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This page gives an overview of V-Ray's UI integration into 3ds Max.
Page Contents
Page Contents ×
V-Ray is a rendering plug-in for 3ds Max. It includes two renderers:
- V-Ray, the original full-featured, robust renderer for photorealism and special effects, which utilizes all V-Ray's features. For more specifics on V-Ray, see V-Ray in 3ds Max.
- V-Ray GPU is a separate render engine introduced by Chaos Group. It utilizes GPU devices and also provides a Hybrid Rendering (both CPU and GPU) option. V-Ray GPU renders most V-Ray and 3ds Max features, but not all. For more specifics on V-Ray GPU, see V-Ray GPU in 3ds Max.
As of V-Ray Next, V-Ray and V-Ray GPU work only in Production Rendering Mode. Both renderers can still be used interactively in IPR mode.
V-Ray integrates with the 3ds Max user interface in a variety of areas. Menu options, dialog windows, and parameters flow logically from your familiar 3ds Max tools to make using V-Ray a seamless experience.
V-Ray or V-Ray GPU needs to be assigned as your renderer in the 3ds Max Render Setup window in order to get full use of these options.
V-Ray adds a number of items to the 3ds Max menus, they are added in particular, to the Tools, Create, Modifiers, and Rendering menus. For more information, see Menu Integration.
V-Ray Toolbar
V-Ray comes with toolbar that includes shortcuts to some of the most commonly used V-Ray components. By default the toolbar is docked vertically to the left of the 3ds Max window but it can be easily pulled from its left side docked position to a horizontal toolbar by pulling at the top end of the toolbar. For more information, see V-Ray Toolbar.
If the V-Ray Toolbar is not visible, check to make sure floating toolbars are set to display in 3ds Max by going to Customize menu > Show UI > Show Floating Toolbars.
Tool Windows
V-Ray Frame Buffer
V-Ray allows you as well as rendering to the 3ds Max Rendered Frame Window (RFW or VFB), to render to a V-Ray specific frame buffer, which has some additional capabilities. Including allowing viewing of all render elements in a single window; keeps the image in full 32 bit floating point format; allows simple color corrections on the rendered image; allows you to choose the order in which the buckets are rendered; can store a list of recently rendered images and allow switch between them easily and also allows the application of lens effects to the rendered image. For more information, see V-Ray Frame Buffer.
V-Ray Light Lister
The V-Ray Light Lister window is a handy way that allows you to modify many common attributes of all of the lights in the scene, both V-Ray lights and standard 3ds Max lights in one UI. In scenes with complex lighting using many lights this can make changing attributes far simpler. For more information, see V-Ray Light Lister.
V-Ray Quick Settings
The V-Ray Quick Settings dialog allows the control of some of the most common aspects of the renderer. It is a handy way to quickly switch between different GI solutions and quality settings. It gives the ability to set up working settings for a scene without having to consider all the V-Ray options available in the Render Setup dialog. For more information, see V-Ray Quick Settings.
Selecting a Renderer
To use V-Ray or V-Ray GPU, you must first select one the renderers as your Production renderer.
Open the Render Setup window.
At the top of the Render Setup window, choose Production Rendering Mode as the Target.
For Renderer, choose V-Ray or V-Ray GPU.
V-Ray Next and V-Ray GPU Next are not available renderer options for ActiveShade in 3ds max. Scenes saved with older versions of V-Ray with ActiveShade mode can still be opened in V-Ray Next in order to convert them to Production Rendering Mode.


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is both the philosophy and the reality of HRC - The Hunting Retriever Club, Inc. The HRC is the largest nationwide Hunting Retriever organization devoted to perpetuating the hunting instincts in the retriever breeds.
The Dakota Hunting Retriever Club (DHRC), was formed in 2002 by retriever owners who were interested in training their dogs for actual hunting situations. We are a family oriented organization interested in helping each other train our hunting companions. UKC sponsors more hunting dog events than any other organization. UKC gave us the freedom to create the running rules and to run the events the way we know they should be. The United Kennel Club was created in 1898 as a working dog registry.
If you can't wait for hunting season to roll around, or want to learn more about training and have the opportunity to compete in events for a Hunting Retriever Championship title, then this is the club for you!
MOTTO: We are a group of people who are interested in training our own dogs and in helping others be SUCCESSFUL in training theirs. We will have a better dog when opening day arrives!!!

subset: commoncrawl


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Boats Against the Current
Sometimes – awful times – our stupidity, our misbehavior, our misjudgment goes too far and any available second chance loses patience and stomps off down the road, leaving us stranded in the ditch of our own error. Judas Iscariot ended up in such a hole, realizing too late that he had betrayed the Son of God; or Othello who smothered his beautiful, young wife and discovered her innocence just minutes later; or Charles Dickens' Pip, who recognized his love for Biddy only after she had married Joe. Sometimes we sleep too long – both personally and nationally.
In 1925 F. Scott Fitzgerald published The Great Gatsby, one of THE American novels. Gatsby, though a lush and lovely story, is about that horrible moment when we awake and realize it's all over. Jay Gatsby, the handsome hero, represents us all – the American Dreamers, filled with unbridled optimism as he gazed longingly at the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. And Daisy, a "rare and meretricious beauty" whose voice "sounded like money" represents that most exciting of purely human hopes, the American Dream – the anything's-possible confidence that came with the confluence of a new continent and a new paradigm. All the closed doors were opened and Gatsby could almost touch her just across the bay, Gatsby, who was single-minded, amoral, and certain his powers of imagination were great enough to turn back the calendar. In 1925 Fitzgerald could see the flaws in the Dream. Now, 88 years later, those flaws are killing us. Consider the last page of the book:
Most of the big shore places were closed now and there were hardly any lights except the shadowy, moving glow of a ferryboat across the Sound. And as the moon rose higher the inessential houses began to melt away until gradually I became aware of the old island here that flowered once for Dutch sailors' eyes — a fresh, green breast of the new world. Its vanished trees, the trees that had made way for Gatsby's house, had once pandered in whispers to the last and greatest of all human dreams; for a transitory enchanted moment man must have held his breath in the presence of this continent, compelled into an aesthetic contemplation he neither understood nor desired, face to face for the last time in history with something commensurate to his capacity for wonder.
And as I sat there brooding on the old, unknown world, I thought of Gatsby's wonder when he first picked out the green light at the end of Daisy's dock. He had come a long way to this blue lawn, and his dream must have seemed so close that he could hardly fail to grasp it. He did not know that it was already behind him, somewhere back in that vast obscurity beyond the city, where the dark fields of the republic rolled on under the night.
Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgiastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that's no matter — to-morrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther. . . . And one fine morning —— So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.
Fitzgerald understood the power of the American Dream and he understood, because he lived the decadence himself, what damage the prosperity would do to us and how difficult it would be to regain our innocence. Perhaps he was right; like Gatsby we have an almost impossible task. Gatsby wanted Daisy, the American Dream, but she was married to terrible wealth – to Tom Buchannan, a faithless, "brute of a man" who spent his life "playing polo and being rich…."
The Dream has become like that – a desire, not for success and fulfillment, but for superiority, for always-existing or easily acquired wealth, wealth that's worth cruelty and the careless, narcissistic use of others. It didn't start that way, but here we are, almost permanently in the ditch.
Part of the progressive movement, I believe, is a wild, left-veering overcorrection from the drunk driving of the Dream, an understandable hatred for the Tom Buchannans of this country, but those yanking the steering wheel leftward are just as ruthless, as deceptive, as arrogant as Tom. That has all who are paying attention grabbing at the wheel to right it.
Can we get back on course? I don't know. Gatsby had to erase five years of Daisy's marriage – that didn't go so well. We have an even bigger task: we have to undo two generations of failing education and thriving propaganda; we have to resuscitate our constitution, and disentangle government from our private and our business lives and resurrect our economy; we have to straighten out our foreign affairs and get control of the Islamists around us; and we must stop flirting with Myrtle Wilson.
We must retrace our moral steps. We cannot continue assuming that we can lie, steal, cheat, and indulge every pleasure center our brain cells have concocted and still keep this car on the road. We cannot continue to ignore the eyes of Dr. T.J. Eckleberg who stared down off his tattered billboard onto the sins and corruption of the Jazz Age; "the eyes of God" George Wilson called them. The eyes of God are watching no matter how many lawsuits the atheists file, and pretending otherwise isn't going help. Gatsby lived a lie – as Owl Eyes (another God-figure) discovered in Gatsby's priceless library; the books were still uncut, and they didn't get him Daisy.
It won't work for us either. We can't live a lie (as our dear leader is beginning to grasp) – we can't correct the steering with our eyes closed. Just down the road, beyond that bend to the right, is a new American Dream – an America with a thriving economy, an America that has learned its lesson and is well aware of the steep cliff on the left side of the road. The new America out there is swimming in energy and innovation, able to educate and lead its children to be everything they can be. Up ahead could be an America that straightens out its course and sees clearly the eyes of God watching over us and showing us the way – science is already in the process of undoing the damage its Darwinian errors have cost us. It could happen.
Tomorrow, will we "run faster, stretch out our arms farther… And one fine morning – "
Or are we "boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past?"


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Why Pundits Are Wrong When They Tell You This Trend Is Dead
Fatih Birol thinks energy investing stinks.
Never heard of him? A Turkish economist and Executive Director of the International Energy Agency, he's the Bill Gross of Energy. And, like Bill Gross was in 2011 when he predicted interest rates were going to surge and completely exited the Treasury market in a move that cost investors hundreds of millions, he's just as wrong.
To hear Birol tell it, energy investments are going to be a disaster. Speaking in Paris this past July, he observed that there may be as much as $1 trillion of energy investments and $280 billion in natural gas investments that are "uneconomic" if governments around the world successfully limit global warming to 2C.
Evidently he's never heard about the Unstoppable Trend we call Scarcity & Allocation.
Today we're going to talk about what Birol – like a lot of investors at the moment – is missing and what it means for your money. Then, I'm going to give you my take on one of the best energy companies you can buy… at any price.
With more than $1 trillion on the line and up for grabs, it's potentially very profitable information you won't want to miss.
Here's what you need to know before everybody else wakes up.
Oil recently fell by 40% from a peak of $63 per barrel to only $38 per barrel before finding some footing in recent trading at around $46.
Understandably, many investors are in shock.
Not only is oil a major worldwide commodity, but the oil industry has been the go-to sector for yield-starved investors attracted by both its upside and its income potential. That oil's suddenly an investment no-no according to an industry insider like Birol is simply appalling to most investors.
So they're trying to make a decision that they've never had to make before when it comes to energy… buy low or get out of the way… even as they brace for more bad news.
Call me crazy, but I can't think of a better time to invest even if prices go lower from here.
Like Warren Buffett, Carl Icahn, and Sir John Templeton – all great contrarian and value-oriented investors – I know that lower prices signal greater bargains.
The legendary Jim Rogers put it to me this way one afternoon in Singapore: "If everybody's on one side of the boat, it makes sense to see what's on the other side."
I agree. Abandoning energy investments is simply not a good idea.
- Global energy demand is growing
- Money is still cheap, which means that mergers & acquisitions are inexpensive.
- The strongest always survive.
We live in an era of "peak everything," meaning that we've reached the limits of what our planet can produce to serve the 7.1 billion people on it. Water, medicine, insurance, health care, and yes… oil.
That means what oil we do have will become more expensive over time. There's nothing fancy here, just simple economics at work. This is what Birol and millions of investors who have left energy investments for dead are missing.
Simply put, if there's only one person who wants to buy the last egg at your local grocer, the price of that egg is going to be low. But if there are 1,000 people who want it, the price of that same egg will be astronomical.
Energy executives understand this better than anybody on the planet. They have to.
According to various studies, there will be eight billion people by 2024 and nine billion by 2048. That's a growth rate of 12.6% within the next nine years and another 12.5% in the next 24 years after that.
Every single person on the planet today needs energy. And, they will still need it tomorrow because it quite literally powers growth.
More to the point though, I haven't heard a single energy executive yet express fear that they won't be able to sell every single drop of oil they bring out of the ground. That's something politicians and environmentalists bicker about and it's worth pointing out that neither of them are motivated by profit.
Then there's China.
The current meme is that world energy demand will go to hell in a handbasket if the Red Dragon goes on a diet. That seems to be happening as China comes unglued so millions of investors have sold and sold hard. Exxon's dropped 25% from its peak. BP has shed 40%. Smaller debt-laden companies have gone completely under.
I know it seems like the industry is dying, but the logic is flawed.
According to the IEA, Birol's own team, world consumption is projected to steadily rise even if you factor in a slump in Chinese demand.
All told, world consumption is set to rise from 91.28 million barrels per day in 2013 to 95.08 million barrels per day in 2016, a 4.16% increase. That's outpacing both production AND conservation.
I know that doesn't sound like much in an era where trillion-dollar figures are bandied about, but this is actually one of the conservative forecasts out there. OPEC, for example, issued a report in July that forecast global demand growth will top 1.34 million barrels in 2016 alone.
Meanwhile, India, is on track to hit a landmark in its oil consumption this summer even as it became the world's 3rd largest oil consumer. According to Forbes, India's demand for oil grew by an additional 300,000 barrels per day this year, outpacing even China's surge in demand a decade ago. It's no wonder because India's real GDP has been growing by 5-10% per year lately, up $110 billion in 2014 alone, so more demand equals more oil sold.
And finally, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers, merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the energy sector totaled $34.5 billion in the first half of 2015. As impressive as that is, the number doesn't tell the entire story because it only includes deals valued at $50 million or more. Factor in the smaller transactions under that threshold and I think you're talking about $40-$45 billion. Perhaps more.
At the same time, the pace of acquisitions is accelerating and the price of each deal is going up. For example, there were 47 deals valued at more than $50 million each last quarter compared to only 39 in Q1 2014.
If the industry were dying as people believe, these deals would be conducted at fire-sale prices that resemble your neighborhood garage sale.
Instead, every transaction seems to boost stock value which is, of course, great for investors. Last April, for example, Shell announced a $70 billion buyout of BG Group, which saw its shares spike 38% as a result of the news.
Make no mistake about it… the strongest always survive, especially when an industry is going through a massive short term re-alignment like energy is today.
I believe the industry has reached a watershed moment and that huge numbers of investors will suddenly wake up to the reality that they've totally misjudged the number of "eggs" on the shelf and rush to the store. It may be tomorrow or a year from now, so there's an element of patience involved.
Investors with the foresight to go along for the ride almost always get to see their shares balloon in value, often at healthy double-digit premiums.
How To Line Up Tomorrow's Profits Today
The best way to play this is to buy one or more of the "major" oil companies to serve as your energy anchor. Then fill in around the edges with smaller pipelines, MLPs, and even service companies.
Right now, that's Chevron.
The company has a return on equity of 7.79% and a net profit of 6.95% produced by global operations. But what I really like is the appealing 5.48% dividend yield versus only 2.2% for the average S&P 500 stock at the moment.
I know earnings are projected to decline 62.66% in 2015 and I'm aware that analysts have hit the company with 11 negative revisions in the past 60 days.
But I like it anyway.
Right now prices reflect a 5.48% yield. At $55 a share that jumps to more than 7%, so buying as prices drop makes perfect sense.
Combine that with an eventual turnaround in prices as demand consolidates and you could very easily see double-digit returns on top of the cold hard cash you'll pick up along the way.
So bring on the lower oil prices "everybody" knows are ahead.
Until next time,
Keith Fitz-Gerald


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If you're looking for a great, easy option for entertaining this summer, this chicken is juicy, flavorful, and with the accompanying sauce, will not be viewed as same-old ordinary chicken.
Tag Archives: Aioli
Grilled or Baked Herb Chicken with Green Aioli3 Jul
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- Categories Barbecue, Budget, Chicken, Grilled, Marinades/Sauces, Recipes
The Real Deal Marin is your source for finding the best in food, whether eating in or dining out. You will find recipes with a clean and simple preparation, restaurants and purveyors that focus on authenticity and reports on efforts to build a better food system.
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Read posts related to food system reform including access and affordability, childhood obesity, junk food marketing, avoiding the kid food trap and more.
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From Michael Pollan's New Book Cooked
"...the most important front in the fight to reform the food system today is in your kitchen."


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In this guide we'll look at how you can translate your PowerTrack rules into CSDL, DataSift's filtering and classification language.
Before you get started take a look at our What is DataSift STREAM? page. Here you'll learn the key features of the DataSift platform and learn terms we'll use in this guide.
Translating the PowerTrack rules model to DataSift
It is a relatively straight-forward process to migrate your PowerTrack rules to the DataSift platform.
As a PowerTrack user you typically will have:
- a set of rules that select data from a source (such as Tumblr) you are migrating to DataSift.
- one stream of data delivered to your application which includes all data selected by your rules.
- tags for a number of your rules that allow you to identify which of your rules caused a piece of data to be selected. You may be using tags to match data to your end customers.
Equivalent features are supported on the DataSift platform. You can replicate this setup by:
- creating a set of filters, one for each of your rules, for each translating the PowerTrack rule into CSDL.
- creating one overarching filter that includes the individual filters that replicate your rules, allowing you to deliver all data to your application as one stream.
- using tags to identify which filter caused a piece of data to be selected.
In this guide we explain how you can manually translate your rules. We also provide a command-line tool that carries out the same steps as below and can be used to help automate the translation of large numbers of rules.
Manually translating your PowerTrack rules
Step 1: Translating each PowerTrack rule to a CSDL filter
PowerTrack rules and CSDL filters are similar in that they allow you to specify which data items (called interactions on the DataSift platform) to select based upon values of fields within the data. They also allow you to combine a number of conditions using logical operators and parentheses.
Taking an example PowerTrack rule for Tumblr:
(audi OR bmw OR honda OR url_contains:"audi.com" OR url_contains:"bmw.com" OR url_contains:"honda.com")
This rule looks for content where the body contains any of the keywords "audi", "bmw", and "honda", or any content that contains links to any of the brands' websites. Specifying just a keyword implies you want to examine the body of a post for the keyword. Specifying the
url_contains operator you are examining the URL links shared in a post.
The equivalent written as CSDL would be:
tumblr.body contains_any "audi, bmw, honda"
OR links.domain in "audi.com, bmw.com, honda.com"
Here we have two conditions. The first uses the tumblr.body target to access the body of a post and the contains_any operator to examine the value of the target. The second condition uses the links.domain target to access the domain of any link in the post and the in operator to specify a list of values to test against. The two conditions are combined with the OR logical operator.
PowerTrack operators specify the data field to inspect and how to inspect the value, whereas in CSDL the target specifies what field to inspect and the operator says how to inspect it.
To complete the CSDL for the rule we recommend you specify the source you want to filter against. DataSift filters are run by default against all sources enabled in your account. As you may add additional sources in future it's a good idea to specify sources explicitly in your CSDL filter so you don't receive data from other sources unexpectedly.
(tumblr.body contains_any "audi, bmw, honda"
OR links.domain in "audi.com, bmw.com, honda.com")
AND interaction.type == "tumblr"
The additional condition uses the interaction.type target to specify that only data from the Tumblr source should be selected.
CSDL filters need to be compiled before they are run on the platform. Compiling a filter provides a hash which is the identifier for the the filter. Take a look the 'compiling and previewing a filter' section of the migration guide for instructions on how to compile and preview the output for a filter.
You can use our list of translated PowerTrack to CSDL cheat sheet to write your CSDL manually. You can use our online tool to translate your individual PowerTrack rules to CSDL automatically.
Step 2: Combining your filters into one stream
The DataSift platform allows you to stream the data from any of your individual filters to your application. However, with PowerTrack you have been consuming one stream which contains data from all of your rules. To replicate this model you can create an overarching filter that includes the output from all of your individual filters.
You can use the stream keyword in CSDL to include output from one filter into another filter. You can use this feature to create your overarching filter. You can specify a stream clause for each of your filters you created from your rules, specifying the hash for each compiled filter. You can then combine these clauses using the OR logical operator. For example:
stream "filter-1-hash"
OR stream "filter-2-hash"
OR stream "filter-3-hash"
OR stream "filter-4-hash"
You can use this new filter to deliver data from all of your filters in one stream.
Step 3: Using tags to match delivered data to rules
Once you've combined your filters into one overarching filter you need a way to identify which filter delivered which interactions. You can use CSDL tags to tag interactions based on the filter they originate from.
You have translated each of your rules into a CSDL filter which you have compiled and received a hash for. You can add a tag rule for each of your individual filters to your overarching filter that will tag data based on which filter matched the interaction.
tag.filter "1" { stream "filter-1-hash" }
tag.filter "2" { stream "filter-2-hash" }
tag.filter "3" { stream "filter-3-hash" }
tag.filter "4" { stream "filter-4-hash" }
return {
stream "filter-1-hash"
OR stream "filter-2-hash"
OR stream "filter-3-hash"
OR stream "filter-4-hash"
Notice that the filter from the previous step is now enclosed in a return statement. You must use this syntax when adding tag rules to filters.
PowerTrack allows you to add tags to rules just as we have above, specifying a text label. Many PowerTrack customers use this feature to match the data selected by rules to their end customers.
For instance this PowerTrack rule would match any posts that contain the word 'bmw' and add the "BMW" tag to each matching post:
{"value":"\"bmw\" ","tag":"BMW"}
If you have specified tag names in your PowerTrack rules you could use these for the tag labels:
tag.filter "audi" { stream "audi-filter-hash" }
tag.filter "bmw" { stream "bmw-filter-hash" }
tag.filter "honda" { stream "honda-filter-hash" }
return {
stream "audi-filter-hash"
OR stream "bmw-filter-hash"
OR stream "honda-filter-hash"
When you add tag rules to a filter you need to recompile it and receive a new hash. You can then use this new hash to stream tagged data to your application.
Note that a filter (including any child filters it contains) can contain a maximum of 10,000 tags. If you do need to use more than 10,000 tags in total you may need to run multiple filters to work around this limit.
See the 'delivering data to your application' section in the migration guide for guidance on delivering data.
Translating rules using the translation tool
If you have been using PowerTrack for some time now you may have a large number of rules. You can use our command-line tool to help with your translation.
The tool will run through the steps outlined in the manual process above:
- each individual rule will be translated to a CSDL filter and compiled on the platform.
- the individual filters will be combined in one overarching filter.
- a tag will be added to the overarching filter for each source rule.
- the hash returned by the tool is the result of compiling the final overarching filter.
For details of the command-line tool contact your account manager.
The translation tool gives you a fast way to migrate your rules so you can get started with DataSift quickly, however the CSDL it produces is a literal translation and is not optimised. Read our optimizing translated rules guide to learn more.


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We are reporting problems with the manufacturing process of our first design of the piezo driver. The APEX amplifier we're using in the design seems to be very sensitive to manipulation. We have ordered parts to manufacture 8 piezo micromanipulators, including 4 one-axis using a stack, and 4 two-axis using a piezo cylinder.
We have decided to order 2 more APEX amplifiers and to try to assemble the product, using the new PCBs ordered in China.
Bing has also proposed to modify the PCBs, to include test pins and make them more manufacturing friendly.
So far, only the prototype made by Frederic C. works very fine.


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The Theta Meditation program incorporates 3 levels of brainwave entrainment which guarantees that your brain frequency is locked in to the correct level.
It induces the awakened theta state.
Ideal for more advanced students and who are accustomed to the effects of alpha meditation and feel ready to progress to the next step.


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On this day, 3 years ago, our nation's founding father, Nelson Mandela, died. Today we recognise the South Africa he dreamed of by presenting our achievements over the last 100 days. We are turning this City into a place that Madiba would have been proud of and thank the residents of the Bay for their ongoing support and encouragement.
They say that Rome wasn't built in a day, and indeed the same applies to our beautiful city of Nelson Mandela Bay.
After the DA-led coalition government took office, the work began to turn a Metro around that had for years been plagued by incompetent governance, corruption, poor service delivery and unemployment.
Rebuilding a city takes time, concerted effort, integrity and determination.
The people of this Metro delivered a strong message to the outgoing government on the 3rd August 2016: "You disappointed us, you let us down and now we want change."
Well, change is what the people of the Bay got and will continue to get.
Change that finally ushers in an era of freedom, fairness and opportunity for all.
Change that will see better services delivered, economic growth that creates jobs and the end of corruption.
This certainly wasn't going to happen in a day, but in 100 days we have seen massive transformation that bodes well for the future of our Municipality, as foundations are laid for a better future for all.
Our mission to stop corruption has been strengthened with the launch of an anti-corruption hotline, which was already resulted in 38 internal investigations. Municipal staff and residents have clearly taken this service into their confidence, considering that complainants' information is kept confidential and information is immediately acted on.
Political will is what drives change and this new government has made it clear that corruption in Nelson Mandela Bay will not be tolerated, and that those found guilty of corrupt dealings will face the full might of the law.
Recent suspensions and dismissals of numerous senior municipal officials, in the face of scathing evidence, is testament to this government's strong position on corruption and fraud.
Furthermore, transparency and accountability are crucial to stamping out corruption, which is precisely why we have opened up Mayoral Committee Meetings to the public and media. Every decision made by this senior committee can be scrutinised by our customers and we are willing to be held accountable for the decisions we make.
Financial deviations, meant only for absolute emergency situations, became the hallmark of our predecessors, with hundreds of thousands of Rand spent outside the parameters of the Municipality's budget. This can only be attributed to poor planning and an incomplete ID. I made a commitment when we took office that this government would not use deviations as a matter of course, and that proper planning would be the order of the day. This change has already seen a huge reduction in the number of deviations approved by this administration.
Uitenhage, Despatch and KwaNobuhle, previously considered the step siblings of Port Elizabeth, have received my personal attention since taking office. I committed to spending a full day in these towns every second week, and this is exactly what I've done. Since taking office, I have spent at least 5 full days working out of the Uitenhage Town Hall, conducting oversight of municipal facilities, visiting businesses and schools, engaging with residents and monitoring service delivery projects. As a result, I am proud to announce that over the last 8 weeks, in Uitenhage, Despatch and KwaNobuhle, 2500 water leaks have been fixed in these communities, 29 families have received title deeds to their homes and 3 main roads have been resurfaced.
With a specific focus on directorates, the following important achievements are in place after this DA-led coalition government got down to work from the first day in office.
In the Directorate of Roads and Transport, we have seen an immense scale of work done on many roads right across the Metro. Traffic lights, road markings and streetlights are maintained regularly and our roadways are already in a much better state.
- Promise: Upon taking office, we identified numerous roads in the Metro that required urgent attention, and thus we committed to resurfacing & resealing sections of at least 15 roads.
- Outcome: Over the last 100 days, we have completed work on 13 major roads and a further 4 roads are currently under construction.
- Promise: In the interest of creating work and keeping our Metro clean, we committed to appointing 192 EPWP workers to assist with the clearing of storm water drains and open ditches.
- Outcome: We have almost doubled the number of promised EPWP appointments with 300 workers now fully employed, 229 of whom were welcomed into the EPWP programme at an event in Uitenhage on the 6th October 2016.
- Promise: We committed to quicker response times for fixing faulty streetlights, traffic lights and potholes.
- Outcome: In the interest of keeping our roads safer, we are delighted to announce that there has been a vast improvement in response time to repair potholes and fix streetlights; we are now meeting our target to make potholes safe within 24 hours of reporting, with full repairs taking place within 72 hours.
While we have successfully delivered on our Roads and Transport promises, we have gone above and beyond by also surfacing 10 gravel roads, most of which are in township communities and are due to be complete by the 9th December 2016. Furthermore we have signed off a R15 million road upgrade project in Walmer Township, due to start in 2017, and have rehabilitated a storm water pond in KwaNobuhle so that it now also serves as a recreational space.
In terms of the IPTS project, we have closed all IPTS lanes with large bollards to prevent illegal traffic flow until we go live with the system in June 2017. We have secured budget of R629 million between now and the 2018/19 financial year, by which time we will have three trunk routes in operation between Cleary Park and the CBD, Uitenhage and the CBD, and Njoli and the CBD.
Furthermore, we launched a bursary programme worth approximately R30 million that will see 1800 residents engage in learnerships across the transport sector; air, land and sea. Skills development is a crucial part of our commitment to grow the economy and provide opportunities to Bay residents.
In Budget and Treasury, we have exceeded our savings target by a massive R100 million. Having secured savings of approximately R200 million in the last 100 days, we are now well placed to channel this money towards improving service delivery and growing the economy to create jobs.
- Promise: It is important for us to secure at least R100 million in savings so that we can improve service delivery.
- Outcome: We have identified approximately R200 million worth of savings by reducing operational expenditure, such as travel, furniture, stationery and clothing, and cutting the size of and salaries in political offices.
- Promise: Tamper-proof Supply Chain Management.
- Outcome: The Director of Supply Chain Management has been issued with a notice to suspend and the CFO has been placed on precautionary suspension. The acting officials in these positions are incredibly competent and will ensure that Supply Chain Management is tamper-proof going forward. In addition to this, a new position for a Quantity Surveyor has been placed on the organogram and the position will be advertised in due course. This will ensure that all bids provide value for money and the bills of quantities don't result in costly deviations.
- Promise: Ensure that bid adjudication is beyond reproach.
- Outcome: The new Acting CFO is now chairing the Bid Adjudication Committee, which is entirely open to the public. This will clamp down on any misconduct in this forum.
In Corporate Services, a great deal of work has been undertaken towards dealing with disciplinary matters and restructuring the Macro Organogram. The latter is a massive task which requires extensive engagement with all stakeholders, including Unions.
- Promise: Complete Macro Organogram.
- Outcome: The organogram in its current format has been reviewed and any identified ghost employees have been removed. Our commitment to amend the macro structure to ensure improved service delivery will require many months of deliberations, which are ongoing.
- Promise: We committed to filling critical service delivery vacancies so that we are able to improve response times to municipal infrastructure faults.
- Outcome: We had identified 128 vacancies in Electricity and Energy and Infrastructure and Engineering, 83 of which have now been filled. This will have a noticeable impact on the speed at which the Municipality deals with service delivery matters.
- Promise: It was important for us to finalise long outstanding disciplinary matters from the ANC administration.
- Outcome: Since taking office, both Mod Ndoyana and Sox Nkanjeni have been dismissed. Other proceedings against various officials are ongoing and will be finalised in 2017.
Having previously committed to reducing the number of acting positions, our focus on expediting disciplinary proceedings means that we are very near to having a complete set of full-time executive directors. Furthermore, we have rolled out a qualifications audit for all senior managers to ensure the legitimacy of their qualifications, which will be closely followed by a skills audit.
In Infrastructure and Engineering, we are hard at work to ensure that our infrastructure is maintained through the filling of vacancies, skills development and unit capacity. Two of our major concerns are the number of water leaks in the Metro and the extent of the bucket toilet crisis, both of which are receiving our undivided attention.
- Promise: Complete Missionvale bulk infrastructure project.
- Outcome: After our predecessors built a number of homes without toilets, this new government has been able to connect houses to water and sewerage mains, restoring dignity to the lives of many residents.
- Promise: Begin eradicating bucket toilets through affordable and feasible means, to be completed by the end of 2017.
- Outcome: We have visited the communal ablutions facility at the Matthew Goniwe Hostel, and will be taking this concept to public participation, along with many other alternatives. We want to ensure that residents are able to choose their preferred form of sanitation, rather than having a certain concept prescribed to them. We remain committed to our promise to eradicate all bucket toilets on municipal land by the end of 2017.
- Promise: Fully operationalise Joint Operation Centre to deal with service delivery complaints.
- Outcome: The 0800 20 50 50 is working excellently, dealing with between 3000 and 5000 calls a week, dispatching teams to faults and keeping residents up to date. Our fault logging and reporting system, Engineering Design and Asset Management System (EDAMS), is proving to be of critical value and is making our dispatch and monitoring procedures all the more efficient.
In addition to the achievements mentioned above, the Municipality has focused on dealing with a number of leaks in Uitenhage and Despatch over the last 8 weeks. 2500 leaks have been fixed, or around 90% of those reported. This is a particularly outstanding achievement, which we aim to replicate across the Metro.
In the Directorate of Safety and Security, we have made enormous headway. Our initial focus was to revamp the Metro Police Force that was entirely broken under our predecessors, and focus on policing by-laws and improving law enforcement in general.
- Promise: We wanted to ensure that 50 metro police officers were on our streets by December 2016 so that we make our City safe again.
- Outcome: With a new Metro Police Chief, Yolande Faro, in place since the 1st December 2016, and 41 staff members currently operating in the Metro Police Special By-Law Unit, we have made massive headway with our municipal police service. A further 202 staff members are fully qualified and compliant and only awaiting grading before being sworn in.
- Promise: Increasing law enforcement and monitoring by-laws is of paramount importance so that we can reduce unacceptable levels of crime and gangsterism across the City.
- Outcome: Since the By-Law Unit came into operation on the 13th October 2016, 1338 by-law infringement fines have been issued, totalling R400 350. This unit is hard at work on a daily basis ensuring that residents abide by the Municipality's by-laws.
Safety and Security has received a significant boost since this new government took office, with at least 3 roadblocks taking place every week, numerous fines and warrants being issued and unroadworthy cars being impounded. Road and community safety is of critical importance and remains a priority for this administration.
In Human Settlements, we are still working towards reclaiming the responsibility of building houses from the National Department of Human Settlements. Sadly, under our predecessors the housing list became an absolute shambles. We are working towards cleaning this list up so that we can make it reliable, publicly available and easily accessible.
- Promise: We committed to appointing a full-time Executive Director to give the directorate guidance and stability.
- Outcome: A new ED for Human Settlements was appointed on the 1st December 2016, Ms Nolwandle Gqiba, current Municipal Manager of the former Lukhanji Municipality. She joins us with a wealth of experience and will guide our Human Settlements Directorate one of national recognition.
- Promise: Promulgate a Problem Buildings By-Law to clean the city up of derelict buildings and rejuvenate our urban centre.
- Outcome: The drafting of this by-law is at an advanced stage and promulgation is expected in early 2017.
While our hands are somewhat tied by the involvement of the National Department of Human Settlements, we are still proceeding with the distribution of title deeds to rightful owners. Just last week we handed out 29 title deeds to delighted families in Tiryville, Uitenhage, and there are t least another 500 title deeds that will be distributed in due course.
Sports, Recreation, Arts and Culture remains an important directorate for recognising heroes, encouraging social cohesion and developing healthy communities. We remain committed to opening the Red Location Museum, having engaged with the community on 3 separate occasions. Furthermore, we will continue to attract major sporting events to our City, while proudly acknowledging many sporting and cultural heroes from every corner of the Bay.
- Promise: We promised to open the Red Location Museum to expose tourists and residents to the rich history and heritage of our city.
- Outcome: Skills and Business Audits have been completed and an item has been approved by the Mayoral Committee to set aside R8.3 million for revamping and securing the facility. The next meeting with the community is tomorrow and we look forward to reaching an agreement on when this important museum will be opened.
Our City has enormous sports-tourism potential having recently won the bid to host the 2018 Ironman Championship and various other sporting events. Along with our 3 blue flag beaches, warm ocean water and spectacular climate, Nelson Mandela Bay is quickly becoming the country's hotspot for nature- and sport-loving visitors.
In Public Health, we worked tirelessly to grow our litter picking and bush cutting capacity, while ensuring that every single ward is serviced with refuse collection. This City used to win awards for cleanliness, but when we took office those days had long since gone. Our mission is to bring these awards back to our shores, through focused and extensive clean up campaigns.
- Promise: We committed to rolling out weekly refuse collection in every ward to curb illegal dumping.
- Outcome: This has been achieved and all 60 wards now receive timeous and regular refuse collection.
- Promise: Roll out litter picking services across the Metro to clean up dumping hotspots.
- Outcome: We now have 1280 people employed in litter picking and cleaning services, focusing on public toilets, access roads, bridges and general open spaces. The results are starting to show and our city is already looking cleaner, although we still have a long way to go.
Constituency Services are crucial to keeping government close to its people, which is why our process of creating ward committees is being carefully managed to ensure fairness and freedom for all. Previously, ward committees were misused for political gain and not for the benefit of residents – those days are over. Public participation will begin within the next few weeks so that ward committees can be elected that truly represent all communities.
In Economic Development, Tourism and Agriculture, work is underway to rationalise all municipal entities to ensure efficiency and delivery. An economic advisory council, made up of key industry specialists selected by myself, is in the process of being formed to advise the administration on all matters relating to economic development and tourism growth.
I have always committed to being honest with the residents of this Metro, and as such it is important to note that there is still work to do on some items outlined in my 100 day speech. However, we come close to a perfect score. Obstacles and challenges are part of the work that we do and as long as we can overcome them, be self-reflective in the work we do, while continuing to move forward, this City will go from strength to strength.
I am humbled by the work ethic and dedication of my Mayoral Committee Members, the City Manager, Municipal Staff and volunteers. The progress we have made in this short space of time is truly remarkable and if in 3 months we have can achieve this then in 5 years our City will be transformed.
More importantly, to the residents of the Bay who have stood by us, through some trying times, thank you for the ongoing backing and encouragement.
We are building one City, with one future, where freedom, fairness and opportunity exist for all. This will take time, but it will be done.
Alan Straton
Latest posts by Alan Straton (see all)
- As a Hetrosexual Male Will You Take part in This Experiment? - 22 November 2019
- Creepy or Not? - 22 November 2019
- Repo rate remains unchanged - 21 November 2019
- 8 Year Trade Agreement to Generate over R30 Million Sales Revenue for Rural Farmers - 21 November 2019
- Understatement of the Year; "SOEs remain under pressure" - 20 November 2019


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CASH REBATE: Depending on the final sales price of your building, you could get a cash rebate by Crown Community Development starting from $10,000 all the way up to $30,000. This offer is only available until November 15, 2017.
ADJUSTABLE DELIVERY DATES: Choose your start dates that get your home completed in as little of six months or as much as ten months. If you want to move in by the start of the 2018 school year, you'll need to start building by February 2018!
HOME SALE CONTINGENCY: Pick your lot and your home, but we'll wait for you to sell your home before starting construction up to one year later. If you don't sell your home, we'll return your earnest money to you!
If you are interested in any of these three options or have some of your own, please let your sales representative know or contact us at 847-214-8282.


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To prevent shoplifting, remember the old adage, "An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." What this saying means is that it is easier to prevent a condition from occurring that it is once it has become established.
When applied to shoplifting, a major concern for almost any retailer, this statement makes a lot of sense.
The main idea of prevention is to keep shoplifting from occurring in the first place. To do this, the retailer should increase the risk to the shoplifter. The other side of the equation would be to increase the shoplifter's punishment, but that assumes the shoplifter will be caught and even then the punishment is up to a judge or jury.
So, other than posting a sign at the entrance that reads "Shoplifters Will Be Shot", what can a retailer do to deter and prevent shoplifting at his store?
One excellent deterrent to shoplifting is the presence of a retail anti theft device at the entrance to the store. One such device is the Checkpoint Security System. While the system, which consists of one or more antennas depending on the size of the entrance, is certainly not "in your face" obvious, it is recognized by most shoplifters as an effective anti shoplifting solution that is difficult to defeat.
The Checkpoint Security System never gets distracted or takes a break. It doesn't care what a shoplifter looks like, how he is dressed, or how many bags he carries. Blind spots in the store that are used by shoplifters to conceal merchandise are unimportant to it.
In short, all the Checkpoint Security System cares about is if the merchandise passing through it has been paid for or not. If not, an alarm sounds to alert the staff.
Keep honest customers honest and prevent shoplifting by committing to reduce shrink and save money with Checkpoint.
Call 866-914-7526 to speak with a loss prevention agent or click here: Retail Anti Theft Device. Be sure and visit our Online Retail Loss Prevention Store.


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Housse de Racket
Nothing puts a spring in one's step like some French pop, amirite?
I like to pretend I know what they're saying and just gibberish my way into a Franglaise sing-a-along.
Housse de Racket will hook you up with some nice snappy tunes, like "Oh Yeah!" It's not a new release or anything, but it's kinda new to me. I first heard one of their English songs ("Roman") and then found this gem, which is much more peppy. Their whole album is quite a grab bag of different genres and vibes, but I enjoy. I also enjoy that their band name is inspired not only by house music but also by.... tennis!


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'Tis the season
December 15, 2010 at 10:28 pm 4 comments
I'm torn when I see the atheist billboards that may be offending Christians. On the one hand, the consciousness of the public needs raised. They need to know we are here. Without catching the attention of mainstream society, they forget about us. And it's too easy to imagine that they want to forget about us.
On the other hand, if we offend Christians at Christmas time, are we doing ourselves any good? Granted, it reaches other freethinkers, doubters, brites and it supports and, perhaps, heartens them.
I hope the billboards, bus advertising, and other outdoor media are taken as an invitation to dialogue. For the most part, they aren't the most offensive statements that could be devised. The advertising may have been ordered without concern or care whether anyone on the otherside of the cultural divide is insulted. Fair enough.
We may be missing the opportunity to forge alliances across the lines. Not all Christians are radical fundamentalists or evangelists. I saw an enlightened young man in a short televised interview say that rather than pursue the course of the old guard, he wanted people's lives to be better because a Christian lived in the neighborhood. That sounds like the true Christian spirit to me, but not something we've heard from those who railed against atheists and humanists in the past.
I suggest we keep that young man's ideal in mind.
At the same time, I also wonder if we have raised the public consciousness sufficiently? We're not like a racial minority. We're not openly visible. And in some ways we're farther behind the GLBT community in gaining respect. Granted, our treatment hasn't been as harsh in recent history.
There are now a few atheists in political office. Perhaps there's less job discrimination. Or is it just easier for us to keep quiet? The gays have been gaining ground in church–one area where I think we'll always lag. The gays have been in the TV sitcoms for years. I don't think we're there yet.
Undoubtedly, Christianity holds sway in the U.S. (I'm dumbfounded when I hear them say they are such a put-upon minority.) As some kind of majority, they get their way. For people of conscience, when they respect us, they'll care that they haven't been respecting our feelings and rights.
It seems to me that the question is, how best do we gain respect? Are we still in the protest phase? Do we need to march? Are we in the awareness/consciousness-raising phase? Or are we ready to dialogue? It could be all the above depending on our target audience.
We need to maintain a dialogue (which could entail starting one). I suggest we sidestep their fundies and dialogue with the Christians who want us to be happy they're here.
Entry filed under: freethought. Tags: agnostics, anti christian billboards, atheists, atheists in political office, call for open dialogue, dialogue with christians, doubters, enlightenment, freethinkers, gaining respect, humanist, humanists, invitation to dialogue, job discrimination, offensive atheist billboards, public awareness, unspoken minority in america, unspoken minority in US.
4 Comments Add your own
I found your site while studying "secular holiness". I rarely reply to posts and debated on this one. To put this in a nutshell, I am a Texan Christian who for the past 25 years has been recovering from denominationalism and currently in a fellowship of believers who think outside of the religious box. I've worked as a staff member of various churches and as of the end of June have resigned my children's pastor position of 5 years. I'm not wishy-washy in my belief of God, but I am very disillusioned with the religious concepts which are plaguing our country and have infiltrated other countries in the name of God. There is a group of 'freethinking believers' who would love to honorably dialogue with 'freethinking non-believers' without the intent to "convert".
Mr. Falknor- First off, I seek your forgiveness on behalf of the radio station who showed dishonor to the atheist. That action didn't accomplish anything good and actually was a display of ignorance on 'our' part. We are to live in peace so long as it's up to us.
As for your question of what's on my mind, if you knew me, you would realize that's loaded. Have you seen or read, "Lord, Save Me from Your Followers."? (book/DVD) It's really what catapulted my mind/heart (me) into breaking free from anything that links me to the religious system we call 'church' while still clinging tightly to my relationship to God. Paradigm shift to be sure! So, there's a group of us who desire to 'BE the church' by being relevant in our culture without relenting our core beliefs.
In our society we are extremely segregated. We may have more opportunities to be connected through internet but as followers of Jesus' teachings we seem to only 'connect' with like-minded people, thus creating an incestural community which isn't relevant to the world at all. So as I was thinking what I would want out of this kind of dialogue it hit me. I seriously just want you and your 'people' to know that 'we' don't hate you. You are not our enemy. My heart is for your good. You are extremely valuable and valued. I don't want to do or say anything to cause you harm. The political and religious systems are quite the opposite of what Jesus came to establish on the earth. I really wish they both would stop using His name and just go about their business, as that is what they both are.
If we ever can figure out how to connect as a group my hope would be that we could just BBQ and hang out. If we need to do a service project to do that then that's a great idea as well. I'm not into debating or arguing but I believe that fellowship and food is the key to anyone's heart and natural conversations can flow from there. Maybe have some talking points or conversational starters and see what happens.
Aimee, should I call you Ms or Mrs. Reed? You can call me Doug.
All that you've said is music to my ears. I was never highly militant. (I still feel a small internal wince at the word "atheist.")
I was trying to think if I had really ever argued religion. A little I guess, but more around high school age than anytime since.
My deconversion and other background events are on the blog; maybe you've looked at some. My daughter is an evangelical Christian; I think that story is there, too.
We probably agree that society isn't going to get anywhere arguing religion. Often as not, it leads to ill will and when in a debate setting, both debaters state the "party line" without a lot of wisdom being generated.
My thinking has progressed to to the point that we can see extremists in every camp, those who choose to hate, and they are best turned out. People of good will don't hate. And as you say, they can meet for the benefit of everyone.
I might have to apologize to you for the book I just published so I should get it out in the open. (It isn't the book excerpted on the blog.) It's easier to find it on Amazon by searching "Douglas Falknor." You can look inside that way–I'm not sure how much. It just went live on bookseller site about two weeks ago.
I found my release from disquieted nonbeliever in changing the direction of the book. I eventually was looking for the explanation of why we have religion (as you might have guessed, I don't think it's the way most believers think).
It's a matter of divided scientific debate, but as I found in my research, it appears that religion was an evolutionary adaption so beneficial to humankind that most or all people who didn't have it perished.
I've gone on too long. Glad to ahve you. Perhaps we can get into secular spirituality?
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AIDS Vigil
For thirty years, members of the LGBTQ community have gathered in Barbara Hall Park (formerly Cawthra Square Park) to honour, remember and celebrate those we have lost to HIV/AIDS. I too have been touched by this awful disease and have participated in the AIDS Candlelight Vigil ceremony annually for several years. 2014 marked the 30th Anniversary of the vigil and the organization expected record crowds as it was also the same year Pride Toronto hosted WorldPride. In mid 2013 we approached the committee with a proposal to donate $5,000 in design services to use however they needed. In early 2014 I met with the committee and we all unanimously agreed that it was the ideal time to re-brand the entire event.
- Date : 24/06/2014
- Tags : BRANDING, CORPORATE COLLATERAL, MARKETING, MERCHANDISE


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The JCW PPV opened with the crowd chanting "Family." I have no Juggalo knowledge, so I have no idea why. They held a countdown for the show to begin while showing off the JCW logo.
They announced the DJ for the night and the announce team, which is Kevin Gill and ICP's Shaggy. Gill welcomed everyone watching around the world and said they have a special show tonight. He ran down the lineup for tonight.
They have a ring girl and the ring announcer is dressed like a clown. Makes sense, I guess!
Second in a Three Match Series: Jimmy Jacobs vs. Sal, Man of 1,000 Gimmicks - Loser of Series Leaves JCW
The announcers said that Sal has promised a gimmick that is unbeatable. The announcers are talking about the smell in the room, saying it's something "medical" since it's April 20th.
It was noted that Jacobs won the first match, so if Sal loses, he's gone. Jacobs is doing his Emo gimmick from ROH, right down to the old Lacey song and waving his cell phone in the air.
Sal's gimmick was that he came out as Emo Warrior Jimmy Jacobs, wearing a wig and carrying a cell phone while looking all forlorn. That was pretty cute. They are playing it up like Jacobs is looking in a mirror.
Jacobs took the mic and said, "I'd like to start off tonight...." but Sal took the mic and started saying it instead, saying he wanted to start with a poem. He alleged Jacobs likes an alternative lifestyle.
Jacobs attacks Sal but Sal quickly reversed every attempt and nailed Jacobs. The crowd chanted for Sal who worked over Jacobs. Jacobs responded by grabbing in a testicular claw. Jacobs used a series of double stomps on Sal and covered him but Sal grabbed the ropes at two.
Sal was sent into a corner but came back with several chops. Jacobs cut him off and nailed a tornado DDT off the ropes for a two count. Jacobs started putting eyeliner on. Why, I have no idea. Sal nailed him in the gut with a kick and stuck the eyeliner pencil where the sun doesn't shine. That wasn't a DQ.
Sal slipped out of a powerbomb attempt and suplexed him over for a two count. Sal went to the top but Jacobs took his legs out from under him and nailed a superplex. Jacobs came off the top with a back senton splash and pinned Sal.
Your winner, Jimmy Jacobs!
As a result of the loss, Sal must leave JCW. The announcers wondered how Sal was going to feed his family.
A sad Sal headed to the back.
Decent back and forth match. The announcing is certainly pretty blue so it's taking a little getting used to. They have a multicamera shoot in what looks to be a pretty intimate and full venue.
The DJ is spinning songs between the matches. They are pushing a Wednesday 5/4 return titled "St. Andrew's Brawl" as its taking place at St. Andrews Hall.
Things Gordon Solie never said on a broadcast #1 - "Look at that a**" which was said by the announcers about the ring girl.
Bull Pain & Isabella Smothers vs. Zach Gowen & U-Gene
Isabella Smothers is allegedly the daughter of Tracy Smothers, according to the announcers. It's Mickie Knuckles, who was seen for a second as Moose in TNA. Gowen and U-Gene came out to Bon Jovi. Last band I expected to hear on this was Bon Jovi.
Pain backed Gowen in the corner and began beating him down. Pain missed a charge in the corner. Gowen nailed a missile dropkick off the ropes and tagged Eugene. Eugene and Gowen doubled on Pain for a two count.
Eugene was cut off by Pain, who tagged in Smothers. She locked a side headlock on Eugene and was shoved off into the ropes. They crisscrossed. Eugene got her to stop and grabbed her boobs. He then ended up riding her like a horse and spanked her.
Gowen tagged in with a slingshot splash. The referee was distracted putting Eugene out of the ring, allowing Pain to clothesline Gowen. Smother suplexed Gowen for a two count. She dragged Gowen over to the corner and tagged Pain back in.
Pain continued the beating and nailed an inverted DDT on Gowen for a two count. Smothers tagged back in and locked in a side chinlock. Eugene rallied Gowen, who nailed a jawbreaker. Gowen went for a tag but Smothers speared her and covered him for a two count. She followed up with a back senton splash for another near fall.
Smothers went to the ropes for another back senton splash but missed. The announcers are ripping her apart for being a redneck slut. In deep vulgar description. Wow. Eugene made the hot tag and took out Smothers. Gowen and Eugene double suplexed Pain. Gowen nailed a moonsault from the top, but the referee couldn't make the pin as he was trying to break up Eugene, who had chased Smothers around the ring and kissed her.
Gowen tried to tell Eugene to get with it but was nailed with a DDT by Pain and pinned.
Your winners, Bull Pain & Isabella Smothers!
The storyline is that Tracy Smothers won't be happy his daughter is involved with Pain.
Kevin Gill interviewed U-Gene and Zach Gowen after the match. Eugene said they almost had the win. Gowen said that they had it but the referee was with Eugene. Gowen said that he loves Eugene but he didn't come back to JCW to lose. Eugene said that he was sorry but in his condition, Eugene needs to be there for him to complete him and be his other leg. Gowen said they needed to get it together and come back stronger in two weeks.
Rhino vs. Sexy Slim Goodie
Goodie is doing a Buddy Rose-esque deal as the heavy set guy with long blonde hair claiming to be a slim guy.
Goodie grabbed Rhino in a side headlock but Rhino shoulderblocked him down, worked him over in the corner and backdropped him.
Rhino set up for the Gore but Goodie jumped out to the floor. Rhino followed and worked him over, before sending him back in. Rhono whipped Goodie into the ropes but Goodie stopped and grabbed him in a front facelook. They looked lost for a second.
Rhino clotheslined him over the top to the floor. Rhino and Goodie battled on the floor. Goodie nailed him low and got the better of Rhino. He tossed Rhino back into the ring. Rhino charged him but was kicked down.
Things Gordon Solie never said #2 - "Rhino took that bump viciously."
Goodie choked Rhino against the ropes, then locked on a rear chinlock. Rhino fought his way out but was snapped back down to the mat. Goodie did a cartwheel and dropped an elbow. I have to say, I am entertained by his gimmick.
The fans started to chant for Rhino, who started to make a comeback but was cut off. Goodie went to the top for a legdrop but missed. JCW plays organ music when guys go to the top rope, almost like a baseball game calling for people to yell "Charge!"
Rhino fired up on Goodie and clotheslined him, then nailed a back elbow. He belly to belly suplexed Goodie then set up for the Gore. Rhino nailed it and scored the pin.
Your winner, Rhino!
This was a nice traditional heel vs. face match. Nothing groundbreaking but a lot more entertaining than I would have expected going in.
More on Page 2!
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Listening is the commitment allowing providence to move in the information shared between two individuals. Listening sharpens my awareness of the encounters while wading. Listening opens doors.
−Wading the Stream of Awareness (Presence Chapter)
In listening free from judgment, you respectfully open genuine love for the authenticity of the individual. Happiness is for the present and for those with presence.
My grandmother was my best friend in my important, developing years. She listened−truly listened. She heard me in what I said to her when we had our wonderful talks. In my final years at the university, I was not far from her home. On many weekends I would drive through the small county towns to get to her house. She would cook for me delicious meals and complain that she could no longer cook well.
Commitment to your own voice and purpose opens the door for providence to bring your past and future together in the present. (Presence Chapter)
In the presence of my grandmother I was happy. I was simply and plainly just happy. She was a giver. There were no conditions. If you had a need, then she gave. In those years at the university I had a need to talk; to be heard. She gave, and gave lavishly, by listening.
It is experiences like those with my grandmother that I bring into my presence. They are treasures. And bounty such as this assures me in my future−a future that is not someday, but now.
My own voice of love, and purpose of encouragement, were so providentially influenced by my grandmother. For this I am eternally thankful … and I anxiously await the status of grandparent!
See sister post, Letting Go into Presence


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Looking back a year, the goals I set in mind have come to fruition, though almost accidentally and not in the timeframe or progression I had idealized. It seems most often in my life a big change is needed to make any real change at all: A relationship coming to a standstill, leaving an occupation, moving across the country. And usually, by my own standards, I am totally unprepared. A plant blooms at the height of its season, a call for creating the next generation. It prepares for death, the departure of fair weather, by focusing its energy on the formation of seeds; holding a future that is dormant and uncertain but contains the nourishment to found the growth that may fruit new blossoms in a new season.
I like being prepared, but I have learned from years of kitchen work how to "make it work," "fake it 'til you make it," and if need be, fly by the seat of my pants. Sure, being a young petite white female helps when I am stranded on the side of the road (with the lug nuts on my wheel torqued so tight even the burly truck driver who stopped to help had to jump on the wrench to crack them) But I've also experienced enough road/van-magic to believe it could be something beyond my physical definitions, and location in the south, interpreting my luck. There are still good people in the world. Pay it forward.
I left some seeds in Western North Carolina, I'll be back when the right season takes hold. I doubt flowers are aware beforehand that the warmth and moisture of the soil will provoke them to burst from their slumber into radicle and cotyledon, they just move when it feels right. And suddenly you find yourself in a lush jungle where before were only dead branches on the frozen ground.
Right now I'm in the desert, someplace entirely familiar from my childhood. Rooster crows seemed exotic to me, as a child growing up in the West, I rested and rose with the sound of coyotes creaking howls. They're more on time anyway. When I was a teenager I thought I'd love to be like Tank Girl: like a mountain man, but as some wild west sex-positive vagabond variation traipsing around the high desert. But I like water, vigorous plants, soil like chocolate cake, tall trees, and I'm not into perpetuating the violence against and appropriation of indigenous peoples' cultures.
I've got to go climb now, it's harder to get motivated when a V0 can sometimes be a challenge, and you're alone. But in places like Joshua Tree or Hueco Tanks, you have to remind yourself 1. sandbagging happens, and 2. More holds are missing/broken off on heavily trafficked routes and 3. you're surrounded by rad people to meet and project with. Rating is pretty arbitrary at times. At HT I crushed a V4 when I was having trouble with the starting move of a V0 nearby. And my homeslice, who is a serious athlete and a crush maniac, had a hard time with the problem I sent, but was otherwise sending stuff I could only fiddle around on. So, it should be obvious anyway, it ain't about the grade, but rather, the process while having fun playing hard. Hueco was extra awesome for this newbie because of the company of fellow enthusiasts. All of whom, aside from being climbers with serious crush-abilities, were rad folks to spend time with who were also interested in nerding out on the amazing paleolithic cave paintings in the area. (Thanks for the food, butane, conversation, and whisky!)
Practice makes perfect. Even if I never get to be a bad ass at crushing blank friction-y highballs, it's too much fun to not at least try. Climbing gives me even more reasons to explore and ways to focus my mind and body. What more could you want? A garden would be nice. I do keep some plant friends in my van. I've heard of some Westfalia's with a modified cargo compartment containing a cold-frame. I'll have to investigate building one. The Dream is to one day have some land with a big garden, maybe a small A-frame or tree house studio, a coffee-sippin' reading hammock, goats and ducks to clear the weeds, dogs to walk with to some boulders where I can GET HIGH! On granite that is, or sandstone, or limestone, who knows.


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The New Moon on Sunday January 6th (AEST) is an important Solar Eclipse. It draws our attention to the need for a realistic and down-to-earth approach regarding the waves of disruption that have been taking place to the status quo of the world as we have known it over the last ten years.
This Capricorn Solar Eclipse represents the harbinger of the up-and-coming conjunction between Saturn and Pluto,
in early 2020.
Culminating near the Mid-Heaven of the Solar Eclipse chart is the eclipsing New Moon with Saturn closing in on its conjunction with Pluto in Capricorn, which will be a major feature for 2020 and 2021, and one we can already feel as the powerful forces of demagogues and dictatorships, with their growing right-wing followers infiltrate what is left of democracies after the shifts of power which have been changing hands from communities and individuals to large corporations with their lobbyists and vested interests have been taking place especially in the last five years.
The oppressive corporate infrastructures are rendering many of us powerless in a world becoming increasingly automated and dehumanised.
'Capricorn, the cardinal earth sign attributed to the Devil, represents manifestation and the attempt to scale peaks. As such, it is a very spiritual sign of the Earth Mother. But with the patriarchal competitive ideal, and the creation of a mountain of status, Capricorn's ambition turns to physical gratification, power, and wealth. This winter earth sign represents the longest night of the year, Winter Solstice, and is known for its negativity. Without connection to what is spiritual, the human ego becomes immersed in the unreal; and since it pays attention to nothing else, the ego dismisses any other way of thinking as "unrealistic." Just as the ego dominate the heart, the rational mind dominates the irrational, intuitive forces, and lives by the slogan, "if you can't see it, you don't have to believe it."-'
From: 'Motherpeace ~ A way to the Goddess through Myth, Art and Tarot' by Vicki Noble
Those in some of the most powerful roles on the planet are in denial of the biggest threat to life on Earth we have any records of as a species. Climate Change. Everything is fine in their backyards, and they don't want that view to be ruined by looking at the Science and very obvious extreme weather patterns as well as life-threatening changes already occurring for many of us.
And yet in amongst this seemingly impenetrable wall of self-deceit is the fragmentation of the old world with its systems falling apart in front of us. Uranus is still squaring the Nodal Axis, breaking up old programs and soul memories, allowing the possibility of awakening into the New World. We must trust that we are being shown the ugliness of a domain imploding, with all its power structures falling apart for the new to emerge out of it.
Uranus is also semi-square Chiron and quincunx Venus, changing and healing old relationship paradigms, and clearing new pathways for the Goddess (Venus) to manifest.
Mars and Chiron are conjunct the Ascendant, and square to Mercury, which brings motivation and action to this process of clearing and healing.
The possibility of dreaming in the Utopian world of Oneness, Peace, Spirituality, equity and justice is one we've already had glimpses of, and is also an energetic part of this Eclipse map with the square between Jupiter and Neptune.
The culminating stellium in Capricorn of Mercury, Saturn, Sun, Moon, Pluto with the South Node of the Nodal Axis reflects that a collective soul shift is in the works, and that we need to all take responsibility for how to enable a balanced and sustainable re-structuring (Saturn in Capricorn) to occur within the transformational forces of a revolution in progress for our very survival and continuing relationship to our home: Gaia or Mother Earth.
April 2014, a big month coming up.
In April 2014, expect evolutionary breakthroughs and important events.
'Autumn - Sonoma County', 78 x 32", by Janet Windsor
The Virgo/Pisces full moon on March 16th was in a close square to the Galactic Centre at 27˚ Sagittarius, the heart of the Milky Way. Any alignment with the Galactic Centre provides tremendous energetic support for releasing old belief systems which have held us back from being on track with the expression of our essential selves. The opportunity was available for us to detach from our emotional reactions and spinning thoughts, and sit back as the impartial observer noticing that the power of that is so much more sustaining than the transitory dramas and events unfolding in our daily lives. At this stage Jupiter in Cancer is still moving into its square to Uranus in Aries and is giving momentum to the restless impartial and objective awareness that must precede the release of old beliefs and paradigms.
These signs portend that a lot of release could happen, and the unraveling of outmoded behaviors and reactions to our unfolding revolution in consciousness. I have heard from many friends and students that they felt a shift, like the freedom of seeing things in a fresh way has arrived or is at least palpable now.
As I write I can feel the collective emotional sphere growing thick and deep as the Moon enters Scorpio and we are confronted by our need for control, tempered by a watery grand trine with Mercury and Neptune in Pisces, Saturn in Scorpio and Jupiter in Cancer, we get a sense of the whole and our part in it, how much can we give and receive. If we allow ourselves to go beyond the rational and into the mystery as a form of reality, we will be able to accept that things are not always as they seem to the logical linear mind. The disappearance of Malaysia Airlines flight 370 is reminding us that not everything can be so easily explained.
These were the conditions present as we entered into the new astrological year on Friday morning (AEST), the Sun went into Aries and the Zodiac life cycle starts up again. The dark side of Aries is impatience, selfishness and insensitivity, but Aries is also the initiator, the pioneer who reminds us to be living in the present, free to create a more exciting and relevant future. Mars, the ruler of Aries is retrograde in Libra (until 20th May 2014), and tempers the usual forthright assertiveness of Aries which is already being somewhat softened by the watery trines, and Libra's love of peace, which may be just as well with the trouble that's brewing with Russia's invasion of Crimea.
The New Moon on March 31st ~ 10˚Aries will be the catalyst for the important Grand Square of Uranus, Pluto, Jupiter and Mars which occurs between 20-23rd April. (* see reference below)
We will start sensing the upheavals being predicted by many astrologers at present, whether they're sociological or seismic, there will be more of the shaking up which we're becoming used to from the powerful square between Uranus and Pluto which started in 2012. The New Moon here is conjunct Uranus, and square Pluto and Jupiter. Mercury, Chiron and the Path of Fortune in Pisces are sitting on the ascendant for the new moon (5:48am AEDT), which I think will mean old issues to do with communications (or the lack thereof) will be brought up, and new information will release previously delicate matters for them to be brought up to the surface and integrated. It is an Aries New Moon afterall, so a good time to initiate new beginnings, allow your vision to cut forward into new territory.
On April 15th there will be a total Lunar Eclipse (5:45pm AEDT), visible along the East Coast of Australia if there is no cloud cover, at 25˚ Libra. Here there are quite a few oppositions amongst the Asteroids Vesta, Ceres and Juno, suggesting there could be issues and or awakenings for women and women's issues. Also this Full Moon is closely connected to the Moon's North and South Nodes, which means we could draw on some of our deeper DNA knowling and work within our souls to move forward into the new world.
The day when the big Cardinal Cross (*) will be closest is on April 22, at 13˚ of Cardinals, those people born in Aries, Libra, Cancer or Capricorn at around 3rd or 4th April, July, October and January will be most powerfully affected by this, although we'll all experience a revolution on some level, as the struggles for power, the breaking down of old world institutions and the status quo, personal and collective breakthroughs, the willingness and courage to try new things continues on its trajectory. This time with Mars and Jupiter involved with the Uranus/Pluto square, and the affects could be direct and expansive. Hold onto your hats!
In the midst of the Uranus, Pluto and Jupiter T-Square on the 29th April, a rare Annular Solar eclipse (A solar eclipse in which the moon covers all but a bright ring around the circumference of the sun.) at 4:17 pm (AEDT) and at 9˚ Taurus, should also be visible depending on how clear the sky is. This Full Moon will keep the energy going of the Uranus/Pluto square, amplifying the effects, as does Jupiter who is still within orb.
April 2014 is a very big month in our cosmic neighbourhood, astrologers have been talking about it for years. The revolution in consciousness is coming to a head, and big events politically, sociologically and/or seismically are being predicted. If you've been clearing the decks of outworn beliefs, and debris from you past, you will be able to take on board the possibility of evolutionary awakenings and movements towards our new Earth (if you haven't read Eckhart Tolle's 'The New Earth', do read it now!)
My take on the sign Aquarius
People say that all the signs have their good and bad qualities, and that one shouldn't make qualitative statements about them. But I have to say that after studying, teaching and using Astrology as a tool for self-enquiry and development for nearly forty years, Aquarius is my favorite sign! And here is why: Aquarius is the humanitarian revolutionary who keeps all the other signs awake and on their toes. The catch phrase for Aquarius is: "I know". This is because knowledge is a tool for the betterment of humanity, and Aquarius has an innate knowing sense.
Ruled by the planet Uranus, the planet of revolution, innovation, futuristic vision, genius (and yes, 'madness') Aquarius is a fixed air sign, so even though it enlightens us with enthusiasm (from the Greek enthousiasmos, to be inspired by a God) and de-light, natural intelligence and sense of adventure, it is able to powerfully concentrate and focus its energy onto a goal or outcome for the greater good of all beings. In old Astrology, before Uranus was discovered in 1781 (the same time as electricity), Saturn was the ruler of Aquarius while it co-ruled Capricorn. I believe that the taciturn economic and disciplined ways of Saturn are still in play in Aquarius. This means that all the idealism and enthusiasm is grounded in practical down-to-earth action, that doesn't get blown away by flamboyant ego displays or corrupted by expressions of pride.
Aquarius often finds itself the 'right face, in the right place, at the right time.' It seems to naturally gravitate to the best situations and circumstances.
Having said all of these wonderful things about Aquarius, I have to say, that Aquarius struggles with intimacy and one-to-one relationships. It is everybody's best friend, but is out-on-a-limb when it comes to relating to a significant other. This is because it deeply cares about the brotherhood of all mankind more than the nearest and dearests.
Ofcourse in describing an Astrological sign in this way, I am not necessarily describing people who have their Sun in Aquarius, although mostly they will be able to identify with some, if not all of these qualities. We all have all the signs in us, some of them will dominate more that others. Aquarius represents a facet of expression I find the most developed and sustainable especially as we enter into the Age of Aquarius. (more about that in another article soon)
This is an important time for the Aquarian side of life, and this is because of the ongoing square between Uranus in Aries and Pluto in Capricorn, which we will go on being part of all this year and into 2015. This is the revolution of consciousness and the breaking down of the status quo as well as many outworn belief systems and modis operandi. The violent wars and turbulent natural disasters we are witnessing and participating in have a Uranus/Pluto 'feel' about them. The fires of transformation wielding great inroads into human consciousness, opening it up for the New Earth Eckhart Tolle talks about in his great book. The Aquarian Age of Enlightenment, where we all intrinsically know we are One, all part of the living breathing organism known as life on Earth.
Heralding February is the Super new Moon on January 30th in Aquarius which you can use to allow yourself to dream in and manifest goals or outcomes you feel the most enthusiastic about.
Mercury will go retrograde on February 6th until 28th. It will go into Aquarius, a much more pragmatic place for it than the dreamy poetic Pisces, on February 14th.
The most important transit is Jupiter in Cancer opposing Pluto in Capricorn, with Venus within one degree of Pluto, on January 31st. We are still deeply questioning our values and beliefs, and there could be some secret uses and misuses of power which we become part of, or aware of in others. With our personal lives Venus is so close to this opposition, we will need to come from a place of love and receptivity, just listening quietly, instead of imposing what we think is correct through manipulation or domination. Under this transit there have to be some losses, so that gains can be made and the regeneration of the truth can be facilitated. After this Jupiter will sit on a square to Uranus until March 6th when it will also go direct and start moving through Cancer at its usual faster pace. This relationship between Jupiter and Uranus, can bring a lot of release and relief to the pressure which has been building up with the Uranus/Pluto square. Surprising situations and innovative resolutions will bring movement and change.
First Full Moon of 2014
The Capricorn/Cancer full Moon this year looks like a time when anything that's been hiding away in the crevices of your relationships will be able to come up for a breather and the light-of-day, for the purpose of strengthening long term ties and sorting out what-is-what.
The Sun and Moon opposition are taking place in the ninth and third houses (if you're in the Southern parts of Australia). So its a time to open your mind and allow yourself the sort of curiosity that takes you on adventures of broadened horizons and expanded vistas.
At the time of the full moon (3:53pm EST, Aust) Saturn is in the seventh house (partnerships) , the Sun is in semi-square to Chiron. Capricorn and retrograde Venus, in the eighth house is exactly square Mars in LIbra and in the fifth house.
To me this all looks like an excellent time to work out the nature of relationships in your life. Perhaps you've been treating a short term play relationship like a long term 'in-it-for-life' partnership, or vice-a-versa.
Capricorn and its ruler Saturn always prefers straight talk, and does a reality check to make sure that's what's on the agenda.
Venus and Mars in a square like that is really talking about sexuality. Its a good time to work out whether you feel your sex life is play time, or is does it have the potential for deeper soul experiences, and your universal connection to the Divine?
Chiron shows us where our wounds are, and thus the great jewels of the psyche's potential to be fully aligned with your highest potential.
Take good care, stay safe (and cool if you're in the West and South Eastern part of Australia) and I'll be writing a longer astro report closer to the beginning of next month.
I would love your feed-back about your experience of this full moon, you can respond below on the form.
Happy New Year!
May all your dreams be manifested
We're in for a rapidly shifting and turbulent or exciting 2014, which gets its catalyst to begin the roller coaster ride on 1st January with the Capricorn new moon, the year's first Supermoon, and a trigger point for the revolutionary Uranus/Pluto trajectory we find ourselves part of until 2015.
The new moon in Capricorn is accompanied by Mercury and Pluto as one of the corners of a Cardinal grand cross of: Pluto in Capricorn, Uranus in Aries, Jupiter in Cancer and Mars in Aries. (very closely associated to each other until January 15th)
The Cardinal signs are about action and moving forward, and Capricorn being the Earth sign in this quadrant is about manifesting. Traditionally depicted as the goat with a fish's tail, climbing one-step-at-a-time up the mountain, the fish's tail keeping it immersed in the collective psyche and dreaming, the 'ocean' of our collective consciousness. Capricorns are not impulsive like Aries, they act out of their knowing, closely weaving their vision with practical realities.
This new moon is really about resetting your intentions, and following through with actions based on your core values. Venus, which is about our values, relationships to one another, as well as the creative process of bringing things together, went retrograde in Capricorn December 21st, heralding a time for us to go within and examine what our own values are, aside from how we've been conditioned or influenced by our peers and times. When re-setting your intentions take into account where you are now in your life, leave behind a self-image you may have constructed for yourself in the past, and look plainly and truthfully at your present life. Capricorn's ruler, Saturn is in still Scorpio, paring back what is unnecessary or ephemeral.
Saturn austere in his approach to reality, and with this powerful Cardinal grand cross in play for the first two weeks of 2014, when traditionally people are trying to keep to their New Year's resolutions, is the time to be realistic about what you want, what role you can contribute to the New World which employs your greatest talents and skills. Add to this mix the Mercury and Pluto conjunction to the new moon, and you get the opportunity to get a mental picture of how things can be, when you discard the superfluous or non-functional, those ideas you had which are now maybe obsolete. Keep things simple and straight. Write a list of your priorities, so as to inform your values. Allow Pluto to help you face hidden belief systems you may have been living from which no longer serve you.
Let go to the massive shift in consciousness that is happening to life on Earth. Trust yourself, the voice of your instincts, Capricorn is straight and conservative, and will not suffer fools.
So many of the institutions and established protocols our civilization has relied on for thousands of years to prop up the infra-structure of the way we 'do business' are falling apart and losing credibility, we have to be able to trust ourselves, and that's why an examination of your core values based on instinctive knowledge now, will support your intentions for 2014.
In the thick of the big Uranus square Pluto transit I spoke about in several previous articles, any of the faster moving planets which come into aspect with either of these two revolutionaries will act as a catalyst to release some of the energy of their interaction.
Uranus in Aries is daring us to express what is true for each of us, rather than conforming to the sleep-walk of conditioning and society's expectations for the status quo. Pluto in Capricorn will help ground and stabilize the momentum of this into something for the common good. Pluto is always at its most potent when dealing with issues at the core of survival, and these are times in which we are closely examining survival issues for all life on our precious Earth.
Mercury squared Uranus on the 3rd of January, and will square Pluto on January 6th at 10 degrees Capricorn. Here is an opportunity for us to allow our minds to start interpreting the Zeitgeest: the flavour of the Uranus/Pluto square, finding words to express the nature of this transformational aspect. If there's something you want to protest about then now is the time to write letters to the editors of media, join in with discussions on social media or blogs which move you: find your voice and help with the breaking up of old-world models which are not working for us as we move forward into these precarious times: the birth of a new humanity. If you were around in the mid-sixties you will remember how we took to the streets and generated a wake-up call of a whole generation. As the old systems breakdown their power is weakening, and the biggest changes are coming from the grass roots up.
On January 7th Mars in Aquarius will come into a square with Saturn in Scorpio. In traditional astrology this aspect was often described as a death or an ending of something. I still think that applies, and I also see it as the 'editing' transit. Time to cull all those unnecessary belief systems, ideas and objects which no longer serve your needs. Both Aquarius and Scorpio are able to be (or strive to be) minimalists, keeping things simple and streamlined. You'll feel obstructed and frustrated at this time if you are holding onto outmoded obstacles of clutter from your past in the form of concepts or material surroundings.
The New Moon on the 11th January joins Mercury, Venus and Pluto in Capricorn.
The feminine energy of the New Moon in Capricorn, sheds a silvery feminine luminosity into the hard-working planets in Capricorn and hopefully assist in the process already underway for women's rights. Venus will square Uranus on January 12th at 5 degrees of Capricorn/Aries and conjunct Pluto at 10 degrees Capricorn on January 16th. The world wide protesting for women's rights as well as an end to brutal ancient traditions in the Middle East and especially in India lately will continue and gain momentum as the powerful square pushes for equality and justice for all of humanity.
Candida van Rood, aka Candy vR, (or Candy Spender).
August 2019