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Obama brings change to stem cell arena
April 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C.President Barack Obama on March 9 signed an executive order to lift federal funding restrictions on embryonic stem cell research, reversing limitations on the controversial research efforts placed in August 2001 by former President George W. Bush.
The executive order signed by the president allows the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to fund research using embryonic stem cells and issue new guidelines consistent with the order within 120 days. The NIH was previously able to fund research only on a very limited number of stem cell lines.
The order could have a wide-reaching impact on drug researchers and manufacturers, who have been quick to sort out just what it means for the industry.
Kenneth Aldrich, chairman of International Stem Cell Corp., sees two significant developments arising from the executive order.
"I think it is going to be a huge help for two reasons," Aldrich says. "It will make some direct funding available that was not there before, but I think there is a secondary reason that has been largely overlooked but is as equally important. Up until now, academic institutions that did not have money for separate facilities for stem cell research were terrified to do any stem cell research for fear that they would run afoul of the restrictions and lose all of their federal funding."
As a result, Aldrich says he believes the executive order will open the door much more wider than initially believed for new research to develop new drugs and other forms of treatment.
Others, like Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) CEO Jim Greenwood, are enthusiastic about the decision to permit NIH funding of embryonic stem cell research.
"BIO believes that research on both adult and embryonic stem cells holds great promise to produce new therapies and possibly cures for the millions of patients in the U.S. and around the world suffering from cancer, diabetes, Alzheimers's, Parkinson's, spinal cord injuries and other life-threatening diseases and conditions," says Greenwood.
Embryonic stem cell research will also further the development of cell-based therapies by leading to greater scientific understanding of cell differentiation and proliferation, Greenwood adds, pointing out that the action is a first step in what will prove to be a long and complex process to move from the promise of research to the reality of new therapies and cures for patients.
Josephine Johnston, director of research operations at The Hastings Center, agrees, arguing that the real impact of Obama's executive order won't be fully known until the NIH reveals guidelines for research.
"Obama didn't create any new guidelines," Johnston stresses. "That is up to the NIH to determine the guidelines for how the research will be conducted and which research will be eligible for funding. The devil is going to be in the details of what the NIH develops. Currently, there are no new dollars dedicated to stem cell research."
The executive order also does not earmark any additional funding toward stem cell research, as Johnston points out.
"It is likely that more money will be directed to research, but that has not been determined," she says.
While taking a wait-and-see approach, Johnston still remains optimistic about the future of stem cell research in the United States.
"I think it is possible that they (NIH) would allow a broader array of research," she points out. "I am curious now to see what kind of guidelines they do come up with. They don't have the power to direct more federal funding to the research, though, so whether that will happen remains to be seen."
For some companies, however, the benefits will be more immediate.
According to David Chiang, chairman and CEO of Sage-N Research Inc., the first companies that will benefit as the field enters its research phase will be tool companies such as his, which focuses on profiling protein modifications for cell signaling.
"Realistically, the direct outcome of stem cell-based therapeutics, such as repairing spinal injuries, will be 15 or 20 years or more, says Chiang. "After all, traditional drug discovery is far more mature, and novel drugs still maybe 10 years from a promising target to FDA approval. For the next 10 years, people are going to be hiding in their labs using new tools to discover new things. Seeing the actual results will come down the road. It will be very exciting."
Chiang also notes that the real impact from the efforts of research over the next 20 years will likely come from the deeper understanding of diseases related to cell biology, such as solid cancers, and the acceleration of cancer drugs and cancer biomarkers.
"The stem cell will be the Rosetta Stone that allows someone to compare the protein profile of, say, a kidney cell with the stem cell as a standard," he says. "Scientists can then compare the proteins and their 'post-translational modifications' (the on/off switches of proteins) between a diseased and a normal kidney cell, to better figure out which are relevant."
Companies like Millipore Corp., which supply cell lines, specialty media and sample preparation devices for stem cell research, will likely be among the chief beneficiaries of Obama's executive order. Millipore President, Chairman and CEO Martin Madaus says he views it as a new chapter in stem cell research.
"The potential to treat and even cure disease is enormous," Madaus says. "This executive order will broaden and expand stem cell based life science research that holds the promise to develop therapies for today's incurable diseases. Millipore is deeply committed to enabling the advancement of ethical stem cell research and being a scientific partner in the stem cell research community."
Obama's order also comes at a time when the sagging U.S. economy has slowed the flow of investment into biotechnology companies to a mere trickle. It's been even worse for companies whose main technology centers around embryonic stem cell research because of the government restrictions put in place by former President Bush.
David Smoller, president of Sigma-Aldrich's research biotech business unit, says that while the executive order gives researchers access to cells to move their research forward, the change will not create a financial windfall for companies.
"I expect it to help, but I don't think it is going to double the revenue or anything like that," he says. "It is a great tool that companies may now have access to."
Chiang adds that the change may put U.S. researchers on a level playing field with scientists abroad who have already been engaging in stem cell research efforts.
"Internationally, it will remove some of the barriers that prevent the U.S. from falling behind other countries in this critical field," he says. "There have already been high-profile stem cell successes in other countries."
Aldrich agrees that the executive order will level the playing field for U.S. companies to compete against international counterparts.
"There is no question that it levels the playing field," he says. "I don't believe that we have lost our advantage in the stem cell area. The lifting of the ban has come soon enough that we can reassert our historical dominance in stem cell research. Had the ban lasted another couple of years, I think you would have seen a huge outflow of talent from this country."
State proposals could limit stem cell research
It didn't take long for Obama's executive order to begin having an impact on research efforts. On the day Obama signed the stem cell order, a University of Michigan consortium announced it will create new embryonic stem cell lines that will aid the search for disease treatments and cures. The A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies is the first major embryonic stem cell research program launched in Michigan since the Nov. 4 passage of a state constitutional amendment allowing scientists to create new stem cell lines using surplus embryos from fertility clinics.
"The Consortium for Stem Cell Therapies will catalyze efforts by world-class scientists at the University of Michigan who are devoting their full talents to the search for new treatments and cures," says Mary Sue Coleman, president of the University of Michigan. "At the University of Michigan, we believe stem cell research offers one of our best hopes for finding new treatments and cures for a wide variety of diseases."
However, some state legislatures are considering measures to limit stem cell research.
Just three days after Obama signed the order, lawmakers in Georgia kicked off a push to limit embryonic stem cell research in the Peach State. The Georgia bill sought to put a ban on therapeutic cloning and the creation of embryos for any purpose other than procreation. Critics of the proposal said the bill, which was opposed by the state university system, patient groups and fertility clinics, would hamper the bioscience sector, one of the brighter spots in Georgia's faltering economy. Georgia has put an emphasis on attracting biotechnology companies to the state, and in May, Atlanta will host the Biotechnology Industry Organization's BIO 2009 Annual International Convention, which could attract more than 20,000 professionals from 70 nations.
At press time, DDN learned that the bill will not pass this session. Gov. Sonny Perdue, a Republican who has pushed the state's efforts to attract science and technology businesses, indicated he would support the bill.
But even if it does not become law, its recent passage by the Senate makes recruitment more difficult, says Charles Craig, president of Georgia Bio, which promotes the state's interests in life sciences.
"It's sending a signal that Georgia is anti-science," Craig says.
In Mississippi, House lawmakers gave their approval to a bill prohibiting the University of Mississippi from using state money "for research that kills or destroys an existing human embryo," and some states are considering legislation that would define an embryo as a person.
And in Oklahoma, legislators introduced a bill that would make virtually any stem cell research work illegal in that state. Texas lawmakers are also considering a measure that would ban the use of state funds for stem cell research.
California is one of the few states in the U.S. that have state funding for human embryonic stem cell research in addition to Connecticut, Illinois, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Wisconsin.
Arizona already has a law on the books that says university researchers cannot use state funds to manipulate embryonic stem cells in pursuit of treatment or potential cures.
Another Arizona law prohibits Arizona scientists from experimenting with any type of human embryo or fetus. Similarly, Louisiana prohibits research on embryos made in vitro fertilization or IVF clinics.
Iowa, Massachusetts and Missouri have made stem cell research legal, but do not fund it. Arkansas, Indiana, Louisiana, North Dakota, and South Dakota ban embryonic stem cell research all together.
Code: E040903
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There is nothing wrong if you have chosen to take the route to buy a home off a FSBO website such as Duproprio. However, there are risks associated to buying a home without the help of an accredited broker - if you aren't familiar with the market and the buying process, things could get messy, fast. Considering the financial gravity of a real estate purchase, it's always better to move forward with the legal and professional counsel of a trusted professional.
If you choose this route regardless of the risks, make sure you keep the following in mind:
- Is the price right? If you've found your dream home on a FSBO website, the first step is to make sure the asking price is in line with market value, by comparing the price to other properties which have sold in the past. This is done with a professional Comparable Market Analysis (CMA). A CMA takes into consideration recent and successful sales, as well as property features and amenities. Sold prices are not publicly available, so you'll need to work with an authorized professional in order to obtain this information. You can request a CMA for free here.
- Legal Implications - When buying your biggest asset, make sure that you've got the legal side of things under control. A wrong turn in the purchase process can cost you the deal, or leave you with severe financial and legal repercussions after the closing. If working without a broker, be sure to confide in a trusted real estate councillor before entering into any binding contractual agreement.
- Time and Opportunity Cost - When determining whether you will be able to buy on your own, consider the hours of work that go on behind the scenes of a real estate purchase. You'll be drafting your own financial analysis for each property, co-ordinating visits with sellers, tenants and brokers, drafting your own legal contracts such as offers to purchase, counter offers and legal conditions, presenting offers and negotiating on price with the listing broker, reading through condo association minutes, researching builders and condo management histories, communicating with banks and mortgage brokers...the list goes on! Have a long think about whether you are a) able to and b) willing to absorb the complex transactional tasks that will be required of you as an unrepresented buyer.
Remember that working with a broker is also 100% free for buyers! Read more about the advantage of working with a broker here, and feel free to Contact Us anytime with your questions.

subset: commoncrawl


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In a city where anything (and everything) goes, standards are pretty high for All Hallows' Eve. If you haven't chosen your costume yet, you may be behind the eight ball. Halloween is just nine days away, which means Party City is sold out of everything good -- and there's only so much Goodwill hunting you can probably handle.
Lucky for those a little late to the party, the 800-square-foot Share Squared space in Little Havana is hosting two workshops this week for DIY'ers in need of costume help. The first installment is on Wednesday, the second, Friday, both from 7 to 10 p.m. The ladies of SS will help you cobble together a one-of-a-kind creation sure to outshine that store-bought slutty Elsa costume.
See also: U-Doodle Wants To Bring Miami Together With Doodling
The space itself is a work area where creative types can come to sew, draw, make jewelry, silkscreen, knit -- almost anything. Those at the helm host classes and workshops, like this week's Halloween-themed DIY adventures. Basically, it's all about bringing people together to get crafty.
"We are constantly coming up with with new ideas to bring people together that love to make things. We also use our space to host events and pop-up stores for smaller start up lines," says co-founder Kelly Griffith. She and Euridice Martin opened the spot in September 2013.
They have Make Your Own Clothes classes, plus silkscreening and leather working. SS also runs Recycle Your Jeans workshops, macrame, threads and nails, and more.
"We are two friends that love making things and working with our hands and wanted to create an inviting space where people could be surrounded by other creative minds," says Martin. "Share Squared is our dream; we built the space ourselves, and our husbands and friends helped us to make it the way it is: a beautiful, functional creative space."
As far as this week's gathering, there's no charge. Just show up with all your own materials and some kind of concept.
"You bring the idea and the materials, and we have all the tools and space to make the costume a reality. We can guide those whose sewing skills are a bit amateur, or lend a helping hand if you aren't quite sure how something is done," Griffith explains.
And if your creative juices are running dry:
"If anybody needs an idea ... the loofah costume is fun to make," suggests Martin. "Just bring a few yards of a bright color tulle and you will have your own handmade Halloween costume."
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The Halloween costume workshops run Wednesday (part one) and Friday (part two) from 7 to 10 p.m. at Share Squared, 537 SW 12th Ave. It's free to attend, but bring your own materials.
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Answering the compliance call
Original Article taken from the FStech website May 2015
Business Systems (UK) Ltd talks to FStech about the current state of play in the mobile call recording sector
Financial firms have struggled with the FSA regulations on mobile call recording, introduced in November 2011 and stating that all mobile phone conversations relating to transactions in the equities, bond, derivatives and financial commodity markets must be recorded and stored to help deter and detect market abuse in the UK. Analysts have estimated that since mobile call recording regulations were introduced as few as 33% of firms are in compliance.
Business Systems believes that the pace of adoption for mobile recording is now picking up. "When the mobile recording regulations were introduced, we found that the technology wasn't really there to provide a seamless mobile recording experience," says Phil Wigglesworth, Technical Consultant at Business Systems (UK) Ltd. "Most of the solutions on offer relied on applications being installed on the mobile handset, these applications would then route the call via a call recording system.
The problem with these applications was that this would add to the connection time of these calls, sometimes up to 30 seconds just to route the call and connect at the other end. Also what would happen if the application failed or was tampered with by the mobile user? This would prevent any calls from recording and as such could not be considered as a truly compliant solution."
There are, however, now true 'In Network' recording solutions available which no longer rely on application-based recording. "All of the call routing is carried out by the mobile network provider and a duplicate stream of the call is sent to the recording solution, whether it is in the cloud or on premise. This means that recording will always take place and there are no problems caused by application failure. Because of this, customers now have the assurance of purchasing a mobile recording solution which is truly compliant with FCA regulations."
Business Systems promotes the use of 'open' systems, offering a range of solutions to find the best fit for a customer. "We are not tied down to a particular vendor so we can tailor a recording solution according to the customer's requirements," says Wigglesworth. The company works with a number of mobile recording solutions, the main systems being Teleware and O2. The former offers a SIM-based solution which can be offered as either a cloud-based or on premise system. Typically a customer would be provided with new SIM cards for their mobile handsets.
Once the SIM has been installed into the handset, any calls made or received will be recorded by the call recording solution. O2, meanwhile, have recently released a network-based recording solution which has attracted a lot of positive attention over the last few months. The solution will take a duplicate of the mobile call and send this off to a call recording solution. This can be either a cloud-based solution provided by O2 or the customer may have an on premise solution which can record these calls.
What are some of the main considerations Financial Institutions need to keep in mind?
Firstly, does the customer require hosted recording or on premise? Sometimes a company's compliance department will have the final say on whether mobile recording must be kept on premise, other times it could be budgetary restrictions which mean the hosted solution is preferred.
Also, does the customer require calls to be recorded while roaming? "Most customers we have spoken to, require call recording while their users are roaming abroad. Typically there is a roaming restriction around the CAMEL network (Customised Applications for Mobile network Enhanced Logic). If a user is abroad and their calls do need to be recorded, they would have to be in one of the countries that is within the CAMEL network," says Wigglesworth.
And lastly, does the customer require recording resilience? "We have had a number of opportunities now where the customer needs to ensure that their call recording solution will still function in the event of component failure," notes Wigglesworth. "There are mobile recording solutions available which allow recording failover (N+1) and dual recording (2N). These types of resilience will allow the solution to either failover to a secondary recording system or would consist of two separate recording systems recording the same audio. The advantage of a dual recording solution is there would be no interruption of recording if one of the recording systems failed."
Get in touch
Mobile Call Recording – How To Keep Traders Trading
With markets fluctuating wildly due to the economic effects of the coronavirus...
O2 Mobile Recording
O2 Mobile Recording enables organisations to record voice and text conversations to help meet compliance and reduce business risk.


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Food manufacturing and processing
Food manufacturing and processing can be done using many different methods.
We have extensive pilot plant facilities that can be harnessed to investigate the preservation processes of heating, chilling and freezing (thermal processing), and drying, as well as the 'nuts and bolts' of product development - ingredient preparation, product formulation and packaging development.
We also have expertise in all aspects of food manufacturing including brewing and malting, bakery technology, meat and poultry, and pet food product development.
We have been at the forefront of food and drink research for a century, much of the pioneering work on the development of foods suitable for microwave processing and reheating was done here.
We are particularly involved in evaluating other novel methods of food manufacturing - such as high-pressure processing. And now offer a high pressure process (HPP) challenge test.
Listen to our podcast on pasteurising dry ingredients.
If you would like further information or prices please email us at firstname.lastname@example.com or call our switchboard on +44(0)1386 842000 and they will be happy to direct your call to the relevant person.
Where we refer to UKAS Accreditation
The Campden BRI group companies listed below are both accredited in accordance with the recognised International Standard ISO17025:2017 by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS). The accreditation demonstrates technical competence for a defined scope of methods, specific to each site, as detailed in the schedules of accreditation bearing the testing laboratory number. The schedules may be revised from time to time and reissued by UKAS. The most recent issue of the schedules are available from the UKAS website www.ukas.com
Campden BRI (Chipping Campden) Limited is a UKAS accredited testing laboratory No. 1079 Campden BRI (Nutfield) is a UKAS accredited testing laboratory No. 1207


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If you think someone who stands well over four feet tall wouldn't have a lot of basketball memories, you'd be a total heightist, so stop it.
I previously wrote about the huge emotional scars I suffer from having had every shot I ever put up from approximately age 8-18 crammed down my throat by an *unnamed childhood friend, Steve Madden.
But until now, I haven't mentioned the glorious, undefeated 1974 Intramural Basketball Association campaign at Norman High School that earned championship rings for the Vienna Boys Choir, a.k.a. VBC Bruins.
They say "defense wins championships". "They" never saw the VBC's patented "HERE! Offense", executed by *unnamed VBC players (Steve Madden, Jim Reikowsky and mainly Todd Malmberg, whose motto was "if I touch it, I shoot it.").
The VBC's textbook execution of the "HERE! offense", plus the strategic decision to keep me on the bench for 99.9% of the time, delivered an undefeated, championship season.
As importantly, it created a close-knit team that openly congratulated each other with comments such as, "Do you EVER pass the (bad word) ball, you (really bad word) (body part) excuse for a basketball player!"
Even after nearly four decades, there remains a tight bond with former VBC teammates. This bond, and our strict *policy, prevents this blog from pointing out that Todd, who also lettered for two years on the powerhouse NHS Gold Team, personally chose the stupid name "Vienna Boys Choir" because "I couldn't think of anything else".
We are also *unable to point out that it was Todd and his stupid jacket that almost ruined the brilliant 1974 Big Eight campaign of the Oklahoma Sooners basketball team. Todd and most members of the VBC Bruins had smoothly transitioned from being obnoxious high school intramural basketball players to being even more obnoxious members of Alvan's Army. The Army was created to support All Big Eight Center Alvan Adams, but our primary focus was hurling venom and abuse at opposing players, and being even less hospitable to "zebras".
Back then, the OU Fieldhouse was approximately the size of a one-bedroom apartment and the perfect venue for a fan club (read "a visiting team's worst nightmare").
Our seats were about six inches away from the court, directly under the north basket. We created the same decibel levels as a Boeing 747 engine on takeoff.
If a zebra made a "bad call", e.g. anything against the Sooners, Alvan's entire Army would erupt into a nuclear tsunami explosion of rage and death (we are talking about 18- and 19-year-old boys who may or may not have consumed numerous adult beverages before games).
When one notoriously evil zebra made what, in the trademark understatement of this blog, was the SINGLE WORST CALL IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNIVERSE, Todd stormed onto the court and slammed his jacket to the floor. In a bullwhip like manner, the jacket's bottom metal snap inadvertently flicked the zebra's bulbous nose.
He did not react well. His expression reminded me of when my German Shepherd had his nose dotted by a cat, and then he tasted his own blood and went berserk.
Which explains why the enraged zebra charged at Todd, and why Todd furiously back-peddled into the safety of the Alvan's Army pack. It was truly a Kodak moment.
Other Army Achievements included: enraging a huge, red-headed troglodyte whose name might or might not have been Rasmussan to the point that he fired a basketball right at Todd's head; unveiling a huge banner saying Andy "Airball" Hopson when he stepped up to the free thrown line, destroying his concentration; getting a write-up in Sports frickin Illustrated magazine — an entire paragraph about Alvan's Army which, according to Todd, "thankfully did not mention the unfortunate zebra nose-flicking incident".
So we won't mention it here either. What?
EDITOR'S NOTE: Alvan's Army wishes the 2015 Sooner roundballers all the best at the NCAA Dance! If you need "obnoxious", we will happily phone it in. *This blog's strict privacy policy is unwavering, but we blame Todd for everything.
Click HERE for more Oklahoma humor and memories.


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That wasn't so bad: The first post-Summer 2018 workweek is nearly done, dear readers, and the year's first almost-autumn weekend is upon us.
Here's proof: The New York Football Giants kick off their season Sunday at 1 p.m. against Jacksonville, and the Jets open up Monday night in Detroit. Soon it will be snowing.
It's Greek (and Roman) to us: Today is Sept. 7, and if you had Heracles – the divine hero of Greek mythology – born on this date in 1251 BC, a big pile of drachma for you.
By the way, you may know him better as "Hercules." The name change happened when the Romans pushed the Greeks aside.
A day for all tastes: Today is also National Salami Day and National Acorn Squash Day (both real), not to mention National Beer Lovers' Day, which in some circles just goes by "Friday."
Cool Beans: They'll certainly be raising a few pints tonight in Boston, which was founded on Sept. 7, 1630.
Also "born" on this date: "Uncle Sam" (the term was first used to refer to the U.S. government in 1813 by the upstate Troy Post ) and Raggedy Ann (inventor Johnny Gruelle earned a U.S. patent for the kinda creepy doll on Sept. 7, 1915).
Sports' center: The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, a.k.a. ESPN, debuted on this date in 1979.
A great hook: A new-and-improved fish hook, featuring tubular shanks and other innovations, was patented on Sept. 7, 1915, by American inventor Stephen Bonner.
Also patented on this date, in 1999: the "quick-release football helmet chin strap," by American inventor James Bayes.
Her royal highness: Elizabeth I (1533-1603), the "Virgin Queen" of England and Ireland and daughter of Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, was born on Sept. 7.
So were American painter Anna "Grandma" Moses (1860-1961), Hewlett-Packard co-founder David Packard (1912-1996), radiation belt discoverer James Van Allen (1914-2006), Welsh fashion designer and businesswoman Laura Ashley (1925-1985) and American rocker Buddy Holly (1936-1959).
She still survives: And take a bow, Gloria Gaynor – the New Jersey-born disco diva turns 69 today.
Wish all the Sept. 7 babies a happy birthday at firstname.lastname@example.com, and be sure to remember a little gift for them (we happen to know they love story leads and calendar items).
A few words from our sponsor: Nixon Peabody works with clients who are building the technologies and industries of the future. We've got the expertise necessary to drive your business forward and help you negotiate risks and opportunities related to all areas of business and the law, including business formation, capital raising, IP, labor and immigration, and FDA.
Growth spurt: Congratulations to Farmingdale State College, which earned an impressive No. 8 ranking on the Chronicle of Higher Education's most recent Fastest-Growing Colleges report.
The report, based on undergraduate enrollment between 2006 and 2016, showed that Farmingdale State's enrollment grew from 6,256 in the Fall 2006 semester to more than 9,200 students in Fall 2016 – a 46.7 percent spike good for eighth-best among all U.S. public baccalaureate colleges.
Farmingdale State was the only Long Island school (and only SUNY school) to crack the list, which runs 20 deep. And its impressive growth continues: The college counts more than 10,000 registered students in the current Fall 2018 semester, ranking it second in undergraduate enrollment among all Long Island schools. "Enrollment growth is a byproduct of student success," noted Farmingdale President John Nader.
The tide is nigh: East End entrepreneurs and innovators are invited to throw a line in the water for the second installment of RipTide: Hamptons Sink or Swim.
With a $50,000 seed fund at stake, i-hamptons – the first "community and resource guide" dedicated to East End innovators – is now accepting nominations for its 2018 "Shark Tank"-like pitch-a-thon, particularly from startups focused on health and wellness; food, drink and hospitality; media and technology; and retail or consumer products. To qualify, companies must be less than two years old and based in Suffolk County, and they must claim less than $50,000 in annual gross revenues.
After submissions are filtered down, finalists will make their case before a panel of "successful entrepreneurs, local celebrities and leading academia," according to i-hamptons, with a live finale scheduled for Nov. 10 in Southampton. Deadline for submissions is Sept. 21; more information available here.
Handy pantry: With a unique online-ordering option, Adelphi University's innovative Panther Pantry addresses food insecurity while protecting privacy.
An inconvenient impediment: New York Renews dishes on the need and support for climate-change countermeasures – and the one LI state senator slowing them down.
Paying it forward: Speaking of renewable energy, Albany is backing SUNY and CUNY clean-gen workforce-development programs with $15 million in fresh grants.
Wind in their sales: A new quarterly sales record, and its 16th straight quarter with overall sales gains, has Amityville's Napco Security Technologies flying high.
New York Institute of Technology is sharing its new micro-CT tech, while Stony Brook University grad John Hennessy is sharing his good fortune.
Safety first: From MIT Technology Review, why government must tap the brakes on Internet-connected innovation – before lives are lost.
One-hundred-twenty-five-million players can't be wrong: From Entrepreneur, business lessons you won't learn in school – but you will by playing Fortnite.
The Kaepernick connection: From Newsday, how two Long Island kids found their way into Nike's lightning-rod Colin Kaepernick ad campaign.
+ Jerry Siegelman, partner at Uniondale-based Ruskin Moscou Faltischek, has been elected to the board of directors of the Gold Coast Arts Center in Great Neck.
+ Adnan Sarcevic has been appointed chairman of psychiatry at Huntington Hospital. He's currently an assistant medical school professor at Hofstra/Northwell and previously was a staff psychiatrist at Zucker Hillside Hospital in Glen Oaks.
+ Steven Plofker has been promoted to COO at Lindenhurst-based AARCO Environmental Services Corp.
+ Douglas Atkins, a partner in the Tax Certiorari practice group at Uniondale-based Forchelli Deegan Terrana, was appointed to the executive board of the South Huntington Sports Club.
+ Rebecca Kennedy Lakhani has been named executive director of Freeport-based The Book Fairies. She previously held development positions with The Carter Burden Center for the Aging and Greenwich House, both in Manhattan.
+ First National Bank of Long Island has announced two new hires: Oscar Gonzalez has been hired as vice president and relationship manager for Suffolk; he was previously vice president of business banking at Melville-based Capital One. Joseph Imbro has been hired as vice president of municipal banking for Suffolk; he previously held the same position at Citibank in Uniondale.
+ Robert Hohmann has been hired as vice president, interiors division, at Plainview- based E.W. Howell Construction Group. He was a principal at Manhattan-based AJS Construction and Project Management.
+ Abraham Jeger has been hired as COO and associate dean for student affairs at Touro College of Pharmacy in Manhattan. Previously, he was assistant dean for academic outreach/site development at NYIT's College of Osteopathic Medicine.
'Cop and a Half' was 79th: In honor of his passing on Thursday, we present Ranker.com's list of the best-to-worst Burt Reynolds movies.
The can-can: We've all enjoyed a cardboard box of wine (it's ok, you can admit it), but now there's an easier way to tote your vino – the six-pack.
How much is that doggie in the window? A small fortune, if you're talking about Sony's born-again robotic dogs.
The search continues: Still no sign of this "free news" we've heard about. We'll keep looking – you keep supporting the amazing firms that support Innovate LI, including Nixon Peabody, where the Food, Beverage and Agribusiness practice group is just one of several topflight teams.


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Mentors Teach You What Journalism Schools Don't Teach
Journalism has come a long way, from the age of print to the digital. As the industry evolves, I have realized that we need to change our collective mindset.
It is time to embrace our individuality as more women break into the industry and the industry needs to find a way to respond to it.
When I was working in Pakistan, I had to fight many battles. I was a single Pakistani girl working in the media industry, living on my own in the city; something not many women can do in that culture. Simply to exist in that environment where women are discouraged to step out of the house and work raises eyebrows. If you work in the media, like I did, meant the barriers multiplied both from society and from your workplace. In that environment, you either listen or leave. I did none of it and tried to overcome them instead. I wanted to open the doors that were closed shut on me, and women who came after me.
As I started looking for a job, I recall, my first interview was for a well-respected mainstream news channel, the producer suggested if I wanted the job I should take off my Hijab, which I wore back then. He said I needed to "show off my features more" in order to present the news. I refused, stating that it was my decision to make and not his. Needless to say, I never got a callback but that is how my journey started.
Eventually, I found a job of my liking at another news channel but it wasn't long before I realized that I could never have my way. My immediate boss, department head, would always take credit for all my ideas. I was expected to follow a certain pattern, always the same things to be done over in a loop, looking over and reviewing work of other colleagues, sub-menial tasks, updating the web, social media, even though I was hired as a writer. A small mistake would lead to an argumentative homily about how impactful my mistake was, even though the project I was responsible to run, was in fact, my idea. "Show me that you can do it," my boss would tease me.
People who were hired after me got paid more than I did because they were men. Even when many of them worked under my supervision and had to work on my ideas.
The constant criticism and bantering never gave me an opportunity to learn and grow. The lack of acknowledgment of my contributions, in fact, played terribly for the company. While they were busy judging me for my age and scrutinizing my ideas, they often forgot to recognize the ones they could actually benefit from. So the loss was not mine alone. This demeaning treatment left a lasting impact on me. It took me six months to recover from the feeling of worthlessness.
Switching to a progressive newspaper was like a breath of fresh air. I was finally given chances to explore ideas, talk to people, understand the world and develop my style. This too didn't come without hurdles. I had to prove myself, I had to prove that: Being a woman should not mean my beat should only be restricted to culture or lifestyle. It is important to understand that women journalists, opportunities are always undersized, and that needs to change. When women are not given them beat that would put them at risk, it is discrimination. 'Risk' a subjective notion; I wasn't asked if I found the story risky or not, rather told that I shouldn't be doing it for my own good. The same attitude followed for stories which required travel, adventure or anything out of the box. As long as my coverage was relevant to the "women beat" – usually the lifestyle section, women rights issue coverage, culture — they were fine.
I was always told I have a long way to go and learn a lot; which was true, journalism is a process of never-ending learning, but that process requires mentorship, and guidance, not rigid criticism and abandonment. Imagine the time it may take to overcome the trauma of discrimination; the weight of constant rejection, the taunts that undermine your work. Now imagine doing that while being a woman in a conservative society. That's a lot to take. And it takes time to take it all in. So I took my time.
Publications that still run on a hierarchical system, have little space for improvisation and excelling. Such newsrooms are restricted because you always have to go by the book. If anything goes wrong you call the editor and ask for an exact solution. This kind of manager-subordinate relationship it needs to be buried. We need to embrace an ecosystem where fresh ideas of young journalists and expertise of the old and experienced can combine and thrive. A system that nurtures independent journalists and embraces the diversity that women journalists bring.
With the right guidance and trust, the journalistic process can be a fruitful one and the right guidance is exactly what lacks in the journalistic market, at least for women.
With a mentor, the capacity for self-construction increases drastically. I didn't know how important a mentor is until I got one. Mentors teach you what journalism schools don't teach. The courses don't teach you how to deal with a situation, how to contact sources and how to get rid of the desk job you don't want.
I must regard my first mentor, Luavut Zahid who said "do not let anyone tell you, you can't do a story. Just go and get it done."
I was delighted when I first read about The Coalition of Women in Journalism, my first thought was, finally! I was not the only one who considered that mentorship was a needed.
I applied for an internship in the summer and was delighted when I got it. I was thrilled to move to New York to help with some amazing research that the Coalition has been working on. This experience thought be incredible, both groomed me in a technical capacity but also shattered so many misconceptions I have had about "women in the West"
Before coming to New York I used to think that women in the west have it easy and maybe now I will have it easy too. My ideas were shattered as I uncovered more and more about the women in the west when I met these women in the west through the program and discussed my ideas with them. Newsflash, women in the West don't have it easy either. That shatters me, because if the developed world doesn't have it then who does. I learned heartbreakingly, the dilemmas of solid and talented women who were being undermined by their male counterparts. I realized that actually gender discrimination is a global epidemic, and not restricted to our shanty backward world.
In time, it occurred to me how important it was the work that I did with the Coalition for Women in Journalism, assisting a diverse group of women from all backgrounds and colors who work everyday strengthen this ecosystem of support. These wonderful journalists who work with the Coalition as mentors are mostly freelance journalists as mentors from so many places, who sacrifice their time to help a colleague. How beautiful is that? It is a miracle if you really think about it. It soothes all the pain I have carried on my – reasonably young – back. The pain and trauma I gathered along my early career that taught me all the wrong things by the men who mistreated me and women who did not stand by my side. Ladies at the Coalition for Women in Journalism give me confidence that I will have people looking out for me as I stride forward.
On the internships, I learned so much about myself. Working closely with the founder Kiran Nazish, I learned a tremendous number of new skills — I can now take phone interviews, translate flummox jargon from long research papers into sensible language, send emails and bite my Halal sandwich all at once. I learned for the first time that I was the master of my dreams, that no goals are beyond my limits, that while there are rocks on the way, those rocks can be taken out. Of course, you better build some muscle for that and the Coalition for Women in Journalism allows us to do that. Most of all, I learned that women will be equal when not some, but all women are stronger. And that it takes courage to acknowledge that.
Annam Lodhi is a journalist based in the UAE. She has worked in television and print in Pakistan. Annam was also the first inaugural intern at the Coalition for Women in Journalism. Given her commitment, she later joined the Coalition as an assistant, editorial researcher. You can follow her work on Twitter.
The Coalition for Women in Journalism is the first global support network for women journalists of all backgrounds. We work in several countries, and offer help to journalists in multiple languages. The network of individuals and organizations bring together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women navigate the industry. You can visit the website, womeninjournalism.org to learn more.
If you want to learn more about how you can be involved with the International Community, you can join SPJ International on Facebook. If you are a journalist that would like to connect with other members of the the SPJ International Community, join here.


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Five of the Weirdest Bulbs for Spring
Summer is coming to a close and spring bulbs planting season is almost upon us! There are thousands of varieties of bulbs to choose from, that provide everything from outrageous color to subtle beauty. In this article we have decided to highlight a much neglected area of spring bulbs, 'the weird ones'. Read on to discover what spring bulbs make top 5 of the weirdness.
Allium 'Hair'
Allium 'Hair' is one of the most unusual and most dramatic-looking cultivars currently available. Astonishing flower heads with purple centres and crazy, green hair-like petals will provide an extraordinary element to any container or border. It blooms in late spring and early summer, and grows up to 75cm height.
Allium schubertii
Allium schubertii is an intriguing, slightly other-worldly looking plant. The flower heads have a very unusual shape - spherical umbels created by rich pink flowers stalks of unequal length and will definitely add unique forms and hues to your perennial border. Allium schubertii blooms in late spring and early summer and reaches 60cm height.
Narcissus 'Rip Van Winkle'
Narcissus 'Rip Van Winkle' has highly unusual shaped double flowers - narrow, pale greenish yellow petals (some with a slight twist) making it a unique Narcissus and one that really stands out in a crowd. 'Rip Van Winkle' has a maximum height of 20cm and blooms in early spring. It's a personal favourite of ours!
Tulipa 'La Belle Epoque'
Tulipa 'La Belle Epoque' requires special attention because of its incredible color. It is like no other tulip variety. Have you ever seen a brown tulip before? (...and I don't mean dead Tulip flowers). You will not find another variety like this - cappuccino coffee color, flushed with pink! It's elegance, glamour and delicate appearance truly conjures images of a bygone era. It really is an eye catching tulip which we are excited to carry in our range this autumn.
Tulipa 'Wow'
Tulipa 'Wow' is a new variety for 2015. The name speaks for itself. It really gives a 'WOW' effect!! It has been described as looking like a cross between a tulip and artichoke (and we would have to agree). It is a double form - the green-feathered ivory bottom, giving a spectacular effect with countless densely packed layers of purple petals, almost growing on top of each other! This brand new variety will be a fantastic addition to any border and will flower throughout April.
August 2015
If you are looking to place a Click & Collect order for next day collection then please be aware that you have now exceeded the 50 items or less limit; you will need to remove 1 or more item(s) to qualify. However, if you are placing an order for standard collection or delivery then please don't let us stop you; feel free to carry on shopping!


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The trial of a man accused of kidnapping a 10-year-old girl from her Northridge home and sexually assaulting her will move forward after attempts to reach a plea deal were unsuccessful. Both sides were trying to avoid trial to keep the victim from having to relive the crime.
The girl was kidnapped from her bedroom around 1 a.m. on March 27. She was found 12 hours later at a shopping center not far from her house where she'd been abducted. About a month later, authorities arrested two suspects; one of them was captured in Mexico.
Tobias Summers, 32, was charged with kidnapping, burglary and about three dozen counts of sexual assault, including child pornography. A second suspect, Daniel Martinez, 29, was charged with burglary and kidnapping for allegedly waiting in a car outside the house when Summers allegedly came out with the girl.
Prosecutors called up LAPD detective Carla Zuniga as their first witness. She testified about interviews with the 10-year-old girl about what happened to her the night she was kidnapped.
"She said she was asleep in her bedroom when a man came up to her, pointed a knife at her throat and told her to come with him," Zuniga said in court.
Zuniga said the girl was told to hide behind trash cans in the alley until a black car rolled up. Martinez is accused of being the driver. When the two of them got into the vehicle, Zuniga said the girl heard the driver and her kidnapper talking to each other.
"She said when she got into the backseat the driver, who she referred to as the partner, said, 'What's up with the girl,'" Zuniga said in court.
The detective testified that the girl heard her kidnapper tell the driver that the girl was awake and the he was "going to drop her off at a fire station."
There were specific details given in testimony about the sexual assaults the girl suffered. The detective said the girl had a brown leather belt tied around her neck several times during the night and was told it would get tighter if she made any noises.
The girl was taken to a storage facility, a park and an empty house in the Valley before being dropped off at a parking garage not far from her home.
For weeks, defense attorneys and prosecutors with the L.A. County District Attorney's Office seemed to be negotiating a plea deal. Dates for a preliminary hearing continued to get postponed. But Wednesday, an attorney for Summers said no deal was reached.
Defense attorney Jeff Yanuck said his client was willing to do 50 years in prison for all 38 charges, but no deal was reached Wednesday.
"It would have put an end to the case. It would have put an end to all the trauma that is probably going on throughout the victim's family," Yanuck said. "And this would have been the easiest way to resolve it."
The deputy district attorney on the case declined to comment at the court.
If Summers is convicted, he faces multiple life terms in prison. Martinez could face up to 12 years in prison.


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Please note, all running times are approximate and subject to change
What time do the shows start?
At His Majesty's Theatre the start time is the time printed on your ticket, the show will always start promptly at the advertised time. We recommend that you arrive at least 20 minutes prior to the time printed on your ticket. Access to the Bars and foyers will be from 45 minutes prior to this time and access to the auditorium will be 30 minutes before the performance start time.
At The Lemon Tree, tickets will either be printed with a Doors Time, this will be the time that the front doors open and allow access into the venue, or a Start Time which is the time the performance starts. When a performance is advertised as a start time, access to the venue will be 45 minutes before the start of the performance.
Latecomers Policy
We recommend that you arrive at least 15 minutes prior to the start time printed on your ticket. We will always endeavour to seat you in the correct seating without disrupting other patrons. However, if you are late we may have to ask you to wait for a suitable break before we can allow you to take your seats – occasionally this can mean waiting until the interval. The admission of latecomers is solely at the discretion of the Duty Manager.
Running Times
|His Majesty's Theatre (20 min interval unless otherwise stated)
|Act 1:
|Act 2:


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Home/ Historical Writings / Church & Denominational History / Joseph Edmund Hutton / A History of the Moravian Church
A History of the Moravian Church
by 'Joseph Edmund Hutton'
Book 1 The Bohemian Brethren. 1457-1673
Chapter 5 Gregory the Patriarch and the Society at Kunwald, 1457-1473
A BRILLIANT idea is an excellent thing. A man to work it out is still better. At the very time when Peter's followers were marshalling their forces, John Rockycana,5 Archbishop-elect of Prague (since 1448), was making a mighty stir in that drunken city. What Peter had done with his pen, Rockycana was doing with his tongue. He preached Peter's doctrines in the great Thein Church; he corresponded with him on the burning topics of the day; he went to see him at his estate; he recommended his works to his hearers; and week by week, in fiery language, he denounced the Church of Rome as Babylon, and the Pope as Antichrist himself. His style was vivid and picturesque, his language cutting and clear. One day he compared the Church of Rome to a burned and ruined city, wherein the beasts of the forests made their lairs; and, again, he compared her to a storm-tossed ship, which sank beneath the howling waves because the sailors were fighting each other. "It is better," he said, "to tie a dog to a pulpit than allow a priest to defile it. It is better, oh, women! for your sons to be hangmen than to be priests; for the hangman only kills the body, while the priest kills the soul. Look there," he suddenly exclaimed one Sunday, pointing to a picture of St. Peter on the wall, "there is as much difference between the priests of to-day and the twelve apostles as there is between that old painting and the living St. Peter in heaven.6 For the priests have put the devil into the sacraments themselves, and are leading you straight to the fires of Hell."
If an eloquent speaker attacks the clergy, he is sure to draw a crowd. No wonder the Thein Church was crammed. No wonder the people listened with delight as he backed up his hot attack with texts from the prophet Jeremiah. No wonder they cried in their simple zeal: "Behold, a second John Hus has arisen."
But John Rockycana was no second John Hus. For all his fire in the pulpit, he was only a craven at heart. "If a true Christian," said he to a friend, "were to turn up now in Prague, he would be gaped at like a stag with golden horns." But he was not a stag with golden horns himself. As he thundered against the Church of Rome, he was seeking, not the Kingdom of God, but his own fame and glory. His followers soon discovered his weakness. Among those who thronged to hear his sermons were certain quiet men of action, who were not content to paw the ground for ever. They were followers of Peter of Chelcic; they passed his pamphlets in secret from hand to hand; they took down notes of Rockycana's sermons; and now they resolved to practise what they heard. If Peter had taught them nothing else, he had at least convinced them all that the first duty of Christian men was to quit the Church of Rome. Again and again they appealed to Rockycana to be their head, to act up to his words, and to lead them out to the promised land. The great orator hemmed and hawed, put them off with excuses, and told them, after the manner of cowards, that they were too hasty and reckless. "I know you are right," said he, "but if I joined your ranks I should be reviled on every hand."7 But these listeners were not to be cowed. The more they studied Peter's writings, the more they lost faith in Rockycana. As Rockycana refused to lead them, they left his church in a body, and found a braver leader among themselves. His name was Gregory; he was known as Gregory the Patriarch; and in due time, as we shall see, he became the founder of the Church of the Brethren. He was already a middle-aged man. He was the son of a Bohemian knight, and was nephew to Rockycana himself. He had spent his youth in the Slaven cloister at Prague as a bare-footed monk, had found the cloister not so moral as he had expected, had left it in disgust, and was now well known in Bohemia as a man of sterling character, pious and sensible, humble and strict, active and spirited, a good writer and a good speaker. He was a personal friend of Peter, had studied his works with care, and is said to have been particularly fond of a little essay entitled "The Image of the Beast," which he had borrowed from a blacksmith in Wachovia. As time went on he lost patience with Rockycana, came into touch with the little societies at Wilenow and Divischau, visited Peter on his estate, and gradually formed the plan of founding an independent society, and thus doing himself what Rockycana was afraid to do. As soldiers desert a cowardly general and rally round the standard of a brave one, so these listeners in the old Thein Church fell away from halting Rockycana, and rallied round Gregory the Patriarch. From all parts of Bohemia, from all ranks of society, from all whom Peter's writings had touched, from all who were disgusted with the Church of Rome, and who wished to see the True Church of the Apostles bloom in purity and beauty again, from all especially who desired the ministration of priests of moral character from all these was his little band recruited. How it all happened we know not; but slowly the numbers swelled. At last the terrible question arose: How and where must they live? The question was one of life and death. Not always could they worship in secret; not always be scattered in little groups. It was time, they said, to close their ranks and form an army that should last. "After us," Rockycana had said in a sermon, "shall a people come well-pleasing unto God and right healthy for men; they
shall follow the Scriptures, and the example of Christ and the footsteps of the Apostles." And these stern men felt called to the holy task.
In the year 1457, Uladislaus Postumus, King of Bohemia, died, and George Podiebrad reigned in his stead; and about the same time it came to the ears of Gregory the Patriarch that in the barony of Senftenberg, on the north-east border of Bohemia, there lay a village that would serve as a home for him and his trusty followers. And the village was called Kunwald, and the old castle hard by was called Lititz. The village was almost deserted, and only a few simple folk, of the same mind as Gregory, lived there now. What better refuge could be found? Gregory the Patriarch laid the scheme before his uncle Rockycana; Rockycana, who sympathized with their views and wished to help them, brought the matter before King George; the King, who owned the estate, gave his gracious permission; and Gregory and his faithful friends wended their way to Kunwald, and there began to form the first settlement of the Church of the Brethren. And now many others from far and wide came to make Kunwald their home. Some came from the Thein Church in Prague, some across the Glatz Hills from Moravia, some from Wilenow, Divischau and Chelcic, some from the Utraquist Church at Königgratz,8 some, clothed and in their right minds, from those queer folk, the Adamites, and some from little Waldensian groups that lay dotted here and there about the land. There were citizens from Prague and other cities. There were bachelors and masters from the great University. There were peasants and nobles, learned and simple, rich and poor, with their wives and children; and thus did many, who longed to be pure and follow the Master and Him alone, find a Bethany of Peace in the smiling little valley of Kunwald.
Here, then, in the valley of Kunwald, did these pioneers lay the foundation stones of the Moravian Church {1457 or 1458.}.9 They were all of one heart and one mind. They honoured Christ alone as King; they confessed His laws alone as binding. They were not driven from the Church of Rome; they left of their own free will. They were men of deep religious experience. As they mustered their forces in that quiet dale, they knew that they were parting company from Church and State alike. They had sought the guidance of God in prayer, and declared that their prayers were answered. They had met to seek the truth of God, not from priests, but from God Himself. "As we knew not where to turn," they wrote to Rockycana, "we turned in prayer to God Himself, and besought Him to reveal to us His gracious will in all things. We wanted to walk in His ways; we wanted instruction in His wisdom; and in His mercy He answered our prayers." They would rather, they said, spend weeks in gaol than take the oath as councillors. They built cottages, tilled the land, opened workshops, and passed their time in peace and quietness. For a law and a testimony they had the Bible and the writings of Peter of Chelcic. In Michael Bradacius, a Utraquist priest, they found a faithful pastor. They made their own laws and appointed a body of twenty-eight elders to enforce them. They divided themselves into three classes, the Beginners, the Learners and the Perfect;10 and the Perfect gave up their private property for the good of the common cause. They had overseers to care for the poor. They had priests to administer the sacraments, They had godly laymen to teach the Scriptures. They had visitors to see to the purity of family life. They were shut off from the madding crowd by a narrow gorge, with the Glatz Mountains towering on the one side and the hoary old castle of Lititz, a few miles off, on the other; and there in that fruitful valley, where orchards smiled and gardens bloomed, and neat little cottages peeped out from the woodland, they plied their trades and read their Bibles, and kept themselves pure and unspotted from the world under the eye of God Almighty.11
But it was not long before these Brethren had to show of what metal they were made. With each other they were at peace, but in Bohemia the sea still rolled from the storm. It is curious how people reasoned in those days. As the Brethren used bread instead of wafer at the Holy Communion, a rumour reached the ears of the King that they were dangerous conspirators, and held secret meetings of a mysterious and unholy nature. And King George held himself an orthodox King, and had sworn to allow no heretics in his kingdom. As soon therefore, as he heard that Gregory the Patriarch had come on a visit to Prague, and was actually holding a meeting of University students in the New Town, he came down upon them like a wolf on the fold, and gave orders to arrest them on the spot. He was sure they were hatching a villainous plot of some kind. In vain some friends sent warning to the students. They resolved, with a few exceptions, to await their fate and stand to their guns. "Come what may," said they, in their fiery zeal, "let the rack be our breakfast and the funeral pile our dinner!" The door of the room flew open. The magistrate and his bailiffs appeared. "All," said the magistrate, as he stood at the threshold, "who wish to live godly in Christ Jesus must suffer persecution. Follow me to prison." They followed him, and were at once stretched upon the rack. As soon as the students felt the pain of torture their courage melted like April snow. After they had tasted the breakfast they had no appetite for the dinner. They went in a body to the Thein Church, mounted the pulpit
one by one, pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them, and confessed, before an admiring crowd, their full belief in all the dogmas of the Holy Church of Rome. But for Gregory the Patriarch, who was now growing old, the pain was too severe. His wrists cracked; he swooned, and was thought to be dead, and in his swoon he dreamed a dream which seemed to him like the dreams of the prophets of old. He saw, in a lovely meadow, a tree laden with fruit; the fruit was being plucked by birds; the flights of the birds were guided by a youth of heavenly beauty, and the tree was guarded by three men whose faces he seemed to know. What meant that dream to Gregory and his Brethren? It was a vision of the good time coming. The tree was the Church of the Brethren. The fruit was her Bible teaching. The birds were her ministers and helpers. The youth of radiant beauty was the Divine Master Himself. And the three men who stood on guard were the three men who were afterwards chosen as the first three Elders of the Brethren's Church.
While Gregory lay in his swoon, his old teacher, his uncle, his sometime friend, John Rockycana, hearing that he was dying, came to see him. His conscience was stricken, his heart bled, and, wringing his hands in agony, he moaned: "Oh, my Gregory, my Gregory, would I were where thou art." When Gregory recovered, Rockycana pleaded for him, and the King allowed the good old Patriarch to return in peace to Kunwald.
Meanwhile, the first persecution of the Brethren had begun in deadly earnest {1461.}. King George Podiebrad was furious. He issued an order that all his subjects were to join either the Utraquist or the Roman Catholic Church. He issued another order that all priests who conducted the Communion in the blasphemous manner of the Brethren should forthwith be put to death. The priest, old Michael, was cast into a dungeon; four leading Brethren were burned alive; the peaceful home in Kunwald was broken; and the Brethren fled to the woods and mountains. For two full years they lived the life of hunted deer in the forest. As they durst not light a fire by day, they cooked their meals by night; and then, while the enemy dreamed and slept, they read their Bibles by the watch-fires' glare, and prayed till the blood was dripping from their knees. If provisions ran short, they formed a procession, and marched in single file to the nearest village; and when the snow lay on the ground they trailed behind them a pine-tree branch, so that folk would think a wild beast had been prowling around. We can see them gathering in those Bohemian glades. As the sentinel stars set their watch in the sky, and the night wind kissed the pine trees, they read to each other the golden promise that where two or three were gathered together in His name He would be in the midst of them;Matthew xviii. 19, 20; Jeremiah iii. 15; John xx. 23; Revelation xviii. 4, 5; Luke vi. 1216; Acts iv. 32.">12 and rejoiced that they, the chosen of God, had been called to suffer for the truth and the Church that was yet to be.
In vain they appealed to Rockycana; he had done with them for ever. "Thou art of the world," they wrote, "and wilt perish with the world." They were said to have made a covenant with the devil, and were commonly dubbed "Pitmen" because they lived in pits and caves. Yet not for a moment did they lose hope. At the very time when the king in his folly thought they were crushed beneath his foot, they were in reality increasing in numbers every day. As their watch-fires shone in the darkness of the forests, so their pure lives shone among a darkened people. No weapon did they use except the pen. They never retaliated, never rebelled, never took up arms in their own defence, never even appealed to the arm of justice. When smitten on one cheek, they turned the other; and from ill-report they went to good report, till the King for very shame had to let them be. Well aware was he that brutal force could never stamp out spiritual life. "I advise you," said a certain Bishop, "to shed no more blood. Martyrdom is somewhat like a half-roasted joint of meat, apt to breed maggots."
And now the time drew near for Gregory's dream to come true. When the Brethren settled in the valley of Kunwald they had only done half their work. They had quitted the "benighted" Church of Rome; they had not yet put a better Church in her place. They had settled on a Utraquist estate; they were under the protection of a Utraquist King; they attended services conducted by Utraquist priests. But this black-and-white policy could not last for ever. If they wished to be godly men themselves, they must have godly men in the pulpits. What right had they, the chosen of God (as they called themselves) to listen to sermons from men in league with the State? What right had they to take the Holy Bread and Wine from the tainted hands of Utraquist priests? What right had they to confess their sins to men with the brand of Rome upon their foreheads? If they were to have any priests at all, those priests, like Caesar's wife, must be above suspicion. They must be pastors after God's own heart, who should feed the people with knowledge and understanding (Jer. iii. 15). They must be clear of any connection with the State. They must be descended from the twelve Apostles. They must be innocent of the crime of simony. They must work with their hands for their living, and be willing to spend their money on the poor. But where could such clean
vessels of the Lord be found? For a while the Brethren were almost in despair; for a while they were even half inclined to do without priests at all. In vain they searched the country round; in vain they inquired about priests in foreign lands. When they asked about the pure Nestorian Church supposed to exist in India, they received the answer that that Church was now as corrupt as the Romish. When they asked about the Greek Church in Russia, they received the answer that the Russian Bishops were willing to consecrate any man, good or bad, so long as he paid the fees. The question was pressing. If they did without good priests much longer, they would lose their standing in the country. "You must," said Brother Martin Lupac, a Utraquist priest, who had joined their ranks, "you must establish a proper order of priests from among yourselves. If you don't, the whole cause will be ruined. To do without priests is no sin against God; but it is a sin against your fellow-men." As they pondered on the fateful question, the very light of Heaven itself seemed to flash upon their souls. It was they who possessed the unity of the spirit; and therefore it was they who were called to renew the Church of the Apostles. They had now become a powerful body; they were founding settlements all over the land; they stood, they said, for the truth as it was in Jesus; they had all one faith, one hope, one aim, one sense of the Spirit leading them onward; and they perceived that if they were to weather the gale in those stormy times they must cut the chains that bound them to Rome, and fly their own colours in the breeze.
And so, in 1467, about ten years after the foundation of Kunwald, there met at Lhota a Synod of the Brethren to settle the momentous question {1467.}, "Is it God's will that we separate entirely from the power of the Papacy, and hence from its priesthood? Is it God's will that we institute, according to the model of the Primitive Church, a ministerial order of our own?" For weeks they had prayed and fasted day and night. About sixty Brethren arrived. The Synod was held in a tanner's cottage, under a cedar tree; and the guiding spirit Gregory the Patriarch, for his dream was haunting him still. The cottage has long since gone; but the tree is living yet.
The fateful day arrived. As the morning broke, those sixty men were all on their knees in prayer. If that prayer had been omitted the whole proceedings would have been invalid. As the Master, said they, had prayed on the Mount before he chose His twelve disciples, so they must spend the night in prayer before they chose the elders of the Church. And strange, indeed, their manner of choosing was. First the Synod nominated by ballot nine men of blameless life, from whom were to be chosen, should God so will, the first Pastors of the New Church. Next twelve slips of paper were folded and put into a vase. Of these slips nine were blank, and three were marked "Jest," the Bohemian for "is." Then a boy named Procop entered the room, drew out nine slips, and handed them round to the nine nominated Brethren.
There was a hush, a deep hush, in that humble room. All waited for God to speak. The fate of the infant Church seemed to hang in the balance. For the moment the whole great issue at stake depended on the three papers left in the vase. It had been agreed that the three Brethren who received the three inscribed papers should be ordained to the ministry. The situation was curious. As the Brethren rose from their knees that morning they were all as sure as men could be that God desired them to have Pastors of their own; and yet they deliberately ran the risk that the lot might decide against them.13 What slips were those now lying in the vase? Perhaps the three inscribed ones. But it turned out otherwise. All three were drawn, and Matthias of Kunwald, Thomas of Prelouic, and Elias of Chrenouic, are known to history as the first three ministers of the Brethren's Church. And then Gregory the Patriarch stepped forward, and announced with trembling voice that these three men were the very three that he had seen in his trance in the torture-chamber at Prague. Not a man in the room was surprised; not a man doubted that here again their prayers had been plainly answered. Together the members of the Synod arose and saluted the chosen three. Together, next day, they sang in a hymn written for the occasion:
But the battle was not won even yet. If these three good men, now chosen by Christ, were to be acknowledged as priests in Bohemia, they must be ordained in the orthodox way by a Bishop of pure descent from the Apostles. For this purpose they applied to Stephen, a Bishop of the Waldenses. He was just the man they needed. He was a man of noble character. He was a man whose word could be trusted. He had often given them information about the Waldensian line of Bishops. He had told them how that line ran back to the days of the early Church. He had told them how the Waldensian Bishops had kept the ancient faith unsullied, and had never broken the law of Christ by uniting with the wicked State. To that line of Bishops he himself belonged. He had no connection with the Church of Rome, and no connection with the State. What purer orders, thought the Brethren, could they desire?
They believed his statements; they trusted his honour; they admired his personal character; and now they sent old Michael Bradacius to see him in South Moravia and to lay their case before him. The old Bishop shed tears of joy. "He laid his hand on my head," says Michael, "and consecrated me a Bishop." Forthwith the new Bishop returned to Lhota, ordained the chosen three as Priests, and consecrated Matthias of Kunwald a Bishop. And thus arose those Episcopal Orders which have been maintained in the Church of the Brethren down to the present day.
The goal was reached; the Church was founded; the work of Gregory was done. For twenty years he had taught his Brethren to study the mind of Christ in the Scriptures and to seek the guidance of God in united prayer, and now he saw them joined as one to face the rising storm.
"Henceforth," he wrote gladly to King George Podiebrad, "we have done with the Church of Rome." As he saw the evening of life draw near, he urged his Brethren more and more to hold fast the teaching of Peter of Chelcic, and to regulate their daily conduct by the law of Christ; and by that law of Christ he probably meant the "Six Commandments" of the Sermon on the Mount. 1. The "Six Commandments" are as follows: (1) Matthew v. 22: Thou shalt not be angry with thy brother. (2) Matthew v. 28: Thou shalt not look upon a woman to lust after her. (3) Matthew v. 32: Thou shalt not commit adultery, or divorce thy wife. (4) Matthew v. 34: Thou shalt not take an oath. (5) Matthew v. 39, 40: Thou shalt not go to law. (6) Matthew v. 44: Thou shalt love thine enemy.">15
Brethren's Bishops are no more valid than the Bishops of any other Church; and all historians must honestly admit that, in this sense of the word "Valid," there is no such thing as a valid Bishop in existence. But the word "Validity" may have a broader meaning. It may mean the desire to adhere to New Testament sanctions; it may mean the honest and loyal endeavour to preserve the "intention" of the Christian ministry as instituted by Christ; and if this is what "Validity" means the Moravian Episcopate is just as valid as that of any other communion. Meanwhile, at any rate, the reader may rest content with the following conclusions: (1) That Gregory the Patriarch and his fellow Brethren were satisfied with Bishop Stephen's statement. (2) That they acted honestly according to their light, and desired to be true successors of the Primitive Church. (3) That the Waldensian Episcopate was of ancient order. (4) That no break in the Brethren's Episcopal succession has ever been absolutely proved. (5) That, during the whole course of their history the Brethren have always endeavoured to preserve the Episcopal office intact.
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Friday, October 30th, 2020
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Pet Rescue Saga Level 665 Guide
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This Pet Rescue Saga game guide will help you beat Level 665 of the game on the iPhone app, Android app and Facebook game! Pet Rescue Saga was created by King who also created Candy Crush Saga and Diamond Digger Saga. Watch the video game guide below for tips and tricks.
Pet Rescue Saga Level 665 Video Guide


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Aviation Partners Boeing Receives FAA Certification for Split Scimitar™ Winglets
Feb 06, 2014, 01:00 ET
SEATTLE, Feb. 6, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Aviation Partners Boeing (APB) announced today that it has received Supplemental Type Certification (STC) from the FAA for Split Scimitar Winglets to be installed on Boeing 737-800 aircraft. The Split Scimitar Winglet program is the culmination of a five-year design effort using the latest computational fluid dynamic technology to redefine the aerodynamics of the Blended Winglet into an all-new Split Scimitar Winglet. The unique feature of the Split Scimitar Winglet is that it uses the existing Blended Winglet structure, but adds new strengthened spars, aerodynamic scimitar tips, and a large ventral strake.
(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140206/SF60620)
"The APB team's unique expertise combined with support from the FAA allowed STC issuance to come just weeks after completion of flight tests." said Mike Stowell, Aviation Partners Boeing executive vice president and chief technical officer. "We have seen record breaking pre-certification orders on this program demonstrating the credibility our products have developed with the marketplace. Including our program launch customer, United Airlines, who has now partnered with APB on five unique certification programs, we expect to see a dozen airlines operating Split Scimitar Winglets in revenue service within the next couple of months."
APB will develop and certify the Split Scimitar Winglet modification for all of the Boeing 737-700, 800 and 900 series aircraft including Boeing Business Jets. APB expects to start certification flight testing on the 737-900ER in mid-February achieving certification by late July 2014.
"We continue to develop the world's best aircraft drag reduction technology thereby reducing fuel usage and lessening aircraft environmental impact," said Bill Ashworth, Aviation Partners Boeing president and chief executive officer. "Our winglet systems have had such a profound impact on aviation and the environment that in 2012 APB was named as the recipient of the prestigious Corporate Award for Balance, by the Charles A. and Anne Morrow Lindbergh Foundation. The Award is presented for technological initiatives that have balanced technology and nature to significantly improve aviation and the general quality of life."
APB's Split Scimitar Winglet program is the most successful product launch in its history. Since launching the program early last year, APB has now taken orders and options for 1,461 Split Scimitar Winglet systems. Over the last 10 years, APB has sold more than 7,000 Blended Winglet Systems. 5,300 Blended Winglet Systems are now in service with over 200 airlines in more than 100 countries. APB estimates that Blended Winglets have saved airlines worldwide 4.1 billion gallons of jet fuel to-date thus eliminating over 43 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions.
Aviation Partners Boeing is a Seattle based joint venture of Aviation Partners, Inc. and The Boeing Company.
SOURCE Aviation Partners Boeing


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You've been in recruitment for a while now. You know the game. You've seen people come and go in your company like the changing of the wind. You probably have a smart answer prepared for Friday night beers when that 9/10 asks you what you do for a living.
When it comes to recruitment, you've earned your stripes!
And because you're a seasoned veteran, here's the summation of what you've learned so far…
- Realising 'OTE' actually means 'Obviously Totally Exaggerated'
- Knowing 4 out of every 5 rookies won't make the end of their second week…
- … And the one that does won't be the one you (and everyone else) chatted up in the first week
- The first 'newbie' to nonchalantly stroll in 5 minutes late with a smile on their face will normally be the first to go
- You can tell a good CV from a bad CV from a 3 second glance
- You know not to count your chickens before the money's in the bank…
- …But you do every time and start shopping online the moment after sending that 'dead cert' CV
- You revel in an opportunity to justify why you're better than a client's current supplier, who you know by name
- Hitting target with time to spare and miraculously 'finding' a deal on the very first day of the next month.
- 3PM onwards on a Friday is a recruitment ghost town. You WILL NOT get hold of candidates OR clients…
- …But you'll still try upon your boss's insistence!
- Lunch meetings with a client on a Friday means a free boozy lunch (whether the client's there or not)
- You know the exact amount to the nearest pound that's likely to get signed off on an expense form
- You know the phone number which gets stuck on a 'VM' loop when you're up against the clock for phone times
- 'lmtcb' is one of the most pointless things you can write on the database. No one's checking and they won't call back
- Pay day = commission day and the best day of the month…
- … But also the day 'chats in the boardroom' turn into people leaving swiftly with their head down
- 'Monthly lunch club' means shots before your starter is for some reason acceptable…
- … Especially for Jill in Accounts who's somehow 'never done a Jaeger Bomb before'
- The company trip means ANYTHING goes
- Walking around on the phone with a headset, while throwing a ball to yourself lets everyone in the office know YOU MEAN BUSINESS!
- All leads, jobs, interviews and CVs sent will be saved for 'BD Day' with the promise of an early finish for the victor
- Sending a connection request to that 9/10 on LinkedIn, to reaffirm you aren't a stalker…
- … Then panicking when it's not accepted
- Overhearing your mate say "Yeah I'm a Headhunter" in the pub and correcting them with "he means Recruiter!"
- Spotting another recruiter in a bar from 1000 paces… and being able to guess who they work for… and whether they're any good
- REALLY wishing you had a life during the week other than recruitment…
- … So promising yourself you'll take some time out this week…
- … Until that mega urgent job comes in and you're still at your desk at 9PM
- Knowing that if a colleague leaves their desk to take a call, they'll be leaving within the month
- 'Home truths' and tears are on the menu at the Christmas Party…
- … Along with P45s the next day
- New initiatives rolled out by management are likely to last 2 weeks, but your feigned 'enthusiastic face' would get you a lead part in Neighbours
- Knowing full well that sending an introductory email touting for business WILL NOT bring in business…
- … But doing it anyway and logging it on the database
- Wishing some days you'd never gone into recruitment…
- … But mostly being glad you did and absolutely loving it when things go well
There you have it. That's all for now. Keep fighting the good fight.
Ed x


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The Frankfurt International Motor Show is held every two years and the 65th Show last month spanned twelve halls of the Messe Frankfurt with around 1,000 exhibitors from more than 34 countries showing off their wares over ten days.
Among the most elaborate pavilions this year was the sensational ceiling at Audi's pavilion, where, in the style of the Christopher Nolan movie Inception, a huge fake city – involving buildings, trees and clever use of mirrors – hung, upside down, above the German brand's latest models.
With healthy budgets and exciting creative briefs for production companies, Meyer Sound reported that they had almost 900 of their loudspeakers used for various manufacturers at this year's show: Audi, BMW, SMART and Volkswagen all deployed Meyer kit from suppliers including PRG, CT Germany, Nordlight, Schoko Pro, Leyendecker and the POOLgroup GmbH.
PRG have supplied lighting and audio services to Audi for 15 years. At this year's event, PRG worked with TFN GmbH & Co KG, an audiovisual design consultancy based in Hamburg, on the design and technical planning of the sound.
Christian Oeser, lead audio engineer and head of implementation planning at PRG, explains the audio set up in the Audi pavilion: "Audi used to have an open truss grid roof with a TV Studio appearance, which made it easy to install loudspeakers of all types. This dramatically changed for this show with the upside-down look.
"The architectural design of the hanging buildings hanging and the fact that about 90% of the truss grid was covered by mirrors didn't allow the sound designer Christian Tesche from TFN to use the loudspeaker types as we had used on the show previously. Therefore we had to install them into the buildings of the pavilion set itself, rigged at varying heights. The design included around 84 UPM-1Ps and 82 MM-4s Meyer Sound loudspeakers."
Part of the creative brief for TFN was that visitors to the pavilion, when entering an enclosed booth space, should be able to hear the Audi sound logo, itself modified on every new appearance. During the six-week pavilion build, a full audio system was implemented to ensure that the various types of announcements and automated evacuation messages of different priority could be heard on the booth including toilets, storage and technical areas.
In summary a system was needed with around 16 inputs and about 300 outputs. Oeser: "The main audio content was played from the video playback engines, synchronised to the video content. In total we had seven stereo tracks containing the base loop, special effects with specific acoustic localisation and additional sound effects to intensify the impression of specially themed buildings at different parts of the pavilion."
In addition, he notes, for special events and presentations, the team implemented a set-up with an acoustical focus towards the main stage. "This only could be achieved by using delayed matrices." Yamaha consoles were the order of the day for Audi on these presentation stages including a DM2000 and 01V96. Four AD8HR mic pre amp sets and no less than ten Yamaha DME64N mix engines were deployed.
Some 218 Meyer Sound loudspeakers were rigged for the Audi pavilion, including on one of the main presentation stages a MINA line array with 500-HP subwoofers. Amps used across the pavilion included 40 Dynacord LX 3000s.
Twenty Shure R Series handheld microphones were available when and where needed. Commenting on his preference for Meyer Sound loudspeakers, Oeser neatly sums up his feelings: "Personally, I like them because I have a lot of experience with those and know how to place and to focus them without listening to the system."
With high microphone demand in the halls it was vital that wireless requirements were properly managed. To this end Shure's Axient wireless microphone system – able to detect interference and automatically shift operating frequencies, undetected by the user – was chosen by a number of exhibitors. Volkswagen used it for press conference duties on their stand, including 12 Shure AXT 400 Axient Dual Channel Receivers and matching Axient microphones.
The BMW Group hall was dedicated to the three brands of the group (BMW, Mini and Rolls-Royce). The parent brand occupied a large part of the room with an impressive two-storey structure and a looped circuit in the form of the infinity symbol, plus a generous event stage. Technical planning and implementation of the display requirements was commissioned by BMW through Berlin planners NIYU media projects under the supervision of managing director Niko Hocke.
The sound system at BMW, described by Hocke simply as "great!", comprised 23 Meyer Sound UPA-1P in the rig for background sound and 26 UPM-1P, two UPJunior and a UPJ-1P on above, below and in the loop course, plus 14 MM-4XP which were used in the loop for improved detection along the race tracks.
On the main stage, two L/R arrays of three vertical JM- 1Ps and a centre cluster with four JM-1P provided sound for the spectators. Behind the stage and above the stage six 700-HP subwoofers with appropriate time alignment provided the low frequencies. For effects and as a surround speakers six UPQ-1P and eight UPA-1P were used. In addition, six UPM-1P served as nearfield, five UPJunior and another UPM- 1P as delay systems, and three UPM-1P provided monitoring.
Audio content for BMW consisted mainly of music with some speech. This was on a multitrack sound file, produced for the video and fine-tuned within Pro Tools onsite, then transferred onto the DVS-Videoserver to be linked to the filmclips.
Set-up on on the booth took about six days including rigging, cabling and speaker placement, followed by a further 10 days for the fine-tuning. Hocke: "The main challenge was to have a powerful sound system without crossing sightlines, because the main LED screen and booth construction left very little space for the loudspeaker rig. Meyer Sounds JM-P1 and UPQ/UPA speakers fulfilled those parameters and delivered a powerful and emotional sound. The BMW team was totally satisfied."
The IAA Motor Show 2013 not only showcased the German and international automotive industry, it was also a reflection of what is possible for the events industry with uncompromising planning efforts. Oeser concludes: "Whether video, lighting or sound – quality, reliability and a professional performance is what counts. This extensive production and its success had many fathers who have partially invested up to one and a half years into the implementation."
Simon Duff