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Google Hopes to Spray Patent Trolls with Nortel Portfolio
Apple Sues Samsung, Says it Copied IPad
Microsoft Joins Patent Review Group to Avoid Costly Litigation
Samsung Sues Apple, Alleging Patent Infringements
Smartphone Patent Fight: 'World War III'
Smartphone-related patent infringement lawsuits Apple and Samsung recently filed against each other are but the latest in an escalating series of Android and open-source-related complaints filed by major corporations over the past 18 months.
By Matt Hamblen
Senior Editor, Computerworld |
After more than 40 lawsuits, there's no sign of a letup in smartphone litigiousness, leaving patent experts divided over whether the epic phone fights are a sign of a healthy free market or a serious deterrent to future innovators.
Several patent experts said in interviews that when the dust finally settles, they believe that Apple -- with arguably the biggest smartphone legal stake -- would prefer to reach settlement agreements with various Android manufacturers such as Samsung. That means that Apple would seek damages and and future license agreements from lawsuit opponents, rather than fighting to prevent the sale of Android phones in the U.S.
"These companies are all trying to get more space in the valuable smartphone market, and [they all] hold huge portfolios of patents, so they will use every tool at their disposal," said Tim Delaney, an intellectual property litigator at Brinks Hofer in Chicago. Delaney added that he has no role in any of the current suits.
"The players are competing in every way imaginable: on price, patents and in advertising," Delaney said. "I'm sure they all have their big stables of expert patent witnesses and lawyers ready to go. It will be World War III."
Delaney, like seven other patent attorneys interviewed for this story but not involved in the lawsuits, said it is "possible, but unlikely, that some company could get knocked out of selling handsets" as a result of the current suits. Economic considerations come into play as to how patent lawsuit strategies proceed, he said.
Delaney argued, for example, that since Apple was first to market with its iconic iPhone in 2007, it is more invested in seeing other smartphones stopped cold than, say, Microsoft. Still, Apple might seek a settlement and a licensing agreement with Android smartphone makers, just to benefit financially from Android's growing revenues, several attorneys speculated.
Microsoft, meanwhile, was late to the game with Windows Phone 7, whose Windows Phone OS currently lags behind Google's Android, Apple's iOS, Research In Motion's BlackBerry and Nokia's Symbian.
Therefore, Microsoft might seek licensing agreements or royalties from other companies -- instead of seeking injunctions in any suit it brings. Proceeds from the settlements would be used to cover Microsoft's smartphone research investment costs, Delaney asserted. (In fact, in April 2010, HTC signed a settlement agreement calling for it to pay Microsoft royalties for its Android phones.)
Before making further predictions on the outcome of the phone patent battles, it's useful to look at some background.
Since early 2010, there have been so many smartphone- and wireless-related lawsuits filed around the globe that nobody seems to have an accurate count.
Florian Mueller, a self-described intellectual property "activist," runs the respected FOSS Patents blog, which recently listed a slew of Android-related device lawsuits in graphic form. The list begins with suits filed in 2010 and ends prior to the recent Apple and Samsung lawsuits. Including the Apple and Samsung filings, Mueller said there have been 41 active Android-related lawsuits since the start of last year.
Google, creator of the Android platform, is often named as a defendant in such lawsuits. Apple is a plaintiff in three cases, starting with its March 2010 suit against HTC, currently the biggest Android smartphone maker. Apple sued Motorola in October 2010.
Apple's approach thus far is to take on Android manufacturers rather than Google per se, since Google provides its open-source Android software basically for free while undoubtedly expecting to eventually reap tremendous revenue from advertising on Android phones, several patent attorneys noted. That Google advertising revenue stream isn't so far readily available to companies that would sue it, they noted.
The patent attorneys speculated that many more lawsuits could result from a raft of expected intellectual property disputes over wireless technologies such as LTE.
Mueller, who said he has no stake in any of the cases, expects "many more smartphone patent suits this year."
What is being disputed?
The recent Apple suit against Samsung characterizes the somewhat widespread nature of Apple's patent attacks and typifies many of the other cases filed by other parties. Apple's complaint includes 10 charges of patent infringement and two for alleged trademark violations against several Samsung smartphones and its Galaxy Tab tablet.
"Samsung has chosen to slavishly copy Apple's innovative technology, distinctive user interfaces, and elegant and distinctive product and packaging design, in violation of Apple's valuable intellectual property rights," Apple said in its April 15 complaint.
A week later, Samsung filed lawsuits in three countries, claiming that Apple infringed on Samsung smartphone patents. The company filed suit in a fourth country shortly thereafter
Most of the patent attorneys interviewed wouldn't speculate on the validity of the claims in the lawsuits, pointing to the precise nature of how patents are written and granted, and the need to avoid adding potential bias to any given case.
In one example of how wide-ranging the smartphone patent suits are, digital security tool-maker Gemalto sued Google, HTC, Motorola and Samsung last October for using its patented software in Android and other products. Gemalto's software was originally intended for designing Java-based programs that would run on full-size PCs.
Some of the patent claims in the smartphone cases have been derided, even by insiders, as somewhat specious.
"These claims are all about competing companies wanting to get a piece of the [smartphone revenue] pie, although I do see some of the claims that are eye-opening, to say the least," remarked Mitchell Stein, an intellectual property litigator at Silver Freedman in Los Angeles.
"One claim that killed me was that Apple sued Amazon over Amazon's Android store, which is called the Amazon Appstore," he added, noting that Apple's is called the App Store. "So, Apple thinks Amazon can't call its store an 'appstore'? That shows how creative and aggressive some of these companies are in this field, with all the money being made."
Enter the patent trolls
Several of the smartphone cases were filed by a number of so-called nonpracticing entities, such as NTP, which have purchased or gained rights to enormous numbers of patents.
While it may sound derisive, these companies are widely referred to by patent insiders as "patent trolls," a term that goes back nearly 20 years. The term has lost much of its pejorative value in recent years as such trolls have become useful to just about any company trying to defend itself in a patent suit.
NTP became famous for winning $612.5 million from RIM in March 2006 in a settlement of a patent dispute that lasted four years. In July 2010, NTP also filed smartphone patent infringement claims against Apple, Google, LG, Motorola, Microsoft and HTC.
NTP co-founder Donald Stoute claimed that use of its intellectual property without a license is "just plain unfair to NTP and its licensees," a group that now includes Nokia and, ironically, RIM.
"You will see smartphone competitors sue for the next couple of years, but the suits by the nonpracticing entities, the trolls, will drag on for a while as they go after Apple and all the handset makers," noted patent attorney Greg Bishop of Goodwin Procter in Menlo Park, Calif. "That's where the biggest money is."
In a sense, the patent troll tradition has given birth to newer, more respectable gambits where companies like Intellectual Ventures collect patents and give a variety of vendors the right to license those patents, thereby creating a kind of patent licensee collective, Bishop said.
"That big portfolio of patents adds to the inability of one player to dominate the patent arena," Bishop said.
Michael Specht and Glenn Perry, patent attorneys at Sterne Kessler Goldstein, noted in a recent article that HTC and Samsung recently licensed the 30,000-patent portfolio of Intellectual Ventures to protect themselves against smartphone suits filed by Apple and others. The moves are apparently intended to generate a legal debate over who owns what smartphone intellectual property rights.
Specht and Perry noted that to date there is no patent pool for smartphones specifically but added that a group called the Open Patent Alliance has created patent pools for WiMax, LTE and 4G patents. At the same time, private entities such as Sisvel, Via Licensing and MPEG LA are creating LTE patent pools.
Clearly, there is likely to be plenty of ongoing legal positioning by mobile device makers beyond disputes over Android.
The financial burdens
Patent attorneys claim that the costs of patent litigation are relatively low compared to the cost of developing and marketing a smartphone.
"No [major company] in these disputes will be stymied by the litigation expense," said Delaney, who noted that the cost for a single patent case typically ranges from $5 million to $10 million. "That's an order of magnitude less than the sales for a product. And while it's a burden, it's a burden companies are willing to bear."
Blogger-activist Mueller, however, predicted that patent licensing costs will "soon become the single largest cost factor for those building smartphones."
Why the glut of Android suits?
Android patent lawsuits are currently at the centerpiece of the smartphone wars, partly because the open-source software has quickly become dominant. Android late in 2010 became the largest smartphone platform -- and is expected to hold that position for several years, according to Gartner and IDC.
The very nature of Android, as an open-source operating system, has led to its global expansion. But the open-source nature of the software also leaves it somewhat defenseless, Mueller has argued.
Google apparently believes that an Android program written with a General Public License "can just cut out the copyrightable parts," Mueller recently noted in a blog. Oracle, in a Java-related lawsuit against Google, has argued that any company that treats a copyright this way "may be similarly arrogant and reckless when patents are concerned."
Mueller concluded that Google's approach "exposes its entire ecosystem to legal risks."
Mueller also called Google's patent portfolio "far too weak for what's undertaken in connection with Android" and argued that Google needs more cross-licensing agreements with other IT-related software and hardware makers. "This is a serious strategic weakness, and it's in no small part responsible for the Android patent mess," Mueller concluded.
Early jury rules against Google
Google recently lost a case that could have major implications in the smartphone wars, and on open-source technology in general. In that case, Bedrock Computer Technologies filed suit in 2009 contending that Google had infringed on one of its Linux-related patents.
A federal court jury in the Eastern District of Texas on April 15 ruled that Google must pay Bedrock $5 million for past infringement on its patent on the Linux kernel Google uses in software that runs in its server farm.
Since so many companies use Linux, Mueller predicted that the jury verdict will convince more companies to pay royalties related to the use of the open-source operating systems. He also predicted that Google might need to modify the Linux kernel that it distributes with Android in order to remove any patent-infringing code.
In general, patent attorneys said they don't expect many jury verdicts in the smartphone battles. Instead, most will be settled.
"In reality, most of these lawsuits go away, and the statistical reality in the [intellectual property] and business world is that these cases are settled 95% to 98% of the time," Stein said. "A lot of these suits are threats, and threats grab headlines."
In addition to smartphone suits filed in federal courts, some entities are turning to the U.S. International Trade Commission, which takes precedence over the federal courts and can grant injunctions allowing U.S. customs agents to seize property before it enters the U.S. "The ITC is very powerful, and if a patent case wins there, the ITC is definitely going to stop companies" from bringing specific products into the U.S., Delaney noted.
History of smartphone patent wars
James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, probably never envisioned anything like today's smartphone patent wars when he proposed language in 1787 to the Constitutional Convention protecting copyrights to literary authors. That recommendation led to Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution, which is commonly called the Copyright and Patent Clause: "To promote the progress of science and useful arts, by securing for limited times to authors and inventors the exclusive right to respective writings and discoveries."
The Copyright and Patent Clause led to the creation of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is the basis for many judgments in federal courts.
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A közönséges barázdásbálna (Balaenoptera physalus) az emlősök (Mammalia) osztályának párosujjú patások (Artiodactyla) rendjébe, ezen belül a barázdásbálna-félék (Balaenopteridae) családjába tartozó faj. Nemének a típusfaja.

A sziláscetek alrendjébe tartozó közönséges barázdásbálna csaknem 27 méteres hosszúságával a kék bálna (Balaenoptera musculus) után a második legnagyobb, ma is élő állatfaj. Roy Chapman Andrews amerikai természettudós az 1910-es években a közönséges barázdásbálnát "a tengerek agárjának" tartotta, mivel amikor az állatot üldözőbe vették, áramvonalas testfelépítésével gyorsan és könnyedén menekült el.

Hosszú és karcsú teste hátán barnásszürke, hasoldalán világos színű. Jelenleg két érvényes alfaját különítik el, az egyik azonban két olyan populációra oszlik, hogy annak további felosztása is indokolttá válhat. A közönséges barázdásbálna csak a jéggel borított "mezőket" és az óceánokon levő üres, élettelen helyeket kerüli el. Az állományok legnagyobb sűrűsége a mérsékelt övezetekben és a sarkok körül található. A tápláléka rajokban élő kis halakból, kalmárokból és kis rákokból tevődik össze (mint amilyenek a Mysidacea-fajok és a krillek).

Mint a többi nagytestű bálnát, ezt a bálnafajt is nagy számban vadászták a 20. században, emiatt a sebezhető fajok listájára került. 1904–1979 között a déli féltekén csaknem  közönséges barázdásbálnát öltek meg. Manapság már csak mintegy  példány él ezen a helyen. A Nemzetközi Bálnavadászati Bizottság (International Whaling Commission, IWC) felfüggesztette e bálnafaj vadászatát, hogy megvédje a fajt a kihalástól. Ennek ellenére Izland és Japán nem hagyott fel vadászatukkal; 2009-ben Izland 125 közönséges barázdásbálnát ölt meg a vadászszezon alatt. 2008–2009 között Japán egyetlen példányt fogott a Déli-óceánban. Grönlandon a bennszülötteknek – hagyományaikra való hivatkozással – engedélyezték a bálnavadászatot. A világ közönséges barázdásbálna állománya összesen körülbelül – állatból áll. A hajókkal való ütközések és az ember által okozott zajok nehezítik e faj korábbi állományméretének a visszaállását.

Rendszertani besorolása

A természettudósok már régóta ismerik ezt a bálnafajt. 1675-ben Frederick Martens elsőként írta le a közönséges barázdásbálnát, aztán 1725-ben Paul Dudley is leírta ezt a fajt. Ez utóbbi leírást használta alapul 1758-ban Carl von Linné, amikor Balaena physalus néven beírta a Systema Naturae című könyvébe. Bernard Germain de Lacépède francia természettudós, a 19. század elején átnevezte a bálnát Balaenoptera physalus-ra; manapság is ez a név van használatban. A "physalus" szó a görög phüsza szóból származó latinos írású névelem, aminek jelentése "lövell", vagy "kilövell".

A közönséges barázdásbálna a barázdásbálna-félék (Balaenopteridae) egyike. A barázdásbálna-félékhez tartozik többek között a hosszúszárnyú bálna (Megaptera novaeangliae), a kék bálna, a Bryde-bálna/Trópusi bálna fajkomplexum (Balaenoptera cf brydei/edeni) és a csukabálna (Balaenoptera acutorostrata) is. Ez a család körülbelül a miocén kor közepén válhatott le a többi sziláscetek csoportjáról. A különböző fajok kialakulásának pontos ideje még ismeretlen számunkra. Ma már köztudott, hogy mind az Atlanti-, mind a Csendes-óceán északi részén időnként kék bálna–közönséges barázdásbálna hibridek jelennek meg. A legújabb DNS-vizsgálatok szerint ez a faj közelebbi rokonságot mutat a hosszúszárnyú bálnával és a szürke bálnával (Eschrichtius robustus), amely nem is tartozik a barázdásbálna-félék családjába, és távolabbi rokona az olyan fajoknak, amelyekkel megosztja a Balaenoptera nemet, például a csukabálnának. Ha a további vizsgálatok és tanulmányozások is megerősítik ezt az eredményt, akkor a barázdásbálna-félék családját és a benne levő fajok rendszertani besorolását a jövőben át kell dolgozni.

2006-ban a közönséges barázdásbálna két alfaját különböztették meg. Az alfajok szétválasztására számba vették a testfelépítés jellemzőit és a hangjaikban levő eltéréseket is. Az északi alfaj, a Balaenoptera physalus physalus (Linnaeus, 1758), az Atlanti-óceán északi részén él, míg a déli alfaj, a Balaenoptera physalus quoyi (Fischer, 1829), a Déli-óceánt tekinti otthonának. A Csendes-óceánban élő populáció jelenleg az utóbbi alfajhoz tartozik, de a legtöbb tudós szerint a faj harmadik alfaja lehet, de ez még nem érvényes megkülönböztetés, nincsen hivatalosan leírás és alfajnév. A három állomány élettere miatt csak nagyon ritkán keveredik.

Alfajai

Balaenoptera physalus quoyi (Fischer, 1829) – a Déli-óceán, Csendes-óceán, az Antarktisz vizei
Balaenoptera physalus physalus (Linnaeus, 1758) – az Atlanti-óceán északi része

A két alfaj létrejötte annak a következménye, hogy a vándorlásuk útvonala nem érintkezik egymással.

Előfordulása

A közönséges barázdásbálna a világ összes tengerében megtalálható, de a zajló és összefüggő jégtakarót kerüli. Az európai vizekben nagyon megritkult, zömmel a Jeges-tenger határvidékén fordul elő. A Vörös-tengerből, a Perzsa-öbölből, a Földközi-tenger keleti részéről és a Balti-tengerből hiányzik. Az állatok többsége a mérsékelt és a sarki vizekben él, a trópusokon csak kevés példány tartózkodik. A kontinensektől távolabbi, mélyebb vizeket részesítik előnyben.

Az atlanti-óceáni állománynak hatalmas az elterjedési területe. Előfordulása nyugaton a Mexikói-öböltől, keleten a Földközi-tengerig tart, északon pedig a Jeges-tenger jégtakarójáig terjed. A közönséges barázdásbálnák többsége a 30. szélességi körtől északra található meg. A 30. szélességi kör déli részén élő állomány nagyságának felmérése azonban nehéz, mivel itt megtalálható a Bryde-bálna is, ami megjelenésben igen hasonlít a közönséges barázdásbálnára. A hajókról való folyamatos megfigyelések azt mutatták, hogy az Atlanti-óceáni állomány nyári táplálkozó helye a 41°20'N és 51°00'N szélességi körök között, és körülbelül 1800 méter távolságban van a szárazföldektől.

A Csendes-óceán északi állományának a nyári elterjedési területe Alsó-Kalifornia (Baja California) középső részétől Japánig, északon pedig a Jeges-tenger határán levő Csukcs-tengerig terjed. Május és október között a legnagyobb állománysűrűség az Alaszka-öbölben és a Bering-tenger délkeleti részén van. A közönséges barázdásbálnák az Aleut-szigeteken keresztül jutnak a Bering-tengerbe. November és január között Kalifornia déli részén a tudósok néhány bálnát megfigyelőkkel láttak el, de a nyár folyamán ezeket a bálnákat Kalifornia középső részén, Oregonban, Brit Columbiában és az Alaszka-öbölben ismeretlenek megölték. A Hawaii-szigetek közelében már láttak közönséges barázdásbálnákat május közepén és télen. Egyes kutatók szerint a bálnák inkább ősszel és télen jönnek ezekhez a szigetekhez.

Bár egészen biztos, hogy a közönséges barázdásbálnák vándorló állatok, amelyek évente megteszik az utat a borjazóhelyektől a táplálkozó területekig és vissza, a pontos vándorutak még nem ismertek. Az Észak-Atlanti-óceánban végzett hidrofonos, szonáros megfigyelések azt mutatták, hogy a közönséges barázdásbálnák ősszel Új-Fundland és Labrador térségből elindulnak dél felé, és Bermudán keresztül a Karib-tengerbe úsznak. A kutatók szerint egy vagy több állomány északon marad egész évben, nem vándorol délre késő ősszel. A Csendes-óceáni vándorlások évről évre eltérnek egymástól úgy a vándorút terén, mint a vándorolni vágyó példányok számában. Így a Kaliforniai-öbölben télen és tavasszal jóval eltér a közönséges barázdásbálna állomány egyedszáma, bár vannak olyan példányok is, amelyek egész évben ebben az öbölben tartózkodnak. Az antarktiszi közönséges barázdásbálnák rendszeres vándorlók: szabályszerűen vándorolnak a borjazó és táplálkozó helyek között. Mivel e déli állományok főleg a nyílt óceánban vándorolnak, borjazó területeik még nem ismertek.

Állományok
Mivel a közönséges barázdásbálna vándorútjai alig ismertek, és a különböző bálnaszámláló szervezetek alig működnek együtt, e faj egyedszáma nem ismert pontosan. Azt sem tudjuk biztosan, hogy hány közönséges barázdásbálna élt, mielőtt az ember elkezdte volna vadászni, mivel e bálnafaj vadászatának kezdete nagyon régi időkre tehető.

Az észak-atlanti-óceáni állomány
A Nemzetközi Bálnavadászati Bizottság (International Whaling Commission, IWC) hét állományt tart számon az észak-atlanti-óceánban; ezek a következők: Új-Skócia–Új-Anglia, Új-Fundland és Labrador, Nyugat-Grönland, Kelet-Grönland–Izland, Észak-Norvégia, Nyugat-Norvégia–Feröer-szigetek és Írország–Spanyolország–Egyesült Királyság–Portugália. A műholdas megfigyelővel ellátott állatok azt mutatják, hogy az állományok határvonalait egyes példányok átlépik, ami azt jelenti, hogy az állatok nem helyhez kötöttek. 1995-ben Julius Sigurjónsson kiszámította, hogy az észak-atlanti-óceáni állomány az ipari mértékű bálnavadászat előtt körülbelül hány példányból állhatott. Szerinte – közönséges barázdásbálna élhetett a múltban. Felmérését, számítását azonban sokan megkérdőjelezik, J. Sigurjónsson ugyanis nem támasztotta alá kutatását adatokkal vagy magyarázatokkal. 1977-ben David E. Sergeant az észak-atlanti-óceáni "ősállományt" – fejre tette. Ebből a számból – állat Új-Foundland és Új-Skócia vizeiben élt, de D.E. Sergeant nem vette számításba az Amerikai Egyesült Államok vízében tartózkodó borjazó bálnákat. Jeffrey M. Breiwick felmérése szerint Új-Skócia vizeiben 1964-ben 1500–1600 vadászható (csak a 15 méternél nagyobb bálnákat lehetett hivatalosan vadászni) bálna volt, ezekből 1973-ban már csak körülbelül 325 egyed élt. Kanadában kétszer figyelték meg levegőből az állatokat, az egyik megfigyelés az 1970-es évek elejétől 1980 augusztusáig tartott Kelet-Új-Foundland és Labrador vizeiben, ez idő alatt 79–926 bálnát vettek észre.

A második repülős megfigyelés 1995–1996 között zajlott le a Szent-Lőrinc-öböl északi és középső részein, ekkor néhány száz állatot számláltak. A nyugat-grönlandi állomány 500–2000 példányra tehető. 1974-ben, Jonsgard szerint, a háború utáni években a túlvadászat miatt erősen lecsökkent a Nyugat-Norvégia–Feröer-szigeteki állomány egyedszáma.

Az eddigi állományok közül úgy látszik, hogy az izlandi állomány áll a legjobban, mivel az 1960-as évek elejétől 1981-ig a bálnák száma alig csökkent. Az 1987-es és 1989-es évek nyarain végzett bálnaszámlálások Kelet-Grönland és Norvégia vizeiben – közönséges barázdásbálnát eredményeztek. Ez az eredmény nagyon jó ahhoz képest, amit 1976-ban kaptak, amikor körülbelül 6900 bálnát számláltak, és ezt a számot is csak kissé tartották kevesebbnek az 1948-as évhez képest. A spanyol NASS bálnaszámlálás, ami 1989-ben történt a Franciaország–Portugália–Spanyolország alállomány körében, -re tette a nyári állományt. Az összállomány körülbelül – fejből állhatott.

Az állomány az Atlanti-óceán északkeleti részén 1000, míg északnyugaton 3000 példányra rúg. Visszavonulása abból is látszik, hogy egyre ritkábban veti ki a víz a partokra. Így a Brit-szigeteken 1913 és 1939 között még 26 kisodort közönséges barázdásbálnát jegyeztek fel, míg ugyanez a szám 1940-től 1978-ig csak kilenc volt. Az arányokból ítélve tehát körülbelül negyedére eshetett vissza az állomány. A közönséges barázdásbálnák száma a speciálisan felszerelt, technikailag magasan fejlett hajókról folytatott vadászat kezdete előtt bizonyosan még ennek is a többszöröse volt. Ma már a vadászat szerepe csekélyebb, de még sok évbe telik majd, mire az állomány újra felépül. A múlt század végén – példányból állt az állománya.

Az észak-csendes-óceáni állomány

Az ipari mértékű bálnavadászat előtti idők észak-csendes-óceáni közönséges barázdásbálna állománya körülbelül – állatra tehető. Ebből a keleti alállomány – példány lehetett. 1975-re az állomány 8000– példányra csökkent. Az 1991-ben, 1993-ban, 1996-ban és 2001-ben végzett megfigyelések alapján Kaliforniában 1600–3200, Oregonban és Washingtonban 280–380 bálna élt. Az U.S. Pacific Marine Mammal Stock Assessments: 2005 felmérő írat szerint Kalifornia–Oregon–Washington alállomány legkevesebb 2500 közönséges barázdásbálnát tartalmaz. 2004 és 2005 nyarain, Brit Columbiában körülbelül 500 állatot számláltak (ez 95%-os valószínűséggel a 201–1220 konfidenciaintervallumba esik). A Bering-tengerben levő Pribilof-szigetek környékén az 1975–1978 és 1987–1989 évek között a közönséges barázdásbálna állomány jelentősen gyarapodott (66 egyeddel). 1984-ben a közönséges barázdásbálna észak-csendes-óceáni teljes populációja a 38 százaléka volt az eredetinek, vagyis az ipari mértékű bálnavadászat előtti idők állományának.

Az antarktiszi állomány
A kezdeti és mai antarktiszi állományokról alig vagy csak keveset lehet tudni. A Nemzetközi Bálnavadászati Bizottság szerint az ipari mértékű bálnavadászat előtti idők antarktiszi állománya körülbelül  bálnából állhatott; ez a szám 1979-re -ra csökkent. Az itt emlegetett számok csakis körülbelüli/feltételezett adatok, biztos antarktiszi bálnaszámlálás a közönséges barázdásbálnák körében máig nem történt. Egyéb feltételezések szerint 1983-ban , míg 1997-ben  állat volt a Déli-óceánban.

Megjelenése

A közönséges barázdásbálna legfőbb jellemzője a hatalmas, de karcsú test. A nőstény legfeljebb 27 méter, a hím legfeljebb 25 méter hosszú, a testtömeg 30–70 tonna (maximum 120 tonna), az agy tömege eléri a 8,5 kilogrammot. A nőstények hossza és testsúlya nagyobb a hímekénél. Az északi állatok átlagos hossza 24 méter, míg a déliekké 26,8 méter is lehet. Az északi féltekén élő alfaj tömege 40–50 tonna, a déliekké 60–80 tonna.

A máj 230–600 kg, a szív 130–290 kg, a vesék egyenként 50–110 kg-osak, a jobb tüdő kb. 10%-kal nagyobb a balnál, tömegük egyenként 100–160 kg, a lép 2–7 kg.

A közönséges barázdásbálna 25–30 évesen számít kifejlett állatnak. Az állat akár 94 évet is élhet, bár vannak egyesek, akik azt állítják, hogy 135–140 éves példányokat is kifogtak. Az újszülött bálna körülbelül 6,5 méter hosszú és 1800 kilogramm tömegű. Hatalmas teste miatt ezt a fajt csak néhány más fajjal lehet összetéveszteni, mint a kék bálnával, a tőkebálnával (Balaenoptera borealis), vagy a melegebb vizekben a Bryde-bálnával.

Feje teteje lapos, alul hegyesen végződik. Az alsó állkapocs bal oldala sötét színű, a torok és a jobb oldal világos. Ennek oka még nem tisztázott, talán az álcázást segíti a zsákmány megközelítésekor. Mint minden barázdásbálnának, a közönséges barázdásbálnának is redőzött torokbarázdái vannak, melyeket ki tud tágítani, így evés közben növelni tudja toroktérfogatát. A 70–110, átlagosan 85 barázda a hasig, körülbelül a testre fektetett mellúszó vonaláig ér. Mindkét felső állkapocsfélből 320–420 középhosszú szila lóg alá, amelyek végükön sárgásfehér fonalakra hasadoznak fel. Az első állkapocsharmadban a szilák fehérek, hátrébb kékesszürkék vagy csíkosak. Mellúszói simák, előrefelé keskenyednek, a test hosszához képest kicsik, 1/9-ének, 1/10-ének felel meg, felül feketék, alul világosak. A hátúszó háromszög alakú, körülbelül 60 centiméter hosszú, hátrahajló, és akkor látszik a legjobban, amikor a bálna lemerülés előtt meggörbíti a hátát. Hátán kis púpok vannak. Az erőteljes farokúszó enyhe sarló alakban hajlott, közepén láthatóan bemetszett. A testéhez képest kisebbnek hat, mint a kék bálnáé. Amikor a közönséges barázdásbálna feljön a felszínre, függőleges, 5–6 méter magas páraoszlopot lövell fel ki magából. Ezt 2–4 másodpercig is lehet látni; szélcsendben a páraoszlop tetején lekerekített, hegyes kúpot formáz. A bálnának csupán a feje bukkan elő a vízből, és amikor lemerül, csak kicsiny hátúszóját lehet látni, farokúszóját nem. Az örvény, amit ilyenkor kelt a felszínen, olajsima, több méter átmérőjű körnek látszik. Váltogatja a rövid és hosszú merülési periódusokat. Ha csupán néhány percre megy le a víz alá, akkor csak másodpercekig marad a felszínen. Ha viszont négyszer-ötször is kifújja a levegőt, és körülbelül 2 percig marad, akkor utána a merülés akár 20 percig is eltarthat. Az állat nem merül 250 méternél mélyebbre, és itt csak 10 percet tölt. A közönséges barázdásbálnák hatalmas méreteik ellenére gyorsan úsznak. Csúcssebességük 40 km/h, vándorláskor körülbelül 20 km/h sebességgel haladnak. A közönséges barázdásbálna időnként kiugrik a vízből.

Bőre, amiben nincsenek izzadság- vagy zsírmirigyek, szőrmentes. Orrnyílásai a hátán vannak. Lemerülés előtt orrnyílásait bezárja. Fülei nincsenek.

Életmódja
Az állat kifejezetten társas lény. A közönséges barázdásbálnák tavasszal a Jeges-tenger nagyobb planktonszervezetekben és kisebb, halakban gazdag határvizeibe vándorolnak, ahol fő táplálkozóterületeik vannak. Télen a melegebb vizekbe vonulnak, ott nem vesznek magukhoz élelmet. Itt ellik meg borjaikat. Egyetlen ragadozója a kardszárnyú delfin (Orcinus orca).

Táplálkozása

Tápláléka a Csendes-óceánban: krill (köztük: Euphausia pacifica, Thysanoessa inermis, Thysanoessa longipes, Thysanoessa spinifera és Nyctiphanes simplex), nagyobb testű evezőlábú rákok, mint például a Neocalanus cristatus, rajhalak: alaszkai tőkehal (Theragra chalcogramma), csuklyás hal (Mallotus villosus) és kaliforniai szardella (Engraulis mordax), valamint Todarodes pacificus. Az észak-atlanti-óceánban főleg északi krillel (Meganyctiphanes norvegica), Thysanoessa inermisszel és kis rajhalakkal, mint például: a csuklyás hallal, heringgel (Clupea harengus) és Ammodytes-fajokkal (Ammodytidae) táplálkozik. A Déli-óceánban az Euphausia superba nevű krill alkotja a táplálék legnagyobb részét. Amint hatalmas száját szétnyitja, a szívóerő hatására betódul a víz és vele a zsákmányállatok, ezek azonban a víz kipréselésekor a szilákon fennakadnak. A vastag, húsos nyelv aztán a szűk garat felé tolja őket. A torkon levő barázdák lehetővé teszik, hogy a bálna szájüregének térfogatát még hatalmasabbra növelje, és így egyetlen falásra még nagyobb víztömeget tudjon beszippantani.

Táplálkozás közben a bálnafaj 11 km/órás sebességgel úszik, és képes egy falásból 70 köbméter vizet és táplálékot bekapni. Miután befalta a táplálékkal teli vizet, a bálna a szilákon keresztül kinyomja a vizet a szájából, de a táplálék fennakad a szilákon. A kifejlett állat szájának mindkét felén 262–473 szila található. A szilák vége a szájban a nyelvhez közel, finom szálakban végződik. A szila szaruból van, ugyanabból az anyagból, mint az ember körme, az állatok karma, patája és szarva. Egy szila elérheti a 76 centiméteres hosszúságot és a 30 centiméteres szélességet. A közönséges barázdásbálna általában 200 méternél lejjebb nem merül, egy merülés alatt körülbelül négyszer képes falni. Minden falásnál körülbelül 10 kilogramm krillt nyel le. Naponta 1800 kilogramm táplálék kell ahhoz, hogy életben maradhasson. Ezt a táplálékmennyiséget körülbelül három óra alatt szerzi meg. Ha a táplálékkínálat nem elég nagy vagy ha a zsákmány túl mélyen tartózkodik, akkor a bálnának több idő kell a táplálékkereséshez. A közönséges barázdásbálna egyik vadászmódszere az, hogy nagy sebességgel körülússza a halrajt, amíg a megijedt halak összezsúfolódnak, aztán nagyra tátott szájával közéjük úszik, és bekap belőlük amennyit csak tud.

Viselkedése
A közönséges barázdásbálna a cetek közül a leggyorsabbak közé tartozik, hosszabb ideig képes 37 km/h-val úszni, de rövid időre képes elérni a 40 km/h sebességet is. Gyorsasága miatt viccesen "a tengerek agárjának" is nevezik. A közönséges barázdásbálnák társaságkedvelőbbek a többi barázdásbálna-fajnál, csoportjaikban 6–10 példány lehet. Táplálkozás közben akár 100 állat is összegyűlhet.

Haladása során erőteljes, vízszintes elhelyezkedésű farokúszóját használja, amit minden más cethez hasonlóan függőleges irányban mozgat (ellentétben a halakkal, amik farokúszóikat vízszintes irányban mozgatják). Farokúszójában nincsen csont.

"Éneke"

A többi bálnafajhoz hasonlóan a közönséges barázdásbálna hímje is hosszú, hangos, alacsony frekvenciájú hangokat bocsát ki magából (ezek egy része infrahang).
A kék bálnák és a barázdásbálnák az összes élőlény közül a legmélyebb hangokat képesek kiadni. A legtöbb hang frekvenciamodulált (FM), 16–40 Hz közötti, mélyülő hangimpulzus (az emberi hallás határai 20 Hz és 20 kHz közé esnek). Minden hang 1–2 másodpercig tart, és különböző, 7–15 percig tartó hangkombinációk hallhatók. Ezeket ismétli a bálna több napig tartó "rohamokban". A kibocsátott hangfolyam forrásszintje 184–186 decibel, amely egy méteres távolságban körülbelül 1 micropascal nyomást jelent, és a hangforrástól több száz kilométer távolságban is észlelhető.

Amikor amerikai biológusok először rögzítették a bálnahangokat, nem jöttek rá, hogy ezeket a szokatlanul hangos, hosszú, tiszta, szabályszerű hangokat bálnák adják ki. Az elsőként megvizsgált lehetőségek között volt, hogy egy meghibásodott berendezést hallanak, valamilyen geofizikai jelenséget, esetleg a Szovjetunió próbálja ilyen módon észlelni az ellenséges tengeralattjárókat. Végül a biológusok bizonyították, hogy felvett hangok megegyeznek a közönséges barázdásbálna "énekével".

A bálnahangok egybeesése a faj párzási időszakával, és a tény, hogy csak a hím bálnák adják ki ezeket a hangokat, azok párosodás előtti erődemonstrációjára utalnak. Az elmúlt száz évben az óceán zajszintje a hajózási és haditengerészeti tevékenység miatt drámaian megnövekedett, ami lassítja a közönséges barázdásbálnák populációjának helyreállását, a hímek és a szaporodásképes nőstények közötti kommunikáció akadályozása miatt.

Szaporodása

Az ivarérettséget a hím 10, a nőstény 13 éves korban éri el. A párzási időszak decembertől februárig tart, a mérsékelt övezetben, a partok közelében. A nőstények csak minden második-harmadik évben párzanak. A nőstényben egyszerre hat magzat is lehet, viszont mindig csak egyetlen borjú születik. A vemhesség 11,5 hónapig tart, ennek végén az átlagosan 6,5 méter hosszú és 1800 kilogramm tömegű utód, mint minden cetféle, farokkal előre jön a világra. A borjú 6–7 hónapig szopik, amikor eléri a 11–12 méteres hosszúságot. A borjú az első vándorutat a táplálkozó helyek felé anyja mellett teszi meg.

A kutatók észrevették, hogy néhány nőstény kék bálna mellett fura borjak úsznak. A borjak DNS-vizsgálata azt mutatta, hogy a kék bálna nőstények közönséges barázdásbálna hímekkel párosodtak.

A közönséges barázdásbálna és az ember

Vadászata

A 19. században a közönséges barázdásbálnát csak alkalmanként vadászták, mivel ez a bálnafaj gyors állat, és az akkori hajók nem tudtak lépést tartani vele, ezenkívül a közönséges barázdásbálna a megölése után hamarosan a tengerfenékre süllyed. Később, a gőzhajó és robbanó szigonyok bevezetésével a közönséges barázdásbálna is rendszeres és kedvelt zsákmánnyá változott, a kék bálna és tőkebálna mellett. Mint a legtöbb nagytestű bálna esetében, ezt a fajt is túlvadászták, a kihalás szélére sodorták. Mivel a kék bálna, a tőkebálna és az egyéb nagytestű bálnák állományai erősen lecsökkentek, a bálnavadász iparág a közönséges barázdásbálnára vetette a figyelmét. Ezt az állatot főleg a bálnazsírjáért, a bálnaolajáért és a szilájáért vadászták. 1904 és 1975 között az Antarktisz vizeiben körülbelül  közönséges barázdásbálnát öltek meg.

1925-ben beindították a feldolgozó hajókat, ezek oldalt kinyílnak, hogy be tudják fogatni a vadászhajók által elejtett bálnákat. E "gyárhajók" bevezetése megnövelte az évente lemészárolt bálnák számát. 1937-ben több mint  közönséges barázdásbálnát szigonyoztak meg. 1953-tól 1961-ig évente  állat vesztette életét. 1962-ben, miután a közönséges barázdásbálnák száma erősen megfogyatkozott, a vadászok újból a tőkebálnát kezdték nagyobb mértékben vadászni. 1974-től évente már csak 1000 bálnát vadászhattak a bálnavadászok. 1947–1987 között az észak-csendes-óceánban körülbelül  bálnát vadásztak.

1976-ban az NBB betiltotta a bálnavadászatot a déli félgömbön. Az észak-csendes-óceánban a Szovjetunió illegálisan vadászott a bálnákra, és hiányos adatokat mutatott be a leölt állatok számáról. Az NBB 1976-ban az észak-csendes-óceánban és 1987-ben az észak-atlanti-óceánban teljesen betiltotta a közönséges barázdásbálnák ipari vadászatát. E tiltás alól csak néhány bennszülött nép van felmentve, mivel ők az ősi hagyományaik életben tartásához évente néhány bálnát kell, hogy vadásszanak. A tilalom alól a tudományos célú vadászat mentesült. A világ összes bálnaállománya sebezhető fajnak van minősítve az amerikai National Marine Fisheries Service szerint. Ez az állatfaj szerepel a Természetvédelmi Világszövetség (IUCN) Vörös listáján és a Washingtoni egyezmény (CITES) 1. listáján, vagyis a különösen veszélyeztetett fajok listáján.

Az NBB megszabta, hogy Grönland évente 19 közönséges barázdásbálnát vadászhat. A leölt bálnák húsát, olaját és egyéb termékeit árusíthatja a területén belül, de tilos kiszállítani az országból. Izlandot és Norvégiát nem köti az NBB moratóriuma a bálnavadászat tilalmáról, mivel e két ország nem ismeri el ezt a moratóriumot. 2006 októberében az izlandi halászati miniszter engedélyt adott, hogy 2007 augusztusában kilenc közönséges barázdásbálnát öljenek meg.

A déli félgömbön Japán, az Antarctic Special Permit program keretében, évente 10 bálnát öletett meg. Ez a program 2005–2006 és 2006–2007 közötti vadászidényben történt. A javaslat szerint a 2007–2008-as vadászidény és az ez utáni további 12 vadászidény évente 50 állatot pusztított volna el, de a 2007–2008-as vadászidény vége felé, vagyis 2008 áprilisáig egy közönséges barázdásbálnát sem fogtak meg.

Manapság a közönséges barázdásbálnáknak a hajókkal való ütközés jelenti a legnagyobb veszélyt, egyes helyeken ez a tényező játssza a legnagyobb szerepet elhullásukban, amit a partra vetett bálnák vizsgálata igazol. A legtöbb sérülést a kontinensek közelében közlekedő nagy és gyors hajók okozzák a közönséges barázdásbálnáknak.

Védelme
A közönséges barázdásbálna rajta van a vándorló állatfajok védelméről rendelkező bonni egyezmény (Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals) I. és II. függelékén is. Az I. függelékben azért szerepel, hogy a tagországok biztonságos élőhelyeket biztosítsanak neki és szigorúan védelmezzék; a II. függelékben pedig azért van benne, mivel ez az állatfaj a kihalás szélén áll, és elterjedési területe nagyon nagy, emiatt a tagországok összefogása kell ahhoz, hogy e vándorállat nagy kiterjedésű vándorútjai akadálymentesek legyenek. Ezt a bálnafajt, az ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans in the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area) és a Pacific Cetaceans MOU (Memorandum of Understanding for the Conservation of Cetaceans and Their Habitats in the Pacific Islands Region) cetvédő szervezetek is védelmezik.

Jegyzetek

Források

Mammal Species of the World. Don E. Wilson & DeeAnn M. Reeder (szerkesztők). 2005. Mammal Species of the World. A Taxonomic and Geographic Reference (3. kiadás)
Peter Saundry. 2011. Fin whale. Encyclopedia of Earth. National Council for Science and the Environment. Washington DC. C.Michael Hogan Ed. Content partner: Encyclopedia of Life
National Audubon Society Guide to Marine Mammals of the World, Reeves, Stewart, Clapham and Powell,
Whales & Dolphins Guide to the Biology and Behaviour of Cetaceans, Maurizio Wurtz and Nadia Repetto.
Encyclopedia of Marine Mammals, editors Perrin, Wursig and Thewissen,

Fordítás

További információk

Internetes leírások a közönséges barázdásbálnáról

Balaenoptera
Emlősfajok
Az Atlanti-óceán emlősei
A Csendes-óceán emlősei
Az Indiai-óceán emlősei
A Földközi-tenger emlősei
A Fekete-tenger emlősei
Kiemelt cikkek

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Bodrum Milta Marina is superbly located a few minutes' stroll from the city center. Marina Yacht Club, Vespa Café, Marina Yacht Club Roof Restaurant, Marina Yacht Club Jazz Bar, Marina Bistro, Fener Balikçisi- the tasty seafood restaurant, Bodrum Pier, all, offer great food and entertainment on the beachfront. Stylish world famous shops including Tommy Hilfiger, Paul & Shark, Diesel and more are also in the Bodrum Milta Marina.
If you are interested in sailing in Turkey - please contact us and let our yachting holiday expert help you with your tailor made created holiday and suggestions!


text:
Q: OnClick Javascript Button causing error on field with separate lines. In the button code, the line

dog.colMrk__c = "{!Birth_Record__c.Characteristics__c}";

causes an error "Unexpected token ILLEGAL" when there are separate lines in the Characteristics field. Is there a way around this? Both fields are Long Text Area.
{!REQUIRESCRIPT("/soap/ajax/25.0/connection.js")}
{!REQUIRESCRIPT("/soap/ajax/25.0/apex.js")}

var pupIn = "{!Birth_Record__c.dog_Name2__c}";

if (pupIn != "") {
alert("A dog record has already been created for this birth record. Please click the link next to Puppy Name to view that record.")
}else{
var dog = new sforce.SObject("Dog__c");

dog.Name = "{!Birth_Record__c.Name}";
dog.sex__c = "{!Birth_Record__c.Gender__c}";
dog.Dame__c = "{!Birth_Record__c.Dame_ID__c}";
dog.Sire__c = "{!Birth_Record__c.Sire_ID__c}";

dog.colMrk__c = "{!Birth_Record__c.Characteristics__c}";

dog.Breed__c = "{!Birth_Record__c.Breed__c}";

var by = "{!YEAR( DATEVALUE(Birth_Record__c.Birth__c) )}";
var bm = "{!MONTH( DATEVALUE(Birth_Record__c.Birth__c) )}";
if (bm.length == 1){
bm = "0"+bm;
}
var bd = "{!DAY( DATEVALUE(Birth_Record__c.Birth__c) )}";
if (bd.length == 1){
bd = "0"+bd;
}
var b = by+"-"+bm+"-"+bd;
dog.birthdate__c = b;

var result = sforce.connection.create([dog]);

if(result[0].getBoolean("success")){
var nextPg = result[0].id;
var newRecords = [];
var c = new sforce.SObject("Birth_Record__c");
c.id ="{!Birth_Record__c.Id}";
c.dog_Name2__c = result[0].id;
newRecords.push(c);
result = sforce.connection.update(newRecords);
window.location = "/" + nextPg;
}else{
alert('Could not create record '+result);
}
}

A: That's because you cannot have multiline strings in Javascript unless they are properly escaped.
Try JSENCODE on the string:

dog.colMrk__c = "{! JSENCODE(Birth_Record__c.Characteristics__c) }";

JSENCODE documentation can be found here.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The cover of a biometric Norwegian passport.
Visa requirements for Norwegian citizens are administrative entry restrictions by the authorities of other states placed on citizens of Norway. As of 26 March 2019,[update] Norwegian citizens had visa-free or visa on arrival access to 185 countries and territories, ranking the Norwegian passport 5th overall in terms of travel freedom (tied with the Austrian, British, Dutch, Portuguese, and Swiss passports) according to the Henley Passport Index.
As a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA), Norwegian citizens enjoy freedom of movement within the EEA. All European Union citizens and European Free Trade Association (EFTA) nationals are not only visa-exempt but are legally entitled to enter and reside in each other's countries.
In order to travel to another country, a Norwegian citizen requires a passport, except within the Nordic Passport Union, where no identity card is formally required. However, an identity card such as a Norwegian driving licence is useful.
Norway is part of the Schengen Area, an area comprising 26 European states that have eliminated border controls with other Schengen members and strengthened border controls with non-Schengen countries. When travelling within the Schengen Area, other valid identity documentation (such as a driving licence or EHIC card) is often sufficient. Norway is expected to start issuing national identity cards from 1 April 2018. Citizens holding a national identity card, which states EEA or Swiss citizenship, can not only use it as an identity document within their home country, but also as a travel document to exercise the right of free movement in the EEA and Switzerland.
The Schengen area mostly functions as a single country for international travel purposes, with a common visa policy. Since 2001, the European Union has issued two lists regarding visas for the Schengen Area: a white list of countries whose nationals do not require visas (Annex II) and a black list of countries whose nationals do require visas (Annex I). As per Regulation No 539/2001 (amended by Regulation No 1289/2013) reciprocity is required from all Annex II countries and territories. That means that these countries must offer visa-free access for 90 days to citizens of Norway and the other Schengen member states.
Visa not required to Hainan for 15 days.
Freedom of movement (including Faroe Islands and Greenland).
Visa free for 15 days for holders of border traffic permit.
Extended visas available at the following airports: Ho Chi Minh, Hanoi, Phu Quoc, or Danang.
30 day visa exemption at Phu Quoc Island. A single entry eVisa valid for 30 days is also available.
Guernsey – Visa not required.
Alderney – Visa not required.
Sark – Visa not required.
Isle of Man — Visa not required.
Jersey – Visa not required.
Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic (Western Sahara controlled territory) — Visa not required up to 3 months.
Sudan — All foreigners traveling more than 25 kilometers outside of Khartoum must obtain a travel permit.
Hainan — Visa not required for 15 days.
Iraqi Kurdistan — Visa on arrival for 15 days is available at Erbil and Sulaymaniyah airports.
Turkmenistan — A special permit, issued prior to arrival by Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is required if visiting the following places: Atamurat, Cheleken, Dashoguz, Serakhs and Serhetabat.
Phú Quốc — can visit without a visa for up to 30 days.
Bermuda — Visa not required for 21 days (extendable).
British Virgin Islands — Visa not required for 1 month (extendable).
Colombia — Visitors arriving at San Andrés and Leticia must buy tourist cards on arrival.
Saint Pierre and Miquelon — Visa not required.
Sint Maarten — Visa not required for 90 days.
French Polynesia — Visa not required.
New Caledonia — Visa not required for 3 months.
Northern Mariana Islands — Visa not required.
Wallis and Futuna — Visa not required.
Saint Helena — Entry Permit (£25) for 183 days is issued on arrival.
Antarctica and adjacent islands — special permits required for French Southern and Antarctic Lands, Argentine Antarctica, Australian Antarctic Territory, Chilean Antarctic Territory, Heard Island and McDonald Islands, Ross Dependency.
Arab League — Certain countries will deny access to holders of Israeli visas or passport stamps of Israel because of the Arab League boycott of Israel.
According to the Helsinki treaty, public officials in the foreign services of any of the Nordic countries are to assist citizens of another Nordic country if that country is not represented in the territory concerned.
^ "The Henley Passport Index" (PDF). Henley & Partners Holdings Ltd. 26 March 2019. Retrieved 4 April 2019. This graph shows the full Global Ranking of the 2019 Henley Passport Index. In certain cases, a rank is shared by multiple countries because these countries all have the same level of visa-free or visa-on-arrival access.
^ Travel documents for EU nationals, europa.eu. Retrieved 30 October 2015.
^ "Politiet: Nye pass og nasjonale ID-kort kommer 1. april 2018 | ABC Nyheter". 2017-01-05. Retrieved 2017-01-09.
^ ECB08: What are acceptable travel documents for entry clearance, UK Visas and Immigration. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
^ As listed in Annex II of the Council Regulation 539/2001.
^ As listed in annex I of the Council Regulation 539/2001.
^ "Nota Informativa sobre Isenção de Vistos e Permanencia em São Tomé e Príncipe".
^ "Citizen of Visa Waiver Country, wants to drive into U.S. From Canada or Mexico, or arrive at a port of call in the U.S. By cruise ship".
^ "Phu Quoc Visa | Exemptions| Requirments | Vietnam".
^ "Visa-free travel time up to ten days in parts of Brest Oblast, Grodno Oblast as from 1 January". 2017-12-26.
^ "Visa and passport requirements for visitors".
^ "Entry requirements - Western Sahara travel advice".
^ Cite error: The named reference timaticweb.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
^ "No visa required for tourists to Phu Quoc on short stay - Vietsea Tourist - Travel to Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia and Thailand | Vietnam Travel Tours".
^ "Entry requirements - Bermuda (British Overseas Territory) travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - British Virgin Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - Cayman Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - St Pierre & Miquelon travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - Turks and Caicos Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - French Polynesia travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - New Caledonia travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - Pitcairn Island travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - Wallis & Futuna Islands travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - Falkland Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha travel advice".
^ "Entry requirements - South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands (British Overseas Territory) travel advice".
^ "Meld. St. 12 (2010–2011)". April 2011.
This page was last edited on 7 April 2019, at 22:56 (UTC).


text:
Transportation-Disadvantaged Populations:
Actions Needed to Clarify Responsibilities and Increase Preparedness for Evacuations
GAO-07-44: Published: Dec 22, 2006. Publicly Released: Dec 22, 2006.
(PDF, 1 page)
Katherine A. Siggerud
During the evacuation of New Orleans in response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005, many of those who did not own a vehicle and could not evacuate were among the over 1,300 people who died. This raised questions about how well state and local governments, primarily responsible for disaster planning, integrate transportation-disadvantaged populations into such planning. GAO assessed the challenges and barriers state and local officials face; how prepared these governments are and steps they are taking to address challenges and barriers; and federal efforts to provide evacuation assistance. GAO reviewed evacuation plans; Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Department of Transportation (DOT), and other studies; and interviewed officials in five major city and four state governments.
State and local governments face evacuation challenges in identifying and locating transportation-disadvantaged populations, determining their needs, and providing for their transportation. These populations are diverse and constantly changing, and information on their location is often not readily available. In addition, these populations' evacuation needs vary widely; some require basic transportation while others need accessible equipment, such as buses with chair lifts. Legal and social barriers impede addressing these evacuation challenges. For example, transportation providers may be unwilling to provide evacuation assistance because of liability concerns. State and local governments are generally not well prepared--in terms of planning, training, and conducting exercises--to evacuate transportation-disadvantaged populations, but some have begun to address challenges and barriers. For example, DHS reported in June 2006 that only about 10 percent of state and about 12 percent of urban area emergency plans it reviewed adequately addressed evacuating these populations. Furthermore, in one of five major cities GAO visited, officials believed that few residents would require evacuation assistance despite the U.S. Census reporting 16.5 percent of car-less households in that major city. DHS also found that most states and urban areas significantly underestimated the advance planning and coordination required to effectively address the needs of persons with disabilities. Steps being taken by some such governments include collaboration with social service and transportation providers and transportation planning organizations--some of which are DOT grantees and stakeholders--to determine transportation needs and develop agreements for emergency use of drivers and vehicles. The federal government provides evacuation assistance to state and local governments, but gaps in this assistance have hindered many of these governments' ability to sufficiently prepare for evacuations. This includes the lack of any specific requirement to plan, train, and conduct exercises for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations as well as gaps in the usefulness of DHS's guidance. Although federal law requires that state and local governments with mass evacuation plans incorporate special needs populations into their plans, this requirement does not necessarily ensure the incorporation of all transportation-disadvantaged populations. Additionally, while DHS has made improvements to an online portal for sharing related information, this information remains difficult to access because of poor search and organizational functions. Moreover, although the federal government can provide evacuation assistance when state and local governments are overwhelmed, the federal government is not prepared to do so. Amendments to the Stafford Act in October 2006 affirmed that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) (an agency within DHS) is responsible for leading and coordinating evacuation assistance. DHS has not yet clarified, in the National Response Plan, the lead, coordinating, or supporting agencies in such cases.
Comments: Actions have been taken that essentially meet the intent of this recommendation.
Recommendation: To improve federal, state, and local preparedness for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations, the Secretary of Homeland Security should improve technical assistance by (1) working with DOT to provide more detailed guidance and technical assistance on how to plan, train, and conduct exercises for evacuating transportation-disadvantaged populations; and (2) continuing to improve the organization of and search functions for its Lessons Learned Information Sharing online portal to better facilitate access to information on evacuations of transportation-disadvantaged for federal, state, and local officials.
Agency Affected: Department of Homeland Security
Status: Closed - Not Implemented
Comments: Grant guideline revisions in 2007 and 2008 did not contain these requirements and DHS has no plans to include such requirements in the future.
Recommendation: To improve federal, state, and local preparedness for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations, the Secretary of Homeland Security should require that, as part of its grant programs, all state and local governments plan, train, and conduct exercises for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations.
Comments: In December 2006 we reported that while the Departments of Homeland Security (DHS) and Transportation (DOT) had taken action to improve the federal government's ability to provide evacuation assistance when state and local governments are overwhelmed by a catastrophic disaster, gaps remained. Specifically, we found that because DHS had not clarified in its National Response Plan the lead, coordinating, and supporting federal agencies to provide evacuation support, it could not ensure that it was taking the necessary steps to prepare for evacuating transportation-disadvantaged populations, and that in a future catastrophic disaster, this could contribute to leaving behind of some of society's most vulnerable populations. We recommended that the Secretary of Homeland Security clarify, in revisions to the National Response Plan, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), an agency within DHS, is the lead agency to provide evacuation assistance when state and local governments are overwhelmed, and also clarify the responsibilities of supporting federal agencies. In 2010, we learned that DHS published the National Response Plan Framework and the accompanying Mass Evacuation Incident Annex. The Annex identified federal agencies involved in a federally supported mass evacuation and defined their roles and responsibilities for planning, preparing for, and conducting evacuations. It articulated FEMA's responsibilities as lead agency as well as the supporting roles of DOT and other agencies. Our work helped bring about important steps needed for the federal government to better plan and execute evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations during future catastrophic disasters.
Recommendation: To improve federal, state, and local preparedness for the evacuation of transportation-disadvantaged populations, the Secretary of Homeland Security should clarify, in the National Response Plan, that FEMA is the lead and coordinating agency to provide evacuation assistance when state and local governments are overwhelmed, and also clarify the supporting federal agencies and their responsibilities.
Comments: Action taken essentially meets the intent of this recommendation
Recommendation: In addition, to encourage state and local information sharing as part of their evacuation preparedness for transportation-disadvantaged populations, the Secretary of Transportation should encourage DOT's grant recipients and stakeholders, through guidance and outreach, to share information that would assist emergency management and transportation officials in identifying and locating as well as determining the evacuation needs of and providing transportation for transportation-disadvantaged populations.
Agency Affected: Department of Transportation

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


After a long interruption, have restarted licensing of mobile games, according to market researcher .
In a tweet, said that the stock price of Tencent, the world's largest game company, saw its stock price rise.
Chinese regulators have restarted game licensing! First games were announced and Tencent's stock price is climbing quickly!!


text:
Dietary Supplement Helps Obese With Prediabetes
Conference | American Diabetes Association
Insulin resistance in obese persons at risk for diabetes may be improved with resveratrol used as a dietary supplement, but don't expect health benefits from resveratrol in red wine.
For obese persons who are at risk for diabetes mellitus, dietary supplementation with resveratrol may improve their insulin resistance, according to the results of a new study.
"Our meta-analysis shows that people with abnormal glucose metabolism may benefit from taking resveratrol as a dietary supplement. Those with normal glucose tolerance, however, do not improve their insulin resistance with resveratrol," Meredith Hawkins, MD, Professor of Medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York, told ConsultantLive.
Resveratrol, found in red wine, is a plant-derived polyphenol whose beneficial metabolic effects include improved insulin sensitivity, reduced inflammation, and increased muscle mitochondrial biogenesis. "We set out to examine the effects of resveratrol on insulin sensitivity, muscle mitochondria, and adipose inflammation," said Roger Maginley, MD, Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Division of Endocrinology & Diabetes at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, at the American Diabetes Association 74th Scientific Sessions in San Francisco.
In a randomized, double-blind trial, Dr Maginley and colleagues administered resveratrol, 2 gm/d, or placebo for 28 days to 21 nondiabetic subjects, median age 52 years, with an average body mass index of 31.9 kg/m2 and homeostasis model assessment-estimated insulin resistance of 3.9 (Abstract 144-OR). All subjects underwent 6-hour, 2-step euglycemic hyperinsulinemic pancreatic clamp studies that assessed their hepatic and peripheral insulin sensitivity. The researchers also took biopsies of vastus lateralis muscle and subcutaneous abdominal adipose tissue before and after administering the resveratrol or placebo. Muscle mitochondria were analyzed for quantity, size, and percentage area covered.
Resveratrol induced a 22% increase in glucose uptake but did not affect endogenous glucose production. There were no changes in quantity or average size of muscle mitochondria or percentage area covered.
"There were no changes in basal or resting energy expenditure or respiratory quotient, as assessed by indirect calorimetry, or in muscle strength in these healthy middle-aged subjects," Dr Maginley said. "However, resveratrol reduced adipose tissue inflammation, with significantly decreased expression of the pro-inflammatory cytokines tumor necrosis factor alpha and interleukin 6 in whole fat and of IL-6 and PAI-1 in adipose macrophages."
Adiponectin expression in whole fat was increased by 53% with resveratrol. "While improved insulin sensitivity was not accompanied by changes in number or size of muscle mitochondria in these insulin resistant humans, the anti-inflammatory effects in adipose tissue could contribute to resveratrol's favorable effects on glucose disposal," Dr Maginley said.
Dr Hawkins noted, "If we delve in more, mitochondrial activity might be changed, so we haven't ruled out a benefit to mitochondria."
She continued: "It seems the profile of fat changes with resveratrol supplementation and becomes less inflammatory. The amount of adiponectin, which is a favorable hormone for metabolism, is doubled. This may be why we see a favorable effect on insulin action." The fat also becomes more brown, which she said is more favorable metabolically.
Dr Hawkins noted that the amount of resveratrol in red wine is small compared to the 2-g capsules administered in the study. "This may explain why recent red wine studies did not show health benefits. We are using resveratrol as a dietary supplement," she said.
American Diabetes AssociationDiabetes


Delegate registration is now open online for the next SportAccord Convention taking place in Aarhus, Denmark from 2 – 7 April 2017. The 15th annual edition is set to take place at the Scandinavian Centre Aarhus and it is the first time the Convention will be hosted in Denmark. A discounted delegate rate of 1,500 CHF (plus Danish VAT at 25%) is offered to delegates booking their places early via the website at www.sportaccordconvention.com.
As part of the official programme, the Convention will host a three-day exhibition at the Scandinavian Centre Aarhus. Located in the heart of the city, the Centre provides the perfect backdrop for sport and industry to showcase their organisations, launch new products or services and attract key decision-makers at this prestigious global gathering.
Held in a different city every year, the annual SportAccord Convention is a unique opportunity for business leaders from sport and industry to meet, network, and strategically shape global, regional and national agendas. An exclusive 6-day event comprising of up to 2000 delegates, the Convention is host to annual general meetings of governing bodies, and once again, will welcome a delegation from the International Olympic Committee.
Now in its 15th edition, the SportAccord Convention comprises a themed conference and each year, the event is supported by a stellar line-up of speakers. The exhibition is represented by industries, sport organisations, government offices, cities, event services, media, and many more. In addition, there will be a variety of activities forming the social and cultural programme for the Convention.
brandon.kelley@sportaccordconvention.com or by phone at +41 (0)21 601 2764.
SportAccord, ASOIF (Association of Summer Olympic International Federations), AIOWF (Association of International Olympic Winter Sports Federations), ARISF (Association of IOC Recognised International Sports Federations), AIMS (Alliance of Independent Recognised Members of Sport) and Associate Members.
In addition, the SportAccord Convention receives the full support of the International Olympic Committee.


The place of integrity and conviction in our culture today has been almost eradicated as self-seeking agendas have been lifted up and established as the new ideal. The trumpeting of an "anything goes" morality has become so prevalent that it has become a chorus of millions all declaring they have the right to prey upon others, directly or indirectly, to make their own personal world better.
They say: It's our own decision what we do, what we allow and who we victimize, so if you stand for a higher standard of what is right or wrong- then you are definitely the enemy.
This massive group of people, because it has become so large, believes that because they have finally become the majority that somehow that makes their self-worship agenda… right, good and noble. This sickness has infected our world in every possible way, including the family, education, entertainment and politics. They literally have changed what is good to be called evil and what is evil to be called good. If a person were to have noticed this shocking evolution in our culture, that person surely has seen the rapid descent of morality and integrity as it's picked up considerable speed these last few years.
The Church has been bullied. Told to be silent and accepting, until eventually the self-seeking agenda had penetrated the Body. Because of the consent to obey and be quiet, the Body of Christ now has a cancer. It is weak. It is without the power of God. It is no threat to evil. The Church has become the proverbial frog in the pot of boiling water and has not taken proper heed to consistently affect the world for Jesus Christ. Quietly the Body has cow towed to the rantings and threats to hurt and destroy it. Consequently , most pews are either empty or filled with faithless self-seeking members. Behold: the Church has begun the Great Falling Away.
Essentially the Body of Christ has become like an ancient city in the Old Testament. It has been unfaithful to God. God warned and warned them. Now the Church's enemies attack, ride in, kill them men, and take their women and daughters off to become slave wives. Wow. Harsh. Well it may be harsh but it can only be expected. If you don't put a lock on your door and then lock it, you should not be surprised to find yourself robbed. The answer then? Lock the door? Well it's not that easy. Locking the door now would just help you not to get robbed as easily again. The robbery has already taken place so a locked door will not bring back your stuff. This is a hard truth. Still you still need to stop the robberies.
Stop the invasions from happening.
Typically a person's home, after being invaded by robbers, gets new better locks, maybe a security system and a form of self protection like mace. The person becomes vigilant, they do not leave their home door open and then go on vacation. Clearly the Church must do likewise and strengthen the House of God. Its people on alert and remaining vigilant. What does a fortified protected Church look like?
Righteousness in a culture comes from God. Righteousness sounds like a religious exercise in pretending to be holy or other dreadful thing- that is self-righteousness and that is not what we are talking about here. Righteous living is about dedication and true committed devotion to love God in every area of your life to the best of your ability with His help. In short, righteousness is Love. So, righteousness/love in a culture comes from the Lord's direction and, as a result, the people who choose to live according to what has been declared by the Lord to be Good and not Evil. A people who choose God's standard because they understand that He alone determines what is right and wrong. NOT US. Therefore, the integrity and conviction of the Lord that is evident in that body of people, begins to affect the world for Jesus Christ. How? Because it's legit. It is true love.
How does the Church change the culture?
A silent weak Church allows the culture/world to change it. Self-seeking is a powerful force because it is "flesh" and man desires to indulge himself. To be vigilant against a powerful enemy, it stands to reason you must also become powerful. More powerful than your enemy. A strong Church walks righteous and teaches righteous living and declares the Truth of God… His love for all. The opposite of Love is selfishness. Not hate. Think about it for a moment. Self-seeking is the opposite of Love. So, as much as the current self-seeking (selfish) culture angrily shouts that the Church is hateful, the Church is actually represented by Love. Jesus Christ is God's love made manifest. The self-seeking culture is by definition- the opposite of Love.
Love is more than a one word definition. The Lord describes it the best. Most notable in the statement that Love is "not self seeking" and "does not dishonor others" but the entire portion is often quoted, even to the point where we don't hear it anymore. It is crucial that the Church stop what it is doing and re-examine each portion of the "love chapter" so each person understands their part in demonstrating and being Love.
It comes down to each one of us. Each one of us must endeavor to live Love and demonstrate this love and then declare the Truth of God: He loves all. He loves completely. He wants each person to be with Him.
Stand up Church. Be alert. Be watchful. Be prayerful.
Walk in Love. Demonstrate what true Love is. Declare the Truth.
And again I say- Stand up Church!
We are the city of God.
almost no walls, almost no watchmen, almost no warriors, almost no workmen in the fields.
When the Lord's enemies want something, they come and take it.
There have been some who have been strong and courageous and slung many arrows and shook fists at the enemy's raiding parties – but much has been lost. Much ground. Many souls taken away, as well. We have been disgraced. A reproach.
In the days of the king Artaxerxes, the City had been destroyed. The Lord's city, Jerusalem, was essentially gone. God's people were under Babylonian captivity for 70 years. They were disgraced.
And I told them of the hand of my God which had been good upon me, and also of the king's words that he had spoken to me.
The words of Nehemiah struck their hearts and spoke to their desire to set about rebuilding what had been lost. They saw that this was Good work. Even when strong opposition came, they persevered. God's city was rebuilt.
Today, even as we are in disgrace and destroyed, The Lord is calling us to rise up. We must gather ourselves together in unity and strength.
We can rebuild our city. The City of God.
We can take back souls.
We can take back land.
You can be a part of that. The Lord is calling us to it.
Though the stars fall and the mountains tremble, still I am the Lord.
I hear the voice of My people.
I hear the cry of your hearts.
I know what you have walked through and I am with you now.
These times coming are perilous. BUT do not fear.
I have many things planned. All is to bring glory to My name.
Take comfort in Me and remember my faithfulness in the Days to come.
How many times have we found ourselves distraught and overcome by the difficulties that are happening in our lives? It is hard to endure and always seems to go on longer than it should. We are desperate. We cry out to God for victory. Lord, make it all just go away.
To use a cliché, "Life is not easy". The Lord never promised us it would be.
Good news is that when we stay under the umbrella of God's protection, His care and His instruction- we can carry on in victory. This all hinges on what we choose though.
What does that mean to run to the name of the Lord?
How would we be saved by His name?
Because of what Jesus did for us, we can come to the Father and petition Him in the name of Jesus. Without the name of Jesus Christ, without the finished work of Jesus, we cannot approach God.
There is no other Name by which we are saved.
It is through Jesus that we are saved from our sins. We must first repent of those sins before we can be rescued. When we come to Him humbly repenting, the good news is that He is faithful and just to forgive us. Every time.
When we reject Jesus, we choose death and destruction.
When we choose Jesus, we choose life.
So, follow God's way, it leads to abundant life.
In the fire we are tested. In the fire we are purified. Will we break? Or will we become a shining reflection of Jesus? When we read about Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego we may be tempted to dismiss them as a children's story. Don't make the mistake! These guys are powerful witnesses of faith. They were a few young men who loved God but were captured by their enemy and then forced to work for a powerful government. The enemy king at the time had become very prideful, wallowed in sin and served idols. It was a dangerous place to be for all the captured Israelites. Every day they faced unbelievable persecution and slavery. Still they stood up well and served while serving the Lord in their hearts. We do not know how many close calls they had with torture or death. We know that at some point, the king commanded everyone to worship a false god and our heroes made a choice that would bring their deaths for sure. They would not bow. Enraged, the king chose execution by fire in a kiln. He was going to cook and vaporize these men. Imagine what Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego were thinking as they looked at the furnace before being thrown in. I doubt they had 100% holy thoughts. They had to have been afraid, but they were resolved to not turn away from the Lord. They KNEW who they served. The Bible tells us that as they were in the furnace, these men were not killed or even burned. A fourth man, Jesus, could be seen in there with them. Their miraculous encounter with Jesus turned this idol worshiping king to the one true Lord and a nation would follow suit. These young men literally went into a fire and walked out without even the scent of smoke on them. An incredible account from history that we all can take a lesson from! Shadrack, Meshach and Abednego lived in the middle of idolatry and had to serve in an idolatrous government. The things they had to witness and endure in this kind of environment probably made their skin crawl, yet they did not give up serving the Lord. Many many Israelites had long since given up. By these young men's faithfulness, God was glorified and a nation turned to Him. If they had not chosen to stand for the Lord, we would never have heard about them and the country would have continued serving idols.
The Lord can do great things through a righteous person and bless them in the process.
Take heart. Stand firm. Persevere.
Just like a wolf in sheep's clothing, satan prowls deceptively among the people of God. He spreads dangerous lies and his doctrines of demons have infiltrated the Church. Satan never relents in his quest to lead the sheep away from the Great Shepherd Jesus. His methods are crafty, surreptitious and often imperceptible. We need to know what the enemy is speaking into the hearts of the sheep.
But what is the enemy speaking to the "modern" church?
We must go back to the beginning to know satan's slimy methods– From Genesis 3 we see the primary tactics satan uses against us. He lingered by the tree waiting for his chance. Aside from putting for thoughts of doubt regarding God's motives for His people, satan begins rewording what the Lord had said. He took a bit of truth and wrapped it in a lie. He has not changed his methods with the modern church. His methods work so why bother with a new way of deluding?
Imagine a mousetrap. You choose a certain location, put a tempting treat to bait it with and then set the trap very carefully. It looks good and smells good. You know that you will catch the unsuspecting mouse that is looking for a nice meal. The trap is perfect because the mouse thinks it has won the prize. He is oblivious to the truth and dies in his happy delusion. False doctrine and false teaching is the same thing. Our enemy knows us well and satan sets the trap with a yummy piece of truth. (With Adam and Eve it was fruit from the "Tree Of The Knowledge Of Good & Evil") Common offerings of truth from the Bible are set right into the middle of a false teaching to make the lie palatable. An example of some true statements used all the time wrapped inside a false teaching: "God is loving", "God is forgiving", "God wants us to be in unity", "Love your neighbor", "Do not judge", "God has set you apart", "God wants to bless you", "God has a great inheritance for you", "You are a priest", "You can move mountains", "You have authority", "Flee from religion", "The Pharisees are out to get you", "We wrestle not with flesh and blood". I am sure you have heard them, too. People hear these, recognize the truth in it and then trustingly & naively swallow the whole thing that was preached along with it. The truth masks the false teaching that ran clear through. Snap! The trap has caught it's victim.
We should become familiar with major new teachings and fads that the church flocks to. If that means listening to a sermon or reading their book, then we need to do that.
How else are we to adequately unravel the works of the enemy? However, I think it is important that I say, and to stress, that we should not devote large portions of our time studying the messages of false prophets and teachers.
False teachings always have a portion of truth to entice and convince the audience. The convinced people then internalize the false teaching and it becomes part of them and their perceptions. Their internal doctrine, if you will. This is clearly very dangerous. Many times we try to reach this group of people by making broad sweeping gestures with our hand and proclaim it is all lies. But what fruit comes of that method? What good have we done? Nothing good, that is for sure. By taking an attacking stance and armed only with hearsay, we accomplish almost nothing. We only alienate the hearer of our words, instead of pointing them toward the Lord and away from a false Gospel. We must be able to delineate. We must know specifics.
A serious consequence of not really knowing the specifics in a false doctrine or teaching is that our response to it is, as a result, nonspecific. The mistake also comes when we have no real details and then pair it with coming down very hard on the individuals or group. Instantly the walls have gone up with these deluded people. They will not listen. They label you a Pharisee. That is not good, my friend. If you are hearing "Pharisee" in reply to your statements, then I challenge you to rethink your approach. Of course, there are always those that will cry "Pharisee" or something similar to anything said to them that might call attention to their mistake in following a false teaching. You cannot do a whole lot to help them- they are stiff-necked. But it is important to see that often WE are too quick to label everyone stiff-necked instead of reevaluating our own approach.
* The Lord will sometimes use material that is polluted to touch and move in a person's life. We must realize that simply because we were "touched" or healed in some false prophet's meeting or read a book with a false gospel and it somehow helped us, does not mean that ministry is a good or valid ministry. It only means that God used this tainted deceptive thing you have exposed yourself to, to work some measure of good in you despite the offensive source. He works all things for the good of those who love Him and often uses the evil present in our lives to speak to us in various forms. If you find you have been exposing yourself in such a way, repent and turn from your wicked ways… even if your friends and church are accepting it.
The following is a word given through a vision I received.
This vision is about the Church not preparing quickly enough for the coming revival… a great move of the Lord. The baby being "expected" by the prophets is that revival. The revival brings in the harvest. The guests are the harvest that come because of the revival. The family represents the Church. Their lateness and slowness in getting ready for the harvest is self explanatory. The sunshine represents the Day of The Lord. The fields represent the harvest fields. The Church's reluctance to make haste, think differently, think bigger and think better- even when chastened and prodded over and over- is a picture of the complacency, apathy and faithlessness of the Church. Even when the Church finally agrees to move the whole thing outside (out of the church walls) they still are like slow dull mules unable to be prodded to move quicker. Eventually the family, the Church, has completed the tasks needed for this revival and harvest- but it is well after the guests have shown up.
The message is clear: The time for making preparations for the harvest is NOW. The Church is not heeding the words of the Lord through His prophets. The Church is moving at an alarmingly slow rate to get ready for a massive influx of new believers. Great urgency is required. As soon as possible, these changes need to be made in the Church to make ready.


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Cefuroxime Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Warnings
Cefuroxime is also known as: Ceftin, Kefurox, Zinacef
Medically reviewed by Drugs.com. Last updated on Nov 2, 2021.
Breastfeeding Warnings
Cefuroxime Pregnancy Warnings
Animal studies have failed to reveal evidence of adverse developmental outcomes, fetal harm, or impaired fertility. No adverse developmental outcomes were observed when pregnant mice and rats were administered the oral formulation during organogenesis at 14 and 9 times the maximum recommended human dose (MRHD) based on body surface area (BSA), respectively; no evidence of impaired fertility or fetal harm was observed when mice and rabbits were administered doses up to 6.3 and 2.1 times the MRHD based on BSA, respectively. This drug crosses the placental barrier into cord blood and amniotic fluid. There are no controlled data in human pregnancy. While published data from epidemiologic studies, case series, and case reports over several decades have not shown an association with cephalosporin use (including this drug) during pregnancy and major birth defects, miscarriage, or other adverse maternal/fetal outcomes, absence of risk has not been definitively established; available studies have methodologic limitations, including small sample size, retrospective data collection, and inconsistent comparator groups.
Clinical considerations: Maternal gonorrhea may be associated with preterm birth, low neonatal birth weight, chorioamnionitis, intrauterine growth restriction, small for gestational age, and premature rupture of membranes. Perinatal transmission of gonorrhea to the child can lead to infant blindness, joint infections, and bloodstream infections.
This drug reaches therapeutic levels in cord blood and amniotic fluid after IM or IV maternal dose.
In a study of 7 pregnant women, 750 mg IV dose 1 to 8 hours before delivery revealed passage of the drug across the placenta. The average maternal plasma, amniotic fluid, umbilical cord, and neonatal plasma drug levels ranged from 0 to 24, 1.2 to 18, less than 2 to 11, and less than 2 to 3.6 mcg/mL, respectively. No adverse effects on the fetus or neonates were observed.
The US Michigan Medicaid surveillance study showed no association between this drug and congenital defects. This report is a summary of information from a study in which 143 of 229,000 pregnant women from 1985 to 1992 received this drug. There were 3 defects observed relative to 6 expected. Neither cleft palate nor cardiovascular defects were observed. These data do not support an association between this drug and congenital defects.
In a study of 78 pregnant women between 15 to 35 weeks gestation who were given a 750 mg IV dose 8 to 138 minutes prior to delivery, the average fetal plasma levels were 7.4 mcg/mL (normal fetuses), 6.2 mcg/mL (hydropic fetuses), and 4.9 mcg/mL (oligohydramniotic fetuses). These data show that transplacental passage is significantly reduced in the presence of oligohydramnios.
Incidentally, the plasma clearance of this drug is significantly increased, and the elimination half-life significantly decreased during pregnancy.
Frequent urination (as occurs in many pregnancies) can lead to an increased rate of drug elimination; combined with a larger volume of distribution (and the likelihood of a consequential decreased serum level), dose adjustment may be needed to ensure adequate antimicrobial coverage is maintained.
AU TGA pregnancy category B1: Drugs which have been taken by only a limited number of pregnant women and women of childbearing age, without an increase in the frequency of malformation or other direct or indirect harmful effects on the human fetus having been observed. Studies in animals have not shown evidence of an increased occurrence of fetal damage.
US FDA pregnancy category Not Assigned: The US FDA has amended the pregnancy labeling rule for prescription drug products to require labeling that includes a summary of risk, a discussion of the data supporting that summary, and relevant information to help health care providers make prescribing decisions and counsel women about the use of drugs during pregnancy. Pregnancy categories A, B, C, D, and X are being phased out.
This drug should be used during pregnancy only if clearly needed and the benefit outweighs the risk.
AU TGA pregnancy category: B1
US FDA pregnancy category: Not assigned.
Risk summary: Available data (spanning over several decades) on use of cephalosporins (including this drug) in pregnant women have not established a drug-related risk.
-Maternal and/or embryo/fetal risk due to the mother's underlying condition should be considered.
See references
Cefuroxime Breastfeeding Warnings
After a single 750 mg IM injection in 8 women with endometritis, milk drug levels increased from 0.34 mg/L at 30 minutes after dosing to 1.45 mg/L at 8 hours after dosing.
After 750 mg IM 3 times a day, peak milk levels averaged 1.2 mg/L at 6 hours after dosing. This drug was detectable at 30 minutes after dosing (0.36 mg/L); by 8 hours after dosing, milk level decreased to 1.06 mg/L.
After a single 750 mg IV dose in 5 women, peak drug level in milk averaged 0.37 mg/L at 3 hours after dosing; at 2 to 4 hours after dosing, individual peak levels were 0.33 to 0.5 mg/L.
After 750 mg IV 3 times a day for 2 days after cesarean section, 2 women provided milk samples an hour after dosing. Milk drug levels were 0.34 and 0.39 mg/L.
A mother received 500 mg orally 3 times a day for acute mastitis of the left breast (after incision and drainage of the lesion); milk samples were collected from each breast 30 minutes after dosing on the first day of therapy. The drug concentration was 90 mcg/L in the unaffected breast and 590 mcg/L in the breast with mastitis. On the second day of therapy, milk samples collected 90 minutes after dosing contained 57 mcg/L in the right breast and 59 mcg/L in the left breast. On the third day, milk samples collected 90 minutes after dosing contained 27 mcg/L in the unaffected breast and 1.07 mg/L in the affected breast.
In a prospective controlled study (through an information service), mothers using this drug were asked about side effects in their breastfed infants. A case of diarrhea was reported, which was 2.6% of cefuroxime-exposed infants.
Use is considered acceptable; caution is recommended. Benefit to mother should outweigh risk to the infant.
-According to some authorities: A decision should be made to discontinue breastfeeding or discontinue the parenteral drug, taking into account the importance of the drug to the mother and the benefit of breastfeeding for the infant.
Excreted into human milk: Yes (in small amounts)
-Developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered as well as the mother's clinical need for this drug; potential side effects in the breastfed child due to this drug or the mother's underlying condition should be considered.
-Limited information indicates the low levels produced in milk are not expected to cause severe adverse effects in the nursing infant.
-Disruption of infant's gastrointestinal flora (resulting in diarrhea or thrush) reported occasionally with cephalosporins, but such effects have not been adequately evaluated; possibility of sensitization should be considered.
-This drug is considered compatible with breastfeeding by some experts; other cephalosporins have been considered compatible with breastfeeding by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Cefuroxime use while Breastfeeding (in more detail)
cefuroxime oral/injection Consumer Information
Pregnancy Support Group
FDA Pregnancy Categories
Medicine use during Pregnancy
Medicine use while Breastfeeding
Safe Medications during Breastfeeding
References for pregnancy information
Cerner Multum, Inc. "Australian Product Information." O 0
Cerner Multum, Inc. "UK Summary of Product Characteristics." O 0
"Product Information. Ceftin (cefuroxime)." Glaxo Wellcome, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Briggs GG, Freeman RK, Yaffe SJ.. "Drugs in Pregnancy and Lactation. 5th ed." Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins (1998):
Frederiksensen MC, Bowsher D "Pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime." Am J Obstet Gynecol 145 (1983): 381-2
Melbourne: Therapeutic Guidelines Limited "eTG complete [Online] Available from: URL: http://online.tg.org.au/complete/desktop/tgc.htm." ([2014, Nov -]):
Heikkila A, Erkkola R "Review of beta-lactam antibiotics in pregnancy - the need for adjustment of dosage schedules." Clin Pharmacokinet 27 (1994): 49-62
Philipson A, Stiernstedt G "Pharmacokinetics of cefuroxime in pregnancy." Am J Obstet Gynecol 142 (1982): 823-8
"Product Information. Zinacef (cefuroxime)." Glaxo Wellcome, Research Triangle Park, NC.
Holt DE, Fisk NM, Spencer JA, de Louvois J, Hurley R, Harvey D "Transplacental transfer of cefuroxime in uncomplicated pregnancies and those complicated by hydrops or changes in amniotic fluid volume." Arch Dis Child 68 (1993): 54-7
Berkovitch M, Segal-Socher I, Greenberg R, et al. "First trimester exposure to cefuroxime: a prospective cohort study." Br J Clin Pharmacol 50 (2000): 161-5
Czeizel AE, Rockenbauer M, Sorensen HT, Olsen J "Use of cephalosporins during pregnancy and in the presence of congenital abnormalities: A population-based, case-control study." Am J Obstet Gynecol 184 (2001): 1289-96
References for breastfeeding information
National Library of Medicine (US) "Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) Available from: URL: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501922/" (2006):
Benyamini L, Merlob P, Stahl B, et al. "The Safety of Amoxicillin/Clavulanic Acid and Cefuroxime During Lactation." Ther Drug Monit 27 (2005): 499-502