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Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen – management of U.S. international broadcasting needs to change
By BBGWatcher · June 26, 2013 · 2 Comments
Congress, Featured News, Hot Tub Blog, Videos · Tagged: BBG, D. Jeffrey Hirschberg, Ed Royce, Eliot L. Engel, IBB, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, International Broadcasting Bureau, James Glassman, Jeff Hirschberg, S. Enders Wimbush, U.S. Congress, VOA
Speaking at the conclusion of today's House Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R – FL) called for replacing the agency's management in charge of international broadcasts and other news programs. She said that managers who do not understand what U.S. international broadcasting mission is should be changed. Rep. Ros-Lehtinen read the Broadcasting Board of Governors' mission statement which says that the agency's purpose is "To inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy." She put emphasis on "support for freedom and democracy."
"And I again remind our witnesses, our audience, and members that the mission of the Broadcasting Board of Governors is: Quote. 'To inform, engage, and connect people around the world in support of freedom and democracy.' End Quote. This is broadcast for freedom and democracy. If you think that this is an impartial broadcasting, then you're not fulfilling your mission because you are supposed to stand for freedom and democracy. That is the direction, that is what the BBG is supposed to do.
We don't have to change the mission, we have to change the folks in charge of the programing who don't have any idea what their mission is.
So, this is an important mission, it's of great interest to this committee.
Support for freedom and democracy. Amen."
Earlier during the hearing, Rep. Eliot Engel (D – NY) noted the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) surveys showing that the management of U.S. international broadcasting is rated as being among the worst in the entire federal government.
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce (R-CA), Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, convened the hearing entitled The Broadcasting Board of Governors: An Agency 'Defunct'."
The BBG oversees the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, Radio and TV Marti, and the Middle East Broadcast Networks.
In a statement issue before the hearing, Rep. Royce said:
"International broadcasting is a key tool of U.S. diplomacy. Unfortunately, it's broken. As Secretary Clinton rightly pointed out earlier this year, 'the BBG is practically defunct in terms of its capacity to be able to tell a message around the world.' It is time to take a hard look at the BBG and ask if our resources, nearly $750 million annually, are being spent wisely – are we getting what we need from these broadcasting efforts? We aren't, and it is time for broad reforms; 'tinkering' and 'band-aid' solutions are not an option, because the stakes are too great."
The witnesses were:
Witness List:
The Honorable James K. Glassman
George W. Bush Institute
(Former Chairman of the Broadcasting Board of Governors, and Former Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs)
The Honorable S. Enders Wimbush
Executive Director for Strategy & Development
(Former Governor of the Broadcasting Board of Governors)
The Honorable D. Jeff Hirschberg
The Northeast Maglev, LLC
The entire hearing can be watched at this link.
Link to Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen's concluding statement.
Trackbacks for this post
U.S. Rep. Ed Royce draws a clear distinction between Voice of America and surrogate broadcasters « BBG Watch
U.S. Rep. Engel: Voice of America was instrumental during the Cold War and is instrumental now « BBG Watch
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redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


This eBook contains a series of articles on the topic of radar technology. Presenting both a historical look at this critical technology, as well as modern generating techniques, this eBook is a must-have for engineers involved with radar signal generation and analysis.
Radar, an acronym for radio detection and ranging, dates back to the early part of the 20th century. While radar technology was originally developed to be used for military services, today it is also utilized in many civilian applications. However, the main area of usage for radar technology still involves military services.
Chris has worked in the RF/microwave industry since 2004. Throughout this time, he has helped to develop and test a variety of RF/microwave components and assemblies for both commercial and military programs. Chris has a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the State University of New York at Binghamton and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Polytechnic University.


Ted Baker W is a gentle, sophisticated fragrance with notes of white peony, african violet, pink orchid, cassis, raspberry, cedar and vanilla.
Ted Baker W EDT Spray 30 ml is a gentle fragrance created for the modern woman that comes in an architect inspired symmetrical glass triangular bottle. W opens with a lush wet fig leaf accord, white peony and African violet. The middle, a fruity fusion of pink orchid, cassis and raspberry. Underneath a smooth combination of cedar and vanilla.


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Atlanta Beltline gets $2.8 million for light rail study, announces builder for Southside Trail segment
by Collin Kelley December 5, 2019
A rendering of the Atlanta BeltLine Eastside Trail at Memorial Drive (including future rail). Courtesy Atlanta BeltLine.
The City of Atlanta has officially secured $2.8 million to advance the extension of light rail to the Atlanta BeltLine's Westside Trail and Eastside Trails. The announcement was made Tuesday night at the BeltLine's Fourth Quarter Briefing held at Atlanta Technical College.
According to BeltLine officials, the work funded by the $2.8 million will include "geotechnical and utility surveys to clarify impacts and costs of the preferred alignment in support of transit build-out with MARTA and the City. It will also provide data that can help determine potential station locations."
A timeline for completion of the project was not announced.
Also announced at the briefing: Astra Group will build the first phase of the paved Southside Trail between University Ave and Pittsburgh Yards on the western portion of the trail.
The BeltLine was recently denied a $16 million federal grant to begin work on paving the eastern portion of the trail that begins at Bill Kennedy Way at Memorial Drive.
You can watch video of the briefing at facebook.com/atlantabeltline.
Tagged: Atlanta, Atlanta BeltLine, funding, Intown, light rail, Southside Trail, study, transit, transportation


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Staurocladia portmanni är en nässeldjursart som beskrevs av Brinckmann 1964. Staurocladia portmanni ingår i släktet Staurocladia och familjen Eleutheriidae. Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Hydrozoer
portmanni

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


An academy group of schools that introduced shorter summer holidays has abandoned the idea after experiencing a rise in absences.
Changing term dates was meant to help staff, reduce stress levels and allow families to book cheaper holidays.
Sue Wilson, executive head of Tall Oaks Academy Trust in Gainsborough, said the schools in its group had not reported any significant improvement though.
The local authority said coordinating term dates between schools was vital.
Mrs Wilson said the changes had given rise to a number of problems, including a small increase in absences at the three schools in the group – White's Wood Academy, Mercer's Wood Academy and Castle Wood Academy.
"Parents found it really difficult if they had children in other schools to get the family together all at the same time," she said.
Parents still took their children out of school when their other children were on holiday, she added.
Other issues included problems with securing supplies of free milk and fruit during the period when other schools were closed.
It also meant that new joiners from other schools had a much reduced summer holiday when joining the academy schools after the summer.
Mrs Wilson said the vast majority of parents had wanted to return to traditional local authority term dates.
However, Gavin Booth, who is in charge of education strategy at Lincolnshire County Council, said the idea of a shorter summer break was not without merit.
He said: "I don't think it is definitely doomed to failure but for families in particularly the coordination between schools is a crucial factor.
He said every child needed to be in school for 190 days per year, and it was worth trying different models to see what worked best.


Make your climb count even more!
Just follow this link. Click on "Add a team or personal campaign page" then you register to fundraise (this is separate from registering for the race). It only takes a few minutes, but in those few minutes you can start to make a difference in the lives of those affected by kidney cancer. When you register, please indicate that you are raising funds for the climb 4 kidney cancer fund.
You can add a photo (highly recommended).
You can set your fundraising goal (set a goal you can achieve). If you are primarily raising from friends and family, goals of $250-500 are usually successful, if you include coworkers, colleagues, or other networks, $500-1000 are often successful, if you have a large audience you can reach or a large following on social media etc, shoot for $1500+. You can also put together a team page through the same site. That way you can have fun and raise money as a team. Head to this page to register for the event and then click here to set up your page.


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43 years of rescue
Graeme Cheal
Graeme Cheal has been involved since 1962 in rescuing people who get into difficulties climbing the Glasshouse Mountains. In that same year, the Rover Scouts formed the Mountain Rescue Group in response to requests for assistance from the local police. In 1969, the group received a Bravery Valour Award after a particularly dangerous rescue.
In the early yeIn 1980 the Mountain Rescue Group became part of the State Emergency Service. Mr Cheal has been leader of the Mountain and Vertical Rescue group since 1983. In the early years, the group tackled three or four mountain rescues annually. Rescues now number eight or nine each year. Most of these involve some sort of injury like a twisted ankle or broken bone. Others involved finding a disorientated person who had become lost.
"Mobile phones make it easier to get help if you get into strife", said Mr Cheal. "In the early days, you had to leave the injured person, get down the mountain and usually call out to a farmer. They rang the police, the police rang us and then we would ring each other. The rescues were always after dark. You were usually also bringing someone down the mountain with broken bones or major injuries."
"More people are climbing the mountains now. Lots of people are climbing that aren't suited to it. They climb up, lose their nerve and get stuck on the mountain. It's always easier to climb up then it is to climb down. We then have to go up and talk them down." Said Mr Cheal.
Mr Cheal also believes that lifestyle programs on television are inducing more people to give climbing a try. The group and in particular Mr Cheal, has received a number of accolades over the years, including the 1995 Australia Day Achievement Medallion, the National Medal in 1997, a Bravery Award in 1998 and Group Bravery Citation in 2002. This year Mr Cheal was awarded the Emergency Services Medal.
"You don't do these things for the gongs," said Mr Cheal. "But it's nice to be noticed."
"I'm extremely proud that in the 43 years that we've been doing mountain rescues, we have never had a rescuer injured or caused further injury to a rescuee," he said. This is also a testament to the training that those involved in vertical rescue undergo on a continual basis.
We should all remember that the people who help us out when we are in trouble are volunteers and are also putting themselves at risk.
"Be fully prepared," advises Mr Cheal, "Take a phone with you and let people know where you are going. Footwear is an issue. We've had people try to climb in thongs, which is fairly stupid. If you're not confident enough- don't do it. Don't start climbing late in the afternoon, start early in the day and give yourself plenty of time. We had to rescue one bloke fairly recently who attempted to climb the mountain after a day at the beach in a pair of shorts and thongs. He spent a cold night with the mossies before we found him early in the morning."
Mr Cheal Stresses that it's not just the climbers that are involved in rescues. The Beerwah branch of the SES has a crew of 30, of which 13 are accredited vertical rescue specialists. Everyone plays a role in a rescue. Those involved in communications are especially important.
Getting people down off mountains are not the only things the SES is involved in. S.E.S also do roof-tarping after storms, assist in police searches, road damage and cleaning up after storms.
Those in the SES need a wide range of skills. They also need to be people who are willing to give back to their community. It is something Mr Cheal does in spades. When he is not working his farm near Beerwah or involved with the SES, Mr Cheal is assisting with the Rural Fire Brigade, the Apex club, or helping to organise the Beerwah Charity Sports Day. He has been involved with this charity event for the past 30 years.
The ever-humble Mr Cheal said, "Someone has to do it."
I am sure that there are many more of you out there who have bits of
information that would be of great interest to the rest of us.


Radar and laser speed detection devices are under investigation in Connecticut after a review finds units in Southbury improperly calibrated.
Connecticut's Public Safety Commissioner has called for an audit of all devices used to ticket motorists for speeding in the state. A routine check performed in March uncovered evidence that the state police were using improperly calibrated speed detection equipment in Southbury. Several radar and laser had not been properly calibrated in more than two years. In at least one case, a device had never been calibrated. The guns themselves were not properly signed out when used.
A radar or laser gun can give a false reading by as much as 5 or 10 MPH if it falls out of calibration, causing motorists to receive tickets for offenses that they did not commit. Judges will dismiss a speeding case if the measuring device is found to have an expired calibration certificate.
The police in Southbury had issued 6800 tickets last year. Although state law prohibits quotas, troopers are expected to issue at least thirty tickets according to a May 18 memo obtained by the Hartford Courant. Officials refuse to refund tickets resulting from the uncalibrated radar and laser guns if they have already been paid.
The team found wrong expiration dates, erroneous times, erroneous dates and outdated calibrations, according to the inspection report. A spare cruiser wasn't calibrated at all. There was no process to sign out radar and laser units, and in one case, the inspectors learned that a laser gun, its box, and the calibration sheet belonging to it were all with different troopers.


In six days it will be Christmas. Trees, decorations and lights everywhere remember that this year will be a party. The advertising machine invites to exchange always new gifts to be surprised. But I ask myself: is this the party that pleases God? Which Christmas would He like, what gifts, what surprises?
Let's look at the first Christmas of history to discover the tastes of God. That first Christmas of History was full of surprises. We start with Mary, who was the bride of Joseph: the angel arrives and changes her life. From a virgin she will be a mother. It continues with Giuseppe, called to be the father of a child without generating it. A son who - a twist - arrives at the least indicated moment, that is when Mary and Joseph were promised spouses and according to the Law they could not cohabit. Faced with the scandal, the good sense of the time invited Joseph to reject Mary and save his good name, but he, who had the right, is surprising: not to harm Maria thinks to dismiss her in secret, at the cost of losing his reputation . Then another surprise: God in a dream changes his plans and asks him to take Mary with him. Born Jesus, when he had his plans for the family, still in a dream he was told to get up and go to Egypt. In short, Christmas brings unexpected changes of life. And if we want to live Christmas, we must open our hearts and be ready for surprises, that is, an unexpected change of life.
But it is Christmas night that comes the biggest surprise: the Altissimo is a small child. The divine Word is an infant, which literally means "unable to speak". And the divine word became "unable to speak". There are no time or place authorities or ambassadors to welcome the Savior: no; they are simple shepherds who, surprised by the angels while working at night, rush without delay. Who would have expected it? Christmas is celebrating the unpublished God, or rather, celebrating an unpublished God, which overturns our logic and our expectations.
To do Christmas, then, is to welcome the surprises of Heaven on earth. You can not live "earth earth", when Heaven has brought its news into the world. Christmas inaugurates a new era, where life is not planned, but gives itself; where one no longer lives for himself, according to his own tastes, but for God; and with God, because from Christmas God is the God-with-us, who lives with us, who walks with us. To live Christmas is to be shaken by its surprising novelty. The Christmas of Jesus does not offer reassuring warmth of the fireplace, but the divine shiver that shakes the story. Christmas is the revenge of humility over arrogance, of simplicity over abundance, of silence over hubbub, of prayer over "my time", of God over my "I".
To do Christmas is to do like Jesus, come to those in need, and go down to those who need us. It is like Mary: trusting, docile to God, even without understanding what He will do. To do Christmas is to do like Joseph: to get up to achieve what God wants, even if it is not according to our plans. St. Joseph is surprising: in the Gospel he never speaks: there is not a word, of Joseph, in the Gospel; and the Lord speaks to him in silence, speaks to him in his sleep. Christmas is to prefer the silent voice of God to the noise of consumerism. If we can be silent in front of the crib, Christmas will be a surprise for us, not something already seen. Be silent in front of the crib: this is the invitation, for Christmas. Take some time, go in front of the crib and keep quiet. And you'll hear, you'll see the surprise.
Unfortunately, however, one can mistake party, and prefer the usual things of the earth to the news of Heaven. If Christmas is just a nice traditional party, where we and we are at the center, it will be a lost opportunity. Please do not let us mate Christmas! Let us not set aside the feast, as it was then, when "he came among his own, and his own did not welcome him" (Jn 1,11). Since the first Gospel of Advent, the Lord has warned us, asking not to weigh ourselves down in "dissipations" and "troubles of life" (Lk 21,34). These days we run, perhaps as never during the year. But this is the opposite of what Jesus wants. We blame the many things that fill the days, the world that goes fast. Yet Jesus did not blame the world, he asked us not to be dragged, to watch at any moment praying (see verse 36).
Behold, it will be Christmas if, like Joseph, we will give space to silence; if, like Mary, we say "here I am" to God; if, like Jesus, we will be close to those who are alone; if, like the shepherds, we will leave our enclosures to be with Jesus. It will be Christmas, if we find the light in the poor cave of Bethlehem. It will not be Christmas if we look for the shimmering glow of the world, if we fill ourselves with presents, lunches and dinners but we will not help at least a poor man, who looks like God, because at Christmas God came poor.
Dear brothers and sisters, I wish you a Merry Christmas, a Christmas full of the surprises of Jesus! They may seem uncomfortable surprises, but they are God's tastes. If we marry them, we will make ourselves a wonderful surprise. Each of us has hidden the ability to surprise in our hearts. Let us be surprised by Jesus on this Christmas.
Je suis heureux de saluer les pèlerins venus de France et de divers pays francophones, en particulier les jeunes de Draguignan. Je souhaite à tous un bon Noël, riche des surprises de Jésus ! Avec l'aide de Marie et de Joseph, Puissions-nous les accueillir, et ainsi faire nôtres les goûts de Dieu et nous laisser surprendre par eux. Que Dieu vous bénisse !
I welcome the English-speaking pilgrims and visitors taking part in today's Audience, especially those from Australia, the Philippines and the United States of America. My particular greeting goes to Japanese pilgrims accompanied by Cardinal Thomas Manyo Maeda, and to the children's dance team from Ukraine. In these last days before Christmas, I invoke upon all of you, and your families, the joy and peace of the Lord Jesus. God bless you!
Einen herzlichen Gruß richte ich an die Pilger deutscher Sprache, insbesondere an die Gruppe der Tiroler Schützen mit ihrem Bischof Hermann Glettler aus Innsbruck. Der Heilige Geist möge uns helfen, den weihnachtlichen Frieden und die Liebe Christi zu den Männern und Frauen unserer Zeit zu bringen.
Queridos peregrinos de língua portuguesa, saúdo-vos a todos com votos dum Santo Natal, portador das consolações e graças do Deus Menino, para vós e vossa família. E sê-lo-á certamente, se a vossa família souber colocá-Lo, a Ele e à sua Lei, no centro da vida, tornando-se uma escola de fé, de oração, de humanidade e de verdadeira alegria. De coração vos abençoo a todos, desejando-vos um sereno e feliz Ano Novo.
Serdecznie witam polskich pielgrzymów. Drodzy bracia i siostry, życzę wam szczęśliwego Bożego Narodzenia, pełnego pokoju, miłości i pogody ducha, jakie przynosi nam Pan zrodzony między nami. Przeżywanie tajemnicy wcielonego Słowa niech wam pomoże przyjmować niespodzianki i wyzwania, przez które Jezus wzywa nas, byśmy wyszli z zagród naszej wygody, aby być z Nim i z tymi, których On kocha. Niech Bóg wam błogosławi!
I am pleased to welcome the parish groups, in particular those of Collevecchio and Alvito and the guests of the Caritas of the Diocese of Albano, accompanied by the Bishop, Monsignor Marcello Semeraro.
I greet the National Association of civilian victims of war; the Scout Group of Jesolo and Ca 'Savio; the Italian National Amputati; the delegation of the Municipality of Bolsena; the Paralympic Sports Group of the Defense and the Educational Institutes, in particular those of San Benedetto del Tronto and Bitonto.
The birth of the Lord Jesus is imminent. The feast that we will celebrate again this year, on the Holy Night of his Christmas, reawaken in us the tenderness of God for all humanity, when, in Jesus, he did not disdain to assume, without any reserve, our human nature. Let us entrust ourselves to Mary and to Joseph, so that they may teach us to welcome such a great gift: Emmanuel, God with us.


Twenty years ago, on 6 December, a 14-year-old youth from Resistencia, Chaco province, Argentina, suffered a serious motorcycle accident. He hovered between life and death with a brain hemorrhage. Some of his school teachers his called his mother to tell her they were praying to Mary of Schoenstatt for his complete recovery, and they showed her a Pilgrim Mother.
"I am finally here, twenty years and a day later, to thank Our Lady of Schoenstatt," Marisel Juric said on the afternoon of 7 December 2017. She got House Marienau confused with the entrance to the Mary's Schoenstatt's Shine." Roberto González from the schoenstatt.org "Dreamteam," who entered five minutes later, became Marisel's guide; she only had four hours to spend on this greatly desired visit after twenty years. It was a welcome gift for Marisel, who stayed at a hotel in Koblenz, because she did not know that there were places to stay in Schoenstatt, but "thanks to the Schoenstatt website," she found directions to Schoenstatt. And as always, the Blessed Mother's gifts are pure generosity: Roberto is from Asunción, the closest shrine to Resistencia, a shrine Marisel had already visited. In an instant, a bond had been created between them.
"On my trips through Argentina, I always look for Mary of Schoenstatt's wayside shrines," she explained. "I always find one." She related about a trip with her husband from southern Argentina to Chile. "My husband was a little nervous about customs at the border…and I saw her there, in a simple wayside shrine, which read: 'Brotherhood Wayside Shrine Chile – Argentina' What could happen if we were accompanied by Mary of Schoenstatt's brotherhood of these two countries? I said to my husband. 'She is always with us,' like during those sorrowful days of vigil at the hospital by her son's side were strengthened by the prayers of those missionaries.
Roberto accompanied a pilgrim to the Original Shrine. It was a touching moment, strong, unforgettable. It was a moment for expressing gratitude for that miracle twenty years ago, the complete recuperation of her eldest son. A dialogue between mothers, an intimate dialogue.
Sr. Lourdes, who the two met on the road, allowed herself to be conquered to take Marisel and Robert to Mount Schoenstatt for a fleeting visit to Fr. Kentenich's tomb, but immediately afterwards it was time to say goodbye and catch the train to Prague.
Our road of faith is united in an indissoluble way to Mary who since the moment that Jesus died on the cross, he gave her to us as Mother saying: "Behold, your mother" (Jn. 19:27). These words have the value of a testament and it gives the world a mother. From that moment, God's mother also became our mother.
At that time, when the disciples' faith was cracking because of the many difficulties and uncertainties, Jesus entrusted her, the first to believe, and the one whose faith never waned. Thus the "woman" became our mother at the moment she lost her divine Son. And her wounded heart broadened to take in all men/women, good and bad, everyone, and she loves them as Jesus loves them. The woman who at the wedding of Cana of Galilee had cooperated with her faith and the manifestation of God's wonder in the world keeps the flame of faith in her Son's resurrection, enkindled in Calvary, and she communicates it to others with maternal affection. In this way, Mary becomes the source of hope of real joy.


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 University of Florida President Dr. J. Wayne Reitz, Judge Harold Medina, and an unidentified man on stage in the Florida Gym.
University of Florida President Dr. J. Wayne Reitz, Judge Harold Medina, and an unidentified man on stage in the Florida Gym.
University of Florida President J. Wayne Reitz, Judge Haold R. Medina, and an unidentified man on stage in the Florida Gym during Dr. Reitz's inauguration as president of the University of Florida.
Photograph 4384 from the University Archives Photograph Collection.


text:
TV/Podcast
About TXSN
Texas Sports Nation // Astros
Dusty Baker worries about 'racial time bomb'
Chandler Rome Aug. 28, 2020 Updated: Aug. 28, 2020 10:16 p.m.
Houston Astros manager Dusty Baker Jr. watches Taylor Jones take batting practice during the Houston Astros spring training workouts at the Fitteam Ballpark of The Palm Beaches, in West Palm Beach , Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2020.
Photo: Karen Warren, Houston Chronicle / Staff photographer
Dusty Baker spends most of his 70s suppressing the racial profiling and inequality he endured as a young man. Remembering can "take the joy of my life away," the 71-year-old Astros manager said. Baker doesn't want to walk around mad. His heart has changed about things that once enraged him.
Now, Dusty worries more about his 21-year-old son, Darren, a young Black man in what his father describes as a worsening world. Dusty called it a "racial time bomb." On Thursday, Darren showed Dusty video of Jacob Blake's shooting in Kenosha, Wis. Police officers shot the 29-year-old Blake seven times in the back.
"I was just appalled," Baker said. "Boy, it's getting worse and worse in the country. Something has to be done, and something has to stop. It's senseless shootings, senseless killings. Kids are going to have nightmares. You're supposed to feel safe in this country. You're not supposed to feel threatened or afraid."
"This is nothing new for me, especially a child of the '60s. I'm more afraid for my children and my grandchildren than I am for me right now. They see you as some old man that's harmless versus a young man that's dangerous. That's not the situation of how people should feel."
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Between Wednesday and Thursday, 10 Major League Baseball games were postponed as players protested police brutality and racial inequality. Playoff games in both the NBA and NHL were postponed. The WNBA and MLS postponed games. Some NFL and college football teams took days off of practice in protest. Baker called the actions "bold but necessary moves."
The Astros, who had been off on Wednesday and Thursday, joined the protest by not playing against the A's on Friday. Both teams had taken the field to celebrate Jackie Robinson Day and then walked off.
Players from other clubs have spoken at length the last three days to explain the origin of their protests and call for more action toward social injustices. Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts said he needed "to use my platform to get the ball rolling." Mets infielder Dominic Smith's tearful postgame interview on Wednesday gained international attention.
"I think the most difficult part is seeing people still don't care," Smith said between sobs. "For this to continuously happen, it shows just the hate in people's heart. That just sucks. Being a Black man in America is not easy."
Baker echoed Smith's sentiments on Friday. He said it's "not easy being a Black man, especially a successful Black man at the same time."
The 71-year-old spoke for more than 15 minutes about his experiences as a Black man in baseball — both on and off the field. He evoked lyrics from Stevie Wonder, who sang "you can not cash in your face. Baker described being stopped by police while driving a nice car, being "called in" by the FBI on three occasions and being summoned to the commissioner's office.
Explaining the plight can grow tiresome or feel insignificant, especially for a man who has done it endlessly to some deaf ears. Baker is now one of two Black managers in baseball. Across his 50-year stint in the sport, he's been viewed as a prominent voice for racial equality and opportunities.
"But when you speak up for as long as I've spoken up, it's like 'OK, man, you're crying spilled milk or you got a chip on your shoulder or you're a racist or there's some negative adjective they're going to say about you,'" Baker said. "After a while, it's not even worth talking about."
"If people would listen and listen intently, then I'm willing to talk. For years, we've been having Jackie Robinson Day and it's been kind of squashed under the rug and we don't talk about it until next year. Or African-American history month, we make a big deal out of it and then you sweep it under the rug and you talk about it next year. Until people put their money where their mouth is, you're really wasting my time."
A group of Black baseball players is trying to accomplish that. The Players Alliance, a group of 100 current or former Black players who donated their salaries from Thursday and Friday's games toward organizations that either combat racial inequality or aid Black families impacted by it. Astros outfielders George Springer and Michael Brantley are involved, according to the Alliance's website.
"I love what the basketball players are doing, the hockey players," Baker said. "They're putting their money where their mouth is. I'm proud of these young people in America because they're doing something about it."
A's second baseman Tony Kemp, a former Astros player, said Friday he planned to meet with former Astros teammates to detail how they may donate. The Alliance opened its donations to those around the league. According to Kemp, players can specify which charities or organizations their game checks go toward.
Kemp and the A's did not play their game on Thursday against the Rangers in Arlington in protest.
"Hopefully a kid asked their parents what's going on right now, why is there no baseball, and they have a real conversation with their kid of what's going on in America," said Kemp, who is Black. "And that's where it starts. Because this generation is being able to speak up and the players are understanding how big their voices are right now. We have huge platforms so why not use them?"
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Chandler Rome joined the Houston Chronicle in 2018 to cover the Astros after spending one year in Tuscaloosa covering Alabama football — during which Nick Saban asked if he attended college. He did, at LSU, where he covered the Tigers baseball team for nearly four years. He covered most of the Astros' 2015 playoff run, too, as an intern for MLB.com
Astros face $3 million gap in talks with Carlos Correa who is headed to arbitration hearing
Astros face $3 million gap in talks with Carlos Correa who is headed to...
Jerome Solomon
By Jerome Solomon, Staff writer
Nick Caserio's hiring as GM harks to same old Texans
By Jonathan Feigen, Staff writer
How the NBA's COVID-19 protocols are monitored and enforced
By Reid Laymance, Staff writer
Houston sport figures tell their stories of being Black in America
By Joseph Duarte, Staff writer
Scenes from a fall: How UH football went from rising force to also-ran
Timeline: 2020, a Houston sports year like no other


Description: Your child will delight in learning how the animals of the Chinese zodiac were chosen, and why the rat was the first one on the list. These questions and others are in this humorous version of the legend. Colorful, paper cut-out illustrations that accompanied the book form of tthe story leap from the pages in this DVD adaption. Ages 4-12. Iconographic animation using original illustrations bring action to life. Each DVD comes with narration in English and Chinese with an option to view the Chinese text either in Traditional or Simplified characters as well as Hanyu pinyin. Public Performance rights included for School and institutional use.


Robyn Vilate: meet olivia grace.
born september 29, 2013 weighing 5 lbs. 10 oz and 19 inches long! i may be extremely biased, but she is by far the most beautiful baby i have ever seen and we are 100% smitten with this little sweetheart! words can't even begin to describe the happiness and love that this tiny little girl brings into our home and i honestly didn't know it was possible to love anyone or anything so much! she has been such a good baby so far and is so calm and content. she makes thee sweetest faces and noises and i could honestly blab on and on for hours about how cute she is and how excited we get over every sneeze, hiccup, yawn, and squeak she makes but i will try and contain myself. i will say that it is very apparent that babies are sent straight from heaven because there is nothing more sweet and perfect than a newborn and i am absolutely loving every second with my sweet little liv and taking it all in!
Oh. my. goodness. She is absolutely gorgeous! Congratulations again! :) So happy for you!
She is so stylish already ;-) (Love those aztec print leggings!) Thanks for sharing her with us!
Congratulations to you both,she's so precious!
She is beyond adorable! Congratulations to you both and I cannot wait for her outfit posts!
Aww, she's beautiful! Adorable photos.
she is soo precious! babies are the best. isn't it crazy how much love you have for her? i thought i knew love so well until my son was born. i'm still overwhelmed with the amount of love my heart pounds for him.
Such a precious little one! I love when newborns have their eyes open! It seems it doesn't happen all that often, but it is just so adorable when they do keep their eyes open for awhile! Her little smile is the cutest!
She is so sweet! congratulations!
oh my gosh. what a doll!!!
Congrats, and you're right...she is beautiful!
Just found your blog and I love it, you have the cutest style, even into the last weeks of pregnancy! You go.Congrats on your beautiful little bundle!
She is the sweetest thing! Congratulations. I'm so glad I recently found your blog, love it!
Congratulations on that little sweetheart! She is beautiful!
Congrats <3 oh my look at all that hair!!!! Beautiful!
Eeek! What a cutie! I see that mommy's style is rubbing off or her too -those little leggings are too cute! Congrats to all of you!
Congrats, she is precious! Our babies were born so close together. Seth was born on the 25th. Its crazy how many people I follow in the blog world who had babies around that time. It crazy how fast he is growing up!


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Indoor Drone Filming
360 and VR Video
360 Aerial Panoramas
360 Ground Panoramas
Non Drone
Pole Photography
Cable Cam
Drone lands on Queen Elizabeth
xozziadmin Drones in The News	Drones, MOD, Navy, UK	0
A civilian photographer landed his $350 drone on the flight deck of HMS Queen Elizabeth, the United Kingdom's brand-new aircraft carrier, without anyone noticing. Even more alarming, when the incident was reported, the government authorities didn't seem particularly concerned by the breach of security. The incident comes after drones have been used to monitor military bases, conduct acts of sabotage, and even kill.
The drone operator, who only goes by the working name Black Isle Images, flew the DJI Phantom drone (The Register says it was a Parrot Bebop) over Queen Elizabeth as she was docked at Invergordon, Scotland. The photographer claims had had no intention of actually landing on the carrier, but a sudden gust of wind triggered the drone's high wind sensors, which immediately set the tiny unmanned aircraft down on the carrier's flight deck as a precaution. The photographer snapped a picture from the flight deck and flew the drone away. Here's video the drone shot before it was forced to land:
After picking up the drone, the photographer decided to confess and went to speak with police guarding the ship. "I was only able to speak to some armed police, I think from the MoD," Maritime Executive quoted him as saying. "They said there was no one available on the carrier, as they were at dinner on shore. No one seemed too concerned. The officer I spoke to said he'd pass it up the chain of command."
The drone operator left his contact information for the authorities, but says that nobody ever got back to him. According to the BBC, a UK Ministry of Defense spokesperson said, "'We take the security of HMS Queen Elizabeth very seriously. This incident has been reported to Police Scotland, an investigation is under way and we stepped up our security measures in light of it."
HMS Queen Elizabeth is the United Kingdom's newest aircraft carrier, and the largest warship ever built for the Royal Navy. The 70,000-ton, $3.9 billion dollar vessel will embark F-35B Joint Strike Fighters and serve as the Royal Navy's flagship. A second carrier, HMS Prince of Wales, is currently under construction.
The incident comes as armed forces around the world are gradually responding to the drone threat. Islamic State forces were among the first to weaponize civilian drones, converting them to drop mortar bombs and hand grenades. In March, a drone armed with a Russian hand grenade blew up a Ukranian ammo dump, destroying a billion dollars' worth of ammunition, killing one person and injuring five. U.S. forces have secured permission to shoot down or take control of drones flying close to U.S. military bases, after a F-22A Raptor had a near miss with a drone.
Drone License	Shark Spotting with a Drone
Drones outwit the Poachers
HMP Liverpool drone: Man arrested over drugs and phones delivery – BBC News
Shark Spotting with a Drone
Drone License
PfCO # UAV4771


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(-) Inspiration & Motivation
College & University Speakers
Emcee & Master of Ceremonies
Entertainment Acts
(-) Female Business Leaders
(-) Pennsylvania
(-) Colorado
(-) Nevada
(-) Asia
Event Location: Pennsylvania
Speaker Location: Colorado
Speaker Location: Nevada
Speaker Location: Oregon
Speaker Location: Pennsylvania
Speaker Location: Asia
Female Business Leaders
Michelle Curran
Combat Veteran: USAF Thunderbird Lead Solo, F-16 Fighter Pilot and Founder of Upside Down Dreams
Combat veteran Michelle "MACE" Curran led an impressive career as an F-16 fighter pilot during her 13 years in the United States Air Force. From 2019-2021, she flew as the only female pilot for the Air Force Thunderbirds and performed for millions across the country and internationally. Flying under the callsign "MACE," she was the second woman ever to fly in the lead solo position for the Thunderbirds since the team's founding in 1953. Before joining the Thunderbirds, Curran completed high-impact combat missions across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East, where the challenges were tough, but the rewards were greater. Always a thrill seeker at heart, she has a passion for pushing her limits and changing lives.


Slugs can be a very serious problem to you if you live in a moisture laden area of country. A single slug can successfully remove an entire row of seedlings from your garden in no time at all; can turn a perfect plant into swiss cheese over night and return to the safety of his hideaway, leaving you to wonder what happened… As slugs wander about, doing their evil little slug deeds, they leave behind them a trail of slime which amounts to nothing less than a road sign for themselves and every other slug to follow to the grand feast.
And wouldn't you just know it, slugs are hermaphrodites, they all have male and female reproductive systems. They can mate with themselves, and in the privacy of their own abode, each slug will produce two to three dozen eggs several times a year.
The egg clusters look like little piles of whitish jelly BB sized balls. They will hatch in anywhere from 10 days to three weeks or longer, and these sluglings can mature to adulthood in as little as six weeks. Destroy the eggs… wherever you find them.
banana slug, common in the pacific northwest can reach up to 9″ long!
Slugs may live for several years, getting larger with proportionately larger appetites each year. Now, do you really want to go out to your garden some morning and find an eighteen inch Banana Slug waiting for you?
Although you may never win the war against snails and slugs entirely, you can fight them with every weapon at your disposal. You can control slug populations with several different methods. Each battle you win, prevents hundreds of new slugs from hatching.
As with any battle plan, it is to your advantage to be able to set the field. Set your field by cleaning your garden, and eliminating the places where the slugs hide, sleep, and reproduce.
compost they become food and shelter for slugs and snails.
The shaded areas beneath decks are slug hangouts: keep them weed and litter free.
Just about anything can become a slug home. Boards, rocks, pots and other trash should be kept out of the garden.
Keep the lawn edges trimmed. Slugs will congregate under an umbrella of unkept grass.
For the sake of the environment, it is better to make an effort to control slugs and snails without using chemicals and poisons.
Keep slug pokers stuck around the garden at random. Meet your enemy, one on one… Your weapon is at hand, impale them!
An early morning stroll around the garden, salt shaker in hand will often result in many slug casualties.
Bait and destroy tactics work. Set a pile of slightly dampened dry dog food in an area frequented by slugs.	In the morning and evening visit the feeding station a few times… slug poker in hand!
Oat bran will kill slugs when they eat it… sprinkle some around.
Enlist allies… snakes, ducks, geese, toads; a few Rhode Island Reds would enjoy helping you out as they dine on your slugs.
Cut a one inch 'V' notch in the rim of a cool whip bowl. Invert the bowl in the garden over the slug bait, and place a rock on top of it to keep it secure.
Commercial, disposable slug traps may be purchased at many garden centers. Quite a bit more expensive, but they work!
At the very least, cover the bait with a weighted piece of wood or an old shingle to prevent access to the poison. The slugs will still find it, consume it, and die.
Try as you might, the war against slugs will go on as long as there are gardens, but you can keep them under control. Remember that for every slug you destroy, you prevent countless generations of offspring.
As you wage your war on slugs and snails, you are almost certain to be 'slimed' at least once. argh! Mix up a little warm water and vinegar, and use this formula to remove the slime from your hands like magic!


The Mid-Atlantic South DII men's club league came down to the final match of the season, played this past weekend.
The Washington Irish, which went into the game 3-4, defeated Richmond, who had entered the game 5-2, to take 2nd in the league. The Irish managed this, despite having a worse record than Richmond, by virtue of the bonus points they earned. The Irish got a bonus point for four tries in the 27-19 victory, but the hard work was done through the season, when they earned a bonus point for a close loss in every single game they lost.
With six four-try bonus games, and four close-loss bonus games, they outstripped Richmond by a point, 26-25, to secure a home playoff game.
The Irish were led on offense by veterans Jon Hansen and Mark Seiss. They helped stake the Irish to a big lead, but it was the defense that held on late as Richmond mounted a comeback.
That put them over the top, but the defense had a hand in it, too.
Flanker Ian Pope led the way for the forwards, coming up with big hits all afternoon, while scrumhalf Luke Hammock played a great game, and made some key cover tackles on bigger players.
What the Irish have demonstrated, however, is a no-quit attitude. That ensured they stayed close in almost every game. Of their four wins, two were by less than a try, and all four of their losses (as stated) were that close as well. If they hadn't stayed close in the losses, they would be on the road in April.


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Halal Regulations: Where Culture and Cosmetics Meet
Luigi Rigano, Ph.D., ISPE srl, Milan, Italy
Many restrictive norms are applied to cosmetic formulations all over the world, prohibiting or limiting the use of certain ingredients. For example, general good manufacturing practices and guidelines indicate the best procedures for safe manufacturing and filling. These limitations are usually based on safety considerations, especially the allergenic or irritant potential of ingredients and their combinations. Moreover, potential side effects, the toxicological profile of the formula, the sensitivity of the skin application site and the consumer's age are carefully considered. In addition, ingredients from animal sources, the purity profiles of raw materials and their blends, the frequency of use and duration on the skin, and impurities content are taken into account to establish a product's compliance to the principles of consumer safety.
In most cases, restrictions combine commercial elements with physiological innocuity requirements, and should be accompanied by specially designed warnings on product labels. Updates of these norms are regularly carried out following new scientific discoveries and the evolution of society.
Halal Fundamentals
For Muslims, additional rules for cosmetics are mandated from a unique source, the Quran, and imply further safety considerations that are different from those described above. Cosmetics are important in the Muslim world, especially for women. Certain groups believe a body is given to each person as a gift from god, who left that body in the person's care. Therefore, taking care of the body in the right way through the application of the correct products is necessary, provided that modesty is preserved. Not to behave accordingly is a sin for strict believers.
Halal rules identify, in detail, the environment of compliant cosmetic products. For example, alcohol (more precisely, ethanol) is considered a toxic substance in general, not only when ingested. The reasons for its prohibition are ancient and trace back to the effects of drinking alcohol in hot regions where Islam was born and first developed.
Moreover, alcohol can penetrate the skin and exert toxic effects. Therefore, to comply with halal rules, cosmetics must not come into contact with alcohol. Similarly, ethanol should be avoided in the chemical extraction and synthesis of raw materials. Another limitation, which rarely affects cosmetics, is pork and its derivatives such as gelatin. This ban is based on the ease with which pork decomposes in hot climates and the high levels of environmental pollution pork farming causes in desert regions.1
The Potential Market
The world's Muslim population accounts for approximately two billion people and is expected to grow to about 26% of the total world's population by 2020. Within these figures, the younger (< 30 years) segment makes up the majority (~67%).2
A rough estimate of personal care and cosmetic purchases in the Asia-Pacific region is around US $70 billion, of which about 5–6% are halal-certified. Purchasing of halal-certified cosmetics is currently concentrated in countries having a prevailing Muslim faith, including: Indonesia, Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Gulf Emirates, etc. These countries, together with Egypt and Algeria, house an Islamic population of more than 800 million.
The number of Muslims in other major nations, including China, Russia and the United States, is also substantial; more than 200 million. Furthermore, almost 15 million Muslims live in the main four European countries.
Beyond the statistics, however, halal-certified products are not only meant for Muslim buyers. Currently, they stand out in the market as healthy, safe and appreciated by Islamic and non-Islamic consumers, in light of the complexity and reliability of controls for the certification process.
Customs laws and rules are also affecting these figures. The Indonesian market of more than 200 million Muslim consumers is under the "Halal Product Guarantee Law." Issued in 2014, this law will be effective by the end of 2019 and requires that all products, cosmetics or not, are labeled halal or non-halal. Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and other Asian countries are about to pass similar regulations.
Halal vs. Haram
The term allowed in Arabic translates as halal, indicating what is permitted under Islamic rules. Halal concerns food, drinks, cosmetics or other common objects and matters of daily life. In contrast, all that is clearly forbidden is haram. A product is considered haram if it contains or comes into contact with forbidden materials during the manufacturing process. These religious sentiments play an important role in product choices.
Most Muslim consumers buy non-halal certified products only when they cannot find alternatives. And until recently, given the historically limited number of halal-certified cosmetic products, consumers were obliged to accept non-halal alternatives. Today's habits are fast-changing, however, and Islam-compliant consumption is giving rise to a growing search for products that comply with halal standards.
Islam-compliant consumption is giving rise to the search for products that meet halal standards.
Ingredient Considerations
In cosmetics, for halal cosmetics, special attention should be paid to the origin and processing of collagen, keratin, hyaluronic acid, amino acids and hydrolyzed animal protein. Additional restrictions concern blood and its derivatives, insects and their derivatives—e.g., cochineal extract or carmine, CI 75470, extracted from Dactylopius coccus—and drugs or ethyl alcohol, which are considered intoxicants, even if simply being used to clean equipment in the production facility or to develop extracts. In particular, nutmeg, Asafoetida, vanilla extract and gelatin (especially from pork) are forbidden either due to being intoxicants themselves or containing certain percentages of other intoxicating substances.
In general, much like overall cosmetic regulatory restrictions, all substances that are harmful to human health are prohibited from halal products. GMO ingredients, for example, are an area of concern, as some question whether they could damage human health.3
Halal Compliance
In many countries, compliance to the norms described here, in the introduction, are verified only in case of inspections and controls by authorities in the marketplace, on rare occasions at the production sites, or when official dossiers are registered at centralized sites. However, halal compliance is verified as a part of all general procedures, which is assured through halal certification.
The reason for such a different approach is that control over the compliance of products with Muslim rules is not based on investigations carried out a posteriori, with modern analytical instruments, but in a preliminary manner that ensures any contact with forbidden ingredients, even superficial, is avoided during the whole production and distribution process.
Islam prescribes detailed behavioral rules to its believers. Such rules restrict or prohibit any contact with products that are inconsistent with its laws. In relation, halal certification attests to a product's conformity during its whole production cycle to the rules of Islam. Any cosmetic, in order to be accepted by Islam followers, must pass a rigorous certification procedure, provided after a detailed approval path; it should be noted that Islam is not only a religion but also a civil code for believers.
Four Steps to Certification
Halal certification is a procedure identifying the halal compliance of a product, service or whole manufacturing process. It certifies a product does not contain haram substances and that there are not risks of contamination in the production process. Upon concluding the certification process, a product may be attributed with a logo designating the identification of compliant products.
The certification procedure consists of four main steps, in order to guarantee the implementation of the halal quality system in the production chain.
1. Administrative/documentation. An interested firm should first contact the certification agency or a designated company to express interest in starting the certification process and/or receive more information. A budget is then issued and, upon acceptance, a contract is signed. The certifying agency provides documents describing, in a detail, the manufacturing processes and products profile. All documents are then examined by the agency's or a designated party's technical staff.
2. Halal Quality System (HQS) implementation. This is the most demanding phase of the certification procedure, even if it is similar to other systems currently in use, such as ISO 9001:2008. Its main steps are as follows.
a) An internal HQS coordinating team of employees should be created. This group manages all parties involved in HQS implementation throughout the whole production cycle, and ideally should be composed of one member of each department/function in the company. Each team member's duties in relation to halal should be outlined in a manual for relevant procedures and to implement periodic training of all involved personnel.
b) Each department should contribute to the success of the certification procedure. For example:
Purchasing should buy only ingredients devoid of haram substances, produced by either certified suppliers or attesting to the lack of forbidden components in the production process.
The R&D Laboratory must formulate in accordance with halal standards, checked by the agency or the delegate. The laboratory approves the conformity of all raw materials and lack of cross-contamination with haram substances.
Transportation should perform checks for possible contamination with prohibited substances during product transports. Vehicles must not have been used for transporting pork and its by-products. On the contrary, a detailed in-depth purification procedure is necessary.
Storage and handling must ensure no cross-contamination occurs between halal and other materials during the in-house storage and handling. Appropriate "traffic light" signals may be used to mark the areas of segregation where haram materials are located. Such indicators and labelling are useful for identifying storage areas, refrigeration rooms and utensils.
Thus, "green light" labels identify those exclusively used for halal products. Yellow labels apply to materials used both for halal and non-halal products. These require santization before use in halal production. Red labels identify materials and rooms not to be used for halal products.
Manufacturing should set up dedicated or separated production lines for halal-certified products. Segregation or separation areas should be foreseen but this also involves tools, clothes and utensils. After certification, all packaging, flow charts and technical data sheets must bear the identification for the World Halal Authority (WHA), an WHA code and the wording WHA approved.
According to Islam, taking care of the body by applying the correct products is necessary. Not doing so is a sin for dedicated practitioners.
3. Audit. The certification agency will visit the site and audit the documentation in order to assess the truthfulness of what is reported and to make sure there are no contamination risks.
4. Certification issued. Having received the delegate's opinion and carried out all assessments with positive findings, the halal certificate and logo to be placed on the product's label are released. The certification procedure also includes installing a quality system with detailed operational standards.
A final certificate is awarded by appointed certification agencies, e.g., one or more international accreditation authorities who are authorized to release halal certificates in their operating countries. Agencies establish and certify that products and services they scrutinized are in accordance with international halal standards. These documents are recognized in relevant regions under the competence of the accreditation authorities.
Authorized Institutes
The World Halal Authority (WHA)4 names and authorizes institutes for assisting companies with the halal-certification procedure. These institutes assist applicants with all the steps heading to certification and give support to the Halal Management Team during implementation of the HQS and during the certification agency audits.
Extreme care should be applied to the selection of these institutions, as some cases of non-acceptance and poor quality activities have led to the loss of time and money for some companies.
Even if halal rules are applied in different countries at varying levels, halal-certified cosmetics represent a fast-growing market with nearly two billion potential consumers. The era of consumers selecting products based merely on esthetics is over; today's consumers make choices based on ingredient content or omission, and on certification and compliance to recognized and specialized rationales.5
Product quality also has grown in importance to consumers, while control over impurities is, more than ever, a key for safety. Halal certification is essentially a synonym for the careful supervision over all formula and production details, from cradle to grave, and its guarantee is growing for a wider number of consumers.
M Harris, Good to Eat: Riddles of Food and Culture, Waveland Press Inc, 50047 (1998)
Thomson Reuters, State of the Global Islamic Economy 2013 Report (2013)
www.kosmeticanews.it/halal-e-haram/ (Accessed Apr 18, 2017)
www.whad-it.com
M Colombini, Cosmesi Halal, Un mercato in crescita, Kosmetica (2)3 26-30 (2016)
Introducing WellSpa 360 - A Dayspa Virtual Event on Sept 21-22, 2021
FDA's Quarterly Color Additives Report: Red Alert
More in Claims/Labeling
California Passes 'Do Not Flush' Wipes Law
Proposed originally earlier in 2021, the legislation establishes disposal labeling requirements for wet wipes packaging and requires manufacturers of wipes to educate the public on the impacts of flushing wipes improperly.
Updated Guide Available on Classifying and Labeling Titanium Dioxide
The guide helps companies and national authorities understand how mixtures containing titanium dioxide need to be classified and labeled following its classification as carcinogenic if inhaled. The new label update went into effect on Oct. 1, 2021.
Joybliss™, a novel green active ingredient with a plumping efficacy
Discover how to increase positiveness in your mood and decrease your vocal stress markers by filling the wheel of plumping with Joybliss™
Bayer, Beiersdorf to Settle Over 'Misleading Mineral-based' Coppertone Claim
Bayer HealthCare LLC and Beiersdorf Inc. have agreed to settle a class action suit alleging Coppertone brand sunscreens labeled as "mineral-based" are misleading to consumers as they contain chemical actives.
From 'Clean' to 'Safe' Cosmetics: How EU/UK Regulations Can Shift the Parlance Toward Health—A Commentary
This article outlines how regulators in the EU and UK have put measures into place to assure consumers of product safety, particularly in relation to endocrine disruptors. It also proposes communicating to consumers the extent to which products are tested to shift the parlance from "clean" to "safe."
European Regulatory Update: Greenwashing, Endocrine Disruptors and PFAS
There are robust regulations in Europe regarding chemicals that seem to be based on persistence rather than the analysis of harmful effects. Here, the author highlights regulatory updates in the EU and UK with regard to environmental claims, chemical strategies and more, including endocrine disruptors and PFAS.
J&J Voluntarily Recalls Benzene-containing Neutrogena and Aveeno Spray Sunscreens
Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. is voluntarily recalling all lots of five Neutrogena and Aveeno aerosol sunscreens as some were found to contain low levels of benzene.
Amazon Adds EWG Verified Label to Select Product Listings
"Customers want a way to make more sustainable and informed shopping choices, and Climate Pledge Friendly is ramping up its efforts to help customers know their purchases meet sustainability standards and are helping to preserve the natural world," said Adam Werbach, global lead for sustainable shopping at Amazon.
Suit Alleges J&J's OGX Shampoo, Conditioners Cause Hair Loss
A class action suit has been filed against J&J for its OGX branded shampoos and conditioners that contain DMDM hydantoin, which is alleged to cause hair loss and scalp irritation.
Neutrogena Faces Suit Over Benzene in Sunscreens
Neutrogena is facing charges alleging its sunscreens contain unacceptable levels of benzene and do not disclose this ingredient on their labels.
NAD Puts P&G's Crest Whitening Claims in Check
The National Advertising Division (NAD) of the U.S. Better Business Bureau reviewed P&G's Crest Whitening Emulsions claims and found some were supported and others were not; revisions were recommended.


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It really is foolish to win in an online gambling enterprise online game yet cannot bucks out your settlement or much considerably stunning, locate that page where you have actually placed in hrs as well as pay gaming in is a removed established a solitary. There are a number of concerns you can consider to make sure that the internet online casino site is a relied on one. This is a tactical plan of charmingly, those points that you need to glance at. Recognizing the region where the work environment of the online internet casino site that you will certainly be viably playing in is exceptionally a typical wage the premises that need to you have any kind of dispute worrying the company regardless are not obtaining any type of result from the communication which you have actually sent out on the internet, when this occurs it is feasible to inhabit all communication on their work environment.
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The League of Cities has numerous in-house committees operating on a continuing basis: Legislative, Finance, Scholarship, Transportation, Environmental, Policy & Procedures, Education, ITE, Programs and the Inpector General Budget Review. The League is also represented on several state, regional and county committees and boards. Special project committees (ad hoc) are established from time to time as issues require.
Openings arise on our committees throughout the year. If you are interested in serving on a League committee, please contact the League office at 561-355-4484, or via fax to 561-355-6545.
Technology Ad Hoc Committee: Open to All; Meetings: The Committee shall meet quarterly to start, and then may meet more frequently if needed.; Mission (inital scope and duties): 1. Review and monitor municipal, regional and state technology system and infrastructure issues and needs; 2. Review and monitor programs and policies that support and encourage smart cities, entrepreneurship, innovation and growth in the region's technology sector; 3. Monitor legislative and technological trends in information and technology; 4. Make recommendations to the Board of Directors regarding technology-related programs and policy matters; and 5. Actively participate and serve on state and/or national League of Cities' committees in order to learn about emerging technology issues, and to bring those issues back to the Board of Directors and/or the General Membership for review. Additionally, the Committee members should be encouraged to attend other seminars and information sessions at the regional, state, national and international level in order to gain insight into emerging technology issues that may be relevant to the League's membership.


Well you knew it had to be too good to be true – a girl can't stay silent forever when pushing out her eggs. In my neighbourhood when the hens are laying it is accompanied by a dog that howls along with the tune!
Thanks for your comments. That's all I'll need now!!!!! Stanley barking along with Swiffer!
The neighbors are going to love this!
We had one going off this morning as well. they must sense the fine weather.
She is fine once we let her out of the coop.
I just hope Swiffer keeps her songs REALLY SHORT. Happy neighbors…City Boy keeps his hens!
Haha! Too funny. Not having chickens myself (someday), I'm actually a bit jealous! Good luck with keeping her incognito!
Thanks for your comments. We're gonna' need more than LUCK!
Visiting from the From The Farm blog hop!
Thanks for your comments. I envy you on the 20 wooded acres.
Hope you'll stop by for another laugh.
I can't wait to hear my girls singing that song…but we live in a very rural area so it will just blend in with the other hens in the community. Have you thought about a nest box with sound-proof walls? Joking of course. I hope she doesn't get you all busted, you look pretty happy together.
Thanks for dropping by. I, too, hope that we do not get busted. It's kinda' sad to say but "our fate" is in the "hands" of Swiffer. Thanks for following my blog!
Love it! Our flock was mostly quiet with a short, melodious egg song from each proper lady. Then I added three Black Copper Marans and all hell broke loose. Now it sounds like some girl thrasher band out there in the morning!
Thanks for your comment. So far it's only Swiffer…..I hope I don't get THE WHOLE BAND!
Lmao! Sorry about the new noise, but this post cracked me up!
Hope your singer learns to shut her trap!
I too hope she learns to shut her trap. So far…she is a slow learner.
HA! Great post and good luck with your city chickens! Thanks so much for sharing at the Creative HomeAcre Hop! Looking forward to seeing what you share this week!
Love comments ours sing after each egg 4 different we have a tenor a soprano and and are hoping for a baritone to start laying!
Wow…that's a mighty tall order! Thanks for your comments and for following the blog.


Beautiful, warmer in afternoon, clouded up. Up at 6:20. Mom and Dad got up at 6:00 to work in the garden. Beautiful bright morning. After breakfast I went out in the garden with Mom and picked some narcissus for Goody. The sky was so blue, the trees so green, and the lilacs so fresh and fragrant — seemed like summer, but I'm glad it's only Spring. To school at ten till 8:00 for one-hour book review, "They Wanted War" by Hobart Mayton. Good except I got tired of sitting. Fun in English. Our row has the cowboy songs part of oral literature. On way to history, J.E. told me that I was good in the play Friday night and said he hadn't had a chance to tell me then. Ah! No test in typing because Miss A. forgot to give it to the first class. June Smalley and I started working on a banquet program. After school I sat out in the back yard and read the paper. Something very good happened. Lilacs so lovely. Then practiced. Cloudy. Mom went to town. I read again "The Man Without a Country." To bed early at night. Missed "The Letter" on Lux Radio Theater.


text:
"""Small tests for the custom Django template tag and filter functions."""

import os
from google.appengine.ext import db
from google.appengine.ext.webapp import template
from lib.mox import mox
import model
import settings
from template_functions import entities
from template_functions import kml
from template_functions import pages
import util

class MockEntity(object):
  def __init__(self, entity_id, layer_id=None, folder_id=None):
    self._id = entity_id
    if layer_id:
      self.layer = MockEntity(layer_id)
    else:
      self.layer = None
    if folder_id:
      self.folder = MockEntity(folder_id)
    else:
      self.folder = None

  def key(self):  # pylint: disable-msg=C6409
    return self

  def id(self):  # pylint: disable-msg=C6409
    return self._id

class EntitiesTemplateFunctionsTest(mox.MoxTestBase):

  def testRenderContextSuppliedTag(self):
    dummy_function = self.mox.CreateMockAnything()
    tag = entities._ContextSuppliedTag(dummy_function, ['a', '"b"', 'c'])
    self.mox.StubOutWithMock(pages.template.django.template, 'resolve_variable')

    pages.template.django.template.resolve_variable(
        'a', 'dummy-context').AndReturn('ra')
    pages.template.django.template.resolve_variable(
        'c', 'dummy-context').AndReturn('rc')
    dummy_function('dummy-context', 'ra', 'b', 'rc').AndReturn('executed')
    self.mox.ReplayAll()
    self.assertEqual(tag.render('dummy-context'), 'executed')

  def testParseContextSuppliedTag(self):

    def DummyFunction(_, __, ___):
      raise RuntimeError('Should not be called!')

    class DummyTokenizer(object):

      def __init__(self, contents):
        self.contents = contents

      def split_contents(self):  # pylint: disable-msg=C6409
        return self.contents.split(' ')

    # Success.
    tag = entities._ContextSuppliedTag.Parse(
        DummyTokenizer('a b c'), DummyFunction)
    self.assertEqual(tag.function, DummyFunction)
    self.assertEqual(tag.arguments, ['b', 'c'])

    # Failure - not enough parameters.
    self.assertRaises(template.django.template.TemplateSyntaxError,
                      entities._ContextSuppliedTag.Parse,
                      DummyTokenizer('a'), DummyFunction)

    # Failure - too many parameters.
    self.assertRaises(template.django.template.TemplateSyntaxError,
                      entities._ContextSuppliedTag.Parse,
                      DummyTokenizer('a b c d e'), DummyFunction)

  def testRegisterContextSuppliedTag(self):
    dummy_token = object()
    dummy_function = self.mox.CreateMockAnything()
    dummy_function.__name__ = 'DummyFunction'

    self.mox.StubOutWithMock(entities, 'register')
    self.mox.StubOutWithMock(entities._ContextSuppliedTag, 'Parse')

    @mox.Func
    def VerifyParser(parser):
      parser(object(), dummy_token)
      return True

    entities.register.tag('DummyFunction', VerifyParser)
    entities._ContextSuppliedTag.Parse(dummy_token, dummy_function)

    self.mox.ReplayAll()
    self.assertEqual(entities._ContextSuppliedTag.Register(dummy_function),
                     dummy_function)

  def testGetEntitySiblings(self):
    layer = model.Layer(name='a', world='earth')
    layer_id = layer.put().id()
    other_layer = model.Layer(name='b', world='earth')
    other_layer.put()
    folder = model.Folder(layer=layer, name='c')
    folder_id = folder.put().id()
    schema = model.Schema(layer=layer, name='z')
    schema.put()
    template = model.Template(layer=layer, schema=schema, name='y', text='x')
    template_id = template.put().id()
    entity1 = model.Entity(layer=layer, name='c', template=template)
    entity1_id = entity1.put().id()
    entity2_id = model.Entity(layer=layer, name='e',
                              template=template).put().id()
    entity3_id = model.Entity(layer=other_layer, name='f',
                              template=template).put().id()
    entity4_id = model.Entity(layer=layer, name='g', template=template,
                              folder=folder, folder_index=2).put().id()
    entity5 = model.Entity(layer=layer, name='g', folder=folder, folder_index=1,
                           template=template)
    entity5_id = entity5.put().id()
    cache = {'entity_siblings': {}}

    self.assertEqual(entities._GetEntitySiblings(entity1, cache),
                     [entity1_id, entity2_id])
    self.assertEqual(cache, {'entity_siblings': {
        layer_id: [entity1_id, entity2_id]}
    })

    self.assertEqual(entities._GetEntitySiblings(entity5, cache),
                     [entity5_id, entity4_id])
    self.assertEqual(cache, {'entity_siblings': {
        layer_id: [entity1_id, entity2_id],
        folder_id: [entity5_id, entity4_id]
    }})

  def testGetFlyToLinkWithGoodData(self):
    self.assertEqual(entities._GetFlyToLink(42, 'abc'), '#id42;abc')
    self.assertEqual(entities._GetFlyToLink(42, 'abc', 'def'), 'def')
    link_template = 'a' + settings.BALLOON_LINK_PLACEHOLDER + 'b'
    self.assertEqual(entities._GetFlyToLink(42, 'abc', link_template), 'aid42b')

  def testGetFlyToLinkWithBadData(self):
    self.assertRaises(TypeError, entities._GetFlyToLink, 'hello', 'balloon')
    self.assertRaises(AttributeError, entities._GetFlyToLink, 1, 'balloon', 2)

  def testGetOffsetLink(self):
    mock_entity = MockEntity(6, 16)
    mock_entity.layer.auto_managed = False
    self.mox.StubOutWithMock(pages.template.django.template, 'resolve_variable')
    self.mox.StubOutWithMock(entities, '_GetEntitySiblings')
    self.mox.StubOutWithMock(entities, '_GetFlyToLink')
    dummy_siblings_list = [5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

    pages.template.django.template.resolve_variable(
        '_cache', 'dummy-context').AndReturn('dummy-cache')
    pages.template.django.template.resolve_variable(
        '_link_template', 'dummy-context').AndReturn('dummy-template')
    entities._GetEntitySiblings(mock_entity, 'dummy-cache').AndReturn(
        dummy_siblings_list)
    entities._GetFlyToLink(8, 'balloon', 'dummy-template').AndReturn(
        'dummy-link1')

    pages.template.django.template.resolve_variable(
        '_cache', 'dummy-context').AndReturn('dummy-cache')
    pages.template.django.template.resolve_variable(
        '_link_template', 'dummy-context').AndReturn('dummy-template')
    entities._GetEntitySiblings(mock_entity, 'dummy-cache').AndReturn(
        dummy_siblings_list)
    entities._GetFlyToLink(10, 'balloon', 'dummy-template').AndReturn(
        'dummy-link2')

    self.mox.ReplayAll()

    link = entities._GetOffsetLink('dummy-context', mock_entity, 2, 'balloon')
    self.assertEqual(link, 'dummy-link1')

    link = entities._GetOffsetLink('dummy-context', mock_entity, -2, 'balloon')
    self.assertEqual(link, 'dummy-link2')

    mock_entity.layer.auto_managed = True
    self.assertRaises(ValueError, entities._GetOffsetLink,
                      'dummy-context', mock_entity, -2, 'balloon')

  def testPrevLink(self):
    self.mox.StubOutWithMock(entities, '_GetOffsetLink')
    entities._GetOffsetLink('a', 'b', -1, 'balloonFlyto').AndReturn('c')
    self.mox.ReplayAll()
    self.assertEqual(entities.PrevLink('a', 'b'), 'c')

  def testNextLink(self):
    self.mox.StubOutWithMock(entities, '_GetOffsetLink')
    entities._GetOffsetLink('a', 'b', 1, 'balloonFlyto').AndReturn('c')
    self.mox.ReplayAll()
    self.assertEqual(entities.NextLink('a', 'b'), 'c')

  def testPrettifyCoordinates180(self):
    point = db.GeoPt(1, 2)
    self.assertEqual(entities.PrettifyCoordinates180(point),
                     '1.00°N 2.00°E')
    point = db.GeoPt(1.2, 3.4567)
    self.assertEqual(entities.PrettifyCoordinates180(point),
                     '1.20°N 3.46°E')
    point = db.GeoPt(45, -2)
    self.assertEqual(entities.PrettifyCoordinates180(point),
                     '45.00°N 2.00°W')
    point = db.GeoPt(-90, -2.56)
    self.assertEqual(entities.PrettifyCoordinates180(point),
                     '90.00°S 2.56°W')

  def testPrettifyCoordinates360(self):
    point = db.GeoPt(1, 2)
    self.assertEqual(entities.PrettifyCoordinates360(point),
                     '1.00°N 2.00°E')
    point = db.GeoPt(1.2, 3.4567)
    self.assertEqual(entities.PrettifyCoordinates360(point),
                     '1.20°N 3.46°E')
    point = db.GeoPt(45, -2)
    self.assertEqual(entities.PrettifyCoordinates360(point),
                     '45.00°N 358.00°E')
    point = db.GeoPt(-90, -2.56)
    self.assertEqual(entities.PrettifyCoordinates360(point),
                     '90.00°S 357.44°E')

  def testKilometerToMile(self):
    self.assertEqual(entities.KilometerToMile(0), 0)
    self.assertEqual(entities.KilometerToMile(1), 0.621371192)
    self.assertEqual(entities.KilometerToMile(1.0), 0.621371192)
    self.assertRaises(TypeError, entities.KilometerToMile, '0')
    self.assertRaises(TypeError, entities.KilometerToMile, '1.0')
    self.assertRaises(TypeError, entities.KilometerToMile, None)

class KMLTemplateFunctionsTest(mox.MoxTestBase):

  def testFormatCoordinatesWithoutAltitudes(self):
    self.assertEqual(kml.FormatCoordinates([]), '')
    self.assertEqual(kml.FormatCoordinates([db.GeoPt(1, 2)]), '2.0,1.0')
    points = [db.GeoPt(1, 2), db.GeoPt(3.456, 7.0)]
    self.assertEqual(kml.FormatCoordinates(points), '2.0,1.0 7.0,3.456')

  def testFormatCoordinatesWithValidAltitudes(self):
    self.assertEqual(kml.FormatCoordinates([], []), '')
    self.assertEqual(kml.FormatCoordinates([db.GeoPt(1, 2)], [3]),
                     '2.0,1.0,3')
    self.assertEqual(kml.FormatCoordinates([db.GeoPt(1, 2)], [3.0]),
                     '2.0,1.0,3.0')
    self.assertEqual(kml.FormatCoordinates([db.GeoPt(1, 2)], []),
                     '2.0,1.0')
    points = [db.GeoPt(1, 2), db.GeoPt(3.456, 7.0)]
    self.assertEqual(kml.FormatCoordinates(points, [8, 9.01]),
                     '2.0,1.0,8 7.0,3.456,9.01')

  def testFormatCoordinatesWithInvalidAltitudesCount(self):
    self.assertRaises(ValueError, kml.FormatCoordinates, [], [1])
    self.assertRaises(ValueError, kml.FormatCoordinates,
                      [db.GeoPt(1, 2)], [4, 5, 6])

  def testFormatCoordinatesWithInvalidTypes(self):
    self.assertRaises(AttributeError, kml.FormatCoordinates, [2])
    self.assertRaises(TypeError, kml.FormatCoordinates, db.GeoPt(1, 2))
    # Expected artifacts of duck typing.
    self.assertEqual(kml.FormatCoordinates([db.GeoPt(1, 2)], [None]),
                     '2.0,1.0,None')
    self.assertEqual(kml.FormatCoordinates([db.GeoPt(1, 2)], 'a'),
                     '2.0,1.0,a')
    self.assertRaises(ValueError, kml.FormatCoordinates, [db.GeoPt(1, 2)], 'ab')

  def testIsNotNone(self):
    self.assertEqual(kml.IsNotNone('a'), True)
    self.assertEqual(kml.IsNotNone(''), True)
    self.assertEqual(kml.IsNotNone('None'), True)
    self.assertEqual(kml.IsNotNone(None), False)

  def testEscapeForXMLWithSafeShortASCIIStrings(self):
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('a'), 'a')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('hello'), 'hello')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('x' * 100), 'x' * 100)
    self.assertNotEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('x' * 101), 'x' * 101)

  def testEscapeForXMLWithUnsafeShortASCIIStrings(self):
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('a&b'), 'a&b')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('a<![CDATA[b'), 'a<![CDATA[b')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('a]]>b'), 'a]]>b')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('</bye>'), '</bye>')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('<' * 100), '<' * 100)
    self.assertNotEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('<' * 101), '<' * 101)

  def testEscapeForXMLWithShortUTF8Strings(self):
    # 10 bytes as UTF8.
    test_string = u'\u043f\u043e\u0438\u0441\u043a'.encode('utf8')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string), test_string)
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string + '>'), test_string + '>')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string * 10), test_string * 10)
    self.assertNotEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string * 11), test_string * 11)

  def testEscapeForXMLWithShortUnicodeStrings(self):
    test_string = u'\u043f\u043e\u0438\u0441\u043a'  # 10 bytes as UTF8.
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string),
                     test_string.encode('utf8'))
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string + u'>'),
                     test_string.encode('utf8') + '>')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string * 10),
                     test_string.encode('utf8') * 10)
    self.assertNotEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string * 11),
                        test_string.encode('utf8') * 11)

  def testEscapeForXMLWithSafeLongASCIIStrings(self):
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('x' * 101),
                     '<![CDATA[' + 'x' * 101 + ']]>')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('abc' * 1000),
                     '<![CDATA[' + 'abc' * 1000 + ']]>')

  def testEscapeForXMLWithUnsafeLongASCIIStrings(self):
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('>' * 101),
                     '<![CDATA[' + '>' * 101 + ']]>')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('a&c' * 1000),
                     '<![CDATA[' + 'a&c' * 1000 + ']]>')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML('a' * 100 + ']]>' + 'bc'),
                     '<![CDATA[' + 'a' * 100 + ']]]]><![CDATA[>' + 'bc' + ']]>')

  def testEscapeForXMLWithLongUTF8Strings(self):
    test_string = '\xd0\xbf\xd0\xbe\xd0\xb8\xd1\x81\xd0\xba'
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string * 100),
                     '<![CDATA[' + test_string * 100 + ']]>')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string * 100 + ']]>' + test_string),
                     ('<![CDATA[' + test_string * 100 + ']]]]><![CDATA[>' +
                      test_string + ']]>'))

  def testEscapeForXMLWithLongUnicodeStrings(self):
    test_string = u'\u043f\u043e\u0438\u0441\u043a'  # 10 bytes as UTF8.
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string * 100),
                     '<![CDATA[' + test_string.encode('utf8') * 100 + ']]>')
    self.assertEqual(kml.EscapeForXML(test_string * 100 + ']]>' + test_string),
                     ('<![CDATA[' + test_string.encode('utf8') * 100
                      + ']]]]><![CDATA[>' + test_string.encode('utf8') + ']]>'))

  def testEscapeForXMLFailsOnNonUTF8DecodableStrings(self):
    test_string = '\xef\xee\xe8\xf1\xea'  # Windows-1251 encoded, incompatible.
    self.assertRaises(UnicodeDecodeError, kml.EscapeForXML, test_string)
    self.assertRaises(UnicodeDecodeError, kml.EscapeForXML, test_string * 101)

  def testEscapeForXMLFailsOnNonStrings(self):
    self.assertRaises(TypeError, kml.EscapeForXML, 1)
    self.assertRaises(TypeError, kml.EscapeForXML, [])
    self.assertRaises(TypeError, kml.EscapeForXML, None)

class PageTemplateFunctionsTest(mox.MoxTestBase):

  FAKE_API_KEYS = {'a': 'ka', 'b': 'kb', 'a:123': 'kap'}

  def testInsertJSAPIKeyForHostAndPort(self):
    self.stubs.Set(settings, 'JS_API_KEYS', self.FAKE_API_KEYS)

    self.stubs.Set(os, 'environ', {'SERVER_NAME': 'a', 'SERVER_PORT': '123'})
    self.assertEqual(pages.InsertJSAPIKey(), 'kap')
    self.stubs.Set(os, 'environ', {'SERVER_NAME': 'a', 'SERVER_PORT': '999'})
    self.assertEqual(pages.InsertJSAPIKey(), 'ka')
    self.stubs.Set(os, 'environ', {'SERVER_NAME': 'b', 'SERVER_PORT': '123'})
    self.assertEqual(pages.InsertJSAPIKey(), 'kb')
    self.stubs.Set(os, 'environ', {'SERVER_NAME': 'c', 'SERVER_PORT': '123'})
    self.assertEqual(pages.InsertJSAPIKey(), '')
    self.stubs.Set(os, 'environ', {'SERVER_NAME': '', 'SERVER_PORT': '123'})
    self.assertEqual(pages.InsertJSAPIKey(), '')

  def testInsertJSAPIKeyForHostOnly(self):
    self.stubs.Set(settings, 'JS_API_KEYS', self.FAKE_API_KEYS)

    self.stubs.Set(os, 'environ', {'SERVER_NAME': 'a'})
    self.assertEqual(pages.InsertJSAPIKey(), 'ka')
    self.stubs.Set(os, 'environ', {'SERVER_NAME': 'b'})
    self.assertEqual(pages.InsertJSAPIKey(), 'kb')
    self.stubs.Set(os, 'environ', {'SERVER_NAME': 'c'})
    self.assertEqual(pages.InsertJSAPIKey(), '')
    self.stubs.Set(os, 'environ', {'SERVER_NAME': ''})
    self.assertEqual(pages.InsertJSAPIKey(), '')

  def testEscapeForScriptStringWithHarmlessStrings(self):
    self.assertEqual(pages.EscapeForScriptString(''), '')
    self.assertEqual(pages.EscapeForScriptString('abc'), 'abc')

  def testEscapeForScriptStringWithHarmfulStrings(self):
    self.assertEqual(pages.EscapeForScriptString('"'), r'\"')
    self.assertEqual(pages.EscapeForScriptString(r"""abc"\/'def"""),
                     r"""abc\"\\\/\'def""")
    self.assertEqual(pages.EscapeForScriptString(r"""</script>I'm out!"""),
                     r"""<\/script>I\'m out!""")

  def testEscapeForScriptStringWithNonStrignObjects(self):
    self.assertEqual(pages.EscapeForScriptString(None), '')
    self.assertEqual(pages.EscapeForScriptString(0), '0')
    self.assertEqual(pages.EscapeForScriptString(123), '123')
    self.assertEqual(pages.EscapeForScriptString(['/', 'a']),
                     r"""[\'\/\', \'a\']""")

  def testLookup(self):
    self.mox.StubOutWithMock(template.django.template, 'resolve_variable')
    template.django.template.resolve_variable('b', 'a').AndReturn('c')
    template.django.template.resolve_variable(1, None).AndReturn('d')
    self.mox.ReplayAll()
    self.assertEqual(pages.Lookup('a', 'b'), 'c')
    self.assertEqual(pages.Lookup(None, 1), 'd')

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


The Aurora necklace is made from Sterling Silver satellite chain and features a natural druzy quartz pendant.
The chain measures 14" and has a 3" extender at the clasp.
Natural stones will vary slightly in color and variation.


As Japan and China are divided by sea, in the past Chinese books were sold to Japanese by Chinese merchant ships as a commodity, and this overseas publishing culture created by the business sales shows the relationship between Chinese books and culture writing of Edo Japan. Among these imported books, a large number of Chinese casebooks were introduced to the Shogun and Military Governor schools for the used of legislation and education. And among these casebooks, T'ang-yin-pi-shih 棠陰比事 was the most well-known one, and the rewriting and publishing of this book demonstrates its popularity and common people's interests in it. This paper aims to examine how this Chinese casebook, originally difficult for the most common people in Japan, could be turned into a more popular version in the Edo Japan by a Japanese Confucian Hayashi-razan 林羅山, and a publisher and writer Ihara Saikaku 井原西鶴. I will mainly focus on the following three points. First, I will analyze the contribution of the Confucian Hayashi-razan 林羅山 and the Shogun for the spread of T'ang-yin-pi-shih. Second, the Edo book publishing catalog will serve as a reference material for the research of the actual sales situation of T'ang-yin-pi-shih in Kyoto and Edo. Third, there will also be an analysis on Hon chou o in hi ji 本朝櫻陰比事, which was written by the Osaka author Ihara Saikaku, in order to illustrate how T'ang-yin-pi-shih became popular in the Edo Japan and the role played by bookstores in Kyoto, Edo and Osaka for the promotion of Chinese books.