The fact that Catholics fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstain from meat on the other Fridays of Lent is well known. But why do we maintain this practice? How did it start? And am I really keeping the spirit of Lent by abstaining from a $1 hamburger and eating a $30 lobster scampi dinner?
The practice of fasting during certain times of the year or particular days of the week is an ancient one, going back well before the time when Jesus Christ walked among us. It was alreayd a well-established practice among Jews to fast on Tuesdays and Thursdays and in the early Church, Christians continued the practice, but on Wednesdays and Fridays, shifting one day as they also shifted the Sabbath one day from Saturday to Sunday. As the centuries passed, the fasting focused on Fridays, as Friday was the day of the week on which the Lord was crucified and so Christians offered their own suffering of hunger in union with Christ suffering on the cross. While going without a couple meals might sound like a small sacrifice to us–especially compared to the Crucifixion–when you consider that throughout history most people barely got enough to eat anyway, voluntarily giving up food one day per week was a real sign of penitence and love.
Eventually, fasting on Fridays evolved into a general abstinence on the Fridays of most of the year, while fasting became limited to Lent. There's an urban legend that meatless Fridays was the result of the Italian fishermen lobbying the Pope to benefit their industry. This is, to put it mildly, bunk. In fact, the existence of fishing as an industry–as opposed to individuals feeding themselves or their immediate community–came about precisely because of abstinence on Fridays. So many looked to seafood as an alternative to meat that the demand created an industry. Some historians claim that Friday abstinence may have even led to the discovery of the New World as fishermen traveled further and further from familiar shores, seeking new fishing grounds. Even in modern times, abstinence has led to changes in economic markets, In the 1960s, McDonald's noticed that hamburger sales declined significantly on Fridays and so invented the Filet-o-Fish sandwich to offer its Catholic customers.
After the Second Vatican Council, the practice of fasting and abstinence continued to evolve into the current practice in which we fast on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday and abstain from meat on the Fridays of Lent. However, it is not well known that on the other Fridays of the year, Catholics are expected to continue to make some kind of sacrifice, to abstain from some good thing, even if it's not specifically defined as refraining from meat.
So why do we abstain from meat and not seafood? Why not just go vegetarian? Ancient Christian writers noted that in the book of Genesis, God created all the animals of the earth and sky–all those we are to refrain from eating–on the fifth day (Friday)–while fish were created on the fourth day. Whatever the reason, the aim is for us to make a conscious decision to give up something good as a means of expressing solidarity with Christ in his suffering and a form of penance. By mastering the physical appetites and hungers, we also strengthen our ability to master the spiritual appetites and hungers.
Lent is not about the formal observance of "doing a little whatever" and not eating meat on Fridays, while giving oneself free reign to "grow in selfishness, exploit others and ignore the poor," he said. There might be someone who thinks, "Today is Friday, I can't eat meat, but I'm going to have a nice plate of seafood, a real banquet," which, while appearing to be an abstinence from meat, is the sin of gluttony, the pope said.
From the beginning, God commanded some fasting, and sin entered into the world because Adam and Eve broke the fast.
For the Christian, fasting is ultimately about fasting from sin.
Fasting reveals our dependence on God and not the resources of this world.
Fasting is an ancient way of preparing for the Eucharist—the truest of foods.
Fasting is preparation for baptism (and all the sacraments)—for the reception of grace.
Fasting is a means of saving resources to give to the poor.
Fasting is a means of self-discipline, chastity, and the restraining of the appetites.
Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence. For members of the [Roman] Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal. Two smaller meals may also be taken, but not to equal a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the [Roman] Catholic Church from age 14 onwards.


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2-Hour Breakout Sessions • Half-Day Workshops • Full-Day Seminars
KEYNOTE SPEECHES
30 to 90 Minutes - Group Size Unlimited
We will present a program to any size group of firefighters. Whether it is a small group of officers or a convention center full of firefighters, we consider every opportunity to offer a program as a valuable means to spread the word about our great profession and to make a difference.
Our programs can be customized to meet your organization's individual needs and time frames. We will help stoke that passion of being a firefighter and help you meet the challenges facing today's fire service.
Programs and Keynote Speeches:
Pride and Ownership: The Love for the Job
Five Alarm Leadership: Real Leadership with Real People
Five Alarm Leadership: Leadership Skills for Company Officers
Our History: This Should be Day 1 in the Academy!
The Volunteer Firefighter: Defining Commitment
Why Aren't The Numbers Going Down?
Life's Turns: It's All About Family
Graduation Day: Now What?
Fireground Scenario Workshop
Time to Lead Chief!
Firefighter Survival
It's OK to Train
Never Forgetting, Means Never Forgetting
Soaring With Eagles: Bold, Honest and Realistic Leadership
Firefighter Safety and Survival
Managing the MAYDAY
Truck Company Tactics
Getting the Rear of the Building: The Outside Vent Position
Surviving Life's Fire: Managing Change
Firefighter Survival - Are We Winning or Losing?
Command Operations at Structural Fires
Building Construction and Fire Behavior
Team Building, Mentoring and Group Dynamics
Firefighter Safety and Survivial - Revisited
Fire Service Traditions and Ceremonies
Customer Service That Works
Going From "That" Fire Department, to THE Fire Department: The Rebuilding of a Fire Department
Ignite Your Love for the Job
Pride and Ownership holds no punches. Chief Rick Lasky takes a hard look at the fire service and finds it short on the only element that makes it effective: passion. Chief Lasky gives an upfront and honest criticism about the need to reignite the love of the job on every level, from chiefs on down.
Do you have what it takes? Not everyone is cut out for the fire service. It takes only the best to serve the public when people need help most. Pride and Ownership calls for men and women with honor and integrity to measure up to the task.
There's nothing else in the world like being a firefighter. Every day Chief Lasky remembers why his job is the best in the world and he brings that passion to Pride and Ownership. Chief Lasky revisits the proud history and tradition of the fire service and reflects on the family values and brotherhood that have made firefighting a truly family-oriented vocation.
The Firefighter
The Company Officer
Our Two Families
Sweating the Small Stuff
Changing Shirts-The Promotion
What September 11th Did To Us and For Us
Ceremonies That Stoke the Flames of Tradition
Marketing Your Fire Department
Making It All Happen and Taking Care of Number 1
Five Alarm Leadership: Real Leadership with Real People: Building Tomorrow's Leaders and Successors
This program is designed to look at the leadership traits of the successful and not so successful fire service leader. What works and what doesn't. What it means to define core values. How to build relationships and confidence in your firefighters. It also looks at what we're all about, why private corporations are struggling and how to march forward and fight for a better and safer fire service.
Whether you are a firefighter, the newest engine lieutenant or the most senior battalion chief in your department, your leadership skills and abilities are vital to the operations of your department or company. Firehouse conflicts, operational difficulties and the daily routine can be handled professionally or you can fly by the seat of your pants. Join Chief Rick Lasky as he talks about the problems and solutions he has faced in his quarter century with the fire service and how he handled them. No officer is exempt from bumps in the road and the best way to handle trouble is to train!
This IS where the rubber meets the road.
This second program of the Five Alarm Leadership series is all about the issues and responsibilities that officers handle every day. We all spend much more time managing firehouse issues and dealing with our firefighters than we do fighting fires. Shouldn't we spend some time preparing for these tasks so our fire station environment is as successful as our fireground operations? Join Chief Rick Lasky as he discusses issues such as:
The Engine & Truck Officer:
Roll Call; Setting Up and Planning Your Day
Riding / Tool Assignments
Company Training & "Quick Drills"
Communications: Shift to Shift – "Pass It On" – Up & Down the Ladder
Your Firefighter's First Day: The Company Officer's Role
Your Company Officer's First Day: The Chief's Role
Values - Vision - Mission
Performance Evaluations; "The Gold Book" - Coaching - Uniforms
Awards; Records of Exceptional Performance
Situational Leadership Workshop
Chief Lasky has handled many of the difficult and challenging situations that you are likely to face sometime in your fire service future. He will talk about what causes problems in the firehouse and how to get a handle on them. He will explain some of the myths concerning evaluations and discipline and how to get a handle on your daily firehouse routine.
Year after year fire departments all across North America see their new firefighters attend and graduate the fire academy. But after graduation just how many "get it" and how many truly understand why they are here, why WE are here? The answers are all in our history. Join Chief Lasky as he revisits where it all started and where "it" is going. Whether you have 40 days or 40 years in the fire service, if you truly want to see where the fire service is headed, then you have to look back at where at all began.
Since the day the father of our fire service, Ben Franklin, started the first volunteer fire company, men and women have stepped up and taken on the responsibility of protecting their communities and the families that live there. In most case receiving no compensation for their time and dedication. The volunteer firefighter defined the word selflessness. But what does it take to make volunteerism work? Especially at a time where many of today's volunteer firefighters are facing the challenge and in some cases, the crisis, of recruitment and retention of their members. This program looks at the methods for implementing a productive recruitment and retention program along with the steps needed to train and motivate our next generation of volunteer firefighters.
Each year agencies such as NIOSH, NFPA, USFA, along with several others, publish documents describing the Line Of Duty Deaths (LODD) and injuries suffered by firefighters for the previous year. And each year talented fire service instructors and fire academies across North America, host seminars and conduct training all in an effort to reduce the amount of injuries and fatalities. With all of this great work, why aren't the numbers going down? This session takes a hard look at the causes for those losses and discusses the realistic steps necessary to finally begin to make a difference and ensure that every firefighter goes home, safely to their families.
As we travel down our life's roads, we often face decisions as to which way to turn. Depending on the choice we make and the turn we choose, we either enjoy success or feel the sting of failure. But when our decisions are based on strong family values combined with a "workplace community," the results prove to be extremely successful. When you look at every success story, examine how it all happened. One thing stands out. One area continuously rises to the top. Family! Families make a community and a community is stronger than any one individual. A community that supports and promotes family values is unbeatable. Does your fire department or do your members believe in this concept? After all, it does serve as the foundation for everything we do in the fire service. For without family values, we're just a rudderless ship adrift in life's ocean hoping what happens, happens for the right reasons.
It's taken you months to get to this day. The day you graduate from the fire academy. You've worked so hard and dedicated so much, and your family has stood by your side, through the good days and the tough ones. But now what? Where do you go from here? How do you stay sharp and protect everything that you have gained? How do you get better? How are you going to stay safe? This presentation looks at what it takes to prepare for what's yet to come; the rest of your entire firefighting career. What works and what doesn't.
This program is a one-of-a-kind opportunity for firefighters, company officers, and chiefs to experience a number of different types of structural fires. Examine fires in private dwellings, commercial buildings, apartment houses, and office buildings. Whatever your experience level is, you will certainly see something you have never seen before in this workshop. During the fire scenarios, the tactics, strategies and other factors will be analyzed and discussed. Students will have an opportunity to comment on what is happening in the scenario and how they might handle a similar situation in their own department. This will be an interesting, fast-moving, and entertaining program that you don't want to miss.
Now that you've made it there, to the rank of chief officer, what does it take to remain "one of the good ones?" So many company officers have taken that next step, so many assistant and deputy chiefs have gotten to the "big chair" only to find out that it wasn't what they expected. "That it wasn't in the brochure." This presentation takes a serious look at what it takes to be a successful chief officer and how to remain effective and mentally stable.ck to Top
Firefighter Survival is a program that outlines the important skills that every firefighter needs to develop to survive the
hazards on the fireground. Surviving the numerous dangers that firefighters are exposed to at structural fires is no accident. This program will take you through the following important areas:
Preparing to survive
PPE & SCBA familiarity and use
Size-up for survival
Risk vs. reward decision making
Personal emergency situations
Survival training skills
Each of the listed skills are vital elements of a firefighters survival ability and should be developed and practices regularly. Remember, you have the greatest impact on your survival!
Time and time again, young aggressive firefighters are stifled from training and at times ridiculed for wanting to train. For wanting to get better at being a firefighter. For having the desire to hone their skills. Why are so many facing this dilemma? This presentation looks at why it's "Ok to train," that's it's Ok to be safer at what you do, and that you have a right to go home from every shift or every call with all of your pieces and parts still attached and in good working order. There is NO argument for not training. There is one to train. To save lives, including our own!
Do you have the stickers on your helmet? The decals on your fire apparatus? Do you remember the sacrifices that were made on 9/11? Do you remember those made before that day or those that we have seen since it? NEVER FORGETTING, MEANS NEVER FORGETTING! But it also takes believing in something to begin with. It takes believing in something special. Something that no one else on the face of the earth can provide. It also means defending it and never allowing anyone to hurt or deface it. There's a lot more to Never Forgetting than just those symbols you see on the outside. It also takes some work on the inside as well.
If we have learned one thing from recent events, it's the fact that integrity is more important than ever. A leader cannot produce or succeed if he or she is without integrity and a strong belief in core values. Your integrity defines your character. Your character is defined as how you are and how you act when no one is watching! Your core values provide the foundation for your vision and your mission. So many of today's business leaders along with those that will succeed them some day lack foundation. Several will talk about core values, but many have not been shown how to live by those values. In the leadership world, it's hard to soar to great heights with wings that are weak and tarnished.
Enhance your survivability in hazardous or life-threatening conditions in burning buildings with this course. Gain the critical skills needed to self-egress in a trouble situation and rescue downed firefighters using the rapid intervention team concept including the roles and responsibilities of the rapid intervention team officer. Because no firefighter should go into a burning building without the skills and knowledge necessary to make sure, as much as humanly possible, that every brother and sister returns safely from the alarm.
This session is broken down into three areas:
How we get into trouble.
How we get out of trouble.
How we stay out of trouble.
One of the most difficult incidents to manage is one in which our members become trapped, lost, or injured. This presentation discusses how firefighters get into trouble at incidents and the necessary steps to get personnel back to safety. Accountability systems, incident command strategies, and scene control will be analyzed and discussed. For all fire officers at every level who could be involved in managing a MAYDAY, as well as firefighters who could be confronted with the "unthinkable."
Truck company operations at structural fires are essential in the overall fire attack. In order for the engine company to advance on the fire and extinguish it, they must be performed quickly and proficiently. This program addresses the importance of truck company operations at fires and the roles and responsibilities of the truck company officer. Other areas covered are apparatus placement, search and rescue (Residential and Commercial), ventilation, forcible entry, VES (Vent-Enter-Search), and the OVM (Outside Vent Man); along with the various other truck company tasks that are needed for a successful fire attack.
One of the most critical but often overlooked tasks of the first arriving companies at a structure fire is that of addressing the rear of the building. Whether you handle this with an assigned position such as the OVM (Outside Vent Man) or a firefighter from another crew, getting this done is a must. This program examines the importance of this fireground assignment and the steps needed to accomplish it.ack to Top
Surviving Life's Fire: Managing Change
If we have learned one thing from recent events, one's ability to embrace change is more important than ever. A leader cannot produce or succeed if he or she cannot understand what change really is, how to deal more effectively with change, and how to make change work for you. So many of today's leaders, along with those that will succeed them some day, lack this ability. Several will talk about change, but many have not been shown how to see change as an opportunity for success. Don't be afraid to try something new. Amateurs built the Ark – professionals built the Titanic.ack to Top
For the past several years there has been much attention paid to the issue of firefighter survival. Many training programs and other educational events have concentrated on how we can further reduce the numbers of firefighters killed each year in the line of duty. At almost every major seminar and conference, there are both classroom and hands-on training programs focused on this important subject, yet the number of firefighters lost each year has not gone down in any significant way. Are we at the bottom of the curve? Is this as far as there is to go down? Are we doing the right thing when it comes to firefighter survival training or is there more that needs to be done? Join Chiefs Rick Lasky and John Salka as they discuss this vital issue and look at it from two perspectives. Are we doing a good job and having success in keeping the numbers from rising each year or are there more activities and firefighters that need to get involved and start making a difference by getting the number of firefighters killed to drop further? This should be an informative and thought provoking session for every firefighter, company officer and chief that attends.
When we look at the successes and failures on the fireground, a proper fire scene size-up and requesting the adequate amount of resources needed, will often lead to those successful fire attacks. However, failure to properly size-up a fire scene, lack of command and control, and a lack of the needed resources, can and will lead to the failures seen on the fire scene from time to time. A good incident commander is the one who can predict his or her next alarm. They know what the smoke is telling them, where the fire is going and what they'll need resource wise before they run out. Running out of "stuff" at a fire usually results in everyone having a bad day.
The following statement concerning building construction and fire behavior, couldn't serve as a better platform for everything else you will need to know about firefighting:
"If you want to be a good firefighter, you need to know building construction and fire behavior. You need to know how the building is going to react to the fire and how the fire is going to react to the building. Anyone can chop with an axe, spray water and pull ceiling, but you have to have a true understanding of these two areas to really know what to do next and why you are doing it."
Fire service legend Frank Brannigan when explaining the need to understand building construction, said "for years we've compared the fireground to the battle ground. But where we in the fire service come up short, is the military studies its enemy in an effort to identify it's every weakness as well as its strengths. The fire service on the other hand, doesn't study our enemy, the building, in the same manner." The fire is the weapon, the building is our enemy. This presentation addresses the strengths and weaknesses of both.
Coming together is a beginning and is the first step of Team Building.
Keeping together is progress and is a direct result of Mentoring.
Working together is success and is a result of understanding Group Dynamics.
In order to have that company, division or department that everyone is talking about and longing to be like, these three key areas must be addressed. This program demonstrates why teams are vitally important to the success of an organization, how mentoring builds upon the success of that team, and why having a true understanding of group dynamics can play such an important role in the team building process.
It's been said that "presentation is everything." Firefighters, company officers and chief officers, are constantly in the public's eye and by the very nature of their jobs, required to speak in public and make a variety of presentations. Whether it's in front of a small group of school children, the chamber of commerce, or in front of your mayor and city council when its budget time, how well you present your topic will often lead to the success or failure of your mission. This program identifies the steps necessary to enable anyone to stand up in front of an audience or group, and deliver a meaningful and purposeful presentation with confidence.Back to Top
Firefighter Safety and Survival – Revisited!
Back by popular demand, this program gets back to the basics of firefighter survival and rescue techniques, techniques that are proven effective and HAVE saved firefighter's lives!
Featured evolutions reviewed:
The John Nance Drill
The 2nd Floor Window Rescue
The Stairwell Rescue
The Denver Rescue
Room Orientation
The Ladder Bail
The Personal Rope Escape
The Wall breach
Don't miss this opportunity to have your firefighters trained to ensure their safety and survival.
The fire service is rich in tradition and our heritage is one marked with pride and admired by many. But for you to truly understand and appreciate it requires you to take a trip. One that takes you back to the beginning. But as you begin your trip back in time looking for and learning about our fire service history, what you start to see is that there have always been a variety of ceremonies and celebrations. The kind of ceremonies that stimulate the pride that brings ownership. This presentation looks at the ceremonies that will help stoke the flames of tradition in your department.
Helping people is what the fire service is all about. It's been said that when some one from the public is having their worst day, we're having our best day. When someone is hurting we are at our best because the fire service lives to help people. It's what we exist for. But fighting fires, cutting people out of cars and helping people when they are sick and injured, is just part of it. There are so many ways to help the public and some are so simple that often they are overlooked. This program discusses customer service on two fronts; the external customer, outside of the firehouse, and the internal customer, inside the firehouse. At the same time it takes a look at programs that work and why.
Each and everyday, fire departments across North America are faced with a series of challenges. Those challenges include everything from protecting our firefighters to fighting for the funding that we need to protect those that we serve. But when the challenge is righting a fire department that is traveling down the path of self destruction, it can come with a long list of obstacles.
But as with anything the fire service faces, this too can be turned around and we can move to a new path, one that brings about the accolades of having a great fire department. This program takes a realistic view with actual situations, at what it takes to go from the furnace room to the penthouse.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Joe Macaron
Geopolitical Analyst and Consultant
Quoted in "Arab News" on the start of the US-Turkish joint patrols in Syria.
September 9, 2019 September 13, 2022 Joe Macaron
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"Erdogan is criticizing the US administration and betting on his meeting with (US President Donald) Trump in New York this month to settle this issue, as both sides always aim to find a consensus rather than go to confrontation," Macaron said. "Regardless of what might happen though, the safe zone is a temporary fix. These contentious issues they're facing will remain pending moving forward". Click here to read the full article.
Print/online media quotations
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Joe Macaron site web en Français
Joe Macaron English website
Joe Macaron has a two-decade long experience as a geopolitical expert, journalist, and communications specialist for high-profile international organizations. A French American citizen with Lebanese background, Joe lived across three continents, which allows him to offer consulting services that are more than simple advice but rather an insight backed with wealth of knowledge and travel acquired over the years. He primarily focuses his research on US politics and foreign policy, international relations and conflict analysis in the Middle East, and transatlantic relationships. His previous analyst roles include the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point, the Issam Fares Center in Lebanon, and the Colin Powell Center for Policy Studies at the City College of New York. A former journalist, he also advised the International Monetary Fund on public engagement in the Middle East and served in different capacities in the United Nations system. Macaron contributes his analysis widely to international print, online, and broadcast media. He holds a MA in International Relations from the City University of New York and a PhD in international politics from the University of Bath. Can be reached by email: joemacaron@gmail.com or phone: +33 7 67 48 95 37 or +1202 997 8191.
Quoted in LA Times on Hezbollah and Israel trading fire near the Lebanese-Israeli border.
Quoted in MEE on the impact of Bolton's firing on potential US-Iran talks.
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President Biden Just Signed an Executive Order to Examine Supply Chain Weaknesses. Here's What He Should Do Next
By Scott Paul
Feb 24 2021 |
A global shortage of semiconductor chips has led to the shutdown of several auto factories in recent weeks. Getty Images
The United States learned the hard way what happens when you become reliant on imports for critical goods. It's time to do something about it.
Americans often take supply chains for granted — until there's a breakdown or disruptive event. It's fair to say many more of us think about needing to stock up on toilet paper or secure plenty of masks to protect against infectious disease spread than we did just a year ago.
But for workers and producers, supply chains are a constant concern. Globalization, financialization, and just-in-time inventory management systems have created a fragile ecosystem for manufacturing. The system can work well when nothing goes wrong.
And in the real world, things go wrong.
We've been sounding the alarm for more than a decade about the need for more resilient and homegrown supply chains in the face of economic and national security concerns and to mitigate political risk abroad. As the COVID-19 pandemic has shown, America has become far too vulnerable because in some cases we are almost entirely dependent on imports—in many cases from strategic competitors like China—for critical goods.
Up to 90 percent of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care applications is imported, and nurses still report severe shortages.
We are overly dependent on China, India, and other importers for active pharmaceutical ingredients, including lifesaving antibiotics.
Ford and General Motors are cutting back production and shifts domestically due to a shortage of semiconductors.
America's handful of producers of armor plate and electrical steel face a constant barrage of dumped and subsidized imports.
So it is encouraging that President Biden and his administration are launching a 100-day comprehensive review of vulnerable supply chains, beginning with pharmaceuticals, batteries, personal protective equipment, and semiconductor chips, and then moving on to these six sectors for a year-long review: the defense industrial base; the public health and biological preparedness industrial base; the information and communications technology (ICT) industrial base; the energy sector industrial base; the transportation industrial base; and supply chains for agricultural commodities and food production.
I previously examined supply chain weaknesses in an op-ed for The New York Times last year. We've engaged senior military and homeland security leaders and experts for comprehensive reviews of supply chain vulnerabilities in the defense industrial base in the AAM reports Remaking American Security and Preparing for 21st Century Risks: Revitalizing American Manufacturing to Protect, Respond and Recover.
Of course, what matters the most in all of this is the policy change that will result. The lethal combination of dumped and subsidized imports and state-owned enterprise competition with our private sector firms has eroded our domestic manufacturing base over the past several decades. Rebuilding it in a way that can be flexible, resilient, and globally competitive will take more than a tweak here and there.
We must dramatically upscale our investments in infrastructure, innovation, and the workforce. We must provide our firms through incentives and deterrents a path to invest more in American production, as opposed to offshore tax havens or their wealthiest shareholders. We must leverage our public procurement policies, as the Biden administration has said it will do, to create domestic markets for these essential goods. Our trade policy must find balance and enable industries to find new export markets abroad while returning high-value production to our shores. No small task, but the administration is likely to find strong allies on Capitol Hill for such efforts.
Time is of the essence. In some cases—think for instance smartphone production—we will have to launch new industries from the ground floor, as we do not make a single mass-market smartphone in America. Or play catch up with China, which already controls 70 percent of the global lithium-ion battery market.
Fools errand? Hardly. From our earliest days as a nation, leaders like George Washington and Alexander Hamilton envisioned America as a manufacturing powerhouse, which ultimately held to define our global rise for generations. They knew it would take public policies to realize that goal. Now it's Biden's turn to show skill with the quill.
President Biden's Supply Chain Executive Order Encouraging; Policy Must Follow
U.S. "Must Create the Supply Chains of Tomorrow, Not Fix the Supply Chains of Yesterday"
Supply Chain Investment is Needed Now – or the U.S. Will Continue to Fall Behind, Industry and Labor Officials Tell Senators


Over the past 30 years, tourism has exploded in Mexico. This was all made possible by Hotel and Timeshare developers recognizing they had a mecca for tourists. Their vision is best expressed with the famous line from Field of Dreams, "If you build it, they will come"! And build it they did, throwing billions of dollars in developing mega resorts sprawling over acres of lush tropical landscapes fronted by miles of white and coral sand beaches on both the Pacific and Caribbean sides of Mexico. Thus creating mega luxury resort properties in locations such as Puerto Vallarta and Cancun and along the Riviera Maya Peninsula.
Large Charter airlines quickly recognized the opportunity, subsequently offering inexpensive flights and tour packages to these new resort destinations and making this area of Mexico the #1 vacation destination for Canadian Snowbirds.
Smart Vacations also recognizes great opportunities making Mexico one of it's feature vacation destination, offering affordable yet great 5 star luxury resorts in Puerto Vallarta, Cancun and Mazatlan.


I had to watch Mr 3000 on charter on demand last night. It was perfect. I had Brewer fever and really needed the Brewer fix! I recomend it!
Attack of the 50 foot (er, page) thread. Hide the woman and children.
Eighteen more comments (after mine) and this thread will hit 1000 posts. Do it for the team.
17. C'mon, we can do it!
i just listened to the archived radio broadcast from the 9th inning. what a satisfying win. i think uke was even suprised by what the team pulled off. wow. i'm still basking in the glow of that victory.
August 4, 2005, one of the most unproductive afternoons I have ever had at my workplace. I'm reminded of a comeback win against the Astros in the first game of a double header a few years ago, when I had thought about taking a day off and making the 4 hour drive to Miller Park instead of going to the office.
The pitching line for the Doug Davis was scary, and the bullpen gave up 10 hits.
A win is a win, go brewers.
We can do it. The comeback was great. Sheets to win tonight!!
I have full confidence in Sheeter to pitch his heart out and get the win tonight and this new and improved offense is pretty nice too. I'm looking for a 6-1 victory tonight.
Did somebody just say they watched Mr. 3000. Ugh, I can't stand Bernie Mac. The only movie I can watch him in is Bad Santa.
Did Anna Benson say anything about what she would do if her husband got smacked around by the other team...I mean we absolutely man-handled her husband...that has to make her pretty upset.
I just read this entire thread. My head hurts....talk about a roller coaster of emotions for one game, geez!
Come on... his bit with Matt Damon in Ocean's Eleven was priceless. I still laugh thinking about it.
Yes Mark A was at the game. He old the JS that he was giddy as a school girl in the 9th and at the end of the game. He also he is beaming.
Please tell me he did not actually use the words "giddy as a school girl" in the interview.
How do you listen to archived Brewer radio broadcasts?? Thanks.
I think you have to pay for them at the Brewers official web site. You may be able to get them somewhere else though so someone correct me if I'm wrong.
I feel that this game may be a stepping stone for this season. I know it's only one win but maybe because of it beigger and better things will come.
I feel that we are very close to 1000 posts in this thread.
This series is also huge in that if we can at least win two and go back home at .500 we should see huge crowds at MP all week. How awesome would that be if there was that much excitement over Brewers baseball in August!
I'll give an assist, next post is the 1000.


This sprawling three bedroom two bathroom home is 100% completely remodeled granite countertops throughout the entire kitchen and bathrooms. All new flooring all knew everything it was down to the studs and floor joists before the remodel. The convenience of living close to the city while still living outside of city limits so that you can have a bonfire and enjoy nights outside.
I was searching for a Property and found this listing (MLS® #572511). Please send me more information regarding 4244 Ne 7th St, Des Moines, IA, 50313-2903. Thank you!
I'd like to request a showing of 4244 Ne 7th St, Des Moines, IA, 50313-2903 (MLS® #572511). Thank you!


text:
#ifndef itkGradientImageFilter_h
#define itkGradientImageFilter_h

#include "itkImageToImageFilter.h"
#include "itkCovariantVector.h"
#include "itkImageRegionIterator.h"

namespace itk
{

template <typename TPixelType, unsigned int VImageDimension > class VectorImage;

/** \class GradientImageFilter
 * \brief Computes the gradient of an image using directional derivatives.
 *
 * Computes the gradient of an image using directional derivatives.
 * The directional derivative at each pixel location is computed by
 * convolution with a first-order derivative operator.
 *
 * The second template parameter defines the value type used in the
 * derivative operator (defaults to float).  The third template
 * parameter defines the value type used for output image (defaults to
 * float).  The output image is defined as a covariant vector image
 * whose value type is specified as this third template parameter.
 *
 *
 * \sa Image
 * \sa Neighborhood
 * \sa NeighborhoodOperator
 * \sa NeighborhoodIterator
 *
 * \ingroup GradientFilters
 * \ingroup ITKImageGradient
 */
template< typename TInputImage,
          typename TOperatorValueType = float,
          typename TOutputValueType = float,
          typename TOutputImageType = Image< CovariantVector< TOutputValueType,
                                                           TInputImage::ImageDimension >,
                                          TInputImage::ImageDimension > >
class GradientImageFilter:
  public ImageToImageFilter< TInputImage, TOutputImageType >
{
public:
  /** Extract dimension from input image. */
  itkStaticConstMacro(InputImageDimension, unsigned int,
                      TInputImage::ImageDimension);
  itkStaticConstMacro(OutputImageDimension, unsigned int,
                      TInputImage::ImageDimension);

  /** Standard class typedefs. */
  typedef GradientImageFilter Self;

  /** Convenient typedefs for simplifying declarations. */
  typedef TInputImage                       InputImageType;
  typedef typename InputImageType::Pointer  InputImagePointer;
  typedef TOutputImageType                  OutputImageType;
  typedef typename OutputImageType::Pointer OutputImagePointer;

  /** Standard class typedefs. */
  typedef ImageToImageFilter< InputImageType, OutputImageType > Superclass;
  typedef SmartPointer< Self >                                  Pointer;
  typedef SmartPointer< const Self >                            ConstPointer;

  /** Method for creation through the object factory. */
  itkNewMacro(Self);

  /** Run-time type information (and related methods). */
  itkTypeMacro(GradientImageFilter, ImageToImageFilter);

  /** Image typedef support. */
  typedef typename InputImageType::PixelType  InputPixelType;
  typedef TOperatorValueType                  OperatorValueType;
  typedef TOutputValueType                    OutputValueType;
  typedef typename OutputImageType::PixelType OutputPixelType;
  typedef CovariantVector<
    OutputValueType, itkGetStaticConstMacro(OutputImageDimension) >
  CovariantVectorType;
  typedef typename OutputImageType::RegionType OutputImageRegionType;

  /** GradientImageFilter needs a larger input requested region than
   * the output requested region.  As such, GradientImageFilter needs
   * to provide an implementation for GenerateInputRequestedRegion()
   * in order to inform the pipeline execution model.
   *
   * \sa ImageToImageFilter::GenerateInputRequestedRegion() */
  virtual void GenerateInputRequestedRegion() ITK_OVERRIDE;

  /** Use the image spacing information in calculations. Use this option if you
   *  want derivatives in physical space. Default is UseImageSpacingOn. */
  void SetUseImageSpacingOn()
  { this->SetUseImageSpacing(true); }

  /** Ignore the image spacing. Use this option if you want derivatives in
      isotropic pixel space.  Default is UseImageSpacingOn. */
  void SetUseImageSpacingOff()
  { this->SetUseImageSpacing(false); }

  /** Set/Get whether or not the filter will use the spacing of the input
      image in its calculations */
  itkSetMacro(UseImageSpacing, bool);
  itkGetConstMacro(UseImageSpacing, bool);

#ifdef ITK_USE_CONCEPT_CHECKING
  // Begin concept checking
  itkConceptMacro( InputConvertibleToOutputCheck,
                   ( Concept::Convertible< InputPixelType, OutputValueType > ) );
  itkConceptMacro( OutputHasNumericTraitsCheck,
                   ( Concept::HasNumericTraits< OutputValueType > ) );
  // End concept checking
#endif

  /** The UseImageDirection flag determines whether image derivatives are
   * computed with respect to the image grid or with respect to the physical
   * space. When this flag is ON the derivatives are computed with respect to
   * the coodinate system of physical space. The difference is whether we take
   * into account the image Direction or not. The flag ON will take into
   * account the image direction and will result in an extra matrix
   * multiplication compared to the amount of computation performed when the
   * flag is OFF.
   * The default value of this flag is On.
   */
  itkSetMacro(UseImageDirection, bool);
  itkGetConstMacro(UseImageDirection, bool);
  itkBooleanMacro(UseImageDirection);

protected:
  GradientImageFilter();
  virtual ~GradientImageFilter();
  void PrintSelf(std::ostream & os, Indent indent) const ITK_OVERRIDE;

  /** GradientImageFilter can be implemented as a multithreaded filter.
   * Therefore, this implementation provides a ThreadedGenerateData()
   * routine which is called for each processing thread. The output
   * image data is allocated automatically by the superclass prior to
   * calling ThreadedGenerateData().  ThreadedGenerateData can only
   * write to the portion of the output image specified by the
   * parameter "outputRegionForThread"
   *
   * \sa ImageToImageFilter::ThreadedGenerateData(),
   *     ImageToImageFilter::GenerateData() */
  void ThreadedGenerateData(const OutputImageRegionType & outputRegionForThread,
                            ThreadIdType threadId) ITK_OVERRIDE;

private:
  GradientImageFilter(const Self &); //purposely not implemented
  void operator=(const Self &);      //purposely not implemented

  virtual void GenerateOutputInformation() ITK_OVERRIDE;

  // An overloaded method which may transform the gradient to a
  // physical vector and converts to the correct output pixel type.
  template <typename TValue>
  void SetOutputPixel( ImageRegionIterator< VectorImage<TValue,OutputImageDimension> > &it, CovariantVectorType &gradient )
  {
    if ( this->m_UseImageDirection )
      {
      CovariantVectorType physicalGradient;
      it.GetImage()->TransformLocalVectorToPhysicalVector( gradient, physicalGradient );
      it.Set( OutputPixelType( physicalGradient.GetDataPointer(), InputImageDimension, false ) );
      }
    else
      {
      it.Set( OutputPixelType( gradient.GetDataPointer(), InputImageDimension, false ) );
      }
  }

  template <typename T >
  void SetOutputPixel( ImageRegionIterator< T > &it, CovariantVectorType &gradient )
  {
    // This uses the more efficient set by reference method
    if ( this->m_UseImageDirection )
      {
      it.GetImage()->TransformLocalVectorToPhysicalVector( gradient, it.Value() );
      }
    else
      {
      it.Value() = gradient;
      }
  }

  bool m_UseImageSpacing;

  // flag to take or not the image direction into account
  // when computing the derivatives.
  bool m_UseImageDirection;
};
} // end namespace itk

#ifndef ITK_MANUAL_INSTANTIATION
#include "itkGradientImageFilter.hxx"
#endif

#endif

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


William F. Kahley Jr, on January 30, 2018, of Blackwood, New Jersey. Age 74.
He attended Iowa School for the Deaf and graduated in 1965.
Devoted husband of Helene (nee Wolden). Loving father of Amaris Jefferson (Rodney) and Jabin Kahley (Kristie). Loving grandfather of Louis, Ellijah, Nigel, Jada, Logan and Jordan. Brother of Candace Barbato, Fritz Kahley, and the late Jacqueline Paulsel. Also survived by many nieces and nephews.
William was a former member of the Delaware Valley Club for the Deaf, member of NJ Association for the Deaf, NJ Deaf Senior Citizens, and the South Jersey Deaf Senior Citizens.
There will be a memorial service on Saturday, February 3, 2018 at 2:45pm, at the Solid Rock Baptist Church, 420 South White Horse Pike, Berlin, NJ 08009.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Solid Rock Baptist Deaf Church.
Gardner Funeral Home arranged his funeral services.
Thanks to Gardner Funeal Home, Runnermade, NJ and Phyllis Schultz for the information.


Do you know what it is like to put important things off until it's (almost) too late? Have you ever experienced doing something fun before something necessary and then found yourself in a pinch with the necessary task later? If so, then you have experienced procrastination. Everyone procrastinates now and then — sometimes more than others, some people more than others. When procrastination starts to become a habit, however, it can have quite negative consequences. In lots of ways.
TODOS and Naturviterne invite you to a breakfast seminar on procrastination. We are lucky to have Professor Tove I. Dahl come and give us this talk.
Professor Tove I. Dahl is an educational psychologist with a background in learning and motivation. One of her primary academic drives is understanding how to help learners do their very best — learning effectively, efficiently and for life. In that spirit, she has recently joined forces with colleagues at the Department of Psychology (IPS) on a relatively new research project that focuses on the nature of procrastination. Together with Professors Frode Svartdal (project leader) and Catharina Wang, they are exploring the conceptual, clinical and academic sides of the matter.


Gross mortgage lending in July was down 36 per cent year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).
The organisation indicated that, although lending was up 26 per cent on June's data to £16 billion, it was still a significant way behind July 2008 when mortgage activity totalled £34.9 billion.
Commenting on the latest results, CML economist Paul Samter said: "The CML's July gross lending estimate of £16 billion is the highest level in nine months and consistent with the rise in house purchase approvals."
With fewer people getting mortgages than last year, property to rent in Wandsworth, flats to rent in Farringdon or rental accommodation in other parts of the UK may be an option for some.
Indeed, various indexes have shown that rent levels in some parts of the UK are lower than they were in 2008, which suggests it could be an ideal time to consider the private rented sector for a place to live.
Mortgage lending down considerably year-on-year, according to the Council of Mortgage Lenders.


text:
Walton-on-the-Naze to London Liverpool Street
Trains from Walton-on-the-Naze to London Liverpool Street
If you're returning, check train times for London Liverpool Street to Walton-on-the-Naze.
Cheap train tickets from Walton-on-the-Naze to London Liverpool Street
Walton-on-the-Naze station
We know it's important to plan ahead, so whether you're making a local trip or heading on a cross-country adventure, find out everything you need to know about facilities at Walton-on-the-Naze station. From Wi-Fi availability and toilets to ticket machines and customer help points, check out what you can expect to find at Walton-on-the-Naze station before you make your trip to London Liverpool Street station. Plan your trip to and from the station and find out more about accessibility and mobility access to make your journey as seamless as possible.
Trains from Walton-on-the-Naze
Walton-on-the-Naze to Portsmouth Harbour
Walton-on-the-Naze to Clapham Junction
Walton-on-the-Naze to London Waterloo
Walton-on-the-Naze to Lymington Town
Trains from London Liverpool Street
London Liverpool Street to Stansted Airport
London Liverpool Street to Norwich
London Liverpool Street to Clacton-on-Sea
London Liverpool Street to Bournemouth
London Liverpool Street to Ipswich


1.	Blogging. This is the way to create an online presence without the technical issues of owning your own website (that comes later). Most blogs are offered with free hosting and come with already installed features so set up is easy. Blog about anything that you find interesting and will be interesting to other readers. A blog with a niche will perform better a personal one. Blogs can also make money with programs like Google Adwords and AdSense. Pay per Click advertising also works for generating revenue.
2.	Internet research. Anyone who can navigate the Internet and find out almost anything, can market themselves as an Internet researcher. Large and small companies will pay you to find out information for them, create reports from the research.
3.	Selling products. If you have a hobby like making and selling crafts you can expand your business online with a website. Set up a website that caters to your product offerings. Market these products online to drive traffic to your website.
4.	Selling on eBay. With this idea, you set up shop on the Internet. You can sell products you created or items you own that you want to sell. Many now make a living selling on eBay. As your business grows, you can expand to involve other product markets.
5.	Freelancing. Many online and offline businesses are looking for help. Freelancers lower the overhead of the company thus becoming more profitable for many jobs than hiring someone to work in the office. Depending on your talent, hire yourself out at a freelance writer, graphic artist, website designer or programmer.
6.	Virtual assistant. Virtual assistants are the going trend for many businesses. In the beginning, virtual assistants performed the administrative duties of a company from their home. Now, VA's can be found in all career specialties like medical, real estate, marketing and publishing. They perform tasks above administrative such as website administrator, report creation and Internet research.
7.	Membership sites. You see more of these around these days. With a membership site, you choose a niche, such as online marketing. Customers pay to join at a certain level (gold, silver, bronze) and are rewarded with certain perks for their membership that include newsletters, videos or articles on marketing and services to help expand their own business. You create the website and supply the materials yourself or through outsourcing each month to your members.


Birmingham City Council wishes to establish a contract for the provision of the design services for the development of the Alexander Stadium site in preparation for the Commonwealth Games 2022 for a period of up to 5 years commencing on 1.9.2018. A key component of the Commonwealth Games 2022 will be the redevelopment of Alexander Stadium site to meet all the games requirements.
The development of the Alexander Stadium site in preparation for the Commonwealth Games 2022 for a period of up to 5 years.
Details will be provided in tender documentation.


text:
Фёдор Максимович Пруцков (25 августа 1908, Тамбов — 5 августа 1943, Люберцы) — советский лётчик-истребитель, подполковник, командир 16-го истребительного авиационного полка ПВО во время Битвы за Москву.

Биография
Фёдор Пруцков родился 25 августа 1908 в Тамбове в семье рабочего; в 1934 году он окончил Качинскую первую военную школу летчиков. После окончания училища в звании лейтенанта ВВС Пруцков стал лётчиком 40-й истребительной авиационной эскадрильи, входившей в состав 83-й истребительной авиационной бригады, относившейся к Киевскому военному округу. Затем, в период с ноября 1936 по 26 июля 1937 года, он принимал участие в Гражданской войне в Испании, где летал на советском истребителе И-16: в тот период он сбил два самолёта противника (в составе группы). Был награждён двумя орденами Красного Знамени (02.01.1937, 04.07.1937).

После боёв в Испании Фёдор Пруцков продолжил службу в РККВФ: он стал командиром эскадрильи в Борисоглебской военной школе лётчиков. C 1938 года он занял ту же должность в 57-й Люберецкой истребительной авиационной бригаде. В том же году ему было присвоено воинское звание майора. В январе следующего года он окончил Курсы комиссаров-лётчиков, функционировавшие при Харьковском военном авиационном училище. Затем он был назначен заместителем командира 16-го истребительного авиационного полка ПВО, относившегося к Московскому военному округу. 5 ноября 1939 года Пруцков стал командиром данного полка — согласно приказу Народного комиссара обороны СССР

После начала Великой Отечественной войны, с июля 1941 года, Фёдор Пруцков принимал участие в боевых действиях: летал на истребителе МиГ-3. В начале войны он служил в 434-м истребительном авиационном полке, воевавшем на Юго-Западном фронте. В октябре 1941 года ему было присвоено звание подполковника РККВФ. Указом Президиума Верховного Совета СССР от 28 октября 1941 года «за проявленное мужество и умение в отражении налетов фашистской авиации на Москву» подполковник Пруцков — как командир 16-го истребительного авиационного полка — был награждён орденом Ленина. Всего за время войны он сбил пять самолётов противника: четыре лично и один в составе группы.

Весной следующего года Пруцков продолжил службу в отделе истребительной авиации инспекции ВВС: стал инспектором по технике пилотирования. 1 ноября 1942 года — во время перелёта в блокадный Ленинград — из-за плохой погоды Пруцков совершил вынужденную посадку в поле, получив при этом тяжёлые травмы, включая несколько переломов. После выздоровления, состоявшегося к лету 1943 года, он был назначен заместителем начальника Школы высшего пилотажа и воздушного боя в Люберцах. Погиб во время испытательного полета: 5 августа 1943 года, при выполнении испытательного полёта на самолёте Ла-5 с заменённым мотором, самолёт подполковника Пруцкова с заглохшим двигателем задел за верхушки деревьев и перевернулся. Был похоронен на Введенском кладбище в Москве.

Семья
Жена: Ольга Андреевна Капитонова (с 1933).

Литература
 Федоров А. Г. Авиация в битве под Москвой. — М.: Наука, 1975. С. 110—111, 130—131.

Ссылки

 Пруцков Фёдор Максимович

Лётчики Великой Отечественной войны
Похороненные на Введенском кладбище

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Most computer users have private files and folders stored on their computers which they do not want others to be able to see. Unfortunately, however, there is no standard way of hiding specific folders and files on your computer and preventing access to them. Editing Windows NTFS permissions makes it possible to limit access to specified files and folders, but its functionality is limited and, for the average computer user, it is also a very complicated process. This is why a third-party utility such as Private Folders Lite is so useful in cases where you want to properly protect your data. The private folder program supports all versions of Windows from Windows XP to Windows 8, including 64-bit editions. It also supports FAT, FAT32, exFAT and NTFS file systems. The program is exceptionally easy to use and no learning curves are required. Protecting and hiding a folder is simply a matter of a few clicks. Hotkeys are also supported. Private Folders Lite is completely free. Learn more at http://www.privatefolder.org .