Fusion Bead's class schedule - with my Corset Beads!
I don't have a lot on my calendar right now in the way of classes, but I do have a couple of gigs coming up in February, both focusing on Beaded beads.
Sunday, February 3rd I'll be teaching my Corset & Stays Beaded Beads in a three hour workshop at Fusion Beads. They even included a picture of my beaded beads on the cover of their current class schedule. How cool is that?
And on Tuesday, February 5th, the Northwest Polymer Clay Guild has invited me to be their guest speaker. I'll be demoing my Caps and Stays beaded beads as a way to potentially showcase their members' handmade polymer clay beads.
Actually, the schedule says I'll be demoing my Corsets and Stays beaded beads, but I think the Caps and Stays are better when your base bead is something you really want to show off. So I figure I'll cover both.
The sample here is simply one of my painted beads, but you can see how the beadweaving frames the view.
And on a Totally different topic, I've just set up a Facebook Page and a Facebook Group for Freeform Peyote Beading. My hope is to create a gathering place for like-minded folk interested in the medium. This morning I set up the Page, but then I started wondering if that's what I really wanted, since what I'm hoping for is to generate an ongoing conversation, so this afternoon I set up the Group while laughing at myself for my indecision.
From what I can tell, Pages seem to corral everyone's comments besides the administrator into one box over on the right-hand side, while a Group lists everyone's contributions in a far more egalitarian manner, including them in the main timeline.
Right now, both are pretty much empty - who am I kidding, they are empty. But they won't stay that way for long. I plan to spend some time working on them this weekend, but would love your input.
What would you like to see? Do you have a preference - page or group?
And I'd love to see you join in, whether you're an accomplished freeform peyote artist, are just starting out, or are simply interested in the medium! Right now they're awfully lonely.


text:
Persecution of Christians near "genocide" levels, according to a report ordered by British Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
5/3/19 – An article posted today on BBC further documents the astonishing rise in persecution of Christians worldwide.
The review, led by the Bishop of Truro the Right Reverend Philip Mounstephen, estimated that one in three people suffer from religious persecution.
Christians were the most persecuted religious group, it found.
Mr Hunt said he felt that "political correctness" had played a part in the issue not being confronted.
It warned the religion "is at risk of disappearing" in some parts of the world, pointing to figures which claimed Christians in Palestine represent less than 1.5% of the population, while in Iraq they had fallen from 1.5 million before 2003 to less than 120,000.
"Evidence shows not only the geographic spread of anti-Christian persecution, but also its increasing severity," the Bishop wrote.
This article, among others, goes widely unreported while the false claims of widespread Islamophobia continues to be shouted from every corner of corporate, NWO-owned media. Shouts of Christophobia? Not so much.
The US radical left (which includes the majority of the old corporate media) has already marched quite a distance down the path of equating Christianity with white supremacy and oppression and abuse of minorities, when the fact is that Christianity was the loud answer to oppression and abuse.
Christianity was birthed in the middle east not in northern Europe.
Before the early believers spread the message of Yeshua Jesus, the value of life was pretty low in the world. It was the God of the biblical texts that clearly stated it was not alright to "pass your children through the fire" in pagan and occult ritual, that you must treat animals humanely, that women were not to be abused, and you were not to cheat each other. In addition to these are the more widely know instructions: do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, and do not lie about your neighbor.
Wow, how horrible! Sarcasm intended. It is upside down thinking to desire to eliminate these!
Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who turn darkness to light and light to darkness, who replace bitter with sweet and sweet with bitter.
-Isaiah 5:20
These instructions upon which western civilization was built spread in part because they were so much more kind than the rules that dominated the ancient world. Which culture would you rather live in, the one dominated by occult blood ritual and child sacrifice, or of individual freedom and loving one another??
This preliminary review of the report which will be released in final draft in June determined that "the overwhelming majority (estimated at 80%344) of persecuted religious believers are Christians."
Did you have to read that twice? Chew on this excerpt from an article I posted yesterday:
In the wake of this [Sri Lanka] attack, So What You're Saying Is… posted a video interview on the subject of religious persecution with expert Damian Thompson, Editor-in-Chief of the Catholic Herald. The discussion, with host Peter Whittle, founder and director of New Culture Forum, highlighted "scandalous under-reporting of the persecution of Christians worldwide."
New Culture Forum recently hosted a conference on the subject and according to their page, "the Catholic Herald was so shocked by the stories (and the scale of the stories) that it immediately announced it would focus its energies on this issue, appointing expert Father Benedict Kiely as its Consulting Editor."
One of the photos that horrified the attendees was of a truck loaded down with slaughtered Christian women. This was apparently the result of what is standard practice for the Nigerian Herdsmen (described in the interview and by Fox News as worse than Boko Haran) who kill pregnant Christian women, disembowel them, then mutilate the unborn babies. Again, this is "standard practice" for the Nigerian Herdsmen.
Fox News reported that in the first six months of 2018 alone, they killed up to 6,000 and drove 50,000 from their homes.
I highly recommend you watch this video interview:
Of those persecuted for their faith world wide, 4 out of 5 are Christians.
-Peter Whittle, Founder and Director, New Culture Forum
Demian said, "This is happening to Christians on a scale that defies belief."
Open Doors maintains statistics that are so shocking it caused me to gasp. From their current graphic, in 2018 there were 215 million Christians persecuted worldwide, while thus far in 2019 the number is already a staggering 245 million. There has been a 14% rise in the number of Christians in the top 50 countries on the World Watch List who experience high levels of persecution. In 2019, 11 Christians have been killed every day and 1 out of 100 church or Christian buildings are attacked.
Christians have been the most persecuted religious group for years. When was the last time you heard that discussed?
Even the Express wrote in January of 2019:
The study concluded that some 245 million Christians experience high levels of persecution in 73 countries around the world – up from 215 million in 58 countries last year.
"Open Doors UK and Ireland CEO Henrietta Blyth said: "Our research uncovers a shocking increase in the persecution of Christians globally.
"In China our figures indicate persecution is the worst it's been in more than a decade – alarmingly, some church leaders are saying it's the worst since the Cultural Revolution ended in 1976.
"Worldwide, our data reveals that 13.9 percent more Christians are experiencing high levels of persecution than last year."
Ross Douthat writing for the New York Times:
One of the basic facts of contemporary religious history is that Christians around the world are persecuted on an extraordinary scale — by mobs and pogroms in India, jihadists and United States-allied governments in the Muslim world, secular totalitarians in China and North Korea. Yet as an era-defining reality rather than an episodic phenomenon this reality is barely visible in the Western media, and rarely called by name and addressed head-on by Western governments and humanitarian institutions. ("Islamophobia" looms large; talk of "Christophobia" is almost nonexistent.)
Fox News wrote in January 2019: Christian Persecution Set To Rise Sharply in 2019, Group Warns.
In addition, the numbers are likely low because the murderers don't call or write organizations to let them know how many they've killed.
Are you shocked now?
Are you wondering why the media never reports on this?
It's called predictive programming and propaganda in an coordinated campaign to orchestrate religious and racial conflict. The NWO can't take over and activate the one world system and religion until they instigate sufficient conflict and bloodshed causing the people to naively beg for their intervention, which in reality, will be a Faustian deal of torment, 90% population reduction, and servitude.
The ancient prophetic texts of the bible described this current world with frightening detail and accuracy.
But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron,
-1 Timothy 4:1-2
READ MORE ABOUT CHRISTIAN PERSECUTION:
Killing of Christians in Iraq & Syria is not genocide, says Obama
Tears for Brussels, not for Pakistan
More Christian Genocide: US media still silent
ISIS horrors, genocide against Yazidis continues, MsM still mum
The people who declare themselves to truly be Christians (I can't even use the umbrella term church anymore because it is so infiltrated with the occult and heresy) had better wake up and fast. This hatred is already thick in the US and is only a step away from progressing into full-blown persecution. I am convinced that we will be viewed as the dead weight holding them back from the nirvana of their New Age, their one world government where you can worship just about anything you want as long as it includes the new world leader. But not Yeshua Jesus, oh no, we can't have that! That would stifle their unbridled debauchery, pagan rituals with blood letting and human and child sacrifice, and the ritual sex magik that brings ultra demonic power into their circles… but at a high price.
Never forget that at the top of this literally insane global cabal pyramid is Luciferianism. It's not some accident, it's not that they don't know what they're doing. They've been at this a very long time. And, the end of the story was written long ago, where they gather to make a final stand against the one true God, the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Yeshua Hamashiach, the Lion of Judah.
But, guess who wins? :))
The great deceiver, that snake, that putrid reptile of torment loses and the defeat for him is final. Our God will reign forever and ever! Hallelujah!
But, here in this dimension, on this linear timeline, the end is just now beginning to unfold.
And it's going to get very, very ugly.
I've often observed the hatred of ex-Catholics, atheists, or New Agers who are so tolerant of every view except Christianity. And, there is the ever-present use of the term karma. Karma is NOT kind! I've written about that before on this site. Karma says to the victim, you had it coming! There is no forgiveness or redemption with karma! Yeshua is the one who is truly loving, not karmic thought!
The deception meter is peaked.
There is no logic in targeting only Christians when you tolerate every other religious view; there is clearly some other motivating or driving factor.
We are in an age of high level spiritual warfare and a time when the standard Christian church no longer teaches it.
The greatest trick the devil ever pulled was getting people to believe he didn't exist, as 19th century French poet Baudelaire once said. I believe the second most important thing he achieved was getting the church to stop teaching spiritual warfare because those are the instructions on how to spot him, defeat him, and remove him. And the few churches that teach spiritual warfare often don't realize that they teach a very rudimentary level of the calling.
Why are so many leaving the Christian "church"? Well, for one, they don't see any demonstration of supernatural power as they most certainly should, but they see it in other places of occult worship.
A current example is of megachurch pastor Dave Gass who just announced that he never had a real saving faith, even though he taught bible and planted churches for 20 years. One of the reasons he says he left his faith in the ashes? "In all 40 years of his entire ministry, he never witnessed anything 'supernatural,'" wrote Jeff Mapes for Reformation Charlotte.
I have been shouting this to anyone who would listen for years. Spiritual warfare is a major key in the health of the church, and it demonstrates the true power and authority of Yeshua Jesus. Maybe Goss wouldn't have been so deceived if he'd seen demonic forces defeated on a regular basis as I do!
It's also possible he was a church plant from the dark side as so many pastors are these days.
Why would you live a lie for 40 years, 20 of them as a pastor? No wonder his life and marriage were a mess, as he states in the interview.
We must take action to strongly stand against this persecution and deception. And, you must get educated in spiritual warfare by someone appropriately trained. If your church doesn't teach it, seek it out yourself! You can start here with Dr. Michael Lake.
I'm asking everyone of you to pray for the persecuted believers around the world. But also pray for the weak or new Christians among us to be strengthened, and for the entire body of Yeshua Jesus in the US to be given better discernment of the spiritual dimension, our environs, and of ourselves, conviction to work our supernatural muscles according to God's instructions, and hunger to deepen our faith. Give us the eyes to see and the ears to hear you, Lord!
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
-John 14:6
If you haven't yet given your life to Yeshua Jesus, please visit the Who Is Yeshua Jesus? page to learn more. He wants so much to help you and to walk with you through your life. He wants a relationship with you but he never forces himself upon anyone. He wants to be invited. If you ask him to come in, he will!
-ShofarChick
Please share this article and shop with our wonderful sponsors to support our work. We can't do this work without you. Thank you!
https://shofarblast.org/2019/05/02/o-hill-easter-texts-not-what-you-think/
https://shofarblast.org/2016/03/02/killing-of-christians-in-iraq-syria-is-not-genocide-says-obama/
https://shofarblast.org/2017/05/26/more-christian-genocide-us-media-still-silent/
https://shofarblast.org/2017/07/03/isis-horrors-genocide-against-yazidis-continues-msm-still-mum/
https://shofarblast.org/2018/12/31/year-end-summary-microchipping-craze-christian-persecution-chinas-social-credit-system/
https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/apr/22/barack-obama-hillary-clinton-tip-anti-christian-ea/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/sri-lanka-easter-bombings/2019/04/21/30739822-647a-11e9-a1b6-b29b90efa879_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.cf5ca68203e1
https://christianpersecutionreview.org.uk/interim-report/
JD Farag: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghoI6pWT_y8
http://www1.cbn.com/cbnnews/cwn/2019/april/as-warning-emerges-of-new-sri-lanka-church-attacks-global-christian-persecution-still-obscured
https://www.npr.org/2019/04/23/716266428/sri-lankan-official-says-bombings-are-retaliation-for-new-zealand-massacre
http://www.newcultureforum.org.uk/
https://www.opendoorsusa.org/christian-persecution/
https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1073256/christian-persecution-2019-opendoors-world-watch-list
https://www.foxnews.com/world/christian-group-warns-of-sharply-rising-persecution-in-these-countries-in-2019
https://www.persecution.com/
https://www.bibliotecapleyades.net/cienciareal/cienciareal20.htm
https://reformationcharlotte.org/2019/05/02/former-megachurch-pastor-renounces-faith-on-instagram-and-twitter/
Dr. Michael Lake YouTube Channel
copyright 2019, ShofarBlast.org
Posted on May 3, 2019 May 6, 2019 by ShofarChicPosted in Christian Persecution, Commentary, UncategorizedTagged Christian Persecution, Damian Thompson, Genocide, New Culture Forum, Persecution, Peter Whittle.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


One of my favourite things about cosplay, in fact arguably the best bit about it, is the crafting stage. Naturally there is no set blueprint to how you must craft a cosplay costume, but there are some useful little tidbits I can give you, so that you're fully prepared. Remember that as we've previously discussed, cosplay is two elements: Costume and Role Play. Today's article focuses on figuring out how to bring it all together.
If you're looking for a discussion on how to get to the stage to bring it together, then you might want to check out last week's article, where I discuss the merits of planning (and different techniques). In this article, we're looking at what you can use from last week's planning article, in order to actually start crafting. I won't go into detail about sewing, or heating thermoplastics, but think of this as a way to get your costume started.
Okay, so you've made your killer collage for reference – Good job! You've gone through 2,000 images from Google*, so you've found out everything about the character, right down to their underwear… Uh, okay, maybe a bit too far (unless that's their costume), but hey – Great stuff! You know every little thing about them, from how their hair sits, to how baggy (or tight) their clothes are. Now, you've got to bring it together.
When we discussed the planning stage, I made mention that you're going to need to measure things out. Remember that your body, whatever dimensions, is unique to you. You will not be an exact replica of the character you are trying to cosplay, so don't worry. Instead, use this to your advantage and turn the character into your interpretation. You'll make a greater costume, if you allow yourself to remember that you're not an anime character; you are human.
Settle on a design you'd like to go for; so if the character has an iconic outfit, that's likely going to be your choice. I've seen people turn characters into genderbent variations, or just alter the costume to attend a cosplay ball, or hey – Just make specific bits of a costume, to then put them in other clothes. Whatever you do, make sure you have your design either doodled, or at least written out, so you've got reference.
Whilst I can't tell you if you'll need to sew a costume, or if you'll need to glue it all together, I can give you hints 'n tips for beginning the costume itself. You're going to want to learn how to prioritise properly, as well as get an understanding for how long each step can take. You'll see many cosplayers posting just weeks before a convention, doing what we refer to as panic cosplaying, which can be good for some people, but many people struggle with this.
Let's dissect what's in this image. We're going to need a silver wig, some black gloves, fancy shoes, a gold watch and a tie with a pin through it – Those are our smaller bits. We're going to also need some grey trousers, a white shirt and a white waistcoat, with a button holding it in place – These are our larger bits. Finally, we have one large piece for this costume, his default costume coat.
If we're the type of person to buy costume pieces, then I'd be looking to find as many things that are as close to the costume as possible. I'd look for a white waistcoat, which may need some alteration. I'd also look for a large purple coat, but this may be tricky – It's a completely bespoke looking coat to Lee, so finding something similar might be hard. Instead, if we're going to buy pieces to alter, we may also need to look into dying a coat.
If we're the type of person to make it all from scratch, figure out how long everything would take. A coat like that could take literal days to make, especially with the detailing of the unicorn on the back. Meanwhile, making a wig is relatively complex, requiring a lot of skill and timing to stylise it. Making gloves is simple enough, but even this can take more than a day. Ultimately, time will never be on your side.
So, consider this – When is the event you wish to debut your new costume? Is it coming soon, or is it really far away? If it's far away, you may wish to spend the extra time to make it completely from scratch. But, no matter what, make sure you write down how long you reckon everything is going to take. This'll help you plan to build your cosplay over a better timescale – It'll also stop you getting into that previously mentioned panic cosplay mode.
In the previous article, we discussed how to actually break it all down. We discussed measuring and we discussed the merits of having a plan, which is hugely underappreciated. I've seen whole works of art be doing without the planning phase; but conversely, I've seen other would-be incredible pieces turned to ruin, just because they didn't have a solid plan in place. Once you've got a plan, stick to it as thoroughly as you can. You'll regret not doing so, otherwise.
That's it for this week, as I didn't want to bang on for too long about how you go about making your costume. Once you've got your plan and you've set out what each costume piece is made out of, then you're on your way. You'll need to make sure to be ready to do lots of research, as well as lots of using resources such as Cosplay Tutorial. Not sure how to stick things together? Check out This to That. Next week, we'll look at props and some little tips and tricks for making and detailing them. If you've got a specific prop you'd like to make and you'd like my input, share it in the comments – Perhaps I'll choose your prop to be the one I focus on in the article? As ever, share your thoughts below, or over on Facebook and Twitter and we'll see you next week.
*Yes, okay, 2,000 images from Google may be a bit of a stretch – No, you are not really required to find that many images.
This entry was posted on July 20, 2018 by Timlah. It was filed under Cosplay posts and was tagged with Beginner's Cosplay Guide, beginners, Cosplay, creating a cosplay, creating a costume, guide, making cosplay, making costumes, Tutorial.


text:
Q: Making an array/matrix available to other methods within a program. I have some code in processing which reads in a CSV file and dumps it into an array. I then need to use this data in various methods to draw some exciting graphics.
However in the code below When I try to run the glyph method I get an exception that the program cant find anything called DSA. Can anyone point me in the right direction? Someone told me I should put "public" before defining the string but that just caused another error (unexpected token).
  void setup() {

  cp5 = new ControlP5(this);
  cp5.addButton("Overview")
  .setValue(0)
  .setPosition(840, 10)
  .setSize(100, 19);

  cp5.addButton("Quadrant")
  .setValue(0)
  .setPosition(840, 30)
  .setSize(100, 19);

  cp5.addButton("Location Map")
  .setValue(0)
  .setPosition(840, 50)
  .setSize(100, 19);

String [][] DSA = readFile("DSA.csv");
String [][] NC = readFile("NC.csv");
String [][] IW = readFile("IW.csv");

  size(950, 600);
  smooth();
  //noStroke();
  //Use system font 'Arial' as the header font with 12 point type
  h1 = createFont("Arial", 12, false);
  //Use system font 'Arial' as the label font with 9 point type
  l1 = createFont("Arial", 9, false);

}
String [][] readFile(String fileName) {
  //for importing csv files into a 2d array
  //by che-wei wang

  String lines[] = loadStrings(fileName);
  String [][] csv;
  int csvWidth=0;

  //calculate max width of csv file
  for (int i=0; i < lines.length; i++) {
    String [] chars=split(lines[i], ',');
    if (chars.length>csvWidth) {
      csvWidth=chars.length;
    }
  }

  //create csv array based on # of rows and columns in csv file
  csv = new String [lines.length][csvWidth];

  //parse values into 2d array
  for (int i=0; i < lines.length; i++) {
    String [] temp = new String [lines.length];
    temp= split(lines[i], ',');
    for (int j=0; j < temp.length; j++) {
      csv[i][j]=temp[j];
    }
  }
  return csv;
}

void Gluph() {
    println(DSA[1][3])
}

A: This is a scoping problem. Read about variable scope.
One solution is you could declare the variables in the global space. Right now they are declared in your setup() function, and once setup() exits, the variables are no longer available to other functions since they were declared within the setup() scope. If you declare them before setup(), on the very first line of your program, you'll have access to them in the global scope.
If you need to still readFile() within setup, then just declare the variables in the global scope and assign values in setup(). Since the variables are declared in the global scope, the changes in the setup() scope will still be reflected no matter where you access them from.
String [][] DSA;
String [][] NC;
String [][] IW;

void setup() {

  cp5 = new ControlP5(this);
  cp5.addButton("Overview")
  .setValue(0)
  .setPosition(840, 10)
  .setSize(100, 19);

  cp5.addButton("Quadrant")
  .setValue(0)
  .setPosition(840, 30)
  .setSize(100, 19);

  cp5.addButton("Location Map")
  .setValue(0)
  .setPosition(840, 50)
  .setSize(100, 19);

  DSA = readFile("DSA.csv");
  NC = readFile("NC.csv");
  IW = readFile("IW.csv");

  size(950, 600);
  smooth();
  //noStroke();
  //Use system font 'Arial' as the header font with 12 point type
  h1 = createFont("Arial", 12, false);
  //Use system font 'Arial' as the label font with 9 point type
  l1 = createFont("Arial", 9, false);

}
String [][] readFile(String fileName) {
  //for importing csv files into a 2d array
  //by che-wei wang

  String lines[] = loadStrings(fileName);
  String [][] csv;
  int csvWidth=0;

  //calculate max width of csv file
  for (int i=0; i < lines.length; i++) {
    String [] chars=split(lines[i], ',');
    if (chars.length>csvWidth) {
      csvWidth=chars.length;
    }
  }

  //create csv array based on # of rows and columns in csv file
  csv = new String [lines.length][csvWidth];

  //parse values into 2d array
  for (int i=0; i < lines.length; i++) {
    String [] temp = new String [lines.length];
    temp= split(lines[i], ',');
    for (int j=0; j < temp.length; j++) {
      csv[i][j]=temp[j];
    }
  }
  return csv;
}

void Gluph() {
    println(DSA[1][3])
}

A: You want to make DSA a class variable. I don't see class definitions here, but it would be something like this:
class blah{
  String [][] DSA;

  void setup() {

  cp5 = new ControlP5(this);
  cp5.addButton("Overview")
  .setValue(0)
  .setPosition(840, 10)
  .setSize(100, 19);

  cp5.addButton("Quadrant")
  .setValue(0)
  .setPosition(840, 30)
  .setSize(100, 19);

  cp5.addButton("Location Map")
  .setValue(0)
  .setPosition(840, 50)
  .setSize(100, 19);

  DSA = readFile("DSA.csv");
String [][] NC = readFile("NC.csv");
String [][] IW = readFile("IW.csv");

  size(950, 600);
  smooth();
  //noStroke();
  //Use system font 'Arial' as the header font with 12 point type
  h1 = createFont("Arial", 12, false);
  //Use system font 'Arial' as the label font with 9 point type
  l1 = createFont("Arial", 9, false);

}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Spark Standalone not work with local file system I'm using spark-worker container, which is based on spark-base container.
How can I solve the exception:
org.apache.hadoop.mapred.InvalidInputException: Input path does not exist: file:/README.md

Main.java
        context = new SparkContext(
                new SparkConf()
                        .setAppName("Test App")
                        .setMaster("spark://spark-master:7077")
                        .set("spark.executor.memory", "1g")
                        .setJars(new String[] { "target/spark-docker-1.0-SNAPSHOT.jar" })
        );

        String path = "file:///README.md";

        // EXCEPTION HERE!!!
        List<Tuple2<String, Integer>> output = context.textFile(path, 2)
         ...

My Docker containers does not set up HDFS, so I hope they will work with local file system of each spark-worker. I did on each worker:
shell> docker exec -it spark-worker-# bash
shell> touch README.md

docker-compose.yml
# No HDFS or file system configurations!

version: '3.3'
services:
  spark-master:
    image: bde2020/spark-master
    container_name: spark-master
    ports: ['8080:8080', '7077:7077', '6066:6066']
  spark-worker-1:
    image: bde2020/spark-worker
    container_name: spark-worker-1
    ports: ['8082:8081']
    depends_on:
      - spark-master
    environment:
      - "SPARK_MASTER=spark://spark-master:7077"
  spark-worker-2:
    image: bde2020/spark-worker
    container_name: spark-worker-2
    ports: ['8083:8081']
    depends_on:
      - spark-master
    environment:
      - "SPARK_MASTER=spark://spark-master:7077"

A: Spark can work with local files but it means you have to provide a copy of the file on each node in the cluster (including driver).
Additionally "file:///README.md"  is a path in the root directory of the file system so make sure this is where you create the file, and that the user has correct access rights.
The easiest way to use local files is to just distribute it with SparkFiles
Also remember that correct writes require distributed storage - Saving dataframe to local file system results in empty results
If you want to support both writes and reads just use Docker volume shared between workers.


Police are calling for Merton Council to reject a string of proposed InLink kiosks because they are attracting drug dealers.
Nearly half-a-dozen of the the BT devices which offer free public Wi-Fi and free phone calls were approved in the borough last year.
But commenting on a recent application, police voiced some serious concerns regarding seven proposed designs.
mobile phones," a comment on the application from the Met read.
"Therefore, in light of the issues with the current installations causing drug related ASB and in the interest of community safety and the prevention of crime and disorder, including the safeguarding of minors, I object to this planning application concerning the installation of InLink phone kiosks at the above locations."
The locations included one in Colliers Wood, another in Raynes Park, three in Morden and two in Wimbledon, including one for The Broadway which has now been rejected by the council.
"Police figures and intelligence show an increase in the visible presence of drug related activity as a consequence of existing - and similarly designed - free phone call kiosks within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets," the Met comment said.
"I have concerns that the installation of these devices in Merton, would cause similar demand of the police service and have a similar negative effect on the community.
"The kiosks are known to the MPS to facilitate free calls to offenders with criminal intent on dealing drugs."
When approached for an official comment on its stance towards the kiosks, the Met said although they are not responsible for the final decision, they did want to make their concerns heard.
"While it is not statutory to consult the police in relation to planning and street design applications, police do offer advice on issues that may impact on crime and crime prevention," a spokeswoman said.
"One such piece of work is the installation of new phone kiosks in a number of local authorities.
"Local officers continually monitor areas to establish any crime trends and urge members of community to report criminal matters to them as soon as possible.
"The final decision in relation to planning rests with the council but police will continue to offer advice where practical."
Merton Council have been approached for comment.


text:
Openly Gay Adam Lambert 2011 OUT 100
By Charlotte Robinson, November 07, 2011
Adam Lambert has been named as one of the most influential gays & lesbians for the 2011 OUT 100. He was honored by OUT Mag's OUT 100 in 2009 as well. This month he also graces the cover of The Advocate. It's an amazing month for Lambert. Last night he performed with Queen at MTV's Europe Music Awards & now he has been honored as one of the most influential members of our LGBT community. Perhaps he'll do some concerts in the future for our LGBT community. This being such a crucial year to support the Dems & he seems to be such a fabulous favorite of our LGBT community....Let's push for a big fundraiser with Adam, Lady Gaga & Elton John. That's something we'd like to see….:)
Exclusive Audio Chat with Assi Azar, TV host of the Israeli version of the Big Brother about his coming out film "Mom & Dad: I Have Something to Tell You" & more...
Adam Lambert said...
I think the hardest thing about being a gay celebrity is that we're in the middle of a social rights movement and it's a very hot topic, so we're at a very pivotal time. Coming out was great, but there are certain issues that always surprise me and I think, Why is this an issue? I live and I've grown up in a space that is very accepting and open-minded; I surround myself socially with people that are artists and very bohemian and I forget sometimes that, OK, we're dealing with mainstream culture now, which does not have the same mentality as I do. I think too that by nature I'm very contrary. If you tell me I can't do something then I'm gonna push back harder and do it. I'm kind of rebellious, but I try to do it with a smile. I'm not a jerk about it. So a lot of what I did at the beginning of my career started to become reactionary. And also, I don't know if I had the best guidance at the time. I was kind of flying solo in many respects, doing what I wanted to do. The people I was working with before are great people and I maintain friendships with them, they have amazing hearts. But I don't know if it was quite the right fit on this journey, because it hadn't really been done on a mainstream level in America, so it was new to everybody. We were all guessing.
Homophobic Nigeria Passes Anti-Gay Bill
Congressman Frank Will Not Run in 2012
First LGBT Music Video Awards Winners
A Very Gay Thanksgiving Message
Major League Baseball Comes Out
Gay & Lesbian Military File DOMA Challenge
Trevor Project Honors Lady Gaga & Google
Boston LGBT Film Fest Presents PARIAH
Gay Youth Activist Cyndi Lauper Honored
Prop 8 Drags On In California
Gay Straight Alliance Helps Our LGBT Youth
Boston Gay Activist David Wilson Honored
Gay & Lesbian Veterans Day Request
US Senate to Address Gay Marriage
Military Denies Benefits For Gay Couples
Rep Barney Frank to View Coming Out Film
Gay Marriage Plays "Standing on Ceremony"
Soap "Days of Our Lives" Reflects Diversity
Boston Area LGBT Out in Israel Month


Day 01 – Cape Town ArrivalUpon arrival at CPT Airport, you will be received and transferred to the hotel for relax. Overnight stay at Cape Town.
Day 02 – Cape TownEnjoy the Red Route City Tour on the hop on hop off bus visiting 17 places including the V&A waterfront, Two Oceans Aquarium, Table Mountain Cableway, SA Museums, District Six Museum, St Georges Cathedral and Camps Bay Beach. Overnight stay at Cape Town.
Day 03 – Cape TownOn this day take the Blue Route Peninsula Tour which has 13 stops, including Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens, World of Birds, Hout Bay, Sea Point and Groot Constantia. The Blue Route includes a free wine tour in the oldest wine-making region in South Africa. Overnight stay at Cape Town.
Day 04 – Cape TownFull day Cape Peninsular visit – drive around the Atlantic Seaboard touching Seapoint, Cliffton and a photo stop at Maidens cove. Continue towards Hout Bay and take the majestic drive of Chapmans Peak, (weather permitting), photo stop. Drive through, Noordhoek, Ocean View, Kommetje before entering the Cape Point. Overnight stay at Cape Town.
Day 05 – Cape TownFull day free for walk around and shopping in the waterfront and canal square area. In the evening, enjoy a marvellous sunset cruise for 1.30hr in a sailing boat. Overnight stay at Cape Town.
Day 06 – Cape Town DepartureOn this day as per the flight schedule, you will be dropped back at CPT Airport to board your flight back home.
Accommodation on twin sharing basis at the above mentioned hotels or similar.
Private two way airport transfers.
Full day Red Route City Tour on hop on hop off bus.
Full day Blue Route Peninsula Tour on hop on hop off bus.
Half day Table Mountain and nearby places visit.
Sunset cruise for 1.30hrs by sailing boat.
To & From Flight Tickets.
Entrance fee at any place.


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When CPA fifth grade left campus to an outdoor learning retreat in Mentone, Ala., they prepared for more than just a field trip. This longstanding tradition is the first overnight trip for a CPA student, a trip that engages each student physically, cognitively, and spiritually.
Nature's Classroom is located on a beautiful bend of the Little River on Lookout Mountain. Specifically designed for experiential, outdoor learning, the campus is outfitted with hiking trails, fields, ropes courses, canoeing, cabins, campfires, and more. Prior to embarking on the trip, students completed the Strengths Finder assessment, discovering individual strengths, talents, and a self-awareness of how God made them. Based on their different strengths, students were placed in "field groups" once they arrived at Nature's Classroom. Field groups consist of approximately 16 students, a lower school faculty member, and a Nature's Classroom guide. Field groups hike together, dine together, and participate in team-building activities together throughout the trip.
Adventure and challenge are both central to the core curriculum at Nature's Classroom. Specifically designed activities provided opportunities for students to challenge themselves, gaining a sense of personal accomplishment and growth. All challenge activities operate under "challenge by choice" ethics, emphasizing the student setting his or her own goals, choosing his or her own level of challenge, and creating an atmosphere in which everyone feels comfortable pushing themselves to do their best. Some of the challenges that students accepted included a night hike with no lights or guiding technology, a cave crawl, summiting a large rock formation, and jumping from a high rope swing.
"Students learned how to use their own gifts and strengths to stretch themselves. The intimate field group environment provided encouragement, collaboration, and creative problem-solving, all out in God's creation. They got to know themselves better, and they got to know each other better," explained Head of Lower School Kelly Fuller.
Students concluded each day with a campfire, excitedly swapping stories with each other about the day's challenges and accomplishments.


Six months ago, at SXSW 2018 in Austin, a team from Bose gave early demonstrations of a new platform technology. Previewing special devices to enjoy music and control an augmented sound experience, Bose AR made an incredible first impression. Equipping attendees with devices to try out, the team listened and took user feedback and excitement back to Bose offices. Since then, the platform has advanced with a vision for what developers, partners and users can do with spatial sound and motion control.
Last week I joined many members of Bose AR and supporting teams at TechCrunch Disrupt 2018 in San Francisco. This was my first event representing Bose as Developer Relations Lead. Participating in the 3-day event presented an opportunity for our team to re-engage attendees, demonstrate our progress with the platform and begin welcoming developers to get early access to our SDK and devices.
This was the first TechCrunch Disrupt for Bose, an event that acts as a showcase of companies revealing new technology to 'disrupt' or enable new innovation in the industry. It also presents startups, entrepreneurs and developers a chance to network, meet investors and find new technologies and partners to work with.
We began engaging attendees at a first day presentation. Vivek Agrawal, on behalf of the Bose AR team, shared an overview and update on the platform and the available Wearable SDK. This included some detail on Bose AR-enabled products, reaching millions by early 2019, that will feature Bose AR going forward. Vivek spoke to some likely examples where Bose AR would bring to life new experiences in fitness, travel and gaming.
Steve Romine, from the Bose Ventures program, followed with detail outlining how Bose identifies investment opportunities and has dedicated $50 million dollars to invest in the AR space. Our developer relations team is working with ventures to bring AR to startups around the country.
Corey Hoard, engineer at Zapdot, previewed a Bose AR-enabled game, built with the Wearable SDK and 3D gaming platform Unity. Throughout the presentations and Corey's demo, I noticed many in the packed workshop room leaning in. There was clear interest and excitement as capabilities were revealed. The Unity plugin represents one of many libraries we'll offer to extend capabilities of the SDK.
Downstairs on the expo floor, our incredible team engaged attendees. Featuring 8 demo stations and a sound-proofed demo room, variations of upcoming Bose AR-enabled devices were offered as hands-on experiences.
In the coming weeks, our team will begin distributing the SDK and proudly sending our first batch of Bose-AR enabled devices to developers via an early access program. Based on the ideas we heard at the event and those coming through on our developer portal, we are excited to begin supporting developers to build the first wave of experiences, together, for our users. Many of these new experiences will likely launch with our products, giving members of our community some amazing opportunities to be right there with us as we introduce Bose AR to consumers.
Those that have filled out the form and joined our developer community have also expressed great interest in attending hands-on workshops. Starting with Austin, TX next month and working our way around the country, we look forward to bringing Bose AR best practices, new code samples and tutorials to developers.
Stay tuned on our developer portal as we announce schedules for workshops, webinars and other events where we'll bring Bose AR to you. Be sure and learn more about Bose AR, how you can get early access to our SDK, and stay updated as we get closer to making all of this generally available to our community.


I auditioned for TEDxSMU in Dallas, Texas. 75 applications were submitted. 11 were chosen to audition- one was me.
The speakers packed the house at Kessler Theatre, with a sold out crowd filling both levels to see the audition.
The judges, all TEDxSMU speakers themselves: Willie Baronet, Grace Gilker, and Byron Sanders entertained in between auditions with a humorous talk show style format of feedback.
First up, speaking for only 6 minutes was hard. An hour would be easier. It forced me to get very clear and very succinct. Every word choice was carefully chosen for impact.
But then the Slide shows started acting up. Flickering, not advancing. The first three auditions went smoothly, including my friend, speaker Cathrine Hatcher with her emotional presentation on roadside memorials.
My audition speech was "The Two words that can change Your Life", a motivational and thought provoking story of how questioning and asking "WHY NOT" can become a pivot point in your life and move you to a different place. Much like what happened to me, and I related the story of when I walked into the recruiting station, asked to be a Helicopter Pilot and was told "No, You can't do that". I pushed back by asking "Why Not" to overcome that obstacle and became a Black Hawk Helicopter Pilot for the US Army.
But during my speech, the 2 slide presentation did not advance and started flickering, getting stuck—I forged on ignoring the slide mishap! Then during the next speech, Sung Kim's audition about a new intuitive phone design that he had created, the slide deck froze, and despite his being allowed to re-start again, it froze again.
Bill Holston's informative presentation on Immigration, with a unique take on the benefits to the American economy from immigration, was also marred by the projector issues.
An intermission was called to fix the problem before continuing the auditions with the final 5 presentations. However, the 20 minute intermission interrupted the flow and audience's assessment of the presentation in an equal assessment.
During the rehearsal, just prior to the doors opening, the projector made the same mistakes! This was not corrected at that time, and could have been. As a meeting planner, it is key to ensure the slide deck and projector interface are responding properly. Test and troubleshoot these problems prior to the event start. Also instead of having to flip between different PowerPoint presentations, create one continuous presentation for each segment of the event.
Ultimately, the audience vote determined two winners our of the 11: Dave Leiber, a Dallas Morning News watchdog columnist presenting "The Power of a Story to Change the World" with humorous anecdotes that had the audience in full belly laugh mode.
And LyAnna Smith, a SMU graduate student, who personally foster cares 2 children and spoke about the foster care system in Texas. These two advance to the TEDxSMU conference on October 19th.
What a learning experience! So many take-aways, it was like an education!
The order in the line up of speakers and presentations—MATTERS!!!
With your attitude you will always be successful. I am really surprised the Av equipment failed When I first saw that it happened I assumed it was yours. I immediately realized it could not have been because YOU would have made sure it was working.
In any arena in Texas, it would have been hard to compete against a Dallas news Columnist. I would love to speak with you in the next few weeks and also see/hear your speech, if available because of the messup.
Thank you Jeana! I appreciate your comment! It was such an honor to be selected for the audition. Great lessons for anyone running an event! I'll let you know if the recording becomes available.
What a cool opportunity to audition for TEDx. But what a major bummer to have equipment problems. I hope that you will be given an opportunity to try again for a future event. Your suggestion about being able to do the presentation without the PP is spot on. I had a similar experience in which the PP wouldn't launch. Had to wing it, but since I didn't make too much of a production about the failure, the crowd didn't seem to mind. Stay Awesome!
Thank you! It was a "cool opportunity" You're living the lesson- powerpoint optional!


are simply a cold shade of gray?
when cloaked in the darkness of sin.
and faithfully shines truth within.
"For My hand made all these things,Thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD "But to this one I will look,To him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word."


text:
Like Making Bread by Slawka G. Scarso
January 17, 2018 Fiction
She hated dusk now. She could cope with the rest of the day. She was doing great, in fact, all things considered. Even at night, she could sleep now. Most nights, at least. But dusk, it made the woods thicker, the rubble greyer. It made the houses, with their collapsed roofs, their cracked walls, look even colder. It made the crumbled villages emptier. As if they were not empty already.
"It was brave of you to stay," the journalist said.
"Someone had to."
He took a picture of her in front of the restaurant – the sign, the facade, everything intact. He looked almost disappointed. It was a miracle for her to have survived the earthquake. That's why she stayed. She owed it, though to whom or to what she was no longer sure.
But dusk, she did not like. That's why she hid in the kitchen. Cutting, chopping, mincing. She liked the exercise, the focus it required. But most of all, she liked the noise coming from the dining room. Her customers were mostly firemen now, volunteers, workers who came to put up the tents. remove the rubble. Some were old villagers. She heard them all, recalling life before, or life back home.
Soon, she hoped, she would hear laughter too.
"Surviving is something you must do, every day," she told the journalist. "It's scary, like having to learn to walk, all over again. And it's simple. It's hopeful. Like the sound of a sauce bubbling, like making bread.".
Slawka G. Scarso. Half Italian, half British-Polish, Slawka has published several books on wine. Her short stories have appeared in Italy, the UK and New Zealand and as an award-winning collection titled Mani buone per impastare (Blonk, 2014). She's based in Castel Gandolfo, a village perched on a sleeping volcano in Italy. @nanopausa.
Image: Patrick Fore


text:
Exclusive excerpt: Chris Christie says Trump hired "riffraff"
Mike Allen, author of AM
President-elect Trump and then-Gov. Chris Christie in 2016. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, a Republican, writes in his forthcoming memoir — "Let Me Finish," out Jan. 29 — that President Trump filled his administration with "riffraff" instead of canny players who could help him overcome his impulses and shaky grasp of how government works.
Donald so urgently needed the right people around him and a solid structure in place. ... Far too often, he's found himself saddled with the riffraff. ...
Instead of high-quality, vetted appointees for key administration posts, he got the Russian lackey and future federal felon Michael Flynn as national security adviser. He got the greedy and inexperienced Scott Pruitt as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
He got the high-flying Tom Price as health and human services secretary. He got the not-ready-for-prime-time Jeff Sessions as attorney general, promptly recusing himself from the Justice Department's Russian-collusion probe. He got a stranger named Rex Tillerson as secretary of state. ...
He got the Apprentice show loser Omarosa Manigault in whatever Omarosa's job purported to be. (I never could figure that one out.) ... Too few Kellyanne Conways. A boatload of Sebastian Gorkas. Too few Steven Mnuchins.
Christie, fired just after Election Day as chief of Trump's transition, gives his version of the chaotic weeks before the inauguration:
The day after Trump was elected, he was handed a detailed road map that would have avoided many of these pitfalls and launched him on a far more promising path, a plan that was fully consistent with his values, his campaign promises, and his publicly stated views.
But that plan was thrown in the trash. Literally.
All thirty binders were tossed in a Trump Tower dumpster, never to be seen again. Steve Bannon, Rick Dearborn, Jared Kushner and others, for their own selfish reasons, got rid of the guidance that would have made their candidate an immensely more effective president and would have saved him an awful lot of heartache, too. In so doing, they stole from the man they'd just helped elect the launch he so richly deserved.
Christie played hardball with Steve Bannon after being ousted:
"I want to know who fired me, because I know it wasn't you," I said. "You're just here as the executioner. Who fired me? The president-elect? Because, Steve, if you don't tell me who it is, I am going to say it was you."
The White House declined to comment.
Read next: Exclusive excerpt ... Chris Christie torches Jared Kushner
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Introducing 2019 in colour: Living Coral
Pantone has revealed Living Coral to be their 2019 Colour of the Year. But what exactly is the significance of this title? And how far can colour reach beyond fashion in shaping our everyday lives?
Living Coral: the warm peachy shade rooted in nature
By Ailin Cheng
Before the start of every year, Pantone, the authority on colour-intelligence, reveals its prediction for the Colour of the Year. As of last month, Living Coral has earned the title for 2019. This warm, peach shade draws on earthy tones whilst maintaining a sunny intensity, making it a versatile one to represent a range of contexts.
On on hand, the earthy quality of this colour relates to the growing concern of climate change and pollution. The orange tones vividly recall their namesake: the coral reefs that are valued for their vibrant hues, all the more so now as bleaching and climate change become an inescapable reality. Living Coral optimistically relates to a need to reconnect with the natural world, and to emulate this in our lifestyles. On the other hand, the warm, sunny quality of this colour is particularly noteworthy at a time when technology and 'social' media is driving rifts through communities. Pantone's Executive Director, Leatrice Eiseman, states: 'with consumers craving human interaction and social connection, the humanising and heartening qualities displayed by the connival Pantone Living Coral hit a responsive chord.'
This is quite a development from the mood approaching 2018. The 2018 Colour of the Year was declared to be Ultra Violet, a bright electric purple that, as stated by Pantone, 'communicates originality, ingenuity, and visionary thinking that points us toward the future.' The violet hues were representative of modernity, and an era of innovation and ingenuity driven by technology. Purple has long been an important symbol for counter-cultural icons, with Jimi Hendrix, Prince, and Bowie being its key promoters. In 2018, this electric shade was brought to the fore by Tokyo's youth. The shade was embraced for its gender-neutrality and futuristic hues, with Shinjuku and Harajuku-goers soon sporting the bright colour in alternative, androgynous silhouettes. Spreading out beyond Asia, from Hamish Bowles' stunning ultra violet walls to the S/S18 collections of Gucci and Balenciaga, the shade has been a key one for all elements of design this year.
Reaching beyond design, these colours also infiltrated everyday life on a microcosmic level. Purple began re-colouring the food scene. Speared by the trend of clean-eating and Instagram-hyped colourful food, ingredients such as purple ube, taro, purple cauliflower, beetroot and anthocyanin-rich purple tea have been making appearances across healthy-eating cafes and restaurants.
All these examples go as far to acknowledge the accuracy of Pantone's forecast. Given the almost monopoloid hold Pantone has over colour intelligence, the colour of the year may well be a self-fulfilling prophecy. Yet the colour of the year is more than a guiding forecast; it is through the careful mapping of macro and micro trends that current moods and atmospheres are translated into a visual form.
Our intuitive awareness of colour symbolism allows it to be a useful tool in expression. This dates back throughout history, when rich lapis-lazuli dyes were used exclusively for the highly-esteemed and royal. Meanwhile, the instantly recognisable 'On Wednesdays we wear pink' quote shines a spotlight on the subtle associations that can be evoked simply through colour choice. In the renowned TV show Breaking Bad, character development can be tracked in the colours they wear. As Walter White becomes further embroiled with his alter-ego, Heisenberg, his colors become stronger, moving from initial shades of neutral green towards red and eventually black. When faced with defeat or the return of his cancer, his khaki shades return.
Colour is more than a fashion statement, and has always played as much a role in shaping cultural and political identities as it has in personal identity. The clashing, angry red and blues of the Republican and Democrat battle in the US are but one example. The World Cup last summer saw people taking to the streets in proud display of their national colours. The Pride movement's flag, meanwhile, proves that colours aren't necessarily a means of reinforcing divides: the flag cleverly plays on the ideological divides denoted by different colours, including and representing all shades in a brilliant rainbow display.
It's still too soon to tell what role Living Coral will play this year. A keen eye may notice its increasingly frequent appearances on the catwalk. Marc Jacobs led the charge with a collection dominated by pastel hues, featuring wearable coral and blush-toned looks. Meanwhile, Brandon Maxwell combines structured tailoring with the fiery coral shade in his collection of flared trousers and shirt-dresses. Within days of Pantone's announcement, interior design and fashion magazines were publishing articles on how to prepare for the soon-to-be trend. On a superficial level, the significance of the colour of the year may simply be the need to jump on these bandwagons. But the wider symbolism of this shade and the reasons behind Pantone's choice make colour a powerful tool for participating in and being aware of the social climate.


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HomeLatest NewsGulfIran Latest NewsIran deploys S-300 missiles at Fordow nuclear facility
Iran deploys S-300 missiles at Fordow nuclear facility
August 29, 2016 Ahmed Rashed Iran Latest News
Iran has deployed a Russian-made S-300 surface-to-air missile defense system at its Fordow uranium enrichment facility, the country's state media have reported, as cited by Reuters.
"Our main priority is to protect Iran's nuclear facilities under any circumstances," Brigadier General Farzad Esmaili, commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps' (IRGC) air defense force, told state TV.
Esmaili did not say whether the new missile defense system was operational, however the IRGC commander did say that, "Today, Iran's sky is one of the most secure in the Middle East."
The Fordow site, which is around 100km south of the capital Tehran, has not enriched any uranium since a nuclear deal between Iran and six international powers came into effect in January.
The deal was signed in 2015 and was aimed at curbing Iran's nuclear program. In return, Tehran saw the lifting of sanctions that had stifled economic growth.
The contract to deliver S-300s to Iran was put on hold in 2010 by then-President Dmitry Medvedev due to UN sanctions imposed on Iran.
Iran receiving first deliveries of S-300s 'ahead of schedule' – arms export official https://t.co/6RQ0RCTxms pic.twitter.com/swXT0Mdqku
— RT (@RT_com) April 27, 2016
Moscow said at the time that the delivery of the missile defense system would upset the balance of power in the region and escalate tensions.
The contract was revived in April of 2015 by President Vladimir Putin after Iran and six leading world powers signed a nuclear deal, which addressed concerns about Tehran achieving a potential breakthrough that would allow it to produce nuclear weapons.
In May, Iran announced that it had deployed the S-300 defense systems at its Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base.
The Fordow site is built 90 meters below a mountain, with its location being revealed by the West in 2009.
The deployment comes just over a week after Tehran unveiled its Bavar-373 air defense complex at a military expo. The system was developed as an alternative to the S-300 and is set to go into production later this year.
"We did not intend to make an Iranian version of the S-300 – we wanted to build an Iranian system, and we built it," Iran's Minister of Defense Hossein Dehghan said. The weapon was successfully test-fired for the first time in August 2014.
Fordow Nuclear and Physics Research Center (NPRC)
Bavar-373 air defense complex
Hassan Rouhani
Iran air defense missile system
Iran nuclear deal
Iran Arrests Member Of Nuclear Deal Negotiation Team
Column: We must not let chemical weapons to become the 'norm'
US: Two Iranians Arrested for Smuggling Fighter Jet Parts to Iran
October 30, 2016 Ahmed Rashed Egypt Latest News
The United Stated attorney in the U.S. Federal Court announced the arrest of two Iranians for smuggling U.S. fighter jet parts, worth $3 million dollars, to Iran. Los Angeles Times revealed on Sunday that Zavik [ More … ]
Canada: Restoring ties with Iran easier said than done
October 3, 2016 Ahmed Rashed Iran Latest News
News of a Canadian-Iranian academic's release from Iranian prison has raised fresh hopes for a detente in Canada's glacial relations with Iran but a Canadian expert says restoring relations with the Islamic Republic is far [ More … ]
US reinstates all sanctions on Iran lifted under 2015 nuclear deal
November 3, 2018 MEO Staff Iran Latest News
The Trump administration is announcing the reimposition of all U.S. sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the sanctions are "aimed at fundamentally altering [ More … ]


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Q: Stealth Ports even while communicating? I was using a port probing site/program called ShieldsUp! to scan my ports. It reported back that all of my ports were "stealth", and in their words

Your system has achieved a perfect "TruStealth" rating. Not a single packet  — solicited or otherwise — was received from your system as a result of our security probing tests. Your system ignored and refused to reply to repeated Pings (ICMP Echo Requests). From the standpoint of the passing probes of any hacker, this machine does not exist on the Internet. Some questionable personal security systems expose their users by attempting to "counter-probe the prober", thus revealing themselves. But your system wisely remained silent in every way. Very nice.

Then I ran the same port scan when I knew that I had a program that was using certain ports and the test came back stealth again.
Is that to be expected? I was under the impression that using the ports made them visible. I was expecting it to find that many of my ports were simply closed based on their Internet Port Status Definition because I was running these tests on a fresh installation of Ubuntu with no third party firewall installed.
But even if Ubuntu had a built in firewall, I had to tell it to specifically open the ports I wanted to use. Would Ubuntu automatically close those ports when it didn't get any traffic coming or going?
Additional information (wasn't sure it would matter at first)
I left out part of the explanation because I wasn't sure it would be relevant, but now I think it might be. I had set it up so that two computers on my network were communicating using a simple communication client. And while the two computers were communicating, I ran the port probe on one of the computers. I only mention this because it seems like their would be ports open because each computer would be expecting traffic on a given port.

A: There is a difference between a port at your side and a port on the server, and between a listening port and a connection.
ShieldsUp! only looks for TCP ports that have a service listening on your computer for connections from elsewhere. For example, if you had a web server running, you would have TCP/80/incoming "open".
(If A tries to establish a connection to B port X, and there's no service listening on that port, A usually receives a "reset" packet. AFAIK, Stealth mode means A won't even receive a negative reply -- as if the host did not exist.)
However, "using" the same port -- browsing the web using HTTP, for example -- doesn't open that port at your side. A HTTP connection you make is to port 80 on the web server, but from a randomly chosen port at your side. And even that local port cannot be described as "open", for there is nothing listening for connections on it; the OS only accepts packets belonging to a specific already-active connection.

Each TCP connection is identified by four things: local address:port and remote address:port pairs. Two packets must have identical address:port pairs to be considered as belonging to the same connection (although replies obviously have local and remote reversed).
For example, if you are 1.0.0.1 and open a TCP connection from 1.0.0.1:13579 to 2.2.2.2:80. When a packet is received, it will be considered as belonging to the same connection only if it came from 2.2.2.2:80 to 1.0.0.1:13579.
This means you can:

*

*open multiple connections to different servers;

*to different ports of the same server;

*and even to the same port of the same server

as long as at least one number (usually the randomly-chosen local port) is different.

A: Ports are only open when a process is listening, expecting remote devices to connect to it.  As such the results you've received are to be expected.

A: As I understand it, your firewall sits between any application on your PC (that has permission from the automated firewall rules or from you) and the internet. If the programme is listening for data on a port, then the firewall is listening too. Any unexpected attempt at communication from the internet will be detected by the firewall and ignored/dropped, the application won't even see it.


I see the above photograph from a recent EPES workshop on women's health and I am reminded of so many things I like about the work of EPES, starting with the way they have consistently built community in the midst of poverty, discrimination and natural disasters, over more than three decades. I am moved by how these circles of education and support have spread across some 21 countries through EPES' International Training Program and how EPES designed and implemented a Community Health Agent program for all of Chile.
To learn more about these and all of EPES' programs, please take a look at the most recent EPES Updates available on our website. The November 2018 Update clearly demonstrates the impact of your dollars—from local healthy eating workshops to international collaboration with Puerto Rico and the Hope Foundation for African Women. GRACIAS to all of you who have so steadily supported the mission of EPES and helped make this possible!
The Action for Health in the Americas (AHA) all-volunteer board recently met via conference call to discuss EPES' budget and how AHA can continue to help stabilize those finances. EPES' operating budget is made up of a variety of grants and donations, and AHA has historically contributed (because of YOUR donations) about 15% of that budget.
Chile is considered an "High Income Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Country" and, as such, is not eligible for international donations that are tied to that classification, even though so many Chileans—especially the ones EPES works with—live in deep poverty.
Chile is one of the most unequal countries in the world and the benefits of the higher income economy are not fairly distributed (among OECD countries, Chile is THE MOST unequal).
The right-wing government of Sebastian Piñera took office this past March, and has cut many of the primary health care initiatives that EPES was able to receive funding to implement. For example, EPES is a key trainer in the government's Community Health Agent program, generating more than US$400,000 in 2017—but that is dropping to US$0 in 2019.
A Harvard study found that Chile is a country with one of the lowest levels of philanthropic giving.
The support you provide through AHA is incredibly important at this moment! Virtually all of the donations you make via AHA—minus minor costs like bank transfer or credit card processing fees—go directly to EPES to help fill in gaps in their budget, without the strings that come attached to many grants and institutional donations. This type of support is critical for EPES to be able to stay flexible, continue to keep staff on board, and implement their many high-impact programs.
Thank you AGAIN for your ongoing support of EPES. If you have plans to make any final 2018 contributions to organizations doing good work, please do consider AHA and EPES!
EPES International Training Course graduates 167th educator!
Seventeen people, hailing from Puerto Rico, Colombia, Nicaragua, Uruguay and several regions of Chile, graduated from EPES' Ninth International Training Course on Popular Education for Health, held in Santiago and Concepción January 7 – 17, 2018.
The latest graduates brought the universe of trained health advocates to a total 167 people, who put in practice in their respective 21 countries community health work from a human rights approach, guided by methodology they learn from EPES' International Course.
Since the inception in January 2010 of the International Training Course, popularly known as "la Escuela", people from diverse backgrounds and social contexts have gained understanding of the benefits of popular education methods in promoting dignified health. They return from each annual Escuela equipped to form community health groups, strengthen local work and explore the role churches can play to achieve the right to health.
This year's Escuela was enriched by the presence and participation of three women from Puerto Rico: Elda Guadalupe Carrasquillo, environmental health education teacher, from Vieques; Aida Edward, community health promoter and leader of the town of Loíza; and Aurinés Torres-Sánchez, University of Puerto Rico Medical School professor, who participated in the second International Training Course held in 2011. Elda Guadalupe and Aida Edward traveled to Chile thanks to a scholarship made possible by the EPES Foundation.
Elda, Aida and Aurinés met, they say, "thanks to Maria", the category 5 hurricane that devastated the island September 19 and 20, dramatically altering the lives of thousands. In the face of governmental chaos and disorganization, people came together as first responders of their own communities. In wake of the storm, six months ago, when their paths crossed for the first time, the three helped spawn community-based organizations drawing from the EPES popular education for health model.
The Ninth International Training Course featured a presentation from Elda, Aida, and a Aurinés, entitled: Application of Popular Education in Health in post-hurricane recovery in Puerto Rico: Lessons from a colonial state. Fellow Escuela participants and EPES staff learned about Puerto Rico's social and political situation, with its awakened conscience in 2017, expressed in demonstrations and protests in response to an economic crisis that deepened after hurricanes Irma and Maria, the latter the most powerful to strike the island since 1929.
The women described how their towns of Vieques and Loíza have reemerged with a more unified community, in part as a result of popular education methodology that enabled them to train health promoters and organize a flurry of integral health and environmental activities.
In addition to learning about the Puerto Rican experience, in Concepción, Escuela participants learned about EPES' community work in the Biobío Region and visited the locale of Penco. They also met women leaders of Villa Montahue, built for families who lost everything after the 2010 earthquake and tsunami, and last summer found themselves protecting their homes from yet another catastrophe: forest fires. The women spoke of the experience of having to rebuild their neighborhoods and their lives from scratch as well as the fire prevention activities that now have become routine.
Previously, in Santiago, the International Training Course conducted workshops on social determinants of health, with a special focus on gender, enjoyed hands-on learning through EPES educational board games, and acquired know-how on methodologies for promoting and recovering nutritional health, as well as other issues.
The Rev. Lisandro Orlov, theologian and pastor with the United Evangelical Church of Argentina, imparted the course "Faith Communities and the Promotion of Rights: Health without Stigma or Discrimination" on his pastoral experience in HIV and AIDS prevention. Pastor Orlov, who is a member of EPES multi-disciplinary team of health educators during the Escuela, promotes a model for working on HIV/AIDS based on a message of freedom, rather than the prevailing medical, ethical-legal models.
The students also carried out three community actions, together with the Llareta Health Group, Circle of Women for Health, and the David Werner group. With these veteran health promoters, they alerted shoppers at the two open air markets of El Bosque to the high sugar content in soft drinks, urging people to consume more water and fruit. In addition, they painted a mural and learned about historic memory of the La Bandera neighborhood's courageous struggle for social justice.
No Escuela would be complete without its "Cultural Night" and students of this ninth version enjoyed an evening of music, dance, theater and poetry. Participants displayed their artistic abilities, sharing the distinctive cultures of their respective countries.
According to Karen Anderson, ELCA Global Mission Personnel and Director of the EPES International Training Course, under the slogan "Learning by doing to promote and expand the right to health", EPES will soon unfurl promotional efforts for its Tenth International Training Course to be held in January 2019. A decade after the inaugural Escuela, EPES promises to foster a new generation of future health promoters beyond the borders of Chile, where EPES yearly reaches more than 145.000 women and their families in the country's poor communities, through innovative strategies and the construction of tools for empowerment and collective action.


Page Summary: Collection of 20+ clips, quotes & links to science news reports about Healthy Sources of Omega 3 from Plant Foods; exploring ALA/DHA, SDA/EPA & the Dangers of Fish Oils.
For further related information also see this page of quotes & links for 50+ science news reports on the disease risks associated with eating fish and other sea animals.
Excerpts: "According to two of perhaps the most credible nutrition authorities, the World Health Organization and the European Food Safety Authority, we should get at least a half a percent of our calories from the essential short-chain omega-3 ALA; which is easy—just like a tablespoon a day of chia seeds or ground flax seeds, and you're all set.
on one hand, fish has the preformed DHA and EPA. But, on the other hand, our oceans have become so polluted that fish may contain various pollutants, including dioxins, PCBs, pesticides like DDT, flame retardant chemicals and heavy metals—including mercury, lead, and cadmium—that can negatively affect human health.
"Minimum dietary requirements for ALA—set by the Institute of Medicine—equal 1.1 gm/day for women and 1.6 gm/day for men aged 19-50 years old, 10% of which can come from EPA or DHA. In addition, dietary recommendations of 0.5-1 gm/day of EPA and DHA have been suggested for cardiovascular disease prevention and treatment. Cardiovascular protective effects are also seen with dietary ALA consumption. These protective effects were seen in potentially increasing amounts as you go from 0.58 gm/day to 2.81 gm/day.
Dr Michael Greger MD, 2016 article titled "Should Vegans Take DHA to Preserve Brain Function?" Excerpts: "This is why I recommend 250mg a day of a pollutant-free source of long-chain omega-3 fatty acids… So, having sufficient long-chain omega-3s – EPA and DHA – may be important for preserving brain function and structure. So, the next question becomes what's sufficient, and how do you get there? The Framingham study found what appears to be a threshold value around an omega-3 index of 4.4, which is a measure of our EPA and DHA levels… All we need now is a study that gives those with such low levels some pollutant-free EPA and DHA… They took those eating vegan with levels under 4, gave them algae-derived EPA and DHA, and about 250mg a day took them from an average of 3.1 over the line to 4.8 within four months.
From a 2017 report in the Journal of Geriatric Cardiology: "Polyunsaturated fatty acids—namely omega-3 and omega-6—are the only essential fats in the diet. Omega-3 fats are found in their shorter chain form as alpha linolenic acid (ALA) and are used as energy and also converted by the body to the longer chain eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and then docosahexaenoic acid (DHA).
ALA can be found in flaxseeds, hemp seeds, chia seeds, leafy green vegetables (both terrestrial and marine), soybeans and soy products, walnuts, and wheat germ, as well as in their respective oils. A direct plant source of EPA and DHA is microalgal oil, through which fish acquire them.
Plant sources are superior because they do not contain the contaminants that fish contain, including heavy metals, such as mercury, lead, and cadmium, industrial pollutants like dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, polychlorinated biphenyls, and dioxin, and possibly even radioactive isotopes.
The AI for ALA is 1.1 g per day for adult females and 1.6 g per day for men. Conversion of ALA to EPA and DHA is limited in humans. Serum and adipose levels of EPA and DHA have been found to be significantly lower in vegetarians and vegans when compared to omnivores, although there is no evidence of any adverse health or cognitive effects.
Vegetarians, vegans, and those with reduced conversion ability, such as the elderly, may benefit from doubling the recommended dose of ALA (2.2 g for females and 3.2 g for males per day) and adding a microalgal supplement.
As omega-6 fats (linoleic acid), are available ubiquitously in the food supply in the seeds of most plants, they are not a nutrient of concern. In fact, Western diets tend to be excessive in omega-6 fats due to their prevalence in processed foods, which are also low in omega-3 fats.
in more recent studies, fish and fish oil consumption have not only failed to reduce sudden cardiac death with omega-3s, but actually increased mortality in cardiac patients. For example, men with heart disease, advised to eat more oily fish, or supplied with fish oil capsules, were found to have a higher risk of cardiac death—maybe because of the contaminants in fish, such as mercury?
Dr Michael Greger MD, 2016 article titled "Omega-3's and the Eskimo Fish Tale" excerpts: "The concept that heart disease was rare among the Eskimos appears to be a myth… The revelation that fish oil appears useless in preventing heart disease, as I reviewed before, in either heart patients or for those trying to prevent heart disease in the first place, leads one to wonder how this whole fish tale began.
Well, the common mythology is that in response to anecdotal reports of a low prevalence of coronary heart disease among the Eskimos, Danish researchers Bang and Dyerberg… The fact is they never examined the cardiovascular status of the Eskimos; they just accepted at face value this notion that coronary atherosclerosis is almost unknown among the Eskimo, a concept that has been disproven over and over starting in the 30s. In fact, going back over a thousand years, we have frozen Eskimo mummies with atherosclerosis. Another from 500 years ago, a woman in her early 40s – atherosclerosis in her aorta and coronary arteries. And these aren't just isolated cases. The totality of evidence from actual clinical investigations, autopsies, and imaging techniques is that they have the same plague of coronary artery disease that non Eskimo populations have, and actually have twice the fatal stroke rate and don't live particularly long.


When a CIO I spoke with recently stated that Twitter scared him, I doubled my efforts to seek out a good story about use of social media by a healthcare provider. Within a couple of weeks, I found four.
(Farris) Timimi, a cardiologist and the medical director for the Mayo Clinic Center for Social Media,uses social media strategically. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Association of American Medical Colleges in San Francisco, Farris Timimi, MD, he made those strategies come alive.
Read the article for those four stories from Dr. Timimi about social media at Mayo Clinic.


Solar costs are an intensely debated and analyzed issue. Cost data per company is not or only partially disclosed and makes cost benchmarking across regions a challenge. While cost data is diffi cult to access in many industries, it becomes even more difficult in solar where fast innovation cycles, productivity and competition change company data quarter by quarter.


This year's competition have been ended with performances of the finalists of FRENCH HORN category. We could have heard Quintet in E flat major KV 407 in cooperation with the Wihan Quartet by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart and Horn Concerto No. 2 in E flat major by Richard Strauss in cooperation with the PKF-Prague Philharmonia, conducted by Marek Šedivý.
For more information follow us on our Facebook (https://bit.ly/2I0dgj6) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/imcpraguespring/).


text:
Press Release: Bawidamann Blades to produce limited edition knife for FN America.
FN and Bawidamann Blades are partnering for a limited edition, badass knife.
The production run is capped at 250 knives, with serial #1 being auctioned for the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF). Number 1 can be found for open bid at GunsAmerica.com. The other 249 are available for pre-order at the FN America booth at the SHOT show.
The knife is S35VN, a really new (5 years old) super-steel offshoot of S30V. It has a distressed Cerakote finish and G10 scales. It looks to be a fantastic knife. Ben Bawidamann, the maker, is so in demand that he has stopped taking orders. You can only get one of his knives if you see him in person at a show. So this is a rare opportunity to get your hands on one of his blades. You can look at his work here.
Full Press Release below the jump.
Contact: Kristina DeMilt, media@fnhusa.com
FN AMERICA PARTNERS WITH BAWIDAMANN BLADES ON LIMITED EDITION KNIFE
First Serial Number to be Auctioned Off to Support the Special Operations Warrior Foundation
(McLean, VA – January 16, 2015) FN America, LLC announced today that it has formed a partnership with Bawidamann Blades to produce 250 limited edition knives exclusively for FN. On Sunday, January 18, 2015, serial number 001 will be auctioned off online and proceeds will be donated to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation (SOWF). Priced at $449 each, the other 249 will be available for pre-order at the FN America booth (Booth #13662) during SHOT Show® 2015.
"FN America is proud to partner with Bawidamann Blades," said Mark Cherpes, FN America President and CEO. "We are very pleased with the custom knife they designed for FN as it nicely showcases the quality and innovation both Bawidamann and FN are known for."
The FN Limited Edition Knife is made in the U.S. from CPM S35-VN stainless steel, which is hand ground and finished in a distressed wolf grey CerakoteTM. It has a G10 chunk handle, which offers positive grip and retention in both wet and dry conditions, and comes with a custom-made Kydex® sheath with mounting hardware that is maneuverable into multiple ambidextrous carry positions. Each is packaged in a walnut presentation box along with a custom challenge coin. The front of the coin features the FN logo and the phraseArmes de Guerre; the reverse has the Bawidamann Blades logo and serial number for that particular knife.
"FN America is pleased to donate proceeds from the auction of the first FN Limited Edition Knife to SOWF," said Cherpes. "FN has a deep commitment to supporting our nation's armed forces. We hope this contribution will help SOWF achieve their mission of providing financial assistance and counseling services to the surviving children of special operations warriors who lost their lives or were wounded while serving their country."
To learn more about the auction or to place a bid, please visit theGunsAmerica auction page. For more information about FN America or FN products, please visit www.fnhusa.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter andInstagram.
FN America, LLC is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FN Herstal, S.A. and is a leader in the development and manufacturing of high quality, reliable firearms for military, law enforcement and commercial customers in the U.S. Headquartered in McLean, VA with manufacturing operations in Columbia, SC, FN America is passionately committed to providing its customers with a portfolio of products, training and support services under the FNH USA brand name that enhance their performance and safeguard their lives. For more information, visit www.fnhusa.com.
Since 1980, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation has been dedicated to ensuring funds are available for post-secondary educations for the surviving children of fallen Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps special operations forces killed in the line of duty. The foundation also provides family financial and educational counseling. Additionally, the Special Operations Warrior Foundation provides immediate financial assistance to severely wounded special operations personnel who are hospitalized so their loved ones can be bedside during their recovery. For more information, visit www.specialops.org.
Bawidamann Blades is a 100% American owned and operated family company. We construct our knives out of the most advanced and highest quality materials available. Whether you are an actively deployed Soldier, Law Enforcement Officer, Trainer/Instructor, or a Civilian simply looking for a comfortable every day carry knife…Bawidamann Blades strives to meet and exceed your operational needs. We pride ourselves on our unique design vision that flows from tip to pommel, and from sheaths to our PUP mounting attachment system. For more information, please visit www.bawidamannblades.com.
that looks like a badass fixed blade!