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Buying in Blatchford
With walkways outside your front door, a linear park, easy access to downtown and architecturally-crafted green homes, we know there is excitement building to be a part of this kind of urban lifestyle in Edmonton. We are currently in the process of selling the first twelve parcels of land in the community to home builders that share our vision for a one of a kind community.
The land currently being sold to builders will house townhome units, condominium style townhouses and two 4 to 6 storey residential buildings with potential for ground floor retail.
The first homes for sale will include 52 fee-simple townhomes, each with a private backyard and laneway access to a garage. Many units have the potential for garage suites or other accessory suites, expanding affordable housing options and opportunities for multi-generational living! It won't be long before we are able to announce who our very first Blatchford builders will be. From there, interested homebuyers will be able to contact builders directly to find out more about the homes, including prices and when homes will be available for purchase.
More information on the first stage of development can be found at BlatchfordEdmonton.ca/homes.
Construction Update
Now that the snow is flying, construction work in Blatchford is shifting with the seasons. Major milestones reached in 2018 include the completion of roads and paving-stone walkways in Stage One, and drilling of the 570 boreholes that make up Blatchford's geoexchange field. Take a closer look in our video below at the District Energy Sharing System construction and learn about how the geoexchange field will be used to provide heating, cooling and domestic hot water to residents and businesses.
Curious how Blatchford residents will get their heating, cooling and domestic hot water in an environmentally-friendly way? Here's a look at the first step in building the District Energy Sharing System – the geoexchange field.
The first Energy Centre for the community is also under construction this year. Crews made huge strides by completing the extensive underground base and building the ground level platform. The Energy Centre will house the major equipment needed for the District Energy Sharing System to operate.
Throughout the winter months, construction on the Energy Centre will continue, along with electrical utility installation to support the connections needed between the Energy Centre and Stage One of Blatchford West. The community's first street lights are also being installed throughout Stage One.
Blatchford's first street lights are being installed! It will be a few months before they're lighting up the neighbourhood but we know the former Air Control Tower is excited to have company in the sky above Stage One.
LRT Funding Announcement
As a part of the vision for Blatchford, residents will be able to pop on the LRT in their neighbourhood to reach destinations across Edmonton. A significant milestone was achieved by the Province of Alberta and the City of Edmonton on November 1, 2018, when they announced provincial funding support for the Metro Line and Valley Line West Line.
The Metro Line funding consists of $131-million specifically for Phase One of the Metro Line NW, the extension from NAIT to Blatchford. For more information regarding the Metro Line NW, please visit edmonton.ca/MetroNW.
Conceptual rendering of a new Metro line station in Blatchford.
Solar in a Box
A new addition to the construction trailers in Blatchford this summer was a white metal shipping container with the bright, red maple leaf logo of "Great Canadian Solar". The recycled shipping container is the result of the hard work of two NAIT graduates, renewable energy technologist Csilla Harsasi and classmate Aaron Mcgregor. The container is much more than a storage unit; it has the power to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and bring power to construction sites almost anywhere.
The array powers two office trailers for one of Blatchford's site contractors, Chandos Construction. It replaced two large propane generators, cut greenhouse gas emissions and saved about $1,200 a month in fuel. Learn more through the video below and blog post on our website.

subset: commoncrawl


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Enterprise VPN Today: Security AND Uninterrupted Connectivity
Mobile Workers' Must Have: Bonding VPN for Fast, Stable and Secure Internet
In today's world, using a VPN is a requirement, especially when you're browsing the Internet while working. All the cyber threats and snoops out there are after your data and you know it, because that's why you're using a VPN. Public Wi-Fi hotspots are swarming with security risks.
But what about your work colleagues, the other members of your team? It's no use if you are protected and they're not: that shared data on Slack, Google Drive or Microsoft OneDrive can easily be hacked and fall into the wrong hands. It wouldn't be cool at all if confidential information like your development log, financial situations or ongoing litigations would end up in your competitors' SWOT, risk and competitive analysis.
Every mobile worker should make sure that:
- They can securely access the company's resources, even when using unsecure public Wi-Fi hotspots to connect remotely.
- They can communicate with no restrictions, wherever they are.
- Slow Internet speeds are not an obstacle for doing your work, whether it's transferring files, taking part into a business call or reporting from the field.
That's where an enterprise VPN with bonding capabilities comes into the picture. Find out more below!
How an Enterprise VPN Helps Your Business
How is an enterprise VPN different from multiple individual plans? This depends from one VPN service to another, but mainly it's all about the following:
- Centralized account management
- Using dedicated server infrastructure to keep you and your organization protected from hackers and immune to IP blacklists
- Ability to integrate the VPN functions through your business ecosystem via APIs
- All of the above at a more effective cost per user
Leaving the logistics aside, your team will benefit from all the features you get with a VPN:
- Safe browsing on public Wi-Fi networks. Your company resources and confidential information will be safe.
- Free unrestricted and secure communication between team members. Even if certain networks or countries block specific services like Skype, WhatsApp or other VoIP platforms.
- Unblocking content when going to a different country or region. Watch the latest news, trends and what's important for you through streaming video as well.
- Anonymous browsing for full online privacy. Avoid getting "personalized" ads based on your "interests".
Plus, if you're using an enterprise bonding VPN like Speedify, you'll also get uninterrupted Internet by combining two or more connections at once.
How to Choose the Best Enterprise VPN – What to Look at
Let's assume you get the best enterprise VPN. And that it checks all the key elements above for security and free Internet communication. How do you handle the Internet reliability issue?
Think about it: all the security is in vain if your Internet connection is slow or disconnects frequently. And, unfortunately, most VPNs slow down your Internet connection even more. This is not an issue on fast Internet, but on already slow ones, it'll surely give you headaches when you're trying to participate in a business call.
With Speedify for Teams, you don't have to trade security for Internet speed. It allows you to have both. The channel bonding technology can use multiple Internet connections at the same time. This provides faster, more stable Internet.
Plus, with Speedify for Teams you can also get:
- Dedicated VPN servers – they provide speed, reliability, port forwarding, and static IP addresses. Users with dedicated VPN servers will also experience more consistent speeds, as no one else is on your server.
- Teams dashboard to manage billing, add and remove users, monitor usage statistics and view performance analytics if you have a dedicated server.
- Management API – Speedify for Teams API is a REST application programming interface that uses HTTP requests and provides responses in a JSON format and using HTTP status codes. You can create and remove users from your team, and check how much users are actually using their accounts.
- Support for virtually any device running Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS and Android.
Why Get the Enterprise VPN from Speedify
That would be a wise decision for your company, since Speedify is not only a fully featured VPN, but it's also a channel bonding solution. Translated, this means that you get both a safer and better Internet. No sacrificing one for the other.
Speedify for Teams is fully customizable to fit your organization's needs. Whether it's security, reliability or speed, you will get the best Internet out there.
Download Speedify
Speedify is the only app that combines your wifi, cellular, wired, and even your friend's phone signals – into one ultra-fast and super secure link that keeps you all connected for the best possible live streaming, video calling, or just posting to your favorite app.
Subscribe to Speedify on YouTube
Get news, success stories, and our weekly livestreaming show Speedify LIVE! Tune in to chat and ask questions or to yell at us if that makes you happy. We're from Philly, we can take it.


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Who needs bot armies when you have end-users, uncooperative software, and overwhelmed systems and network administrators?
I have found a few recurring themes lately which fall loosely under the heading of Denial of Service attacks, but turn out to be something else. These are things I've seen seen in my clients' environments and heard echoed from other consultants and IT pros, especially in small businesses.
The first two "Denial of Service" attacks are often reported as a DoS eating up all available bandwidth. Those who guessed a combination of end-users with streaming media and/or peer-to-peer traffic got the first one and get a gold star. It doesn't take too many users streaming media to cripple your network. I have been a big proponent of Internet filtering for a long time, this is one reason why. The second one is a bit trickier and has to do with the evolving nature of devices at the network perimeter. More and more small businesses have proxies in their networks, usually in their firewalls, UTMs, or content filters- and they don't usually have fully locked down desktops or patch management systems. The problem is that all of those automatic update applications bundled with everything from your OS to your PDF reader don't always understand proxies, and visa-versa. This scenario play out something like this:
- The update application "phones home" (there's another issue, but we won't go there now)
- It finds that there is an update available
- Launches the downloader
- The proxy intercepts the request and starts a download
- The application downloader gets impatient and requests a new download
- The proxy intercepts the request and starts a download
- And so on until a handful of client machines crash your entire network.
You could blame the proxies, but they are just doing what they are supposed to. The downloader apps could be more patient, but the only real workaround I have seen is to whitelist the download sites. I say workaround rather than fix because the proxy generally has to pass the file without scanning it. You should be able to trust the update servers, but I would rather be able to "Trust, but Verify" instead of "Blindly Trust".
The third category of misdiagnosed DoS attack has been with us for a long time and is not going away any time soon. Some people like to ridicule the "incompetent" system and network admins throughout the industry, and there are certainly a few who might be better suited to another line of work (maybe involving the phrase "would you like fries and a soft drink with that?") but very few admins have the training and resources they need- and they make mistakes. Big mistakes, little mistakes, and mistakes that are just right. I won't go into too much detail, we've all made mistakes and cut corners. I have recently seen a few cases of harried admins leaving gaping holes in their infrastructure which resulted in serious problems for the network. A couple of hints:
- Don't leave vulnerable services open to the Internet.
- Move services off of their standard ports if you have to leave them open (port 22, SSH is getting heavily scanned and attacked lately).
- Watch out for service port conflicts when you are port-forwarding to/from non-standard ports, your traffic may end up somewhere unexpected and unwanted.
When something goes wrong that we do not understand, we often think we are being attacked. It is primal, and it works well if you are trying to feed yourself while not being eaten by lions- but it isn't always helpful when trying to diagnose network problems. Step back, look at the clues, isolate the problem, and then identify it- it isn't always the lions.


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Lyon Digital is a creative firm that builds websites and offers consulting on the web.
The original logo used a heraldic style lion that had been purchased from a stock website. Judd Lyon, founder of the agency, had plans for growth and wanted to re-brand with a custom logo.
Retain the lion reference
While the heraldic style lion was a little too traditional, Judd wanted to keep the lion theme.
Ideal for the web
As a digital agency, Lyon Digital needed to look and feel like a brand squarely in the tech industry.
The wifi lion
The finalized logo design is the smart combination of a lion with the universally recognized icon for wifi signal. The bars that typically represent signals became the lion's mane with an additional line to represent the face.
Designing in context
Essentially only four lines and a circle, this symbol scales extremely well. Since they're principally an online service, the client said they wouldn't be ordering any print collateral, like business cards or stationery. Instead, they needed the logo to look great inside of a 60 pixel tall navigation bar. This logo design excels in that small environment.
All our projects ignite with the same spark.


text: Accessibility close at hand Accessible tourism guides These Tourism Guides, all downloadable, are some supporting aids that Puedo Viajar offers, so that your trip's organization becomes as easy as possible. Some of them have been created with information found in Puedo Viajar. Some others have been created with information from other entities that also work on Accessible Tourism. All Tourism Guides are downloadable. These Tourism Guides will help you organize your trip in an easier way. These Tourism Guides have been created with the information found in Puedo Viajar or completed with borrowed information from entities that also work on Accessible Tourism.


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Are you campervan drivers and fancy taking a break? Well, that's great! Because you'll find several stop-over sites with water, electricity, etc. in the Cap d'Erquy-Val André region. And, if you'd like more comfort, our campsites invite you in and propose dedicated spots.
Update your browser to view this website correctly. Update my browser now


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In cesoftware.net we are aware that in order to use your data we must have your trust. That is why we apply the strictest data privacy criteria, and only use your information for clearly described purposes and respecting your fundamental right to data protection.
This Privacy Policy describes in detail our policy and our practices in relation to the collection, use and disclosure of information about you.
We are aware of the trust you place in us when you provide us with your personal information. We give you the utmost importance and we are fully committed to certifying the security and confidentiality of the personal information that you entrust us when you visit our site or use our services.
1. What information we collect about you
2. How we use your information
3. How long we keep your information
4. What are your rights and options regarding the collection and use of your information
5. How we protect your information
6. Information regarding minors
7. External links
8. International transfers
9. Changes to this Privacy Policy
10. How to contact us
1. What information we collect about you
1.1 Overview
We collect and store information that you provide us through our site or that you send us through other channels. This includes information that can be used to identify you or to contact you directly ("personal information").
Personal information includes the information you provide us, mainly your name, surnames email and other possible information provided in your text messages such as the telephone number, the billing address and your identification number (CIF / NIF / NIE / DNI) )
You can choose not to provide us with this information. However, in general you will need to provide us with some information about you to execute a project, and to enjoy other advantages that you may have access to as a regular customer. In addition, some information may also be needed so you can ask questions and allow us to respond.
1.2 Information about third parties
If you place an order on behalf of a third party or if you invite us to know our services to third parties through cesoftware.net, you may need to provide the personal information of said persons or companies. You must obtain the consent of those other persons or companies before providing us with your personal information.
1.3 Information from other sources
We may also receive personal information about you from affiliates, our business partners and independent third parties, which will be added to all information collected about you. So, if you access our site through a link that belongs to a site of one of our business partners and you have registered with that partner, he may share with us the information you have provided, such as your contact information and its profile, counting with its prior authorization. We give you another example: if you access third-party services (such as social network services) through our site or before visiting our site, we may collect certain information, such as your username and any other information These services make available to us after obtaining your prior authorization. We collaborate with our current partners and potential future partners to improve and customize your use of our site in accordance with the practices described in this Privacy Policy.
1.4 Automatic information collection
We automatically collect certain information from your computer or mobile device when you visit our site. For example, we collect the data of your session, including your IP address, the navigation software used and the reference site. We may also collect information about your online activity, such as the content displayed, the pages visited and the searches and / or requests that were made. We collect this type of information automatically to try to better understand the interests and preferences of our users and to better personalize your user experience.
We will only keep your personal information for as long as it is necessary for the purposes set forth in section 2 "How we use your information" or to comply with our legal obligations. We may store certain information for a period of time after you have closed your account, for example, if such information is necessary to comply with our legal obligations or to exercise, defend or establish our rights.
4. Your rights and options regarding the collection and use of your information
You can exercise your rights of access, rectification, anonymity, cancellation and opposition at any time by contacting us at any of the contact addresses indicated in section 10 below.
You can also unsubscribe from commercial communications at any time by using the contact form.
5. How we protect your information
We want you to use our site in confidence. To this end, we are committed to protecting the information we collect. Although no site can guarantee absolute security, we have implemented and maintain appropriate organizational, technical, administrative and physical measures to protect the personal information you provide against unauthorized or illegal access, the disclosure of information, and against losses, damages, alterations or accidental destructions
6. Information regarding minors
Our site is reserved for adults and does not offer services aimed at minors. In the event that we know that a person under the age of 18 has sent us personal information, we will delete or destroy that information as soon as reasonably possible.
7. External links
Our site may include links to third-party sites. In case you access other sites from links provided by our site, operators of such sites may collect information about you. This information will be used in accordance with its privacy policy, which may be different from our Privacy Policy. We recommend that you review the privacy policies posted on the sites of these third parties so that you fully understand their procedures for the collection, use and disclosure of personal information.
8. International transfers
No international transfers are made outside the European community. When these are carried out they are always unidirectional, that is, from the client to the service provider (cesoftware.net), as a form of payment for them.
9. Changes to the Privacy Policy
It is possible that cesoftware.net, update this Privacy Policy in the future. We will record the date on which the last revisions were made at the end of this page. The revisions will take effect at the time of their publication on this site. We will notify our users of all important changes made to this Privacy Policy by sending a notice to the email address that you have provided or by posting a notice on our site. We recommend that you check this Privacy Policy periodically to examine the most current version.
10. How to contact us
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy, please contact us through the contact form
Last revision of the document: 10/7/2018


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Sales tax calculator and tax rate lookup tool
Enter your U.S. address below and get the sales tax rate for your exact location.
Why can't I just use the ZIP code?
There are often multiple tax rates per ZIP code, county, and city. Therefore, more accurate rates are determined based on street address.
Your sales tax rate
Combined Tax Rate%
Jurisdiction Breakdown
What do these rates mean?
- The combined tax rate is the total sales tax of the jurisdiction for the address you submitted.
- The jurisdiction breakdown shows the different tax rates that make up the combined rate.
- While most taxable products are subject to the combined tax rate, some items are taxed differently at the state and local levels, so be sure to apply the correct taxes to your sale.
These are the current rates for the date and time you submitted the address, but may change at any time with new tax legislation.
Calculate your total amount
See your sales tax rate applied to any item price
Tax Breakdown
How to use this sales tax rate
First, determine who's responsible to collect and remit the sales tax amount.
Then, determine if your product or service is taxable in the responsible party's jurisdictions.
Finally, implement the rate shown above to your product or service's value.
Take advantage of these compliance resources
Get information about sales tax and how it impacts your existing business processes
The Avalara Tax Changes 2023 report is now available.
Read about 2023 trends, global economic impacts, e-invoicing, and more.
The Avalara Tax Changes 2023 report is now available.
Read about 2023 trends, global economic impacts, e-invoicing, and more.
Want more information on sales tax rates? Sign up for our newsletter.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
There are many ways to establish sales tax nexus — the connection between a business and state that creates a sales tax collection requirement — and no two state sales tax laws are exactly alike.
Determining which laws apply to your business is hard, but it's a crucial step toward compliance. For more information, please refer to our seller's guide to nexus laws and sales tax collection requirements.
How to calculate sales tax: When you enter a street address, the calculator's rate lookup tool uses geolocation to pinpoint the exact tax jurisdiction. Then it determined the corresponding current sales tax rate by accessing AvaTax, our innovative, cloud-based sales tax calculation software product.
This level of accuracy is important when determining sales tax rates. In some locations, rates for two adjacent addresses can be different. Relying on a city or ZIP code is not the most reliable way to calculate sales tax rates.
At a glance, calculating sales tax seems simple: Take the price of a taxable product or service and multiply it by the sales tax rate. With sales tax, though, it's almost never that easy. The real trick is figuring out what needs to be taxed and then calculating the correct tax rate — which, depending on how your business operates, could mean learning the rules in any number of the more than 12,000 tax jurisdictions across the United States.
Want to learn more? Check out this article for more information on how to correctly determine sales tax.
Though sales tax rates are typically set at the state level, some states authorize county, city, or local taxing districts to set their own rates and rules. With so many jurisdictions generating rates, rules, and boundaries, figuring out your sales tax rate is best accomplished with a street address rather than a city name, a street name, or a ZIP code.
Use our free sales tax calculator above to return a sales tax rate specific to any US street address.
ZIP codes were created to help the U.S. Postal Service with the delivery of mail and are independent of any state revenue systems. The boundaries can change and often don't line up with tax rate jurisdictions. This makes them the wrong tool to use for determining sales tax rates in the United States.
By basing sales tax on ZIP codes, you risk applying the wrong rates and remitting tax to the incorrect jurisdiction. Both of these errors increase your company's risk of audit penalties, fines, and fees.
Avalara AvaTax is an automated sales tax solution that works with your ecommerce, POS, or ERP system to calculate rates in real time. If you're working with a developer, they can take advantage of the Avatax API to build sales tax rate determination into your application.


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How Government Entities Can Inspire Consumer Confidence on The Road to Recovery
By: Amy Tallent, Owner & Operator of The Tallent Company
Your businesses, especially those in your downtown area, are ready to reopen and regain control of their economic lives. For five-plus weeks they have been told how, when or even if they will be allowed to operate and it has left them feeling lost and unsure of their future. The overwhelming majority of small business owners are questioning whether they will even be able to survive the storm.
Your businesses are most likely filled with residents from the surrounding community. They were built by strong people who chose your town, city, or county for a reason and they need to know that was still a good decision. More than ever, people are questioning if they need storefronts or is it possible to provide goods and services from home offices. Government entities need to help business owners with tools that will inspire consumer confidence not only in the survival of the business community as a whole, but also for your tax base.
Here is how to inspire consumer confidence at a government level…
- Make finding information easy. Become a source of information on reopening. Create a page on your website dedicated to all things related to the current state and county orders as well as the steps being taken as the orders start to is lift. This can include information from your state's economic office, your public health offices, and from the Center for Disease Control. The great news is you do not have to recreate a lot of information, it is already out there. You just need to create a collective spot for that information and then push that information out through social media and emails for business owners to find it.
- Outreach, then plans. Can you identify one or two people on your team that can start making calls to business owners? Not emails but direct calls to have a conversation with your businesses on how they are struggling. These individuals do not necessarily have to have a background in economic development, although that helps, but you need kind, open-hearted individuals that can listen and provide feedback to your leadership for decision making. In this call, you need to also invite them to view the webpage you have created in step 1. Offer to email them the link to your site and ask if they have any feedback.
Your town or city needs a plan on how to help businesses, but what many leaders have not have realized yet is that every single community is going to require a custom plan to reopen their community, and it needs to reflect the needs of your businesses to be impactful. Communities should consider collaborative marketing or promotion, grant/loan programs, and virtual events that focus on giving business owners tools & education. Towns and cities also need to decide how they can involve chambers, downtown development authorities, and economic groups to assist with these efforts.
- Communicate and promote. One way you can help businesses with no cost, but big rewards is communicating about your business community through your town or city's website and social media. Is there a business that found a great way to operate during difficult times, adjusted their entire company to help others, or one that created a great sanitation and cleaning plan? Communicating items like this not only inspires consumers to feel safe but it also sparks ideas in other businesses to think outside the box or to replicate good ideas.
Reopening our communities is going to take time and we need to be prepared for a wide variety of roadblocks and problems. Creating relationships with your business owners is the best way to keep them in business in your community
If you need help with outreach or communication with your business community, The Tallent Company has a strong background in communication and economic development. We are currently implementing custom plans created with towns and cities across Colorado to reopen its business districts safely and with confidence. Email us at firstname.lastname@example.com to start the conversation with a free one-hour planning session with your administration.


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This is my sort of video. 5 minutes filled with neatly explained facts and trivia. And what amazing trivia. I mean, yes. I knew that the Arctic Circle wobbles and I knew it was heading north. But I didn't know just how that would affect Iceland. Or how they had altered their Arctic Circle monument to deal with that. (Genius, by the way.)
And since I can now add Youtube videos to my log with seeming impunity… Have this:
And the lengths that someone would go to just to find out a piece of (interesting but) mostly useless information?
Well, I liked that too.
Spare yourself 5 minutes and see if Kolbeinsey (for that are the Most Northern Part of Iceland) is still there.


text: Kx000: Of course knowledge can be subjective. Then why bothering with reference frames in physics? Physical laws and measurements depend largely on who is the reference frame (e.g. relativity of speed, time intervals etc). Don't confuse with the term knowledge that we use in everyday life (e.g. learning) that is a human made definition. I use it in a more scientific way. Fraggle Rocker: How possible is the spontaneous creation of a system that always accumulates decreases in entropy by messing up the environment, in terms of energy levels? Creationists: How can one directly fit god into pure mathematical or physical equations? This was attempted many times in the history of mankind and always creationists were proven wrong (with sometimes disastrous consequences).


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VFW Post 4642 was chartered on December 16th, 1945 and is dedicated to the memories of four Linden residents killed in action during World War II; Robert C. Price, Chester L. Crane, Leo R. Robinson, and Howard L. Robinson. Post 4642 is dedicated to community service. The Post has organized and sponsored the annual
Memorial Day parade since 1947 and continues to maintain the Veteran's Memorial area in Linden's Fairview Cemetery
Saipan 8-27-1945
France 8-11-1944
Leyte P.I. 11-5-1944
Luxembourg 2-10-1945
Commander - Daniel Sly
Senior Vice Commander - Scott Maker
Junior Vice Commander - Greg Durkac
Quartermaster - Craig Newberry
If you have a worn or faded flag that needs to be properly disposed of, just place it in the box near the front entrance of the building. Post 4642 members will properly retire it in a ceremony designed for such occasions. Often area Scout Troops will assist us and at the same time learn the proper protocol for disposing of a flag
Post 4642 Flag Drop
off Box
Please make out checks to VFW Post 4642 and put reason for donation in the memo line.
Mail checks to: VFW 4642, P.O. Box 668, Linden, MI 48451


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Tiger World and Elephant Ride + Elephant Bathe
Tour Itinerary
07:00 am. Pick up from your hotel Please wait in the lobby. Remember to take a change of clothes because you'll get wet bathing the elephants.
08:30 am. Visit to Tiger World Damnoen Saduak and Spend time with Tiger
Option 1 // Cub feeding young Tiger and take photo
Option 2 // Spending time with Baby tiger and take photo
*********** please choose one option ************
12:00 am. Visit War cemetery Kanchanaburi The Don Rak War Cemetery in Kanchanaburi is the final resting place of 6,982 Allied P.O.W.'s who perished during the construction of the Death Railway during World War II.
12:45 am. Visit The World famous Bridge Over the River Kwai a part of Death Railway constructed by allied POWs.
13:00 am. Lunch at Thai local Restaurant.
14:30 pm. Visit the Elephant Camp where you can experience the uniqueness of a ride on the back of an elephant. The ride normally takes half an hour.
15:00 pm. Bathe with the elephant in the River Kwai. Here you will ride the back of the elephant, where the "Mahoot" (the elephant rider) will bring the elephant to the River and the elephant will use it's trunk to spray water and take a bath. You will experience this while riding the elephant.
16:20 pm. Return to Bangkok
19:00 pm. Arrive to your hotel in Bangkok around 7:00 PM depending on the traffic.
Tour included
Private Transportation Air-conditioned vehicles.
Tourist Guide.
Admission Tickets Tiger World.
Lunch at Thai Restaurant / Drinking Water
Ticket Elephant ride / bathing.
Tour not included : Personal expenses, Guide Tips, and Optional Tour.
Rate for Private Tour
|1 person
|2 persons
|3 persons
|4 persons
|5 persons
|6 persons
|7-9 persons
|8,200 baht
|5,500 baht
|4,800 baht
|4,500 baht
|4,000 baht
|3,500 baht
|3,000 baht
Child Policy
For children less than 2 years will be "Free" of charge.
For children 3-10 years old we charge Child Price.
For children over 11 years old we charge normal price.
Tour Departure: Everyday
Tour size: 1pax up
Pick up: 07:00 am from your hotel in Bangkok
Duration: One day tour


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FormEdit this page
Warning: You are browsing the documentation for Symfony 2.2, which is no longer maintained.
Read the updated version of this page for Symfony 7.0 (the current stable version).
- How to customize Form Rendering
- How to use Data Transformers
- How to Dynamically Modify Forms Using Form Events
- How to Embed a Collection of Forms
- How to Create a Custom Form Field Type
- How to Create a Form Type Extension
- How to use the Virtual Form Field Option
- How to Unit Test your Forms
- How to configure Empty Data for a Form Class
This work, including the code samples, is licensed under a Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0 license.


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Pink CZ Titanium Nose Screw
Sold individually (1 pc)
Sizes: 20G & 18G
ASTM F-136 titanium
Pink cz gem
1/4" length
2mm gem
This titanium pink cz nose screw is the perfect way to add a little sparkle to your piercing! This piece features a 2mm pronged gemstone that sits at the top of the screws post. The post is 1/4" in length and perfect for anyone with sensitivities.
A nose screw is a simple but effective way to keep a nose ring in place.
It is sold individually, and it can be ordered in both an 18G or a 20G.


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The actress , who described herself as a "huge Thatcherite", threw her weight behind the party in the run-up to the European elections earlier this year.
But, in an interview with the Spectator, she clarified her position.
"I am not a supporter. I'm a patron [meaning] they put my name on the head of their paper but doesn't necessarily mean I'm going to vote that way."
Earlier this week Robert Kilroy-Silk resigned the UKIP whip after weeks of jockeying for the leadership.
Miss Collins revealed it was the ex-chatshow host who telephoned her last May to ask if she would be patron of the party - a call she said she found "extremely flattering".
At the time she said: "I do feel that my country - I am English - is losing a
lot of what I grew up with. I feel we are eroding ourselves to Brussels."
Quizzed as to whether she was still a UKIP person today, Miss Collins responded: "What is a UKIP person?"
To the suggestion it meant a supporter of the party, Miss Collins replied: "I am not a supporter. I'm a patron.
"'Patron' means they put my name at the head of their paper. And it means I could be a supporter but it
doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to vote that way. I understand there
have been some changes."
Miss Collins said that she was not particularly political and since backing UKIP she had "got to know a bit more" about their policies which she felt were "quite reasonable".
"This was four months ago and, to be quite frank, I have
not been concentrating on British politics," she added.
"But you know what, I really don't want to get into politics."
She said: "I don't know why everyone is so fascinated with me and Ukip. I was always going on about how much I loved Maggie Thatcher. I don't
remember that causing much of an outcry.
"I was a huge Thatcherite and nobody seemed to give a damn, so why all of a sudden this whole thing with UKIP? It doesn't make any sense to me."


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New sales research shows why having too many leads can backfire
In sales, you want to keep as many prospects as possible in your pipeline, right? After all, some of those leads are bound to turn into sales, so the more leads you have, the more sales you'll make.
Recent research conducted by consulting firm Vantage Point Performance, however, suggests that over-feeding your sales pipeline can backfire. Chances are you'll end up working a large number of leads only to make fewer sales.
The research is the basis of Rapid Learning Institute's latest Quick Take rapid learning module in the Selling Essentials learning center. And it has a valuable lesson for any sales professional interested in a pipeline management strategy that leads to more revenue.
The study looked at a Fortune 500 company's sales pipelines. The researchers found that the average sales team closed 11.4% of their deals, producing $4.7 million per rep. Then they looked at the team with the leanest pipeline. With fewer prospects, the team closed 24% of their deals and yielded $7 million per rep.
So what's the secret to creating a lean, healthy pipeline that generates more sales? Disqualification. The high-performing team asked probing questions up-front to disqualify leads as quickly as possible. Thinning the funnel allowed them to focus more of their time on prospects that had a better chance of buying.
While working with fewer leads can feel risky, a fat pipeline can swallow up your time and attention, allowing good leads to feel neglected and walk away in the process. A lean approach frees you up to spend more time with qualified leads, which means better conversations, better meetings, and increased sales.
Bottom line: A lean pipeline is a healthy one. And the one thing you can do to keep your pipeline healthy is to ask probing questions early in the sales cycle that will help you and your sales manager separate buyers from non-buyers.
For more information on this and other Quick Takes in the Selling Essentials library, please visit: https://rapidlearninginstitute.com/sales-training/
Rapid Learning Institute (RLI) provides online training and talent development tools for businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and educational institutions in the areas of sales, leadership and management, human resources, employment law compliance, and workplace safety. RLI's approach is founded on three core principles: 1) Rapid Learning. Workplace training should be delivered in short bursts – just six to 10 minutes at a time. Today's multi-tasking workforce has neither the time nor the attention span for traditional lengthy training formats. 2) Single-Concept Learning. People learn best when training is focused on a narrow concept where learning goals are clearly defined. When training is delivered in small packets, the brain can easily absorb, remember and apply what it learns. 3) Research-Based Learning. Training is most powerful when it's grounded in verifiable research. When learners see training as credible, they're more likely to translate the learning into on-the-job behavior. RLI's signature six to 10 minute modules, called Quick Takes, incorporate these three ideas into unique training programs that get results.
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The situation is still tense on the outskirts of Gorlovka. Trench combat takes place in the area of Zheleznaya Balka and Shyrokaya Balka villages. The Ukrainian side uses small arms, automatic grenade launchers and tank gun. Explosions are heard in the north of the city as well.
The area of Avdeevka industrial zone and Spartak village in the north of Donetsk and Staromikhailovka and Trudovskie villages in the west were under Ukrainian artillery fire. The enemy also shelled the villages by 152mm artillery, 122mm guns, 82mm and 120mm mortars.
Elenovka village on Dokuchaevsk direction was shelled. There was no information regarding casualties and destruction.
Sakhanka and Leninskoye in the south of DPR were once again shelled by Ukrainian artillery.
DPR recon registers arrival of 12 tanks, ten 122mm howitzers and six 120mm mortars to Skotovataya railroad station near Verkhnetoretskoye township in the area of Gorlovka. A large group of enemy's militants, presumably mercenaries from Poland and Georgia, is being reported present in Novgorodskoye village (Gorlovka direction).
According to updated information, on November 1 Ukrainian militants shelled DPR territory 440 times.


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Bonus Show #6 – The Circus Life LIVE – 12-16-2014
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Subscribe & Rate!
Bonus Show #6. The Circus Life Podcast was honored to recently broadcast live from the First Annual DC Music Scene Company Holiday Party. Conceived by Derek Evry and Justin Trawick, the "Company Holiday Party" was thrown at Sauf Haus Bier Hall in DC as a way for DC Area musicians to be able to celebrate the holiday with their colleagues, aka "fellow musicians". Throughout the evening, Sean and Justin interviewed various party goers, many of which are TCL regulars. This is a real, meaningful, and often hilarious episode and a true account of the DC Area Music Scene celebrating another year together. From our family to yours, Happy Holidays! For more episodes of The Circus Life go to thecircuslife.com and make sure to buy things online through our Amazon link on our website.


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New Zealand tops global transparency ranking
New Zealand has topped a global budget transparency ranking for the second time this year.
The Open Budget Index ranks around 100 countries every two to three years based on how timely the publish key budget documents.
This year, New Zealand is followed by Sweden in second, and South Africa in third place.
This year's scores, which were published yesterday, follow the 2012 index, which ranked New Zealand in first, South Africa in second and the UK in third place.
The last spot is occupied by Saudi Arabia, which slipped down four places compared to the 2012 index; Qatar came second to last – up one place from 2012; and Myanmar was in third-to-last place – also up one spot from 2012.
The index is part of the Open Budget Survey, which examines the current state of budget transparency and how it has changed over time; the degree to which opportunities for public participation in the budget process are present; and the strength of the two formal oversight institutions, the legislature and the supreme audit institution.
A spokesman for the Open Budget Partnership (IBP), which compiles the findings, said that "combining all three pillars, only four countries – Brazil, Norway, South Africa, and the United States – provide sufficient budget transparency, establish sufficient opportunities for public participation, and have strong legislatures and supreme audit institutions."
He said that 32 countries, including Algeria, Bolivia, Cambodia, China, Equatorial Guinea, Fiji, Iraq, Myanmar, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia are insufficient on all three pillars of accountability and have consistently provided scant or no budget information at all.
"The public needs access to budget information and opportunities to participate throughout the budget process, Warren Krafchik, executive director of the IBP. "Coupled with oversight by legislatures and audit institutions this contributes to a more accountable use of public money."
He added: "Budget accountability can no longer be pushed aside as a technical concern of bureaucrats.
"With the amount of funds likely to be mobilised through the new international development goals alone, and potentially through climate change agreements, the world has an unprecedented opportunity to address poverty, inequality, and other global challenges—but this will only happen if these resources are managed transparently and accountably."
Click here to read the full report
See also: Our interview with Gabriel Makhlouf, chief executive of New Zealand's Treasury
And: News: Governments 'could benefit' from high levels of transparency championed by New Zealand, Treasury chief says


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If you haven't heard by now, over the weekend there were rumors that Arkansas and Texas Tech were considering a home-and-home series in 2014 and 2015, but nothing was finalized because the SEC still hasn't made it's schedule beyond 2013.
Specifically, we're pretty sure what they're waiting on is to find out if the SEC is going to move to a 9 game schedule in 2014, which may or may not (probably not) be announced at Thursday's SEC Network press conference. (9 games = 7 more SEC vs SEC games to televise = $$$$$$)
Jeff Long also has to factor in the A&M game annually being played in the JerryDome beginning in 2014 (BOOOO), as well as two games in Little Rock through 2016.
So if the SEC moves to a 9-game schedule, through 2016 Arkansas will play two games in War Memorial, with one contractually obligated to be an SEC game, one game in Arlington, and four true SEC road games every other year (three + A&M other years).
As a result, if Arkansas scheduled a non-conference road game before 2016 in a year it had 5 SEC road games, that would leave only 4 games in Fayetteville that season.
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The other eight games would be 4 road games, 2 LR games, A&M, and Texas Tech. Having a fall with only four games in the modern Razorback Stadium is basically unfathomable. It would be bad for fans, recruiting (fewer visit opportunities), the team (that's a lot of travel), and the local economy. Horror and terror and awfulness, basically.
Arkansas has generally played either 5 or 6 games in Fayetteville since cutting Little Rock back to 2 games each season about 10 years ago. Most power conference schools play 7-8 home games each year, occasionally dipping to 6.
So Arkansas likely won't finalize a deal with Texas Tech at least until it knows which seasons Arkansas gets the extra SEC home game, so it can schedule the road game with Tech and still have five games in Fayetteville. And until the SEC decides on their schedule, Arkansas won't know which years it gets 5 home games and which it gets 4.
According to WholeHogSports, Tech's Rivals site suggested the first game would be held in Lubbock, but I'd be willing to bet Arkansas wouldn't commit to playing in a certain order until it knew what the SEC schedule would be.
The Michigan series in 2018 and 2019 doesn't pose as big of a challenge because the War Memorial contract will be up before then, and I'd be completely shocked if Jeff Long continued playing two games in Little Rock each year.
Personally, I really hope this game happens. Playing old SWC teams is always fun. And I spent a summer in the Texas Panhandle during college and would enjoy an excuse to go back. I'll lead a Friday tailgate in Palo Duro Canyon.
Another issue to keep an eye on is the 2015 Arkansas schedule. If the SEC remains at 8 games, Arkansas is contractually obligated to play an SEC game at War Memorial and would be the home team against Texas A&M in Arlington, leaving Fayetteville with just two SEC games that year.
Certainly, Arkansas would likely prefer to host a quality non-conference opponent like Texas Tech in 2015 to try to add an additional good game to that season's schedule to offset only two SEC games.
Of course, the 9-game schedule could immediately fix that issue. It would almost be like Jeff Long knew something in advance...
I'd also suggest that is just more evidence Long has no intention of keeping an SEC game in Little Rock any longer than he has to. Hard to believe he'd promise a conference game at a neutral site for years to come as long as another SEC game is going to be in Little Rock.
Also, if you're worried about Arkansas' strength of schedule regarding the upcoming College Football Playoff, stop. It's a four team playoff. You still have to plan on going 11-1 to get in almost every year. And until given reason otherwise, SEC teams will win tiebreakers over non-SEC teams, especially if the conference goes to 9 games.
Now, if and when we expand to an 8 or 16 team playoff, strength of schedule will be far more important, and schools will be less afraid to lose a game early in the year.
Doc Harper is the managing editor of Arkansas Expats and is a contributor to CollegeFootballNews.com and SportingLifeArkansas.com. You can email him at firstname.lastname@example.com or follow him on twitter @doc_harper.


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Neurocysticercosis (NCC), the infection of the human central nervous system (CNS) with larval cysts of Taenia solium causes widespread neurological morbidity. Animal models are crucial for studying the pathophysiology and treatment of NCC. Some drawbacks of current NCC models include differences in the pathogenesis of the model and wild-type parasite, low rates of infection efficiency and lack of reproducibility. We describe a novel porcine model that recreates infection in the CNS with high efficiency. Activated oncospheres, either in a high (45,000-50,000) or low (10,000) dose were inoculated in the common carotid artery of 12 pigs by ultrasound-guided catheterization. Following oncosphere injection, either a high (30 mL) or low (1-3 mL) volume of saline flush was also administered. Cyst burden in the CNS was evaluated independently according to oncosphere dose and flush volume. Neurocysticercosis was achieved in 8/12 (66.7%) pigs. Cyst burden in the CNS of pigs was higher in the high versus the low oncosphere dose category (median: 4.5; interquartile ranges [IQR]: 1-8 and median: 1; IQR: 0-4, respectively) and in the high versus the low flush volume category (median 5.5; IQR: 1-8 and median: 1; IQR: 0-2, respectively), although not statistically different. All cysts in the CNS were viable, whereas both viable and degenerated cysts were found in the musculature. Carotid injection of activated oncospheres in pigs is effective in reproducing NCC. Oncosphere entry into the CNS by way of vasculature mimics wild-type infection, and provides a useful alternative for future investigations on the pathogenesis and antiparasitic treatment of NCC.
|Idioma original
|Páginas (desde-hasta)
|Número de páginas
|American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
|Publicada - 2018
Nota bibliográficaPublisher Copyright:
Copyright © 2018 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.


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Spring Hills Hunter's Creek Assisted Living is proud to announce that they have been named one of the top three assisted living communities for the second year in a row in Orlando, FL from ThreeBestRated.com. To receive the Three Best Rated award, ThreeBestRated.com checked the business's reviews, history, complaints, ratings, satisfaction, trust, cost and Spring Hills Hunter's Creek Assisted Living's general excellence. ThreeBestRated.com was created with the goal to find the top three local businesses per category in each city. They focus on local businesses because of the customized service that is offered in each city, identifying the individuality of that community. The website is updated on a regular basis for quality and the latest business information.
Spring Hills Hunter's Creek receives exceptionally positive reviews from their senior customers and their families like this one: "I was amazed at how well the staff did during the hurricane! They constantly checked on every resident and always kept us calm. I didn't hear one of them complain. They also kept us updated, fed and safe. Thank you for your great care."
Karen Decker, Executive Director at Spring Hills Hunter's Creek, said, "To earn this recognition two years in a row is an honor. Every team member at Spring Hills Hunter's Creek works so hard to ensure that our residents and their families are happy and well cared for. I'm so proud of the work that they do day in and day out." In addition, Alexander Markowits, President/CEO of Spring Hills Senior Communities, said, "Being named one of the Three Best Rated for the second year in a row is a great example of the dedication of the staff at Spring Hills Hunter's Creek and how they successfully implement the environment we strive to create at all of our locations."
The Spring Hills Hunters Creek Assisted Living Community provides assisted living and memory care with the finest amenities and is located at 3800 Town Center Blvd. in Orlando, FL, 32837. For more information visit www.springhillshunterscreek.com or call 407-251-8088.
About ThreeBestRated.com:
Three Best Rated® was created with a simple goal to find the top 3 local businesses, professionals, restaurants and health care providers in any city. A thorough check of each business's reputation, history, complaints, ratings, nearness, satisfaction, trust, cost, general excellence, reviews using our 50-Point Inspection is completed to decide which businesses are included. Each business is verified by the Three Best Rated staff.
About Spring Hills Senior Communities & Memory Care Communities:
All Spring Hills Senior Communities', Home Care Services, Assisted Living Communities and Poet's Walk Memory Care Communities offer a distinctive and innovative approach to home care services, assisted living, and Alzheimer's care as led by Alexander Markowits, President/CEO. Signature Touches is the company's holistic approach to offering individualized care and services that are designed to meet the needs and preferences of residents and clients. Personal choice is top priority in one of the company's Spring Hills assisted living communities or in client's homes with Spring Hills home care services located in NJ, VA, OH, FL and NV, or in one of the company's Poet's Walk memory care communities located in in TX, VA and NV as well as soon-to-be FL. For more information about their Caring with a Commitment to Quality dedication to senior living, visit www.springhills.com or www.poetswalk-springhills.com.


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Gold earrings have been one of the most popular pieces of jewelry since ancient times. In many countries, gold was regarded as standard for earrings as it has been traditionally regarded as a fine metal. If you are fond of jewelry and want to acquire a set of the most exquisite earrings, then you should follow the steps that have been mentioned below:-
The cost of the earrings will depend largely on the amount of gold content they have. These earrings can be made in three ways. The ones that are made from solid gold are made completely from a gold alloy. The amount of gold that will be used depends on carat designation. Normally, earrings with lower carats are more durable as they are alloyed with nickel, a strong metal. In gold filled earrings, gold is bound to the base metal, and so it will last over a long span of time. The ones that come with gold plating have a thin layer of gold. It is plated over a base metal and has shorter durability.
Go for the earrings that tell about your personal characteristics to people around you. If you are a person with an outgoing personality, then go for flashy, bold earrings. On the other hand if you are a creative sort of person, then go for distinctive, eclectic style of earrings.
The earrings that you opt for should go well with the size of your face as well as the shape of your body. Women who have a large build look gorgeous with long earrings. On the other hand, women with short stature look great with small gold earrings.
Skin Tone
For people with a fair complexion, earrings of white gold or rose gold are most suitable. If you have a pale skin tone, then white gold will make you look more paler. Rose gold on the other hand will highlight the pink overtones of your skin. Therefore, yellow gold would be the best option. Yellow gold is also suitable for women with an olive skin tone.
Face Shape
All women look for jewelry pieces that go well with their face shapes. For ladies with oval face shapes, big hoops are most suitable. On the other hand, long or angular earrings are ideal for women with round face shapes. If in case you have a square shaped face, then opting for studs would be a good idea as they won't attract people's attention to the shape of your face.


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No one likes to admit it, but let's face the facts, high school does indeed revolve around sports.
Students rarely hear about what is going on in art, drama, dance and many other teams and activities on the Bonita campus.
One of our main resources to hear about what is happening on campus are the announcements. However, all they talk about are the upcoming sports games, who won a game recently, and when are sports tryouts.
This not only pertains to high school, but it's also embedded in our modern American society.
"Color guard had a competition recently and it wasn't even in the announcement," said junior Danni Beserino, who has been in color guard for three years.
Choir and band are some of our best teams on campus, yet we haven't heard what they're doing.
At pep rallies, the cheerleaders are always performing, why don't we have choir perform for a change?
"Some sports are more popular than other activities on campus, but that doesn't mean high school revolves around sports," said senior Sarah Quintana, who is on the varsity field hockey team and track.
Why is it that sports like baseball and football are more popular than drama and dance? Well, the main reason is because our school is constantly promoting, and talking about these sports. How are other activities at Bonita supposed to become popular and gain recognition when the school simply doesn't take the time to appreciate them?
There are many other teams at Bonita who work just as hard and as much as any athlete and yet they are still not appreciated, nor are they recognized.
For example, the debate team has gone to various tournaments and not one has been promoted. They practice 2-3 times a week for two hours and not even can the school wish them luck before their tournaments, like they do for sports.
"Debate is definitely not appreciated as a team on the Bonita campus," said junior Nick Rodelo, who is a captain on the debate team.
Not everyone was born with athletic abilities, but they were born with other talents. These talents are not any less special than those of sports, therefore, they should also be valued and acknowledged.
"I think it sucks how if you have a letter on your letterman's jacket for a sport you are cool but if you only have one for choir it's seen as being lame" said junior Phoebe Melanson, who has been in choir since the fourth grade.
If people take the time to go to different events like a choir concert, a drama production, or an art show, they might see that it could be as fun or as interesting as a sports game.
Bearcats should learn to step out of their comfort zone, and not constantly go to the same sports event that every person goes to. The school also needs to do their job in promoting different events that happen other than sporting events.
High school needs to stop revolving around sports. Yes sports are important, but so is the arts, the debate team, band, and many other teams and talents on our campus.
–Haili Ayala


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Why you should buy the 2012 MacBook Pro in 2016
In with the old!
Apple is apparently phasing out the old 13-inch MacBook Pro without Retina Display from its shops over in the US, most likely preparing the ground for the refreshed model to hit shelves later this year.
This is according to Apple Insider, which received a tip from an unnamed source who said that while the old 13-inch MacBook Pro was still in stock across the majority of Apple stores, outlets were no longer putting the device on display for punters to try out.
The 12-inch MacBook pro without Retina display was launched way back in 2012 and comes with an Intel Core i5 'Ivy Bridge' processor, 4GB RAM, 500GB HDD and integrated Intel HD Graphics 4000. Lets compare this to the cheapest 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro on offer.
Firstly, it comes with a Retina display, with a resolution of 2,560 x 1,600 that equates to 227 pixels per inch (as compared to the 167ppi display of the 2012 MacBook pro). In addition, it offers an Intel Core i5 'Broadwell' processor, 8GB RAM, 128GB flash storage and integrated Intel Iris 6100 graphics.
So, the display is much better, it comes with twice the amount of RAM, flash storage as compared to an old 5,000rpm hard-drive and better graphics. So why should you buy the non retina 2012 MacBook Pro over the base Retina model?
Well, there are several reasons.
Firstly, the price. While there is not that much of a price difference in the official MRP's of the products, with the 2012 model at Rs 89,990 and the newer Retina version at Rs 1,06,990, the street price is a different story. On Amazon India, the 2012 MacBook Pro is available currently for Rs 59,239 while the entry-level 13-inch Retina model is going for Rs 89,994. That's a difference of a whopping thirty thousand rupees.
Secondly, it is the only MacBook Pro available currently with a DVD drive, which is still important to some users. It also has an ethernet port and a FireWire 800 port, and doesn't need any finicky adapters like the latest Retina MacBook Pros.
Thirdly, it has battery notification LED's on the left edge, next to the headphone jack. This is an insanely useful feature, and allows you to check your battery level at the push of a button, without even having to open the lid of the MacBook Pro.
Lastly, and this is the kicker, is the fact that this was the last MacBook Pro that Apple made which was upgradable. You can change the HDD and the RAM without voiding the warranty. Thus you can turn the MacBook Pro 2012, with it's middling 2012 specifications into a laptop that can easily rival any 2016 competition for a few thousand bucks.
Let's do the math here, a 256GB SSD costs around 5,000 rupees on e-commerce websites and 8GB of Mac compatible RAM is available for around 3,000 bucks. So for just 11,000 rupees, you can spec your 2012 MacBook Pro with a 256GB SSD and 16GB(!) of RAM.
What's even more interesting is that by ordering a HDD caddy from Amazon India, you can replace the DVD drive of the MacBook Pro, and insert the old 500GB HDD (or even another SSD in raid configuration!) in it's place.
My current 2012 MacBook Pro has a 500GB Kingston SSD, the old 500GB HDD and 16GB of RAM, for a grand total of just 80,000 rupees.
However, it must be noted that you will have to live with the non-retina screen and the weak Intel HD 4000 Graphics.
You can learn how to upgrade the RAM in your non-retina MacBook Pro here and how to install an SSD here.
Image source: iFixit
Also Read: Apple finally phases out its oldest MacBook Pro and you can stay safer online with a VPN for Mac
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Use grazing to maintain or restore disturbance: freshwater swamps
Overall effectiveness category No evidence found (no assessment)
Number of studies: 0
View assessment score
Hide assessment score
How is the evidence assessed?
Effectivenessnot assessed
Certaintynot assessed
Harmsnot assessed
Background information and definitions
Disturbance can clear dominant plants, maintain light availability and control nutrient levels – and may maintain vegetation in a desirable and/or species-rich state (Hall et al. 2008; Middleton 2013). Therefore, conservationists sometimes want to actively restore disturbance where it has ceased, or maintain disturbance at a site where it would otherwise be lost. Grazing with animals such as sheep, horses, cattle, goats or water buffalo (Gulickx et al. 2007) might be one way to do this. Grazing can also give some economic value to wetlands, strengthening arguments against conversion to other land uses. Grazing itself may be the disturbance that has been reduced. Some wetlands have been abandoned following historical low-intensity grazing (e.g. Plassman et al. 2010).
This section includes studies evaluating the effects of grazing implemented for conservation (e.g. with species and intensity aligned with vegetation conservation goals). Studies of the impact of intense commercial grazing, for example, are not included. Bear in mind that the effects of grazing might be highly dependent on how it is carried out (e.g. species, intensity, timing, frequency and duration) and site conditions (e.g. nutrient availability, water levels, presence/density of wild herbivores) (Rinella & Hileman 2009).
Related actions: Use grazing to control problematic plants, whose success is not linked to a change in disturbance regime; Change season/timing of livestock grazing; Change type of livestock grazing.
Gulickx M.M.C., Beecroft R.C. & Green A.C. (2007) Introduction of water buffalo Bubalus bubalis to recently created wetlands at Kingfishers Bridge, Cambridgeshire, England. Conservation Evidence, 4, 43–44.
Hall S.J., Lindig-Cisneros R. & Zedler J.B. (2008) Does harvesting sustain plant diversity in Central Mexican wetlands? Wetlands, 28, 776–792.
Middleton B.A. (2013) Rediscovering traditional vegetation management in preserves: trading experiences between cultures and continents. Biological Conservation, 158, 750–760.
Plassmann K., Jones M.L.M. & Edwards-Jones G. (2010) Effects of long-term grazing management on sand dune vegetation of high conservation interest. Applied Vegetation Science, 13, 100–112.
Rinella M.J. & Hileman B.J. (2009) Efficacy of prescribed grazing depends on timing intensity and frequency. Journal of Applied Ecology, 46, 796–803.
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Where has this evidence come from?
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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:Marsh and Swamp Conservation
Marsh and Swamp Conservation - Published 2021
Marsh and Swamp Synopsis


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Canberra is currently having a moment!
If you aren't from the nations capital, it's likely the most time you have spent there was a compulsory trip in sixth grade. Then it just became a place for politicians, public service workers and roundabouts. The busiest place in Canberra on a Friday night was the airport.
But, just like that, sort of like your best friends dorky brother or sister, it blossomed over the summer.
Canberra now has beautiful outdoor landscapes, cool café culture and a hipster scene giving Sydney and Melbourne a run for their money.
Lake Burley Griffin
Named after the guy who planned the city of Canberra, Lake Burley Griffin is a man made lake perfect for a kayak on a spring morning or an afternoon bike ride around in the autumn through the crunchy leaves. And if you can drag yourself out of bed early enough, head down to watch the hot air balloons over the lake at Sunrise. You won't regret it.
Find a Rainforest Gully in country Australia
For a pretty rural city, you'd never believe there's a misty rainforest right in the middle of Canberra at the Australian National Botanic Gardens. The gardens are broken up into different ecosystems representing various Australian flora and fauna including Rainforest, Red Rock, Eucalypt Lawn and a daisy garden.
Parliament House
This is iconic Canberra protruding right from the middle of town. It is our version of the Capitol Hill, with less security.
Find the Roo's – Weston Park
So there are actually Kangaroos that rove around Canberra, go figure. For years I would tell people we rode our roo's to school instead of the bus as a joke. I had never seen a Kangaroo roaming around. I mean in Sydney, that was not the case, but then I came to Canberra, and blow me down there they were in Weston Park, Yarralumla.
Mount Ainslie Lookout
So maybe many wouldn't compare it to the Hollywood Hills or Hong Kong's Victoria Peak but I reckon it just hasn't had its heyday yet. Drive up the mountain to the top and get an expansive view of the whole city.
Australian War Memorial
Admittedly, I have not ever been a history buff, but the Australia War Memorial is very special place to remember the sacrifice Australians made in participating wars. The Roll of Honour, adorned with red poppies, has over 102,000 names inscribed for those who died during or as a result of war. The Pool of Reflection is spectacular in the late afternoon.
Freak Shakes at Patissez
Known world over, Patissez was the bakery responsible for creating these monster Freak Shakes before the craze even made its way to foodie cities such as New York and London. Definitely save your visit for cheat day. It's worth the extra calories.
The Cupping Room
This place knows a thing or two about coffee, seeing as owner Sasa Sestic is the 2015 world-champion barista. So you java drinkers are in for a treat at the Cupping Room. As a non-coffee drinker I came for the food displayed like art. And what better breakfast to photograph then French Toast.
Public Manuka
I think I pick places to eat based heavily on their interiors because this gastropub drew me in with the green hanging garden and kept me for the food. Head to Public for a relaxing lunch on the weekend and walk it off around Manuka.
Urban Pantry
Another Manuka establishment staying on trend in with fresh and clean gourmet menu items is Urban Pantry. They focus on locally sourced ingredients and it's also not to dreadful to photograph.
Hotel Hotel
Part of the New Acton area, Hotel Hotel is apparently the place to stay because of it's trendy restaurant Monster. I was, of course, again, drawn to the hanging garden. I cant say I was terribly impressed with the rooms themselves, they felt like modified shipping containers, but the lobby and restaurants were tré cool.


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A man suspected of burning down a Maine coffee shop that featured topless waitresses has been arrested in South Carolina.
Prosecutors say Raymond Bellavance Jr. was arrested Wednesday in a rural part of Spartanburg County.
Bellavance is from Augusta, Maine, just south of the Grand View Topless Coffee Shop in Vassalboro. He's a former boyfriend of a waitress at the shop. He's accused of burning down the shop last June.
The Portland Press Herald says Bellavance had been missing since he was released from jail in Augusta on April 2 after being held on an unrelated charge.
The Spartanburg County Detention Facility wouldn't let Bellavance speak to a reporter by telephone Wednesday.
Coffee shop owner Donald Crabtree has reopened his coffee shop in a trailer.
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52. 1 Peter: How Shall We then Live in the Pagan Culture?
My wife and I are from India; we are aliens and foreigners in this country. No matter how long we live here, because of our skin color and the way we speak, we will always be treated as foreigners. Living as foreigners and aliens in a foreign culture has its own typical problems.
For example, you always face the food problem, at least in the initial stage. I cannot forget the first time I took a bite out of a hamburger. A friend took me for lunch and bought me a hamburger. I asked, "What do you call this?" He said, "A hamburger." I had to take a big gulp of water to swallow it, and the rest went in the trash. You see, in India, pigs are raised in very dirty places, and people don't eat ham. Of course, I did not realize that there is no ham in a hamburger. Well, knowing it has beef would not have helped much. It took me at least six months before I could eat hot dogs, for the obvious reason – we don't eat dogs in India!
Then many a time you come across some ethical dilemma. Once I was traveling to Cameroon, a small country in West Africa. As a rule, I had to have with me a valid certificate of having had my yellow fever shots. I had taken the shots but was not carrying the certificate with me. At the airport going through the check-in, the man told me something in French. I did understand the words, "yellow fever certificate," but did not know what he was saying, so I asked, "What?" He repeated the same thing, and I repeated the same question. Finally, now in English, he said, "Give me some money, and I will let you go." This time with a big surprise, I almost shouted, "Wha...t?" The man, obviously frustrated, said, "You don't understand, I'll let you go" and stamped my passport!
Then many times you face the language problem. Many of you have traveled to other countries and know what it is like. Even if they speak English, you cannot understand, just as when I speak here! In a Paris hotel elevator, a sign read, "Please leave your values at the front desk." A sign in a hotel in Athens read, "Visitors are expected to complain at the office between the hours of 9 and 11 a.m. daily." In a Zurich hotel, a sign read, "Because of the impropriety of entertaining guests of the opposite sex in the bedroom, it is suggested that the lobby be used for this purpose." In the lobby of a Moscow hotel across from a monastery, a sign read, "You are welcome to visit the cemetery where famous Russian and Soviet composers, artists and writers are buried daily except Thursday." An ad by a Hong Kong dentist read, "Teeth extracted by the latest Methodists." A Copenhagen airport sign announced, "We take your bags and send them in all directions." Posted in a Budapest zoo was this: "Please do not feed the animals. If you have any suitable food, give it to the guard on duty." An Acapulco hotel sign bragged, "The manager has personally passed all the water served here."
All of this is very funny. However, it is no joke when you are living as a small minority in a foreign culture that is totally hostile to you. Imagine that as a missionary couple you are living in a small remote town. After trying for a long time, you find a small rent house. One evening your landlord comes home from the market and without saying a word, throws your stuff outside the house, and tells you to leave because he has been threatened by the villagers that nobody in the village would relate to him unless he threw you out of his house. Or you are a foreign missionary living with your husband and a young son. Your husband has taken a short trip with your son. Late in the evening as you wait for your husband's and son's return, you get a message from a villager that your husband and son were stopped by a large crowd, they were tied up in the jeep, people poured gas and burned the jeep, and they were burned alive.
Of course, these are real examples. How would you like to live in such situations? How would you live under the constant threat of your life? The people to whom Peter addressed his letter were living in exactly the same situation, and even worse.
The Christians during Peter's time were going through intense persecution. Socially they were ostracized, abused, insulted and ridiculed. Politically they had no civil rights. And Peter realized that the situation was getting worse. So, before the time of the Roman Emperor Nero when the severe persecution broke out, Peter wrote this letter to encourage and prepare the Christians scattered in the Asia Minor area. As we know from history, later during the time of the infamous Nero (54-68 A.D.), it did become worse. During Nero's time, Christians were nailed to crosses, were sewn up in the skins of wild beasts and left in the sun to die a horrible and painful death. They were used as torches to illumine Nero's parties.
Those Christians were mistreated and insulted (1 Peter 3:9); they were slandered and reviled for their good behavior (1 Peter 3:16) and maligned because they did not participate in the "flood of dissipation" of the non-believers. Peter wrote to them, "They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you" (1 Peter 4:4)433. And all this was "because of the name of Christ" (1 Peter 4:14). The main reason for their persecution was their life-style as aliens and foreigners in the heathen culture.
Peter basically tells them two things: One, their position as aliens and foreigners in this world (1 Peter 1:1-12), and two, their practice as aliens and foreigners in this world (1 Peter 1:13-5:14).
As to our position in this world, we Christians are aliens and foreigners in this world, because we are "called out" from this world to be God's own people. Peter uses the word "chosen" or "God's elect" (Eklektois, 1 Peter 1:1) which has a sense of choosing out as a group of people to make them His own people. As Peter later says, "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).
They are God's own possession, God's property, because they were bought "not with perishable things such as silver and gold. . .but with the precious blood of Christ" (1 Peter 1:18,19). As Paul said, "You are not your own; you were bought with a price" (1 Corinthians 6:19-20).
As to our practice as foreigners and liens in this world, there is so much that Peter has to tell these people as to the instructions about how they should live among the people who do not know God and who live a life that is not pleasing to God. But Peter's instructions can be summed up in three "do not's":
1. Do not be like them, but be like your Father who has called you.
2. Do not be surprised when you are mistreated, but live an exemplary life.
3. Do not be at home here, but look forward to your home in heaven.
1. Do not be like them, but be like your Father who has called you.
Look at my wife and me! We look different, we dress different – at least my wife does. We speak differently. We sometimes act strange. We eat a different kind of food. No matter how long we both live here, we will always be different and treated as foreigners and aliens in this country because we are from a different country, a different culture. We are like our parents who are Indians.
And that is exactly what Peter tells his readers here. You are now born into a different family (1 Peter 1:3). And so now you have to be like your new Father; "Just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:14-17). Now you eat different food; you are to crave the pure spiritual milk of His Word so that you can grow in your salvation (1 Peter 2:2). You now have to live for a different purpose in life, "to declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into His wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9).
Now you have a different culture. You do not choose to do what the others choose:
He does not live the rest of his earthly life for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God. For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do – living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry (1 Peter 4:2-3).
One thing that Peter would never advise his readers is "when in Rome, do as the Romans do."
Today what has happened is that when we are in the world, we do what the world does. Instead of the church penetrating the world, the world culture has penetrated the church. We have the same, if not higher, divorce rate and family breakdown as the world does. We have the same rate, if not higher, of malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy and slander of every kind as in the secular world (1 Peter 2:1). Peter says, "Just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: 'Be holy, because I am holy'" (1 Peter 1:15-16).
No wonder the outside world does not see us Christians as any different than them. According to the recent Barna research, less than one-fourth of non-Christians surveyed think of their Christian neighbors with high respect.
How about our goals and priorities in life? Are we not running after material things just as the people of the world are? Let us take the Christmas celebration as an example. Have you started Christmas shopping yet? If not, you are in the minority. We spend weeks, and sometimes months, "running around like a chicken with its head cut off" buying gifts for those who don't need anything and don't like what we give, and who have to spend days waiting in exchange/return lines afterwards. Whose birthday is it anyway? Why should I get any gifts? In all this running around, does anyone ever pause and think where is the birthday Boy? Instead of giving gifts to one another, why don't we give it to Jesus, in His Name, to someone who really needs it and will really appreciate it?
And how about our food? Do we not feed on the same food of violence, sex, and a perverted life-style that has been dished out through most of our TV shows? Do we not devour that for hours like hungry dogs? Or, do we, like newborn babes, crave the pure spiritual milk, so that by it we may grow up in our salvation (1 Peter 2:2)?
Speaking about pure spiritual milk, what kind of spiritual food do we demand from our preachers today? Paul said,
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths (2 Timothy 4:3-4).
You must have seen the article that came out a few days ago in the Dallas Morning News.434 The author in this article mentions that because the cross is offensive to modern people, Robert W. Funk and other scholars of Westar Institute have been looking for new symbols to represent Christianity:
The Lord's Supper would stay, but it would omit any mention of sacrifice. Consuming the blood and body of Jesus would probably be out. Instead, he (Funk) envisioned a dinner, open to everybody, representing the kinship of all humans. . . .Salt might replace the cross as a central symbol because followers of the historical Jesus typically don't believe that Jesus died for humanity's sins and was physically resurrected. Salt has ancient spiritual meanings in many faiths, which would meet Dr. Funk's goal to form a faith that could communicate across cultural boundaries. . . .Most often the search for new symbols arises among mainline Christians and those who might like to follow Christ's teachings but feel constrained by church doctrines that they don't accept. . . .Even some evangelical churches are engaging new images and giving old ones less prominence. Willow Creek Community Church near Chicago left the cross out of the church sanctuary because its presence might intimidate newcomers not raised in a church setting. Another ministry attempting to attract postmodern converts allows worshippers to write their sins in a bowlful of sand and then wipe them away.
You cannot call yourself a born again Christian and accept the prevalent culture.
We are aliens and foreigners here,
We cannot do what the Romans do.
We have a different Father,
We cannot act like Satan's brood.
We are members of God's family,
We cannot follow the norms of the world.
We grow by a different kind of food,
We cannot feed ourselves on junk.
We now serve a different Master,
We now follow His commands.
His Kingdom is our priority,
His service and glory is our goal.
So the first thing Peter tells his readers, and us, is, "Do not be like them, but be like your Father who has called you."
2. Do not be surprised when mistreated, but live an exemplary life.
Because we are different, we are aliens and foreigners in this culture, and we will be ridiculed. "They think it strange that you do not plunge with them into the same flood of dissipation, and they heap abuse on you" (1 Peter 4:4). Either conform to the world, or be ridiculed. As Jesus told His disciples,
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world. . . That is why the world hates you (John 15:19).
Of course, Christians should never give outsiders just cause for mistreatment. They should never use the freedom as a cover-up for evil: "Live as free men, but do not use your freedom as a cover-up for evil; live as servants of God" (1 Peter 2:16). It should never be "as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler" (1 Peter 4:15). The Christians have to live as law-abiding citizens (1 Peter 2:13-17). They have to be faithful to their employees and masters even when they are harsh and unfair (1 Peter 2:18-20). Wives have to be faithful and submissive to their husbands even when they are not Christians (1 Peter 3:1-6).
Peter uses none other than Christ as our example in this: "Because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps" (1 Peter 2:21). He gave His life for those who ridiculed Him, mistreated Him and hung Him on the cross (1 Peter 2:24-25). Peter says, "Therefore, since Christ suffered in His body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude" (1 Peter 4:1).
In Christ's suffering, one of the things that Peter points out is that "Christ suffered for you" (1 Peter 2:21). He says,
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by His wounds you have been healed. For you were like sheep going astray (1 Peter 2:24-25).
In a sense, what Peter is saying is that we were the ones who inflicted suffering on Him. As one hymn puts it, "Were you there when they crucified my Lord. . . .Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord?" 435
In suffering, even while doing right, the goal is the glory of God. As the Westminster Confession tells us, "The chief aim of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever." That is a very lofty goal, and we as Christians want to live our life with that aim. However, Peter gives an even loftier aim for the Christian's life. He is not speaking of just Christians glorifying God. He is speaking of unbelievers, those who persecute Christians now, glorifying God:
Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day He visits (1 Peter 2:12).
What Peter means is that, because of your testimony for Christ, these people will have accepted Jesus as their own Lord and Savior, so at the time of Jesus' coming, they will be rejoicing and glorifying God. Peter cannot forget the words His Master told him and other disciples, "Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).
And that is why Peter tells his readers,
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect (1 Peter 3:15).
One of the main blessings of the Christian life is the salvation of souls. But you have to be prepared to give an explanation when they ask.
Do you know the difference between belief and conviction? Belief is knowing what you believe. Conviction is not only knowing what you believe, but also knowing why you believe. The vast majority of Christians today do not even know what they believe, much less why they believe. Because of this, they are swayed by every wind of doctrine. But the time has come now when you will need not just your beliefs, but also your convictions. Otherwise you will not be able to stand. Conviction is something you are ready to die for. It is something worth living for. It is the conviction, albeit misdirected, that prepares a suicide bomber to give his life. Do we have that kind of conviction today? It may not be too long that our beliefs will be questioned and our convictions will be tested.
So we have seen two "do not's." As aliens and foreigners here on the earth, do not be like them, but be different because we serve a different Master; we follow His standards. Secondly, do not be surprised when mistreated, but be prepared to give a reason for the hope that you have in Christ, for what you believe, so that those who persecute you today may turn to Christ tomorrow.
3. Do not be at home here, but look forward to your home in heaven.
How do you feel when you travel away from home? We like to take vacations. But within a few days, we get homesick, don't we? That's how we should feel about living here on earth. Homesick for our eternal home. That's how the apostle Paul felt: "We groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling" and, "We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord" (2 Corinthians 5:2, 8). No matter how long we live here on this earth, how big of a house we live in, how much we accumulate, the world is not our home. We live here as aliens and foreigners. We are on a brief visit here and cannot wait to get back to our real home.
Peter gives an example of the people who felt at home here – the people of Noah's time (1 Peter 3:20). Jesus described how these people felt at home here,
For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them away (Matthew 24:38-39).
Of course, we also know many examples of the people who did not feel at home here. For example, the author of Hebrews notes about Abraham,
By faith he made home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents… For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God (Hebrews 11:9-10).
And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they have been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country – a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them (Hebrews 11:13-16).
Where is our home? Even to raise that question sounds out of place in a church like this where the Word of God is taught with sincerity and conviction. But it still is good to be reminded that this is not our home; our eternal home is in heaven. We have the living hope for inheritance that can never perish, spoil, or fade…kept in heaven, and that is what we rejoice in; that is what we are looking forward to (1 Peter 1:4-5).
What is included in that inheritance? A life full of glory. A life full of joy and peace. A life in the very presence of God. A life spent in worship and adoration of God our Savior. That's where our commendations and rewards are.
During my first year at Dallas Theological Seminary some 28 years ago, I read a missionary biography as part of an assignment. I do not remember the title of the book or the names of the missionary couple. But I will never forget the end of the book. This couple had served almost all their grown up life as missionaries in Kenya. In their early 70's, they finally retired and were headed for home in the United States. They boarded a plane in Nairobi, Kenya. Their plane stopped at Heathrow Airport in London. Some of the passengers got off there, and a group of people boarded the plane. Finally when the couple reached New York and came out of the customs check, they saw a large crowd of people outside the airport shouting, "Welcome to America!" The missionary wife, with a twinkle in her eye, told her husband, "Wow! Look, honey, what a grand welcome our church has arranged for us!"
Of course, it did not take too long for them to realize that the large crowd of people was not for them. Unknown to them, among the group of people who boarded the plane in London were the Beatles, making their first historic trip to America, and the crowd was to welcome them. Even the couple who was supposed to pick them up was delayed because of the unusual rush.
Standing by themselves in a corner of the airport, dejected and disappointed, the missionary wife told her husband, "Look, honey, we have spent all our lives serving the Lord in a very difficult situation, and when we come home, this is the kind of welcome we receive. And look at these people, the kind of welcome they are getting." To which the missionary husband replied, "Honey, we are not home yet." No, we are not home yet. And we should never feel at home here.
That missionary story ended there. But later I came to know something else about the Beatles' historic visit to America. They had not come alone. They brought somebody else with them, their spiritual advisor and guru, Maharshi Mahesh Yogi. And the welcome the Beatles received was nothing compared to the welcome that was awarded to Mahesh Yogi. Within months of his arrival in the United States, he was touring all over the United States teaching his philosophy and promoting Transcendental Meditation (TM). In less than a couple of years, there were TM centers established all across America, and TM became a household word.
Seeing the welcome awarded to Mahesh Yogi and making use of the secular immigration laws of the United States, hordes of Yogis and Gurus invaded the United States, and today there is not a single major city in America where you would not find Hindu temples. The Hindus are burning churches in India and building temples all across America. What we see today — pluralism, agnosticism, humanism, making gods out of trees and birds and sea creatures and forests in the name of environmental concerns, anything and everything that is antagonistic to the Christian and to the Judeo-Christian worldview — all have their roots in that historic arrival in New York some 40 years ago when Christianity was pushed into a corner, and the heathen worldview was accorded a royal welcome.
What Peter was writing to his contemporaries has never been truer for modern history than right now, right here in the United States of America. You will be swept away in the whirlwind of doubts and worldly thinking and the headlong rush into heathen beliefs and practices if you are not prepared. If ever, now is the time when your beliefs will be questioned and your convictions will be tested, even to the point of death.
What are you living for? Where is your heart set? How are you living? When in Rome, do you do as the Romans do? Or, "just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do" (1 Peter1:15)?
[We] are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (1 Peter 2:9).
We know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that we were redeemed from the empty way of life that we see all around us, but with the precious blood of Christ, a Lamb without blemish or defect (1 Peter 1:18).
The Book of First Peter, more than any other book in the whole Bible, tells us as much as it did its original readers that now is the time to wake up from our complacency. Because,
In the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man (Matthew 24:38-39).
Paul summarizes the letter of First Peter well (of course, Paul wrote his letters before Peter did, 2 Peter 3:15-16):
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope – the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good (Titus 2:11-14).
That is what the Christian life is all about. Sometimes it takes a faithful and suffering saint like Stephen to produce a serving saint like Paul.
432 This is the edited manuscript of Lesson 106 in the From Creation to the Cross series prepared by Imanuel Christian on December 8, 2002.
433 Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright Ó 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission.
434 Christine Wicker, "At Cross Purposes: Are Christian Symbols Ripe for Change?" Dallas Morning News, November 16, 2002.
435 Words and tune "Were You There?" Traditional Negro spiritual; adapted, John W. Work, Jr., and Frederick J. Work, 1907.
Related Topics: Bibliology (The Written Word)