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Categories: Candid Photos , Photos 1 Comment
Sandy was spotted at New Orleans Mardi Gras this Monday, February 16. She was with Louis and friends as Michael McDonald, Camila McConaughey, Chelsea Handler and Anthony Mackie. Few pictures were added to the gallery:
Photos: Celebrity Baby Scoop ● Lainey Gossip
Mar 27 Soumya says:
Sandra you are great! you are really brave. and I love you for whatever you are.
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subset: commoncrawl


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While you might still be nursing your hangover today, that doesn't mean you can't start setting your weekend plans. We understand you're probably in terrible shape, you might have a bit of a headache and you're probably battling a bout of depression where you're curled up the couch crying while watching episodes of My So Called Life on Netflix, but you need to get back out into the world and enjoy watching an arm-wrestling championship or finding some chakra rainbows if you hope to get any better.
Soundpainting at Artuvus Studios (Friday, free) Soundpainting is a technique used by composers to create improvisation songs based on the gestures of the conductor. In this case, you're invited down to take part in the event yourself, provided you can play an instrument to a degree that doesn't cause people to run away in fear.
Tim McKay and Jim Olson at SYNC Gallery (Friday, free) Tim McKay is a trained psychologist who turned his ability to interpret Rorshach ink-blot tests into a means to create art. Conversely, Jim Olson creates three-dimensional work in a variety of different mediums. The two ended up with a show together, and what you'll find when you get there is an interesting mix of style and substance. Chakra Rainbow at 910 Arts (Friday, free) We know what you're thinking right now: "What the fuck is a chakra rainbow and why do I want to see it?" Well, Chakra Rainbow is an art show created by Shelley Irish-Smith as a means to display self-portraits that work to express the imbalance of one's chakra. We don't know what any of that means, but we're pretty certain it's going to chakra and awe somebody out there (sorry). The Watching Hour: F/X at Denver FilmCenter/Colfax (Friday, $9.75) F/X is one of those classic films from the '80s that has been lost to the big-budget, explosion-heavy movies of today. But know this: You need to see this movie. It's a thriller, a political adventure and, most importantly, an enjoyable film that gets it done in all the right places.
Denver March Powwow at Denver Coliseum (Friday-Sunday, $7/day pass) You've probably got a pretty good idea of what to expect at the Denver March Powwow based solely on the name, but in case you're a little dense, it's a celebration of the traditional components of Native American culture. This includes dancing, drumming, storytelling and a parade filled with intricate costumes and chants. Perhaps after pretending you were "totally Irish" earlier this week, you might want to relax with some actual, American roots.
Follow us on Twitter! Ruined at Ricketson Theatre (Friday-Sunday, $10) Ruined is not an easy play to watch, but it's not supposed to be. Dealing with the impact of war in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the play is set in a brothel where women's stories are told in a way that's difficult for most American's to grasp. Still, if you can handle the heavy tale, it's well worth watching, and there are moments of humor sprinkled throughout so you're not constantly bummed out. Black Death at the Esquire Theater (Friday-Saturday, Midnight, $7.25) Black Death, as the title probably suggests, is set during the first outbreak of the bubonic plague in England. The story follows a young monk who is tasked to report on rumors that a small village on the outskirts is immune. Sean Bean reprises his role as medieval man with beard who must save the universe, while the rest of the movie toes the line between action-adventure and horror. This is a new movie, so we're not entirely sure why it got slotted into the midnight spot, but we're not going to complain because it sounds awesome. Pusher Party and Bike Swap at 3 Kings Tavern (Saturday, free) As spring approaches, many are wrangling their bicycles out from underneath a pile of coats and scarves in their closet and finding strange extra parts have grown on the sides of them. It's true that bicycles are asexual and can subsequently reproduce in the winter months while in hibernation, so don't worry too much about that. Instead, head on down to the 3 Kings for a bicycle flea market and trade away those unholy reproductions to people who might need them. From noon to 6 p.m. 3 Kings will open up their doors to bike geeks of all types.
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While it cost the hefty sum of $20 to enter the competition, those who want to just pop in and watch some arms get broken will be able to do so for free. Arm Wrestling, as far as we can tell, was invented sometime before fire as a means to prove one's manliness, or at least one's near-manliness to potential mates. We might not have been homo sapiens yet, but we knew even then there was only one way to prove definitively who was the boss, and that was by arm wrestling.
Persepolis at Denver Central Library (Sunday, free) Persepolis is the second film in the month long Fresh City Life series, "Woman Made." If you haven't seen the film (or read the comic its based on) you need to stop whatever you're doing and make plans to hit up the library this Sunday to watch it. It's an animated film based on Marjane Satrapi's autobiographic graphic novel about the Iranian Revolution. Like all good revolution films, this one doesn't just dwell on the war--it takes you into the actual life of someone living though it. It's well worth your time.


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The Kiwi dollar continued its descent overnight -plunging to a more than two-year low after falling more than a cent yesterday.
It was buying US66.22 cents a short time ago - the lowest point since March 2016.
What is behind the drop?
The surprise move from the Reserve Bank that it expects to keep the Official Cash Rate at record lows drove the New Zealand dollar down by a US cent at one point yesterday as it dawned on traders that the risks to the economy looked to be skewed to the downside.
Phil Borkin, senior macro strategist at ANZ, said financial markets were caught offguard by the likely duration of the current low interest rate regime.
"I think people are realising that it's going to take a lot for the Reserve Bank to hike from here," Borkin said.
"They are not worried about inflation at all and they are much more worried about the stability and persistence of any growth," he said.
"And the risks to growth are obviously skewed to the downside at the moment," Borkin said.
Westpac chief economist Dominick Stephens said it appeared the Reserve Bank had accepted that economic growth is falling short of its previous bullish forecasts.
"The intensity of the Reserve Bank's reaction today to the slowdown in growth surprised us and financial markets," he said in a commentary.
What does it mean for you?
Kiwis going on overseas holidays will find the trip more expensive as their money stretches less.
The Kiwi dollar was buying US73.85c in April and has dropped close to 10 per cent since then.
In simple terms, that means your dinner out in San Franciso or New York is 10 per cent more expensive than it would have been just a few months ago.
New Zealand shoppers buying goods online sold in US dollars will also feel the pinch.
Suddenly that book from Amazon isn't quite the bargain you may have thought it was.
What does it mean for NZ?
Although a falling dollar does make importing goods more expensive, it also means that Kiwi products are more competitive internationally.
That means our exports (such as dairy) are more attractive to overseas buyers - giving our businesses who shop goods overseas a leg up.
A lower dollar also means that New Zealand is a more attractive destination for tourists who see their money stretch further than it otherwise would have. And tourism is a big deal for New Zealand and is our biggest foreign exchange earner.


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Vlad Vyazovskiy Laboratory
Sleep is a phenomenon of astounding complexity, which makes it difficult to understand and even define unequivocally. It can be viewed as behaviour, a brain state and a process, which are intricately interrelated, and manifest themselves at many distinct spatio-temporal scales. Sleep is regulated by circadian time, preceding sleep-wake history, and, while asleep, the brain switches periodically between two markedly different states – NREM sleep and REM sleep, which are distinguished by specific types of brain activity. Specifically, a closer look at NREM sleep reveals that it is characterised by a regular occurrence of local and global slow cortical oscillations, visible at the level of the EEG as slow waves. Throughout NREM sleep, especially during its lighter stages and towards a transition into REM sleep, another type of activity is apparent, so-called sleep spindles. These involve the thalamus and through dynamic cortico-thalamic interactions emerge quasi-independently at specific brain locations and never across the whole brain at once. In contrast, during REM sleep the brain is about as active as it is in waking, and the EEG in both humans and animals is dominated by theta- and faster rhythms, which arise from bidirectional interactions of cortical, hippocampal and subcortical networks. Are all these sleep-related phenomena related to each other and what is the functional meaning of the overall complexity of the sleep process?
Our aim is to understand the mechanisms governing the spatio-temporal dynamics of brain activity during sleep. This will help us to understand not only what sleep is, but also why it is necessary.
News and Events
14.03.18 "Cortical region-specific sleep homeostasis in mice: effects of time of day and waking experience" by Mathilde Guillaumin, Laura McKillop, Nanyi Cui, Simon Fisher, Russell Foster, Maarten de Vos, Stuart Peirson, Peter Achermann and Vlad Vyazovskiy is accepted for publication in SLEEP
22.02.18. "Effects of ageing on cortical neural dynamics and local sleep homeostasis in mice" by L. E. McKillop, S. P. Fisher, N. Cui, S. N. Peirson, R. G. Foster, K. A. Wafford and V.V. Vyazovskiy has been accepted in The Journal of Neuroscience.
22.01.18. "Light and Cognition: Roles for Circadian Rhythms, Sleep and Arousal" by Angus Fisk, Shu Tam, Laurence Brown, Vladyslav Vyazovskiy, David Bannerman and Stuart Peirson" has been accepted in Frontiers in Neurology, section Sleep and Chronobiology.
24.08.17. "The interplay between long- and short-range temporal correlations shapes cortex dynamics across vigilance states." by Meisel C, Klaus A, Vyazovskiy VV and Plenz D. has been accepted in the Journal of Neuroscience
05.03.17. "Sleep homeostasis, habits and habituation" by Vyazovskiy VV, Walton ME, Peirson SN, Bannerman DM. has been accepted for publication in Current Opinion in Neurobiology.
04.02.17. "Constant Light Desynchronises Olfactory versus Object and Visuospatial Recognition Memory Performance" by Tam SK, Hasan S, Choi HMC, Brown LA, Jagannath A, Hughes S, Hankins MW, Foster RG, Vyazovskiy VV, Bannerman DM and Peirson SN. has been accepted in The Journal of Neuroscience.
25.01.17. "Differences in electroencephalographic non-rapid-eye movement sleep slow-wave characteristics in aged mice between young and old mice." by Panagiotou M, Vyazovskiy VV, Meijer JH and Deboer T. has been accepted in Scientific Reports.
10.01.17. "Different effects of sleep deprivation and torpor on EEG slow wave characteristics in Djungarian hamsters" by Vladyslav Vyazovskiy, Svitlana Palchykova, Peter Achermann, Irene Tobler and Tom Deboer is accepted for publication in Cerebral Cortex
10.01.17. European Sleep Research Society Sleep Science School "Neural Networks in Sleep": applications invited.
02.12.16. "Learning by association in plants" by Monica Gagliano, Vladyslav V. Vyazovskiy, Alexander A. Borbély, Mavra Grimonprez & Martial Depczynski is published in Scientific Reports
29.11.16. The Conversation: Why running could keep you awake at night
08.12.16. Sleep: so familiar, so elusive. Cortex Club Seminar, Oxford
17.10.16. "Stereotypic wheel running decreases cortical activity in mice" is published in Nature Communications
11.10.16-. Oxford Online Programme in Sleep Medicine hosted by the Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute (SCNi), University of Oxford is launched
07.10.16. VV: "Local cortical slow waves and sleep homeostasis": presentation at Slow Waves Dynamics Workshop, EITN, Paris
13-16.09.16. VV: "Spatio-temporal dynamics of brain activity during sleep", 23rd Congress of the European Sleep Research Society, Bologna, Italy
12.09.16. "Sleep and serotonin modulate paracapsular nitric oxide synthase expressing neurons of the amygdala" by Marco Bocchio, Simon P Fisher, Gunes Unal, Tommas J Ellender, Vladyslav V Vyazovskiy and Marco Capogna has been accepted for publication in eNeuro
07.09.16. "Stereotypic wheel running decreases cortical activity in mice" by Fisher SP, Cui N, McKillop LM, Gemignani J, Bannerman DM, Oliver PL, Peirson SN, Vyazovskiy VV is accepted for publication in Nature Communications
01.09.16. Cristina Blanco Duque and Alberto Lazari start DPhil projects in collaboration with Heidi Johansen-Berg and David Bannerman
01.09.16. Christopher Thomas joins the group as DPhil Student in the BBSRC Interdisciplinary Biosciences Doctoral Training Centre
01.07.16. VV: Waking behaviour, cortical states and sleep homeostasis, Satellite Symposium of the European Sleep Research Society, FENS Forum 2016, Copenhagen, Denmark
28.06.16. Laura McKillop is awarded a travel grant from the European Sleep Research Society to attend the 23rd ESRS congress in Bologna, Italy
24.06.16. 11 MINUTES OF SLEEP IN PISA: Hot topics in Sleep Physiology and Health Care
12-14.05.16. 1st International Conference on Sleep Spindling, Budapest Hungary
22.04.16. "Melanopsin regulates both sleep-promoting and arousal-promoting responses to light" by Pilorz V, Tam SK, Hughes S, Pothecary CA, Jagannath A, Hankins MW, Bannerman DM, Lightman SL, Vyazovskiy VV, Nolan PM, Foster RG, Peirson SN.is accepted for publication in PLoS Biology
13.02.16. VV: What's going on inside the sleeping brain, The 13th Oxford Brain day: The Sleeping Brain
02.16 "Unravelling the complexity of sleep", Phenotype magazine
15.03.16. "Could humans hibernate?" The Conversation
22.12.15. "Responses in Rat Core Auditory Cortex are Preserved during Sleep Spindle Oscillations" by Sela Y, Vyazovskiy VV, Cirelli C, Tononi G, Nir Y. has been accepted for publication in SLEEP.
20.11.15. "Neuroscience. Mapping the birth of the sleep connectome", Comment on "Cells of a common developmental origin regulate REM/non-REM sleep and wakefulness in mice." published in Science
27.10.15. Editorial "Banking sleep and biological sleep need: Commentary on Arnal et al. Benefits of Sleep Extension on Sustained Attention and Sleep Pressure Before and During Total Sleep Deprivation and Recovery" has been accepted for publication in SLEEP.
15-17.10.15. "Local sleep and brain plasticity", Berner Schlaf-Wach-Tage, Bern, Switzerland
17-18.09.15. VV: "The dynamics of sleep process in time and space", Doctoral Program Brain and Mind, Helsinki, Finland
12.09.15. VV: "Sleep Homeostasis: local and global aspects", Keynote lecture at the Korean Sleep Society conference, Seoul, South Korea
2-6.08.15. VV: "The temporal dynamics of waking and sleep: from single neurons to behaviour", European Biological Rhythms Society (EBRS)/World Congress of Chronobiology (WCC), joint EBRS/ESRS symposium, Manchester, UK
01.06.15 A three-year Postdoctoral Research Scientist in Sleep Neurobiology position is available. Applications are accepted until 01.07.2015
22.04.15 VVlab established a collaboration with Advanced Concepts Team of the European Space Agency through Ariadna initiative
07.04.15 A new visiting researcher Dr Tomoko Yamagata joins our group.
03.04.15 "Long-term history and immediate preceding state affect EEG slow wave characteristics at NREM sleep onset in C57BL/6 mice" by Cui N, Mckillop LE, Fisher SP, Oliver PL, Vyazovskiy VV. has been published in Arch Ital Biol.
30.03.15. VV has been awarded a title of Associate Professor
25.03.15. Simon Fisher has been selected a recipient of a Sleep Research Society Abstract Merit Based Award
06.03.15. Dreams of mice by VV and boredomresearch
24.02.15. "Lempel-Ziv complexity of cortical activity during sleep and waking in rats" by D. Abásolo, S. Simons, R. Morgado da Silva, G. Tononi and V.V.Vyazovskiy has been accepted for publication in The Journal of Neurophysiology
01.11.14. Our application (VV and Reto Huber) to the Oxford-McGill-ZNZ Partnership in the Neurosciences grant has been successful
01.11.14. Local Sleep Taking Care of High-Maintenance Cortical Circuits under Sleep Restriction: Editorial by Simon Fisher and Vladyslav Vyazovskiy in the last issue of SLEEP
05.11.14. Symposium "11 MINUTES OF SLEEP: an open window on brain plasticity, cortical functions and consciousness", Pisa, Italy, 5th November, 2014
01.08.14 "The Dynamics of Cortical Neuronal Activity in the First Minutes after Spontaneous Awakening in Rats and Mice" by
VV, N. Cui, AV Rodriguez, C Funk, C Cirelli and G Tononi in the August 2014 issue of SLEEP
21.07.14 Dr Simon Fisher joins our team as a Postdoctoral Researcher
16.07.14 VV is selected as a Travel Awardee for the 2014 American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, 7-11.12.2014
14.07.14 The proposal entitled, "Local and Global Sleep regulation, Cellular Functions of Sleep and Neuropsychiatric Disorders" has been accepted as a Panel at the 53rd American College of Neuropsychopharmacology Annual Meeting in Phoenix, Arizona, 7-11.12.2014. (Chair: R. Benca, Presenters: V.V. Vyazovskiy, T. Kilduff, A. Krystal, R. Benca)
02.07.14 Our symposium proposal entitled "Sleep, Brain State and Sensory Processing" has been accepted for inclusion in the British Neuroscience Association 2015: Festival of Neuroscience (Edinburgh, UK, 12-15.04.2015). Speakers include V.V. Vyazovskiy, M. Sanchez-Vives, K. Harris, M. Carandini, A. Thiele
26.06.14 VV: Homeostatic regulation of sleep and its regional aspects. Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences Monthly Seminars. listen podcast
25.06.14 Our abstract "EEG slow-wave characteristics in sleep after daily torpor in Djungarian hamsters" by VV Vyazovskiy, I Tobler and T Deboer has been accepted for Oral presentation at the 22nd Congress of the European Sleep Research Society (Tallinn, Estonia, 16-20.09.2014)
16.06.14 VV and Foster RG: Sleep: A Biological Stimulus from Our Nearest Celestial Neighbor? Curr Biol 2014
08.05.14 VV: 'The temporal dynamics of sleep: cortical mechanisms and functional significance' (Room B15, UCL Anatomy, Gower Street, 5.00 pm)
17.03.14 VV: "Spatio-temporal complexity of brain activity during sleep: functional significance and implications for sleep regulation", The European Winter Conference on Brain Research | The European Brain and Behaviour Society, Brides-les-Bains, France
26.03.14 VV: "Global Sleep and the Single Neuron: Spatio-Temporal Complexity and the Function of Sleep", The 5th Oxford Neuroscience Symposium, Oxford, UK
04.07.14 9th Federation European Neurosciences Societies (FENS) Forum of Neuroscience, Sattelite Symposium of the European Sleep Research Society "Understanding Sleep: Novel Perspectives in Neurosciences", Milan, Italy.
01.12.13 VV and the team move to the University of Oxford, where we join the newly established Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience Institute.
22.11.13 VV: "Sleep homeostasis and the function of sleep", keynote lecture, XIV Brazilian Sleep Association Meeting, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
12.11.13 "NREM and REM sleep: complementary roles in recovery after wakefulness" by Vladyslav Vyazovskiy and Alessio Delogu has been accepted for publication in The Neuroscientist.
07.07.13 VV: "Homeostatic sleep regulation and the function of sleep", at Special Session "Sleep and Higher Order Brain Functions", The 35th Annual International Conference of the IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society, in conjunction with 52nd Annual Conference of Japanese Society for Medical and Biological Engineering, Osaka, Japan.
14.06.13 VV and Kenneth Harris on Neuropod Podcast: Restful Repair
11.06.13 VV's presentation at the last SLEEP meeting, Baltimore, USA, June 2nd-5th 2013: Mechanisms and functions of local sleep: Implications for sleep homeostasis
20.05.13 "Sleeping in sync" by Jennie Vallis on the cover of the June issue of Nature Reviews Neuroscience.
02.05.13 "Sleep and the single neuron: the role of global slow oscillations in individual cell rest" by Vladyslav V. Vyazovskiy and Kenneth D. Harris has been accepted for publication in Nature Reviews Neuroscience, and will appear in the June issue. It is now available online.
11.04.13 Professor Bryan Vila from Washington State University (USA) gives a lecture "Tired Cops Research: Results from High-Fidelity Simulations of Hazardous Operational Tasks". Sleep, Chronobiology and Addiction Research Group seminar, University of Surrey, Wednesday, 17.04.13, 15:00, room 06DK02.
02.04.13 VV: "Mechanisms and functions of sleep homeostasis", Conference "EEG Rhythms of Health and Disease States", May 16-18, 2013, Cardiff, UK
15.03.13 Symposium "Local Sleep: Its Origin and Function" proposed by Reto Huber and Yuval Nir has been accepted for presentation at SLEEP 2013 27th Annual Meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, LLC, held June 1-5, 2013, in Baltimore, Maryland. The session will take place on Tuesday, June 4, 2013, from 10:20am – 12:20pm. Speakers: VV, Reto Huber, Yuval Nir and Hans van Dongen.
16.02.13 VV has been awarded a Research Grant from The Royal Society.
07.02.13 4‐year BBSRC Industrial CASE studentship is now advertised.
05.02.13 Professor Mehdi Tafti from the University of Lausanne: "Sleep in a dish". Sleep, Chronobiology and Addiction Group Seminar, University of Surrey, 05.02.13, 4:00 pm, room 06 DK 02.
30.01.13 Nanyi Cui presents a poster "Novel Experimental System Linking Brain Activity to Behaviour" at the 3rd Postgraduate Research Conference, University of Surrey.
12.01.13 VV: "Local and global dynamics of neuronal activity in the neocortex: implications for the function of sleep.", Department of Computing, University of Surrey, 06.02.13, 2:15 pm, room 39 BB 02.
14.12.12 VV has been invited as a speaker at XIV Brazilian Sleep Association Bi-annual Meeting, that takes place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, November 21st - 24th, 2013
13.12.12 Vladyslav Vyazovskiy, "In quest for the function of sleep: from single cells to system level", Workshop "Genes and Behaviour", University of Surrey - Guildford.
10.12.12 Dr. Alessio Delogu from MRC Centre for Developmental Neurobiology at King's College London will be presenting a talk titled: "Regulation of diurnal rhythms: new light from developmental studies" on December 10th at 1:00 pm in 13 AY 02.
06.12.12 Vyazovskiy V.V and Tobler I. "The temporal structure of behaviour and sleep homeostasis" appeared today in PLoS One.
29.11.12 VV application to the 4‐year BBSRC Industrial CASE studentship Competition (together Eli Lilly) has been successful! The PhD position will be advertised soon.
29.11.12 VV is invited to give a lecture at the 35th Annual Conference of IEEE Engineering in Medicine and Biology Society in Osaka, Japan, July 3-7, 2013.
25.10.12 Paper accepted for publication in PLOS ONE: "The temporal structure of behaviour and sleep homeostasis" by Vladyslav V. Vyazovskiy and Irene Tobler.
22.10.12 Julia Harris, University College London, David Attwell Lab, gives a lecture at the University of Surrey on "Brain energetics: energy use and information processing in the white and grey matter": 07.11.2012, 11am, 06 DK 02
16.10.12 Prof. Debra Skene: How does your body know what time it is? Café Scientifique, London, 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm, Monday 22.10.2012
15.10.12 SFN meeting 2012: "Pharmacogenetic and optogenetic induction of local tonic cortical activity in anesthetized mice" by C.M. Funk, Y. Nir, V.V. Vyazovskiy, M. Mieda, T. Sakurai, O. Yizhar, C. Cirelli and G. Tononi
10.10.12 VV has been invited to give a "Year in Review" Lecture at the British
Sleep Society 25th Anniversary Scientific Meeting, Edinburgh, October 18-19, 2013
10.10.12 Colloquium: Current Topics in Sleep and Chronobiology Research, University of Zurich, Switzerland, 02.11.2012: "Sleep homeostasis, neuronal synchrony and single-cell rest" by Vladyslav Vyazovskiy
04.10.12 Paper accepted for publication in Journal of Sleep Research: "Prolonged wakefulness alters neuronal responsiveness to local electrical stimulation of the neocortex in awake rats" by Vladyslav V. Vyazovskiy, Umberto Olcese, Chiara Cirelli and Giulio Tononi
01.10.12 new member of VVlab, PhD student Nanyi Cui.
10.09.12 VV's presentation at the last ESRS meeting (Paris, September 4-8th, 2012): Local sleep: insights from multiunit recordings during sleep and waking
Recent Publications
Sleep and serotonin modulate paracapsular nitric oxide synthase expressing neurons of the amygdala
eNeuro, 2016
Bocchio M, Fisher SP, Unal G, Ellender TJ, Vyazovskiy VV, Capogna M
Unraveling the roles of distinct neuron types is a fundamental challenge to understand brain function in health and disease. In the amygdala, a brain structure regulating emotional behavior, the diversity of GABAergic neurons is only partially explored. We report a novel population of GABAergic amygdala neurons expressing high levels of neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS). Notably, these cells are predominantly localized along basolateral amygdala (BLA) boundaries. Performing ex vivo patch clamp recordings from nNOS+ neurons in Nos1-CreER;Ai9 mice, we observed that nNOS+ neurons located along the external capsule display distinctive electrophysiological properties, axonal and dendritic arborization and connectivity. Examining their c-Fos expression, we found that paracapsular nNOS+ neurons were activated during a period of undisturbed sleep following sleep deprivation, but not during sleep deprivation. Consistently, we found that dorsal raphe serotonin (5-HT) neurons, which are involved in sleep-wake regulation, innervate nNOS+ neurons. Bath application of 5-HT hyperpolarizes nNOS+ neurons via 5-HT1A receptors. This hyperpolarization produces a reduction in firing rate and, occasionally, a switch from tonic to burst firing mode, thereby contrasting with the classic depolarizing effect of 5-HT on BLA GABAergic cells reported so far. Thus, nNOS+ cells are a distinct cell type of the amygdala that controls the activity of downstream neurons in both amygdaloid and extra-amygdaloid regions in a vigilance state-dependent fashion. Given the strong links between mood, sleep deprivation and 5-HT, the recruitment of paracapsular nNOS+ neurons following high sleep pressure may represent a novel mechanism in emotional regulation.
Stereotypic wheel running decreases cortical activity in mice
Nature Communications, 2016
Fisher SP, Cui N, McKillop LM, Gemignani J, Bannerman DM, Oliver PL, Peirson SN, Vyazovskiy VV.
Prolonged wakefulness is thought to gradually increase 'sleep need' and influence subsequent sleep duration and intensity, but the role of specific waking behaviours remains unclear. Here we report the effect of voluntary wheel running during wakefulness on neuronal activity in the motor and somatosensory cortex in mice. We find that stereotypic wheel running is associated with a substantial reduction in firing rates among a large subpopulation of cortical neurons, especially at high speeds. Wheel running also has longer-term effects on spiking activity across periods of wakefulness. Specifically, cortical firing rates are significantly higher towards the end of a spontaneous prolonged waking period. However, this increase is abolished when wakefulness is dominated by running wheel activity. These findings indicate that wake-related changes in firing rates are determined not only by wake duration, but also by specific waking behaviours.
Lempel-Ziv complexity of cortical activity during sleep and waking in rats
The Journal of Neurophysiology, 2015
D. Abásolo, S. Simons, R. Morgado da Silva, G. Tononi, and V.V. Vyazovskiy
Understanding the dynamics of brain activity manifested in the electroencephalogram (EEG), local-field potentials (LFP) and neuronal spiking is essential for explaining their underlying mechanisms and physiological significance. Much has been learned about sleep regulation using conventional EEG power spectrum, coherence and period-amplitude analyses, which focus primarily on frequency and amplitude characteristics of the signals and on their spatio-temporal synchronicity. However, little is known about the effects of ongoing brain state or preceding sleep-wake history on the nonlinear dynamics of brain activity. Recent advances in developing novel mathematical approaches for investigating temporal structure of brain activity based on such measures, as Lempel-Ziv complexity (LZC) can provide insights that go beyond those obtained with conventional techniques of signal analysis. Here we used extensive data sets obtained in spontaneously awake and sleeping adult male laboratory rats, as well as during and after sleep deprivation, to perform a detailed analysis of cortical local field potential (LFP) and neuronal activity with LZC approach. We found that activated brain states - waking and rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep are characterized by higher LZC as compared to non-rapid-eye movement (NREM) sleep. Notably, LZC values derived from the LFP were especially low during early NREM sleep after sleep deprivation, and towards the middle of individual NREM sleep episodes. We conclude that LZC is an important and yet largely unexplored measure with a high potential for investigating neurophysiologic mechanisms of brain activity in health and disease.
NREM and REM sleep: Complementary roles in recovery after wakefulness
The Neuroscientist, 2014
Vyazovskiy VV, Delogu A
The overall function of sleep is hypothesised to provide "recovery" after preceding waking activities, thereby ensuring optimal functioning during subsequent wakefulness. However, the functional significance of the temporal dynamics of sleep, manifested in the slow homeostatic process and the alternation between non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and REM sleep remains unclear. We propose that NREM and REM sleep have distinct and complementary contributions to the overall function of sleep. Specifically, we suggest that cortical slow oscillations, occurring within specific functionally interconnected neuronal networks during NREM sleep enable information processing, synaptic plasticity and prophylactic cellular maintenance ("recovery process"). In turn, periodic excursions into an activated brain state – REM sleep – appear to be ideally placed to perform "selection" of brain networks, which have benefited from the process of "recovery", based on their offline performance. Such two-stage modus operandi of the sleep process would ensure that its functions are fulfilled according to the current need and in the shortest time possible. Our hypothesis accounts for the overall architecture of normal sleep and opens up new perspectives for understanding pathological conditions associated with abnormal sleep patterns.
The dynamics of cortical neuronal activity in the first minutes after spontaneous awakening in rats and mice
Sleep, 2014
Vyazovskiy VV, Cui N, Rodriguez AV, Funk C, Cirelli C, Tononi G
Study Objective: Upon awakening from sleep, a fully awake brain state is not re-established immediately, but the origin and physiological properties of the distinct brain state during the first minutes after awakening are unclear. To investigate whether neuronal firing immediately upon arousal is different from the remaining part of the waking episode, we recorded and analysed the dynamics of cortical neuronal activity in the first 15 minutes after spontaneous awakenings in freely moving rats and mice. Design: Intracortical recordings of the local field potential and neuronal activity in freely-moving mice and rats. Setting: Basic sleep research laboratory. Patients or Participants: WKY adult male rats, C57BL/6 adult male mice. Interventions: N/A. Measurements and Results: In both species the average population spiking activity upon arousal was initially low, though substantial variability in the dynamics of firing activity was apparent between individual neurons. A distinct population of neurons was found that was virtually silent in the first minutes upon awakening. The overall lower population spiking initially after awakening was associated with the occurrence of brief periods of generalized neuronal silence (OFF periods), whose frequency peaked immediately after awakening and then progressively declined. OFF periods incidence upon awakening was independent of ongoing locomotor activity but was sensitive to immediate preceding sleep/wake history. Notably, in both rats and mice if sleep before a waking episode was enriched in REM sleep, the incidence of OFF periods was initially higher as compared to those waking episodes preceded mainly by NREM sleep. Conclusion: We speculate that an intrusion of sleep-like patterns of cortical neuronal activity into the wake state immediately after awakening may account for some of the changes in the behaviour and cognitive function typical for sleep inertia.
Sleep and synaptic homeostasis
Curr Top Behav Neurosci, 2014
Vyazovskiy VV, Faraguna U
In the last decades a substantial knowledge about sleep mechanisms has been accumulated. However, the function of sleep still remains elusive. The difficulty with unraveling sleep's function may arise from the lack of understanding of how the multitude of processes associated with waking and sleep – from gene expression and single neuron activity to the whole brain dynamics and behaviour – functionally and mechanistically relate to each other. Therefore, novel conceptual frameworks, which integrate and take into account the variety of phenomena occurring during waking and sleep at different levels, will likely lead to advances in our understanding of the function of sleep, above and beyond of what merely descriptive or correlative approaches can provide. One such framework, the synaptic homeostasis hypothesis, focuses on wake- and sleep- dependent changes in synaptic strength. The core claim of this hypothesis is that learning and experience during wakefulness are associated with a net increase in synaptic strength. In turn, the proposed sleep's function is to provide synaptic renormalization, which has important implications with respect to energy needs, intracranial space, metabolic supplies, and, importantly, enables further plastic changes. In this article we review the empirical evidence for this hypothesis, which was obtained at several levels – from gene expression and cellular excitability to structural synaptic modifications and behavioural outcomes. We conclude that although the mechanisms behind the proposed role of sleep in synaptic homeostasis are undoubtedly complex, this conceptual framework offers a unique opportunity to provide mechanistic and functional explanation for many previously disparate observations, and define future research strategies.
Sleep and the single neuron: the role of global slow oscillations in individual cell rest
Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2013
Vyazovskiy VV & Harris KD
Sleep is universal in animals, but its specific functions remain elusive. We propose that sleep's primary function is to allow individual neurons to perform prophylactic cellular maintenance. Just as muscle cells must rest after strenuous exercise to prevent long-term damage, brain cells must rest after intense synaptic activity. We suggest that periods of reduced synaptic input ('off periods' or 'down states') are necessary for such maintenance. This in turn requires a state of globally synchronized neuronal activity, reduced sensory input and behavioural immobility — the well-known manifestations of sleep.
The temporal structure of behaviour and sleep homeostasis
PLoS One, 2012
Vyazovskiy VV & Tobler I
The amount and architecture of vigilance states are governed by two distinct processes, which occur at different time scales. The first, a slow one, is related to a wake/sleep dependent homeostatic Process S, which occurs on a time scale of hours, and is reflected in the dynamics of NREM sleep EEG slow-wave activity. The second, a fast one, is manifested in a regular alternation of two sleep states – NREM and REM sleep, which occur, in rodents, on a time scale of ~5-10 minutes. Neither the mechanisms underlying the time constants of these two processes – the slow one and the fast one, nor their functional significance are understood. Notably, both processes are primarily apparent during sleep, while their potential manifestation during wakefulness is obscured by ongoing behaviour. Here, we find, in mice provided with running wheels, that the two sleep processes become clearly apparent also during waking at the level of behavior and brain activity. Specifically, the slow process was manifested in the total duration of waking periods starting from dark onset, while the fast process was apparent in a regular occurrence of running bouts during the waking periods. The dynamics of both processes were stable within individual animals, but showed large interindividual variability. Importantly, the two processes were not independent: the periodic structure of waking behaviour (fast process) appeared to be a strong predictor of the capacity to sustain continuous wakefulness (slow process). The data indicate that the temporal organization of vigilance states on both the fast and the slow time scales may arise from a common neurophysiologic mechanism.
Vyazovskiy VV, Olcese U, Hanlon EC, Nir Y, Cirelli C, Tononi G.
In an awake state, neurons in the cerebral cortex fire irregularly and electroencephalogram (EEG) recordings display low-amplitude, high-frequency fluctuations. During sleep, neurons oscillate between 'on' periods, when they fire as in an awake brain, and 'off' periods, when they stop firing altogether and the EEG displays high-amplitude slow waves. However, what happens to neuronal firing after a long period of being awake is not known. Here we show that in freely behaving rats after a long period in an awake state, cortical neurons can go briefly 'offline' as in sleep, accompanied by slow waves in the local EEG. Neurons often go offline in one cortical area but not in another, and during these periods of 'local sleep', the incidence of which increases with the duration of the awake state, rats are active and display an 'awake' EEG. However, they are progressively impaired in a sugar pellet reaching task. Thus, although both the EEG and behaviour indicate wakefulness, local populations of neurons in the cortex may be falling asleep, with negative consequences for performance.
Prolonged wakefulness alters neuronal responsiveness to local electrical stimulation of the neocortex in awake rats
Journal of Sleep Research, 2012
Vyazovskiy VV, Olcese U, Cirelli C, Tononi G
Prolonged wakefulness or a lack of sleep lead to cognitive deficits, but little is known about the underlying cellular mechanisms. We recently found that sleep deprivation affects spontaneous neuronal activity in the neocortex of sleeping and awake rats. While it is well known that synaptic responses are modulated by ongoing cortical activity, it remains unclear whether prolonged waking affects responsiveness of cortical neurons to incoming stimuli. By applying local electrical microstimulation to the frontal area of the neocortex, we found that after a 4-hour period of waking the initial neuronal response in the contralateral frontal cortex was stronger and more synchronous, and was followed by a more profound inhibition of neuronal spiking as compared to the control condition. These changes in evoked activity suggest increased neuronal excitability and indicate that after staying awake cortical neurons become transiently bistable. We propose that some of the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation may be a result of altered neuronal responsiveness to incoming intrinsic and extrinsic inputs.
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Accreditation Statistics
Accreditation in higher education is a process for public accountability and improvement of academic quality, based on self- and peer assessment. The University of New Mexico, including all of its programs, is accredited by the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.
In addition, the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications is the agency for journalism accreditation in the United States. The ACEJMC is dedicated to ensuring quality in the professional education of journalists by evaluating programs every six years according to nine standards of excellence: mission, governance, and administration; curriculum and instruction; diversity and inclusiveness; full-time and part-time faculty; scholarship; student services; resource, facilities, and equipment; professional and public service; and assessment of learning outcomes.
The Journalism program in the Department of Communication & Journalism was reaccredited in November 2013 after a self-study and site visit by four members of the Accrediting Council. The program was given the highest rating possible--in compliance on all nine accrediting standards. About 125 programs are accredited nationally, and we are the only accredited program in New Mexico. As part of the accrediting process, all accredited programs are required to list retention, graduation, and employment statistics on their department websites for access by students, their parents, and community agencies in journalism and communication.
Department of Communication and Journalism Accreditation Statistics (PDF):


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For my first blog, which very few, if any, will read who are not related to me, I still think it's best to introduce myself. Much of this can be found in my awkward "About Me" page, which along with everything else in this blog will (hopefully) improve as I learn more about blogging and clarify it all for myself and anyone else who stumbles onto this blog.
It's the time of year for resolutions, which experience has shown me are never kept and so I never make them. This year is different in many ways, because my life up to this point has been working towards achieving the old goals (dreams) I had when I was very young and optimistic and believed I could do anything…until my choices led me down a different path. My art career was put on hold until the last few years, when I made the decision to return to school. I am now fortunate enough to attend full time classes at Leeward Community College and now University of Hawaii at Manoa (next semester) with kids my adult children's age, which has been strange, stressful and fun…and I take every chance I get to remind those kids it's better to get college out of the way in the 20s than 40s. I also attend the Zwick Academy of Fine Art in Honolulu for classical realism training workshops in drawing and painting, which is more to my liking than contemporary art…although after struggling though Intermediate Painting and Drawing classes I have a respect for modern art if not an aptitude for creating it. I give my professors credit for their patience with me in those classes.
I intend for this blog to keep me motivated, productive and accountable to myself and those who support me in my goals…because even though art has been my passion throughout life it has been too easy to find reasons to put off learning and allow challenges and negativity to prevent me from making it my focus. 2015 will be the year I get serious, push through doubts and do everything I can to work towards achieving one of my oldest goals: becoming an artist.
Please be patient as I work though the blogging learning curve. After I compile a body of work, I plan on connecting with a couple of art communities to sell the best of what I create. Thank you for coming along with me on this journey through my classes and weekly painting studies, and please feel free to give me feedback (I cry easy, so please be nice) for improvement!


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Music and Podcast
Easy Listening/ Soft Rock - From the CD "Come Just As You Are"
Early one morning this psalm was on my heart for this song. My spirit was strong but my flesh was weak and I just laid in bed. Finally I got up and went out to the studio and sung the vocal track. Changed a few lines like harp for keyboard and lyre for guitar and I was ready to express a more modern day interpretation. As the song goes on it reveals that praise may be the only thing that saves the day in the midst of satanic oppression.
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Pop/ Rock/ Easy Listening. From the CD "Come Just As You Are"
The lyrics are taken from Psalm 107 and is called "Oh Give Thanks". I wrote this back when I was going to Grayslake Christian Fellowship back in 1978. This tune came without to much effort and just seemed to flow in the Lord. I never recorded it and thought this would be a good time to do that.
Bless you all in Jesus Name.
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Taken from the CD "Closer To Home" by Rick Roman & The Synthetic Music Machine......
Hey we all have storms in our lives, I know I do. Jesus said in the world you shall have tribulation. Jesus is the Lord over our storms and the storms in our country. I believe He is trying to teach us to walk on the water spiritually which is hard for me to do. It is hard for me to get my eyes off my situation so most of the time I sink in the waves of trouble. But Jesus always seems to catch me before I drown in my emotional turmoil. Just a little introduction to this new song I just finished that has the honor of being the first song on a new CD in view called Closer To Home" Only by the Lords grace will I finish this project for sure. So listen to the link to the song at the bottom.......It Is What The Lord Has Given Me To Share Weather They Listen Or Not..................
The storms are upon us what shall we do?
The Lord is faithful to all his promises. Psalm 145
Yes the Lord is Faithful
He is loving toward everything he has made.
Yes the Lord is Faithful
He upholds and sustains all those who fall.
Yes the Lord is Faithful
He raises up all those who are bowed down
Yes the Lord is Faithful
The floods have lifted up, O Lord, Psalms 93
Yes the Lord is Faithful
The floods have lifted up their voice,
The floods lift up their pounding waves, Oh Lord
Yes the Lord is Faithful
Jesus on high is mighty.
Yes the Lord is Faithful
The Lord Sits as King
Over the flood Psalms 93:3-4
The floods have lifted up, O Lord,
The floods have lifted up their voice;
The floods lift up their waves.
The Lord on high is mightier
Yes the Lord on high is mightier
Than the noise of many waters,
Than the mighty waves of the sea.
He who instructs the nations, shall He not correct, Psalm 94:10
The Lord knows the thoughts of man, Psalm 94:11
That they are futile.
For the Lord will not cast off His people, Psalm 94:14
Nor will He forsake His inheritance.
Their vine comes from the vine of Sodom Deuteronomy 32:32-33
and from the fields of Gomorrah.
Their grapes are filled with poison,
and their clusters with bitterness.
Their wine is the venom of serpents,
the deadly poison of cobras
For it is written 2 Corinthians 6:17-18
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord,
and touch not the unclean thing;
then I will welcome you,
and I will be a father to you,
and you shall be my sons and daughters,
says the Lord Almighty."
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Taken from the CD "Closer To Home" by Rick Roman & The Synthetic Music Machine......
I Am A New Creature In Christ - I have been crucified with Christ -
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ,......2 Corinthians 5:17....... he is a new creation; - old things have passed away; - behold, all things have become new. - But as many as received Him..... John 1:12...... - He gave them the power and the right to become the son's of God - Even to them that believe on His name -
Greater is He that is in you....... 1 John 4:4....... - Then he that is in the world - Greater is He that is in me - Then he that is in the world
Yes He is - He's in you - He's in me
Jesus has risen
It is no longer I who live......Galatians 2:20.....But Christ who lives in me - And the life I now live in the body - I live by faith - By adherence to and reliance on and complete trust - In the Son of God - Who loved me and gave Himself - Up for me yah
Blessed be the LORD my Rock,...... Psalms 144:1-2.....Blessed be the LORD my strength - He is my loving God and my fortress, - my stronghold and my deliverer, - my shield, in whom I take refuge, - He subdues the enemy under my feet.....Romans 16:20
He teaches my hands to war ......Ephesians 6:12 .......and my fingers to fight - Deliver me and rescue me - from the mighty waters ........Psalms 144:7
Heal Me, O Lord ......Jer. 17:14.....and I will be healed - Save me, and will be saved - For you are the one I praise
I belong to the Father and Son - And the Holy Ghost - I am Yours - I am Yours - No matter what they say .........an expression of John 3:32 .......I belong to you - Through the Storms - He is Lord - He is Lord of all - I am Yours - I am Yours - No matter what they may say - I belong to you - No matter what - They may say
I am a new creature in Christ
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One of the purposes of meditation and mindfulness is to make us more present. Through cultivating our awareness, we can live fully in the moment, without being held back by the past, or feeling anxiety about the future. It helps us to experience life in a much richer, more subtle and sensitive way.
But being truly mindful is not just about being fully present when experiencing bliss; it also means being fully present whilst experiencing sorrow, grief, and suffering. This might sound strange to some people. Who would want to be fully present whilst in pain? Surely we should want to try to lessen and ameliorate our pain as much as possible, and use whatever physical or psychological painkillers we have at our disposal?
But numbness is the opposite of the truth. A follower of The Way is dedicated to fully experiencing the truth, however it manifests itself.
Naturally, our practice revolves around making our minds strong and secure enough to prevent pain from occurring to begin with. But once our pain has entered into us, we must accept it, and express it healthily. We cannot simply ignore it or misplace it, like a man who would much rather pretend his living room wasn't on fire, and get burned up in the process; we must accept that pain as part of our present experience, and flow along with it, until it disappears, as it surely will.
Someone who has been on the path for long enough soon learns not to fear pain. Pain is always transient and never lasts. It is an impermanent part of existence – but it is not existence itself. This does not mean that we go looking for pain – just that we do not allow ourselves to be distressed by it once it arises.
This is something that I have noticed in my own practice. When I feel anguish, sorrow, or grief, I still feel calm, in spite of my suffering. My inner peace does not disappear just because my emotions are in ascendant – it simply shines a little less brightly. I am not afraid of hurting, or how long I will hurt – I reflect that it is an essential, inescapable part of growth, and submit myself to it until it passes. This very submission, acceptance, and awareness of its temporary nature, makes pain pass so much quicker. Ignored pain is like debt – it doesn't go away just because we ignore it – in fact, it increases. Until we can face it boldly and courageously, it will always be there lurking under the stairs.


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The organic industry is finding a home – and a burgeoning market – in the land of haute cuisine.
Last post I discussed the French "diet," or lack thereof. I contrasted health-obsessed calorie-counting America with croissant-loving wine-drinking France, and delved into some of the reasons for France's better health despite the tradition of fat and carbs. Ultimately the piece concluded with a question about France's dietary future: with the influx of industrial agricultural techniques and food systems, fast food, supermarkets, and processed foods, will France be able to maintain its healthy, fresh bread-loving lifestyle, or will the influx of easily and cheaply obtained packaged foods begin to reflect the American trend towards obesity?
We all know that empirically, France is healthier. There are stricter laws that prohibit GMO's and a host of other additives, chemicals, and artificial ingredients in food items. Their obesity rate is conservatively half that of the United States, and they consume on average less sugar and more vegetables than Americans. Their food system itself tends towards a fresher, healthier model, featuring local markets and heavily subsidizing farming (although according to many farmers, not enough). But the reality of globalization and economic centralization is hitting French food hard. Global capitalism is reshaping the market to favor efficiency over quality, which means that mass-produced industrial products win; the key to mass-produced industrial products is a host of mechanical production techniques, pesticides, fertilizers, and preservatives that have all been proven to detract from health. Additionally, processed foods taste good. They are loaded with sugar, cheap, and addictive. They're fast, cheap, and easy: you can buy a frozen meal at the supermarket, heat it up, and eat it all within thirty minutes. Will France be able to resist these unhealthy food trends, or will its strong tradition and culture of culinary excellence be enough to maintain artisanal emphasis in its food system?
The obesity rate is rising in France. But so is organic farming. A projected industry, "organic" or "bio" is hitting France with vigor. Land dedicated to organic farmland reached 1 million hectares in 2013, 3.6% of total farmland, up from 1.8% in 2010. Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll stated aims to double organic farmland by 2017 in order to meet growing demand in a 4 billion euro industry, one that has grown steadily even through the economic recession. Starting this year, the government raised subsidies for organic farmers from 90 million to 160 million euros. But is the dedication to build this emerging market based on concern for national health, or national economic success?
The word "organic" in the U.S. has become a kind of buzzword used in branding and marketing. Foods that are not healthy whatsoever – such as processed cereals, cookies, and candies – can technically be marketed as organic if all their ingredients meet government criteria. The industry has reached nearly 70 million dollars and continues to grow annually. Will France see an infiltration and exploitation of the idea of "organic food" into its supermarkets, processed food industry, and even fast food restaurants?
And what comes after organic? If this trend is finally reaching French soil, what's next? There's already a gluten free aisle in my local Carrefour, and a bakery by my school offers gluten free baguettes. Could France's once-impenetrable cultural borders finally be invaded by American diet fads?
Of course, there is the flipside. Organic and bio products in France could be seen as a reaction to the "malbouffe" (junk food) and fast food brought by American culture. Arguably, organic does tend to mean a bit more in France, since it has banned a considerable list of preservatives, additives, colorings, pesticides, and various chemicals that are still legal in the U.S. (and pretty much only there) and the EU has recently tightened regulations on organic farming. And it's true – when I eat a Kit-Kat bar or Frosted Flake cereal here in France, it tastes different to me and, to be honest, not as good. Besides, why would I go for a packaged sweet when I can walk five minutes and have access to four local bakeries with an abundance of freshly-made sweets and baked goods? This is the France of the past, but maybe not the France of the future – as budgets tighten, those cheap processed foods look more and more appealing, and as work hours expand in response to these financial difficulties, suddenly there is less time to stroll the neighborhood for that daily baguette.
So I guess the answer is time. Where will organic farming go? Will it follow the trend-based, advertising-obsessed and economically-driven American form? Or will it truly be an antidote to the invasion of cheap food that the global capitalist system favors?


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Word Games, RPGs, and Procrastination Central. Play On!
Pure Entertainment - Not to be Taken Seriously. Posts in this board no longer add to post counts.
Today, 03:47 AM
Word games, riddles, one word per post, the person above me, unholy haiku etcetera. Posts made here do not add to post count.
Today, 02:44 AM
October 30th, 2019, 03:19 AM
RPG Character Sheets and related information
July 16th, 2016, 03:15 PM
Once the plans and players are decided, here is where it all happens.
July 31st, 2019, 04:50 PM


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Tree Removal and Regulations
City of Lynnwood residents have expressed much concern over the loss of trees in Lynnwood. Trees serve important functions in our urban and natural environment, and our community felt it was necessary to preserve existing trees for future generations, as well as to provide a way for new trees to be planted when trees are removed.
In order to address the concerns of the citizens, the City of Lynnwood updated its tree regulations in March of 2004, which included tree regulations to designate and protect Heritage trees and a tree fund that would allow citizens to receive grants and tree vouchers with which to purchase and plant trees. Additionally, we now require removal permits prior to tree removal on all property, including single-family lots.
City of Lynnwood Tree Ordinance: Chapter 17.15 (most recent .pdf)
City of Lynnwood is a "Tree City" according to the Washington Arbor Day Council
Tree Removal
Always contact the City prior to removing a tree. Depending on the situation, you may need a permit, but the permit may be no-cost. Contact the Public Works Department for further information.
Tree Preservation Guidelines (.pdf)
Tree Removal Permit Application


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Lunch at Thai Express today with Amogh was a riot. Some friends you don't see in months and yet you still talk to them like no time has passed – Amogh's one of them. As I grow older I realise that some people will always be part of your lives. I think Amogh's one of them. He's been with me through thick (him in sec 3) and thin (me in J1). He was there when slowly but surely outed myself to everyone. And he's never really given a shit about what others think of me – he's just always been there. In a very unhealthy "i'm straight and very bad with emotions" way.
Today he revealed something that has been weighing heavily on his mind – that he wouldn't be able to find a hot eligible Brahmin girl. Ok all you Brahminahs out there – you want him, you got him. Tell me and I'll get back to you. Heh. My advice was to marry a Chinese, so he'd have hot Chindian children. But he would have none of it, for fear of parental retribution. Alas, the woes of the caste system! And I thought being gay and Chinese was bad.


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IK Multimedia, in cooperation with Ampeg, bring you the world's first complete recording plug-in solution for bass. Ampeg SVX is now shipping. Ampeg SVX includes over 20 bass gear emulations, including classic Ampeg signature bass amp models and stomps powered by AmpliTube's unique DSM (Dynamic Saturation Modeling) technology.
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Ultra-accurate modeling of the most sought-after Ampeg gear, with unique DSM technology, "Powered by AmpliTube." Over 20 bass gear emulations, including classic Ampeg bass amp models like the SVT Classic, B-15W Portaflex "Flip Top", BA-500 and SVT-4PRO. Select from Ampeg stomps like the SPC-OT Octaver or the SCP-OD Overdrive. Cabinets include the Ampeg B-15R 1x15" + tweeter, Ampeg PB212H 2x12" + tweeter, Ampeg BA-500 2x10" + tweeter, Ampeg BXT-410H 4x10" + tweeter, Ampeg SVT-410H 4x10" + tweeter, and the Ampeg SVT-810E 8x10. Mic modeling in Ampeg is based on the AKG D-20, AKG C-414, Electrovoice RE-20, Neumann U87, Sennheiser MD-421, and the Shure SM57. All this is powered by AmpliTube's unique DSM (Dynamic Saturation Modeling) technology. DSM™ exclusive technology, developed by IK with years of research into analog modeling, is used to accurately emulate tube circuitry down to a detail of finesse.
Mix and match between amps and cabinets of the most sought-after Ampeg gear to produce 24 amazing bass amp combinations. Ampeg SVX is a complete bass-rig plug-in with multiple amps, cabinets, stomps and a tuner. Plus, you'll have a complete bass pedal board with 6 fully configurable stomp effects. Also, you have 5 controls of the midrange allowing you to place the midrange frequency from 220 to 3kHz. With high-level control you are able to set the level of the tweeter response from tweeter off to 0dB giving you maximum control of the high-end sound output of the cabinet. Ampeg gives anyone the ability to mix and match between bass amps and cabinets of the most sought-after Ampeg gear to produce 24 amazing bass amp combinations to craft your own unique tone.
Easy to use with hundreds of presets ready to go. For the first time any musician, songwriter and producer can have a complete, "all-in-one" solution for bass recording. Not just for bass players, Ampeg SVX will give you that great bass sound you just can't get by plugging directly into a console or computer.
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For more information, visit their web site at www.ikmultimedia.comCome on the FREE COURSE TOUR
Great home recording starts with a great home recording studio. It doesn't need to be expensive if you know how to select the right equipment for your needs.


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Abacus Concrete offers a wide variety of concrete services and finishes for both residential and commercial projects. We focus on providing high quality products and services because we have extensive knowledge and experience in concrete installation, finishing and removal. We place a strong emphasis on being professional and providing impeccable customer service. Some of the products and services we offer include:
Bobcat® & Truck Service
It is our goal to always exceed our clients' expectations from the start to the finish of each project. We offer Bobcat® and truck service so the project can be completed in a timely manner. If you require a service that you don't see on our website, please contact us for additional information because we are constantly adapting to meet our clients' needs.


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Sunny, cloudy, dark and light.
There's been fly-tipping in our local town.
What a tumultuous year so far - and it's only beginning!
|our view on a misty morning
But seriously, I am incensed at politics in both the US and UK, and I am about to go cold turkey and quit reading or watching the news at all. That'll show 'em! If politicians give a damn about my opinion (they don't), they'll be sorry I'm not watching their fake news, platitudes and Twitter regurgitations. But I don't want to sully my pristine blog with politics. I want to talk about something important, which is - is anybody blogging anymore?
|abandoned chapel near us
I've become very dilatory about blogging - and especially about commenting - since I drank the Instagram Kool-aid. I'm doing this post because I wanted to practice writing again using all ten fingers to type instead of just thumbs. (Actually, I just use my right index finger to text, hunting and pecking on the phone keyboard. Is that a typical old lady thing? How do you text - fingers or thumbs?)
|near the abandoned chapel
So I'll throw in a few photos here, because I have loads. And I'll encourage you all to ignore the news and politics and instead have a shot of vodka and play a game of Scrabble. Spring is just around the corner!
|spring lamb on butcher shop sign in Llanidloes
|door in Llanidloes
|door in Winchelsea
|church window in Winchelsea


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Wednesday, October 31, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - The End!
I'll have to admit, I feel like celebrating today! :) Writing for 27 days straight has been very stretching! It was good for me to push on and finish what I started even when I didn't feel like it. It was also good for me to actually think out things that have just been going through my mind and string them into some semblence of order that made sense. I'm glad I did it but I am ready to write about normal every day things again. Writing without the pressure of needing to do it every day! It did create an excellent opportunity to practice what I was preaching! :) I know next week I'll probably forget all about leaning when I'm right in the midst of some difficulty. I hope, though, that this writing experience can be a help in the process of making me more conscious of the posture of my heart. Today will be an excellent test: lack of sleep + worry about my little girl with a UTI + wet, wet dreary weather + a van that doesn't work and needing to scrunch 5 school children in the car twice a day...Ok Lord!
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - Passing It On
Our children are by nature great "picker-upers". I'm not talking about picking up around the house (don't we wish that would come naturally?!), I'm talking about picking up on the way we live. They notice everything - attitudes, actions, feelings... even very young children! Of course our children still have to make their own choices about what they will believe and how they will live. Still, as parents, we make a huge impact on those choices! My parents were "leaners". As a child, I knew where my parents went for help and direction! It was not at all uncommon to pray together about specific needs. When someone was sick or something went wrong, praying was one of the first things we did. I know that made a big impact on me and how I viewed God. I know I've said it before, but nothing builds trust like seeing God at work! Trust is what leaning is ultimately all about. If we can give our children tangible examples of trusting the Father, I think that can be a huge help in passing on the choice of leaning.
Monday, October 29, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - Can The Rich Do It?
I remember laying in bed one night and Chris saying "I don't even know if I want to ever get to the place where I have plenty of money!" What do we really do with Jesus' words in Mark 10:23-25? Can we have the riches, just not trust in them? In Deut 6:10-12 the Israelites were admonished to beware lest they forget the Lord when they get to the place where they have everything they need w/o needing to work for it. It's so easy to forget! So easy to trust in our things! I look back at what my parents lived with when they moved to a little mission in AR years ago. Then I look around at what most of us think we're *entitled* to for comfortable living these days. I wonder if we add a burden to our lives, rather than a blessing, when we "finally have things nice"? I know it's impossible for time to stand still, but it really seems like the further a family/community/church progresses financially, the more apt they are to lose out spiritually. Maybe I'll just leave you to ponder these things in your heart.... :)
Sunday, October 28, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - Can We Stay Bent?
So, in the struggle for control, and the human-ness of our hearts, is there any way to stay "bent"? I hate to disappoint you, but I don't think so. Like everything else in the Christian life I don't think we can ever keep one posture all the time. It's a continual growing, learning, stretching journey. However, I do think we can get to the place where we bend more quickly. Like a paper that's been folded over and over in the same direction, I think we can get to the place where we recognize the need and respond more promptly. In any other skill we want to learn, we know that practicing is the key. I think spiritual "skills" are the same way. If we really want to learn something, we must practice it over and over. Riding a bike doesn't take nearly as much concentration the 100th time as it did the first 10 times! I think, somewhat in the same way, if we practice "leaning" we will become more quick to turn to the Father and let Him take control. It won't come naturally, but it can come more easily.
Saturday, October 27, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - He Wants Us To Choose Him
Why did God make us creatures of control? Why didn't He create us like little babies who rely totally on their parents with no thought of anything else? There's alot of "theology" here, but what I see is this: God wants us to choose Him. There are so many parallels between parents and children and God and us. As a parent, there's nothing that makes my heart happier than to see my children choosing certain ways because they know it's what I want and they love me. God doesn't want us to lay down our will and lean because that's all we are capable of, or because we have to. He wants us to choose Him because we love Him and need Him! Like a parent who's child is intent on learning something new, He patiently watches while we try our best. He's ready to soothe the scratched up knees from the first bike ride or bandage the cut from the first attempt with sharp scissors. But what His "to and fro" eyes are really looking for, are His children who look up and say, "Daddy, I can't do this! Will He please help me?"
Friday, October 26, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - The Struggle For Control
Control, control, control. To some extent or another, as humans, we are control freaks! We try to control everything - circumstances, relationships, responsibilities, possessions, losses... In big and small ways we desperately try to control every detail of our lives. When there are things that we can't control, we still do our best to maintain some sense of it. And it is sneaky. Oh! Is it ever! It creeps into small places where we don't recognize it as control at all. This explains our struggle with leaning. Leaning means opening our hands and letting go of control. It means letting God work out the details. It means leaving our hands open when the details turn out different than what we think they should. Leaning is not some magic "Now He'll give me what I want", it's a committed "Now I'll want what He gives". Leaning is not an easy way out. Always the monster of Control is there ready to clutch at the reins. But the fact remains, leaning is the position in which God shows Himself strong on our behalf!
Thursday, October 25, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - The Sneaky Enemy
I told Chris last night, I'm over this topic now! I had scribbled down a rough "outline" at the beginning of this adventure and I'd actually been anxious to reach the last part. It felt like I was putting in lots of filler and the last part had the real meat! But now I'm here and suddenly I feel lost. I can't seem to get my thoughts together. They come out in fragments that don't string together and I'm left wondering what exactly am I trying to say? Why? There's probably several factors but the biggest one, no doubt, is that in the middle of writing about leaning, I've failed to practice what I was preaching. Earlier in the month I was practicing, you better believe I was! This whole writing for 27 days had me in a constantly bent position! But lately? Lately I've been standing pretty straight. Sigh. This enemy is such a sneaky little monster! It creeps in quietly before we even realize it's around. Who is this crafty enemy that tries it's best to slip in at every turn? It's an enemy called Control.
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - Personal Loss
I don't think I've ever experienced as much loss as I have in the past year and a half. I've felt like an onion, sometimes, as the layers have been peeled away one after the other! I remember one particularly low time a little over a year ago when I wrote down every loss I could think of. It felt like God had taken e.v.e.r.y.t.h.i.n.g. I didn't even have my own house or possessions! I wept and I stormed and I grieved. It's so easy to live out of feelings rather than facts! The fact was that I still had my husband and 4 children and my Heavenly Father. The fact also was that He wanted me to realize that was really all I needed! The other fact that I've slowly begun to see is this: God IS love. He IS good. Just because all I could see was loss did not mean that's all there was. In the same way I ask things of my children that they don't like because I can see the bigger picture, in a much bigger way that is what God is all about in our lives... but we have to lean, we have to trust, we have to let Him!
Tuesday, October 23, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - A Grade Called Losses
When I say "losses", I am not primarily refering to death. Certainly death is a loss, but I have been realizing that there are many many more areas of "losses". I don't in any way want to leave the impression that I think they are worse than/equal to death, but I do think they are very real! We can lose our job, our house, our health, our abilities, our "positions", our reputation... Marriage and adding children brings losses- loss of freedom, personal time, ability to be involved w/ the same activities... Growing older brings losses- loss of abilities, health, responsibilities... Moving brings losses- loss of home, church, friends... Children growing up brings losses- loss of innocent days, children leaving home, grandchildren moving away... It has been helpful for me to recognize loss for what it is and to realize that what I am feeling is grief. It's ok to grieve, God made us that way, but He also wants to carry us beyond and use these losses for good in our lives. But, again, we have to let Him!
Monday, October 22, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - The Responsibility of Motherhood
I have always enjoyed small children, preferably ages 6 months-4 yrs. Becoming a mother was a big responsibility, realizing it's up to me to care for this helpless baby! I would have to say, though, that my children hitting ages 7-10 has been a whole knew dimension in motherhood for me. Younger children have feelings and opinions, yes, but my position as mother is much more one of "I'm in charge in the end" at that stage. An older child's opinions and feelings are much stronger and need validation and being heard for a good parent-child relationship. I struggle with that responsibility! A lot of times instead of using it as an opportunity to lean on my Father, I get frustrated. It's so much easier for me to say "I said so, so that's just the way it is!" and ignore the hurt and anger in my children's hearts. I really do want to learn to let this responsibility take me to the Father and lean on Him for wisdom. It's a place where I need to lay it down and say "I can't do this on my own, please show me how!"
Sunday, October 21, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - A Grade Called Responsibilities
As I was thinking about "grades", this struck me as a big one. I think calling us to new or added responsibilities is one way that God pushes us into a leaning position. When we find ourselves in positions that aren't necessarily our choice or we're not sure about, life can be very uncomfortable! Maybe we decide "I'm gonna do this!" Or maybe we say "There's no way!" and run as far away as possible. Or, maybe we drag our feet and complain and fuss and sigh the whole way through, just waiting for the day when we can be done with this job! Sometimes God does want us to do things we never thought we could do. In fact, I think He kind of likes to give us those responsibilities! Why? Maybe that's the only way we'll need Him. If we did only the things that we feel comfortable doing, don't you suppose we could handle it on our own? That'll never do, you know, because God wants to show Himself strong on our behalf! So, a big responsibility? Just a bigger opportunity to see what God will do ... if we let Him!
Saturday, October 20, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - A Relationship Example
Have you ever had a conversation like this one with your spouse? "So did you do ______?" "No, I didn't think you wanted me to." "How could you have thought that?! I SAID ______!" "And that's really what you meant? I thought you meant _____!!" Anything further is a downward spiral and very likely you end up in bed both of you still trying to defend your case. This happened at my house last week. And as I was laying there this voice said "Ahem, aren't you planning to write about, um, leaning in relationships next week??" Ugh. No, it wasn't Chris, it was the One who wants to be leaned upon and I did NOT in any way want to be reminded at that moment! Truth was, I didn't wanna lean! I didn't want to lay down my view and honestly ask the Father how He looked at it. That is really what He wants to do, teach us to see w/ His eyes and learn to make our relationships about others instead of all about us. Conflicts lose their struggle when I lay my view down and truly care about the other person. But it takes Him!
Friday, October 19, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - A Grade Called Relationships
"No man is an island, entire of itself..." -John Donne I think it's safe to say that we all have relationships in our lives. As long as we are on this earth we will deal with people to a greater or lesser degree. And, as long as we're here dealing with humans, we will run into relationship problems! No matter how much we like or get along with a person, there will be something, sometime, that will upset us or surprise us or let us down in our relationships. In fact, the closer the relationship, the higher the stakes for hurt/pain! What do we do with that? The most natural thing is to crawl into our shell and hide in safety-just don't have close relationships and then we don't have to deal with it! But God created us with a need for other people. He thought up relationships! Do you suppose He planned the inevitable conflicts so that we would also need Him? Could the difficulties in our relationships be one more chance for us to run hard after the Father and allow Him to show Himself strong on our behalf?
Thursday, October 18, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - A Blue Van
One "essential" possession, in this country, is a vehicle. Chris has always said that he "buys them cheap, and runs the wheels off them", but before our current van it was more joke than reality. Today I wonder if a wheel MIGHT actually fall off that van some day. We bought it over five years ago, and lets just say we jokingly refer to it as the "Badom Badom" van for a reason. If you have ever stood on a sidewalk as we went by, you need no explanation. (and please accept our apologies) We are still driving it because Chris and the Lord "made a deal." Chris would drive the van as long as it ran, and the Lord would keep it running. That was over two years ago, and they have both kept their end of the bargain. And so, we "badom badom" our way down the highway. And, though I still cringe at times when those people on the sidewalk whirl around to see what on earth just passed them, I hope I am learning to trust God to teach me His values. And I wonder, if somewhere, God is smiling..................
Wednesday, October 17, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - A Grade Called Possessions
We all like stuff. More stuff! Different stuff! Nice stuff! Even those of us who think we have little could have our possessions reduced by half an still have more than the basics. We live in a "bigger is better, newer is better, name brand is better" society. The push is to get it now and enjoy all the benefits! And it's never enough. There's always something else we're hoping to posses one of these days! Sometimes I wonder if all the stuff possesses us, instead of the other way around. We get so caught up in "If only I had" and "I couldn't do without" and "I really need" that I wonder what we're trusting in? Our stuff? Or the One who really owns it all? God wants to supply all our needs but when we busily set about to fulfill our needs AND our wants, does He even get a chance? I wonder what would happen if we would choose to be content with such things as we have instead of needing the "bigger, the newer and the name brand"? Would we be surprised at the ways God could show Himself strong on our behalf?
Tuesday, October 16, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - Circumstances Made Personal
Chris was taking a week off of work and I was so thrilled! I had huge expectations for this week: he was planning to work on our unfinished bedroom (yay!!!), we were going for my first prenatal visit and a day of shopping... These were the days of "morning/noon/evening sickness" and this week looked like a sweet oasis! Well, everything changed when Chris developed a terrible earache! He ended up at the Dr and spent most of the week on the couch! He drug himself along to my prenatal appointment, laying in the passenger seat while I drove... That was a terribly hard week for me. I couldn't believe God would "do" this to me! He knew I NEEDED this week!! I knew very well that God knew what He was doing but oh, I sure didn't feel like accepting it! I remember stormy tears and finally giving up and saying, "Ok God. You know what's best. I don't understand but I trust You!" Nothing much changed really, except my heart. My heart felt peaceful after that even though the week didn't nearly fulfill my expectations.
Monday, October 15, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - A Grade Called Circumstances
I think one of God's most common and every day grades in this business is one called circumstances. There are so many circumstances, big and small, that make up our lives. Many of them are so ordinary that we hardly notice them at all-the cranky child that made the morning routine take longer, the potatoes that didn't want to get done for supper... Of course then there's the flat tires and the magic marker on the couch that shake our worlds a bit harder! And, sometimes, there are the really unexpected things-ear aches that require Dr visits and Dr visits that end up in hospital stays and job offers that move you 14 hrs across the United States... that not only shake our worlds but threaten to turn them upside down! What would happen if we learned to view these circumstances, big and small, as opportunities to turn our hearts to the Father and allow Him to show Himself strong on our behalf? What if, instead of ruining our day, a flat tire would be an exciting opportunity to see what God will do this time?
Sunday, October 14, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - God's Grade School
So, what if your life is a completely different story? What if you're not facing financial struggles, you have a brand new house and dependable vehicles? What if your life is completely different? God longs for all of His children to lean no matter what their stories and He's quite creative in His attempts to bring us to that point! He certainly doesn't deal with everyone the same way. In the same way we wouldn't think of trying to enroll 6 year old Johnny in High School, so God works with us. He knows our hearts and what is going to get our attention and bring us to the end of ourselves. Granted, even then sometimes we are so stubborn that we don't realize what God is trying to do! Even when we do recognize it and learn from it, God is all about taking us into the next "grade" in His school. This learning to lean business is not a one time lesson, certificate received and done, type of deal! We wouldn't be content to teach our children one life lesson and then they're good to go and neither is God.
Saturday, October 13, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - What it Allows God to Do
As we leaned on our "cane" and walked, we watched in awe as God showed Himself strong. Over and over again in the next weeks and months we watched as God supplied specific needs. The timing was phenomenal and the ways many and creative! Maybe we just took more notice, but I like to think that because of the changed posture of our hearts God was able to show Himself strong on our behalf. More than once it was an anonymous gift slipped into our mailbox at church. Several times it was an unexpected counter top job for Chris to do on the side or a bit extra coming from somewhere we weren't planning on. Our children's school tuition bill began arriving marked "paid" and Isaac and Lillian's hospital bills got taken care of. Again, our circumstances didn't really change much but God showed Himself strong in many specific ways for us! Every bridge we cross that holds builds a little more trust in the builder and trust is what leaning is really all about. There's just nothing more exciting than seeing God at work!
Friday, October 12, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - A Posture Of The Heart
Obviously Chris didn't quit his job, the bills didn't stop coming, nor food appear in our cupboards. Actually, very little about our circumstances changed. It was still necessary for Chris to work 2 hours from home and spend very little time w/ me and 4 little ones. We still had old vehicles that gave us problems and a house that needed siding. So what changed? I think our hearts changed their posture. When we came to our Father and said, "We can't do this anymore. There is no way we can carry this load! We're placing it on Your shoulders now. We're quite content to drive old vehicles and live in unsided houses and work hard to pay our bills but we're trusting You to work this whole deal out. We can't make sense of it, but we trust that You can and we're following you!" our hearts found Peace. We were no longer struggling along to lift worn out feet to take the next step, we were leaning heavily on our "cane" and walking. Strangely enough, before our very eyes we began to see exciting things happening!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - So after you quit, then what?
How do you quit when the bills still keep coming? How do you stop when your children are still hungry and need new clothes? Do you just throw up your hands, settle down on the couch with your feet propped up and really just quit? If God longs for us to rely on Him, how does that look? What does He expect out of us? What about the other verses, the ones about the sluggard considering the ant's ways and the man who doesn't provide being worse than an infidel? If God wants us to be good stewards and not be sluggards and provide for our own but His deepest longing is for us to lean, than how, pray tell, does that look?? Do you remember the picture of the old lady with the cane? When her legs wore out and her feet couldn't carry her anymore she didn't just sit down and quit. She didn't give up and stop going places. She did, however, stop relying on her own two feet to get her there. She picked up her cane and leaned heavily on it, trusting that it wouldn't break under her weight... but she kept on walking.
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - When you sit down and quit
We were some of God's best "helpers" back in the day. We said we were trusting, that we couldn't do it alone, but there was no peace. We worked, and we struggled, and we came up w/ new ideas. We thought if we could just get past this obstacle, work a little harder, try something else, we'd surely come out on top! We were exhausted, hanging by a thread but we weren't about to give up! There comes a time, finally, that you stop. When everywhere you place your foot for the next step you only meet w/ gravel you finally have no choice. You sit down and throw up your hands and you just stop! That's when your optimistic, never give up, just do the next thing husband tells you, "I quit. From now on this is God's deal and I'm done! It's on Him now." I didn't see a window open into Heaven, but I think if there would have been one I would have seen the Father's "searching to and fro" eyes suddenly light up as He leaned forward in anticipation. "Finally they're going to let me show myself strong on their behalf!"
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - The Typical Christian Way
Anybody who's had any "church" upbringing knows this stuff. We've heard the verses. In fact, we can even quote them at appropriate times-"Take no thought for the morrow..." "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart..." and the clincher of all clinchers? "My God shall supply ALL your need..." We know this stuff, preach this stuff, solemnly say we believe this stuff. Then we promptly go and try to help the Lord out as much as we can. We make sure we have a new vehicle, old ones break down so easily! We make sure we have a good paying job, we need to be saving for a bigger house, you know! And insurance, we definitely need that, every kind we can possibly find! By all means we need to buy name brand clothing, you get what you pay for these days and, we are to be good stewards after all! I have just one question here: If God wants us to need Him, longs for us to lean, where (in the typical Christian's life) is there any smidgen of need? Where, in all our "helping", do we find the need to lean completely on Him?
Monday, October 8, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - The Longing of the Father
"And at that time Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah, and said unto him, Because thou hast relied on the king of Syria, and not relied on the Lord thy God, therefore is the host of the king of Syria escaped out of thine hand. Were not the Ethiopians and the Lubim a huge host, with very many chariots and horseman? Yet, because thou didst rely on the Lord, he delivered them into thine hand. For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward him." 2 Chron 16:7-9 I think these verses are an amazing picture into our Father's heart! Isn't that what we look for from our own children? Aren't we searching, hoping for their reliance on us? Their trust in our wisdom and that we have their best interest in mind? I can almost see Him looking down on His children, searching to and fro throughout the whole earth, longing to show His amazing power, longing to find children who will rely-will lean-on Him! What is He finding?
Saturday, October 6, 2012
27 Days: Leaning - What does the word mean?
What does the word Lean bring to your mind? I'm thinking of several pictures - an old lady, laboring along, leaning heavily on her cane... Two men, deep in conversation, leaning comfortably against a wall or fence... A tired child, eyes drooping and head nodding, leaning against a parent's shoulder. What do these pictures all have in common? They're all leaning, yes, but there's more to it. They're all relying on something besides themselves. Imagine if the old lady's cane would suddenly break, she would quite likely land on her nose! The two men, what do you suppose would happen if someone sneakily removed their prop? And the tired child, they are about to close their eyes and depend completely on their caregiver to keep them from falling. All three are depending totally on something other than themselves to hold them up. They are trusting their "props" implicitly! None of them are leaning gingerly, fearing they'll fall any second. This is the picture. This is the kind of leaning that I'm talking about.
31 Days (minus 3): Leaning - It's what He wants
Eleven years and three months ago I married my best friend. We were young and happy and far from rich. We settled into our "rent free, pay the utilities, many years old" trailer and embarked on the new adventure of marriage. A year later we added a son to our lives and 21 months after that, a daughter. Four years and some rough spots later found us with daughter number 2, 15 acres of land, a remodeled house and barely scraping by. We were still holding our heads high and trying just a little bit harder. The next 3 years brought one unexpected crisis after another. Chris' work dwindled, he started a job 2 hrs from home, Isaac needed surgery, daughter number 3 was added and hospitalized for 6 days, the job 2 hrs away fell apart taking time and money invested with it... God had us in school and we didn't even know it. Slowly, purposefully, painfully God was showing His deepest longing for us-for all human kind. Softly, lovingly, persistently we heard Him pleading, "I want you to need me. I want you to LEAN."
Friday, October 5, 2012
31 Days (minus 3): On Learning To Lean
Some of the blogs I read are doing a "31 Days" series this month - choosing a subject on their heart and writing about it every day in October. I resisted the urge to join, fearing I'd run out of words by day 15, arguing that I should pick another month and do the full 31...still, the urge was there. This morning I read Flower Patch Farmgirl's 4th post on "Going" and felt smitten. So.... for the next 27 days I will be attempting to string some of my thoughts/ lessons/ ideas, on Learning To Lean together and sharing them with you. I'm a little bit excited to take up the challenge and a lot a bit scared to say I'll do it! This "leaning" business is an area God has slowly but surely been teaching me and stretching me in, especially in the last year or two. I certainly don't have the subject down pat but I would love to share my heart with you, and hopefully you will feel free to share your thoughts and input with me! So... tomorrow I'll be back with day 1 of 27!
Monday, October 1, 2012
Gold pavement, shoes, and dryers
Did you know that God is a very capable supplier of needs? He's got all kinds of resources and can bring along good deals on a wide variety of merchandise! I'm reminded of Otto Koning's words, "God is not stuck for riches, He's using gold for pavement up there!!" Truly He does seem to be just waiting for us to give Him opportunities to spill a little of that wealth into our lives if we give Him a chance. We've given Him several chances lately and I'm still marveling at His amazing answers! From "simple" needs of shoes for children, to "bigger" needs like a dryer for a small space. Once again I am convinced that God longs for us to lean and does what He can to keep us in that position...if we will only trust Him.....and give Him a chance!
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