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How the Haka was Born and other Tales of Human Sacrifice
Warning: This post contains descriptions of historic practices of human sacrifice and cannibalism which may be disturbing to some readers.
Haka platform (tohua) at Hikokua
I gave an account of walking over the mountain from Anaho Bay to the village of Hatiheu in the previous post. Our intention was to visit some of the archaeological sites in the valley. Although they were within walking distance, and given a few directions we could have visited them on our own, we were hoping to find a local guide to give us more insight into what we were seeing. Hatiheu is linked to the rest of the island by road, and we knew tour groups from Taiohae routinely came to see the ruins. We didn't know if we could hook up with one of these tours in Hatiheu or find a separate tour.
After asking around, we were directed to one of the houses near the church, where we found Hiohka---I'm not sure if I've spelled that correctly---whose French name is Alphonse. The locals call him "Ru-ah," but we learned that this was actually a hated nickname. We were told he did tours of the sites. Hiohka was tired and was doing his laundry; he clearly didn't really feel like doing a tour that day. But when he heard we had walked to Hatiheu from Anaho Bay, he invited us in, and after thinking about it for awhile, he decided to take us. When asked the price for his time, he said he would take us for free. We were caught off guard. The tours out of Atuona and Taiohae were given for cash, and we assumed that would be the case here. It turns out that (in my opinion), the individual we were dealing with in this case would have responded better to a meaningful gift (something personal) in trade in exchange for his time. In the end, Hiohka did accept some cash from us---but only to get out of a meal we offered to buy him at the restaurant in exchange for the tour. He could tell it would be difficult for us to accept the tour without giving something in exchange, so he took the cash in order to get back to doing his laundry! ir
Hiohka took us to two archaeological sites within walking distance of the village: tohua Hikokua and tohua Kamuihei, both gathering grounds containing meae, or platforms where human sacrifice was performed. He told us there were actually five or six archaeological sites in the valley.
We were impressed by the sheer size of the sites at Hikokua and Kamuihei, both much larger than the site we had previously visited at Puamau on Hiva Oa. Hiohka toured us around Hikokua first, identifying various things we were seeing. While pointing out places used for sleeping, we believed he sometimes used the term "sleeping" for actual sleeping and other times for a final resting place, as in coffin. These were some of the places identified for sleeping that we understood to be tombs where the remains of chiefs were located:
A barely visible rectangular pit in the platform behind the tall stones
Five rectangular spaces outlined in lava boulders
We learned that the same platforms were often used for both human sacrifice and dancing, indicating the highly ritualized nature of human sacrifice in ancient Marquesan culture.
Front wall of haka platform
Detail of ancient tiki in wall of haka platform
Hiohka related to me a legend about how the haka dance was born. Haka is a Polynesian dance form practiced in the Marquesas that is similar to hulu in Hawaii. Keep in mind that this legend was told to someone (me) with very little Marquesan/French language skills by someone with very little English language skill. But as I understood it, the legend went something like this: A son was born to a woman from Hiva Oa and a man from Hatiheu (on Nuku Hiva.) The woman took her son to Hiva Oa and raised him there. After a time, the son wanted to find his father, so they returned to Hatiheu. There, they were treated as outsiders and captured by the valley's tribe. They were imprisoned in this pit (now collapsed), awaiting sacrifice.
Prison in which victims intended for sacrifice were held
Around this time, the father also began thinking about his son and went to seek him out. He found his family held captive in the pit.
At this time, the father performed a haka dance so compelling and distracting that all eyes were on his dance. When the captors' attention returned to the prisoners in the pit, they were gone. (The story was a little vague about whether the family escaped or whether a third party rescued them while the father was distracting their captors.)
Hiohka also told me that as a result of this legend, haka is performed by different genders on Hiva Oa and in Hatiehu (Nuku Hiva); however, I could not find any information to corroborate this. It may have once been true but does not appear to be true today, as members of both sexes participate in some form of haka dance on both islands.
At Hikokua, we also saw this chilling sculpture of a chief holding an infant and a weapon. It is not clear to me if he is holding an 'u'u---ancient club weapon used for combat---or one of the neck-breaking devices described later in this post. (Our guide said it was an 'u'u, but I have seen it recorded elsewhere as the latter.) When I asked if it was typical to sacrifice babies, our guide responded that the chief in question was a "bad chief," indicating a level of cruelty that was perhaps not typical.
We moved on to Kamuihei. This site had been partially reconstructed when it hosted a Marquesan arts festival. Here, we saw these reconstructed lean-to-type shelters of pandanus walls and roofs, which were used as sleeping platforms.
Coconut trees were employed to make ladders to access the raised sleeping platforms
Some of the artwork on the site was not Marquesan, but had been created during the arts festival. For example, this basket of skulls (depicting the Marquesan custom of keeping the skulls of both enemies and ancestors) was created by an artist from Rapa Nui.
Dominating the site at Kamuihei was an ancient banyan tree, which our guide estimated to be seven-hundred years old.
Testimonial: Tree of sorrow
A picture does not do justice to the girth of the tree, which was almost 50 feet in diameter. If trees could speak, this ancient tree would have a lot to say because it witnessed untold suffering. Here, at the edge of the banyan roots, was another pit in which people were imprisoned prior to being sacrificed.
This pit was much deeper than the one at Hikokua.
Our guide told us that the skulls of sacrificed victims were also thrown into the pit, and that the archaeological expedition that cleared the site recovered many skull caps from the pit. Imagine what it felt like to be a prisoner in that dark pit, about to be killed, cooked, and eaten, and seeing the skulls of former victims surrounding you: terrifying.
Perhaps the ancient tree lives on so the stories of those victims are not lost.
To keep things in perspective, however, I must relate the story our friend Henri told us when we returned to Taiohae and heard we visited Hatiheu. He said he could take us to a place where tens of thousands of skulls could be found, those of Marquesans whose bodies were burned in mass graves after they died from diseases brought to the islands by Europeans. In an earlier post (Initial Impressions of French Polynesia), I mentioned that the population of the Marquesans had declined from an estimated 20,000 to around 8,000. It turns out that original figure was a gross underestimate, and I have since corrected it. Estimates of the Marquesan population at the time of first European contact range from 60,000 to 80,000 (by the Europeans) to over 100,000 (by the Marquesans.) The old story, witnessed in the Americas, in which native tribes were decimated by diseases brought through European contact, played itself out in the Marquesas as well. While their own practices of human sacrifice and cannibalism affected relatively few victims, the impact of European diseases on the Marquesans had a much larger impact.
It is also important to note that Marquesans did not always practice human sacrifice and cannibalism. Their early history in the islands shows no evidence of this. A poster outside the archaeological museum at Hatiheu indicated that the large-scale tohua and meae were constructed during the 1600's and 1700's---and although cannibalism persisted on some islands until the early 1900's, it no longer exists today. When you put that in perspective with the arrival of the Marquesans on these islands---between 100 AD and 300 AD (estimates also vary)--it is a relatively short time period.
At Kamuihei, we gained an appreciation for the full scale of the archaeological sites and the activities held there. We did not even see the entire site, Hiohka told us it extended ever further back into the valley. As we mentioned in the post on Puamau, the meae were constructed in levels, in a series of plaforms or terraces.
Two photos showing terraced construction of meae
Only the priests had access to some levels, which were "tapu" (or taboo) to normal people. This higher platform was relegated only to chiefs, who would watch the spectacle of human sacrifice on the lower platform below.
The speckled rocks indicate the area where the chiefs would sit
Eating table on chiefs' terrace
Here was an area of the site in which human sacrifice occurred. This level was directly below the level on which the chiefs were seated. Thousands of spectators gathered in the lower level.
The stone area near center is where victims were sacrificed
The site is surrounded by mape trees, and our guide demonstrated how the mape tree was used to gather the tribe (an alternative to blowing on a conch shell). When a rock is pounded against the base of a mape tree, it results in a large, hollow bass tone.
Mape tree
At large tohua, like Kamuihei, there are actually sub-sites within the site, so there may be more than one area where these activities take place.
Thousands of people would gather to watch the spectacle. Patrick remarked that the level of cruelty involved in that reminded him of the Romans, who would gather to watch people being fed to the lions as if it was a sporting event. Our guide did not tell us about it, but we heard from others who had visited the site, that victims of human sacrifice were subjected to some level of torture before sacrifice. These victims were primarily enemies from rival tribes, and intertribal warfare was common in the Marquesas during the time period when cannibalism was practiced.
If a victim was not already dead at the time of sacrifice, the head of the victim was cut off. At the Te Henua Enana museum, we saw a stone that the priest was said to place on the head of the intended victim. The stone was believed to absorb the enemy's power and mana (a sort of accumulated spiritual wealth, something like karma.) At the same museum, we also saw a tool that was said to be used to break the neck of a victim before sacrifice, so apparently more than one method was used to kill victims intended for sacrifice.
I believe (but don't know for sure) that human flesh was cooked in earth ovens like roasted pigs are today; in fact, the Marquesan term for human flesh was "long pig." However, there were also shallow pits on the sites that may have been used for cooking other dishes or fermenting breadfruit.
Shallow pit used for food preparation
It was difficult to tell tombs, ovens, and areas used for cold storage (like our root cellars) from each other, and I think their location in the sites was one of the primary indicators of their use.
Tomb (grass clippings due to maintenance being performed on site)
Former "root cellar" for cold storage
Here is a sharpening stone that was present on the site.
Along with human sacrifice, other rituals and ceremonies took place at the meae. We were finally told that the purpose of the rock mortars we had been seeing everywhere was not just to hold tattoo ink but to grind medicinal compounds as well.
Hiohka also showed us the Marquesan nut used to make tattoo ink.
This nut was burned to create soot, and its ashes mixed with water or oil to make tattoo ink
Here is a second site used for human sacrifice at Kamuihei. Here, the large rock was used to decapitate the victim. Again, the platform on which the rock rests was also used for ritualized dancing connected with the sacrifice.
On a brighter note, there was also a rich legacy of petroglyphs preserved at Kamuihei.
We learned that the wide-eyes we had first seen on Smiling Tiki were called matas. I had to take this picture upside down because the rocks on which the petroglyph was originally carved had been disturbed.
There were also some very large scale scenes carved on boulders.
Here is a detail of the human figures from the above petroglyph.
I found the Marquesan petroglyphs easier to relate to than some highly symbolized petroglyphs I've seen from other cultures. In this case, the symbol was very similar to the creature or object it represented in real life. Here is another large-scale petroglyph:
The dominant figure in the scene is the large fish or mahi mahi near the top.
Here is a detail of an outrigger canoe or pirogue.
The eight circular figures represent the eight rowers in the canoe. In the top right corner, you can see part of a sea turtle or honu (its head is not shown in the photo.)
As we toured the two sites, I noticed Hiohka displaying stewardship. He picked up a piece of trash at the first site, a beer can probably left behind by local youth. From time to time, he would also stop and pull up young saplings that had sprouted between the stones in the meae at Kamuihei. As we neared the end of our tour, we approached a platform where three women were working, weeding between the stones in the platform. Hiohka introduced one of the women to me as his sister. I got the impression that Hiohka's family maintained this particular site. I don't know for sure, but I inferred that maintaining their cultural legacy is a volunteer effort on the part of the Marquesans and that none of the French governmental budget is allocated for this.
Marquesan Pride
On the way back to the village, Hiohka indicated an area where there was an even larger site than the one at Kamuihei. He explained that the site used to be maintained by the school children, but since there are now fewer school aged youth in the village, it is no longer maintained and the jungle has grown back over it.
Our visit to the archaeological sites in Hatiehu was both sobering and illuminating. Even with the language barrier, I was really happy we'd elected to go with a guide. We got much more out of the experience than we would have on our own.
Posted by SV Silhouette at 11:43 AM
Sandor Toth July 28, 2012 at 5:03 AM
Great pictures you guys. A very good read, enjoyed another one your wonderful delightful adventures.
Tuamotus Passage and Our First Atoll
Taiohae: Crossroads of the Marquesas
Haahopu and Hakatea (Daniel's Bay)
How the Haka was Born and other Tales of Human Sac...
Anaho Bay
Hanamenu
Circumnavigating Nuku Hiva: A Blog Post in Real Time
Tahuata: The Undersung Island
Fatu Hiva
Mohotani, We Hardly Knew Ye
Visit to Puamau
Initial Impressions of French Polynesia


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Dry low-intensity magnetic separation is confined mainly to the concentration of coarse sands which are strongly magnetic, the process being known as cobbing, and often being carried out in drum separators. Below the 0.5 cm size range, dry separation tends to be replaced by wet methods, which produce much less dust loss and usually a cleaner product. Low-intensity wet separation is now widely used for purifying the magnetic medium in the dense medium separation process, as well as for the concentration of ferromagnetic sands.
Drum separators are the most common machines in current use for cleaning the medium in DMS circuits and are widely used for concentrating finely ground iron ore. They consist essentially of a rotating non-magnetic drum (see attached figure 1 drum separator) containing three to six stationary magnets of alternating polarity, although the Permos separator uses many small magnet blocks, whose direction of magnetisation changes in small steps. This is said to generate a very even magnetic field, requiting less magnetic material. figure 1 drum separator Although initially drum separators employed electromagnets, permanent magnets are used in modern devices, utilising ceramic or rare earth magnetic alloys, which retain their intensity for an indefinite period. Separation is by the pick-up principle. Magnetic particles are lifted by the magnets and pinned to the drum and are conveyed out of the field, leaving the gangue in the tailings compartment. Water is introduced into the machine to provide a current which keeps the pulp in suspension. Field intensities of up to 0.7 T at the pole surfaces can be obtained in this type of separator. The drum separator shown in figure 1 is of the concurrent type, whereby the concentrate is carried forward by the drum and passes through a gap, where it is compressed and dewatered before leaving the separator. This design is most effective for producing an extremely clean magnetic concentrate from relatively coarse materials and is widely used in dense medium recovery systems. The separator shown in figure 2 is of the counter-rotation type, where the feed flows in the opposite direction to the rotation. This type is used in roughing operations, where occasional surges in feed must be handled, where magnetic material losses are to be held to a minimum, while an extremely clean concentrate is not required, and when high solids loading is encountered. figure 2 Counter-rotation drum separator Figure 3 shows a counter-current separator, where the tailings are forced to travel in the opposite direction to the drum rotation and are discharged into the tailings chute. This type of separator is designed for finishing operations on relatively fine material, of particle size less than about 250 m. Drum separators are widely used to treat low grade taconite ores, which contain 40-50% Fe, mainly as magnetite, but in some areas with hematite, finely disseminated in bands in hard siliceous rocks. Very fine grinding is necessary to free the iron minerals that produce a concentrate that requires pelletising before being fed to the blast furnaces. figure 3 Counter-current separator In a typical flowsheet the ore is ground progressively finer, the primary grind usually being undertaken autogenously, or by rod milling, followed by magnetic separation in drum separators. The magnetic concentrate is reground and again treated in drum separators. This concentrate may be further reground, followed by a third stage of magnetic separation. The tailings from each stage of magnetic separation are either rejected or, in some cases, treated by spiral or cone concentrators to recover hematite. The cross-belt separator (see attached figure 4) and disc separators once widely used in the mineral sands industry, particularly for recovering ilmenite from heavy mineral concentrates, are now considered obsolete. They are being replaced with rare earth roll magnetic separators and rare earth drum magnetic separators. figure 4 Cross-belt separator Rare earth roll separators use alternate magnetic and non-magnetic laminations. Feed is carried onto the magnetic roll by means of a thin belt as shown in Figure 4, hence there is no bouncing or scattering of particles as they enter the magnetic zone, and they all enter the magnetic zone with the same horizontal velocity. These factors contribute to achieving a sharp separation. Roll speed can be adjusted over a wide range, allowing the product quality to be dialled in. Dry rare earth drum separators provide a fan of separated particles which can often be seen as distinct streams (see attached figure 5). The fan can be separated into various grades of magnetic product and a nonmagnetic tailing. In some mineral sands applications, drum separators have been integrated with one or more rare earth rolls, arranged to treat the middlings particles from the drum as shown in Figure 5. figure 5 A laboratory dry rare earth drum separator Pictures of Drum Separators Pictures of drum separators produced by Henan Deya Machinery Co., Ltd. magnetic-separator_01magnetic-separator_11magnetic-separator_10magnetic-separator_09magnetic-separator_08magnetic-separator_07magnetic-separator_06magnetic-separator_05magnetic-separator_04magnetic-separator_03magnetic-separator_02
Although initially drum separators employed electromagnets, permanent magnets are used in modern devices, utilising ceramic or rare earth magnetic alloys, which retain their intensity for an indefinite period. Separation is by the pick-up principle. Magnetic particles are lifted by the magnets and pinned to the drum and are conveyed out of the field, leaving the gangue in the tailings compartment. Water is introduced into the machine to provide a current which keeps the pulp in suspension. Field intensities of up to 0.7 T at the pole surfaces can be obtained in this type of separator.
The drum separator shown in figure 1 is of the concurrent type, whereby the concentrate is carried forward by the drum and passes through a gap, where it is compressed and dewatered before leaving the separator. This design is most effective for producing an extremely clean magnetic concentrate from relatively coarse materials and is widely used in dense medium recovery systems.
The separator shown in figure 2 is of the counter-rotation type, where the feed flows in the opposite direction to the rotation. This type is used in roughing operations, where occasional surges in feed must be handled, where magnetic material losses are to be held to a minimum, while an extremely clean concentrate is not required, and when high solids loading is encountered. figure 2 Counter-rotation drum separator Figure 3 shows a counter-current separator, where the tailings are forced to travel in the opposite direction to the drum rotation and are discharged into the tailings chute. This type of separator is designed for finishing operations on relatively fine material, of particle size less than about 250 m. Drum separators are widely used to treat low grade taconite ores, which contain 40-50% Fe, mainly as magnetite, but in some areas with hematite, finely disseminated in bands in hard siliceous rocks. Very fine grinding is necessary to free the iron minerals that produce a concentrate that requires pelletising before being fed to the blast furnaces. figure 3 Counter-current separator In a typical flowsheet the ore is ground progressively finer, the primary grind usually being undertaken autogenously, or by rod milling, followed by magnetic separation in drum separators. The magnetic concentrate is reground and again treated in drum separators. This concentrate may be further reground, followed by a third stage of magnetic separation. The tailings from each stage of magnetic separation are either rejected or, in some cases, treated by spiral or cone concentrators to recover hematite. The cross-belt separator (see attached figure 4) and disc separators once widely used in the mineral sands industry, particularly for recovering ilmenite from heavy mineral concentrates, are now considered obsolete. They are being replaced with rare earth roll magnetic separators and rare earth drum magnetic separators. figure 4 Cross-belt separator Rare earth roll separators use alternate magnetic and non-magnetic laminations. Feed is carried onto the magnetic roll by means of a thin belt as shown in Figure 4, hence there is no bouncing or scattering of particles as they enter the magnetic zone, and they all enter the magnetic zone with the same horizontal velocity. These factors contribute to achieving a sharp separation. Roll speed can be adjusted over a wide range, allowing the product quality to be dialled in. Dry rare earth drum separators provide a fan of separated particles which can often be seen as distinct streams (see attached figure 5). The fan can be separated into various grades of magnetic product and a nonmagnetic tailing. In some mineral sands applications, drum separators have been integrated with one or more rare earth rolls, arranged to treat the middlings particles from the drum as shown in Figure 5. figure 5 A laboratory dry rare earth drum separator Pictures of Drum Separators Pictures of drum separators produced by Henan Deya Machinery Co., Ltd. magnetic-separator_01magnetic-separator_11magnetic-separator_10magnetic-separator_09magnetic-separator_08magnetic-separator_07magnetic-separator_06magnetic-separator_05magnetic-separator_04magnetic-separator_03magnetic-separator_02
Figure 3 shows a counter-current separator, where the tailings are forced to travel in the opposite direction to the drum rotation and are discharged into the tailings chute. This type of separator is designed for finishing operations on relatively fine material, of particle size less than about 250 m. Drum separators are widely used to treat low grade taconite ores, which contain 40-50% Fe, mainly as magnetite, but in some areas with hematite, finely disseminated in bands in hard siliceous rocks. Very fine grinding is necessary to free the iron minerals that produce a concentrate that requires pelletising before being fed to the blast furnaces. figure 3 Counter-current separator In a typical flowsheet the ore is ground progressively finer, the primary grind usually being undertaken autogenously, or by rod milling, followed by magnetic separation in drum separators. The magnetic concentrate is reground and again treated in drum separators. This concentrate may be further reground, followed by a third stage of magnetic separation. The tailings from each stage of magnetic separation are either rejected or, in some cases, treated by spiral or cone concentrators to recover hematite. The cross-belt separator (see attached figure 4) and disc separators once widely used in the mineral sands industry, particularly for recovering ilmenite from heavy mineral concentrates, are now considered obsolete. They are being replaced with rare earth roll magnetic separators and rare earth drum magnetic separators. figure 4 Cross-belt separator Rare earth roll separators use alternate magnetic and non-magnetic laminations. Feed is carried onto the magnetic roll by means of a thin belt as shown in Figure 4, hence there is no bouncing or scattering of particles as they enter the magnetic zone, and they all enter the magnetic zone with the same horizontal velocity. These factors contribute to achieving a sharp separation. Roll speed can be adjusted over a wide range, allowing the product quality to be dialled in. Dry rare earth drum separators provide a fan of separated particles which can often be seen as distinct streams (see attached figure 5). The fan can be separated into various grades of magnetic product and a nonmagnetic tailing. In some mineral sands applications, drum separators have been integrated with one or more rare earth rolls, arranged to treat the middlings particles from the drum as shown in Figure 5. figure 5 A laboratory dry rare earth drum separator Pictures of Drum Separators Pictures of drum separators produced by Henan Deya Machinery Co., Ltd. magnetic-separator_01magnetic-separator_11magnetic-separator_10magnetic-separator_09magnetic-separator_08magnetic-separator_07magnetic-separator_06magnetic-separator_05magnetic-separator_04magnetic-separator_03magnetic-separator_02
In a typical flowsheet the ore is ground progressively finer, the primary grind usually being undertaken autogenously, or by rod milling, followed by magnetic separation in drum separators. The magnetic concentrate is reground and again treated in drum separators. This concentrate may be further reground, followed by a third stage of magnetic separation. The tailings from each stage of magnetic separation are either rejected or, in some cases, treated by spiral or cone concentrators to recover hematite.
The cross-belt separator (see attached figure 4) and disc separators once widely used in the mineral sands industry, particularly for recovering ilmenite from heavy mineral concentrates, are now considered obsolete. They are being replaced with rare earth roll magnetic separators and rare earth drum magnetic separators. figure 4 Cross-belt separator Rare earth roll separators use alternate magnetic and non-magnetic laminations. Feed is carried onto the magnetic roll by means of a thin belt as shown in Figure 4, hence there is no bouncing or scattering of particles as they enter the magnetic zone, and they all enter the magnetic zone with the same horizontal velocity. These factors contribute to achieving a sharp separation. Roll speed can be adjusted over a wide range, allowing the product quality to be dialled in. Dry rare earth drum separators provide a fan of separated particles which can often be seen as distinct streams (see attached figure 5). The fan can be separated into various grades of magnetic product and a nonmagnetic tailing. In some mineral sands applications, drum separators have been integrated with one or more rare earth rolls, arranged to treat the middlings particles from the drum as shown in Figure 5. figure 5 A laboratory dry rare earth drum separator Pictures of Drum Separators Pictures of drum separators produced by Henan Deya Machinery Co., Ltd. magnetic-separator_01magnetic-separator_11magnetic-separator_10magnetic-separator_09magnetic-separator_08magnetic-separator_07magnetic-separator_06magnetic-separator_05magnetic-separator_04magnetic-separator_03magnetic-separator_02
Rare earth roll separators use alternate magnetic and non-magnetic laminations. Feed is carried onto the magnetic roll by means of a thin belt as shown in Figure 4, hence there is no bouncing or scattering of particles as they enter the magnetic zone, and they all enter the magnetic zone with the same horizontal velocity. These factors contribute to achieving a sharp separation. Roll speed can be adjusted over a wide range, allowing the product quality to be dialled in.
Dry rare earth drum separators provide a fan of separated particles which can often be seen as distinct streams (see attached figure 5). The fan can be separated into various grades of magnetic product and a nonmagnetic tailing. In some mineral sands applications, drum separators have been integrated with one or more rare earth rolls, arranged to treat the middlings particles from the drum as shown in Figure 5. figure 5 A laboratory dry rare earth drum separator Pictures of Drum Separators Pictures of drum separators produced by Henan Deya Machinery Co., Ltd. magnetic-separator_01magnetic-separator_11magnetic-separator_10magnetic-separator_09magnetic-separator_08magnetic-separator_07magnetic-separator_06magnetic-separator_05magnetic-separator_04magnetic-separator_03magnetic-separator_02
Pictures of drum separators produced by Henan Deya Machinery Co., Ltd. magnetic-separator_01magnetic-separator_11magnetic-separator_10magnetic-separator_09magnetic-separator_08magnetic-separator_07magnetic-separator_06magnetic-separator_05magnetic-separator_04magnetic-separator_03magnetic-separator_02
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Eriez Permanent Magnetic Separators require no electric power. With proper care, they can last a lifetime with very little loss of magnetic field strength. Eriez permanent magnets are supplied for a wide range of applications including dry bulk materials, liquids or slurries and even high temperature applications.
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PE Electrofusion FittingsAdvantage: 1.Light weight 2.Flexibility 3.Toughness 4.Chemically Inert 5.Resistance to Abrasion 6.Smooth surface 7.Environmental stress crack resistance 8.Corrosion resistance 9.Frost & rodent resistance 10.Hygienic safety 11.Easy & quick installation
PE Electrofusion FittingsCertificate: 1) ISO system - Our products are of high quality. We ensure our production record is of integrity and traceability. 2) Patent Certificate - We constantly adapt and innovate to ensure our products stay successful in the growing market. 3) National Test Report - Our products are credible and competitive in globle market, meeting the ISO standard.
how to stop an explosion explosion decoupling systems - wolff group
Where the production process involves combustible dusts, gases, vapours, or hybrid mixtures, an ignition can occur in a device or apparatus and, in consequence, an explosion. Since process plants constitute a kind of set of connected vessels, an explosion can spread to subsequent devices. This phenomenon is unacceptable from the point of view of explosive safety, but also from the point of view of the Polish and European law. But how to counteract it effectively? Learn the advantages and disadvantages of commonly applied protective systems.
As a rule, industrial devices do not function as autonomous entities. Most of them are interconnected with other process apparatus through different types of conveying systems, pipelines and channels. When flammable and explosive dusts, gases, vapours, or hybrid mixtures take part in the process, there is a serious risk of ignition and explosion. Effects of an explosion in an apparatus, i.e. flame and pressure, may be transmitted from that apparatus to the process installation connected to it. This can occur even when the device is protected against the effects of explosion by an explosion relief (venting) or suppression system of the HRD type.
Due to the high probability of explosion propagation between individual apparatuses of the process plant endangered with an explosion, the ATEX 137 and 95 Directives, as well as the Polish regulations and standards, impose on the plant owners the obligation to apply certified explosion decoupling systems (also called explosion isolation systems or fire barriers).
Several solutions that meet the requirements of the ATEX directive 95 are available on the market. However, they not always can be applied interchangeably and some of them are dedicated exclusively for specific applications and solutions. Below, the most important types of explosion decoupling systems are presented.
Back pressure flaps are an explosion isolation system dedicated to combustible dusts that are fan-extracted in vacuum dedusting units and/or central vacuum systems. The advantages of the solution are simple installation and a relatively low price.
Note, however, that due to the principle of operation, valves must be installed in a horizontal position and on a straight section of the pipeline (on the stretch between the flap and the device, no knees and other curvature can occur). Moreover, choosing a back pressure flap for a particular solution, the pressure drops generated by the flap should be taken into account. It is equally important that the diameter of the pipeline is the same size as the flap connections. One must also remember that a local change in the diameter of the pipeline, as aimed at adapting it to the dimensions of the back pressure flap, can have a negative impact on the proper functioning of the safeguard at the explosion time. In the event of an explosion, the flap must be most frequently returned to the manufacturer for inspection and re-admission to the operation.
Due to the principle of operation, internal elements of the flap valve are exposed to accelerated wear and in some cases, also to being coated with dust (moisture), which can lead to an abnormal operation of the system. For these reasons, back pressure flap s are subject to frequent inspections and surveys (inspections every 10-20 days on average; surveys on a quarterly basis and, where appropriate, even once a month). It should be remembered that the plant must be disabled during an inspection or survey.
It is very important that users of back pressure flaps are familiarised with the manufacturers documentation observe rigorously the recommendations contained therein. For example, in the Polish regulations, there is an outright requirement concerning surveys they should be carried out in accordance with the manufacturers documentation, but not less frequently than once a year.
A significant limitation for the use of back pressure flaps results also from the maximum values of the dust explosiveness parameters Kst and Pmax for which they can be used. In most cases flap valves with a diameter of DN315 can be used for dusts of classes St1 and St2. Flap valves with larger diameters can only be applied for the class St1 dust. Please also note that the reduced explosion pressure Pred in the dust extraction unit may not exceed the value of 0.5 or 0.6 bar, depending on the diameter of the back pressure flap.
Rotary valves are used as a dosing systems for feeding dry products and sluices to limit air flow in dust collection, central vacuum, and pneumatic conveying systems, etc. In addition, in the case when they are certified in accordance with the requirements of the ATEX 95 directive, they can be operated in the explosion risk zones and as the so called autonomous explosion decoupling systems.
Rotary valves with the ATEX certificate allowing for their operation in explosion risk areas, if properly selected, are not a source of ignition of a potentially explosive atmosphere. Neither can such type rotary valves be used as explosion decoupling systems.
Rotary valves with the ATEX certificate allowing for their operation both in explosion risk zones and as autonomous explosion decoupling systems (in the design resistant to a pressure and/or flame breakthrough).
When selecting rotary valves, the latter two types of the devices are often mistaken for each other. For instance, in requests for quotations and technical specifications, there frequently appear requirements that cellular wheel sluices must be ATEX-certified for a particular hazard zone e.g. 20 inside and 22 outside the device. However, that fact is ignored that the device will also work as autonomous explosion decoupling system. In consequence, incorrectly selected sluices are purchased and installed. Their subsequent replacement is frequently difficult and costly. It is because the manufacturer of the equipment purchased either or does not have rotary valves with the required certificate in the offer or the capacity of a properly certified sluice of the same size is lower than the required (due to the limitations included in the certificate for decoupling of explosions).
In some cases, application of an explosion decoupling system of the HRD type may prove to be a better solution than a replacement of the rotary valve. In most cases, this solution does not require an additional space for installation and the system can be installed directly on the existing channel or dump station (downstream the flap valve).
Just like any other anti-explosive system, rotary valves with the ATEX certification also require regular servicing. In this case, however, the producers most frequently indicate maximum periods between the subsequent overhauls in the technical documentation, with a reservation that an exact frequency depends on operating conditions and should be determined by the plant operator based on the operational experience.
In practice, this means that the services must be, in some cases, carried out several times a year or else, the ATEX certification will become invalid (certificate is valid for the maximum permitted gap between the rotor blades and the valve body).
The type HRD isolation system is the least invasive, and at the same time the easiest to use anti-explosive system intended for both newly constructed and existing plants. The basic elements of the system are: HRD cylinders with explosion suppressant powder, dynamic pressure sensors and/or flame sensors and a control unit.
The solution based on HRD cylinders can be used in most industrial installations, where we have to deal with dust, gases or hybrid mixtures, and with a closed-circuit transport (pipelines, canals, gravity, chain, scraper, or pneumatic transport systems, closed conveyors, etc.), as well as in all types of dedusting and central vacuum systems.
For the most advanced HRD systems on the market, restrictions on the use of the system are very limited and related to some specific and rare circumstances. We are talking here about the restriction resulting from the maximum limit values of the following coefficients: Kst (up to 500 bar x m/s), Pmax (12 bar), Pred (2 bar) and the presence of group IIC gases or metal dusts in the process. However, such situations are so exceptional that their market share can be counted in parts per thousand.
Both restrictions and requirements for installing HRD systems of individual producers are entered in ATEX certificates. To avoid any surprises, before choosing a system, the restrictions recorded in the certificates must analysed in detail and compare them with the design input or conditions prevailing in the operating system. This is especially important because the admissions and restrictions on the application of systems of individual manufacturers differ fundamentally.
Explosion isolation systems based on the HDR technology are also subject to mandatory inspections and their complexity and time requirements differ, depending on the manufacturer of the system. For the most advanced systems, inspections should be conducted once a year. There are also commercially available systems which require up to four inspection a year. So the high frequency of inspections (and the resulting costs) can quickly even out the apparent savings resulting from lower cost of the system.
In case of systems of some manufacturers, another problem may be the need to relieve the pressure in HRD cylinders or to lock them mechanically (it is easy to forget it before restarting) for each operation related to servicing of the process plant. Since any such operation requires a shutdown of the plant, prior to selection of the explosion insulation system, it should be established how frequent downtimes are acceptable to the user.
This solution is a rather rarely used because of its price, nonetheless, it has two unique features. The first one is the option to activate the valve by a signal from the decompression panel (explosion relief system) or an individual infrared sensor and the other, the possibility of reusing it after activation.
Since the main element of the valve member is a rubber sleeve which is clamped under pressure (min. 6 bar at the compressed air installation), its activation delay is significant as compared to e.g. the HRD system. As a result, the quench valve has to be installed in a considerable distance from the protected apparatus.
Due to its construction, the valve may only be used at pneumatic conveying lines or circular channels of dedusting systems. The respective admissible dust explosiveness parameters are as follows: Kst up to 200 barm/s, Pmax up to 10 bar and Pred up to 1 bar. Note, however, that the service life of the rubber contributions can be significantly reduced in the case of the products causing abrasion and with the increase in the flow rate of the product. Although the interval between inspections is one year, in the case of difficult media (abrasion), one should consider shortening of the interval to 2 or 3 months, since the probability that a worn-out valve will not close or will be too weak to stop the explosion is high in such a case.
A fast acting valve is the most resistant explosion decoupling system as adapted to most difficult situations. It works like typical knife gate valves, with the difference that their reaction time and the closure is extremely short. Furthermore, their resistance to explosion pressure in the case of small diameters is as high as 50 bar (for larger diameters up to 30 bar). These are the values that can probably be achieved only in the event of an explosion of hybrid mixtures. In standard applications, fast acting valves work with both dusts and gases as well as with hybrid mixtures. Just as HRD systems, they are activated by dynamic pressure sensors and/or flame sensors, and the whole system is managed by a dedicated control unit.
Fast acting valves can be operated a certified system of explosion decoupling at the plants which have been designed in such a way as to withstand the maximum explosion pressure (the so called structures resistant to 10 bar). The list of devices where this type of solution can be applied is virtually limited only by the diameter of the channel it should not exceed DN400. We are talking here about filtration units, cyclones, reactors, dryers, pressure vessels, silos, mills, etc. The only drawback of this solution is a very high price, especially for larger diameters. In exchange, however, we get a system which after an explosion, we can activate by ourselves, without interference of an external service. This is essential for the plants where the time for restoring the system efficiency is crucial.
VENTEX type valves are a passive explosion insulation system available in many sizes and versions. It is installed on channels of dedusting, central vacuum, positive and negative pressure transportation, drying or granulation systems. In most cases, these are structures resistant to maximum explosion pressures. The valve closes by the action of the explosion pressure wave moving in a pipeline. Due to the special design of the valve, in the form of a pear, the valve only slightly affects the mixture flowing through its interior. This solution is approved for use with flammable and explosive gases, dusts and hybrid mixtures. One must remember, however, that when dust are in the stream, their content must not exceed the limits specified in the documentation. This results from the valve structure, where the pear at the closure is pressed onto a special seal. Tolerances here are very small and amount to 0.1-0.15 mm. Too high dust content may cause overgrowing or abrasion of the valve seal, which may lead to malfunction.
Ventex valve is characterized by the widest range of versions. For example, it is available in a wide range of diameters (from DN100 to DN50), can be mounted horizontally or vertically, and provide single or bi-directional operation. Moreover, the available versions are made of stainless or normal steel and have an active closing mechanism.
The solution is simple to service and overhauls are usually performed not more frequently than once a year. Problems can arise, however, when there is too large amount of dust in the flow. A valve with a broken seal must be returned to the manufacturer for replacement and fitting of a new sealing. Since special equipment is needed, it is not possible to replace the seal on site. This involves about a month downtime of the plant or an installation of a reserve Ventex valve.
The basic objectives of the article were to draw attention to the need to apply explosion isolation systems and to identify the advantages and disadvantages of the different solutions available on the market. Although the material presented allows a broad look at the basic solutions, the selection the right system should be preceded by a study prepared by an engineer experienced in the field and by necessary calculations. Only such an approach ensures that an optimum solution is selected in terms of technology and economy, and, above all, in terms of process and explosive safety.
In order to facilitate the process of adapting production plants to the explosive safety requirements, GRUPA WOLFF has developed its own DSBW (Dedicated Explosive Safety System) programme. Its task boils down to analysing efficiently the critical components of the constructed or existing process plant and taking steps that will make it possible to eliminate them. DSBW is focused at the same time on three key areas:
Design office Fire protection solutions Engineering systems designs Fire safety Fire detection and alarm system Spark extinguishing systems Extinguishing systems Smoke removal and ventilation system Sound alarm systems Ex-Signal and escape sign luminaires Explosion safety Explosion protection Explosion suppression Explosion relief (venting) Explosion decoupling (isolation) Spark detection and extinguishing system Electrostatic earthing Flame arresters ATEX case studies and ATEX training ATEX training Explosion Safety Audit Determining Explosion Risk Zones Explosion Risk Assessment Explosion Protection Document CONTACT +48 12 2018 100 [email protected] ABOUT US Blog Express Przemysowy GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALES Electrical Equipment Electrical connectivity EX ATEX Ex-Junction boxes and terminal enclosures ATEX Ex-Control units and control stations ATEX Ex-Safety and main current switches ATEX Ex-Control and distribution systems ATEX Ex-Cable glands ATEX Optical-acoustic signaling EX ATEX EX lighting EX-linear light fittings ATEX Ex LED lighting ATEX EX-Ceiling pendant light fittings and floodlights ATEX EX-Signal and escape sign luminaires ATEX Portable EX-hand lamps ATEX EX Heating Room heaters Fan heaters Line liquid heaters Process media heaters Cabinet and enclosure heaters EX Thermostats Industrial Equipment Screening machines Mills for powders Valves / gates / dampers Sampling of loose material Granulators, dryers, coolers Magnetic separators Transport equipment Bead mills / mixers / deaerators Sludge and suspensions dryers / flakers Liquid samplers Industrial fittings Bursting discs Safety valves Reducing valves Breather valves Flame arresters Modernisation / Installation / Service Industrial systems and equipment service Industrial automation Modernisation and installation of equipment and steel structures Systems relocation Electric works for the industry Offer ATEX Explosion Risk Assessment Explosion Hazard Zones Explosion Protection Document EPD ATEX training HAZOP studies safety analysis of process systems ATEX audits and expert opinions Definition WOLFF GROUP provides specialised engineering works for broad industrial applications. Our activities include: explosion and process safety, turn-key construction of industrial systems, production and supply of process equipment and instruments as well as transfer of new technologies. Over 25 years of operation we have been trusted by hundreds of companies thank you. Copyright 2014 - WOLFF GROUP. All rights reserved.
WOLFF GROUP provides specialised engineering works for broad industrial applications. Our activities include: explosion and process safety, turn-key construction of industrial systems, production and supply of process equipment and instruments as well as transfer of new technologies. Over 25 years of operation we have been trusted by hundreds of companies thank you.
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Broadway Baptist Church in the snow!
Our new home in Lexington!
Earlier this month on Sunday December 11, Broadway Baptist Church in Lexington voted to call me as their new pastor. Tomorrow we move 422 miles north up I-75. Sherri and I have only lived in three cities: Vestavia Hills, Alabama (hometown), New Orleans, Louisiana (seminary), Moreland, Georgia (First Baptist Church), and now Lexington, Kentucky.
We moved to Moreland 8 months pregnant in a horse trailer. We leave with 4 children and 11,000 lbs. of "stuff."
God's going to bring a great pastor to First Baptist Moreland who will take the church to a new level - whether in Moreland or Lexington - God is always advancing His church forward!


I bet you thought the title didn't quite match the cover image of the (American?) skyline? It's actually one of Africa's many great skylines. This particular one is Nairobi, Kenya.
I am doing an online course on sustainable development, with a focus on Africa. It's an interesting course taught by academia, UN employees, members of parliaments and even a former Nigerian president. We read essays, watch films, interviews and hold online discussions.
Today I watched a TEDtalk held by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. The Nigerian writer and storyteller who has written novels such as Americanah and Half of a Yellow Sun and has given TEDtalks which leave you in awe and full of inspiration.
In her presentation of "The Danger of a Single Story", she manages to perfectly describe the reason why I started TheGoodStory. The power of the stories we hear is immense. It shapes our perception of situations, people and countries. You can imagine that only hearing negative stories about a person or situation will leave you with a grim judgment of reality. It might even cause you to forget that there are always more sides than one to every story. It just doesn't sound logical to form any opinion after only hearing one-sided stories. Still, it happens every day. Bad news is often considered more newsworthy than good news and charities and aid organizations benefit by sharing sad stereotypical stories in order to raise more funds.
After living in Kenya for a while, I could fill a book full of examples of surprised reactions from people when I would tell them about 'Starbucks-like' coffee places, IMAX movie theaters, gourmet restaurants, and highway flyovers. Those things don't exist in Africa do they? Africa (as if it is one country), is full of clay huts, flies and underweight children. It takes a lot of convincing that UNICEF ads and reality are not always the same thing. Of course, there are harsh realities in Africa, famine, poverty, corruption and so on. But keep in mind that the African continent is big enough to shelter half of Europe, the United States, India and China, maybe then you will understand that it would be impossible for all that land to look like a UNICEF commercial.
I can't help finding myself struck by people's ignorant approach to Africa as a country rather than a continent. When I was in Kenya, I would receive a concerned email at least once a month. Usually resulting from something that happened somewhere else on the African continent. The start of the Ebola outbreak in Guinea, an attack in Mogadishu, etc. Many would consider that a realistic reason to be worried. Ebola spread like wildfire and living in a country neighboring such horrific attacks as occur in Mogadishu must be dangerous. But now consider this. The distance between Guinea and Kenya is 5387 km. That is more than the distance between the United Kingdom and Guinea, which is 5087 km. But I bet that nobody in the United Kingdom received worried emails about their safety after the Ebola outbreak. The same goes for the distance between Mogadishu and Nakuru (where I was staying). The distance between those cities is roughly the same as the distance between Amsterdam and Florence (Firenze).
Of course, these worries were meant well but the mere fact that most people don't seem to think of these worries as slightly ridiculous shows us that many people think of Africa as a far more grim place than it really is. The negative stories have formed our perception of Africa being a poor, hopeless and even dangerous place. When in reality there is no place on earth with more potential, hope and resiliency.
What struck me was this: She had felt sorry for me even before she saw me. Her default position toward me, as an African, was a kind of patronizing, well-meaning pity. My roommate had a single story of Africa: a single story of catastrophe. In this single story, there was no possibility of Africans being similar to her in any way, no possibility of feelings more complex than pity, no possibility of a connection as human equals.
But, this perception of Africa as one nation also has its benefits. As a European citizen, I think we can learn a great deal from that perception. Although I believe it is a bad thing when outsiders see Africa as one country resulting from a neglect to educate themselves on what Africa really is, I think it can be a good thing when the perception of one nation comes from the actual people of Africa. I have never experienced a stronger feeling of being ONE than I have while in Kenya. A victory on the continent of Africa is considered to be a victory for all Africans. Literally, such as during the world cup, when a team from any African country would perform well people would go out on the streets and celebrate 'our win'. I can't imagine people in my home country the Netherlands going out on the streets to celebrate a football/soccer victory of Germany or Spain. Although Europe claims to be one, we feel nowhere near as connected as the people who live in Africa do. Which is quite an accomplishment when you consider that Europe can easily be fitted in Africa 6 times (Africa being 30,3 million km² and Western-Europe 4,9 million km² in size) and with a population a little under double the amount of that of Europe. If if the inhabitants of Europe could feel as much European and the inhabitants of Africa feel African, it could truly become the strong 'we stand as one' continent it set out to be.
After watching the video, as shown above, the course lecturer asked me three questions. I am curious about what your answers to these questions are. Don't feel shy!
Can you share any examples of when you made assumptions about people from another culture as Chimamanda did in the film?
Where did these assumptions come from?
How did they influence your perceptions of the individual?
I don't know what I feel more right now – guilt or shame. I am one of those ignorant fools who stereotyped Africa like many others. Thank you so much for having shared this. I shall never judge anybody or anything based on a single story ever again.
1. I have always stereotyped the Africans and the Chinese. The Africans as poor, uneducated, starved, subjected to inhuman acts, devoid of any technology and highly unlikely to make any kind of socio-economic progress. The Chinese as being shrewd politicians, the nation that is strongly against imparting English language education, a population of working class people who eat snakes and worms – the list goes on.
2. I gathered as much during my schooling in addition to the stereotypes that society imprints on your mind. May be if I had bothered to read up on Africa, I wouldn't feel as ignorant as I do right now.
3. I believed people from these countries HAD to be just like the images of stereotypes described to me. If they were any different, I would start thinking of them revolutionary or even as "coming out from under the rock", if I may daresay.
Once again thank you for sharing!
I don't think it is necessarily bad to not know so much about a specific place but it is good to be aware of the fact that you don't know.. So when the time comes that you need to form an opinion on something.. you know that you are uninformed instead of simply falling back on that single story.
You have to read this post. It is an eye opener if it's anything. If it doesn't leave you feeling guilty or ignorant, it will atleast leave you feeling wiser.
such enthusiasm:) thank you! She truly is an inspiring personality isn't she! If you are interested, also check out her Ted talk on feminism. I've posted it under Be Inspired: gender equality. Also a great one!
I understand your thoughts and maybe confusion about the definition of middle class. I think words carry different weight in different places. For example the definition of poor will be very different in, for example, the U.K. Than it would be in Nigeria. I think (based on Kenya) that middle class can mean having a steady income, the ability to rent a house, send your kids to school and buy food. But even then.. Payments of salary might not be as constant as in other countries. Also.. As I understood it from her talk the reason for their vanishing foods was that her parents were teachers and the government did not support free education.. Sounds like they were trying to discourage teachers.. But maybe I'm wrong 😉 just thinking out loud.


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This website has a section called Lung Cancer 101 for new patients. It also discusses the different types of lung cancer, as well as diagnosis, treatment, symptoms, and staging. At the site, you can sign up for the newsletter or order free copies of CancerCare publications and education booklets. You can also visit the online support groups.
Contains detailed explanation of how the lungs work, access statistics on various types of cancer, and view information on the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of lung cancer. Visitors can also subscribe to the group's newsletter or read lung cancer news online.
Engages in fundraising and public outreach to increase awareness of oral cancer. In addition to providing statistics and a forum, the site contains the Webcast "Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Mouth Cancer." Visitors can receive oral cancer updates by signing up for OCF's newsletter.
Provides treatment information for patients who have oral and head and neck cancers. Regularly publishes a newsletter. The site features teleconferences and mails a free booklet to patients.
Available in English and Spanish; provides detailed information on diagnosis and treatment of pancreatic cancer. Patients can order a free packet of materials or call to speak one-on-one with a Patient and Liaison Services Associate.
Offers information on prostate cancer screening, treatments and their side effects, and the latest research. Patients can order or download "An Introduction to Prostate Cancer" and receive advice on how to talk about their diagnosis. The site also lists clinical trails.
Provides information on testicular and extragonadal germ cell tumors for patients, caregivers, family, friends, and physicians.
Provides education and support to men with testicular cancer and their caregivers. It offers a wealth of fact sheets, a glossary, active patient forums and blogs, and personal stories. A testicular cancer links section lists additional resources with individual summaries.
What are the Short and Long Term Side Effects of Chemotherapy?


Like children the world over they chased each other around the building after the adults had finished their serious church stuff, squealing with delight. "Easy, now," I said, trying not to raise my voice or come across too strong. "You guys slow it down a bit, use your inside voices." I flashed back to the tiled floors and wooden pews of my childhood church, remembering the lightness of spirit, the careless joy of pursuit and escape in a building that felt like home. (The tile was great for sliding under those pews)! That's what church should feel like for children and I didn't want to spoil it by being a grumpy old man.
Where does that lightness go? Is it inevitable that our spirits will sag with our waistlines? Must we grow heavy with age?
No. Just as exercise and a good diet can help us stay fit, the spiritual discipline of confession keeps our spirits free of excess baggage. But also like dieting and exercise, confession has gotten a bad rap, an undeserved reputation as something only masochists enjoy, and mercy like something we must leverage from God.
What are the keys to this kind of healing? How to maintain that lightness of spirit? David gave us two clues in the fifty-first Psalm. First, he takes ownership of his sin, and second, he remembers that God is the one we most offend.
Hey, wait a minute, didn't David sin against a whole bunch of people? Bathsheba, Uriah, his family, etc.? How is it that you are leaving them out of this confession?
Yes, he did. Yet the one who has endured the greatest insult is the giver of all good things. When we sin, we sin against God. We sin in our bodies against the architect of anatomy. We sin in our minds against the builder of brains. We sin in our speech against the maker of mouths, the Logos, the Word of Truth. We sin in our ethics against the Spirit of righteousness. We sin in our souls against the giver of life. We sin not only against other human beings, but against what it means to be fully human – a being formed to reflect God himself. We are at odds not only with other humans, but with the meaning of humanness.
That is why if we really want to keep a childlike spirit we need to confess to the Maker of children. Then and only then can we be synchronized with the source of freedom, peace, and joy.
What is life like for us when we do that? Psalm 32, also one of David's, explains it. The joylessness is gone, replaced by a rich appreciation of all that life is and all it has to offer. The lightness is back with gladness and expectation of more joy in the presence of God. The songs once sung in heartless ritual now resonate down in the soul. The prayers that once felt like they bounced off a brass sky now ring down the halls of heaven like the shouts of a child playing in a giant cathedral that feels like home.


The Celtic stories of fairies are woven throughout their history. The mischief, mystery and magic of these "fae" delight and intrigue us. We have blended lavender, rose & Lilith flower (peonies) to invoke these enchanting creatures!


This type of surge arrester is used to protection against lightning and overvoltage for computer networks, telecommunications and radio . Bornika is the exclusive agent of Raycap , OBO Bettermann and cirprotec in the fields of consultation, sales and distribution of power industry products including Network cable.
surge arrester type DEHNpatch Class E is universal arrester for Industrial Ethernet, Power over Ethernet (IEEE 802.3 compliant up to PoE++ / 4PPoE) and similar applications in structured cabling systems according to class E up to 250 MHz.
surge arrester type DEHNpatch Class D is universal arrester for Industrial Ethernet, Power over Ethernet (IEEE 802.3 compliant up to PoE++ / 4PPoE) and similar applications in structured cabling systems according to class D up to 100 MHz.
surge arrester type DPA M CAT6 is universal arrester for Industrial Ethernet, Power over Ethernet (IEEE 802.3 compliant up to PoE++ / 4PPoE) and similar applications in structured cabling systems according to Cat. 6 and class EA up to 500 MHz.
surge arrester type NET PRO 4TP component fitted with eight shielded ports for universal cabling systems (class D).
surge arrester type NET PRO TC component with eight unshielded ports for protecting telecommunications systems with analogue or system transmission from overvoltage and a.c. interference.
surge arrester type NET PRO 10X TC1 RST component with ten ports for protecting telecommunications systems with analogue or system transmission technology from overvoltage and a.c. interference.
The RayDat NET 6 is intended to protect Local Area Networks (LAN) from overvoltage surges and electrostatic discharges created by switching transients in buildings.
The RayDat NET 5 Series is intended to protect Local Area Networks (LAN) from overvoltage surges and electrostatic discharges created by switching transients in buildings.
The RayDat NET 5 19 Series is intended to protect Local Area Networks (LAN) from overvoltage surges and electrostatic discharges created by switching transients in buildings.
RJ45 – Cat6 and PoE Surge Protection are specifically designed for the protection of twisted pair Ethernet systems with a combination of rugged and fine grain protection elements.


text:
Q: Will 2*2GB and 2*4GB sets of dual channel RAMS work? I intend the following setup :

*

*Slot 1 (Black ): UDIMM 2GB ADATA DDR3-1333 1.5V 9CAS   AD3U1333C2G9-R

*Slot 2 (Yellow): DIMM  4GB ADATA DDR3-1333 1.5V 9-9-9  AD3U1600W4G11

*Slot 3 (Black ): UDIMM 2GB ADATA DDR3-1333 1.5V 9CAS   AD3U1333C2G9-R

*Slot 4 (Yellow): DIMM  4GB ADATA DDR3-1333 1.5V 9-9-9  AD3U1600W4G11

Motherboard : Asus B85M-G
Reason for such a setup:
I have one 2GB Ram and wish to upgrade.  2*4GB has maximum Value for money.  So plan to purchase that.  I wish to use existing 2GB, so plan to purchase another 2GB.
Doubt :

*

*Will there be any issues?

*If not, will I get the the result of two dual channel setups? (One 2GB dual channel and one 4GB dual channel)

*If I have only 3 RAMS (Two 4GB and One 2GB), will I get better overall performance if i avoid the 2GB RAM?

A:
Will there be any issues?

Probably not.
There are no generic reason why it should not work, though some motherboards have had weird issues. In general try if you have a no name motherboard then everything will work. If you have a brand motherboard (like Compaq, Dell or HP) then those tend to be incompatible with the generally accepted standards.

If not, will I get the the result of two dual channel setups? (One 2GB dual channel and one 4GB dual channel)

Yes. 2x2GB and 2x4GB should allow dual channel access to both sets of DIMMs.

If I have only 3 RAMS (Two 4GB and One 2GB), will I get better overall performance if i avoid the 2GB RAM?

It depends.
If you have a single program using a limited a amount of memory then 2x4GB in dual channel mode is often 1% to 10% faster. If you have programs (and OS dis buffers) using more then 4GB then 6GB will be faster.
See also:

*

*Is it better to have 4GB RAM in dual channel or 6GB as single channel?

*Help with RAM speeds? and Is dual Channel worth it?

*One 8 GB DIMM vs two 4 GB DIMMs in dual channel mode
And a few others. Temped to flag it as duplicate off one of these.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Barghouti: No Justice for Palestine without Justice for Palestinian Women
By Dr. Mustafa Barghouthi - September 13, 2019
Section: [Main News] [Opinion]
Tags: [women's rights]
With the results of the ongoing investigation in the case of Isra' Ghareeb confirming that she was killed after being subjected to terrible violence, I find myself compelled to speak about the loss of this young girl who was full of energy and vitality for life, which has sadly reminded us of many similar cases. Her slaying has become a public movement that articulates the urgent need to confront all forms of violence exerted, or might ever be wielded, upon Palestinian women and girls. It has also uncovered the glaring gaps in Palestinian laws and the legislative failure to protect the rights and lives of women.
Most prominent of these legislative breaches are the antiquated light penalty statutes, brought in fifty-nine years ago from Jordan, for men who slay women; add to that the fact that to this day, the law to protect Palestinian women and families was not ratified and issued as it was supposed to years ago.
But, by far the broadest fissure in Palestinian laws is that the nation lost its Legislative Council as it was dissolved by the President of the Palestinian Authority, which unfortunately was largely dysfunctional for many years before its dissolution because of the internal political division.
The problems do not end there. The Palestinians are constantly vulnerable to harsh criticism and rigorous accountability because of the ongoing internal conflict and non-implementation of legal rights and principles ratified in international agreements to which Palestine is a signatory; one particularly significant agreement is the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). But, the worst of all ramifications of these judicial flaws is that Israel does not waver in taking every opportunity to exploit these vulnerabilities.
The absence of legislation granting rights and equal opportunities for women of all ages cannot be remedied with trite phrases such as "women are half of society" and "women are mothers, sisters and daughters". The problem can only be solved with the ratification, adoption, and implementation of laws that protect freedoms, rights and lives, guaranteeing the security and safety of women and girls from all forms of discrimination and assault, and that prohibit and punish any form of gender-based violence.
These rights cannot be assured unless we accept the rooted reality that Palestinian women were and are contributing to the struggle for the cause, to the economy and the development of society just as much as men. In fact, in many cases, women contribute more in their role as caregivers to generations of children.
The case of Isra' Ghareeb has raised two painful crucial issues in Palestinian society: equality in the eyes of the law and its just implementation for all without discrimination, and the matter of legal political, social, and economic rights.
It is, therefore, not at all odd that the public calls for the protection of women's lives and rights came with demands for democratic elections and revival of the Palestinian legislative institution. Without a legislative body, the principle of separation of powers can never be realized because that body is the foundation of political and social balance.
We will not be victorious in our struggle against the oppressive occupation, its tyranny and racial discrimination, unless we instate justice within our own ranks, and only when every Palestinian firmly believes he or she is struggling for a country that dispenses justice for all, not only for a select group to the detriment of the rest of people.
With that, the lives and rights of Palestinian women would become integral foundations for triumph in the national struggle for freedom, and hence comes the veracity of saying, "no justice for Palestine without justice for Palestinian women."
Dr. Mustafa Barghouti is the Secretary General of the Palestinian National Innitiative.


Right now, Head on over to your nearest Starbucks and enjoy Happy Hour Special with Buy 1 Get 1 Free deal on Any Grande or Larger Handcrafted Espresso Beverage! Find a store near you here.
Note: Between 3 p.m. and closing time at participating Starbucks in the U.S. and Canada.
I love it what u think?///????


text:
from kfp.components import InputPath, OutputPath, create_component_from_func

def xgboost_train(
    training_data_path: InputPath('ApacheParquet'),
    model_path: OutputPath('XGBoostModel'),
    model_config_path: OutputPath('XGBoostModelConfig'),
    label_column_name: str,

    starting_model_path: InputPath('XGBoostModel') = None,

    num_iterations: int = 10,
    booster_params: dict = None,

    # Booster parameters
    objective: str = 'reg:squarederror',
    booster: str = 'gbtree',
    learning_rate: float = 0.3,
    min_split_loss: float = 0,
    max_depth: int = 6,
):
    '''Train an XGBoost model.

    Args:
        training_data_path: Path for the training data in Apache Parquet format.
        model_path: Output path for the trained model in binary XGBoost format.
        model_config_path: Output path for the internal parameter configuration of Booster as a JSON string.
        starting_model_path: Path for the existing trained model to start from.
        label_column_name: Name of the column containing the label data.
        num_boost_rounds: Number of boosting iterations.
        booster_params: Parameters for the booster. See https://xgboost.readthedocs.io/en/latest/parameter.html
        objective: The learning task and the corresponding learning objective.
            See https://xgboost.readthedocs.io/en/latest/parameter.html#learning-task-parameters
            The most common values are:
            "reg:squarederror" - Regression with squared loss (default).
            "reg:logistic" - Logistic regression.
            "binary:logistic" - Logistic regression for binary classification, output probability.
            "binary:logitraw" - Logistic regression for binary classification, output score before logistic transformation
            "rank:pairwise" - Use LambdaMART to perform pairwise ranking where the pairwise loss is minimized
            "rank:ndcg" - Use LambdaMART to perform list-wise ranking where Normalized Discounted Cumulative Gain (NDCG) is maximized

    Annotations:
        author: Alexey Volkov <alexey.volkov@ark-kun.com>
    '''
    import pandas
    import xgboost

    # Loading data
    df = pandas.read_parquet(training_data_path)
    training_data = xgboost.DMatrix(
        data=df.drop(columns=[label_column_name]),
        label=df[[label_column_name]],
    )
    # Training
    booster_params = booster_params or {}
    booster_params.setdefault('objective', objective)
    booster_params.setdefault('booster', booster)
    booster_params.setdefault('learning_rate', learning_rate)
    booster_params.setdefault('min_split_loss', min_split_loss)
    booster_params.setdefault('max_depth', max_depth)

    starting_model = None
    if starting_model_path:
        starting_model = xgboost.Booster(model_file=starting_model_path)

    model = xgboost.train(
        params=booster_params,
        dtrain=training_data,
        num_boost_round=num_iterations,
        xgb_model=starting_model
    )

    # Saving the model in binary format
    model.save_model(model_path)

    model_config_str = model.save_config()
    with open(model_config_path, 'w') as model_config_file:
        model_config_file.write(model_config_str)

if __name__ == '__main__':
    create_component_from_func(
        xgboost_train,
        output_component_file='component.yaml',
        base_image='python:3.7',
        packages_to_install=[
            'xgboost==1.1.1',
            'pandas==1.0.5',
            'pyarrow==0.17.1',
        ],
        annotations={
            "author": "Alexey Volkov <alexey.volkov@ark-kun.com>",
            "canonical_location": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Ark-kun/pipeline_components/master/components/XGBoost/Train/from_ApacheParquet/component.yaml",
        },
    )

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Major League BaseballAmerican LeagueAmerican League EastBaltimore Orioles
Jonathan Papelbon shows baseball still has a lot of growing up to do
Baltimore Orioles, Features, Headlines, Major League Baseball, Opinions & Predictions, Washington Nationals
Sixteen-plus years ago (wow, I'm old), I was the Opening Day starter for my Pony league baseball team (an honor, I know). My team was matched up against my best friend's team. We were both the best player on our respective teams, and the trash talk had been flowing for weeks leading up to the game. In the first inning, my friend Sean came to the plate and we stared each other down. He singled sharply off me and did not hide his elation as he ran down the line to first. This obviously riled little ten-year-old me up quite a bit. Two innings later, my friend strode back up to the plate with a little extra swagger. Two straight fastballs whizzed behind him. I knew what I was doing. I eventually got the strikeout as my friend's knees turned to Jell-o, and we ironed out our differences the next day at school.
This brings me to two players who are not best friends — Manny Machado and Jonathan Papelbon. They are also not ten years old, but sometimes you do wonder. Papelbon is a soon-to-be 35-year-old, six-time All-Star, but his mindset on the mound is not far removed from that of a ten-year-old.
If you've somehow been out of the loop the past few days, let me provide a little context. With two outs in the top of the seventh inning on Wednesday night, Manny Machado absolutely unloaded on a 98 MPH, 2-2 fastball from Max Scherzer. For Machado, it was a special home run. It was his 30th of the season and gave the Orioles a 4-3 lead over the Nationals. The home run also came two innings after Machado was rung up on a fastball right down the pipe as he attempted to call time.
There was nothing out of the ordinary about the way Machado rounded the bases. He did not bat flip or David Ortiz his way to first base. Machado barely paused to admire his blast. He pointed skyward while approaching home plate as is customary for many players in the league. As Machado approached the dugout, it was evident that he was fired up, and he celebrated the go-ahead home run with his teammates.
Apparently, none of this sat well with Papelbon who threw not one, but two pitches in the vicinity of Machado's head in the ninth inning.
After the game, Machado called the act cowardly. Bryce Harper called it "tired," and expected to be hit the next game. The Orioles handled the situation with class, and surprisingly Harper was not beaned in yesterday's contest. Machado's beaning comes less than two weeks after Chris Davis was beaned in the midst of a ten-run eruption against the Kansas City Royals.
Unfortunately, despite many of the advances made in the game of baseball, it is far too commonplace to see a pitcher dispense some misguided form of vigilante justice as he or his team gets smacked around. Holding a baseball with the ability to throw it 95 MPH wherever one so desires, it is far too easy to seek revenge when an immature, me-first attitude takes over. Many of the players on the field were never forced to grow up, constantly passed along in a state of suspended maturation thanks to their obvious athletic talents. Certainly, this characterization applies to only a tiny minority of professional baseball players, but a few bad apples spoil the entire bunch.
Let's try and go inside the head of Papelbon (the guy who once received a seven-game suspension for crotch-grabbing in Philadelphia) as he stared down Machado. The former World Series champion came to Washington with the hopes of adding another ring to his collection. He's not going to get it this year, and probably won't get it next year. At the Trade Deadline, Papelbon could have forced a trade to either the Chicago Cubs or the Toronto Blue Jays if he really wanted to. Instead, he hitched his horse to the wrong wagon, and hasn't even pitched all that well while riding said wrong wagon. Frustration emanates from his pores.
When you throw at an opponent's head, it becomes all about you. This was not some sort of retaliation for a perceived slight. Papelbon was not taking up the cause of a teammate who had been wrongfully plunked. He was taking out frustration on the best available target — the guy who had just hit the go-ahead home run. If the Orioles really wanted to, they could have fired back at Harper in Thursday's game. Harper, not Papelbon, would have been on the receiving end of a fastball to the ribs.
When I threw at my friend, I knew what I was doing, but I was a child, without a fully developed moral compass. It is painfully obvious that many professional baseball players have not moved on from this stage of life. Playing the game with a little fire is perfectly acceptable, but what occurred on Wednesday night in Washington is not. Papelbon will be suspended or fined for what he did, but it will hardly have an effect. His actions are still viewed by many as just a part of the game. Violating any one of 25 "unwritten rules" (or more, it's hard to keep track because they are held in such secrecy) can get you a fastball to the back. Throwing at someone is an accepted and defensible practice in certain situations. Someone is going to get injured — severely — and it will forever be a black stain upon the game.
I faced my friend several more times over the course of our baseball careers, never throwing at him intentionally again. I had learned that a baseball is not a weapon to be used to extract revenge or release frustration. I knew this by the age of 12. Somehow, in nearly 35 years of life, Jonathan Papelbon has not learned the same thing. There are teachable moments every day of our lives, and this is a big one for Major League Baseball. Papelbon must be made an example. There is no place on a baseball field, be it Pony league or big league, for this type of behavior.
Baltimore OriolesJonathan PapelbonManny MachadoWashington Nationals
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The Positive for the Washington Nationals? The Youth is Playing
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