The whole prefecture is a challenge for exploration. Mount Falakro dominates all over the prefecture. Leaving Drama from the west and passing Prosotsani village, we meet the «gate» that leads to Nevrokopi Basin. Following the bed of a stream, we approach the coldest town of Greece, Kato Nevrokopi and the northern borders with Bulgaria.
Our destination is Granitis, which consists of the old residence - built in the riverbed Granitis - and the new residence that was developed on the road Drama – Exochi Customhouse. Today, it looks like a stream, because its waters are gathered for exploitation.
Our trip starts from the central square of the village, which is located on the road. We follow the path that is on the left and leads to the old residence.
Our course is to the left, alongside the stream, which formerly played an important role for the development of the village and its waters were used for irrigation and the operation of watermills. Three mills existed along the stream. The corpse of Karatzas mill (450m from the start), is on our left, dro wned in vegetation. On the right, there is the information sign for the environmental trail, which was created and organized by the Forestry of Kato Nevrokopi.
We continue our trip on a smooth, earthen road through the lush vegetation, which begins to get off and the horizon to appear. The water is drinkable and useful for the rest of our journey. Despite the fact that the road continues straight ahead, we turn right, where we meet another earthen road with some stone on the left side. Here, begins the most difficult part of the journey, as the field is full of stones and we need to do continuous maneuvers to avoid them. Furthermore, it is uphill with average slope of about 7% and in some small parts even bigger. At the beginning, the vegetation is bushy and we can make out low masonry, which previously determined the borders of the fields.
On the east, we see mountain range of Falakro. It is about a mount that was created by nature millions years ago. As you ascend, the vegetation becomes denser and taller. The soil becomes softer and without many stones. In some places through the dense foliage, we distinguish points of the settlement and we can also hear noises from the main highway. During the journey, we see various obscure earthen roads of different directions. Most of them lead to old mines and other kind of mines (metal). Some of them remain from the ancient times.
As we approach the end of the climb, the vegetation is less and we reach a plateau with panoramic view (8,2km far from the starting point). Following the same direction we see, so close, Perithori village, Kato Vrontou and on the other side, in Serres prefecture, Ano Vrontou.
We go through a forest with tall beeches (8,5km far from the start). The trail continues straight ahead, as we pass the first gully. We follow the path that goes right across the slope and plunges into the gorge that we just passed. Going down, we reach a location, where only one beech tree exists and not so far, some others grow around it (approximately 8,9km far from the starting point). For us, it is a short stop, as our route becomes more difficult and demanding. The slope is growing and it is a great opportunity, not only for walkers to experience their balance, but also for cyclists to check their brakes and their abilities downhill. This section of the route is called by the locals «Glistra», because, when they cut the forest trees, from this place, they threw the cut trees, in order to get a lower point and then, having the mules, to get them out, on the road... Slipping on the «floor» (surface) of the forest, we suddenly come out on a well built path. We turn right and come across with an information sign, relevant to our entrance to the environmental path (9,7km far from the start).
The environmental path was designed and implemented by the Forestry of Kato Nevrokopi. It aims to highlight a particular area of the natural environment of Granitis and - with the biodiversity that presents - to become a pole of attraction for the acquaintance with flora and fauna of the place. The biggest part of it is paved with gravel, so there is no problem with mud. Wooden steps make the descent smoother and labels help us to get know the animals of the forest. There are information signs to get know about the species of the trees, such as the oak, beech, maple, vitiligo, tremusa, the fir tree, fraxos, dogwood with red berries in autumn, ,wild pear tree and gortsia with small hard fruit, wild filbert tree with small hazelnuts the period of fruiting, wild apple tree and chestnut. On the way, it deserves to deviate and see the perennial chestnut trees of the forest. One admires their size and their trunks that depict their lives - their heavy winters with lots of snow, lightning, disease, scratches from insects, etc. Wild fruit trees are remnants of earlier cultivation of the people who lived on the slope. These, over the years were abandoned, but the trees continued to produce and get reproduced. Binder plants, between the trunks of trees and soil, are ivy and vines. Their foliage, create a kind of curtains that cover what the forest hides from us. Wild roses accompany us in many parts of the route - the brambles do the same, too. Koufoxylia with small pink - purple flowers is there, too. Juniper and kraetagos claim their own space. Lower, on the surface of the soil, we find wild strawberry, pentanevro and polytrichi, in wet rocks. Fteri, with its green small leaves, creates a thick quilt. Flower bells, kentavries, crocus, salvies and etc, give color over the green landscape. Especially in spring, the color contrast is great. The forest can feed us. So, if you run into fruiting season in it, it deserves to taste the fruit, which are offered to you generously. However, we should pay attention to mushrooms and fruit of ivy.
Despite the fact that we may move carefully along the path, we do not encounter birds, but we hear them chirping... Hoopoe with its crest and woodpecker appear, hitting with their beaks on the tree trunks. Tsichla appears, too, with quick nervous flying. The turtledove is a kind of a platform on the trees, melissofagos (a bird which eats bees), has a soft chirrup call, the quail that we rarely see, but often hear, the social and intelligent crow, the cuckoo that is hidden in very tall trees and from April starts singing, saini, whose silhouette resembles with the falcon's one and kirkinezi that looks elegant with its pointed wings, the narrow tail and close the quick flutter – all the above mentioned species are the identified birds. According to the wolf, it appears in the winter months, especially during the snowy periods. Boar leaves traces of its passage and finds a variety of food in the forest. Badgers, weasels and ferrets are very common species in the area. On rainy days, we meet salamanders. They have flexible black body with yellow spots along their trunk and tail. The forest turns into a magic place, during the spring and summer months with the appearance of butterflies.
Our senses are awakened and we descend more and more towards the village. Suddenly, we see a church, just in front of us (10,7km far from the start). It is dedicated to Virgin Mary's Assumption. The door is always opened to receive visitors. It is attentive, with a clean yard. It provides a small wooden gazebo for getting some rest and a quick meal. The view of Granitis is in front of us.
The environmental path continues behind the Church to reach the dirt road from where we started our journey home and its output is opposite the watermill Karatzas. We do not continue on the environmental path, but we descend the concrete road, opened by on the left. Then, we turn right on the earthen road that we encounter and go forward to the Church of the old town (11km far from the start). The old settlement of Granitis is extended on the left and ahead.
The Chu rch is dedicated to the Archangels Gabriel and Michael. It is one of many churches that were built in the area, during the last years of the 19th century.
Dwellers prepare the Church, when Archangels celebrate on 8th of November. Leaving the courtyard of the Church we see, right across, a narrow alley and we follow it. It passes between the fence of a courtyard and a garden fence. We approach the stream, with lush vegetation around. We find a bridge that passes us on the opposite bank (11,1km far from the start). It does not present any particular architecture. It is arched and low. We turn left and go out on the road, down from the main square at the start of our journey. We do not follow it, but we continue straight ahead, entering an earthen road. It is notable that throughout the network of earthen roads - that exist in the village – we stand out crushed black white and green stones. These are «kalderimia» (streets) that were paved with granite stone from the old quarry.
Continuing our way, we find on the right, another old spring on the left bank and we see renovated old houses. We follow the old road that is between the stream and the current asphalted road. The undergrowth of weeds and flowers - that is right and left of the path – it takes us back close to nature. If we observe more carefully, we will identify multitude of herbs - such as mallow, clover, mint, fennel, wild, etc – which is like a botanical garden. Thousands of butterflies visit this «garden» from spring to autumn. A survey indicated that there are endemic species of butterfly – something that makes Granitis to acquire special environmental interest.
We arrive at the camps of Holy Metropolis of Drama (12,1km far from the start). On the right is the new way. Turn left. There is a sign to inform you that the path leads to the top of Agios (Saint) Pavlos. The road is paved now. A stream with running water and lush vegetation makes the place dreamful. Small plateau with grass or cyclamen and crocuses or wild strawberries - depending on the season – look like a human hand has planted and take care them. Locals call the area Kryoneri (cold water), because there are available springs. This elaborate road, reaches to a distrato (double road) - (13km far from the start). We can go on the left road and take the path that leads to the top of St. Pavlos, while the right, leads to a cobbled stone building. «Fans» of mountain peaks following the left, earthen road, discover the faded markings of the trail. Traversing them through a dense beech forest, the trail leads to a glade. Glades are large lush meadows with wildflowers and if we cross them, they lead us back in beech forest, to reach, finally, a pass that leads them to the ridge. The ascent of the ridge is the way to the top. The Church of St. Pavlos - at 1,770m altitude - and the spectacular views in all directions – on the east Falakro Mount, north Kato Nevrokopi basin and Orvilos, south Menikio and southeast the plain of Drama and Paggeo Mount- is the hiking – climber's reward.
In distrato (the double road), we follow the right direction, which leads us to an abandoned building, sanatorium, as the locals call it. The lush vegetation is very attractive again. Beeches and firs cover the whole place. The humidity has helped, so there are plants everywhere. The ivy climbs on the trees and walls, creating veils in shades of green.
The tall vegetation disappears and we find bushes. We stand out, in some roadside, stone masonry. As we descend, we approach the basin. In front of us, the west side is opened and in the background, stands out Orvilos Mount. We see the first protection works, an anti-tank wall on one side and a pit on the other.
On the left, is Ochyro village along with the hill – we stand out on it, Fortifications of Lisse.
Our trip continues to move at the base of th e hill, as we steadily go down the winding road. The earthen road we followed till now, meets the old asphalted one, which has been abandoned now. New antitank projects and a guardhouse, constantly emphasize that we are close to the border (approximately 17,7km far from the starting point).
The vegetation begins to thicken again, as we enter the opening passage of Nevrokopi basin Drama. The drive is gently uphill, but without difficulties. The road is dirt sometimes and sometimes with asphalt. Moving a few meters further, we find a small shrine. Here, is a local tradition, mentioning the existence of a «Byzantine path». There are some points lost in vegetation and gorges and on the current forest road, where an observant eye can distinguish remnants of a paved path and a built masonry side. Continuing on the right, there is the chapel of St. Georgios and the camp entrance of Metropolis. (20,4km far from the starting point). We go out of the road. We can safely return to the village, following the route through the «botanical garden». However, if we move carefully along the asphalted road, we come back to the village square.


Any leftists taking a break from singing "Ding, dong, the witch is dead!" following the recent resignation of Iain Duncan Smith from the cabinet might want to invest 50 seconds watching this video.
Filmed in December, well before his resignation, before the cynics cry foul. Anyone doubting whether IDS' moral mission was genuine should watch.
It's not about Evil Tories hating the poor and the sick and wanting them to suffer. It was never about that. Some on the left may find it quicker and easier to caricature the politics and philosophy of those with whom they disagree, but I don't think that any sane, rational person can now look at what Iain Duncan Smith tried to do at the Department for Work and Pensions and say that he was in any way motivated by malice.
When the Left are willing to come to the debate with suggestions of their own for welfare reform (besides chucking more money at the same broken system), we can have a debate – and sometimes perhaps even find common ground, through radical ideas like universal basic income.
When the Left are able to stop virtue-signalling and begin with the assumption that conservatives are not evil but simply have different ideas for how to achieve a just and fair society, we can have a healthy debate on the issues even if we rarely achieve a real meeting of minds.
Or, you know, they can just keep shouting about the heartless Tory scum.
How many more ideologically principled, Thatcher-style conservatives can David Cameron's centrist political machine afford to alienate?
The Prime Minister has already done things that will underpin his eventual legacy: winning the Scottish independence referendum and the general election.
Kirkup probably meant this as praise, but in reality it is the most damning indictment of the current conservative government imaginable – far worse than anything that Iain Duncan Smith said in his resignation letter.
Because it is quite true – some of the greatest accomplishments of David Cameron and his core team of loyalists since 2010 are avoiding having the country disintegrate on their watch, and managing to win a second general election against a historically weak Labour leader pursuing a transparently flawed strategy. If the bar for success in British government has truly been set so low then we are in real trouble.
But David Cameron is not a visionary leader. He came to power in 2010 promising to get Britain through difficult economic times, and was re-elected in 2015 promising to be a reasonably competent Comptroller of Public Services. And to be fair to the man, he never really promised to be a great statesman or a formidable world leader.
Being a doggedly centrist technocrat is all well and good, but eventually people quite rightly start to ask what your government is for, besides acquiring the reins of power and then keeping hold of them for as long as possible. David Cameron's best answer – the main headline from the Conservative Party's 2015 general election manifesto – was that we should vote Tory because they have a "plan for every stage of your life".
Nobody within the Conservative Party seemed to care that this sounded alarmingly socialist and suggestive of the Nanny State – people craved security above freedom, it was believed, and so that's what would be promised and delivered. More of the status quo, whether the status quo worked well or not.
In other words, as this blog has long been saying and my Conservatives for Liberty colleague Paul Nizinskyj has now eloquently written, David Cameron's role model is far more the steady pair of hands in tough times rather than the visionary, bloody minded reformer – more Ted Heath than Margaret Thatcher.
I won't lie: my first reaction on hearing the news that Iain Duncan Smith – who together with Michael Gove is one of the few Conservative heavyweights left with any discernible core conviction – had finally snapped and told George Osborne exactly what to do to himself was "great – anything to make the smug little cretin sweat".
Because George Osborne is David Cameron with less charisma. And since David Cameron has almost no charisma of his own, that puts George Osborne well into negative territory. Given the fact that his blunders (the Omnishambles Budget, tax credits, PIPs) have done as much to colour the political landscape as his "victories", I also find his reputation as a master political strategist to be hugely overinflated.
If running to the political centre by jettisoning core conservative principle by adopting left-of-Labour policies like a £9 minimum wage counts as political genius then sure – anybody who can successfully cross-dress as a politician from a different party to pick off some extra votes is a master strategist. But it makes George Osborne a lousy conservative.
Not everything in Osborne's budget was wrong. Should the thresholds for tax brackets move upwards with inflation? Ideally yes, they should do so every year to neutralise the effect of fiscal drag. But to package measures such as this with reductions in the Personal Independence Payments to hundreds of thousands of disabled people is frankly idiotic.
In some ways, this is emblematic of the ridiculous nature of the Budget spectacle, a choreographed event which encourages the Chancellor of the Exchequer to play god with other minister's departments, either stealing their flagship ideas (as with academies) or otherwise presenting them out of context. But it also speaks to this government's utter failure to enact a bold, coherent and unapologetically conservative agenda.
Mr Osborne's reputation as a tactical political genius has gone south too. Maybe that's been the problem all along: his understanding of politics was all about tactics – about messaging and grids, presentational gloss and re-branding – and had nothing to do with fundamental, irreconcilable principle. I am prepared to guess that he quite literally does not understand politicians who are prepared to risk everything for an idea, a conviction: a personal moral mission.
I understood what Michael Gove was trying to accomplish at Education. And I get what Iain Duncan Smith was wrestling with at the Department for Work and Pensions, and admire his semi-successful efforts to get people into work, and to make that work pay more than dependency on the state. Unlike many others who write sanctimoniously but ignorantly about the issue, I have witnessed the welfare state up close, and seen exactly what our "compassionate" system is capable of doing to people when the dead-eyed state machine is responsible for their lives.
I get all of that. But I have no idea what David Cameron is trying to accomplish as prime minister, or what George Osborne thinks he is doing at the Treasury. Because it certainly isn't paying down Britain's debts, as they both like to claim. Nor is it guarding Britain's sovereignty and place in the world – Cameron has gutted Defence, and is in the process of tricking the British people into voting to remain in what he falsely claims to be a "reformed" European Union.
Neither Cameron or Osborne are motivated by the desire to roll back the state and make the British people more free – their heavy-handed government is all for ever-greater restrictions on both ancient and recent hard-won civil liberties, and is seemingly anxious to sacrifice what freedom we have left upon the altar of "national security".
There is almost nothing about shrinking the state and expanding personal liberty in this government. But there are lots of policies – cutting state spending on the poorest and weakest in society while continuing to lavish stage largesse on wealthy older people (through non-means tested benefits and the lack of a housing supply policy to benefit the young) – which play right into Labour's hands, making the Tories (and those who support them) look like nothing more than selfish, grubby opportunists, lining the pockets of the already wealthy while others suffer.
In short, I don't know what this Conservative government is for, besides trying to stay in power and preventing Labour from stealing it. And apart from the work he was doing in his own department, I suspect that Iain Duncan Smith didn't know either, no matter how much obligatory praise he heaped on Cameron in his resignation letter.
So I cannot do anything but endorse Iain Duncan Smith's decision to quit. The final straw was no doubt Downing Street's insistence that Duncan Smith come out all guns blazing in defence of the welfare cuts in the Budget, while simultaneously planning to walk back the proposals themselves – making IDS look like the crazed ideologue and Cameron / Osborne as the calm voices of reason. Who would want to stick around to be treated in that way?
And if Iain Duncan Smith's resignation destabilises the government – so what? We currently have a nominally conservative prime minister who is busily enacting Tony Blair's fourth term of office. We effectively already have a Labour prime minister – or a New Labour one, at least.
Maybe an improbable defeat to Jeremy Corbyn's Labour Party – or a good scare, at least – is the shock the Tories need to dig deep and find a real conservative leader.
Postscript: Iain Duncan Smith's full resignation letter – which this blog believes was far too generous and courteous – is shown below.


text:
Q: CQ5.3 Servlet Unavailable ( and Servlet Resolver Paths Configuration (5.3 v 5.6)) Historically I've only ever used CQ 5.6, but am now working on a project using 5.3 and am failing to get a servlet registered and accessible. When I try to hit the servlet (with and without and extension) I get the following INFO line in the error log:
GET /bin/TestServlet.json HTTP/1.1] org.apache.sling.engine.impl.SlingMainServlet service: Resource /bin/TestServlet.json not found

I can build the bundle containing the servlet, deploy it using the maven-sling-plugin, and the bundle ends up in the console as 'active', but the servlet isn't available. I'm using the following in my class file to define the servlet:
@SlingServlet(paths = {"/bin/TestServlet"}, methods = {"GET"}, extensions = {"json"}, metatype = true)
@Properties({
  @Property(name = "service.name", value = "com.something.servlets.TestServlet", propertyPrivate = true),
  @Property(name = "service.description", value= "Test servlet I am trying to geet working", propertyPrivate = true),
  @Property(name = "service.vendor", value = "something", propertyPrivate = true)
})

Please note that I have also tried that alternative using the @Component(.......) and @Service(value=Servlet.class) annotations
Looking to see if the problem is configuration based (thinking /bin was blocked) I went back to 5.6.1 to compare configuration and noticed that the config for Apache Sling Servlet/Script Resolver and Error Handler differs between 5.3 and 5.6.
In 5.6 you can configure the servletresolver.paths which (if I understand things correctly) opens up paths for execution, but this is not present in 5.3
So:

*

*Does the configuration for servletresolver.paths exist in 5.3?

*Can I even register a servlet like this in 5.3?

*If the answer to 2 is 'no', can you point me at an example/tutorial on how to do this in 5.3 (Docs and tutorials are thin on the ground for this version)?

Thanks in advance
EDIT (resolution):
It seems to be down to versions in the POM (and possibly plugin config). May only have been one culprit, but I simply don't have time to try all permutations. If I get time to try I'll add an edit.
Successful versions:
maven-bundle-plugin - v2.4.0
maven-scr-plugin - v1.13.0
maven-sling-plugin - v2.1.0

A: in CQ5.3 you can use 'JCR resolver' to check servlet mapping.
Go To
http://localhost:4502/system/console/jcrresolver

And enter path to your servlet in 'Configuration Test'.
e.g.
http://localhost:4502/bin/TestServlet

resolve result should mapping to your servlet
for example
ServletResource, servlet=com.test.impl.HelloJSONServlet, path=/bin/TestServlet

Also there is code snippet which works in CQ5.3
@Component(immediate = true, metatype = false, label = "Hello JSON Servlet")
@Service(serviceFactory = false, value = javax.servlet.Servlet.class)
@Properties(value = {
        @org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Property(name = "sling.servlet.methods", value = { "GET" }),
        @org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Property(name = "sling.servlet.extensions", value = { "json" }),
        @org.apache.felix.scr.annotations.Property(name = "sling.servlet.paths", value = {"/bin/TestServlet"})

})
public class HelloJSONServlet extends SlingAllMethodsServlet {

    protected void doGet(SlingHttpServletRequest request,
            SlingHttpServletResponse response) throws ServletException,
            IOException {
        String username = request.getParameter("username");
        response.setContentType("application/json");
        response.getWriter().write("{ \"hello\" : \""+username+"\" }");
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Portfolio: Bella Logachova Ukrainian artist and photographer
Bella Logachova is a Ukrainian artist and photographer. She was born in Mariupol in 1973. In 1999 she graduated from the Kharkiv State Academy of Design and Art, where she teaches media arts now. She had an internship at the Nuremberg Academy of Art, in Germany, for two following years. Logachova is a co-founder of SOSka art-group, and Excess cinema-group in Kharkiv. She has exhibited her work in the galleries of Europe and Ukraine.
The artist received a wide recognition after the presentation of the range of posters NUO – New Ukrainian Ornament at the IX International Triennale "4th Block", for which she received the Grand-Prix of the festival. With the language of art, Logachova describes the latest events in Ukraine starting with 2014 Euromaidan until today. She incorporates the new realia of the country into the format of traditional Ukrainian ornaments. Her work can be found in private and museum collections in Ukraine, USA, Germany, Poland, Japan, Austria and France.
Series name: © ARtNUO
Technique: Digital prints in the style of folk embroideries.
Project in the process of creation: since 2014
Concept: © ARtNUO – The newest Ukrainian Ornament
The plots of the ornaments cover the latest events in Ukraine since Euromaidan! The created compositions are composed of elements of classical Slavic ornaments and author's ornamental units. From floral and plant weaves, military elements, new animals and human symbols emerge, connecting historical and key events in Ukraine and the World into a single architecture.
Articles, Articles 2020, Portfolio, Portfolio 2020
2014 Euromaidan, ARtNUO series, Bella Logachova, Excess cinema-group in Kharkiv, New Ukrainian Ornament, the Nuremberg Academy of Art, Ukrainian artist
Can Artificial Intelligence Create A Work Of Art? The Patchlab Festival 2018
Book Bliss Art Books For Turbulent Times
Contemporary Lynx Team Jun 18, 2020
ZUZANNA JANIN: MAPPING MEMORY
Dobromila Aug 14, 2016
Portfolio: Bartosz Czarnecki His artistic practice includes painting, drawing and poster design.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: Binding Dropdown with large dataset Angular 2 I am trying to bind Angular drop-down (Angular 2+) with 19000+ records, it's hanging application, we are unable to perform any other operation post that.
I am just using *ngFor, for same
 <select class="form-control" name="occupation"
     [(ngModel)]="model.occupation" #occupation="ngModel" required
     (ngModelChange)="onChange($event)">
     <option *ngFor="let c of ocupencycollection;">
        {{ c }}
     </option>
 </select>

Any other feasible solution?

A: I don't think you can do that without seriously performance hit.
I would suggest a commercial solution. I am using Kendo-UI for Angular.
In my case I allow user to select partner (5 million records) in DropDownList. I displayed 20 partners and then allow filtering.
Appropriate demo for your problem would be:

*

*Remote binding

*Filtering
You can combine both approaches. There is also a request to support endless scrolling, which may be the best approach.
If payed solution is not acceptable, you can load items on demand. First you show 20 items, and then after user scroll to the end, you load another page of records. This may help you.


text:
Home/Video/US asks Apple to unlock iPhones used by Saudi terrorist in Pensacola attack
US asks Apple to unlock iPhones used by Saudi terrorist in Pensacola attack
Apple will not help authorities to unlock iPhones used by a Saudi Arabian gunman who killed three people and injured eight others in an attack on a US air base that White House officials have declared an act of terrorism, according to US attorney general William Barr.
Department of Justice officials announced that the tech giant has turned over iCloud materials but has refused to help give federal investigators access to two phones used by Second Lt Mohammed Saeed Alshamrani, a member of the Royal Saudi Air Force who was training with the American military.
On 6 December 2019, Mr Alshamrani entered a building on the grounds of Pensacola Naval Air Station and opened fire, killing three US sailors and wounding eight other Americas.
The shooting lasted 15 minutes. A Florida sheriff's deputy killed Alshamrani during the attack.
Officials determined that Alshamrani was "motivated by jihadist ideology" and posted a message on social media on 11 September 2019 reading "the countdown has begun".
Mini's driver Jakub Przygonski and his co-driver Timo Gottschalk compete in Stage 8 of the Dakar 2020 around Wadi Ad-Dawasir
People take photos of a phreatic explosion from the Taal volcano from the town of Tagaytay in Cavite province, southwest of Manila
An injured Syrian child cries after being transported to a clinic for treatment following an air strike by pro-regime forces on the nothwestern city of Idlib
Vets and volunteers treat koalas at Kangaroo Island Wildlife Park, southwest of Adelaide, Australia
AAP Image/Reuters
Devotees follow the carriage transporting the statue of the Black Nazarene during an annual religious procession in its honour in Manila. Thousands of barefoot devotees joined the religious procession hoping to touch a centuries-old icon of Jesus Christ, called the Black Nazarene, which is believed to have miraculous powers
People stand near the wreckage after a Ukrainian plane carrying 176 passengers crashed near Imam Khomeini airport in Tehran
ISNA/AFP via Getty
Mourners gather around a vehicle carrying the coffin of Iranian top general Qasem Soleimani during the final stage of funeral processions, in his hometown Kerman. Soleimani was killed outside Baghdad airport Friday in a drone strike ordered by US President Donald Trump, ratcheting up tensions with Iran which has vowed "severe revenge". The assassination of the 62-year-old heightened international concern about a new war in the Middle East and rattled financial markets
Actor Rose McGowan speaks at a news conference outside a Manhattan courthouse after the arrival of Harvey Weinstein, in New York. Weinstein is on trial on charges of rape and sexual assault, more than two years after a torrent of women began accusing him of misconduct
Mourners march behind a vehicle carrying the coffins of slain major general Qassem Soleimani and others as they pay homage in the Iranian city of Mashhad
Tasnim News/AFP/Getty
Rescue personnel search for bodies among mud and debris following a landslide caused by heavy rain in West Java, Indonesia
A burning vehicle at the Baghdad International Airport is seen following an airstrike in Baghdad, Iraq. The Pentagon said Thursday that the US military has killed Gen. Qassem Soleimani, the head of Iran's elite Quds Force, at the direction of President Donald Trump
Boats are pulled ashore as smoke and wildfires rage behind Lake Conjola, Australia. Thousands of tourists fled Australia's wildfire-ravaged eastern coast ahead of worsening conditions as the military started to evacuate people trapped on the shore further south
Robert Oerlemans via AP
Photographer Matt Roberts reacts to seeing his sister's house destroyed by a bushfire in Quaama, New South Wales, Australia
A man rides a donkey cart against the last setting sun of 2019 in Lahore, Pakistan
A Skycrane drops water on a bushfire in Bundoora, Melbourne, Australia. According to local media reports, thousands of residents and tourists were forced to evacuate in the state of Victoria as soaring temperatures and winds fanned several bushfires around the state
A jumper soars through the air during a trial jump at the first stage of the 68th four hills ski jumping tournament in Oberstdorf, Germany
Revellers dressed in mock military garb throw eggs as they take part in the "Els Enfarinats" battle in the southeastern Spanish town of Ibi on December 28, 2019. – During this 200-year-old traditional festival participants known as Els Enfarinats (those covered in flour) dress in military clothes and stage a mock coup d'etat as they battle using flour, eggs and firecrackers outside the city town hall as part of the celebrations of the Day of the Innocents, a traditional day in Spain for pulling pranks.
The Panamanian-flag cargo ship "Zelek Star" is pictured after being washed up on a beach in the southern Israeli coastal city of Ashdod during a storm
Monks wearing solar filter glasses watch the "ring of fire" solar eclipse at the Gaden monastery in a Tibetan colony in Teginkoppa, India
A participant in a Darth Vader costume jumps into the water during the 110th edition of the 'Copa Nadal' (Christmas Cup) swimming competition in Barcelona's Port Vell. The traditional 200-meter Christmas swimming race included more than 300 participants on Barcelona's old harbour
AFP/Getty
Children dressed as Santa Claus during celebrations on Christmas Eve at a school in Amritsar
Palestinians wearing Christmas costumes distribute gifts to children seated atop the rubble of a house demolished by Israel, reportedly for not being built with official licensing in the village of al-Khader, west of of Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank
A journalist gets pepper-sprayed after a heated exchange with police during a rally in Hong Kong to show support for the Uighur minority in China. Hong Kong riot police broke up a solidarity rally for China's Uighurs — with one officer drawing a pistol — as the city's pro-democracy movement likened their plight to that of the oppressed Muslim minority
Children react as a Bengal tiger licks the glass surrounding its enclosure during the "Animal Christmas Party", where the youths were treated to a tour of the Malabon Zoo, in Manila
In this long exposure photo, the United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket carrying the Boeing Starliner crew capsule lifts off on an orbital flight test to the International Space Station from Cape Canaveral
A freediver wearing a Father Christmas outfit poses underwater off the coast of the northern city of Batroun
People rally in support of the impeachment of US President Donald Trump in front of the US Capitol, as the House readies for the historic vote
Protesters set fire to dumpsters and tires as they block a road in the southern Lebanese city of Sidon
People ride a merry-go-round at the Christmas Market at the Red Square in Moscow
The Red Rebels, part of the Extinction Rebellion Australia demonstrator group, participate in a climate protest rally in Sydney. The group rallied in front of the landmark Sydney Opera House demanding urgent climate action from Australia's government, as bushfire smoke choking the city caused health problems to spike
Protesters block a road after setting buses on fire during a demonstration against the Indian government's Citizenship Amendment Bill in Howrah, on the outskirts of Kolkata, India. Protests against a divisive new citizenship law raged on as Washington and London issued travel warnings for northeast India following days of violent clashes that have killed two people so far
A huge cloud of black smoke raises over a burning warehouse in the southern outskirts of Moscow. There were no immediate reports of any casualties, but one fire fighter was injured and 25 ambulance cars and a special air testing vehicle are at the site, they added
A slow shutter speed shot shows oarsmen in traditional costume rowing during the Royal Barge Procession to mark the conclusion of the Royal Coronation ceremony, on the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok, Thailand. The ceremony honours King Rama X after his complete accession to the throne
A boy inspects his damaged home after after an attack near the Bagram Air Base in Kabul, Afghanistan, A powerful suicide bombing targeted an under-construction medical facility near the main American base north of the capital
Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg arrives to participate in the event "Unite behind the science" within the UN Climate Change Conference COP25 in Madrid
White Island (Whakaari) volcano, as it erupts, in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand. According to police, at least five people have died in the volcanic erruption
EPA/Michael Schade
People gather amidst the ruins of a building, destroyed during reported Syrian regime and Russian air strikes the previous day in the town of Balyun. The reported air raids killed 19 civilians, eight of them children, in the country's last major opposition bastion
38/50 7December 2019
A French CGT unionist holds up the union's flag as he demonstrates against unemployment amidst smoke bombs in Nantes. The most serious nationwide strike to hit France in years caused new misery for weekend travellers, with defiant unions dismissing proposals by the government and warning walkouts would last well into next week
People stand on top of a collapsed six-storey building in Nairobi, Kenya. Local media reported that several people are feared trapped as the rescue operation continues
Indonesia players celebrate a point during their match against Vietnam in the women's volleyball preliminary round of the Southeast Asian Games being held in the Philippines
Firefighters work to contain a large fire at an industrial building at Inlet Road inn Auckland, New Zealand
Doan Quynh Nam Tran of Vietnam competes in the women's gymnastics at the SEA Games (Southeast Asian Games) in Manila
A youth plays on foamy discharge, caused by pollutants, as it mixes with the surf at a beach in Chennai
Southeast Asian Games at the Royce Hotel, Mabalacat, Philippines. Vietnam's Pham Hong Anh in action during her single dance final.
A woman holds a coloured flag at the Botswana Pride Parade in Gaborone. The parade is the first one organised in Botswana, after the Court ruled on June 11 in favour of decriminalising homosexuality, which had been punishable by a jail term of up to seven years.
A child holds a placard during a 'drop dead' flashmob protest against climate change consequences at Lumpini Park in Bangkok, Thailand
Pro-democracy protesters hold an SOS sign and US national flags during a Thanksgiving rally in Edinburgh Place, Hong Kong. Protesters were thanking US President Donald Trump for signing into a law 'The Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act Hong Kong', provoking an angry backlash from the Chinese government. Hong Kong is in its sixth month of mass protests, which were originally triggered by a now withdrawn extradition bill, and have since turned into a wider pro-democracy movement
Rescuers with a dog search through the rubble of a collapsed building after an earthquake in Durres, western Albania
A shepherd leads a flock of sheep on a pontoon bridge in Allahabad
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un inspects a female company belonging to 5492 troops
KCNA via Reuters
The gun used in the attack was lawfully purchased through a hunting license exemption.
Police recovered two iPhones belonging to Mr Alshamrani, but Mr Barr says that Apple "has not given us any substantive assistance" to help unlock them.
Doing so would likely compromise its end-to-end encryption systems at a time when it is aggressively promoting its privacy policies. Apple did not immediately respond to The Independent's request for comment.
Attorney general Barr dismissed claims that other Saudi cadets who were training at the base took video of the attack as it unfolded. The shooter "arrived by himself" and videos that captured the attack's aftermath were not taken in coordination with Mr Alshamrani, officials said.
Mr Barr announced that the US will also expel more than a dozen Saudi servicemen who were also training with the US military.
A Pentagon review found that 21 Saudi servicemen training at the base possessed "derogatory material" — 17 of them posted "some jihadi or anti-American content" on their social media, and 15 "had some kind of contact with child pornography".
According to Mr Barr, US attorneys "independently reviewed each of the 21 cases involving derogatory information and determined that none of them would, in the normal course, result in federal prosecution".
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Saudi Arabian officials, however, determined that the servicemen "demonstrated conduct unbecoming an officer" and have been "dis-enrolled" from their training in the US. They will return to Saudi Arabia.
Mr Barr said the FBI "sought and received" a court order with probable cause to obtain Mr Alshamrani's phones to determine with whom he was communicating in the days and weeks leading up to the shooting.
According to the FBI, he fired a round into one of the phones, and the other phone was also damaged. Mr Barr says the FBI was able to repair the phones but they're engineered by Apple to "make it virtually impossible" to operate without the company's cooperation.
He said: "This situation perfectly illustrates why it is critical that investigators be able to get access to digital evidence once they have obtained a court order based on probable cause. We call on Apple and other technology companies to help us find a solution so that we can better protect the lives of Americans and prevent future attacks."
apple asks attack iPhones Pensacola Saudi terrorist unlock
SUVs and other polluting cars could be removed from sale, automotive industry warns
Iran, Meghan Markle, Ireland: Your Monday Briefing
Jess Phillips pulling out of the Labour race means party members won't hear uncomfortable truths
AOC criticises Democratic Party: 'We don't have a left party in the United States'
Gun rally: Tense protests and plenty of ammunition for Trump in Virginia
China coronavirus: Beijing confirms human-to-human transmission of deadly virus, and fourth death
Boeing 737 Max: Grounded plane will miss summer peak, company admits as return date pushed back


text:
GRANDSTAND: State Fair Amateur Talent Contest Finals: 7:30 p.m.
DNR PARK: Joe Meyer Band: 10 a.m., noon, 2, 4, 6 & 8 p.m.; Ecuador Manta: 5 p.m.
INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR: Jack Brass Band: 10:45 a.m., noon & 1:15 p.m.; Marimba Africa: 3:15, 4:30 & 5:45 p.m.; GB Leighton: 7:30 & 8:45 p.m.
LEINIE LODGE BANDSHELL: Peterson Brothers: 10:30 & 11:45 a.m.; Dirty Dozen Brass Band: 1 & 2:30 p.m.; The Last Bandoleros: 3:30 & 4:45 p.m.; War: 8:30 p.m.
MINNESOTA WINE COUNTRY: Old Soul: 6:30 p.m.
RAMBERG SENIOR CENTER: Joey Johnson Band: 10:30, 11:45 a.m. & 1 p.m.; Vic Volare: 3:15, 4:30 & 5:45 p.m.
WISER LIVING: Crankshaft: 6 p.m.
4-H BUILDING: 4-H State Arts-In Musical Performance: 11:30 a.m., 5 & 7:30 p.m.; 4-H Fashion Revue Show: 6:30 p.m.
CAROUSEL PARK: The Great Yoga Get-Together: Instructors lead a variety of classes in a variety of experience levels. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Barn Stage: Moo Booth: Video Presentations: 8, 9, 10 a.m., noon, 1:30, 2, 6 & 7 p.m.; Moo Booth: Moo Live: Presentations and interactive activities highlighting the world of cows and agriculture. 11 a.m., 12:45, 3 & 4 p.m.; Moo Booth: Moo Quiz Show: 5:30 p.m.; Moo Booth 25th Anniversary Special Activities: Special moo-tastic activities and prizes to celebrate 25 years of the Moo Booth. 12:30 p.m.; Moo Booth: Talk to the Animals Show: 12:20 p.m.
EDUCATION BUILDING: Ifrah Mansour: 10:30, 11:30 a.m., noon & 1:30 p.m.; Collide Theatrical Dance Company: 3, 4, 5 & 6 p.m.;
EXPO PLACE: Flippenout Extreme Trampoline Show: 11 a.m., 1, 4 & 5:30 p.m.
FAMILY FAIR/BALDWIN PARK: Great Big Sandbox: 8 a.m.-9 p.m.; Math On-A-Stick: A space for kids and families to explore math concepts. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Alphabet Forest: Meet authors and alphabet activities. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Catholic Mass: 9:15 a.m.; Kidsdance: 10:30, 11:30 a.m. & 3 p.m. Break-Shop Bump'N: 1:30, 4, 5:30 & 7 p.m.; Sean Emery: 12:30 & 5 p.m.
INTERNATIONAL BAZAAR: Cultural Society of Filipino-Americans Dance Troupe: Noon, 1:30, 3 & 4:30 p.m.
LEINIE LODGE BANDSHELL: Prayer at the Fair: 9:15 a.m.; Flag Raising: 10:25 a.m.
MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: FFA Talent Showcase: 11 a.m., 1 & 5 p.m.
PROGRESS CENTER/ECO EXPERIENCE: Water Journeys: 2 p.m.
SWINE BARN: Oink Booth: 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
WEST END MARKET: Open Eye Figure Theatre: Noon & 1 p.m.; Chicks on Sticks: 3:30, 4:30, 5:30 & 6:30 p.m.
WISER LIVING: Dr. Dale Anderson, M.D.: 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.
DEMONSTRATIONS AND PROGRAMS
CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Moo Stage: Moo Booth: Milking Demonstrations: 10 a.m., noon, 4 & 6 p.m.; Moo Booth: Hand Milking: 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m.
CREATIVE ACTIVITIES AND ANNEX: Weavers' Guild of Minnesota: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; American Sewing Guild: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Stained Glass Window & Lamp Demo — Glass Endeavors: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; How to Brew Great Coffee at Home: 10:30 a.m., noon & 1:30 p.m.
DNR PARK: Electric Sock Drowning & Vessel Safety Checks: 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.
HORSE BARN: Equine Chiropractics: 10 a.m. & 2 p.m.
PROGRESS CENTER/ECO EXPERIENCE: ReUSE MN Demo: Fix-It Clinics: 10 a.m., 12:30, 3 & 5:30 p.m.
4-H BUILDING: 4-H Rube Goldberg Challenge: 10 a.m. & 3 p.m.; 4-H Chef for a Day Cook-Off: 2 p.m.
AGSTAR ARENA: FFA Dairy Steer and Beef Cattle Showmanship and Market Beef Show: 10 a.m.; FFA Beef Cattle Breeding Heifers: 11 a.m.; Beef Cattle Open Class — Supreme Champion: 7 p.m.
CATTLE BARN AND ANNEX: Moo Booth: Make It Better with Butter Contest: 10 a.m.; Moo Booth: Great Minnesota Moo-Off Contest: 2:30 p.m.
SHEEP AND POULTRY BARN: Dairy Goats Open Class: 8, 9:30 a.m. & 2:30 p.m.; Rabbits Open Class Judging: 9 a.m.; Dairy Goats Open Class: Best in Show: 5:15 p.m.
SWINE BARN: FFA Market Swine & Showmanship: 8 a.m.; FFA Breeding Sheep: 8 a.m. & 1 p.m.
WARNER COLISEUM: Minnesota State Fair Horse Show: Speed Events: 9 a.m.; Minnesota State Fair Horse Show: Speed Events, Drill & Square Dance Teams: 1 & 6 p.m.
MIRACLE OF BIRTH CENTER: Meet the Animals: Q&A with MN FFA members and their animals. 10 a.m.
PET CENTER: German Shepard Dog Club of Minneapolis and St. Paul: 9, 10, 11 a.m., noon, 1, 2, 3, 4 & 5 p.m.
AGRICULTURE/HORTICULTURE BUILDING: Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Minnesota Department of Agriculture: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; The Common Table: Minnesota Eats: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural & Natural Resource Sciences: 9 a.m.-9 p.m.; Ask the Apple Grower: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.; Growing Dahlias in Minnesota: 10 a.m.; Looking Inside the Hive: 10:30 a.m., 12:30 & 2:30 p.m.; Minnesota Grape Growers Association Ask About Growing Grapes in Minnesota: 11 a.m.-7 p.m.; Growing Apples in Minnesota: 11 a.m.; Cooking with Honey: 11, 11:30 a.m. & noon; Minnesota Craft Brewers Guild Talks: Noon, 3 & 6 p.m.; Growing Gourmet Mushrooms: Noon & 4 p.m.; State Fair Dahlia Show: Noon-9 p.m.; Harvesting Honey: 1, 2, 4 & 5 p.m.; The Common Table Live Presentation: 2 p.m.; Backyard Food Forest: 5 p.m.
MINNESOTA WINE COUNTRY: Minnesota Wine & Food: More Than Just Food On-A-Stick: 3:30 p.m.
PROGRESS CENTER/ECO EXPERIENCE: Communities Taking Action Together for Sustainability: 10 a.m.; Renewing the Countryside Cooking Demonstrations: 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.; Driving Electric in Minnesota: Noon; How Will You Plug in to Clean, Renewable 21st Century Energy?: 4 p.m.
Welcome to the Star Tribune's State Fair • State Fair


Pay attention now, there's a big beardy guy doing something interesting by melding hip-hop beats with rootsy, soulful songs – and I don't mean Rag'n'Bone Man. Nope, I'm talking about Canadian singer-songwriter Matt Andersen, whose album Honest Man shows off the quality of both his supple, resonant voice and his songwriting collaborations.
The use of beats was the idea of New York producer Commissioner Gordon (yes, really), giving a modern twist to an artist who generally starts from an acoustic base. And it has to be said it works like a charm, whether it's on the likes of opener 'Break Away', with its summery, Jack Johnson-like feel and sprinklings of bright guitar, or the similarly reggae-fied 'All The Way', which has a steadier groove reminiscent of Clapton's version of 'Knockin' On Heaven's Door'.
The title track juxtaposes a shuffling beat with soulful horn riffs and dashes of organ, while Andersen effortlessly demonstrates that he knows what he's doing vocally – he's got a great range, great control over long extended notes, and great sense of dynamics as he goes from booming to muted to bring out the best of the material. Meanwhile 'Quiet Company' adds some country stylings to the beats to convey a rural idyll.
The beats don't dominate entirely though. Andersen can do sombre alright, as on the gorgeous piano-and-vocal ballad 'I'm Giving In', with its chorus of earnest submission and big bridge. And there's a straight-ahead, simple rhythm on 'Last Surrender', a sublime piece of aching, soulful pop worthy of Motown. Current single 'Who Are You Listening To?' has more of a kick to it, recalling Gerry Rafferty in one of his more upbeat moments, with crackling electric guitar from Benji Bouton and some bubbling piano.
The album closes with 'One Good Song', a dreamy, more country-acoustic piece featuring flute accompaniment, about the vicissitudes a musician is prepared to endure in pursuit of the elusive prize of the title – with plenty of evocative lines such as "I'll take Christmas alone in Australia, I'll take 'Hi, how are you?' on the phone".
The PR bumf says that Andersen has no need to worry about having just one good song, and for once it's not empty rhetoric. Quite how these songs will work when he takes them on the road for his upcoming solo tour, I couldn't say. But if you're looking to bathe in a soulful voice singing some seriously good songs, then give Honest Man a spin.


FRONT LINE SEA VIEWS - A fantastic, front line villa in the Port of Addaya, with spectacular views over the Port. Situated in a quiet cul-de-sac this 300m2 built villa comprises of the main house and an annex. In the main house there are 3 double bedrooms and 3 bathrooms with fitted wardrobes and fantastic Port views, a large split level lounge/dining room with fireplace and high ceilings, large fitted kitchen, wine bodega, terraces and garden. Attached to the front of the house there is a 1 bedroom annex with lounge, kitchen, bedroom and shower room. Outside are sunbathing terraces with a large swimming pool, garden and a garage at the front. Many other benefits include a centralised vacuum area, air-conditioning throughout, a water softener, alarm and sensor system. The Port has many water sport activities and a front line restaurant/Bar. The local supermarket and other shops are a 5 minute walk. The famous sandy, horseshoe beach in Arenal is a 5 minute drive.The airport and capital, Mahon, is a 20 minute drive.


CofE rejects Bishops' Report: The Church of England's General Synod has rejected a report by the Church's bishops which restated the Christian belief that marriage was between a man and a woman.
The report failed to gain approval in all three Houses of the General Synod, losing in the House of Clergy with 93 voting in favor and 100 against. The report was approved by the House of Bishops and the House of Laity and is now barred from being discussed until the end of the current Synod in 2020.
Bishop of Sheffield: The traditionalist Forward in Faith, Anglo-Catholic Suffragan Bishop of Burnley, The Rt. Rev. Philip North, has declined his call to become Bishop of Sheffield.
North's decision followed outspoken criticism of his appointment by supporters of the ordination of women. It was claimed that North, who believes in an all male priesthood, would not be able to minister to the women priests in the Diocese of Sheffield.
Bishop North's decision and the circumstances that led to it, have called the Church of England's ability to respect the ministry of those who do not support the ordination of women into question.
ACNA Meets With PNCC: Representatives of the Polish National Catholic Church (PNCC) and the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA) met for the Tenth Ecumenical Dialogue Meeting at St. Vincent's Cathedral in Bedford, Texas, on February 15-16, 2017.
Bishop Paul Sobiechowski, Bishop John Mack, Father Senior Robert Nemkovich, Father Senior Augustus Sicard, SMOP, and Father John Kowalczyk, were in attendance representing the PNCC. Bishop Ray Sutton, Bishop Richard Lipka, Bishop Keith Ackerman, Bishop Jack Iker and Father Thomas Vece, FSJ, were in attendance representing the ACNA. Papers were presented concerning Apostolic Succession, the Synods of the Church, and the Unity of the Church. The Eleventh Ecumenical Dialogue Meeting is scheduled for September 18-20, 2017 in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
The sparkling ash can be bought for a "donation" of $10.
Bishop Sutton Becomes Presiding Bishop: Forward in Faith North America Council member, Bishop Ray Sutton, has become Presiding Bishop of the Reformed Episcopal Church (REC).
Sutton takes over from the REC's previous Presiding Bishop, Royal Grote, who died last year. Bishop Sutton will remain Ordinary of the Diocese of Mid America as well as taking on his new duties as Presiding Bishop. Sutton has stated that he is "honored and humbled" by his new appointment.
Forward in Christ congratulates Bishop Sutton and urges your prayers on his behalf and that of the REC as he takes on his new ministry.
Continuing Church Unity: A joint synod is planned for October, 2017, at which four Anglican Continuing Church groups hope to work towards greater unity.
According to their press release, the Churches are united by commitments to credal orthodoxy; to traditional Anglican worship; to the three-fold Apostolic ministry of male bishops, priests, and deacons; and to traditional morality in issues affecting the sanctity of life and human sexuality. The four jurisdictions claim some 300 churches in North America and more overseas. Please pray for the success of the October synod.
Annual Assembly: Forward in Faith North America's Annual Assembly will be held in Hurst, Texas, July 26-28, on the theme: "Celebrating God's design for marriage, family and the single life." Save the date!


Disproportionately large breasts can occur during puberty and later during pregnancy. In both these circumstances, the large droopy breasts cause much discomfort because of the heaviness and the embarrassing appearance. It can also lead to back pain and difficulty in getting a proper bra. All these are common reasons for affected women to seek a breast reduction.
Breast Reduction Surgery has evolved over the last few decades to be a safe surgery with good results. Conventional techniques of breast reduction are open methods where the excess tissue is cut out and the breast parenchyma is lifted and sutured in normal position. This involves having visible scars on the breast. For an unmarried woman having scars may be unacceptable.
Key Hole Breast Reduction is ideal for young women with large breasts. The fat component in the large breast is removed by liposuction technique using tiny access points. This will reduce the size of the breast and the heaviness. If the skin tone on the breasts is good, there will not be any additional drooping from the procedure.
Ideal candidates for this procedure would be young women with large breasts, good skin tone and only moderate degree of sagging. If the sagging is beyond a certain limit, conventional Reduction mammaplasty would be ideal.


text:
La grue médiévale de Gdańsk est une grue portuaire et une porte de l'eau classée monument historique le . Elle fait partie du musée maritime national de Gdańsk et est par ailleurs la plus grande et plus ancienne grue portuaire médiévale d'Europe.

Histoire
La porte de l'eau d'une apparence inconnue existait déjà au même endroit en 1363, elle mentionnée pour la première fois en 1367 avec le nom latin de caranum.

La grue de forme actuelle a été construite dans les années 1442-1444. Deux tours massives en briques, ainsi qu'un mécanisme de levage en bois, ont été érigés dans le style gothique de brique typique des villes hanséatiques.

Depuis sa création elle sert à charger et décharger la cargaison, au ballastage et à monter les mâts de bateaux. Le mécanisme de levage consiste en deux tympans d'un diamètre de six mètres environ. La machine est capable de lever une charge de deux tonnes à une hauteur de 27 mètres ou, après avoir accouplé les deux roues, une charge de quatre tonnes à une hauteur de 11 mètres.

Au début du  la grue perd son importance militaire. Au fil du temps les tours sont devenues des logements et des ateliers d'artisans, les fenêtres sont installées.

En 1945 la grue est incendiée lorsque l'armée rouge prend Gdańsk. Les éléments en bois brûlent mais les murs en réchappent partiellement. Le bâtiment est reconstruit à la fin des années 1950.

Bibliographie
 Eleonora Zbierska: Żuraw Gdański, Wyd. Gdańskie Gdańsk 1993

Voir aussi
 Liste des grues portuaires historiques

Notes et références

Liens externes
 Podstrona Muzeum Morskiego dotycząca Żurawia
 Hasło "Żuraw" w Encyklopedii Gdańska

Gdańsk
Musée en Pologne
Grue historique

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Former DIT lecturer turned politician admits affair with secretary in bizarre photo shoot
"Fightin'" Joe Morrissey was jailed after claims he had sex with a 17-year-old. Now they plan to get married…
May 22nd 2015, 11:53 PM 44,170 13
Joe Morrissey with Myrna Pride, and their son Chase. Source: Courtesy of Joe Morrissey
AN AMERICAN POLITICIAN and former law lecturer at Portobello College in Dublin has hit the headlines in the US, for a bizarre photoshoot with his teenage lover and their baby.
Joe Morrissey, from Virginia, was a guest lecturer at the Dublin Institute of Technology, from 2001 to 2003, and taught law at the now defunct Portobello College, from 2001 to 2002.
He returned to the US in 2006, to resume his colourful and controversial political career.
In December, he was accused of having sex with his former receptionist when she was still 17 and under the legal age of consent, as well as possession and distribution of child pornography – for having and sharing nude photographs of her on his phone.
Morrissey, nicknamed "Fightin' Joe", denied all these charges, and claimed that a jealous ex-girlfriend had hacked into his phone to send out images of his secretary, local newspaper the Daily Press reports.
He had been an elected member of the Virginia House of Delegates since 2008, but was forced to give up his seat when he pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of "contributing to the delinquency of a minor," and was sent to jail for three months.
Joe Morrissey, leaving prison in January. Source: Associated Press
While on day release from prison, he campaigned for his re-election, and won.
He resigned again in March, however, in order to run for the Virginia State Senate, but was rejected by the Democratic party, and is now standing as an Independent.
Morrissey's controversial, globe-trotting career took another bizarre turn recently, when he admitted in theatrical style, that he and his former receptionist – since named as 19-year-old Myrna Pride – had had a child together.
Unlike many politicians caught up sex scandals, Morrissey appears to have taken the bull by the horns, and last week handed a local journalist a photograph of himself, Pride and a baby, dressed in Civil War period costumes.
I was just handed this photo of Joe Morrissey -- by Joe Morrissey. #BreakTheInternet pic.twitter.com/5H89jyX5ZT
— Joe St. George (@JoeStGeorge) May 14, 2015
Source: Joe St. George/Twitter
In a radio interview on Wednesday, Morrissey admitted for the first time that he was the father of the boy, named Chase, who was born just nine weeks ago.
And at a press conference in his law offices in Richmond yesterday, Morrissey and Pride appeared together, smiling at each other and announcing their intention to get married.
I love Myrna. She's smart, she's intelligent, she makes me laugh. I think she makes me a better person.
Pride, who referred to her boyfriend as "Mr Morrissey," affirmed that Chase had been conceived when she was 18 years old, which would prevent any charges being brought against the 57-year-old, who has four children with four different mothers.
Controversy seems to have followed Morrissey throughout his career as a lawyer and politician.
As the commonwealth attorney (public prosecutor) for the city of Richmond, he was jailed in 1991 after getting into a fist-fight with another lawyer outside the courthouse, the Times-Dispatch reports.
In the last 20 years, Morrissey has been charged with bribery, perjury, misuse of public funds, convicted of assault and battery, and accused of violating the terms of his probation, among other offences.
We couldn't find this Tweet
In the early 2000s he was suspended from practising law in both Virginia and federal courts, for three years, and appears to have moved to Enniskerry, Co Wicklow.
In an Irish Times report on 2 February 2002, Morrissey said he was "not proud" of his criminal record and history of assault.
He added, however, that he had been "candid and forthright" with DIT and Portobello College, and "told them everything" about his past, before working as a lecturer in both institutions.
Morrissey also claims to have received an LLM from Trinity College Dublin in 2003, although TheJournal.ie was unable to corroborate this at the time of publication.
Morrissey subsequently moved to Australia, where he worked as a law lecturer at the University of New South Wales and University of Adelaide.
He applied for a license to practise law in Australia, but was denied, after his troubled legal history became known, the Sydney Morning Herald reported at the time.
In 2006, he returned to Virginia, became a state delegate in 2008, and in 2012, was reinstated as a practising lawyer.
In 2013, he attracted national media attention by brandishing an (unloaded) AK-47 assault rifle in the Virginia State legislature, in order to make a point about gun control, which he supports.
Source: MamaBarracuda/YouTube
This month's controversial episode appears to be only the latest, and probably not the last, in the strange life and career of Joe Morrissey.
Read: Ex-NY governor tries comeback after sex scandal, hopes for forgiveness>
Read: 7 sex scandals that shocked the political world>
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Dan MacGuill
+ ⚠ Duplicate comment
#DIT
#JOE MORRISSEY
#LAW
#LAW LECTURER
#POLITICAL SCANDAL
#PORTOBELLO COLLEGE
#SEX SCANDAL
#SURREAL SCANDAL
#VIRGINIA
Registered in Dublin, registration number: 483632.
Registered office: 3rd floor, Latin Hall, Golden Lane, Dublin 8.


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                <xsl:for-each select="current-group()">
                <xsl:call-template name="Content"/>
                </xsl:for-each>
            </pi:PG>
        </xsl:for-each-group>
    </pi:PEE>
</xsl:template>

<xsl:template name="Content">
<pi:EE>
    <pi:L1>
        <pi:EID><xsl:value-of select="wd:EID"/></pi:EID>
        <pi:PGID><xsl:value-of select="wd:PGID"/></pi:PGID>
        <pi:PG><xsl:value-of select="wd:PG"/></pi:PG>
    </pi:L1>
    <pi:L2>
        <pi:EE><xsl:value-of select="wd:EE"/></pi:EE>
        <pi:BD><xsl:value-of select="wd:BD"/></pi:BD>
        <pi:GDR><xsl:value-of select="wd:GDR"/></pi:GDR>
    </pi:L2>
</pi:EE>
</xsl:template>
</xsl:stylesheet>

And XML:
<wd:RD xmlns:wd="urn:com.workday.report/INT001">
<wd:RE>
<wd:PG>AR</wd:PG>
<wd:PGID>10102</wd:PGID>
<wd:EID>0001</wd:EID>
<wd:EE>Emp1</wd:EE>
<wd:GDR>M</wd:GDR>
<wd:BD>1900-01-01</wd:BD>
</wd:RE>
<wd:RE>
<wd:PG>OR</wd:PG>
<wd:PGID>10101</wd:PGID>
<wd:EID>0002</wd:EID>
<wd:EE>Emp2</wd:EE>
<wd:GDR>F</wd:GDR>
<wd:BD>1900-02-02</wd:BD>
</wd:RE>
<wd:RE>
<wd:PG>OR</wd:PG>
<wd:PGID>10101</wd:PGID>
<wd:EID>0003</wd:EID>
<wd:EE>Emp3</wd:EE>
<wd:BD>1900-03-03</wd:BD>
</wd:RE>
</wd:RD>

My desired output is:
<pi:PEE xmlns:pi="urn:com.workday/picof">
<pi:PG>
   <pi:X>
     <pi:PCID>101</pi:PCID>
     <pi:PGID>10101</pi:PGID>
  </pi:X>
  <pi:EE>
     <pi:L1>
        <pi:EID>0002</pi:EID>
        <pi:PGID>10101</pi:PGID>
        <pi:PG>OR</pi:PG>
     </pi:L1>
     <pi:L2>
        <pi:EE>Emp2</pi:EE>
        <pi:BD>1900-02-02</pi:BD>
        <pi:GDR>F</pi:GDR>
     </pi:L2>
  </pi:EE>
  <pi:EE>
     <pi:L1>
        <pi:EID>0003</pi:EID>
        <pi:PGID>10101</pi:PGID>
        <pi:PG>OR</pi:PG>
     </pi:L1>
     <pi:L2>
        <pi:EE>Emp3</pi:EE>
        <pi:BD>1900-03-03</pi:BD>
     </pi:L2>
  </pi:EE>
</pi:PG>
<pi:PG>
  <pi:X>
     <pi:PCID>102</pi:PCID>
     <pi:PGID>10102</pi:PGID>
  </pi:X>
  <pi:EE>
     <pi:L1>
        <pi:EID>0001</pi:EID>
        <pi:PGID>10102</pi:PGID>
        <pi:PG>AR</pi:PG>
     </pi:L1>
     <pi:L2>
        <pi:EE>Emp1</pi:EE>
        <pi:BD>1900-01-01</pi:BD>
        <pi:GDR>M</pi:GDR>
     </pi:L2>
  </pi:EE>
</pi:PG>
</pi:PEE>

I want to remove
xmlns:wd="urn:com.workday.report/INT001" xmlns:pi="urn:com.workday.report/INT001"
xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
and be replaced by xmlns:pi="urn:com.workday/picof"
Also, if you noticed, any blank elements should be removed as well. For Emp3, GDR is empty.

A: for removing extra namespace just add exclude-result-prefixes="wd xs" in your stylesheet declaration as:
<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform" version="2.0"
    xmlns:wd="urn:com.workday.report/INT001"
    xmlns:pi="urn:com.workday.report/INT001"
    xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
    exclude-result-prefixes="wd xs">

Also for removing empty elements you can add condition as below, first check that element has data than copy element.
<xsl:if test="wd:GDR[node()]"><pi:GDR><xsl:value-of select="wd:GDR"/></pi:GDR></xsl:if>

A: I think you can simply shorten the code by making use of xpath-default-namespace and then, as you only want to output result elements for those input elements that exist, you can use apply-templates as needed to map input elements to result elements with templates:
<xsl:stylesheet xmlns:xsl="http://www.w3.org/1999/XSL/Transform"
    xmlns:xs="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema"
    xpath-default-namespace="urn:com.workday.report/INT001"
    xmlns:pi="urn:com.workday/picof"
    exclude-result-prefixes="#all"
    version="3.0">

  <xsl:output method="xml" indent="yes"/>

  <xsl:template match="RD">
      <pi:PEE>
          <xsl:for-each-group select="RE" group-by="PG">
              <pi:PG>
                  <pi:X>
                    <pi:PGID><xsl:value-of select="PGID"/></pi:PGID>
                    <pi:DF><xsl:value-of select="current-dateTime() - xs:dayTimeDuration('P1D')"/></pi:DF>
                    <pi:DE><xsl:value-of select="current-dateTime()"/></pi:DE>
                  </pi:X>
                  <xsl:apply-templates select="current-group()"/>
              </pi:PG>
          </xsl:for-each-group>
      </pi:PEE>
  </xsl:template>

  <xsl:template match="RE">
      <pi:EE>
          <pi:L1>
              <xsl:apply-templates select="EID, PGID, PG"/>
          </pi:L1>
          <pi:L2>
              <xsl:apply-templates select="EE, BD, GDR"/>
          </pi:L2>
      </pi:EE>
  </xsl:template>

  <xsl:template match="RE/*">
      <xsl:element name="pi:{local-name()}">
          <xsl:apply-templates/>
      </xsl:element>
  </xsl:template>

</xsl:stylesheet>

That transforms your presented input at https://xsltfiddle.liberty-development.net/6qVRKwH into the result
<pi:PEE xmlns:pi="urn:com.workday/picof">
   <pi:PG>
      <pi:X>
         <pi:PGID>10102</pi:PGID>
         <pi:DF>2018-09-16T17:49:47.15+02:00</pi:DF>
         <pi:DE>2018-09-17T17:49:47.15+02:00</pi:DE>
      </pi:X>
      <pi:EE>
         <pi:L1>
            <pi:EID>0001</pi:EID>
            <pi:PGID>10102</pi:PGID>
            <pi:PG>AR</pi:PG>
         </pi:L1>
         <pi:L2>
            <pi:EE>Emp1</pi:EE>
            <pi:BD>1900-01-01</pi:BD>
            <pi:GDR>M</pi:GDR>
         </pi:L2>
      </pi:EE>
   </pi:PG>
   <pi:PG>
      <pi:X>
         <pi:PGID>10101</pi:PGID>
         <pi:DF>2018-09-16T17:49:47.15+02:00</pi:DF>
         <pi:DE>2018-09-17T17:49:47.15+02:00</pi:DE>
      </pi:X>
      <pi:EE>
         <pi:L1>
            <pi:EID>0002</pi:EID>
            <pi:PGID>10101</pi:PGID>
            <pi:PG>OR</pi:PG>
         </pi:L1>
         <pi:L2>
            <pi:EE>Emp2</pi:EE>
            <pi:BD>1900-02-02</pi:BD>
            <pi:GDR>F</pi:GDR>
         </pi:L2>
      </pi:EE>
      <pi:EE>
         <pi:L1>
            <pi:EID>0003</pi:EID>
            <pi:PGID>10101</pi:PGID>
            <pi:PG>OR</pi:PG>
         </pi:L1>
         <pi:L2>
            <pi:EE>Emp3</pi:EE>
            <pi:BD>1900-03-03</pi:BD>
         </pi:L2>
      </pi:EE>
   </pi:PG>
</pi:PEE>

That has a different order for the pi:PG elements but you haven't explained why your result has those elements in a different order than the corresponding input elements and I don't see any attempt in your posted XSLT to change the order so I post this as a suggestion, if the order is not right you need to edit your question and explain in what way you want to reorder or sort the groups you create.


text:
Paoli Train Station Back on Track with $7.5 Million from SEPTA!
Tredyffrin Township
Looks like the Paoli Transportation Center just took a step forward!
According to Anthony Campisi of PlanPhilly, the SEPTA board has
" . . . approved a nearly $7.5 million contract to Gannett Fleming Inc. for design of a new Paoli regional rail station. Long a priority of Tredyffrin Township, the Chester County municipality where the station is located, the current plan would involve building a new station 80 feet west of the current location that better connects with SEPTA and private buses and involves a reworking of a nearby Amtrak interlocking, as well as the installation of high-level platforms."
This is exciting news for the community — we all know this project has been in limbo with virtually no movement. At the risk of sounding too enthusiastic, I think the next move on the project was funding from SEPTA. With the design team for the project named, maybe now the project will get back on track.
Former State Rep Paul Drucker championed the Paoli Transportation Center project during his tenure in the PA State House. After losing his re-election bid to Warren Kampf in 2010, Drucker has continued to stay involved in the Paoli Transportation project as a private citizen.
So . . . was it just coincidence that Drucker officially declared his 2012 candidacy for another run against Kampf, the same week that SEPTA awarded the design contract for the train station? What's the saying about there are no coincidences in life. Kampf sent out notification of the SEPTA contract award via his Facebook page.
Looks like the 2012 match-up between Drucker and Kampf could once again place the Paoli Transportation Center squarely in the center as a campaign issue. If nothing else, the use of the train station as a campaign issue may keep the transportation project moving forward. Here's hoping . . .
can someone explain the "coincidence"? based on Pattye's question in italics? Maybe I am missing something. (again?)
Township Reader says:
While it is hard to imagine what the connection could be for the next race, I will again ask this forum to help me understand why this project is something so many support? I look at Ardmore and 69th Street as varying levels of transportation centers, and I see no development around them to suggest they serve as a catalyst. There are more empty storefronts in Ardmore than in Paoli. (and plenty of municipal parking lots) I understand we need to plan for the future, but is the infrastructure required to support a transit center likely to produce "middle class" jobs? Since we do not have a tax in place that relies on sales or income generation, where's the beef? I'm not challenging it — I am genuinely asking….because I just don't see it making things better….different and more crowded, but better? Mr. Yang got beat up in Berwyn — hardly a metropolis….does urbanization always bring prosperity? Are we sure this is a direction that will serve our community, and not just some landowners in Paoli?
Yes, drucker announced his candidacy this week to remind people he gave his campaign donor a million dollars of taxpayer money. I m sure that is what he wanted.
Here's the irony of that money — the "project" associated with it, to my understanding, was in Duane Milne's district — and he had done the leg work to get the grant. It was simply politics that Drucker appeared because it was with Dwight Evans. I may be incorrect, but it was about grant money I think. The Septa money has been actively sought for several years.
Anyway — I have asked and haven't seen any answers to WHY this project is so beloved? Since I don't like it, I sort of need to understand what about it besides Paoli residents wanting change? A transit center is where people park to get on trains and buses. I'm asking?
June 2010: from Pattye's blog referring to the $1,000,000:
"The solar component of this initial phase, funded by these dollars, reflects the opportunity for our community to reclaim an otherwise unusable contaminated soil containment cell for use as a 400,000 watt solar power generation facility."
The solar portion was and is in Duane Milne's district.
Sam p says:
Don't hold your breath the station isn't getting built anytime soon…….."SEPTA's fiscal budget for 2012-13 lists the Paoli Transportation Center project construction project as a capital project for 2016-23 and it is, at this time, a proposal. But that's when the dirt would finally move."
I will be retired before this is ever built. Sure, Paoli Train Station is a dump, I'm there everyday 2x's, but not sure that a transit center will actually bring jobs to the local economy. At worst, it will bring losers and punks to the area.
Smith Isabella says:
Why should we think negative? When money is sanctioned, there is a hope and be optimistic , the station can be brought to its earlier condition . For political twists and turns let's sit and enjoy.
Well it seems that the plan is to build a better connectivity for the county in totality. If they are planning to connect the buses and other connections with the rail it is very good but then there should also be consideration for congested traffic at the location.
If someone is responsible or can take credit for a job well done (may be it involved others effort but they are not willing) nothing wrong in it.


Students analyze a community of beans (pinto, lima, navy) to determine the richness, abundance, and biodiversity index of two communities. The communities are set up in advance, just place bags of beans into a large bowl or bucket, and then have students use a small cup to model sampling. After counting the number of each type of bean, students record data on a table and determine the relative abundance of each "species" of bean.
Student will then use an equation to establish the biodiversity index. Discussion questions ask students to explain why one community has a higher index than the other and to explain why different groups got different results (sampling errors). Discussion follows regarding why the biodiversity index might be important to ecologists who study forests and other ecosystems.


text:
Why do the Shi'ah regard the sons of Imam Ali (A.S.) as the sons of the Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.)?
By: Sayyid Rida' Husayni Nasab
Reply: A study of the exegesis {tafsir}, history and hadith books will show that this idea is not accepted only by the Shi'ah but by almost all Muslim researchers from all Islamic groups.
Now, let us consider this issue by citing evidences from the Glorious Qur'an, hadiths and statements of renowned commetators {mufassirun}:
In essence, the Holy Qur'an regards a person's consanguineous children as his children. Also, it deems as his children (both male and female) those who are born from his children.
In the Qur'an and the Sunnah, there are plenty of proofs substantiating this fact. Here are some of them:
1. In the verse below, the Holy Qur'an considers Hadrat 'Isa (Jesus) ('a) among the children of Ibrahim al-Khalil (Abraham the Friend {of Allah}) ('a) whereas 'Isa, the child of Maryam (Mary) ('a), can be traced back to Hadrat Ibrahim ('a) through his mother:
وَوَهَبْنَا لَهُ إِسْحَاقَ وَيَعْقُوبَ كُلاًّ هَدَيْنَا وَنُوحًا هَدَيْنَا مِن قَبْلُ وَمِن ذُرِّيَّتِهِ دَاوُودَ وَسُلَيْمَانَ وَأَيُّوبَ وَيُوسُفَ وَمُوسَى? وَهَارُونَ وَكَذَ?لِكَ نَجْزِي الْمُحْسِنِينَ ? وَزَكَرِيَّا وَيَحْيَى? وَعِيسَى?
"And We gave him (Abraham) Isaac and Jacob and guided each of them. And Noah We had guided before, and from his (Abraham's) offspring, David and Solomon, and Job, Joseph, Moses and Aaron—thus do We reward the virtuous—and Zechariah, John and Jesus."[63][204]
Muslim scholars regard the stated verse as a clear proof that Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn ('a) are children of the Messenger of Allah (S) as well as his offspring.
Below is one of the instances:
Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti narrates:
الحسن أنّ تزعم أنّك بلغني :فقال يعمر بن يحيى? إلى الحجّاج أرسل تجده – وسلّم {وآله} عليه الله صلى – النّبي ذرّيّة من الحسين و تقرأ ألست :قال أجده. فلم آخره إلى أوّله من قرأته قد و الله كتاب في عيسى?؟ و يحيى? و بلغ حتّى? وَسُلَيمَ?نَ دَاوُودَ ذُرِّيَّتِهِ وَمِن :الأنعام سورة صدقت :قال أب؟ له ليس و إبراهيم ذرّيّة من عيسى? أليس :قال .بلى? :قال
One day, Hajjaj (ibn Yusuf) ordered that Yahya ibn Ya'mur should be brought and when he saw him he said to him: "I have been told that you opine that al-Hasan and al-Husayn are the children and offspring of the Prophet (S) and you say that you have found this in the Book of Allah whereas I have read the Qur'an from the beginning to the end but I have not found such a thing."
Yahya asked: "Have you not read this verse in Surah al-An'am: 'and from his (Abraham's) offspring, David and Solomon' and continued up to, 'and John and Jesus'?" He replied: "Yes, I have."
Yahya asked: "In this Qur'anic verse, has Jesus not been considered among the offspring of Abraham eventhough Abraham was not his father {and Jesus can be traced back to Abraham through his mother (Mary)}?" Hajjaj said: "You are correct."[64][205]
From the aggregate of the quoted verses and the words of Qur'an exegetes, it becomes obvious that not only the Shi'ah but in fact all Muslim scholars regard Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn ('a) as the children and offspring of the Messenger of Allah (S).
2. One of the explicit verses of the Qur'an which testifies to the truthfulness of the said view is the verse of imprecation {ayah al-mubahilah} in Surah Al 'Imran. Below is the verse along with the exegetes' notes:
فَمَنْ حَآجَّكَ فِيهِ مِن بَعْدِ مَا جَاءكَ مِنَ الْعِلْمِ فَقُلْ تَعَالَوْاْ نَدْعُ أَبْنَاءنَا وَأَبْنَاءكُمْ وَنِسَاءنَا وَنِسَاءكُمْ وَأَنفُسَنَا وأَنفُسَكُمْ ثُمَّ نَبْتَهِلْ فَنَجْعَل لَّعْنَةُ اللّهِ عَلَى الْكَاذِبِينَ
"Should anyone argue with you concerning him, after the knowledge that has come to you, say, 'Come! Let us call our sons and your sons, our women and your women, our selves and your selves, then let us pray earnestly and call down Allah's curse upon the liars'."[65][206]
Exegetes say: The stated verse which is known as the verse of mubahilah tells about the debate of the Holy Prophet (S) with the chiefs of the Christians of Najran after their expression of obstinacy. By a Divine command, the Prophet went out along with 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, Fatimah az-Zahra, and Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn ('a) with the aim of imprecation.
When the chiefs of the Christians noticed the behavior of the Prophet and the Ahl al-Bayt ('a), fear struck in their hearts and they asked the Messenger of Allah (S) to reconsider his decision to imprecate and curse them. The Prophet ('a) accepted their suggestion and at the end they agreed to forge a pact.
Since both the Shi'ah and Sunni scholars have consensus of opinion on the fact that on the day of mubahilah, the Commander of the Faithful ('Ali) ('a), Fatimah az-Zahra, and Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn ('a) were with the Prophet (S), it becomes very clear that when the Mesenger of Allah (S) said "abna'ana" {our sons} he meant Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn ('a). And as such, it becomes clear that in this verse al-Hasan and al-Husayn are considered the Holy Prophet's (S) sons.
It is necessary to note that after narrating many hadiths pertaining to the verse of mubahilah, exegetes testify to the validity of this view. Here are some examples:
a. Jalal ad-Din as-Suyuti narrates on the authority of Hakim, Ibn Marudiyyah and Abu Na'im from Jabir ibn 'Abd Allah (al-Ansari):
– وسلّم {وآله} عليه الله صلى – الله رسول :أنفسنا فاطمة :نساءنا و الحسين و الحسن :أبناءنا و عليّّ و
""Anfusana" {our selves} means the Messenger of Allah (S) and 'Ali ibn Abi Talib, "abna'na" {our sons} means al-Hasan and al-Husayn, and "nisa'na" {our women} refers to Fatimah."[66][207]
b. In his exegesis {tafsir}, Fakhr ad-Din ar-Razi mentions the said verse and says:
الحديث و التفسير أهل بين صحتها على? كالمتّفق الرواية هذه أنّ واعلم
"Know that this tradition is an example of hadith on whose authenticity the mufassirun and muhaddithun have consensus of opinion."[67][208]
Then, he says:
و الحسن أنّ على دالّة الآية هذه :الرّابعة المسألة وسلّم {وآله} عليه الله صلى – الله رسول إبنيّ كانا u الحسين إبنيّه يكون أن فوجب الحسين و الحسن فدعا أبناءه يدعوا أن وعد
"The fourth issue: The said verse testifies to the fact that al-Hasan and al-Husayn ('a) were sons of the Messenger of Allah (S) because when he was asked to call his "sons", he called al-Hasan and al-Husayn ('a)."[68][209]
c. In his exegesis, Abu 'Abd Allah al-Qurtubi states:
أبناءا يسمّون البنات ابناء أنّ على? دليل {أبناءنا
""Abna'na" {our sons} (in the stated verse) testifies to the fact that the sons of one's daughter are considered that one's sons."[69][210]
3. The Messenger of Allah's (S) words are a vivid proof that Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn ('a) are sons of the Prophet (S).
Here are two examples of his sayings:
a. The Messenger of Allah (S) thus says concerning al-Hasan and al-Husayn ('a):
أحبّني فقد أحبّهما من إبناي هذان
"These two are my sons. He who loves them loves me."[70][211]
b. Pointing to Imam al-Hasan and Imam al-Husayn ('a), the Holy Prophet (S) also says:
الدّنيا من ريحانتى هذين أبنيّ إنّ
"Verily, these two sons of mine are my bunch of sweet basil in this world."
Imam Ali (A.S.), the Ka'ba of Faith
Birth of Imam Ali ibn Abu Talib (AS) : Self-preservation of Imam Ali (AS) : Ghadeer Affair


text:
module Discogs.Types.LabelSpec where

import Discogs.Types.Label

import Data.Aeson (eitherDecode)
import  qualified Data.ByteString.Lazy as LBS
import Test.Hspec

isRight :: Either a b -> Bool
isRight = const False `either` const True

isLeft :: Either a b -> Bool
isLeft = const True `either` const False

main :: IO ()
main = hspec spec

spec :: Spec
spec = describe "Discogs.Types.Label" $ do
    describe "Label" $ do
        labelExample <- runIO $ LBS.readFile "test/data/label_example.json"

        it "can read label example json file" $
            labelExample `shouldSatisfy` not . LBS.null

        it "can parse label from json" $ do
            let decoded = eitherDecode labelExample :: Either String Label
            decoded `shouldSatisfy` isRight

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The following post is a sponsored post. I received no compensation for this review, only product, and as usual, all opinions are my own.
An opportunity for a running product blog review came to me by way of my friend Karen. Karen is not a blogger, but knows that I am, and knows that I am more than willing to try new things. So she passed along an invitation that she received, and as a result, I was given an SLS3 dual pocket running belt. I received the one in the blue color, and I was looking forward to really testing it out, both wearing it for speed work and a long run.
Now I have tried two different running belts in the past (not to be named here), and I have had different issues with them in the past. You occasionally have the bounce that comes with a belt, or it might ride up or slip down, or you could not be able to fit all of the things in it that you need for a long run.
With the dual pocket design of the SLS3 belt, I definitely did not have to worry about finding a home for my iphone in one pocket (for music), and plenty of gels in the other. Now, I only ran 12 miles this past weekend, so I only needed one gel, but I tested it out, and I was able to fit 8 gels along with my iphone. And I could put 6 of them in one pocket, which was relief after I lost two on the course in Indianapolis.
The blue? That is the zippers on the pocket. ALL of that is pocket. And I know it looks pretty narrow, but the way that the pocket itself rolls up keeps it small and you can just kind of unfold the belt to make more room in it if you need to hold six gels.
First up was a track workout. I didn't have any gels with me, but I wanted to make sure that I had the opportunity to try it more than once, and I was only going to have one long run that I wasn't doing on the treadmill, because of trying to work things around with J's weekend work schedule at this time of year. So I wore it for a 10 minute warmup, a fartlek ladder, and a 10 minute cooldown.
The big thing to keep in mind relating to this was that I kept my phone in the running belt for the duration of this run. It stayed in its place and rested on my hip throughout the run. One of the biggest complaints that I have with other products is the bounce when I keep my phone in the belt. I had no trouble with the belt stay in place, slipping down, etc. I consider the first run I had with it successful.
Later that weekend, I stuffed it full of gels (even though I only needed one for a 12 miler) and my phone in the second pocket. This allowed me to test the expansion of the belt, along with the ease of the zipper while on the move. I spent a little bit of time playing with the zipper prior to heading out for my run, just to make sure I was feeling comfortable (runners do this kind of thing), and then headed out. 6 miles in, I continued running, unzipped one of the pockets, and pulled the gel out and re-zipped the pocket with no trouble. Success!
Overall, I really enjoyed this belt, and felt like it would be a good investment for someone who has lots of things that they want to carry (keys, phone, credit card, ID, gels, etc) but does not what any bouncing when the pocket gets more full.
Lucky for you, SLS3 is giving me the opportunity to offer one of you the chance to win one of these belts for yourself! Please enter the rafflecopter giveaway below!
Do you where a belt when you run to hold all of your gear?
I am always looking for a better race belt because mine bounces a lot! It looks like something that would work well for me.


Microexcel is Recognized with Gold Level Status for Two Additional Microsoft Competencies for Application Development and Analytics - Microexcel Inc.
Secaucus, NJ, (November 9, 2016) – Microexcel, a global provider of technology solutions and services, today announced it has attained gold level partner status in two additional Microsoft competency areas of application development and data analytics. This latest achievement recognizes Microexcel with a total of four gold level competencies including collaboration and content, cloud productivity, application development and analytics. As the needs of global customers continue to evolve with digital, cloud, and mobile transformation, Microexcel, as a Cloud Productivity provider, has the vast ability to help customers to adopt and embrace these innovations to the fullest.
"Microexcel's Microsoft Center of Excellence prides itself as being one of the most capable partners in the ecosystem. We invest heavily in our consultant and development teams, as well as in our infrastructure and environments which allows us to offer highly robust solutions such as our ME Cloud bundled plans and our turn-key productivity solutions. These solutions provide customers faster and better productivity in the cloud, lowering their cost of ownership," said Justin Sypek, global director of Microsoft at Microexcel.
The gold level position in four competency areas places Microexcel in select partner status and allows its customers to work smarter through the exclusive cost saving programs and promotions offered by Microexcel. As an example, Microexcel can accept SharePoint Deployment Vouchers, SQL Server Deployment Vouchers, Desktop Deployment Vouchers, and FastTrack Funds that organizations obtain through Software Assurance, to offset costs of initial architecture design sessions and deployment planning engagements. This provides valuable savings that Microexcel's customers can leverage immediately.
Microsoft partners seeking to achieve gold level competencies undergo strict evaluation from Microsoft and must meet and demonstrate their technical expertise, revenue and performance commitment, and ensure a certain level of staffing capacity. Not only are a certain number of certifications required for consulting, development, and sales professionals, but partners must also submit numerous customer references each year, supporting their demonstration of successful projects. Microexcel requires its consultants to also certify each time a new technology track is rolled out.
The gold level application development competency showcases Microexcel's ability to demonstrate specialized expertise in HTML5/CSS3, ASP.NET MCV, and Azure Web Services. Microexcel has the ability in delivering true custom business solutions across all platforms.
As a gold level partner for analytics, Microexcel is a recognized expert in delivering and supporting rich data analytics, BI dashboards, and data models, across SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS), SQL Server Analysis Services (SSAS), Performance Point Services, and Power BI.
Microexcel is an accomplished partner within the Microsoft partner ecosystem, having deep roots within the SharePoint community as thought leadership experts. It is also part of an elite two percent of Microsoft partners that are recognized for managed services. To view Microexcel's bundled ME Cloud solutions, or for more information on Microexcel's Microsoft solutions and services portfolio, please visit https://www.microexcel.com/or contact us at info@microexcel.com.