text:
Cataloging Insect and Bat Diversity: A Research Trip to Belize
By David Wyatt
It was late 2002 and I had just received my latest Bat Conservation International magazine. As I relaxed on the couch and read the articles, my eye caught on a field expedition to Belize being led by biologist Fiona Reid. This expedition would study the bats of Belize at several locations in the northern half of the county in July of 2003 and they were looking for participants. I ended up going on the trip with two of my former students and it changed my life! We not only worked with the bats, but we stayed longer and brought back over 200 insect specimens from that trip. This trip started my love affair with that remarkable country.
Since that trip, I've been back to Belize eight more times — often leading eco-tours that have a distinctly wildlife biology slant. On every trip, there is always a small research component where we document inventories of wildlife we see. But since 2003, I haven't led a purely research-oriented mission until my upcoming trip in June 2014. For my next trip, seven biologists, including myself, will be studying the insect and bat diversity in the northern Maya Mountains of Belize. We will also establish a major entomology collection in Belize while conducting an inventory of bats in the area of the Maya Mountains.
My research team includes three professional entomologists, three of my former students (all now professional biologists and seriously involved with entomology), and one of my current students who will be heading to the University of California to study entomology. As implied above, I am a biology professor at a community college in Sacramento, California, and yep, entomology is one of the classes I teach. I fell in love with the subject through the mentorship of entomologist Dr. Bill Shepard who took me on many collecting excursions when I was his student. Now I'm able to return that favor to my own students — FUN!
We will be spending two weeks in Belize setting up the entomology collection at the field station owned and operated by the Toucan Ridge Ecology and Education Society. This is a relatively new field station operated by two professional biologists and situated in the northern section of the Maya Mountains. We are bringing with us all of the entomology collecting and curating materials, including 24-30 California Academy of Science drawers. The collection will be housed at the field station. In addition, we are collaborating with the Biodiversity Center of Belize, who will be doing DNA barcoding of specimens we collect.
In addition to the entomology work, we will also be inventorying bats through mist netting activities. While I really love working with the insects, I also love studying bats, and four of my team members also have experience with bats. So, we are also going to work with the insect ectoparasites that are specific to bats — namely the fly families Streblidae and Nycteribiidae. This is such a fascinating group of parasitic insects (they are all blood feeders) that are exclusive to bats and highly co-evolved with the bats. Below is a photograph of a Noctilio leporinus (the greater fishing bat) with what looks to be streblid flies on her face.
It truly is exciting to be part of an effort to increase knowledge of the biodiversity of this area of Belize. After all, the first impetus to protecting wildlands is to develop a better understanding of what lives out there. Thus, biological inventories are crucial to this effort. We plan to contribute our share of information to this effort through the establishment of this entomology collection for current and future researchers.
Below are some quotes from three of the team members, and if you wish to learn more about this work, click here to visit our webpage.
Be sure to check out the Lab Notes too — we'll be regularly posting our findings in the Lab Notes.
"I've listened with envy to stories entomologists have told me about their first rainforest collecting trips, but I never thought I'd be in a position to go on one myself. I'm going to miss my wife and two little girls immensely, but it's an exciting honor to be a part of this volunteer team of zealous amateur and professional entomologists. It's also thrilling to think that the results of our fieldwork will actually contribute to the corpus of knowledge; this isn't like collecting butterflies in my neighborhood — it's Real Science." — Daniel Neal
"It is a bit difficult to explain exactly what this trip means to me because of its immense significance and power to share knowledge. This research expedition fulfills a childhood dream of mine. I have the opportunity to help build our scientific understanding of an ecosystem so incredibly rich with life that nobody knows all of what resides in it. Not only that, but this project will assist in forming the basis for future conservation efforts. This will be an incredible experience and I am honored to be a part of it." — Krystal Pulsipher
"This project is something special to me. As an entomology student, it was somewhat frustrating to not have all the skills to make a difference to entomology. It was Professor David Wyatt who showed me that I can make a difference to the insects that I so love. What this project means to me is beyond words. It is a chance to walk in the footsteps of heroes like Charles Darwin, Alfred Russel Wallace, and E. O. Wilson. Equally frustrating to students are the huge number of insect collections that are locked away, eaten by dermestids, or crumbling with age. This project is different. It is not a closed expedition. It will remain behind for others to come and add their knowledge too. It is a collection that will add to the scientific knowledge which will benefit the entire entomology and ecological communities, regardless of where you are in your educational journey. To me that is important. If all of the entomological collections around the world were open to scientific input, the amount of knowledge that we could create would be insane. That is one reason. Another is that we will leave Belize with the makings of a collection that will not only benefit the people of Belize, but will bring more people into a place of learning. That could change the world for some of us. If I had been exposed to such a thing when I was a boy picking up bumble bees, I wonder where I would be in my educational journey. That is a gift that we might give to other youngsters. For me, those are all reasons that make this trip important." — David Stillwell
Read more at:
– Cataloging Insect and Bat Diversity in Belize
David Wyatt is a professor of biology at Sacramento City College who has participated in or led nine trips to Belize to study its biodiversity. His research interests are in mammalogy and entomology, with extensive research work having been conducted with ringtails (F: Procyonidae) and bats (O: Chiroptera). In addition, beetles remain a favorite entomological taxon for David, with a special affinity towards adaptations involving predation and predation avoidance.


text:
Exfoliate dirt, grime, and dead skin cells for a clean and clear complexion with the best body scrub for men.
You can only purchase one unique sample at a time.
If used once daily as instructed, this jar will last approximately 60 days.
Scrub away dirt, dead skin, and other impurities that lead to blemishes with the best shower scrub for men. This exfoliating men's body wash leverages natural scrubbing particles, glycolic acid, and willow bark extract to polish your complexion, leading to clear skin with fewer blemishes like body acne, bacne, and ingrown hairs. It's formulated with oatstraw and aloe, which soothe and restore moisture to your skin cells, ensuring that your skin is rejuvenated after each use.
8 oz (and 2 oz travel size)
Get expert advice:
Start An Easy Men's Skincare Routine
Back Acne: Clearing Up Some Misconceptions
What It Does:
Our All Natural Polishing Body Scrub for men uses an exclusive mixture of powerful, natural ingredients to exfoliate, energize, and clear your skin. Your complexion will feel smoother and cleaner immediately, while blemishes like body acne, bacne, and ingrown hairs will be dramatically reduced within two weeks of regular use.
How It Works:
These ingredients, along with other powerful, natural ingredients have been scientifically formulated together to create the best body polishing scrub for men.
"Awesome! Been dealing with back acne since I was a teen... noticed improvement pretty much right away. Couldn't be more impressed." Henry C., Brickell Customer
Use a generous amount on the body during each shower. Can be used on a loofah, wash cloth, or directly applied to the body with your hand. Do not use on facial skin.
Walnut Shell Powder, Aloe Leaf Juice*, Decyl Glucoside, Lauryl Glucoside, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Phenoxyethanol, Lavender Flower Water*, Roman Chamomile Flower Water, Glycerin, Jojoba Seed Oil*, Rosehip Seed Oil, Glycolic Acid, Malic Acid, Tartaric Acid, Lactic Acid, Citric Acid, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein, Provitamin B5, Vitamin E, Sunflower Seed Oil, Oatstraw Extract*, White Willow Bark Extract*, Peppermint Oil, Xanthan Gum, Alcohol, Tetrasodium EDTA*Certified Organic

subset: commoncrawl


text:
|Page Type:
|Trip Report
|Date Climbed/Hiked:
|Apr 6, 2019
Pics: https://photos.app.goo.gl/VNUjp7EHvqdVQXfy8 Mileage/Duration: 15 mi./14 hrs.
Most of my focus for the last several years has been on climbing. It is hiking, bushwhacking, and slide climbing, however, that led me to vertical endeavors. Trips with a long hike as part of the overall outing guide me far from the road noise of some climbing areas. I need these wilderness experiences to counterbalance stresses of life.
With the huge snowpack, I thought there might be some ice in a particular nook of Panther Gorge that I've been looking at since 2014. Loren Swears often accompanies me on some of the more robust trips (like a 22-hour day several years ago). Thus he agreed again when I suggested that we use the snowpack to our advantage and enter the Gorge from high on Marcy. The forecast seemed reasonable: winds from the WNW at 25 M.P.H., temperatures a touch above freezing, and partial clearing in the afternoon. The forecast during the prior week offered freeze/thaw conditions. I hoped the fluctuations would build the ice on the proposed route.
We started walking on bony trail conditions in a light drizzle. God's sense of humour came out when the freeze elevation (the point at which all the ice/snow on the trees melts) fell in synchronicity with our pace. Thus the trees rained on us for the first five miles. We were soaked, but picked up windy conditions near the former Plateau Lean-to site. We also met our first hiker; a fast-mover in trail-runners who didn't own snowshoes.
This also marked the point where we lost the trail and after a few minutes of wandering found it once again. Ever deepening snow and a firm base offered easy walking conditions and we eventually located the Phelps Trail intersection. I recognized several of the nearby treetops and knew the trail sign was buried in the snow one of the trees. That's when our trail-runner friend caught up to us. We explained that the trail meandered and there's no easy way to navigate without a map/compass when you can only see 100' feet ahead in fast-blowing fog. He opted to turn around and give up his plans for Marcy/Skylight/Gray.
A few more minutes of walking placed us at our jump-off point where I trek left and bushwhack down 600 vertical feet. This day, the normal terrain markers were vague to say the least. Only familiarity with the area gave me confidence to continue. Thus we dropped partway down a gully and side-sloped along the usual ridge line above a small cliff band (which was now just a steep bank). Once down the bank, another minor gully guided me. I recognized the spacing of the forest on the 45-degree slope. Roughly 30 minutes later I "felt" open air ahead…one of the many cliffs in Marcy's north end.
One of the few non-technical entrances, a 5-10' wide corridor at the top of a 50-degree slope, was soon at our feet. The ramp dropped away into the abyss…the fog was thicker and the beaver ponds to the south appeared as ghostly apparitions during the occasional thinning of the clouds.
The gully is prone to avalanching. I've walked over debris at its base several times during the last four years. Not this day. It was as firm as the snowpack in the forest. We descended into the depths where I eventually spotted a free-standing pillar that marked the Panther's Pinnacle rock climbing route. Its gray mass blended with the clouds. We finally reached the bottom of the gully and the vertical trap dike on Marcy.
Our goal was to climb the 160' chimney, but limited visibility to assess the route, rotten ice at the bottom, and a variety of other reasons made me decide against it after an hour's study. I'm not one to pout about marching 50 pounds of gear up 4,000 vertical feet over 8.5 miles; it is part of the game and happens every year on either ice or rock. Loren's also not one to care if we "get something done" or not…a nice trait in a partner. Once I'd made up my mind regarding the climb, I simply enjoyed the ambiance of the area and relaxed. It was good to me "home" enjoying the familiar sights and sounds.
The warming temperatures finally caught up to our elevation at 1:00 p.m. Veneered tree branches shed their coatings. The sound of falling ice shards resounded through the chimney and off the cliff. It was soon time to re-climb the ramp into the forest. Still curious about a few details, I bushwhacked over to the top of the chimney which was barely recognizable. The snow had filled in a large hole at its top (near a huge chockstone). The ice at the top appeared somewhat compromised. Spring was taking a toll on the frozen structures of High Peaks.
The requisite exit back up to the trail was made slightly easier by the firm snowpack, but 600 vertical feet up a steep slope was still tiring. Upon arrival, the sun was still obscured by blowing clouds. The walk out was uneventful until at 5:00 p.m. and two miles from the trailhead we happened upon two people. They enthusiastically asked if we thought they could "make" Marcy's summit. A little befuddled (since they had no gear/water/food/packs/jackets and only wore low-top sneakers), I replied that it was a good way to die. They assumedly listened since I didn't read about any rescues the following day! Fourteen hours after our 4:30 a.m. start, we ended another adventure in Panther Gorge.


text:
Learning to recycle right
By Bonita Davis, Master
Recycler and Sunnyside Resident
Recycling in Portland has taken sudden shifts due to the rejection of most of our recyclable materials from international buyers who find it too contaminated with food waste, trash, etc.
Additionally, businesses that would accept items such as plastic food clamshells, rigid plastics, etc., were forced to stop taking those materials and the market closed.
Frustrating and confusing, many of the people I talk with are not willing to give up, but are doing some things differently.
One thing is RECYCLING RIGHT, putting items we aren't sure about into the garbage or turning to either The Curbsider Hotline (503.823.7202) or Metro Recycling (503.234.3000) to get correct information before opening the lid to that blue bin.
Others are taking a serious look at refusing to buy things they don't need, can't recycle or can't be donated.
Maybe this is time to become more informed and active in what is going on! Two ideas: Find out more about materials management by signing up for the 10-week Master Recycling Program at masterrecycler.org and/or the online Recycling 101 certificate course sponsored by the Association of Oregon Recyclers. Info at oregonrecyclers.org.
Voice your concerns. Speak up and share your ideas for less waste with your local businesses. I recently spoke with managers at SE Fred Meyer, New Season's and Market of Choice and learned a lot about their receptivity to customer feedback through receipt surveys, suggestion cards, or chats with a manger. Feedback is read at manager's meetings.
Bound by the same recycling restrictions as everyone else, changes such as the addition of durable plates and cutlery at hot food and salad bars, reduced packaging for take outs and bakery goods, and incentives for bringing your own coffee cups and bags are becoming more commonplace.
When talking with manufacturers, the experts at the Metro Recycling Hotline suggest stressing how much you like the product and wish to continue purchasing it, then suggest the changes you would like to see (in packaging for example). Then thank them.
Manufactures may be hard to track down, so it may be helpful to begin giving your feedback at the store level so they can route it to the best source.
Packed with ideas on how to take positive action on behalf of our environment, Eugene's Mary DeMocker has authored The Parents' Guide to Climate Revolution. This mom/activist, outlines how to get the family involved in not only making wise choices, but empowering kids and neighbors to speak up.
For her, it helped trade worry with a good night's sleep. DeMocker's ideas go beyond recycling and present actions that take as little as 5, 30, to 60 minutes and cost nothing or as much as you wish to invest.
Along with creative ideas, she lists helpful organizations. It's available where you get your books.
Windermere Realty Trust's Hawthorne office gathered its brokers and staff to volunteer at Hollywood Senior Center as part of their annual Community Service Day.
Established 34 years ago, Windermere's Community Service Day has been recognized nationally as a model hands-on volunteer program and has been adopted by real estate companies around the country.
Brokers donate a portion of their commission from every transaction to the Windermere Foundation, which supports low-income children and families. To date, over $3.25 million has been donated to 164 local organizations through the local chapter of the Windermere Foundation.
Summer Art Camp
This summer, Richmond neighborhood will be brimming with creative activities at SummerArt Camps for children grades K-4th. The camp is sponsored by Art Literacy Academy, an after school program at Abernethy Grade School.
Classes are limited to 10-12 children and include nature walks to explore the connection of nature to art, and lessons in drawing, painting, sculpture and printmaking.
Sessions are offered for the following weeks: July 9-13, July 23-27 and August 13-18 each day from noon – 5 pm at Colonial Heights Presbyterian Church, 2828 SE Stephens St.,
For more info, email Serene at firstname.lastname@example.com and see artliteracyacademy.com
Non-Recyclable Plastics Ban
It could soon be the last straw for Portland's City Council – at least the last plastic straw. A vote by City Council directed the Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) to develop a strategy to reduce single-use, non recyclable plastics and invite feedback from community members, hospitals and care facilities, and businesses that stock and supply straws.
Portland is considering the ban as a response to the global plastic litter problem involving non recyclable single use plastics.
Plastic straws are one of many items littering our land and oceans and impacting wildlife habitat. In fact, plastic straws are the 6th most frequently occurring litter in the United States, according to the 2017 Ocean Conservancy report.
Over 663 species, including sea turtles, whales, dolphins and seabirds, are impacted by plastic, either by ingesting or becoming entangled in plastic debris.
How and when change will occur will be determined in the development of the ordinance. See portlandoregon.gov/bps/reduceplastics and follow the progress of this strategy.
Still wondering why you didn't get an invitation to the Royal Wedding? Don't be disappointed. Enjoy the unique flavors of Harry and Meghan's wedding cake at Toadstool Cupcakes 3557 SE Hawthorne Blvd., with their "Elderflower Cordial Toadstool."
Elderflower Cordial is one of Europe's most popular beverages. The flowers picked each summer for their delicate floral taste are infused with lemons in a simple syrup of sugar and water to create a refreshing, thirst-quenching combination of sweet and tart. It is typically added to sparkling water, lemonade and a variety of cocktails.
It took a team of six bakers, working for five days, plus some 44 lbs of butter, 44 lbs of flour, 44 lbs of sugar, 200 Italian lemons, 500 organic eggs and 10 bottles of the syrup made from the "ethereal" elderflowers to make enough cake to feed 600 wedding guests.
At Toadstools, we drizzle every little English "fairy" cake with elderflower syrup and top them off with a blend of elderflower cordial and heavy cream. Sweet floral notes compliment the fresh, clean accents of lemon and the combination is sublime!
What could be more English than a glass of homemade elderflower cordial, drunk in an English garden in the evening of Midsummer's Day? In fact the most auspicious time to encounter fairies in medieval times was held to be on Midsummer's Eve under an elderflower bush, where it was believed that the Fairy King and Queen, together with their entourage, could be seen passing. Be careful not to fall asleep, because they'll carry you off!
BROW EXPERTS, THREADING & HAIR SALON, 3621 SE Hawthorne Blvd. is now open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 am – 2 pm and 3:30 – 8 pm. Mehar F.A. first became interested in beauty and health applications at thirteen in India where she apprenticed with her aunt, the local wise-woman and healer. She later became a certified cosmetologist and for the past forty years has used only natural ayurvedic products without chemicals. Mehar first did brow threading in Portland ten years ago. The services at Brow Experts currently include eyebrow threading, eyelash extensions, henna and tooth gems. The newly remodeled space has stations available for lease for hair stylists and make-up artists. For an appointment at the salon call 503.327.8530 or to inquire about leasing a space text Mehar at 360.977.4604.
CROSSFIT MONTAVILLA, 8040 SE Stark St., is a new gym in Portland's Montavilla neighborhood. Owners Mike and Holly Rodriguez desire to see all people truly thriving, knowing who they are and connected to one another in community. Join their Community Build initiative by purchasing a reward package in support of their mission to fund scholarships for refugees and bring people together. crossfitmontavilla.com
P P & R summer fun
Golf – Portland Parks & Recreation's Portland Public Golf now offers Free Golf Mondays for junior golfers (kids up to the age of 17) at both the Colwood Golf Center and Eastmoreland Golf Course. Junior golfers can play for free from sunrise until 3 pm on Mondays this summer until school begins again. The program includes the use of golf clubs for kids during their rounds! Please note: kids ages nine and under must be accompanied by an adult when they play.
No reservations are needed nor taken for Free Golf Mondays.
For more information on the program, please contact Colwood Golf Center at 503.254.5515 or Eastmoreland Golf Course at 503.775.2900.
Swimming on the eastside
Creston Pool 4454 SE Powell Blvd. 503.823.3672
Grant Pool 2300 NE 33rd Ave. 503.823.3674
Montavilla Pool 8219 NE Glisan St. 503 823.3675
Sellwood Pool 7951 SE 7th Ave. 503.823.3679
- Portland Pool 740 SE 106th Ave. 503.823.3450
Matt Dishman Pool 77 NE Knott St. 503.823.3673
Mt. Scott Pool 5530 SE 72nd Ave. 503.823.3183
Portland Parks' pools offer open play swims, water exercise classes, junior lifeguard training, junior swim training, summer swim teams, and special events.
For information on all Aquatics offerings, including registration for swimming lessons and other activities, contact the pool near you, visit the PP&R Aquatics website, or call the Aquatic Administration Office at 503.823.5130.
RUMMAGE SALE July 13 and 14 at Tabor Heights Methodist Church SE 61st and Stark. Fundraiser for Mission Trip to Haiti. Donations for sale accepted Monday thru Friday 10-2 pm at the church.
CHANGES TO DEMOLITION CODE – If you plan to do work involving residential demolitions, additions or alterations, you should be aware of an ordinance that City Council passed on June 13, 2018, which simplifies some definitions, adds dust control requirements for major alterations using heavy equipment, and makes other technical changes to the Demolition Code. The ordinance will be implemented July 1, 2018. See portlandoregon.gov/BDS/article/688266
BELMONT LIBRARY EVENTS,1038 SE César E. Chávez Blvd., 503.988.5123. Collage and Assemblage, Thursday, July 5, 2-3 pm. Create a collage with exciting and unexpected materials from SCRAP! Portland Oregon Paper Shapers (POPS), July 8, 1:30-4:30 pm. Enjoy origami-paper folding for fun, relaxation and stretching your brain. Drop in and practice origami with members of the Portland Oregon Paper Shapers. For disability accommodations, call 503.988.5123 or email firstname.lastname@example.com 2-3 days before a program. Computer Basics, Wed, July 18, 5:30-7:30 pm. Registration required. Never tried a computer before? Learn the very basics of using a computer, a keyboard and a mouse. Adults, 50+, Teens. All abilities are welcome. For disability accommodations, call 503.988.5123 or email email@example.com 2-3 days before a program.
I-5 CLOSURES FROM JULY 7-23, Remember the traffic from last summer's eclipse? This summer will be worse. The ramp from I-5 southbound to I-84 will be closed completely. From July 25-August 8, the ramp from I-84 to I-5 northbound will close completely and during one of those weekends, I-5 northbound will be closed between the Marquam and Fremont bridges for paving. From July 27-August 27, I-84 will be reduced to one lane between the Lloyd Center exit and I-5. ODOT estimates that the commute from I-205 to I-5 could take upwards of three hours between 5 am and 11 pm and congestion will be felt out to Troutdale, up to the Glen Jackson Bridge and as far south as Sunnyside.Seetinyurl.com/yd7q9mgm
KEEPING LETTER CARRIERS SAFE – Here are a few examples of things that are hazardous to Letter Carriers: slick steps from rain or snow, mossy steps, tripping hazards such as hoses or electrical cords, rotting wooden steps, crack in the sidewalk or steps, holes in the yard. Keep all pets restrained during the times of mail delivery. Unlock screen doors if the box is inside.
ANNUAL JUDGED FUCHSIA SHOW AND DISPLAY – Friday August 10, noon to 6 pm; Saturday, August 11, 9 am-6 pm and Sunday August 12, 9 am-1 pm. On the grounds behind the buildings at Portland Nursery, 5050 SE Stark St.There will be prize winning fuchsia plants from the Friday judging, display plants brought by members, an extensive display of blossoms, opportunities to get fuchsia questions answered, and a modest selection of baskets and gallon uprights grown by members. Plant sales do not begin until noon on Friday.


text:
MISSION, Texas (Border Report) — Despite water restrictions imposed on Rio Grande Valley residents due to an ongoing drought, water is being taken from irrigation canals for use on nearby border barrier construction, Border Report has learned.
At a canal south of the town of Mission on Thursday, trucks were seen pumping water and filling tankers with gallons of water that was driven about a half mile away to a construction area near Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, where crews are working on remediation of the border wall.
This is a portion of border wall that was built during the Trump administration but stopped when President Joe Biden took office.
However, after local officials complained that the land and residents were at risk due to gaps in the terrain made during border construction, the Department of Homeland Security last year agreed to fix, or remediate, the affected sections.
And that's where Border Report found crews working on Thursday and trucks hauling water from a nearby canal.
Marianna Treviño-Wright, executive director of the National Butterfly Center, says she has been told that her riverfront nonprofit cannot access water from the Rio Grande right now due to emergency procedures put in place by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality's Rio Grande watermaster.
The National Butterfly Center has water rights to the Rio Grande, but the Rio Grande Watermaster has implemented emergency orders that require all water-rights holders to ask for special permission from his office if they want to access water from the river. And requests must be made during business hours when TCEQ can verify that they have a water balance — not deficit, he said.
"Folks need to call our office and request for any water during normal business hours. That's an example of a watermaster emergency procedure that's been enacted," Rio Grande Watermaster Anthony Stambaugh told Border Report on Thursday.
Emergency watermaster procedures were enacted on July 28 as the water levels in Falcon Reservoir and Amistad Reservoir, upstream, fell below 25%, he said.
"The reservoirs are low," Stambaugh said. "So it's a matter of a real-time sense making sure that if someone were to divert that they got enough water to satisfy that diversion."
Water in the canals, however, is not subject to the emergency order because the water has already been metered by an independent irrigation district and accounted for.
But Treviño-Wright says she does not believe it is right for water to be taken from canals at a time when residents in several Rio Grande Valley cities are under mandatory water conservation measures. Especially, she said, after officials at an emergency meeting held last week by the International Boundary and Water Commission said this entire region is at risk of running out of water if triple-digit heat and the drought continue.
"We've been told we cannot take any portion of our allocation right now because the watermaster has reversed everyone's rights, except for municipal water supplies. Yet, all day, every day, we watch Foremost, Kiewit and the border wall builders siphoning water straight from the canal, which delivers water to the treatment facilities for people homes, schools, hospitals and such," she said in a written statement.
Stombaugh told Border Report that contractors are clients of the Mission-based United Irrigation District, which operates the canal that was being pumped.
"These contractors are spilling it on the ground, wasting it, trying to reduce the "dust" they create by driving trucks back and forth. It's totally senseless and a perverse theft of a precious natural resource that's becoming dangerously scarce," Treviño-Wright said.
The cities of McAllen, Mission and Brownsville all have implemented water restrictions that limit the number of days per week that residents can water lawns or whether they can wash cars. In some cases, residents face fines of up to $200.


text:
This week we would like to share a story written by a mission worker in Kenya about prayer. Tohru Inoue is the director for SIM, a mission agency, there and this experience led him to understand prayer in a way that might be helpful for all of us.
"We had a friend come out to lead worship during our spiritual life conference last week.
"Can we go for Ethiopian food before I leave?" he asked.
"Sure. And after that Tibarek and Getachew have invited us for some Ethiopian coffee" I replied.
We had the whole restaurant to ourselves. The boys ran around with their little toy cars. The food came, and Sam kept using my pants to wipe his hands. Yellow lentils covered my knees by the time we were done. I was happy to see how much of the flat bread the boys put away though.
After eating we piled into the car and headed over to Tibarek and Getachew's for coffee. A basket full of popcorn and bread sat on the table to go with our macchiatos. It turned into a story telling session. It's what happens when you're not careful and missionaries reminisce of "the good old" days.
I could see that our friend was tired. I sensed an opening.
"Getachew, pray for our friend. He's travelling home tonight" I requested.
"In our culture, the traveler prays for those who remain," he replied.
It's the traveler who prays … not those who send them.
I remembered the time when we were kicked out of the North. It was those who were kicked out who prayed for those who remained.
It's our director, who is leaving the field for health reasons, who prayed for us during his last address to the team.
It's Jesus who prayed for the disciples before he left, "… that you would be one as I am one with the Father."
It's those who are leaving who pray for those who remain because we must remain here a while. We must remain in the pain; in the brokenness for a while yet."
As you have opportunity to go from one place to another, remember to pray for those who remain.
Praise God for them with thanksgiving. Intercede for them as they face the challenges of their specific situation. Pray over the ministry that they are involved with. Pray for their family and for protection from the attacks of the enemy.


text:
By Adebisi Adeyemi Lagos, Nigeria
We are compelled to intervene to check the despair being desperately spread by agents of destabilization using the so-called ill health of President Muhammadu Buhari as their ploy.
This scare mongering is being fanned by those who want the old order to subsist so that they could feast on the national till unchallenged.
The President did not hide his case when he took ill and sought medical assistance in Britain.
It is no hidden fact that the 16 years of profligacy by the three civilian governments he succeeded destroyed all the structures that existed before 1999, hospitals, farms, schools, roads, sports, power and industry included.
President Buhari has been convalescing. What is this deliberately crafted fear being spread by people who should be in the vanguard to tame unfounded rumours that lead to instability? The President has made public appearances. The Nigerian constitution does not provide for a President to resign if he is sick because only God can guarantee good health. Buhari is not a shopkeeper or trader.
There is no medical evidence that Buhari has lost his faculties and as such is unable to discharge the oath he swore to uphold.
There is no provision in our constitution for the President to obtain sick leave. Why then the present hu ha?
Those who love Nigeria and wish our country to recover from the wreckage left behind by the preceding civilian governments should mobilise to stop this propaganda of fear and despair being spun by treasury looters, with their long purses are unsettling the national recovery war of Buhari.
We appeal to all self-respecting public figures to weigh the words they utter in the interest of Nigeria. The President, as Chief Executive, could hold his cabinet meetings even in his living room.
Many members of our league have more than half-a-century experience of reporting Nigeria and the world. Past Nigerian heads of government from Sir Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa to President Goodluck Jonathan, had different methods of running their cabinet.
There is no provision in the constitution specifically stating that cabinet meetings be held at a particular place on a specific time on a day of the week. We appreciate the present administration's policy which has reduced expenditure on importation of foods, specifically rice. We also back Buhari's herculean fight against corruption and the efforts at recovering our patrimony stolen by heartless politicians and public officers.
The league is alarmed that most state and local governments cannot pay their workers' salaries, yet their governors and legislators wallow in affluence and culpable ostentation expecting the federal government to pick the bill. And some media houses decorate these incompetent governors with awards. In a healthy federation, states and local authorities should bear the burden of the people and not the centre.
All these are unwarrantedly blamed on Buhari who has been bending over to allay the consequences of the actions of these reckless state governors.
We call on people in states where those errant governors preside to hold them responsible for not delivering on so-called "democracy dividends" as it were in the First Republic and other recognised nations of the world.
The league wants the building of modular refineries to be sped up to save our foreign exchange and avail local industries of the multiple derivatives from crude oil.
We are disappointed at the kid gloves being applied in fighting electric power supply in Nigeria and request a complete restructuring of the unwieldy contrivance of the past government to bring it under state control.


text:
Written by fifth_imp for /r/Anarcho_Capitalism.
I say that the notion of claiming an idea as property is absurd, and in fact constitutes a form of slavery. So, let's break this down. What is an idea? Is an idea a tangible object? No, of course not. An idea is a pulse of electricity in your brain. It is a piece of your body. In fact, it is the most essential piece of your body. The web of electricity in your brain is the most fundamental aspect of your being. It is the closest thing to a soul that exists in the physical world. Thus, you clearly own the ideas in your head because you own yourself.
Read the full thing »


text:
Harding Boutique Hotels Ahangama is situated on a private stretch of pristine white sandy beach which is swimmable all year round, Ahangama is a relaxed, unspoilt fishing village on the picturesque South Coast of Sri Lanka. It is just 2.5 hours by road from Colombo International Airport and 25 minutes from the historic city of Galle, a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Situated between the popular towns of Unawatuna and Mirissa, the heart of Sri Lanka's surfing scene, Harding Boutique Hotel is set back from a gorgeous untouched beach with two surf breaks on your doorstep.
Candlelit VIP Dinner For 2
• Private dinner setting Candle lit
• Poolside, Mr. M Rooftop or Beachside under the stars
• 3 course meal
• Champagne on arrival
• Dedicated butler
(Must be booked a day prior)
The VIP Long Lunch
• Private setting
• Poolside, Mr. M Rooftop or Beach side
• 3 course meal
• Champagne on arrival
• Dedicated butler
(Must be booked a day prior)
Yoga & Meditation
Harding Boutique Hotels offer an array of tailor made Yoga & Meditation classes. Indulge in a private one on one yoga or meditation session in the comfort of your own room or for a more inclusive group session on our breath-taking rooftop overlooking the Indian ocean. (Must be booked a day prior).
Massage & Therapies
Bespoke Massage & Therapies can be an excellent way to unwind & completely let go, at Harding Boutique Hotels we offer a variety of therapies ranging from 60 minutes to 90 Minutes from our exclusive international therapists. (Must be booked a day prior).
Things To Do Around Ahangama
Mirissa, Dolphin & Whale Watching
14km to Mirissa, Dolphin & Whale watching with Sail Lanka customise your VIP cruise which can include water sports, BBQ or a romantic dinner. Map
"The hotel's six suites have been designed to offer well-ventilated, open spaces that provide an uninterrupted view of the surrounding landscape."
Design & Build


text:
A few things I learned at the Conservabration:
1. When it comes to Graquel's taste in music, I do not like Incubus but I went out and bought a Crossfade CD based on two songs she plugged into my head from her iPod.
2. Bourbon? A waste of time. I drank several ounces of fancy bourbon (Single barrel? Does this mean anything to anyone?) and it did nothing but instantly give me a headache. I didn't even register on the Breathalyzer. Does Single Barrel mean alcohol free?
3. Sleep eating is perhaps the funniest sleep disorder ever, especially when the sleep eater is describing the detritus left on the floor by the bed after the sleep buffet.
4. People can be scary when they are drunk and get RIGHT IN YOUR FACE to let you know they make charitable contributions.
5. Conservatives have more faith in humanity than I have. I still don't think individual people would give as generously and even-handedly as the goverment.
6. Areas of agreement: George Bush is a moron. Bill Clinton also in many ways a moron. Both too much in love with their penises.
7. I am the only one who thinks artists who get grants from the NEA should have more sense than to insult their patron, the government. Everyone else is all "Oooo, art should never be censored." Well, fine, but a little self-censorship? A little common sense?
8. Our black conservative said "Okay, well I'm worried that someone will shoot Barak Obama too, but if that's what it takes then so be it." Actually, I think what she said was "so be it, baby," but she was drunk.


text:
On Monday, December 31st, Lil Wayne and his Young Money artist Nicki Minaj will be hosting an event together at LIV nightclub in Miami, Florida.
Weezy and the Barbie will be at the Miami Beach club to celebrate New Year's and you never know, they may even perform their "Good Form" remix live together.
If you wish attend LIV on New Year's Eve, click here to order your tickets online for $325.00 and $250.00. You can check out a flyer after the jump below! Will you be attending?


text:
Instructions to the Reviewer on completing the review form
- Receive an email notification to evaluate the manuscript;
- In the email there are hyperlinks:
- "Agreed" (Agree to evaluate the article)
- "Declined" (Decline invitation to evaluate)
- "Unavailable" (Not available at the moment to evaluate)
- In the case of "Agreed ", the reviewer will receive an email that will forward him/her to his/her review area on the site. Click on the link and start your evaluation/review the article.
Or if you prefer to enter in the Journal site: http://mc04.manuscriptcentral.com/rbsmi-scielo and log in your e-mail. In the Reviewer Center, you will find the manuscripts to be evaluated.
Evaluating the manuscripts
- Read the manuscript through the pdf or HTML version (page header);
- Select the "Score Sheet" tab to fill out the evaluation form on the article;
- There are options to insert comments to the Associated Editor and also to the Author. (It may be written in Portuguese);
- Click the "Submit" button to submit the reviewer's opinion.


text:
This is the voting gateway for Spazient!
Vote for a hair-raising predicament!
Since you're not a registered member, we need to verify that you're a person.
Please select the name of the character in the image.
You are allowed to vote once per machine per 24 hours for EACH webcomic


text:
Whether you're still working or already in retirement, you may feel less confident now about your income than you did in January due to the ongoing fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
It's natural to want to proceed with extra caution going forward. One way to get your finances back into your comfort zone is to trim spending over the next few months so you can build up a cash cushion.
Mari was interviewed by long-time journalist Kim Lankford of AARP magazine about ways to cut spending without sacrificing quality of life.
We shared proven ways we've seen clients reduce expenses by cutting car payments, refinancing mortgages, and relocating to less expensive areas.
"You can make a very significant reduction in the cost of living when relocating, especially if you move to a smaller house," said Mari. One client recently slashed the cost of annual hurricane insurance coverage on her home by thousands of dollars when moving from South Florida to the Jacksonville area. Others have trimmed monthly bills by merely downsizing from a too-big single family home to a smaller and updated residence with easier monthly maintenance.
The Takeaway: It's not always easy to navigate changing financial circumstances. But one thing we learned in the 2008 financial crisis is that clients who know where their money is going, and stick to annual spending guidelines, are able to sail through the crisis with flying colors. That's especially important when you are in or nearing retirement, and no longer generate working income. We've found the more you know about your spending, the more likely you'll enjoy a successful and fulfilling retirement.
A recent MintLife Blog survey reports that 3 out of 5 American have no idea what they spent last month, let alone what they spent it on. If you want to get a better handle on your spending, just ask us for a copy of our cash flow worksheet or use one of many available free budgeting apps. It will help you group your spending into the right categories, so you can make sure your money is going to the things that really matter to you and your family.


text:
How to become a customer experience legend in three monthsby
Customer experience guru Shep Hyken explains what Simplicity Sofas has done to put it amongst the customer experience greats - and what we can learn from it.
How far are you willing to go to make a customer happy? What's your refund policy? Do you stand behind the products you sell?
Most of my readers should be familiar with Nordstrom's legendary return policy. One of the reasons people buy from Nordstrom's is that they know they don't have to worry if whatever they buy has a problem. I remember buying some very expensive jeans. Unfortunately, they ripped. I took them back and told the salesperson, "I bought these about six months ago. I wouldn't normally bring these back, but my wife insisted that I should at least show you what happened." The salesperson immediately replaced them, no questions asked, and no hassle. I was impressed.
I have no idea what Nordstrom's does with returned or damaged goods. Do they have agreements with their suppliers to accept returns? Do they just "eat the product" and attribute the cost to marketing and customer retention? To most people, it doesn't matter. What does matter is that the customers know that Nordstrom's will stand behind their merchandise.
As a result of that confidence, the customer is willing to spend a little more. Nordstrom's is not known for low prices. They are known for delivering value. At the same time, they aren't the highest price retailer either, even though their merchandise may be higher end. My observation is that they're competitive for the merchandise that they sell.
Zappos.com is similar to Nordstrom's. They are clearly not the low cost provider of shoes and other merchandise. Yet their amazing customer service, liberal return policy and a few other great customer focused strategies earn them a large group of loyal customers and a stellar reputation.
That brings us to a company you probably haven't heard of, Simplicity Sofas. They are a furniture manufacturer that sells direct to consumers through its website. If I may be so bold to make a prediction, Simplicity Sofas will become one of those customer service legends, similar to Nordstrom's, Zappos.com, Four Seasons, etc.
Their owner, Jeff Frank, is the perfect example of what it takes to be a legend. They have a good product, and while not the most expensive, it's not cheap either. It's made with quality materials and Jeff is willing to stand behind their product. Read the following story and I think you'll agree.
The making of a legend
After two years in business Simplicity Sofa's had a problem. Their sales doubled almost overnight and continued to increase. Their factory was not able to keep up with the orders. They had to move to a larger manufacturing facility to fill their orders.
The transition to the new factory took more than three months. The result was that over 100 customers had orders that were delayed between six to twelve weeks. They were failing on their customer promise to deliver custom-built furniture within 30 days.
As a side note, one of Simplicity Sofa's proudest achievements is that after more than 2,500 customers and $3 million in sales, there has never been a negative review. It seemed that due to all of the delayed orders that this amazing achievement might be in jeopardy.
In spite of this delay, Simplicity Sofas did not have a single customer cancelation or a single negative review. As Jeff Frank puts it, "On the contrary, many of the company's strongest customer relationships were established during this time period."
The secret to customer experience
How did they do it? They did two things. First, they kept their customers updated on the progress of the factory and their orders. They didn't just write one letter or email. It was frequent, regular contact that kept the customers confident that their orders would eventually be fulfilled. In addition, the company offered partial refunds and other incentives as gesture of appreciation for their customers' patience and understanding.
The big learning "take-away" from Simplicity Sofas dilemma is to communicate any bad news you might have with your customers immediately. Stay in contact with them to give them updates and progress reports. Knowledge is comforting.
Frank has implemented some other customer service and experience confidence builders that any business, not just a furniture company, can adapt and use.
Simply Sofas has a warranty designed to protect the consumer and not the company. "If you are not happy with our furniture for any reason whatsoever, you may return it for a full refund including all shipping charges for a period of one year after purchase."
Within one business day after each customer has received their furniture order they are contacted and asked three questions:
1. How do you like the furniture?
2. What do you think of our customer service?
3. Are there any problems that need to be take care of immediately?
And, Simplicity Sofas has created the ultimate example of customer evangelism. Their customers not only provide word of mouth advertising, but many of them volunteer to show the furniture in their homes and talk about their experiences with the company to potential customers. According to Frank, more than 50% of customers who first see Simplicity Sofas in another customer's home eventually make a purchase.
I wish that I would have known about Simplicity Sofas when I wrote my last book, "The Amazement Revolution". I featured 50 companies who were amazing at what they did for their customers. There is no doubt that Simplicity Sofas would have qualified as a customer amazement role model.


text:
Some of the projects I am working on require that I gather data about particular addresses on the Internet. One method I've been experimenting with is scapy's traceroute function which allows for neat graphing [secdev.org]. One can also combine two arbitrary traceroutes for graphing as simply as:
traceroute1, unans = traceroute([184.108.40.206])
traceroute2, unans = traceroute([220.127.116.11])
combined_traceroutes = traceroute1 + traceroute2
So for me the next logical step was to start storing all the traceroutes in a database so I could combine two or more at will and see interesting things. Not only could I see differences in different paths but I could even see changes of a single path over time! I fought with scapy for a while and finally realized that the export_object and save_object functions are wrappers for cPickle. I'm not entirely familiar with Pickle so I've had to do some reading on the topic. So far it does not look promising. No one has come up with a solution for this just yet although there are some promising recipes in the O'Reilly "Python Cookbook" which touch on this subject in a more abstract way. ["Using the cPickle Module on classes and Instances"]
I'll document some of the errors in case someone else decides to try this and wants to save some time:
>>> trace, unans = traceroute(["188.8.131.52"])
>>> save_object("/tmp/hi", trace)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "", line 1, in
File "scapy.py", line 876, in save_object
File "/usr/lib/python2.5/copy_reg.py", line 69, in _reduce_ex
raise TypeError, "can't pickle %s objects" % base.__name__
TypeError: can't pickle function objects
>>> export_object(trace)
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "", line 1, in
File "scapy.py", line 867, in export_object
print base64.encodestring(gzip.zlib.compress(cPickle.dumps(obj,2),9))
PicklingError: Can't pickle : attribute lookup __builtin__.function failed


text:
The 23rd Annual Fram-Autolite National at Infineon Raceway thundered to completion earlier this month, with the event featuring all the top professional categories, Top Fuel, Funny Car, Pro Stock and Pro Stock Motorcycle. In addition many of the Lucas Oil sportsman categories were also contested.
Oakdale's own, John Medlen had the best race weekend of all the locals. Serving as crew chief of the Napa Dodge Funny Car driven by Ron Capps, Medlen made all the right tuning calls on the 'tricky race track' giving driver, Ron Capps, a 4.169 second victory lap at 296.44 mph. John Medlen's son, the late Eric Medlen, won as a driver in the John Force Racing Castrol Syntec Mustang Funny Car at this same event in 2006 and John Medlen was the crew chief on that car. Eric Medlen lost his life in a testing accident in Gainesville, Florida in 2007. John Medlen tuned the Ron Capps car through four rounds of racing, taking out the defending champion Tim Wilkerson in the first round. After defeating a struggling Melanie Toxel in the second round, and Don Schumacher Racing teammate Matt Hagan in the semifinal round, he then tuned the car into the winner's circle by giving Capps a car that easily handled the number one qualifier (and teammate) Jack Beckman in the final. In an event that is now capped off by the "Eric Medlen Ice Cream Social," it was fitting that John Medlen be the winning crew chief in the Nitro Funny Car category that Eric loved so much to compete in. The winning funny car driver, Ron Capps, was also a very close friend of Eric.
When asked how he was able to get the car to perform so well on the tricky racetrack, Medlen said "Eric was looking down on us and helped guide him and his team to victory."
In the last four years at this racetrack, since Eric's win in 2006 in the John Force Racing Funny Car, John Force and Robert Hight (of Team Force) defended Eric's title in 2007 and 2008. Keeping things in the "Ford Family of cars," Tim Wilkerson (also a friend of Eric's) won last year. Now, John Medlen defended the event title for Eric, again, tuning Capps to the Winner's Circle in front a large contingency of family and friends from Oakdale, known as the Oakdale Posse.
The local racers from the surrounding San Joaquin, Stanislaus, Merced and Tuolumne counties came upon some of stiffest competition around in the popular Lucas Oil Sportsman drag racing series. The regular NHRA National event-traveling contingency of racers in these categories, represent the best in the county in their respective classes. The classes contested were Competition Eliminator, Super Stock, Super Comp, Super Gas, Top Sportsman and Stock Eliminator.
In Super Stock, Dave Raybourn of Modesto made it to the second round of eliminations. He fouled out to Alan Falcone of Seattle, WA. Dennis Paz of Stockton and Steve Wann of Modesto both made it as far as round four in Super Stock.
In Stock Eliminator, there were four racers local to the Oakdale and surrounding areas. Caroline Jimmerfield of Escalon lost in the first round of eliminations to Ken Etter of Riverside. Don and Steve Wann, both of Modesto, lost in the second round of eliminations. Larry Gilley of Hilmar had the best outing of the local racers in this category, lasting until the fourth round of the seven-round class elimination.
In the highly competitive 8.90-second index Super Comp category, there were several area racers competing for the class trophy and prize money. Rich Nedball of Sonora, Rick Mangili of Stockton, Rod Hartzell of Modesto and Greg Boutte of Stockton all fell victim in the first round of eliminations. Glen Kern of Modesto and Matt Constant of Stockton both made it as far as the second round of Super Comp eliminations. Matt Hartzell of Modesto foul started his chances away in the third round of the seven rounds of competition.
Local Nostalgia Funny Car driver, Josh Crawford of Oakdale, was also at the event with his 1969 Blue Max Mustang Funny Car. The car did not make any runs down the racetrack, but was on display, along with over a dozen other Nostalgia race cars for the enjoyment of the drag racing fans. Crawford was one of the special invitees that NHRA asked to come to display his famous race car at the event.


text:
Blockchain is the major centerpiece in Fujitsu's new initiative to improve and secure data exchange networks, facilitating faster and safer data sharing tools.
The Fujitsu Virtual Private Digital Exchange Technology can apply blockchain that controls access to distributed data. It can register data attribute information and ID information based on where the data is stored and also manage the access control policy to limit users who can access the data.
Blockchain is already widely use to distribute virtual currencies, but now it is being applied further afield. Fujitsu says that technologies such as IoT, big data and artificial intelligence are generating large volumes of diverse data, however this data comes with security concerns.
The company developed software for data exchange networks that allows organizations to share data, while keeping it in their internal systems.
The Fujitsu Virtual Private Digital Exchange Technology can:
Record registrations of data attribute information and ID information based on where the data is stored
Data providers can record attribute information (for example, type and element of data) and ID information linked with data storage on the blockchain's distributed ledger, while the data remains where it is stored.
That is, users can easily search for data according to the attribute information recorded in the distributed ledger. They can also obtain ID information for the data. Data providers do not need to allow users to download the data directly from where it is stored. Instead, they encrypt the data and send it to users who initially provide their ID information. This enables secure data sharing.
Manage access policies for each dataset
When registering information on the blockchain, data providers can manage the access policy for each data set. This enables the providers to selectively disclose information to those who are granted access to the distributed ledger.
Produce automated processes from data request to transmission
This software features smart contracts which enables efficient data exchange. Smart contracts will automatically execute a series of processes after the data has been requested, from access authorization to transmission of data.
This new software is based on the Hyperledger Fabric, a consortium-type blockchain, and was created by developing proprietary smart contracts executed on the blockchain.
Fujitsu states that it wants to expand and commercialise the software as part of the Fujitsu Network Virtuora series during fiscal 2017.


text:
A 10 lesson package paid over (26 weeks) 6 months
A great driving lesson deal for Springwood beginners!
Welcome! So you or somebody you know is embarking on a life changing journey: learning to drive in Springwood.
Or possibly that journey has already started and the pressure is on... the driving test is booked and it's time to get test ready!
You can stop all the worrying. We can help take the pressure off...
Or maybe you're just thinking "how much are driving lessons in Springwood?"
It's a good question. Pricing is important. No one wants to waste money. Which is why we offer a 100% money back guarantee to all our new students so you can feel safe putting your trust in us when you book with one of our approved driving instructors.
Since its inception in 1965, Metro Driving School has earned a solid reputation built on reliability and trust providing quality driving lessons at affordable prices all across Brisbane and we are an RACQ Approved Driving School on a mission to make Queensland's road safer...
But that's enough about us...
Let's look at how we can help you...
We can cater to almost any requirement.
We have:
You don't even need to pick up the phone to get started. Just enter Springwood as the suburb where you would like your driving lesson to take place. Then you can view which instructors we have operating in Springwood. Choose an instructor. Then choose a date and time from their diary. And you're all set to start... Easy as! Give it a try...
Being young these days is hectic and tough. Whether you're at home, college or work we will always collect and drop you off at the start and end of your driving lesson.
Learning to drive is a lot easier with the luxuries of power steering and all the modern features of new modern cars. All of our accredited instructors are proud to conduct their driving lessons in modern fully insured dual-controlled driving school vehicles.
All our students describe our driving instructors as professional, friendly and calm natured. That means no shouting, no yelling and no stress. With our instructors you'll become a safe and competent driver... that's our guarantee.
Are you under 25? If that is the case you're going to have to complete 100 supervised hours of driving and log them in your log book. Don't worry though. Book 10 driving lessons with us and it will count as 30 logged hours. You'll have those P's in no time You'll have those P's in no time!
We get requests all the time for male and female instructors. The good news is we have both male and female driving instructors all over Logan. Give us a call today to book your lessons now.
Thinking up unique gift ideas can be tricky. How about this? Whether it is for a birthday, Christmas or just a random act of kindness you can create a Metro Driving School gift voucher online and see someones face light up when you hand it over.
Looking for professional driving schools Springwood or professional driving lessons Springwood then stop looking and get on the road quickly and safely with Metro Driving School Springwood
Our driving instructors understand that a calm environment is conducive to an increase in success and will work with you to ensure you know everything you need to know to be a safe and confident road user.
This also means that, within each driving lesson, we're wholly devoted to your needs. Your instructor will never use their mobile phone in a lesson with you, ensuring you receive a complete, uninterrupted lesson.
Metro Driving School Springwood passes annual inspections completed by RACQ and we pride ourselves in our RACQ certification. Our driving instructors bring to our company years of experience, knowledge and skills and provide a high quality and comprehensive driving education.
We approach each driving lesson with full professionalism and dedication to your needs. As well as devoting our full attention to you – this means no mobile phones or distractions – we'll ensure each lesson goes by uninterrupted.
We know that life can get busy and fitting driving lessons in may present a challenge. With our easy to use online booking portal, book your lessons around your schedule so that you can appreciate quality driving lessons when it suits you. Simply choose a date, time and lesson type and wait for our confirmation!
Book Today online 24/7
Proudly part of The Instructor College Family


text:
Goal commitment and competition as drivers for group productivity in business process modeling
Publication typeConference Proceeding
AuthorRittgen, Peter
Publication Year2011
The export option will allow you to export the current search results of the entered query to a file. Different formats are available for download. To export the items, click on the button corresponding with the preferred download format.
By default, clicking on the export buttons will result in a download of the allowed maximum amount of items.
To select a subset of the search results, click "Selective Export" button and make a selection of the items you want to export. The amount of items that can be exported at once is similarly restricted as the full export.
After making a selection, click one of the export format buttons. The amount of items that will be exported is indicated in the bubble next to export format.


text:
(Additional information is available at the National Emmaus Website.)
What is Emmaus?
The Walk to Emmaus is a spiritual renewal program intended to strengthen the local church through the development of Christian disciples and leaders. The "East Ohio Emmanuel Emmaus" is a local community that organizes local events.
How can I attend?
To get involved, you must be sponsored by someone who has already attended Emmaus. If you don't know someone who has gone, you can locate a community near you and ask for assistance in being sponsored.
How did it start?
The Walk to Emmaus is an adaptation of the Roman Catholic Cursillo movement started in 1949 in Spain. Each local community is goverened by a Board of Directors. The Walk is administered world-wide through the International Emmaus office in Nashville, TN.
I've already made a Walk - how can I serve?
Because The Walk to Emmaus is community-based, there are many ways to utilize your gifts! Click here to let us know you are interested in serving.
If you've moved, changed phone number, email address, etc, click here to update your info!
Is there something available for a young adult?
There sure is! The weekend is similar - but very much tailored to youth. As part of the "Chrysalis" program, a "Flight" is for someone 15-18, and a "Journey" is for someone 19-24. You can find out more on the website of the Northeast Ohio Chrysalis Community.
For more information, contact your sponsor, or visit the National Emmaus Website.
Direct links:
© 2001-2023 East Ohio Emmanuel Emmaus, Inc.
Website Design - HIS-Design.com


text:
Eerie, Best of 2020, and More Must-Read Mystery and Thrillers
A monthly roundup of favorite mystery and thriller reviews from the biweekly Unusual Suspects crime newsletter, highlighting some great new releases and backlist mysteries that shouldn't be missed.
Is your mystery loving heart looking for awesome crime reads? Cause I got you! From eerie mysteries to two crime novels that will be top of the 2020 best mystery lists (1st two listed), procedurals, and suspense, there's something murder-y here to curl up with while waiting for spring.
New & Upcoming
Winter Counts by David Heska Wanbli Weiden (August 25, Ecco)
I especially loved two things about this novel: the characters and the setting. You realize how starved we are for certain stories and voices when publishing finally tosses you one. It's like finally getting a drink in the desert, and as soon as you're done you're like, give me so much more. That's how I felt with this mystery, which I could not put down.
Virgil Wounded Horse lives in South Dakota on the Rosebud Indian Reservation and makes a living off of a legal loophole of sorts. The local police are only allowed to handle certain cases and everything else must be passed on to the FBI. The problem in this is that the FBI does not take all the cases, which leaves many criminals, from predators to robbers, unpunished. That's where Virgil comes in: people pay him to basically beat the snot out of criminals who fall through the cracks. He's also raising his nephew since his sister passed away and is the only family left. Because he's responsible for not just himself anymore, he toys with taking a high paying job to investigate who is bringing in drugs to the reservation. He's reluctant for a slew of reasons including it's his ex-girlfriend's father hiring him. But when the case hits close to home he's left without much option. That's how he finds himself paired up with his ex-girlfriend, and the FBI, to find out what is happening.
I absolutely loved Virgil, the vigilante for hire, as he's cleaned up his life but still struggles to find his place. He's introspective, curious, and also listens. A great contrast in his partnership with his ex who has lived a privileged life and is also in different ways struggling to find her place. I also loved the balance of seeing many different characters' lives, and voices, on and off the reservation. A great mystery with excellent characters—everything you want in a crime novel!
(TW addiction/mentions suicides, one with detail/past rapes including children mentioned, not graphic/child death/pedophile, crimes off page/fat shaming)
Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line by Deepa Anappara
This will definitely be one of my favorite reads of the year. It was hard to read this and not think about all the discussions happening surrounding American Dirt and its issues, including it being trauma porn, because Djinn Patrol on the Purple Line is the complete opposite of trauma porn. Yes, it follows children navigating through slums in India to find a missing friend as children are going missing and the police are not putting in much effort, but underserved communities are still communities filled with different types of people with lives and desires and this novel shows that.
Jai is a 9-year-old boy who has watched so many procedural shows that he believes himself able to find out what happened to his missing classmate and enlists schoolmates Faiz and Pari to help. They're determined to find out if a bad djinn is responsible for the disappearance, or a bad person, and they set out through the city to get their answers.
The novel shines a light on the underserved communities, treatment of women, and the voices ignored by those in power while keeping focus on the victims and those silenced rather than the perpetrators. Anappara brings to life beautiful characters who keep things upbeat while exploring the darkness of the world in a story that starts with a coming-of-age mystery that travels along into noir territory. If you're an audiobook listener I can not recommend it enough in that format. The narrators, Indira Varma, Himesh Patel, and Antonio Aakeel, are fantastic!
(TW child, domestic abuse/child deaths)
The Burn (Betty Rhyzyk #2) by Kathleen Kent
This is a really good procedural series that follows Betty Rhyzyk, a former NY cop who talks to her dead uncle in her head for advice, and who has just relocated to a new job in Dallas, Texas. She's tough and stubborn on the outside—ready to take on the world–but she's cracked on the inside and trying hard not to completely unravel. Some of her issues are from events that recently happened (first book, so I'll be vague), and some she brought along with her from New York. While she tries to hide her PTSD from those around her, especially her girlfriend Jackie, she's also trying to figure out who is murdering drug dealers. But ordered mandatory therapy and desk duty, she's going to have to get creative to solve the crime, and be suspicious of everyone, including her partner…This is an awesome procedural that'll keep you on your toes and keep you rooting for the detective.
(TW mentions past suicide with detail/PTSD/mentions of past child abuse/alcoholism)
Untamed Shore by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
This is a really good slow-burn suspense novel that, depending on your relationship with Jaws, may have an eerie setting. And by that I mean it's set in 1979 Baja California, and there are a lot of dead sharks, guts included.
Eighteen-year-old Viridiana wants out of the town because her mom expects her to work in her shop and marry a man Viridiana has broken up with and has zero interest in getting back with. She also grew up aware that she's the reason her mom got anchored to her father and stuck with a life she didn't want, something Viridiana refuses to let happen to her. And so when wealthy tourists show up with a writer looking for an assistant, Viridiana takes the job, including moving into a room in their rented home. You know this tale, and you know someone is going to die in an accident, or maybe not an accident…As the cracks widen and the secrets begin to spill, who will protect themselves and who will come out on top?
If you like character driven suspense, and are looking for an interesting setting you've probably never read before, definitely pick this one up!
(TW domestic abuse/past suicide mentioned, detail)
The Sun Down Motel by Simone St. James
A ghostly mystery! Thirty-five years after her aunt Viv disappeared from her shift at a motel, Carly decides to take the same job at the same motel and figure out what happened to her aunt, along with who her aunt was, being that she grew up really not hearing much. The thing about this motel is that it's definitely creepy and haunted. Doors open and slam on their own, customers are either walking red flags or shrouded in mystery, someone keeps smoking but there is no one there…
Told in past and present chapters we follow as Carly in the present tries to piece together what her aunt was doing and what happened to her, and we watch Viv in the past doing her own detective work as the two storylines begin barreling towards each other. A past and present mystery with an eerie setting and some spooks to curl up with.
(TW mentions past rape, not graphic)
Don't Look Down (Shadows of New York #2) by Hilary Davidson
This is the sequel procedural to One Small Sacrifice (Review) which I enjoyed so much last year I grabbed this one ASAP. It's a great new series for fans of procedurals, detective partners, multiple point of view, and books that focus on the case at hand.
We open with Jo Greaver, a victim of blackmail, going to drop off the money at an apartment, but nothing goes as planned—does it ever?—and she ends up shot and shooting her blackmailer. She doesn't stick around to find out what happens next, and goes back to work, and her life, as if a bullet in the arm won't stop her. When NYPD detectives Sheryn Sterling and Rafael Mendoza show up on the scene, the evidence and witness accounts don't make sense. And it also doesn't add up with what we saw happen with Jo, which leads the detectives and readers to have to piece together not only who the blackmailer is, but what they're blackmailing Jo with, and what really happened in that apartment?!
If you like page-turning, twisty procedurals that give you character depth but stay focused on the case and mystery at hand you'll love escaping into this series.
(TW sex trafficking/past domestic abuse mentioned/past drug overdose/suicide, detail)
A Good Girl's Guide to Murder (A Good Girl's Guide to Murder #1) by Holly Jackson
Pip, a high school girl, decides to do a research paper on finding out what really happened to Andie Bell five years ago. The problem is that Andie Bell has already been declared dead, even if her body was never found, and her boyfriend, even though he died by suicide, has already been proven guilty of murdering her in the court of public opinion. Pip thinks there are too many what-ifs, questions, lack of evidence, and that there was racist reporting that never actually closed this case for her. So she's asking questions—barred from speaking to the Bell family and told the project will immediately be cancelled if she doesn't do this delicately—and trying to figure out what really happened to Andie Bell. Pip is naive in a lot of ways, not having been one to attend parties, date, rebel in any way and she's going to find herself wading into school secrets, family secrets, friend secrets, and the age-old question: do you ever really know anyone?
This is a great, twisty read for fans of YA and I'm definitely picking up the sequel—this reads like a standalone so don't worry if you don't like series. And bonus: the audiobook has an awesome multicast which bravo to the publishers for doing.
(TW past suicide, with detail/mentions self harming/cyber exploitation/talk of statutory, date rapes discussed/dog dies)
Strangers on a Train by Patricia Highsmith
I am not a rereader, but I read this as a teenager and, well, that was certainly not yesterday. Paired with discussions of Highsmith recently, because the anniversary of her death was on the 4th, her diaries releasing and revealing her as a terrible person, and seeing the Folio society edition, I decided to reread the novel.
This is one of those works that has a famous adaptation and has inspired countless works, making many feel like they already know it so no need to read it. I was curious how this would affect my ability to get sucked into the suspense, and let me tell you this is so well written that, even with all I know, I spent the day with my headphones on listening to it. The tension is so well done. The unraveling. The exploration of obsession. All connected to a chance encounter between two strangers who express hate for people they know. Only one takes seriously the idea: I'll kill yours if you kill mine…If you've never read the classic, or it's been so long you've forgotten it, I'd say it's worth an afternoon to curl up with.
May your armchair be cozy warm for these suspenseful and thrilling mysteries.


text:
"Music and Communities are Inseparable" We are excited to welcome Daniel Plane into the ranks of the Villa Musica string instructors. While he will be teaching mostly violin, Daniel can...Read More
Along with providing students with world class teachers and programming, Villa Musica also gives students the opportunity to participate in the Royal Conservatory of Music's Programs. Founded in 1886, the...Read More
Read More
The good old days—when parents and music teachers could just order children to practice, and practice they would—are behind us, and some might argue that in reality those days weren't…


text:
Lawyers for Texas counties in opioid cases may not have valid contracts
By: Daniel Fisher
A number of Texas counties including Montgomery County, a sprawling suburb north of Houston, may have invalid contracts with their outside lawyers because they haven't been approved by the Texas Comptroller as required under state law.
More than a dozen counties represented by the law firms Haley & Olson and Harrison Davis Steakley Morrison Jones filed suit without first obtaining the Comptroller's approval for their contingency fee contracts. Months later, those contracts still haven't been approved, possibly putting the suits in peril.
In a 2012 decision involving similar litigation by counties over the mortgage crisis, a federal court stated the requirements under Texas law "must be satisfied before a Texas county can retain outside counsel on a contingency fee basis."
In another decision that year, a Texas state court judge declared the contract between Harris County and its contingency fee lawyers void because it hadn't been approved.
Neither Montgomery County nor its lawyers responded to requests for comment from Legal Newsline. Texas passed extensive reforms to its rules on hiring outside lawyers starting in 1999, after private attorneys caused a political uproar by collecting $3.3 billion in fees for representing the state in its lawsuit against the tobacco industry. Former Texas Attorney General Dan Morales ultimately went to prison for illegally attempting to divert $500 million of those fees to a friend.
The new rules in Texas included a maximum contingency fee of 35%, strict requirements for keeping time and expense records, and a hybrid method of calculating fees that includes a "base fee" determined by actual hours worked times a multiplier of up to four to reflect the risk of taking on the case. The final fee charged to the government must be the lower of the percentage of the award or the base fee and multiplier, and the fee can only reflect work done by partners and employees of the contracting firms.
Another section of the Government Code requires all public agencies as defined under the Texas Water Code to submit contingency fee contracts to the Comptroller for "review and approval." Counties fall under the definition because they have the authority to establish wastewater treatment facilities.
Electronic court records show the team of Haley Olson and Harrison Davis represent at least 12 Texas counties in addition to Montgomery County, ranging from tiny Kinney County, population 3,549, to Montgomery with more than half-a-million residents. A spokesman for the Comptroller's office confirmed that none of those counties have had their legal contracts approved.
The spokesman dismissed the Comptroller's role as "ministerial," or essentially a rubber stamp, although the Comptroller's office has ordered contracts to be revised.
Texas legislators were concerned about the possibility of excessive fees and political payoffs in the wake of the scandals surrounding the tobacco litigation and Morales' criminal trial, said Charles Silver, a professor at the University of Texas Law School and prominent legal affairs expert. Most trial lawyers in Texas are Democrats and the governor at the time was George W. Bush, a Republican.
"The legislature was dominated by Bush and the Republicans, and they just didn't want to be supporting plaintiff attorneys who were supporting the Democratic party," Silver said.
Regardless of the motivating factors, comptroller approval and billing records are the law in Texas, and even considered public records. Montgomery County's lawyers seem to agree: The contract says they will comply with Section 2254.104(a) of the Texas Government Code, including maintaining "current and complete written time and expense records" that will be available to county or state officials "at any time upon request."
Despite this requirement, Montgomery County Assistant District Attorney John J. McKinney, in an Aug. 14 letter, said "no documents exist that are responsive" to a request for billing records.
It's not surprising counties might balk at complying with the recordkeeping requirements of Section 2254, Silver said.
"Lawyers don't like others knowing how much time and effort they're expending, whether on the plaintiff or defense side," he said.
The hours compiled to calculate the base fee could be an issue in opioid litigation, however. Unlike many lawsuits in which a law firm represents a single government entity suing over a single claim, opioids law firms have bundled large numbers of municipal clients and are working closely with national law firms that control the federal multidistrict litigation in the court of U.S. District Judge Dan Aaron Polster in Ohio.
One sign of the cooperation among law firms is Montgomery County's lawsuit, filed Dec. 13 in federal court in Houston. It is an almost word-for-word copy of the lawsuit filed by three different law firms, including Dallas-based Simon Greenstone, on behalf of Bowie County more than two months before.
A close examination of the billing records might reveal how much time Montgomery County's lawyers spent in the early stages of the litigation, and whether that is justified given evidence they used a borrowed complaint. The other 12 counties might also want to compare their base fee calculations with each other to make sure their lawyers aren't double-billing hours across the entire group.
Other Texas counties including Dallas and Harris have obtained Comptroller approval of their contracts. And an attorney retained by Clay County (another client of Haley & Olson and Harrison Davis Steakley Morrison Jones) said they would submit the contract to the state during a January meeting when Clay County Commissioners Court approved hiring the firms. Clay County's contract has not yet been approved.
The stakes for the counties could be high if defendant companies challenge the status of their representation. When private lawyers representing several Texas counties attempted to assemble a statewide class action in litigation against Merscorp, a mortgage registry, the federal judge who examined Texas law said it wasn't possible because each county needed the Comptroller's approval before joining the class. Under the law of the Fifth Circuit, which includes Texas, so-called "opt-in" class actions aren't allowed under Rule 23 of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure.
The Texas judge who declared Harris County's contract with private lawyers void nevertheless allowed the case to proceed because the complaint was also signed by the county attorney's office. Montgomery County's complaint is signed only by the private lawyers.


text:
Static Line Training
Static-Line Parachuting is an alternative method of getting qualified to the Accelerated Freefall course. One full day of ground-training is all that is required to carry out your first solo parachute jump from a minimum altitude of 3,500ft. Your parachute opens automatically by a 'static-line' which is attached to the aircraft (so there is no freefall involved initially). You can then fly and land the canopy yourself.
As you progress through the parachute training system you can start free fall skydiving from your Ninth jump, gradually jumping from higher altitudes. All your skydives are on your own, i.e. solo. However you will be supervised by a PASA rated skydiving Instructor on exit and on later descents an instructor will follow you out of the aircraft to observe your exercises.
The Solo – sometimes called "static line" – is the most cost-effective way to experience the thrill of skydiving. It is generally a whole-day excursion, with training (about Six to Eight hours) and your jump happening on the same day, weather permitting.
You arrive at the drop zone (the standard term for a skydiving area) for class registration. If the weather is good, there's a decent chance that you'll get to see other jumpers flying through the air before your class starts.
We teach the course on scheduled days and times, so please check when the next available course date is. Reservations and deposits are essential! We Require a R500 non-refundable deposit per person to secure your spot, on the course.
What You Need
– Proof that you're at least 18 years old. You will require parental consent if you are under the age of 18.The minimum age is 16.
– Running shoes with decent support.
– Maximum weight 100kg's.
What You Learn
Your class instructor will teach you everything you need to know to make that big leap of faith with confidence. You spend some time learning the general theory behind skydiving, but most of the day is spent rehearsing the physical skills you'll need: exiting the aircraft, arching and counting until your main parachute opens, flying your parachute home, and landing gently. You'll also work hard on what to do in the unlikely event that something goes wrong with your main parachute and you need to use your reserve. The whole class takes about six to eight hours on average.
When You Get to Jump
Once the class is finished, weather permitting, your class will start gearing up for the Jump. Generally, we normally manage to get the whole class in the air before we have to stop jumping at sunset. Even if you don't get to jump the same day, that's okay – you just come back on a day with decent weather any day we're open in the next thirty days, and we'll try again. If it has been more than thirty days since your training, you will need a quick refresher course. Contact us for more information and pricing on a refresher course.
The Jump Itself
When it is your turn, a staff member will help you gear up and make sure your parachute system is safe. Then it's off to the plane with your instructor and as many as four other students.
Then it's the ten-minute climb to the jump altitude of 3,500 ft. Time to savour the trickle of adrenaline, while remembering that your class has taught you everything that you need to know to make your jump, and you know how to handle any unusual situations.
Your turn. Your instructor beckons you forward, and tells you to get into position. Then, "Get ready! GO!!" and you're off, falling away from the aircraft, looking up at your instructor, and focussing on your arch and count. A few seconds later – that can feel like no time at all, or a lifetime – you feel a firm tug, and your parachute blossoms gently over your head.
You get to play a little with your parachute and enjoy the scenery again while you steer yourself back to the landing area. The buzz from the adrenaline at this point is pretty powerful, and you get a couple of minutes during your peaceful ride down to relish the feeling. Then, with coaching, you bring yourself to a gentle landing back on the drop zone.
You gather up your equipment and head back to the skydiving building, where you can come down a bit from the high and watch the video of your jump taken from the plane. If you'd like a copy as a memento, they are available at a reasonable cost.
Perhaps the best part is telling your friends, co-workers, family, or classmates all about it.
Successful completion of the first static line jump qualifies the jumper to perform further static line jumps.
Booking is essential! Please contact Chris on 072 303 9140, firstname.lastname@example.com to find out when is the next available course date.


text:
From the "cats think they are psychokinetic because they sit in front of a door and will it to open, and eventually it does" department comes this inane study that says we [are] basically able to stop climate change via beliefs
Warwick Research: Believe you can stop climate change and you will
If we believe that we can personally help stop climate change with individual actions — such as turning the thermostat down — then we are more likely to make a difference, according to research from the University of Warwick
- Individuals' motivation to prevent climate change is negatively affected by climate change helplessness — belief that climate change is out of our personal control, so our actions will make no difference
- But those who believe individual actions do make a difference are more likely to perform them — which leads to lower energy consumption
- Public messages should focus on how we can make a personal difference to climate change, say psychologists
If we believe that we can personally help stop climate change with individual actions – such as turning the thermostat down — then we are more likely to make a difference, according to research from the University of Warwick.
Dr Jesse Preston in the Department of Psychology has demonstrated that people are often negatively affected by climate change helplessness — the belief that climate change is so massive and terrifying, as to be out of our personal control, and that our actions are too small to help.
This feeling of helplessness, however, makes people less likely to bother with individual eco-friendly actions – and actually leads to higher energy consumption.
In one study, the researchers tested a group of over two hundred people, and gave different members of the group varying messages about climate change.
Some were given a High Efficacy Climate Change message (that personal actions do make a difference in the fight against climate change); others a Helpless Climate Change message (that personal actions make no difference); and some were given no message at all.
Over the next week, the group reported whether or not they adopted behaviours to help stop climate change – such as driving less, hanging washing on the line instead of using the dryer, using less water, or turning the heating down.
The people who had received the High Efficacy Climate Change message reported 16.5% more of these behaviours than those who read a Helpless Climate Change message – and 13% more actions than the control group which received no message.
Moreover, people in the group which was told their actions couldn't make a difference to climate change actually reported higher energy usage than before — showing how destructive a feeling of helplessness can be.
The researchers also found that a belief that personal behaviours make a difference enhances the moralisation of our actions – the notion that they are 'good' or 'bad' — and an awareness that the energy we individually consume could either prevent or cause damage to human life.
Public messages about climate change which focus on how we can help make a difference as individuals will be far more effective in encouraging people to consume less energy, according to the researchers.
Dr Preston commented:
"Often climate change messages try to persuade the public by increasing belief that climate change is real, or through fear of its dire consequences. But mere belief in climate change is not enough, and fear can backfire if we feel helpless and overwhelmed.
"It is vitally important that individuals appreciate the impact and value of their own actions for us to make a meaningful change as a whole."
The paper, 'Climate Change Helplessness and the (De)moralization of Individual Energy Behavior', is published in Journal of Experimental Psychology: Applied.


text:
Just yesterday, Carl got out once more and was found in the middle of the street. I couldn't watch as the cars whizzed by and my neighbor went out and retrieved him. He was totally oblivious to the danger he was in and how frightening the experience was for me and the other onlookers that watched with terror. Once he was rescued, Carl walked over to me and I picked him up, hugged him, and held him close. Instead of wanting to yell at him for his foolish decision, all I wanted to do was draw him close to my heart and love up on him.
I can't imagine the number of times that I have been close to death. A poisoning when I was three, a major boat accident when I was twelve and many other times that I am not even aware of. I also believe that on several of these occasions, God sent down angels to intervene on my behalf. I can remember a time when I was talking on the phone and didn't see the car in the right hand lane and tried to move over. I believe I should have been hit, but amazingly the car was able to move out of the way preventing a collision. This is only one of many unexplainable rescues that I have lived through that could have led to my demise. But thankfully, by only the grace of God, I have been spared to live another day.
When I think of the odds being against someone that should have been destroyed, I think of King Hezekiah. In Isaiah 37 and 2 Kings 18-20, the Bible states two times that King Hezekiah should have died. The first time was when Hezekiah had been rescued from death when he was very sick with a boil. The prophet Isaiah went to Hezekiah and told him that he should put his house in order because he was going to die. Hezekiah immediately begins to pray and pleads to God for healing. And the amazing thing is that God heard him and added fifteen years to his life.
The second time was more astonishing and gives insight to why God healed Hezekiah. A decade after Hezekiah had been saved from death, the Assyrian nation under the leadership of King Sennacherib, became the greatest external threat to the Israelites since they had entered into the Promised Land. Due to spiritual decay and captivity of Israel, the nation of Judah was left to defend for itself against a growing Assyrian Empire. After defeating all of the nations in the region, they were in a perfect position to take over the city of Jerusalem and put to death King Hezekiah. But as we know, this scenario is a perfect platform for God to demonstrate that He is in control and sovereign over all.
After a failed attempt to buy off an attack with gold and silver from the temple, King Hezekiah fortified the walls and blocked the water sources on the outside of the city. He then ordered workers to dig a 533 meter tunnel to channel the fresh water into the city. Knowing the chances of survival were steal bleak, "Hezekiah went up to the House of the Lord and spread his request before the Lord." 2 King 19:14. After his plea to Almighty God, Isaiah, the prophet sent word to Hezekiah stating that the Lord had heard him and would indeed save Jerusalem and kill King Sennacherib.
2 Kings 19:35 gives the very cool account of what happened next. "And it came to pass on a certain night that the angel of the Lord went out and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand, and when people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses—all dead." Once the King Sennacherib saw his army destroyed he departed and went back to Nineveh. And the Bible states that as he was worshipping to his god, his own sons strike him down with the sword and flee.
So what can I learn from this Biblical account of King Hezekiah? First of all, I believe that God does hear our prayers when we come to him with a humble heart. I also believe that He has a purpose for our lives and will save us from calamities if we have not completed the purpose that He has scripted for each of us. As for Carl, I believe that God hasn't finished with this little pooch and hopefully will continue to work through him. But to make sure that he does stay safe, I will watch the door more closely the next time I close it behind me.