Typical Day at Cap dAgde. Breakfast, L'Horizon and Babylone.
We do not tend to lie in at Cap dAgde as there is too much to do and see, so we are up at 8.30 or 9.00am. We often breakfast at L'Horizon where it is just so nice to sit in their birthday suits on the terrace. We take a leisurely breakfast of bread, croissants, coffee or sometimes bacon and eggs and enjoys the views. The Mediterranean shimmers and slowly people start to fill the beach, bathing as nature intended, under the warm sun. Enjoying time away from the daily toil back home, afterwards perhaps a little shopping, checking out the fashions and a purchase for Mrs P to wear in the evening.
This year in our second week however, we stayed at Babylone, so the routine varied a little. A brief stroll through the village to the bakery and supermarket. The proprietor of the bakery is so jolly, a bonjour, bon vacance for each customer. This week, back to the apartment and breakfast on the terrace. Then a spell by the pool and then we often go to the beach around lunchtime and may park ourselves on the sun beds at Les Galions or this year we enjoyed the beds below the Beach restaurant just before the couples beach. The service here was great and the wines and food enjoyable. Then a read of the newspaper or a book and time for a walk along the beach to cool off in the breeze and to enjoy the views.
In the late afternoon or early evening, we return to the apartment and dress for the night ahead. We like to dine at Jardin 16; always reliable and the chance to chat over dinner and perhaps make conversation with the neighbouring table. This year we met a lovely couple from London who were both 84 and had been going to Cap D'Agde for many years! Afterwards a promenade, perhaps a drink at Waikiki beach to take in the sights. Melrose is a favourite of ours and on a good night the atmosphere rocks and the sexual tension is so acute.
We always try and take in a mousse party and this year were lucky enough to be at Babylone when they had a pool party for the SDC crowd. And what a party it was!
We remember all these lovely experiences and especially as the winter draws close, they keep us going until summer next year when we can do it all again!


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Donald Trump's power dynamic with Nancy Pelosi will be on full display at the State of the Union
Posted by QuestCinq on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 · Leave a Comment
WASHINGTON – When President Donald Trump climbs the rostrum to deliver his second State of the Union address, he'll share the stage with the Democrat who has become his most vexing political rival: House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
White House aides say Trump intends to deliver a speech focused on bipartisanship. But sitting just over his left shoulder in the House chamber, the California Democrat will be a stark reminder of the precarious state of his proposed border wall, the negotiations to avoid another government shutdown and his legislative agenda for the next two years.
Associates of Pelosi and Trump said the president appears to have initially misread the speaker and underestimated her willingness to stand firm against his demands for money to pay for a border wall. Trump ultimately agreed to temporarily end a 35-day government shutdown last month even though the short-term funding bill included no money for his border wall.
Earlier, the two clashed about the timing of Trump's address. After Pelosi suggested the president wait to deliver the State of the Union until after the government reopened, Trump first threatened to deliver the speech in another venue before he relented and agreed to hold off until Tuesday.
"I think she's trying to prove that controlling the House allows her to dominate the outcome," former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, a Trump ally, told USA TODAY. "And he's trying to prove that being president allows him to define the outcome. And they have very, very dramatic different goals in mind."
Trump had demanded $5.7 billion to build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border to end the government shutdown that had dragged on for more than a month, leaving some 800,000 federal employees without a paycheck. Democrats refused to allocate the funds and Pelosi called a wall "immoral."
"This is the first couple of rounds of a long heavyweight battle I think they're both trying to see what punches land and how their opposite member reacts," Mark Harkins, a senior fellow at the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University.
Not her 'first rodeo'
Harkins predicted that strategy would favor Pelosi.
"The one with more experience probably knows more about what they're doing.This is not Speaker Pelosi's first rodeo," Harkins said.
Neither Pelosi's office nor the White House responded to questions about the relationship, but analysts said the cold shoulder was predictable. Republicans have turned Pelosi into a bogeyman representing the liberal wing of her party for more than a decade.
In that sense, the relationship has been notable for the fact that Trump has been less personally critical of Pelosi. He has not, for instance, tagged her with a nickname as he has other political opponents. Trump calls Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer "Cryin' Chuck," but acknowledged this week that he likes to call Pelosi, simply, "Nancy."
"I think about it in terms of two people who may not have any incentive to work with each other," said Scott Jennings, a GOP consultant with close ties to Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. "It doesn't portend for a lot of cooperation over the next years."
Jennings said he believes the White House badly misread Pelosi immediately after the November midterm election, as indicated by Trump's repeated predictions that the then-incoming House speaker would be more likely to make a deal after she assumed power.
"'Misreading' is a charitable word," Jennings said.
Trump and Pelosi have ramped up their rhetoric in recent days. The president, in an interview with CBS, described Pelosi as "very rigid" in talks with the White Houseleading up to the shutdown. He has claimed that she "wants open borders" and "doesn't mind human trafficking."
Pelosi and others have questioned the effectiveness of Trump's wall and have described Trump's remarks as "wild and predictable misrepresentations."
Kinder, gentler speaker?
Rep. Mark Meadows of North Carolina, a conservative Republican who is close to the president, said that in private, Trump's opinion of Pelosi "has always been one of a worthy adversary."
"I don't think he's underestimated her," Meadows said. "I think he was getting advice from people on Capitol Hill, and some of his advisers, that she would be a kinder, gentler speaker as it relates to issues where they disagree. And I think that was misplaced advice."
House Democratic Caucus chair Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., said that Trump "may have underestimated her in the weeks leading up to Democrats taking back the majority" but after watching her in action "no one should underestimate" her.
Trump and Pelosi did not speak for weeks during the shutdown. The two spoke by phone on Jan. 28 to confirm details of the State of the Union.
Conflict between presidents and House speakers from opposing parties are not new. Pelosi sparred with President George W. Bush the first time she was speaker, at one point calling him "a total failure." But Pelosi told USA TODAY in December she was nostalgic for the former GOP president because when negotiating "we started with a stipulation of fact." She said that baseline does not exist with Trump.
Gingrich, who was speaker during the second longest shutdown on record, under President Bill Clinton, said that Trump and Pelosi are so far apart on issues, it's hard to see how they'll ever compromise.
"Clinton and I were not that far apart – he'd run as a centrist Democrat," Gingrich said.
"There were a lot of places where we could find a common ground. It's much harder, it seems to me, dealing with Pelosi, to imagine any kind of common ground."
The mutual mistrust could hamper progress on policies where there had long been some hope for bipartisanship, such as on reducing the price of prescription drugs or increasing federal spending on infrastructure.
"I don't think the shutdown impasse completely precludes working together on an issue of mutual concern in the future," said longtime GOP strategist Michael DuHaime. "But it certainly doesn't look like this relationship will ever be confused with Ronald Reagan and Tip O'Neill finding compromise on a host of issues."
Source: USATODAY
Filed under Featured, Latest News · Tagged with Pelosi
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Join a Workgroup — Why work alone or "re-invent the wheel" when you can work with your peers? NCHICA provides a unique opportunity for members to meet on a regular basis with others who do the same job and share the same day-to-day concerns. The Privacy & Security Officials Workgroup, CIO/CMIO Roundtable, and ICD-10 Taskforce are just a few examples of active workgroups. Meetings are free and provide excellent opportunities to network with peers and grow professionally.
Attend an Educational Event — NCHICA sponsors a number of educational events throughout the year: Thought Leader Forums, workshops, the AMC Security & Privacy Conference, and our Annual Conference & Exhibition. These events are packed with educational content and provide an excellent way to meet others in the healthcare industry.
Sponsor a Meal at a Workgroup Meeting — If you are a solution provider and would like to make a presentation before one of our workgroups, there are numerous opportunities to sponsor a lunch and/or breakfast.
Sponsor or Exhibit at an Educational Event — Most NCHICA events have sponsorship and exhibiting opportunities, allowing you to showcase your organization's products and services to healthcare industry leaders.


WB and I celebrated my new journey with steamboat at home. We bought our favourite food and had a hearty warm dinner......really warm due to the hot and humid weather LOL! but no worry...the air con is in full blast :p and what more free flow of beer to cool down the body heat ;p Anyway , to cut the story short, we had a really good time tucking in the food cooked on the induction cooker that comes with a multi purpose stainless shallow pot - just perfect for a steamboat ! A toast to a new journey in life for the both of us. Finally I can be a full time housewife ! Hip hip hooray !!!!! more homecooked food from now on :) Super duper happy that I can have a timeless routine lifestyle...no more alarm clock ! Isn't that wonderful ?
A toast to a new journey !
as we journey together !
Splendid!!! I'd rather invite myself to your place for this than eat anywhere outside in Ipoh. Wink! Wink!
WB looking for the local bud grafted one and plant on big pot ...after eating the local ones ... thick flesh and so sweet rm13 per kg only really good !
Wahhh! now so free liow, so much time on your hands, you will be cooking fabulous meals. Plus your garden will be blooming beautifully. Would love to visit your garden soon.


The method of delivery can be as compelling as the content itself. This session will guide participants through the process of creating interactive content for undergraduate/graduate students via iPad and iTunesU, including demos of courses previously taught. Using iBook Author, textbooks are developed from faculty content using instructional assets such as text, photos / graphics, presentations (slides), audio/music and video. The organization of these assets into chapters and pages provides for a familiar metaphor for faculty and students alike that is immersive and interactive. Deploying these texts to iPads is accomplished via the iTunesU app and web-based backend.
In 2012, EDUCAUSE and Internet2 sponsored an initiative to pilot the use of e-textbooks at several universities. A key component of the pilot was to develop a research initiative to evaluate e-textbooks for teaching and learning. This seminar explores how a collaborative multi-university research approach was developed, challenges in designing a research project for emerging academic technologies, and promising practices for building a successful research consortium. Methods, instruments, and results from the pilots will also be shared. Participants will have an opportunity, using one of their own projects, to outline the key elements needed to build an inter-institutional research approach.
What's the status of the "ever-arriving" digital revolution in textbooks? What keeps digital content and books from being transformative forces in education? Cost? Features? Functionality? Reluctant students or faculty? What will it take for digital content to achieve its great expectations?
Joann Spyker , Vice President, Sales and Higher Education, Copia Interactive LLC.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013 > 4:15 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Gary Price, INFODocket and FullTextReports, Washington, D.C.
Join two experts on the vital subject of finding free educational resources online. First, Heather Braum discusses open educational resources, a rising trend in classrooms, in libraries, and in DIY education circles. Learn how you can make the move from traditional textbooks and classroom resources and discover the what OER has to offer your library, school, and community. Then, hear veteran web resource locator Gary Price discuss discovery and finding tools, techniques, and even the necessary mindset you need to unearth the best digital content for education—so you can serve up just what's needed for that social studies class, just when it's needed.


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BRANTA — María Vidal Malde
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) in north-western Iberia before and after the Prestige oil spill
Institution: University of Santiago de Compostela, Spain
Supervisors: Jesús Domínguez Conde
Details: PhD, 2014
Species Keywords: Kentish Plover, Charadrius alexandrinus
Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) is the only wader nesting on the Atlantic coast beaches of N Iberia. In the stretch of the Spanish coastline between Portugal and France, the breeding population is very small and located exclusively in Galicia. The Galician population, consists mostly of resident birds, which select sparsely-vegetated beaches for foraging, roosting, nesting and rearing young. The lifestyle of this population makes them especially vulnerable to oil-spill pollution.
Until the 1990s, there were major gaps in knowledge about the reproductive biology, conservation status, distribution and population trend of Kentish Plovers in NW Iberia, as well as the implications for them of oil spills. So, the main goal of this work focused on the study and evaluation of these parameters in relation to the occurrence of a major oil spill, like the produced one by the break-up and sinking of the tanker Prestige off the Galician coast in 2002.
Essential to the proper evaluation and assessment of recovery from the impact of a spill event on a population, species or community, is continuous up-dating of knowledge over a long period of time, including years before the spill. Thus, this thesis covers the results of the study and monitoring of the Galician population of Kentish Plovers from 1996 to the present.
The role of researchers
In Chapter 1, we describe an experimental study to evaluate the effect of researchers on Kentish Plover nesting success on the main breeding beach in Galicia. The results showed no negative effects of our presence in the vicinity of the nest. Daily survival rate during the incubation period was higher in disturbed nests, which could be interpreted as a positive effect of monitoring activity explained by the high sensitivity of nest predators and their avoidance of research activities. However, the high rate of nest losses in both visited and non-visited nests, the large numbers of humans on the beach and the difficulty of identifying causes of mortality, could mask the effect of researchers on Kentish Plover nest success.
Status and population trend
In Chapter 3 we assess the Galician Kentish Plover population trend from 1988, with the aim to elucidate potential Prestige effects on abundance and distribution. Data showed a population decline up to 2004 followed by a moderate increase until 2010. These changes were substantial both with regard to population size and habitat use, with an increase in the number of birds and breeding locations and changes in distribution along the entire Galician Coast.
The redistribution of plovers along the Galician coast seemed to be related to the level of exposure of the beaches to the Prestige pollution, so birds from heavily impacted areas were displaced to better breeding habitats. This impact persists to the present time in that the distribution of the birds has not recovered to pre-spill conditions.
Increasing bird numbers from 2005 agree with results observed in the analysis of the genetic structure of Kentish Plovers in Iberian Peninsula (Chapter 2). So, in view of doubts around the Spanish and Portuguese population trends, our results do not support the recent decline hypothesis because there is evidence of population expansion for Atlantic coast population. At the regional level, population growth was attributed to the combination of three main factors: successful management strategies undertaken at many of the Galician Kentish Plover breeding beaches after the Prestige oil spill, changes occurring in the spatial distribution of the breeding pairs and immigration of birds from other sites.
Re-sighting of marked birds confirmed the dispersal of individuals between the Galician and Portuguese Coasts. This dispersal seems responsible for the high gene-flow observed across Iberia (Chapter 2). However, taking into account the extremely low hatching success and high site-fidelity of the Galician population, dispersal would be asymmetric. We hypothesise that the Kentish Plover population along the Galician coast represents a sink that would decline in the absence of immigration from other population(s). Moreover, this sink hypothesis could explain the extinction of the Cantabrian population that may have depended on the immigration of plovers from Galician beaches. This Cantabrian population disappeared in the late 1970s when the Galician population was estimated at less than 47 pairs.
The Prestige oil-spill, first signs
Oiled Kentish Plover adults were detected a few days after the oil-spill reached the coast. In Chapter 4 we evaluate the level of the oiling of plumage, taking account of the characteristics of the nesting beaches and the progress of the season. The affected parts were primarily the abdomen and to a lesser extent, the breast.
Heavily oiled birds were observed on non-estuarine beaches, which are the most exposed to the arrival of the fuel. However, the distance from the beach to the initial oil spill did not explain the distribution of affected adults. Oiled birds were highly dispersed throughout the Galician coast, probably due to the great extent of the spill and the strategy for managing the Prestige which meant that it sailed a considerable distance between the initial accident, when it started leaking oil, and the time it sank.
As the breeding season advanced, there was a decrease in the amount of oiling on plumage of the plovers, probably as a result of the partial moult of contour feathers as well as the cleaning of oil due to the action of water and preening. Nevertheless, there was slight inter-monthly variation in the degree of oiling, suggesting that oil persisted on the substrate.
Therefore the oil spill did not apparently cause direct mortality to plovers but plumage oiling of breeding adults indicated that the eggs might be contaminated.
The Prestige oil spill, sublethal effects
In Chapter 5 we analyze the levels of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Kentish Plover eggs from NW Iberia, and try to elucidate any spatial or temporal patterns. Results suggest that the occurrence of PAHs in eggs is extensive, despite the high metabolic capacity of the birds. There were no spatial differences in the total PAH levels, probably due to the high dispersal of fuel related with the strategy used for managing the Prestige from the initial accident to the time of its sinking. However, PAH levels showed significant trends with year, with a decline in the first years and a substantial increase in 2007. In 2007, an important change was observed, not only in total PAH concentration, but also in the pattern of PAH accumulation. High molecular weight PAHs, indicative of a pyrogenic source of contamination, showed a substantial increase. We related this fact with the extensive forest fires that occurred in Galicia during summer 2006, with high incidence in coastal areas.
Our study provides information on the background levels of PAHs in coastal birds after a large oil spill and quantitatively shows the importance of other contamination sources. Therefore other sources of pollution related to major wildfires and other natural sources of PAHs in the coastal environment can maintain high levels of these pollutants, which may have consequences for the fitness of plovers including adult survival.
In Chapter 6 we analyzed long-term data (1996-2011) on NW Iberian Kentish Plover breeding success, egg structure, female condition and breeding effort to ascertain the existence of sublethal effects of Prestige oil on reproductive performance and length of time of reproductive disruption.
Combined pre- and post-spill data showed that plover egg structure and breeding performance changed over time. Eggshell thickness and egg volume showed variations after the spill event, we found females in poor condition and recorded nest abandonment. Data showed a change in the pattern of intraclutch egg-size with a trend towards homogenization in the years after the spill.
In our population, breeding success is restricted by the high rate of predation, so we consider both hatching success and fledging success to be invalid parameters for evaluating the effects of oil exposure. Our results showed no pre- post-Prestige differences in hatching success and showed a high fledging success in the years following the spill event. The latter observation can be easily explained by the wardening efforts of nests and chicks made from 2003 to 2006 at the main breeding beaches. In contrast, egg fertility constitutes a valuable parameter that is highly related to the spill event, as oil can be responsible for embryo mortality. We found differences between periods, with lower fertility just after the oil spill. However, the low hatching success could be underestimated because a high percentage of nests are depredated before this can be measured. Lastly, nest desertion occurred at low levels only in the post-Prestige periods. Thus, we hypothesize that desertion was related to poor female condition, without precluding the influence of other factors, such as disturbance, which, in many cases, could interact with poor body condition to influence a bird's decision to desert a nest.
We show that oil spill contamination has long-term complex consequences that may not be evident in terms of productivity in populations under high levels of early predation and may even lead to misleading interpretations. We encourage greater efforts to perform long-term assessments of the environmental impact of contamination episodes with an emphasis on species under conservation management protocols.
Vidal, M. & Domínguez, J. Did the Prestige oil spill compromise bird reproductive performance? Evidences from long-term data on the Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) in NW Iberian Peninsula. Biological Conservation, in press.
Vidal, M., Hernández, M., Luis, A. & Domínguez, J. 2014. Lack of genetic structure in Kentish Plover (Charadrius alexandrinus) from the Iberian coast. What's wrong with the endangered northwestern population? Bird Conservation International doi:10.1017/S0959270914000239.
Vidal, M. & Domínguez, J. 2013. Long-term population trend of breeding Kentish Plovers (Charadrius alexandrinus) in Northwestern Spain affected by a major oil spill. Bird Conservation International, 2: 386-397.
Vidal, M. & Domínguez, J. 2011. Spatial and temporal patterns of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in eggs of a coastal bird from northwestern Iberia after a major oil spill. Science of the Total Environment, 409: 2668-2673.
Domínguez, J. & Vidal, M. 2009. Factors affecting plumage oiling levels in a Kentish Plover Charadrius alexandrinus population after a major oil spill. Acta Ornithologica, 44: 119-126.
Domínguez, J. & Vidal, M. 2003. Influencia del investigador en el éxito reproductivo del Chorlitejo patinegro Charadrius alexandrinus. Ardeola, 50: 15-19.


How did AO World's John Roberts do in his exams?
What grades did you get? I got 2 As, 3 Bs and 3 Cs at GCSE, but failed my A levels, which were in maths, geography and economics. It had nothing to do with the way I was taught. At the time, I was working 40 hours a week as a hotel waiter. I enjoyed it and would often choose that over attending classes.
What was your favourite subject? I was always great at fast maths. It's been hugely useful to my career. If you need to make a quick decision and can't work out, say, 14% of 2,685 quickly in your head, people can kid you. It's interesting how many analysts need to reach for a calculator. When I got to A level, I couldn't see the point any more. What's the equation to get from point A to point B? Who cares?
What was the worst thing a teacher said about you? My headmaster at Bolton School interviewed me about university applications. I said I didn't want to go. 'That's disgraceful,' he said. 'What are you going to do with yourself, boy?' I replied I wanted to sell double glazing, which was my dream at the time. He told me I'd never make anything of myself and to get out of his office. I never did end up selling double glazing incidentally. After dozens of interviews no one would give me a job, so I ended up working in a warehouse instead.
What advice would you give your teenage self? Results give you options and failing my A levels stole them from me. You have to attend anyway, so you might as well give it your best shot to give yourself choices down the line.


The program has two tracks; one for licensed health professionals and one for non-licensed professionals.
12 hours of clinical rotations where scholars can choose from various options including Geriatric Consults, Ace unit, Palliative Care, Geriatric Psychiatry, nursing home, etc.
4 hours of geriatric education provided through simulation.
In year 2 of the program, scholars are mentored through the completion of a quality improvement project that improves the care provided to geriatric patients. The projects completed by scholars improved quality outcomes and the care received by our geriatric patients.


Many of our world religions remind us of the power and viciousness of their gods via their holy text. You know, to keep us in line. It is appealing in some religious lore to show their deities as cruel as possible, especially when provoked. A "Don't mess with Texas" theme comes to mind.
How is it that one can believe, follow and worship such cruel gods? How can one believe these stories are true and still define, in part, their god(s) as loving? A beautiful and wonderful father? Fear of God (Hell), fear of breaking tradition and fear of being ostracized by friends and family, keep many of the faithful believing despite obvious problems.
For the believer of many a stripe, I'd ask if they could possibly believe in a loving god that creates wanton destruction, killing babies, puppies and kittens. Many say "no" without realizing the implications of such a response.
What is one's litmus test to determine if a god is just too cruel to believe in? I know I have my cut off. For instance.. if a holy text had a "true" story in it about how a god, Kaliki Wanka.. sent wild animals to kill many children, just for calling a man bald, I'd have serious doubts about the goodness of that being. I'd probably begin to wonder if such a story is even true as this story doesn't mirror what goodness even means. I'd probably start to wonder, if that's not a true story.. what else isn't true? I suppose I could continue worshiping that being out of fear. But how can true love reside in my heart if I'm in the belief only for fear of my god's wrath?
Would you worship a god that kills children just for calling a man bald? Well, that story is in the bible.
Didn't hear this story in Sunday school now did we?
No matter what version, it's pretty horrible. Are either of these versions honest and accurate though? Let's look at the Hebrew.
The word used here is "baqa'". Baqa` means to cleave, to tear, to break open, to rip in half. Looks like the KJV is closer to the truth than the NIV. Looks like the NIV version tried to soften the blow slightly by saying mauled. Because obviously, one can survive a mauling. I don't know of anyone that has survived being cleaved in half. Imagine that scene at the Theatres, directed by Clive Barker. And to think we worry about violent video games and bloody movies.
Why didn't God just send the bears to scare them away?
How is it possible that these two "she bears" killed all 42 of these children? Were the kids legless? If not, must have been Super Bears to move that fast. Why would God grant them extra power to conduct such a murderous act?
How in the Hell did this story end up in the "Good Book"?
Since when is calling someone a bald head worthy of death? it goes on and on.
As mentioned in the Steve Well's interview, Bears are usually solitary animals and they don't attack large crowds. I suppose they would if they are mentally ill, or under the influence of something. Heh, I guess they were... under the influence of God. Yahweh, had to completely change these bears normal and natural way of living to get them to kill these children. These were essentially, innocent bears.
One apologetic reply is that these children were really adolescents. A gang of vicious teens. This excuse would almost work if it weren't for the plain reading of the text itself. Elisha, ".. turned back.." or he "turned around.." He was out of harms way. He decided to stop walking away, and turned around to face these evil teens. He got 'sinfully' angry, "the nerve of those kids insulting a Prophet" (sound familiar?) and cursed them in the name of the Lord.
Some have tried to argue that Elisha did this and not God. Oh really? Now remember, no man has any such supernatural power besides God. Remember Moses? Didn't he turn a snake into a staff and vice versa? Did Moses have this power? Or was it God? Exactly! Most say it was power bestowed by God. Therefore, God's power was responsible. God is the true source of the curses and miracles in the Bible. Sadly, the Bible never condemns Elisha for this act. And why not? Because God did it. Can't chastise God now can we?
My children can say some crazy stuff now and again such as "pooty head" and "biscuit face" but I would never sic some wild animals on them for being kids. A good scolding should be sufficient.
Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or tittle shall nowise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven.
So Jesus himself supports many of the OT laws. Isn't this the same God?
Is Yahweh, Yahweh, or not? If Yahweh is Yahweh then he's still the same murderous, malicious creature that's feared in the OT. If he's not, what is he? Jesus? But what of the Trinity?
Some Christian churches teach that Jesus was here with God since the beginning. But if true.. you mean Jesus condoned 2 Kings 2:23? World-wide floods that killed cute little bunnies and sleeping babies? Jesus turned people into salt? Jesus is a killer? Jesus did all that? Something is amiss here.
This passage is so disturbing, amongst many others, that one has to convince themselves that these stories aren't relevant theologically. I think this story is just as relevant as God killing the first born of every person and animal in Exodus 11:5. It's an issue of truth and morality.
I ask my Christian thinkers. Why would you believe and support a father that possesses such cruelty?
As I mentioned above, there are many other horrible stories in the Bible. These are a few of hundreds.
SkepticsAnnotatedBible.com is a wonderful resource for discovering those aspects of the Bible that your pastor and ministers will NOT mention or don't even know themselves.
I beg of you. Go! Read The Bible: All of it!


text:
Origine
Sia secondo la Genealogica Comitum Flandriæ Bertiniana che secondo la Vita Karoli Comitis Flandriæ Baldovino era il figlio primogenito del conte delle Fiandre Roberto II di Gerusalemme e della moglie (come ci viene confermato dal documento n° LXXIV del Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Bertin, dove viene citata come contessa (Clementie Flandrarum comitisse) quale moglie di Roberto (nam conjux eius, Robertus iunior)) Clemenza di Borgogna che, secondo la Genealogica Comitum Flandriæ Bertiniana, era figlia del conte di Borgogna, conte di Mâcon e conte di Vienne, Guglielmo I, detto il Grande o l'Ardito (Clementiam filiam Willelmi comitis Burgundionum cognomento Testahardith) (1020 – 1087) e di Stefania di Borgogna (ca. 1035 – dopo il 1088), di cui non si conoscono con esattezza gli ascendenti:
 la versione più accreditata è che fosse contessa Vienne, figlia di Gerardo di Vienne
 secondo lo storico Szabolcs de Vajay, era la figlia del Duca dell'Alta Lorena (Lotaringia), Adalberto, conosciuto anche come "Conte di Longwy"
 secondo lo storico e genealogista francese, Pierre de Guibours, detto Père Anselme de Sainte-Marie o più brevemente Père Anselme era figlia del conte di Barcellona, Gerona e Osona, Berengario Raimondo I di Barcellona, e della sua prima moglie, Sancha Sánchez di Castiglia (una seconda versione sostiene che fosse figlia della seconda moglie, Guisla de Lluça)
 secondo lo storico Maurice Chaume, invece era figlia di una delle figlie (Adelaide o Stefania) del conte di Barcellona, Gerona e Osona, Raimondo Borrell III, e di Ermesinda di Carcassonne
 infine lo storico francese specializzato nella genealogia dei personaggi dell'Antichità e dell'Alto Medioevo, Christian Settipani, sostiene che fosse figlia del Conte di Bigorre, Bernardo II, e della prima moglie, Clemenza.
Secondo il documento n° XXIX del Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Bertin, Roberto II di Fiandra era il figlio primogenito del conte delle Fiandre, Roberto I, e, come ci conferma la Genealogica Comitum Flandriæ Bertiniana, della moglie, Gertrude di Sassonia, che, sia secondo la Genealogica Comitum Flandriæ Bertiniana, che secondo la Genealogia ex stirpe Sancti Arnulfi descendentium Mettensis era figlia di Bernardo II di Sassonia e di Eilika di Schweinfurt (secondo l'Annalista Saxo era la legittima moglie di Bernardo II di Sassonia), che ancora secondo l'Annalista Saxo era la figlia di Enrico di Schweinfurt Margravio di Nordgau e della moglie Gerberga di Hammerstein (come conferma la Thietmari Merseburgensis episcopi Chronicon Gerberga (dominam suam Gerbergam), durante la ribellione del 1003 era custodita dal cognato, Bucco, (frater comitis Heinrici, Bucco nominem).
Baldovino, per parte di madre era il nipote di Guido di Borgogna (1050-1124), futuro papa con il nome di Callisto II e di Raimondo di Borgogna (circa 1062 – 1107), futuro conte di Galizia e di Coimbra e futuro padre del re Alfonso VII di Castiglia che sarà detto l'imperatore di Spagna; poteva poi vantare parentela molto stretta con altre case regnanti: era infatti primo cugino anche di Amedeo III di Savoia e di Guglielmo V del Monferrato, entrambi erano figli di una zia materna, Gisella di Borgogna, che aveva sposato, in prime nozze, Umberto II di Savoia, e poi Ranieri I del Monferrato.

Biografia
Dopo la morte del nonno, Roberto I, nel 1093, suo padre Roberto succedette al padre come Roberto II, conte di Fiandra, come ci testimoniano gli Annales Blandinienses.

Nel 1096 suo padre, Roberto II, prese parte alla spedizione della prima crociata, voluta da papa Urbano II nel 1095. Roberto II, prima di partire, istituì un consiglio di reggenza per le Fiandre, e secondo lo storico britannico, noto medievalista e bizantinista, Steven Runciman, nel suo A History of the Crusades: Volume 1 (non consultato), Clemenza resse la contea per gli anni (1096 - 1100) in cui Roberto II partecipò alla crociata.Secondo il cronista e monaco benedettino dell'abbazia di Malmesbury, nel Wiltshire (Wessex), Guglielmo di Malmesbury, nel settembre del 1096, suo padre, Roberto II, fu tra i nobili che partirono per la Prima Crociata assieme al cugino, il duca di Normandia, Roberto, detto Cosciacorta con un seguito di cavalieri inglesi, normanni, franchi e fiamminghi; dopo aver partecipato alla conquista di Gerusalemme, nel luglio 1099, e, dopo aver preso parte in agosto alla battaglia di Ascalona, in agosto, Roberto II, ancora assieme al cugino, Roberto Cosciacorta, nel mese di settembre, ancora secondo il Runciman lasciò la terra santa per fare rientro in patria.

Dopo essere divenuto re di Francia, nel 1108, Luigi VI il Grosso, secondo il monaco e cronista inglese, Orderico Vitale, ebbe problemi col conte di Blois, di Chartres, di Meaux e di Châteaudun, signore di Sancerre e Amboise, conte di Troyes e conte di Champagne, Tebaldo II che era in rivolta contro Luigi VI insieme ad altri baroni francesi. Suo padre, Roberto II, secondo gli Annales Blandinienses morì nel 1111: Roberto II si era unito all'esercito reale che si dirigeva contro Meaux, dove Tebaldo si era ritirato ma, in una strettoia, vicino alla città, cadde dal suo cavallo e finì sotto le zampe della cavalleria e morì poco dopo, il 5 ottobre 1111, per le ferite riportate; il suo corpo fu trasportato ad Arras, dove venne sepolto nell'abbazia di San Vedasto.Baldovino gli succedette come Baldovino VII conte di Fiandra.Il documento n° 3899 del Recueil des chartes de l'abbaye de Cluny Tome V, certifica che, nell'aprile del 1112, Clemenza assieme al figlio il conte, Baldovino VII, fece una donazione in suffragio di Roberto II.

Nel 1115, secondo il Sigeberti Continuatio Valcellensis donò a suo cugino (figlio di Adelaide di Fiandra, sorella di suo padre Roberto II), Carlo di Danimarca, detto il Buono (Karolo consobrino suo), che era cresciuto alla corte di Fiandra, il castello di Encres, tolto all'usurpatore, Ugo (Hugone Camdavena).

Nel 1117, ancora secondo il Sigeberti Continuatio Valcellensis assediò nel castello di SanPaolo il suo vassallo Ugo (Hugo Camdavena), che aveva devastato, incendiato e rapinato nel territorio della contea e che, con la mediazione del conte di Boulogne, Eustachio III (Eustathio comite Boloniæ), si raggiunse una riconciliazione.

Baldovino fece sposare il cugino, Carlo di Danimarca, con Margherita di Clermont unica erede della contea di Amiens tra il 1118 ed il 1119 come ci conferma la Vita Karoli Comitis Flandriæ.

Suo cugino, Guglielmo Cliton, figlio del posto duca di Normandia, Roberto II, che, dopo diverse peripezie, verso il 1111, aveva raggiunto, il conte delle Fiandre, Baldovino VII, che, secondo Orderico Vitale, lo aveva preso sotto la sua protezione, e che divenuto maggiorenne, reclamava il ducato di Normandia, allo zio, il re d'Inghilterra, Enrico I Beauclerc, e si schierò con Baldovino al fianco di Luigi VI di Francia contro Enrico I, aumentando il malcontento dei baroni normanni; e durante questa guerra che lo vedeva contrapposto ad Enrico I di Inghilterra Baldovino trovò la morte. Secondo Orderico Vitale, dopo aver occupato Arques, durante la Battaglia di Bures-en-Bray, nel settembre 1118, venne ferito alla testa; nonostante ciò la notte successiva si diede ai bagordi (carni, vino mielato e donne) e da quella notte non si riprese più, passò otto mesi in mortale malattia, sino a giugno, quando morì; anche Guglielmo di Malmesbury conferma che Baldovino, a sostegno di Guglielmo Cliton, all'improvviso attaccò numerosi castelli in Normandia, e combattendo nelle vicinanze di Arques, il suo elmetto fu deformato a causa dei ripetuti colpi ricevuti e lui ebbe un danno al cervello (for his helmet being battered with repeated strokes, he received an injury to his brain); si ritenne che il suo stato di salute peggiorò, in quanto mangiò oca e aglio e durante la notte non si astenne da rapporti sessuali, e nonostante i migliori medici, morì per la malattia.Ancora Guglielmo di Malmesbury ci informa che Baldovino passò gli ultimi dieci mesi di vita nell'Abbazia di San Bertino, a Saint-Omer, dove secondo gli Annales Elnonenses Maiores, venne sepolto. Gli Annales Blandinienses confermano che fu sepolto nell'Abbazia di San Bertino, dove aveva passato gli ultimi mesi di vita, divenendo monaco e, dove Baldovino, senza discendenza, sul letto di morte, secondo David M. Nicholas, nel suo Medieval Flanders, edito da Longman, 1992 ( non consultato), indicò come suo successore suo cugino Carlo che succedette al cugino come nuovo conte di Fiandra; anche la Vita Karoli Comitis Flandriæ, riporta la morte di Baldovino, ma riferisce anche che la successione di Carlo fu contrastata dalla madre di Baldovino, Clemenza, che avrebbe preferito come conte di Fiandra William di Ypres, il figlio illegittimo di Philip di Loo, fratello di suo marito, Roberto II.

Matrimonio e discendenza
Secondo la Genealogica Comitum Flandriæ Bertiniana Baldovino si era sposato con Agnese o Havoise, figlia di Alano IV Fergent, duca di Bretagna, verso il 1110; Havoise, secondo il Ex Chronico Briocensi, e come conferma l'arcivescovo, Guglielmo, della città di Tiro, nell'odierno Libano, nel suo Historia rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum, era l'unica figlia femmina del duca di Bretagna, conte di Cornovaglia, Conte di Rennes e conte di Nantes, Alano IV Fergent e di Ermengarda d'Angiò, che, come conferma l'arcivescovo, Guglielmo di Tiro e anche secondo la Chronica Albrici Monachi Trium Fontium (non la nomina ma la cita come contessa di Rennes), era figlia del Conte di Angiò e conte di Tours, Folco IV il Rissoso e, come ci conferma la Chronica de Gesta Consulum Andegavorum, Chroniques d'Anjou, dalla sua prima moglie Hildegarde di Beaugency ( † 1070), figlia del signore di Beaugency, Lancillotto II, uno dei più fedeli vassalli di suo zio, Goffredo II "Martello". Il matrimonio viene confermato anche dalla Genealogiae comes Flandriae.Il matrimonio ebbe breve durata e, forse, data l'età di Agnese (la sposa al momento del matrimonio aveva solo 9 anni), non fu consumato; ancora secondo la Genealogiae comes Flandriae, che non precisa la data, il Papa Pasquale II annullò il matrimonio per consanguineità dei due sposi. Forse il divorzio fu favorito anche dalla nuova situazione politica: la Bretagna continuava l'alleanza con il ducato di Normandia ed il regno d'Inghilterra, mentre le Fiandre si erano avvicinate al regno di Francia. Comunque il matrimonio non durò a lungo, divorziarono e nessuno dei due si risposò.Di Baldovino non si conosce alcuna discendenza, come ci conferma la Genealogica Comitum Flandriæ Bertiniana.

Note

Bibliografia

Fonti primarie
  Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores, tomus V.
  Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores, tomus VI.
  Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores, tomus IX.
  Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores, tomus XII.
  Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores, tomus XXIII.
  Monumenta Germaniae Historica, Scriptores, tomus XXV.
  Ordericus Vitalis, Historia Ecclesiastica, vol. II.
  Ordericus Vitalis, Historia Ecclesiastica, vol. unicum.
  Thietmari Merseburgensis episcopi Chronicon.
  Cartulaire de l'Abbaye de Saint-Bertin.
  Recueil des chartes de l'abbaye de Cluny. Tome 5.
  Chronica de Gesta Consulum Andegavorum, Chroniques d'Anjou.
  Rerum Gallicarum et Francicarum Scriptires, tomus XII.
  Historia Rerum in partibus transmarinis gestarum, liber II.
  The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy, Volume 3.
  Chronicle of the Kings of England: From the Earliest Period to the Reign, of king William's children.

Letteratura storiografica
  Z.N. Brooke, "La Germania sotto Enrico IV e Enrico V", cap. XIII, vol. IV (La riforma della chiesa e la lotta fra papi e imperatori) della Storia del Mondo Medievale, 1999, pp. 422–482.
 William John Corbett, "Inghilterra, 1087-1154", cap. II, vol. VI (Declino dell'impero e del papato e sviluppo degli stati nazionali) della Storia del Mondo Medievale, 1999, pp. 56–98.

Voci correlate
 Conti di Fiandra
 Storia della Francia
 Elenco di monarchi francesi
 Prima Crociata

Altri progetti

Collegamenti esterni

Conti di Fiandra
B

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