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In the wake of Warner Bros.' recent announcement that they intend to reboot The Matrix I have been encountering a lot of the same anti Matrix sequel rhetoric that has been floating around the Internet for years. While the general reaction to the prospect of a reboot has been (thankfully) negative, some people are saying that the inevitable reboot can't be worse than the terrible sequels. I am acutely aware that most people view the first movie as incredible and its two sequels as colossal screw ups that squandered the potential of a great series. That mentality could not be further from the truth. The sequels are an integral part of a cinematic whole that, taken together, is a masterpiece of science fiction. The Matrix Trilogy is a synthesis of philosophy, mythology, and religious symbolism. It is a work of astonishing thematic depth and complexity, and I do not believe for a moment that Warner Bros. will be able to recapture that spark, no matter who they attach to the project. So today I am going to affirm the value of the two Matrix sequels by exploring their themes and symbolism while hopefully clearing up some of the more common misconceptions about these films.
First, I want to acknowledge the work of blogger, Coronas Hide and his two articles about The Matrix sequels (which you can read here and here). The article you are about to read is a simplified adaptation of his original work, but it is my hope that my version will be less obtuse and more understandable. If you find this article interesting, I encourage you to read his original arguments rather than my grossly simplified version.
Alright, let's talk about the big picture right up front. In the broadest of terms, The Matrix Trilogy is all about pairs of opposites – opposing characters, opposing worldviews. The central theme of the films is the tension between choice and causality and how that relates to the nature of humanity – specifically what it means to be a man or a machine. Note we already have two conceptual pairs of opposites (choice/causality, man/machine), but within the films themselves, it is through pairs of opposites that these ideas are explored: Neo and Smith; the Architect and the Oracle; the Merovingian and Seraph; and so on and so forth. This tendency towards binary pairings is pervasive throughout and each has its own purpose. The characters in the trilogy are vessels for their respective ideologies, and through conflict with their opposites, the tension between their worldviews is expressed.
In addition to these thematic elements, the characters in these films also function as religious symbols from several faiths, most notably Christianity and Hinduism (with a tad of Greek Mythology). Their symbolic roles add additional layers of meaning which allow the films to make deeper statements about the human condition. However, keep in mind that the films never slip into allegory, so it would be unwise of you to dogmatically insist upon painting the characters as one to one analogues of their symbolic counterparts. Rather, view the trilogy as a complex tapestry with many competing and complementary elements. One at a time, let's explore some of the themes and symbolism surrounding the characters in these films.
Humanity and Disobedience
"Everything begins with choice," says Morpheus, and indeed, The Matrix itself begins with this idea. When Mr. Anderson is late to work he is reprimanded by his boss: "Either you choose to be at your desk on time from this day forth or you choose to find yourself another job." The word choice here is conspicuous. The film wants to call our attention to this concept from its earliest moments. Mr. Anderson is being told to conform to the system, to keep his head down and do his job like a machine. But he doesn't. He disobeys. In the same way that he breaks the law under the hacker alias Neo, so too does he reject the rules when they are forced upon him. He gives Smith the finger. He takes the red pill and rejects the world of The Matrix and its system of control, and as the One, gains the power to rewrite The Matrix according to his will.
Note how closely tied this all is to disobedience. Simply making a choice isn't significant, it is choosing to disobey. To the gamers reading this, would you kindly remember the words of Andrew Ryan? "A man chooses. A slave obeys." All the humans plugged into The Matrix who accept the program are little more than slaves. All the humans living in Zion who chose to reject The Matrix are free men, a fact Morpheus references when he calls on a captain to disobey an order from Commander Locke. "The reason that most of us are here is because of our affinity for disobedience." In the context of these films, disobedience is the quintessential human characteristic and it it what separates man from machine. Keep this in mind as this concept will pop up repeatedly.
Machines and Purpose
Smith is one of the most complex characters in the trilogy. In the first film he is an Agent of the Matrix and a symbol of authority which Neo flouts, but in the second film their relationship has evolved considerably. Smith is no longer an Agent. He is Neo's nemesis and he has somehow gained the ability to copy himself. Just what exactly is Smith?
The reductive answer is to say that Smith is a computer virus. While that is technically true, it doesn't provide us with a mechanism or reason for how and why he came to be in such a form. The Oracle helps us along a little when Neo asks her about Smith: "He is you. Your opposite. Your negative. The result of the equation trying to balance itself out." This tells us that Neo and Smith are polar opposites of each other – two sides of the same coin, but how exactly did this happen?
The answer comes from Smith himself in Reloaded just before he and Neo have their big brawl. During Smith's monologue he discusses the manner in which Neo destroyed him in the first film. Recall that Neo merged with Smith and exploded him from within (that they merged is significant). Afterward Smith was changed. He tells us, "I don't fully understand how it happened, perhaps some part of you imprinted on to me, something overwritten or copied, but it is at this point irrelevant; what matters is that whatever happened, happened for a reason." Note the focus on purpose. Smith doesn't care what happened; he only wants to know why. Though Smith might think it is irrelevant, what was "overwritten or copied" is at the heart of Smith's new nature. Consider these lines:
"I killed you, Mr. Anderson. I watched you die… with a certain satisfaction, I might add. Then something happened. Something that I knew was impossible, but it happened anyway. You destroyed me, Mr. Anderson. After that, I understood the rules, I knew what I was supposed to do, but I didn't. I couldn't. I was compelled to stay, compelled to disobey."
When a program breaks down its purpose is to return to the Source and be deleted, as the Oracle just informed us in the scene immediately preceding this one. But Smith was "compelled to disobey" – a human characteristic! How could Smith have gained this ability to disobey? By merging with Neo. The part of Neo that is imprinted onto Smith is Neo's humanity. In the same way that Neo is a human being who carries within him the computer code of the One, so too is Smith a computer program who carries within him an element of Neo's humanity. This even explains Smith's new, viral nature.
In the first film, when Morpheus is captured, there is a memorable scene where Smith explains his views on humanity and how we are not actually mammals.
"Every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with the surrounding environment but you humans do not. You move to an area and you multiply and multiply until every natural resource is consumed and the only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet. You are a plague. And we are the cure."
Smith's understanding of humanity is bound up in the machine's worldview and their insistence on purpose. Each machine, and each program is created to fill one role, to perform a single function and to do it perfectly. Machines have no concept of life or personal growth. These ideas are tied to what it means to be human. Now that Smith has an element of humanity within himself he must discover how to reconcile that as part of his nature. He must learn how to grow – how to be human. But in his worldview, humanity equals replication. Therefore Smith manifests his inner humanity through rampant, viral self copying.
As Neo grows as an individual, Smith grows in numbers. The two are mirror images of each other. By merging with Smith in the first film, Neo creates his own nemesis. It is an act which should feel familiar to anyone who remembers the prophecy in Harry Potter. "And the Dark Lord shall mark him as his equal but he shall have power the Dark Lord knows not." The same idea is at play here (even Harry and Voldemort's souls being bound together is a nice parallel), but the roles are reversed. When Neo marked Smith as his equal he destroyed Smith's role as an Agent – his purpose. Smith hates Neo for that. Now that Smith has become Neo's antonym, he finds a new purpose: destroying Neo.
The Architect
God the Father, Brahma,
and the Parameters of Perfection
The Architect is perhaps the most clear cut example of religious symbolism in the trilogy. The most obvious parallel is that he is God, in a more or less Christian sense of the world. Specifically, he embodies the way God is described in Genesis. He created the world, but has little to do with its day to day running. The Architect sits, clothed all in divine white, in his flawless, heavenly white chamber and watches the world unfold on his TV sets.
If we switch gears to Hinduism for a moment, we can say that the Architect is also Brahma, a deity who similarly created the world but does not rule it. After setting things in motion Brahma meditates on his lotus flower and meddles no further in the affairs of the world. It may seem odd to bring Hinduism into the equation seemingly without provocation, but bear with me. Hinduism features prominently in many areas of the trilogy, so it is important to establish that the Architect's role works symbolically within this context as well.
Returning to the Architect as Genesis God, there is another element shared by both figures which is significant: the prohibition of knowledge. God creates the Garden of Eden, a perfect world for Man to live in, but demands that man not question the world or think too deeply about how it works – Man must not eat the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge. Similarly, the Architect created the Matrix, a world analogous to the Garden, and demanded that man accept the program – the perfect world. But things don't work so well. "The first matrix I designed was quite naturally perfect. It was a work of art. Flawless. Sublime. A triumph only equaled by its monumental failure." The first Matrix lacked the Tree of Knowledge, an essential element of the Garden because it gives man the opportunity to question the perfect world and to reject it – to disobey. Remember, disobedience is the defining human characteristic. It isn't until the third version of the Matrix that the Tree of Knowledge is included in the form of the red pill. Now that humans have a way to indulge this need for disobedience, the system works.
It is extremely telling that the Architect designed two versions of the Matrix which failed to acknowledge this defining human characteristic. Machines strive for static perfection – to fulfill their purpose. The Architect is the clearest embodiment of this idea in the whole trilogy. The perfection of the Matrix he created, the flawless, unblemished nature of his person and his chamber, even his speech pattern of mechanical, efficient, eloquence all demonstrate how machines are bound by what he calls "the parameters of perfection." Machines have no conception of choice, disobedience, or personal growth. Indeed, as the Architect tells us, it took a different program to contribute this nugget of understanding. "If I am the Father of the Matrix, she would undoubtedly be its Mother."
The Oracle
The Mother, Kali,
and Knowing Thyself
Let's start by looking at exactly how the Oracle is the Mother of the Matrix. Her contribution to the program is the addition of choice – the option that each person plugged into the Matrix is given to either accept the program or reject it. This runs counter to the machines' overall goal of creating a perfect system of control, hence why the Architect could not conceive of it. This version of the Matrix, much to the Architect's displeasure, is flawed. Not just conceptually flawed, but literally, mathematically flawed. Consider the Architect's response when Neo asks the question, "Why am I here?"
"Your life is the sum of a remainder of an unbalanced equation inherent to the programming of the matrix. You are the eventuality of an anomaly, which despite my sincerest efforts I have been unable to eliminate from what is otherwise a harmony of mathematical precision."
Based on this line we can conclude that the introduction of choice into the Matrix unbalanced it mathematically and that this remainder is expressed specifically as Neo – the One. Furthermore, this implies that the Oracle isn't just the Mother of the Matrix, she is the mother of the subroutine of the One – she is Neo's mother. Another line from the Architect confirms this conclusion.
"She stumbled upon a solution whereby nearly ninety-nine percent of the test subjects accepted the program provided they were given a choice – even if they were only aware of it at a near-unconscious level. While this solution worked, it was fundamentally flawed, creating the otherwise contradictory systemic anomaly, that, if left unchecked, might threaten the system itself."
If there is any remaining doubt that the Oracle's introduction of choice birthed the anomaly (Neo) into the Matrix, just remember that the first time Neo meets the Oracle she gives him home baked cookies. Who other than your mother gives you home baked cookies? The Oracle as Mother firmly establishes her as the Architect's symbolic counterpart (remember the pairs of opposites?)
Now that that's out of the way, let's look at how the subroutine of the One is significant. The Oracle doesn't just introduce choice into the Matrix, she introduces the choice to accept or reject the Matrix itself. She introduces disobedience, which as we know by now, is the definitive human trait. The Oracle understands humanity in a way that the Architect does not. We cannot exist in a state of static perfection fulfilling our purpose. We need to be able to grow, and to do that we have to disobey – exit the artificial Matrix and enter the real world of suffering and time. This is the path of the One.
Humanity's growth through disobedience manifests itself in Neo. The code of the One, the systemic anomaly, is effectively a conduit for all those people jacked into the Matrix. Neo's growth is humanity's growth. Incidentally, this "conduit-ness" is what gives Neo the power to rewrite the Matrix according to his will. He is channeling the collective disobedience of humanity. That may seem like a bit of a stretch, but there is a moment in the Architect's chamber which supports it. The Architect is explaining the anomaly of the One when he is interrupted by the countless Neo's on the monitors.
The Architect: "As you were undoubtedly gathering, the anomaly is systemic, creating fluctuations in even the most simplistic equations."
Neo: [All from the monitors] "You can't control me! I'll smash you to fucking bits! You're fucking dead! Fuck you! I'll fucking kill you! I can say whatever I want! You can't make me do that! You old, white, prick!"
This is the only time in the films that Neo's power to create "fluctuations in even the most simplistic equations" (like flying and stopping bullets) is directly tied to disobedience. We even have Neo giving the man the finger again just like he did to Smith in the first film. The seemingly endless multitude of Neos on the monitors and their belligerent attitude represent the countless people still jacked into the Matrix. Their disobedience is bound up in the One and this is what gives Neo his power.
The previous point is little more than a fun diversion. It's nice to know how things work. What's really important though is that the Oracle understands that choice and disobedience are necessary for personal growth. What she is ultimately introducing into the Matrix (a static, perfect system) is the capacity for human growth (represented specifically as Neo). This reveals her symbolic role as the goddess Kali from Hinduism.
Kali is the Hindu goddess of death and rebirth, but for our purposes we can interpret these things as the cycle of life and growth. In order to grow, living things must consume the dead, and out of this consumption is birthed new life. This idea also works spiritually in a Hindu context. There can be no personal growth without a cycle of death and rebirth. Recall how in the first film the Oracle tells Neo that he is not the One.
Oracle: "Sorry, kid. You got the gift, but it looks like you're waiting for something."
Neo: "What?"
Oracle: "Your next life, maybe. Who knows? That's the way these things go."
And sure enough, at the end of the first film Neo is killed by Smith, but is then reborn inside the Matrix. Only then does he gain the power of the One. Through suffering, death, and rebirth, he grows.
The fact that the Oracle understands human growth sets her up in opposition to the Architect. The Architect is working to maintain the status quo – a perfect but ultimately stagnant system. The Oracle knows that machines only grow in response to humans; they need humans for more than just energy. This is why she says, "I'm interested in one thing Neo: the future. And believe me the only way to get there is together." The Oracle, by introducing choice, disobedience, death, and rebirth into the system gives humanity the ability to grow, and by extension, allows machines to grow along with them.
It is similarly noteworthy that the Oracle does not freely impart her wisdom, but instead delivers only what each person is ready for. Both Morpheus and Niobe mention this tendency of hers.
Morpheus: "You saw the Oracle? What did she tell you?"
Niobe: "Same thing she always does: exactly what I needed to hear."
In short, though she could save those who consult her from suffering by sharing her foresight, she understands that this suffering is necessary for humans to grow. Ergo, she shares her knowledge only with those who are ready to receive it – those who know themselves. In the first film the Oracle points out a sign in her kitchen bearing the words "temet nosce" which is Latin for "know thyself." We are told from our first meeting with her that her philosophy is one of introspection.
Some of the most poignant lines in the whole series come from the Oracle and deal specifically with this subject. The Oracle is all about understanding oneself through understanding one's choices. She tells us that, "We can never see past the choices we don't understand," and that "You've already made the choice. Now you have to understand it." The implication here is that understanding yourself and why you are making a choice is more significant that making the choice itself.
Consider the existentialist thought experiment involving a young man deciding whether to go to war. He has two men he can consult for advice: a veteran and a minister. The veteran will of course tell him to go to war and the minister will obviously tell him to stay. Whichever man he chooses to consult…well, that's the choice he has made. He's already made the choice to go or to stay. Now he has to understand it.
The takeaway is that it is incredibly difficult to understand why you do what you do. The Oracle tells us that to understand the why you must understand yourself. But there is another character who proposes a very different worldview.
The Merovingian
The Devil, Hades,
and Causality
The introduction of the Merovingian is the first time that the trilogy questions the validity of choice. Prior to the scene in his restaurant we've been operating solely under the Oracle's philosophy, but the Merovingian compellingly refutes it. Because he is a villain our knee jerk reaction is to reject his worldview outright, but if we look closely we can see that he is not wrong.
The Merovingian argues that choice doesn't actually exist. You behave the way you do as the result of pure scientific determinism – you respond to stimuli. "You see there is only one constant. One universal. It is the only real truth. Causality. Action, reaction. Cause and effect." We rail against this idea. We don't like being told that we don't have free will. Morpheus objects for us: "Everything begins with choice." But here is where things get interesting. The Merovingian points out that our heroes did not choose to come and meet with him. They were told to come to him by the Oracle and then they obeyed. Now it can be argued (and indeed the Oracle would argue) that they could have chosen to reject what the Oracle told them, but had they done that Neo could have never advanced along the path of the One. So in this instance, the Merovingian is actually right. This should make us distinctly uncomfortable since this revelation is separated by mere moments from a metaphorical rape scene.
The Merovingian chooses to demonstrate his belief that choice does not exist by robbing a nearby woman of her choice (the word we might use in this context is consent, but I digress). He surreptitiously sends her a desert bearing a line of code which forces her to have an orgasm right at the table. She doesn't understand the reason why this is happening to her. She is merely responding to stimuli. The Merovingian however does understand the reason why it is happening and this is what gives him power over her. Remember the Oracle's philosophy of knowing one's self in order to understand why you do things? The Merovingian is similarly interested in the why, but he looks outside the self. Extrinsic factors vs. intrinsic factors.
"Causality. There is no escaping it. We are forever slaves to it. Our only hope, our only peace is to understand it, to understand the why. Why is what separates us from them, you from me. Why is the only real source of power, without it you are powerless. And this is how you come to me: without why, without power, another link in the chain."
These lines drip with malice in light of what we have just witnessed. The Merovingian is a dangerous, rapacious individual and he is prepared to do to our heroes what he just did to that woman. This ties in perfectly to his symbolic role as the devil and casts new light on the fact that in both of his big scenes our heroes are there to make a deal with him.
The first big clue that the Merovingian is the devil comes in the form of his wife. Her name is Persephone, wife of Hades in Greek mythology. Hades, the lord of the underworld, is often conflated with the Christian vision of the devil and hell. Though in actual Greek mythology Hades' role was quite different, just role with it for now. The other big clue comes in the form of the Merovingian's symbolic counterpart: Seraph.
Yes, that's correct. Seraph is the Merovingian's counterpart. I know I have just discussed the Merovingian as contrary to the Oracle, but that has more to do with worldview than symbolic role.
"Seraph" quite literally means "angelic being" and if we look at Seraph in the film's we can see this sort of aura about him what with his white outfit and whatnot (recall that the Architect [God] was similarly decked out in white). Furthermore, when our heroes enter the Merovingian's club in Revolutions one of the henchmen calls Seraph "wingless" followed by the Merovingian himself calling him, "L'ange sans ailes", which literally means "wingless angel".
So Seraph is an angel. More specifically, he is an angel who protects the Oracle. This is quite significant since every time we see the Merovingian the Frenchman is openly hostile to the Oracle. He detests her philosophy; he bargains to have her delivered to him; he even takes credit for destroying the body she had in Reloaded (in reality the first actress playing the Oracle passed away and the filmmakers were forced to recast her; this just allows them to explain away why she looks different in the third film, but again, I digress). Since we know that Seraph is an angel and her protector, we can safely say that her assailant, the Merovingian is the devil.
For further evidence, take the scene in Revolutions when our heroes go to bargain with the Merovingian for the release of Neo. He is presiding over a place called Club Hel. This is quite literally hell. Our heroes even descend into the club in an elevator by pushing a big red button that says "Hel" on it. Inside the people are wearing devilish clothing and are indulging in all manner of sin, sodomy, and debauchery. In case you still weren't getting it, the Merovingian's first words when they arrive are, "What in the hell?" The film isn't exactly subtle here.
It is also worthy of note that this scene doubles down on the Merovingian as Hades as well. Most notably, Neo is in a coma at the time (a sort of symbolic death) and our heroes have descended into hell (or the underworld) to bargain for his release. The person working for the Merovingian who controls this process is the Trainman. This is Charon the Boatman, the servant of Hades who ferries soles across the river Styx. But since we're in a sci-fi world we have train tracks instead.
Now that we fully understand all our characters and what they represent both thematically and symbolically, let's examine the overall trajectory of the story and see how all these elements interact.
The Messiah and The Path to Enlightenment
Neo begins the trilogy as a relatable everyman with a rebellious attitude, but his role in the films shifts markedly once we hit Reloaded. As The One, Neo wields god like powers and it is clear early on that the people of Zion view him with Christ like reverence. The film is quite heavy handed about this, so me pointing out that Neo's story parallels that of The Christ shouldn't surprise you. Note how residents of Zion come to him with prayers and offerings near the beginning of the film, and how throughout he is repeatedly referred to in Messianic terms. A noteworthy example comes from Commander Locke in his argument with Morpheus over the city defenses. "I don't care about Oracles, or prophecies, or Saviors!" (Note Morpheus' blind faith vs. Locke's blind rationality, another pair of opposites!) We will return to the idea of Neo as Christ several times, but for now let's briefly jump religions and look at things from a Hindu perspective.
The big revelation in Reloaded comes when The Architect reveals that there have been five previous iterations of The One. The Matrix itself is cyclical and Neo is intimately tied to it. Each time the One returns to the Source the code he carries is "reinserted" and The Matrix is rebooted. Coupled with periodic extermination of Zion, this gives the machines a perfect system of control. In theory anyway.
The presence of reincarnation should be painfully obvious here. Neo has literally lived five previous lives. The genius of all this is that there is an internal sci-fi logic to how this works in the form of a permanent element that remains constant throughout this cycle: the code of the One. The same code has existed within the bodies of five previous Ones. We actually have a sci-fi mechanism for Neo's "soul" living multiple lives. The significance of all this, as you should recall, is that reincarnation, or death and rebirth, has a purpose: growth.
To grow requires that one suffer and learn through the passage of time. The Matrix however, is a world of timeless, static, perfection, which the Architect calls, "a harmony of mathematical precision". Earlier we established that the Matrix in all its iterations is symbolically comparable to the Garden of Eden – it is a perfect world that provides for all Man's needs, but lacks the capacity for growth.
Though the Architect tells us that The Matrix was redesigned to include suffering in its 2nd version, remember that it isn't until the 3rd, when people are given a choice to accept the program, that things start working. The 3rd Matrix is the first one that allows for the possibility of human growth by choosing to reject the program – choosing to disobey. Now that we have this in mind again, let's examine the symbolic human journey Neo undertakes in each of his lives.
- Man is born inside the Garden of Eden (The Matrix).
- Man disobeys the rules of the Garden by eating of the Tree of Knowledge (Neo takes the red pill).
- Man is cast out of the Garden into the Real World, where through suffering and the passage of time, he grows as an individual (Neo gains his second sight by being blinded and loses Trinity).
- Man finds his way back to God (Neo returns to the Source).
Step 3 is the one that the machines fail to understand. They try to use this system to maintain unchanging perfection, but each time this cycle runs Neo grows towards something. If we take the Hindu approach, we could say that he is growing towards Enlightenment, but we'll see what exactly that means a little later. For now, let's just say that this sixth version of Neo is satisfactorily different from his five predecessors and this manifests itself in the choice he makes in The Architect's chamber.
The five previous Neos all conformed to the system by returning to the Source. They followed the path of the One to its final conclusion, sacrificing themselves to save humanity. This choice parallels the Christ narrative, even going so far as to make the right hand door lead to the Source in the Architect's chamber (Christ sits at the right hand of God). However, by accepting the system they also behave like machines. But Neo chooses Trinity. He rejects the system of control. He disobeys. The sixth version of the One is a free man. "And on the sixth day God created Man."
Limbo and Meeting Ramachandra
After the scene with the Architect at the end of Reloaded Neo destroys a group of sentinels in the real world and falls into a coma. I mentioned earlier that this coma can be read as a symbolic death. Specifically, it is comparable to Christ's post crucifixion death. At this time Christ's soul separates from his body. Now there are multiple versions of this story floating around in the various denominations of Christianity, most notably Catholicism. In some versions Christ's soul goes to limbo while in others his soul goes to hell. As it turns out, both versions appear in Revolutions.
After destroying the sentinels Neo goes to a place called Mobil Avenue Station. Mobil, in case you didn't catch it, is an anagram of limbo. Meanwhile, Trinity, Neo's lover, companion, and "other half" so to speak goes to Club Hel, which as we know is literally hell, to bargain with the Merovingian, the devil, for Neo's return. The two narratives unfold contemporaneously and both contribute to Neo's eventual freedom, but of the two, Mobil is more significant.
Mobil is the most overtly Hindu scene in the entire trilogy. Though it takes place in a metaphorical limbo, the Indian ethnicity and names of the characters Neo meets tells us that we need to shift gears. Their names are Rama-Kandra, Kamala, and Sati. Rama-Kandra is Ramachandra the seventh incarnation of the god Vishnu. His wife Kamala is an incarnation of the goddess Lakshmi. In the film they have a daughter, Sati, whose name means "self immolation" or "willful self sacrifice", the subtext here being that this form of sacrifice springs from divinity. This idea will come into play at the film's finale, but we'll get to that later.
In Hindu mythology there is a passing of the torch moment where Ramachandra meets his predecessor, Parashurama, the sixth incarnation of Vishnu. Remember how Neo is the sixth incarnation of the One? In the context of this scene, Neo is Parashurama. Now in the original story Ramachandra continues on after the two meet and Parashurama goes to meditate on a mountaintop. This being a film, it wouldn't make much sense for our hero to suddenly become an entirely different person, so instead Ramachandra imparts some wisdom to our hero.
Neo and Rama-Kandra discuss two important subjects: love and karma. First, Neo asks Rama-Kandra what he is doing in Mobil. The answer is that he is smuggling his daughter out of the machine world and into the Matrix. Why? Because he loves her.
Rama-Kandra: "I love my daughter very much. I find her to be the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. But where we are from, that is not enough. Every program that is created must have a purpose. If it does not, it is deleted. I went to the Frenchman to save my daughter. You do not understand."
Neo: "I just have never…"
Rama-Kandra: "Heard a program speak of love."
Neo: "It is a human emotion."
Rama-Kandra: "No, it is a word. What matters is the connection the word implies. I see that you are in love. Can you tell me what you would give to hold on to that connection?"
Neo: "Anything."
Rama-Kandra: "Then perhaps the reason you are here is not so different than the reason I am here."
Rama-Kandra may be a program, but like Neo, he is a bit of an anomaly. His daughter Sati has no purpose, yet he loves her unconditionally. Keep in mind that Rama-Kandra and his wife Kamala represent divine beings. Ergo, this sort of unconditional love is the divine form of love and it manifests itself as Sati, "willful self sacrifice". In the final line of this exchange Rama-Kandra tells us that the unconditional love that Neo has for Trinity is the same as the love Rama-Kandra has for his daughter. Hence, Rama-Kandra imparts this divine quality to Neo, or at the very least illuminates it within him.
Next, we learn that Rama-Kandra and his wife will not be accompanying their daughter into the Matrix. When Neo asks why, Rama-Kandra says that this is his karma. This is a new way of thinking about the machine's worldview of purpose.
"Karma is a word, like love. A way of saying: "What I am here to do." I do not resent my karma. I'm grateful for it. Grateful for my wonderful wife, for my beautiful daughter. They are gifts, and so I do what I must do to honor them."
It is interesting to have purpose suddenly cast into a different light. Because it is the machines' worldview our normal response is to reject it because the machines are the bad guys. But much like how there is validity in the Merovingian's philosophy of causality, there is value in fulfilling purpose as well. This isn't about right and wrong. It is about contrast. It is about balance. It is about choosing the middle path between pairs of opposites. This concept of the middle way is intimately tied to achieving an inner sort of divinity, a.k.a Enlightenment. Recall that as the One, the Christ, Neo's purpose is to save humanity. In the finale with Smith, we see all of these ideas come to fruition: the divinity of unconditional love, of fulfilling purpose, of willful self sacrifice, the choosing of the middle path, and achieving Enlightenment.
When Neo leaves Mobil he has passed through another cycle of death and rebirth, and as such has grown further towards Enlightenment. Through his exchange with Rama-Kandra he has effectively become the seventh incarnation of the One – a new being. The film confirms this with a few quick lines right after Neo's return.
Morpheus: "Are you ready for us?"
Link: "Almost, sir. They got some pretty ancient hacks here, we're working on it. Did you find Neo?"
Morpheus: "Can't you see him?"
Link: "No, sir. We were reading something but I couldn't tell what it was."
The Final Battle
Union with the Shadow Self and Ascension
The final battle with Smith encapsulates everything we have discussed. It is the most significant scene in the entire trilogy and also one of the most commonly misunderstood. At face value one might say that Smith won, but that is a tragic misreading of the scene. Before we dive into all the themes and symbolism going on here, let's get the mundane stuff out of the way first. How exactly is Smith destroyed?
Before Neo goes to confront Smith he makes a bargain with a giant floating head. Though the film does not refer to it as such, the name of the head is the Deus Ex Machina – the "God out of Machine." It is the Infinite God from which all the lesser deities like the Architect and the Oracle have sprung. It is the Source. Those familiar with Tolkien and The Silmarallion should recognize this concept. When Middle-Earth is created in that story we are told that Eru Iluvatar created the Valar as "the offspring of his thought." So it is with the Deus Ex Machina. It is the Source of all programs. Even without knowing this tidbit, it is pretty easy to deduce from the imagery and Neo's journey so far that he has reached the Source.
When Neo goes to fight Smith he jacks into the Matrix directly at the Source. In short, Neo becomes a conduit to the Source itself. When Smith absorbs him, Smith becomes connected to the Source. And when a program returns to the Source, it is deleted. Hence, Smith is destroyed.
Now let's look at the symbolism of the fight itself. As we know, Smith is Neo's opposite. Created when Neo merged with Smith in the first film, the two of them are mirror images of each other. They have the same powers and are like magnets with a positive and negative charge. This is conveyed visually in the fight itself. Note how they ram into one another again and again and are repelled away from each other. They even land punches at the same time.
What this conveys is that the two are completely evenly matched. Like the light and the dark they cannot destroy one another. No matter how much flying martial arts Neo does he will never overcome Smith. It is at this moment that Smith delivers his great speech. He rails against Neo, listing every reason why Neo keeps fighting. Again, this is all about purpose – about understanding the why.
"Why, Mr. Anderson? Why, why? Why do you do it? Why, why get up? Why keep fighting? Do you believe you're fighting for something? For more than your survival? Can you tell me what it is? Do you even know? Is it freedom? Or truth? Perhaps peace? Could it be for love? Illusions, Mr. Anderson. Vagaries of perception. Temporary constructs of a feeble human intellect trying desperately to justify an existence that is without meaning or purpose! And all of them as artificial as the Matrix itself, although… only a human mind could invent something as insipid as love. You must be able to see it, Mr. Anderson. You must know it by now. You can't win. It's pointless to keep fighting. Why, Mr. Anderson? Why? Why do you persist?"
And against this tirade Neo, with a dispassionate voice and in a state of near zen like peace, gives us the most profound line in the trilogy.
This is what the entire trilogy has been building towards. In this moment, Neo has achieved Enlightenment. Remember how I said back in the Ramachandra section that the tension between opposites isn't just about good and evil? It's about balance. It is about choosing the middle way through the pairs of opposites.
We have seen the Oracle's philosophy of understanding the why by understanding the self. We have seen the Merovingian's philosophy of understanding the why by understanding causality. In this moment Neo stands at the middle between the two, and so he is free of both of them. There is nothing remaining within him but the will to act. The ultimate why is expressed in these four words: "Because I choose to."
It is within this enlightened state that Neo makes the ultimate sacrifice, something that Smith, a being of anger and hate, could never do nor understand. "Everything that has a beginning has an end, Neo," says Smith, echoing the words of the Oracle. Realizing the inevitability of what is to come, Neo stops fighting. Suddenly, Smith is baffled and fearful.
Smith: "No, no this isn't right. This can't be right. Get away from me!
Neo: "What are you afraid of?"
Smith: "It's a trick!"
Neo: "You were right, Smith. You were always right. It was inevitable."
They both possessed the power to fight each other forever, but Neo laying down that power is something Smith could never do. It is a choice he doesn't understand and he cannot see past it. Remember Neo's role as the Christ. Remember the divinity of karma and of unconditional love, which itself is a Christ like quality. Neo's divine love for humanity manifests itself as willful self sacrifice. In the moment when Smith, driven by some little understood impulse, drives his hand into Neo and begins absorbing him, Neo is calm and serene. He is ascendant. What began with a merge ends with a merge.
This moment ties into the idea of the Shadow Self – the part of the psyche that goes unrecognized by the conscious mind. Only by facing it and joining with it do we become fully realized individuals. Ursula K. LeGuin's famous story A Wizard of Earthsea is defined by this idea. At the finale of that story, the wizard Ged willfully joins with his Shadow and becomes a new being. If I might indulge a more nerdy reference, even Scott Pilgrim vs. the World cheekily incorporates this subject when Scott walks out of the final battle arm in arm with Dark Scott and comments, "He's a pretty cool guy." Neo, by willfully joining with Smith transforms into a new being. Smith clung to his role of darkness, he didn't choose or understand this process, and so he is destroyed. But the new being of Neo remains and ascends back to the Source, where the path of the One ends. His purpose as the Christ is fulfilled.
The Fourth Age
Just like in The Lord of the Rings after our hero's journey is over a Fourth Age for the Matrix begins. The machines and humanity are finally at peace and those minds who seek to be disconnected from the Matrix will be freed. We even see that machine's have lost some of their dogmatic insistence on purpose. Sati is able to create a beautiful sunrise for Neo, simply because she chooses to. Just pure sentiment.
The genius of this ending is that it doesn't tell us that everything will be perfect forever. The Architect questions, "Just how long do you think this 'peace' is going to last?" And the Oracle replies, "As long as it can." After everything we've learned so far, knowing especially that the Matrix is cyclical in nature, we can infer that things will eventually repeat. But that tiny bit of ambiguity at the end perfectly caps off the trilogy.
This isn't an invitation to make more movies. The film is making a statement about the nature of the world. Being able to contemplate what that means will always be more satisfying than watching it unfold. This is why Warner Bros. rebooting The Matrix is such an egregious insult. Again, just like in The Lord of the Rings ("The last pages are for you, Sam") the implication of more to come is what grants the ending its profundity. It is a moment of perfect beauty when Sati asks, "Will we ever see him again?" To which the Oracle replies:


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SAI (Sports Authority Of India) Recruitment Notification 2016 sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in 45 Chief Coach, Senior Coach Post Apply Offline.
Job Info : SAI (Sports Authority Of India) Has Released Recruitment Notification For 45 Chief Coach, Senior Coach Posts. All Eligible And Interested Candidates Can Apply Offline On Or Before 11-10-2016 (11th October 2016). Further Detailed Information Regarding Educational Qualifications, Age Limit, Selection Procedure, Exam Pattern, Syllabus for SAI (Sports Authority Of India) Recruitment 2016 – 45 Chief Coach, Senior Coach Post is mentioned below.
Company Name : Sports Authority of India (SAI).
Company Profile : The Sports Authority of India (SAI) is an apex National Sports body set up in 1984 by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, Government of India for broad basing and bringing excellence in sports across India. It has 9 Regional Centres which are located at Bengaluru, Gandhinagar, Chandigarh,Kolkata, Imphal, Guwahati, Bhopal, Lucknow and Sonepat;and two Academic institutions viz. Netaji Subhash National Institute of Sports(NS NIS), Patiala and Laxmibai National College of Physical Education (LNCPE),Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala).
Total No Of Posts : 45 posts.
Designation : 1. Chief Coach – 15
2. Senior Coach – 30.
Qualification : Candidates should have done Graduation Degree / Post Graduation Degree or its equivalent qualification from a recognized university.
Experience : Experience.
Salary : Rs. 15,600 – 39,100/- With 7,600/- Grade Pay(Chief Coach), Rs. 5600 – 39,100 With Rs 6600/- Grade Pay(Senior coach).
Skills : Good Communication Skills.
Also Read : IBPS (Institute of Banking Personnel Selection) RRB CWE V Recruitment 2016 | Apply For Officers and Office Assistants Last Date 30th September 2016
Age Limit : Candidates upper age limit should not exceed 56 years. Age relaxations will be applicable as per the rules.
Selection Process : All Eligible Candidates will Be Selected Based on Their Performance In Interview.
How to apply : All Eligible and Interested candidates Can Download application Form through official website http://sportsauthorityofindia.nic.in. After Filling The application form, candidate must send hard copy of application along with relevant testimonials (Mentioned In Detailed Advertisement) to the following Address before or on 11th October 2016.
Address : To, Director of Coaching, Sports Authority of India, Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium Complex (East Gate), Gate No.10, Lodhi Road, New Delhi 110003.
Important Dates : Closing Date to Submit the Application Form : 11-10-2016.

subset: commoncrawl


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Bust a Move with Your SSIS – Passing Package Variables
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Bust a Move with Your SSIS – Passing Package Variables
Integration Services (SSIS), the next generation of the Extract, Transport, and Load (ETL) feature included with Microsoft SQL Server 2005 has befuddled Database Administrators. This is due to the new programming paradigm and the complexity of the development environment. SSIS includes many new capabilities bundled with a Visual Studio front end. This paper explores the creation of sample development data featuring the use of the most basic features in this new interface. The challenge of declaring and passing package variables contains enough material for an hour's skill-building session with this new tool....
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Sunday, December 28, 2008
THE WITCHING HOUR (2006) d. Francois Merlin
Reviewed by Rick Trottier
Hey film fans, it's that time again! It's another opportunity to meet with the rest of the class of Film Language 101 where we learn profoundly important terminology and how it applies to making a motion picture. The last time we met, I taught you about the word appalling and applied that expression to a film that had many appalling characteristics. Today we are going to get double our pleasure and tackle two indispensable vocabulary terms in one lesson. First up is the word pointless, which means having no use, of no value, meaningless. Following right after that is the term monotonous, which means tedious, repeated over and over, boring. Does bringing up these two adjectives mean we are going to explore how to make a pointless and monotonous movie? You bet your life we are and I've got the perfect pointless and monotonous flick to explore. It's called THE WITCHING HOUR and after carefully examining this cinematic sampling of soured sludge, you too will have attained the essential knowledge allowing you to make a pointless and monotonous film, if you dare.
THE WITCHING HOUR is the story of Ulrick and Alexandre Santoro (no relation to Santoro the Honduran Grappler), who are charged by their father to steal a priceless gem called the Eye of Sloveig. The Santoro brothers gather their friends/cohorts Nico, Sam and Michael and the five urban warriors take the fight to the House of Marcucci to wrest the jewel from this crime lord and exact a little vengeance at the same time. Unfortunately, their initially successful attempts bring them in contact with an unsuspected world of cannibals, zombies, succubae and the Demon Sloveig himself, whose eye IS the gemstone. Guns, knives, punches and kicks, as well as all many of human and demonic weapons are brought to bear in an orgy of blood to gain control of the stone and the Powers of Darkness that the Five Witches and Sloveig wish to direct.
THE WITCHING HOUR suffers from many problems right from the start and never relinquishes it hold on crappiness throughout the entirety of the film. To begin with, the general story seems promising, but it is exceedingly simplistic and to make the story pad out to feature length, everything about this flick is extended to the point that you think you are watching a Stretch Armstrong action figure being horrifically elongated while being heated over an open flame. When it is a dialogue scene, the plot comes to a screeching halt and useless verbiage spills onto the screen in torrents that inundate the viewer in verbal exercises of dreadful futility. Beyond being absolutely pointless most of the time, much of the dialogue is ridiculously obscene, as if the film maker wanted to see how much filthy language he could cram into a 106 minute motion picture, whether it made sense or not. To add to the pointlessness, most of the fight scenes, whether you are talking about martial arts, gunplay, knife work, chainsaw action or what not was overdone to the point where each scene got tiresome. Fights are not necessarily better if they are longer. It isn't about how much punishment a human body can endure that creates tension and makes the story compelling, it is how much drama and conflict is created as a part of the narrative. Once again, most of the action didn't seem to have a reason to exist other than to intensify the "action" element of the movie and throw punctuation marks of testosterone in between the muddy rivers of dialogue. To make matters worse, there were miserably long stretches of grotesquely dull gore scenes that made Lucio Fulci's propensity for "probing the wound" look like a brief and jaunty romantic dalliance in a Walt Disney film. Entrails and blood are spread across the last two-thirds of the movie in ever increasing quantities but with no purpose beyond creating shock value. At least when you watched BLOOD FEAST, you knew that the gore scenes were all part of the Sacred Rites of Ishtar and served a plot purpose. So many of the gore scenes in THE WITCHING HOUR existed simply to raise the disgusting bar to the same level as the testosterone bar and be as "edgy" as possible, because being "edgy" means you are "cool"! In the end though, all the violence and gore just became horrendously monotonous and made THE WITCHING HOUR seem like it was 1006 minutes in length and not 106.
Had the action scenes and set pieces been of superior quality like so many of the modern Thai films made by or with Tony Jaa, I could have looked past the pointless and monotonous plot and may have enjoyed it for its choreography, but it was not to be. I didn't like Jackie Chan's GORGEOUS for many reasons, but I was able to appreciate the beauty of the fight scenes. Such was even more the case with the great Chan, Sammo Hung and Yuen Biao slugfest WHEELS ON MEALS, which really doesn't have much of a story but is one of the greatest fight films of all time. THE WITCHING HOUR played more like a student film version of YAMAKASI, a film I hated for the way it was shot and edited. At least that train-wreck was well lit and used real film stock, whereas THE WITCHING HOUR is dark, grainy, shot on video, poorly focused and faux-avant garde in style so that it can be "edgy" and therefore "cool". Every singly type of fight scene was shot like the camera had been strapped to a Tilt-a-Whirl that could pitch, roll and yaw at 750 miles per hour. Every possible angle which the camera lens could be utilized was exploited and then all the relentlessly scavenged clips were edited as rapidly as could be done so that no amount of visual pleasure from the fight scenes could be extracted, and remember, each scene is dark and grainy, making it even harder to see what the HELL was happening. When you can't see or enjoy what is occurring AND each one of these scenes is egregiously too long, then the test of endurance becomes an exercise in pain management. The only interesting visual characteristics of THE WITCHING HOUR were that most of the scenes were filtered and/or treated in post production to be monochromatic. While many of these single color applications didn't add much to the appeal for they were gray, brown or other dull shades, there were some icy blues, baleful greens and bright green/yellows that made for some compelling mood shifts at times. Later in the film when a "cauldron" was mentioned and that story element "developed" there were some moments of mixed media and animation coupled with even brighter jewel tones that also had an attractive quality. Had more of this kind of film making been attempted and some real atmosphere been developed, THE WITCHING HOUR could have really been "edgy" and therefore "cool".
When you've got a film that has a pointless and monotonous story and visual imagery that only adds to how meaningless and dull a film is, the problems with THE WITCHING HOUR become absolutely metaphysical when you take into account that between the acting and the way the characters were written, no one is anything but plastic at best, but at worst the characters are miserable pustules of puerile putrescence. The family of cannibals may be the most infuriating collection of benighted souls ever created and then chained to a scene that was almost completely unwatchable and made infinitely more unpleasant by its pointlessness and monotonous nature. None of the principal five characters was anything more than a fighting and swearing machine and had little about them that was engaging. Even when humor was ham-handedly injected into the mix, it fell flat and no character was made to be more interesting or could be related to. What could have been an addition to the story that may have added complexity, mood, attitude and sex appeal were The Five Witches, but none of the them were anything more than vehicles for fight scenes, gore scenes and one reasonably interesting nude scene that was not nearly enough impressive pulchritude to turn around the plummeting gravity dung ball that was THE WITCHING HOUR. Finally, this film even had some audio issues that made it even quirkier than it should have been. It is a French film with English subtitles, the subs being truly English in nature that is done by Brits. This combination of English colloquialisms in word form juxtaposed with French language being spoken by the characters was awkward to say the least. In addition, there was some eclectic modern music laid down over the film that may have fit the tone of the movie better had it been a little less frenetically edited. One moment, a lighter and bouncier set of strains can be heard backing an action sequence, only to be replaced in a flash by the crunching chords of speed metal. This only strengthened the feeling that THE WITCHING HOUR was made by people who desperately needed sizable doses of psychotropic drugs but not only had their medications withheld, but they were given cane sugar laced with crystal meth instead.
Even the extras menu of THE WITCHING HOUR was plebeian at best. There was a small Stills Gallery that was actually its own menu option instead of actually being part of the bonus features. While small, the Stills Gallery was true to its name, for the images were "behind the scenes" or "promotional" in nature. There was a 19 minute "Deleted and Extended Scenes" segment which was problematic for the fact that the comments made by the "director" were not subtitled. Beyond that, why would I want to see anymore scenes that would add to the pointless and monotonous experience of this movie? I do not have nor do I try to cultivate a masochistic side, so enduring more of the imagery of THE WITCHING HOUR was clearly one of the braver actions of my life. Finally, there is the Redemption Films extras section with three trailers and a book teaser. I didn't expect that the extras would save my viewing of THE WITCHING HOUR, but it certainly didn't add anything to it either, engendering further reason to hate myself for having any dealings with this disc.
I hope that you have paid close attention during this extended section of Film Language 101 for it is to be hoped that the astute scholar will have gleaned enough wisdom from this lecture to avoid foisting upon the world another such offering that is so unrelentingly pointless and monotonous. Let us briefly review the main points of the lesson though so that the most essential cognitive growth can be retained. The plot of your motion picture must be cohesive and relevant; otherwise you will have a WITCHING HOUR disaster on your hands. You must film all of the sequences of your movie so that people can enjoy watching them or else you will be compared to THE WITCHING HOUR. Lastly, there must be quality acting and carefully scripted characters so that viewers feel connected to the story; otherwise the Curse of THE WITCHING HOUR will befall your creative efforts. There are few things worse than being pointless and monotonous and it is to be hoped that painstaking analysis of this monograph will make it so that no more films of this ilk will ever be made.
Posted by Saturday Fright Special at 10:30 AM
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It's at this time in the season that we look back at the previous 10 months of football and give out virtual awards to players and teams.
That's what Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher did on Monday Night Football as they had to pick their goal of the season, manager of the season, player of the season, young player of the season, signing of the season and one to watch for next season.
Not only that, they each picked their Premier League Team of the Season.
It's something that all football fans like to do - attempt to pick the best XI from the campaign they've just witnessed.
But rarely do people agree.
Each 'Team of the Season' differs based on opinion and, possibly, club allegiances.
However, one Team of the Season that we can't really argue with is the one from CIES Football Observatory.
According to their website, "The CIES Football Observatory has a global reputation for devising statistical indicators which are perfectly comparable from both a spatial and temporal perspective. This expertise allows us to rank players and teams on an objective and transparent basis."
Right, ok.
Anyway, they've created a Team of the Season based on their ranking from the top-five leagues - the Premier League, the Bundesliga, Ligue 1, La Liga and Serie A.
Europe's Team of the Year
And here it is:
Goalkeeper | Manuel Neuer | Bayern Munich
Right back | Bruno Peres | Roma
Left back | Alex Sandro | Juventus
Centre back | Javi Martinez | Bayern Munich
Centre back | Mats Hummel | Bayern Munich
Centre midfield | Thiago Alcantara | Bayern Munich
Centre midfield | Paul Pogba | Manchester United
Centre midfield | Naby Keita | RB Leipzig
Striker | Dries Mertens | Napoli
Striker | Lionel Messi | Barcelona
Striker | Cristiano Ronaldo | Real Madrid
We're sure many of you will disagree with the team but who can argue with stats?
The top 10 in each position
CIES also compiled a top-10 list of goalkeepers, centre backs, full-backs, central defensive midfielders, central attacking midfielders, wingers and central forwards.
Here they are:
Do YOU want to write for GiveMeSport? Get started today by signing-up and submitting an article HERE: https://www.givemesport.com/writeforgms


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Hello everyone! I missed reading your posts.
It's good to be back after days of being away from my blog. And it's even better to come back finding new names on my list of friends.
I would like to welcome Marie @Blossom Time Creations.
Actually, Marie has more than one blog but this particularly link made me and my girls fall in love with her creations. Visit her to see how talented this new friend is.
A warm welcome also to Joyce Marie @A Fistful of Dandelions. I'm delighted to have another homeschool mom with us. Reading her posts and seeing her profile picture made me believe that she's a sweet soul. 'A lady in love with her bestfriend-husband and a mommy gently guiding her teenage daughter to adulthood...' you would want to meet her, too.
Thank you, Marie and Joyce Marie for following Daily Divine. Hope you find more friends here. I would also like to invite you to visit my other blog Celebrate Friendship. There's a new meme I'm starting soon.


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Customer Service & Terms
Customer Service & Terms
Thanks for shopping at one of our http://www.teachforamericastores.com. If you are not entirely satisfied with your purchase, we're here to help.
The Marek Group
W228 N821 Westmound Drive
Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186
Email: email@example.com
Toll Free: 1-855-231-2621
Fax: (952) 345-7261
Customer Service Hours: Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM CST
You have 10 business days from receipt of your merchandise to return an item. To be eligible for a return, your item must be unused and in the same condition that you received it. Your item must be in the original packaging. Your item needs to have a receipt or proof of purchase. Once we receive your item, we will inspect it and notify you that we have received your returned item. We will immediately notify you on the status of your refund after inspecting the item. If your return is approved, we will initiate a store credit.
Items Not Eligible for refunds include: Promotional give-away items, Sale or clearance items or items no longer in stock.
If your merchandise was received damaged or is faulty, please call us immediately at: 855-231-2621. We will either replace the damaged part/s or issue a Call Tag for a return. Call us or email us at email@example.com for full return instructions.
Shipping costs are non-refundable. If you should receive a refund, the cost of return shipping will be deducted from your refund. Contact email@example.com if you have any questions on how to return your item.
You can order 24 hours on our website. We reserve the right to correct pricing and description errors.
If you would rather place your order by phone, please call our toll-free line: 1-855-231-2621 and ask for customer support and the name of your store you are shopping. Our business hours are Monday-Friday 8AM-5PM CST.
You will receive an e-mail confirming your order and a second one when the order has shipped. If the item is out of stock you will be contacted by customer service with a potential in stock date. If you need additional assistance please call customer service at 1-855-231-2621 or email us at firstname.lastname@example.com.
All orders will be charged applicable sales tax according to the destination shipping address on your order. Sales tax charges currently apply to MN, TX and WI.
Standard lead time for delivery via ground service within the contiguous U.S. is 5-7 working days after receipt of order. Any item temporarily on backorder due to unusually high demand will be shipped as soon as possible. For additional rush or expedited shipping options not shown on website, please contact customer service at 1-855-231-2621 for more information.


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World Journal of Surgical Research Volume No 7
To examine the effectiveness of a neutrophil elastase inhibitor, Sivelestat on ameliorating ischemia reperfusion injury in a muscle flap model.
Eighteen male, 8-week old, specific pathogen-free Sprague Dawley rats were examined in 3 groups; Saline-treated control group(CG)(n=6), Ischemia group (IG)(n=6), Sivelestat-treated group(SG)(n=6). Gastrocnemius muscle flap was approached as previously described in studies. The sural artery branching from the politeal artery was clamped with 2v microvascular clamps. In the control group, the clamps were left in place for 5 hours of ischemia, prosecuted by 3 hours of reperfusion and saline was given during the reperfusion period.In the ischemia group, the gastrocnemius muscle flap was raised and islanded and the vascular pedicle was tied to mimic total ischemia. In Sivelestat group, the gastrocnemius muscle flap was raised as an islanded flap, the pedicle was clamped with 2v microvascular clapms for 5 hours, prosecuted by 3 hours of reperfusion. During the reperfusion period, a 16 gauge cannula was placed from the tail veins of the rats and Sivelestat was infused at a 10 mg/kg/hour dosage for 3 hours creating a pharmacological postconditioning procedure.After a total of 8 hours, the incisions were sutured and the rats in all groups were examined for 7 days in terms of wound healing, allergic reactions and general conditions. On the seventh day of reperfusion, gastrocnemius muscles were harvested for histological analysis with hematoxylene eozine and for myeloperoxidase activity and formeasuring the amount ofbicinchoninic acid which are both predictors of neutrophil elastase accumulation in the tissues.
Inflammatory reaction in groups 1 and 2 were predominated by lymphocytes, followed by eosinophil leukocytes and plasmocytes resulting in edema collection. In group 3, the sivelestat-treated rats, the number of neutrophil leukocytes are much less, the inflammatory reaction is attenuated with less edema collection in between the tissues.Median tissue myeloperoxidase levels were significantly elevated in control muscle(group1) 2.45 (1.32-4.28) units /g wet weight) compared with that harvested from ischemic 1.12 (1.08-2.02) (p<0.001).
Use of Sivelestat will aid in decreasing the degree of myozite damage in upper limb replantations, crush syndromes and compartment syndromes and will help obtain more functional results in hand surgery where warm ischemia time is of utmost importance.
Neutrophil elastase inhibition, ischemia reperfusion injury, Sivelestat, limb replantation
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Nothing makes me happier in the hot weather than a nice cool Rose´. I like the the chill, the sometimes bold fruit flavors and the ability to pair them with - well - just about anything. In this case it was a Father's Day feast prepared by my lovely wife featuring cornmeal, cumin and coriander crusted soft shell crabs with red chile rice. Soft shell crabs are such a treat and when they go on sale, even a bit late in their season, it's tough not to pounce. So she pounced.
Rose´s can run the gamut in styles from light and delicate Gamay rose´s from the Loire Valley or Pinot Noir rose´s from Germany to darker, bolder styles from the warmer climates like Southern France, Italy and Spain. I like both styles of course but there's something I really like about the latter style. Yes in your face reds can sometimes turn me off but there's something I like about a rose´ that gets in your glass and screams, "Here I am!" The Dinastia Vivanco Rioja Rose´ 2012 did just that.
Dinastia Vivanco has been around since 1915, though in a commercial sense the winery is younger than that. The family was really only making wine on a very small scale early on. This wonderful wine is a blend comprised of 85% Tempranillo and 15% Grenache. The skin contact is limited to 12-24 hours to achieve the translucent pink color and then fermented at cool temperatures to maintain aromatic complexity. It's got big aromas of strawberry, raspberry, rose petal and minty nuances, large scaled red berry flavors and a finishing note of sweet cream. It went perfectly with the soft shell crabs and enhanced a great dinner outdoors on a beautiful day. Imported by Opici Imports, this is one fantastic $11.99 rose´ you should seek out. Cheers.


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Wednesday, 15 December 2010
Starry Eyed
I have become somewhat of an Ellie Goulding fan since she stormed the charts with upbeat dance hit, Starry Eyed. She has quickly become a pop sensation and is likable in that she is different to all the other female singers that are caked in make-up and all too quick to show off a bit too much skin. But, Ellie is pretty and cool and I love that she has shaved her hair a little. Her cover of Elton John's Your Song is beautifully sang and lovely to listen to, just as the video is to watch. It plays in the background of John Lewis' new Christmas advert and every time I hear it I cannot help but "Awww"- the rocking horse, the child yawning, her voice... It encapsulates Christmas and excites me about the festive season all over again, every time I see it. I am loving Ellie's look here- from a fashion perspective, the androgynous monochrome reminds me of ever so slightly of the Helmut Newton photograph, which showcases Yves Saint Laurent's Le Smoking tuxedo jacket. Ellie's take on the jacket/shirt combo is aptly suitable for the premiere of new film Burlesque and manages to become an effortlessly interesting outfit. Her hair too, even though she seems not to take that much attention, because she simply doesn't have to, always remains glossy and styled. Effortless beauty is the best kind and for that she should be celebrated because she displays just that in exactly the right way.
Posted by Jessica at 21:30
Labels: Burlesque, Christmas, Ellie Goulding, Elton John, festive, Helmut Newton, LOVE, monochrome, Yves Saint Laurent
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I rush through important moments, and dwell on the insignificant.
I fear change, but cherish the possibilities.
I find myself drifting back to 2006, and 1999.
I bite my nails, and pick at my scabs.
I drink apple cider vinegar.
I hope for rain.
I should write more.
I should sketch more.
I should call more.
I stare at the sky, and trip over things often.
My life exists within a barn and in front of an easel.


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Just now, I had a glimpse of your circular No.05/2017 dated 25.01.2017 regarding the yeoman service of AIBOC to the community of retired bank officers/employees stating as infra:
" It needs no emphasis that AIBOC has always shown concern for the retirees and the pensioners and has been raising and settling their issues unlike some retired executives who did nothing for the retirees when they were in service though they had the powers but are acting as championing the cause of retirees today when they are victims. It was AIBOC which kept the issue of 2nd option of pension alive and ultimately clinched the same in the 9th BPS to the benefit of lakhs of retirees. Again, it was AIBOC which clinched 2nd option of pension for VRS optees who were clandestinely denied the same by IBA by wrong interpretation of the settlement."
The ratio of retirees to employees on rolls as beneficiaries of the second option was somewhere 1:8. The impression conveyed above is that AIBOC is championing the cause of retirees and not of its members.
The statement that it was AIBOC was keeping the issue of 2nd option alive and ultimately clinched it in 9th Bipartite Settlement needs slight amendment as all organizations had kept the issue dead for about a decade till end of December, 2006. Even as government of India issued a direction to IBA to advise all banks to amend regulation 22 (4) (b) vide letter F.No.4/8/4/95-IR dated 24 .12.1997 and to give effect to it (which cannot be done in letter and spirit without giving a fresh option along with the amendment) to all, all organistion including AIBOC were sleeping without claiming an option then, for the members. Banks which amended the regulation apropos the direction clandestinely kept in camera and published among the target group belately in a casual manner with a delay of even 43 months in 2002 only. When the Pension Regulations contained the penal clause under regulation 22 (4) (b) majority could not opt for pension. When the clause was deleted and regulations underwent radical change, such people did not get an option under it. It is enigmatic that the option given through the Joint Note was termed as 2nd option to those who did not get the 1st option under the amended Regulations.
The Joint Note signed on 27.04.2010 is breached by its principal party IBA through non-compliance with the requirement mandated by its conclusion No.10 relating to amendment of the Pension Regulations. The Joint Note is thus void and if AIBOC is honest and earnest with commitment to its own members can challenge it and see that it is set aside.
The Joint Note contained stupid conclusions alone. In the case of employees, the contribution to Pension Fund to the tune of 2.8 times pay for November, 2007 envisaged thereby was discriminatory and opposed to the Constitution of India as it treats similar amanner of people differently. Employees on rolls are similar manner of people and paying pension to one set by subjecting them to a contribution and another set without the contribution is unwarranted.
In the case of the retired, when they have paid back the CPF paid on retirement and 56 percent of it by way of interest for the period the CPF was with them, pension shall be paid to them from the date of retirement and not from the 27.11.2009 arbitrarily stipulated in the Joint Note. The Joint Note which had to be laid in the Houses of the Parliament for their nod as soon as it was signed is not laid in the Houses in spite of the lapse of six years and three quarters by now. Regulation 52 (1) remaining intact, pension shall become payable from the date following the date of retirement itself and not from 27.11.2009.
Regulation 5 (3) and 11 of Pension Regulations in force fix the bank as the sole contributor to the Pension Fund. A fortiori, Pension Funds of banks does not have a component other than the components mentioned under regulation 7. It does not encompass a contribution by the employee than the initial transfer of CPF lying to his credit to the Pension Fund. The levy subjected to employees and retired mentioned supra are illegal and unwarranted by the Trust of Pension Funds.
Your observation that "retired executives who did nothing for the retirees when they were in service though they had the powers but are acting as championing the cause of retirees today when they are victims" needs to be revisited. They have to be excused as we could imagine what they would have faced from the authorities if they made any attempt to use their powers to favour employees. The case with organizations is different as they cannot be punished for speaking for the employees. Moreover it is their onus and obligation to conserve and protect the rights of employees as they are regularly collecting subscriptions and levies from the members.
The Pension Funds have provision to pay pension and family pension only in accordance with the Pension Regulations in terms of regulation 5 (2) and no one can be admitted to benefits of Pension Regulations after 26.01.1996 ( on which date 120 days from notification of Regulations on 29.09.1995 expired). This makes it limpid that no one can be admitted to the Pension Fund created pursuant to Pension Regulations through the Joint Note and paid pension on its basis out of the Pension Funds. All pension paid from 27.11.2009 on the basis of the Joint Note running in several crores of Rupees is unlawful and constitute a scam of Pension Funds. The Pension Paid cannot be discontinued or recovered also since it is under a sealed contract backed by consideration viz. option and the contribution. The IBA and MOF are now in trap and are accountable for the manipulation of Pension Funds.
In the Joint Note dated 25 May, 2015 to 10th Bipartite Settlement, it was stated by the parties that retiree issues cannot be discussed with labour organistions and strangely beneath, both parties signed conclusions that there is no contractual relationship for banks with the retired. This was true so long as the relationship of employees with banks was statutory, arising out of the Pension Regulations and Service Regulations. The leader of the UFBU who categorically stated that unless retiree issues are resolved, 10th BPS will not be signed took a "U" turn and signed it for reasons best known to him alone.
If the so called AIBOC is earnest and honest and has any commitment to at least to the members – not to shed crocodile tears for the cause of the retirees - and is worth a pinch of salt to them, let them challenge the Joint Note and see that it is set aside. If not all they claim and do turn out to be attempts to patch of a hole with darkness.
Thanks and Regards and Revolutionary Greetings.
Yours sincerely,


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Two weeks ago, our youth group had their Christmas party. Like almost every other day this season, we had a million things to do before the actual party including seeing our dear friends Sally, Landry, and their baby Charlotte (who, by the way, are HOME now!- Praise the Lord!) We were running way behind by the time we actually got back from the two hour trip and were rushing to get something on the stove to bring for the party. We knew the kids were bringing sweets, so we decided to bring meatballs and cider (great combination, right?!) Anyways, I told Jeff to just go up to the church to start setting up and I would bring everything with me. The meatballs were done, the baby was screaming and we had about 5 minutes to spare. So, I grabbed the pot off the stove and put it (and the baby) in the car and headed to the church. Well, we get there and I call for Jeff to come help me get everything out( i mean, i got it all in the car, HE can unload it!) He goes to get the pot and guess what?! IT'S STUCK TO THE SEAT-well, not just the seat, but also stuck to the jacket that I put it on. So, Jeff does a couple of hard tugs and FINALLY the pot comes off, but unfortunately, with the pot comes my jacket (stuck to the pan) and half of our passenger seat. Yes, there's a HUGE pot sized hole in our seat.
Now, I have to brag on my husband for a second, because I was ready for him to lay it on me. "Why did you put a HOT pan on the seat?" "What were you thinking?!" "Do you know how much money this is going to cost!?" But, nope! He said none of that. He simply shrugged his shoulders and said we needed to get it fixed. That's it?! ha. He's so patient. Nothing phases him really-not even a hole in the car. His patience reminds me daily to be slow to anger, a lesson I need to learn many times over.
He hasn't brought it up since....I on the other hand remind him daily that I BURNED A HOLE IN OUR CAR-WHO DOES THAT?! HA.
Anyways, we took it to get fixed this morning so I don't have to ride in the back seat anymore-which I don't really mind because I have beautiful company back there-a.k.a Lyla:) . And just in case this ever happens to you, it's a couple hundred dollar mistake -oops! So, that was my day...how was yours?:)
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
The hole
Posted by jengraves25 at 10:31 AM
1 comment:
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text:
Dear All PARE members:)
Hello! This is Mao from PARE central office at Hokkaido University!
On Aug. 15th, [2013 PARE Intensive Summer School] started at Hokkaido University in JP!
The perticipants are total 37 students!!!
7 UGM students
5 IPB students
2 ITB students
6 CU students
9 KC students
2 SIIT students
6 HU students
They are now during the field trip around Hokkaido and come back to Sapporo City on 23th.
Thank you so much to come to Japan and we PARE central office are so glad to seet you all:)
Please have a safety trip and hopefully you have great time to learn a lot in the beautiful historical places in Hokkaido!!!!!!!!! Take care & we are waiting for you in Sapporo:)
2013 PARE Intensive Summer School Started!!
Posted on Aug 22, 2013 by Pare Project
Dear All PARE members:)
Bookmark the permalink.


text:
Applying what we learned in MultiMOOC in EVO 2013 to Writingmatrix
A few years ago, Vance Stevens coordinated Nelba Quintana and Rita Zeinstejer in Argentina, Doris Molero in Venezuela, and Sasa Sirk in Slovenia in a global project to put student writers in touch with each other through blogging, by tagging their posts 'writingmatrix'. At the time, the students were able to locate each other's blogs by using Technorati. This was surprisingly effective at the time; however Technorati has since tightened what its searches will return in order to reduce clutter for whom it perceives are the most important users of its services (not casual educators). Therefore Technorati no longer works well for this purpose, but those involved in the project found results at the time to be highly satisfactory. Those involved produced numerous online artifacts, including presentations and scholarly articles, many of which are linked from our Writingmatrix project portal at: http://writingmatrix.wikispaces.com. Some of the most illustrative artifacts include:
- Stevens, Vance. (2009 July 15). Engaging Collaborative Writing through Social Networking. In Koyama, Toshiko; Noguchi, Judy; Yoshinari,Yuichiro; and Iwasaki, Akio (Eds.). Proceedings of the WorldCALL 2008 Conference. The Japan Association for Language Education and Technology (LET). ISBN: 978-4-9904807-0-7, http://www.j-let.org/~wcf/proceedings/proceedings.pdf, pp.68-71.
- Stevens, Vance, Nelba Quintana, Rita Zeinstejer, Saša Sirk, Doris Molero & Carla Arena. (2008). Writingmatrix: Connecting Students with Blogs, Tags, and Social Networking. In Stevens, Vance & Elizabeth Hanson-Smith, Co-editors. (2008). Special Feature: Proceedings of the Webheads in Action Online Convergence, 2007. TESL-EJ, Volume 11, Number 4: http://tesl-ej.org/ej44/a7.html
- A delightful 5 min. trailer for our presentation at the K-12 Online Conference in 2007:
- http://webheadsinaction.org/sun-feb-10-2013-1500-gmt-evo-multimooc-hangout-and-stream
- http://learning2gether.posterous.com/vance-stevens-hosts-evo-multimooc-hangout-and
- making blog posts and tagging them 'writingmatrix'
- tweeting those posts with the hashtag #writingmatrix
- tweeting a variety of other artifacts online with the hashtag #writingmatrix to help us see what Paper.li will acknowledge as a valid candidate for publication
- posting to facebook content containing the word 'writingmatrix'
- posting to Google+ content containing the word 'writingmatrix'
- encouraging your students and colleagues to do any of the above


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A Large New Tax on Small Business
The latest ObamaCare levy takes effect Jan. 1.
ObamaCare includes so many taxes that it's hard to keep track, but one of the worst takes effect on Jan. 1. This beaut is a levy on health insurance premiums that targets the small business and individual markets.
At $8 billion in 2014 and $101 billion over the next decade, the insurance tax is larger than ObamaCare's taxes on medical devices and prescription drugs combined. The Internal Revenue Service classifies the tax as a "fee" but it functions like an excise tax on premiums. The IRS collects an annual flat amount specified by theAffordable Care Act to be allocated among the insurers according to market share.
But not all markets. IRS regulations published in November excluded "any entity that is a self-insured employer to the extent that such employer self-insures its employees' health risks." Since about four of five employers with more than 500 workers and most union-negotiated health plans are self-insured, they are spared from the tax. So is insurance on behalf of "government entities," such as original Medicare (but not privately run Medicare Advantage).
This political selectivity means the most gold-plated public, private and labor plans are exempt and the tax burden falls on the saps who work for small businesses, the self-employed and individuals—i.e., the people who can least afford it.
The White House tells business that the tab will be picked up by deep-pocketed insurers, which is good for a laugh. The Congressional Budget Office reports the tax will be "largely passed through to consumers in the form of higher premiums" and "would ultimately raise insurance premiums by a corresponding amount." The Joint Tax Committee and private economists, such as former CBO director
Wasn't the Affordable Care Act supposed to be about expanding coverage in part by lowering premiums, not slapping on more overhead? By this liberal logic taxing cigarettes should create more smokers.
Oh, and to salt the wound, this "fee" is not deductible for corporate income tax purposes. In other words, health plans pay the tax and then federal and state taxes on the taxed amount. Mr. Holtz-Eakin estimates this unusual taxes-on-taxes rule means that the effect on premiums is 54% larger than the dollar amount of the tax itself.
The research arm of the National Federation of Independent Business calculates that the higher insurance costs will shrink hiring by 146,000 to 262,000 jobs over the next decade, with 59% of those losses hitting small business. They'll also be further encouraged to dump coverage and send their workers to the mercies of the ObamaCare exchanges. The latter was probably a main liberal purpose from the start.
Louisiana Republican


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Proposition 8 succeeded in getting slightly more than 50% support from voters, and as a result same-sex marriages could no longer take place in the State, despite California's Supreme Court having previously ruled that denial of the right of same-sex couples to marry was unconstitutional.
The UK government has made clear its intention to amend marriage laws, so that lesbian and gay couples will be able to marry in Britain. A consultation on how best to implement marriage equality is due to start very shortly. This change in British law will affect the lives of thousands of people who are now still at school - they might even watch Newsround.
Of course, not everyone in this country is happy about changing the law. Some religious leaders have stated their opposition. That was very clear on Sunday, when the Catholic Church position was reported in an almost completely one-sided way. There was very little attempt to balance out what is, in reality, nothing more than religious bigotry directed against a minority.
So when the Consultation gets underway in the next few days, what will Newsround have to say to viewers?
I'd be extremely surprised if we hear so much as a peep from them about the topic. And what will this silence signify? It is, of course, a most eloquent denial of the recognition and equal rights of lesbian, gay and bisexual children who might be watching.


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- 1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
- 3/4 cup softened butter
- 1/3 cup sugar
- 1/3 cup coarsely chopped pecans
Filling Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 cups dark corn syrup
- 2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
- 4 large eggs
- 6 tablespoons all purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons melted butter
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans
- Heat over to 350 degrees F
- Combine 1 3/4 cups flour, softened butter and sugar in a bowl. Beat at medium speed, scraping bowl often, until mixture resembles coarse crumbs
- Add the 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- Press crust mixture evenly onto the bottom of a 13 x 9 inch ungreased baking dish
- Bake 18-22 minutes or until the edges are very light golden brown
- Combine filling ingredients
- Evenly distribute the 1 1/2 cups chopped pecans over the hot partially baked crust
- Pour the filling ingredients over the top of the pecans
- Bake 30-35 minutes or until filling is set and knife inserted 1 inch from edge comes out clean.
- Cool completely (refrigerate overnight)
- Cut into bars
I find putting the pecans on top of the crust and pouring the filling over the top of the nuts helps the nuts to evenly rise to the top. Cooling the bars completely is a must. Since the bars need to be completely cooled before cutting they can be made ahead which is another plus for a delicious carry out dessert. One of the stitch girls made these pecan bars for the last gathering, they were delicious!


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Clue: Gila Valley tribe
We have 1 answer for the clue Gila Valley tribe. See the results below.
Possible Answers:
Related Clues:
- Arizona Indians
- Sonora natives
- Early Arizona natives
- Arizona Native Americans
- Arizona tribe members
- North American aboriginals
Last Seen In:
- New York Times - April 30, 2000
Found an answer for the clue Gila Valley tribe that we don't have? Then please submit it to us so we can make the clue database even better!


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Time Warner Cable
Time Warner Cable, distributor of Dodgers-owned SportsNet LA, is locked in a dispute that could be a defining moment for TV. This season the Dodgers were not available to 70% of the Los Angeles market.
Los Angeles Times
Copyright © 2018, The Baltimore Sun, a Baltimore Sun Media Group publication | Place an Ad


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You can get the pattern for FREE at this Fort Worth Fabric Studio Link.
Friday, March 6, 2015
Deana: Top Finished!
You can get the pattern for FREE at this Fort Worth Fabric Studio Link.
10 comments:
- Kari Nitzel said...
Very Pretty!
- 06 March, 2015 14:45
- Snowcatcher said...
This is SO beautiful! I love your colors, and the design is just incredible!
- 06 March, 2015 15:36
- Tessa said...
I am just continually amazed at what you guys do. This is gorgeous, as always. Thanks for sharing.
- 06 March, 2015 16:22
- BillieBee (billiemick) said...
Just so I gorgeous!!
- 06 March, 2015 19:08
- Shelley: the Dread Pirate Rodgers said...
In the 1st QAL instructions, you list the white fabric requirement of 7.25 yards for queen and 4.25 yards for 70"x70".
I'm unclear if this yardage is for BOTH the white used in the top AND for the backing or just the backing or just the top.
Could you please clarify this for me, as I would prefer not to use white as the backing but something else instead.
In other words, do I need the 7.25/4.25 yards just to complete the top (and will need to get other fabric for the backing)?
Thanks so much for this incredible QAL. I just LOVE the pattern layout and the color palette ... simply stunning!
- 07 March, 2015 01:59
- Susan Arnold said...
This is beautiful! Can't wait to see the quilting
- 07 March, 2015 11:34
- Laura said...
That's amazing!!!! beautiful colours
- 07 March, 2015 23:34
- Lara B. said...
Truly Stunning Deana! All your hard work is so worth it!
- 10 March, 2015 18:17
- Paula Louceiro said...
Wow!!! Beautiful!!!
Loved colors that you used and so perfect piecing.
Thanks for sharing.
- 11 March, 2015 16:59
- France Nadeau ❅ inspiration imagination creation said...
Wow! I'm really happy to see the whole top. It's so gorgeous. The white really makes the log cabins and the other blocks stand out. Great craftsmanship too. Now, I should work on my curved log cabins...
- 12 March, 2015 06:11


text:
Now, we know that all young boys,
Need a place to call their own;
And, we need this solitude,
Way before we are grown.
It�s kind of a �guy thing�,
A place where we can just�be;
A place nobody knows of,
Run wild�kick up our heels�free!
One day�I found this SECRET PLACE,
While wandering far from home;
And, I returned there many times,
Even after I had grown.
My SECRET PLACE�it remained,
Until the day I thought to share;
So, I told a few close buddies,
And, together�we were happy�there.
After all�it was a �guy thing�,
Totally exclusive�it was not;
But, hey�girls weren�t welcome,
They couldn�t share what we had got.
We discovered things�way out there,
Explored the woods and the stream;
We found fish aplenty�there,
We could swim�or just day-dream.
The solitude afforded us,
Just what we did need;
A place to explore �without�,
And, to explore �within��indeed.
Happy days�young manhood memories,
We piled them up�one by one;
They were learning experiences,
Not just�plain fun.
We learned survival skills,
Pitting one friend�against the other;
Like young bucks�we mastered,
One skill�after another.
Who was the best tree climber,
Or, who the best swimmer?
Who had mastered the fine art of fishing,
And, brought home the largest fish for dinner?
Yes, those days were carefree days,
As our skills�we did hone;
They were skills that we would use,
Long after we had grown.
But, most of all�I shall remember,
The confidence and trust we built;
When I decided to share with others,
My SECRET PLACE!
September 6, 2003
Aimee Love
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must be obtained to print this content.
Aimee Love
Greg Olsen Gallery
'Hook, Line, And Summer'


text:
Huaqiang Jufeng Network Technology (HK) Limited (NextPCB)is a leading PCB manufacturer located in China. Our business specialize in 2-16 Layers PCB prototype fabrication and small-volume production.
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With years of effort in the field, we have gained good reputation for our quality and services. We are proud of fulfilling thousands of orders daily. Our products meet the needs of many different markets, including medical industries, industrial control, aerospace and defense.
Our Business Goal:
Just like the slogan says "Next Day Get Your PCB", our business goal is to ensure the quickest possible lead time. We are committed to offer a full range of PCB Capabilities and any other demanding requests. We strive to make sure our customers are always satisfied with our quality, delivery, cost and services.


text:
This is referred to by people today who recognize the existential danger by the short-hand acronym of 'TBDO'—'The Big Die Off.'
Mrs. Fortescue says, 'that he is a complete master of short-hand writing.'
She was taking lessons in short-hand and type-writing in the afternoons.
Lady Agatha dictated it, and Mary took it down in short-hand.
In the short-hand of the police-courts, you had better call it suicide.
I must have a stenographer of course, a short-hand typist, if I do begin this thing.
Mr. Walter sat at a table near, prepared to take notes in short-hand.
Horaces vestry-man friend was what is known as a short-hand reporter.
Where was Gurney, the short-hand writer; where was Sherer, and what had become of Morton?
I write my thoughts in short-hand, and copy at leisure for the press.


text:
When Cheyenne was a puppy, several friends offered some good advice on raising and training her. One friend told me to regularly rub her body, feel for any changes, sore spots or lumps. That was some good advice because it turned out that Cheyenne is a very lumpy girl. Through the years, I've lost count of how many lumps her veterinarian has tested. Always, the result was fatty lump.
A couple of weeks ago, I noticed a new crop of lumps on her chest and one on her shoulder. As usual, I made an appointment with the vet to get them tested. That appointment was yesterday and, sadly, the results were not fatty lumps this time. Cancer is present in the lump on her shoulder.
Every single time, and there have been very many, that I've sat in the examining room with Cheyenne waiting to receive the test results of her lumps, I've worked hard to keep calm and not let fear and worry take control of my mind. In that small room while we wait, time drags on. I fill the minutes that seem like hours by petting her and loving on her. I had grown accustomed to her vet walking through the door and smiling at me and telling me the lumps were fatty. Yesterday, though, she came through the door and said she wanted to get one more sample from the lump on her shoulder. My heart sank into my stomach and my stomach sank to my knees.
And then Cheyenne and I waited for eternity to hear the results.
So, yeah, one of her lumps contains cancer cells. On Friday, she is having surgery to remove that lump and also to remove a couple others that her doctor doesn't like because of proximity to her lymph nodes, their shape, or their continued growth and therefore large size.
The good news is that we caught it early. Very early, thanks to my friend's sage advice to regularly check for changes in Cheyenne's body.
Keep my girl in your thoughts on Friday, please. I'll let you know how it goes.
Wednesday, March 09, 2011
Big C, little c
Posted by Duly Inspired at 10:29 AM
4 comments:
- Jenny said...
Sending tons of love and positive thoughts to your sweet girl (and you). You're a wonderful pet owner.
- CreekHiker / HollysFolly said...
Oh no! I just discovered Mabel's first lump and I'm freaked... and then to read this about Cheyenne! Sending lots of love and light to your girl!! Please update us when you can!!!
- Linda@VS said...
I know first-hand how frightened you must be because Kadi got an alarming diagnosis last week, too. Please know that you and Cheyenne are in my thoughts and in my heart.
- Susan said...
Oh my goodness, this is scary news. May God be with you and Cheyenne as you journey through this next challenge together. You are both lucky that you have each other to lean on during the next few days, weeks, months and years. God bless you both.
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text: Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. (November 19, 1905 - November 26, 1956) was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. Although he was not known for being a notable soloist, his technicality with the trombone gave him renown amongst other musicians. He was vastly admired by other musicians, however, for his technical skill on his instrument. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey. After Dorsey broke with his brother in the mid-1930s, he led an extremely popular and highly successful band from the late 1930s into the 1950s.