text:
"In the US, money and beauty are the power, but I am looking for something else," said Kathy Aley, originally from Newport Beach, Calif., who moved to Nicaragua in 2001. "I left because of the greed and the selfishness in that country. I worked as an aerobics instructor for the school district, but I tore my muscles. I have two daughters in the US … they are 40 and 32 years old. I live here with my eight dogs, 10 cats and my parrot. Every morning, I jog the beach up and down with my dogs and parrot. They need the exercise."
Photojournalist Kadir van Lohuizen traveled from the southern tip of South America to the far reaches of Alaska on the North American continent to explore migration in the Americas. What he found both supported and defied stereotypes, which he reported on a website and an app for iPad called Via Panam.
"I came (to Nicaragua) on holiday in October 2000 and while I was watching the sunset on the beach, I knew I had to move here," said Kathy Aley, now 64, a transplant from Newport Beach, Calif. "I need the warmth and the slow life."
Kadir van Lohuizen / NOOR
Captain Zatara, 53, and Katy, 41: "It was our dream to sail around the world and live and sail in the tropics. We bought our boat in Washington state in 2003. She is a beauty. We came to San Juan de Sur three years ago and we wanted to make some adjustments to the boat … (now) we are rebuilding it from scratch. In the meantime Katy runs a massage salon, so we earn some money. I think it will take another two years to finish the boat. We have five children, one is with us."
Central America is a growing destination for moderately wealthy Americans looking to leave the rat race behind. In their search for quieter and less expensive places, some have chosen to settle in Nicaragua — the poorest nation in mainland Latin America, but also the safest, according to The Economist.
One such quiet and affordable enclave is the tranquil bay of San Juan del Sur. In addition to safe harbor for retirement, the location also offers a break from recession and politics.
Nicaragua was recently named one of the most favorable retirement destinations in the world.
Below are some stories of Americans who picked up and moved south for their retirement years:
Kadir van Lohuizen / NOOR
Fred Goldfarb, 60: "I am from the San Francisco Bay Area. I always had a desire for traveling, and in 2006, I came with my girlfriend to Nicaragua. She didn't like it, so that is where our relationship ended. I had a company in the US and in 2007 I bought 350 acres of land. With my business partner, we build environment friendly houses to sell. In 2008 the market collapsed, we are selling less now than before. I built this house actually to sell, but for the time being I live here. I don't like the politics in the US and the cost of living is very high."
Tom and Patty Lowy (55 and 62 respectively), from the San Francisco area: In 2004 Tom bought land close to San Juan del Sur. "I paid far too much … now we live here, in our gringonized house," he said. "We brought the TV chairs from the US. I earned good money in the US -- $400,000 a year -- I was a retail broker and I saw the crisis coming. We wanted to leave, we don't like the politics of the US, the Patriot Act, the propaganda from the mass media and the misinformation. Here is a safe place, safe for a nuclear war. We watch US television, but most of our friends are Nicaraguan. We believe we should integrate."
Kadir van Lohuizen / NOOR
Beverly Gene Marte, 74: "Everybody calls me BJ here. I came 10 years ago and I am from Walminton, Calif. I came on a yacht. It was a long trip from Florida, via Cuba, Cayman Islands, Panama Canal. In Costa Rica the yacht nearly sank, it took two years to fix it. In the end I made it to Nicaragua. I don't want to live in the US anymore. Obama ruins the country. Now I have my monkey, Cindy. Years ago I was photo model and I also worked for the US coast guard. The sea is in my blood."
Kadir van Lohuizen / NOOR
The tranquil bay of San Juan del Sur is pictured. Although Nicaragua hasn't had good relationships with the US over the last three decades, it is a popular destination for US citizens.
K. van Lohuizen / NOOR
From Colombians fleeing war to North Americans retirees moving to Nicaragua, a photographer's journey from Chile to Alaska explores both the expected and unexpected patterns of migration in the Americas
Experience the entire journey, from Chile to Alaska, by exploring the slideshow at right, the Via Panam website or by downloading the app for iPad.
More Photoblogs from the Migration in the Americas series:
On the run from water in Panama
Bolivia hopes for windfall from producing lithium for batteries
Mom works in US while family stays in El Salvador


text:
By Karin Calloway
Related Menus
Nana's Dressing
Dressing was my least favorite part of the traditional Thanksgiving meal until I sampled my mother-in-law Carol's deliciously light cornbread dressing. Most dressings are overly heavy, but Carol's combination of crumbled cornbread and cubed white bread perfectly seasoned with sautéed onion and celery and loads of chopped fresh parsley is just right.
Chicken broth holds the dressing together, and no eggs are used in the mixture. The seasonings are simple, just salt, pepper and poultry seasoning, but the end result is a dressing my family asks for year-round. It's delicious stuffed into the holiday bird, and just as wonderful baked in a casserole on its own.
Makes 6 to 8 servings.
*Pepperidge Farms white bread was used for testing purposes.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
There Is No Other Day
Brothers brave the rain in Lucerne, Switzerland.
In Switzerland, 11:05 means exactly 11:05.
Little Swiss Farm
Swiss Daydreams
The Harderbahn is a funicular that operates from the town of Interlaken to the mountain of Harder Kulm, in Switzerland.
And Everything Else Was Just A Blur
The Hour is Getting Late
The Limmat is a river in Switzerland
The ICE 1 is the first series of German high-speed trains and one of five in the InterCityExpress family. It can reach 174 MPH.
Bombardier Transportation Switzerland's intercity ICN tilting trains.
Little House on the River
On the banks of Lake Lucerne.
The M2
Lausanne's Métro M2, is a modern cog light rail line. The line is mainly at grade, on separate right-of-way with preference at street crossings. It's almost entirely single track except at most stations where trains cross each other.
A paddle steamer departing Interlaken West for Lake Thun.
Down By The Garage
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. When using photos, please credit 'Shawn Clover' or 'shawnclover.com' and link to this site. See photo use for more information. Photo use & about


text:
Seven Springs, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, GL53 9NG
01242 870219
Followers 0
Seven Springs in Cheltenham has a beer garden. The pub serves food, it has an outside area. Seven Springs serves real ale. The pub has free WiFi, it is a member of Cask Marque.
latest pub news, offers & events
Cask Ale Week 2018
Valid from 20/09/2018 to 30/09/2018 [Expired]
Cask Ale Week 2018 is underway and how better to celebrate than with 2 Cask Ales for just £5! What's more, you will receive a collector's card to be stamped with every pint of cask ale you purchase - after you collect 5 stamps your 6th pint is free!
Beer Day Britain 2018
Happening on 15/06/2018 [Expired]
Friday 15th June marks the annual celebration of the nation's best-loved bevvy - real ale! So why not come down and join us in raising a glass of the good stuff and say #CheersToBeer!


text:
Max B Interview With Jabari: When's The last Time You Seen Byrd Gang? "I Seen Them Niccas On World Star Lookin Dirty"
Jabari speaks to Max B in the streets of Harlem, NY. Max speaks about his problems with Jim Jones and the ongoing fued with Byrd Gang.
Please click the "Report" button below if the video on this page is not working properly.
Comments will only be displayed by verified emails. No Spamming or Racism.


text:
In advocating on behalf of children with exceptionalities, CEC examines policy issues, develops appropriate responses to those issues and influences local, state, provincial and federal legislation. CEC also monitors and makes recommendations for program regulations and funding. In addition, CEC maintains a network among its state units and special interest divisions for influencing policy.
As the recognized leader for special education professional standards, CEC develops standards, ethics and practices and guidelines to ensure that individuals with exceptionalities have access to well-prepared, career-oriented special educators.
Through the vision and dedication of more than 22,000 members, CEC sets the standard for high quality education for children and youth with exceptionalities. And, CEC is known as THE source for information, resources and professional development for special educators.
Join as a new member
Renew your membership
You'll find professional development offerings to meet the needs of all special educators – including those of you who are time-crunched, cost-conscious or in need of CEUs in order to meet state obligations. Please join us and invite others to engage the potential!
CEC publishes and distributes products designed to help practitioners work more effectively in the classroom. Learn more about CEC's publications and journals.
Special Education Topics includes information about the different exceptionality areas; international special education; hot topics in special education; and professional practice topics such as assessment, evidence-based practices and inclusion.
CEC's book focuses on ensuring successful transition from high school to college for students with disabilities
The world has changed tremendously for students with disabilities over the past several decades. Laws have been put into place to make college more accessible, and the public's understanding of students with disabilities has evolved. These students are graduating from the most competitive institutions in the country with the highest degrees and going on to fulfilling careers. This is great news!
Yet, some students with disabilities experience a really difficult transition to college. Although most students with and without disabilities struggle to adjust to the college environment, students with disabilities also have to deal with changes in the support system – both in their responsibilities and in the level of support available.
According to CEC author Elizabeth Hamblet, so much of their distress could be avoided if students gain a better understanding of and prepare for the college environment while they are still in high school. In her book, 7 Steps For Success: High School to College Transition Strategies for Students with Disabilities, Hamblet walks readers through the steps parents, teachers, child study team members and the students themselves can take to make the jump to college go smoothly and successfully.
CEC Today: During the move from high school to college, there is a shift in the laws covering services for student with disabilities. What are some of the significant ways these laws change?
Hamblet: As students with IEPs graduate, they are no longer covered by IDEA because it only covers K-12 (and students who don't graduate but are still in the system through age 21). Instead, they fall under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and its Amendments (ADAAA). One of the things that helps to explain why there are differences is the fact that IDEA is an education law, and Section 504 and the ADA are civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination. IDEA requires school districts to identify students who may have a disability, test them and, if they are found eligible for services, provide them with individualized instruction, with education in the least restrictive environment, and to improve their educational results. It is important to note that IDEA also mandates the education of all students. Section 504 and the ADA require colleges to remove barriers so that students can get access to their programs, which include classes, residential life, and school-sponsored extracurricular activities. However, this is only true for "qualified' students, which means it only applies to students who meet the regular admissions standards. Once they get in, students are in charge of initiating the accommodation process by applying for adjustments; colleges are not responsible for identifying the students or offering them accommodations. It also is important to note that Section 504 and the ADA allow colleges to reject certain kinds of accommodations.
This applies to accommodations that:
While numbers two and three on this list of exceptions are not scenarios that arise often, students need to be aware that numbers one and four may mean that accommodations they receive in college may be different. They also need to be aware that number one means that they need to choose their college and their major carefully, as colleges are not required to waive or substitute core courses for fields of study or graduation.
CEC Today: Students with disabilities are afforded supports through high school. What kinds of supports are available at the college level?
Hamblet: Some commonly available accommodations include extended time to take exams, priority registration, permission to record lectures, using note takers, books provided in alternative formats and use of speech-to-text technology. These adjustments are very basic ones that students should be able to find anywhere. Colleges that go beyond the minimum required by the law may offer appointments with a learning disabilities specialist, copies of helpful software for the student's own computer, or special support or social groups for students with disabilities
CEC Today: What are some of the characteristics of students with disabilities who are successful in college?
Hamblet: Students with disabilities who achieve success at college have qualities that we see in most people who succeed in all areas of life – they are motivated to achieve their goals, they have confidence that they can succeed, they persevere in spite of difficulties they encounter, they are resilient, and they have the self-discipline to make sacrifices and work hard in order to achieve success. For many of our students, these qualities have helped them earn good grades in high school and get them into college. They are not afraid of hard work and they are ready to face challenges in a way that some of their classmates who don't have disabilities — and have never had to try hard – are not. Some of our students come to college much more ready for the rigorous environment because they are used to working this way.
For students with disabilities, there are skills that can be helpful at college, which is an academic environment where students read, study, and write independently and where they have several responsibilities related to accessing disability accommodations. The research shows that students with disabilities who are successful at college have:
Because students spend so little time in class and are expected to do so much learning on their own in college, it is crucial for them to develop these self-knowledge and self-management skills so that they can study effectively. They need self-determination skills because they have to choose a major that they can complete without fundamental alterations to their chosen program, and the advisors at college may not know anything about how their disability might affect their ability to complete the requirements. And they need the self-advocacy skills so that they can access the accommodations they need and speak up for themselves if anything goes wrong with the delivery of their approved accommodations.
CEC Today: When should the discussions about college begin for students with disabilities?
Hamblet: The experts in the transition field recommend discussing college (and other post-secondary options) as early as 8th grade. The reason for this is that the same experts say that students who wish to go to college should take college-prep level courses so that they can develop the academic skills they will need in college. Also, since colleges don't have to alter their admissions requirements - even for students with disabilities - a student whose high school waives foreign language or math classes may have fewer choices when it comes to selecting a college to attend since such courses may be an admissions requirement. This is why it's important for families to have information about college as they are selecting classes for high school. Also, some accommodations may not be easily available at college (such as study guides prepared by a teacher or tutor), so the selection of accommodations during a student's high school years should be kept in mind. For students who want to go to college, IEPs and 504 plans can include certain supports during a student's early high school education but each year the IEP team should consider phasing out the accommodations students are unlikely to receive in college in order to better prepare them for the college environment.
CEC Today: What are the fundamental rights and responsibilities students with disabilities have when it comes to applying for and attending college?
Hamblet: In the admissions process, colleges are not allowed to ask students about their disability. If you look at the Common Application that some schools use, it does not ask students about their disability or accommodations. Students may certainly choose to disclose their disability somewhere in their application or essay, but they do not have to do so. Students should remember that disclosing their disability will not result in their being evaluated for admission under different criteria. Schools are not required to alter their admissions requirements, and many do not.
Once they enroll at college, the first right students can exercise is the right not to be identified as a person with a disability. Since colleges don't collect information about disability in the admissions process, they don't know which students have one, and they don't have any other way to find out. Plus, since students are no longer under IDEA, colleges don't have the same mandate to find and identify them. So if students want to have accommodations, they have to apply for them once they are admitted to college. This process is a simple one that typically involves completing a form, possibly meeting with a Disability Services (DS) office staff member, and submitting disability documentation. But if students don't complete this process, they will not get accommodations.
Once they are registered with the college DS office, students have a right to keep their documentation (mostly) private. At many colleges, DS will not alert students' professors or any other member of the college staff about the specific nature of their disability; instead, they will give students a Letter of Accommodation to give to their professors stating what accommodations have been approved. This letter will not say what the student's disability is. DS offices are careful about not sharing that kind of information unless they have to (as in an emergency situation).
Students who are approved for services have a right to reasonable accommodations (i.e. those that don't violate the exceptions previously mentioned) to be provided in a reasonable amount of time. It is important to note that students may not receive their preferred accommodation all the time. For instance, if a student requests the use of a particular software package for accessing text, and the college owns a different one, the college does not have to buy a copy of the student's preferred program, as long as the one it owns provides the same level of access. With regard to the time element, students should understand that it may take some time to get certain accommodations arranged, such as a note taker. For example, a student who has been approved for a note taker should not have to wait a month into classes before she is assigned a note taker (as long as she has completed all of her obligations in the accommodation system, such as completing forms and giving the DS office a copy of her schedule).
Lastly, students who are unhappy with their accommodations can file a grievance. This applies to students who do not get approved for accommodations at all, who are approved for some of their requested accommodations but not others, or who get all of their desired accommodations but find that something interferes with their proper delivery. For instance, if a student who is approved for extra time on tests has to take that test in an alternate setting (such as a professor's office), and the phone keeps ringing, that student did not get an appropriate exam setting, and can file a grievance (though it is better to try to resolve the problem informally first).
CEC Today: What are some survival skills you recommend to parents and teachers of students with disabilities?
Hamblet: Obviously, since college is an academic environment, students need a solid foundation of study skills. They should know how to take notes in a way that works for them, catch information they may have missed during lectures, read for comprehension, and write a paper using primary sources. In the research, college students with disabilities commented on the level of work they were expected to produce – that they had to analyze and interpret more than they had ever had to do. In addition, they have to be able to manage their time, materials, and deadlines, since professors don't typically give daily or even weekly assignments, so the only grades they will get a chance to earn will be on two exams or papers. If they get behind and do poorly on the first test or exam, they will be under a lot of pressure to do well on the next one.
In addition to having these academic skills, students also need the skills to handle themselves in an environment with a lot of freedom. Students have to get themselves to classes – it isn't anyone's job to wake them for class or to make sure they go back to the academic buildings after they go to lunch. They also have to keep up with deadlines, such as those for housing and registration. And then there are just the everyday life management skills, such as paying bills on time and keeping up with laundry. Students often look forward to the freedom of college (seeing friends when they please, going to sleep when they want) but they have to be prepared for the responsibility that comes with such freedom.
CEC Today: How can students with disabilities find whether a school is a good "fit"?
Hamblet: After they work with their guidance counselor to compose a list of colleges that suit them in all of the traditional ways, students can use the Internet to do more research. They can do a search to find the page for the DS office at each college they are considering. Once on the page, they should look to see if it provides information about what accommodations are commonly provided, what adaptive technology is available, how many staff members work there and what their background is (in case it is important to them that the DS staff have a background in special education, which they may not). They can use the information they glean from this research to decide which school's services are the best match for them.
CEC Today: What is a transition portfolio?
Hamblet: A transition portfolio is a collection of documents that evolves throughout students' education and can follow them to college. At the start of high school, it should contain a copy of the current IEP and perhaps a learning style assessment. Each year, as the newest copy of the IEP is put in, students, their parents, and the child study team should talk about how the student is progressing toward the goals outlined in the plan, and how the accommodations in the plan move students toward the independence they will need at college. As students move toward college, copies of their SAT scores, recommendations, and other relevant documents can be put in there. When they are seniors, they should work with an IEP team member to create a list of accommodations they want to request at college that are supported by their documentation and are appropriate at the college level. This should go in the portfolio, as should a copy of their documentation, and the portfolio should come to college with them, as it will contain the paperwork they will need to apply for accommodations at college.
Elizabeth C. Hamblet is a learning specialist at Columbia University who also has worked the high school end of the college transition as a special education teacher and case manager. Based in Princeton, N.J., she speaks, writes, and consults on transition to college for students with disabilities. Hamblet is the author of 7 Steps for Success: High School to College Transition Strategies for Students with Disabilities, published by the Council for Exceptional Children, and Transitioning to College: A Guide for Students with Disabilities, published by National Professional Resources. She is a regular contributor to Disability Compliance for Higher Education, and her work has appeared in the Journal of College Admissions and Career Development for Exceptional Individuals. Hamblet's Web site, www.ldadvisory.com, offers information and helpful links for families and professionals, and she uses Facebook to post interesting articles and links related to transition and to learning disabilities.
7 Steps for Success: High School to College Transition Strategies for Students with Disabilities
This practical guide explains how the system for accommodations works, describes students' rights and responsibilities within that system, and employs the voices of seasoned professionals and college students to explain the skills and strategies students should develop while they are in high school to ensure success when they reach college. As a bonus, it also offers answers to questions students with disabilities frequently ask about disclosing their disability in the admissions process. Learn more.
Elizabeth's work was also featured in the Spring 2014 GW HEATH Newsletter!


text:
For Roland-Garros 2017, Louis Vuitton has created two trophy trunks, handcrafted in Louis Vuitton's historic workshops in Asnières, designed to protect the Suzanne Lenglen Cup and the Musketeers' Cup, the illustrious Roland-Garros trophies, which are awarded each year respectively to the French Open women's and men's champions.
This marks a meaningful collaboration for two French brands internationally renowned for their attachment to know-how, excellence, art, and promoting Paris and France worldwide.
Congratulations to Jelena Ostapenko for winning the Suzanne Lenglen Cup at Roland- Garros 2017.
Winner of the French Open Roland-Garros 2017, Jelena Ostapenko is wearing Louis Vuitton by Nicolas Ghesquière with the Suzanne Lenglen Cup in its Louis Vuitton trunk, adorned in the iconic Monogram canvas.
Discover more about Louis Vuitton trophies here


text:
IR Regular
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Charleston, SC
Posts: 1,693
Forum Member Auricauricle has a great post on the 10 best saxophone moments in rock and roll.
The saxophone, and horns in general, are can turn a simple song into something full of magic, it can also turn a great song or album into utter crap if done wrong. The saxophone is a make or break instrument and rock musicians/producers are gambling with a songs life when using one.
I don't full agree with everything on the list but my preferred music style is a bit different that Auricauricle.Auricauricle has picked a list that abstains from promoting the cheesy sax solo in early 80s music such as Huey Lewis and the News and other such lack luster pop rock songs.Read the list, enjoy, comment and add your own top 10.
- audioreview
After considered study I have come up with this list of what, in my humble opinion, comprises some of the best saxophone solos in rock and roll history. I have no doubt that folks with more educated and refined ears than mine will amend the list, but this is what I have come up with so far. A few comments describing rationales for their inclusion is also provided, for those wet-behind-the-ears youngsters who aren't aware of their presence as well as for the rest of you who value my opinion so highly (ahem).
10). Walk on the Wild Side. Classic and much revered number performed by Mr. Lou Reed and produced by David Bowie, Walk on the Wild Side's sax solo was performed by Ronnie Ross, a Calcutta India native who tutored Bowie who went on to play the instrument on many of his best albums. The sax in this piece is sparse but succinctly beautiful, capturing all the decadence and greasy light-show freakiness that is what the song is all about.
9). One Year of Love. Queen's ultimate love ballad. With Freddie Mercury crooning smooth as silk, Steve Gregory's saxophone is close behind, soaking up every word and pouring out every ounce of passion. Gregory's instrument dances in slow turns and sure steps. Beautiful, just beautiful!
8). New York State of Mind. Performed by Mark Rivera, whose sultry, urban sound deftly and able accompanies Billy Joel's singular New York voice. Listen to the reed buzzing and close your eyes: the taxis, the hot dog stands, the steam pouring out the man-hole covers. Truly, Rivera knows everything about a New York state of mind!
7). Born to Run. Whenever Bruce Springsteen's name comes up, this song is not far behind. The song rocks, and Clarence Clemons, along with Bruce and the rest of the E-Street bring the house and everything near it down with grand, polished and hearty form. Clemons is a powerful and accomplished performer, no mean feat for a main man on Springsteen's line-up.
6). Your Latest Trick. Mark Knopfler took Michael Brecker's smooth and sultry saxophone up on Brothers in Arms, an album that made adoring fans ecstatic and made true believers of those who appreciated Dire Straits' talent but seldom recognized their raw and well-informed ability. Brecker's saxophone is played pure and dark indigo, giving this album great weight, depth and soul.
for the top 5 click here – on audioreview forums
Join the audioREVIEW forums. forums.audioreview.com


text:
Email a copy of 'WBW #25: Toast the bubblies!' to a friend
Wine Competitions Wine Book Club (WBC) Wine Judging Reviews Readings Whiskey Watch France Games Weblogs Wine Clubs Books RIP Repost WBW #65 Wine Glossary Wine Maps TasteCamp Web/Tech Marketing Uncategorized Legislation Recipes Florida Recession Wine Meet the Winemaker Greatest Hits Drink Pink! (BCRF) Holiday Current Affairs Television Spirits Photos Wine Shop Wednesday Contests Scotch & Whiskey History Disney Wine Tech Food and Wine Pairings Mad Men Monday Guest Writers Pop Culture Food and Drink Wine Blogs Knowledge Entertainment Dinner and Drinks Life Charity Benefits News Beer-Guy.net Special Events Beer WBW Local Wineries Cocktails Wine Shops Restaurants Travel Wineries Wine Notes Wine Events Weekly Cincinnati Wine Events Wine Misc Local Tastings Cincinnati
Krystal Pepper Memorial Scholarship Fund
Raising money for a scholarship fund in memory of Michelle's little sister who passed away in 2007


text:
Dueling Trayvon Martin protests collide in River Oaks
Merging of supporters, opponents of Florida verdict ends peacefully
Before a Sunday evening march into River Oaks became a collision between supporters and opponents of the not-guilty verdict awarded to George Zimmerman, dozens gathered at a Fourth Ward park to remember Florida teen Trayvon Martin.
Members of the crowd at Wiley Park hugged and held signs painted with the word "Justice" marked through with a thick red line. Others wore black T-shirts that read, "KNOW JUSTICE. KNOW PEACE." The letters "NO" were printed in red rather than white.
Activist Quanell X, who organized the rally and march, asked the crowd to clear the way for 8-year-old Gabby North. He lifted her atop a picnic table and explained she had written a song.
"Do they know of the hearts they are breaking?" she sang through a loud speaker. "Do they know of the lives they are taking? Do they know black or white we are precious in his eyes. We are one, we are one."
Snapshots: Houstonians protest in River Oaks against and in favor of Zimmerman verdict
The diverse crowd nodded along with North's lyrics, and some shouted agreement as the girl sang. People gathered closer as Quanell X stepped up onto the table.
"To be honest with you, we don't give a damn about anybody supporting George Zimmerman and gunning down a child," Quanell X said as he prepared the crowd to march down West Gray into River Oaks.
He pointed to the sky and said, "Now let's quickly pray and let's mount up!"
Counter protest
Roughly two miles away, nearly 80 people gathered at the corner of Shepherd of West Gray for a counter protest.
Saturday: Crowds gather at City Hall to protest Zimmerman verdict
Except for cheers that erupted when a passing driver gave a thumbs up, the group chatted quietly and shared water jugs as they waited more than two hours for Quanell X to lead the march past them.
An equal number of weekend shoppers curious about the protesters loitered in parking lots across the street. Dozens of police officers on foot, bike and horseback watched the crowds and guided traffic.
At one point, Renee Vaughan of Austin mocked protesters by chanting, "We're racist. We're proud. We're better 'cause we're white."
"What's my excuse then?" Mark Medina, a Hispanic Marine, said to Travis McVay, a white oil field safety worker, as she passed.
"To me, justice was served," Medina said of the case, which he felt went to trial because government and media focused on racial tensions more than the evidence. The Houston man said Martin's death was "tragic" but understandable in a self-defense situation.
McVay agreed, echoing many others at the protest as he questioned the location choice for the march.
"I don't think there's any reason they should have picked River Oaks to stage their protest," the Gonzales resident said. "If you want to improve your community, do it in your community."
Quanell X previously had called the upscale neighborhood "Houston's Sanford, Florida," the neighborhood where Martin was killed.
Remember grocery bag
Gary Castille, 50, was among those who echoed the activists at the park, remembering what his parents told him as a child.
"I would get in trouble if I came home without a grocery bag," Castille tearfully said. "Even if I just bought one thing - a black man just didn't walk home without a grocery bag."
People gathered at the counter-protest were quick to point out that River Oaks is wealthier, whiter and has fewer reported crimes than Sanford, which they said hardly makes it a fair comparison.
Aaron Schutte, who helped organize the counter-protest on Facebook, suggested Quanell X was the one with racist motives. He pointed to a quote from the activist during a 1999 protest against the execution of a convicted black murderer.
"If you feel that you just got to mug somebody because of your hurt and your pain, go to River Oaks and mug you some good white folks," Quanell X was quoted saying at the time. He later explained he only meant it to incite the affluent, older generation to action, not to scare anyone or encourage crime.
"All Quanell X does within the black community is revive racism," Terri Bowman explained to a marcher who stopped to talk to her and other counter-protesters.
"I would love to speak to Quanell about that," Irma Green said. "This is not about race. This is about justice. For all humanity."
'Hard team sticks'
Mounted police followed the march along West Gray, instructing protesters to stay on the sidewalk.
As the march neared Shepherd, both demonstrations erupted in shouts with signs and hands waving in the air.
Police officers from a specially trained crowd-containment unit carried 3-foot "hard team sticks," but never had to pull them because most protesters listened when directed to stay out of the street.
Marchers pushed against the police line as they walked and chanted, "No justice! No peace!"
Many counter-protesters silently leaned forward with signs and American flags, but some shouted back, "Go home racists!"
Schutte heard members of the chanting group say they wanted to cross the street and stand face-to-face with the other protesters.
"Don't do that, man," Schutte told them. The men crossed anyway, walking and yelling on the south sidewalk as the marchers organized by Quanell X walked west on the north side.
"We wanted to be heard, but not be confrontational," Schutte said, who explained that his motivation for standing hours in Sunday's heat was to oppose the "racism of the New Black Panther Party."
As the group waited for the marchers to loop back, River Oaks resident Maxine Merryman asked Kenneth Watkins, one of the few African-Americans standing near the counter-protesters, if he wanted a sign.
Watkins, who pulled over after being curious about the crowd, read Merryman's sign: "7 children murdered in Chicago during Zimmerman trial #Justice4Them?"
"I do," he said. "More than seven have died."
Merryman said she couldn't believe the demonstration was happening at all.
"I thought we were over this and we were getting along fine," she said, referencing racial tensions.
Watkins said Quanell X does not speak for all Houston African-Americans.


text:
The Central Connecticut women's volleyball team was picked to finish third in the Northeast Conference's annual preseason poll. The Blue Devils received a pair of first place votes, with defending champion and preseason favorite LIU Brooklyn receiving the other six first place votes.
Between LIU and CCSU, in the second spot, was Robert Morris. Sacred Heart was selected fourth followed by Bryant and Saint Francis U. Fairleigh Dickinson and St. Francis Brooklyn filled out the final two spots of the poll.
LIU and CCSU were the only teams to garner first place votes in the poll.
The Blue Devils will be a strong contender with the return of 2012 NEC Rookie of the Year and First Team All-NEC honoree Makenna Lommori. Last season, Lommori ranked fourth on the circuit with 9.01 assists per set.
Also returning is junior libero Brittany Schumacher who earned Second Team All-NEC honors last season. Senior Veronika Ban and junior Rachel Dunlap will are also returning to CCSU's rotation after posting strong first seasons as transfers in 2012.
The 2013 season will be head coach Linda Sagnelli's 14th at the helm of the Blue Devil program. Last season, Sagnelli's squad qualified for the NEC Tournament for the 10th consecutive season and reached the championship match for the first time since 2003.
The Blue Devils open the season with the Colgate Classic on August 30-31. The first home match will come on September 20 on the opening day of the CCSU Blue Devil Invitational.


text:
You'll feel like a movie star when you check yourself out before a night out in this glam style mirror. The piece features a wood frame finished in a beautiful white and is accented by intricate overlays that give the piece a bold look perfect for completing your bedroom.
The 1958 Glam Mirror with Intricate Inlay by Homelegance at Find Your Furniture in the area. Product availability may vary. Contact us for the most current availability on this product.
This collection shows off a look straight out of Hollywood and fit for one of its stars. Each piece shows off an elegant silver finish accented beautifully by intricate inlays. Whether you're searching for the perfect pieces to complete your dining space or your bedroom this collection has the perfect piece for any looking to add some glam to their home.
The 1958 collection is a great option if you are looking for Glam
Transitional furniture in the area.
These images are representative of this group as a whole and may differ from this item.
This item has been tagged as: Mirror, Standing Mirror, Stand Alone Mirror, Hanging Mirror, Mounted Mirror, Wall Mirror, Dresser Mirror, Mounted Dresser Mirror, Landscape Mirror, Vertical Mirror, Leaning Mirror, Plane Mirror, Bedroom Mirror, Dining Room Mirror, Accent Mirror, Decorative Mirror, Floor Mirror, Glass Mirror, Bedroom Dresser Mirror, Free Standing Floor Mirror, Mirrors That Mount on Walls, Mirrors That Mount Above Bedroom Dresser
Nothing on this page may be copied or reproduced without explicit permission.


text:
Right At School is passionate about providing a wide range of exceptional and affordable enrichment, child- care and recess programs before, during and after school to as many students, parents and schools as possible.
We understand that before and after the school bell rings, children just want to have fun. Our educator teams spark critical thinking and child-driven projects, while promoting self-confidence, team building, leadership skills, and a joy for learning.
Just named to Inc. 5000 List of Fastest-Growing Companies for the second year, Right At School is looking for dependable, personable, resourceful, and imaginative people to educate our children in fun and interactive ways. If you're passionate about inspiring a love of learning and a commitment to healthy living, consider joining our energetic, nurturing and committed team!
Location: Programs are held within the Bethel School District
Hours: 6:00am-9:00am AND/OR 2:30pm-6:30pm
A Day in the Life
Deliver dynamic Right At School curriculum, support homework completion, lead fun fitness activities, and guide children at play
Engage children in academic and social enrichment activities that expand school day learning in a meaningful way
Actively partner and communicate with parents in order to provide best care for children
Model positive guidance and effective classroom management to maintain the safety and well-being and attention of all children
Ensure the highest quality programming that fosters the 4Cs: Character, Confidence, Creativity and Conditioning
Organize program materials for lessons and activities, as well as document attendance, incidents and other observation
Other duties as assigned
Why Work Here
Opportunity to make a difference in your community and positively impact families
Ongoing professional development with pay raise incentives
Provide meaningful fun and employ disguised learning
Flexible working hours aligned to school schedules
Competitive compensation and benefits, including: free before and after school childcare, commuter benefits, supplemental insurance (short term disability, life insurance, etc.) and medical based on eligibility
What We Are Looking For
Experience working with children AND/OR college credits in early childhood/elementary/related field
Ability to meet state-specific requirements
Able to lift 40 lbs
Outstanding customer service and relationship building skills
Works well in a team environment
Drive to inspire a love for learning and commitment to healthy living
A love for children!
If you are seeking a career and not just a job, Right At School is the company for you. Click Apply to start your application now – it only takes 8 to 10 minutes and it can be completed on your mobile device.
See Our Welcome Video Here!
This position is currently not accepting applications.
To search for an open position, please go to http://RightAtSchool.appone.com


text:
Hi, im making a program that can convert RGB to HSI. Hue, Saturation and Intensity.
HSI is abit more complex than HSV and HSB.
Im using OpenCV for doing it. But i however cant used the premade funcs in opencv.
Im loading my input image into a matrix, and im dragging out the rgb-info i want.
Done in a loop for x,y.
i have succesfully made the conversion of S and I, but im stuggling alot with H.
This is the formulas for the conversion:
Code equivalent:
H, is more complex though. It rely on whether (G>=B) is true or false.Code:float H, S, I; I = ((R+G+B)/3); float min=R; if (min>G) min=G; if (min>B) min=B; S = 1-(3*(min/(R+G+B)));
when i manually plug in some static RGB values to test if the results is correct, then with (0,255,0) Green i get this:Code:if (G>=B) { H = acos((1/2)*(((R-G)+(R-B))/(sqrt(((R-G)*(R-G))+((R-B)*(G-B)))))); cout << "without 360-part H = " << H << endl; //writes the S value } else { H = 360-(acos((1/2)*(((R-G)+(R-B))/(sqrt(((R-G)*(R-G))+((R-B)*(G-B))))))); cout << "360-part H = " << H << endl; //writes the S value }
and the correct results would be:
so my question is, have I implemented it wrong in c++ ?
and how is the right way?
also i have found another formula of the H-part, but i think its the same, though im not sure how to implement the squared part. but its on this link: http://www5.informatik.tu-muenchen.d...csc/COL_24.htm


text:
1-2 business days
Buyers are responsible for any customs and import taxes that may apply. I'm not responsible for delays due to customs.
Just contact me within: 3 days of delivery
Ship items back to me within: 7 days of delivery
Request a cancellation within: 0 hours of purchase
But please contact me if you have any problems with your order.
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Buyers are responsible for return shipping costs. If the item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value.
All my wholesale and bulk products are listed. Send me a message, on occasion I may have extra stock I can offer in 1 lb. packages.
My office hours are:
Monday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
Wednesday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
Friday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST
Invoices are not included
All herbs are packaged by weight in approximates unless otherwise noted.
If you are looking for something I currently don't have listed please send me a message I might have it or I might be able to make it for you.
1-2 business days with package pickups on Monday, Wednesday, & Friday at 2:00 PM EST.
Samples are not available.
Contact your local post office with your tracking number for package questions. If your package is returned to me, you will receive a refund minus the shipping cost.
For Domestic Shipping:
USPS First Class Package Service: 2-5 days to most U.S. addresses
USPS Priority Mail: 1-3 days to most U.S. addresses
For International Shipping:
USPS First Class International Package Service: depends on the
country of destination
USPS Priority Mail International: 6-10 days
Feel free to post images of your creations using my supplies alongside your inspiring reviews.
Jan 10, 2019
good quality and service - thank you Wendy
Feb 22, 2018
excellent cedar berries. very high quality and fresh! thank you


text:
td_ice wrote:Draftnik wrote:td_ice wrote:The stats don't lie. Armstrong and Hilbert scored more goals per game with Crosby than Palffy. That is a fact, not my opinion. Crosby lifted Armstrong past his AHL output and Hilbert much above his previous NHL output. Palffy was pathetic by comparison. He is a soft floater that does not have production worthy of a $4M-$5M salary.
Wow, I never said Palffy had better stats playing with Sid than anyone else.
In fact the only thing I said about Sid, was what Crosby himself said.
Wow, if you have a problem with that, take it up with Sid.
td_ice wrote:Ok, I just looked up Hilbert's and Armstrong's totals, and "by comparison" Palffy's pathetic stats.
I had no intentions or was not even curious about the comparison till you brought it up. So here are the stats.
Colby games, 47, goals 16, 40 points
Hilbert games, 19. goals 7, 18 points
Palffy games, 42, goals 11, 42 points
Hardly pathetic by comparison.
Not sure what you are talking about there.
Anyway, my point was that if Sid is cool with him, and enjoyed playing with Palffy, that is cool with me.
As far as his salary, I surely do not like it for next year, because hopefully Malkin will be here.
But for this year?? So what, we add $4 mill to the payroll, what does that do, put us only $10 mill below the cap??? And it is only prorated, so it will be less than that.
Draftnik wrote:I see no upside in adding a guy that was grossly overpaid to the payroll. He would be making $4M to $5M prorated for the balance of the 06/07 season and just as much if not more for the 07/08 season. I see no reason any GM with a sliver of brain would trade for him and the Pens would be stuck with another albatross.
Ziggy the Quitter wrote:but they can trade me as well
Zscout wrote:The majority of Penguin fans would welcome Palffy back. It is good to see his injury is healing and that he may try to make a comeback.
For those that call Palffy lazy and a quitter, you are the same few posters that thrive on putting down players, all the time, every time. You do not speak for 99% of the real Penguin fans. A healthy Palffy would be a solid weapon or provide a good return from a playoff bound team.
netwolf wrote:Kicksave wrote:Is it just me or aren't you the one that is always putting down the Penguins?
He's just upset Rico Fata isn't here anymore.
Bowser wrote:Palffy doesn't have a signed contract, Pens would have to signoff on him being allowed to re-enter the NHL and that's about as much as the Pens care to get themselves involved with the quitter.
Not sure how much Los Angeles wants Palffy back since it was Dave Taylor that was snooping around and he's no longer the GM for the Kings.
Bowser wrote:Drafty - yes, right of first refusal.
Brode wrote:I think alot of people don't really understand the deal with Palffy's retirement. Players over 35 who retire are awarded their full contracts, and they count against the cap. Not only did Palffy retire due to injury, but he was also 33. This is to make sure that someone like... oh, I don't know, Tuomo Ruutu doesn't retire due to injury at 23 and cost his team millions for the next 5 years. It's when guys over 35, such as Malakhov or Mogilny, when they retire is when it becomes difficult. Also see the 100% buyout penalty of Domi in Toronto. Part of the CBA was that 37 year olds gave up bargaining power and 27 year olds gained an incredible amount.
Now, as for his injury. You'd have to be blind to think he wasn't injured. This is a guy who used to be able to score practically at will. And last year he puts up 11 goals in 42 games. You know something is wrong with his arms if this sniper is on pace for 20 goals in the New NHL, while being centered by the Kid. If you watched him, you knew that his shot was completely different than years before. He wasn't ripping shots from the right circle, all of the goals I can remember were slide-ins and garbage. He was hurt, in some shape or form. Whether or not his arm could've been fixed quicker or that he should have done it during the lockout is up to debate (though I can't see a player choosing surgery before they sign a contract).
Now, should we take him back? The beauty part of this situation is that he can't come back until February. Who knows what this team will look like in February? One of our kids could completely crap the bed, like many of them did last year. Pivko could be cold as a stone and be on his way back to Euroslavia before Thanksgiving. Ekman might be as crappy as Palffy was last year. Maybe all Army did this summer was eat hot dogs and play Elder Scrolls IV (I couldn't blame him). Shero doesn't have to decide this right now, he has until then. And what if he looks like the Palffy of old. Some teams will have to trade for playoff assets to boost their team... if we're in 7th or 8th, we'll have one lined up already.
For those who'll complain about his contract, realize that the 4.5 is only the number against the cap. Then remember that the cap has absolutely no relation to what we do. His contract, pro-rated for half a year's work, will be around 2 million, if he in fact makes the team. This is the reason why Carolina was able to take on Weight and Recchi's contracts... they didn't have to pay 9 million for them, they paid... I don't know, maybe 2.5? 3?
Lastly, I think we hold the reins here. If Palffy looks good enough to play a role here, then we can activate him. If Shero and Therrien don't want Palffy, we can look for someone who does and get a 2nd rounder or something out of him. If Palffy looks like crap and there's no buyers, I believe we can simply refuse to activate him. I doubt it's as simple as that, but I can't see the CBA allowing players to screw with teams that much. And if it does, I could see some alterations proposed in a couple years when it needs to be renewed.
Users browsing this forum: Sigwolf and 10 guests


text:
PopcornBiz's Scott Ross is reporting from the annual film festival in Sundance, Utah, where new independent movies are unveiled.
"I Am Love," starring Tilda Swinton at the top of her game, is a beautifully shot soap opera about an insular and wealthy Italian family and the tragedies that befall them.
Swinton is fantastic as Emma Recchi, the wife of a rich industrialist, who effectively renounced her Russian heritage when she moved to Milan with her new husband. It's a demanding role that runs the gamut emotionally and involves quite a bit of rather intimate nudity. But as is her custom, she delivers, whether the moment calls for a subtle tremble of the chin or full-blown lust.
John Adams' score is basically an amalgam of his greatest hits, covering "Lollapalooza" to "Nixon in China." It's incredibly propulsive – at times unnecessarily so – but when it's on target, the effect is riveting, raising the emotional stakes. Swinton rightfully expressed her gratitude for his allowing the music to be used, a first for a feature film.
Director Luca Guadagnino loves to move the camera almost as much as he loves to hold it still for an extra beat. His ode to Hitchcock, a chase through the streets or Sanremo, is dizzying, like watching an Escher come to life. At other times he lingers on a moment to let the moment set in. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't.
Guadagnino frequently focuses on the Recchis' staff closing doors, drapes, whatever helps draw the line between themselves and the help or the outside. The boundaries the Recchis surround themselves with extend even to the driveway. Family pulls up right in front of the house, others – friends and lovers, even – come through another entrance and are told to walk the garden path to the house. As with the help, the message is clear: You are not one of us.
One of the threads throughout the film is food, how it is passed down, prepared to express love or to seduce, and the rituals involved. There's a scene where Swinton is served a plate of prawns. The meat is translucent, the red stripes a bloody crimson. The look on Swinton's face when she bites into it is one of sexual gratification – you almost want to leave the two of them alone for a moment. Other than that one moment, the food is too often shot from an angle that obscures it. The one other dish that gets the proper focus appears to be a clear piece of rubber standing in for a bowl of fish broth. Considering the elevation of food culture over the past decade, it's surprising that more people haven't tried to film food porn – it's day will soon come, no doubt.
Cinema nerds – the kinds of folks you typically find here at Sundance – will love this film. It's beautiful, the music is great and Swinton is in top form. For the rest, it will be nothing more than a confounding ponderous two-hour melodrama.


text:
It's 11 am and I'm starting the thread….c'mon now…….everybody's got some form of input to provide…..cough it up now!!
ok, so does anyone want to thank me for the ONVO trade saying $8 was still in play? At these levels, watch to make sure there are higher highs made on uptrends and higher lows made on pullbacks……that can help you get out and lock in profits….


text:
Fancy Design 17.5 inch 9ct Yellow Gold Necklace
- Additional information
- Reviews (0)
Additional information
|10.6 g
There are no reviews yet.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
|10.6 g
There are no reviews yet.
Only logged in customers who have purchased this product may leave a review.
We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website.
You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings.
This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping us to understand which pages of the website you find most interesting and useful.
Types of Cookies Used
Strictly Necessary Cookies
These cookies are necessary for the website to function and cannot be switched off in our systems. These are used to let you login, to ensure site security and to provide shopping cart functionality. Without this type of technology, our Services won't work properly or won't be able to provide certain features and functionalities.
Performance Cookies
These cookies are used to analyse how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors visit most often, in order to provide a better user experience. We also use this technology to check if you have opened our emails, so we can see if they are being delivered correctly and are of interest.
You can adjust all of your cookie settings by navigating the tabs on the left hand side (or above).
Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.
If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.
More information about our Cookie Policy


text:
As a key theory underscoring the still unfolding narrative of human evolution, Spiral Dynamics examines the complex interaction of culture and society
The last several decades have seen the emergence, across a number of fields, of modes of developmental thinking whereby species and eco-systems, people and cultures, and even consciousness are seen to evolve through identifiable developmental stages. This evolution through differentiated stages marks developmental thinking as different to modernity's simpler, more purely linear, notion of progress. It also sorely offends postmodern taboos against rankings and hierarchy, which has probably slowed the spread and impact of developmental models to date, including its influence on architectural and urban thinking. Yet the evidence from empirical research supporting these proliferating developmental schema continues to mount, and for many their adoption is a key characteristic of 21st-century, trans-modern modes of thought, including Integral theory.
More generally, the last half century or so has seen the increasing adoption of − or at least advocacy for, rather than actual application of − ecological modes of analysis, sometimes referred to as joined-up thinking. These seek to understand phenomena in terms of their wider web of relationships, including the many dimensions of their multiple contexts − a contribution of the best of postmodern thinking. More recently, this ecological perspective is being increasingly complemented by an evolutionary one. This extends far beyond its Darwinian origins in biology to include cosmology and geology through to the human realms of history and technology, culture and psychology as well as modes of thought and meaning.1 In crude terms, our use of the quadrants of the AQAL diagram in earlier essays in this series, is a form of joined-up or ecological thinking, while evolutionary thinking introduces us to the levels.
Revisiting the AQAL matrix
Before continuing our discussion, it is as well to recap the bare bones of the AQAL (All Quadrant, All Level) diagram, particularly for new readers who have only recently started to follow these Campaign essays. The AQAL diagram provides a matrix in which all fields of knowledge can be plotted to show clearly the relationship of these fields one to another so that they can be drawn upon not only independently but also usefully integrated. Moreover, any organism, or collective of organisms, and all manmade systems manifest simultaneously in all four quadrants. These are defined by a pair of cross axes: the upper part of the vertical axis marking the realm of the individual, and its lower part that of the collective; left of this vertical axis, the horizontal axis marks the interior or subjective realm, and right of this vertical is the exterior or objective realm.
The All Quadrant All Level (AQAL) diagram devised by Ken Wilber and central to Integral theory
The Right Hand quadrants, the realm of the sciences and nature, are referred to as monological, because knowable by detached observation alone; the Left Hand quadrants are dialogical, because knowable only by interrogating the experiencing, meaning-making subject/s. The Upper Left (UL) quadrant is thus the subjective realm of the I or self, of personal experience, psychology and intentionality. The Lower Left (LL) quadrant is thus the inter-subjective realm of We or culture, of worldview and meaning. The Upper Right (UR) quadrant is thus that of the objective realm of It, of biology, form and behaviour (action visible to the detached observer) and the Lower Right (LR) is the inter-objective realm of Its, of all systems: ecological and economic, sociological and technological, and so on.
Bisecting each quadrant are diagonals with the levels marked at regular intervals, rising progressively with distance from the crossing of the axes. These levels are organised holarchically, each level a holon that is whole in itself yet part of the holon on the next level up. So in the UR quadrant, an atom is whole that is part of a molecule, that is a whole and part of an organism, and so on. Also crucial is that a level of development in any quadrant is matched by a corresponding level of development in each of the other quadrants. Thus, for instance, increasing neurological complexity (UR quadrant) is matched by increasing psychological sophistication (UL quadrant), cultural development (LL quadrant) and social organisation (LR quadrant).
Using the quadrants as we have done in the earlier essays may have brought more completeness to our deliberations than characterises reductive modern thought. It also serves as a useful easy check to see what areas of knowledge and action have been overlooked during such deliberations, particularly as modern thinking tended to ignore the Left-Hand quadrants, most especially the Lower Left. But to focus merely on the quadrants is to perpetuate modern 'flatland' thinking that robs discussion of both the depths and the dynamism, and thus an even greater degree of completeness, that comes from drawing on the notion of levels, to which this essay is a very sketchy introduction. (Besides Quadrants and Levels, the AQAL diagram also charts what are termed Lines; but, important as these are, they will remain outside the scope of these introductory essays.)
It is the levels that chart evolutionary and developmental progression, thus placing phenomena in an expanded context. Ken Wilber's apposite analogy is that to ascend the levels is like climbing a ladder, each rung up offering a different and broader perspective and greater depth of understanding, which includes all that gained on the lower rungs. More than that, though, the levels place phenomena in a much larger temporal context than do the quadrants because they reveal the evolutionary and historic past from which something has emerged and suggest the future towards which it is likely progressing. Implied here is not only dynamism, but also direction, a controversial notion much resisted by doctrinaire materialist Modernists for whom anything that hints at teleology is taboo. And yet any dispassionate look at evolution does suggest direction − towards higher levels of complexity and order, of consciousness and interconnectedness. Besides, as we shall see, using the levels deepens and broadens our understanding of architecture, not least by providing a yet greater degree of completeness than afforded by using the quadrants alone.
Architecture's pragmatic and esoteric roots
Contemporary developmental schema particularly relevant to architecture have grown and evolved from several roots. But, before mentioning some of these, it is pertinent to remember that the training of architects (or rather their pre-modern equivalents) in many historic cultures, including Christian Europe through the medieval period and well into the modern era, was concerned not only with mastery of such pragmatic matters as construction; it also had an esoteric or occult component that was developmental in nature. Thus the medieval training of master masons, which inspired what became freemasonry, was concerned with the progressive psycho-spiritual development of the architect-initiate through levels known as degrees. The architect-initiate could then make use of sacred geometry − with its rules of proportion, number and form − and various forms of sacred or occult iconography to not only give depth to his architecture but also help people relate to the buildings at a deeper level, even if only subliminally, and so serve as a spur to their psycho-spiritual development.
Similar notions guided the training of architects in other religious traditions, such as the Sufis.Indeed, as explained in an earlier essay in this series, the very wellsprings of architecture lie as much in the creation of a physical setting that facilitated the development of people as in sheltering them. One such wellspring was in the choreography of ritual, in deploying a set of actions in different spatial locations so as to intensify the experience of them and take people into altered states and/or undeveloped parts of the psyche. Another, very similar source is the segregation of differing activities into separate spaces or rooms − shaped, lit and so on to enhance those activities − not only for functional convenience but so that activities could be experienced more intensely as part of the ongoing elaboration of culture, and of ourselves as complex cultured creatures. So not only styles but also the spatial deployment of activities differ with each cultural epoch charted by the levels in the Lower Left quadrant.
A key assumption behind these Campaign essays is that we are in a period of epochal transition and that the successful negotiation of this transition will entail profound cultural transformation such as constitutes a step-change elevation to the next cultural level. Moreover, to achieve this will require drawing on the various new modes of thought that have emerged in recent decades and that architects have too long ignored. In relation to our discussion here, a key precedent to many contemporary forms of developmental thinking are the writings of philosopher Jean Gebser (1905-73), particularly his book The Ever-Present Origin (published in German in various versions from 1949 to '53 and only appearing in English in 1985), which is prominent in the bibliography of books by many of today's leading-edge thinkers. Gebser charted the development of the sequence of what he termed 'structures of human consciousness'. These started with the Archaic structure when early humans or proto-humans still experienced themselves as completely part of, and in no way separate from, the world around.
This was followed by the Magic structure and the beginnings of symbolic thinking, although the symbol did not yet represent something but instead was thought to actually be that something. Then came the Mythic structure in which stories and myths gave structure to a consciousness that was progressively separating itself from the world around. This separation became complete with the progressive emergence, from the times of the beginning of civilisation as we know it onwards, of the Mental structure, characterised by its use of logic and the emergence of philosophy.
The Mental structure later entered what Gebser called its deficient form, the Rational structure, with the beginnings of modernity with its reductionist materialism - and the many benefits and downsides charted in earlier essays. He saw us now entering the Integral structure that both transcends the previous structures and, unlike them, adopts several points of view, including those of the previous structures of consciousness. It was Gebser's use of the term Integral, as well as that of Indian philosopher-sage Sri Aurobindo, that led to its adoption by Ken Wilber for Integral theory.
Another crucial antecedent to Integral theory's developmental schema, and from where too some of its terminology is taken, are the studies of the cognitive development of children by psychologist Jean Piaget (1896-1980). Since then there has been a proliferation of developmental schema, particularly those by psychologists, several of whom have influenced Integral theory or are now associated with it. Among others, these include the theories of Jane Loevinger (1918-2008) on ego development and those of Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-87, a follower of Piaget) on stages of moral development. Contemporary developmental psychologists closely associated with and influencing the continuing development of Integral theory include Robert Kegan and Susanne Cook-Greuter. Ken Wilber has charted all these developmental schema together and shown that − although their terminology differs, as do the number of levels differentiated − they are strongly correlated.
'Spiral Dynamics charts the development of cultures through a rising, widening spiral of increasing complexity, because each culture envelops those preceding it'
Levels are discussed in relation to architecture in Part Two of the book Integral Sustainable Design2 by Mark DeKay, a very important work with much invaluable content that should already have become one of the key architectural handbooks of our time. But it is not a particularly easy or pleasurable read. And despite its already considerable length (450 pages) some of it is still too sketchily developed with many potentially promising themes listed in tables without adequate further explanation. We must thus look forward to an expanded and more developed edition, which will be bound to be a must-read and must-own volume for all architects and students. Here we touch upon only a few of the ideas in relation to levels, elaborating some of them in rather different ways to the book, which readers are strongly encouraged to consult also.
Characterising cultural epochs DeKay discusses levels in relation to four epochs: Traditional (pre-modern), Modern, Postmodern and Integral. (The first three of these are categories used by some market researchers, although postmodernists are given another name, such as Cultural Creatives.)3 He then gives examples for each quadrant of the shifts in understanding of a particular term in relation to each of these levels. But first he tabulates the changes at each level in what we would currently term the practice of architecture. Thus in the Traditional era, design and building were executed within 'Guild Traditions', the Modern era is that of 'Independent Professionalism', Postmodernity is characterised by 'Pluralistic Practices' and the Integral era will be that of 'Responsive Networks'.
Although we can guess what is meant by these terms, they are not adequately explained and elaborated upon. Thus Guild Traditions built very much in response to the immediate local conditions of the site using local materials and reworking traditional typologies. This would inevitably result in a sense of embeddedness, harmony and organic unity commensurate with the Great Chain of Being that constituted the Premodern worldview. But in the Modern era architecture became an independent profession, pursuing a rational approach to solve problems de novo without relying on traditional typologies and abandoning as redundant recognisable rhetorical motifs derived from the past, along with all ornament. This, together with the correlated worldview that subscribed to the notion of an objective reality, is what caused the world to fragment into unrelated objects to which we cannot relate either. By applying the conscious mind alone to architecture we lost the once effortlessly unconscious art of making highly satisfying architecture and cities. Pluralistic Practices suggests that the monoculture of simple consensual certainties underscoring the modern professional's approach to architecture is replaced by the multiple narratives, theories and approaches of postmodernity. Responsive Networks suggests a re-grounding of architecture in the dynamic and living networks that make up our world.
The book then discusses an aspect of each quadrant in relation to each of the four levels. So in the UL quadrant DeKay tabulates the different ways that, as he sees it, the experience of architecture is mediated at each level. Although I have much sympathy for what he has formulated, I do not entirely agree with it and so omit further discussion. For the LL quadrant he discusses the various ways Nature is understood at each cultural level (and so is a cultural artefact, hence the capitalised N). In the Traditional era he describes Nature as 'managed', not a particularly satisfactory term, although the point he makes about Nature (or at least the land) as being husbanded as a sacred trust to preserve and enhance its bounty for future generations is an important one.
This is particularly so as it contrasts profoundly with the Modern view of 'Nature Used', as a resource to be exploited (and severely damaged through monoculture, chemical fertilisers and so on) with little thought for future generations. The Postmodern era is characterised as 'Nature Saved', which expresses the view of Nature as a victim of modernity's extractive ethos and of the preservation ethic that is emerging as a reaction to this. The Integral attitude is described as 'Nature United' and draws attention to what at first seems one of the most mindboggling − and even, to many, such as deep ecologists, offensive − notions in Integral theory: this is that Nature is embedded in culture in a holarchic relationship. Thus for the Traditionalist, culture is embedded in Nature, while for the Modernist, Nature and culture are differentiated. For the Postmodernist, Nature and culture are either dissociated and separate (the radical deconstructivist view) or culture is again embedded in Nature (the web of life systems view). But for the Integralist, Nature is embedded in culture, which, although entirely dependent on Nature, belongs to a higher and more inclusive level. The Noosphere transcends and includes the Biosphere − mindboggling but irrefutable.
For the UR quadrant the different attitudes to technology are discussed in relation to each level, from the 'Embedded Practices' of Traditional, through 'Building Science' of Modernity and Cyclic Analogues of Postmodernity to 'Responsive Structures' of Integral. And in the LR quadrant the systems discussed range from the Tacit Systems of the Traditionalist through Logical and Complex systems of the Modernist and Postmodernist, respectively, to the Living Systems of the Integralist. These discussions are too rich and important to be summarised and like much else in the book take the discussion of sustainable design to an unprecedented level of inclusiveness and rigour. Anybody interested in the subject, and that should be all architects and students, is urged to read the book.
Also powerfully pertinent to architects and urban designers working on large-scale urban projects and housing developments, the subject of the last two essays in this series and towards which this one is a stepping stone, are the insights provided by Spiral Dynamics. This is a theory of cultural development through levels (LL quadrant) with inevitable correlates in the psychological development of individuals (UL quadrant). Among other reasons Spiral Dynamics is so useful is that it recognises that, although the current era falls within the waning tail end of the modern epoch and the transitional one of postmodernity, the population of most modern countries is spread across a considerably wider and richer range of co-existing levels of cultural development. It thus provides, in a way that is invaluable to designers and policy makers, a much deepened understanding of the world views and values of the members of all the subgroups of society, so that these can be recognised and properly catered for, while also facilitating mobility through such cultural levels.
Origins of Spiral Dynamics
Spiral Dynamics grew out of the work of Clare Graves (1914-86), a professor of psychology who proposed a Level Theory of Personality in 1966. This was further developed by his protégé Don Beck, working with Chris Cowan, into what has become known as Spiral Dynamics in the book of that name,4 which again readers are encouraged to study as it is so much richer than the following too-brief synopsis of some themes. As the name implies, Spiral Dynamics − a theory that meshes exactly with Integral theory and the AQAL diagram5 − charts the development of cultures through a rising, widening spiral of increasing complexity, not least because each culture envelops those preceding it as healthy resources to be called upon if situations demand it. The cultural levels − or valueMEMES, now more usually simply called memes − are colour-coded (which takes many some time to get used to, but after a while feels quite natural) and oscillate between those that prioritise the individual and those that emphasise the collective. A key assumption of Spiral Dynamics is that it is not possible for a culture or individual to skip a level of development and that all memes must be passed through, even if only relatively fleetingly. Also, just as in biology ontogeny (the growth of an individual) recapitulates phylogeny (the evolution of its species), so with Spiral Dynamics as the human child grows up and matures into adulthood it recapitulates the development through the memes. Along with the notion of memes, which immeasurably enriches our understanding of cultural dynamics, this recapitulation by each developing individual is hugely useful to inform the design of housing and urban areas, but has so far been little researched and theorised.
The first of the memes is Beige, also referred to as SurvivalSense, and corresponds with Gebser's Archaic structure, in which there is little sense of self as small bands cooperating to ensure basic survival and action is guided largely by instinct. At times of extreme shortages and threat, humans might still retreat to this level, correlated with that of the helpless new-born infant. Although such bands might seek safety and shelter in caves and under overhangs, this is a pre-architectural level. The next meme is Purple, that of the tribe and KinSpirits, and Gebser's Magic structure, in which thinking is animistic and magical, attributing powers to sacred and symbolic objects and starting to observe the cycles of seasons, customs and rites of passage.
The communitarian, clannish Purple meme is seen by some as living in harmony with nature, while others say the tribe lives in fear of nature whose spirits have to be constantly propitiated. In architectural terms settlements typically show little, if any, differentiation in the size and status of dwellings, which may be communal.With the Egocentric Red meme, that of the PowerGods, and Gebser's Mythic structure, we return to an emphasis on the individual, on strength and self-expression.
Here we move from magic to machismo, to the adulation of heroes and the elevation of war lords, and eventually to the divine rights of kings and feudalism. The architectural manifestation might start with an enlarged or central chief's hut and eventually lead on to the dominant castle or palace in a walled town or city. In child development, the Red meme is reflected in the spirit of physical adventure, when the child explores his or her own physical capacities and the world around. This is particularly poorly catered for in the modern city, where excessively cautious Health and Safety regulations make it difficult for children to explore and stretch their physical capacities in tree climbing, rough and tumble and so on, and where it is considered unsafe for children to roam and explore the city, let alone just walk to school. The Red meme thus manifests later and pathologically in gang culture.
The next meme to arise is Blue, of TruthForce or the Purposeful way, that values stability and the order arising from strong codes of conduct in which individuality is subsumed to the pursuit of larger causes or truths. In particular, this meme is associated with monotheistic Religions of the Book − Judaism, Christianity and Islam, as well as Confucianism − with righteous living and sacrifice of the self to the Way and deferred rewards. Architecturally this meme is distinguished by the dominant religious buildings that eclipse, or at least equal, the grandeur of secular buildings such as palaces. Although liberal intellectuals, dogmatic scientists and postmodernists tend to look down upon and disregard the Blue meme, it still has an important socialising role to play for the developing child, and it is little wonder that the route out of Red meme gang culture is so often through evangelical Christianity or other authoritarian Blue meme institutions. Modernity arrives with the Strategic Orange meme of StriveDrive that emphasises self-reliant, success-oriented and competitive individuals, committed to the notion of progress, and to science, technology and rational thinking as means of achieving the good life of material abundance. The increasingly meaningless abstract grid, which underlies all the plans of JNL Durand (1760-1834) and then dominates the gridded plans and facades of corporate Modernism, is the apt architectural manifestation, just as the associated city becomes a mere chess board of economic opportunity. Postmodernity follows with the Relativistic Green meme of the HumanBond that rejects dogma and divisiveness in favour of empathy and sensitivity, and the pursuit of consensus and harmony. This is also the meme of political correctness and the inability to prioritise and act effectively, of impotence in the face of mounting global problems, as well as of endless meetings seeking the opinions and input of all. The pluralism of Postmodern architecture is exactly apt to this meme. The 'caring and sharing' psychological character associated with the Green is one that respects everyone's opinion, and every theory or concept, as equally valuable - until one's own is questioned and the tendency is to regress to a narcissistic Red: 'who are you to question me?'
'Subsistence' versus 'Being' memes
These first six memes constitute what is called the First Tier of 'Subsistence' memes. Each was a healthy response to the life conditions of the time in which the meme emerged and all of the memes continue to exist today, both in cultures and subcultures, or as a resource in the psyches of individuals. For instance, there are times when it is entirely healthy for someone from a higher meme to regress to Red assertiveness. Although the Red meme is also found there in gang culture and some extremes of nationalism and religious fundamentalism, Blue, Orange and Green remain the dominant memes in North America and Europe, with Blue more pronounced in the United States than in most of Europe, and Green more pronounced in Northern Europe. A major problem today when coordinated action is so urgently needed is that each of these memes only really understands its own worldview, which is considered the only legitimate one. Other memes, even if tolerated, are seen as essentially wrong. Hence Blue meme fundamentalists, very much a minority group within the meme, regress to Red because they are threatened by Orange selfish individualism and appalled at the moral laxity of hyper-relativist Green. Compounding the resultant problems of communication and achieving consensus, each meme is underpinned not just by sometimes contrasting values, but this is reflected in distinctly differing, if sometimes seeming subtly so, use of language. Furthermore, all these First Tier memes are either egocentric or ethnocentric, and not as yet world-centric, so progress towards such things as global peace, equity and stability, as well as sustainability, is extremely difficult while most people are stuck in First Tier memes.
Fortunately a Second Tier of world-centric 'Being' memes is emerging, if both dangerously late and under-represented. Although they constitute only a very tiny proportion of the world's population, the first two have already been identified and tentatively described. Initiating the Second Tier is the Yellow, FlexFlow or Systemic meme that is grounded in understanding and accepting the inevitability of nature's flows, cycles and regenerative capacities, and which wants to open up to 'experience the fullness of living on an Earth of such diversity in multiple dimensions'. This is followed by the Turquoise, GlobalView or Holistic meme, where there is not only an understanding of the dynamic, evolutionary unfolding of nature and culture but you become part of this larger, conscious, spiritual whole where everything is interconnected as a single dynamic organism with its own collective mind. With these memes Newton's clockwork, meaningless and purposeless universe has been replaced by the evolving, living and creative universe that evokes reverence, and the urge to be a responsible participant and agent of its unfolding. Consistent with this view, sustainability is seen not in terms of constraints and sacrifices but as an inspiring vision of a much more purposeful and fulfilling life. Significantly, psychometric testing shows that Second Tier memes are without the persistent anxieties and fears that characterise the First Tier ones. Now there is speculation that the next, Coral meme is beginning to emerge, but it still too soon to say much about it.
'The rich insights of Spiral Dynamics help designers understand how to better serve any of the memes, so making for more satisfied and more stable societies'
Further key characteristics of Second Tier memes are not only that they are world-centric, with both the necessary 'big picture' overview and temperament to solve urgent global problems such as progressing towards sustainability, but that those at these levels are what are known as SpiralWizards. What is meant by this term is that, in contrast to First Tier memes, such people are not trapped in the worldview of their own meme but, rather, can both appreciate the worldviews of other memes and also communicate in language appropriate to its narrower worldview based on other fundamental values. Thus when communicating with the Red meme, with its preference for instant gratification, 'what's in it for you' will be stressed in strong simple language. But with the Blue meme, and its tendency to delayed gratification, duty and honour would be emphasised along with tradition, propriety and righteousness. With the materialist Orange meme, discussion would be about competitive advantage, better profits and productivity, quoting experts and scientific evidence. And with the Green meme, gentle language would be used with imagery from nature, and belonging, sharing and harmony would be stressed.
These characteristics and communication skills allow the Second Tier memes to deal much more effectively with the complex and urgent problems that overwhelm the intellectual and character resources of First Tier memes. Devising ways to speed the development of people up to the Second Tier memes should obviously be a priority of everyone engaged in creative pursuits, such as creating video games or television series, as well as of personal coaches and therapists. Even more obviously, it should also be a primary priority of education, particularly that of tertiary education, and in particular that of those who are to be environmental designers of various sorts. But the dominance in academe of the Green meme with its postmodern hyper-relativist ethos continues to be a major block to such progress, for reasons discussed in the essay on education (AR October 2012). It could also be, that just as each meme is a healthy response to the life conditions in which it arose (but may become problematic when those life conditions change) as well as a healthy resource to be called up by higher memes, advance to the Second Tier memes will be helped by rebuilding some foundations in the First Tier. Although Integral thinkers are rightly wary of regression to lower levels that are mistaken for higher levels, what they call the 'Pre-/Trans Fallacy', Second Tier reverence for an evolving nature will probably be aided by the knowingly cultivated resurrection of a Purple meme (Magical sensibility) and Red meme (Mythic one). In the same way, advancing out of Green meme relativism might be helped by the recovery of a bit of Blue meme discipline.
Thus the power and usefulness of Spiral Dynamics lie in much more than helping progress to higher memes to help achieve sustainability and so on. Its rich insights help designers understand how to better serve any of the memes, so making for more satisfied and more stable societies. I remember once in Africa being shown housing designed by Orange meme technocrats for people who retained strong Purple meme tribal roots. Despite its conveniences and comfort, it did not suit its inhabitants, for whom there were no suitably formed and located outdoor communal living areas, nor places for the ritual slaughter of animals and so on. An argument then polarised over whether the housing should be designed to be 'aspirational', encouraging inhabitants to adopt modern urban living patterns, or be closely tailored to tribal ways. The latter, it was argued, would be 'patronising' and also inhibit residents from changing their lifestyles in their own time, as well as soon becoming obsolete because unsuited to future generations. But the insight of Spiral Dynamics is that to design for either of these poles exclusively would be unsatisfactory, not least because it is very unlikely the inhabitant will make the leap directly from Purple to Orange meme. Instead the housing should have been designed to suit the Purple and Orange memes, and all those in between, so as to allow the residents to develop as they chose and at their own pace.6 Spiral Dynamics is also proving invaluable in unlocking highly conflicted situations, where perhaps several different memes consider they have the right to use a piece of land, say, but each meme has a very different view of what use it should be put to. In such cases, a skilled SpiralWizard can intervene so that the memes start to understand and respect each other and eventually a solution can be found that works for everybody.
As should be obvious, Spiral Dynamics offers profound insights to guide urban design and large-scale architectural projects in complex, multicultural (multi-meme) societies. Yet the experience of some of those using it is that it has to be used with caution, and can provoke difficult misunderstandings. Asserting that Spiral Dynamics sees all memes as healthy and life sustaining, and apt to the conditions in which they arose and which may still persist, can be to no avail. Once people realise they have been categorised in a system of levels in which they are not at the top, they might feel demeaned, become uncooperative or argue vehemently to prove they are of a higher level meme. There are also contexts in which extremely bizarre conversations can be overheard that make no sense at all, until you realise people are trying to prove they do not belong to a particular meme, usually Green. And there are those who object to their religion being classified as Blue meme, rather than an exalted higher meme, and are particularly threatened by the notion that to move into a new epoch in which achieving sustainability becomes feasible involves redefining for our times, drawing on all the knowledge now available, what it is to be fully human. The answer to this is complex, not least because to be fully human involves including all memes within the psyche, but also because although many of the major religions arose with the Blue meme they all include strains of mystics, thinkers and writers within them at all subsequent, higher memes. A perfect example was the Passionist priest, cultural historian and eco-theologian Thomas Berry (1914-2009), who definitely belonged to a Second Tier meme, most probably Turquoise, as did the Jesuit priest, palaeontologist and philosopher who inspired him, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin (1881-1955). And it was Thomas Berry who argued most passionately and cogently that achieving sustainability involves redefining what it is to be fully human.7
The two final essays in this series will give a small insight into some of the implications of this for the design of cities and urban areas.
1. Recent publications include Evolutionaries: Unlocking the Spiritual and Cultural Potential of Science's Greatest Idea by Carter Phipps, Harper Perennial, 2012, and Evolution's Purpose: an Integral Interpretation of the Scientific Story of our Origins, by
Steve McIntosh, Select Books, 2012.
2. Integral Sustainable Design: Transformative Perspectives by Mark DeKay, Earthscan, 2011.
3. The Cultural Creatives: How 50 Million People are Changing the World by Paul H Ray and Sherry Ruth Anderson, Harmony Books, 2000. Here the population of the USA is classified as Traditionalist or Conservative, Modernist or Progressive, and Cultural Creatives whom the authors say are creating an Integral or Transmodern culture. But as they use the term, it is closer to Postmodernity than what Wilber means by Integral, a term many are now using with slightly different meanings.
4. Spiral Dynamics: Mastering Values, Leadership and Change by Don Edward Beck and Christopher C Cowan, Blackwell, 1996.
5. See A Theory of Everything: an Integral Vision for Business, Politics, Science and Spirituality by Ken Wilber, Shambhala, 2000.
6. Somewhat similar thinking informed the advice given by some members of the Spiral Dynamics community to the USA prior to the invasion of Iraq, but it was disastrously ignored. The argument offered was that prior to Saddam Hussein, Iraq had been largely Blue meme with an emerging Orange meme. But under Hussein, although it remained strongly Blue it also regressed to the Red meme of warlords and Purple tribalism. In such circumstances it would be impossible to impose Orange-Green democracy without passing through a healthy Blue, and largely theocratic stage. Instead of alienating the mullahs, the Americans should have worked with them
to keep the country stable and allow a smoother transition towards modernity and democracy.
7. The Great Work: Our Way into the Future by Thomas Berry, Harmony Books, 2000.
Readers' comments (3)
John, This is a great article. Just to let you know that we are offering Integral Theory and Practise training in the UK based upon the origins of Spiral Dynamics (1996), the Work of Clare W Graves (1978), and later developments in Spiral Dynamics known as Spiral Dynamics Integral (1998). New work is emerging in 2013. Best regards. Christopher Cooke UK 0207 1930051 firstname.lastname@example.com.
Fairly and clearly presented. Nice work John. Two points to add: 1) Objectivity re ones own thoughts and feelings only begins to emerge in Orange, sig more in Green, and at full capacity in Yellow. Explains incapacity to understand/accept other vMeme orientations, esp at Blue and below. 2) Developmental Level theories emerged as the human capacity for Multi-Perspectival Thinking (MPT) emerged. MPT is the capacity that makes it possible to generate a many level, many quadrant, view.
In order to reach each person on each continent I would advocate a simple use of the hands to illustrate the 10 levels that humanity is settling into.
Left thumb a person
Right thumb all people
The 8 fingers are the stages between
The left hand must be self determining
Read www.mantomankind.co.uk
for more info
Have your say
You must sign in to make a comment
Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions. Links may be included in your comments but HTML is not permitted.


text:
I stayed up late to play GW2 when the servers first came online. As promised, they got them up 3 hours ahead of time, so I began making characters at midnight EDT.
I turned 30 this year. I haven't pulled an all nighter in years and I haven't been to a midnight opening in prolly as long. It was fun to brew coffee and jump into the game at the first possible moment.
I won't be able to play for extended periods of time until this time next week when internship is finished. I still need to find a job and finish my dissertation, so it's not like I have all kinds of free time. Still, I want to write a longer post about my thoughts so far. That will come some time next week or so. Some things have been great, some slightly disappointing, and some are just, well, they'll take some getting used to.
For now, I'm going to call it a night. I got Belzan up to level 12 today, completed all of Rata Sum, and got to play around with crafting a little bit.
I hope you enjoy the headstart access! More to come later!