text:
<?php

namespace ZendTest\Db\Adapter\Driver\Oci8\Feature;

use PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase;
use Zend\Db\Adapter\Driver\Oci8\Feature\RowCounter;

class RowCounterTest extends PHPUnit_Framework_TestCase
{
    /**
     * @var RowCounter
     */
    protected $rowCounter;

    public function setUp()
    {
        $this->rowCounter = new RowCounter();
    }

    /**
     * @covers Zend\Db\Adapter\Driver\Oci8\Feature\RowCounter::getName
     */
    public function testGetName()
    {
        $this->assertEquals('RowCounter', $this->rowCounter->getName());
    }

    /**
     * @covers Zend\Db\Adapter\Driver\Oci8\Feature\RowCounter::getCountForStatement
     */
    public function testGetCountForStatement()
    {
        $statement = $this->getMockStatement('SELECT XXX', 5);
        $statement->expects($this->once())
            ->method('prepare')
            ->with($this->equalTo('SELECT COUNT(*) as "count" FROM (SELECT XXX)'));
        $count = $this->rowCounter->getCountForStatement($statement);
        $this->assertEquals(5, $count);
    }

    /**
     * @covers Zend\Db\Adapter\Driver\Oci8\Feature\RowCounter::getCountForSql
     */
    public function testGetCountForSql()
    {
        $this->rowCounter->setDriver($this->getMockDriver(5));
        $count = $this->rowCounter->getCountForSql('SELECT XXX');
        $this->assertEquals(5, $count);
    }

    /**
     * @covers Zend\Db\Adapter\Driver\Oci8\Feature\RowCounter::getRowCountClosure
     */
    public function testGetRowCountClosure()
    {
        $stmt = $this->getMockStatement('SELECT XXX', 5);
        /** @var \Closure $closure */
        $closure = $this->rowCounter->getRowCountClosure($stmt);
        $this->assertInstanceOf('Closure', $closure);
        $this->assertEquals(5, $closure());
    }

    protected function getMockStatement($sql, $returnValue)
    {
        $statement = $this->getMock(
            'Zend\Db\Adapter\Driver\Oci8\Statement',
            ['prepare', 'execute'],
            [],
            '',
            false
        );

        // mock the result
        $result = $this->getMock('stdClass', ['current']);
        $result->expects($this->once())
            ->method('current')
            ->will($this->returnValue(['count' => $returnValue]));
        $statement->setSql($sql);
        $statement->expects($this->once())
            ->method('execute')
            ->will($this->returnValue($result));
        return $statement;
    }

    protected function getMockDriver($returnValue)
    {
        $oci8Statement = $this->getMock('stdClass', ['current'], [], '', false); // stdClass can be used here
        $oci8Statement->expects($this->once())
            ->method('current')
            ->will($this->returnValue(['count' => $returnValue]));
        $connection = $this->getMock('Zend\Db\Adapter\Driver\ConnectionInterface');
        $connection->expects($this->once())
            ->method('execute')
            ->will($this->returnValue($oci8Statement));
        $driver = $this->getMock('Zend\Db\Adapter\Driver\Oci8\Oci8', ['getConnection'], [], '', false);
        $driver->expects($this->once())
            ->method('getConnection')
            ->will($this->returnValue($connection));
        return $driver;
    }
}


Technology – Banking – Innovation – the Perfect Synergy! - Trusted technology. Simple investing. Solid returns.
Technology – Banking – Innovation – the Perfect Synergy!
The Australian Retail Banking Summit 2017 held in Sydney recently promoted the theme "Retail – Ripe for Revolution" to focus on the ever-changing and developing banking landscape. Key ideas covered FinTech and innovation, customer-centricity, Regulatory advancements and progression in the digital and technology spaces.
Cashwerkz actively supported the event as a Thought Leader Sponsor. Our incoming CEO, Hector Ortiz presented his insights on innovation to create engagement leading into customers and their evolving banking relationships. We share below a synopsis of Hector's presentation and the Cashwerkz solution.
"As a brief introduction, Cashwerkz provides a simple and secure innovative online platform to transact and manage cash investments. The company was established in 2014 and released its term deposit platform to the market in 2016.
The role of Term Deposits has evolved and over the past 10 years, we have observed steady growth for this asset class. Households now have in excess of $840b in Term Deposits, notably $158b are via Self-Managed Super Funds (SMSF) – which equates to approximately 20% of the household total.
When reflecting on flows pre-GFC to now, we see a 2.25 times growth over this period in household term deposits. In addition, in the same period, there has been a steady allocation of 25% to cash by SMSF's according to Australian Tax Office (ATO) statistics.
So we can say that there is a solid foundation for growth! But, how do we build on it?
Let's start with considering strategies to increase term deposit growth and briefly review why investors place term deposits at all.
There are many other investment opportunities that have greater returns and therefore greater risk, but the growing number of term deposit investors seek a safe haven, which provides a guarantee to their capital.
We see that although absolute term deposit rates are low, margins over 3 month Bank Bill Reference Rate (BBSW) are approx. 2.8 times higher than pre-GFC.
So, our question becomes – based on today's term deposit margins, how do we attract more term deposit investors?
Savings habits of the average consumer are slightly concerning with research (source RBS/RBA) displaying a decline in savings over the past 5 years – from 10% to 5%. Should we interpret this that it easier to spend rather than to save? Or is it simply inefficient and cumbersome for investors to save?
We cannot look where to grow term deposits without looking at demographics, taking into account the digital age and who can most benefit and leverage from this.
Retirees – not digitally empowered, but may use Facebook to stay in touch with family and friends; they may rely on more traditional methods of placing term deposits by visiting a traditional brick & mortar bank branch – however trends show a number of these branches are closing and if remote then this compounds the term deposit investment issue.
Millennials – completely digital across all aspects of their life and confident to utilise, transact and manage their lives online.
Where we see the additional growth is highlighted in yellow – this group are leveraging technology by increasing their use of communications, media and digital channels expecting their client experience in term deposit investing to be easier.
Based on RIM Securities 13 years of experience, the fact has always been that investing in term deposits has been a manual, time consuming, frustrating and onerous process with barriers to invest.
Irrespective of the demographics, we see that term deposit investors basically can't be bothered to maximise their cash investing. Only those who must invest in term deposits have wrestled with the current manual process to invest.
Let's briefly look at the term deposit application process – one that varies greatly, with the fastest application in 2 hours and the longest up to 5 days before funds are debited – and it's…..Manual, Manual and more Manual! Not forgetting…..
Maturity instructions to be advised or confirmed by investor via a signed instruction.
Distribution – Partnering with innovative FinTech providers to supply a digital channel to targeted market segments.
Without a doubt, compliance is important to us!
The easier we make placing term deposit's; the more pressure is applied to be compliance agile. Compliance requirements need to drive and formulate processes and embrace innovation to maintain the pace with customer expectations. This challenge of balancing between client experience and regulatory requirements is NOT to be underestimated.
Ideally, KYC / AML requirements should be conducted electronically trusting the confirmations received by linked Gateways. ASIC have recognised this and there is currently work underway in the RegTech space to make the compliance process agile.
Secondly, a great client experience is also a necessity.
We understand that service alone is not a customer experience. There is a need to remove any friction that is preventing customers from investing; instead delight them by removing all manual processes associated with the customer onboarding activities, thus saving them time and creating efficiency.
There is a need to create and build trusted relationships faster across all levels of engagement to further drive innovation, thus allowing clients to provide and have access to their financial history and data.
Finally, the aim of distribution to match investors with the term deposit provider's.
Today, part of any investment process is research – thanks to the power of Google, this is now easy. Investors may compare up to five different providers and offerings prior to a decision – making informed choice important – as is 'omni-channel' presence.
Digital banks are emerging with APRA currently reviewing a new application, which allows services to clients from a mobile phone and upwards. They plan to have an open API which will enable them to outsource portions of their funding to firms like Cashwerkz.
For existing Term Deposit providers, Cashwerkz will be able to help target investors across a number of profile segments – customer type, investment track record, geography, direct investors, SMSF or managed investors in addition to demographics. Depending on the strategy, implementation of tiered pricing structures will be available for targeted segments. Leading with innovation, near real-time dynamic pricing can well serve their retail distribution strategy.
Innovative Retail Funding – What Does the future Look Like?
Australia is a leader in accepting FinTech solutions compared to our global counterparts.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is already making inroads within FinTech. AI / Machine Learning tools will help investors with decisions by providing suggestions – eg. the ability to map out possible investment choices not normally considered by the Investor, influencing them to vary their customary term deposit order.
Tailored Value-Add Solutions – customers will own their historical banking data providing access to approved service providers.
Virtual Reality Banking – the 'gaming experience' simulating multiple bank branches with traditional elements, including other service providers that help facilitate the term deposit process via a headset without leaving your lounge.
Simplified KYC/AML – term deposit providers accepting e-verification via a trusted and approved electronic process.
If you believe in technology and building wealth by building a better future, we'd love to connect with you.


We have been talking a little bit about breakfast lately in the Living on Little chat group, and it seems that breakfast continues to be a tricky challenge for most people. I get it, the morning is not always my friend either. I'm generally dragging myself out of a warm snuggly bed to start my battle of lost socks, forgotten homework and "hurry up I need to get to school to play soccer" dialogues. Meal prepping has become a VITAL part of my real food journey & ensures we are organised, eating well and saving money.
Cooking a gourmet breakfast is probably not going to happen in everyday households but that doesnt mean you have to settle for vegemite toast or sugar laden cereals every morning!
I wanted to share with you a few meal prep ideas I use to make sure that the kids & I get fed something nutritious, delicious and affordable every-day most of the time. You can find more real food on a budget ideas, recipes and practical resources in my August 31 days of real food on a budget e-course .
Between 7 kids there are ALWAYS left overs from the night before & I like to waste NOTHING. Even if it's as simple as the mashed sweet potato and a few carrots, save them in a bowl ready to fry up as some bubble & squeak in the morning they will be cooked by the time you have found that lost sock!
Our favourite left over breakfast has simply got to be a sweet potato and beef fritter. We usually chop up the left over meat into small pieces while cleaning up the kitchen after dinner grate the potato, dice some onion and store it in the fridge overnight ready to whip together in the morning, there is simply no reason that you can't make the entire thing while packing up the kitchen before bed and re-heat or eat cold on your way to work! The kids even love these in their lunch box!
In a bowl combine all ingredients together. Heat some coconut oil in a large frying pan. Form small balls out of the mix in your hands and fry either side for a few minutes.
I think the thing that attracts us all to breakfast cereals is how easy it is to grab, pour and eat. With virtually no prep required they appeal perfectly to anyone who needs to get ready and out the door in the morning in a hurry, the problem is starting your day with a bowl of sugar, fortified minerals and other weird stuff might not be the best kick start for a productive, focused and healthy day. I found myself reading THIS article in the dentist van last week and even I was completely shocked at how much sugar is in most cereal boxes!
I have a gorgeous granola that makes a pretty good step down from boxed cereals that allows you to control how much sugar goes in. The best part? You can make this really quickly, store it and grab it just as fast a box of cereal any morning!
You might also like to try THIS little gluten free number from my friend Sonia at Natural New Age Mum to put together something a lot better than what you will find on the supermarket shelves.
Egg dishes, egg dishes oh and did I mention egg dishes?
Easy egg muffins are a household favourite at our place closely followed by a roast veggie frittata which we occassionally throw in whatever left over meat we have had that night as well.
In a bowl mix together all the ingredients until well combined.
Line a loaf tray with baking paper.
Add egg mix in the tray and place cheese and cherry tomatoes on the top if using.
Bake on 180 degrees for 20-30 minutes or until the middle is firm.
One of my favourite easy meal prep breakfasts of all time is a sweet potato, bacon & apple hash not only because it's delicious but it's perfect to chop and store in a bowl the night before. If you are going to cook a meat and veggie brekky of a morning, it just makes sense to lessen the load in the morning by being prepared. Cut and peel veggies in some water overnight, so that you can simply drain and fry when you get up, or better yet cook the entire dish the night before and a quick toss over the pan will only serve as a reheat that you can enjoy quickly before starting your day!
I'd love to hear your meal prep ideas for making breakfast run smoothly. Share it with us in the Living on Little chat group, post to my facebook page or pop your ideas below!
Have you got a copy of my cook books yet?
Jen Shaw is a mum of 7, author and health motivator.Making real food easy for everyday people.
Search here for yummy things!
Jen Shaw makes real food easy with practical wholefood recipes and honest lifestyle and parenting advice.


text:
Q: Wordpress Theme Overriding Plugin I installed a plugin for a dropdown menu (Max Mega Menus) but my wordpress theme (Spacing) is overriding it. I followed the instructions on the MMM website on removing residual styling so that the plugin would work but when I deleted the codes as instructed (I think I picked the right one) then the menu disappeared altogether. Here are the instructions I was following: https://www.maxmegamenu.com/documentation/faqs/removing-residual-styling/
Here is the current coding. I tried deleting every combination of things besides the wp_nav_menu part, as instructed.

<?php wp_nav_menu(array('menu' => 'custom_menu')); ?>

            <?php if($of_option['st_responsive']) responsive_select_nav() ?>

A: Please go to Mega Menu > General Settings > Menu Locations. You'll see a list of menu locations that your theme has registered. Expand the one for the top menu and copy the PHP include code. Then replace the call to wp_nav_menu in your header.php file with it.
In short, your wp_nav_menu call is missing the required 'theme_location' argument.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


I have to say I'm from Italy, so you could understand the price and my incorrect English.
I really don't know what "tactical knife" means: but this is probably a tactical knife.
The look of the knives is nice, aggressive. The build quality is high, very high considering the price (specially the US price). The issue with this knife is the use you have to do.
The tanto blade is nice but impractical; the titanium handle is too thin for any intensive use (use a pukko knife and you understand what i mean...). The backlock is solid but when you push it the blade runs fast towards your fingers, like a guillottine (in one hand-use).
In my opinion is a nice looking knife, well done and with good quality, but i suggest it only for collection or self-defense (or tactical!).
The EDC version of the Recon 1!! I love carrying this blade!!
GOOD- strong triad lockback, very slim handle so it doesn't take up too much space in pocket, feels perfect in your hand, multiple blade design options.
BAD- the same beef I have with all of Cold Steel's pocket knives, for the same price I can get VG-10 steel on a Spyderco instead of AUS-8A. Cold Steel's knives will always have stronger lockups though.


It is however, the best 15 minutes of pure automobile factory awesome and a must view for anyone inside or outside the auto industry.
The star of the show is the 6th generation of BMW's 3-series that started production in 2011 and this video was uploaded mid 2012. As a former automotive industry insider, this author is surprised that this level of detail in video was allowed to leak outside the BMW network, as most other assembly line videos on youtube are in black & white and feature men who look like they belong in a Dickens novel.
Particularly interesting is the paint and bake process that gives the original automobile a paint finish that will last decades longer than even the best aftermarket re-spray.
And of course, who doesn't like to watch robots assemble suspension and brake equipment onto a vehicle complete with red-warning lights and lots of laser beam related gadgetry. In all likeliness most people won't want to watch the entire video as it is roughly 30 times the length of the average twitter message, but we had to watch it multiple times in 1080p resolution to make sure we didn't miss anything.
Incredible video - I want to work in a factory! Actually, I think I'd rather just drive the BMW and let others put it together, but I'm glad someone does this!
~ i decided to run this again during a hole in the schedule. there are always details i had overlooked. fascinating!
~ @ Brent, good counterpoint. interesting to watch the similarities and the differences. better soundtrack.


In three short years as president and CEO, Suzanne Sitherwood has nearly tripled the number of customers The Laclede Group serves.
Sitherwood joined the public utility holding company in February 2012, after she was recruited by The Laclede Group's board for her proven acquisition prowess at Atlanta Gas Light Company in Georgia, where she had worked for 30 years and was serving as president.
After leading the company through a restructuring to position Laclede for growth, she inked a $975 million purchase of Missouri Gas Energy from Texas-based Southern Union Company in September 2013, adding 500,000 customers to Laclede's base of 625,000.
In April 2014, The Laclede Group purchased Alabama Gas Corporation, bringing Laclede's customer count to 1.55 million and making it the fourth largest natural gas distribution holding company in the country today.
In addition to success in the acquisition arena, organic growth and innovation are also adding to the company's bottom line.
Missouri Business had an opportunity to ask Sitherwood about The Laclede Group's growth strategy, company innovations, and what it is like to lead one of the largest energy companies in the country.
Missouri Business: How did you get your start in the energy industry?
Suzanne Sitherwood, President and CEO of Laclede Group.
SITHERWOOD: When I was in college, I was a co-op student working for Atlanta Gas Light, which is the gas company in Georgia. I liked the industry and especially the people. I liked the impact we had on customer's lives. Growing up, I was a military brat and moved around a lot, so when I was offered a full-time position with the company and an opportunity to stay in Georgia, I took it and made it my home for 30 years.
MB: What attracted you to take the lead of The Laclede Group?
SITHERWOOD: I had been one of the primary architects for growth with my predecessor company, and it is now the largest company in its sector. So, when I was given the opportunity to come to Laclede, I accepted the position and came here enthusiastically to help Laclede grow.
I knew of Laclede and knew it was strong financially and had a strong balance sheet, and it had the capacity for growth. I knew growth would be good, not only for Laclede, but also for our customers as well as the state of Missouri. I also knew there was a strong management team here and that they had the capacity to deliver on that growth, which indeed has been proven.
MB: How did you prepare The Laclede Group for aggressive growth?
SITHERWOOD: First, I sat down with the management team, and we mapped out a clear vision for the company. It wasn't a "boil the ocean" kind of vision. It was very targeted.
Then, we communicated that vision to all stakeholders: our employees, our customers, our shareholders, our regulators, and the business community. We told them, this is how we are going to grow, and this is how we are going to go about it.
The second step was to organize the company around our strategies. You don't organize and then create a strategy. You create a strategy and then organize around that strategy. That's why we went through a reorganization at the company fairly early on. Again, it wasn't about the company not having talent. It was organizing the talent around our promise of what we were going to deliver.
The third step is what I call "project management discipline," which is developing an understanding of the scope of your work, the timing of your work, and what that work will cost.
Suzanne Sitherwood was featured on the cover of our May 2015 issue.
MB: What are the most dangerous pitfalls a fast-growing company must avoid?
SITHERWOOD: Doing too much. Make sure that you focus on the big things that matter. Don't think you have to do everything, because everything doesn't necessarily line up behind your vision and strategies.
Also, understand that if you are in acquisition mode, if you are acquiring other companies, you must be very sensitive of the employees and customers of those other companies. You really need to do a cultural assessment and build a strong integration plan to bring those companies together.
The bottom line is that you are serving customers, and you have to make sure you are supporting your customer service requirements with a strong culture embodied in the people you employ.
MB: How do you keep employees informed and engaged during fast-paced change?
SITHERWOOD: Communication is critical. One of the first things we did was work hard to build up a strong communications team that could engage with all of our stakeholders and make sure we were being transparent and clear to all. It becomes an easier message when you are talking to everyone and sharing the same story and the same promise with the same timeliness for all involved.
MB: How has the shale gas boom impacted the energy industry and The Laclede Group specifically?
SITHERWOOD: Enabling our country to have more energy independence is a very good thing. Specifically at Laclede, the boom has lowered gas prices for customers.
Because of the location of the shale resources and Laclede's connectivity to those supply basins, Laclede has been well positioned in the Midwest to deliver this natural gas to markets.
MB: Tell us about the Spire compressed natural gas fueling station at Lambert and future plans to expand natural gas fueled vehicles.
SITHERWOOD: We spoke with our business customers and learned that many were looking for alternatives to diesel, not only for the economic aspect, but also because of air quality concerns. We talked with these customers to find out the business model for natural gas delivery that would work for them. Laclede is uniquely positioned to provide this service.
Our traditional customers have meters and gas equipment to power their facilities. Now the technology exists to power vehicles with natural gas.
The first [compressed natural gas] fueling station was opened at Lambert Airport. Part of the reason for that is that we wanted it in our backyard. We also knew there was a large interest in having this resource around the airport, tractor trailers, and other smaller providers that deliver goods and services during the day and refuel at night.
We used the Lambert station to make sure, from an engineering and construction perspective, that we were building the best station to serve our customers' needs. The Lambert station has exceeded our volume expectations.
MB: Which industry innovations are powering The Laclede Group's growth?
SITHERWOOD: Our primary focus is acquisition. However, we are also focused on organically growing our existing gas companies in two ways: by investing in updating aging infrastructure and also through the addition of a vice president of organic growth who will be looking at new technology and ways to leverage the benefits of natural gas for all customers.
Another area of growth is through innovations such as Spire and new technologies like microturbines. We are also looking at assessment of upstream infrastructure as a potential area of growth.
MB: What is the best business advice you have ever received?
SITHERWOOD: Follow your gut. You can study things to death, but ultimately you have to step back, exhale, and follow your gut.
MB: What is your favorite thing about living in Missouri?
SITHERWOOD: The people! The people here are incredibly nice, supportive, and interesting. I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of living here.
My husband and I immediately fell in love with the architecture, the Arch, the people, and all St. Louis has to offer.
My name is Rosnna Graves I am a single mother of two and each year I struggle to pay my gas bill.. If this is one of the reasons why natural gas is so high.. You need to be ashamed of yourself because you guys are robbing peter to pay Paul… Just a little food for thought .


Special features: biographical information about C.S. Forester; nautical terms and definitions; behind-the-scenes making of the production; England's royal warships, hosted by Edward Winsor; instant "search for your favorite scene."
sd., col. ; c 4 3/4 in.


Visit the historic vacation homes of the Roman elite on a Rome to Tivoli day trip. The full-day guided excursion includes tours of Tivoli's two UNESCO-listed sites: Hadrian's Villa and Villa d'Este. Hear Renaissance and Ancient Roman history and scandal, admire archaeological ruins and explore some of Italy's most extravagant private gardens.
Combine two of the bestselling tours in Rome into one comprehensive sightseeing experience with this Rome Super Saver. You'll start at the Colosseum for a skip-the-line tour of this ancient amphitheater, followed by a look at the Roman Forum and Palatine Hill. Then spend the afternoon on a walking tour of Rome's historical center to visit famous landmarks like the Trevi Fountain, Piazza Navona, the Spanish Steps and the Pantheon. This tour is limited to 25 people.
With this pre-booked skip-the-line Borghese Gallery ticket, you can visit one of Rome's top art attractions without waiting in the admission queue. (Tickets often sell out a month in advance!) Housed inside Villa Borghese, the gallery is home to a renowned collection of artwork including paintings by Caravaggio and Raphael and sculptures by Bernini. When booking, select admission only to explore the gallery independently, or choose the upgrade option for a guided tour.
Experience some of Rome's most important artistic and spiritual attractions with a 3-hour guided tour of the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel and St Peter's Basilica. Beat the crowds with priority access and see highlights of the Vatican Museum's immense collection while your guide shares the legends behind the masterpieces. Stand beneath Michelangelo's famed frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, and skip the long lines to enter the heart of the papacy at St Peter's Basilica.
Rome is full of magnificent ancient monuments, but there are even more historic gems just outside of the city. This small-group half-day tour from Rome visits the hilltown of Tivoli, home to two UNESCO-listed marvels – the 2nd-century ruins of Hadrian's Villa (Villa Adriana) and the idyllic Villa d'Este, a 16th-century palace and garden complex. Tour includes hotel pickup, entrance fees, and round-trip transport.
Travel in the footsteps of Roman emperors, cardinals and popes who would flee the hustle and bustle of Rome for hilltop Tivoli, 20 miles (30 kilometers) north-east of the Eternal City. This 7.5-hour guided day trip takes you back in time (via an air-conditioned coach) in Tivoli, exploring the archeological remains of 2nd-century Hadrian's Villa, with its lavish temples, sculptures, and theaters. After the lunch break, stroll around the lush gardens of the Renaissance-era Villa d'Este, marveling at the famed Fountain of Neptune.
Feel the romance of a classic Venetian experience with a serenaded gondola ride through Venice's famed canals, capped off by dinner or lunch at a renowned local eatery. Settle into a traditional gondola boat for a 35-minute ride through the Grand Canal and some of the city's smaller waterways, while onboard musicians provide a passionate soundtrack of Italian ballads. Savor an authentic Venetian meal at the top-rated Hostaria Ai Coristi Restaurant to conclude your enchanted evening or afternoon tour.
Enjoy a private ride through Venice's iconic canals aboard a traditional gondola! On this classic Venetian experience, soak up famous sights like the Rialto Bridge and the ornate Ca' d'Oro palace while your expert gondolier navigates the beautiful handmade boat through the Grand Canal and other watery ways. A friendly local guide will accompany you on the 1-hour ride to share interesting facts about Venetian history and architecture along the way.
Get your kids excited about ancient Roman history with this private 3-hour 'Colosseum for kids' tour. Visit the top sights of ancient Rome – the Palatine Hill, Forum and Colosseum – with a child-friendly expert guide. Learn about what daily life was like in ancient Rome and what the gladiator combats held in the Colosseum were like. Enjoy visual aids used by the guide to engage the whole family.
Set out from Rome for a half-day exploration of ancient Tivoli, a stunning hilltop town that once served as a vacation destination for the rich. Spend some time exploring its many offerings, including the Villa Adriana which incorporates of variety of ancient architectural styles and Villa d'Este, known for its exquisite Renaissance palace and garden. Learn about the history of this fascinating, fair-weather resort town as you go.
Streamline your Rome experience with a skip-the-line ticket to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel. Explore this top attraction at your own pace with an entrance ticket that allows for a full day at the museums. See classical sculptures and Renaissance paintings in the papal art collection, including frescoes by Michelangelo and Raphael, painting galleries, Egyptian mummies, the private apartments of Pope Julius II, and more.


text:
Join free to meet other country-loving singles
Women Men Men & Women
D 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 09 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31
Y 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981 1980 1979 1978 1977 1976 1975 1974 1973 1972 1971 1970 1969 1968 1967 1966 1965 1964 1963 1962 1961 1960 1959 1958 1957 1956 1955 1954 1953 1952 1951 1950 1949 1948 1947 1946 1945 1944 1943 1942 1941 1940 1939 1938 1937 1936 1935 1934 1933 1932 1931 1930 1929 1928 1927 1926 1925 1924 1923 1922
>>> Please select... <<< Afghanistan Åland Islands Albania Algeria American Samoa Andorra Angola Anguilla Antarctica Antigua & Barbuda Argentina Armenia Aruba Australia Austria Azerbaijan Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bermuda Bhutan Bolivia Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba Bosnia & Herzegovina Botswana Bouvet Island Brazil British Indian Ocean Trtry Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burundi Cambodia Cameroon Canada Cap Verde Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad Chile China Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia Comoros Congo, Dem. Rep. of Congo, Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica Cote d'Ivoire Croatia/Hrvatska Cuba Curaçao Cyprus Czech Republic Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini (Swaziland) Ethiopia Falkland Islands Faroe Islands Fiji Finland France French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Trtries Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Gibraltar Greece Greenland Grenada Guadeloupe Guam Guatemala Guernsey Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana Haiti Heard & McDonald Islands Honduras Hong Kong Hungary Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Isle of Man Israel Italy Jamaica Japan Jersey Jordan Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Korea, Dem. Ppl's Rep. Korea, Republic of Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg Macao Macedonia Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania Mauritius Mayotte Mexico Micronesia, Fed. State of Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Montserrat Morocco Mozambique Myanmar Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria Niue Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway Oman Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territory Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Pitcairn Island Poland Portugal Puerto Rico Qatar Reunion Island Romania Russia Rwanda S Georgia & S Sandwich Is. Saint Barthélemy Saint Helena, Ascension & Tristan da Cunha Saint Kitts & Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Martin Samoa San Marino Sao Tome & Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Sint Maarten Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka St Vincent & Grenadines St. Pierre & Miquelon Sudan Suriname Svalbard & Jan Mayen Is. Sweden Switzerland Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tokelau Tonga Trinidad & Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Turks & Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom United States Uruguay US Minor Outlying Islands Uzbekistan Vanuatu Vatican City State Venezuela Vietnam Virgin Islands (British) Virgin Islands (USA) Wallis & Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia Zimbabwe
For your security, your password must have 8 or more characters, CAPITAL & small letters and at least one number. For example: MyPassword123
I confirm that I am over 18 years of age and grant consent to the use of cookies and the processing of my personal data in connection with the service, as defined in the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, which I have read and agree to.
We promise not to post anything on your timeline.
Abbie_JK
32 - Bury-St-Edmunds, Suffolk
I love walking/hiking and strolls on the beach. Also love finding new bakeries and coffee shops. Love Coffee...
Shoot me a message 😄
See my full profile
Eaglestar
50 - Newbury, Berkshire
I am a French caring , funny and active gentleman with a cheeky smile and good humour. I am content with my...
Bright cheerful future together ahead.
JustMe_421
58 - Hitchin, Hertfordshire
I have quite a zest for life and enjoy a wide range of interests and hobbies - hiking, horse-riding, art, music,...
Life is for living
A1MEK
48 - Leeds, Yorkshire - West
I'm great to spend time with, enthusiastic, energetic and fun. I love visiting nice restaurants and thankfully...
Passionate foodie with an inability to sit still.
John_imonlydancing
63 - Woking, Surrey
I think my friends would describe me as caring, interesting and intelligent but a bit 'different' sometimes. A...
I used to be indecisive, but I'm not so sure now 🙂
Campervanman
59 - Ipswich, Suffolk
I am a caring, sincere and considerate professional man with a relaxed outlook on life. I am looking for someone...
Good listener seeks chatterbox
More featured profiles
Why Country Loving is for everyone whose heart is in the country...
Country Living Magazine has been bringing together people of all ages to share their love of the countryside for more than 16 years. We've also proved very successful at matchmaking and helping lonely hearts find true love - Country Living created the original, award-winning Farmer Wants a Wife initiative back in 1999, and, more recently, inspired the BBC2 series Love In the Countryside.
We understand that looking for a partner can seem a daunting prospect, especially for more mature singles dating in later life or for the second time around. However, our friendly team at Country Loving will help and support you every step of the way, and we provide a safe and secure environment in which you can meet new, like-minded people. Our special two-way matching system is simple to use, and we hope you'll have fun finding your most compatible matches. Do keep in touch - as always, we'd love to hear how you are getting on! In the meantime, from everyone at Country Living, happy dating!
Creating the perfect profile - tips from Country Living experts
Dating Second Time Around
Decide what you want from on-line dating. Firstly make sure you are ready to date again...
First Dates - a CL guide to enjoying the experience
Start with a coffee. This gives you the option to depart easily should you decide your date is not for you. You can always order a second cup if things are going well.
If this is your first time using a dating site, take a look at what some of the most popular people...
Your tools to find your perfect Match
Discover up to 1000 matches with our intelligent two-way matching feature.
Find someone special with one of our many search options and add those you like to your Favourites.
When you're ready, contact members using an easy and private messaging interface.
See what you have in common with others at a glance.
You're in control - block members who do not meet your standards or report unsavoury members.
About Country Loving
When your heart is in the Country
Country Loving is a safe and respectable online dating website, chosen and vetted by us, for people like you. Free to join, it's the perfect place to find like-minded potential partners for rural romance, relationships and friendship; in a safe and secure environment. It's so easy, simply create your personal profile and view your most compatible matches, browse profiles in your area and see who likes you.
Our Support Team is here to guide you
Feedback from members we've helped in the past.
Wow! Thank you for your prompt and in-depth response. I sure will follow your advice and see what happens. I'm on it now.
Jo, 11 October 2021
Thank you for coming back - a great service
Jack, 23 September 2021
Thank you very much for your prompt reply.
William, 01 November 2021
More support feedback
Photo Credit: Perch Hill
We are a member of the Online Dating Association (ODA). We are committed to maintaining standards, protecting users and giving those users assurance as outlined in the ODA's Guiding Principles.
As an ODA Member we are required to have appropriate and effective arrangements in place for dealing with complaints and enquiries.
The ODA provides general information on common enquiries users have about dating services but will not deal directly with individual complaints which are properly the responsibility of member companies. The ODA monitors enquiry and complaint levels and the issues complained about. It can intervene if it sees worrying trends or serious matters of concern.
Further information about ODA can be found here. A link to our customer service arrangements is provided here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Product Weight: 5kg The ..
High strength waterproof polyester. Closure: Double Zip..
Measurements: Width 130cm x Height 100cm approximate Ma..
Great adult size bean bag gamer And Recliner - perfect for TV, reading, gaming or lounging ..
Colour: Graphite Made of sturdy and low-maintenance sol..
IMPORTANT MESSAGE - Due to the size of this Product we have NO POSTAGE Service To the follo..
Outbag bean bag chair for outdoor use - Outbag ..
The outer material is made in accordance with European standard reach certified for harmful..
Children's Beanbag Chair Made in the UK ..
'Making geometry fun. Also US FIRST IF YOU seat Cube Mathematisch seat cuboid are, so ..
Material Compostition: Cover - 100% Polyester (Water Resistant), Filling - Fire Retardant b..
Super tough, waterproof outdoor fabric. Size: (L) 80cm ..


Home » Noida » Opening For - Jr.Software Engineer - In XCINO Technologies Pvt Ltd.
Opening For - Jr.Software Engineer - In XCINO Technologies Pvt Ltd.
XCINO was built upon a World-Class methodology that has proven itself since the company's inception in 2006. XCINO's methodology combines our proven process with the people, tools, partnerships and standards to achieve and surpass the goals set by our clients.
We are the leading expert on the remote monitoring and managing of IT infrastructure; putting a high emphasis on efficient and cost-effective solutions. Our goal is to simplify and optimize the management of IT operations and infrastructure.
Here at XCINO, we're not trying to become better than our competitors. We're trying to become better than ourselves, become better everyday to give our clients the service that they deserve.


For women's fit and performance, the development of the W9 Race Performance boots benefited from the success of Madshus' top female racers and their Athena boots on the World Cup. The full-width, fiberglass-reinforced lastboard provides great stability and enhanced feel for the snow and ski and the breathable MemBrain® softshell lace cover provides a warm, dry environment for your feet.
Rossignol technology combined with well fitting comfort. X9 Skate gives you surefire access to high performance skating!


This month's "Dan's Tech Night" will be moderated by Bob Jackson, KE1JH. The presentation will be "show and tell" format so bring in your projects, thoughts, or stories to share with the group. Bob may also have a significant topic to talk about as well.
Dan's Tech Night is Thursday, April 11th at 7 PM at the Grady Research Building, 323 Main St, Ayer. And as always, everyone is welcome.
See: www.DansTechNight.com for details and directions.


Land & Water plant hire is the home of the largest range of long reach excavators and the most comprehensive fleet of amphibious plant and road transportable marine equipment in the UK.
Our equipment is sourced directly from the best known manufacturers in the world including Hitachi, Caterpillar, Liebherr, JCB, Waterking and Truxor. Land & Water's equipment is known to be the best in the business. The specification of our equipment and the age profile of the fleet ensures we offer the very best equipment with unrivalled product support for our customers.
We supply equipment across many industries from railways to quarries; private clients to major contractors; local councils to government bodies such as The Environment Agency. We thrive on innovation and have a passion to continually seek out more efficient, environmentally considerate, increasingly sustainable and safer ways of managing and maintaining the environment where land and water meet.
We are fortunate to also have a great team whose extensive knowledge of the UK's most diverse and broad fleet of specialist equipment ensures customers' needs are understood and met.


text:
Alvin Tan Sheng Hui (* 30. Juni 1980 in Singapur) ist ein singapurischer Politiker (People's Action Party), der derzeit als Abgeordneter des Singapurischen Parlaments für den Wahlkreis Tanjong Pagar GRC (Moulmein-Cairnhill) tätig ist. Vor 2020 war Melvin Yong von 2015 bis 2020 Abgeordneter für Moulmein-Cairnhill, und zuvor haben sich Khaw Boon Wan und Lui Tuck Yew die Zähne dieser Wahlkreise geschnitten.

Bildung
Tan hat einen erstklassigen Bachelor-Abschluss in Wirtschaftswissenschaften von der Sydney University und einen Master in Public Policy von der Harvard University. Dort erhielt er 2009 das International and Global Affairs Fellowship des Belfer Center of Science and International Affairs. Später gab er bekannt, dass er nicht für ein Studium an einer örtlichen Universität qualifiziert war.

Karriere
Nach seinem Abschluss war Tan in verschiedenen Organisationen tätig:

Singapore Armed Forces Platoon Trainer, United Nations Transitional Administration in East Timor (November 2001 – Februar 2002)
Oxfam Assistant Coordinator, International Youth Parliament (Juni 2003 – Januar 2004)
Ministry of Defence Counter-Terrorism Analyst (März 2006 – August 2008)
Executive Office of United Nations (Juni 2009 – April 2010)
Vice-President and Executive Director of Asia Pacific, Goldman Sachs (Juli 2010 – April 2015)
Facebook Head of Public Policy (März 2015 – Februar 2019)
Facebook Head of Trust and Society (Februar 2019 – Juli 2019)
LinkedIn Director and Head of Public Policy and Economics (Asia Pacific) (Juli 2019 – Juli 2020)
Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth (Juli 2020 – geschenk)

Außerdem arbeitete Alvin Tan unter Lily Neo, als sie noch Abgeordnete war, bevor Josephine Teo seit 2020 den Wahlkreis Chinatown übernahm.

Einzelnachweise

Abgeordneter (Singapur)
PAP-Mitglied
Politiker (21. Jahrhundert)
Singapurer
Geboren 1980
Mann

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


He made his debut as a lead in Ishq Vishk (2003) and won a Filmfare Best Male Debut Award.
Shahid Kapoor was born to actor Pankaj Kapoor and actor/classical dancer Neelima Azeem.
Shahid is an Indian actor who appears in Bollywood films. He is also a trained dancer..
Fida is a Bollywood movie released in 2004.
Jai Malhotra (Shahid Kapoor) lives with his best friend, Sonia (Kim Sharma).
Flimfare Award 2009 Shahid Kapoor Performan Flimfare Award..


text:
Q: Need help with isomorphic binary structures Let $(S,*)$ and $(T,o)$ be isomorphic binary structures. Show that $(S,*)$ is a group if and only if $(T,o)$ is a group
Approach: We have to show both directions.
if $(S,*)$ is a group then $(T,o)$ is a group.
I am having problems showing that for every element a in $(T,o)$, $a^{-1} \in (T,o) $. I already proved the first two conditions.

A: Let $a \in T$. Let $f: S \rightarrow T$ be an isomorphism. Then there is $b \in S$ such that $a = f(b)$. Now
$$a \circ f(b^{-1}) = f(b) \circ f(b^{-1}) = f(b *b^{-1}) = f(e_{S})=e_T,$$
the last equality you probably showed in proving the other two conditions. This shows $f(b^{-1})$ is an inverse for $a$ in $S$. For the 'only if' part, one only has to prove $f^{-1}$ is a homomorphism of binary structures, then the proof is completely analogous to the proof of the first assertion (just flip $f$ and $f^{-1}$, and $S$ and $T$). So, let $c, d \in T$. Then $$f(f^{-1}(c) \circ f^{-1}(d))=f(f^{-1}(c)) * f(f^{-1}(d)=c*d,$$
so $$f^{-1}(c) \circ f^{-1}(d) = f^{-1}(c*d).$$


text:
European Campaign With Best for Britain Surpasses Industry Benchmarks
Earlier this month, we launched one of our biggest political campaigns to date in partnership with Best for Britain, a pro-Remain political campaigning group. In the first week alone, the campaign was viewed nearly a million times, smashing industry standards for engagement rates in the process.
Authors: Ed Fletcher
The 'Where We Stand' campaign opposes the negative portrayal of Europe which has dominated narratives over the last 2 years. It makes the positive case for Europe which the official 2016 Remain campaign, and all other national anti-Brexit campaigns since, have shied away from.
Seven days on from launch and the campaign has received extraordinary engagement online, with many users dubbing it "the campaign the Government should have been run in 2016". In just the first week, the video has been watched almost 1 million times. 1 in 4 people watching the full 75 second campaign flagship video online, with click through rates (CTRs) on some ads as high as 10%.
Thousands have spent up to 3 minutes deepening their engagement with our interactive map on the campaign landing page. The purpose of the bespoke page is to provide a learning platform for users to understand more about projects and people that have benefited from European support.
We're particularly proud of the fact that our incredible team produced the campaign – which covers 9 projects from 6 counties across the UK – in just 6 weeks. As well as the flagship video, we also produced over 90 supporting graphic assets using our neuromarketing expertise to craft multi-layered, tailored messaging, which will be distributed across social media over the next few weeks.
Ed Fletcher, Managing Director at Shape History
"We were hugely excited when Best for Britain approached us to produce this campaign – we absolutely agreed that the public deserved to see a positive campaign to reinforce the UK's relationship with Europe, rather than the ineffective scaremongering of 2016."
"At a time when politicians have lost so much of the public's trust, we wanted to focus on the people that really matter, and create a platform for them to tell their unheard stories. It's been a monumental team effort and the initial success of the campaign is a testament to that fact."
Naomi Smith, CEO of Best for Britain:
Shape History were given a tough assignment: to create the campaign Remain should have run in 2016. With the process of leaving the EU at a critical juncture, and with the country teetering on the edge of a cliff-edge Brexit, a campaign that could engage with undecided voters and get out the message that the EU stands with us was vital.
Earlier this month, Government adviser Dominic Cummings suggested remainers needed to get outside of London to speak with real people. Phase two of the campaign activated this week, with projections of campaign messaging and that of the local people featured on buildings in Manchester (coinciding with the Conservative Party Conference), Bradford, Stoke, Swansea and ending in London.
If you're looking to create a behaviour change campaign and like what you see here, get in touch with our Senior Leadership Team today!
Tags: Behaviour Change, Campaigns, Digital marketing
Ed Fletcher co-managing director


Back in the day I had an Amiga 2500/30 with an A2286 as my "swiss army knife" home computer; not only did I have the ability to run MacOS (ShapeShifter) at native speed, but the 8MHz 286 bridgeboard allowed me to do anything IBM PC related. However, I was always disappointed that Windows was dog slow on the A2286. To make matters worse, it felt that whenever disk activity happened via the Amiga-hosted bridge (to a dedicated partition, not a hardfile) the speaker would beep a few times a second.
Why was the performance so bad and why did it beep so much?
An educated guess - the video was really handled by the Amiga, so that it could appear in an Amiga desktop window. (You could hook up a video card into one of the ISA slots, but then you'd need a monitor hooked to that video card's video port.) Assuming you were not using a separate monitor, that would explain the poor performance. In DOS mode, the graphical impact would be minimal to none most of the time, so you wouldn't notice the poor video performance.
Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged amiga windows31 or ask your own question.


"La casa di Zefiro" is situated in the heart of the Montalbano. In a Protected Area next to become a Natural Park, Thanks to the ideal geographic position many historical centers like Vinci , Pisa, Siena, Florence (30 minutes drive).
Villa Ulivi is a remarkably beautiful and luxurious fifteenth century Florentine Villa located few minutes away from Florence's historic city centre and from its main monuments, as well as from the shopping area.
Tourist House Duomo is placed in an historical palace in Via de' Cerretani, one of the most famous roads of the center of Florence.
Located a stroll away from the heart of Florence, "I Due Leoni" b & b purposes to reproduce the cosiness and warmth of your own home and yet it provides you with all the comforts of a good hotel.
Are you searching for bed and breakfast accomodations in the historic center of Florence? Are you on honeymoon and would like to spend romantic nights in a Suite De Luxe? Are you in Florence on businness and need to rent an exclusive and quiet room?
This B & B is situated in the historical center of the city at the first and third floor of an 18th century building. If you love shopping, colours, art and crowds it is placed in the right district for you!


text:
San Diego (619) 255-7310
maricela@amezolalg.com
Facebook-f Linkedin-in Yelp Envelope
Removal Defense / Waivers
Employment and Investor
Summary Dissolution
Persons who have a family relationship with a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident may seek to obtain legal status in the United States by filing a family petition. United States immigration system is one of the most complex in the world. The visa rules and associated laws can be interpreted differently by the various government bodies entangled within the immigration world. This website is not a substitute for help from our office to help you and your family with your specific immigration matters.
There are two groups of family based immigrant visa categories which include immediate relatives and family preference categories. These visa categories are based on a close family relationship with either a United States citizen described as an Immediate Relative or a Lawful Permanent Resident which requires their relatives to "stand-in-line." The following individuals are classified immediate relatives:
Spouse of a U.S. Citizen
Unmarried Child Under 21 Years of Age of a U.S. Citizen
Orphan adopted abroad by a U.S. Citizen
Orphan to be adopted in the U.S. by a U.S. citizen
Parent of a U.S. Citizen who is at least 21 years old
The United States also has the Family Preference Immigrant Visas. These visa types are for specific, more distant, family relationships with a U.S. citizen and some specified relationships with a Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR). The family preference categories are:
Family First Preference (F1): Unmarried sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their minor children, if any. Only 23,400 visas are allowed annually.
Family Second Preference (F2):
F2A: Spouses and Children of Lawful Permanent Residents
F2B: Unmarried Sons and Daughters (21 years of age or older) of Lawful Permanent Residents.
Family Third Preference (F3): Married sons and daughters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and children.
Family Fourth Preference (F4): Brothers and sisters of U.S. citizens, and their spouses and minor children, provided the U.S. citizens are at least 21 years of age.
All of the people who are "waiting-in-line' have a priority date which they much check against the Visa Bulletin Board. This will allow them to ensure their priority date has come up and therefore can file their adjustment applications if in the United States or Consular Process if abroad. Before you file, you must ensure to consult an attorney to advise you of the various inadmissibility laws that might affect you. Our office is fully equipped to answer any questions and help guide you through the process.
Here is a list of other specific areas we are able to assist you.
Fiancé visas
Removal of conditional permanent residency; subsequent divorce
Renewal / replacement of Green Cards
Replacement of Naturalization / Citizenship documents
I-130 immigrant petitions for siblings, children, parents, spouses, step-kids
Immigrant domestic abuse / Battered spouse visas (Violence Against Women Act – VAWA)
National Visa Center (NVC) Consular processing
Advanced parole
Re-entry permits
Deportation Defense / Waivers
Removal, Adjustment and Asylum
USCIS News
USCIS Forms
ICE Detention Centers
San Diego Superior Courts
Employment & Investor Visas
Amezola Legal Group
4541 College Avenue,
Facebook Linkedin Yelp Envelope
2023 © Amezola Legal Group, APC. All rights Reserved.
Web Design by Gee Productions


The Lucy Vneck Tank is a loose fit, scoop V-neck, sleeveless tank top with rounded hems and high side slits. The tank features eyelet with lace up detailing at neckline.This top is made with a medium weight slub knit fabric that is soft, drapes well and has some stretch.
Click here to be notified by email when The Lucy Vneck Tank - Black becomes available.


text:
namespace rustla2 {

template <typename T>
void BanMediator<T>::WriteJSON(
    std::shared_ptr<T> collection, std::shared_ptr<rustla2::Ban> ban,
    rapidjson::Writer<rapidjson::StringBuffer>* writer) {
  writer->StartObject();
  writer->Key("ban");
  ban->WriteJSON(writer);
  writer->Key("entry");

  auto model = collection->GetByID(ban->GetID());
  if (model == nullptr) {
    writer->Null();
  } else {
    model->WriteJSON(writer);
  }

  writer->EndObject();
}

template <typename T>
Status BanMediator<T>::SetIsBanned(const uint64_t entry_id,
                                   std::shared_ptr<T> collection,
                                   const bool value) {
  auto model = collection->GetByID(entry_id);
  if (model == nullptr) {
    return Status(StatusCode::ERROR, "invalid entry id",
                  folly::sformat("no entry found with id {}", entry_id));
  }

  if (model->GetIsBanned() == value) {
    return Status(
        StatusCode::ERROR, "invalid entry",
        value ? "entry is already banned" : "entry is already unbanned");
  }

  model->SetIsBanned(value);
  model->Save();

  return Status::OK;
}

template <typename TCollection, typename TBanMediator>
Bans<TCollection, TBanMediator>::Bans(sqlite::database db,
                                      const std::string& table_name,
                                      std::shared_ptr<TCollection> collection)
    : db_(db), table_name_(table_name), collection_(collection) {
  InitTable();

  db_ << folly::sformat("SELECT MAX(id) + 1 FROM {}", table_name_) >>
      [&](uint64_t next_id) { next_id_ = next_id; };

  const auto sql = R"sql(
      SELECT
        `id`,
        `entry_id`,
        strftime('%s', `expiry_time`),
        `note`
      FROM `{}`
      WHERE `is_active` = 1
      ORDER BY `expiry_time` DESC
    )sql";
  auto query = db_ << folly::sformat(sql, table_name_);

  query >> [&](const uint64_t id, const uint64_t entry_id,
               const uint64_t expiry_time, const std::string& note) {
    Insert(std::make_shared<Ban>(db_, table_name_, id, entry_id, expiry_time,
                                 note));
  };

  LOG(INFO) << "read " << Size() << " bans from " << table_name_;
}

template <typename TCollection, typename TBanMediator>
void Bans<TCollection, TBanMediator>::InitTable() {
  boost::shared_lock<boost::shared_mutex> read_lock(lock_);

  auto sql = R"sql(
      CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS `` (
        `id` INT PRIMARY KEY ASC,
        `entry_id` INT,
        `expiry_time` DATETIME NOT NULL,
        `is_active` TINYINT(1) DEFAULT 1,
        `note` VARCHAR(255),
        `created_at` DATETIME NOT NULL,
        `updated_at` DATETIME NOT NULL
      )
    )sql";
  db_ << folly::sformat(sql, table_name_);
}

template <typename TCollection, typename TBanMediator>
void Bans<TCollection, TBanMediator>::WriteJSON(
    rapidjson::Writer<rapidjson::StringBuffer>* writer) {
  boost::shared_lock<boost::shared_mutex> read_lock(lock_);

  writer->StartArray();
  for (const auto& it : data_) {
    it.second->WriteJSON(writer);
  }
  writer->EndArray();
}

template <typename TCollection, typename TBanMediator>
std::shared_ptr<Ban> Bans<TCollection, TBanMediator>::Emplace(
    const uint64_t entry_id, const time_t expiry_time, const std::string& note,
    Status* status) {
  auto ban = std::make_shared<Ban>(db_, table_name_, GetNextID(), entry_id,
                                   expiry_time, note);

  auto ban_status = TBanMediator::Ban(collection_, ban);
  if (!ban_status.Ok()) {
    LOG(ERROR) << "Bans::Emplace " << ban_status;
    if (status) *status = ban_status;
    return nullptr;
  }

  auto save_status = ban->SaveNew();
  if (!save_status.Ok()) {
    LOG(ERROR) << "Bans::Emplace " << save_status;
    if (status) *status = save_status;
    return nullptr;
  }

  boost::unique_lock<boost::shared_mutex> write_lock(lock_);
  Insert(ban);

  if (status) *status = Status::OK;
  return ban;
}

template <typename TCollection, typename TBanMediator>
Status Bans<TCollection, TBanMediator>::EraseByID(const uint64_t id) {
  auto ban = data_.find(id);
  if (ban == data_.end()) {
    LOG(ERROR) << "Bans::EraseByID id does not exist: " << id;
    return Status::ERROR;
  }
  return Erase(ban->second);
}

template <typename TCollection, typename TBanMediator>
Status Bans<TCollection, TBanMediator>::Erase(std::shared_ptr<Ban> ban) {
  TBanMediator::Unban(ban, collection_);

  ban->SetActive(false);
  ban->Save();

  boost::unique_lock<boost::shared_mutex> write_lock(lock_);
  data_.erase(ban->GetID());
  entry_ids_.erase(ban->GetEntryID());

  return Status::OK;
}

template <typename TCollection, typename TBanMediator>
void Bans<TCollection, TBanMediator>::Insert(std::shared_ptr<Ban> ban) {
  entry_ids_.insert(ban->GetEntryID());
  data_[ban->GetID()] = ban;
}

template <typename TCollection, typename TBanMediator>
void Bans<TCollection, TBanMediator>::ClearExpired() {
  std::vector<std::shared_ptr<Ban>> expired_bans;
  auto now = std::chrono::duration_cast<std::chrono::seconds>(
                 std::chrono::system_clock::now().time_since_epoch())
                 .count();

  {
    boost::shared_lock<boost::shared_mutex> read_lock(lock_);
    for (const auto& it : data_) {
      if (it.second->GetExpiryTime() < now) {
        expired_bans.push_back(it.second);
      }
    }
  }

  for (const auto ban : expired_bans) {
    Erase(ban);
  }

  if (expired_bans.size()) {
    LOG(INFO) << "Bans::ClearExpired "
              << "table_name: " << table_name_ << ", "
              << "expired " << expired_bans.size() << " ban(s)";
  }
}

}  // namespace rustla2

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
The Dream Engine
Nocturnal Pleasures
The Dream Engine : Arena Stage 1972
Credits sheet for this staging of The Dream Engine which sadly never happened.
Document dated 15th April 1972.
Historian .................... Jeff Weiss
Max ......................... Larry Block
Emily ....................... Trina Parks
Baal ....................... Richard Gere
The Girl ............... Mary Ellen Parks
Alaina Reed, who was the first person ever to publicly perform Heaven Can Wait. Unfortunately, her version was never recorded.
Davidson Lloyd
Chris Torch
Stephen Keath
Woody Merrill
Priscilla Davis
Larry Dilg
Reuben Edinger
Barry Keating
Grover Kemble
Richard Kinscherf
Judy London
Arleen Mindis
Kathryn Posin
Alaina Reed
Arty Wilkins
Piano, director ............. Martin Brody
Guitar ................ Jeffrey Southworth
Organ/arp .................. Norman Durkee
Bass Guitar ............ Ernest Provencher
Saxophone ................. Charles Tokarz
Drummer ...................... Eric Brandt
Drummer ..................... Craig McNeer
Director ................ Richard Pearlman
Playwright .................. Jim Steinman
Choreographer .............. Kathryn Posin
Designer ................... David Jenkins
Costumes ................ Marjorie Slaiman
Lights ..................... Billy Mintzer
Media Design ............. Jack Coddington
Arranger ................... Michael Kamen
Woah, the Richard Gere? As Baal??
Yes! Jim confirms he was a fabulous singer and all-round huge talent. According to Barry Keating: "Richard Gere at that time had long hippie hair down to his waist. At his audition he accompanied himself at the piano. He was the only person out of the multitudes who auditioned who could sing the extremely challenging score perfectly."
Credits sheet for The Dream Engine at Arena Stage, Washington D.C. 1972
Richard Gere's résumé
Alaina Reed's résumé


text:
Home Aircraft Azerbaijan hands over Air Force command to Turkey
Azerbaijan hands over Air Force command to Turkey
The Azerbaijani military has passed control of its air force operations in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region to Turkey, Yerevan claims. Ankara insists no Turkish aircraft was used in the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.
Turkey's military command has allegedly been coordinating the Azerbaijani airstrikes against targets in Nagorno-Karabakh, the Armenian defense ministry's spokeswoman, Shushan Stepanyan, said in a series of Twitter posts on Wednesday.
She claimed Turkish officers "directly control" the actions of Azerbaijan's military aviation from aboard an E-7T early warning and control aircraft flying over Turkish territory between the cities of Erzurum and Kars, west of Armenia's borders.
The Turkish Air Force possesses at least four Boeing 737 AEW&C, also known as E-7Ts in Turkey. Outfitted with an array radar capable of simultaneous area search and fighter control at a distance of over 600 kilometers, these planes are designed for early warning and coordination of airborne missions.
Their role in the recent flare-up between Armenia and Azerbaijan remains unclear.
Stepanyan claims that Ankara has overseen at least two air strikes that the Azerbaijani forces launched against the towns of Hadrut and Martuni, located in the disputed region.
She also alleged that at least two Turkish F-16 fighters took part in these air raids. Yerevan did not reveal if the attacks resulted in any casualties or material damage.
Turkey has denied that any of its forces are deployed to aid Baku in its conflict with Yerevan while maintaining that the Azerbaijani army has the ability and qualifications to achieve victory on their own.
On Wednesday, Turkey's Ministry of National Defense issued a statement accusing Armenia of disseminating "false claims" and "propaganda." Ankara stated that Yerevan lacks evidence to justify its claims, claims that cannot be "taken seriously."
Later on Wednesday, Stepanyan published a video on her Facebook page, which appears to be a flight-tracker map, purportedly showing the movements of the Azerbaijani Su-25 planes and Turkish F-16 jets over Nagorno-Karabakh.
The jets marked as F-16 on the video were, however, moving not from Turkish territory to the south but from a north-western region of Azerbaijan. The video also supposedly showed the Turkish E-7T control aircraft circling above the Turkish territory west of Armenia.
Baku has not commented on Yerevan's statements, while posting a series of videos showing its forces supposedly launching airstrikes against Armenia's artillery positions and a gathering point. The ministry did not name the areas targeted in the airstrikes.
It is not the first time that Armenia has accused Turkey of fighting on the Azerbaijani side. On Tuesday, it said a Turkish F-16 fighter had shot down an Armenian Su-25 jet – something that both Baku and Ankara denied.
At the same time, Turkey has vowed to help Azerbaijan repel "Armenian aggression," offering both diplomatic and military assistance.
The developments come following an outbreak of violence between the two neighbors over this long-disputed territory. The conflict broke out on Sunday, after an exchange of fire between the Azeri and ethnic Armenian soldiers in the Nagorno-Karabakh region.
The ethnic Armenian enclave, which is a self-proclaimed republic but is internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan, has been in a state of frozen conflict between Yerevan and Baku since the Nagorno-Karabakh war that ended in 1994 with ethnic Armenian victory.
Azerbaijan maintains that 20% of its territory is illegally occupied by Armenia, West Bank style. Each side has accused the other of killing civilians, while posting videos purportedly showing their rival's military hardware being destroyed.
Moscow has condemned the alleged use of "Syrian and Libyan mercenaries and terrorists" in the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh, calling them a threat to the entire region that must "immediately" be withdrawn.
The ministry called on the "leaderships of the states concerned" to prevent the use of foreign mercenaries and terrorists and "immediately" withdraw them from the area.
While not naming names, it was clear the message was intended for Turkey and Azerbaijan. Earlier this week, the Guardian and Reuters both reported that Turkish-backed militants from the Syrian province of Idlib, previously sent to fight for Ankara in Libya, have been recruited to go to Azerbaijan and work in "security" roles.
Azerbaijan claims to have killed or wounded more than 2,000 Armenian troops during four days of fierce fighting in the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region. Yerevan's own estimate of losses sustained, so far, is considerably lower.
Around 2,300 "enemy personnel" have been killed or wounded since fighting broke out at the weekend, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday. Officials added that an Armenian S-300 air defense missile system was destroyed at the front line in Karabakh, along with around 130 tanks and more than 200 artillery pieces.
Heavy fighting broke out on September 27 after both sides blamed each other for violating a 1994 ceasefire agreement. The clashes continued throughout Wednesday morning as Azerbaijan accused Armenia of shelling the town of Tartar in the west of the country.
RT. com / ABC Flash Point News 2020.
Previous articleBelgian government on collision course with Israel
Next articleTurkish F-16 warplane shoots down Armenian SU-25 fighter jet
Israeli drones tested during the scene?
baronmaya(@baronmaya)
Reply to Bam Bam
Israel is involved in every conflict on planet Earth?
Turkey wants NATO troops stationed @ the Syrian border
Roadmap to stop lost UN War on Libya agreed in Berlin
CTB gaat Publieke Stranden op Curacao beheren


text:
January 25, 2023 MJA Uncategorized 20
Blaze:
Progressive California lawmakers introduced a bill last week that would impose a new annual tax on wealthy residents, even if they flee the state, Fox News Digital reported.
The legislation, proposed by Assemblyman Alex Lee (D) and sponsored by nine other state Democrats, would require California residents with a "worldwide net worth" above $1 billion to pay an additional 1.5% yearly tax beginning in January 2024. As early as 2026, the tax threshold could drop to $50 million with an imposed 1% annual tax.
"Billionaires aren't paying what they owe while enjoying public investments to build their empires," Lee wrote on Twitter. "My colleagues today and colleagues from 7 other states are introducing Wealth Taxes to bring tax justice #TaxTheRich." MORE
20 Comments on California Dems propose new wealth tax that would follow residents who leave the state
LocoBlancoSaltine January 25, 2023 at 12:40 pm
I'm guessing California will come after Nicole-Brown Simpson's money and NOT OJ's for leaving California…
RadioMattM January 25, 2023 at 12:43 pm
Does this include politicians who became millionaires from insider trading or only to people who have built society's infrastructure?
Dr. Hambone January 25, 2023 at 12:45 pm
Tax justice, huh? There needs to be another kind of justice that involves dead commies hanging from lamp posts.
TSUNAMI January 25, 2023 at 12:50 pm
I'd Like to see them try it. Really.
All they want to do is steal as much from our trusts as they can before the populace realizes they've been gifting money to the IRS all of these years.
Do some history on where the 1040 form was originated from, and what it meant….and still does.
This Texas Has Had Enough January 25, 2023 at 1:11 pm
One of the more preposterous proposals from California.
Odin 2013 January 25, 2023 at 1:38 pm
They tried this in MA, but with businesses that left the state; the SJC deemed it unconstitutional under the state constitution. I don't believe this will pass muster with the supremes, even if it does in CA court.
¡BENITO THE BOMBED BEANER! January 25, 2023 at 1:42 pm
WHAT DO YOU EXPECT FROM A STATE GOVT THAT SCREAMS ABOUT DROUGHT AND FLOODING SIMULTANEOUSLY??
THEY'RE INSANE
President Elect Toxic Deplorable Racist SAH Neanderthal B Woodman Domestic Violent Extremist SuperStraight January 25, 2023 at 1:43 pm
All I can say is…..I'd like to see Kalifornication try it.
If the runaway resident has no bank account in the state, no investments, holdings, or property in the state, doesn't live in the state, doesn't buy FROM the state, doesn't SELL to the state, doesn't file a Kali state income tax form, pays no Kali state income (or other) taxes, has NOTHING to tie or connect him to the state……how will they enforce this new proposed "wealth tax"?
What WILL they attempt to seize? Or garnish?
I can just see it now:
Kali: "You owe us money, ya deadbeat millionaire"
Rich Person: "ESAD. You get nothing from me"
What next? Is New-comb going to attempt to tax us who have never lived or worked in Kali at all, at any time?
Claudia January 25, 2023 at 1:48 pm
Shoot. I visited California once in the '70s. Will I be taxed?
I know. Everyone do what Obama did. Ignore anything he didn't want to do even if the courts told him he had to.
Brad January 25, 2023 at 2:01 pm
For all of you saying, I'd like to see them try it. Let me give you a little advice. If you move out of California deposit your money in the smallest local bank you can find. Because B of A, Wells Fargo, Chase, etc, will just hand your money to California.
RadioMattM January 25, 2023 at 2:18 pm
When we moved to Texas we specifically looked for a bank that was not multi-state. The only reason we even thought of the big banks was to specifically avoid them.
TSUNAMI January 25, 2023 at 2:32 pm
For the amount of interest the banks give, I don't use them other to cash my checks. Banks AREN'T a safe place to keep your money…..neither is a 401(k).
…but what you say IS true.
Ann Barnhardt made a good point when she said, (paraphrasing) "if you can't stand on top of it with with an AR-15 you don't own it".
grayjohn January 25, 2023 at 2:33 pm
California needs a violent crotch kick with a steel toed constitutional boot.
Flav Saver January 25, 2023 at 2:51 pm
This thread is a keeper
Brad at 2:01
I bet that means any Zelle Connected Netwerk too
Digital Money, No Thanks
Wyatt, Insensitive Progressive Jerk January 25, 2023 at 2:51 pm
On one hand, the mega-wealthy in California are the root cause of many of the state's problems and I don't feel sorry for them. The poor and the middle class are welcome to live in Stockton, Fresno, Barstow or San Bernardino, but stay the fuck out of the trendy coastal areas.
But even assuming it's constitutional (which I doubt), this brain damaged proposal would have ramifications far beyond just taxing the net wealth of billionaires – it would set a precedent of a net wealth tax on every citizen and allow each state to "follow" outbound migrants in order to collect that pound of flesh. California knows its policies are driving the wealthy (who pay 40% of the overall tax bill) out of the state, and this stupid proposal would accelerate that exodus. Rather than address this natural dynamic, California progressives would rather follow these folks and take their money where ever they end up.
Again, I don't have a whole lot of sympathy for the mega rich. But the answer is not "let's figure out how the state can take more money from people" because giving states like California more money is even worse.
Wyatt,
The people yo describe have not left California so taxing them into poverty won't be a problem. California has literally lost half it's tax base in four years. And every time a large company leaves Newsom's reaction is, well bye, who needs your sorry ass. Well turns out he does. Those are the people he's targeting.
Wild Bill January 25, 2023 at 3:04 pm
I get the feeling California could even try to make this law ex post facto. I'm sure it's at least crossed their minds.
Tim - FJB January 25, 2023 at 3:18 pm
Just as the 16th Amendment was sold as "only taxing the top 1/2 of 1% of all income" it soon expanded to include even Fido the dog's bone collection.
From: "Would you mind not smoking?"
To: "Smoking is banned in your own vehicle and home."
From: "We need to curb the Jew's influence in University."
To: "The Final Solution."
Gov't is a cudgel. A dangerous weapon which should be used sparingly.
General Malaise January 25, 2023 at 8:35 pm
If they were smart, the Billionaire's would pool some money, buy some weapons and blow California into the ocean.
Dr. Hambone January 26, 2023 at 12:14 am
They start with billionaires and work their way down to thousandaires. No one will be left untouched.


text:
Book Review-One Magic Moment
One Magic Moment by Lynn Kurland
Also in this series: This is all I ask
Series: de Piaget #13
Published by Jove / Penguin Group on May 3rd 2011
Genres: Historical Romance, Medieval Era, Time Travel Romance
Medieval studies scholar Tess Alexander is thrilled for the chance to live in a medieval castle. But then a trip to the village brings her face-to-face with the owner of the local garage, who looks a great deal like the man who married her sister...800 years in the past. She's determined to remain objective about magic and destiny, but she can't help wondering about that mysterious, sword-wielding mechanic.
Tess Alexander, living in a restored medieval castle, with a degree and a work that she is passionate about, but then one day when she takes her car to the garage, she comes face to face with a man that looks exactly like her brother in law, the one that is married to her sister in the past. But as things start to escalate between them she starts to realize that he must be a brother of her brother in law, and wonders how he came to be here in the present day, and why is he here?John De Piaget has been living in the future for quite some time now, and although he misses his family, has come to like it here. But when he meets Tess he knows he is in trouble. For she is the one woman that could dig into his past, and thats the last thing that he needs now. At first Tess and John are bothered by each other, but as time passes by and they start spending more and more time together, chemistry starts to build between them and right when they believe things are going right for the both of them, there is a danger that threatens them both and their futures.
The Hero (John de Piaget)
John is a son of Rhys Piaget, and when he and his father had a falling out, he came to the future and even though now he misses his family, he has settled here in this time. When he first meets he is very unsettled and a bit bothered by her, but he is drawn to her, and despite his best efforts to stay far away, he only ends up being closer to her, and when he starts to start falling for her, he now only wants to protect her and woo her like only a Piaget knight can….
The Heroine (Tess Alexander)
When Tess lost her sister, she felt like she was grieving, but she still had some family left, a wonderful job and career with something she loves, a scholar of medieval history, and lives in a medieval castle, life couldn't be better….until she meets John and her whole life gets topsy turvy and now she doesn't have any idea what she is doing, until she finds him at her side more than not, and the more she gets to know him the more she wonders if destiny has a hand in the situation she finds herself in and she knows she can easily fall in love with John just like her sister did his brother.
Its been a while since I have read a book from this author and from this series, and now I just want to read all the books in the series again. I have read the earlier books, but none of the recent ones, and after reading One Magic Moment, I now want to read all the others. From the first page I was completely drawn into the story. I Loved Loved Loved these two characters, it was pretty humorous to watch these two fumble through this little romance and courting they have going on. In the beginning we see that they don't really care much for one another, but the more they are in each others companies, they start to form a powerful bond to each other, and I just had to sigh almost every chapter after that. I definitely loved the plot as well, in the beginning it seemed like it would be just a romance, but there definitely was a danger element that was added. One Magic Moment would have to be on the top of my life of time travel romances, right below Brenda Joyce's. Although this doesn't have much intimacy in the book, which is standard with this author. However I did love the romance level in this novel, not steamy by any means, but I fell in love with it all the same!!!
About Lynn Kurland
Lynn began her writing career at the tender age of five with a series of illustrated novellas entitled Clinton's Troubles in which the compelling hero found himself in all sorts of . . . well, trouble. She was living in Hawaii at the time and the scope for her imagination (poisoned fish, tropical cliffs, large spiders) was great and poor Clinton bore the brunt of it. After returning to the mainland, her writing gave way to training in classical music and Clinton, who had been felled with arrows, eaten by fish and sent tumbling off cars, was put aside for operatic heroes in tights.
Somehow during high school, in between bouts of Verdi and Rossini, she managed to find time to submerge herself in equal parts Tolkien, Barbara Cartland and Mad Magazine. During college, a chance encounter with a large library stack of romances left her hooked, gave her the courage to put pen to paper herself, and finally satisfied that need for a little bit of fantasy with a whole lot of romance!
Website | Goodreads


text:
By Jeffrey Cavanaugh
Ethopian Jews celebrate the Sigad Festival in Jerusalem in November 1993. (Photo/via Wikimedia)
Late this past January a story out of Israel raised disturbing questions about the nature of Israeli democracy and the degree to which Israel can be said to be home for all Jews regardless of race or nationality. In condensed form, the story is this – Ethiopian Jews who have migrated to Israel since the mid-1980s under the Israeli Laws of Return were given Depo-Provera, a long-term birth control drug that is given via injections, without informed consent over many years.
While long rumored, only this past month did the Israeli government tacitly admit that wrongdoing had occurred by ordering and an end to the policy of giving birth control injections to women who might not understand its effects. While it is not clear how widespread the practice was, initial reports from the Israeli press suggest many women were first injected while in transit camps to Israel and were led to believe that they would be denied entry if they refused. Other Ethiopian women, in turn, were led to believe by Israeli medical officials that the injections were vaccinations, vitamin boosters or other such non-reproductive shots.
Though we may never know how many women were subjected to this practice for sure, there is a hint to be found in the demographic data tracking the fate of the Ethiopian Jewish community since their entry into the Promised Land. According to an Israeli investigative journalist, the Ethiopian community's birth rate has plummeted by 50 percent over the past 10 years, which would put its decline among the most dramatic in the world. If such a steep decline were to occur so quickly in a population in Europe or the United States, alarm bells would have no doubt raised an outcry in the public health community.
Some in Israel and outside it have tried to explain, if not defend, the reports as either overhyped by Israel's enemies or argue that non-consent was misconstrued as being more prevalent than it actually was. Indeed, one can point to similar populations that have emigrated from poor, agrarian societies into wealthy, advanced societies which have experienced similar declines in birth rate. U.S. Hispanics, for instance, have seen a similar decline, albeit over a much longer span of time, and low birthrates are a hallmark of every developed society.
Be that as it may, the charges being made against the Israeli government by Ethiopian Jews does not occur in a vacuum. As a post on the Open Zion blog at The Daily Beast points out, the birth control scandal is merely one data point in a relative sea of examples that suggests that Ethiopian Jews, who are black and poor, have found a less than a warm welcome in their new homeland. Ethiopian Jews, for instance, were required to take HIV tests before entering Israel — which no other group of Israelis was ever required to do. Partly as a result of this fear of African HIV, the blood donations of Ethiopian Jews were routinely discarded for 12 years between 1984 – the outset of mass Ethiopian migration into Israel – and 1996.
It just wasn't Ethiopian blood that was questioned, either. Ethiopian Jews were sometimes required to partake in conversion ceremonies to demonstrate their faith to skeptical Israeli religious authorities, while some couples were forced to remarry using rites acceptable to Israeli rabbis – who have the final say in determining what constitutes Judaism in an officially Jewish state. In another example, the Israeli religious establishment has stated it intends to abolish the Ethiopian community's traditional clergy.
It should be noted that Ethiopian Jews have not been the only ones to suffer discrimination in Israel. Sephardi Jews, who came to Israel from around the Middle East and North Africa after the establishment of Israel by European, or Ashkenazi, Jews in 1948 experienced similar, though arguably not as intense, discrimination and mistreatment. Like the Ethiopians, the Sephardim were poor, less educated, ethnically different and were generally given short shrift by Ashkenazi officialdom and suffered from widespread prejudice in the larger Ashkenazi society they found themselves in.
Still, as far as is known there were no allegations of the use of birth control to limit the Sephardic population of Israel in the same way as is alleged in the case of Israel's Ethiopian community. For similar examples, one has to go back to much darker chapters in Western history, such as the U.S. experience with eugenics in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Edwin Black's seminal book "War Against The Weak" is probably the best and most detailed account of what occurred in America during those years. At the time, the U.S. was subject to a wave of immigration that, from Europe, brought a seemingly unending torrent of Slavs, Southern Europeans and ironically, Eastern European Jews to America's shores. From Asia, Chinese and Japanese migrants, like Europeans, left their homeland to settle up and down America's Pacific Coast.
While the Chinese Exclusion Act and the 1907 "Gentleman's Agreement" with Japan choked off the flow of Asian migration into the western United States, immigration of "undesirables" from Europe was a tougher problem. For one, the connection between the U.S. East Coast and Europe was much more deeply ingrained than that between the Pacific Coast and Asia. For another, America's capitalist powerhouses, centered in the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, and upper Midwest, demanded an unending supply of cheap labor that only mass immigration from Europe could provide.
The problem, therefore, became what to do with the newcomer's descendants. Add in the problems caused by industrialization that produced immense slums filled with poor people and the unyielding problem of the rural poor in Appalachia and the South, it seemed to many people that the country was being overrun with the "wrong" sort of people – that is, people who were not WASPs – White, Anglo-Saxon Protestants. Offering a solution to this problem, advocates of a new "scientific" discipline of eugenics entered the picture.
Eugenics was an attempt to marry the newly-emergent scientific field of population genetics to social problems of the sort bedeviling America at the turn of the last century. Closely associated with Herbert Spencer's theory of Social Darwinism, eugenics offered the promise of making a better America by breeding better Americans. It was, and remains today, a deeply controversial, even repugnant idea: Social problems are purely the fault of individual circumstance and predisposition. For American robber barons reveling in the riches amassed by unfettered Laissez-Faire capitalism, such an idea proved extremely popular and was widely supported. Eugenics became an accepted academic discipline, funded by the wealthy, and its advocates began to lobby for public policy to put into practice their ideas.
The results were horrific, and presaged worse to come. In 1907, the U.S. state of Indiana passed the first sterilization law premised on the ideas of the eugenics movement, which was followed by California, Virginia and a slew of others. These laws authorized the forced sterilization of those deemed unfit or feebleminded and supported at the public's expense. Blindness, deafness, muteness, mental illness, homelessness and many other conditions deemed a burden on the public purse became justification for one to be rounded up by the state and medically sterilized by medical officials in the state's employ.
In what became the most infamous case of forced sterilization in America, a young woman by the name of Carrie Buck – a seventeen-year-old-girl from Charlottesville, Va. – was chosen by sterilization advocates to be the first person sterilized under her state's new eugenics law. Carrie, who already had a child out of wedlock and had a reputation for promiscuity, was seen as a viable candidate to test the constitutionality of the new Virginia statute since both she and her mother were already wards of the state at the Virginia Colony for the Epileptic and Feebleminded.
In what today seems a Kafkaesque joke of a hearing, so unreal that we want to believe it is parody, medical experts and Eugenics advocates argued the Buck brood was obviously unfit and thus ripe candidates for medical sterilization. A judge agreed, and so, too, did the U.S. Supreme Court. None other than Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr. wrote the majority opinion backing Carrie Buck's sterilization.
Writing for the majority in 1927, he stated that "three generations of imbeciles is enough," and "it is better for all the world, if instead of waiting to execute degenerate offspring for crime, or to let them starve for their imbecility, society can prevent those who are manifestly unfit from continuing their kind." Carrie was sterilized, and thousands more like her followed. Early 20th-century America being what it was, these laws mostly unfairly targeted the poor, the downtrodden and those unwanted ethnic groups that sullied the country's idea of itself as a white, prosperous, Christian nation by their mere existence.
What transpired in America, however, paled in comparison to the horror committed in the name of racial health by Hitler's Germany, where not only was sterilization of the unfit de rigueur, so was the wholesale massacre of unwanted, non-Aryan peoples. In the Aryan paradise Hitler wanted to create, the lucky ones were to be merely enslaved and their culture destroyed – such was to be the fate of the Slavs of Eastern Europe. The unlucky ones, such as the Jews and Gypsies, were to be annihilated en toto – exterminated as vermin or excised like a cancer. It is no coincidence, then, that sterilization laws began to be overturned here in the United States and the Eugenic movement withered worldwide as the Nazi regime took eugenics to its "final" conclusion.
Given this history, that Israel – itself a country founded as a refuge for those victimized by such unspeakable crimes – could not only contemplate but apparently also condone a policy rooted in the same ideas and prejudices is deeply depressing. It is further evidence, as if we needed more, that the impulses to fear, loathe and seek to eliminate that and those who are different or troublesome can be found in every society. When put under extreme pressure, society – at the behest of people espousing bad ideas – can do terrible things. It is proof, once again, that no country, society, people, or faith is exempt from this kind of evil.
But it offers a chance for hope, too. It is to the Israelis' credit that a muckraking Israeli journalist dug up this story and that many there are outraged over what happened. Israeli liberalism, as seen in the recent election there, is not entirely dead yet, nor are Israel's democratic institutions totally bereft. Given time, an investigation can be launched and justice eventually done. In the long run, the scandal can be used as teachable moment to show how easily the poor, the different and the disenfranchised can be victimized and ground under.
It also demonstrates once again the old maxim that all it takes for evil to triumph in the world is for good people to sit back and do nothing. Israel's feisty journalists and activists demonstrate that there, at least, many good people aren't entirely resting on their laurels. They are hard at work seeking out injustice and calling out the privileged and the powerful for their crimes. Though it is buried in a terrible scandal, this is good news that everyone needs to hear.
mph11p2


Spike is intelligent, insightful and a skilled analyst. His sense of humor is dry and sarcastic, and he carries himself with swagger.1890 : Spike, Drusilla, Angelus, and Darla attended the ballet Giselle , in St Petersburg, Russia. In this musical extravaganza, Sunnydale residents find themselves bursting into song, and flame, when a demon attempts to make Dawn his bride.