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- Radiative Forcing of Climate by non-CO2 Atmospheric Gases
- What is Radiative Forcing of Climate by Trace Gases?
- What are the non-CO2 greenhouse gases?
- Why are the non-CO2 atmospheric gases important?
- What do we know?
- What don't we know?
- What is NOAA's role?
- What will we need to know in the future?
- How does society benefit from this knowledge?
- Programmatic Information
- Theme Presentations
Radiative Forcing of Climate by non-CO2 Atmospheric Gases
What is Radiative Forcing of Climate by Trace Gases?
Radiative forcing of climate by trace gases is commonly referred to as the "greenhouse effect." Solar radiation that passes through clouds and that is not reflected back to space strikes the Earth's surface. The longer wavelength (infrared) radiation created there is reflected upwards, and then is absorbed by clouds and the greenhouse gases (GHGs include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), etc.). Those constituents reradiate upwards and downwards, thereby heating the Earth's surface. The Earth's surface temperature is 35 K warmer than its effective blackbody temperature, because of the presence of clouds and GHGs or called the natural greenhouse effect. Increasing concentrations of GHGs can cause more warming (+ or positive values), and vice-versa, decreasing means less warming or even cooling (- or negative values). For the entire group of climate forcing agents identified by the Intergovernmental Panel for Climate Change (IPCC), the climate forcing for the well-mixed GHGs is the most certain (left-most bar, Figure 1). The total effective climate forcing for all GHGs including CO2 and ozone (O3) from the beginning of the industrial revolution in 1750 to the year 2000 is 2.63 watts per square meter. As a good comparison, the natural greenhouse effect that warms the Earth's surface by 35 K is, on average, ~150 watts per square meter.
What are the non-CO2 greenhouse gases?
Like carbon dioxide, many non-CO2 atmospheric gases absorb in the infrared and contribute to climate forcing. The major non-CO2 GHGs or classes of gases listed by the Kyoto Protocol of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change are CH4, N2O, hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), sulfur hexafluoride (SF6), and perfluorocarbons (PFCs, includes CF4 and C2F6, etc.). Other classes of GHGs are included in the Montreal Protocol for Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer and its subsequent amendments and are the chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), halons, and chlorine- and bromine- containing (halogenated) solvents (methyl chloroform (CH3CCl3), carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), bromochloromethane (CH2BrCl), etc.). Emissions of some of the non-CO2 GHGs may be more cost-effective or easier to limit or reduce than those of CO2. Water vapor is a major greenhouse gas, but it is considered as a feedback in the climate system related to the human activities on other greenhouse gases and by changes in land use activity.
Why are the non-CO2 atmospheric gases important?
Radiatively speaking, the most important non-CO2 GHGs are CH4, N2O, CFCs, and ozone (O3) (Figure 1). The non-CO2 GHGs have added 1.17 watts per square meter (44.5% of total from all GHGs) of climate forcing from 1750 to 2000. Regardless of our future national energy strategy (fossil fuels (oil, coal) versus renewable energy (solar, wind, biofuels, tidal, etc.)), there will still exist the need to feed the ever-growing population (N2O released thru fertilizer use), refrigerate food for storage (leakage and release of the refrigerant, HFCs), and distribute electrical power (dielectric gases used like SF6). Many of the halogen-containing, non-CO2 atmospheric gases are also stratospheric ozone-depleting gases including the CFCs, halons, chlorinated solvents, and other halocarbons. The stratospheric ozone depletion resulting from these ozone- depleting gases has amounted to a -0.16 watt per square meter (medium understanding compared to the well-mixed GHGs). Tropospheric ozone, which is produced by man-made emissions of O3-forming gases, has increased 35% from 1750 to 2000, and adds 0.35 watt per square meter with also a medium degree of uncertainty.
Figure 1. Major climate forcing agents and their forcing from the beginning of the industrial revolution to 2000.
What do we know?
- The physics of radiative forcing is well known, and the level of understanding in the climate forcing from the well-mixed, longer lifetime GHGs is high.
- The atmospheric lifetime of a GHG in the atmosphere is important to the length of time that the gas affects climate forcing (time horizons used in climate forcing calculations). Through chemical and inventory studies, the atmospheric lifetimes for the majority of the GHGs are well known.
- Concentrations of methane in the global atmosphere are leveling off (Figure 2).
- Nitrous oxide and sulfur hexafluoride are increasing at a nearly constant rate because of Earth's population's increased requirements for fertilizer and electrical power distribution (Figures 2 and 3).
- The Montreal Protocol and its subsequent amendments have decreased the concentrations of many CFCs and chlorinated solvents where total equivalent chlorine peaked in 1993-94 and has decreased by 8% by the end of 2005 (Figure 2).
- The growth rate for atmospheric concentration of the HCFC-14Xb series, CFC replacement compounds, are slowing down as a result of reduced production in developed countries since 2004, due to the Montreal Protocol and its subsequent amendments (Figure 3).
- The atmospheric growth of two of the key CFC replacements, HFC-134a and - 152a are increasing in the atmosphere. It is predicted that the HFC-134a radiative forcing will be as great or greater as all of the CFCs were in the early 1990s (Figure 3)
- Three long-term Northern Hemispheric station trends of O3 mixing ratios from ozonesondes in the lower troposphere since 1970 show increases that were significant (5-25% increase) in the first 10-15 years, however the most recent 15 years show a flat trend. Recent records of surface O3 from U.S. and global background stations over the past 33 years from ESRL show a mixed picture with some locations with increases and others with little change. Cape Point, South Africa since 1990 (10% increase) and European stations since 1978 (20-30%) have showed significant increases over time in tropospheric ozone.
- The global total column of O3 has decreased 3% from before the 1980s to 1997-2001 period, mostly in the mid-latitudes. The Antarctic Ozone Hole in the Austral spring is still present. However, there are indications from satellite observations that mid-latitude stratospheric O3 may have started to recover at some altitudes and during some of the seasons. Once the Montreal Protocol is under full compliance with halocarbon regulations (developing nations as well as developed, and total elimination of the production of HCFCs), the positive climate forcing from the ozone-depleting gases and the negative climate forcing from decreased O3 concentrations should both be reduced while the ozone layer recovers over the 21st century.
- Boulder, Colorado balloon-borne observations have shown that stratospheric N2O has increased, on average, 1% per year, from 1980 to 2006. The recent Boulder balloon record (1992-2006) however shows no statistically significant change, which is consistent with the slowdown of the growth rate of source gas, methane (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Global trends of the mixing ratios of the well-mixed greenhouse gases versus time from NOAA observations.
Figure 3. Logarithmic (base 10) mixing ratios of radiatively-active halocarbon and sulfur species versus time from NOAA observations.
What don't we know?
- Why are the global atmospheric concentrations of methane leveling off? Many theories exist to explain this occurrence but there is no definitive answer or smoking gun.
- Is the background level of the atmospheric cleanser, hydroxide radical, OH, changing? It could have major consequences for many GHGs, including methane, HCFCs, and HFCs.
- Our current understanding of the atmospheric emissions for the feedstock of the CFCs, CCl4, does not allow us to predict its concentration in the atmosphere.
- What is the fate of the short-lived halogen gases in the atmosphere, particularly their bromine organic species? Are they changing the total bromine in the stratosphere via tropospheric-stratospheric exchange and natural and man-made emissions?
- What are the uptake and loss strengths, biological and chemical, of important non-CO2 greenhouse and ozone-depleting gases into and out of the ocean (methyl halides, N2O, carbonyl sulfide (COS), etc.)?
- There are no perfect replacements for either the fire extinguishing agents (halons) or fumigants (methyl bromide). When new replacement compounds are considered economically feasible, then the chemistry and atmospheric lifetime will need to be established for each replacement compound.
- Some of the mid-latitude increase of stratospheric water vapor (1% per year) over the period of 1980-2006 can be explained by the increase of atmospheric methane, but not all. Is this an early indication of the feedback of water vapor in climate change, transport, or unknown chemistry?
What is NOAA's role?
Climate is one of the four major goals of NOAA. NOAA's Earth System Research Laboratory provides the expertise to conduct monitoring of the GHGs worldwide, comparison of actual emissions with industrial inventories and/or modeled natural emissions, run numerical models for radiative forcing and gas-phase chemistry, conduct laboratory studies, and airborne and ground based field campaigns.
What will we need to know in the future?
We will need to better understand the feedback mechanisms involved in the most important greenhouse gas, H2O, in the Earth's atmosphere. Increased cloud cover will block solar radiation from striking the ground, and cool the Earth's surface, while increasing the water content of the atmosphere will increase warming. Future climate models will be required that include an encompassing system approach (chemistry, transport, economical and societal factors) in order to adequately predict climate change. Air quality, through changes in the tropospheric ozone concentration, reactive chemistry, and the amount of the atmospheric cleanser, hydroxide radical, OH, may effect the strength and sign of climate forcing. Finally, how well are international agreements like the Montreal and Kyoto Protocols working to control future emissions of these GHGs?
How does society benefit from this knowledge?
The research accomplished here is available to the public and scientists alike through the web, peer-reviewed scientific literature, and "state of the art" assessments of climate and ozone depletion. NOAA provides the data and scientific analysis for public policymakers to make informed decisions on how to deal with these environmental problems facing the nation.
Theme Presentations
- Introduction (pdf)
- Methane (CH4) (pdf)
- Long-lived Non-CO2 Greenhouse Gases (pdf)
- Tropospheric Ozone (pdf)
- Future Forcing Agents (pdf)
IPCC, Climate Change 2001: The Scientific Basis, Contribution of Working Group I to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, edited by J. T. Houghton, Y. Ding, D.J. Griggs, M. Noguer, P.J. van der Linden, X. Dai, K. Maskell, C.A. Johnson, pp. 881, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, U.K., 2001.


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Getty Images
The St. Louis Rams have been around for a longer time than most fans realize. Founded in Cleveland 76 years ago, the Rams later spent nearly a half-century in Los Angeles before relocating to St. Louis.
The future location(s) of the franchise aren't known, but the goal for now is to identify the four most significant figures in franchise history.
With the Rams producing only one Super Bowl win, there could be a few spots consumed by members of the so-called Greatest Show on Turf.
Of course, the Fearsome Foursome may disagree. Make your case below for whoever you think should make it.

subset: commoncrawl


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major macro economic indicators
|2018 (e)
|2019 (f)
|GDP growth (%)
|Inflation (yearly average, %)
|Budget balance (% GDP)
|Current account balance (% GDP)
|Public debt (% GDP)
(e): Estimate. (f): Forecast.
- Support from the international financial community; possible debt relief
- World leader in maritime transport
- Tourist destination
- Very high public debt
- Very poor quality bank portfolio; high level of non-performing loans (48% in the first quarter of 2018)
- Weak public institutions; high levels of tax evasion
- Small industrial base; low-tech exports (food, chemicals, metals, refined oil)
- Social tensions fuelled by fiscal restraint and massive unemployment
Risk assessment
Continued evidence of improvement
Following Greece's exit from its third bailout plan, the economic upturn continues. Growth strengthened in 2018 driven by robust household consumption and a positive impact from net exports. Economic growth is expected to remain buoyant in 2019. The labour market is likely to stay on its positive trend, with an expected decline in the unemployment rate, which should support household consumption. In addition, wage increases and lower inflation are projected to contribute further to purchasing power. Investment, which grew at a sluggish pace in 2018, is set to strengthen, but will probably rebound by less than anticipated. The construction sector should, however, hold up positively, driven by the growth in tourism activities. Renewed confidence, an improving business environment, and tax incentives – including lower corporate and dividend taxes – should fuel growth in fixed capital. Nevertheless, the banking system's weaknesses inherited from the crisis and more restrictive financing conditions than in the rest of the eurozone will likely continue to limit SME investments. Although access to bank credit has improved and deposits have stabilised, the level of non-performing loans remains high. To meet the targets set by the Bank of Greece and the European Central Bank's single supervisory mechanism, the largest banks have promised to clean up their balance sheets by reducing their exposure to non-performing loans (NPEs). They are thus expected to lower their NPE ratio to 35% in 2019 by gradually offloading their portfolios of non-performing loans. Finally, exports, particularly of services, are likely to remain on track in 2019. Despite this, net exports are expected to make a smaller contribution to growth than in 2018 as a result of the rebound in imports, driven by higher consumption and investment.
Balanced public accounts and primary surpluses in line with commitments
Greece finally emerged from its third assistance programme in August 2018. Fiscal consolidation efforts undertaken since 2015 have enabled the country to gradually get the public accounts back into balance and rebuild the credibility of its fiscal policies. For the second year running, the government balance was in surplus and the primary surplus remained in line with the objectives set by the adjustment plan. Although Greece will no longer be subject to the plan, it agreed at the Eurogroup summit in June 2018 to continue and complete the reforms adopted under the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) programme in exchange for debt relief. The country will therefore be required to accept enhanced monitoring by the ESM and the European Commission. Although the medium-term fiscal objectives have not yet been defined, in October 2018 Greece sent the Commission its 2019 budget, which was accepted in its first draft. The 2019 budget plans to maintain the fiscal surplus while implementing a number of measures other than those of the adjustment plan. On the expenditure side, the pension cuts that were supposed to take effect in January 2019are to be replaced by a freeze on pensions until 2022. The contribution to social security for self-employed workers will be reduced, and measures to facilitate home ownership for low-income households will be implemented. Revenues are expected to benefit from the favourable economic situation and better tax collection, which will allow the authorities to reduce taxes on labour, business, and real estate. The primary surplus is projected to remain in line with the Commission's target of 3.5%, but the slight increase in debt service will weigh on the government's surplus. Despite the large primary surplus, public debt increased in 2018 due to the disbursement of €15 billion under the Emergency Safeguard Mechanism in August 2018. Largely concessional (73% held by international donors), the debt is expected to decrease in 2019. In order to ensure debt sustainability, European lenders and the government have agreed on a package of measures including deferral of interest and depreciation as well as a ten-year extension on European Financial Stability Fund loans.
A difficult election year for Syriza
As the second government led by Alexis Tsipras, a coalition between radical left-wing party Syriza and the right-wing ANEL party, enters its last year before the October 2019 election, the Prime Minister carried out a final cabinet reshuffle in August 2018 to prepare for the upcoming election. Despite a budget pledging social measures and the country's exit from the third European aid plan, Syriza is losing ground in the polls and now sits second behind the right-wing New Democracy Party. It is therefore very likely that the radical left-wing coalition will not be re-elected once its term ends. The European elections in May 2019 should provide a good insight into electoral trends ahead of the autumn elections.
Last update : February 2019
Bills of exchange, as well as promissory letters, are used by Greek companies in domestic and international transactions. In the event of payment default, a protest certifying the dishonoured bill must be drawn up by a public notary within two working days of the due date.
Similarly, cheques are still widely used in international transactions. In the domestic business environment, however, cheques are customarily used less as an instrument of payment, and more as a credit instrument, making it possible to create successive payment due dates. It is therefore a common and widespread practice for several creditors to endorse post-dated cheques. Furthermore, issuers of dishonoured cheques may be liable to prosecution provided a complaint is lodged.
Promissory letters (hyposhetiki epistoli) are another means of payment used by Greek companies in international transactions. They are a written acknowledgement of an obligation to pay, issued to the creditor by the customer's bank, committing the originator to pay the creditor at a contractually fixed date. Although promissory letters are a sufficiently effective instrument in that they constitute a clear acknowledgement of debt on the part of the buyer, they are not deemed a bill of exchange and so fall outside the scope of the "exchange law".
SWIFT bank transfers, well established in Greek banking circles, are used to settle a growing proportion of transactions and offer a quick and secure method of payment. SEPA bank transfers are also becoming more popular, as they are fast, secured and supported by a more developed banking network.
In 2015, Greece imposed restrictions on flows of capital outside the country. All payments directed abroad follow a specific procedure, and are monitored by the banks and the Ministry of Finance, with restrictions placed on the amount and nature of the transfer.
Debt collection
Amicable phase
Before initiating proceedings in front of the competent court, an alternative method to recover a debt is to try to agree with the debtor on a settlement plan. Reaching the most beneficial arrangement can usually be achieved by means of a negotiating process.
The recovery process commences with the debtor being sent a final demand for payment via a registered letter, reminding him of his payment obligations, including any interest penalties as may have been contractually agreed – or, failing this, those accruing at the legal rate of interest. Interest is due from the day following the date of payment stipulated in the invoice or commercial agreement at a rate, unless the parties agree otherwise, equal to the European Central Bank's refinancing rate, plus seven percentage points.
Legal proceedings
Fast track proceedings
Creditors may seek an injunction to pay (diataghi pliromis) from the court via a lawyer under a fast-track procedure that generally takes one month from the date of lodging the petition. To engage such a procedure, the creditor must possess a written document substantiating the claim underlying his lawsuit, such as an accepted and protested bill, an unpaid promissory letter or promissory note, an acknowledgement of debt established by private deed, or an original invoice summarising the goods sold and bearing the buyer's signature and stamp certifying receipt of delivery or the original delivery slip signed by the buyer.
The ruling issued by the judge allows immediate execution subject to the right granted to the defendant to lodge an objection within 15 days. To obtain suspension of execution, the debtor must petition the court accordingly.
Based on current competence thresholds, a "justice of the peace" (Eirinodikeio) hears claims up to €20,000. Above that amount, a court of first instance presided by a single judge (Monomeles Protodikeio) hears claims from €20,000to €250,000. Claims over €250,000 are reviewed by a panel of three judges (Polymeles Protodikeio).
Ordinary proceedings
Where creditors do not have written and clear acknowledgement of non-payment from the debtor, or where the claim is disputed, the only remaining alternative is to obtain a summons under ordinary proceedings. The creditor files a claim with the court, who serves the debtor within 60 days. The hearing would be set at least eighteen months later. Greek law allows the court to render a default judgment if the respondent fails to file a defence. Since 2016, the lawsuit procedure has been changed, and is now based exclusively on documentation provided to support the claim.
Enforcement of a legal decision
Enforcement of a domestic decision may commence once it is final. If the debtor fails to satisfy the judgment, the latter is enforceable directly through the attachment of the debtor's assets.
For foreign awards rendered in an EU member state, Greece has adopted advantageous enforcement conditions such as the EU Payment Orders or the European Enforcement Order. For decisions rendered by non EU countries, they will be automatically enforced according to reciprocal enforcement treaties. In the absence of an agreement, exequatur proceedings will take place.
Insolvency proceedings
Restructuring proceedings
This procedure aims to help the debtor restore its credibility and viability, and continue its operations beyond bankruptcy. The debtor negotiates an agreement with its creditors. During this procedure, claims and enforcement actions against the debtor may be stayed but the court will appoint an administrator to control the debtor's assets and performances. The reorganisation process starts with the debtor's submission of a plan to the court made by specialists, which conducts a judicial review of the proposed plan whilst a court-appointed mediator assesses the creditors' expectations. The plan can only be validated upon approval by creditors representing 60% of the total debt. (60% is not always applicable, depending on the case and approval by the bank).
The procedure commences with an insolvency petition either by the debtor or the creditor. The court appoints an administrator as soon as the debts are verified. In addition a Pool of Creditors (three members representing each class of creditors) will be given the responsibility of overseeing the proceedings, which terminate once the proceeds of the sale of the business' assets are distributed.


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Dave Mason bought the Valparaiso branch of Space Walk in November 2008 from original owner Bob Wimmer. Mason said he became involved in the business by luck, but he has since grown it into one of the most successful Space Walk franchises in the country.
VALPARAISO � People take different paths to find their dream job.
Some people know from a young age what they want to do. Others can find their careers almost by accident.
Dave Mason bought the Valparaiso branch of Space Walk in November 2008 from original owner Bob Wimmer. Mason said he became involved in the business by luck, but he has since grown it into one of the most successful Space Walk franchises in the country.
�I didn�t know anything about a bounce house other than you get in there and jump,� Mason said. �I learned a little bit more about it, did some research and said, �This sounds like it might be something fun to do.� �
When Mason purchased the business, the local Space Walk had 37 inflatable bounce houses, slides and other play sets available for rent. Today, it has more than 50, and recently was recognized as the fifth largest Space Walk operation in the country out of more than 240 other franchises.
All the franchises in the top four and many ranked lower serve areas with more than 1 million people. Mason�s service area population is about 320,000.
Mason said good customer service has been one of the keys to success.
Space Walk also tries to keep its inventory fresh. There are 15 bounce houses, 15 water slides � one of them 22 feet tall and 65 feet long � and other items such as obstacle courses.
Mason said the equipment ranges from smaller pieces designed just for kids to larger ones that adults can use.
�We try to update two or three times a year with new inflatables,� Mason said. �This time of year, we try to update and increase our water slides. We have 14 water slides that can be used by kids and adults. Towards the fall, we start looking at new dry units to add.�
Mason said Space Walk offers residential and commercial rentals, and rents regularly to local schools and churches. Customers can pick up the inflatables themselves or have them delivered.
Before customers can pick up an inflatable, the Space Walk staff will teach them how to set it up, stake it down, roll it up when they�re finished and how to use it safely.
To help accommodate Mason�s other job as a culinary teacher, Space Walk is open from 3 to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. When school is out, Space Walk is open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. seven days a week.
Contact Daily News Business Editor Dusty Ricketts at 850-315-4448 or email@example.com. Follow him on Twitter @DustyRnwfdn.


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Contact: Jordan Traverso, CDFW Communications, (916) 654-9937
A new national strategy will help strengthen California's ongoing efforts to manage climate change and protect natural resources.
In partnership with State and Tribal agencies, the Obama Administration today released the first nationwide strategy to help public and private decision makers address the impacts that climate change is having on natural resources and the people and economies that depend on them. Developed in response to a request by Congress, the National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy is the product of extensive national dialogue that spanned nearly two years and was shaped by comments from more than 55,000 Americans.
"The specific implications of climate change on fish and wildlife are uncertain and will vary on a regional and state basis," said Kevin Hunting, Chief Deputy Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW). "However, climate change is escalating and accelerating these threats, making it much more difficult and costly for agencies to manage. That's why the development and release of the National Strategy is important because it serves as a foundation of a science-based and collective nationwide effort and is truly a national strategy – not just a federal strategy."
The National Strategy provides a roadmap of key steps needed over the next five years to reduce the current and expected impacts of climate change on our natural resources, which include: changing species distributions and migration patterns, the spread of wildlife diseases and invasive species, the inundation of coastal habitats with rising sea levels, changing productivity of our coastal oceans and changes in freshwater availability.
The National Strategy builds upon efforts already under way by federal, state and tribal governments, and other organizations to safeguard fish, wildlife and plants and provides specific voluntary steps that agencies and partners can take in the coming years to reduce costly damages and protect the health of our communities and economy. The strategy does not prescribe any mandatory activities for government or nongovernmental entities, nor suggest any regulatory actions.
In California, significant changes have been measured in its climate such as changes in temperature and precipitation since the late 1800s. The state is experiencing more frequent and larger wildfires. Precipitation is shifting toward more rain and less snow, which has implications for species and habitats as well as for water supplies in its rivers. Climate scientists project that in the coming decades California's climate will warm even faster, with more frequent and intense heat waves, and further changes to the snowpack.
"Climate change is very real here and we've responded," Hunting said. "The National Strategy and the 2009 California Climate Adaptation Strategy (CAS) (www.climatechange.ca.gov/adaptation/strategy/index.html) are examples of how federal and state efforts can work together to address climate change impacts to our fish, wildlife and plants. Addressing climate change is about partnerships at all levels. State fish and wildlife agencies recognize that climate change is a large-scale issue that will require a large-scale response to support robust populations and healthy habitats. We believe that this is the best insurance in an uncertain future."
The National Fish, Wildlife and Plants Climate Adaptation Strategy can be found at www.wildlifeadaptationstrategy.gov.


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Powerful Knowledge. Predictable results. Providing plant healthcare for the people.
The Tree Geek gives you the resources and products to tackle challenging issues on your own trees. We can help you solve your Emerald Ash Borer, Japanese Beetle, Oak Wilt, and Apple Scab problems, among many others.
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But for a twist of fate, I likely would not have become captivated by the search for my family's ancestors.
A colleague well known for his genealogy research and newspaper columns was retiring from the university where I work. We had occasionally had shared work ideas over lunch, so I offered to treat him to a farewell lunch at the spot of his choice. At the last minute, he couldn't make it. Some months later, we were able to reschedule lunch and conversation.
On a whim, knowing his genealogy interests outside of work, I decided to plug some family surnames into a Google search. This might give us an added topic for our lunch conversation. I was intrigued with the first clues that I discovered. When you find a little, you will often want to get just a bit more, to clarify a fact here or a relationship there. And then again more. You're hooked!
We enjoyed lunch, including conversation about one ancestor he simply had been unable to find. Little did I know then that I would have a key ancestor like that as well… a classic brick wall situation.
The colleague was Terrence Day, and some of his helpful genealogy columns are online. For a collection of more than 65 of them under the heading The Family Tree from the Tri-City Herald in Washington, click here. Among the many topics Terry covers in those columns is immigration entry points and records. See Oct. 15, 2000, for that column.
He also has written about the elusive ancestor, his great-grandfather John Day, in a more recent column. Remarkably, the family has been trying to understand John Day's origins since at least 1941. And here is a listing of some of Terry's more recent genealogy articles for the paper.
This is my small way of saying "thanks, Terry" for all the years you were a fine colleague — and for the inspiration for launching my own genealogy research.


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by John Lyden
[1] The paper analyzes the saga of Star Wars as a text that has borrowed extensively from
biblical apocalyptic. There is a cosmic battle between the forces of good and evil; a great
cataclysm is foretold, but the faithful will survive with the help of God (The Force); a
messiah figure (Luke) appears; and a new world order will come about in which justice
triumphs and wickedness is punished. This myth is made relevant to modem viewers by
being framed as a battle of technology vs. the natural human: the machine Vader vs. the
human Anakin, the Death Star vs. the Force, Imperial walkers vs. primitive Ewoks. The
films' apparent technophilia is cover for a technophobic message: we must remember our
humanity lest we be absorbed or destroyed by our machine creations.
[2] In a year which has featured the first new Star Wars movie in 16 years, media critics
have finally begun to notice the religious themes in this most popular of all film series.
And while the religious elements may be more obvious in The Phantom Menace, they
have in fact been there from the beginning of the series (in episode four). Indeed, the
incredible success of the Star Wars films is not due only (and I would argue, not
primarily) to marketing or special effects, but to their ability to tap into basic religious or
mythological concepts with which viewers can connect.
[3] It is well-known, for example, that George Lucas self-consciously constructed the
screenplay for the first film under the influence of popular mythologist Joseph Campbell.
In an address to the National Arts Club in 1985, Lucas noted that he was entirely without
direction until he stumbled upon Campbell's The Hero with a Thousand Faces.1 And the
stages of Campbell's monomyth, outlined in that book, do indeed suggest the structure of
Lucas' screenplay: the hero (Luke) is called to the adventure; he initially refuses the call;
supernatural aid is supplied (Ben Kenobi), which enables the adventure to proceed; he
passes the threshold (Mos Eisley) and enters the belly of the whale (The Deathstar). He
meets the goddess (Leia) whom he must rescue, and loses the father-figure (Ben) who
becomes a spiritual presence to him. After escaping the Death Star, he must return to it,
this time to destroy the monster.2
[4] However, it is my contention that reading Star Wars through the lens of Campbell's
philosophy does not do justice to all that is in the films, religiously speaking. Although
the basic storyline does indeed replicate Campbell's categories, Lucas did not intend to be
a mouthpiece for Campbell's thought, which diverges from Lucas's own religious
sensibilities in a number of important ways. Lucas used a variety of religious sources to
construct the world of Star Wars, including biblical apocalyptic. It is not my intention to
demonstrate that Star Wars is chiefly an apocalyptic text or only that, but to show that
Lucas utilized apocalyptic ideas, among other religious notions, in the construction of the
Star Wars universe. To do so, I must first spend some time showing the inadequacy of the
Campbellian interpretation of Star Wars, due to the fact that many people have
interpreted the films' religious elements solely through those categories.
[5] To understand Campbell's view of Star Wars, one must have some sense of his overall
philosophy of religion. Campbell had very little formal education in religious studies. He
studied Medieval European literature, Romance philology, and modem literature,
especially the works of James Joyce and Thomas Mann. His main encounter with religion
began through editing the posthumous writings of Indologist Heinrich Zimmer and
through working with Swami Nikhilananda translating and editing the Upanishads. On
the subject of mythology, he was an autodidact without formal training.3 When one looks
at Campbell's assessment of religions in his published writings, this background is
evident. Many of his examples come from modem or medieval literature with little
explicit reference to religion. When he does speak of religions, he shows a decided
preference for Hinduism's conception of the divine and salvation, and in particular, the
traditions of monistic Vedanta. He degrades the western religions, Judaism in particular,
for sharply distinguishing God from the world. "The Biblical image of the universe
simply won't do any more,4 writes Campbell, and he also claims that in eastern religions
the ultimate divine mystery is sought beyond all human categories of thought and feeling,
beyond names and forms .... Anthropomorphic attributions of human sentiments and
thoughts to a mystery beyond thought is--from the point of view of Indian thought--a
style of religion for children."5
[6] One may note that this judgment even preferences non-dualistic Vedanta over the
devotional forms of theistic bhakti practiced by most Hindus. In any case, the "proper"
religious teaching of identity with the Godhead is not taught in the West, according to
Campbell, because it is viewed as heresy or blasphemy; Campbell even claims Jesus was
crucified for claiming identity with God.6 This is the sort of oversimplification of
historical and theological matters in which Campbell revels. He generalizes about
religions, concluding all that do not preach monism are superstitious and parochial. He
reserves particular venom for the Jewish claim to be the chosen people who have
received a unique revelation from God.7 That this denigration of Judaism is tied to
Campbell's own anti-Semitism has been well documented by Robert Segal and Maurice
[7] Campbell's monism also represents a "psychologizing' of religion and myth, and here
he is under the influence of Karl Jung in particular. He tries to reduce all religion to a
journey of "self-discovery" brought about by identification with the story of the "hero"
reproduced in every myth. One of the most striking things one finds in reading
Campbell's works is his amazing ability to ignore the points of the individual tales he is
telling; all are made to fit the mold of the one 'true' story of the "Hero with a thousand
faces" mapped out in the book of that title. 9 There as well he concludes that the end of the
hero's journey is a union with the divine in which all personal identity and difference is
annihilated.10 But finally, this identity is not interpreted as the union of the individual
with a transcendent absolute, for there is no transcendent; rather, the identity of all is
interpreted in immanentist categories, in that the individual realizes he himself is the
absolute, the creator, the center of his own universe.11 Each person is to realize this, that
each of us makes our own universe and so is responsible for all that happens in it. This is
why Campbell cannot take the problem of undeserved suffering seriously; we deserve
everything that happens to us, for we make our own universe.12 In this he sounds more
like Jean-Paul Sartre or Friedrich Nietzsche than the great religions of history. This view
also represents a reduction of reality to that which we experience and perceive, and so it
cannot take seriously any external mystery of transcendence.13 The only "mystery" is
what lurks in my own unconscious, which can be plumbed via depth psychology and
interpretation of my myths and dreams. In this Campbell has also very much influenced
the New Age movement in its use of mythology and religion.
[8] After George Lucas invited Campbell to Skywalker Ranch to view all three Star Wars
films in a single day, Campbell gave his approval to the message of the films in
interviews with Phil Cousineau and Bill Moyers. In his interpretation, we again see the
hallmarks of his own philosophy of religion. Darth Vader is a "bureaucrat, living not in
terms of himself but in terms of an imposed system." Like him, each of us must learn to
develop as a human individual by "holding to your own ideals for yourself and, like Luke
Skywalker, rejecting the system's impersonal claims upon you.14 Immorality comes when
we do not listen to our own inner voices and instead listen to others. "The world is full of
people who have stopped listening to themselves or have listened only to their neighbors
to learn what they ought to do, how they ought to behave, and what the values are they
should be living for.15 Again, this message resembles Nietzsche's philosophy more than
that of George Lucas, I would argue, as this is Campbell's own moral philosophy.
[9] Campbell also gives an immanentist interpretation to the idea of the Force. The Force
is "within" us, he points out, and for him this means not that the sacred is both beyond us
and within us (like the Holy Spirit in Christian thought, or Brahman in Hinduism), but
only that which lies within us. The Force is "what best fosters the flowering of our
humanity in this contemporary life," and as such it is not a "first cause" or a "higher
cause," but "a more inward cause." "Higher is just up there, and there is no 'up there.' We
know that. That old man up there has been blown away. You've got to find the Force
inside you."16
[10] That Campbell's interpretation of Star Wars need not be the only one is clear even by
an examination of Lucas's own words about the meaning of the films. In a recent
interview with Bill Moyers in "Time" magazine, he said that he did not intend Star Wars
to be a replacement for the old religions, nor does he say that the eastern religions are
"closer" to the truth than the western (as Campbell does).
[11] I don't see Star Wars as profoundly religious. I see Star Wars as taking all the issues
that religion represents and trying to distill them down into a more modem and easily
accessible construct--that there is a greater mystery out there .... I put the Force into the
movie in order to try to awaken a certain kind of spirituality in young people--more a
belief in God than a belief in any particular religious system. I wanted to make it so that
young people would begin to ask questions about the mystery.17
[12] The mystery is clearly transcendent for Lucas, not merely a reflection of some
internal psychological structure. "I think that there is a God. No question. What that God
is or what we know about God, I'm not sure." Lucas would seem more at home with John
Hick's philosophy, that there is a Reality which transcends all the religions and which
each is trying to describe as best it can, rather than Campbell's reductionist view that all
religions can be boiled down to a single psychological process of auto-suggested divinity.
Lucas also believes that his films do not supply religious answers, but ask questions that
are then given various answers by the different religions. This seems to echo Paul
Tillich's method of correlation, which claimed that culture can ask the questions of
existence but only revelation can answer them. Lucas actually likes the fact that a number
of religions can find their own ideas reflected in the Star Wars films; they fill in the
answer to the question with the content of their own faith.18
[13] In the process of asking basic questions about the meaning of life and how we
should live, however, the Star Wars films do give some guidelines about the ways in
which those questions might be asked or answered. Lucas has taken ideas from numerous
religions of the world and combined them into a syncretistic mix which works. Just as he
freely borrowed from various genres in constructing Star Wars--the western,
swashbucklers, samurai films, film noir, world war two films--so he also shows his skill
as a filmmaker in his ability to synthesize mythological and religious concepts from
around the world. Again, this is not Campbell's monomyth, I would claim, but a polyglot
of religious languages in which each contributes something to a pluralistic whole of
diversified parts--albeit with a western interpretation. I will focus on Lucas' use of
apocalyptic ideas, in particular.
[14] There is considerable consensus among scholars about the basic elements which
define apocalyptic, especially the apocalyptic of biblical religion. An "apocalypse," of
course, is a disclosing of secrets, especially the plan for the destiny of the world to which
the divine power will bring it. A radical discontinuity between the present and future ages
is envisioned: as C.K. Barrett puts it, "History would, as it were, take a leap to a new
level, on which the judgments of God would be more plainly visible; or, better, God
would, by entering history, either personally or through a representative, introduce into it
a new factor which would revolutionize its [15] course."19
[15] God is in control of history; it has a destiny which will be fulfilled, though it requires
radical change accompanied by considerable turmoil. In other words, before things get
better, things will get much worse.20 This tribulation leads to a cosmic battle between the
forces of good and evil in which these powers are envisioned in starkly dualistic terms;
there is no ambiguity about which is which. Humans are called upon to make their choice
for good or evil, or as Persian apocalyptic puts it, "truth" or "the lie"21--and depending on
their choice, they will either be rewarded or punished by God in the end. A final
resurrection of the faithful follows in which they are re-united with God and each other in
a restored communion of the faithful. All of this may be accomplished with the aid of a
Messiah figure who acts as God's intermediary.22
[16] Apocalyptic functions religiously, scholars tell us, as a comfort to the faithful in
times of persecution. The current persecution is viewed as the tribulation which must
precede the final judgment and restoration of the faithful. The faithful are told of their
future reward to encourage them to remain steadfast and not give in to the powers of evil
or the temptation to forsake their faith.23 Apocalyptic also functions politically as a
critique of the established order which is denounced as an incarnation of evil; the
predicted future order, that which ought to be, calls for "cataclysmic change: the
humbling of the mighty and the exaltation of the meek." Hope for this new order is a
remedy to anxiety and frustration, conveying a sense of confidence and one's own
[18] How many of these features are found in the Star Wars films? A number of them are
instantly recognizable. There is certainly a cosmic battle between good and evil, clearly
envisioned as opposites, and the fate of the whole galaxy hangs on the outcome. The evil
is personified first by Darth Vader, and later by the Emperor who is trying to eliminate
self-determination of the planets and bring all in accord with his will. There is some
parallel here to the situation of the early Christians and other politically oppressed groups
which have found the authorities unsupportive of their self-determination--in the case of
the Christians, there actually were Emperors who persecuted them for failure to honor
and obey. Events are also spiraling towards a cataclysmic battle, which can be seen both
at the end of the first film (episode 4) as well as to a greater extent at the end of the first
trilogy in episode six. Though all appears to be lost at a certain point, the faithful win the
day by trusting in the Force--a higher power which is in fact controlling all events. A
savior-messiah figures into the plots as well; this figure is Luke in the original trilogy, but
in episode one it is Anakin Skywalker, referred to as "the chosen one" whose birth was
foretold--a virgin birth, no less. Qui-Gon Jinn maintains that Anakin is the prophesied
one who will bring "balance" to the conflict, citing as evidence the fact that his blood
contains a higher concentration of "midichlorions" (which allow a Jedi to access the
Force) than Yoda's.
[19] The role of faith is quite clear in the movies as well, in particular, episode four (A
New Hope). Here Luke has not yet developed the ability to see dead people, move
objects, or know the future, and so what he sees of the Force's power is more limited. He
observes Obi-Wan's Jedi "mind-trick" (used on dim-witted stormtroopers to evade
confiscation of R2-D2); he learns to fight a combat training droid without seeing it; and
he hears Obi-Wan's voice after his death. Outside of these few examples, he has little to
go on other than his belief that there is a Force which will help him when he tries to blow
up the Death Star without computer assistance. Obi-Wan also shows tree faith in his
willingness to give his life for no discernible purpose; he tells Vader, "if you strike me
down, I will become more powerful than you can possibly imagine," and it is only this
belief that he will be of more help as a spiritual presence to the forces of good which
justifies his apparently futile martyrdom. Han Solo, in contrast, opts not to believe in the
Force, for as he says: "Kid, I've flown from one end of this galaxy to the other; I've seen a
lot of strange stuff; but I've never seen anything to make me believe there's one all-
powerful force controlling everything. There's no mystical energy field controlling my
destiny. It's all a lot of simple tricks and nonsense." He attributes to luck what Luke and
Ben attribute to the Force, and he trusts in his own abilities rather than any transcendent
power. (In fact, in this he sounds a lot more like Joseph Campbell than Luke does! Of
course, Solo actually fights for the Force without realizing it; a sort of "anonymous Jedi,"
if you will, whose skepticism about ultimate matters does not prevent him from aiding
friends in need.)
[20] Darth Vader is also depicted as a figure who paradoxically bears witness to the
power of faith in the Force. When his "ancient religion" is ridiculed by one of the
Imperial officers as inadequate next to the technological power of the Death Star, he uses
the Force to choke him and asserts that he finds his "lack of faith disturbing." Throughout
episode four, Vader appears to be an anachronism in the Empire, as no one else seems to
believe in the mystical dimension he does; his faith is a peculiarity in the otherwise
secularized and technologized empire. As Governor Tarkin puts it: "The Jedi are extinct;
their fire has gone out in the universe. You, my friend, are all that is left of their religion."
[21] Several things, however, are different beginning in episode five (The Empire Strikes
Back). We encounter the Emperor for the first time, and discover that he represents the
Dark Side of the Force more powerfully than Vader; he is not simply a bureaucrat like
Governor Tarkin was. In addition, Vader seems to have more power: In episode four, Leia
makes a crack about Tarkin holding Vader's "leash," likening him to a henchman; now,
Vader has his own star cruiser and crew just for the purpose of chasing Luke's friends,
and he is free to execute imperial officers whenever they disappoint him. Also in episode
five, Luke begins to discover the power of the Force and actually sees some of the things
he has only believed up to this point. Obi-wan appears to him and delivers messages;
Yoda shows him how to move objects around and see the future. At the same time, Luke
lacks the total belief required to be a Jedi; when he says it is impossible to lift his ship out
of the Dagobah swamp and Yoda does it for him, he can only say "I don't believe it!" to
which master Yoda replies: "That is why you fail." Luke also confronts the power of the
Dark Side in a new way, not only through Vader's attempt to capture him but through the
revelation that Vader is his father. In this way, Luke confronts the possibility of evil in
himself, in that even his Jedi father turned to the Dark side. Luke's vision in the cave on
Dagobah, in which he kills Vader only to find he wears Luke's own face, reinforces this
idea that the only evil one needs to fear is the hatred and anger that lurks within oneself.
[22] Episode six of the saga (Return of the Jedi) brings all its elements to a conclusion.
We see the final apocalyptic battle and Luke faces Vader again. He now accepts Vader as
his father, and attempts to redeem him by appealing to his former nature as Anakin
Skywalker. In this Luke fails and he is brought before the Emperor for a final testing. Can
he resist hate and fear, even when confronted with the destruction of his own friends and
the rebel cause? His attempt to remain non-combative breaks down when Vader threatens
to turn his sister to the Dark side. In a fit of anger, he chops off his father's hand, just as
Vader had chopped off Luke's hand at the end of the previous film. But when the
Emperor exhorts Luke to kill Vader and "take your father's place at my side," Luke
throws down his weapon. "I am a Jedi, like my father before me," he says. He is able to
come to this decision, as he sees himself about to suffer the same fate as his father; in
particular, he looks at the stump of Vader's electronic hand and then at his own machine
hand which he was given after he lost his own. He resists the temptation to lose his
humanity to a technologized and de-personalized identity.
[23] Luke's decision not to fight may appear to be one place in which the film borrows
from eastern religious notions of ahimsa, non-violence. But there is a significant
difference between his actions and the ethic of the Bhagavad Gita in which the Hindu
notion of ahimsa is developed. In that text, Krishna advises Arjuna to fight to preserve the
world-order of dharma, but to do so without selfish desire or hatred. This is basically the
same advice Yoda and Obi-Wan give to Luke; to kill his father, but without giving in to
hate or anger. Yet Luke ignores their counsel and refuses to fight him at all. He abandons
the "eastern" philosophy of detachment advocated by Ben and Yoda for a more Christian
ideal of attachment to those whom one loves. And oddly enough this is what saves them
all, as he manages to redeem his father from hatred and violence. Here again, Christian
concepts of redemption clearly take center stage, as Luke's willingness to non-violently
sacrifice himself(much like Obi-Wan's self-sacrifice in episode four) becomes the key to
turning his father back. Granted, in his "conversion" Vader does use violence against the
Emperor, but in so doing he eschews the path of violence he has been following since he
turned to the Dark side.
[24] In the end of the film, Luke sees the spirit of his redeemed father accompanied by
those of Yoda and Obi-wan, an otherworldly salvation of the righteous analogous to the
final resurrection of the dead in biblical apocalyptic. It is also worth noting that these
figures retain their individuality even in this apotheosis, contradicting Campbell's
monistic vision which would require their dissolution into the absolute. If Obi-wan can sit
on a log in the Dagobah swamp and discuss Luke's family tree with him, it appears that
the departed are not simply manifestations of some abstract oneness which does away
with their personalities.
[25] Much of this tale also transcends the structures of apocalyptic, it can be seen. The
future is not completely set; although faith in the Force should bring success, even Yoda
does not guarantee this. The Dark forcemasters tend to speak of "destiny" in a way that
suggests free will is non-existent; but the good side always allows participants to choose
their own destinies, granting that free choice can and does contribute to the direction of
events. When Luke asks Yoda (in episode five) if Han and Leia will die, he replies,
"Difficult to say. Always in motion is the future." What will happen depends on the
choices that individuals make, and this cannot be foretold with complete certainty. That
this is so is shown by the errors the Emperor makes in predicting the outcome of Luke's
testing, as well as in the fact that Anakin, even as "the chosen one," was corruptible.
[26] Perhaps the most significant difference from traditional apocalyptic, though, is that
the function of the Star Wars myth does not seem to be to give comfort to the politically
persecuted. If Star Wars is primarily a myth for United States citizens, it is hard to see
how we fall into that category. Of course, if apocalyptic categories are used to describe a
battle that has already taken place, it can actually serve to support the status quo, rather
than question it. In this case, the evil has already been vanquished, and represents the
previous political order rather than the present one.25 Apocalyptic form would then be
used not to critique the powers that be (the U.S. Government, for example), but rather to
support them as the just victors over evil. Star Wars does tap into some of this by
portraying the Empire as resembling both Stalinist Russia and Nazi Germany. Michael
Ryan and Douglas Kellner, authors of Camera Politica, support just this interpretation of
Star Wars. They hold that the films express a conservative ideology that supports the
American ideals of individualism, elitism, antistatism, agrarianism, and anti-rationalism.26
However, their attempt to interpret the films entirely in traditional Marxist terms seems to
fall short by reducing the films to their supposed political message of support for western
capitalism. Their own survey of viewers seemed to suggest that most did not see the
Empire or the rebels in political terms, and even when they did, there was no consistency
in assigning a political identity to them--e.g., more viewers believed the Empire
resembled a right-wing dictatorship than communism, but most also believed the rebels
resembled right-wing freedom fighters more than left-wing revolutionaries.27
[27] What Ryan and Kellner are unwilling to grant is that the films have used apocalyptic
concepts not primarily for political purposes, but for some other end--and it is in this that
the Star Wars films may differ most markedly from traditional apocalyptic. For the
"enemy" is not a political "other," but ourselves, or at least the threat that we will lose our
humanity to greed and a selfish quest for power--symbolized by the Dark side, and even
moreso by the technology of deathstars, imperial walkers, and Vader's own robot body.
Virtue triumphs over evil technology, however, not only when the "natural" Ewoks beat
stormtroopers and their imperial walkers by "primitive" jungle tactics, but when Darth
Vader becomes Anakin Skywalker once again. When we see him unmasked and his
humanity restored, even at the moment of death, he is "saved," as he says himself.
[28] All of this, it can be seen, serves to reveal some basic virtues Lucas wants to
highlight: the importance of family, the redeeming qualities of love and forgiveness,
loyalty, friendship, and faith. These are what viewers like to see, as in so many
Hollywood films. And although these values are labeled banal or anachronistic by many
critics, these are the virtues the fans appreciate and presumably hope to emulate in their
lives. The continual whining about how Star Wars is trying to replace "real" religions28
might subside a bit if we realized that the values it portrays are not entirely negative. As
viewers, we are caught up in the struggle between good and evil framed in apocalyptic
terms not because we hope for release from political persecution, but because we can
relate the story to our own struggles to do good in our personal lives. On a small scale,
we all try to be like Luke rather than like Vader. As George Lucas himself puts it:
[29] Heroes come in all sizes, and you don't have to be a giant hero. You can be a very
small hero. It's just as important to understand that accepting self-responsibility for the
things you do, having good manners, caring about other people--these are heroic acts.
Everybody has the choice of being a hero or not being a hero every day of their lives. You
don't have to get into a giant laser-sword fight and blow up three spaceships to become a
hero. 29
The Empire Strikes Back
A New Hope
The Phantom Menace
Return of the Jedi)
Star Wars
1 "It was the first time that I really began to focus. Once I read that book I said to myself,
this is what I've been doing .... It was all right there and had been there for thousands and
thousands of years, as Dr. Campbell pointed out .... It's possible that if I had not run
across him I would still be writing Star Wars today." Phil Cousineau, The Hero's
Journey: The World of Joseph Campbell (San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1990), p. 180.
2 Andrew Gordon, "Star Wars: A Myth for Our Time," in Screening the Sacred: Religion.
Myth. and Ideology in Popular American Film (Boulder: Westview Press, 1995), pp. 73-
4 Joseph Campbell, "The Confrontation of East and West," in Myths to Live By (New
York: Viking, 1972), p. 89.
5 Ibid., p. 93
6 Ibid., p. 95
7 This claim privileges one group's proximity to the divine whereas (in his view) all have
the divine "within" them, already. Since Judaism seeks a "relationship" with a named God
rather than identity, it claims that relationship is only available "through membership in a
certain supernaturally endowed, uniquely favored social group." Ibid., pp. 95-96.
9 "It seems to be a temptation that many modem thinkers cannot resist--to put forward
their own central discoveries as the core of all the world's religions .... Even when they
know something about the world's religions, they do not hesitate to ignore all the
phenomena that do not fit their personal perception ...." Friedman, p. 395; "[Campbell]
cites hundreds of myths and extricates from them hundreds of archetypes...but he
analyzes few whole myths .... He is interested less in analyzing myths than in using
myths to analyze human nature." Segal, pp. 137-138.
10 Joseph Campbell, The Hero with a Thousand Faces (Princeton: Princeton University
Press, 1949), pp. 365-378.
11 Here I must agree with Friedman against Segal. "Campbell seems to want a unity of
inner and outer, as Segal says, yet it is not the actual outer but a mysticized and
universalized outer that comes from his projection of his inward philosophy on it."
Maurice Friedman, "Psychology, Psychologism, and Myth: A Rejoinder," Journal of the
American Academy of Religion 67/2, p. 471.
12 Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers, The Power of Myth (New York: Doubleday, 1988),
p. 161. Campbell speaks of "loving one's fate" even if it involves suffering, and quotes
Nietzsche in support of this ideal. He also quotes the Buddha's dictum that "all life is
suffering," ignoring the fact that the Buddha sought a way to escape this, not an
affirmation of it.
13 In an address he delivered shortly after the first men walked on the Moon, Campbell
cites the Kantian notion that space and time are mental constructs rather than objective
realities, and claims that the "moon flight as an outward journey was outward into
ourselves." Even the conquest of outer space is finally only the conquest of another inner
mystery, and its significance lies in its ability to tell us more about ourselves. Campbell,
"The Moon Walk--The Outward Journey in Myths to Live By," p. 239.
14 Campbell and Moyers, The Power of Myth, p. 144
15 Ibid., p. 147
16 Ibid., p. 148
18 Ibid., p. 93.
19 C.K. Barrett, The New Testament Background: Selected Documents (New York:
Harper, 1956), p. 227.
20 "Children will be born with the white hair of old men, miscarriages will increase, and
women will cease to give birth at all. The earth will fail to bring forth fruit .... One nation
will rise up against another, wars will tear mankind to pieces, within families fathers will
oppose and quarrel with sons, and brothers with brothers.., everything is devastated and
destroyed. When at last even the cosmic order disintegrates, the stars will no longer
follow their regular courses..."
21 Eduard Lohse, The New Testament Environment, tr. John E. Steely (Nashville:
Abingdon, 1976), p. 57.
Bruce Lincoln, "Apocalyptic Temporality and Politics in the Ancient World," in The
Encyclopedia of Apocalypticism, vol. 1, ed. John J. Collins (New York: Continuum,
1998), p. 459.
22 Norman Perrin, The New Testament: An Introduction (New York: Harcourt Brace
Jovanovich, 1974), p. 71.
24 Lincoln, p. 467.
25 Ibid., p. 466.
27 Ibid., p. 235.
28 For just one example of this, see Maclean's, May 24, 1999, "The Second Coming," pp.
29 Time, p. 94.


text:
Fixing the Future
David Brancaccio goes behind the scenes in communities that are creating jobs and building prosperity in our new economy.
In a one-hour PBS special that premieres Thurs., Nov. 18, David Brancaccio visits communities across America using innovative approaches to create jobs and build prosperity in our new economy.
Fixing the Future teamed up with YES! Magazine to find useful tools and innovations for communities working to build a new economy.
- Watch the show. Check your local listings.
- Watch David Brancaccio's interview with YES! Magazine co-founder David Korten on what economic transformation has to do with building stronger, happier communities.
- Read David Brancaccio's travelogue from filming.
- Plot your own community's new economy initiatives on an interactive map.
: There are many ways to create jobs while building a more sustainable economy.
: By working with local businesses, Michelle Long helped make Bellingham, Washington a national leader in urban sustainability. Now she's taking her vision to cities around North America.
: Rust-belt to recovery through worker-owned businesses.


text:
Officials complained the Defense Department is a little too eager to ship arms to the U.S. Ally.
A recent Wall Street Journal front-pager with a provocative headline "Israel Outflanks White House" threw limelight on a little known office within the Pentagon.
With combat raging in Gaza between Hamas and Israeli troops, the newspaper reported complaints from the State Department and the White House that the Pentagon was bypassing them in rushing arms to the embattled U.S. ally at a time when Secretary of State John Kerry was hoping to use the missiles and ammunition as leverage in seeking a ceasefire.
"The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, or DSCA, was about to release an initial batch of the Hellfires, according to Israeli and congressional officials," the Jerusalem-based reporter wrote. "It was immediately put on hold by the Pentagon, and top officials at the White House instructed the DSCA, the U.S. military's European Command and other agencies to consult with policy makers at the White House and the State Department before approving any additional requests."
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, run by Vice Adm. Joseph Rixey, is tasked, according to its mission statement, to "lead, resource, and educate the Defense Security Cooperation community to shape, refine, and execute innovative security solutions for partners in support of U.S. interests."
Rixey declined a request from Government Executive for an interview, but soon after the Journal story appeared, Pentagon spokesman Rear Adm. John Kirby was asked about the arms sales at a presser and displayed some reluctance to broach the politically sensitive topic.
A reporter asked, "Does the Pentagon now need White House or State Department approval for military-to-military sales to Israel? They say they were blindsided by some of this and caught off-guard."
Kirby's reply: "Yeah, look, I'll just say that the process -- there is an existing process for handling arm sales to Israel. It's a process that we're constantly looking at, constantly assessing, certainly in light of the much-increased operational tempo that the Israeli Defense Force is under now, as they defend themselves from Hamas. It warrants -- that process continues to warrant assessment and review. And I think I'd leave it at that."
As if to accentuate the political risks, the Wall Street Journal on Friday published three letters to the editor, all critical of what they see as the Obama administration's lukewarm support for Israel, arguing, "Our allies shouldn't have to outflank the White House."


text:
|the themes and moral values of THE PEARL
......my journey of discovering the light of literature hidden beneath a million stars and unveiling the concealed beauty of the work of arts through passion and patience, to experience the amazing journey where no words can heave but hearts can feel…………….
May God have Mercy on us & bless us with His Love and guide us in His Light of Truth.
A Roman philosopher of the mid 1st century said: "There is no delight in owning anything unshared." and Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American poet,lecturer and essayist said: "Our best thoughts come from others."
|the themes and moral values of THE PEARL
wow it really helps for my paper.....thanks a lots
Hey thank you so much! :) saved me the effort of cracking my brains<3 thank you for sharing...:)
"Literature adds to reality, it does not simply describe it. It enriches the necessary competencies that daily life requires and provides; and in this respect, it irrigates the deserts that our lives have already become." - C.S Lewis, a British scholar and novelist.
"Literature has established itself in the second or foreign language classroom on the basic of four main reasons: motivating the reader to read extensively and critically, providing access to cultural background, encouraging language acquisition, and developing the whole person." (McKay, 1986; Carter and Long,1991; Lazar, 1993).
Once A Long, Long Time Ago
Setting Out To Find Our Dreams
Lost In Memories Of Olden Days.......:
Sometimes Rising In The Spring
Glowing, Shimng Comes The Sun
Golden Daybeams Come Through To Me Now
Those Who Know The Firebird
Try To Find Forever The Dreams
Try To Find Forever The Way, My Way
Caravan, Journey In The Sky
As The Sun Comes Out From The Day
Caravan, We Know Who We Are
We Disover Where Or When
Caravan, Now We Find A Love
Love Shimmering And Soon Our Love Is Gone
Come With Me And Take My Hand
Memories Of The Past Unfold
With You I Live Them Once Again
From My Beating Heart, My Hand
Feels My Warmth And Love Within
And I Wonder When The Spring Will Come
Do We Ever Really Know For Sure?
Will We Travel On And On?
Someday Well Be Standing Up To Live.,......


text:
I'm working on a new class series for my local and lovely, Stitch Lab, and wanted to present a bit of a teaser for you folks close enough to attend.
The focus of this class series is essentially a block of the month, but rather than present an already established pattern, I've decided to design the blocks myself and for each block to teach a specific, yet simple technique. Also, since I'm a huge fan of the fabric offerings at Stitch Lab, each block will feature a grouping of fabrics available at the Lab.
Today's task is to craft the Moda Bella solids I picked out into the second block in the series.
For those of you wondering when all this fun will start, check the July/August schedule when it is published. And, if those months don't work for you, have no fear; I anticipate this being an ongoing offering.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Something new, but not necessarily blue
Posted by Malka Dubrawsky at 1:12 PM
6 comments:
- meli B said...
Love Kaffe Stripes and have made some very cool blocks with them. Looking forward to seeing more of yours. http://melibismakingthings.blogspot.com.au/2010/10/go-magpies.html
- April 23, 2012 at 3:09:00 PM CST
- MariQuilts said...
One can never have enough of these stripes...the block looks lovely.
- April 23, 2012 at 7:50:00 PM CST
- sallgood said...
I've had Kaffe strips for years, and I've been meaning to do an all stripe quilt with them. Thanks for the block inspiration! (So many ideas,so little time!) :D
- April 24, 2012 at 9:49:00 AM CST
- Lee Anne said...
Love the block....you always inspire! For those of us not close enough to attend your classes - would you ever consider an online block of the month? Thanks for the inspiration!
- April 24, 2012 at 10:40:00 AM CST
- Jane S. said...
It makes my heart happy to see Kaffe stripes!
- April 24, 2012 at 4:18:00 PM CST
- sewa mobil jakarta said...
Very nice, thanks for sharing.
- April 27, 2012 at 10:58:00 AM CST
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text:
Not quite Froyo...
I'm based in Finland. Noticed a new version of the monstrous Kies this morning & upgraded. Kies has been advertising a firmware upgrade for the Galaxy S for a couple of weeks, but this is the first version of Kies that went all the way (fnarr, etc.).
Upgrade went well, but it doesn't seem to be the Full Froyo. Firmware now shown as version 2.1-update1. Kernel version 2.6.29 Build number ECLAIR.POJM1.
Haveing said that there seem to be a fair few changes (haven't gone through all yet) but updated browser, new task manager & voice search apps, rearranged drop-down tabs. GPS a little more responsive too.
So, when is Froyo due...?


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Sky Bet Championship: Sheffield Wednesday ease to 6-0 win over 10-man Leeds
Sheffield Wednesday ran riot in the Yorkshire derby as they beat 10-man Leeds 6-0 in the Championship on Saturday.
Last Updated: 11/01/14 5:20pm
First-half goals from defender Reda Johnson and big striker Atdhe Nuhiu put Wednesday firmly in control and, after Leeds substitute Matt Smith had been sent off two minutes into the second period, Connor Wickham added a killer third.
Chris Maguire's deflected free-kick in the 67th minute and substitute Caolan Lavery's superb late double ensured Leeds slumped to their heaviest defeat of the season and, not since a 4-0 victory in October 1955, have Wednesday enjoyed such a comfortable win against their White Rose rivals.
Wednesday extended their unbeaten run to five matches and the manner of this latest success will surely convince chairman Milan Mandaric to make caretaker boss Stuart Gray the club's permanent manager.
On-loan Sunderland striker Wickham was one of three changes to
Wednesday's starting line-up, while Leeds' new signings Cameron Stewart and Jimmy Kebe both made largely ineffective debuts on the left and right wing respectively.
Wednesday were first to threaten, but winger Jacques Maghoma lost his balance when sent clear into the penalty area and Nuhiu headed Johnson's cross off target.
Defender Jason Pearce headed Leeds' first effort wide from Kebe's cross, while Wickham lashed a low angled shot inches wide at the other end after a swift Wednesday counter-attack.
The home side then took the lead. Wickham's free-kick was not properly cleared and midfielder Kieran Lee clipped a fine ball over the top to pick out Johnson in the penalty area and the unmarked defender had plenty of time to steer the ball home from six yards, off his shin, for his third goal of the season.
Wednesday were comfortably the more cohesive side and Maguire crashed in a low 25-yard shot that forced Leeds goalkeeper Paddy Kenny into a smart near post save.
Leeds began to find their range and enjoyed more possession, but Wednesday dealt the visitors a massive blow with a second goal just before half-time.
Wickham dispossessed Leeds skipper Rudy Austin and ran 30 yards before slipping the ball to Lee and he rolled the perfect pass across the six-yard box for Nuhiu to slide the ball home at the far post.
Wednesday could have been out of sight moments later when the impressive Lee set defender Liam Palmer free in the box, but he fired low into the side-netting.
Leeds were dealt another blow seconds after the restart when half-time substitute Smith was shown a straight red card by referee Lee Probert after colliding with Johnson.
Wednesday then struck their third, all but securing their fourth league win under Gray three minutes later.
Wickham's backheel spun kindly off Maghoma and the forward powered into the left edge of the area before drilling a low left-footed shot inside Kenny's near post.
Maguire's 25-yard free-kick after Austin's foul on Maghoma deflected off the Leeds skipper to wrong-foot Kenny and make it 4-0 in the 67th minute and Lavery, recalled from a loan spell at Plymouth this week, turned the visitors' defence inside out before netting in the 80th minute.
It could have been worse for Leeds, but Wednesday substitute Jermaine Johnson's stinging effort in the closing stages hit the post and Wickham's goal-bound shot was deflected over the crossbar by Leeds defender Pearce.
But still the fun for Wednesday was not over as Lavery turned on the edge of the area to curl home a fine sixth with virtually the last kick.


text: Share Download Print Chrysler Group's WCM Academy Honored with Manufacturing Leadership Award February 21, 2013 , Warren, Mich. - Chrysler Group LLC's World Class Manufacturing (WCM) Academy was recognized today in the 2013 Manufacturing Leadership 100 (ML100) Awards, specifically in the New Workforce category, which identifies companies that involve education and training, knowledge management and transfer, and collaboration with educational institutions. In its ninth year, the ML100 Awards honor those shaping the future of global manufacturing. The awards target projects and individual manufacturing leaders that demonstrate achievement across a wide variety of domains including sustainability, operational excellence, workforce development, innovation, entrepreneurship and industry advocacy. "On behalf of all who contribute to the WCM Academy, we are humbled by this recognition in the 2013 Manufacturing Leadership 100 Awards," said Mauro Pino, Head of World Class Manufacturing, Chrysler Group LLC. "The human element is at the center of WCM and is a way of life for Chrysler Group workers. The Company's success depends on the involvement of its workers and we could not succeed in implementing WCM without the cooperation of the UAW and CAW; it's a team effort." Frost & Sullivan's Manufacturing Leadership Council judged hundreds of nominations across 11 categories. Seven of the ML100 categories celebrate outstanding projects undertaken and completed by a manufacturing company while the four remaining categories recognize the achievements of individual manufacturing executives. Judges look for projects or individuals that set themselves apart from the competition by delivering clear and compelling value, and other tangible results. Chrysler Group's WCM Academy was one of seven to be recognized in the New Workforce category. The WCM Academy opened its doors in January 2012 and occupies about 25,000-square-feet of the UAW-Chrysler Technology Training Center in Warren, Mich. The Academy was created to accelerate WCM implementation by combining classroom and laboratory sessions, with the emphasis on hands-on exercises in problem solving. With a mission to transfer WCM "know-how," the Academy trained more than 3,400 workers from across the Company's North American manufacturing facilities in its first year, far exceeding its goals. Those participating in Academy classes apply their learnings and begin making improvements as soon as they return to their plants, delivering real and measurable benefits for the Company. "The Chrysler Group workforce understands that the Company's continued success is directly related to our ability to implement WCM quickly and thoroughly," said General Holiefield, UAW Vice President, Chrysler Department. "They have risen to the challenge and are helping change the culture within our facilities. The Academy is accelerating this progress as demonstrated by the involvement and commitment of this outstanding workforce." First implemented by Fiat in 2006 and introduced to Chrysler Group as part of the alliance between the two companies in June 2009, WCM is a methodology that focuses on reducing waste, increasing productivity, and improving quality and safety in a systematic and organized way. WCM engages the workforce to provide and implement suggestions on how to improve their jobs and their plants. WCM has become the driving force behind the improvements in all of Chrysler Group's manufacturing plants with four facilities achieving Bronze status, a significant milestone in the WCM process, in 2012. ML100 Award winners will be honored on May 15 at a celebration following the ninth annual Manufacturing Leadership Summit in Palm Beach, Fla. About Chrysler Group LLC Chrysler Group LLC, formed in 2009 to establish a global strategic alliance with Fiat S.p.A., produces Chrysler, Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Mopar, SRT and Fiat vehicles and products. With the resources, technology and worldwide distribution network required to compete on a global scale, the alliance builds on Chrysler Group's culture of innovation, first established by Walter P. Chrysler in 1925, and Fiat's complementary technology that dates back to its founding in 1899. Headquartered in Auburn Hills, Mich., Chrysler Group's product lineup features some of the world's most recognizable vehicles, including the Chrysler 300 and Town & Country, Jeep Wrangler, all-new Dodge Dart, Ram 1500, Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT8 and Fiat 500. Fiat contributes world-class technology, platforms and powertrains for small- and medium-size cars, allowing Chrysler Group to offer an expanded product line including environmentally friendly vehicles.


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The first time I was in Cambodia, in 2005, I disliked it intensely. It was the end of the dry season and the land was parched and brown, as if nothing had ever lived there. My friend Martha and I stayed in a fancy tourist hotel and went outside the resort only to visit the famous temples of Angkor Wat. The heat was so intense, and the beggars & cripples in the streets so aggressive, it sapped my interest in seeing the countryside or meeting the people. Despite the wonders of the temples, it was an unpleasant experience overall, and I never wanted to go back.
However, when I went to Cambodia with Heifer last year, it was an entirely different experience. (And this is why you should never hold on to prejudices about countries you've only visited briefly — or in an utterly touristy fashion.)
For starters, I met the people I really wanted to get to know.And then there was the fact that everything – and I mean EVERY single living thing– in the countryside was bathed in green. And water. Cambodia is geographically shaped like a bowl, so in the rainy season, water collects in the center and seeps out everywhere. The rice paddies were swollen with their watery harvest…
…and children everywhere along the road were splashing happily and joyfully in the ubiquitous ponds.I got to really talk to the people I met in the villages, and understand some of their tragic history on a deeply personal level.
I saw the work Heifer was doing to mend communities, bring people together to work alongside each other, and heal ancient rivalries with the amazing gift of animals .
And I came to adore Heifer's country director, Keo Keang, who traveled with me every day to the villages and towns where Heifer works – and had her own horrific tale of tragedy from the Khmer Rouge days, when her father and sister were murdered.
Despite the severe difficulties this country faces in overcoming its genocidal past, poverty-ridden present, and dubious future, I met so many people filled with a gorgeous spirit of optimism and hope.
And believe me when I tell you, nothing can make you love a country more than that.For a look back at my Cambodia posts (and they're really GOOD!) ..


text:
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text:
White House
Americans' frustration with gridlocked Washington grows
Americans are eager for Washington to act on a host of issues they care deeply about, but instead they've just witnessed another week of sharp rhetoric and political finger-pointing.
There was the one-hour and six-minute speech from President Barack Obama as he barnstormed the Midwest this week, billed as his blueprint for a still-shaky economy but laced with blasts at Republicans. There's Congress about to leave for a five-week summer recess next Friday, but still entangled in a long-running feud over how to write a federal budget. Once again a government shutdown is possible.
Pick a big issue, and the progress report ends with little, if any, progress.
Immigration? Stuck.
The budget? Stalled.
Curbs on the National Security Agency's data collection? Almost.
The public is frustrated with Washington's inertia. A series of McClatchy-Marist national polls, taken July 15-18, found that people across the nation remain worried about the economic future. A majority still thinks the country is in a recession, though the downturn officially ended four years ago. People want something done about the immigration mess, and they're concerned about the federal government's gathering of data from phone calls, emails and Internet use.
They're clamoring for their elected representatives to do something about all these concerns – even just one – but think that they're not. President Barack Obama's job approval numbers this month hit their lowest level in nearly two years of McClatchy-Marist polling, and Congress' are even worse.
"There's an eagerness to move forward, but there's a major disconnect between what goes on in Washington and what people are experiencing," said Lee Miringoff, the director of the Marist Institute for Public Opinion at Marist College in New York, which conducted the poll.
Take the Obama speech. "I don't think it built any trust," said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.
Nor did it seem to forge any bond with the American people, given the lack of much congressional reaction, pro or con. The president's new economic push comes six months into a second term marked by a gun control initiative that's stalled and a White House agenda eclipsed by a series of domestic and foreign policy crises.
Still, jobs and finances consistently show up as the issues that worry Americans most.
"With as many people as we have saying that we're a long way from a recovery, for him not to be talking about the economic problems that remain unsolved would be unconscionable and not very wise," said Andrew Kohut, the founding director of the Pew Research Center.
But the president is hamstrung by the political climate in the capital, where Republicans in the House of Representatives are more worried about tea party challenges on their right than about moderates on the left.
"It's a desperate situation and there's no silver bullets, so you do what you can," George Edwards, a presidential scholar at Texas A&M University, said of Obama.
Edwards said the president, who once thought he could change minds through the power of persuasion, had begun to realize his limitations.
"They shouldn't be under any illusion that (Obama's new economic initiative) is going to change the political landscape in a fundamental fashion, because it's not," Edwards said. "All of this is going to be on the margins."
White House spokesman Josh Earnest called the economic speeches part of a "sustained effort." Aides said that would include six to 10 appearances in different cities. Obama's political arm, Organizing for Action, entered the fray Friday with a 60-second cable ad featuring clips of his speech.
The president will be back on the road Tuesday, speaking at an Amazon facility in Chattanooga, Tenn., about manufacturing and high-wage jobs.
Obama's effort so far is landing with a thud on Capitol Hill, where Republicans are making it exceedingly difficult for him to succeed. Not only are they moving to sharply cut spending on favorite Obama programs, they're at war with themselves over a plan to keep the government running after Oct. 1 only if funds to implement the new health care law are slashed.
The Senate has offered a few glimmers of collegiality, with a compromise this past week on new student loan rates and bipartisan passage last month of comprehensive immigration legislation. But leaders of the Republican-run House quickly made it clear that they wouldn't take up the Senate's immigration bill.
House Republicans have their own problems when it comes to immigration. In an interview this past week, Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, said that many young immigrants who were brought to the country illegally had "calves the size of cantaloupes because they're hauling 75 pounds of marijuana across the desert."
Republican leaders, under pressure to soften the party's image as the power of Latino voters grows, quickly condemned the comments. They were all the more awkward because King made them even as some party leaders were warming to proposals to make it easier for the children of immigrants who are here illegally to become citizens.
"Of course," said House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, when he was asked whether King's remarks made finding a solution tougher.
Boehner's more difficult task has been trying to protect the NSA programs. For weeks, lawmakers vigorously defended the activity, despite growing constituent concern.
This week the groundswell proved too powerful, and leaders reluctantly let Rep. Justin Amash, R-Mich., a second-term congressman, offer a plan to restrict the activity. The buildup to the vote said much about Washington's disconnect. The McClatchy-Marist poll found that a strong majority thought the government had gone too far and wanted limits on what could be monitored.
Though the effort failed, the vote was telling because it didn't fit the usual partisan or ideological pattern. It was as true an expression of the will of constituents as Congress ever sees, and it prompted intelligence committee leaders to promise to at least take a closer look at the programs.
A sign of hope that the gap between the public and its elected officials might close? Probably not. People want results, not symbols, and that's why near-miss votes or Obama speeches are unlikely to convince Americans that their government is listening.
Next week promises more tough talk. Obama plans to use his new economic initiative to throw down a gauntlet on the upcoming budget battles. House Republicans will discuss using the vote on raising the debt ceiling to cut spending; the White House has said it won't negotiate.
"Threatening that you won't pay the bills in this country when we've already racked up those bills, that's not an economic plan," the president said. "That's just being a deadbeat."
But Obama is unlikely to succeed in trying to prod a reluctant Congress and satisfy the public's yen for action.
"It's always been a puzzlement to me how such a powerful communicator, and such a powerful communications shop during the campaign, failed so miserably in figuring out how to communicate governance," said Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, a senior fellow and political expert at the University of Southern California. "He's coming to it late."