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The Chrysler Voyager minivan began as a Plymouth in the model year 1984. It is one of Chrysler Corporation's biggest sellers. Car and Driver magazine named the Plymouth Voyager to its Ten Best list in 1985. At that time, Chrysler minivans tapped into a new segment of the market by offering a family vehicle with far more interior space than sedans. Families responded to Chrysler's minivans; record-breaking sales were instrumental to Chrysler's resurgence in the 1980s.
When Plymouth's future was in jeopardy, in 2000, Chrysler took over production of the Voyager. This gave Chrysler the advantage of having a minivan at both ends of the price spectrum: a low-end minivan (the Voyager) and the Town & Country at the upscale end of the market. During the 2000 model year, the Voyager was sold as both a Plymouth and a Chrysler.
Chrysler introduced the Voyager, a shortened-wheelbase minivan, in 2000. Originally made by Plymouth, the Voyager was rebranded as a Chrysler when Plymouth ceased operations. Available in a base model and SE model, the Chrysler Voyager offers a great value to minivan buyers. Seating seven, it comes equipped with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine and a three-speed automatic transmission.
The Chrysler Voyager ceased production after model year 2003.
The Chrysler Voyager is known for providing a "value-driven" minivan for customers. It offers good handling at an affordable price. The T-Plus Value Package includes a 3.3-liter V-6 FlexFuel engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. Additional features in the package include power windows, power door locks, power mirrors, cloth interior, cruise control, and a tilt steering wheel.
Standard equipment on the 2000 Chrysler Voyager Base model includes a 2.4-liter, 4-cylinder engine and a three-speed automatic transmission. Also included are bucket seats, power steering, power brakes, 14-inch wheels, driver and passenger front airbags, intermittent wipers, a rear window wiper, and an AM/FM/Cassette audio system.
Optional equipment offers a choice of either a 3.0-liter V-6 engine, a 3.3-liter V-6 engine, or a 3.3-liter Flex Fuel V-6 engine. Additional options include daytime running lights, self-leveling suspension, cruise control, a tilt steering wheel, the Camper/Towing package, two child seats, power windows and door locks, power heated mirrors, keyless entry, a sliding driver side door, four-wheel ABS, a four-speed automatic transmission, air-conditioning, and a roof rack.
The 2003 Chrysler Voyager LX Value minivan comes equipped with a 2.4-liter, four-cylinder engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. It offers EPA mileage estimates of 18/25 mpg city/highway. The suspension consists of front independent suspension with modified MacPherson struts.
Standard equipment includes 15-inch wheels, variable intermittent wipers, an intermittent rear wiper, ventilated front disc/rear drum brakes, electronic brakeforce distribution, two front headrests, two rear headrests, front integrated headrests, cloth front bucket seats, a folding rear seatback, and one-piece folding third row seats.
Additional features include a front console with storage, power steering, two interior power outlets (one located in the front and one in the rear), power steering, air-conditioning, front reading lights, a cargo-area light, dual vanity mirrors, and an AM/FM/CD audio system.
The Chrysler Voyager LX Popular contains a 3.3-liter, 180 hp V-6 engine and a four-speed automatic transmission. It offers EPA estimates of 17/24 mpg in city/highway. The front-wheel drive vehicle features an independent front suspension with modified MacPherson struts. Cargo capacity stands at 15.3 cubic feet (with all the seats in place) and a maximum cargo capacity of 146.7 cubic feet.
Standard equipment on the Voyager LX Popular includes 15-inch wheels, ventilated front disc/rear drum brakes with electronic brakeforce distribution, variable intermittent wipers, a rear defogger, power opening rear quarter windows, an intermittent rear wiper, a rear liftgate, child seat anchors, rear door child safety locks, two front headrests, two rear headrests, and front integrated headrests.
The Voyager offers cloth seating, bucket front seats, and one-piece folding third row seats. Additional standard equipment includes air-conditioning, remote power door locks, heated power mirrors, power steering, power windows, a tilt/adjustable steering wheel with cruise functions, cruise control, a cargo net, a front console with storage, front door pockets, front and rear 12V power outlets, a cargo light, front reading lights, a tachometer, clock, mast antenna, and an AM/FM/CD audio system with six speakers.
From 1984 to 1999, Chrysler's Plymouth division produced the Voyager. The T-Plus Value package was introduced for the 2000 model year, when the van was marketed in the U.S. as both a Chrysler and a Plymouth.
The 2001 model houses a 3.3-liter V-6 engine, which offers more power to the Voyager. Dual sliding doors, side airbags, and an improved suspension all work together to enhance the van's safety, comfort, and performance. The body is also sleeker than that of previous models, resulting in a very attractive package for consumers.
In 2002, Chrysler released the eC model, offering a lower purchase price. It doesn't offer many frills, but it is designed to lure the budget-minded purchaser. The eC model did not carry over into the 2003 model year (which was the final year of production for the Voyager).
2003 Chrysler Voyager
The 2003 Chrysler Voyager is the lower-priced cousin of the Chrysler Town & Country.
2002 Chrysler Voyager
The 2002 Chrysler Voyager is a minivan that offers three models: the Base, eC, and the LX.
2001 Chrysler Voyager
The 2001 Chrysler Voyager serves as the smaller, cheaper alternative to the Chrysler Town & Country.
2000 Chrysler Voyager
Expect a redesign next year, as competition has finally taken over the Chrysler minivan product.


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Republicans Form Super-Pac for Immigration Reform
Washington – Prominent Republican strategists have announced they are forming a super-PAC to help redefine the party's immigration stance and to figure out ways to appeal to Latino voters.
The super-PAC, called Republicans for Immigration Reform, also hopes to undercut those in the party rallying for strict immigration enforcement, many who became heroes to immigration hard-liners but who turned off Latinos voters.
Carlos Gutierrez, who was Commerce Secretary under President George W. Bush, and Charlie Spies, a Washington lawyer, are the brainchild behind the organization. They told the Washington Post they wanted to help push immigration reform next year - and help push Republican lawmakers who were wavering on the issue.
"This is not small ball," Gutierrez told the Post. "We're serious, and we are going to push the debates on immigration reform to a place where I believe the Republican Party should be in the 21st century."
"First they have to be legalized," Gutierrez said. "Then you have to find a way to get into a line for the green card. ... There will be requirements. And we'll have to negotiate some sort of requirements."
Spies, behind the pro-Mitt Romney super-PAC that raised $142 million for the campaign, nor Gutierrez, have not outlined a fundraising goal.
Hard-line stances by Republicans, and Romney himself, about issues such as immigration, government assistance programs and affordable healthcare became a rallying point for Latino leaders and the Obama campaign, who warned that a Romney presidency would create hardship for Latinos and fuel hostility against them.
More than 70 percent of Latino voters supported Obama, who has been more open to comprehensive overhaul of immigration law.
Speaking on CNN on Sunday, Gutierrez said Romney lost because "the far right of this party has taken the party to a place that it doesn't belong."
Gutierrez said the country cannot grow without immigrants and the Republican Party is a natural home for them.
"We are the party of prosperity, of growth, of tolerance," Gutierrez said in for CNN's "State of the Union."
''These immigrants who come across, and what they do wrong is risk their lives, and they come here and they work because they want to be part of the American dream. That is what the GOP is."
Gutierrez said Republicans for Immigration Reform is about people from all over the world, including Hispanics, Asians, West Africans and Ethiopians.
With reporting by the Associated Press.
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subset: commoncrawl


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C.S. Lewis: essay collection and other short pieces
HarperCollins, Mar 1, 2000 - Literary Collections - 894 pages
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Review: CS Lewis Essay Collection & Other Short PiecesUser Review - Mark Wood - Goodreads
It really, really good. However, if you've read God in the Dock and The Weight of Glory, you're likely to have a LOT of repetition in this one. Read full review
The Grand Miracle
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answer appeared become believe better Bulverism C.S. Lewis Camilla certainly Christ Christian chronoscope Church civilisation claim Corineus course creatures criticism culture Dark Tower doctrine doubt emotion Eteoneus ethical evil exist experience fact faith feel give happened heaven Hideous Strength Historicism Hobbit human idea imagination judgement kind language laws less literary literature live look Lord MacPhee matter mean Menelaus merely mind miracles modern moral myth nature never once Orfieu Othertime ourselves pain Perelandra perhaps person picture prayer present Professor Price question Ransom reality reason recognise religion religious remember Rider Haggard science fiction Scudamour seems sense simply sort spermatozoon spiritual story suppose sure talk taste tell Theism Theology things thought tion true truth turn Undeceptions 1971 universe vivisection Walter Hooper whole words write wrong Yellowhead


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|Dallas, Texas
|High School:
|Plano West
2011: Ranked 4th in Ivy League conference matches with .343 hitting percentage...Named to Ivy League Weekly Honor Roll two times…Hit .522 with 13 kills in a victory over Princeton on Nov. 5…Hit .600 with 10 kills in a win at Brown on Oct. 22…Averaged 0.84 blocks per set in Ivy League matches…Had 13 kills and hit .522 in a win over Princeton on Nov. 5…Delivered 10 or more kills four times during Yale's six-match Ivy League win streak.
2010: Second Team All-Ivy...Appeared in 91 sets...Led the team with a .311 hitting percentage and 75 total blocks...Finished third in the Ivy League in hitting percentage...Posted highest block total in a three-set match among all Ivy League players during 2010 season – 7 (3 BS, 4 BA) vs. Dartmouth, Nov. 5...Tallied double-figures in kills seven times during the season, including a season-high 17 with a .577 hitting percentage in a win at Harvard on Oct. 22...Hit at least .400 with at least six kills in a match nine times during the season.
2009: Appeared in 71 sets...Averaged 1.94 kills and a team-best 0.92 blocks per set...Had a career-best five blocks in three matches...Posted a .254 hitting percentage...Set a career mark with 10 kills in the Oct. 16 sweep at Cornell, and matched it with 10 more kills at Dartmouth on Nov. 7...Had eight assists and eight service aces.
Before Yale: Captained Plano West to a 2008 district championship, a season in which she earned all-district honors...Was named a PrepVolleyball.com Senior Ace...Played in Texas 5A Final Four as a junior...Won silver medals at the Junior Olympics in 2007 (16-U open division) and 2008 (17-U open division) as a member of the Skyline Juniors in Dallas.
Appleman on Haley: "Haley's biggest strength is her speed and athleticism. Her ability to get off the floor quickly makes her a versatile weapon."
Four Questions for Haley:
1. Why Yale? It's YALE!
2. Best restaurant in New Haven? Zinc Kitchen
3. Worst toppings for pizza? Anchovies and olives… ew.
4. Team Jacob, Team Edward, or Team Couldn't Care Less? Couldn't care less… but don't tell Kendall that.
Getting to Know Haley
Favorite Quote: "Just let it happen."
Your Theme Song: "One More Time" by Daft Punk
Biggest Inspiration: My sister
Favorite Reality TV Show: "So You Think You Can Dance"
Greatest Fear: Getting mugged
Your Celebrity Look-Alike: Kerry Walsh
Pre-Match Superstition: My hair has to be the same before every game
Favorite Sports Movie: Love and Basketball
Signature Dance Move: I make my own moves.
People are surprised that you…: can wave my pinky toe.
Which of your teammates would make the best coach?: Laurel Casey
Why did you choose Yale?: …it's Yale.


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June 2010
Volume 2, Issue 6
Check Your Calendars!!
ALA Annual Conference
June 24-29, 2010. Washington D.C.
SDLA BranchOut 2010
July 27, 2010. Augustana, Sioux Falls.
SDLA Annual Conference
September 22-24, 2010. Sioux Falls.
Festival of Books
September 22-24, 2010. Sioux Falls.
Summer Edition of the State Library Electronic Resources Challenge!
Welcome to the Cornerstone Archives. Find the current newsletter at sdslcornertsone.blogspot.com.
Welcome to the Cornerstone Archives. Find the current newsletter at sdslcornertsone.blogspot.com.
In This Month's Issue
Library Headlines
SWIM scholarship recipients announced
Fourteen South Dakota librarians will receive funds for continuing education in library sciences thanks to a grant from the Laura Bush Foundation and the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Sioux Falls celebrates re-opening of Main Library
Siouxland's Main Library officially re-opened its doors with a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 7.
June Continuing Education Opportunities
Don't miss out on the Summer edition of the SDSL Electronic Resources Challenge, and Many More!
Children's & YA Services
Summer Reading Program offers free extras
Enhance your summer reading program with these extras provided free from CSLP.
Helpful research and standards from the East Coast
New guide for youth explains intellectual freedom
Month of the Military Child celebrated across the state
During April's Month of the Military Kid, Operation: Military Kids! sponsored story times in Aberdeen, Brookings, Madison, Mitchell, Pierre, Sioux Falls, Sisseton, Vermillion and Watertown. Each event was unique to the community that planned it.
Featured eResources of the Month
Join us for the summer edition of the State Library Electronic Resources Challenge!
The Challenge, a self-paced learning opportunity, guides you to explore and discover content and features in the statewide electronic resources.
Grant Opportunities
Distribution to Underserved Communities Library Program
Deadline: Ongoing
School and Library Resource Grant
Deadline: Ongoing
Computers for Learning Program
Deadline: Ongoing
In Focus: Bell Jacobsen
Meet the Interlibrary Loan/Circulation/Mailroom Coordinator at the State Library
Library Development
Believe it or not, government documents can be interesting!
Government documents are an essential and interesting part of the State Library's collection.
Board Talk: The vital role of recruiting and educating trustees
Simply put, some library boards know where they are going…they are on a highway and they are tooling down that road. And sadly, others are, well, out to lunch.
School Libraries
Retiring school librarians represent over 200 years of combined expertise
With feelings of both celebration and regret we arrive at the time of year when we bid farewell to the friends and colleagues among us who are entering the well-deserved world of retirement.
Deubrook spreads the word about School Library Month
Deubrook school librarian Marilyn Mendenhall says, "I like to promote libraries and very few people even realize that April is special to us. So I tell them!"
Trends & More
Promote your library services with social media
How do you get the word out about library news and events? Traditional methods still work, but social media gives you new ways to promote your library.
More resources in the news
Net Cetera: Chatting with Kids about Being Online; Florida State, Rutgers and Syracuse lead school library research
What is Library Development reading?
Scary, Gross, and Enlightening Books for Boys, Grades 3-12 by Deborah Ford (2010) as reviewed by Jasmine Rockwell.
Why Didn't I Think of That?
Elkton Community Library's Jumpathon completes 25 years
By Sherry Bauman, Elkton Community Library Director
Centerville parades books for National Library Week
The Centerville Community/School Library celebrated National Library Week with a parade in the library.
Laptops become a listening center at Humboldt
Students love the new listening center at the K-5 Humboldt Elementary Library.
next: Library Headlines
Share |
The Cornerstone monthly e-newsletter is created by the South Dakota State Library. For more information on how to be a part of this newsletter, please contact us via e-mail with your questions and ideas.


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- This event has passed.
AC/TC: Arts Council Tai Chi
November 15, 2017 @ 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM
An event every week that begins at 5:30pm on Monday and Wednesday, repeating until November 22, 2017
Have you tried all the new workouts and just feel burnt out? Are you wanting to work out but are dealing with arthritis, or are worried about your balance, flexibility and strength?
Then join Gary Kingcade for Tai-Chi: an excellent way to exercise without over-taxing your body. Harvard Medical School says "This gentle form of exercise can help maintain strength, flexibility, and balance, and could be the perfect activity for the rest of your life." -12/4/2015 Harvard Health Publications.
Come wearing loose, comfortable clothing; if you wear shoes during the workout, please choose a pair with thin soles so that you can feel the ground beneath you. As with all exercise programs, please check with your doctor before beginning.


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Vegetable Oil Fuel Conversion - The Lowdown On SVO Conversions - TechPosted in How To: Engine on November 1, 2008
Unless you've been hiding out under a rock in some foreign country, you probably know about the grassroots movement associated with fueling diesel-powered vehicles with recycled vegetable oil. SVO stands for straight vegetable oil. We're not talking about biodiesel-we're referring to oils extracted from the seeds of plants like soybeans, peanuts, and sunflowers. It's true, that trusty diesel pickup in your driveway-the one that's been costing a small fortune to operate lately-yup, it'll run on a whole assortment of different cooking oils, and the best part is; you can get this oil for free. It all started back in 1897 when Rudolf Diesel, the founding father of the diesel engine, developed a new and different version of the internal combustion engine that could run on various types of oils. Unfortunately, the idea was shelved by Diesel's business partners after suspicious circumstances led to Diesel's disappearance from the deck of a boat off the coast of France. He was never seen alive again. As the years passed, Diesel's vision got twisted into a petroleum-driven profit center that continues to grow today.
Skeptics will tell you vegetable oil doesn't work as a fuel. Or they claim the oil will freeze up in colder climates, clogging up tanks, filters, pumps, and lines. We've even heard critics say that running oil will somehow shorten the lifespan of critical engine components. We disagree. We know of people who have driven more than 100,000 miles on vegetable oil, with no concrete evidence proving any negative effects. Furthermore, no significant studies have been conducted to this effect, nor has any major federally recognized organization having to do with fuel usage. Veggie oil as a fuel gets a bad rap because so many individuals out there have tried it without understanding all the variables involved in a fully functional conversion. Tons of homemade systems exist today that are not complete and rarely engineered for various environmental conditions we tend to expose our vehicles to while driving. The end result is a frustrated hobbyist sitting on the side of the road troubleshooting his work, or lack thereof, wondering why the car won't start.
Vegetable oil, just like any other fuel out there, requires an engineered delivery system. With fuel prices climbing higher each day, it seems like more and more companies are popping up with one-size-fits-all conversion kits that fail to address vehicle-specific issues. Again, this leads to frustration, only now the aggravation lies with the consumer who purchased a system that wasn't designed properly. Despite what naysayers claim, we're here to tell you vegetable oil works well in most applications, but only if the delivery system addresses concerns of a thicker fuel with a tendency to start gelling at 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Joel and Rebecca Woof, owners of Veg Powered Systems in Ojai, California, know this, and that's why they warn consumers about the plethora of companies out there that don't address these issues. "It's one thing to offer a universal conversion kit to Joe Public and it's another to do it right," Joel says. "We don't sell do-it-yourself kits. We install complete veg-oil conversions designed specifically to work with that vehicle's individual requirements." While Joel's systems are in fact tailored specifically to meet the needs of each vehicle, other systems are not. This is where a little basic understanding about the conversion process is valuable. As you might expect, Veg Powered Systems simply cannot convert everyone's ride, and the demand for such systems is only growing. So we took a few days out of the office to shadow Joel's operation, and grasp an understanding of a basic conversion. This is what we discovered.
Typical Conversion Requirements
Diesel engine
Secondary fuel tank
Secondary fuel pump
Filter assembly
Change over valve
Heat exchanger
Hose, clamps, and fittings
Electrical parts, wire, switches, and so on
11PhotosView Slideshow
Once you have a system installed on your vehicle you have to find fuel. There are many restaurants that use oil for frying food. These restaurants, in most cases, are more than happy to give away used cooking oil to customers who frequent the place. Otherwise, most restaurants pay a service to collect the waste oil and haul it off. The key is to find restaurants that change oil frequently, if not daily. More frequently changed fryer oil means less food matter in the oil, and food matter is the stuff that clogs filter media quickly. Notice the golden color of the oil flowing through the hose pictured here-this is the color of good used oil. Poor quality oil looks dark and has little particles of food suspended in it. It is best to only take the waste oil that is clear of debris-otherwise you cut down filter life substantially.
More On Veg Powered Systems
Veg Powered Systems will convert most diesel-powered vehicles on the road today. They even convert tractors, big rigs, and boats from time to time. The price for a system depends on the complexity and components necessary. For example: a newer Duramax pickup would cost $6,000 to convert start to finish. This includes a DVD with interesting facts about collecting used oil and the technology behind the system. Diesel cars such as the VW Beetle shown here also run great on vegetable oil, the only drawback with these types of vehicles being that the secondary fuel tank usually has to be located inside the trunk or storage hatch. The payback for the initial cost of a system comes rather quickly if you drive a lot of miles.
Is an SVO Conversion Legal?
Yes and no. The government currently has no way to tell whether or not a vehicle is running on recycled vegetable oil or diesel. The only noticeable difference between the two fuels while in use is the smell. Vegetable oil emits a smell similar to freshly cooked French fries. (Yum.-Ed.) Technically speaking, those who run vegetable oil without reporting it are cheating the government out of tax dollars associated with each gallon of fuel they don't purchase. However, enforcement in this area of the law is seldom uniform and usually infrequent. We've seen side-of-the-road DOT dip stations set up in heavy agriculture areas. Typically, these makeshift stations are checking for diesel pickups with transfer tanks in the bed to see if any "red-dye" or "off-road" diesel fuel exists in the factory fuel tank. However, in theory any vehicle caught running a non-taxable fuel can be cited and fined. To avoid this, we recommend checking with your local government agencies about laws governing alternative fuel use on public roads. In many cases, the state will offer forms to aid consumers in keeping track of alternative fuel use so that responsible drivers can pay road taxes on the fuel they use. For us, vegetable oil works great for adventures that take us off the beaten path, where road tax has no say in what fuel you use. Places like Baja, Mexico, and the dragstrip are among our favorite places to use it.


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Main Page
From Echocardiography in ICU
The five most important things you need to know
Basic Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE)
Indications for echocardiography, TTE versus TEE
Main echocardiographic imaging planes
Right ventricle systolic pressure
Images library
Clinical cases
Cases for tests
Each of these five blocks represents a panel of frequent echocardiographic diseases. To assess your capabilities in the interpretation of transthoracic echocardiography images, you can take the corresponding test on coursework:
To pass the evaluation, you will need to achieve a score>80%.
Block 3
Block 4
Block 5
Key words: echocardiography, focused, critically ill, icu, tte, goal-directed, point-of-care, critical care, ultrasound


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About BASC
Employment Opportunities: To view current openings at BASC, as well as elsewhere in the National Academies, please see the Human Resources site.
The issues addressed by BASC are at the forefront of contemporary concerns. Climate change and impacts, global climate models and the implications of their results, air pollution, and severe weather are topics discussed not just by scientists, but in Congress and in headlines every day. Our understanding of these issues directly affects the nation's environmental policies, energy choices, manufacturing decisions, construction codes, and agricultural methods. In addition, there are implications for human health and emergency management. BASC's interests include:
- advancing methodologies and technologies for supporting weather and climate science;
- enhancing structure, operation, and optimization of weather and climate observing and forecasting systems and approaches;
- improving understanding and prediction of weather and climate variability and related impacts on society;
- understanding climate variability, change, impacts, and adaptation;
- understanding atmospheric composition and chemistry, including transport and impacts of air pollution;
- facilitating research on atmospheric/land interactions, atmospheric/ocean interactions, and atmosphere/cryosphere interactions;
- advancing methods to communicate uncertainty in weather and climate information;
- improving understanding of atmospheric and climate sciences (including supporting technologies and services) and helping make this understanding relevant to national needs.
BASC oversaw the Climate Research Committee from 1981 to 2011.


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how does watermelon stack up with other fruits in overall nutritional value?
Watermelon is loaded with vitamins A and C. It also has a phytochemical – lycopene which has been shown to help prevent prostate cancer. Watermelon has the most lycopene second only to tomatoes. To see the nutritional content of watermelon and other fruits, click here.


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About 40 youth and adults ride into Kutztown July 10 during the four-day 5th annual Ride of Dreams from Philadelphia to Hershey and back.
In addition to being a once in a lifetime experience for urban teens, Ride of Dreams is a fundraiser to support Philadelphia non-profit Neighborhood Bike Works' year-round programming. Last year the Ride of Dreams raised nearly $30,000 for NBW programs.
'Neighborhood Bike Works teaches bike mechanics and cycling skills to under-served kids and teenagers in Philadelphia year-round. Leveraging the joy inspired by riding bikes, the group instills confidence and a spirit of adventure in the young people they serve,' according to their release.
The 40 riders leave Neighborhood Bike Works headquarters in Philadelphia on July 10 and ride west across southern Pennsylvania to Kutztown. July 11, they ride to Hershey then July 12 they ride to Lincoln University and July 13 circle back to Philadelphia.
What brings the group to Kutztown for one of the stops?
'We stayed at Kutztown University two years ago on the 3rd annual Ride of Dreams to the Poconos and had a great experience,' said Neighborhood Bike Works volunteer John Hemmer of Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP, Philadelphia.
'We try and keep our costs low so as much of the money raised as possible goes to support the organization. We are very grateful for the generous churches and community centers that donate their spaces to us but my preference is to try and stay at a University when available so that our teenagers (some who have never left Philadelphia) can get a college experience.'
Hemmer said they are traveling on a tight budget and will be staying in the dorms and eating at the dining hall at KU.
'So our youth really get to experience college life!'
He said participants include 15 youth riders from the Bike Works program and about 25 adult volunteers. There is no cost for the youth though some of their older youth riders are encouraged to fundraise. Adults pay $150 to register and pledge to fundraise at least $750, he said.
When asked what people in Kutztown can do to help, Hemmer responded, 'Registration for the ride is now closed but people in Kutztown can come meet us. We had someone from the KU cycling team talk to our students last time. Come meet us, donate and cheer us on,' said Hemmer. 'We sometimes get bikes donated throughout the year from towns as far north as Kutztown so simply letting the community know about our organization is a tremendous help.'
For the Ride of Dreams, NBW teens train for three months to tackle the 250-mile challenge. A limited number of adult cyclists ride alongside the youth and raise funds to support Neighborhood Bike Works, according to the release.
'Tackling a 250-mile ride cultivates a huge sense of achievement among the community of cyclists. For the teenage participants, it can be life changing,' according to their release.
One youth rider states, 'It was something out of the ordinary that I had never done before. It taught me determination. It takes convincing yourself that you can do this ride. There's support and people who are there to motivate you through the entire ride. It's a great experience.'
This year's sponsors include Keswick Cycle, Firehouse Bikes & Wolf Cycles, Suburban Cyclists Unlimited, Cozen O'Connor, and Greenhill Car Wash. For more information, visit www.rideofdreams.org and www.neighborhoodbikeworks.org.


text:
Publisher's description
This file is a driver for Canon IJ multifunction printers. IJ Network Tool is included in this MP Drivers.
- The Catalog File signed by Microsoft has been updated.
- Windows 8 has been added as a supported OS.
IJ LAN Driver and Tool:
1. In the environment where the Firewall software operates, as the printer detection using LAN communication is inhibited, the setup may not be competed.
Preventive action:
Disable the Firewall setting temporarily, or close the Firewall software, then, perform the setup. In each case, disconnect the network from the Internet first.
2. When using of IJ Network Tool under Windows Vista 64bit version, the following message may be displayed at the setup:New Port could not be created.
Preventive action:
Cancel the setup once, then retry the setup after restarting the computer.
Download / Installation Procedures
1. Click the link, select [ Save ], specify "Save As", then click [ Save ] to download the file.
Memo :
If you select [ Run ] ( or [ Open ] ) instead of [ Save ], the file will be automatically installed after it is saved.
2. The downloaded file will be saved in the specified place in the self-extracting form ( .exe format ).
3. Double-click the downloaded EXE file to decompress it, then installation will start automatically.
Uninstall Procedures
If needed, you can uninstall this program using the Control Panel.
Note :
The steps below are for Windows 7. This procedure may be different for other OSes.
1. On the Start menu, click Control Panel, and then, under Programs click Uninstall a Program.
2. A page will open with a list of installed programs. Double click on the program that you want to uninstall.
3. Click "Yes" then "OK", this will complete the uninstallation process.


text:
On Our Radar: Gossip Makes Workers More Productive
Telecommuting adds about five to seven more hours a week to the work week, according to a new University of Texas study. Instead of easing work-life balance, working from home ends up blurring the boundary of work and home and adds more hours to the day, the study found. — Nikki Waller
PNC Bank plans to build a "breathing" high rise office building in Pittsburgh, allowing workers lots of contact with the great outdoors, including windows that actually open and a rack of sunglasses so employees can get work done in the outdoor spaces, Fast Company reports. — Rachel Emma Silverman
Here's a creative take on the job hunt: A husband and wife team of academics posted an advertisement asking colleges to apply for them, not the other way around. The ad lists their qualifications and job requirements. Though it's getting some web buzz, Inside Higher Ed says, no employers have come calling yet. —Melissa Korn
Companies have no excuse for bypassing women when a board seat opens up. Forte Foundation came out last week with a list of 8,000 "board-ready" women as part of a broad effort to boost the percentage of women on boards to 20% by 202.0 –– Melissa Korn
And finally…
Turns out gossip might actually make workers more productive, contrary to popular workplace wisdom. A study in the Journal of Applied Social Psychology, via AOL Jobs, suggests that intra-office chatter about slack-off workers can help subtly pressure them into working harder. — Lauren Weber
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text:
The South's Largest Hat Store
Quality Hats and Caps Since 1894 - LOVE YOUR HATTITUDE!
2 Item(s)
View as:
Currently Shopping by:
Meyer The Hatter
120 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA
1 800 882-4287
1 504 525-1048
Store Hours:
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Saturday, January 16, 2010
Haiti - not for commercial use
If you haven't done so yet please pay attention to Haiti. It is difficult not to be shaken by the news, the pictures, the footages. It is a tragedy. I keep asking myself what can I do from so far, and inevitably I remember my times with AoL and feel ashamed of having supported initiatives that thrived from the tragedies of others.
A common question people asked SSRS was, "Why are there natural catastrophes?" A typical answer was, "So that people work on their compassion and do seva." Very poetic, perhaps truthful, but definitely, very witty – the perfect way to keep his people working for him for free, not question anything he does (or not do) and feel proud of themselves.
We heard countless stories about the Gujarat earthquake, how AoL people helped day and night and the myriad miracle stories (my favorite being the one of a boy who fell off a high building and nothing happened to him because "Guruji caught him"). Of course, we heard the stories of the Tsunami and the unfounded claim "we were the first NGO to enter the region and do seva", accounted by a few pictures (always the same 3, 4 pictures) of SSRS passing some bags of food and clothes, and standing in front of people in despair. In fact, the Blessings course is an aftermath of that tragedy: Swamiji was sent to the region, and as per his own narration, the guru asked him to bless. Upon asking innocently "how", the guru yelled at him, "Just do it! Have faith." And thus, when the swami innocently touched people's heads, he'd learn the deaf gained hearing, the depressed started eating, the devastated smiling, the childless mothers found meaning to their lives again. The blessings/healing stories gained more importance than the actual needs of the tsunami affected population.
Taking advantage of the situation, the organization went out fishing for donations. A former teacher told me the story of a Brazilian bank that raised funds within their employee community and decided to donate close to USD 400,000 for the construction of an orphanage AoL claimed to plan to build for the Tsunami orphans in Sri Lanka. This project, like many others, did not follow up with accountability, paper work, proof. Instead of the promise of building the grounds in a few months, it did not conclude until way past the year. The bank authorities were furious. Of course, they had been fooled and their reputation was at stake. As a respectable, professional organization, they needed to show accountability. The AoL quickly fabricated pictures, trying to trick the bank authorities with photos only of few terminated corners of some rooms, or from angles that would not show the real unfinished situation, and of course, with big Brazilian flags wherever possible. To make things worse, once the building was finally terminated, they had no authorization from the government to run the orphanage, and there were no orphans to host (note: you don't just grab kids from the streets and put them in a place ... for pictures …). I can't help but imagine how much could have been done in Sri Lanka, even the slums of Brazil, with that lump sum of money back then! I keep thinking constructing the building did not require even 1/10 of that money. I wonder what has become the real use of that place and where that money really went.
I was at an AoL event during the Tsunami tragedy and, in two weeks, we collected close to USD 300,000 for "the cause." He even sent us out to the streets to beg, TTC participants wrote big checks, events were organized to raise funds for the Tsunami victims, yet, they ended up being intro talks to register the people (who went to find ways to help "the cause") to the next courses.
This was the work of only one group. I wonder how much money AoL sucked out of the Tsunami tragedy and how much really went to it or, rather, where did all of it really go.
The Dresden flood kept some Europeans busy for a few days, proved, of course, by a few pictures of a few people pulling buckets. Of course, there was the famous Katrina tragedy that claimed to have mobilized the entire US AoL chapter. Somehow, the AoL constantly makes big claims, but whenever articles are published it is because some devotee used some connections in the media. My point being: how come AoL always has to let the media know about their amazing work and it is not the media who finds their super big work? If their achievements are indeed that important, wouldn't people notice them themselves?
Let's be realistic and crude: what is the bottom-line claim of all the campaigns? Sudarshan Kriya will save everyone, his holiness is the new millennium Messiah, AoL is the only organization that is really making a difference in the area. Yet note that all projects life span last as long as some pictures and footages are taken, enough money collected, and you don't hear about them anymore, except in the form of heroic and miraculous stories (always the same ones).
Furthermore, it is interesting to notice he only helps incidents that are politically more productive for media and award purposes. When I read about some natural disaster, I check with former members of the area, local and international press, esatsang (!) to see if AoL is present in the rescue, vigorously implementing their claims of seva, sending their "seva warriors", saving the world, "we care we share", investing the money collected from courses in real causes. … Why does it still disappoint me though? Well, let's give them a break. At least they keep recruiting people for courses! Sudarshan Kriya and devotion to SSRS will, after all, save and change the world! (Yes, that was sarcasm). There are people who believe the awards the IAHV claims were given by obvious merits rather than lobbying of their devotees.
A few years ago, a wealthy AoL member proudly informed of a "planting trees" project in Haiti. Not very knowledgeable about the area, I was embarrassed to ask why plant trees and not engage in more immediately necessary projects instead? Like, medical care, hunger, education, hygiene, etc.? Maybe deforestation was a big issue I was not aware of, but it obviously kept this man feeling important, donating and convinced AoL does real seva. I doubt so many trees were really planted in half of that island and I know as a fact there are not that many activities.
Oxfam, Red Cross, Doctors without borders, the UN, etc., a list of organizations are currently out there helping Haiti. Their efforts are visible, their goals are clear. It embarrasses me to remember how he convinced us those organizations are useless because they are all words but little action: "They use 80% of the donations in overhead expenses, did you know? Hah? We use less than 10% in overhead expenses the rest all goes to seva projects. Don't give your money to them."
Seva projects? Or Ajay's homes, cars and triple US education? Bhanu's saris, jewelries, purses and first class trips to visit her son? His own latest gadgets, expensive dotis, shawls, 5 star hotels and first class plane tickets? Or his real estate investments? Or the Texas ashram, the luxurious DC center, the recently acquired obnoxiously luxurious Los Angeles Center? (for those who have not seen the pictures yet, make sure you do. A historic building, several million dollars, former Christian Science church. I almost gagged when I saw the photos).
What will AoL invent and claim now about Haiti? That he is blessing the Caribbean? That the tragedy happened because AoL was not too active in the country, thus "everyone, quick, quick, start teaching in your areas before it is too late!" I will get revolted yet I am already getting ready to hear about a world meditation or a world maha Kriya to help the victims of the tragedy, and claims of seva projects and miracles in the area. Sadly, the AoL community will be excitedly convinced they are contributing (like the time they prevented a war between India and Pakistan with a maha Kriya), organizing special satsangs, donating money to AoL. "Everything is an opportunity. One just needs to be clever", as taught by TTC teachers.
Taking advantage of the tragedy of others is simply distasteful.
Mr. Ravishankar, if you want to help, you need to roll your sleeves and get your hands dirty, but not your way-that-way-dirty, the real way. And not just for a few pictures. Know the Dalai Lama said to a reporter when a typhoon destroyed Taiwan: "I am not here to take pictures." (You did not go. Your local chapter did not do anything relevant, if any at all. Supporting Taiwan would be a dangerous political move). If you choose to donate to an active organization truly currently working in Haiti, I am sure you can find ways to cut taxes. Remember your own teachings: a good businessman is the one who knows to donate. The more you give, the more you receive.
For those who want to help, here is a link from the NY Times: "HAITI DISASTER RELIEF: HOW TO CONTRIBUTE"
(Also read in this blog, "Another disaster, another marketing opportunity")
29 comments:
There is this famous parable.
Someone like ssrs claiming siddhis like omniscience etc was invited for supper by someone like say Jody:))
SSRS on sighting only a plate of rice bleated " where is dal & sabji"(lentils & vegetables)?
Jody replied:-
" You allknowing avatard can't spot the dal & veg buried under rice;))"
SSRS left in a huff.
- January 18, 2010 at 12:21 AM
In 1934 a earthquake struck the northern Indian state of Bihar. Mahatma Gandhi declared that this is God's punishment to the oppression of dalits (untouchables) by the upper caste hindus. The poet Rabindrath Tagore criticized Gandhi and asked him not to interpret natural phenomenon with subjective moral justification. Gandhi perhaps failed to see that in the earthquake lot of Dalits had perished. At least Gandhi was humble enough to accept the criticism and state that it is indeed his faith, beleif and subjective opinion. But he stood by it and worked towards the eradication of untouchability.
But not our Gurus. They beleive that their opinions are divinely inspired, sacrosanct and unchangeable. In the 90s I attended a huge public meeting of Mataji Nirmala Devi in Bangalore. During this time there was a massive earthquake in Maharashtra and Nirmala devi blamed it squarely on the followers of the recently disceased osho Rajneesh. She called Rajneesh, Maharishi Mahesh and Satya Sai Baba as Rakshasas (demons) of hindu mythology. She claimed that Rajneesh has polluted the muladhara chakra of earth. Osho followers did a Ganesha puja celebration where they did lot of lewd dancing. This angered the god Ganesha and he punished through the earthquake in Maharashtra. Pune, where the Osho Ashram is located was not affected. Obviously Ganesha or rather Nirmala devi missed her target by miles.
It is common in India to see these gurus claim control over natural forces like rain, shine and wind. Ravishankar is no exception. He is following the guru template and making money out of this belief. They have also copied heavily from Christian charities who have been notorious in raising donations for their cause,causing conversion and social upheaveals. Bible in one hand and bread in the other. Our Gurus also want the piece of this charity cake. It is unfortunate that people donate their money to such people as internally these people do not have what can be called normal human, social value and ethics. They don't make it too public but they firmly beleive that their own solution (sudharshan kriya, aol) are far more effective than real practical help like doing relief work. This beleif is held very strongly by the members of the organization. Hence they pay lip service to the relief work. As Klim has rightly mentioned these so called social welfare lasts only till the first few photographs. It is this worldview which make them so selfish and gain benefit even from calamities. Ultimately the Guru gets the cash.
- January 18, 2010 at 2:03 AM
Its great work.
Your second last paragraph is really eye opener.
I feel really sad about the people who are good at heart, want to do something good for society but caught in AOL beliving that its doing good for society.
- January 18, 2010 at 2:16 AM
- Prairie Princess said...
If you want to plant trees in Haiti, give your money to Heifer International. They will plant trees in Haiti, since they have in the past. Heifer is a legitimate NGO and has been around since the 1940's. The Seva thing always seems faux to me since there was never any financial accounting. Bahnu's life style nor that of her children do not seem like seva to me.
- January 18, 2010 at 8:26 AM
Calamities are not the only opportunity to solicit donations.TTC and Guru Puja courses are also avenues to fleece. A friend of mine attended the Gurupuja course at the Ashram last year and he shared how the participants were asked to donate to purchase a LCD projector that went missing. At the end of the course the collection amounted to almost a lakh and by the end of the course a spanking new state of art LCD projector was made available.
Heard from another source that the same thing happened at the next Gurupuja course - same storyline about the lost LCD - about how the amount contributed is neglible compared to the great sacrifices made by Bhanu and Guru.
The ongoing drive for donations for Bhanus school project is mind boggling - at international courses out of India, participants are shown the video clip about the school - emotions stirred up about how so many childrens lives would be touched - participants put into groups and asked to donate in whatever currency.Most give willingly but others get irritated, see the real nature of things and opt out of AOL.
Another tactic, bring the children from the school, parade them in front of the class with their parents, emotional blackmail about the child wanting to pursue medicine but not able to due to financial constraints.She cries, parents cry and participants are so touched. Bhanu will then very subtly say that it is the duty and obligation of every AOL member to contribute towards the education of these children and voila - more money to the coffers.
- January 18, 2010 at 8:15 PM
You can cote here there is no money involved and you will be doing a great service to the enviornment. good wishes to all
- January 19, 2010 at 12:38 AM
respected jai bharati
there is a story of an indian ambassador to china (during J Nehru's regim in india). whenever he came to india he had to cross treacherous Nathu-la pass from china into india and there were no flights between india and china (perhaps were banned). The weather used to be very nastry. there would always be dangerous storms and they had to slowly travel dangerously narrow road in the pass amidst such foul weather Once i think karmappa lama or reponche lama came to know of indian ambassador's plight. the lama asked the ambassador to inform lama about likely dates when he would be actually travelling in the pass. sceptical ambassadore asked what lama could do. but nevertheless he informed the lama dates. the weather was very clear and sunny till his entourage passed through. it happened again and again. amazed ambassador wanted to know how this happened? to that the lama politely replied - gurus /sages can control forces of nature within a time span. But it is not contrilled all the time as they never interfere into natures working. only sometimes some exceptions are made.
- January 19, 2010 at 12:53 AM
anon January 18, 2010 8:15 PM
is it true? if it true then it is appalling. already there are much more than enough doctors in india facing stiff competition which gives rise to unethical practices. kids had better pursued another dream.
- January 19, 2010 at 12:59 AM
It is too sweeping a canard to say Christian Missionaries are all dubious.
Let us own up the fact , most INDIANS are congenital liars , cheats. Don't narrate stories from Puranas. I am in the present.
Children learn from their parents. No wonder gorement of india is full of thugs , smugglers , rapists & despicable goons.
What has religion got to do with one's inherent character & proclivities ?? Every rape , every shockingly inhumane treatment of fellow human beings are apathetically relished with a shrug of shoulders with a well worn excuse " America or George Bush is behind this ".
It is an extremely common sight to see the entire smug indian family with impressionable children , grandchildren hoisted on the thundering thighs of purring adults, daughters in law in close proximity to sacred ash sporting fathers in law , lecherous husbands stroking their bellies & burping contentedly watching only RAPE scenes , diaphanous sarees drenched in rain highlighting contours of women ( who peremptorily audaciously claim we don't kiss...Hollywood & WHITES alone are decadent) pelvic thrusts , eve teasing smutty songs & posterior gyrations.
Hardcore militants like hindutvavadis sanghis (RSS) , shivsainiks , marxist goons , arrogant clout wielding filmstars , swollen headed artistes,insensitive uppercastes-- India is one toxic narcissistic cesspool.
We the indians lack GRACE. We are the grotesquest hypocrites & worstest racists. Basking in the reflected glory of Vedic Heritage unearned & unmerited.
- January 19, 2010 at 1:01 AM
figures and financials can be fudged by any expert accountant how can you be sure that donations given to ny or any other american organiztions will not end up in creating another contra rebel group or another pak. world has lost faith in americans.
- January 19, 2010 at 1:48 AM
For us non-cult-leaving-AOL inquiring minds:
Who the heck is "Bhanu"?
- January 19, 2010 at 12:01 PM
- Gopal Krishna said...
According to this article:
1. thanks to AOL, such initiatives are being launched in 25,300 villages in India, benefiting more than 2.3 million people. The statistics are mind-boggling. Over 75,000 Nav Chetna Shibirs, more than 28,350 cleanliness campaigns, more than 1.3 m trees planted, 12,857 medical camps benefiting 4.3 lakh people, 1,474 homes helped built and 50 model villages developed. In addition 25,710 village youth have been trained in the Youth Leadership Training Program and 2,000 self-help groups with a membership of 35,000 villagers have been founded.
2. These apart, there are programs to heal prisoners of stress and negativity called Prison Smart that has reached out to over 1,20,000 prisoners in many countries, and is also offered to militants and naxalites, many of who have laid down arms, tribal welfare programs, slum development programs, de-addiction programs, trauma relief programs as well as calamity relief measures.
3. A meeting with Sri Sri's father, Acharya Ratnananda (Pitaji to all), who runs an AOl organisation called Vista in rural Karnataka for the uplift of rural women, offers a clue to the source of Sri Sri's groundedness, humility and gentleness. For his father is all that and more. At 85, he chooses to live in the rugged simplicity of the rural institution, when he could well have lived in the luxury of the ashram. However, says this staunch Gandhian, "By remaining in the ashram, I deny the happiness and improvement of a large number of girls in the rural areas. My real luxury is to see that I wipe a tear and win a smile wherever I can." When asked if he is proud of his son he responds, "He belongs to the world. Physically I may own him because he is my son. But spiritually the world owns him, including you."
Klim & company - I am open to hear your views on these statistics (because they do not match with this blog's assertion that AOL's social work is just a sham) as you have been closer to AOL than me. My knowledge is only from media.
- January 19, 2010 at 5:53 PM
it is not only art of living or iskcon numerous other ngos and bogus orgs have come up in the name 2 help haiti atlest these two do some semblence of work maybe very minor but all these works get published in the media... its crazy some self proclaomed baba from u.p in northen india is raising crores of cash 2 help haiti in the case of aol and iskcon some work does happen ... in the cas eof others its bogus.. i have seen this with my own eyes...
- January 20, 2010 at 2:20 AM
" My knowledge is only from media ".
One ought not to pretend to be overnaive:)) Gopal , you should be engaging the media not Klim. You can ask SSRS also. Nobody is stopping you as you seem to hunger for the real truth ;)
- January 20, 2010 at 3:41 AM
I was referred to this blog by my friend an AOL associate. This blog has been a revelation and intresting read. I ended my six association with AOL in 2008. I was unable to cope up with meeting my targets of bringing in more recruits and the ever increasing demand for raising donations. I realised much late that the whole objective of why I associated with AOL was not met. What I was doing was something so different. I slipped away silently back to my life and sadhana (also Seva where it matters).
I was always intrigued why people in AOL are not crying out that the Emperor has no clothes. My experience in AOL has been we start beleiving in all the propoganda as truths. All the social work was just that - sheer propoganda. I stayed in the kanakapura road ashram headquarters for three months and all we did was build more propoganda out of the existing propoganda. We were spin masters. We also knew how to use the gulliable media. All the village adoption, womens emancipation, education and Jail programs. So much of untruths. In a group situation you start beleiving in these. When reality strikes you realize that you are living in a vacous situation where there is a huge gap between what is on ground and what is in your head. Thats when you call it quits.
- January 20, 2010 at 4:28 AM
That article is what is called an advertisement. Life Positive is an indian spiritual, healing magazine which is not known for objective analytical real news reporting and is not their intention as well. Apart from the articles on spirituality, the primary aim of this magazine is to promote the many different Gurus, theraphies and workshops. That's where they get their revenue. The write up on AOL in Life positive is a straight copy from the AOL website. If you look at the writeup of all the Gurus in this magazine you will begin to wonder with so many do gooders around why there is so much poverty in India.
SriSri is well known for cultivating the media even the mainstream ones. A great deal of the charity donations goes to it. But for those of us who have seen the seva activities, there is not much to boast off.
Regarding Pitaji Acharyaji Ratnanadaji the less said the better. He is the grandmaster in the game. In the early year he conned an european couple into donating a huge deal of their wealth to veda vigyan mahavidyapeeth. The rich husband was suffering a degenerative disease and Ratnam alias acharya ratnananda ripped them in their hope of curing it through yoga and ayurveda. The husband ultimately died. Mata Vishalakshi also suffered because of her old husband's fondness for the European lady. They even had to get their son god to intervene and prevent a family squabble.
- January 20, 2010 at 4:47 AM
To Gopal,
You've posted an article that lists projects but provides no direct evidence that these projects exist.
Art of Living, for it to have any sort of credibility in terms of there humanitarian projects, needs to have third party audits.
Accountability costs money, and the fact remains, AOL does not provide neither it's financial statements in the form of tax records, or any type of annual report.
Because these documents are made unavailable to the public, there is no way to verify the charitable activities of AOL.
You should also know that literally all major NGO's such as red cross, doctors without borders etc etc. All of these organizations provides all financial records, which are easily accessible online to anyone.
It's generally the fraudulent charities that fail to disclose there dealings.
In these situations, when there are no records, we can only rely on third party sources like this blog, or even the article you linked to Gopal, but there really is no way to validate either claim.
- January 20, 2010 at 5:38 AM
In fact the few who knew Ravishankar & his family well before he became this infamous, floating aol , assert Ravishankar is NOT celibate. That he was very much a married man with a wife.
Nothing surprises or shocks me anymore. Or the violent denial by hindutvavadis. That gandhi was a paedophile cum womaniser is so well known a secret. vandematarmerabaratmahaan yet glorifies him a mahatma!
Indians are consummate idiots.
- January 20, 2010 at 7:41 AM
One of the most shrewdest auditors who is also a columnist and a member of RSS , is an ardent devotee of SSRS.
He happens to be a xenophobically swadeshi sanghi. I laughed out aloud when I read what he wrote in a typically supercilious self congratulatory way about us the indians:-
"...Where in America , the WHITES with no love for Jesus Christ do baywatching , we the indians (read hindus) are so piously flooding our Temples".
- January 20, 2010 at 7:47 AM
What's bothering me is just how good these people like SSRS are at conning people. When I was asked to do the AoL course, the person told me that AoL was the largest volunteer organization in the world. Wow, I thought. That's great. But, they don't have anything to back it up. That guy, gullible and enthusiastically trying to get people to join doesn't even know what he's into.
I had told a friend why I wouldn't do the course and this guy knows why and yet he still asked me again to do it and sent along a nice article on the benefits (I did not read it). For me, the activities (or non-activities such as not doing the actual volunteer work claimed) of AoL and SSRS are very serious. They seriously hurt a lot of people and anyone who is trying to "recruit" people should listen to feedback about AoL and take it seriously.
Why is it not taken seriously? My friend just suggested I talk to a teacher when I told her my feelings. A teacher? No way! I know what he would say. I find it disturbing that I was truthful and said I think there's something out of integrity with SSRS and AoL and they didn't blink an eye! It's the definition of an unhealthy sect or what many people call cults right there--complete and utter denial and complacency. That's what from this blog I'm understanding the entire org. is built on and thrives on--people being blinded.
- January 20, 2010 at 8:28 AM
BTW, here's the article I was sent:
Note: It asks "Is Art of Living a Cult"?
AND it features a picture of SSRS with the Dalai Lama (in case you had any doubts in the legitimacy of the organization, the Dalai Lama is there to back it up).
That is one good marketing team.
- January 20, 2010 at 8:46 AM
Ravi Ravi is also a poet. He has written a mastery piece of poetry. AOL folks has gone into divine rapture by reading this poem. Ravi Ravi wants everyone to cum cum to him him. Now they want a Nobel for literature for this poem.
Beyond the heaven is my abode
come to me. come to me.
Don't stop, come to me.
If you get stuck in the heaven,
you will return back from there to hell.
Don't stop in the heaven, come to me, come to me.
My abode is beyond heaven, far away from here.
Come to me, come to me
All the charming faces, boys and girls, eyes and noses,
hairs and dresses, cookies and sweets and chocolates,
pass them on.
Smiling and dancing, come to me, come to me.
My abode is beyond the heaven.
come to me.
Joyfully move in this direction, a thousand blessings on the way.
walk through them, don't get stuck.
Pass through them.
come to me.
Angels are ready to serve you, and crown you with the highest.
Don't stop before that.
Come to me, come to me.
By Sri Sri Ravishankar
- January 20, 2010 at 9:40 AM
Anon @8:15 ,
Exactly. All these gurujis follow the same routine. Puttaparthi groups also have video presentations of " food being handed over " " handicapped children being regaled " & so forth. One of Baba's followers a talented musician molested a teen student. They offered limp excuses like:
" Baba came in his dream that night & admonished him "
Some of them come with glossy brochures like " cows being looked after Goshalas " " ayurvedic spas " like one well known woman from Chennai.
Her discourses on Ramayana etc in excellent English keep all spellbound. I came to know she "practises" to give such charged up discourses. But when someone from the audience queried about chunky gold she wore from crown to toes she was outraged. So were her admirers.
- January 20, 2010 at 11:42 AM
"in case you had any doubts in the legitimacy of the organization, the Dalai Lama is there to back it up"
Dalai lama lending credentials to Ravi Ravi is too weak. Check this out, the dalai lama with shoko ashara. The guru who unleashed sarin gas in the tokyo subway and killed many.
Read this further here --"The Dalai Lama befriended and endorsed Shoko Asahara and his deadly Aum Cult. Thanks to the Dalai Lama's support Shoko Asahara was able to gain a legitimacy that helped him avoid the scrutiny of the police, and a tax-exempt status .........."
Sounds so familiar.
- January 21, 2010 at 12:12 AM
- Gopal Krishna said...
@anonymous: "Indians are consummate idiots." - this type of comments shows a nationalistic or racist ego or lack of self-respect in the commentator.
Who is not an idiot in this world? European nations who colonialized the whole world to satiate their greed for money and power - were they really intelligent people? If so, why they forgot this saying of Jesus Christ: "Those who live by sword, die by sword." and ended up loosing crores of their men and women in two world wars.
Are all (most) people in developing countries idiots and those in developed countries intelligent? Let me tell you my friend, even in most developed countries the percentage of dysfunctional families is as high as in developing countries. Is more than 40% divorce rate in USA and more than 33% mothers being unwed a sign of supreme intelligence and maturity?
Everywhere people behave idiotically. Somewhere they throw money, time and energy in the worship of false gods like these babas and somewhere they throw money, time and energy in the worship of other category of false gods, namely free sex, alcohol, drugs and so on.
Was buying and selling slaves like what was done 150 years ago in USA a sign of supreme intelligence.
There is utter lack of intelligence in the thinking and behaviour of masses in all countries. No country is worthy of being held as a guiding light for mankind. What we find is - some countries' geniuses have developed material science and some countries (India) geniuses have developed spiritual science. The mass is idiot in all countries barring these geniuses.
The goal then should be not to berate one another in a narcissistic manner, but to learn from one another and develop a new humanity by harmonious combination of material and spiritual science.
Hope, this seems like a sane view-point.
- January 21, 2010 at 12:03 PM
If you don't like Ravi shankar and his organiation, you are free to right your comments. But, this do not give you license to write anything about India, which is more than 100 crores of population.
If I do not like any influencial person of US and start blaming whole US, its major religion, I shall be most idiot person of the world.
- January 21, 2010 at 11:32 PM
" Let me tell you my friend "
Anyone bombarding me with statistics I don't particularly befriend.
- January 22, 2010 at 3:46 AM
Yes, I agree with you about the Dalai Lama. In case there was any doubt about my post, I was being sarcastic. What bothered me more than the use of the Dalai Lama to try to legitimize AoL and SSRS is that there was a siting of Kripalu at the end.
I am a long-time Kripalu teacher and I can tell you that we went through hell and back ousting the founding Guru, Amrit Desai due to sexual, spiritual, financial abuse etc...People are literally still healing from it after 15 years. It just seemed wrong to see AoL, an organization with the same severe abuse problems, using Kripalu, a yoga school which has worked so hard to "clean up", for marketing purposes. Though the person who wrote about Kripalu in the article may not have been on the marketing team, an AoL person still sent it to me for marketing purposes. The creepiest part is that he probably sent it to me b/c he knows I'm a Kripalu teacher and noticed that Kripalu was listed. Just YUCK!
Just for the record, I'm not going back to the AoL run yoga class. Though there are many in the group who are not affiliated with AoL, it's not worth being stalked and sent articles that insult my intelligence.
Gopal Krishna--Thank you for your post. I was thinking the same thing. There are people everywhere who cheat and lie. This teacher happens to be Indian but in my opinion that's just a side note.
- January 22, 2010 at 8:44 AM
Narendra & kindred minds ,
While narrating real anecdotes & events about such gurujis , obviously the behaviour of the masses also gets mentioned. I have not succumbed to this disease called political correctness.
Learned people like you belonging to India ought to be familiar "exceptions prove the rule".
That I invariably quote Ramana Bhagavan , Kaanchi Shankaracharya , cite Upanishads should at least let incensed , informed scholars like you anonymous detractors , know I am no racist or India hater.
- January 22, 2010 at 7:42 PM


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|Various - Country & Christmas
|Top 25 Country Songs Of Faith
|This installment in Maranatha! Music's fan-favorite Top 25 series features today's greatest country songs of faith. Features hit songs by the original artists, including Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Kenny Chesney, Jason Crabb, Johnny Cash & many more.
|1.Bless The Broken Road - Rascal Flatts 2.Touchdown Jesus - Tim McGraw 3.Jesus Take The Wheel - Carrie Underwood 4.Long Black Train - Josh Turner 5.What The World Needs - Wynonna 6.Hello World - Lady Antebellum 7.I Need Thee Every Hour (Medley) - Vince Gill & Amy Grant 8.Baptism - Kenny Chesney & Randy Travis 9.That Old King James - Scotty McCreery 10.Heaven Sent Me You - John Michael Montgomery 11.Three Wooden Crosses - Randy Travis 12.When I Get Where I'm Going - Dolly Parton & Brad Paisley 13.That's Why I Pray - Big & Rich 14.The Man I Want To Be - Chris Young 15.Love Is Stronger - Jason Crabb 16.Holes In The Floor Of Heaven - Steve Wariner 17.Ten Thousand Angels Cried - LeAnn Rimes 18.This Is God - Phil Vassar & Randy Travis 19.That's What I Love About Sunday - Craig Morgan 20.When It's My Time - Rodney Atkins 21.What Would Jesus Undo - Michael Boggs 22.Angel Band - George Jones & Vestal Goodman 23.Daddy Sang Bass - Johnny Cash 24.I'll Fly Away - Charlie Daniels 25.The Duck Dynasty Song - Amanda Ryan
|2014-10-14 00:00:00.0
|Brand New


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Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings Beat the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2012 Home Opener – Game Bullets
Coming off a 3-13 season the Vikings needed to get off to a winning start this year, and thankfully for them they had the Jacksonville Jaguars in town for the 2012 regular season opener at Mall of America Field, another team in the midst of a rebuilding with young talent.
After an anemic start, the Vikings led by second year quarterback Christan Ponder and running back Adrian Peterson did what appeared to be enough to solidify a win, until a dramatic turn of events with less than 30 seconds left in regulation time threatened to put the Vikings in the loss column to start the season.
Game Bullets - Vikings vs. Jaguars 9/9/2012
- The last time the Vikings and Jaguars met in 2008, the Vikes won 30-12.
- The Jaguars haven't won in Minnesota in 11 years.
- The Jaguars are coached by ex-Viking TE Mike Mularkey, he wore purple from 1983-88.
- Both Vikings first round draft picks Matt Kalil and Harrison Smith started in their first NFL regular season game.
- Former Vikings DE Chris Doleman, who was enshrined in the Hall of Fame this year, got his ring during a brief halftime ceremony.
- Adrian Peterson electrified the 56,507 fans in attendance at Mall of America field after he was announced as a starter and made his entrance into the stadium.
- 1st quarter ends with the Vikings offense and Christan Ponder looking pretty anemic, getting only one first down and 15 yards in the air. Jaguars lead 3-0
- Jaguars march down the field early in the second quarter and score a TD on a one yard pass to Mercedes Lewis after going 78 yards in seven minutes.
- Vikings rookie Matt Kalil blocks the extra point. He becomes only the third player in team history to block a PAT in a season opener. Jaguars lead 9-0
- Vikings fans start getting impatient with Ponder after four straight Chris Kluwe punts, load "boos" are heard throughout Mall of America field.
- With 2:28 left in the first half of the game, Ponder targeted Percy Harvin three plays in a row to kick off a 7 play, 59 yard drive that ended in Adrian Peterson's first TD of the 2012 season. Jaguars lead 9-7
- After two 19 yard plays to Peterson and Harvin the Vikings score on a two yard Peterson run. Vikings lead 14-9
- On the next offensive series, Ponder was sacked and gave up a fumble, which led to a Jaguars field goal. Vikings lead 14-12
- The Vikings start the final quarter finishing up an 11 play, 75 yard drive that was finalized with a 20 yard field goal from rookie kicker Blair Walsh. Vikings lead 17-12
- During the next two drives, the Vikings and Jaguars each score field goals giving the Vikings the lead 20-15 going into the final minutes of the game.
- The Vikings are forced to punt, giving the Jaguars the ball with one minute and 18 seconds left in the forth quarter.
- In a stunning turn, the Jaguars cap off a 76 yard drive with a 39 yard TD pass and a two point conversation, giving the Jaguars the lead 23-20 with only 27 seconds left in the game.
- Vikings get the ball with 20 seconds remaining, Ponder completes a 26 yard pass to Devin Aromashodu and a 6 yard pass to TE Kyle Rudolph setting up a cliff hanger ending.
- Walsh makes a 55 yard filed goal, forcing the game into overtime. Game tied at 23
- Vikings win the toss and drive the ball 55 yards giving the rookie kicker a chance to make another big kick.
- Walsh impresses with a 38 yard field goal putting the Vikings in the lead 26-23
- Since the Vikings didn't score a TD, the new overtime rules give the Jaguars a chance to score
- They don't, Vikings WIN 26-23
- Adrian Peterson's 84 yards rushing establishes a new team record for most career yards breaking Robert Smith's career mark. 6,836 Adrian Peterson; 6,818 Robert Smith; 5,879 Chuck Foreman.
- The Vikings looked much improved in their 2012 debut but still have much to prove as the road for this young team only gets tougher in coming weeks
- For a more in depth look into the home opener visit our sister station WEBC 560 ESPN


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Wild Planet's Spy Video Car was undoubtedly one of the coolest toys of last year, hence the company's big Toy Of The Year win. Now they are expanding the line with several additional spy-themed products. The first of which is this Agent Action Briefcase.
I happen to have been one of those kids who wanted to be James Bond. And having this "collection of essentials spy tools" would have made my day. The case itself is made of black plastic and has a motion alarm that emits a loud whistle if anyone passes too near. It's also got a vision scope, red flashlight and shoots two foam darts in case of attack by Fembots.
Inside there is a spindle for carrying DVDs, a compartment that is just the right size for an iPod. The motion sensor and the dart gun are removable, and there are some funky magnifying glasses in there too. Although this is the biggest in the lineup, it's not as neat as the Intruder Trap System. The Agent Action Briefcase will be available next fall for between $19.99 and $29.99.


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Halloween is supposed to be all about having fun, so why not brighten up the party with a super fun and retro disco costume? A sexy disco dancing queen is the perfect party costume and you will most likely get a smile out of everyone. If I were dressing up as a disco dancing queen this year, I would obviously go all out, including the hair, makeup, and accessories. Your really can't go wrong with some great Farrah Fawcett feathered bangs, but if you have a little wild side then go full-on afro! Make sure to wear some fun eyelashes (feathers maybe?) and don't be shy when it comes to color, rainbow was huge during the seventies. Lucky for you Lady Lux has some luxury designer swimwear styles in groovy patterns and colors that can complete your disco look.
The options for accessories that work for a groovy disco costume are endless and you really can't over do it if you try! But as far as your outfit goes, there are some classic favorites and some fresh new ways to go disco for Halloween. The bell bottom romper is an iconic seventies look that you can easily find nowadays and depending on how wild your print is, chances are you can wear your romper beyond the holiday. My favorite celebrity romper look is Rihanna's retro floral romper, which totally screams flashback! On the other hand you can take the theme a little more literally and just be the disco ball itself! Katy Perry always has some wild outfits that can double as a Halloween costume and I think we found her disco ball look.
Loving the seventies jumpsuit look? Well, the new Lady Lux collection features the perfect romper that will give you a super seventies disco look and you can add it to your luxury beachwear collection. The Rock The Boat Romper has a fun and bright chevron print that is sure to stand out. Chevron is the perfect print to get that disco look and the more colorful the better! For a super sexy disco costume, the Crazy For Your Bikini should be your go to chevron bikini. With super fun and sexy costume options like these, you are sure to dance the night away this Halloween!


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Terisa Griffin Wows 'The Voice' with Adele's 'Someone Like You'
42-year-old Terisa Griffin showcased her rich, sassy and soulful voice tonight (Sept. 24) on the brand-new episode of 'The Voice,' her cover of Adele's 'Someone Like You,' winning over both Christina Aguilera and Blake Shelton. While she may be a bit older than the other singers who auditioned tonight, don't let her age fool you – she is still very young at heart.
"That was so lovely," Aguilera said. "I did hear some nerves in the beginning, but once that chorus came in, you soared." Shelton then broke into the conversation and explained that he was the one who convinced Aguilera to hit her button, believing that the two women are "a match made in heaven." But once Shelton finally persuaded her to turn around, he realized that he wanted Griffin for himself as well. "I think you're awesome, and so I hit my freaking button too … I just have a lot of respect for singers, and you are at the top of the list today," he said.
Before her performance, Griffin was asked how she planned on catching the judges' attention, and she replied simply with, "I'm going to let them have it." And that was exactly what she did. Her sassy personality shined not only through her passionate delivery of the song, but through her subsequent conversation with the judges that followed. She put both Aguilera and Shelton in the hot seat – and after a rather lengthy debate, she eventually chose Shelton's team. "Because you were telling Christina what to do, I'm gonna take you," she said to the country star.
Griffin's appearance on 'The Voice' was a long time coming. She is no stranger to the music business, having gotten her start many years ago with a gig working for famous singer Jerry Butler. She grew up loving R&B and gospel, which was easy to see during her audition tonight. Now that she has secured her spot on the show, it's clear that she will continue giving it her all.
"This is my moment," Griffin passionately remarked. "This is me never giving up, and I won't give up."


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When a researcher forgets why a record was created, he may assume things about it that are not true.
11 October 2013
The Purpose of a Death Certificate
Before a researcher gets hypercritical of the information contained in a death record, consider its original purpose: documenting the date of death, cause of death, and disposal of body. Death certificates are also used to track a variety of health concerns as well. High priority is not usually attached to having the date of birth correct and names of places and birth and parents spelled correctly.
Posted by Bubba
2 comments:
- AnonymousOctober 12, 2013 at 6:03 AM
What do you do when the death certificate records a different date of death from the burial record and the headstone (both of which show a year earlier).ReplyDelete
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Capital WC needed a new logo design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 34 designs submitted by 18 freelance designers.
Looking for a new logo to launch a new product for the metal finishing industry. It is an industrial product that removes the discoloration in Stainless Steel when welded. It consists of a small control box with a cable and wand that delivers an electrical current to the stainless steel. This is applied with a acidic solution creating a chemical reaction removing the discoloration in the metal.
Capital Weld Cleaners
The company is fairly new and started off as a custom sheet metal shop, mainly doing work in the restaurant industry. This is the first product that we will me manufacturing and are looking to have a good start. There are several other compaines in the U.S. making similar products, but have been around for a while and don't have a very professional appearance.
- Item 1...The company is Capital Weld Cleaners, and am looking for a simple-industrial feel. For Print and other materials I think I would prefer to have a logo that has "Capital" above and "Weld Cleaners" below that in a smaller font. Other than that I am open to all designs.
- Item 1...What I want is an industrial feel, but without objects such as sprockets, gears, buldings, etc. Things that don't apply to what the product is.
Find out how a design contest works or learn more about our logo design services.


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Recent Study Finds Students In US Are Not Properly Prepared To Protect Themselves Online
Subject: Editorial, General Tech | May 5, 2011 - 08:35 AM | Tim Verry
Tagged: Internet, Education, Cyber Security
Microsoft recently posted a press release detailing the results of its sponsored study by the NCSA (National Cyber Security Alliance). The study sought to determine whom people believe bears the responsibility for teaching children how to protect themselves on the Internet, as well as what the current situation is as far as K-12 students' level of preparedness and education. The executive director of the NCSA, Michael Kaiser, had this to say:
"Just as we would not hand a child a set of car keys with no instruction about how to drive, we should not be sending students out into the world without a solid understanding of how to be safe and secure online."
According to Microsoft, the NCSA advocates for a "comprehensive approach" to teaching children from K-12 how to stay safe and secure online. While the consensus seems to be that students do need educated in Internet security, people are divided on exactly who bears the primary responsibility for teaching children. Children's teachers, parents, and even government leaders and law enforcement have all been raised as possible responsible parties. The majority of teachers (80 percent) and school administrators (60 percent) surveyed are proponents of parents being responsible for teaching their kids about "digital safety, security, and ethics." On the other hand, more than 50 percent of the IT coordinators surveyed believe that teachers are the ones that bear the most responsibility of educating kids. From the survey, one area where all groups do seem to agree is on the question of government responsibility in educating kids. Microsoft states that less than one percent believe law enforcement and government officials should bear the responsibility.
While cyber security is important for students to learn, as 97 percent of school administrators believe schools should have courses and an educational plan for students throughout their K-12 grades, only 68 percent of administrators "believe their schools or school districts are doing an adequate job of preparing students..."
The situation of adequate education looks even bleaker when teachers where surveyed. When asked whether they feel prepared to teach students adequately, 24 percent believed they were adequately prepared to talk about and educate kids on protecting personal information on the Internet, and 23 percent are comfortable teaching the risks of cyberbullying. Further, only one-third of teachers surveyed believe they are prepared to educated students on basic Internet security skills "such as password protection and backing up data." The low numbers are attributed to the lack of professional development training that teachers are receiving. Microsoft states that "86 percent received less than six hours of related training." Microsoft quotes Kaiser in saying that "America's schools have not caught up with the realities of the modern economy. Teachers are not getting adequate training in online safety topics, and schools have yet to adopt a comprehensive approach to online safety, security and ethics as part of a primary education. In the 21st century, these topics are as important as reading, writing and math."
In all of this, there is a ray of hope. Comparing the 2010 study to the NCSA's 2008 study which you can read here, an increasing number of teachers believe cyber security and professional development training is a priority.More than 60 percent of school officials and teachers are interested in pursing further security training. This interest in training among teachers is up to 69 percent from 55 percent in 2008. IT coordinators and administrators are also becoming more interested in revamping the educational curriculum to better teach their students and workers. Further improvements in interest among educators pursuing further security training can be seen between the 2010 and the 2011 NCSA study. Also, slightly higher percentages exist across the board for teachers who have tought aspects of security in their classrooms compared to both the 2010 and 2008 studies.
On the other hand, while interest in training is increasing for teachers, from 2010 to 2011, security topics taught in clases have actually dropped. This is in addition to a decrease in teachers' beliefs that they bear responsibility in educating kids.
A comparison paper between the 2008 and 2010 study can be downloaded here (PDF).
What are your thoughts on this issue; who bears the primary responsibility in educating children on the importance of Internet safety?
Image 1 courtesy 2011 NCSA study. Image 2 courtesy 2008 to 2010 NCSA comparison study. Material is copyright NCSA, and used according to fair usage guidelines for the purpose of commentary and reporting.
Video News
As a technology teacher in Dayton Ohio, I make sure I go over internet safety and security with all my students as well as send home information to my students' parents who do not know any more than their children.
This is a very difficult concept to teach children, and while I believe parents should teach their children about internet safety and dealing with strangers online, they are often unprepared to deal with these topics themselves. Therefore discussions need to come from someone with authority on the subject (ex: teacher, police, special agency, etc…) and thus I have made it a primary component of my Computer Class material alongside using Microsoft Word, using the Internet, and other skills us techies take for granted that everyone knows.
Unfortunately with school budgets shrinking and teachers loosing their jobs, teaching these topics may not be a top priority within districts since this information is not going to be on a state test that the district is going to be judged on.
You do make a good point about school budget issues, especially in my home town. The whole "Internet thing" is still very new, and I suspect that once another generation or so passes it will be easier for parents to teach their children about staying safe online. So that's a good point that the information really needs to come from someone with good knowledge on these subjects.
That said, I commend you for teaching your students about this stuff as I'm sure it will help them throughout their lives. They may rather be playing video games than learning about stuff that they do not think will happen to them right now, but I'm sure at some point in their lives they'll appreciate you drilling it into their heads :)


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Everyone, Atheists and Theists, ask what do you believe in. We atheists learned that from the theists. What would be more natural for an atheist would be the question: What do you know?
So, I suggest when atheists are conversing with a theist, to drive the conversation in the direction of what they actually know.
What do you know about the scientific method? What do you know about evolution? What do you know about critical thinking?
They may counter with what do you know about God? Well, I would bet that you know as much as the theist does about their god since most theists haven't read their precious books. So, you can answer honestly that and other questions about knowledge.
If they cut you off and try to direct the conversation to faith, two things have happened. One, they have been exposed to some facts about science that they never were exposed to before. Two, more importantly, they have decided that anything else you say is not worth listening to, so if you choose, enter into their world, or change the subject, or leave.
This has been the ravings of mad lunatic, so take it as such.
Views: 219
The usual response is that facts don't matter. Faith is in the heart and mind blah blah. Reasoning, factual evidence, logic fly out the window when it comes to debating with xtians. Questions don't need answers when you have god in your heart because he did everything: 'goddidit'.
What do you know about god?. What is there to know? Why does an atheist need to delve into the workings of god or the lesson of the bible. Even at an initial glance you can tell it's bullshit, in the same context if I told you about santa. What do you know about his history? does it matter - we know he doesn't exist. The more I learn about god and the bible the more I disbelieve.
Hey Sandi, Thanks for the quick reply. I have a question for you: Are you for real?
Every time I hear someone use the word "belief," particularly as it relates to religion or faith, I am instantly reminded of the quote:
I don't want to believe; I want to know. [emphasis mine]
-- Carl Sagan
I've said more than once that I would prefer to believe as little as possible. My preference is KNOWING, albeit with varying degrees of certainty and depending on the subject matter. I know as much as I can, as much as is practicable. For the rest, science provides a disciplined means to useful knowledge, one which has repeatedly proven itself reliable.
To believe without evidence is to indulge in fantasy and delusion. To insist that "the truth is within" or some such other nonsense is to rely on a field where any imagined thing is possible, but only apparent to the one imagining it. It is an area without law, discipline or rigor and no necessary consistency. If some holy book is mapped onto it and one's mental images wind up resembling those described in said holy book, who should be surprised?
I base my life on what is demonstrable and at least reasonably reliable. To do anything else is insane.
Thanks Loren,
I will ask you the same question I asked Sandi: Are you for real?
Well, I could say, "Cogito, ergo sum" but someone took that line already.
Instead I'll say this: my reality is remarkably consistent, and doesn't seem to vary much if at all based on my thought processes. It does respond to direct action, and so do I, some of it wanted, some not, so any bias in my favor seems to be at least questionable if not eliminated altogether. My wife and my cats seem to think I'm for real, and all appear to act independent of me, if that's any help.
I suppose we could arrange a meeting to further demonstrate my reality. Having the internet as a filter does sometimes give rise to questions regarding how "real" the person on the other end of the conversation is. We could sign this whole thing up to "The Matrix," but that's like signing it up to some deity and running headlong into the whole "Okay, if he created everything, then who created HIM?" et cetera, et cetera. Occam's Razor cuts that one to shreds in little time.
So yeah, I think I'm pretty real. Your mileage may vary.
"I don't think, so I am not"
Allllll right, smarty-pants ... how do you KNOW you don't think?!?
Of course, you've heard the one about Descartes and his friend going into the bar. His friend orders a beer, and when asked if Descartes will have something to drink as well, Descartes says,
I think not...
and PROMPTLY disappears!
I wonder when I will get a serious response. Debate is not a word I used. Have fun Loren, et. al.
Am I for real?
I think therefore I am is too spiritual for me. Wondering why or how I exist is not my purpose in life, actually I don't think we even have a purpose. Through luck and precision is how we got here and that is all. I do not question life but enjoy it.
It doesn't matter because all I know is, I am what I am and that is real as far as I know and probably will ever know.
A serious response may come when you end your discussion with something else other than "This has been the ravings of mad lunatic, so take it as such."
I have reasons that may debunk your skepticism regarding whether using the word know instead of belief will be successful. If anyone asks seriously, I will divulge my crazy thoughts. But I will challenge you to think of the same reasons on your own with these guiding questions:
1)What does a theist know about survival in a society, child rearing, dangers of fire, and science?
2) What have theists been told and by whom?
3) Can science be the what and an atheist be by whom in the previous question?
If you don't have a sense of humor (American Spelling), don't play.
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I am happy to announce the results of the Scenery category for the contest of May 2011
Impressive work from Klarens capturing light in Ireland.
6 out of top 7 voted photos this month included reflections, so congrats to those who manage to capture still water ;)
The First Prize is for a photo taken by Klarens in Ireland.
The Second Prize is for a photo taken by Tore Heggelundin Norway.
Honorable mentions go to:
You can see all the winners of this month in the results page for May 2011.
Posted by Gerard Sanz, Panoramio Community Manager