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Memoirs–When the Sandstone Crumbles
Fig Trees and Vineyards
US Strikes Syria; Russia Calls for Another UN Meeting
MOSCOW, April 14. /TASS/. Russia is convening an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the actions by the United States and its allies, which carried out missile strikes on Syria on Saturday, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
"On April 14, the US backed by its allies carried out a missile strike against military and civilian infrastructure facilities in Syria. Without the authorization of the United Nations Security Council, in defiance of the UN Charter, norms and principles and international law, an act of aggression has been committed against a sovereign state, which is at the forefront of the war on terror," the Kremlin press service quotes Putin as saying.
"Russia is convening an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to discuss the aggressive actions by the US and its allies," the president said.
The Russian leader noted that the US, just like a year ago, when it attacked Shayrat Airbase, used a staged chemical attack against civilians as a pretext. "The Russian military experts who visited the site of the alleged incident found no traces of the use of chlorine or other chemical agents. Not a single local resident confirmed that a chemical attack had taken place," the president emphasized.
Putin also noted that the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons had dispatched its specialists to Syria to clarify all the circumstances. "However, a group of Western countries cynically ignored that conducting a military operation without waiting for the results of the investigation. Russia strongly condemns the attack on Syria where Russian servicemen are helping the legitimate government in the war on terrorism," the president stressed.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the missile strike against Syria's military and civilian infrastructures was carried out by US planes and naval ships in cooperation with British and French air forces between 03:42 and 05:10 Moscow time on Saturday.
The ministry reported that a total of 100 cruise and air-to-surface missiles had been fired (while 59 missiles were fired at Shayrat Airbase last year), most of them were shot down by Syria's air defense units while approaching the targets.…
Russia: US Training Syria Terrorists to Carry Out False Flag Chemical Attack
[ Ed. note – The Russian Ministry of Defense has issued a statement citing evidence that "American instructors" are training insurgents in Syria to carry out chemical weapons "provocations" that can then be blamed upon Syrian government forces. The false flag attacks will likely be widely broadcast over Western media and used as justification for a US attack upon the Syrian military, the Ministry of Defense says.
You can go here to read the full MoD statement, and here to view an RT report on it. Below is an excerpt from the statement. This is not, of course, the first time that the Russians have issued warnings about terrorists planning chemical attacks in Syria. On February 13 they issued a similar warning, and sure enough just two weeks later–on February 26, an alleged chlorine gas attack took place in East Ghouta. The only thing the Russians got wrong was the place: the initial statement had pointed to Idlib Province as the site of the possible attack.
As for the latest warning, as you can see, it is quite detailed in the information it presents. (The emphases in the excerpt below are my own):
It is be stressed that insurgents do not stop taking efforts to organize provocations with the use of poisonous agents in order to accuse the government troops of using chemical weapons against civilians.
In regard to information about preparation of provocations by insurgents in the Eastern Ghouta, the Russian party has evidence that American instructors have trained several groups of insurgents near al-Tanfa in order to hold provocations with chemical weapons in the south of Syria.
In the early March, the sabotage groups were deployed in the southern de-escalation zone near Daraa. formations of so-called Free Syrian Army are located there.
They are preparing provocations using explosive devices fitted with poisonous agents. In the future, this fact will be used in order to accuse the government troops of using chemical weapons.
Components for these chemical munitions have already been transported to the southern de-escalation zone under cover of humanitarian convoys of a number of non-governmental organizations.
Insurgents have not only components for poisonous agents but also detonating fuzes camouflaged as packs with cigarettes.
Besides, the Jabhat al-Nusra armed formations with support of so-called 'White Helmets' are preparing staged chemical attack near the settlements of al-Habid and Qalb Luza located 25 km northwest Idlib. Therefore, 20 containers with chloride have been delivered there.
commentary News
RT Documentary on Ahed Tamimi
The above documentary is very much worth watching. Uploaded on March 9 and entitled "The Slap Heard Around the World: The People of Israel vs. Ahed Tamimi," the video focuses not only on the Tamimi family and Ahed's case in the Israeli military court system, but also the hysteria that has erupted in Israeli society over the whole affair. It includes interviews with members of the Tamimi family as well as Israeli journalist Gideon Levy.
For the past couple of days I've been trying to find out what, if anything, occurred in the Ofer military court on Sunday, March 11, the day Ahed's trial was supposed to open. For some reason the Israeli media, at least the outlets that publish in English, have largely gone mum on the case. About the only reference I could find was a Haaretz piece published a bit earlier today and which, though vague on details, seems to suggest that the trial has been postponed once again so that the court may consider an appeal of its decision to close proceedings to the public.
Ahed's pre-trial hearings were open to the public, but on February 13 a ruling was issued saying the trial would be held behind closed doors. Then on February 26, Israeli soldiers carried out another raid in Nabi Saleh, arresting Mohammed Tamimi, Ahed's 15-year-old cousin, the boy who was shot in the head by a rubber-coated bullet. One day after that arrest an Israeli official went public with a claim that Mohammed had "admitted" under interrogation that the head injury had been from a bike accident. The bogus claim is covered in the video above.
The latest charade the Israelis seem to be playing is that it is not the prosecution that objects to having the trial opened to the public, but that this decision was made by the court alone and with Ahed's best interest at heart.
"We left the request to open the hearings to the judgment of the court of first instance, and we will leave that request to the discretion of this honorable court," says Maj. Gilad Peretz, the military prosecutor quoted in the Haaretz story.
In other words, Peretz purports to be neutral on the question of a trial behind closed doors, but with an air of touching concern for the girl's welfare believes that keeping the proceedings closed would be "to Tamimi's advantage."
The appeal, filed by defense attorney Gabby Lasky, calls for the trial to be opened to the public, and while the court did not issue a ruling in a hearing held on Monday, it is "expected to do so shortly," the report states.…
McMaster Threatens Russia in Speech at Holocaust Museum; is there a 'Jewish Agenda' at Work?
Departing US National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster believes the Holocaust Museum in Washington D.C. is holy ground. He said so in a recent speech there.
"We are gathered together this afternoon on holy ground," he proclaimed.
Yesterday it was reported that McMaster has been ousted from his position in the Trump administration. While there were subtle nuances in views on such things as Russia and the JCPOA agreement with Iran, the "personal chemistry" between Trump and McMaster probably had at least as much, if not more, to do with the latter's departure than anything else. And the general's speech at the Holocaust Museum, I would contend–a speech given on the 7th anniversary of the outbreak of the war in Syria–offers us some interesting insights into why the anti-Russia hysteria emanating from Washington has ramped up to such dangerous levels.
You can go here to access a Politico report on the speech, and here to see a video of it uploaded by the US State Department. As you will observe, McMaster devoted much of the talk to fulminating against Russia. The program also abounded with the usual rhetoric against Syria and Iran.
"Unfortunately today in Syria we are confronted with some of the worst atrocities known to man," McMaster declared, and he went on to adjure that "the Russian government has bombed civilian areas and provided political cover for Assad's crimes."
Some of the worst atrocities known to man? McMaster ludicrously seems to be suggesting that President Assad, whose ouster has been openly called for by both US and Israeli officials, may be "worse than Hitler," as it were. It is a sign that desperation to remove him is reaching new levels.
Significantly, the talk was given on March 15, which as I say was the 7th anniversary of the outbreak of the war in Syria–and at several points during the program McMaster made reference to a "Syria exhibit" there at the museum.
"The Syria exhibit here at the Holocaust Museum details these horrifying crimes through photographs, film, first person accounts, and other documentary evidence. It is estimated that nearly 500,000 people have perished since the war began," he said.
Throughout, the following image was projected onto a large screen upon the stage from which the general gave his talk:
Question: Why would the Holocaust Museum, an entity presumably devoted to remembering an event in history, insert itself into the contemporary politics of regime change in the Middle East?…
The Palestinian Lioness and the Slap Heard Round the World
Ahed Tamimi
[ Ed. note – Below is a compilation of articles that have been posted in the last 24 hours or so on the arrest of Ahed Tamimi along now with other members of her family.
Ahed was arrested in the pre-dawn hours of Monday morning after slapping an Israeli soldier in the face. The slap heard round the world took place as soldiers were attempting to enter the Tamimi family home and shortly after Ahed's 15-year-old cousin had been shot in the head with a rubber coated steel bullet. According to one of the reports below, from The Intercept, the cousin is now in a "medically-induced coma" following surgery in which doctors "removed the bullet from the boy's skull."
Naftali Bennett, Israeli minister of education, reportedly has called for Ahed to be imprisoned for life.
The articles below include news reports as well as commentaries. ]
Fight Like a Girl, Fight Like Ahed Tamimi
By Romy Haber
The Palestinian theater holds many stories, including the gruesome fairy tale of Ahed Tamimi, the teenager who is not afraid of slapping IDF soldiers to protect her freedom and family. She may have to pay the price.
A child will often prefer to play and stay away from politics, and parents, most of the time, want their kids to be safe. But it's not the case in the Tamimi family. Ahed, the Palestinian lioness chose to be a political activist, to spend her time fighting for her rights and country, she was only 9 years old when she started getting involved in protests, and now she is an icon of the demonstrations held in Nabi Saleh.
"We cannot teach our children silence; they must fight for their freedom." Said Bilal Tamimi, her uncle.
Ahed Tamimi is not the only courageous Palestinian to fight and protest, her fame began in 2012 when a video of her ,yelling at soldiers twice her size when they arrested her older brother ,went viral. It led to her winning the "Handala Courage Award". And the curly haired teenager kept on fighting to resist occupation until she became a dangerous threat to Israel.
How a Palestinian Girl from an Occupied Village Emasculated the Israeli Army
By Yossi Gurvitz
Ahed Tamimi exposed the brittleness of the IDFs' supporters' masculinity – and the true purpose of hasbara
Last Friday, as part of the ongoing operations of the Israeli military dictatorship in support of the settlers, an IDF gunman fired a rubber-coated bullet into the head of Muhammad Tamimi, aged 15, in the Palestinian village of Nabi Salah.…
Do You Hold Dual Citizenship? You Can Serve in Congress–but not the Israeli Knesset!
A few days ago I posted an article entitled Zionists Form Group to Promote Kurdish Statehood, about the latest efforts underway to carve up the Middle East. In the course of researching that article I made a rather interesting discovery: that Israel has a law prohibiting holders of dual citizenship from serving in the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
Needless to say, we need such a law here in the US, but of course anyone who suggests this gets accused of anti-Semitism.
A couple of years ago when talk show host Diane Rhem interjected a discussion about dual Israeli citizenship into an interview with Senator Bernie Sanders, Rhem was subjected to withering criticism. The ADL, among others, jumped into the fray, accusing Rhem of playing into "classic anti-Semitic charges of dual loyalty," and the talk show host was forced to issue an apology.
And this kind of thing doesn't just happen in America. When an official in South Africa proposed a law that would revoke South African citizenship under certain circumstances, one of them being if dual citizens were to serve in the armed forces of the other country, the reaction from South African Jews was about what you'd expect:
South African Jewish community leaders have expressed outrage at an African National Congress (ANC) official's recent announcement of possible plans to ban dual citizenship.
While Obed Bapela, head of the ANC's national executive committee's subcommittee on international relations, has countered that the idea includes anybody with dual citizenship without discrimination, the South African Jewish Board of Deputies and South African Zionist Federation have issued a joint communication condemning the move as discriminatory towards Jews.
But dual citizens are banned from serving in the Israeli Knesset and no one seems to get too upset over it.
In my article of a few days ago, I mentioned a Knesset member by the name of Ksenia Svetlova, who is passionately advocating the formation of a Kurdish state. According to a Times of Israel article, Svetlova held dual Israeli-Russian citizenship until 2015, when she was elected to the Knesset, at which time she was forced to formally renounce her Russian citizenship.
"While Israelis may hold dual citizenship, a Basic Law passed in 1958 states that Knesset members cannot pledge allegiance as parliamentarians unless their foreign citizenship has been revoked under the laws of that country," the article states.
Another Israeli politician, who was elected at the same time as Svetlova is Rachel Azaria, who was also forced to renounce her foreign citizenship–in the US!…
US War Games on Korean Peninsula Set to Start Tomorrow
The so-called "Ulchi-Freedom Guardian" war games, an exercise involving tens of thousands of US and South Korean troops, are to get underway tomorrow–curiously on the same day a major solar eclipse will slice across the US.
The war games will see forces deployed on the land, in the sea, and in the air. Sputnik has published an article on the games that includes a quote from the North Korean news site Rondong Simmun. Here is a bit from the Russian report:
The Ulchi Freedom Guardian exercises set to start on Monday, plus the new sanctions on North Korea by the US and the UN, are making things worse instead of easing tensions on the peninsula, the Pyongyang organ Rodong Sinmun said in a Sunday editorial, Yonhap reports.
Indeed, the exercises are "reckless behavior driving the situation into the uncontrollable phase of a nuclear war," Rodong Sinmun warned.
"The joint exercise is the most explicit expression of hostility against us, and no one can guarantee that the exercise won't evolve into actual fighting," the paper warned. "If the United States is lost in a fantasy that war on the peninsula is at somebody else's door far away from them across the Pacific, it is far more mistaken than ever."
Sputnik puts the number of troops participating in the exercise as "at least 75,000." The war games are scheduled to run through August 31. The chances of some sort of "incident" setting off a major confrontation appear to be high. Russia and China have both proposed an agreement under which the North would cease missile tests if the US would stop its military exercises on the Korean peninsula. The US has refused.
And not only that, but Sputnik reports that a number of US allies, including the UK, Australia, Canada, Columbia, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand, are all planning to participate in the war games as well.
The Rodong Simmun has an English website that can be found here. An article published on Wednesday reports on a visit made to a DPRK military command center by Kim Jong Un. The article mentions a possible attack upon Guam. Here is a brief excerpt:
Then he listened to General Kim Rak Gyom's decision on the Strategic Force's plan for an enveloping fire at Guam at the command post.
He examined the plan for a long time and discussed it with the commanding officers in real earnest.
'The Breath of God in Palestinian Children'–Christian Group Adopts Resolution on Israel
[ Ed. note – A very welcomed resolution has been adopted by the General Synod of the United Church of Christ. ]
By Anthony Mujaes
United Church of Christ | July 3, 2017
The General Synod of the United Church of Christ is calling for an end to what is being described as "traumatic" practices by Israeli military against Palestinian children.
A resolution, brought forward by 16 individual UCC churches, calls on the state of Israel to guarantee Palestinian children younger than age 18 their basic due process rights and to prohibit any use of torture or ill-treatment of detained juveniles in the occupied territories. Needing two-thirds of the votes from General Synod 2017 delegates, that resolution easily had the necessary support, with 79 percent of the votes in favor.
"The matter of this resolution hits home for me, when a 16-year-old Palestinian America from my home town (Tampa) was beaten unconscious and bloodied by Israeli police — who were never charged. His family has received no justice," said Lorrin Sheppard, a delegate from the Florida Conference. "Unfortunately, his story is like many others."
An estimated 500 to 700 Palestinian children are arrested by Israeli military personnel each year, charged with a crime and prosecuted in a military court system — instead of a civilian court system that is afforded to Israeli children.
"This resolution is about the breath of God in Palestinian children,"said Catherine Alder, a delegate of the Central Pacific Conference. "What is happening to them is against international law and against the law of love."
This year is the 50th year of Israel's occupation of the occupied territories — the West Bank (the land to the west of the Jordan River), Gaza (a strip of land along the Mediterranean Sea that borders Egypt and Israel) and East Jerusalem — that it captured in 1967.
Proponents of the resolution — including the UCC Palestine-Israel Network (UCC-PIN), a grassroots group of UCC ministers and lay leaders seeking a just peace between the two peoples — believe that the occupation has created two separate legal systems. Jewish children living in the occupied territories who are arrested are prosecuted through civil courts because they are citizens of Israel.
"These two legal systems treat children of the same age committing the same infraction quite differently," said the Rev. Leslie Schenk, chair of the committee that reviewed the resolution and pastor of Plymouth Congregational UCC in Madison, Wis. "As a young person said eloquently said during our discussion, 'It seems like this should have come out a long time ago.…
Erasing Palestinian Identity with a 'Museum of Tolerance'
[ Ed. note – Back in late February/early March I posted a couple of articles on the Mamilla Cemetery in Jerusalem. The cemetery dates back some 1,400 years, and many Palestinians who are alive today have ancestors that are buried there. But the cemetery has been slated to become the site of a "Museum of Tolerance" that is being built by the Simon Wiesenthal Center with the support and approval of the Israeli government.
The article below by Aya Hijazi provides an update on where things currently stand with that project as well as some information on how the "museum of tolerance," as it were, is being viewed, ironically, as an attack upon Palestinian culture and identity. Hijazi describes it as "spacio-cide," a term which encompasses "urbicide" (violence or destruction upon a city) as well as "memoricide" (erasing memories of the past), and which, Hijazi argues, "provides a holistic description of Israeli colonial practices."
Hijazi writes from a Muslim perspective, and if the article has a shortcoming it is that she fails to mention that Christians are buried in Mamilla as well. However, for those interested in the cemetery's Christian past, I recommend you read my March 3 article, "A Massacre of Christians By Jews: 614 A.D.–An Untold Chapter of History." The post includes an article by Israel Shamir who refers to the year 614 as "the most dreadful year in the history of Palestine until the Twentieth Century," and who relates how Jews joined forces with an invading army of Persians that year to slaughter large numbers of Christians living in Jerusalem. As I commented:
Christians should ponder the manner in which historical narratives are often manipulated, and should ask themselves why this chapter of history is not more widely known. They should ask themselves something else as well: how insulting, offensive, and provocative is it for a Jewish organization like the Simon Weisenthal Center to propose building a "museum of tolerance" on top of a graveyard containing the bodies of thousands of Christians who were slaughtered by Jews?
The sign shown in the photo above, which has the museum opening in 2017, is slightly off in its projected date. As you will read below, the project has been beset with numerous delays brought on by a variety of factors including the resignation of architects. According to the author, the museum now "is scheduled to be finished in spring of 2018, to coincide with the seventieth anniversary celebration of Israel's Independence Day."…
commentary Video
The Stuxnet Connection to Fukushima
[ Ed. note – Normally Dane Wigington of Geoengineering Watch doesn't have a lot to say about Israel. But in this, the most recent installment of his weekly radio show, Wigington gets into a lengthy discussion not only about the UN Security Council resolution on Israeli settlements but also the likely connection between Stuxnet and the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
The Stuxnet computer worm is believed to have been developed by the US and Israel. While its first use likely took place in 2009, in an operation targeting Iranian nuclear facilities, the story didn't come to light until the following year. One of the earliest articles on it was this piece published in ZDNet on September 14, 2010. I am including, among the articles posted below, a piece by a Japanese writer reporting that Stuxnet had been found on 63 personal computers in Japan. That piece was published originally on October 5, 2010. The Fukushima nuclear disaster occurred just over five months later.
Stuxnet was presumably developed specifically to target Iranian nuclear plants, but it seems to have gotten loose, spread around the world, ending up, finally, causing a calamity at the Fukushima nuclear plant in Japan. The Iranians dodged the bullet for the most part, while the Japanese got hit with a tragedy they are still dealing with today.
In the radio show, Wigington points out the all-too-obvious hypocrisy, namely the Obama administration's angry denunciations of unproven allegations of Russian hacking of the US presidential election–while the very same administration is guilty of having launched a cyber attack on Iranian nuclear facilities–an act of war essentially. I am reproducing below the three articles Wigington cites in his discussion on Stuxnet, plus the additional one I found on the discovery of the Stuxnet worm in Japan five months before the nuclear disaster. ]
Obama Order Sped Up Wave of Cyber Attacks Against Iran
NY Times, June 1, 2012
WASHINGTON — From his first months in office, President Obama secretly ordered increasingly sophisticated attacks on the computer systems that run Iran's main nuclear enrichment facilities, significantly expanding America's first sustained use of cyberweapons, according to participants in the program.
Mr. Obama decided to accelerate the attacks — begun in the Bush administration and code-named Olympic Games — even after an element of the program accidentally became public in the summer of 2010 because of a programming error that allowed it to escape Iran's Natanz plant and sent it around the world on the Internet.…
Late in the afternoon…
"Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its twigs get tender and its leaves come out, you know that summer is near. Even so, when you see all these things, you know that it is near, right at the door. "
The Memoirs of Saint John: When the Sandstone Crumbles is my latest book.
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Foundation Trains 1000 Health Workers in Kwara
Freshinsight May 31, 2021 in Health, News Tagged Kwara state government, Toyin Saraki, Wellbeing Foundation Africa - 4 Minutes
No fewer than 1000 health workers ranging from doctors, nurses and community health workers have benefitted from the emergency obstetrics and Newborn care (EMONC) training organised by Johnson and Johnson(JnJ), the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine (LSTM) and the wellbeing foundation Africa (WBFA).
Speaking at the training of Improving the availability and quality of maternal and Newborn care in Kwara state, Nigeria, the senior technical officer maternal and newborn health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine center for maternal and newborn health LSTM.
Dr. Hauwa Mohammed said " The statistics of maternal mortality rate is not good the statistics are the same women still die in the community women that attended antenatal Care are very high but when it come to delivery only few, less than ten percent that attended antenatal Care that come out deliver which mean they are delivering somewhere else the maternal mortality ratio in Nigeria is still high and we have a lot of work to do.
"Now there is a lot of improvement, we still need to continue with education as some still trust traditional attendant. We have set up quality improvement theme especially in the primary health care, we try to get somebody in the community like the community leader, to be part of the theme so that they would take the news back to the community. On the things responsible for low turn out of women in delivery she "said many factors resulted to the low turn out but we have introduce respectful maternity care concept.
"You know if a woman deliver with a traditional birth attendant her mother will come in, she will be there robbing her back her husband will be allowed in, there is no space and is just a small place but with respectful maternity care concept people know you can not allow companion during a labour and she can assume any position she want to deliver but with traditional birth attendant you can deliver squatting down, you can sit down you can stand up you can do whatever you want and that is part of respectful mortality care as long as there is no complication the woman has no problem women can have support during labour delivery and choose the position they want to deliver I'm sure with that it will improve." She said.
Speaking further, the national program lead of wellbeing foundation Dr Otun Adewale noted that health workers that are managing mothers and baby are well trained and given the required skills they are likely to deliver better.
"This is the first time we are having such opportunities in Nigeria facilitated by Her Excellency Toyin Ojora-Saraki in 2015. The program we are doing today is just like a round off of the programmes that have been on for over 5 years.
"The program has recorded 38 percent reduction in maternal death, pregnancy related issues, we have also trained closed to 1000 health workers across doctors, nurses community health workers we have trained all of them.
"The ripple effect of it is that they would go back to their facilities and train more people on this. The program has also donated ten skills labs for hospital in Kwara state whereby hospital management board can also work on that in training and retraining new recruit and other staff that has not been trained
"Other Ministry of health should key into in training their health workers as a result of brain drained we dont have enough doctors, nurses are going enmarses, when you train the little ones you are rest assured that the little people on ground will be well equipped and they would know what to do at the right time government should key into it make use of the materials given to them and invest more in training their health workers as it will go a long way to help." He added.
The Kwara state Commissioner for health noted that training has brought development to health system in the state as the skills acquired is germane given the laudible equipment which would go a long way as the importance would be known during practical.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries of the training programme, Dr Akorede Kami from general hospital Omu-Aran Irepodun local government area of Kwara state Expressed delight on the programme as they would key into the training programme and train others.
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Me & You (More Than Meets the Eye)
I read an article posted to facebook by a friend of mine this morning called, "Laziness Does Not Exist, But Unseen Barriers Do". The author makes many good points that I can relate to both personally and professionally. Usually, there is more to the story if we care enough to lay down the gavel and listen.
The author, a professor, writes about her experience with teaching students who struggle and her journey in learning more about why this is. She argues against rigid academic boundaries and shares success stories about a student who was misunderstood.
I know what it's like to misunderstood.
I was one of "these" students the author writes about. The experience of this educator reminds me of a fundamental concept in 12-step literature which I have written about before. Page 417 of the Big Book state's, "Acceptance is the answer to all my problems today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing, or situation-some fact of my life-unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing, or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment."
I was once labeled with a disability by a professor due to my visual style of learning and thinking. Here is a blog I wrote about it a few weeks ago. Persistence: https://theselfdiscoveryplace.com/…/youll-never-pass-my-cla…
I like when the author writes, "It's really helpful to respond to a person's ineffective behavior with curiosity rather than judgment." I try to do this by saying "help me understand..." when I feel confused by someone else. Nine times out of ten, there's a legitimate contextual explanation from their perspective.
To be honest in what I have come to believe in working with many problem situations (addiction, homelessness, suicidal ideation, depression, failing marriages, etc.), personal responsibility (agency) has a role in addition to situational factors. Personal agency is often the energizing force to persist, and perhaps overcome the tyranny of constraints, whatever form they may take (i.e.biological, social, psychological) .
Personal agency may be limited to the hopes, dreams, goals, faith, and willingness to fight one more day by showing up to class, but that's more powerful than many believe! It's like the flame that fuels the fight against all odds and ends up changing the world. It's the story of our greatest heroes. It provides meaning on the darkest of days.
It's not either-or. It's both-and. It's me and it's you. There's always more to the story.
But sometimes there is the question of blame when bad things happen. Do I blame the individual or the system? It helps me to think of them as two sides of the same coin. Whichever side you present in an "exchange" is embraced because it highlights the obvious. Without seeing the other side, it's not uncommon to wonder if we have been cheated with a fake.
*please forgive the grammar, I had situational constraints ;)
Authentically,
Robert A Dunn, MMFT
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← Happy 7th Birthday, C.J.!
Friday Fodder: HRC and Me Edition →
My Son Has Discovered Figure Skating
Posted on February 12, 2014 by raisingmyrainbow
Photo: USA Today Sports
In mid-January, one of my friends posted on my Facebook wall:
Friend: I was watching that viral video of Jason Brown ice skating, and I had this sudden realization that your son is about to experience Olympic-level ice skating.
Me: He doesn't even know what he's in for. I am ridiculously excited.
Friend: It's gonna be life-changing.
My friend was right — probably because if he lived closer and were 30 years younger, he and C.J. would be inseparable and a fierce force to be reckoned with.
I waited weeks for the Olympics to get underway and set the DVR to record. Over the weekend, Matt and I sat down with our sons to watch the games.
Chase loved the snowboarding and skiing events. C.J. only loved them when somebody crashed. Which is rude, but honest, I guess.
When figure skating came on, I watched C.J.
"Is this still the Olympics?" he asked confused. How could we have possibly gone from barreling down a mountain on a board to dancing gracefully on glimmering ice?
We were watching Meryl Davis and Charlie White compete for the U.S.
"Are they in love?" C.J. asked me.
"If they kiss we'll know for sure that they are in love," he assured me. They never kissed. They must not be in love.
Photo: Ottowa Sun
We watched Canada's Kaetlyn Osmond perform.
"She's really good," I said when she was finished. Stating the obvious.
"Well, she's 18, what do you expect?!" he said as he turned to give me an exasperated look. When he took his eyes off of the screen the judges delivered her results.
"Go back, go back, go back! I want to see her skirt and her score!"
I grabbed my laptop and pulled up the video of Jason Brown's long program at the U.S. National Championships last month.
"Wait. A. Minute. I love his ponytail and glitter costume. I like his style," C.J. exclaimed.
He watched the video, entranced for seven minutes and 22 seconds. At one point he was clapping as he watched.
"What are they throwing at him?!" he asked at the end.
"Cause they liked him so much."
"Awwwwwwwwweeeeeee……."
At night, while C.J. was in bed, I watched Jason Brown skate the same performance at the Olympics. It was perfect, except that he had a small fall. My heart broke, for Jason and my son.
The next night C.J. wanted to watch Jason Brown at the Olympics, so I turned it on. C.J. watched the television and I watched C.J.
Jason fell.
"What? What was that?! What just happened? Was that part of the routine?" C.J asked not taking his eyes off of the screen.
"No, he fell. And, then he picked himself up and kept on going.
"Well, it's okay, maybe nobody noticed. Yeah, maybe nobody noticed. Maybe everybody thought that was one of his fancy tricks," C.J. said trying assure himself that everything was going to be okay.
It was time for Jason's score. 153 point something.
"Well that's good. Anything over 100 is really good because 100 is a lot." C.J.'s hand was on his chest in relief. We know nothing about figure skating scoring, but Jason was smiling and seemed happy so we were too.
My friend Nerdy Apple sent us a video of Jason Brown skating at the Olympics with fart noises strategically overlaid. Farting Figure Skating. I tried to show it to only Chase, but Chase was laughing so loudly that nosey C.J. came running downstairs inquiring about what was so funny.
"Show him, show him, you've got to show him!" Chase said through a crying, pee-your-pants laughter.
I showed C.J.
"Is that for real? Was he farting the whole time?" he asked very seriously.
"No, it's a joke. He wasn't farting."
It took a minute for him to accept it and get over the shock. Then he smiled.
"Play it again," he said.
I did and he laughed too. A fart joke aficionado, C.J. now loves Jason Brown even more.
About raisingmyrainbow
RaisingMyRainbow.com is a blog about the adventures in raising a fabulous, gender creative son.
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This entry was posted in All Posts and tagged Figure Skating, gender creative, gender nonconforming, Gender Stereotypes, Jason Brown, Kaetlyn Osmond, LGBTQ, Olympics, Sochi Olympics. Bookmark the permalink.
28 Responses to My Son Has Discovered Figure Skating
Pingback: My Son Has Discovered Figure Skating And Jason Brown / Queerty
Cheryl Elliot says:
I loved Jason Brown's Nationals routine, too, but I also enjoyed that Sage guy who slopestyle snowboarded – whatever that is! – and I must confess to being a Curling Nerd going back more than ten years. According to Twitter, it was the most Tweeted about sport! (Facebook said they got more Hockey comments.)
Jessi says:
Jason Brown is a wonderful person- a great skater, set a goal to make sure to finish high school before moving for skating, has stayed with the same coach his whole life despite pressure to move to a 'better' coach, and just seems so down to Earth in interviews- he's a great role model for your son.
Figure skating is such a fun sport. Maybe C.J. will end up skating himself! He might be upset that if he competes men are not allowed to wear a skirt though. But there is no limit on the sparkle!
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Gillian Brent says:
When I was young, and the 1976 Winter Olympics were on, I watched with awe as John Curry skated. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Curry Even when he was just doing the compulsory figures, he was beautiful to watch. Even doing the simplest turn or move, he did it perfectly and with such grace. And he did everything cleanly, without unnecessary flourishes, and made figure skating his own.
Spydermonkey says:
I've spent a lot of time watching the great skaters, But I never had Ice to skate on growing up… Then I found Inline skates 🙂 ! ¡ Now I can skate like the ice skaters where ever I want, What ever the Temp. (as long as the weather isn't Like this week *berrrr*
Andy in Thailand says:
Go awesome family.
There is nothing better than a fart joke…at 67 years not months.
Chase and CJ…and you, the parents, the best. Made me laugh out loud.
Lady Lilith says:
Your son sounds really adorable.
Kylie Ball says:
Oh Lori! My CJ is in Heaven too! He knows nothing about figure skating (We dont get much snow or ice down here in OZ). He is desperate now to take Figure Skating lessons, because he said he saw "Peppa and George on Peppa Pig and they could do it!" Well, the closest sakting centre is one hour and many dollars away from possible for us, so we will have to find a compromise, but to see everything he loves ( glitter, grace, romance, music, dancing, elegance…), all wrapped up in one neat (and the best in the world level) parcel, really has his heart dancing too! Thanks for sharing. xx
Awww, he could take figure skating lessons! And he wouldn't be the only boy. My brother did and then a friend in high school did partner skating competitively.
Laura McCarthy says:
Pippa Pirrip says:
If you can, I would suggest looking up videos of Johnny Weir from last time (he's doing commentary this go round.) 4 years ago, I dubbed him Johnny Fabulous because he's exactly that: Fabulous! He's fabulously talented, fabulously attired (on & off the ice) & has a fabulous attitude. I adore everything about him.
Here's his (winning) Improv Ice performance from 2011. CJ will -love- this outfit! (How could anyone not???)
scientiste says:
Agreed! I love Johnny Weir!
Mark J says:
Hate to get all political, but Mr. Weir has been an apologist for the anti-gay laws and policies of Russia. The gender-bending Mr. Weir has continued to support the thugs in Russia as they beat up and molest gender non-conforming men (no women that I know of). As the Russian police stand idly by turn blind eye and the Russian legislature outlaws homosexuality, Mr. Weir calmly states that he has no problem with it all.
Really??? I had no idea. I honestly haven't watched anything from the games this year as my own (small, so very small) protest against the anti-gay laws in Russia. I've seen photos of him there, but all I knew was that he was doing some kind of commentary. That is a shame, I'm sad to hear it.
I have to comment on this; Johnny Weir has not been supportive of the anti-gay laws and does not accept the policy in Russia. The reason why one might think he does, is because he has always been a Russia fan (arts and culture, language), he speaks fluent Russian and was married to a Russian(-American?) man.
The stuff he said was prior to the Olympics, and he asked people not to make the Olympics political. He asked people to support peaceful Games so the athletes would have the peace they needed for their highlight of the season and a competition they have been training for since 2010, for 4 long years. It's not the athletes' fault the host country is making bad and discriminating politics and the bad decision (to give Russia the Games to begin with) was made way earlier. I can understand that some people might feel frustrated when asked to give some space in between judging Russian politics, but aren't the athletes more important?
Johnny was in Sotchi, commenting the figuer skating competition for an American tv station.
Johnny Weir is one of the most openly gay men there are in figure skating scene (or should I say were, because he ended his active career) and has been a wonderful influence on other skaters. Let's not forget all the good he's done.
he is so cute !! my son loves skating also. he wants a outfit for himself !! these boys have great views!!
scassandralverde says:
I love this guy ! =)
Dan Woog says:
Time to dig up an old Johnny Weir video!
kaden says:
Show CJ some of Johnny Weirs figure skating routeins, he will love Johnny (who is now the commentator for NBCs coverage of the ice skating and is known for doing gentle and creative routeins and fighting against the notion that figure skating for men is all about power and big jumps, I think his story could be something CJ really connects to and CJ will go mad for his fashion sense on and off the ice)
urbanmythcafe says:
This is your nicest post ever.
Andrew McFarland Campbell says:
Does he like ballet? I love Matthew Bourne's Nutcracker! and his Sleeping Beauty. I think CJ might like them too. They are available on DVD.
pepibebe says:
What a perfect role model for him! A guy who has a pony tail, wears fabulous glittery outfits and has found his niche to huge acclaim.
NotoriousDSG says:
Figure skating and fart jokes?!?!? Just when I think you and your kids couldn't get any more awesome…
'Angela' (John) says:
You had me laughing out loud too. You show CJ to be so extraordinary, and at the same time so ordinary 'kid next door', and I admire the way that you maintain that balance. It's exactly right.
Lance says:
My mom hasn't caught up on the skating, which she loves so much. She's gonna be crushed when she sees that he fell.
Lori Quaresimo says:
Awww your son is soooo damn cute! He has such a big heart! I love him and never even met him! He's gonna grow up with the nicest personality! Everyone's gonna love him!
Awww your son is soooo damn cute! He has such a big heart!


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I bought this to replace one that left my fifth wheel along with the tire and rim due to loose lug nuts. I finally found a replacement rim and this center cup to put it back to near new. It is a near perfect replacement and well made. Would recommend to anyone for a replacement cap on a 16x6 8 lug rim.


You have received a Golden Orb!!!
This is a gift for A-L-L of you! Consider it a small reward, a bundle X Mas/New Year's/3 Kings/Canda Day gift. Now, this item is currently worthless. It's basically a meter, a gauge on your performance in main. This item can be traded in at certain times (which I will announce) for a prize (rare or regular). Once used, it will return to neutral, the Golden Orb. Your performance will either make your stone better or worse. When you surpass a certain level (good or bad), the orb will change into something new. However, it won't be easy to make changes to it, so it takes an effort. Be alert, and enjoy!!!!
EDIT: Night or Gingi, could you please make this an Announcement?
Thank you Cyphie!! ^^, but you forgot Candlemas.
Cyph, does this golden-orby thingy include the new members (like myself) or those who've returned, like Zan for instance?
Yes, it does. Enjoy all!


Guys, we have a library in severe need — their AC unit was stolen, but you can help them buy a new one. Every dollar counts!
It's always sad when a giant of children's literature passes, and Donald J. Sobol is no exception. Encyclopedia Brown lives on in our memory, and I know my kids will be reading them when they're ready!
Things always get altered when a book is adapted to a movie. Here are illustrations of the changes some Harry Potter characters went through: Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Snape. Very cute!
Pretty sure the answer to this one is "yes." But I haven't read it, so I'm just going by the gossip. Have you read it?
What's the best way to move books from one library to another? A human chain, of course. Pretty brilliant!
Bookmobiles are so photogenic, don't you think? Thanks, Janice!
As if you didn't know — librarians are rocking out! Seems like everything happens in Brooklyn these days, doesn't it?
Here's a fun video showing what you can do with a LOT of books!
It's the question that has been driving you crazy for years: If Elizabeth and Jessica Wakefield could text, what would they say to each other? The answer is finally here!
Little Free Libraries are making a difference in this midwestern community, thanks to one dedicated woman. (Thanks to Sara for the link.) And okay, fine, here is the same thing, but happening in the magical land of Brooklyn (which also has public libraries).
Thanks for reading, and let me know what great library and literary items you stumble across. Have a great week, everybody!


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New Loan Opportunities When You Or I Will Need a Loan
admin September 6, 2021 My Blog 0
Envision that you essentially sit at the small advances work area at the neighborhood bank. A fashionable client strolls up and requests to acquire $5000; "I will require an advance," he says; "I must have it to pay out off my charge card obligations, and I'm willing to pay out you 20% on this advance." He has sensible credit, however a thing concerning the circumstance doesn't sound good to you. In case he's paying 20% premium just to repay an extra advance, how could this be even guide them save something? Possibly this is the way you'd think sitting behind a work area at the bank, yet evidently, in case you're on the web attempting to discover a spot to stop your extra money, you'll simply offer it to any individual who asks just for the most part since he vows to dish out you 10-15% premium, which you figure is twice what you'd get around the securities exchanges.
They call this individual to-individual loaning; you simply go through a classifieds site that does a particular measure of confirming for borrowers who need to list their necessities, and you send your cash more than to any individual who inquires. The return appears to be incredible to the point that you simply feel like it would be a disgrace to destroy this favorable luck, overwhelming something extraordinary. This entire idea was set off by the internet startup Prosper.com. What's more, did they thrive! At the point when they set up for business several years prior, some way or another, the Wall Street Journal and Time magazine raved concerning the inventiveness of free enterprise. Individuals would request advances for that most interesting things – someone would set up a note around the site and say,"I require a credit to set up an organization making and selling new plans on the Internet", or "I need to need to acquire a nose task finished", or something different. Indeed, even Harvard private company survey couldn't quit appreciating the creativity, all things considered, There had been soon other Net organizations that surfaced to follow this endeavor model.
You'll feel that these magazines and experts on finance, when they held forward on this idea, finished and verify whether they had been appropriate, and if individual to-individual advancing truly managed job inside this present reality. Indeed, this surely says one thing regarding how capable the announcing at these magazines is. The author on the Prosper site is delighted whenever he tips the scales at a meeting for the inventiveness, all things considered, In case America was inside the center the credit emergency where nobody could get an advance, people simply expected to go and mournfully say I will require an advance – and an advance they would get. If by some stroke of good luck people could trust each other because of locales 직장인대출 like Prosper.com, the financial slump and other such issues could be set suitable.
Yet, really, this has been attempted previously: it is called subprime loaning. The banks did precisely this inside the most recent couple of years – make credits at exorbitant premium and low security. They added to enormous obligations and couldn't recuperate credits. In a ton of cases the banks went under for their offenses. The equivalent went for the lodging organization as well. This specific loaning site has connected almost $200 million up until now; on the off chance that I need to have a credit that I'm willing to fork out such exorbitant financing costs for, regularly it's principally on the grounds that I have no idea how to function my numbers. Furthermore, I'm probably going to have myself into an opening actually rapidly. Around 1 out of three borrowers on these sites regularly defaults. Furthermore, the singular bank, the housewife who has a little extra money, the retired person who thinks he needs to face this challenge to endure, these individuals ended up with regards to the road for the difficulty of confiding in outsiders for reasons unknown.
Possibly, from the beginning, people were hypnotized by the thought of simply giving over their money to any individual who strolled up and said the enchantment words "I will require an advance", however today there is a lot of data on how awfully the loan specialists are hurting for having believed this association practice. Simply rehashing on a limited scale the terrible and less than ideal eager organization rehearses in the huge investors, won't ever haul the country out of its downturn. Regardless, it could delve it in more profound.…
Integrate Fun and Learning with Online Games
With internet games turning into the new popular pastime, it is no big surprise why instructors are taking figuring out how to an alternate level. It's constantly been a disappointing position for guardians to con their youngsters into playing instructive games. The last thing anybody needs to do is push their children farther away from learning. Fortunately, PC game makers have tracked down another approach to receptive outlooks, without asking and pay off.
As of now, there are many free internet games. From cards to learning ABC's – there are numerous chances to learn while you play. Regardless of how old you or your kids are, there are many distinctive web based games to assist you with finding out about a specific subject. For instance, in the event that you have small kids and need them to get amped up for learning, you can without much of a stretch download web based games. More often than not you can download games free of charge, albeit a straightforward enrollment might be required. In any case, the most straightforward approach to discover a genuine website is to look on Google "for nothing internet games."
The coolest part about this new type of instructive amusement 안전놀이터 주소 is that there are explicit games for various age gatherings. For example, a few sites, for example, Funschool.com separate the games into segments. In case you are a preschooler, there are animation manufacturers and rhyming games. There are additionally different segments for kindergarten and primary school. This will sharpen your kid's abilities and permit them to have some good times while they are doing it. The main thing about this new type of instruction is that it educators your youngster that learning ought to consistently be enjoyable. This not exclusively will remain in their mind's as they get more seasoned, however they may likewise procure another adoration for a subject they wouldn't ordinarily be keen on.
Fortunately, regardless of whether you are more established than a striving adolescent, there are likewise games for you to play. It isn't remarkable for young people to experience difficulty getting a handle on specific subjects in school. All things considered, we as a whole battle with Mathematics or History. It is difficult to be wonderful at everything; thusly a free web based game transforms everything into going great. In case you are planning for the SATS, or simply need to improve on a science test, Funbrain.com will take care of you. This site permits you to download many games relying upon what you need to realize. It is an extraordinary method to gain proficiency with those science conditions, without plunking down and concentrate from the book. In any case, it will be a simpler method to compel yourself to realize what you need.
Regardless occurs in the web world, the capacity to play free internet games will be digging in for the long haul. Everybody has for practically forever needed to find a groundbreaking thought that will assist youngsters with understanding troublesome ideas. Fortunately, the advancement is at long last standing firm and subsequently, more kids are having a certain outlook on their capacities. It's an extraordinary inclination to realize that PC games can really incorporate fun and learning into everybody's lives.…
The Best Online Video Games
Technology is the new buzzword. There are many options for technological satisfaction, including smartphones, tablets, GPS devices and digital cameras. And of course, there are a variety of consoles available to satisfy the needs of avid gamers. How do you choose the best video gaming console?
So many gaming consoles are available these days, that buyers often have more questions than answers when choosing the right console. We are now entering a new decade. This means that there will be more video game gadgets to choose from, and therefore more confusion for potential buyers. Let's now focus on the strengths and weaknesses of the three main 7th-generation game consoles: the Sony PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii.
The Sony PlayStation 3 (or simply PS3) is a worthy creation and a significant improvement over its predecessors, the PS2 and PS2. You can play your favorite games on this console. It also offers video chat, DVD and Blu-ray disc reading, digital photo viewing and much more. It's multi-tasking has made it almost as versatile as a smartphone. Although it doesn't have a built in cellular phone yet, it is likely to do so in the near future. It is also great to know that the PS3 can be used with games released for PS2 and PS2. It's good news that many manufacturers continue to create great games for the console. So expect more gaming action in your living room over the next few days. PS3's internet connectivity is the best news. This allows you to connect with PS3's community online at all times.
The Xbox 360 is Microsoft's commendable answer to the public's great demand for 먹튀사이트 주소. It allows players to compete online and you'll love it. This feature allows you to download game demos, arcade and your favorite TV shows and movies. The Xbox 360 Arcade, and the Xbox 360 Elite are the current models. The accessories available for the Xbox 360 include wired and wireless controllers, headset, webcam, microphone (which are convenient for chatting), and dancemats. The Xbox 360 Elite's 120GB storage capacity is sufficient to store many arcade games, high definition movies, tv shows, music, and other media.
The Nintendo Wii is one of the most affordable consoles. Because it offers more healthy and active games that people of all ages can enjoy, the Nintendo Wii has earned the reputation as a "family console". This console is loved by all ages, not just the young. The Nintendo Wii is more than just a place to relax on the couch. You can burn calories by playing the games. The Nintendo Wii is much easier to use than other consoles. It is so easy to use that even people you don't expect to be able to play on a console like the Nintendo Wii (such as your grandparents) will love it.
You now have enough information to help you choose the best console for you entertainment. Wouldn't it be great to have at least one? Make the decision and discover what gamers love!…
5 Great Benefits Attributed to Playing Online Games
Video Game Consoles – What to Look For When Buying
Free Online Games – Invisible Source of Entertainment
Gearing Up For Online Action Games


Once upon a time, young people learned about growing food from their parents, grandparents, other relatives and neighbours: watching, absorbing, and practising the skills and techniques needed to successfully raise plants and turn them into something nutritious and calorific. If advice was needed, there were knowledgeable gardeners close by to glean from. Tips and tricks were shared and expanded upon down the generations.
Key to continued and increasing success is observing your garden with a keen eye, and keeping notes. It's crucial to know exactly when you sowed, fertilised, and harvested last year, and how well your plants fared over the course of the growing season. Doing so helps you make an educated decision about whether to repeat the same tactics or tweak your schedule to achieve an earlier, later, better, or more spread-out harvest.


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cvatter@jaspanllp.com
Developments in Public Bidding in New York
Jaspan Schlesinger Attorneys Score Award of Attorney's Fees for the Town of Riverhead
Christopher E. Vatter
Christopher E. Vatter is a partner in the Firm's Litigation Practice Group. Mr. Vatter focuses his practice on all aspects of complex litigation including construction law and banking litigation. His practice includes contract formation and litigation on behalf of both public and private entities. He also represents financial institutions in foreclosure, collection, loan workout and general litigation.
Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Vatter interned with the Hon. George C. Pratt of the United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, (Ret.). Mr. Vatter also interned with the Hon. Michael F. Mullen, Acting Suffolk County Supreme Court Justice. Mr. Vatter received his Juris Doctor, summa cum laude, from Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center where he was an Editor of the Touro Law Review.
He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Telecommunications Management, magna cum laude, from DeVry Institute of Technology.Mr. Vatter also authored the law review article entitled: New York State Constitutional Decisions: 1999 Compilation: Public Welfare: Supreme Court, New York County: Aliessa v. Whalen (Decided May 17, 1999) (16 Touro L. Rev. 661, Winter 2000) and co-authored the article entitled: Developments in Public Bidding in New York. In 2010, Mr. Vatter was a recipient of the Long Island Business News – "40 Under 40" award.
Mr. Vatter is admitted to practice in the state and federal courts of New York, New Jersey, Florida and West Virginia. In addition, he is a member of New York State Bar Association, Nassau County Bar Association, Suffolk County Bar Association and West Virginia Bar Association, as well as a member of the Nassau County Bar Association's Construction Law Committee.
B.S., DeVry Institute of Technology – 1993
J.D., Touro College, Jacob D. Fuchsberg Law Center summa cum laude – 2001


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Samsung Smart City
April 3, 2021 Rajeev Nadella SOLUTIONS
A world full of smart cities by Samsung
Since 2014, the IESE business school at the University of Navarra in Barcelona has researched cities worldwide (this year, 174 in 80 countries). It compiles them into its Cities in Motion (CIMI) index. It ranks how smart cities are based on various dimensions: human capital, governance, urban planning, mobility and transportation, technology, environment, and others.
In 2020, for the second year in a row, London and New York ranked first and second, respectively. London ranked first in the human capital and international projection dimensions, second in governance and urban planning, and the top 10 for mobility and transportation and technology. New York ranked first in the categories of economy, mobility and transportation, and urban planning. It is also working hard to reduce waste and pollution in the coming decades.
At Busan EDC, it takes a Smart Village.
Samsung C&T Engineering & Construction Group has joined the project of building Korea's smart city to win an order for a "smart village" development project located in Busan EDC. It started in September 2020 it is slated for completion in December 2021, just 15 months later. The smart village will comprise 37 three-story houses and a community center.
Samsung C&T will employ eco-friendly technologies to reduce energy loss and achieve energy independence. For example, energy loss will be minimized by reducing outward-facing surfaces, installing high-efficiency windows and external electric blinds. Greenhouse gas emissions will be reduced by utilizing renewable or eco-friendly forms of energy such as solar, hydrothermal, and geothermal, and by transmitting the excess energy to energy storage systems to consume it at night.
To create a customized residential environment, smart home technologies will be applied to all the dwellings. Samsung C&T has developed an "A.IoT" platform, which combines artificial intelligence with the Internet of Things. This platform will be used in Busan EDC to increase connectivity between systems and devices in the homes. Also, the residential data collected by the platform will be linked with external services such as healthcare, home security services, and energy saving. Furthermore, intelligent video surveillance systems, smart parking controls, and smart crosswalks will be installed in the public spaces of the village to make life more convenient.
Of course, a village is not just about the houses but also the public spacing in between. At Busan EDC, Samsung C&T will create eco-friendly and human-centered landscaping facilities by installing shared yards called "smart play yards" and walkways for pedestrians called "greenways," connecting each house with private gardens and public walkways to turn spaces into communication channels between neighbors. Green spaces in the Smart Village will further be linked to a waterfront park, and species of plants and bushes will be planted that help lower fine dust levels and beautify the landscape each season. The tops of parking lots will be made into terraces to provide elevated outdoor spaces where residents can enjoy the fresh air.
The 37 residences will share common spaces and facilities, which will foster a sense of community, for instance, smart offices, sports facilities, unmanned convenience stores, delivery facilities, robot cafes, and community conference rooms.
The Smart Village development project in Busan EDC will be a significant opportunity for Samsung C&T to be involved in the establishment of technology and infrastructure for building the smart city of the future. We look forward to the smart and sustainable future that Samsung C&T will help to construct.
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Nadia a female model and television performer in Bangladesh film industry .She engaged in modeling and television drama .Her full name is Nadia Ahmed .She is spending a busy time with acting in different dramas .Her all dramas are produced for different TV channels.
I like your drama and your smile.God bless you.
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How are you ? I live in kuwait.I will be at Bangladesh june 2011.I want to meet you.Tell me where? I have a nice gift for you.Take care of yourself.God bless you.
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Hi..how are you? Nadia you so sweet.your dance is very good. I like this.Thank you.


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Research Centre for Health (ReaCH)
SafePod
To keep up to date with the latest news, please follow us on twitter: @GCUReaCH
Podiatry students help athletes put feet first
Podiatry students from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) volunteered at the Special Olympics Great Britain National Summer Games in Sheffield earlier this month.
Physio students get rub of the Green
Building on partnerships with the Scottish Football Association (SFA) and Scottish Rugby Union (SRU), Glasgow Caledonian University physiotherapy students will be providing welcome relief for competitors at the Grand Masters Hockey at Glasgow Green.
New partnership gives power to bright sparks
A drive to boost pupil participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics has received backing from the ScottishPower Foundation.
GCU researchers contribute to UK report on World Hepatitis Day
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) researchers have contributed to a major UK report, which found a recent fall in deaths from hepatitis C as a result of treatment from new direct-acting antiviral drugs.
Podiatry graduate is awarded a prestigious Carnegie Scholarship to study PhD
Podiatry graduate Benedictine Yen Chen Khor has been awarded a prestigious Carnegie Scholarship to return to Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) to work on a PhD.
Researchers conduct longest running postnatal pelvic floor dysfunction study
Researchers from the Nursing, Midwifery and Allied Health Professions Research Unit at Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) are conducting the longest running postnatal pelvic floor dysfunction research project ever, working with women first
A vision for the future as GCU receives donation from leading Scottish company
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU), the only University in Scotland to offer Optometry, has received a boost from the Robert Barr Charitable Trust to further enhance its clinical investigation facility.
GCU welcomes international students to summer school 2017
Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU)'s International Summer School 2017 will begin on July 18, with 120 students of 14 different nationalities travelling to Glasgow to take part over three weeks.
Researchers call for stroke patients for exercise research programme
One fifth of stroke survivors are unable to walk - a group known as 'non-ambulatory' stroke survivors.
Researchers trial care home incontinence treatment
A research team from Glasgow Caledonian University (GCU) is testing the effectiveness of mild electrical stimulation of the leg to reduce incontinence in care homes.
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Pacers 123-Cavs 109: Pacers record important win over LeBron-less Cavs
The Pacers recorded a much needed and important win over a LeBron less Cavs tonight, crushing them 123-109 at the Banker's Life Fieldhouse, Indiana. The Pacers needed this win to maintain some breathing space between themselves, the Bulls and the Pistons as the 3 teams fight for the last 2 playoffs spots of the Eastern Conference. The Pacers have now won 3 games on the trot and have virtually booked a playoffs berth unless they experience a late collapse and the Bulls make a strong finish to the season. The Pacers are now 42-36 and occupy the 7th place of the Eastern Conference, leading the Pistons in the final playoffs spot by half a game and the Bulls in the 9th spot by 3 whole games with 4 games to go in the regular season. The Cavs meanwhile chose to give LeBron a night off as the post season approaches. This games showed just how dependent they are on the superstar. LeBron has been in monstrous form of late, lifting the Cavs to wins in recent games single handedly. The Cavs couldn't win this without him. They are now 56-23 and lead the 2nd placed Raptors by 3 games with 3 games to go, virtually clinching the Eastern Conference title.
Paul George was once again the main man for the Pacers as he took responsibility and led his team with 29 points, 5 rebounds and an assist. C.J.Miles added 21 points and 3 rebounds off the bench, with a 75% shooting from behind the arc. Ian Mahinmi added 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists. Solomon Hill ended the game with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 3 steals, coming off the bench. Monta Ellis had 13 points, 6 rebounds and 8 assists. George Hill had 9 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. The Pacers shot an excellent 56.3% from the field and 51.6% from behind the arc.
Kyrie Irving led the scoring for the Cavs as he recorded 26 points, 6 assists and 3 steals. Kevin Love had a better games as he recorded 23 points and 5 rebounds. J.R.Smith had 10 points and 2 assists. Channing Frye added 10 points and 3 rebounds off the bench. Richard Jefferson had 10 points, 4 rebounds and 2 steals coming off the bench. Tristan Thompson had 9 points and 5 rebounds off the bench. The Cavs offense struggled mightily as they shot a poor 27.6% from behind the arc tonight.
The game started off with both the teams scoring at ease and neither was able to pull away until late in the first quarter. The Pacers made a 7-0 run late in the quarter and the Cavs replied with an 8-4 run. The Pacers took the first, 36-33. The Pacers made a huge 14-0 run midway through the 2nd to take a commanding 14 point lead. Jordan and Solomon Hill scored 9 of these points, all coming from behind the arc. The Pacers took the 2nd 34-28 and went into the break leading 70-61. The 3rd quarter saw the Pacers maintain the 9 point margin for a while. They then went off on a 13-4 run towards the end as they extended their lead to 18. Paul George scored 9 of these points, all from behind the arc again. The Pacers took the 3rd 26-21 and went into the final quarter, leading 96-82. The 4th quarter couldn't separate the teams as the Cavs couldn't mount a proper attempt at comeback. It ended 27-27 and the Pacers closed out the game, 123-109.
Next up for the Pacers is a difficult trip to the 2nd placed Raptors on Friday. The Cavs meanwhile face the Bulls away on Saturday.
Phalgun Parvathaneni
Basketball, C.J.Miles, cavs, Kevin Love, Kyrie Irving, LeBron James, Monta Ellis, nba, pacers, Paul George
Thank you Kobe
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Q: Rotating a circle image shifts it's position I am trying to rotate a circle image using jquery rotate plugin. But, I observe that the circle image appears to be oscillating about it's center while rotating. Something like a linear movement.
In IE7, it's pretty much observable. In Chrome/Firefox, if you zoom a bit, this wobbling issue can be observed.
I tried to rotate the image using Raphael library too. But still, the circle was wobbling.
Then I rotated the image with a c# program to see if the problem is with the browsers' graphic engine. But even here this issue is observed. I even took various images to see if the circle was imperfect. But, all the images show this behavior.
Can this be happening because of anti aliasing? Or, is it just an optical illusion?
If not, then what else can be the reason?
I am using jqueryrotate plugin rotate method to do this. $('#circleimg').rotate(Position);

A: Check this jsFiddle.  Btw, this is the kind of source code you can include yourself in your question to make answering it easier for others.
http://jsfiddle.net/KyJzQ/
I used this rotate plugin since you did not specify which one you used.
HTML

JAVASCRIPT
var rot = 0;

window.setInterval(function() {
    $('#circleimg').rotate(rot);
    $('#circleimg2').rotate(rot);
    rot += 1;
    },
    5
);

I think the circle you've provided is not actually a perfect circle, hence the tiny "oscillations" you see.
I added another circle that I rendered myself.  If you zoom in closely enough you will see jagged pixels moving around the edge of my circle, but I don't see any way around this since the jQuery plugin is not actually re-rendering the image.  I don't see any of the "oscillating" you mention in my circle.
This issue is more about vector art than it is about programming.  Get a nice vector graphics program and render the nicest circle you can.  Even the one I made is not really that good.  Or use HTML5 and canvas to draw dynamically, rather than moving a static image around.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Steven Stucky - "Concerto for Percussion and Wind Orchestra"
Concerto for Percussion and Wind Orchestra
1. Energico
2. Moderato delicato, quasi senza tempo
3. Vivace
4. Grave (To the Victims of September 11, 2001)
5. Gioioso
Steven Stucky
Born: November 7, 1949, Hutchinson, Kansas
Died: February 14, 2016, Ithaca, New York
Instrumentation: Wind Orchestra and Percussion Soloist
The huge array of solo instruments in my Concerto for Percussion and Wind Orchestra is the result of a request from the soloist, Gordon Stout, not to limit myself mainly to the marimba (of which he is, of course, a famous exponent) but instead to range widely across all the percussion families. There are a number of timbral groupings: wood and drum sounds in the first movement, set against boisterous, big-band-like riffs from the ensemble, for example; or marimba paired with steel drum as the lyrical voices in the slow second movement. The third movement, a scherzo, uses only keyboards – glockenspiel, xylophone, marimba – and it winks broadly at Strauss's Til Eulenspiegel. The fourth movement turns to solemn, metallic resonances – gongs, Japanese temple bells, almglocken (tuned European cowbells) – and it sets these against the ominous heartbeat pattern of the bass drum. This movement reflects the somber atmosphere of fall 2001 more directly than I ever intended. Ordinarily I am skeptical of musical responses to outside events, and I never planned to write a piece "about" the attacks of September 11; yet, as I was writing this movement I asked myself why the music seemed so dark, so serious, and only then I realized that the world had thrust itself into my music whether I wanted it or not. Hence the dedication "To the victims of September 11, 2001," added after the fourth movement was finished. The finale returns to the extroverted atmosphere of the first movement, with the soloist – now playing metal instruments that go "clunk" (agogo bells, Latin-American cowbells, brake drums, anvil) and "boing" (the spring from an automobile suspension) – trading riffs with the ensemble. The work closes with a return to the wood and skin sounds of the opening.
The concerto was commissioned in honor of Donald Hunsberger on the occasion of his retirement after nearly forty years as director of the Eastman Wind Ensemble, by a consortium of his ex-students, many of the leading wind conductors across the United States and even abroad. The work was completed on November 30, 2001, and the percussionist Gordon Stout and the Ithaca College Wind Ensemble (Stephen Peterson, director) gave the first performance at the Eastman Theater in Rochester, New York, on February 6, 2002, with Donald Hunsberger conducting.
- Steven Stucky
Steven Stucky was an active American composer and teacher up until his sudden death from a brain tumor in early 2016. His music was widely accessible, vibrant, and programmed by numerous orchestras worldwide, and he enjoyed a 21-year residency with the Los Angeles Philharmonic. Stucky's 2003 Concerto for Orchestra No. 2 was awarded the 2005 Pulitzer Prize in Music.
Additional Stucky Resources
- Website and Full Biography
- NPR Interview on the 2005 Pulitzer Prize
- New York Times Obituary
Concerto for Orchestra No. 2, Movement 1, Overture (With Friends)
Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Lan Shui, conductor
Concerto for Orchestra No. 2, Movement 2, Variations
Concerto for Orchestra No. 2, Movement 3, Finale
#stucky #programnotes #umwo #soloist


TENUGUI are towels made of bleached cotton, approximately 34 cm wide and 90 cm in length. The word literally means "a hand-wiping cloth." Tenugui were used for a remarkable number of purposes not only for wiping and cleaning, but also for wrapping and wearing, and even as advertising tools.
To meet the various needs of special occasions throughout the four seasons and the individual personalities of each owner, the Japanese developed a wide range of designs on the surface of the cloth. Some are elaborate while others are transparently simple. With over two hundred towels on display, this colourful exhibition demonstrates the endless creativity in Tenugui.
Co-presented by The Japan Foundation. Presented in association with Kamawanu Co. Ltd., Tokyo.
Sponsored by Kikori Japanese Antiques, The Deux Mille Foundation, and Listel Hotel.
Next time you are in the centre, check out the newly re-purposed exhibit on the famous team now on display in our 2nd floor hallway.
Features photos, documents and quotes on Internment and Redress. We use it for our Japanese Canadian history school programs, but if you wish to see it, ask one of the Museum staff to let you in.
A Century of Community Spirit – Discover the important role played by the Vancouver Japanese Language School in the early days of Vancouver. First opened in 1906, the school was an important educational and cultural centre for the Powell Street community.


The New Shimano Stradic Ci4 + Spinning Reel is Lighter than ever before and even more durable. Shimano made key upgrades to improve the reel's overall performance. A new Magnumlite rotor that features an asymmetrical shape improves rotation start-up, making it super easy to start your retrieve. The Magnumlite rotor also reduces inertia at the end of the retrieve making it smoother when winding and functioning. Shimano's Coreprotect technology provides increased corrosion protection and water resistance for longer lasting performance, and advanced Hagane Gearing offers impressive power on the retrieve and the smooth precision anglers have come to expect from the Stradic CI4+. Stronger, lighter and smoother than ever, the Shimano Stradic CI4+ Spinning Reel isn't pulling any punches.


Thank you to all of the volunteers who made Connecting Communities a success, whether by volunteering at one of our 10 service projects or through your generous donations. With your help, we connected resources to specific needs and made a meaningful difference throughout the Jackson metro area.
On January 21, 2019, the Junior League of Jackson hosted a series of half-day service projects in the Jackson area. Specifically designed to coincide with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service events nationwide, we invited our members, partners, and supporters to connect with each other and our shared community through service.
In partnership with Canopy Children's Solutions, HeARTworks, HIS Heart, Jackson Public Schools, Revitalize Mississippi, and Stewpot, this day of service was designed to harness the strength that we have in connecting volunteer resources to specific needs. From beautifying local neighborhoods to packing critical supplies for foster children and victims of domestic violence and much more, participants chose from a variety of opportunities to make a positive impact in the lives of our community's children and youth. The service projects listed below were available to our participants for the day of service.
Children will write notes to first responders, thanking them for their service. The notes will be packaged with a special treat and delivered to precincts and stations.
Volunteers will clean the HeARTworks art studio at Stewpot and organize the art supplies.
Volunteers will assist Stewpot Teens in an effort to clean the surrounding neighborhood. The project will include landscaping, disposal of garbage and cleaning building exteriors.
Volunteers will sort and package school supplies and uniforms for the Jackson Public Schools' Partners in Education (PIE).
Volunteers will make improvements to the outdoor courtyard area at the JPS District Office.
Volunteers will pack luggage with toiletries for foster children and victims of domestic violence in the Hinds County area.
Volunteers will give new life to the children's wing at HIS Heart by cleaning, painting and decorating the hallways and doors. Volunteers will also organize the tutoring and arts/craft closets, making them more functional. These updates will create a more welcoming environment for the West Park Community children.
Volunteers will spread the power of positivity at Canopy Children's Solutions by painting bright colors on walls, decorating inspirational messages, and reinforcing the children's value and self-worth. These special touches will impact the children's physical and emotional wellness.
Volunteers will help rebuild Rosemont Community Park by converting vacant lots into landscaped community spaces. Landscaping will include planting, laying out pine straw, and other gardening enhancements. A pavilion will be erected under the supervision of a contractor and crew.


text:
struct linop_s;
struct nlop_s;
struct noir_model_conf_s;

struct T2_s {

	struct nlop_s* nlop;
	const struct linop_s* linop;
};

extern struct T2_s T2_create(const long dims[DIMS], const complex float* mask, const complex float* TI, const complex float* psf, const struct noir_model_conf_s* conf, _Bool use_gpu);

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


As promised, here are some of the gifts I made for this year. Most can go without explanation, but the following painting was one that I did for my brother, PJ. He is a ceramic engineering major at Alfred University, and recently made a ceramic mug with a rhino cast onto the side of it. It's a very humorous piece, and I really hope he enjoys the painting of it. I know I appreciated the comic relief.


Get 20% OFF this beautiful bouquet.
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I choose a new world of being and leave the old one in flames.The old me died of realized misconceptions and took his world with him. What is a world but an outlook, a way of seeing that crystallizes around belief and cracks when the belief changes. No world I'm in ever stays around too long for I was fostered by the phoenix and the flame will never die.
No life is lived without challenges. We are tested arduously and elements that we love and cling to eventually turns to compost. We can mourn what we had and lost or we can use the detritus and raise up new lives from the old. We can cultivate lives built on the knowledge that nothing is permanent. We can love anything for the time it is with us and then move on ever manifesting in new ways. Somewhere along the line I had temporarily forgotten this. Because my life has had a newfound stability, I let myself grow complacent. I will not regret the past but create the future I want by my choice and will. Out of the flames the Phoenix emerges and together we will fly!
I can taste the ashes of 2013 as the last moon of the year gets swallowed up and will be born anew on the New Year. It is a time of endings and contemplation of New Beginnings. A New Year is like an ultimate blank page (or screen as I keep saying). I have some ideas of what 2014 will bring yet there is still a few pages left in the volume we currently hold. Do we leave them blank or do we finish up with a nice summary? I am about ready to light the torch paper on this one. I will use the next few days to reflect a bit on what has passed and what may rise anew.
Still at work on finishing the symbols piece but I've been thinking a bit today about hope, rebirth and recreation. No matter how bad our lives or this world may get I have strong faith in the idea that nothing ever truly ends. Matter converts to energy and energy coalesces back into matter. We hit bottom and then miraculously we continue to have times of positive growth, moments of beauty and happiness. In my darkest times there have been spectacular sunrises, or beautiful flowers or people to look at and admire. You know moments where I felt despite everything it's all worth it. It could just be that I'm a mad hope fiend but still that last gift in Pandora's box seems to be a perpetual one.
Can a spirit be broken? I believe it can be bent pretty far, torn shredded but never broken, not really. At most people can make us believe it broken and in so believing we lies helpless until we start healing and so reconnect to that which constantly destroys and recreates ourself. I believe this phoenix like being to be our true spirit. You can't destroy something that is constantly in the throes of destruction and creation, just make it harder to see. Once faith is restored, we are reborn… Find the phoenix that lies within and you need never fear destruction again for something new within us is constantly being reborn.


As of Thursday, February 23, 2017 at the close of trading EquitySurge™ has continued a strong sell signal for USA equities.
We didn't publish an update yesterday because after all it would have just been the same recent story in one more iteration: new all-time-highs in super light, narrow-range trading with continuing weak market internals and technicals, blah, blah, blah.
However today, Thursday, things are different. The market opened on a big gap-up but then quickly sold off hard down about 14 points on the S&P500 Index, before recovering about half that over the rest of the day and into the close. That is indeed different action than we've been seeing for a long time, and worth noting.
In addition, today marks the sixth straight daily increase in price for the volatility ETN, VXX, again a very different phenomenon from what's been happening.
Long term USA Treasury bonds are also continuing a recent uptrend that has pushed bond prices up and yields down.
We've been harping for a long time now that you should be selling your equity holdings into this rally. We've cited warnings from liquidity, severely weakening market internals and technicals, a perfect storm set-up for a massive spike in volatility to happen at anytime, and now to add to all of that, we are seeing the shift from risk-on into equities to risk-off into government bonds starting to happen with earnest.


Simply put, I was not impressed. Full Disclosure: I have not read the book, Annihilation, by Jeff VanderMeer and I knew nothing about the Southern Reach Trilogy before this review. With that said, I can't imagine this film adaptation did the book any justice.
The film, Annihilation, is directed by Alex Garland. His previous works in this genre of sci-fi thriller include Ex Machina and 28 Days Later, two films I think fairly highly of. Also, the film stars Natalie Portman, Oscar Isaac, and Jennifer Jason Leigh, just to name a few of the award-winning cast. And, with a lengthy three year production process that started in 2015, I really wonder why this movie failed.
Tessa Thompson plays Josie Radek in Annihilation from Paramount Pictures and Skydance.
The story follows four women on an expedition into a quarantined zone off the coast of Florida that was hit by an extraterrestrial meteor, of sorts, that created its own growing atmosphere referred to as "The Shimmer" where anything that enters, doesn't come out. Their mission as the 12th expedition is to collect data and samples from the source, a lighthouse off the coast, and return.
Although Natalie Portman's character, Lena, is the main character, the leader of the group is Dr. Ventress played by Jennifer Jason Leigh. Leigh's performance seemed off, like she could never really get into character. It was as if you could tell she was acting, instead of enveloping along with the story. Same could be said for the supporting roles, seemingly reflective of the monotonous script, which missed the mark, constantly causing you to be drawn from the story itself.
The visual effects were presented well, but became repetitive and somewhat cheesy when it came to some of the forest settings. Also, the few true suspense scenes found that same pattern, repetitive and cheesy.
I believe I dislike the movie so deeply, because it delivered so much potential. The actual concept and details were all there with some really technical biological background; it all just fell flat.
Like I said, this film is based on the first book of a trilogy, and it was left on a cliffhanger as if they will follow through with another film, so maybe we will see redemption.
For now, I'd say go read the book.