We've all heard the TV preachers calling for your hard earned cash. Well I thought most of us were smart enough not to send our money to this wolves in sheeps clothing. But I didn't know that this same message was being preached in local churches. I am talking about the prosperity doctrine.
To begin with I remember becoming a Christian and as a new Christian we don't know very much and like all new Christians we listen to every word the preacher is saying we put complete trust and faith in the man behind the podium.
Whatever this man or woman spews over the pulpit we are going to take as gospel truth, and most Christians simply don't read scripture. And I don't know if some of these preacher know this and use the fact that most people don't crack open their bibles or they honastly have been truly decieved themselves.
As a new Christian I too did what I heard preached over the pulpit. I am talking about tithing. I did it, without question. I heard all the scriptures in Hebrews, Malachi, and various scriptures in the new testament of giving to God. I heard it preached to give beyond your means. Which I must say really discouraged me. But I gave, because they said the bible said to do it.
A few years ago I was fortunate enough to go to a church where the minister drilled people about paying tithes. It came up alot. He'd make you feel bad, he's put the guilt of God on you by quoting Malachi 3:8-12. I gave in cash and he wrangled me up wanting me to pay by check so, he said, he could have it on record for me for tax purposes. I didn't care, but I thought it strange, I said sure why not. I didn't realize it at the time but he was checking to see who was tithing and who was not. Later this same man said to me he was thinking of putting an atm in the church because of peoples "no cash on hand" excuse. That seemed very wrong to me, and made me start questioning things. Not to mention all the Tv preachers I mentioned before talking about sowing seeds with cash, and giving, giving, giving. After getting taxes and paying a pretty big tithe to the church I was told by this same minister that the church van was for sale. I looked at it, he had said there was a slight problem with the transmission. They were asking $ 450. which was about the amount of the tithe I had just "PAID" to the church. He got a call on his cell phone while we were inside looking at the van. It was his wife. He odviously didn't realize that I could hear their whole conversation. He told her what we were doing. She said "Ron, I'd just as soon give it to him." he told her goodbye, got of his cell phone and told me, "She said, she'd let you have it for $350." I lost all respect for this man, I left his church, but I had to work with him every day for the next two more years. And when I told him I didn't want to go to his church anymore he made working with him miserable. He was my boss. I felt betrayed, and used. But because of this instance I became bold and began stepping out in faith and telling him what I believed and we differed on many subjects and I began to search the scriptures about giving and tithing, and couldn't find anything that mandated tithing in the new testament church. All those scriptures including the one in Malachi were taken totally out of context and were being used to manipulate people out of their hard earned cash. Tithing is part of the levitical law, and again was never part of the early church in any way, shape or form.
So I was able to come out and feel good without any condemnation. The only curse is to them that put themselves under the law of moses rather than on the grace of Christ.
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.
For the past few weeks I've been attending a church. I met some wonderful people at this church including my new girlfriend. But right from the moment I heard the minister preach I felt something was wrong. His preaching wasn't anointed, he had people hold up there bibles and say a weird chant like Joel Olsteens congregation does. There was even a script in one of the bibles that sat each week unclaimed on one of the seats.
He did seem to have a gift of prophecy, as it appeared which was cool, although if he had read my blogs on my myspace he would have known me. And I had been corresponding with one of the people from the church who had invited me. I'm not saying he did nor did not have the gift of prophecy, of this I truly do not know. But his preaching was dry and wishy washy, didn't talk about sin, except that it's between you and God, which I agree to a point and your either saved or your not, which I also agree to a point. But before the preaching one of the other members of the congregation would give a big dramatic over the top speal about giving and paying tithes. I ignored it. Now don't get me wrong I don't have anything against giving to a church, but I don't believe in tithing, It's not biblically based for the new testament church and is used to manipulate people. I do believe in giving to support a minister, the up-keep of the church, utilities and such. If that's what kind of church you belong to. But as the Lord moves on your heart.
Although this scripture above is cited, it is referring to a special offering and not to that particular church. So giving is a matter of personal belief as far as the church is concerned, the only thing we are admonished to give to at all is to the poor. We are merely meant to make sure that a minister and a wife and kids if he has them has a place to sleep and food to eat, which should be provided by the church or the person that the minister is staying with, as they are meant to live off the gospel, unless he of course has his own occupation as well, and many do.
We see fulltime ministers today driving better cars than anyone in there congregation, nicer homes and living rather well. Ministers that preach against people recieving unemployment or food stamps. Rich pastors that preach in nice churchs as people come in with holes in their shoes, or not enough money to pay their bills or not enough money to buy new clothes, and they are beaten up by out of context scriptures by a "mad" pastor for not paying their tithes.
This minister, who's name I will not mention but goes by the first name of Pastor, would give his own interpretation of scripture citing how he's read the origanal Greek and Aramiac. A puffed up minister that tells us boldy if we don't agree to take it to the one who wrote the book, God. How arrogant.
I didn't like his first sermon, but I liked my new friends that I had corresponded with via email. And then of course my new girlfriend, with which we just seemed to hit it right off. February 14th. Valentines day. The preacher gave a surprising prosperity message. money, greed, sowing a seed, calling a blessing over the cash, and claiming a financial reward. Paying God for a blessing! I couldn't stand it. I prayed while the minister preached, it wasn't Godly it vexed my very soul. I couldn't stand it, I walked out, knowing full well I could lose my new girlfriend. I went home and prayed, my daughter left with me. Seeing I was upset, my daughter returned to the church to question the minister, he apparently wouldn't show her scripture, but told her to read her bible and giving her Malachi 3:8-12. My daughter brought it to me and I explained to her he was speaking to the levites that in chapter 1 were bringing lame and sick to the priest as a first fruit and this is whom God was talking to. For tithing was a levitical law that was never carried over to the church. To quote this minister "your either" under the law "or your not."
I returned for a wednesday service because my girlfriend asked me to, but my heart was no longer there, I had told her I didn't agree with tithing or the properity doctrine. And she said she would search the scriptures on her own and see what she believes. The kids were also getting ready for their first youth night, and I thought it was great for them. I thought about talking with the minister but after what he had done with my daughter and what was witnessed by others I knew that he wouldn't listen. My girlfriend had searched the scriptures and agreed that tithing was indeed part of the law, which we as Christians are not part of, and that tithing was not mentioned in the new testament, except in the 7th chapter of Hebrews where the writer of Hebrews was merely stating what was happening then and not giving a command as far as what Christians need to do now. In fact the writer was attempting to get the Hebrews to stop trying to obey parts of the law that included tithing.
The next sunday, this past sunday, sat in the service. It became odvious to even my girlfriend that this man was having a personal conflict with me. He even stated that he felt that Holy Ghost wanted him to talk because something was coming against paying of tithes. Of which I do agree, but the message wasn't for him to me, but from God to him.
Just before he came out during the singing there was a word from the Lord, that said that we weren't to try and put God into our own understanding. Tithing is a way to try and force God's hand and try and make sense of a graceful God.
This preacher had an agenda. He came out with guns a blazin' about tithes reading from Hebrews chapter 7. I became very vexed in my spirit an began to pray and was immediatly in the Spirit speaking tongues and I asked the Lord over and over what should I do. I then all the sudden looked up and told the minister he wasn't right. Which I might add is totally out of character for me. I tried to tell him that Abraham had merely given 10% of the spoils of war not of all he had. He was talking scripture out of context in order to manipulate the flock. I got up to leave telling him he was wrong. He came after me rebuking me In Jesus name, I turned around and rebuked him In Jesus name.
When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Peter in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
I believe unless this man repents of spreading this evil blesings for cash prosperity doctrine that God will smite him.
Which is not another; but there be some that trouble you, and would pervert the gospel of Christ. But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed. As we said before, so say I now again, if any man preach any other gospel unto you than that ye have received, let him be accursed. For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ.
If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
And, behold, one of them which were with Jesus stretched out his hand, and drew his sword, and struck a servant of the high priest's, and smote off his ear. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
I found it interesting last week I heard a story about so-called Christian groups taking up arms to fight the coming NEW WORLD ORDER. I remember seeing "Red Dawn" in theaters with my eldest brother when I was a very young lad. I lived in the 1980's. The 1980s's started in the midst of the cold war. I remember hearing about the arms race and President Reagen's Star Wars plan. I remember in 1982 I was sure I would see a global thermonuclear war. Matthew Broderick was in a very popular movie about that time called War Games, and every action movie was about Russian spys and what not. One of my favorite spy spoofs was "Spy's like us." with Chevy Chase and Dan Ackroyd. And Red Dawn was one of my favorite movies. I lived in Montana and my father, a hunter, had many guns amo and knew how to use them. I myself have always been a pacifist and never wanted to hunt. I've fished and shot gophers, but after seeing them flop around, I couldn't do it anymore and I quit. Though if anyone knows me I will fight for my family or a woman I love, but I will no longer fight for a lost cause. I decked two guys over women. And the fact is the women were cheating, so if there is ever a next time, I will simply shut the door quietly, pack my stuff and leave, who needs the aggrivation. Believe me you don't need it.
I will stand up for the truth. I have in my life taken a stand against tithing. Now don't get me wrong I've gone to churches that haven't been given the revelation of tithing and that is all well and good as the scripture tells us that some are weak in their faith.
Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. For one believeth that he may eat all things: another, who is weak, eateth herbs. Let not him that eateth despise him that eateth not; and let not him which eateth not judge him that eateth: for God hath received him. Who art thou that judgest another man's servant? to his own master he standeth or falleth. Yea, he shall be holden up: for God is able to make him stand. One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind.
And some have not been given a revelation. Some keep themselves under the law of Moses, and as long as they are not going about creating burdens on people, each to their own. But when I hear preachers that only preach about how God will not bless you if you don't give-give-give, I'm going to say something. When I hear a preacher say your robbing God by not paying your tithes, I'm gonna say something or when a doctrine floats around about not keeping the Jewish sabbath is the Mark of the Beast, I am going to stand up and say your wrong. You should to.
There are doctrines I totally disagree with, because they are not biblically based. The Trinity and The Pre-Tribulation Rapture. But neither agreeing or disagreeing with either of these will keep you from Jesus. I believe that Jesus is God totally, Father-son-and Spirit and because scripture backs it up. The minimum requirment for Salvation is believing that Jesus Christ is the son of God, that he died on the cross for yours and my sins and rose again on the third day. I also believe we must repent and be baptized according to scripture. I believe that God will fill all true believers with his Holy Spirit.
And I believe who ever takes the mark will lose their soul, and be cast alive in the burning Lake of fire. I don't care if you've repented of your sins, been baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins, filled with the holy ghost, spoke in tongues, lead thousands to Christ, if you take that mark you'll lose it all.
This is very important. I cannot stress this one enough. Even so, I am not going to take up arms, nor should any Christian. We have a warning, those that do will die. What we need to do is watch for the signs and look for the Lord, for people believe me, the time is at hand.
According to author Tim Cohen, that where EPC and similar RFID chips are concerned, the three sixes are found within "partitions. And in his book,The AntiChrist and a Cup of Tea, which is heavily documented, sourced and cited.
REVELATION 13:18 Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. (666) I have never been a conspiracy theorist. I am a mere musician, that can plainly see what is going on in the world. And believe me, if I can see it, it's really going on. The barcodes was something I personally noticed while working at a circle k about 20 years ago. I noticed that there were two thin double lines in front, two in the middle and two at the end and these had no numbers. When looking at what number it was by checking out several different upc lables I realized it was a six. This floored me, I then began showing it to people and it wasn't long before I became aquainted with other people that had either seen this or had been shown it. Even the inventor of the barcode admits that they are sixes. George J. Laurer on his own web page has this to say; Yes, they do RESEMBLE the code for a six. An even parity 6 is: 1 module wide black bar 1 module wide white space 1 module wide black bar 4 module wide white space He goes on to say: There is nothing sinister about this nor does it have anything to do with the Bible's "mark of the beast" (The New Testament, The Revelation, Chapter 13, paragraph 1.
There are many ideas, philosophies and opinions about the Mark of the beast. Having an idea or opinion is not in itself bad, but should never be assumed as fact. There are many web pages and opinionators that are pushing ideas that simply cannot be proven.
The bible should always be our inspiration. We shouldn't go to commentaries, or opinionators until after we have gone to the source. Which includes me, so lets start.
Which tells us about it, then we are given a warning in Chapter 14:9-11, and then shows us the wrath of God upon those that have freely taken the mark, Chapter 16:2.
Dispelling an untruth. One of my least favorites is a seventh day adventist claim that The Mark is symbolic and that God also seals us with His Mark in our forehead and by the fact that we are sealed with His law and that the law is to be a sign upon our HANDS and FOREHEAD. So they say the Mark then is symbolic of our keeping Gods law. So the Mark of the beast would be symbolic of those that don't keep the law, most notable that don't keep the sabbath. And then they remind us the verse in Chapter 14:12 that reads; Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
This is a harmful doctrine and closes a persons eyes to what is happening in the world. We are told over and over by Jesus, Paul and John to keep watch or that day will come upon us like a thief. And they're not talking about a pre-rapture but about signs that will declare that the coming of the Lord Jesus is near. So keep watch.
Since I was a lad I was drawn to prophecy. Only to find out that everyone has an opinion. I get several books sent to me from ministries that are quite interesting, some pretty far-out but most of them trying to sell me this idea about the mark as being a sunday law that the Catholic church will invoke. Reading any literature from the seventh day adventists or any of their those that have branched from her knows that this is their highest claim. The whole point in their literature is to bring us to observing the sabbath day law in the ten commandments. That is usually the point when I feel disgusted that I waisted time on this garbage and throw it away.
This one scripture in the new testament pretty much blows there whole doctrine. To what then is John referring to when he says the those that keep the commandments of God.
A sunday law, when more of the world is athiest than ever before, and the Catholic church wanting a uniting of all religions more than ever before and the idea of the vatican invoking such a law is very unlikly at best. There is no proof of such a law ever becoming world wide, and would not matter, as all it takes is a look in scripture to find the truth. In all the book of Acts you cannot find one time that observing the Jewish Sabbath is ever enforced on non-Jewish converts (gentiles). There arose up certain Jewish Christians that began saying that the new converts needed to observe Jewish law and customs, that all gentile Christians should be circumsized, you will notice that this letter sent out to gentile Christians that keeping of the LAW was not commanded.
And they wrote letters by them after this manner; The apostles and elders and brethren send greeting unto the brethren which are of the Gentiles in Antioch and Syria and Cilicia. Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and KEEP THE LAW: to whom we gave NO SUCH COMMANDMENT: It seemed good unto us, being assembled with one accord, to send chosen men unto you with our beloved Barnabas and Paul, Men that have hazarded their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have sent therefore Judas and Silas, who shall also tell you the same things by mouth. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well. Fare ye well.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
There are many other verses which disclaim observance of the law and the Jewish Sabbath. Why did Christ observe the Jewish Sabbath? I have heard this many times. Why did Christ observe the Jewish Sabbath? The answer is simple. Jesus was a jew, under the law. The law of moses was in effect until his death, buriel and ressurection. Hebrews 9:16.
Hope you had a great INDEPENDENCE DAY today. I am proud to be part of the greatest country in the world and so should you. Yes, there are many growing problems in our govern ment, but we are still the free land, but for how much longer. Wave "OLD GLORY" proudly. Despite what some people may say or think. I do believe that this great nation was founded upon Christian principals and ideas. Yes, there are Satanic influences throughout this countries history, but I say love this country for it has been blessed by God. God however is not concerned with us, that is America, not that he doesn't care, but America isn't God's focus. Isreal is. A tiny piece of land smaller than the smallest of states. Why would God care so much about such a small piece of land you might ask. If but I personally think when this country comes against Isreal we will not be the land of the free and the home of the brave anymore. We will lose our soverignty and become part of a the american union and part of the world government, which you can see forming at this moment. Isreal will not though, because it was promised to the seed of Abraham. And of course most of you know the story Abraham had to sons, only one is the son of the promise. And ancestors of both these nations have been claiming right to an inheritance. The world wants to give it to the children of the elder son, but God promised it to the younger. The younger son of course was Isaac, whom had two sons himself. And the younger of them was also given the promise over his older brother, whom had the birthright. Jacob God renamed Isreal and all his decendents are called the children of Isreal. God is great! Sometimes when we think we have it all figured out, God shows us that we are wrong, this has happened to me several times in my life. I have been wrong a lot, but God is always good to correct me. We just have to be willing to open up to the truth when it's presented to us. That does not mean just take what anyone says, by no means. The fact is we need to back it up with God's word. To anyone that says there is no proof of the bible I say look at Isreal. The holocaust to me is one of the biggest proofs that God exists. I know some will scoff and say if God is real why did the jews suffer? Look at the history of the Isreal, here are a people that had a kingdom, were strong, and then oppressed for almost 3,000 years, and the worst of their oppression was in this past century. I challenge people to study what happened to this people. A people that have been hated more than any other group of people. African Americans were never descriminated as much as the Jews. Even now the world and even now America have their hearts set against this people. There has never been any other people that others have wanted to completly destroy off the face of the earth. Not for anything they have done, but because of who they are. I found it hard to believe that the bible has not mentioned anything about the holocaust, the single worse event to happen to Gods chosen people. I would have to say that is completly wrong, and God doesn't work that way. Many of the end time scenerios are being thwarted one by one. I for one was a huge believer in the pre-rapture theory. Until I started to study it, and to my amazement all the scriptures that they use to try and prove it, actually disprove the theory. Why would that be? Surely God would want us to understand his word. Wouldn't he? God wants us to have a love for the truth. He wants us to know his word. To many of us sit in the pews and take the preachers word for everything. That is the most dangerous thing you can do as a Christian. A good minister is going to want you to prove him, a preacher should be accountable to his or her congregation. If one is going to feed the children of God, you surely would want to know if you were being fed good food. You can eat almost anything, but some things are not good for you. Some things can harm you, make you sick, even destroy you. Same thing with doctrine, if your being fed bad doctrine it can harm you, even destroy your soul. The scripture tells us about a time called Jacobs trouble.
We live in a time of great deception.
And there came one of the seven angels which had the seven vials, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither; I will shew unto thee the judgment of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters: With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication.
It is signifigant that it's one of the angels having one of the seven vials, which contain God's finished wrath. Which seems conceivable that the judgement of the Babylon takes place during the time of the final plagues.
But who is she? The angel calls her "The" great whore, not a great whore, but the great whore.
Okay, now we've got another mystery. Who is the beast on which this woman is sitting?
The beast sounds very familiar, sounds like the beast mentioned in Chapter 13 of Revelation. In the book of Daniel Chapter 7, God shows him four beasts arise out of the sea. The beasts are representing world powers. So it would be conceivable that the beast in Chapter 13 and Chapter 17 of Revelation are the world power at the time of the end. But who is this woman?
One of the latest theories going about today is that she is America. I've heard and seen compelling arguments, even the statue of liberty being compared to the whore of babylon. So could it be America?
Right away this does not sound like America. This woman is rich, she's decked out in royalty. She is a queen. It is very common for royalty to have a golden cup in their hand. This has been compared to Lady liberty's torch, but is not a cup, but a torch. Ancient Babylon was a great city, a rich and powerful city, that at one point ruled the world. So without reading further down I would say it's safe to say that Babylon the great, is a more than likely a city, not a nation or world power. In Daniel Chapter 2 is a vision God gave to him showing the world powers till the triumphant return of Jesus Christ. He gives this analogy as a giant statue of a man. The head, representing ancient Babylon, was of fine Gold. God's vision gave a very accurate detail of Babylon. Babylon was a very rich city. Gold everywhere. So in Revelation Chapter 17 we are told she is arrayed in purple and in scarlet and she sits like a queen with a golden cup in her hand. She is not standing with a torch in one hand and a book in another.
Okay she is not only "The" whore, but she is also a mother of whores and abominations. I think it would probably good to ask, who or what are her children?
Many think that ancient Babylon will be rebuilt, because that ancient city has long since disapeered off the face of the earth. It did exist in what is now modern day Iraq. But that wouldn't be a mystery.
Okay, she is a murderer, and even John here is moved wondering with admiration.
And the angel said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marvel? I will tell thee the mystery of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, which hath the seven heads and ten horns. The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.
Okay, we are given a great clue to the mystery in verse 9. The heads are seven mountians on which the woman sits. Although today there are at least three cities that this verse could describe. Throughout the ages only one city that this could describe. Rome.
Within Rome is the government of the Roman Catholic Church known as The Holy See.
Queen of Heaven is a title given to the mother of Jesus by the Churches, to whom the title is a consequence of the Councel of Ephesus in the fifth century where she was proclaimed to be the mother of God.
One has only to look at the church itself. The Gold, the riches within the Vatican. The scarlet and purple robes worn by the priests. It is rich beyond measure.
I do not believe that the Catholic Church is the beast, nor is there any evidence to back this up in scriputre. Nor do I believe that she is the False Prophet, no she is simply Babylon the great.
REVELATIONS 13:16-18 And he causeth all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and bond, to receive a mark in their right hand, or in their foreheads: And that no man might buy or sell, save he that had the mark, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. Here is wisdom. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man; and his number is Six hundred threescore and six. This is a subject that most don't want to talk about. Even in end times movies this subject is usually omitted. Yet was the main subject of the "Thief in the night" series of movies. I was however disapointed that it wasn't in the left behind movies. The subject of the end of the world brings mixed emotions even from Christians. Many Christians just don't talk about it. Yet end of the world prophecy is a major subject of the bible. It is scary, but it doesn't have to be. Some, just totally avoid the subject pushing it completly out of any conversation. Why do I find a need to talk about it today. Because I believe that in just a few years this may come to pass. And I want you to know and be ready. The Media that has nothing to do with the bible seems obessed with the end of days. Movie upon movie about the world coming to an end. Movies about meteors and comets crashing to the earth. Movies about a second ice age, the whole 2012 scare. Now these movies are scary because they give us no hope. God in his great mercy gave us a warning of things to come. How foolish would it be not to heed that warning. Now that is scary. Notice was Jesus says to his deciples when they ask him about the end times. MATTHEW 24:4 And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. This is very important, we live in a time of great deception. People are falling away from the faith like flys. The first thing to remember is no one knows the days or hours of these events, but Jesus told us time and again that if we watched we would see these things unravel, if we don't all these things would come on us like a theif in the night. MARK 13:33-37 Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch. MATTHEW 25:13 Watch therefore, for ye know neither the day nor the hour wherein the Son of man cometh. REVELATIONS 16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame. And the Apostle Paul told us to watch; I THESSALONIANS 5:1-6 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. http://www.socialsecurity.gov/history/ssn/ssnchron.html The link above will guide you through the process of how without a social security number you don't exist, cannot get a job, have a bank account, rent an apartment, get a drivers license, and much more. BARCODES: 1973 introduced the world to the Universal bar code, or UPC for short. Except for thrift stores, flee markets and ebay everything you buy has to be scanned. These bar codes keep track of how what what is being sold at any given time. Retailers and those that make the products can then count exactly how many of their products are sold. The UPC is also the "original" barcode. The UPC was designed for the grocery industry. Because of the large number of items at the grocery store, they said a method was needed to speed up and eliminate "human" cashier errors. In 1973, the UPC barcode was born.
And I heard a great voice out of the temple saying to the seven angels, Go your ways, and pour out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. And the first went, and poured out his vial upon the earth; and there fell a noisome and grievous sore upon the men which had the mark of the beast, and upon them which worshipped his image.
A series of veterinary and toxicology studies, dating to the mid-1990s, stated that chip implants had "induced" malignant tumors in some lab mice and rats.
In at least two confirmed cases, and possibly many more, dogs have also developed cancer surrounding or attached to microchip implants used for identification purposes.
A 5-year-old bullmastiff named Seamus died last month after developing a hemangio-sarcoma, tumor appeared between his shoulder blades last year. Another dog a 5-year-old Yorkshire terrier named Scotty that was diagnosed with cancer in Memphis, Tenn. He developed a tumor between his shoulder blades, in the same location where the microchip had been implanted.
This malignant form of cancer can kill even humans in three to six months, explains privacy expert, syndicated radio host and best-selling author Dr. Katherine Albrecht.
Christianity, followers of the Jewish Messiah, that claimed to be God. Jesus that died on a cross was buried and rose again on the third day this is the basis of Christianity. Jesus' final instructions were to preach the good news and to convert and baptize the world. That is not the message I heard in church. I hear a good sermon and finally at the end, the preacher, or song leader or some elder asks those that wish to accept Christ to raise their hand. Why is it this act is not found anywhere in scripture? Nowhere in the Acts of the apostles does anyone ever utter those words. Instead we find clear commandments of repenting of our sins, being baptized and that we will receive the promise of salvation, the gift of the Holy Spirit. I was raised baptist, I never heard this before. What was repentence? Baptism? Sorry but no one told me about baptism. The Holy Spirit? What's that? I've heard that baptism is a public show of conversion that already took place in the heart. Why then were all new converts immediatly baptized? And it was rarely a public event. Some were baptized at night Acts 16:33. Or where some water that just happen to on there way Acts 8:33. It was so important that some of John the baptist's deciples were actually re-baptized Acts 19:1-6. It should also be noted that every noted time of baptism according to the book of Acts was always in the name of Jesus Christ and not repeating the phrase: In the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit which seems to be how I remembered it in church every sunday.This also took me as a big surprise. All the apostles were present when Jesus said in MATTHEW 28:19 to baptize in the NAME of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost. But I also noticed he didn't say repeat these words, he said in the NAME OF. This got me to thinking I was a believer in the trinity how could this be so. The church's couldn't be wrong. So I searched and no-where in scripture is there any reference to a holy trinity. So where did this idea come from? Paganism entered the Christian faith.
The trinity doctrine no matter how it is pedaled and packaged, it is a false doctrine and is a pagan heresy. The trinity doctrine had existed prior to Babylon the great but the trinity doctrine was adopted at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The cult that arose in Babylon and spread its cult tentacles throughout the world was trinitarian. The first humanism trinity of record to be setup and worshiped as gods, was that of Nimrod, Simeramus, and Tammuz. Within Nimrod's Mystery Babylon eventually came the philosophy that the trinity was a unity of persons whose perfect agreement upon all things, made them one. They were one in agreement and this mutual consent merged into the idea of the one unity of essence. The trinity in unity doctrine was thus stated in the cult as the one essence or nature of the three. As it relates to Nimrod, Simeramus, and Tammuz, they were one in essence, the essence being identified as human gods. From ancient time Mystery Babylon has tried to make God what he is not. The Jews would have never dreamed of their being more than one God. They were prohibited by the first Commandment of having a pluralistic concept or view. It was from within this revelation, in contradiction to the surrounding religions of Pagan trinitarians, that Israel worship the One LORD of the Old Testament, Hear O Israel, the LORD our GOD is ONE LORD. The doctrinal position formulated at Nicaea was that if a theory does not conform to the Scriptures, then the Scriptures must be reinterpreted to conform to the theory. Theory was then based upon spiritualizing or bending toward mysticism and philosophy for its support of the great Mystery of Babylon and say only that the trinity is a great MYSTERY that no one can understand. The world is deceived to believe the trinity should be left to mystics and philosophers to interpret, exactly as they did in ancient Mystery Babylon. The next hammer to drop is to inhibit the human mind from examining the theory, by claiming no one can understand it, it must be accepted by faith. Could your church be a daughter of mystery Babylon. COLOSSIANS 2:8-9 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. The bible is clear about the diety of Christ. Jesus is the son of God and in fact God manifest in flesh, He is a man and yet fully God. He is the Holy Spirit. I know that in some people's mind this is a trinity, three in one. But it's not, it's three manifestations of one God, three titles, three positions. Not three persons. God is not a multi-personality. He is one being. You also are one being, being body, soul, and spirit. I am a father, I am a son, I have a spirit, but I am not three distint personalities, but one. There is one name given under heaven by which we must be saved. ACTS 2:4 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. MATTHEW 1:21 And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. MATTHEW 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the NAME of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: That name is JESUS (ACTS 2:38) "There is no evidence the Apostles of Jesus ever heard of a trinity [H. G. Wells, Outline of History, 1920 Edition, p 499]." I do not expect this one to go over well. I mean no offense to anyone, just truth. I do not wish to lose friends, or love, or liberty but It feels like fire shut up in my bones JEREMIAH 20:9, I can no longer keep my peace. JOHN 16:1-3 These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.
Christianity, followers of the Jewish Messiah, that claimed to be God. Jesus that died on a cross was buried and rose again on the third day this is the basis of Christianity. Jesus' final instructions were to preach the good news and to convert and baptize the world. That is not the message I heard in church. I hear a good sermon and finally at the end, the preacher, or song leader or some elder asks those that wish to accept Christ to raise their hand.
Why is it this act is not found anywhere in scripture? Nowhere in the Acts of the apostles does anyone ever utter those words. Instead we find clear commandments of repenting of our sins, being baptized and that we will receive the promise of salvation, the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I was raised baptist, I never heard this before. What was repentence? Baptism? Sorry but no one told me about baptism. The Holy Spirit? What's that? I've heard that baptism is a public show of conversion that already took place in the heart. Why then were all new converts immediatly baptized? And it was rarely a public event. Some were baptized at night Acts 16:33. Or where some water that just happen to on there way Acts 8:33. It was so important that some of John the baptist's deciples were actually re-baptized Acts 19:1-6. It should also be noted that every noted time of baptism according to the book of Acts was always in the name of Jesus Christ and not repeating the phrase: In the name of the father and of the son and of the Holy Spirit which seems to be how I remembered it in church every sunday.This also took me as a big surprise. All the apostles were present when Jesus said in MATTHEW 28:19 to baptize in the NAME of the father, and of the son, and of the Holy Ghost. But I also noticed he didn't say repeat these words, he said in the NAME OF. This got me to thinking I was a believer in the trinity how could this be so. The church's couldn't be wrong. So I searched and no-where in scripture is there any reference to a holy trinity. So where did this idea come from?
Paganism entered the Christian faith.
The trinity doctrine no matter how it is pedaled and packaged, it is a false doctrine and is a pagan heresy. The trinity doctrine had existed prior to Babylon the great but the trinity doctrine was adopted at the Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. The cult that arose in Babylon and spread its cult tentacles throughout the world was trinitarian. The first humanism trinity of record to be setup and worshiped as gods, was that of Nimrod, Simeramus, and Tammuz. Within Nimrod's Mystery Babylon eventually came the philosophy that the trinity was a unity of persons whose perfect agreement upon all things, made them one. They were one in agreement and this mutual consent merged into the idea of the one unity of essence. The trinity in unity doctrine was thus stated in the cult as the one essence or nature of the three. As it relates to Nimrod, Simeramus, and Tammuz, they were one in essence, the essence being identified as human gods.
From ancient time Mystery Babylon has tried to make God what he is not. The Jews would have never dreamed of their being more than one God. They were prohibited by the first Commandment of having a pluralistic concept or view. It was from within this revelation, in contradiction to the surrounding religions of Pagan trinitarians, that Israel worship the One LORD of the Old Testament, Hear O Israel, the LORD our GOD is ONE LORD.
The doctrinal position formulated at Nicaea was that if a theory does not conform to the Scriptures, then the Scriptures must be reinterpreted to conform to the theory.
Theory was then based upon spiritualizing or bending toward mysticism and philosophy for its support of the great Mystery of Babylon and say only that the trinity is a great MYSTERY that no one can understand. The world is deceived to believe the trinity should be left to mystics and philosophers to interpret, exactly as they did in ancient Mystery Babylon.
The next hammer to drop is to inhibit the human mind from examining the theory, by claiming no one can understand it, it must be accepted by faith. Could your church be a daughter of mystery Babylon.
The bible is clear about the diety of Christ. Jesus is the son of God and in fact God manifest in flesh, He is a man and yet fully God. He is the Holy Spirit. I know that in some people's mind this is a trinity, three in one. But it's not, it's three manifestations of one God, three titles, three positions. Not three persons. God is not a multi-personality. He is one being. You also are one being, being body, soul, and spirit. I am a father, I am a son, I have a spirit, but I am not three distint personalities, but one. There is one name given under heaven by which we must be saved.
"There is no evidence the Apostles of Jesus ever heard of a trinity [H. G. Wells, Outline of History, 1920 Edition, p 499]."
I do not expect this one to go over well. I mean no offense to anyone, just truth. I do not wish to lose friends, or love, or liberty but It feels like fire shut up in my bones JEREMIAH 20:9, I can no longer keep my peace.
These things have I spoken unto you, that ye should not be offended. They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service. And these things will they do unto you, because they have not known the Father, nor me.


The essence of the ecological intervention is the development of a way of water management which takes the natural water cycles as well as the reality of the surrounding landscape into consideration. This new manner of water management is the base for the infrastructure measures that need to be taken for regional water and food sovereignty.
The essence of the technological intervention is the introduction of the technology of decentralised biogas digesters as a local energy supply.
For more information please download the entire report.


text:
Chicopee teachers approve new contract with a 5 percent salary increase and less paperwork
Updated Mar 24, 2019; Posted Mar 03, 2015
Barry School in Chicopee makes MCAS strides
Gallery: Barry School in Chicopee makes MCAS strides
By Jeanette DeForge | jdeforge@repub.com
CHICOPEE - City teachers overwhelming voted in favor of a new contract that will give them a five percent raise over three years and reduce the voluminous amount of paperwork that many complained was taking them away from working with students.
Monday's 288 to 32 vote came after as many as 150 educators and supporters packed the School Committee meetings in November to protest a stall in talks. So many people attended, the committee once had to move the meetings to a larger space to comply with the state Open Meeting Law.
"I will say this contract was a victory for education in the city," said Charles Clark, president of the Chicopee Education Association and a Chicopee High School teacher.
Under the three-year agreement, teachers will receive a 1 percent this school year that is retroactive to August, a 2 percent raise in the 2015-2016 school year and a 2 percent raise the following year.
The new salaries were not immediately available after the ratification vote.
While the raises are appreciated, Clark said members were especially happy with the reduction in paperwork. During negotiations both sides worked to find ways to reduce reporting requirements that teachers said left them working well into the evening.
One way will be to cut back on paperwork demands for the new performance evaluations.
"Teachers are no longer required to input information for their evaluation," he said. "If they want to they can, but that will free up a whole bunch of time."
Clark said he especially appreciated the fact that the School Committee listened to the concerns of the teachers, who said the overwhelming amount of paperwork was cutting into their time in the classroom and working with children after school.
The contract now has to go to the School Committee for a final approval. It will likely be voted on during the first meeting in April, said Marjorie A. Wojcik, vice chairwoman of the committee.
Before the committee sees it, the document will be examined by lawyers from the School Committee and the Chicopee Education Association as well as Superintendent Richard W. Rege Jr. and other administrators to ensure all the language is in place.
She said she expects the contract to be approved by the School Committee.
"I'm just happy it is done and over with and we can go back to business as usual and we can finish off the year," she said.
The negotiations have been difficult and agreements only came after an independent mediator was called in to work with the two sides.
One of the victories in the negotiations for the School Committee is teachers agreed to begin the school year before Labor Day starting in the fall of 2016. The previous contract banned school from opening earlier than the day after Labor Day, Wojcik said.
"I am happy we are starting before Labor Day, it helps with the snow days," she said.
Chicopee is one of the last school districts to agree to begin school before Labor Day and that has created a problem in years like this one when there are a number of snow days. Currently students will be dismissed for the year on June 25 and there are only three possible snow days left before the end of June, she said.
In total there were 40 different changes to the contract, but many of them were agreed on with little discussion.
Some of the other changes include allowing teachers will be able to use 10 of their 15 sick days to care for an ill child or other family member. Male teachers will also be allowed to use 10 of the 15 sick days as paternity leave.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Early Mesothelioma Detection Leads To Successful Clinical Trial Treatment
Twelve years ago, 66-year-old Barbara Grote went from enjoying a relaxing life in retirement to fighting for her life through cancer treatments.
Barbara wonders to this day how she was diagnosed with mesothelioma, a type of lung cancer caused by exposure to asbestos, despite experiencing zero symptoms and seemingly no exposure.
The Boone County, Kentucky, resident retired from Delta Airlines in July 2008. She was preparing to enjoy the remainder of her life in peace with her husband, Daryl. The couple owns a horse farm and they often travel to different horse camps in Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee.
Barbara's quiet life in retirement had to be put on hold, and she wouldn't be able to return to it for nearly eight years.
During a horse riding trip in Somerset, Kentucky, in September 2008, Barbara was accidentally thrown off her horse, knocking her unconscious. She woke up hours later after being transported via air care to a hospital in Knoxville, Tennessee.
Barbara went through standard testing while she was in the hospital. An MRI revealed a malignant tumor on her aorta, along with other smaller tumors. She was immediately referred to a thoracic surgeon in Kentucky after being treated for her injuries from her horse riding accident.
"It was a total shock," Barbara said. "I've never been sick in my life, nor did I ever have to go to the doctor."
There is no cure for mesothelioma, but treatments could possibly improve her condition.
Due to the complexity of her condition, Barbara was then referred to the Lung Cancer Center at the University of Cincinnati Cancer Center to see John Morris, MD, UC Health medical oncologist and professor of medicine at the UC College of Medicine.
Barbara went through two surgeries, chemotherapy, radiation and then cryosurgery—all with the purpose of removing her tumors and preventing her cancer from spreading.
Dr. Morris recommended Barbara begin a study drug treatment as part of a clinical trial. As the region's academic healthcare system, UC Health offers clinical trials, which help find new ways to safely prevent, detect and even treat cancer. Clinical trials also help to improve the quality of life for patients during and after treatment.
Although Barbara was curious about how she could possibly be diagnosed with mesothelioma, she didn't hesitate to start the clinical trial. She knew her care team at UC Health would do everything they could to save her life.
"I knew I was in the right place. UC Health is the place to come because of the research done at the UC College of Medicine," Barbara said. "Your best options for treatment are there."
Barbara spent 18 months on a clinical trial that helped remove any tumors she had in her body. Even though her treatments were difficult at times, she always felt like she was in the right place and in the best hands.
"I received better treatment there than anywhere I've ever been," Barbara said.
Barbara's cancer has been in remission for four years now.
Thanks to her care team at UC Health —and the support of her husband and two children, Crystal and Holly—Barbara has been able to return to her life in retirement—spending winters in Florida and caring for their two horses on their farm in Petersburg, Kentucky.
Barbara remains grateful to Dr. Morris and UC Health for their tireless efforts to get her cancer into remission. She continues to see him every three months, and she remains supportive of the healthcare system as it continues to bring the best technology to Cincinnati and the region.
"I tell people, 'If you have lung cancer, go see Dr. Morris at UC Health,'" Barbara said. "If it wasn't for him, I wouldn't be alive today."
Months of Isolation During COVID-19
As they typically do every year, Barbara and Daryl traveled to Florida to spend the winter. But as the COVID-19 pandemic began to make its way into the U.S., Barbara decided it might be better to head home early. Because of her age and past lung complications from having mesothelioma, she knew she could be more susceptible to not only contracting the virus but having severe symptoms.
"With COVID-19 going on, I wanted to be back home, closer to my doctors," Barbara said. "I wanted to be close to Dr. Morris."
For over five months, Barbara remained self-quarantined with Daryl. They took few trips outside of their house. The only time they spent outside of their home was to walk around the neighborhood and to ride horses occasionally. Daryl did all of the grocery shopping and purchased masks for them. Neither of them could physically see their children or grandkids.
This was the most difficult part for Barbara. "There were just too many risks. We knew we had to stay in and protect ourselves," she said.
COVID-19 caused Barbara and Daryl to miss birthdays, Easter and their 26th wedding anniversary. Finally, they were able to see some of their kids and grandchildren, from a physical distance, on Mother's Day. They saw the rest of their family in June.
To this day, Barbara continues to remain vigilant during COVID-19 to ensure she remains healthy and safe. She will be coming back to UC Medical Center for an appointment and CT scan in July 2020. Although she is anxious about her CT scan, she feels confident because of her UC Health care team.
"Whenever you get a CT scan, you hold your breath. You always have that fear that the cancer could come back," Barbara said. "But Dr. Morris always makes me feel better."
Barbara has remained strong and persevered during these challenging times. She looks forward to getting back to normal life and spending more time with friends and family when the pandemic is over.


"When we were selling 50,000 records a week," remembers Chris Barron, "I'd walk into a mall to buy underwear and 300 kids would surround me!" A Harp playing blues girl and a powerpop band that a few years ago was all the rage with commercial tunes and witty lyrics. Stacie Collins was blowing harp and Chris Barrons band The Spin Doctors were prescribing a good time for all. The only losers were those who stayed at home.
This was one of those evenings when who would be the second act onstage was toss of a coin stuff. In the event Stacie Collins and 'the Al-mighty three as she calls her band led by husband Al Collins' were first to plug in before the watchful eyes of the Rockpalast camera team. "Live is where the music comes to life" she said in a Rockpalast interview before the show, adding with a smile, "Maybe the last legal high!" She wasted no time reaching that high – delivering a blistering boogie for openers with 'My Baby Sister' and 'I Love my Baby' and keeping the energy level on ten throughout. Hers is a Nashville tinged Country Blues Rock sound that I found came over just a little flat on her records at times but onstage it's pure dynamite even on the more Countrified numbers like 'Hey Mister' and the beautiful ballad 'It Hurts To Breathe' which walks a gorgeous tightrope between Country schmaltz and Rock Ballad without falling off either side.
The Rockpalast cameras certainly weren't having it easy with Stacie Collins. She was not only constantly on the move onstage, but during 'I Ain't Got You' left husband Al Collins on bass (Jason & the Scorchers), drummer Ryan McCormick and guitarist Jon Sudbury to take a walk. Harmonica in hand, she headed through the packed crowd to climb onto the bar itself and blow – an electrifying performance from an electrifying girl.
Stacie Collins – Not an easy act to follow. Enter, after a furious change of onstage equipment by sweating onstage technicians, The Spin Doctors. The good Doctors had their biggest moment in faraway 1992 with 'Two Princes'. A feel good sounding single that was picked up on by MTV and meant, as singer Chris Barron baldly put it during the show, "us never having to work again". Well actually the band DO work, and damned hard, to give us a hugely memorable show full of fire and fun. Mark White looks super calm on bass whilst on drums Aaron Comess looks like every strike on the snare might be his last and must be perfect. Over on Barrons left, guitarist Eric Schenkman looks like he's just making things up as he goes along – super cool, with a 70's guitarmans hairstyle and a 60's guitarmans attitude and delivering steely electric bolts that underpin the melody with a glorious metal frame. Barron waves his legs into the air like he was a former employee of that famously non-existent Python Govt department the Ministry for Silly Walks and delivers just the right balance between serious attitude and wry humour (asking at one point "Do you have beer in Germany?".
The hits were on display of course – 'Two Princes', 'Little Miss Can't Be Wrong' and ''Pocketful of Kryptonite' (Jimmy Olsens Blues) but even better was the material from their new disc 'If The River Was Whiskey', an out and out Blues disc of the kind that long time purveyors of such music like fellow Doctors the Feelgoods and Nine Below Zero would be proud. From Opener this evening 'What Time Is It?' to closer the crazily energetic 'Yo Mamma's Pajama' the band were a joy to both watch and hear.
Passing the merchandise stand after the show I was surprised to see the familiar face of Thomas Ruf behind the t-shirts and boxes. I hadn't realized that the Spin Doctors new disc was on RUF Records. I should have known that Thomas wouldn't miss the potential of a band that clearly loves playing Blues as much as he and we love hearing it. There was a party atmosphere around that t-shirts and CD sales desk long after anything was actually being sold that said all the people present – musicians and listeners – had a good time tonight. What better can you say about a night out anywhere than that?
This entry was posted in Gig Reviews and tagged Bonn, Crossroads, harmonie, Rockpalast, Spin Doctors, Stacie Collins. Bookmark the permalink.


The following are a list of programs and projects offered by Alpine Canada and its divisions at various stages of the athlete-development pathway. These programs and projects were developed to support and complement the current network of clubs, regional teams and other alpine ski racing programs in Canada.
Snow Stars is a skill-development tool for young skiers operated by Alpine Canada since 2004.
This seven-step program will guide the child, coach and parent through a progression that is aligned with the Long Term Athlete Development Plan (AIM 2 WIN).
Optimal motor-skill development takes place primarily between aged five to 12. For this reason, the program is aimed generally at young skiers from Entry level to the end of U14. Snow Stars provides clubs and coaches guidance through the early "Windows of Trainability" when it is critical to carry out the "Right Athletic Development at the Right Time."
The goal of Snow Stars is to provide a solid foundation and knowledge base – physical, technical, tactical and mental – upon which to build children's athletic abilities.
Snow Stars encourages the development of skiers and ski racers of all ability levels. It also encourages children to discover a pathway to the joy of skiing, competition and excellence in a fun and rewarding environment.
Aimed at the U16 and U18 age categories and the Learn to Race and Train to Race stages of the alpine ski racing LTAD, the goal of the Rising Star Training Camps is to bring athletes from all parts of Canada, and sometimes from other nations, together to create a high-level training environment and offer benchmarking opportunities.
Carving the future camps are held throughout Canada each year as an opportunity for athletes, parents, and coaches to experience para-alpine ski racing.
These camps are an excellent opportunity for athletes to learn more about Para-Alpine ski racing in Canada, as well as develop technical skills and working with Alpine Canada coaches and Staff.
For more information, please contact Mark Newton, Para-Alpine Sport & Development Manager: mnewton@alpinecanada.org.


text:
Q: How to manage images for a mobile app I am jumping from Core Java/OSGi into the mobile space, for my initial project I am putting together a little Cordova / Famous / Angular app.  I would like to display an image that fills the top half of the screen (100% width x 50% height) and then use a lightbox that transitions between images.
I am having a hard time finding resources that describe best practices for managing image resources.  Some of my questions include:

*

*My assumption is you want to standardize your images to a certain size and target density.  What are the size x density combinations I should be targeting?

*Since this will be a background image, is it better to use a <span> and set the background-image attribute or use an <img>?

*How does the above choice of tag change if I wanted to have a mirrored effect?  Should I stick to the <img> and set webkit-box-reflect or use another <span> combined with some rotation?

The idea is to fill the space, which will mean that on some devices either the horizontal or vertical edges may not be visible. Ultimately, I know the best answer will be finding something that works and just sticking with that.
What are some reliable resources that describe best practices for image management, specifically related to managing images for mobile devices?
Thanks,
JD

A: There are many resources out there. You can easily find many Videos, tutorials, articles etc.
I suggest to start with following. They cover almost all aspects including graphics, performance, quality of an intuitive app.
Apple iOS
Learn how to build the polished, engaging, and intuitive apps that Apple customers expect

*

*https://developer.apple.com/design/

*https://developer.apple.com/accessibility/
Android
Design and build apps the right way. Learn how to create apps that look great and perform well on as many devices as possible, from phones to tablets and more.

*

*http://developer.android.com/design/index.html

*http://developer.android.com/guide/practices/index.html
IBM Mobile Solutions Best Practices
Starting a new mobile development project? These best practices are general in scope and can help you plan your app's architecture and progress through front-end development. (These practices are not specific to any particular Worklight release.)

*

*http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/mobile/worklight/best-practices.html
See Images related Tips.
Blackberry
When you follow best practices, you can improve the performance of your app and make it easier to debug and maintain.

*

*http://developer.blackberry.com/html5/documentation/v2_2/best_practices_for_web_development.html
Windows Mobile Apps

*

*http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh994633.aspx

*http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/hh202944(v=vs.105).aspx

*http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb677125.aspx
Update:
Image optimization
There is another great source on Google Developers site and is specific to Image Optimization.
https://developers.google.com/web/fundamentals/performance/optimizing-content-efficiency/image-optimization

*

*Eliminating and replacing images

*Vector vs. Raster images

*Implications of high-resolution screens

*Optimizing vector images

*Optimizing raster images

*Lossless vs lossy image compression

*Selecting the right image format

*Tools and parameter tuning

*Delivering scaled image assets

*Image optimization checklist

Hope this should help.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Exclusive to Snug as a Pug, Winston Manner Dog Harnesses are a beautiful and much-welcomed addition to our dog boutique. The Winston Manner My Prints Harness is vibrant, bold and fun - which we love! As lovers of unique and fun dog harnesses, the Winston Manner Harness collection is wonderful for many breeds of dogs, and especially for Pugs and French Bulldogs. The Winston Manner My Prints Dog Harness is a refreshing burst of colour. Designed with multi-coloured paw prints on the canvas print outer shell of the harness, and in the inner shell, the dog harness has a bright, light and breathable air-mesh lining with soft bamboo strapping for strength and durability. To use the Winston Manner My Print Dog Harness, simply pop the harness over your dog's head and adjust the chest-belt and the adjust the neck of these dog harnesses to get the perfect fit for your dog. Winston Manner dog harnesses are fully adjustable and perfect for any dog breeds who struggle from being in-between sizes. Winston Manner Dog Harnesses sit slightly lower on the neck than most dog harnesses due to them being completely adjustable at both the chest and the neck. Any dog owner familiar with their dog making choking sounds while pulling should use a soft dog harness instead as the dog's weight while pulling is evenly distributed across the chest when wearing a soft dog harness.
Winston Manner is a luxury designer dog harness and dog accessory label which was established to bring unique and stylish dog products for dogs who struggle to find the perfect fitting harness. From Pugs, French Bulldogs, Westies and Spaniels, Winston Manner Dog Harnesses are a gorgeous choice for high quality and durability. Winston Manner is exclusive to Snug as a Pug in the UK, and we love the luxury this brand brings to the dog fashion and dog harness industry. Winston Manner dog harnesses are created with such a passion for making sure every dog is able to find their perfect harness.


text:
Saint Seraphim's Life
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew thanked the Turkish government
Greek Orthodox Patriarch Bartholomew thanked the Turkish government yesterday for granting permission for religious services to be held at the Church of St. Nicholas in Demre this year. Reviewing the year 2007 at a New Year's reception after a religious service at the Fener Greek Patriarchate, Patriarch Bartholomew listed the Ministry of Culture's permission for religious services to be held at the Church of St. Nicholas among the important events of the year for Orthodox Christians.
Orthodoxy in China
28. December 2007 - 8:11
The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church took a decision at its winter session on Thursday to open a department of the Russian Orthodox Autonomous Church (ROAC).
The Synod decision stresses the need to continue the efforts taken by the Department for External Church Relations in the dialogue with the Chinese, to normalize the situation of the Orthodox Church in China.
The Archbishop of Athens and All Greece, Mr Christodoulos Receives Visits
Daniel, Patriarch of Romania and Anastasios, Archbishop of Albania visited Patriarch of Athens and All Greece, Mr Christodoulos. Patriarch of Romania visited Mr. Christodoulos in his residence in Palaio Psychico. As he said to reporters after his meeting, according to the tradition of his country, the Patriarch announces the birth of Christ directly and following this tradition he visited Mr. Christodoulos whom he brought a holly picture and chanted Christmas carols. Afterwards, Archbishop of Albania, Anastasios visited Mr. Christodoulos and discussed with him for about 20 minutes. Mr. Anastasios stated that this is the 4th time he visits Mr. Christodoulos and that he believes that he seems better this time, but what he really has- he added- is his faith, love and hope. Finally, Employment Minister, Fani Palli-Petralia met with the Archbishop yesterday in order for Mr. Christodoulos to give her blessings to effectively cope with the problems that arise in the sector of employment. After her visist, Mrs Petrallia said that the Archbishop is well briefed about current issues.
Source: www.ecclesia.gr
St. Alexander of Neva's relics to be brought from St. Petersburg to the USA
Relics of St. Alexander of Neva will be brought from St. Petersburg to the USA where Orthodox believers and representatives of other Christian confessions will have a chance to worship them.


I was inspired by one of Lucille Clifton's poems where she spelled out a word. The word sin brought up the AIDS epidemic and the change in our sexuality since the sexual revolution.
This is a poem obviously, I wasn't sure if I had to do something else to have it listed under poetry. I just started here yesterday so don't know my way around yet.


Due to an information given by a person, who allegedly was being forcibly recruited by accused to the NPA, the members of the Constabulary went to the house of accused, asked about his firearm and documents connected to subversive activities. Accused pointed to where his firearm was as well as his other documents allegedly.
beyond the cases specifically provided by law. To do so would infringe upon personal liberty and set back a basic right so often violated and so deserving of full protection.
DUTY OF THE JUDGE TO CONDUCT A SEARCHING INQUIRY?


text:
package psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex;

import psidev.psi.mi.jami.bridges.exception.BridgeFailedException;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.bridges.imex.ImexCentralClient;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.bridges.imex.extension.ImexPublication;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.enricher.exception.EnricherException;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.enricher.impl.full.FullPublicationEnricher;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.model.Annotation;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.model.CurationDepth;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.model.Publication;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.model.Xref;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.utils.AnnotationUtils;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.utils.XrefUtils;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex.actions.PublicationAdminGroupSynchronizer;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex.actions.PublicationIdentifierSynchronizer;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex.actions.PublicationStatusSynchronizer;
import psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex.listener.PublicationImexEnricherListener;

import java.util.Collection;
import java.util.Iterator;

/**
 * This enricher will update a publication having IMEx id and synchronize it with IMEx central
 *
 * @author Marine Dumousseau (marine@ebi.ac.uk)
 * @version $Id$
 * @since
29/10/14

 */
public class ImexPublicationUpdater extends FullPublicationEnricher{

    private PublicationAdminGroupSynchronizer adminGroupSynchronizer;
    private PublicationStatusSynchronizer statusSynchronizer;
    private PublicationIdentifierSynchronizer identifierSynchronizer;

    /** Constant IMEX_SECONDARY_MI="MI:0952" */
    public static String IMEX_SECONDARY_MI = "MI:0952";
    /** Constant IMEX_SECONDARY="imex secondary" */
    public static String IMEX_SECONDARY = "imex secondary";
    /** Constant FULL_COVERAGE_MI="MI:0957" */
    public static String FULL_COVERAGE_MI = "MI:0957";
    /** Constant FULL_COVERAGE="full coverage" */
    public static String FULL_COVERAGE = "full coverage";
    /** Constant IMEX_CURATION_MI="MI:0959" */
    public static String IMEX_CURATION_MI = "MI:0959";
    /** Constant IMEX_CURATION="imex curation" */
    public static String IMEX_CURATION = "imex curation";
    /** Constant CURATION_DEPTH_MI="MI:0955" */
    public static String CURATION_DEPTH_MI = "MI:0955";
    /** Constant CURATION_DEPTH="curation depth" */
    public static String CURATION_DEPTH = "curation depth";
    /** Constant FULL_COVERAGE_TEXT="Only protein-protein interactions" */
    public static String FULL_COVERAGE_TEXT = "Only protein-protein interactions";

    /**
     *
Constructor for ImexPublicationUpdater.

     *
     * @param fetcher a {@link psidev.psi.mi.jami.bridges.imex.ImexCentralClient} object.
     */
    public ImexPublicationUpdater(ImexCentralClient fetcher) {
        super(fetcher);
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    protected void processCurationDepth(Publication publicationToEnrich, Publication fetched) {
        if (publicationToEnrich.getCurationDepth() != CurationDepth.IMEx
                && publicationToEnrich.getImexId() != null){
            CurationDepth oldDepth = publicationToEnrich.getCurationDepth();
            publicationToEnrich.setCurationDepth(CurationDepth.IMEx);

            if (getPublicationEnricherListener() instanceof PublicationImexEnricherListener){
                ((PublicationImexEnricherListener)getPublicationEnricherListener()).onCurationDepthUpdated(publicationToEnrich, oldDepth);
            }
        }
        if (publicationToEnrich.getSource() != null && getAdminGroupSynchronizer() != null && fetched instanceof ImexPublication){
            try {
                getAdminGroupSynchronizer().synchronizePublicationAdminGroup(publicationToEnrich, (ImexPublication)fetched);
                if (getPublicationEnricherListener() instanceof PublicationImexEnricherListener){
                    ((PublicationImexEnricherListener)getPublicationEnricherListener()).onImexAdminGroupUpdated(publicationToEnrich, fetched.getSource());
                }
            } catch (BridgeFailedException e) {
                if (getPublicationEnricherListener() != null){
                    getPublicationEnricherListener().onEnrichmentError(publicationToEnrich, "Cannot update the admin group of publication "+publicationToEnrich+" in IMEx central", e);
                }
            }
        }
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    protected void processReleasedDate(Publication publicationToEnrich, Publication fetched) {
        if (publicationToEnrich.getReleasedDate() != null && getStatusSynchronizer() != null && fetched instanceof ImexPublication){
            try {
                getStatusSynchronizer().synchronizePublicationStatusWithImexCentral(publicationToEnrich, (ImexPublication)fetched);
                if (getPublicationEnricherListener() instanceof PublicationImexEnricherListener){
                    ((PublicationImexEnricherListener)getPublicationEnricherListener()).onImexStatusUpdated(publicationToEnrich,
                            ((ImexPublication) fetched).getStatus());
                }
            } catch (BridgeFailedException e) {
                if (getPublicationEnricherListener() != null){
                    getPublicationEnricherListener().onEnrichmentError(publicationToEnrich, "Cannot update the status of publication " + publicationToEnrich + " in IMEx central", e);
                }
            }
        }
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    protected void processXrefs(Publication publicationToEnrich, Publication fetched) {
        // nothing to do here
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    protected void processAnnotations(Publication publicationToEnrich, Publication fetched) {
        // update publication annotations if necessary
        boolean hasImexCuration = false;
        boolean hasFullCoverage = false;
        boolean hasCurationDepth = false;
        Iterator<Annotation> annotIterator = publicationToEnrich.getAnnotations().iterator();
        while (annotIterator.hasNext()){
            Annotation ann = annotIterator.next();

            // full coverage annot
            if (AnnotationUtils.doesAnnotationHaveTopic(ann, FULL_COVERAGE_MI, FULL_COVERAGE)){

                // annotation is a duplicate, we delete it
                if (hasFullCoverage){
                    annotIterator.remove();
                    if (getPublicationEnricherListener() != null){
                        getPublicationEnricherListener().onRemovedAnnotation(publicationToEnrich, ann);
                    }
                }
                // first time we see a full coverage, if not the same text, we update it
                else if (ann.getValue() == null || !ann.getValue().equals(FULL_COVERAGE_TEXT)){
                    hasFullCoverage = true;

                    ann.setValue(FULL_COVERAGE_TEXT);
                    if (getPublicationEnricherListener() != null){
                        getPublicationEnricherListener().onAddedAnnotation(publicationToEnrich, ann);
                    }
                }
                // we found full coverage with same annotation text
                else {
                    hasFullCoverage = true;
                }
            }
            // imex curation annot
            else if (AnnotationUtils.doesAnnotationHaveTopic(ann, IMEX_CURATION_MI, IMEX_CURATION)){

                // annotation is a duplicate, we delete it
                if (hasImexCuration){
                    annotIterator.remove();
                    if (getPublicationEnricherListener() != null){
                        getPublicationEnricherListener().onRemovedAnnotation(publicationToEnrich, ann);
                    }
                }
                // we found imex curation
                else {
                    hasImexCuration = true;
                }
            }
        }

        if (!hasFullCoverage){
            Annotation ann = AnnotationUtils.createAnnotation(FULL_COVERAGE, FULL_COVERAGE_MI, FULL_COVERAGE_TEXT);
            publicationToEnrich.getAnnotations().add(ann);
            if (getPublicationEnricherListener() != null){
                getPublicationEnricherListener().onAddedAnnotation(publicationToEnrich, ann);
            }

        }

        if (!hasImexCuration){
            Annotation ann = AnnotationUtils.createAnnotation(IMEX_CURATION, IMEX_CURATION_MI, IMEX_CURATION);
            publicationToEnrich.getAnnotations().add(ann);
            if (getPublicationEnricherListener() != null){
                getPublicationEnricherListener().onAddedAnnotation(publicationToEnrich, ann);
            }
        }
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    protected void processJournal(Publication publicationToEnrich, Publication fetched) {
        // nothing to do
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    protected void processPublicationTitle(Publication publicationToEnrich, Publication fetched) {
        // nothing to do
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    protected void processPublicationDate(Publication publicationToEnrich, Publication fetched) {
        // nothing to do
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    protected void processAuthors(Publication publicationToEnrich, Publication fetched) {
        // nothing to do
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    protected void processIdentifiers(Publication publicationToEnrich, Publication fetched) {
        if (publicationToEnrich.getImexId() != null){
            // if the publication identifier is not in sync with IMEx central,
            // try to synchronize it first but does not update the publication
            try {
                if (fetched instanceof ImexPublication && getIdentifierSynchronizer() != null &&
                        !getIdentifierSynchronizer().isPublicationIdentifierInSyncWithImexCentral(publicationToEnrich.getImexId(), Xref.IMEX, (ImexPublication)fetched)){
                    getIdentifierSynchronizer().synchronizePublicationIdentifier(publicationToEnrich, fetched);
                    if (getPublicationEnricherListener() instanceof PublicationImexEnricherListener){
                        ((PublicationImexEnricherListener)getPublicationEnricherListener()).onImexPublicationIdentifierSynchronized(publicationToEnrich);
                    }
                }
            } catch (BridgeFailedException e) {
                getPublicationEnricherListener().onEnrichmentError(publicationToEnrich, "Cannot update the identifier of publication " + publicationToEnrich + " in IMEx central", e);
            } catch (EnricherException e) {
                getPublicationEnricherListener().onEnrichmentError(publicationToEnrich, "Cannot update the identifier of publication " + publicationToEnrich + " in IMEx central", e);
            }
        }
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    public ImexPublication find(Publication publicationToEnrich) throws EnricherException {
        String imex = collectAndCleanUpImexPrimaryReferenceFrom(publicationToEnrich);

        if(imex != null){
            return fetchImexPublication(imex, Xref.IMEX);
        }
        else{
            if (getPublicationEnricherListener() instanceof PublicationImexEnricherListener){
                ((PublicationImexEnricherListener)getPublicationEnricherListener()).onMissingImexId(publicationToEnrich);
            }
            else if (getPublicationEnricherListener() != null){
                getPublicationEnricherListener().onEnrichmentError(publicationToEnrich, "The publication does not have a single IMEx identifier and cannot be updated", null);
            }
        }

        return null;
    }

    /**
     *
collectAndCleanUpImexPrimaryReferenceFrom.

     *
     * @param publication a {@link psidev.psi.mi.jami.model.Publication} object.
     * @return a {@link java.lang.String} object.
     */
    protected String collectAndCleanUpImexPrimaryReferenceFrom(Publication publication) {

        Collection<Xref> imexPrimaryRefs = XrefUtils.collectAllXrefsHavingDatabaseAndQualifier(publication.getXrefs(),
                Xref.IMEX_MI,
                Xref.IMEX,
                Xref.IMEX_PRIMARY_MI,
                Xref.IMEX_PRIMARY);

        if (imexPrimaryRefs.isEmpty()){
            return null;
        }
        else if (imexPrimaryRefs.size() == 1){
            return imexPrimaryRefs.iterator().next().getId();
        }
        // we may have conflict of imex-primary
        else{
            // collect all imex references having same id
            Collection<Xref> imexRefs = XrefUtils.collectAllXrefsHavingDatabaseAndId(imexPrimaryRefs, Xref.IMEX_MI, Xref.IMEX, publication.getImexId());

            // remove duplicated references
            if (imexRefs.size() == imexPrimaryRefs.size()){
                Iterator<Xref> refIterator = imexRefs.iterator();
                // keep first
                Xref mainRef = refIterator.next();
                while(refIterator.hasNext()){
                    publication.getXrefs().remove(refIterator.next());
                }

                return mainRef.getId();
            }
            // we have imex conflicting xrefs
            else if (getPublicationEnricherListener() instanceof PublicationImexEnricherListener){
                ((PublicationImexEnricherListener)getPublicationEnricherListener()).onImexIdConflicts(publication, imexPrimaryRefs);
            }
            else if (getPublicationEnricherListener() != null){
                getPublicationEnricherListener().onEnrichmentError(publication, "The publication has several IMEx identifiers and cannot be updated", null);
            }
        }

        return null;
    }

    /**
     *
Getter for the field adminGroupSynchronizer.

     *
     * @return a {@link psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex.actions.PublicationAdminGroupSynchronizer} object.
     */
    public PublicationAdminGroupSynchronizer getAdminGroupSynchronizer() {
        return adminGroupSynchronizer;
    }

    /**
     *
Setter for the field adminGroupSynchronizer.

     *
     * @param adminGroupSynchronizer a {@link psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex.actions.PublicationAdminGroupSynchronizer} object.
     */
    public void setAdminGroupSynchronizer(PublicationAdminGroupSynchronizer adminGroupSynchronizer) {
        this.adminGroupSynchronizer = adminGroupSynchronizer;
    }

    /**
     *
Getter for the field statusSynchronizer.

     *
     * @return a {@link psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex.actions.PublicationStatusSynchronizer} object.
     */
    public PublicationStatusSynchronizer getStatusSynchronizer() {
        return statusSynchronizer;
    }

    /**
     *
Setter for the field statusSynchronizer.

     *
     * @param statusSynchronizer a {@link psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex.actions.PublicationStatusSynchronizer} object.
     */
    public void setStatusSynchronizer(PublicationStatusSynchronizer statusSynchronizer) {
        this.statusSynchronizer = statusSynchronizer;
    }

    /**
     *
Getter for the field identifierSynchronizer.

     *
     * @return a {@link psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex.actions.PublicationIdentifierSynchronizer} object.
     */
    public PublicationIdentifierSynchronizer getIdentifierSynchronizer() {
        return identifierSynchronizer;
    }

    /**
     *
Setter for the field identifierSynchronizer.

     *
     * @param identifierSynchronizer a {@link psidev.psi.mi.jami.imex.actions.PublicationIdentifierSynchronizer} object.
     */
    public void setIdentifierSynchronizer(PublicationIdentifierSynchronizer identifierSynchronizer) {
        this.identifierSynchronizer = identifierSynchronizer;
    }

    /** {@inheritDoc} */
    @Override
    protected void onEnrichedVersionNotFound(Publication publicationToEnrich) throws EnricherException {
        if(getPublicationEnricherListener() instanceof PublicationImexEnricherListener)
            ((PublicationImexEnricherListener)getPublicationEnricherListener()).onImexIdNotRecognized(publicationToEnrich, publicationToEnrich.getImexId());
        else{
            super.onEnrichedVersionNotFound(publicationToEnrich);
        }
    }

    private ImexPublication fetchImexPublication(String id, String db) throws EnricherException {
        try {
            return (ImexPublication)getPublicationFetcher().fetchByIdentifier(id, db);
        } catch (BridgeFailedException e) {
            int index = 1;
            while(index < getRetryCount()){
                try {
                    return (ImexPublication)getPublicationFetcher().fetchByIdentifier(id, db);
                } catch (BridgeFailedException ee) {
                    ee.printStackTrace();
                }
                index++;
            }
            throw new EnricherException("Re-tried "+ getRetryCount() +" times to fetch the Publication but cannot connect to the fetcher.", e);
        }
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Investigating pedestrians' obstacle avoidance behaviour
Abdullah Alhawsawi Transport Engineering Group, School of Engineering, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia and Hajj and Umrah Institute, Umm Al-Quran University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Majid Sarvi Transport Engineering Group, School of Engineering, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Milad Haghani Transport Engineering Group, School of Engineering, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Abbas Rajabifard Transport Engineering Group, School of Engineering, Department of Infrastructure Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
evacuation, modelling, simulation, crowd dynamic, motion, obstacle avoidance
Modelling and simulating pedestrian motions are standard ways to investigate crowd dynamics aimed to enhance pedestrians' safety. Movement of people is affected by interactions with one another and with the physical environment that it may be a worthy line of research. This paper studies the impact of speed on how pedestrians respond to the obstacles (i.e. Obstacles avoidance behaviour). A field experiment was performed in which a group of people were instructed to perform some obstacles avoidance tasks at two levels of normal and high speeds. Trajectories of the participants are extracted from the video recordings for the subsequent intentions:(i) to seek out the impact of total speed, x and yaxis (ii) to observe the impact of the speed on the movement direction, x-axis, (iii) to find out the impact of speed on the lateral direction, y-axis. The results of the experiments could be used to enhance the current pedestrian simulation models.
Shiwakoti, Sarvi, Burd and Rose, Animal dynamics based approach for modelling pedestrian crowd egress under panic conditions. Transportation Research Part B, 45 `(9), pp. 1433-1449, 2011.
Bandini, S., S. Manzoni, and G. Vizzari, Crowd behaviour modelling: From cellular automata to multiagent systems. Multi-Agent Systems: Simulation and Applications. CRC Press, Boca Raton, 2009: p. 204230.
Boltes, M., et al., Experimentation, data collection, modelling and simulation of pedestrian dynamics. 2014, Jülich Supercomputing Center.
Duives, D.C., W. Daamen, and S.P. Hoogendoorn, State-of-the-art crowd motion simulation models. Transportation research part C: emerging technologies, 2013. 37: p. 193-209.
Luo, L., et al. Modeling Gap Seeking Behaviors for Agent-based Crowd Simulation. in Proceedings of the 29th International Conference on Computer Animation and Social Agents. 2016. ACM.
Singh, H., et al., Modelling subgroup behaviour in crowd dynamics DEM simulation. Applied Mathematical Modelling, 2009. 33(12): p. 4408-4423.
Teknomo, K., Y. Takeyama, and H. Inamura, Microscopic pedestrian simulation model to evaluate" lanelike segregation" of a pedestrian crossing. arXiv preprint arXiv:1610.00749, 2016.
Teknomo, K., Y. Takeyama, and H. Inamura, Review on microscopic pedestrian simulation model. arXiv preprint arXiv:1609.01808, 2016.
Braun, A., et al. Modeling individual behaviours in crowd simulation. in Computer Animation and Social Agents, 2003. 16th International Conference on. 2003. IEEE.
Dias, Sarvi, Shiwakoti and Burd Turning angle effect on emergency egress. Transportation Research Record, Issue2312, 2012
Shiwakoti and Sarvi. Understanding pedestrian crowd panic: A review on model organisms approach. Journal of Transport Geography, 2013, Vol 26.
Bandini, S., S. Manzoni, and G. Vizzari, Crowd behaviour modelling: From cellular automata to multiagent systems. Multi-agent systems: simulation and applications, 2009: p. 301-324.
Schadschneider, A., Cellular automaton approach to pedestrian dynamics-theory. arXiv preprint condmat/0112117, 2001.
Wolfram, S., Statistical mechanics of cellular automata. Reviews of modern physics, 1983. 55(3): p. 601.
Gao, Y., et al. Experimental study on pedestrians' collision avoidance. in Intelligent Control and Automation (WCICA), 2014 11th World Congress on. 2014. IEEE.
Borenstein, J. and Y. Koren, Histogramic in-motion mapping for mobile robot obstacle avoidance. IEEE Transactions on Robotics and Automation, 1991. 7(4): p. 535-539.
Frank, G. and C. Dorso, Room evacuation in the presence of an obstacle. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2011. 390(11): p. 2135-2145.
Patla, A.E., et al., Visual control of locomotion: strategies for changing direction and for going over obstacles. Journal of Experimental Psychology: Human Perception and Performance, 1991. 17(3): p. 603.
Zhang, X., et al., Extended social force model-based mean shift for pedestrian tracking under obstacle avoidance. IET Computer Vision, 2016. 11(1): p. 1-9.
Boltes, M. and A. Seyfried, Collecting pedestrian trajectories. Neurocomputing, 2013. 100: p. 127-133.
Gorrini, A., et al. An empirical study of crowd and pedestrian dynamics: the impact of different angle paths and grouping. in Transportation Research Board, 92nd Annual Meeting. 2013.
Xu, P.-j. and K.-c. Cao, Review of Research on Simulation Platform Based on the Crowd Evacuation, in Advanced Computational Methods in Life System Modeling and Simulation. 2017, Springer. p. 324-333.
Steffen, B. and A. Seyfried, Methods for measuring pedestrian density, flow, speed and direction with minimal scatter. Physica A: Statistical mechanics and its applications, 2010. 389(9): p. 1902-1910.
Shahhoseini, Z., M. Sarvi, and M. Saberi, Pedestrian crowd dynamics in merging sections: Revisiting the "faster-is-slower" phenomenon. Physica A: Statistical Mechanics and its Applications, 2018. 491: p. 101111.
Alhawsawi, A., Sarvi, M., Haghani, M., & Rajabifard, A. (2020). Investigating pedestrians' obstacle avoidance behaviour. Collective Dynamics, 5, 413–422. https://doi.org/10.17815/CD.2020.77
Copyright (c) 2020 Abdullah Alhawsawi, Majid Sarvi, Milad Haghani, Abbas Rajabifard


text:
Today's handset is much more than a phone
Apple's iPhone has always been more than just a phone handset. From the outset it has also been a pocket computer. The same is true for many Android and Windows phones [1].
While iPhones can't do everything PCs do, they do the most important things. Modern handsets do them well enough for many people's needs.
In the third world, phones are often people's only experience of computers. It is how they use the internet. For them it is the computer.
Many of us living in richer countries have the luxury of owning more than one computer. That often means a desktop or laptop and a tablet and a phone.
Handset evolving role
Although the three have distinct functions, their relationship has evolved over the years. For Apple users the biggest step was last year when the IPhone 6 Plus arrived[2]
Its bigger, 5.5 inch display brought more screen real estate. That meant more flexibility in displaying information. More text can fit on a single screen. A split screen is practical.
The larger screen also makes for easy data input. Big displays mean better on screen keyboards.
It's not the best tool for writing a thousand word story, but it can be done without discomfort. As I found out in practice. That wasn't the case with earlier, smaller iPhone displays.
Last year the iPhone went from being a communications tool with some processing to being a productivity hub. Everything else now revolves around the phone.
Android fans will argue otherwise[3] but for me this is where Apple and Microsoft have an advantage. The phones integrate smoothly with laptops, desktops and other tools. They are much more than just phones.
But let's keep this simple, it gets tiresome writing or Android or Windows Phone ever other sentence. ↩
Apple wasn't first to the big phone party by a long shot. ↩
Please do. I've not found Android's integration with desktop computers to be as smooth or as productive as the alternatives. Yet it's clear millions of people do work this way so it must work. ↩
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Maybe LIZ is in play and thats why the stock has been strong. Regardless the stock is possibly set up for a retest of the yearly highs in the $9-9.5 range reached back in late April. LIZ isn't thought to be well run so somebody apparently knows something to aggressively buy LIZ today. Its a cheap company if they can ever turn around the margins. So far though its grossly under performed expectations even in a better environment.