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UK's reputation being damaged by failure to tackle domestic violence, says report
By Matt Evans
Criminal Justice, News
Image Courtesty of European Parliment via Flickr Creative Commons
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In a Report published today, the Joint Committee on Human Rights (JCRT) warns that the government could harm its international reputation by failing to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention). The JCRT, concludes that the government's work on tackling violence against women and girls abroad is not translating into its domestic policy.
The Committee highlights a number of concerns, identified by the AIRE Centre in submissions made to the JCRT last year, including the failure to provide adequate refuge spaces and specialist services for victims of violence against women and girls.
What are the main issues facing European Economic Area (EEA) migrants?
EEA nationals, who have rights of entry and residence stemming from Article 21 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union ('TFEU'), and who then victims of domestic violence, are frequently left in unsupported situations.
In the AIRE Centre's experience many EEA nationals (and their children) who suffer domestic violence continue to be refused access to certain vital public funds in the UK on the grounds that they do not have a 'right to reside'. This refusal leads to their exclusion from domestic violence refuges and from access to basic benefits. It also represents a serious threat to the lives and health, given that these women who, having lived for many months or years in the UK and in some cases having British Citizen children, are then faced with the choice of returning to an abusive partner or becoming homeless or destitute.
The situation is compounded by the fact that EEA nationals and non-EEA national family members do not benefit from the 'Destitute Domestic Violence' Concession which provides for a grant of indefinite leave to remain for third country nationals who were previously granted leave to remain under national immigration provisions.
Access to housing and other services
In order to enter a domestic violence refuge in the UK, domestic violence victims are typically required to show that they will be able to pay for this emergency shelter with their own funds or by obtaining benefits such as Housing Benefit or Income Support. Most domestic violence victims who flee to refuges lack the resources to pay for this emergency accommodation themselves, and therefore have no alternative but to claim benefits.
However under Regulation 10 of the Housing Benefit Regulations as amended by the Social Security (Persons from Abroad) Amendment Regulations 2006, individuals can only claim Housing Benefit in the UK if they are able to pass a two-part test known as the 'habitual residence test'. First, they must show that they are actually habitually resident in the UK, and second, they must show that they have a 'right to reside' here. The same test applies, with minor modifications, to access to social housing and to Income Support and other relevant benefits.
Establishing the right to reside to the satisfaction of the UK immigration authorities or the DWP can be both a complex, and lengthy undertaking, requiring extensive fact finding and often having to litigate cases in the Courts. During this time the victim may be unable to support herself, giving rise to the risk that she will feel compelled to return to live with the abusive partner.
Additionally many EEA nationals or non-EEA family members who have experienced domestic violence will not be exercising a 'right to reside' under the terms of the current legislation. Abusive partners frequently forbid their victims from working; or the physical injuries and serious psychological trauma domestic violence victims often suffer can temporarily prevent them from taking up economic activity until they have recovered. Indeed, the more severe the domestic violence is, the less likely it is that the victim will have a 'right to reside' as recognised by the current legislation and be able to claim the kinds of benefits that will allow her to enter a refuge.
EU nationals who are self-supporting may also have the right to reside in the UK. However again they are faced with administrative and legal difficulties, in that they are unlikely to be eligible for homelessness assistance as any request for support of this kind would suggest that they are not in fact self-supporting and therefore lead the UK authorities to feel they were no longer exercising Treaty rights.
Finally there is the issue of unmarried durable partners. Article 13(2) of the Citizens Rights Directive 2004/38 provides that the non-EEA spouse or civil partner of an EEA national can retain residence rights independent of the EEA national if domestic violence occurred while the marriage or civil partnership was subsisting. However the provision is silent on the rights of durable partners who suffer domestic violence and whose relationship subsequently breaks down. In practice, these individuals are found to no longer have a right to reside in the UK. In contrast under the Immigration Rules (Rule 289A), which apply to migrants in the UK other than those exercising EU free movement rights, provide that foreign nationals who are residing in the UK as the unmarried partners of British citizens or settled persons are entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain if their relationship breaks down due to domestic violence. This discrepancy between the partners of British citizens, and those of EEA nationals, stands contrary to the fundamental EU law principle of equal treatment (Reed v Netherlands)
Legal duties of UK
The UK is obligated, when implementing EU law, to adhere to the fundamental rights principles inherent in EU law and in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Such rights include the right to human dignity (Article 1), the right to life and to respect for physical and mental integrity' (Articles 2(1), 3(1)) and that '[n]o one shall be subjected to … inhuman or degrading treatment' (Article 4).
The unclear residence rights of EEA nationals who suffer domestic violence, and which means they are in a much more precarious situation than say British victims of domestic violence, would also appear to conflict with the notion of Union citizenship as the 'fundamental status' of EU citizens (Article 20 TFEU). This is intended to ensure that EU citizens are treated the same way as British Citizens when they are in the UK.
Articles 2 and 3 of the European Convention (ECHR) similarly confirm the right of all individuals in the UK to life and to freedom from inhuman or degrading treatment. This has been held to include a failure, intentional or otherwise, to protect individuals in its territory from severe domestic violence (Opuz v Turkey) or toadopt and enforce laws that are capable of protecting victims of violence (Mudric v the Republic of Moldova). Additionally, State's authorities can be in violation of Article 8 of the ECHR when they leave a domestic violence victim 'for a prolonged period in a position in which they fail [ ] to satisfy their positive obligations to ensure her respect for her private life' (A v Croatia). Finally differential treatment on the basis of immigration status in respect of fundamental rights can violate Article 14 ECHR as discrimination on the ground of 'other status' (Hode and Abdi v the United Kingdom)
The Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
CEDAW had already highlighted the UK's discrepant practices in its Seventh Periodic Report on the UK, stating at paragraph 56:
"The Committee ………. remains concerned that, under the "no recourse to public funds" policy, women with insecure immigration status continue to have no access to State support. While noting that the State party has announced a concession for women who are victims of domestic violence, the Committee is concerned that the concession applies only to women who have entered the State party on spousal visas and that this has the potential to trap women in violent relationships."
The Committee recommended that the concession under the "no recourse to public funds" policy should be provided to all women who are subjected to gender-based violence and exploitation. It also said that access to justice and health care should be provided to all women with insecure immigration status, including asylum seekers, until their return to their countries of origin (paragraph 57). None of these recommendations have yet been acted upon by the UK government.
The Council of Europe Convention
As the JRCT says, ratification of the Istanbul Convention would help the UK come closer towards meeting its obligations owed to victims and potential victims of violence.
The definition of violence against women in the Convention for instance covers all acts that occur within the family or domestic unit or between former or current spouses or partners, whether or not the perpetrator shares or has shared the same residence as the victim' (Article 3(b), emphasis added). This definition, if fully and properly applied, would cover cases of durable partners, cases of domestic violence perpetrated for example between parents and children and it would also appear to cover situations where dependant immigration status is used against the victim in relation to getting adequate financial support from authorities.
Article 4, contains a specific non-discrimination provision. This obliges State Parties to the Convention to 'condemn all forms of discrimination against women' and in particular to abolish 'laws and practices which discriminate against women' (Article 4(2)). As noted previously there are at present a number of legislative and administrative practices in the UK which women victims of violence find difficult to comply with, including in the field of immigration, asylum and social security and housing. An appropriate gender based approach to such cases by individuals trained in the issues of gender based violence and presentation of victims, will alleviate some of the negative decisions currently made.
Finally the Convention goes on to detail the State party's obligations to protect victims of violence, covering general support services, including legal and psychological counselling, financial assistance, housing, education, training and assistance in finding employment that should be provided to a victim of violence. It also provides for the right of victims to claim compensation from perpetrators and from State funded health and social schemes in cases where victims have sustained serious bodily injury or impairment to health.
Similar to the concerns expressed around the Modern Slavery Bill, a more victim-centred approach needs to be adopted towards gender based violence. Such a shift in emphasis would ensure that women who have suffered domestic violence (and their children) would then be legally entitled to safe and secure accommodation, and provided with all necessary support and assistance in accordance with the Istanbul Convention. To continue to drag its heels would lead to the conclusion that the government is again, when it comes to protecting women and girls and fulfilling its international legal obligations, all talk and no substance.
Author: Matt Evans
Matt Evans is the Director of the AIRE Centre, a specialist charity whose mission is to promote awareness of European law rights and assist marginalised individuals and those in vulnerable circumstances to assert those rights. Previously he was the Managing Solicitor at the Prisoners Advice Service for 6 years and worked at a number of leading legal aid firms including TV Edwards, Hickman and Rose and Hodge Jones and Allen.
One response to "UK's reputation being damaged by failure to tackle domestic violence, says report"
accommodation says:
That was a very informative and detailed report on domestic violence in UK and what is the response over this issue on authorities here. There is no doubt UK has developed great reputation by providing equal services to all the ethnic groups living here and they can follow whatever lifestyle they want freely in United Kingdom.
Domestic violence can be targeted and authorities need to build laws of protecting women and children and providing the accommodation to the families of domestic violence targeted women should be government priority. There is lot to do for protecting our children, girls and women.
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It is bad enough that we have a school shooting in Broward County, Florida that killed 17 people and have left others fighting for their lives. And we have survivors struggling to assess how to move on with their lives, deal with their grief, memorialize their friends and make sure tragedies of this nature do not recur occur again at American schools.
And these students have spoken up and out loudly and clearly and persuasively about their lived experiences – interviewing and filming as the tragedy occurred and thereafter. And, they have mobilized social media effectively and with power. Look at the twitter sites created.
Now we have a host of people and efforts to discredit the voices of the survivors – challenging them as being scripted or actors or actually the mouthpieces of adults including their parents. Some of us had advocated for adults to listen but we are being drowned out by efforts to silence and discredit the student voices, even as some people are being fired for their offensive, inaccurate statements.
I have a theory as to why there is such a vehement and seemingly organized voice against the students: it is hard to listen to and accept the truth, especially from our young people.
As a political strategy, it seems easier and better to discredit and embarrass the students and suggest they are youthful pawns. It is easier to fight truth with grotesque versions of these young people, as if listeners across the nation will believe the fake news. And we can ramp up tweets and texts that are robotic and filled with anger, perhaps not all of which are American generated. We will conduct a smear campaign. Just ask Gary Hart about that. We are good that this in today's world.
Here's what's crazy: not listening to students, not hearing their voices, demonizing their truths and undermining their messages. Ask: What sort of nation are we? Sure, gun control will not stop all killings but if it stops many, aren't we better off? And aren't we better to have thoughtful, articulate, impassioned students express their well- thought out views?
My messages: truth hurts. Truth is hard. Students are speaking the truth with their own voices. We would be well served to listen and learn. And, we need to help them because they are our future.
And, to those conspiring against the students: Put the venom away folks. Put the political strategies for truth-obfuscation away. Put one's effort to hurt others away. Stop now.
Our children are asking us to grow up and help. Can we do that?


Painting: Acrylic, Charcoal on Canvas.
What's there? Grass, sky, a lake...? Is somebody watching the calm, a bit mystical scenery, that you can see "Behind the Fence"?
A large square for a large space, colourfields in muted colours. A calm but nevertheless eyecatching statement piece! The background is linen with a transparent ground that is still visible at several spots of the painting and that is an important part of the painting. The natural, organic look and texture of the linen underlines the character of the muted, minimalistic colour.
Varnished with a matt varnish (Lascaux with UV Protection). Ready to hang with a hanger on the back. Signed on the front and signed and dated on the back.
155 x 155 cm | 61 x 61 in.


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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


On behalf of Law Office of Amanda Salcido on Thursday, March 14, 2019.
Choosing to divorce before your children turn 18 years old means arranging custody, doubling your child's belongings and moving them back and forth. For this reason, some parents wait until their children reach adulthood to divorce.
On behalf of Law Office of Amanda Salcido posted in divorce on Friday, March 8, 2019.
Like many other states, Florida allows for the payment of alimony from one former spouse to another. While most people think of alimony as associated with an absolute dissolution of marriage, that is, a conventional divorce, alimony may be available as part of Florida's limited dissolution proceeding as well.


Eduwizards, India's leading tutoring platform has received the 'Best Online Tutoring' Award at the prestigious Indian Education Congress Awards – 2016. The award recognizes and felicitates organisations who have achieved excellence in the education sector. Eduwizards.com technology platform, with 18000 tutors and counting, allows students across India to connect with the best tutors for both Home Tuition and Online Tuition.
The two-day conference brought together the industry veterans to interact and draw attention to best practices and promote innovation to capture consumer interest that will help grow the Indian Education Sector.
Prominent speakers present at the event were Mr. Krishan Khanna, Chairman & Founder, iWatch Foundation, Prof. Dr. Madan Mohan Pant, Founder & Mentor, Planet Edu, Mr. Shiv Khera, Founder of Qualified Learning Systems USA, Prof. Dinesh Singh, Former Vice Chancellor, University of Delhi, Mrs. Manjula Pooja Shroff, Chief Executive Officer, Kalorex and many more.
Industry leaders spoke about the latest advancement in the field of education and how technology is transforming the education industry. They also laid emphasis on the modern outlook on curriculum, programme delivery and training, new methodologies, teacher quality and school improvement, values, strategy and implementation.
Speaking on the occasion, Ashish Sirohi, Co-founder, Eduwizards said, "We are delighted to have been chosen as the best online tutoring online platform. This award is a testimony to the growing appreciation of students who have connected with top-rated tutors through our platform. We provide the best tutors, openly ranked and reviewed by students. We are a pioneer in the industry. We have leveraged our vast experience in providing online tutoring within the USA (and globally) since 2007 and in August 2015 started providing tutoring to Indian market too."
Indian private tutoring market is estimated to be worth $11 billion. The current size of overall private coaching in India is about $23.7 billion and is likely to touch $40 billion by 2015, says Assocham.
With nearly half the population of India below the age of 25 years and increasing penetration of Internet and mobile devices in this demographic, the growth of online education in India is undeniable.


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package jp.tonyu.soytext2.auth;

public class AuthException extends Exception {

	public AuthException(String message) {
		super(message);
		// TODO Auto-generated constructor stub
	}

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


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Venus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO vs Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro
Macro Prime | Pentax KAF2
Telephoto Prime | Pentax KAF3
Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro vs Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Comparison Overview
Here we are comparing two lenses with different focal types: Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro is a Macro Prime lens with a 100mm focal range and a max aperture of F2.8 whereas Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM is a Telephoto Prime lens with a 85mm focal range and max aperture of F1.4.
Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro Key Specs
Pentax KAF2 Mount
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Key Specs
What type of photography are the Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro and Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM lenses good for?
The type of photography that you are planning to use is an important decision factor. Here we have evaluated the Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro and the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM for their suitability to various photography scenarios:
Sports Average Good
Portrait Good Excellent
Street Fair Average
Wedding Good Very Good
Vlogging Fair Average
Macro Excellent Poor
Size of a lens is an important deciding factor when comparing two lenses.Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro is the longer of the two lenses at 125mm. The Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM with a length of 88mm is 37mm shorter. On the other hand, the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM has a larger diameter of 86mm compared to Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro's 72mm diameter.
Weight of a lens is as important as its external dimensions, especially if you are planning to hand hold your camera and lens combination for longer periods. Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro weighs 638g, which means it is 87g (12%) lighter than the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM which has a weight of 725g.
Both Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro has the Pentax KAF2 lens mount whereas the Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM has the Pentax KAF3 lens mount. Some of the latest released cameras that are compatible with these mounts are Pentax KF, Pentax K-3 III and Pentax K-1 II for the Pentax KAF2 Mount and Pentax KF, Pentax K-3 III and Pentax K-1 II for the Pentax KAF3 Mount.
Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX) and Sony E mounts.
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM is also available in Canon EF , Nikon F (FX), Sony Alpha and Sigma SA mounts.
Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 100mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides an 35mm (FF) equivalent of 150mm.
Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM is a prime lens with fixed focal lenght of 85mm. When it is mounted on an APS-C sensor camera with 1.5x crop, it provides an 35mm (FF) equivalent of 127.5mm.
Reasons to choose Venus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO over Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
Diaphgragm Blades 13 vs 9 Potentially more rounded and smooth bokeh
Weight 638g vs 725g 87g lighter
Reasons to choose Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM over Venus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO
Common Strengths of Venus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO and Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
Common Weaknesses of Venus Laowa 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO and Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM
Venus 100mm F2.8 2X Ultra Macro vs Sigma 85mm F1.4 EX DG HSM Specs Table
Brand Venus Sigma
Lens Type Macro Prime Telephoto Prime
Lens Mount Pentax KAF2 Pentax KAF3
Colour Unknown Unknown
Diaphragm Blades 13 9
AF Motor Type No AF Ring-type ultrasonic
Materials Unknown metal mount
Filter Notes - Does not rotate on focusing
Hood Supplied Unknown Yes


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Nov 08 - Islam Part 1
November 08, 2015 / jim
Islam Part 1
Some people would say that most religions are just different paths to God, and particularly, that the monotheistic religions, Judaism, Christianity and Islam, basically teach and believe the same things. This morning I want us to take a look at Islam a bit closer to see if there is as much overlap with Christianity as may appear at first blush.
Jesus is mentioned in the Quran quite often, and he is honoured in Islam as the second-to-last Prophet, superseded only by the last Prophet, Muhammad.
As recorded in the Quran, Muhammad taught that Jesus was born of a virgin named Mary,
that he was a prophet filled with the Holy Spirit,
that he performed miracles, including cleansing lepers, giving sight to the blind, and raising people from the dead,
that he was taken up into heaven and
that he would return again.
He refers to Jesus as "the word of truth," the Spirit of God, the anointed (Messiah), the prophet of God, the messenger of God, the Servant of God, and so on.
However, for Muhammad, Jesus was a Muslim who prophesied of Muhammad's coming. Jesus was NOT crucified prior to being taken up to heaven (Simon of Cyrene was instead) [Quran 4:155]. Jesus would return as a Muslim at the end of time, when the final prophet, the Mahdi, is fighting the Anti-Christ. When Jesus slays the Anti-Christ, then all Christians and Jews will convert to Islam and believe in Allah. Everyone who does not accept Islam will be slain. After ruling for about 40 years, Jesus will die.
Most importantly, Mohammad taught that Jesus was not the son of God. God does not have children. Surah 5:17 is just one that makes that point.
Those who say, "Allah is the Messiah, son of Mary," certainly are unbelievers. You respond (to them), "Who can do anything against Allah should he wish to destroy the Messiah, son of Mary, and his mother, or anyone else on the earth?" To Allah belongs the kingdom of the heavens and the earth, and whatever is between them. Quran 5:17
Let me give you a bit of background information on Muhammad, the founder of Islam.
Muhammad was born approximately in the year AD 570 in Mecca, where he would live for the next 52 years of his life (c. 570 – 622), followed by the last 10 years of his life in Medina (622 – 632), where he would die at 62 or 63 years old.
Muhammad's father died 6 months before his birth. His mother died when he was 6 years old. He lived with his grandfather for the next 2 years until the grandfather died as well. At the tender age of 8 he was then taken into his paternal uncle's (Abu Talib) household where he grew up and became a merchant.
When Muhammad was growing up, the Arabian people worshipped many gods, including one called Allah. In Mecca, there was the site which the Arabian people would visit yearly and circle 7 times, the Kaaba shrine, which housed 360 statues of tribal deities as well as the black meteor known as the Kaaba stone. During the holy pilgrim months, all hostilities between the various Arab tribes ceased.
In the region surrounding Mecca, there were not only polytheists, but also Christians and Jews. While Muhammed was likely illiterate, he was familiar with many of the stories of the Old and New Testaments, so he must have had considerable contact with both groups.
When Mohammed was 25 years old (AD 595), he married a 40 year old wealthy widow of his clan and successfully ran her family's business. Apparently it was a happy marriage that lasted for 24 years, until her death (AD 619). He had 2 sons who died as infants and 4 daughters that survived infancy, but all of them predeceased him except one, Fatima.
After the death of his first wife, Muhammad married 12 more wives, some of them the widows of Muslims who had fallen in battle, others, to make allies with their families, and one, Aisha, the daughter of his close friend Abu Bakr, he was betrothed when she was only 6 years old.
According to eye-witness descriptions, Muhammad was slightly taller than medium height, broad shouldered and broad-chested, but not fat. He had a wide face and forehead, black eyes, long eyebrows and long eye-lashes. He had thick, curly hair, was light skinned, had a hooked nose, a thick beard, and a long neck.
Apparently, he was quite the orator.
Mohammed did a lot of praying on his own, particular in a cave on Mount Hira, less than 5 km N/E of the Kaaba shrine, just outside of Mecca.
One night, when he was 40 years old (AD 610), Mohammed heard a voice which told him recite certain words. Although troubled, he went home and told his wife and her Christian cousin and they encouraged him that he wasn't crazy and that this was from God.
It was another three years before Muhammad would hear more messages from God, and he then became certain he could distinguish those messages from his own thoughts.
His early messages really had to do about the need to reform ones' life in light of the resurrection, the judgment of God, and the tortures of hell and the pleasures of paradise.
He called to faith in one God, to continually asking God for forgiveness of sins, to frequent prayer, to assisting the needy, to being honest, to rejecting the love of money, and to being chaste.
Around AD 613, Muhammad began to preach publicly, and gained an increasing following among the disenfranchised younger sons of wealthy merchants, those of lesser rank, and foreigners. This following grew over the next 9 years.
When he spoke out against polytheism, he began to be seen as a threat to the wealth of the Mecca, since much of it was due to the presence of the Kaaba shrine. In fact, Muhammad's own tribe was in charge of looking after the shrine.
In AD 619, the year of his wife's death, his uncle and protector also died, so Muhammad's life was in danger because no one in his tribe would now exact revenge should he be killed.
In AD 622, after learning of a plot to assassinate him, Muhammad and his followers slipped out of Mecca and moved to a city called Yathrib, 320 km north of Mecca. He already had quite a following from that town and almost all of his followers would come from the Arab tribes in Yathrib. They were familiar with belief in one God because of a large number of Jews in the city.
Muhammad and his followers began to raid Meccan caravans, supported by Muhammad's revelations.
18 months after his arrival, when Muhammad realized that the Jews at Yathrib did not accept him as THE final prophet from God, he told his followers to face Mecca, rather than Jerusalem, during their prayers.
Over the next 8 years, Muhammad consolidated power in Yathrib, which eventually was renamed Medina, meaning, the "city of the prophet." He ended up expelling the Jews who opposed him – one Jewish tribe he fought, and when they finally surrendered, had the men beheaded and the women and children sold into slavery.
Medina has become the second holiest city for Muslims because this is really where Islam developed.
Just as an aside, Jerusalem is considered Islam's third holiest city among Sunni Muslims. According to Muslim tradition (briefly alluded to in Surah 17), around AD 621, Muhammad was taken at night to Jerusalem by the angel Gabriel riding on a white beast, to the mosque on the temple mount. This is not, as you may assume, the gilded Dome of the Rock, but the other, more unassuming precursor to the current Mosque on the southern part of the temple mount.
From there, Muhammad is said to have road the beast up through the 7 heavens, where he met Jesus and others along the way, until he reached paradise where he spoke with God. Upon returning to the temple Mount, he rode back to Mecca.
Since it was to the temple mount which Muhammad went, this is where Muslims have built mosques to worship Allah, but it is this desire that creates a lot of tension when access to those mosques is limited, as it was just a short time ago.
After numerous armed conflicts with the Meccans, Muhammad eventually conquered Mecca with an army of 10,000 (very little resistance). He rid the Kaaba shrine of its idols and pictures (although he kept the black Kaaba stone), and made Mecca the center of the Muslim faith. It is the year AD 630.
Over the next two years, Muhammad and his forces conquered the western half of the Arabian Peninsula. It was during this time that the defeated foes were given the choice to adopt Islam, leave Arabia, or be killed.
Although he had previously installed the Hajj, the pilgrimage to the Meccan shrine for Muslims, it was only two years after the conquest of Mecca, in AD 632, that he was able to do this himself.
That same year, AD 632, he fell ill, suffered a fever, severe headaches, and weakness, and died, aged 62 or 63 years old. Some think that he was poisoned, but I find this unlikely.
After his death, Abu Bakr and his generals, extended the Muslim faith throughout the Arabian Peninsula by continuing the practice of forced conversion through armed conquest.
Only five years after Muhammad's death, Jerusalem was conquered by Muslim forces (AD 637).
Islam expanded by force in all directions, and was only stopped by force.
As you can see, the vast majority of Muslim states are Sunni's, with the exception of Iran, Azerbaijan, and parts of Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Turkey and Yemen.
Sunni's and Shia differ in that the Shia view the only right successor of Muhammad to have been his cousin Ali, while Sunni's view the rightful successor to be Muhammad's general, close friend, and father-in-law Abu Bakr. Shia also do not accept as many of the Sunnah's as genuine as do the Sunni's. There is ongoing enmity between these two largest sects of Islam.
One of the reasons why Bashar Al-Assad is so disliked in his own country is because he and his whole ruling elite are Shia, while the vast number of Syrians are Sunnis. Sadam Hussein, on the other hand, was Sunni and brutally oppressed the Shiites in Iraq when he ruled.
While Muslims in the Western world are by and large tolerant of other faiths, that simply is not the case in most other areas of the world. For example, here is a map of Muslim countries where conversion to another religion is heavily punished.
Sharia Law pronounces the death penalty upon those who abandon their Muslim faith, and have long prison terms for those who distribute Christian literature.
Therefore, 23 Islamic countries have laws that state that leaving Islam is to be punishable by death or lengthy prison terms. In many Muslim countries it is illegal to preach, persuade or otherwise attempt to convert a Muslim to another religion.
Some Muslim teachers use this concept in Sharia Law and expand the death penalty to anyone who in some way is seen to blaspheme or insult Allah, Muhammad, the Quran, or anything else about the Muslim faith.
Sharia Law and its interpretation explains why the Ayatollah Khomeini proclaimed a fatwa (a legal ruling based on Sharia law), calling for the assassination of Salman Rushdie. It explains why a bounty of $ 1 million was put on the head of one of the Danish cartoonists and why an axe-wielding Muslim from Somalia tried to kill him in his own home. It explains why Theo van Gogh was stabbed to death for producing a short film critical of the treatment of women under Islamic rule.
This explains why former Muslims are killed by their own family members or neighbours, even in countries where Sharia law is not enforced.
Open Doors recently released its widely cited 2015 World Watch List, a report that highlights and ranks the 50 worst nations around the globe where Christians are persecuted today.
Year after year, one salient fact that emerges from this report, is that the overwhelming majority of Christian persecution around the world is being committed by Muslims, and mostly in countries that are predominantly Muslim.
If you look at the 50 countries on this map, there are only 5 in which the persecution is not committed by Muslims: North Korea, China, Mexico, Columbia, and Vietnam.
Those persecuting Christians in 45 of the 50 nations on the list are Muslims, even if that nation itself isn't predominantly Muslim, for example, in Kenya, Laos or the Central African Republic.
Christians are killed for their faith in Tanzania, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, Kenya, Egypt, Somalia, Morocco, Indonesia, Lybia (mass beheadings of Christians in Libya), Sudan, and especially in Syria and Iraq – many of the pictures way too disturbing to be put on the overhead. ISIS has made it one of its policies to kill anyone who is not Muslim.
Of the 11 countries where Christians suffer "extreme persecution", which means that they are regularly killed (red), all but 1 are predominantly Muslim (North Korea is the only communist country where distributing a Bible is a capital offense and where Christians are regularly executed for their faith).
This is something that we rarely if ever hear from our media, because it is an uneasy truth that, if reported on, may be construed as being islamophobic, a term that technically speaks of an irrational fear of the Islamic religion.
What these facts should lead to, is the question why Muslims in the non-Western world are as intolerant toward other beliefs, and why the radicalized version of Islam is the number one threat to peace in our world today?
In order to answer these questions, we really have to return to the Quran and Muhammad's teaching.
As I noted before, Muhammad heard God speak to him. He would memorize the message and then recite it to his followers.
In turn, his followers would memorize his words, or scratch them on parchment or palm leaves or pieces of leather. It also seems likely, at least during his time in Medina, that Muhammad had a large number of scribes who wrote down what he said (because he a large correspondence during that time).
In any case, these sayings and actions are called the Hadith.
It wasn't until 100 years after Muhammad's death, that his followers would take many of these oral remembrances and various written fragments and compile them in what is now called the Quran, the primary book of the Muslim religion.
Many of Muhammad's other revelations and actions and their application for Muslims were compiled over 200 years after Muhammad's death in what is known as the Sunnah. Both the Quran and the established Sunnah are accepted as authoritative by all Muslims and they are used to determine Sharia law.
The Quran, the Sunnah and other hadith are a problem in that they can be used to justify violence and war in the cause of Islam.
For example, over 100 Quranic verses exhort believers to wage jihad against unbelievers. Jihad is a term that literally means "struggle," and was almost universally understood over 14 centuries to mean "armed struggle" in the defense of for the advancement of Islam. These are all found in Muhammad's teaching after he was in power in Medina, that is, in the last 10 years of his life. Here is a sampling of them.
Kill them [those who fight you] wherever you find them. Expel them from where they have expelled you. For (their) disbelief is a greater evil than killing (them). … Should they turn from disbelief, then Allah is indeed forgiving and merciful. So fight them until disbelief is no more and only Allah is worshipped. Once they submit, there will be no more punishment except against evildoers. Quran 2:191-193
Note that armed conflict is to be a reality until the whole world worships Allah.
Warfare is prescribed for you, even though you may think it repulsive. A thing you dislike can be good for you, and a thing you love can be bad for you, and only Allah knows (which is which) and you do not. Quran 2:26
Let those who fight for the cause of Allah, sell the life of this world for the hereafter. Whoever fights for the cause of Allah, whether slain or victorious, We will give him a great reward. Quran 4:74
They (the hypocritical Meccans) are eager that you should disbelieve like they have disbelieved, so that you all become the same. So do not make friends with any of them until they convert to the way of Allah. And if they turn their backs, seize them and kill them wherever you find them. And do not take any of them as friends and helpers …. Quran 4:89
While Allah promises a great reward to all (believers), those who wage jihad will receive a greater reward than those who sit back. Quran 4:95
The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned [as potential slaves]; this shall be as a disgrace for them in this world, and in the hereafter they shall have a grievous chastisement. Quran 5:33
I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve. Therefore behead them and chop off their every fingertip. Quran 8:12
The goal of terrorism is to do just that … to make people so afraid that they will lose heart and acquiesce to those committing the atrocities.
Say to those who do not believe, if they relinquish [their unbelief], what is already past will be forgiven them. But if they revert [to unbelief], then the precedent of the ancients has already passed. So fight them until disbelief is no more and only Allah is worshipped. But if they relinquish [their unbelief], Allah indeed sees best what they do. Quran 8:39
Again, armed struggle is a perpetual affair until the whole world has converted to Islam.
Then, when the sacred months have passed, kill the idolaters wherever you find them, capture them and besiege them, and lie in wait for them at every ambush. But if they repent, and maintain the prayer and give the alms levy [= convert to Islam] then allow them to go their way. Indeed Allah is all-forgiving, all-merciful. Quran 9:5
Once Muhammad was in control, he proclaimed that non-Muslims had to convert to Islam or die.
Fight those from among those who were given the Book [= Jews and Christians] who do not believe in Allah, nor [believe] in the Last Day, nor forbid what Allah and His Apostle have forbidden, nor practice the true religion, until they willingly pay the [yearly] tax [for not believing], knowing they are subjugated [to the rule of Islam]. Quran 9:29
The "People of the Book," was Muhammad's way of referring to Jews and Christians. These were to be treated in a nearly identical fashion to how the polytheists were treated, with the one caveat, that they had the option of paying a yearly tax if they did not want to convert to Islam yet were completely willing to live under Muslim rule and law.
These tax rates on non-Muslims, when they have been applied at all, have varied from a fixed annual amount (i.e. the inhabitants of Yemen imposed in 632 by Muhammad), up to a crushing 50% of annual produce or income. In Muhammad's mind, this tax was material proof of the non-Muslims' submission to the Muslim rule and law as well as a financial incentive to adopt the Muslim faith.
When you meet the unbelievers in battle, decapitate them. When you have thoroughly decimated them, bind the (remaining) captives firmly. Thereafter either oblige them [to pay the tax for non-Muslims] or hold them [for] ransom until the war is over. Quran 47:4
While still living in Mecca, Muhammed was relatively tolerant of other faiths and spoke of religion as something that should be a matter of free choice – these Surah's are also found in the Quran. At that time he was not adverse to having Christians and Jews as allies.
However, when he was in power in Medina, Muhammed became much more aggressive. His focus was on crushing any opposition to Islam by violent means – and forcing those defeated by him to convert to Islam, be killed, or exiled. Muhammad's Jihad refers to beheadings and killings and the removal of digits.
It has been argued that the OT, much like the Quran, speaks of committing violence in the name of God. The big difference is that the OT reports Israel fighting a holy war during the conquest of Canaan. In other words, it describes a historic situation.
The OT is descriptive, speaking of events that happened long ago. On the other hand, the Quran is prescriptive. It appears to be calling the faithful to acts of violence until the world has been converted to Islam and/or has submitted to Sharia Law.
Imagine that Jesus lead a successful military campaign against the Roman occupying forces, and the following words to his disciples had been recorded in the NT:
You should fight with whatever means possible against the unbelievers, even if you personally find violence distasteful. You are to fight them and kill them wherever they are and only stop when they convert. You are to crucify or cut off the heads of those who you defeat in order to intimidate those who oppose you. You are to continue this war until the whole world is under the rule of Christendom.
Imagine if this actually stood in the New Testament. Do you think that the history of Christianity would be somewhat different from what it was?
It has also been argued that the Christianity of the Middle Ages, particularly as evidenced in the crusades, the conquest of the Americas, and the inquisition, displayed the same kind of mentality as found in radical Muslim organizations such as "Boko Haram," "Al-Qaeda," "Islamic State," "Hezbollah," "Hamas," "Army of Islam," "Abu Sayyaf," and others, do today.
There is absolutely no way that violence on the part of Christians should be excused, but it has to be understood that the crusades were a limited and defensive response to the expansionistic Jihad of Islam into traditionally Christian territory.
The greatest tragedy of the crusades was that the symbol of the cross, which is to symbolize God's love for people, was used in the context of killing Muslims.
More importantly, both before and after the Middle Ages, Christians have recognized that the teaching of Jesus, and the whole of the NT, speaks out against the use of violence and cruelty in any context. This is actually what Jesus said:
Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9
Be at peace with one another. Mark 9:5
Love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these. Mark 12:31
Do not resist an evil person. If someone strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. Matthew 5:39
Jesus taught an ethic of non-retaliation, an ethic of non-violence.
Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.
In the parallel passage in Luke 6, Jesus adds, "do good to those who hate you, pronounce a blessing on those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you."
Do to others as you would have them do to you.
Treat others in the same way you want them to treat you, for this is the Law and the Prophets. Matthew 7:12
This is my command: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: that he lay down his life for his friends. John 15:12-13
While Jesus acknowledged the possibility that following him may result in opposition from friends and family members, his followers were to be defined by loving action toward each other and all people.
We need to understand that the teaching of Muhammad during the last 10 years of his life, and the teaching of Jesus are diametrically opposed.
Muhammad focused on Allah, who calls the faithful to conflict. Jesus focused on a heavenly Father, who wants his followers to show compassion for all people and who calls the faithful to peace.
It is because of Jesus' teaching, that individuals who leave the Christian faith, who want to insult Christians, poke fun at Jesus, deface the Bible, or in some other way denigrate Christianity, do not have to fear reprisals.
We have to understand that for radical Muslims, peace with non-Muslims is simply not an acceptable state of affairs since the end goal will always be the imposition of Sharia Law, which necessitates destroying Western society and western education. (The very term Boko Haram is a combination of two Hausa term that refer to the sinful or bad nature of outside education, that is, education that isn't Muslim.)
One the other hand, we also need to understand that we cannot demonize Muslims or Islam as a whole. The vast majority of Muslims, particularly in the West, do not condone or support radical Islam (about 8-10% do). Most Muslims are kind and good people.
Some of them will point out that Sharia Law forbids violence against civilians.
Some will limit the notion of Jihad to a defensive war by a legitimate state against non-civilians attackers.
Others will argue that only those Suras that originated in Muhammad's Meccan period are the ones that are to remain universally valid.
Similarly, they might argue that commands to fight have to be limited to the historical conflict between Muslims and the non-Muslims in Muhammad's day and are thus not applicable in modern times.
Or, they may argue that violence of any kind is a perversion and betrayal of real Islam, like the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam and some Sufies and Shias.
While being realistic about the real intentions of radical Muslims, we need to recognize the diversity in Islam and the current internal struggle that is waged between extremists and moderate Muslims.
As a result we should demonstrate a fundamental respect for Islam (without having to agree with all of its teachings).
For example, we can stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians and speak out for religious freedom, and at the same time do whatever we can in our power to find common ground with and support the moderate voices in Islam.
In your hearts honour Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to give a reason for the hope that is in you, yet do it with gentleness and respect. 1 Peter 3:15
Respect is a fundamental principle when interacting with others. There is nothing to be gained and much to be lost by denigrating Muhammad or the Quran.
As Christians we have to recognize that Muslims as individuals are not people to be feared and opposed, but they are our neighbours who we are called upon to love and build relationships with.
Love your neighbour as yourself. Matthew 19:19
In his parable of the Good Samaritan, Jesus defined the neighbour as anyone in need who we happen to come in contact with, even if it is someone who is highly prejudiced against us.
We can bless Muslims by wishing peace upon them: Salem Aleikum.
As Christians who seek to follow Jesus' teaching, we have a unique opportunity to be a blessing to our Muslim friends, neighbours, co-workers, and fellow students … committing ourselves to the process which the apostle Paul referred to in his letter to the believers in Rome:
Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good. Romans 12:21
And, by the way, that is a principle that we should try to live out in every relationship that we have.
IS THERE SOMETHING I CAN DO THIS WEEK
THAT WILL HELP ME TO RESPOND
WITH OPTIMISM AND LOVE
TO THOSE AROUND ME?
November 08, 2015 / jim/ Comment
Nov 01 - Surfing Through The Book ...


text:
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Partial Class ServiceSortableJobViewer
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    'UserControl overrides dispose to clean up the component list.
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    Protected Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean)
        Try
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            MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
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    End Sub

    'Required by the Windows Form Designer
    Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer

    'NOTE: The following procedure is required by the Windows Form Designer
    'It can be modified using the Windows Form Designer.
    'Do not modify it using the code editor.
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        'SplitContainer1
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        'SplitContainer1.Panel2
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        Me.TableLayoutPanel3.RowStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 10.0!))
        Me.TableLayoutPanel3.RowStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 10.0!))
        Me.TableLayoutPanel3.RowStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Percent, 60.0!))
        Me.TableLayoutPanel3.RowStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Absolute, 20.0!))
        Me.TableLayoutPanel3.RowStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Absolute, 20.0!))
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        Me.TableLayoutPanel3.RowStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Absolute, 20.0!))
        Me.TableLayoutPanel3.RowStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Absolute, 20.0!))
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        Me.TableLayoutPanel3.RowStyles.Add(New System.Windows.Forms.RowStyle(System.Windows.Forms.SizeType.Absolute, 20.0!))
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        Me.lblSortTitle.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(8, 8)
        Me.lblSortTitle.Margin = New System.Windows.Forms.Padding(8)
        Me.lblSortTitle.Name = "lblSortTitle"
        Me.lblSortTitle.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(44, 13)
        Me.lblSortTitle.TabIndex = 6
        Me.lblSortTitle.Text = "Sort By:"
        '
        'ComboBox1
        '
        Me.ComboBox1.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Left
        Me.ComboBox1.DropDownStyle = System.Windows.Forms.ComboBoxStyle.DropDownList
        Me.ComboBox1.FormattingEnabled = True
        Me.ComboBox1.Items.AddRange(New Object() {"Submit Date", "Summary"})
        Me.ComboBox1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(68, 8)
        Me.ComboBox1.Margin = New System.Windows.Forms.Padding(8)
        Me.ComboBox1.Name = "ComboBox1"
        Me.ComboBox1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(153, 21)
        Me.ComboBox1.TabIndex = 7
        '
        'FlowLayoutPanel2
        '
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel2.Controls.Add(Me.rdbtnAsc)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel2.Controls.Add(Me.rdbtnDesc)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel2.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(3, 58)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel2.Name = "FlowLayoutPanel2"
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel2.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(200, 49)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel2.TabIndex = 6
        '
        'rdbtnAsc
        '
        Me.rdbtnAsc.AutoSize = True
        Me.rdbtnAsc.Checked = True
        Me.rdbtnAsc.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(8, 8)
        Me.rdbtnAsc.Margin = New System.Windows.Forms.Padding(8)
        Me.rdbtnAsc.Name = "rdbtnAsc"
        Me.rdbtnAsc.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(43, 17)
        Me.rdbtnAsc.TabIndex = 0
        Me.rdbtnAsc.TabStop = True
        Me.rdbtnAsc.Text = "Asc"
        Me.rdbtnAsc.UseVisualStyleBackColor = True
        '
        'rdbtnDesc
        '
        Me.rdbtnDesc.AutoSize = True
        Me.rdbtnDesc.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(67, 8)
        Me.rdbtnDesc.Margin = New System.Windows.Forms.Padding(8)
        Me.rdbtnDesc.Name = "rdbtnDesc"
        Me.rdbtnDesc.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(50, 17)
        Me.rdbtnDesc.TabIndex = 1
        Me.rdbtnDesc.Text = "Desc"
        Me.rdbtnDesc.UseVisualStyleBackColor = True
        '
        'FlowLayoutPanel3
        '
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel3.Controls.Add(Me.lblUserFilter)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel3.Controls.Add(Me.rdbtnPublic)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel3.Controls.Add(Me.rdbtnMe)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel3.Dock = System.Windows.Forms.DockStyle.Fill
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel3.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(3, 113)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel3.Name = "FlowLayoutPanel3"
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel3.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(215, 49)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel3.TabIndex = 7
        '
        'lblUserFilter
        '
        Me.lblUserFilter.AutoSize = True
        Me.lblUserFilter.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(8, 8)
        Me.lblUserFilter.Margin = New System.Windows.Forms.Padding(8)
        Me.lblUserFilter.Name = "lblUserFilter"
        Me.lblUserFilter.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(44, 13)
        Me.lblUserFilter.TabIndex = 0
        Me.lblUserFilter.Text = "Creator:"
        '
        'rdbtnPublic
        '
        Me.rdbtnPublic.AutoSize = True
        Me.rdbtnPublic.Checked = True
        Me.rdbtnPublic.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(68, 8)
        Me.rdbtnPublic.Margin = New System.Windows.Forms.Padding(8)
        Me.rdbtnPublic.Name = "rdbtnPublic"
        Me.rdbtnPublic.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(36, 17)
        Me.rdbtnPublic.TabIndex = 1
        Me.rdbtnPublic.TabStop = True
        Me.rdbtnPublic.Text = "All"
        Me.rdbtnPublic.UseVisualStyleBackColor = True
        '
        'rdbtnMe
        '
        Me.rdbtnMe.AutoSize = True
        Me.rdbtnMe.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(120, 8)
        Me.rdbtnMe.Margin = New System.Windows.Forms.Padding(8)
        Me.rdbtnMe.Name = "rdbtnMe"
        Me.rdbtnMe.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(40, 17)
        Me.rdbtnMe.TabIndex = 2
        Me.rdbtnMe.Text = "Me"
        Me.rdbtnMe.UseVisualStyleBackColor = True
        '
        'ServiceSortableJobViewer
        '
        Me.AutoScaleDimensions = New System.Drawing.SizeF(6.0!, 13.0!)
        Me.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font
        Me.Controls.Add(Me.SplitContainer1)
        Me.Name = "ServiceSortableJobViewer"
        Me.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(1500, 555)
        Me.SplitContainer1.Panel1.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.SplitContainer1.Panel2.ResumeLayout(False)
        CType(Me.SplitContainer1, System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize).EndInit()
        Me.SplitContainer1.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.TableLayoutPanel1.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.TableLayoutPanel2.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.Panel1.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.TableLayoutPanel3.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel1.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel1.PerformLayout()
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel2.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel2.PerformLayout()
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel3.ResumeLayout(False)
        Me.FlowLayoutPanel3.PerformLayout()
        Me.ResumeLayout(False)

    End Sub

    Friend WithEvents SplitContainer1 As SplitContainer
    Friend WithEvents TableLayoutPanel1 As TableLayoutPanel
    Friend WithEvents TableLayoutPanel2 As TableLayoutPanel
    Friend WithEvents Panel1 As Panel
    Friend WithEvents btnHideShowSort As Button
    Friend WithEvents lblTitle As Label
    Friend WithEvents TableLayoutPanel3 As TableLayoutPanel
    Friend WithEvents FlowLayoutPanel1 As FlowLayoutPanel
    Friend WithEvents lblSortTitle As Label
    Friend WithEvents ComboBox1 As ComboBox
    Friend WithEvents FlowLayoutPanel2 As FlowLayoutPanel
    Friend WithEvents rdbtnAsc As RadioButton
    Friend WithEvents rdbtnDesc As RadioButton
    Friend WithEvents FlowLayoutPanel3 As FlowLayoutPanel
    Friend WithEvents lblUserFilter As Label
    Friend WithEvents rdbtnPublic As RadioButton
    Friend WithEvents rdbtnMe As RadioButton
    Friend WithEvents ServiceJobViewer1 As ServiceJobViewer
End Class


Mid-year appeals must be heard within 30 school days of receipt of the appeal.'On-time' appeals will be heard within 40 school days of the deadline for lodging appeals. Appeals lodged after these dates will be heard within 40 school days of the appeal deadline or 30 school days of being lodged, whichever is the later date.
and follow this link to the primary appeal form.


(arrival time is 15 minutes prior to the class start time).
Lesson discount cards available for purchase and use – huge savings!
This class has been specially developed to suit pre-school aged children. Our coaches play games, dance, sing and have lots of fun as they introduce the children to the wonderful world of roller skating. The children will improve their balance, coordination and self-confidence as they learn to skate. This is a very social experience for both parents and children and should not be missed! Coffee and snacks are available to purchase from the café.
Learn the skills of going fast for fun, fitness or for competition. Some of the Australia's best speed skaters train and coach at Skaterz Eltham so there is no shortage of inspiration.
Beginner speed & Intermediate speed are the lessons that will help you get to where you want to be FAST!!!
The aim of this class is to provide an environment in which adults can practice speed skating and receive technical feedback under the supervision of a coach without any small children at their feet.
It also presents an opportunity to have some 'extra rink time' for those adults who many find it challenging to consistently attend classes throughout the week.
This class is open to all skaters interested in speed skating who are over the age of 18 years, and caters to all levels of adults skaters.
We are a family friendly roller skating and roller blading entertainment venue.
Whether you're up for a session, a lesson, or simply want to purchase some new skates, Skaterz is the place for you!
We are located a short 15 minute walk from Eltham Train Station, or alternatively a 30 minute drive from the inner Melbourne city.


text:
Resources / Publishing Workflow
by Publish Interactive, 9 September 2020
CCS Insight uses Publish Interactive to deliver a wealth of research content in an interactive format and track subscribers' interactions.
CCS Insight is a market information, analysis and intelligence firm serving the technology sector. It provides syndicated and custom research to large businesses across the globe. After relying on a custom-made system to distribute its content for several years, CCS Insight's requirements outgrew the ability of this increasingly dated platform.
Beyond downloadable PDFs
For more than a decade, CCS Insight had been distributing its report content as downloadable PDFs from its subscription website, without being able to fully understand how content was used or its popularity.
CCS Insight has a wealth of research content, and was looking for improvements in its delivery platform to fully realise the value of this material. It needed state-of-the-art search and access tools to enliven the experience and improve workflow quality.
With an increasing number of customers accessing content on mobile devices, CCS Insight also needed device optimization to ensure scrolling around a PDF to read a document became a thing of the past.
"Our method of distributing content was neither interactive nor user-friendly. It was no longer fit for purpose. The look and feel needed updating, the functionality and search were basic, and the back-end was neither easy nor quick to use," says Robert Caunt, Director of Publishing, CCS Insight.
"The site didn't say 'this is a technology company'. As a business in this space, we're judged in those terms. We needed an upgrade."
"What appealed to us about Publish Interactive was how the technology met many of our needs. As a specialist content distribution platform for research companies, it was designed for companies like us"
Robert Caunt,
Director of Publishing,
CCS Insight
Platform that can grow
With Publish Interactive now powering its new content management and delivery platform, CCS Insight has improved its user experience, enhanced interaction with the hundreds of pieces of content it produces annually and made it easier to distribute material.
"The platform is quicker and better. Search is clear, intuitive and accurate. It can translate content, allow users to copy to a clipboard and create their own reports. It's also a great tool for providing users with control and enabling them to make better use of our research.
"It helps us create new content easily by converting Word documents into interactive content in a quick and intelligent way, while still supporting our PDF back catalogue. What's more, the platform has the potential to grow with us."
A re-energised approach
Upgrading to Publish Interactive enables CCS Insight to offer its users a range of workflow tools. In addition, customers can also make use of an intuitive interface that makes it quicker and easier to perform tasks and access content.
"We had a long internal debate about whether to drive people to the website to access content or whether to simply e-mail a PDF. Having the Publish Interactive site has settled that debate," adds Robert.
"With content on the site, we can find out how, why and what content people are using — and what they're not using. We can track failed searches and find out what people want, that we don't yet provide."
Publish Interactive has helped CCS Insight to speed up its publishing and editing process and made it possible for the technology research business to plan for expanded functionality to embrace video and audio storytelling and new interactive ways to display data.
"Publish Interactive has re-energised our approach to research," adds Robert. "We've been able to take another look at what we do — and make it even better for our subscribers."
Video content: 5 actionable use cases for modern market analysis providers
CategoriesCustomer Success Story TagsAnalyst Workflow, Market Reports, PDF


text:
Microsoft Windows zero-day exposes companies to credit card data theft
The boom in PoS systems in the US has its drawbacks. Researchers from FireEye have disclosed the details of cyberattack group leveraging a Microsoft Windows zero-day flaw in targeted attacks against over 100 US companies.
Dhanesh Kizhakkinan, Yu Wang, Dan Caselden and Erica Eng from FireEye's security team said in a blog post on Wednesday that in March this year, a group of threat actors developed spear-phishing campaigns tailored for specific targets in the retail, restaurant, and hospitality industries.
The attacks involved CVE-2016-0167, a zero-day vulnerability which was patched in Microsoft's April 12 Patch Tuesday.
The privilege escalation flaw was found in the win32k Windows Graphics subsystem and impacted Microsoft Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows RT 8.1, and Windows 10.
According to FireEye, the threat group used the vulnerability to target companies across the US with spear phishing campaigns based on tailored emails containing malicious Microsoft Word attachments.
If a victim was duped into downloading and opening the file, embedded macros hidden within the .DOC files executed a downloader called Punchbuggy.
Punchbuggy is a dynamic-link library (DLL) downloader, available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions, which ferries across malicious code through HTTPS. The malicious software was then used by the groups to "interact with compromised systems and move laterally across victim environments," the security team says.
Together, the Microsoft escalation of privilege (EoP) vulnerability and a point of sale (POS) memory scraping tool used by the group called Punchtrack gave the cyberattackers an avenue to attack over 100 US firms to steal both track 1 and 2 credit card data stored in PoS systems used by these companies.
The names of the companies in question, as well as the number of potential consumer victims, has not been disclosed.
"This actor has conducted operations on a large scale and at a rapid pace, displaying a level of operational awareness and ability to adapt their operations on the fly," FireEye says. "These abilities, combined with targeted usage of an EoP exploit and the reconnaissance required to individually tailor phishing emails to victims, potentially speaks to the threat actors' operational maturity and sophistication."
FireEye believes the cybergang is "financially motivated" and is the "only group to date" which combines Punchbuggy and Punchtrack.
In order to protect against this threat, both businesses and consumers should make sure their Windows systems are fully up-to-date. This EoP vulnerability is no longer effective due to recent patch updates.
Source:https://www.zdnet.com/
In: Vulnerabilities
Tagged: Microsoft


1990: Voluntary Supplemental Retirement Annuity Plan Initiated: Under management by Morgan Stanley since its inception. These funds are generated and distributed to eligible Coaches from the NBA / NBCA Joint Licensing Agreement.
1991: 401(k) Plan Initiated: Stan Morken / Cantella & Co. retained as NBA Coaches Association benefits consultants.
1996: ESPN/NBA Matchup: A weekly show produced by NBA Entertainment & aired on ESPN with focus on NBA Coaches. "Coaches Corner" is a segment on each broadcast which showcases current and past NBA Coaches.
1999: NBA Store "Coaches Corner": A section of the NBA's Flagship store on Fifth Avenue in New York City is dedicated to NBA Coaches and their merchandise and publications.
2000: Head Coaches / Officials the Coaches Summit: An Annual meeting jointly organized by the NBA the Coaches Summits: and the NBA Coaches Association between NBA Head Coaches, key Officials and the League Basketball Operations Department. This event permits the parties to communicate and interact "off-the-court" and to discuss rules and other "game" related issues for the upcoming season.
2002: NBA.com / Coaches Corner Active and inactive coaches provide expert analysis for key weekly network television games as a way to promote NBA basketball.
2004: Joint Licensing (Marketing): A three year extension of the Joint Licensing Agreement/NBA Properties Inc. / (Marketing) Agreement between NBA Properties NBCA / Extension Inc. and the NBA Coaches Association was entered into in August of 2004. This agreement now runs through the 2015 / 2016 NBA season. Under the plan, in return for a number of joint marketing initiatives as well as appearances by Head and Assistant Coaches, NBA Properties will provide payment to the NBCA to be distributed through the Association to current members of the NBA Coaches Association (Head and Assistant Coaches) into individual Annuity accounts set up by each Coach as a Supplemental Retirement benefit.
2005: NBA Coaches Association Rules: Formed to create a vehicle for Coaches to have Committee: input into the NBA Basketball Operations Department and the NBA Rules and Competition Committee on suggested change for the betterment of the game.
2007: NBA Coaches for Kids: Establishment of NBA Coaches Association/Boys & Girls Clubs of America NBA Coaches for Kids Program (In conjunction with team General Managers and NBA Athletic Trainers). This program eventually saw over $2 million donated to the Boys and Girls Club of America. These funds allowed over 200,000 boys and girls club members to attend NBA games and interact with Coaches, Assistant Coaches, and Athletic Trainers, who promoted the Boys and Girls Club message to the attendees.
2008: Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award: Establishment of the NBA Coaches Association Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award.
2010: Hoops for St. Jude: Hoops for St. Jude / NBA Coach Ambassador Program / NBA Hoops for St. Jude Week.
2011: 401K Plan: Establishment of NBA / NBA Coaches Association Enhanced 401K Program.
2013: NBA Coaches/SiriusXM NBA Radio: NBA Coaches provide content and analysis to NBA fans on this newly launched NBA / Sirius Satellite Radio initiative.
Over 300 coaches and assistants have participated in overseas opportunities since this program began in 1981. Two NBA Assistant Coaches participated at the first ever joint NBA-CBA (Chinese Basketball Association) Coaches Clinic Summer 2004. In addition, NBA Coaches play a key role in the organization and execution of the basketball camps and competitions run under the umbrella of the NBA's global "Basketball Without Borders" initiative. Through the efforts of the NBA Coaches Association, NBA Coaches have participated in Coaches clinics in Bosnia, Brazil, China Haiti, Iraq, Johannesburg, Israel, Italy, Philippines, Russia as well as other venues.
Since 1978 over 175 coaches have secured assignments on network cable or local T.V. broadcasts either on a permanent or seasonal basis.
Since its inception, through the work of the Association, hundreds of active and inactive coaches have been featured on NBA.com providing expert analysis and participating in chat rooms, etc. NBA.com is an outstanding forum for Coaches in between assignments to maintain their profile around the League and the basketball world. Further to this effort, NBA Coaches have been featured in all the NBA's digital and social media platforms.


text:
Q: How can I use a variable as a json key in karate? * def myvariable = 1
* def schema =
"""
{
  myvariable : '#number',
  2: '#number',
  3: '#number',
  4: '#number',
  5: '#number',
  6: '#number',
}
"""

I need to use 'myvariable' as a key. How can I do this?

A: Here you go:
* def schema = {}
* schema.myvariable = 1
* match schema == { myvariable: 1 }

# dynamic key name
* def name = 'myvariable'
* def schema = {}
* schema[name] = 1
* match schema == { myvariable: 1 }

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Millenials just aren't buying cars like their predecessors.
In fact, the share of new cars purchased by 18-34 year-olds dropped 30 percent in the last five years, according to Edmunds.com. With this sobering information in hand, Ford Motor Company knew a fresh approach was needed to attract this audience.
When Ford released the 2013 Ford Fusion + Hybrid, the car company sought to create a buzz in the marketplace.
Armed with engaging video content, Ford sought a visual way for people to interact and have a conversation about the Fusion. People were invited to "tell the world what you think" about the new hybrid.
Noble Studios made these comments visual in an interactive cloud and map view based on the volume of comments and keywords. These popular terms were highlighted within the map to show how different regions of the United States were describing their Ford Fusion experience. These comments were shared in an interactive cloud view or map view based on number of comments and keywords.
Bostonians thought the Ford Fusion was #wicked, while California cruisers thought the Fusion was #cool and, apparently, Midwesterners say #awesome a lot.
Noble Studios built fully customizable YouTube and Facebook tabs to showcase the 2013 Ford Fusion + Hybrid. We also designed and developed a mobile version of both experiences. The social app captured thousands of customer comments to create a visual, interactive interface which actively responded to a user's mouse movement.
Through the WordPress content management system, Ford could moderate comments, highlight custom phrases within the word cloud, and edit different regions by zip code targeted through the map interface. Additionally, the app included a custom YouTube HTML5 video player and integration with a third party social moderation tool.
Ford could highlight several videos within the header carousel. Each video had a trackable social share element which helped gain a better understanding of which videos and social networks were most popular. Deep linking capabilities ensured targeted users were seeing particular videos first in the carousel. The mobile and tablet experiences were controlled with gestures and swipes. Ford controlled the layout order of each section through the CMS.
The campaign attracted a large mobile and tablet audience, which comprised 57% of the site traffic.
We used key performance indicators to change up the site's architecture in an effort to continually improve the user experience. With a high volume of the YouTube audience on mobile, we retrofitted the site from adaptive into a fully responsive layout. We also designed layout to keep visitors on the site longer.
As a result, the campaign attracted 2,757 new subscribers on its YouTube channel, with the top YouTube video being watched 132,927 times. Facebook likes also increased by 27 percent over 10 months.
The campaign attracted a large mobile and tablet audience, which comprised 57 percent of site traffic. On top of that, mobile users had a 75 percent higher goal conversion rate than desktop users in slideshow and gallery interactions, and mobile users had a 49 percent higher return visit rate over desktop users.


Please only use this form for comments about the practice and suggestions as to how we can improve our service to you. Medical matters and official complaints cannot be dealt with via this form. If you have a query regarding a medical matter please telephone reception to make an appointment to see the appropriate person. Please note that if a response is required, it may take up to 3 working days.