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SHOFTIM 2019
SHOFTIM …
Shoftim | שופטים | "Judges " –Most High is called the Lord our Righteousness (YHVH Tzidkenu), the Righteous G-d (Elohim Tzadik), and Righteous Judge (Shofat Tzadik)
– All the laws of the Torah whose "ways are ways of pleasantness and all its paths are peace;The fruit of righteousness ( Tzedakah ) will be Peace
– Messiah; In Essence he is the Voice of Most High; Listen and Obey to Him
Shofetim or Shofti — Hebrew for "judges," the first word in the Parashah is the forty eighth weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the Book of Deuteronomy. These studies provides a constitution — a basic societal structure – for the Israelite. And sets out rules for Judges, kings, Levites, prophets, cities of refuge, witnesses, war, and unsolved murder victims.
You shall appoint judges and officers in all your gates, which HaShem your G-d gives you, according to your tribes, and they shall judge the people with just judgement. -Deuteronomy 16:18
Shoftim. Judges. Mishpat-tzedek. Righteous Judgment:
HaShem is the Righteous Judge. Beloved, G-d ordained that men would be judges. But righteous judgement requires adhering to a standard that is not man-made.
Ra'aya Meheimna (the Faithful Shepherd)"Judges and officers shall you make you in all your gates, which Hashem your Elohim, gives you, throughout your tribes" (Devarim 16:18). In this precept, He commanded regarding judges and officers. Moreover, "but (Heb. ki, Caf Yud) Elohim is the Judge" – Tehilim 75:8
Zohar writings: Furthermore, there are two witnesses regarding the person: a seeing eye and a hearing ear. The court counts and judges his iniquities. Furthermore, even the sun and moon testify about the person, as we explained: "Blow a Shofar at the new moon, at the full moon (lit. 'on the covering') on our feast day" (Tehilim 81:4). What is the meaning of "covering"? That is the day when the moon, WHICH IS MALCHUT, is covered. Why is it covered? That is because when Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) arrives, Samael will approach to demand punishment against her children, MEANING YISRAEL, WHO ARE THE CHILDREN OF MALCHUT, before the Holy One, blessed be He. And He will tell him to bring forth the witnesses, so he will bring with him the sun. As he is about to bring the moon, she is covered. At which place is she covered? HE RESPONDS: She goes up to that place regarding which it is said: 'Do not investigate into what is hidden from you', in order to reconcile the Holy One, blessed be He, with her children.
That is what the scripture says, "Blow a Shofar at the new moon, at the covering on our feast day" (Ibid.), meaning the area to which the Shechinah ascended. Regarding this, it is said, 'Do not investigate into what is hidden from you'. The iniquities that are in concealment need to be judged there between himself and his Creator. About the iniquities he committed in public, it is written: "He that covers up his sins shall not prosper" (Mishlei 28:13). The Shechinah from the side of Keter is the hidden world and the sages of the Mishnah have explained that a person needs to connect HIS INIQUITIES to that place, WHICH IS KETER. At that time, a period of Mercy arrives and Judgement passes away. Therefore, he recommends to connect ONE'S INIQUITIES TO KETER, to free him from the testimony OF MALCHUT. However, the wicked is not acquitted.
A Prophet – Signs and Wonders:
And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Stephen, one of the seven chosen one to serve the Jerusalem congregation.
Then the high priest said, 'Are these things so?' And he [Stephen] said, '…This is that Moses who said to the children of Israel, "HaShem your G-d will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear."' -Acts 6:8-7:3;7:37
Stephen was quoting from: HaShem your G-d will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of HaShem your G-d in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, 'Let me not hear again the voice of HaShem my G-d, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die. And HaShem said to me: 'What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.
Beloved, this verses defines ( Deuteronomy 18:15-22 ) is a test of the prophet.
And if you say in your heart, 'How shall we know the word whichHaShem has not spoken?' – when a prophet speaks in the name of HaShem, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which HaShem has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
-Deuteronomy 18:15-22
Stephen was using this passage as a statement for proving that Yeshua was the "Prophet like Moses" that was promised.
Yeshua was the mouthpiece of the Most High. Deuteronomy 18:15 was used by Peter in Acts 3:22 to make precisely the same point. In fact, early on in Yeshua's earthly ministry we see that this is precisely the way His talmidim[disciples] always saw Him.
Philip found Natan'el and said to him, "We have found Him of whom Moses in the Torah, and also the prophets, wrote – Yeshua of Natzeret, the son of Yosef." -John 1:45
To be a prophet, means that someone speaks G-d's words: Messiah is the ultimate Prophet. Here is what Yeshua said of Himself,
Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. -John 14:10
For if you believed Moses, you would believe Me; for he wrote about Me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe My words? -John 5:46-47
Yeshua is the Prophet like Moses. His words and His life were absolutely consistent with the words spoken though Moses.
If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, 'Let us go after other gods' – which you have not known – 'and let us serve them,' you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for HaShem your G-d is testing you to know whether you love HaShem your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after HaShem your G-d and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from HaShem your G-d, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which HaShem your G-d commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst. –Deuteronomy 13: 1-5
Let's take Stephen through this test first. This was supposed to be the job of those shoftim [judges] on that fateful day in Acts. Was Stephen a prophet – could he be trusted?
"And Stephen, full of faith and power, did great wonders and signs among the people." -Acts 6:8
"If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder…" -Deuteronomy 13:1
"This man does not cease to speak blasphemous words against this holy place and the Torah; for we have heard him say that this Yeshua of Natzeret will destroy this place and change the customs which Moses delivered to us." -Acts 6:13-14
'Let us go after other gods' -which you have not known – 'and let us serve them,'…You shall walk after HaShem your G-d and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him.
-Deuteronomy 13:2- 4
Accusations against Stephen: "They also set up false witnesses who said…" -Acts 6:13
Here is the Closing remarks: You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you. Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who foretold the coming of the Just One, of whom you now have become the betrayers and murderers, who have received the Torah by the direction of angels and have not kept it." When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. -Acts 7:51-54
Yeshua is the Prophet and he is the Messiah- In Essence he is the Voice of HaShem. Listen to Him.
Do not think that I came to destroy the Torah or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the Torah till all is fulfilled. Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. -Matthew 5:17-18
Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their G-d shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.
-Daniel 11:32
Repent – The condition for experiencing the final redemption and the global kingdom of Heaven on earth was national repentance.
Prophecies are usually conditional to Israel's behavior. From the book of New Testament point of view, their redeemer had come, but now it depended on them to repent and accept it or to experience judgement. Rabbi Yohanan taught: "Great is repentance, for it brings about redemption, as it is said (Is 59:20): For a redeemer will come to Tzion, and unto those in Yaqov that repent from transgression. i.e. Why will a redeemer come to Tzion? Because of those who repent from transgression" (Yoma 86b). The Tanna Eliezer said, "If Israel repent, they will be redeemed, if not, they won't be redeemed… the Holy One will set upon them a king whose decrees shall be as cruel as Haman's, whereby Israel shall engage in repentance" (Sanhedrin 97b). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi pointed out a contradiction, for it is written [concerning the coming of Messiah]: "In its time" but it's also written "I will hasten it" (Is 60:22). The meaning is that if they [the generation] are worthy, I will hasten it, and if not [they will have to wait for him to come] at its due time (Sanhedrin 98a). So, what is repentance? Tshuvah means turning both to God and from sin. It doesn't matter how many atonement come to cover us, there's no forgiveness if we don't do penitence (Lam 5:21). There's also a mystical meaning, for the sin has caused God's Name to be divided in this lower world; the last Hei ה in God's name is attached to the earth and the concept of "Kingdom" (the sefirah of Malkhut). Tshuvah תשובה represents 'Returning the Hei' (Tashuv-hei תשוב ה) to God's name, and therefore causing the awareness of God's complete name, so it is written (Zech 14:9), On that day HaShem – the four letters Name – will be one and his name will be one; all will be connected, allowing the perfect flow of Divine energy into our reality, and therefore, causing us to experience the kingdom of Heaven (cf. Zohar III:122b).
Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9
Haftarah Portion
Isaiah 51:12-52:12
Ha-Berit ha-Hadashah
Matthew 26:47-27:10
Parshat Shoftim (which indeed means "Judges"), establishes the key features of the ancient Jewish judicial system, and begins with a general call for the appointment of judges and police in all the settlements of the land that the Children of Israel are soon to enter. Then, in the very next verse, the Torah turns to speak directly to the potential judge – first with some general instructions to judge fairly, impartially – and then with this specific warning:
You shall not take bribes, for bribes blind the eyes of the wise, and corrupt the words of the righteous. -Deuteronomy 16:18
The defect of bribery and bias is not one of those mysterious commandments whose reason the Torah did not reveal. The reason for this defect is explicit in the Torah: "For bribery blinds the eyes of the wise and corrupts the words of the righteous." And in the Talmud (Ketubot 105) it says: "What is the reason for the prohibition of bribery? When a judge receives a bribe from someone, his mind becomes close to him, because he becomes like a part of him, and a person never sees his own self as guilty. It is called bribery(shochad – שוחד) because he becomes one (shehu chad – שהוא חד) with the briber." Which is to say, the defect of bribery is founded on a psychological force embedded in the soul of a human being.
For the Alter then quotes several midrashim which link Isaac's blindness to his willingness to be lured by his son Esau's food offerings, to favour him even though he was wicked.
Example: "Those who justify the wicked because of a bribe, and take away the righteousness of the righteous" (Isaiah 5:23) – This is Isaac, whose eyes dimmed because he justified the wicked. (Yalkut Shimoni, Toldot 113)
The King, the Priest, and the Prophet
"Appoint judges [shoftim] and officials for each of your tribes in every town the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall judge [shafat] the people fairly [righteous judgment]." -Deuteronomy 16:18
The prophet Isaiah declared, "But the Lord Almighty will be exalted by His justice [mishpat], and the holy G-d will show Himself holy by his righteousness[tzedakah]." -Isaiah 5:16
"When the righteous [tzadikim] thrive, the people rejoice; when the wicked rule, the people groan." -Proverbs 29:2
As the Torah insists, "Justice, justice shall you pursue. Peace (shalom) : The fruit of righteousness [tzedakah] will be peace; the effect of righteousness [tzedakah] will be quietness and confidence forever." -Isaiah 32:17
This important section, describing the procedure of appeals and outlining the court's pivotal part in interpretation of the Torah, is followed by the only reference in the Pentateuch to the appointment of a monarch as the people's leader: "When you enter the land that God your Lord gives to you and you inherit it and dwell in it, and you shall say 'We want to place a king upon us, like all of the nations that are around us.' Then you shall surely appoint a king over yourselves, the person that G-d will choose." -Devarim 17:14-20.
Some of the king's responsibilities and powers are spelled out, and he is enjoined to compose a special copy of the Torah to remain with him always, 'in order that he may read it all the days of his life, and learn to fear G-d his Lord, in order to observe and to fulfil all of the words of this Torah and these rules.
The commandment for the king to write a copy of the Torah demonstrates the work of Messiah. He Himself is the Word made flesh. He is the copy of the Torah in human form. Furthermore, He writes a copy of the Torah as He writes the Torah upon our hearts. The Torah of King Messiah is written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone, but on tablets of human hearts
You make it clear that you are a letter from the Messiah placed in our care, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living G-d, not on stone tablets but on human hearts. –II Corinthians 3:3
"You shall place Judges and law enforcers at all of your gates that Havayah, your God gives you to your tribes and they shall judge the people with a just judgment." , we find the verse, "Justice, you shall pursue justice, in order that you live and inherit the land that Havayah, your God gives to you." Both of these verses allude to the inherent connection between God's gift of the land and the necessity of enforcing righteous justice. Rectifying the method of government and the court system is one of the most vital public commandments, and this is also explicit in the verse, "Appoint, you shall appoint upon you a king whom Havayah, your God has chosen for you, from amongst your brethren you shall appoint a king upon you; you will not be able to appoint upon you a foreigner who is not of your brethren." So, first we have judges and then we have a king and later we also find that God will also appoint a prophet, who is also "of your brethren." we see that all the official functionaries in the kindgom are described: priests, levites and judges, a prophet, a police force and a king. – six functions
The first three, the priest, the levite and the judge, are one unit who represent the sefirot of loving-kindness, might and beauty, respectively. The last four, the prophet, the police officer, the witnesses and finally, the king, represent the sefirot of eternity, acknowledgement, foundation and kingdom, respectively.
Subsequently, the Torah describes the unique status and special duties associated with the Levites and the Cohanim,who together constitute the priesthood. On the one hand, they are excluded from possessing tribal territory. On the other hand, the Cohanim are to enjoy a portion of all slaughtered animals as well as a share of the produce and the sheerings of the sheep. "For God your Lord has chosen him from among all of your tribes to stand and serve in God's name forever" -Devarim 18:1-5.
The people of Israel are to follow the guidance of the 'Navi' or Prophet, who will communicate G-d's will to them, after the manner of Moshe himself.
FALSE Prophet:
The false prophet, however, who speaks words that were not received from G-d, or who speaks in the name of idolatry, is to be put to death.
However, the prophecy option contains a threat: "But the prophet, that shall speak a word presumptuously in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, that same prophet shall die." (Deut. 18:20).
The prophet Jeremiah is forced to contend with just such a prophet.
Jeremiah prophesizes that the Children of Israel will follow Jeconiah, king of Judah, into exile from the Land of Israel to Babylon. Israel must accept Babylon's rule because this is God's will, argues Jeremiah. In order to physically illustrate his prophecy, he places on his neck a wooden bar that represents the Babylonian yoke that will be placed on Israel's neck.
In the Book of Jeremiah, a prophet named Hananiah, son of Azzur, rises up to challenge Jeremiah's prophecy by prophesizing the precise opposite: "Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, saying: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon. Within two full years will I bring back into this place all the vessels of the Lord's house, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon took away from this place, and carried them to Babylon" -(Jeremiah 28:2-3)
Jeremiah cautiously expresses serious reservations regarding Hananiah's optimistic prophecy. Prophets of doom, declares Jeremiah, are always true prophets; if their prophecies are not fulfilled, that is a sign that God has forgiven the nation and altered his severe decree. However, he says, "The prophet that prophesieth of peace, when the word of the prophet shall come to pass, then shall the prophet be known, that the Lord hath truly sent him" (Jeremiah 28:9)
In response to this cautious challenge from Jeremiah, Hananiah performs a dramatic symbolic act: "Then Hananiah the prophet took the bar from off the prophet Jeremiah's neck, and broke it. And Hananiah spoke in the presence of all the people, saying: 'Thus saith the Lord: Even so will I break the yoke of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon from off the neck of all the nations within two full years.' And the prophet Jeremiah went his way" (Jeremiah 28:10-11)
Now Jeremiah expresses strong opposition to Hananiah's words: "Then said the prophet Jeremiah unto Hananiah the prophet: 'Hear now, Hananiah; the Lord hath not sent thee; but thou makest this people to trust in a lie.' Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold, I will send thee away from off the face of the earth; this year thou shalt die, because thou hast spoken perversion against the Lord" (Jeremiah 28:15-16)
Jeremiah's prophecy regarding Hananiah is fulfilled: "So Hananiah the prophet died the same year in the seventh month" (Jeremiah 28:17)
This is the false prophet's fate, as written : The Talmud provides examples of each of these two categories of false prophets. Although one would have expected Hananiah, son of Azzur, to be included under the first category, the Talmud surprisingly places him under the second. This subtle shift in the meaning of the confrontation between Jeremiah and Hananiah opens the door to a far-reaching interpretation of that confrontation: "Hananiah, son of Azzur, is an example of 'those who prophesy what was not said to them.' Jeremiah stands in the upper marketplace, declaring, 'Thus saith the Lord of hosts: behold, I will break the bow of Elam, the chief of their might' (Jer. 49:35). Using a fortiori (kal vachomer) reasoning, Hananiah concludes that, if God will destroy the bow (or might) of Elam , which only came to Babylon's assistance, then a fortiori, God will also destroy the might of the demons themselves [the Babylonians]. Hananiah goes to the lower marketplace and proclaims, 'Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts … saying: I have broken the yoke of the king of Babylon'" (Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Sanhedrin, p. 89a).
According to the above talmudic passage, Hananiah's prophecy was not false; it simply was not his. Thus, he is presented there not as Jeremiah's rival or even as a plagiarist, but rather as a commentator on Jeremiah's words. It could even be argued that Hananiah's mistake was that he drew the wrong conclusion from Jeremiah's prophecy.
This is Rabbi Pappah's approach, as can be seen in the question he poses to his teacher, Abbayei: "Rabbi Pappah said to Abbayei: 'But that prophecy [Hananiah's prophecy] was also not conveyed to his colleague [Jeremiah]!'" According to a literal reading of the text in the Book of Jeremiah, Hananiah's prophecy is not conveyed to Jeremiah and the former simply draws the wrong conclusion from the latter's prophecy. Thus, Hananiah belongs to the category of individuals "who prophesy what they never heard" ( i.e, the first category of false prophet).
Abayei answered Rabbi Pappah, "Since Hananiah uses a fortiori reasoning, one can say that the prophecy was transmitted only to Jeremiah and that Hananiah thus belongs to the category of 'those who prophesy what was not said to them' [i.e, the second category of false prophet]."
Woe, when men speak well of you, for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets. -Luke 6:26
When they had gone through the island to Paphos, they found a certain sorcerer, a false prophet, a Jew, whose name was Bar-Yeshua, -Acts 13:6
..And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. – Matthew 24 :11
Then the beast was captured, and with him the false prophet who worked signs in his presence, by which he deceived those who received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped his image. These two were cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone. -Revelation 19:12-21
The figure of "Armilus" as the personification of evil in the end of days is associated with the one who gathers the armies against Israel.
And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs coming out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth of the false prophet.
For they are spirits of demons, performing signs, which go out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of that great day of G-d Almighty. – Revelation 16: 13- 14
T'fillat R. Shim'on ben Yohai, BhM 4:124-126 – And Armilus will hear that a king arose for Israel, and he will gather the armies of the nations of the world, and they will come to King Messiah and to Israel. And the Holy One, blessed is He, will fight for Israel, and will say to the Messiah: "Sit at my right hand." And the Messiah will say to Israel: "Gather together and stand and see the salvation of the Lord." And instantly, the Holy One, blessed be He, will go forth and fight against them.
The idea of the "mouth" of the dragon, beast and false prophet, has to do with Malkut, the Sefirah associated with the kingdom and the mouth (i.e., "Malkut Pei" – "Kingdom of the Mouth").
The demons (i.e., "frogs") that come forth from "the mouth," by their nature "reside" partly in the spiritual world and also partly in the physical world. Thus they are able to make direct impact upon the "kings of the earth."
False prophets prophesy about "wine and beer" (Micah 2:11), they fill the people with false hopes, they speak visions from their own minds (Jeremiah 23:16), they commit adultery and live a lie, they strengthen the hands of evildoers, and their message does not turn the people from their wickedness (Jeremiah 23:14).
The true prophet, the one called and sent by G-d is filled with divine power, with justice and might to speak by the Spirit of the LORD and declare to people their transgression and rebuke them for their sins (Micah 3:8).
UNIVERSAL TORAH: SHOFTIM -By Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum
The annual cycle of Torah readings is so arranged that parshas SHOFTIM, "Judges", is always read on the first Shabbos of the month of Elul, season of compassion and repentance, when all hearts yearn to come back to the Source. The opening words of the parshah — "Appoint judges and police for yourselves in all your gates" — contain a personal message for all of us. The key step in coming back to G-d is when we "appoint judges and police" for OURSELVES — in the gates of our own minds and souls. We must examine our traits, activities and behavior and consider carefully whether they accord with G-d's Torah and how they could be improved. Then we must find ways to "police" ourselves so as to enforce our good resolutions and carry them out, taking the next steps forward to greater holiness in all the different areas of our lives.
Together with its personal spiritual advice for each one of us, parshas SHOFTIM contains the blueprint for a Torah state in Israel ordered under its judges, its supreme court, its king, priests and prophets. Parshas SHOFTIM is at the center of the "trilogy" of parshiyos in which Moses sets forth the intricate details of the mitzvos making up the "Mishneh Torah", his repetition of Torah law prior to his departure from the world. Following the opening parshiyos of Deuteronomy, which brought us the basics of faith, love and fear of G-d, last week's parshah, RE-EH, set forth the blueprint for a blessed country cleansed of idolatry, where people's minds are constantly focussed on the service of G-d in the Temple. The blueprint in RE-EH is for a nation cultivating the land, giving tithes to the priests and Levites, caring for widows, orphans and proselytes, giving loans and charity to those in need… The annual cycle revolves around the three pilgrim festivals when everyone comes up to Jerusalem to "appear before G-d", experiencing the awe of the Temple, partaking of sacrifices and the second tithe in holiness and purity, and learning to revere G-d.
Next week's parshah, KI TETZE, the third in this "trilogy", focuses more upon the commandments that relate to the particulars of our daily lives in the world — family, property, how we build our houses (with a parapet), our clothes (tzitzis), personal morality, who we admit into our communities and many others. Thereafter, parshas KI TAVO will complete the "repetition of the law", concluding with the blessings and curses over which Moses struck the Covenant with the Children of Israel in the Plains of Moab prior to their entry into the Land.
Our present parshah of SHOFTIM, which is at the very center of this "trilogy" of parshahs containing Moses' "repetition of the law", sets forth the necessary order of leadership and government through which the Torah nation can thrive in the Land of Israel. The parshah gives us the commandments relating to those who are the key to living successfully in the Holy Land: the judges and police, the Supreme Court (Sanhedrin), the king, the priests and the true prophets. It is these leaders and officers who are to lead and guide the nation in following the path of the Torah. SHOFTIM also sets forth the laws of murder and manslaughter, whose purpose is to ensure personal security within the country, and the laws of warfare, whose purpose is to bring security from external enemies.
JUDGES AND POLICE
"Justice! You must pursue Justice — in order that you may live and inherit the Land." (Deut. 16:20). According to the Midrash, "This teaches that the appointment of judges is to give life to Israel and to let them dwell on their land and not to cause them to fall by the sword" (Sifri Shoftim 144). A Torah judiciary with police to enforce Torah law is the very key to life and security in the land.
According to the blueprint, the true judges of Israel are not to be an aloof elite with responsibility to no-one. The legal system is not to be a tangled jungle rife with corruption and special protection for the rich and powerful.
The entire judicial system of the Torah nation is predicated upon universal study and knowledge of the Torah, making regular working citizens capable of serving as members of a Beis Din — a "house of law" ("court") of three judges (for non-capital) or twenty-three (for capital) cases. A true Torah Israel is one so blessed that those earning their living through the labor of their hands are able to complete their work in less time, so as to be able to study the Torah assiduously as well, as in the case of many of the outstanding sages of the Talmud. According to the blueprint, the minimum town of one hundred and twenty male residents must contain a Beis Din of 23 together with an additional three rows of twenty-three students listening to and learning from their elders (Sanhedrin 17b). In this way, justice is at hand and quickly available every day, without the aggrieved parties having to submit themselves to a protracted, expensive, grueling struggle with slick lawyers and a heaving, endlessly complex legal system.
"If there are police, there are judges; if there are no police, there are no judges" (Sifri). If there are no police to enforce the law, the judges may judge all they like, but to no effect. In addition to study, the effective rule of Torah law is also predicated upon police who are subject to the authority of the Torah judges. Some may smile at the above suggestion that the first resort for justice should be the local Beis Din of Torah scholars, wondering how many of today's yeshivah alumni would be capable of acting as judges, let alone having police under them. It should be remembered that one of the reasons why the study of Talmudic law often appears detached from life in the rough and tumble of the actual world is because during most of the past two thousand years, rabbinical courts everywhere have been stripped of all meaningful sanctions with which to impose and enforce Torah law. The result is that the Torah has authority only over those who give it authority in their lives. Indeed, contemporary "political correctness" is appalled at the idea of rabbis "interfering" in areas that are considered in the realm of personal conscience, such as whether a person worships before a statue or image or violates the Shabbat, or what he or she does with another consenting adult. Yet under Torah law all of these may involve capital punishment, as we find in the case of idolatry in our parshah (Deut. 17:5). Many other sins that the wider society does not consider "criminal" can render a person liable to 39 lashes, such as wearing a forbidden mixture of wool and linen or eating meat cooked with milk.
The wider society obviously has some way to go in order to accept the law of the Torah. Those who yearn for the rule of Torah law and the blessing that it will bring can learn from our present parshah of SHOFTIM that constant study of study of the law is the foundation of the entire system.
While every layman is expected to be versed in the law, the commandment to "pursue Justice! Justice!" is interpreted to mean you should go to a "beautiful" Beis Din and seek out the best judges: the true sages and guardians of the Torah.
Our parshah instructs us that "when a matter of law is to wondrous for you. you shall rise up and go up to the place which HaShem your G-d will choose." (Deut. 17:8). If the local scholars and maveens do not know the correct answer, we are instructed to search out the wisest and most profoundly learned. It is evident from our parshah that the spiritual source of the wisdom of the Torah lies on Mount Moriah, "the Mountain of Teaching" — the Temple Mount. In Temple times, there was a hierarchy of three courts that were in constant session on the Temple Mount: one at the very entrance and one inside, while the Supreme Court, the Sanhedrin, sat immediately adjacent to the inner Temple courtyard (Azara), in the Lishkas HaGozis, ("Hewn Chamber").
The teachings of the sages of the Sanhedrin in Temple times constitute the oral Torah tradition handed down from teacher to student going back to Moses and Joshua. This is incorporated in the Mishneh and Talmud, which are the core of the study of Torah law today. Obedience to the oral law as handed down by the true sages is itself one of the commandments of the Torah in our parshah: "According to the Torah that they will teach you and the law that they will tell you shall you do: you shall not depart from the word that they tell you right or left." (Deut. 17:11). Even an outstanding sage who deviates from the majority opinion of the sages of the Sanhedrin is liable to the death penalty as a "rebellious elder" (ibid. v. 12-13). It is noteworthy that the punishment of the rebellious elder is one of those cases (like that of false witnesses) that is to be loudly publicized among the people. Here is another respect in which the blueprint for a Torah state differs widely from the present-day reality, in which media controlled by narrow interests can put anyone they like on public "trial", while the quest for true justice is like trying to grasp a phantom. In the Torah state, it is from the Temple that the announcement goes forth about who is truly evil, "and all the people will hear and be afraid, and will not act in insolent defiance any more" (ibid. v. 13).
For some people the very word king is associated with images of contemporary "royalty" that render it somewhat misleading as a translation of the Hebrew word MELECH. The Hebrew word refers to the ruler who has power over a sovereign political entity. Our parshah teaches that such a ruler is part of the Torah blueprint for the successful state (Deut. 17:14-20). Yet the Torah conception of the MELECH could not be further away from the kinds of rulers who have power in states throughout the world today including those who still bear royal titles.
As exemplified by David Melech Yisrael, the Torah MELECH is first and foremost a saintly student and lover of the Torah. While every Israelite is commanded to write his own Torah scroll, the king is commanded to copy another scroll from the authoritative Temple text and to take it everywhere he goes. He is to read from it constantly — this is what gives him his life and power (see Likutey Moharan I:56). King David testified that he would nightly rise before midnight in order to meditate on the Torah (Psalms 119:148). Yet he did not flinch from getting involved in the rough and tumble of the actual world. "My hands are filthy from from blood and aborted tissue in order to purify a woman to permit her to her husband" (Berochos 4a).
The Talmud instructs us even to go to see the kings of the nations — in order to understand the difference between them and the true kings of Israel (Berachot 9b). Surviving non-Israelite monarchies have, with the complicity of the media, fostered a fairy-tale image of royalty whose vanity and emptiness have become starkly visible through an endless succession of scandals. The present heir to the throne of Britain has publicly declared that if he becomes king, he will abandon the historic title of Defender of THE Faith, and instead declare himself Defender of Faith – as if it does not matter what you believe, so long as you believe in something.
This is the precise opposite of MELECH YISRAEL, who is the uncompromising Defender and Champion of the Torah of Truth. The true kings of Israel today are the humble sages and Tzaddikim who live modestly, without Mercedes, mansions and villas, artwork, jewelry and the other trappings of "royalty". Their wealth is the true, enduring wealth of their Torah wisdom and holiness, and the merits they have accumulated through their strenuous efforts and exertion on behalf of the community.
In the Torah state, the king himself must subject himself to the authority of the Sanhedrin and the prophets. While the king has responsibility for the internal and external security of the state, he must submit weighty matters of state, such as whether to go to war, to the sources of holy spirit: the priests and the prophets. Thus parshas SHOFTIM presents commandments relating to the status and privileges of the priests in the Torah state, and to the qualifications of the prophet and how true prophecy is to be distinguished from false prophesy and divination.
The greatest scourge of contemporary society has become the cheapness of human blood, which is being shed daily without scruples in the rampant criminality and terror that have spread all over the world. The abhorrence of the Torah for bloodshed appears in many places and is prominent in our parshah, which contains the laws of murder and manslaughter and the cities of refuge for unintentional killers. We have already encountered some of these laws in precious parshiyos (MISHPATIM, Exodus ch. 21, MAS'EI, Numbers ch. 35, etc.)
Some are under the impression that the Torah requirements for valid testimony to convict a killer are so demanding that in practice it would be impossible to bring criminals to justice. For example, in a Beis Din, the witnesses must be Torah-observant, and their testimony must withstand rigorous investigation, while circumstantial evidence is inadmissible. It is true that the Torah requirements for valid testimony are very stringent, yet Torah law also provides the MELECH with sanctions with which to make sure that Torah leniency does not lead to social chaos. Thus the lawful MELECH of the Torah state can impose prison sentences and even capital punishment where necessary even in cases where a Beis Din could not impose such sentences.
The laws of warfare contained in parshas SHOFTIM show that from the Torah standpoint, the critical factor in the wars we face are not our numbers, arms and equipment as against those of our enemies. The critical factor is our faith in HaShem and the courage with which we are ready and willing to fight for our convictions. The "pep talk" to the troops is given by the priest. His opening words are: "SHEMA YISRAEL" (Deut. 20:3) — alluding to the words with which we declare our faith twice daily.
The Torah commands us not to loose our sensitivities even in time of war. Even when fighting our enemies, we are not allowed to wantonly destroy property. It is in the context of the laws of warfare that the Torah gives us the law of "BAL TASHCHIS" ("Do not wantonly destroy." Deut. 20:20). If this law applies to our enemies' property even in time of war, how much more it applies to our own property and to public property in time of peace. We are to value that which has value, and not to needlessly waste and destroy. This applies to the natural wealth and resources of the earth, which are being mindlessly exploited and destroyed for the sake of immediate gain without a thought for the long-term.
The closing mitzvah of parshas SHOFTIM is that of the heiffer whose neck is broken in a ceremony that comes to atone for an unsolved homicide – a case in which a body is found in the open but the killer is unknown. It is noteworthy that the judges of the town nearest to where the body is found require atonement. It is their responsibility to see that their town is properly organized to take care of visitors and the needy, so that no-one is forced to take to the roads in search of hospitality, thereby exposing himself to the attendant dangers from roaming killers.
"Atone for Your people Israel, whom You have redeemed, Hashem, and do not put innocent blood among Your people Israel, and let the blood be atoned for them" (Deut. 21:8).
Shabbat Shalom!!! Chodesh Tov Umevorach!!!
– Rabbi Avraham Yehoshua Greenbaum
Haftarat Shoftim – 'Judges' (Isaiah 51:12-52:12)
Our haftarah of consolation is similar to last week portion: To those returning to the Land of Promise He says,
I, even I, am He who comforts you. who are you that you should be afraid of a man who will die, and of the son of a man who will be made like grass? And you forget the HaShem your Maker, Who stretched out the heavens and laid the foundations of the earth; you have feared continually every day because of the fury of the oppressor, when he has prepared to destroy. And where is the fury of the oppressor? -Isaiah 51:12-13
But I am the HaShem your G-d Who divided the sea whose waves roared. HaShem of Hosts is His Name. And I have put My words in your mouth; I have covered you with the shadow of My hand, that I may plant the heavens, lay the foundations of the earth, and say to Zion, 'You are My people.'" -Isaiah 51:15
Therefore please hear this, you afflicted, and drunk but not with wine. Thus says your L-rd, HaShem and your G-d, Who pleads the cause of His people: "See, I have taken out of your hand the cup of trembling, the dregs of the cup of My fury; you shall no longer drink it. But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to you, 'Lie down, that we may walk over you.' And you have laid your body like the ground, and as the street, for those who walk over." -Isaiah 51:21-23
Awake, awake! Put on your strength, O Zion; put on your beautiful garments, O Jerusalem, the holy city! For the uncircumcised and the unclean shall no longer come to you. Shake yourself from the dust, arise; sit down, O Jerusalem! Loose yourself from the bonds of your neck, O captive daughter of Zion!
For thus says HaShem G-d: "My people went down at first into Egypt to dwell there; then the Assyrian oppressed them without cause. Now therefore, what have I here," says HaShem, "That My people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them make them wail," says HaShem, "And My Name is blasphemed continually every day. Therefore My people shall know My Name; therefore they shall know in that day that I am He Who speaks: "Behold, it is I.'" -Isaiah 52:1-2; 4-6
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who proclaims peace, who brings glad tidings of good things, who proclaims salvation, who says to Zion, "Your G-d reigns!" -Isaiah 52:7
The "good news" message is this: Proclaim salvation to Zion! Proclaim "Your G-d Reigns."
Messiah came and taught the message: "Repent, the Kingdom of HaShem is here!"
Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, with their voices they shall sing together; for they shall see eye to eye when HaShem brings back Zion. Break forth into joy, sing together, you waste places of Jerusalem! For HaShem has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. HaShem has made bare His holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth shall see the salvation of our G-d. -Isaiah 52:8-10
Depart! Depart! Go out from there, touch no unclean thing; go out from the midst of her, be clean, you who bear the vessels of HaShem. For you shall not go out with haste, nor go by flight; for HaShem will go before you, and the G-d of Israel will be your rear guard. -Isaiah 52:11-12
Blessed art Thou, HaShem, Who brings forth the Manifestation of Salvation. ( Baruch Atah HaShem, matzmiach keren Yeshuah )
We will see that the children of Israel return to Most High and Torah of Mashiach, And will hug in the Holy Land, and by obeying and listening the "VOICE of Most Ancient Holy One of Israel", will bring offerings in a righteous way on the holy mountain and also bring the Ark of the covenant with pure heart in the right place ( i.e In Har HaBayit, on the foundation Stone) .
We will Welcome the son of David on Mount Zion, Jerusalem.
[ Ha Khadosh Baruch Hu – Baruch HaBa B'Shem Adonai ] – Gaddi, President, BeitYisrael International.
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text:
Page to Screen: Licence to Kill (1989)
October 18, 2013 June 17, 2013 / Clare
based on characters by Ian Fleming
As an American Anglophile raised by a French Anglophile, I feel I have a pretty good handle on the differences between UK and US spellings. Whenever my mother is writing a letter, she invariably glances up at me and asks me if she spelled something the American way or the English way. "No," I said last time, "but leave it. It looks classier." But for some reason, the difference between License to Kill and Licence to Kill kept tripping me up, and not just because MacJournal tells me the latter is wrong. Vowel variations look more or less natural to me, presumably due to aforementioned Frenchness, but consonant replacements creep me out a little for whatever reason. Anyway, the last Dalton Bond, right?
Licence to Kill opens with Bond and his close friend, CIA agent Felix Leiter, on the way to Leiter's wedding. Along they way, they take a pit stop to apprehend drug lord Franz Sanchez. After the wedding, Leiter is betrayed by one of his own agents: Sanchez has his new wife raped and murdered, and mutilates Leiter. After Sanchez escapes to the Republic of Isthmus, the CIA's hands are tied—but James Bond's aren't. When M reprimands him for focusing on a personal vendetta rather than his actual job, Bond quits and joins forces with Pam Bouvier, an ex-Army pilot Leiter was working with. Together, they're determined to take down Sanchez's empire to avenge the death of Mrs. Leiter and Felix's attack.
By the late eighties, the excess that defined the decade had finally curdled into something harder, more cynical—more nineties. Well, early nineties. I have this theory that the late eighties and early nineties function as this weird gremlin of a half-decade, the dark pit from whence violent, indulgent grimdark crawled out of. (I'm looking at you, McFarlane.) Licence to Kill is definitely a creature of those dark times: with Bond gone rogue from MI6, he can use all his skills to exact painful vengeance from those he wronged. But perhaps the best example is how the film uses a gorgeously young Benecio del Toro as one of Sanchez's henchmen. He's vicious, mean, a rapist, and given to grinning psychotically in low lighting; he is dispatched by being shredded into pieces. There are definitely shades of how A View to a Kill luxuriated in violence—this is a film where you're meant to cheer for Bond when he sets a man on fire. True, the Craig years boast some ultraviolence—that fight scene in Skyfall still manages to turn my stomach in its swift brutality—but the film clearly wants you to feel conflict between the "pure" ideals Bond is protecting and the hideous things Bond does to protect it. Licence to Kill assumes that everything the hero does is a-okay, and that sits poorly with me.
Between that unsettling tone and the plot, Licence to Kill is perhaps the most un-Bond Bond film I've encountered so far. MI6 is dispensed with quickly and, while Q does, delightfully, show up and make himself sweetly useful, there are no outlandish gadgets. Bond even finds himself in a love triangle more reminiscent of a romantic comedy: it's hard to reconcile the adorably romantic last five minutes with Bond setting a dude on fire. (It's like when your friend does something and they can never live it down. No matter what happens in the future, Bond can never unset that dude on fire.) While Dalton's Bond proved to be almost the quintessential Bond in Living Daylights, we simply haven't covered enough ground with him for him to go rogue. But never fear: he's just as devastatingly brooding and conflicted as ever. His setting is simply not to his advantage. (All of this reminds me, I need to put his Wuthering Heights on my movie spreadsheet…)
But this departure from the Bond formula, surprisingly, lets the female characters shine a bit more than usual. Neither of them are comparable to Holly Goodhead (perhaps my favorite Bond girl so far, if only because she can out-dry and out-eyebrow Roger Moore's Bond), but they get to have whole scenes about them doing stuff. Talisa Soto's Lupe teams up with Bond not because she fell in love, but because she's sick of her abusive boyfriend and he's a way out that's easy on the eyes, and Carey Lowell's boyish ex-Army pilot Pam Bouvier is stubborn and capable. She can be a hard character to like (especially when the narrative decides that she, otherwise a fairly adaptable woman, will burst into tears when Bond is seemingly unfaithful to her), but Pam can be puckishly charming at times, like when she breaks in and out of a meditation retreat without losing a dollar. (…long story.) But the most engaging woman in the story is Della. She's an almost textbook example of a Woman in a Refridgator, sadly, but Priscilla Barnes, in her scant time, makes her breezy and lovable. It's easy to see why Felix fell for her and why Bond loves her. Bond's revenge isn't just for Felix's mutilation: it's also for killing his friend Della. It doesn't make up for what does happen to her, but it's a nice touch that most situations like this lack.
I wish I could bid good-bye to Dalton's wonderful Bond with a better film; he deserves the third film that was put off for five years due to MGM and United Artists' legal battles. But this is what we got. Alas, Dalton! You were wonderful.
Bottom line: Dalton's last Bond film feels more like a traditional late eighties action flick than a Bond film—this means that the tone is alarming at best (the hero can do anything awful and we will love him!), but it also means that the female characters are a little more rounded. Definitely worth it to see Dalton's Bond, but The Living Daylights is the Dalton Bond film to see, not this.
I rented this film on iTunes.
3 Stars, Adults, Audience, Contemporary Fiction, Features, Fiction, Film, Genre, Medium, Page to Screen, Ratings, Thriller
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3 thoughts on "Page to Screen: Licence to Kill (1989)"
alexbledsoe
Loved this post, as usual. But I wanted to mention something about this particular Bond film that is fairly unique, and that you didn't cover: how often Bond is *wrong.*
In one example, he blows Hong Kong Narcotics' long sting operation because he has on his revenge blinders and doesn't look up from his task. If he had, he might have been able to comprehend what the Hong Kong team (which was still a British colony at the time, so it was essentially *his own* team) was doing, and also why Pam approached Sanchez' American henchman with a deal.
But the other, more insidious thing is his constant insistence that he must work alone, and yet at *every crucial turn* he needs someone's help: Lupe, Pam, and Q all come through for him despite his attempts to run them off. You're right that this is the most un-Bond Bond, and for me that's one of the big reasons.
Thanks, Alex!
Oh, that is fantastic. I hadn't framed it that way before. The idea that while Bond thinks he's a lone wolf, he is, in fact, not, a theme we go back to in Craig's first film.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
New PC Power Rules Only Apply to Idle, as Alienware Squawks Alone
By Joel Hruska on July 28, 2021 at 2:07 pm
When we covered the news that Alienware will no longer sell most of its desktops in California, Colorado, Hawaii, Oregon, Vermont, and the State of Washington, we noted that there had to be more to the story. Alienware might be loudly declaring that it can't sell in these states due to power efficiency requirements, but nobody else is. In fact, the word from other manufacturers is that nobody considers these requirements much of a problem.
It turns out, there's a crucial bit of context Alienware didn't disclose: The new power requirements that went into effect on July 1 apply to idle power consumption, not load. The sharp constraints on total PC power consumption do not apply when the system is being used for things. They apply when it isn't. All of the standards and requirements, including the ones that went into effect back in 2018, explicitly target idle power consumption, and nobody but Alienware seems particularly chuffed about it.
This actually explains one of the strangest things about the entire affair. The function that the California Energy Commission used to calculate projected GPU power consumption is based entirely on memory bandwidth and allocates virtually no electricity to GPUs as memory bandwidth scales up. Under the published formula, GPU power consumption is allowed to scale as follows:
A GPU with 3.2TB/s of memory bandwidth is therefore allowed 1.91x the power consumption of a GPU with 25GB/s of memory bandwidth. This is ludicrous when considered as a target for a loaded GPU. It makes more sense as a target for an idle card. I'm not sure why the commission chose to base its formula on memory bandwidth, specifically, but the formula is intended to calculate the power consumption of a GPU when it is not in use.
There appears to be little concern as to whether these goals are achievable. Intel launched a program to help motherboard manufacturers make certain they came in on-target with 400-series chipsets several years ago. There are no regulations in place regarding the maximum potential power consumption of PCs under active load, OEMs do not appear to be restricted from selling systems that consume large amounts of electricity in any fashion, and this entire affair is an attempt to push manufacturers to waste less power when the computer isn't doing things, not restrict machines from their fullest potential when performing useful work. According to this Intel slide, Alienware systems that include GPUs with frame buffers of more than 600GB/s aren't subject to this restriction at all.
Not every Alienware system meets these criteria, but those using upper-end RTX and RDNA2 GPUs do. High Expandability Computers are exempt from these regulations under certain criteria.
It looks increasingly as if Alienware was caught by a set of regulations they didn't prepare for and is attempting to foist the blame on to regulations passed five years ago rather than acknowledging its own failure to comply with well-known upcoming regulations. It was always the plan to phase these requirements in over time, and the Tier 2 compliance date of 2021 was discussed in this 2016 Reuters story. Alienware has known this was coming.
The actual regulations don't do a great job spelling out that these requirements only apply to idle power, but a recent fact sheet on the new rules states: "The Energy Commission recognizes four different non-active operational modes: short-idle, long-idle, sleep and off-modes. Some computers consume 50 watts of electricity in these idle modes. The Title 20 standards are cost-effective, technically feasible and limit the amount of electricity computers and monitors are allowed to consume when not in active mode."
Long and short idle refer to times when the PC is performing operational background tasks and spending most of its time in the C6/C7 low-power states, with no ongoing processor tasks. Sleep and off are self-explanatory. The guidelines as published are an attempt to reduce waste electricity that PCs expend without performing useful work and not any kind of effort to choke off performance.
There is currently no sign that any manufacturer other than Alienware is having any problems meeting these standards. There is no indication of upset from any of the companies we cover on a regular basis. We don't know exactly why Alienware's systems don't pass muster, but it does not appear to be for any reason related to maximum power consumption — only idle. For now, this does not appear to be an industry problem.
Update (7/28/20): Alienware has contacted us to provide the following statement:
"Alienware has always been known for pushing the limits when it comes to innovation, performance, design and premium quality. We respect the laws of all cities, states and countries where we do business and always strive to balance power and performance with energy efficiency. While our most powerful gaming systems are available in all 50 states, it is accurate that select configurations of the Alienware Aurora R10 and R12 aren't shipping to certain states due to the recent California Energy Commission (CEC) Tier 2 regulations that went into effect on July 1, 2021. New models and configurations will meet or exceed these regulations, in line with our long-term focus to address energy and emissions."
So it does sound as if Alienware plans to solve this problem in the long run — it's just its current crop of systems that do not do so.
Alienware Claims It Can't Sell High-End Desktop PCs in 6 US States
Alienware Sued For False Advertising Over Upgradeable Laptop That Wasn't
Alienware Really Doesn't Want You to Buy an AMD Ryzen PC
boutique OEMs


This course will introduce you to the newest online tools for publishing e-books, publishing to Kindle, and publishing to print. This is a great way to make journals, church newsletters and magazines, autobiographies, and oral history available in a broader way — or even create your own curriculum materials that are customized for your local church setting.
This course will provide an overview of free and inexpensive online publishing software, as well as new techniques to publish and market your books or materials. This class is for pastor-authors, church leaders, curriculum writers, church secretaries, youth leaders, and Sunday School teachers who wish to self-publish.
0.5 CEUs are available upon successful completion of this course.
Rennie Mau is an award-winning media producer who has produced and published over 450 projects for a variety of publishers, churches, and individuals. He served as President of the American Multicultural Publishing and Education Council (MPEC) for 10 years and has worked with a variety of publishing organizations. He has been in ministry for 45 years with the United Church of Christ pastoring churches in Hawaii and California and has consulted for a variety of denominations.
He also has produced TV and web-based educational children and youth media through his company, GAMEKIDS. He is also an adjunct faculty with Tokai International University in Hawaii.


This paper used a qualitative research approach to explore the causes, manifestations and consequences of tuberculosis (TB) stigma in Tamale. It examined reasons why TB is stigmatised and elucidated how TB stigma manifests within the community setting and the healthcare system. It also explored the feelings and experiences of TB patients, to highlight how the fear of stigmatisation may affect case finding and treatment adherence.
Eight focus groups (6 with the community members, 1 with health workers, 1 with TB Patients. 40 individual interviews (20) community members, 10 with patients and 10 with health staff) were conducted. Data was analysed, using Grounded Theory techniques and procedures.
Eleven causes of TB stigma were identified: fear of infection; physical frailty of TB patients; association of TB with HIV/AIDS; perceived causes and spread of TB; outdated societal practices about TB; public health practice and discourse; attitudes of healthcare workers towards TB patients; health staff's own fear of TB; self-stigmatisation by TB patients; judgment, blaming and shaming TB patients; and past experiences with TB. Elements of physical and moral threats were identified in all these causes of TB stigma. The threat the disease poses to community members led to imposition of socio-physical distance, participatory restrictions and rules for unexpected interactions on those suffering from TB in society. Within the healthcare system, the threat of TB affected the attitudes and behaviours of healthcare workers towards TB patients and TB work. Health managers also cited TB units/wards in isolated parts of the hospital, and failed to provide adequate tools and equipment, support and supervision to enable the provision of quality TB services. The fear of stigmatisation made the patients deny the obvious symptoms of the disease, and report to the hospital only after prolonged period of self-medication in the community.


text:
Julio Vaquero i Serraima (Barcelona, 1958) és un pintor realista català. S'enquadra fonamentalment en el realisme i en la pintura figurativa a partir de l'observació del natural. A partir de la dècada de 2000, Vaquero començà a experimentar en la manipulació i alteració d'objectes en un barreja ambigua de realisme i simbolisme. Les seves obres han estat exposades tant a nivell local com a nivell internacional, en ciutats com Barcelona, València, Madrid, Lió, Nova York, Bolonya o Miami.

Biografia

Inicis
Va néixer a Barcelona el 19 de juny de 1958 en el si d'una família de quatre fills dels que era el tercer. El 1979 es llicencià en Belles Arts per la Facultat de Belles Arts de Sant Jordi de Barcelona i rebé el seu primer premi de pintura, el Premi Joan Güell, atorgat per la mateixa institució. La primera exposició la va realitzar l'any 1986 a la Galeria Carlos de Sicart de Cadaqués; l'any següent ja va exposar a la seva ciutat natal.

Dècada de 1990
Julio Vaquero ha estat guardonat amb la Medalla d'Honor del premi BMW de pintura en dues ocasions, els anys 1994 i 1996. L'any 1999, s'exhibí la sèrie Zigurat de misterios dins l'exposició El realisme a Catalunya del Centre Arts Santa Mònica; actualment s'exposa de manera permanent a Can Framis Museu de Pintura Contemporània de la Fundació Vila Casas.

Dècada de 2000
L'any 2001, les seves obres formaren part de l'exposició col·lectiva Between Heaven and Earth, New Classical movements in the Art of today del Museu d'Art Modern d'Oostende, Bèlgica. El 2005 se celebrà a Madrid la seva primera sèrie exposició de dibuixos sobre paper vegetal a la Galeria Trama de Madrid. L'any 2007, també exposà a les mostres Mimesis et inventio i Im Licht der Wirklichkeit, ambdues al Panorama Museum de Bad Frankenhausen d'Alemanya. El 5 de maig de 2011, Vaquero inaugurà dues exposicions simultànies sota el nom La fi de les aparences a l'Arts Santa Mònica a l'Espai Anella i dins d'una exposició col·lectiva a la Galeria Trama. A principis del 2014, va inaugurar la seva exposició Buscar en tierra de nadie a la Fundació Vila Casas. El fil conductor d'aquesta era "escenificar fragments de la realitat, retenir la fugacitat del temps i reflexionar sobre la nostra (de l'home) fragilitat".

Actualment, compagina la feina de pintor amb la d'assessor artístic de la Fundació Sorigué. A més a més, periòdicament imparteix conferències tant en l'àmbit universitari com en altres àmbits de difusió general sobre pintura realista i figurativa. També ha estat membre del jurat en diversos certàmens de pintura. És expert en l'obra d'Antonio López García i va col·laborar en 2011 en el programa de TV2 La Mitad Invisible en el capítol dedicat a aquest pintor.

Estil
L'obra pictòrica de Vaquero s'enquadra en la representació realista, fent incís en la seva qualitat matèrica. Centra part del seu estudi i anàlisi en el problema de la llum i l'espai; específicament, juga amb l'espai tridimensional i el pla. Treballa la situació de la figura a l'interior d'espais simbòlics. Vaquero pinta els seus quadres del natural a partir d'espais creats per ell mateix a l'interior del seu estudi.

Col·leccions i exposicions

Permanents
Algunes de les seves obres s'exposen permanentment en diversos museus i col·leccions, i són les següents:
 Museu del Fútbol Club Barcelona, Barcelona.
 Col·lecció Testimoni de la Caixa de Pensions, Barcelona.
 Col·lecció Editorial Planeta, Barcelona.
 Seu de les Corts Regionals de Castella la Manxa, Toledo.
 Museu de Pintura de Valdepeñas, Ciudad Real.
 Can Framis, Fundació Vila Casas, Barcelona.
 Col·lecció Luís Infante, Madrid.
 Col·lecció Hesperia, Madrid.
 Fundació Lily, Madrid.
 Fundació Sorigué, Lleida.
 Col·lecció Ernesto Ventós, Barcelona.

Temporals
 1986: Galeria Carlos de Sicart, Cadaqués. (col·lectiva)
 1987: Galeries Grifé i Escoda, Barcelona. (individual)
 1989: Sala Parés, Barcelona. (col·lectiva)
 1989: INTERARTE, València.
 1989: Galeria Boronat, Barcelona. (mostra inaugural)
 1990: Galeria Afinsa, Madrid.
 1990: Fundació Caixa de Pensions, Barcelona.
 1990: Tria d'obra recent, Col·lecció Testimoni.
 1990: Galeria Michel Guinle, Lió.
 1991: Galeria Forni, Bolonya. (individual)
 1991: EXPOART Miami '91, Florida. (col·lectiva)
 1992: Kouros Gallery, Nova York. (individual)
 1992: «A Barcelona» Sala Parés, Barcelona. (col·lectiva)
 1993: Galeria Heller, Madrid. (individual)
 1994: Sala Parés, Barcelona. (individual)
 2001: Museu d'Art Modern d'Oostende, Barcelona (col·lectiva).
 2003: Realitats il·luminades Museu de Montserrat, Barcelona. (individual)
 2004: Galeria Trama, Barcelona.
 2005: Galeria Trama, Barcelona.
 2011: Arts Santa Mònica, Barcelona. (individual)
 2011: Galeria Trama, Barcelona. (individual)
 2012: Galeria Fúcares, Ciudad Real. (individual)
 2014: Fundació Vila Casas, Barcelona.
 2019: Entre el llambreig i la penombra, ArtalRoc, Andorra (individual)

Premis
Julio Vaquero ha rebut diversos premis al llarg de la seva vida per la seva obra pictòrica:
 1979: Premi Joan Güell de la Facultat de Belles Arts de Sant Jordi (Barcelona).
 1987: Primer accèssit en la II Biennal de l'Esport de Barcelona.
 1989: Premi «Molino de Oro» de las Cortes Regionals de Castilla la Mancha.
 1992: Primera medalla a la LIII Exposición Nacional de Artes Plásticas de Valdepeñas.
 1994: Medalla d'Honor del premi IX BMW de pintura.
 1996: Medalla d'Honor del premi XI BMW de pintura.

Referències

Pintors barcelonins contemporanis

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


text:
Q: QEMU: custom bootloader image not recognised I'm trying to run a sample bootloader from a blog post:
[BITS 16]
[ORG 0x7c00]

jmp boot

boot:
  mov ah, 0x0e
  mov bh, 0x00
  mov bl, 0x07
  mov al, '!'

  int 0x10
  jmp $

times 510-($-$$) db 0
db 0xaa
db 0x55

nasm -f bin boot.nasm produces a 512 byte boot file with the following contents:
0000000: eb00 b40e b700 b307 b021 cd10 ebfe 0000
0000010: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000020: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000030: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000040: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000050: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000060: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000070: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000080: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000090: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00000a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00000b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00000c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00000d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00000e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00000f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000100: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000110: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000120: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000130: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000140: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000150: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000160: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000170: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000180: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
0000190: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00001a0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00001b0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00001c0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00001d0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00001e0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000
00001f0: 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 0000 aa55

I would now expect qemu-system-x86_64 boot to use the boot file as raw disk image, recognise the last two bytes as boot sector marker and execute the instructions. Instead it fails to recognise the bootloader:
Booting from Hard Disk...
Boot failed: not a bootable disk

What am I doing wrong?
Software versions:
$ nasm -v
NASM version 2.11 compiled on Apr 26 2014
$ qemu-system-x86_64 --version
QEMU emulator version 2.1.0 (Debian 2.1+dfsg-4ubuntu6.3), Copyright (c) 2003-2008 Fabrice Bellard

A: You should change the order of the boot flag values:
db 0x55
db 0xaa

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


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text:
Minto Apartment REIT buys stake in Vancouver Island shopping centre redevelopment
OBJ staff
University Heights shopping centre
Organizations: Greystar Real Estate Partners, Home Depot, Minto Apartment REIT, Minto Properties
People: Michael Waters
Ottawa's Minto Apartment REIT is adding to its portfolio in British Columbia with a deal to help finance the redevelopment of a shopping mall and adjoining retail property on Vancouver Island.
The firm said last week it is lending its sister company, Minto Properties, more than $50 million to purchase a Victoria-area property in a joint venture with South Carolina-based Greystar Real Estate Partners and an unnamed institutional investor.
Under the new agreement, Minto REIT is providing a $51.7-million loan to finance 80 per cent of its sister company's interest in the project. Minto Properties and the institutional investor will each own a 45 per cent stake in the development, with Greystar holding the remaining interest and acting as the project manager.
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After decades of success in his business, Dr. Vijay Jog's Corporate Renaissance Group was acquired by Quisitive. These are the top five lessons he wants other business owners to know.
The plan calls for the partners to redevelop a portion of an 11.5-acre site in Saanich, B.C., that's currently occupied by the 119,000-square-foot University Heights shopping centre and a 76,000-square-foot Home Depot store.
Under the current proposal, the joint venture will convert the mall into a mixed-use multi-residential and retail property, with five six-storey wood-frame buildings containing 593 rental suites atop more than 113,000 square feet of grocery-anchored retail.
The property is subject to a long-term lease with Home Depot, which will be expanding its store by about 9,200 square feet and adding a new garden centre and 20,000-square-foot seasonal outdoor area.
The site is located less than 1.5 kilometres from the University of Victoria. Minto REIT said there is "significant demand for student rental housing in the area," adding that two of the five rental buildings will specifically target students with smaller furnished suites and student-focused amenities.
According to the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp., Greater Victoria's vacancy rate for purpose-built apartment rentals stood at one per cent in October 2021, down from 2.2 per cent a year earlier and tied with Halifax for the lowest rate among major Canadian cities.
The project is expected to be approved this spring, with construction targeted to begin later this year or early in 2023. Once construction is complete, the REIT will have the option to purchase Minto Properties' stake in the development at a five per cent discount on its then-appraised fair market value.
Minto REIT chief executive Michael Waters said the investment represents an "important strategic milestone" for the company.
Low vacancy rates
"It provides geographical diversification and exposure to a strong rental market," Waters said in a statement. "The Victoria rental market is characterized by low vacancy rates and is supported by strong population and employment growth. University Heights is located proximate to two post-secondary institutions. We see this attractive investment as a building block for continued growth in the region."
The new agreement comes less than 15 months after the REIT's first investment in B.C. in December 2020, when it helped Minto Properties finance Lonsdale Square, a master-planned community in North Vancouver.
Last December, Minto REIT provided Minto Properties with a loan worth up to $19.6 million to help its sister firm acquire an 85 per cent stake in another Vancouver project that will include a six-storey mixed-use multi-residential property containing 108 suites and about 11,500 square feet of at-grade retail space.
Earlier this month, Minto REIT said it generated funds from operations of $13.2 million in the fourth quarter ending Dec. 31, up 10.2 per cent from a year earlier. The firm posted a net income of $24.9 million, an 8.4 per cent increase from the fourth quarter of 2020.


text:
354 F. 2d 980 - Jackson v. United States
354 F2d 980 Jackson v. United States
Samuel P. JACKSON, Defendant, Appellant,
UNITED STATES of America, Appellee.
United States Court of Appeals First Circuit.
Heard October 6, 1965.
Decided December 27, 1965.
Albert F. Cioffi, Everett, Mass., for appellant.
Paul F. Markham, Asst. U. S. Atty., with whom W. Arthur Garrity, Jr., U. S. Atty., was on brief, for appellee.
Before ALDRICH, Chief Judge, McENTEE, Circuit Judge, and SWEENEY, District Judge.
ALDRICH, Chief Judge.
The defendant, Samuel Jackson, convicted of armed robbery of a federally insured bank, unsuccessfully moved to suppress the introduction into evidence of a revolver taken from his apartment without a search warrant. The search was a proper incident of his arrest, and an arrest warrant had been duly issued. However, there is some question concerning the manner in which the arrest was executed.
The evidence at a pretrial hearing pursuant to F.R.Crim.P. 41(e) disclosed that at about 7:30 A.M. on June 4, 1964, two FBI agents, accompanied by four Boston police officers, knocked on the outer door of a building in which they knew the defendant had an apartment. One of them "hollered," "Sam, police." They waited "about ten seconds," and hearing no response pushed against the door, breaking the lock. Immediately opposite this door was defendant's door. They pushed it open and entered the apartment. It is undisputed that, because of the building's construction, talking or knocking, at the outside door was readily audible inside the apartment.
Defendant asserts that the officers failed to observe the requirements of 18 U.S.C. § 3109.* The government argues that state, not federal, law controls the legality of the arrest; that Massachusetts does not have similar requirements; and that a request for permission to enter is unnecessary if it would expose the arresting officers to danger of bodily harm.
We agree with the government that state law controls. See Ker v. State of California, 1963, 374 U.S. 23, 37, 83 S.Ct. 1623, 10 L.Ed.2d 726. Massachusetts has no pertinent statutes, but its decisions recognize the common law duty, see Miller v. United States, 1958, 357 U.S. 301, at 306-309, 78 S.Ct. 1190, 2 L. Ed.2d 1332, of arresting officers to give "proper notification of the purpose of the entry, and [make] a demand upon the inmates to open the house * * *" Barnard v. Bartlett, 1852, 10 Cush. 501, 503; see Commonwealth v. Reynolds, 1876, 120 Mass. 190, 196. These requirements are, of course, designed to allow the householder the opportunity to open his own door rather than suffer a forcible entry. See Masiello v. United States, 1963, 115 U.S.App.D.C. 57, 317 F.2d 121.
Assuming that the Massachusetts court would permit exceptions, see Commonwealth v. Rossetti, Mass.1965, 211 N.E. 2d 658, a reasonable apprehension of harm is commonly regarded as an excuse for the officers' not announcing their presence. See Ker v. State of California, supra, at 374 U.S. 39-40, 83 S.Ct. 1623; Miller v. United States, supra, 357 U. S. at 309, 78 S.Ct. 1190. However, there was no testimony here that the officers feared for their safety. Indeed, the government's present suggestion that they did is difficult to reconcile with the fact that they announced themselves and waited at all. Cf. United States v. Barrow, E.D.Pa.1962, 212 F.Supp. 837, 847.
A ten-second wait seems to us an exceedingly short time under most circumstances. In the present case, however, there was evidence that before they knocked, the officers heard someone moving in the defendant's apartment. The defendant in fact conceded that he had been moving about. Ten seconds might be a short time for him to reach both doors, but ten seconds of silence in this case could mean that the occupant had not even started, and hence was not going to. Under the circumstances we will not rule as matter of law that it was unreasonable for the officers to conclude after a period of ten seconds that they were not going to be admitted. Cf. McClure v. United States, 9 Cir., 1964, 332 F.2d 19, cert. den. 380 U.S. 945, 85 S.Ct. 1027, 13 L.Ed.2d 963.
Although defendant does not raise the point, we must observe that the officers' bare announcement, "Sam, police," did not "notify the [occupant] * * * that they demanded admission to his apartment for the purpose of arresting him." Miller v. United States, supra, 357 U.S. at 310, 78 S.Ct. at 1196. There should have been a reference to the warrant. Fortunately for the government, the defendant himself supplied the testimony justifying the court's denial of his motion in this particular respect. He testified that the doors were so thin that not only could he have heard a knocking on the street door, but "if you even spoke I would have heard your normal voice," and that if the officers had so much as rapped and said they were the police he would have opened the door. By this he doubtless sought to persuade the court of the correctness of his assertion that they did neither. He cannot complain if, instead, the court chose to believe that the police did both, and took the defendant at his word that he did not hear, when he could reasonably have been expected to. The government cannot be faulted for deficiencies having no prejudicial effect.
"Breaking doors or windows for entry or exit.
The officer may break open any outer or inner door or window of a house, or any part of a house, or anything therein, to execute a search warrant, if, after notice of his authority and purpose, he is refused admittance or when necessary to liberate himself or a person aiding him in the execution of the warrant."
If this statute were applicable, a warrant for arrest would give no greater rights. Miller v. United States, 1958, 357 U.S. 301, 78 S.Ct. 1190.


text:
We're a few months in to 2019, but I'd like to take a moment to reflect on the year behind us and plan for the months that remain in the year ahead. I usually like to make this post in January, but sometimes life has other ideas. Good thing there's never a bad time for reflection and self-improvement! 😉
Notable Reads:
One of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus
A dark, modern twist on The Breakfast Club, this YA thriller pulls out all the stops until the heart-stopping ending (at which point I realized I still had not seen that classic 80's film and felt compelled to fix that). In this rendition, five teens from five very different worlds are placed in detention together—but one doesn't make it out alive. The remaining four are forced to battle brutal media attention with the odds stacked against them. They either have to come clean—or unravel the mystery themselves. I was on edge in anticipation with the reveal of each clue. The steamy romance that blossoms between suspects was also well-thought-out. McManus spins a page-turner I couldn't put down until the killer was revealed (which I predicted—yay). I'm pumped for her new thriller, Two Can Keep A Secret, which was released at the dawn of the new year. It's hot on my TBR list!
What Editors Do: The Art, Craft, and Business of Book Editing edited by Peter Ginna
In my endeavor to become a Book Publishing Professional, this treasure was a godsend. I devoured it from cover to cover. Without a bona fide "publishing" major or course in undergrad, everything I knew about the industry up until that point had been self-taught through independent research. This book should be required reading in every English program! It has proven to be an invaluable resource, just as the accolades promised. In fact, the words of the 26 essayists have both inspired a new appreciation for and solidified my passion to work in editorial. They cover not just the stages of the editing process, but also how those types of editing are unique to the type of publisher. Did you know there are several kinds of publishing? There's trade, academic/scholarly, and professional/reference/textbook, just to name a few. Lead editor Ginna's main conclusion stood out to me: it's not your skill with the red pen (i.e. copyediting) that sets you up for success, but your ability to discern quality writing. He taught me that acquisitions is the meat and potatoes of publishing. It sets the ball rolling, and every other department (editorial, marketing, sales, etc.) depends on it. These wise words from Ginna continue to inform my decisions as I embark on my journey to fulfill one part of my two-fold dream career (the other part being a novelist, of course!).
New Author Spotlight:
I'd like to introduce Laura M. Snider, a Des Moines native and Drake alum who made her debut this year with YA fantasy novel Witches Quarters. A professional lawyer of over 10 years, this is her first foray into creative writing, and I was blown away! It's about four siblings who discover quarters that transport them to another land—the land on the back of the coin. Keep an eye on this gal—she's going to take the literary world by storm!
Author Updates:
A Literary Milestone
My debut medieval historical fiction The Kiss of Death (Kellan Publishing, 2015), turned three this year, and I happily renewed my contract with my publisher. I'm excited to continue Elizabeth and Matthias's journey in the sequel I'm working on!
"Historical Authors Across Time" Guest Feature
The fabulous Cynthia Ripley Miller (fellow history buff and Italian gal after my own heart!) was so kind as to feature me on her blog Historical Authors Across Time! In my guest post "Inside the 14th Century Plague Era," I take a look at how the plague devastated 1/3 of medieval Europe's population.
Speaking to Creative Writing seniors at CLC
Since moving back home to Chicagoland after four years in Iowa for college, I've had the opportunity to resume one of my favorite activities—public speaking! I've been visiting local middle and high schools giving a presentation called "Book Publishing 101." My presentation covers writing tips for students and explains routes available for them to publish their writing—all from my perspective of navigating the industry at a young age. Given my age, the goal of my presentation is to inform and inspire young minds by demystifying writing and publishing as an accessible career path. It's a lot of fun, and the students I meet have endless, perceptive questions about the writing and publishing process. It means so much to have the opportunity to show young people what they can do with a little passion and a lot of hard work and persistence, especially since I've once been in their shoes!
Returning to Crystal lake Central High School (CLC) to speak to the Creative Writing seniors was extra special given my unique path: I was once the same age, in the same class, and at the same school as the students I spoke to when a story I wrote as an assignment received a book deal with a publisher. It was incredibly surreal to return to Jerry Thiel's classroom and continue his legacy—this time leading the class!
Thank you to all the students, teachers, and school district members who have made 2018 such a fulfilling year of public speaking on my favorite topic: Book Publishing 101. Here's to 2019!
You can follow my upcoming events or invite me to speak at yours here.
(Lit)erary Swag
I've never seen so many bookmarks in one place!
At long last, I have some fun swag for The Kiss of Death! As some of you might know, I had tried to get bookmarks made for my Barnes & Noble Book Launch event, but it didn't work out due to a printer problem, and my author business cards had to suffice. Now, three years later, I finally had some ready in time for my classroom presentations. Hundreds of books have and will be well-dressed!
A Historic Keepsake
Glad to give this replica of the 1924 school building that is now CLC a home in our family Christmas village!
As a thoughtful guest speaker than-you, Crystal Lake Central High School gave me this gorgeous ceramic replica of the original 1924 school building. The Crystal Lake Historical Society commissioned a limited number of them. This historical keepsake has earned a plot of land in my family's Christmas village!
Huntley Community School District 158 Feature (Nov 2018): "Heineman Hosts Visit by YA Historical Author Sarah Natale"
Drake Community Press Blog Feature (Feb 2018): "Sarah Mondello Places Second for PR News' 2017 PR Intern of the Year"
The Times-Delphic Newspaper Article (Feb 2018): "Two bulldogs honored at public relations awards" (virtual edition p. 7)
Northwest Herald Newspaper Feature (Jan 2018): "Intern of the Year"
My mind was blown to see this gorgeous feature on the Huntley Community School District 158 website!
Academic Milestones:
Officially a college graduate!
That's a wrap! In May I graduated Summa Cum Laude from Drake University. My four years resulted in a BA (Bachelor of Arts in Writing), BAJMC (Bachelor of Arts in Journalism and Mass Communication for Public Relations), minor in Graphic Design, and countless memories. It has been a wild ride—or should I say balancing act?—of school, friends, work, and sleep. I'm thankful to everyone along the way who contributed to a full but steady plate! I'm one proud Bulldog. Now, onto the next chapter.
Public Relations Capstone
PR Plan for Creative Visions, a respected nonprofit in the Des Moines community
My team and I have officially completed Drake's PR Capstone—our year-long culminating senior project! Our 10-person agency, IRIS Communications, produced a 120-page PR campaign for our client, Creative Visions Human Development Institute. It was an intense last few weeks collaborating with team members to prepare it (especially since I was the Book Editor!), but it was definitely a labor of love. Now that's what I call concluding senior year with a bang!
Typography Class Portfolio
Experimenting with typography to establish a visual context for one of my favorite quotes
Building a portfolio through exploring and experimenting with typographic elements made this one of my favorite Graphic Design courses at Drake. It provided the opportunity to study the parts of letterforms to learn what makes a typeface unique; achieve visual space equilibrium between letterforms through leading and kerning; establish visual context for a quote through contrast, meaning, and hierarchy; use information hierarchy to logically organize a book's front matter; and create my own modular typeface for a 24"x36" poster. Each project built upon the last. The one I enjoyed most involved recreating one of my favorite classic novels from the public domain. I designed the cover treatment and internals (front and back matter plus first three chapters) and laid them into page flow.
Cover treatment for 1847 novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë
I then printed, bound, and trimmed the resulting mini 50-page book! Learning how to create a grid and visual hierarchy to organize the internals was an eye-opening experience, and I have a new appreciation for book publishing. I never knew how much work went into simply arranging the text of the books I read every day!
Professional Developments:
Public Relations Capstone Award
My team's Capstone plan won the 2018 PRIME Award in the Student Campaign Category from PRSA Central Iowa! The award is on display in Drake's School of Journalism and Mass Communication trophy case. I couldn't be prouder of our hard work!
Certified in Principles of Public Relations
Now certified in Principles of PR!
I thought I was done with standardized tests forever when I took the college ACT (for the last time) all those years ago, but at the encouragement of wise professors, I bit the bullet and took one more. Now, I hold a Certificate in Principles of Public Relations from the Universal Accreditation Board and Public Relations Society of America (PRSA). It's essentially a way for recent or soon-to-be PR grads to earn a competitive advantage toward entering the workforce. I couldn't have done it without the great practice we had through Drake's rigorous PR program—constant application of textbook concepts for real-world clients, of which PR Capstone in particular was excellent preparation.
Communications Fraternity
This year I was invited to join one of the oldest college honor societies, Kappa Tau Alpha. I'm now a member of Drake's chapter of this Journalism and Mass Communication National Honor Society for life. Pretty cool to be part of a special group for both of my majors, huh? (I previously joined Sigma Tau Delta, the international honor society for English nerds!)
My First Office Job
In the fall, I took a step closer toward my dream of becoming a Book Publishing Professional. As an Editorial and Marketing Intern for international book publisher Quintessence Publishing, I got to experience working in an office for the first time ever! (My three internships up to this point had all been from behind my computer screen within the walls of my bedroom—how crazy is that?!). I love that I got to make use of my three degrees, combining editorial skills with graphic design technique to produce marketing materials for their authors' books.
I also got to experience commuter life for my new office job, for which I needed some wheels. At ten years old with only 18,000 miles, my first car came as a blessing in a serendipitous purchase from a little old lady. She gave my parents and me each angle tokens to watch over and bless me with safe driving. What a sweetheart!
Thanks for following along on my journey as I continue to chase my crazy literary dreams of working in publishing: helping writers bring their books into the world, creating my own books to bring into the world, and sharing what I've learned with others.
New to the blog? Check out My 2017 Year in Review for last year's recap. In the meantime, carry on, 2019! (And enough with the Polar Vortex subzero temps, please.)
Find The Kiss of Death at Kellan Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Kobo.
March 11, 2019 Sarah Natale


Authentic brazilian night - Discover Rio & Learn Portuguese at RioLIVE!
매주 금요일 리오라이브에서는 브라질의 파티를 경험해 볼 수 있다.
특히 Pedra do Sal에서는 흔한 힙합클럽, 펍 등에서의 파티가 아니라 진짜 브라질 사람들의 파티를 볼 수 있다.
사진에서 볼 수 있듯이 브라질 사람들은 야외에서 모두 함께 어울려 자연스럽게 술과 음악을 즐긴다. 또한 힙합 등 서양음악을 즐기는 흔한 나라들과 달리 브라질인들은 그들의 음악 삼바 등을 사랑한다.
Pedra do Sal는 삼바의 발생지이기도 하다.
Last Friday we had an authentic brazilian night at Pedra do Sal. Located at Saúde neighborhood, Pedra do Sal is a very democratic place, where you can find different people and it doesn't matter if you're rich or poor, black or white. It's an unique place and I'm sure that the ethnic mix of Pedra do Sal will fascinate you and this RioLIVE! Activity will be unforgettable!
Roda de Samba is the main attraction of Pedra do Sal. You can listen to a true root samba while drinking beer or trying caipirinhas and caipifrutas, very tradicional Brazilian drinks on the authentic brazilian night.
Find all the pictures we took during our night on our Facebook.


text:
Home News After days on the run, pregnant Syrian woman finds safe haven and safe delivery
After days on the run, pregnant Syrian woman finds safe haven and safe delivery
Fadia was the first baby born in the UNFPA-supported hospitainer facility in Al-Hol Camp in northern Syria. © UNFPA Syria
AL HOL CAMP, Syria – "I never expected that I would be in this situation and suffer so much," 18-year-old Khadeeja told a UNFPA health worker in the Al-Hol Camp in northeastern Syria, where some 75,000 people have sought refuge from the mounting tensions in their hometowns. More than 90 per cent of the camp's residents are women and girls.
The conflict is intensifying in Khadeeja's town of Hajin. She and her husband, Mahmoud, fled earlier this month, walking for days and nights with little food or water. Khadeeja in the final stages of pregnancy at the time.
"I have no home. I have lost everything. And now I have to give birth to my baby in a camp," she said.
A 20-bed health facility at Al-Hol Camp in northeastern Syria.
© UNFPA Syria
"I feared the worst"
"We fled our homes and left behind all our memories and possessions, and we were barely able to carry any clothes on our backs," Khadeeja remembered.
Her body grew frail during the treacherous journey to safety.
Eventually, they arrived in Al-Hol, where she was able to receive care at the new UNFPA-supported health facility. The facility is housed in a hospitainer, a 20-bed facility that opened on 2 June to meet the growing reproductive health needs in the camp.
On 13 June, she gave birth to a healthy baby girl named Fadia.
The health workers were concerned about Khadeeja's health, but the delivery went smoothly.
"They saved my life and that of my beautiful baby girl," said Khadeeja. She, too, had been afraid that her body could not withstand childbirth. "I feared the worst – that I would lose my baby and also die in the process. But now, Fadia and I are happy and grateful to be alive. We are safe and healthy."
Fadia was the first baby to be born in the new health facility.
"Fadia and I are happy and grateful to be alive," Khadeeja said.
The health staff are working under trying conditions, with high demand for services. Between 5 and 26 June, nearly 13,000 patients were seen at the facility.
Fadia's birth gave the health workers a reason to celebrate.
"We are happy to have delivered the first baby to be born in the new facility in Al-Hol camp," said Mother Agnes-Mariam from the Monastery of Saint James the Mutilated, UNFPA's partner in establishing and operating the hospitainer. "She is a lovely little girl and the parents are very happy and grateful."
Needs are high
In Al-Hol Camp, the hospitainer has made care available to women who would otherwise be out of reach.
It is part of countrywide efforts to expand reproductive health care to women affected by Syria's grinding conflict.
"We are trying to meet increasing humanitarian needs, which are overwhelming," explained Karen Daduryan, UNFPA's Representative in Syria. "UNFPA teams have been working to urgently scale-up sexual and reproductive health services with support from donors, including the European Commission Humanitarian Aid and Civil Protection, the Government of Australia, the United Kingdom's Department for International Development, and assistance from the Syria Humanitarian Fund, which is a donors' pool fund.
With this support, UNFPA is operating a variety of clinics, medical emergency teams, as well as women's and girls' safe spaces, and other services.
Still, Mr. Daduryan noted, "the needs remain high."
– Kinda Katranji
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