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Cinnamon Raisin Bread (Bread Machine)
This is a recipe from my ABM's manual. Be advised that this is more of a savory bread than a sweet bread, but it is very delish! A very nice bread to...
water, +yeast, +bread flour, +cinnamon, +powdered milk, +oatmeal, +raisins, +salt, +sugar, +vegetable oil, +walnut
Outstanding Oatmeal Bread for Bread Machine
Really really good bread right out of you bread machine.Crunchy!!!I have been using the bread machine and baking it in the oven with great success.
water, +yeast, +butter, +powdered milk, +honey, +rolled oat, +salt, +bread flour
Bread Machine Corn-Jalapeño Bread
From Betty Crocker "Bread Machine" Booklet.I haven't try this one yet.It is really not Corn bread, but Bread with corn.
Awesome Homemade Crusty Bread (Bread Machine)
Found this recipe on the internet and made it last night for dinner. It is the best bread I have made since I got my bread machine. Crusty, light inside...
water, +yeast, +flour, +salt, +shortening, +sugar
Softest Ever Bread Machine Bread
My sister gave me this recipe soon after I brought home my bread machine. It's a staple in our house. Soft and fluffy and great for sandwiches or just...
water, +bread flour, +yeast, +salt, +vegetable oil, +sugar
Pita Pocket Bread (Bread Machine)
So easy to make your own pita pockets, and even EASIER to do it in the bread machine! Kids love these for car trips or picnics; can't help but feel adventurous...
water, +olive oil, +salt, +sugar, +flour, +yeast
White Bread For The Bread Machine
"White Bread for the bread machine. Plain, simple, gets the job done, and is good."
water, +bread flour, +salt, +vegetable oil, +sugar, +yeast
allrecipes.com - Similiar recipes
Bread Machine Italian Herb Bread 1 Recipe
One pound bread machine loaf. This is for a machine that has a fast bake cycle. (less than an hour) For a regular 3-hour loaf check out my Italian Herb...
water, +bread flour, +eggs, +yeast, +olive oil, +sugar
www.grouprecipes.com - Similiar recipes
Bread Machine Amaranth and Orange Bread
This is from Madge Rosenberg's cookbook, The Best Bread Machine Cookbook Ever - Ethnic Breads. She says in its introduction, "Although it has no nuts,...
water, +yeast, +amaranth flour, +bread flour, +honey, +orange zest, +powdered milk, +salt, +vegetable oil, +flour
Perfectly Fresh White Bread (Bread Machines)
This recipe makes one 1 1/2 pound loaf. My family's favorite everyday bread... Soft, fluffy, fresh, and light... Smells great, but tastes even better....
water, +bread flour, +yeast, +butter, +margarine, +milk powder, +olive oil, +salt, +sugar, +vanilla extract
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text: Do your planning early. Inheritance Tax still holds out the potential of being a voluntary tax. You don't have to give the money to anyone other than those you want to provide for. As we are qualified to handle non-contentious probate matters, we are in the best position to help. We will start by setting out what would happen if you do nothing; we'll then give you some options; and once you have decided what you want to do, we can help implement your plans. We approach it this way, because everyone is different. We'll do everything we can to keep the explanations of even complex plans as simple as possible. The main aim is that your legacy works, that it passes into safe hands just as you intend and isn't hijacked either by HMG or other undesirables.

subset: commoncrawl


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£38000.00 - £48000.00 per annum Additional Benefits
Blusource HR are currently recruiting for an HR Manager to join a reputable, growing organisation based in Leicester, easily commutable from Coalville, Nuneaton, Market Harborough and Oakham.
This exciting generalist role is the perfect opportunity for someone who is keen to head up their own HR function. You will need to have previous experience of recruiting and managing HR Advisors / HR Officers.
Core responsibilities include, but are not limited to:
* Development and execution of a dynamic HR strategy, designed to support the company's business plan
* Putting your already sound knowledge of employment law into practice
* Employee Relations; offering comprehensive advice and support to the Management team, handling policies and procedures, overseeing sickness management, annual leave, disciplinaries and grievances
* Managing and mentoring a team of enthusiastic HR professionals operating at various levels
* Responsibility for the end-to-end process of recruiting new staff members when necessary
It would be ideal if you are a fully qualified member of the CIPD, however this is not a pre-requisite.
Please apply today if this role is of interest!


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Some of our publications are available on these pages. Under the subjects, you can choose which one to view.
Some of the publications are in PDF format that can be viewed on line or printed on your own printer. In other cases, the files are in EXCEL format.
A printed version of "Faroe Islands in figures" is also available and can be obtained from the tourist offices around the country.


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Community Garden Club at Wayne (Wayne, PA)
Established in 1947 as an independent garden club for the hands-on gardener, the Community Garden of Wayne encourages and develops the interest and knowledge of its members in all phases of horticulture and gardening as well as promoting and enhancing the natural environment and participating in the preservation of native plants, trees and bird life.
Our Garden Club of Philadelphia (Philadelphia, PA)
The Garden Club of Philadelphia, the country's oldest, was officially founded as The Garden Club in May, 1904, at Andalusia, the home of Mrs. Charles Biddle. The fundamental objectives of the Club have always been 'Beautification, Conservation, Preservation ... gentle intoxication". The Club has engaged from the beginning in many types of work - natural, state, civic, and currently, national.
Roxborough Garden Club (Philadelphia, PA)
More information to follow!
Villanova Garden Club
More information to follow!
Wayne Woods (Wayne, PA)
This club was founded in 1947 as an independent garden club for the hands-on gardener. They welcome gardeners of all skill and knowledge levels. The mission of this club is to encourage and develop the interest and knowledge of the members in all phases of horticulture and gardening; and promote and enhance our natural environment and participate in the preservation of our native plants, trees and bird life.
Wissahickon Garden Club (Philadelphia, PA)
Wissahickon Garden Club, founded in 1932, and a member of The Garden Club of America since 1942, is dedicated to furthering the knowledge of our natural world through the fields of horticulture, conservation , and floral design. Centered in the Chestnut Hill neighborhood of Philadelphia and surrounding towns, for more than seventy five years, Wissahickon Garden Club and its members have given steadfast support and leadership to our parks, schools and arboreta. The spirit, generosity, and energy of our members have played an important role in shaping these vibrant groups and have contributed to making our communities widely admired, wonderful places to live.


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"Montessori Kindergarten: Empowering & Essential"
Contact preschool & kindergarten staff
- Program Directors
- Judy Samudovsky, North Creek campus
- Tomo Takahashi, Woodinville campus
- Apple Class, Woodinville
- Teacher, Jody Sagawa
- Assistant, Alli Remily
- Aspen Class, North Creek
- Teacher, Meg Venkatachalapathy
- Assistant, Jen Ward
- Dogwood Class, North Creek
- Teacher, Dhunitha Yelamali
- Assistant, Michelle Ahern
- Douglas Fir Class, North Creek
- Teacher, Ally Noble
- Assistant, Rupa Bhattacharjee
- Elm Class, Woodinville
- Teacher, Lisa Shin
- Assistant, Aaron Treadway
- Maple Class, Woodinville
- Teacher, Tara Chandler
- Assistant/Intern, Monali Paranjape
- Oak Class, Woodinville
- Teacher, Aneta Lasek
- Assistant, Sarah Hahn
- Pine Class, North Creek
- Teacher, Carol Harshaw
- Assistant, Dina Ahmed
- Assistant, Horalia Bastian
- Specialists, North Creek & Woodinville
- Music teacher, Cece Leavitt
- EC Spanish Language, Sara Suter
Preschool and Kindergarten Program, Age 2.5-6
All applicants must be independently toileting by Sept. 1 of their enrollment year. Candidates who are 3 years old by Sept. 1 are given priority consideration; applicants between 2.5-3 years old are considered on an individual basis.
The age of the absorbent mind
Maria Montessori observed that early childhood is a critical time for learning. The 3-6-year-old child goes about effortlessly soaking up information, forming impressions and habits, all of which become the basis for future learning and behavior. Our Early Childhood Program is adapted to the unique and ephemeral learning abilities of the young child. Rich and orderly environments, multi-age classrooms, and freedom to follow one's interests allow the child to develop fundamental skills that prepare him for life.
Importance of environment
Our Montessori Early Childhood classrooms allow the child to learn in a place of beauty, order and rich opportunity. The emphasis on beauty is out of respect for the child's developing aesthetic sense. Attention to orderly preparation of the environment minimizes the frustration that occurs when things aren't ready to use or when an adult needs to help. The attractive selection of activities entices the young child to follow her innate drive to develop physically, emotionally, socially, cognitively, creatively and spiritually.
The adults in the Montessori classroom are highly trained to carefully observe and consistently respect children's individual needs and interests. Development of independence, concentration, coordination and organizational skills are a direct or indirect aim of many of the class activities.
Children are encouraged to follow their natural desire for repetition and to ask for lessons on new activities as they feel ready. Those who are less assertive about taking on new challenges are invited often to have a new lesson and are supported as their confidence grows.
Daily circle times present opportunities to share verbally; explore literature; experience science and cultural lessons; participate in music, movement and rhythm activities. Outdoor time is another part of each day; children develop important social skills in this atmosphere of unstructured play.
Self-discipline, a natural result
Children are given ample time to work in the learning areas of their choosing, including practical life, art, sensorial, language and reading, math, geography, history, botany, zoology, and physical science. Teachers try to limit disruption of this work time because the chance to focus is so rarely experienced, but so helpful for a young child's growth. Visitors are often surprised at the calm atmosphere in the classrooms because they are unaccustomed to seeing children so relaxed and absorbed in what they are doing. The emphasis on respect for people and things that permeates all interactions also helps the children to develop self-control and well-rounded social skills.
Benefits of the multi-age classroom
Classrooms at Woodinville Montessori School include children in a three-year age span until the Secondary level when groupings range from two to four years. Since classrooms are set up for individualized progress, we are able to take advantage of the inclination of young children to imitate older children.
Older children, in turn, develop higher levels of mastery and confidence as they teach younger children what they know. They experience what it feels like to be a leader, and how to nurture and encourage someone who is less skilled than they have become. At the same time, they continue their own learning as there are no upper limits to the curriculum.
Benefits of completing kindergarten at WMS
When the Montessori child reaches the kindergarten age, she knows how to pursue her own learning. Current brain-based research supports the Montessori method of learning through observation, collaboration, and the manipulation of concrete materials, which create and strengthen neural-networks. As the child is exposed to concepts in areas of math and language, these networks and purposeful work habits lay a solid foundation for learning on a deeper level. During the kindergarten year the child begins to apply these critical skills in deeper studies of math, science, language, cultural, and the arts; opportunities for this abound in our Montessori environment. It is also a time of leadership and mentoring others.
"Education is a natural process carried out by the human individual, and is acquired not by listening to words, but by experiences in the environment."
—Maria Montessori
"The foundation of education must be based on the following…: the joy of the child in accomplishing things great for his age; that the real satisfaction of the child is to give maximum effort to the task at hand; that happiness consists of well-directed activity of body and mind in the way of excellence; that strength of body and spirit is acquired by exercise and experience."—Maria Montessori


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April 20, 2009
Stomping Grounds : Lancaster PA
This is where I played Saturday night at 2:30 in the AM. Thanks to all who waited it out and watched! The bill was GREAT ...Snowing, Golden City, and crap....there was one more brilliant band on the bill and I can't recall their name. Somebody remind me!
The whole night was like being in a time machine. It felt like 1993 again in the best DIY house show kind of way possible.
To the left is the brick tunnel you take to get to the basement of the Stomping Grounds.
This is a look from the back of the room. Close quaterters and cozi-riffic.
Posted by Lightning's Girl
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6 March 2017
The Gentlemen Baristas, Store St.
UK Coffee Week teamed up with BRITA Professional to host an educational evening centered on the theme of water in the coffee industry - from the communities that grow our coffee to the end cup. Here are the highlights!
The evening was opened with an engaging and interactive talk by Gary Norwood from BRITA Professional, who explained the importance of water quality in creating the perfect cup of coffee.
Water hardness, odour, alkalinity, chlorine and pH all play a role in influencing the taste of our water and our coffee.
Next up was Matthew Wootliff, from The Allegra Foundation Board of Trustees, who shared his experiences of visiting the Kibebe Tsehay orphanage in Addis Ababa, where Project Waterfall have recently funded a clean drinking water station in collaboration with Splash.
Guests were treated to delicious cakes from our partners at Cakesmiths and tasty cocktails from our partners Monin.
All photos by Cephas Azariah


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E-Commerce News: 26 August – 01 September 2016
Hi there, e-commerce community! We are facing the weekend for another busy and hot summer week, the high temperatures appearing quickly and everywhere, but this is not stopping the news. Here we are with our weekly e-commerce news to keep you updated about the e-commerce universe. Let's see what has happened this past week. Enjoy!
- India's e-commerce world is at war! The competition in this already big market is becoming larger and larger. At the end of last week we had the CEO of RedSeer Consulting pointing out that gross merchandise value has fallen between 5 and 10 % in India during the second quarter of 2016.
- Later this week, we received the news that Flipkart and Paytm are struggling to enhance user experience by making payments easier and safer to compete with Amazon.
- Lastly, the competition is also affecting affiliate programs, and the major players in Indian e-commerce marketing are trying to cut the costs related with them.
- Amazon partners with Shell to put Amazon Lockers in Shells' oil stations in Germany. This is just a test, but it is a proof that Amazon wants to be closer to the final customer, offering more convenient locations for everybody.
- Zalando will sell its products from its competitor sites. It is currently selling shoes on Asos, but planning to sell other products on Amazon and Tmall as well. If it works well, it could be a new ratchet up for e-commerce with competitors becoming partners, though it is not clear how it will affect competition.
- E-commerce in Colombia rose 32%. We are always looking at Asia as the future of e-commerce but Latin America certainly has something to say about the subject. Colombian e-commerce generated more than 750 million euros.
- UK customers prefer quality to deals. A survey conducted in May showed that UK customers are more loyal to businesses who provide quality than to the ones offering deals.
- Users still don't trust online banking as a secure practice. The distrust increases with age, with 78% of customers over 55 years old being concerned about mobile banking security, including e-commerce sites.
- New Chinese online ad regulations are scheduled to take effect on September 1st. The new Chinese regulations set as mandatory that publishers know who their customers are, verify any credentials they give and verify the ad content. The importance of these regulations is not only related to the size of the Chinese market, but also the possibility that they will likely influence other countries' future regulations.
- Mothercare launched a new website aiming to become a leader in children- and parenting-related products in the UK. Online purchases currently account for about 40% of total business sales.
- Prada, the luxury fashion brand, has reported a decrease of 15% in revenue, the worst results since 2011. Sanford C. Bernstein says it is due to the lack of investment of the brand in online marketing and a website. Of course, the Chinese crisis is also a very important contributing factor. Prada's objective is to double e-commerce sales over the next two years. However they are not planning to sell clothes online.
- And also in Prisync we have had Edward Leake explaining how to How to Boost Repeat Business by Refining Your Ecommerce Experience, we discussed E-commerce meet ups and the Indonesian market, and gave you tips about How to Get an Opportunity from Cart Abandonment in E-Commerce.
That's all for now. As you see, e-commerce continues to move quickly, with competition getting harder every day. And now we are facing the end of the year with Christmas and December as the big month for many e-commerce sites, due to the tradition of giving presents and the availability of free time for shopping. If you want to be updated, just visit our blog regularly and you will find news, tips and analysis about everything related to e-commerce.


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One, Six, Twelve, Twenty
Ann Schaumburger
April 2 - 26, 2015
Opening Reception: Thursday, April 2, 6-9pm
Through variation in scale and color, the artist explores the syncopation that can be created by physical juxtaposition and color harmony. Working with color in a meditative way links her past to her present, and provides an architecture for artistic process. Her extraordinarily varied and sophisticated palette, and the vibrations she encourages between sets of colors. seduce the viewer into a sublime comfort, alluded to by the house. There is a subtly keyed aliveness as well, thoroughly supported by the predictability of the painting's design.
Read the full press release here.
View the artist's page here.


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|Halimah playing the Caixa
|Khaled playing the Surdo
|Amineh playing the Repenique
|Magedah playing the Repenique
|Mark shows the girls a new rhythm
|The Surdo's keep the beat
"my son is very shy and sometimes people don't treat him well because he is deaf. I want him to become more secure and less shy. Today I saw that he was very happy to play the drums, and when he is happy I'm happy. I hope that drumming will make him believe in himself!"


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Saskatoon Express. Shannon Boklaschuk. "Dimensions Highlights Best of Sask. Contemporary Craft." 15 May. 2018: p. 11. Print.
EraGem. "Revealed Exhibition at VisualSpace Gallery in Vancouver, BC". 4 Sept. 2018. Web
Artist interviews with Jenny-Lyn Fife, Mary Lynn Podiluk and Joan Thomson at the Saskatchewan Craft Council Gallery. In 'Triadica', these artists push the borders of conventional jewellery, experimenting, discovering and creating art in the form of unique, contemporary jewellery. Curated by award-winning metal artist Tom Ferrero.
Jeremy Dodge interviews Mary Lynn Podiluk & Jenny-Lyn Fife about the contemporary jewellery exhibition Triadica, on display at the Saskatchewan Craft Council. Aired on CTV Saskatoon Morning Live, Nov 29, 2016
"New Artwork in Arts Board's Permanent Collection". Saskatchewan Arts Board Feature. 3 Aug 2016. Web.
Dorward, Sarah & Paul Miazga. "What & How You Wear It: Jewellery YXE". Flow Magazine [Saskatoon, SK] June/July 2016: 28. Print.
Cataldo, Sabrina. "Unique, Wearable Art". Saskatchewan Arts Board Feature. 22 Feb 2016. Web.
You won't find many teapots in the world with a design inspired by the human tongue.However, the next time you feel compelled to see such a remarkable creation, you'll now be able to turn to the keepers of the World's Largest Teapot Collection.It's all thanks to a remarkable transaction that took place between a Saskatchewan artist and a charitable foundation at the Creative Saskatchewan booth at SOFA Chicago in November of 2015.Three years ago, Saskatoon art jeweller and goldsmith Mary Lynn Podiluk created the teapot, called Metalanguage. "The teapot is the flagship piece of a body of work that draws on language and linguistics. The design itself is inspired by the human tongue as it relates to speech," explained Podiluk.In 2015, Podiluk joined several other Saskatchewan artists to participate in the Creative Saskatchewan exhibit at Sculpture Objects Functional Art and Design Fair in Chicago. Hours before SOFA was set to begin, Podiluk set out on a Chicago gallery tour with her colleagues. At one stop, according to Podiluk, an amazing coincidence occurred. "My colleague Kimberly Fyfe struck up a conversation with the gallerist and with the Kamms, who happened to be visiting the gallery as well."Fyfe quickly discovered that the Kamms are Sonny and Gloria Kamm, founders of the Kamm Teapot Foundation. The foundation curates the world's largest teapot collection, and features more than 17,000 teapots, tea sets and teapot related ephemera.Knowing of Podiluk's teapot, Fyfe called her over to meet the collectors. "After a short introduction, I mentioned Metalanguage to Mr. Kamm," Podiluk explains. "He asked to see a photo. I showed him a picture on my cell phone, and he asked if we were at SOFA. I said we were, and he promised to visit our booth later that day."Kamm kept his word and showed up at the Creative Saskatchewan booth during the opening gala. Within minutes, the Kamm Foundation was the proud owner of Metalanguage. "I'm so honoured to have this particular work included in the remarkable Kamm collection," said Podiluk.The happenstance of randomly meeting the keepers of the world's biggest teapot collection, when you're an artist with a remarkable teapot for sale, is something Podiluk is still amazed by. "It's so thrilling to have this transaction happen the way it did. It makes the sale all that more special," Podiluk says.While it's romantic to consider the deal providence, Podiluk and other artists know very well that fortune, in fact, favours the bold. The Interim Chair of Creative Saskatchewan agrees. "This is precisely the kind of noteworthy sale that takes place at significant arts events like SOFA Chicago," said Susan Whitney. "This transaction, amongst others we made these past few days, illuminates how critical it is for Creative Saskatchewan and this province's artists and craftspeople to physically be where art buyers are and to establish connections that will evolve into future sales," Whitney said.
Podiluk, Mary Lynn. Breath. 2014. Neckpiece. Citizens of Craft Ad in SOFA Chicago 2015 Catalog. 192. Print.
An interview with Mary Lynn Podiluk, Curator of "Contemporary Jewellery by Melody Armstrong" at the Saskatchewan Craft Council's Affinity Gallery on September 12, 2015. In this exhibition of wearable works, Melody Armstrong showcases elaborate and complex jewellery pieces which juxtapose organic reference with industrial aesthetic.
Schimnowsky, Maureen. "Mary Lynn Podiluk, Artist and Innovator". Saskatchewan Craft Council Blog. 19 Aug 2015. Web.
Podiluk, Mary Lynn. "Curatorial Statement: Contemporary Jewellery by Melody Armstrong" . Saskatchewan Craft Council Blog. 01 Oct 2015. Web.
Boklaschuck, Shannon."'Industrial' jewelry on display at Affinity Gallery." Saskatoon Express [Saskatoon, SK] 20 Sept. 2015: 18. Print.
Mary Lynn Podiluk. Interview by Tara Owen. "In the Studio". MAGazine: Volume 30, No. 1. 2015. 10-15. Print.
Barnard, Elissa, "NSCAD University students craft vision with tradition". The Chronicle Herald [Halifax, NS] 3 May 2015. Print.
Jeremy Dodge interviews Mary Lynn Podiluk about winning a 2015 NICHE Award for the handcrafted engagement ring 'Infinite' that she made for her sister Janelle, who joins the interview. Aired on CTV Saskatoon Morning Live, Jan 23, 2015
"Niche Awards names 2015 design winners". National Jeweler, 17 Feb. 2015. Web.
NICHE Awards Winner, Professional: Weddings category, Walter E Washington Convention Center, Washington, DC
"Mary Lynn Podiluk, Saskatoon goldsmith, wins Niche Award". CBC News, [Saskatoon, SK], 22 Jan. 2015. Web.
Mary Lynn Podiluk interviewed by Jeremy Dodge in her studio. Watch her melt sterling silver to show Jeremy how hand-fabricated wire is made. Aired on CTV Saskatoon Morning Live, Jan 07, 2015
Jeff Rogstad interviews Mary Lynn Podiluk about her work and being named a 2015 NICHE Award finalist for her handcrafted engagement ring 'Infinite'. Aired on CTV Saskatoon Morning Live, Dec 11, 2014.
Lisa Dutton interviews Mary Lynn Podiluk about the upcoming 2015 NICHE Awards and the piece that was named a finalist. Aired on Global Saskatoon Morning News, December 11, 2014. Full article here.
"2015 NICHE Awards recognize Saskatoon goldsmith". Canadian Jeweller Magazine, Dec. 2014. Web.
Morin, Chris. "Hand-made ring up for award." The StarPhoenix [Saskatoon, SK] 11 Jan. 2014: D1. Print.
Podiluk, Mary Lynn and Megan C. Broner. "Postcards – One Community, Two Perspectives on Craft." Studio Fall/Winter 2014-2015 Volume 9, No. 2. 64. Print.
Front cover image of teapot 'Metalanguage', MAGazine: Volume 27, No. 2. 2012. Cover. Print.
Mitchell Caplan interviews Mary Lynn Podiluk about the upcoming National Jewelery Student Competition. Aired on CHUO-FM89 Ottawa on July 25, 2012.
Tomlinson, Joelle, and Ciara Richardson. "Saskatoon jewelry-maker wins national competition." Saskatoon Express [Saskatoon, SK] 20 Aug. 2012: 9. Print.
Jeff Rogstad interviews Mary Lynn Podiluk about her work and her trip to Ottawa where she accepted first place in the 9th Annual National Jewellery Student Competition, held at L.A. Pai Gallery. Aired on CTV Saskatoon News at Noon on August 12, 2012
Jill Matthews tours the NSCAD Jewellery Studio to get insight into what will be seen at the annual jewellery show and sale 'You Wish'. She interviews Mary Lynn Podiluk and MengNan Qu who coordinate the show. Aired on CTV Halifax Live at 5 on November 18, 2011.
Smulders, Marilyn. "Annual jewelry show opens Wednesday". NSCAD News [Halifax, NS] 21 Nov. 2011. Web.


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Adams State Bank offers online banking services to it´s account holders. This is easily accessible via the internet with any computer or mobile device like a smartphone or tablet. The usual banking services provided by the bank´s branches are all available online now with additional services like ´E-bills which arrive to your online account electronically or digitally saving the images of the checks for later reference.
How To Log In
Step 1 – If an existing user of online banking wishes to log in they must go to the banks Homepage and look for the ´Secure Internet Banking´ where they must enter their ´Login Name´ and click ´Login´.
Forgotten User ID/Password
Step 1 – If users can not remember their password they must click the link ´Forgot Your Password´ below the ´Secure Internet Banking´.
Step 2 – The next page requires the user to enter their ´Login Name´ and ´Email Address´ and then click ´Continue´.
If users can´t remember their login name they can contact the bank directly by calling 1 (402) 988-2255.
How To Enroll
Step 1 – To create an online account users must click on the link ´Internet Banking Information´ which is below ´Secure Internet Banking´ on the homepage.
Step 2 – Users are directed to a second page where they must click the link ´Online Banking Enrollment Form´.
Step 3 – The third page requires the user to print out the enrollment form, complete it and return it to the bank.
- Name
- Social security number
- Email Address


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Google+ Chat with my MiG writer friend, Christina Farley
As much as I enjoy e-mail and online message boards, there's nothing like being able to hear a person's voice and seeing their face while you're chatting. So it was exciting for me to finally be able to "meet" my MiG writer friend, Christina Farley, via Google+ Chat this afternoon. SO much fun!!
Christy posts about kidlit/YA in her Chocolate For Inspiration blog -- what a great blog title. :-) Christy's one of the most productive writers I know, so i was quizzing her about how she does it, and also got some classroom presentation advice.
And she has some VERY EXCITING book news which she hopes to able to share publicly very, very soon...


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Robust Blogs
Website should have properly functioning links and pleasing graphics to help and attract the.. end-users. Now, most of companies are involved in online marketing that require e-commerce websites.
Owner: henrikpaul15
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Now dynamic webpages used for marketing products and services. The job is made easier by taking help.. PHP scripting language. Here are information about PHP scripting language and how to create robust.. websites with help of PHP web development company.
Owner: diyaasingh
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There is an increase in IT projects and telecommunication tenders in Saudi Arabia. Global economic.. recovery is cited as one of the main factors behind increased output
Owner: metenders
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RobustTechHouse is a Singapore Mobile App (iOS, Android) Development House and Fintech Consultancy... Specialise in building mobile, web apps for financial and commerce sectors. We write on topics.. including Fintech, programming and machine learning.
Owner: mattrobust
Listed in: Technology
Other Tags: Fintech, MachineLearning, Programming, Trading, Quant
Here are some necessary skills that are needed to build a perfect B2B e-commerce website. Remember.. to have a clear plan in place before you start designing and developing your B2B e-commerce website.. as perfect planning always works.
Owner: diyaasingh
Listed in: Marketing-seo
Other Tags: E-Commerce Development Company, E-commerce Portal Development Compa
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) released data for global air freight markets.. showing that demand, measured in freight tonne kilometers
Owner: acaainews
Listed in: Business
A new record 4.1 billion passengers were carried by the aviation industry on scheduled services in.. 2017, according to the preliminary figures released by the International Civil Aviation Organization.. (ICAO).
Owner: logupdateafrica
Listed in: Business


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We have previously covered some of Brad Peterson's work via his Common Dreams label and moniker and now it's time to switch the focus back to his brainchild imprint which he shares with long-time partner and collaborator Rai Scott. Launched in the summer of 2012 from their headquarters in Edinburgh, Inner Shift Music has grown in the last 3 years as one of those rare forward-thinking underground house labels whose very own existence revolves around high quality deep electronic music. What's even more impressive is that Brad and Rai accomplished this by releasing only a handful of records that featured mostly their own work, but also remarkable names such as Gene Hunt, Mick Welch, Miles Sagnia, Jose Lau, Gauss and Marco Nega. The label's latest release came this January and introduced 4 new artists to the label, out of which one stood out the most and just had to return with his own solo EP to the imprint. Jacksonville is but one of Chris Lyth's monikers, the veteran Glasgow-based producer scoring an impressive number of releases in over a decade of work via his Dominica, Heads Of State, Mécanique and Jacksonville aliases through established labels like Sensei, Slave, Advance, Evasive, Rebel Audio, Thug and even his own excellent Doppler Records.
The seventh Inner Shift release, 'Fragments EP' kicks off with 'Fragment One', a relentless ethereal dance-floor voyage through landscapes of warm airy pads, haunting strings, spectral synths and twirling bells, all fuelled by a driving kick and hypnotic acid bass-line. The second part of the trip, 'Fragment Two' is a more relaxed, deeper and down-to-earth construction with its steady kick, rhythmic drums and straightforward looping bass-line that rarely gets a filter treatment. While the first Fragment was the hypnotic one, the second is the cosmic one with its gliding celestial organ bells, lush melodic synths and trance-inducing astral keys, all embracing one another in a truly ecstatic mating dance ritual.
The flip-side changes the rules of the game with 'Seberg', a classic deep house track that has its roots both in the Detroit scene as well as in the forming years of Belfast's own dreamy soundscape. The energy on 'Seberg' is precisely delivered through constant drum sounds, tight kicks and a lovely swingful bass-line, while the mood gets driven with the aid of smooth rich pads, melodic seascape lines and a whole layer of faded ambient soundscapes. To finish the EP in epic fashion, Chris gives us 'Every Single Word', a blissful harmony of breezy oceanic pads, grandiose synth layers and evocative vocal cuts that once let loose, they orchestrate themselves to grandiose states of aural delight.
Jacksonville's 'Fragments EP' is out on the 30th of March and is by far one of the best records I have come across this year. Nicely done!


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Moderator: Elizabeth Bradfield
One of the best-loved events of Season Four brought together poets Sharon Olds and Mark Doty, whose wisdom and pith moved us all to laughter and tears. This year we look forward to further inspiration when Robert Pinsky, a former U.S. poet laureate, joins Monica Youn, whose third book, Blackacre, was named one of the best poetry books of 2016 by the New York Times, the New Yorker, and the Washington Post. They will share recent work and exchange ideas, along with moderator Elizabeth Bradfield, an award-winning poet in her own right, as well as a local naturalist who lives in North Truro.
Sponsored by Cape Cod Five Foundation
This event will be broadcast by our local media partner WCAI
Robert Pinsky's recent book is At the Foundling Hospital, nominated for the Nation Book Critics Award in poetry. As Poet Laureate of the United States (1997-2000), he founded the Favorite Poem Project, featuring the videos at www.favoritepoem.org. His best-selling translation The Inferno of Dante received the Los Angeles Times Book Award and the Harold Morton Landon translation prize. His other awards include the Lenore Marshall Prize, the Korean Manhae Prize, the Italian Premio Capri and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Pen American Center. He performs with pianist Laurence Hobgood on CDs PoemJazz and House Hour, from Circumstantial Productions.
Monica Youn is the author of Blackacre (Graywolf Press 2016), which was shortlisted for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Kingsley Tufts Award, longlisted for the National Book Award, and named one of the best poetry books of 2016 by the New York Times, the Washington Post, the New Yorker, the Paris Review, and BuzzFeed. Her previous book Ignatz (Four Way Books 2010) was a finalist for the National Book Award. A former lawyer, she currently teaches at Princeton University and in the Sarah Lawrence and Columbia University MFA programs.
Elizabeth Bradfield is the author of the poetry collections Once Removed, Approaching Ice, Interpretive Work and the forthcoming Toward Antarctica. Her poems and essays have appeared in The New Yorker, West Branch, Orion and her awards include a Stegner Fellowship and the Audre Lorde Prize. Founder and editor-in-chief of Broadsided Press, she lives on Cape Cod, works as a naturalist locally as well as on ships around the globe, and teaches creative writing at Brandeis University.


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Writing Thesis Statements for Research Papers Should Not be a Disaster
Writing thesis statements for research papers is not a difficult task, nor should it be a disaster, if the students do it in the correct way. First step to writing a strong, workable thesis statement is to understand what a thesis statement is. Thesis statement announces the main idea of the research paper. A research paper is written to present findings of a research conducted. The type of the thesis statement to be written depends on the type of research carried out. The different types of research that are reported in a research papers are based on scientific experiments, field observations, surveys to collect data and research of various publications and documents to find information and data.
Difference between an Essay and a Research Paper
The research papers written in different disciplines take different styles, and some types of papers do not need thesis statements. Research papers presenting results of laboratory experiments may have a purpose statement instead of thesis statements. As all types of thesis statements cannot be discussed in a short article, this page is confined to research involving only the published papers, books and other documents.
This type of research is mainly carried out by students in Arts, Humanities and Social sciences. There are some similarities between research papers and essays, but they are not the same. The essays are written to express the ideas of the author and the contents are author's knowledge. In contrast, when writing a research paper the author finds information, data and evidences from other sources and uses them to support his/her idea, or the stand point. This stand point is in fact the main idea of the research paper and is the basis of the research thesis statement.
How to write Thesis Statements for Research Papers
Thesis is the main idea of a research paper. It controls the whole paper. A research paper supports, develops and proves an idea expressed in the thesis statement. When writing thesis statements for research papers, students have to find a research question or a research problem within the area covered by the topic. A research question should be singular, and not have many questions. It has to be specific and clearly defined. A strong thesis cannot be formulated on a vague idea. The thesis should tell the readers what research is going to prove or support. This has to be stated briefly and specifically, preferably in one sentence.
Steps involved in writing a Research Paper
Writing thesis statement is an important step in writing a research paper, but there are many tasks to do to finish a paper. They are:
• Selecting a topic
• Narrow down the topic
• Finding a research problem
• Formulating thesis
• Writing thesis statement
• Research to find information
• Writing the paper
• Editing and proofreading
Students who buy custom essay online to meet coursework requirements will know that there is also the possibility to get research paper writing from professional writing firms. Such help can ensure that you will be guaranteed a place in the convocation, instead of lamenting on having submitted a final research project that did not achieve the passing grades.
Writing an Excellent Research with a little Help
Students can lift up their grades greatly, if they get some help from professional writers. It is easy to get help from a custom essay writing service to write essays, research papers, term papers and theses. If any student finds it difficult to write thesis statements for research papers, he/she can call for help not only for writing the thesis statement, but a number of other tasks like selecting a topic, searching for information, writing the paper and editing it to perfection. In a gist, you can unload your research paper burden on one of our top research writers and save your time for other tasks as revising for your finals.


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When I think about Dave Rock, I think about a man who is filled with eternal monologues that lead nowhere; yet everywhere and I was more than stoked to have him on Episode 5 of Bare Bones! I think you will too!Read More
Bare Bones Episode 4: Marcus O'Laoire
in music, Interview, Food, Bare Bones
It's not very often that I meet someone who reminds me so much of myself while being different enough to raise so much curiosity everytime I bump into them... Marcus O'Laoire is a man who piques interest and doesn't let go!Read More
Bare Bones Episode 3: Solus
in Art, Bare Bones, Interview
Bare Bones Episode 2: Sarah Griffin
in Interview, Bare Bones
What do you get when you mix a love of writing, a love of gaming and a love of adventure? The answer ladies and gentlemen, is the 'quintessentially' and Irish, yet currently cosmopolitan Sarah GriffinRead More
Bare Bones Episode 1: James Earley
in Interview, Bare Bones
This one has been a long time coming and along with Jack Fox of Bread & Bones, I'm delighted to present to you 'Bare Bones'; a podcast where myself and Jack meet the good and great of Ireland and beyond!Read More


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The Wardandi are the traditional custodians of the land in our region and their territory extends from the coast north of the Capel River to the Southern Ocean near Augusta, just to the south of us. In pre-contact time, they lived a life closely tuned to the cycles of nature impacting their lives. They recognized six separate seasons, characterized by cyclical events in nature, and foods that became available during those seasons, whose length varied yearly but were each about two months in length. They were a migratory people, moving seasonally to take advantage of the foods that became abundant at different times.
We are nearing the end of the warm season the Wardandi named Kambarang, characterized by an abundance of wildflowers. It is said that if the Western Australia Peppermint trees (Agonis flexuosa) flower abundantly during this time, it is a predictor of coming rains. This year the Peppies are in deep full blossom. If I squint, they appear to be covered in snow. It is a time where moisture is in the air, especially in the nights and dawn, with cool breezes shifting in from the Indian Ocean.
With the moisture arrives mildew pressure. Powdery mildew thrives in cool, damp, poorly ventilated areas. It loves shade and thus could possibly be an issue in our closely planted vineyard, where the distance between vines is only one meter and our cordon is only half a meter off the ground. Powdery mildew gets its name from the characteristic white powder that forms, along with a fuzzy mycelium that releases spores into the air, which in turn spread rapidly. Its presence reduces yield and quality and in some cases can lead to complete crop loss.
The dryer it is, the less worry about powdery. Spore germination is optimal in temperatures of 22-31 C, typical of this season, and to counter it, I've been shoot thinning as well as spraying elemental sulfur on the foliage. Sulfur is a non-specific fungicide. Its presence reduces the microbial life in the soil so I use the bare minimum, but I use it. It is only effective if applied prior to the appearance of symptoms – if powdery appears in the vine it is already too late.
I walk past the snow-like blossoms and inhale a heady aroma from the Peppies bordering the vines. The promise of a cooling rain is enticing. And before it arrives, and after it leaves, I'll keep the sulfur level up on the foliage, without which this lovely crop would be at risk.


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Approximately 85% of the human population lives in the driest half of the planet. Though modernisation has provided humanity with technological advancements to counter the harsh environmental conditions, there is still approximately 800 million people without access to clean drinking water (11% global population) and 2.5 billion without access to adequate sanitation (33% global population). With these terrifying large numbers, what is it there is being done to cut these percentages?
Scientists from MIT and University of California Berkeley have designed a special type of metal organic framework (MOF) that captures water vapor from the air (10% of all freshwater on Earth) and then releases the water as liquid. The MOF acts like a sieve except, like conventional sieves, it captures the water within its porous structure and allows the air to flow through it. This particular MOF is a material comprised of a metal (zirconium) and an organic compound (fumarate). There are a variety of different MOFs that can be comprised of different materials and different pore sizes to capture different compounds; maybe pollution from the air someday.
One of the cool things about this MOF is that the release of water is a passive process, meaning that it doesn't require energy from human input. By simply placing the frame in direct sunlight, a solar cell converts sunlight into electricity that forces the collected vapor through a condenser to become a liquid. Approximately 3 litres of water can be collected from 1kg of the MOF when placed in an environment with a humidity of 20%. This is absolutely amazing with places like the Sahara Desert having an average humidity of 25%, allowing for even more water to be captured. Not only does this device provide an opportunity for people without clean drinking water but, because of its passive nature of water extraction, there is no need for the investment of new infrastructure to be able to support it. The scaling and distribution of this technology is essential in bringing up the basic standard of living for millions and billions of people around the world. I hope and look forward to something like this being done soon.


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Sacral Rage – Illusions of Infinite Void
Rating: 4.5/5
Location: Athens, Greece
Label: Cruz del Sur Music
Wearing your influences upon your sleeve can be perceived in a negative light when they are followed so closely that the work appears as nothing more than a cheap imitation. Sacral Rage have avoided this, as they both honour and learn from the efforts of their predecessors, while still implementing their own unique style that keeps their sound fresh and interesting.
The most obvious source of inspiration in this record is to be found in the likes of early Annihilator. The whole album falls perfectly in step with the tempo of Never, Neverland, with guitars that come storming in at terminal velocity, percussion that never rests upon a consistent beat, and a sinister bass line lurking in the rafters. There are even some melodic, almost hollow-sounding guitar riffs that simply reek of Jeff Waters (in a good way). The vocals exist mostly as a high pitched shriek that, unfortunately, lacks substance and possesses a light, airy quality. When the singer isn't attempting to rocket through the ceiling, the vocals find themselves at a mid-range chant that manages to keep pace with the unpredictable speed of the instrumental.
A particular standout track is "Into Mental East," which begins with spoken word that has a feel of Star Trek dialogue about it. The track is an instrumental turning point for the album, adding progressive elements to the pre-existing thrash. It is like a sped up version of Opeth's Orchid, with far forward bass lines and a concise percussion, yet also all over the map. The additional flavours only work in the band's favour, as they prevent the sound from becoming stagnated and create a feeling of direction and movement in the album.
As Sacral Rage's first LP, Illusions in Infinite Void is a huge success. The album showcases exceptional musicianship and an ample amount of clarity and organic development in the progression of the sound. Illusions in Infinite Void will most likely be finding its way into my rotation for at least the next month or so.
– Steve
Freedomination – The Stand EP
Rating: 3.5/5
Location: Australia
Label: Cruz del Sur Music
The worldwide resurgence in traditional heavy metal has been simply astonishing. It seems like new bands channeling the spirit of the NWOBHM keep popping up every week and I, for one, couldn't be happier about it. Australia's Convent Guilt are the latest entry into the fray and, while there are weak points to be found in their debut album Guns for Hire, there's also a lot to be admired and appreciated.
While there's not much in the album that's especially unique or different, the album excels at invoking the general vibe and ethos of bands like Angel Witch, Soldier, and Traitor's Gate. The earthy, rumbling guitar tone, the subtle but bouncing bass, the marching drum work, the foggy production; it's all blatant worship for that by-gone era. Down to the songs themselves, it's all stuff that you've heard before. It's like a greatest hits compilation in which all the songs have been slightly re-written. Convent Guilt may not have found their own unique twist just yet, but they've got an incredibly solid base to work from.
The weakest part of the affair lies in vocalist Iron Belshaw. He is by no means a bad singer, evoking the same naive, youthful exuberance as his compatriots. However, he does at times fall in to this flat, toneless mid-voice that lacks depth or real excitement. This makes certain parts of the album take a dive in terms of its atmosphere. While I feel like this is the kind of problem that will be remedied with further experience, it nevertheless dampens what could have been a superb first album.
Convent Guilt's debut shows a lot of potential. Despite its flaws it succeeds in being a more engrossing document than some of the more popular, major-label traditional metal documents that I've heard over the last few years. Check it out if you're down for some excellent, if slightly derivative, old-school devilry.
– Matt


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Steel Diver set for May release across Europe
Nintendo of Europe have today announced that naval strategy-action game, Steel Diver, is due to release across Europe for Nintendo 3DS on May 6th.
Players are invited to submerge themselves within its watery world by taking control of their very own submarine, as they steer past obstacles and dodge attacks from enemy vessels.
You'll be able to enjoy three different game modes – Mission, Periscope Strike and Steel Commander – each offering varied and fun submarine action in full glasses-free 3D. Mission mode will task you with carefully navigating an aquatic obstacle course as you aim to complete a series of objectives, whereas Periscope Strike will utilise the Nintendo 3DS' gyro sensor as you locate and sink enemy ships.
Steel Commander mode offers an even deeper level of strategy, as you effectively hide your own ships whilst locating enemies on a grid map, using torpedoes to sink them. You can also share with friends and family by using Download Play, which opens up Steel Commander into a 2-player experience – your friend doesn't even need to have a Game Card.
Steel Diver is due to launch exclusively for Nintendo 3DS across Europe on May 6th.


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The left-over nightmares from The Conjuring are finally starting to fade and there are still many months to go before Paranormal Activity 5 hits theaters, but luckily there's some more supernatural horror occupying the interim in the form of The Quiet Ones, a poltergeist-themed chiller starring Jared Harris (Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows) and Sam Claflin (The Hunger Games: Catching Fire) that arrives on the big screen this spring.
As shown in the creepy teaser trailer that was released around Halloween last year, The Quiet Ones is the "true story" (ahem) of a university professor (Harris) who attempted to generate the phenomenon of poltergeist activity and capture it on film with the aid of a group of students. Claflin plays one of his wide-eyed protégés, while Olivia Cooke (Bates Motel) plays the unfortunate soul who is apparently a catalyst for the supernatural.
Hammer Films has just released a UK trailer that is virtually identical to the US theatrical trailer, except for the couple of split-second additional shots that were only included in the US version. Try watching both trailers side-by-side and playing "spot the difference."
Purely in terms of behind-the-camera talent, there's not too much to write home about. Director John Pogue's only feature so far is the direct-to-DVD sequel Quarantine 2: The Terminal, and he co-wrote the screenplay with Craig Rosenberg (The Uninvited) and Oren Moverman (I'm Not There). Hammer seems to currently be pursuing PG-13 period horror after the success of The Woman in Black (which is in turn getting a period horror sequel called The Woman in Black: Angel of Death).
Mixing the supernatural with themes of a possession and a team of people who are trying to capture it all on film generally makes for a rich cocktail of scariness, so even if The Quiet Ones isn't a great movie it could at least be worth a watch for those who are in love with the genre, or moviegoers who just want some cheap thrills.
The Quiet Ones is out in theaters on April 25, 2014.


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I have an interview out today at Ellie Reads Fiction!
It's about my influences and favorite books (tune in to read me yelling ad nauseum about KJ Charles) and it has an exclusive excerpt from Sparkwood.
Ellie also interviewed my bestie Austin Chant as part of the New Authors series. And she reviews books that I've talked about on this very site, like Wanted, A Gentleman.
Read away!


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|Wizz Air to establish flights to Sarajevo and maintain Tuzla base
Low cost airline Wizz Air says it plans to launch flights to Sarajevo in the near future while continuing to maintain its base in Tuzla. The airline's Head of Airport Development, Jozsef Ujhely, said on Thursday, "After Tuzla, which continues to be our main base in Bosnia and Herzegovina, we intend on establishing flights from Sarajevo, which we consider a very important destination. Furthermore, we are also interested in investing in Sarajevo Airport". The comments were made following a meeting between Mr Ujhely and the Deputy Minister for Communications and Transport of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Saša Dalipagić, in Sarajevo. It comes just weeks after the Hungarian government said it would subsidise services between Budapest and the Bosnian capital. Wizz Air is Hungary's largest airline. The carrier says that in addition to Tuzla and Sarajevo, it is looking to further strengthen its presence on the market, which could result in potential flights to Mostar as well.
|Change (%)
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These the typical pond frogs, once almost unbelievaby abundant but now much less common because of widespread pollution and the destruction of wetland habitats. The 21 species are rather similar in appearance, with a greenish or nrownish color and irregularly shaded adrk spots or splotches on their bodies. One important identifying characteristic is the presence or absense of dorsolaterla ridges, a pair of folds that run down the back of certain species.
The Green Frog has dorsolateral ridges; the Bullfrog, the largest frog in North America, looks quite similar but lacks these folds. Originally found only in the eastern part of the continent, the Bullfrog has been released in suitable locations throughout North America and has also excaped from "farms" where it has been raised for food or other purposes.
The deep, sonorous jug-o-rum mating calls of the males are familiar spring sounds, so loud and booming that they drown out the weaker calls of similar species. Male Bullfrogs sing solos rather than joining in choruses like most frogs. Their larger eardrums, or tympanums (the round area behind each eye), distinguish them from the females.
Animal Pictures
Salamanders and Newts
Animal Species


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Happy Monday! If like me you are a little sad that the weekend is over then here are a couple of giveaways to cheer you up.
First up - the amazing Megan at Studio MME (who helped me with my first big giveaway way back when) is having a giveaway of one of her mini prints to celebrate 350 followers - how exciting is that?
Secondly the wonderful Nicole at My Teacups in Peony is hosting a giveaway of my prints!!
You could win a print from my shop as well as some extra goodies, so pop on over and show Nicole some love!


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If we want to be inspired, productive, and happy, we have to make sure we're regularly dosing ourselves with inspiration, productivity, and happiness. Our creating environment is something we can impact easily and instantly, and that can have a big impact on our confidence and the quality of work we're producing.
Good things in. Good things out.
Joe Williams-Nelson, author of Lights, Camera, Take Action: 52 Weeks to a Better Life, One Movie at a Time (Balboa Press), understands the importance of surrounding ourselves with art, mantras, music, and movies that inspire and uplift. But today, she's going to focus on movies.
At a local appearance last fall, she advertised, "Tell me your favorite movie, and I will show you how to use that movie to fuel your dreams."
Week 10 of her book uses the movie Good Will Hunting to teach readers how to deal responsibly with their potential. And she's specially tailored this advice for the writers and confidence-seekers reading this blog.
Take it away, Joe!
Good Will Hunting is an amazing movie to watch over and over again and I have. It stars Matt Damon as Will and Ben Affleck as his best friend Chuckie. They are two kids who grew up in South Boston with the glare of a better life just across the Charles River. This movie also stars the late great comedian and actor Robin Williams. It is his portrayal of a psychiatrist, also from South Boston, that wins him his first Oscar. Matt and Ben both win Oscars for the screenplay they co-wrote.
Share your gifts and talents with the world.
This movie teaches us the cost of keeping your genius to yourself. All that creativity is not meant for you alone. Keeping it in your head without ever letting it have its first breath is a form of control and selfishness. There's a part of you that relishes the thought that you know a little bit more than everyone else. There is a scene in the movie where Will is underestimated by some Yuppies in a Harvard bar. The joy is so evident on his face as he demonstrates to the whole bar that he is, in fact, the smartest person in the room. Though it is one of the best scenes in movie history, we are talking lessons here. As writers we are not meant to use our creative genius just for cheap bar tricks and thrills. Do you really want to die being known for having the best birthday message on the office card for the boss?
Genius is very demanding. It will have its say.
Although Will is a janitor, he wants to be close to the action of great minds doing what they do best, which is why he is a janitor at MIT. Similarly, writers love libraries and bookstores. We love to see our name in print, or maybe that's just me. Really it is the genius inside of me having its way. I sit in libraries and imagine my name on one of those shelves–or even the building–one day. I have to write in order for that to happen. I have to share what I have written, and then I have to do it all over again.
The flip side to this is that, when I sit in a bookstore and look at all the featured authors and the different sections to choose from, I tell myself lies. Unfortunately we story makers make up stories that are not always good ones. I have told myself that no one wants to hear what I have to say. There's nothing new that I can bring to this already crowded room of talent. The lies I tell. In the movie, Will solves equations on the chalkboards when no one is looking. He catches the eye of a professor but runs away to do construction with Chuckie. What a waste! and his best friend tells him so. Avoid the trap of false modesty.
"If you love to write then write all the time. Be bold about your sharing. Say those dreams out loud. The next time you are in a library or bookstore, dare to clear some space on the shelf for your own book to be there one day."
Creative types internalize everything.
Dare I say we are more empathetic than the average Joe. Well, that is exactly why God gave you this creative outlet that is your genius. It is there so you have somewhere to put all that emotion you are carrying around. In the movie, we learn that Will was an abused foster child who never processed the pain he endured from horrible caretakers. After handing out yet another beat down (this time, not verbally but a physical one), Will is arrested. He, of course, acts as his own defense attorney, but the judge, in his wisdom clearly seeing the inner war going on within Will, orders him to have mandatory therapy as a condition of his release.
"I believe everyone needs therapy. However, I define therapy as simply giving yourself what you need to feel better. Sometimes that is sleep, sometimes that is a good journal session, and sometimes you need to talk to someone who can help you process things that are too much for you to handle alone."
Every writer should keep a journal that has nothing to do with their creative writing or writing as a profession. The journal should be sacred, secret, and a little sacrificial. In order to continue to become better writers, we have to offer up those damaged pieces of ourselves. We may change a name or location, but every writer puts their life into their work. Use your journal to express your anger, your hurt, frustrations, and all those emotions that need to be processed. It will make you a better person first and then a better writer second.
Writers do not have the luxury of being comfortable.
As I said earlier, you are story tellers. You are either telling your own story or making up one. Either way it requires you to have life experience and to do research. The last lesson from Good Will Hunting addresses Will's hesitance to take a job that would put his genius to use but challenge him personally. Will only wanted to be around people who were like the side of him that he was comfortable with. As a writer you do not have the luxury of being comfortable. Writers cannot just do their research sitting behind a stack of books or in front of a computer screen. I write about movies so I have big plans to one day go to the Oscars, present at the Oscars, and possibly receive an Oscar. I have no idea how this will happen and that is how I know it is a big enough dream, because it is bigger than me.
"Writers must live outside of their comfort zone. You owe it to yourself and your readers. There are people who can't live the life they read about, or they need inspiration, and sometimes even permission. We owe it to them to make our words ring true."
Truth sets everyone and everything free, especially passion for life. Your readers are counting on you to exhaust life for them and then to write about it.
Let's recap.
Lesson #1-Write and share that work often. Keeping your genius to yourself is selfish and is a futile attempt to prove you know better than God. God gave the talent to the right person, now go prove God right instead.
Lesson #2-Don't believe lies. Surround yourself with people who see your value and will tell you the truth. Tell yourself the truth also. If you want to be a NY Times Bestselling author who makes millions of dollars for writing then say that. It is okay.
Lesson #3-Keep a journal and write in it everyday. Talk to trusted wise people about your feelings. Don't burden anyone, but it is okay to ask for what you need from a good friend, mentor, or significant other. You deserve the dignity of processing your feelings in a loving way.
Lesson #4-Live & Experience Life. Take a road trip with your best friend. Take a writing class at Harvard or in Maui. Rent an apartment in Paris, climb a mountain (it will hurt, you'll cuss the whole way, but it will give you experience to draw from). The main thing is to not shy away from the world to stay comfortable.
Take care of you, Joe Williams-Nelson
Joe Williams-Nelson has been supporting people on their personal growth journey as a Spiritual Life Coach for ten years. In Lights, Camera, Take Action: 52 Weeks to a Better Life, One Movie at a Time, she combines her love of movies with her skills as a life coach to inspire her audience to gain new perspectives on life.


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Pepsi's Tale, Addendum
Posted at March 09, 2009
Note: The campaign petered out. The following is my ending for it, and is completely DM-unauthorized.
It was a trap! Oh, curse me, and the horror brought forward by my chaos point. This entire journey was a con.
We went to Lord Angar's castle, aye, me and my companions of questionable familiarity and provenance (minus the warlock, who I suspect masterminded everything — he was the one who gathered us together, after all. Sure, perhaps I agreed to go on this trip voluntarily, thinking it a simple delivery, and in the hopes of establishing a connection with the trading houses at the castle. He used my greed (shopkeeper, don't forget) to lure me away from my beloved shop and… I've gotten quite ahead of myself. Close parentheses.)
We went to Lord Angar's castle, aye, me, my so-called companions, and troops of soldiers. Halfway there the warlock — Aeos, his name was — reappeared, and spoke privately with the platoon leader. I wasn't privy to their conversation, but I imagine it went something like this:
"So, that halfling there is a merchant. He seems to be of humble means at the moment, but after journeying with him, I am certain that his innate charisma and impeccable skill will lead him to leading the merchants guild in the city, and ultimately overthrowing our ill-defined pseudo-feudal system of government."
"Ah, some people think they can do anything now that our world has been partially destroyed by some magical happenstance that will never actually get explained!" spat the guard. "I hate them and their uppitivity."
"Indeed, sir. And combined with his miraculous singing ability, he's a much bigger threat than Lord Angar, who I should add is a close and personal friend, and who is eager to reward military men who see things our way."
"Ah… you make a persuasive case. But what of the others?"
"The others? Oh, they're in on it to. The Paladin understands that drinking and wenching is morally superior to selling healing potions at an unmatchable discount. The dwarven cleric, like all healers, is around for the money. The wizard, Cornelius Longshanks, is a distraction. And the other halfing, Nestle, has already made preparations to take over his business: back in the city, she was careful to stick with Pepsi, and now she has all his business contacts."
"And I have an army. Shall we just get to it?"
"No. First we must get to the castle. I have plans…"
That's how I imagine it went, anyway. All I know is that they talked in the tent for an hour, and Longshanks managed to fall in a fire and burn off all his clothes. Twice.
A week later we arrived at the castle. I knew something was horribly wrong when instead of calling upon us adventurers to sneak inside, the soldiers clapped me in iron manacles and marched me through the front gate. And there he was…
"You!" I spat out. "I know you! You're the one who refused to pay full price for my masterwork longsword!"
And with a mad cackle, the he informed me that for the last week, his agents have been staffing my shop, and that they'd sold my collection of jade dragons for mere coppers.
Oh, if I could've escaped the chains, I would've throttled him. But I couldn't. I was trapped, and none of my rogue skills could help.
And then Ronaldo, Nestle's pet pig, trotted up to her, the keyring for my store in her snout.
That's where my story ends.


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April 9, 2010 – A preclinical study shows the action of a toll-like receptor (TLR) antagonist helps reduce atherosclerosis in mice. The data on new antagonists TLR7 and TLR9 on the anti-atherogenic effects in ApoE-/- mouse model of atherosclerosis was made at the American Heart Association conference Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology 2010 Scientific Sessions, April 8-10 in San Francisco.
"We evaluated our TLR antagonist candidates in preclinical models of atherosclerosis to elucidate the mechanism by which they reduce key risk factors associated with atherosclerosis," said Tim Sullivan, Ph.D., vice president of development programs and alliance management, Idera Pharmaceuticals. "The data presented today show that treatment with a TLR antagonist resulted in increased serum concentrations of IL-10 and that there was an inverse correlation between reduction of total cholesterol and increased serum IL-10,"
A dual TLR7 and TLR9 antagonist candidate was evaluated in a high-fat diet mouse model of atherosclerosis. ApoE-/- mice fed a high-fat diet showed increased body weight gain and higher serum levels of total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, free fatty acids, bilirubin and leptin as compared to mice fed a normal diet. Treatment of mice fed a high-fat diet with a dual antagonist of TLR7 and TLR9 resulted in control of body weight gain. Mice given the TLR antagonist also showed reductions in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hepatic and kidney steatosis, and plaque formation. TLR antagonist treated mice showed increased serum concentrations of adipokine and interleukin-10 (IL-10), and there was an inverse correlation between total cholesterol and IL-10.
IL-10 is an anti-inflammatory cytokine that regulates many aspects of immune system activity and has been shown to have anti-atherogenic properties in preclinical models.
Idera is conducting a phase 1 clinical trial of IMO-3100, a lead antagonist of TLR7 and TLR9 intended for application in autoimmune and inflammatory diseases.
For more information: www.iderapharma.com


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Just don't even give a fuck. You have to give enough fucks to not actually say "fuck" in your title but if you asteriskize the f-bomb in your title then you can look tough and real and don't-even-give-a-fucky without offending people who are incapable of inferring the meaning of censored or bowdlerized words and that's like your target demographic.
If you do give a fuck about learning about what it takes to debase yourself into the type of person who can attract a literary agent, then read on!


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Dennis Meadows in his great lecture at Santa Fe makes the distinction of 2 kinds of problems
Type 1 Global Problems are those that affects everyone and needs concerted action from big players like nations, for any possibility of solving them. He puts nuclear proliferation, terrorism, oil depletion etc in this category.
Type 2 Universal Problems are those that affects everyone but can be solved by local action. He puts groundwater contamination, urban air pollution etc in this category.
My feeling is in organizations people tend to use existence of global problems as reasons to not take action on universal problems.
Global problems include the ever escaping top management approvals, blanket buy in for an initiative etc.
Some even predict the upcoming REVOLUTION as solution to global problems.
Innovation is all about being able to solve those universal problems with local solutions, without being bogged down by global problems.
And local solutions emerge only from safe-fail experiments.


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Technological advancements and development have made mechanical instrumentation a thing of the past! With today's more and more technologically advanced engines and engine components, you need faster and more precise instrumentation to keep a watchful eye on your engine's vital signs. Mechanical instrumentation simply can not keep up.
The Buddy Club Racing Spec Digi Meters are one of the most technologically advanced digital meters available today. A high quality electronic sensor and positive locking wiring harness are included with each Buddy Club Racing Spec Digi Meter to ensure positive readings under any demanding race condition.


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Mesa, Arizona June 10, 2008
Sunset in downtown Phoenix
Last week I went into downtown Phoenix late in the afternoon with the hopes to get few images right before sunset. The reflections of the afternoon light on the buildings created very nice glowing effects. As I was looking around to find good light and potential shots, I noticed the word WELL in between the buildings. I saw this as an opportunity to use the letters on the Wells Fargo Bank logo as an editorial statement . I think it suits downtown Phoenix well. It has been a while since the last time I was in downtown Phoenix. The new downtown is rapidly taking shape. You can see several new buildings, such as ASU and the new light rail stations. These images were taken around the Van Buren St and Central Ave area.
Until next post!
Corner of Monroe and Central.
New Arizona State University building and Light Rail station on Central Av.
Chase Bank building and Central Av Light rail station.
We are doing well!


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China Corruption Blotter (July 12, 2013)
Meng Jiangtao, a former Dean at the Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, was sentenced to ten years for misappropriating $386,396 and embezzling $43,970 when he cleaned out a research fund and forged signatures to make claims from the school. He confessed to the crimes after a school accountant discovered the financial irregularities. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn


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So, why the change? Our several year old brackets were inefficient to render and used a lot of old web design approaches that are no longer relevant today. They were holding us back from introducing features we've been dying to release and were forcing us to cap bracket sizes to 256 — even for Challonge Premier customers.
Highlights of our Reflex Bracket Engine
- Vector graphics based — our brackets can scale to any size without loss in quality. The only limit is your device's pixel density...and your eyesight.
- Truly LIVE printer-friendly bracket images. The images we used to offer were generated on the fly and were often several seconds or even minutes out of date. We're now generating SVG images on-demand with the latest data. And highlight #1 means they'll also come out of your printer with beautiful quality. Check one out here: http://challonge.com/capcom_cup_2015.svg
- Fast! Our new brackets are incredibly efficient. We can even partially render brackets, rendering only the parts that are visible on your screen. This off-screen culling approach is similar to what you'd see in a video game — no sense rendering scenery that's behind you. With this newfound speed, we'll be re-evaluating our 256 participant cap.
- Underpinned by amazing new tech. We're using React.js, a Facebook-managed user interface library, and a new Flux-based architecture to power our new bracket engine. The nontechnical version: we'll be able to offer an immersive new experience for tournament organizers, participants, and spectators. I can't wait to reveal more, but you'll have to wait for our redesign launch!
- Extensible. Bracket designs are now limited by design imagination, not by technical constraints. Just look at what we built for Brackets For Good: stlouis.bfg.org. We'll be working on ways to unlock these capabilities to Challonge users.
As we begin to put our new arsenal of technical capabilities to work, 2016 is set to be the most notable leap forward for Challonge. Thank you for continuing to trust us with your tournaments!


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Director's Statement on Yunus' removal from Grameen Bank:
At the end of the film, I briefly mention that a film came out in November of 2010 called Caught In Micro-Debt, which basically looks at when microcredit does not work. The film also claimed that Yunus misappropriated funds. After that film aired the Prime Minister of Bangladesh publicly stated that Yunus was "sucking the blood of the poor". Even though Yunus had been fully cleared of any wrong-doing by the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, within months he was forced to retire, due to an ordinance that bank workers cannot work past the age of 60. Yunus was 70 when he was forced out.
I chose not to go further into this in the film for several reasons. I was mostly finished with the film when it came to light and it is both a convoluted story and a brief moment in time compared to his four decades of service to the poor. However, as many people are curious about the events, I am sharing the some further information here.
Historically Bangladesh has ranked at the top of most corrupt countries in the world. When I started filming in 2007, they were near the bottom at 162. There was an interim government in place for 2 years that was trying to clean things up and ensure a fair election. As of 2011, they are at 120. The current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wazed, along with her rival, Begum Khaleda Zia, have been in and out of power since the 90s. During the time I filmed, both former prime ministers were in and out of exile for corruption charges and 23 senators in jail for corruption.
As I mention in the film, a government probe looked into the interest rates and found that Grameen has the lowest interest rates of any Bangladeshi microcredit program. He is clearly not "sucking the blood of the poor". However, this whole fiasco was also unfolding at the same time as heat was building around the abusive practices of SKS Microfinance in nearby Andhra Pradesh, India. Yunus had warned the founder of SKS Microfinance, Vikram Akula, that microcredit should not be for maximum profit and put on the stock market. Akula has now validated Yunus' concern: "Yunus was Right" SKS Microfinance Founder Says.
Many believe that Yunus' preliminary quest to run for office in 2007 was what created the animosity. Beyond taking Yunus from his position as the Managing Director of Grameen Bank, the government also brought several other cases against Yunus. He was taken to court for defamation for saying that "all politicians are corrupt"; as the head of the phone company he was taken to court for one phone bill that was exorbitantly high; and he was taken to court for two cases of "tainted" yogurt. The Prime Minister has seen to it that many court cases were held against him (and in Bangladesh you have to appear in court on the first day of any trial against you) and it was reported that she was said that she would continue to create cases so that he would have to stay in the country. The only thing that they could get him on was that he was 10 years past the age of retirement. And he had even tried to retire at 61 but his board of directors have asked him to stay on.
Additionally, the prime minister continues to mislead people about the interest rates of Grameen Bank, such as in an interview in the Washington Post on October 11, 2011 where she says: "Tell me one thing. If I give you $20,000 can you pay 40 percent interest every week?" Even though Grameen Bank's basic loan is just under 18% APR.
The cases when the loans didn't work were few, and the majority of those were for health issues. The others cases of failure I heard about were when people were borrowing from several organizations and getting in over their heads, but I didn't personally see this happening. This is also like when some people here get in over their heads with too many credit cards or have too high of a mortgage than what is appropriate for their income. I did see Grameen Bank trying to prevent that, by only allowing higher loans incrementally as they proved they could handle higher amounts. And Grameen did their best to assure that loans were for income generation and not for everyday purchases.
These types of failure cases was what I read about with SKS Microfinance in Andhra Pradesh, they would use the loans for purchasing, not income generating activities and those groups had interest rates almost double that of Grameen's interest rate.
The other big difference with Grameen compared to a lot of other microcredit programs is that the borrowers own the bank. They all buy in with a 100 Taka share. Therefore, what is good for the borrowers is also good for the bank.
As the Government forced Yunus to retire, they also presented a list of recommendations that make me wonder about their motives. They suggest that they board of directors of Grameen Bank be reduced from 9 borrower members out of 12, to 6 so that they would not be the majority. And they also suggested that Grameen Telecom should become a part of Grameen Bank. Grameen Phone is the largest and most profitable company in the country.
Another thing I found odd is that Yunus was blacklisted from the Prime Minister's office, when Yunus wanted to try to resolve any misunderstanding, according to leaked US diplomatic cables.
In September when the female board of directors came to Dhaka, 6 of them were harassed. And Jannat, who has Grameen since the beginning and runs the international division, had her house raided while she was out of town. Additionally people who were on Grameen's side during the turmoil – some of them were taken and beaten up, including one journalist I interviewed with there.
And Grameen Knitwear had their factory catch on fire, even they are up to code. Luckily nobody was hurt. Then Grameen Knitwear also had employees starting to protest for higher wages on the day that their manager was traveling to India. At the time of the protest they are the highest paid employees in the garment industry in Bangladesh and within the top 5 benefit givers. In my opinion, these all seemed very suspicious.
Finally, when I went to try to sell Bonsai People to 4 TV stations – the managers all openly talked to me about the government censorship and that they probably would not be able to air it while the current prime minister is in office.
I believe that is just about this one government with a hidden agenda, I think they are after the money of Grameen Companies, and are therefore trying to make these private companies publicly owned, as you can see from their 14-pt blueprint to raise government stake in Grameen.


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Clayton Christensen developed a framework for segmenting markets called 'jobs-to-be-done'. Essentially 'consumers usually don't go about their shopping by conforming to particular segments. Rather, they take life as it comes. And when faced with a job that needs doing, they essentially "hire" a product to do that job'. The more successful businesses tend to be very clear about what customers are hiring their products or services for.
A common occurrence is that as companies start to grow fast - achieved product-market fit, messaging and sales/marketing resonating, distribution channels locked and loaded - the emphasis and clarity on 'jobs-to-be-done' starts to slide. The focus shifts to how to keep the well running machine oiled and functioning as effectively as possible. Nothing wrong with this. The issue arises when this takes away focus from delighting the customer. The problem starts when businesses think they know their customer so well, and stop learning about the customer, and pay most of the attention to selling more products to said customer in the name of fuelling growth.
Nest is, easily, the poster child for the Connected Home (devices in the home connected to the internet and talking to one another). It's no easy feat for a company to have brand recognition after just 5 years in existence. With its slick product design and user experience, Alphabet/Google acquisition and suite of product offerings it has become the company other hardware companies desire to be in the mold of the Apple's of the world. With its fully (almost vertically integrated) operations Nest nailed the 'jobs-to-be-done'.
Until Nest stopped nailing it's 'jobs-to-be-done. Big time.
A few days ago Nest customers woke up to non-functional thermostats as a result of a software bug. It's a big deal when a product that is supposed to maintain well being - a warm home when it's cold outside or a cool home when it's hot outside - fails to perform that one job it's been hired for.
But this should come as no surprise to anyone; when a company takes its eye off the ball by focusing on several products when it has yet to gain mass adoption for the main product it sells, there are bound to be mistakes that could lead to catastrophic failure of the business. When the focus is solely on growth, in this case through offering a full suite of products, software glitches that affect the critical functionality might happen. For a company that is so well run, a software glitch of this magnitude is less about sloppiness and more about a shift in focus to priorities that have little to do with the promise it's made to customers.
Does this impact the growth of the connected home market? Not really. The market is expected to grow to $58.68Bn by 2020. The industry is still in the early adopter phase - early customers who are technology friendly and are willing to accept some failures in product functionality with the expectation that the product will improve over time - and product developers are yet to nail the main value propositions of the connected home. We can be thankful for that. These software failures and problems will be solved or at least minimized to a large degree before connected thermostats are present in every single home.
What we should worry about is whether Nest, like most companies that fail from trying to walk before they crawl, is forgetting the need for a single-minded focus on maintaining the feeling of well-being in our homes.
Like many people say to an actor who's fluffed his/her part 'you only had one job..'. I'd hate for us to end up saying that to Nest...


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Thanks to all 70 of you who turned up to Derek McAuley's and my session on trustees yesterday morning. It was encouraging to hear the amount of expertise that we do have in our community. Clearly the big issue that vexes many people is about holding trustees and (managing) trustees - if you look back to three of my posts in February of this year - see the archives at the right-hand side of this blog - you will see a debate that Derek and I had about this matter following an article that he'd written in the Unitarian.
So let's get practical .... if you need to change things then first people within your congregation have to be committed to understanding the issue; and second you have to find a way to make real what your governing document** and charity law say. If you have holding trustees who have been making all the decisions when they have no powers conferred on them by the governing document** then it may take a bit of time to sort things out.
(** Governing document is the generic term for the document which provides the rules for the running of a charity – it may be a constitution for an unincorporated association, it may be articles and memorandum of association for a company or it may be a trust deed for a trust.)
The first step? Have a look at your constitution and get a real sense of what it says and then read it through several more times :)
As I said yesterday I would encourage people to seek out their local Council for Voluntary Services (CVS) and join that. Then make full use of their services. However just one caution - my experience is that they are generally good at the basic stuff but less good on property matters and less less good on listed building matters - which may or may not matter.
I am happy to point people in the right direction for advice and to help where I can but it is difficult to offer specific support at a distance - so do make the links locally. Many CVSs also offer training sessions for a small fee or free.
If people would like a longer session on such things do let me know and perhaps we can organise something.
P.S. Volleyball went very well and I managed to see ¾ of the match.


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Mobulae in Mobili.
The drone was flying at 400 feet above the ground when we spotted a large group of Mobula Rays, approximately half a mile from the shore. Maybe 200 individuals, split in 2 groups. These rays, sometimes referred as "flying rays" or "devil rays", are known for their unique spectacular breaching behavior.
After the flight, the SD Card revealed that the rays were not alone: a dozen of large sharks were playing between the two groups. Air snorkeling is a good thing after all.
Etienne Desclides


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Tony Romo spent a long time playing football and tried his hand at golf. Now, before he hangs up his cleats — or sneakers — for good, he's going to the NBA. Sort of.
The Mavericks plan to celebrate Romo by having the former quarterback in uniform and on their bench for their last home game of the season on Tuesday against the Nuggets, according to ESPN.
The team is willing to pull a stunt like this because the Mavericks have already been eliminated from playoff contention. However, Romo is not expected to play in the game.
Owner Mark Cuban has said in recent days that he was looking to add a "pass-first point guard," according to the report, and apparently was referring to Romo.
The former QB has been an ardent supporter of the Mavericks over the course of his 14-year career with the Cowboys.
Romo, 36, was recently released by the Cowboys and retired so he can take Phil Simms' spot as the CBS' top NFL analyst alongside Jim Nantz.


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Christmas…and More (and Less)/
I love Christmas.
I listen to Christmas music, both sacred and seasonal. I watch excessive amounts of Christmas movies—the classics and the cheesy. I enjoy shopping for those I love. I value spending time with friends and family. And there's not enough time to talk about the food!
Yes, Christmas has become commercialized. (DUH!) As has Easter. And Valentine's Day. And Mother's Day. (Watch out, Arbor Day!) And as much as I love the holiday, I shudder when I see Christmas decorations next to the Halloween costumes. I changed the channel when my favorite radio station began playing Christmas music two weeks before Thanksgiving. Unlike the song We Need a Little Christmas, (from the musical, Mame) I think we can get too much Christmas. But we shouldn't fault the retail sector. While selling Chia Pets and Clappers may not be the "reason for the season," it is certainly the foundational premise of modern capitalism. It's easy to get lost in the flurry of activity of this time of year and the superficial aspects of the retail emphasis.
And sometimes I think my ear will bleed from the noise of piercing warnings about the danger of Christ being taken out of Christmas, or the shrill insistence that Christmas is being stolen from "us." (Which seems as ironic as whining to Native Americans about "illegal" immigrants stealing America!)
I appreciate that this season includes many observances and holidays—some religious, some not. Rather than fight against them, I try to understand their traditions; there are some valuable lessons to be learned. Hope. Renewal. Faith. Good Works. Enlightenment. Meditation. Self-examination. One common thread that seems to run through all the annual observances is the call to stillness and tranquility for personal reflection. That's a valuable message, especially at this hectic time of year.
As a Christian, this time of year holds a special significance as a commemoration of the birth of Jesus. It's Advent, and an important aspect of my faith. Christ is not just part of my Christmas, He is central. In our house, we keep a Nativity visible all through the year.
Author's Note: Of course I know that Jesus wasn't actually born on December 25; it was probably in the Spring. The date came when Pope Julius I decided to replace the pagan holiday of Solstice with a Christian one. And I'm also aware that many (if not most) of our Christmas traditions—the tree, mistletoe, Yule logs, ornaments, holly bushes, etc.—have their origin in pagan cultures, and have been "christianized" and incorporated into our festivities.
So in the midst of the many exhausting activities and the noisy clamor for Christmas "correctness," I pause to quiet my heart. And I am once again drawn to those simple words, spoken so long ago:
"Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people…Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace (good will) among men with whom He is pleased." (Luke 2:10,14 NASB)
Do you hear what I hear?
Good news!
No fear.
Great joy.
Good will (some translations)
For all people.
God is pleased.
The events in Bethlehem were not intended to create a holiday, The Magi didn't bring expensive gifts to set a required precedent. Jesus wasn't born so we could have a day off work. The birth of Christ was never about trees or decorations or parties or spending money. Jesus came to us as the living expression (Incarnation) of God's love to the world. He is the gift that assures us of God's approval.
Why would I want to fight about a day that was intended to bring "peace on earth?"
How am I showing "good will" when I criticize the way someone greets me? (i.e., "Happy Holidays" instead of "Merry Christmas.")
Can I seek ownership of an event that was meant for "all the people?"
Where is the "good news" when I condemn others for how they celebrate?
Why sacrifice my "great joy" because Jesus is not recognized in retail marketing? (Remember, at His birth the commercial market then wasn't open to him: there was "no room at the Inn.")
No one can take Christ out of Christmas without our permission. We make the choice to honor Christ—in our hearts, in our attitudes, in our behavior, and in our holiday observances. When we express love to one another, we are are the Christ in Christmas.