text:
Yeah, this is pretty long. I'm pretty sure that I overdid it. Maybe you'll enjoy it, maybe you won't. Whatever. I'm not going to edit it now, but I hope you like it. It's a mostly-true recent experience of mine, and I just had to share it. Most of the blue links are Canuck references for y'all, eh.
A few days ago, the temperature was around -5° C (23° F). The next day, it dropped to -15° C (5° F). In other words, it was a perfect day to walk out of my house to my truck and find that my tire was as flat as a Saskatchewan Canola field.
The culprit was a screw straight through the tread. It was likely a Phillips head. A Robertson screw wouldn't have been so rude.
Since changing it in the cold Canadian winter was such a painless, straightforward process, I thought I'd share it with you.
Step 1: Gather your tools. Root around behind the seat for the jack, wheel wrench, and all three extension tube thingys. There, you'll find the toque that you lost at the start of winter. Sweet! Put it on, your ears are getting cold already. Then wonder where your Pilsner bunny toque went.
Discover that one of the extension tube thingys' end is bent, like, 30°. Wonder how the hell that happened. Figure "screw it", you'll do without it. Realize that two of the tubes have square holes, one has a flat point, and you actually do need all three tubes.
Step 2: Fix the bent extension tube thingy. Put that sucker in the vise, but don't get too rammy. The tube is pretty thin, and you don't want to screw it up. Close enough:
Step 3: Retrieve the spare wheel & tire. Like many trucks, my '04 GMC Sierra's spare is held up against the truck's frame by a cable hoist under the bed, where it gets blasted with water, snow, salt, gravel, sand, & roadkill. It's #8 in this diagram:
Image source: Nalley GMC.
The retainer flange (the wide, flat part on the bottom of the hoist #8) passes through the centre of the wheel and holds it in place. To lower the hoist, you'll need the two square-holed extension tubes, and the wheel wrench acts as crank handle. The tubes go through a hole in the rear bumper behind a little plastic door (#1 in the diagram). Attempt to open the door with gloves on. Fail. Take off your gloves and fight with this freezing little bastard until your fingers are numb. Now, you need to connect the extensions together like this:
... but in order to assemble or disassemble them, you need to press that little ball that holds them together. This is impossible to do with gloves on. Your hands should be getting pretty cold now, so you should start getting frustrated. Once assembled, slide the tubes in:
Begin cranking the hoist, which spools the cable out, which lowers the wheel & tire towards the ground, and provides enough slack to pass the retaining plate through the wheel. That's the theory. In reality, it'll only go down a couple of inches. There's a secondary safety latch holding it in place. It's supposed to release, but it's jammed full of rust and dirt. You don't know this yet, so search online to see what the hell is going on.
Contemplate using a second vehicle to bring the flat tire to a tire shop. Realize that it's bald as hell, and isn't worth repairing even if it were possible. The other tires are just as bald or worse, but replacing them all is out of your budget. Contemplate buying a single used mediocre tire. Realize that you already have a single used mediocre tire, you just need to retrieve it from the clutches of the spare tire carrier.
Find helpful videos like this one. Grab your channel locks, crawl underneath, and fight with it for awhile. Nothing. Kick the tire, hoping to knock it loose or something. Couldn't hurt to try. Stay underneath, keep plying and kicking in your gravel driveway until your neck is sore and your ass is too numb to feel the rocks poking into your jeans. Spray the stupid latch with a scuzzy old can of penetrating oil to sit overnight, and call it a day. This blows.
Day two.
Step 3: Reattempt to retrieve the spare tire. The next day is even colder, -19° C (-2.2° F), but you're better prepared for what lies ahead. Jeans alone aren't going to cut it while sitting in the driveway, so you put on your Mr. Dressup pyjama pants on underneath.
By now, you also realize this might be entertaining to others, so grab your BlackPotato Curve and start taking some pics. Since you don't have any from the day before, you'll need to stage some pics and pass them off as genuine. The readers will never know the truth, those fools.
For better access, remove your licence plate like the dude in the video did. Grab your car ramps and drive your flat-assed tire up on those suckers:
Make sure the truck's secure by putting it in Park (duh), and setting the e-brake. Admire the cheapo floor mats that you got at Crappy Tire, and wonder if they're perhaps the most dependable thing you've gotten there.
Realize that the e-brake won't help much, because it won't grab firmly even though you've tightened the cable as far as you can. Whatever. You've got free healthcare.
Crawl underneath and fight with that damn latch some more. The penetrating oil didn't do anything but make everything stink. Time for Plan B.
Step 3: Remove the entire hoist while the tire is still attached to it. You figure that this freaking latch will be easier to fight if you weren't cramped under your truck. Regardless of the stupid latch, the tire's now far enough from the frame that you can access the single bolt (#7 in the diagram) that fastens the hoist to the truck. The bulk of the hoist is held not by the bolt, but by a flange that passes through a slot and sits atop a lip in the truck's frame. You just need to rotate the hoist to allow the flange to pass through the slot.
It won't rotate very far with the tire still attached, though. Kick the tire again like you did yesterday. Nada. You have to lay down on your back and push the tire straight up so its weight is off of the hoist. Wiggle the hoist free with your other hand. Oh yeah, that means you need to support the whole tire & wheel with one arm. Avoid dropping it on your face.
Yay, it's free! Well, there's still the matter of separating the wheel from the hoist:
Step 3: Remove the hoist assembly from the wheel. Flip your tailgate down and use it as a workbench. Try to release the latch with channel locks again. It's much easier to work on now, but it's still not quite releasing. Find a hole in the hoist, jam a screwdriver in there, and pry the latch free. Be so overcome with relief that you don't bother to take a pic of said screwdriver in said hole.
That's the latch below, and above is the hoist's hole that it sits inside. Those two small holes on the side are where you can fit a screwdriver. You never saw them when you were underneath the truck, because they faced away from you towards the front of the truck.
Step 3: Crank the hoist to release the cable. That's it. Simple. Just crank it counter-clockwise. Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.
Step 3: Remove the wheel from the hoist assembly. Flip the tire over.
Now that there's sufficient slack in the cable, you can pass the retaining plate through the wheel, followed by the stupid frickin latch thingy that kinda looks like a dick.
Step 3: Replace the licence plate. Why now? Because you thought of it, and if you leave it until later, you'll probably forget about it and get pulled over by the RCs. You can't fiddle with those screws with gloves on, so remove them.
Step 3: Top up the windshield washer fluid. Because you're tidying up loose ends, and the bottle was lying in the front floor after you rooted around for the jack tools.
Blindly dump the entire jug in, because sometimes if the reservoir's nearly empty, it'll take an entire gallon jug. Today is not that day, dumbass. Overfill it and spill it all over. Take a pic of the remaining fluid from the French side of the 3.78L jug, because Canada.
Put your gloves back on, it's freezing.
Step 3: Remove the hub cap from the flat tire. These things are held on by plastic nuts that are supposed to look like the actual lug nuts. At least they use the same size head as the real nuts, so you can use the wheel wrench. Use your ratchet instead, because it's easier and it's there.
Step 3: Drive the truck down off of the car ramps. The jack probably doesn't go that high, so you'll need it back on flat ground. Get inside, turn the key, and... clickclickclick. Dead battery. Batteries have less voltage at lower temperatures. Did you forget how cold it was?
Step 3: Jump-start your truck with your Dad's Tacoma. Even though it's bigger than what you think a Tacoma should be, you'll have trouble getting in and out of it. Maybe it's because you've got a bunch of layers on, or maybe you're getting fatter than you'll admit. Say cheese!
Grab your MotoMaster jumper cables from beside your Mastercraft tools so you can jump your MotoMaster battery and realize how much Canadian Tire-branded crap you own.
To attach the leads to your Dad's Taco, take your gloves off so you can fight with the frozen rubber boot shrouding the positive post. It's not flexible in this cold, so it will snap. Put your gloves back on, you won't feel your fingers.
To attach the leads to your truck, you need to open this little plastic cover over the remote-mount positive post. Remove your gloves again to do so.
Drive it off of the ramps, and leave it running in order to charge the battery.
Step 3: Jack it up and swap those tires!
Crack the nuts loose before jacking it up. Be amazed that you found the wheel lock key.
Crawl back underneath and place the jack under the axle. Thought you were done under here, didn't you?
Don't suffocate from the rich exhaust fumes.
Assemble the stupid three extension tube thingys with the pointy one on one end and the wheel wrench on the other. You'll need to remove your gloves again because of the stupid friggin retaining ball thingys.
Put your gloves back on, put the pointy end into the jack, jack it up, wayyyyy up, and I'll call Rusty.
Out with the old, in with the... old? Speaking of Rusty, this spare wheel's not so pretty. Whatever. As long as it works, right?
You hope it has air. Why didn't you check this earlier? Twist the cap, and it doesn't budge. Use the channel locks that you already have laying around, and the whole valve stem spins inside the wheel. You hope that it doesn't leak there now.
Whatevs. It seems to be firm, so let the jack down. Yay, you have four more-or-less functioning tires!
Notice that your idling truck is emitting the faint scent of coolant. Check underhood, and don't see any apparent leaks, but the reservoir level is low. By now, you're tired, sore, and freezing. It's not even 1:00, but screw it. You'll deal with the battery tomorrow. Don't worry, it has a 3-year free replacement warranty, and it's only 13 months old. Wonder how well made it is if it crapped out after 13 months. The previous battery was the original Delco and lasted nine years.
Step 3: Make some Ichiban.
Boil some water. Take some Extra Strength Advil, because your back and neck are killing you. Your neck will still be stiff when you write this story.
Don't put the noodles into the water until it boils. Then put the noodles in, and keep it boiling until the noodles are just right. You'll know when they're right because cooking Ichiban is way easier than changing a flat tire. Put a bit of the seasoning in your bowl. Put your Californian-made Japanese-style noodles in your Chinese-style bowl. Put a little bit more seasoning on top. Don't use more than half of the packet, or it'll be gross. That shit is full of MSG, anyway. Top it with some California-made Vietnamese-style sriracha sauce, and eat it with Japanese-style chopsticks. Canadians are multicultural, eh.
Step 3: Relax. Crack open a Canadian and play some Battlefield. Browse Oppo in between matches.
Day Three.
Step 3: Remove the battery and take it back to Canadian Tire. Remove this silly little brace that is over the battery. What does it do? Who cares right now.
Grab your tools and lock up your truck. Momentarily wonder why the power locks don't work.
At Crappy Tire, the guy at the parts counter pops the caps, and the electrolyte's frozen. A fully charged battery won't freeze above -40° C (-40°F), but a discharged one could freeze anywhere between 0° C (32° F) and -40° depending on its state of charge. Cambodian Tire's warranty doesn't cover "neglect" which includes having a battery freeze. Nevermind that the only reason that it froze is because it died, you don't get a warranty battery.
Find it ironic that their current ad campaign touts their batteries being well suited to a cold Canadian winter and features a GM truck with a body made of solid ice.
Leave the counter with your dead, frozen battery. Don't bother getting new floor mats, because the ones you have are remarkably still good, remember?
Step 3: Thaw and charge your battery.
Bring it inside and let it thaw all afternoon. Using your MotoMaster battery charger, trickle charge it overnight. Later, take a pic with a different MotoMaster battery and again hope that no-one notices the holes in your story.
Day Four.
Step 3: Bring your thawed, charged battery to a different Crappy Tire store. A different clerk won't know that it was previously frozen, and won't deny your warranty claim. He will ask whether you use the top or side posts. Your truck uses the side posts, so he'll test it via the side. It will fail. He'll test it via the top ones, and it'll pass. To rule out the possibility of his equipment being faulty, he'll then test a new, identical, off-the-shelf battery via both sets of posts, and it'll pass both. So, this means your battery's internal side post connections are poor or broken, your battery is clearly faulty, and you get a new one that has just been tested. Sweet!
Leave the store with your new battery. Don't pick up the coolant that you need, because you're an idiot.
Step 3: Install the battery. Installation is the reverse of the removal. Notice the new ugly Motomaster logo. Woo. Proceed to drop your Mastercraft ratchet somewhere hard-to-reach.
Re-set the radio's clock, because the battery was missing all night and of course it didn't remember the time. Why, then, are all of the radio presets still in the memory?
Step 3: Take 'er for a rip! Go to the PetroCan and fill up your tires. They're all 10-15 PSI low. Dumbass.
EDIT: I forgot that you need loud music for the road. After a hard, cold day, loud music soothes the nerves. Lamb of God? Very loud, but not Canadian. The Tragically Hip? Very Canadian, but not loud enough. Put your iPod on shuffle instead. It will choose Alexisonfire for you:
There's fresh snow, so you get the idea to do some victory donuts. Reconsider, and settle for a Tim's Boston Cream instead.
Go back to the first Cambodian Tire to grab some coolant. Take a Canadian pic for fun.
Go home, top up the coolant, and begin writing a rambling story. Hope that someone gets a chuckle.
And that's it! You've changed your tire in three easy steps.


text:
Download Chrétien de Troyes Study Guide
(History of the World: The Middle Ages)
Article abstract: Chrétien is one of the great names in early French literature and is known as the principal articulator of many significant medieval Arthurian legends.
Early Life
Information about Chrétien de Troyes comes almost solely from indirect evidence in his works, and scholarly speculation has led to much controversy on this subject. A dedication in Lancelot: Ou, Le Chevalier de la charrette (c. 1177; Lancelot, 1914) to Marie de Champagne and another in Perceval: Ou, Le Conte du Graai (before 1191; Perceval: Or, The Story of the Grail, 1914) to Count Phillipe of Flanders, suggest that the poet was connected with the courts of Champagne in Troyes and in Flanders. Like most courtly clerks in this period, Chrétien was doubtless well educated in the Latin tradition of the seven liberal arts. Under the influence of the mid-twelfth century romances and tales of antiquity and working in the vernacular with a style forged by contemporary rhetoric, he describes himself in the prologue to his second romance, Cligés (c. 1170; Cligés: A Romance, 1912), as having already completed certain works in Old French: Érec et Énide (c. 1164; Erec and Enide, 1913), adaptations of several Ovidian poems, and a version of the Tristan legend (a story which nearly became his shirt of Nessus). It also appears likely, based on several precise topographical references in Cligés, that Chrétien visited England at some point in his career.
Life's Work
Most scholars agree that Chrétien's canon embraces five romances. These include Erec and Enide, Cligés, Yvain: Ou, Le Chevalier au lion (Yvain: Or, The Knight with the Lion, 1914), and Lancelot; the latter two seem to have been composed simultaneously between 1177 and 1181. Chrétien's last work, Perceval, dates from before 1191 (when his patron, Phillipe of Flanders, died). Besides these, there are two poems in the Provençal troubadour style and an attributed romance, Guillaume d'Angleterre (c. 1170; King William the Wanderer: An Old British Saga from Old French Versions, 1904), that draws on the Saint Eustace legend, a non-Arthurian story with obvious hagiographic themes.
The texts of Chrétien's main works are preserved in a fairly large number of manuscripts, the oldest of which dates from the early thirteenth century. He composed the romances in octosyllabic rhyming couplets—averaging seven thousand lines in length—in a language that philologists consider to be standard Old French, although some Champenois or Picard dialectal traits persist, possibly because of his scribes or copyists.
Under Chrétien's powerful influence, courtly literature took on new meaning in the midst of the twelfth century renaissance. The reciprocity of love and friendship, the stress on the values of psychological metamorphosis and self-discovery, and the humanistic rejection of the enthralling obsession and selfish adultery of the Tristan legend all make the romances enduring monuments to his innovative artistry, purity of style, and rich imagination. His ethos embraces a personal freedom actively pursued by his characters (especially the heroines) and an insistence, particularly for his heroes, on a superhuman quest for happiness purified by knightly trials of valor. All of this he presents as an intellectual pastime for a polite, courtly society; it is accomplished with humorous detachment as well.
Chrétien saw himself and is seen still as a synthesizer of several traditions: the Greco-Roman heritage (Vergil, Ovid, Statius), the rich storehouse of Celtic folklore, and occasional scriptural allusions. Chrétien's skillful combination of separate adventures into a unified, well-knit story led Dante to praise him for having made France a leader in narrative poetry. The complicated question of the Welsh traditional tales that form doublets with several of his romances raises the kind of critical issues scholars continue to debate.
Chrétien's first major work is also considered the first Arthurian romance on the Continent....
(The entire section is 1,931 words.)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The month of April saw the second launch of a follow-up to Natural Mind's 8-week course with integrative practitioners who teach about nutrients, special diets, hormonal balance, exercise and other lifestyle changes to dismantle depression and anxiety. Both meditation and "nature deficit disorder" are explored in this signature course, in a very basic way. The current and follow-up offering, the Mindful in Nature class, uses both the practice of mindfulness (as in meditation) in conjunction with approaches from ecotherapy, or Applied Ecopsychology. What better season than spring to fall in love with the being outdoors again?
Up front I must remind that I am not a psychologist, I am a mental health coach, and have 22 years experience in leading workshops that explore the practices of earthspiritual communities. Although there are bona fide degree programs to become an Ecopsychologist, one senses the field is not clique-ish, but eager to have many involved in the work. Go ahead: be an ecopsychologist, a student of nature and psyche!
I like to hold a free session so that interested parties may check it out—but it feels like giving to the community too, as a thorough program that moves through lecture, discussion, and an experiential piece is provided. On that night, we focused mostly on reviewing two prominent goals of this work: to speak and transform our grief for the state of our world, and to understand how to reconnect, identify with, and widen the ecological self: our oneness with the natural world.
Regaining this connection with nature has been documented to banish depression, anxiety, and stress.
I told my story about how one suicidal night I found myself talking to the moon out in the Flint Hills of Kansas and it changed everything—the voice of the moon and the natural world spoke back, reassuring and including me in all that is. (This set me on a road to discover what nature had to do with spirituality, in both indigenous thought and elsewhere beyond mainstream religious practice.) Next a survey of ecopsych thinkers was presented and discussed, one of them a former teacher of mine.
Recently I met Lawrence, Kansas area deep ecologist Doug Hitt (author of Night Vision: Owls and Other Voices from Place) who is a student of ecopsychologist Joanna Macy. Doug visited the 8-week course in March, where we learned the technique of open-ended sentences. For the Mindful in Nature night we began with these: "When I think about our world now, I feel…." Followed by, "Ways I avoid these feelings are…" It was enlightening to see that most people answered the latter question by detailing positive approaches they took to transform their despair over the despoiling of our planet.
We then used a Macy exercise called the Milling. Everyone walks alone and briskly through the space at first, not looking at another person—just as we hurry about in real life: things to do, people to see, gotta get there! attitude. Eventually the pace slows and we come to regard each other in revolving pairs. The finale brought us to directly see the stranger we paused before as someone who could become a victim of an eco-catastrophe…then finally, as someone who could be instrumental in saving our Earth from peril. Participants reported a bonding afoot.
During a reprieve from the rain we walked. There was a spacious vacant lot near the Center, nicely grassed and ringed by stately tall trees and wanna-be's. Participants held a card on which they wrote "I like the (tree, cloud, flower, whatever) because it's…..(fill in the blank with descriptive language)."
Back at the Center, over the natural item we named, we then wrote "myself"…for a finished product that could read, for example, "I like myself because I am light and dark, reaching out into the night, and my seeds are big and round" (this was my description of a sycamore tree). We then reflected: does the description, of a natural object one felt called to, sound a bit like oneself?
Well…I try to acknowledge my shadow aspects as well as brighter qualities…my work is about reaching out…and my seeds? Hmmm. Literally, as a post-menopausal woman, I have no more! Time to get metaphorical about this one…planting seeds could be educating about mental wellness…in a big way, all around?
The exercise is somewhat like dream interpretation. It's all YOU. Just so, you and nature are not separate.
Finally, we read Joanna Macy's invocation to the Beings from the Three Times–past, present and future. We thanked them all for caring about our earth, for having hope, for helping us set our sights on transformation. Good night!
The five-week course will go deeper with these approaches and is organized by the theme of the elements: air, fire, water, and earth (plus the 5th sacred thing, known in various cultures as "ether," space, or spirit).
Catriona MacGregor, in Partnering with Nature: The Wild Path to Reconnecting with the Earth, has a good summary of what the four Elements are all about. "To the ancients, knowing one's place in the universe and where one stood with respect to the four directions provided clues to finding the entryway to the center of the world—the doorway to the realm of spirit. They identified places on Earth suited for accessing sacred realms (like caves) and sought to enhance these places by balancing the power of the four primary elements/directions." She mentions Stonehenge as a well-known example.
The Greeks saw the elements/directions as not only physical but also energetic, or spiritual essences. Plato called them the foundation of the universe, and along with the fifth element ("ether"), he depicted the elements as physical shapes called Platonic solids. MacGregor points out that these bear a striking resemblance to Buddhist gravestone images: a cube for earth, sphere for water, pyramid for fire. There are correlations among Native American symbols—Black Elk, a Sioux elder described the four directions just as they were used by the Chinese and Greeks.
Here is MacGregor's summary of a legend in psychology whose insights fit nicely with ecotherapy:
"Famous Swiss psychiatrist Carl Jung researched personality characteristics over many years after seeing thousands of patients. During this time, Jung identified and named the trends or types of personality characteristics that existed within all people. Jung determined that there are four main aspects or characteristics of a person's personality…He also believed that each of these four characteristics had a significant range of manifestation within each person. While each individual had the potential to reach the full range of all four qualities, they had tendencies to utilize just one range of the four. Empedocles [Greek philosopher who believed air, fire, water and earth were the root of all things; wrote Tetrasomia, Doctrine of the Four Elements] also believed that individuals tended to have one or more elements predominate in their personalities. He determined that those individuals who have equal or near equal proportions of the four elements are the most balanced and have the highest clarity of perception."
My thanks to the warm and healing space known as the Breathe Holistic Life Center in Lawrence, Kansas for hosting Mindful in Nature.
Next blog post to come: the adventures of AIR.


text:
6 's
Check out now. Fast, Easy, Secure Checkout.
Primary Material: Silk,hand crafting,cotton fabric,natural color,unique,symbolic design, genuine leather,old carpet,wool and yarns,handicraft rug
Size: 22 x 7 x 30 Centimeters
Pattern: Handicraft rug, hippie style, gipsy style, Kardashian family,
Color: Black
Hippie, modern, new, gypsy, fashion, style, bohemian, beach,
Silk, cotton fabric, natural color, unique, symbolic design,
Red, orange, tallow, rainbow, blue, black, white, pink, purple,
280 Grams Gram
job, office, hang out, travel, beach, vacation, holiday,concert
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:
Some of the first things we look at when determining a favorable seller's and buyer's market are employment, income, and consumer confidence levels. Those 3 points combined with current rates and loan programs give us an excellent sense of how big the opportunity is for you.
Here's what current trends are telling us.
With current rates on the lower end of the scale, it's an excellent time to buy. However, first-time homebuyers may encounter competition. With baby boomers looking to size down and builders slow to switch from larger homes to starter homes, first-home home shoppers should prep for smart bidding.
Nonetheless, it's still a favorable time to buy a first home.
Other than the market and rates going in your favor, there are other things home shoppers need to remember:
Other the market, other points to consider when looking to sell your home are:
The housing market in 2020 is looking great for both sellers and buyers --that is, for those that act now. While rates are relatively steady, even a small change upward could cost you hundreds of dollars more. Why not lock it in now and have the peace of mind of an affordable mortgage?
Call us today to get matched with your best loan option.


text:
July 31, 2014
By Keanna Aubert
It's something we often take for granted – having the means to comfort and support our children through the trying times they may face in life. But far too frequently, when youth in our community are stricken with serious illness, many families don't possess the resources necessary to provide the fulltime companionship young children require to heal.
Sabriya's Castle of Fun is pleased to announce a generous grant in the amount of $7,500 from the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California (RMHCSC).
For over 20 years, Sabriya's Castle of Fun has partnered with hospitals and other community based organizations, such as RMHCSC, to help ease the burdens of thousands of children and families throughout the Southland during extensive hospitalization. The RMHCSC grant will be utilized to further the foundation's initiatives in support of children suffering from leukemia, sickle cell disease and other blood disorders.
Sabriya's Castle of Fun was founded to provide respite for children and families during medically challenging times and is dedicated to the belief that love, laughter, and fun are vital to the healing process. Their many Programs of Fun serve as integral components in the foundation's mission to address the loneliness and isolation that children experience away from the comforts of home.
Through the innovative Fun Therapy, Sabriya's Castle of Fun provides a positive and energetic atmosphere that encourages a will to fight in the children who participate. Fun Parties are thoughtfully and carefully coordinated with hospital staff as a celebration of life and laughter, providing pediatric patients and their families a much-needed respite from medical treatments. Kid friendly foods are served while children enjoy fun activities including games, music, arts and crafts. The Ambassadors of Fun, comprised of big-hearted celebrities, athletes, political and social leaders, corporate and community volunteers, visit patients, volunteer at events, and promote awareness of life-threatening childhood blood disorders throughout the community. The foundation also sponsors multiple Blood Drives throughout the year in support of Children's Hospital Los Angeles' monthly effort to collect 1,000 units of blood products to meet the needs of its patients.
Altogether, Sabriya's Castle of Fun programs are designed as positive diversions for children and their parents as they cope with the isolation and sadness associated with extensive hospital stays and challenging medical battles. These experiences also provide families with an enduring and joyful memory to treasure in the unfortunate event their child does not survive their illness.
"Through the generosity of partners like the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, we continue our commitment to comforting and encouraging these young angels and keeping their spirits lifted," said foundation President, Pamela Bakewell.
For more than 30 years, the programs of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California have been committed to providing comfort, care and support to children and families in Southern California through a variety of wellness and educational programs. Across the Southland, RMHCSC is working to create a community where children and families embrace life and healing with a sense of hope, enthusiasm, courage and joy. To learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, visit http://rmhcsc.org/
Sabriya's Castle of FunTM Foundation was created to honor the life of Sabriya Ihsan Bakewell and the fun spirit she shared with those around her. She was a young lady who loved life and treated all people with kindness and respect. Sabriya was outgoing, athletic, and extremely motivated – a true inspiration to friends and family alike.
On February 12, 1992, Sabriya's family received the type of news that no family wants, expects or ever truly deserves. Suddenly, without any prior indications of illness, their beautiful and gifted 17 year old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Just 77 days later, on April 28, 1992, this bright and shining star, like thousands of other children throughout the country, lost her fight against leukemia.
During her hospitalization, Sabriya's family quickly realized there was no cheerfulness, comfort or joy within the hospital walls, other than their loving efforts or the images flickering on the television. After Sabriya passed, her father, Danny J. Bakewell Sr., and family established Sabriya's Castle of Fun™ Foundation and directed their grief toward helping other ill children and their families through the gifts of love, laughter, and fun.
Please join Sabriya's Castle of Fun on Saturday, September 27th for our upcoming Blood Drive at Los Angeles Sentinel headquarters from 10-3 pm to help with this very important cause. September is National Sickle Cell Awareness Month and donors have the opportunity to help children affected by this disease. Each donation can help two children in need, and you can double your efforts by bringing a friend! For more information on the Blood Drive, contact (323) 291-0009 or log onto www.sabriyascastle.org and sign up for the blood drive.


text:
Cirith Ninniach
|Cirith Ninniach
|"The Incoming Sea at the Rainbow Cleft" by Ted Nasmith
|General Information
|Ered Lómin
The Cirith Ninniach, the "Rainbow Cleft", was a thin, rocky pass through the Ered Lómin ("Echoing Mountains") in the far northwest of Beleriand.[1]
[edit] History
The Cirith Ninniach connected the land of Hithlum with the Firth of Drengist which led to the Great Sea.[1] Although not explicitly stated, when Fëanor led his followers up the Firth and into Hithlum they must have found and used Cirith Ninniach to achieve their passage.[2]
During King Turgon's stay in Nevrast the Gate of the Noldor, a dark tunnel under the mountains, was built which opened into the pass. Centuries later, after Turgon and his people had abandoned the region for Gondolin, Tuor found and used both the Gate of the Noldor and Cirith Ninniach to escape from Hithlum.[3]
Tuor found the Cirith Ninniach by following a stream that flowed from Dor-Lómin to the Ered Lómin and then disappeared into a great arch in a wall of rock. At first he though that there was no passage but then he saw two Elves issue from the archway. Gelmir and Arminas they were, and they told him that he had found the Gate of the Noldor. The two Elves led Tuor into the tunnel beside the stream and down long flights of steps. They left Tuor beside a waterfall and he continued until he emerged into a narrow ravine that ran straight into the West. In the pass the stream rushed over falls and wove rainbows; thus he named the ravine Cirith Ninniach.
Tuor traveled in the pass for four days, watching the stream turn into a river fed by shimmering falls that descended the walls of Cirith Ninniach. The pass ended when the river met the sea in the narrow Firth of Drengist.[4]
[edit] Etymology
Cirith Ninniach means "Pass of the Slender Crossing" in Sindarin (from cirith = "cleft, pass", ninn = "slender", and iach = "ford, crossing").
An early (Gnomish) name for the pass was Glorfalc, the "Golden Cleft".[5][6]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Map of Beleriand and the Lands to the North"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of the Return of the Noldor"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Silmarillion, "Quenta Silmarillion: Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), Unfinished Tales, "Of Tuor and his Coming to Gondolin"
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The History of Middle-earth Index, p. 187
- ↑ J.R.R. Tolkien, Christopher Tolkien (ed.), The Book of Lost Tales Part Two, "Appendix: Names in the Lost Tales – Part II", p. 341


text:
7zip: more versatile than meets the eye
Today I was surprised a second time with something I did not expect from 7-zip (but tried anyway). Let me start with the first time 7zip surprised me.
Imagine you *only* have a Windows system available, you have got a 640MB ISO image that contains a single 5MB file and you have a very slow network connection to the Linux system that requires this 5MB file.


text:
Medical examiner identifies body pulled from river
Nick Wilcox disappeared New Year's Day
A body pulled from the Milwaukee River Thursday evening has been identified by the medical examiner's office.
Milwaukee police said officers walking along the river reported the body of a man floating in the Milwaukee River under the river walk behind Usinger's on Old World Third Street around 6 p.m. Thursday
WISN 12 News learned Friday morning that the medical examiner confirmed through dental records and identification located in a wallet that the body is that of Nick Wilcox.
Wilcox, 24, had been missing since New Year's Day. He was last seen at the Irish Rec Room on Old World Third Street.
The medical examiner's office said the body was located about 100-150 meters from Wilcox's last known location.
The preliminary report states Wilcox likely died of accidental drowning. The report states that there was no trauma found on Wilcox's body. The medical examiner is still waiting for blood-alcohol content and toxicology results.
Chris Schmidt is a community volunteer who organized vigils and spearheaded searches for Wilcox.
"I really wish there would have been a different outcome, but I thank the Lord that we did find Nick, and now the family can have some closure," said Schmidt of Operation Locate Our Children.
Schmidt said he's searched the river walk dozens of times. He figured warmer temperatures brought Wilcox's body to the surface.
"It does not make sense to me," Schmidt said.
Wilcox was a student at UW-Milwaukee. He is the third person to drown in the river in the past 12 months.
Thomas Hecht, 28, went missing on March 10, 2012 after a pub crawl. His body was found 12 days later in the river near Pleasant and Water streets.
The body of Robert Silverman, 51, was found in the river on Jan. 6, 2013 near Water Street and Wisconsin Avenue.


text:
Book with Confidence
For online booking a credit or debit card is not required. You can also make a reservation by phone or email.
Recommended by
Why book with us?
- FREE Cancellation
- No hidden costs
- Excellent reputation
- No credit card fees
- Tolls and gratuities included
- Bottled water
- Wi-fi hotspot
- Voucher for our free walking tour
- Printed city guide with map
Free Extras
With every booking we provide free extras.
You will receive directly from our driver a Prague map, Prague guide and voucher for our free four-hour tour.
Transportation Time
Travel time from Prague Airport to the City Centre takes on average 25 to 30 minutes. If you travel at rush hour (in the morning between 7.30am and 9.30am or afternoon from 4pm till 6.30pm) or your destination is outside the City Centre of Prague, it can take 40 to 45 minutes. When booking shared shuttle transport, transportation can take up to 60 minutes.
How Does the Booking System Work?
Once you have completed this booking form, you will receive an instant order confirmation by email within five minutes. Exceptions include VIP limousines, which are confirmed within a maximum of 24 hours. In th


text:
Never say never again? Sam Mendes says he won't be directing the next James Bond film — but may work on the series again in the future.
Mendes has been praised for his work on "Skyfall," the first Bond film to rake in more than $1 billion in revenue.
But Mendes says he has made the "very difficult decision" to focus on other projects "that need my complete focus over the next year and beyond." They include upcoming London stage productions of "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and "King Lear."
U.S. & World
The day's top national and international news.
In comments published Wednesday by movie magazine Empire, Mendes said he was honored to have been part of the Bond family, "and very much hope I have a chance to work with them again."
Mendes worked in theater before turning to film. He won an Academy Award in 2000 for "American Beauty."
"Skyfall," which stars Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem and Judi Dench, won two Oscars last month, including one for Adele's theme song.


text:
Wellcome to on line stores !
Contact Us
You has
0 products in cart
Product 458/618
The dimensions data from the measurement of the product, "click here" to see the measuring methods details, and allow 1-2cm (0.4-0.8") differences due to manual measurement, thanks.
Actual fabric colors may vary slightly from online colors due to variations in screen color settings.
Receiving time = Processing time + Shipping time
Note: In orders with more than one item, the processing time will be based on the item with the longest processing time. We will prepare your order after it have verified. Such as: strict quality control, arrange the suitable carriers.
Click here to learn more shipping time.
Return within 30 days from the delivered date.1. Items received within 30 days from the delivered date. 2. Items received unused, undamaged and in original package.
Click here to learn more return or exchange.


text:
Category Archives: Strayer
You are wondering if returning to college is a smart thing for you to do right now. The economy is going through a great deal, money is tight, the future feels uncertain. Think about that for a second. There is ALWAYS going to be excuses and reasons to not go back to school.
when I told my husband that I wanted to return to college, he said if you can find a way to pull it off, go for it. That is exactly what I did. I knew I was going to have to go into debt to do so, but I have faith that it will be OK. The old saying is very true, "If you want something bad enough, you will find a way."
If you can dream it, work to achieve it. Bottom line. Visualize it, feel it, speak it into reality.
Going back to college as an older adult is very difficult and can be overwhelming. There is work, family and friends, and commitments, You just have to find time management tools. Use calendars, date books, whatever you need to keep track. You will be fine. You will be better than fine ~ YOU'LL BE GREAT!!!
Enjoy the journey.
I wish I was in grade school ~ When there was NO FINALS! :-)
Feels like a spiral staircase ~ KEEP ON CLIMBING! ~
Don't build a cottage ~ BUILD A PALACE!!
When the student is ready~~
When the student is ready~~
This is incredibly true. I remember when I attempted to go to college as a teenager, I was not ready. I blamed my failure on my professors and anything else I could think of. I was not mature enough to take on the challenges of college. However, when I went back to school at 47 years of age, it was significantly different. I was ready.
Returning to college this time was amazing. I allowed myself to open up to the experience. The saying above was very true, when I was ready, the teachers appeared. Going back to college at any age is difficult. The challenges are many and sometimes you feel very lost and overwhelmed. I am here to tell you that you will get through that. Only if you allow yourself to be open to the possibilities, open to instruction and direction.
Once you are open to the journey, it will all fall into place. You will be less stressed (now I did not say no stress :-)), I am saying less overwhelmed. The "TEACHER" may come in many different forms. Not just the instructor. The teacher could be a tutor, or a mentor or another student.
Most Universities offer mentoring programs. This is an excellent way to connect with someone who really knows and understands what you are going through. The mentor can explain how they did it, what methods they used. A mentor can also point you in the direction you need to go if it is out of their realm. Utilize this program as much as you can and you will find a great friend.
Tutoring programs are also offered. Use them as well. I cannot count the number of times that I went to tutoring, especially in Math and Science. I do not think that I could have successfully completed those classes without the help. Individuals who tutor do it because they truly enjoy it. They do not judge you. They know how hard it can be to pass a class that you struggle with. Do not be shy to ask for help. It is your education and you are paying for it. Make the best of it.
Get to know your classmates. This is a powerful way to get through your class. You can have a study group or just a classmate to cut loose with and maybe go out for dinner and a drink with. You may be surprised as to how many students are just like you. You can help one another.
Now that you the student are ready, let the teaching begin! 🙂
Enjoy your journey.
You took the first step ~ NOW KEEP GOING!
This picture made me laugh. I remember feeling just like this the first day I went to class as a 47-year-old college student. It reminded me of everyone looking at me; family and friends who were wondering if I was serious. Then I took the plunge. 🙂 still laughing.
That was the day that I decided I was no longer going to stay where I was at and it was up to me to make the changes. I knew it was not going to be easy. I was not even sure of how hard it was going to be. However, here we are. I just graduated with my Bachelor's in Criminal Justice. I am starting my Masters in June. I've been offered an internship with a Criminal Justice Agency through the Commonwealth Attorney's Office. WOW! 🙂 When I took that plunge (still laughing) I did not see all of this ahead of me.
You may be experiencing the same feelings and can relate to this picture just as I can. It looks like a long way down but it is not. Actually, it seems like yesterday that I started my first class. Now my family and friends are proud of my accomplishments and are beginning to see to fruits of all the hard work and sacrifices just as I am.
You took the most important step ~ The first step! NOW KEEP GOING!
Keep the picture of graduation in your mind and what you think and want your future to look like. You are going to make it! 🙂
Don't build a cottage ~ BUILD A PALACE!!
Don't build a cottage ~ BUILD A PALACE!!
Reading this motivated me and I hope it does the same for you. You no longer have to settle. By going to college you can now build a PALACE :-). Think about it. You were limited by what you could do without a degree and you had to settle for those limitations. Now you can create a whole new destiny. Isn't that exciting!
You no long have to remain in a rut and always think of the "What ifs" or "Had I only." Those are past tense now. Getting your degree is going to take you higher than you ever dreamed possible. You are building your future on a solid foundation instead of grains of sand.
Don't take your education for granted. Don't just get by. Shoot for the stars, work hard for those grades, become an honor student, be PROUD! Work hard for those honor societies. You must remember that it shows future or current employers how hard you are willing to work. Especially in todays job market, you want to stand out. You want a potential employer to say "Wow, this person is dynamic!"
Your resume is your palace, build it to be OUTSTANDING & STRONG! Think about how many people you may be competing with, if you build a palace then there is no competition right? 🙂
When you are sitting in class and you are exhausted or frustrated, take a deep breath and visualize your future. Do not ever forget your dreams as they will keep you going. The more successes you experience, the more driven you will become.
My alma mater saying is "ONLY THE DRIVEN." That is


text:
Lakshmi – Goddess Of Wealth Sri Lakshmi Devi
Lakshmi is the Hindu Goddess Who Governs All form of Wealth and Success and the Paths, Means and Results of all forms of Prosperity. Mother Lakshmi is often depicted in several colors: Pink, Gold and White. When Lakshmi's skin color is Pink, She is the Divine Mother. When Her skin is Gold, She is the Universal Shakti and when Her skin is white, She is Mother Earth.
As the the Consort of Lord Vishnu (Narayana), who is the God of Preservation, Lakshmi Devi is the Goddess of Health and Beauty. Sri Lakshmi embodies Sublime Beauty, Siddhi, Peace, Strength, Balance, Auspiciousness, Opulance and Wisdom. Because Lakshmi possesses all of these good and noble qualities, She embodies infinite wealth~ symbolizing that good and noble qualities are the only wealth we can keep.
Lakshmi Devi is always depicted sitting or standing on a lotus with golden coins flowing in an endless stream from one of her hands~ symbolic of when the lotus of wisdom blossoms, the wealth of good and noble qualities appears and Lakshmi's blessings are present.
108 Names of the Goddess Lakshmi Devi
Prakruti – Nature. Goddess Lakshmi is nature, the centre of all, the manifested and the unmanifested.
Vikruti – Multi-Faceted Nature. Attributed with a multi-faceted nature, Goddess Lakshmi assumes many forms, known by numerous names, yet is attributeless.
Vidya – Wisdom. Goddess Lakshmi is the inward movement of Consciousness toward liberation of the Ultimate.
Sarvabhootahitaprada – Granter of Universal Niceties. All sensual pleasures are dependent upon the grace of Goddess Lakshmi only. As a repositary of knowledge and wisdom, She personifies pleasantries and blesses her devotees with goodness.
Shraddha – Devoted. The Goddess, who is realised devotion, is ever found of Her devotees, By one's devotion, one can grasp the Ultimate Reality.
Vibhuti – Wealth. Goddess Lakshmi, bestowing wealth and happiness on Her true followers, is the eternal source of bliss and joy, whose divine grace and benevolence on Her devotees bring joy to them.
Surabhi – Celestial Being. The Goddess, who is the supreme forum, is also a celestial Being. She is worshipped by the Highest, the Trimurthis.
Paramatmika – Omnipresence. Goddess Lakshmi is the Supreme Goddess of the three worlds and is the sole shelter for the distressed and the destitude.
Vachi – Nectar-Like Speech. Goddess Lakshmi, the graceful and beautiful Goddess, is attributed with speech like nectar, sweeter in melody than the nectar, or even the music of the veena.
Padmalaya – Residing On The Lotus. Emerging from the ocean of Milk and Nectar, the Divine Goddess has her abode in the lotus, which is a shelter of bliss and happiness.
Padma – Lotus. Emerging from the Ocean of Milk, seated on lotus, Goddess Lakshmi is also called Padma. She adores the lotus flower, and is Herself like one, tender, supple and graceful.
Shuchi – Embodiment of Purity. Attributed with virtues of compassion, kindness, love, benevolence and mercy, among other things, the gracious Supreme Goddess is the symbolic representation of purity.
Swaha – Shape of Swahadevi(Auspicious). Goddess Lakshmi embodies all that is held auspicious. Her grace and blessings ensure all comforts and bestow fruits of labour and true devotion, for she is the source of all that is good and auspicious.
Swadha – Shape of Swadhadevi (Inauspicious). Bestowed with auspiciousness and sacred attributes, Goddess Lakshmi spells doom for those vilolating universal laws, becoming a sign of inauspiciousness for them.
Sudha – Nectar. The beneficent, most endearing and lovable Goddess Lakshmi dwells in everybody as nectar, as the source of all bliss and enjoyment. She is effulgent with kindness and as sweet and charming as honey.
Dhanya – Personification of Gratitude. The most benevolent, the most compassionate, the most endearing-with these attributes, Goddess Lakshmi dwells in everybody as the source of all bliss and enjoyment, for She is Gratitude Personified.
Hiranmayi – Golden Appearance. Like a thousand suns, Goddess Lakshmi radiates splendour. Resplendent in all Her glory, She is dazzling like lightening, and cool as the silvery moon.
Lakshmi – Goddess of Wealth. Goddess Lakshmi is the source of all powers and energies, dazzling in all Her glory.
NityaPushta – Gaining strength Day By Day. She is the greatest strength, the greatest intelligence and the greatest bliss. By concentrating on Her, one can grow stronger day by day.
Vibha – Radiant. The great Goddess of wealth, Lakshmi is a limitless ocean of beauty, whose spectacular appearance overwhelms the mind. She shines in all her glory and beauty of form.
Aditi – Radiant Like The Sun. The beautiful, graceful, eternally radiant and smiling Goddess Lakshmi is the centre of beauty, the source of beauty. Seeing her beauty, even a thousand Kamadenus feel belittled.
Deetya – Answer Of Prayers. Quickly dispelling all afflictions and fears, the beautiful Goddess protects Her beloved ones as an answer to their prayers.
Deepta – Flame-Like. The gracious Goddess, most beautiful and graceful, shines with radiance, like a thousand suns brilliance.
Vasudha – Earth. As Goddess of Earth, Goddess Lakshmi bestows Her grace and love on her worshippers. Anyone seeking shelter in Her will be blessed.
Vasudharini – Bearer of the Burden of Earth. Mother Lakshmi, who quickly dispels all afflictions, is the Supreme Goddess of Earth. She protects her loved ones and showers Her grace and blessings on them, by bearing and taking upon Herself their burden.
Kamala – Lotus. Although attributeless, Goddess Lakshmi has a lotus like face, eyes, hands and feet which carry their fragrance far and wide. Like the nectar in the lotus, She is ever sweet and endearing.
Kantha – Consort of Vishnu. As the beloved consort of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi is the light of the universe, and its Infinite Existence.
Kamakshi – One with Attractive Eyes. The eternally beautiful Goddess Lakshmi is loved by all the gods. Her eyes, radiating love and compassion, dazzle with the knowledge and wisdom of infinite power which the gods recognise as Ultimate Reality.
Kamalasambhava – Emanating from the Lotus. Goddess Lakshmi's emergence out of the powerful and waveless Ocean of Milk and Nectar is significant, for She is without attributes, changless, yet the cause of all changes.
Anugrahaprada – Granter of Good Wishes. The ever-benevolent Goddess Lakshmi is the bestower of all kinds of comforts to her devotees, granting them her grace, her blessings, and shelter.
Buddhi – Wisdom. She is self-luminous, i.e., illuminates the senses, thereby dispelling ignorance.
Anagha – Sinless. She is untainted, pure Consciousness. By mere concentration on Her, every sin becomes a virtue.
Harivallabhi – Consort of Lord Hari. As Hari's beloved, Goddess Lakshmi is His consort, and takes various forms when He manifests in the human form. She is the power of knowledge and the abode of all gods.
Ashoka – Dispeller of Sorrows. Armed with all the tools of destruction, the Supreme Goddess dispels all sorrows and vanquishes evil. She dispels the fear of Her devotees by destroying evil and ensuring peace to prevail.
Amrutha – Nectar. The Goddess is the quintessence of nectar. The devotee feels incomparable bliss when he surrenders himself totally, transcending his ego.
Deepa – Radiant. The radiance emanating from Goddess Lakshmi overwhelms the mind of even Her beloved. Ever shining and replendent in all her jewellary, she exudes charm and magnetism.
Lakashokavinashini – Remover of Universal Agonies. Without Goddess Lakshmi's grace, it is impossible to accomplish any sacrificial rite or big mission. By surrendering unto her, one can be relieved of one's agonies and distress.
Dharmanilaya – Establisher of Eternal Law. The great, ever-forgiving Goddess Lakshmi stays with dharma, staying when one leads a pious life, devoid of any immoral activities. The devotee is blessed with the grace of Goddess Lakshmi and absolved of all sins.
Karuna – Compassionate. As Mother of the universe, Goddess Lakshmi is the ocean of compassion and love. She is the embodiment of peace, praised by the gods, and giver of every wealth that is sought.
Lokamatri – Mother of the Universe. There is no end to Her immense power. Her glory is so great as to be beyond description. As mother of the universe she commands the admiration and reverence of the gods and other beings.
Padmapriya – Lover of Lotus. Goddess Lakshmi, seated on a lotus and emerging from the ocean of milk, is extremely fond of the flower. Her garland of lotuses is significant in that her beauty transcends all.
Padmahasta – Having Lotus-Like Hands. Goddess Lakshmi is attributed with hands that are soft and gentle like the petals of the lotus. They sparkle with ornaments that are studded with precious stones.
Padmakshya – Lotus-eyed. Her lotus-like eyes are full of divine love and gentleness. As a source of bliss and limitless happiness, the supreme Goddess radiates kindness and compassion, and infinite power and wisdom.
Padmasundari – Beautiful Like the Lotus. Radiant and glowing as she is, Goddess Lakshmi is as slender and beautiful as a lotus stalk. Like the nectar in it, She is attractive, and extremely graceful like a deer.
Padmodbhava – One Who Emerged Out of the Lotus. When the ocean of Milk was churned, the great, divine Goddess emerged out of the lotus, and looked so beautiful that everyone sang her praises.
Padmamukhi – Lotus-Faced. Goddess Lakshmi, gentle and beautiful like the lotus flower, is benevolence personified. With her lotus- like face, she is the source of all speech.
Padmanabhapriya – Beloved of Padmanabha. Padmanabha, another name of Lord Vishnu, is consciousness, and his power is Lakshmi, his beloved consort. There is no distinction between them.
Ramaa – Pleaser of the Lord. As Ramaa, Goddess Lakshmi roams the three worlds, keeping a watchful eye on Her faithful devotees, and showering on them her grace and blessings.
Padmamaladhara – Wearer of Lotus Garland. Bedecked with a garland of ltuses, the graceful Goddess is the queen of the universe, moving and non- moving. Since she emanates from the lotus, she is fond of the flower.
Devi – Goddess. Goddess Lakshmi is beyond comparison. Her glory is ineffable, incomparable and endless. She is the supreme, the ultimate reality, without form, yet creating forms.
Padmini – Lotus. The beloved Daughter of the Ocean of Milk, emerging from the waters on a lotus, is the granter of divine bliss. Like the lotus, she personifies beauty and tenderness.
Padmagandhini – Having the Fragrance of the Lotus. The Great Goddess, emerging from the lotus, has the fragrance of the lotus, the appearance of the lotus and its tenderness.
Punyagandha – Having Divine Perfume. The beautiful and gracious Goddess engulfs the whole universe with her being and divine fragrance. Her lotus-like appearance exudes a heavenly perfume that pervades everywhere.
Suprasanna – Ever Cheerful and Beaming. The Supreme Goddess, ever beautiful and radiant in all her splendour, is the embodiment of loveliness, grace and charm, compassion and love, power and infinity. She is ever cheerful, a smile playing on her lips.
Prasadabhimukhi – Emerging to Grant Boons. He who worships Goddess Lakshmi with full faith in his heart gets the desired boon and attains perfection, for she is ever ready to fulfil the wishes of her devotees.
Prabha – Radiant Like the Sun. Fond of the golden hue, Goddess Lakshmi is always reflecting the radiance in her sparkle, like a thousand brilliant suns.
Chandravadana – Moon-Faced. Goddess Lakshmi is likened to the moon in appearance and in coolness. She is a virtue of goodness, raining the quintessence of nectar on her worshippers.
Chanda – Cool Like the moon. The moon-faced Goddess Lakshmi is always cool and calm like the moon and is ever endearing. She is the embodiment of all the aspirations of a peace-loving man.
Chandrasahodari – Sister of the Moon. Goddess Lakshmi is considered to be the moon's sister, for both emerged out of the Ocean of Milk when it was churned by the gods. Her appearance is radiant like the moon.
Chaturbhuja – Four-Shouldered. The Almighty Goddess Lakshmi is attributed with four shoulders, and in each of her arms She carries something which is symbolic. She is Infinite Power.
Chandrarupa – Moon-Faced. The ever-radiant, beautiful Goddess Lakshmi, with her moon-like face, reflects the cool, silvery luminiscence of the moon. She is the personification of virtues.
Indira – Radiant like the Sun. Seated on a golden throne in the Ocean of Nectar, she shines with the brilliance of a thousand rising suns.
Indusheetala – Cool like the Moon. Goddess Lakshmi, though radiating from the heart of the sun, is cool like the moon. She is the power that goads our minds, which are conditioned by various limitations, to free ourselves from sins.
Ahladajanani – Source of Happiness. The benevolent Goddess Lakshmi rules the entire universe, and its laws and its execution, bringing joy and happiness to her haithful devotees. She is the personification of divine bliss.
Pushti – Healthy. Full of the bliss of youth, the Goddess is tender but at the same time to bouncing with good health.
Shiva – Auspicious. The beautiful Goddess, radiant and dazzling like a thousand suns, portends all that is auspicious, for She embodies Primordial Energy.
Shivakari – Source of Auspicious Things. Goddess Lakshmi, embodying auspiciousness, is the Primordial Energy invoked by devotees for their well- being.
Satya – Totality of Truth. The powerfull Goddess Lakshmi, as Satya, is the ultimate reward of any endeavour that is undertaken with true faith. She is the ultimate reality, and anyone who recognises this Truth, is blessed with her grace.
Vimala – Pure. The most benevolent, the most loving, the most powerful, Goddess Lakshmi is the mine of all virtues, as pure as the best gems. Vishwajanani – Mother of the Universe. Mother Lakshmi, the ever benevolent, the compassionate, loving, forgiving Goddess, who is ever protective towards her loved ones, is the source of all happiness and virtues.
Pushti – Possessor of All Wealth. A true devotee get immense riches and happiness, and never suffers privation, for the most benevolent Goddess Lakshmi is the possessor of all wealthand is bounteous.
Daridriyanashini – Remover of Poverty. By her Glory, Goddess Lakshmi procures for her devoted ones every kind of wealth and prosperity, thus removing their poverty.
Preeta Pushkarini – One with Pleasing Eyes. In the ocean of her beauty, Goddess Lakshmi's eyes are gentle and pleasing. They are ever watchful, seeing everything, and are full of compassion and divine love.
Shanta – Peaceful or Calm. Ecstatic with a smiling face, as a sign of Her inner bliss, she shines with the seven colours of the rainbow, just as a peacock dances with pleasure at the sight of clouds, even so, she makes the minds of devotees dance with bliss, dispelling troubled thoughts.
Shuklamalambara – Wearer of White Garland and Attire. On emerging from the Ocean of Milk, seated on a lotus, she looked so radiant and beautiful that the great ocean gave her a garland of imperishable white flowers. Replendent in a white garland and attire, She personifies purity.
Bhaskari – Radiant like the Sun. Goddess Lakshmi's entire image is dazzling, for She is the mine of all virtues, shining like gems and precious stones. Her beauty is beyond comparison in the three worlds.
Bilvanilaya – Resider Under Bilva Tree. Goddess Lakshmi, Mother Nature in her pristine form, resided under the bilva tree, whose leaves are offered as worship to the gods.
Vararoha – Ready to Offer Boons. Resplendent in all her glory, she is ever compassionate and benevolent, always ready to offer boons to the virtuous.
Yashaswini – Reputed. The Supreme Goddess, splender and beautiful like a lotus, is reputed to be the embodiment of Highest knowledge and Ultimate Reality.
Vasundhara – Daughter of the Earth. Goddess Lakshmi, Daughter of the Earth, creates, preserves and destroys the universe for her own pleasure. She is changeless, yet is the cause of all changes.
Udaranga – Endowed with a Beautiful Body. Goddess Lakshmi is not only the Goddess of wealth but also of beauty. She dazzles in all her splendour, exuding charm and grace, and is the focus of all admiration.
Harini – Deer-Like. Although attributeless, Goddess Lakshmi assumes the most beautiful form, and like a deer, is ever graceful and gentle.
Hemamalini – Having Golden Garlands. The beautiful Goddess, having emerged from the Ocean of Milk on a lotus flower, is ever fond of wearing the golden flower garlands that bedeck her bosom supremely.
Dhanadhanyaki – Bestower of Wealth and Foodgrains. Goddess Lakshmi, symbolic of wealth and prosperity, is also the Goddess of foodgrains. She fulfils the desires of the ever-faithful and showers her grace on them.
Siddhi – Ever Ready to Protect. The great Supreme Goddess is always ready to protect anyone who seeks her blessings and grace. She is benevolent, compassionate, forgiving and loving.
Straina Soumya – Showering Goodness on Women. The compassionate, loving mother of the world is Goddess Lakshmi. She provides succour to her loved ones, especially women, showering her divine grace on them.
Shubhaprada – Granter of Auspicious Things. The auspicious and bebevolent Goddess Lakshmi makes everyone affluent with all kinds of riches. She is the treasury, the fountainhead from which flows the material that the universe is built of.
Nrupaveshvagathananda – Loves to Live in Palaces. Goddess Lakshmi, the embodiment of wealth, power and knowledge, loves to dwell in palaces, meaning that she resides in those who are large-hearted, for she herself is most bountiful.
Varalakshmi – Granter of Bounty. Goddess Lakshmi is the repository of all virtues. She is ever bountiful and compassionate, bestowing all kinds of riches and happiness on whoever worships her truly.
Vasuprada – Bestower of Wealth. All virtues are embedded in the virtuous Goddess Lakshmi, and by her grace, one accomplishes one's desire. She is the personification of benevolence and bestows lavishly.
Shubha – Auspicious. Goddess Lakshmi, also called Shubha, is the harbinger of good auspices, for she is full of bliss and good vitues, worshipped by all, loved by all, aven by the gods. Endowed with everthing auspicious she spells success and prosperity.
Hiranyapraka – Amidst Gold. The great Goddess, with her gracious and radiant experience, stands out amidst the glittering gold-like rays of a thousand suns.
Samudratanaya – Beloved Daughter of the Ocean of Milk. When the Ocean of Milk was churnes, there emerged fourteen gems. Emerging out of it as one of them, Goddess Lakshmi chose Lord Vishnu's companionship for ever.
Jaya – Goddess of Victory. As the triumphant victor, Goddess Lakshmi is the element of success in all actions, pervading the three worlds with her faultness brillance. She is Supreme, she is Omniscient.
Mangala – Most Auspicious. Goddess Lakshmi is the source of all that is good and auspicious. She is the harbinger of good auspisces.
Devi – The Deity. She is pure Consciousness, unformulated or undifferentiated. Unsupported, she is the support of the universe.
Vishnuvakshah – Residing in Vishnu's Chect. Residing in the chest of Lord Vishnu, Goddess Lakshmi worships and adores het consort. They are the two aspects of the Ultimate reality.
Vishnupatni – Consort of Vishnu. When Goddess Lakshmi emerged from the Ocean of Milk, Lord Vishnu chose her as his consort. She is the Darling of the three worlds, being gentle, loving, benevolent and beautiful.
Prasannakshi – Lively-Eyed. Goddess Lakshmi, whose eyes are like lotus petals, who is gold-hued, who has in her hand a lotus flower, is soft and gentle like the lotus stem, and she showers her loved ones with her blessings.
Narayana Samashrita – Sought Refuge in Narayana. Goddess Lakshmi, the beloved consort of Vishnu, sought refuge in his chest after emerging from the lotus. The great Lord Vishnu is the power that sustains the world, and Goddess Lakshmi represents the inherent energy in that power.
Daridriya Dhwamsini – Destroyer of Poverty. Being a treasure of Kindness, the great Goddess dispels all ignorance, and eliminates poverty. she is the personification of Kindness and benevolence.
Devi – Goddess. The gracious Goddess is the darling Daughter of the entire universe. Even luminaries like the sun and the moon, and the gods and mortals worship her devotedly.
Sarvapadravanivarini – Dispeller of all Distresses. The primordial power of the ultimate being the focal point of everything we experience, Goddess Lakshmi is full compassion and out of love for her devotees, she relieves them of all their distresses.
Navadurga – All Nine Forms of Durga. The Omniscient, most powerful Goddess, assumes all the nine forms of Goddess Durga, for Goddess Lakshmi is Durga, Lakshmi, i.e., the Ultimate form of reality.
Mahakali – A Form of Kali. Goddess Lakshmi, armed with many radiant weapons in all her eighteen hands, is also Mahakali, the vanquisher of the demon Mahishasura.
Brahma-Vishnu-Shivatmika – Trinity of Brahma-Vishnu-Shiva The Supreme Goddess, the cause of all changes and creation, is the Mistress of all three worlds. Even Shiva, Vshnu and Brahma revere Her, for she is the beloved of all.
Trikalagyanasampanna – Aware of the Past, Present and Future. Pure as the rain-drenced sky, charming and untouched by impurity, Goddess Lakshmi is aware of the happenings of the past, the present and the future.
Bhuvaneshwarya – Supreme Deity As ruler of the whole universe, Goddess Lakshmi holds a pitcher of nectar in one hand, and in the other, a bell constantly ringing – these proclaim her victory. She is ever victorious.
Wealth That Flows From Mother Lakshmi
Lakshmi is often represented in sculpture seated on a lotus, full-breasted and broad hipped, beneficently smiling and sometimes being anointed by a pair of elephants. Her vehicle is a white owl. She has no fierce form. Mother Lakshmi is the One who bestows the 16 types of wealth:(1) Fame; (2) Knowledge; (3) Courage and Strength; (4) Victory; (5) Good Children; (6) Valor; (7) Gold, Gems and Other Valuables; (8) Grains in abundance; (9) Happiness; (10) Bliss; (11) Intelligence; (12) Beauty; (13) Higher Aim, High Thinking and Higher Meditation; (14) Morality and Ethics; (15) Good Health; (16) Long Life.
Lakshmi's Manifestion Into Being
The story of Lakshmi's birth begins when the Devas (minor gods) were in a race against the Asuras (demons) to obtain amrit (the nectar of immortality). The Devas consulted Vishnu was on earth as Kurma, a tortoise. They decided they would churn the oceans for the amrit. They created a churn by threading the serpent Vasuki around Mount Mandara. Kurma dived to the ocean floor and balanced Mount Mandara on his back. In the grip of Kurma's cosmic clutch, the mountain could not sink into the ocean bed. The gods churned and received the Nectar of Immortality from Lashmi Devi and then fourteen treasures came to their hands. Lakshmi Chose Vishnu as Her Consort. Vishnu carried Lakshmi from the ocean into His heaven. Each time Vishnu descends on earth as an avatar, He is accompanied by an avatar of Lakshmi.
Meaning of Lakshmi
As a female counterpart of Lord Vishnu, Mata Lakshmi is also called 'Shri', the female energy of the Supreme Being. Goddess Lakshmi means "Good Luck" to Hindus. The word 'Lakshmi' is derived from the Sanskrit word "Laksya", meaning 'aim' or 'goal', and she is the goddess of wealth and prosperity, both material and spiritual. Also "lakh" which means "one hundred thousand" as a monetary unit in India, is the first part of Lakshmi's name~ symbolizing her blessings that pour forth abundantly.
Festivals of the Goddess Lakshmi
Lakshmi is the household goddess of most Hindu families and a favorite of women. Although she is worshipped daily, the festive month of October is Lakshmi's special month. Lakshmi Puja is celebrated on the full moon night of Kojagari Purnima. Fridays are considered auspicious for Lakshmi Puja. The Friday before the full moon in the Hindu month of Sraavan is considered specially sacred and Varalakshmi puja (puja for boons and longevity) is performed on that day by ladies in the temples and in the homes.
Diwaali, the festival of lights, is also an occasion for Lakshmi Puja. Three days during Navarathri are also celebrated for Lakshmi. On the full moon night following Dusshera or Durga Puja, Hindus worship Lakshmi ceremonially at home, pray for her blessings, and invite neighbors to attend the puja. It is believed that on this full moon night the goddess herself visits the homes and replenishes the inhabitants with wealth. A special worship is also offered to Lakshmi on the auspicious Diwali night. Year after year we have seen the lamps being lit for Diwali, the birth day and the wedding day of Goddess Lakshmi.
In the dark night the glowing flames herald the advent of longer nights and the early days of an Indian winter. Lakshmi is worshipped along with the beloved, pot-bellied, elephant-headed, auspicious God, Sri Ganesha. Ganesha, Lakshmi and Saraswati usually are always shown together, symbolizing that Wealth must be accompanied by Intellect and Humility.
Ashta Lakshmi: 8 Forms
Lakshmi has 8 primary forms. These 8 forms are personified as Ashta Lakshmi (Ashtalakshmi). These eight forms are as follows:
(1) Adi Lakshmi: Mother Lakshmi resides with Lord Narayana in Vaikuntha, the abode of Lord Narayana. She is known as Rama, which means bringing happiness to the mankind. She is also known as Indira (who holds lotus or purity). In this form, Laxshmi is normally seen serving Sri Narayana. Lord Narayana is omnipresent. Adi Lakshmi or Rama Lakshmi serving Sri Narayana is symbolic of her serving the whole creation. Adi Lakshmi and Narayana are not two different entities but one only. Lakshmi is Shakti. Lakshmi is the Power of Narayana.
(2) Dhanya Lakshmi: Dhanya means grains. Lakshmi is the Goddess of the Harvest and the Devi who blesses with abundance and success in harvest. Harvest is a time of abundance after a long period of patience and tending to fields. This symbolizes the inner harvest, that, with patience and persistence, we obtain the abundance of inner Joy through the blessing of Dhanya Lakshmi.
(3) Dhairya Lakshmi: This form of mother Lakshmi grants the boon of infinite courage and strength. Those, who are in tune with infinite inner power, are always bound to have victory. Those who worship mother Dhairya Lakshmi lead a life with tremendous patience and inner stability.
(4) Gaja Lakshmi: In the holy book of Srimad Bhagavata the story of the churning of the ocean by Gods and demons is explained in detail. Sage Vyasa writes that Lakshmi came out of the ocean during the churning of the ocean (Samudra Manthan). So she is known as a daughter of the ocean. She came out of the ocean sitting on a full-bloomed lotus and also having lotus flowers in both hands with two elephants by her sides holding beautiful vessels.
(5) Santan Lakshmi: In the family life, the children are the greatest treasure. Those who worship this particular form of Sri Lakshmi, known as a Santan Lakshmi, are bestowed with the grace of mother Lakshmi and have wealth in the form of desirable children with good health and a long life.
(6) Vijay Lakshmi: Vijay is victory. Vijay is to get success in all undertakings and all different facets of life. Vijay is to conquer the lower nature. Hence those, with grace of mother Vijay Lakshmi, have victory everywhere, at all time, in all conditions. Victory to Vijay Lakshmi!
(7) Dhana Lakshmi: Dhana is wealth. Wealth comes in many forms: Nature, Love, Peace, Health, Prosperity, Luck, Virtues, Family, Food, Land, Water, Will Power, Intellect, Character, etc. With the grace of mother Dhana Lakshmi we will get all these in abundance.
(8) Vidya Lakshmi: Vidya is education. Serenity, Regularity, Absence of Vanity, Sincerity, Simplicity, Veracity, Equanimity, Fixity, Non-irritability, Adaptability Humility, Tenacity, Integrity, Nobility, Magnanimity, Charity, Generosity and Purity are the eighteen qualities imbibed through proper education that only can give immortality.
Mantra: Lakshmi Gayatri
Om Mahalakshmyaye Vidmahe
Vishnupriyaye Dhi-Mahi
Tanno Lakshmth Prachodayat
About the Goddess Lakshmi, Sathya Sai Baba said:
The significance of Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati has to be rightly understood. The three represent three kinds of potencies in man: will power (ichchaa shakthi), the power of purposeful action (kriya shakthi), and the power of discernment (jnaana shakthi).
Saraswati is manifest in man as the power of speech (vaak). Durga is present in the form of dynamism. Lakshmi is manifest in the form of will power. The body indicates purposeful action (kriya shakthi). The mind is the repository of will power (ichchaa shakthi). The Aathma is the power of discernment (jnaana shakthi). Purposeful action comes from the body, which is material. The power that activates the inert body and makes it vibrant is will power. The power that induces the vibrations of will power is the power of discernment (jnaana shakthi), which causes radiation of energy. These three potencies are represented by the mantra, Om Bhur Bhuvah Suvaha. Bhur represents the earth (bhuloka). Bhuvah represents the life force, conscience in man. Suvaha represents the power of radiation. All three are present in man. Thus, Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswati dwell in the human heart.
Men are prone to exhibit passionate (raajasic) qualities like anger and hatred. They are the menacing manifestations of Durga. The extolling of the Divine in song and poetry and the pleasing vibrations produced by them indicate the power of Saraswathi. The pure qualities that arise in man, such as compassion, love, forbearance, and sympathy, are derived from Lakshmi.
When people worship Durga, Lakshmi, and Saraswathi externally in pictures or icons, they are giving physical forms to the subtle potencies that are within them. The unfortunate predicament of man today is that he is not recognizing the powers within him and developing respect for them. He goes after the external, attracted by the physical forms. The relationship between the material and the subtle has to be understood. The remedy for man's life is contained within himself. But man seeks remedies from outside. ~Sathya Sai Baba
Filed under: Devi, Goddess, Goddess Lakshmi, Lakshmi Devi, Laksmi, Laxshmi, Wealth | Tagged: Goddess Of Wealth, Lakshmi, Sri Lakshmi |


text:
Let's Connect
Plus: my most life changing articles.
View the sitemap | RSS Feed | Subscribe via email© 2020 Lindsey Lewis | Web design + code by Paul Jarvis.
2 coaching master classes: make your life easier, fastermonthly: my most life-changing articles
No, thanks. I don't want my life to get better. Close this window.


text:
Thankfully, as a newspaper editor, stepping into manure is figurative. But that wasn't always the case.
Thankfully, as a newspaper editor, stepping into manure is figurative. But that wasn't always the case.
As a teenager, I raised hogs and, while lucrative for a teenager, it was one dirty job. Sorting hogs for market (guessing the 225-pounders) and moving them toward the chute was part of the job I didn't mind, except for the boot slippage.
I wore knee-high rubber boots to do hog work, and in the summer, I'd leave the socks in the drawer and stick my bare feet in them. Sometimes the muck was pretty deep, and stepping in it would create suction. That hindered mobility, which was required during sorting. On more than one occasion, I left a rubber boot behind and sunk a bare foot in the mushy, cool manure. And almost as bad as stepping in it was getting out of it. With one foot compromised and suspended in the air, I had two choices: put the defiled, bare foot back into the clean boot still stuck in the muck or grab the stuck boot and hop on the good foot out of the pen -- all of this with 200-pound hogs rubbing up against me as if I were a structure. I became pretty good at traveling on one leg.
Hog farming was a job I just didn't wear well. The current debate over immigration and jobs Americans won't do brings to mind the less appealing jobs I've worked. Along with farming, I've worked in sewers (pattern emerging), waxed floors for big-box stores, stacked boxes in a factory warehouse, painted houses, delivered tacos, cared for horses, cleaned retail stores (bathrooms included, of course), performed rock 'n' roll and edited newspapers.
Since farming was my first job, I didn't have much to compare it with. Once I gained a reference point, I fled the profession, even though that reference point was a job with a small-town water and sewer department. I mostly stayed out of manholes, but I did swing a sledgehammer quite frequently, breaking partially treated sewage ice that formed on top of rocks and prevented the spraying swing arms from circulating. Heady work it was not, but I liked it. It was a town job, and, unlike hog farming, no lancing (you don't want to know) was required.
And I considered it a promotion when I later landed a job as a maintenance worker at a retail store. I vacuumed, sorted clothes hangers, mopped, swept and cleaned public restrooms, which was the worst part of the job. Still, being on the other end of the plumbing cycle was an improvement.
Recently, though, I've discovered that my dirtiest jobs can't stand up to the dirtiest jobs in America. The Discovery Channel has a show, "Dirty Jobs," where the host seeks out dirty jobs and does them. These are jobs such as road-kill collector, a job that puts one in contact with gory carcasses and dangerous traffic. And I'm willing to bet the road-kill collector gets little recognition. Do they get a pin for every 12th skunk, a certificate for speed, a commission for poundage, raises for exceeding customer service expectations (saying "Have a nice day" to swerving motorists)? Seems unlikely.
And then there's the catfish noodler, people who fish with their hands. They do this by reaching around blindly in underwater holes for catfish that can reach up to 100 pounds. I'll wager a good ACT score is not required. But while catfish noodlers likely are not pulling down six figures, there must be some reward in making it home each day with all your digits.
As editor, sometimes I think I have it rough. Recently, a man left me a phone message with seven f-words (five adjectives, two verbs) and ended by calling me a liar. It wasn't exactly a pick-me-up, but those calls are few, and they are outweighed by many compliments. Even better, I don't have to hop on one leg and a sledgehammer is not required.
Tom Martin is editor of The Register-Mail. Contact him at tmartin@register-mail or 343-7181, Ext. 250.


text:
Red Ikkat knee length dress with Long Sleeves
- ₹3,300₹2,100
Dispatching time 2 working days.
| Dress Fabric:
|| Ikkat
| Dress Color:
|| Red
| Dress Length:
|| 46" to 48" Inch
| Sleeves:
|| Full Sleeves
| Neck:
|| Cross Collar
| Fit:
|| Regular
| Style:
|| Ikkat
|In-stock sizes can be delivered within 3-4 business days in Cities. This might vary location to location.
| Free Exchange, 07 days Return Policy, Money Back Guarantee.
|COD: Cash on delivery is not available on hostel addresses, Only Prepaid orders will be shipped on hostel addresses.
|Disclaimer: Color may vary slightly according to screen settings and resolution. We do not Guarantee for Color Or Shrinkage. Wash dark colors separately.
|Note: We recommend to act quickly before the style is sold out. This style might not come back!
If you do not like the product you can return or exchange within 07 days including delivery date of the product - no questions asked.
Email us and take approval for return or exchange within 5 days of delivery.
This excludes products marked with "No-Exchange or NO Return" And Used Or Washed Products.
For further information check our Delivery & Return Policy Section.


text:
Welcome!Whether you currently work with U.S. Bank or have retired after a longcareer with us, this site is for you. For current employees, use this site toaccess select resources when you're not at work. Full information isavailable internally on MyHR online. For former employees, usethis site to access benefits and our alumni information.
Current EmployeesNew to U.S. Bank?Forms and Resources Identification documents required for fingerprintingOne of US
Benefits and Rewards AccessYour Total Rewards (active employees and those on leave)Your Total Rewards (employees receiving long-term disability benefits)Benefits at a GlanceAlternative Social Security form for dependents
Pay, Taxes and Personal Information AccessEmployment VerificationHR Self ServiceW-2
Training and Development AccessThe Learning CenterCommunity Possible Employee CenterMentorConnect
Employee Assistance Fund AccessApplyEligibility
Former EmployeesYour Total RewardsAlumni siteLeaving Us (voluntary terminations)Leaving Us (involuntary terminations)
Your Total Rewards
Need Help?
We offer phone and online resources to help you get answers you need to any Human Resources-related topic. Click here for more.
LifeWorksOur employee assistance program, LifeWorks is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to active employees and their dependents. To retrieve login information, visit Your Total Rewards and click on the "Work and Life" tab.


text:
Choose your room
Beijing Blue Sky Hotel is the finest international 3-Star Hotel in Beijing.It is merely 10 minutes from the Capital Airport .Whether you have a business meeting. large conference or small social event to plan. youll find the right function space at your disposal.
The hotels 60 guest rooms are the designed to every need of our guests. All rooms and suites are equipped with Broad Band Internet Access. IDD telephone. stocked mini-bar. radio. television with complimentary in-house movies. and individually controlled air conditioning. The newly renovated Executive Rooms. Suites. and Deluxe Rooms all offer internet access. The hotel has 4 conference room. The facilities of Business Center include computers. projectors. paper. pens and white board. audiovisual equipment etc. The hotel has a good Chinese Restaurant .The fitness centre features a fully equipped gym with machines.
Useful information:Other names for Hotel Blue Sky:
Beijing Blue Sky


text:
Graham Crackers
Join Anita's Bake Club to rate and review recipes and to save your favourites to your own digital recipe box.
Cookies & Bars
Print Recipe
Add it to your Anita's recipe box!
Join Anita's Bake Club to save your favourite recipes. After opting in, you can also rate them and join the conversation below. Login now, it's easy!
Leave a Comment
You must Login to post a comment.


text:
Shy Rabbit Contemporary Arts new exhibition of art runs the gamut from folk to fantasy, contemplative to playful, baroque to minimal and traditional to nontraditional.
The Pagosa Springs gallery opened The Art of It All on Nov. 3, and the name says it all. Whether collage, digital, mixed media, assemblage, painting, sculpture, printmaking, drawing, photography, ceramics, fiber, glass, paper, plastic, concrete, metal, wood, twigs or feathers you can find it in The Art of it All.
Juror D. Michael Coffee, curator and creative director of Shy Rabbit, selected 98 works by 48 artists representing 18 states and Canada. The diverse selection reflects a certain aesthetic that you expect to see at Shy Rabbit. The work is rustic in a wabi-sabi way, heavily influenced by strong structural design and balance.
It is evident that the ceramic works, functional or not, were selected by a practicing master artisan who understands his craft. The printmaking also is high caliber. Subject matters explored in the chosen art are elegant and minimal, often expressing elements of nature, or they border on dark, detailed and complex narratives that hint at mystery. The Art of It All looks like a Shy Rabbit show.
In a Shy Rabbit show, craftsmanship and attention to detail are evident, but little is as it seems upon first glance. Two sculptures by John Viklarek, Roller Coaster and Regulator, look hefty and weighty like ceramic but are actually cast paper. Next to them, a triptych of works in whitewashed frames appear to be dimensional prints but actually are cast-iron wall sculptures by Jack King: Birmingham Portal, Working in Opposition and Concordance.
Regula Onstad creates an optical illusion with her collagraphs on paper, Stacked 1 and Stacked 2, which actually look like compressed and bulging material or cut paper. Then there is the oversized and dimensional painted sculpture by Jeff Pullen, Temporary Roads, a realistic street scene with brownstones and trees in full spring blossom painted on louvre doors, plexiglass and brick.
Other works are surrealistic with dream-like qualities that some might consider disturbing.
Jihane Mossalim is represented with two works, Clarisse and Mike, Eddy and the Tricycle that feature charcoal-colored acrylic-painted backgrounds with hyper-realistic, doll-like, cherubim faces of children. Meghan OConnor offers Scum Licker, a lithograph and blind embossed monoprint that appears to be of a goat with a long black tongue in a tiled bathtub, and Disambiguous Communications, a screen-print, woodcut and chine-collé of an eagle head in a wheelchair-like contraption with bicycle tires.
Ivy Kings Self Portrait is a lush composition created from collage, print and acrylic elements on a turquoise background, of a female figure wearing a black-and-red-striped plunging blouse atop skeletal décolletage with roses in her hair. Its larger than the other work by King, Karls Donkey Tumor, and the size provides more impact to the primitive elements in her figurative compositions inspired by artist Kelsey Hauck.
For this exhibition, Coffee selected several woodcut prints in black and white. However, the most powerful prints in the exhibition are by Alexander Landerman, a 24-year-old artist from Wisconsin. The works are exquisite, equally humorous and slightly macabre. Hasenpfeffer, Braised Bunny and Lapin a la Cocotte feature recipes for a rabbit dish composed of hand-printed red lettering and a masterfully drafted bunny drawn in charcoal, vine and conté crayon on Rives BFK paper. In the German version of the recipe, the rabbit is clearly frightened, ears pressed back against its shoulders. The French bunny is drawn so well that you want to reach out and pet it on the nose. The works are a reminder of the universal language and necessity of food and our cultural disconnect with from where it comes. You cannot help but laugh at the stern hasenpfeffer and wonder if, indeed, the French are such superior culinary artists that even the living food is happy and calm at becoming lapin a la cocotte, while in the English version the jackrabbit seems indifferent to its fate, looking off into the distance. These three prints are from a larger series of 25 different recipes from diverse cultures, and there is a video on the artists website showing how they are created.
. Leanne Goebel is a freelance writer and member of the International Association of Art Critics. .


text:
Improvements and fixes
This security update includes quality improvements. No new operating system features are introduced in this update. Key changes include the following:
- Security updates to Microsoft Graphics Component, Windows Graphics, Windows Kernel, and Windows SMB Server.
For more information about the resolved security vulnerabilities, see the Security Update Guide.
Important Please apply KB4100480 immediately after applying this update. KB4100480 resolves an elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Windows Kernel for the 64-Bit (x64) version of Windows. This vulnerability is documented in CVE-2018-1038.
Known issues in this update
Microsoft has reports of some customers on a small subset of older AMD processors getting into an unbootable state after installing this KB.
This issue is resolved in KB4073578.
|Because of an issue that affects some versions of antivirus software, this fix applies only to computers on which the antivirus ISV updated the ALLOW REGKEY.
This issue is resolved in KB4093108. You no longer need the following ALLOW REGKEY to detect and be offered this update:
After installing KB4056897 or any other recent monthly updates, SMB servers may experience a memory leak for some scenarios. This occurs when the requested path traverses a symbolic link, mount point, or directory junction and the registry key is set to 1:
This issue is resolved in KB4103718.
How to get this update
This update is now available for installation through WSUS. To get the standalone package for this update, go to the Microsoft Update Catalog website.
File information
For a list of the files that are provided in this update, download the file information for update 4056897.


text:
Come May, Michael Knight and his futuristic car KITT will speed back onto screens via Cozi TV.
And a real-life version of KITT (Knight Industries Two Thousand) will be speeding into the driveway of one lucky bidder thanks to an auction of series star David Hasselhoff's personal memorabilia.
Fans of "Knight Rider" and Hasselhoff have the opportunity to bid on clothing and artifacts belonging to the actor/singer during the Hollywood Legends Auction set for Apr. 11-12 in Beverly Hills, Calif..
U.S. & World
Stories that affect your life across the U.S. and around the world.
Eagle-eyed fans will note the car on the auction block is not the actual vehicle used on the series. The original KITT was a 1982 Pontiac Trans Am, while the automobile currently on sale was gifted to the actor by fans and is a modified 1986 Firebird. As of Wednesday, there were 10 bids and the highest was $30,00. The estimated price for the vehicle is $30,000-$50,000.
Other treasured pieces going under the hammer include a golf cart customized to look like KITT, a "Baywatch" pinball machine, a Harley Davidson motorcycle, and a 12-foot-long replica of the actor in "Baywatch" guise that was used as a prop in "The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie." The full list of available items can be viewed at JuliensAuctions.com.
Proceeds from many of the Hoff's items will benefit the Starlight Children's Foundation.
According to the star there is one article that won't be going up for sale: a leather jacket that "lights up!" Hasselhoff wore the garment New Year's Eve 1989 while performing atop the existing Berlin wall. "I'm going to be above a million people, so I want them to see me," he recalls of his decision to wear the treasured piece.
Chatting with Cozi TV ahead of "Knight Rider's" return, Hasselhoff describes the series - which was originally broadcast from 1982 to 1986 on NBC - as a show with "heart, humor and action" and reveals that when it comes to his professional life, acting alongside KITT was "the best four years of my life."
The 61-year-old actor goes on to admit how amazed he is by the longevity of fan support for the series. "I'm surprised by the adoration I get, mostly from men. Women followed 'Baywatch' believe it or not, and the men followed 'Knight Rider.'"
Hasselhoff adds he gets a kick out of how much international adoration still exists for the character Michael Knight, and also by the number of celebrities who fondly recall the show including Chris Rock and Shaquille O'Neal, among others.
But when asked what the one thing above all else he liked most about working on "Knight Rider," Hasselhoff cryptically answers: "Lunch!"
To find out exactly why lunch was the best part, check out Hasselhoff in the video above.
"Knight Rider" arrives on Cozi TV on May 26 (Memorial Day) and will air regularly after that on Tuesday nights at 10 p.m. ET.