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The Itching Pet: Alternatives to Steroids
Excessive licking, chewing, and scratching can make a pet's life miserable for month after month, even year after year. No one likes to see their pet uncomfortable; furthermore, the constant licking, chewing, and scratching can keep a pet owner up at night from the noise. Clearly, uncontrolled itching is a problem to solve before it gets out of hand.
For reliable rapid relief of itch and inflammation, it is hard to match the corticosteroid hormones such as hydrocortisone, triamcinolone, methylprednisolone, prednisone, dexamethasone, and others. There are some animals that seem unable to live with any degree of comfort without these medications. Unfortunately, these hormones have widespread and potentially dangerous actions throughout the body when they are used for inappropriately long periods and it is generally desirable to minimize the use of these hormones when possible to do so. Ideally, corticosteroids are used for a few really tough itch weeks and other forms of itch management are used for general itch maintenance.
Of course, this is easier to write about than to actually do. When your pet is scratching and chewing raw spots on his skin, practical advice is what is called for. The following list includes assorted non-steroidal methods for relieving itch and reducing the amount of corticosteroid hormones needed.
Infection Control
When an animal becomes suddenly itchier, we tend to assume there must have been a new or sudden allergen exposure. While this is possible, most of the time what has actually happened is an infection has taken root in the skin as a result of scratching and chewing. In many cases, controlling the infection will bring the pet back into its comfort zone and many allergic animals are managed by simply having their infections treated when they flare up.
The usual infections involve the Staphylococci bacteria and/or the Malassezia fungi that normally live on the skin surface. When the environment of the skin changes (allergic skin loses water and may have more oils), these organisms multiply and can gain access to deeper layers of the skin through abrasions caused by scratching and chewing. Soon there is a rash and/or an odor. Antibiotics generally handle these infections, though sometimes culture is necessary to determine what antibiotic is needed. Expect an itchy animal to have some skin samples reviewed under the microscope to check for infection. Some itchy pets need continuous management for these infections while, as mentioned, others only need periodic treatment. Ideally, additional treatments are used between infection flare ups to extend the time between them.
Long-Acting Injectables
Lokivetmab (Cytopoint®, Canine Atopic Dermatitis Immunotherapeutic, Cadi)
A relatively new product is lokivetmab, a monoclonal antibody genetically engineered to target the canine version of a biochemical called interleukin 31. Interleukin 31 is a type of cytokine and is an important mediator of itching so when it is inactivated by antibodies, relief from itch is rapidly achieved (usually beginning 8 hours after injection and readily apparent after 1 day). For over 80% of dogs receiving the injection, results are sustained for at least 4 weeks. That said, it does not work for every dog, and while some dogs experience more than 4 weeks of relief, others experience less.
Lokivetmab does not affect pre-existing infections other than to make them not be itchy. It only provides symptomatic relief, but for many itchy dogs, stopping the itch/scratch cycle is needed to curtail the vicious cycle and stop the perpetuation of skin infections. This product is excellent at extending the interval between skin infection flare ups.
Oral Medications
Antihistamine and Antihistamine Trials
Histamine, a biological chemical, is the chief mediator of inflammation in humans, hence the proliferation of antihistamines available for people both by prescription and over the counter. Histamine is not the major mediator of inflammation in dogs, thus these medications are not as reliable for dogs as they are for us.
The International Committee on Allergic Diseases in Animals puts out guidelines for managing atopic dermatitis, and they divide itch into acute flare ups and more chronic daily levels of itching. They found little benefit from antihistamines for acute flare ups except for mild cases and consider that the drowsiness side effect may be responsible for any reduction in scratching. For more chronic cases, daily use of antihistamines fared better with the idea that regular use might be preventing flare ups even if antihistamines were not so good at actually treating flare ups. Responses were variable between individuals.
While the chance of any one antihistamine being effective is small (about 15% on the average), trying several antihistamines sequentially often leads to finding one that works. It is important to note that many antihistamines have a drowsiness side effect. Antihistamines commonly used for such trials include:
Cyclosporine (Atopica)
Cyclosporine is an immuno-modulating drug originally developed for use in organ transplant patients but also useful in other immune-mediated diseases. Since allergy is an immune-mediated condition, cyclosporine was investigated as an alternative to corticosteroids and found effective for most patients. A good four to eight weeks are needed to see a good response to cyclosporine which makes it fairly useless for acute flare ups. Typically it is combined with a medication that yields rapid itch relief so that by the time the itch is controlled, the cyclosporine can take over. Cyclosporine tastes bitter and commonly generates a mild upset stomach when it is first used. Cyclosporine is available for both dogs and cats.
Oclacitinib (Apoquel®)
This relatively new medication is a new approach to itch relief. Oclacitinib is called a JANUS- kinase inhibitor and it exerts its' effects in the skin just as rapidly as do corticosteroids. This makes it helpful for both acute flare ups as well as long-term management of itching. It is important to realize that its' effects seem to be only on the sensation of itching and, unlike steroids, there is no anti-inflammatory result. This means that the patient's itch can be controlled in the face of even advanced skin infection. This might sound like a good thing but there is concern that if the patient is not itching, the pet owner may not be motivated to perform the therapy needed to control the skin disease. Oclacitinib is approved for dogs but feline use is being explored. Patients should be over age one year and should not have a history of cancer or demodectic mange.
Fatty Acid Supplementation
The discovery of anti-inflammatory properties of evening primrose oils and fish oils in humans has led to similar products on the market for our pets. These products are not analogous to the oil supplements that are recommended to make a pet's coat shiny; instead these are true anti-inflammatory medications capable of relieving joint pain, cramps, and itchy skin.
They are not at all useful for acute flare ups of itching as they require weeks to build up in the body in order to exert an effect. Instead, they are used for long-term management in making the skin less able to generate inflammatory mediators. (Essentially, they make the skin less reactive to allergens).
The supplement alone is mild in its ability to prevent itch but it can be used to boost the effects of other anti-itch medications.
Ultra-Microsized Palmitoylethenolamide or "PEA" (Redonyl®)
PEA is a natural substance made by both plants and animals. In animals, it is involved in restoring balance to the skin's biochemistry and preventing release of the biochemical mediators of itching. (The actual process involves enhancing levels of endogenous endocannabinoids and is fairly complex.) The commercial product uses an extract of soybeans to obtain its PEA and creates a super concentrate as it would not be possible to eat enough soybeans to garner a therapeutic dose of PEA. The super small "ultra micronizing" allows for better absorption of the product. It is available as a flavored chew for dogs and can also be used in cats.
Topical Therapies
We now know that topical steroids (cortisone crèmes, sprays, and related products) are absorbed through the skin and into the bloodstream, but the systemic hormonal side effects achieved with topical use do seem blunted and probably only of significance for very small dogs. This makes topical steroid use a much safer long-term approach relative to oral or injectable steroids. Of course, the entire animal cannot be enrobed in topical steroid cremes but for small irritated areas (hot spots), topicals can provide excellent relief without the systemic effects of hormones. They are best used for acute flare ups.
Shampoo Therapy
There are many benefits to shampoo therapy: luke warm water is inherently soothing, crusts and dandruff that could be inherently itchy can be removed, pollens and other allergenic substances can be washed away, the skin can be either moisturized or stripped of excess oil depending on what is needed and, of course, medications can be delivered in the shampoo lather itself. Skin can be moisturized with shampoo therapy, which reduces the sensitivity of the skin to itch stimulation. (The itch threshold is raised through skin hydration). As technology advances, new products are introduced and ways to prolong their effects are developed. Here are some general choices that might be helpful:
Ten minutes of skin contact is the minimum requirement for any medicated shampoo. Premature rinsing will not allow for the therapeutic benefit to be realized.
Respect the Steroid
Severe itching amounts to a reduction in life quality. It is important not to develop the mindset that corticosteroids should be avoided at all costs. This would not be fair to the itching pet. Steroids are valuable tools in the relief of pain and suffering and have an important place the therapy of the itchy pet.
The goal is not to avoid steroid use if possible but to avoid long term dependence on steroids if possible. Despite all of the above management tricks, some pets will still require long term steroid use to achieve any reasonable comfort. There are monitoring protocols in place for such cases. It should also not be forgotten that underlying allergies and recurring skin infections can be addressed specifically and that as these conditions are managed, the itch is also managed.
Steroid hormones have many side effects and, as helpful as they are for allergic skin diseases, it is best to reserve them for only the most itchy episodes.
A Few Words about Flea Control
We receive email on a daily basis from people with itchy pets who are convinced that fleas are not involved in the problem. When we examine such pets, we find fleas actually are contributing to the itching in at least 50% of cases and the owner is invariably surprised to see the live fleas when they find them. Since any itchy skin disease is made worse by fleas, good flea control is imperative and it is important not to assume that not seeing fleas means they are not there. For example, if your pet's itchiest areas include the lower back, this is a strong indicator that your pet has fleas whether you see them or not. Often, becoming diligent with flea control is the least expensive and least labor-intensive way to control a pet's itch symptoms.
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Boxing Ledger's Archives
Thursday, January 5, 2012
'Irish' Micky Ward training 'The Wolf' Unbeaten light welterweight prospect Levan Ghvamichava
CORK, Ireland (January 5, 2012) - Irish boxing manager Gary Hyde announced today that he has come to an agreement with "Irish" Micky Ward to train his hot prospect, light welterweight sensation Levan "The Wolf" Ghvamichava.
Ghvamichava (6-0, 5 KOs), who is a native of Georgia living in Belfast, will relocate in February to Lowell, Massachusetts, where he will train under the guidance of three-time Fight of the Year participant, Ward, whose life was portrayed in the Academy Award winning movie, The Fighter.
"I am delighted we have Micky Ward on board," Hyde said. "He has a lot of valuable experience to share with Levan, whose style of fighting is very similar to Micky's. 'The Wolf' is a throwback fighter who loves nothing more than going into the trenches, just like his new coach, and fighting toe-to-toe. Micky has been approached by a lot of fighters who wanted the benefit of his coaching and experience, so I am very happy that Micky has chosen to work with us.
"Levan is a six-time Georgian Senior champion, European silver medalist, and one of the leading 140-pound division amateur fighters in the world the past few years. I have been in talks with some of the leading promoters in the United States who are very keen on signing Levan. When he makes his US debut, sometime fairly soon, he could be fighting on a major undercard."
In 2011, Ghvamichava won all six of his pro fights and he is already fighting in scheduled eight-round bouts. Levan is one of the highest ranking fighters in the world for a fighter with relatively so little pro fights. In his last fight this past October in Scotland, he knocked out former European and Italian champion Guiuseppe Lauri (51-8, 32 KOs) in the second round.
"I'm looking forward to working with Levan and Gary," the popular Ward commented. "Levan looks like a talented fighter with a very, very bright future. We'll get him good sparring at my gym (Chelmsford, MA), as well as the West End Gym in Lowell, and also take him to some gyms in Boston. There are a lot of young fighters around here who will be good sparring partners for Levan. I can't wait to get started."
Hyde, president of Nowhere To Hyde, also manages a stable of other undefeated fighters such as WBA Interim Super Bantamweight Champion Guillermo "The Jackal" Rigondeaux (8-0, 6 KOs), undefeated British welterweight prospect Mark Heffron (5-0, 4 KOs) and light middleweight Dee "Wealthy" Walsh (1-0). Hyde plans to sign more fighters in 2012 and make Lowell his U.S. base.
1 comment:
Best of luck to Mickey and the Wolf pup. If you can condition and teach the quick hook to the liver , the sky is the limit! Great news. Jim D.
- January 22, 2012 at 7:34 PM
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Episode 75
Conservancy Talk Blog with the awesome "Farm to Closet Series"
Photo courtesy of The Nature Conservancy / Lori Johnson |
Enter to win 2000 yards of this gorgeous certified sustainable wool yarn from Patagonia by following the Nature Conservancy on Twitter or Facebook and then leaving a comment under this post by November 15th. Please remember to include your contact information. Only one comment per person please! Three winners will be chosen and announced on Episode 76!
Thank you for listening!


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1 Oh sing unto Jehovah a new song; For he hath done marvellous things: His right hand, and his holy arm, hath wrought salvation for him.
2 Jehovah hath made known his salvation: His righteousness hath he openly showed in the sight of the nations.
3 He hath remembered his lovingkindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel: All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all the earth: Break forth and sing for joy, yea, sing praises.
5 Sing praises unto Jehovah with the harp; With the harp and the voice of melody.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet Make a joyful noise before the King, Jehovah.
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; The world, and they that dwell therein;
8 Let the floods clap their hands; Let the hills sing for joy together
9 Before Jehovah; for he cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with equity.


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the Week of Proper 10 / Ordinary 15
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Bible Commentaries
Henry's Complete Commentary on the Bible Henry's Complete
Relief is here brought to Samaria and her king, when the case is, in a manner, desperate, and the king despairing. I. It is foretold by Elisha, and an unbelieving lord shut out from the benefit of it, 2 Kings 7:1; 2 Kings 7:2. II. It is brought about, 1. By an unaccountable fright into which God put the Syrians (2 Kings 7:6), which caused them to retire precipitately, 2 Kings 7:7. 2. By the seasonable discovery which four lepers made of this (2 Kings 7:3-5), and the account which they gave of it to the court, 2 Kings 7:8-11. 3. By the cautious trial which the king made of the truth of it, 2 Kings 7:12-15. III. The event answered the prediction both in the sudden plenty (2 Kings 7:16), and the death of the unbelieving lord (2 Kings 7:17-20); for no word of God shall fall to the ground.
Verses 1-2
Elisha Foretells the Relief of Samaria. | B. C. 891. |
1 Then Elisha said, Hear ye the word of the LORD; Thus saith the LORD, To morrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria. 2 Then a lord on whose hand the king leaned answered the man of God, and said, Behold, if the LORD would make windows in heaven, might this thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof.
Here, I. Elisha foretels that, notwithstanding the great straits to which the city of Samaria is reduced, yet within twenty-four hours they shall have plenty, 2 Kings 7:1; 2 Kings 7:1. The king of Israel despaired of it and grew weary of waiting: then Elisha foretold it, when things were at the worst. Man's extremity is God's opportunity of magnifying his own power; his time to appear for his people is when their strength is gone,Deuteronomy 32:36. When they had given over expecting help it came. When the son of man comes shall he find faith on the earth?Luke 18:8. The king said, What shall I wait for the Lord any longer? And perhaps some of the elders were ready to say the same: "Well," said Elisha, "you hear what these say; now hear you the word of the Lord, hear what he says, hear it and heed it and believe it: to-morrow corn shall be sold at the usual rate in the gate of Samaria;" that is, the siege shall be raised, for the gate of the city shall be opened, and the market shall be held there as formerly. The return of peace is thus expressed (Judges 5:11), Then shall the people of the Lord go down to the gates, to buy and sell there. 2. The consequence of that shall be great plenty. This would, in time, follow of course, but that corn should be thus cheap in so short a time was quite beyond what could be thought of. Though the king of Israel had just now threatened Elisha's life, God promises to save his life and the life of his people; for where sin abounded grace doth much more abound.
II. A peer of Israel that happened to be present openly declared his disbelief of this prediction, 2 Kings 7:2; 2 Kings 7:2. He was a courtier whom the king had an affection for, as the man of his right hand, on whom he leaned, that is, on whose prudence he much relied, and in whom he reposed much confidence. He thought it impossible, unless God should rain corn out of the clouds, as once he did manna; no less than the repetition of Moses's miracle will serve him, though that of Elijah might have served to answer this intention, the increasing of the meal in the barrel.
III. The just doom passed upon him for his infidelity, that he should see this great plenty for this conviction, and yet not eat of it to his comfort. Note, Unbelief is a sin by which men greatly dishonour and displease God, and deprive themselves of the favours he designed for them. The murmuring Israelites saw Canaan, but could not enter in because of unbelief. Such (says bishop Patrick) will be the portion of those that believe not the promise of eternal life; they shall see it at a distance--Abraham afar off, but shall never taste of it; for they forfeit the benefit of the promise if they cannot find in their heart to take God's word.
Verses 3-11
The Siege of Samaria Raised. | B. C. 891. |
3 And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? 4 If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die. 5 And they rose up in the twilight, to go unto the camp of the Syrians: and when they were come to the uttermost part of the camp of Syria, behold, there was no man there. 6 For the Lord had made the host of the Syrians to hear a noise of chariots, and a noise of horses, even the noise of a great host: and they said one to another, Lo, the king of Israel hath hired against us the kings of the Hittites, and the kings of the Egyptians, to come upon us. 7 Wherefore they arose and fled in the twilight, and left their tents, and their horses, and their asses, even the camp as it was, and fled for their life. 8 And when these lepers came to the uttermost part of the camp, they went into one tent, and did eat and drink, and carried thence silver, and gold, and raiment, and went and hid it; and came again, and entered into another tent, and carried thence also, and went and hid it. 9 Then they said one to another, We do not well: this day is a day of good tidings, and we hold our peace: if we tarry till the morning light, some mischief will come upon us: now therefore come, that we may go and tell the king's household. 10 So they came and called unto the porter of the city: and they told them, saying, We came to the camp of the Syrians, and, behold, there was no man there, neither voice of man, but horses tied, and asses tied, and the tents as they were. 11 And he called the porters; and they told it to the king's house within.
We are here told,
I. How the siege of Samaria was raised in the evening, at the edge of night (2 Kings 7:6; 2 Kings 7:7), not by might or power, but by the Spirit of the Lord of hosts, striking terror upon the spirits of the besiegers. Here was not a sword drawn against them, not a drop of blood shed, it was not by thunder or hailstones that they were discomfited, nor were they slain, as Sennacherib's army before Jerusalem, by a destroying angel; but, 1. The Lord made them to hear a noise of chariots and horses. The Syrians that besieged Dothan had their sight imposed upon, 2 Kings 6:18; 2 Kings 6:18. These had their hearing imposed upon. For God knows how to work upon every sense, pursuant to his own counsels as he makes the hearing ear and the seeing eye, so he makes the deaf and the blind,Exodus 4:11. Whether the noise was really made in the air by the ministry of angels, or whether it was only a sound in their ears, is not certain; which soever it was, it was from God, who both brings the wind out of his treasures, and forms the spirit of man within him. The sight of horses and chariots had encouraged the prophet's servant, 2 Kings 6:17; 2 Kings 6:17. The noise of horses and chariots terrified the hosts of Syria. For notices from the invisible world are either very comfortable or very dreadful, according as men are at peace with God or at war with him. 2. Hearing this noise, they concluded the king of Israel had certainly procured assistance from some foreign power: He has hired against us the kings of the Hittites and the kings of the Egyptians. There was, for aught we know but one king of Egypt, and what kings there were of the Hittites nobody can imagine; but, as they were imposed upon by that dreadful sound in their ears, so they imposed upon themselves by the interpretation they made of it. Had they supposed the king of Judah to have come with his forces, there would have been more of probability in their apprehensions than to dream of the kings of the Hittites and the Egyptians. If the fancies of any of them raised this spectre, yet their reasons might soon have laid it: how could the king of Israel, who was closely besieged, hold intelligence with those distant princes? What had he to hire them with? It was impossible but some notice would come, before, of the motions of so great a host; but there were they in great fear where no fear was. 3. Hereupon they all fled with incredible precipitation, as for their lives, left their camp as it was: even their horses, that might have hastened their flight, they could not stay to take with them, 2 Kings 7:7; 2 Kings 7:7. None of them had so much sense as to send out scouts to discover the supposed enemy, much less courage enough to face the enemy, though fatigued with a long march. The wicked flee when none pursues. God can, when he pleases, dispirit the boldest and most brave, and make the stoutest heart to tremble. Those that will not fear God he can make to fear at the shaking of a leaf.
II. How the Syrians' flight was discovered by four leprous men. Samaria was delivered, and did not know it. The watchmen on the walls were not aware of the retreat of the enemy, so silently did they steal away. But Providence employed four lepers to be the intelligencers, who had their lodging without the gate, being excluded from the city, as ceremonially unclean: the Jews say they were Gehazi and his three sons; perhaps Gehazi might be one of them, which might cause him to be taken notice of afterwards by the king, 2 Kings 8:4; 2 Kings 8:4. See here, 1. How these lepers reasoned themselves into a resolution to make a visit in the night to the camp of the Syrians, 2 Kings 7:3; 2 Kings 7:4. They were ready to perish for hunger; none passed through the gate to relieve them. Should they go into the city, there was nothing to be had there, they mist die in the streets; should they sit still, they must pine to death in their cottage. They therefore determine to go over to the enemy, and throw themselves upon their mercy: if they killed them, better die by the sword than by famine, one death than a thousand; but perhaps they would save them alive, as objects of compassion. Common prudence will put us upon that method which may better our condition, but cannot make it worse. The prodigal son resolves to return to his father, whose displeasure he had reason to fear, rather than perish with hunger in the far country. These lepers conclude, "If they kill us, we shall but die;" and happy they who, in another sense, can thus speak of dying. "We shall but die, that is the worst of it, not die and be damned, not be hurt of the second death." According to this resolution, they went, in the beginning of the night, to the camp of the Syrians, and, to their great surprise, found it wholly deserted, not a man to be seen or heard in it, 2 Kings 7:5; 2 Kings 7:5. Providence ordered it, that these lepers came as soon as ever the Syrians had fled, for they fled in the twilight, the evening twilight (2 Kings 7:7; 2 Kings 7:7), and in the twilight the lepers came (2 Kings 7:5; 2 Kings 7:5), and so no time was lost. 2. How they reasoned themselves into a resolution to bring tidings of this to the city. They feasted in the first tent they came to (2 Kings 7:8; 2 Kings 7:8) and then began to think of enriching themselves with the plunder; but they corrected themselves (2 Kings 7:9; 2 Kings 7:9): "We do not well to conceal these good tidings from the community we are members of, under colour of being avenged upon them for excluding us from their society; it was the law that did it, not they, and therefore let us bring them the news. Though it awake them from sleep, it will be life from the dead to them." Their own consciences told them that some mischief would befal them if they acted separately, and sought themselves only. Selfish narrow-spirited people cannot expect to prosper; the most comfortable advantage is that which our brethren share with us in. According to this resolution, they returned to the gate, and acquainted the sentinel with what they had discovered (2 Kings 7:10; 2 Kings 7:10), who straightway brought the intelligence to court (2 Kings 7:11; 2 Kings 7:11), and it was not the less acceptable for being first brought by lepers.
Verses 12-20
Samaria Plentifully Supplied. | B. C. 891. |
12 And the king arose in the night, and said unto his servants, I will now show you what the Syrians have done to us. They know that we be hungry; therefore are they gone out of the camp to hide themselves in the field, saying, When they come out of the city, we shall catch them alive, and get into the city. 13 And one of his servants answered and said, Let some take, I pray thee, five of the horses that remain, which are left in the city, (behold, they are as all the multitude of Israel that are left in it: behold, I say, they are even as all the multitude of the Israelites that are consumed:) and let us send and see. 14 They took therefore two chariot horses; and the king sent after the host of the Syrians, saying, Go and see. 15 And they went after them unto Jordan: and, lo, all the way was full of garments and vessels, which the Syrians had cast away in their haste. And the messengers returned, and told the king. 16 And the people went out, and spoiled the tents of the Syrians. So a measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, according to the word of the LORD. 17 And the king appointed the lord on whose hand he leaned to have the charge of the gate: and the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died, as the man of God had said, who spake when the king came down to him. 18 And it came to pass as the man of God had spoken to the king, saying, Two measures of barley for a shekel, and a measure of fine flour for a shekel, shall be to morrow about this time in the gate of Samaria: 19 And that lord answered the man of God, and said, Now, behold, if the LORD should make windows in heaven, might such a thing be? And he said, Behold, thou shalt see it with thine eyes, but shalt not eat thereof. 20 And so it fell out unto him: for the people trode upon him in the gate, and he died.
Here we have,
I. The king's jealousy of a stratagem in the Syrian's retreat, 2 Kings 7:12; 2 Kings 7:12. He feared that they had withdrawn into an ambush, to draw out the besieged, that they might fall on them with more advantage. He knew he had no reason to expect that God should appear thus wonderfully for him, having forfeited his favour by his unbelief and impatience. He knew no reason the Syrians had to fly, for it does not appear that he or any of this attendants heard the noise of the chariots which the Syrians were frightened at. Let not those who, like him, are unstable in all their ways, think to receive any thing from God; nay, a guilty conscience fears the worst and makes men suspicious.
II. The course they took for their satisfaction, and to prevent their falling into a snare. They sent out spies to see what had become of the Syrians, and found they had all fled indeed, commanders as well a common soldiers. They could track them by the garments which they threw off, and left by the way, for their greater expedition, 2 Kings 7:15; 2 Kings 7:15. He that gave this advice seems to have been very sensible of the deplorable condition the people were in (2 Kings 7:13; 2 Kings 7:13); for speaking of the horses, many of which were dead and the rest ready to perish for hunger, he says, and repeats it, "They are as all the multitude of Israel. Israel used to glory in their multitude, but now they are diminished and brought low." He advised to send five horsemen, but, it should seem, there were only two horses fit to be sent, and those chariot-horses, 2 Kings 7:14; 2 Kings 7:14. Now the Lord repented himself concerning his servants, when he saw that their strength was gone, Deuteronomy 32:36.
III. The plenty that was in Samaria, from the plunder of the camp of the Syrians, 2 Kings 7:16; 2 Kings 7:16. Had the Syrians been governed by the modern policies of war, when they could not take their baggage and their tents with them they would rather have burnt them (as it is common to do with the forage of a country) than let them fall into their enemies' hands; but God determined that the besieging of Samaria, which was intended for its ruin, should turn to its advantage, and that Israel should now be enriched with the spoil of the Syrians as of old with that of the Egyptians. Here see, 1. The wealth of the sinner laid up for the just (Job 27:16; Job 27:17) and the spoilers spoiled, Isaiah 33:1. 2. The wants of Israel supplied in a way that they little thought of, which should encourage us to depend upon the power and goodness of God in our greatest straits. 3. The word of Elisha fulfilled to a tittle: A measure of fine flour was sold for a shekel; those that spoiled the camp had not only enough to supply themselves with, but an overplus to sell at an easy rate for the benefit of others, and so even those that tarried at home did divide the spoil,Psalms 68:12; Isaiah 33:23. God's promise may be safely relied on, for no word of his shall fall to the ground.
IV. The death of the unbelieving courtier, that questioned the truth of Elisha's word. Divine threatenings will as surely be accomplished as divine promises. He that believeth not shall be damned stands as firm as He that believeth shall be saved. This lord, 1. Was preferred by the king to the charge of the gate (2 Kings 7:17; 2 Kings 7:17), to keep the peace, and to see that there was no tumult or disorder in dividing and disposing of the spoil. So much trust did the king repose in him, in his prudence and gravity, and so much did he delight to honour him. He that will be great, let him serve the public. 2. Was trodden to death by the people in the gate, either by accident, the crowd being exceedingly great, and he in the thickest of it, or perhaps designedly, because he abused his power, and was imperious in restraining the people from satisfying their hunger. However it was, God's justice was glorified, and the word of Elisha was fulfilled. He saw the plenty, for the silencing and shaming of his unbelief, corn cheap without opening windows in heaven, and therein saw his own folly in prescribing to God; but he did not eat of the plenty he saw. When he was about to fill his belly God cast the fury of his wrath upon him (Job 20:23) and it came between the cup and the lip. Justly are those thus tantalized with the world's promises that think themselves tantalized with the promises of God. If believing shall not be seeing, seeing shall not be enjoying. This matter is repeated, and the event very particularly compared with the prediction (2 Kings 7:18-20; 2 Kings 7:18-20), that we might take special notice of it, and might learn, (1.) How deeply God resents out distrust of him, of his power, providence, and promise. When Israel said, Can God furnish a table? the Lord heard it and was wroth. Infinite wisdom will not be limited by our folly. God never promises the end without knowing where to provide the means. (2.) How uncertain life and the enjoyments of it are. Honour and power cannot secure men from sudden and inglorious deaths. He whom the king leaned upon the people trod upon; he who fancied himself the stay and support of the government was trampled under foot as the mire in the streets. Thus hath the pride of men's glory been often stained. (3.) How certain God's threatenings are, and how sure to alight on the guilty and obnoxious heads. Let all men fear before the great God, who treads upon princes as mortar and is terrible to the kings of the earth.
These files are public domain and are a derivative of an electronic edition that is available on the Christian Classics Ethereal Library Website.
Henry, Matthew. "Complete Commentary on 2 Kings 7". "Henry's Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible". https://www.studylight.org/


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Having a website is not an accomplishment.
Quite a few hamsters have one. Famous dead people do too.
I have even seen sites in loving memory of unfamous dead hamsters! Some of those websites get more visitors in a day, than you hope to have in a year.
Here's my question:
If you have a business website and you're not getting any traffic, what's the point? You might as well give the money you're sending to your Internet Service Provider to a worthy cause, such as the Don LaFontaine Voice-Over Lab.
If, on the other hand, you want to use your online presence to your advantage, you better roll up your sleeves and get to work! Unless you're too busy auditioning for that $200 narration of a 300 page audio book.
is a digital marketing agency with specific expertise in social media and 12 offices worldwide. In 2008, Nilhan Jayasinghe, their VP, wrote a paper entitled; "Optimizing for users, not search engines. Building a sustainable brand in a connected world". He says:
"As search engines become more sophisticated, they will increasingly incorporate user data to validate their results. The numbers of people visiting a site; the time that users spend on a site; the depth of their engagement; whether they return over a period of time; how many people add it to their social bookmarking tools such as Digg; all will potentially be taken into account."
If you've read my last blog, you already know that the new Google is going in that direction. And where Google goes, others follow. In my opinion, there are at least two things you must do to take advantage of this development. These are the things that will drive people to your website; keep them there and make them come back:
1. Start writing for people, not for search engines: offer fresh & relevant content.
2. Stop "telling & selling". Instead, engage your visitors and begin a dialogue.
Here are a few ways to do it:
1. Offer FREE STUFF. Paradoxically, some companies are making lots of money by giving things away for free. It's called the "freemium model" whereby some content is offered at no charge, while premium content is not. Seattle-based Big Fish Games distributes more online games than anyone else, at about 1 million a day. You can try almost any Big Fish game for free, but there are add-ons that players have to pay for.
A few months ago, our colleague Peter O'Connell made his e-book "The Voice Over Entrance Exam" available at no charge. I'm pretty sure that this brought new visitors to his website. It did something else too: it established him as an expert. Here's a third bonus: free resources get links. Isn't that what I just did?
2. Contests & Awards are another way to drive people to your site. Videovoicebank.net organized a contest, and voice-overs were invited to share their professional horror stories. Not only did the Videovoicebank-team manage to engage their community; for days, visitors could enter their email address and vote for their favorite story. I wonder what they'll do with those email addresses…
3. Provide a resource that will benefit your target-group and (of course) offer it for free. Veteran VO-artist Mahmoud Taji compiled a voice-over directory of casting websites for "the benefit of established and up-and-coming voice over talent who want to secure more voice over work through the Internet." He asked everyone in the industry to help out, and this is just another example of how to get people involved. So far, Taji has a list of 239 sites, and you might add a few to the directory.
4. Quizzes and Games on your site are a fun way to make people come back and spend more time with you. British talent Emma Clarke is the voice you'll hear for a majority of the London Underground lines. Her website is terrific and it has games, spoof audios and even an online "Emma flip book". One of my favorites is a fridge magnet game where you can move the words around to make your own sentences and phrases – and have Emma speak them for you.
5. Actress Amy Walker (above) became an overnight sensation when her YouTube video 21Accents went "viral." "These days, it's not unusual to see a search engine like Google pull up a YouTube video in its top 10 results," says Linda Girard, co-founder of online marketing consulting firm Pure Visibility in Ann Arbor, Michigan. "The best way to maximize this trend is by uploading your video to various sites and attach good, searchable terms to the clips in order to get those high rankings." (source)
6. Then there's the old trick of offering limited Deals & Discounts. Bristol-based voice-over talent Alison Pitman once offered a promotion of 25% discount on all message on hold voice-over recordings. Particularly if you're also offering individual coaching and voice-over classes, never miss an opportunity to throw in an early bird special or a web coupon. Irresistible offers turn browsers into buyers.
7. Develop an ongoing relationship with your visitors (colleagues and clients). Answer their emails. Follow up with them. Ask them for feedback. Use social networking sites to connect. Take an active part in your community, online and offline. Send email newsletters using a service like Constant Contact or Aweber. It's all about building your brand and positive reinforcement.
8. Blogging benefits business. Internet marketing company Hubspot surveyed over 1500 small businesses. They found that those with blogs attracted:
- 55% more traffic
- 97% more inbound links
- 434% more indexed pages
Blogs are a very effective way to create valuable content; to connect, to interact and to build relationships based on trust. Nilhan Jayasinghe put it this way:
"The closer that Google and others get to reading real interaction, the better they will become at separating the sites that look relevant from the sites that are relevant. Inevitably, it will become ever more difficult to fake the quality of a web page.
Given that this is the case, by far the best way to rank highly for a given term is to offer what the search engines are getting progressively better at finding – content that is genuinely useful to those people searching for that term."
How to come up with quality content is going to be the topic of my next installment! In the meantime, how did you manage to increase your web traffic? What worked for you and why? What was a waste of time and money?
Paul Strikwerda ©nethervoice.com
PS What makes people click? Click to find out!


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BB Creams are Passe, CC Creams are the New Popular Girl in Class
Wednesday, September 26th, 2012By Glinda
Oh BB creams, we hardly knew ye.
You are now being unceremoniously shoved aside for something called a CC cream. The CC stands for color correct, or color and care, or something similar where you can mix and match appropriate-sounding words that begin with C.
CC creams are supposed to provide better coverage than BB creams yet still retain their sheerness, contain more anti-aging ingredients, and moisturize better.
Well, I guess I can see why BB creams would be a thing of the past.
However, I'm sure there is someone waiting in the wings to invent a DD cream, or even an EE cream.
I think I'll wait a little while before I spend my money.


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Swimming for Joint Pain Relief
Experts say that swimming is one of the best full body workouts, particularly for individuals with arthritis. Here's why swimming could be the perfect addition to your joint-friendly exercise routine.
- It's low-impact – Pool water provides buoyancy to support your body weight, cushion the joints and minimize pain.
- It promotes weight loss – Excess weight is a major contributor to arthritis because it places undue stress on the joints. The average person burns anywhere from 400 to 600 calories during one hour of swimming, making it an excellent aerobic activity for weight loss.
- It improves circulation – It doesn't matter if you're an expert swimmer or a novice. Just moving your body in the water will increase blood flow to the affected joints to reduce inflammation and relieve muscle tension.
- It increases range of motion – Swimming keeps joints loose and limber, allowing you to work on increasing your range of motion.
- It builds muscle – In addition to building cardiovascular fitness, swimming is a great muscle-building exercise. Water provides natural resistance for your muscles to work against, helping you increase muscle tone in a safe, low-impact environment.
- It's fun – The best kind of exercise routine is the one you stick with! Swimming is just as entertaining as it is effective, which means you're more likely to stay committed.
If you need more variety than just swimming laps, try water walking, water aerobics, or water Zumba! There are plenty of options to keep you motivated, so try them all!


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A filtered pitcher is a quick and easy way to improve the taste and quality of your drinking water. They're simple to use: just pour tap water into the pitcher and stick it in the fridge while the water passes through the filter and into the main reservoir. Some pitchers take several minutes to filter water, while others only take about 30 seconds.
Regardless, the best water filter pitcher will help remove some of the impurities in your regular tap water in relatively short order. I tested out seven top-rated pitchers, with prices ranging from $17 to $75. Each one has slightly different specs, but they all promise one thing: to make your drinking water better. Curious about the winner? Spoiler: It isn't Brita.
Read more: Make free distilled water at home
Megan Wollerton/Tips Clear
The $35 ZeroWater ZP-010 is by far the best filtered water pitcher of the bunch. It's affordable, sturdy and it has a large 10-cup pitcher capacity and a water spigot, in addition to the standard pour spout. Your purchase comes with a two-pack of replacement filters and a total dissolved solids (TDS) water quality tester (I used a different TDS meter in my performance testing; I'll talk more about the test methodology in a bit).
The ZP-010 removed the most TDS out of all seven pitchers (a whopping 93%), making it our top performer by far. A two-pack of replacement filters costs $30 and each one is supposed to last for up to 40 gallons. Brita and Pur, on the other hand, sell each of their filters for just $7 — and claim to have the same 40-gallon filter life. That said, the ZP-010 was much more effective at removing TDS and the filter itself is much larger than any of the others I tested.
Megan Wollerton/Tips Clear
At $17, the Pur PPT700W Basic is the most affordable of the seven pitchers, making it the best budget option — and a solid filtered water pitcher overall.
With a smaller 7-cup water capacity and slimmer dimensions, the PPT700W Basic is also a good choice if you have limited fridge space. It comes with one filter, which is supposed to last for up to two months — or 40 gallons of water. Replacement filters cost $7 each.
It didn't perform as well as the ZeroWater model, but it still removed almost 15% of the TDS in my tap water.
Megan Wollerton/Tips Clear
I'll talk a bit more about alkaline water in my test section below, but in short, pH readings (measurements of how acidic or basic your water is) range from 0 to 14; 7 is a neutral reading.
Despite conflicting research on the topic, some people attribute health benefits to more basic (or alkaline) water. As a result, select companies make water pitchers with filters that actually add nutrients as your tap water passes through.
The $70 Seychelle pH20 pitcher I tested took my tap water from an already basic reading of 8.39 to 10.1, the largest increase out of the three alkaline pitchers in my test group. This pitcher uses two filters at a time, but they are supposed to last for up to 200 gallons. A two-pack of replacement filters costs $50.
Megan Wollerton/Tips Clear
Another alkaline water filter pitcher, the $53 Invigorated Water pH Vitality, also did a good job, increasing the pH of my tap water from 8.61 to 9.36. It's also the only nonplastic model I tested out of the seven pitchers. The Invigorated Water pitcher is made of stainless steel and wood and has an 8-cup capacity.
It isn't a good option if you aren't interested in alkaline water, but its attractive design and lack of plastic are definite points in its favor. Also, instead of a standard filter, this pitcher has a unique filter pouch comprised of tiny balls designed to remove impurities while increasing the pH and adding minerals.
One filter pouch costs $18 and is supposed to last for up to 105 gallons.
Pitcher talk
To get started, here's a list of the pitchers I tested:
- Brita 0B58
- Brita 0B56
- Clearly Filtered
- Invigorated Water pH Vitality
- Pur PPT700W
- Seychelle pH20
- ZeroWater ZP-010
And here's a more detailed overview of each model and its key specs:
The specs
Brita 0B58 | Brita 0B56 | Clearly Filtered | Invigorated Water pH Vitality | Pur PPT700W | Seychelle pH20 | ZeroWater ZP-010 | |
Price | $30 | $35 | $75 | $53 | $17 | $70 | $35 |
Estimated filter life (in gallons) | 120 | 40 | 100 | 105 | 40 | 200 | 40 |
Replacement filter price | $17 | $7 | $50 | $18 | $7 | $50 (two pack) | $30 (two pack) |
Color | White | Red | White | Stainless steel | White and blue | White and blue | Blue |
Capacity (in cups) | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 10 |
Dimensions (H x W x D) | 10.22 x 10.29 x 5.82 | 9.65 x 9.65 x 4.57 | 10.25 x 11.25 x 5 | 11.73 x 6.1 x 4.8 | 11.3 x 10.9 x 4.8 | 10.25 x 11.5 x 5.5 | 11 x 11.63 x 5.93 |
Weight (in pounds) | 1.86 | 1.39 | 2.48 | 1.19 | 1.68 | 1.52 | 2.59 |
One key thing to consider from this chart is the estimated life of each pitcher filter versus its cost. The Brita 0B56, the Pur PPT700W and the ZeroWater ZP-010 all have a lower estimated filter life of up to 40 gallons. While the Brita and Pur models cost just $7 each, the ZeroWater filters cost $15 each (but are sold in a $30 two-pack).
But as you can see in the picture above, the ZeroWater filter on the far right is massive compared to the others. Of course, that doesn't automatically translate to better performance, but in this case — the ZeroWater filter did massively outperform the others. ZeroWater also claims its has a five-stage filter that's supposed to be better at removing particles while preventing mold from growing with use.
(Keep in mind that filter life will vary based on the quality of your tap water and, essentially, how much your filter has to "work" to remove impurities.)
How we test
To test these water filter pitchers, I washed each one with mild soap and water — and followed the individual manufacturer instructions for soaking, rinsing or otherwise prepping each filter for use. Then I filled a marked mason jar glass with 16 ounces of tap water and used an Orapxi water quality tester to measure and note the pH and the TDS present.
While the results of my tap water varied slightly each time I filled a fresh glass with 16 ounces, the pH of my tap water always read between 8.15 and 8.61 and the TDS always read between 149 and 161 ppm, or parts per million. (Read more about TDS, or total dissolved solids, here and here.)
Then I poured all 16 ounces into a water filter pitcher, waited for it to filter all the water, poured it into a new glass and took the readings again. For the nonalkaline pitchers, you should expect to see a drop in both the pH and in the TDS readings, as impurities and other minerals are removed from the water. I repeated these steps a total of three times on each of the seven pitchers.
The three alkaline water filter pitchers I tested — the Clearly Filtered, Invigorated Water pH Vitality and Seychelle pH20 — actually saw an increase in both the pH and the TDS, since they're designed to add minerals to your water.
TDS meters are not sophisticated enough to decipher which impurities, nutrients and other minerals each filter manages to remove (or add, in the case of the alkaline pitchers). For that reason, measuring TDS alone as an indicator of water quality has some limitations. But, in general, for a standard filtered water pitcher, we want to see a decrease in the TDS reading. Examples of the most common total dissolved solids include "calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium, bicarbonate, sulfate, chloride, nitrate, and silica," according to the US Geological Survey.
Here's a table of my test results. The data represents an average of three test runs for each filter pitcher.
Test results
pH (% change; negative reflects a decrease in pH) | TDS (% change; negative reflects a decrease in TDS) | |
Brita 0B58 | -25.21 | -26.62 |
Brita 0B56 | -8.34 | -3.125 |
Clearly Filtered | 15.32 | 118.87 |
Invigorated Water pH Vitality | 8.71 | 81.21 |
Pur PPT700W | -13.26 | -14.91 |
Seychelle pH20 | 20.38 | 57.42 |
ZeroWater ZP-010 | -9.71 | -93.08 |
The ZeroWater ZP-010 managed to reduce the total dissolved solids in my tap water by a staggering 93%, from an average initial TDS reading of 159 ppm to just 11 ppm. The Brita 0B58 Lake pitcher came in second place with over 26% reduction in TDS. As you'd expect, the Clearly Filtered, Invigorated Water pH Vitality and Seychelle pH20 all saw an increase in pH and in TDS.
Read more: Best shower head of 2020
Taste was a bit trickier to measure, but every pitcher did help reduce the slight metallic taste of my tap water. Unsurprisingly, the ZeroWater model tasted the best to me, with no metallic taste or scent.
Overall, the ZeroWater ZP-010 made my job pretty easy here — it completely dominated in terms of removing TDS and also happened to have the sturdiest design with the bonus addition of a water spigot. But there are other good options here — the Pur PPT700W is a great budget pitcher that also saves space with its slimmer design; the Seychelle pH20 is the best pitcher if you want alkaline water — and the Invigorated Water pH Vitality is a solid option if you want to avoid plastic (and want alkaline water).
One major takeaway for me was just how widely filtered water pitchers can vary, both in terms of performance — and even in terms of their key their function, as in the case of the alkaline pitchers. As long as you identify your needs before you buy, you're bound to find the right filtered water pitcher for you.
Read more: Best air purifiers for 2020


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Islamist Members of Parliament in Egypt are trying to deprive Egyptian women of their basic rights by introducing several controversial draft laws that, if passed, will bring Egypt back to the Middle Ages:
-- The website Ahram Online reports that Islamists wants to cancel Law 1 of the year 2000, known as the Khula Law, which acts as an alternative route for women whose husbands refuse to grant them a divorce. Through the Khula Law, courts grant women a divorce so long as they return the dowry paid by her husband prior to the marriage. Law 1 of the year 2000 was considered a step forward in women rights. Before that, Egyptian women did not have the right to divorce their husbands on their own terms.
Khula Law's opponents argue that a woman should not be able to ask for divorce, as it is against Islamic Sharia law. As reported by the news agency AINA, the Islamist lawmaker and main Khula Law's opponent, Mohamed El-Omda, has argued that the process is an offense to the Sharia and that is a poorly hidden attempt to Westernize Egypt.
-- According to media reports, Islamist parties are also preparing a draft law for early marriage that would permit girls to get married at the age of 14 instead of 18. As reported by Ahram Online, in the past few months, Salafist MPs have argued that there should be no minimum age for marriage for either sex, explaining that in the Sharia Law, an age for marriage is not specified.
Women activists are trying to campaign against this draft. "A license to drive, and to even vote, requires you to be 18 years old or older. Are those things more important than being a parent and forming a family?" said Azza Soliman, a legal assistant at the Centre for Egyptian Women. As reported by Ahram Online, she added she believes it is wrong to set the age of marriage below 18, or even "12, as some imply."
-- A controversial statement was instead made by Azza El Garf, a woman and a parliamentarian belonging to the Freedom and Justice Party, the political wing of the ruling Islamist group the Muslim Brotherhood ruling . Al-Garf clearly points out that she disagrees with the Egypt's 2008 ban on genital mutilation, to which she referred as a barbaric practice as beautification plastic surgery.
- Egyptian media recently reported about a draft law that would allow a husband to have sex with his dead wife within six hours after her death. Members of the Egyptian parliament said that the draft does not exist and that it was a story made up by the media. However, as reported by Al-Arabiya, the "Farewell Intercourse" is not a new proposal. Last year, a Moroccan cleric, Zamzami Abdul Bari, was the first to state that a husband could have sex with his dead wife. The Moroccan cleric argued that marriage remains valid even after death adding, perhaps implausibly, that a woman can also engage in sex with her dead husband.
-- Ahram Online also reports that Islamists have called for cancelling the implementation of CEDAW (the Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women), adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly; they alleged that "it contains articles that contradict Islamic Sharia."
Egypt's National Council for Women is campaigning against the above mentioned Islamist initiatives that are targeting women rights, saying that "marginalizing and undermining the status of women would negatively affect the country's human development."
Amal Al-Malki, a Qatari author, has been arguing on Arabic Al-Jazeera that the Arab Spring has so far failed women in their struggle for equality: "We have no voice. We have no visibility... And I am telling you, this is why women's rights should be codified; they should not be held hostage in the hands of political leaders who can change in a second, right? Governments should be held responsible for treating men and women equally."


text:
1 The former treatise I made, O Theophilus, of all things which Jesus began to do and to teach,
2 Until the day on which, giving commandments by the Holy Ghost to the apostles whom he had chosen, he was taken up.
3 To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion, by many proofs, for forty days appearing to them, and speaking of the kingdom of God.
4 And eating together with them, he commanded them, that they should not depart from Jerusalem, but should wait for the promise of the Father, which you have heard (saith he) by my mouth.
5 For John indeed baptized with water, but you shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost, not many days hence.
6 They therefore who were come together, asked him, saying: Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?
7 But he said to them: It is not for you to know the times or moments, which the Father hath put in his own power:
8 But you shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and Samaria, and even to the uttermost part of the earth.
9 And when he had said these things, while they looked on, he was raised up: and a cloud received him out of their sight.
10 And while they were beholding him going up to heaven, behold two men stood by them in white garments.
11 Who also said: Ye men of Galilee, why stand you looking up to heaven? This Jesus who is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come, as you have seen him going into heaven.
2 O clap your hands, all ye nations: shout unto God with the voice of Joy,
3 For the Lord is high, terrible: a great king over all the earth.
6 God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet.
7 Sing praises to our God, sing ye: sing praises to our king, sing ye.
8 For God is the king of all the earth: sing ye wisely.
9 God shall reign over the nations: God sitteth on his holy throne.
(6 God is ascended with jubilee, and the Lord with the sound of trumpet.)
17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and of revelation, in the knowledge of him:
18 The eyes of your heart enlightened, that you may know what the hope is of the glory of his inheritance in the saints.
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power towards us, who believe according to the operation of the might of his power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, raising him up from the dead, and setting him on his right hand in the heavenly places.
21 Above all principality, and power, and virtue, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come.
22 And he hath subjected all things under his feet, and hath made him head over all the church,
23 Which is his body, and the fulness of him who is filled all in all.
16 And the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the mountain where Jesus had appointed them.
17 And seeing him they adored: but some doubted.
18 And Jesus coming, spoke to them, saying: All power is given to me in heaven and in earth.
19 Going therefore, teach ye all nations; baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and behold I am with you all days, even to the consummation of the world.


text:
They're baaaack!
Just as Gail and I teetered on the edge of overwhelmed, Cathy (Harvest Meister) and Lilah (Weed Woman) came back to lighten our load and lift our spirits -and not a moment too soon! Non-gardeners never believe me when I describe this time of year as "stressful". I mentioned to someone that I spent the weekend "madly gardening" at home and was told that that must be an oxymoron – after all isn't gardening supposed to be contemplative and therapeutic? Fellow gardeners, I know you know the frenzy that can overtake just now (let's call it a Maynia). Not only is there an endless list of must-do-right-nows – like planting and digging out weeds that grew 5 feet tall all of a sudden when we were focused on planting – but we must also remember to notice and appreciate all of the returning plants and blooms – as if they're old friends back for an annual reunion. I don't know how many nights I've woken up worried that I might have missed a favorite plant's peak (and right now they're all my favorites). I almost snubbed the tree peony this year… I have some catching up to do with you all from before the long weekend. Here are some things I would have been disappointed to forget to welcome back and show off to you:
Hover over for captions/identification and click on for larger image.
Last Friday, Gail, Linda (one of the Rockettes) and I were "madly" planting/weeding in the North Garden when some visitors up on the north porch called our attention to the enormous red-tailed hawk taking a bath in the fountain not 30 feet from where the three of us were working. I'm so glad we didn't miss that spectacle – although the hawk might have preferred a little privacy…
Are you feeling stressed out at all? Are you remembering to stop and contemplate the leucothoe?


text:
I got my own blog at http://hansmeister.blogspot.com/.
I only recently restarted it after a long hiatus, I'm focusing it on foreign policy and domestic politics. It still needs some work, but it's a start.
Moderator Adds
I have today, 9th March 2016, merged in fifty-three threads which refer to blogs. I have not merged in many that debate the contents of a particular blog entry.
Since many of the blogs date back to 2006 they may no longer be active. Some were Member Blogs, but from memory they have not posted here for a long time.
There was a SWJ Blog Roll, but I cannot locate that now (Ends).
Blogs that have most graciously plugged or linked to us as we started this grand adventure:
The Adventures of Chester
Cox and Forkum
Irregular Analyses
Ludovic Monnerat
Michelle Malkin
Power and Control
Prairie Pundit
Last edited by davidbfpo; 03-09-2016 at 01:25 PM. Reason: Add Mods Note
I got my own blog at http://hansmeister.blogspot.com/.
I only recently restarted it after a long hiatus, I'm focusing it on foreign policy and domestic politics. It still needs some work, but it's a start.
... have added links on the SWJ page. Thanks.
Liberals Against Terrorism - Counterinsurgency. Stumbled on this while researchng another issue.... Some interesting discussions here at first glance - have not conducted any background research on the site - just throwing it out for our forum members' info.
I can't speak about all of the posters on LAT but regarding two of the psuedoanonnymous ones who occasionally visit Zenpundit:
Nadezhda: A very bright, well educated lady. Would seem to have some real background on policy issues. Has another blog Chez Nadezhda
praktike: currently studying Arabic in Cairo and is less active now than formerly. Smart and an effective debater who does not lose his cool. Surfs the net daily with a professional discipline and thoroughness that I find very impressive. Appears connected to liberal organizations in the real world. Guest blogged on high profile sites. Positions on issues are usually "liberal hawk" variety. Going out on a limb, I'd say he is foreign born or son of immigrants to U.S. or Britain.
Always worth the time to read their stuff even if you disagree.
PrairiePundit. Very good read for a quick down and dirty of current events and major issues. Maintained by SWC member Merv Benson.
Democracy Arsenal:
"A blog devoted to opinion, commentary and sparring on U.S. foreign policy and global affairs."
Be sure to check out the 14 November post: Military peace and stability sites...
Last edited by SWJED; 11-16-2005 at 08:46 AM.
Blog by a Fairbanks Daily-News Miner embed - Reporting from Iraq.
Think about everything youve heard about the conditions in Iraq, the role of U.S. forces, the multi-layered complexities of the war.
Then think again.
Im a journalist. I read the news everyday, from several sources. I have the luxury of reading stuff newspapers dont always have room to print. I read every tidbit I could on Iraq and the war before coming.
Everything I thought I knew was wrong.
Maybe not wrong, but certainly different than the picture in my head....
More than anything in the last few days Ive heard from soldiers and commanders that people back home dont quite get it. They dont see the real picture. They dont get the real story. Some of them, like Lt. Col. Gregg Parrish, look seriously pained in the face when he says only a part of the picture is being told; the part of car bombs and explosives and suicide bombers and death. Its a necessary part of the picture, but not a complete one, he says.
Ive listened to the soldiers and Parrish about the missing pieces of the puzzles that dont reach home. My selfish, journalistic drive immediately thinks Perfect. A story that hasnt been told. Let me at it....
26 Dec. London Daily Telegraph - Battlefield Blogs Take Iraq War Into Homes of America.
... In a development that is increasingly worrying US military commanders in Iraq, a growing number of American soldiers - 200 at the last count - have set up their own blogs, or internet diaries, and are updating them from the battlefield.
The phenomenon, facilitated by the provision of internet cafes at almost all US camps to permit soldiers regular contact with home, has for the first time allowed personal reports of the reality of combat to be read as they happen...
A US military spokesman said that failing to maintain some form of control of what soldiers were writing would be tactically naive as it could provide information that could aid the enemy.
"We don't have a problem with most of what they write," he said. "But we don't want them to give away the farm."
Geitner Simmons, Editorial Page editor of The Omaha World Herald and blogger at Regions of Mind has a post up featuring an interview with Robert Kaplan, author of Imperial Grunts.
An excerpt:
"TAE: Why do so many reporters, academics, and some everyday Americans think that people who go into the Army or Marines must be folks who didn't have bright prospects in college or the civilian work force?
Kaplan: To be diplomatic, I think it's class prejudice and snobbery. Because most of the people I meet in the lower ranks aren't poor or from the ghetto they're the solid working class, which does still exist. They're from non-trendy places in between the two coasts, or from working-class urban neighborhoods.
Look, for example, at one of the Special Forces teams I was with in Algeria. The executive officer, a graduate of The Citadel, was from a farming family in Indiana. The master sergeant was from a farming family in New Hampshire. The warrant officer grew up in an Italian section of Queens, New York. That's America. Whites in the barracks get very insulted if you confuse them with so-called white trash, and African Americans in the barracks get tremendously insulted if you confuse them with people in the inner city. With both groups, some of them may have come from the underclass, but they've long since separated themselves from it. They have no class envy."
One of my enduring memories of my time in the Marine Corps is the high quality of the people I encountered. When I went to OCS I was impressed with the intelligence and quality of the other candidates. I had similar experience when I worked with the troops in Vietnam. My observation of our current forces suggest if anything the quality has improved.
The Officers' Club - Great stuff - check it out.
Small Wars Journal Blog Roll.
Check it out - OPFOR...
Based on John and Charlie's history with The Officer's Club this should be a great read and resource.
Best of luck to both outstanding blogs... Here is the news from the sources:
CT Blog to Merge With "Fourth Rail" and Move - New Foundation to Fund Our Efforts - The Counterterrorism Blog
Merging with the Counterterrorism Blog, the Creation of the Counterterrorism Foundation and I'm Heading to Afghanistan - The Fourth Rail
Quoted in the Wall Street Journal's Best of the Web.
Merv's Blog can be found here - Prairie Pundit.... And reader Merv Benson:
The al Qaeda document you reported on described the media strategy as one in which al Qaeda bombs and the media blames the U.S. and Iraqi forces for not stopping it. Sure enough, that is exactly the spin that the Washington Post puts on the Tal Afar story. Shouldn't they at least acknowledge that they are following the enemy's script?
Just to be different, how about discussing the wickedness of fooling noncombatants into thinking they are getting bargain flour so that they can be murdered and be part of a story attacking people not responsible for their murder?...
Two blogs added to the SWJ blogroll:
Midnight in Iraq - US Marine currently deployed to Fallujah, Iraq.
AfghaniDan - US Marine currently deployed to Jalalabad, Afghanistan.
MilBlogs - and a hat tip for the link...