text:
How to get help during the coronavirus pandemic in Pittsburgh
(Photo by Ryan Loew/PublicSource)
It's hard to overstate the impacts of the novel coronavirus on American life. Lots of people are hurting. Lots of people need help. But it's often hard to know just where to find that help — or even what's available.
So, after listing ways you can help others during the pandemic, we decided to compile this guide to finding help for yourself.
This article will be updated.
The county created a food distribution map for residents to identify available food resources around the county, including school "grab & go" sites, food pantries and more.
Apply to The Emergency Food Assistance Program if you're out of work or have lost hours or income due to the pandemic.
Pick up free prepared meals every day from 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. at Fishes and Loaves Cooperative Ministries (131 E. Elizabeth Street).
Get grab-and-go meals for school kids at multiple city recreation centers and Salvation Army sites around Pittsburgh.
The Warren Bar and Burrow and Penn Cove Eatery Downtown are offering meals to service industry workers who've lost work due to coronavirus.
Need formula and food for your family? The Urban League of Pittsburgh can help. Call 886-395-3663.
Pregnant women, dependent children and caregivers can get help through the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program.
Seniors registered with the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging program can get free take-out meals at one of six City Healthy Active Living (Senior) Centers between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
A map of free food distribution sites across Allegheny County is now available. Many of the sites have eligibility requirements, so call ahead to confirm you're eligible.
Call the United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania at 2-1-1 for help finding food, housing or financial assistance.
Need help with everyday expenses? The Pandemic of Love organization can match you with a local volunteer able to bridge the gap.
Students who need to move due to outbreak precautions can get 30 days of free storage from U-Haul.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority Housing Opportunity Fund is offering help to those struggling with rent payments due to COVID-19-related losses in work and wages.
Know your rights. Eviction proceedings have been temporarily halted. Also, shutoffs of utilities like gas, water and electric have been halted until further notice.
Allegheny County Housing Authority says it's working with residents who may have their working hours reduced due to the COVID-19 crisis.
One-time assistance grants of up to $500 are available through the Dollar Energy Fund, a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit that provides utility assistance to limited-income households. Call 1-800-683-7036 for more info. Utility shutoffs aren't allowed during the pandemic, but Dollar Energy Fund suggests reaching out now if you find yourself falling behind.
Financial assistance for workers and creatives
If you lose your job because of coronavirus, you may be eligible for unemployment.
Apply for interest-free Coronavirus Financial Bridge Loans of up to $5,000. Loans must be cosigned.
A $2 trillion federal stimulus package includes checks of $1,200 for many single Americans, $2,400 for many married couples, and an additional $500 to parents for each child under the age of 17. Check amounts depend on your income and it is expected they will be direct deposited within three weeks.
The Emergency Fund for Artists provides up to $500 in assistance to western Pennsylvania artists experiencing a loss of income due to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Pittsburgh's Financial Empowerment Center is offering free financial counseling remotely. Call 1-800-298-0237 to schedule a session.
Financial assistance for small business owners
Low-interest loans are available to small businesses experiencing a temporary loss of revenue. The loans may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable and other bills.
Relief loans of up to $50,000 are available through local crowdfunding investor platform Honeycomb Credit.
The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh is halting all loan payments for URA small business borrowers for the month of April. The URA is also offering Emergency Extended Credit to existing borrowers.
Attention everyone else: The URA is also streamlining its Micro-Enterprise Loan Program to offer 0% loans for up to 30 small businesses that are not currently URA borrowers.
Financing is available to small Pennsylvania businesses that have been adversely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak via the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority.
Small business owners in Allegheny County impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic can access resources and promotional assistance via the new Allegheny Together Open for Business Map and Economic Impact Survey.
Facebook is awarding $175,000 to help 44 small businesses in Allegheny County affected by COVID-19. Applications are open until May 7.
Here's guidance on when and how to get tested for COVID-19.
Here's a list of testing sites in the Pittsburgh area.
Visit UPMC, AHN and Central Outreach Wellness Center for more information on their testing sites and policies.
For people in recovery: Alcoholics Anonymous is offering virtual meetings online. Narcotics Anonymous is doing the same. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has a hotline — 1-800-662-HELP (4357) — for anyone who needs it. Pennsylvania has a number of hotline options as well.
One-on-one counseling, group therapy and various online services with licensed professionals are available virtually to those struggling with substance abuse and co-occurring mental health disorders.
Pittsburgh's Steel Smiling organization has launched a free virtual mental health program for those in need.
Frontline workers can find mental health support for COVID-19 with this listing of local therapists offering free appointments. Providers can email to have their name added to list.
If you're feeling anxious or depressed, there are resources to help, such as resolve Crisis Services and the Peer Support & Advocacy Network. Pennsylvania also has a new helpline. Call 1-855-284-2494. For TTY, dial 724-631-5600.
If you're a frontline worker who needs personal protective gear — or if you're someone with protective gear to donate — contact PPE Connect PGH.
Need a mask? Check with Operation Face Mask Pittsburgh and Mask Makers PGH.
Trans and queer Pittsburghers who need help finding face masks and other resources can connect through the Pgh MasQUe ProjecT.
Hello Bully, a nonprofit Pit Bull rescue, has a month's supply of food (enough for 20 dogs and 20 cats) and is offering no-contact delivery to pet owners in need of help.
Xfinity WiFi hotspots across the country are available for free to all users.
If you have coronavirus questions, the county has a hotline.
Allegheny County is urging residents to join its electronic notification system for updates.
Need help understanding all the medical terms you're hearing and seeing? Let this handy glossary help.
Find coronavirus information in different languages, via Casa San Jose and Jewish Community Center.
Seniors who are feeling lonely and isolated can stay connected with weekly, confidential phone calls through the South Hills Interfaith Movement's CheckMates program. Call 412-854-9120, ext. 116, to enroll or for more info.
The Jewish Healthcare Foundation's Virtual Senior Academy is expanding its free live-streaming curriculum for seniors, who can connect with each other during classes focused on health and wellness, technology, literature, arts and music, history and current events.
To assist small to midsize nonprofits, tHRive is offering HR-related services and information sharing, including weekly webinars covering everything from handling layoffs and paid leaves of absence to navigating the new regulations and benefits. Webinars will be recorded and available for viewing.
If you're an essential worker in need of child care, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services has a tool to help you find it.
Small, Black Led Organizations (BLOs) can apply for operating support through the POISE Foundation's Critical Community Needs Fund.
Need help accessing essential resources like food, medical supplies, baby supplies and more? The Community Delivery Hotline of Allegheny County is there to help bridge the transportation gap.
To minimize the impact of the "COVID slide," which experts predict may result in up to a year of learning loss for students, Carnegie Learning has created free at-home learning resources, lessons and videos that are available for the rest of the school year for teachers and students grades 6-12.
The YWCA Greater Pittsburgh's Resource Center remains open in a remote capacity, offering emergency and empowerment grants and critical services. They've teamed with United Way, Allegheny County and local food pantries to fill the need for emergency food deliveries to people who cannot leave home.
Pennsylvania Women Work's New Choices program is offering free virtual skill-building classes open to all job seekers. Sessions will cover resume writing, practicing online interviews, job applications, current job opportunities and stress management.
Benefits Data Trust has created a free hotline (844-876-5996) to help residents of Armstrong, Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Westmoreland and Washington counties receive one-on-one support and submit applications for public benefits, such as SNAP, PACE and Medicaid.
Something not covered here? Check out this list of COVID-19 resources for Pittsburghers or this Pittsburgh Mutual Aid Resources Library. Email cdeppen@theincline.com with suggested additions to this list. This list was last updated May 27, 2020.
The Incline, NEXTpittsburgh, Pittsburgh City Paper, Kidsburgh and PublicSource collaborated to build this resource.
Tagged: On Instagram


text:
Rafah crossing shut in protest
Hamas, which governs the Gaza Strip, closes the border, accusing Egypt of putting restrictions.
Hamas has closed the Gaza Strip's Rafah border crossing with Egypt and accused Egyptian authorities of failing to live up to its promises.
The Palestinian group, which governs Gaza Strip, stopped travellers from crossing into Egypt on Sunday in protest after Egyptian authorities reportedly put some restrictions on the movement of people.
"We have had contact with the Egyptian leadership. We want to hear from them whether the declared easing of travel restrictions are still in place," Hatem Oweida, the Hamas head of crossings authority, said.
"We need to know how many passengers can cross [each day] and we need our Egyptian brothers to speed up the processing of passengers through their side."
Hamas officials say that Egypt appears to have had second thoughts and has since tried to slow the flow of Palestinians looking to leave the tiny coastal enclave.
However, Egyptian officials have denied any change to their policy and said the border was open again on Sunday.
Passengers returning from Egypt were allowed to cross on Sunday, officials said, but Hamas has not allowed Gaza residents to cross into Egypt.
On Saturday, the Egyptians unexpectedly shut the crossing altogether for previously unannounced maintenance work, sparking a small riot at the border.
Egypt eased border access last weekend to much fanfare, extending opening hours at the frontier and scrapping visa requirements for many Palestinians.
Egypt's decision to permanently reopen Rafah came more than three months after Hosni Mubarak resigned as president following 18 days of massive street protests against his rule.
The crossing's reopening officially ended Egypt's co-operation with a blockade Israel imposed on Gaza in 2006.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
MOU between Serbia and FCF
a memorandum of understanding was signed between Film Center Serbia and Farabi Cinema Foundation during the 69th Berlin International Film Festival at the Iran Cinema Booth.
According to ICN quoted from Farabi public relations department, to develop and strengthen the cinematic diplomacy and also to improve the cinematic relations between the two countries, a memorandum of understanding was signed between Boban Jevtic, the director of Film Center Serbia, and Raed Faridzadeh, the director of International Affairs Council in Farabi Cinema Foundation.
#Boban Jevtic #Farabi Cinema Foundation #Film Center Serbia #Raed Faridzadeh #the 69th Berlin International Film Festival Share this news
Faridzadeh's Remarks regarding the Japan Film Screening Program in Iran
The deputy of International Affairs of Farabi Cinema Foundation explained some points regarding the Japan Contemporary Cinema screening program.
Jonathan Rosenbaum Meeting with Farabi Managing Director
The people in the United States have no quarrel with the Iranians.
Iran Ambassador in Brunei: Iran Cinema Is a National and International Glory
The new Iran Ambassador in Brunei said: "Our cinema is a national and international honor and glory, and through this media, we can introduce our country to the world."
The Screening of Japanese Titles at Kiarostami Hall
In the ceremony of screening the Japanese titles on the occasion of the 90th Iran-Japan diplomatic relations, the managing director of Farabi Cinema Foundation, Alireza Tabesh, said: "Referring to the eastern culture and civilization makes it possible to understand and comprehend the human history and existence."
The Screening of Japan Contemporary Cinema at FCF
Farabi Cinema Foundation hosts the event of Screening Japan Contemporary Cinema on the occasion of the 90th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. This event takes place at Abbas Kiarostami Hall at the foundation's headquarters.
5 Children and Young Aults Films to Be Screened at Fajr Film Festival
Iran-Pakistan Film Co-production Project
Emphasis on the Presence of Iran Cinema in the Islamic World Film Market
Iran-China Agreement on Facilitating the Film Co-production Conditions
The ways of cooperation for joint production between Iran and France was analyzed


text:
Successful season continues for Hornets boys track
Mike Lamberti
The Passaic Valley boys track team put together a tremendous effort at both the Big North and Passaic County championship meets.
Coach Joel Thornton's Hornets will be getting ready for the state sectional championship meet at River Dell High on Memorial Day weekend, May 26-27.
"We had some very good performances," said Thornton. "It was good to be so successful in both meets."
Thornton reported that his team was fifth in the Big North meet.
"We finished ahead of a good West Milford team, scoring 39 points," said Thornton. "We medaled in 10 events, and I was very excited about the performance of my team."
Michael Festa placed sixth in the 100 meters and fifth in long jump, and Fernando Flores was third in high jump.
"Fernando was still not able to run, but he was able to jump with his injury," said Thornton. "Julio Sanchez took fourth in the 400 intermediate hurdles and fifth place in the 110 high hurdles."
Joshua Martinez took sixth in the 200 and Mohammed Oudah tied for fifth in pole vault. Ardit Adili placed third in the discus, and Erick Alvarez won high jump and was third in 110 high hurdles.
At the county meet, Thornton felt his team realized the outstanding competition and knew it was time to hit their best.
"The team placed ninth overall in the county with, 24 points," said Thornton. "We medaled in five events and had three top-three finishers.
"Erick Alvarez placed third in the high jump, and took second place in the 110 high hurdles, when he ran his personal best and defeated some of his competitors from the league meet."
Joseph Recalde placed sixth in the triple jump, hitting his personal best with a leap of 40 feet, 3 inches. Adili come back with a second-place finish in the discus after a throw of 134-0.
The 4-x-100 relay team placed sixth overall, led by Joshua Martinez, Anthony Forino, Festa and Alvarez.
The PV boys tennis team closed out it season by losing to Morris Knolls in the NJSIAA tournament.
Coach Jim Holsworth noted that Nick Miladinov earned second-team, all-county at first singles, and Pance Jordanov and Teo Velkoski were selected honorable mention.
"The kids competed hard but injuries late in the season hurt us," said Holsworth. "Next year is looking good with Ryan Mitchell, Sami Muhtaseb, the Coughlin Brothers (Pat and Scott) and Gage Jurkic all returning."


This page provides a directory of model railroad manufacturers offering track, roadbed, and bridges, plus track planning and layout design software, for G, HO, N, O, S, and Z scale model railroad layouts.
Recycled Plastic Railroad Ties - Replace wood ties or build your new loop from recycled plastic and never touch it again. Leave a legacy that will be around for generations of train fun. Click the link to see our low prices and contact us for a quote. We will beat any competitor's price on the same product.
Recycled Plastic Railroad Ties - Replace wood ties or build your new loop from recycled plastic and never touch it again. Leave a legacy that will be around for generations of train fun. Click the link to see clearance pricing and contact us to get a quote.


The Golden (& Silver) Age Is Back!
CoroCoro leaks reveal the first details & images of the long awaited Pokémon Heart Gold & Soul Silver games in all its splendour. There are only 4 pages to dissect but there is enough there to whet your appetite and plenty of gorgeous art work to drool over, so make sure you have a napkin at the ready.
The first double page spread unveils the updated look of the games protagonists. As you can see, Ethan is once again the male choice and he retains his striking ultra ball-esque cap. He looks as though he's run off a few pounds since we last saw him too, whilst his clothes are more modern and much lighter looking. The Pokégear makes a jubilant return with a much more futuristic look, as if it's been taken out of a sci-fi movie. The female counterpart however, is a completely new character. Fans of the originals may remember that the female choice was only available in Crystal and that her name was Kris. She had some sort of vibrant blue/green spiked up pigtailed hair, and wore a sporty outfit that consisted of a pair of bright yellow shorts, a red top and a white jacket. This time around, people will instead play as a girl named Lyra who as you can see dresses a lot like Mario, minus the jeans, red cap and moustache. She looks a lot less boisterous than Kris and in some ways reminds me of May from the Pokémon Advanced series.
Other than the two protagonists, the first couple of pages also show off numerous in game screenshots. Foremost the upper right image next to Ethan shows two extremely exciting aspects, the obvious one being the graphical overhaul to make it look like the D/P/Pt games. However the more enticing part of this image is the Pokémon. Noticed it? Anyone who has played Pokémon Yellow will know how awesome it was seeing Pikachu follow you about (until you swapped him for a stronger Pokémon). Could this be the same thing but with all Pokémon? Only time will tell but it looks promising. The other two pictures on this page show off what looks to be the stylised interior of the Bellsprout Tower, and the selection process for your starter (with a splendid 3D look). The final screenshot which is next to Lyra showcases some form of menu on the touch screen, which will probably be used for your bag, Pokédex, game save and so forth.
The final double page spread is filled with generation two concept art by the legendary Ken Sugimori. The Pokémon have been brushed up to today's standards and look visibly stunning. There is a sole screenshot in the bottom right corner of the last page which shows off the Slowpoke Well and a Team Rocket grunt.
Male protagonist Ethan returns with an updated look.
There is a new female protagonist named Lyra.
The game is made with the D/P/Pt engine.
It looks like your main Pokémon follows you around in the game.
The interior of the Bellsprout Tower looks stylised in some way.
The selection process takes place on the touch screen with some nice 3D balls.
Ken Sugimori has updated all of the generation two Pokémon so that they mix in with the current generations.
Team Rocket returns (seen outside Slowpoke Well).
Today, Pokémon Smash revealed that you will be able to play B&W2 in a retro black and white pixelated perspective just like in the original games on the Gameboy. This revelation has sent fans wild with anticipation after the initial announcement of B&W2 left some fans feeling a bit Sceptile (see what I did there!?). The unfortunate news is that you will have to beat the Elite 4 before it becomes available in the game menu (where you go to start/load the game). However we are promised a full render that will unlock the nostalgia factor in long term fans. "It is a thank you for sticking by the series for all these years" said Satoshi Tajiri when he was briefly interviewed on the show. He also went on to say that there are more "surprises" awaiting for long term fans. What could he mean? Will it be an old region? Or could an old enemy be returning? For now though, this is all we have to go on. What do you make of this shocking but exciting news? One person said to me "This is more epic than Arceus, Mewtwo & Deoxys all merging into one Pokémon!!", another simply said "This is better than Piloswine bacon :D". Please note we do not tolerate cruelty to Pokémon and this person has now been reported to the RSPCA. Leave your thoughts & comments below.
Many of us think of James Bond when we hear the word 'secret agent'; his name has become synonymous with the very definition of said term. Full of intense espionage with deception, cunning, and danger at the forefront of the job, there is a lot to keep him busy. Adding the fact that he is also incredibly stylish, then it's not hard to see why the character has so much appeal, and why being an MI5 operative is a captivating thought. So being the son or daughter of a person who plays the exact same rollercoaster role, but in real life, should surely be an exciting prospect?
Christmas events in Sussex will be starting this November with events being held at Michelham Priory, Weald and Download Museum, and Goodwood Racecourse.
To start things off Michelham Priory is having a Christmas Fair on the weekend of November 10th and 11th.
There will be a large number of stalls with gifts for all ages and a chance to meet Santa is available for £1.50.
Entry is £4.00 for adults and £2.50 for children (this weekend only); while there is also a park and ride from Arlington Stadium available for £1 per person.
Further details can be found at: http://sussexpast.co.uk/events/christmas-fair.
Next up we have the Rare Brand Christmas Market at Goodwood Racecourse, just outside of Chichester on the 14th and 15th of November.
There will be more than 40 "rare brands" which includes things such as art, fashion, vintage toys, and much more.
The event also includes a gift-wrapping service and workshops so you can even make your own Christmas presents!
With two spacious levels and a fantastic view of the South Downs and the south coast, there is plenty of beauty to behold while shopping.
More information is available at: http://www.therarebrandmarket.co.uk/Events.
Last but not least we have a Christmas Market at Weald and Download Museum on November 17th and 18th.
It will be open from 10:30am to 4pm and will have festive music with seasonal food which includes hot chestnuts and hog roast.
There will be over 120 different stands with plenty of offerings including art, crafts, food, unusual gifts, and much more.
An opportunity to meet the working donkeys and horses will also be available throughout the day which is a great treat for the children.
Entrance is reduced for these days with tickets only costing £3.50 per person with free admission to museum friends.
For further details visit: http://www.wealddown.co.uk/Events-Information/Christmas-Market.


Musician Raven Williams was devastated when Brandon Carstairs broke her heart five years ago. Now he's back, asking for her help cowriting the score for a major film an opportunity she can't refuse. Despite the undeniable heat between them, Raven vows to keeps things strictly professional. Once burned, twice shy. But when the sparks start flying, it's hard not to melt.


As you're looking to build an awesome yearbook template, you probably already know that working with TreeRing means you'll get modern design, awesome ways for integrating content and a super quick turnaround time on your final books. We also offer some of the most affordable yearbook pricing in the industry – which means you can create a super fancy yearbook spread without costing everyone an arm and a leg in the process. But did you know that you can also turn your yearbook into an opportunity to fundraise for your school?
Throughout the school year, your goal – along with your team – is to build out some amazing photo spreads and create great content for what will eventually appear in the final publication that each of your students receives. And for a the majority of the content that ultimately shows up in your book, your team has taken a ton of awesome photos – pictures that many students would love to have outside of the yearbook for their own walls. This opens up a great opportunity to raise some money for your school! As you're starting to mull this over a little, let me explain the two best ways to use this type of fundraising to support your yearbook.
Your yearbook team is taking tons of great photos around campus this year – why not use some of them as a fundraising opportunity for the yearbook!
Your team is probably taking a lot of photos during the school year – so many that sometimes you don't know what to do with them all! As you're taking pictures, consider setting up a seasonal sale, where three times a year you bring the best pictures to each of the teams, groups and classrooms you've photographed. Give them the option of ordering some of their own favorites at a price that you determine based on the size of the pictures you want to offer. Another option would be to sell them the digital copies of the images, meaning they could print whatever sizes of each photo they wanted – which will also cut down on some of the work for your team. When you're looking for an easy way to raise money for this year's book, this is a win-win way to do it!
At many schools, the yearbook coordinator takes on a publishing leadership role for several years at a time. I remember back in my high school days, the yearbook teacher had been in her role for nearly 25 years! And if you're planning to come back as head of the yearbook for another year, it can be helpful to get an early head start on fundraising for next year's book. You can do this best by offering students the opportunity to purchase their favorite photos from the yearbook (once it comes out) either in print or digital form over the summer. While this won't subsidize the costs of your book this year, it can give you something to work with right away at the start of the new school year – and also add a little extra excitement for checking out all the photos that made their way into this year's book!
Because you're getting such a great deal on your yearbooks when you work with TreeRing, you probably don't find yourself really needing to think up wild and crazy fundraising ideas to subsidize the cost of your yearbooks. But even so, sharing some of those cool photos your photography team took this year can be a great way to spread some yearbook love and create a lot more excitement – if that's possible to imagine – around your yearbook coming out. Snapping beautiful, creative photos has become a pastime for Americans of all ages. Get in on the trend to support your yearbook!


text:
"SITTING IN THE GATE"
"HOW SHALL WE THEN LIVE?" Francis Schaeffer
W. Shatner on Free Will
Found in Dr. Al Mohler's blog: HERE
Actor William Shatner:
"The conundrum of free will and destiny has always kept me dangling. Everything in the universe follows concrete rules: the galaxies move in predictable ways. Stars are formed within definitive parameters. Viruses mutate. From the highest to the lowest, physics shows us that everything works according to rules we can observe.
The only fly in the ointment is man's free will. I could go down those stairs and leave right now, right in the middle of this interview, and I could do so by my own free will, alienating Esquire magazine. But I choose not to alienate Esquire magazine, and I stay. I think I'm operating under free will. But am I? That's the dilemma. God is either in the destiny or the free will. Unfortunately, I don't have the answer this morning."
It is THE conundrum. How much "free will" versus how much "God's will." No easy answer for humans.
Posted by S.G. at 4:57 PM No comments:
Elders - sadness
I hope the battling is over, I hope the church recovers and that humility and repentance is real. I hope those people who are mad at me will allow me to mend fences with them. There is much to do.
Posted by S.G. at 10:10 PM No comments:
Working at life
Seemingly all churches have difficult, congregational-splitting times; my church is no exception. Two weeks ago based upon a vote of no confidence, our pastor of 5 years was forced to stand down. The way our bylaws are written, he would have had to win 75 percent of the vote to remain as pastor. But he only won 2/3 of the vote. So our bylaws allow a minority to end the pastor's stay. The vote was triggered by 2/3 of the elders ( 4 out of 6) believing that the pastor should resign or face the very vote.
During the congregational vote, a petition was circulated and signed to have the 4 elders voted off the elder board. The two elders who voted to retain the pastor have since resigned. So if a compromise of some sort is not reached this a.m. the church could find itself with NO elders, no pastor and no way to function according to the bylaws. The bylaws actually require 3 elders for things like nomination committees to work.
The petitioners who wish to vote out the remaining 4 elders, if successful, would quickly re-install the pastor. They would have to do this by basically suspending the bylaws of the church and instituting mob rule. It's been done before at many churches.
Yesterday, a proposal was made that the remaining elders would begin the process of stepping down but first would make sure there were other elders in place and a nominating committee in place. Each of the remaining 4 elders would resign from the board in 2 month increments. Within 8 months, all 4 elders (who had called for the pastor's resignation) would be off the board and there would be new elders in place.
To me, this seems wise but the petitioners may still insist on voting everybody out this a.m. We'll see. Stay tuned. I'm been praying about this for weeks.
Posted by S.G. at 5:28 AM No comments:
THEE Pyromaniac, Phillip Johnson, realizing that his mega successful blog was taking way too much of his time has invited a few others of his ilk to join him and renamed the blog PYROMANIACS. It should be very good. I'd encourage you to read there daily. Some excellent, thoughtful and passionate posts.
RATHERGATE Redux
RATHERGATE has come and gone. As you may recall, 60 Minutes II did a story on George Bush's Texas Air Guard career based upon documents by a supervising officer ( long since deceased) suggesting that George was pulling a fast one and he, the officer, was getting some heat to let it go.
Well the blogosphere quickly concluded that the documents surely were not typed in 1972 for a number of good reasons. There was a huge firestorm in the blogosphere (which I was following avidly) that resulted a few days later in Dan Rather publicly standing by the suspect documents. Then CBS decided they would stonewall the ongoing furor hoping it would die down. It did not, it got worse and finally even mainstream media was adding their voice that the documents were not what they purported to be. Finally CBS and Dan Rather were forced to acknowledge there were problems with the documents and they would thoroughly investigate the issues. Dan, however, still stood by the documents.
Because of this boondoggle, Dan retired some months earlier than he had intended.
For Dan Rather to have survived the 60 Minutes II piece using false documents, he only had to do one thing. He had to acknowledge, much earlier than he did, that there were real problems with the docs and he and CBS may have been wrong. He just had to acknowledge THE POSSIBILITY of error. But he didn't want to do that, he thought he didn't really have to and he was wrong.
LESSON: Acknowledging one's sins QUICKLY is always the best way to go. I, like most, will not acknowledge wrongs/sins if no one has suggested their existence. But I have learned that to "fess up" when you're caught and "fess up quickly" is truly the way to go. You're embarrassed for a bit, but once you hold up your hand and acknowledge, "I was wrong," people tend to let you off the hook. But if you insist on stonewalling on your sins, then people cannot forgive you and cannot let the matter drop.
Dan would still be on TV if he hadn't insisted on stonewalling.
KOBE BRYANT scores 81
KOBE BRYANT, Los Angeles Lakers all-star shooting guard scored 81 points Sunday night; the second highest total ever in the history of the NBA. Wilt Chamberlin scored 100 points decades ago. He also scored 78 points.
Previous Lakers record was 71 point by my beloved Elgin Baylor in 1960.
KOBE scored 55 points in the second ½ alone. His was an incredible feat.
Dr Helen started a thread
Dr. Helen started a thread which has enabled men and women to discuss the dysfunction of marriage in our society. HERE
Some of the stories are impossibly sad, some impossibly bitter, some sweet.
But there are real people behind the lives and the stories and they are taking a beating.
Marriage is a good thing but my answer to life's dilemma has been to pursue Jesus Christ with all my heart – as best as this weak, carnal, idiotish guy can do. You try, He makes up for your utter lack. He's the difference.
Dr. Sanity stone-cold realist
"KILL THE HEROES" a great post by Dr. Sanity – you'll find the whole enchilada HERE
Of interest, Dr. Sanity is in a most liberal profession, in a most liberal state and a most liberal city; the Berkley of Wisconsin. But she writes with the sanity of a stone cold realist. She's got important things to say
ACE on passing classes
ACE can be profane but he's quite an interesting, conservative blogger. He cranks out an amazing amount of material. Here's one of his latest.
I feel a little bad for this naive soul, though:
In another course at UCLA having nothing to do with politics, I wrote an academically excellent, thoroughly researched paper, knowing that I was probably taking a position opposite to one held by a professor, but naively hoping that he would recognize the quality of my effort. Wrong. I received a mediocre grade. In yet another course, having learned from that experience, I deliberately adopted a liberal point of view in writing an extensive paper, simply parroting back what I knew the professor believed. Frankly, my paper was intellectually shallow. Nonetheless, I received an extremely high grade for the paper and the course.
Sure, I learned things from both experiences. The main thing I learned was how to "toe the line" -- how to say whatever the person holding the Power of the Grade wanted to hear. This is actually a useful skill for the real world.
I'm sure that Gina Cobb is a bright woman -- hey, she's got a blog, so she has to be, I figure -- but let me ask her this: What the [effing f] were you thinking?
Really. College, law school, grad school, whatever school -- when you're talking about something that's going to be graded, tell them what they want to hear. Simple principle: When you're agreeing with someone, you "fill in" the various logical and evidentiary gaps with stuff in your own head. (Or, if you don't know how to fill in the gaps specifically, you fill them in with hypothetical logical connections and evidence which you're sure exists somewhere, because, hey, you're sure this position is right, so the logic and evidence must support it, right?)
When you read something you don't agree with, your critical faculties are much more engaged, and lapses in logic and gaps in evidence are suddenly glaring errors you just can't take your eyes away from. Or, more importantly, your red marker.
College and grad schools are great places to learn and challenge dogma and all that jazz. Just not in a blue book.
I know some readers out there are in college and grad school. Please, please, for the love of everything holy, tell the idiots what they want to hear.
I promise-- you don't have to believe a bit of it. [Sad but True]
Love the Hate
HATEMONGERSQUARTERLY is the humor equivalence of Rodney "I don't get no respect" Dangerfield. In Rodney's defense he, unlike Hatemongers, was at least funny.
However today's screed by "Chip" at the Hate actually lucked upon a few humors; excerpts shared below. To feast on the whole combo plate of enchiladas and frijoles go HERE.
Apologies for Pat Robertson's Future Remarks:
1) Mr. Robertson would like to apologize for suggesting that Joe Biden is "the spawn of Satan." Of course, Senator Biden is only distantly related to Satan, on his mother's side.
2) Mr. Robertson would like to apologize for inferring that the Ronco Food Dehydrator is a perfect gift for your favorite fellow Christian. The Food Dehydrator, of course, is a poorly wrought piece of garbage, and the gift-giving value of a machine that makes sub-par "Turkey Jerky" is limited at best.
3) Mr. Robertson apologizes profusely for stating that "Osama bin Laden is the Irish Ted Kennedy." It is Senator Kennedy, of course, who is Irish.
4) Mr. Robertson would like to apologize for suggesting that America should take over Mexico by force. That, of course, would not be worth it.
I tell ya, I love "the hate."
HATE E HARMONY
WHY I HATE E-HARMONY DOT COM
It promises, subtly, nirvana here and now. No hard marriages, difficult relationships, stress-struggles-strains common to all marriage. No e-harmony say they've got the perfect mate for you based upon your personality profile.
Of course the other thing I worry about is the number of people who sign up who are still legally married. I wonder what percentage of the men on e-harmony are still legally/technically married? 5 %?
Lawsuits to follow.
Iran, Nukes, Armageddon
So Iran is about to go nuclear and so far seemed undeterred by the "tisk, tisk" of the politicians. READ Victor David Hanson
Here's a little of the book of Revelation – Ch 16:8
Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, causing it to scorch everyone with its fire. 9 Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who sent all of these plagues. They did not repent and give him glory.
10 Then the fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and his kingdom was plunged into darkness. And his subjects ground their teeth in anguish, 11 and they cursed the God of heaven for their pains and sores. But they refused to repent of all their evil deeds.
12 Then the sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great Euphrates River, and it dried up so that the kings from the east could march their armies westward without hindrance. 13 And I saw three evil spirits that looked like frogs leap from the mouth of the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet. 14 These miracle-working demons caused all the rulers of the world to gather for battle against the Lord on that great judgment day of God Almighty.
15 "Take note: I will come as unexpectedly as a thief! Blessed are all who are watching for me, who keep their robes ready so they will not need to walk naked and ashamed."
16 And they gathered all the rulers and their armies to a place called Armageddon in Hebrew.
17 Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne of the Temple in heaven, saying, "It is finished!" 18 Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And there was an earthquake greater than ever before in human history. 19 The great city of Babylon split into three pieces, and cities around the world fell into heaps of rubble. And so God remembered all of Babylon's sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. 20 And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. 21 There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing seventy-five pounds* fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the hailstorm, which was a very terrible plague.
Bad time are surely just around the corner. But hey, the Super Bowl and the Winter Olympics are here. Party on!
MzEllen & Co.: Today's "Prophets"
Scrappleface tees off on Hajj
Scrappleface tees off on today's Hajj and its aftermath.
Oddsmakers in Las Vegas warn customers never to wager against the Devil in his annual contest versus stone-throwing Muslims during the Hajj (pilgrimage) to Mecca.
This year, not only did the Devil extend his undefeated streak, but he beat the spread that Vegas insiders had pegged at 250 deaths, based on his 2004 performance.
The ceremonial stoning of the Devil is a highlight of the annual pilgrimage, and an economic shot-in-the-arm for the local healthcare and funeral services industries.
Read the whole Guadalupe HERE. Scrappleface outdid himself.
Senatorial Pride
From a Washington Post Op-ed by Richard Cohen WHOLE BURRITO
The seniority that makes Biden so knowledgeable on foreign policy -- a conversation with him is always instructive -- is also what cripples. He has been in the Senate since 1973 and suffers, as nearly all senators do sooner or later, from the conviction that he and his colleagues are the center of the world. After all, no one -- with the possible exception of family members -- ever tells a senator to shut up. They are surrounded by fawning staff and generally treated as minor deities. They lose perspective, which is why, now that you've asked, they talk and talk at these hearings. They are convinced the world is watching. Actually, it's only a half a dozen shut-ins on C-SPAN -- and, of course, the nearly catatonic press corps. Everyone else is playing computer solitaire.
They do appear to love their own voices. Pride, damnable pride. Beeg Sin!
Abortion and the Dems
A brilliant and telling article by Michael Novak on abortion defense and the death of the Democratic Party. HERE
(image placeholder)
January 12, 2006, 11:26 a.m.Lying and DyingWatching a once-great party fall.
Watching the Kate vs. Kate debate on Meet the Press this past Sunday — it was our own Kate O'Beirne vs. Kate Michelman, formerly of NARAL Pro-Choice America — how out-of-date the latter's rhetoric seemed, how diffuse and filibustering her language was, over against the precision, citation of telling facts, and self-confident argument of Kate O' Beirne. Our Kate, author of Women Who Make the World Worse, talked quietly, as if she owned the future, as when she told the other Kate that, of course, the Left wanted to keep Roe in the courts. Why? Because if Roe were reversed, abortion would not be halted, but the arguments over it would move back into the political sphere of states and localities, where the pro-life forces would win more than half the arguments, for sure. The Left must avoid the democratic branches of government, lest they be badly embarrassed.Much the same feeling arose from watching with fascination the Alito hearings. How old and out-of-date and empty of real ideas — not to say connection to reality — Kennedy, Biden, Leahy, Durbin, and, above all, Schumer seemed. They know they have to do what they are doing, but they know their efforts are for nothing, and their words are making hollow echoes. Even their indignation seems forced and falls swiftly flat. The pompous rhetorical indignation of Kennedy has become merely pathetic. He was once a heroic figure, but he now seems like the lion of Alice in Wonderland — threadbare, tame, and roaring every so often only out of nostalgic habit. Chuck Schumer drones on like a little spoiled boy who becomes a schoolyard bully just by his superior tone of voice, boring in upon others, coercing them verbally, trying to make them feel as worthless as in his mind they are.It is painful to watch the ruin of a great party. A great party has come to this.And most of it happened because of commitment to a policy that cannot be maintained without lies and malicious euphemisms. That is, the killing of innocents in what is supposed to be the most welcoming, safest place on earth — a mother's womb. (Isn't the posture of wishing one were safe the fetal position?) This radical lie — that what is destroyed in abortion is not a human individual, endowed with human rights — has poisoned a great party, induced a great rationalization in the place of constitutional reasoning in the Supreme Court, and divided a nation unnecessarily over an issue that ought at the very least to have been left to the consent of the people in diverse jurisdictions.
No lie so basic to one's own identity goes unpunished.
— Michael Novak is the winner of the 1994 Templeton Prize for progress in religion and the George Frederick Jewett Scholar in Religion, Philosophy, and Public Policy at the American Enterprise Institute.
STRESS is a killer
STRESS is a killer. I'm doing 3 different things in my profession these days and it is hard to keep everything under control; such as simple things like making sure my phone calls are forwarded during the evening/night hours.
I worry about my children, I worry about my parents, I worry about my church, I worry about how long I can go doing all that I currently do.
It makes it difficult to find the time to blog.
I'm still sad over the deaths of my parent-in-laws and that may take some time. I am constantly reminded of the BREVITY of life. I actually read the obituaries every day. You'd be surprised, or maybe not, at how young the list of dead can be on any given day. My general attitude is; if you made it to 80 you've had the full enchilada of life. If you made it to the 70's your complaints aren't too large. If you made it into the 50's-60's you can't claim you died young.
However, if view of eternity with God; life is but a pencil dot on a vast, white empty wall.
So, "it's all good." God's in control; the future is assured, I really should worry less.
Lukewarm about God
From George Barna research; not really surprising as far as I'm concerned.
Adults Are Lukewarm About God
In contrast to the upbeat pastoral view of people's faith, a nationally representative sample of 1002 adults was asked the same question – i.e., to identify their top priority in life – and a very different perspective emerged. Only one out of every seven adults (15%) placed their faith in God at the top of their priority list. To make an apples-to-apples comparison, the survey isolated those who attend Protestant churches and found that even among that segment of adults, not quite one out of every four (23%) named their faith in God as their top priority in life.
My Dad's cancer
My beloved 83 year old father appears to have pretty aggressive prostate cancer that has metastasized to his bones causing a lot of pain. The doctors have been a little slow dealing with the pain and my father has been hesitant to avail himself of the pain meds but he seems to understand the importance now; hopefully the pain will be under control.
Dad is a devout believer and doesn't worry about dying but has always worried more about living; as do I. And then my Mom worries about my Dad. I am fortunate that I've had my parents into their 80's with reasonable health and mental acuity. But the warning signs are out; we don't live forever here on planet Earth. We the children are paying more attention, we don't have a lot of years left to enjoy our parents.
And even for us, tomorrow is not promised. But God is good to His children and a better place awaits us after our time on earth is ended. Glory That!
J Bridges on God's Sovereignty
Thoughts on the sovereignty of God by Jerry Bridges MORE HERE
Bridges affirms the clear teachings of Scripture that there are three essential truths about God that we must believe if we are to trust Him in times of adversity:
God is completely sovereign.
God is infinite in wisdom.
God is perfect in love.
He summarizes these truths as they relate to us as follows: "God in His love always wills what is best for us. In His wisdom He always knows what is best, and in His sovereignty He has the power to bring it about." He teaches the utmost importance of believing these principles, for "if there is a single event in all of the universe that can occur outside of God's sovereign control then we cannot trust Him." If God's purpose can be thwarted, our confidence in Him is shattered.
If you don't believe in the sovereignty of God then all of a sudden EVERYTHING depends upon you. Who can stand that stress?
Forbidden to Forbid
Today's dose of Albert Mohler
In 1997, the historian Paul Berman made an interesting argument in A Tale of Two Utopias. Looking back at what he called "the gay awakening," he said this: "We seem to be hearing: 'There are no marshals today--not on the question of heterosexuality versus homosexuality. On that most crucial and personal of questions, you, each and every one of you, are responsible for yourselves.' We are hearing: 'Concerning homosexuality, it is forbidden anymore to forbid.'" Then as now, the general moral principle regarding the issue of homosexuality that rules in the larger culture is this--It is forbidden to forbid. Today, that principle can be applied to almost every dimension of life. It is forbidden to forbid--except in the areas ruled by political correctness. For it is not forbidden to forbid when it comes to the sex codes adopted by so many colleges and universities. That aside, it is forbidden to forbid that which the historic Christian faith has opposed.
If nothing else, the last half of the twentieth century has demonstrated that the left wing of the Enlightenment has finally won the day. Whereas most pre-Enlightenment persons understood truth to be an objective reality to which they must submit, modern Americans view truth as a private commodity to be shaped, accepted, or rejected in accord with personal preference, taste, or communal decision. Americans are now a nation of over 250 million moral relativists.
THE WHOLE TAMALE
Therapeutic Disaster?
Today's post by Dr. Al Mohler examining two different articles in the L.A. Times regarding the mental health profession and its philosophy. HERE
ROCKIN ROLLIN
ROCKIN' & ROLLIN'
Due to the death of my precious mother-in-law, Donna Gaumitz, my semi-adult children and I made a quick trip to the west coast leaving on a Thursday and returning on Sunday. My daughter is a "white-knuckle" flyer and I was pleased she decided to make the flight despite her fears. Frankly, the first leg of the flight out was a dream. All the flights were full but this one was as smooth a flight as I can remember. The second leg into Portland hit enough turbulence at one time that the "air goddesses" were instructed to take their seats. My daughter didn't like that one bit. And unluckily me and my 2 kids were isolated from each other on that leg so no hand-holding was available. But we arrived at our destination safely.
Lifting out of Portland on the ride home was just, flat scary. Bouncing, bucking, dropping, climbing, it wasn't at all fun. My daughter was crying and clinging to my arm. I wasn't exactly thrilled to be there. It wasn't until we reached cruising altitude of 37,000 feet that the turbulence actually ceased; thank goodness. The last 2 legs of the flight were without incidence and very little turbulence.
So we're home and we now await the return of my spouse who should fly in later this p.m. after being gone 10 days or so. Then the family will once again be complete.
The Death of Western Civ
HUGE, MUST READ ARTICLE - HERE
EXCERPTS BELOW
It's the demography, stupid
By Mark Steyn
Most people reading this have strong stomachs, so let me lay it out as baldly as I can: Much of what we loosely call the western world will survive this century, and much of it will effectively disappear within our lifetimes, including many if not most western European countries. There'll probably still be a geographical area on the map marked as Italy or the Netherlands— probably—just as in Istanbul there's still a building called St. Sophia's Cathedral. But it's not a cathedral; it's merely a designation for a piece of real estate. Likewise, Italy and the Netherlands will merely be designations for real estate. The challenge for those who reckon western civilization is on balance better than the alternatives is to figure out a way to save at least some parts of the west.
The design flaw of the secular social-democratic state is that it requires a religious-society birth rate to sustain it
That's what the war's about: our lack of civilizational confidence. As a famous Arnold Toynbee quote puts it: "Civilizations die from suicide, not murder"—as can be seen throughout much of "the western world" right now. The progressive agenda —lavish social welfare, abortion, secularism, multiculturalism—is collectively the real suicide bomb.
The latter half of the decline and fall of great civilizations follows a familiar pattern: affluence, softness, decadence, extinction. You don't notice yourself slipping through those stages because usually there's a seductive pol on hand to provide the age with a sly, self-deluding slogan—like Bill Clinton's "It's about the future of all our children." We on the right spent the 1990s gleefully mocking Clinton's tedious invocation, drizzled like syrup over everything from the Kosovo war to highway appropriations. But most of the rest of the west can't even steal his lame bromides: A society that has no children has no future.
To avoid collapse, European nations will need to take in immigrants at a rate no stable society has ever attempted. The CIA is predicting the EU will collapse by 2020. Given that the CIA's got pretty much everything wrong for half a century, that would suggest the EU is a shoo-in to be the colossus of the new millennium. But even a flop spook is right twice a generation. If anything, the date of EU collapse is rather a cautious estimate.
In July 2003, speaking to the United States Congress, Tony Blair remarked: "As Britain knows, all predominant power seems for a time invincible but, in fact, it is transient. The question is: What do you leave behind?"
A decade and a half after victory in the Cold War and end-of-history triumphalism, the "what do you leave behind?" question is more urgent than most of us expected. "The west," as a concept, is dead, and the west, as a matter of demographic fact, is dying.
Methusalah Years?
Aubrey de Grey; from a transcript on Sixty-Minutes.
"The first generation [of anti-aging therapies] will give us maybe 30 extra years of healthy lifespan," says de Grey. "So, beneficiaries of those first therapies will still be around to benefit from improved therapies that will give them another 30 or 50 years and so on. So this is basically staying one step ahead of the problem." ... "What I'm after is not living to 1,000. I'm after letting people avoid death for as long as they want to," he says.
I read in recent times that a lot of scientists believe we are "hard-wired" to not live past 120. But it might be possible that Frankenstein therapies/surgeries could extend it? I don't know. But would God allow this? After all, God balked at the "Tower of Babel." How much ethical-less human engineering will He allow? Life continues to get interesting. The promises of medicine is always more than the delivery.
Chrismahanukwanzakah
Chrismahanukwanzakah.
A little seasonal humor to brighten your remembrances of our most recent Christmas.
http://awards.fallon.com/chk.html
Pulpit Magazine
Prof. Denny Burk
Keith Jackson
Gender News
ESV BIBLE
9 marks
My life? It's all about grace.
What's your world view?
Bob Dylan wrote, some years back, a song with this perceptive chorus. "You've got to serve somebody, you've got to serve somebody. You might serve the devil or you might serve the Lord but you've got to serve somebody." So who do you serve?


text:
Carrier USS George H. W. Bush in Eastern Mediterranean in Joint U.S.-Israel Exercise Juniper Oak
Aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) is participating in the Juniper Oak, joint drills between Israel and the United States in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea. The exercise kicked off on Sunday and will include assets from across the U.S. military branches, U.S. Central Command said in a news release this week. "This exercise […]
The George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group sails in formation with the Israeli Navy during exercise Juniper Oak 2023-2, Jan. 24, 2023 in the Mediterranean Sea. U.S. Navy Photo
Aircraft carrier USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77) is participating in the Juniper Oak, joint drills between Israel and the United States in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
The exercise kicked off on Sunday and will include assets from across the U.S. military branches, U.S. Central Command said in a news release this week.
"This exercise will include a large-scale live fire event with over 140 aircraft including B-52s, F-35s, F-15s, F-16s, F/A-18s, AC-130, AH64s, 12 naval vessels, High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, and Multiple Launch Rocket Systems," reads the CENTCOM release.
CENTCOM is billing the exercise as the largest bilateral exercise between the U.S. and Israel ever.
Juniper Oak 23.2, a large-scale exercise in Israel and the Eastern Mediterranean Sea.
Juniper Oak is the largest exercise between US and Israel in history and involves thousands of troops and assets in air, on land, at sea, in cyberspace, and in space. pic.twitter.com/DbfHdqdPdR
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 25, 2023
A Tuesday Defense Department image showed the George H. W. Bush carrier strike group operating in the Eastern Mediterranean for the exercise.
"Juniper Oak is a Combined Joint All-Domain exercise which improves our interoperability on land, in the air, at sea, in space, and in cyberspace with our partners, enhances our ability to respond to contingencies, and underscores our commitment to the Middle East," CENTCOM commander Army Gen. Michael Kurilla said in the release.
Bush has been operating throughout the Mediterranean since August when it relieved the Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group. For the last five months, the Bush CSG has remained in the Mediterranean amid Russia's ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Since December 2021, there has been a continued U.S. carrier presence in the Mediterranean. The last carrier to operate in the Middle East was the Japan-based USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) in conjunction with the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.
Author Mallory ShelbournePosted on January 25, 2023 Categories Aviation, News & Analysis, Surface Forces, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Space ForceTags Eastern Mediterranean Sea, Gen. Michael Kurilla, George H.W. Bush CSG, Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, israel, Juniper Oak 2023, middle east, U.S. Central Command, USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77)
Previous Previous post: MSC, Maersk to end 2M Alliance amid divergent strategies on ocean capacity
Next Next post: Freightos goes public on NASDAQ in first measure of logistics tech value
ONE cuts profit forecast on persistent market weakness


Title: Critical realism and realist research in human geography: A method or a philosophy in search of a method?
Citation: Yeung, H.W.-C. (1997). Critical realism and realist research in human geography: A method or a philosophy in search of a method?. Progress in Human Geography 21 (1) : 51-74. ScholarBank@NUS Repository.


Renal effects of ularitide in patients with decompensated heart failure.
Haemodynamic and clinical effects of ularitide in decompensated heart failure.
Mechanism of cGMP-mediated protection in a cellular model of myocardial reperfusion injury.
Effects of the renal natriuretic peptide urodilatin (ularitide) in patients with decompensated chronic heart failure: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, ascending-dose trial.
Does gender influence human cardiovascular and renal responses to water immersion?
Therapeutic use of the natriuretic peptide ularitide in acute renal failure.
A new, fast and reliable radioimmunoassay of brain natriuretic peptide in human plasma. Reference values in healthy subjects and in patients with different diseases.
Natriuretic peptides and acute renal failure.
Effects of an acute saline infusion on fluid and electrolyte metabolism in humans.


Extends Callable adding the concept of priority.
The priority is useful when queuing callables for later execution via the CallableQueueService.
A higher number means a higher priority.
Return the priority of the callable.
set the mode of execution for the callable.
The callable type is used for concurrency throttling in the CallableQueueService.


text:
Two Indicted in Heroin Trafficking Investigation, Third Pleads Guilty
By: Susan Tebben
Posted on: Thursday, April 7, 2016
Two suspects in a joint investigation by area law enforcement into a heroin trafficking operation have been indicted in Athens County Common Pleas Court, and a third pleaded guilty.
Eric J. Miller, 36, and Lindsey Roach, 24, were both indicted by an Athens County grand jury on charges of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, possessing criminal tools and multiple heroin trafficking charges.
Miller was also charged with money laundering in the indictment, according to a press release by the Athens County Prosecutor's Office.
The Westerville man was arrested on March 30 on a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity, a charge out of the Athens County Municipal Court and a warrant out of Meigs County Common Pleas Court charging him with possession of heroin, trafficking in heroin and failure to comply with an order or signal of a police officer.
At the same time Miller was arrested, Kristin Smith, 26, was also taken into custody on a charge of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity. Athens County Prosecutor Keller Blackburn said Smith pleaded guilty to a bill of information on Thursday to the charge of conspiracy to engage in a pattern of corrupt activity. She is now entering the prosecutor's office diversion program as part of a plea agreement.
The arrests were made after "several months" of investigation into alleged trade of illegal narcotics by a suspect that was known only as "E," according to previous WOUB reporting.
"'E' had long been a known, but unattainable target," Prosecutor Keller Blackburn stated in a release after the arrests. "He is now in custody and can answer for the allegations against him."
The Athens County Prosecutor worked with the Columbus Police Department's Zone 3 response team, gathering information and eventually making the arrests. CPD was contacted after the investigation moved from Licking County to West Columbus.
A search warrant was conducted on Miller's Westerville residence and his vehicle. The release did not specify what, if anything, was found during the search.
Agencies involved in the original investigations include the Meigs-Gallia County Task Force, Fairfield-Hocking-Athens Major Crimes Unit, along with the Athens County Prosecutor's Office.
Miller is currently incarcerated in the Southeastern Ohio Regional Jail, and is set to be arraigned on April 20. Roach is still at large, with a warrant for her arrest still active, the release stated.
Blackburn said the case is still under investigation, and investigators are still searching for other alleged co-conspirators.
Four Arrested In Connection With Alleged Heroin Trafficking At Athens Motel Two Arrested in Alleged Illegal Narcotics Trade Chauncey Man Pleads Guilty To Drug Trafficking Two Millfield Residents Charged With Heroin Trafficking


text:
Africa's World Cup qualifiers hit by stadia issues
in CAF Competitions, Football, Ghana
A ban on several stadia across the continent looks set to hit the opening rounds of Africa's World Cup qualifiers in June.
A total of 10 nations of the 40 taking part in the qualifying campaign face the prospect of 'hosting' matches next month outside their borders.
This after the Confederation of African Football (Caf) sent out a circular to member associations this week that included a list of approved stadia for the first two rounds of group matches.
Those affected include Senegal, who competed at the last World Cup in Russia in 2018, and Mali, who were among the top seeded teams for the preliminaries.
Burkina Faso, the Central African Republic, Liberia, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Niger and Sierra Leone have all not had their home stadiums approved as Caf cracks down on poor infrastructure around the continent.
They now face a tight deadline to upgrade venues before the first set of matches begin on 5 June or they will have to host them elsewhere.
Senegal open their Group H campaign at home to Togo in the first week of June, but their iconic Leopold Senghor Stadium is closed for renovations and alternate venues used for recent internationals declared unfit by Caf.
DR Congo, Libya and Uganda have had their main stadiums rejected but will still be able to play at home at smaller, alternate venues.
The group phase of Africa's World Cup preliminaries has the 40 countries divided into 10 groups of four. They will play six matches each through until October.
In November, the group winners will pair off into five playoff ties with the aggregate victors qualifying for the finals in Qatar next year.
African football has long been blighted by poor stadium facilities and sub-standard pitches and Caf have steadily shown more resolve in banning venues.
But in March, a similar ban on several stadia across the continent for the last round of Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers was lifted at the last minute. Caf gave no explanation for the change of heart.
Prince Tagoe: Ex-Ghana striker blasts 'childish' Kotoko fans
A.S Roma confirm Jose Mourinho as new manager
Ghanaian teenager Peter Agblevor pleased with goal against Rayon Sports
French giants Olympique Marseille interested in Ghanaian forward Ernest Nuamah
Great Olympics announce capture of Christopher Nettey
Tanzania giant Simba SC keen to appoint Kwesi Appiah as Technical Director


text:
Pastor David F. Richards leads New Hope AME to historic milestone
Rev. David R. Richards III, pastor of New Hope A.M.E. Church in Buckhead. (Photo credit: Joseph Marable, church photographer)
As you drink in the idyllic scene of the New Hope A.M.E. Church property in the affluent Buckhead section of Atlanta, it looks like it was selected from a Smithsonian Institute spectacular buildings exhibit, or as if it could have been a colorful backdrop for a movie epic about the Antebellum South.
Then again, saga of this pristine and picturesque church really does emanate from that era of American history. When you attend services at New Hope A.M.E. Church, you are entering an edifice of both spiritual and historical importance.
Perhaps that's why the spellbinding sanctuary has been used for scenes in four major motion pictures, including Tyler Perry's Diary of a Mad Black Woman and Oprah Winfrey's The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks.
This past April, New Hope AME celebrated its 150th anniversary and, appropriately enough, with the Rev. David F. Richards III serving as this famous church's 50th pastor.
New Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church was founded in 1869 under its original name, New Hope Camp Ground. This is the site where post-slavery servants of White aristocratic landowners could meet up and worship.
New Hope AME was the first – and now the only – predominately Black church in Atlanta's Buckhead district. It has survived post-slavery tumult, Reconstruction, Jim Crow, the Great Depression, the Civil Rights Movement, a fire, a tornado and the Great Recession.
The demographics of the New Hope African Methodist Episcopal Church are contrary to the posh Buckhead community as the predominantly Black church is nestled comfortably among upper-income homes owned mostly by White families.
Pastor Richards is charged with steering this vibrant vessel into the future. The story of how his circuitous journey to pastorship intersects with New Hope AME is fascinating. Richards regales about how his 95-year-old grandmother told him an angel of the Lord came to her during the birth of her son, Richards' father, David Richards II, and said that his son would one day be a preacher.
When Richards finally acquiesced to the divine calling and finished his last assignment to complete his Masters of Divinity degree, his grandmother, who was then 105 years old, passed away just a half-hour later, her own journey complete.
Richards and first lady Linda Richards want the church to remain a vessel of inspiration and a beacon light on the hill for the community, for young people and for future generations.
"In this ministry, it is radical hospitality, and then youth development. We have to find effective means to educate, motivate, stimulate and activate our children" Richards explained. "They watch everything that you do and say," he said adding that the church operates on the axiom 'Welcome, Worship and Witness.' So you are welcome to worship and witness the power of the living God."
With the power of God behind him, Richards is steering this historical vessel forward toward another 150 years.
Posted in Religion and Worship and tagged Buckhead, featured, motivational spirit


My aim and wish is to offer a Professional service in any commissions I am given whether its a Wedding celebration, a pet portrait, an athletic event, or a family occasion. The list could go on!
I pride myself on being friendly, open and approachable and will strive to produce good quality photos at all times, so please browse my website and I hope you enjoy what you see.
Copyright © 2016 Ian Humphreys Photography / All rights reserved.


text:
The 2016 presidential election should break gender barriers
Carin Numa - Staff Writer
After withdrawing from the 2008 presidential race, Hillary Clinton is back and is beginning to consider a second campaign in the 2016 election. As with any presidential candidate, her policies and beliefs face major opposition and criticisms. Unfortunately, much of her opponents' arguments stem from gender bias. A second campaign would likely result in further critiques, but the nation must come to terms with the reality that a woman is capable and ready to be president. Other countries around the world have flourished under female leaders, and women should be able to achieve equal greatness in the U.S. as well. In the nation's history, women have served in a variety of other significant government positions, proving that women are more than capable of leading the country. Furthermore, electing a woman for president would be a major achievement of women's rights and take a stand against gender discrimination.
From rulers such as Queen Elizabeth I to more recent figures such as Margaret Thatcher, females have shaped history by impressing the world as political leaders. England in particular has a history rich with strong female monarchs like Queen Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria. Thatcher became the first female Prime Minister for the United Kingdom, solidifying her legacy as the "Iron Lady." The nickname indicates strong will and perseverance and has since been applied to many female leaders. The variety of women that have successfully ruled over a nation throughout history proves that women are perfectly suited to hold prominent political positions.
"We've always been ready for a female president, and it's exciting to see we're nearing that accomplishment," said sophomore Cara Auerbach.
The U.S. also has its fair share of powerful women. From Secretary of the State to major CEOs, American females have slowly been making appearances in positions of leadership. Sandra Day O'Connor was the first woman to serve on the Supreme Court and Dianne Feinstein was one of the first women to be elected to the Senate. But these elections were not too long ago, and for the majority of the history of the U.S., the female population has been greatly underrepresented. Even today, women make up only 17 percent of Congress, with 34 women having served as state governors compared to the 2,319 men that have served in total. Despite women's growing involvement in government, there has yet to be a female president. Furthermore, women have proved their capability through other achievements, such as CEO or military general. Hewlett-Packard, one of the leading technological enterprises in the country, currently holds Meg Whitman as President and CEO. In 2012, the first woman to serve as a four-star general in the U.S. Army, Ann E. Dunwoody, retired after 38 years of service. The positions of leadership that these women have assumed displays that females possess all the necessary assets required to lead a country.
Most significantly, electing a woman as president would be a major victory in the fight against gender discrimination. Although efforts to gain more rights have prevailed in the past, gender stereotypes and assumptions still plague civilization. In a country with a history rich in feminist movements, a female presidency is an achievement that would make women proud. The election of a woman would be one of the biggest steps toward gender equality, and prove to the world how wrong our sexist ancestors really were.
Tags: barrier, election, female, gender, politics, president
Leave any comments or suggestions
"The Bachelor" creates artificial relationships
Lily Tenner - Entertainment Editor, Liv DuFine - Opinion Editor
February 25, 2019 • No Comments
ABC's "The Bachelor" and "The Bachelorette" stand as two of the most acclaimed and successful...
Valentine's Day traditions around the world February 25, 2019
Make the most of Coachella by following this advice February 25, 2019
The sweetest part of Valentine's Day February 25, 2019
CHS 44 - Newbury Park 24
CHS 26 - Sierra Canyon 14
CHS 35 - Dorsey 12
Sarah Dingleberrry on The No Child Left Behind Act puts non-English speaking students at a disadvantage
unkown on Graffiti should be recognized as art, not vandalism
Kennedy on School dress codes unfairly target and objectify women
Charlie Bell on Get the inside scoop on starlet Odeya Rush
Chaloen Vany on California High School Exit Exam suspended until 2019
After-school support: a better alternative
#NOCHELLA
The single life: embracing Valentine's Day the right way, the single way
Sex Education is essential to inform and protect the new generation
CHS should offer ACT/SAT prep


Hello: I am so glad I found you. I am watching "Empress Ki" and it is take a long time to get subtitles episodes. I am glad you created this blogsite. Looking forward on coming many more times to read your posts. Take care. Thank you so much!!
If I m not mistaken, are you from Malaysia? Happy Independence Day to us!
Well yes =) Your English is good, like you are from US. I cannot beleive it!
yes i am a malaysian…merdeka !
I am curious, actually…where did you think I came from based on my writing? Hehehe!
Yeah, I understand how difficult it is to maintain a blog and it is a blessing or me that the passion I have for Korean dramas is still strong, thus the blog continues to grow. I did consider to quit blogging at times but I would find the inspiration to write not too long after those moments.
P.S If it's okay for me to ask this..where are you from? Lembah Klang?
Haha, I'm actually across the ocean from you, the Land Below The Wind, Sabah. Hmm, I never really gave it much thought, but I did think you sounded polite from your posts so you must be somewhere from Asia. My initial thought was you must be a korean living overseas! When you said no, I figured it must be from Phillipines or Taiwan, never Malaysia. I mean I'm not trying to put down our country or anything, but I'm just so surprised there's a local blogger that's very interested in k-culture and to think a couple months ago, I was reading up your blog for 'Empress Ki' recap! Been trying to find someone who'd recap that and only you did, I did consider watching it myself but 50 episodes seem like a big committment, and if you haven't figure out me from my posts, I'm really scared of committment, haha. I'm a fan of dramas but ever since I came across dramabeans, I mean I totally went from actual dramas to reading dramas, I just love reading about it and the insights they put up for it, it's like an eye opening experience, I feel like a hermit just discovering the world. -_- I keep thinking I should blog what I watch and share my thoughts instead of desperately finding a place to spazz and not fitting in, but then I shudder at the thought of doing it long term, hence the dilemma. I am totally happy to come across your blog. If you don't mind me asking, are you Chinese?
Ohhh a Sabahan! I was born in Kelantan but currently staying in Putrajaya ^^v I'm a Malay girl!
Hehehe I think my English and my writing style have been influenced greatly by Japanese/Korean since I learned Japanese when I was in secondary school and Korean dramas have been my favourites from my primary school days. LOL talking about commitment and Empress Ki, I was so torn in between starting the recap and ditching the idea altogether, but I ended up writing the first recap. There were times (a LOT of times actually) when I felt like giving up…but I still woke up early to finish the recaps. It was probably the immense LOVE I have for the writers and the cast that made it possible for me to finish the series (and went a bit ting-tong after six months of watching the drama!)~ Hohohoho!
What?! I read somewhere you grew up watching mainland Chinese drama, and I thought you have got to be Chinese! Lol, sorry I'm kind of shallow like that. I have tried registering for tumblr before and stuck at the process of figuring how to use it, and I'm really more of a quitter more than a beginner because I tend to drop things when they get difficult, plus I'm bad with blogging in general or keeping diary alike. My thought is at its best spontaneously flow out when I spazz about a drama or anything.
I'd love that! Except I haven't really been inspired to write anything yet. I'll ask you when I have one. Thanks!
Ehhhhhh another Malaysian?! Hiiiii~ /waves/ OMG I am always excited to meet fellow Malaysians in this vast kdramaland! And you're Kelantanese too! Waaaahhhh!
Yeah, my name is Mimi 😀 Hehehe I actually try to stay as far as possible from the blog once I finish the recaps, because I don't want to have too much thoughts about KMHM..but the comments left by fellow fans are hard to resist! I love reading them, and sometimes I feel like I'll interrupt the discussion, so I just let the conversation flow among them. Hehehe!
Hahahahaha! Don't feel sorry because I'm excited too! ^^v Nice to meet you here, Fara!
Hello there! I just came across your blog and started reading all the comments and so inspired to see so many fellow Malaysians. I too hail from Malaysia so just want to say hello. Your blog is very impressive and referenced by so many other bloggers which is how I came across it. Great job! Maybe this is your calling 🙂 Looking forward to reading your recaps and howdy to all our fellow Malaysian bloggers and readers!
I'm so happy that you like the blog 😉 Enjoy looking around!
Hi Mimi, I have nominated you for a Sisterhood of the World Blogging Award! http://wp.me/p3xBcq-1ps Congrats!
Hope you will have the time to answer my questions, if not it's okay!
I stumbled upon your blog when I was searching about King Sukjong and Dong Yi avid fan of Dong Yi. From here, I learnt a lot not just about King Sukjong but also Korean culture. I especially love the entry you posted about saguek in general (the lists) and also about Kings of Joseon.
What makes this more amazing is to know you are also from malaysia! I never thought I will find fellow malaysian that shares the same interest as me, mostly in saguek. Most of my friends are either into kpop and kpop only or not into kpop at all!


Mark the top of the water level in the pool, such as near the tile line or skimmer, with duct tape.
Run the pool pump for 24 hours. Measure the change in the water level in the pool after running the pool pump for 24 hours. Measure the change in the bucket. Compare the two.The change in the bucket level indicates how much water loss is due to evaporation. If your water level decreases by more than the bucket level, you may have a leak. Measuring change in water levels with the pump running helps you determine if the leak is within the plumbing.
Mark your new water levels. Turn the pump off for 24 hours. Measure the change in the water levels in the bucket and the pool.
Measuring change in water levels with the pump off helps you determine if you have a leak, and if the leak may be within the pool shell or liner. If you determine your water loss is due to evaporation, you'll simply need to manually add water as needed. For a more hands-off approach, we have a Water Leveler that hooks up to your garden hose. It senses a water decrease and automatically adds water to the pool. After performing the bucket test, if you're convinced you have a leak, our Service Department has a proven, 3-step leak detection process. It's not easy, and it can be a time-consuming process, but we can typically spot a leak and repair it.


text:
Check in: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2022 2023 2024 2025
Check out: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec 2022 2023 2024 2025
Children 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
View daily prices
Price on this site
Booking directly on our site you always find the best price.
Price on other sites
Double Room (1 Adult)
Air-conditioned room with satellite TV and private bathroom.
• Hairdryer
• Wake up service/Alarm clock
• Refrigerator
• Desk
• Free toiletries
• Fan
• Toilet
• Bathroom
• Heating
• Satellite channels
• Bathtub or shower
• Flat-screen TV
• Linens
• Toilet paper
• Trash cans
• Body soap
• Shower cap
• Accessible by elevator
Free WiFi!
Children and Extra Beds: All children are welcome.
There is no capacity for extra beds in the room.
Pets: Pets are allowed on request. Charges may apply.
Breakfast included - read more
The guest can cancel free of charge until 2 days before arrival.
If cancelled later or in case of no-show, the guest will be charged the first night.
No deposit will be charged.
1 (67.00 EUR)
1 (80.00 EUR)2 (160.00 EUR)3 (240.00 EUR)
• Shower capv • Accessible by elevator
1 (104.00 EUR)


text:
Siwertell Trade Press Release
Siwertell screw-type continuous ship unloader specified for new Philippines power plant
CARGOTEC CORPORATION, TRADE PRESS RELEASE 18 SEPTEMBER 2012 AT 10 AM (EEST)
In addition to reliability, efficiency and environmentally friendly operations, benefits of a Siwertell ship unloader recently ordered from Cargotec include reduced jetty construction costs
A rail-mounted Siwertell ship unloader with a rated capacity of 1,500 tph will be used to discharge coal at a greenfield power plant under construction near the city of Davao, Mindanao Island, in the Philippines. The unloader is scheduled for delivery in December 2013 and will be transported to the installation site in pre-assembled sections. The order is booked into Cargotec's third quarter 2012 order intake.
Cargotec received the order from global engineering, consulting and construction company Black & Veatch Corporation, which has its headquarters in Kansas, US. The project will be implemented by the Black & Veatch regional office in Beijing.
"The client had an early preference for a continuous ship unloader, and for a screw type unloader in particular," said Ola Jeppsson, Cargotec Sales Manager. "This was because of its efficiency, reliability and environmentally friendly operation. The system's slim footprint and low weight also mean that it offers savings in jetty construction costs."
[ends]
Caption: This Siwertell coal unloader in Croatia is similar to the one ordered by Black & Veatch
Ola Jeppsson, Sales Manager, Bulk Handling Tel: +46 709741183
Email: ola.jeppsson@cargotec.com
Heli Malkavaara, Communications Director, Marine, Tel: +358 2 4121 252
Email: heli.malkavaara@cargotec.com
Cargotec improves the efficiency of cargo flows by offering solutions for loading and unloading goods on land and at sea - wherever cargo is on the move. For handling dry bulk materials, Cargotec provides engineering solutions through its Siwertell brand, including design, installation and after sales services worldwide. Siwertell ship unloaders and loaders are based on unique screw conveyor technology, in combination with belt conveyors and aeroslides, and can handle virtually any dry bulk cargo, such as coal, cement, fertiliser, agribulk, clinker, sulphur and grain. Cargotec can supply plant and terminal design, ship unloaders, ship loaders, mobile ship unloaders, mechanical and pneumatic conveying systems, and storage solutions, all designed to ensure environmentally-friendly and efficient cargo operations. www.siwertell.com


Big price reductions on SeaBird and two Playmate wooden boats for sale.
We have been instructed by the owner to reduce the price on three vintage Muskoka-built wooden boats. The description and new prices are listed below.
This beautiful twin cockpit SeaBird was completely restored – wood, motor and chrome – in 2010 by Curtis Hillman, a renowned Muskoka craftsman. The boat is in excellent condition.
This charming but very functional Playmate was refinished in 2009 by Stan Hunter. It features side steering, and custom cushions. The Playmate is in excellent condition.
This charming Duke has been stored indoors year round. (The photos attest to the excellent condition of the finish). The "Playmate" was restored in the 1990's. The sale includes custom cushions made a few years ago and custom paddles.
Own a piece of Muskoka history!
This beautiful 1953 Shepherd 22' utility runabout African mahogany boat has won many boat show awards. She is powered with original 150 HP Gray Marine engine, Paragon hydrostatic transmission, and new 12 volt Dura test 84 mo. 1000 CCA battery. Boat was restored by Woodwind Yachts, Nestleton, Ontario, Canada, making this Shepherd a special eye-catcher in any boating event. Attention during restoration was made to original details.
← Our newest listing: an Avro/Richardson cabin cruiser!


text:
Seth Hettena
Feasting on the Spoils
Who is Fima Shusterman?
"Due to ongoing threats against his family," Michael Cohen announced yesterday that he was postponing his highly-anticipated congressional testimony.
The threats are coming from the White House where President Trump won't stop talking about Michael Cohen's father-in-law, a guy by the name of Fima Shusterman.
Kevin Corke, @FoxNews "Don't forget, Michael Cohen has already been convicted of perjury and fraud, and as recently as this week, the Wall Street Journal has suggested that he may have stolen tens of thousands of dollars…." Lying to reduce his jail time! Watch father-in-law!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 18, 2019
On a phone call January 12th with Fox News host Jeanine Pirro, the president of the United States launched into an extraordinary attack on Cohen's father-in-law, a private citizen:
TRUMP: He should give information maybe on his father-in-law. Because that's the one that people want to look. Because where does that money? That's the money in the family. And I guess he didn't want to talk about his father-in-law. Trying to get his sentence reduced. So it's pretty sad. He is weak. And is very sad to watch a thing like that. I couldn't care less.
PIRRO: What is his father-in-law's name?
TRUMP: I don't know but you'll find out and you'll look into it. Because nobody knows what's going on other there.
The implication here is that Shusterman, a Ukrainian emigre, is some sort of Russian organized crime figure, although in typical Trump fashion he provides no evidence.
As readers of my book know, Trump knows that Shusterman is "the money" in the Cohen family because his business benefited from it.
Even with the spotlight the president has put on him, we still know very little about Michael Cohen's father-in-law, Fima Shusterman. The only bit of insight comes from his 1993 testimony in federal court. So here goes.
Shusterman had pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiracy to defraud the United States. In exchange for leniency, he agreed to testify at the trial of Harold Wapnick, his accountant. Shusterman was sentenced to probation and fined $5,000.
On May 13, 1993, Shusterman took the witness stand in the court of Judge Carol Amon. Although he spoke some English, he had a translator present at his own request "because I do not understand English 100 percent."
Q. Good morning, Mr. Shusterman.
A. Good morning.
Q. How old are you, sir?
Q. Are you married, Mr. Shusterman?
A. Yes, I am.
Q. And do you have any children, sir?
A. Yes, I have a daughter.
Q. Where were you born, Mr. Shusterman?
A. In the Soviet Union.
Q. When did you come to the United States, sir?
A. In May '75.
Q. And are you a citizen, Mr. Shusterman?
Q. Are you employed?
A. Yes.
Q. Where are you employed?
A. I'm employed as a manager with Future Knits.
Q. And are you a co-owner of of Future Knits, sir?
Q. Who are your partners?
A. My partners are Shalva Botier and Edward Zubok.
Q. What business is Future Knits in?
A. This is a knitting factory.
Q. When was Future Knits established, sir?
A. I'm not sure. I think it was established in '81.
Q. Future Knits, sir, when was Future Knits established?
A. In 1988.
Q. And prior to Future Knits, sir, how were you employed?
A. I was employed with S&Z Fashions and LVA Corp.
Q. Were you a co-owner of those corporations?
A. Yes, I was.
Q. And were your partners the same individuals as your partners
in Future Knits?
A. Yes, correct.
Q. Were S&Z Fashions and LVA also in the knitting business?
Q. When did you join S&Z Fashions and LVA?
A. In July of '84.
Q. Between years 1985 to 1988, were you involved with any other corporations
other than S&Z and LVA and Future Knits?
A. No.
Q. Did you have an ownership or office position with any other corporation, sir?
A. Yes. I was secretary with Martha Cab Corporation, and Bar Trans Corporation.
Q. And, sir, is Barn Transportation with an "N" end, B-A-R-N?
A. Barn, B-A-R-N.
Q. Who is shareholder of Martha and Barn, sir?
A. My wife was.
Q. Are you an officer of those corporations?
Shusterman was also secretary of N.Y. Funky Taxi Corp. and New York Fulton Taxi Corp.
Today, the chief executive of N.Y. Funky Taxi, Martha Cab and Barn Trans is Michael Cohen, who married Mr. Shusterman's daughter, Laura, a year following her father's guilty plea and court appearance. Cohen owns and operates a fleet of cabs in New York and Chicago.
Note to my readers: This work costs me both time and money (in the case of this transcript quite a bit of money). I do this work for free in the hope that people will find it valuable. If you agree, the best way you can support this work is by purchasing my book, Trump/Russia, which has much more information on the president's decades-long connection to Russian criminal money.
Click here to purchase Trump/Russia.
Q. Mr. Shusterman, have you been convicted of a crime?
Q. What crime were you convicted of, sir?
A. Conspiracy.
Q. When were you convicted?
A. In March of this year, '93.
Q. How were you convicted, sir?
A. I pleaded guilty.
Q. And, Mr. Shusterman, in connection with your guilty plea,
did you enter into an agreement with the government?
Q. Would you tell the ladies and gentlemen of the jury, Mr. Shusterman,
what your understanding is of that agreement?
A. My understanding is that I obligated myself to fully, 100 percent,
cooperate with the government.
Q. And did the government agree to do anything in return, sir?
A. Yes, they did.
Q. What did they agree to do, sir?
A. They would advise the judge about my full cooperation and
about my help rendered in their investigations.
Q. Mr. Shusterman, have you been sentenced yet?
A. No, not yet.
Q. Do you know what sentence you are facing, sir?
Q. What is that, sir?
A. Five years in prison, and up to $250,000 in fines.
Q. Sir, have any promises been made to you regarding your sentence?
Q. Do you know who will be sentencing you, Mr. Shusterman?
A. Yes, I do.
Q. And who is that, sir?
A. Judge Amon.
Q. Mr. Shusterman, you've testified that you pled guilty to
the crime of conspiracy. Could you tell the ladies and gentlemen
of the jury what is it that you did?
A. I concealed income from the state, and I cashed checks in the amounts
that exceeded $10,000.
Q. Mr. Shusterman, what did you need this cash for, sir?
A. To operate our business.
Shusterman goes on to say that from 1984 to 1988 he would regularly bring checks from his customers made out to S&Z Fashions, LVA, and Future Knits and leave them in Wapnick's office.
A few days later, Shusterman would return and collect cash, always in amounts more than $10,000, in a paper bag or envelope. Wapnick would keep 3 percent for his services.
The total amount cashed with the Wapnicks was "somewhere between five and five and a half million dollars," Shusterman testified.
Shusterman is then cross-examined by Harold Wapnick, who does a terrible job of representing himself with convoluted lines of questions.
However, he does stumble into a couple of things that are interesting in light of Trump's claims that Shusterman is "the money in the family."
Wapnick: Sir, you own a -- you own 40 percent of a
40-machine factory, sir?
Q. What percentage do you own of a 40-machine factory, sir?
A. 15 percent as of today.
Q. 15 percent. Would you say that the 15 percent value is in excess
of a million dollars, sir?
A. If you pay me half a million I'll sell it to you gladly.
Q. Thank you. How about the -- do you own five -- 9 taxicab medallions?
And are they worth about two million dollars?
The Court: Wait a minute. I don't think he gave an answer.
Q. Are they worth about two million dollars, sir?
A. Did you say two million?
Q. Let's say $170,000 apiece, and we multiply it by nine, so, okay --
what's a half a million dollars among friends. Is it worth ---
The court: I take it you're withdrawing your last question.
Wapnick: No I'm asking him is it worth a million and a half dollars, sir.
Shusterman: Only on paper.
A decade later, beginning in 2003, Shusterman made the first of three apartment purchases at Trump World Tower across from the United Nations building in Manhattan. By 2005, Shusterman had spent $7.6 million on Trump's properties.
So where did this money come from and what did Trump know about it?
Written by Seth Hettena Posted in Donald Trump, Russia, Uncategorized Tagged with Fima Shusterman, Michael Cohen
January 25, 2019 - 5:59 pm FromSouthChicago
Interesting … it appears that you supplied the answer to your question in your book — and I did purchase a copy. Allow me the pleasure of quoting what you wrote …
"Fima (Shusterman) may have been a (possibly silent) business partner with Trump, perhaps even used as a conduit for Russian investors in Trump properties and other ventures," a former federal investigator told me.
Hettena, Seth. Trump / Russia: A Definitive History (p. 80). Melville House.
What you wrote in your book makes even more sense when one considers Shusterman's testimony in your blog post. Based on that it's clear that Shusterman would have familiar with the scheme of being a paid frontman/passthrough for illicit funds into such things as real estate. Especially real estate sold by a person who depended (depends?) on illicit funds to keep his business going.
I've disliked Trump from the time I became aware of him mostly because I thought he was a nasty, vulgar jerk. (Not because he has short fingers. I'm sure you know the "joke.") It never occurred to me that he was a tax cheat and a criminal doing business with other criminals especially criminals from overseas … especially from Russia.
I first became aware of his criminality during the 2016 election. I am amazed with each passing day just how morally, legally, ethically bankrupt as well as mentally and emotionally deranged Trump really is.
I think the Founders of the Constitution anticipated the possibility that a President could become influenced or bought by a foreign power (hence the emoluments clause), but I don't believe they ever anticipated that any President could be a wholly-owned asset or agent of a dictator of a hostile power. But that may well be the situation we find ourselves in today.
January 27, 2019 - 2:28 pm Pingback: Michael Novakhov - SharedNewsLinks℠ Russian Documents Leaked - Google Search The Dark Side of the Kremlin
Benchslapped: The Eric Dubelier File
The definition that's letting Trump off the hook
Russian Money in UK Politics
Putin's Architect
Where are the sanctions on Putin's Children?
Jeffrey Epstein, Leon Black, and Russia
Zero Hedge, Bulgaria, and Me
From Putin's Kiss to Jeffrey Epstein
Trump and the Russian Beauty Queen
Who is Tevfik Arif? Part I
Who is Aron Shaviv?
Exclusive: Trump/Russia on Manhattan's E. 64th Street
Sammy "The Bull" Gravano and Donald Trump
Proudly powered by WordPress | Theme: Blaskan by Aigars Silkalns.