Class Movement Building
Cadre Writings, Left Strategy, Mass Work
By Maria Poblet
As a Left community organizer in the United States, working with oppressed and exploited people in the San Francisco Bay Area of California, I have benefitted greatly from Amílcar Cabral's work and thought. I am part of a broader growing political tendency that is building a working class base for the Left in urban centers inside the United States, innovating with organizing fights for housing and transportation, immigrant's rights, and women's rights, building race-conscious class unity, particularly between oppressed communities of color who are pitted against each other at the bottom of the economy in the US, and have a strong basis for solidarity with working class and poor people throughout the world.
Like a lot of radical political organizing in the 21st century, our tendency, in part, comes out of critiques of the 20th century socialist models. From rejecting the authoritarianism of Stalin, to broadening the concept of the revolutionary subject to include a broader set of marginalized groups not limited to the industrial working class, to rejecting race-blind class reductionism, to lifting up the liberatory aspects of cultural traditions among oppressed people.
Amilcar Cabral's work has been profoundly influential to the development of this political tendency, among many others around the world. His theory provides a way to engage with the shortfalls of 20th century models of radical change that do not throw the class struggle baby out with the Soviet bathwater. Cabral is a luminary among the broader set of Third World Marxists who, from Nicaragua to Kenya, led successful national liberation movements. He formed and led the PAIGC, and was instrumental in strategizing the successful overthrew of Portuguese colonialism, not only in his home of Cape Verde & Guinea Bissau, but also throughout the continent of Africa. He was core to the development of a broader Pan-Africanist tendency, which built strong links to liberation movements in Asia and Latin America, and had inspiring, global impact.
Even in the United States, the belly of the beast, in such a markedly different time, place and set of conditions than the ones Cabral operated in, we have a lot to learn from his work. He grappled with theoretical questions that have parallels to the ones we face today. And, he reached a level of depth and sophistication regarding movement strategy that we have yet to achieve in the 21st century.
Revolutionary Democracy
Today's emerging movements in the west hold Democracy to be a core value. They have have emphasized collective decision-making as an attempt to increase engagement, inclusion, and community control. This approach, heavily influenced by Anarchism and Zapatísmo, attempts to remedy problems attributed to top-down approaches by Left political parties of the 20th century. The vast majority of the people involved in those movements have little knowledge of Cabral's insights on the question of what he called "Revolutionary Democracy."
Cabral's work presents a different approach, in a very different context, with some of the same values. His advice to militants in his organization reflected a commitment to revolutionary democracy: 'Do not be afraid of the people and persuade the people to take part in all the decisions which concern them – this is the basic condition of revolutionary democracy, which little by little we must achieve in accordance with the development of our struggle and our life.' (1) He addresses this question in a dialectical way, acknowledging what our movements have been beginning to understand: that oppression and exploitation rob people of the capacity to self-govern, both structurally and psychologically, and that building that capacity is a core task within the revolutionary struggle, and not after. This very same assessment is built into radical community organizing that seeks to develop working class leaders who can advance the social justice movement as a whole. Structures of support, capacity-building, and decision making that we have built in the community organizing sector prioritize people directly impacted by the problems of capitalism, and are attempts to build that kind of revolutionary democracy within our progressive movements.
Cabral called for both collective and individual leadership, and theorized the role of individual leadership as part of a collective whole. He said 'The leader must be the faithful interpreter of the will and the aspirations of the revolutionary majority and not the lord of power'. (2) This approach affirms the role of leaders in and developing the vision emerging from the people, while not putting leaders on a pedestal of unchecked power. To that end he called on militants to 'Tell no lies, claim no easy victories,' and encouraged a practice of profound humility, honest evaluation, and integrity throughout his organization.
He also theorized collective leadership:
To lead collectively, in a group, is to study questions jointly, to find their best solution, and to take decisions jointly, it is to benefit from experience and intelligence of each and all so as to lead, order and command better. In collective leadership, each person in the leadership must have his own clearly defined duties and is responsible for the carrying out of decisions taken by the group in regard to his duties… But to lead collectively is not and cannot be, as some suppose, to give to all and everyone the right of uncontrolled views and initiatives, to create anarchy (lack of government), disorder, contradiction between leaders, empty arguments, a passion for meetings without results. Still less is it to give vent to incompetence, ignorance, intellectual foolhardiness…In the framework of the collective leadership, we must respect the opinion of more experienced comrades who for their part must help the others with less experience to learn and to improve their work. In the framework of the collective leadership there is always one or other comrade who has a higher standing as party leader and who for this reason has more individual responsibility…We must allow prestige to these comrades, help them to have constantly higher standing, but not allow them to monopolise (take over) the work and responsibility of the group. We must, on the other hand, struggle against the spirit of slackness, and disinterest, the fear of responsibilities, the tendency to agree with everything, to obey blindly without thinking. (3)
The PAIGC was so committed to being an instrument of the people, that, in 1973, after more than a decade of armed struggle, when they finally defeated Portugal militarily, they did not storm the palace of power. Rather, they returned to the people, conducting a vote of confidence among the population, affirming their approval through a popular vote before officially taking up governance. This referendum is a powerful example of revolutionary democracy.
What would today's movements look like if we had highly effective, collectively controlled instruments of political struggle? What would organizations look like if we held individuals to high standards of integrity, provided structured developmental support, and consciously built our capacities towards governance?
Re-imagining political power is a central challenge to today's 21st century generation of freedom fighters. I have been part of experiments in structure that sought to uphold the value of collective leadership, from flat collectives to ultra-democratic centralism, to developmental hierarchies that focused on in-depth training and mentorship for emerging leaders. These approaches, none of them perfect, have re-enforced the core lessons that Cabral offers: the need for clarity on the outcomes you seek, the necessity for alignment and accountability, and the value of collective leadership among people who share a political goal.
Class Analysis & Class Consciousness
Cabral argued that no revolution could be truly successful without leadership from the working and peasant classes whose work produced the wealth of the country and of it's colonizers, and whose strategic position was powerful enough to turn the tables on economic injustice. And that a revolutionary vision of liberation would not be satisfied by simply replacing Portuguese political and economic control, putting the national bourgeoisie at the top of the exploitative structure created by colonialism.
Gaining political representation or even political control would not be sufficient to truly change the economic structure that colonialism put in place. Neither would it be possible or ideal to return to the way indigenous societies were organized before colonialism. So, Cabral argued, the task of revolutionaries was to make possible the development of national productive forces (the capacity of Cape Verde & Guinea Bissau to sustain an economy independent of Portugal), while laying the ideological foundations and movement infrastructure to fight against exploitation that would emerge under the rule of the national bourgeoisie.
This sophisticated strategy came from a deep conviction in the fundamental right of his people to live free of exploitation of any kind. He described the national liberation movement in this way: 'We are fighting so that…our peoples may never more be exploited by imperialists not only by people with white skin, because we do not confuse exploitation or exploiters with the colour of men's skins; we do not want any exploitation in our countries, not even by black people.' (4)
Today's reality is one where the exploiting class is no longer made up only of European colonial rulers. There are plenty of political and corporate leaders from oppressed nationalities, some of whom use their oppressed identity as an excuse to not only exploit others, but to celebrate that exploitation as if it were a hallmark of progress.
The question of class exploitation was core to Cabral's strategy, and is just as important for freedom fighters today. Without organizing working class people from oppressed nationalities, our movements lack the strategic base of power that can challenge capitalism's core. Without organizing working class and peasant communities, our movements can easily remain focused on social issues without tackling the underlying economic structure of capitalism. That is why organizing working class people is so important to building a successful movement towards economic democracy.
He also detailed the role of privileged layers of society in the revolutionary project. The fact that the national petty-bourgeoisie live the contrast between the world of the colonizer and the world of the colonized, he said, could be a catalyst for revolutionary consciousness. In fact, he theorized, these layers of society who were privileged in some ways but still not owners of the means of production were likely to see the need for national liberation sooner, given their role in society and in the economy:
The colonial situation, which does not permit the development of a native pseudo-bourgeoisie and in which the popular masses do not generally reach the necessary level of political consciousness before the advent of the phenomenon of national liberation, offers the petty bourgeoisie the historical opportunity of leading the struggle against foreign domination, since by nature of its objective and subjective position (higher standard of living than that of the masses, more frequent contact with the agents of colonialism, and hence more chances of being humiliated, higher level of education and political awareness, etc.) it is the stratum which most rapidly becomes aware of the need to free itself from foreign domination. This historical responsibility is assumed by the sector of the petty bourgeoisie which, in the colonial context, can be called revolutionary, while other sectors retain the doubts characteristic of these classes or ally themselves to colonialism so as to defend, albeit illusorily, their social situation. (5)
Organizers in the 21st century can learn from this type of detailed assessment based on the time, place and conditions, and should be asking ourselves these same questions. What is the most strategic role for privileged layers of society in social movements today?
The economic crisis has pushed more and more racially privileged and self-identified middle class people into precariousness and even poverty. Foreclosures, unemployment, loss of pensions, and lack of basic resources like healthcare are no longer problems unique to the self-identified working classes. While it is true that these privileged sectors have not felt the brunt of the burden of the failures of neo-liberalism, denying their experiences, or writing them off as irrelevant to the movement is a self-marginalizing mistake. Unless we can leverage this opportunity to provide new entry points into the movement, and engage the falling "middle class" in the project of fighting for economic justice for the working class as a whole, our movement will not be able to grow to the scale we need to win. Nor will we be able to capture the imagination of society as a whole.
How to best engage privileged sectors is a complicated question. Just as capitalism has robbed oppressed and exploited people of leadership capacities, it has ingrained privileged people with a complex of superiority that undercuts our collective capacity for revolutionary democracy. A more nuanced understanding that recognizes that we all have experiences of privilege and oppression allows us to build a more intersectional analysis. Just as Cabral theorized the unique potential of a sector of the petty-bourgeoisie, while positioning the working class as the motive force of change, our movement should also get clear on the role of particular sectors of the falling "middle class," in a broad multi-racial, multi-class, multi-gender movement led by working class people.
Class suicide and Cross-class movement building
This type of cross-class movement building requires a particular framework. Freedom fighters from privileged backgrounds, who Cabral identified as an important force within the broader front against imperialism, would need to gain a new kind of consciousness and develop a core sense of revolutionary ethics if they were to make real contributions to the movement.
He called for a profound transformation: 'in order to truly fulfill the role in the national liberation struggle, the revolutionary petty bourgeoisie must be capable of committing suicide as a class in order to be reborn as revolutionary workers, completely identified with the deepest aspirations of the people to which they belong. This alternative — to betray the revolution or to commit suicide as a class — constitutes the dilemma of the petty bourgeoisie in the general framework of the national liberation struggle.'
Class suicide is an amazing concept: a vision of profound transformation and alignment with the revolutionary project, on a collective level that breaks open the next stage of development for the movement.
This is particularly relevant in the face of the ongoing crisis in the capitalist economy and in the world's ecology, as more and more people are downwardly mobile or experiencing ecological collapse and are mobilized to join emerging movements. Not only is there an opportunity for class-consciousness as wealth becomes more and more polarized, there is also an opportunity for privileged sectors of society to develop the moral consciousness that can help create the conditions for the development of 21st century liberation movements.
Theory, according to Cabral, was a crucial weapon in the struggle. He agitated for militants to engage in intellectual work, saying 'The ideological deficiency, not to say the total lack of ideology, within the national liberation movements – which is basically due to ignorance of the historical reality which these movements claim to transform – constitutes one of the greatest weaknesses of our struggle against imperialism, if not the greatest weakness of all.' (6)
He challenged militants to engage critically, but also advised, 'Do not confuse the reality you live in with the ideas you have in your head', (7) and warned them: 'We are not going to eliminate imperialism by shouting insults at it.' (8) He challenged freedom fighters to train themselves ideologically, and to simultaneously ground their efforts in the aspirations of every day people: 'Always bear in mind that the people are not fighting for ideas, for the things in anyone's head. They are fighting to win material benefits, to live better and in peace, to see their lives go forward, to guarantee the future of their children. . .' (9)
This dialectical approach that intertwined theory and practice made Amílcar Cabral one of the greatest visionaries of the 20th century. Even though his theories are deeply rooted in the movement for national independence in Cape Verde and Guinea Bissau decades ago, they have a much broader reach and meaning. From the groundbreaking concept of class suicide, to the imagination and application of revolutionary democracy, Cabral's contributions have the potential to support a successful re-emergence of social movements in the 21st century.
This essay is published in the book "Claim No Easy Victories: The Legacy of Amilcar Cabral," published by CODESRIA, Senegal, available in the US at Powell's Independent Bookstore Online.
1. Cabral, A. "General Watchwords" speech to PAIGC militants, from Unity and Struggle, 1979
4. Cabral, A., African Communist, No. 53, second quarter 1973
5. Cabral, A. "The Weapon of Theory" Address delivered to the First Tricontinental Conference of the Peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America in Havana. January 1966
9.Cabral, A. Semin rio de quadros, Conakry, 1969
Masood Haghiri
"…oppression and exploitation rob people of the capacity to self-govern, both structurally and psychologically, and that building that capacity is a core task within the revolutionary struggle, and not after."
"There are plenty of political and corporate leaders from oppressed nationalities, some of whom use their oppressed identity as an excuse to not only exploit others, but to celebrate that exploitation as if it were a hallmark of progress."
eloquently put
…and oppressed sexes, classes, etc
Cadre Writings (28)
Left Strategy (12)
Mass Work (7)
News Updates (19)
Organizational Documents (2)


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Home›Computing›Rodgers, Burrow, Mahomes lead new QB statistic from AWS and NFL
Rodgers, Burrow, Mahomes lead new QB statistic from AWS and NFL
Jackie C. Monroe
The NFL and Amazon Web Services (AWS) unveiled a new statistic this week to help rank the league's most prolific quarterbacks based on their decision-making.
The team behind Next Gen Stats (NGS) created the "Passing Score" statistic to assess whether a quarterback made the optimal decision after the play. The NFL said dozens of quarterback evaluation metrics exist but they all miss out on isolating the specific variables a quarterback must evaluate before a passing play.
Josh Helmrich, NFL Director of strategy and business development, told ZDNet that AWS and the NFL worked together to combine 7 different machine learning models and several play variables to create the Next Gen Stats Passing Score.
"With the NFL playoffs fast approaching, we want to deliver fans an increased depth of analysis, more context, and additional ways to understand one of the most important positions in sports — the NFL quarterback. This new metric will help fans better understand the quarterback's passing performance, relative to his decision, on each play," Helmrich said.
"The quarterback position is much more complex than just the outcome of the play. To help understand the quarterback's decision-making and all the variables that go into it, we spent over a year developing the components that make up the Next Gen Stats Passing Score."
In a blog post, AWS and the NFL explained that quarterbacks make hundreds of split-second decisions based on how the defense is lined up, the time remaining in the game, and the yards needed for a first down or touchdown.
To illustrate the statistic's accuracy, AWS ranked the performances of quarterbacks in 2021, finding that Aaron Rodgers, Joe Burrow, and Matthew Stafford were the only players with scores above 90. Ryan Tannehill, Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Tom Brady weren't far behind with scores above 88.
Dak Prescott, Kyler Murray, and Jimmy Garoppolo all had 87s. Jalen Hurts, Derek Carr, and Mac Jones had scores above 82. Ben Roethlisberger was 14th on the list with a 70 and is the only quarterback over the last four seasons to get to the playoffs with a score under 82.
Despite hundreds of variables affecting the outcome of a play, the statistical credit or blame is always assigned to the quarterback. AWS ML Solutions Lab's Priya Ponnapalli told ZDNet the machine learning technology and data analysis tools used to create the Passing Score will help viewers understand the game and the decisions made by quarterbacks.
"NGS spent nearly a year solving a series of complex technology problems to create the Passing Score tool," AWS explained.
"Building on years of creating and deploying AWS-powered machine learning (ML) models, the NGS engineering and analytics team worked with the AWS Professional Services data science group to optimize and combine seven ML models, including a new model to predict the value of a pass before the ball is thrown. The combined ML models power the new NGS Passing Score. Each individual model provides compelling insights into what's happening on the field, like predicted yards and completion probability. By combining the models, a score (a number between 50–99) better reflects the intuition used by fans, coaches, and players to assess a quarterback's passing performance."
Ponnapalli and AWS explained that the new statistic isolates the contribution of the passer on the outcome of a pass play, agnostic of the receiver, and controls for the level of difficulty of every pass.
Passing Score is calculated by using tracking data to predict the number of yards a receiver will gain if targeted, combined with an enhancement to the completion probability model, which can now also estimate the probability of an interception.
AWS noted that in the future, the Passing Score could be expanding to factor in other things like rushers, sacks, and pressures.
"Machine learning technology helps to deliver insights never before possible, and we believe the Next Gen Stats Passing Score is the next great example of that," Helmrich said. "We know it will help fans better understand and engage with the game."
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Home Research > Members > 1386-1421 > WARNER, John
WARNER, John, of Bishop's Lynn, Norf.
BISHOP'S LYNN
Commr. of inquiry, Lynn Jan. 1429 (breach of contract for sale of wheat).
Warner entered the freedom of Lynn in 1401-2 'by patrimony', but the name of his father is not given. There, he traded as a merchant and also ran a local tavern. In the controversies which split the town during the later part of Henry IV's reign, he was of the party of the mediocres, who opposed the rule of the potentiores because of their severe mismanagement of the borough's finances; and he was among those who entered bonds in December 1411 for the observance of ordinances to be made in an attempt at reform. However, when this failed, he forebore to join the extremists, led by the mediocres Bartholomew Petipas† and John Bilney II* along with the inferiores William Halyate* and John Tilney*, and seems to have adopted a neutral position. Indeed, his tavern actually became a haunt of the potentiores, and it was following a gathering there on the night of 20 Aug. 1414 that Thomas Waterden* and others of his persuasion were assaulted by a mob encouraged by the leaders of the popular party.1
While these quarrels were still unresolved, in the autumn of 1414 Warner attested the Lynn electoral indenture to the November Parliament. When elected himself (two years later), he was accompanied by another of his own party, the mediocris William Herford, and on 2 Dec. 1416, after their return home, these two made a report about the proceedings to the mayor and commonalty assembled in the guildhall. The potentiores regained control not long afterwards, and although there was a relaxation of their oligarchic powers Warner himself was never re-elected to the House of Commons. Nevertheless, he continued to take an interest in parliamentary elections, and when other mediocres were returned he acted as their mainpernor, doing so for Philip Frank (1419), John Parmenter (1421), Bartholomew Petipas (1422) and Thomas Burgh† (1425).2
Warner never achieved appointment to an important office in the government of the town, but having become a member of the influential guild of the Holy Trinity, he did serve as a scabin of the same at some point before 1422, when it was noted that as much as £84 14s.3d. was still owing to him on his account. Furthermore, he was associated with Thomas Beaufort, duke of Exeter, and the lawyers William Paston (afterwards j.c.p.), John Manning† and Thomas Derham* as feoffee of a number of properties in Lynn, of which they were allegedly disseised in 1420 by John Wentworth's* son. By Michaelmas 1428 Warner had been made one of the 24 jurats of Lynn, a position of some eminence. Consequently, he was among the local notables obliged, along with members of the gentry of Norfolk, to take the general oath against maintenance administered in the spring of 1434. He evidently died before July 1440, for his name does not appear in a list of burgesses compiled at that time.3
Not Warren as given by M. McKisack, Parl. Repn. Eng. Bors. 150. See Norf. RO, KL C/10/2 ('William Asshbourne's bk.'), f. 113.
1. Cal. Freemen Lynn, 30; HMC 11th Rep. III, 192; CIMisc. vii. 517.
2. C219/11/3, 12/3-5, 13/1-3; KL C/10/2, f. 113.
3. HMC 11th Rep. III, 228; C1/5/52; King's Lynn Town Hall, assembly bks. 1, ff. 220, 275, 2, ff. 1, 15; CPR, 1429-36, p. 405; Norf. Arch. vi. 233-8.


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