text:
The JPA Overview's Chapter 12, Mapping Metadata explains mapping under JPA. The JDO Overview's Chapter 15, Mapping Metadata explains object-relational mapping under JDO. This chapter reviews the mapping utilities Kodo provides and examines Kodo features that go beyond the specifications.
Forward mapping is the process of creating
mappings and their corresponding database schema from your object
model. Kodo supports forward mapping through the mapping
tool. The next section presents several common mapping tool
use cases. You can invoke the tool through the
shell/batch script included in the Kodo distribution,
or through its Java class,
Section 14.1.4, "Mapping Tool Ant Task" describes the mapping tool Ant task.
In addition to the universal flags of the configuration framework, the mapping tool accepts the following command line arguments:
-file/-f <stdout | output file>: Use
this option to write the planned mappings to an XML document
rather than recording them as the mappings for the given
classes. This option also specifies the metadata file to write
to when using the mapping tool to generate default persistence
metadata (see Section 6.1, "Generating Default JDO Metadata"), or
the file to dump to if using the
-schemaAction/-sa <add | refresh | drop | build
| retain | none>: The action to take on the
schema. These options correspond to the same-named actions on
the schema tool described in
Section 4.14, "Schema Tool".
Unless you are running the mapping tool on all of your
persistent types at once or dropping a mapping, we strongly
recommend you use the default
add action or
build action. Otherwise you may end up
inadvertently dropping schema components that are used by
classes you are not currently running the tool over.
-schemaFile/-sf <stdout | output file>:
Use this option to write the planned schema to an XML
document rather than modify the database. The document can
then be manipulated and committed to the database with the
schema tool.
-sqlFile/-sql <stdout | output file>:
Use this option to write the planned schema modifications to
a SQL script rather than modify the database. Combine this
with a
schemaAction of
build to generate a script that recreates
the schema for the current mappings, even if the schema already
-dropTables/-dt <true/t | false/f>:
Corresponds to the same-named option on the schema tool.
-dropSequences/-dsq <true/t | false/f>:
Corresponds to the same-named option on the schema tool.
-kodoTables/-kt <true/t | false/f>:
Corresponds to the same-named option on the schema tool.
-ignoreErrors/-i <true/t | false/f>:
Corresponds to the same-named option on the schema tool.
-schemas/-s <schema and table names>:
Corresponds to the same-named option on the schema tool.
This option is ignored if
readSchema is not
set to
-readSchema/-rs <true/t | false/f>:
Set this option to
true to read the entire
existing schema when the tool runs. Reading the existing schema
ensures that Kodo does not generate any mappings that use
table, index, primary key, or foreign key names that conflict
with existing names. Depending on the JDBC driver, though,
it can be a slow process for large schemas.
-primaryKeys/-pk <true/t | false/f>:
Whether to read and manipulate primary key information of
existing tables. Defaults to false.
-foreignKeys/-fk <true/t | false/f>:
Whether to read and manipulate foreign key information of
existing tables. Defaults to false. This means that to add
any new foreign keys to a class that has already been mapped,
you must explicitly set this flag to true.
-indexes/-ix <true/t | false/f>:
Whether to read and manipulate index information of
existing tables. Defaults to false. This means that to add
any new indexes to a class that has already been mapped once,
you must explicitly set this flag to true.
-sequences/-sq <true/t | false/f>:
Whether to manipulate sequences. Defaults to true.
-meta/-m <true/t | false/f>: Whether
the given action applies to metadata rather than or in addition
to mappings.
The mapping tool also uses an
-action/-a argument
to specify the action to take on each class. The available actions are:
refresh: This is the default action
when using JDO mapping defaults (see
Section 7.4, "Mapping Defaults"). It brings your
mappings up-to-date with the class definitions.
Kodo will attempt to use any provided mapping information, and
fill in missing information. If the provided mappings
conflict with a class definition, the conflicting mappings
will be discarded and the class or field will be re-mapped
to a new column or table.
add: If used with the
-meta option,
adds new default metadata for the given classes. Otherwise,
brings your mappings up-to-date with the class definitions.
Kodo will attempt to use any provided mapping information, and
fill in missing information. If the provided mappings
conflict with a class definition, Kodo will fail with an
informative exception.
buildSchema: This is the default action when
using JPA mapping defaults (see
Section 7.4, "Mapping Defaults"). It makes the
database schema match your existing mappings. If your provided
mappings conflict with a class definition, Kodo will fail with
an informative exception.
drop: Delete the mappings for the
given classes. If used with the
option, also deletes persistence metadata
validate: Ensure that the mappings for
the given classes are valid and that they match the schema.
No mappings or tables will be changed. An exception is
thrown if any mappings are invalid.
import: Import mappings from the given XML
document and store them as the current system mappings.
Under this action, the mapping tool expects its arguments to be
XML files in the
orm mapping format described
in Chapter 15, Mapping Metadata of the JDO Overview,
rather than persistent classes.
export: Export the mapping data for the
given classes to an XML file in the
mapping format described in
Chapter 15, Mapping Metadata of the JDO Overview.
When using JPA annotation mappings, you cannot run the
Each additional argument to the tool should be one of:
The full name of a persistent class.
The .java file for a persistent class.
.class file of a persistent class.
.jdo metadata file. The tool will
run on each class listed in the metadata.
.orm mapping file. The tool will
run on each class listed in the mapping metadata. If you are
running the
import action, each argument
must be a
.orm file.
If you do not supply any arguments to the mapping tool, it will run on the classes in your persistent classes list (see Section 5.1, "Persistent Class List").
If you have not specified
a persistent class list, the tool will scan your classpath for
directories containing
.jdo files, and run on all
classes listed in those files.
The mappings generated by the mapping tool are stored by the system mapping factory. Section 7.5, "Mapping Factory" discusses your mapping factory options.
The JPA specification defines a comprehensive set of
defaults for missing mapping information. Thus, forward mapping
in JPA is virtually automatic. After using the mapping
annotations covered in Chapter 12, Mapping Metadata of
the JPA Overview to override any unsatisfactory
defaults, run the mapping tool's
action on your persistent classes. This is the default action when
you use JPA mapping defaults
(see Section 7.4, "Mapping Defaults").
buildSchema action manipulates the database
schema to match your mappings. It fails if any of your mappings
don't match your object model.
Example 7.2. Creating the Relational Schema from Mappings
JPA mapping defaults:
mappingtool Magazine.java
JDO mapping defaults:
mappingtool -a buildSchema package.jdo
In standard forward mapping under JDO, you concentrate your
efforts on your
object model, and the mapping tool's
action keeps your mappings and schema up-to-date. The refresh
action examines both the existing database schema and any existing
mappings. Classes and fields that are not mapped, or whose
mapping information no longer matches the object model, are
automatically given new mappings. The tool also updates the
schema as necessary to support both existing mappings and any new
mappings it creates. The example below shows how to invoke the
refresh action on the mapping tool to create or update the mapping
information and database schema for the persistent classes listed in
You can safely run the
refresh action on
classes that have already been mapped, because the tool only
generates new mappings when the old ones have become incompatible
with the class. If the tool does have to replace
a bad mapping, it does not modify other still-valid mappings. For
example, if you change the type of a field from
int to
String, the
mapping tool will detect the incompatibility with the old numeric
column, add a new string-compatible column to the class' database
table, and change the field's mapping data to point to the new
column. All other fields will retain their original mappings.
In fact, if you want to make sure the mapping tool does not alter
any of your existing mappings, you can use the
add action in place of the default
refresh action. When the mapping tool encounters
what it thinks is a bad mapping under the
action, it throws an informative exception rather than replacing
the mapping. This is particularly useful if you write mappings
by hand, but want the tool to create the corresponding schema for
To drop JDO mapping data, use the
drop action.
This action does not affect the schema.
To drop the schema for a persistent class, set the mapping tool's
schemaAction to
The examples below show how to use the mapping tool to generate DDL SQL scripts, rather than modifying the database directly.
Example 7.7. Create DDL for Current Mappings
This example uses your existing mappings to determine the
needed schema, then writes the SQL to create that schema to
mappingtool -a buildSchema -sa build -sql create.sql Magazine.java
Example 7.8. Create DDL to Update Database for Current Mappings
This example uses your existing mappings to determine the
needed schema. It then writes the SQL to add any missing
tables and columns to the current schema to
mappingtool -a buildSchema -sql update.sql Magazine.java
Example 7.9. Refresh JDO Mappings and Create DDL
This example refreshes the mappings for the classes in
package.jdo and writes all the SQL
necessary to recreate the tables used by these mappings to
mappingtool -sa build -sql create.sql package.jdo
Forward mapping in Kodo JDO is not an all-or-nothing endeavor. Kodo
allows you to specify bits and pieces of mapping information;
the mapping tool will fill in the rest. For example, if you want
the column for your
Magazine.isbn field to
be type
CHAR(15), or you want to use the
new-table inheritance strategy to create a joined
subclass table, you can specify these pieces of information without
filling in column names, table names, and other data whose defaults
are satisfactory.
Example 7.11. Partial Mapping
<class name="Magazine"> <field name="isbn"> <column jdbc-type="char" length="15"/> </field> ... </class> <class name="FullTimeEmployee"> <!-- extends Employee --> <inheritance strategy="new-table"><join/></inheritance> ... </class>
In the
The mapping tool will incorporate your partial mapping hints into
the full mappings it creates. The tool even allows you to specify
the hints in your
.jdo file when your mappings
are stored somewhere else, such as separate
files. This allows you to integrate mapping hints into
the metadata for unmapped classes or newly-added fields without
having to write a separate mapping file. This also brings up a
potential conflict, however: when you have mapping information in
both your
.jdo file and the configured mapping
format such as a
.orm file, which
takes precedence during tool runs? The answer is that the data in
the configured mapping format always wins, just as it does at
runtime. Mapping hints only work for classes or fields
that have not yet been mapped. If you have configured Kodo to store
mappings in
.orm files, the mapping tool will
ignore mapping hints for any class or field already mentioned in
.orm mapping information.
In addition to hinting through partial mapping, the mapping tool recognizes some general directives communicated through mapping metadata:
When mapping an embedded relation, you can set the
embedded element's
null-indicator-column attribute to
to have Kodo create a synthetic null indicator
column with a default name. You can also set this attribute
to the name of a field in the embedded class. Kodo will
use that field's column as the null indicator column. Of
course, Kodo also allows you to specify a column name
directly, as the attribute intends.
You can set the
column attribute of
order element to
false to force or suppress
the creation of an ordering column for a collection field.
You can configure Kodo to automatically run the mapping tool
at runtime through the
kodo.jdbc.SynchronizeMappings configuration
property. Using this property saves you the trouble of running
the mapping tool manually, and is meant for use during rapid
test/debug cycles.
In order to enable automatic runtime mapping, you must first list all your persistent classes as described in Section 5.1, "Persistent Class List".
Kodo will run the mapping tool on these classes when your
application obtains its first
kodo.jdbc.SynchronizeMappings property is
a plugin string (see Section 2.4, "Plugin Configuration")
where the class name is the mapping tool action to invoke, and
the properties are the
MappingTool class'
JavaBean properties. These properties correspond go the long
versions of the tool's command line flags.
Example 7.12. Configuring Runtime Forward Mapping
JPA XML format:
<property name="kodo.jdbc.SynchronizeMappings" value="buildSchema(ForeignKeys=true)"/>
JDO properties format:
kodo.jdbc.SynchronizeMappings: buildSchema(ForeignKeys=true)
The setting above corresponds to running the following command:
mappingtool -a buildSchema -fk true

subset: commoncrawl


text:
John Keats
John Keats (31 October 1795 – 23 February 1821 / London, England)
» Click to list general statistics » OR, select a date :
La Belle Dame Sans Merci
Ah, what can ail thee, wretched wight,
Alone and palely loitering?
The sedge is withered from the lake,
And no birds sing.
read more >>
- Hits: Number of visitors who read the poem on the given date.
- Posts: Number of visitors who posted the poem to a friend (via e-mail) on the given date.
- Dates that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list.
- Dates, poems and poets that have "0" hits may not be shown on the list. Statistics are generated daily.


text:
The Queen's Golden Jubilee is fast approaching, and so, an international array of celebrities are already getting ready to party. This includes a Jubilee-inspired collection by Vivienne Westwood, and Karl Lagerfeld turning television commentator in order to provide coverage of events taking place on the day for channel France 2. If that's not exciting enough, London's leading luxury department stores, Harrods and Harvey Nichols are launching a competition to get members of the general public to help to transform their windows into a Fifties style street party just to celebrate the occasion. So, upload your Pinterest mood board entries now to become a part of UK history.
Vivienne Westwood's Jubilee-Inspired Collection
Westwood's Red Carpet Capsule Collection is apparently inspired by some of the Queen's own royal gowns, so get ready for some breathtaking occasion wear, which is nonetheless infused with the Brit designer's legendary style characteristics. The collection includes luxurious fabrics and subtle tones; a wardrobe most definitely fit for a Queen, or even the Duchess of Cambridge. We could easily picture Kate gracing some glamorous events in these pieces, but in reality, that sadly may not happen since good old Viv publicly called Kate unstylish. But who knows? Fashion is one fickle playground.
Right Royal Style
London's famous Victoria and Albert Museum is also playing its part in the celebrations as it's set to host an exhibition dedicated to the Queen. This will feature photographs of the Queen taken over the years by royal photographer Cecil Beaton, which predominantly means that we will get to look back and remember her extravagant and luxurious style from years gone by. Think of a mix between her pretty tea dresses for her casual playing in the back garden with the corgis days, meets full on diva glam with her diamond encrusted gowns accessorised with a blinging crown!
Let the street party fash-offs begin!
Images: Vogue UK, GraziaDaily


text:
#RSL Tweets of the Day (@RealSaltLake)
#RSL's @jeffcassar & @kylebeckerman turn hard lessons from VAN match into unlikely comeback victory at CHI http://www.mlssoccer.com/news/article/2014/05/04/real-salt-lake-turn-hard-lessons-last-match-unlikely-comeback-victory-vs-chi …
3 points on the road and a come from behind victory never felt better. This group never quits. Thanks for the support #RSLFamily!
Up early & back to SLC w/ 3 PTS. Showed a lot of character from the boys to come back & see the match all the way through. Focus now Houston
Handsome Luke @LukeMulholland8
But first... Let us take a road win selfie #comebackcity http://instagram.com/p/njzB6UGElY/
Late Saborío, Plata goals bring unbeaten Real Salt Lake back against Chicago, keep Fire winless http://wp.me/p2g4vo-18K6
RealSaltLake.com: HIGHLIGHTS: RSL at Chicago Fire - May 3, 2014
RealSaltLake.com: RSL at Chicago Fire, Ford Postgame Show: Jeff Cassar
RealSaltLake.com: RSL at Chicago Fire, Ford Postgame Show: Ned Grabavoy
ABC 4: RSL completes torrid comeback to beat Chicago 3-2
ESPN 700: RSL Postgame Show – 5-3-14
Real Salt Lake News & Notes
RealSaltLake.com: Recap: RSL 3-2 Chicago Fire
RealSaltLake.com: RSL turn hard lessons from last match into unlikely comeback victory at Chicago
RealSaltLake.com: Quote Sheet: RSL 3-2 Chicago Fire
MLSsoccer.com: Chicago Fire 2, Real Salt Lake 3 | MLS Match Recap
The Salt Lake Tribune: Real Salt Lake scores two late goals to beat Chicago 3-2
The Salt Lake Tribune: RSL notes: Grabavoy, Schuler, Lagerway at home in Chicago
Deseret News: Real Salt Lake flips the script, scores 2 late goals to earn memorable win over Chicago
Pro Soccer Talk: Late Saborío, Plata goals bring unbeaten Real Salt Lake back, keep Fire winless
Soccerly.com: Real Salt Lake Pulls Off Stunning Victory in Chicago
For the Fans, By the Fans
RSL Soapbox: RSL demoralizes the Fire overcoming a 2-0 deficit to win
MLS, Other News & Notes
MLSsoccer.com: New York Red Bulls with lineup dilemma vs. Dallas as Tim Cahill, Bobby Convey, Richard Eckersley healthy
MLSsoccer.com: Toronto FC 1, New England Revolution 2 | MLS Match Recap
MLSsoccer.com: Toronto FC boss Ryan Nelsen questions referee call that led to decisive penalty vs. Revs: "I've never seen it before"
MLSsoccer.com: New England Revolution rookie Patrick Mullins earns praise for goal-scoring effort in Toronto: "He was excellent"
MLSsoccer.com: Armchair Analyst: The best MLS player you're not watching plays for the New England Revolution
MLSsoccer.com: Vancouver Whitecaps 3, San Jose Earthquakes 2 | MLS Match Recap
MLSsoccer.com: Two goals no consolation for San Jose Earthquakes' Chris Wondolowski: "Klinsmann likes winners"
MLSsoccer.com: Vancouver Whitecaps coach Carl Robinson credits "absolutely sensational" start for win
MLSsoccer.com: Colorado Rapids 1, LA Galaxy 0 | MLS Match Recap
MLSsoccer.com: Colorado Rapids forward Vicente Sanchez earns rave reviews after delivering gorgeous winner
MLSsoccer.com: LA Galaxy disgusted after dropping game "they should never lose" vs. Colorado Rapids
MLSsoccer.com: Seattle Sounders 2, Philadelphia Union 1 | MLS Match Recap
MLSsoccer.com: Philadelphia Union coach John Hackworth laments critical mistakes in loss at Seattle
MLSsoccer.com: Seattle Sounders teammates praise the play of defender Chad Marshall after 'stellar' game
MLSsoccer.com: Chivas USA 1, Houston Dynamo 4 | MLS Match Recap
MLSsoccer.com: Chivas USA left to lament flat performance after latest loss: "It's not acceptable"
MLSsoccer.com: Houston Dynamo not deterred by early setback in win over Chivas USA: "Our response was fantastic"
MLSsoccer.com: Portland Timbers 3, DC United 2 | MLS Match Recap
MLSsoccer.com: Maximiliano Urruti channels a little more Portland sports magic to lift Timbers past DC United
MLSsoccer.com: DC United head coach Ben Olsen laments "amateur" late play in dramatic loss to the Portland Timbers
Fox Soccer: MLS Roundup: Portland wins first game, RSL late show shocks Chicago


text:
Debates in Development: The Search for Answers
Thursday, March 22, 2012, 9am - 5pm
Add to Calendar
"Debates in Development: The Search for Answers," a one-day conference organized by New York University's Development Research Institute and featuring scholars on both sides of fierce debates on the way forward for the global War on Poverty, will take place Thurs., March 22, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Cooper Union's Great Hall (7 East 7th St. [at Cooper Square]).
Andrew Rugasira, founder and chairman of Good African Coffee, will deliver the keynote address, "Finding Answers in the Global Market" (2-3 p.m.).
The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required by clicking here. For more information, call 212.992.7485 or email email@example.com (Subways: 6, Astor Place; N, R, 8th Street). Photo ID required for entry.
Reporters interested in attending the event must RSVP to Laura Freschi at firstname.lastname@example.com or 212.992.7491.
In 2003, Rugasira began training farmers to grow high-quality coffee in the Rwenzori Mountains in Western Uganda. By operating a roasting and packaging facility in Kampala, Rugasira and the small, independent farmers in his network keep more of the value added than average exporters of agricultural products. Today, his network includes 14,000 farmers and his Good African Coffee is sold in supermarkets throughout the UK and online in the US. His keynote speech will elaborate on the home-grown efforts of African entrepreneurs to reap the fruits of globalization and improve the livelihoods of their own people.
MIT Professors Abhijit Banerjee and Esther Duflo will present their new experimental approach to fighting poverty, featured in their best-selling new book, Poor Economics. They will face their fiercest critic in Angus Deaton of Princeton in the session "Searching for Answers with Randomized Experiments" (10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.).
Professors William Easterly and Yaw Nyarko, co-directors of DRI, will deliver the conference's opening remarks (10-10:45 a.m.). The final session will be "Development Goals, Evaluation, and Learning from Projects in Africa" (3:30-5 p.m.). A complete schedule of sessions and speakers may be found here.
The Development Research Institute (DRI) is devoted to rigorous, scholarly research on the economic development and growth of poor countries. An independent and non-partisan organization, DRI builds upon a foundation of academic research comparing aid agency practices and surveying the thinking behind aid projects. For more, go to http://nyudri.org.


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OUTDOORS: Walk in the winter woods
Cross country skis have been stacked in the corner gathering dust. Snowshoes set unused. Snowmobiles are parked on the trailer except for an occasional trip to the central Adirondacks. With the inconsistent snowfall in this area so far this winter a lot of the traditional sports or outings have been ignored.
Hunting and steelhead fishing are always options but not all people engage in these sports in winter. For those who want to get outdoors there is still an option without snow. Take a walk in the winter woods. With, or without, snow it is still an opportunity to get exercise and fresh air, see some interesting things and enjoy the woods from a different perspective.
Take a long or short walk down your favorite hiking trail. Travel some old railroad bed, a log road, or even some seasonal road through a state forest that is devoid of vehicular traffic this winter. Dress properly, set your own pace and be observant to some of the rhythms of nature in winter.
To some people the woods or fields may seem cold, barren and desolate in winter. But if you are observant and curious a whole new world may be unveiled to you. The landforms and objects that were hidden by summer's lush foliage are now revealed, showing some rock formations, streams, or other natural features that you did not know were there.
With or without snow cover the old roads and trails are now evident. Ruts or sculpted terrain show signs of a long ago farm or log road. Deer trails that were hidden by thick briers, vines or weeds are now evident both in the snow and on the bare ground. Old stonewalls stand as a testament to the hardiness and perseverance of farmers a few generations ago when the land was cleared and continually picked clear of stones each plowing season.
Combine the walk with deer scouting. Trails and other signs such as rubs are now more evident. If there is a lack of snow cover you may be lucky to find some shed antlers. Frequently scan the area ahead or on either side of you and you may be fortunate to see several deer. At this time they are likely to be in groups and if there is a light snow cover on the ground they are more visible.
To some people it seems that the woods are devoid of life since most of the birds that inhabited the area have gone south for the winter. However, if you are in the right place, such as near an evergreen thicket, you may see and hear plenty of winter residents such as blue jays, crossbills, chickadees and others. Sometimes you may be lucky and see less common birds such as a barred owl feeding in daylight or even an eagle if you are near open water.
More likely you will see the signs of wildlife if you know what to look for. If there is a light snow you can study the tracks of the unseen inhabitants. A fox's tracks that end in a flurry of snow shows where he pounced on a field mouse for lunch. If you see what appear to be dog tracks, they may well be coyote tracks. A coyote's tracks are usually in a straighter line with the front and back paws lined up. By contrast a domestic dog usually leaves tracks that wander all over and paw prints rarely line up.
During the warmer weather squirrels will emerge from their sleep and scurry about in search of food they have hidden. Both a squirrel when bounding, and a rabbit in its normal hopping pattern will leave prints where the hind paws land in front of the front paws. However if the tracks end at a tree, you can safely bet that it is a squirrel.
Going alongside a stream with steep banks can sometime reveal a worn area where some critter has been sliding down the bank into the water repeatedly. This is a sign that an otter or two has been frequenting the area and taking a break to have some fun. A random pile of feathers or fur without nearby tracks shows that some hawk or owl has been "dining al fresco" on a hapless rabbit or squirrel.
Be sure to take your camera for some interesting and unique shots of scenery. Carry water, snacks, sunglasses, and possibly hand warmers or toe warmer packets. Wear proper footgear and avoiding getting wet feet. In summer it can be inconvenient; in winter it can be a lot more serious.
If you are not familiar with where you are going or are taking a longer hike, be sure to have a map, compass, or possibly GPS unit. Carry a small emergency kit in your fanny pack or pocket and be sure to include space blankets. These fold into compact little packets but are essential if you should become stranded.
Dress sensibly and be prepared for changes in weather. It is best to dress in layers that you can add or remove depending on your exercise level and weather. Just remember to add or remove a layer before you get too sweaty or too cold. A light day pack to carry your unused clothing and extra gloves is recommended.
Make it a point to explore or investigate some new area or even revisit a familiar one for a new perspective. Don't just sit home and wish for spring. Take a walk in the winter woods.
NY SAFE Act 2013: There are many questions regarding the NYS laws enacted Jan. 15. The laws affected many things and the original document is 73 pages. Some of the news articles created erroneous impressions in their condensed versions.
In an effort to help the public, a web site and hotline have been established by NYS to answer all questions about the SAFE (Secure Ammunition and Firearms Enforcement) Act. The web site (www.nysafeact.com) attempts to explain in more detail and give timelines for various aspects to take effect. It will also have a section of frequently asked questions and answers.
The NY State police have also established a hotline: 1855-LAW GUNS (1-855-529-4867). It will be available Monday through Friday staffed by state police.
Great Backyard Bird Count: Do you want to have some fun and satisfy your curiosity while helping science? Participate in this year's Great Backyard Bird Count sponsored jointly by Cornell University and the Audubon Society. You can spend as little as 15 minutes or all day noting the number of individual species of birds in your backyard and then recording it on the website. It is free, easy, and useful
Mark the dates of February 15-18 on your calendar and check the website www.birdsource.org. Scientists use this information to note changes in migration patterns, the influence of weather, effects of disease, diversity of species and much more. You will also be notified of results and how your survey compares with others and future news of trends and major shifts in bird activity.
Safest Hunting Season On Record: The 2012 New York hunting season had the lowest number of hunting-related shooting incidents on record, NYS DEC Commissioner Joe Martens announced recently. These declining statistics prove that New York does have a safety-conscious generation of hunters, in great thanks to the committed efforts of more than 2,500 volunteer Sportsman Education Instructors.
The 2012 season included 24 personal incidents with just over half being self-inflicted. Most unfortunate were two fatalities that occurred during the deer season where the individuals were shot by members of their own hunting group. Incidents involving two or more individuals stress the importance of one of hunting's basic tenets: identifying your target and what lies beyond. There were no hunting-related shooting incidents reported during the first youth hunt for deer that took place this past Columbus Day weekend.
Multi-State Pistol Class: Those who hunt or travel in other states may be interested in a special class of pistol permit which allows concealed carry in 33 states, including Ohio and Pennsylvania. To obtain this permit you must take a special class. A group is being organized by Lou Pulverenti who will make arrangements for the class. If you are interested call Lou at 264-9033.
Thanks to CNY Show: Thanks to Teri Maciag and her crew from Holy Cross Academy for putting on another excellent CNY Sportsman's Show. The variety and quality of the exhibits and seminars provided a great opportunity for area sportsmen.


text:
Story highlights
- Bob Greene: Cigarette companies fighting a government mandate; they may be right
- They say requiring them to show graphic warnings on packs hurts free speech
- Whatever you think about scourge of cigarettes, their argument is compelling, he says
- Greene: Cigarette companies have long pushed a dangerous product. Do they have the right?
The cigarette companies -- and, boy, it's hard to say this -- may turn out to be right.
Not "right" in the sense we usually think of the word. The death, suffering and heartache that cigarettes have brought to millions of families is no longer in serious dispute.
But in the courts right now, it is beginning to look as if those gruesome, graphic warning illustrations that were supposed to be plastered all over packs of cigarettes might not happen after all.
You know the illustrations -- there has been abundant advance publicity about them. A photograph of a diseased lung, a picture of a tracheotomy hole in a man's throat, an illustration of a man with his bare chest surgically stitched up, a picture of rotting teeth. The full-color illustrations were mandated by the government to cover the entire top half of the front and back of every package of cigarettes. They were intended to be so revolting and so visually inescapable that potential customers would turn away.
But five tobacco manufacturers have argued in federal court that what the government has ordered is in violation of the First Amendment. The cigarette companies say that freedom of speech must not be trampled upon -- and that for the government to tell private companies what large, ugly, dominant illustrations they must print on their packages is an infringement upon basic American principles.
The government derives the power to do this from the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act of 2009, which was enacted by Congress. The R.J. Reynolds Co., manufacturer of Camel, Kool, Winston and Salem cigarettes, has said that the government-ordered images are "intended to elicit loathing, disgust and repulsion."
U.S. District Judge Richard Leon appears to believe the cigarette manufacturers have a strong case. Back in November he issued a temporary injunction that blocked the forced publication of the images. At a hearing this month, he said: "There's nothing on the record to suggest that Congress gave any clear and thoughtful analysis on the First Amendment implications of this." He promised to have a final ruling soon.
No matter how much many of us may dislike what cigarettes have done to the nation's health, the First Amendment argument is a compelling one. The government risks setting a troubling precedent when, regardless of how laudable the intentions, it tells someone -- either a person or a company -- that it must say and show things that aggressively advocate against the person's or company's own interests. That's the slipperiest of slopes to start sliding down.
What about the text-only warning labels that have appeared on packs of cigarettes for decades? The cigarette companies have never liked them either, of course. But the argument in court is that there is a legal distinction between requiring labels that state facts and requiring illustrations that serve to actively advocate against the purchase of the product. The government believes that public health concerns are paramount; the cigarette companies contend that nothing outweighs free speech.
The tobacco manufacturers, as we all know, have long made ample use of their own free speech. Some of the old advertisements for cigarettes, when you come upon them now, are simply astonishing.
I recently saw a November 1936 national magazine advertisement for Camels, which presented cheerful, colorfully illustrated, course-by-course instructions on how to smoke five cigarettes at the table during Thanksgiving dinner to achieve "the peaceful feeling that comes from good digestion and smoking Camels."
Among the tips: Start with tomato soup and "smoke a Camel right after the soup." Before asking for a second helping of turkey, "smoke another Camel. Camels ease tension." After the salad course, another Camel, which "clears the palate and sets the stage for dessert." It goes on.
In 1954, when health concerns about cigarettes were gaining momentum, the Old Gold brand took out a double-spread national magazine ad that all but mocked the medical evidence. "America, we love you!" the ad began. "Thanks again for putting your trust in the cigarette made by tobacco men ... not medicine men ... We promise! Old Gold will continue to cure just one thing: the world's best tobaccos ... Smoke Old Golds for a treat instead of a treatment."
If, in 2012, cigarettes were a new prescription drug, or a new over-the-counter medication, or a new snack, and the government knew what it knows now about the health ramifications, such a product would never be approved for consumer use. It would be yanked from the shelves right away.
But cigarettes aren't a new product. They have a history of being sold legally. So the government is telling the manufacturers that they must run those illustrations to drive people away.
Will it transpire -- will the government get its way? Or will the cigarette companies' First Amendment argument prevail?
It has long been axiomatic that free speech stops at the right to yell "Fire!" in a crowded theater.
But do cigarette marketers have the unfettered right to enthusiastically yell "Smoke!" to a crowded nation?
You can almost bet that this one is going to end up in front of the U.S. Supreme Court. What a case it will be.
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The Village of Santa Aquilina
The village of Santa Aquilina belongs to the municipality of Rimini, in the province of Rimini, region Emilia-Romagna.
>>>COVID-19<<< Data about spreading of Covid-19 in Santa Aquilina are not yet available.
For the province of Rimini, to whom Santa Aquilina belongs, on 2020-05-28 are reported 2,150 cases. In the previos day there were 2,145 cases, thus having a variation of 5 cases, i.e. 0.23% with reference to the number of cases reported in the previous day.
Please follow this link for updated information on Covid-19 including new cases and percentage changes for the whole of Italy, regions and individual provinces
The village of Santa Aquilina is 6,10 kilometers far from the same town of Rimini to whom it belongs.
To the municipality of Rimini also belong the localities of Bellariva (5,81 km), Belvedere (6,14 km), Borgo Nuovo (11,32 km), Ca' Acquabuona (4,15 km), Ca' Guda (4,06 km), Ca' Palloni (4,21 km), Ca' Rinaldi (4,45 km), Ca' Spina (9,55 km), Ca' Tentoni (11,82 km), Ca' Tomba (7,58 km), Calastra Nuova (5,56 km), Calorè (9,11 km), Casalecchio (7,98 km), Case della Fossa (6,14 km), Case Monte Cieco (10,32 km), Case Orsoleto (5,41 km), Case Pradese (5,51 km), Case sparse (-- km), Casetti (5,80 km), Casetti Prazzolo (3,81 km), Corpolò (12,71 km), Dogana (11,86 km), Fienili (8,98 km), Fornace (10,83 km), Fornace di Miramare (8,56 km), Fornace Marchesini (7,83 km), Gaiofana (7,19 km), Gaiofana DI Vergiano (7,11 km), Ghetto Casale (5,91 km), Ghetto Masere (6,79 km), Ghetto Mavos (4,58 km), Ghetto Petini (4,47 km), Ghetto Piccinelli (5,17 km), Ghetto Randuzzi (6,10 km), Ghetto Tamagnino (8,45 km), Ghetto Tombanuova (8,39 km), Grillo (7,33 km), Il Palazzone (5,56 km), La Brusada (5,72 km), La Cerbaiola (9,20 km), La Fasolina (4,95 km), La Zingarina (8,28 km), Lagone (7,94 km), Le Casette (9,17 km), Macanno (5,80 km), Malte (5,47 km), Marano (9,66 km), Miramare di Rimini (8,59 km), Missiroli (7,23 km), Monte Cieco (10,36 km), Morri (10,52 km), Mulino Carlotti (4,30 km), Orsoleto (6,16 km), Osteria (10,33 km), Osteria del Bagno (7,15 km), Osteria del Fiume (9,55 km), Pelito (7,61 km), Pozzi (8,67 km), Rivabella (0,77 km), Rivazzurra (7,09 km), Sabanelli (4,70 km), San Fortunato (4,26 km), San Giuliano (0,81 km), San Giuliano a Mare (1,26 km), San Lorenzo In Correggiano (7,46 km), San Martino In Riparotta (4,86 km), San Martino in Venti (8,69 km), San Martino Monte L'Abate (5,76 km), San Paolo (12,02 km), San Salvatore (9,31 km), San Vito (11,17 km), Santa Cristina (13,65 km), Santa Giustina (8,06 km), Santa Maria in Cerreto (8,06 km), Spadarolo (5,38 km), Stazione Vergiano (6,71 km), Torre Pedrera (6,53 km), Tramontana (10,24 km), Urbinità (9,14 km), Vergiano (6,60 km), Villa Francolini (5,12 km), Viserba (2,58 km), Viserba Monte (2,10 km), Viserbella (4,19 km).
The number in parentheses following each village name indicate the distance between the same village and the municipality of Rimini.
Please notice that in what follows no statistic nor population data are available at the moment: the same are available for the Italian places having al least the status of municipalities ad for most of the villages too.
The distribution of the most commun family names is equally unavailable.
Please find in what follows:
- The banks in Santa Aquilina, when available.
- The parishes in Santa Aquilina, when available.
- The pharmacies in Santa Aquilina, when available.
- Weather and weather forecast for the municipality of Rimini, to whom Santa Aquilina belongs.
- Hotels in Santa Aquilina and its surroundings.
- Free ads in Santa Aquilina and in its province and region too.
- Map and road map of Santa Aquilina.
- A selection of videos about Santa Aquilina.
In the hamlet of Santa Aquilina there is no bank.
Please look at the closest banks in the town of Rimini, to whom Santa Aquilina belongs.
There is no pharmacy in the hamlet of Santa Aquilina.
Please look at the closest pharmacies in the town of Rimini, to whom Santa Aquilina belongs.
The parishes in Santa Aquilina
There are no parishes in Santa Aquilina.
Please look at the closest parishes in the town of Rimini, to whom Santa Aquilina belongs.
Where to stay in Santa Aquilina and its neighborhoods
Hotels, Resorts, B&B in Santa Aquilina and its neighborhoods.
You can arrange the results by number of stars, by popularity, by distance or even by the guest review score choosing among young couples, mature couples, families with young children, families with older children, people withfriends, or solo travellers.
Free ads in Santa Aquilina
Most recent free ads in Santa Aquilina, municipality of Rimini, province of Rimini, Emilia-Romagna region, updated at 12:43:09, 29 May 2020. Place your free ad on Santa Aquilina: no registration needed. Place your free ad.
Up to now there is no free ad placed in Santa Aquilina
|Most recent free ads in the province of Rimini
|Rimpatriata con CRISTINA e la IV B 1979 - Forlì
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|Tranquillo ed ampio trilocale, a due passi dal mare
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Map and road map of Santa Aquilina
Look at the interactive map of Santa Aquilina and get the road maps, the satellite maps and the mixed ones too. Interactive maps of Santa Aquilina also allow an immediate view of: bar,restaurants,pubs,pizzerias,dancing,night clubs,banks,jewellers,beauty centers,hair stylists,supermarkets,pharmacies.
Just fill in the free text search box placed on top of the map with any of previous categories and then press enter.
Please feel free to use the same free text search box placed on top of the map to find any kind of business activities you're interested into.
Videos about Santa Aquilina Rimini, Rimini, Emilia-Romagna
Several videos about Santa Aquilina, Rimini, Rimini, Emilia-Romagna.
A first video is shown: clicking on the PLAY button the video will start.
Inside the video window there are several commands and a Playlist button: .
Press the Playlist button to access the complete listing of the available videos, along with their titles. It will suffice to scroll through the list using the cursor to select any of the videos.
Once the video started you can use the and buttons to scroll through the videos. Each video can be displayed in full screen.


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September 30, 2010
Dear Tesla Motors engineers,
I would like to start off saying that Tesla Motors is really cool and all of your hard work is very appreciated. My question in regards to the roadster is, is it possible for future roadsters to have either suicide doors or sliding doors? I just wanted to know because I am not a fan of regular car doors and having either one of the options would be very practical ,at least for me, and comfortable. Thank you for taking the time to read my message and have a good day.


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Glide along @CB_Connector from #CincyCyclones Stop 1 @TheBanksCincy to #FindlayMarket and #OTR and back again. Pa… https://t.co/Bt3rB8ws3b
Bouchard's offers fresh, take-home desserts, pastas and sauces and made-to-order salads, pasta and flat bread pizzas. Originally from Huntington, West Virginia, mother and son combination, Renee and Jody Bouchard have always enjoyed doing things t...read more


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A man on trial for allegedly planning attacks on Israeli tourists in Cyprus has admitted being a member of the militant group Hezbollah and staking out locations that such visitors frequent, a lawyer says.
Lawyer Antonis Georgiades also said Hossam Taleb Yaacoub, who is Swedish and Lebanese, told a Cyprus court Wednesday that he came to this country on business with no plan to harm anyone.
But Yaacoub admitted an unidentified man in Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based, gave him the "mission" of recording flight arrivals and bus routes of Israeli tourists and checking out a hospital parking lot.
Cyprus police arrested Yaacoub in July, several days before a suicide bomber killed five Israeli tourists and a Bulgarian bus driver in Bulgaria. Officials there suspect Hezbollah operatives were involved.


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Item #40025 is currently out of stock. At this time, we do not have an expected arrival date.
If you would like to be notified when this item is available again, please fill out the information below and we will send you an email when the item is back in stock:


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oronoa necesitaba un nuevo diseño de logotipo y lanzó un concurso de diseño en 99designs.
Un ganador ha sido elegido entre 526 diseños de 150 diseñadores freelance.
We need a beautiful logo for an expert questions / answers market place regarding information on various business subjects.
99 experts
Our company will offer an information market place for individuals and businesses looking to get answers for tough business questions.
"Get quality answers for tough questions from industry experts. In a quick and cost effective way."
The name of the web site is 99 experts. As in 99 experts who can answer your questions. The web site may have sub sections for specific topics, such as "99 mobile experts", "99 fashion experts", "99 financial experts"
please try to show one sample on how you suggest modifying the logo to support that.
Some attributes for the design : authority, knowledgeable, precise, complete, helpful, fast.
Before I get flamed, I know this is basically 99 designs for QA. Honestly, we registered the domain in 2005 long before 99designs was in operation (I think) and the idea was just waiting for the right time.
How we rate your designs on 99 designs:
2 stars and below - not really what we are after.
3 stars - try some revisions or a different take on your design
4 stars - design is being considered
5 stars - we really like the design and will make our final selections from these.
- Business Oriented
- Authority
- Possible Bluish tones, again something with authority.
- Clean typeface.
- Legible
- Simple, less is more
- Memorable
- Vector Graphics (Adobe Illustrator file)
- no clichés (no magnifying glass, web 2.0 reflections etc)
- no .com or www and such in the logo
- no neon colours
- "99" should not be the focus of the logo. This is just a number easy to remember not more than that.
- Question mark in the logo - we supply answers not questions.
Descubre cómo funciona un concurso de diseño u obtén más información sobre nuestros servicios de diseño de logo.


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This is a link to an interesting article on PaaS and containers:
Isn't is fascinating how creative our industry is? There are so many definitions and interpretations of a single term that everybody can be anything nowadays. I picked the cloud broker term as an example.
Sure there are definitions out there, e.g. by NIST. But as with cloud computing definitions themselves companies tend to create there own definitions. Sometimes because they have a different view or sometimes to jump on a trend by using the same name. The result though is the same:
So what can a Cloud Broker be?
- It can be an Cloud Automation Tool, e.g. T-Systems Cloud Broker or Dell Cloud Manager
- It can be a Consultant that helps the customer to sort out cloud offers, e.g. Cloud Sherpas
- A local software that helps to manage clouds, quite undefined and I do lack a good example
Especially the latter category proves to be worng labeling rather than a helpful approach. The terminology we use creates expectations. And we should strive to fulfill these or at least clarify them right from the start.
One of the expectations that comes with the term Cloud Broker is a vendor agnostic approach, at least for me. A Broker must support different cloud providers and not favor one over the other but rather choose the best solution for any requirement. This brings us to the next critical area. Can a cloud broker be a reseller or should it be an independent platform? The opinions on this are a broadly distributed. I believe from a customer perspective a truly vendor agnostic approach means no reselling but I have also seen customer wanting both.
This brings me to a closure of today's post. As a customer ask and ask until you are really sure what is in it beyond the label. As a provider try to be precise. I do know that sometimes even the established labels are kind of confusing, think iPaaS. Only communications can help.
One of the famous statements of Henry Ford is "If I'd asked customers what they wanted, they would have said 'a faster horse'." Why is this statement relevant for a cloud computing discussion? Quite simply this is because today cloud services for enterprises are sold as the faster horse rather than the creator of new opportunities.
Where the T-Model was not new in a sense that there have been cars before, the key invention is not mass production (that is an enabler) but the way to address new target customers and new scenarios. If it would just have been the transport of a single person from A to B horses and trains would probably have been sufficient. But The T-Model addressed new scenarios as well. Put a belt on the axle of a T-Model and you can operate machines which is a business benefit especially in the agricultural scene. Here the horse could just not compete.
So is cloud computing now a faster horse or a Model T? Actually it is a bid of both. Much like the T-Model improves cost and transportation load, cloud computing surely reduces cost and improves performance. But if you sell it just on that, you sell it short. Cloud Computing is so much more and the one who is able to identify and much more important tell this story to his customers will be successful. It is all about the business benefits.
Imagine that your story is not about making the price per mailbox cheaper but enabling scenarios of mobile collaboration, of event management with reduced effort of enabling a better parental break process and much more important a highly improved integration of mothers (and fathers) coming back to business after a break.
One of the effects is that the decision power moves – from IT to business departments – from IT to end users. You think that is overrated? I do not and my best prove is the widespread use of iPhones and iPads as supported IT devices. No and that is a 100% no. Still even enterprises that stick to Windows XP do have these devices in the range of supported IT equipment. Business departments will need flexible access to development platforms, sandbox system environments, etc. The challenge for IT is that they are not willing anymore to order these internally, wait for provisioning and so. The same happens in the collaboration space but let's look at that specifically from another perspective.
Many, especially in Germany, perceive cloud computing as risky not to say too risky. But not to participate in cloud computing is a risk in itself as well. Imagine that you do not offer comparable services. What will happen if someone needs to share a file with a customer, colleague, partner but mail does not work due to the file size; a collaboration platform like e.g. SharePoint is not available or not accessible from outside of the company. The solution to the user is to utilize a consumer cloud service like Dropbox. You may forbid your users to do so but it will happen nonetheless. The business need is there. Another example is voice and video. Your internal system does not offer any UC or requires a separate telephone dial in for voice? Your user will jump to e.g. Google+ Hangouts. The crux with these systems is that they are completely outside of your control, contractual, security wise and from a content ownership perspective.
The answer is you need to find the right mix. This also opens a huge can of worms with regards to management and control of the multitude of services. To manage a more complex environment calls for new services which create a layer to ease up this management for customers. A look at these services will follow in one of the next blog posts. Stay tuned.
I woke up soaked in sweat due to a scream. It has been an unpleasant hot and humid night here in London. The scream itself was no surprise as my apartment not only did not have any air conditioning but also was in a part of the city where family violence was not uncommon. I often wondered whether living in the belt with some green around me and a more pleasant neighborhood would be worth the daily commute into London. But I despised the idea to sit in a metal tube with hundreds of other sweating commuters especially on a hot summer day. So I lived in London and used either cabs or my bike for transport.
Being half awake after a night with bad sleep on a morning that gives no fresh air or cold breeze is a feeling I hate. Rather that turning on the light I stood up in the dark and walked to my bathroom to the sound of creaking floorboards. Entering the bathroom was a relief as it was the only halfway cool room. Honestly, I would have slept there if possible. Only the size of exactly a toilet and a small shower stopped me.
After a hot and cold shower due to the water supply system not because I chose so, I stood in the small kitchen and drank some water from the fridge. I had no clue what was on the agenda today but that is the reason I do spend my money on technology rather than better accommodation. I started my jTab, the newest and latest tablet and fully cloud integrated. I am relying heavily on cloud based devices which is another advantage of living in the city. There is always a connection, WiFi, LTE or 4G. No need for local storage or computing power. I have really welcomed the cloud when it appeared on the sky as much as I would welcome any cloud on today's sky that would shed some shadow or even bring some cooling rain. But to my surprise I was not able to get any connection this morning. I even tried my Smartphone, no wireless network available. Hmm, never mind, it probably is some local glitch. So I start my calendar app and checked my meetings for the day. The day starts with a meeting at the airport. Actually it is at the old airport, the one called Heathrow, which is only used by privately owned jets nowadays. Back in the beginning of the century it once was one of the biggest airports in the world but also a constant nuisance. Luckily, they kept the old Heathrow Express system in place so I only need to get down to Paddington Station get a ticket and jump on the train. Usually I would have booked the ticket online but hey, I am flexible.
Grabbing my bag I left my apartment and made my way down the old stairway to the street. I was hoping to grab a cab and thought my chances were quite good this early in the morning on a hot day. Surprisingly there were plenty of people in the street and only very few cabs. While I made my way in the direction of the inner city on foot, I was able to grab bits and pieces of communications. There was an elderly lady on the way to the doctor but couldn't get a cab as they refused to transport any passengers not paying in cash. Then there was the mother close to panic, not being able to pull cash from an ATM. I later figured out that no ATM worked anymore in all of London. I had some 200 Euro in cash. Even so the UK moved to the Euro in 2020, I am still not used to it. Finally after having walked two blocks I was able to hail a cab and made my way to the station.
But there was a big surprise waiting for me there. Rather than the usual 35 Euros the cabbie asked for 120 Euros. With some discussion we finally settled for 75 Euros mainly due to me threatening him to stay in the cab all day preventing him from ripping off other customers. He raced off and I was standing at curbside wondering what really had just happened. Slowly I made my way into the station and stepped to one of the ticket machines. It was no surprise that there were no queues, everybody got their tickets online these days. The reason today though was that all ticket machines were down with an out-of-order message on the screen. So what now? I pulled my smartphone from the bag and tried to open the railway app. But even though I was deep in the city center by now, I still had no connection at all. From the postures and faces of the people in the station I figured that it was not a problem I had exclusively.
When they moved the ticket sales more or less completely online, they also got rid of the ticket booths manned by real humans, save for one. In front of this one booth there was queue now that came close to one hundred folks trying to get tickets for all kinds of public transport, not only the Heathrow Express. In fact only a minority would be going my direction. So what could I do now? Without any way to get to Heathrow, it would be a save bet that a trip by cab would cost more than what I had in cash; I took a look at the next item on my agenda. There were no meetings that really required my presence and so I decided to call it a day in hope of the return of the cloud on the next day.
Giving the fact that I was in the city already I decided to stay there and grab some lunch. I had not realized that the whole trip and the confusion had taken more time than expected and so I actually was hungry and the clock turned to midday. I had a small favorite restaurant called Levantine around the corner from Paddington Station but that had closed years ago. So I started to wander around on the lookout for a nice place to eat. The change in the city was obvious. Where usually there is a constant stream of locals as well as tourists and there were huge crowds in the morning, the city now appeared to be empty. It felt as if someone had pulled the plug and all the people just disappeared. It seemed that the combination of the humid summer heat and the lack of cloud, making it impossible to work, to commute and to communicate drove the people inwards. This combined with the immanent issue that only cash worked as a payment method obviously resulted in people staying at home.
It was also impossible to get any consistent news since TV and radio networks were transferred to cloud based delivery forms some years ago as well. Only the military and some freaks still had and operated radios. Maybe these freaks were just prepared? On a second thought about being prepared I directed my steps to a place where I knew a supermarket would be. I was wondering whether people already started to fill up their stock of water and food. But nobody was to be seen. When I came closer to the supermarket I was able to read the sign: "Closed until the internet connection could be restored". Thinking about it, while I walked into a park looking for some trees to give shadow, I realized that in the past years most systems were designed to be connected directly to the cloud and more or less dependent on it. While in the beginning of century there were many systems that would work on their own, nowadays, no connection means no functionality. Also I do remember the old days when I was working for a global software company in one of their German offices. When the office was disconnected due to some technical glitch, me and my colleagues just went home and worked from there. At that time we were the lucky ones and ahead of the curve. By now home office work, virtual workplaces and full flexibility are the norm. But this norm just went away, at least for London. I have no idea whether this issue is geographically restricted or actually is happening country-wide.
I still needed some lunch, giving the fact that my fridge at home hold more cold air than anything substantial to eat. Grabbing some canned food on the way would also be a nice thing. So I started to walk into the direction of my home. By now only very few cabs were still on the street. Probably the majority of them ran out of gas when the tank stations closed or the drivers ran out of cash. I neglected the idea to stop one and ask for a ride home. I had no illusion that the little cash left would not suffice. So I continued walking. On leaving the inner city and getting into the suburbs one thing was evident. In the communities with a majority of citizens with a foreign heritage the impact was less visible than in the city itself. Life to some degree went on. I sat down in a Turkish restaurant and got some, very nice, food. While enjoying the food and not to forget my cold drink, I watched what happened around me. One of my first observations was that it seemed that much more cash was available and changing hands here. Secondly people seemed to help each other. What a difference to the area I lived in. You could be lucky if the neighbor called the ambulance when you were dying on her doorstep. I started to wonder whether we all had become too technology dependent. What would a Face+ friend help once all of the cloud disappeared? I started to envy the strong community in this neighborhood. Before that feeling got to strong I paid, a price that seemed to be the same as the day before, and started walking again. At a small shop an Indian sold me some bottles of water and some canned ravioli.
I kept on walking and was soaked through the second time this day. It was getting closer to dawn now and the more I got closer to my place the more the streets were deserted. I was still believing that this was due to the heat and that I lived in a save neighborhood until I heard the first car window shatter. A group of teenagers was working its way from car to car, breaking windows and taking out any valuables. I was wondering why they operated in such a calm manner until I realized that the chances of someone alarming the police were quite low. Nobody had any landlines any more, not that these have been any good in London anyhow. And the police probably ran out of gas like anybody else. I doubt that the police had a cash reserve for days like today as part of an emergency program. Staying in the shadows and trying not to be seen I slowly made further progress towards home. By now I was sweating not due to the heat but to a growing feeling of fear.
Only two blocks to go and this was the moment when I remembered what happened in 2011 when there were riots in the streets of London. Breaking into the cars is just the beginning and with shock I registered that in the block I lived in there were a bank and a supermarket. What if people started to attack these with Molotov cocktails and the resulting fire is spreading to my home. Not a pleasant thought but I got me back on focus and I was pressing on towards home. The closer I got the more audible became the siren from the supermarket. There were already about 20-30 people looting the supermarket. Unnoticed I slipped into the hallway and started to make my way up the stairs.
When I was close before reaching my level there was a loud thunder from below that shook the house and I started to fall down the stairs …
… I woke up soaked in sweat due to a thunder. It has been an unpleasant hot and humid night here in London. Luckily there was the beginning of a nice rain out there, that would hopefully cool down the city. I kept lying for a few minutes and thought about the strange dream I just had. It felt so real that I started to shiver. I forced myself not to jump up and check the smartphone. I just kept thinking about what would really happen without the cloud. I am highly convinced we would manage somehow. At least we would cope with it much better as if there would be no energy anymore. With this thought I turned around to put on the light on my nightstand. Due to the thunderstorm outside the only visibility I had, was when lightning stroke. I flicked the switch on the lamp and nothing happened, there seemed to be no energy anymore …
A lot of discussion has been going on about the announcements on data protection by Viviane Redding (data protection reform proposal and "EU-US COOPERATION ON DATA PROTECTION: TOWARDS A NEW GOLD STANDARD") and the announcement of Neelie Kroes on the so-called "European Cloud Partnership".
I have seen comments in blogs and media articles covering a broad range from protecting European service providers to imposing fines on companies to get some money in. Very few comments have been in favor of the suggested changes. This might be no surprise but there seems to be one common denominator. Changes are needed. The current setup lacks clarity and creates FUD (fear, uncertainty and doubt). The one thing that created a lot of confusion was the call for the European Cloud Partnership.
The message received (wrongly, I might add)
I had a lot of discussions with cloud experts as well as legal experts over the course of the past months. One thing that seemed quite dominant in all the discussions that the idea to create a European Cloud in an own context "from Europeans for Europeans" does not make much sense. It sounded like the commission did not really get what a global business means and requires. Especially in a world where growth is the only measurement that counts a European only business would mean a significant loss of target market. A company would not be able to have a subsidiary outside of the EU and especially in the U.S.A. Such a provider would not be able to support customers that act outside of the EU themselves. So overall it sounded like a strange idea. But the question is whether the message received matches the message sent?
The message sent
I can only recommend taking the time to listen to Neelie Kroes' video and to read her announcement.
Mrs. Kroes explicitly states that there is no interest in creating a protective practice through this Partnership program. It is about a completely different topic. It is focused on public sector and the creation of a set of service definitions and procurement rules that enable the public sector in the EU member states to take a step into the cloud. It even mentions the idea that this could be driving factor for harmonization and standardization across member states, which would be a great result if you ask me.
While this effort is very focused it shows that there is willingness to include the industry. Rather than defining standards on their own the commission is inviting the industry to take part and even sponsors the EU cloud partnership program.
What does that mean bottom line?
Most of the reports in the media mix up the announcements. While the several announcements do indeed cover cloud computing either at their core or in the results, it is clear that they need to weighted separately. I do believe actually that the EU has understood that cloud computing cannot be stopped anymore and on the contrary to some data protection officer in Germany they take action to enable participation. While some of e.g. Germany's data protection officer call all cloud services and especially everything that involves the U.S.A. evil the EU seems to have understood that enabling European businesses and making them stronger includes enabling them to participate.
Already some players prove to be on the right track by complying with not only the Safe Harbor Act but e.g. also the so-called EU Model Clauses. Microsoft as an example fully supports these standard contractual clauses for their Office 365 offering.
The Cloud Computing discussion is transforming. It is going from a technical discussion towards use case and the application of the possibilities enabled by it. I do favor this direction but do want to take a look one level deeper into how cloud computing changes behind the scenes. If you are a regular reader of this blog you do know that I do believe in segmentation as a right and first step towards the cloud. I have even called it the "silver bullet to cloud computing". But the world is moving on and while segmentation and the usage of hybrid scenarios are absolutely valid the future of the cloud lies beyond that.
The future of the cloud is Mesh Ups
What is a Mesh Up in a cloud context you might ask? Here is my take on it. Where hybrid is separating clearly defined worlds, mesh ups combine different worlds. Where hybrid needs an upfront decision or a turn of a switch to move workloads, mesh ups do this dynamically and without human interaction.
It is about systems environments that combine on premise and cloud computing in an integrated way.
It is about applications that are created to work across these delivery boundaries rather than either or.
It is about enhancing the local capacity with cloud resources in a seamless way when it is needed.
Is this really new? It is not that nobody has yet thought in this direction but the barriers to these integrated and flexible environments have been high so far. You cannot take your on premises application and easily extend it to the cloud. This starts with the languages used through the APIs allowed and ends with questions of portability of applications between these two worlds. As a result the major direction today is hybrid, where applications either run in the cloud or on premises but not in a combined way.
So it will probably be a new generation of applications running as mesh ups while only very few old applications will be modified to run as a mesh up. It needs additional efforts on both sides, the cloud computing service provider as well as the application developer. But it will deliver real value. Do you remember one of the most famous cloud computing arguments that you do not need to run a system for 100% of the performance if you use only 60% of for 90% of the time? This was brought forward to explain on demand and why the cloud is adding value. This is even truer in a mesh up environment. Rather than moving all of it to the cloud and losing the investment in the local data center / HW / operations, you can extend this local environment in a seamless way.
Software companies are stepping up to become cloud computing service providers. That is a huge step for most of them. The very next step is now two-fold.
1. Empower developers to build mesh ups by using non-proprietary made programming languages and interfaces.
2. Create new versions of the own software that are mesh up ready out of the box.
Especially the latter point will be interesting to watch. Even if a software vendor does not offer cloud services itself they need to be prepared to answer this challenge.
As always in the IT (and in the world) we will see a great mix of solutions. Mesh Ups will not replace hybrid environments in the same way cloud computing has not replaced on premise computing completely. But be assured that Mesh Ups will get a lot of visibility and will be one of the next hype topics in the cloud computing space.
I do know what readers expect when they read the headline for the first time – another post on either Microsoft or Google claiming to have been the first in the cloud. But let's face it they have not been the first ones offering or using cloud services by at least 500 years. Yes, the Amerindians (I will stick to Indians from now on) have been there long before. You wonder how? I do believe this picture explains it at a glance:
picture by Frederic Remington
We all do know this from the old Wild West movies. The smoke signals were a communication method giving the Indians a major advantage in the hunt for animals but also later on in the fight against the invaders from the European continent. As we all know this advantage was made trifling for other reasons. Let us look at it from a cloud service perspective.
The smoke signal is a self-service set up without any doubt. Any individual could just start a fire with the wood provided by nature. The cloud device needed on top is a cover to control the flow of smoke. This could either be a sheet, a part of the clothing or with sticks and leafs even something that could be created.
Does it scale? Yes, of course it does. As the density of population was sparse enough so that the nature could provide all of them with means under no risk to burn down whole region it can easily be called a highly scalable service.
It also uses an on demand payment model if you would call the effort needed to set it up a payment. You neither had to carry the wood around with you nor did you need to book it in advance. You invested your time into wood gathering and fire making when you needed it. That is on demand not only in payment (effort) but also in planning (no need to register).
The other component which makes it a cloud service is the level of standardization. The basic setup is highly standardized across tribes. A layer of security is added through, let's call it encryption. The meaning of smoke signals could only be understood if you were trained in the code being used.
So it is without doubt that this was the very first cloud communication service as it was also real-time.
What did become of this? The importance of communication across distances has not wavered but grown. While the landline telephony still showed some of the cloud characteristics, some were lost. Only in the last few years with VOIP, UC and mobile devices did the cloud approach of the Native American tribes become more apparent again. The freedom to roam without being bound by a cable as well as the integrated self-service approach (if not by individuals then at least by groups of them called enterprises) create a modern-day communications cloud service. Phone usage even in the old landline days has been mainly paid on demand so that is something that had been preserved through all means of communication. When you look at consumer cloud services voice communications still is and will be the backbone even in the future. While the discussions about the new world of work and all the cloud services have pushed UC slightly out of focus it is important to not forget it.
I do know that it seems unsexy in a cloud context sometimes as voice is a highly regulated industry and other areas are easy to target. I do know that things like "legal intercept" might complicate things but just make sure that you integrate voice. Without it, it would just not be complete.


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The Creation Of The Universe
The Basic Concepts in the Qur'an
Heart, Wisdom and Intelligence
We already know that there are two different aspects of the human soul; the one inspiring the evil, and wicked deeds, and the other guarding against every inculcation of evil. Wisdom and non-wisdom are closely related to these two aspects of the soul. The Qur'an informs us that the consequence of following whims and desires is non-wisdom. Adhering to the better side of the soul, on the other hand, brings wisdom.
A person who becomes the slave of his wishes and desires and thus does not keep himself occupied with the remembrance of Allah, very soon loses his faculty of wisdom. The Qur'an refers to these people as "people devoid of wisdom." (Al-Hashr, 14) At first sight, this may seen incomprehensible. The majority of people take it for granted that everyone has wisdom, constant and at the same level, never undergoing changes with time or circumstances. There is, however, some confusion due to the interchangeable use of the concepts of intelligence and wisdom. Contrary to the common conviction, intelligence and wisdom are quite different concepts. Everyone can be intelligent, but wisdom is only possessed by those who have faith.
Knowing that following the wicked side of the soul leaves a man deprived of wisdom, what should be the ways to acquire it? The answer is apparent: man attains wisdom when he obeys his conscience, which inspires in him ways of hindering the evil of his soul.
Wisdom, as is referred in the Quran, is a spiritual tenet experienced in the soul. In more than one verse there is an explicit reference to "the hearts that learn wisdom". Accordingly, we can plainly resolve that real wisdom is far different from intelligence, a mere function of the brain. Wisdom is in the heart, in the soul of man. The Qur'an points to the fact that wisdom is in the heart, and people devoid of wisdom are lacking in understanding solely because their hearts are sealed:
Do they not travel through the land, so that their hearts (and minds) may thus learn wisdom and their ears may thus learn to hear? Truly, it is not their eyes that are blind, but their hearts which are in their breasts. (Al-Hajj, 46)
In the Qur'an it is stated that only the people who "have hearts" will take heed and have faith.
Truly, in this is a Message for anyone who has a heart and understanding, or who listens and earnestly witnesses (the truth). (Qaf, 37)
Therefore, the wisdom referred to in the Qur'an is directly related to the heart and the soul.
One point deserves mention here: wisdom is not constant; it varies. Intelligence, a function of the brain, does not, however, change except in case of an injury or mental disease. Everyone has a constant "IQ". Wisdom, on the other hand, can increase or decrease, a feature closely related to the strengthening of the soul and fear of Allah (taqwa). In this way, the individual acquires a criterion by which to judge between right and wrong. This feature, which is an entirely metaphysical one, is communicated to man in the following verse:
O you who believe! If you fear Allah, He will grant you a criterion (to judge between right and wrong), remove from you (all) evil (that may afflict) you, and forgive you: for Allah is the Lord of grace unbounded. (Al-Anfal, 29)
One who does not fear Allah is entirely deprived of this criterion to judge between right and wrong. A person may be very intelligent; he may be an outstanding physicist, sociologist or a "distinguished" person in society. He may have remarkable achievements to his credit. However, if he has no conscience, he surely lacks the true spirit and thus, the true wisdom. Being a renowned scientist, he may discover the mysteries of the human body. Still he does not possess the spirit and the understanding to conceive of the Creator of that body. Rather than expressing his astonishment at the marvels of creation and praising the Creator, he turns to himself and praises himself for his discovery. This scientist is surely the one who has "taken as his god his vain desire, and Allah has knowingly left him astray."
However, as stated in Surat'al-Rad, the believers are "Those who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah ....for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah hearts find satisfaction." (Al-Rad, 28)
The state of the hearts of unbelievers, on the other hand, is described in the following verse:
Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur).(Al-Baqara, 7)
An intelligent person can be lacking in understanding and the faculty of distinguishing between right and wrong. He may devise an ingenious invention, he may be a good businessman, or may excel in politics. In doing these, however, he totally lacks the awareness of right and wrong. Though he is communicated with repeatedly, he remains blind and deaf to the message of the Qur'an. This is a glaring manifestation of his lack of understanding.
"..Their hearts are sealed and so they do not understand" is an important statement in the Qur'an, indicating the significance of the heart for understanding.
In the Qur'an considerable space has been allocated to analyzing the relation between the heart and human behaviour. This relation comes under several headings.
Allah comes in between the man and his heart
O you who believe! Give your response to Allah and His Messenger, when He calls you to that which will give you life; and know that Allah comes in between a man and his heart, and that it is He to Whom you shall (all) be gathered. (Al-Anfal, 24)
Affection Between Hearts
And (moreover) He has put affection between their hearts: not if you had spent all that is on the earth, could you have produced that affection, but Allah has done it: for He is Exalted in might, and Wise. (Al-Anfal, 63)
And hold fast, all together, by the rope which Allah (stretches out for you), and do not be divided among yourselves; and remember with gratitude Allah's favour to you; for you were enemies and He joined your hearts in love, so that by His grace, you became brethren; and you were on the brink of the pit of fire, and He saved you from it. Thus Allah makes His signs clear to you, so that you may be guided. (Al-E-Imran, 103)
Permeating the Hearts
And remember We took your covenant and We raised above you (the towering height) of Mount (Sinai): (Saying): "Hold firmly to what We have given you, and hearken (to the Law)." They said:" We hear, and we disobey." And they had to drink into their hearts (of the taint) of the calf because of their faithlessness. Say: "Vile indeed are the behests of your faith, if you have any faith!" (Al-Baqara, 93)
Piety of the Hearts
Such (is his state): and whoever holds in honour the symbols of Allah, (in the sacrifice of animals), such (honour) should come truly from piety of heart. (Al-Hajj, 32)
Hearts to be Reconciled
Alms are for the poor and the needy, and those employed to administer the (funds); for those whose hearts have been (recently) reconciled (to Truth); for those in bondage and in debt; for the cause of Allah; and for the wayfarer: (thus is it) ordained by Allah, and Allah is full of knowledge and wisdom. (Al-Tawba, 60)
Satisfaction of the Hearts
Allah leaves in error whom He will, and guides those who repent and who believe, and whose hearts find satisfaction in the remembrance of Allah: for without doubt in the remembrance of Allah all hearts find satisfaction. (Al-Rad, 28)
The disciples of Jesus said: "We only wish to eat thereof and satisfy our hearts, and to know that you have indeed told us the truth; and that we ourselves may be witnesses to the miracle." (Al-Maeda, 113)
Those on whom knowledge has been bestowed may learn that the (Qur'an) is the Truth from your Lord, and may thus believe therein, and their hearts may be made humbly (open) to it: for, truly, Allah is the Guide of those who believe, to the Straight Way. (Al-Hajj, 54)
Allah made it but a message of hope for you, and an assurance to your hearts: (in any case) there is no help except from Allah, the Exalted, the Wise One. (Al-Imran, 126)
Hearts becoming firm
All that we relate to you of the stories of the messengers,- with it We make firm you heart: in them there comes to you the Truth, as well as an exhortation and a message of remembrance to those who believe. (Hud, 120)
A void in the heart
Never think that Allah is unaware of the wrongdoers' actions. He only gives them respite till the day on which the eyes will fixedly stare in horror as they come running forward with necks outstretched, their heads uplifted, their gaze not returning towards them, and their hearts a gaping void! (Abraham, 42-43)
Casting terror into the hearts of the unbelievers
Soon shall We cast terror into the hearts of the unbelievers, because they associated companions with Allah, for which He had sent no authority: their abode will be the fire: And evil is the home of the wrong-doers! (Al-Imran, 151)
Hearts filled with disgust and horror
When Allah, the One and Only, is mentioned, the hearts of those who do not believe in the hereafter are filled with disgust and horror; but when (gods) other than Allah are mentioned, behold, they are filled with joy! (Az-Zumar, 45)
The Heart's inclination
To such (deceit) let the hearts of those incline, who have no faith in the hereafter: let them delight in it, and let them earn from it what they may. (Al-Anaam, 113)
The cause of sighs and heartfelt regret
O you who believe! Do not be like the Unbelievers, who say of their brethren, when they meet death abroad or engaged in fighting: "If they had stayed with us, they would not have died, or been slain."Allah will cause them to sigh and have regrets in their hearts. It is Allah who gives Life and Death, and Allah sees well all that you do. (Al-Imran, 156)
Saying things that are not in the heart
When the hypocrites were told: "Come, fight in the way of Allah, or (at least) drive (the foe from your city)," they said: "Had we known how to fight, we should certainly have followed you." They were that day nearer to unbelief than to faith, saying with their lips what was not in their hearts, but Allah has full knowledge of all that they conceal. (Al-Imran, 167)
Keeping secrets in the heart
Those men, Allah knows what is in their hearts; so keep clear of them, but admonish them, and speak to them a word to reach their very souls. (An-Nisa, 63)
Hearts being cut into pieces
The edifice of those who so build (i.e. not founded on fear of God) is never free from suspicion and fills their hearts with doubt, until their hearts are cut to pieces. And Allah is All-Knowing and Wise. (At-Tawba, 110)
Hearts Deviating
"Our Lord!" (they say), "Let not our hearts deviate now after you have guided us, but grant us mercy from your own presence; for you are the giver of bounties without measure." (Al-Imran, 8)
Allah turned with favour to the Prophet, the Muhajirs, and the Ansar, who followed him in a time of distress, after the hearts of them had nearly swerved (from duty); but He turned to them (also): for He is Most Kind and Most Merciful to them.(Al-Tawba, 117)
Hearts being alike
Those without knowledge ask: "Why does Allah not speak to us? or give us a sign?" So said the people before them in words of similar import. Their hearts are all alike. We have indeed made clear the signs to any people who hold firmly to faith (in their hearts). (Al-Baqara, 118)
Hearts that refuse
How can you trust them (i.e. the idolaters), seeing that if they get an advantage over you, they do not respect in you the ties either of kinship or of covenant? With (fair words from) their mouths they entice you, while their hearts refuse. And most of them are rebellious and wicked. (Al-Tawba, 8)
Faith not entering into the heart
The desert Arabs say, "We believe." Say, "You have no faith; but you (only) say, 'We have submitted our wills to Allah,' for Faith has not yet entered your hearts. But if you obey Allah and His Messenger, He will not deny you the reward of your labours: for Allah is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (Al-Hujraat, 14)
Disease in the heart
In their hearts is a disease; and Allah has aggrevated their disease: And grievous is the penalty they (incur), because they are false (to themselves). (Al-Baqara, 10)
Those in whose hearts is a disease - you see how eagerly they run about amongst them, saying: "We fear lest a change of fortune bring us disaster." Ah! perhaps Allah will give (you) victory, or a decision according to His will. Then will they repent of the thoughts which they secretly harboured in their hearts. (Al-Maeda, 52)
Allah makes the suggestions thrown in by Satan a trial for those in whose hearts is a disease and who are hardened of heart: truly, the wrong-doers are in open schism, far (from the Truth): (Al-Hajj, 53)
Hearts becoming hardened
Thenceforth were your hearts hardened: they became like a rock and even worse in hardness. For among rocks there are some from which rivers gush forth; others there are which when split asunder send forth water; and others which sink for fear of Allah. And Allah is not unmindful of what you do. (Al-Baqara, 74)
When our scourage reached them, why then did they not learn humility? On the contrary, their hearts became hardened, and Satan made their (sinful) acts seem alluring to them. (Al-Anaam, 43)
Is one whose heart Allah has opened to Islam, so that he has received Enlightenment from Allah, (no better than one who is hard-hearted)? Woe to those whose hearts are hardened against celebrating the praises of Allah! They are manifestly wandering (in error)! (Az-Zumar, 22)
A seal on the hearts
They incurred divine displeasure in that they broke their covenant; they rejected the signs of Allah; they slew the Messengers in defiance of right; and they said, "Our hearts are the wrappings (which preserve Allah's Word; we need no more)"; No, indeed, Allah set the seal on their hearts for their blasphemy. They have no faith; except a few of them. (An-Nisa, 155)
Do they not then earnestly seek to understand the Qur'an, or are there locks upon their hearts? (Muhammad, 24)
Allah has set a seal on their hearts and on their hearing, and on their eyes is a veil; great is the penalty they (incur). (Al-Baqara, 7)
"(Such) as dispute the Signs of Allah, without any authority vouchsafed them, grievous and odious is their conduct in the sight of Allah and of the believers. Thus Allah seals up every heart - of every arrogant and obstinate transgressor." (Al-Ghafir, 35)
O Messenger! let not those grieve you, who race each other into unbelief: (whether it be) among those who say "We believe" with their lips but whose hearts have no faith; or it be among the Jews, men who will listen to any lie, will listen even to others who have never so much as come to you. They change the words from their (right) times and places: they say,"If you are given this, take it, but if not, beware!" If anyone's trial is intended by Allah, you cannot help him against Allah. For such - it is not Allah's will to purify their hearts. For them there is disgrace in this world, and in the Hereafter a severe punishment. (Al-Maeda, 41)
Then after him We sent (many) messengers to their peoples: they brought them clear signs, but they would not believe what they had already rejected beforehand. Thus do We seal up the hearts of the transgressors. (Jonah, 74)
Such were the towns whose story We (thus) relate to you: There came indeed to them their messengers with clear (signs): yet they persisted in their unbelief. Thus Allah seals up the hearts of those who reject faith. (Al-Araf, 101)
The ground (of complaint) is against such as claim exemption, although they are rich. They prefer to stay with the (women) who remain behind: Allah has sealed their hearts; so they do not know (what they miss). (Al-Tawba, 93)
Say: "Think , if Allah took away your hearing and your sight, and sealed up your hearts, could any but Allah restore them to you?" See how We explain the signs by various (symbols); yet they turn aside. (Al-Anaam, 46)
The foregoing verses reveal an important reality: Faith is something related to the sensitivity of the heart. A person with a heart not hardened, or "sealed" has already a tendency to know Allah and obey Him. When the message of the Qur'an is communicated to him, the comprehension of his heart makes him see the truth and he believes immediately. However, unbelievers are of a different nature. Their hearts are dead and "sealed". Nor can they acquire wisdom since their hearts do not have any kind of sensitivity. In such a state there is also no possibility of belief. In different verses of the Qur'an, those who are inclined towards faith are told to believe as soon as they hear the message. Unbelievers, on the other hand, never show a propensity for faith:
The Word is proved true against the greater part of them: for they do not believe. We have put yokes round their necks right up to their chins, so that their heads are forced up (and they cannot see). And We have put a bar in front of them and a bar behind them, and We have covered them up, so that they cannot see. It is the same to them whether you admonish them or you do not admonish them: they will not believe. You can only admonish such a one as follows the Message and fears the (Lord) Most Gracious, unseen: give such a one, therefore, good tidings, of Forgiveness and a Reward most generous. (Yaseen, 7-11)
Besides unbelievers whose hearts are hardened and who have lost their wisdom, there are some people, whose hearts are sensitive, yet they are ignorant of religion. When religion is communicated to them, these people instantly recognize the truth and believe in Allah and His religion. These two groups of people are distinguished from each other by their respective arrogance and modesty. (In the following pages, modesty and arrogance will be studied in detail). Jews and their arrogance are mentioned in the Qur'an as an example. On the other hand there are Christians who are modest. On this the Qur'an says:
Strongest among men in enmity to the believers you will find the Jews and Pagans; and nearest among them in love to the believers you will find those who say, "We are Christians": that is because amongst them are men devoted to learning and men who have renounced the world, and they are not arrogant. And when they listen to the revealation received by the Messenger, you will see their eyes overflowing with tears, for they recognise the truth: they pray: "Our Lord! we believe; write us down among the witnesses". (Al-Maeda,82-83)
When the message of the Qur'an is communicated to people with a natural inclination towards religion, they merely say, "Our Lord! we have heard the call of one calling (Us) to Faith: 'Believe in the Lord,' and we have believed..." (Al-Imran, 193). Unbelievers, on the other hand, oppose believers and even feel enmity towards them.


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First of all, thanks for Atahualpa template wich is great!
I have a little problem making me crazy : comments on blog post are in bold and I don't understand why. I tried to insert this in the css
ul.commentlist li p {
font-style: normal;
font-weight: normal;
but my comments remains bold.
Where can I adjust this please? I can't show you the website because I am working in local server
Thanks a lot!