text: When infection occurs or when there is deep decay that reaches to the pulp of a tooth, our dentists may perform a root canal to clean out the interior of your tooth and prevent the need for extraction. Contact J. de Graffenried Dentistry at 903-218-4044 to learn more about root canal therapy in Kilgore, Texas and to make your appointment with our dentists. Let us help you regain your healthy smile!


text:
Try out this…. After starting Ubuntu:
Click Applications > Accessories > Passwords and Encryption Keys, here click on the first tab (i.e. Passwords:login) , right click on the same & from the pop-up menu select "Change Password". And choose the password for login password set to same password as user account, it never asks the pass and will unlock automatically.
Click Places > Home, to see hidden files, press CTRL + H, and locate for .gnome2 folder, here u see keyrings (a folder) and search for a file called "default.keyring", if it is there, simply delete it.
Register Hereor login if you are already a member

subset: commoncrawl


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If you are going to buy a house in Sardinia, do not postpone this decision a long time. Real estate prices in Sardinia today, yet the crisis period, it is very attractive. The selling price of homes in Sardinia compared with the pre-crisis period fell by an average of 20%. Special attention in this matter deserves the northern part of the island. For those who plan to buy real estate in Sardinia, north of Sardinia unusually appealing. Here are the most beautiful beaches in Europe, two international airports (in Alghero and Olbia), several ports (Olbia, Porto Torres, Santa Teresa), which on a cruise ship can cross over to mainland Europe. In the north Sardinia hosts various international sailing regatta, there are extraordinary in its beauty, nature reserves, and here is the largest province in Italy – Sassari.
With the development of the Costa Smeralda in the north-east (Porto Cervo, Porto Rotondo) and Alghero in the northwest of the north of Sardinia has become more popular. But it happened very recently and many areas are still left unexplored. In recent months, Scott Mead has been very successful. This part of the island of Sardinia today is very attractive not only for those who want to buy a house in Sardinia, but in general for investment. Sardinia, abandoned to their fate in the Mediterranean Sea, is almost equidistant from the coast of Tuscany and the Tunisian coast of northern Africa. So it too far for those who want to buy a property in Sardinia? It's safe to say that there is.


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"Waiter! There's a finger in my soup!"
Mostly, the Fork in the Road staff has a good time in restaurants — and we eat in lots of them. But sometimes our experience is so awful, that we never forget. So we got together and came up with our 10 Worst Restaurant Moments.
10. It was a brand new Lower East Side restaurant, and we arrived at 7:30. The menu for the night hadn't been printed yet, so four of us shared one handwritten copy. Our pretty, dead-eyed waitress treated us like we were her high school teachers and she, like, hadn't turned in the homework. With great effort, we finally communicated our order. We never saw her again. Only two glasses of water arrived. We rationed. The place filled up; other tables ordered. An hour passed, but not a scrap of food emerged. People at other tables also grew restless; we feared cannibalism. Two hours later, we received part of our order: a floppy-skinned chicken, with over-salting so severe it could cause chemical burns. We asked after our missing herring. There were still 13 orders in front of it.
9. Sometimes you don't know something was your worst restaurant moment until afterward. I was stoked to raid a post-football buffet one Saturday afternoon in Austin, Texas, at a motel on the Interstate called Villa Maria. In addition to the usual carved roast beef, pimento cheese sandwiches, and mayo-bearing salads that are the staples of Texas buffets, I was attracted to a tray of deviled eggs, liberally carpeted with paprika. I ate five or six, congratulating myself on having discovered the best thing on the buffet. Late that evening I woke up with vomiting, chills, cramps, and worse — and haven't touched a deviled egg since.
8. As part of a job interview for a culinary website that shall not be named, I was required to go on a tasting dinner at a new Park Avenue spot. This website's stock in trade is interviews with chefs accompanied by numerous photos of their food — which, I might add, is never paid for. Anyway, the editor and I showed up at this beautiful restaurant, camera, lighting equipment, and computer in tow. It was a five-course dinner. The first was a gigantic charcuterie plate. The editor wasn't happy with how it looked on the table, so she took the entire platter and put it on the floor. The she unzipped her boots, climbed up on a chair, and started snapping away. I was mortified. It was during the height of dinner service, and the incredibly gracious waiter looked like he wanted to kill us. The next four courses proceeded in similar fashion, with this woman jumping on and off chairs, and shining the bright light on food and diners alike. The food, by the way, was excellent, though I've never had less appetite. This woman also bragged that she'd once taken some of Daniel Boulud's food into a restaurant bathroom to photograph it, so I guess it could have been worse. I didn't get the job.
7. A friend was eating at a Greenpoint Thai restaurant. She was just finishing up a lovely papaya salad, when she discovered a horsefly lying amid the peanuts, dead as a three-day-old corpse. Upon further excavation, she discovered it wasn't a whole insect: It was a half insect. She never returned to that restaurant, and advises others not to go there, either. She frequently tells the story, and for the rest of her life she'll shiver whenever she thinks of it, wondering what happened to the other half of the fly.
6. Restaurants are like families — sometimes they're happy and well behaved, other times they're ornery and contentious. Some friends and I hiked into deepest Ridgewood one evening in search of a fabled Romanian bar that also served food. One tiny corner spot had a chalkboard menu out front, so we went inside and sat down. Soon we were served by a middle-aged lady with her hair tied neatly in a bun, whose husband was clearly the barkeep. After she took our order for various appetizers and a grilled meat assortment, he followed her into the kitchen, and a screaming fight ensued for what seemed like 10 minutes. She appeared seconds later in a coat and hat and stomped out. After about 30 minutes, we realized she wasn't coming back, and we left as well.
5. When I lived in Carroll Gardens I'd occasionally order from a local Middle Eastern restaurant, mainly for their incredible pita bread. The night before I moved out of the neighborhood, I decided to order from them one last time. My pile of pitas and stuffed grape leaves came with a free salad, which I decided to eat first. As I pried the lid off the plastic container, an odd but familiar smell rose to greet me. I couldn't quite place it at first, but gradually it dawned on me: Dial soap! On one hand, I was relieved to learn that the cooks were washing their hands. On the other, I was not glad that they were using the lettuce as a washcloth. And I couldn't bear to find out if the rest of the meal also tasted like soap, so I just threw the whole meal out, and contented myself with a can of tuna fish.
4. You are no more likely to get sick at a cheap restaurant as you are at a fancy restaurant. In fact, you're more vulnerable at the upscale spot, because you can't see what's going on in the kitchen. But no matter where you are, if you can see bloody meat juice dried on the walls, it is best not to eat there. If the prep area looks like a multiple homicide forensics investigation, don't be a hero. "Wussy, prissy thinking!" I said to myself as a friend and I took in the carnage at a celebrated Chinatown spot, "Just eat." Three days later, we were in the hospital, wishing the digestive tract had never been invented.
3. My companion and I were leaving for a long trip to West Africa bright and early the next morning, and we picked an Avenue A sushi bar for our last American meal. Halfway through an enjoyable repast, a couple obviously on a first date sat down next to us. They seemed a little nervous, so when I saw a giant water bug feeling its way across the ceiling above them, I gasped but quickly diverted my eyes. Sure enough, when the thing got directly above them, it fell right onto the couple's sushi assortment, on its back, legs flailing. The girl leapt up and burst into tears, while the guy sat frozen and looking annoyed. The date was obviously finito, and our meal ruined as well.
2. An obligatory hair story: A friend ordered a doughnut ice cream sandwich from a celebrated Greenpoint doughnut shop. The guy making it had shoulder-length hair. Sure enough, one of the strands made it into my friend's order. He saw it sticking out, grabbed it, and started pulling. He pulled and pulled and pulled some more, but the hair just kept on coming. Finally, he got the entire thing out. He claims the hair was two feet long. My friend can still taste the chocolate doughnut smeared with strawberry ice cream, which are no longer pleasant flavors for him.
1. I'm not a squeamish guy, so when I see a roach or a mouse in a restaurant — fairly common in New York — I look the other way. But 10 years ago I was sitting with a pair of friends in Singleton's, a barbecue joint in Harlem, now long gone. As we chatted amiably in the cluttered establishment, a large rat trundled out from under the table inches from our toes. It was followed by another, possibly his mate. We acted downtown-cool about the event, dropping a $20 bill on the table to pay for the food we'd already ordered, then stood up and beat it out of there without looking back.


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It feels like Český Krumlov is not real. Seriously, everything is so beautiful and so old that I had the feeling I've traveled in time. Český Krumlov is the ultimate tourist destination in the Czech Republic. After Prague, it's definitely the most picturesque and stunning town in the country. I was astonished by the beautiful architecture and all the things to do in Český Krumlov. Its history and places to visit will keep you busy for one or two days.
Most of the travelers visit Český Krumlov as a day trip from Prague. It's a nice way to explore the city, but there are so many things to do in Český Krumlov, places to visit and beers to drink that we decided to stay 2 days and 3 nights. That way we had the chance visit Český Krumlov and also go on a day trip to Lipno, another cute town with stunning nature.
Things to do in Český Krumlov
The huge castle, the cobblestone alleys, and the medieval houses made Český Krumlov a Unesco Heritage Site. It's a place like no other, once you step in the old town you are transported to the past. One day in Český Krumlov might be enough to walk around the city and visit a few attractions. However, I highly recommend you to stay a bit longer, at least two days. So you can experience all the best things to do in Český Krumlov and see the city at night time. When all the tourists leave the town you can really enjoy the romantic and medieval Český Krumlov.
Here goes the list of what to do in Český Krumlov and some personal recommendations:
Discover the old Český Krumlov by foot
The city is an open air museum, and it's so tiny and so cute that in a few hours you can see it. Explore the streets that lead to the St. Vitus, a neo-gothic church that stands out in the middle of the town. Walk by the Vltava River [the same river runs through Prague], and get lost in the tiny alleys full of charming restaurants and hotels.
We love to walk around and explore the city, but also we wanted to understand more about Český Krumlov history and how the city is so old and so preserved. To answer all our questions we booked a guided walking tour at the Český Krumlov Tourism Center, and it was the wisest move ever. Our guide took us to some incredible viewpoints, explained about how Český Krumlov remained unknown for some many years, and how it was restored to its stunning perfection. It's a great story to listen, that brings all the medieval and renaissance architecture alive.
Book your walking tour in Český Krumlov in advance here.
If you are spending a night in Český Krumlov it might be worth to book a night walking tour and see the city from a different perspective.
At the Český Krumlov Tourism Center we also bought the Český Krumlov Card, a ticket that gives you access to 5 museums, including the castle. This is a money save option and also will help you to avoid queues. The price of the ticket was 300 CZK [12 usd] per adult, if you are traveling with your family they also have a family ticket, 2 adults and 3 kids for 600 CZK.
With the card in hands, you are ready to explore the city and things to do in Český Krumlov. After the walking tour, take some time to visit the important attractions in Český Krumlov as the Český Krumlov Regional Museum, Egon Schiele Art Centrum, Museum Fotoatelier Seidel and the Medieval Minority Monastery.
There are other museums and historical buildings to see in Český Krumlov, but if you are in the town for only one or two days, those are the highlights you can't miss.
Český Krumlov Castle Tower and Castle Museum
You can't say you have visited Český Krumlov without going to Český Krumlov Castle and Tower. Built from the 14th to the 19th centuries, Český Krumlov Castle is one of the biggest castles in the Czech Republic and in Europe. At the Český Krumlov Castle you can admire the buildings and gardens from outside, or you can explore the interior and even go on guided tour to understand the history of the complex. The castle is huge, and you can have access to different areas as the rooms, the stables, cellar, and museum. There is also a bear there, that's true! One more story you must discover while visiting the castle.
One of the top attractions in Český Krumlov is the Castle Tower, and even if you are afraid of heights you must climb it. The tower is open to the public daily from 9 AM to 4 PM [the time changes according to the season, check the Český Krumlov Castle website for details]. The good news is that the entrance to Český Krumlov Tower and Castle Museum is included in the Český Krumlov Card, so you don't need to buy any extra ticket to visit these two attractions.
The view from the tower is stunning, my suggestion is to go up at the end of the afternoon so you can see the city and admire the sunset. We were in Český Krumlov in winter [last week of February], the weather was cold, but we had sunny days what made the city look even more beautiful.
Visit the Český Krumlov Baroque Theater
Inside the Český Krumlov Castle you can visit one of oldest and best preserved Baroque Theatre in the world. All the carpentry, painting and murals were done by Viennese artists. Inside the theater are original pieces and information from the theater's life from the 17th to 19th century.
Drink the local beer made in Český Krumlov since 1560
Everybody knows that the Czech Republic is the country of good beer. In Český Krumlov it started in 1560. The best part is that you can taste the beer and visit the original brewery that it's not only famous in the South Bohemia, but worldwide. You can go to the traditional Pivovar Eggenberg for beers, for a meal or for a beer tour and taste the local beer that has been produced in the same place for centuries.
Taste the best strudel in the Czech Republic
This is one of the top things to do in Český Krumlov that you won't find in any guide book. This is our personal recommendation for the best strudel in the Czech Republic, and I would dare to say in Central Europe. Seriously, you must stop at Café Štrúdl and try one, two or even three of their pastries, they are gorgeous. This tiny cafe is tucked away from the busy square and it's the perfect spot for an afternoon snack. Here is the food and beverage menu, and as it is a small tea room, you might need to wait for a table. But don't worry you will be reward with mouthwatering flavors.
Celebrate Carnival in Český Krumlov
Here is another cool thing to do in Český Krumlov that not many people know about. We were lucky enough to be in Český Krumlov during the Carnival Festival [this year it was on February 25th to 28th]. The medieval town was the address of masquerade parades, music and fun. There were many events happening in Český Krumlov during the Carnival as royal banquets, parades, and party at the local brewery.
For us, Brazilians who celebrate Carnival like no other nation, it was very interesting to be part of the festival. To witness the street parade, full of families, kids, and curious tourists. Definitely one of the best things to do in Český Krumlov, especially in winter time.
If you are planning your itinerary to Český Krumlov, what to do and attractions to visit, keep in mind that the Carnival always happens a few days before the Ash Wednesday, the Catholic holiday.
Things to do in Lipno
If you decide to stay longer in town, you can also go on a day trip from Český Krumlov. We did that, we spent a day and two nights in the old town and one day at Lipno nad Vltavou. This village belongs to Český Krumlov District and it's only 30 minutes away from the old town. The top attractions in Lipno are completely different from the things to do in Český Krumlov. This tiny village is famous for the beautiful lake, ski resort, and the Lipno Treetop Walkway. Summer or winter, there are tons of things to do in Lipno, most of them connected to nature.
We booked a taxi via our hotel and the driver took us all the way from Český Krumlov to Lipno and picked us up at the end of the day. We paid a total of 1600 CZK [69 usd]. You can book a taxi privately or go on a day tour to Lipno, it's your call. You can book a guided tour at the Český Krumlov Tourist Information Center in the main square.
Here are our suggestions of what to do in Lipno in one day:
Lipno Treetop Walkway
This is a unique and stunning attraction in Lipno. A barrier-free wooden pathway that leads you from the ground level to a 24 meters high platform. From there you can climb to the top of a 40 meters high tower. It sounds like a hard walk, but it's not. The Lipno Treetop Walkway is a pleasant walk to the top of the forest. You will be surrounded by the trees and witness one of the most beautiful landscapes in the Czech Republic: the Šumava Mountains and the Lipno Reservoir.
The Treetop Walkaway, or Stezka Korunami Stromu in Czech, was built in 2012 and it's open all year round. It's the perfect attraction for anyone that likes to be in the middle of nature and it's is also accessible for wheelchair. To make the experience a bit more adventurous, you can go down from the top of the walkway sliding on a toboggan. It's the perfect end, a bit of adrenaline after a walk in the sky. Depending on the season the opening hours of the Treetop Walkway changes, so check the official website before planning your visit.
Snow Sports [This is Rob's department]
I love snowboarding, when I heard about a day tour to Lipno for skiing my eyes were shining. Lipno Ski Resort has awesome facilities for beginners and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. I would say it's a perfect place for families and those who want to learn skiing or snowboarding.
The resort has about 11km of pistes, over 60% are easy ones and 34% are intermediary slopes. I've spent one afternoon riding all pistes including the ski cross and loved the place. It was a busy day with competitions and full of Dutch families [Lipno Ski Resort is famous in The Netherlands], although there wasn't much queue for the ski lifts.
Ski schools and rental shops are located at the bottom of the slopes, easy to spot and get your gear ready. The season usually starts in early December and ends around March/April. Night skiing is available so you can visit Český Krumlov during daytime and travel to Lipno at the end of the day. Big thanks to Vojen for guiding me through the resort and the snowboarding tips!
Lipno Lake
The Lipno Reservoir or Lipno Lake is surrounded by nice hotels, resorts, and restaurants. You can enjoy the views while sipping a coffee or relaxing at one of the wellness centers. If you read our post about Liberec, another winter sports town in the Czech Republic, you already know that I'm not good with snow sports. So, while Rob was doing snowboard, I was at the Amenity Resort Wellness Center doing some stretches, enjoying the sauna and the pool.
The Lipno Lake is also a great place to visit during summer time. There you can rent boats, kayak, and swim. When the snow melts, the Lipno lake and mountains are the perfect places for mountain bike, hiking and water sports.
Hiking the Šumava Mountains
The Šumava Mountains is a paradise for hiking. As we were there for only one day we venture ourselves on a small hiking to a rocky point by the Vltava River, before the dam. It was a quick ride from the Lipno Ski Resort and there we could see the mountains, the trees and the river that cross the country and goes all the way to Prague, passing by the charming Český Krumlov.
This is not a tourist spot, we found it because of a local friend we met in Lipno Ski Resort. He knows everything about Šumava Mountains, Lipno, ski and outdoor sports. To find this and other amazing places in the area follow Vojen's Instagram.
Where to stay in Český Krumlov
To visit Lipno and all the attractions in Český Krumlov you will need to stay more than one day in town. There are over 200 hotels in Český Krumlov and to chose your Český Krumlov accommodation might be a daunting task. So here is our suggestion on where to stay in Český Krumlov, accommodation, and hotels for every budget and taste.
If you are looking for one of the best hotels in Český Krumlov look no further. The Hotel Bellevue Český Krumlov is a stunning property where a helpful and smiling staff will be ready to welcome you. The Hotel Bellevue Český Krumlov is located a few meters from the castle, the Pivovar Eggenberg brewery, and the monastery.
We stayed 2 nights in the Junior Suite, the room is huge, about 40m2 with a comfy king bed, a bathtub to relax after walking around the city and a Nespresso machine to kick off the day. Natalie absolutely loved the L'Occitane toiletries. The breakfast is a feast of local cheeses and cold cuts. Our recommendation is to book your room in advance since there are only 3 Junior Suites. Although you can choose between 62 other rooms and 1 Presidential Suite.
For those searching for budget accommodation in Český Krumlov, the Krumlov House is a good option. It's located about 250 meters from the bus station and 800 meters from Český Krumlov old town. The property offers dorm and private rooms. Please, note that we didn't stay there, we saw the hostel while walking around the city and we read great reviews naming Krumlov House as one of the best hostels in Český Krumlov. Book your room at Krumlov House now!
If you are still in doubt about where to stay in Český Krumlov, search for the best hotel or hostel at Agoda.com and Booking.com.
How to get to Český Krumlov
Český Krumlov is located in South Bohemia region and it takes you a two-hour drive from Prague. It doesn't matter if you are planning to stay a week or only going on a day trip from Prague to Český Krumlov whichever your plans are, you can do it by train, bus or as a private or group tour.
Book a hassle free day trip from Prague to Český Krumlov here!
We travel by train from Prague to Český Krumlov, with a change at České Budějovice. For us, this was the best option as we were traveling with Eurail Pass through the whole Central Europe. If you want to explore the Czech Republic by train read our comprehensive guide about how to travel with Eurail Pass.
If you are only doing this train trip, then you can buy the single ticket from Prague to Český Krumlov [during our trip the price for the train ticket was from 7 to 10 Euros each way]. There are several trains daily, most of them with one change at České Budějovice and it's a 3h30min train ride. The best train from Prague to Český Krumlov is the one that departures at 8 AM, it's a direct train and the trip takes only 2h40min. It's worth to wake up early, especially if you are only doing a day trip to Český Krumlov. To go back to Prague, the last train departures from Český Krumlov at 6:50 PM, and there is no direct train on the way back. You can check the timetable and price at the Czech Train Service website.
The RegioJet Company offers buses from Prague to Český Krumlov every hour, from 6 AM to 9 PM. The return bus runs from 5 AM to 8 PM, and the ticket costs from 7 to 10 Euros each way. The bus from Prague to Český Krumlov takes up to 3 hours, depending on the traffic.
There is no much difference between bus or train from Prague to Český Krumlov. The best option will be the one that fits on your travel itinerary and on what type of experience you want to have. We are big fans of train trips, and the landscape you can see on the way from Prague to Český Krumlov is stunning, worth the ride. From the train or bus station in Český Krumlov, you can take a taxi to the old town or to your hotel.
Just keep in mind that to enjoy a day trip from Prague to Český Krumlov you will need to wake up early, so you will have time enough to visit the top attractions in Český Krumlov. Or instead of rushing around, plan to stay at least one night and experience all the cool things to do in Český Krumlov, what includes a nice dinner and beers.
Are you ready to explore the medieval streets of Český Krumlov? If you're traveling in the Czech Republic don't forget to read our other guides:
Enjoy the best things to do in Český Krumlov and have fun in the beautiful Czech Republic.
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PS: our trip in the Czech Republic was organized in partnership with Czech Tourism Board. But as usual, you always get our honest opinion and travel tips.


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Whatever one's view of God, faith is at the center of all human knowledge.
ObservationsMay 28, 2013
ObservationsFebruary 10, 2013
"I have never believed in God. Yet, I have to admit that if He does not actually exist, then we can be little more than feverish, selfish little clods of ailments and grievances. And that is hardly enough reason to go on living. Only the existence of God can make anything at all have any meaning at all."
George Bernard Shaw
The Advent of TeleologyFebruary 4, 2013
I was recently watching an interview with theoretical physicist Alexander Vilenkin that was conducted as part of the Robert Lawrence Kuhn's PBS series, Closer to Truth. A couple of things struck me about the interview. The first is Vilenkin's humility. While he is certainly no believer and at most holds a Spinoza-esque view of an impersonal God, Vilenkin is certainly humble with regard to the idea of God. This is refreshing in light of the arrogance one typically sees amongst those scientists who are advocates of New Atheism. As a Christian I am never offended that someone doesn't share my belief in God – in fact in a world where God allows men to choose their responses to Him, I would expect a certain number of people not to believe in God. But there is no reason for epistemic arrogance displayed by New Atheists, who have no warrant for the certainty they invest in scientism, materialism, and naturalism. So to see measured responses of the sort Vilenkin gives is refreshing.
But the other thing that strikes me about the interview is Vilenkin's references to the underlying laws of physics which exist independent of the universe itself, as he calls it, a Platonic existence. For those who aren't familiar with Plato, he imagined our universe was a reflection of a deeper reality, an ideal reality. To that end Vilenkin expresses the notion that mathematics itself isn't merely a human a construct, but an underlying reality waiting to be discovered by us.
Vilenkin's view here comport on some levels with those of another thinker, philosopher Thomas Nagel who recently wrote the book, Mind and Cosmos, which is a critique of the reductionist view of the universe suggested by Neo-Darwinism. Lest you take Nagel to be a creationist, he is in fact an atheist, though again a thinker of the sort Vilenkin is – thoughtful, epistemically humble and willing to be skeptical of things other atheists seem certain of. He suggests in his book that the universe has an inherent 'mindfulness', a tendency that inclines it to follow a path that eventually leads to us. In this he channels another Greek philosopher, Aristotle, who believed the ends to which nature tends were inherent in nature itself.
Where both men seem to be arriving, albeit through different means, is at teleological view of the universe. For those not familiar with the term, generally speaking it means that processes bear attributes indicating they are being shaped toward an end – or that those processes have a purpose.
For most of human history humans have understood nature to be essentially teleological. Only in the 20th century did the reductionist notions of materialism and naturalism really begin to predominate in the sciences. But as Nagel points out, such reductionism essentially fails to explain certain aspects of nature – particularly the minds ability to explore the universe. More generally materialism fails to explain many aspects of the universe – it's fine-tuning, the origin of the information driven machinery of life as well as human consciousness – or consciousness generally.
Of course Christianity has and continues to offer an inherently consistent answer to the question of the teleology we see in the universe. When Genesis describes God speaking the universe into existence it provides the bridge between the underlying principles, the forms that exist in the eternal mind of God and the reality that we experience as the universe. We see not only the receptacle of the natural laws that govern nature, a place both outside the universe and consistent with it, but we see how such laws could be invested in the fabric of the universe itself. A Christian view of the universe encompasses both Plato and Aristotle.
It also aids us in understanding why our minds comprehend the universe at all. If it is true that we are 'created in the image of God' then we derive from God the ability to conceptualize the principles that underlay the structure of nature – we are both the product of the mind of God, and we share with it the ability to comprehend its works.
That modern thinkers are beginning to see the underlying purpose of the universe is no surprise. If men are honest observers, whatever winding roads they might follow they arrive back at the same place despite their desires to end up somewhere else.
As a Christian I believe the universe was structured so that, as Romans says, "what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them." If that is true, then the simplest man or the most sophisticated thinker should be able to observe nature and have some notion that it exists for a purpose – and that certainly appears to be the case.
ObservationsJanuary 30, 2013
If I found myself doing as much work to disprove the existence of the Tooth Fairy as atheists do trying to disprove the existence of God, I think I would start robbing dental labs and piling teeth beneath my pillow.
ObservationsJanuary 28, 2013
Often when I argue that cells are infused with information driven molecular machinery and that this observation constitutes the basis for a readily falsifiable theory on why the cell is the product of the effort of a mind, opponents will accuse me of over-extending the use of the word 'machine'. That is why I appreciate animations like the one below – it clearly depicts a molecular motor, that has been an integral part of cells since the beginning of life. It is clearly a mechanism composed of multiple integrated and highly interdependent parts that both convert energy into work, and provide the fuel on which the rest of the cell subsists.
The ATP synthase is definitely an information driven molecular machine, and the best explanation of its existence is that it was designed by a mind.
Atheist Myths About Eternity pt. 1 – Heaven is BoringJanuary 22, 2013
In a recent blog post on the New Atheist site A-Unicornist Mike shares his view of heaven by invoking Captain Kirk of the original Star Trek series. In the particular episode This Side of Paradise Kirk dismisses an offer to join an alien spore induced paradise with a typical Kirkian aplomb:
ELIAS: Captain, why don't you join us?
KIRK: In your own private paradise.
ELIAS: The spores have made it that.
KIRK: Where did they originate?
SPOCK: It's impossible to say. They drifted through space until they finally landed here. You see, they actually thrive on Berthold rays. The plants act as a repository for thousands of microscopic spores until they find a human body to inhabit.
ELIAS: In return, they give you complete health and peace of mind.
KIRK: That's paradise?
ELIAS: We have no need or want, Captain.
SPOCK: It's a true Eden, Jim. There's belonging and love.
KIRK: No wants. No needs. We weren't meant for that. None of us. Man stagnates if he has no ambition, no desire to be more than he is.
ELIAS: We have what we need.
KIRK: Except a challenge.
And later, with a reference to the Fall…
MCCOY: Well, that's the second time man's been thrown out of paradise.
KIRK: No, no, Bones. This time we walked out on our own. Maybe we weren't meant for paradise. Maybe we were meant to fight our way through. Struggle, claw our way up, scratch for every inch of the way. Maybe we can't stroll to the music of the lute. We must march to the sound of drums.
Mike's point in employing this bit of dialogue is the same one skeptic's have been using ever since – well at least since I was a skeptic myself, namely that heaven is boring, so who would want to go there anyway? It is an adolescent argument, the sort one would employ if one had a teenage view of the matter – which incidentally is around the time many men choose to become atheists. But it fails for two reasons, at least as far as Christianity is concerned; and one of the reason it fails is because Captain Kirk is a hypocrite.
How is he a hypocrite you ask? Well if you have a geek's knowledge of the Star Trek universe like myself, then you know that by 21st century standards, the world Kirk and his crew inhabit is a paradise. Think about it – the Federation has long done away with money. The crew of the Enterprise never worries about running out of power, having an ample supply supplied by dilithium crystals. They jet about the galaxy, free to explore the mysteries of the universe having all their physical needs supplied at the push of a button on a replicator. They can move about at will over distance materializing in buildings on a planet's surface in seconds (hey, where have I seen that before?!) War has ceased on earth and diseases are cured at the wave of glowing medical device.
As a matter of fact, Kirk often lectures warring alien about their primitive ways and absurd prejudices. Why? Because in order to have the freedom to really explore and gain more knowledge (which is after all the mission of the Enterprise) a high level of peace, prosperity and knowledge must be attained first. And as it turns out, this is pretty much true – historically, the cultures that have greatest advances are those who have managed to carve out for themselves a space where they can prosper in relative peace, away from the primitive human urges that constantly tear down civilizations. Man doesn't stagnate when he is given room and means to rest and reflect, man prospers. In short, we advance by way of the heavenly, not by the way of the brutish struggle, something Kirk apparently forgot. But he is not known for his logic.
But the other reason this fails as a critique of the Christian view of heaven is that it is not an accurate view of the Christian view of heaven, at least as Scripture explains it. The proper Christian view of heaven is not one of mindless people floating about clouds, playing harps without a care or concern. That is a cartoon view of Christianity, which is where New Atheists seem to get most of their information. In Scripture our earthly lives are just a shadow of what our eternal experiences will be. This is how the Apostle Paul puts it:
For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. – 1 Corinthian 13:9-12
Paul is contrasting our current experience which is limited by time, our limited knowledge and experience with an eternal existence which has no such limitations. Knowing what's true won't be limited by our senses. In another passage, Paul attempts to explain how different this life is from the life to come:
But someone will ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?" How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. Not all flesh is the same: People have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another and fish another.
There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind, and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.
So will it be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. – 1 Corinthians 15:35 -39
In other words, one can't measure our eternal experience by our temporal, earthly experience. It would be like trying to study a forest by looking at an acorn. Saying that 'heaven is boring' is akin to a bird in a cage saying the sky looks boring. It's absurd, especially if you have a tiny taste of what flight is like.
It's always interesting for me to think about how awed atheists are by the universe; and one can see why – it's vast, it is continually revealing new secrets and the more we know about it the more we know about ourselves. If it were feasible one could spend a lifetime exploring it and never scratch the surface of all its mysteries. Now think for a moment about what keeps us from exploring this immense creation. Our lives and resources are limited. For most of human history they have been severely limited. At this point in human history we barely have the capability to send machines to the nearest planets. Even if we manage to reach them ourselves, there is no indication we could ever send a person to the nearest star. Certainly in my lifetime it will not happen and if it ever does happen no one alive today will know it. And to be even more frank, the power and resources available to us is dwindling – and the will to use it for long term speculative ventures is waning as well, because people sacrifice long term understanding for short terms pleasure. Our ambition is stalled by our selfish natures not by a desire for heaven.
What is exciting about the thought of heaven is no such barriers exist. Time and resources are available for the ultimate exploration of the vastness of creation. Of course, beyond this lies the vastness the Creator Himself – to which there is no end of knowledge, understanding, and immeasurable motivation to go as C.S. Lewis put it, "further up, and further in".
Of course in our hearts we know this – that's why we strive for it on earth, even though it will never exist on earth. We strive to know more, we strive to live longer, to be healthier, and to be more at peace. We strive for these things because we realize that desperate lives of limitation are not how human lives ought to be.
Of course this is nonsense to Mike because he does not believe heaven exists to begin with, which rather makes his critique of heaven odd.
But if one is going to criticize something, one should at least understand what one is criticizing and his cartoonish cliché ridden view of the Christian notion of heaven shows he is not only ignorant of heaven, but of human nature altogether.
The Age of SkepticismJanuary 21, 2013
In light of certain events, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes by the scientist and philosopher Blaise Pascal. In it he describes the inevitable end of extreme skepticism:
What, then, shall man do in this state? Shall he doubt everything? Shall he doubt whether he is awake, whether he is being pinched, or whether he is being burned? Shall he doubt whether he doubts? Shall he doubt whether he exists? We cannot go so far as that; and I lay it down as a fact that there never has been a real complete sceptic. Nature sustains our feeble reason and prevents it raving to this extent.
Pensées, SECTION VII, 434
I thought of this warning about skepticism after reading Salon magazine's article on the latest conspiracy theories about the shooting at Sandy Hook elementary. While the existence of those who doubt that the events in Newtown, Connecticut occurred is shocking, it isn't surprising. After all we live in an age where conspiracies abound – the official and well documented descriptions of John F. Kennedy's assassination, the 9/11 attacks, even the moon landings have all been questioned by a segment of the population. The foundation of such conspiracies rests on a pernicious distrust of authorities and the media as well an overblown sense of skepticism that proffers if one wasn't present for the events themselves one can't trust the accounts of others.
I have found that in many ways skeptics of Christianity are similar. Their arguments against the New Testament accounts sound very similar to the claims of the Sandy Hook truthers – that the accounts are inconsistent, that those giving the accounts aren't reliable, that there are unreported facts which undermine the 'official' story or show that the story we are getting isn't complete. The fact that people can question the reality of widely witnessed events days after they occurred show our inherent tendency to doubt; and the tendency of some to doubt no matter what facts are presented.
Now this isn't to say skepticism isn't useful as a part of a complete intellectual toolkit. Gullibility can be just as dangerous as skepticism. But skepticism alone isn't sufficient to weigh the truth of a matter. Complete understanding includes a range of processes, from considering evidence, to personal experience, to knowing history and having some understanding of human nature. It also includes common sense, humility and yes, faith, which is the acknowledgement that even though we can never know all there is to know about certain events, we still must decide what we will accept as true. All these are employed by Christians in their decision to believe in Christ. Just as any rational person has sufficient evidence to accept that Kennedy was killed by a single madman, and that a group of fanatics flew planes into the World Trade Center buildings, that men walked on the moon and that a young disturbed man killed twenty children at Sandy Hook elementary, one also has sufficient evidence to believe confidently that a man walked the earth 2000 years ago, healed the sick, was crucified, died and rose again.
Of course the skeptic will find room to doubt – especially in this age where skeptics reign. But the existence of numerous skeptics doesn't change the reality of any of these events.
And while some healthy skepticism might help us avoid untruths, in the end skepticism alone doesn't enable the intellect but untether it from any certain foundation.


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NETWORKS Videos
The Northeast Tennessee Quality of Life video was intended to showcase the variety of exciting things to do that we enjoy and can sometimes take for granted. Click here to learn more.
The NETWORKS Community Video was launched to market the assets of Sullivan and Hawkins counties to site location consultants and C-Level executives. Upon launching in 2016, the video went viral. To this day, the video has been viewed over 800,000 times, with half of those views happening in the first 48 hours. Click here to learn more.


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IGEL Shows its First Microsoft RemoteFX-certified SoC Multimedia Thin Client at TechEd Amsterdam
From the better-late-than-never department (for RemoteFX, not Igel) IGEL will demonstrate its first Microsoft RemoteFX-certified SoC thin client at Microsoft TechEd in Amsterdam, Europe.
The IGEL multiprotocol SoC thin client is the first to be certified by Microsoft to give users the full benefits of its Multimedia RemoteFX technology.
Notable for its small size, low power consumption and exceptionally high multimedia performance, the IGEL device is expected to come to market by the end of Summer 2012. Among its features will be the ability to play full-screen HD videos. This new multiprotocol thin client is based on a system-on-chip (SoC) design and in addition to Microsoft RemoteFX will also support Citrix HDX and HDX 3D.
Already proven in mobile and embedded applications such as smartphones and tablet computers, ARM technology will now be used in IGEL thin clients to bring the same advantages of high performance, energy efficiency and small size. The new IGEL device is contained in IGEL's smallest standard device housing. The device will become the new 4th generation UD2 model series. The integrated DSP from Texas Instruments accelerates the processing of protocols such as Microsoft RemoteFX and gives the new SoC device a level of multimedia performance comparable to that of the top models available in the thin client sector. This high performance includes the capability to display full-screen HD video as well as render complex graphical content such as Windows Aero effects and PowerPoint presentations, as well as rich media by means of Flash Player.
A Multiprotocol SoC Thin Client
In keeping with IGEL's Universal Desktop strategy, the new SoC thin client is not limited to use with only one specific desktop virtualization solution. To ensure the greatest possible range of applications, it not only supports the Microsoft RemoteFX protocol but also Citrix ICA with HDX. Other standards will be integrated as they become available.
Source: http://vmblog.com/archive/2012/06/21/igel-shows-its-first-microsoft-remotefx-certified-soc-multimedia-thin-client-at-teched-amsterdam.aspx
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Services Offered
Our expert care providers offer care in the following services. Learn more about what services are offered, what to expect, and pricing.
Operated by: Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida
Planned Parenthood is one of the nation's leading providers of high-quality, affordable health care, and the nation's largest provider of sex education. With or without insurance, you can always come to us for your health care.
English; Spanish; Interpretation by telephone available for other languages.
Please let us know if you need an interpreter when scheduling your appointment.
Our expert care providers offer care in the following services. Learn more about what services are offered, what to expect, and pricing.
Retrieving hours...
Please note that we'll be closed on these holidays: New Year's Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day
Additional patient resources are available online for this location to help you get the care you need when you need it.
We're unable to provide childcare at our health center. For safety reasons children need to be accompanied by an adult when they're in the waiting room. Only infants can accompany you to the exam room. Please bring a friend or family member to be with your children if you don't have childcare at home.
You can fill your birth control prescriptions at our health center instead of the pharmacy. Supply visits are available during all business hours.
Specially trained staff are available for people with developmental disabilities.
Only infants and toddlers in a car seat or stroller are allowed in the exam room. Please make arrangements for childcare for any other children.
You can come to us for services that don't require a medical exam. For example, birth control education and supplies; emergency contraception (AKA the morning after pill); pregnancy testing and counseling; STD testing, and testing and treatments for urinary tract infections.
We look forward to seeing you at your appointment! Before your appointment please visit our eForms and complete our secure health history electronic form.
No registration or account creation is required. Completing the form will give our staff valuable information about your medical, family, and social history and will also save you time during your health center visit.
Please make sure you have a list of your current medications when you complete the form. At the end of the form be sure to submit the information. Submitted information will be able to be securely accessed by our staff once you arrive at the health center for your appointment.
Thank you for choosing Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida.
You may be able to get your birth control pills mailed to you. Ask the health center staff for more information.
Pills by Mail is available at this health center — a service that delivers birth control pills to your home each month. Ask the health center staff for more information.
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Edge house23. Jul2011
The architects used the slopes of the hill to create a unique S-shape of the house made of concrete. By doing this they have obtained an incredible continuity of the space, communicating from ground up without barriers.
They left the space physically unpartitioned but actually the different heights of the floors create the spaces to host the functions of the house. The entire house space is like a scene without a place clearly determined. The continuous concrete slab allows the front and the back of the house to be free of walls therefore allowing to have light from two opposites sides in the same space. Filter the light with drapes and the interior become such a cozy place to live.


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Defiant Morsi says he's still Egypt's president
CAIRO (AP) — Egypt's deposed Mohammed Morsi declared defiantly that he remains the country's "legitimate president," telling a judge as his trial got underway on Monday that he rejects the proceedings against him.
It was Morsi's first public appearance since his ouster in a July 3 coup. He was brought earlier in the day before a Cairo court from the secret location of his four-month detention to face trial on charges of incitement of murder and violence.
"I am Dr. Mohammed Morsi, the president of the republic. I am Egypt's legitimate president," Morsi said in response to the judge calling his name out after identifying him as a "defendant."
"I refuse to be tried by this court," said Morsi, who was elected in June 2012 and ousted almost exactly one year later.
His comments were reported by security officials who were inside the courtroom and who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media about the proceedings.
The start of the hearing was delayed by nearly two hours over what the officials said was a dispute over Morsi's refusal to wear a prison uniform, part of his rejection of the trial's legitimacy.
The session later got underway, though it was not immediately known how the issue of Morsi's attire was resolved, but the proceedings were soon adjourned because the defendants — Morsi and 14 other Muslim Brotherhood figures — started chanting and disrupted the hearing. The adjournment, ordered by presiding judge Ahmed Sabry Youssef, was set to last until Jan 8 to allow defense lawyers to review documents.
Since his ouster, Morsi has been held at a secret military location. He was flown by helicopter early Monday to the trial venue — a police academy in an eastern Cairo district. His co-defendants were taken to the venue from their jail in a suburb south of the city in armored police cars.
If convicted, Morsi and the other defendants in the case could face the death penalty.
The trial is fraught with risks and comes amid a highly charged atmosphere in a bitterly polarized nation, with a deepening schism between Morsi's Islamist supporters in one hand and Egypt's security establishment and the nation's moderate Muslims, secularists, Christians and women on the other.
In a last-minute change, authorities on Sunday switched the trial's venue in a move apparently aimed at thwarting mass rallies planned by Morsi's Brotherhood.
Security was tight around the police academy, with hundreds of black-clad riot police backed by armored vehicles deployed around the sprawling complex. Police helicopters hovered over the site. The final stretch of road leading to the academy was sealed off, with only authorized personnel and accredited journalists allowed to approach the facility.
The academy is also being used for the re-trial of Morsi's predecessor, Hosni Mubarak, whose 29-year regime was toppled in a 2011 popular uprising. Mubarak is charged with failing to stop the killing of some 900 protesters during the 18-day uprising.
Several hundred Morsi supporters rallied outside the police academy, carrying posters with his photo and banners depicting an open palm with four fingers — the symbol commemorating a pro-Morsi sit-in that was violently cleared by security forces in August. They also chanted slogans against Gen. Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi, the military chief who led the July coup.
Across town, several hundred Morsi supporters also rallied outside the Supreme Constitutional Court and the capital's main court complex in the downtown area.
"I came here to witness this farce," Gamal Azab, a Morsi supporter, said outside the police academy. "I am not afraid of the police, but I am worried about my country."
Since his detention, Morsi has had little communication with the outside world. He has been extensively questioned by prosecutors and has not been allowed to meet with lawyers. He has spoken at least twice by telephone to his family and received two foreign delegations.
Brotherhood supporters have called the detention an outright kidnapping, and Morsi has refused to cooperate with his interrogators.
Morsi faces charges along with 14 other Brotherhood figures and allies — including top leaders Mohammed el-Beltagy and Essam el-Erian — in connection to clashes last December outside his presidential palace that left at least 10 dead.
In those riots, Morsi supporters set upon peaceful protesters camped outside the Cairo palace. Day-long clashes followed and video clips posted on social networks showed Morsi supporters detaining and torturing opposition protesters outside the walls of the palace. The Brotherhood claims that most of the victims were Brotherhood supporters, but that assertion is disputed.
Unlike Mubarak's first trial, the proceedings against Morsi are not likely to be aired live. After Monday's session, Morsi will probably be taken back to the secret location he has been held at, instead of being transferred to a normal prison, for fear his supporters would turn the prison surroundings into a "focal point of endless protests."
The judge in Mubarak's retrial has ruled that those hearings would not be televised, a move seen as a reaction to the chaos that defined the first trial, when Mubarak and his security chief received life sentences.
After the July coup, Egypt has witnessed one of its worst bouts of violence in decades. On Aug. 14, security forces violently cleared protest camps set up by Morsi supporters, sparking days of unrest that left more than 1,000 dead.
Since then, violent incidents have multiplied: a suicide car bomber tried to assassinate Interior Minister Mohammed Ibrahim in September, and dozens of members of the security forces have been killed in a string of drive-by shootings, explosions and car bombs. Churches have been torched, and in an attack in Cairo last month, four Christian Copts and one Muslim were killed in a drive-by shooting outside a church.
Cairo's traffic was lighter than usual for a Monday morning, suggesting that some of the capital's estimated 18 million residents have opted to stay home for fear of violence. Some private schools told parents to keep their children at home Monday, but state schools, government offices and banks were operating normally. Security was beefed up at vital installations across the country in anticipation of violence.
A newspaper known for close ties to the military published on Sunday what appeared to be the first pictures of Morsi in detention.
The daily el-Watan published a transcript of remarks it says were made by Morsi and captured on video, describing him as being "in total denial" and saying, "I am the president of the republic, in accordance with the constitution." Later in the day, it posted a video showing Morsi wearing a blue track suit, sitting on a chair and speaking calmly.
The paper quoted him as saying: "I will represent myself in front of any court ... I am not involved in killings of the protesters ... I will tell judges that."
A military official said the video was leaked to the paper in order to give his supporters a first glance of the former president to lessen the impact of the shock of his first public appearance.
International rights groups have called for a fair trial for Morsi.
In a Sunday statement, London-based Amnesty International said Morsi's trial is a "test" for the Egyptian authorities, who must grant him the "right to challenge the evidence against him in court," said Hassiba Hadj Sahraoui, Amnesty's Middle East director.
Morsi's family considers the trial illegitimate and will not attend, his son Osama told The Associated Press on Sunday. He said they feared they would be mistreated and humiliated.
Associated Press reporters Mariam Rizk and Tony G. Gabriel contributed to this report from Cairo.
Copyright 2013 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.


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Covestro Elastomers UTECH Europe 2018 preview
Baulé® Machines: scalable equipment at its best
With the evolution of their business, our customers see their needs changing at sometimes unexpected speeds. Their requirements suddenly vary from what they were at the time of the purchase. As an answer to this recurring situation, Covestro Elastomers came up with a new concept that will allow our customers to specify which features they want on their machine, and to keep on adjusting it to their needs as their circumstances evolve.
New needs: same machine
It is no longer necessary to go for a new machine: the fully customizable and scalable design enables one to alter and refine the profile of a previously owned machine, or to create the exact tool you have in mind to match your needs. To allow such extensibility and precision, our engineers had to forgo machine ranges to leave the way open for a vast array of functions that can now be combined, dissected and rearranged at our customers' discretion.
Auto-calibration: effortless accuracy
Eager to lighten the operators' workload and increase process reliability, our engineers developed an auto-calibration mode. Increasing the machines' metering accuracy, this innovative calibration mode (patent pending) is self-driven, which allows the operators to rely on precise parameters and dedicate their full attention to the molding process.
New HMI: productivity and performance within hand's reach
Covestro Elastomers' Human-Machine Interface has been entirely remodeled for a more intuitive use, as well as interactive operations between machine, operators and technicians, be it on site or remotely.
Low Exposure & High Performance Ovens
Covestro Baulé® machines now feature the innovative High Performance Oven (HPO), which allows a much faster and accurate heating of the components. This optimized design can also be combined with the Low Exposure Oven (LEO) option which optimises safety standards by further reducing the operator's exposure to chemicals when working with the oven.
An extensive lineup
Along with the previously mentioned innovations, the UTECH show will be the ideal stage to discover Covestro Elastomers' latest work and products. With various upgrades and new launches, this edition of the event will mark a cornerstone for Covestro's customers who will discover the new, optimized solutions that have been specifically designed to bring them more productivity, efficiency and safety.
About Covestro:
With 2017 sales of EUR 14.1 billion, Covestro is among the world's largest polymer companies. Business activities are focused on the manufacture of high-tech polymer materials and the development of innovative solutions for products used in many areas of daily life. The main segments served are the automotive, construction, wood processing and furniture, and electrical and electronics industries. Other sectors include sports and leisure, cosmetics, health and the chemical industry itself. Covestro has 30 production sites worldwide and employs approximately 16,200 people (calculated as full-time equivalents) at the end of 2017.
Find more information at www.covestro.com.
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Covestro
Forward-looking statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Covestro AG. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Covestro's public reports which are available at www.covestro.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments.


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Here comes the New Year. There is something rejuvenating about the start of another year, its true. We all tend to perk up a bit, make promises to ourselves and others and hope –" like all the years before –" that this one will be great.
On the personal level, I still do that. One cannot but hope that this year will be a bit different, better. Stupidly enough, I even hope that things will be better for the Palestinians, even though all the indicators point to the contrary.
I mean, there have been some good signs, right? The EU, under Swedish presidency, called for Jerusalem to be the capital of two states (true, in a watered down version of their first statement), the American people elected Barack Obama, who if anything, is the best of the worst, and Justice Richard Goldstone issued a report on the Israeli invasion of Gaza last winter that finally put Israel's crimes into the limelight. Yes, there have been some signs indicating that certain truths about Israel's oppression of the Palestinians are rising to the surface of the years' long smokescreen of fallacies. A British court issued an arrest warrant for Kadima leader Tzipi Livni for her part in the crimes committed in Gaza during Cast Lead and a Swedish journalist accused Israel of illegally harvesting organs from Palestinians it killed during the first Intifada (an allegation admitted by an Israeli forensics expert later). Spanish foreign minister Miguel Mortathinos, whose country is to take over the EU presidency at the beginning of the new year, said one of his goals was to work towards the establishment of a Palestinian state. "My idea, and my dream, and my engagement, is to work for having in 2010, finally, a Palestinian state."
It sounds all good, I must admit. If only actions could be immediately translated into words, Livni would be behind bars, settlements would be halted completely and the Palestinians would be ruling themselves in their sovereign state with the Palestinian flag flying over east Jerusalem. Unfortunately, however, intentions go but so far and the fact remains that the situation on the ground is as bleak as ever.
I'm wondering what the new year will bring for those who have lost so much? For the people of Gaza, New Years brings the reminder of the horrors of last winter, when Israel pounded the Strip for 22 days on end and killed scores of innocent people. I don't think the Samoudi family, who lost 48 members in the invasion, will have much to celebrate. Neither will the Sukarji and Abu Sharkh families in Nablus, whose sons were executed just last week by invading Israeli troops at point blank range, one of them before his pregnant wife and children. How about the demolished homes and the confiscated land, the prisoners and their families? There are scores of Palestinians, unrecognized soldiers, who pay the price of Israel's occupation every day and for whom empty words from politicians mean absolutely nothing.
Realistically, most Palestinian predictions for 2010 are hardly full of hope. With Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the top of Israel's government, what can we really expect? Even when one of his own has been hidden away in captivity somewhere in the marshland of Gaza, Netanyahu does not bend. Gilad Shalit is not coming home any time soon from the looks of it, but then again, neither are the 10,000 plus Palestinian prisoners who have languished in Israeli jails for years.
But let's not forget our own messy house either. The Palestinians are no closer to reconciliation now than they were six months ago. On the contrary, the longer our leaders remain divided, the more bitter the division becomes. If anything, all Palestinians, from all political spectrums and all walks of life should pool their collective psychic energies into one direction –" hope that the Palestinians will reconcile and reunite so they can get back to fighting for their ultimate goal of eliminating the Israeli occupation. This, contrary to our conflict with the Israelis, is actually attainable in the near future, if we set our minds to it. And once that is achieved, we can then move forward with isolating Israel and bringing it to justice.
I think perhaps the one thing to be learned is that there is always some glimmer of hope no matter how bleak. As a Palestinian I ache for my country and all that it has endured. I also know that as long as we continue to call ourselves Palestinians and refuse to compromise our love and loyalty to this land, there will always be the possibility of a better year and a better future for us all.


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Navy Wings Flight Store
Sea Vixen XP924. Lewis Gaylard
Regular price £13.99
Originally a pictorial history of the race to get the world's last flying Sea Vixen, XP924, ready for the 2015 flying season, the new editions cover the period up to the present. A comprehensively and lavishly illustrated record of a very special aircraft. Please help to keep her flying.


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Make Stuff • Go Places • Do Things
Make Stuff – No matter how small or silly try to make something every day. Even if it is a small part of a bigger something. That's even better in fact. As Theodore Roosevelt famously said, "Do what you can, with what you've got, where you are."
Train yourself to develop a creative mindset with the simple habit of creating daily. I guarantee this one small thing will put you on a path to happiness.
Go Places – Whenever possible get out of the house. Go somewhere, anywhere. The further the better. This will not only have you living a long life (more on that later) but it is also one great way to "know thyself" more thoroughly.
Plus it is just fun to visit and explore a new place with an open and curious mind.
Do Things – Take action. Push your boundaries, dance outside your comfort zone, collect experiences, not things. "Action is the foundational key to all success." words from the master Pablo Picasso.
Say "yes, I'll try that" more often and be intentional about seeking out new experiences.
Upon a bit of reflection in my 4+ decades of my own human experience, I created this mantra of "make stuff, go places, do things" for myself as a simple reminder of how I desire to spend my days.
Every one of them involves taking action and when we take action we create great stories out of our lives. The importance of taking action in your life can not be understated. Every action taken no matter the outcome is a lesson to be learned. A habit of action also helps us to continue when we fail or things don't go as planned.
When I look back at the highlights of my life, the cherished memories, they all involve one or more of these 3 simple prompts.
This website is a simple and easy way for me to remain accountable to myself in my goal of living up to my mantra. On average I post daily in order to share my thoughts, my victories, and most importantly the lessons I've learned in the hopes they might help you, my dear reader.
About Me
My name is Daryle Dickens and I am on a mission to live a location independent life. To complete that mission I am growing a media company called UPTRN as well as teaching people how to make their travel dreams come true over at LearningToTravel.com.


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Nut, in botany, dry hard fruit that does not split open at maturity to release its single seed. A nut resembles an achene but develops from more than one carpel (female reproductive structure), often is larger, and has a tough woody wall. Examples of true nuts are the chestnut, hazelnut, and acorn.
Many edible oily seeds are popularly called "nuts," especially those with a hard shell. Many of these culinary nuts are the seeds of drupe fruits, including walnuts, pistachios, almonds, and coconuts. The peanut is a legume, and the Brazil nut is a seed from a capsule fruit.


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Kees is op 3 januari 2012 overleden.
Voorlopig wordt de website in stand gehouden zodat u nog kunt genieten van alle mooie dingen in het leven die Kees zo dierbaar waren.
I have been updating the website a bit and have put the emphasis more on wildlife digital photography and travel photography. They may overlap a bit because during general travelling I tend also to make a lot of wildlife pictures. Anyway, I hope this makes navigating a bit easier.
NEW GALLERY: I just added pictures from La Brenne, a swamp area in the Loire valley of France. It was extremely dry in april 2011 and there were not that many birds. Nevertheless when I went to the Anglin in the south of La Brenne I was able to find a fair amount of wild orchids although it was a bit early in the year. Count your blessings! Many are extremely rare in the Netherlands and I also found a pale dog violet. Go to: Nature photography/Nature travel logs in the gallery section.
LATEST PICTURES: In Nature photography/Individual nature shots is now a Latest Pictures gallery to host indeed the latest
On the right upper side is the menu that will bring you to the galleries. I will add to the galleries on a regular basis, so please return often. Each gallery can have several albums and each album can be viewed photo by photo by clicking on an image, automatically a slide show will start that runs from the selected image till the last. It can be paused also. I have removed the old slide show button in the upper right corner and integrated it in the main screen.
There is also a gallery with Virtual reality (QTVR) Panoramas, this will load a Quicktime viewer (has to be installed) in which you can explore the subject in an interactive way by dragging with the left mouse button.


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After Dad's Nokia 2300 got retired it was time to buy a good phone; so I suggested him to get a smartphone instead of plain vanilla phone and moreover we had to get a 1GB memory card for our digital camera. Doing shopping in Chennai's gadget market is the best thing I love to do.
So we went to Chennai's gadget market and got these things:
- Nokia 6680 Smartphone
- 1GB Dual Voltage (DV) RS-MMC Flash Memory for Nokia 6680 as 128MB standard card is insufficient for today's multimedia requirement.
- Nokia BH-200 Bluetooth Headset for Nokia 6680
- 1GB Sony Memory Stick Pro for our Sony Cybershot DSC-F88 digital camera.
So what can you expect now?
I will be reviewing Nokia BH-200 bluetooth headset and benchmarking the 2 memory cards. I will not be reviewing the Nokia 6680 as there are 'n' number of reviews available already.
Click on the images to enlarge
Gadgets that we got yesterday
The new Nokia 6680 along with its companions.
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Today we are going to tackle the topic of Clomid. Whether you are taking it, have taken it in the past, or are just curious as to what exactly Clomid is, read on to learn more! Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
Clomid is probably the most well known of all fertility drugs. It is the brand name for the drug clomiphene citrate, and is also sold under the brand name Serophene. Clomid is the most widely and commonly used of all fertility drugs. Clomid is used when there are problems with ovulation, such as ovulating irregularly or not at all. It is also used for women with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. Clomid is usually the first choice when prescribing fertility medication.
Clomid is usually taken orally, in pill form. It is easy to take and usually tolerated well. You take Clomid during one five day cycle each month. Clomid will help your body produce more of the hormones that trigger ovulation, and helps your body to produce one or more mature eggs. When those eggs are released, they have a chance to meet up with a healthy sperm and cause conception.
Clomid has very few side effects as far as fertility treatments go. The side effects are usually mild, and can include mild stomach pain, breast tenderness, nausea and vomiting, weight gain, fatigue, etc. If you are trying to get pregnant, these are minor Clomid side effects since they are also symptoms of a healthy pregnancy as well. However, there is one very well known side effect of Clomid. The chance of having twins while on Clomid increases to around 10%. Still not a huge chance, but a bigger chance than normal.
In the USA, one round of Clomid treatments will run around $50. This is the cost without insurance for only one cycle. You will also have to factor in the cost of the doctor's visits, ultrasounds, tests, etc. If you have insurance coverage, it may or may not pay for some or all of Clomid treatment. You will have to check with your insurance company to make sure.
Clomid has a track record of being one of the most successful fertility medications. About 80% of patients will begin ovulating successfully while on Clomid. The rate of women who get pregnant while taking Clomid is around 40-45%, within six cycles of use.
It is not usually recommended that Clomid be used for more than six cycles. This is the point when other fertility methods will probably be started if you have not had success with Clomid by this point. If you have any additional questions or concerns about Clomid, talk with your physician.


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Summer is here, and it is the best time for enjoying something tasty and refreshing. See what's in season year-round. A lot of fresh fruits are available in every season, which can keep you energetic and fresh. Fresh and juicy mangoes are at the top of the list that you can see everywhere in the hot season. Almost everyone loves the 'King of fruits'. People love to eat sweet and succulent mangoes alone or by adding them to fruit salsas and salads. Undoubtedly, they are extremely yummy, luscious and lip-smacking. But do you ever think about the immense health benefits getting from every bite of this sweet fruit? Well, fresh mangoes are full of lots of beneficial nutrients, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that give you optimum health.
Here are the nutritional value and some significant health benefits of mangoes. Explore how the 'king of fruits' can help you to maintain a healthy life.
The Nutritional Value:
A lot of studies have shown that mangoes are the powerhouses of vitamins. They are abundant in Vitamin A, B6, C, E, K, folate, thiamine, niacin, riboflavin and pantothenic acid. They are an excellent source of dietary fiber and low in very low in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. Mangoes are also high in several minerals such as copper, potassium, and magnesium, as well as they are the great sources of quercetin, beta-carotene, and astragalin. These powerful antioxidants are potent to neutralize free radicals throughout the body and ensure overall health. All these powerful components help you to avoid numerous diseases that can come from deficiencies of these vitamins and minerals. So, add this healthiest fruit to your diet and keep yourself healthy and hearty.
The Nutritional Profile:
A 100-gram serving of fresh mangoes offers you a plenty of nutrients which are as follows;
|Nutritional Value (per 100-gram serving)
|Dietary fiber
|Vitamin A
|Vitamin C
The 'king of fruits'- Mango is considered as a nutrient-dense fruit because of having lots of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other nutrients which benefit you in an amazing manner. Here is a list of 20 reasons why you should eat mangoes every day.
A lot of vitamins and nutrients are found in mangoes which are essential for the proper nourishment of your hair. This fruit contains vitamin A that assists in fighting dandruff and adding shine to hair. Additionally, it also has vitamin E, which not only improves scalp circulation and promotes hair growth.
Some research show that antioxidants found in mango can fight off the breast, colon, lung, prostate and leukemia cancers. These antioxidant compounds include gallic acid, quercetin, isoquercitrin, fisetin, astragalin and enzymes which may lower the risks of cancers.
This healthiest fruit is also rich in vitamin. According to research, One cup of sliced mangoes provides 25% of the required daily values of vitamin A. They are beneficial for promoting good eyesight and also preventing night blindness and dry eyes.
Research has revealed that mangoes have a deadly combination of vitamin A, C and 25 various kinds of carotenoids. All these vitamins and nutrients help you in keeping your immune system healthy.
Mango is a great source of vitamin C, fiber, and pectin which help to reduce the bad cholesterol levels. This fruit also contains a high content of potassium, which helps to control heart rate and blood pressure.
Studies have shown that mango leaves may normalize insulin levels in the blood. Though it is high in sugar; it has a low glycemic index (41-60). So, moderate quantities of mangoes do not spike your sugar levels. This fruit also contains fiber which also helps in improving the blood sugar level and reducing the risks of diabetes.
Eating mangoes is also beneficial for heart patients. The vitamin, fiber and potassium content found in mangoes many help to protect against heart disease. High potassium content along with a less sodium intake can minimize the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke.
Mangoes are also great for skin as they can reduce the dark spots, blackheads, acne, and blemishes. This fruit has vitamin A and beta-carotene which can impart a natural glow to your skin.
Whether you want to lose or gain weight, you should start eating mangoes every day. Yes, the king of fruits plays a vital role in maintaining an ideal weight according to your age. Mangoes have a lot of nutrients and vitamins that help to give you a feel fuller and also support in weight loss. On the other hand, mangoes are also great for those who want to gain weight. A serving of 150 grams of mango supplies almost 86 calories which the body can easily absorb.
Mangoes are one of the healthiest fruits that are commonly used in medicines to cure certain diseases. In Chinese medicine, mangoes are considered sweet and sour which are capable of minimizing the risk of kidney stone formation.
When the strong sun energy is burning up your body, just take a sip of the mango juice. It will help you to cool down and prevent harm from overheating or heat stroke. To make a mango juice, simply chop a mango in a blender, add a little water, and a tablespoon of honey.
According to a study, a high amount of beta-carotene found in mangoes can prevent asthma. So, if you're suffering from asthma, try eating mangoes each day. This habit will reduce the risks of developing asthma.
Some studies have shown that low intakes of vitamin K may lead to a higher risk of bone fracture. So, it is important to consume an adequate amount of vitamin K which can be achieved by consuming fresh vegetables and fruits. Moreover, they can also improve the calcium absorption that is optimal for bone health.
Mango is known as a 'love fruit' because of having aphrodisiac properties. The vitamin E found in mangoes helps to regulate sex hormones and promotes healthy sex.
The enzymes present in Mangoes help in breaking down protein and improve digestion. The king of fruits is a rich source of vitamins, minerals and prebiotic dietary fiber which help in digestion and elimination.
Mangoes contain an impressive amount of vitamin that ensures overall health. They are also an excellent source of potassium and magnesium which help to normalize blood pressure levels.
Want to improve your memory? Eat mangoes. Yes, if you often feel forgetful, the King of Fruits is beneficial for brain health. The reason is that it is an excellent source of glutamine acid, a powerful protein for memory and concentration.
They also have iron content which makes them suitable for people experiencing anemia. A regularly moderated dose of mangoes may help eliminate anemia by enhancing the number of red blood cells in the body.
Menopausal and pregnant women should eat mangoes, as this fruit can improve their iron and calcium levels at the same time. To have a safe pregnancy, you can consume a healthy iron-rich diet with juicy mangoes instead of recommended supplements.
According to a study, Mangoes are also rich in tartaric acid, traces of citric acid and malic acid which are potent to maintain the alkali reserve of the body.
Papaorder Blog explores the food culture of various nations while the main focus is on Arabic culinary style and culture.More about blog
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HTML Editor – Full Version As you start your workout sessions, one core practice that is an absolute necessity have for pretty much everybody, is the plank exercise. This practice is awesome for strengthening every
Routine Plank Exercise
Each one move of plank exercise for abs moves your middle of gravity and strengths your abs, arms, back and glutes to settle your body. Below are the different types of plank exercise. The five moment
How to do Plank exercise
Introduction When you're out of shape, starting a new fitness routine can be hard how to plank exercise. You might feel embarrassed by your body or perhaps you don't even know where to begin. Don't
Plank Exercise Benefits
Plank exercises are a famous component of isometric preparing, which includes getting your muscles against stationary safety. Isometric exercises are regular for harm recovery or reconditioning. Isometric exercises for example, Planks can help
Plank Exercise
The Plank Exercise is an isometric practice that elevates the stabilization and builds endurance in your whole core such as rectus abdominis, oblique's, lower back and balancing out muscles. It has so many benefits yet simple


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ARC Fire Safety & Security Limited
BAFE registered for:
SP203-1 Fire Detection and Alarm Systems
14 Talisman Business Centre Duncan Road, Southampton, SO31 7GA
01489 570707
If you require fire safety services for your premises use BAFE. BAFE is the independent register of quality fire safety service providers, who are certified to ensure quality and competence to help meet your fire safety obligations.
Where do I begin with fire safety for my building?
Legal obligations nationwide require the appointed responsible person for fire safety for commercial/non-domestic premises to have adequate fire protection.
What is Third Party Certification?
Third Party Certification is the best assurance of quality when looking for a provider to help meet your fire safety requirements.


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Proteinuria: If a child comes, has proteinuria and you have no cause, Fabry Disease is not at the top of the list but it's one of the things that might be involved and it's an important one because there's a specific treatment for it.
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Fabry Disease isn't the most common cause of that but Fabry Disease is one of the things on the list and the treatment for Fabry Disease is different from the other common causes.
Early onset stroke: Only 3 or 4% of early stroke will be related to Fabry Disease but it is an important cause.
The strokes will generally be in adults, but at a relatively young age. You can start to see proteinuria and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in adolescence. These findings are much more compelling if you have more than one of them or if you see a family - you see one of these and then you do a family history and find other problems in the family history that would again be strong evidence that you should think about Fabry Disease and initiate further work-up.


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Find a course
Applying for one of our postgraduate courses is simple – just click on the red 'Apply' button at the top of our course pages.
There are two main ways to look through our courses:
Applying for a course
To apply for a postgraduate course, simply click on the red 'Apply' button at the top of our course pages. You will be directed to the UCAS Postgraduate website to make your application.
When completing the application form on UCAS Postgraduate remember to specify:
- why you wish to enrol on the course
- any relevant experience you have
- why you think you should be given a place
Application deadlines
There are no official deadlines for applications to the University of Westminster, but we urge applicants to apply as soon possible and recommend that you apply at least three months before the course starts, particularly if you need a Tier 4 visa to study in the UK. We process application forms until courses are full or teaching has started.
For more information on year and term dates, view our academic calendar.
Applying for a research degree
If you're interested in applying for a research degree, have a look at our separate How to apply for research degrees page.
Entry requirements
Course-specific entry requirements
Entry requirements for each course are provided on our course pages.
You can access our course pages via our course search or subjects page.
Typical entry requirements
Our typical postgraduate entry requirements are as follows, but please also check the specific requirements on our course pages.
- a good honours degree from a recognised university, or qualification or experience deemed to be equivalent
- Minimum IELTS score of at least 6.5 overall (and minimum 5.5 in each component) or equivalent. English Language competency requirements vary among courses
Note that even if you meet our minimum entry requirements, we cannot guarantee you a place on the course.
Interviews, portfolios and additional requirements
Some courses have additional requirements and you may need to attend an interview, submit a written assignment/portfolio or take a test.
Check the 'Entry requirements' section on our course pages for details.
If your qualification is not listed
If your qualification is not listed, you may still be able to apply for our courses.
Contact our course enquiries team to discuss your qualifications via the contact details at the bottom of this page.
Recognition for prior learning or experience
If your course is related to your previous study or experience (paid or voluntary), you may be able to seek exemption from relevant modules.
For information, visit our recognition of prior learning page.
International applicants
For entry requirements, country visits and information on our representatives in your country, visit our country pages.
English language requirements
The English language requirements for our courses are provided on individual course pages as minimum IELTS scores.
For information about equivalent English language qualifications that are accepted by the University, please visit our English language requirements page.
English language support
We offer pre-sessional English language courses and also run an international summer school that can help you develop your language skills before you start your course.
You can also take academic English modules during your studies with us to further enhance your English.
Details of the English language courses and support we offer can be found on our English language support page.
University preparation courses
Our partner college, Kaplan International College London, offers a Pre-Master's course leading to entry to a number of our Master's degrees.
To find out more and apply, visit the Kaplan International College London website.
Students with disabilities
We welcome and encourage applications from students with disabilities and consider all applications on academic grounds. If you have a disability that might affect your studies, let us know when you apply, so that we can assist you wherever possible. For more information, please visit our Disability Learning Support pages.
Our terms and conditions
While courses are offered as described at the time of going to press (in the case of our prospectus), some revisions may be made, either as a result of academic development or external constraints. There is no guarantee that courses that are undergoing validation will be approved, or that courses will be offered in the exact locations cited. A 'subject to approval' notice is included on all course pages where the course is undergoing validation.
Read the University's admissions policy.


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by lacy hostal
(Darwin,NT, Australia)
I had just fallen asleep when i heard a whole lot of people screaming, i was very scared. i jumped out of bed and ran to my children's room to tell them to get up and run with me to find help. Unfortunaly my husband past away during the tragic disaster, i fell so sad for all the children that day who lost the parents and loved ones.Thats a Christmas i will never forget.
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Our management fee policy
N&B Training Company Ltd (N&B) operates as a Lead Provider where part of the provision is delivered via sub-contracted organisations. All providers undergo a comprehensive Due Diligence process prior to any delivery and are selected on the basis of their track record, type of provision delivered and location to ensure N&B is able to effectively respond to employer demand whilst reflecting local skills priorities.
The following policy applies to all provision that is sub-contracted to third party Providers. This policy replaces any previous versions, where applicable, and will be effective from 1st August 2016. This policy will be reviewed at least annually and will be published on the N&B website.
Management fees will be deducted at source, i.e. Providers will receive a MCV from N&B which reflects their available funds to spend. Any management fee will have been deducted prior to this allocation. N&B will make monthly payments to Providers based on the correct submission of data and supporting evidence to validate learning delivery. All funding claims must comply with the current Skills Funding Agency 'Funding Rules' and the terms of the agreement between N&B and the sub-contractors. Where funding claims cannot be substantiated, N&B will adjust or reclaim any funds from the sub-contractor and where required make an appropriate repayment to the Skills Funding Agency.
Apprenticeship Provision
A 15% management fee will be applied to sub-contracted Adult Skills Budget Apprenticeship provision. This includes 16-18 learners, 19-24 and 25+ learners.
Other Sub-contract Provision
Any other activity sub-contracted to third party Providers will usually be subject to the standard management fee of 15%. However, dependent on the nature of the programme, level of N&B support required by the sub-contractor and/or the level of funding available for the activity, this may be altered at the discretion of N&B. Specific fees charged for other activity will be subject to negotiation between N&B and the sub-contractor at the time of initial contracting.
Sub-contractor at Support and Capacity Building
N&B has a responsibility to support all sub-contract partners to develop and deliver high quality provision that meet the needs of learners and exceeds the expectation of employers. The management fee deducted from allocated funds is used directly to provide a comprehensive programme of support and compliance measures to ensure that public funds are protected and used effectively and partners are supported to develop their provision and extend their businesses. The exact mix of support will vary dependent on the needs of individual sub-contractors.
Payment Terms
N&B will make payment to sub-contractors on 23rd day of each month. Payment is subject to the correct evidence and data being provided to N&B by the agreed monthly deadline. Adjustments may be made to specific payments where evidence of eligibility, participation or achievement cannot be validated. Any amendments will be based on guidance provided by the current version of the SFA Funding Rules.
Policy Review & Publication
The policy will be reviewed annually in July of each year and any changes notified to sub-contractors as part of either a regular contract review or via separate correspondence. We reserve the right to change the policy in particular instances where the policy is deemed to be unsuitable and without prior warning.
Subcontracting Activity & Payments 2015/16
Subcontractor: Learn Plus Us
Subcontractor: Associated Neighbour Training