text:
Treasurer Tim Nicholls defends 'modest increase' to some Qld levies
Treasurer Tim Nicholls has described increases to some fees and levies in next week's Queensland budget as fairly minor and modest.
Mr Nicholls has already revealed a number of increases in Tuesday's budget including a $25 in home insurance, $28 in car insurance and about $12 in the fire levy.
The fire levy will be about $185 a year and expand it to include all rural and regional properties.
Community groups have criticised the Government for not consulting on the increases and say the rising cost of living is hurting Queenslanders.
Mr Nicholls says it is necessary.
"We think we're struck a good balance between increasing fees and charges, recognising that people - that no-one - likes paying fees and charges, but also ensuring that we keep the state's finances balanced and in a balanced way," he said.
Mr Nicholls says the fire levy increase is "modest" but needed to meet the state's obligations.
"We back up those services on a state level by providing workers compensation insurance, public liability insurance, safety gear, and we will continue to do so," he said.
Mr Nicholls also rejects claims the levy increase will affect the spirit of volunteering in Queensland.
"I believe people will still want to serve their communities and what we will be simply doing it to make sure that those rural fire brigades and those units are backed up by emergency management Queensland helicopters, swift water crews, and all the other services that the state can provide to make sure they can do their job even better," he said.
"I don't think the imposition of this levy will affect the spirit of volunteering that is so strong in all of our communities."
Bush "hit hard"
But Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) spokesman Greg Hallam says there has been no consultation and it will hit the bush hard as an extra 400,000 Queenslanders will have to pay.
Mr Hallam says money raised through the expanded fire levy should not go into the state's consolidated revenue.
He says the contribution from the bush is likely to raise an extra $75 million.
"If someone had previously given up weekends of their time to assist and be on-call, they may well think differently if they've got to pay a levy just as we do in the city and we expect the ambulance or the fire brigade or whoever to turn up," he said.
"Rural people live very differently - there's a very strong community spirit.
"People do volunteer and participate - we just worry that this may well just change that.
"All of their emergency services are volunteer and if this were to mean that people would no longer want to volunteer their time, because of the fact they have to pay a levy.
"That would be a huge worry if it changed the social fabric and the nature of rural towns and rural communities - that would be a major concern even beyond the impact of the levy itself."
Firefighters welcome funding boost
Meanwhile, United Firefighters Union (UFU) spokesman John Oliver says the extra money raised should be used for equipment and employing more staff.
"What we're looking at seeing hopefully is the recognition of the rescue side of stuff that we do and to be appropriately funded across the state," he said.
"I haven't seen the fine detail but if that is the case, and that's what this levy is for, then it can only go some way to help.
"As we're an all emergency response now, we certainly need more equipment and we certainly need to coin a phrase - more bums on seats - to be able to do this work.
"We certainly are struggling to maintain operations now with the current level of funding."
Topics: fires, emergency-incidents, emergency-planning, activism-and-lobbying, public-sector, community-development, regional, unions, local-government, brisbane-4000, bundaberg-4670, cairns-4870, gladstone-4680, longreach-4730, mackay-4740, maroochydore-4558, mount-isa-4825, rockhampton-4700, southport-4215, toowoomba-4350, townsville-4810
First posted


text:
Hurricanes coach Al Golden and his assistants weren't using fishing nets at his summer football camp this weekend. It just seemed that way.
Golden reeled in six commitments over the weekend including two more on Sunday in Miami Carol City receiver/quarterback Trayone Gray (6-1, 185), a Class of 2014 talent, and Royal Palm Beach linebacker Charles Perry (6-2, 190), a 2015 talent.
Neither player is ranked by Rivals.com or any other recruiting service, but continued the weekend theme of the Hurricanes offering players they like a lot after seeing them up close in person.
Gray, who quarterbacked his team to the Miami Dolphins 7-on-7 title earlier this month (he beat Miami Jackson's Quinton Flowers head-to-head in the final), was the backup to All-Dade First Team quarterback Akeem Jones last season at Carol City. He had 14 catches for 222 yards and one touchdown last season and ran the ball 25 times for 92 yards with 2 TDs.
"I know the background on Miami, seen a few players, like what I see there," Gray said Sunday night. "When I went to the camp there today I just felt comfortable."
Gray said he grew up liking the Hurricanes and until Sunday hadn't received an offer he was really happy with. "I'm not finished with recruiting, but it is a high possibility I'll be a Hurricane," Gray said.
Gray said his other top schools are Alabama, Clemson, West Virginia and Louisville, but adds "I don't have any offers from those."
The other player who reportedly committed Sunday according to Canesport.com was Perry.
An All-Area Honorable Mention according to the Palm Beach Post last season, Perry ran 41 times for 131 yards and 1 TD and caught 2 passes for 28 yards as a running back. Canesport reported Perry had hamstring problems that limited him early last season, but he finished strong with over 30 tackles combined in his last two games along with two sacks.
UM netted four non-binding oral commitments during Saturday's portion of Golden's camp. The more highly-touted are Miami Northwestern defensive end/linebacker Mike Smith and Orange Park Oakleaf (Fla.) defensive back Darrion Owens, both considered three-stars by Rivals.com. Fort Lauderdale Dillard DB Dennis Turner and Norcross (Ga.) tight end Christopher Herndon are both are rated by Rivals.com as two-star recruits.
UM now has 16 non-binding oral commitments as part of its 2014 Signing Class. A year ago at this time the Hurricanes had four.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Reading the forum on your cell phone? There's an easier way. We've enabled a Tapatalk app that makes browsing the forum a whole lot easier. Check it out in the iPhone or Android store if you don't own it already.
I often wonder if Owls Head would attract more visitors if there was a guide book.
Now am i allowed to add seldom repeated routes in Vt?
Quote from: mopowers on February 23, 2013, 08:36:15 amI often wonder if Owls Head would attract more visitors if there was a guide book. I thought you were working on remedying that...
Are those up on that wall where Mallary put up some routes? Every year I start out the season thinking when it gets hot I should go up and check them out, but then end up getting tied up with other stuff, so still haven't seen them. I wish somebody would post up information about the cliffs in that area on Mtnproject. Information for that part of the state always seems to get hoarded for an up an coming guide that never seems to appear. Handren's guide proves that good quality ones sell even if information is online. I think it serves as advertising, though having the guide available as a commercial app too is a good idea IMO.
Page created in 0.179 seconds with 32 queries.


text:
GREENVILLE, Ill. – The Panthers dropped another close battle at home on Saturday, as a late-inning surge against Monmouth failed to lift the Black & Orange to their first win of 2012.
Facing foe Monmouth (1-1), Greenville College baseball (0-4) again showed they have little trouble producing hits, posting 11 knocks as a team with two doubles and a triple. However, despite the production, the Black & Orange left 11 men on base and seven in scoring position. Monmouth took advantage of the miscues and consistently added runs to outlast the Panthers 7-5.
Greenville freshman Jared Massengil again helped lead the bats in the afternoon affair, going 3-for-5 at the plate with a run scored. Junior catcher Adam Wallace also turned in an impressive performance at the dish, driving in a key run while posting a 2-for-4 effort with a run scored.
On the mound, sophomore southpaw Tyler Mitchell was charged the loss, pitching six full innings and giving up four earned despite a solid six strikeouts.
GC baseball will look to bounce back on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 as they play host to McKendree University in the final contest of their four-game home stand. First pitch is scheduled for 2:00 pm at Robert E. Smith Field.


text:
The technology of government surveillance has changed dramatically, and the rules governing surveillance should be changed accordingly. Chris Bronk, a fellow in technology, society and public policy at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, makes that argument in a paper published in First Monday, a free, openly accessible, peer–reviewed journal devoted to the Internet.
The article, "Web-tapping: Securing the Internet to Save Us From Transnational Terror?," appears in the November issue, firstmonday.org/htbin/cgiwrap/bin/ojs/index.php/fm/issue/view/271>.
The concept of wiretapping is obsolete, Bronk said, because Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) allows two-way voice communications over the Internet. "Effective wiretapping," Bronk wrote in the article, "is Web-tapping, listening to (and reading and watching) everything transmitted in digital form."
Bronk traced the evolution of eavesdropping from attaching a listening device to a telephone wire to computer-enabled listening to efforts to monitor the latest Internet communications. Technological progress, according to Bronk, often leaves government snoops playing catch-up.
"For an intelligence establishment created to pull back the veil and peer inside the Iron Curtain when human spy networks were rolled up with surprising ease by Soviet counterintelligence forces, the new tasking is to watch, read and listen for cues emanating from al-Qaida and its regional franchises, largely on the Internet," he said.
In addition to tracking potential threats, Bronk noted, U.S. officials are also charged with defending cyberspace from infiltration. "If scanning the digital communications of the world's telecommunications grid for actionable intelligence information isn't enough work for any government agency, then protecting that telecommunications grid along with every important piece of national infrastructure connected to it fills the plate considerably," Bronk wrote. He advocates an update of that aspect of communications law as well.
The U.S. government has been debating how best to protect its interests in cyberspace for more than a decade, Bronk wrote. Much of that debate remains classified, but Bronk described the challenge as "establishing firm boundaries for the cyberinitiative, a secret mandate that ostensibly covers potentially immense quantities of unclassified data." Bronk questioned whether it covers all government networks. "What about those of contractors or subcontractors? How about those of the companies who create computer hardware and software purchased off-the-shelf by government agencies?"
Bronk said the current debate on government surveillance is "bogged down in descriptive terminology from another time, nearly a century old." Regardless of what direction any new legal framework takes, clear, openly stated policies adapted to the latest technology are needed, Bronk said. "With skepticism of government in the United States clearly part of the political terrain, the wiretapping/information-security issue requires greater scrutiny, albeit in a manner that does not compromise the all-important sources and methods of intelligence collection or cyberdefense," he wrote.
Source: Rice University
Explore further: Internet politics, policies have rapidly become integral to US international affairs


text:
June 28, 2012
TheDaily.com 4th of July Video featuring My Star-Spangled 4th of July Party
11 comments:
Loved the video! It's truly a treat to visit blogs with original content and yours is a favorite.ReplyDelete
That was so cute....loved it! I think I could eat half of that cake right now. I KNOW it takes a long time to set things up for styling for photos, so I imagine there was a lot of work involved in doing this for the video. Thanks for sharing and congrats on the feature!ReplyDelete
Love love love!!! How lucky are you to be featured ...... much deserved Jenny. Have a fabulous fourth of July. We are celebrating Canada's holiday this weekend.ReplyDelete
Jenny - you're slowly bringing me round to rustic living! Love this video, table and that cake looks to die for!ReplyDelete
Great video! The cake looks delicious. I make an ice cream cake but there is no actual "cake" in it - just ice cream with a cookie crust, whip cream and ice cream sauce. It's very easy to make tastes great. Yours looks scrumptious!ReplyDelete


text:
BATON ROUGE — Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration wants to redirect $120 million from a tobacco settlement account to help pay for college scholarships.
BATON ROUGE — Gov. Bobby Jindal's administration wants to redirect $120 million from a tobacco settlement account to help pay for college scholarships.
It is part of Jindal's $24.7 billion budget proposal that will require approval in the upcoming regular session by the Legislature, which includes a conservative faction opposed to the move.
While not outright opposing the scholarship program, lawmakers critical of the plan complain about the use of one-time money to satisfy a recurring need. During the current fiscal year, the state has spent more than $100 million on the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students.
Lawmakers want to know where money will come from to support TOPS in the future and whether using dedicated money for other purposes is legal.
"It just seems like we're trying to fill budget holes with money that's dedicated to other things," said Rep. Joe Harrison, R-Napoleonville, who sits on the Tobacco Settlement Financing Corp. Board.
The board oversees the account that contains money from a 1998 settlement between major tobacco companies and several states, including Louisiana.
It was a $200 billion win spread out over 25 years; Louisiana sold 60 percent of its share to get cash upfront.
The Jindal administration wants to take $120 million from the settlement account, half of which would come from refinancing about $823 million in tobacco settlement bonds the state sold to get the upfront cash.
The other half would come from payments tobacco companies have been holding onto because they claimed the states were not following rules. The companies are now paying that money due to a recent settlement.
When the tobacco board met last month to endorse a resolution calling for the refinancing deal, Harrison was absent, replaced by House Speaker Chuck Kleckley, R-Lake Charles.
Harrison was not removed from the board, Kleckley said in an interview this week.
Kleckley said he was "very interested" in the February meeting and simply asked Harrison to momentarily step aside.
"I was already in town, and I asked him to let me sit on the board that day," Kleckley said. "He's still on it."
Harrison, who has pushed for a cap on TOPS in previous sessions, confirmed Kleckley's account.
Had he attended the February meeting, though, Harrison said he would have voiced concerns about the resolution, which he said he did not know was going to be discussed.
Harrison, along with Reps. Cameron Henry, R-Metairie, and Dee Richard of Thibodaux, who has no party affiliation, also issued a joint news release earlier this week asking the governor not to redirect money from an artificial reef account to balance the budget next fiscal year, as he has done in the past.
The budget Jindal has presented for the fiscal year that takes effect July 1 anticipates a $1.3 billion shortfall and is built upon several contingencies such as selling land and refinancing the tobacco debt.
The only Terrebonne-Lafourche resident on the tobacco board, Byron Talbot of Thibodaux, did not return a call seeking comment.
Fellow board member William Raspberry of Shreveport said he is comfortable with the administration's refinancing plans.
"The expected savings will not only benefit the state, but because they go to the TOPS fund, they will also protect investments that help Louisiana's young people gain a valuable college education," he said.
Commissioner of Administration Kristy Nichols said refinancing the tobacco bonds could potentially save the state between $75 million and $85 million.
She added that the action taken by the tobacco board last month included hiring professional advisers who will counsel the membership on the best structure for the refinancing.
"With interest rates at historical lows, it makes great financial sense to refinance these bonds now and generate substantial savings," said Nichols, who serves as chairwoman of the board. "The state Legislature created this corporation as a means of leveraging the tobacco revenues to achieve greater financial benefit to the state — a mission we are prudently fulfilling by refunding now and capturing the savings without extending the length of the debt."
Since 2001, interest rates have declined by approximately 2 percent, according to the Division of Administration.
Treasurer John Kennedy agreed during the February meeting that the timing is right given recent interest rates but expressed concern over how the administration plans on using the savings.
The regular session convenes April 8.
Jeremy Alford can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
Expedia-Verified Reviews
Don't miss out on a lower price on this hotel
Get an overview of this hotelFamily condos and log cabins near Smoky Mountains
Popular property highlights
Near Dollywood family fun
A 5-minute drive from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, RiverStone Resort & Spa overlooks Gatlinburg Golf Course. Dollywood amusement park is 3 miles away, and families can follow up with a trip to Ripley's Aquarium of the Smokies or a shopping trip to Tanger Outlets, a 12-minute drive away.
A barbecue, swim or spa
Families can have fun in the lazy river, nature trail, and riverside picnic areas with their self-service grills. Complimentary supervised childcare is available plus an indoor pool, an outdoor seasonal pool, fitness center, and full-service spa offering hot stone massages.
Condos with full kitchens
With 1 to 4 bedrooms, condos offer home comforts including full kitchens with washers and dryers, and a stone fireplace. Free WiFi and 37-inch flat-screen TVs help everyone stay entertained. Simple log cabins have wraparound porches with Little Pigeon River views.
Languages Spoken
- English
RiverStone Resort & Spa
Hotel Amenities
Hotel Amenities
In addition to a full-service spa, RiverStone Resort & Spa features free parking, a lazy river, an indoor pool and an outdoor seasonal pool. A computer station is located on site and high-speed wired and wireless Internet access is complimentary. Event facilities measuring 3600 square feet (334 square meters) include conference space. This family-friendly hotel also offers a spa tub, a fitness center, and spa services. Wedding services and tour/ticket assistance can be provided.
RiverStone Resort & Spa is a smoke-free property.
- Barbecue grill(s)
- Lazy river
- Picnic area
- Elevator/lift
- Full-service spa
- Indoor pool
- 24-hour front desk
- Conference space
- Billiards or pool table
- Tours/ticket assistance
- Year Built 2007
- Free self parking
- Free WiFi
- Free wired Internet
- Computer station
- Smoke-free property
- Outdoor seasonal pool
- Supervised childcare/activities (free)
- Safe-deposit box at front desk
- Conference space size (meters) - 334
- Spa services on site
- Supervised childcare/activities
- Conference space size (feet) - 3600
- Pool umbrellas
- Laundry facilities
- Spa tub
- Total number of rooms - 136
- 24-hour fitness facilities
- Number of floors - 6
- Number of buildings/towers - 4
- Wedding services
- Garden
- Fireplace in lobby
- Free newspapers in lobby
Family Friendly Amenities
- Family Hotel
- Indoor pool
- Lazy river
- Supervised childcare/activities (free)
- Separate living room
- Free Wi-Fi
- Soundproofed rooms
- Kitchen
- Laundry facilities
- Playground on site
- Separate dining area
- Sofa bed
- Washer/dryer
- Refrigerator
- Microwave
- DVD player
Available in all rooms: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Available in some public areas: Free WiFi , Free wired Internet
Languages Spoken
- English
- Spanish
Free self parking
Room Amenities
- Free wired Internet
- Cribs/infant beds available
- DVD player
- Fireplace
- Premium bedding
- Separate sitting area
- Balcony
- In-room climate control (air conditioning)
- Ceiling fan
- Soundproofed rooms
- Air conditioning
- Phone
- Free local calls
- Refrigerator
- Coffee/tea maker
- Microwave
- Kitchen
- Private bathroom
- Free toiletries
- Hair dryer
- Iron/ironing board
- Sofa bed
- Number of bathrooms -
- Washer/dryer
- Cookware, dishware, and utensils
- Separate dining area
- Dishwasher
- Stovetop
- Cable TV service
- Free WiFi
- Separate living room
- Free newspaper
- Sofa bed size
- Down comforter
- Individually furnished
- Individually decorated
Nearby Things to Do
An indoor pool and a spa tub are on site. Other recreational amenities include a lazy river and a fitness center.
Children under 14 years old are not allowed in the swimming pool, fitness facility, or spa tub without adult supervision.
The recreational activities listed below are available either on site or nearby; fees may apply.
- Snowboarding nearby
- Fishing on site
- Water skiing nearby
- Golfing nearby
- Mountain biking nearby
- Skydiving nearby
- Downhill skiing nearby
- Windsurfing nearby
- Cross-country skiing nearby
- Playground on site
- Sledding nearby
- Rafting nearby
- Bicycle rentals nearby
- Ecotours nearby
- Snow tubing nearby
- Segway rental/tour nearby
- Ski lessons available nearby
- Ski equipment rental shops nearby
- Hiking/biking trails nearby
- Golf lessons available nearby
- Kayaking nearby
- Sailing nearby
- Scooter/moped rentals nearby
Spa Services
Guests can indulge in a pampering treatment at the hotel's full-service spa, The Spa at RiverStone. Services include deep-tissue massages, hot stone massages, Swedish massages, and massages. A variety of treatment therapies are provided, including Ayurvedic. The spa is equipped with a mud bath.
Guests under 13 years old are not allowed in the spa.
- Manicures and pedicures
- Body wraps
- Body treatments
- Body scrubs
- Facial treatments
- Ayurvedic treatments
- Hot stone massage
- Mud bath in spa
- Deep tissue massage
- Swedish massage
- Prenatal massage
- Minimum age to access spa is 13
- Detoxification wrap
- Massages
Hotel Policies
Minimum check-in age is 21
Check-out time is 11 AM
Payment types
Children and extra beds
- Children are welcome.
- Rollaway/extra beds are not available.
- Cribs (infant beds) are available.
- Pets allowed for an extra charge of USD 25.00 per pet, per day, plus a deposit of USD 100 per week
- Dogs only
- 2 per room (up to 15 lb)
- Restrictions apply
- For more information contact the property at the number on the booking confirmation
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy.
- Cleaning fee: USD 45 per accommodation, per stay (varies per unit size)
Optional extras
- Pet deposit: USD 100 per week
- Pet fee: USD 25.00 per pet, per day
Hotel Name
- RiverStone
- RiverStone Pigeon Forge
- RiverStone Resort
- RiverStone Resort Pigeon Forge
- Riverstone Hotel Pigeon Forge
- RiverStone Resort Spa
We should mention
The seasonal pool will be open from May to September. Reservations are required for massage services and spa treatments. Reservations can be made by contacting the hotel prior to arrival, using the contact information on the booking confirmation. Guests can arrange to bring pets by contacting the property directly, using the contact information on the booking confirmation (surcharges apply and can be found in the Fees section).


text:
There is no doubt that tablets are finding their way into more public-sector workplaces, in government agencies, field offices and, particularly, in educational settings. The form factor started by the Apple iPad is gaining a larger share of the computer landscape practically every month.
That growth might lead people to think that, like the VHS tape in the advent of DVDs, desktop PCs are on their way out. After all, to make room for something new, you have to get rid of something old. But that will probably never happen — in fact, we may see a surge of desktop sales in the future.
The simple fact is that, while a tablet can do many things, there are certain resource-intensive applications that are currently beyond its ability. Graphics programs such as Photoshop and AutoCAD are too much for the average tablet. And while a tablet can handle simple spreadsheets, a grid loaded down with formulae and references likely will be beyond its abilities too. Tasks such as these definitely fall into the realm of desktop computing.
Multitasking is another area where the PC does better than the tablet. Not only do tablets lack the processing power to run more than a few programs simultaneously, there simply isn't enough real estate on a less-than-10-inch display to effectively see what you are doing in multiple programs at the same time.
So for some tasks at least, the desktop PC isn't going anywhere. The more likely victim of tablets' growth could be the notebook PC.
Sure, your notebook is powerful enough to handle most desktop-like activity. But tell me something: Where is your notebook right now? If you are like many government and corporate users, it is docked into a station with a larger monitor, keyboard and mouse. And if you have a tablet to complement your PC — as more and more employees do — why bother carrying a notebook as well? Many IT departments are realizing that, if users are just going to leave their notebooks docked all the time, they might was well replace those notebooks with less expensive desktops.
As tablets become more powerful and eventually comparable to notebooks, I foresee the place of the desktop computer becoming even more secure. And unless really huge tablets go into common usage, many of us will always need desktop PCs.
Posted by Greg Crowe on Dec 11, 2012 at 9:39 AM
E-Mail this page
Printable Format
I work in a corporate support environment, supporting remote customers, the comment that the desktop or for that matter the laptop is dead is crazy. Currently a tablet that can do the tasks that my PC can do costs more than a desktop that can do the same thing. Our company issued 500 dollar laptops to all of our support engineers. The work performed on them can easily be performed by a 300 dollar desktop.
To say that a tablet could replace my laptop or a desktop in my environment with the apps I need to run, with the security I need to pass thru is just not true. Yes, I have a tablet, and its great, TO SURF THE NET and CHECK EMAIL.
I have my laptop docked to 2 23" HD monitors, and I use every bit of the real estate which those monitors provide. So Tablet Fanboys don't tell us that we can do our jobs with tablets over a PC
As for desktops and gaming, your wrong. There are tablets that can do everything you say video wise and sound. Tablets are a desktop when plugged into a monitor with a docking station. Here is one you really don't want to hear. The Xbox will not be able to prop up Microsoft and I'm not really sure how that is going to go for all the gamers out there. If you have not looked lately Microsoft posted a large loss and it will by no means be their last. Apparently change is not a strong suit for a lot of people.
Paul, you are obviously not a gamer if you think that gamers are moving to tablet computers in any numbers at all. There are no gaming tablets out there that can drive real games like Borderlands 2, Skyrim or Call of Duty Black Ops II. PC gamers are even starting to take over market share from gaming consoles, and this after all the gaming magazines said that PC gaming was dead. If you want to fool around with Angry Birds or online casino apps, then sure, plug your tablet into a dock and go to town. But that wont get you access to some of the most amazing games out there now, running at 60 frames per second with HD sound streaming to your wireless headset. I happen to own several "gaming" tablets and while they are fun for some titles like iBomber, Torchlight, or perhaps the remake of Baldur's Gate, they don't come anywhere close to gaming on the PC. The desktop isn't going anywhere anytime soon.
I agree, desktops are dead and will not see resurrection. The most likely scenario is a Virtual workstation which can be accessed via the tablet for power apps. And as Paul noted, when you get to the office you simply dock the tablet for the full screen, keyboard and mouse experience.
Desktops are on their way out. As things get smaller and more powerful you will simply dock your tablet while at work. There are dual and quad core tablets out there. There are tablets that have 2 gigs of ram and probably soon to be 4 gigs. The way of the future will be your tablet you plug into a dock or project to a screen at your desk. I bet in the near future you will see blade servers that the blades are just a tablet plugged into a chassis. Desktop come back. Maybe for nostalgia purpose. They are to expensive and take up to much space. Most high end tablets have just as good a video card as a desktop capable of doing cad. The gaming console is on its way to a tablet shift. You will do the same thing. You will take your gaming tablet plug it into a dock and play while at home and take it with you when you go. Whats the matter, change scare you?
Advanced Search
8251 Greensboro Drive, Suite 510
McLean, VA 22102
© 2018 1105 Media, Inc.
8251 Greensboro Drive, Suite 510
McLean, VA 22102703-876-5100 © 1996-2017 1105 Media, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


text:
Occasionally I have honored someone in this space whose life had a profound influence on mine. I feel it is particularly appropriate in February, in the shadow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, to acknowledge a particular life well-lived. So let me tell you this story.
Occasionally I have honored someone in this space whose life had a profound influence on mine. I feel it is particularly appropriate in February, in the shadow of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, to acknowledge a particular life well-lived. So let me tell you this story.
In Topeka, Kan., the high school had always been racially integrated due the smallness of the school system, but in 1947 the elementary schools remained segregated. In that year, a new basketball coach was hired for the high school team. Participation on the team was only open to white players. The black students had an informal team that played other similar teams in surrounding towns with no school support and no official recognition.
The new coach's son, a 16-year-old junior, played for his father on the school team. At the end of the season, the young man pointed out the unfairness of this system and asked his dad if the black players could try out for the official school team for the next season. The coach, who had coached the first integrated team in the Kansas state playoffs way back in 1934, was persuaded by his son's argument, and they approached the administration with their request. After much conversation, permission was granted for blacks to be included on the school's official team.
Actually, only one African-American made the team, and he had not been played on the former "black" team, but the experiment was a rousing success, and a small step in the right direction was made at little Topeka High.
Meanwhile, a welder named Oliver Brown, who was African-American, was becoming increasingly frustrated with his daughter having to walk a mile to the bus stop and ride several more miles to the black elementary school every day. Emboldened by the events at the high school, he petitioned the school system to allow her to attend the "white" elementary school that was a few blocks from their house. Under the "separate but equal doctrine" that had been in place for 75 years, he was denied.
Now here is where the plot commences to thicken. The local NAACP got wind of Brown's request and subsequent denial. They convinced him and several other parents to allow the filing of a class-action suit on their behalf. This suit made it all the way to the United States Supreme Court where it was successfully argued by a young NAACP attorney named Thurgood Marshall. The court's 9-0 decision overruled "separate but equal" as inherently in violation of the "equal treatment" clause of the 14th Amendment. Thus, segregation was legally ended in the U.S. and the arduous, often dangerous task of implementing racial integration of the public schools, one that many of us recall, was begun.
Of course, this victory was bound to happen somewhere in America sooner or later. In the post war era the winds of justice had been rolling across our sadly uneven social landscape for some time. But this enormous step forward, in fact, did happen sooner rather than later in little Topeka, Kan., and the iconic phrase "Brown vs. Board of Education" became an eternal beacon of social justice because a 16-year-old teen had the courage and personal integrity to look at his community and say, "This is wrong."
The teen was Dean Smith.
As you may know, he went on to achieve greatness as a teacher, mentor and role model to thousands of young people in his adopted state of North Carolina and around the world. Along the way he continued to speak out against social injustice in words as well as actions. In the 1960s, he took his minister and a young African-American divinity student to dinner at The Pines Restaurant effectively ending segregation in Chapel Hill's public places.
Years later, while testifying before a legislative committee on capital punishment he pointed his finger at his friend, Gov. Jim Hunt, and said, "You're a murderer. And I'm a murderer. The death penalty makes us all murderers." He was known to call death-row inmates on the eve of their executions to remind them that they are not forgotten. What he did for his players is one of the great success stories in all of sports.
His exemplary life prompted columnist Rick Reilly to write in Sports Illustrated in 2003, "When Dean Smith retired at 66, I never thought I'd meet a man I respected more. Then I met Dean Smith at 72."
Later this month Smith will turn 82. He is in a difficult place as his considerable mind is aging faster than his body. His heart and soul are not aging at all.
Thanks, Coach — for everything.
Jim Nance is reminded of a quote from Wayne Muller, "We have only the opportunity to do the right thing. Not to make the right thing happen."


text:
The images below are part of a collection of Hassell watercolours held at the Surrey History Centre. High quality copies of these and other images from the collection are available for purchase from Surrey History Centre.
Find out more details on the Surrey History Centre website.
Click on one of the small pictures below to see larger versions of the images. Click on the right or left margin of the larger image to go to the next or previous one. Click on the title below an image to find out more about the watercolour and visit the collection catalogue records.
Click here for more information on John and Edward Hassell and to see a list of the other galleries available on this site.
Click here to see the catalogue of the St Mary Magdalene, Reigate, Parish Records (1556-1910) held at the Surrey History Centre. Many of these records are now available to search and browse on-line through Ancestry.
Many historic buildings and archaeological features in the local area are included in the county's Historic Environment Record, click here to see more information, including a location map.


text:
Maine company leases vessel, ready to restart ferry service to Nova Scotia this summer
ELIOT, Maine (AP) � A Maine company that wants to operate ferry service between Portland and Nova Scotia says it has an agreement to lease a new $165 million vessel and could start service this summer if it is awarded a contract.
Quest Navigation Inc. of Eliot is one of two companies proposing to operate the service between Portland and Yarmouth, Nova Scotia.
Quest officials tell The Portland Press Herald (http://bit.ly/Yjb5JG ) the vessel is 531-feet long, has 162 cabins, two restaurants and capacity for more than 1,200 passengers.
The other company, Baltimore-based Maritime Applied Physics Corp., is an engineering firm that specializes in designing electro-mechanical systems for harsh environments.
The Nova Scotia government is expected to decide this month whether to partner with one of the companies or issue another request for bids.
Information from: Portland Press Herald, http://www.pressherald.com


text:
Investors Wise to Secret's Tantalizing Promise
Jul 22, 2014 5:00 AM PT
Secret last week announced that a recent round of funding, to the tune of US$25 million, would help it expand its reach in the social networking space.
Since its launch about six months ago, Secret has provided a platform for users to post anonymous notes on topics ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime.
Though its draw is anonymity, Secret adds interest by pointing users to posts by people in their circle of friends, or friends of friends. It manages this by accessing users' contacts, though it doesn't publish any information to tip off the identity of the poster.
Investors on Board
Secret's access previously was limited to users' mobile phone contact lists, but its new features will expand its ability to create social links. Now, users can choose to log in through Facebook -- but their information will remain completely anonymous on Secret.
The Facebook integration will allow users to expand their Secret network beyond their mobile contacts. Because Secret users can comment only on the posts of contacts, widening these circles could help Secret boost user time and activity throughout the site.
Secret also will be adding Collections, a "daily digest" of the best of Secret in categories like food or love. That will allow Secret users to curate a feed pertinent to their interests.
Investors seem to have been impressed by Secret's plans for its future. Its backers include Index Ventures, Redpoint Ventures, Fuel Capital, SV Angel and more. Its current valuation is $100 million.
Staying Secret?
Since secrecy is such an integral component, it seems a little surprising that Secret would want to add Facebook integration, said Anindya Ghose, professor of IT and marketing at New York University and codirector of the Center for Business Analytics at NYU Stern.
"This is basically Secret's endeavor to grow its user base by providing an additional convenience for users," he told the E-Commerce Times.
"At first glance, it seems counterintuitive to me. The foundation of Secret is based on preserving anonymity. A potential integration with Facebook can jeopardize the comfort feeling that current users have with this app," Ghose suggested.
Other Challenges
During this growth phase, Secret also needs to make sure it is attracting the right kind of users -- not those who initially may be intrigued by the concept but then might delete the app or never check in again after discovering a messy bunch of not-so-secret secrets, said social media marketing strategist Paul Gillin.
"Secret is going to have to justify this valuation by providing metrics about user loyalty," he noted. "We need to know how interactive their users are, how many posts they do per day or month, how many unique subscriber visits they have, etc. Even an established network like Twitter is still dealing with issues like this, since a small percentage of the site's users do most of the talking."
Those figures could be especially important when it comes to ongoing valuation and monetization, an area in which Secret already has a few odds stacked against it, Gillin added.
"Advertisers don't want to be associated with profanity or other salacious details that might come up on Secret," he said. "That's not a friendly environment, and Secret might have to come up with some ways to get around that and have a monetization plan."
Tough Road Ahead
Secret is too young and malleable to write it off, though, said Ghose. If it takes the opportunity to test how the Facebook login works and continues to be open to changing to adapt to the social landscape, it has the potential to establish itself as an off-the-beaten-path social space for people already clued in to the tech world.
"Those users who are less worried about privacy will be the early users of this feature, and the rest of the community will wait to see how things unravel," he pointed out. "If things go smoothly, this can dramatically multiply Secret's user base."


text:
Update: This contest is now closed. I'll be announcing the winners at the end of the month.
All bakers are supposed to have shelves and shelves of yellow, dog-eared cookbooks. Well, I don't. When seeking out new recipes or recipe inspiration, I seldom turn to printed material; rather, I typically look to my fellow food bloggers. I browse sites like Foodgawker and Tastespotting and use Food Blog Search. I also rely heavily on Google and shared recipe sites like All Recipes.
My online searches, however, have never led me to anything even remotely like The Flavor Bible. The Flavor Bible is not a traditional recipe-laden cookbook. It is a guide to flavor combination that makes coming up with your own recipes so much easier! Since receiving a free copy of it, I've used it several times a week! Remember my pistachio cupcakes with rosemary?
Check out this selection from page 268 of The Flavor Bible. All of the items on the first list are things that go with pistachios. I never would have thought to use rosemary in my pistachio cupcakes without this list! I also love the "Avoid" section and the quotes from top chefs.
The Flavor Bible is organized alphabetically by ingredient. Wondering what to make with those peaches that are going bad on your counter? Simply turn to the peach page and get inspired. The Flavor Bible is so handy that I wish I had a Kindle just so that I could easily take the e-book version with me to the market.
With all due respect to every published cupcake book (and there are a lot), The Flavor Bible (without a single cupcake recipe) is my favorite cupcake book. It encourages creativity in the kitchen – and to me, that's what makes baking fun.
Here's How You Can Win a Copy
I'm giving away two copies of The Flavor Bible. Here's how you can win:
- Leave a comment and tell me about a flavor combination that you love. Be sure to include your email address so I can contact you if you win.
- I will randomly select one winner from everyone who comments.
- The second winner will not be random. It will be the person whose flavor combination I most want to turn into a cupcake. So, be sure to sell me on why I should pick your idea. As most of you know, I am not scared off by strange combinations.
- All comments must be submitted by Tuesday, July 20 11:59PM CDT.
- I will announce both winners and reveal the cupcake that I made with the second winner's suggestion by the end of the month.
- Due to potential bias, family and friends (if your number is in my cellphone or if I've sent you personal emails, that's you) are not eligible for the non-random prize.
- The books can only be shipped to a U.S. address.
Good luck!


text:
In response to Jesus' assertion that they know the Father and have seen him (v. 7), Philip says, Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us (v. 8). It will be enough for us—one would hope so! Here is the great desire of people throughout the ages—the vision of God. In saying it will be enough for us perhaps Philip simply means such a vision would take care of their troubled hearts (v. 1). In any case, Philip's request focuses on what has been central to Jesus all the way through, namely, the Father. Philip has the right focus, though he has much to learn concerning his master.
What in particular does Philip have in mind? His request echoes that of Moses when he said to God, "Show me your glory," which the Septuagint translates, "Show me yourself" (Ex 33:18). The Old Testament has accounts of people who have seen God, yet also warns that such a vision would bring death (see comment on 1:18). Philip seems to have in mind an experience such as Moses or Isaiah had. He has a very exalted view of Jesus since he thinks Jesus can enable such an experience. But his view is not nearly exalted enough, as Jesus makes clear.
Philip has not really known Jesus (v. 9) because at the center of Jesus' identity is his relation to the Father, a relation of such intimacy that Jesus can say anyone who has seen me has seen the Father (v. 9). Again we have the language of agency, reflecting the idea that one's representative is "like to himself" (m. Berakot 5:5; see note on 5:21). But the way Jesus describes this relationship goes far beyond the notion of an agent, for he speaks of a mutual indwelling: I am in the Father, and . . . the Father is in me (v. 10). He does not simply represent the Father, he presents him. Such complete union means that Jesus' words and deeds have their source in the Father (v. 10; cf. 5:36; 8:28; 10:38). Jesus may be the Father's agent, but the Father is also the agent at work through Jesus. Jesus does not say, however, that he is the Father. Throughout the gospel Jesus maintains a careful distinction between his oneness with God and his distinctness from him (see comments on 1:1 and 10:30).
Thus, elements of all three of the forms of sight mentioned above (see comment on 1:18) are included in Jesus' response to Philip. The incarnation points to the value of these first two types of sight, the physical and the intellectual, but in themselves they do not go deep enough. Physical sight is involved in observing Jesus, but this form of seeing is the least significant element, since even the opponents had that. Intellectual insight is important, because Philip is supposed to draw out the implications of what he has seen and heard in Jesus. But again this is not enough, for even the opponents have seen the implications but have rejected them (for example, chap. 9). The third type of sight is needed, that which comes through faith. Jesus asks Philip whether he believes that the Father and the Son dwell within one another (v. 10). Then he addresses all the disciples, saying, Believe [pisteuete, plural] me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves (v. 11). They should trust his claim or, if need be, go to the evidence of the deeds he has done. These deeds have manifested "his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth" (1:14). "The faith at issue is the faith that man really encounters God in his encounter with Jesus, that Jesus and the Father are one" (Bultmann 1971:609). Until they grasp this aspect of Jesus' identity they cannot really understand anything else about him.
With Jesus about to depart, he speaks of greater things, which the disciples themselves are to accomplish (v. 12). Those who will do greater things are not just the disciples to whom Jesus is speaking but anyone who has faith in me. Each believer will do what I have been doing (v. 12), or more literally, "will do the works (ta erga) that I do." Some people find it odd to join together faith and works. Scripture is clear that salvation comes from God's grace, which we appropriate by faith. Our works do not produce life in us, but faith itself includes works because faith is not just a response of the intellect or the feelings but of the whole person, especially of the will. Salvation itself is a matter of sharing in God's own life, and that life is very active. As Paul will say, "The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself [or "working" energoumene] through love" (Gal 5:6).
What are these greater things of which Jesus speaks? Some think he is referring to spectacular miracles, but what would top the raising of Lazarus? Others think it refers to the missionary activity of the disciples, their bringing more converts to faith. Such activity is an important focus for the disciples, but the meaning here is more specific. These greater things are possible because I am going to the Father (v. 12). That is, Jesus' greatest work has yet to occur: his death, resurrection and ascension. After he is glorified, the Spirit will be given (7:39), and believers can then receive the full benefits of the salvation Jesus has accomplished through the union that comes through the Spirit. The disciples' works are greater in that they are "the conveying to people of the spiritual realities of which the works of Jesus are `signs'" (Beasley-Murray 1987:254). So greater things refer to our having a deeper understanding of God and sharing in his own life through actual union with him, which is now possible as a result of Jesus' completed work (cf. 14:20). It is not just a matter of more disciples; it is a matter of a qualitatively new reality in which the disciples share.
Even though Jesus is departing, these greater things are not accomplished by the disciples apart from Jesus (cf. Bultmann 1971:611), but rather through prayer to him (vv. 13-14). Even though he will be gone, they can still ask him. Such a claim may mean merely that Jesus will be a heavenly mediator, but given the clear teaching throughout the Gospel that affirms Jesus' deity we should see much more involved here. Like the Father, he is an appropriate one to whom to pray.
Jesus assures them that I will do whatever you ask in my name (v. 13), a theme that will be repeated throughout the farewell discourse (15:7, 16; 16:23-24, 26; cf. 1 Jn 3:22; 5:14-15). Praying "in Jesus' name" does not refer to some magic formula added to the end of a prayer. It means to pray in keeping with his character and concerns and, indeed, in union with him. The disciples, through their union with Christ, are taken up into his agenda. This agenda, as throughout his ministry, is to bring glory to the Father (v. 13). This verse has been understood by some Christians to be a blanket promise that Jesus will give them whatever they want. Such idolatry of the self is the very opposite of eternal life. "Whatsoever we ask that is adverse to the interests of salvation, we do not ask in the name of the Savior" (Augustine In John 73.3). Rather, the promise is made to those who will pray in Jesus' name and for the glory of the Father. As such it is a great promise for the advance of God's purposes in oneself, in the church and in the world.
That which is called for on the part of the disciple is love: If you love me, you will obey what I command (v. 15), or, more literally, "you will keep my commands" (tas entolas tas emas teresete). Again Jesus describes himself in a role commonly, though not exclusively, associated with God, the giver of commands. This statement is not so much a promise that the one who loves him will keep his commands as it is a definition of love itself. Jesus is referring not only to his ethical instructions, which are very few in this Gospel, but to the whole of his teaching (vv. 23-24), including his way of life. Accordingly, John will instruct his disciples later, saying, "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did" (1 Jn 2:6; cf. 1 Cor 4:17). Now the hallmark of Jesus' "ways," his "walk," was complete dependence on and obedience to the Father, only doing and speaking what he received from the Father. Such a life is itself an expression of love, since love, for John, is the laying down of one's life (1 Jn 3:16). Thus Jesus himself has modeled the life of love he describes here in terms of obedience (cf. 8:29; 14:31). Love, like faith, is the engagement of the whole person, especially the person's will.
Faith and love unite disciples to God and take them up into God's work, but these "greater things" will require God's own resources. So Jesus promises that I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever (v. 16). Here is the first of several references in the farewell discourse to the Paraclete (parakletos), translated in the NIV as Counselor (14:16-17, 26; 15:26; 16:7-11, 13-15). This word is a verbal adjective meaning "called alongside," related to the verb parakaleo, "call to one, summon." Outside the New Testament it is used in legal contexts to mean "a legal assistant, advocate" (Liddell, Scott and Jones 1940:1313; Behm 1967:800-803). Johannes Behm, among others, tries to argue that this is the meaning in John as well (1967:811-14) but has to conclude "subsidiary senses were interwoven into the primary sense of `advocate,' so that no single word can provide an adequate rendering" (1967:814). Actually, even the sense of advocate, as either a defense attorney or a spokesman, is not present in John (Brown 1970:1136). Rather, in John the functions of the Paraclete are mainly "teaching, revealing and interpreting Jesus to the disciples" (Turner 1992:349). While the Paraclete's activity of testifying to Jesus (15:26) and convicting the world (16:7-11) are like legal activities, they are not specifically activities of a defense attorney but rather of a prosecuting attorney, toward the world, and a witness, toward the disciples. Thus, "the title and the tasks ascribed to the Paraclete seem to be out of step" (Burge 1987:7), and there is no comprehensive title that does justice to "the variety of traits given to the Paraclete" (Burge 1987:9). It is best to use the transliteration "Paraclete" and examine the Gospel itself to see how John uses the term.
John speaks of the Paraclete in relation to the Father, the Son, the disciples and the world. The Father is the source of the Paraclete (14:16, 26; 15:26), and Jesus is the one who sends the Paraclete by asking the Father to send him (14:16, 26; 15:26; 16:7). Thus both the Son and the Paraclete have the same source, the Father, but the Son has a role in the historical sending of the Paraclete. Both Jesus and the Paraclete play distinct but related roles in the revelation of the Father and the giving of life. Indeed, Gary Burge has counted sixteen similarities between Jesus and the Paraclete (1987:141), which we will note as they appear in the text. For instance, in our present text the Paraclete is called "another Paraclete" (14:16), which implies that Jesus himself is the Paraclete. In 1 John the term itself is actually used of Jesus: "But if anyone does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense [the NIV's paraphrase of parakletos]—Jesus Christ, the Righteous One" (2:1). In 1 John the role does seem to be in a legal setting. Jesus, in his humanity as the Righteous One, is our advocate before God when it comes to dealing with our sin. But in the Gospel, Jesus says the Paraclete will take up the role Jesus himself has already been fulfilling during his ministry. Perhaps the most fundamental aspect of Jesus' ministry has been to mediate the divine presence, so it is tempting to find the general idea behind the usage of the word Paraclete, both in John's letter and in the Gospel, to be "presence." Jesus is a human presence ("the Righteous One") in heaven, and he is the divine presence on earth. The Paraclete (who is himself distinct from Jesus and not simply Jesus' presence) is to continue that divine presence among the disciples.
The various terms used to translate parakletos, such as Counselor, Advocate and Comforter, get at different aspects of what he accomplishes through his presence. The Paraclete is called "the Spirit of truth" (14:16; 15:26; 16:13) and "the Holy Spirit" (14:26), which may help explain why the world does not see or know him (14:17), since the world is neither holy nor of the truth. His dwelling is with the believers, for he is in them and is known by them (14:17). By his presence with the disciples, not with the world, and by his witness to Jesus who was rejected by the world, the Paraclete judges the world through the believers (16:7-11). As the divine presence among believers the Paraclete enables them to be God's presence in the world. He is with them and in them glorifying Jesus by revealing the truth about him to believers (14:16-17; 14:26; 16:13-15). In this way, the community, by the presence of the Paraclete, bears witness to Jesus and thus continues Jesus' own mission of judgment and life-giving. Most commentators think that the Paraclete actually mediates the presence of Jesus to the community. This is true (see comment on 16:25), though John does not say this directly (see comment on 14:23-27).
Thus, we understand that much of John's theology is captured in this term parakletos, especially when we realize it is used of both Jesus and the Spirit. Jesus as the divine presence on earth and the human presence in heaven speaks of the mystery of the incarnation, of the divine-human being who is "presence" both before God and humanity. Jesus and the Spirit together reveal the Father within history—Jesus within his own person and the Spirit through testimony to Jesus within and through the community of God, those who have received Jesus and been given power to become children of God (1:12) and have become witnesses to Jesus (15:26-27). The Spirit is the divine presence within believers, bringing about the transformation of human beings so they live the life of God in the form that such divine life takes within and among us creatures, though John does not use the term Paraclete when referring to this role of the Spirit. Rather, the role of the Spirit as Paraclete is similar to that of the Spirit of prophecy in the Old Testament, that is, "the Spirit acting as the organ of communication between God and a person" (Turner 1992:342; see also p. 351). He bears witness to Jesus, thereby leading the disciples into all truth and convicting the world for their rejection of Jesus. This theme of bearing witness is part of the larger motif of a legal trial that runs through the Gospel: Jesus reveals the Father, which brings about the world's judgment, and the world in turn condemns Jesus.
Returning to our present passage (14:16), we see that the Paraclete, like the Son, comes from the Father as a gift of the Father, for Jesus says the Father will give them the Paraclete at the Son's request. In contrast to Jesus, who is now departing, the Paraclete will be with them forever. As we will soon learn, it is only Jesus' visible presence that will be absent from them; Jesus himself will remain in union with them. Thus both Jesus and the Paraclete will be with the believers. Further connection with Jesus is evident when he refers to the Paraclete as the Spirit of truth, since Jesus is the truth, as he has just affirmed (14:6). The Paraclete's relation to the world is like Jesus', since the world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him (v. 17), as has been the case with Jesus.
Jesus contrasts the disciples to the world: But you know him, for he lives (menei, "remains," "abides") with you and will be in you (v. 17). This present tense, you know him, seems strange, since Jesus has yet to request the Spirit (v. 16; 16:7) and the disciples have not yet received the Spirit. Although Jesus says this Paraclete will be in you, he already remains among them (v. 17; par' hymin menei, translated in the NIV as lives with you). The Spirit is not absent before the glorification. Indeed, he is present "without limit" in Jesus (3:34; cf. Burge 1987:83-84) and must be at work in the disciples in order for them to have the faith and love that Jesus mentions (vv. 12, 15; cf. Augustine In John 74.1-2). But the Paraclete has not yet been sent to the disciples and received by them in the new way Jesus is opening up. Both Jesus and this Paraclete have been present to the disciples already, even though the coming level of intimacy with both will be so much deeper that it is the difference between death and life (see comment on 20:22; cf. Gen 2:7).
Having promised that the Paraclete would be given to the disciples, Jesus next speaks of his own return to them (v. 18). Some suggest that orphans is "simply used in a figurative sense for `abandoned'," with "perhaps a hint of the defenselessness of the orphan: `I will not leave you unprotected'" (Seesemann 1967:488). But more is involved, for Jesus is the only way to the Father (v. 6), and apart from him we are in fact orphaned. Only his coming to us overcomes this condition. But which coming does Jesus refer to? The fact that the disciples will see him (v. 19) suggests his coming spiritual presence with them is not in view, and the fact that the world will not see him rules out the second coming. So, most likely, he is speaking of his appearance after the resurrection (Beasley-Murray 1987:258), at which time he will impart the Spirit to them (20:22).
Not only will they not be abandoned, with Jesus' return after the resurrection they will enter into the new kind of life he has been revealing throughout his ministry (v. 19). The phrase before long, literally, "yet a little while" (eti mikron), comes from the Old Testament (for example, Ps 37:10 par. 36:10 LXX; Is 10:25; 26:20; 29:17; Jer 51:33 par. 28:33 LXX; Hos 1:4; Hag 2:6), where it is used "to express optimistically the shortness of time before God's salvation would come" (Brown 1970:607). When Jesus uses the expression it is indeed only a little while, a matter of a couple of days, until the salvation that is the beginning of the fulfillment of all the hopes will come. This salvation is a matter of life: Because I live, you also will live (v. 19). They will live because they will be united to him by the Spirit and thus come to share in the life of him who is resurrection and life. All of this is made possible by Jesus' own death and resurrection.
These connections are brought out in the next verse: On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you (v. 20). The day referred to is the day of resurrection that inaugurates on earth a qualitatively new form of life, eternal life. The phrase on that day, like the phrase before long, echoes Old Testament hopes, for it is used 111 times in the Prophets to refer to the day of God's great acts of judgment and salvation. Here the salvation is expressed in terms of knowledge and union. The intimacy that exists between the Father and the Son has been the subject of Jesus' revelation. Jesus has called upon the disciples to accept this truth about him in faith (vv. 10-11), and now he promises that after the resurrection the disciples will come to realize it (gnosesthe), they will know it. Like faith, this knowledge is not just an intellectual grasping of a truth. It comes from a participation in the divine reality itself, for it is said they will share in that relationship because they will be in the Son and he in them. Thus, what was just said of the Paraclete (v. 17) is now said of the Son. The Son and the Paraclete will both indwell the disciples, key themes that will be developed in the rest of the farewell discourse.
This indwelling is what will enable them to accomplish the task of doing "greater things" (v. 12). What has been true of Jesus will now be true of them—not that they will become unique sons and daughters of God as Jesus is the "One and Only" (1:14, 18), but rather that they, continuing as creatures, will share in the divine life by being taken up into the Son, just as Jesus took up into himself humanity at his incarnation. For Jesus "was much more than one individual among the many. He was the true self of the human race, standing in that perfect union with God to which others can attain only as they are incorporate in Him; the mind, whose thought is truth absolute (14:6), which other men think after Him; the true life of man, which other men live by sharing it with Him (14:6, 20; 6:57)" (Dodd 1953:249).
Jesus then ties this teaching together by repeating his description of the disciples of whom all of this will be true: Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me (v. 21). This union is not simply a matter of shared ideas or feelings but of shared life. The love is reciprocal: He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him (v. 21). This verse does not deny the love God has for all his creatures, but rather speaks of the fulfillment of that love in a qualitatively new way for those who are in the Son. Believers are those who "have entered into the same reciprocity of love that unites the Father and the Son" (Barrett 1978:465).
Jesus says that he himself will love such a disciple and will show himself to him or her (v. 21). Thus, Jesus himself will remain in personal contact with his disciples. He may be departing, but he will remain in relationship with them although the relationship will exist in a new form (see comment on 20:17). The showing he mentions could refer to his resurrection appearances, but the shift from the plural (v. 20, you) to the singular (v. 21, he who) suggests more is intended (Ridderbos 1997:507). The reference to resurrection presence slides over into a reference to the ongoing presence mediated by the Spirit, as becomes clear from the further discussion raised by this statement.
Starting your free trial of Bible Gateway Plus is easy. You're already logged in with your Bible Gateway account. The next step is to enter your payment information. Your credit card won't be charged until the trial period is over. You can cancel anytime during the trial period.
Click the button below to continue.
You've already claimed your free trial of Bible Gateway Plus. To subscribe at our regular subscription rate of $3.99/month, click the button below.
It looks like you're already subscribed to Bible Gateway Plus! To manage your subscription, visit your Bible Gateway account settings.
Upgrade to the best Bible Gateway experience! With Bible Gateway Plus, you gain instant access to a digital Bible study library, including complete notes from the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible and the Believer's Bible Commentary. Try it free for 30 days!
Three easy steps to start your free trial subscription to Bible Gateway Plus.


text:
Porcello, Tigers blank Indians in series opener
CLEVELAND -- The Tigers insisted on their way into town that it was too early for a big series. It wasn't too early for a big game.
It was important for Rick Porcello, who largely quieted Cleveland's left-handed hitters on his way to seven scoreless innings in a 7-0 Tigers win Friday night at Progressive Field.View Full Game Coverage
CLEVELAND -- The Tigers insisted on their way into town that it was too early for a big series. It wasn't too early for a big game.
It was important for Rick Porcello, who largely quieted Cleveland's left-handed hitters on his way to seven scoreless innings in a 7-0 Tigers win Friday night at Progressive Field.View Full Game Coverage
"Personally, I thought his mound presence tonight, with a packed house, on the road, a team right there with you, I thought his presence was the best I've seen it," manager Jim Leyland said.
It was big for Jhonny Peralta, who was 1-for-17 off former Indians teammate Justin Masterson before delivering a two-out, two-run double in the fifth inning to knock Cleveland's ace out of the game.
"When the sinker is up, anybody can hit it," Masterson said. "It doesn't matter what the numbers are."
It was even big for Ramon Santiago, 1-for-14 off Masterson and 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position before his two-run single in the second inning.
"With [Masterson], you have to look for something up in the zone," Santiago said. "When that sinker's down, there's nothing you can do."
It was pretty good, too, for Victor Martinez, whose third three-hit game against his old club this year raised his batting average to .242, tying his high for the season.
"That looked like the Victor Martinez we know tonight -- patient and just hitting line drives all over the ballpark," Leyland said. "That's the Victor we know."
And with the resulting victory, their lead in the American League Central looks a little bigger, too, now back to 2 1/2 games. Detroit has gained three games on Cleveland in the standings in as many days while putting together a four-game winning streak, all on the road.
It's too early to watch the standings, several Tigers insisted. Their late-season comeback last year was an example why, Peralta pointed out after the Tigers beat Toronto on Thursday. They're not, however, diminishing the importance of wins.
It's the third time this year the Tigers have won four in a row away from Comerica Park. The last was a four-game sweep of the Astros in Houston two months ago. A win Saturday would tie their longest streak of the season, home or away.
"We're trying to win games," Leyland argued before the game. "It doesn't matter that we're playing Cleveland."
The crowd of 40,167, the first sellout at Progressive Field for a game other than Opening Day since the Yankees were in town on July 4 two years ago, might suggest a little more importance. A mix of reconnected Tribe faithful and traveling Tigers fans packed the place, but only the latter had much to cheer.
"That's the most I've ever seen here since I've been coming here to play," Don Kelly said. "That was fun."
Masterson (10-7) has pitched his way into consideration for a spot on Leyland's AL All-Star roster, but he has beaten the Tigers just twice in 13 career meetings. After he retired Detroit's first four batters in order, the two-out, two-run single from Santiago of all people started his fortunes down a similar path.
Miguel Cabrera, back in Detroit's lineup after missing Thursday's game with back soreness, singled in Andy Dirks in the third inning before three fifth-inning runs knocked Masterson out. All three scored with two outs on hits from former Clevelanders, Martinez's RBI single preceding Peralta's drive to the fence in right-center field.
Masterson gave up six runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings. For this night, at least, he was the second-best sinkerballer on the mound, throwing more pitches in less than five innings (108) than Porcello (101) threw in his seven.
But then, Porcello continues to make strides to become less reliant on his sinker.
Like his 13-0 teammate Max Scherzer, Porcello used a curveball to his advantage against left-handed batters. Against a Cleveland lineup with just two right-handed hitters, Porcello went to the curve for five outs over his first four innings.
"It was the game plan going in," Porcello said, "and the ability to execute it tonight was the difference. The curveball was there. … We went to it a lot."
When the Indians finally adjusted, Porcello (5-6) went back to his change of speeds to close out.
"He had a good four-seamer that he was getting to us at the end of counts," Michael Bourn said. "After he slowed us down, he was speeding us up pretty much. We never really got him in any real trouble."
Porcello said he and Scherzer have talked about their similar work with the curveball to better attack lefties, though they have different games around them. "I think Max uses his curveball a little differently than I do, because his fastball and changeup are real put-away pitches," Porcello said. "But for me, I'm trying to use it early and often, maybe not trying to strike guys out but get guys to roll over on it and set up my fastball more."
Porcello allowed five hits and two walks against six strikeouts. It marked his third outing of seven or more scoreless innings in his last eight starts. He has three other six-inning quality starts in that span, with two disastrous outings filling it out.
Nights like Friday are the ones when the 24-year-old's progress looks impressive. To do it in this game was big, at least for him.
"I know that we've had a tough time winning here the past couple years," Porcello said. "This is a tough place to win games. They play really well at home. Really, against this team, no lead is safe. Everybody did a great job. Hopefully we can get two more and get out of here."
Jason Beck is a reporter for MLB.com. Read Beck's Blog and follow him on Twitter @beckjason.


text:
Online Concealed Carry Permit Course
My online course fulfills the training requirements for Virginia and Arizona. Combined, these two permits allow you to carry concealed in up to 36 states, which is why people from all over the nation are taking my course. (You can see what they've said about it right here.)
This course consists of a training video that is less than 90 minutes long, and is followed by a simple 20-question quiz. Although 99% of people pass the quiz on their first try, those who don't, get to take the quiz again for free.
Once the video and quiz are completed, you'll be emailed your training certificates for both Virginia and Arizona. In other words, when you register for this course you don't have to pay for two different state's certificates, you pay for Virginia and I include Arizona for free.
If you have any questions, please check out the frequently asked questions page here. If you don't get an answer to your question there, you can contact me here or feel free to call me at 801-512-2545. Also, to better increase your safety, this course includes 8 free gifts including a copy of my book and a free expert witness voucher.


text:
New boss at the county landfill
Pitkin County's new solid waste manager is a 20-year veteran of landfill operations with extensive experience in landfill gas diversion programs.
Cathleen Hall, who currently manages projects at 29 landfill sites in the mid-Atlantic region, will take the helm at the Landfill on March 4. A nationwide search for the position was conducted after a leadership change at the landfill last fall.
"We were looking for someone with the experience and vision to operate our facility with an eye on innovation. Cathleen will help us develop new waste diversion programs and creative funding mechanisms that will help us improve our operation," said Public Works Director Brian Pettet.
The new solid waste manager will inherit a landfill operation that is already a leader in the state for its recycling and waste diversion programs. Approximately 70 percent of the waste that finds its way to the landfill is recycled, converted or diverted, according to Pettet. The well-trained team of recycling workers that will greet Hall at the landfill converts rocks and boulders from construction sites into road base, gravel and other gravel products that are made available for sale. The team also converts yard waste, wood, and treated sludge into landscape material including top soil, wood chips, compost, shred mulch and potting soil.
Among the challenges facing Hall will be maintaining the landfill's competitiveness should a new waste transfer station be opened in Carbondale.
"We'll rely on Cathleen's strong business background to help us continue the success of our current funding mechanisms for the landfill and help us come up with creative new opportunities to allow us to operate one of the most self-sufficient and successful departments in Pitkin County Government," Pettet said.
"My entire career has been focused on one day operating a landfill like the one in Pitkin County," Hall said. "I have a lot of experience making landfills user-friendly and growing recycling programs. I'm also looking forward to exploring the possibility of starting a landfill gas to energy program in Pitkin County in the future."
0 Comments on "New boss at the county landfill"
Be the first to comment below.