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Exodus 15:19-17:7 New International Version (NIV)
19 When Pharaoh's horses, chariots and horsemen[a] went into the sea, the Lord brought the waters of the sea back over them, but the Israelites walked through the sea on dry ground. 20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron's sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing. 21 Miriam sang to them:
"Sing to the Lord,
The Waters of Marah and Elim
22 Then Moses led Israel from the Red Sea and they went into the Desert of Shur. For three days they traveled in the desert without finding water. 23 When they came to Marah, they could not drink its water because it was bitter. (That is why the place is called Marah.[b]) 24 So the people grumbled against Moses, saying, "What are we to drink?"
25 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, and the Lord showed him a piece of wood. He threw it into the water, and the water became fit to drink.
There the Lord issued a ruling and instruction for them and put them to the test. 26 He said, "If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you."
27 Then they came to Elim, where there were twelve springs and seventy palm trees, and they camped there near the water.
Manna and Quail
16 The whole Israelite community set out from Elim and came to the Desert of Sin, which is between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after they had come out of Egypt. 2 In the desert the whole community grumbled against Moses and Aaron. 3 The Israelites said to them, "If only we had died by the Lord's hand in Egypt! There we sat around pots of meat and ate all the food we wanted, but you have brought us out into this desert to starve this entire assembly to death."
4 Then the Lord said to Moses, "I will rain down bread from heaven for you. The people are to go out each day and gather enough for that day. In this way I will test them and see whether they will follow my instructions. 5 On the sixth day they are to prepare what they bring in, and that is to be twice as much as they gather on the other days."
6 So Moses and Aaron said to all the Israelites, "In the evening you will know that it was the Lord who brought you out of Egypt, 7 and in the morning you will see the glory of the Lord, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we, that you should grumble against us?" 8 Moses also said, "You will know that it was the Lord when he gives you meat to eat in the evening and all the bread you want in the morning, because he has heard your grumbling against him. Who are we? You are not grumbling against us, but against the Lord."
9 Then Moses told Aaron, "Say to the entire Israelite community, 'Come before the Lord, for he has heard your grumbling.'"
10 While Aaron was speaking to the whole Israelite community, they looked toward the desert, and there was the glory of the Lord appearing in the cloud.
11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 "I have heard the grumbling of the Israelites. Tell them, 'At twilight you will eat meat, and in the morning you will be filled with bread. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.'"
13 That evening quail came and covered the camp, and in the morning there was a layer of dew around the camp. 14 When the dew was gone, thin flakes like frost on the ground appeared on the desert floor. 15 When the Israelites saw it, they said to each other, "What is it?" For they did not know what it was.
Moses said to them, "It is the bread the Lord has given you to eat. 16 This is what the Lord has commanded: 'Everyone is to gather as much as they need. Take an omer[c] for each person you have in your tent.'"
17 The Israelites did as they were told; some gathered much, some little. 18 And when they measured it by the omer, the one who gathered much did not have too much, and the one who gathered little did not have too little. Everyone had gathered just as much as they needed.
19 Then Moses said to them, "No one is to keep any of it until morning."
20 However, some of them paid no attention to Moses; they kept part of it until morning, but it was full of maggots and began to smell. So Moses was angry with them.
21 Each morning everyone gathered as much as they needed, and when the sun grew hot, it melted away. 22 On the sixth day, they gathered twice as much—two omers[d] for each person—and the leaders of the community came and reported this to Moses. 23 He said to them, "This is what the Lord commanded: 'Tomorrow is to be a day of sabbath rest, a holy sabbath to the Lord. So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning.'"
24 So they saved it until morning, as Moses commanded, and it did not stink or get maggots in it. 25 "Eat it today," Moses said, "because today is a sabbath to the Lord. You will not find any of it on the ground today. 26 Six days you are to gather it, but on the seventh day, the Sabbath, there will not be any."
27 Nevertheless, some of the people went out on the seventh day to gather it, but they found none. 28 Then the Lord said to Moses, "How long will you[e] refuse to keep my commands and my instructions? 29 Bear in mind that the Lord has given you the Sabbath; that is why on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where they are on the seventh day; no one is to go out." 30 So the people rested on the seventh day.
31 The people of Israel called the bread manna.[f] It was white like coriander seed and tasted like wafers made with honey. 32 Moses said, "This is what the Lord has commanded: 'Take an omer of manna and keep it for the generations to come, so they can see the bread I gave you to eat in the wilderness when I brought you out of Egypt.'"
33 So Moses said to Aaron, "Take a jar and put an omer of manna in it. Then place it before the Lord to be kept for the generations to come."
34 As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law, so that it might be preserved. 35 The Israelites ate manna forty years, until they came to a land that was settled; they ate manna until they reached the border of Canaan.
36 (An omer is one-tenth of an ephah.)
Water From the Rock
17 The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. 2 So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink."
Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?"
3 But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?"
4 Then Moses cried out to the Lord, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me."
5 The Lord answered Moses, "Go out in front of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. 6 I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. 7 And he called the place Massah[g] and Meribah[h] because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?"
Cross references:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Matthew 22:1-33 New International Version (NIV)
The Parable of the Wedding Banquet
22 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 "The kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come.
4 "Then he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.'
5 "But they paid no attention and went off—one to his field, another to his business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and destroyed those murderers and burned their city.
8 "Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did not deserve to come. 9 So go to the street corners and invite to the banquet anyone you find.' 10 So the servants went out into the streets and gathered all the people they could find, the bad as well as the good, and the wedding hall was filled with guests.
11 "But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing wedding clothes. 12 He asked, 'How did you get in here without wedding clothes, friend?' The man was speechless.
13 "Then the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.'
14 "For many are invited, but few are chosen."
Paying the Imperial Tax to Caesar
15 Then the Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they said, "we know that you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your opinion? Is it right to pay the imperial tax[a] to Caesar or not?"
18 But Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them, "Whose image is this? And whose inscription?"
21 "Caesar's," they replied.
Then he said to them, "So give back to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to God what is God's."
22 When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.
Marriage at the Resurrection
23 That same day the Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 "Teacher," they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his brother must marry the widow and raise up offspring for him. 25 Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of them were married to her?"
29 Jesus replied, "You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will be like the angels in heaven. 31 But about the resurrection of the dead—have you not read what God said to you, 32 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob'[b]? He is not the God of the dead but of the living."
33 When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.
Cross references:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Psalm 27:1-6 New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 27
Of David.
1 The Lord is my light and my salvation—
2 When the wicked advance against me
4 One thing I ask from the Lord,
6 Then my head will be exalted
Cross references:
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Proverbs 6:20-26 New International Version (NIV)
Warning Against Adultery
20 My son, keep your father's command
25 Do not lust in your heart after her beauty
26 For a prostitute can be had for a loaf of bread,
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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There is an interesting article in the NY Times by Hirsch about how he ran Boston 50 years ago - it was the first road race of his life. All you needed to run was to send in $2 and a note from your doctor saying you were fit enough to run the marathon.
Hirsch went on to be head of the NYRR and co-found the NYC Marathon.

subset: commoncrawl


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Step 1: Purchase RAM that is compatible with your computer.
Step 2: Remove the cover or access panel from your computer.
Step 3: Locate the RAM Slots.
Step 4: Insert the RAM.
Read Also:: How to Partition your HardDrive?
Step 5: Apply pressure to the corners, and do not be afraid to push.
Keep pushing until you hear a click, or the holding tabs on either side flip snugly into the indentations on either end of the module.


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Community Foundation Youth in Action Grants
Community Foundation Awards $14,000 in Youth in Action Grants
The Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta is happy to announce ten grants to fund projects through its Youth in Action Granting program, for a total of $14,000. Funding will support active youth, learning opportunities, pet care, and a solar energy project. Communities involved include Cardston, Coaldale, Glenwood, Hays, Lethbridge, and Pincher Creek. A list of grant recipients and brief project descriptions follow
"This is our sixth year with the Youth in Action Grants Program. It's a great initiative and a fantastic way to introduce youth to philanthropy, and to let them experience the impact giving has on the community," said Charleen Davidson, the Community Foundation's Executive Director.
"The entire Youth in Action Grants Program focuses on youth. The applications are written by youth, and the grant recipients are selected by youth – the University of Lethbridge Rotaract Club. It is wonderful to see youth so engaged in their communities. They come up with some creative ideas to address needs that they see in their community, but that adults might not necessarily identify."


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"From HR to C.E.O. What You Need To Advance Your Career"
Earn 1 CPD Point
How Can HR Add Value To The Business?
Organizations expects more from HR in terms of contribution to strategy, the execution of business plans and the delivery of tangible commercial benefits.
Are you a HR Business Partner material?
This half-day seminar will equip you with the necessary skills on how to understand the business model, how to use data for decision making, how to connect with leadership and influence decision making process.
You will also gain key soft skills that will enable you to make and champion changes in your organization as well as navigate office and leadership politics.
Benefits Of This Training Include:
- You will understand the value and how to apply strategic HR
- You will know how to become a change agent and have your idea accepted by top management and staff
- You'll know how to develop business acumen skills such as the importance of understanding other functions such as Marketing, Finance, and Procurement etc.
- You will find out how to become a trusted advisor to senior management as you oversee staff welfare
- You will acquire self-belief and confidence by developing faith in your ability to deliver results
- You will discover how to advance to the next level of your career from support to a leadership role or become a consultant
Who This Training For?
This training is suitable for you if…
- You are a HR Business Partner
- You are a HR professional who wants to move to a leadership role
- You are an experienced HR Management professional charged with strategy development and implementation
- You have aspirations of becoming a HR Manager, a HR Business Partner or a top consultant in HR
Learning Environment:
The training will entail case studies, role playing, presentation and discussions and an opportunity to interact and network with fellow HR professionals.
Length of training:
This is a half-day training is on Saturday 15th September (9am to 2pm) at our offices in Corporate Staffing Services – Mayfair Suites (Westlands) – 4th floor corporate training room.
Make Your Investment:
The half-day HR Business Partner training is KES 2,800 ONLY.
This amount is inclusive of refreshments, training materials, 1 CPD Point And Certificate.
Watch Testimonials From Our Past Training
Next Step:
Only a few slots remaining so reserve your seat today!
Book now by sending an email to Esther on email@example.com and copy firstname.lastname@example.com.
Make your payment today by paying through Mpesa. Go to the "Lipa na Mpesa" section, Buy Goods and Services, enter the till no: 89560 and enter amount KES 2,800. You will get a confirmation of payment from Corporate Staffing Services.
To get more information on this service, you can reach us directly on +254 728 226 977
Or call our offices using any of the lines below…
Fixed Line: 020 516 0045, 020-444260
Mobile: 0798 56 86 38, 0798 56 86 43, 0718-610 023, 0722 735 216
Come And Learn What It Takes To Progress Your Career From HR To C.E.O Corner.


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M-F 8:30am - 5pm ET
Item: 16462095 GCT
Display your love for 4-H with the Green Clover Cotton Fabric! Made of 100% cotton, it is easy on the skin and features the classic 4-H white clover repeated against a green background. Use it to sew a warm quilt, or tailor it for a tablecloth, curtains, and more! Produced for Shop 4-H by JOANN.


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Choosing a Community
A perfect home needs a perfect location.
Arizona is filled with diverse locations that make the perfect homes for single individuals wanting an exciting, urban life and families looking for big yards and safe neighborhoods. However, there are many factors in different neighborhoods that aren't so easy to see. These factors can make an otherwise perfect home a disastrous decision for a home buyer. That is why it is important to consider where a home is located in addition to whether it has the right number of bedroom and baths.
Ten Things to Consider About Community when Buying a Home
1. Cost of Living:
Just going to the grocery store can be a huge money changer when it comes to different communities. Additionally, gated communities may have HOA fees. Toll bridges and parking fees can be an expense. When looking at a community, consider the cost of living in order to find a community that is affordable.
2. Job Opportunities:
For many people, employment is the motive for a move, but in other cases, job opportunities can be a deal breaker for a new homeowner. Especially for those who have less stable employment, it may be important to have new job opportunities readily available in order to ensure equal or better employment.
3. Taxes:
Arizona property taxes are below national averages, but they still vary by county, and this adds to a home buyer's expenses.
4. Crime:
Arizona has ranked 15th in most dangerous states, but that does not mean there are not safe communities. Looking at crime rates can ensure a home purchase occurs in a safe community, and discussions with local law enforcement can help people to find areas that are the lowest in crime.
5. Schools:
Like crime, schools greatly change at a community level, typically based on wealth. For homebuyers who have children, schools are an important factor and have a great impact on the future of our children.
6. Culture:
People tend to like living next to people who have similar values, and this does not specifically have to do with religious preference or ethnicity. For instance, gated communities often have rules about the appearance of the homeowner's property. This may clash with a person who desires the freedom to change their oil in the driveway or collect old cars. Consider the appearance of nearby homes in order to determine if your own home will reflect the same level of "culture."
7. Food:
For some people, restaurants are not a big deal, but many people enjoy being close to many dining options. Maybe this means choosing a property that is closer to the city, but it may mean simply choosing a community that caters toward the culinary world.
8. Proximity to the City:
Remote areas can be a dream for introverts with a love of nature, but the extrovert may need to escape to the city once in a while. Living nearby a city gives the feeling of rural live while including the convenience of urban accessibility and options. If a two-hour drive is too much to get to the city when needed, this should be considered in a home purchase.
9. Proximity to Family:
Proximity to family is always a consideration, whether a person wants to be near or far from their relatives. Especially for those with children, having family nearby can be a great asset.
10. Entertainment:
The city is a great place to get entertainment, but it can be difficult to get any peace. Still, having options for entertainment that are in line with your own hobbies and desires is recommended. For example, if you have a love of the orchestra, there aren't likely going to be a lot of options for this type of entertainment in a rural town.


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All prices in Canadian dollars
The high-capacity BullseyeTM Trio features Waste and Recycling in one convenient station. Restrictive openings and word labels in two languages provide visual clues to encourage compliance. Hinged lid permits easy access during emptying. All hardware and hinges are made of stainless steel. Use with 30 x 38" garbage bags.
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Ambivalence In Love
The subject of ambivalence is one which has long been discussed within the individual centered aspects of sociology and social psychology. While the perspective of conflict theories are often caught up in the collectivized or group-think attitudes that create tension in stratas or across whole societies, the application of ambivalence, however, takes a different turn. Ambivalence creates conflicts within ourselves as individuals. It applies the internalized experiences and cultural norms within us and put them up against the new experiences we collect during our trips through this thing we call life. It shapes and molds the way we think, but when ambivalence occurs, it is often a great source of personal turmoil. What was once a happy and stable life that could easily be made sense of, will now rip us apart and pull ourselves in opposite directions. We don't know what to do or what to think. Some can think of this as just the need to make a tough decision, but it could also be a make or break situation for happiness and success or self-destruction, and the problem of ambivalence occurs when neither choice immediately has an obvious outcome.
One way of understanding ambivalence could be on the topic of love. Our search for 'romantic love' and happiness is one that is a norm, and even a personal obligation, in most (especially western) cultures. In this search for love there are many traps to fall in. Also, each and every experience we make will in some way affect the way we approach our quest for love. Some people may have the ability to treat every single instance as isolated instances, where old experiences do not rise up as notable variables that affect what they decide upon through their new experiences, yet, for most people, what we bring with us guides us and sets us up for tricky decisions. At some points in life, the choices aren't merely those between different lanes in the same direction. Sometimes we come to a fork in the road, with different paths to take. Often, the choices are simple. We do what we must or we do what we want. Some choices are simply not up for discussion. It's where each choice (at least initially) appears to us as equally good or bad that ambivalence sets in. We cannot take two different paths at the same time. In love, this could mean either to seek out a relationship in a chance to obtain happiness, even if the circumstances are less than ideal and could lead to disaster, or to postpone or abandon the quest, because experience says that to take the chance will likely lead to failure, and that you might rather keep up the hope for another chance to occur in the future – one which will fulfill all your needs, or you simply let it slide in order to save yourself from much distress. These are, however, just some examples of how it could unfold.
The topic of ambivalence in love has become very clear to me over the past year. I have, perhaps naively, although with nothing but the best intentions for my own happiness in mind, made the attempts at long-distance relationships – one of which was actually cross-continental and hard to uphold, yet still very dear and strong, but retrospectively I see it was set up to fail miserably, which it also did. These were plagued by miscommunication and perhaps youthful desire clouding one's mind of what is the best choice to make, which needlessly sets oneself up for a likely doom rather than success. This, in my own opinion, wasn't all my own fault, as it takes two to tango, yet it has become part of my experiences and it's written into my guide book for future endeavors into the world of love. This guide book is now characterized by a roller coaster ride of short term happiness and states of personal distress; stability and turmoil; realistic optimism and a state of surrender and apathy. These are my experiences, which are characterized by the difficulties of long-distance relationships and a failure to communicate thoughts and worries at an early stage, and an inability to work said worries out in a cooperative way.
This leads me to this very day. When my latest endeavor at achieving love felt like the planets aligning, it was actually the lessons I had learned from my past experiences of worries, troubles and toils, that fell perfectly together with the situation I now found myself in: A short distance relationship and a chance for romance in my daily life, and an ability to bond a relationship based initially in more than just love and desire, but also in a strong friendship and a capability to be a moral and emotional support, whenever the situation deemed it necessary. I wanted all of that. I wanted it all or nothing, and it seemed to be within my reach, which became a huge source of happiness for me. There were no feeling of ambivalence here.
That changed drastically today. The person who I had set my eyes on; the one who I would spellbind and woo with my wit and charming demeanor, could suddenly no longer meet up to my criteria for short distance. For personal reasons not controlled by herself, she had been met with a dilemma, and while this indeed made her feel very ambivalent towards her own desires, this all sparked a feeling of ambivalence in me as well. My hope for a short distance relationship fell short, so to speak. Several questions came up during the day: Should I make the same risky choices as before, when this could lead to problems that are hard to overcome, or should I hold off and leave my chances alone for now, with a hope that it could rekindle in the future, if fate would have it so? Neither choice seemed to satisfy me completely, and this lead me to search for other alternatives, none of which could fulfill all my desires. I needed to prioritize and sketch out a new plan for myself.
To many, it might seem trivial, but because of several personal tragedies over the past year, and because of the decent amount of effort I had put into this being what I had been waiting for this whole time; the planets aligning, the fact that it all fell apart now made me almost split into two different personalities in an instant. The feeling of ambivalence to the whole notion of love became very real within me. One part of me said: "This is gonna fail now. Would you risk destroying your chances with this girl forever, with an attempt to something that never worked before? Are you gonna take another knock to your persona like that? You should put things on hold and see what chances appear further down the road." The other part of me, however, was shouting: "Seize the day! Just because your other attempts didn't work out, doesn't mean this one will follow the same pattern. It's a different person and a different situation, and if she wants the same there's nothing to debate! This time, you have a chance to communicate and avoid all the traps and wrong turns you have made in the past. You know from other people's experiences that it can work out, as long as you both know what you want and cooperate to make it happen." I wanted it. I wanted her! Yet I was afraid.
The state of surrender and apathy spoke very heavily to me at one point. I didn't want to go through with it again. I didn't want to experience another sad turn of events on top of all the others, and perhaps most importantly, I didn't want to be a cause for distress in her dilemma. Yet, somewhere in my mind spoke my inner optimist – the one who has been my greatest source for success and happiness throughout my whole life, who told me to keep looking for alternatives and possibilities; to keep up the effort of making things work out. My values and experiences were battling it out within me. I believe I know who won the battle, although the war isn't over. In all of this, this very experience of ambivalence had enlightened me. This is how ambivalence unfolds itself in every person. This is the inner conflict that pulls Man apart and reassembles Him in new ways. This is the psychological force within the individual that eventually leads it to reflect over past experiences and newfound wants, needs and opportunities. This is where structural explanations fall short of explaining human behavior. Within the institution of love, ambivalence showed itself to me in its most profound way. Whether or not I have set myself up for another failure and another situation where I'll feel an even stronger situation of ambivalence in the future is hard to say, but I guess one cannot help but hope for the opposite and much more pleasant outcome. So what will be the best route forward? To take the chance or leave it? Both choices are pulling on me, as there is an inherit problem with both choices. Should I let the state of surrender have me avoid possible long term emotional turmoil, or should I let the optimist take control and have me play this game, where all I stand to lose is simply to achieve nothing at all, yet where victory let's me walk home with everything?
The latter voice within me, whom I have learned to embrace, achieved victory in the final argument. My optimism wins once again, and for good reasons too, yet the outcome is still to be seen. If nothing else, I have at least achieved personal enlightenment around how ambivalence works and how it leads us to try and rationally explore possibilities and make us come to terms with the feelings and experiences we have, in order to make sense of the world around us. We can't be all social or cultural dopes. There must be something within us that let's us overcome the structural and external influences.
A Little Historical Afterthought – Political satire in the shape of Psalm 23
Mr. Roosevelt is my shepherd,
And I am in want.
He maketh me to lie down on park benches,
He leadeth me beside still factories,
He disturbeth my soul.
He leadeth me in the paths of destitution for his party's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of the Depression,
I anticipate no recovery, for he is with me;
His policies, his diplomacies, they frighten me.
He prepareth a reduction in my income,
And in the presence of mine enemies,
He anointeth my small income with taxes;
My expenses runneth over.
Surely, unemployment, want, and poverty shall follow me all the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in a mortgaged home forever. Amen.
I cannot seem find the author or a proper original source for this, although my lazy 5 minutes of looking for one certainly doesn't mean an author or proper original source cannot be found. If someone knows, please add it in the comments, and proper citation and respect shall be given. This piece has been around since the 1930s, obviously, yet every word still seems to ring true as we live and breath at this very point on this very day. That is exactly the type of political satire and poetry that I personally find both beautiful and historically important, and that is why I wish to share this. Please do the same. Cheers!
Getting Over Smoker's Guilt: Overcoming the Stigmatizing Propaganda Against Tobacco Users
It's now more than a year ago since I actively took up the hobby of pipe smoking, after having had much fun and pleasure from smoking cigars for quite some time. It might seem like a counter-cultural act to bring back what some regard as outdated, or just socially contrarian. Today, the majority opinion is that tobacco is a bane of society that has to be purged, by force if need be. Political forces work like ants behind the dark facade of government and bureaucracy to enact regulations, programs and laws that will throw tobacco smokers out on the streets and squeeze tobacco companies and tobacconists out of business.
Daily, we hear campaigns against tobacco smoking, where politicians and activists are actively putting a stigma on the back of everyone who abuses "cancer sticks". The commercials are many – either you see lungs filled with tar, skin that is gray and weathered, fingers that are yellow and stubby, or rampant warnings lights while the word "cancer" is screaming in your face. The result from all of this is a social engineering of stigma against tobacco users; a government creation of discrimination and hatred. In the view of anti-smoking activists, smoking is an evil that people have every right to call you out on. Public schools will teach kids about the "dangers of tobacco" and urge kids to spread the word to their friends and family members. The victims of this stigma develop smoker's guilt. They will try to keep their habit hidden, shying away from social settings in order to fulfill their need for some nicotine. They start to hate themselves for doing something thought of as disgusting, yet it's hard for them to stop it, because they secretly enjoy it.
It's very disturbing to see just how many who will admit to being a smoker, while doing so with a hint of shame and guilt in their voice. Not all have ambivalent feelings towards their habit, but many do. It seems like mentioning the topic of smoking will depress them, as it reminds them of every time someone has stigmatized them for their habit. One can only imagine how the words chanting in their head from all the anti-smoking activists, politicians, journalists, doctors and scientists makes them hate themselves for being voluntary "slaves" to something they grow to regard as inherently bad – as if being a smoker is a sign of poor character and immorality.
…And the worst thing is, most people think this is okay.
This angers me intensely. Not only is it immoral to impose your own preferences through the power of government, but stigmatization is also a very destructive tool to use in order to force through a political cause. While you may end up with some smokers who quit smoking (although these numbers are anything but impressive after decades of expensive tax-funded anti-smoking campaigns), many of the remaining smokers will develop guilt and depression because of their habit. This will arguably have a much more devastating and immediate effect on the individual than any of the possible health risks from smoking will have, leading to a range of other social problems that aren't as easy to observe. If anything, it only stands to reason that if "good public health" was the main goal of anti-smoking activists, then active stigmatization is an extremely poor choice of strategy. The reality is that anti-smoking activists are only putting you and your habit down, because they themselves have made the choice of not smoking, and through a collectivist world view find it in their right to force others to make the same choice as well.
There exists, however, an individualistic remedy to overcome this stigmatization and remain proud and happy about what in essence should be a very positive and enjoyable hobby.
I mentioned to begin with that I myself have just over the last few years taken up smoking more and more, despite the ever increasing stigma against tobacco users. Am I simply a counter-cultural social contrarian? No, not at all. Being so would be irrational. None of my motivations for smoking tobacco came from this wish to simply do the opposite of what the wise overlords are telling me to do. My choice came from a complete disregard of any propaganda of the pros and cons of tobacco smoking. It was a completely individual, rational and personal choice, fueled by a lust to enrich my daily life with a joy and hobby that I could experience and enjoy both physically and mentally. For instance, the collection of pipes is a long lasting project, where purchases are made not only for short-term enjoyment, but also long-term fun and interest. As such it has a deeper meaning to it, rather than it just being a meaningless anti-trend statement. There is a great excitement in trying new tobaccos with new flavors, going through the meditating routine of packing your pipe, checking the draw, doing a false light, then a proper light, puff it a few times to get the flavors going, and feel the gentle taste of the smoke roll across the tip of your tongue and through your entire mouth, before attempting to blow smoke rings.
It's much more than just feeling the buzz from the nicotine. It's a source for great joy and relaxation. You are able to collect yourself from all the pressure that life put on your shoulders, and just take a little bit of time to experience something different and develop a skill and taste that is completely your own. There is a sense of beauty to all of this, and that beauty is something that can never be brought down by any means of stigma or hatred.
As such, the stigma that is actively being put on smokers does not affect me.
The overarching goal in anyone's life should always be to achieve happiness. You only have this one life to experience happiness, so you'd do well in making use of all the tools at your disposal. If you are a smoker suffering from smoker's guilt, then you are left with two choices: Quit smoking immediately, or changing your mindset and cultivating tobacco smoking as a source for something good in your life, embracing it with pride and conviction. Most tobacco users suffering from smoker's guilt are likely cigarette smoker. I would like to suggest the following to you:
Rather than trying to quit smoking, how about delving deeper into the world of tobacco and try to make it a fun hobby? Tobacco is very much like beer, wine and spirits – yes, you can abuse it, but you also have a vast source of enjoyment to find inspiration from. It's all about having the right mindset. You could for instance try a new brand of cigarettes/tobacco each time you buy some more, in order to explore the flavors the tobacco gives. There is no point in being brand loyal in what should be regarded as fun experimentation. Also, the price difference between cheaper brands and more exquisite brands are limited. And even if you're on a strict budget, there are more than enough possibilities to get you started with, without having to blow away all your money.
I would also suggest you explore the world of tobaccos beyond cigarettes, like cigars and pipe tobacco. These ways of enjoying tobacco have had the pleasure of being cultivated as a part of finer culture for hundreds of years, where purity and taste have been in the main seat all along. Here you will find a whole new range of tastes and experiences, and there are also lots of fascinating things to learn. Pipe smoking, for instance, also adds the fun activity of pipe collecting and caring for your pipes. If you would like to combine tobacco smoking with a relative health benefit, then proper cigar- and pipe smoking is also a fairly good compromise. Regardless what your preferences are, you will certainly find inspirations at your local tobacconist, or at a tobacco store online.
By trying some of these things for yourself, smoking will always be something fresh and interesting. You will learn how different types of tobaccos give you different experiences, and you will find tobaccos and brands that better suit your taste, reshaping your habit into making it about cultivating something good. Most importantly, you will find many like minded individuals on your way. You will feel better about yourself and stand proud and steadfast in the face of those who wish only to bring you down.
As a result, tobacco smoking in itself has many more potential positive effects than negative ones, and perhaps even some unexpected ones, as noted by Bertrand Russel, himself an avid pipe smoker his whole life. The stigmatizing propaganda by the nanny statists is something you should rise above, as overcoming such stigmatization is imperative to a healthy individualistic life. Remember, you only have one life to achieve happiness. There is no time to lose.
As an ending remark, I would like to quote Jeffrey Tucker, who echoes this sentiment in his essay "Bring Back the Breakfast Drink":
Everyone knows the rule: drink no liquor before noon. How insufferable such advice is! It has caused morning drinkers to hide their habits, deny them when confronted, and otherwise feel like they are doing something wrong or immoral or socially intolerable, a combination which leads to other forms of pathology.
It is time for them to stand up and proclaim themselves and their habit as the noble act it is. All over the world, there exists a grand tradition of including a bit of spirits with one's breakfast, or at least a bit of beer or wine. How tragic that those who struggle mightily to uphold this practice are reduced to doing so alone, enjoying their pleasure only in the privacy of their own kitchen for fear of inviting public humiliation.
The Dangers of Exclusion and the Evils of Collectivism: Why Individualism Is the Remedy Against Terrorism
On July 22nd, 2011, Norway was struck by an act of terrorism and witnessed an unfathomable slaughter of innocent children and young adults on an island in East Norway. We have all read the news and we have all heard the tales of the evil that was brought upon innocent people that day.
Most people in Norway are still mourning the loss of their dear ones, and the wounded are still fighting to make it through. All our thoughts are with them in these tough times, and the sorrow they endure is something we hope no one will have to endure ever again. That is why we need to learn from what has happened and become stronger because of it. We need to fathom the unfathomable. As we are able to get some sort of distance to it all, and been able to reflect over the tragedy, we do see a glimpse of what the truth is in all of this. A manifesto (basically a cut-and-paste collection of many intellectual and meaningful works and pieces of literature – some of them even very good, others very bad) has been released. The manifesto is a collection of many incoherent ideas and opposing schools of thought, put together in a collectivist and conspiratorial way by one man and his world view.
In this scrap book of thoughts and influences, among the many over-lining topics that he focuses on, there are some parts that show the biggest inconsistencies, and that I feel needs to be brought up. He sees himself as an anti-collectivist, and he also do make some references to very good libertarian, classical liberal and objectivist literature (although it should be noted that he also references a lot of neo-conservative and even some communist and socialist literature, but that's not the topic now). Does this mean he was a terrorist actually working in the name of individualism, or is he mixing up his terminology, just as he's mixing up his influences in his creation of his own world view?
I think it's a distinct quality of collectivism and a collectivist world view that enables a man to fully identify himself with some greater force, and to then feel justified to wage a war between the one force and another. In Anders Behring Breivik's case, he thinks of himself as part of a pan-European mono-ethnic force that is under attack by Islamic colonists and their Marxist collaborators. He theorizes about a possible civil war between these two forces, and he thinks of himself as a pioneer in this war, and is certain he will be remembered as a hero in the future. Knowing this, you'd have a hard time arguing for him being a true individualist. He is 100% a collectivist by any measure of the word. It makes a lot more sense to me that when he speaks of anti-collectivism, he puts that in context of anti-globalism and anti-multiculturalism – he does not want his own collective sharing anything with other "enemy" collectives under a broader regulatory welfare collective. As such, he does not seem to understand the true meaning of the word, and he most certainly is not an individualist.
An individualist could turn to self-defense and could in such a situation take the life of someone, sure, but an individualist would be completely unable to launch an attack against an imagined class or group of people, in the name of his own imagined class or group of people, because that's not the way individualists see the world. You can probably find killers in any society (and some more so than in others), and I'm certain there can still be deadly crime in an individualist world. We're all still human. But only collectivists can be mass-murderers and terrorists, because a collectivist world view is a very distinct quality of a mass-murderer and a terrorist.
Now we can make an attempt on a remedy (which I wasn't able to see in the middle of this tragedy, but after reading an article by Norwegian blogger Onar "Onarki" Åm it all became very clear and obvious to me, and I was able to structure my own thoughts in this article because of it): Having an open society that is able to include all sorts of opposing, alternative and even extreme opinions. That does NOT mean agreeing with them all, but simply to let them be heard in the public sphere, bring them into the conversation and always meet them with rational and logical arguments. I know us libertarians and classical liberals have a really hard time being heard in the modern socialist power house that is the world today, and some of us have felt how it is to be squeezed out, vilified and stigmatized. This was the content for my Bachelor Thesis in Sociology, Spring 2011 (I focused on people identifying themselves as classical liberals and objectivists), and stigmatization of political minorities is very much a reality, especially in Social Democratic Norway. People who are not among the general majority of political opinions will always experience a stigma that is to some unbearable. If you push them far enough and hate them enough, there will come a time where they will "snap". This have happened with Islamist terrorists, and this have now happened with a guy in Norway, who have long tried to speak about his distaste for Muslim immigration to Norway and Europe, but has never been heard – not even been talked to. A crusader-fixation was his desperate and twisted way of being heard. It's like a stigmatized nation getting hold of Nuclear Weapons in order to be taken seriously.
Now, as I mentioned, there is a very good reason why true individualists (like libertarians, classical liberals and objectivists) cannot become terrorists in such a situation of stigmatization that we find ourselves in. Our own opinions and world view inhibit us from thinking in such directions. Individualism makes us morally unable to, and it's also completely against our own self-interests. We will always continue the long and hard road ahead of us by trying to spread the word of liberty and freedom in peaceful terms, and hope to turn a few over to our side as we go along. We are wired that way, and we would not be individualists if we weren't wired that way. A collectivist, however (and perhaps also altruistic as such), can see it as both justified and in his own self-interests to take a bunch of lives (and maybe also his own) for his own warped imagery of the greater good. To him, one life does not matter. To him, the unalienable rights of fellow men and women does not exist. All he see is the greater good and people as pawns in a game much greater than themselves. All individualists must reject any such notion, and as such becomes the greatest opposite to acts of terrorism.
It's certainly a pity that Breivik brings a bad name to good literature on his way into the history books, and it's just another way for the majority to put a stigma on more minorities through guilt by association, and let me just make it clear that it's a completely natural answer to such atrocities, but it's also the wrong answer. More openness, inclusion and debate is the real answer! If we were to believe our Prime Minister here in Norway, this is actually what we're gonna work for, but if we were to believe all newspapers and many individuals in Norway, we will see a stigma put on the backs of many innocent people in the years to come. I can see that the work for libertarians and classical liberals in Norway will become much harder, as we're far outside the political majority, but hopefully we will be able to show that we are right in the end. I know I will fight even harder for individualism, liberty and freedom, because I know it's the real remedy against such atrocities that we have endured, and I do not ever want to see them happen again to anyone.
Here We Go Again! Recession 2.0 = A New Great Depression
A couple of years ago the recession struck and everyone were paralyzed. When I say "everyone", I of course only mean the mainstream nitwits. There were enough of those who warned about the imminent collapse. It was coming, and sure as hell it did.
It didn't, of course, end there. The same people who warned us first time around also warned that if central authorities would continue what they were doing, we were sure to face something much worse very soon. Of course the wise overlords in Washington didn't listen, and the FED has been forking out those dollars like never before. Needless to say, it hasn't been working, and the day the world would realize this were coming at any time.
Well, ladies and gentlemen, that time might be right ahead of us as we speak. People with the Austrian School and people who identify with it are in strong opposition to mainstream economists and the FED, saying the response after the recession was the wrong one, and that we are not at all recovering from the financial crisis. All the measures by Washington merely dulled the pain temporarily, and the phoney recovery will plummet to earth in the near future.
It seems like that near future may very well be very near, indeed. As explained by Goldsilver.com, associated with The Wealth Cycle Principle and Mike Maloney, the decline in the banking sector was setting the stage for the recession. It was an early warning sign that a crash was ahead. Those with a broad and correct understanding of economics saw this pattern fall together with what they see as a system built to fail and warned that we were facing an economic crisis.
Today's economy is overwhelmingly driven by borrowed money. Whether it is a home mortgage, car loan or simply a nice dinner put on a credit card, in a credit based economy (like we absolutely have today) this bank credit is what makes the economic wheels turn. If the banks aren't doing well enough to loan aggressively, not as many loans are made and the economy slows. So the banking sector is a very important part of our economy to keep a close eye on.
Apparently, the banking sector is showing the same warning signals as it did many months before the last recession.
Even though the stock market has had a nice bounce, the bank stocks are not keeping up with this stock bounce. Compare the charts above again and notice the bank versus S&P 500 chart has bounced along sideways since summer of 09 and have not confirmed the S&P 500 bounce. Unless the banks join the party quickly we should be in for another very serious round of stock declines or a crash.
Looking back on the article I wrote on President Obama and the coming '12 election, I was wondering if the central authorities in Washington would be able to push the coming depression enough ahead of them to secure a victory. Well, the next year will be a very exciting one. Will the markets crash before election day or not? What will the FED do with these glooming warning signals? They were rumored to end QE2 over summer, but how is that even likely when things are starting to take a turn for the worse?
The false recovery was just that; False. It was doomed from the start, but those who thought "we have to do something" and others who currently think "we have this under control" are all missing the very obvious point: You cannot shape the future by your will alone. You lack the tools to know what's right at all times. Government can only spend stolen money, and the FED can only print new ones. They know nothing about creating businesses; keeping productivity; meet market demands or dealing with constant government regulations. What is the ultimate outcome by both these actions? They waste resources and place the burden on those who will inherit the system a few years down the line – ultimately the people, under the pretense of helping them. They can only steal resources, destroy savings and weaken the dollar, all of which are detrimental to economic recovery and the prosperity of the ordinary men and women in America.
What do I think? I think the FED will continue with a QE3 and 4, and it seems like others agree. Gloom and doom is ahead, and there will be more stimulus packages. Will the New New Deal perhaps even nationalize banks and private institutions, as proposed by everyone's best friend, Paul Krugman? Certainly, if President Obama were to win the next election, I'd say the answer may very well be "yes". The recession never ended. The depression is upon us. You would do well in securing those silver coins while you still can. If not only securing you current savings, it might even earn you a good deal of money as precious metals shoot towards the sky as everything else fall apart. And it might make life a lot easier too, cause I've heard it's bothersome to fill the backpack with paper money when going to the store to buy a piece of bread. Especially when the price has risen to two backpacks since yesterday. You might want the silver coin at that time; the silver coin that says "1 dollar", but will end up being worth more than a billion of them if hyperinflation kicks in. Ask some people in Zimbabwe. They can probably testify to that.
Yes, there are exciting times ahead. Exciting, but frightening too. The coming presidential election just got that much more important. Do me a favor, Americans: please vote Ron Paul, will you? Thanks.
Is the Austrian School Getting Tired of Being Right, Yet Not Heard?
Just watched the news here in Norway about how Greece is asking the European Union for another stimulus package to deal with the bust and economic crisis they suffered a while ago, but as usual they offered no questions or investigations and simply mindlessly reported whatever they're fed.
So what are people missing here? What is the most fundamental and most important question that "TV2 Nyhetskanalen (The Norwegian TV2 News Channel)" completely failed to ask and examine when reporting this case?
There are probably many great questions they could ask, but I would expect this much: "Why did the first stimulus package fail, and why should it follow that another stimulus can do what the first one obviously couldn't?"
You cannot print yourself to prosperity and economic growth – not real growth in a sound economy in any case. The greek government had taken grossly advantage of the situtation up until their crisis – with a big majority of the nation on the government's payroll. They were wasting resources and spending themselves to poverty. Yes, that's right – simply spending all you have would do that. This applies for both individuals and governments, you know. Their government spent loads of money and warped the economy into a disaster. Upon this crisis the European Union with their central bank shipped a bunch of euros down to the old birthplace of the western civilization. Things seemed to quiet down a little. People thought Greece would do what was necessary to restructure their economy and get back to economic austerity, but as many Austrians and economic know-hows explained early on: This had been a great opportunity to do what is right and get rid of some bad government and start becoming responsible again, but it was wasted and things were just business as usual when Germany and the European Union decided to shoot the greeks up on heroine again and delay their long needed rehab.
Now it seems like the greeks have run out of their shipment of heroine and goes begging to their dealer to cut them some slack and give them some more – promising that they'll soon get things in order, start producing and give something back. Are we at all surprised? Are Austrian economists getting tired of being vindicated by the cold facts of contemporary history yet again, without anyone else noticing what is flashing red right in front of them?
Quite honestly, I think Greece will whine to the European Union about another stimulus package until the Union will listen and provide them with what they think is the correct way of dealing with problem – surely sending their Union currency into oblivion hand in hand with the US dollar. Greece will probably shut up for a while, but only until they're back to where they left off. Then it's back to climbing onto the backs of their productive german friends again.
When will the world finally learn? Germany needs to teach Europe some of that economic german discipline, or else they'll get dragged into the mud along with all the ignorant drug addicts in Europe.
The Synergy of Libertarianism and Sociology
On a libertarian group on Facebook, someone asked if the teachings of sociology were in opposition to the ideals of libertarianism and free will, where sociology teaches us we base our actions on the input from those around us, and that all our choices are influenced by social interactions and social contexts, and went to ask how libertarians felt about this sociological knowledge.
I felt compelled to answer, and I thought I could supply the same answer here.
Whether or not social interaction and society around us influences us and ultimately limits or shifts our values and effectively guides our choices is pretty much a given. People are social animals.
However, that does not contradict the libertarian ethos of individual rights and personal freedom, and a belief in free will. I hold the non-aggression-principle high, because it's moral and just. I hold private property rights high, because it's moral and just. I hold the respect for my fellow Men high, because it's moral and just. I expect people to respect me, my choices, my personal freedoms and property, because it's moral and just.
My values and choices beyond this can easily be affected by others, because that's part of what I am. But that does not belittle my own free will. If anything it underlines its strength. If we defined by our humanity would not have complete authority of our selves as individuals, then we would not have the option of breaking free of evil influences if that was all that surrounded us. We must have the opportunity to choose our influences and social contexts, or else we most certainly would perish. Because of this, the fact that we are influenced by those around us and those who brought us up proves to me the strength of our own free will.
What of the poor souls who were surrounded by nothing but lies, but still could see the deceptions that had been fed to them? They are numerous throughout history, and we have much to thank them for. They gave us the Age of Enlightenment, they gave us liberty and capitalism, and once and for all proved that we can choose a free life. Somewhere along the way we may have lost it, but the words of liberty spread across the world like never before and will never be forgotten. If people had no individual preferences or ability to choose for themselves, then such ideas could not spread.
So to sum it up: We are influenced by others, because we're social animals – and that's the study of sociology, but we have reason and free will which enable us to choose among those influences, because we're human – and that's the study of philosophy.
I know all too well that the field of sociology is made up by collectivist thinkers; marxists, socialists, social democrat-leaning liberals and statists. There is a religious belief in the good of authoritarian rule – as long as it is the rule for good. The way I see it, all the social injustice and problems of society that sociologists do well in identifying and try to fight against are attributed to state authority and a lack of respect for freedom and private property. They wish to use the same authority to do good, and blatantly ignore the fact that you cannot do good with evil. A belief in the system of government authority over economic and social questions will doom us into never finding the right answer, and that is the bane of sociologists today.
There does exist a call for a field of sociology that develops a different understanding of the State, that can be based in the libertarian and objectivist philosophies. The problems of society are the symptoms of the disease of government, and the best sociologists are the ones who make the proper diagnosis.


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Liang Guirong
Chinese Name: 梁桂容
Gender: Female
Age: 36
City: Suining City
Province: Sichuan
Date of Death: 2002-05-13
Date of Most Recent Arrest: 2000-08-03
Most recent place of detention: Wujiawan Detention Center
Case Description:
Ms. Liang Guirong is thirty-six years old, and a resident of the Eighth Commune, Eighteenth Village, Fenshui Town, Anju District, Suining City, Sichuan Province. She began cultivating Falun Dafa in 1998. She went to Beijing to validate the Fa during the 2000 Spring Festival and was arrested in Tiananmen Square. She was picked up by local police on February 2, 2000, fined 5,000 yuan, and detained in Wujiawan Detention Center. She was arrested again on August 3, 2000. She was tortured in the Lingquansi Detention Center for six months, and then transferred to the Wujiawan Detention Center, which notified her family to pick her up when she was tortured beyond recognition. Her entire body was swollen, and she could not take care of herself. She died on May 13, 2002.
Related articles:
Falun Gong Practitioner Xiang Changyin Dies from Torture, and Other Information About the Persecution in Suining City, Sichuan Province
Falun Dafa Practitioners Ms. Yu Xiuying from Hebei Province and Ms. Liang Guirong from Sichuan Province Died as the Result of the Persecution
Accounts of Falun Dafa Practitioners' Persecution in Suining City, Sichuan Province
Chinese version available at:


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Road trip gear recommendations that go beyond multipurpose tools, safety triangles, and podcast suggestions.
The smart driver is always prepared.
It's the first, important step to building better robots.
From stylish goggles to a watch from a legendary rally-timing company, these accessories will make your next TSD rally so much better.
With these tools on hand, you can spend more time paying less attention to wherever the ribbon of asphalt leads you.


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After we initially reported that the first shipment of the Nintendo Classic Mini: NES had sold out at EB Games, it now appears that EB have sold out of their second shipment and are unclear about whether they'll be getting anymore. They've changed the thumbnail on the product page to 'Sold Out' and you can no longer add the item to cart at all.
The online JB Hi Fi product listing has yet to return either. It is unclear whether other retailers will be stocking the product later this year.
It seems incredibly odd that the system is already so understocked. One would assume that the idea behind this product is that it's an easy-sell in the lead up to Christmas, so I wouldn't have expected that it'd sell out before release.


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On 10 February 2019, the Basel-Stadt electorate voted by a large majority of 78.8% to adopt the "Basel compromise on tax proposal 17". The canton is proactively implementing the harmonization provisions of the Federal Act on Tax Reform and AHV Financing (TRAF). The enactment will be voted on throughout Switzerland on 19 May 2019.
As the first German-speaking canton and pillar of the Life Science industry, Basel-Stadt is creating the basis for competitive, OECD-compliant, and legally certain taxation for companies domiciled in the canton.
New corporate taxation in Basel-Stadt
- Effective corporate income tax rate at the federal and cantonal levels incl. municipalities: 13.04% (previously: 22.18%);
- Capital tax rate of 0.1% (previously: 0.525%); taxable equity capital attributable to qualifying participations and patents qualifying for the patent box is indirectly exempted at 80%;
- Abolition of tax privileges (holding / management companies / mixed companies);
- Regarding a transfer to the ordinary tax status, hidden reserves and self-generated goodwill could be separately taxed at a special rate of 3% within 5 years. Loss carryforwards can be used within the scope of the taxable quota at the time they arose;
- Introduction of the Patent box; the net profit from patents and comparable rights can be included in the calculation of the taxable net profit per patent or comparable right (so-called nexus ratio) with a reduction of 90% in the ratio of the qualifying to the total research and development expenditure per patent or comparable right;
- Relief limit at 60% of taxable net income (excl. investment income and loss offsetting);
- Partial taxation of dividend income at 80% (previously: 50%);
- Minimum participation rate of 5% in the case of transposition (Transponierung) is no longer applicable;
- Provisional takeover of foreign losses incurred by permanent establishments (analogous to federal corporate income tax law);
Enactment and transitional phase 2019
The date of entry into force will be communicated shortly by the Government Council. It remains to be seen which law will be applicable in the transition phase 2019 until the STAF bill would come into force at federal level.
Since the STAF bill and the mandatory new harmonization law would enter into force on 1 January 2020 at the earliest, Basel-Stadt will have to continue to grant tax privileges still in force during the 2019 calendar year. For the same reason, the patent box and the abolition of the minimum quota for transposition of 5% in Basel-Stadt will presumably not come into force before 1 January 2020. Consequently, the increase in partial dividend income taxation to 80% should most likely not come into force until 1 January 2020 at the earliest.
There are further certain indications that the Government Council already plans for 2019 to lower the corporate income tax rate as described above as well as to put into force the separate taxation of hidden reserves and goodwill. This would provide resident and currently privileged companies the (attractive) opportunity to switch to OECD-compliant taxation already in 2019.
Our services and further information:
- Swiss Corporate Tax Reform: From CTR III via TP17 to TRAF
- Corporate Tax Services at KPMG


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Kundalini Yoga, Meditation & Gong Relaxation
Fall Series 2019 at East High School
Kundalini Yoga is known as the yoga of awareness. It is a journey, practice and science that connects you with your deepest Self, your Soul. We incorporate ancient yogic technologies including yoga postures, meditation, pranayama (breath work) & mantra, to improve the quality of our lives; It is a self liberation! These tools will empower you to cultivate compassion and stability even during life's most challenging circumstances. A gong will be played during relaxation at each class.
Instructors: Raj Giandeep Singh
East High School
Salt Lake City, UT 84102
Sept. 12 – Nov. 7.
(No class Oct. 17.)
Thursdays 5:45 pm – 7:15 pm
Cost: $65 for the series
The Mah Bound Lotus Experience
Bound Lotus, also know as psychic union pose, has it's root in Kundalini, Ashtanga, and Hatha Yoga. Bound lotus is a restorative posture that engages the entire body by binding it into the symbol of infinity. The legs are in full lotus. The arms crossed behind the back. The hands hold onto the toes. The forehead comes to the ground. Like many yogic postures held for an extended period of time, Bound Lotus allows our body & mind to merge into the spirit realm — where all healing becomes possible.
"Mah Bound Lotus makes a person strong like iron on the inside & radiant like the sun on the outside. When a person masters Bound Lotus, they have the capacity to change a person and their environments." ~ Yogi Bhajan
No previous experience necessary. Suitable for beginners & long time yoga practitioners alike. Will show many ways to modify the posture so you can get the benefits of the Mah Bound Lotus.
Benefits of Bound Lotus include:
- Enhances physical flexibility – ankles, knees, legs & spine gain increased mobility.
- Open the shoulders & hips.
- Improves digestion – internal organs are in fetal position of rest, allowing the rejuvenation of the digestive system.
- Strengthens the nervous and immune systems.
- Clears & opens the Chakras.
- Releases karmic obstacles, negative tendencies & emotions.
- Develops the state of Shuniya, the divine state of stillness; Anand, supreme bliss; and Samadhi, awakened consciousness.
Instructor: Raj Giandeep Singh
Dancing Cranes Imports
673 East Simpson Avenue Salt Lake City, UT 84106
United States
Saturday, Sep 21
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Cost: $25 in advance
$30 day of


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Are you working with a preservation project that needs seed money to help kick-start its planning efforts? Are you a nonprofit organization undertaking a new educational effort aimed at engaging new audiences in preservation? If the answer to either question is yes, funding might be available from the National Trust Preservation Funds grant program.
Grants from the National Trust Preservation Funds encourage preservation at the local level by providing seed money for planning and education projects. These grants help stimulate public discussion, enable local groups to gain the technical expertise needed for particular projects, introduce the public to preservation concepts and techniques, and encourage financial participation by the private and public sectors.
Grants range up to $5,000 and require a dollar-for-dollar match. Full eligibility requirements and grant guidelines, along with a link to the application, can be found here.
Applications are now being accepted for the October 1, 2012 deadline. Not ready to apply just yet? Don't worry. The program has three deadlines throughout the year.


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iPhone and iPad Finance Plan Comparison
Seeing as how America's largest wireless providers have gravitated towards the European pricing model for wireless devices, we as a nation, have no choice but to accept the fact that the days when walking into our local AT&T or Verizon store and picking up a $700 device, such as an iPhone, for $199 bucks are now behind us.
Back in the day, which, ironically enough, wasn't too long ago, a customer wanting to upgrade their iPhone on AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint or Verizon's network, were given the option of receiving the device at a substantial discount — more formally known as a subsidy. So say, for argument sake, you were eligible for an upgrade and wanted the new iPhone 6s, right? Well you'd have been given the device for $199 or $299 or $399, depending on your desired model and storage capacity, as opposed to having to pay the full-retail $649, $749, or more up-front.
Nowadays, however, customers are expected to pay the full retail price for their device; although all of the big-four wireless carriers, and now even Apple, as well, offer financing options to customers. Moreover, the majority of these financing plans boast the ability to trade in and trade up to the subsequent generation of the device at no additional charge down the road, so long as monthly payments are up to date and account balances are kept current.
So what's the best deal?
Well, as it stands, you have a few different options as far as financing an iPhone or iPad purchase is concerned: you can either buy your new iPhone or iPad directly from Apple, in which case you'd end up paying for the device in monthly installments — ranging from $32.45 to $42.45 a month for the 6s, and $37.45 to $47.45 for the 6s Plus. These purchase prices are also inclusive of 2-years of AppleCare + protection coverage through Apple.
You can also purchase directly from your wireless carrier, too, and in some instances, end up paying even less than you would at Apple. For example, on Verizon wireless, you can purchase the base-model iPhone 6s for $27.08 per month for 24-months, or the base model iPhone 6s Plus for $31.24 a month. Some carriers — such as T-Mobile, for example — offer even more affordable prices. Additionally, all carriers offer similar annual upgrade programs.
The big-four wireless carriers also offer monthly financing plans for the iPad line as well, with prices ranging from roughly $22 a month for the base-model iPad mini 4, to $26 a month for the base-model iPad Air 2, depending on your carrier.
All of the above mentioned iPhone and iPad financing plans are, for qualifying customers, subject to a 0 percent APR interest charge, and are relatively consistent across the board — in that, they're available at almost all carriers.
Last but not least, there are also Apple's traditional financing options, brought to you by PayPal credit, which will allow you to purchase any device on the company's website — including the iPhone 6s or iPad Air 2 — at 12.99% interest for 6, 12, or 18-months, depending on your purchase amount. This option would be most ideal for customers, such as myself, who want an iPhone to use on an MVNO, no-contract wireless carrier such as RedPocket Mobile or SIMPLEMobile, but who don't want to pay the out-of-pocket price for their new phone.
Will you be financing your next new iPhone or iPad purchase?


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The mission of the Advanced Associate Council is to:
The primary mission of Advanced Associate Council (AAC) is to promote the Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associates (NMAAs) as physician extenders in nuclear medicine. NMAAs are valuable members of the nuclear medicine clinical team. With advanced training through a master's level program and advanced certification through the Nuclear Medicine Technology Certification Board (NMTCB), the NMAAs are able to fill the gap in the nuclear medicine department from pre-testing assessment and procedural supervision to preliminary report preparation, allowing the nuclear medicine physicians and nuclear radiologists the freedom to commit to the final interpretation of the diagnostic procedures and the flexibility in supervision of therapeutic procedures while maintaining the hands-on approach to patient care and fostering clinical quality.
NMAAs currently working in the field have seen the evolution of the profession and are taking new exciting roles that had not been previously envisioned. NMAAs have new and valuable roles in therapy, PET/CT, PET/MRI, expanded duties in procedural supervision and interpretation, clinical management and leadership, and patient interaction that free the nuclear medicine physicians to handle the increasing demands of the busy practice setting. NMAAs may facilitate research efforts as well. Overall, NMAAs can be instrumental in delivering more valuable nuclear medicine patient care.
The efforts are underway to seek national recognition as a middle level care giver from key medical organizations. Currently there is much interest from the molecular imaging and general populations in the possibility of a new NMAA educational program, hopefully to be implemented within the next two years.
We encourage any and all interested individuals to sign up for the NMAA session at the SNMMI annual meeting in New Orleans, LA in June 2020, and to contact the SNMMI NMAA Council leadership if you have questions or comments about this exciting career opportunity.
Darko Pucar, MD, PhD
ACR Resolution Endorsing The Statement "Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate – Roles and Responsibilities". (Page 66 Section II, Item 10)
Statement of Consideration - Public Hearing on 201 KAR 46:010
2010 SNMTS NMAA Scope of Practice
Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate Curriculum Guide 1st Edition
House Radiologist Assistant Bill
ACA Insurance Expansion Scope of Practice Laws
Nuclear Medicine Practitioner: The Development of a Middle Level Provider in Nuclear Medicine
NMAA Roles and Responsibilities
A survey was sent to SNMMI members to evaluate the NMAA job market and how NMAAs could be utilized to best support the practice. See Survey Results.
Employer Survey Results Arkansas
Employer Survey Results Missouri
NMAP Employer Survey January Results Arkansas
NMT Program Directors Survey Results
Physican Follow up Survey Results Arkansas
Physican Survey Results Missouri
Technologist Survey Results Arkansas
Technologist Survey Results Missouri
The Society recognizes the need for sub-specialty interests/expertise within the field of nuclear medicine and moleuclar imaging. Councils provide the expertise, professional networking and educational programs for nuclear medicine professionals in respective areas and serve as a resource for development and implementatin of Society policies.
Council membership is voluntary. Councils adhere to Society Bylaws and policies, while operating under its own Operating Procedures, as approved by the House of Delegates, and its own business plan and budget, as approved by the SNMMI Board of Directors.
This section provides the following council specific information.
AAC Council Reports to the House of Delegates
AAC 2018 Annual Meeting Board of Directors Meeting Minutes
How to Become a Member
Membership in the Advanced Associate Council is limited to members of the SNMMI. Membership can be attained by indicating the desire to join during the annual renewal of the SNMMI membership or by filing an application with the Secretary of the council.
Payment of Dues
Membership in the AAC requires payment of dues in the amount of $15/year. Dues are paid to SNMMI and will be due on October 1st of each year.
Benefits of Membership:
Membership makes you a part of a professional group within the SNMMI that:
Provides continuing education for professionals in the various areas relating to Advanced Assoiate through sponsored symposia and continuing education courses. Each year the AAC puts on Continuing Education Courses on topics of interest to professionals in NMAA.
Provides a forum and a mechanism for discussion and dissemination of information relating to the Radiopharmaceutical Sciences. The AAC members receive periodic Newsletters and electronic mailings containing information on professional activities, government issues, and a host of other topics related to Advanced Associate. Members will soon have access to AAC Web pages, which will contain timely and archived information relating to a variety of topics of the AAC.
Provides expertise in the NMAA to SNMMI leadership and to groups outside of SNMMI seeking such expertise. The AAC has representation in a number of governance groups within SNMMI, including the Committee on Councils and the House of Delegates.
Learn more about the specific benefits the AAC council has to offer by emailing email@example.com
NMAA as a Physician Extender
The Advanced Associate Council is extremely proud to announce that our submitted proposal for the SNMMI to accept and endorse the Nuclear Medicine Advanced Associate (NMAA) as a physician extender, was voted on, and was approved by the SNMMI Board of Directors at the 2018 mid-winter meeting in Orlando!
The 2020 SNMMI Mid-Winter and ACNM Annual Meeting will be held
January 23-25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida
Visit the Meetings website for more information.
2018 SNMMI Annual Meeting CE Session:
Basic Anatomy and Imaging Parameters for CT/MR in the Role of Fusion Imaging
Visit the 2018 Annual Meeting Website for more information.


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It is so odd how life works and how I can care so deeply for someone who I have never known and the distance between us isn't great but seems as if we are on the other side of the world from each other. How one comes into our life isn't important because two people meant to be together will always be together in one way or another. I think of this man from morning until night and the time in between and I only want to see this man happy.
He once told me he wasn't happy and that has stuck to me like bbq sauce on ribs and it bothers me so to know that inside, he isn't happy. He has plenty of money and friends to keep him occupied but I do believe no one really knows him because he hides so much inside of himself, as I do. He has everything most people would ever want but it isn't of importance to him, not really.
He is a man of love of beauty and grace and he is missing what he needs and wants most out of life and that is love, real mature love of a woman. I cannot move forward in my life because he takes up so much space in my mind and heart even though he has done nothing to earn it. He runs and hides from the truth of what is in his mind and heart but he is a prisoner within himself and one day he will finally seek out the woman who has controlled him from a distance.
It is only a matter of time before he gives up his fight and reaches out to his maiden of choice and hopefully for him, she will still be waiting. It is so hard to be emotionally invested in someone when you do not know that someone other than through words and pictures. There will come a day my dear in the near future that you will no longer be afraid of what keeps you wanting me and you will come to me and find out what real happiness means and how it really feels.


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Advanced Search
Software developer eCopy has released PaperWorks, a document imaging system designed for education institutions.
PaperWorks is a desktop application designed to scan paper documents, merge them, and save them as secure documents. It allows multiple document types to be merged together, including scans, e-mails, faxes, and other electronic files, and it lets users edit and annotate pages using tools like a highlighter, drawing tools, notes, and text.
Files are saved in PDF format and can be distributed via e-mail and fax. Connectors are included for Microsoft SharePoint, EMC Documentum, Autonomy iManage WorkSite, and Open Text eDOCS DM, according to eCopy.
A fully functional evaluation version (45-day) of eCopy PaperWorks is available for download here. Additional information can be found here.
About the Author
David Nagel is editorial director of 1105 Media's Education Technology Group and editor-in-chief of THE Journal and STEAM Universe. A 25-year publishing veteran, Nagel has led or contributed to dozens of technology, art and business publications.
He can be reached at email@example.com. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn at or follow him on Twitter at @THEJournalDave (K-12) or @CampusTechDave (higher education).
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Esports is proving to be a game changer for students, schools, and the broader global community. K12 schools looking to start their own program, however, are struggling with where to begin. That's where this checklist can help—providing you with what you need to know to start and maintain a successful esports program.
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This morning on NPR there was a great interview with John Lehman, President of the Florida Association of Recovery Residences. Sober homes are in the news lately with the arrests of operators in South Florida. Lehman, who noted Florida is the destination of choice for recovery in the US, pointed to two strategies implemented over the last several years that led to much of the corruption in the industry. First, these halfway house owners figured out how to bill insurance for drug tests, which became extraordinarily lucrative. Second, Lehman noted some residents in these homes have been affiliated with outpatient treatment programs for years, though typical (and appropriate) length of treatment is 90 days. How? The recovering patients are encouraged to relapse and go to detox and then back to outpatient treatment, in exchange for free room and board, transportation, and even an iphone!
If you need help with an intervention, call anytime at 813-477-2437.


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During the past decade the public has become much more aware of the rapid increase in man's numbers and of its effects on the social, political, and economic conditions of human life. The central ethical question of who shall live has given rise to a rapidly expanding literature that is far too large to be surveyed comprehensively here; I can mention only some of the important items. Many additional essays and chapters on these subjects are included in the books presented in Part 1 of this survey.
Perhaps it is appropriate to begin with a contribution
ELKINTON J. The Literature of Ethical Problems in Medicine—Part 2. Ann Intern Med. 1970;73:662–666. doi: https://doi.org/10.7326/0003-4819-73-4-662
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Published: Ann Intern Med. 1970;73(4):662-666.
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Crowe was born in New Zealand on 7th April 1964. At the age of four, his family moved to Australia as his parents wanted to further their careers as film set designers. Crowe made his debut as an actor at age 6 in an episode of the Australian TV series Spyforce.
When Crowe was 14, his family moved back to New Zealand. During this time, Crowe pursued a career as a singer using the stage name Russ le Roq. In the 1980s, he released a single, "I Just Want to be Like Marlon Brando".


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Safety, Security, and Authenticity in Precious Metals
For as long as precious metals have been utilized as a currency and store of value, safety, security, and authenticity have always been a concern among precious metal owners. Throughout time criminals have attempted to find ways to defraud buyers and sellers of precious metals through various methods. Maintaining an account at the Texas Bullion Depository is a helpful way to ensure your precious metal assets are safe, secure, and authentic.
As an agency of the State of Texas, the Texas Bullion Depository is held to a higher standard than other depositories in the United States. It is the only precious metals depository operated with oversight from a state government.Storing precious metal assets with the Texas Bullion Depository represents the highest standards in the depository industry at a reasonable cost to the Depository Account Holder, while still providing the asset owner with peace-of-mind that their precious metals will be easily available to them when needed.
The Texas Bullion Depository is in the business of security. The depository utilizes multiple mitigating security controls to safely secure the assets of Depository Account Holders. The security controls and procedures implemented at the depository are similar to those used to protect important military intelligence assets. The depository maintains its own armed security team, supplemented by Texas Law Enforcement to help ensure the safety and security of depository operations.
High value precious metals are stored within the Class III vault located deep within the Texas Bullion Depository. In the near future, the Texas Bullion Depository will complete the construction of a new purpose built depository campus on 10 acres in Leander, Texas. This new facility will be a state-of-the-art depository operation designed to accommodate the future expansion of the Texas Bullion Depository.
How do you know with certainty that the precious metals you own are real? Many precious metals dealers do not conduct testing on the metals they purchase off the open market for resell to investors – they are simply serving as a clearing location for precious metal transactions.
When you open an account at the Texas Bullion Depository and deposit your precious metals, we will test your items prior to depositing them in your segregated storage bin. If any issues are discovered during our testing procedures we will contact you to notify you of our findings.
The Texas Bullion Depository utilizes numerous different tests to help authenticate your precious metals. The depository will conduct as much testing as reasonably possible without damaging or altering your metals.
Up to three of the following tests will be conducted on your precious metals:
- Visual inspection by trained depository staff;
- Weight inspection and comparison using highly sensitive depository scales;
- Electronic resistivity testing all the way through the item (deep scan).
For deposits of less than 100 individual items, the depository will test 100% of your items.
For deposits of more than 100 items, the depository will test 100% of the gold, platinum, and palladium; however, in respect to silver items in excess of 100 pieces the depository will test a statistically significant sample.
Acquiring precious metals through known, established dealers is great way to ensure you're getting authentic precious metal items – but storing at the Texas Bullion Depository adds another, third party layer to the relationship between you and your precious metals dealer.