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A Look Back at Cyber Security Awareness Month
Annually, the month of October is used to drive Cyber Security Awareness. With much less fanfare than the pink-coloured Breast Cancer Awareness Month, the information that is shared during this month can serve as a reminder to individuals and companies about what is needed to ensure your activity is safe and secure online. Which for a business, can mean the difference between being in business and being paralyzed in downtime due to an attack.
Which is what made the October 21st DDoS attack on Zyn such a stark reminder of why awareness is critical as we continuously dive further into a fully digital era of data storage and collection.
Thrust into the spotlight were terms like IoT (Internet of Things) as we learned that the attack was more than likely perpetrated using a bot that infiltrated items like home dishwashers, thermostats and even alarm clocks and mobilized them to help take down the DNS servers at Zyn temporarily.
This event highlighted just how quickly things can become chaotic should precautions not be in place – and, unfortunately, it outlined just how panicked people can become should their private information be susceptible to theft from others.
That fear of what happens when sensitive information gets in the wrong hands was another hot topic, as a study was released outlined the immense impact that ransomware has had on companies in the US & Canada.
In Q1 alone, it's estimated that companies in the United States paid close to $209,000,000 in ransoms to global perpetrators. Giving in to these demands seems to be the only way out for companies who find themselves in the throes of a ransomware situation, but paying the ransom has led to those companies information then being shared on the "dark web" as companies willing to pay – along with turnkey ransomware software to complete the job.
If you add in "Zero Day Exploits," vulnerabilities in computer software programs that leave software and hardware vulnerable to malware attacks, there was plenty of information for companies to digest based on various studies and what was being reported in the news.
Companies and individuals should be aware of what could potentially harm their IT – but they should be more aware of what's in place to help prevent these digital catastrophes from occurring in the first place.
I/OVision boasts many ways to help small medium sized businesses to fight back against cyber criminals. With I/OVision's I.T. security assessments and numerous services, finding the right method to maintain cyber security within your business is easy. Talk to one of our representatives to find an affordable solution that works – although, as many businesses have found out recently, regardless of price, you really can't afford not to be ahead of the curve when it comes to IT Security.


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Available on Etsy.

subset: commoncrawl


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text:
Description :
The rise of semiconductor electronics is one of the most important developments in recent history. The manufacture of semiconductor devices relies fundamentally on chemical processes, equipment, and specially produced materials.
David C. Brock is a senior research fellow with CHF's Center for Contemporary History and Policy. As a historian of science and technology, he specializes in the history of semiconductor science, technology, and industry; the history of instrumentation; and oral history. He is the author of Understanding Moore's Law: Four Decades of Innovation and, with Christophe Lécuyer, Makers of the Microchip: A Documentary History of Fairchild Semiconductor.
In this history of chemistry webisode, David Brock talks about the history of how the microprocessors that power iPads, iPhones and other digital devices came about. An excellent presentation!
*by andreascy*


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Because I got there on a Wednesday afternoon in the off season, the campground was only about 20% full and there were a lot of empty sites and it was very quiet. When traveling alone I always try to "borrow a family" by setting up camp somewhat near a family or group… as a solo female it can be tempting to sort of hide yourself away in order fly under the radar of anyone who may want to pester you, but it's actually better to be very visible in everything you do. Nobody minds a quiet solo neighbor, plus parents are parents no matter where you go and there is almost always a mom happy to make sure you feel safe regardless of whether she actually knows you ;) I still had plenty of privacy and space.
When the camp office opened I bought some firewood, asked for a recommendation for dinner and was sent on my way with a map down to Bass Harbor, on the Southwest corner of the island, where I got a lobster roll as big as my face and a slice of raspberry pie on the side from Thurston's Lobster Pound. While I was waiting I roamed around the idyllic working harbor taking photos of lobster boats unloading their last catch, old boats in various state of faded beauty and lobster buoys! So many lobster buoys.


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Saturday, December 26, 2009
The Art of Acting and The Art of Marketing
I can still remember my very first AoL teacher. I remember being in awe at how well he was able to deliver the "knowledge" and conduct the class while smiling throughout, how well he handled student's questions (especially the skeptical ones), and how at ease he always appeared. I was impressed. And all the other students must have been too because by the last night of the course, they all gravitated toward him and didn't want to leave. Since that time, I had gotten to know many other teachers, and have gone down the long and twisted road of becoming an AoL teacher myself. I came to that path because I had good intentions and grandiose ideas of changing the world. But in the end, I know I was chosen to become a teacher because of my ability to pull off a decent appearance, recite from my script (the teacher's manual), and sell the course to my community. And every requirement to becoming a teacher, and every aspect of the teacher training are geared toward finely honing those skills.
I didn't realize that the course was scripted until I attended a number of part 1 courses. Different teachers taught the course identically, and all used the same words and mannerisms (isn't it?). They even tended to dress the same way (white or light colors and usually adorning a shawl). It all made sense when I met ssrs, and saw that it was he they were emulating. This bothered me at first, but somewhere along the way, that feeling subsided, and I began to emulate too. I'm not sure why. Could it have been because following the herd was the easy thing to do? Or because I had spent so much time surrounded by devotees, that I came to accept those practices as the norm? Or perhaps it was because of all the positive reinforcement I got from my teachers while emulating ssrs. I suspect the answer is all of the above.
Further along the path to becoming a teacher, there were more and more intense lessons in the Art of Marketing. DSN was nothing more than a salesman boot camp in which course participants are first broken through sleep deprivation and physical and emotional exhaustion, and then made to sell the course at all costs. I remember on the last day having to walk into a jam-packed church in the middle of a sermon to recruit people to an AoL course. If that is not proselytization, then I don't know what is. TTC1 also focused intensely on marketing. Again, participants are broken through sheer exhaustion. Aside from getting emotionally and mentally abused (which I will not go into here) students spend many hours setting goals ("sankalpas") for the growth of AoL in their own communities, developing marketing strategies, and polishing their introductory talks.
I got introduced to the Art of Acting at TTC2. It is yet another course with the usual component of breaking participants through exhaustion. But the main focus this time is on memorizing and reciting the "course points". Hours and hours are spent reading the manual and delivering "the knowledge" before the class. We are told not to get creative or to let our own thoughts interfere. Just stick to the manual. By the end, the course turns out an army of well-trained, finely-tuned robots (aka AoL teachers).
Over my years of continuous involvement with AoL, I have realized that ssrs & co perpetuate the myth that becoming a teacher of AoL dogma is a wonderful gift, bestowed by ssrs only upon the most worthy and select few. But my experience has shown me that AoL is printing out teachers like they've just invented the press. Anyone with the inclination who has the money to afford the training courses and can withstand the abuse can become a teacher. One who keeps coming back for more abuse has truly proven his enduring gullibility, and is entrusted with a God Almighty, holiest of holy, precious-more-than-life-itself kriya tape. The fact is the DSN and TTCs train one to become a walking, talking advertisement that can put on a good enlightenment act. And yes folks, it is all an act. I have witnessed first hand senior teachers break down emotionally, and I have seen the rage ssrs can become possessed with behind closed doors. These are not the behaviors I would have thought to ascribe to an enlightened individual.
I have heard the argument time and again from AoLites that no one is ever forced to do anything in AoL. But I would counter that the manipulation that goes on in the courses (both subtle and overt), as well as the brainwashing, runs so deep, and the emotional damage sustained so unfathomable, that one finds oneself compelled to continue to serve the organization. I suspect this compulsion is driven by the same psychology that brings an abused wife back to her husband abuser, a prisoner to defend those who have imprisoned him (as in Stockholm Syndrome), or an elderly couple to give up their life savings to a con artist. But whatever the reason, AoL continues to lure unsuspecting victims into its thick web of deceit.
I have seen many cases where ssrs and senior teachers have taken advantage of well-meaning, well-intentioned, innocent individuals, suck their time, money, and energy, and then leave them by the wayside, a useless emotional mess. I am forever grateful that I managed to get out with my sanity still in tact.
13 comments:
- KLIM said...
DSN, TTC 1, TTC 2, even Blessings course focus mainly in making sure one "breaks the ego" in order to bring people to the course, not to take you deeper into knowledge or work on your evolution. It is funny to think there was a belief it is one's ego if you don't enroll people to the course! In fact, I have heard ludicrous comments like, "Not talking to people about the AoL and not bringing them to the course is murder."
SSRS says one day AoL teachers will be the most respected people in society and the most privileged position anyone could have. People will fight to become teachers. I don't know if it is true but I know since recent years anyone can become a teacher and often everyone who attends a TTC 2 leaves with the SK tape and the manual. So irresponsible! In the meantime, the graduates felt they were the chosen ones, the special ones, so smart and so evolved! When the TTC teacher would argue with him about certain people not deserving the tape or manual (often because they showed signs of mental instability), he'd give them a dirty look. It was always accepted with a "the grace will take care."
Funny OMGs!
- December 26, 2009 at 12:43 AM
God that is truly frightening.
Sounds worse than going through the TM teacher training, where at least there was no "DSN" proselytizing, and the results of the meditation technique itself were self evident.
I find that boot camp description and proselytizing extremely cultish sounding and know a friend who went through this BS.
He admitted the proselytizing was wierd, but can you imagine trying this on for size in a community where you do business or someone knows you?
You'd be marred for life as a looney, something not so conducive for your livelihood.
- December 26, 2009 at 1:02 AM
The tagline of AOL should be anyone can become teachers - last year there was an express TTC in Bali - anyone who had done one Part 1 course could apply.
How can a person who has been in AOL for just a couple of weeks impart knowledge and teach yoga. Mystifying - answer is Guruji knows and everything works with his grace.
From the AOL grapevine, a mentally unstable applicant from Taiwan applied for this TTC and the local teachers co-ordinator did not approve the application. The applicant wrote directly to the Ashram and the Guru approved his application. The local teachers
were dissappointed but they were reassured that Guruji knows best.
Yes why woulnt he know best when each applicant has to pay almost USD2000 for the TTC.
Baffling but this cowherd mentality deserves this and much more.
- December 26, 2009 at 7:08 AM
It is my understanding in South America you do TTC 1 AND 2 in only THREE WEEKS, and anyone who took the Part 1 course, even just a few months ago can do it. That's an expression of his hurry to conquer the world. And finally you get so many unprepared people acting as teachers: mentally unstable, immature, fanatics, etc. What is his hurry????? Can someone please explain?
- December 26, 2009 at 9:25 AM
- Art of Leaving said...
It makes me happy to see how quickly this blog is developing. I've been hoping it would take this form. Thanks a lot for putting so much energy into it, Klim. Thanks also, Humble Witness, for contributing posts. Hearing many voices are good.
I have a question I wish to put to long-time ex-devotees. Perhaps someone would be willing to contribute a post about it?
The question is this: After putting so much devotional energy into SSRS (or into any other Guru) and then leaving, what does one do with the devotional need afterwards?
I am unwilling and unable to kill the devotional tendency in myself, because I still feel there is something beautiful and worthwhile in it, and I prefer transcendence and transformation through the heart and some form of Guru bhakti. Perhaps I have some emotional lack or immaturity within myself, but so be it. That's who I am, and I need to work with it in a kind and gentle way.
I have found that what I sometimes do is to divide SSRK into two personas - the one is the real-life one who has put me through much hell and whom I ended up hating and cursing; and the other is the one of my initial projections. The projected SSRS includes the one percent in him to which I still seem to be attracted, coupled with how I would like him to be ideally.
To such an ideal SSRS I still sometimes mentally direct love and devotion, mostly because I have not found any alternative yet despite much searching for one. And perhaps also because I have drawn him so deeply into my being via meditation.
I still watch some of his videos and I am still addicted to AoL Bhajans and I do get some emotional nourishment from it. I have tried to direct my attention away from him many times, sometimes for a few months at a stretch, but I return time and again to some idealised version of him.
I no longer have any desire to physically return to him or AoL, although initially I sometimes considered doing so. But my heart has been burnt badly enough already and by now my head is very clear about it that any return would merely repeat the torture. The evidence in these blogs also helps to keep the dangers vividly before my eyes.
Anyway, what to do with the need for devotion to a Guru - that is the question. I could keep working with my idealised version of SSRS and deepen him, but there might be a danger of stagnation and delusion. I would really prefer moving on completely, but how?
- December 26, 2009 at 6:03 PM
(a) We can not really know the entire Universe and its magnanimity because of our
limited ability to perceive. The brain works on a frequency channel; our sense organs have limited capacity.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Ref: The Speaking Tree, TOI, dt 30 Nov 09
(b)Seeker:Do you think you are God? Would you like to be called as God?
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: How can you doubt? Can any body ask the Sun if he is Sun?
Ref: Rishimukh Magazine May 09 issue Q&A session P-51
Ignorant people claiming themselves as Omniscient God is simply foolishness. It is not only cheating the innocent people by misguiding them but also degrading and insulting the God.
*** Please also note that God does not discuss with human delegates in the Parliament of Religions conducted at Melbourne – Australia, for solutions to the problems of humanity. He being SUPREME establishes DHARMA on his own
This was forwarded to many AOL members by a Mr Shankar PBK who has been commenting on SSRS and AOL for quite sometime.
- December 27, 2009 at 9:14 AM
- KLIM said...
Art of Leaving,
Let "devotion" be directed towards your own higher being and the beauty of life itself. This is one of the greatest lessons I have learned from all my experience with AoL. Truly, the master is within ourselves. Whereas gurus like SSRS talk about going in and all of that, in the practice it becomes all about being out. We serve someone else, we are devoted to someone else ... at the end of the day, we forget the most important: who am I, loving ourselves, seeing God in ourselves, learning to relate with ourselves. Any devotion geared towards someone outside is where we loose equilibrium and track of truth and the Self.
For Heaven's sake, please stop idealizing that man. I am sure others will also give you even better advise. Best wishes.
- December 27, 2009 at 1:49 PM
To Sitting on a Bigger Fence
SSRS IS NOT claimmg that only he himself is God.He says Everyone is God and there is divine within each being. By that same logic SSRS is God and so are you, me and all of us. Everything quoted out of context looks crooked.
Once upon a time even Jesus Christ claimed to be God. He also said all of us are divine. He was crucifixed by then majority. Now after many thousand years Christ being God is regarded as The only truth by so many millions!!
- December 27, 2009 at 11:17 PM
- CHUCK said...
Anonymush, the idea that Jesus is God is NOT a belief of all christians. Having said that, I believe that it's possible that Jesus was the same kind of maniacal scumbag that She She is today, but who can say. The only thing we know for sure is that She She is.
- December 28, 2009 at 10:55 AM
- Art of Leaving said...
Thank you for those words, KLIM. I need to repeat them to myself often.
- December 29, 2009 at 10:29 AM
Klim and AOLeaving and all,
One finds his own path. Every Guru says he will only show the way and not hold your finger throughout the journey.
It is one thing leaving a movement dejected (or rejected?), but just finding fault with it blogging negatively on it, collecting like-minded dejectees (to rhyme with devotees) is such a horrible waste of good time and energy. Leave SSRS and AOL, fine. But put your time in some useful work, some seva. What?
Seva is a better way of getting rid of frustration. Blogging is mere energy loss.
No point in commenting on my comment, as I will not visit again here. I had enough of reading Guru-bashing stuff.
Anyway, thanks for another perspective.
Jai Gurudev.
- December 30, 2009 at 1:25 AM
I'd like to talk about my experiences at one of these DSN courses (as an attendee) this was probably 9-10 years ago and as a faithful AOL devout; this course opened my eyes into what a cult it had become. The teacher was charismatic and we all were awed by his presence. As he went on, he said a few things that made me realize that this is bordering on a cult. DSN's premise was you could take any criticisms in life after attending this course - this was based on making a person sit on a chair and have the rest of the course attendees hurl insults at you (granted they don't even know you but still).
I heard a story where a pregnant woman had a miscarriage because of domestic abuse by her husband (he kicked the newborn fetus) and she later took this course only to have someone from the class yell at her that she deserved it (the abuse, miscarriage).
My experiences weren't that horrific but they were enough to make me change tunes.
Some of the things that were done and said:
1. The teacher told an example of how one of his apprentices was being constantly pushed by his mother to get married and he responded by taking a bottle of rat poison and keeping it infront of his mother as an act of defiance - saying that if she asked him one more time to get married, he would make her drink it.
2. SSRS is God/Lord/Almighty and there is no one else.
3. The teacher lamented how the bangalore ashram at the time lacked a solar water heater and how it would be a good 'gift' to Guruji. Sure enough the next day, the class managed to get out their checkbooks and raised a princely sum of 300,00 rupees which at the time was a lot of money. I had this horrible feeling where i was sort of being pressurized to come up with a contribution and yet I came up with nothing - a very different kind of feeling to experience.
4. As part of the course, we were made to walk the streets and peddle AOL and get a lot of people to join up/ sign up so that you as an individual would fulfill your destiny. You were then mocked when you came up with nothing
5.they hurled abuses at a woman whose only sin was that her husband would not partake or support her in her AOL activities.
In the end, I lost total respect for the teacher whom I have known for a while. There's a thin line between preaching and forcing your views on someone and he crossed that line - making us believe that it is okay to forsake your own family for the greater good of AOL and that was something I could never stomach doing.
I wish I had the temerity I possess now and had done something back then. I guess that also comes with age 9-10 years is a longtime.
Good job with the blog. I have come to realize that one's own family means the most and wasting your time, money and energy on such a greedy cut-throat organization is bordering on being a cult follower/ retarded.
- December 30, 2009 at 9:07 PM
- Lehmann108 said...
Oh you poor baby! Life is so cruel! I hope you have napped enough from the big meanies in AOL who deprived you of sleep. Here, have a cookie of my pity. Those awful meanies!!!! Did they change your diapers too because you couldn't do that either? Here's your bottle and blanky to keep those cruel meanies away little baby cakes. What are you 35, 36 now? Let's keep on blaming other people for the bad choices you made! Don't worry, one day you'll find a perfect breast to keep you fed! It's not my fault!!!!!
- May 3, 2010 at 10:15 PM


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Black rocks earrings
A pair of delicate handmade oxidized sterling silver stud earrings. Each stud is a solid silver "rock" hand carved to achieve dozens of facets. Therefore, each earring is unique.
Dimension: 3-4mm
Sold: Individually or as a pair
* The silver is oxidized by hand resulting in a slight variation in colour which, together with natural wear and fading over time, means each piece will develop it's own unique character.


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Detroit Tigers at New York Mets
Citi Field • 7:10 PM
Doug Fister (10-6, 3.63) vs Daisuke Matsuzaka (0-0, 0.00)
Starting Lineup
- Eric Young, Jr. – LF
- Daniel Murphy – 2B
- Marlon Byrd – RF
- Ike Davis – 1B
- Wilmer Flores – 3B
- Juan Lagares – CF
- Travis d'Arnaud – C
- Omar Quintanilla – SS
- Daisuke Matsuzaka – RHP
Game Notes
- Greg Burke was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas so the Mets could clear a roster spot for RHP Daisuke Matsuzka, who is due to start Friday. Burke, 30, is 0-2 with a 4.91 ERA in 29 relief appearances for New York this year.
- Jeremy Hefner is seeking a second opinion, but said he'll probably need season-ending Tommy John surgery on his pitching elbow. Hefner, who has a partial tear of his MCL and bone spurs in his right elbow, will meet with Dr. James Andrews next Monday. "I think I wasn't leading on as much as I was because I wanted to pitch, I wanted to play. I was doing well," Hefner said. "Back when I was doing well, I was hurting then, too. When I started to struggle I was hurting the team so that was the decision to eventually say something."
- Daisuke Matsuzaka was signed to a contract on Thursday. Matsuzaka was released by the Cleveland Indians earlier this week after going 5-8 with a 3.92 ERA. Reports indicated that he could start for the Mets as early as Friday, piggybacking with regularly-scheduled starter Carlos Torres.
- Carlos Torres will start the opener of a three-game set against the Detroit Tigers on Friday night. He's 2-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 1-1 in three starts with a 6.43 ERA. His last start was in a 14-1 loss against the Nationals on July 28. "Hopefully he gets back to where he was when he first got here with his delivery and command of his stuff down in the zone," Collins said. "The last couple of games he's been hurt by getting balls up.
- Josh Satin extended his streak of reaching base safely to 29 games with a first-inning single, tying a franchise record with Steve Henderson (1977), according to Elias Sports Bureau. It is the fourth-longest streak in the NL this season.
- Juan Lagares collected his 11th outfield assist of the season in the fourth inning. It is the most by a rookie center fielder since Rocco Baldelli had 15 for Tampa Bay in 2003. Lagares began the day one behind the major league lead for all outfielders and is the leader for center fielders.
- Jonathon Niese matched his season high by striking out nine for the second consecutive start. He also had nine strikeouts at San Diego on Aug. 16. Since returning from the 15-Day disabled list Aug. 11, Niese has struck out 23 and walked five in three starts and has a 2.70 ERA over the stretch.
- Frank Francisco started a new rehab assignment in the rookie-level Gulf Coast League on Wednesday, and he allowed a solo homer in his only inning. He struck out two. Francisco has been out all season due to a right elbow injury, and his rehab has hit several setbacks.
Game Preview
The Tigers come to town tonight and start a weekend series with the Mets. The Mets actually had a day off yesterday, crazy I know, after splitting a two game series with he Braves. The real story for the Mets tonight is their starting pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka. As I tweeted yesterday, half-a decade ago, I'd be very excited about this signing. I do like this signing for this point of the season if Daisuke can soak up some innings from our young guns. Recently he hasn't been successful in the majors. Last year he was 1-7 over 11 games with a 8.28 ERA. The year before he was 3-3 with a 5.30 ERA over 7 games. He's been alright in the Indians minor league system this year posting a 5-8 record and a 3.92 ERA over AAA. The Tigers have the following numbers against Matsuzaka:
Hunter 5-18, HR
Cabrera 4-9, HR
Martinez 1-6
Santiago 2-4, 2B
Jackson 1-4, 2B
Doug Fister gets the nod for the Tigers tonight. Fister is 10-6 with 3.63 ERA over 25 starts this season. He's o-1 in his last three starts over 18.1 innings where he has posted a 4.42 ERA. He has never faced the Mets in his career but a few Mets have faced him on other teams:
Buck 1-2
Byrd 0-3
Omar 0-2
Lets Go Mets!


text: Hello! So I have a question about internal memory. For some reason, whenever I take a picture or put mp3 in my phone (in sd card), not only my sd card but also my internal memory goes off. I even took out my sd memory card and look at the memory and still. Also is there good way to manage the internal memory? Where does cache usually located at? I always clean up my Browser cache but is there other app causes cache? Thanks!


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What does this word mean to you?
How does it take shape in your life?
The Greek word in the Bible "Koinonia" means "fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, and contact."
In the book of 1 John, John uses this word to refer only to Christians who have fellowship with God. Now John also says a few interesting things concerning our fellowship with God.
Our fellowship with God is dependent on someone proclaiming the Word of Life.
Now in the beginning, God ordained to send his only son to proclaim this word. God manifested in the flesh was sent to us to proclaim the Word of Life. Jesus, the God-man, was given all authority over heaven and Earth. He is the Lord and it is through His life, death and resurrection that proclaimed the Word of Life to this world.
Now Jesus has placed the authority and responsibility on us who believe and receive the Word of Life to proclaim it to the whole world. What a great responsibility we have to proclaim the Word of life to the world and what great joy that we find in such responsibility!
The Word of Life, Jesus, is the message and reason for our fellowship and community as believers. Apart from Christ our fellowship loses its identity and will fall on "sinking sand."
And as a follower of Jesus, I proclaim his faithfulness and glory as I hear his word, experience his presence and testify to his works.
Just as John proclaimed what he experienced, felt and heard, so must we who know the Word of Life.
As Christ was sent to the World to proclaim eternal life in His name, so He has sent us to proclaim the same Word of Life to the world. So that the world may know His great love and have fellowship with Him, who loved us while we were still sinners.
If the proclaiming of this Word of Life is absent then fellowship in Jesus will be impossible to maintain.
What is the glue of your fellowship?
For what reasons do you gather?
As Christ says, "Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again. But the water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life."
What are you proclaiming in your fellowship?
Merely water that will lead to death limited in its state and unable to quench? Or water that leads to eternal life unlimited in its source, forever giving life to those who drink of its mercy? From this water is where we must draw for all other wells.
Reflections on my studies in John


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I'm no economist but I thought I should look into how big a problem is the credit crisis. I have done a few basic sums.
(Total value of all US taxes)
This represents 18.8% of GDP since 1930 the highest tax rate has been 20.9 in 2000
(Bail out) 850
(Loans Liability) 2000
(Current US Debt) 10600
(War) 144
TOTAL 13,594 (Thats $48k per person)
So if the US government spends nothing on running the country and everything on paying off the debt they will take about 5 1/2 years to pay off this debt.
This puts the the US at about 1:1 debt to GDP which brings them from the 27th most in debt in 2007 to the 6th in the world now.
Below is a graph of debt to GDP before all this bail out stuff (taken from zfacts )
I've got a few movies here to looking at debt
Below is a movie by the that disputes the official government figures http://www.meetup.com/nyinvestingmeetup/
(anyone got opinion on this lot - a bit of research seemed to support thier claim that the figures are being modified optimistically.)
This sounds very scary to me.
Could anyone who knows a bit about this give me some explanation behind numbers that will give me some feeling that the US is OK?
Could we have currency devaluation and rampant inflation? An article here (Argentina Vs US) explains the similarities.
US debt = All the current debt owed by the US government not to be confused with US deficit which is the yearly shortfall between taxed raised and money spent by the US government each year.
Total Tax raised in the US
US War expenditure
Total US Government Debt


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What is it?
A light moisturiser infused with tea oil to hydrate the skin whilst helping to control and prevent blemishes.
Worth the Money?
I got on with this moisturiser very well and am actually on my second tube.
Now, this has in no way replaced my Liz Earle oily/combination skin moisturiser as I use this at night time as its richer. This moisturiser has become my favourite to use under make up, or even just as my morning moisturiser if I'm not wearing any.
Everyone knows a good base makes a difference to how make up will sit on your face and for me, although I don't suffer with full on acne and generally have pretty good skin, I am prone to small breakouts in my T-zone where I get oily.
I expect that this is also due to the line of work I'm in as if I'm shooting you can guarantee I will have heavy make up on and we all know that constantly wearing a lot of make up can have a negative effect on the skin.
This moisturiser isn't particularly thick or particularly runny, although a little goes surprisingly far. The smell is somewhere inbetween tea tree and fresh grass but I don't feel it's overpowering and it certainly didn't put me off. Let's face it, if you've purchased a product with tea tree in it then it's going to smell like it!
This moisturiser is ideally suited to normal, combination or oily skin as it has mattifying properties and is therefore not suitable for dry skin.
It applies smoothly and evenly and feels lovely and fresh on the skin leaving me sufficiently moisturised but not greasy or shiny – ideal for going under make up, especially if you're prone to getting oily throughout the day.
As for the 'clearing' bit, this is by no means a miracle product but I have seen a noticeable improvement in my skin and in the number of breakouts I suffer so for me this is something I will continue to repurchase.
If you have similar skin to mine and just need something for oil control and a bit of preventative action then this is great and will help, if you have more problematic skin then The Body Shop do a whole Tea Tree range of products that I have heard great things about. Tea tree has always been known for its positive effects on problematic skin and I have personally always found that things that work on spots for me always contain it in some form.
Where can I get it?
This product is available from The Body Shop and online stores and retails for £7 for 50ml or £3 for 15ml:


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Solar Car Battery Charger
Solar Car Battery Charger
- Easy cigarette lighter installation
- Bright LED charging indicator light
This is a solar Trickle charger for automobiles. Just plug it into your cars cigarette lighter and it is installed. It has a built in LED indicator light to let you know that it is charging. This panel puts out about 1 watt of power wich will keep your battery maintained while your car is parked for extended periods. This is not enough power to recharge a drained battery in a usefull amount of time.
It is designed for care free operation. It has a blocking diode built in to prevent revers flow
Rating: (out of 1 reviews)
List Price:
Price: {price-updating}
[wprebay kw="car+battery" num="24" ebcat="all"] [wprebay kw="car+battery" num="25" ebcat="all"]
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Categories: car battery Tags: Amount Of Time, Automobiles, Battery, Battery Products, Car Battery Charger, Cars, charger, Cigarette Lighter, Diode, Indicator Light, Periods, Solar, Solar Car Battery Charger, Solar Trickle Charger, Wich


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Knorrit Flat to Lake Keepit
Easter 2013 FIRST STOP - KNORRIT FLAT Where we stayed: Knorrit Flat Riverside Retreat A great few days at Knorrit Flat with family and friends for Easter before heading to Lake Keepit. NEXT STOP - LAKE KEEPIT Where we stayed: Lake Keepit Holiday & Recreation Park We arrived at Lake Keepit and found ourselves a grassy campsite to set up on for our week long stay. Ample space for camping. Justin's parents joined us for this trip. There is a caravan [Read more...]


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If you're like us, then you've been anxiously awaiting the premiere of the live action Beauty and the Beast film for months, possibly years. Well, you've made it to the homestretch, and there's only 16 more days to get through before your sitting in the theater soaking it all in. Of course, sometimes it just so happens that the final days of waiting are the most anxiety producing. Twinings Tea understands that, so the company has released a whole line of teas inspired by Beauty and the Beast that should help you stay calm during this last phase of waiting.
Each of the four teas that make up this limited edition Beauty and the Beast collection come in a specially designed box that will give you a little sneak peek at what you can expect from the upcoming film. And, all the flavors were created by Twinings' master blenders. The four blends include: Camomile, Honey, & Vanilla; Lemon & Ginger; Pure Peppermint; and Orange & Cinnamon Spice. Each one is so delicious that Mrs. Potts herself would be proud to serve them.
The limited edition boxes come with 20 tea bags and cost $3.99. Lucky for all us Disney fans, we'll be able to enjoy the teas long after the movie's premiere because they will be available in stores and online through December 2017. They might just transform your mood from Beast to Belle.


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New Hotel in Athens
Class: 4 stars
New Hotel in Athens is located right in the center of the town, in a walking distance from the picturesque Plaka district and the main square of Syntagma. This ideal location offers the chance to visitors to explore easily the city.
The rooms at New Hotel are characterized by their unique design and the handmade artwork installation. They all provide a great view of the city, satellite interactive TV, direct dial phone, Wi-Fi access and a working desk. They also feature electric blinds, pillow menu, mini bar and a private bathroom with bathrobes, slippers, hair dryer and luxurious bath amenities included.
The artistic and design New Hotel in Athens is close to shops, bars, restaurants and museums. Guests booking at this hotel get buffet breakfast for free and the ability to taste gourmet cuisine at its artistically designed restaurant. There is a workshop floor available where visitors can find teleconference facilities and meeting spaces.
- Connecting rooms: No
- Number of floors (main building): 7
- Total number of rooms: 79
- Year of construction: 1956
- Year of most recent renovation: 2011
- Air conditioned
- Business hotels
- Design
- Gym
- Heating
- Hotels with charm
- Internet
- Restaurant
- Spa
- À la carte dinner
- À la carte lunch
- Breakfast
- Breakfast buffet
- Bar
- Café
- Highchairs
- Non-smoking area
- Restaurant
- Conference room
- Hairdressing salon
- Massage
- Steam bath
- Airport (300m)
- City centre (200m)
- Nearest Bus / Metro Stop (10km)
- Syntagma square (200m)
- Temple of Zeus (300m)
- Plaka area (1.5km)
- Benaki museum (900m)
- Monastiraki (1.7km)
Sorry, the pricelist for this accommodation is not available.
(Prices are per room per and include all taxes)
Please send a request to the hotel reservation department in order to be notified for their rates.


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Creatavita is about to head into its first series, but before that gets started....
- I've been surprised by the number of positive responses I have received from so many of you about Creatavita.. Thank you! Please don't hesitate to suggest post topics. Go ahead, I'm as curious as you are to see where this blog will go.
- One reader told me he wasn't sure how to pronounce the name of this blog. To help, I've called in an expert:
- Don't forget that you can subscribe to this blog so every post comes right to your email inbox. See that signup box to the right? The one that says FOLLOW BY EMAIL? Yes, that one. You'll get every post and never miss a moment of Creatavita.
- With the next post, I'll be starting a series entitled You Need This. This series discusses the life-altering attitudes and actions that have gotten me to a place of flourishing creativity in my work and life. I didn't learn most of these in school. I did learn them in living my life, in taking chances, in making mistakes, in being successful. These are the ideas that ran up behind me and hit me over the head. Or they grabbed me in my gut when I wasn't expecting them. Some of them brought, and continue, to bring me great joy. Some were, and still are, painful to contemplate. Some seem obvious to me, but when I discuss them with others, I find they aren't so obvious. Some will mean something to you immediately; some you won't understand for years. You'll need to consider all of them on your quest for a Creatavita.
I think this series will be particularly relevant for emerging professional artists, as well as those of you trying to figure out how art fits into your daily life. So, if you know anyone else who fits those categories, be sure to invite them over to Creatavita. Of course, if you're looking for reflections that might inspire your life, you'll find those in this series as well.
- Before I leave you today, I've got a favor to ask. You all know about my colleague and friend, Jiu Jian Kenn. If you don't, check this out:
- Before I leave you today, I've got a favor to ask. You all know about my colleague and friend, Jiu Jian Kenn. If you don't, check this out:
Beautiful, isn't it? I hear humanity.
Jiu Jian needs your help. But the help he needs is incredibly simple. He needs you to subscribe to his YouTube channel. Why? Because he's applying for a grant from his government and he needs 1,000 subscribers to be considered for the grant. I promised him Creatavita followers would help, so please take a minute, click on the link below and subscribe. With that simple action, you will help an individual artist and make the world a better place. How great is that?!?!? And, if you would consider reposting this link to your blog, Facebook page or Twitter account, that would be fantastic!
Do it! No excuses.


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The main sloe.biz website, http://www.sloe.biz , has been completely redesigned, and is now a fully up-to-date Joomla CMS site. I don't know why I took so long!
As before, the site stresses the simplicit of making sloe gin, but encourages everyone to visit the Forum for the best advice from the best experts on sloe gin - anywhere!
One of the most popular pages viewed on the Forum is SloeRanger's Sloe Gin Truffles recipe, with 34,000 visitors!, so I have also added it to the site.
Any comments on the new site? Let me know!
- Brian / Blackthorn.
NEW sloe.biz website
Discuss sloe gin recipes - and all those secret family variations! Post your questions and replies here if they are about sloes and gin
Moderators: SloeHoHo, Blackthorn
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1
- Site Admin
- Posts: 221
- Joined: 14 Mar 2004, 04:47
- Location: Cordoba Spain (ex Cheltenham)
NEW sloe.biz website
"There's no biz like sloe.biz"
Post Reply
1 post • Page 1 of 1


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At a Glance
- 16th international financial centre according to Global Financial Centres Index 2013
- More than 100,000 employees working at 3,000 organizations
- 25,000 financial specialists
- 6.2% of the metropolitan region's GDP
- 5,200 students studying finance and 1,300 new graduates every year
The Global Financial Centres Index 2013 ranked Greater Montréal 16th in the world. Banks, insurance, securities, pension funds, and fund management—all these professions are represented in this key sector of the economy comprising 3,000 companies and some 100,000 jobs in the metropolitan region. In addition to being a particularly thriving business environment, the sector can count on a large pool of qualified workers and top-notch university graduates.
Top Five Reasons to Choose Greater Montréal
1. Presence of major leaders who contribute to the stability and health of Canada's financial system, as shown during the 2008-2011 crisis
- Desjardins Group
- National Bank of Canada
- Royal Bank of Canada
- BMO Financial Group
- TD Bank Group
- Laurentian Bank of Canada
- Standard Life
- Sun Life Financial
- Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec
2. Plenty of qualified workers
Companies in this sector have access to over 25,000 finance specialists and thousands of students completing specific programs (e.g., financial engineering, financial mathematics) at the region's four universities.
3. Dynamic R&D sector
No less than 30 university research units in fields such as derivatives, pension plan administration and financial engineering.
4. Attractive tax credits and incentives
- Refundable tax credit for international financial centres (IFC), aimed at consolidating the sector's development by simplifying the implementation and development, in the Montréal agglomeration, of companies specializing in international financial transactions. The measure allows a company holding an IFC certificate to obtain a refundable tax credit representing 30% of the eligible salary for the year for its eligible employees, up to an annual limit of $20,000 per employee. A personal tax benefit in the form of a deduction in calculating income is available for "foreign specialist" employees.
- Refundable tax credit for the development of e-business, which supports financial companies that want to develop financial services using information and communication technology in Greater Montréal. The credit covers 30% of labour costs, up to $20,000 per eligible job per year.
- R&D tax credits, up to 15% from the federal government and 17.5% (refundable) from the Québec government.
- Financial assistance for creating jobs and training from the Québec government.
- ESSOR fund for major projects.
5. The most competitive operating costs in North America
According to KPMG (2013), Greater Montréal is ranked first among the 20 largest North American cities in regards to the competitiveness of total operating costs for companies providing international financial services. This advantage is the result of the tax credit for international financial centres, affordable costs for labour, office space and energy.
Source: Finance Montréal, Québec's financial cluster


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After the great success of their extensive system of reflectors with LED and FLUO technologies for video and television, FLUOTEC will launch and showcase at the NAB 2016 Exposition a new system solution for filmmaking and TV studios, location and production lighting markets, the CineLight® SoftLIGHT BiCOLOR DMX LED PANELS
Broadcast & Filmmaking in the new economy have integrated the most advanced digital workflows and there is a need for affordable and powerful lighting solutions for these important and glamorous industries.
The new CineLight® SoftLIGHT BiCOLOR DMX LED PANEL System, fulfills this need with an extensive and thoroughly developed array of fixtures that comprises Four (4) new BiCOLOR DMX controllable soft light LED panels in high and medium diffusion and one (1) portable battery panel, and light control accessories.
The CineLight® system also includes a complete set of accessories like Barndoors, light control egg crates, honeycombs and rigging accessories for studio or location use.
Since 1997, FLUOTEC engineers & designers have continuously worked on Television and CineLight® systems, first with FLUO technology winning Best of NAB in 1997.
Also won the Best of NAB Award for the StudioLED Panels in 2011, and with the new advanced LED technology, won again in 2015 with the Location Prime Panel.
Now for NAB 2016 they are presenting one of the most advanced LED soft lighting system of the world, with their exclusive technologies: NEBULA®, SoftBOX Studio® Diffusion and the advanced DMX HALODIM® BiCOLOR stepless 0-100% dimming
The NEW CineLight system of soft LIGHTS incorporates the advanced NEBULA® Diffusion Technology also used in their awarded StudioLED Panel & StudioLED Fresnel systems used dependably in hundreds of the best networks and television stations all over the world since 1997
All CineLight models are available in BiCOLOR CCT with high TLCI and CRI Indexes
- Worldwide operation All models auto-set to AC voltages from 90-250V
- Low wattage, with power factor ratings of .95
- Quiet fanless operation
- Supplied with Hanging Clamp and Female Stand Fittings
- Whole range of available Accessories
- HD or MED High or Medium Diffusion Panels
- Barn Door Softening Sets, light control egg crates, honeycombs grids and rigging accessories for studio or location use
For further information, please contact:
Ing. José María Noriega
CMO Commercial Director
Cel-WhatsApp 521 55 3044 7495
MORE INFORMATION www.fluotec.net
Are there ID requirements or an age limit to enter the event?
NAB Registration badge 18+
Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?
WHENMonday, April 18, 2016 at 8:00 AM – Thursday, April 21, 2016 at 3:00 PM (PDT) – Add to CalendarWHERELas Vegas Convention Center – 3150 Paradise Road BOOTH C6513, Las Vegas, NV 89109 –View MapTAGSLas Vegas, NV Events Networking Film & Media


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The Perpetual Motion Club
Sue Lange
Perpetual Motion Club Publishing (2013)
Reviewed by Tracey Rock for Reader Views (10/13)
Elsa is the main character in "The Perpetual Motion Club" by Sue Lange. For Elsa, high school is linear. Being gifted and talented is not enough. It is popularity that always wins out. The popular kids are the ones who receive corporate sponsorship. Building a career outside of a corporate sponsor would be impossible. So, having corporate sponsorship in this now not-so-distant plausible future is the status quo. With the encouragement of Elsa's geometry teacher and her mother, she reluctantly agrees to attend a by-invitation- only meeting of the Science Society. This club would be great for Elsa's resume, if only she liked what this club had to offer. She knew when she saw how cruel her biology teacher treated the other students at the meeting that she could not be a part of this club, but it was when the Science Society rejected her best friend May, that she ultimately decided not to become a member. It was at that moment, when she was trying to defend her decision for not joining the Science Society to her mother that she triumphantly declared that she was going to create her own club. This is the moment that The Perpetual Motion Club was born. Creating the club was not easy. Everywhere she went, she was told, she could not do it. The creation of the Perpetual Motion Club would be impossible. This pre-occupation of creating the club consumed Elsa and at the same time, it unknowingly and unilaterally put in motion a new personal journey for her that she hadn't expected. Join Elsa as she explores the theory and truths of doing the impossible.
"The Perpetual Motion Club" by Sue Lange is a futuristic; high-tech, sci-fi book centered on a high school sophomore student who yearns to stand out and be different but, at the same time, wants to fit in. Sound familiar? Yes, not too uncommon, but yet, the author, Sue Lange, finds a creative way to intertwine various plots, such as a murder mystery, science and technology and a bit of a love story all in one. Not bad if you ask me. I thought that the story started out slow in the beginning and it took me some time to really connect with the characters. In retrospect, however, I find that the uniqueness of the story made this okay. Also, because, this is not another high school "Team Jason" type of book. Readers will go deeper in thought with this book if patience allows them to. The concepts were fascinating – very unique. This is worth reading if you are looking for something original in this genre and know going in that this storyline has its own path to follow – and it's not an impossible one.


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Finally! New York Times reports that feeding raw food to dogs and cats is a hot topic around dog parks in Manhattan and nationwide.
You probably won't get much support from your veterinarian, but there are numerous online groups and plenty of resources to get you started on feeding family pets a biologically appropriate diet. I highly recommend Works Wonders by Tom Lonsdale, DVM. Download for free.Geoff Bowers, founder of New Zealand-based K9 Natural, a line of raw dog food, suspects the burgeoning raw-pet-food market reflects the broader interest in healthful eating. "People are looking for more and more natural products," he said, "and since pets are considered members of the family, they want healthier options for them, too." Mr. Bowers, a former police-dog trainer, said he converted to raw feeding after studying Alaskan wolf packs, because he became convinced that "nature provides the perfect food" for dogs.Phil Klein, owner of the East Village holistic pet-supply store Whiskers, started selling raw food in 1988. Known to his fans as the Dogfather, Mr. Klein has published articles on the importance of feeding animals natural cuisine and keeps thick binders of thank-you notes from local pet owners who swear the raw diets he recommended cured their charges of everything from dandruff to diabetes."Though pet owners using raw foods are still only maybe 2 or 3 percent of the total, the popularity of these diets is indicated by the fact that the big box stores like PetCo are latching on," Mr. Klein said. "It's become hip."
Additional thought: Try to find current grocery coupons to save money on raw ingredients for pet food.


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class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2718″ title="ZahrasParadiseFRONT" src="http://stumptowntradereview.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/ZahrasParadiseFRONT-217×300.jpg" alt="" width="217″ height="300″ />The Arab Spring has provided more real-life stories and drama than any fictional comic book universe over the past year. Add to that the military actions taken by the US (already made in to a comic book) and the recent actions by the UN (I'm sure there is a Qadafi book in the pipeline) and there are epic battles that do not need the addition of spandex or capes.
One of the events that has been overshadowed by subsequent events was the Iranian elections in 2009. Those controversial elections led to strikes and massive demonstrations by Iranian citizens. The crackdown as done quietly, without the violence of later crackdowns that drew so much attention from the rest of the world.
In Iran, people simply disappeared.
Zara's Paradise in an OGN from :01 First Second that combines stories from people who lived through this experience and weaves them in to a narrative that, while fictional in name, tells the truth of the situation. The book is by "Amir & Khalil", two creators who have chosen to remain anonymous "for political reasons".
An event of this magnitude needs a character for us, the reader, to follow. It pus a human face on numbers that are quite staggering. Over 3 million protesters. 4,000 arrests. Hundreds dead. Hundreds unaccounted for.
The story revolves around blogger Hassan Jan searching for his brother, Mehdi, who disappeared during a protest. During his investigation he uncovers brutal secrets that the Iranian government wants to keep buried. From government contracts awarded to foreign companies, to secret grave sites where political dissidents are disposed of under headstones designated with only a number. At home, his mother Zahra waits for news.
Unfortunately for the narrative, the story does not simply focus on the search for Mehdi. Amir and Khalil take the opportunity to include a massive amount of information about the history, culture, and political climate of Iran. In addition, the book is full of philosophy, poetry, and dogma. While it makes for a fascinating look at the country as a whole, it can bog down the narrative at times.
I'm not sure that this is necessarily the fault of Amir and Khalil. With so much happening recently, it is difficult to get perspective. In addition, for an audience that is so far removed from the social and political climate of Iran, it is difficult to know what to include. I am torn between wanting more and needing less. It feels like the information about the history and politics of Iran could have been a volume of its own, following the rise of the Ayatollah and the election of the first president. The re-election of Ahmadinejad and the protests that followed (including the story of Medhi) would have made for a satisfying story on its own. The two volumes would have complimented and enhanced each other. In this single volume, neither is given quite enough space.
Where Zara's Paradise shines is in the art. There is a Tezuka influence to the art that is juxtaposed against the ideals of political cartoons. The characters are dripping with emotion. They live and breathe to fight against the grotesque, larger than life villains who control every element of society. Ironically, they are not larger than life. They are real. And they are far more dangerous than most of us can ever imagine.
What made Perseopolis so powerful was the perspective that was gained through time. Marjane Satrapi was able to decide what was important, essential. She was given the room to tell her story over several volumes, providing a cultural understanding that was essential to the storyline.
Zahra's Paradise is no Perseoplis, but it is a step in the right direction. It provides the foundation upon which other artists will build their own stories of the Iranian elections. It is a solid base and is worth checking out. Ask for it at your LCS.
You can read a sample chapter here.
Zara's Paradise by Amir & Khalil
Published by First Second
275 pgs, B&W $19.99


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For the sake of thoroughness it should probably be noted that Jimmy Page did collaborate with Robert Plant on most of his solo albums, and Robert Plant lent his voice to at least one song on Jimmy Page's solo album, so "Walking Into Clarksdale" was not exactly a new concept when examining the actions of both men nearly two decades after the breaking up of Led Zeppelin, but it is the only official time they worked together as a due to produce a studio album credited to both of them.
"No Quarter" was underappreciated, but "Walking Into Clarksdale" was criminally underappreciated.
According to the records "Walking Into Clarksdale" was well received in Europe, but when it came out I could not find anyone, aside from my big brother, who had bothered listening to it, and I mean at all, and that is still true even to this day. It would appear that even the most diehard Led Zeppelin fans have no idea what "Walking Into Clarksdale" is, and I often wonder why that is.
It might have something to do with the fact that the sound on "Walking Into Clarksdale" is very different from the Led Zeppelin classics. The early day works of Led Zeppelin were hard rock, even some metal fans try to claim Led Zeppelin as "early metal," even though the later albums were beginning to show a sign of slowing down. Come 1998 the music Page and Plant were interested in creating was significantly slower and moodier than what they created in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and people who fail to realize that people change with time, apparently held that against the album. Newsflash, virtually everyone calms in their later years, most musicians and their body of work show this.
Another thing that I suspect might of have hurt "Walking Into Clarksdale's" commercial reception was the choice of single, "Most High," a song which I feel is the absolute middle mediocre example of what the album has to offer. However apparently "Most High" did win an award of some kind, so what the hell do I know? Also the title track left a lot to be desired by me, and I imagined others feel the same, it was a disjointed song, decent, not great, and along with "Most High" these would be the probably first two tracks the casual audience was exposed too. Meanwhile the best songs on the album went unnoticed, songs like "Blue Train" a heartfelt final goodbye by Robert Plant towards his son who died in a car accident many years ago; or "When I Was A Child" a gloomy song about growing older and the illusion of innocence dying; or "Shinning A Little Light" an upbeat love; or "Heart In Your Hand" a dark desperate song about putting, well, your heart in someone else's hands; last we have the song of the hour "When The World Was Young."
Sometimes it is easy to pick a favorite song off an album.
"When The World Was Young" is a fantastic song. It is reminiscent of Zeppelin classics like "In The Light" or "Ten Years Gone." It has that sort of grandiose epic quality to it with great rising action, that I always love, slow methodical beginnings with a gradual increase in intensity climaxing with a dramatic rock and roll assembly of layered sounds and ending with a slowing outro. I really enjoy Jimmy Page's guitar work in this song, after every verse there is a nice short flare of strums that really stand out and give the song a great flow, and it is also a song that is comprised mostly of unique note pickings which make it akin to a classic guitar song, which I am very fond of.
We would normally not think of a song like "When The World Was Young" as a heavy drum song but there is something worthy of mention about the drums in "When The World Was Young." Songs like "When The World Was Young" are emotional and tender, so a heavy rhythm section is the last thing we would expect, but by the time the climax of the song comes along Michael Lee's drums have picked up to an agreeably rock solid pace and Charlie Jones' bass is in there too intensifying the volume, the emotion and the whole song. Working with gods like Page and Plant we are likely to forget who Jones and Lee are, so it is only fair we give them the credit they deserve for their part in "When The World Was Young" as well as the rest of the album "Walking Into Clarksdale."
Examining the lyrics we are once again, as usual when studying the mind of Robert Plant, met with a great openness for interpretation. Any number of potentially mythical or impossible beings may be referenced. I like to think the song is about an immortal "I've been here since all time began" and "my footsteps through eternity." Or course this being Robert Plant the lyrics are about love, only this time maybe an ancient lost love.
"I saw you,
I knew you,
I touched you,
When the world was young."
This simple, yet powerful, chorus just sends my mind into a cosmic dance of ideas. Is it about an immortal, or maybe a god, reminiscing about someone they once knew? Maybe I got it backwards and it is about an aged mortal human reminiscing about their long ago contact with a magical being, when the world seemed young. Again though I like to invoke the element of romance, and think this is a song about a long lost love. The chasm of experience between youth and older age can seem like a worldly long time.
I used to think the chorus was saying "him" not "you," and this gave me two possible ideas about who "him" was. I thought perhaps it was a god, or just god if you prefer, and Plant was singing about some religious experience, or, perhaps more personally entwined, I thought it possible that Plant was singing about his lost son, the one who died in a car accident, the same one he is singing about in "Blue Train." I do not think these two theories work however, because the earlier exploration of romance just fits too well, "home of my heart, take me dancing."
For these reasons, as well as a bunch of other I may have lacked the insight of elegance to elaborate on are why it is easy to understand why "When The World Was Young" is a great song. It is the masterpiece of Page and Plant's later career and it stands as the triumphant gem off of an album that is filled with very majestic tracks of matured minds. Not only does "When The World Was Young" stand alone as a get song, but it harkens back to the sort of Zeppelin produced on "Physical Graffiti," and not only that it is the epitome of why later day works by Page and Plant should not be overlooked. It is the single biggest reason why "Walking Into Clarksdale" is an underrated album.
Until next month keep on rocking in the free world.
- King of Braves


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|French Women Don't Get Fat, by Mireille Guiliano
On the last dinner on Saturday night, one of my collegues asked me the following question: "How do you manage to stay fit? I mean, you eat a lot - well, normally - but you are very fit. Do you practise some sport or something?"
I was somehow surprised by that question. First, because I don't feel especially "fit", I believe to have an average body for my size and age. Second, because I didn't feel like eating out of the ordinary portions of food.
Then it made me think of that book my UK aunt offered me a couple of years back: French Women Don't Get Fat, by Mireille Guiliano. In this book, the author explains how French women, through their lifestyle and customs, can enjoy food and life without getting fat.
Her advice goes from drinking water everyday to walking from the station to the office, finding and trimming down "offender" food, eating at a proper table with nice dishes, diversifying the food and enjoying new spices and tastes...
Why did that question make me think of this book? To be honest, as the reading was refreshing and pleasant, I found most of the author's tips obvious and couldn't fathom why one needed to be told these basics about food and lifestyle.
When my (non French) collegue asked me that question, it made me realize that what is obvious to me might not be to other people from different cultures.
I thought I might share my point of view as a French woman...
Of course, we happen to want to lose weight, like any other woman might. Fashion and skinny beauty stereotypes have as much power on us as anyone else.
I think the difference lies in how we consider food in our everyday life. Food is not an enemy, it brings moments of pleasure, from sharing a meal with family to eating a treat alone after a long day at work.
|Enjoying a moment of pleasure at work: a weekly lunch with collegues at a small restaurant near the office
Why don't we put on weight in the process? Like Mireille Guiliano says in her book, everything is about balance. Is it a teaching from our mothers? Is it our French culture of "bon sens" like the author says in her book?
I do believe that food has a particular place in our culture. So it might be true that we have some unconscious reflexes that help keep this balance between pleasure and fitness. Here are a handful of hints I can think of when it comes to that question "how do you stay fit while eating so much?"
- "Am I still hungry?" is the first thing I ask myself when I am about to eat another mouthful of the dish
- When I am thirsty, I drink water. Soda, juices and alcohol are reserved for special moments (party...)
- I like diversity: I always eat seasonal fruit and vegetables, and try to accomodate them in different ways with herbs and spices
- I always make a special moment out of my meals, from breakfast to dinner, alone or with family and friends, whatever the setting
- Whenever I eat too much, for a special occasion, at a restaurant, I compensate the next day with lighter meals
|"I always make a special moment of my meals": on a plane
However, I also think that French women, as time passes, tend to forget these basics and put on weight like any other women. I think that most French women also have been or still are on a diet nowaydays. And I think that, like any other woman, a French woman can be lured by the models from fashion magazines and forget that food is a friend and not a foe.
So my opinion on this book as a French woman, is that French Women Don't Get Fat might be a good reminder for all of us. "The secret of eating for pleasure".


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The Metso VERIMILL ® lime slaker is rightfully earning the reputation as the best approach to ball mill slaking in the industry. Robust, mining duty design and construction, the VERTIMILL ® is the right choice when your application requires grit to be ground and retained in the lime slurry, rather than being screened, collected, and disposed of.
|Watch the VERTIMILL® in action
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Every slaking application has an 'optimal' slaking temperature. Natural variations in quicklime feed rate, bulk density, and quality require the lime slaker to be responsive minute by minute to manage these changes.
A simple, safe, one-step operation
With no external moving parts the VERTIMILL ® lime slaker creates less opportunities for your personnel to be exposed to moving parts. Confined space liner changes? Not with a VERTIMILL ®. Magnetic rubber liners last far longer than conventional liners anyway due to the sacrificial layer of ball chips, and if they ever do need to be replaced the door can be opened for easy, safe, access.
Additional benefits include:
STT has unparalleled experience at integrating the VERTIMILL® lime slaker into systems.


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Memorial Day Success In 5 Simple Steps
May 7th, 2015
For many people, Memorial Day marks the unofficial kick-off of summer. And that means tons of family gatherings and cookouts! In order to ensure for a successful get together this summer, it's important to have the right tips and tricks to make everything go smoothly. Try any (or all) of these 5 helpful tips for your cookout:
Tip 1:
When planning your menu, think "variety." Serve foods with an assortment of colors, flavors and textures. Also, consider a combination of grilled and cold items, so you don't run out of space on your barbecue.
Tip 2:
If serving cold appetizers or dips, potato or pasta salads and desserts, make them a day in advance. Not only will this reduce your kitchen prep duties on the day of the party, but also the flavors will improve with the overnight refrigeration time.
Tip 3:
To keep your burgers from bulging in the center as they cook, make a deep depression in the center with your thumb. As the meat cooks and expands, the depression will disappear, allowing the burger to retain its shape so it can be topped without the ingredients sliding off the burger.
Tip 4:
Two words: Finger Food. Sometimes, it's not always easy to serve a sit-down meal for your friends, especially when you don't have enough seating for everyone. So, instead, try serving bite-sized snacks that are easy to eat, but will still fill up anyone's appetite. Some of our personal favorites are:
|Dog on a Ritz
Get the recipe here.
|Mini Cheeseburger Bites
Get the recipe here.
|Fruit & Cheese Bites
Get the recipe here.
Tip 5:
Labels! You may think we're nerds, but, this actually makes for easy clean up afterward. Take three trash cans and label one for glass bottles, one for recycling and one for everything else. No need to go through and separate everything out after everyone leaves and giving your guests places to put their trash makes it easier for them as well!


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Minimalism: Live a Meaningful Life
From the publisher: "Minimalism is the thing that gets us past the things so we can make room for life's most important things--which actually aren't things at all. At age 30, best friends Joshua Fields Millburn & Ryan Nicodemus walked away from their six-figure corporate careers, jettisoned most of their material possessions, and started focusing on what's truly important. Though they had achieved the American Dream, they worked ridiculous hours, wastefully spent money, and lived paycheck to paycheck. After a pair of life-changing events, Joshua & Ryan discovered minimalism, allowing them to eliminate their excess material things so they could focus on life's most important "things": health, relationships, passion, growth, and contribution."More info →


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A mu-gripper near the opening of an endoscopic catheter; © John Hopkins University/Evin Gultepe
By using swarms of untethered microgrippers Johns Hopkins engineers and physicians may have devised a new way to perform biopsies that could prove more effective to access narrow body conduits as well as find early signs of diseases.
The team reports successful animal testing of the tiny tools, which require no batteries, wires or tethers as they seize internal tissue samples. The devices are called "mu-grippers," incorporating the Greek letter that represents the term for "micro." These star-shaped tools are autonomously activated by the body's heat, which causes their tiny "fingers" to close on clusters of cells. Because the tools also contain a magnetic material, they can be retrieved through an existing body opening via a magnetic catheter.
The researchers describe their use of the mu-grippers to collect cells from the colon and esophagus of a pig, which was selected because its intestinal tract is similar to that of humans. Earlier this year, the team reported that they had successfully inserted the mu-grippers through the mouth and stomach of a live animal and released them in a hard-to-access place, the bile duct, from which they obtained tissue samples.
"This is the first time that anyone has used a sub-millimeter-sized device - the size of a dust particle - to conduct a biopsy in a live animal," said David Gracias, an associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. "That is a significant accomplishment. And because we can send the grippers in through natural orifices, it is an important advance in minimally invasive treatment and a step toward the ultimate goal of making surgical procedures noninvasive." Physician Florin M. Selaru of the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine said the mu-grippers could lead to an entirely new approach to conducting biopsies, which are considered the "gold standard" test for diagnosing cancer and other diseases.
The advantage of the mu-grippers, he said, is that they could collect far more samples from many more locations. He pointed out that the much larger forceps used during a typical colonoscopy may remove 30 to 40 pieces of tissue to be studied for signs of cancer. But despite a doctor's best intentions, the small number of specimens makes it easy to miss diseased lesions.
"What is the likelihood of finding the needle in the haystack?" said Selaru. "Based on a small sample, you cannot always draw accurate inferences. We need to be able to do a larger statistical sampling of the tissue. That is what would give us enough statistical power to draw a conclusion, which, in essence, is what we are trying to do with the microgrippers. We could deploy hundreds or even thousands of these grippers to get more samples and a better idea of what kind of or whether a disease is present."
Although each mu-gripper can grab a much smaller tissue sample than larger biopsy tools, the researchers said each gripper can retrieve enough cells for effective microscopic inspection and genetic analysis. Armed with this information, they said, the patient's physician could be better prepared to diagnose and treat the patient.
MEDICA.de; Source: John Hopkins University


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X-Plane 11
Xplane 11 Answers from Laminar research to www.PCSimulators.org
(more questions and answers will be added shortly so check back soon)
Q1 PCsimulators.org :Will any more planes be added to the default base game ?
Laminar Research :Yes, definitely. We have 3 or 4 or 5 more years of free updates to deliver and I'm sure that, at some point, new aircraft will be included.
Q2 PCsimulators.org : Is there any more work to be done on the flight model
Laminar Research : Yes. This work stared 34 years ago and has never stopped. 30 years from now we'll still be working on the flight model - but we'll be getting kinda old….:)
Q3 PCsimulators.org Is SLI supported, if not why has this again been left out ?
Laminar Research :Yes, its supported but not recommended as we find you'll be better off w/ 2 video cards than one, Sir. X-Plane 11 will be better optimized for SLI in the future, as part of our free updates we'll release.
Q4 PCsimulators.org :. All game controllers have id0 , are there plans to correct name and identify the controllers?
Laminar Research : Yes, in the future.
Q5 : Will more 3D airports be added with the updates in future?
Laminar Research :Yes.
Q6 - Can i use all my old add-on scenery from xplane 10 ?
Laminar Research :Yes.
Q7 - can I use my Xplane 10 aircraft ?
Laminar Research :Yes.
Q9 do i have to pay the full price for plane 11 if I have xplane 10
Laminar Research :Yes.
Q10 . does plane support VRS (vortex ring state) for helicopters ?
Laminar Research :verifying answer.
Screenshots for Xplane 11
Information on this page used with Permission from Laminar Reasearch.
X-plane 11 is due for realease in November 2016
So What's new in X-Plane 11 ?
A completely redesigned, intuitive user interface that makes setting up and editing your flight a breeze.
New effects engine for lighting, sounds, and explosions.
Realistic avionics: all planes are IFR-ready right out of the gate.
Busy, "living" airports with pushback tugs and roaming fuel trucks, able to service both your aircraft and the simulator's AI planes.
New buildings & roads to better simulate European cities
Consistently usable 3-D cockpits and stunningly high-resolution exterior models for all included aircraft.
Video used with kind permission from Laminar Reasearch.
Overhauled fleet
Aircraft models that stand up to scrutiny, from the gear trucks to the rivets.
Brand new G1000
Many general aviation planes now feature a simulated Garmin 1000.
3-D cockpits
Every aircraft in the fleet comes with a beautiful, usable 3-D cockpit.
IFR-ready cockpits
Every 3-D cockpit is usable for instrument flight.


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DRAPERY and UPHOLSTERY WORKROOMS
DRAPERY and UPHOLSTERY WORKROOMS
A beautiful room often contains amazing items that can't be bought at a furniture store or wholesaler.
Curtains, pillows and most "dressmaker" type items are the most difficult for the novice to articulate let alone find someone to fabricate.
There's nothing more elegant on a sofa than a pair of large, sumptuous, down-filled PILLOWS made with a textile that feels good to touch and has a delicious cord inset into the seams. That can be the icing on the cake for a lot of rooms.
Windows are important and pre-fab curtains arent all that....
How gorgeous are a pair of CURTAINS or a SHADE at the windows?
If you dont need curtains, perhaps you have Plantation shutters, but your room still needs some "softness," what about a pee-in-your-pants SKIRTED TABLE in a fabulous silk or simple linen?
Bedrooms with dressmaker details are awesome!
A beautiful upholstered headboard with a matching dustskirt and Pillow-squares are, and will always be classics! It can be contemporary or traditional
Once you decide what fabric you want at the windows, which pillows and all the other things that involve frabrication workrooms how do you "git er dun"?
* my preference
PILLOWS: What kind of pillows do I want?- CORNERS: Square*, Turkish, knotted(with cord), rounded, tucked
- ZIPPERS: Yes or no*
- FILLER: If used inside - always down* Fiberfill if used outside.
no foam, ever.
- EDGES: Self welt, or fringe or cord* inset into seams
- STYLE: Boxed, flat round, ball, knife edge*
CURTAINS: What style is best for my space?
- LENGTH: Full, cafe, partial; depend on your windows and what room
- BREAK: (fabric on the floor) Never more than 1.5"
- LINING: Lined, interlined, unlined (depends on the textile)
- TRIM: Leading edge*, bottom, none, picture framed
- HARDWARE: Poles, iron, brass, wood, hidden
- VALANCE: Boxed, balloon, soft, throw
- WIDTH: Stationary side panels, traverse curtains, wall-to-wall
TABLE SKIRTS: Which is best for my room, if any?
- HEIGHT: 28", 30"* or 32"
- DIAMETER: Never more than 42" for a side table
- LENGTH: ALWAYS to the floor
- BREAK: Never more than 2"
- PLEATS: Boxed, shirred, Austrian
- FRINGE or TAPE: "Fringe" is very 90's lookin, tape is more tailored. A skirted table needs something at the bottom, or it looks like a caterers cloth. NEVER used a jumbo welt - very pedestrian!
- TOPPER: A smaller cloth that drapes over the main cloth, can be square, round or decorative edged in a contrasting fabric.
- SCALE: Dont make a super-large skirted table for the center of a hallway or between chairs, it will look like a buffet table at a wedding
- TYPEx pleated, tailored, shirred
- TRIM: Tape trim is best
- LENGTH: Break on floor 1/2", barely brush floor, NEVER not touching floor
How? Where?
1.) Ask your (good) friends; check on Angie's List; look in theYellow Pages; call a local designer you may know (or not) and ask if they'd share their workrooms number.
2.) Once you find a workroom, go in and look around, touch the upholstery, feel the pillows, look at the way its made very CLOSELY!
3.) Tell them what you want as best you can. If youre not sure, take photos from magazines or use examples in their workroom.
4.) PROPOSAL: Ask for an invoice or proposal for the items to be made before work begins.
Proposals should always contain the following information:
- YARDAGE: Quantity they suggest, dont second guess them.
- SIZE: (Bed - twin or king; Pillows - 20"x20," etc.)
- TRIM: How is it's to be applied and how much is requested
- FILLER: (down, fiber, cotton batting, etc.)
- HARDWARE: Supplied and installed by workroom? Get specific info; ask for a photocopy of what you have selected from their resources.
- INSTALLATION: By whom? It's best to have the workroom install the curtains.
- COST: Breakdown for each item on proposal (pillows $30, curtains $40)
- SPECIFIC DETAILS: add all specific details (trim applied along leading edges, or turkish corners)
- FABRIC: Who supplies the fabric, you? them? another supplier?
- FABRIC ARRIVAL: When do you expect the fabric to arrive if youre supplying it.
- WHAT FABRIC: Make note on the proposal (by name, colors or manufacturer) which are to be used and where and how. It's best to return the proposal to the workroom with a small snip of the fabric attached.
- WHAT TRIM: Make a note on the proposal (by name, colors,or manufacturer) what is to be used and where and how. Attach a small piece of the trim to the proposal.
- PRICE: Negotiate, but dont be an obnoxious jerk.
- DEPOSIT: Place a 50% deposit on the entire cost for each item. Dont deposit any more than 50% everrrr!
- FINISH TIME: Ask the workroom to include the ETA on the proposal
- PAY BY CHECK: Write on the proposal your check number, deposit paid, and the date you signed and mailed it back
5.) MEASURING: Let whomever is going to fabricate your curtains, bedskirts, etc. measure them.
This stuff is the fun part and it's also the frustrating part if you dont know the vocabulary or the how-to's, but now you do!
You can do it, I'm here to help!


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It has been noted that the Troikans are in favor of rapid changes in bailed-out economies, a policy that has been very cleverly been dubbed "big bang solutions". The same policy is to followed (or at least Troika intends in following it) in Cyprus. As if the consequences in Greece are (unfortunately the past tense cannot be used here) not a great example of what these rapid changes can cause. It looks like some people never learn from their mistakes.
The Wall Street Journal hosts an interview by Mario Monti, with the latter stating that he is certain the ECB will do what it takes to save the euro, the night before it disintegrates. He wonders: Do we have to reach that night before the ECB does something? For me the answer is obvious: Yes Mario we do. The crisis has began to spread amongst the EU countries which were so far resilient, like France which is expected to witness a 0.1% contraction of GDP in the third quarter of 2012, while expectations were that a 0.1% contraction would have occurred as well in the second quarter. Two consecutive contractions and then welcome recession!
The same holds for Germany which has witnessed both imports and exports declining and is hoping that demand from emerging markets will offset the fall in demand in the EU. German GDP is expected to rise by 1% in 2012. I wouldn't be surprised if that proves to be an optimistic estimation. Even politicians in Germany have started to doubt whether the policy Angela Merkel is pursuing in the EU is a rational one. The next Federal Parliamentary elections in Germany are to be held in September-October 2013. If Merkel is defeated then a new Chancellor may have different views on the subject. Can the euro last until then without any assistance? Most likely not.
What I would love to see is Draghi take some action, and Merkel leaving him alone to act. Holland has been strangely quiet over the last month or so, which makes me wonder whether the "anti-austerity" policies he claimed before the elections were just the usual political promises.


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|Modern statue of Holy Rock
The Eifelsteig ends in Trier and that was to be my next rest day as well. But unfortunately, I had not taken into consideration the "Heilig Rock". Now what is the "Heilig Rock"? Quite frankly, I did not know either. I had seen posters announcing the "Heilig Rock" before but I had not paid much attention. "Heilig" means "holy" in German und "Rock" can either be a skirt, an old fashioned word for garment or refer to rock music. As the posters had all been very modern and stylish I had assumed that it is as Christian Rock music festival - but I could not have been more wrong. Heilig Rock is the supposed garment of Jesus Christ that has been kept in Trier cathedral since the 16th century. It is always there but it is very rarely shown. This only happens every couple of decades and is then declared a pilgrimage. The last Heilig Rock years have been 1933, 1953, 1996 and now 2012. The garment is only shown for one month - and I happened to arrive in Trier on the second last day before it would be locked away again for the next decades.
I did not know about all this when I started my first accommodation inquiries. First I tried couchsurfing, but nobody was available. I really can't understand why I have been successfully couchsurfing all around the world but I never ever find a couchsurfing host in Germany. Next I tried hostels, but they were all fully booked. Then someone mentioned Heilig Rock and what it really means and it dawned on me that my peaceful rest day in Trier might be more complicated than I had anticipated.
|Trier cathedral
Next day I took a day trip to Trier and encountered one of the nicest trail towns. Already at the station there were various counters with Heilig Rock volunteers helping the pilgrims. Almost everyone in Trier seemed to be either a volunteer or a pilgrim by the way. The town was absolutely packed and I was given the advice that the best time to view the Heilig Rock would be late afternoon. Otherwise I would have to wait a long time - and a long time really meant about 2 hours and more. When I passed the cathedral the first time there were so many people queuing that you would assume someone gave away free tickets for a Madonna concert. Hundreds of nuns and priest, many of them from Eastern Europe.
|Porta Nigra
But as my own German (and not dressed up) tour guide said: "Even if the Japanes cease to come and see the Porta Nigra and the Europeans to see the Heilig Rock, we will still have the Chinese coming to see the birth place of Karl Marx." And so I took a look myself - and really, Karl Marx' birth place in Trier was full of Chinese. Everyone a pilgrimage to his taste: Romans, Jesus garments, Karl Marx... you name it and Trier has it. But now it was time for me to eventually see the Heilig Rock. The crowds had diminished considerably and I only waited for about half an hour to get inside the cathedral and see the old brown garment myself - with volunteers all over the place telling everyone to slowly move on.
|Pilgrim merchandise
Trier is a fantastic trail town and I liked it as much as Passau on my last year's hike through Germany. Trier has a lot of very different things to see (even without the Heilig Rock), everything is within walking distance, plenty of shops and internet cafes in the centre. I really enjoyed my day in Trier - and maybe you should give it a try, too? But the date for the next Heilig Rock pilgrimage has not been fixed yet...


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Keith Carson
My name is Keith Carson and my wife Tracy and I have been members of Bridge for the last two years. We have three boys - Owen (8), William (6), and Benjamin (1). The testimony of God in my life is that I first prayed to receive Jesus Christ with my Mom when I was seven years old. In fact, I don't remember a time of unbelief in God as, by his grace, I grew up with parents that introduced me to Him and his Word at a very early age. I was born in Mission Viejo, CA and then spent nine years in Greenville, SC where I went to school at Furman University and then remained in Greenville to be on staff with Campus Outreach. Tracy and I met each other through the ministry of Campus Outreach and after we were married, moved to Scottsdale, Arizona. We lived in Scottsdale for nine years while Tracy received her degree in professional counseling and I worked as a sales professional for a variety of medical device companies. At the end of 2012, we moved to San Diego in large part because of our interest in being a part of what God was doing at Bridge. Pastor Stephen and I had some mutual friends and we had come to visit Bridge a few times while we were living in Arizona. Every time we visited the church we felt the tangible presence of the Holy Spirit and were so encouraged by the vision for the church's influence in City Heights, San Diego, and beyond. I have been a part of a number of churches and have served in a variety of capacities including as youth director, men's ministry director, small group leader, etc. But I have never been a part of a church with such a profound commitment to seeing other people come to know Jesus Christ. We have been blessed, encouraged, and challenged (in a good way) throughout our time at Bridge.
I am honored and humbled to be nominated to be an elder at our church. I love our church. I love our heart for our city. I love our desire to develop authentic community within our congregation. And I love our desire to build a bridge that crosses social, cultural, and spiritual boundaries. I look forward to faithfully playing my role in the body, and serving our congregation and our community.
Tom Stocking
I was raised in a Christian home and accepted Jesus Christ as my personal savior at age 11. Throughout my life I have felt God's presence leading me through difficult and challenging circumstances and have appreciated God's blessings. Being an elder at Bridge is a great responsibility and opportunity to serve God and His people.
Two years ago I retired from the Diplomatic Security Service, U.S. Department of State and my wife Anne and I moved to San Diego. Throughout our career in the Foreign Service, which included postings in Senegal, Algeria, Portugal, Brazil, and Hungary, we had always participated in international churches. Even before moving here we became aware of the family of of Harbor churches affiliated with the Redeemer Network and were attracted to Bridge's multicultural focus and vision for spiritual, social, and cultural renewal,
I have served on a church council, search committee, and financial oversight committee at international churches, and love to be a part of God's people coming together in ministry.
I continue to work part-time for the State Department. Our family includes three daughters, two sons-in-law and two grandchildren.
Christine Sloan
Din Blankenship
I was raised in a Christian family and have known the Lord for as long as I can remember. I grew up in Alabama (Roll Tide) where Christianity is very cultural, and for most of my young life I wasn't challenged to examine my faith. I attended boarding school in Massachusetts for high school, and it was during that time that I encountered a culture that wasn't predominantly Christian. I was asked questions to which I didn't have answers, and came to realize that I didn't really know the God I professed to believe in. Later, during my time at the University of Virginia (Wahoowa), I was part of a campus ministry called RUF, and it was there that my knowledge of and faith in Jesus really grew, and my understanding of the Gospel was transformed from the good news into the GREAT news.
My husband Ross and I got married and moved to San Diego in 2012. We arrived on a Saturday evening, came to Bridge (then Harbor Mid-City) on our first Sunday morning in the city, and we've been coming back ever since. During my time at Bridge, I have loved being a part of my community group, participating in (and now leading) a Vision Pathways round table, leading Christmas in City Heights, and serving on the worship team. Professionally, I am a designer at Studio E Architects and adjunct faculty at Woodbury University. I am passionate about using design to serve low income and marginalized communities both domestically and abroad, and I believe that a beautiful and functional building can communicate value and significance to people in a tangible way.
I look forward to serving on the Elder Advisory Team and pursuing social, cultural, and spiritual renewal through Christ with each of you.
Michael Crum
I was blessed to grow up in a home where I heard and witnessed the Gospel from a young age which lead to my trusting in Christ during my childhood. I publicly professed my faith and joined the church as a member at the age of 14. At 18 I came to the United States from the foreign mission field (in Baja California, Mexico) to study at Grove City College where four years later I obtained a degree in Accounting. Since the beginning of 2015 I have had the opportunity of serving as Bridge's CFO in addition to my "day job" in accounting, a field I've worked in since 2008. I feel called to serving Christ and his church at Bridge and see this as an enormous opportunity and responsibility. In 2010 I married my wife Lauren who's grace and love for me and for God's creation have pointed me to Christ ever since.
Mercy & Justice Team
Bryndan Stueve
Bryndan has been with Bridge since moving from North County to Mid-City two years ago. He's served our church and our community on our Mercy and Justice team for the past year and a half, and currently works at the International Rescue Committee helping refugee entrepreneurs start and grow their businesses. He previously studied International Agricultural Development at UC Davis and, before departing for college, had served on staff and volunteered in youth ministry at his family's church in Vista.
Bryndan is excited to continue exercising his passion for holistic, restorative justice as he works to ensure all members of our community flourish spiritually, socially, and economically. Find him on Sundays and say hello!
Jolene Torres
When I was 4 or 5, God revealed Himself to me in a very real way and I accepted Jesus as the substitute for my sins. God helped me to understand spiritual truths even at that age. Life hasn't always been easy and sometimes I wrestle with Him but He's a very serious part of my life (John 6:68). My parents worked for Wycliffe Bible Translators for 40 years and I spent a few years in Guatemala and Australia as a child, and I lived in Mozambique for 2.5 years as an adult working for a Christian development non profit. For the past 12 years I have worked for Head Start, a federal preschool program. I help teachers and parents with any kind of question or concern, and it is similar work in a lot of ways to the Mercy and Justice team. I am married to Juan Manuel Torres and we enjoy traveling and spending time together. I also enjoy reading and active sports- hiking, swimming, running, etc.


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DATE: June 5, 1746, 7.15AM
The sweat was running in torrents down the young boy's face; or was it tears.
"MURDER, Foul MURDER"!!!
The boy was running from the stables to the large Manor. Once there he would get help.
He bounded up the stairs two or three at a time;
"Help, HELP! The Grand Duke has been shot"!
Duchess Margaretta appeared at the top of the stairs:
"What is this you say? Calm yourself boy!! I can't understand a single word you say"!
"The Grand Duke Ma'am,... He he's been shot. Killed I think"!
"WHAT"! Captain, CAPTAIN of the Guard! Lady Sarah!! Quickly, get the guard"!
Lady Sarah ran off through the large doorway towards the stunned Duty Officer who was now standing near a small table. His chair now toppled over as he spang to his feet.
The Duchess grabbed the boy by the shoulders:
"Take me to him,..."
15 minutes later the Duchess and her small party of arrived at the stables on the edge of the wooded area surrounding the estate. She had with her Lady Sarah, Captian Chamberlain and 12 Troopers from the Grand Duke's Duty Squadron.
At the entrance of the stable lay sprawling the Grand Duke. A large wound in his chest was evident, and much blood lay sticky on the ground. He had also been shot in the head.
The Duchess was off her horse and kneeling beside him. The blood was soon all over her dress and hands. She took the Grand Dukes head in her hands and let out a searing scream!
"Peter, PETER! Dear God look what they have done! This is the work of your vile brother no doubt"!
Lady Sarah pulled the Duchess away:
"There is nothing you can do Ma'am. Please come away".
"BASTARDS!! Vile BASTARDS! They think they can get away with this. Captain, send a messanger to the Lords and High council of the Colony. I want them all at the Orange House tonight!
Captain Chamberlain spoke:
"But Ma'am, surely we should secure your safety first and get the Grand Duke back to the manor? I should send some of the men in pursuit of the assassin. He can't have got to far"!
"Don't argue with me you impudent dog!! I'll have you back in the ranks so fast it'll make you foolish head spin. Now send half the men to do as I say. I have my duty to perform. I must secure the government. I already know those responsible. I could care less about who pulled the trigger. I want those who ordered it done,..."!
One of the troopers was knelling beside the Grand Duke,..
"I think he's still alive"!
To Be Continued