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Ephesians 6:17
November 30, 2008
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In Ephesians chapter 6, we're looking at the armor of God, the believer's armor laid out for us by the Holy Spirit through the pen of the Apostle Paul. Paul has given all kinds of very foundational and important instruction in this letter to the Ephesians, instruction which has to do with living the Christian life, walking the worthy walk, as he speaks of it in chapter 4 which begins the practical section of this great epistle, the first three chapters being doctrinal. And he has laid out all kinds of things about behavior and how we are to conduct our lives and how we are to walk in the Spirit and manifest the power of the Spirit in every relationship.
And then there comes this necessary statement in verse 10 that to live this way and walk this way is going to demand strength. Finally verse 10 says of Ephesians 6, "Be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might." You're not going to be able to do this on your own. You're not going to be able to live in a way that honors God, to walk a worthy walk, to experience the fullness of the Spirit and the blessing that comes with that. Not going to be able to leave behind you the former things of your life and walk in newness of life easily. Not going to be able to grow, you're not going to be able to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, to speak truth, to be one in the body of Christ...all the things that he's been talking about in your own strength. This is something that requires the strength of the Lord.
And he envisions this in a very graphic kind of analogy as if he is looking at a soldier, no doubt a Roman soldier, of course, by the tens of thousands they filled the Mediterranean world during the time of Paul's ministry and were very familiar to all the people to whom he wrote and spoke. And so, in that analogy he says, "If you want to enjoy the strength of the Lord which it's going to take to live this kind of life, you must put on the full armor of God," verse 11. Because, you have an enemy that is going to do everything in his power to prevent you from living the way God wants you to live. It isn't that he particularly cares about you, it is that he wants to thwart the purposes of God. You need to mark it as sort of foundational in the relationship between Lucifer and God, Lucifer hates God. He hates God. And all his demons who once with him were among the angels of heaven and agreed to fall with him, a third of them to number them as Revelation does, equally hate God and the purposes of God and the objectives of God. And they hate God and manifest that hate in attempting to thwart the purposes of God that are basically operational in us. And so his assault against us is primarily an assault against God. It's a little bit like Paul saying, "I bear in my body the marks of Christ. People are wounding me and persecuting me not because of me, but because I represent Christ."
Understanding this, we read in verse 12, that our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against these very categories of demonic beings called rulers, powers, world forces of this darkness, meaning the darkness that is Satan's darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenlies. So we are engaged in this warfare. And I delineated that for you a few weeks ago.
It is not that you are necessarily in hand-to-hand combat with demons all the time. I can say to you that in my entire lifetime I have never knowingly been engaged in a personal struggle with a demon. But I am daily engaged in a personal struggle against a demonically inspired system that comes at me and at my sinful tendencies through the world, through the system that is in the power of Satan who is the prince of this world. It is not that we as believers have demons running around in us, we are the temple of the Spirit of God, we are new creations, we have been transformed and changed. But we are assaulted by the system around us and we have tendencies to fall to that assault because of our remaining flesh, our fallenness which we will possess until we receive our heavenly inheritance and leave this world.
And so, against these assaults that come on us, we have to defend ourselves with the full armor of God, verse 13, to resist in the evil day and to be able to stand firm. Now wanting to give us an analogy that is memorable, Paul breaks down the parts which really become components of living a godly life.
Girding your loins with truth, or truthfulness means commitment, motivation to be obedient, motivation to be holy, to be godly, to be Christ honoring. We have to have that desire. In other words, establishing your priorities, pulling all the loose ends in like the Roman soldier would pull the corners of his tunic up and tie them tightly with his...with his belt so that he would be able to move freely in the midst of hand-to-hand combat, pulling everything together. It's about discipline for the struggle at hand, spiritual discipline.
And those that are the things that are fixed in place. On top of those, in addition to all of those, you take the shield of faith. And the shield of faith is the thing with which you quench the temptations that Satan sends. We talked about the fact that you shield yourself from temptation by believing God. You either believe God or you believe Satan. When Satan comes with his deceptive lies that lure you into sin because he promises satisfaction, if you believe him you do it. If you believe the real satisfaction is found in honoring God, then you do what is right. It's your faith in the Word of God that protects you from believing Satan's lies and deceptions that shields you.
The helmet of salvation, that idea that you have a future salvation which is secured to you, protects you against the blows of doubt that Satan would wield against you, sometimes telling you you're unworthy of the goodness of God. God isn't going to continue to bless you and be good to you because you're an unworthy sinner, preying upon you in the times of your weakness and faltering and making you think that you may not have a future with God. The helmet of salvation is the assurance of that eternal life which is to come. And when you live in the light of that assurance, it effects how you live now because you know you are a permanent citizen of that eternal kingdom. You are motivated to live as such.
That takes us to the last weapon in verse 17, or the last piece of armor which is the weapon and that is the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Now of all the weapons that we would talk about here, this is the...of all the pieces of armor, I should say, that we would talk about here, of all of these elements of Christian life, this is probably the one with which we are the most familiar. The sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God.
When I originally taught this passage and through the years as I have had occasion here and there around the world to go back over this particular portion of Scripture, it has allowed me the opportunity to go back to some foundational things. And I think it's important to do that, kind of a basic look at Scripture.
You possess the sword of the spirit which is the Word of God. You just need to pick it up and use it. The Bible is that sword. But not because you own one, but because you know what's in it. Being able to wield the sword is being able to use the truth of Scripture at any given point. Now we'll say more about that, but to begin with, let me give you a little bit of a brief course in what Scripture really is, what it claims for itself. It is the Word of God, that's what it says here, the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. That and the Scripture and the Bible are the same thing.
And that takes us back to what the Bible claims for itself. Let me just give you a little list, to begin with. First of all, the Bible claims to be infallible. That is without error. And it claims it again and again and again. Psalm 19:7 , "The Law of the Lord is perfect." John 10:35, "The Scripture cannot be broken." Revelation 22:18 or 19, "Don't take anything away from what is written here, or add anything to it, or there shall be added to you the plagues that are written in it. It is an inerrant text as well as an infallible text. When we say infallible, we mean that everything it affirms is true. When we say it is inerrant, we mean every word in it is true. It is true in all that it affirms, that's infallibility. It is true in every single thing it says, that's inerrancy. Proverbs 30 verses 5 and 6, "Every word of God is pure. EVERY word of God is pure."
And it also says there, as it does in Revelation 22, "Add not unto His words lest He reprove you and you be found a liar." Psalm 12:6 says, "The Scripture is so pure, every word of God is pure like...like silver that has been refined in a furnace seven times." Psalm 119:140 says the same thing. "Your Word is pure."
So the Bible is without error in all that it affirms, all it teaches. It is inerrant in every word...every word of God is pure. And then it is complete, as I noted from Revelation 22. You can't add to it, you can't take away from it. It is, as Jude puts it, the "once for all delivered to the saints faith." It is one book, one revelation delivered once for all. There is no further divine revelation once the canon of Scripture is closed.
Because in all that it affirms it is without error, because in every single thing it says it is without error, because it is complete and there is no more to be added to it, nor is there anything to be taken away from it, it is therefore, fourthly, the authoritative Word of God. It is precisely what God wanted to say. And that is why Isaiah 1:2 says, "Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for the Lord has spoken."
Since this is the infallible, inerrant complete authoritative Word of God, it is sufficient. We don't need anything else. We do not need anything else. Psalm 19 lays that out a number of ways. It is sufficient not only for our salvation, converting the soul, but it is sufficient to make the simple, or the ignorant wise, fully skilled in all matters of holy living, is what that means.
In 2 Timothy 3 we remember that Paul wrote that from a child, speaking to Timothy, you've know the holy Scriptures which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. And then he said, "All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. That's what I mean by sufficient. It is sufficient to achieve all divine ends in the soul.
We could also sum all this up by saying what Peter said in 2 Peter 1, "Knowing this first that no prophecy of the Scripture is of any private interpretation or origination for the prophecy came not at any time by the will of man but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." There's no other book in existence that can claim these things. To be infallible, inerrant, complete, authoritative, sufficient, powerful, and divinely authored belongs only to Scripture. This is what the Bible claims for itself. As such, it is obviously a formidable weapon.
That is why we only need one weapon...we only need the sword of the Spirit which is the Word of God. Old Testament writers refer to what they wrote as the Word of God about 3,800 times. New Testament writers refer to the Old Testament as the Word of God about 320 times. And they refer to the Old Testament about a thousand times. New Testament writers also claim that they are writing for God, that both Old and New are His words.
Now that tells you the nature of Scripture. Let me talk for a few minutes about what it does. We said it was powerful. We said it doesn't return void. It accomplishes the things to which God intends it. What does that mean? How do we sum that up?
Well let me just give you a few things you can think about. We said that's what the Word is, that's its nature, let's talk about its impact. First, it is the source of truth...it is the source of truth. It brings people to the knowledge of the truth. John 17:17, "Sanctify them by Thy truth, Thy Word is truth." It is the source of truth. It brings people to the knowledge of the truth, the way it really is.
Secondly, Scripture is the source of, well let's say because I think it will help you understand it, happiness, or blessedness. Proverbs 8:34, "Happy is the man who hears Me." Luke 11:28, "Happy are they who hear the Word of God and obey it." And that takes me back to this morning when we talked about the burning heart, remember, of the two on the road to Emmaus that were exposed to the explanation of the Old Testament, said, "Did not our hearts burn within us while He explained to us the Scripture?" This is the burning of joy, of blessedness, the happiness that comes to one who understands...who understands the Scripture.
Scripture also is the source of growth. As babes, 1 Peter 2:2, desire the pure milk of the Word that you may grow thereby. In this book you find the truth. In this book you find true joy, blessedness and happiness. In this book you find spiritual growth. It is also the source of power. It has a powerful impact. "I'm not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation," Romans 1:16. "The Word is alive and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword," Hebrews 4:12, cutting and piercing and dicing and slicing the human heart and revealing the inmost realities. It has the power to cut into the heart and it also has the power to heal the heart and restore it and sanctify it.Scripture also claims for itself to be a source of guidance, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path," Psalm 119:105. Scripture also is the source of comfort, Romans 15:4 talks about the comfort of the Scriptures.
It is also the source of spiritual victory. And that's the way we see it in the context of Ephesians 6. So the nature of Scripture, what it claims for itself as to its own nature, and the claims of Scripture for its own impact, to bring truth and blessing and growth and power and guidance and comfort and now triumph or victory. When we put on the belt of truth and the breastplate of righteousness and the shoes of the gospel of peace and pick up the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation, and lastly, grasp the sword of the Spirit, we are set for victory.
Now having said that by way of a broad look at Scripture, let's look more directly at the sword of the Spirit. And I guess maybe to start with, I would say that this is a weapon that is both defensive and offensive as any sword is. You would have to say that a rifle is purely an offensive weapon, it's not a defensive weapon. You don't sort of defend yourself with a rifle, you use it only as an offensive weapon, shooting something far away from you. But a sword in your had was used perhaps more often to parry a deadly blow than it was to inflict one. For every blow that you might inflict that would cause the death or the wounding of your enemy, you may have staved off a dozen or more attacks against your own life. So this is both a defensive and an offensive weapon.
The word sword is machaira, a very common word in the Greek and used a number of times in the New Testament. It refers to a small sword, a small sword meaning anything from 18 inches down to maybe a foot long, even falling into the category of a dagger, a different word than rhomphaia which was the great long three or four-foot long sword that would be yielded with two hands. This is the kind of a sword that is in the hands of the Roman soldiers who came to capture Jesus Christ. It was a machaira that is mentioned in Matthew 26:47. This was the sword that every Roman soldier carried with him all the time. To put it in the modern vernacular, he didn't always have his rifle but he always had his pistol, he always had the small weapon. This, by the way, is the same kind of sword that Peter used to whack off the ear of Malchus. It is a machaira according to Acts 12:2 that killed James, the brother of John. Machaira were used to slay many of the heroes of faith. The word machaira is used to describe the slaughter of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:37.
So it's a very common weapon. It would be a lethal kind of weapon, much like some of those lethal knives that you see carried by people who have murderous intent in their minds. The sword which Paul has in mind is very familiar. In this case, however, it is the sword of the Spirit, tu pneumatos(?), may be used in an adjectival sense. It could be the spiritual sword if we use it as an adjective. Or it could be what we would call a genitive, genitive of origin, a sword given by the Holy Spirit.
In fact, that ties so wonderfully into a text that I refer to a lot, and I'll do it again because it's germane to the point, 2 Corinthians 10, a little...it seems to me a little understood text. Second Corinthians 10 verse 3, "Though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh." What he means by that is we walk in the flesh, he's not talking about sinning, he's simply saying we're humans, we live in a human body. We are human but we don't engage in war with human weapons, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh. If they're not of the flesh, then they must be spiritual. If they're not carnal fleshly and human, they must be spiritual. And so this is exactly the same thing. This is making war with a spiritual weapon.
And he goes on to say, "This weapon which is not fleshly is divinely powerful." That again leans us in the direction of understanding this as a spiritual weapon, provided by the Holy Spirit.
In this imagery, however, it is something more than just a dagger. It is something more than just a small sword. This is a weapon powerful enough to destroy a fortress. And the word there means just that, a massive stone fortress. We assault these fortresses not with human weapons but with weapons that are not even a part of the flesh but rather have as their source and their power divine character. And as a result, we are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.
What are the fortresses that we attack? They are speculations, logismos in the Greek, ideas, theories, viewpoints, any lie, anything that's anti-God, any concept, idea, theory, viewpoint, religion, philosophy that is raised up against the knowledge of God.
So in this sense we are seeing the offensive power of spiritual truth. The weapon is clearly the truth because the only thing that displaces error is truth. The only thing that smashes what is raised up against the knowledge of God is the true knowledge of God. The only way to bring down lies and deceptions, these ideologies, these anti-God concepts and bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ is to bring the truth. And that's found in the Word of God. So it is a formidable weapon that we have. And we expand the idea of that weapon, moving from the passage in Ephesians 6 to this one, and now we see it in its great power to bring down an entire fortification. This would be human fortifications in which people have become imprisoned, wrong, damning ideologies, anti-God viewpoints. So we use spiritual weapons, namely the truth, the truth always found in the Word of God, to smash the anti-God lies and to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.
And again, what is it? It is the Word of God that is sharper as Hebrews says, than any other sword. And in itself is a two-edged sword, it cuts every way you use it. It is alive, it is powerful, dynamic, effective, it penetrates, it judges, krino is used in Hebrews 4:12, and no one escapes its power.
So it is an offensive weapon. At the same time, it is a defensive weapon. It is used against the thrusts of Satan. We fight with it, not only to advance the truth into the fortresses of deception in order to lead people to the truth, but we defend ourselves with it as well. Every other piece of armor covers some specific part of the body. The shield covers the whole body if we crouch behind it. And the sword is like that. It is a very general weapon, can defend us at any point where we are attacked.
What is this telling us? That your defense is going to be to know the truth. It doesn't do you any good to own a Bible if you don't know what is in it. It doesn't do you any good at all. To bring it down to what we're talking about, you're talking about a dagger that has to be used in a certain way. You can't just pick your Bible up and flail it in the air. It's not some great broad sword. It has to be used with precision. If you're in hand-to-hand combat, you can be poking a lot of places and accomplishing nothing until you strike the dagger at precisely the point that it needs to be placed in order to defend yourself or to inflict that mortal wound. It has to be used with great precision. We go forth into the kingdom of darkness, defending ourselves. And when Satan comes at us, if we are ignorant of a certain area of biblical truth, we are defenseless in that area.
It's amazing to me how many people come to me, write to me, talk to me in the interviews, radio programs, wherever I go and even in the front here on a Sunday morning and ask me questions about certain truths that are crystal clear in the Scripture about which they have absolutely no knowledge and consequently are vulnerable and defenseless at the point of their ignorance. If you're going to go forward into the kingdom of darkness and penetrate that darkness, you better know the truths of the Word of God so that you can defend yourself adequately against the deceptiveness of Satan. He's subtle. He's wily. He has very clever schemes, as they're called in verse 11. Satan doesn't like a fully taught congregation. Satan doesn't want you to know everything you need to know about the Word of God, about what God expects. Satan doesn't want you to understand all that Scripture teaches because he doesn't want you to be able to defend yourself against his deceptions.
By the way, to support this notion of the specificity with which we defend ourselves and the specificity with which we attack, I just would call to your attention that the word here for word, Word of God, is not logos. Logos is a familiar word to all of us, it is kind of a generic term, word, maybe a little broader term. The word here is rhema...rhema. And rhema means a specific utterance, a specific statement. We can only defend ourselves against the attacks of Satan in given areas if we know the specific statement of Scripture that defends us at that point. We can only attack the lies and deception, we can only liberate the captive souls if we know the specific teaching of Scripture that applies to that deception. It's the specific use of right Scripture, the divine principle that specifically applies.
Through the years it's been a commitment of mine, as you obviously know, to principle-ize texts, to draw out of any given text truth, call it a doctrine, call it a principle that is taught in that text. And then to chase that principle all around the Scriptures and support it. I've done that tonight talking to you about the authority and inerrancy of Scripture so that you have this principle in your mind, it's part of your arsenal and believe well that if there are areas that you are ignorant, Satan will find those areas and you'll find yourself defenseless there. Or if on the attack, useless to liberate someone from that very error. That's why we are instructed in 2 Timothy 2:15 to be diligent, to be approved of God, workmen that need not be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of truth. We're to search the Scriptures to know what is taught there.
How do we do that? Well I think just some practical things maybe to suggest to you. First of all, this may sound pretty basic, read the Bible. How's that? Read the Bible. John Wesley was up at four o'clock to five o'clock every day and his biographer says he read the Bible in five languages. I'm just telling you that to make you feel really bad. I have enough trouble trying to read it in one language.
This comes from an internal motivation. There are some requirements to really digest Scripture. First of all, you have to be born again because the natural man doesn't understand t he things of God. Secondly, you have to have a hunger, desire, like a baby desires milk. There has to be diligence like the Bereans in Acts 17, search the Scripture to see if these things are so. There needs to be characteristic purity and holiness in your life. James 1:21, "Putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness. In humility receive the Word implanted." You need to be filled with the Spirit for the only one who knows the things of God is the Spirit of God, 1 Corinthians 2.
I think another part of the discipline is to correlate the Scripture. This is so helpful. Compare Scripture with Scripture. The Bible is a symphony. The Holy Spirit is the conductor. Every instrument has been brought to the orchestra to play its notes as the great conductor desired and it all comes together in a magnificent, unified whole. Meditate on the Bible. Meditate on it, sit back and think about it. Expand it in your mind. Give quiet attention to its truth.
And then maybe the most helpful thing you'll ever do is teach it. You're going to hold on to what you give away. Find some faithful men and teach them what someone taught you. These are the processes that make it your own. You read it, you interpret it, you correlate it with itself, you meditate on its truths, let then sink deep into your mind and then you teach it. And I will tell you by experience what you give a way, you keep...you retain. This is how you become capable of using the sword effectively.
Putting on the whole armor of God is nothing more then in the end being able to use the Word of God effectively. In one sense I think the whole armor of God is a picture of Jesus Christ. It really is. It's a picture of Jesus Christ. He is the truth. He said that, "I am the way, the truth and the life." He is our righteousness, 2 Corinthians 5:21. He is our peace, Ephesians 2:14. It's His faith in His Father and His obedience to His Father's will because He trusted in His Father that took Him all the way to the cross. And so He, by the shield of faith, quenched all the fiery darts of the wicked one. He is the reason we have the hope of salvation. He is our salvation and He is the incarnate living Word of God.
In the end then, when you receive Christ, you receive the armor. Paul says, "Put it on." Romans 13:11 to 14, only he says it this way, "Put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Cast off sin, put on the armor of light by putting on the Lord Jesus Christ." It's just that basic. Christ's likeness then becomes the pattern, the model for us to follow. He used the Word of God, did He not?, to defend Himself. Matthew 4...Luke 4, tempted in the wilderness, every time Satan came at Him, what did He answer with? Scripture, the exact precise Scripture to defend Himself against that temptation. It's worth a look in Matthew 4.
Satan comes to Him in verse 3 and says, "If You're the Son of God, command these stones become bread." The temptation was to disobey God, to take authority, disregard what God had planned and grab some satisfaction for Himself. He deserved it. If You're the Son of God, why should You be hungry? Why should You go 40 days and 40 nights without eating? Grab some satisfaction, You have a right to it.
If He had been listening to some name-it and claim-it preacher and bought into that lie, He might have done that. But rather He answered, quoting from Deuteronomy, "Each time it is written, man shall not live on bread alone but every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God." I do what God says, nothing else."If You're the Son of God, throw Yourself down," he says, having taken Him to the pinnacle of the temple. "Don't You have a promise in the Old Testament that the angels will protect You?" Jesus said to him, "On the other hand, it is written...again from Deuteronomy...you shall not put the Lord your God to the test."
Took Him into a high mountain, showed Him the kingdoms of the world in their glory which all would one day belong to Him. He says, "I'll give them to You now. You can bypass the cross." "Be gone, Satan. It's written, you shall worship the Lord your God, serve Him only." Christ was fully armed against Satan and He wielded the sword of the Spirit and used the precise, exact text against the precise temptation.
And so, to live the Christian life is simply to become like Jesus Christ as much as that is possible. And it's a daily appropriation. I remember, I think it's 2 Samuel 11 where King David took off his armor, returned to his palace and was in greater danger than he was on the battlefield. You know,, we're really never out of reach of Satan's devices. There's never really a time when we take off the armor. We leave it on all the time and that armor that we're not wearing at the moment can be immediately picked up for defense and for offense.
Some final thoughts on this, and I'll let you go. Second Timothy chapter 3 I referred to. Let me just take you there for a minute and remind you of what the Word of God does. Five things are listed here that are accomplished by the Word.
The first one is salvation in verse 15, "That from childhood you have known the sacred writings," meaning Scripture, "which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." That's why the Bible, according to Philippians 2:16, is called the Word of Life because it gives spiritual life. John 5:24, "He who hears My Word and believes in Me has eternal life." John 6:63, "The words I speak to you are spirit and life." Or John 20:31, "These things are written that you might believe that Jesus is the Christ and believing have life in His name. Or Romans 10:17, "Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word." Or Ephesians 5:26, "Cleansed by the water of the Word." And I love 1 Thessalonians 2:13, "For this reason we constantly thank God that when you received from us the Word of God's message, you accepted not as the word of men but for what it really is, the Word of God which also performs its work in you who believe." It has a saving power. "We're begotten again," 1 Peter 1, "by the word of truth."
So it is the Word that has the power to save. Now once we have been saved, what does the Word do? Well very familiar verse, verse 16, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching." Content, the body of divine truth that we live by. This is the treasure of biblical truth, the revelation of God to man.
So the Word comes, it saves. The Word comes, it establishes doctrinal truth. And then the Word cuts and breaks down and shatters the sinner, or the saint, for that matter, who comes under its power. And then it picks the sinner or the saint back up in a restoring work to an upright position. And then trains in righteousness, paideia which has to do with educating children, bringing them to maturity which is the positive side of correction.
So this is the power of the Word of God. For us in our own lives, to do its work and through us to impact the lives of others. Christ is the model. Putting the armor is putting on Christ.
Well I'll leave it at that. One further lesson, I think we'll look at next Sunday night, is the place that prayer plays in all of this because in verse 18 Paul says, "With all prayer and petition, pray at all times in the Spirit." We'll talk about what that means. That's also critical as you go into battle, not to feel overly self-confident even in wielding the Word but being dependent on prayer and the ministry of the Holy Spirit.
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Multi-layer printed circuit board analysis system using X-ray equipment
At the Manufacturing Business Matching Fair, Applied Vision Systems displayed its multi-layer printed circuit board analysis system, which uses X-ray equipment. Currently in development with support from the government, this system uses stereo X-ray imaging to make three-dimensional measurements. This allows separate mapping of each pattern layer within a multi-layer PCB.

subset: commoncrawl


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Here's how RW members rated this race in the past (480 votes).
In short: Great location; unique route; well organised, this one should be on your "bucket list"In full: Very special race; incredible convoy of buses to the start and definite PB potential.Yes the bus journey took longer than planned, and yes it was a bit tight for time from arriving to the gun going off, but on the plus side it meant less time waiting in the rain.Like others, I did struggle to find a restuarant in Inverness on Saturday night, note to self - book a table in advance - problem sorted.I also left it late to book accomodation and struggled to find somewhere, note to self - book your accomodation well in advance - problem sorted too!I may have been lucky as my bus was at the back of the convoy and therefore nearer the baggage trucks and the start line. Yes there were not enough loos at the start, but have you ever been to a race where there are enough loos to cope with all those nervous bladders?Yes there is a morale and energy sapping hill at 20 miles, but the first 5 miles are downhill and fast to balance this out. Given the remote location you can't fault the level of support.Plenty of drinks stations, although I'd prefer more water than lucozade, that's my only minor grumble.Nice flat finish; decent goody bag and great T shirt.For me the key point in any review is whether the writer will be back --- not only will I be back, but this is one I'd recomend to anyone.Date of review: October 7, 2011
Date of review: October 6, 2011
In short: Great Race! Great support!In full: My 2nd Loch Ness, other than the bus journey taking forever at the start (which I knew about from last year!), brilliant race and well organised. The support even in the pouring rain was fantastic. We maybe mad for running but the supporters are brave for standing there for hours! Stewards and youngsters handing out the drinks always smiling! Well done to all and see you next year!!Date of review: October 6, 2011
In short: Lovely scenic route with positive challenges In full: Im fortunate enough to be surrounded by hills where I live so have plenty of practice and was prepared for the ones Loch ness had to throw at me (if I remember correctly circa mile 4,6,8, 18 and a bit more at 20 are the main ups) - needless to say my training had paid off and was able to enjoy the route - not over crowded and the scottish weather means that despite the uphills this one still creates PB potential. Plenty of water and lucazade stops along the route with local supporters dotted along the way (big support in Dores which gives you a great buzz at the 18 mile point). Toilets very busy at the start but there was a loo on the bus - recommend using that unless you want to a wilderness wee (lots of potential areas for this too and seemed to be popular option for quite a few runners). No spectators at the start - basically because you are dropped in the middle of no where - but well organised and not overly busy at the finish - ie fine for getting parked close by. Entry fee includes bus transport to the start plus hot food at the finish (which I was surprised but I actually really enjoyed) so feels reasonable value really. Overall really enjoyed this race which gives you a fantastic opportunity to spend some time once you have finished in a really beautiful (albeit often a bit wet and drizzly) part of the world Date of review: October 6, 2011
Date of review: October 5, 2011
In short: Easily Beats Edinburgh As Best In ScotlandIn full: My 3rd Loch Ness marathon and enjoyed everyone so far. Marshalls and water station staff were fantastic again. Finish area was good and much better t-shirt than previous ones. The only down point was the bus journey again, 2nd year in 3 we were late at start, this needs to be looked at. Overall still my favorite marathon, even better than London or Paris.Date of review: October 5, 2011
In full: The LNM was my first marathon and what a day I had. I was one of the unprepared runners who needed to have an unscheduled pit stop on the way to the start but there was a fantastic atmosphere on the bus and we all slow clapped the ones who needed a second stop. The race was hilly but being my first marathon I don't have anything to compare it too. I will say I ran past a lot of people walking the infamous Dores hill and my time was 4:05. I talked to lots of other runners on the day and most said it was hillier than other runs they had done so I guess you have to just enter and make your own mind up on this one. I think some of the gripes about toilets at the bus pickup are a bit harsh as I did the run with 2 other LNM virgins and we made a point of getting to the pickup early so we could use the toilets at the other side of the field before getting on the buses. My only gripe is the start was a bit of a bottle neck and cost me the sub 4 hour time but I will know for next time and I will just start nearer the line. The support in the early stages was fantastic when you consider the weather and the little kids handing out the water were ace, I made a point of choosing the smallest to get my bottles from (even if it meant bending down). I saw so many funny sights and one which still makes me chuckle. A girl's bra was rubbing and she just hoisted up her top and presented her boobs to the stunned first aider who tried to say something but she just said "Och, just do it!!!" He applied the plaster and she went on her way, very funny.Anyway - I'll be back next year and It will be a sub 4 hour this time.% star race for me.Date of review: October 5, 2011
In short: If you only run one marathon do this one.In full: My first ever marathon. Expected severe hills but all were milder than those on my training runs. Beautiful scenary and fantastic people. What an amazing weekend.Date of review: October 4, 2011
In short: Don't listen to scary stories about hills - this race has great PB potentialIn full: I have run 14 marathons - 5 of them being at Loch Ness. My 3 best times are at Loch Ness. Basically you roll downhill for 12 miles - have a wee mole hill around 18 miles then a pleasant canter along the river to the finish line. No problem! Well almost no problem. So, if you want a PB sign up for next year's race :)Date of review: October 4, 2011
In short: Challenging undulating hills great atmosphere and organisationIn full: My second marathon and so much better atmosphere and organisation than Edinburgh in May. They could learn a lot from Loch Ness. Great camaraderie and friendly marshalls. Big thanks to the marshall who gave out chocolate fudge at 21 miles. Good finish superb medal. Hydrating before bus journey gives some urinary challenges! Expect very sore legs after from the undulations. This event is a great advert for Scotland.Date of review: October 4, 2011
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Topic: Guilty by association!
I'm writing a web application to manage community service opportunities. There are 4 models: Location, User, State, and Opportunity. Every user has a location (where they live) and every opportunity has one or more locations (the places that opportunity is available at). Every location has a state. Is there a way, through built in RoR mechanics, to get what users live in a certain state? I had experimented with putting "has_many :through=> :locations" but with no luck (HasManyThroughSourceAssociationMacroError).
This is what I had:
class State < ActiveRecord::Base
has_many :locations
has_many :users, :through=> :locations
class Location < ActiveRecord::Base
has_and_belongs_to_many :opportunities
has_one :user
belongs_to :state
class User < ActiveRecord::Base
belongs_to :location
Is there something wrong with my associations? My database looks (roughly) like this:
create_table "locations", :force => true do |t|
t.column "state_id", :integer
create_table "locations_opportunities", :force => true do |t|
t.column "location_id", :integer
t.column "opportunity_id", :integer
create_table "opportunities", :force => true do |t|
create_table "states", :force => true do |t|
create_table "users", :force => true do |t|
t.column "location_id", :integer
Thank you for your time, I appreciate it. Any feedback would be highly valued. Thanks again!
(Note: There was a similar post by me in another forum, but I deleted it and elaborated here)
Last edited by octoberdan (2007-01-16 11:27:09)


text:
Chicken Fried Steak
- 2 eggs
- 2 cups milk, at room temperature
- 3 cups flour
- 2 teaspoons meat seasoning
- 2 cups frying oil, preferably Canola
- 8 (6-ounce) tenderized beef cutlets at room temperature (or tenderized center cut boneless pork chop, or tenderized boneless chicken breasts)
- Mashed potatoes, recipe follows
- Mashed Potatoes:
- 1 pound baking potatoes, like russets, peeled and cut in quarters
- 12 tablespoons (1 1/2 sticks) butter
- 2 cups half-and-half or 1 1/2 cups milk
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 teaspoon black pepper
DirectionsWatch how to make this recipe.
Whisk eggs and milk together in a bowl and set this egg wash aside. Combine the flour and meat seasoning in another bowl and set aside.
Heat the oil in a heavy 14-inch cast iron skillet over medium heat to 350 degrees F. Use a deep frying thermometer to check temperature. The oil should pop loudly when a drop of egg is dropped in.
Dip each of the first 4 cutlets in the egg wash mixture. Dredge them in the flour, then dip them back into the egg wash, and very gently place them in the hot oil. As you carry them 1 at a time from the egg wash to the skillet, hold a plate under them to catch the dripping egg wash. There'll be a regular explosion of noisy oil popping. Cook for 3 to 5 minutes, until breading is set and golden brown. Gently turn them with a long handled meat fork or long metal tongs. Be careful. Cook another 3 minutes.
Carefully remove them from the skillet and drain on a platter lined with paper towels. Let oil reheat and repeat process for other 4 cutlets.
Boil potatoes until tender. Drain and mash with butter, half-and-half, salt and pepper. Beat until smooth.
Yield: 10 servings
Recipe courtesy of Eddie Wilson, Threadgills
Cooking Tips
More Recipes and Ideas
Chicken Fried Steak on Stick with Whatsthishere Sauce
Recipe courtesy of Brian Boitano
Chicken Fried Steak
Recipe courtesy of Robert Irvine
Chicken-Fried Steak With Cream
Recipe courtesy of Food Network Kitchen


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2) of course you did...and there is an argument that says Dana White is doing this to try and limit the number of decisions on a card, and just to shake up those who think any loss is good. But if thats true he still did it at the expense of people who didnt deserve to be Cut.
3) You mean he is a Favourite Thats the problem with at will employers...its bribes and corruption isnt it. if your face fits...if your a "Yes" Man as we put it in England. If you suck up to those in power, and kiss enough ass
4) Oh...I'm sorry, I thought we were talking about clearing the Roster for the elite fighters...not keeping a bunch of "names" Without order there is chaos. For business purposes, you have to be prepared to fire those who are not the elite, or else you arent the "Ultimate" fighting Championships are you?
5) Ludwig Beck was a very high ranking official in the German Army when Hitler came to power. He was one of the key leaders of a plott to kill Adolf Hitler in 1944, a plott which failed. After the Nazi party had reclaimed Berlin they took out those behind the plott, lined them up, and shot them all.
But Ludwig Beck was not amoung them. Because of his Status and his time served in the army, they offered him a pistol, and he did himself.
Dana White has made it clear that BJ Penn should resign and never fight again. That is exactly the same thing. He is offering Penn a way out that would save the embarissment of being forceably removed, by getting him to remove himself. They've done it with Chuck Liddell...and they've done it with Matt Hughes...Dana White made no silence in saying he wanted both to permanently retire..nothing left to proove, etc...and they will do it, no doubt this year to Rich Franklin aswell...I suspect that W.Silva, should he loose his fight next week will jump before he is pushed. He may not expect that level of courtesy from the UFC but cant see him waiting for them...its a phrase known as "falling on ones sword"
Who knows what will happen to Rashad Evans...and frankly...
6) If they dont cut him, they are hypocrits, who lie about wanting only the elite, and just want to keep their friends.
7) Well, they actually moved him from the UFC to the WEC because they couldnt justify him being in the UFC no more. I think during the WEC tenure something was going on with Jens...I'm still certain that he deliberately, for some reason held back in fighting Urijah Faber, I remember discussing that possibility with Jacob Hey at UFC 85 not long after. Jens is a special case even for the UFC because of the whole lower weight class...essentially, the Legacy of Jens Pulver is that you have 155lb fighters, and 145lbs and 135lbs and maybe eventually 125lbs divisions.
I wonder whether they actually trust him though, because they could have used him further and chose not to..I think they feel he might be a loose cannon. The commentating job was absolutely made for him, and they dithered and then never bothered...and they do him a dis-service by putting Mask in the hall of fame and not him.
I do kinda think Black and White is a good place to start...even with flexible policy...you shouldnt just be making things up as you go along
I used to work for a company where I didn't feel that they treated people very well. I left on my own rather than risk getting fired because walking on egg shells waiting to get let go wasn't worth it. You never know what criteria they were going to use ie. age, performance, ect. It was the best decision that I ever made. The point is, businesses will operate however they want as long as they are within the law. The UFC is no different and not breaking any laws.
Morals and ethics are thrown out the window for most businesses, they are in it for financial purposes, not to be humane and employ people. That's just how it is....you can wish they actually cared, but they don't. I presume it is like this almost everywhere or there are companies like this everywhere. Unfortunately you just have to build a bridge and get over it!
Businesses that are operating in sports are run entirely different than you want them to. That is a reality. I know that this is not a business, per se, but is it fair for the England national team to cut David Beckham who is still fit to play? Afterall, this would be like firing him and your country seems to have a right to employment. And these guys do get paid to play on this team. Is it possible that this is looked at as an 'honor' to play on that team? Can't it be an honor to fight in the UFC and not a right?
Rejoice ever more. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
People aren't in business for social equality. They are in business to make a profit.
Rejoice ever more. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
LAs changed a lot over the years, since those great gold rush pioneers came in their creaky covered wagons, as far as they could go, end of the line, their dreams were yours, their dreams were mine.
But in those dreams were hidden dragons.
In England the Law keeps a far better ballence in terms of allowing freedom for those who created the business, and own them, but also providing safe guards for those who work in them. In England noone can just get up and leave if they dont like who they work for...if that was the case, we would all have done it...but jobs are so hard to come by these days that if you have a job, you do everything you can to keep it, no matter how shyte your employers get...and believe me, Capitalist Companies, they will do anything to make profit...in harder times when they can not make that profit, they make cuts...when you are in the position of being paid a single persons wage, but doing the job of multiple persons, so the Company doesnt spend so much on wages, you know things are hard
But its ethically wrong to have the ability to dismiss someone for no good and valid reason. In this country, basically, they cant just fire you. They have to follow set guidelines, and they have to be applied to everyone regardless of status...although you find there are people, sometimes so high up that are protected by their status...thats relatively rare now...or at least ive never encountered that.
2) I dont mind that they cut Jon fitch...but a great many Britons are angry that the UFC basically cut nearly all their grass roots potential from this country....is it good business sence to cut upcomming british fighters, when the few british names you have at the top are...basically, crap
3) You want him to stay on...so you can enjoy watching him fail again
4) But some of those cut, were basically ultimate to win, with stoppages three out of five matches, to only have been finished once in the only two losses on your entire record...and to be young enough to bounce back from that...and yet still be granted none of that precious "leeway" The company cant claim its about "ultimates" when it safe guards some obvious failiures can it??
5) I didnt say it was the right thing to do...I just said thats what they do with their favourites...and no I dont think thats right either....I think I refered to it as "Bribes and corruption" "Sucking up and ass kissing" or something like that
6) Let them go persue other opportunities That is the justification I came up with for myself one day in June. I had done absolutely nothing wrong, my Employer had turned against me, out of the blue I was bought into a little room and told to Resign or be fired. I spent the entire day wandering around pondering my decision...I decided that maybe it was okay...I'd just go do something else...having made that decision I went into my local and found others from my work place and told them all about it and they were horrified. They told me that Employers are not allowed to do that, and that I was bloody well going to fight for my rights...I had spent all day turning this ultimatum into a fair agrreement...but it wasnt a fair agreement, it was an ultimatum. I went back to my Employer, told them that I was not going to go quietly, and, as per there side of the deal, they began to fabricate evidences to mount a constructive dismissal campaign...they moved fast because you have to have been working for an employer a year to gain rights of unfair dismissal at a tribuneral...and knowing that, they wanted rid of me quickly.
the Registrar at the first disciplinary was so taken by my stance, he offered to represent me in later disciplinaries but I declined his offer. During the first Disciplinary I lost the pannel, whilst they returned a verdict of guilty, they could not apply any sentance because I had prooved their trial corrupted. I won the second disciplinary...and then they ran out of time for the third...and when I passed my year, the whole thing vanished into the ether...as if It had never happened.
GOD knows what I would have done if they were an At Will employer who didnt need to legitamize themselves...my entire way of life would have been distroyed, I would have been homeless, financially bankrupt. The desperate irony is that particular "company" was NOT a Capitalist Company...It was The Church.
7) I cant remember to be honnest, not without looking it up. I think back then, anyone who had been around a long time was demoted before being given the boot...they could do that because WEC was already seen as having been given the boot from the UFC...it was a demotion.
I dont think he was a favourite...for the reasons I gave before...if he was a favourite he would have been converted to a role as commentator and forced into retirement...perhaps he rejected them...I dont know...I might ask him.
8) It SHOULD be an honour to fight for the UFC...the reason why it isnt is because the UFC dont act in a professional and honourable way to their employees, or...at all....people think that Dana White is so refreshing because he speaks so crudely...but...in a sence he cant be taken seriously, because he says never...then does it, changes his mind, tells us, every new fight is the biggest in UFC history...He's not really a respectable character...and he tarnishes his own belts with fast tracking and the likes.
Respect is earned...its given to mature people, professional organisations...the UFC top brass are neither...well Dana White isnt...the very thought of telling an employee they are cut by Twitter...for example...he appologized...but any true businessman with any credibility would NEVER have ever let that be a possibility. Part of this is because they are too informal...they make too much up as they go along, rather then having a defined standard procedure...they make themselves look illegitamate...the whole reason we are discussing this is exactly why "Honour" is not really involved...You cant really regard the UFC as sacred or with any reverence at all...I dont know if you can ever change that really...I dont know how you'd start...I dont really know if its needed...I just want them to treat these fighters in a just manner
I think you just like to stir the pot. Anyone here has the opportunity, if they're willing to work hard for it.
Rejoice ever more. 1 Thessalonians 5:16
We do have the ability to walk away from a crappy job, I am very thankful for this as my job had destroyed my health both physically and mentally. I guess I would rather have this right than guaranteed employment.
Now take a look at the UFC's LW division. Have you seen how many fighters they have under contract? Some of these guys will be gone here too, they just haven't fought yet this year.
I still don't buy that he is into women's MMA, he is into Ronda. I really wanted to see her lose last night just to see what he would do. You want to talk about favoritism, there it is.
In all, I think Dana is a good guy and does his job the best that he can. I can't imagine all that he deals with all the time....the guy seriously lives this. He has a passion for the sport that cannot be denied, but it is definitely business first. I don't hold that against him.
My whole argument is that its NOT about hard work and accomplishment with the UFC...its about who they favour and like and who they protect...NOT about who is the Elite or most hard working fighters.
...and for the record...I dont think you are a failure NOONE who can grow Gardens like yours could ever be considered a failure, or be accused of not being hard working...I dont know about your actual job...but I do know about Gardening...I know I put a shed load of effort in and there is no way in Hell I would EVER manage to create something like what you've done...I remember when you showed me something about laying those bricks around a bed or something...and I thought...I wish I could do that now assuming you put as much effort into your work as you would do that (which is a fair assumption coz you tend to find, hard workers, are hardworkers at anything they do...lazy people, and lazy at everything) you probably dont have a million quid because your employer probably under values you...I expect I would see what you were doing and say your employer hasnt rewarded you for what you've done properly either.
I would give you a million pounds...but...I dont have a million pounds either...I am actually in a real low paying job, considering I am a graduate I am working on changing that, but it takes time...and any job is better then no job in a recession.
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Thanks for reminding us of this powerful quotation from our interview with the great French geophysicist.
Share Your Reflection

Thanks for giving us such a wonderful show. It really
Permalink Submitted by kungfutofu on Sat, 2010-10-09 09:19
Thanks for giving us such a wonderful show. It really educates and helps me to learn to be a better human being.

Fabulous quote.

Permalink Submitted by Maureen on Sat, 2010-10-09 11:37
Fabulous quote.

This was such a timely broadcast both for me in my
Permalink Submitted by Fran on Sun, 2010-10-10 08:45
This was such a timely broadcast both for me in my persoanl life as I grapply with my own weaknesses and as a citizen watching the destructive nature of our political campaigns. I can't help wondering where some of our politicans are in their sense of compassion.
Fran Toomey


text:
Expert Q & A Answers About staph infection
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text:
Well, it's Tuesday again, and you know what that means! IBM Announcements! Typically, IBM System Storage has three to five major product launches per year. Making announcements every Tuesday would have been two frequent, and having one big announcement every two or three years would be too far apart. Worldwide combined revenues for storage hardware and software grew double digits last year, comparing full-year 2011 to the prior 2010 year, and I am sure that 2012 will also be a good year for IBM as well! This week we have announcements for both disk and tape, but since 2012 is the 60th Diamond Anniversary for tape, I will start with tape systems first.
- TS1140 support for JA/JJ tape cartridges
The TS1140 enterprise tape drive was announced at the [Storage Innovation Executive Summit] last May. It supported a new E07 format on three different new tape cartridges. Models "JC" was 4.0TB standard re-writeable tapes, "JY" was 4.0TB WORM tapes, and "JK" were 500GB economy tapes that were less expensive, but offered faster random access.
Generally, IBM has adopted an N-2 read, N-1 write [backward compatibility]. This means that the TS1140 could read E05 and E06 formatted tapes on JB and JX media, and could write E06 format on JB and JX media. However, there are a lot of older JA and JJ media, especially as part of TS7740 environments, so IBM now supports TS1140 drives to read J1A formatted JA and JJ media. This is not just for TS7740 environments, any TS1140 in stand-alone or tape library configurations will support this as well.
- TS7700 R2.1 enhancements
IBM is a leader in tape virtualization with or without physical tape as back-end media. There are two hardware models of the [IBM Virtualization Engine TS7700 family] for the IBM System z mainframe. These virtual libraries are referred to as "clusters" in IBM literature.
- The TS7740 Virtual Tape Library supports putting virtual tape images on disk first, then move less-active data to physical tape, which I covered in my blog post [IBM Announcements - July 2007].
- The TS7720 Virtual Tape Library supports a disk-only approach, which I covered in my blog post [IBM Mainframe Disk and Tape Announcements - October 2008].
A unique feature of the TS7700 series is support for a Grid configuration, which allows up to six different TS7700 clusters to be grouped into a single instance image. These clusters can be in local or remote locations, connected via WAN or LAN connections.
R2.1 is the latest software release of this successful IBM's TS7700 series.
- True Sync Mode Copy. Before R2.1, the TS7700 offered "immediate mode copy". An application would write to a virtual tape, and when it was done with the tape and performed an unmount, the TS7700 would then replicate the tape contents to a secondary cluster on the grid. With True Sync Mode, data contents are replicated per implicit or explicit SYNC points. This is another IBM first in the IT tape industry.
- Remote Mount Fail-over. When you have two or more TS7700 clusters in a grid configuration, you can do remote mounts. We've added fail-over multi-pathing up to four paths, so that if a link to a remote cluster is down, it will try one of the others instead.
- Parallel Copies and Pre-Migration. On of my 19 patents is for the pre-migration feature for the IBM 3494 Virtual Tape Server (VTS) that carries forward into the TS7700, and is also used in the SONAS and Information Archive products. However, when the grid architecture was introduced, the engineers decided not to allow pre-migration and copies to secondary clusters to occur concurrently. Now these two operations can be done in parallel.
- Merge two grids into one grid. Now that we can support up to six clusters into a single grid, we have people with 2-cluster and 3-cluster grids looking to merge them into one. Of course, all the logical and physical volume serials (VOLSER) must be unique!
- Accelerate off JA/JJ Media. There are a lot of older JA and JJ media still in TS7700 libraries. This feature allows customers to speed up the transition to newer physical tape media.
- Copy Export to E06 format on JB media. This one is clever, and I have to say I would have never thought about it. Let's say you have a TS7740 with TS1140 drives, but you want to export some virtual tapes to physical media to be sent to someone who only has a TS7740 connected with older TS1130 drives. These older drives can't read new JC media nor make sense of the E07 format. This feature will let you export to older JB media in E06 format so that it will be fully readable at the new location on the TS1130 drives.
- Copy Export Merge service offering. Thanks to mergers and acquisitions, it is sometimes necessary to split off a portion of data from a TS7700 grid. In the past, IBM supported sending this export to a completely empty TS7700 library, but this new service offerings allows the export to be merged into an existing TS7700 that already contains data.
- LTFS-SDE support for Mac OS X 10.7 Lion
How do people still not yet know about the Linear Tape File System [LTFS]? I mentioned this in my blogs back in 2010 in [April], [September], and [November]. Last year, LTFS was the [NAB Show Pick Hits Award] and an [Emmy] for revolutionizing the use of digital tape in Television broadcasting.
In layman's terms, the Single Drive Edition [LTFS-SDE] allows a tape cartridge to be treated like USB memory stick. It is supported on the LTO5 tape drives for systems running various levels of Windows, Linux and Mac OS X. Prior to this announcement, IBM supported Snow Leopard (10.5.6) and Leopard (10.6), and now supports Mac OS X 10.7 "Lion" release.
- XIV Gen3 Solid-State Drives (SSD)
The [IBM XIV Gen3 storage system] now supports Solid State Drives! I thought I would provide some context from a historic perspective.
IBM first introduced Solid-State Drives (SSD) back in 2007 where it made sense the most, in [drive-for-drive replacements on blade servers in the IBM BladeCenter]. Blade servers typically only have a single drive, and SSD are both faster and use less energy on a drive-for-drive comparison, so this provided immediate benefit. Today, SSD are available on a variety of System x and POWER system servers.
In 2008, IBM rocked the world by being the first to reach [1 Million IOPS with Project Quicksilver]. This was an all-SSD configuration which many considered unrealistic (at the time), but it showed the potential for solid state drives.
In 2010, IBM announced [DS8700 Easy Tier with Sub-LUN automated tiering], and followed it up with similar support for [SVC 6.1 and Storwize V7000] that provides this enterprise-class functionality to midrange and externally-virtualized storage systems.
In 2011, IBM was able to [scan 10 billion files in 43 minutes] using the GPFS file system in support of Big Data analytics. This, of course, was done with Solid State Drives.
When the [XIV Gen3 was Announced - July 2011], each module included an 1.8-inch "SSD-Ready" slot in the back. IBM made a Statement of Direction that IBM would someday offer SSD drives to put in these slots. Today's announcement is that IBM has finalized the qualification process, so now XIV Gen3 clients can have 400GB of usable non-volatile SSD read cache added to each module. This SSD can be added to existing XIV Gen3 boxes in the field, or it can be factory-installed in new shipments. If you have a 15-module XIV, that's 6TB of additional read cache! This SSD is entirely managed by the XIV Gen3, so you won't have to spend weeks reading manuals or specifying configuration parameters.
My colleague Elisabeth Stahl covers this from a performance angle in her blog post [Performance in a Flash: New IBM XIV SSD Caching].
When you carve volumes on the XIV, you now have an option to enable or disable use of the SSD cache for each volume. Since XIV is being used in private and public cloud deployments, this offers the ability to offer premium performance at premium prices. The use of SSD is complementary to IBM XIV Quality of Service (QoS) performance levels, which are determined by host instead.
Well, that's the first major IBM System Storage launch of 2012. Let me know what you think in the comment section below.
technorati tags: IBM, TS1140, TS7700, TS7720, TS7740, LTFS, LTFS-SDE, LTO5, Mac OS X, Sync, XIV, Gen3, Elisabeth Stahl, SSD


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If you crave competition or want to learn a new skill, look no further than Endurance Karting for a fun, safe racing environment. We host kart racing schools and endurance events along the eastern United States each year, including the annual 24 Hours of America. Our events are perfect for individual drivers, families, friends or corporate groups. Families and friends enjoy the camaraderie of our events, while corporate groups enjoy the team-building experience.
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Dr. Michael B. McCall founding president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System (KCTCS) announced today he will retire Jan. 15, 2015 after 16 years leading the System that was created in 1997.
"I have been privileged to work with a dedicated Board, outstanding cabinet, committed college presidents along with extraordinary faculty and staff," McCall said. "Together we have built a comprehensive two-year college system that is the envy of the nation. I am extremely proud of the work we have accomplished to enhance the educational attainment in the state. The last 15 years as president have truly been the most rewarding of my career. I believe now it is time to complete my tenure and for the System to begin the transition to new leadership."
McCall will remain as president until a successor is named and in place to ensure a smooth transition between the current and future administrations. During the next month, Board of Regents Chair P.G. Peeples will develop a presidential search process and work with a search firm to develop a plan and timeline for a nationwide search.
"I am truly saddened by President McCall's announcement to retire. It will be a tremendous loss to both KCTCS and the Commonwealth," Peeples said. "Because of his leadership, vision and management skills he is leaving the organization in a very strong position, which will allow us to continue on the strategic course of being the nation's premier community and technical college system."
Early Days of KCTCS
In 1997 the Kentucky Postsecondary Education Improvement Act (House Bill 1) created the Kentucky Community and Technical College System by joining the 14 community colleges of the University of Kentucky with the 15 technical institutes in the Kentucky Workforce Development cabinet under a new system. This created the ninth, unique public institution, which today serves 96,914 students, making it the largest provider of postsecondary education in the state.
Shortly after Gov. Paul Patton appointed the first KCTCS Board of Regents they launched a national search to select the System's founding president. McCall, a champion of community college education was chosen in a unanimous vote on December 3, 1998.
"I am as proud today as I was 15 years ago to have been a member of the board that enticed Dr. McCall to come to Kentucky to lead what was then the new community and technical college system," Martha Johnson, first KCTCS Board of Regents chair, said. "With experience, energy and passion, President McCall has built a system of 16 colleges that are nationally recognized for their excellence. His understanding of the connection between education and economic development, along with his drive for KCTCS to make a difference in people's lives, have forever improved educational access and opportunities for all Kentuckians. Although he will be missed, the foundation is firmly in place to continue the System's outstanding progress."
McCall's first challenge was to develop a community-driven effort to consolidate the 29 separate colleges and institutes into 16 comprehensive community and technical colleges. This entailed developing the initial infrastructure to support a statewide system that included creating an information technology infrastructure and administrative systems; establishing personnel rules for six different groups of employees; and building new financial and accounting systems. Additionally, the System had to obtain accreditation by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools for the newly consolidated colleges.
"KCTCS is one of the greatest accomplishments of the 1997 Postsecondary Improvement Act and is an unqualified success due to the leadership of Dr. McCall," Gov. Paul Patton said. "Few things in life work out exactly as you expect, but KCTCS has exceeded all of our expectations thanks to Dr. McCall and the outstanding team he has built."
McCall's devotion to two-year colleges and his vision for KCTCS set the course for the System. The mission of KCTCS has always been to improve the quality of life and employability of the citizens of the Commonwealth by serving as the primary provider of:
• College and Workforce Readiness,
• Transfer Education and
• Workforce Education.
In just 15 years KCTCS has become the number one provider of workforce and postsecondary education in the state.
McCall's Milestones
Under McCall's leadership KCTCS has flourished and become the place where higher education begins for many Kentuckians. Nearly half of Kentucky's postsecondary education students are enrolled at a KCTCS college.
Today, the 16 KCTCS colleges at more than 70 locations offer 700 programs in high wage, high demand fields, including 77 online credentials.
"Dr. McCall's achievements as president of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System are only outweighed by his commitment to improving the quality and access to education for all Kentuckians—despite their age, economic status or geographic location," said Governor Beshear. "Community colleges play an integral part in Kentucky's economy by providing the skills and education necessary to create a highly-trained and productive workforce. I thank Dr. McCall for his dedicated efforts to enhancing and growing our state's first-rate community college system and wish him the best of luck in all his future endeavors."
Other accomplishments during McCall's tenure:
• Increased enrollment 109.7 percent.
• Served and changed the lives of more than 500,000 Kentuckians.
• Serves 6,204 businesses and trains 61,929 employees annually.
• Increased the number of certificates, diplomas and degrees awarded by 300 percent (2001-2012).
• Completed 45 capital projects totaling approximately $500 million, creating access to higher education throughout the state. There is a KCTCS location within a 30-minute drive of 95 percent of all Kentuckians.
• Worked with the General Assembly to champion revolutionary transfer legislation, which has eased the process for KCTCS students transferring to the state's four-year public institutions. This legislation has become a national model.
• Established the North American Racing Academy (NARA), the first college-affiliated horse racing academy in the United States. Students from across the state, country and world travel to Kentucky to study at the NARA under the tutelage of Hall of Fame jockey Chris McCarron.
• Launched the Kentucky Coal Academy, which has trained more than 55,000 new and incumbent miners for work in more than 70 coal companies.
• Created the Automotive Manufacturing Technical Education Collaborative, a multi-state collaboration of community and technical colleges providing ongoing training for automotive technicians and engineers to equip them with the advanced skills they need to have successful careers in a constantly changing and globally competitive workforce.
• Created an Associate in Applied Science (AAS) Degree in Fire/Rescue Science Technology through the Kentucky Fire Commission, which is part of KCTCS. The Kentucky Fire Commission trains 80 percent of Kentucky-trained firefighters.
• Integrated the Kentucky Board of Emergency Medical Services (KBEMS) into KCTCS. KBEMS certifies first responders and emergency medical technicians. Additionally, it provides licenses to paramedics and ambulance services and establishes standards for the education and training of emergency medical services personnel.
KCTCS Recognized Nationally
The culmination of McCall's leadership was the creation of a premier community and technical college system, which has been reinforced by national recognition and awards.
"Dr. Mike McCall has been one of the transformative community college leaders of this generation," Dr. Walter Bumphus, president and CEO of the American Association of Community Colleges, said. "The achievements and accomplishments of the Kentucky Community and Technical College System under Dr. McCall's leadership have been second to none in the country. Mike has demonstrated exceptional leadership in developing a cadre of colleges that have been nationally recognized for their efforts in workforce development. Mike's legacy will certainly place him amongst the best of the best leaders in the history of community colleges. I am proud to call Mike not only a professional colleague but a personal friend."
The National Center for Higher Education Management Systems (NCHEMS) reported the creation and accomplishments of KCTCS represent the crown jewel of higher education reform in Kentucky. Additionally, NCHEMS measured Kentucky's rate of improvement on key higher education metrics from 2000 to 2009. It reported that Kentucky ranks first among all states on three metrics. Two of those metrics, improvement in the percent of working-age adults with college degrees and the number of undergraduate credentials awarded relative to the population with no college degree, were due primarily to the efforts of KCTCS. The report also revealed that the increase in three-year graduation rates at KCTCS colleges was the third highest percentage point change in the nation and resulted in Kentucky moving from 38th among states to 16th.
Other national recognition includes:
• The Aspen Institute, an educational and policy studies organization based in Washington, D.C., awarded the Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence to several KCTCS colleges. The award represents the nation's signature recognition of high achievement and performance in America's community colleges.
o 2011 – Eight were ranked in the top 10 percent in the nation and one was in the top three in the nation. Only two states, Florida and Texas, had more colleges recognized and these states are much larger than Kentucky.
o 2013 – Five were ranked in the top 10 percent with two in the
top 10 — the most of any state.
• Community College Week recognized five KCTCS colleges as some of the nation's fastest-growing community colleges in 2013.
• Second Lady Jill Biden and Labor Secretary Hilda Solis invited KCTCS to be part of their "Community College to Career" bus tour. The event featured five KCTCS college workforce partnerships.
• The Association of Community College Trustees awarded KCTCS the Charles Kennedy Equity Award for its commitment to diversity in 2011.
McCall's Education and Experience
McCall earned a bachelor's degree in physics and mathematics from the University of North Carolina-Wilmington, a master's degree in physics and a doctorate in educational administration from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
McCall's career spans 44 years of experience in comprehensive community colleges. His resume includes an educational career as a professor of physics and assistant dean of instruction at New River Community College in Virginia. From there, McCall went to Tidewater Community College as division chairman and on to Paul D. Camp Community College as dean and president. He later became president of Florence Darlington Technical College and then executive director of the South Carolina State Board for Technical and Comprehensive Education. This position required him to coordinate operations of 16 colleges and to advocate on their behalf with the South Carolina General Assembly.
McCall's Professional and Civic Leadership
In addition to McCall's leadership at KCTCS, he has been at the forefront of many state and national organizations serving on or leading boards and advisory committees.
The list includes:
• Fulbright Advisory Board
• American Association of Community Colleges, Board Chair (2006)
• National Science Foundation Blue Ribbon Panel – (studying Community College pathways to technical, engineering & technology teacher education programs)
• Interactive Digital Center, Honorary Advisory Board Member
• Business-Higher Education Forum, Member
• United Way of the Bluegrass, Board Member
• Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher's Blue Ribbon Commission Member
• Southern Growth Policies, Board Member
• Community College Journal of Research and Practice, Editorial Board Member
• Center for the Integration of Research, Teaching, and Learning, National Advisory Board Member
• National Council of State Directors of Community Colleges, Board Member
• National Association for Industrial Education Cooperation, Board Member
• Kentucky Workforce Investment Board, Board Member
• Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Board Member
• Bluegrass State Skills Corporation, Board Member
• Council for Community Education, Board Member
• Kentucky Farm Bureau, Education Advisory Committee Member
McCall also has won a variety of state and national awards including:
• State Community College Director of Distinction Award – Phi Theta Kappa
• National Leadership Award – Inside the Field, National Council for Continuing Education and Training (NCCET)
• Educator of the Year Award, Woodford County Chamber of Commerce
• International Leadership Award – National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD)
• Kentuckian of the Year, Kentucky Monthly Magazine
• Presidential Medallion, Murray State University
• Paul Harris Fellow
During the next year, McCall will continue to work on the 2010-2016 Business Plan for Transforming Kentucky that is designed to increase student success by moving more students through the system's 16 colleges in less time and for less cost. He also will establish the KCTCS Momentum Scholarship Fund. This new scholarship will assist students in completing a credential that will lead directly to gainful employment in high wage, high demand jobs or enable them to transfer for a four-year institution in less time and with less cost.
For more information about McCall and to view his bio, visit www.kctcs.edu.


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I am in my mid twenties and I have a solid career with a great salary in the software field. I have 3 horses and I'm a serious amateur dressage rider. I have big goals, and I spend a lot of time and money training and competing. For example, next year my 5-year-old will make his showing debut. I backed this horse myself, and I plan to get my silver medal with him if all goes well.
I feel like there are very few people like me out there! The barn where I train has several high school and early college kids who are very serious about their riding, and then several adults in their late 30's, 40's, and 50's, some who compete, some who don't. I don't encounter many young adults at the dressage shows in my region, either. I definitely enjoy interacting both with the kids and with the older adults at my barn -- but sometimes I wish I had a few buddies at the barn who were closer to my stage in life.
Is it my region? My discipline? Or is it a universal thing, that many young women put their riding goals on hold to start a family and/or a (non-horsey) career? I'm just curious. I feel like riding will never be as easy for me as it is right now, both physically and financially. So I'm taking advantage of this time in my life.
Anybody else out there like me?
There's an earnings gap that affects quite a few hobbies besides riding. In HS and college, the parents are helping out or completely footing the bill. After graduation, it often takes a decade or two before people become able to afford horses again.
The inherent vice of Capitalism is the unequal sharing of blessings. The inherent virtue of Socialism is the equal sharing of miseries.
Winston Churchill
Out having kids?
I think having kids at this point in my life would pretty much eliminate all the extra income for horses.
Fortunately, no kids in my future, so horses it is.
It's a financial thing. I'm in my mid 20's. I work an entry level job and can barely afford to pay my rent, much less for horses (although I do have one...).
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Mischief Managed (Tully)- JC Priceless Jewel 2002 TB Gelding
Originally Posted by dani0303
It's a financial thing. I'm in my mid 20's. I work an entry level job and can barely afford to pay my rent, much less for horses (although I do have one...).
Same for me too
Financial issue. I'm in my almost mid-20s (wow, when did that happen?!) and currently have two horses, thanks to some help from both my parents and my grandad, but have very little money to compete either one of them, although I do manage the occasional lesson. Currently in graduate school, and it's a little hard to find a job that pays worth a darn that I can work around my school schedule.
agree. Can't afford it and/or having kids. I made it work to buy a horse when I was 25 and another at 32 but its been a result of serious planning and budgeting. (I don't have two horses, the first died). I shop for horses on a shoestring and make the horse show-ready. I don't buy the typical breed(s) for dressage since I prefer half-arabs.
As we all know, most college grads are having a really tough time and living with their parents nowdays. I was lucky I didn't have a lot of loans to pay back.
My guess is the 20 somethings who are doing dressage, eventing, HJ are doing it at a mixed barn with occasional help-- very few can afford a higher end barn. I couldn't until this year and its also been a result of better stability at my job, getting done with grad school, and getting lucky at staying employed. Also NOT having kids.
Yep, too poor to show.
I have a horse, but I keep him on the cheap, and without a truck and trailer I have no way to get to shows.
Le Sigh. Maybe someday in the next decade...
"Are you yawning? You don't ride well enough to yawn. I can yawn, because I ride better than you. Meredith Michael Beerbaum can yawn. But you? Not so much..."
-George Morris
I was like you, back in the 1990s. But I think that the number of people out there in their twenties with high-paying jobs and good flexibility and no kids has been especially low in the past several years.
If you are allergic to a thing, it is best not to put that thing in your mouth, particularly if the thing is cats. - Lemony Snicket
I'm 28. I do have a horse and parts of a few racehorses/broodies, but I don't have to pay their keep and expenses out of my pocket. Otherwise there'd be NO WAY IN HELL I could do this.
I'm hoping, if I can move into a better-paying job, I can start lessoning again. I was taking weekly lessons a few years ago for over two years, but I just couldn't afford it any longer. Now, I've gained a lot of weight so I don't want to ride anyway.
It's a uterus, not a clown car. - Sayyedati
Originally Posted by ArabDiva
Is it my region? My discipline? Or is it a universal thing, that many young women put their riding goals on hold to start a family and/or a (non-horsey) career? I'm just curious. I feel like riding will never be as easy for me as it is right now, both physically and financially. So I'm taking advantage of this time in my life.
Anybody else out there like me?
A little of "all of the above." I'm 30 now, but I rode through my twenties and bought my horse at age 24. This means I've had a decade to befriend older re-riders (because let's face it, it was either them or the teenagers for the most part!) and think about "how it all goes down" for most American female riders. Some of the major contributing factors I've seen, besides the obvious factors of career and kids:
a) Many twentysomethings are still in school until well into their twenties, or they are forced to begin their careers in expensive areas like NYC/San Fran/Wash DC.
b) Student loan debt. 'Nuff said.
c) Particularly in this generation, we lost a lot of twenty-something would-be horsepeople to careers that tanked in the recession. Lawyers, realtors, humanities PhDs, that kinda thing.
d) Some of my horsey friends genuinely prefer to wait until their bankroll and schedule will support "the whole enchilada," including a very fancy (and usually very expensive) horse that will truly pull the big scores in recognized dressage, the A hunter ring, etc. This often takes a lot of money.
e) Americans in general suck with money, but that's especially true of many twentysomethings. Conversely, I know some twentysomethings who are very responsibly thinking of their futures and are paying down debt/maxing out retirement fund contributions. Unless you have a really flush career, either of these phenomena can eliminate any possible horse budget.
f) Fewer people of all ages are aspiring to climb the levels in any riding discipline. That isn't just true for twentysomethings.
g) Dressage takes a person with discipline, an analytical mind, a non-obsession with jumping or riding in the open/across country, willing to put in lots of solitary hours in the saddle, the whole ball of dressage wax. I don't think it's a coincidence that many of these traits are also the traits that make people flourish in the career paths described in A, which means that "dressage energy" is going elsewhere.
i) I know some twentysomethings who are struggling to shoulder the expense of a retired or lame/light use/pleasure type mount, often the horse that saw them through their teen or college years OR a failed resale project/young horse that they bought early in their twenties. Thus, they can't afford to bring another serous climb-the-levels sporthorse onto their payroll, not even if they lease instead of buying.
j) I hesitate to say this because it's a HUGE generalization, but I think a lot of folks who walk away from horses in their twenties have not met or talked to many adult re-riders in their thirties and forties. They have not seriously seen the challenges--and triumphs and joys--of being a re-rider. They just assume that they'll come back when they come back and it'll all be okay. Re-riding is more complicated than that, and for every happy and successful re-rider I know, I know two or three others who have really struggled to come back for various physical/emotional/financial reasons. But all of that may not be very obvious in your early twenties, and it only became "real" for me when I started seeing re-rider friends go through it.
k) I bet I'm going to get mega-flamed for this one, but again, I say it based on experience with real friends: with some twentysomethings, it's a dynamic with their SO that's keeping them from climbing the levels. Sometime's it's a whiny codependent SO who resents all the barn time, and sometimes it's a wonderful SO with whom the "rider" chooses to travel or pursue a common hobby like skiing or scuba diving, etc. I see this with older couples too, but I see it more with twentysomethings.
EDITED TO ADD TWO MORE... l) I know a lot of twentysomething riders who genuinely intended to walk the path you are describing, but once they started doing it, they hit a hurdle that dropped them out of the game. One of my friends was climbing the levels very successfully until her career forced her to move to Podunk Nowhere and she lost access to great training and nearby competitions.
Another common sob story for many of my friends: they could only afford a single young horse, which they started bringing it up the levels, and the horse either got badly injured/sick or said "not my job." Or they picked a horse they just plain didn't like/gel with.
m) I know a lot lot LOT of twentysomething riders who switch disciplines from what they rode when they were younger, and switching disciplines can take awhile, especially if you accidentally choose a sub-optimal/quack trainer at first or can't find a suitable school horse/can't pay for full training on your young horse. Some of these folks might devote their entire twenties to switching to dressage to find they're only starting to "get" First Level as they come into their thirties.
Whew, what a list!
Last edited by jn4jenny; Nov. 10, 2012 at 11:38 PM.
I think a lot of 20 somethings are having trouble getting their careers launched because of the bad economy. Additionally, they are dealing with a lot more student loan debt than previous generations.
I stopped riding during my 20s because I simply couldn't afford it. I had to ride out a recession, which started about a year after I finished school. A roof to sleep under, car to get to work, and insurance in case I got sick were my priorities at that time.
I'm a moderately successful twentysomething. I bought my first horse last year and since then we've done several rated shows, some schooling shows, and a clinic, plus a bunch of other fun things like cross-country schooling, and trails and whatnot.
I agree there's not a lot of twentysomethings. The few others at my barn, two work like crazy and one is in my career field as well. For me, I can afford my horse because of inheritance (my Dad finally bought me that horse he promised me my whole life) and because I have no life. My boyfriend lives in another state, I don't go out much, I have no kids. When people ask me if I'm married or have kids, I tell them no, I have a horse.
I think it's definitely possible if you budget it correctly. Maybe you can't buy a 25,000 dollar horse, but a green 1,000 one that you train up, yes.
"Thoroughbreds are the best. They're lighter, quicker, and more intelligent." -George Morris
I'm late 20's and like most am just getting into my career thanks to the poor economy. I've managed to lease the past few years and hope to buy within the next year or so.
They don't have the money, and jobs in particular eat up your time straight out of school--no flexibility in most as far as time off, bottom of the food chain. Early twenties, most are still in school. Throw in a family for those with that issue and there's not much time or finances for horses. I started dance in my late twenties, and I'm still in the Ladies A division (even A1, when they split As, at some competitions.) I very, very rarely have events with semi-finals, and I have only had ONE quarter-final, where they had combined the A and B age divisions. Usually, A goes up to 35. The Bs are generally the most crowded--35-50 or 55, in general, and that's because those are the women who are most established in their careers and home life and have the disposable income to do an expensive hobby sport. I only can do it because I don't have any student loans or debt load and no pricey kids. (And even then, the economy is not helping me now.)
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Originally Posted by dani0303
It's a financial thing. I'm in my mid 20's. I work an entry level job and can barely afford to pay my rent, much less for horses (although I do have one...).
I'm twenty, do have a horse, but work off all of his board. Trying to change that by saving up first month's board and getting a SECOND job just to support said horsey.
But, I'm still also living at home so I don't have much in the way of rent/bills. When I get that second job, I will hopefully be in a better position to move out.
I'm 27, married, have a 19 month old daughter, and a greenish TB that I'm training myself. I work part time to afford my horse, and stay home with my daughter while hubby is at work. I ride before either of them are awake or after hubby gets home from work. I board my horse an hour away because the cost of amenities (indoor, x country schooling, great training) is a lot less than anything around me. I don't think there is anyone my age at my barn that has the same goals as me. I think a lot of 20 somethings lose the motivation because there's so much other stuff on their plate.
I'm 29, just finished a PhD, and can just about keep my one horse. She's 19 and going strong. I've had her since I was 16. I can't afford a second horse at the moment so I've told her that she has to keep going and stay ridable until I get my really well paying academic job.
I don't compete. In part because it costs daft amounts of money and I also became fecked off with the whole dressage show scene while in college in Massachusetts. So I've pretty much hid for the last ten years.
We're out there, most of us are just not competing/very visible.
I have had horses since middle school, supported them myself. In middle/high school, I was working with my green horse, so couldn't show much. Once I hit college level, the time/money that that sucked away left me with no time/money to show, even though my horse was now capable. I am FINALLY graduating college in the middle of December, and hope to get a good job in the tech industry. My middle school dream horse is now 15, but I'm hoping that we'll get a few good years of showing in.
I also bought a 3yo OTTB in January who is really something quite special. I spent the spring/summer letting her hang out and hacking her out, exposing her to everything. I am now dumping all my spare cash into her training. I'm in the home stretch of school and felt like I couldn't give her the time she needed, so she's at the trainers for a few months. I rough board her to save money, and she's not with a big name (although she's very competent) trainer, all to save money.
BUT! My hope is that next spring I'll have a good job and be able to take my teenaged gelding out on adventures (he's a foxhunting/hunterpace sort of guy at this stage in his life) and that I'll be able to start the process of moving up the eventing ranks with my young mare, who will be five and ready to go!
Of course, what is most likely is that by next spring they'll both be lame, and I'll be in a job that pays well but I'll have been forced to move to a city to get it, so rent/transport will suck up all my salary and I'll either have to have just one horse with me at a nicer barn, have both horses with me at a tiny backyard place, or I'll have left both of them sitting in my backyard at home.
I will say that my enthusiasm to actively compete my young mare is heavily influencing my job search. Despite the fact that I could have a job near Boston tomorrow, I am taking the time to search and dig through small company websites who are based in more "rural" areas, where it will be more affordable for me to live, and for my horses to be kept. I have many many friends who saw the easily-aquired jobs near the cities and packed up and left the next week....'course, they don't have 1200lb pasture-loving animals to think about. But I suspect that that is where a lot of 20-somethings go....to the easily-found jobs in cities, where horse keeping is just not in the budget.
That, in addition to the myriad of options that jn4jenny listed above. Most of it boils down to the money! Even if you're making a decent salary, you have to be in the right location for that decent salary to seem decent, in the horse world!
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