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Kathmandu Temple Head Visits Kauai
By Joshua Borden
(Joshua Borden attends Kapa'a Hongwanji & has graciously allowed us to print his article in our newsletter)
Back in July, Kapa'a and Lihue Hongwanji were honored by a visit from a guest speaker from far away.
Reverend Sonam Wangdi Bhutia, Head Priest of Kathmandu Hongwanji, came all the way from Nepal to give a two-part talk on "Shin Buddhism in the Land of Shakyamuni."
On the first day, Rev. Sonam began by talking about his early life, starting with his birth in the Indian state of Sikkim, located in the Himalaya Mountains, between Bhutan and Nepal. Sikkim was an independent Buddhist Kingdom at the time of Rev. Sonam's birth, until 1975, when India overthrew the king and annexed Sikkim through referendum.
Rev. Sonam was the second son in a Vajrayana (a.k.a. "Tibetan") Buddhist family. Following local tradition, his elder brother was expected to continue the family legacy, and Rev. Sonam, as the second son, was sent to a Vajrayana Buddhist monastery to become a monk. Rev. Sonam was sent to the monastery at 3 years old, and began his studies there. When Sikkim was made an Indian state, Rev. Sonam moved to Nepal, where he continued his monastic training.
Life as a Vajrayana monk proved to be extremely strict. Rev. Sonam shared stories of waking up daily at 3am, laborious studies, endless chores, and heavy responsibilities, such as full-day prayer sessions at houses of members of the sangha, chanting sutras from early in the morning until late in the evening. As an adult monk, Rev. Sonam sought enlightenment, but it remained elusive. He even tried a tortuous "mountain recluse" practice and was one of the rare individuals who passed. He reported feeling good from the practice, but not enlightened.
Reminded of Shakyamuni Buddha's ascetic practices before he gained enlightenment, Rev. Sonam decided to go to Bodhgaya, in India, to meditate under the bodhi tree that Shakyamuni Buddha received enlightenment under. Rev. Sonam made the perilous trek down from the Himalaya Mountains to Bodhgaya, and set about meditating under the bodhi tree. During his second day meditating under the bodhi tree, Rev. Sonam saw a foreign man in an electric wheelchair, circling a stupa. Rev. Sonam guessed that the man was going to pray to the Buddha for health. Feeling bad for the man, Rev. Sonam approached him, and asked the man (in English) where he was from. The man replied in that he was from Japan, and said that he came to Bodhgaya to thank Buddha. Shocked and deeply moved that the paralyzed man wanted to thank Buddha, Rev. Sonam wanted to learn more. The man told Rev. Sonam that Shakyamuni's wisdom allowed him to overcome depression after a devastating accident that left him paralyzed, and allowed him to live a full life, and even succeed in business. They talked for a while, and made an appointment to meet later to continue their conversation. They discussed doctrine, and the man turned out to be a Jodo Shinshu Buddhist.
This was Rev. Sonam's introduction to Jodo Shinshu. Rev. Sonam was struck by the man's extraordinary attitude, and that he was able to practice Shin Buddhism despite his severe handicap, which would have been exceedingly difficult in Tibetan Buddhism. This chance meeting with a Shin Buddhist sparked Rev. Sonam's interest in Jodo Shinshu; he learned more about nembutsu teachings, studied Japanese, studied Jodo Shinshu Buddhism in Japan, and was eventually ordained as a Jodo Shinshu reverend.
On the second day of Rev. Sonam's Kauai talks, in Lihue Hongwanji, Rev. Sonam discussed the situation of Buddhism in India and Nepal, and shared the history of Buddhism that has shaped the faith in the world today. Rev. Sonam began by stating that indigenous Buddhism is virtually dead in India and Nepal today, and that Buddhism's rise and fall in South Asia, as well as the establishment of the three main branches of Buddhism that we are familiar with today (i.e., Mahayana, Theravada, and Vajrayana), can be traced back to politics and war, shaped in particular by King Ashoka.
King Ashoka, Rev. Sonam told the enraptured audience, was an ambitions and power-hungry prince, who became king of a small kingdom in what is now India, by killing the previous king, his own elder brother. Once king, Ashoka then launched several successful military campaigns against neighboring kingdoms in the north, south & west of India. Eventually, King Ashoka united all of what is now India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh under his rule, even parts of Afghanistan; everything except the powerful "Kalinga kingdom" of Eastern India. With the rest of South Asia securely under his control, Ashoka waged a devastating war to capture Kalinga (abt. 260 B.C.), which turned out to be the bloodiest war, causing an estimated 100,000 deaths. Ashoka became full of grief and regret. A Hindu at the time, Ashoka had a "crisis of faith." After meeting a Buddhist monk blessing the dead on one of the final battlefields, King Ashoka embraced Buddhism. The monk encouraged King Ashoka to turn his regret into positive action, so Ashoka began his Buddhist legacy of spreading good deeds in his empire and the greater region. Among them, he established a number of free "universities" that taught Buddhism, mathematics, and herbal medicine; the largest such school was "Nalanda." King Ashoka also supported a number of Buddhist missions to spread the dharma north (to what is now Afghanistan & Central Asia), and south (to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia). By the time King Ashoka died, in 232 A.D., Buddhism was popular in his kingdom and was gaining support in other countries. Scholars traveled as far as China and Tibet to learn dharma at institutions like Nalanda and take back to their homelands, and Buddhism was spreading across Central Asia and South East Asia as a result of the successful missions.
King Ashoka's children continued his efforts after his death, but Ashoka's kingdom eventually fell, beginning the slow decline of Buddhism in India. Later Hindu kingdoms reestablished the supremacy of Hinduism, and in the following centuries, India was invaded by the Huns (5th~8th centuries) and by Muslim Mongols (12th century), who devastated Buddhism in India and surrounding Central Asian states. The attackers systematically sacked the monasteries & schools, killed monks and teachers, and burned whatever sacred texts they could find. The Muslim Mongols destroyed the final surviving schools, like "Nalanda University," slaughtering whoever did not convert to Islam. Some monks from Nalanda were able to survive, by running away, over the Himalayas, into Tibet.
Buddhism today, Sonam Sensei explained, is the direct result of these ancient historical events. After the foreign invasions of India, for example, Buddhism was eradicated throughout South and Central Asia. Islam was installed as a dominant religion in the region by the Muslim Mongol invaders, with Hinduism managing to survive alongside Islam in India. Wiped out from its place of origin, Buddhism fractured into the three branches we know today. Buddhist missions sent south, to Sri Lanka and Southeast Asia, survive as Theravada Buddhism. East Asian scholars who studied at Indian Buddhist schools like Nalanda, took the dharma back to their countries became hosts of the Mahayana tradition (which includes Shin Buddhism). Finally, the Indian monks who survived the destruction of Nalanda and other institutions and fled into Tibet started a new center of Buddhism there, which eventually became Vajrayana or "Tibetan" Buddhism.
This led to Rev. Sonam's final topic, his work in Nepal, spreading Jodo Shinshu there. Sonam Sensei explained that when he returned to Nepal from Japan as a Jodo Shinshu reverend, he began his mission by discussing dharma with a few friends in Nepal, a Hindu majority country, with a few ethnic minorities who practice Vajrayana Buddhism. Rev. Sonam opened his talk freely to Nepalese Buddhists and Hindus, who were receptive to Jodo Shinshu teachings. His dharma talks quickly grew by word of mouth, and steadily grew to a sangha community of over 100 members, and the approval from Japan to build a Jodo Shinshu temple.
In addition to services, activities of the temple include dharma talks, scripture readings, social outings (such as picnics), Japanese language classes, and volunteer activities to assist the poor of all faiths in neighboring mountain villages. Sonam sensei sent two Nepalese lay sangha members to study Jodo Shinshu in Japan, who have since become ordained and returned to Nepal, making a total of three ministers at Kathmandu Hongwanji. A large temple building was also recently completed with support from Japan, which can hold four hundred people in chairs or five hundred people on the floor. At the time of this talk, the membership of Kathmandu Hongwanji is approaching two hundred, and continues to grow. May Rev. Sonam and his sangha have continued success. They are always welcome with aloha on Kauai!
Eshinni-Kakushinni Service
Carol Valentine
April 23, 2017
Thank you so much for allowing me the opportunity to speak at this year's Eshinni-Kakushinni Service. I am honored and very humbled by this opportunity.
A wonderful side-effect of preparing for this talk was the investigation and information gathering I did about both Eshinni and Kakushinni. I learned many things I did not know about them. Much of my information came from the book Letters of the Nun Eshinni, by James C. Dobbins. Other information came from a speech given in 2004 by Mrs. Chihoko Yosemori, wife of Bishop Chikai Yosemori and from Jodo Shinshu websites or Jodo Shinshu ministers like Rev. Patricia Usuki, of the San Fernando Valley Buddhist Temple. Of course, you will also notice my own thoughts as I talk about both of these amazing Jodo Shinshu women, as it is natural for information to be distilled through our own perceptions and experiences. I have been truly amazed with the information I have found and my profound respect for both Eshinni and Kakushinni has grown immensely.
It's too bad we don't hear more about Eshinni and Kakushinni, as important as they are to the founding and perpetuation of Jodo Shinshu. Before I did my research, I thought "Oh they were important because after all, Eshinni was Shinran's wife and Kakushinni was their youngest daughter." While that is certainly true, there is so much more to these two strong women.
According to history, Eshinni was born in 1182. Eshinni's family was from the Echigo area, where they were land owners. They were not necessarily farming the land, as I understand, in the sense of "going out into the field" to work, but they had land and owned servants to help work the land. Eshinni has been described as "a strong, sophisticated and capable matriarch" and as an independent & assertive woman who had a life and a mind of her own, especially in her later years. To my surprise, I discovered that Eshinni did not depend on her husband for a living; instead, because of her family, the land and servants, she supported Shinran financially and materially so she was able to sustain Shinran in his work and allow him to spread the dharma. As one source put it, "Imagine how much Shinran's wounds and grudges were healed by Eshinni's grace and support. While Shinran and Eshinni challenged the traditional society and authority with their marriage, Shinran was able to acquire security, safety, comfort and warmth from Eshinni. Eshinni also learned and received the wonderful Nembutsu teaching from Shinran." This is one of those opportunities when I wish I had a time machine and could go back in time to meet her. She sounds like an extraordinary woman.
Shinran and Eshinni were married around 1210 and lived in Echigo, where he had been exiled in the year 1207. According to most of the sources I read, these dates indicate that Eshinni & Shinran met and married after he was exiled to Echigo. There is some discussion and disagreement about this fact. Some sources say they were married before going to Echigo and some say they met and married after he was exiled to Echigo. This is another one of those facts that differs based on the source and the author and on translation and interpretation. It is actually good to know there are different & conflicting ideas so there can be discussion. After all, this happened almost 800 years.
If you are like me, I had heard about the letters Eshinni wrote to her daughter Kakushinni but I never gave it much thought. However, as I read more about the letters and the translation of the letters themselves I have come to realize how truly important the letters and the women are to Jodo Shinshu. There were a total of ten letters which were not discovered until 1921 in the Hongwanji archives. The letters actually helped to confirm Eshinni's existence and verify her marriage to Shinran. Prior to the discovery of Eshinni's letters, there were some people in Japan who did not believe in Shinran's marriage, the existence of his wife, or for a few, even the existence of Shinran himself. The letters were necessary as Eshinni moved from Kyoto to Echigo in 1234 to take care of her family property during a time of drought & famine while Kakushinni stayed in Kyoto to care for Shinran until he passed away in 1263. Eshinni's letters have allowed us to see her reverence and support for Shinran, whom she considered to be a manifestation of Bodhisattva Kannon, revealing very important facts of Shinran's personal life as well as his spiritual journey, adding to his stature. Her letters have the added importance for their reflections of a female writer, since most writings at the time were produced by men.
As you can imagine, sending letters back & forth at the time of Eshinni was cumbersome. No Facebook, Twitter, or email, no postal service, only the use of couriers traveling across the land. It would have taken 1-2 months to travel the distance between Echigo & Kyoto, almost 700 miles. To put it in perspective, that is twice the distance between Kauai and the Big Island and three times the distance between Los Angeles and Las Vegas. Written communication was precious and complicated.
Kakushinni, born in 1224 and Shinran & Eshinni's youngest daughter, was the one who took care of Shinran in his later years, staying with him when he was ill and on his death bed. We are indebted to Kakushinni, not simply because she was Shinran's daughter, but because his teaching might not be available to us today were it not for her devotion to her father and his doctrine. Kakushinni wanted to keep Shinran's teaching alive and perpetuate it for his followers. In 1277, she built a temple on the Otani grounds in Kyoto which she owned, enshrining an image of Shinran then donating the gravesite to all Shinshu followers as a common memorial to Shinran, keeping his memory and his work alive. Although she was Shinran's youngest daughter, it is interesting to note that the blood lineage that continues to the Monshu today is traced through Kakushinni's son and not through one of Shinran's sons as we might have expected.
The contributions of both Eshinni and Kakushinni have had a lasting impact on Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. Eshinni gave Shinran her complete dedication and support, while Kakushinni established the foundation and center from which to transmit his teachings for many generations. They both represented women of their time who were confident and self-aware, and who actively participated in the history of Jodo Shinshu and never lost sight of the Nembutsu. For those who have ever heard my dharma messages you know how important music is to me, how powerful music and words can be to reach people. As I started learning more about these two wonderful and powerful women, a song came to my mind . . . "I Am Woman" by Helen Reddy. It was written in 1971, 45 years ago. It reflects thoughts from the 70's and our current time, based on some of the news we hear and I think the words reflect the impact of the silent strength of Eshinni and Kakushinni, even though they would be too humble to say these words. If you need a refresher on the song, check out these two YouTube videos: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gpu_PV3BTfI or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NAo8k0Fq1OM
Thanks to Eshinni & Kakushinni, and many Buddhist women throughout the years, we know that the teaching applies to everyone without exception. As we know, Shinran himself was always careful to emphasize that the Nembutsu teaching was for everyone, whether priest or lay, man or woman, without discrimination; with no one excluded on the basis of class, gender, education or other bias. At the time of Eshinni & Shinran, with divisions between the classes and gender differences, this was a rather radical philosophy. Women have always been just as important as men in the Shin Buddhist Sangha, though they have often remained in the background. It does not mean that women are more special but simply that they are equally bright links in the Golden Chain that brings us all together. In a recent post I found the following wise words on the BCA website: "Buddhism is the teaching of oneness, not sameness."
Our lives today now are more comfortable, easier in most ways than at the time of Eshinni but the concepts of Buddhism and the thoughts of Nembutsu are still relevant. Eshinni lived in a time when people experienced the sufferings of life surrounded by the natural cycles of the land, including crop failures and famine. Today we do not have the same experiences as Eshinni yet the cycles of life are still with us; change is always with us whether we welcome it or not. We can acknowledge the changes as Eshinni did and continue on with life or become entrenched in anger, fighting change at every opportunity. Which way seems most practical and life-affirming? Personally, I prefer Eshinni's example of acceptance. A quote I have found seems to express the example of her life: "You either get bitter or you get better. It's that simple. You either take what has been dealt to you and allow it to make you a better person, or you allow it to tear you down. The choice does not belong to fate, it belongs to you." (Josh Shipp)
In closing, let me share Eshinni's words to Kakushinni in her tenth and final letter, written shortly before Eshinni passed away. "I myself will be going to the [Pure Land] paradise very soon. There everything can be seen without any darkness, so be sure to say the Nembutsu and come to the paradise to be with me. Indeed, when we go to the paradise and meet again, nothing whatsoever will be in darkness."
Thank you for coming this morning to share in our appreciation for Eshinni and Kakushinni and their contributions to Jodo Shinshu.
Namo Amida Butsu
The Dharma of Mochi
Carol Valentine
As I was looking through a small cookbook for mochi recipes I came upon mochi recipes that could be made in the microwave rather than baking them in the usual way. I had never heard of that before and it intrigued me. As I thought about it more, I realized that, as usual, there was a Dharma Talk in that thought. As I began to put my ideas together, I realized it's not really about the mochi, it's about the food, about being in the kitchen, remembering the past and the memories of the past, so my thoughts went off in a different direction.
I thought of the kitchen and what it means, not only at the temple but for me personally. For my family, both as I was growing up and when our daughter was growing up, the kitchen was about so much more than cooking. It was about sharing, family, friends having fun and enjoying life. I didn't realize it at the time, but that was what it was really all about. As I spent time with my daughter in the kitchen I realized it made me connect not only with her but with the memories of time spent with my mother.
So many memories of the past are connected with food . . . cooking in the kitchen with my mother, my grandmothers, my aunts and uncles, my cousins . . . . the fun times. . . the celebrations. Holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries were always cause for celebration and were always filled with a variety of delicious food. We all had to work together to make it happen, even the youngest helped by setting the table or carrying napkins . . . it was a study in true interdependence. I hope everyone has some of those same memories of family, food and celebration. Even when we could not afford a huge feast or the celebration was for only two people, it was still a celebration of gratitude.
At Legislative Assembly one year a speaker talked about the necessity of using the rear view mirror when driving. While it is true that we need to use the rear view mirror, we will not reach our destination if we only look at where we have been and not where we are going. In the kitchen, this means that we make changes to how we cook, how we bake and sometimes with the ingredients we use. I remember eating bacon frequently and my mother saving the bacon grease to use in her cooking instead of oil. No more; we have learned that it isn't healthy. After I became an adult, my grandmother talked with me about some of the changes she made in the way she prepared foods. She made wonderful pies and had always made her pie crust and prepared the pie fillings from scratch but as time went on and things changed, couldn't imagine continuing to do all that work when there were other time-saving methods she could employ. She remarked that she found that Sarah Lee made wonderful pies without all the mess and bother. Changing how she made her pies did not detract from the love she put into the pies, it simply made it easier for others to help her with the task. This is the same for mochi that is made from mochiko powder rather than beginning with mochi rice. No pounding to make the mochi, no need to use fancy equipment, no baking needed to create the final product. Instead, we can use the microwave to help us make the mochi. What a change . . . . one that couldn't have even been thought of 50 years ago, but it sure is a nice way to make mochi.
As usual, thinking about mochi and being in the kitchen becomes a metaphor for Buddhist concepts and life. Being in the kitchen, whether making pies or mochi, is about cooperation and interdependence. We can do nothing in the kitchen without the help of others . . . . think of the growers, the producers, the packaging, the stores . . . . all of that. Life really is all about change, a constant change. Just as we can't get stuck driving forward and only looking in the rear view mirror, we need to remember and honor the past but adjust to the changes that are inevitable in life. If not, we are stuck with meaningless tradition. With my grandmother's pie, she learned to enjoy the new pie making . . . actually she embraced it because it was so much easier and gave her more time to be outside playing volleyball with her grandkids. The taste of the pie wasn't exactly the same as her homemade pie, but it was good and we all enjoyed it enthusiastically because it came from her with love. No one asked her to go back to her old methods. We were all leaning to deal with change. With mochi, too, we can enjoy the new way of making mochi; even embrace the new methods, with the new equipment and the quicker process. It may not be exactly the same as it used to be, but we can still enjoy it with enthusiasm. I know that I enjoy it even more because I can make it myself any time I want without waiting for a special occasion or waiting for a crowd of people to help. For life too, every day brings inevitable change but we can still enjoy life and its variations if we remember to honor the past but also enjoy and embrace change. We should not be stuck in the past, just because we remember it fondly or because it was the way we were taught. Life may not be exactly the same as before and may not be exactly what we want, but it is ok. Life is still sweet, even if the ingredients are a little different and the methods are not the same. Sweet is still sweet.
Carol Valentine (August 28, 2016)
Think of this as a continuation of last week's dharma talk ("Words Have Power"). I spoke about how we need to be careful with our words and our actions with others. I mentioned Interdependence, a main concept in Buddhism; we are never in this all by ourselves, we always are affected by others and have an effect on those around us. This is as true for all of life as it is true for our temple. Dr. Mark Unno, in an article from the Buddhist Study Center newsletter, wrote, "Life is about the journey. It's about how we all live at the intersection of each other's lives and actions and how we must do the best that [we] can."
Life is not a solo adventure, no matter what we think. We are never in this life on our own, unless maybe we are living "off the grid" somewhere, with no electricity, no water service, no grocery store and (oh my goodness!) no internet. But yet, even "off the grid" people still need others . . . the animals they must hunt for food, the maker of the tools they use in their life, even the manufacturers of the clothing they wear. No one survives alone without the help of others, even if we think we do. No matter how much we may say "I'm fine on my own . . . I don't need anyone," It isn't true. We all need each other, whether we are on the giving side of the equation or the receiving side of the equation.
Think about the Olympics, which were just held in Rio. The Olympics are a great example of the interdependence of so many people. Think about these sports, how interdependent they are: soccer, synchronized swimming, relay events, water polo, team rowing. These events are team events so the interdependence is obvious. If the teams don't cooperate and play together they will lose for sure. But what about those events that are individual sports? I checked online and found out that about 80% of the Olympic events are individual sports. Think about individual sports like gymnastics, fencing, archery, judo. Are the participants all on their own, with no assistance from anyone else? Not by a long shot. Think about how many people helped the gold medal gymnast Simon Biles achieve her goal. I can only guess at the number . . . there are obvious ones, like her parents, her coaches and the gyms that she trained in. Think about the costumes, the equipment, the chalk, and so many things I have no clue about. Beyond the obvious, there are many, many people behind each and every Olympic participant, whether they are a gold medal winner or in 30th place.
Even people in sports know how much their success depends on others. Recently there were inductions into the Football Hall of Fame and the Baseball Hall of Fame. In football, Brett Farve was one of the inductees. As he talked, he mentioned all of the people in his life that had helped him, from coaches to teammates to friends and family. Many of the people mentioned were people I had never heard of, just simple people but important ones in Brett Farve's life. In baseball, one of the inductees, Ken Griffey, Jr., displayed the same thoughts. He thanked all of the people who had helped in his career, some of them far in the past but nevertheless important to him. All of the inductees did the same thing, expressing their thanks for the people in their lives who helped them and who believed in them. These people are the best in their sports yet they are very aware that they did not achieve their fame by themselves. They gratefully acknowledge their need for others in their lives and the important part that interdependence plays in their lives. They know we all need each other to accomplish anything in life. We are all the same. We need each other, we need cooperation, we need to help each other as often as we can.
As we are aware, it seems easier to help those we know or those we can relate to, but oneness in Buddhism is about all of us, regardless of who we are. Diversity may bring struggles and difficulties, but in diversity, we find strength. Diversity is a gift, not a problem. I discovered a video on YouTube called "Love Has No Labels." It talks about diversity in a better way than I can, expressing the idea that we should love and embrace diversity. By the way, the man doing the speaking is John Cena, from the WWE (that stands for the World Wrestling Entertainment). Although he has made part of his living as a pro wrestler, he has also granted over 500 wishes for children through the Make-A-Wish Foundation. How's that for not judging a person by only their appearance? Surprised me!
Check out the YouTube site: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MdK8hBkR3s
As I have thought about interdependence I realize that it also contains other significant Buddhist concepts, those of compassion and gratitude. When I think of compassion, I think of Dana (selfless giving), one of the 6 Paramitas. If we are compassionate then we think of others and try to help others, without superficial restrictions. But, look at this another way. If we are compassionate and we reach out to others, there must be someone to receive the compassion. Makes sense, right? But think about the reverse. If someone shows us compassion (offering to help us with packages, offering to give us a ride), what is our usual first reaction? "Oh, no thank you. I can manage." How many of us have done this? I'll admit that I have, thinking about how independent I am. Superwoman! I can do it all! NOT. Seriously, if people are offering help, support and compassion and we reject their efforts, then we are denying their offer of dana, we are denying their compassion. I don't think we actually mean to say that when we turn down an offer, but it can be seen in that way. If someone is giving (dana) then there must be someone receiving or it is useless. Interdependence truly is about being there for each other, creating situations for "win-win" not "win-lose." Let's be sure we are gracious whether we are giving or receiving. The Dalai Lama called this "wise selfish; seeing that our own well-being lies in everybody's welfare, in being compassionate."
One example of interdependence is what has been happening these past two weeks in Louisiana with the floods. People who were not affected helped those who were devastated by the floods. They helped strangers escape their homes in boats, they helped shovel out their homes after the flood waters receded, stepping up to help just because it was the right thing to do. They didn't stop to ask them where they were from or what church they attended, they just helped in any way they could. The same could be said for the earthquake in Italy or the tornadoes in the Midwest. People help each other because it is the right thing to do.
I want to leave you with two thoughts:
"Be the reason someone smiles today."
And words from the Buddha:
"Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared."


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Local Organization Helps Veterans Reach New Heights
Eric Moore's toes cling to a half inch of rock 200 feet above the ground. Struggling, Moore fails to find his next hand hold. Friends and family cheer him on as he makes another attempt. He reaches farther scanning for a place in the solid granite to wedge his fingers. He fails. He fails again. Finally his fingers find their mark and he continues his victorious climb up the rock face to the top.
As Moore faces his fears on the side of a giant boulder, Mark Yearsley a slightly more experienced climber, faces his own difficulties. Yearsley, a 10-year Air Force veteran, climbs using a prosthesis not intended for climbing. Though the climb is difficult, Yearsley does not let his amputated leg stop him from achieving his goal of reaching the pinnacle.
Moore and Yearsley are two of several veterans, both men and women, who participated last year in Warriors Rock— an annual free climbing event held for veterans each year at Castle Rock State Park near the City of Rocks National Park in Almo, Idaho. Sawtooth Mountain Guides, an experienced team of certified guides, assists with the event.
Warriors Rock, founded by Diana Lincoln-Haye and Stan Haye, gives veterans and their families the opportunity to enjoy nature, bond with other veterans and accomplish achievements they may not have thought possible prior to attending. The Hayes took up rock and ice climbing later in life and discovered that there is much more to climbing than meets the eye.
"The reason I wanted to offer this event to veterans is because of my experience with PTSD (They lost a daughter suddenly 8 years ago)," explains Lincoln-Haye. "I knew how valuable it was for my own health. I thought it would be good to offer to veterans and their families as well."
The comradery felt among the veterans and their families is palpable as they cheer each other to greater heights and achievements.
"The group is like an embrace" explains Moore, a former Marine. "I took my son-in-law Hector Coronado, an immigrant from Mexico, and Lance Simmons, a young man diagnosed with Asperger's who has had major struggles in his life." Both young men were welcomed with open arms by the group. Moore has noticed a particular change in Simmons since climbing Warriors Rock.
"For Lance this experience was a freeing, paradigm shifting, informative and empowering sensory experience that challenged him both physically and mentally," Moore explains. "He was really impressed with Mark Yearsley and saw that other people with physical and mental challenges and heartbreak are facing that reality and doing something. Since Warriors Rock, he's moved out of subsidized housing. He enrolled in school. He smiles. He engages people. It was a life changing experience."
After reflection, Moore realized that climbing is a metaphor for the trials in life. He realized that you have to do more than just survive in life, you need to really live.
Mark Yearsley, an inspiration to the group, has suffered through his own trials. He sustained severe injuries to his right leg, shoulders and back during military service.
"After 22 unsuccessful surgeries trying to reconstruct my right leg and being in a wheel chair for several years feeding on a diet of 500 mg of morphine a day due to pain, the doctor and I thought it would be best to amputate my right leg above the knee," Yearsley says. Two years of depression followed. Then something special happened.
"I was introduced back into the outdoors through a veterans' organization," notes Yearsley. "Once introduced, I started taking other disabled veterans on hunting and fishing trips showing them they too can do whatever they set their mind to." Yearsley does more outdoors now than he did prior to becoming an amputee.
Yearsley inspires others to achieve their goals through his own example.
"One thing I love to hear from vets is, 'If you can do it with one leg then surely I can do it with two,'" says Yearsley. He is in the process of starting his own non-profit organization called Outdoor Salute to Veterans. "I will also coordinate with Warriors Rock to get more veterans off their couches and into the outdoors."
Yearsley recognizes the significance of participating in Warriors Rock.
"Warriors Rock is an opportunity to get out of the house, reach for the stars, and feel a sense of achievement and freedom," says Yearsley. "Climbing builds confidence, courage, concentration, stamina, discipline and gives you a sense of accomplishment. The first step is to get out and at least try and set reasonable achievable goals."

subset: commoncrawl


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This week went really fast. On Monday, we had Kagan training all day. Then on Tuesday we celebrated Martin Luther King Junior. We made a book about Martin Luther King. I loved looking at the pictures they drew of him.
Then we also did everything that I mentioned in my blog post last year about MLK. Click here to check that post out! I love having them make the cut and paste activity with my class. It is always interesting to see how they are turn out. They are always so different.
This week, one of my awesome assistants made me some Buckeyes!!! They are delicious!!
This week we also worked on the Science Big Idea of 8 and 9.
Big Idea 8 is Properties of Matter.SC.K.P.8.1 Sort objects by observable properties, such as size, shape, color, temperature (hot or cold), weight (heavy or light), and texture.
So we practiced sorting by color, shape, color and shape, weight, temperature, and texture. My students were already familiar with sorting because we have sorted in Math class. I set up my class into four groups and then each group was given different items they could sort.
Sorry the picture is sideways. Students are sorting by color.
I made sure the kiddos understood what we were doing by having each child grab a colored shape. Then the students had to group themselves by color. The students did a great job with this.
Here are some of my students with their group. They are holding up their shapes with colors.
We then continued our centers on sorting by sorting by shapes, color and shapes, weight, temperature. The students really enjoyed the centers.
We have begun the scary double phonograms. They are usually very tricky for my students. Every week I make sure we take time out to practice writing the phonograms so the students really understand them. We are really working on writing correctly on the lines too with our letters so it is perfect to practice with our phonograms. When we practiced I had the students face their partners. Then the students wrote their answer and when I said partner check the partners checked the work to make sure it was the correct and formed correctly.
This week we had to read Cinderella. I choose to read a regular version of Cinderella and then a different version (Cinderella Skeleton) so we could compare. I love reading Cinderella Skeleton because the boys in my class always enjoy it. I had them tell me the main character and then the beginning, middle, and end of the story.
Last Saturday I was surprised with a Baby Sprinkle. If you don't know what a Sprinkle is, it is the Baby Shower for the second baby. I thought I was having a day of pampering but instead I was happily surprised with the Sprinkle. I couldn't believe it. I really didn't think I was having anything.
Walking into the surprise Sprinkle! Sorry for the glare.
Today my class and classroom parents had a surprise shower for me. It has been a week of full of surprises. I am so honored my class would do this for me. It was so special. Here are some pictures of the surprise.
The students took yarn and cut it to how big they thought my belly was.
Another thing the students did was write the name they thought I should name the baby. Lots of them voted for Tobey. It was adorable to see what they thought.
The showers we so great!!! I am one lucky gal!!!


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I coach a variety of teams in diverse industries in the area of continuous improvement.
A common struggle is overcoming an obstacle that is often perceived as resistance to change.
Improvement is Inherent
Change for the better seems to be a natural aspect of the human condition. The advances of humanity throughout history are astounding when you think about the millions upon millions of small improvements that have accumulated and compounded in order for us to enjoy the positive aspects of our current condition.
Countless organizations, however, struggle with changing for the better, despite leadership's insistence on improvement. How is it that we're capable of tremendous advances toward a better state and at the same time fail or refuse to do so time after time?
Organizations Struggle to Improve
A team I recently coached with dealt with this issue. This was a small team working in and office environment. The organization doesn't employ a facilities custodian or janitorial service. The team members are responsible for cleaning individual office spaces, common office areas, restrooms, and the kitchen.
The state of the office wasn't bad, but it was below the level of cleanliness that any one member of the team wanted.
Beginning the practice of 5S was the beginning of the team's daily continuous improvement journey. Several members watched the Gemba Academy videos one S at a time. The idea was to learn one S, do it, then move on to the next.
Maybe Pushing People to Improve Isn't Necessary
Shine was easy enough to do. The team members did a great job of thoroughly cleaning every part of the office. They had some colorful comments about dust that had accumulated on the top edges of the baseboards and behind toilets. They also mentioned the men's room didn't need three cans of air freshener on the counter. Already, they were moving into Standardize.
The team knew they'd need to involve the rest of the people in the office to maintain the newly established level of cleanliness. This was a point that slowed down their progress.
In a very Toyota Kata sort of way the team was asked about their target condition, which was to standardize a rotating schedule of cleaning tasks that involved everyone in the office. The current condition was that cleaning was done occasionally by some people and no schedule or standards were in place.
Nothing to Fear but Fear Itself
I could feel a bit of tension when it was time to decide on a next step. There was some hesitation to go to the rest of the people in the office to suggest they participate with a standardized cleaning task assignment and schedule.
The team had a bit of fear of the response they might get. They were concerned that their coworkers would be, should we say, less than enthusiastic about being asked to clean toilets.
Finally, Somebody Made It Happen
They brought the idea to their coworkers despite their fears. As it turns out, the idea was well received and the coworkers were happy to help.
Everyone in the office wanted a cleaner working environment. No one wanted to be the one to disrupt the status quo, and the good working relationships in the office, to make the improvement happen.
Fear of rejection was a barrier to a simple improvement that everyone wanted. The problem that prevented progress was imagined–by everyone.
The Lesson I Learned
Put more effort into understanding and removing barriers to continuous improvement than into driving it. Improving our conditions–our lives–is inherent.


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This month's tip refers to where you make contact with the ground relative to your ball position. If you suffer from chunky shots (hitting the ground prior to the ball) you are most likely not getting your weight to your forward foot. The ball position could also be too far forward in your stance. Remember that your low point is where the club bottoms out after you have struck the ball. This picture shows the correct low point and swing motion.
Tag Archives: golf swing
Golf Instruction: Improving Contact With The Ball At Impact
The most important part of the golf swing is impact, plain and simple. The picture to the right shows a club approaching the ball with a shaft that is almost vertical. The club head is making contact with the ground first, about an inch before the ball. The better ball strikers have more shaft lean and catch the ball first, not the ground. Their divots will come after the ball. To enable this you must have your weight moving towards your target side foot (left foot for right handers). The shaft will automatically start to lean more towards the target and the club head will catch the ball cleaner. Contact improves immediately as does distance and control.
Book your lesson with me to assess your impact position and start improving your ball striking. I also use Trackman to determine your exact impact numbers, this technology allows you to understand better and improve more quickly.
Improving Your Golf Swing – Shifting vs. Rotation
Understanding or awareness can be misinterpreted, an example of this is the back swing motion. When you read or watch "you must get more weight on your right foot and less on your left" for a right hand golfer in the back swing, be careful.
You can easily start a sway action, for most people the sway leads to poor shots. I say "most people" as there are a few people with hip mobility limitations who cannot rotate.
Remember to rotate your shoulders and pelvis around your spine, keep your spine in the same position from set up to the top of your back swing. You will have more weight on your right foot and in a better position to start the down swing.
I have an online booking schedule, simply go to this web site golffactor.drivrpro.com, pick your time and you are confirmed.
I am booking into April currently in my schedule, let's start improving your game!
The Domino Affect – Perfecting Your Golf Swing
I hear from many of you that "I need to turn my hips faster or get them going sooner!" Sound familiar?
The down swing has a sequence of events or as some refer to as timing. The first domino to start the sequence is your weight moving towards the forward foot. The pelvis then starts to unwind, then the shoulders, then the arms and finally the club head. If you begin the down swing with something other than the weight shift, the shot will be compromised.
The left photo displays a hip spinning motion versus a weight shift using the ground for leverage.
Keeping Your Hands Inactive Thru Your Golf Swing
The hands obviously hold onto the club and play a major role in the club face control. If you have a good grip position, your club face has a better chance of starting the ball on the line you intend it to start on.
The hands were not meant to be used for swinging the club with the intent of rotating the club face thru the impact position. This requires extremely accurate timing and unless you have a physical dysfunction, which precludes you from moving your body or your arms, it is not recommended!
The hands play an intentionally inactive role thru impact to the finish position, the picture below displays this correctly. The 2nd picture displays active hands/wrists, which lead to poor contact, directional issues and lack of consistency. If you are using too much hand action, start turning your body and swinging your arms more to the finish position.
Improve Your Core, Improve Your Swing
Golf performance is largely dictated by rotational power. Unfortunately, the weakest part of most golfers' bodies is the part they need most: the core. Without strong, healthy, flexible muscles in your stomach, hips, butt and lower back, you can't make a golf swing that is both powerful and technically sound.
Here are some core strengthening and stretching drills for you to use when doing your workout. Doing these exercises regularly will help build your muscles and keep them in tip-top shape.
Pictures 1 & 2 stabilize the pelvis and strengthen the torso/tva for better rotation. Picture 3 lengthens the spine and stretches the core to the finger tips, while strengthening the core.
Swing Speed versus Tempo
Do not confuse golf swing speed with golf swing tempo. Your golf swing speed is how fast the club is moving at impact. Your golf swing tempo is the pace of your swing from the first movement to impact (ratio). A good example is Ernie Els and Tiger Woods. Ernie has a very slow looking pace compared with Tiger's, but their tempo is identical, both are a ratio of 3:1. Tiger has a greater club head speed compared to Ernie though. Remember, if you rush your back swing on one shot and then slow down on the next, you have a recipe for disaster. Keep your back swing pace consistent and the downswing will be much better!
Check out our 2014 Jamaican Winter Golf Trip!


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Exit polls on television channels on Monday predicted a clear win for the BJP in Madhya Pradesh and for the Congress in Delhi. Rajasthan and Chhattishgarh, they said, face the prospect of hung assemblies.
The BJP is shown to have a slight edge in Rajasthan though no party is projected to get a majority.
An ORG-Marg exit poll on Aaj Tak said the BJP is likely to get between 140 and 150 seats in the 230-member Madhya Pradesh assembly, with 55-65 seats for the Congress.
In Rajasthan, the BJP is shown to have an edge over the Congress with 85-95 seats compared to 70-80 for the latter in the 200-member assembly.
It predicts a deadlock in the 90-member Chhattisgarh assembly with both the ruling Congress and BJP tied at 35-45 seats.
It predicts between 50 and 60 seats for the Congress in the 70-member Delhi assembly.
The DRS exit poll, on Sahara Samay channel, predicted that the BJP would get 89 out of the 200 seats in Rajasthan and Congress 84 seats.
In Madhya Pradesh, it forecast 168 of the 230 seats would go to the BJP and 44 for the Congress.
For the 70-member Delhi assembly, it gave 38 seats to the Congress and 25 to the BJP.
While the ORG-Marg exit poll on Aaj Tak had a sample size of 21,600 covering two assembly segments in each parliamentary constituency, Sahara did not reveal details about its survey.
Star News, quoting an A C Nielson exit poll, forecast 50 seats for the Congress and 11 for BJP in Delhi. It gave the BJP 121 seats in Madhya Pradesh and 71 to the Congress. In Chhattisgarh, it gave 46 seats to the BJP and 38 to the Congress. The channel said Rajasthan would witness a neck-to-neck race.
Pre-poll surveys had indicated that the Congress would retain Delhi, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh but may lose Madhya Pradesh to the BJP.


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Marketing Executive Full-time Job1 year ago - Marketing & Communication - Kathmandu - 624 views
Job Details
About us:
Gorkha Brewery (P) Ltd., part of the Carlsberg Group, presents an opportunity for qualified individuals to team up in our existing workforce. The extraordinary success of the company is the result of excellence in every arena and adding that extra bit every time is the talented and dynamic people who work with the company.
This is an invitation to people who have a passion for excellence and seek the opportunity to explore their skills.
We are looking for:
Job Title: Marketing Executive
Job Level: Mid Level
No. of Vacancy/s: 1
Education Level:Master
Experience Required:More than or equals to 1 year
Job Location:Head Office, Hattisar
Job Specification
- Must have completed Masters in Management or Marketing
- Must have at least 1 year of experience, MBA freshers can also apply
- Candidates specialized in marketing are preferred
- Reporting line: Head of Department
Job Description
- Assist in Preparing and finalizing commercial activities for Annual marketing plan
- Ensure effective channel programs thereby achieving proper brand mix
- Assisting in identifying opportunities for brand activation in region and effectively
- implementing in ensuring positive brand health in the respective zone
- Assisting in selecting promotion methods / events suitable for brand as per the market need
- Collecting and reporting promotion activities of competitors periodically in respective regions
- Identifying and usage of relevant POS and POP items as per the market/channel need and
- brand positioning ensuring high effectively of each items in channels
- Keep track of the stock of the POS items at Dealer points
- Co-ordinate with sales officers and Regional Managers on all related activities
- Undertaking sales and marketing activities as assigned by the immediate supervisor
To Apply
Qualified Nepali citizens may email their application with a recent passport size photograph and CV to firstname.lastname@example.com


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|James Franklin. Via nj.com.
James Franklin is apparently a graduate of the Vlad Putin School of Geopolitics' sports management program. Speaking at a stop of the 2014 Penn State Coaches Caravan in Baltimore, the first year Nittany Lions head coach explained why the addition of Maryland and Rutgers to the Big Ten will not alter his recruiting strategy in Maryland or New Jersey.
"I consider this (Maryland) in-state. I consider New Jersey in-state," Franklin said, according to The Baltimore Sun. Of the schools in those areas, he said, "might as well shut them down because they don't have a chance."
Penn State goes on the road to face Rutgers on Sept. 13, and hosts Maryland on Nov. 1.


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Lakefront at LOTO Android App
I designed, user tested, built, and published an Android app in the Google Play Store.
After a few seasons of boating at Lake of the Ozarks (LOTO) and listening to other boaters my wife and I realized there was a need for something to help people find their way around the expansive 1100 mile shoreline. Google Maps is great (I'm a Level 5 Local Guide and a Map Maker for Google Maps) but many of the businesses at The Lake change so quickly that Maps is very often out of date. Maps also lacks a way to display the mile marker system that is vital for navigating waterways.
So far the app has over 750 installs and the Google Map that powers the app has over 20,000 views.
I did some rapid lo-fi wireframing in Balsamiq Mockups and used interactive wireframes to validate my concepts with some potential users.
This was intended to be a mobile app from the outset so Balsamiq was not the ideal tool for user testing since there aren't any mobile PDF viewers that do a good job of handling the hotspots in PDFs that Balsamiq creates. Marvel was brand new at the time and this was a great reason for me to learn to use it.
When I moved into Marvel I went into higher fidelity: Check out the Interactive Marvel Mockup
I used the Marvel mockup to iterate and facilitate quite a few conversations until I felt confident I had something useful and fun to use.
Here's an overview of the interactive mockup: Marvel Mockup Overview
I built the app using Cordova, a Google Maps API, and a KML map that I created and keep updated.
The current version of the app is not too far off from the concepts. This is a recording of the actual app: Lakefront at LOTO Overview
I put together a little responsive website to give an overview of what the app does.
I promote the app on Craigslist, MidwestBoatParty.com, and a t-shirt. I also created a logo for the boat racing team Wax on Wax Off Offshore Racing and in trade they are sporting the app's logo on the boat which is campaigned around the country.
I'm proud of the fact that I was able to do the entire thing from end to end; concept, design, build, promote. Of course, nothing is ever done and I have plans to move to a different mapping API so that I can create a more elegant user experience.


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Motto: "Dios, Unión, Libertad" "God, Union, Liberty"
Anthem: Himno Nacional de El Salvador
Capital San Salvador
Official languages Spanish
Demonym Salvadoran
Government Presidential republic
Independence from Spain, September 15, 1821 / from the UPCA 1842
Area 21,040 km² / 8,124 sq mi
Population estimate 6,600,000 (97th)
Currency United States dollar ($) 2001–present
The Roman Catholic Church plays an important role in the Salvadoran culture. Important foreign personalities in El Salvador were murdered in 1989 by the Salvadoran Army during the heat of the civil war. Painting, ceramics and textile goods are the main manual artistic expressions. El Salvador's most notable dish is the pupusa. Pupusas are a thick hand-made corn tortilla (made using rice flour dough) stuffed with one or more of the following: cheese, chicharrón a ground pork product and refried beans. . The pupusa's exact origins are debated, although its presence in El Salvador is known to predate the arrival of Spaniards. Two other typical Salvadoran dishes are yuca frita and panes rellenos. Yuca frita, which is fried cassava root, is deep fried and served with curtido (a pickled cabbage, onion and carrot topping) and pork rinds or pepesquitas (fried baby sardines). Pan con pavo, is a warm turkey submarine sandwich similar to a hoagie. The turkey is marinated and then roasted and hand-pulled. This sandwich is traditionally served with tomato, and watercress. El Salvador is a Central American country whose culture is a mixture of Pipil and Spanish. Its music includes religious songs used to celebrate Christmas and other holidays, like feast days of the saints. Americanization of El Salvador, has led to English music being played on most national radio stations. In 2007, census showed that 67% of the music on the most popular radio stations, was English.
*Content gathered from Wikipedia


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In yet another shocking case of child sexual abuse, a 4-year old girl has been reported to be raped inside the National Security Guard (NSG) campus in Manesar, Gurugram on Sunday evening. The 4-year old girl comes from the family of a cook who is employed in the campus.
Reports say that she had gone out to play in the park located inside the campus, but came home bleeding and disoriented. The park is located right outside the girl's house. The girl's family informed the NSG officials, post which the police were called to investigate the matter. A medical examination was carried out at the Civil Hospital in Gurugram on Sunday night.
When approached, police officials were not very forthcoming with their replies, citing the reason that the case is under investigation. They said that they are awaiting medical reports, and it would not be wise to make any statements prior to that. An FIR has been filed in the case under the POSCO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act.


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It's finally the week of El Tour de Mesa! This Saturday, April 14 at 7am hundreds of cyclists will line up in downtown Mesa start a 70 mile race through Mesa, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, and Tonto National Forest. This route features some of the best scenery in the East Valley including Four Peaks, Red Mountain, the lower Salt River and much more. Check out the course below for more information details click on the image.
If you're competitive like myself you'll notice I have some work to do to qualify for platinum designation which requires a time under 3 hours. This will be a tough task, but if I ride smart and with the right group of experienced riders I have a good chance of making it happen. This year's Tour de Mesa will truly be unique featuring The Great Arizona Bicycle Festival. Join the City of Mesa the Downtown Mesa Association and El Tour for a fun day of all things bicycle! This inaugural event includes El Tour's festivities (like the Start/Finish line and the Grand Cycling Awards Ceremony), Ciclovia, a Bike Swap, a kids bike rodeo, a self-paced historic bike tour, bike art and food, games and music! Enjoy the festivities on streets closed to motorized traffic!
Good luck to all the riders! Thanks to all the volunteers and family and friends for supporting the riders.


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After 7 years in journalism, I learned online marketing, and put my writing and editing skills to use as an Internet marketer and SEO copywriter.
What does this mean for you?
You will get quality, ethical, persuasive SEO content on deadline. I will ensure your Internet marketing success through email, content and social media marketing for more, targeted website traffic – all with a positive work vibe!
- Content education
- Editing
- Content strategy
- SEO copywriting
- Web content
- Blogging
- Email marketing
- Social media marketing
- Landing pages
- and more


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It's easy to set up WordPress on our hosting platform and can be done in 2 minutes. Just go to our one-click installer, enter your admin username and password, email address, title to the website, and click install. Done, finished, completed! WordPress powers 1 out of 5 sites in the world today and probably 80% of all small business websites that are out in the wilds of the net. Some installers with other companies can take up to 24 hours to install your WordPress website (these companies are national brand names), but our installer takes only a few seconds. Our one-click installer will have you up and running with your WordPress website so you can add your layout (added by you or your website company), content (text and images), and logo, and your business/personal website is ready for action.
For more information and to see how easy it is to set up your WordPress website, visit our Knowledgebase article and video:


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I know this might be a very old topic for Joomla developers, so to call Joomla module in virtuemart category page or any other component template file, but I am just posting this topic as I recently get to know about it and I recently implemented in one of my Joomla project.
Here in this post I am going to share the way to call Joomla module in category page so the one particular module get visible only when browsing categories and subcategories pages. So this will be something like including {loadposition module} inside Virtuemart template file
So let open the file to add the code – /components/com_virtuemart/views/category/tmpl/default.php and place the below code in to it.
/* Calling Joomla Module in Virtuemart category page */
$modules =& JModuleHelper::getModules('your-module-position');
foreach ($modules as $module)
echo JModuleHelper::renderModule($module);
Just don't forget to update the "your-module-position" with your actual module position that you have mentioned in templateDetails.xml


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Kids Quest
Oakwood's Kids Quest partners with families to help children love God and love others. We believe that teaching kids who God is and how much He loves them starts at home. We then support families in disciplemaking by presenting God's Word through creative, learner-based biblical instruction, and real-life applications.
- Sunday 9:00 am - Birth-5th Grade
- Sunday 10:30 am - Birth-Kindergarten
- Wednesday 6:30 pm – Age 3-5th Grade (during school year)


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With my freezer full of delicious venison, I get to start having some fun with it - cooking it!
Tonight I cooked a beautiful back steak. Back steak is delicious and tender and requires very little cooking. In fact, if you over cook it, it will be dry and tough and reasonably unpleasant to eat. You want it still pink in the middle.
I'm a huge fan of fruit with meat, particularly with venison. Venison loves to soak up the flavours of a delicious sharp fruit such as blackberry or cherry. So, I made a tasty, tasty cherry sauce. I used the following ingredients, you can adjust it to suit.
1 large heaped tablespoon of cherry jam
a small handful of dried cherries
1 cinnamon stick
3 bay leaves
2 small dried chillies
one orange, juice plus pulp
1/4 cup water
1/2 cup of port/red wine (I used a mixture of both)
2 tablespoons brandy
1 tsp honey
I boiled everything in a small pot, reduced to a simmer for about 10-15 minutes, until the sauce reduced and thickened. It will go beautifully glossy and syrupy. Strain before serving and add the cherries back into the sauce.
I wanted to keep it simple, so I made a lovely green salad with capsicum, grapes and carrot.
I added some roasted kumara and yams.
Now to cook my lovely back steak. I cooked it for four minutes per side. For a great tip (and crucial to perfect venison-cooking) turn on the timer so you don't overcook it! Because this was a whole steak, I cooked it for a bit longer than I would for a standard steak. Normally I have a two minute per side rule.
Then, time to rest it for at least five minutes, before slicing it up.
I piled the venison on top of my salad and drizzled over my sauce - just like a bought one!! :-)
Talk about delicious. I seriously could eat this every night. Best dinner in a long time I reckon!!!


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This story was published in Radio Recall, the journal of the Metropolitan Washington Old-Time Radio Club, published six times per year.
Click here to return to the index of selected articles.
"This is Orson Welles speaking to you from London," and with these words followed by the sounds of the chiming of Big Ben was presented one of my favorite old time radio programs, The Black Museum.
Long before the various and numerous true crime shows that are featured on television today, there was the radio program, The Black Museum which is the name of Scotland Yard's gallery of mementoes from murders with which they have dealt. Some are obviously dangerous such as guns or knives, other objects seem quite innocuous such as a piece of string, or a small medicine bottle. Yet regardless of their appearance all were associated in one way or another with an actual murder case. After the introduction, you hear footsteps as Welles wanders thru this grim curio shop, commenting in a detached manner on the various items he comes across. At some point, he stops in front of one particular object and begins to tell you the grim story behind it. In general, the episodes were simply named for the articles involved such as A Can of Weed Killer, A Woolen Jacket etc.
Although many if not most sources say that this series was produced by the BBC in reality it was made in Australia with Australian actors by a production company called Towers of London. The producer was Creswick Jenkinson, who also co-wrote the scripts. Welles' narrative was actually done in England and flown to Australia where they were spliced in with the recordings done there. The American audience was the target market for this program. Beginning in January 1, 1952 it began a run on The Mutual Broadcast System ending on December 30, 1952.
Although the investigative and forensic methods they employed were quite primitive by today's standards, they were the best at the time and this show goes into detail. Much like Dragnet, the show was stark and realistic for its time dealing with actual case histories. As opposed to the various cases dealt with by radio detectives at the time which tended to be crimes dealing with love, money or revenge, The Black Museum also brought up cases that dealt with darker subject matter such as sex crimes and serial murders. Although the episodes were based on actual cases, the dramatizations did take some liberties with them. Tony West of London did research on the episodes. The following website www.old-time.com/otrlogs2/blkmus.html tells the name of the episode and the actual cases that inspired them.
The shows usually ended with Scotland Yard convicting their criminal, yet that's not how all the shows ended. In at least two, the suspects were found innocent although there remand great doubt. One woman was found innocent by the court, but guilty in the eyes of the community. As a result, she died several years after her acquittal as an outcast shunned by her neighbors. For those that were convicted the end was almost always the same, early one morning they were taken to the Old Bailey, and executed by hanging.
Welles' rich melodious voice was a nice contrast to the high pitched background music. He narrated the entire show, not just introduced it. All the way through, he offered comments and facts. He always ended the program with "till we meet next time, I remain as always obediently yours," giving you a feeling of safety as if your favorite uncle just told you a scary bedtime story, but at the last, the dragons were all slain and he tucked you safely into bed.
If you enjoy true crime stories, especially those that are distinctly British in setting and tone and generally set in the 1920s to 1940s then The Black Museum certainly is for you. I own a collection of the series and can honestly say that is one of the most enjoyable and well done I have.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Tom Swafford has been a member of the Chattanooga Old Time Radio Club since 2002. Growing up, he became a fan of the CBS Radio Mystery Theatre and followed it faithfully thru the entirety of its run. Later he became interested in The Shadow and other series. For several years he has contributed articles for his club newsletter and recently became its editor and graphic artist.


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Nuclear attacks and drop-down menus
Posted on January 21, 2018 by Jane Fritz
Show of hands, how many of you have inadvertently clicked on a screen (aka interface) and done something by mistake? Maybe you've sent a message with a typo that you only noticed as you were clicking "Send". Whoops, too late. Maybe you've sent … Continue reading →
Posted in Entrepreneurship & Business, Good for you, good for business, Odds and Ends | Tagged business, computer design, drop-down menus, end-users, good design, Hawaii, HCI, interface design, interface testing, IT, missile alert, nuclear warnings, Self Checkout, software design, software testing, Stephen Colbert, SuperStore, testing, user interfaces | 8 Comments


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Because I'm Addicted, That's Why
Yes, I got another tunic this week, and you can just stop rolling your eyes because this one is totally different from any other one in my wardrobe, and therefore it was an absolute necessity. It's nothing at all like this one, this one, this one, or any of these.
*awkward pause while eyes dart nervously from side to side*
Anyway. This particular specimen was actually marketed as a beach dress, but I will wear it both as a beach dress and as "regular" clothes. I like beach clothes that look like regular clothes. It makes packing for those one bag getaways a lot easier, and you never get caught out in inappropriate attire if you have to unexpectedly go straight into a restaurant or some such place. Pieces like this are also the perfect solution to traveling to warm climates where you need to cover up, like say in UAE or parts of India.
This dress on me is really too short to wear off of the beach without something underneath it, so I layered it over my thrifted white denim mini. I'm pretty long-waisted, so I'm guessing that on other people, this would likely not be necessary.
Boden Printed Beach Throw On / Thrifted white denim skirt from Talbots, similar / Sam & Libby for Target sandals (past season), similar
Make it Happen


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Last year at CES Casio unveiled the EX-F1, the world's first 60fps high speed camera aimed towards consumers. Then in late '08 they released the EX-FH20, another high speed camera aimed at consumers but with an even smaller body and 40fps shooting abilities. Today they announced that the EX-FS1 which is the world's first super compact and slim high speed camera capable of 30fps.
They also announced that there is a new very cool technology coming to their cameras called Dynamic Photo which is the "composite of moving images." The technology is similar to the concept of green screening. Using the camera, you can film a person and then transplant them on different backgrounds. This is a great way to easily produce fun videos which can be used for all sorts of purposes, including very animated video greetings. At the press conference they filmed a subject in front of a white screen and then had the subject transplanted in front of several different backgrounds like a birthday card and a Christmas themed background.
We also snapped photos of the their new upcoming EX-FS1, as well as other cameras that will be featuring the new Dynamic Photo tech, which includes a whole bunch of cameras that are ultracompact and come in a selection of colors. Yes, there is a pink one for those of you who care. Tomorrow we will have more info detailing the cameras' specs.
Update 01/08/09:
Here is more detailed information about the new models taken from the press release
High Speed EXILIM models EX-FS10 and EX-FC100
By reducing the size of the circuitry and the image sensor units, Casio has produced two very small cameras that offer a high-speed 30 shot-per-second burst rate and high-speed movies at a maximum of 1000 fps. The EX-FS10 is a card-sized camera just .64" thin, and the EX-FC100 is a compact camera that fits perfectly in the palm of the hand. These cameras also offer a number of other innovative functions including allowing the user to capture a still image while viewing the movement of their subject in slow motion and automatically selecting and saving one frame from continuous shots.
Two high-speed digital cameras that are convenient to carry everywhere
High-speed burst shooting and high-speed movie functions have been squeezed into these slim, compact, highly mobile cameras.
In this card-sized camera measuring just 3.8" wide x 2.3" high x .64" thin, Casio has packed a newly developed 3X optical inner-zoom lens and a 2.5-inch high-performance Super Clear LCD. This high-speed model boasts an effective 9.1-megapixel resolution.
The EX-FC100 is a compact camera measuring 3.9" wide x 2.3" high x .9" thin. It offers a 5X optical zoom lens with a CMOS shift anti-shake function and a 2.7-inch high-performance Super Clear LCD. This high-speed model boasts an effective 9.1-megapixel resolution.
30 shot-per-second high-speed burst shooting ensures that every crucial moments is captured
Both of these cameras can take up to 30 shots per second of high-resolution 6.0-megapixel images. What's more, they can save up to 25 frames prior to the instant that the shutter button is actually pressed, so even if the user hits the shutter a bit late, that special moment will not be missed. The number of shots per second can be set at 30, 15, 10, 5, 3 or auto, and the user can set the total number of shots in one burst at 30, 20, 10 or 5.
EXILIM models EX- Z400, EX-Z270, and EX-S12
Taking advantage of the high-speed image processing abilities of Casio's state-of-the-art EXILIM Engine 4.0, which is built into these models, the new Dynamic Photo function allows the photographer to cut out the main subject of interest in an image that has just been captured and then combine it with another image to form the background. Users can also cut and paste several rapid-succession images to create a moving subject on a still background. This function makes it easy for users to create composite scenes from an image juxtaposition that exists only in virtual reality, or they can create a composite image that conveys a certain message. Casio technologies like these are creating whole new avenues of enjoyment that go far beyond mere picture-taking, delivering greater creative and viewing pleasure.
Casio has set up a special website (www.exilim.com/dp/) that demonstrates many interesting ways to use the Dynamic Photo function. Following the release of the cameras, Casio will offer new services that expand the fun of the Dynamic Photo function
Also to be released at this time is the EXILIM EX-S5 — a camera with a compact body based on a new design concept — which makes high-quality photographic functionality simpler to use than ever before.
The six new cameras will be available at retail in March. The EX-FS10, MSRP $349.99 will be available in blue, gray, red and white; the EX-FC100, MSRP $399.99 will be available in gray and white; the EX-Z400, MSRP $299.99, will be available in brown, gold and pink; the EX-Z270, MSRP $229.99, will be available in black, gray, gold and pink; the EX-S12, MSRP $249.99, will be available in silver, pink, green and black; and the EX-S5, MSRP $179.99 will be available in blue, black gold, silver, pink and purple.


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Some people have conventional lives, mine is quite the opposite. I have embraced the unconventional life that has been given to me. Each day it gets more and more interesting. Many of you who know me, you have read my book already; Taking Back The Pen. In the book I wrote about a biological brother that I had met a few years back for the very first time. We both shared the same mother. Our mother was a prostitute and got around the country often. He was born in Florida and I was based in Detroit. At the time I first met him he was 18 years old and old enough to reach out to his biological siblings. I was 22 years old. The first day I met him was when my husband at the time told me that he was seeing somebody else and that our marriage was too far gone and that we needed to file for divorce. I had been in bed for over 24 hours and I was stuck in a depression. I received a phone call from this biological brother that I had heard about and never met. He said that he was an hour away from where I lived in Detroit. He was very distraught and said that he came up to vacation with his girlfriend and when he got here she left him at a hotel. He was calling me in a dark point of his life where he needed my help and e was ready to meet me. He had never met me so it was hard for him to reach out and ask for my help. I was torn. I wanted to meet him but at the same time my personal life was falling apart. In that moment I got out of bed and went to him. I got to spend quite a few hours with him that day until his adopted family came from Florida to pick him up. We bonded right from the start and it helped me to get out of my rut and gain an interest in my biological past that I had been removed from. It was a sure sign of strength to hold back from him what I was going through and be a strong big sister to him when he needed me. A year later I flew down to Florida to visit him and he took me to Disney World for the first time. That was a great time and we got to know each other for the two days that we spent together. We have kept in touch through the past few years of meeting each other and he just came to Detroit with his adopted mother this past week to stay at my place for a couple days and get to know me and to see where I grew up.
It was very interesting how alike we were in many different ways even though we have spent our whole lives in two different families. Luckily for him, he was adopted to a great family. I told him how happy I was for him in that aspect because the family I was adopted into was almost as big of a mess as the one I was taken out of. His adopted mother is a therapist and is the perfect mother for his case. The things my brother and I struggle with mentally and emotionally were the same. Our interests, likes and dislikes were very similar as well. There is always the nature vs. nurture debate, but in this case I would have to argue towards the nature end of the argument. We are blood related and have only spent less than 72 hours together and yet we have so much in common. When we spent time together it was as though we grew up our whole lives together. When I showed him around Detroit we met random people around the city. Everybody was shocked when they heard our story. It feels like something off of a TV show.
I am so glad that I have had the opportunity to connect with my heritage these past few years. For a lot of people the emotion of bringing in the biological history after being adopted is too much to handle. I would highly suggest seeking counsel if you are in my situation and you are looking to connect with your birth family. It is an amazing endeavor but yet it comes with its own struggle. The reality checks come in of, " who is my real family?", and "where do I belong?"
I personally have never felt that I belonged anywhere. I have always had a curiosity of where my roots were and who my real family really was. The most stable of a family that I ever had was when I was married. My in-laws were my family for a solid 5 years. Having a stable family is probably what kept me in a failing marriage for so long.
During the time that I was married my husband's family would tell me to let my past go and that it wasn't healthy for me to reconnect with my biological siblings. I am glad that I still pursued meeting them rather than taking their advice. They promised me that even through my marital struggles they would remain my family and be there for me. I was once again abandoned and disappointed when the divorce finalized because they are no part of my life anymore and have dismissed all contact with me. So in my case; my biological seeking of family is all I have right now.
As of right now I have my half sister (from my dad's side) in Florida who I am headed to meet at the moment, I also have two 14 year old twin brothers in Florida, (whom I will be going to visit next week), and then my 21 year old brother who just came to visit me. My mother is in prison at the moment and I will debate if I want to communicate with her again when she gets out in 4 years. Life is interesting and each day is a new adventure! If you want to know more of the story my autobiography is available at


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By Shane Thomas
Not long ago, I threw some self-indulgent shade at Chelsea re-hiring Jose Mourinho last summer. However, after their accomplished 1-0 win over Manchester City on Monday, the media narrative appears to be showing the Portugese much favour.
And it's the issue of narrative that struck me in the aftermath of the victory. Despite drawing level with Manchester City in the Premier League table, and pulling to within two points of current league leaders, Arsenal, Mourinho modestly claimed that Chelsea are nothing more than outsiders to win the title. He talks about getting Chelsea to improve slowly but steadily, and thinks bringing trophies to Stamford Bridge may have to wait.
From the man who dubbed himself "a special one" when he first arrived in England, this is a huge volte-face. Mourinho has a well-earned reputation for attaining instant success at whichever club he is coaching; is he a changed man? Building a team for the long-term, focused around a crop of promising younger players, such as Eden Hazard, Nemanja Matic, Oscar and Cesar Azpilicueta? Has Mourinho (whisper it) taken on the philosophies of his rival, and Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger?
He's gone from bemoaning the quality of his squad (back in 2007), using an analogy of shopping for eggs at the supermarket, to calling his current squad a batch of "beautiful young eggs."
Personally, I'm not buying this new narrative that Mourinho is selling[1]. I doubt he's turned into the footballing version of Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society, nurturing a group of youngsters to find themselves, eschewing the nuts and bolts of the industry he works in. John Terry tearfully asseverating, "Captain, my captain" doesn't really fit, does it?
What Mourinho is doing is giving himself some cover. Knowing Chelsea owner, Roman Abramovich's penchant for firing managers who fail to win either the Premier League or the Champions League (and sometimes even that isn't enough), he is painting the narrative of Chelsea as a little horse in the title race; one that "still needs milk" and is yet to "learn how to jump".
I find the paradigm of "poor 'ickle Chelsea" somewhat hilarious. But Mourinho's comments aren't intended just to take the pressure off Chelsea, but to also put pressure on Manchester City and Arsenal. Both sides have question marks around their squads, and when the Portugese says that, "it's not our responsibility" to win the Premier League, it encourages the punditocracy to the assign that responsibility to City and/or Arsenal.
It's an astute play from Mourinho, but Arsenal and Manchester City will be foolish in the extreme to give credence to the notion of Chelsea as an underdog story. The Blues may not be at their peak yet, but if Arsenal and City spend too much energy worrying about each other, Chelsea are more than capable of pipping them both to the title in May. Don't expect the "little horse" to get tired any time soon.
Mourinho hasn't changed. He's just learned a few new tricks while he was abroad. And it may be enough to secure him his 3rd Premier League title.
[1] - Neither it appears, it the Daily Mail's, Martin Samuel.
"The Greatest Events in Sporting History" is available to download from http://www.simplysyndicated.com/shows/sportinghistory/, e-mail us at email@example.com and you can follow us on Twitter @TGEISH


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Why spray tanning?
Whenever you return from a vacation, the initial point family and friends usually comment on is your wonderful tan, or lack thereof. Sun tanning has actually been popular given that the early 20th century, however the health and wellness dangers associated with the sunlight's UV rays have made keeping an even tan -- a lot less any sort of kind of tan -- challenging, particularly for those that reside in chilly as well as wet environments.
Go into indoor sun tanning beauty salons, which ended up being a prominent trend in the '80s. Now, interior tanning is a $3 billion-a-year sector in the United States alone.
Since the year 2000, self sunless spray tanning has taken the tanning globe by storm. It has offered guys with a way to obtain as well as maintain a healthy-looking, even tan without being subjected to the sunlight's rays. Exactly what is most remarkable is that, unlike previous sun tanning methods, the results of spray tanning actually look excellent.
Just what is spray tanning?
Spray tanning functions by using a special haze to the body. This haze is splashed onto the body in a display, which you could currently discover at most higher-end tanning salons and also medical spas. The mist produced contains dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which is a chemical that responds with dead skin cells by cosmetically dyeing them brownish. So after spray tanning, the skin takes on a gold brown colour that usually resembles an all-natural tan.
Depending on the booth used, the mist will either be water or oil based; guys with sensitive skin must choose a water base. Also, some hair salons supply various types of mists, allowing you to pick the degree of darkening. If you are very fair-skinned, keep in mind that going also dark will certainly look fake as well as awkward, regardless of the high quality of the item.
Will it provide me a good tan?
The mist in spray tanning momentarily makes your skin gold brownish, not orange. The chain reaction physically transforms your skin colour, so there's no should stress over smear lines; besides, the products on the marketplace have been well-tested in order to see to it they give a colour that looks exactly like an organic tan (or as close as it's getting). Even fair-skinned men that typically turn pink as opposed to brownish while tanning will gain from a bronze colour by getting a spray tan.
For how long does it last?
Mystic Tan, one of one of the most preferred brand names of spray tanning displays, states that once an ideal colour is attained, it could be maintained by tanning every 5 days. Dream Tan, a competitor, explains that their tans will certainly last approximately 10 days. As you'll discover by continuing reading, there are specific measures you can take (prior to and after your spray tanning session) to guarantee that your tan lasts as lengthy as feasible.
Right here's a mini-lesson in dermatology: The leading layer of your skin naturally sheds in order to give way to more recent skin. Since that leading layer of skin is the component that's colored by the DHA, the tan wears away as soon as the top layer of dead skin peels. So, to prolong the results of the spray tan, you must utilize moisturizer (you understand, that cream your lady speaks highly of) to keep the top level from dropping as rapidly. Essentially, if you hydrate, you must have the ability to keep an optimal tan for about five days.
There are numerous creams on the marketplace, by every cosmetic producer in the world. You cannot walk into a pharmacy or department store without finding a complete rack of right stuff so go out and get that tan that you are entitled to.
Safe Ways To Stay Tan Year-Round: Top 10 Needs to Use Sunless Tanners
There are ways to remain tanned without risking your health-yet many people still reveal themselves to possibly destructive UV rays to attain a healthy and balanced radiance.
A poll taken by the American Academy of Dermatology found that 61 percent of ladies under 18 think they are prettier with a tan and fifty percent believe a tan makes them look healthy and balanced. This could assist clarify a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association that reported skin cancer cells among females under the age of 40 has tripled in the past Thirty Years, pointing out the popularity of tanning as a famous source.
Specialists from The Skin Cancer cells Foundation prompt people never to seek a UV ray tan. However, for those that desire a tanned appearance, sunless tanning products, such as the Tan Yer Hide ™ House Spray Tanning System, is a secure choice as long as it is utilized along with a minimal SPF 15. Specialists provide these leading 10 reasons individuals are transforming in the direction of such tanning products:
1. No Hazardous Risks-Sunless tanners do not posture the threats associated from UV rays with sunbathing and tanning beds as well as you get the exact same great-looking tan.
2. Expense Conscious-You can own your personal tanning kit as well as at-home spray tanning system-usually for concerning half the expense of sun tanning in a beauty salon. As an example, the brand-new tanning system from Tan Yer Hide ™ uses the very same spray modern technology as an expert unit as well as could be made use of to get a natural-looking tan, devoid of streaks or orange color. It also includes solution that can last up to six months or more.
3. Customized Tans-With the brand-new at-home spray tanning system, you can regulate the shade of your tan. That implies it is very easy to go from a subtle tan to a "simply came back from the beach" look within days.
4. Tan Just Certain Areas-With sunless tanners, you could tan just the locations you desire, such as your face and arms, making you look healthier as well as slimmer.
5. Save Time-There is no need to begin dealing with your tan months ahead of time. A tan can be applied the day of or the day prior to you require a magnificent glow.
6. Sunless Tans Are Temporary-Although some tanning systems can last around 2 Week, the majority of only last 5 to 7 days.
7. Safe For Even more People-Even if you cannot get an organic tan for medical factors, you could more than likely still use sunless tanners. Merely consult your physician first.
8. Sunless Tanners Are A lot better Than Ever-The usage of DHA, the main ingredient in self sunless tanners, has actually been improved for many years.
9. No Tan Lines-Tan lines are practically impossible to avoid with sunbathing and tanning beds. With sunless tanners, you can apply a tan to your whole physical body without any stress over uncomfortable lines later on.
10. No Odor-With tanning beds and also creams, an offensive odor can sometimes remain on your skin for days. However, brand-new systems such as the Tan Yer Hide Residence Spray Tanning System remedy simply leave a refined coconut odor.