text:
SINGAPORE/ZHENJIANG, China (Reuters) - The smart young women and coiffured housewives browsing for rings and necklaces at a shiny new mall in a city on the Yangtze River could breathe fresh life into China's boom in gold consumption.
With jeweler stores already flooding shopping districts in Beijing and Shanghai, retailers are shifting their focus to smaller cities in hope of mining a rich seam of appetite for products which make up the bulk of gold-buying in a nation eclipsing India as the No.1 consumer of the precious metal.
Analysts and industry officials say that increasing wealth and spending power in less developed areas will help reinvigorate Chinese gold consumption, which is growing at a slower pace in 2012 after explosive gains in the past two years, with an economic slowdown making some shoppers think twice before purchasing big-ticket items.
"Third and fourth-tier cities are going to be the main engine of China's jeweler market," said Leon Zhao, a consulting director from research firm Frost & Sullivan's China operations.
The company reckons that Chinese cities at or below so-called third tier status will account for more than 40 percent of the country's total jeweler market by 2015, up from 34 percent in 2010 and 29 percent in 2006.
A slower economy this year has weighed on growth in Chinese demand for gold jeweler, with consumption in the first half of 2012 up less than 1 percent on the year to 250.4 tonnes, compared to a 13-percent increase in 2011, data from the World Gold Council (WGC), an industry body, showed.
But the push into smaller cities and resilience in interest in gold will help demand growth accelerate again, analysts said.
"I'd expect the total (jeweler sales) volume to grow at a double-digit rate in the next three years," said Yuan Yuan Ji, an analyst at Ji-Investment in Hong Kong.
That should act as a shot in the arm for gold demand in the country, which is likely to grow at about 7 percent in 2012, slowing from a 22-percent increase last year, according to figures from metals consultancy GFMS, a unit of Thomson Reuters.
Jeweler demand accounted for two thirds of Chinese gold appetite in 2011, with the rest taken up by investors.
Appetite for gold in the world's most populous nation has underpinned rocketing global prices for the precious metal, which are set to rise for a twelfth straight year. Gold prices traded around $1,680 an ounce early this week, down 13 percent from a peak above $1,920 hit last year.
"Growing demand from China, as well as central bank gold purchases, the increasingly popularity of gold ETFs (exchange-traded funds) and robust buying from India have been driving gold prices higher," said Shi Heqing, an analyst at Antaike, a state-backed metals consultancy in Beijing.
And China is overtaking India as the world's biggest buyer of the metal, with key consumers in that country such as farmers hit by slower economic growth and steep prices due to a weak currency and higher import taxes.
China produced 361 tonnes of gold in 2011, which means over half of its demand, at more than 770 tonnes according to the WGC, came from imports.
If Chinese economic growth stabilizes, jeweler demand in smaller cities will grow by over 20 percent next year, Frost & Sullivan's Zhao said, compared to 15-18 percent for tier 1.
Chinese cities are commonly assigned to tiers depending on their size and importance. Although there are no official criteria for this, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Shenzhen are generally viewed as tier 1, while provincial capitals and a few affluent coastal cities are in the second tier.
Hong Kong-listed Chow Tai Fook Jeweler Group Ltd (1929.HK), the world's biggest jeweler retailer, said half the stores it has opened during the fiscal year starting in April are in third and fourth-tier cities, mainly concentrated in central and western China.
"In the past two to three years, as well as in the first half of this year, our retail outlets in tier 3 and tier 4 and in central and western parts of the country have performed better than those in coastal cities," said Kent Wong, managing director of the firm which competes with the likes of Tiffany & Co (TIF.N) and local players such as Luk Fook Holdings Ltd (0590.HK).
At one of Chow Tai Fook's three outlets in Zhenjiang, a port city of 3 million on the banks of the Yangtze and over 200 kilometers west of Shanghai, 30-something Ms. Zhang was looking at gold pendants.
"I'm here shopping for myself," she said. "I'm looking at all kinds of gold including yellow and gold-plated items. Yellow gold retains its value well over time, while the other types look more modern."
While consumers in China's top cities are increasingly developing a taste for platinum, white gold and other non-gold products, those in smaller cities still prefer gold.
"Consumers in smaller cities emphasize value, rather than design or craftsmanship. They buy jeweler for celebrations such as weddings, or as a store of value," said Zhao from Frost & Sullivan.
Although the market share of gold products could decline in the future as these consumers become more sophisticated, gold's dominance is unlikely to fade in the next decade, he added.
And overall gold demand will fare well, with limited investment options and concerns about currency debasement as governments around the world pump cash into their troubled economies boosting the appeal of the precious metal, both for jeweler and investment, analysts said.
Indeed, jewelers hope that favorable economic policies from a transition of leadership in China at the Communist Party Congress that starts on Thursday should help broadly support luxury spending.
"If China doesn't grow, there is nowhere we can go," said Nancy Wong, an executive director at Luk Fook, which already has nearly 1,000 stores in China.
Additional reporting by Siddesh Mayenkar in Mumbai; Editing by Joseph Radford and Ken Wills


text:
These numbers are registered to Cleburne, Texas.
100% Free Search Service
Updated In Real Time
Uncover Nuisance Callers In Seconds
⚠ 817-483-4142 listed as Missed Call
⚠ 817-587-2537 listed as Missed Call
⚠ 817-587-2292 listed as Missed Call
⚠ 817-495-3434 listed as Genuine Call
Caller Page is a free service to help you locate and identify nuisance callers, based on crowdsourced information suppied by our users.
In additon, we augment listings where possible with our own information. Search a number to find out more!

subset: commoncrawl


text: Manuel Reyes Graduated as a Professional Commercial Photographer from the Los Angeles Community College. I Begun my passion for photography in 2004 and since then I have been capturing special moments in the life of many people. We approach every Wedding/ Quinceañera as a special occasion, not like one more event. Our style is traditional with a splash of photojournalism; We capture our images with Professional Digital Cameras with the creativity of Digital Aid, As we can manipulate and create great memorable images. We are available to travel anywhere in the southern California; Our services include coverage from your home, Church, Park to the reception. We will be happy to serve you. Thank you for visit Us.


text:
Waxed Top Zip Dopp Kit Choose Color
Waxed Top Zip Dopp Kit Choose Color
Our Waxed Top Zip Dopp Kit is the go to toiletry bag for men and women. Our dopp kit comfortably fits all your hygiene needs or husbands shaving gear. Each kit is crafted from waxed canvas with a top zip closure and gray stripped lining for the interior. This kit comes in four rustic colors and pairs with our waxed weekender for the perfect gift. Add a monogram, name, or single initial for a fun personal touch.
- 6" H x 10" W x 5.5" D
- 18 oz Waxed Canvas
- Side Antique Brass Snap Closure
- Features Contrasting Colored Bottom
For inspiration view our extensive list of font options. Click here
For the most specific product turnaround times, please use the online CHAT to speak with our customer service team. You can also send an email to firstname.lastname@example.com or call us at 334-649-2022 If you need your items sooner than the typical turnaround of 10-12 days, connect with us and we will make every effort to accommodate your request. We always do our best to get items shipped as quickly as possible. On occasion a rush fee or delivery shipping upgrade may be needed depending on the products order and the shipping location. All of our products are customized with personalized names or monograms to make them unique for you and therefore take time to process, unlike shipping non-personalized gifts.
Personalized Jellycat Bunny
Love, love, love!! My sons new favorite. The name came out just how I wanted and such quick shipping! Couldn't be happier. Thank you!
Margaret P
Personalized Jellycat Bunny
This shop was amazing to say the least I was very (very) picky with the writing and color of stitch for the embellishment the shop owner was understanding in knowing that this was my daughters first Easter. I was difficult to say the least after DAYS of deciding the best color and font I finally made a decision. She even changed the color of the bunny for me without canceling the order!!! When my order came in (2 Days later) I couldn't have been happier crying in tears knowing this was exactly as I pictured it. Shown in the photo is the 20" Bunny Cream with CANE stitching. If you choose to use this shop I know you will NOT be disappointed. I would definitely order again :) Happy Shopping
Christina H


text:
- Education
- Handbook
- Almanac
- Publications
- About
- Annual Meeting
- Get Involved
Fort Davis in the early 1880s.
The Frontier Forts of Texas
By Bryan Woolley
After the Republic of Texas was annexed to the United States in late 1845, Texans had high hopes that the federal government would do what the impoverished Republic had been unable to do: subdue the aggressive Indian tribes on the new state's western frontier and open the vast emptiness of West Texas to safe Anglo settlement. Instead, the annexation of Texas soon precipitated the Mexican War, which kept the United States Army preoccupied with events south of the Rio Grande until 1849. . . .
('Frontier Forts' is one of numerous articles listed under Features. . . .)
1911: Automobiles in Texas
Ten years ago an automobile was a curiosity in the leading cities of Texas. Five years ago the people in many counties had never seen what was then known as the horseless carriage. Today it is estimated that the number of automobiles in actual service in Texas will reach nearly 30,000 and that over $40,000,000 is invested in the machines. . . .
('Automobiles' is one of several articles from early Texas Almanacs presented under Selected Archives. . . .)
Timeline of Texas History (excerpt)
March 1 – U.S. Congress passes a "Joint Resolution for Annexing Texas to the United States."
mid-March – The first of many large groups of Germans arrive in Central Texas, settling at New Braunfels.
July 4 – The Texas Constitutional Convention votes to accept the United States annexation proposal; it drafts an Annexation Ordinance and State Constitution to submit to the voters of Texas.
Oct. 13 – Texas voters overwhelmingly approve annexation, the new state constitution and the annexation ordinance.
Dec. 29 – The U.S. Congress approves, and President James K. Polk signs, the "Joint Resolution for the Admission of the State of Texas into the Union." Texas becomes the 28th state. . . .
('1845' is part of the complete Timeline. . . .)


text:
Filled UpFavorites [+]
Pay-Per-Minute Viewing
You can now enjoy this movie on your iPhone®, iPad®, or compatible Smart TV & Android devices.
Purchase Options
Pay-Per-MinutePurchase Minutes
Streaming Rentals
Available MP4 sizes:SD 480p (1.08 GB)
HD 720p (2.02 GB)
HD 1080p (2.99 GB)
DRM-free downloads offer content that is not limited by standard Digital Rights Management (DRM) access technologies. These technologies allow hardware manufacturers, publishers, copyright holders and individuals to limit the usage of digital content.
When you purchase DRM-free downloadable content, that content is available for you to download on any computer and save to a disk whenever you like. You can also download to multiple computers. There is no timeframe associated with your purchase and the content will not expire.
Running Time: 69 minutes
Released: 06/2018
Studio Name: EricVideos
Director: Eric Paris
Description: These horned up muscle bottoms are hungry to get filled up! Hungry for the huge throbbing cocks to fill their holes with loads and loads of hot cum. From rocky shores to gardens of Paris, these hot horned sluts keep the loads cumming.
4 Scenes from Filled Up
Filled Up: Scene 1
Starring: Flo Carrera Antonio Miracle ... More Details
Stars: Flo Carrera, Antonio Miracle, Devian Rouge
Positions: Doggy Style, Kneeling, Missionary, Side Saddle, Sitting, Standing
Settings: Living Room
Filled Up: Scene 2
Starring: Stefan Raw Teddy Torres ... More Details
Stars: Stefan Raw, Teddy Torres
Sex Acts: Oral Sex, Masturbation, Anal Sex, Rim Job, Ass To Mouth
Positions: Crouching/Squatting, Cowgirl, Doggy Style, Kneeling, Laying, Missionary, Reverse Cowgirl, Side Saddle, Sitting, Standing
Settings: Living Room
Filled Up: Scene 3
Starring: Flo Carrera Hunter Williams ... More Details
Stars: Flo Carrera, Hunter Williams
Sex Acts: Oral Sex, Male On Male Action, Anal Sex, Rim Job, Ass To Mouth
Positions: Doggy Style, Missionary, Reverse Cowgirl, Sitting, Standing
Settings: Beach
Filled Up: Scene 4
Starring: Teddy Torres Devian Rouge ... More Details
Stars: Teddy Torres, Devian Rouge
Sex Acts: Oral Sex, Creampie, Male On Male Action, Deep Throating, Anal Sex, Rim Job
Positions: Cowgirl, Doggy Style, Kneeling, Missionary, Reverse Cowgirl, Spoons position, Standing
Settings: Bedroom
Recommended Movies


text:
There is no translation available.
The SPAEN Sarcoma Policy Paper "Sarcoma Patient Pathway Analysis and Recommendations for Service Development" was developed by SPAEN's honorary president Roger Wilson, UK, co-chairs Markus Wartenberg and Estelle Lecointe-Artzner. It serves as a basic document for other European initiatives and provides sarcoma patient views on matters such as expert treatment centres, reference centres, rare cancer protocols, etc. The objective with this paper is to give a clear statement of what SPAEN expects sarcoma treatment to look like, how SPAEN expects service structures to develop to respond to patient needs, and how national and international referral practice should evolve.
Download pdf SPAEN Sarcoma Policy Paper (533 KB>)>


text:
Services on Demand
Related links
- Cited by Google
- Similars in Google
Acta Theologica
On-line version ISSN 2309-9089
Print version ISSN 1015-8758
Acta theol. vol.33 suppl.17 Bloemfontein Nov. 2013
Discernment in the letter to the Galatians
D.F. Tolmie
Prof. D.F. Tolmie, Dean, Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State. E-mail: email@example.com
Although discernment is not the primary focus of the Letter to the Galatians, a few references to this issue are found in the letter. These references are the focus of this study. After a brief overview of some approaches to discernment, three core elements of discernment are identified, namely reflection, choice and one's relationship to God. Taking these elements as a point of departure, references to discernment in the following passages in the letter are investigated: 2:1-10; 2:11-21; 3:1-5 and 5:12-6:10.
Keywords: Spirituality, Discernment, Letter to the Galatians
Trefwoorde: Spiritualiteit, Onderskeiding, Brief aan die Galasiërs
When one wishes to determine what the New Testament has to say on the subject of discernment, the Letter to the Galatians is perhaps not the logical place to begin. After all, is it not "red-hot rhetoric"? (Cosby 2002) Perhaps the section on the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh in Galatians 5 would qualify for such an investigation? And then there is the singular occurrence of the verb δοκιµαζέιν in the letter, namely in Galatians 6:4. But is this all? Does the letter contain anything else that can contribute to our understanding of discernment? This is the issue that will receive attention in this study.
First of all, a very basic question should be considered, namely that of what is meant by the concept of discernment. A cursory perusal of the literature in this regard soon brings to light that there is no agreement among scholars as to what discernment entails. As examples, the following may be cited:
Kees Waaijman (2002:484) explains discernment as follows:
Diakrisis is the process of assembling and sorting out knowledge with respect to the way toward God. It tests the end and the means and creates a critical center. With a contemplative eye it looks at a person's life journey and envisions its perfection... Diakrisis is the critical-reflective moment of transformation in God.
Elizabeth Liebert (2008a:341)1 understands it as follows:
By the term 'discernment', I mean making a discriminating choice between two or more good options, seeking in a spirit of faith the better option for this moment, and moving toward the call of God as it comes to us in concrete situations of life. Discernment is a gift of God and simultaneously a habit of faith; although all is grace, there is also, in the mysterious economy of God's plan, a crucial role for human action. We choose to notice where God is at work, choose to believe in a larger plan than we can grasp at the moment, choose to hope in the goodness of the future promised by God, choose to align ourselves with God's preferred future as it becomes clear to us.
According to David Lonsdale (2005:247), discernment entails the following:
Discernment of spirits is a form of critical reflection on human and specifically religious experience, either of individuals or of a group or community. Its purpose is to ensure that, within a context of a living relationship with God, religious experience, subjected to critical reflection, may be a basis for right choice and action. The need for discernment, as a process of critical reflection, is rooted in fundamental ambiguities inherent in human moral and religious experience as such.
André Munziger's (2007:11) definition is brief:
... the process of reflective thought leading to decision and choice on the 'correctness, meaning, truth, or value of something or someone'.2
When one compares the definitions of discernment provided above, there are obvious differences. For example, Waaijman specifically highlights "the way toward God", Liebert limits the options to a choice between two or more good alternatives and also emphasises God's larger plan, whereas Lonsdale regards it as important to point out the ambiguities in moral and religious experience at the outset. Interestingly, though, in spite of the differences and individual emphases, there are certain elements that seem to surface recurrently in the selection of the definitions provided above. From these definitions, it seems as if the following three elements regularly turn up when scholars explain the notion of discernment, namely, reflection, choice and one's relationship to God. For the purpose of this study, I will thus take these three elements as a broad indication of what to look for in Galatians when investigating what this letter can contribute to our understanding of discernment.
One final remark is warranted before particular passages in the letter are discussed. It should be pointed out that, in a certain sense, the whole letter is the result of a process of discernment on Paul's part. What is recorded now in written form in Galatians is the result of his decision on how to react to the news that he had received from Galatia. There was more than one way open to him. For example, in some cases, he disagreed with rivalling preachers, but chose the option of tolerating the differences, as one can see from the Letter to the Philippians (cf. Phil. 1:15-18). In the case of Galatians, however, he evaluated the situation totally differently: The "gospel" of his opponents was no gospel at all (1:6-7), it did not carry God's blessing, and the people proclaiming it were cursed (1:8, 9; 5:10). The outcome of his (reflective?) thought on the news from Galatia was thus decidedly negative.
In this part of the letter, Paul recounts (his version of) his second visit to Jerusalem. As I have argued elsewhere (Tolmie 2005:69-82), he is not merely reporting what happened there, but is also using the events as the basis for his argument proving the divine origin of his gospel. If one views this section from the perspective of the issue addressed in this study, one could say that Paul focuses on a particular "discernment" reached by the "pillars" in Jerusalem. He uses this within the situation that he addresses in his letter as an argument to demonstrate why his gospel is true, and why that of his opponents should be rejected.
In verse 2, he begins by describing the purpose of his visit to Jerusalem as "setting the gospel that I preach before them3" ...). The word may be interpreted in one of two ways, namely as (merely) communicating/sharing his gospel with them (e.g., Louw & Nida 1988:33.151 and Martyn 1997:190), or as laying it before them for their consideration and opinion (e.g., BDAG and Longenecker 1990:47). The fact that Paul explains the reason for his action as "lest somehow I should run or had run in vain" leads me to interpret the term in the second sense,4 which would mean that he set the gospel before the "pillars" because he wanted them to reach a decision on his gospel; or, in our terms, that he wanted them to exercise discernment.
That the circumcision of Gentile Christians was a crucial aspect of the issue that Paul recounts here is clear from the fact that he specifically points out in verse 3 that Titus, a Gentile, accompanied him, but that Titus was not forced to be circumcised; and, furthermore, that the "false brethren" (who apparently did not hesitate to decide that Paul was wrong) wanted Titus to be circumcised. For Paul, however, it was not merely a matter of whether to have a Gentile believer circumcised or not. In his view, there were deeper, more fundamental, aspects to the matter. It was essentially a decision about the liberty that believers had in Christ (v. 4); and about the "truth of the gospel". By this last expression he refers to the authenticity of his gospel (e.g., Vouga 1998:46), or as Lightfoot (1921:107) puts it, to "the Gospel in its integrity".
In verses 7-9 Paul describes the outcome of the matter. For the issue investigated in this article, three factors are important. First, the verbs that he uses to describe what happened should be noted: The three "pillars" in Jerusalem (James, Cephas and John) "saw" and "recognised" something. To my mind, the two words are used here to express more or less the same concept, which may be described in terms of the semantic domain "understand" in the lexicon of Louw and Nida, where "understanding" is explained as "a process by which information is used in order to arrive at a correct comprehension or evaluation" (Louw & Nida 1988:380 n. 381). Accordingly, this would mean that, when the "pillars" "saw" and "recognised", they had reached a correct evaluation of the matter. Secondly, the content of what was "seen" and "recognised" is specifically mentioned by Paul. The "pillars" saw that he had been entrusted with the gospel of the uncircumcision, as Peter was entrusted with the gospel of the circumcision (v. 7), because the same God who worked with Peter, also worked with Paul. The "pillars" thus recognised the grace given to him (v. 9). It is significant that in both instances a divine passive is used, highlighting the fact that the discernment that was reached by the "pillars" concerned the relationship between the gospel that Paul was preaching and God. They realised that Paul's gospel and apostleship were of divine origin. Thirdly, Paul unfortunately does not provide any details about the process whereby the discernment was reached by the "pillars"; he only reports its result. We may speculate that "the pillars" probably did not take this decision lightly, and that it needed time and reflection, because it was a decision that seemed to be in conflict with "clear scriptural teaching and historic practice" (Dunn 1995:104). Martyn (1997:201) may thus be right in interpreting the use of the aorist as inceptive, "they came to see and to recognise." One may even surmise that this only happened after heated debates, as Betz (1979:96) believes. All of this, however, is not stated explicitly.
If we formulate what has been highlighted so far in terms of the three elements outlined at the beginning of this study, it is clear that two of them feature quite prominently in this section, namely that of choice and that of relationship to God. A choice had to be made concerning the issue of whether Gentile believers should have to be circumcised or not. From Paul's perspective, in more fundamental terms, it concerned a choice between spiritual liberty and spiritual slavery, between the true gospel and a false gospel. For Paul, the criterion of spiritual liberty/the truth of the gospel was decisive in making the right choice. The notion of relationship to God also features prominently in the way in which Paul describes the content of the discernment reached by the pillars, highlighting the fact that his gospel and apostleship were of divine origin. The third element, reflection, is not mentioned explicitly and, although one might argue that it would definitely have played a role in the process, it does not receive any emphasis in Paul's account of what happened.
In the previous instance the subjects of discernment were the three "pillars" in Jerusalem; in the case of the Antioch incident, Paul himself is portrayed as the subject of discernment. Interestingly enough, the verb that he uses is the same one that was used in the previous instance, namely "see" (...). Furthermore, the concept "truth of the gospel" again plays a significant role in his version of the events. In fact, his argumentative strategy in this section may be summarised as "recounting his version of the incident at Antioch in order to show how he stood firmly for the 'truth of the gospel'". (Cf. Tolmie 2005:83-99.)
In verse 11, Paul begins with a short summary of what happened: He opposed Cephas to his face, because Cephas "stood condemned" (). This expression can be interpreted in more than one way. It could denote that Cephas was self-condemned by his actions (Schlier 1971:82-83); that he stood condemned before God (Mussner 1977:138-139); that all right-thinking people would have realised that he had acted wrongly (Dunn 1995:117); or that he should have known that his own conscience condemned him (Dunn 1995:117). As Wechseler (1991:314-315) points out, the earlier use of a divine passive (2:7, 9) seems to tip the scale in the direction of the second interpretation. If this is correct, then the notion of relationship to God already plays an important role at the beginning of this section.
In verses 12-13, Paul goes on to provide more information: Cephas had been eating regularly with the non-Jewish members of the Christian community in Antioch, but withdrew and separated himself when certain individuals from James arrived, because he feared "those of the circumcision". The disputed issue - the choice in terms of the aspects singled out for this study - was that of whether table-fellowship between Jewish and Gentile believers should be practised or not; or as Betz (1979:107) quite correctly puts it, the difference in opinion had to do with the issue of : the Jewish purity requirements that had to be observed irrespective of which meals were involved.
In verse 14 Paul then describes his own reaction: He "saw", or as I interpreted this verb in the previous section, he reached a specific evaluation of the situation. Once again, the process by means of which this happened is not discussed. As Longenecker (1990:77) correctly points out, the use of the aorist είδοη together with the imperfect verbs in verse 12, could be interpreted as an indication that it took a while before Paul actually intervened. The reason for this is not clear. Perhaps Paul had been away when the Jewish Christians started to withdraw (c.f. Vouga 1998:55), or perhaps it took some time before he realised the implications of what was going on (c.f. Longenecker 1990:77). The text does not provide us with any direct answers. Thus, we cannot draw any conclusion as to whether the process of discernment took a while or whether Paul immediately realised that the practice was wrong when he became aware of it for the first time. What Paul does indicate, however, is what was wrong: They were not walking on the right road5 towards6 the truth of the gospel. Once again the truth of the gospel is highlighted by Paul as the criterion for making the particular choice that he made. That the truth of the gospel is inherently linked to what God has done, is clear from what follows further on in the passage: God7 justifies those who believe in Jesus Christ, and this is the criterion which Paul applied in this instance.
To summarise: Of the three elements outlined at the beginning of this study, two have again been found to be prominent in the way in which Paul describes his discernment, namely choice and the relationship to God. In one instance, a particular criterion is cited by Paul, namely "the truth of the gospel". The notion of reflection is not emphasised.
In this section, the focus differs from that of the previous sections, since Paul now emphasises a lack of discernment, and in particular the lack of discernment displayed by the Galatians. The focal term in this regard is αηοητος, which is used twice in this section (3:1, 3). The semantic domain under which this word resorts is the same as that of the verbs which were discussed in the previous two sections ("understand"; cf. Louw & Nida 1988:380-388), and its use in Galatians 3:5 is explained as follows (Louw & Nida 1988:386):
... pertaining to unwillingness to use one's mental faculties in order to understand ... the meaning of is that people presumably would not use their capacity for understanding and as a result, thought and behaved foolishly.
The word thus refers to a lack of (theological) insight,8 or, in our terms, a lack of discernment. Longenecker (1990:100) points out that the closest parallel to the way in which Paul uses this word here, is found in Luke 24:25 ("you foolish and slow of heart"), where it is used to emphasise "lack of discernment regarding the prophetic word". For Paul, the Galatians' decision to accept the other "gospel" was foolish. He believed that they would easily come to realise the extent of their folly if they were to consider how they had received the Spirit. This is the first time the Spirit is mentioned in this letter, and the issue that is highlighted is not the role of the Spirit in assisting one to exercise discernment, but rather reflection on one's experience of the Spirit as a way to help one to distinguish between the true gospel and a false gospel. The choice that the Galatians had to make is phrased by Paul in terms of an "either-or": Either they had received the Spirit through works of the law, or they had received it through the "hearing of faith"9. There can only be one possible answer to this: they had received it through faith. According to Paul, the implications of the wrong choice made by the Galatians are appalling: Having begun with the Spirit, they are now looking to the flesh in order to attain their goal of perfection (v. 3). In verse 5 he continues: The renewed choice that the Galatians have to make is not only a choice in terms of the way in which they received the Spirit; it is also a choice about God: Does he, who provides the Spirit and works miracles in their midst, do so through works of the law or through the "hearing of faith"?
For the purposes of this study: All three of the elements identified at the beginning of this study play a role in this section. The notion of choice comes to the fore in two ways: Paul reproaches the Galatians for having made a foolish choice. Furthermore, in terms of content, the choice is reduced to an "either-or": faith or works of the law. Relationship to God is important in the sense that God is depicted here as the provider of the Spirit. Accordingly, the "either-or" choice also reflects a particular interpretation of one's relationship to God. By choosing works of the law, the Galatians would be making a choice in conflict with a fundamental truth about God; choosing faith would be in line with God's identity; i.e., who he is and what he does through the Spirit. The notion of reflection receives more attention than in the previous two instances, in the sense that the Galatians are called upon by Paul to reconsider their position. In particular, the series of rhetorical questions is used by him to remind them of earlier experiences: how he preached to them, how they came to believe in Christ, and, as a result, how they received the Spirit. His aim in reminding them of all of this is to motivate them to reflect on their experiences, and to make a better choice.
For our purposes, two issues deserve attention in this part of the letter,10 namely, the contrast between the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-22, and the call to discernment in 6:4. I will restrict the discussion to the issue addressed in this study, and will not move into the more general issue of the ethics of the letter.11
In the first instance (the contrast between the fruit of the Spirit and the works of the flesh), one again finds the two elements that have been highlighted several times so far in this study, namely the importance of choice and of the relationship to God (in this instance, the importance of the role of the Spirit). The two lists serve as a vivid illustration of practical choices to which discernment should lead. As has often been noted before, such lists were well-known in antiquity, and the phenomenon is thus not a Pauline invention.12 What is important to note in relation to our theme is that the concrete choices that believers have to make, are placed within a particular theological framework. It is not merely a case of avoiding certain types of behaviour (the works of the flesh) because they are wrong, and striving towards other types of behaviour (the fruit of the Spirit) because they are right. The choice between right and wrong behaviour is placed within a theological framework which may be summarised, in terms of three (interrelated) aspects, as "liberty - love - Spirit":13 "Liberty" is not only a liberation from (e.g. from the current evil age - 1:4; the curse of the law - 3:13-14; and the "elements of the law" - 4:6), but also a liberation towards. As Konradt (2010:70) puts it:
Durch den Glauben an Christus in das áonenwendende Geschehen des Anbruchs der neuen Schöpfung hineingezogen, ist der Glaubende vielmehr zugleich zu einem neuen Leben in Christus in der Kraft des Geistes befreit. (Konradt's emphasis.)
This liberty may be abused by the flesh, but this danger can be curbed in two ways: by realising that the liberty that one has in Christ actually constitutes a new form of slavery: becoming slaves of one another through love (Gal. 5:13), and, furthermore, by living through the Spirit (Gal. 5:16ff.). That these two aspects should not be regarded as two separate events or steps in the life of believers, is clear from the fact that love heads the list of the fruit of the Spirit further on.
If we formulate all of this in terms of the notion of discernment, the following seems to be the heart of the matter: Discernment is an activity practised by those who have been liberated by (and in) Christ, who have become slaves of love, and who live according to the Spirit. Such people will not merely follow their own inclinations (Gal. 5:17); rather their lives will express the fruit of the Spirit. To put it in another way: discernment practically implies bending one's will to that of the Spirit.
Before the call to self-discernment in Galatians 6:4 is considered in more detail, some brief remarks on its context are warranted: This verse falls within subsection 6:1-5, a passage of which the line of thought is unclear. In this regard, it seems wise to avoid two extremes, namely, on the one hand, the tendency to view the entire section as having no coherent argument, and, on the other hand, attempting to explain the underlying logic as making perfect sense. The truth lies somewhere in between:14 In verse 1 Paul describes a situation that may arise, namely that of a believer being caught out in some kind of transgression. He calls upon the Galatians to act in a gentle way in such a case and to restore such a person to his/her former situation. This is followed by a strict warning: They themselves could be tempted to act in a similar way as the transgressor and they should therefore keep an eye on themselves, lest they should be tempted too. In verse 2 the focus again falls on the way in which believers should act towards one another ("Bear one another's burdens"), followed by a promise that in this way they will be fulfilling the "law of Christ" - which is probably an allusion to the Torah, as fulfilled in the sense that Christ fulfilled it, namely by love. A warning follows in verse 3: If anyone thinks she/he is something when in fact she/he is nothing, she/ he deceives himself. This warning does not constitute an entirely new idea, but is related to the previous verse(s) in that it provides a reason for what has been said earlier. In verse 4 the individual believer is called upon to test his/her own "work". According to Paul, this could lead to grounds for boasting, but only in one's own work, and not by comparing it to that of the other believers. In verse 5, the reason for not making such comparisons is then provided, namely that each one will receive proper recognition for her/his own work at the eschatological judgement.15
Two general remarks: First, it is important to keep in mind that the theme of living in accordance with the Spirit, which was introduced in 5:13, is still the focus of the discussion in 6:1ff. This is underlined by the fact that Paul addresses the Galatians in 6:1 as πνευµατικοί, thereby referring to them as people who must live by the Spirit.16 The call to self-discernment in verse 4 should thus not be regarded as something standing on its own; it forms part of the life under the guidance of the Spirit. Secondly, compared to the previous section, there is more emphasis on the individual in 6:1-5. It is true that the importance of mutual relationships is still emphasised (e.g., in 6:1 and 6:2), but there are also explicit references to the individual: verse 1: "watch yourself", verse 3: "if someone verse 4: "one's own work", "in oneself", "not towards someone else", and verse 5: "one's own burden". The way in which mutual relationships and personal scrutiny are balanced here, can serve as a broad guideline for interpreting verse 4: Although self-discernment is essentially an individual, and - in a sense a private action, the individual believer continues to form part of a larger Christian community where believers carry each other's burdens and where mutual care is imperative (cf. Esler 1998:231 in this regard). Self-discernment should thus not become a practice focusing exclusively on one's personal situation, thereby leading to a practical isolation of oneself from the rest of the Christian community.
Let us now turn our attention to Galatians 6:4. For the purpose of this study, four issues need to be highlighted:
First, the meaning of the word should be considered. According to Louw and Nida, when it is used in the New Testament, it can be categorised in either of two (closely related) semantic domains, namely "Learn" and "Think", the difference between these two domains being that Learn "involves the acquisition of information," whereas Think entails "the processing and manipulation of information, often leading to decision and choice" (Louw & Nida 1988:349). in Galatians 6:4 falls within the semantic domain identified as "Learn" and specifically within the subdomain "Try to learn", with being explained (in Louw & Nida 27.45) as follows: "to try to learn the genuineness of something by examination and testing".17 This seems to be an appropriate definition of the concept in Galatians 6:4, which implies that the emphasis falls in this verse on the process of critical reflection during discernment,18 an aspect which thus far has not received much attention in the letter.
Secondly, it should be noted how the object of discernment is described: . This word is used here in the sense of deeds/actions.19 Martyn (1997:550) restricts the definition to "gospel work", whereas Barclay (1988:161) interprets the term as referring to "the basic character of a person's existence". However, it seems better to understand it as referring to one's conduct in general (as most exegetes do). Within the particular context, it could then refer to the conduct mentioned in verses 1-3 (as Kuck 1994:293 believes), or, to my mind more probably, to all the types of behaviour mentioned from Galatians 5:13 onwards.
Thirdly, interestingly enough, the outcome of such a process of self-discernment is also mentioned by Paul: . The word refers to the basis for boasting (Longenecker 1990:277), and this implies that the outcome of such a process of discernment might be positive. This boasting, however, is a boasting to oneself , and not a boasting to others, which means that one should distinguish between two different types of boasting. Martyn (1997:550) aptly describes the former as "the joyous celebration of the Spirit's work through oneself" and the latter as "a celebration of comparative superiority to a neighbour".
Lastly, it should be noted that the self-discernment is placed within a broader eschatological framework in verse 5 ("Each one shall bear his own burden"). Whatever the outcome of one's self-discernment, the result remains provisional. God's future judgement will be "the final arbiter of status" (Kuck 1994:296).
This study has shown that, although discernment is definitely not the focus of the Letter to the Galatians, the matter does receive attention; perhaps more than one may think at first. As indicated in the study, a variety of perspectives in this regard are encountered in the letter, pertaining to the discernment of the "pillars" in Jerusalem; Paul's discernment in Antioch; the poor discernment displayed by the Galatian Christians when they opted for justification by works; and, finally, the call to discernment flowing from a life under the guidance of the Spirit, which includes an emphasis on the importance of self-discernment.
Of the three aspects identified at the beginning of this study as core elements of discernment (reflection, choice and one's relationship to God) the last two receive the most emphasis, probably because in most cases, the outcome of the discernment was the central issue in terms of Paul's rhetorical strategy. The notion of reflection only received some attention for the first time in 3:1-5, where the Galatians were called to make a better choice than the one that they had made; and subsequently also in 6:4, with specific reference to self-discernment. However, in neither of these cases was there a detailed discussion of the issue of reflection. In fact, in all the instances that were discussed in this study, the choice that was made, or that was to be made, was presented by Paul as a rather straightforward matter - probably as a result of the rhetorical situation within which he found himself when writing the letter.
What has also become clear is that what is said with regard to discernment in the letter, is tied up with fundamental theological convictions that Paul holds, pertaining to matters such as the truth of the gospel, spiritual liberty, God's justification of humankind though faith, the bending of one's will to that of the Spirit, one's relationship with the rest of the Christian community, and, finally, the eschatological reality of God's judgement as the final arbiter of one's self-discernment. Viewed from this perspective, one can reach no other conclusion than that, for Paul, discernment is intimately linked to what he regards as the heart of the gospel.
Arzt, P. 1992. Bedrohtes Christsein. Zu Eigenart und Funktion eschatologisch bedrohlicher Propositionen in den echten Paulusbriefen. Frankfurt: Lang. BET 26. [ Links ]
Barclay, J.M.G. 1988. Obeying the truth: A study of Paul's ethics in Galatians. Edinburgh: T & T Clark. Studies of the New Testament and its World. [ Links ]
Bauer, W., Arndt, W.F., Gingrich, F.W. & Danker, F.W. 2000. A Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament and other early Christian literature. Chicago/London: University of Chicago Press. [ Links ]
Betz, H.D. 1979. Galatians. A commentary on Paul's Letter to the Galatians. Philadelphia: Fortress. Hermeneia. [ Links ]
Bruce, F.F. 1982. The Epistle to Galatians. A commentary on the Greek text. Exeter: Paternoster Press. NIGTC. [ Links ]
Cosby, M.R. 2002. Galatians: Red-hot rhetoric. In: A. Eriksson, T.H. Olbricht & W. Übelacker (eds.), Rhetorical argumentation in Biblical texts (Harrisburg: Trinity, ESEC), pp. 296-309. [ Links ]
De Boer, M.C. 2011. Galatians. A commentary. Louisville: Westminster John Knox. New Testament Library. [ Links ]
Dunn, J.D.G. 1993. The theology of Paul's Letter to the Galatians. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. New Testament Theology. 1995. The Epistle to the Galatians. Peabody: Hendrickson. BNTC. [ Links ]
Easton, B.S. 1932. New Testament ethical lists. JBL 5:1-12. [ Links ]
Eckstein, H.J. 1996. Verheiβung und Gesetz. Eine exegetische Untersuchung zu Galater 2,15-4,7. Tübingen: J.C.B. Mohr. WUNT 86. [ Links ]
Esler, P.F. 1998. Galatians. London & New York: Routledge. New Testament Readings. [ Links ]
Kamlah, E. 1964. Die Form der katalogischen Parànese im Neuen Testament. Tubingen: Mohr. WUNT 7. [ Links ]
Kilpatrick, G.D. 1954. Gal 2.14. ορθοποδούσα. In: W. Eltester (ed.), Neutestamentliche Studien für Rudolf Bultmann zu seinem siebzigsten Geburtstag (Berlin: Töpelmann, BZNW 21), pp. 269-274. [ Links ]
Konradt, M. 2010. Die Christonomie der Freiheit. Zu Paulus' Entfaltung seines ethischen Ansatzes in Gal 5,13-6,10. Early Christianity 1:60-81. [ Links ]
Kuck, D.W. 1994. 'Each will bear his own burden.' Paul's creative use of an apocalyptic motif. NTS 40:289-297. [ Links ]
Liebert, E. 2008a. Discernment for our times. A practice with postmodern implications. Studies in Spirituality 18:333-355. [ Links ]
______. 2008b. The way of discernment: Spiritual practices for decision making. Louisville: Westminster John Knox. [ Links ]
Lightfoct, J.B. 1921. Saint Paul's Epistle to the Galatians. A revised text with introduction, notes, and dissertations. London: MacMillan & Co. [ Links ]
Longenecker, R.N. 1990. Galatians. Dallas: Word Books. Word 41. [ Links ]
Lonsdale, D. 2005. Discernment. In: P. Sheldrake (ed.), The New Westminster dictionary of Christian spirituality (Louisville: John Knox Press), pp. 247-249. [ Links ]
Louw, J.P. & Nida, E.A. 1988. Greek-English lexicon of the New Testament based on semantic domains. Volume 1. Introduction and domains. New York: United Bible Societies. [ Links ]
Martyn, J.L. 1997. Galatians. A new translation with introduction and commentary. New York/London/Toronto/ Sydney/Auckland: Doubleday. Anchor Bible 33A. [ Links ]
______. 2000. The apocalyptic gospel in Galatians. Interpretation 54:246-266. [ Links ]
Munzinger, A. 2007. Discerning the spirits. Theological and ethical hermeneutics in Paul. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. SNTS.MS 140. [ Links ]
Mussner, F. 1977. Der Galaterbrief. Freiburg/Basel/Wien: Herder. HThK 9. Schlier, H. 1971. Der Brief an die Galater. Berlin: Evangelische Verlag. KEK 17. [ Links ]
Söding, Τ. 2010. Glaube, der durch Liebe wirkt. Rechtfertigung und Ethik im Galaterbrief. In: M. Bachmann & B. Kollmann (eds.), Umstrittener Galaterbrief. Studien zur Situierung und Theologie des Paulus-Schreibens (Neukirchen-Vluyn: Neukirchener, Biblisch-theologische Studien 106), pp. 165-206. [ Links ]
Synofzik, E. 1977. Die Gerichts- und Vergeltungsaussagen bei Paulus. Eine traditions-geschichtliche Untersuchung. Göttingen: Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht. GTA 8. [ Links ]
Tolmie, D.F. 2005. Persuading the Galatians. A text-centred rhetorical analysis of a Pauline letter. Tübingen: Mohr Siebeck. WUNT 2.190. [ Links ]
______. 2006. Liberty - love - Spirit: Ethics and ethos according to the Letter to the Galatians. In: J.G. Van der Watt (ed.), Identity, ethics, and ethos in the New Testament (Berlin/New York: Walter de Gruyter, BZNW 141), pp. 241-256. [ Links ]
Vögtle, A. 1936. Die Tugend- und Lasterkataloge im Neuen Testament. Exegetisch, religions- und forschungsgeschichtlich untersucht. Munster: Aschendorff. NTS 16/4-5. [ Links ]
Vouga, F. 1998. An die Galater. Tubingen: Mohr Siebeck. HNT 10. [ Links ]
Waaijman, K. 2002. Spirituality. Forms, foundations, methods. Leuven/Paris/Dudley: Peeters. [ Links ]
Wechseler, A. 1991. Geschichtsbild und Apostelstreit. Eine forschungsgeschichtliche und exegetische Studie über den antiochenischen Zwischenfall. Berlin: De Gruyter. BZNW 62. [ Links ]
This article is based upon research supported by the National Research Foundation of South Africa
1 See also the way in which she describes discernment elsewhere (Liebert 2008b:8):
Thus, in the Christian spiritual tradition, discernment refers to the process of sifting out what is of God, discriminating between that which expresses God's call and anything that runs counter to it ... Discernment, then, is the process of intentionally becoming aware of how God is present, active, and calling us as individuals and communities so that we can respond with increasingly greater faithfulness.
2 Munzinger bases this definition on the Greek-English lexicon of Louw and Nida (1988), in particular the explanation of κρίηω (30.108; forming part of the semantic subdomain G: "To distinguish, to evaluate, to judge") - a description with which he broadly agrees. He disagrees with Louw and Nida on one minor point, namely their contention that discernment should be restricted to the final result of this process of thinking, since, according to him, this excludes reflective thought as such.
3 At this stage the identity of αΰτοΐς is still unclear. It may refer to the Jerusalem congregation in general, or to the leaders who are mentioned further on.
4 Even if one interprets it in the first sense ("to communicate"), this does not necessarily exclude the notion that Paul wanted them to recognise his gospel. Cf. De Boer (2011:110):
Paul shared his gospel with the church ... and then privately with the pillars ... so that they would come to see that God had entrusted him with the gospel to the Gentiles and would come to recognize God's grace in his present manner of life (Gal 2:7, 9).
5 It is difficult to pinpoint the exact meaning of the word. Three possible meanings have been suggested: "to walk straight or upright", "to make straight for the goal" or "to be on the right road". Each of these interpretations is accepted by some scholars, but most scholars seem to prefer either the second or the third option. For example, the second option is preferred by Mussner (1977:144), while G. D. Kilpatrick (1954:274) favours the third option. Wechseler (1991:343348) provides a very good interpretation of the word:
Sie befanden sich nicht nur auf einem Umweg und sie ,erwischten' nicht nur die falsche Abzweigung (um etwa auf anderem Wege wieder zurückzukommen), sondern sie bewegten sich im Endeffekt in Gegenrichtung.
6 προς may also be interpreted as "with respect to". Cf., amongst others, De Boer (2011:136).
7 The passive should be read as a divine passive. Cf. De Boer (2011:151).
8 Thus, most exegetes. Cf. Eckstein (1996:82 n. 85) for a list in this regard.
9 This expression may be interpreted in more than one way, but the best interpretation seems to be "hearing with/of faith". Cf. Tolmie (2005:107).
10 Elsewhere, I have summarized Paul's rhetorical strategy in Gal. 5:12-6:10 as "urging the Galatians to have their lives directed by the Spirit". This forms part of a larger section, beginning at Gal. 5:2, whose rhetorical objective I have summarised as "Convincing the audience to act as he wishes them to: not to succumb to the pressure to be circumcised, to avoid the opponents, and to live according to the Spirit." Cf. Tolmie (2005:239-240).
11 For good discussions of Paul's ethics in Galatians, cf. Barclay (1988), Dunn (1993), Söding (2010:165-206) and Konradt (2010:60-81).
12 Cf., for example, Easton (1932:1-12), Vögtle (1936) and Kamlah (1964).
13 For a more detailed discussion of this issue, cf. Tolmie (2006:241-256).
14 For what follows, cf. the more detailed discussion in Tolmie (2005:208ff.).
15 It is possible to interpret verse 5 in a non-eschatological way, but here I follow those who interpret it in an eschatological sense. Cf., for example, Kuck (1994), Bruce (1982:263), Arzt (1992:181) and Synofzik (1977:44).
16 So, most interpreters. See, for example, Betz (1979:296), Barclay (1988:157) and Vouga (1998:145-146).
17 Cf. the more or less similar explanation in BDAG (δόκιμαΖω): "to make a critical examination of someth. to determine genuineness, put to test, examine" (their emphasis). In English, good translation equivalents for δόκιμαΖειη are "test", "examine" (e.g., Lightfoot 1921:213), "scrutinise" (De Boer 2011:382) and "evaluate" (Dunn 1995:324), but "consider" as Martyn (2000:549) translates it does not cover the meaning sufficiently. In German, "prüfen" (Vouga 1998:148) is a good translation equivalent. Furthermore, cf. Betz (1979:302-303) for a good discussion of the use of δόκιμαΖειη by the Greek philosophers.
18 So, also Munzinger (2007:9).
19 Louw and Nida (1988:42.11) classify it in a semantic domain described as "Perform, Do". In BDAG (εργόη) it is explained as "deed, action", and several other instances in the New Testament where the singular is also used in a collective sense are provided.


text:
sponsored by
Cheney drops U.S. Senate campaign citing health issues
Send a link to a friend
[January 07, 2014]
(Reuters) — Liz Cheney, the eldest
daughter of former Vice President Dick Cheney, dropped her bid to unseat
a Republican incumbent senator from Wyoming on Monday, abruptly ending a
bumpy first foray into national politics because of what she said were
family health issues.
Cheney, a lawyer who worked in the U.S. State Department under
President George W. Bush, had been seeking to beat out incumbent
Senator Michael Enzi in the August primary. Her entry in the race in
July had been greeted with concern by some Republicans that it could
be considered divisive for the party.
"Serious health issues have recently arisen in our family, and under
the circumstances, I have decided to discontinue my campaign,"
Cheney, 47, said in a statement posted on her Facebook page.
"My children and their futures were the motivation for our campaign,
and their health and well-being will always be my overriding
priority," she said.
Cheney, who has five children with her husband, Phil Perry, former
general counsel for the Department of Homeland Security, did not
elaborate on the health problems that she said were prompting her to
drop out of the race.
"As a mother and a patriot, I know that the work of defending
freedom and protecting liberty must continue for each generation,"
she said in the statement. "Though this campaign stops today, my
commitment to keep fighting with you and your families for the
fundamental values that have made this nation and Wyoming great will
never stop."
Enzi, who was first elected to the Senate in 1996 and had twice been
re-elected by comfortable margins, released a statement saying he
had "tremendous respect for Liz's decision."
"She and her entire family are in our thoughts and prayers," Enzi
Cheney has had a bumpy ride since she launched herself into the race
last July with a 6-minute web video in which she laid out a
conservative agenda and sharply criticized President Barack Obama.
Her entry into the race came as Republicans seek to regain a
majority in the Senate in 2014, and some worried that a bitterly
contested primary could hurt the party's chances.
Alan Simpson, a
former Republican senator from Wyoming, told the New York Times in
an interview before Cheney announced her candidacy that such a race
could bring about "the destruction of the Republican Party of
Wyoming," opening the door for Democrats in the state.
[to top of second column]
Because she spent much of her youth and adult life in Virginia,
Cheney's credentials in Wyoming were also challenged, despite her
family's deep roots in the state. Her father, the former vice
president, served six terms in the House of Representatives from
Last summer, Liz Cheney committed a minor political gaffe in a state
where hunting and fishing are taken seriously when she mistakenly
bought the wrong fishing license after living in Wyoming for just a
few months.
State law requires a year of residency before applying for such a
license, which is less expensive than licenses for visitors or
Cheney's candidacy was further complicated by a family spat after
she asserted her opposition to same-sex marriage. Her younger
sister, Mary Cheney, a lesbian who married longtime partner Heather
Poe in 2012, publicly chastised her for taking a stance that is
"dead wrong."
In November, the former vice president entered the fray, saying in a
joint statement with his wife, Lynne, that Liz Cheney "has always
believed in the traditional definition of marriage" and has also
"always treated her sister and her sister's family with love and
Dick Cheney has long said he supports extending marriage rights to
same-sex couples.
(Reporting by Doina Chiacu, Edith Honan and Dan Whitcomb;
editing by
Lisa Von Ahn, James Dalgleish and Cynthia Osterman)
[© 2014 Thomson Reuters. All rights
Copyright 2014 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
< Top Stories index
Back to top


text:
Key Benefits
- Expertly blended to help maintain healthy brain and cognitive function.
- Contains specially chosen brain nutrients and selected essential vitamins and minerals.
- Helps maintain healthy and normal brain and cognitive function.
- Manufactured in the UK to GMP Standard.
Take 2 capsules per day. Best taken at meal time with water.
Each 2 capsule serving provides:
Vitamin C 80mg (100% NRV)
Iron 10mg (71% NRV)
Vitamin E (d-Alpha tocopherol) 8mg (67% NRV)
Pantothenic Acid (Vit B5) 6mg (100% NRV)
Zinc 5mg (50% NRV)
Vitamin B1 (Thiamin) 2mg (182% NRV)
Folic Acid 200µg (100% NRV)
Vitamin B12 (cyanocobalamin) 2µg (80% NRV)
Also provides:
Ginkgo Biloba Extract 40mg 50:1 (providing equivalent 2000mg), Choline Bitartrate 300mg, Betaine (trimethylglycine) 100mg, L-Carnitine 100mg, Lecithin 5mg 20:1 (providing equivalent 100mg), Bacopa Monnieri 100mg, L-Theanine 50mg, L-Tyrosine 50mg, Alpha Lipoic Acid (ALA) 50mg, Soy Isoflavones providing 40mg, Phosphatidylserine 40mg, Co Enzyme Q10 30mg, Black Pepper Extract (as Bioperine®) 5mg, Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose (HPMC) Capsule Shell.
*NRV = Nutrient Reference Value, µg = microgram, mg = milligram.
Always consult your health practitioner before taking nutritional supplements, especially if you are taking medication or are under medical supervision. Not recommended for use by pregnant or breastfeeding women. You should not take supplements as a substitute for a varied balanced diet or healthy lifestyle. Store in a cool dry place, out of reach of children.
Any allergens contained in this product are shown in the ingredients list in bold.
According to our suppliers of raw material this product is free from: gluten, wheat, dairy, eggs, fish, crustaceans, molluscs, soy, sesame, celery, mustard.**
** Although rigorous precautions are taken to prevent any cross-contamination, this product is manufactured in a facility that also handles allergy-based materials such as nuts, seeds, milk, egg, cereals, soya, mustard, celery, fish, crustaceans and sulphites.
Health Care NeuroMatter Capsules are manufactured in the UK to GMP code of practice and ISO 9001 quality assurance certification.


text:
The NBA laughingstock that is the Toronto Raptors continued a parade of clownfoolery tonight as frontcourt star Amir Johnson was ejected from tonight's game in Portland in the third quarter under bizarre circumstances.
After a Trail Blazers free throw, Johnson refused to yield the ball to referee David Jones—eventually being ejected for his insubordination. He didn't improve his situation when he whipped his mouth guard at the referee as teammates attempted to hustle him off the court. (Sadly, we can't see where the mouth guard lands.) It's the kind of outburst we haven't seen since the glory days of 'Sheed. [TSN]


text:
The 5 Craziest Things That Have Happened At The GRAMMYS [VIDEOS]
Isn't it great how we can always count on a crazy person to do something crazy at the Grammys? And then all the media breathlessly covers it like they have never heard the words "publicity stunt"? Anyway, here are five crazy things that happened at the Grammys over the years.


text:
via press release:
Get Spooked with an All-New Season of "Ghost Adventures" Premiering
Friday, September 14 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT and Season Two of the Original Series "Making Monsters" on
Sunday, September 30 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT
Plus, the Launch of an Original Series "Paranormal Paparazzi," New Special
"Halloween Crazier" & Never Before Seen Episodes of "The Dead Files"
CHEVY CHASE, MD (August 1, 2012) – This fall, Travel Channel is the ultimate destination to satisfy your need for thrills and chills. The network kicks off the season with a collection of all-new programming sure to spook and entertain you, while showcasing a multitude of captivating destinations all over the world. The second annual Weekends to Die For programming event features special Friday-through-Sunday night lineups running throughout the month of October, anchored by new seasons of the original series "Ghost Adventures," premiering Friday, September 14 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT, and "Making Monsters," premiering Sunday, September 30 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT with weekly back-to-back premiere episodes. Additional premieres include the new original series "Paranormal Paparazzi," beginning Friday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT; new episodes of "The Dead Files" resuming on Friday, October 5 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT; and the all-new original one-hour special "Halloween Crazier" on Sunday, October 14 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT.
"We first launched the Weekends to Die For programming event last October and it was incredibly popular with our viewers," says Andy Singer, General Manager, Travel Channel. "This weekend lineup encompasses a genre of programming that our viewers really enjoy. It reimagines the travel experience by exploring it from a unique perspective, appealing to those who seek a different type of thrill and adventure. Plus, it's a fun viewing experience for anyone looking to get in the Halloween spirit."
Premieres include:
Premieres: Friday, September 14 at 9:00 p.m., ET/PT
"Ghost Adventures" launches its seventh season, featuring twelve all-new episodes. Each hour-long episode follows the paranormal investigative team Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and equipment technician Aaron Goodwin, as they explore some of America's most haunted locations. After piecing together the profile of each site's haunted past, the trio begins their dusk-to-dawn lockdown where they confront the reported activities head on in an attempt to uncover the truth. Afterwards, they review and analyze their findings, often with chilling conclusions. This season, the crew travels to fascinating new locations including Sugar Lands, TX to investigate the Central Unit Prison, and Point Sur, CA's historic Point Sur Lighthouse. The group also explores the 150-year-old Black Moon Manor mansion in Greenfield, IN, along with the haunted happenings at Sauk Centre, MN's Palmer House Hotel. In Chicago, the trio investigates paranormal activity at the Excalibur Nightclub, and Zak Bagans pays a visit to his childhood home just outside of the city.
"Ghost Adventures" is produced by My Tupelo Entertainment for Travel Channel. For My Tupelo, the executive producers are Michael Yudin, Joe Townley, Zak Bagans and Nick Groff. For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Daniel A. Schwartz.
Premieres: Friday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m., ET/PT
The all-new original series "Paranormal Paparazzi" features eight half-hour episodes, each of which follows Aaron Sagers' (journalist, pop culture enthusiast, editor-in-chief of the Paranormal Pop Culture blog) hand-picked team of reporters as they travel around the country tracking down the most current, bizarre and unsolved paranormal stories. As Sagers' team reveals their findings in the fast-paced newsroom, the group reviews and assesses whether or not the stories are bona fide or bogus. Through the lens of each reporter, viewers will travel to New Orleans and experience Will Ferrell's haunted trailer, a UFO sighting at the Jersey Shore, a teenage exorcism squad in Arizona, a zombie survival camp in New Jersey and more.
"Paranormal Paparazzi" is produced by My Tupelo Entertainment for Travel Channel. For My Tupelo, the executive producers are Michael Yudin, Joe Townley and Zak Bagans; co-executive producer is Aaron Sagers. For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Daniel A. Schwartz.
Premieres: Sunday, September 30 at 8:00 p.m., ET/PT with Two Back-to-Back Episodes Every Week
In season two of "Making Monsters," viewers go behind-the-scenes and on the road with Distortions Unlimited, the Colorado-based "haunt industry" animatronic and prop-making company run by Ed & Marsha Edmunds. The series, featuring ten one-hour episodes, follows the Edmunds and their staff – including renowned Hollywood creature and mask maker Jordu Schell – as they create some of the scariest new animatronics and frightronics the world has ever seen. This season, Distortions is tasked with some of the most unusual and challenging projects to date, including a red-eyed, smoke-breathing tiki for a haunt on the Hawaiian island of Oahu and a creepy, spitting, twisting centipede for Atlanta's premiere haunt, Netherworld. Additionally, the team creates an iconic stage mask for the rock band Megadeth, along with a 25-foot skeleton for an outdoor Baltimore attraction and a larger-than-life custom-made Gatekeeper for Hollywood legend Dick Van Dyke's southern California home haunt, to name a few!
"Making Monsters" is produced by Warm Springs Productions for Travel Channel. For Warm Springs, the executive producers are Marc Pierce, Chris Richardson, Lisa Tanzer and Nathan Charlan. For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Brian Leonard.
New Episodes Continue on Friday, October 5 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT
Brand-new hour-long episodes from the second season of "The Dead Files" continue. This compelling paranormal investigative series features retired NYPD Homicide Detective Steve DiSchiavi and medium Amy Allan as they travel to cities and towns throughout America to help solve the unexplained disturbances and phenomena in each location. The pair explores every case from their specific areas of expertise, keeping their methods and findings hidden from each other. They join together only at the end to compare notes and reveal the shocking results to the client in the compelling, undeniable and often terrifying conclusion. This season includes "Dead Files Revisited," special episodes in which Allan and DiSchiavi look back on previous investigations, revealing additional information from each experience and following up with the clients to see what's happened since they left.
"The Dead Files" is produced by Painless Entertainment, Inc. for Travel Channel. For Painless, the executive producer is Jim Casey and the co-executive producers are Ross Kaiman and Rob Rosen. For Travel Channel, the executive producer is David E. Gerber.
Premieres: Sunday, October 14 at 10:00 p.m., ET/PT
The original one-hour special "Halloween Crazier" features the most terrifying and absolute best of what Halloween has to offer. From a mental hospital turned haunted house in Spring City, PA, to running for your life at the 5K Zombie Race in Darlington, MD, this special reveals some of the nation's most extreme Halloween activities. But there's more to the holiday than just ghosts and goblins, as viewers will get to experience a pumpkin racecar derby and underwater pumpkin-carving contests in Damariscotta, ME, and visit Highwood, IL – a town with so many lit jack-o-lanterns they may break a world record!
"Halloween Crazier" is produced by Sharp Entertainment for Travel Channel. For Sharp, the executive producer is Matt Sharp. For Travel Channel, the executive producer is Sean McKnight.
TRAVEL CHANNEL (http://www.travelchannel.com) is a multiplatform travel lifestyle brand with the core mission of providing inspiring and compelling programming that takes viewers beyond their everyday destinations, making the unfamiliar familiar, whether it's around the world or around the block. A dual feed network that is also available in HD, Travel Channel is the world's leading travel media brand, and is available in over 94 million U.S. cable homes. Owned and operated by Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI), Travel Channel has offices in Chevy Chase, MD, and New York, NY. Scripps Networks Interactive (NYSE: SNI) also owns and operates HGTV, DIY Network, Food Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.


text:
Registered Student Organizations
Academic excellence is at the heart of Davenport University. This emphasis is reflected in our many academic organizations. Whether networking, socializing or preparing for a dream career - we encourage students to explore, join and serve as a member of these great organizations!
Clique @ DU
A Registered Student Organization (RSO) at Davenport University is any group of DU students formed to contribute to members' educational growth, recreation, and/or career and professional development.
A minimum of three active student members is needed to qualify as an RSO. Application forms are available online via the Engage@DU website - http://engage.davenport.edu. If you have any questions regarding RSOs, please contact Student Life at email@example.com for assistance. We're happy to help!


text:
Team RTEC won last year's competition with their gingerbread tribute to Athens' first responders.
Photo courtesy of: University Communications and Marketing
Dec 3, 2013
From staff reports
The seventh-annual Ohio University Gingerbread House Decorating Contest will take place Wednesday, Dec. 18 in the Maggie Davis and West 82 seating area on the first floor of the Baker University Center.
The contest is sponsored annually by Ohio University Culinary Services.
Team RTEC, from Ohio University's Graduate College and the Vice President for Research and Creative Activity, won last year's competition.
Culinary Services management staff judges the Gingerbread Decorating Contest. They evaluate each entry based on creativity, complexity and the edibility of the construction.
Each team will be rewarded for its participation; the top three teams will receive gift certificates for two large, one-topping brick oven pizzas from West 82 Food Court.
The 2013 team registration deadline is Friday, Dec. 13, and the entry fee is $20 per team.
Additional contest details:
The houses must be constructed between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Judging will begin at 3:15 p.m. and winners will be announced shortly thereafter.
Gingerbread, white icing and sundry decorating items will be supplied. Teams are welcome to bring their own decorating items, but no additional gingerbread can be used in the construction.
All decorating materials must be edible.
To register for the contest, or to receive additional information, please contact Ohio University Catering at 740-593-4035 or email email@example.com.


text:
As a Marine stationed in Ramadi, Iraq, in 2007, Christian Warren spent his days and nights living among the Iraqis the Americans were trying to help. This meant delivering aid like a humanitarian but being ready at any moment to respond like a soldier should an attack occur.
That state of hypervigilance that served him in Iraq isnt so useful now when Warren is studying for classes at Fort Lewis College, where he plans to major in adventure education.
Memories, flashes, sensations all flood in unbidden. Sleeplessness, anxiety and resignation result.
Some days it becomes overwhelming, and I just break down for a day, Warren said.
He has done counseling and group therapy and briefly found himself approaching dependence on painkillers. These days, his medicine is the outdoors, where he hikes and climbs.
The term used to describe this reaction, post traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, has become part of the mainstream vernacular as vets like Warren stream home from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
PTSD is really coping mechanisms gone awry, said William McKeon, a local therapist who has treated veterans.
Although the acceptance and knowledge surrounding PTSD has grown exponentially since the Vietnam War, much about its treatment remains elusive.
One confounding factor is the overlap in symptoms of PTSD and traumatic brain injury, which is also common among soldiers hit by improvised explosive devices, so ubiquitous in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In fact, the latest studies are finding that some of the symptoms attributed to PTSD might actually be the result of brain damage similar to that found in football players and other athletes who suffered successive concussions. The degenerative disease can result in dementia, memory loss, aggression and depression.
Sadly, it could also suggest that the worst is yet to come, for C.T.E. (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) typically develops in midlife, decades after exposure, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof wrote in an April 25 article about the research. If we are seeing C.T.E. now in war veterans, we may see much more in the coming years.
LeAnn Shaw, emergency services manager at Axis Health Systems Crossroads facility next to Mercy Regional Medical Center, takes crisis calls from recently returned veterans at all hours of the day.
They are usually in the throes of a flashback, and she attempts to bring them back from some distant battlefield.
Because the center provides crisis services to all comers at no charge, she and her staff are on the front lines in dealing with PTSD.
Once the veterans are stabilized, the center connects them with follow-up services. If their symptoms are too severe to be managed on an outpatient basis, the center arranges hospitalization. But beds are few and far between. Recently, the closest bed they were able to find for a veteran was in Sheridan, Wyo., and it took a week and both ambulance and plane rides to get him there.
And the scarcity is growing, Shaw said.
Still, she did give the military credit for acknowledging the psychological effects of war.
The military has made it where its OK to have PTSD for the first time, and thats huge, she said.
McKeon, the local therapist, has been involved with a nonprofit organization that incorporates alternative methods such as yoga, massage, acupuncture and Native American ceremonies into providing PTSD treatment for veterans and their families.
The therapies were provided at weeklong retreats that ran through the summer last year in Angel Fire, N.M. No retreats are scheduled this summer because of lack of funding, which comes mostly from private donors.
McKeon, who provided couples therapy to retreat participants, said that a holistic approach is needed to get to the core of disorder.
Medications, which the VA has faced criticism for distributing freely, are cold medicines they treat the symptoms but not the cold, he said.
Warren said he was routinely offered medication for anxiety and sleeplessness but declined them. While he feels the military is overreliant on medications, he says vets have a choice.
Its my responsibility to say no, he said.
Susan McGinness, director of the Fort Lewis College counseling center, has seen a slow but steady increase in vets coming to the center. According to administration figures, FLC had 72 vets enrolled in the spring, about 2 percent of the total student population.
McGinness said that while PTSD and brain injuries are real problems among vets, many are coping extremely well, especially given all they have experienced.
Theyre not basket cases, she said.
And with a little support, she said, most FLC vets will go on to be successful college graduates.


text:
Re: Re: I think it is a matter of choice (for some) (13/11/17 21:16:00)
So there is a need for alliances of people who look forwards and who are able to integrate history, present and future by knowing history and knowing technology and caring about people. Few politicians fit into that category.
|back to main board
|expand thread
|This board has been visited 1099883 times
|Current time is 05/07/20 19:13:11


text:
Did Peter release the default skin somewhere? I would like to see the yellow in different colors, I personally would like it in white but it would be cool with red, orange, blue, green etc.
Even the white one would be cool in different colors, I personally would like black for that one.
Can we request the rainbow colors + black for the white skin and white for the black skin as default color options or as additional ones?
Or maybe even a way to pick the color, this would be awesome.


text:
Avenue Q
"It's like The Shining, but with muppets."
"I visit Avenue Q often...muppets are so much fun to have sleepovers with!"
"On the campaign trail,Vice-President Cheney enjoys shooting up Avenue Q, lawyers, and biting the heads off of live bats and liberals."
"I'm almost as unhappy about President Obama's policies on health care as I am about the rampant discrimination against muppets, black people, gingers, Jews, and Hispanics in the supreme court."
Avenue Q is a street in the south Bronx. Habitated by muppets, perverts, and Lebanese falafel vendors, it is a dangerous place for anyone of Midwestern descent to go to. The human population of Avenue Q frequently mix with the puppets, leading to 42 charges of beastiality as of January. One of America's least safe neighbors beyond the state of New Jersey, its population is best broken into three distinct groups: Perverts, Lebanese people, and Muppets.
The Perverts[edit]
The only non-swarthy humans on Avenue Q, they are primarily gingers. Due to their pasty complexions and fear of the sun, they are frequently unemployed and spend time stalking people through Facebook or working as self-employed prowlers, peeking in windows and stealing underwear. It is believed that the great white ginger Ron Weasley has moved into the neighborhood, but this has yet to be confirmed. They frequently engage in muppet sex or masturbate into coffee cups. Avenue Q is also home to one of the largest colonies of a rare, mythical ginger subspecies: the albino gingers, creatures with strawberry-blonde hair that is almost gingery, and skin so pasty, they incinerate when near halogen lightbulbs or any higher level of light.
The Muppets[edit]
The strangest part of Avenue Q, the muppets are a humanoid subspecies that live only on Avenue Q and Sesame Street. Made of brightly colored felt, they talk in garbled English, similar to that heard in Chinatown and Quentin Tarantino movies. Their voices were used in Jay-Z's rap, Ghetto Anthem (It's A Hard Knock Life). They are frequently employed by PBS and movie studios for horrors. Due to anatomical incorrections, they lack a variety of body parts, such as ears and reproductive organs. However, they are still endangered by gingers. Several of them have also participated in Class Rights Litigation against the Lebanese people.
The Lebanese Falafel Vendors[edit]
At last, the normal New Yorkers. These greasy Mediterraneans ooze cologne on the sidewalk and fill the air with the stench of garlic and Brut. They primarily are falafel vendors whose run-down carts play host to loud foreign music, loud foreign language, and loud paintjobs. But these homely people are not as innocent or clueless as they seem. In fact, they are some of the best hustlers of olive oil, garlic, and Heroin and in the entire city.


text:
37 's
Check out now. Fast, Easy, Secure Checkout.
Color: Grey
thank you!! Love your products!!
This is Just Awesome! I am so pleased with this.
Thank you for your speedy Shipping, for your Talent,
and I am so Glad Your Here!
All the items I purchased are beautifull and special. I like them very much. They have a unique elegance and style. The shipping was very fast and safe and each item very well protected. On the whole an excellent purchase.
Thank you indeed.
Thank you for your business! If you have any questions or need more information, please contact me using the "Contact this seller" button. I am happy to assist you.
After 2 weeks your items will automatically renewed for another 60 days and $0.23 per item will be added to your billing ledger.
While you were away our TOU was updated,
read the terms of use here.
*No action is required on your part.


text:
By Nate Adcock on Wed, 09/11/2013
It's been awhile since my last WIPTW postup, but the hardware review queue had been piling up. Anyway, I managed to grab at least three keepers this week, and all of them were free at the time of this writing (though two have now have reverted back to full price—sorry about that). First up is Undead Slayer (free), a 3D hack/slashfest; Pinball HD ($1.99 with 3 tables), a realistic pinball simulation; and finally Time Surfer ($0.99), a side-scrolling slider akin to Tiny Wings.
Master your iPhone in one minute a day:
Sign up to iPhone Life's Tip of the Day Newsletter and we'll send you a tip each day to save time and get the most out of your iPhone or iPad.
Undead Slayer
Undead Slayer is a third-person-perspective 3D fight game with an array of exquisite features, attacks, weapons, magic objects, and story background to keep the gamer interested throughout. You direct the warrior through each level with simple control actions—tap in the direction you wish to attack, and he runs in the proper direction and starts slashing when close to an enemy.
While you can direct certain special attack sequences (for example tap-slide to quickly launch into the middle of opponents), mainly you (tap) chop and hack your way through the hords; while trying to avoid getting smashed, chopped, and otherwise destroyed in the process. One particularly cool feature lets you tap your character icon to instantly switch to a different fighter (with different abilities.)
Some levels include Boss enemies that will of course require better weaponry, defenses, and skill to defeat. You pick up coins and powerups along your path of destruction, but the real money is in Jade, which is not as copious. Have Jade and you can revive your character. In-app purchases (IAPs) can help you level up, of course; as in most games today, everything is for sale. A great game, but the downside is it is Internet only. If you have no IP connection, it simply exits (no warnings or messages).
Pros: Great graphics, action, story, and developed gameplay (written by a single devloper)
Cons: IAPs are tempting, though not strictly required. Exits without internet.
Pinball HD
I love pinball and have several pinball versions (Real Pinball HD- Vampire, Pinball Arcade, etc.) loaded up on the iPad. They all provide a mix of tables to play, and all are excellent in their own right. Pinball HD is no exception, and in addition to the excellent table dynamics, it adds eye-popping close ups too.
Typical left and right side screen taps control the flipper action, which is sufficiently springy and responsive to mimic real flippers. The free tables offer various interesting challenges, like multi-level table sections and magnetic ball effects. You get three tables with the main app, and can unlock others with IAPs. Like Pinball Arcade, you can try out new tables before buying them.
Pros: Great Pinball action
Cons: None that I could find
Time Surfer
Time Surfer is one of those games that becomes almost too frenetic to play at times. You might want to go stare at a quiet sunset to recover from all the action in this game. It's a side-scrolling physics game and the control is much like that in Tiny Wings, though Surfer is a very different game.
The avatar in Time Surfer (looking like a little space-suited surfer dude) will dip and dive over the undulating terrain—sliding down a gulley gives you a boost in speed, for example. Right side tapping makes surfer dive, and left side will rewind (scroll back left) a short distance. Use rewind to undo a particularly bad move like getting surfer wacked.
The object of all the surfing and sliding is to keep up with the speed of play, avoid dangers, and grab powerups while zooming sideways through the levels. Very cool, yes, but often quite fast!
Pros: Interesting twist on games like Tiny Wings with more fun features.
Cons: Hard to master at the high speeds the surfer will attain.
That will have to be enough fun for this installment of WIPTW, but I promise not to take such a long break before getting around to the next one. I recommend all three of these games without hesitation. You can grab them at the links above!
What are you playing this week? Let us know in our comments section below!


text:
Book Direct with the Owner at Middleton Grange Australia with QLD Tourism Agent in Middleton Grange, for all your Dining, Dancing and things to do.
Address: Shp/ Hoxton Park Rd, Hoxton Park NSW 2171
Address: Kurrajong Rd, Horningsea Park NSW 2171
Address: Cecil Hill Shopping Village Shop Theodore Drv, Cecil Hills NSW 2171
Address: Rawson, Horningsea Park NSW 2171
Address: Shop Cnr Fifteenth Ave amp Edmondson Ave, West Hoxton NSW 2171
Address: Sarah Hollands, Horningsea Park NSW 2171
copyright © 2020 QLD Tourism. All rights reserved.


text:
Allen Palma
Please help me support California Hospital Medical Center in DTLA by making a contribution to my fundraiser and sharing this page with your family and friends. Every dollar I raise will advance California Hospital's great cause! Additionally, you can ask me how you can get involved too.
Together, we can make a difference!


text:
The Codiga Resource Recovery Center will test new technologies intended to recover clean water, energy and materials from wastewater.
Construction will begin in May for a $3.5 million water recovery testing center at Stanford University, partly funded by a Santa Cruz couple.
The William and Cloy Codiga Resource Recovery Center, expected to be completed in February, will test new technologies intended to recover clean water, energy and materials from wastewater.
The goal, said Stanford engineering professor and project organizer Richard Luthy, is to jump-start commercial development. By using Stanford's campus as testing ground, researchers can demonstrate their technology is safe, effective and compatible with centralized treatment plants, he said. The center's first project, developed by Stanford professor Perry McCarty, uses a wastewater treatment system that produces methane to power itself.
"It's really a wave of the future," Luthy said. "It's a way that we could conceivably put these (technologies) in place without disrupting the current system so much."
Luthy said the West Coast's dependence on groundwater has reached its limit.
"We don't have enough water in California to sustain the population and the economy," Luthy said. "So in the future, we will be looking for better ways to save water, to reuse water and save energy."
Stanford relies on the limited Hetch Hetchy Reservoir for its potable water, and the reclamation plant would help with any plans to expand or threat of drought. Reclaimed water could be used for irrigation and street cleaning, and Hetch Hetchy water for in-building use, said Luthy.
"It could really change the way we do business," he said.
Santa Cruz resident and Stanford Law School alum William Codiga became involved with the project in 2010, attracted by its scope and potential, he said. Along with his wife Cloy Codiga, he donated $1.5 million toward the project.
"What began as an effort to use our retirement nest egg in a meaningful way has become a deliciously fabulous experiment," William Codiga said. "It is just the beginning."
Codiga said California residents can't depend on rainfall or the promise of desalination.
"This project needs be done now and pursued with vigor," Codiga said.
The project is seeking more funding from private donors, industry and government agencies.
©2014 the Santa Cruz Sentinel (Scotts Valley, Calif.)


text:
UH Manoa Curriculum Research & Development Group hosts the 31st Annual Pacific Circle Consortium Conference
Arthur R. King, Jr. to receive 2007 Peter Brice AwardUniversity of Hawaiʻi
College of Education
HONOLULU — As a founding member of the Pacific Circle Consortium (PCC), the Curriculum Research & Development Group (CRDG) of the University of Hawaiʻi College of Education hosts the PCC's 31st annual conference, June 25-29, 2007, at the Hawaiʻi Imin Conference Center on the UH Mānoa campus. The conference will examine the theme, "Education in a Pacific Context: Education Outcomes for the Twenty-first Century."
The five-day event will offer more than 60 sessions that will include participants from all over the Pacific including, México, New Zealand, Australia, Colombia, Malaysia, China, South Korea, Vietnam, Latvia, Taiwan, Fiji, Samoa, Japan, and the United States.
Six prominent scholars have been invited to lead participants through an exploration of the conference theme organized around three interrelated questions. The questions will reflect on areas that are of significance to students and educators in the Pacific Circle and how they can be enhanced and improved. The scholars are:
- Tilianamua Afamasaga, Director, Centre for Professional Development and Continuing Education, National University of Samoa;
- Adrienne Alton-Lee, Iterative Best Evidence Synthesis Programme, Ministry of Education, New Zealand;
- Isak Froumin, Senior Education Specialist, WorldBank;
- H. Michael Hartoonian, Retired - Professor and Director of the Center for Economic Education, University of Minnesota;
- Raymond McNulty, Executive Director, Successful Practices Network, International Center for Leadership in Education; and
- Deane Neubauer, Professor Emeritus and Senior Fellow, Globalization Research Center.
The PCC is also home to the Peter Brice Award, which is presented annually by the conference host country to an individual who best exemplifies the aims of the organization. Peter Brice represented New Zealand in the early days of the PCC. He was an officer in the New Zealand Ministry of Education at the time. Upon his passing, his wife graciously worked with the PCC to develop an award in his honor. Mr. Brice is best remembered for his wisdom, his humanity and his lifelong commitment to educational ideals.
Arthur R. King, Jr., founder and former director of the Curriculum Research & Development Group (CRDG), will receive the 2007 Peter Brice Award for his outstanding contribution to curriculum research and development in the Pacific region. "The depth and breadth of his knowledge and leadership, along with his vision for creating and sustaining a university-based research and development center using a real-time school as a laboratory, are the very foundations of CRDG's success," said Donald Young, interim dean of the College of Education. "King's belief in and commitment to a quality liberal arts education for all sustained CRDG through economic and political challenges."
The result of King's work is a curriculum R&D center recognized internationally for the quality of its research, products, and services that have served thousands of teachers and millions of students. In addition to his work with CRDG, King was also a founder of the Pacific Circle Consortium (PCC). As the consortium matured, broadening its membership and its opportunities for international collaboration, the work expanded to include research on a number of school-related projects and on cutting edge educational thought and policy. King remained active in the organization and is a dynamic participant in the PCC international discussion.
Interested educators can still register for the five-day conference by visiting the conference website at http://hisii.hawaii.edu/pcc2007/registration.htm. Late registration will be accepted through June 22.
The Pacific Circle Consortium was established in 1977 as an initiative in international co-operation between educational research and development institutions in the Pacific Region initially drawn from Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and the U.S. were represented at the first meeting. Membership has since been extended to other countries from within this region and from Asia. The focus has also changed from one of collaboratively produced curriculum materials to broader issues of policy development and educational research. From hosting yearly workshops and meetings the organization has moved to a single yearly conference at which joint projects are discussed and reported upon and a range of papers and symposia are presented. The conference is hosted each year in a different country, the last three being México, Australia, and China.
The Curriculum Research & Development Group (CRDG) is an organized research unit in the College of Education at the University of Hawaii. Since 1966, CRDG has served the educational community locally, nationally, and internationally by conducting research and creating, evaluating, disseminating, and supporting educational programs that serve students, teachers, and other educators in grades preK-12. CRDG also actively contributes to the body of professional knowledge and practice in teaching and learning, curriculum development, program dissemination and implementation, evaluation and assessment, and school improvement.
For more information, visit: http://hisii.hawaii.edu/pcc2007/registration.htm


text:
The controversial plan to build twin concrete tunnels to divert water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta for central and southern California farms and cities will come under additional public scrutiny this summer, the state's lead environmental agency announced Friday.
The California Natural Resources Agency is allowing the public more time to review the draft Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) by extending the comment period that was set to expire June 13 until July 29.
Also, the public can use the extra time to read and comment on the draft Environmental Impact Report/Environmental Impact Statement for the combination state and federal project.
Finally, the resources agency, in conjunction with federal agencies, have released an "Implementing Agreement" which will be subject to public examination until July 29.
Written comments on these documents may be sent through the mail to: Ryan Wulff, National Marine Fisheries Service, 650 Capitol Mall, Suite 5-100, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Comments can be emailed to firstname.lastname@example.com.
To read the EIR/EIS and the implementing agreement for the $25 billion project, go to www.baydeltaconservationplan.com.
The first part of the plan calls for new intakes consisting of twin, 30-mile long, large diameter tunnels that will move water from the Sacramento River near Hood into the State Water Project. The second aspect would restore 140,000 acres of habitat, mostly tidal wetlands, which in turn will prop up the populations of endangered fish, such as the Delta smelt.
Water from the Bay Delta is used by 25 million residents of California and irrigates 3 million acres of farmland.
According to the state agency, the bulk of the cost would be paid by public water agencies, such as Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and water agencies in central and northern California who buy water from the State Water Project and the federal Central Valley Project.
However, the cost of ecological restoration most likely will be paid by taxpayers out of future water bonds and state and federal grants.


text:
The Whitehouse Gallery is a contemporary Art & Craft gallery, based in the historic Artist Town of Kirkcudbright in Dumfries & Galloway, South West Scotland.
With over a decade of experience, The Whitehouse Gallery can claim a solid reputation as one of the regions leading spaces for exhibiting work by some of the country's finest artists, in six changing exhibitions throughout the year.
For more information, please contact us on email@example.com or phone +44(0)1557 330223