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Window Cleaning
Residential and commercial customers alike say Ayers Window Cleaning is their only choice when it comes to keeping their windows look their absolute best.
We offer excellent work, reasonable prices, trained and professional staff and 100% customer satisfaction! Repeat business is earned, and our number one goal is to deserve your loyalty and business.
Residential Window Cleaning
Before Ayers Window and Gutter Cleaning even opened its' company doors, we had to develop a business philosophy a to how we wanted our company to perform. Many companies only care about making money. They don't hold the same objectives that we hold at Ayers Window and Gutter Cleaning. We care about our reputation and take pride in our workmanship. We especially care about what our customer think and say about us. We know that a happy customer will spread the word about their experience using our services. Because of this philosophy, we provide the best residential window cleaning in Tidewater.
Our experienced professionals have the right skills to make sure your home's windows stay looking like new - you might even forget there's glass there at all! Unlike many common do-it-yourself window cleaning techniques, we use a squeegee method to actually remove the grime from your window, and use super-concentrated cleaning formulas and special cleaning solutions and equipment to remove stubborn stains and spots.
Cleaning your home's windows is not as simple as spraying Windex and grabbing some paper towels. It is about making your home look its absolute best! You can truly make your home shine and sparkle for the whole neighborhood to notice. This reflects well on you and on our company.
Here's what our professional will do for your home using our 6 step window cleaning process:
1. Remove and clean screens using a soft bristle brush and cleaning solution.
2. Outside: We will use our specially formulated cleaning solution, soft cleaning cloths and squeegees to wash your windows until they truly shine. If you have stubborn paint stains, sap or bugs stuck on your window, we will use a special scrubber to address the problem areas before we clean your window. When we are done, we do it again just for good measure and then we squeegee remaining water on the glass before drying it with a soft towel.
3. Inside: We remove our shoes when entering your home. If you have not already done so, we will move furniture and other items to gain access to your interior windows. Our interior cleaning process is essentially the same as our exterior process. Once your windows are spotless, our professional technician will meticulously clean your window tracks and sills. We will then resituate any furniture or other household items that were moved to begin our cleaning process.
4. We will return outside your home to replace your now clean and dry screens.
5. Our trained technician will ask you if you are satisfied before leaving. If for any reason you are not, he will do whatever steps necessary to make certain that you, our valued customer, are pleased and happy with the results before leaving your home.
6. Our last step happens after our technician has left your home. Within 24 hours of the completion of our work, the owner of the company or someone on our quality assurance staff will call you to ask about your experience with our window cleaning services. You are our best indicator of how our employee and our company is doing in holding true to our basic philosophy.
Commercial Window Cleaning
Whether your business is on the ground level or is a multiple story building, Ayers Window and Gutter Cleaning is the company to call. Our staff undertakes rigorous training to learn the safest and latest techniques in the field of commercial window cleaning. Because of this training, no job is too challenging! Click here to learn more about our commercial cleaning service.
What's the Ayers Window Cleaning System? It's simple: Our company is committed to providing you with a first-class window cleaning job delivered in a professional manner. Our staff will arrive at the designated time, perform their work using their best training and skills, using the right equipment, and do so in a friendly, professional manner. Remember, customer loyalty and satisfaction is our goal.


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Responding with compassion
WelCom July 2018:
Merrick Mitchell
Jairus has asked Jesus to heal his daughter who is very ill. We do not know her name, as she, like the other women in this passage, is not named. Jairus is very definite in believing that Jesus can heal his daughter through laying hands on her, as he has healed many others. He knows that she will die without Jesus' intervention.
On their way to Jairus' home, in the middle of a large, jostling crowd pressing in upon Jesus and Jairus, a woman in desperate need touches the hem of Jesus' cloak. She believes Jesus will heal her of a bleeding she has had for 12 years. Her bleeding makes her 'ritually unclean', so she approaches Jesus quietly without wishing to draw attention to herself. She has tremendous courage, and her faith in Jesus heals her. In the midst of all the noise and hubbub, Jesus feels and sees her need, takes the time to stop and speak to her, and affirms her as a daughter of God.
Perhaps we might learn from this example of Jesus interrupted while doing something important? Keep our cool, read the situation, respond with compassion.
The faith of this woman illustrates the connection between physical touch – closeness with Jesus – and healing, wholeness.
There is discordancy. Jesus' disciples wondered how he was 'aware that power had gone out from him' when so many people were pressing in. Then messengers come and say that Jairus' daughter has died and there is no need to bother Jesus any more.
Jesus encourages Jairus to keep faith. They arrive at the house and Jesus assures the mourning crowd that, 'The child is not dead, but asleep'. They are incredulous and laugh at him, but he goes in with three companions, and Jairus and his wife to where the child lies. He takes her by the hand – closeness with Jesus again – speaks to her and restores her to full life.
What can we learn from this?
Like Jesus, we can be centred on doing God's work, and not be swayed unduly by adverse events around us. Being compassionate with others, even when things get traumatic. Let us listen to God through prayer and the Word, which will form and shape us. Then we in turn can transform the world through living as the Good News.
Merrick Mitchell is Lay Pastoral Leader with the Holy Family Parish of Nelson-Stoke.

subset: commoncrawl


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DALLAS, TX (Jul. 8, 2014)—Tara L. Paige was recently interviewed for a feature on the 'Doing My Career' Blog to discuss her career path, building her empire and her plans for the future.
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About Tara L. Paige
Tara L. Paige is a speaker and author of 5 Kids and I Had the Nerve to Ask God for a Husband. Tara also hosts REAL TLP TV on YouTube and you can find her online at www.taralpaige.com.
Media contact: Sandra Gabriel | 1-888-336-3763 x: 47 | [email protected]


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South Florida
FPL rates going up by $811 million over 3 years
Florida Power & Light customers will see their utility bills rise by $400 million beginning in January after state regulators approved a 2017 rate increase Tuesday, to be followed by $411 million in rate hikes in the next three years.
The monthly increase for a customer that uses 1,000 kilowatt hours would be about $9.50 by 2020, starting with $5 more next year, another $2.50 in January 2018 and about $2 in June 2019 when the Okeechobee Clean Energy Center begins powering customers. The total is less than the $13.23 increase FPL initially projected.
The unanimous ruling by the Florida Public Service Commission was part of a settlement of the rate case FPL agreed to with opponents in October in which FPL backed off its $1.3 billion rate request in return for the four-year rate guarantees.
The agreement was endorsed by the Florida Public Counsel, the lawyers representing utility customers, the South Florida Hospital and Healthcare Association and the Florida Retail Federation. The Florida chapter of the Sierra Club and AARP opposed it. Wal-Mart stores opposed the proposed profit level but did not argue against the agreement. The federal executive agencies, including the military, and the Florida Industrial Power Users Group did not oppose the settlement but also did not sign onto it.
Opponents argued that FPL has been charging customers to build expensive natural gas back-up plants it shouldn't need, and the agreement allows it to upgrade another 26 natural gas turbines.
The Sierra Club contends, for example, that if the utility giant stopped fighting the expansion of rooftop solar and other alternative forms of energy, its customers would save money and FPL could wean 70 percent of its fleet from its dependence on climate-change-inducing fossil fuels. AARP argues that the company should not be guaranteed excessive profits at the expense of customers.
The commission did not address any of the opponents' concerns and instead lauded the agreement as good for the customers and good for FPL.
"Taken as a whole, and given the amount of broad support across the customer groups that signed on, the settlement ... produces rates that are fair just and reasonable and in the public interest," said PSC Chair Julie Brown. She commended FPL for "smart, prudent decisions" that have led to the lowest rates in the state.
FPL President and CEO Eric Silagy said after the ruling that the agreement "benefits all of our customers by ensuring rates continue to remain low for at least the next four years while also enabling continued smart investments in reliability and clean energy."
Brown said there are "a great deal of customer protections in this agreement." Among them, she said, are limiting rate increases to four years, providing customers with more predictability, allowing FPL to invest in 1,200 megawatts of utility-scale solar expansion — which must be approved by the commission with a cost-effectiveness test — and the elimination of the natural gas hedging practice of buying fuel that for years resulted in millions of dollars in losses and enormous expense for customers.
"It allows for the service to continue ... and that their pockets won't be injured in the process while allowing the growth that is necessary to occur," said Commission Ronald L. Brisé. He noted that during the numerous public hearings the public said they wanted a greater emphasis on renewable energy and the settlement allows for that.
Frank Jackalone, staff director for the Sierra Club's Florida chapter, said they were "very disappointed that the commission approved this huge rate hike for unnecessary, climate-disrupting, gas-burning power plants." He also said the decision "contradicts the will of Florida's voters" who voted down FPL's attempt to pass an amendment that would have imposed limits on rooftop solar expansion.
The company invested more than $8 million into the political campaign behind the effort that was rejected by voters.
Under the settlement approved Tuesday, FPL shareholders also will be able to earn higher profits from the monopoly utility. The company currently is allowed to earn a return on equity — or shareholder profits — of 10.55 percent within a range of 9.6 percent to 11.6 percent.
If the amount of revenue the company has to return to shareholders dips below 9.6 percent, FPL will be able to ask for a new rate case. If the shareholder profits are above 11.6 percent, the PSC can ask for the rate case to order the company to lower its profit structure.
In June, FPL reported to regulators that it was earning an 11.5 percent ROE. FPL's initial rate request sought a profit range of 10.5 percent to 12.5 percent ROE, including an incentive bonus that would have rewarded the company for "good performance."
Jeff Johnson, director of AARP Florida, said the decision "demonstrates what observers of Florida utilities regulation have long believed — this system is simply not hearing the voices of residential consumers."
He said the public has lost confidence in the "broken system" and noted that "even before this ruling, FPL stood to make $1.6 billion in profit over the next four years" but with the guaranteed profits allowed by the settlement, "FPL gets even more."
"Until this imbalance is addressed, the interests of Florida residential ratepayers will come last and those of out-of-state shareholders will come first," he said.
Brown noted that "it's a challenging time in an industry that continues to evolve," and "utilities need to be at the forefront of this."
FPL has also agreed to build as much as 300 megawatts of solar power per year over four years, but the cost will be capped at $1,750 per kilowatt. It will invest in a 50-megawatt battery storage project that could be combined with the solar projects. And it is authorized to transfer to an affiliated company the ownership of the Martin-Rivera natural gas pipeline
Brown commended the battery-storage plan and said, "I really hope we get to see more investment like this from utilities."
The company, however, will be able to charge customers for those added investments by asking the commission to raise base rates after the utility-scale solar projects are completed.
Commissioner Lisa Edgar called the settlement comprehensive and "this shows that the process ultimately works."
FPL is barred from seeking any other rate increases until 2021 under the settlement, but the plan allows regulators to increase the company's rates for the solar expansion and other projects. This is also not likely to be the only utility rate increase FPL customers face in 2017.
For example, the PSC staff said FPL is expected to seek a rate increase to replenish its storm reserve after depleting it during the clean up of Hurricane Matthew. If the costs do not exceed $800 million and are not greater than $4 for the average 1,000-kwh residential bill, the company will be allowed to add the costs to customer bills without a rate hearing. If the costs exceed $800 million, the PSC can spread the charges over more than a year.
Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at email@example.com. Follow her on Twitter @MaryEllenKlas
This story has been updated to clarify some references.


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Chances are, you've heard about bone broth recently. But maybe you're wondering what the deal is? And why you would want to consider making a batch for your family?
While it might seem trendy, bone broth is nothing new. In fact, it is one of the most traditional foods. In his 12th century book, On the Cause of Symptoms, Jewish physician Moses Maimonides discusses the healing properties of chicken broth. In Chinese culture, doctors have used fish heads in broth for the healing properties of the thyroid to rejuvenate the elderly for thousands of years.
Sadly, with the advent of meat processing plants, we saw an almost complete decline in the use of animal bones to make nutrient-filled broths. Before boneless chicken breasts were available at the local Safeway, bone-in meat was purchased at the butcher shop, and nothing was left for waste. Fat was rendered into tallow or lard, and bones were used to make broth.
What is Bone Broth?
Bone broth* is a mineral and gelatin rich liquid that results from simmering animal bones in water for a length of time, usually anywhere from eight to 48 hours. (Or in under two hours with an Instant Pot and this recipe.)
As broth simmers, bones, cartilage, and marrow break down to release easy to digest nutrients, including collagen**, minerals, amino acids, and glycosaminoglycans (compounds in connective tissues).
*Bone broth is, technically speaking, different from stock. What I'm describing here is really stock, but since the common phrase is 'bone broth', that's what I'm using. I'm much more interested in sharing bone broth benefits than perfecting my culinary vernacular. If you're interested, The Kitchn has a great read on the difference between the two.
**Collagen is the main protein in connective tissue and gelatin is the form of collagen that is used in food (like this gelatin, which is used to make food gel); these terms are often used interchangeably.
Bone Broth Benefits
Broth may be a traditional food, but does what we know about physiology today support broth as a super food? Yes! Here are seven bone broth benefits that I hope convince you to get a pot going for your family. Not sure where to start? Try my easy recipe for tasty bone broth.Bone broth is a traditional food, but is it really a 'super' food? I say YES. Find out why. Click To Tweet
1. Aids Digestion and Helps Seal a 'Leaky Gut'
One of the most common therapeutic uses for bone broth is aiding in digestion. The gelatin in broth attracts liquid, unlike most cooked foods which repel it. Gelatin attracts digestive juices, which helps breakdown any food that is consumed with the broth. This supports healthy digestion, especially in those who have trouble digesting specific foods, like vegetables.
Amino acids in gelatin are known to have digestive aiding and gut healing properties. Glycine helps promote stomach acid secretion, which is essential for proper digestion. Glutamine is required for healthy cells in the mucosal lining of the small intestine and may even be able to help repair a leaky gut.1 Glutamine can also protect gut flora balance by fighting bad bacteria.2
2. Replenishes Deficient Minerals
Minerals are not produced by the human body and are only available in food sources. They play a key role in many, many functions in the body, from facilitating the transfer of nutrients across cell membranes to contracting and relaxing muscles (yes, including the heart muscle — kind of a big deal).
Unfortunately, most of us are deficient in minerals. Highly processed foods are low in vitamins and minerals, but even eating a diet high in mineral rich foods may not be enough. Modern farming practices have depleted soil of nutrients and prioritized yield over nutrition. The food growing in today's soil has up to 40% less nutrients than the produce growing a generation ago.3
Broth is a source of many minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, and potassium. The minerals in broth are easy to absorb as they've already been extracted from the food source. Try broth next time you need to replenish electrolytes when sick. There's a good reason chicken soup for the sick has been a tradition for generations.
3. Saves Money
Bone broth can be a way to stretch your meat budget as it is rich in several protein. Unlike animal meat, bone broth is not a complete protein and shouldn't be a total replacement for meat in your diet. But consuming bone broth regularly reduces the need for protein in the diet. Adding bone broth to your family's diet is a great way to afford higher quality meat, as less is required. Also, bone broth is the base for many economical meals like stew, soup, and chili.
4. Contributes to Better Sleep
Looking to improve your sleep, or perhaps the sleep of a wee one in your family? A few recent studies have shown that glycine improves sleep quality, both subjectively and objectively. 4,5,6
After reading these studies, I started being more consistent with giving my toddler broth daily in her sippy cup (typically I use it to cook with more than for drinking). However, the incoming set of molars seems to be too much for even bone broth.
5. Improves Skin, Hair, and Nails
We may live in the times of botox, but bone broth is a less toxic, and more economical, way to improve your skin.
Hair, skin, and nails are made, in part, of collagen, and as we age our bodies produce less of it. Combine this with also producing less elastin and being subjected to free radicals that over time break down collagen, we start to see the physical effects of aging. The collagen in broth is an easy way to increase collagen in the body and improve skin, including cellulite.
A recent study found that women who supplemented with collagen as an oral supplement for eight weeks saw a 20% reduction in wrinkles around the eyes.7
Supplementing with collagen peptides is pricier than making bone broth and doesn't contain all the nutrients of bone broth. However, it is more convenient. I have been adding a scoop of peptides to my coffee (there is no taste, and unlike gelatin, collagen peptides do not gel), and have noticed big improvement in skin quality and nail growth. Vital Proteins collagen peptides are made from 100% grass-fed beef and Great Lakes supplement (called collagen hydrolysate, but same thing) is grass-fed, but not 100%.
6. Relieves Joint Pain
Glycosaminoglycans are great for joint health and bone broth is rich in several of them. The most widely known of the GAGs, glucosamine, is a common supplement for those with joint pain. And much like collagen peptides, it works well, but the benefit of the obtaining via broth is additional nutrients. Broth also contains the GAGs hyaluronic acid and chondroitin, which you wouldn't find in a glucosamine supplement.
Regular consumption of bone broth might be a way to naturally relieve joint pain. If it works for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers, it can work for your family, too.
7. Helps with Detoxification
The liver is the workhorse of the body, performing upwards of 500 functions, one of them being detoxification. With the number of chemicals and toxins we are subjected to each day, our modern environment requires the liver to work in overdrive to keep up with detoxification. The liver relies on many nutrients to complete its functions. Its ability to detoxify is only as strong as the available nutrients, including amino acids. Glycine, for example, helps minimize damage in liver cells once they have detoxed chemical substances.
Have I convinced you to make bone broth for your family? If so, you can find my recipe and details on where I source bones and how I store my broth right here.
Additional References
Nourishing Traditions
Nourishing Broth
The Gelatin Secret


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The Return of Negative Interest Rates
There is a spectre haunting the global economy — the spectre of negative interest rates! Puns aside, if you have been following the financial new as of late, the global economy is in a very sensitive state where many are predicting another collapse in the near future (relax — someone is also predicting collapse).
The primary reasons for these concerns have been, amongst the cadre of developed nations most looked at for the "pulse" of the global economy (read: OECD countries): slagging economic growth rates; plummeting crude oil prices; a struggling stock market; slow moving inflation rates; China's recent recessionary numbers and their inability to control it; and, most notably, a growing number of economies experimenting with negative interest rates on government bonds. While the number of economies with explicit negative yields on government securities is still small, the remaining economies are either at zero or slowly approaching it. Here in the United States, many not only fear that the Fed will fail to increase rates four more times within this year (as they declared previously) but may actually reverse their December decision and decrease rates back to zero.
Before going into fine details of the situation, it is worth noting the link between government bonds and interest rates. Governments — yes, almost all of them — spend more than the aggregate collection of tax revenues and need to finance their budgets. The common way to achieve this is to issue out debt securities known as discount bonds. As an example, the U.S. Treasury may sell a bond worth $1,000 (known as its face-value) for $900 with the understanding that it will buy the bond back at an agreed date (say, in a year) for $1,000. The government gets its much-needed cash ASAP and the investor walks away with a $100 profit, or an 11% return on investment. This return on investment is the interest rate on the bond. Given that the U.S. Government has zero risk of default (it can print more money or raise taxes to pay its debts; hence, the importance of debt ceiling increases), firms selling securities have to offer a rate at or around the government rate to attract lenders. This, in a very (VERY) simple way, is how central banks manage interest rates throughout the economy.
So what is the issue with negative interest rates? Like any negative price, negative interest rates make economists a tad uncomfortable. In essence, any negative price means that suppliers/producers are paying consumers to take their product(s). How would you feel if someone came to you on the street and offered to pay you $10 to take his/her coffee off their hands? Hopefully, most readers would at the very least be skeptical of the transaction. Yet this is exactly what having a negative interest rate on a government or corporate bond implies: lenders, or the buyers of bonds, are paying the borrower to take their money. In other words, investors are paying for the "honor and privilege" to lend their money to the government. Alternative investment opportunities have to be pretty bleak for this to take place . . . and that is exactly the issue.
The other problem with negative interest rates is that it goes against its fundamental nature. Interest rates on loans are used to help monetize risk. If I could loan you $1,000 today with complete certainty that (a) you would pay me back the loan in full by a specified date, say in a year, and (b) I would not need that money for any reason while it has been loaned out to you, then the interest rate would be at or very close to zero. But such certainty can only come with complete and perfect knowledge of the past, present and future. Since no one but God is privy to such information, uncertainty and risk must always present. If zero risk leads to zero interest, then what does a negative interest rate really mean? To paraphrase the (in)famous hedge fund manager Michael Burry, negative yields are an indication that our entire mechanism for monetizing risk is broken.
Not a pleasant thought, to say the least.
Even so, there have arisen a number of central bankers and academics that support the idea of setting interest rates below zero. To understand their thinking, let us summarize the argument of the pro-negative-rates cam. With slagging economic growth rates, central banks want to increase spending and investing. The classic solution (at least in the short run) is to increase borrowing by dissuading savings through lowering interest rates. Great, right? Well, there are a couple of problems. For one, interest rates are at or so close to zero that the standard weaponry of monetary policy is out of ammunition. Worse, many of the developed economies are now experiencing levels of deflation; that is, the prices of all goods and services in the economy are, generally, getting lower. Because prices are decreasing, so will revenues, wages and incomes. As a result, it will be harder for firms and households to pay off their loans (remember that loan principals do not adjust for inflation/deflation) and the "real cost of borrowing", known as the real interest rate, has increased. What's a central banker to do? The only avenue left for them to do: go into the negative.
To be fair, this is not our first encounter with negative rates. The most famous case in recent history was Japan during the late-1990s/early-2000s. Due to a mix of historically high levels of saving, a prolonged recession and a serious bout with deflation, the Japanese central bank set government bond rates into the red. The concern was not necessarily the negative rates themselves but what they said about the economy as a whole: trouble, trouble and some more trouble. Serendipitously, it is the Bank of Japan's recent embrace of negative interest rates that has once again alerted the financial community that a series of unfortunate events could be taking place.
Japan is not the only economy to experiment with negative rates and, truthfully, it's a new entrant into this game. By all accounts, Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden (the home of the oldest existing central bank, the Riksbank) were the first to start this recent trend. In fact, leaders at the Bank of England also echoed the possible benefits of negative government bond yields. But there is a couple of differences between the situation in Japan and that of the other economies.
First, while Switzerland, Denmark and Sweden set negative interest rates on short-term to intermediate-term bonds, Japan has now issued a 10-year bond at a -0.1% interest rate; that is, Japan has been the first to set a negative interest rate on long-term bond. Long-term bonds are riskier than their short-term (maturity of less than a year) equivalents to begin with. Adding a negative yield decreases the bonds attractiveness even further . . . and investors are still buying them!
Second, as opposed to the above-mentioned economies, Japan did not really aim to be in this position. In fact, it is the result of a failed economy-boosting strategy. To push investors out of the government bond market — where most dump their money for safekeeping while they search for better alternatives — the Bank of Japan began an aggressive bond buying operation. The aim was to get investors active in other markets, such as stocks and commodities. Unfortunately, those markets became so unstable that even with decreasing interest rates, investors stuck to purchasing Bank of Japan bonds. With the decreased supply and, consequentially, increased demand of these bonds, the interest rates fell below zero.
Finally, if negative interest rates on bonds are so horrible, why are investors buying them? Beyond the commercial banks and various companies that are required to keep government bonds as reserves, many investors are still purchasing these bonds for one main reason: they are still safer than the current and very much volatile stock market. And this is, again, the real problem with the whole situation. The uncertainty in equity markets has risen so significantly that investors are paying the government to protect their money from shear disaster. Whether an economic disaster is truly looming around the corner or not, the global economy has a lot of soul searching to do.
But, as per usual, Allah knows best.


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In this third installment of our series on alleged contradictions in the writings of Ellen White, we will examine the popular claim of recent decades that Ellen White's salvation theology evolved from a predominantly law-focused, even legalistic emphasis in her early years, to a more Christ-centered, grace-oriented message in her later ministry, particularly in the aftermath of the Minneapolis General Conference in 1888 and its emphasis on righteousness by faith. Some have described this as a "Sinai to Golgotha" trajectory in Ellen White's alleged theological development.
No one denies, of course, that as Ellen White's ministry advanced, the expression of Biblical truth in her writings offered deeper insights and greater spiritual enrichment. A good example of these broader, deeper insights can be seen in the contrast between the depiction of end-time events in the book Early Writings and the later depiction of these events in The Great Controversy. But we must beware of reading Ellen White's theological statements—or the Bible's, for that matter—through the lenses of theological theories which often fail to consider the totality of the Biblical message on a given subject. This problem is especially acute when theological constructs from outside the Seventh-day Adventist Church are permitted to inform Seventh-day Adventist convictions regarding the meaning of inspired writings.
When reading Ellen White's statements—pre- or post-1888—on salvation and righteousness by faith, on what basis is the accuracy or maturity of her insights determined? Are we permitting the self-explanatory, self-interpreting pronouncements of Scripture and the Spirit of Prophecy writings to define such terms as grace, legalism, justification, sanctification, or any number of others? Do we measure Ellen White's salvation statements by a Biblical standard fully informed by the salvation theology present throughout the Bible, in both Old and New Testaments? Or do we measure her statements by a theological standard informed by but a few Bible passages, heavily flavored by the assumptions and sentiments of uninspired theologians (Adventist and otherwise), and often blended with an experience-driven quest for spiritual comfort?
The totality of Scripture, in both Testaments, must ever form the foundation of all the Christian's doctrinal conclusions. We cannot forget that the Berean Christians in New Testament times were commended by the apostles for testing the teachings of Paul and his associates by the Old Testament Scriptures (Acts 17:11)—the only Scriptures available at the time to these believers by which they could test what they heard. Indeed, it was the Old Testament upon which Paul based his doctrine of justification by faith (see Psalm 32:1-2; Hab. 2:4; Rom. 1:17; 4:6-8). No wonder he would later write to Timothy that "from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make these wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus" (II Tim. 3:15). Again, the only Scriptures available to Timothy during his childhood would have been those of the Old Testament. Paul was obviously under no illusion that his doctrine of righteousness by faith was some New Testament novelty.
Again we note a signature passage in the writings of Ellen White, one which should never be lost sight of in discussions such as these:
The testimonies themselves will be the key that will explain the messages given, as scripture is explained by scripture (1SM 42).
The notion that any substantive change occurred in Ellen White's theology as a result of the righteousness by faith emphasis of certain ones during the 1888 era, is difficult to harmonize with Ellen White's own assessment of her theology on this subject during this very period. In the following statement, written in 1890, she writes:
The point that has been urged upon my mind for years is the imputed righteousness of Christ. I have wondered that this matter was not made the subject of discourse in our churches throughout the land, when the matter has been kept so constantly urged upon me, and I have made it the subject of nearly every discourse and talk that I have given to the people.
In examining my writings fifteen and twenty years old [I find that they] present the truth in this same light—that those who enter upon the solemn, sacred work of the ministry should first be given a preparation in lessons upon the teachings of Christ and the apostles in living principles of practical godliness (FW 18).
Reflecting on the Minneapolis meeting, Ellen White wrote elsewhere:
At this meeting I bore testimony that the most precious light had been shining forth from the Scriptures in the presentation of the great subject of the righteousness of Christ connected with the law, which should be constantly kept before the sinner as his only hope of salvation. This was not new light to me, for it had come to me from a higher authority for the last forty-four years, and I had presented it to our people by pen and voice in the testimonies of His Spirit (3SM 168, italics supplied).
According to the above statements, the righteousness by faith message of 1888 was not, therefore, new light. Ellen White had been preaching it for years. Which means that those who read her pre-1888 writings and don't think they see a clear teaching of salvation by grace through faith, may need to bring their preconceived ideas on this topic to the inspired writings for correction.
Ellen White's pre-1888 statements on the gospel and salvation are just as clear as her post-1888 statements that only through God's forgiving and empowering grace are the sins of believers pardoned and the obedience required by the law made possible. Such samples as the following from Ellen White's pre-1888 observations on this subject make this point clear:
Shall I stand without fault before the throne of God? Only the faultless will be there. None will be translated to heaven while their hearts are filled with the rubbish of earth. Every defect in the moral character must first be remedied, every stain removed by the cleansing blood of Christ, and all the unlovely, unlovable traits of character overcome (1T 705).
Search, oh search, as for your life, and condemn yourself, pass judgment upon yourself, and then by faith claim the cleansing blood of Christ to remove the stains from your Christian character. . . . . Jesus will receive you, all polluted as you are, and will wash you in His blood, and cleanse you from all pollution, and make you fit for the society of heavenly angels, in a pure, harmonious heaven (2T 81).
In the strength of God alone can you bring yourself where you can be a recipient of His grace, an instrument of righteousness. Not only does God require you to control your thoughts, but also your passions and affections. Your salvation depends upon your governing yourself in these things (2T 561).
The keeping of these (ten) commandments comprises the whole duty of man, and presents the conditions of eternal life. Now the question is, Will man comply with the requirements? Will he love God supremely and his neighbor as himself? There is no possible way for man to do this in his own strength. The divine power of Christ must be added to the effort of humanity (ST Nov. 24, 1887).
And as the following examples demonstrate, Ellen White's post-1888 statements are just as clear as those prior to 1888 that this Spirit-empowered obedience to the divine law remains the unalterable condition of human salvation:
The work of gaining salvation is one of copartnership, a joint operation. . . . Human effort of itself is not sufficient. Without the aid of divine power it avails nothing. God works and man works (AA 482).
Those who enlist in the army of Christ must in all things submit to His authority and consult His will. Implicit obedience is the condition of salvation. God's law must be obeyed in every particular. It is our salvation to make His law our rule, His life our pattern, His glory our chief aim (ST Nov. 15, 1899).
The gospel that is to be preached to all nations, kindreds, tongues, and peoples presents the truth in clear lines, showing that obedience is the condition of gaining eternal life. Christ imparts His righteousness to all who consent to let Him take away their sins (7BC 972).
When the lawyer came to Christ, saying, 'Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?", the Saviour did not say, Believe, only believe, and you will be saved. 'What is written in the law?' He said, 'how readest thou?' . . . Here the false doctrine that man has nothing to do but believe is swept away. Eternal life is given to us on the condition that we obey the commandments of God (RH June 26, 1900).
Ironically, one of the best critiques I have seen of this "Sinai to Golgotha" theory of alleged "development" on the part of Ellen White's salvation theology, was published in an ex-Adventist magazine back in 2009. Titled, "Did Ellen White change as she aged?" (Proclamation! January-February 2009, pp. 14-16), the article lists some of the clearest statements available from Ellen White's later writings which uphold sanctified obedience as a condition of salvation and the possibility of sinless obedience this side of heaven. Among the Ellen White statements included in this article, affirming this point, are the following:
His (Jesus') example declares that our only hope of eternal life is through bringing the appetites and passions into subjection to the will of God (DA 122).
But in the struggle for immortality we have a part to act. . . . We can never be saved in inactivity and idleness. We might as well look for a harvest from seed which we have not sown, and for knowledge where we have not studied, as to expect salvation without making an effort. It is our part to wrestle against the evil tendencies of the natural heart (YI March 5, 1903).
He came to this world and lived a sinless life, that in His power His people might also lead lives of sinlessness (Atlantic Union Gleaner, Jan. 17, 1906; see also RH April 1, 1902; March 15, 1906).
Man is no passive being, to be saved in indolence. Let no one think that men and women are going to be taken to heaven without engaging in the struggle here below. We have a battle to fight, a victory to gain. God says to us, "Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling." How?—"For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure." Man works, and God works. Man is called upon to strain every muscle, and to exercise every faculty, in the struggle for immortality; but it is God who supplies the efficiency (RH April 28, 1910).
The great crisis is before us, and every one is to act as if his own soul was at stake. The most important question of all is, How shall I save my soul, for which Christ died? How shall I be holy as He is holy? (RH May 15, 1913).
While the author and the magazine in question obviously overlook the many New Testament verses which teach as clearly as Ellen White that regeneration, sanctification, and Spirit-empowered obedience to the divine law form part of the process and conditions of salvation (e.g. Matt. 7:21; 12:36-37; 19:16-26; 25:31-46; Luke 10:25-28; Rom. 2:6-10; 8:13; II Thess. 2:13; Titus 3:5; Heb. 5:9; James 2:10-12), they are quite correct in noting the clarity of Ellen White's later writings in upholding sanctification and character perfection as part of the means of Biblical salvation. What these former Adventists fail to consider, of course, is that the greatest threat to their theology and the false assurance it proffers is not in fact Ellen White, but the Bible itself.
This same article, in yet another irony, correctly debunks the theory that an inspired prophet's teaching can at any time promote error as truth, even if the error in question is later abandoned:
One problem with this rationalization is that "progressive revelation" is understood as the process of Ellen White's moving from error toward truth. In fact, however, true progressive revelation never begins in error. If a person is inspired by God, He never gives that person "error." God cannot lie, and His revelations are always truth, even if they are not revealed in detail (Colleen Tinker, "Did Ellen White change as she aged?" Proclamation! January-February 2009, p. 14).
There is a difference, of course, between an inspired writer moving from error to truth in one's private convictions and conduct, and such a one teaching such error as part of a public prophetic ministry. John the Baptist, for example, believed wrongly regarding the nature of the Messiah's kingdom, yet no inspired evidence exists that he taught this error at any time in his public prophetic labors. Ellen White kept Sunday and ate pork during the early years of her ministry, yet she never taught the rightness of these practices in her instruction to the fledgling church.
We will address additional claims of contradiction on Ellen White's part as the present series proceeds.


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"I find the famous Berlin fresh air very refreshing," the Liberal Democrat leader told reporters in fluent German after talks with Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle in Berlin, before talking up the importance of bilateral relations.

But perhaps to the relief of Clegg's notoriously monolingual compatriots - he speaks five tongues - he was not completely at ease with the grammatical minefield that is the German language, quickly switching to English.

His efforts won him praise from Westerwelle, who famously told off a BBC journalist for asking him to answer a question in English last year, telling Clegg his German was "excellent."

Clegg was on a visit to Berlin together with Foreign Secretary William Hague from the Conservatives, with whom Clegg's party last month formed Britain's first coalition government since World War II.

Hague said it was the first time that two cabinet ministers from the two different parties in the coalition had travelled outside Britain together.

"[This] is the first time in the lifetime of anybody in this room that this has happened. So it is important for our good relations with Germany, but it is a small piece of history," Hague said - in English.

Prime Minister David Cameron visited Berlin for talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel on May 21.


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What We're Doing
At F.E.L.P we provide mobile services in both communities and schools to at risk and willing youth ages 10-17. Many at this age, struggle with societal factors that limit their overall development and contribute to risk. Our mission is to help the youth realize that the circumstances that they face today, does not have to be an indicator of their future for tomorrow. In the same aspect, we want to teach our youth that in order to make a difference tomorrow, a decision must be made today
Future Endeavors Life Program
F.E.L.P Help Volunteers
We are always seeking committed and dedicated volunteers to be apart of the F.E.L.P Squad and obtain organizational and school community service hours. Volunteer work consist of the following: fundraising, events, mentoring, administration, advertising and promotion and much more.
Educational Workshops/Seminars/Camps
Introduction in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) Careers, Literacy/Writing, College Preparation, Scholarship Funding.
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Personal and Social Development, Health & Hygiene, Time Management, Money Management, Decision Making and more.
Entrepreneurship Workshops/Seminars/Camps
Introduction into Entrepreneurship, F.E.L.P Entrepreneur Fair, Business/Nonprofit Workshops.
F.E.L.P Counseling/Coaching (Specialization in Cognitive/Solution Based Therapy)
Motivational Family/Youth Coaching, Family/Youth Counseling, Individual/Group Counseling, Career Counseling, Art Therapy.
Future Endeavors Life Program © 2019


text: Bottling or canning your own home grown produce is a skill that is in danger of being lost as each generation relies more on convenience foods. But if you have a garden you will know that everything often comes ready at once. Some things don't freeze well, and knowing how to create sauces or preserves with your produce will help spread the benefits of your harvests.


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Friday Midday News
Apple's latest environmental feat is generating clean energy for 100% of its operations in China. A solar installation in the Sichaun Province generates over 40 megawatts of energy, producing more than the total amount of energy used by Apple's offices and retail stores, making Apple's operations in China carbon neutral, according to the press release from Apple. Meanwhile, it seems Apple still has some way to go in terms of improving working conditions, with the latest report from Chinese Labor Watch pointing out poor working conditions in one of Apple's iPhone manufacturing facilities.
Everyone's favourite analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicts Apple will sell 75 million iPhones and 4 million Apple Watch units during the holiday season, based on previous sales figures and recent Apple Watch sales estimates. Ming-Chi Kuo also believes sales of the new iPhone will also decline in the new year, although Mac sales will continue to be better than its competitors.
The Hermès Apple Watch comes with a custom Watch Face featuring the famed Hermès iconography, and iMore's Serenity Caldwell says this means there's hope for custom watch faces. It's possible Apple hasn't implemented custom Apple watch faces due to battery concerns or similar, or maybe they just don't have the APIs for custom watch faces to act like the ones included as part of the package.
Apple has asked developers to submit their tvOS apps for the launch of the new Apple TV next week, and Plex has already said they'll be ready on launch day. Australian pricing still has yet to be revealed, but with the launch so close we'll know soon enough.
Facebook has implemented a fix for excessive battery drain on its iOS app, admitting a bug caused silent audio to eat away at your battery.
In other app news, Runkeeper's standalone Apple Watch app is truly that, with the app capable of tracking runs without an iPhone. You'll need to do a few calibration runs (or walks, if that's more your speed) before you can leave your iPhone at home, but at least the option is there. Meanwhile, Instagram's answer to Apple's Live Photos is Boomerang, a standalone app that is designed for sharing fun, short videos.
In the continuing non-Plus or Plus debate, Aleen Mean purchased a ginormous iPhone because he wasn't doing the kind of one-handed usage that necessarily needed a smaller device, and for everything else he was doing on the iPhone, a larger screen attached to a massive battery made sense. I'm still not convinced the Plus-sized iPhone is for me, but I'm getting there.
Wired covers the story of the mysterious eye emoji in iOS, which isn't part of the official Unicode emoji spec but is instead part of an anti-bullying campaign. I am a witness says you can use the eye emoji to show support for someone who's being bullied online, although I suspect it'll be used satirically as much as it will be for its intended purpose.
The latest gaming flavour of the week is Shooty Skies, a free to play Crossy Road and shoot-em-up combo. TouchArcade has a review of the title that tells you the kind of fun you're missing out on.
Seven new Apple Watch ads show off Apple's wearable in everyday situations, and while I feel as though I've written that sentence before, the new Apple Watch ads are a nice look at how it fits into your day-to-day.


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In order to apply to an open position at SVSU you will need a computer with internet access. A workstation computer is available in the Human Resources office. If you wish to apply for a position using the HR computer workstation, bring a flashdrive with a copy of your resume and cover letter to upload.
You will be asked for the following:
*Required information and documentation varies depending upon the type of position. Each application will detail required materials needed in order to apply.
The application document will be immediately accessible by the hiring manager if you meet the minimum requirements.
SVSU is an EO/AA institution.
(989) 964-4108(989) 964-4108
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Wickes 373
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8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.


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8 Thoughts Every Mom Has When She's Co-Bathing With Her Kid
One of my favorite things about having young kids is co-bathing. I know some people think it's weird or even taboo, but in my house — and in plenty of other people's houses — it's common practice. In fact, I feel pretty confident in saying that there are thoughts every mom has when she's co-bathing with her kid because, while it isn't everyone's choice during bath time, it's a pretty normal choice to make.
For the first few weeks of his life, I tried bathing my son in a small plastic thing stuck inside a large plastic mini-tub that was placed in my actual tub. I even gave the same plastic thing a try in my kitchen sink. In the end I found it weird and, to be honest, I didn't particularly like it. I felt like I couldn't get close enough to my newborn and that he was going to slip out. And rinsing his back off? Yeah, very few things made me more nervous. I could almost envision him, slippery and wet, sliding from my grip and falling to the floor or hitting his head on the side of the tub (I tend towards worst-case-scenario thinking).
It made bath time super unpleasant and not the warm, loving, bonding time I'd always heard it was supposed to be. Needless to say, I was discouraged. As a new mom I, of course, assumed I was doing something wrong and bath time became a huge source of stress and anxiety. Luckily, I stumbled on an article that suggested bathing with your baby was not only normal but healthy for all involved. Bath time was saved! After more than four years and two babies, I've realized that not only are a lot more co-bathing families out there than I previously thought, but we all think basically the same things:
"Please Don't Drown. Please Don't Drown. Please Don't Drown."
Might as well start with the most dark and twisty though, right?
The first time I ever bathed with one of my babies, I was terrified. He was still very little, 6 or 8 weeks maybe, and I just knew I would end up dropping him in the water and he would drown (an unnecessary fear, because co-bathing with your newborn, when done correctly, is completely safe). I got more and more comfortable as time passed and as he got bigger, but during those first few co-bathing sessions I was convinced something horrible was going to happen.
"Please Don't Poop. Please Don't Poop. Please Don't Poop."
Only slightly less terrifying than your baby potentially drowning is that, at any moment, your baby could poop in your bathwater. While you're in it.
When they are young it's a crap shoot (*laughsnort*) as to whether or not a floating log (or two) fill interrupt your co-bathing experience. As they get older it, thankfully, becomes less of a concern. The first time my kid pooped in the tub I moved faster than ever before and attacked the tub with every chemical I had in the house.
"Time for Second-Bath"
Co-bathing is fantastic, but it comes with an unusual set of problems. Not all soaps, shampoos, and cleansers are created equal, so what you use on yourself may not be great for baby skin. You can't really make the water as hot as you'd like if you're bathing with a little one, either.
So, I always take baths with my kids but I never bathe myself while they're in the tub. Instead, I get second-bath! I wash my hair, use my scented soaps and body washes, and get the chance to stand under hot water alone for however long I want (or more like however long I can before someone needs me for something).
"We Need A Bigger Tub"
When your baby is a tiny, adorable little newborn, space isn't much of an issue. Once they hit toddler-size, however, the standard sized tubs seem way too small.
They are the perfect size for tub snuggles, though. Just don't expect to lounge or relax much yourself.
"Please Stop Pouring Water On My Head, Kid"
Sometimes you just want to sit in a tub of warm water and relax. You don't want to play and you don't want to get splashed and you don't want to sing "Row Row Row Your Boat" for the 17th time in a row.
"OMG This Is The Best Thing Ever"
There's no denying it, co-bathing is awesome. Warm and cozy, skin-to-skin contact with your baby and great for nursing if you nurse. Honestly, it's the best thing ever.
"OMG This Is The Worst Thing Ever"
On the flip side, sometimes you just want to be alone and claim some bodily autonomy. Which can be difficult if, like me, you have a tiny bath-junkie-tyrant who demands to join you every time he hears the water running.
"Stay Little. Please, Oh Please, Stay Little."
The saddest thing about bathing with your kid is the absolute certainty that it is not going to last forever. One day your sweet baby or your joy-filled toddler will be too big to co-bathe. One day, you'll take your last bath together, and you might not even realize it was the last one.


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Millwall's Lee Gregory and Jake Cooper are injury doubts for Saturday's Championship fixture at home to Bolton.
Gregory has a hamstring problem, while Cooper is nursing an ankle injury.
Fred Onyedinma and Tom Elliott are in contention to replace the former, while Byron Webster is expected to come in if Cooper is ruled out.
Elliott's goals in Tuesday's 2-0 defeat of Stevenage likely make him the favourite. Recent signing Ryan Tunnicliffe could also make manager Neil Harris' squad for the first time.
Bolton are set to bring back a host of first-team players they rested at Crewe in midweek.
Goalkeeper Mark Howard, defenders Andrew Taylor and Dorian Dervite, and strikers Adam Le Fondre and Gary Madine were among those missing from the starting line-up which featured against Leeds three days earlier.
Captain Darren Pratley (virus) and Filipe Morais (knee) made their comebacks in the Carabao Cup and will swell Phil Parkinson's paper-thin squad.
Both Josh Vela (ankle) and David Wheater (back) picked up injuries in Wanderers' opening game to join Sammy Ameobi (knee) on the sidelines.
Source: PAR


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1963 Quattroporte
Good ideas do not always come from within a company, so one needs to be prepared to listen to others and reflect on their suggestions. And if they are good ones to take the gamble and put them into operation.
Maserati was always ready to listen, and had the courage to test new product typologies. Legend has it that Gino Rancati, a journalist covering Modena and the surrounding areas, suggested to Omar Orsi (former Family owner of Maserati) that he should put a racing engine under the hood of a sedan. So at the car's presentation, Omar said, indicating Rancati, "If it doesn't work, he's the reason why."
The move from a sports coupe to a sedan, even though a sporty one, was not common to the point that no other constructor was tempted to follow the Maserati move until more recent times. The car was an immediate success, confirmation that the instinct of Orsi was as strong as the attraction of the world's fastest saloon with a top speed of 240 kph, a package that encouraged the best known celebrities to queue up for one. Royalty, heads of state, actors, industrialist, sportsmen, they all bought the new car, which was simply called the Quattroporte: the four-door.
The body design was entrusted to Frua, which harked back Aga Khan's 5000 GT, but in sedan proportions. Large glass surfaces, curved windscreen and rear window, an imposing body but one that was slender, with its smooth surfaces and squared volumes. The roof area was light and bright and pushed back from the long hood to introduce the triangular shape of the rear pillars that led to the Trident logo. The nose was made up of three narrow, rectangular head-lights and an intake; the cut-off tail had a trunk of generous volume. It was a clean yet dynamic design, without showy excesses, which oozed the authority of its particular proportions – the prevalence of the engine bay, the width, the tire dimensions – that imparted its sports personality.
The interior was also free of features included just for effect, aiming instead for exclusivity of materials (wood, leather, metal) the build quality and profusion of instruments and switches that had to be on that kind of car: it was a mobile lounge able to exceed 200 kph.
The cubic capacity of the 8-cylinder engine was reduced to 4200 cc, but that was still enough to generate 280 hp. The chassis in boxed sheet metal – not tubes – and the suspension were not wholly orthodox: at the rear there was De Dion suspension, but that gave way to the classic beam axle with leaf springs on the car's second series. Noise and difficulty in setting up made the reliable and effective beam axle preferable to the potential advantages of the more sophisticated De Dion. A 4700 cc engine also joined the 4200 cc unit in the range. The style remained untouched, except for a few details such as the double headlights and the design of the wheels.
|Technical Specification
|Produced from/until
|Cubic capacity
|4136 cc
|Power output
|260/5200 hp/rpm
|5 speeds
|5,000 mm
|1,720 mm
|1,360 mm
|1,650 kg
|Sedan, 4-door
|Top Speed
|230 kph


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I'm a 30-ish year old photographer that calls Alabama home. I make my living as a story-teller, using my camera to narrate weddings, families, seniors, businesses, medical practices...you name it. You have a story to tell, and my job is to tell it honestly and beautifully.
When I'm not making images, you can find me listening to music (NO...REALLY), reading, roasting and/or drinking coffee, and spending as much time as I can with my lovely wife and two beautiful and creative kids. You can see more of what my life looks like in the "Life and Family" gallery to the left. :)
Take a look around the site, and I look forward to hearing from you soon!


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I slept badly the other night. It was the rain that caused this fitful sleep. I have never slept particularly well whilst it rains ever since I was a child, and quite truthfully I have never fathomed why. Normally sleeping is not that much of a problem for me. In fact in the past I have slept in places most would consider abominable. The centre of Bristol bus station at peak time, atop a damp haystack next to a canal on a chilly October night and in several cinemas during very loud movie screenings.
The night in question though was in no uncertain terms terrible. Rain drummed constantly on my bedroom window and intermittent gusts drove huge globules against the glass with storm force. In my half sleep my mind was not only battered by the weather, but also by the shadowing thought that whilst I slept the world outside thawed under the hand of the tempest that raged against my window. This may seem like an exaggeration, but everything is exaggerated when you can't sleep, and a few inches of snow melting easily turned into a global catastrophe, like the end of an ice age.
In the dark the thought of all remnants of snow melting ran through my mind and filled the river with awful chilled rock salt tainted water, as the white world was washed away. So there I lay trying to cover my ears from this torturous sound with a hood of quilt and blanket, all the while brooding half conscious on what the Avon would look like when I first saw it in the morning. If I ever got to morning...
The night before the morning after my phone had bleeped to indicate a message just as I drifted off, and in the early hours I burnt my eyes to read it. From it's vague contents I determined Andy now doubted the validity of our intent to visit the river. His normally unshakable confidence had been undermined by the falling rain, rising river and a few doubting comments to a facebook post he had made.
I however was not perturbed by such things and hoped my confidence in our chances would be enough to bolster both our resolves, and if it wasn't then I would go it alone.
My reason for wanting to get on the river even in such frightful conditions is simple. When the river flares up quite often the populations are forced to find sanctuary from the flow. If you can find these safe havens then the audience is captive. As I know certain bits of the Avon area as good as anyone else then I feel confident that I know where the slack areas will be. So if we could find a fish-able area, chances are that fish would more than likely be in them, and if they got hungry maybe one of our baits may get picked up resulting in a trophy whilst most anglers never even left the house. This might seem like a bit of a hair brain rationality to apply to risky endeavours, but as the single best bit of fishing advice I have been given says 'you won't catch anything with your hook out of the water'.
Once we got under way our confidence did soar a little as we batted ideas to and fro. But when we first saw the river our short lived confidence melted much like the snow that now filled it. Option after option were submerged until only two remained. The first was an epic but still borderline slack created by the main flow splitting in two as it passed under a bridge, then colliding again making half the river flow a at least two thirds less than the opposite side.
In a more favourable flood this has been an amazing fish holding area. But today it proved to be not quite sheltered enough. This swim in normal conditions is still water, today however it flowed with some force and after probing it for more than an hour, we had between us cast each one our four rods multiple times.
I cant imagine there is a single bit of weed left in the Avon this year as most of it came down before Christmas. Now though all that is left skimming the bottom is rotting black leaves which alone can't dislodge your rig. In multiples though they clog leads, cover baits and hang off ever hook point if left to there own devices.
Our confidence halved, we upped sticks towards the last gasp saloon. Behind an island in the track of a lock we found exactly what we sought. The only flow in this spot was shaved from the main current by the point of the island and left an almost still but deep area on the nearside bank. If ever I saw a more text book zander hideout I would be lying. The conditions were perfect, how could there be no one home.
Four hours we waited, and in that time we received exactly two of the poorest runs I have ever seen on the Avon. Both were over moments after they started and both were left an appropriate amount of time before baits were checked and tell tale tiny punctures were seen on the flanks of the baits.
During our vigil we did see something odd. Every so often a fish would suddenly roll right up the flooded bank amongst the vegetation close to our feet. Ever time we saw it we were convinced it was the same fish. It was certainly silver in appearance, but why it was rolling in this newly flooded bit of ground was beyond both of us. Time and time again it surfaced only feet in front of us. For my part I was thinking it was a small zander attacking prey fish sheltering in the scrub.
It was my idea it was a zander and my knowledge of how much those little critters love lobworms that inclined me to swap my heavy outfit for a lighter one and try a worm down the edge. The light was going and the world was growing darker before anything happened.
|spot the weir
Really I never thought it would be what it was but the sight of a pretty big roach was pure joy and almost made our gamble worth while. It was a bit washed out but it was undoubtedly a thoroughbred roach of one pound and one ounce.
Now I must come clean and make an admission here and certain friend of mine may want to pour himself a large shot of something strong before he reads this. This was not my first encounter with the rolling in the shallows on this session.
Immediately after swapping over to my lighter outfit and about an hour before I landed the roach I had got an pretty much instant bite. This fish was connected and played until I found myself in a bit of an two and eight with my landing net out of position and me cutting off Andy from it. At this point thinking it was probably some minging skimmer that I decided to try and bank the fish by pulling it into the flooded edge instead of getting the net. As I lifted its head a little more to get it over some nettles its identity came apparent Andy shrieked its a big roach I panicked and applied more pressure then my hook came free. Now that first and lost roach as far as both as we both could make out was at least half if not more as big as the one I landed. So by not having my net on the right side of me I actually bumped off what could of been a Warwickshire Avon roach of one pound eight or more.....maybe much more!
As the light went we did focus on our attempts to land more of these chance captures, but only found eels. Though we should have focused on the rising river! Knowing we could get into to trouble we had ensured and exit point into the field behind was always available. By home time we were convinced that although the river had risen we could still leave via the way we had come in.
The moment we turned the first corner we came face to face will a wall of water. Keeping calm we turned to our reserve exit and hoped the barbed wire fence. A bit further on we found the Avon spilling noisily into the field we were now stood in and a knee deep wade was our only option to get out of it.
Once through that we believed we were high and dry. That was until we had to go under a bridge where we soon found the Avon was very much over its banks and flowing hard. At this point our pair became a trio!
Why anyone other than stupid anglers would decide to try and get through this flood was beyond me, but the old chap we found clambering along a fence in the dark alone was at risk of getting into some serious trouble.
This second wade was different. The river was not just escaping is banks but running over them with force straight onto us and dragging your feet forward caused the water to crash up our legs like waves breaking on a reef. One the other side we made sure the old fella made it across then we all crossed the foot bridge to the other side together where we knew a third dip in the Avon was inevitable.
By far this one was the longest wade, but good on Mr Lewis for going all the way back through it a second time to give our new friend a piggy back up onto dry land and safety.
Walking back towards the car away from the river I could not help but think that we had really pushed our luck on this occasion. I was damp from a little above the knee down, my boots I knew would take weeks to dry out, but some how it seemed worth it. Yes we had not caught the chance trophy we so hankered for, but we had caught some fish against all odds and had ourselves a little adventure whilst doing so as well.


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Great day
Posted at March 16, 2011
A selection of yesterday's joy.
- Made it to work in time relatively early and partook of the charity waffle breakfast.
- Had a reasonably productive workday.
- Went for lunch with some friends, including an ex-coworker I haven't seen since last year.
- Beer!
- Played some D&D again, for the first time in a month.
- Introduced a friend to Undergrads.


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Frequently Asked Dental Questions
Do you accept dental insurance?
Your insurance is a contract between the insured and the insurance company. As a courtesy to our patients, we will file your primary insurance for you. If your insurance has not paid the claim within 60 days, you will be billed for the balance and payment in full will be expected at that time.
We will however, continue to work with the insurance company to expedite your reimbursement. Although your insurance may assist you with partial payment of your treatment, the estimated portion, which is not covered, is due when services are rendered. It is your responsibility to inform our office of any changes regarding your insurance coverage.
What payment methods do you accept, and what are your financing options?
We accept cash, check, credit cards, CareCredit. Payment for treatment is due in full at the completion of services. Visit CareCredit online to complete an application for no-interest or extended payment options or call one of our administrative staff that will be glad to assist you in arranging financing.
I brush every day, but my breath just is not fresh. Is there anything I can do?
In your checkup, we can look for the cause of your bad breath, also known as halitosis. Some patients suffer from bad breath caused by tooth decay, gum disease, or a smelly substance put off by bacteria. With modern procedures and products to promote fresh breath, our team can help you regain your confidence!
I want to know more about changing my smile. What do you suggest?
An appointment. Your smile and your goals are unique. We offer a wide range of cosmetic dentistry services, and after your consultation, you'll know which services will deliver the smile of your dreams.
Is teeth whitening safe?
Absolutely. Teeth whitening uses safe and effective bleaching gel to melt away stains and discoloration. Choose from Zoom! Whitening in our office or convenient take-home teeth-whitening kits.
How can I make my smile brighter?
We offer custom-made take-home trays with professional whitening gel for safe and effective teeth whitening in the comfort of your own home. Home whitening yields excellent results up to eight shades or better! Two weeks of use produces optimal results, but if your teeth reach the desired shade before then, simply discontinue treatment.
What are my options to replace missing teeth?
We offer bridgework, partials, full dentures, and implant restorations to replace missing teeth. Learn more about these services on our services page, and then call our Rocky Mount dental office for a consultation. With X-rays, intraoral photos, and a thorough assessment of your dentition, the dentist can help you decide which replacement option will be best for you.
What can you do to straighten my smile?
Porcelain veneers can correct slight misalignments and gaps, as well as discolorations, chips, and other imperfections. Porcelain veneers are one of the most popular cosmetic dentistry procedures available today.
What should I bring to my first visit?
If you are coming from another office and have x-rays less than three years old, please bring them with you to avoid taking additional films or delaying treatment. We will also be happy to call and have them sent to our dental office in Rocky Mount, NC.
Please notify us a couple weeks prior to your appointment to allow time for us to receive them.
Please bring any medications you are currently taking so we can record them in your records. We will also need information about your insurance coverage.
Please bring your current insurance information with you.


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Why Moore Gave $1.3M to a Bunch of Food Scientists/
Do you know where the seafood you eat comes from? There's a good chance the answer is no, as there are very few systems in place to track fish from catch to table. That helps explain why the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation just gave a hefty grant to tackle this problem, which has deep implications for sustainability.
The idyllic concept of eating seafood involves a grizzled fisherman selling the day's catch to a market on the pier, where you buy it and then turn it into dinner. But such a straightforward interaction is almost entirely lost in a sea of industrial players that make up a complex supply chain. As a result, it's increasingly difficult to know where what's on your plate came from, even within the industry.
That's where the push for food traceability comes in, and it's the subject of a recent $1.3 million grant from the Moore Foundation. Moore just awarded the grant to the Institute of Food Technologists, a society of professionals working in food science and the food industry, to improve the traceability of seafood across the industry.
Related - Can Better Data Help Save the Oceans? This Big Foundation Thinks So
At first glance it sounds like an unlikely grantee for Moore and its conservation program, but it's within the funder's subprogram on oceans and seafood markets. The initiative is focused on using market forces to drive sustainable fisheries, citing the approaching crisis of declining fish stocks. Moore points out that given current trends and a growing population, most of the world's fisheries could collapse by 2050.
The program's market-based approach is often about convincing industry that taking sustainable approaches to fishing is in their own business interests. Instead of an emphasis on regulation, it's about aligning incentives.
The mission of the IFT, for example, is to strengthen performance of the food industry (as opposed to saving the planet). Its Global Food Traceability Center seeks to improve our knowledge of how food ingredients get from farm/catch to the table, encouraging businesses to be more transparent by promising more efficiency, less liability in the case of food borne illness, and ability to reach new markets. Meanwhile, it serves the public good by increasing accountability.
You can see how that links up with Moore's conservation program, which is interested in shining some light on the seafood supply chains and taking certain elements of these markets out of the shadows.
As Moore's program officer put it in the announcement, "Enabling companies in the seafood value chain to share information and trace products from the source is a key component to eliminating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and to improving seafood sustainability."
It's reminiscent of Google's effort to use fishing vessel mapping data to reveal illegal fishing activity.
Related - Google is Getting Serious About Marine Conservation
The Moore grant to IFT takes a similar tool-building approach. The IFT is developing an architecture by which companies can trace the seafood supply chain. We often write about how philanthropy can act as a translator for disparate parties, and this is definitely one of those cases. Current tracking efforts are highly fragmented and don't speak the same language.
If IFT is successful, companies will be able to link up and use a shared platform to exchange information, steadily connecting the dots to make things run smoother. And, as Moore hopes, leading to less irresponsible and illegal fishing, and more carefully managed fisheries.
We write often about rising funder interest in the oceans and protecting fisheries, which are the world's food supply at a time of rapid population growth. It's a challenge that has galvanized a number of major givers. As Michael Bloomberg said last year, regarding putting $53 million into this area: "While billions of people depend on fish for food or income, only 13% of the world's fisheries are safe from being over-fished."
Related - Since When Does Mike Bloomberg Care About Fishing?


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Greetings! AlarmMon is now ready to prove you snore when you sleep.
'Snoring checker' function allows you to check how loud you snore when you sleep!
How to Use
1. Turn the 'snoring checker' function on in experiment room.
2. Drag your screen downwards in alarm list screen and voila! 'Snoring checker' function appears.
3.The moment you press the purple 'snoring' button on the right, ' alarmmon will activate the function until your alarm rings.
4. After you turn the alarm off, you can check how loud you snored last night!
5. You can also check the loudness of your snoring by clicking the date in alarm history screen!
Recommend this function to:
- Anyone who's curious about his or her sleeping noise!
- Anyone who knows that he or she snores, but wishes to know exactly how loud!
- Anyone who wants to prove that he or she is not a snorer!
Check the other functions we have in 'Experiment Room!' We need your feedback to try out more fun things!
@ Alarmmon who hasn't used 'snoring checker' because….because…you know why! ><


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The vague memories I have of seeing the West Indian-American Day Parade about six years ago are mostly of sun, feathers and dancing. Which was actually pretty accurate for when I shot it again on Labor Day for Time Out New York -- (check out the article here!)
There were a few things different from what I remembered, like how many politicians there were. I saw the governor, the mayor, one of the senators and a wagon filled with bizarre paintings of even more politicians like Hilary Clinton (it's in the gallery below).
The big downside to shooting events for news organizations is that I have to work with such a strict deadline so it's not uncommon for me to miss out on the best parts. I saw several colorful dresses and cool costumes, sure, but the really outrageous stuff must've come later in the day when I was already home editing photos to get them online. If I do go again next year, I'm tempted to also catch the pre-dawn J'ouvert festival that happens before the parade.


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Want to play Merlin's Millions Superbet? Login or register now!Play Now
Join the Wizard in his epic adventure with Merlin's Millions Superbet! Can you keep up?
Merlin's Millions is a 25 line 5 reel video slot with the unique SuperBet feature, stacked wilds and 5 free games with wild wins multiplied by up to 10! SuperBet™ is a feature like no other. Players slide the control to increase the wild multiplier, choosing the volatility of their experience and maximizing player interaction! Watch out for Merlin's trusty pet owl who swoops in to offer more prizes in the pick and in feature. The owl bonus feature is a hoot. Combining spectacular animations 2 features and an all new intuitive win indication system, player anticipation levels are brought to an all-time high. This incredibly popular and attractive Wizard themed game will appeal to all players and the magician in all of us.


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I met a man made of solid gold.
Dear 27,
My friend Ashley celebrated the big 2-6 in Kansas City with her fam and invited Jo and I to tag along for the weekend. There were many photo opportunities for me, which Jo and Ashley know I love and still hang out with me despite that fact.
Bubbles. And a cross eyed Laura.
Boulevard Brewery. Birthday Cupcakes. Dancing with Grandma.
Happy Birthday Ashley. Thrills. That's what 2-6 will bring. You just wait.


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Ireland's IDA boss faces bizarre CNBC interview
CNBC: You have pounds anyway don't you still? It is sort of the same, same island isn't it? It is just too confusing...
IDA Ireland's Martin Shanahan
IDA Ireland chief executive Martin Shanahan has been quizzed on American television network CNBC's popular business show Squawk Box about whether Ireland's low tax policy has helped it create so many talented golfers.
In a bizarre prime time interview Mr Shanahan, who leads the successful foreign direct investment agency, reveals that Ireland uses the Euro.
This claim is met with incredulity by Joe Kernen, a co-anchor of "Squawk Box," who initially insists that Ireland uses sterling, before being repeatedly corrected by Mr Shanahan.
In an increasingly strange interview Kernan also expresses surprise that Ireland is not part of Britain and is in fact a different island. "Squawk Box," is CNBC's signature morning programme and one of the most popular shows on the dedicated business channel.
The transcript below gives a sense of the type of questioning Mr Shanahan had to deal with while selling Ireland Inc to America, it starts about six minutes into the interview:
CNBC: How does the tax policy turn out such a string of great golfers, Graham, Rory...is it the tax, is this another tax, how does the tax affect the...it is a small place to have so many good golfers?
Shanahan: It is the environment that is probably doing that. It is a pretty good place to live and visit and everything else.
CNBC: What has the weaker euro meant in terms of tourism?
Shanahan: So, I think, em, Ireland is a very globalised economy so we look to what is happening here as much as we do to what is happening in Europe and we look to what is happening in...
CNBC: You have pounds anyway don't you still?
Shanahan: We have Euros.
CNBC: You have Euros in Ireland?
Shanahan: Yes. We have euros, which is eh...
CNBC: Why do you have euros in Ireland?
Shanahan: A strong recovery....
CNBC: Why do use euros in Ireland?
Shanhan: Why wouldn't we have euros in Ireland?
CNBC: Huh. I'd use the pound.
Shanahan: We use euro.
CNBC: What about Scotland? I was using Scottish eh...
Shanahan: Scottish pounds.
CNBC: Scottish pounds.
Shanahan: They use Sterling.
CNBC: They use sterling?
Shanahan: They use sterling. But we use euro.
CNBC: What? Why would you do that?
Shanahan: Why wouldn't we do that.
CNBC: Why didn't Scotland? No wander they wanted to break away.
Shanahan: They are part of the UK we are not.
CNBC: Aren't you right next to er?
Shanahan: We are very close but entirely separate.
CNBC: It is sort of the same, same island isn't it?
Shanhan: And in the North of Ireland they have sterling.
CNBC: They do?
Shanhan: And in the North of Ireland they use sterling.
CNBC: It is just too confusing...


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Find out what's happening at the Clock Tower Cultural Centre and view space availability for your own inspired arts & culture programming or event! Note: Some bookings prefer not to be on the calendar. Please contact Administration to inquire about availability.For information on Space Details, Rates, Usage Policies and a Usage Request Form please download the:
A property of the Municipality of Trent Hills and located in the heart of beautiful downtown Campbellford, the Clock Tower Cultural Centre is a special venue for arts & culture programming and events of all varieties.
The grandeur of this historic red-brick building has recently been restored, offering a unique option for users planning their event. As part of the careful renovations, many of the original features were retained, resulting in a modern venue with fabulous historic character.
Home of Westben's Box Office, First-Friday Lunchtime Tick-Talks, House Concerts and community outreach programs, Westben also coordinates the public use of the CTCC on behalf of the Municipality.
Inspiring Creative Spaces. Whether you are an artist looking for rehearsal, performance or exhibition space; an arts educator with a lecture or workshop to present to 10 or a 100; or a community organization in need of a unique space for your culturally-centred event, the Clock Tower Cultural Centre offers spaces and set ups to meet your objectives.
Site Amenities. Lots of convenient parking, air conditioning, Wi-Fi and a kitchen.
A Convenient Location. The facility is located at 36 Front Street South in downtown Campbellford with lots of nearby amenities.
Reasonable Fees. With a focus on the arts & culture, rates are fair and equitable and geared to suit an artistic budget.
Unique Events. Hosting the Trent Hills Gallery Hop, piano recitals and "Classics for Kids" preschool arts programming, among others, there are unique arts and cultural events scheduled regularly. Come by and get inspired!
Contact the Westben Box Office for more details:
705-653-5508 or toll free 1-877-883-5777 Email: email@example.com
36 Front Street South, P.O. Box 1413, Campbellford, ON, K0L 1L0


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Join us on October 14th for an afternoon of fun and community as we officially open the newest public river park on the iconic Blackfoot River!
Enjoy entertainment food, Big Sky Brewing Company beer and cake, on us! Kids' activities will be provided by the Montana Natural History Center.
Never before have the residents of Lincoln had designated public access to their hometown river. Now, thanks to our partners, including Helena's Prickly Pear Land Trust, the Lincoln community will have access to the Blackfoot for generations to come.
In late 2016, Five Valleys purchased the 9-acre Lincoln Community River Park site from local landowner Paul Roos, for development into a public river park. Located on the south bank of the river, just past Stemple Pass Road bridge and less than a mile from Main Street in Lincoln, the site is home to trails, a parking lot, and safe access to the river for families, educators and nature enthusiasts of all stripes. Learn more about the park.
Questions about the Grand Opening or the park? Contact Lena at firstname.lastname@example.com.
Header photo courtesy of Roger Dey and the Blackfoot Valley Dispatch
Sign photo by Five Valleys staff


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Researchers found that gorillas, particularly dominant males, make up songs that they sing and hum as they eat. more...
September 22 , 1862 : US President Abraham Lincoln announced his preliminary Emancipation Proclamation. more...
Learn something new every day
More Info... by email
Quality of earnings is a term that describes how earnings are perceived or recognized. The idea is to not only account for the total amount of earnings, but understand how those earnings were realized. In general, this type of distinction can help identify whether the earnings are due to a higher volume of sales or if the earnings are due to adjustments made for inflation or as the result of some type of accounting strategy.
When the quality of earnings is due to an increase in the sales volume generated by a company that also results in an increased cash flow, the quality is identified as high quality. The same applies if the company increases profits by finding ways to reduce production costs while still maintaining the same level of production and sales volume. In both scenarios, the company is able to improve its bottom line, and thus is stronger from a financial point of view.
The quality of earnings can also reflect situations where some type of outside factor has influenced the nature of the company's earnings. Changes in the general economy is one of the most common factors that relates to this aspect of qualifying the nature of the earnings. In particular, the rate of inflation will have some impact, in that while inflation may drive up the prices for each unit sold, there is a good chance that the actual number of units sold will decrease. This can create a perception where the company appears to be earning more, when in fact it is having to absorb higher production costs and selling fewer units.
Accounting methods can also impact the quality of earnings. Using generally accepted accounting principles, it is possible to sometimes enhance the positive aspects of the cash flow situation, creating a perception that the company is in better financial condition than it really is. This is sometimes managed by understating cash flow during good years, and reserving that extra to apply during a year when sales are off. While legal in many parts of the world, this type of cookie jar accounting can be somewhat misleading to investors, and thus create unrealistic hopes for the future performance of the business.
Understanding the nature of the quality of earnings can help companies have a better picture of their true fiscal worth. In a situation where the company shows apparently strong earnings, there is a good chance that the shares of stock issued by the company will increase in value. If that strength is due to increased sales or decreases in production costs, the price increase of the stock is justified. Should the strong earnings be due to inflation or even to some type of accounting process, the stocks may be overvalued, a situation that can lead to problems for the business at some future point.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!


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Monday, December 11, 2017 - 4:00pm to 5:00pm
A brief overview of the Master's Degree Program in Regional Studies—Russia, Eastern Europe, and Central Asia (REECA), highlighting the program curriculum, admissions process, and typical career paths, followed by ample time for Q & A.
Donna Griesenbeck, Student Programs Officer, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies
The info session will take place in the Davis Center's virtual classroom, using AdobeConnect (requires Flash). Register here.
Sponsored by the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies.


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Our Parent Council is chaired by Mrs Leake and Mrs Woods and meets on a half termly basis. We have representation from all year groups, from Reception to Year 6, and our Governor with the link area of 'parent communications' also attends. This ensures we have a really effective and positive forum for communication between staff, parents and governors.
Recent issues discussed at the Parent Council include a proposed new format for Sports Day (effective summer 2017), Transition Meetings for all year groups and, most recently, Miss Prentice presented to the Parent Council on the new report system.
Please check our weekly school newsletter for the date of the next meeting and please let the office know if you would like to join.


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Advanced Android Apps
Dean Blakely
While myTripTracker is designed to document a trip taken by you and your phone, Find My Kids is designed to locate or document a trip taken by someone else and their phone.
The primary purpose of Find My Kids is to locate and/or track the movement of your children. You have to put an innocent looking flashlight program on their Android phone named FlashBeacon and install Find My Kids on your phone. You sync the two up and then, when they don't come home from school, you can find out where they are.
There are obviously many other uses for the program but generally it's intended to help you keep track of friends and loved ones.
Trips, once completed, can be stored on your phone and you can email them to PC where you can view them just as you can in myTripTracker. This demo video of these same capabilities show the power of the app.
For this app, the PDF must be read and understood paying special attention to the Startup Guide section.
Learn more . . .
Find My Kids


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Sunday, February 27, 2011
I saw Discovery's launch for maybe twenty seconds, then it disappeared into some clouds. I did, however, get to see it through my 20x spotting scope. It looked pretty good, for the short period of time that I could see it.
For the most part though, the trip wasn't really worth it. Traffic was so bad it took me five-and-a-half hours to get back. (It took only four to get there.) Honestly, if I'd had any sense I would have just gotten a motel room in Cocoa Beach and stayed the night. There are, after all, other things to do there.
All the way back I told myself I'm not going to the next launch, but I probably will. There won't be any shuttle launches after that, so I'd hate to miss the last one. I'll just get a room.
Also, there are other launches, as satellites and whatnot are always being sent up. Many are so unpublicized that you have to search the web to see when they're being launched. (More than once I've turned on NASA TV and been surprised at seeing a rocket going up.)
So anyway, here's the video. I was looking through the scope, which is why the camera is just pointed in the vaguest of directions.
Posted by Kirk at 10:14 AM No comments:
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
RIP, Glass Shelf
I came home at 1am to find this. It took me until about 3am to clean it up. I still feel like a dumb-ass for putting too much on that shelf. And I still get a chuckle out of looking at these pics.
Seriously though, that shelf was supposed to be able to handle 25 pounds. I don't think I had anywhere near that on there. (The only heavy unit is the stereo, and that's on the bottom shelf.)
The glass was heavy, tempered stuff. I'm still surprised that it cut loose like this.
Posted by Kirk at 8:20 AM 2 comments:
Sunday, February 6, 2011
RUGBY! (or, Wait...what?)
I just watched my first Rugby match. BBC America is carrying it every Saturday over the next month or so. Times start around 11:30am eastern time, 8:30am pacific.
I'm hooked.
BBC America Six Nations Rugby
I didn't quite get all the rules, but that didn't stop me from enjoying it. It's a lot like our football, but tackling doesn't seem to do much as the person tackled can still toss the ball to the nearest teammate (though I guess if you hold his legs still, the ball becomes dead at that point.) And though I don't quite get the point of a "scrum" (one commenter said it looks like a cross between a tug-of-war and an orgy) I'm guessing it's something like a face-off in hockey.
A few neat things: they don't stop play for much of anything. Except for maybe the halftime, I don't think there were even any commercial breaks. Even injuries are tended to while play is still in session, with the game sometimes going right over injured players and medical staff on the field.
I actually enjoyed it more than the Super Bowl, which was sort of left me cold. (It's just another football game. Why all the hype? And I'm glad I'm not the only one who was underwhelmed by the Black Eyed Peas. Then again though, don't all halftime shows suck?)
BBC America has some neat hosts. Here they are with some American football player. (I can't remember his name.)
And somehow, he got seated in front of an athletic supporter and a cup! Very nice. He was a good sport about it.
Anyway, Rugby has no pads, no real breaks, no commercials, and unlike soccer, no one fakes injuries because it doesn't do one any good to do so. If you haven't tried watching a game, give it a shot.
Posted by Kirk at 9:42 PM No comments:
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Terraria Review: To Hell And Back Again
Greg Johnson / Jul 11th, 2016 No Comments
Terraria isn't a new game; it first released in 2011 for PC. Since then, it has launched on almost every other platform. Now, it is finally available on Wii U.
The Wii U version of the game is mostly the same, but it uses the console's Gamepad and touchscreen controls in innovative and intuitive ways. It feels that Terraria was originally made for Wii U.
Of Darkest Demons and Heroic Adventurers
Terraria consists of a magical land made of different biomes where players collect resources to craft shelter, gear and weapons. There is not an actual plot, but there is a lore of the world.
When players first begin, they must select a small, medium or large world. Some areas, such as the underground pyramids, will not be generated in smaller worlds, so it is best to select a medium or large world.
The Corruption or Crimson and the Hollow are evil forces that slowly spread across the land and create evil beings. Combined with the various evils found within each biome and several demonic bosses, there is a collection of evil attempting to invade the world. Players must battle these other-worldly forces.
This doesn't make up a traditional plot, but it at least gives context to what you are doing in Terraria. All the crafting and battling you do feels like it has some purpose.
Draw Your Own Bridges
There are a few different ways to experience Terraria. These ways to explore all revolve around digging. The game's main mode of exploration requires players to immediately begin digging everything nearby. In the precision mode, players select which individual part of the world they wish to mine, but this is mostly for users to choose which area of the map they want to start in.
The Wii U version of Terraria lets players interact with the world via the Gamepad's touchscreen. This allows for quick, precise placement of walls and other items.
Early in the game, players won't have many methods of travel aside from walking. Being able to quickly make and place objects such as stairs and rope greatly speeds up the process and allows players to truly enjoy the exploration elements of Terraria.
Crafting is also easier on the Wii U. The menu shows players which items are needed to build objects. Nearly every single item in the game has some use.
When not mining or crafting, each biome has its own diverse group of enemies and items to find, both on the surface and underground. Finding passages and areas of each world is the most rewarding part of Terraria.
No two worlds are ever the same, but some similarities can be found in each randomly-generated level. This constant state of exploration encourages multiple playthroughs.
Summon Forth Evil
The art style of Terraria harkens back to the NES days with simple sprites and painted backgrounds. The whole game looks and feels like a retro Nintendo game, so it is right at home on the Wii U.
Music is perky and calm. Each biome has its own fitting tune, as do the majority of invasion events and boss fights. The music and sounds of Terraria invite players further into the world.
With the Gamepad's touchscreen capabilities, Terraria feels like it was meant to be played on Nintendo's home console. The brilliant design and throwback style give Terraria that retro Nintendo feeling.
If you have yet to play Terraria, you may be drawn to the PC version of the game, but you may instead want to consider the Wii U version.
Terraria was reviewed on Wii U using a code for the game provided by the publisher.
tags: review , terraria , Terraria Review , Terraria Wii U