Blog Comments for SEO Links: A Good Practice?
Remember the good old days of SEO? Invisible text, keyword stuffed meta tags…it was so simple back then, so easy. Now with links playing the main role in modern SEO, the industry has changed dramatically. There are numerous ways to get links to your site if you are doing SEO, and goodness knows we have all tried plenty of them. One of the most common is probably by commenting on a blog. It is fast, easy and quickly indexed. Only one problem, Google just posted hard facts about comment spam on their official blog. While most of us don't spam blogs, you may be surprised to see what Google calls comment spam.
We have all seen the comments that are just gibberish and full of spammy viagra links. These are obviously bot generated and clearly spam. But Google has now said it is spam if someone is "posting a generic comment (like "Nice site!") with a commercial user name linking to their site." This image should explain what they mean.
Now, Google is Google and can do whatever the heck they want. But they just crossed a line in my book. What if I leave my keywords as my name like BuyCheapXmasGifts in the image above, but I leave an intelligent comment? Is Google discounting all links in comments with keywords in them? How asinine on their part!
It is precisely because of Google that this problem exists! Think about it- if they didn't place so much emphasis on the anchor text of your incoming links, people would happily leave their real names when commenting on blogs. But because they demand exact anchor text in order for you to rank for a key phrase, people resort to doing anything they can to get it. Goodness knows "natural" links as they call them never have the exact anchor text you want to rank for.
It is one thing to devalue a certain type of link. It is another to penalize sites for links form third party blogs. How easy would it be to destroy your competition by simply comment spamming under their name! Google should leave the policing and moderating of every individual's blog to the owners of those blogs. And so in defiance of Google trying to tell me what is spam and what is not on my blog, I invite any intelligent comment from any reader using any name they would like to any website that is not a spam site.


First comes one more weekend of reduced PATH service on only one line. The payoff, though, may be the return of 24/7 transit for the first time since super storm Sandy.
New safety technology being installed along some rail lines across the nation aims to prevent deadly train crashes caused by human error.


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2018-2019 Mercedes A170
2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz – do not break your head over the original name for each new model, but simply offers its machine vision in one or another class 2018-2019 Mercedes A170 -. Has an avant-garde appearance, but "cross-eyed" headlights and the traditional grille with a proprietary 3-beam logo not leave no doubt that this is a 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz.
Hood, which becomes cool tilted windscreen, and the shape of the aft borrowed from the Compact MPV.
Lateral line vyshtampovki, starting from the front of the wing and ending near the rear lights, adds volume and profile of the car even more emphasizes the height of the roof.
Unconventional shape of the side windows adds to the general image of dynamism.
Overall, the car is quite nice and purebred.
Although it is smaller in size some famous rivals, however, it does not look small.
And that is what has success with customers, especially in women.
The new position of the engine and transmission made it possible to significantly shorten the engine compartment.
As a result, the passenger compartment and the luggage compartment uses 70% of the overall length of the car.
About the size of the internal space in the 2018-2019 Mercedes A-class A170 evidenced by the fact that, for example, the distance between the rear seats and pedal unit corresponds to the luxury C-class.
2018-2019 Mercedes A170 base package bundle can only be called conditionally, as standard equipment has a number of features that in other embodiments, the two in the car added a few extra touches.
The history of 2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz company
New Mercedes-Benz C-Class Cabriolet 2020
2018-2019 Mercedes-Benz GLC – a new premium crossover
The database already has power accessories, multifunctional steering wheel, steering column and seats, on-board computer.
It is understood that the car is blessed with and supporting electronic systems, which ensure comfort and safety.
Two other equipment A170 – Elegance and Avant-garde added private vehicles through the use of aluminum in the interior decoration and leather, chrome exterior parts, alloy wheels with unique design and a panoramic roof.
The chassis is one of the unique design features of the model.
Since the rear thruster is mounted axle suspension with Watt's linkage, which extinguishes the transverse vibrations of the stern.
Simply put – the car is comfortable.
With the appetite to swallow minor bumps in the road and confidently holds the trajectory when cornering.
The car has a significant amount of electronics: ABS – shorten the braking distance, the ARS – will not allow slippage of wheels, Brake Assist System – helps during emergency braking, and the ESP – will not go into a skid.
For 2018-2019 Mercedes A170 offers a choice of three diesel engines of 1.6, 1.8 and 2.0 liters of volume. And, in the line 4 petrol unit, they have a volume of 1.5, 1.7 and 2.0 liters. More a 2-liter engine augmented turbine.
All engines have been developed under the compact dimensions of the car, and optimally matched characteristics make it possible to show better results in fuel consumption.
For example, the test car, equipped with a gasoline engine of 1.7 liters, according to the certification according to the combined cycle consumes only 6.6 liters per 100 kilometers.
Models with engine equipped with a small volume of the classic 5-step "mechanics", but, according to the customer and they are fitted with "automatic".
The more powerful version of the default receive automatic transmission.
Price 2018-2019 Mercedes A-class A170 starts from 19 200 euros.
* The length of the car – 3838 mm.
* The width of the car – 1975 mm.
* Vehicle height – 1583 mm.
* Curb weight – 1240 kg.
* Working volume of the engine – 1699 cm / cu.
* Maximum power – 115 hp at 5500 rev / min.
* Maximum torque – 155 Nm at 3500 – 4000 rpm / min.
* The maximum speed – 180 km / h.
* Average fuel consumption per 100 km – 6.6 liters.
* Acceleration time from 0 to 100 km / h – 10.8 seconds.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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3 Leadership Trends of 2014
By Will Yakowicz, published on Inc, 01/28/2014
The styles, tools, and theories of management that CEOs and academics are espousing this year.
What are the most innovative leadership methods being taught in business schools and implemented by CEOs? Below, read three trends taking hold this year.
1. Unlocking hidden strengths
Chris White, managing director of the Center for Positive Organizations at The University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, tells Inc. that today's best leaders are engaging in "endogenous resourcing," an academic term that refers to finding unique ways to unlock employees' hidden strengths. White explains that by focusing on building relationships with your employees, you can discover their full capabilities while also providing them with a feeling of ownership over their work and a greater sense of well-being. "There are positive physiological outcomes from this type of leadership that can be scaled to whole companies," he says.
A good example of endogenous resourcing can be found in the leadership style of Whole Foods co-CEO Walter Robb. "He draws on individuals' strengths in a way that is firm yet deferential and open," White says. "He's able to be collaborative but is also clear in his directions."
White says that when new employees begin working at a Whole Foods store, they undergo a three-month trial period. At the end of that time, their team votes on whether they will keep the job or be fired. "This practice helps to build ownership and collective responsibility, which are all resources from within," White says. "You can't buy that stuff--you have to lead it."
2. Giving second chances
Fred Keller, founder and CEO of Grand Rapids, Michigan-based plastics manufacturing company Cascade Engineering, has led his multimillion-dollar business based on a quote from 18th-century theologian and social reformer John Wesley: "Do all the good you can."
Cascade, which Keller started in 1973, now has 12 business units around the world, producing auto parts, furniture components, waste containers, and installing wind turbines, solar panels, and affordable water filters for the developing world. Cascade is the largest manufacturing business certified as a B Corporation, which means it has made a commitment to solving social and environmental problems and meets a lengthy set of performance, accountability, and transparency standards.
Keller, who also teaches sustainable business practices at Cornell University's Samuel Curtis Johnson Graduate School of Management, says his leadership style is ruled by his heart first and his brain second. Cascade's signature program is "Welfare to Career," where the company brings aboard people who have been on government assistance for long periods. Keller says the program has saved the state of Michigan millions of dollars by getting people off the welfare rolls.
"It isn't just about providing a job, it's about providing a career," Keller says. But it hasn't been easy. "We had to learn how to change our culture to be more accepting and welcoming. Guess what? When we did this for people who have been on welfare it made our culture more positive throughout for everyone. And it turns out to be good for business."
After the program took off and the culture changed, Cascade's retention rates rose, as did employee satisfaction. About five years ago, Keller launched a new program to hire ex-felons.
Management policies like these are spreading, and taking on a greater importance all the time, Keller maintains. "There is an increasing sense that our politicians are not going to solve our problems. They have demonstrated that they can't even keep the trains coming on time," he says. "But then who is? It's up to business leaders who align their businesses to solve some of the world's problems."
3. Implementing democracy
Avinoam Nowogrodski, CEO of project-management software company Clarizen, says the command-and-control style of leadership popular in decades past doesn't work for today's business environment. "People want a voice, people want to participate, and this requires democratic principles," he says.
Nowogrodski attributes his company's success to hiring the right people and leading democratically. He says he hires people who have three distinct characteristics--curiosity, modesty, and passion--or what he calls the "Clarizen DNA."
Once you have people in place who exhibit those key traits, you can implement a democracy focused on individual participation and empowerment, he says.
"It requires all the principles of democracy: People can say whatever they want to say and you want to cultivate their voice and make sure they are outspoken. There needs to be a justice system where everyone is equal. This makes people feel as if they're in a fair fight, things are possible instead of being dictated from above," he says. "We make our employees feel like they contribute more than they ever did at other companies and are a part of a big story."


Wagner AH, Devarakonda S, Skidmore ZL, Krysiak K, Ramu A, Trani L, Kunisaki J, Masood A, Waqar SN, Spies NC, Morgensztern D, Waligorski J, Ponce J, Fulton RS, Maggi LB Jr, Weber JD, Watson MA, O'Conor CJ, Ritter JH, Olsen RR, Cheng H, Mukhopadhyay A, Can I, Cessna MH, Oliver TG, Mardis ER, Wilson RK, Griffith M, Griffith OL, Govindan R. Recurrent WNT pathway alterations are frequent in relapsed small cell lung cancer. Nat Commun. 2018 Sep 17;9(1):3787. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-06162-9.
Barthélémy F, Wein N. Personalized gene and cell therapy for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy. Neuromuscul Disord. 2018 Jul 26. pii: S0960-8966(17)31473-6. doi: 10.1016/j.nmd.2018.06.009. [Epub ahead of print] Review.
Stasko PA, Hlad LM. Essentials of Deformity Planning. Clin Podiatr Med Surg. 2018 Oct;35(4):457-465. doi: 10.1016/j.cpm.2018.05.005. Review.
Bordoloi M, Ramtekkar U. Relationship between Sleep and Psychosis in the Pediatric Population: A Brief Review. Med Sci (Basel). 2018 Sep 14;6(3). pii: E76. doi: 10.3390/medsci6030076. Review.
Beal EW, Tumin D, Moris D, Zhang XF, Chakedis J, Dilhoff M, Schmidt CM, Pawlik TM. Cohort contributions to trends in the incidence and mortality of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. Hepatobiliary Surg Nutr. 2018 Aug;7(4):270-276. doi: 10.21037/hbsn.2018.03.16.
Renaud EJ, Sømme S, Islam S, Cameron DB, Gates RL, Williams RF, Jancelewicz T, Oyetunji TA, Grabowski J, Diefenbach KA, Baird R, Arnold MA, Lal DR, Shelton J, Guner YS, Gosain A, Kawaguchi AL, Ricca RL, Goldin AB, Dasgupta R. Ovarian masses in the child and adolescent: An American Pediatric Surgical Association Outcomes and Evidence-Based Practice Committee systematic review. J Pediatr Surg. 2018 Sep 6. pii: S0022-3468(18)30566-9. doi: 10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2018.08.058. [Epub ahead of print] Review.
Martorano L, Prince BT, Mikhail I. Recurrent FPIES to wheat after multiple tolerant exposures in a male infant. Ann Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2018 Sep;121(3):371-372. doi: 10.1016/j.anai.2018.06.030. Epub 2018 Jul 3. No abstract available.
Buxton D, Jacobowski N. Dealing with Death and Dying. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2018 Oct;27(4):xi-xiii. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2018.07.010. No abstract available.
Lockwood B, Humphrey L. Supporting Children and Families at a Child's End of Life: Pediatric Palliative Care Pearls of Anticipatory Guidance for Families. Child Adolesc Psychiatr Clin N Am. 2018 Oct;27(4):527-537. doi: 10.1016/j.chc.2018.05.003. Review.
Almizraq RJ, Norris PJ, Inglis H, Menocha S, Wirtz MR, Juffermans N, Pandey S, Spinella PC, Acker JP, Muszynski JA. Blood manufacturing methods affect red blood cell product characteristics and immunomodulatory activity. Blood Adv. 2018 Sep 25;2(18):2296-2306. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2018021931.
Casamassimo PS, Flaitz CM, Hammersmith K, Sangvai S, Kumar A. Recognizing the Relationship Between Disorders in the Oral Cavity and Systemic Disease. Pediatr Clin North Am. 2018 Oct;65(5):1007-1032. doi: 10.1016/j.pcl.2018.05.009. Review.
Lause M, Baker P, Erdem G, Fernandez Faith E. Enlarging verrucous plaques in a teenager. Pediatr Dermatol. 2018 Sep;35(5):671-672. doi: 10.1111/pde.13506. No abstract available.
Hardison RL, Heimlich DR, Harrison A, Beatty WL, Rains S, Moseley MA, Thompson JW, Justice SS, Mason KM. Transient Nutrient Deprivation Promotes Macropinocytosis-Dependent Intracellular Bacterial Community Development. mSphere. 2018 Sep 12;3(5). pii: e00286-18. doi: 10.1128/mSphere.00286-18.
Vanek VW, Ayers P, Kraft M, Bouche JM, Do VT, Durham CW, Guenter P, Hoggle L, Kent S, Lin ET, Molinar LS, Plogsted SW, Poehls JM, Turner P, Van Way C 3rd; American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. A Call to Action for Optimizing the Electronic Health Record in the Parenteral Nutrition Workflow: Executive Summary. Nutr Clin Pract. 2018 Oct;33(5):594-596. doi: 10.1002/ncp.10202.
Harrel KJ, Stanek J, Bonny AE, Christian-Rancy M, Creary SE, Desai P, O'Brien SH. A pilot study of hormonal contraceptive use and bone mineral density in young women with sickle cell disease. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2018 Sep 11:e27398. doi: 10.1002/pbc.27398. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
Vidaurre J, Weisleder P. [Non-epileptic paroxysmal disorders in pre-school children]. Medicina (B Aires). 2018;78 Suppl 2:52-56. Spanish.
Vidaurre J. [Neonatal seizures. Clinical and electroencephalographic diagnosis]. Medicina (B Aires). 2018;78 Suppl 2:25-29. Spanish.
Barrie ES, Pinsonneault JK, Sadee W, Hollway JA, Handen BL, Smith T, Arnold LE, Butter E, Hansen-Kiss E, Herman GE, Aman MG. Testing genetic modifiers of behavior and response to atomoxetine in autism spectrum disorder with ADHD. J Dev Phys Disabil. 2018 Jun;30(3):355-371. doi: 10.1007/s10882-018-9590-4. Epub 2018 Mar 5.
Feola GP, Hogan MJ, Baskin KM, Cahill AM, Connolly BL, Crowley JJ, Charles JA, Heran MKS, Marshalleck FE, Sierre S, Towbin RB, Walker TG, Silberzweig JE, Censullo M, Dariushnia SR, Gemmete JJ, Weinstein JL, Nikolic B. Quality Improvement Standards for the Treatment of Pediatric Empyema. J Vasc Interv Radiol. 2018 Sep 6. pii: S1051-0443(18)31159-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jvir.2018.04.027. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
Iannitti T, Scarrott JM, Likhite S, Coldicott IRP, Lewis KE, Heath PR, Higginbottom A, Myszczynska MA, Milo M, Hautbergue GM, Meyer K, Kaspar BK, Ferraiuolo L, Shaw PJ, Azzouz M. Translating SOD1 Gene Silencing toward the Clinic: A Highly Efficacious, Off-Target-free, and Biomarker-Supported Strategy for fALS. Mol Ther Nucleic Acids. 2018 Sep 7;12:75-88. doi: 10.1016/j.omtn.2018.04.015. Epub 2018 May 3.
US Preventive Services Task Force, Curry SJ, Krist AH, Owens DK, Barry MJ, Caughey AB, Davidson KW, Doubeni CA, Epling JW Jr, Kemper AR, Kubik M, Kurth AE, Landefeld CS, Mangione CM, Phipps MG, Silverstein M, Simon MA, Tseng CW, Wong JB. Screening for Syphilis Infection in Pregnant Women: US Preventive Services Task Force Reaffirmation Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2018 Sep 4;320(9):911-917. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.11785.
Fu H, Zaraspe K, Murakami N, Meadows AS, Pineda RJ, McCarty DM, Muenzer J. Targeting Root Cause by Systemic scAAV9-hIDS Gene Delivery: Functional Correction and Reversal of Severe MPS II in Mice. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev. 2018 Sep 4;10:327-340. doi: 10.1016/j.omtm.2018.07.005. eCollection 2018 Sep 21.
Sezgin E, Weiler M, Weiler A, Lin S. Proposing an Ecosystem of Digital Health Solutions for Teens With Chronic Conditions Transitioning to Self-Management and Independence: Exploratory Qualitative Study. J Med Internet Res. 2018 Sep 6;20(9):e10285. doi: 10.2196/10285.
Masterson Creber RM, Dayan PS, Kuppermann N, Ballard DW, Tzimenatos L, Alessandrini E, Mistry RD, Hoffman J, Vinson DR, Bakken S; Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network (PECARN) and the Clinical Research on Emergency Services and Treatments (CREST) Network. Applying the RE-AIM Framework for the Evaluation of a Clinical Decision Support Tool for Pediatric Head Trauma: A Mixed-Methods Study. Appl Clin Inform. 2018 Jul;9(3):693-703. doi: 10.1055/s-0038-1669460. Epub 2018 Sep 5.
Diaz A, Osorio N, Watson JR. Painless Skin Ulcer in a 5-Year-Old Girl From Colombia. J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc. 2018 Sep 3. doi: 10.1093/jpids/piy089. [Epub ahead of print] No abstract available.
Griffith OL, Spies NC, Anurag M, Griffith M, Luo J, Tu D, Yeo B, Kunisaki J, Miller CA, Krysiak K, Hundal J, Ainscough BJ, Skidmore ZL, Campbell K, Kumar R, Fronick C, Cook L, Snider JE, Davies S, Kavuri SM, Chang EC, Magrini V, Larson DE, Fulton RS, Liu S, Leung S, Voduc D, Bose R, Dowsett M, Wilson RK, Nielsen TO, Mardis ER, Ellis MJ. The prognostic effects of somatic mutations in ER-positive breast cancer. Nat Commun. 2018 Sep 4;9(1):3476. doi: 10.1038/s41467-018-05914-x.
Valentine SL, Bembea MM, Muszynski JA, Cholette JM, Doctor A, Spinella PC, Steiner ME, Tucci M, Hassan NE, Parker RI, Lacroix J, Argent A, Carson JL, Remy KE, Demaret P, Emeriaud G, Kneyber MCJ, Guzzetta N, Hall MW, Macrae D, Karam O, Russell RT, Stricker PA, Vogel AM, Tasker RC, Turgeon AF, Schwartz SM, Willems A, Josephson CD, Luban NLC, Lehmann LE, Stanworth SJ, Zantek ND, Bunchman TE, Cheifetz IM, Fortenberry JD, Delaney M, van de Watering L, Robinson KA, Malone S, Steffen KM, Bateman ST; Pediatric Critical Care Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative (TAXI); Pediatric Critical Care Blood Research Network (BloodNet), and the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network. Consensus Recommendations for RBC Transfusion Practice in Critically Ill Children From the Pediatric Critical Care Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2018 Sep;19(9):884-898. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000001613.
Skinner D, Franz B, Howard J, Kelleher K, Crabtree BF. The Politics of Primary Care Expansion: Lessons From Cancer Survivorship and Substance Abuse. J Healthc Manag. 2018 Sep-Oct;63(5):323-336. doi: 10.1097/JHM-D-16-00030.
Ferenczy ED, Stoner MJ, Spencer SP, Gee SW, Scherzer DJ, Tobias JD. Elevated endotracheal tube cuff pressure in the pediatric emergency department. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Oct;113:289-291. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.08.008. Epub 2018 Aug 8.
Schwartz CM, Honsinger K, Fischer BA, Elmaraghy CA. Evaluation of the effect of pre-operative oral midazolam on post-operative oral fluid intake after tonsillectomy. Int J Pediatr Otorhinolaryngol. 2018 Oct;113:248-251. doi: 10.1016/j.ijporl.2018.08.011. Epub 2018 Aug 10.
Pindrik J, Hoang N, Smith L, Halverson M, Wojnaroski M, McNally K, Gedela S, Ostendorf AP. Preoperative evaluation and surgical management of infants and toddlers with drug-resistant epilepsy. Neurosurg Focus. 2018 Sep;45(3):E3. doi: 10.3171/2018.7.FOCUS18220.
Muszynski JA, Guzzetta NA, Hall MW, Macrae D, Valentine SL, Bateman ST, Spinella PC; Pediatric Critical Care Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative (TAXI); Pediatric Critical Care Blood Research Network (Blood Net), and the Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Network. Recommendations on RBC Transfusions for Critically Ill Children With Nonhemorrhagic Shock From the Pediatric Critical Care Transfusion and Anemia Expertise Initiative. Pediatr Crit Care Med. 2018 Sep;19(9S Suppl 1):S121-S126. doi: 10.1097/PCC.0000000000001620.
Santoro SL, Bartman T, Cua CL, Lemle S, Skotko BG. Use of Electronic Health Record Integration for Down Syndrome Guidelines. Pediatrics. 2018 Sep;142(3). pii: e20174119. doi: 10.1542/peds.2017-4119.
McConnell PI. Measuring Contractility on Mechanical Circulatory Support: If It Cannot Be Done, Does It Matter? ASAIO J. 2018 Sep/Oct;64(5):e138. doi: 10.1097/MAT.0000000000000737. No abstract available.
Ching CB, Becknell B. Novel role for androgen signaling in pyelonephritis. Kidney Int. 2018 Sep;94(3):455-457. doi: 10.1016/j.kint.2018.05.020.
US Preventive Services Task Force, Curry SJ, Krist AH, Owens DK, Barry MJ, Caughey AB, Davidson KW, Doubeni CA, Epling JW Jr, Kemper AR, Kubik M, Landefeld CS, Mangione CM, Phipps MG, Silverstein M, Simon MA, Tseng CW, Wong JB. Screening for Cervical Cancer: US Preventive Services Task Force Recommendation Statement. JAMA. 2018 Aug 21;320(7):674-686. doi: 10.1001/jama.2018.10897.


Welcome to Community Thrift & Trade Event at meow. The event is filled with gachas and transferable items.
Event features some new items from Kis Kis too. Go on and check them and all the other awesome transferables out!


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Q: LongPressHold Switch Not Evaluating to Ended/Failed (Drop & Drop Freeze) I have a UITableView that I add a UILongPressGestureRecognizer to. When a cell is held, it triggers a switch that evaluates the gesture state:
switch state {
    case UIGestureRecognizerState.began:
        //Takes a snapshot of the cell, shows image and hides cell
        print("User held cell.")
    case UIGestureRecognizerState.changed:
        //Runs when cell-snapshot is dragged
        print("LocationInView is: \(location)")
    default:
        //Runs when the user "lets go" of the cell
        print("User let go.")
 }

During testing, cells freeze if dragged above or below the table AND let go of. If dragged back over the table and let go of, it's okay.
The table does not occupy the whole screen and the cell stops at the edge of the table if a user tries to drag it out of the table's bounds. When you let go while 'out of bounds' the cell freezes on the edge permanently.

I can simply hide the cell IF the switch tells me the gesture finished but the problem is that the default never fires. If the users lifts their finger after leaving the table, the switch never evaluates to default.
Now UIGestureRecognizerState has "cancelled", "ended", and "failed" states so why aren't they triggering the default? I have print statements to show a normal finger lift:

And a finger lift outside of the table area:

A: The answer to this question wasn't apparent from the code but was in the image. The cell is being dragged "out of bounds", or off the table/to its edge. Once there, it cannot pass an indexValue to be evaluated!
This is the solution because most tableView drag/drop code will first check for nil, including my own:
    if indexPath != nil {
        switch state {
        case UIGestureRecognizerState.began:
            ...

The part that's tricky is how to handle the situation now that you can't evaluate the recognizer state... did it end/fail/cancel? If I were to start over I'd try to make add the recognizer to the full screen view so that I could always monitor the gestureRecognizer state no matter where the user's finger goes.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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Interior Design Illustrated
Author: Ching, Francis D. K., Binggeli, Corky
Acknowledged authors Ching, Francis D. K., Binggeli, Corky wrote Interior Design Illustrated comprising 368 pages back in 2012. Textbook and eTextbook are published under ISBN 1118090713 and 9781118090718. Since then Interior Design Illustrated textbook was available to sell back to BooksRun online for the top buyback price of $ 6.51 or rent at the marketplace.
The bestselling guide to interior design updated and expanded for a new generation
For over three decades, Francis D.K. Ching's integrated, comprehensive approach to presenting the elements of architecture and design has helped millions of students and professionals alike visualize and make sense of complex concepts. As functional as it is beautiful, this richly illustrated Third Edition of Ching's classic, Interior Design Illustrated, is a visual introduction to designing for interior spaces, to the building elements and environmental systems within them, and to the details of furnishings and interior finishes. Beginning designers will appreciate this updated and expanded edition's for its concise and accessible presentation of key concepts and practices, while established designers will cherish it for its many practical insights into the relationship between building structures and interior spaces.
Updated and expanded to include new information on building codes, building information modeling, and sustainability
Includes new content on Indoor Air Quality and other issues in environmental systems, as well as the latest on data/communication and security systems
Now features a richly illustrated section explaining the role of color in interior design, along with teaching resources available online
Updated and expanded for a new generation of students and practitioners, Interior Design Illustrated, Third Edition is sure to remain the standard reference for many years to come.
Interior Design Ill...
by Ching, Francis D. K...


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Marysville ( habitants) est un village de l'État de Victoria à 99 kilomètres au nord-est de Melbourne. Il a été presque entièrement détruit par un incendie de forêt le 7 février 2009.

Galerie

Références
 Statistiques sur Marysville

Liens externes
 Tourisme à Marysville
 Histoire de Marysville

Ville dans l'État de Victoria

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Poultry & Game Bird Basics
What Is Squab?
quab are young pigeons that have never flown. For thousands of years, they have been a favorite meal for every stratum of society throughout the world. They were unequivocally the first domesticated poultry, even preceding chicken.
This may surprise twenty-first century Americans. More often we think of pigeons as annoying denizens of city monuments and buildings. In fact, these are rock doves, a relative of pigeons, and far less edible. Yet squab is considered a most exquisite ingredient in cuisines as distinct as Cantonese, Moroccan and French. The simple reason for squab's universal appeal is the delicate, succulent flesh, truly unlike that of any other bird. Squab is a dark-meat bird, like duck and goose, yet the meat is not nearly as fibrous, rendering it far more tender. Its flavor, when properly cooked, is a lush, rich essence, reminiscent of sautéed foie gras, albeit with more texture.
Historically, squab were a reliable and inexpensive source of animal protein. Documents detailing aristocratic banquets frequently show squab used in one or several important courses. B'stilla, a splendid Moroccan phyllo-crusted pie that is sweet, salty, crispy and juicy at the same time, is traditionally made with squab. It dates from around the 15th century, when the Moors were kicked out of Andalusia and migrated to North Africa. Huge molded timbales of pasta, and molded domes of rice made with squab and rich accompaniments, were fashionable 16th and 17th century Italian culinary showpieces.
Early on, wide circular structures with tapered tops, or dovecotes, were built in fields to attract wild pigeons to roost. Numerous cubbyholes lined the interior, accommodating several breeding pairs. Adult birds forage independently and, being monogamous, return every evening to the same roost throughout their adult life. Other than constructing the residence facility, the squab farmer was required to do little or no maintenance except to harvest the young squab. Using a ladder, one simply plucked them from the nest.
In the United States squab are raised primarily in central California and South Carolina. The birds weigh about 1 pound each. Large covered pens are used for up to a dozen breeding pairs. They are capable of producing up to 24 offspring a year. Parents share in all activities required to raise the squab. They build their nest together, incubate the eggs, and feed the young. The male participates willingly as long as the female accommodates him sexually on demand. When she refuses, he pecks her in the middle of the head. As a result, farmers can separate the sexes far more easily than might otherwise be the case.
They just look for the bald birds, which are females.
Sorting young squab from mature pigeons is also an easy activity. The farmer gathers his squab in a crate. When the crate is opened and shaken vigorously, any birds that fly away are not squab but adult pigeons.
No one farms squab to make a fortune. The birds' notorious sensitivity prevents using modern poultry techniques, like those employed in the factory farming of chickens, to produce enormous flocks at minimal costs. They respond poorly to artificial insemination and inferior-quality feeds laced with animal by-products.
Farm-raised pigeons must have the same food year-round. Their nesting cubbies must never be disturbed. For this reason, the cost of squab, which has remained constant for decades, is expensive relative to mass-marketed chickens. It's a whole lot of bother to raise good squab. But these succulent birds make a feast fit for a king.
Tartine of Squab En Salmis
Foie Gras Corncakes
Squab with Bacon-Wrapped Plums & Frisee
A Bloody Good Time with David Burke
Making Squab with Marcus Samuelsson
Squab, Whole
30% OFF 80+ Frozen Favorites
Squab, Whole, Semi-Boneless
Squab, Whole, NY Dressed


Senator WONG (South Australia—Leader of the Opposition in the Senate) (12:16): Mr Deputy President, I seek leave to make a short statement.
Senator WONG: I would make a couple of points in relation to the propositions put by the Manager of Government Business in the Senate. Firstly, the agreement and side letter in question involve significant amounts of money and significant matters of public administration. They involve, on the basis of Senator Canavan's public statement, $2 billion to $4 billion worth of expenditure. They involve the transfer of the administration of the water portfolio to Mr Barnaby Joyce, something that South Australians are concerned about. They go to the expenditure of public moneys, and I think the Australian people are entitled to know what the detail of that agreement is.
Secondly, I do not agree with the proposition, nor does precedent in this chamber support the proposition, that orders for the production of documents can only be in the narrow terms defined by the Manager of Government Business in the Senate.
The DEPUTY PRESIDENT: The question is that the motion moved by Senator Moore be agreed to.


text:
New Delhi: 126 drugs cheaper by over 40% as govt fixes ceiling
Government has fixed the ceiling price of 530 essential medicines that has resulted in price reduction of over 40 per cent in case of 126 drugs.PTI | March 04, 2016, 18:02 IST
New Delhi: Government has fixed the ceiling price of 530 essential medicines that has resulted in price reduction of over 40 per cent in case of 126 drugs, Parliament was informed today.
"National Pharmaceutical Pricing Authority has fixed the ceiling price of 530 medicines", out of 680 NLEM medicines (628 net medicines) that are under the scheduled category of DPCO 2013, Minister of State for Chemicals and Fertilisers Hansraj Gangaram Ahir said in Rajya Sabha.
Out of 530 drugs, above 40 per cent price reduction has happened in case of 126 medicines, while prices of 34 drugs has come down in the range of 35-40 per cent.
The drug pricing regulator has reduced the price of 26 medicines by 30-35 per cent while prices of 49 drugs have been reduced in the range of 25-30 per cent, Ahir said.
While the prices of 65 medicines have been reduced in the range of 20-25 per cent, 43 medicines have witnessed the price reduction in the range of 15 to 20 per cent, he added.
Moreover, 57 drugs saw price reduction of 10-15 per cent, price of 50 drugs were reduced in range of 5-10 per cent. In case of 80 medicines the reduction with respect to maximum price was between 0 to 5 per cent, Ahir said.
NPPA mandate is to fix or revise the prices of controlled bulk drugs and formulations and to enforce prices and availability of the medicines in the country.
It also monitors prices of decontrolled drugs in order to keep them at reasonable levels.
Tags : Pharma, prices, medicines, Fertilisers, Drugs, chemicals


text:
Lockport in Niagara County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Lock Construction
By Barry Swackhamer, June 2, 2014
1. Lock Construction Marker
Caption: Workers who graded and set timbers for the track on which the cantilever crane operated (left).
Lock Construction. . From the original Erie Canal to the Barge Canal System, crossing the Niagara Escarpment posed immense challenges to canal engineers. . . The first Lockport locks were designed by Nathan Roberts, who was in charge of constructing the Erie Canal from "the mountain ridge" at Lockport to Lake Erie. In 1822 he advertised for "1000 men wanted at Lockport - twelve dollars per month and found" (meaning room and board). Excavation for the locks and the "deep cut" channel section southwest of the locks required extensive blasting and drilling of rock. . . Drill holes were packed with DuPont's blasting powder, a newly invented explosive, which was far superior to gunpowder. Work on the locks and "the cut" was extremely dangerous due to careless and inexperienced blasting. The shattered rock was removed by timber derricks, powered by horse driven treadmills. Work continued through the winter. Holes drilled into the rock face were filled with water. the rock would crack and split as the water froze. The builders of the Erie Canal had a genius for improvisation. . . The original Lockport locks were completed on June 25, 1825. Within a short time the locks, like the entire canal, proved too small to handle the large volume of boat traffic. . . The combined locks were rebuilt on a larger scale between 1836 and 1847. Work on the enlarged Erie Canal was halted under the "Stop Law: of 1842, enacted in response to serve state debt. Work was resumed in 1847. The enlargement of the entire Erie Canal was not completed until 1862. The enlarged Lockport locks operated until the southern tier was removed in 1910 for construction of Lock 34 and 35 of the Erie Barge Canal. . . The north tier of the combined locks was left intact and passed vessels during Barge Canal construction. The old locks today serve as a visible reminder of the genius of the first canal builders in New York State. . . Sidebar on the right . Thomas Evershed (1817-1890) . As New York State Engineer, Evershed made numerous contributions, and served an important roll in canal development. By 1838, he was supervising the construction of both sets of combined "Flights of Five" locks in Lockport. . This historical marker is in Lockport in Niagara County New York
From the original Erie Canal to the Barge Canal System, crossing the Niagara Escarpment posed immense challenges to canal engineers.
The first Lockport locks were designed by Nathan Roberts, who was in charge of constructing the Erie Canal from "the mountain ridge" at Lockport to Lake Erie. In 1822 he advertised for "1000 men wanted at Lockport - twelve dollars per month and found" (meaning room and board). Excavation for the locks and the "deep cut" channel section southwest of the locks required extensive blasting and drilling of rock.
Drill holes were packed with DuPont's blasting powder, a newly invented explosive, which was far superior to gunpowder. Work on the locks and "the cut" was extremely dangerous due to careless and inexperienced blasting. The shattered rock was removed by timber derricks, powered by horse driven treadmills. Work continued through the winter. Holes drilled into the rock face were filled with water. the rock would crack and split as the water froze. The builders of the Erie Canal had a genius for improvisation.
The original Lockport
locks were completed on June 25, 1825. Within a short time the locks, like the entire canal, proved too small to handle the large volume of boat traffic.
The combined locks were rebuilt on a larger scale between 1836 and 1847. Work on the enlarged Erie Canal was halted under the "Stop Law: of 1842, enacted in response to serve state debt. Work was resumed in 1847. The enlargement of the entire Erie Canal was not completed until 1862. The enlarged Lockport locks operated until the southern tier was removed in 1910 for construction of Lock 34 and 35 of the Erie Barge Canal.
The north tier of the combined locks was left intact and passed vessels during Barge Canal construction. The old locks today serve as a visible reminder of the genius of the first canal builders in New York State.
Sidebar on the right
Thomas Evershed (1817-1890)
As New York State Engineer, Evershed made numerous contributions, and served an important roll in canal development. By 1838, he was supervising the construction of both sets of combined "Flights of Five" locks in Lockport. (Marker Number 7.)
Marker series. This marker is included in the Erie Canal marker series.
Location. 43° 10.241′ N, 78° 41.576′ W. Marker is in Lockport, New York,
3. Lock 35 from the Pine Street Bridge
in Niagara County. Marker is on Pine Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2 Pine Street, Lockport NY 14094, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Great American Canal (a few steps from this marker); Lockport City Hall (a few steps from this marker); Old City Hall (a few steps from this marker); Upper Locks View (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Locks West (within shouting distance of this marker); Life on the Barges (within shouting distance of this marker); Hydraulic Race Control Gates (within shouting distance of this marker); Lower Lock Construction (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lockport.
More about this marker. This marker is located at the southwest end of the Pine Street Bridge.
Categories. • Industry & Commerce • Waterways & Vessels •
4. Monument to the Pioneer Engineers next to the Lock Construction Marker
Erected August 16, 1975 In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the completion of the original locks which opened a connecting waterway between the Hudson River and the Great Lakes.
This completion of the Erie Canal was the opening of a door to the settling of the West.
Tribute must be paid to the engineers of that age who surveyed and designed this project with antiquated instruments and little engineering experience.
These men were the pioneers of American Engineering.
Ereected by
American Society of Civil Engineering
Buffalo Section
American Consulting Engineers Council
Western New York Chapter
National Society of Professional Engineers
Erie-Niagara Chapter
More. Search the internet for Lock Construction.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 16, 2016. This page originally submitted on September 7, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 271 times since then and 2 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 7, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.


Here, if i put "become" instead of "be" in the sentence, Have both "be" and "become" the same meaning? Or just have a nuance between be and become?
I knew that meaning of "be" is exist;not changable while "become" is changable.
Am i right in thinking that?
Ex) Hhe was meant to be a soccer player.
They both roughly mean: He has so much talent and skill at soccer that he was put in this world to play soccer.
But "He was meant to be a soccer player" suggests (to me) that the subject is a past player or an established player. The sentence "He was meant to become a soccer player" sounds to me like the subject is someone who has just started to be recognised in the sport (at a reasonably high level).


Vitamix Giveaway - Got Greens?
Purchase a Vitamix and be entered into a drawing to win Vitamix products.
Vitamix Giveaway details. Now, through the end of February, when you purchase a Vitamix Standard Variable Speed or Reconditioned Standard Programs blender using our links with Promo Code 06-005220 you will automatically be entered to win one of 200 prizes including a FREE Vitamix!
When you purchase through our links, you not only are entered in the drawing for chance to win! but as ALWAYS, you receive all the benefits and Free Shipping (additional $25 savings).
What would you do with a free Vitamix? Perhaps have a second one or gift it to a friend. I'm sure you would figure out what do do with a free Vitamix.
To qualify to win, purchase a Vitamix with our links – it's that easy. Good Luck!
So if I win, I can return what I purchased last week?
You can return a Vitamix purchase for any reason within the 30 day no-risk trial period. So if you find that you win and you purchased a Vitamix within 30 days then you can return what you purchased for a full refund. We don't recommend that as a strategy for the sweepstakes entry but it could work that way depending upon when you purchased and when winners are announced.


text:
<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN" "http://www.w3.org/TR/html4/loose.dtd">

<META http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
<TITLE>
StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatusOrBuilder (HBase 0.94.9 API)
</TITLE>

<META NAME="date" CONTENT="2013-06-24">

<LINK REL ="stylesheet" TYPE="text/css" HREF="../../../../../../../stylesheet.css" TITLE="Style">

      Overview
      Package
    Class
      Use
      Tree
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      Help

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  SUMMARY: NESTED | FIELD | CONSTR | METHOD

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org.apache.hadoop.hbase.rest.protobuf.generated

Interface StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatusOrBuilder

All Superinterfaces:
com.google.protobuf.MessageLiteOrBuilder, com.google.protobuf.MessageOrBuilder

All Known Implementing Classes:
StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatus, StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatus.Builder

Enclosing class:
StorageClusterStatusMessage

public static interface StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatusOrBuilder
extends com.google.protobuf.MessageOrBuilder

Method Summary

 double
getAverageLoad()

 String
getDeadNodes(int index)

 int
getDeadNodesCount()

 List<String>
getDeadNodesList()

 StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatus.Node
getLiveNodes(int index)

 int
getLiveNodesCount()

 List<StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatus.Node>
getLiveNodesList()

 StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatus.NodeOrBuilder
getLiveNodesOrBuilder(int index)

 List<? extends StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatus.NodeOrBuilder>
getLiveNodesOrBuilderList()

 int
getRegions()

 int
getRequests()

 boolean
hasAverageLoad()

 boolean
hasRegions()

 boolean
hasRequests()

Methods inherited from interface com.google.protobuf.MessageOrBuilder

getAllFields, getDefaultInstanceForType, getDescriptorForType, getField, getRepeatedField, getRepeatedFieldCount, getUnknownFields, hasField

Methods inherited from interface com.google.protobuf.MessageLiteOrBuilder

isInitialized

Method Detail

getLiveNodesList

List<StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatus.Node> getLiveNodesList()

getLiveNodes

StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatus.Node getLiveNodes(int index)

getLiveNodesCount

int getLiveNodesCount()

getLiveNodesOrBuilderList

List<? extends StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatus.NodeOrBuilder> getLiveNodesOrBuilderList()

getLiveNodesOrBuilder

StorageClusterStatusMessage.StorageClusterStatus.NodeOrBuilder getLiveNodesOrBuilder(int index)

getDeadNodesList

List<String> getDeadNodesList()

getDeadNodesCount

int getDeadNodesCount()

getDeadNodes

String getDeadNodes(int index)

hasRegions

boolean hasRegions()

getRegions

int getRegions()

hasRequests

boolean hasRequests()

getRequests

int getRequests()

hasAverageLoad

boolean hasAverageLoad()

getAverageLoad

double getAverageLoad()

      Overview
      Package
    Class
      Use
      Tree
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Copyright © 2013 The Apache Software Foundation. All Rights Reserved.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Four Green Building Store staff are currently at different stages of the CarbonLite Retrofit course and finding that it is helping feeding into their work at the company. Bill Butcher, Director of Green Building Store, also teaches the construction seminar on the CarbonLite Retrofit course.
Luke Gilman and Emma Platt, Managers from the Windows Department, have been undertaking the course to help give them technical background when discussing window installation and detailing in retrofit projects, as part of its free product technical support.
Camilla Govan manages Green Building Store's Consultancy Department alongside Passivhaus Consultants Bill Butcher and Paul Smith. In addition, Camilla was very involved in the setting up and delivery of the AECB CarbonLite course, project managing the launch of the course for the AECB in a freelance capacity.
1 – Any student who does not complete the course within the first 12 months can also renew annually to continue (fee currently £50 + VAT).
2 – Webinars give students the opportunity to discuss any aspect of the relevant module – the reading material, the quizzes and homework tasks, or a practical matter relating to a real project that they are involved in.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, January 15th, 2019 at 9:10 am	and is filed under AECB general news, AECB Latest News, General News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.


text:
The Modern, Multi-faceted Library
Posted In Culture, Sandhills Magazine Oct-Nov 2022
The library systems that serve the Sandhills are expansive, nimble learning and community centers
By Kevin Lewis » Photos by John Patota
Joanna King of Carthage speaks for many Moore County families with small children when she says that Moore Regional Library "was very much my social lifeline [and] kept me grounded." King, her husband and child moved to Carthage from upstate New York in 2014, and the couple have two children now. They knew no one but quickly met other families when they brought their children to the pre-school library story hour. When the pandemic regulations hit, they frequently showed up at the then-access denied library in Carthage for phone-in checkout and outside pickup.
Fortunately, the regulations were lifted for the library's summer reading program which is a highlight of the family's life.
Pre-school story hours commenced In April at Moore Regional Library after being on hiatus for a year because of state regulations. At Southern Pines Public Library, the infant and pre-school story hours began earlier in the year because it is a municipal rather than a state library and not subject to the same COVID shutdowns. The gatherings are so popular that a cutoff enrollment of 25 per session has been set. Amanda Brown, who has been director for 10 years, is delighted with the euphoria at the library.
The other municipal library, Given Memorial Library in Pinehurst, also has infant and pre-school story hours which are very popular. A mixture of parents, nannies and grandparents accompany the children, which pleases Audrey Moriarty, Given's director for 20 years. She hopes to expand activities to teenagers soon. The library, which also houses the Pinehurst golfing history in its Tufts Archives, is known for its signature club room furniture and atmosphere. Moriarty wants families to feel comfortable with the formal setting and think of it as "the community living room."
All of which means the Silence is Golden library rule doesn't apply anymore. Senior citizens are on "time share" with their grandchildren while others come to the library for research, job resources, a place to work in addition to the innovative programming at libraries across
the Sandhills.
Moore County, which is a rural county, is developing a suburban look with many subdivisions. An artificially infused demographic of retiree emigrants, active military stationed at Fort Bragg, and corporate executives who work remotely from their homes has created bedroom communities in Pinehurst, Aberdeen and Southern Pines, Vass and Pinebluff, Carthage and Robbins. More than a few commuters to Research Triangle Park travel U.S. Route 1 daily or Highway 690 to Fort Bragg.
Families have changed the face of the Sandhills. Military families, both retired and active, numbering in the thousands have created ongoing educational and building crises for county commissioners to navigate because of the decision of the Department of Defense to allow active military to reside outside of Cumberland County, and area libraries are nimbly helping fill in the gaps.
But the quiet revolution which has transformed the regional and municipal public libraries of Moore County into bustling creative reading centers has gone unpublicized amid the much-publicized drama of the Board of Education of late. Rather than diminishing, more people are relying on the libraries. Though eBooks and audio books are in demand, local librarians agree that the checking out of physical hard print books still outnumbers the digital equivalents. The libraries buy the same book not just in hard copy but in various formats: cd/audio book, eBook and e-Audio copy.
The Sandhills has arguably more library systems serving a traditionally rural area than many urban areas of the state, such as Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Wilmington, Greensboro and Asheville. The welcoming mat of Sandhills Community College to the community to use its Boyd Library increases the county services and outreach tremendously. The regional library systems belong to the consortium NC Cardinal, which was formed in 2010 to "make the combined resources of North Carolina's public libraries available to all people of the state through a shared catalog and a statewide library card." A patron can retrieve a book, CD or DVD from another library at no cost through an inter-library loan from over 50 counties. Over 6.5 million items held by NC Cardinal are available to every library card patron.
Sandhill Regional Library System, based locally in Carthage, which serves five counties (Anson, Hoke, Moore, Montgomery and Richmond), Southern Pines Public Library, and Given Memorial Library, has met the family programming challenge with cantilevered story hours in various age groups: infant, pre-school and pre-teenagers. During the pandemic when the libraries were closed, various means such as outside checkout and return of library materials were instituted. Southern Pines Public Library was the first to reschedule story hours because it is a municipal library.
The state regional library system operated under strict COVID regulations from Governor Roy Cooper, and were closed to public access, but as Alice Thomas, Director of Moore County Library points out, "the librarians were on premises and provided books and services by telephone and outside check out and check in. The rural areas were never neglected, though the Bookmobile was suspended. "Since Southern Pines and Pinehurst have their own municipal libraries in place to serve their citizens," Thomas states, "the branches of the Moore County Library System (Aberdeen, Carthage, Pinebluff, Robbins and Vass), along with the Bookmobile are doing most of the 'heavy lifting' when it comes to serving the rural areas of Moore County. I think that is fair to say.
"Our branches, particularly the Bookmobile, provide resources for local schools that don't have their own media centers, and we provide early literacy resources for many daycare centers. We're also helping to bridge the digital divide by providing patrons with hotspots that they can check out with computers that they can use to apply for jobs or take online exams.
"I think, too, that the social connection many of our patrons get from a visit to the library or Bookmobile is very important to their well-being. It's that shared experience of being among other readers and feeling welcome. I saw a quote recently that I liked: Public libraries aren't about getting all the books back. They're about getting the readers back.
Given Memorial Library and Tufts Archive is transitioning from a privately endowed library from the Tufts and Given families into a Village of Pinehurst-owned library. The village finally agreed to buy the library and expand it in its current space on the Village Green area. Moriarty says that design plans are still in discussion with new construction to begin in 2024 for completion by 2026.
Boyd Library is the academic library of Sandhills Community College which addresses different library information needs based on course completion criteria. President John Dempsey has been the esteemed mentor to generations of students for 33 years and is retiring in December. "The library, he states, "is the heart of the college and the brains of the community."
Tammy Stewart, Dean of Learning Resources, and Carl Danis, Director of Library Resources, welcome the public. Stewart says, "We are an academic library with vigorous public outreach." All residents of Moore and Hoke counties 18 and older or enrolled in college-level classes are eligible to register for a free library card.
The core of Boyd's research library is its databases. CINAHL Complete and StatRef! are two nursing and allied health databases used by health care students pursuing degrees or by those who will be teaching in medical academic disciplines. EBSCO, Proquest and Gale in Context are databases for interdisciplinary research purposes in published articles and professional journals.
Families visiting the library can check out items from the Barbara H. Cole Children's Literature Collection, which offers more than 4,000 items including DVDs, children's picture books, juvenile and young adult fiction as well as non-fiction books. Danis explains his goal: "Our mission is to help all users find the information they need."
"Libraries are no longer just hushed repositories for books," states Brown of the growth she has experienced as the Southern Pines library has expanded. "Libraries are the heart of their communities, welcoming everyone and continually adapting to the needs of their residents. Libraries are one of the only free institutions that exist for everyone, and they act as hubs designed around their community's needs."
And its not just books that are checked out. Southern Pines Public Library has an extensive seed checkout program in partnership with the North Carolina Agricultural Extension Service. Any library visitor can go through the filing drawers and checkout seeds. The library requires contact information, and the borrower replenishes the seeds when the plant blooms with harvested seeds.
"Libraries help patrons in all walks of life — seniors who want to learn about and access technology, job seekers needing to create resumes, parents looking for early literacy experiences, and many other groups who connect to programs, resources and services," says Brown. "Reading, learning and books (whether physical, digital or audio) are still essential to their missions, but engagement with residents and adding value to their lives is what they really do."
Sandhills Magazine
Copyright 2023, Sandhills Magazine. All Rights Reserved.
Visit our sister publications: Charleston SC | Columbia SC | Highlands, Cashiers NC | Wilmington NC
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text:
Nigerian court rules Sprite and Fanta poisonous
A high court judge in Nigeria has ruled that some popular soft drinks sold under the Coca-Cola brand could be poisonous.
Bottles and cans of Fanta and Sprite in Nigeria may soon come with written health warnings after Justice Adedayo Oyebanji ordered the Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC) - the local manufacturer of the soft drinks - to place labels on the beverages to inform consumers against drinking them with vitamin C, according to a CNN report citing local sources.
Coca-Cola said the claims are inaccurate and unsupported by science.
"All our products are safe and strictly adhere to regulations in the countries where they are sold while complying with our company's stringent global safety and quality standards," a spokesperson for Coca-Cola told the Independent.
Asked about drinks sold in the UK, Coca-Cola said: "Everywhere in the world, we review and evolve our recipes to meet the local market's needs and tastes. All of the drinks that are sold in Great Britain are manufactured locally. Our priority is always to provide great tasting, affordable drinks with the same high level of quality regardless of where they are sold."
The Lagos High Court ruled that high levels of benzoic acid and additives in Coca-Cola's soft drinks could pose a health risk to consumers when mixed with ascorbic acid, commonly known as vitamin C.
The judge also gave a fine equivalent to $6,350 (£5,115) to the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for failing to ensure health standards.
"It is manifest that NAFDAC has been grossly irresponsible in its regulatory duties to the consumers of Fanta and Sprite manufactured by Nigeria Bottling Company," the judge said.
"NAFDAC has failed the citizens of this great nation by its certification as satisfactory for human consumption products [...] which become poisonous in the presence of ascorbic acid," he added.
The ruling was the result of a nine-year-long court battle initiated by Nigerian businessman Fijabi Adebo.
Mr Adebo's drinks company attempted to export the drinks to the UK in 2007. However, the beverages were confiscated by UK customs and after being tested by UK health authorities they were deemed unsafe for human consumption and destroyed.
Mr Adebo then sued NBC, which had sold him the products.
In an interview with the BBC, Mr Adebo said: "Initially they were flexing their muscles, which dragged [out] the process. I went to court to compel Nafdac to do its duty.
"We shouldn't have a product that is considered substandard in Europe."
NBC lawyers argued that the products were not intended for export but the defense was rejected by the judge.
"Soft drinks manufactured by Nigeria Bottling Company ought to be fit for human consumption irrespective of colour or creed," the judge said.
Both the NBC and NAFDAC are appealing against the ruling.
"Both Benzoic Acid and Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) are ingredients approved by international food safety regulators and used in many food and beverage products around the world. These ingredients are also used in combination in some products within levels which may differ from one country to another as approved by the respective national food and drug regulators in line with the range prescribed by CODEX, the joint intergovernmental body responsible for harmonizing international food standards," NBC said in a statement.
Nigeria's health ministry published a statement reassuring Nigerians that the drinks are safe for human consumption.
However it also advised all Nigerians to take medicine with potable water as this "would help to prevent unexpected drug-food interactions". It also "encourages" all bottling companies to "insert advisory warning" on all products as necessary.
Customers took it to Twitter to express their anger and call for a boycott after the ruling was made public.
"No longer drinking Coca Cola products in Nigeria. Short story, they are not fit for consumption," Onye Nkuzi, based in Nigeria, tweeted.
"Nigerians should boycott Coca-Cola products until foreign experts come to certify their products in Nigeria safe for consumption," Henry Asede said on Twitter.
Posted by Naijafeed at 3/29/2017
Labels: Health, Nigeria
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I have a major flaw within me that makes me quite nervous, that is the fact that I want everything to be perfect. By that I mean, I look forward to things such as trips away or special weekends so much that I truly believe I almost ruin them. I plan everything to the max! I try to foresee every eventuality and even prepare counter plans.
I know this is something that has become more apparent since my husband started working away, he comes home every Friday, I spend the week planning really nice meals for his return. Sometimes he comes home very tired and often it takes him the Friday evening to become the person I love so much. I can only imagine the stress I must put upon him.
In my work I am the same, second best is simply not good enough and I expect other people to have the same ethos, sadly not everyone does. I think I drive my daughter nuts, with a continual list of instructions, in truth I know she is perfectly capable and does everything with great pride.
Family holidays arrive and I write-up itineraries for everyone , it has become something of a standing joke within the family, and yet many times I do wonder what would happen if I sat back and organized nothing.
The reason I am thinking about this situation is the fact I am going to Cardiff for a romantic weekend with my darling Husband and already I have booked a restaurant, booked Cardiff Marriot Hotel for the overnight stay, now it would be perfect if I could book the romance but that is something that is out of my control and maybe that is a good thing, maybe it is time for me to try to relax!
I want to wish you all a fabulous Valentine weekend with your loved ones and keep your fingers crossed I get my perfect weekend.


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Gospel of Thomas Commentary: Saying 085 Adam was not worthy of us
Early Christian Writings Commentary
Title: Gospel of Thomas Commentary: Saying 85
Subheading: This page explores modern interpretations of the Gospel according to Thomas, an ancient text preserved in a Coptic translation at Nag Hammadi and Greek fragments at Oxyrhynchus. With no particular slant, this commentary gathers together quotations from various scholars in order to elucidate the meaning of the sayings, many of which are rightly described as "obscure."
From: Early Christian Writings
Horst Balz. (T87)
Bentley Layton. (T68)
Harold W Attridge. (T34)
Jean Doresse. (T81)
Robert Funk. (T71)
ECST: 014.10.000.T34
Nag Hammadi Coptic Text
BLATZ[1]4CM Translator ID: T87
(85) Adam came into being out of a great power and a great wealth, and he was not worthy of you; for if he had been worthy, [he would] not [have tasted] of death.
LAYTON[2]4CM Translator ID: T68
(85) Jesus said, "It is from a great power and a great wealth that Adam came into being: and he did not become worthy of you (plur.). For, had he been worthy [he would] not [have tasted] death."
DORESSE[3]4CM Translator ID: T81
89 [85]. Adam was produced by a great power and a great wealth; but he did not receive (?) [. . .] worthy (?) of you, for he was not worthy [to (?)] be preserved from [being subject (?)] to death."
Funk's Parallels[4]4CM Translator ID: T71
• Gen 1:26-28 KJV
Scholarly Quotes
Marvin Meyer writes: "On 'great power' compare Acts 8:9-10, which refers to Simon the Magician, who was said to be 'the power of God that is called great.' The Nag Hammadi tractate Concept of Our Great Power also discusses the 'great power,' the Secret Book of John alleges that Yaldabaoth took 'great power' from his mother, Wisdom, and magical texts likewise employ the phrase 'great power' to refer to a supernatural force.
In the tractate On the Creation of the World 148, Philo uses the same Greek word for 'power' (dynamis) that is used in the Coptic text of Gospel of Thomas saying 85 when he suggests that 'there was probably a surpassing power about that first human.'"
The Gospel of Thomas: The Hidden Sayings of Jesus, pp. 100-101
Robert M. Grant and David Noel Freedman write: "Doresse (pages 192-93) treats his equivalent of Sayings 83 and 84 together, but it would be better to treat 83, 84, and 85 as a unit. We begin with Saying 85. We know that Adam originated from a great power and great wealth because he was a copy of the 'image' and 'likeness' of god; he was both male and female (Genesis 1:26-27).
He was not worthy of Gnostic believers, however, for he sinned – by increasing and multiplying, by being divided into male and female when Eve was taken from his rib. (Eve mus trutrn to Adam, as in Saying 112 [114].) Apparently (Saying 84), men in general can see the 'likeness,' which they still retain. Not all can see the 'images,' for to see the image is to see Christ, which means to see the kingdom and, indeed, the inner man.
This true image neither dies nor is openly manifest. At this time the image cannot be seen openly or perfectly; it is fully seen only after death (1 Corinthians 13:12, quoted by Doresse). Saying 83 explains why the image cannot be fully seen now. The image contains light (see Saying 51), but this light is overshadowed by th eimage of the light of the Father (cf., 2 Corinthians 4:4, 6). Later, however, 'If he is manifest we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is' (1 John 3:2). If this is what these sayings mean, Thomas has expressed it rather obscurely, using image terminology perhaps like that of the Naassenes (Hippolytus, Ref., 5, 8, 10)."
The Secret Sayings of Jesus, p. 181-182
Funk and Hoover write: "In developing the significance of Jesus, early Christians often used the mythic figure of Adam as a point of comparison. One finds this especially in Paul (Rom 5:12-14; 1 Cor 15:21-22, 42-50): in contrast to Adam, whose sin led to death, stands Jesus, whose obedience leads to life. The fate of Adam, according to Thom 85:2, was death; the fate of those who find the meaning of Jesus' words will be not to taste death, according to Thomas 1. The phrase 'not taste death' is a favorite of Thomas (Thom 1; 18:3; 19:4; 111:2), although it was also known to the Gospel of John (8:51-52)."
The Five Gospels, p. 518
Stevan Davies writes: "Death occurs to Adam, not to the image of God (Gos. Thom. 85; Gen 3:19). The compiler of the Gospel of Thomas understands the first chapters of Genesis in their plain sense, that there are two creations of primordial humanity: the image of God brought forth in Gen 1:1-2:4, Adam created in Gen 2:5-3:24.
For the first, the image of God, there is neither law nor sin, nothing that would require prayer or fasting or giving of alms (Gos. Thom. 14, 104). The image of God has dominion over the perfect kingdom of God, living through the light of creation (Gen 1:3-4) in a condition of rest and immortality."
misericordia.edu
↑1 4CM Translator ID: T87


I thought it might be time for another "weekend in the life of Starcat" post. I'm hoping some of my new pals on the three unschooling e-mail lists I've joined might stop by to check out this blog. And since I get so much out of reading about their lives, I thought I'd share some of mine.
Friday night we went and had dinner with my parents. The kids got to watch some TV (we choose not to have a TV at home, though we do watch DVDs on our computer). Crow enjoyed watching basketball with Grampa. My mom and I recently both bought the same digital camera, so we messed around with figuring out how to upload her photos from a recent trip, and send them to her friends (I know, if I really had my act together, this post would have photos, too!).
Saturday we did the annual "Maine Maple Syrup Weekend." We went to a different farm this year, and enjoyed the pancakes, as well as not having to wait in line as long. The best part, though, was taking a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the woods as the snow fell! It was so pretty! The kids have been going to these events for years, and they know how the maple syrup is made. Yet they insist that we go – it's a spring tradition, now! Though celebrating spring as more snow falls, adding to the 2-plus feet already covering the ground, is an interesting concept.
I got a lot of writing done on Saturday. LM and BlackLion and I worked on the vegan cookbook, and then BlackLion and I worked on our "core beliefs" project too. Quester and Raven took the kids to see the Spiderwick Chronicles movie. They all liked it. We haven't read the books yet, but they are on my list. Oh, and Quester and Crow also went and got Crow his gear for his new sport – lacrosse!
On Sunday, ElvenTiger had two indoor soccer games. She played really well and had fun, though she was really tired afterwards. She's going to keep playing two games every Sunday this session. Crow was so excited about lacrosse that he brought his gear to the sports center and practiced on his own. At one point he had a circle of little kids gathered around him as he explained what he was doing – too cute!
Sunday night we made Mexican food and played "Fact or Crap," which is a fun game. ElvenTiger won, despite her initial concerns about needing help reading the cards. We also did some Mad Libs. I read the owl book to the kids. That's about it. A fun and busy weekend!
Now it's Monday, so I'm back to the day job. I'm so much looking forward to being able to have self-directed days all the time!


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Home › Hillsong › Another Hillsong media statement defending the indefensible behaviour of Brian Houston.
Another Hillsong media statement defending the indefensible behaviour of Brian Houston.
By churchwatcher on March 18, 2022
Leading up to Brian Houston's court hearing this month, will the explosive revelations emerging from Hillsong's global staff meeting this morning and the linked 'important message' from the 'Hillsong Global Board' seal the fate of Brian Houston and confirm the incompetence of the Hillsong Global Board to biblically handle ongoing sexual abuse allegations.
The 'important message' released by the Hillsong Global Board will be scrutinised in due course and compared to what was leaked from the private staff meeting today. Included is the list of current members who make up the 'Hillsong Global Board'.
An important message from the Hillsong Global Board
The global board of Hillsong Church would like to advise you of some important information concerning our Global Senior Pastor Brian Houston.
There is significant media coverage around these issues, and it is important that you hear from us, understand the truth, and have knowledge of the actions of the board during these times and the heart behind these actions.
As you are aware, Pastor Brian recently stepped aside from his ministry duties. When he stepped down in January this year, the reasons he gave were genuine. The situation with his father over many years had taken a personal toll that was greater than he had realised, and he needed to focus on his upcoming legal issues.
At the time of his announcement, the Hillsong Church board did not make a public statement because we were still working through a number of issues privately with Pastor Brian. These issues are now public, and therefore we would like to share with you the details.
We have sadly been dealing with two complaints made against Pastor Brian over the last 10 years. These matters – like all such matters under our code of conduct – were dealt with confidentially. In both of these cases we respected the confidentiality of both Pastor Brian and those involved, and we also must abide by local employment law. We are a church that believes in grace, love, restoration and integrity; these are our guiding values.
You can be assured that investigations into these complaints were treated extremely seriously. Each of these were conducted by either board members or a body appointed by the global board to hear and resolve complaints against credentialled pastors, and were assisted by highly respected external pastors and advisors.
The first issue was approximately a decade ago and involved inappropriate text messages from Pastor Brian to a member of staff, which subsequently resulted in the staff member resigning. At the time, Pastor Brian was under the influence of sleeping tablets, upon which he had developed a dependence. He immediately apologised to the person. We also worked closely with Pastor Brian to ensure he received professional help to eliminate his dependency on this medication, and this was achieved successfully.
To this former staff member, we again apologise and would welcome the opportunity to provide further assistance if this is needed.
The second issue involved a complaint received in 2019. Following an in-depth investigation, it was found that Pastor Brian became disoriented after a session at the Hillsong Conference, following the consumption of anti-anxiety medication beyond the prescribed dose, mixed with alcohol. This resulted in him knocking on the door of a hotel room that was not his, entering this room and spending time with the female occupant.
The investigation by the integrity unit appointed by the global board found that although all parts of the complaint were unable to be sustained, important elements of the complaint were sustained and the conduct was of serious concern. Ultimately, the board found that Brian had breached the Hillsong Pastor's Code of Conduct.
We also acknowledge that whatever the circumstances at this time, this person did not deserve to be placed in the situation she found herself in by Pastor Brian.
We felt that we did all we could to assist the person who made the complaint and treated this person with compassion and respect, and also abided by her requirement for confidentiality.
The board also met a request for a refund of money donated to the church by this person, and agreed to that in order to bring resolution in a spirit of love and care. Pastor Brian was extremely remorseful and insisted on repaying the church for this.
We apologise unreservedly to the people affected by Pastor Brian's actions and commit to being available for any further assistance we can provide.
Following that investigation, Pastor Brian agreed to take specific action including stepping down from leadership for a period. However unfortunately he failed to take all of the agreed steps which resulted in further action being taken by the board in late 2021. Pastor Brian remains on a period of leave.
The board has always endeavoured to act biblically and in accordance with good governance. However we understand that there has been a significant breach of trust. The board has been seeking external, wise counsel and is reviewing our governance structure and measures to ensure higher levels of accountability across Hillsong Church globally. Like many other churches of its size, Hillsong's governance model has historically placed significant control in the hands of the senior pastor, but we recognise that the way we do things needs to be reviewed. We know there are areas on which we can improve, and we will work honestly and transparently to that end.
We are here for you, and as we work through this together we are available to help and offer you support. Our pastoral care team can be contacted through our church office at your location. We also believe this is a time to focus our attention on the God who restores and rebuilds, and encourage you to continue to meet together regularly not just on Sundays but in connect groups.
Our Interim Global Senior Pastors, Phil and Lucinda Dooley, are doing an amazing job under difficult circumstances. We want to thank them and ask you to keep praying for everyone involved and for our church.
We love you and thank you for your ongoing support.
Hillsong Global Board
Source: Hillsong, https://hillsong.com/newsroom/blog/2022/03/an-important-message-from-the-hillsong-global-board/#.YjRwjFM_U0E
From the Hillsong website:
The Hillsong Global Board
George Aghajanian
George Aghajanian is General Manager and a director of Hillsong Church Australia and its international entities. Upon leaving university he entered the private sector where he gained extensive experience in management, customer service, sales and marketing. George possesses a wealth of senior management experience working with both Australian and international organisations, and brings a strong balance of faith and practical business application to his role. George is married to Margaret and they have four children.
Tolu Badders
Tolu Badders, MEcon serves as the Executive Pastor and Chief Operating Officer at Hillsong East Coast. Tolu holds a Master of Economics in Regional Science and is currently finishing a PhD in Regional Economics at Cornell University. She brings extensive experience and knowledge in the areas of leadership, management, strategy, and operations. She is passionate about building the church and championing people. She and her husband Brett live in New York City.
Gary Clarke
Gary is a Hillsong Global Pastor who assists in the growth and development of our international Hillsong Churches and their teams. Originally from Hillsong Sydney, before leading Hillsong UK for many years Gary brings a broad and unique perspective to our Global Board and Eldership.
Dr Stephen Crouch
Stephen is a Charted Accountant [Fellow] and Principal of an accounting and financial services firm. With over 30 years of industry experience – starting as a CA with KPMG and then moving to private practice in 1996 – Stephen has a wealth of commercial experience and is well placed to make contributions to strategy and structure, financial reporting and taxation, risk and assurance, supply chain and information systems. Stephen completed his Doctorate of Business Administration at Macquarie Graduate School of Management in 2010. In addition to this he chairs and is a director in both commercial and charitable organisations. Stephen is an active member of Hillsong Church Sydney and has served in a voluntary capacity for over thirty years.
Russell Dacre
Russell Dacre, MBE is the Managing Director & Owner of LIND / The Automotive Family. LIND is a premium retailer of BMW, Harley-Davidson, and Triumph motorcycles, and Porsche cars in the south-east of the UK. As well as his business interests, Russ is the Founding Chairman of the OPEN Youth Trust, an influential youth charity which he helped to establish in 2004. Russ and his wife Alethea (+ RB & Raffi) also enjoy being part of Hillsong Church in London.
Phillip Denton
Phillip Bradley Denton is an Executive Director of Hillscorp, a property development company, and is the director of several other property-related companies. In his past 25 years in the industry, he has gained a wealth of experience and skills in negotiation, sales and acquisitions, feasibilities and building relationships with joint-venture parties, clients and staff.
Phillip Dooley
Phil Dooley is the lead pastor of Hillsong Church South Africa alongside his wife, Lucinda. They have three children, Abbey, Bella & Zac, two dogs (Bruno & Oscar who feature occasionally in Instagram stories!). Phil grew up in Sydney, Australia and moved to Cape Town South Africa in 2008 to launch church.
Phil is passionate about building a church in South Africa that brings hope to all people and ultimately helps build a nation. He loves AFRICA, and believes the best days for this continent are ahead!
Phil is committed to lifting the lives of people through whatever means possible, believing that every person has a unique God-given purpose, therefore everyone is valuable and everyone can make a difference in the life of someone.
Phil is a dynamic communicator and passionate about leadership, constantly learning to become a better leader himself and encouraging others to develop their own personal leadership.
Benjamin Houston
Ben Houston and his wife Lucille are the Global Online Lead Pastors of Hillsong Church. Ben is passionate about God and the Church and has a real heart to see people find hope, life, and answers in Jesus Christ. He was previously the Extension Service Campus Pastor at Hillsong Australia, overseeing the Extensions Services located throughout New South Wales and Queensland. Ben is an avid lover of all sports and has made a great impact in local rugby teams in Sydney. Ben and Lucille live in California and have four beautiful children Savannah Winter, Lexi Milan, Bailey Love & Blaze Benjamin.
Darren Kitto is a key member of the Hillsong Global Team, and has worked closely with Pastor Brian Houston developing the Global Ministry. Darren has been on the Hillsong Team for 25 years, and in 2016 moved to California to launch the Hillsong Channel. Darren oversees many of Hillsong's Global Ministries including the Hillsong Leadership Network, Hillsong Family and Hillsong Channel. He has also led Hillsong Aid and Development programs for the past 15 years, which are focused on uplifting people from extreme poverty and helping make a way for some of the most marginalised people to see lasting change in their circumstances for the better. Darren is passionate about justice and seeing people become all they were designed to be. Darren is married to Karen and has four children Bethany, Annabelle, Samuel and William.
Nabi Saleh
Nabi Saleh is the former Executive Chairman of Gloria Jean's Coffees worldwide and Chairman of Praise International USA which operates It's A Grind coffee houses. His drive, passion and belief in people coupled with his strong business acumen and Godly wisdom have enabled him to continue to sit on several boards for large, non-profit organisations.
Source: The Hillsong Global Board, Hillsong, https://hillsong.com/leadership/board/, Accessed March 18, 2022.
Email all comments and questions to c3churchwatch@hotmail.com
"Have I then become your enemy by telling you the truth?" Galatians 4:16
‹ Breaking: Did leaked Hillsong meeting with global staff reveal why Brian Houston actually stepped down?
Leaked audio/transcript: George Aghajanian asserting Hillsong Global Board authority over Hillsong elders? ›
Categories: Hillsong


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Commissioners OK more changes to human services building in city
By Peter E. Bortner / Published: May 16, 2019
POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill County commissioners approved on Wednesday four more changes to the renovations being done on the Human Services Building in the city.
Under the terms of the change order, Perrotto Builders Ltd. will receive an additional $13,492.19 for the work. Those approved changes, three of which are to the magisterial district court area, and the costs, include the following, according to county Engineer Lisa Mahall.
• Upgrading the vestibule with VCT and gypsum board on the walls, $5,782.24.
• Installing a bullet-resistant door in the magisterial district court area, $4,419.39.
• Adding a transaction window that is consistent with the Americans With Disabilities Act in the magisterial district court area, $2,762.38.
• Adding a data shelf in the magisterial district court area, $528.18.
"We still are" under budget for the project, County Administrator Gary R. Bender said.
During the meeting, Controller Christy Joy announced that he has restructured his office.
Joy said he has appointed Mario Basile, Wayne Township, as the new first deputy controller, replacing Ronald Zimmerman, who is now the county grant manager, and Sharyn Yackenchick, Wayne Township, as pension administrator.
As part of the restructuring, Joy said he has eliminated the positions of county auditor and auditor/accountant.
"I wanted ... to rebalance my office," Joy said.
He said Basile has extensive experience in government accounting and also worked in the private sector with Bethlehem Steel Corp. He said Basile reads all contracts and analyzes all check requests.
The county Salary Board approved salaries of $23.1577 per hour for Yackenchick and $42,350.71 per year for Basile, who had been the second deputy controller.
Joy said he will try to fill the other position by Friday. The person filling that position will focus on straightforward audits, he said.
Because Joy is a row officer, the changes did not require the approval of the commissioners.
The commissioners also voted for a supplemental budget appropriation of $33,063 to repair one of the county's traffic signals in West Brunswick Township.
Director of Finance Paul E. Buber said the county owns the signal, which is located at routes 61 and 895 in Molino.
They also approved a supplemental budget appropriation of $50,000 to advance economic development.
Buber said the money is the county's share of casino revenue. Of the amount, $25,000 will go to the Schuylkill Economic Development Corp. and the other $25,000 will be used for capital-related items, according to Buber.
Also, the commissioners approved a cooperation agreement with the county land bank for a demolition project at 219 N. Railroad Ave., Frackville.
"It is a half-double," Michelle O'Connell of the grant writer's office said of the property that is to be demolished. The other half is still occupied, she said.
The commissioners also approved advertising for the Port Carbon Community Development Block Grant project. Bids are due on May 22 at Joy's office and will be opened publicly at 9 a.m. May 23.
"That is the handicapped ramps ... on Pine Street," with 12 of the curb-cut ramps to be reconstructed," O'Connell said.
Also concerning CDBG projects, the commissioners voted to advertise for public hearings for Butler Township, Mahanoy City, Minersville, Pine Grove Township, Schuylkill Haven, Shenandoah, Tamaqua, Wayne Township, West Penn Township and the county.
In other business, the commissioners:
• Approved a purchase of service agreement, on behalf of Children & Youth, with PCYA Harrisburg, for technical support at a per unit rate of $799.11.
• Removed Christine Wiekrykas, Mahanoy City, from the Mental Health/Developmental Services Advisory Board.
• Approved and authorized the execution of a one-year insurance placement and risk management services agreement, effective June 1, with McGriff Insurance Services Inc. for a fee of $28,581.
• Approved a budget adjustment for 2019 for the Office of Senior Services for $600. Buber said the adjustment moves money between line items with no additional spending.
Contact the writer: pbortner@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6014.


There are days and weeks as a programmer when you are just smoking hot. Times when the code just flows off the tips of your fingers. Your source code repository's history is incredible, full of so many commits that week. This… is not that week.
This is one of those weeks where I'm trying to remember if I even fired up Xcode the entire week. It was a rather long week at my day job. Easter is right around the corner and that means lots of things to get ready. Really didn't have time to do much work on Mealtime other than play a few games over lunch to test things out. Looking at our history in Slack, it seems I did accomplish one small thing, but that is a rather small accomplishment for a 7 day week.
We did manage to get a very basic currency system going. When I say basic, I do mean basic. You gain currency by winning single player games. Yep, that's it. That is the extent of my accomplishments this week. With Easter this weekend, I don't expect to get much done over the weekend, but hopefully once that is past I can get back to spending some time programming again.
Quick update on Parse.com as well. They have a bug in their debug symbols uploader (go figure, a bug in their bug handler). Seems their tools don't know how to handle an application with a space in the name. Because, you know, I've never seen an iOS app with a space in the name. Have you? Meh, whatever. They said they are working on a fix so hopefully that will be out soon so I can start getting useful debug information back.
I spent some time trying to cheat the system with Parse. I was hoping to be able to read data before saving it to make sure everything was in sync. Since that was going to cost me 2 API calls total, I figured I would look at the Cloud Code functionality. One call to the cloud call API and it loads the record, verifies all the changes are sane, and then saves it. One API call. Made sense to me.
Didn't make sense to Parse. They counted the API call to the cloud code function. Plus they counted the internal read record call. Plus they counted the internal write record call. So much for that theory. I still like Parse and what they have to offer. Sadly that meant my save operation became a cost of 3 API calls instead of one, or possibly two. I sort of get charging for an API call if I make a call inside the cloud code since that still hits the database. At the same time, if you are going to charge me for that then don't charge me for calling the cloud code function. Or at least only charge me if I don't make any internal API calls.
It works extremely well despite the bugs and shortcomings (well, I consider them shortcomings). While the admin dashboard is not a responsive design, it still works fairly well on an iPad. Not so much a phone, but works okay on the iPad. This means I can remotely monitor statistics and data.


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Tens of thousands of fake Twitter accounts passed off and sold as 'followers'
Posted by Virus Bulletin on Sep 20, 2013
After initial takedown, more efforts put into making new fake accounts look genuine.
Virus Bulletin's research into a scam selling fake Twitter accounts being passed off as 'followers' has helped in the takedown of more than 45,000 such accounts - but has also showed that the scammers are upping their game.
The success of a social media account can be measured by the number of followers it attracts. It seems obvious that this doesn't work the other way: an account won't become more successful if it simply buys a bunch of followers. Yet the shady corners of the Internet are rife with sites that let you 'boost your reputation' by buying followers.
Although potential buyers are made to believe that the followers are genuine Twitter users, they are not. They are fake accounts, managed by the scammers who make a serious effort to make them appear real.
I stumbled upon one such campaign last month. It started with a question posed on Twitter about many users posting exactly the same Tweet about an apparent malware infection on their PC.
It didn't take long to figure out that these accounts had done little more than post random remarks and half-witty quotes - and that the same Tweets has been sent by many different accounts. There were many other similarities between the accounts, such as the lack of interaction or followers. The Tweets could usually be traced back to other prominent Twitter accounts.
The accounts 'followed' few other Twitter accounts, if any, but those that they did follow were shared by many of them. These were likely users that had fallen for the buy-followers scam. Indeed, the number of followers these accounts boasted seemed unreasonably high, given the content of the Tweets and the fame (or lack thereof) of the user.
There were a number of other characteristics that made the fake accounts relatively easy to spot. Using Twitter's public API, I wrote a script that searched for such accounts and it didn't take long before I had found more than 17,000 of them. I reported them to Twitter, which took prompt action and suspended them.
I suspected these were far from all of the accounts the scammers used: some of them were registered as early as September last year and many accounts had been dormant for long periods of time. Twitter's API only helped me find recently active accounts.
Indeed, some small modifications to my script allowed it to pick up many accounts that I hadn't seen before. I also noticed that new accounts were still being registered.
Possibly as a response to the mass-takedown, the scammers had upped their game and increased their efforts to make the accounts look genuine. Now they weren't just following those that had paid for them - they were also following each other, as well as several popular Twitter users. The Tweets posted by some of the newer accounts even seemed to be somewhat related to each other and included links and hashtags.
In fact, looking at these accounts on their own, there is very little that gives rise to suspicion. Only after noticing a number similarities with many other accounts can one conclude that these are indeed part of the scam.
The script helped me find at least 28,000 other fake accounts that were part of the same scam, around 30% of which had already been suspended by Twitter. The rest have since been reported to Twitter, which once again acted quickly.
Of course, from a security point of view, fake followers do little harm to the millions of genuine Twitter users. However, the longer they stay active, the less they will be noticed as fake. And it won't take much for their owners to turn them into a Twitter botnet sending malicious links - as other Twitter spammers are currently doing.
There are probably millions of fake Twitter accounts, many of which are engaging in all kinds of badness. Twitter tends to respond quickly to reports of any form of misuse, and users' ability to report accounts for spam works well. But when such an effort is being made to make the accounts look genuine, the company's task to keep its network clean will not be an easy one.
Many thanks to Bart Blaze for his help and suggestions.
Posted on 20 September 2013 by Martijn Grooten
scam twitter


This year marks the Bat Conservation Trust's 25th anniversary. We would love to hear from you! If you have been a member/supporter/donor of BCT or know someone who is, please email us to comms@bats.org.uk. Tell us why bats are important to you and why you support the work we do to protect them.