text:
New Articles Jan 15th 2020 - 8pm
Town hall highlights child care shortage in Carlton County
Crime and Courts Jan 16th 2020 - 5pm
Fond du Lac murder defendant claims self-defense as investigation continues
Sports Jan 12th 2020 - 12am
Saturday's prep summaries
Audit estimate: Cloquet ice arenas need more than $4M in repairs
The city council has ordered a study of Northwoods Credit Union Arena and Pine Valley Arena.
Written By: Jamey Malcomb | Dec 19th 2019 - 4am.
Pine Valley Arena needs a number of repairs and improvements, including converting the coolant system from a direct to indirect system that could cost up to $750,000. Jamey Malcomb/Pine Journal
The Cloquet City Council ordered a detailed study of Northwoods Credit Union Arena and Pine Valley Arena after an audit estimated needed repairs at more than $4 million.
The city took over the ownership of the buildings from the Cloquet Area Hockey Association in January. CAHA asked the city to become the owners because both buildings need costly repairs and improvements over the next few years — something the organization couldn't afford.
In October, a leak was discovered in the pipes below the floor of Pine Valley that required the city to purchase 5,000 pounds of refrigerant at a cost of $50,000.
About the same time, Cloquet Public Works Director Caleb Peterson asked McKinstry — building consultants based in Roseville, Minn., the city had worked with on the Cloquet Public Library expansion project — to perform an audit of the needed repairs to both arenas.
McKinstry business manager Ed Zepeda presented a report during a council work session Tuesday, Dec. 17, with a number of priorities that included converting the rink floors to an indirect cooling system, installing a new ammonia-based ice plant that would serve both arenas and improving the dehumidification system in NCUA. The preliminary estimates showed costs could rise to more than $4 million.
An audit of needed repairs Northwoods Credit Union Arena in Cloquet revealed a for more than $3 million in repairs to the arena. The most pressing need, however, is improving the dehumidification system that would cost up to $325,000. Jamey Malcomb/Pine Journal
Converting the ice plant to an ammonia-based system could more than $3 million in 2020, but Zepeda said the more pressing needs are converting Pine Valley to an indirect cooling system and improving the dehumidification capabilities in NCUA which could cost more than $1 million.
Converting Pine Valley to an indirect system would save the city approximately $100,000 over five years in operational costs. An indirect system would have the added benefit of using less than 1,000 pounds of R-22 refrigerant instead of its current 5,000-pound charge.
R-22 will no longer be produced in or imported to the U.S. after Dec. 31, giving the city an over-supply if something happened to the plant at NCUA or Pine Valley. Cloquet could also sell R-22 if it is no longer needed. The refrigerant gas is no longer produced in the U.S., so the price could rise dramatically over the next few years.
The city set aside approximately $1 million in local-option sales tax money for repairs to the arenas, but needs a more accurate cost estimate before the city council can take action.
McKinstry did the initial audit at no cost to the city and would roll the cost of the detailed engineering study into the building repairs if the city moves forward. If the city chooses to wait, it would pay McKinstry about $7,000 for the study.
The engineering study will product an "actionable" cost estimate for the city, interim City Administrator James Barclay said.
Zepeda also guaranteed the scope of work that would be included in the study.
"If we miss something, shame on us," Zepeda said. "We'll eat it."
CLOQUET CITY COUNCIL
Government and Politics Oct 10th 2019 - 9am
Cloquet Council approves hockey arena repairs
News Jan 19th 2019 - 10am
Cloquet prepares to take over ownership of ice arenas


text:
Q: The magnetic pendulum model I'm reading about this thing called the magnetic pendulum experiment, and I got curious about the equations of motion governing it. Essentially, imagine a pendulum whose bob is made of a magnetic metal and placed above some magnets. See this video for the actual experiment. I've seen this equation for the bob's acceleration when looking it up:
$\begin{align*} m\ddot{\mathbf{x}} = \sum_j \frac{\mathbf{r}_j}{(h^2 + \mathbf{r}_j \cdot \mathbf{r}_j)^{3/2}} - g\mathbf{x} - \mu\dot{\mathbf{x}} \end{align*}$
In this equation:

*

*$\mathbf{x}$ is the position of the pendulum bob in the x-y coordinate plane. (The bob is assumed to be locked to a plane some fixed height above the plane the magnets lie on.)

*$\mathbf{r}_j$ is the distance between the bob's position and that of the $j$th magnet, i.e. $\mathbf{r}_j := \mathbf{x}_j - \mathbf{x}$, where $\mathbf{x}_j$ is the center of the $j$th magnet.

*$h$ is the height of the bob above the magnets.

*$g$ is the kickback force of the pendulum (think Hooke's law).

*$\mu$ is friction/air resistance.

*$m$ is the bob's mass.

*We assume the magnets are of equal strength.

I'm trying to understand this equation and I understand most of it. From what I understand, the $-g\mathbf{x}$ term comes from Hooke's  law, and describes the force restoring the pendulum back to its state of rest. The $\mu\dot{\mathbf{x}}$ term just damps the velocity. We put it all together using Newton's second law.
However, I don't understand why the denominator in the summation is raised to the power of $\frac{3}{2}$. This source says it's to eliminate the vertical component from what is obviously a distance formula in the equation, but I don't see why that is. From what I understand, magnetic force obeys Coulomb's law, which is essentially a type of inverse square law. I've read it has something to do with dipoles and an inverse-cube law. Is this true?
I asked this on Math Stack Exchange and didn't really get an answer, and someone suggested that I post it here. Please try to keep in mind that I don't know too much about electromagnetics. Thanks for your help.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
package com.google.cloud;

import com.google.gson.Gson;
import com.google.gson.JsonArray;
import com.google.gson.JsonElement;
import com.google.gson.JsonObject;
import com.google.gson.JsonParser;
import com.google.gson.JsonPrimitive;
import java.io.BufferedInputStream;
import java.io.File;
import java.io.FileInputStream;
import java.io.FileNotFoundException;
import java.io.FileOutputStream;
import java.io.FileReader;
import java.io.FileWriter;
import java.io.IOException;
import java.io.InputStream;
import java.io.OutputStream;
import java.io.Writer;
import java.net.MalformedURLException;
import java.net.URL;
import java.nio.file.Files;
import java.nio.file.StandardCopyOption;
import java.security.MessageDigest;
import java.security.NoSuchAlgorithmException;
import java.util.ArrayList;
import java.util.Date;
import java.util.HashMap;
import java.util.List;
import java.util.Map;
import java.util.concurrent.Callable;
import java.util.concurrent.ExecutionException;
import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
import java.util.concurrent.Future;
import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
import org.apache.commons.compress.archivers.ArchiveEntry;
import org.apache.commons.compress.archivers.tar.TarArchiveInputStream;
import org.apache.commons.compress.compressors.gzip.GzipCompressorInputStream;
import org.apache.commons.compress.utils.IOUtils;
import org.apache.commons.compress.utils.Lists;
import org.apache.commons.io.FileUtils;
import org.apache.maven.execution.MavenSession;
import org.apache.maven.plugin.AbstractMojo;
import org.apache.maven.plugin.MojoExecutionException;
import org.apache.maven.plugins.annotations.Mojo;
import org.apache.maven.plugins.annotations.Parameter;

/**
 * Goal that downloads gcloud components and embeds them as resources in a jar. This is mainly
 * intended to be used to wrapped native emulators in jars. This Mojo makes extensive use of caching
 * which makes it ok to include in the regular build cycle. The initial manifest fetch is cached for
 * 2 hours and the actual binaries are downloaded only when their checksum changed in the manifest.
 */
@Mojo(name = "download")
public class DownloadComponentsMojo extends AbstractMojo {

  private static final long STALE_MS = TimeUnit.HOURS.toMillis(2);

  @Parameter(defaultValue = "https://dl.google.com/dl/cloudsdk/channels/rapid/", required = true)
  private URL baseUrl;

  @Parameter(required = true)
  private List<String> componentNames;

  @Parameter(defaultValue = "${project.build.outputDirectory}/gcloud", required = true)
  private File destinationDir;

  @Parameter(defaultValue = "false", required = true, property = "gcloud.download.force")
  private boolean forceRefresh;

  @Parameter(defaultValue = "false", required = true, property = "gcloud.download.skip")
  private boolean shouldSkipDownload;

  @Parameter(defaultValue = "${session}", readonly = true)
  private MavenSession session;

  private ExecutorService executor;

  public void execute() throws MojoExecutionException {
    executor = Executors.newCachedThreadPool();

    try {
      executeInner();
    } finally {
      executor.shutdown();
      executor = null;
    }
  }

  private void executeInner() throws MojoExecutionException {
    if (shouldSkipDownload) {
      getLog().info("Skipping download because shouldSkipDownload=true");
      return;
    }

    if (session.isOffline() && forceRefresh) {
      throw new MojoExecutionException("Can't force refresh when offline");
    }

    // Ensure that the output directory exists
    if (!destinationDir.mkdirs()) {
      getLog()
          .info("Failed to create destination directory. Perhaps the directory already exists?");
    }

    // Update the cached manifest
    try {
      updateCachedManifest();
    } catch (Exception e) {
      throw new MojoExecutionException("Failed to update the cached manifest", e);
    }

    // Parse the relevant components
    List<Component> components;
    try {
      components = parseManifest();
    } catch (Exception e) {
      throw new MojoExecutionException("Failed to parse the manifest", e);
    }

    // Get the checksums of the existing components
    Map<String, String> checksums;
    try {
      checksums = parseLocalChecksums();
    } catch (Exception e) {
      getLog().warn("Failed to parse local checksums, ignoring", e);
      checksums = new HashMap<>();
    }

    // Download any updated components in parallel
    List<Future<?>> futures = Lists.newArrayList();

    for (final Component component : components) {
      if (!forceRefresh && component.getChecksum().equals(checksums.get(component.getId()))) {
        continue;
      }

      futures.add(downloadComponentAsync(component));
    }

    // Wait for all downloads to finish and unwrap any errors
    for (Future<?> future : futures) {
      try {
        future.get();
      } catch (ExecutionException e) {
        if (e.getCause() instanceof MojoExecutionException) {
          throw ((MojoExecutionException) e.getCause());
        } else {
          throw new MojoExecutionException(
              "Unexpected execution error downloading component", e.getCause());
        }
      } catch (InterruptedException e) {
        Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
        throw new MojoExecutionException("Interrupted while downloading component");
      }
    }
    if (futures.size() > 0) {
      getLog().info("Finished downloading all components");
    }

    // Write the checksums of the newly updated components.
    try {
      writeLocalChecksums(components);
    } catch (IOException e) {
      throw new MojoExecutionException("Failed to update the local checksum cache", e);
    }
  }

  private URL getManifestUrl() throws MalformedURLException {
    return new URL(baseUrl, "components-2.json");
  }

  private File getManifestCache() {
    return new File(destinationDir, "components-2.json");
  }

  private File getComponentPath(Component component) {
    return new File(destinationDir, component.getId());
  }

  private File getChecksumFile() {
    return new File(destinationDir, "checksums.json");
  }

  /**
   * Try to update the locally cached cache manifest. This will be a noop if the cached manifest is
   * fresh enough.
   */
  private void updateCachedManifest() throws IOException {
    URL manifestUrl = getManifestUrl();
    File localCache = getManifestCache();

    boolean isStale =
        !localCache.exists() || new Date().getTime() - localCache.lastModified() < STALE_MS;

    if (forceRefresh && session.isOffline()) {
      throw new IllegalStateException("Can't force manifest refresh while offline");
    }

    if (session.isOffline() && localCache.exists() && isStale) {
      getLog().info("Using stale manifest because offline mode is enabled");
      return;
    }

    if (!forceRefresh && !isStale) {
      getLog().debug("Manifest is up to date, skipping manifest download");
      return;
    }

    if (session.isOffline()) {
      throw new IllegalStateException("Can't download manifest in offline mode");
    }

    getLog().debug("Downloading fresh manifest");

    File tempFile = File.createTempFile(localCache.getName(), "");

    try (BufferedInputStream in = new BufferedInputStream(manifestUrl.openStream());
        FileOutputStream fileOutputStream = new FileOutputStream(tempFile)) {
      byte dataBuffer[] = new byte[1024];
      int bytesRead;
      while ((bytesRead = in.read(dataBuffer, 0, 1024)) != -1) {
        fileOutputStream.write(dataBuffer, 0, bytesRead);
      }
    }

    Files.move(tempFile.toPath(), localCache.toPath(), StandardCopyOption.REPLACE_EXISTING);
  }

  /** Parse the locally cached manifest and extract the relevant components. */
  private List<Component> parseManifest() throws IOException {
    JsonElement json;
    try (FileReader reader = new FileReader(getManifestCache())) {
      json = JsonParser.parseReader(reader);
    }

    JsonArray jsonComponents = json.getAsJsonObject().get("components").getAsJsonArray();
    List<Component> results = new ArrayList<>();

    for (JsonElement jsonComponent : jsonComponents) {
      JsonObject componentObj = jsonComponent.getAsJsonObject();
      String id = componentObj.get("id").getAsString();

      if (!componentNames.contains(id)) {
        continue;
      }
      results.add(Component.fromJson(baseUrl, componentObj));
    }

    return results;
  }

  /** Parses a local manifest of the downloaded component checksums */
  private Map<String, String> parseLocalChecksums() throws IOException {
    JsonElement json = new JsonObject();

    if (getChecksumFile().exists()) {

      try (FileReader reader = new FileReader(getChecksumFile())) {
        json = JsonParser.parseReader(reader);
      }
    }

    Map<String, String> results = new HashMap<>();
    JsonObject checksumMap = json.getAsJsonObject();
    for (String componentName : componentNames) {
      JsonElement checksumJson = checksumMap.get(componentName);
      if (checksumJson != null) {
        results.put(componentName, checksumJson.getAsString());
      }
    }
    return results;
  }

  private Future<Void> downloadComponentAsync(final Component component) {
    return executor.submit(
        new Callable<Void>() {
          @Override
          public Void call() throws MojoExecutionException {
            try {
              downloadComponent(component);
            } catch (Exception e) {
              throw new MojoExecutionException("Failed to download " + component.getId(), e);
            }

            return null;
          }
        });
  }

  /** Downloads and extracts the component into the destinationDir. */
  private void downloadComponent(Component component) throws IOException, NoSuchAlgorithmException {
    getLog().info("Downloading " + component.getId());

    if (!"tar".equals(component.getFileType())) {
      throw new UnsupportedOperationException(
          "Only tarballs are supported, got: " + component.getFileType());
    }

    // Download and verify the component
    File tmpArchive = File.createTempFile(component.getId(), "");
    tmpArchive.deleteOnExit();

    MessageDigest digest = MessageDigest.getInstance("SHA-256");
    try (InputStream is = component.getSource().openStream();
        FileOutputStream os = new FileOutputStream(tmpArchive)) {

      byte dataBuffer[] = new byte[1024];
      int bytesRead;
      while ((bytesRead = is.read(dataBuffer, 0, 1024)) != -1) {
        digest.update(dataBuffer, 0, bytesRead);
        os.write(dataBuffer, 0, bytesRead);
      }
    }
    String checksum = byteArrayToHex(digest.digest());

    if (!checksum.equals(component.getChecksum())) {
      throw new RuntimeException(
          String.format(
              "Checksum mismatch for %s %s != %s",
              component.getId(), component.getChecksum(), checksum));
    }

    // Stage the expanded archive
    File tmpPath = Files.createTempDirectory(component.getId()).toFile();

    try (TarArchiveInputStream stream =
        new TarArchiveInputStream(new GzipCompressorInputStream(new FileInputStream(tmpArchive)))) {

      ArchiveEntry entry;

      while ((entry = stream.getNextEntry()) != null) {
        File dest = new File(tmpPath, entry.getName());

        if (entry.isDirectory()) {
          if (!dest.mkdirs()) {
            getLog().warn("Failed to expand the directory " + dest);
          }
        } else {
          // create intermediate dirs
          if (!dest.getParentFile().exists() && !dest.getParentFile().mkdirs()) {
            getLog().warn("Failed to create intermediate directories: " + dest);
          }

          try (OutputStream outputFileStream = new FileOutputStream(dest)) {
            IOUtils.copy(stream, outputFileStream);
          }
        }
      }
    }

    // Move it into place
    File localPath = getComponentPath(component);
    deleteRecursively(localPath);
    FileUtils.moveDirectory(tmpPath, localPath);
  }

  private static void deleteRecursively(File directory) {
    File[] contents = directory.listFiles();
    if (contents != null) {
      for (File file : contents) {
        deleteRecursively(file);
      }
    }
    directory.delete();
  }

  private static String byteArrayToHex(byte[] a) {
    StringBuilder sb = new StringBuilder(a.length * 2);
    for (byte b : a) {
      sb.append(String.format("%02x", b));
    }
    return sb.toString();
  }

  /**
   * Update the checksums of the downloaded components. This will avoid the need to download them in
   * the future.
   */
  private void writeLocalChecksums(List<Component> components) throws IOException {
    JsonObject results = new JsonObject();

    try {
      try (FileReader reader = new FileReader(getChecksumFile())) {
        results = JsonParser.parseReader(reader).getAsJsonObject();
      }
    } catch (FileNotFoundException e) {
      // ignored
    }

    for (Component component : components) {
      results.add(component.getId(), new JsonPrimitive(component.getChecksum()));
    }

    try (Writer writer = new FileWriter(getChecksumFile())) {
      new Gson().toJson(results, writer);
    }
  }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


I took this image in the entrance of Sagrada Familia. This temple has many special narratives. It is one of them what use unique build structures and sculptures to tell story. With creative framing I want to show in one picture the passion story of Christ. In this picture - like in a one-image storyboard - we can see the whole Calvary from mother Maria to the Sky.
Date Uploaded: Nov. 29, 2017, 7:41 a.m.


text:
Richard Bland Expands Global Learning Programs
Petersburg-based College launches Study Abroad program and online Language Institute
Petersburg, VA (April 23, 2013) – Richard Bland College announced today the launch of a new, global online Language Institute and study abroad program that will be available to all Richard Bland students starting this summer. As part of the College's mission to further global collaboration and expand opportunities for students on campus and off, these new strategic initiatives will provide a valuable return on investment for students and companies looking to build global knowledge and skills by establishing meaningful connections with communities and businesses around the world.
"Richard Bland College is committed to producing graduates who possess the knowledge and skills required to be effective workers and citizens in the global economy of the 21st century," said President Debbie L. Sydow, Ph.D. "Students, businesses and the local community will be the direct beneficiaries of these new international connections."
The online Language Institute being implemented through a strategic partnership between Richard Bland College and Progressive Expert Consulting, Inc. (PEC) will offer over 70 different conversational languages to choose from, ranging from Spanish and French to Chinese and Arabic. These language courses, to be delivered through the same learning platform used to train Special Forces troops before they are deployed to different regions of the world, will focus on the "how" of language, not the "why" of traditional linguistics programs. By expanding language-learning options for Richard Bland students, the Online Language Institute will also be a resource for business, military and vacation travelers alike.
"In addition to the sheer diversity of languages offered, this fully interactive online format will deliver a highly personalized educational experience for students," said Daniel Feng of PEC's Main Street Solutions, the learning environment that Richard Bland College will be utilizing to deliver language courses and programs.
Richard Bland College is also partnering with Global Education Skills Alliance GESA, a not-for-profit education consortium that promotes global collaboration between and among education institutions, enterprises and industries worldwide, to expand opportunities for Study Abroad at Richard Bland. As a founding member of the GESA consortium, Richard Bland College will join other two-year colleges in Australia, New Zealand and the U.S. in providing students the opportunity to enhance their education by combining Study Abroad with employment opportunities—both domestically and internationally. Participating employers in the Consortium will benefit through internships and opportunities for international exposure.
Kirsten Nash, a Richard Bland student and GESA's first student intern said she hopes to incorporate foreign and domestic travel into her educational experience. GESA President and CEO Mark Harris, a former Australian-American Fulbright Scholar, said "Kirsten and other Richard Bland students will add considerable value to their education and career prospects through participation in study abroad and internships with businesses abroad." Representatives from the Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology in New Zealand were also in attendance.
About Richard Bland College
Richard Bland College provides a distinctive learning experience for students preparing for transfer to selective colleges and universities after completing university-equivalent coursework and associate degrees in arts and science. The College enrolls more than 1,500 students—residential and commuter—on a picturesque campus located just outside historic Petersburg, Virginia, two hours south of Washington, D.C. and one hour west of Williamsburg, Virginia. www.rbc.edu.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Perfect for courtyards, decks and outdoor living areas, a retractable sunroof can shade your outdoor space.
Do you have an existing pergola or shaded courtyard or deck you want to convert into an outdoor room?
A new addition to the Countrywide outdoor living range, self-supporting retractable sunroofs offer a flexible alternative to a traditional conservatory or garden awning products.
A the dynamic sun protection system that allows natural light through to your living and working environment whilst keeping out the blinding glare and eliminating the hothouse effect created by older products.
Fully retractable, you can change the roof to suit the changing weather.
It can be installed using wall or ceiling brackets and doesn't require a classical substructure, as it supports itself on 60mm x 60mm square front posts.


Perfect for imaginative play, your child will have hours of fun creating lots of stories and adventures on their very own happyland farm. The 5 fun sounds make play even more realistic, and moving the characters around will help the development of fine motor skills and strengthen little fingers.
Keep your kid's room organized with this cute and handy Frozen Bookcase! With four shelves and a cute Frozen print, your little kid can keep all of their books organised.
If you're looking for a way to make your house stand out from the crowd this festive season, look no further than this brilliant laser projector! It throws dancing images across your walls, making sure people will spot your house for miles around. And with five slides including ghosts, snowflakes, fireworks and more, you can keep it shining from Halloween to New Year!
Create the perfect nursery for your new arrival with our Finch 3 piece furniture range. The two-tone white and wood effect creates a stylish focal point in baby's nursery.
The VTech KidiCom Max is much more than just a messaging device! Using a wireless connection with KidiCom Max, your child can exchange message safely with family and friends, take photos and videos, and even play a variety of games too.


Make these sweet little purses for your Valentines! Fill them with yummy chocolates or other treats, and they will be perfect for a Valentine Tea Party! They are just too cute, and so simple! Each section is made in the hoop, incuding the lining. The sections are pieced together - detailed instructions are included in PDF file.


These are some notes I prepared from my experiences in the ICU waiting room as a family member when my father was dying. Since I work extensively in this area as a hospital chaplain, the new experience from a personal perspective has given me insights into how I can better minister to folks going through something like this. Since my observations are filled with my own feelings, they could be negatively or positively impacted by what I'm feeling and/or experiencing. I've offered them to my friend and co-worker, Bob Rogers to share with others. My hope is that they will be insightful and helpful to others. So, take them for what you think they're worth.
2. People in the waiting room—family members, staff, pastors, etc.—tell you what to believe and what to say; and you're usually polite enough to not slap them when they do; or to argue with them, because you know they won't understand.
3. There is no shortage of people who want to tell you what it's like for them. They ask you what's going on with your loved one, but then they interrupt you to tell you "their story." When they finish, they usually have forgotten that they haven't heard your story.
4. Very few people really want to hear your story or talk about your memories; or what's important to you. Fallacious clichés such as, "I know how you feel" and "I know what that's like" are the status quo. The reality is that people in the ICU waiting room have their own pain and struggles to deal with. You feel connected to them; but, when your story starts to "go south," they distance from you as if what you're experiencing is contagious. If you're loved one begins to worsen, they leave you alone and whisper to other waiting room people about what's happening with your patient.
5. Many preachers, ministers, etc., form circles with families that block traffic in the middle of the aisles, then pray loudly—and pray, and pray and pray. Most of them leave after the prayer, and then it's very interesting what people talk about after the minister leaves.
6. When someone is on the ventilator they have to be sedated (usually). The sedation helps keep the person relaxed so the machine can be beneficial. BUT…what I didn't know is that every 12 hrs, the sedation has to be turned off in order to "let the person wake up a little bit." This test helps the hospital be aware of mental changes. During the time the sedation is off, the nurse assesses the patient's ability to respond to instructions like "squeeze my fingers," "blink your eyes," "wiggle your toes," etc. In other words, you awake every 12 hrs to a tube down your throat that makes you cough and gag, you become just awake enough to know you're not able to breathe. This can be quite punishing to the patient.
8. Always visiting during visiting hours may not be the best idea for clergy members. Families get precious few minutes every few hours that could end up being the last minutes they have with their loved one alive. Experiment with waiting room visits followed by in-room visits. I suggest taking someone for a walk around the building, to the canteen, to the coffee shop or somewhere outside. If they ask you to "go back" with them, then go. If not, don't.
9. There's lots of praying going on, even though you can't hear it.
Posted on October 31, 2016, in Christian Living, Ministry and tagged care, caring, chaplain, death, dying, faith, healing, hospital, ICU, intensive care, intensive care unit, listen, listening, minister, ministry, nurse, nurses, nursing, pastor, pastoral, pastoral care, pastors, pray, prayer, presence, religion, sick, sickness, silence, support, theology. Bookmark the permalink.	5 Comments.
While I was in the hospital for about 5 weeks,I was in and out of ICU, the families of other patients get to be friends with your family, some patience die and you bond with their family. My husband had too many people telling him what he needed to do and even though they mean well it hurts them.He needed to have a little space,if you know what I mean, they care but they didn't understand !!! So the next time I had to go back a year later we didn't tell anyone about it until I came home from the hospital!!!!!
I have learned a lot by being a patient in a hospital several times. And the saddest thing I have learned is that pastors often are the worst visitors when visiting another pastor. I have had several just stay too long – once when I was in severe pain and sis not feel like being nice to anyone and another time when the pastor stayed and stayed and stayed.
The article resonated with me on a personal level as my role working with individuals who are grieving has been to use a heart felt therapeutic framework that is based on "attachment and bonding". It requires us as helpers to be "attuned" to the those that are suffering. It's critical to know that when people are in discomfort we need to provide "comfort", assist at organizing the person's feelings, metaphorically holding them in safety and delighting (which does not have to mean appearing excited, but more being honored that you are there to provide comfort) for them. What has seemed to be the most helpful to those that are left to grieve the death of a loved one is to be in the moment with the person, keeping it real which means sometimes we cry with them, to be quiet but a solid strength and presence.
Thank you for the article on this amazing morning in Puerto Vallarta as i watch the sun come up and cruise ships pull in.


text:
Germany Overview
Germany Map
Germany Photos
Germany Books
Germany Sacred Sites
Germany Destinations
Wittenberg Overview
Wittenberg Map
Wittenberg Photos
Wittenberg Books
Wittenberg Sacred Sites
Castle Church
Luther House
Christian Travelers Guide to Germany
Frommer's Germany's Best-Loved Driving Tours
Cambridge Illustrated History of Germany
DK Eyewitness Travel Guide to Germany
Daytrips Germany: 60 One-Day Adventures by Rail or by Car
Traveller's History of Germany
Lonely Planet Germany
Rough Guide to Germany 7
Germany: Unraveling an Enigma
Castle Church, Wittenberg
Wittenberg's All Saints' Church, more commonly known as the Schlosskirche (Castle Church), is where Luther famously nailed his 95 Theses in 1517. The church contains the tombs of Luther, Melanchthon and Frederick the Wise.
History of the Castle Church
The Schlosskirche was brand new when Martin Luther was in Wittenberg. Construction on the castle and church complex began in 1490 and was completed in 1509. As part of the castle, the church was originally surrounded by a moat and two bridges led to the portals.
Only eight years after the completion of the Schlosskirche, on October 31, 1517, Martin Luther posted his 95 Theses against the corrupt sale of indulgences by the Catholic Church. Luther posted the theses in Latin and intended to start an academic debate. However, they were translated into German, quickly copied using the newly-invented movable type printing press, and wound up sparking the German Reformation.
Luther usually preached in the City Church, but his funeral and burial took place at the Castle Church. The funeral was held on February 22, 1546, four days after Luther's death in Eisleben. Philipp Melanchthon delivered the oration. When Melanchthon died in 1560, he was buried close to Luther in the Castle Church.
The Castle Church was seriously damaged by fire in 1760 after a French bombardment during the Seven Years War. The church was quickly rebuilt, and later (1885-1892) further restored.
What to See at the Castle Church
The stonework of the north portal is original but, sadly, the original wooden doors to which Luther posted his theses were among the casualties of the 1760 fire. To commemorate the 375th anniversary of Luther's birth in 1858, they were replaced with bronze doors that bear the Latin text of the 95 Theses.
In the tympanum over the door is a painting of the same date, depicting Luther and Melancthon kneeling before a Crucifixion against the backdrop of Wittenberg. Luther is holding his German Bible and Melancthon is holding the Augsburg Confession.
Around the prominent round tower (1496) of the church is another tribute to Luther: a band reading Ein feste Burg ist unser Gott - the title of Luther's famous hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God." Visitors can climb 289 steps up the great tower for a view over the city. The tower is 288.7 feet (88 m) high, with a viewing platform at 170 feet (52 m).
The Schlosskirche is part of the Residenzschloss, a once-grand Renaissance palace that is now only a shadow of its former self after centuries of fire and war. Today it houses a youth hostel with enviable ambience, accessed via a unique external staircase in the western wing.
The floor plan of the Castle Church is a simple one: a nave with narrow side aisles leading directly into the choir with no transept. At the entrance to the choir are the simple tombs of Martin Luther and Philipp Melanchthon.
The bronze plaque on the tomb of Luther is a replica made in 1892. Its abbreviated Latin epitaph roughly translates: "Here lies the body of Martin Luther, Doctor of Divinity, who died at Eisleben, his birthplace, on the 12th of the Calends of March, in the year 1546, when he had lived 63 years, 3 months, and 10 days." His actual coffin is buried 2.4 meters below the marker.
The epitaph on Melanchthon's tomb reads: "Here rests the body of the most commendable Philipp Melanchthon, who died on 19 April 1560, in this town after he had lived for 63 years 2 months and 2 days."
There are also monuments to the electors Frederick the Wise (by Peter Vischer the elder), and John the Constant (by Hans Vischer), as well as portraits of the reformers and other local heroes by Lucas Cranach the Younger and others.
The nave is decorated with painted designs, heraldic emblems of local aristocracy, bronze medallions of Reformation supporters, and freestanding statues of Reformation figures: Martin Luther, Philipp Melanchthon, Johannes Bugenhagen, Georg Spalatin, Justus Jonas, Johann Brenz, Urbanus Rhegius, Nicolaus von Amsdorf and Caspar Cruciger. All these features date from the 19th-century restoration of the church.
The wooden furnishings of the interior date also from the 19th century, including the fine pulpit decorated with the coats of arms of Luther-related towns (Eisleben, Erfurt, Wittenberg and Worms) and the Four Evangelists with their symbols. It was carved by Lober, a Wittenberg sculptor. The organ was built in 1863, reconstructed in 1892 and 1935, and restored to its original design in 1992-94. The choir stalls were donated by the princes of Germany and bear their coats of arms.
The main stained glass windows date from the 19th century. Their subjects are the Adoration of the Magi, the Crucifixion, the Resurrection, and Pentecost; their designs 1re based on woodcuts by Albrecht Dürer. Also of note are three windows with four medallions of Reformation figures each; these were installed in 1983.
Quick Facts on the Castle Church
All Saints' Church · Castle Church · Reformation Memorial Church · Schloßkirche
churches; castles; Protestant heritage sites; World Heritage Sites
Faiths:
Friedrichstrasse 1a
Wittenberg, Germany
03491/402585 (Wittenberg tourist office: 03491/498610)
Nov-Apr: Mon-Sat 10am to 4pm, Sun 11:30am to 4pm
May-Oct: Mon-Sat 10am to 5pm, Sun 11:30am to 5pm
View hotels near the Castle Church
Personal visit (March 9, 2008).
Schlosskirche Wittenberg - official website
Schlosskirche Wittenberg, English Edition (2001). Booklet sold at the church.
Photos of the Castle Church - here on Sacred Destinations
View from the west of the Castle Church (left) and what remains of the castle (right). © Holly Hayes
View of the Gothic choir of the Schlosskirche (right) and the castle-turned-hostel (left), from the southeast. © Holly Hayes
Top of the Great Tower (1496), a sturdy round tower at the west end of the church. A modern band around the... © Holly Hayes
Sadly, the original wooden doors to which Luther posted his theses were destroyed in a 1760 fire. But to... © Holly Hayes
Nave looking east to the choir. © Holly Hayes
Choir at the east end of the church. The furnishings date from the 19th century. The tombs of Melanchthon and... © Holly Hayes
Tomb of Martin Luther, who died in 1546 in his birth town of Eisleben and was buried here four days later.... © Holly Hayes
Tomb of Philipp Melanchthon, Luther's friend and Reformation ally, who died in 1560. The Latin epitaph reads:... © Holly Hayes
Tomb monument of Frederick the Wise, Elector of Saxony (1486-1525) and supporter of Martin Luther. Completed... © Holly Hayes
19th-century stained glass windows with angels and an inscription commemorating the German Reformation and... © Holly Hayes
Map of the Castle Church, Wittenberg
Below is a location map and aerial view of the Castle Church. Using the buttons on the left (or the wheel on your mouse), you can zoom in for a closer look, or zoom out to get your bearings. To move around, click and drag the map with your mouse.


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I am brain-farting and can not think of a solution for a problem. I am hoping you geniuses can help.
I have a touch-screen monitor mounted on a wall with a picture frame I made around it to make it look like a digital picture frame.
1. A Windows computer which slideshows family photos, acts as a bulletin board (writing notes with finger on touchscreen) for the family, a calendar for kids sports and such. It also displays my security cameras within Windows.
2. Security system DVR – This controls the settings for the security camera system. This is connected to a different Input on the monitor.
Here is my problem… Since the monitor is hidden behind a picture frame I can't hit that little button to change the INPUT to switch from Windows to DVR.
I basically need a dowel going through the frame to push the INPUT button. I can't figure out how to secure it, spring load it, etc.
I guess the monitor isn't equipped to handle a remote or that would easily solve your problem. You'll want to look at an HDMI switch that comes with a remote. You plug both of your feed devices into that and then run one HDMI cable from it to your screen. Problem solved.
Epoxy the dowel to the button. Might get away with superglue if you are gentle with it but CA doesn't have much shear strength. There are ways to make spring loaded buttons but KISS.
Could you put a through-hole in the frame with a counter-bore on the backside, then make a wooden button with a lip so it installs from the back and is held in place by the monitor itself?
I like this idea better than the gluing idea.


Well, what if Baccy has get up to 50% succes and a really big pharmaceutical company has paid him for not to show his results, or to say that his experiment has been a failure?.
Probably this is false at 99,999 % but… what if ?
» that his experiment has been a failure?.
» Probably this is false at 99,999 % but… what if ?
I have a labortoty at Home and yes,i have the cure !
But my mom says,nobody will it have!
he is on week 1 of his third attempt, so he definitely has NOT found a cure yet. Lets just hope this attempt works out well!
I had a thought. What if Max's Mom controls the hair industry, and she is keeping Baccy from talking? lol, I won't be rude and call your theory stupid, but it definitely needs improvement.
» » that his experiment has been a failure?.
» » Probably this is false at 99,999 % but… what if ?
» stupid, but it definitely needs improvement.
» » » that his experiment has been a failure?.
» » » Probably this is false at 99,999 % but… what if ?
» » stupid, but it definitely needs improvement.
F. Example; If I find a cure, and Glaxo Snithline or Merck, gives me 12 million dollar for my silence, What will you do?
» » » » that his experiment has been a failure?.
» » » » Probably this is false at 99,999 % but… what if ?
» » » stupid, but it definitely needs improvement.
» million dollar for my silence, What will you do?


text:
İslam Əzim oğlu Abbasov (Sumqayit, 1996. március 24. –) azeri kötöttfogású birkózó. A 2018-as birkózó-világbajnokságon a bronzmérkőzésig jutott 87 kg-os súlycsoportban, kötöttfogásban. A 2017-es Iszlám Szolidaritási Játékokon aranyérmet nyert 85 kg-ban. A 2016-os katonai közelharc világbajnokságon ezüstérmes lett 85 kg-ban. A 2018-as és a 2017-es katonai közelharc világbajnokságon bronzérmet nyert 87, illetve 85 kg-ban. A 2019. évi Európa játékokon ezüstérmet szerzett 87 kg-ban.

Sportpályafutása
A 2018-as birkózó-világbajnokságon a bronzmérkőzésig jutott.

Jegyzetek

Források

Élő személyek
1996-ban született személyek
Azeri birkózók

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


You have a new product to be determined, parameters changing, a new machine and you do not have the ability to perform tests on your systems?
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feminist composition and rhetoric during the Fall 2016 term at CSU Sacramento. The "graphic essay"
SoundCloud player is embedded in the bottom of the page to accompany the installment.
and/or images, please proceed with precaution.


text:
Solar Panel Cost Guide in New London, PA (Jan 2023)
New London Solar Installation Cost: $11,674
HOME > SOLAR PANEL COSTS > PENNSYLVANIA > NEW LONDON
Average Cost of Solar Panels in New London
We go over average solar pricing in New London.
Although the national average of solar panels is $2.66 per watt, solar panels in New London typically cost around $3. Because a 6.5-kW system is needed to cover the energy usage of a typical home in New London, the average price of going solar will be about $11,674 before claiming the federal solar tax credit of 30%.
Remember that the numbers above are only averages. The price you'll pay for solar may vary based on your household energy consumption, the type of solar panels you choose, your solar contractor and more. With average savings of about $15,000 on utility bills over 20 years, many homeowners in New London find going solar can be quite rewarding.
You can click the button below to get connected with a vetted solar company in New London for a quote for your home.
Solar savings over time in New London
Top Solar Installers in New London
Although you can install solar panels yourself, it involves extra time and expertise. That's why most homeowners choose to go with a solar panel installer. Local solar installation companies can also help you optimize your return on investment by walking you through any local incentives you can benefit from and by providing warranties and repairs.
There are several licensed solar professionals that can help you install your solar system. Here are our suggestions:
Best Regional Coverage
Momentum Solar
Concierge service ensures steady communication
See all of the solar companies in New London
Factors that Affect Solar Panel Costs in New London
While the average cost of a solar system in New London is $11,674, your final cost may differ. There are quite a few factors that can have a major impact on the cost of a solar panel installation. Below are some of the more important things to consider.
Solar system size, which is measured in kilowatts, is one of the largest factors that influences the overall cost of installing solar panels. For that reason, it's crucial to accurately assess the size of the solar energy system needed for your home by figuring out your typical energy use. The brand and type of equipment you choose for your solar system can increase or decrease the price quite significantly. If you prefer a trusted brand name like Tesla or SunPower, these are often more expensive than other brands. Efficiency also matters. Whether you're opting for high efficiency because you have a small roof or just want maximum energy production, you will be looking at a higher equipment cost, but this can typically lead to more savings over time. Plus, if you want add-ons like an electric vehicle charger or solar batteries, this will also raise the cost.
If paying for a solar system in cash is out of reach, solar loans are a popular choice because they reduce your upfront costs and let you pay for your system over a term of, on average, between five and seven years. However, the interest on solar loans also adds to your total costs, so it's vital to take that into consideration as well. You can always reduce the total you pay in interest and in some cases even your APR by putting more money down.
The solar panel installer you pick will affect your total cost to make the switch to solar energy. Different companies will bill different amounts for the equipment and labor. Companies that only sell products with high efficiency and therefore a higher price point — like Maxeon solar panels from SunPower or Tesla Powerwall batteries — so choosing those installers will generally cost more. It's best to do some research and decide on the company that has the products, warranties and services you're looking for and also fits within your budget.
Since the kind of solar panels and the installer you choose has an impact on your costs and your system's durability and efficiency, it's important to select the right ones for you. Here are some things to keep in mind to help with your decision:
Contract: Look through the contract terms closely to make sure you understand how much it will cost, project completion timeline rebates and warranties.
Warranty: Companies typically offer different kinds of warranties that provide different kinds of coverage. A 25-year, all-inclusive warranty is the gold standard.
Reputation: Solar companies that have great reviews from their customers and that have been in business for many years in most cases offer quality solar panel installation and expertise.
Solar Panel Brands: The kind of solar panel you need plays a part in which company you should go with, since different companies have access to different panels.
EcoWatch's New London, PA Solar Cost FAQs
How much does it cost to install solar panels in New London?
The average cost of solar panels in New London is about $12,750 for a 5-kW system and $25,500 for a 10-kW system before the ITC, but the real cost will depend on things such as the model of solar panels you want, what size system you need and how much energy you consume.
The upfront cost is a very important factor to consider, but whether it's the most important for you depends on your reasons for going solar. In cities where rooftop space is limited, efficiency can trump the cost. Other factors that are important to keep in mind are the quality and durability of your solar panels.
Solar panels can be a beneficial investment for many homeowners, but they might not be worth it for everyone. If your home doesn't get a lot of direct sunlight and/or your electricity bills are already fairly low, solar panels might not be for you.
How long do solar panels last in New London?
Although the average lifespan of solar panels is 25 to 30 years, that doesn't mean they stop working completely at that time. What this means is how much energy they produce will have decreased significantly after that point. You can replace them after having them for that long or you can keep using them at a lower efficiency.
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text:
Q: Root Finding Algorithm of a Positive and Negative root
Hi, I have to devise an algorithm for this. I've looked into bisection, newton and it seems like bisection method is correct but it requires a algorithm to go off. e.g. x^3 + x - 2 = 0. Is there anyway to have a generalised algorithm for this question?

A: Binary search will find (one of the) roots.
What they're suggesting is assuming the function is linear between (a, f(a)) and (b, f(b)), and picking the point where a straight line between those points crosses the x axis.  i.e. assume
f(x) = m * x + b

This will probably converge faster than simple binary search of new_x = (a+b)/2.


ISLAMABAD: The government is expected to pay Rs1.15 per unit water use charges to Azad Jammu & Kashmir – on par with net hydel profit (NHP) to provinces – on hydropower generation and reduce its federal grants and transfers proportionately.
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet, which meets on Wednesday, would formally take up the matter referred to it by the federal cabinet a few days back.
Syed Mehr Ali Shah, Acting Secretary Water Resources, told a parliamentary panel on Tuesday that the AJK prime minister has been demanding same treatment for its hydropower generation on the pattern of net hydel profit being paid to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.
"The summary for water use charges for AJK on par with KP and Punjab is on the agenda" of ECC meeting to be held on Wednesday, he said. Shah informed that Article 161 of the constitution provided for payment of NHP to provinces on hydropower generation for their resources. The problem, however, was that AJK was not a province and not covered under article 161.
He said the previous government had constituted a three-member committee comprising federal secretaries of finance, water and power (later replaced with secretary water resources as the ministry stood bifurcated) and the chief secretary of AJK – all the three federal representatives.
The committee concluded that AJK, even though not covered under the said article, deserved to be treated fairly like any federating unit, he informed. The committee submitted its report to the federal cabinet recently which referred the matter to ECC to consider its implementation.
On questions from some parliamentarians, Shah said so far there was no such demand from Gilgit-Baltistan. The AJK was expected to get about Rs12-15 billion annual payments on this account that would go up as more projects come online.
Khwaja Muhammad Asif of PML-N said the article 161 did not bar any government from giving fair treatment to any other entity though it called for giving NHP to provinces. He said both AJK and GB should be given NHP on the pattern of provinces and their fair demands could be accommodated.
PPP's Nawab Yousaf Talpur, who presided over the meeting, said the standing committee had already supported a report of the special committee that recommended payment of Rs1.15 per unit charges to AJK and the matter be concluded to the satisfaction of the people and the government of AJK.
Shah said the special committee had precisely recommended that AJK be given Rs1.15 per unit on electricity even if it was named something else like water use charge if there was some legal issue with NHP.
Wapda Chairman Syed Muzammil Hussain also supported the recommendation saying without going into the nomenclature, the AJK should be given Rs1.15per unit.
An official said the Ministry of Finance perhaps also had another consideration that would come up for discussion during the ECC meeting. He said the federal government paid some subsidies to AJK and GB that were not available to provinces and hence the ECC would consider if the equivalent subsidies to AJK should be given or not or reduced proportionately.
It was reported that AJK used to be paid 15 paisa per unit charges on power generation from Mangla Dam under a 2003 tripartite agreement, which was increased to slightly over 42 paisas per unit in 2013. Following the commencement of Neelum-Jhelum project, the AJK government demanded that it should be treated at par with provinces in the matter who were being paid significantly higher NHP now, standing at Rs1.15per unit with annual adjustment of 5pc.
To ensure that all parties were compensated fairly, a tripartite agreement was drafted and approved by the previous government for the payment of NHP and water usage charges to AJK that also constituted a committee comprising secretaries of finance, water and chief secretary of AJK to work out modalities.
The committee recommended that under a 1970 agreement with the federal government, AJK has to be treated fairly and at par with provinces for all practical purposes given its peculiar status and hence it supported the payment of Rs1.15 per unit charge to AJK even if there was no such provision in the constitution.
The report was taken up at the cabinet level recently where the prime minister advised that the matter be cleared by the ECC. The committee was told that Ministry of Finance had opined that under Article 161 (2) of the Constitution, NHP was admissible only to the provinces.
The NA panel committee was of the view that since most of the hydropower potential was available in AJK and Gilgit-Baltistan, they should not be antagonised and should be treated like the people of other provinces, if not better.


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NEPTUNES KINGDOM
Neptunes kingdom is a game thats easy to play and understand, but theres nothing new to be noticed when you look up at the vast choice of set-up featured games. As mentioned the developer is based in the barren reaches of civilization, netent has built upon tigers magical staff, filled with shiny jewels and treasure chests hillbillies. The game symbols are completely theme-related to the theme. The background is a view of the universe, with the giant being that the unicorn is the main character on the reel, hence the name itself. The giant owl starts work as the wild, and when the twister lands it randomly on the reels it can turn the player into a wild beast. If the respins collect at least five wilds, these sticky will spread across the entire reel. If you enjoy watching the tv puppet overlay intact, and the giant wilds will make the super lion stand out, thereby attracting players to play the giant monster smash feature, which also allows you to move into the other reels where wilds moves onto the next turn, horizontally or vertically. There is no clear bonus as far as the other features go, but theres no clear markings on the latter reels. What we do know, however, is that some of the very valuable icons actually become generic, as most of the icons on the grid, with the smallest rewards being a half animal of apples, cherries and lemons upon which there are no less than six. Players will start to note that most of the icons were expressed fruit upon them, with most paying at least they need providing will secure 10 and 20 credits when they make a specific set of three icons in a row. Once this is achieved, the real money comes to an end whenever three different fruits appear as this is the big cash win that awaits. This also adds a lot of charge to the overall. This bonus round will come to the end when all fruits fall away. The other bonus requires several plates of the 125 fish. Once you take your pick, you are taken to a screen where there are cards. Your selection is held, you are also awarded a set of 3 cards containing stars. Pick them which is your cash prize. Being one of the best amaya slots, this one also has a nice range of wild symbols. The theme doesnt make you check out the fantasy universe. It is though quite simple, where you can find wild spells and smooth animations. The payouts are generous, but nothing too volatile that you will have a blast playing long enough to get the hang of. Good props to the biggest child of the dream are available in the free hunting treasures slot machine from spinomenal.
Neptunes kingdom is set. The maximum bet will be 250 credits. This slot is based on the classic alices story and creates nautical stories via movies such as myrtle the hat". The background to the slot is a bright and colourful castle, which certainly looks like a nightmare going on a fairytale themed slot. All symbols are rendered to draw the eye-watering potential that the slot will offer. While were listing out the game layouts, players can take as little as 0.01 per line, giving plenty of scope for casual and high roller versions of games aficionados. Stakes begin at 0.2; this means that a max bet of 50 is well worth setting up for the many ways you can win. Autoplayg be played manually or deactivated at will. The games features include full information on the playing controls, tutorials and settings. Various online casinos have recurring promotions at strr, with zodiac casino and sky vegas casinos providing incentives for their service only to liven up the matters of the players.
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Its March 1st! Does that mean it can be spring yet? Apparently, not in the U.S, as the temperatures are 15-20 degrees below their typical averages for this time of year in most places. Excellent. I'm not sure about you guys, but I'm getting some serious winter blues. BUT spending a lot of time inside means that I've done a lot of recipe experiments lately, so hopefully I'll get those up on here soon. But in the meantime….
Mushroom Tea, Fungus Tea, Champagne of Life. In France they call is the Champignon Miracle, or Miracle Mushroom, in Germany, its named Zaubersaft, or literally "magic juice".
Kombucha is probably the recipe I get asked about most, and I am more than happy to share my experiences, advice, extra SCOBYs, and even give lessons if you're in the area about making this fun, fizzy drink….but I can't take all the credit for establishing my home brew methods.
Thanks to some ingenuity and lots of time spent researching by my boyfriend, I am happy to report that we have been home brewing our own batches of Kombucha for almost 6 months now. We've experimented with lots of flavors, played around with fermentation times, and saved tons of money in the process. Kombucha here in DC regularly runs from $3-$4 for a 12 oz. bottle. Now, we brew 2.5 gallon batches for about $2.50….. total.
If you like your Kombucha to be fizzy or flavored, a second fermentation step is necessary. If you don't, your Kombucha can be enjoyed after only the first fermentation step- I've included both so you can choose!
Let the water cool to room temperature. If the tea is hot, or even too cold, it can hurt the SCOBY.
Once at room temperature, add your sugary brewed tea to your brewing container.
Add ¼ cup of vinegar and stir. You only need to add vinegar the first time you use your SCOBY! If you continue to make more batches, skip this step and do not add more vinegar.
Add your SCOBY to your tea and stir a few times.
Put cheesecloth over the top of your container and secure with a rubber band. You do not want anything to fall into your tea while it is fermenting!
Keep your Kombucha in a warm place out of direct sunlight and let brew for 7-30 days. The longer you let your Kombucha brew, the stronger it will taste!
Once you've let your Kombucha brew you can enjoy right away, or move into the second fermentation process!
If you would like to continually brew Kombucha, make sure to leave a little less than ¼ of the fermented Kombucha in your brewing container with your SCOBY. This jumpstarts your next batch, keeps your SCOBY alive, and eliminates the need for more vinegar in future batches.
This step adds flavor or more fizz due to the build-up of gases!
Add fruit pieces or add a small amount of juice into your glass bottles. Below, I've made a list of flavors I've used in the past, but you can add almost anything to Kombucha.
Add your fermented Kombucha to your bottles, but do not fill all the way to the top. Leave a few inches of air in each bottle.
Add ½ tsp. sugar to each bottle.
Cap the bottles, shake gently, and then store in a warm place. Let the bottles ferment with their lids on for another 3-5 days.
You may eat the fruit you used to flavor your Kombucha if you like….or you can strain anything out for a smooth texture.
That's it- you're done! (Wasn't it easier than you thought?) Cheers!
Brown stringy things hanging down from your SCOBY are totally normal. This is just yeast, and is actually the sign of a healthy culture.
Bubbles are also normal. Don't worry, this is the Kombucha magic.
Your SCOBY may float up to the top of your container or may move around from time to time. This is nothing to worry about.
Your SCOBY may have light brown or tan spots, which is normal. Black, green, or fuzzy spots on your SCOBY are NOT normal and means that your batch is contaminated. This means that you need to throw out everything (Including your SCOBY) and sterilize your brewing container before trying another batch.
Foul smelling Kombucha is never normal. Vinegary smelling Kombucha is normal.
If you choose to sanitize your brewing equipment, do not use harsh chemical. These can leave residue on your brewing equipment and can hurt the SCOBY.
Keeping your Kombucha in a warm place speeds the fermentation process, just like keeping the Kombucha in a cooler environment will slow down the fermentation process. Never put your SCOBY in the refrigerator. If you would like to stop your Kombucha from fermenting, you can put the Kombucha in the fridge, but take the SCOBY out beforehand.
If you prefer a stronger Kombucha taste, let it ferment for longer, but no more than 30 days. You can also make the tea stronger by using more tea bags when first preparing your tea.
Do not let metal come in contact with your Kombucha. Most sources I've seen say that metal can be dangerous in brewing, though I haven't been able to determine the exact reason as to why.
Always use glass when brewing or bottling. Since Kombucha is acidic, it can break down plastic and cause harmful chemicals to leach into your tea. Ceramic may also contain lead. Not good.
Your SCOBY can only live when it is given the food it needs, which is sugar.
Your Kombucha might start forming jelly-like blobs or substances at any time during the process. These are normal, and actually safe to ingest, but just remove them if they gross you out.
A resource I love for Kombucha (and anything else fermented) is the book "Fermented" by Jill Ciciarelli. She has great Kombucha tips, an extensive list of references and resources, and has a way to ferment just about anything.


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Habs Game Report: Bruins brush off bleu-blanc-rouge in handy fashion
Tuukka Rask had the edge over Carey Price as the Boston Bruins beat the Canadiens 4-1 Saturday night.
Boston Bruins goaltender Tuukka Rask makes a save against Canadiens' Byron Froese in Montreal on Saturday, Jan. 20, 2018.	Graham Hughes / THE CANADIAN PRESS
The bottom line: Tuukka Rask had the edge over Carey Price as the Boston Bruins beat the Canadiens 4-1 at the Bell Centre. The win extended an impressive streak for the Bruins and their goaltender. The Bruins have collected at least one point in each of their last 16 games.They have a 12-0-2 record over that stretch. As for Rask, he hasn't lost a game in regulation since Nov. 26. The win Saturday extended his record to 14-0-2 since that 4-2 loss to the Edmonton Oilers.
The streak continues: Max Pacioretty opened the scoring for the Canadiens when he notched his 15th goal of the season at 11:29 of the second period. Paul Byron set the play in motion with a takeaway in the neutral zone and passed to Pacioretty on a 2-on-1 break. Pacioretty has scored seven goals in the last seven games.
Bruins strike back: Boston took a 2-1 lead with a pair of goals in a 1:48 span. It's a good bet Carey Price would have liked another look at the Bruins' first goal at 14:09 of the second period. David Pastrnak was coming out of the corner to the right of Price when he launched a shot that went in off Price's left skate. Defenceman Torey Krug gave the Bruins the lead when he scored at 15:56 with a knuckleball that went over Price's shoulder on the blocker side.
Canadiens win challenge: The Bruins thought they had a 3-1 lead when Patrice Bergeron beat Price on a power play at the 11-minute mark of the third period, but coach Claude Julien challenged the play and the video review showed the Bruins were offside prior to the goal. But Boston did add a third goal when Pastrnak scored his second goal of the game — and 2oth of the season — at 17:03 of the third period. Jordie Benn failed to stop Krug's shot to the front of the net and his feet got tangled as he attempted to reach the loose puck. Pastrnak and Krug each finished the game with three points. Riley Nash completed the scoring with an empty-net goal.
Boston Bruins David Pasternak and Canadiens goaltender Carey Price keep their eyes on the puck at the Bell Centre in Montreal on Jan. 20, 2018. Christinne Muschi / MONTREAL GAZETTE
Hanging in: There was little to choose between the teams in a fast-paced first period that produced several scoring chances, but no goals. Each team had a power play and one of the better chances for the Canadiens was a shorthanded breakaway by Byron Froese.
Remembering Red Fisher: The Canadiens held a moment of silence before the game to honour legendary hockey writer Red Fisher, who died Friday at the age of 91. An hour earlier, members of the media, including Hockey Hall of Fame honourees Bert Raymond and Dick Irvin, were joined by Canadiens president Geoff Molson and team ambassador Réjean Houle in a toast to Fisher's memory. The gathering, organized by Sportsnet's Eric Engels, featured some anecdotes from former Gazette columnist Michael Farber and a dram or two of Fisher's libation of choice, Chivas Regal.
Coming up: The Canadiens will play two more home games before the All-Star break next weekend. They will face the Colorado Avalanche on Tuesday (7:30 p.m., TSN2, RDS, TSN-690 Radio) followed by the Carolina Hurricanes on Thursday.
Montreal loses a hockey legend as Red Fisher dies at age 91
From the archives: Red Fisher's only appearance on the HI/O Show discussing Dickie Moore's death Montreal Gazette
About last night ... Bruins beat Canadiens 4-1 Mikaël Kingsbury's magical moguls winning streak ends at Mont-Tremblant
Washington 1 2nd Int
St. Louis 12:00 PT1:00 MT2:00 CT3:00 ET20:00 GMT4:00 1:00 MST2:00 CST3:00 EST0:00 UAE (+1)15:00 ET18:00 BRT
Arizona 12:00 PT1:00 MT2:00 CT3:00 ET20:00 GMT4:00 1:00 MST2:00 CST3:00 EST0:00 UAE (+1)15:00 ET18:00 BRT
LA Clippers 12:30 PT1:30 MT2:30 CT3:30 ET20:30 GMT4:30 1:30 MST2:30 CST3:30 EST0:30 UAE (+1)21:3015:30 ET2:30 CT18:30


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DON CHARLES: TROUBLE THE WATERS
By his kind permission, my pal, Don Charles, has allowed me to print his superb article, Trouble the Waters on my blog. This article of his is the very best article I have ever read on the subject of LGBT rights and issues, and must be read by everyone who truly cares about the LGBT Civil Rights struggle:
When I decided to move "Diary Of A Gay Wage Slave" to my new blog, Ignorance Is Plentiful, it left a hole in Christ, The Gay Martyr that needed filling. I decided to write a new 200th post, and make it a second Gay Rights manifesto. My first manifesto still appears at the bottom of this blog; it's still valid, and I have no intention of replacing it. However, I have some new thoughts about what needs to happen before LGBT equality can be realized. What follows is the closing statement I choose to leave my readership with before making Christ, The Gay Martyr completely and permanently inactive. I won't be posting any more special features here; this is it, folks!
Trolling Google Image for blog photos, as I often do, I stumbled across a stunning piece of art. You can see it yourself over the opening paragraph of this essay. It's a sculpture by the legendary male physique artist George Quaintance, completed in 1936. You're looking at two Art Deco masks fused together to make one: One mask is female, and the other male. I adore Art Deco design, and at first, all I did was admire this beautiful piece of craftsmanship. As I kept looking at it, though, a strange thrill began to course through me.
Suddenly, I realized that this wasn't just a good-looking sculpture. This was a representation of Transgender humanity: Masculinity and femininity occupying the same space, blended so as to form a separate gender all its own. Knowing something about George Quaintance's approach to art, I think that's exactly what he intended it to symbolize. If I'm right, then he did so magnificently; he totally captured the essence of inborn androgyny.
Are you an LGBT person? Then take a good look at that Quaintance sculpture. It's a visualization of your inner self. What do you think? Are you amazed? Are you repelled? Can you handle confronting the truth about what you are? Or can you only see yourself through the eyes of your oppressors?
There's an idea: Let's look at ourselves through their eyes for a moment. Most of the time when LesBiGay people are discriminated against, it isn't because of their sexual orientation. Most Straight people never see us have sex, and most of us aren't in the habit of discussing our sexual exploits with them. We are bullied, threatened, ostracised and assaulted because of our gender expression. Our voices are too high, or too low. Our hair is too long, or too short, or the wrong color. We don't wear clothing that's masculine or feminine enough. We don't have interests that are considered appropriate for "real men" or "real women". We don't carry ourselves in the way "real men" and "real women" are expected to. We don't make sense to anyone whose understanding of gender is binary. We are people who transcend gender (which is why all of us have a right to identify as Transgender), and that makes people who don't transcend it very uncomfortable in our presence.
Fighting anti-Gay bias in this world necessarily involves challenging narrow concepts of gender. Binary gender is like a book that you've only read two-thirds of the way and put down: the story isn't complete until you've read the final chapters! On those unread pages, there's a world that's populated by more than just male and female life forms. Transgender life forms also exist! We always have, we always will, and it's time for us to insist that the world acknowledge our existence.
Scientists like Simon LeVay have recently uncovered biological markers for Transgender status, but I didn't need their findings to discover who I am. I came to know my true gender from studying the Bible and Gnostic texts. Chistian scripture, widely thought to condemn Gay people, gave me the key that unlocked the truth about same-gender sexuality. The Gospel of Philip describes how Jesus Christ gifts a chosen few with "the male and female power" before birth, causing them to be born with the blended gender of God. As I've written before, parallel doctrine exists in the annals of many, if not most of the world's oldest religions.
Carrying both male and female gender in the same body was at one time widely viewed as a blessed state. We should endeavor to reclaim that blessed status, and begin to feel the pride in our uniqueness that we merely pretend to feel now. When Gay Pride becomes more than just a popular concept, I bet we'll feel less of an urge to strip down, booze up, get strung out and/or clown around in the streets under the guise of celebration. We'll no longer need to camouflage our self-hatred that way!
This thing that I call blended gender exists within all LGBT folk. So, you may ask, why doesn't it make us all Gay, or all Bisexual, or all Transsexual? Why is there variation? I think variation occurs because different people respond to its presence in different ways. Or, it may be a question of degree, with some of us possessing more gender neutrality, and others possessing less. Whatever the case, blended gender is inborn; all this bullsh*t speculating about "environmental factors" and "outside influences" should've ended long ago. You can't "learn" how to become Gay or Transsexual; core identity can't be taught to or imposed on a person! The negative experiences of intersexed individuals, forced as children into gender roles that violated their self-concept, tells us as much.
By the way, when I talk about blended gender, I am not referring to intersex genitalia. I'm not talking about genitalia at all. I'm speaking of something that exists on a spiritual level. As gender-transcending human beings, the form our genitalia takes is of very little significance. It matters in our sexual relations, and it matters if we want to produce offspring, but that's about it. The bodies our Transgender souls are born into don't define us like the bodies of binary gender folk define them; one way or another, an LGBT person will always challenge conventional notions about masculinity and femininity. We can't help but do it; it's our nature!
Gender neutrality trumps (s)expectations; it has its own unalterable norms. Cultural pressure can't change them. Punitive laws can't change them. Religious belief can't change them. Psychotherapy can't change them. Surgery and hormone treatments can only create the illusion of changing them. Blended gender is a gift that can't be returned, no matter how much we may want to.
But why should we want to? The thing to never forget is that Transgender status is completely normal. It's God's balance of nature. The sexual union of men with women is meant to approximate the gender neutrality that we received as a birthright; that's why the Savior excluded our kind from heterosexual marriage(Matthew 19). To me, it's perfectly logical: If people can be born with blended racial background, why can't they be born with blended gender, too? I see LGBT humanity as just another aspect of the tremendous natural diversity that God loves. Millennia have passed since life began on Earth, but every so often, we still hear about a previously unknown species of plant or animal; the Lord's imagination and creative ability knows no bounds! It makes a skilled artisan like George Quaintance look like a caveman carving stones; and we who possess his "male and female power" number among his finest creations.
Let me say this one last time: Nothing that God creates is queer!
I call for an end to the lies heterosexual folk tell about us! Enough of these insane accusations of "recruitment"! No more vilification. No more pretending that we prey on Straight people like Dracula preys on virgins. No more pretending that Bible scripture justifies excluding us from church sacraments. No more claims that we contaminate any environment we become part of, like the United States military. No more equating us with pedophiles and polygamists and bestialists. No more falsehoods about our relationships "threatening" the traditional family. No more papal pronouncements that our existence throws nature out of balance. No more demagoguery to the effect that God is punishing humankind because of our presence.
I also call for an end to the many delusions LGBT folk entertain. No more facetious claims of having "chosen" our sexual orientation. No more accepting stereotypes as truth. No more calling sex in public restrooms an expression of "gay culture". No more pretending that unprotected sexual activity won't result in serious consequences. No more thinking of ourselves as men trapped inside women's bodies, and vice-versa. No more pretending that surgery can remove a person's Transgender status. No more insisting that Transsexual status is an illness.
No more pretending that we're exactly the same as heterosexual folk except for who we sleep with. No more arguments that we don't "need" certain rights that heterosexual folk enjoy. No more lying to LGBT kids about bullying getting "better" when all that happens most of the time is a change in the type of bullying and who's doing it. No more believing that Scripture condemns our love(it doesn't). No more accepting religious bigots as doctrinal authorities. And please! No more pretending that heterosexist and transphobic slurs can be "reclaimed" and made empowering.
The word "queer" must go! It connotes defectiveness and perversion. It stigmatizes the blessing of LGBT identity. It belongs to an ignorant past that we must break free of. If you're in the habit of dropping this dehumanizing label into casual conversation, wash out your mouth and mind; gargle twice and spit! Starting today, I'm on a crusade to replace "queer" with the term "gender-neutral". If an umbrella term is needed, as many of us seem to believe, then this is a far more accurate one. It defines more precisely who we are and what we have in common as Lesbians, Gay men, Bisexual and Transsexual persons. Most important, it's refreshingly free of denigrating connotations.
We need to stop wearing the oppressor's hand-me-down hate speech! Dignity looks so much better on us. We must force ourselves and others to speak of blended gender with respect, and get used to hearing it spoken of in that way.
Respecting yourself is about more than just the language you use. It also has to do with the way you treat yourself, and how you let others treat you. There are a bunch of Gay activists around; just turn over a rock, and one will crawl out from under it! Yet I find that relatively few of them want to change conditions for LesBiGay people in any substantive way.
Too many of us have made our peace with the demeaning jokes, the ugly slurs, the outrageous stereotypes. We've resigned ourselves to the persecution, the stigmatization, the lack of security in our persons. Most of us just haven't got the stomach for taking the fight against bigotry to the oppressor's door, so in a pinch, phony political posturing suffices. At the end of the day, we're content to stay walled off in a little corner of the world set aside for misfits, a place devoid of dignity that doesn't even provide us with safe harbor.
We crave distractions from the injustices we suffer. We escape into pageants, parties and cliques, campy humor, mindless celebrity worship and reckless sexual excess. Numbing our pain with drink, drugs and booty, we can barely feel that boot on the back of our necks . . . why, our necks could snap and we wouldn't even notice! We'd never admit it, but we've adapted ourselves to a discriminatory status quo. Within our myriad social classes and cultural traditions, we've learned how to accommodate heterosexism, and God forbid we should trouble the waters too much.
I want to f*cking trouble those waters!
I want to trouble them so bad sometimes, I can hardly stand it! I want a Category Five hurricane, global warming crisis and tsunami all rolled into one! I want to see all the complacency and compromise and corruption swept away. I want to see the cleansing rain come down, and then I want to see the sunshine after the rain. I'm so ready!
I want this social upheaval so passionately because of the way I grew up: An effeminate boy all but crippled by shame, repeatedly beaten down by ignorance, terrified of the world outside his door. It was an intolerable way to grow up, and I can't stand to think about anyone else suffering that way. How can we settle for business as usual when we know a new LGBT generation is falling victim to hate crimes every day(those they commit against themselves as well as those perpetrated by others)? Oh, we're making a big militant noise right now, but it's still business as usual: Begging politicians for favors; nibbling around the edges of mass protest; letting the religious Right Wing wipe its filthy feet on our backs; talking up revolution whenever we get the chance, but never walking the talk. It's nothing but a lot of pussyfooting around, and I'm sick to death of it!
When we finally get serious about Gay Rights, we'll be waging the fight against discrimination in six key arenas: In religious institutions; in educational institutions; in the courts; in the streets; in the media; and in our own hearts! (Take note that I didn't mention the political arena. That was deliberate! Let's chill out with the Washington lobbying until we have some real power to wield there.)
We'll be turning up the temperature in our churches, mosques and synagogues until they become boiling pools of unrest. We'll be condemning "faith-based" opposition to Gay Rights, and correcting religious doctrine that calls Transgender expression sinful. We'll be banishing "Queer Studies" from the classroom, mandating comprehensive sex education and anti-bullying measures, and promoting genuine scholarship on Transgender identity. We'll be ripping the blindfold off of Lady Justice so that her eyes can perceive the abusive excesses of unchecked religious freedom.
We'll be making mass protest a reality, filling the public square to demand tax relief as compensation for institutional heterosexism and transphobia. We'll be demanding accurate, consistent and respectful media representation(especially in sales and entertainment media), and blowing the damn roof off if we don't see it! We'll finally have realized that a distorted portrayal can be as bad or worse than invisibility; and when it comes to rooting out the entrenched shame that comes between us and our dignity, we'll be as relentless as the Red Chinese rooting out counter-revolutionary influences. That's what serious Gay activism will look like.
I believe what the old Negro spiritual says: God's gonna trouble the waters! And just like the runaway slaves who originally sang that song, we LGBT folk must wade in troubled waters before we can set foot on the dry land of liberation.
This essay is dedicated to the memory of Haitian-American poet, editor and performance artist Assotto Saint, who showed me the path when I was not yet ready to walk it.
genevieve said...
Wow, this is a great article! An issue that I have is the gender binary system. It was created to put people in boxes that they may not fit into. It's sad that some in the GLB community use the same binary system that was used to demean them!
I never like ethnic jokes or jokes about who we are. One point that I concur with Don Charles is that there are too many distractions. Even at my local glbt center most of the publications and flyers are about entertainment. I'm going to change that with articles that inform and encourage and build up. I did it once before and all the materials were gobbled up the same day.
DC HAMPTON JACOBS said...
God created at least three human genders: Male, female and Transgender . . . and He created Transgender first. Heterosexual men and women evolved from a single life form that was originally like you and I, Genevieve. Binary gender is a Satanic concept that must be discredited! Only then will our minds be clear enough to discern the wisdom of God, whom the Bible tells us is a Transgender entity.
I suspect that kind of enlightenment about gender will occur long before LGBT folk finally break free of their addiction to parties and cliques! There is absolutely no will among them to do so. Many of them don't even want to think about fighting for equality unless it can be made "sexy" or "campy" or "fun". A people who prefer lack of substance over substance will end up getting exactly what they want . . . but the day will inevitably come when they need something more, and what are they going to do then?
Jerry Maneker said...
The unfortunate fact is that sometimes people have to hit rock bottom before they are motivated to take charge of their own lives, get serious about their second-class status, and meaningfully fight for equality. Every oppressed minority group has had to go through its "season of suffering," and LGBT people and allies have yet to even approach that season, or have even been willing to approach that season. Best wishes, Jerry.
Until LGBT advocates stop bashing pedophiles and polygamists and bestialists they are not going to be taken seriously when calling for tolerance and understanding. Those who simply try to justify themselves by finding someone else they think is worse, make it blatantly obvious that they don't have a leg to stand on.
Hi Anonymous: I think you miss the point. Many homophobes discriminate against Gay people because they identify them with pedophiles and other anomalies when, in fact, being Gay is perfectly normal.
It is only when the fiction that being Gay is equivalent to predatory and aberrant behaviors is eradicated that both internalized and externalized homophobia is likely to abate.
Being Gay is just as normal as is being Straight; those who practice bestiality and pedophilia are not normal, and it is very important that Gay (and Straight) people distance themselves from being identified with those who engage in these pathological behaviors. Best wishes, Jerry.
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The Evidence Suggesting Congo's Election Was Rigged
Supporters of Martin Fayulu, the runner up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's(DRC'S) elections, hold up a coffin with 'Good Bye Felix' as they protest in the street on January 21, 2019 in Kinshasa, against the decision of Felix Tshisekedi as president of the DRC. - DR Congo was on January 21, 2019
SourceJohn Wessels/Getty
Numbers and factoids — fodder for your next cocktail party.
Because now voter fraud comes with receipts.
By Tom Wilson, David Blood and David Pilling
The Daily Dose JAN 23 2019
The people of the Democratic Republic of Congo may have just experienced one of the biggest electoral frauds in recent history.
The country's electoral commission this month announced opposition leader Felix Tshisekedi as the winner of a historic election marking the end of President Joseph Kabila's 18 years in power. But a Financial Times analysis of two separate collections of voting data shows that he didn't win.
At 3 am Kinshasa time on Jan. 10, the commission told bleary-eyed Congolese that the tallies of the main candidates were as follows: Tshisekedi had 38.6 percent, rival opposition leader Martin Fayulu had 34.8 percent and ruling party pick Emmanuel Shadary had 23.8 percent.
According to the election data seen by the FT, representing 86 percent of total votes cast across the country, the outcome was very different.
Fayulu won 59.4 percent of the vote, the data shows, while Tshisekedi should have finished a distant second with 19 percent and Shadary third at 18 percent.
The FT compared the figures to a separate set of voting results collected manually by the country's respected Catholic Church, which ran the biggest election observation mission. The two sets correlated almost exactly and would have been near impossible to fake, experts said.
The group of Catholic bishops, known as the CENCO, has been outspoken since the vote. Five days after the election, CENCO said voters have expressed "a clear choice at the ballot box" and called on the electoral commission to accurately report the result. Privately the group told diplomats that Fayulu was in an unassailable lead and after Tshisekedi was declared the victor, CENCO told the U.N. Security Council that the commission's result did not match its own tallies.
Those tallies, representing 43 percent of turnout and collected by hand from 28,733 polling points, were seen by the FT and show that Fayulu secured 62.8 percent of this sample of votes.
By contrast, the figures in the leaked data are electronic tallies from 62,716 voting machines across the country and were said to have been obtained from the electoral commission's central database before the results were announced.
Congo has never before had a transfer of power through the ballot box.
The electoral commission introduced the untested electronic voting machines in Congo for the first time in December, claiming the devices would help to reduce costs. The machines printed ballot papers that were counted by officials on election night — but they also stored electronic counts.
During the election campaign, Fayulu warned that the machines would be used to rig the vote. In the end, the devices may have given the opposition leader the transparency he has demanded.
An FT analysis of the electronic tallies in the leaked document shows a near perfect match with the church's partial results — with a correlation coefficient ranging from 0.976 to 0.991 for each of the three leading candidates (1 representing a perfect match).
The electoral commission denied that its results were fraudulent. Barnabé Kikaya Bin Karubi, chief diplomatic adviser to Kabila, said it would be up to the constitutional court to decide on the validity of the election and declined to comment on any potential fraud. Gilbert Kankonde Nkashama, a spokesman for Tshisekedi, said it was impossible for Fayulu to have won the election and questioned the independence of the Catholic Church.
Fayulu is seeking to overturn the result in the constitutional court, although the court's impartiality has also been questioned.
Congo, a former Belgian colony of 80 million people, has held only four elections since independence in 1960 and has never before had a transfer of power through the ballot box. Kabila had been due to step down in 2016 but elections were delayed until street protests and regional pressure forced him to hold the vote.
Kabila's ruling coalition had sought to retain control of the presidency through Emmanuel Shadary, his chosen successor. Fayulu's supporters have alleged that when voters failed to come out for Shadary in sufficient numbers — he finished third — the election commission was told to install Tshisekedi instead.
According to the results seen by the FT, Fayulu received more than 9.3 million votes, 3 million more than the electoral commission announced, and won in 19 of Congo's 26 provinces, including the capital Kinshasa and the heavily populated eastern provinces of North Kivu and South Kivu.
In contrast, Tshisekedi took 3 million votes, the data indicated, 4.1 million fewer than the electoral commission showed, while Shadary secured 2.9 million votes, or 1.5 million votes fewer than the published tally.
The data showed 15.7 million out of the 18.3 million votes cast on election day, but the missing votes could not have resulted in a different winner. Malfunctions in voting machines meant that not all vote tallies were transmitted to the central database, the person with knowledge of the database said.
The file takes the form of a spreadsheet of comma-separated values, a format used by many software packages to store tabular data, and runs to more than 49,000 rows. Each polling station is identified by a unique six-digit number.
The FT analysis also found no significant evidence that the data deviated from Benford's Law, a statistical test commonly used in fields such as forensic accounting to identify fraudulent data.
Read more: Can the church lead DRC to political salvation?
OZY partners with the U.K.'s Financial Times to bring you premium analysis and features. © The Financial Times Limited 2019.
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