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Joy In The Little Things//Fall Outfit
For some reason I am really struggling with my closet. We switched out summer clothes for fall and now I am having a hard time pairing things together for outfits. I think my closet is too hodge podge and that I need to do a serious overhaul. Even us fashion bloggers have issues with wardrobe! Slightly embarrassing story, my sisters and I were going to an event at a new friends house and we each tried on like 4 outfits. (facepalm) Nothing was going together and we didn't want to go too dressed up, but we also didn't want to show up in jeans and sweatshirts. Like I said, stuff just isn't matching. So that being said, I have been turning to my trusty tunics and jeans lately. It is a little too warm for the fully layered skirt with leggings that's my go-to in the winter, and it is too cold to wear a skirt without leggings. Not to mention, the weather in Michigan can't seem to make up it's mind if it wants to be cold or warm. So I am finding that I am more often wearing outfits like this to feel comfortable. I wore nearly this identical outfit this summer here.
I am in LOVE with this denim vest!!! I have been really wanting some distressed denim for a while now. I have loved these options below.
1. Cato Fashions 2 and 3. BeecherProch Apparel
They are just so fun, unique and artistic. But when we were at Cato's, I was browsing through their clearance (Pretty much the only place I shop when we are there) and there was ONE distressed denim vest IN MY SIZE!!!! I snatched it immediately and got so excited as I tried it on. I have wanted one for years ever since my Mama got one for herself. I admired it and had wished at the time that I could afford to buy my own. No such luck until that moment! Does God really care about a girl's desire for a distressed denim item to add to her wardrobe? I believe so, but whether or not that was the case, it felt like it was meant to be and it felt like a special little gift from my loving Father. I found such joy in such a little thing!
I don't mean to make this too preachy, but I think that is so important. Finding joy in the little things. Choosing to look for things to be thankful for and to enjoy. We are bombarded with such crazy and depressing stuff all the time in this sinful world, it is so important to keep our focus on the things that remind us of God and His love for us. Without that, our joy is gone and the enemy is just waiting for us to drop our guard so he can suck the zest of life right out of us. Choose Joy, Look for things to be thankful for, even if they may seem insignificant.
I'll get off my soap box for the day. Anyway, so this outfit makes me smile whenever I wear it! I didn't even mention the boots! Another blessing from the Lord were these booties. I had wanted a pair for the last few years and procrastinated finding them since shoes are so expensive and it was hard to find what I wanted in my price range. There are SO many options. . . but a dear friend went through her closet and was getting rid of stuff and these happened to be in the bag for us to go through. They were everything I had wanted without me really realizing that was what I wanted. And they were free to me. I felt so blessed and every time I wear them, I am so thankful and get giddy over it all over again!
///Outfit Details//
Black Skinny Jeans: Cato's $5
Tunic: LulaRoe payment from my sis in law
Boots: Hand-me-down
Vest: Cato's $11
Necklace: Birthday gift from my sis-in-law
What is something seemingly insignificant you found joy in this week?
By God's Grace,


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Flip Flop Lick
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subset: commoncrawl


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Pastor Joe Chung
In Matthew 13:31-32 Jesus explains,"The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds come and perch in its branches." Here at Upper Room Ministry it is our heart's desire to become like this mustard seed. So that we would be used by God to be a community where all those around us would find rest. You see, when it comes to us, what you see is not what you get, we firmly believe that God is moving and working in our congregation. Although we may have started off small, God is not done with us yet!
Kneeling on the floor of Bethel Retreat Center in Upstate New York, I heard the speaker invite those who wanted to commit themselves to full-time ministry to move up to receive prayer. As a Junior in High School, I was certain that God had other plans for me and so I moved back. But God's constant voice began to speak into my heart calling me into His service, and so in full surrender to God's will I moved up and received prayer. I wish that I can say that I stayed on the straight and narrow after that, but I didn't. I found my heart wandering again and again, and it was always God's amazing grace that brought me back to my knees in surrender. As I look back, I see God's love woven throughout my life like a beautiful tapestry that has brought me to be where I am today, husband to the most amazing woman of God, father to 3 delightful children, and pastor to a hungry congregation that longs for more of God. Without question I am a blessed man. I believe so much of that started with that one moment of surrender. Praise be to God.
Our Vision
The Vision of Antioch Church of Philadelphia can be summarized in the acronym M.O.V.E.
Which stands for Missional, One in Christ, Visionary, Exemplary.
Missional refers to the idea that we are a people on mission to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to the ends of the earth. Let's spend some time praying about our part of the mission of the Church. That whether home or abroad that God would use us to make disciples of all nations.
One in Christ refers to the idea that regardless of our differences we are able to find our unity through our faith in Jesus Christ. We want to echo the sentiments of the Apostle Paul in Colossians 3:11, "Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all." Because of this unity we are able to fulfill our inner cry for community.
Visionary refers to the idea that we ought not be led by our own thoughts and wisdom, rather that we would be led by the Holy Spirit. It is a willful confession of our limitations, and our utter dependence on Jesus Christ to be the Head of our Church. Through the Holy Spirit, we want to experience and receive God's vision for our lives as we serve the Body of Christ with our God-given gifts.
Exemplary refers to the idea that our faith is not merely one of thought or philosophy, rather it is one of action. Exemplary faith is one that demonstrates the Love of Jesus Christ for our neighbors by shining His love onto the world. We believe that we are called to deliver the good new of Jesus Christ to this dark world so that they may know Jesus as Lord and Savior.


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Yancey County, North Carolina Divorce Lawyers
Find Yancey County, North Carolina Divorce Lawyers by City
Jenna Blackwell
PO Box 1418
Mars Hill, NC 28754
Christopher Reinhardt
Asheville, NC 28801
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Patrick McCroskey
Asheville, NC 28801
University of North Carolina School of Law
Katherine Langley
Asheville, NC 28801
University of Wisconsin Law School
Mrs. Katherine B. H. Dare Esq.
Suite U
Asheville, NC 28806
Appalachian School of Law
David Turlington III
Suite 4
Boone, NC 28607
North Carolina Central University School of Law
Jacob Ehrmann
Asheville, NC 28801
University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill
Anthony Ryan Morrow
California Western School of Law and North Carolina Central University School of Law
Susan Christie Ciaravella
Suite 307
Asheville, NC 28801
Loyola University New Orleans
Susan earned a B.A. in Psychology at Southern Methodist Universtiy in Dallas, Texas and went on to attend Loyola University New Orleans, School of Law, graduating in the top of her 2003 law school class. Susan began her legal training during law school working as a law clerk in the civil insurance defense and criminal practice areas.
Following licensure by the Louisiana State Bar in 2003, she began a private law practice in New Orleans where she focused exclusively on Criminal Law. She has gained extensive trial experience working for over 15 years as a litigator the private and public...
Ingrid Friesen
Asheville, NC 28801
Burcu Hensley
PO Box 907
Marshall, NC 28753
Campbell Law School
Arlaine Rockey
Marshall, NC 28753
David Budd II
Asheville, NC 28801
Paul Erickson
Asheville, NC 28803
Michael Drye
Asheville, NC 28805
Diane McDonald
Asheville, NC 28801
Robert Karriker
Asheville, NC 28801
Michael Casterline
Asheville, NC 28801
Linda Hebel
Lenoir, NC 28645
Kimberly McGuire Eggers
Boone, NC 28607
Daniel Owen Klinedinst
Boone, NC 28607
Devere Lentz Jr
Asheville, NC 28801
Johanna Finkelstein
Asheville, NC 28801
Boyd Massagee Jr
Hendersonville, NC 28739
James Hugenschmidt
Asheville, NC 28801
Neil Beach
Lenoir, NC 28645
Michael Ciochina
Asheville, NC 28801
James Rice Jr
Asheville, NC 28801
Mary McKay
Morganton, NC 28655
Roger Smith
Thomas Diepenbrock
Asheville, NC 28801
Stephen Ellis
Waynesville, NC 28786
Katherine Fisher
Asheville, NC 28801
William McDowall Jr
Asheville, NC 28801
Laura Geriner Hooks
Asheville, NC 28801
Alexander John Gomes
Steven Kropelnicki Jr
Asheville, NC 28801
Cecilia Johnson
Asheville, NC 28801
Donald Patten
Waynesville, NC 28786
Adam Bull
Asheville, NC 28801
Divorce Lawyers in Nearby Cities
Yancey County Divorce Legal Aid & Pro Bono Services
Pisgah Legal Services Mountain Area Volunteer Lawyers (MAVL) Administered
(828) 253-0406
Asheville, NC
Blue Ridge Area Volunteer Lawyers Program
(704) 264-5640
Boone, NC
Related Practice Areas
Considering divorce?
If a person wishes to terminate his or her marriage, he or she may file for a divorce. In a divorce proceeding, the court will terminate the marriage and determine the rights and responsibilities of the divorcing parties regarding child custody, child visitation, child support and spousal support (alimony). The court will also redistribute marital assets.
Depending on where you reside and where your assets are, the division of property can be a very simple or very complex process. Disputes often arise during this phase of a divorce if the two parties disagree as to who should receive which assets or property.
Finding a divorce lawyer who is experienced and reliable can reduce your stress and help you make the best choices possible. A good divorce lawyer should be a problem solver who is skilled at negotiation and possesses a solid trial background. If both parties are open to alternative dispute resolution, such as arbitration or mediation, finding a lawyer experienced in collaborative divorce or divorce mediation would be beneficial.
Divorce lawyers also handle child custody issues, including multi-state and international child custody situations. Some divorce lawyers may be certified by their states as being family law specialists. Certification often requires that a lawyer meet certain experience and educational criteria.
Legal Custody: A parent with legal custody has the right to decide on the child's upbringing, education, and medical care. A court may grant legal custody to one parent (sole legal custody) or both parents (joint legal custody).
Separate Property: Property acquired before marriage or during the marriage as a gift or inheritance, or bought during marriage with separate property.
Researching Attorney Discipline


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Sit N Go Strategy — The Early Stages
Here are offered some suggestions on playing sit n go tournaments, which are some of players' favorite contests, with great chances of winning money fast, if you do it with a fair idea of what you're doing.
As they explain, as each stage unfolds, it forces the remaining players to change their strategy to deal with what is about to happen. This is all about the Early Stages of the SNG.
General tips here are — Play quality hands and position; avoid draws and difficult decisions; wait for the crowd to leave. These sound like too-vague things often said for games, but the video will specify what they mean. In SNGs a seeming good hand may be a fold while in a cash game it might be one you can use to try for a big pot. The pot here is still small and so you should be preserving your chips. 2.5 to 3X bb is a decent bet in the early stages. Tight-passive play: You will last longer if you play it tight and be content a lot of the time to fold when your hand isn't a really good one.
Post Revisions:
- August 10, 2015 @ 00:31:17 [Current Revision] by admin
- August 10, 2015 @ 00:31:17 by Michele Wilson
- August 4, 2015 @ 05:22:31 by Michele Wilson


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Fire engine red surrounded with mauve edges leading to fire engine red centre. Flowers fade to coral with age.
Height:40 cm
Flowers in: April/May
Western Australia & Tasmania Customers - Please note we are sorry to advise we can no longer accept orders for WA and Tasmania.
Don't have PayPal and want to pay by Credit or Debit Card? Here's how - Read our new guide to using your Credit Card with PayPal.
Please note our revised shipping prices effective 14 Oct 2016.
Subscribe to our newsletter to get the latest news on plants and bulbs.CLICK HERE TO SIGNUP


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Running a storage facility often means you have potential customers asking about a variety of spaces for a variety of storage needs. One of these is short-term storage for college students who need to stow their belongings away for a month or two, but the cost of a storage unit can be out of reach for many of these people.
You might be tempted to simply shrug that off and tell the students to go elsewhere – after all, maintaining the facility costs money. But if your facility is near a college, you'd be missing out on a potentially large customer base if you took that attitude. Instead, look at adding mobile storage units, which are those freestanding boxes that you can move via forklift. Depending on how you store those units and how much access you offer, you could find your facility is suddenly in high demand.
Summer Break
The beginning of summer break is a prime time for students to store most of their belongings. Leases are ending, dorms are closing, and no one wants to haul everything home only to have to haul it back again in fall.
But if you offer cheaper mobile units, especially ones that can be stored in under-utilized areas, you can make your facility more attractive to students. If they're gone over the summer, they won't need to keep accessing the storage unit. That means less wear on the gates as people enter and leave the facility and less mess because people won't be constantly switching items or rearranging the unit. And when they pick up their belongings in the fall, you can then advertise the units for another group of students.
Going Abroad
Not all students who go abroad or participate in college campus exchange programs do so for a very long time. Some programs are only a semester, quarter, or even a month long. Enterprising students may try to sublet their apartment spaces in these cases to save or make money, and spending lots of cash on a traditional unit may be too much. Mobile storage units can be ready for their belongings at a lower price if you allow students to share units or are able to leave them closer to campus.
Transitional Living
One more student population you may want to advertise to are those who are transitioning from the dorms to apartments. These students may need more access to the units than those who have gone abroad or those who have gone home for the summer. However, they would need storage for only a couple of weeks or a month at best. These students will want a place to put the furniture they've purchased in anticipation of moving into their new apartments, and they'll want somewhere to store less urgently needed items as they pack up their dorm rooms. Set a few mobile storage units in the parking lot, for example, and you've just provided these students with a handy staging area.
Students appreciate a good deal and a helping hand. Mobile storage units let you help them and your facility's income simultaneously.


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The UKAS accreditation for 'ISO-17025 standard for testing and calibration laboratories' has long applied to those entities performing so-called 'Wet-Forensics' typically, DNA, fibres, ballistics etc. The Forensic Science Regulator (FSR) was appointed to set out the ISO-17025 standard for Digital Forensics with the requirement that all forensic units should become accredited by October 2017.
There has been some debate within the Digital Forensics and Criminal Justice communities concerning the challenges of compliance within the timescales set by the FSR. The speed with which accreditation has been accomplished has been slow. The costs of the resources required for success are often cited as a contributing factor.
SYTECH was first accredited by UKAS in July 2016 and have worked continually to extend and make improvements to our quality systems. Suspension of our accreditation followed a further thorough audit. This was welcomed. It brought to our attention detailed aspects of the standard not fully implemented in the SYTECH Quality Systems. This situation has been corrected and continues to be given our full attention.
SYTECH worked with Police clients during the temporary suspension period and kept them advised of corrective actions being taken that subsequently resulted in the re-instatement by UKAS of our accreditation.
The Guardian articles draw attention to the need for all engaged in providing evidence within the criminal justice system to meet the quality standards set by the FSR. This is not an issue directly associated with the much-publicised issues concerning a number of high-profile cases that have collapsed before going to trial. In these cases, there was no failure of the forensic processes covered by accreditation. The evidence was obtained during the forensic processes but then not fully disclosed to the Defence by the Police / CPS.
SYTECH have a long history of independent and objective contributions to the criminal justice process and are fully committed to attaining the highest level of quality assurance for all services.


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News For This Month: Tips
Tips to Discover the Best Internet Marketing Firm
You have to get a respectable advertising firm, particularly when it is about the advancement of your business; their fundamental objectives is to help you support the visibility of your image, increment your income and build up the client base.
As the business boss, your focus is on the daily preparations of your business, you have no enough time on exerting efforts for online marketing. The internet marketing firm is already honed with long years of experience and knowledge in such industry and are able to provide online success both at the present and in the future for your company's success.
The same number of organizations may demonstrate some enthusiasm to help your business have the nearness on the web, obviously you don't need anything, yet a firm with high nobility in the said business. The colossal approach to have the affirmation is to get on the web and search for examination sites. You are looking for websites that are well known, something that can provide you with the right data you needed, check if their services is available in your location. Such firm should be assessed with several factors, helping you to distinguish the agency that will assist your unique needs, you may tick all those boxes.
The Key Elements of Great Services
The principal thing you will need to search for is what number of dynamic clients they have on their database at any given time. On the off chance that the organization offers bundle bargains, which are month to month bargains giving you a full administration, then these ought to be organizations the firm works with monthly premise. This firm ought to have a high volume of active customers that they are managing right then and there.
Getting Down To Basics with Companies
The following stride is to take a gander at their client's degree of consistency. As you search for a web firm, you are likewise hunting down such organization that you will work with for a drawn out stretch of time, a firm that will concentrate on making the progress of your online business and having an enduring association. Anything under ninety nine percent degree of consistency ought to be a worry. The higher the consistency standard, the more you will be persuaded that such firm has given better support of their customers, either month to month or yearly.
The bundles accessible ought to be reasonable, empowering you to effortlessly join them into your promoting spending plan every month. Like any advertising speculation, you can hope to see incredible returns of your partake over the long run. Keep in mind web based, showcasing doesn't give an instant achievement, it will take weeks or more before you begin seeing an incredible profit for your venture.


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Why is this hideous bunker still in Jay Macpherson Green?!!/
It's no wonder that It's no wonder @EnbridgeGas hid this hideous bunker behind scaffolding during construction!Read More
Councillor Wong-Tam is moving forward the multi-million dollar revitalization of Ramsden Park.This is happening after consideration of
- multiple stakeholder discussions
- three rounds of public consultation
- dog off-leash area working meetings
- two site walks
Using feedback received at the public meetings, PMA Landscape Architects are fine-tuning design concepts and details for neighbourhood approval. They anticipate construction taking place in two phases. Phase one will commence in 2015 and will focus on the upper plateau of the park including the the playground and tennis court area. Phase two will commence in 2016 andn will focus on the rest of the park.
Please click HERE to to read the Meeting Reports and to leave a comment or inquiry.
It's no wonder that It's no wonder @EnbridgeGas hid this hideous bunker behind scaffolding during construction!Read More
Park People supports and mobilizes people to help them activate the power of parks to improve quality of life in cities across Canada.Read More
ABCRA believes utility companies have a responsibility to improve how they are installing their intrusive infrastructure on our public sidewalks. A better way can and must be implemented.Read More
In January 2017, a very large metal utility housing was unveiled in Jay Macpherson Green at the corner of Avenue Road and Macpherson Avenue, much to the horror of area residents.Read More
Hillsboro entrance to Ramsden Park may not to everyone's liking but a good compromise.Read More
Would a ban on guns save lives? Look at places where it did.Read More
Financial Post: "Mount Pleasant Cemetery Group is a public trust - but it's being run like a private corporation.Read More
TheStar.com: "Pedestrian deaths are the price we're willing to pay to keep traffic moving
More often than not, pedestrian deaths in Toronto have causes we'd rather ignore. "
Torontoist.com: What Toronto can learn from Montreal's green laneways.Read More
Send Us a Message.
Important: Your comment will not be published on the website.
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We serve the residents living in Toronto's Yorkville /North Midtown community between Yonge Street west to Avenue Road, Bloor Street north to the CPR tracks.


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As I'm sure you are aware, dragonflies are very in trend right now. I hesitate about purchasing trendy stamp sets such as Dragonfly Dreams and coordinating dies, but I decided these would be great for masculine cards although this card is not manly due to the background use of some retired floral DSP. The dragonflies are die cut from gold foil and adhered over solid color cs with the Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Dies. The finished dragonfly is then popped up with dimensionals and appears to be flying across the card.
However, the really cool design on this card is the use of the drapery fold also known as the pleated skirt fold and the drapery pleat fold. There are several different dimensionals available to make this design fold. I tried 3 different dimensions/pleats and settled on this one which is quite easy. Basically, you start with a 11 1/2" X 4" DSP that has a nice pattern on the front and a coordinating pattern on the back. As you can see from these 2 samples, the back of the DSP peeks thru on the pleat bottoms. When I cut the DSP for March Stamp Camp, I may increase the angle to show more of the alternate pleat DSP. I used the score board to score the long side of my DSP at 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, and 10 inches. Then you fold hills and valleys until your DSP is pleated. A bit of adhesive holds the pleats in place and you adhere the completed panel to your card front. It may sound complicated, but it is really quite easy after you have completed your folds. I will be using a variety of attractive retired DSP for you to choose from.
This is one of the early folds I did on a vertical card. The dragonflies look very appropriate with this botanical jungle themed paper. I will have some of this DSP cut for the drapery fold, but will cut it as a choice for the horizontal card.
Two cards to go! Don't forget to let me know when you will be coming and which cards you want to make. Oh – and we will have yet ANOTHER drawing for the Sale-A-Brations set "Hey Chick". This time, you will need to guess the number of jelly beans!!!
Filed under: 2017 Posts, Cards, Masculine, Multi-use, Nature, Stamp Camps, Stamps, Thinlit Dies |


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WARNING! This is a really GROSS post. Quite frankly, I don't know how I'm going to muddle through it. It's interesting and does have a happy ending, but for those of you out there who don't like bugs, especially squishy maggots, I highly recommend avoiding going any further in this post. However, if you're like me and just can't help yourself, keep reading...although, you may not want to be eating anything at the moment.
A five week old bald eagle was down in clinic at The Raptor Center today and the vets were kind enough to let me follow with my camera. As vet Jane Goggin was looking over the young bird, it looked in good condition...and then she checked one of its ears.
Instead of finding a clear ear canal, it was chock full of maggots! Are we ready? On the count of three: 1...2...3...EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! This is not a common occurrence in young raptors, but it happens often enough that when they are brought in, the vets check the ears. Vet Juli Ponder said that generally in nature, the maggots go through their whole life cycle and leave, causing relatively little damage. She did add that they can find this in any raptor, especially great horned owls and bald eagles.
Here are the contents of the ear (one ear, mind you). The vets pluck out the maggots with forceps and then drop them in alcohol to kill them, afterwards swabbing out the ear. Can you imagine having maggots in your ear and not being able to get them out. Think about that, feeling (and hearing) all that squirming and squiggling and itchiness in your ear for days. When Juli said that great horned owls get them too, I thought about how owls are supposed to have better hearing, how does multiple maggot sucking blood in their ear canals rock their world?
Jane checked the young eagle's other ear and found more of the same. 1...2...3...EWWWWWWWW!! So, basically this bird's ears have been plugged up with squirming and sucking. Gross, gross, gross. Think about how big your head is compared to an eagle. Now, can you imagine what it must be like to have 9 maggots wriggling in one ear on such a small head. Ew. Ew. Ew.
The eagle is now ready to go back to the wild. I wondered if afterwards the young eagle was marveling at all the new sounds it was hearing. It's ears were plugged up for awhile and now they are wide open and cleaned out. In the wild the maggots can clean up on their own, but it never hurts to give the birds a little extra help if they visit the clinic. From now on when I look at raptors soaring and envy their flight capability, I will just remind myself that "Hey, I don't have to worry about maggots in my ears." I think that should calm my envy.


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Note: passwords are case-sensitive
At the heart of Christie's CP Series Digital Cinema projector line are Christie's CDXL high performance short-arc Xenon lamps. These lamps have been optimized for use with the CP Series Digital Cinema projectors – the CP2000-ZX, CP2000-SB and the CP2000-XB. With increased brightness in the same form factor as standard cinema grade lamps, Christie's CDXL lamps provide higher output and brightness in a more cost-efficient package.
Note: Due to constant research, specifications and features are subject to change without notice.
For more information regarding this Christie Digital Xenolite lamp, or any other digital projection related questions, please contact your Christie Sales Manager.


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Cyber Security – what a very popular topic. I was reading an article where Matt Wilcox (Fifth Domain) stated that "Cyber Security is as much as problem for small to medium enterprises (SME) as it is big business". How true. I find it amazing that some SME's either don't understand the risks associated with not spending money on IT security or they think that their business won't be targeted because they have nothing to offer. You don't need to have anything enticing to a criminal for them to come around and 'knock' on your door. Any chance for someone to exploit a vulnerability is a chance to open the door and see what's inside.
Research by FireFly (a cyber security company) summarised their findings in their recent paper to illustrate that "Hackers are motivated by the fact that SME's have more data to exploit than individuals but less security than large companies". That statement reflects, I think, the lack of IT security in more SME's than you would care to think about.
I have witnessed examples where the IT contractors have left a list of all the companies user names and passwords in a word document on the servers desktop. An even better one was naming the 'secure' document, 'passwords', even printing the document out and putting on the inside of the server door – amazing.
My advice would be take time to understand your IT requirements and make sure that your IT systems are properly secured and are managed effectively. If you want assistance or need help to manage your IT network we can assist. We can put a workable and cost effective IT infrastructure in place. A managed IT support system is more cost effective than trying to identify what happened and how it happened after an incident has occurred because there was no security or insufficient security in place.


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Classical fitness: Symphonic orchestration finds place in exercise classes
If dancing and marching are the traditional pairings of music and movement, using music for exercise has come on strong in recent decades.
One advantage of music for working on fitness is obvious — setting a steady beat that is substantially quicker than the normal heart rate.
The surprising entry in music marketing to keep people moving is classical music.
In late October, yoga instructor Molly Tighe began using classical music in her early-morning class. The playlist began with "Daybreak" from Maurice Ravel's "Daphnis and Chloe," next was the quickest in a movement from an early string quartet by Ludwig van Beethoven, and concluded with music by Ravel and Alexander Borodin.
"I like it because it sort of helps you to be transported more into the moment and, therefore, into your movement and poses," says yoga class member Barbara Harkness of Richland.
"I don't know anything about classical music," Harkness says, "but the Ravel sunrise is perfect for 7:15. If I don't get there in the morning, I don't get there. Starting the day with classical music and yoga sets the tone for the rest of your week."
Viktor Prisk uses music for his exercise for better motivation, rhythm and focus. An orthopedic surgeon at Allegheny General, Dr. Prisk is a fitness advocate, bodybuilder and avid dancer.
"The interesting thing about classical music is that it has a very sophisticated and complex structure you can focus on and be more mindful. The idea of mindfulness is relaxing your mind and getting your cortisol level down," Prisk says. "Studies have shown that classical music can decrease blood pressure and heart rate, and that you have a lower rating of perceived exertion."
The pace of the music matters. When the music matches the heart rate or running pace, it can improve the efficiency of oxygen consumption, he says, but if the pace is slower it can hinder it.
Other studies, Prisk says, show that music that interests you is better at improving performance.
"Whether rock 'n' roll or classical," he says, "you have to listen to what you find motivational."
Tighe, a professional archivist and the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra's archives consultant, decided to try classical music in her yoga class after talking with Jessica Ryan, the symphony's manager of education and community programs.
Ryan, a violinist who plays viola and piano, prepared the playlist based on what Tighe told her about ranges for beats per minute and the structure of the class.
"I'm a fairly new yoga teacher," says Tighe, who had not been using music in her classes until working with Ryan.
"The advantage of using classical music in particular is that it parallels a lot of work in yoga practice in creating, cultivating a universality and sense of oneness," Tighe says. "'Yoga' actually means 'union' in one translation."
Another exploration of links between classical music and exercise will be offered by Ovrearts at two performances at the end of January. Ovrearts, which is in residence at Heinz Chapel, presents a handful of concerts each season and has previously collaborated with a puppet company and a modern-dance company. It presents new music, using a pool of composers and performers to create its programs.
"Asana Utsava: A Celebration of Music and Movement" is the brainchild of Katherine Durgin, a member of the Ovrearts board of directors. She wrote to local yoga studios about the project and asked each write back what was unique to its perspective. Then, she sent the answers to the composers who are writing music specific to each studio.
The nine yoga studios will perform their exercises to the new music at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 30 at Heinz Chapel and Jan. 31 at the Bloomfield/Garfield Community Center. (Details: ovrearts.org)
"I have always used classical music. It's always in the background, a great soundtrack to one's life," Durgin says. "I feel classical accentuates everything you do. Yoga is great exercise, because it's all about being in touch with oneself. Classical music allows someone to really feel that connection."
Using classical music has successfully past the first stage at Tight's yoga class, which shouldn't be surprising. Many people program a classical playlist while running.
When Tighe began using classical music in her class, she thought she might repeat it a few times. But after checking with the students and finding they liked it, she asked Ryan to make it a continuing collaboration.
While Ryan's other responsibilities limit the time she can spend on programming exercise music, she says she'll post playlists on the web at wellness.pittsburghsymphony.org/blog.
Mark Kanny is classical music critic for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7877 or [email protected].


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If you want to do changes, both in life and in business. You need to dream big. Because if you can´t dream it. It would be very hard to make it. Right!?
At the moment im in a bloggchallange. Challanges is good. They make you grow. But they also make you think. Every day during this challange has a special theme and todays theme is "in five years".
Five years, that is both a long time but also very short.
To know where you want to go you also need to know where you are.
One of my big goals is to be represented in all continents. That would be so cool!
Oh my good you might think, She´s really dreaming big! Maybe I do, maybe I don´t. but it´s my dream.
Our lovely Earth has sevent continents, Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia, Europe, North America and South America. And at the moment I have retailers in Europe and North America. That means one retailar a year to achive my five year goal. So if you live in any of these continents you sure could help me. 🙂
So my advice to you is: Don´t forget to dream. But be sure you dream about the right things. You might end up having exactly what you dreamt about!
Make all your dreams come true!
Love Johanna
There is some thing that are the most important things about our company and that are our core values. It´s not only the values of our products it´s also the values of how we want to run our business.
Quality – All our products are made in the best quality that we could find. That means that they can be used year after year without any quality lost. It also mean that we choose quality in all things we do. We want to provide the best quality of service to our clients, and whant you to be sure that Monimo is a trustwordy company.
Function – As a working mum function is of high imortance, our products has the purpose to make things easier for you in your daily life.
Rethinking – For us it´s very important to listen to our clients, how they use our products and what are they needs. For example totaly new sizes and colours were made after suggestions with our clients and we are always have an ear to the ground to hear whats going on. 🙂
Design – We want our products to look good and have the perfect function without loosing it good looks. We hope you like what we do!
On our website you can read more about us and our products. Welcome!
Actually I like all month but august is probably closest to my heart.
The water is warm. One year we had 24° C in the lake we love. The garden is full of flowers and it´s time to pick the apples and everything else I have grown.
And ofcourse those lovely late summer evenings. When you just want to cuttle up in blanket in a chair on the porch, watching the sunset.
/Johanna – Monimo
if you are curious about our luxury wind and waterproof faux fur blankets you find more information here.
The climate in Sweden is devided in four seasons and it´s very different from eachother. Something that most of the Swedes are very happy about and appreciates.
Most of Sweden recives somewhere between 500 and 800 mm of rain- or snowfall every year. That makes Sweden drier that the global average. It´s the southwestern part of the country that receives most along with some montain areas in the north. When the weather gets colder the rain changes in to snow.
May is often very nice in the part of Sweden where Monimo is located. And this summer has been fantastic. It´s only the last week we had some rain. But as we say in sweden "Det finns inga dåliga väder, bara dåliga kläder" and in english "There's no such thing as bad weather, only the wrong clothes."
Monimos different products are all waterproof. Our products have a water column of 5000mm. It means that the withstand pressure of 5000mm water on a surface of 1mm. We have done several tests of the water density. If you pour a jug of water onto the blanket, it just runs off leaving your blanket totaly dry.
Please find more of Monimos different products at our website.
/Johanna -Monimo
There are some important things to know about midsummer in Sweden.
First of all, midsummer is probably one of the most important holidays in Sweden. You can imagine, after the long cold winter, the Swedes really celebrate the light and sun coming back. The midsummer is always celebrated on a friday somewhere between 20-25 of june. And sometimes it actually is the same day as the Sumer Solstice. On the northernmost latitudes, that is North of the Arctic Circle, the sun does not even go down below the horizon and even further south it is light the whole night through.
The way Swedes celibrate is basically a family matter and you can make your own rules about how it should be celebrated but there are some things probably all Swedes agree needs to do be done to make the midsummer celebration a real one.
Depending on where you are in Sweden midsummer is celibrated differently. But if you decide that you sometime whant to spend time in Sweden during midsummer there is actually only one choice. And that is to visit Dalarna, a community in the middle of Sweden. But beware, check first which day they celibrate midsummer. In some villages they don´t celibrate on midsummers eve that the rest of us do. Instead they celibrate on midsummer day.
Most Swedes go to their summer houses or at a friends summer house during midsummer. We Swedes also have this romantic feeling about what a real midsummer should be. Almost all communites have some kind of arranged midsummer celebration inkluding maypole and music where everybody are welcome. In some communitys, especially in Dalarna, everybody go out and pick the flowers to the maypole in the morning and making the wreaths together. A very nice tradition.
Most important: Sill (pickeld herring), färkspotatis (new potatoes), jordgubbar (strawberrys) and some would also say nubbe (snaps)
At lunch the Swedes often eat Silllunch (if you try to translate that you probably would call it Pickledherringlunch) And it´s as it says, a lunch with pickled herring, new potatoes and snaps.
Maypole, midsummerpole or Midsommarstång:
The maypole is the symbol for midsummer and one of the most important things during the celebration. And here is where we do our famous dance "små grodorna" and other funny dances that no one except a Swede would understand. The maypole may look different in different parts of Sweden.
Pictue from Visitdalarna.se
Midsummer wreath:
You have them both in your hair and around the maypole.
Picture: Tatiana Temm från Pinterest.
Små Grodorna:
One of the song that we always sings when we dance around the maypole. Here it is… both in Swedish and in an English translation so you all know what we are singing.
Små grodorna,
små grodorna
är lustiga att se.
Små grodorna,
små grodorna
är lustiga att se.
Ej öron, ej öron,
ej svansar hava de.
Ej öron, ej öron,
ej svansar hava de.
Koack, ack, ack
Koack, ack, ack
Koack, ack, ack, ack, aa.
Koack, ack, ack
Koack, ack, ack
Koack, ack, ack, ack, aa.
And here is the english version.
The little frogs,
the little frogs
are funny to observe.
The little frogs,
the little frogs
are funny to observe.
No ears, no ears
no tails do they possess.
No ears, no ears
no tails do they possess.
Kou, ack, ack
Kou, ack, ack
Kou, ack, ack, ack, aa.
Kou, ack, ack
Kou, ack, ack
Kou, ack, ack, ack, aa.
After a long day of fun, food and dance and it´s time to hit the sack… it´s still something you do first.
Seven flowers:
Or some says nine…
Just before time to go to bed children and the unmarried pick flowers to put under our pillows to dream about who to marry. Some pick them in silence as as they say – broken silence is broken magic.
I hope you liked the text. Me, im going to Dalarna ofcourse 🙂 Eating pickled herring and wear my midsummer wreath with pride. If you want to know more about Sweden and places in Sweden to visit, please read my blogpost about the Stockholm archipelago.
/Johanna – Monimo.se
If you don´t have the chance to go to the beautiful archipelago of Stockholm. Here is a chance.
I can´t think of anything better than just look at the ocean.
During the spring and early summer, geting a chance of strömming is very good. Strömming, also known as Baltic Herring. We just fry them in butter and eat on a piece of knäckebröd.
Here in Sweden we love to sit on our Brygga and just relax. Those long summer nights are for real. And if it´s start to get a bit chilly. Just wrap yourself in one of these.
Almost everywhere in the Stockholm Archipelago you find the most cute small cottages by the ocean. It´s called sjöbod, boathouse and there is where you put your fishingnet or your friends visiting. A tip is to buy a large cart of the area you are living and put it on the wall.
Binoculars and life jacket. Never go without them.
White, blue and some red. All you need in these archipelago houses.
I had the most lovely weekend visiting one of the shops that features my Monimo Pet Blankets.
They had a big reopening with a new location of the shop. It is always nice to visit the shops and the staff but maybe most of all the people that bought and buy again our luxury blankets.
This time I talked to of course dog owners, that always love the Monimo Pet Blanket but also some cat owners that loved them. I am so happy to here about this.
Then Mr Muffins owner showed up. You may think it was a small chihuahua or an Ragdoll, but no, Mr Muffin is a rabbit. A beautiful rabbit that absolutely love our pet blankets. Now I have to meet this darling in person ❤
The lovely photo is taken by the english blogger Janice Issitt who has the most beautiful blogg.
/Johanna – Monimo.se


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The article about smartphones its very intriguing for the future social worker here who think empathy is imperative to our work
Last-minute tickets for PrimalCon Oxnard 2013 (April 11-14) are now available due to some cancellations. Space is limited. Order your tickets today before spots run out!
Tickets for PrimalCon Austin 2013 are also available. Join us June 6-9 for an event you'll never forget.
Thank you for sharing your excitement for upcoming Primal Blueprint books and your ideas for new titles last week. The randomly selected winner of the prize package giveaway is Susy Fry.
Transfer of "lean" gut flora into the sterile guts of obese mice triggered rapid fat loss in a recent study.
They were far from human subjects, but fruit flies fed an organic diet enjoyed better health outcomes than fruit flies fed a non-organic diet.
How one Primal kid fought back against MyPlate and came up with his own – far superior, in my opinion – version.
Seth Roberts recently explored earwax transplantations.
Logan LaPlante knows what he wants to be when he grows up: happy. What about you?
Gwyneth Paltrow may get a lot of flak for deciding not to feed her kids empty carbs, but not everyone agrees with the criticism.
"No one can fully digest gluten," said the Mayo Clinic doc.
Our ability to truly connect with other human beings is a physiological entity that must be trained and maintained or else wither into dystrophy, like muscle. Does excessive smartphone usage trigger empathy detraining?
One year ago (Mar 31 – Apr 6)
This post is starting to sound like some bizarre game of foodie one-upmanship:
"The most exotic thing I'VE ever had was manatee muzzle sauteed in badger bile!"
"Oh, is that anything like camel colon smothered in snake snot?"
– For what it's worth, camel colon is high in butyrate and snake snot is a rich source of DHA.
If you'd like to add an avatar to all of your comments click here!
The article about smartphones its very intriguing for the future social worker here who think empathy is imperative to our work
About 10 years ago I said to my Dad, "I have to stop trying to be GREAT, and start trying to be HAPPY" – he said, only try to be happy, because you don't get to decide whether you are great, that's for other people to do, when you're dead.
I'm finally actually listening to those words. My Dad would finally be proud!
That makes it sound like I've dissapointed my father – not so. He just wanted me to stress less 🙂
Our ability to relate with other people can atrophy…
So true. So much of our emotions get poured into internet comments, it can become hard to talk to friends in person.
Nice to see a Celeb setting the right example. Hopefully other mums will follow suit!
I agree that Gwyneth Paltrow has a point and, technically, it is possible to survive without consuming any carbs at all, including the starchy ones. But (at the risk of stirring up furious controversy) unrefined starchy carbohydrates have been eaten for thousands of years without issue. Cellulose isn't the problem, it's something else.
That one article on earwax transplantation made me want to WAX poetic…
Ah, Joanna Blythman (the author of the Guardian piece on Paltrow's children) – her book was one of the first things I ever read about food, when I was a student. All about real food, the scandals of factory farming and industrial production etc. Don't even remember what it was called!
Logan LaPlante appears to be a remarkable young man. "Hacking your education" and the eight keys to happiness can be applied to so many aspects of life.
I can hardly wait to see the microbiome research 10 years down the road. It's already clear that the bacteria in and on us are closely connected to just about everything. (not surprising, as they outnumber our human cells literally ten to one, though they weigh about half a pound) It's hugely exciting, but there's not enough out yet for a non-biology, non-nutrition focused undergrad project.
Neuroscientist, Dr. Mattson,found that intermittent fasting can induce neurogenesis – but so can smoking marijuana. Is it safe to conclude that a relatively new concept is a good idea because it appears to have some beneficial effects?
obesity related landmark study (Ach Phys Rev Int Lect. 2013:4;1)
summary of this, including details about new treatments, is available at
Yay!!! Thanks for sharing M's Primal Plate!!! Hope all the little Grok's out there have fun coloring and sharing it at their schools!!!
This is intense. "Hallway swimming". It looks like an amazing workout.


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Allow Yourself to Be Swept Away by Elicia Edijanto
Albert Stern
Elicia Edijanto is an incredible artist living in Jakarta, Indonesia. She creates beautiful watercolor paintings of animals often interacting with children.
"Using only black watercolour (mostly), I try to create [a] unique relationship between human and nature. My subject are often children and animal because they are honest, sincere, unprejudiced and unpretentious. It will be easier for people to feel the emotions."- E.E.
Please allow yourself to be swept up in the magic she is able to create.


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KC Streetcar
All about KC's downtown streetcars
Kansas City's downtown streetcar system affects everything from motorists and pedestrians to delivery vehicles and bicyclists. Everyone will need to become familiar with the new rules of the road, including staying within those white parking lines that now run parallel to the rails. Parking tickets won't be cheap.
Years of planning to created the city's $100 million, two-mile starter route with 21st-century cars that run from River Market to Union Station, primarily on Main Street. Downtown boosters are along for the ride, hoping the streetcar line will provide another shot of adrenaline for the heart of the city.
These are answers to many of the most frequently asked questions. More information is at kcstreetcar.org.
Q: How much will it cost?
A: It will be free to ride, and passengers can hop on and off throughout the two-mile route.
While there's certainly a cost to running the system, the Streetcar Authority, which oversees the system, determined several years ago that eliminating the fare would maximize ridership and allow residents and visitors to use the system more easily. Starter routes in other cities also have been free. It is expected Kansas City's streetcar service will remain free unless and until the route is extended.
"This is really about connecting our businesses, and we want to eliminate the barrier," said Streetcar Authority Executive Director Tom Gerend. The property and sales taxes in the downtown streetcar taxing district are exceeding projections and will more than cover the $2.5 million year-one operating and maintenance contract.
Q: Will a free ride make the streetcar a magnet for homeless people to ride all day?
A: Gerend points out the ride from River Market terminates at Union Station, and everyone will be required to get off with all their belongings. They can get back on, but people won't be able to ride all day without interruption. Also, each vehicle carries a maximum of about 150 people but has only about 34 seats, so it's expected most people will stand and ride for a short time.
"It's not going to be a place where you can set up camp," said Kansas City Police Maj. Karl Oakman, who has been involved in extensive discussions about streetcar security. The police department has assigned a liaison to work on streetcar safety issues.
The authority also has approved a contract of up to $150,000 with the Downtown Community Improvement District to hire three full-time safety ambassadors. They will ride the streetcars, provide information and guidance to passengers and identify and address public safety issues.
Q: How long is the ride?
A: From Third and Grand in the River Market to Pershing and Main at Union Station, it takes about 13 1/2 minutes. That's stopping at each stop for 15 seconds. The entire round trip takes nearly 30 minutes, including the break at Union Station. The streetcars travel with traffic and must obey traffic signals.
Q: How many stops, and does it stop at each point?
A: It has 16 stops, one every two to three blocks. The streetcar won't automatically stop at each stop but will stop when letting people off or when people are waiting to board.
Q: How fast can the streetcar go?
A: A modern streetcar can go fast but will obey downtown traffic limits. It generally travels about 25 mph with traffic, although it can accelerate to the 35 mph speed limit from Fourth and Delaware to Seventh and Main and south of 20th on Main.
Q: Why is the route primarily on Main Street, rather than on Grand Boulevard, which is wider?
A: The route was determined after extensive study and interviews with stakeholders. Some businesses on Grand opposed being on the route, and Grand is sometimes closed to all traffic for major events around the Sprint Center and the Power & Light District. Also, Main Street was a more direct path, connected more amenities, and had more developable land. It is closer to Bartle Hall, the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts and other destinations.
Q: How does the streetcar interact with traffic, bicyclists and pedestrians?
A: It is big like a bus, although much quieter, and it can't swerve out of the way, so motorists and others need to use caution. Each vehicle is 77 feet, 8 inches long, 12 feet tall and weighs 78,000 pounds, so it can take awhile to brake and speed up. As the streetcars accelerate, they ring a bell. And they can sound a horn.
Streetcar.org has safety videos addressing motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians. Communications coordinator Donna Mandelbaum said she is working with BikeWalkKC on more instructional materials and training so cyclists' wheels won't get caught in the tracks. Pedestrian crosswalks along the route have been restriped, and jaywalking is discouraged.
The streetcars have level boarding with the street and space for bicycles. Some streetcar seats can also be folded up to make room for strollers and wheelchairs.
Q: What are the hours, once it starts carrying passengers?
A: 6 a.m.-midnight Monday through Thursday; 6 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday; 7 a.m.-2 a.m. Saturday; 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday. Weekdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. the vehicles are expected to run every 10 minutes. Early mornings, late evenings and on Saturdays they should run every 12 minutes. Sundays, every 18 minutes. Station stops will have real-time signs detailing when the next vehicle is coming.
The operating schedule will usually require three vehicles, with the fourth as a spare.
Q: Where can people park to catch the streetcar?
A: A bus park-and-ride has spaces at Third and Grand in River Market, and Union Station has parking. People also can park in public garages along the route and on the street, including some on-street parking on Main Street.
Q: Have there been parking challenges?
A: Yes. People have been ticketed for improper parking and, in rare instances, their cars were towed when they were blocking the rails. The charge for a parking ticket is $72.50, including a $50 fine and $22.50 nonmoving violation court cost.
A white line runs parallel to the rails, and people need to make sure their cars, including side mirrors, are within the white line. During testing, streetcar operators stopped and located some motorists whose vehicles blocked tracks before calling a tow. But once the system goes public, tow trucks will be summoned promptly to allow the vehicles to maintain their schedule.
Q: What about delivery vehicles?
A: Some delivery vehicles also have blocked the tracks, but they are gradually finding other places to park, including in the median of Main Street between the northbound and southbound tracks at some points along the route.
Lynn Horsley: 816-226-2058, @LynnHorsley


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Vegetarian Chili
1/4 cup vegetable broth
1 medium yellow onion, chopped
1 medium yellow or red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, pressed
1 tsp paprika
1 TBS chili powder
1/2 tsp dried thyme
1/2 tsp dried oregano
1 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
2 cups cooked or 1 15 oz can (no BPA) kidney beans
1 15 oz can diced tomatoes
1/2 cup shredded cheese (omit or substitute dairy- free cheese)
Optional: cooked ground turkey
Chop onion and press garlic. Sautée onion and bell peppers for 5 minutes in broth. Add garlic, spices, tomatoes and kidney beans. Simmer for 15-20 minutes. Serve into bowls and top with cheese. Option: Add 1 cup cooked ground turkey.


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My house is a mess, love me anyway; read the text message I sent to my friends before they came over for a Moms Night In to sip sangria and sit by the pool. I figured we wouldn't be in the house much and they were my friends they wouldn't care.
It wasn't as if my house was purposely messy, whose house is? But it had been one of those days where my well-meaning plans of picking up had gotten side tracked by a toddler who just wanted her mom nearby all day long.
And I live with a family of mess makers. They leave socks on the living room floor, projects unfinished on the dining room table and piles of papers. They walk past laundry baskets that are filled to the brim, waiting to be put away. They leave piles of paper throughout the house. They lay down on the couch and in their wake leave pairs of socks, shoes, cups of water and a plate filled with snacks.
And I know I'm to blame too. I'm a keeper of clutter. My office shows it. I save paper and notes and brochures all on the thought that, some day I'll get back to them.
So on days when the toddler is being a toddler, the clutter has to wait. But I hope that when you walk in my door you see my smile and not the pile of toys that litters the living room. I hope you see the glass of wine I poured and not the pile of mail that has taken over the counter. I hope we talk and laugh and that you are having too much fun to notice that my dining room table is a drop zone for everything or that there is a sock on the floor because my dog insists on running around the house with them in his mouth.
I hope you understand that my life is messy and it's not changing anytime soon. And I'm certain that if we are to be friends you already know that because your life is a little messy too.
You may also like:
Tips for Starting a Toy Rotation


text:
I will have a few new paintings in the shop tomorrow, June 23, 2017 at 1pm Central. There are five small framed 6" x 6" paintings and a 6" x 12" available. You can view the new paintings below.
I will also have a print set of the 6" x 6" pieces, which I'm calling Particles. The print set will includes five postcard style prints, 14 pt. Gloss Coated Cover, CS2 with high gloss UV coating, limited to 100 sets and signed/numbered on outer sleeve label.


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Are We Called to Love Al-Qaeda?
I've recently been reading Ronald Rolheiser's book The Holy Longing, which includes a chapter on justice and peacemaking. Rolheiser notes that so often those who fight for justice, as righteous as their cause may be, often use tactics and language that are not all that different from those they oppose. As a result, they are ineffective. What will win the heart of the world, Rolheiser says, is a heart of love:
"A prophet … must make a vow of love not of alienation. The great modern-day prophets of social justice (persons such as Gandhi, Dorothy Day, Thomas Merton, Gustavo Gutierrez, William Stringfellow, Oscar Romero, Jim Wallis, and Richard Rohr) would all agree with that. Love, not anger, is the basis for nonviolence and nonviolence is the only possible basis for a new world order of justice and peace … Jesus, of course, is the ultimate example of the nonviolent peacemaker. He never mimics the violence and injustice that he is trying to change."
As I was reading, I couldn't help but think about America's war against terrorism. We have been served evil, and we seek to combat it. We feel this is a cause of justice, not to mention security. And yet in fighting evil, we are bringing war. We bring anger and retribution against those who have brought us harm. We seek their ill. We even seek their destruction.
Is this how Christ would have us live? Christ, the one who asks us to love our enemies and turn the other cheek, who says that vengeance is the Lord God's alone? Christ, the one who was unjustly beaten and ultimately killed by those who hated Him and who chose to remain silent and to bear the anger with an ever-increasing love for His mission and those He came to save (which included those who raised Him onto the cross)?
Furthermore, are such tactics of war even effective? If we bring violence against violence, what really changes? Perhaps some people die, but the ideologies they espouse go on living. They take up residence in others who then carry on the mission to bring harm. The only thing that can dispel evil is love.
And so I confess that I wince when I ask this question, but: Are we, as Christians, called to love Al-Qaeda? Is love what would really end this war?


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Stimulating Your Kindness - Happiness Feedback Loop/
Some people have a hard time practicing kindness. Oh they are sweethearts to the people they love or care about and to anyone in their inner circle of friends. But if you are not part of their tribe, they don't feel the need to waste their energy being kind you. These are the people who cut you off. They don't smile at strangers or wave at other runners in passing. They don't make their children give up his or her seat for an elderly passenger on a full train. They don't call and thank you for sending them a gift. They don't ask how you are feeling when you've been sick. And most likely they don't read my blog.
Let's be honest—these people don't seem all that happy either. And while we are being honest, let's admit that often we are talking about ourselves here. What do happiness and practicing kindness have in common? Everything. I really believe that. Think of the kindest person you know. I mean really know—not Mother Teresa or Gandhi—but your Aunt Gloria, your husband or your 5th grade teacher. Whoever they are, I bet they are not only the kindest person you know, but they are also one of the happiest people too.
Which one comes first—kindness or happiness? It doesn't really matter. Kindness begets happiness; happiness begets kindness. It's essentially a feedback loop. In your body, a feedback loop is when one part of your body sends a message to another to work, and that other part of your body sends back the message saying it's working. Since I know a thing or two about broken pituitary glands, let's use it as our simplified example. Your pituitary gland is a pea size gland that hangs from a thread from your brain. In sends hormone messages out to your thyroid, adrenals, breasts, ovaries and testicle organs to work and in response—as long as they are working—they send a message back saying "copy that, we are doing our job." One problem happens when the feedback loop is broken by a dysfunction in the message sending. If your pituitary doesn't send the original message telling your thyroid to work, your thyroid stops working. If your pituitary sends the message but your thyroid is not working optimally and doesn't respond right way, the pituitary tries sending a bigger and louder message and it overloads the thyroid, which in turn gets burnt out and can completely shuts down. Both messages are needed for the feedback loop to work in your body and some pituitary messages are actually needed to survive. A number of autoimmune diseases cause these types of dysfunctions in your feedback loops to happen. There is your autoimmune disease lesson for the day.
Now that you understand the basics of how a simplified feedback loop works, let's apply it to kindness and happiness. When you send out kindness, life responds with light, love, and joy—the elements of happiness. Your happiness receives the message that kindness is necessary for it to survive, in which happiness replies to kindness "roger that, I'm sprinkling this shit like glitter; keep reminding me though." I don't believe you can have one without the other. Earlier, I had you think of the kindest person you know; now think of the most unhappy person that you really know. I bet you rarely, if ever, feel any kindness from them. Their kindness-happiness feedback loop is broken. There's a lot of broken kindness-happiness feedback loops out there. In fact, your own might be broken.
So you might be wondering, can a broken feedback loop be fixed? In the body, not always. This I know for certain. But sometimes it can and when it can, it usually happens by somehow stimulating the part that is dysfunctioning to remind it how good things used to be when it worked properly. Same is true with a broken kindness-happiness feedback loop. Practice more kindness and you will feel your mood lighten. Work on being joyful and you will inadvertently show more kindness to others.
Do I really think it is that simple? You bet I do. I can't count the number of times I am feeling in a funk, but as soon as I smile at a stranger or hold the door open for a mother with their SUV size stroller, I actually feel my mood lighten. That's not a coincidence. Or how about the mornings when I actually wake up on the right side of the bed. The birds are chirping, I actually make it through my 5 minute meditation, the dog does her business in a timely manner—these are the days that I find myself giving much more of myself than I even want to receive.
Kindness begets happiness, happiness begets kindness. It's a feedback loop. You need one for the other to work. And here's the cool thing, even if you just try this for the purely selfish reason of having a happier life, other people will benefit from your experiment and it will inadvertently set an example to them to stimulate their own kindness-happiness feedback loop.
Go ahead, give it a try. Let's call it our secret experiment. But make sure you are actually practicing some of those random acts of kindness we hear so much about. Sprinkle kindness on friends, strangers, animals (come on, I'm vegan, you can't expect me not to throw that one in), the earth. Live your life joyfully and with passion. And see how they really do feed off each other. Please report back in the comments below!


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Any watch lover will surely be stunned by the Opera Time-Piece created by Manufacture Royale.
The zest of the timepiece is its patented case that opens up the same way as the bellows of an accordion. This one-of-a-kind case construction is used as a resonance cage/chamber for the improved sounding of the minute repeater.
The 50mm-wide case is sculptured in 18k rose and gray gold. The 60-piece case construction incorporates three sapphire crystals and a movable transparent case-back. The hour and minutes hands are presented in hand-polished 18k rose gold.
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... unless YOU make it so!
I read this post on Spirals a few days ago (http://kaddu.blogspot.com/2009/05/fail.html)... which provided the "missing link" for some incompletely formed thoughts in my mind, for a new post! But before you read further, I'll request you all to read her post first... & also the comments that follow her post.
A couple of weeks ago, I was visiting some relatives here, and my 2.5 year old nephew (Yuvraj) also happened to be there at that time (with his parents of course). I have mentioned about his "Independence Streak" elsewhere in my blog - which, by the way, is exactly like mine! Now UV loves playing with water, so my sister-in-law usually carries some spare clothes for him wherever she goes. That day also, UV managed to sneak into the bathroom when nobody was watching & got himself thoroughly wet! He obviously needed a change of clothes after that, but, being the "Do-It-Myself" kind of fellow that he is, he simply wouldn't let anyone help him change... even though he was finding it really difficult to pull his shorts up, 'coz the elastic waistband had got all rolled-up & twisted behind his knees in a funny way!
My cousin (his dad) is not a very patient man. Besides, it was also getting late & he wanted to leave for home. So, in order to speed things up a bit, he tried to 'cheat', and pulled the shorts up over UV's bums when he thought the kid wasn't paying attention! But UV is just too smart for his age (for our age too in fact!)... & he noticed! And he interpreted it as a *major* personal failure. He actually started slapping himself hard on his face with both his chubby hands! (Self-inflicted punishment, you know!) My sister-in-law, thankfully, has more presence of mind than my cousin... and she immediately pulled his shorts down again & told him to give it another try, saying it wasn't a big deal!
He took another go at it & managed to pull up his shorts all by himself this time. AND he was also planted with the seeds of the idea that "it is ok to fail before you finally succeed"!
When suicide cases happen around us, we usually find it very easy to immediately put the blame on the parents and the society at large. Not once do we stop to think that the 'victim' might actually be the one to blame for his/her own misery!
Repeating an often repeated cliché:
"Our external world is nothing but a reflection of our inner world!"
All of us face the same pressure from the family & society. There's equal amount of competition for all of us. And yet, not everybody decides to end his life, does he?
I have been through that "temporary moment of insanity" 3 years ago. (It's not really a single moment by the way – it's more like a gradual buildup of despair & self-hatred!) The only reason why I didn't give in to the temptation that day was that if I killed myself, I would make my failure FINAL! If I ended my story that moment, there was no way I would ever be able to re-write the 'book of my life'! I would always be remembered as the 'girl who failed'!
My parents never really pressurized me for studies and stuff. Besides, I come from a family where females are only supposed to get married & produce babies! 7 years ago, when I decided to change this tradition, I had to face a lot of pressure! But that's all in the past now. The point is that change doesn't happen on its own. Our parents did the best according to what they had learnt till then. But this learning process never stops. "Change" has to be consciously brought about in the world around us… & that includes our parents & our families! We have to stand up for what we believe in… & most importantly, we have to believe in ourselves first!
While my parents never made a big fuss over my marks or getting a job, they nevertheless have been hard task-masters. But then, it again boils down to "perspective", right? I can look at their criticism as an excuse to self-victimize myself, or I can look at it as a way to improve myself. If the little birdies are not pushed off the nest by their parents, they might never learn to fly!
Committing suicide, however, is an act of cowardice and escapism! There is NO courage required to jump off a running train or a high-rise building... leaving all your woes behind for "heart-broken" and grieved family-members, who keep blaming themselves for the rest of their lives, that perhaps they did something wrong in the way they brought you up! I speak from personal experience. It took me more courage NOT to give in to the 'momentary insanity' that day… AND to accept the personal challenge that I would make amends for whatever damages I had done!
I completely agree with what Mukund said in his comment there… "There is no problem without a solution and if you are not able to find the solution may be you are just not looking in the right direction for it." Failures are life's way of letting us know we need to change our strategy regarding something. And yes Varun, "the only people who can dare such an act" REALLY are the ones "who only bother about their own self and not others"! As Vatsap said in his blog once long ago – "There are millions of men, and women on this planet. Then why is my image so important to me?"
It is so, because the 'I' feels 'disconnected' from the collective consciousness. A wave somehow gets separated from the ocean & thinks she's on her own now! But, it's just the perspective of that particular wave, you know, 'coz the ocean is more than willing to have her back within him! As Vyazz says in the comments there – "We (I) can end up deceiving our (my) own self thinking that we're (I'm) letting people down, whereas in reality we are (I am) not!"
In metaphysical terms, a suicidal person has a very weak Root Chakra. Root Chakra, as the name suggests, keeps us rooted to this planet. It creates a feeling of belonging, being a part of some larger community. It instills a feeling of security that all our needs will be taken care of by the Universe. As my symbolic thought process visualizes it – Root Chakra represents the cord that keeps a space-traveler connected to the 'mother' space-ship at all times, while he explores the vastness of the space around him.
With a weak Root Chakra, we feel 'lost in the emptiness of space'! We feel unprotected, out of place & un-worthy. We feel isolated and fail to connect with the people around us. We are overtly suspicious and extremely self-conscious. We feel unwelcome & unwanted... and, as Pushkaraj has mentioned – we "keep turning inwards and further inwards till the point of no return." It is completely up to the rest of us, to recognize such abnormally introverted signs in the people around us, and make them feel appreciated and needed.
And for anybody out there reading this post, who might be contemplating on killing him/herself… remember - "Most of us are angels with one wing broken, but we can STILL learn to fly by embracing each other!" Just work on strengthening your Root Chakra… and your life will fall back into place. Some simple ways of strengthening your Root Chakra:
1. Our very own "Munna Bhai's" special… "Jaadu Ki Jhappi"!
2. Dancing
3. Walking, preferably barefoot!
4. Gardening… or just playing with soil if possible!
And yes, if you ever need an angel with a broken wing to embrace, contact me! ;-) :-p
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I'm not a database administrator; I'm a developer - and I'm having trouble with SQL Server Management Studio. I installed SQL Server 2008 Standard on Windows 2008 Server R2, and according to SQL Server Configuration Manager, I've got two instances: OFFICESERVERS (for SharePoint) and MSSQLSERVER.
When I open SQL Server Management Studio I can only discover OFFICESERVERS. I've checked the protocol configuration for both instances and didn't see anything that indicates to me why this would be.
Any hints?


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It's that time of the year again when a Samsung flagship is about to break cover. And as we speculate about the hardware specs of the Galaxy S5, there's still no evidence on when this smartphone will launch exactly. But now a reputed Italian journalist claims that the smartphone will break cover in mid-March during an event scheduled to take place in London. The Galaxy S III was launched in London too, so it makes sense that the company's flagship handset would break cover in London again after a gap of two years.
Previous rumors of an MWC time launch have been proven to be false according to statements given by Samsung executives. And considering the fact that the Galaxy S4 broke cover last year in mid-March, it's safe to assume that the trend won't change with the Galaxy S5. The smartphone is one of the much awaited handsets of the year and we can't wait to see what's new with the Samsung flagship. Rumors have indicated at the birth of a whole new line of flagship called the Galaxy F, which could prove to be interesting for the fans. There's not much long to wait now, so we can hope to get more hints in the coming weeks.
Source: @flapic – Twitter
Via: Cult of Android


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How to choose perfect electric smokers for cooking barbecue
Electric smokers offer the easiest and most effortless way of smoking. If you are looking a smoker that will mainly smoke your lovely meat with the classic flavor, then you must go for an electric smoker. Electric smoker offers you a real set and forgets procedure in smoking meats.
Unlike other smokers, you can just put your wood chips in the reservoirs and left it until it is done. With the built-in thermometer, it becomes easier to smoke meat or fish.
Even, you don't have to look at the smoker for just once. All you need to do is to fill the wood box with chips and start to smoke. The built-in thermometer will keep an optimal temperature and maintain the smoking going on till it becomes too tender for being a perfect steak of meat.
Why Electric Smokers are too easy to use:
Electric smokers have a built-in thermometer. So, electric smokers can easily maintain an optimal level of temperature. That's why the piece of meat becomes well tender and juicy.
The wood box is spacious in the electric smokers. And, you don't need to get tensed about the woods to be burnt over.
The smoker leaves a sweet aromatic fragrance of the wood chips. Completely safe if you have children at your home. As electric smoker doesn't produce real fire in it. Easy to use and an electric smoker would be perfect for you if you are a too busy with your other works.
Comes in compact sizes that comfortably fit your height.
Now, you'll inevitably ask that how you should understand which the best smoker or which will meet your preferences.
When you are going to buy an electric smoker, there are few things that you've to keep in mind that.
The materials of the smoker:
It is most important for you to know that what kind of material it is made with. There are different types of the smoker for making different dishes like grilling, just smoking or both.
So, depending on them, the materials are different sometimes, and that makes the huge difference in the materials which are used to make different models.Watch it carefully, for which type of smoker you need and what will you make with it.
The kind of door of it:
There are different types of electric smoker models has the different type of doors. While some have front doors, then the others have side doors. Also, some have glass doors, and others are concealed. These are not differently made for the different purpose, more than they are of different designs.
You better look at the design you are looking for.
The size of it:
As you see bigger smokers in the market are not the only smokers that exists. So, you can quickly think about the sizes of the smokers. Get that, what you are looking for. Just search more keeping the budget in your mind.
What kinds of food that'll make:
In different smokers, you'll be able to smoke different types of meats or even vegetables too. And, also know more about the wood consumption of your smoker. Just know before you are going to buy the smoker.
These are the reasons; you need to keep in mind before choosing or buying a perfect electric smoker.Also, there are different types also comes in various designs. Also, there are two types of electric smokers like,
1.Horizontal smoker:
2.Vertical Smoker:
Final Verdict:
Buying the best electric smoker is not a tough task like you are thinking now. When you are going to buy an electric smoker, keep in mind which points I had described before. But, check and double check the necessities and what a smoker will be able to offer you. Take your time, like it takes to tender the meat in the smoker and buy it.
Happy meat-smoking.


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Belt driven fans have been the most common method of cooling vehicle engines for more than 100 years. They've retained their widespread use because they are simple and reliable. After being aligned by the engine manufacturer, belt drives give years of trouble-free service life. However, as emission standards continue to become increasingly more demanding, vehicle designers must find innovative new ways to cool engines.
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Dentistry by Isaac Gabay - Dentist in Mississauga | Invisalign Certified
Our practice caters to new and emergency patients of all ages. Services include general, restorative, cosmetic dentistry and orthodontic services.
We Enhance Lives with Beautiful Smiles
Welcome to Dentistry by Dr. Isaac Gabay! We have been implementing top quality dental care for the Mississauga locality for almost 15 years. Getting to know each of our patients is the core of contributing to the optimal dentist visit. We furnish our office as a friendly and relaxing ambiance, where your contentment and oral health are our number one objective.
At Dentistry by Isaac Gabay, our staff's focal point is your oral health, in terms of prevention and affording our patients quality, cutting-edge dental care. We truly regard communication as the key to developing a sensible and successful dental plan to exceed your requirements.
Whether you seek to uphold the smile you currently love to hone, or require more elaborate dental care, our well-trained and considerate staff is happy to help! New patients and your thoughtful referrals are always welcome. We yearn to be your Mississauga dentist!
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Patient Education
Patient education library includes information on various topics ranging from dental care to oral health problems.
Our Location
Dentistry by Isaac Gabay DDS 5700 Mavis Road Unit 8 Mississauga, Ontario, L5V2N6, Canada 905-890-3514


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Slowey/McManus Communications was founded in 2006 by Dominic Slowey, who has three decades of experience in public relations, government and journalism, and James McManus, an attorney and former journalist with 25 years of communication consulting experience.
They are assisted by a talented group of account managers, supervisors, and senior consultants with diverse backgrounds and experiences in virtually all aspects of communications.
The firm's clients include the world's largest retail chain, one of the country's leading healthcare companies, and an array of education, clean energy, and nonprofit organizations.


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How to Rally Your Community Around Education/
Connectedness and supportive relationships are at the core of being human. We're motivated to share our stories and learn from others with similar experiences and interests in order to create a greater sense of companionship. This creates the foundation for a productive and successful community.
At Peabody Charter Elementary, the same principles apply to our approach to education. Administrators, teachers and parents share one common focus as an education community: ensuring students' success. The students are what bring the community together.
A child's education is often the longest relationship parents will have with an organization, and it's a journey that parents, teachers and administrators should take together.
We spend considerable time and energy building the Peabody education community, and school leaders can explore these strategies as they strive to enhance their parent and community outreach initiatives:
1. Modernize your school-home connection.
Administrators, teachers and parents are busier than ever, and they're constantly "on the go." It's difficult for parents to manage daily work schedules while playing active roles in their child's education and interacting with teachers. Parents increasingly want to communicate using the same mobile devices they use for myriad other tasks. It's important for schools to recognize this growing trend and meet parents in the middle when it comes to school-home communication. We use a communication platform to streamline dialogue between parents and teachers.
2. Tell amazing stories.
Each school has amazing stories to tell. Each and every day, teachers are providing incredible opportunities for their students to learn and grow. Students are regularly surprising everyone around them with their enthusiasm, insights and learning. In the past, schools were limited to using tools like bulletins and often relied on parents to convey the story about the school's core values and signature programs. While these tools are still used, we can now incorporate 21st century tools to tell our school's story.
3. Create volunteer opportunities.
We now have tools to invite parents and community members to join the school community and create ways for them to easily get involved. Asking for parents to volunteer a few times a month creates a new way for administrators and teachers to engage and connect with parents. For example, by using the school's communication platform to search the school community for specific skills, we can better match what the school needs, and what parents feel comfortable providing. A parent who is a scientist at the local university might volunteer to give a talk to students about the water cycle, or a parent who likes to garden might lead a grade level in a gardening project.
4. Gather, just to gather.
Many school events serve specific needs. We gather for student-teacher conferences. We gather for fundraisers. We gather to watch students perform or show what they've learned.
A great example of this type of gathering is our fall Harvest Carnival. With games, music and lots of amazing homemade food, it draws our community together in ways that strengthen social bonds. Other ideas might include outdoor movie nights or gatherings at local businesses off campus. Whatever the venue, it is important for school communities to get together and have fun.
Final thoughts
A sense of community is important not only in bringing people together and building strong relationships, but also in the overall success of the group itself. The students in an education community bind the people most influential in their academic lives together, ultimately leading to academic achievement. Modern technology is changing the way schools can engage with parents. Striking the right balance between face-to-face communication and technology-driven communication is key in keeping busy parents involved and interested in what's happening at school.
About the author: An educator for 22 years, Demian Barnett has had the privilege of teaching at the elementary through university level and has been a high-school and elementary administrator. Barnett is the principal at Peabody Charter, where the school uses ParentSquare to connect the school with the community. This article was originally published on SmartBlog.


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Welcome to the 10th edition of Italy Music & Art Camp!! Scholarship opportunities are now available for financial support towards the tuition of the 2019 program!! Only the award recipients will be notified by January 15, 2019.
Music Scholarship
Please send a video of approximately 1-minute minimum, 3-minute maximum (via YouTube, Google, etc. link) of a solo performance or group performance that represents your best playing. Audio and Video quality are not as important as the musical content. You may submit a new video or one that you already have available. Please, send applications by December 31, 2018
Visual Art Scholarship
Please send 5-10 digital photos of recent artwork in any 2D or 3D media (via mailed CD, Google or Dropbox shared folder, etc.). It is recommended that there is at least one self-portrait piece and a minimum of one piece from direct observation, not from a photo. All works should be titled. An artist statement is required which identifies your interests in art and/or your goals for future art making. Please, send applications by December 31, 2018
Submission methods
1. Send the links to your submission via Facebook and detail on the form below:
Please remember to include all information below and/or the completed application form
2. Mail submission and application form to:
Musica Vesuviana Italy Music & Art Camp P.O. Box 750035 - Arlington Heights, MA 02475
Application Form (MUST accompany submission)
Mailing Address:
State: Zip:
Instrument or Art preference:
Email Address:
- Link (YouTube, Google, etc.):


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Controversy Teaches Us A Few ThingsSo how big was the story from Pigeon Forge about the anti-Catholic Chick tracts being distributed at Pigeon Forge High School? It has made Fox News:
A Baptist pastor in Tennessee says he now regrets that his church distributed an anti-Catholic leaflet that a local Catholic priest decried as "hate material."Pastor Jonathan Hatcher, who leads Conner Heights Baptist Church in Pigeon Forge, Tenn., has removed the inflammatory leaflet, "The Death Cookie," from his congregation. He says he will no longer distribute it.[Father Jay] Flaherty learned that the material was being circulated when a young parishioner brought it into his church last week, after she said she received it in high school.'She was very upset," he said. "But I don't understand the [pamphlet's] reasoning — it has nothing to do with scripture. It's anti-Catholic; it's just hate material. It has nothing to do with theological discussion. 'You better get out and get saved' is basically what it says."Flaherty said he had considered contacting authorities about the publication and distribution of "The Death Cookie," but he has reconsidered."I pray for him," Flaherty said of Hatcher. "That's all you can do."
The story was still among the most e-mailed Fox News website articles as of this morning.
I'm going to take a wild guess that the City of Pigeon Forge is none too happy about getting national attention for any perceived climate of anti-Catholicism that may exist there. Sevier County depends on tourism to keep its economy humming and tourist dollars have helped the county survive the current depression. As other area counties continue shedding jobs, Sevier County is opening new tourist attractions and adding more people to the rolls of the employed. No small number of the visitors who keep that economic engine rolling are Catholics-lots of them are, in fact.
To be fair, I doubt very seriously that Pastor Hatcher knew what was going to occur from the distribution of what to him (and to the student who gave the literature to a classmate) just seemed like another "gospel tract." There are still plenty of folks who reckon that there are just not many Catholics around here, so who cares, right?
The reaction to what has occurred shows us two things: First, that there is enough local disdain for this kind of thinking for the local press and the larger community to react in such a way as to cause the folks at Connor Heights Baptist Church to rethink their strategy. Not only do many in the community not share the views expressed in "The Death Cookie," but feel repulsed enough by them to distance themselves from that kind of thinking. The second thing that this entire affair has made clear is that the positive influence of the Catholic Church in East Tennessee has grown significantly in recent years. The pastor at Connor Heights changed his tune after the Bishop of Knoxville intervened. There was a time not very long ago when the words of the local Catholic bishop (be it of Knoxville or Nashville, since the parishes here were part of the Diocese of Nashville before Knoxville got a bishop of its own) would have had roughly the same impact as issuing a press release to a brick wall. Hence, we've learned that we as Catholics may still have a lot of unwarranted suspicion and false ideas surrounding our faith, but at least we are respected enough that the bishop can speak to the larger community with authority behind his words.
Catholics from other parts of the country who visit East Tennessee also need to know that these kinds of incidents are increasingly rare. I do not expect we will see any crosses burn in front of Holy Cross or St. Mary's in Gatlinburg anytime soon. I'm very proud of how East Tennessee seems to have reacted to all of this-it says a lot about just how far we have actually come.
Labels: Conservatism, Faith, Holy Mother Church, Miscellany


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