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Hezekiah's Seal discovered by Israeli Archeologist Eilat Mazar's Team:
Photo by Ouria Tadmore
Under the direction of Dr. Eilat Mazar with the Hebrew University of Jerusalem's Institute of Archeology and the students of the Herbert W. Armstrong College, a historic discovery was made; the First-ever seal impression of an Israelite or Jewish king that was recovered in-situ during a scientific archaeological excavation anywhere in the State of Israel much less than directly at the base of the southern end of the Temple Mount in the archeological gardens called the Ophel, once the residential region for the priests and Levites who served in the Holy Temple of King Solomon. On this certain seal, it was the imprint or impression of the royal seal of King Hezekiah who according to Eilat ruled over Jerusalem in the years of 727-698 BCE.
According to Dr. Eilat Mazar, a leading archeologist in Jerusalem, who earlier made a landmark discovery of an ancient golden treasure at the foot of the Temple Mount:
Dr. Eilat Mazar - "Although seal impressions bearing King Hezekiah's name have already been known from the antiquities market since the middle of the 1990s, some with a winged scarab (dung beetle) symbol and others with a winged sun, this is the first time that a seal impression of an Israelite or Judean king has ever come to light in a scientific archaeological excavation."
The seal impression itself is quite small, only 9.7 X 8.6 mm, or about the size of a male ring. The bullae was just the imprint of the ring on a thick soft bulla that was 13 X 12. In this case it included also a depression imprint of the frame of King Hezekiah's actual ring upon which the seal was set and left no doubt who was the owner of the seal for it included the Hebrew script inscription that read "לחזקיהו [בן] אחז מלך יהדה"// "Belonging to Hezekiah [son of] Ahaz king of Judah."
Even more curious were the accompanied symbols a two-winged sun, with the wings turned downward and included also two ankh symbols on each side bearing the message "life."
Nearby of the southern walls of the Temple Mount in what is called the Ophel Temple Mount Gardens is a series of stone worked structures that have now been identified by the Hebrew University Archeological site include what is a gatehouse, protective towers plus newer governmental buildings that connected the Old City of David with the Temple Mount. The dating of this region began in the second half of the 10th century BCE as part of the Solomonic United Empire of Kings David and Solomon.
Jerusalem, the City of King David, the Priest Quarters at the Ophel and the Temple on Mount Moriah
The newer stone walled structures were built in the region of the Ophel that connected the closest to the City of David and the Temple Mount. Here in this region at the site of the Royal Building is what appeared to be a storage room for food commodities and nearby to the royal pathway from the Kings Quarters in the King's Palace overlooking the Kidron Valley below to the Holy Temple of King Solomon.
The contents of this storage room during excavation were sent to a storage refuge dump nearby that was dated to the time King Hezekiah and shortly after his reign over the realm of Dynasty of Kings David and Solomon. It was here that the "Hezekiah Bullae" was discovered in what was called the Emek-Zurim wet-sifting facility that was directed by Dr. Gabriel Barkai and Zachi Dvira, under the auspices of the Nature and Parks Authority and the Ir David Foundation.
Here were discovered another 33 additional bullae that included on some Hebrew names, and on the observe the evidence of markings from coarse fabric that was used to seal a document written on a papyrus scroll, rolled up and tied with small cords and imbedded on the observe side of the bullae.
The City of King David, the Royal Palace and the Ophel Archeological Gardens
The bulla was discovered in a refuse dump dated to the time of King Hezekiah or shortly after, and originated in the Royal Building that stood next to it and appears to have been used to store foodstuffs. The building, one of a series of structures that also included a gatehouse and towers, was constructed in the second half of the 10th century BCE (the time of King Solomon) as part of the fortifications of the Ophel - the new governmental quarter that was built in the area that connects the City of David with the Temple Mount.
The bulla was discovered by Efrat Greenwald, a member of the Ophel expedition, who supervised the wet-sifting of the excavation material. Reut Ben-Aryeh, who prepared the Hebrew bullae from the Ophel excavations for publication, was the first to identify it as a seal impression of King Hezekiah. According to news sources, students and alumni of Herbert W. Armstrong College from Edmond, Oklahoma participated in the excavation.
The discovery of King Hezekiah's Royal Seal impression in the Ophel excavations vividly brings to life the Biblical narratives about King Hezekiah and the activity conducted during his lifetime in Jerusalem's Royal Quarters at the former palace of King David and Solomon looking down over the Kidron Valley and the botanical gardens below.
King Hezekiah is no doubt one of the most favorite of the Jewish kings to the Jewish people in the Northern Kingdom of Israel. It was he who under the prophetic counsel of the Prophet Isaiah, prepared the city of David for the assault of the Assyrians under King Sennecherib I by digging Hezekiah's Tunnel under the city walls and routed the external Gihon water on the outside of the city walls of Jerusalem to traverse to a lower pool within the walled perimeters of the city.
The angel of the L-rd sent a bolide of fire down from heaven and disseminated the 185,000 man army of King Sennacherib outside the walls. This epic event in prophetic history and chronicled by the Jewish royal chroniclers and also by the Prophet Isaiah himself, gives us new dimensions of how to understand the potential prophetic events about to fall upon Israel, Jerusalem and the rest of the world. This will potentially begin before the Jewish Fall Festival starting on Rosh Hashanah, September 23, 2016 in the Jewish year of 5777. The following description of these epic events in Jewish prophetic history was first written in BibleSearchers Reflection in the year of 2002, in the article titled, "Isaiah the Catastrophic Prophet":
BibleSearchers Reflections – "King Hezekiah (729-686 B.C.E.) with all the citizens of Jerusalem were sitting inside the walls of Jerusalem while the huge force of Sennacherib, king of Assyria (705-681 B.C) were assembling outside on the surrounding plains. A vast sea of warriors in full military armor glistening in the sun, 185,000 in all, was an ominous site to behold. Isaiah, the court counselor and seer was about 65 years old. He had an illustrious career as historian,
cosmologist, and prophet, and also had the ear of the king.
A Cosmic Bolide impacting the Middle East
As Isaiah sat in the counsel of the King Hezekiah, he waited as Hezekiah was now standing before the Shekinah in the Holy of Holiest, with clothing rent, begging and beseeching for the guidance of HaShem as he presented the demands of surrender by the Assyrians to the last remnant of G-d's people.
2 Kings 19:19 – "So now, HaShem our G-d, save us please from his hand, then all the kingdoms of the world shall know, that you alone are HaShem, G-d."
O L-rd G-d of Israel, the One who dwells between the cherubim, You are G-d, You alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth….Now therefore, O L-rd our G-d, I pray, save us from his hand, kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the L-rd G-d, You alone."
This was the last reference to the Ark of the Covenant, and all the Cherubim and the Shekinah in Hebrew scripture. When Isaiah received the diplomats of the king's court with the demands of the king of Assyria, Isaiah had already done his homework.
He was also a Searcher, studied avidly the history of G-d's people and he knew well the history of catastrophic deliverances for the Hebrews. He was assured that even with a remnant, the Lord of hosts would defend His own. So the Prophet Isaiah said to the servants of King Hezekiah:
Isaiah 37: 5 - "Thus says the L-rd: 'Do not be afraid of the words which you have heard, with which the servants of the king of Assyria have…Surely I will send a spirit upon him, and he shall hear a rumor and return to his own land; and I will cause him to fall by the sword in his own land.'"
2 Kings 19:5-7 - "Thus shall you say to your master: 'Thus said HaShem, Do not be frightened by the words you have heard, by which the attendants of the king of Assyria have blasphemed Me. Behold I am instilling a desire within him. He will hear a report and return to his land, and I will strike him down by the sword in his own land."
A Cosmic Electrical Bolide like fell on Sennacherib's Assyrian Army
Norway Bolide Meteor caught on tape in August 15, 2015
This translation, though technically is correct in its translation, "Surely I will send a "spirit" upon him", may have considerably missed the literal impact of the event. The most literal word should be "Blast" as in the Hebrew, the word translated is ruwach or ruach (Strong's 7307) means a wind resembling a violent exhalation, a tempest, an angry breath and by extension a region of the sky such as an air blast.
Electrical Bolide or Flue of Immense Energy
What a difference this meaning takes! G-d does not send his 'spirit' as some would consider his "Divine Spirit"; Ruach HaKodesh. As Sennacherib had 'utterly destroyed' the lands in this scorch earth massacre, so also the L-rd of hosts would treat him: the Assyrian king and his forces would be utterly destroyed.
The nation of Israel first felt the long arm of human terror in 725 B.C.E. when Shalmaneser V (727-722 B.C.E.) invaded Israel and marched on to Samaria. For three years the capital city lay in siege and finally fell in 722 B.C.E. During the final onslaught by Sargon II, (722-705 B.C.E.) general of the army and the eventual successor to Shalmaneser, the kingdom of Judah also felt the wrath of Assyria, Judah, in the 4th year of Hezekiah, then also came under the control of Assyria by sending tribute.
So in 722 B.C.E., the House of Israel went into exile, an exile which has never been completed and whose dry bones have not been restored to this day, according to the prophecy of Ezekiel 36. (Ezekiel.36:1-14)
It appears that Sennacherib (705-681 B.C.E.), successor to Sargon II, had made a military incursion into the kingdom of Judah, the first, around 701 B.C.E., the 14th year of Hezekiah. (1 Kings 18:13) he attacked the fortified cities of Hezekiah and carried off tribute and booty. Hezekiah repented and offered to pay tribute.
Though Hezekiah ruled from 729-686 B.C.E., the first fifteen years were co-regent with his father, King Ahaz (735-715 B.C.E.). So fourteen years after he became sole rule in 715 B.C.C., Sennacherib came to Jerusalem and boasted that he made Hezekiah "prisoner in Jerusalem, his royal residence, like a bird in a cage".
According to the royal histories of the kings of Judah, Hezekiah paid 300 talents of silver, in which he had to clean out the coffers of the Temple of G-d, and 30 talents of gold, in which he had to tear down the front doors of the temple and remove the gold overlay in which he had earlier restored when he repaired the Temple of Solomon. The tribute to Sennacherib, as we now see began the process of the dismantling of the glorious Temple of Solomon, the destruction that was completed not many years later by King Nebuchadnezzar.
We now have access to the Royal Archives of Sennacherib in Nineveh. Here find his claim in the receipts from King Hezekiah of 'thirty talents of gold and eight hundred talents of silver," together with a great treasure of gems, couches of ivory, valuable woods, and 'all the king's valuable treasures."
Some scholars think that during this campaign, when he took the fenced cities, he also laid siege to Jerusalem. Others suggest that Sennacherib returned later, laid siege to Lachish, while he sent Rabshakeh, the chief cup bearer and spokesman for the king's envoy, who was obviously multi-lingual as he spoke Hebrew, to deliver an ultimatum to King Hezekiah. While this ultimatum was being delivered, it was learned that Tirhakah, king of Cush, an Ethiopian ruler of the Twenty-fifth dynasty of Egypt, was in route to engage in battle with Sennacherib. (11 Kings 19:9)
Historical documents depict that Tirhakah was born in 708 B.C.E., and at the age of 7, unable to wield an army against Sennacherib, was also in co-regency, with his brother, Shabataka (700 – 684 B.C.E.), in 690 B.C.E. and reigned alone from 684 to 664 B.C.E.
What we do know is that Hezekiah died in 686 B.C.E. and Sennacherib was assassinated in 681 B.C.E., so Sennacherib's confrontation with Hezekiah was sometime between 690 to 686 B.C.E.
The Cosmic Bolide of Fire which only the G-d of Israel creates
What is known is that Hezekiah, between the years of 701 and 690 B.C.E., spent extensive preparations to fortify the city of Jerusalem (2 Chronicles 32:2-6) awaiting the final onslaught. During this time the famous Hezekiah tunnel was made in which his men bored a 1777 foot tunnel from the well of Gihon in the Kidron Valley to a lower pool inside Jerusalem. (2 Chronicles 32:4, 30, 2 Kings 20:20), giving Jerusalem a continuous supply of water even during a siege to this present day. This was documented on an inscription found in the tunnel in 1880, now residing in the Archeological Museum at Istanbul. Which states,
Hezekiah's Tunnel from Gihon Springs down to the Pool of Siloam
Archeological Museum at Istanbul - "The tunnel was bored. And this was the manner in which it was cut. While (the workmen were) still (lifting up) axes, each toward his neighbor, and while three cubits remained to be cut through, (there was heard) the voice one calling the other, tunnel was bored, the stonecutters, struck, each to meet his fellow, ax against ax; and the water flowed from the spring to the pool for 1,200 cubits, and the height of the rock above the heads of the stonecutters was 100 cubits."
The Hebrew speaking Rabshakeh, chief cup bearer and spokesman for King Sennecherib
Contrary to modern chronology, Sennacherib did not bring his forces to the walls of Jerusalem on 701 B.C.E., but more than likely about 684 B.C.E. On that day the mighty forces of Sennacherib, the king of Assyria were annihilated by a mighty cometary bolide of fire from heaven, called a "ruach" or a "Blast", by an electrical bolt or flue of millions of volts of electricity that was heard across the land. It incinerated the entire military force of 185,000 warriors, who were camped outside the walls of Jerusalem. The army, lying with the ground strewn with the iron helmets, iron coats of mail, iron javelins, and iron leg armor, became a vast grounding site for a cosmic electrical bolide. According to the prophecy of Isaiah:
Isaiah 37:6 - "And he shall hear a report (cometary blast that destroyed the Assyrian Army) and return to his own land; and I will strike him down by the sword in his own land.'"
It was not the Jewish chroniclers of the Northern Kingdom of Judah who left the details of the slaughter of the Assyrian army on the hillsides around Jerusalem but the Prophet Isaiah. The bolide of fire was sent by Metatron, the Angel of the Divine Presence, the Angel who sent down the bolides of fire and brimstone down upon Sodom and Gomorrah, the "Pass-over Angel at the time of the Exodus, the Archangel who was the Commanding Angel of the L-rd's host who assisted Joshua and the Israelites at Jericho:
Isaiah 37:36 - "Then the angel of the Lord went out, and killed in the camp of the Assyrians one hundred and eighty-five thousand; and when the people arose early in the morning, there were the corpses-all dead. So Sennacherib king of Assyria departed and went away, returned home, and remained at Nineveh.
Now it came to pass, as he was worshiping in the house of Nisroch his god, whom his sons Adrammelech and Sharezer struck him down with the sword; and they escaped into the land of Ararat. Then Esarhaddon his son reined in his place."
The Fiery Cometary Bolides of Fire at the "End of Time" will destroy large segments of Planet Earth
Is this fiery bolide a cosmic mystery? Well, not really, but to have the Lord of hosts direct such an event in order to save his own people from extinction and complete exile yet is part of the mystery of G-d. The House of Israel went into exile and still today they have not returned, in spite of the direct mission of the Nazarene Jewish Rabbi, "to go find the Lost Sheep of the House of Israel". Yet the annihilation of Assyria's mighty forces outside the walls of Jerusalem, served to topple Sennacherib from power and Assyria soon faded into the archives of imperial history. It was to the prophet Isaiah, that the word of the Lord came, first as an oracle against Sennacherib, the king of Assyria (2 Kings 19:21-28) with the final statement;
2 Kings 19:27-28 (Isaiah 37:28-29) - "I know your dwelling place, your goings out and your coming in, and your rage against Me,. Because your rage against Me and your tumult have come up to My ears, There I will put My hook in your nose and My bridle in your lips, and I will turn you back by the way which you came."
The Assyrians were notorious for their cruelty. As they led their captives away from their own homelands, they would put a hook in their noses, so in the spirit of "Midah K'negged Midah", or "an eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth", the Almighty One of Israel would lead Sennacherib, the king back to his own homeland. Then the promise came to Hezekiah from Isaiah for his people.
2 Kings 19: 29-31 (Isaiah 37:30-32) – "This shall be a sign to you: You shall eat this year such as grows of itself and in the second year what springs from the same; also in the third year sow and reap. Plant vineyard and eat the fruit of them. And the remnants who have escaped of the house of Judah shall again take root downward, and bear fruit upward. For out of Jerusalem shall go a remnant, and those who escape from Mount Zion. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this."
Yes, G-d was being merciful. The forces of Sennacherib were totally destroyed and the once arrogant king, who boasted that he made Hezekiah "prisoner in Jerusalem, his royal residence, like a bird in a cage" was now returned to the land of Assyria in disgrace. Though in the Assyrian annals, Sennacherib boasted of five more campaigns, he does not give account of his military disaster outside the walls of Jerusalem, yet by 681 B.C.E., he was assassinated by his own sons.
It was Hezekiah who not only was a resourceful king but a daring king who centralized the power of the king in his hands as noted in the chronicles of the Assyrian kings Sargon II and Sennacherib. As the Biblical chroniclers of Judah remembered King Hezekiah if spite of his wavering before the global imperial powers that surrounded his kingdom:
II Kings 18:5 – 'There was none like him among all the kings of Judah after him nor among those before him.'"
The Seal of Hezekiah with Egyptian Winged Scarab Dung Beetle pushing a Dung Ball across outstretched wings
Observing the imagery of the Hezekiah Seal, it was during his era that the influence of Egypt was diminishing with the Egyptian winged scarab (dung beetle) symbolizing power and rule disappearing during his reign. Afterwards came the ascendency of the "winged sun" a motif with the wings outstretched, thereby commanding protection from the Jewish G-d, in a sense increased his international legitimacy and power akin to the other imperial rulers in the Ancient Near East.
This change most likely reflected by both the Assyrian influence upon the Jewish State and Hezekiah's desire to emphasize his political sovereignty, as well as Hezekiah's own profound awareness of the powerful patronage given his reign by the G-d of Israel. As the Israeli archeologist suggested, the evolution of the Royal administrative symbol was imprinted upon the King's jars that used the motif of a sun god with sheltering wings that were turned down. This was a symbol of the protecting life-symbol at the end of the wings.
It was after this time that the king of Babylon came for a diplomatic visit and the hubris of King Hezekiah came forth. As the biblical chronologers of Hezekiah wrote; he showed the Babylonian diplomatic mission all the wealth of his kingdom and right afterwards, the G-d of Israel struck him down with a deadly illness of shehin (II Kings 20:1-8) or the modern disease called Anthrax.
It started out with a bumpy itchy painless sore with a black necrotic center that eventually moves to the lymph glands. King Hezekiah could have had fever, headaches, swollen lymph nodes in the neck, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, headaches, loss of appetite, fever, plus coughing up blood and bloody diarrhea.
During this time, the Prophet Isaiah came to Hezekiah and reported to him the harbinger verdict from HaShem's divine court.
Isaiah 38:1 – "Thus said HaShem, the G-d of David, your forefather, I have heard your prayers and I have seen your tears. Behold, I am going to add fifteen years to your days."
So El Shaddai, the warrior G-d then gave Hezekiah a choice to make for his life.
Isaiah 38:7 – "And this is a sign for you from HaShem that HaShem will do the deed of which He spoke. Behold, I shall turn back the shade over the degrees which it had already descended on the degree of the sun-clock of Ahaz ten degrees backward."
So, let's take a breather of this amazing prophetic scene that was enacted for a repentant Jewish king, a Jewish Prophet Isaiah, known as the "Catastrophic Prophet" by the One G-d of Israel. First we remember, today, that we are standing on the precipice of prophetic passage at the end of the Jubilee year of 5776 and ready to step into the cosmic futuristic 4th dimensional messianic era of spiritual elevation in what is called the "era of King Messiah". This has been destined in the prophecy of Rabbi Judah ben Samael which gave us the year of the "Year of the Messiah" that is set to occur in the Jewish year of 5777 beginning with the Fall Festivals of the Jewish people starting with Rosh Hashanah on September 23, 2016.
The Fig that produced the Salve that healed the "boil," on King Hezekiah
So the Prophet Isaiah spoke again to King Hezekiah:
Isaiah 38:21 – "Let them lift a cake of figs and smear it on the abscess (boil), and it will heal."
King Hezekiah was then first given the good news that he would continue to reign for another fifteen years. G-d then instructed his natural healing art of using figs with its anti-inflammatory properties, an analgesic, emollient, expectorant and a laxative.
Then King Hezekiah was given a sign that this good news was true and proven with a cosmic event of turning back the Sun-Dial of King Ahaz ten degrees. So we ask, why was the sun-clock to be turned back just ten degrees?
Was it to rectify the moving of the sun forward 10 degrees when Joshua and the Children of Israel fought and drove off the Amalekites centuries before while Joshua was holding up the arms of the aging Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses the Teacher)?
As pondered by The Berean Blogspot, we read:
The Berean Blogspot – "The Jews have kept track of the months by observing one new moon to the next for centuries. The Hebrew calendar has 12 months of 29 1/2 to 30 days. Approximately every 3 years they add a 13th month. Does that correlate in any way with the 10 degrees/40 minutes?
40 minutes per day x 30 days per month = 1200 minutes difference per month
1200 minutes x 12 months per year = 14,400 minutes per year
14,400 minutes per year x 3 years = 43,200 minutes
43,200 minutes divided by 60 minutes per hour = 720 hours over 3 year period
720 hours divided by 24 hours per day = 30 days (the 13th month!)
This adjustment was required also to ensure the alignment of the feast days with the correct season.
Why Did God Choose How Many Degrees and not allow Hezekiah to choose?
2 Kings 20:9 - "And Isaiah said, 'This sign shalt thou have of the L-rd, that the L-rd will do the thing that he hath spoken: shall the shadow go forward ten degrees, or go back ten degrees?'"
Here we see that G-d gave Hezekiah the choice of 10 degrees forward or backwards but not how many degrees. Why did G-d choose how many degrees and not let Hezekiah choose? Because it could have affected G-d's sanctified holy Shabbat.
If G-d had let Hezekiah choose the number of degrees, we as men like to see spectacular and fantastic miracles. And as such Hezekiah might have chosen 30 or 40 degrees! What would that have done to the calendar? If a change was made, which caused more that 1 day loss in any month, we would lose the last Sabbath of that month, as the last Sabbath is the 29th day of the month on the Hebrew calendar. As it stands now, only the 30th day, is lost in some months. If we had lost two days instead of one, then we would lose both the 30th day, and the 29th Sabbath, thereby destroying the 7 day weekly cycle, which G-d instituted in Genesis 2:3.
According to the Babylonian Talmud Tractate: Sanhedrin Folio 94a, we read:
Babylonian Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin Folio 94a - "The Holy One, blessed be He, wished to appoint Hezekiah as the Messiah, and Sennacherig as Gog and Magog."
Hezekiah went on to live another productive 15 years, and in the meantime, his hubris came to the forefront and when a Babylonian delegation led by Merodach-Baladan son of Baladan, the king of Babylon arrived with the royal letters with congratulations when they heard that King Hezekiah was gravely ill and recuperated.
King Hezekiah, instead of using prudence, he showed the emissaries of the Babylonian king all the wealth of the Judean kingdom.
Isaiah 39:1 – "Hezekiah rejoiced with them and showed [the messengers] his whole treasure house – the silver, the gold, the spices, the fine oil, his entire warehouse, and everything that was found in his treasuries; there was nothing that Hezekiah did not show them in his palace and in all his realm."
Years later, when Zedekiah, the grandson of King Hezekiah was ruling in Jerusalem, the Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar returned to take all the gold and temple treasures with them back to Babylon.
We are now sitting on the precipice of our age and will be soon moving into the messianic era of the "World Beyond". At that time, we will enter the Jewish year of 5777, the year after the Year of Jubilee that was to be the year of the coronations of any of the Jewish kings of antiquity.
The question we must ask, are we prepared to witness the inauguration of Emek HaMaschiach (King Messiah) of whom the Chazal (sages of Judah) state is the highest and most exalted Archangel who stands as the defender of HaShem's people before the "Divine Court" in the heavenly council near the throne of G-d. He represents the Ain Sof to all the universes of His Glorious Creation.
So, within only a few months in preparation for the end of the Jubilee Year of 2016, has HaShem, the One-G-d of the Universes set in place in Jerusalem another "messiah" like King Hezekiah, to be the "messiah of his age? Hezekiah was not a perfect king, but loved and defended his homeland. He set up defenses against the enemies of the world who sought to take away his people's homeland.
Was King Hezekiah, whom the ancient Talmudists stated that the Almighty One sought to proclaim Hezekiah to His messiah for the Jewish people of that era, now also to become a prophetic symbol or typology of a leader of the State of Israel when the "Final Generation" of the Jewish people prepare to welcome, Metatron, the Angel of the Divine Presence as the King Messiah son of David? If so, whom would that be?
If the G-d of Israel was considering Hezekiah was to be the Messiah in the days of the Assyrian threat at the gates of Jerusalem, who today represents HaShem's choice of a ruler over the State of Israel. His role is the role of diplomacy, alliances, and even wars, offensive and defensive against the nations surrounding Israel. Is there anyone other than the State of Israel's State of Israel's Prime Minister Benyamin Netanyahu? Let us look at the ancestral resume of the current Prime Minister of the State of Israel, Benyamin Netanyahu?
- PM Benyamin Netanyahu is the great grandson of Rabbi Nathan Mileikowsky who was a rabbi, educator, writer and prominent Zionist activist.
- Netanyahu is also the grandson of BenZion (son of Zion) Netanyahu, who was an Israeli Professor of History at Cornell University. A scholar of Judaic history, and he was also an activist in the Revisionist Zionism movement, who lobbied in the United States to support the creation of the Jewish state.
- PM Benyamin Netanyahu is a Levite, as his grandfather, Rabbi Nathan Mileikowsky is a Levite of Levitical bloodlines directly back to Aaron the High Priest.
- PM Benyamin Netanyahu is determined to destroy Amalek in Persia which is the (avodah), the Divine service of working for G-d.
- PM Benjamin Netanyahu inherited the ancestral mantle when Shaul haMelekh (King Saul) was killed and that his genealogical lineage became extinct with the assassination of Shaaul's son, Ish Boshet.
- One known descendent of Shimi Ben Geira who took the mantle to destroy the descendent of the Amalek King called Agog whom King Shaul refused to assassinate was the Jewish Persian governor; Mordecai. It took Queen Esther, and her uncle, Mordecai to finish King Saul's unfinished business, and expose the holocaust plot by King's Cyrus the Great's initial Prime Minister Haman the Agagite upon the Persian Jews. In turn Mordecai, the new Persian Prime Minister's first official responsibility was to hang from the gallows all ten of Haman's sons.
- The Avodah, the Divine service of working for G-d was transferred from Shimi Ben Geira, the teacher and confidant throughout the monarchial reign of King David and its mantle has now been placed on the head of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fight all the Amalek's of our future age.
Will all the symbolisms (simanim) of the last pre-Messianic leader, the Maschiach ben Yosef of our era, come to their final fulfillment in the not-so-perfect Prime Minister of Israel Benyamin Netanyahu, yet who is today one of the most admired men in the world? Will this transformation be a part of the Meta-System of HaMelekh Maschiach (King Messiah) when it is revealed?
Has the mantle of authority that descended from Shimi ben Geira, the spiritual guide of King David, who spiritually took on all these symbolism including also the symbolism of the Maschiach ben Yosef now descended upon Prime Minister Netanyahu who metaphorically be "assassination of his character or reputation by Lashon Hara" or physically by a sharp knife" as depicted by the Prophet Zechariah.
Zechariah 12:10 – "I will pour out upon the house of David and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplications. They will look toward Me because of those whom they have stabbed!; they will mourn over him as one mourns over an only (child) and be embittered over him like the embitterment over a deceased firstborn.
But not only that, the ancient Talmudists stated that King Sennecherib was to be HaShem's "Gog and Magog" at the time of the end, one who would be led, even if unwilling to the Land of Israel with a "ring clamped to his nose". If so, who in our modern age will be the reincarnation of King Sennacherib?
2 Kings 19:28 – "Because you provoked me, and your arrogance has risen unto My ears, I shall place My hook into your nose and My bridle into your lips, and I shall make you return by the route on which you came."
There are a lot of candidates for the future Gog of the Land of Magog, so that will be for you to ponder!!
So today, we all stand upon the epic threshold of messianic consciousness for the "Final End" is about to descend upon the "Final Generation". The travels of humanity will have now brought humanity to the "Edge of Time". Will across the ocean of humanity lie a new "Era of Cosmic Consciousness" as we enter into the cosmic era of the Maschiach ben David and beyond?
As we stand upon the "Seashore of Earthly Time, there are already in our future strange and mind boggling objects being washed ashore from the other side of our present reality.
According to the Vilna Gaon, here we will become acquainted with the secret weapons of an inner technology; "Spiritual Toys" that are no more the simple vessels that hold the light of the secret wisdom of the Torah. What these vessels can reveal to us will be holy wisdom of inestimable value.
It will guide us into this amazing futuristic world as we leave behind the Messianic Era of the Maschiach ben Yoseph as we enter the world of the "Fourth Direction" or the "Fourth Dimension of Time" as the "Messianic Era of the Maschiach ben David" begins our participation in the higher fourth dimensional world of the "Garden" called Gan Eden.
You Might Enjoy Reading the Following:
Part One – "The Western Palace of King David at Khirbet Qeiyafa nearby to David's Victory over Goliath"
Part Two – "The Royal Palace of King David's in Old Jerusalem, just in Time for the Messiah son of David"
What was happening in Israel 10 Years Ago? - "The Best of Archeology in the Holy Land in 2005"
You might want to Read the recent Destination Yisrael Series, titled, "Shiloh, as King Messiah (Melekh HaMashiach)
Part One – "Shiloh, the Neshama of the Neshama Soul of Moshe the Redeemer"
Part Two – "MemTet, the Angel of Divine Presence, as the Messiah and the Five Souls of Man"
Part Three – "Metatron, the Angel of the Divine Presence is Melekh HaMaschiach (King Messiah)"
Part Four – "The 2015 Houston Shavuot Flood, the Prophecy of Meidad at Sinai: Flooding the Land of the Gogs of Magog"
At the time of the end the G-d of Israel will use all of His Chosen Ones of Israel to complete His divine destiny for Planet Earth. Most of these chosen ones will have no idea of their chosen destiny. They will become the prime actors in the final act of the "Drama of the Ages". In that day when the Messiah of Israel does reveal himself, also will be revealed all those whose destiny were linked to that august moment in human history.
As we again look into the near future, it is time that we open our "spiritual eyes" and behold that the G-d of Israel is surrounding all of us living on planet earth with an ever-elevating higher dimensional Light. It will soon open the "flood gates of heaven" and flood Planet Earth with a higher dimensional veil of Torah consciousness. It matters not whether you are Jewish, secular, profane and agnostic, or a Lost Israelite who is returning home to Torah enlightenment, and yearning to become a part of the future higher dimensional messianic era. The Edenic world of Godliness will be here for you. All you have to do is open up your mind to the "Mind of G-d" for soon you will be able to take off those external garments, the "skins" that were placed on Adam and Eve for your soul will regain its primordial body as a "Light Being" as you become a part of that supernal creation called Adam and Eve, that were once "Light Beings" in Gan Eden when they made their grave mistake.
Now the world of history has returned full cycle. What was lost is now being found. What was found is now being reclaimed by the One G-d of Israel, restored bit by bit with the continuous mantle of spiritual enlightenment. You are a part of that "cycle of global restoration" and you will soon feel free, if not now, for the pangs of sorrow for your persistent rejection of the overpowering love of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob is now laying out the welcome mat; "My child, welcome home to the faith of your forefathers."
For inquiries about the Vilna Gaon's Kol Ha Tor Vision for the Lost Tribes of Israel, Visit their Web Site
"Kol Ha Tor",
They also offer – "a Spiritual Retreat and Guest House in Samaria that hosts Shomron (Samaria) Tours to reacquaint the Returning Lost Tribers of the House of Israel to their chosen destiny. For details refer to
DISCLAIMER - Kol Ha Tor is an independent commentator and may or may not agree with the contents, the views, interpretations and opinions as expressed by the independent theological and/or political views of Destination Yisrael.
BibleSearchers and Destination Yisra'el
Destination Yisrael scans the world for information that has relevance on the time of the end. It is our prayer that this will allow the believers in the Almighty One of Israel to "watch and be ready". Our readiness has nothing to do trying to halt the progression of evil on our planet earth. In our readiness, we seek to be prepared for the coming of the Messiah of Israel so that goodness and evil will be manifested in its fullest.
Our preparation is a pathway of spiritual readiness for a world of peace. Our defender is the Metatron, the Lord of hosts. The time of the end suggests that the Eternal One of Israel's intent is to close out this chapter of earth's history so that the perpetrators of evil, those that seek power, greed and control, will be eliminated from this planet earth. The wars of the heavens are being played out on this planet earth and humans will live through it to testify of the might, power, justice and the love of the God of Israel.
In a world of corruption and disinformation, we cannot always know what the historical truth is and who is promoting evil or mis-information. We cannot guarantee our sources but we will always seek to portray trends that can be validated in the Torah, the testimony of the prophets of the Old and the New Testament, and the writings of Rabbi Eliyahu ben Shlomo ben Zalman (famed Vilna Gaon) called the "genius" in the 18th century, and his vision of the final redemption in his collection of writings highlighted in his supernal understanding of the Torah, the Prophets and Writings as outlined in the Kol Ha Tor.
This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml


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Western Digital Corporation announced the expansion of its award-winning color portfolio with a new line; WD Gold datacenter hard drives. WD Gold datacenter hard drives are designed for a broad range of applications – including small- to medium-scale enterprise servers and storage, and rack-mount datacenter servers and storage enclosures.
With purpose-driven designs for the datacenter, WD Gold datacenter hard drives are launching with a new, high-capacity configuration of up to 8TB that offers HelioSeal helium-technology for performance, ideal capacity per square foot, power efficiency and low power consumption for datacenter environments. WD Gold datacenter hard drives feature an optimized design with an 8TB option that helps reduce the TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of servers and storage systems, benefiting IT administrators challenged with growing storage capacity needs on limited budgets. WD Gold hard drives will also include a premium dedicated support line for customers worldwide.
"Western Digital has a proven history of providing award-winning purpose-driven products for unique requirements of each application environment, like WD Red® WD Purple and WD Blue drives," said Brendan Collins Vice President of Product Marketing, Western Digital Corporation. "WD Gold is a pinnacle part of the color portfolio strategy and another step in creating optimized drives for the markets we serve. Our continued goal is to deliver the most competitive and reliable solutions on the market."
WD Gold datacenter hard drives include:
- Improved power efficiency – New electronics enhance power efficiency up to 15 percent[1]. HelioSeal technology enables up to 26 percent lower power consumption[2]
- Better performance – Up to 18 percent sequential performance improvement over previous generation WD Re™ 4TB datacenter drives, and up to 30 percent improvement in random write performance over previous generation WD Re 6TB datacenter drives through media-based cache, and up to 3x improvement over competitive offerings
High reliability – WD Gold incorporates best-of-breed design, manufacturing and test processes to achieve one of the highest reliability ratings in the industry – 2.5 million hours MTBF (8TB offering)
- Dedicated Premium Support Line and WD Gold Model Numbers – Western Digital offers a 24/7 premium support line for WD Gold customers and can be reached at U.S.: (855) 559-3733; International: +80055593733. WD Gold model numbers:
More information about the WD Gold hard drives and terms of the limited warranty may be found on the company website at www.wd.com.
[1] Versus previous generation WD Re hard drives
[2] Versus competitive enterprise class 8TB drives
Source: Press Release

subset: commoncrawl


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Happy birthday!
So, as you may have noticed, it's June 27th; I don't know if you know this, but it's quite a day for radical birthday parties. To-day take some time to say:
Happy birthday to Emma Goldman, revolutionary Anarchist organizer, agitator, speaker, writer, and publisher — born June 27, 1869, in Kaunas, Lithuania (then occupied by the Russian Empire).
The STATE IDEA, the authoritarian principle, has been proven bankrupt by the experience of the Russian Revolution. If I were to sum up my whole argument in one sentence I should say: The inherent tendency of the State is to concentrate, to narrow, and monopolize all social activities; the nature of revolution is, on the contrary, to grow, to broaden, and disseminate itself in ever-wider circles. In other words, the State is institutional and static; revolution is fluent, dynamic. These two tendencies are incompatible and mutually destructive. The State idea killed the Russian Revolution and it must have the same result in all other revolutions, unless the libertarian idea prevail….
… There is no greater fallacy than the belief that aims and purposes are one thing, while methods and tactics are another, This conception is a potent menace to social regeneration. All human experience teaches that methods and means cannot be separated from the ultimate aim. The means employed become, through individual habit and social practice, part and parcel of the final purpose; they influence it, modify it, and presently the aims and means become identical. —My Disillusionment in Russia (1923).
At the dances I was one of the most untiring and gayest. One evening a cousin of Sasha, a young boy, took me aside. With a grave face, as if he were about to announce the death of a dear comrade, he whispered to me that it did not behoove an agitator to dance. Certainly not with such reckless abandon, anyway. It was undignified for one who was on the way to become a force in the anarchist movement. My frivolity would only hurt the Cause. I grew furious at the impudent interference of the boy. I told him to mind his own business. I was tired of having the Cause constantly thrown into my face. I did not believe that a Cause which stood for a beautiful ideal, for anarchism, for release and freedom from convention and prejudice, should demand the denial of life and joy. I insisted that our Cause could not expect me to become a nun and that the movement would not be turned into a cloister. If it meant that, I did not want it.
I want freedom, the right to self-expression, everybody's right to beautiful, radiant things.
Anarchism meant that to me, and I would live it in spite of the whole world — prisons, persecution, everything. Yes, even in spite of the condemnation of my own closest comrades I would live my beautiful ideal. —Living My Life (1931)Happy birthday to FW Helen Keller, the Alabamian author, scholar, lecturer, and radical agitator — born June 27th, 1880 in Tuscumbia, Alabama. Remembered today mainly for being blind and deaf and an inspirational example for the moral uplift of the young, what didn't make it onto stage or screen was how, in her adult life, Keller won fame and infamy as a radical agitating for worker' freedom, feminism, peace, anti-militarism, and the revolutionary unionism of the Industrial Workers of the World, which she joined in 1912.
I became an IWW because I found out that the Socialist party was too slow. It is sinking in the political bog. It is almost, if not quite, impossible for the party to keep its revolutionary character so long as it occupies a place under the government and seeks office under it. The government does not stand for interests the Socialist party is supposed to represent. … The true task is to unite and organize all workers on an economic basis, and it is the workers themselves who must secure freedom for themselves, who must grow strong. Nothing can be gained by political action. That is why I became an IWW.
–Helen Keller, interviewed by Barbara Bindley, Why I Became an IWW, New York Tribune (January 16, 1916)
What are you committed to–education or revolution?
She answered decisively.We can't have education without revolution. We have tried peace education for 1,900 years and it has failed. Let us try revolution and see what it will do now.
… Again the advisability of printing all this here set forth. And this finally from the patience-exhausted, gentle little woman:I don't give a damn about semi-radicals!
–Helen Keller, interviewed by Barbara Bindley, Why I Became an IWW, New York Tribune (January 16, 1916)The future of the world rests in the hands of America. The future of America rests on the backs of 80,000,000 working men and women and their children. We are facing a grave crisis in our national life. The few who profit from the labor of the masses want to organize the workers into an army which will protect the interests of the capitalists. You are urged to add to the heavy burdens you already bear the burden of a larger army and many additional warships. It is in your power to refuse to carry the artillery and the dread-noughts and to shake off some of the burdens, too, such as limousines, steam yachts and country estates. You do not neet to make a great noise about it. With the silence and dignity of creators you can end wars and the system of selfishness and exploitation that causes wars. All you need to do to bring about this stupendous revolution is to straighten up and fold your arms.
… They know that if the government dresses them up in khaki and gives them a rifle and starts them off with a brass band and waving banners, they will go forth to fight valiantly for their own enemies. They are taught that brave men die for their country's honor. What a price to pay for an abstraction–the lives of millions of young men; other millions crippled and blinded for life; existence made hideous for still more millions of human being; the achievement and inheritance of generations swept away in a moment–and nobody better off for all the misery! This terrible sacrifice would be comprehensible if the thing you die for and call country fed, clothed, housed and warmed you, educated and cherished your children. I think the workers are the most unselfish of the children of men; they toil and live and die for other people's country, other people's sentiments, other people's liberties and other people's happiness! The workers have no liberties of their own; they are not free when they are compelled to work twelve or ten or eight hours a day. they are not free when they are ill paid for their exhausting toil. They are not free when their children must labor in mines, mills and factories or starve, and when their women may be driven by poverty to lives of shame. They are not free when they are clubbed and imprisoned because they go on strike for a raise of wages and for the elemental justice that is their right as human beings.
… Strike against all ordinances and laws and institutions that continue the slaughter of peace and the butcheries of war. Srike against war, for without you no battles can be fought. Strike against manufacturing scrapnel and gas bombs and all other tools of murder. Strike against preparedness that means death and misery to millions of human being. Be not dumb, obedient slaves in an army of destruction. Be heroes in an army of construction.
And while we're on the subject, let's also wish happy birthday to the Industrial Workers of the World! The IWW's founding convention began 105 years ago today in Chicago, on June 27, 1905.
If the workers of the world want to win, all they have to do is recognize their own solidarity. They have nothing to do but fold their arms and the world will stop. The workers are more powerful with their hands in their pockets than all the property of the capitalists. As long as the workers keep their hands in their pockets, the capitalists cannot put theirs there. With passive resistance, with the workers absolutely refusing to move, lying absolutely silent, they are more powerful than all the weapons and instruments that the other side has for attack.
— FW Joe Ettor, in the
Bread and Rosestextile strike of 1912
And happy birthday to the radical gay and trans liberation movements! Late at night, 41 years ago today, on June 27th, 1969, and early in the morning on June 28th, the
Public Morals Squad
[sic] of the New York City government's police force infiltrated and then assaulted the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village, believing that they would use violence, prison, and social shaming yet again in their ongoing campaign on behalf of the Basher State. But something happened that night that they didn't expect — when the poorest and most marginalized in the queer and trans community said no more, began to resist, and then fought back against the cops. When people dressed as women refused to be taken back to the bathroom to have policeverify
their sex, men began to refuse to show their IDs, and cops started bullying and groping lesbians duringfrisks,
the police shoved the people in the bar outside. Those who hadn't been singled out for arrest refused to leave, and stayed to witness in solidarity. People began to shoutGay Power!
and singWe Shall Overcome.
When a cop smashed astone butch
over the head with a billy-club for complaining that her handcuffs were too tight, the crowd finally erupted, turned on the police, and freed the prisoners from the police wagon. The police, humiliated and massively outnumbered, barricaded themselves inside the bar until the NYPD's Tactical Police Force arrived to pull them out and beat a hasty retreat. Running battles with police in Greenwich Village streets continued the next night. Witnessing the example of street kids, gay men, lesbians, drag queens and trans folks rise up, fight back, and win against the government violence of the Morals Police brought about a new urgency, a new daring, and effectively a new movement. Within a few months, the Gay Liberation Front, Gay Activists Alliance, and Gay Pride organizing committee had sprung up in New York, with the first Gay Pride march in New York City's history being held on June 28, 1970, in honor ofChristopher Street Liberation Day.
As Frank Kameny, a longtime organizer for the Mattachine Society put it,By the time of Stonewall, we had fifty to sixty gay groups in the country. A year later there was at least fifteen hundred. By two years later, to the extent that a count could be made, it was twenty-five hundred.
We all had a collective feeling like we'd had enough of this kind of shit. It wasn't anything tangible anybody said to anyone else, it was just kind of like everything over the years had come to a head on that one particular night in the one particular place, and it was not an organized demonstration. It was spontaneous. That was the part that was wonderful.
Everyone in the crowd felt that we were never going to go back. It was like the last straw. It was time to reclaim something that had always been taken from us…. All kinds of people, all different reasons, but mostly it was total outrage, anger, sorrow, everything combined, and everything just kind of ran its course. It was the police who were doing most of the destruction. We were really trying to get back in and break free. And we felt that we had freedom at last, or freedom to at least show that we demanded freedom. We didn't really have the freedom totally, but we weren't going to be walking meekly in the night and letting them shove us around—it's like standing your ground for the first time and in a really strong way, and that's what caught the police by surprise. There was something in the air, freedom a long time overdue, and we're going to fight for it. It took different forms, but the bottom line was, we weren't going to go away. And we didn't.
–Michael Fader, quoted in David Carter (2004), Stonewall: The Riots that Sparked the Gay Revolution, p. 160.
Here's to many happy returns.


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Have a Healthy Digestive System
A high-fiber diet can benefit your health in many ways! Try this high-fiber meal plan or some great high-fiber recipes to help you stay healthy!
Stomach troubles are not uncommon, in fact, most of us have experienced digestive problems during our life. While unpleasant, digestive problems are often a reminder to pay attention to health habits that can make the process of digestion much easier. Healthy lifestyle habits play a significant role in our digestive health. Here's what you need to know to keep your stomach happy!
Eat Plenty of Fiber
Fiber is one of the most important nutrients you need in your diet. It helps keep your digestive system regular, which promotes a healthy digestive system and protects against colon cancer. It is especially helpful in lowering and managing cholesterol and blood sugar. Fiber is also beneficial in weight management since it can help you feel full longer between meals and prevents significant surges and crashes in blood sugar levels.
So how much fiber do you need? Men ages 50 and under should get at least 38 grams of dietary fiber each day and women ages 50 and under should get at least 25 grams per day. Men over 50 need at least 30 grams per day and women over 50 need at least 21 grams. Here are some healthy, fiber-rich foods to add to your diet. Learn more about the benefits of a high-fiber diet.
Stay Hydrated
Water is essential to good digestion and helps to rid the body of toxins. Drinking eight (8-ounce) glasses of water each day is a good rule of thumb, however factors like exercise, illness and any medical conditions can vary your personal needs. Drink enough fluid so that you don't feel thirsty.
Try Prebiotics and Probiotics
These types of "good bacteria" help stimulate your digestive system and keep unhealthy bacteria at bay. Certain brands of yogurt contain prebiotics and probiotics or live, active cultures which promote healthy bacteria in the intestine. Look for this wording on the container to ensure your yogurt contains these ingredients.
Manage Your Weight
People who are overweight are at an increased risk of digestive problems, like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), gallstones, liver diseases and more. Stay active and eat healthy to manage or lower your weight.
Avoid Excess Dietary Fat
Fattening foods can slow the digestive process, which increases your risk of digestive problems. Stick to a low-fat diet with plenty of fiber, and replace unhealthy fats with healthier ones like nuts, seeds, olive oil, avocados and fatty fish, like salmon.
Have Preventive Health Screenings
As you age, your risk of developing colon cancer also increases. A colonoscopy is an effective tool in detecting colon cancer and pre-cancerous polyps. Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi's Healthy You! wellness benefit provides this screening to covered members age 50 and older. For more information about screenings available to members with the Healthy You! benefit, see the Healthy You! Wellness Guide.
A healthy digestive system is extremely important and can affect your overall health. Take steps today to keep your digestive system running smoothly!


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Go to main Resources Guide page: https://siuslawvision.org/resourcesguide
A gathering place for spiritual upliftment and conversation to learn, empower and develop a thriving spiritual community
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The Siuslaw Community Resources Guide is a project of Florence Area Community Coalition, Florence Rotary, and Siuslaw Vision, with financial support from Florence Rotary and PeaceHealth Peace Harbor Medical Center. Content for the Guide has been taken from public sources and organization representatives are invited to verify and update their listings or to create a new listing.
While we've done our best to provide accurate information, all info is subject to change, so please verify services with the organization. This Guide is for informational purposes only. Siuslaw Vision makes no representation of the services provided by the organizations included in this Guide, and assumes no liability from use of any information presented. By using this information, you assume all potential risks and agree to hold Siuslaw Vision and its affiliates harmless from any resulting liability, etc.
If your organization is a nonprofit or offers a community service and would like to be included, please read the criteria at https://siuslawvision.org/resourcesguide .


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In the 21st century, personal computing is with us wherever we go. This is all thanks to the proliferation of mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. These devices allow us to take work home with us. And, with bring your own device (BYOD) strategy, businesses have never been so productive. However, BYOD poses a number of security risks if you're not careful. What are these problems? How are they caused? Here are some BYOD security risks you should know before implementing it in your business.
Data leakage
The biggest reason why businesses are weary of implementing a BYOD strategy is because it can potentially leave the company's system vulnerable to data breaches. Personal devices are not part of your business's IT infrastructure, which means that these devices are not protected by company firewalls and systems. There is also a chance that an employee will take work with them, where they are not using the same encrypted servers that your company is using, leaving your system vulnerable to inherent security risks.
Lost devices
Another risk your company has to deal with, is the possibility of your employees losing their personal devices. When devices with sensitive business information are lost, there is a chance that this could end up falling into the wrong hands. Additionally, if an employee forgets to use a four digit PIN code to lock their smartphone or tablet, anyone can gain unauthorized access to valuable company data stored on that particular device. Therefore, your company should consider countermeasures for lost devices like completely wiping the device of information as soon as an employee reports a missing or stolen phone.
Hackers can infiltrate your system
Personal devices tend to lack adequate data encryption to keep people from snooping. This along with the fact that your employees might not have updated their devices can allow hackers to infiltrate your IT infrastructure.
Connecting to open Wifi spots makes your company more susceptible to hackers. Open wireless points in public places can put device owners at risk because there is a chance that hackers may have created that hotspot to trick people into connecting. Once the device owner has connected, attackers can simply surveil web activity and gain access to your company's accounts.
Vulnerable to malware
Viruses are also a big problem when implementing BYOD strategies into your business. Using personal devices means your employees can access whatever sites or download any mobile apps that your business would normally restrict to protect your system.
Jailbreaking or rooting a device also puts your systems at risk because it removes limitations imposed by the manufacturer to keep the mobile software updated and protected against external threats. It's best to understand that as your employees have the freedom to choose whatever device they want to work with, the process of keeping track of vulnerabilities and updates is considerably harder. So if you're thinking about implementing BYOD strategies to your business, prepare your IT department for an array of potential malware attacks on different devices.
So you might be thinking that it would probably be best to just avoid implementing a BYOD strategy in the first place. However, BYOD will help your business grow and adapt to the modern workplace, and should not be dismissed as a legitimate IT solution. It's just important to educate your company about these risks so that problems won't occur for your business down the line.
If you need some help implementing IT security solutions for your company, or if you have any concerns regarding IT, give us a call.


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A working spouse can provide additional needed household income. However, when making your decision, you need to look at the net income generated by a working spouse not simply the gross income. Factors such as health insurance savings, increased daycare expenses, additional transportation costs, etc. need to be considered. Use this calculator to help determine the potential additional take-home pay.
This information may help you analyze your financial needs. It is based on information and assumptions provided by you regarding your goals, expectations and financial situation. The calculations do not infer that the company assumes any fiduciary duties. The calculations provided should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice. In addition, such information should not be relied upon as the only source of information. This information is supplied from sources we believe to be reliable but we cannot guarantee its accuracy. Hypothetical illustrations may provide historical or current performance information. Past performance does not guarantee nor indicate future results.
The CIBC Logo is a registered trademark of CIBC, used under license.


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Trusted and Authentic Upholstery Cleaning Service in Wiley Park
Want to invite people over for a house party but the appearance of your furniture is making you think twice? Dirty and washed-out furniture is a pain to look at. If you are wondering what to do in this time of crisis, don't worry. We are here to provide you with the best Upholstery cleaning Wiley Park services in your area. Our prompt and effective services are always there for you, so you never have to worry about your upholstery cleaning needs ever again.
When you already have so much on your plate, why worry about couch cleaning as well? Leave it to us to keep your couch in the most vibrant and comfy state. Crystal Couch Cleaning is here to deal with all your couch cleaning worries, no matter what the time. Our aim is to treat your upholstery in such a way that it feels the same as the day you bought it: clean, new, fresh and beautiful! With our 24×7 services, you never have to worry about a dirty or unattractive piece of furniture.
Advantages of Upholstery Cleaning
You try to clean your couch regularly and keep it as maintained as possible, but it just won't stay clean. You have tried everything: vacuuming, stain removal as promptly as possible, wiping and cleaning it daily but it just doesn't look as clean and fresh as it should. This is a sign that you need to avail professional upholstery cleaning services. We know that you want to know everything you can before you jump in and make a decision. Let us look at the benefits of getting your upholstered furniture cleaned regularly:
Increased Furniture Longevity
Just like your clothes, utensils and all other things in your house require frequent cleaning, your upholstery does too. Upholstered furniture requires quality and consistent care to make it last. Ensuring that your upholstered furniture receives proper care is the best way to increase the lifespan of your most treasured furniture.
Elimination of Stains and Odours
When you accidentally drop or spill something on your favourite shirt, you make sure to clean it immediately, right? Then why make your favourite couch wait? Your couch requires the same amount of care and concern. Take the assistance of couch cleaning Wiley Park services to remove stains, spills and odours from your furniture effectively.
Safe for you and your loved ones
A dirty couch can become a breeding ground for allergens, dirt, bacteria and mould. This can be a threat to your health and the safety of your loved ones. We know that the health of your loved ones is always your topmost concern. Keeping that in mind, regularly cleaning your couch can offer a safer living environment for you and your closest.
Affordable rates
Having to buy new furniture sooner than you expected can take a serious toll on your wallet. It can be very discouraging to spend your hard-earned money prematurely. A clean and well-preserved couch lasts longer and is much more reasonable if you look at the bigger picture.
Our Upholstery Cleaning Process
It is natural to want to know the procedure before you invest in a cleaning service. Our efficient techniques and advanced technology combined with the usage of carefully customised methods to fit your personal requirements are the most convenient solution for your couch cleaning problems. We employ a thorough and effective upholstery cleaning process to make sure we get to the root of the problem and clean your couch inside out. Let us walk you through our cleaning process so your worries about the procedure can be answered:
- » Careful Examination: Our team of skilled and adept professionals will carefully assess your furniture before we begin our cleaning process. This includes a thorough visual examination to help determine the condition of your couch, the extent of damage and the nature of the fabric to understand how it will react to our cleaning solutions. We will then design a treatment that's made specially to suit your needs.
- » Pre-treatment of spots and stains: The first thing you want when you hire an upholstery cleaning service in Wiley Park is to have those disturbing stains removed from your furniture. We pre- treat the stains first to make sure to remove all the tough stains from your furniture to make it look as good as new during the cleaning process.
- » Deep Cleaning: After the pre-treatment of stains is completed successfully and the dirt inside the couch is loosened, we are ready to clean your couch thoroughly and extract all the dirt from inside. Your furniture is cautiously cleaned leaving no room for any kind of dirt inside.
- » Letting it Dry: Once the cleaning process is finished and all the dirt is extracted from the couch along with the cleaning solution, we proceed to the next step: drying your couch. Drying the furniture is as important as cleaning it because a couch that has not been dried properly will cause odours and be uncomfortable for use. We may use air movers to speed up the process.
- » Post-Examination: The process is complete and the couch is now clean, dry and fresh. To make certain that we have not left anything out, our team will once again check your upholstery for any issues. If something has slipped our attention, we will rectify it on the spot. We will also guide you on how you can maintain your upholstery better.
Types of Upholstery Fabrics That We Clean
At Crystal Couch Cleaning, we clean a comprehensive range of upholstery fabrics. Our skilled and trained technicians use eco-friendly cleaning tools and techniques and industrial-grade technologies to provide you the best results. We remove all the dust particles and allergens and make your upholstery fabric as good as new. Our cleaning methods are sustainable and designed to preserve the integrity of your upholstery fabric:
The upholstery fabrics that we include are:
- » Cotton: Upholstery fabrics made of cotton are known for their softness, durability, and breathability. We use customised techniques for cleaning your cotton fabrics, which will render them spanking clean.
- »Linen: This is a natural fabric known for its strength and smooth texture. We vacuum the fabric and clean it with a mild detergent solution. We test our eco-friendly soaps and detergents on a small corner before applying them wholesale to the entire surface.
- » Microfibre: Our tried and tested techniques of cleaning microfiber have always proven successful, resulting in a damage-free cleaning. We clean up any stains and spots by sponging the area. We also blot the area with clean towels to remove any moisture.
- » Velvet: Velvet is a luxurious fabric that requires careful cleaning. You can rely on our in-house experts, who will clean your velvet upholstery using customised techniques. You can depend on our careful handling techniques to ensure a damage-free cleaning.
- » Chenille: This is a textured fabric that is known for its durability and comfort. Our in-house technicians will use mild detergents and water to clean this fabric. At Crystal Couch Cleaning, we avoid the use of harsh and toxic detergents.
- » Leather: Leather upholstery requires specialised treatments and customised cleaning methods. Our cleaning technicians will use the appropriate cleaning agents to clean and buff your leather sofa to a perfect shine.
- » Suede: Suede is another type of fabric that requires delicate handling and cleaning. We exercise the utmost care to avoid damaging the delicate fabric.
- » Silk: Silk upholstery is luxurious, expensive, and delicate. We use gentle cleaning methods to avoid damaging this expensive fabric.
- » Synthetic Fabrics: These include polyester and nylon, which are sturdier fabrics. Our trained technicians clean these fabrics thoroughly and restore them to their original condition.
We not only clean but also repair your costly furniture upholstery, whatever the fabric, to ensure that you have furniture upholstery restored to its original condition. For a reasonable cost, you can avoid costly replacements and refurbishments of your furniture upholstery. We offer high-quality service at competitive rates. You will receive good value for the money you spend. We believe in providing 100% customer satisfaction with our upholstery cleaning services.
Why choose Us
The market is full of options, and it may be overwhelming for you to choose amongst so many options when it comes to a professional service. Let us help you out. At Crystal Couch Cleaning, we make it a point to address your concerns promptly and ensure your satisfaction. In addition to this, our eco-friendly methods are safe for you, your family and the environment. All of these at budget-friendly rates! Here are some of the reasons why you should choose us:
A Team of Skilled Experts
Our team of proficient and adept professionals work hard to provide you with the best upholstery cleaning service. Their experience in the field is unmatched. At Crystal Couch Cleaning, we understand that you need only the best and that is what we strive for each day.
The Latest Equipment
We use the latest industry-approved equipment to make the process simple and get your work done as soon as possible. Our amazing equipment coupled with our team of skilled workers is the most effective solution for your couch cleaning problems.
Prompt Service
We are always ready to deal with your couch cleaning troubles, just a call away! We know that when a problem arises you want to deal with it right away, and that is what inspires us to be always there at your service.
The Best Services on a Budget
We understand the value of every penny that you earn. This is why we make sure that when you invest in our services, it doesn't become an extravagant affair. Our services come at affordable prices, so you never have to think twice before giving us a call.
Personalised Solutions and Quality Results
We know that every piece of furniture is unique and deserves special care and attention. Every time we create a cleaning procedure, we make it a point that it is customized especially for you. Our personalised approach helps you get the most quality results.
Trust is of utmost importance when you decide to invest in a new service. Our years of experience in the field make us your most trustworthy and reliable choice. Customer satisfaction is our topmost priority, and we strive every day for your comfort.
Residential and Commercial Upholstery Cleaning Services in Wiley Park
Be it the comfort and appeal of your home, or the professional image of your business, furniture that hasn't been looked after can create a negative impact. Keeping your upholstered furniture in good condition can help you be comfortable and happy at home. In the office, it can ensure the happiness and well-being of your employees and add to your profits by increasing client satisfaction. No matter what the place, clean and well-kept furniture is a necessity. At Crystal Couch Cleaning, we provide you with residential and commercial couch cleaning services at your fingertips. We make sure to provide the residents of Wiley Park the best localised services in the area. To make sure you always keep your home as well as your office clean and fresh, we will take care of all your cleaning needs, be it residential or commercial.
Same Day and Emergency Upholstery Cleaning Services in Wiley Park
When your most invaluable furniture is in dire need of cleaning, you cannot always wait. We want to provide you with quick and easy services that are always just a call away. Our customer support is always active and willing to answer all your worries and provide a solution to all your couch cleaning problems. When you need your furniture cleaned right away, we will prioritise your cleaning needs within 24 hours after you have made your call to us. In case you need us sooner than that, our emergency couch cleaning services can be availed at any time to book a home or office visit at the earliest.
End of Lease couch Cleaning in Wiley Park
Thinking of moving to a new space? Or has your lease come to an end and you need to hand over the keys to your landlord before you move out? If so is the case then our end of lease couch cleaning Wiley Park service has got your back. It is important to ensure that your rental property is completely clean and hygienic before you move out. Even a speck of dust in the corner of a house may cause issues between you and your tenant. Thus, it becomes essential that you clean the entire property including your couch.
Now, when it comes to cleaning your couch, think about all the stains your precious couch must have received all this time from your countless pizza parties and wine sipping sessions. At Crystal Couch Cleaning, we understand that couch cleaning is not an easy job and requires the assistance of a reliable a end of tenancy couch cleaning Wiley Park service provider. If you are looking for a way to get the couch of your rental property restored to a pristine condition then you can rely on us to offer you exhaustive Wiley Park couch cleaning services at affordable rates. Call us today to make a booking.
Experience Upholstery Cleaning Perfection with our Services in Wiley Park
What sets us apart from our competitors is that we provide the best services in Wiley Park at the most budget-friendly rates. We know that it can be discouraging when the service you want to avail is so highly priced that you have to think twice before making a decision. This is why we provide the most reliable upholstery cleaning Wiley Park services at rates that can help ease your burden, not add to it.
Our same day and emergency services also ensure that we are always there to take care of all your upholstery cleaning needs. Our efficient and pro-active customer support is constantly striving to deal with all your issues at the earliest. We make sure to make ourselves available for you whenever you need us. Just give us a call or fill out our online application to request a free quote. We will make sure to always send our most experienced professionals to your home to have your upholstery cleaning needs dealt with in the best way possible.
Other Services We Offer
At Crystal Couch Cleaning, we want to take care of all your upholstery cleaning needs in the most efficient way possible. Our carefully created treatments and wide range of services make sure to take care of all your requirements at the earliest. We make sure to include all services and treatments you may need to keep your upholstered furniture spotless and brand-new. Here is a list of other services that we offer to make it easier for you to keep your home spic and span:
- » Fabric Couch Cleaning
- » Leather and suede sofa and upholstery cleaning
- » Lounge cleaning
- » Sofa stain protection
- » Spot cleaning
- » Stain and odour removal
Frequently Asked Question
How do you deep clean a couch?
Our couch deep cleaning process involves pre-treating stains, using customised cleaning solution to clean your couch properly, then extracting all the dirt and cleaning solution from the couch before letting it dry.
How frequently should I get my sofa cleaned professionally?
Professional cleaning of your sofa and other upholstered furniture is recommended every 6-12 months to ensure longevity and keep the beauty of your sofa intact.
Can I clean my upholstered furniture effectively at home?
There are tips to keeping your upholstery clean and ensuring its maintenance at home but we recommend investing in a professional service every now and then to keep your furniture in its best possible state.
How safe are your treatments?
At Crystal Couch Cleaning, we prioritise your health and safety above everything. Our environment friendly treatments are carefully created in a way that it remains safe for you and your loved ones.


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USA faces Germany today
Published 7:00 am Thursday, June 26, 2014
PORTO SEGURO, Brazil (AP) — There won't be friendly phone calls, there won't be any dirty deals. That's the promise from both sides ahead of Germany's final Group G match against the United States.
A draw on Thursday in Recife would see both teams advance to the knockout stage at the expense of Portugal and Ghana, who play at the same time in Brasilia.
Both sides have been answering questions about a possible conspiracy, or as the Germans call it, a "non-aggression pact," and both have sharply rejected any suggestions of a deal.
No wonder the questions are being asked, since the Germans were jointly responsible for one of the more shameful episodes in World Cup history. Germany scored after 10 minutes against Austria at the 1982 World Cup in Gijon, Spain, and the two teams just knocked the ball around for the next 80 minutes since the outcome guaranteed a slot in the next round for both. It also eliminated Algeria, which had stunned Germany 2-1 in their opener.
After that match, FIFA made sure that final group matches are played simultaneously, to reduce the possibility of a 'gentlemen's agreement.'
Germany and the United States are linked in many ways.
Five players on the U.S. team have American fathers and German mothers, with four of them playing in the Bundesliga.
U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann was a star of the Germany team that won the last of its three World Cup titles in 1990.
He also scored when the two teams last met in the group sage of a World Cup, a 2-0 victory for Germany at the 1998 tournament in France.
In 2006 at home, Klinsmann guided Germany to a third-place finish as coach, with assistant Joachim Loew, who is now Germany's coach. Berti Vogts, one of Klinsmann's staff, was the coach of Germany when it won its last title, the 1996 European Championship.
Loew and Klinsmann remain good friends, but Loew has said he would not be talking to Klinsmann during the tournament.
Klinsmann too has dismissed any collusion.
"I don't think that we are made for draws, really, except if it happens like tonight — two late goals, last seconds," Klinsmann said after his team's 2-2 draw with Portugal, which scored deep into stoppage time. "I think both teams go into this game and they want to win the group."
"You're talking about a game (in Gijon) that is decades away that is only part of the Germany history and not the United States," Klinsmann said. "The United States is known to give everything they have in every single game. … We have that fighting spirit. We have that energy and that determination to do well in every single game."
The German camp was equally indignant about any suggestions of a fix.
"It would be highly unsportsmanlike and unfair to other teams if anyone on the pitch had such thoughts," defender Mats Hummels said.
Assistant coach Hansi Flick said Germany "wanted to win the match and finish first in the group."


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Yankees acquire Ichiro for two prospects
Mariners receive right-handers Mitchell, Farquhar in return
SEATTLE -- The trade that Ichiro Suzuki had quietly lobbied his former club to complete became reality on Monday, bringing the icon's era to an abrupt end on an overcast afternoon at Safeco Field.
Within a matter of hours, Ichiro had introduced himself to his new Yankees teammates, tried on uniform No. 31 for size and settled into the eighth spot in the batting order, both a fresh beginning and emotional goodbye for the Emerald City fan favorite.
"I'm going from a team having [some of] the most losses to a team with the most wins, so it's been hard to maintain my excitement in that regard," Ichiro said through an interpreter.
Ichiro's voice quivered as he spoke of the support he has received since joining the Mariners in 2001, saying he was "overcome with sadness" at the thought of never wearing a Seattle uniform again.
But Ichiro said he recognized he no longer fit on a young and rebuilding Mariners club, approving the trade to the Yankees because he believes it offers him a good chance at winning a World Series title.
"I think he's going to fit in great," Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. "He made the decision to want to make a move. Because he was on board with it, I think he's excited about it. I don't think this will be a real big adjustment for him."
The pieces of the deal came together so quickly, Girardi had been planning to put together his usual lineup before team brass told him to wait. As Ichiro stepped in for his first at-bat as a Yankee, he bowed and doffed his helmet before lining a single to center field off Kevin Millwood.
The Yankees sent right-handers D.J. Mitchell and Danny Farquhar to Seattle to complete the deal, and will assume just $2.5 million of Ichiro's contract until he is eligible for free agency next year. The Yankees designated outfielder Dewayne Wise for assignment to create room for Ichiro.
"This was something that was a surprise," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "It's an opportunity. I'm looking forward to seeing how it plays out for us, because I do think he can really help us. I look forward to seeing if that's the case or not."
While Ichiro's performance has dipped at age 38 and he is no longer the impact player who notched 2,533 hits with Seattle, the Yankees are hoping he can simply step in and be a complementary piece to replace the injured Brett Gardner, who hasn't played since April 17 and is out for the season.
"I've enjoyed playing against him for 11 1/2 years; he's someone I've always admired from afar," Yankees captain Derek Jeter said. "I've had the opportunity to play with a lot of great players throughout the years. I'm looking forward to playing with him."
Ichiro is playing right field for now, as the Yankees expect to get Nick Swisher back from a left hip flexor strain when they return to the Bronx on Friday. Ichiro said that he does not have much experience in left field, but the thought does bring fond memories.
"I haven't played left for a long time, to be honest with you, but the last time I played left was a playoff game -- my first playoff game in Yankee Stadium [in 2001], so it's a very memorable position for me for that reason," he said.
Cashman said that the initial trade winds formed in conversations between Mariners president Chuck Armstrong and Yankees president Randy Levine. Cashman and his Mariners counterpart, Jack Zduriencik, hammered out the final agreement on Monday.
"This was a conversation that stood above the general managers," Cashman said. "Randy asked me, 'Would you have an interest in Ichiro? There might be something that could make sense.' From there we went."
As he was welcomed into the clubhouse, Ichiro shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with CC Sabathia and Phil Hughes before hugging Freddy Garcia, a former Seattle teammate. Alex Rodriguez called Ichiro a "great guy."
Rafael Soriano, who also played with Ichiro in Seattle, jokingly admonished the outfielder, "Don't be late for stretch. 5:30." He heeded Soriano's warning; Ichiro was on time, jogging out of the third-base dugout to shrieks and cheers from his old home crowd.
Ichiro spent some of his time on Monday discussing uniform numbers with Rob Cucuzza, the club's equipment manager. Ichiro's No. 51 may be iconic in Seattle, but when embroidered on pinstripes, it evokes Bernie Williams -- and no Yankee has worn it since. Ichiro yielded, selecting No. 31 instead.
"Of course No. 51 is a special number to me, but when I think about what 51 means to the Yankees, it's hard for me to ask for that number," Ichiro said. "I'd like to have a new number and then make that my own."
Now in his 12th big league season, Ichiro switched clubhouses batting .261 with four home runs, 28 RBIs and 15 stolen bases in 95 games for Seattle. He believes that coming to New York will rejuvenate his performance.
"Of course, that is my intention," Ichiro said. "Especially looking at how the Yankees are doing right now, I just want to do whatever I can to be helpful to the Yankees."


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In the mid-1930s, Kenneth Burke—fed up with the lumbering pace and bureaucracy of publishing—decided to start his own publishing network. He enlisted several of his buddies to help and, critically, to write books for this new enterprise. He was going to call it "Manuscript Press," or something like that. It flopped. Later in life, he resurrected the idea and, thanks to the new technology of photocopying, sent his unpublished manuscripts all over the place. If you're lucky, you might even have one. I had a copy of Poetics, Dramatistically Considered sent to me (quite graciously) by the widow of James Sibley Watson, Burke's long-time benefactor.
We are in the midst of a miraculous renaissance in Burke studies, judging by the success of recent conferences (such as KB and His Circles at Penn State in 2005), by the emergence of KB Journal, and by the number of excellent books and articles by and about Burke that have been published in the last few years. I use the term miraculous intentionally. I worry that it won't last if we don't support the publishers, editors, and authors who help us make this scholarship public. [Disclosure: I am closely involved with KB Journal, Parlor Press, and some of the books themselves as an author.] KB Journal editors discussed the urgency and opportunity of this moment and decided that we should do whatever we can to draw attention to new books and other scholarship relevant to Burke studies. Our "Reviews" section launched that effort in previous issues. We continue it here with this, a gallery of Burke-authored books that we think KB Journal readers should buy and read. Soon, we will create another book gallery that directs readers to recent books about Burke (there are some fine ones). That scholarship is important as well, and we owe it to each other to read each other's work. In the last five years, we have been lucky to see terrific new books published by the University of South Carolina Press, Parlor Press, the University of California Press, Black Sparrow Books, and others. Books from these publishers help define the future of our scholarship and, importantly, give others hope that a book on rhetoric generally or Burke in particular still has some chance of being published, in spite of the bleak forecast that our presses are dying out. We shouldn't—we can't—let that happen.
In "The Politics of Rhetorical Studies: A Piacular Rite," James Aune recently suggested that the difficulties faced by our publishers are symptomatic of a wider problem: Perhaps we are not speaking or writing to each other as much as we used to, or maybe we are understandably distracted by too much information competing for too little attention. Perhaps we are too bent on tracking down our own implications (to put a Burkish twist on it). Aune writes,
We need to agree on a core of courses and research projects. The social sciences progress by making doctoral dissertations reflect the research project of the advisor; we consistently allow dissertations to reflect the unique interests of the writer. The result is work across the map that does not gather a sustained audience. And this matters. In the last few years we have lost several high quality book series because rhetoricians do not buy each other's books. And no wonder: if each rhetorician is a specialty onto him or herself, why buy a book outside the specialty? (73; Quarterly Journal of Speech 92.1 [February 2006]: 69-76)
Rhetorician's don't buy each other's books! Aune may be right about that, but I hope the generalization doesn't hold for too long. So, let me just say, "Buy Burke Books!" Here are some of Burke's own. We will add to this book gallery as we go. If you have any suggestions for {Burke] books to list here, let us know. We have provided links, where possible, directly to the publisher's site, where you can sometimes get a better deal and also rest assured that your money goes to the publisher and author of the book rather than to someone who didn't publish it or write it. The list is ordered by date of publication (or pending publication), starting with the most recent. In the Fall 2006 issue of KB Journal, we include Julie Whitaker's introduction and three poems from Burke's Late Poems, 1968-1993.
New Books by Kenneth Burke |
Kenneth Burke on ShakespeareKenneth Burke This volume gathers and annotates all of the Shakespeare criticism, including previously unpublished notes and lectures, by the maverick American intellectual Kenneth Burke (1897–1993). Burke's interpretations of Shakespeare have had an impressive influence on important lines of contemporary scholarship; playwrights and directors have been stirred by his dramaturgical investigations; and many readers outside academia have enjoyed his ingenious dissections of what makes a play function. Artist and illustrator Taylor Jones drew the cover image of Kenneth Burke. |
Essays Toward a Symbolic of Motives, 1950-1955Kenneth Burke In this long-awaited third volume in his Motivorum trilogy, renowned critic and philosopher Kenneth Burke offers his most precise and elaborated account of his dramatistic poetics. |
Late Poems, 1968–1993Attitudinizings Verse-wise, While Fending for One's Selph, and in a Style Somewhat Artificially Colloquial Kenneth Burke The first publication of over 150 poems from Burke's final decades |
Here & Elsewhere: The Collected Fiction of Kenneth Burke Kenneth Burke Here & Elsewhere collects, for the first time in one volume, all of Burke's fiction. |
On Human Nature: A Gathering While Everything Flows, 1967-1984Kenneth Burke Brings together the late essays, autobiographical reflections, an interview, and a poem by the eminent literary theorist and cultural critic Kenneth Burke (1897-1993). |
The Humane Particulars: The Collected Letters of William Carlos Williams and Kenneth BurkeEdited by James H. East An illuminating conversation between poet and critic |
Letters from Kenneth Burke to William H. Rueckert, 1959-1987Edited by William H. Rueckert; transcribed from the originals by Barbara L. Rueckert; foreword by Angelo Bonadonna These letters show the development of Burke's thought in the last thirty or so years of his life, when he remained remarkably productive not only as a correspondent but as a critic and traveling scholar. Rueckert became for Burke both student and "co-conspirator," with Burke himself playing the roles of teacher, mentor, father, and peer. |


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Pearl Jam's Mike McCready Voices Support for Affordable Care Act
With the presidential election just over two weeks away, Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready has teamed up with filmmaker Jesse Dylan in a video encouraging people to vote only for Congressional candidates that support the Affordable Care Act, also known as ObamaCare (watch below).
In the video, McCready voices his support for the Affordable Care Act because of his personal experience in dealing with pre-existing conditions. McCready suffers from Crohn's Disease. "Before the Affordable Care Act, people with conditions like mine could be denied coverage. I know. I was denied twice, even being a member of a famous rock band," said McCready.
"The people who don't have those kind of resources, they are stuck, they have no choices. But now, we can't be denied insurance because of something we can't change—our illnesses. We have choices, we can be insured, and we can focus on having a life."
The two also have issued a joint statement about the issue. Part of the letter explains why they support the Affordable Care Act:
"The insurance industry's structure left 129 million Americans – including 17 million children – at risk of being denied health insurance because they have a pre-existing medical condition. Millions of Americans tried to buy health care, but were turned away or charged more because they were sick (or had been sick), and therefore didn't look like a good risk. Millions more Americans were unable to afford insurance, or exceeded their lifetime treatment caps, or experienced other difficulties that left them uninsured and without access to affordable health care when they needed it most.
Business isn't a bad thing. But the business of health insurance hasn't been a good thing in America. Not for anyone with a chronic illness, or with a spouse who got sick and lost their job, or for a gravely ill child and his or her parents. President Obama's Affordable Care Act (ACA) recognized these shortcomings and rectified them. ObamaCare does for health care what business could not or would not; it prohibits discrimination against those of us with pre-existing conditions. It ensures everyone, regardless of their employment status or health care situation, access to quality insurance and medical care. Everyone. Period."
McCready has started a petition on SignOn.org where people can join him to pledge their vote for candidates that support the Affordable Care Act.


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For the last 15 years the Badgecraft team have been facilitating learning, mainly but not exclusively, outside of formal education settings. We work with international youth development programmes; deliver training of staff in nonprofit and business organisations; provide training for trainers and support schools in their extracurricular activities and teacher training.
We care passionately about learning in all its forms. Throughout our work we have been looking for a solution to recognise learning wherever and whenever it happens, and in 2011 we discovered Mozilla Open Badges. This discovery set us on the path to creating Badgecraft.
For us, and many others, digital open badges are a very effective way to implement meaningful assessments and accurate recognition systems for diverse types of skills and achievements. Their flexibility is a huge advantage.
We believe that recognition of skills and achievements should be:
Through Badgecraft we can offer a fun yet credible tool to assess competences, validate prior-learning, support professional development of staff and create motivating and engaging recognition systems for achievement.
Badgecraft offers a multilingual web platform to manage achievements using digital open badges. Organisations and individuals can earn, create, issue, share, sort and display badges online, plus use them to communicate achievements in the places which matter.
Our team is dedicated to supporting organisations who want to design and implement badge-based recognition systems in their work. We offer tailor made services of badge system design, staff training, consultancy and coaching to achieve the best results in your work.