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Digibird is a gallery of high-magnification digital bird photography
and a digiscoping resource for bird photographers.
All of the photos are digital
Bird galleries | How to... | Contact Digibird |
What is digiscoping?
And will your gear work? Primer: Digiscoping Techniques For tech questions, start here Primer: Seven Quick Steps to Image Processing Primer: Digiscoping Optical Parameters Details and calculations |
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Pre-Columbian Figurines from Mexico
On this page...
Faces of ancient people in clay.
Representation of the human figure in clay has a very long history. The earliest known depiction of human form in clay is about 26,000 years old. A small figure of a woman, about 11 cm tall, is from the archaeological site Dolní Vestonice in the Moravian region of the Czech Republic. It was recovered from the site along with thousands of clay fragments of animal figures - a few nearly complete depicting lion, horse, bear, mammoth and rhinoceros. All were fired in relatively low temperature and are rather brittle.
Ancient civilisations in what is now Mexico used a highly developed pottery over 3,500 years ago. Among the objects made of clay are numerous figures, including miniature representation of humans. Some researchers hold the view that the prolific production of these figurines has no parallels in other cultures. About 2,000 years ago they become more widespread in Mexico until Spanish conquest in the early 16th century. Many figurines and faces, 3-5cm in size, are strikingly expressive, suggesting they were made by skilled artisans.
The purpose of these figures is not known, they could have been used in ceremonies and some placed in burials. Some faces may represent mythical characters, but it seems that most of them depict people in ordinary life situations and possibly are even mini portraits of individuals. Regardless of their use the clay faces, by sheer numbers, provide an astounding visual insight into long vanished generations. With a degree of stylistic influence many faces appear realistic, perhaps pensive – immobilised in clay-fragments they look at us face to face across centuries.
The heads in our collection have no firm provenance or any meaningful documentation. They probably changed hands many times going from one casual collector to the other. Digging out treasures of higher of lesser value has a long pedigree – dating back to ancient Egypt. In recent times such a pastime was frequently pursued by gentlemen of means as well as local peasants to supplement their income. Such casual digging on occasions resulted in great archaeological discoveries – Machu Picchu is a good example - but frequently they caused destruction of archaeological sites. It is quite likely that the clay heads in our collection were recovered by 'small' treasure hunters, still active in many countries.
Most of our Mexican clay heads were donated by Sydney solicitor Hugh Peden Steel in 1940. Steel may be remembered for the fact that his poems entitled A Crown of Wattle was the first book published by Angus & Robertson in 1888.
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca settlement complex – now an archaeological site - located 2,430 meters above sea level, in the Cusco Region of Peru, South America.

subset: commoncrawl


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One expert calls it "HIV all over again," but the revolution in hepatitis C treatment has taken place more quickly. And the new drugs act more quickly and effectively.
It's been just two years since the protease-inhibitors boceprevir (Victrelis) and telaprevir (Incivek), the first in what was described as a "disease-changing" class of drugs for the treatment of hepatitis C (HCV), were approved. Yet many clinicians already consider the original directly acting antivirals (DAAs) obsolete.
Although clinical trials showed they increase the cure rate from the 50% seen with the standard of care peginterferon-alpha (PEG-IFN) and ribavirin (RBV), to about 75% in patients chronically infected with HCV-1, their high rate of adverse effects, high pill burden, drug-drug interactions, low response in certain populations, and the need to administer them in conjunction with PEG-IFN and RBV has significantly limited their use.1 The reality is that clinicians are abandoning the drugs as they wait for the first in a new wave of HCV therapies expected to hit the market in late 2013 and 2014.
A recent French study found rates of serious adverse events between 38% and 49% in clinical practice, compared to rates seen in the clinical trials.
"Yes, there are more side effects (with boceprevir and telaprevir) observed in the clinical setting than what we saw in the clinical trials," said Michael Sagg, MD, who directs the Division of Infectious Disease at the University of Alabama-Birmingham and who is a member of the Infectious Disease Society of America's Hepatitis Task Force. "But in my mind, it's all moot, because in a year there are going to be so many more agents released with much fewer side effects that don't require administration with PEG-IFN or RBV."
"I wouldn't treat anyone with HCV right now unless they were cirrhotic or had some other manifestation of HCV," he said, a process called "warehousing." Instead, he's waiting for the new agents to become available.
Most of the novel medications, which include second-generation protease inhibitors, are given orally once a day, without PEG-IFN or, in some cases, reviparin, and with 90% to 100% success rates, depending on the viral genotype. "They result in a cure in 12 weeks," Dr. Sagg said. "So why use these other drugs?"
The reason for his optimism is a "revolution" in the development of HCV antivirals that he compares to the HIV drug explosion in the 1990s, "only three or four times bigger."
Indeed, this year at the European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) in Amsterdam investigators presented what one expert called an "astounding number" of phase III results, writing in a summary of the meeting.1
What's happening in the HCV world today, said Dr. Saag, is "HIV all over again," albeit with one important difference: "You can cure the infection in about 12 weeks of therapy."
This explosion in HCV drug development is driven by two factors: the development of an in vitro model of the virus in 1999 that allowed investigators to screen large numbers of potentially therapeutic compounds, and a greater understanding of the virus' infection and replication process, which provides numerous targets for treatment.2
The first drugs developed with this newfound knowledge were telaprevir and boceprevir. Second-generation protease inhibitors are designed to overcome some their limitations, with studies showing fewer side effects. Most are also taken once daily, making them easier to integrate into treatment which will, most likely, improve adherence.3
The nucleoside inhibitors (NI) are potent compounds that appear active against all HCV genotypes and demonstrate low rates of resistance. Some under investigation do, however, require co-administration with PEG-IFN and/or RBV.3
A study presented at the EASL (European Association for the Study of the Liver) meeting found that 24 weeks of treatment with the NS5A inhibitor daclatsivir in combination with the polymerase inhibitor sofosbuvir with or without ribavirin cured 100% of 41 HCV-1 patients who had failed IFN-based therapy with boceprevir or telaprevir.
The non-nucleoside inhibitors, however, however, appear less potent, with high rates of resistance, although they may play a role in combination therapy.3
Other direct-acting antivirals under investigation include cyclophilin inhibitors, antagomirs, and immunomodulators. Also under development are indirectly acting antivirals, which do not induce resistance but may play an important role in combination therapy, and analogues of interferon and ribavirin.3
Several articles about emerging therapies highlight some unanswered questions and potential challenges that need to addressed. These include:4
• The continued role of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin
• Deferring treatment until the "ideal" combination is available
• Stratifying patients for treatment based on genomic and other markers
• Optimum duration of treatment
• Availability of clinicians and necessary infrastructure to treat and follow the higher number of patients who will be candidates for the new therapies
• The economic burden that will occur when large numbers of HCV-infected patients begin highly-active anti-HCV therapy, and the attendant reimbursement issues
As the author of one review wrote: "The introduction of DAA and creation of highly active anti-HCV therapeutic drug regimens has the potential to produce a dramatic improvement in outcomes in patients with chronic hepatitis C. However, the future also has the potential to challenge the healthcare system's ability to deliver the promise of these new medications."2
1. Rockstroh J. Summary from EASL 2013 for Hepatitis C - New HCV DAAs on their way soon: what do the phase III studies tell us? . Paper presented at: European Association for the Study of the Liver 48th annual meeting 2013; Amsterdam.
2. Poordad F, Dieterich D. Treating hepatitis C: current standard of care and emerging direct-acting antiviral agents.
J Viral Hepat.
(2012) 19(7):449-464.
3. Doyle JS, Aspinall E, Liew D
et al.
Current and emerging antiviral treatments for hepatitis C infection.
Br J Clin Pharmacol.
(2013) 75(4):931-943.
4. Jesudian AB, de Jong YP, Jacobson IM. Emerging therapeutic targets for hepatitis C virus infection.
Clinical Gastroenterology and Hepatology
(2013) 11(6):612-619 e611.
2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512


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Bullying is when a person or group deliberately intends to cause someone else to feel hurt, distressed, threatened or humiliated.
Bullying is not acceptable
- We want everyone at the Academy to feel safe and secure.
- We believe no one should be bullied in any way.
- Verbal abuse of another pupil is bullying.
- A physical attack on a pupil is bullying.
- We must all make sure bullies never win.
If you, or someone you know, is being bullied:
- Watching and doing nothing supports the bully.
- Tell a member of staff or a member of your family immediately.
You cannot deal with a bully by yourself
- Talk to a teacher, your parents or an adult you can trust .
- Do not give in to demands for money, sweets or anything else.
- Do not try to buy the bully off with sweets or other presents.


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I have just listed another property at 3261 WANETA PL in Vancouver.
This quality built and popular Vancouver Special style house is situated on a large 6675 sq. ft. lot on quiet cul-de-sac. Bright and spacious layout with 3 bedrooms up and 2 bedrooms in basement which has a separate entrance. Two kitchens and 2 1/2 baths. Other features include 2 fireplaces, 17x19' deck, fully fenced yard, double glazed windows and many more. Excellent location. Only a short drive to Metrotown, BCIT, 20 minute drive to Downtown. Public Open House: June 11, Saturday and June 12, Sunday from 2-4 pm. Offers on Monday at 7:30pm.


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Late 80's screen stars tag
Size states XLL
24" pit to pit
29" Length
8/10 Condition, very little wear, overall excellent condition for age.
No return policy, unless valid
All vintage products are in very good, good to decent worn condition. The rating will give a rough guide on each items condition.
Expect signs of wear or minor flaws that are due to come with the items age. All serious flaws will have been pictured and stated in the listing.
For any further information regarding measurements etc, do not hesitate to reach out to us, always happy to help.


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The phrase king of kings is used in Scripture six times. Once, the title is applied to God the Father (1 Timothy 6:15), and twice to the Lord Jesus (Revelation 17:14; 19:16). The other three (Ezra 7:12; Ezekiel 26:7; Daniel 2:37) refer to either Artaxerxes or Nebuchadnezzar, kings who used the phrase to express their absolute sovereignty over their respective realms (Persia and Babylon). The phrase lord of lords is used by itself in Scripture twice and refers to God the Father (Deuteronomy 10:17; Psalm 136:3).
In Revelation 19:16 Jesus is given the full title "KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS" (Revelation 17:14 switches it: "Lord of lords and King of kings"). The title indicates someone who has the power to exercise absolute dominion over all His realm. In the case of the Lord Jesus, the realm is all of creation. In John's vision, Jesus is returning to judge the world and establish His earthly kingdom, as He predicted in Mark 13:26.
When Jesus is called "King of kings and Lord of lords," it means that, in the end, all other rulers will be conquered or abolished, and He alone will reign supreme as King and Lord of all the earth. There is no power, no king, and no lord who can oppose Him and win. There are myriad references to this absolute rule of Jesus and His preeminence over other rulers throughout Scripture. To mention just a few, Isaiah 40:23–24 says that the Lord brings "princes to nothing" and makes earth's rulers "emptiness." The mere breath of the Lord will "carry them off like stubble." The vision in Daniel 7:13–14 is of one whom Daniel calls "the Ancient of Days"—God the Father—who gives an everlasting dominion over all people, nations, and languages to "one like a son of man"—God the Son. In the New Testament, we get a better view of the One these passages refer to. The writer of Hebrews speaks of the Lord Jesus: "He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the word of His power" (Hebrews 1:3). The next verse speaks of Jesus being "much superior" to the angels. Clearly, His rule over creation is absolute.
Paul makes the point that Jesus was humbled in His earthly ministry and that His humiliation will result in glorification. In Philippians 2:5–11, Paul discusses the extent to which Jesus went to atone for sinners; Jesus' perfect obedience is the reason that "God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father" (vv. 9–11). The Suffering Servant becomes the King of kings (see Isaiah 53:10–12).
Finally, in the book of Revelation we see the Kingship of Jesus made manifest. In chapter 5, the Lamb (Jesus) is the only one in all creation found worthy to open the scroll containing the judgments of God (vv. 2–5). In chapter 11, we hear voices in heaven proclaiming that the kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of Christ and that He will reign forever and ever (v. 15). In chapter 12, we read that the authority of Christ is what causes Satan to be thrown down to earth (vv. 9–10). In Revelation 17:12–14, the Lamb conquers all those arrayed against Him, and John stresses that He conquers because He is King of kings and Lord of lords. Finally, in chapter 19, we read of Jesus' triumphant coming to strike the nations and tread the winepress of the wrath of God, having the authority to do so because He is King of kings and Lord of lords (vv. 11–16).
Fundamentally, the idea of Jesus being King of kings and Lord of lords means that there is no higher authority. His reign over all things is absolute and inviolable. God raised Him from the dead and placed Him over all things, "far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all" (Ephesians 1:21–23).


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Simple but satisfying. Our Everfit Magnetic Flywheel Rowing Machine, utilizing a magnetic brake system, targets all the major muscle groups for well-toned abs, back and legs. Simply select the workouts you desire, with up to 8 levels of manual resistance, and monitor the progress on the large LCD display console. This fitness machine is just perfect for home fitness routines with its quiet operation and super sturdy frame.
Featuring anti-slip footrests with adjustable foot straps to ensure secure smooth glides, the Rowing Machine also has a moulded seat for comfort while burning up the calories. With a weight capacity of up to 150kg, the Rowing Machine is no push over in terms of strength and durability. And when the huffing and puffing is done, simply fold it and store till the next session.
Magnetic brake system
Quiet operation
Heavy duty flywheel
8 levels of manual resistance
Big LCD display to check the workout
Durable steel made glide rail
Commercial comfort moulded seat
Adjustable large footrest for maximum comfort
Comes with rollers for easy transportation
Space saving foldable design
Brake system: Magnetic
Flywheel: 3kg
Resistance level: 8
Row length: 107cm
Glide frame material: Steel
Overall dimension: 175 x 61 x 48cm
Weight capacity: 150kg
Package Contents:
1 x Rowing Machine


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Clayton Iris Curtains
Clayton Iris readymade eyelet curtains.
We suggest the total width of both curtains should be between two and two and a half times the width of the track or pole.
Material: 100% Polyester.
Care Instructions: Dry Clean Only.
Width 167cm / 66" x Drop 229cm / 90" (Per curtain panel),
Width 229cm / 90" x Drop 182cm / 72" (Per curtain panel),
Width 229cm / 90" x Drop 229cm / 90" (Per curtain panel).
We make every effort to ensure our photographs and videos give you an accurate picture of the colour of each curtain. However, lighting conditions out of our control, such as the amount of natural light, or the colour of bulbs used, can have an impact on how the curtains will look in your room


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Like anything else involving stringent rules and regulations, grammar harbors a hefty share of obsessive fanboys and fangirls who enjoy debating its ins, outs, and other various quirks. So of course controversies break out in academia, the media, and even intimate conversations between friends. After all, you don't have to have an English degree to get steamed up when someone uses poor grammar. Here are a few of the ones that churn stomachs and angry up the blood, in no particular order.
The Oxford Comma
Debates regarding whether the Oxford comma should keep on being used are comparable to those about the death penalty and/or abortion. Seriously. Most grammarians have an opinion on the subject, and their opinion is always right and never wrong ever and also they will use an insistent voice when relaying it.
The pronunciation of "controversial"
Go figure. Americans stand divided over whether to pronounce it "con-truh-VUR-see-yul" or "con-truh-VUR-shal." You don't even have to hop a plane across the pond to take part in the battle. Funny enough, Merriam-Websterâs and The American Heritage Dictionary acknowledge both pronunciations. So now that a definitive answer exists, it's time to get back to arguing about whether to call it soda, pop, or coke.
Double negatives
Although grammatically correct, debates regarding the permissibility of double negatives keep flaring up from time to time. Talks apparently originated when linguists pondered acceptance of the often controversial African-American Vernacular English, within which the grammar tweak is quite common. Unsurprisingly, these debates inherently come saddled with some rather unfortunate overtones.
"Irregardless" appears in at least three different official dictionaries, though all of them admit it's not exactly formal. More traditional grammar aficionados don't think the word deserves to move beyond its slang origins, while others think it's about time the rule-makers acknowledge the evolution.
Ending sentences with prepositions
Here's one the grammarians out there just can't get enough of. Ending sentences with prepositions isn't actually incorrect, but teacher's gonna teach. The myth circulates so widely, English speakers argue the rule's veracity constantly despite the clear-cut answer.
"Hanged" vs. "Hung"
Perhaps not as controversial as some of the other grammar rules presented here, people still mix up — and sometimes argue — over what situations require "hung" and which ones require "hanged." The latter works when describing executions and suicide, while the former works pretty much anywhere else.
Like as a conjunction
Winston Cigarettes unintentionally ignited a pretty nasty grammatical furor back in 1954 with its use of like as a conjunction. Slogan "Winston tastes good like a cigarette should" was once considered so egregious, many broadcasters (such as Walter Cronkite) refused to even read it on air. Further outrage ensued when dictionaries acknowledged that the company was not committing any grammatical error, even touting it as an example of proper conjunction usage. Suffice it to say, this isn't exactly much of a controversy these days.
"Good" vs. "Well"
Feel like setting off an unabashed grammar geek? Mix up "good" and "well" when talking health and happiness. Although not a major controversy splitting the linguistic community, confusing the two will undoubtedly set off a minor mental explosion within individuals.
Text/Internet speak
Traditional grammarians consider Internet and text speak a portent of irreversible vernacular doom. Whether abbreviations, acronyms, the remaining shreds of 1337 5P34|
Starting sentences with "however"
Strunk & White loyalists pooh-pooh the thought of beginning a sentence with "however" when one really means "nevertheless." Everyone else just thinks them a bit outdated.
Starting sentences with "but" or "and"
Like their "however" counterpart, "but" and "and" are actually perfectly acceptable ways to start a new sentence. Not every sentence, of course, but some flow even better when launched with a conjunction. Once again, detractors detract simply because of tradition.
Gender-neutral pronouns
English only involves one gender-neutral pronoun: "it," and many in the genderqueer community find the word either insulting or inaccurate. These individuals oftentimes create their own unique alternatives, though none have obviously entered the mainstream vernacular yet. In order to accommodate their desires, however, a gender-neutral pronoun needs eventual inclusion, which will prove a massive boon to LGBT equality and acceptance.
Split infinitives
Yet another grammar rule students frequently find smashed into their heads that doesn't actually exist. Or, rather, its existence is rather dubious. Split infinitives jam an adverb between an unmarked verb and preposition — and they're perfectly acceptable. Just don't tell the teachers whose notes tell them otherwise, OK?
Passive voice
Hit up grammar forums across the Internet and witness the hordes defending passive voice. While technically grammatically sound, many writers think stigmatizing its usage compromises experimenting with the language.
Punctuation inside quotation marks
Depending on the English-speaking nation, punctuation marks either go inside quotation marks (America) or outside (pretty much everywhere else). Considering the fact that this debate wages on an international scale, no further explanation is really needed.
Possessive apostrophes on words that end in âs'
Not every controversial grammar rule out there can brag that it managed to inspire legislation. In 2007, the Arkansas house voted to officially denote possessives as "Arkansas's" as opposed to the more standard "Arkansas.'" Needless to say, this not-at-all-arbitrary act drew its fair share of hissing from grammar purists offended by their apparent affront.
"E-mail" vs. "email"
So yeah. After years of pressure, the AP Stylebook declared that "e-mail" should now be written as "email." And with that came the biggest controversy involving a hyphen since Mariner I. Because nothing in life is more serious than the correct abbreviation of "electronic mail."
Universal grammar rules
With a name like that, how could this theory whip up anything but arguments? Usually attributed to influential linguist Noam Chomsky, the idea of universal grammar rules involves the cognition behind language structures. Its core concept posits that something in every human brain dictates grammar rules, meaning some elements remain static across even vastly different speakers.
The fact that there are different kinds of dashes
Aside from the hyphen, most non-professionals (and probably even some professionals) don't know when to use each one. They kind of all look the same when one reads rather than copy edits — a phenomenon which, of course, detractors will constantly note.
"Who" vs. "Whom"
Even more than "good" and "well," misusing "who" and "whom" is guaranteed to set a grammarian's sphincter on fire. "Whom" comes into play as the object of a preposition or the objective case, while "who" is a subjective pronoun. But they don't have to know you know.
Updated 12/21: Thanks to our readers for helping us correct a couple of typos!


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The Internet has become a vast, rich, and primarily free library. With the right web site addresses or search strategies, you can quickly access a wealth of primary sources for studying almost any historical topic. For example, Harappa (www.harappa.com) provides a comprehensive introduction to the ancient Indus culture as well as a rich collection of 19th- and 20th-century lithographs, postcards, and recorded speeches. The Internet African History Sourcebook (www.fordham.edu/halsall/africa/africasbook.html) offers extensive sources on the lives of African people in the sub-Saharan region, the wider Atlantic world, and the Indian Ocean basin. For U.S. historians, the Library of Congress' American Memory web sites (https://lcweb2.loc.gov/amhome.html) offer more than 100 collections with seven million digitized items, from African American political pamphlets to California folk music, from baseball to the Civil War. Do History (https://dohistory.org) presents the entire 1,400 page diary, in facsimile and transcribed versions, of the 18th-century Maine midwife Martha Ballard, with tools for decoding Ballard's handwriting. These examples barely scratch the surface of the thousands of excellent sites offering historical primary sources, including official documents, art, music, and archeological sites.
Many historians are exploring these resources and incorporating them into lectures and assignments or their own research. Many more are overwhelmed by the expansive and ever changing online archive, the challenges of sifting through so many lackluster or advertising-laden web sites to find the treasures. Powerful search engines like Google make this work easier, but a search on "colonial American history" yields close to one million results, including syllabi, textbooks, and promotional material for historic locations.
Problems are exacerbated in the classroom, from the challenges of locating and evaluating history web sites to newer concerns over skills for analyzing online primary sources. Recent studies show that college students use online resources heavily—almost 75 percent report using the Internet more than the library.1 Student papers and projects, however, often lack the critical evaluation of online resources demanded of more traditional sources. This presents a valuable opportunity—to teach critical thinking skills in the context of making effective use of Internet resources. This article offers strategies for evaluating web sites, locating reliable resources, and helping students learn to analyze various kinds of online primary sources.
Evaluating Web Sites
College students today are web savvy, but this does not automatically translate into critical use of online resources. Teaching students to evaluate web sites is an essential first step. Here are several basic questions that can help structure the process. Answering these questions, even informally, requires students to examine a web site's reliability before using materials.
A good place to start is author or creator. Who created the web site? Who hosts or publishes the site? What is the domain name (.edu, .org, .com, .gov, .net)? Sometimes this information is readily available; if not, e-mail or contact information or a "credits" or "about" page may provide some clues. Look for information on when the site was created and updated as well.
What is the purpose of the web site? To inform or present facts? Persuade or sell? What is the target audience? How accurate is the site? Are facts and opinions clearly identified? Are primary sources complete or edited? Are sources well documented? Are there spelling or grammatical errors? If the site offers links to other web sites, are they working and reliable?
How credible is the web site? One way to check this is to investigate what other web sites and organizations link to it. For example, run a link check from Google (www.google.com) by typing link and the URL ("link: https://www.theaha.org/"). Or look at review sites, such as the Merlot Project (https://www.merlot.org/) or the Scout Report (https://scout.wisc.edu/).
Finding Reliable Web Sites Quickly
Evaluating web sites is an important skill, but a time-consuming one. While shortcuts such as Merlot and the Scout Project are valuable resources, they do not focus specifically on history. One such resource for teachers of U.S. history is History Matters: The U.S. Survey Course on the Web (https://historymatters.gmu.edu), created by the Center for History and New Media (CHNM) and the American Social History Project.2History Matters provides a starting point for exploring American history on the Web with 900 first-person historical documents in text, image, and audio. These include 17th-century grievances of the Wampanoag Indians, such as loss of land and unequal justice, as well as a 19th-century cartoon from the British weekly Punch that satirizes the American concept of "liberty." In an oral history interview a century later, Ed Idar discusses the struggle of Mexican Americans to end discrimination in Texas after World War II.3
History Matters also provides an annotated guide to 700 high-quality history web sites, including Library of Congress American Memory sites, resources from universities and libraries around the world, and online archives filled with letters, diaries, advertisements, films, and oral histories. Everything on History Matters is searchable by keyword, time period, and topic and additional resources provide tools such as teaching assignments and online discussion forums.
The CHNM is also developing a similar web site focused on world history resources. World History Matters will help world history teachers and students locate and analyze online primary sources, such as material culture and government documents. It will be publicly launched in fall 2003, but you can get a sneak preview at https://chnm.gmu.edu/whm.
Analyzing Primary Sources
Locating the wealth of primary sources available online meets many teaching and research needs, yet it also generates new questions. How can students learn to use so many different kinds of sources to understand the past? The History Matters feature "Making Sense of Evidence" (https://historymatters.gmu.edu/browse/makesense/) is a set of tools designed to help students and teachers make effective use of online primary sources through "Making Sense of Documents" and "Scholars in Action."4
"Making Sense of Documents " provides strategies for analyzing online primary materials with interactive exercises and bibliographies of traditional and online sources. Each guide builds on strategic questions, such as "Who is talking?" in oral history or "How do you make a flat map out of a round world?" for maps. The interactive exercises then challenge students to apply this new knowledge. For example, the first question in the guide to analyzing letters and diaries is "What are the characteristics of personal texts?" The exercise asks users to compare two published versions of the February 1861 diary of Mary Boykin Chesnut, a member of South Carolina's planter elite, and decide which was edited by a novelist, and which by a professional historian. Explanations and rollovers help users compare specific passages and explore the complexities of analyzing personal texts.5
"Scholars in Action" segments show how scholars puzzle out the meaning of primary sources such as political cartoons and photographs. Users encounter a document and then listen to audio clips in which a leading scholar interprets the document and discusses strategies for analyzing that kind of evidence. For example, "Analyzing an 1804 Inventory" features an early 19th-century appraisal of the goods of a man named Thomas Springer. Users read the inventory (handwritten and transcribed) and then "ask" Barbara Clark Smith, curator of social history at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, a series of questions. Clark discusses the inventory and how she makes sense of it:
It's a document that's created by the fact that wealth in the late eighteenth, early nineteenth century is not so much in the form of things in the bank or things in the stock market, but real estate and actual moveable goods. . . . Like many of these inventories it begins with the wearing apparel of the deceased . . . coats, jackets, shirts, trousers, hats, boots, drawers. Those are valuable items; you can see that clothes are valuable. They're valued here in 1804 at thirty dollars. You can look at the list of how things are valued and get a sense of what were expensive things and what were cheap things.6
Historians and history teachers need more tools for evaluating web sites and for using online materials creatively in the lecture hall and the classroom. Online primary sources are opening access to exciting resources around the world, allowing students greater control over their learning and research agendas. Students are taking these opportunities in rapidly growing numbers, but are often using online resources without tools for critically analyzing web sites or online sources. This creates an important learning opportunity. Teaching critical evaluation skills, especially for online resources, and requiring students to evaluate web sites used for papers or projects are important first steps. Guiding students to reliable web sites, such as American Memory or History Matters, helps them engage more quickly with artifacts of the past. And teaching strategies for analyzing a range of primary sources helps students begin to understand the past in more sophisticated and nuanced ways.
— is assistant director of the Center for History and New Media (https://chnm.gmu.edu) at George Mason University.
1. Pew Internet Project, "The Internet Goes to College: How Students are Living in the Future with Today's Technology" (September 15, 2002) (https://www.pewinternet.org/reports/toc.asp?Report=71)
2. History Matters was created by the Center for History and New Media (https://chnm.gmu.edu) at George Mason University and the American Social History Project/Center for Media and Learning (https://www.ashp.cuny.edu/) at the City University of New York with support from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The 2002–2003 Talking History online discussion forums (https://historymatters.gmu.edu/browse/talkhist/) are funded by the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities.
3. "Metacom Relates Indian Complaints about the English Settlers, 1675" https://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6226/); "Actions speak louder than words" (https://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6812/); "Fighting Discrimination in Mexican American Education" (https://historymatters.gmu.edu/d/6584/).
4. Making Sense of Evidence was created in collaboration with the Visible Knowledge Project at Georgetown University (https://crossroads.georgetown.edu/vkp/). World History Matters will offer similar features focused on world history sources: "Unpacking Evidence"(https://chnm.gmu.edu/whm/whmunpacking.html) and "Analyzing Documents"(https://chnm.gmu.edu/whm/whmdocuments.html).
5. Linda Shopes, historian at the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, wrote the guide to using oral history (https://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/oral/); David Stephens, professor of geography at Youngstown State University, wrote the guide to understanding maps (https://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/maps/); and Steven Stowe, professor of history at Indiana University, Bloomington, wrote the guide to analyzing letters and diaries (https://historymatters.gmu.edu/mse/letters/).
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License. Attribution must provide author name, article title, Perspectives on History, date of publication, and a link to this page. This license applies only to the article, not to text or images used here by permission.


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Bryanna Clark Grogan's Vegan Feast Kitchen/ 21st Century Table: The kitchen journal of a vegan food writer.. I'm on Facebook and Twitter (see links in sidebar at right).
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
(OR 1 lb. fresh baby spinach, steamed, chopped and squeezed well)
7 comments:
- in2insight said...
It's like you read my mind. :) (Have been craving a good "chik" burger.
Have you attempted cooking these after the initial cooking on a BBQ?
In any case, thank you, these look awesome! - Tue Jul 16, 04:01:00 PM PDT
- jacqui said...
I may get my omni husband converted with this recipe!
- Wed Jul 17, 02:58:00 AM PDT
- CeCeJay said...
These look so good! I can't eat onion and choose not to eat oil so what would you recommend as a substitution for the onion? Celery?
- Wed Jul 17, 08:52:00 AM PDT
- Bryanna Clark Grogan said...
CeCeJay, do you know about Asafoetida (or Hing, in Indian)? Check it out here: http://www.amazon.com/Vandevi-Hing-Asafoetida-100g-3-5oz/dp/B000JMDJ5C
It is used as a garlic and onion substitute in Brahman cooking (they don't use either).
- Wed Jul 17, 05:12:00 PM PDT
- in2insight said...
I took the "Open to experimentation" to heart and here are the results. Fantastic!
Since no organic TVP could be found, used a can of rinsed Great Northern beans(A salute to the great Northern Vegan...)
For spices, used Basil, Garlic, Onion (Since we forgot to buy one.) thyme, sage and a T of zaatar.
Cooked as directed, chilled and tossed on the BBQ after lightly misting with olive oil spray.
These cooked up great, did not stick, and had great flavor and texture.
Another winner!
Thank you for sharing. - Mon Jul 22, 06:51:00 AM PDT
- Nonna said...
We only cook with kosher ingredients so your chicken flavor suggestions won't work. What we usually do is use Imagine No-Chick broth in the same amount as the water. Will this work or do we need to use less water or add flavorings.
- Thu Jul 25, 11:49:00 AM PDT
- Bryanna Clark Grogan said...
Nonna, just use however much No-Chick you would use to make 6 cups of broth that would be nice for drinking as a clear broth.
- Thu Jul 25, 12:52:00 PM PDT


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I'm surprised Matt didn't point this out. In a previous post I asked why the Green Party doesn't field more local candidates. Maybe they are listening.
CV: The Northeast Pennsylvania Green Party is announcing the candidacy of Falls Township resident Jay Sweeney for state representative in the 111th District on Monday, April 3, at noon in front of the Wyoming County Courthouse in Tunkhannock. Sweeney, a contractor, opposed state Rep. Sandra J. Major, R-111, in the 2004 general election. His platform includes restoring democracy, voting referendums, lobbyist disclosure rules, and his opposition to Keystone Opportunity Zones.


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Fedora Linux Download
The Fedora Project is an openly-developed project designed by Red Hat, open for general participation, led by a meritocracy, following a set of project objectives. The goal of The Fedora Project is to work with the Linux community to build a complete, general purpose operating system exclusively from open source software. Development will be done in a public forum. The project will produce time-based releases of Fedora about 2-3 times a year, with a public release schedule. The Red Hat engineering team will continue to participate in building Fedora and will invite and encourage more outside participation than in past releases. By using this more open process, we hope to provide an operating system more in line with the ideals of free software and more appealing to the open source community.


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CBN.com "I would crawl under the sheets and make Barbie houses all day long and created the most incredible houses you've ever seen," Lisa remembered.
What is merely child's play for many became a survival skill for Lisa Luby Ryan. More than anything else, Lisa wanted peace and order in her home. So she spent her childhood creating the perfect home.
"Outside of my little world there was no order. It was chaotic," Lisa said. "You never knew what to expect. You never knew when the door would open - what to expect."
Lisa's mother fell in and out of love with a variety of men; many of them controlling and abusive.
"Secrets were a very big priority in our family. There were so many men in and out of my mother's life that you couldn't talk about the prior man," Lisa said. "With looking good, you had to keep secrets. You had to make things up."
Her father went through his share of women while molesting Lisa on the weekends.
"At the age of six, when your father, the one you adore and worship and you want to be noticed by, when he violates you like that - it distorts everything," Lisa said. "And yet as I got older, that's how I knew that you showed a guy you loved him; through a sexual relationship."
At 16, Lisa's sexual activity resulted in pregnancy. Her mother quickly made arrangements for an abortion.
"Within 48 hours she had scooped myself, my boyfriend and my stepfather in a car and we drove to Boston. Had a procedure, went and ate lunch and came home. It was never talked about," Lisa said. "It's one thing to have guilt and shame about what others have done to you. It's another to have guilt and shame about choices you've made in life. But who was I going to talk to it about?"
The terminated pregnancy was just another well-kept secret. Once Lisa left home, she felt she had more control over her destiny. She wanted to create a better life for herself.
"I had these great visions of I was going to be a different mom. I was going to be a different wife. I was going to do everything different," Lisa said.
She married, but her hope for a better life was short-lived. Her family looked a lot like her childhood home.
"I was a wreck. I was not healthy emotionally," she said. "How could I choose someone that was healthy? I think that I chose someone who could fulfill what I was used to."
Seven years and two sons later, Lisa left her husband for another man, just like her mom did so many times.
"The next guy was going to be better. He was going to be the one that could love me and could fulfill my wants and needs," Lisa said. "I don't even know what those wants and needs were. I just knew I wanted something fulfilled."
Lisa became an interior designer. One couple hired her to create seating to accommodate 26 people in their home every Sunday.
"She goes, 'Won't you come to church with me and come to the house and have dinner with us?' Well immediately I was, 'Yes.' It wasn't to go to church," Lisa said. "It was to go and see what 26 family members did. What does a normal family do? To see them experience the joy and the laughter, the concern for each other, the care for each other, the compassion for each other. It was like Wow! This is good."
This was that "something more" that Lisa was searching for. In the beginning, she went to church for appearance sake. Now she wanted something genuine.
"There was a real powerful presence drawing me," she said. "Billy, our pastor, every Sunday would give sermons and I did everything I could just to stay in my seat, act like this was about everybody else. Finally, one Sunday I just raised my hands. And I said, 'Billy, it's OK to use my name,' because I knew that God was talking to me personally. There was a room of hundreds of people, but He was calling me. That's how my process, my relationship of coming to the Lord started."
Lisa began praying with Joyce, a new friend she met at church.
"She was probably the first person that I ever trusted. We would just pray. There were just some times that we wouldn't talk. She'd pray in the Spirit. I would just cry," Lisa said. "The Holy Spirit so knew what I needed and where I needed to go."
During one of those prayer times, Lisa felt safe enough to reveal her deepest regrets and fears.
"They were not going to give up on me and they were not going to let me keep one thing hidden in the crevices of my heart," she said.
Lisa confessed that she had aborted not one, but three children.
"My biggest fear in all of it was: the one person I trusted in my life was Joyce, the one that my hope was in was Jesus; and I feared that they would reject me. That's why I couldn't tell them. But what was amazing was after I told them, they were both still there," Lisa said. "All of a sudden I realized that I was pure; that there was nothing that was hidden anymore. I walked out of there that day a different person. I looked different. I walked lighter. The grass was greener. God forgave me. And once He forgave me, that's all that mattered. Then I could forgive myself. I know that I have three children in Heaven waiting for me and I'll have a life with them one day."
The new freedom gave her a new outlook on life.
"I have to trust God and I have to let Him be my husband, my father, my Lord and Savior. Everything that I need to see in a man I need to see in Him first," Lisa said. "Now I had the energy to be a mom. I wasn't wasting that effort to be something that I wasn't. I feel like he was allowing me to be who He created me to be. So my design business flourished. I love how God knew when I was just four, five, six, and built Barbie houses underneath that table, He'd make it into an amazing living today."
Lisa married Jay Ryan, someone who helped her raise her two boys in a godly home.
"To have a man who loves me and values me for who I am is something that I'm grateful for," she said. "That's God. That's not me. That's God. This is who I am. This is it. This is everything I've got; and that He's not going to reject me. He's not going to leave me. He's still there tonight when I go to pray. God is good and He is faithful and He will forgive you."
God has made it possible for you to know Him and experience an amazing change in your own life. Discover how you can find peace with God.
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.


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Rocky Kramer will be hosting "Euro Rock" on this week's episode of Rocky Kramer's Rock & Roll Tuesdays on Twitch. Tune into Twitch on Tuesday, July 9th, 2024 at 7 PM PT for this amazing show.
Rocky Kramer is a guitar virtuoso, often being compared to the greatest guitar players in the world. Rocky has performed on shows with some of the greatest musicians on the planet including Ozzy Osbourne, John Lodge, Steve Vai, Leland Sklar, Kenny Aronoff, Tommy James, Verdeen White, Ten Years After, BuckCherry, Rick Wakeman and more.
Rocky's first studio album, "Firestorm" is now available worldwide through Allied Artists Music Group, together with an epic music video of his #1 Global DRT Chart topper single, "Rock Star", that also picked up a Best Rock Performance nod at the 2019 Hollywood Music In Media Awards ("HMMA").
Rocky Kramer recently returned to the studio to record his sophomore album "Alone In The Rain" which will be released later this year.
Rocky Kramer was recently cast in The Mutt Productions/ Allied Artists rock n' roll time travel comedy adventure "Rockin' In Time" where he will play the film's lead character, Lars Olsen. The film is being directed by Aaron Lee Lopez (of the "Teenage Girl" franchise) and is being produced by multi-platinum and six-time Grammy Award winning musician turned motion picture producer, Kurt Wipfli.
Watch Rocky Kramer's "Rock Star" Music Video here:
Watch Rocky Kramer's Rock & Roll Tuesdays "Euro Rock" on July 9th, 2024 at 7 PM PT on Twitch here:
The official website for Rocky Kramer may be found at http://
Visit Rock & Roll Tuesdays with Rocky Kramer on IMDB here:
World Star PR


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Shabbos 114 - 120
Mystery of the Stranger on the Platform
"I never went against the wishes of my colleagues," Rabbi Yossi prided himself. "Although I know that I am not a kohen, if they would ask me to go up to the platform to offer the blessings of the kohanim I would go up."
Tosefos raises the question as to whether there is any halachic problem in a non-kohen going up to the platform, and therefore finds it difficult to comprehend what was so courageous about Rabbi Yossis action.
This position of Tosefos that there is nothing wrong with a non-kohen participating in birkas kohanim is challenged by a wide range of commentaries from a gemara (Kesuvos 24b) which clearly states that a non-kohen who blesses the congregation is guilty of violating Torah law because the Torah gave this mandate to kohanim only. A number of resolutions have been offered and we present a sampling of them:
Rabbi Moshe Isserles (RaMa) suggests that the ban on a non-kohen giving a blessing applies only when he does it by himself and not when he does so together with kohanim (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 128:1).
Rabbi Yoel Sirkis (Bach - Bayis Chadash) writes that the ban applies only when the non-kohen lifts his hands in the manner which kohanim do when saying the blessing.
Maharsha explains that Rabbi Yossi only went up to the platform but did not actually say the blessing. Therefore, Tosefos, assuming that the Sage certainly did not say the blessing which he is not permitted to say, finds nothing special in his mere ascent to the platform.
A fourth approach, cited by Mishna Berura (128:3), has very practical halachic implications. In order for one to fulfill a mitzvah he must have kavanah a positive intention to fulfill it. Since Rabbi Yossi as a non-kohen had no intention of fulfilling a mitzvah for which he was not eligible, his action is not considered a valid one and he was therefore not guilty of performing a mitzvah reserved for kohanim only.
Mishna Berura (in the Biyur Halacha 128:3) raises the question about the blessings which one Jew gives to another using the text of the birkas kohanim even though the blesser is not himself a kohen. One resolution is based in the position of the Bach (#2 above), that the ban is only when one raises his hands in the manner of the kohanim. Another resolution is based on the fourth approach, which limits the ban to a situation in which the blesser has the intention of doing the mitzvah reserved for kohanim, not when he is simply wishing a friend or child well.
The only problem with this second resolution is that there is an opinion cited in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 60:4 that one can indeed fulfill a mitzvah even if his action was not accompanied by direct intention. This problem too is solved by introducing the concept that even if one is considered to have fulfilled a mitzvah without intention, he has not fulfilled it if he had express intention not to fulfill it. Since the blessings of the kohanim are done only during the prayer service, anyone saying them not in the context of prayer is considered as expressly declaring that he does not wish to do the mitzvah which is reserved for kohanim, and it is therefore permitted to do so.
Shabbos 118b
The Secret Ingredient
"Why does your Shabbos food have such a special fragrance?" the emperor asked Rabbi Yehoshua ben Chanania.
"We put in a special ingredient," he replied, "and its called Shabbos."
"Give me some of that ingredient," asked the emperor.
"It works for someone who observes Shabbos," explained the Sage, "but it will have no effect for one who does not."
The climax of this famous dialogue is certainly appreciated by every Jew who finds a special delight in his Shabbos meal which cannot be duplicated during the weekdays. But a little analysis is required of the details of this exchange.
Why did the emperor, who assumed that Shabbos was the name of a spice, not ask the obvious question: "Why dont the Jews use this spice in their recipes throughout the week?"
This question did not bother the emperor, explains Iyun Yaakov, because he was aware that Jews did special things in regard to clothes and food in honor of their holy day of rest. He therefore suggested that since such a wonderful spice was set aside for honoring Shabbos it should also be presented to him as an expression of honor for the throne. Sensitive to his Jewish subjects respect for Shabbos he was even willing to reserve use of this special spice to Shabbos alone, so that it would be used in honor of both the holy day and the august emperor.
At this point Rabbi Yehoshua was compelled to explain that Shabbos was not a natural spice but a supernatural ingredient which worked only for those who were commanded to observe Shabbos. As the Zohar, quoted by Eitz Yosef, puts it, the very essence of intangible Shabbos holiness takes on a tangible form in the special taste and fragrance of Shabbos food.
Shabbos 119a


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Cover – Dining Chair 2 Pack
Ideal for protecting your individual dining chair when in transit or storage.
116cm x 100cm
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Image credit: ESA
ESA's SMART-1 captured its first close-range images of the Moon this January, during a sequence of test lunar observations from an altitude between 1000 and 5000 kilometres above the lunar surface.
SMART-1 entered its first orbit around the Moon on 15 November 2004. It has spent the two months following spiralling down to the Moon and testing its array of instruments.
The first four days after being captured by the lunar gravity were very critical. There had been the risk, being in an 'unstable' trajectory, of escaping the Moon's orbit or crashing onto the surface. Because of this, the electric propulsion system (or 'ion engine') started a thrust to stabilise the capture.
The ion engine was switched on until 29 December, allowing SMART-1 to make ever-decreasing loops around the Moon. The engine was switched off between 29 December and 3 January 2005 to allow scientists to start observations. At this point, the AMIE camera took the close-up lunar images. The engine was switched off again to optimise fuel consumption on 12 January, and SMART-1 will spend until 9 February making a medium resolution survey of the Moon, taking advantage of the favourable illumination conditions.
ESA's SMART-1 Project Scientist Bernard Foing said "A sequence of test lunar observations was done in January at distances between 1000 and 5000 kilometres altitude, when the electric propulsion was paused. We are conducting more survey test observations until the electric propulsion resumes from 9 February to spiral down further towards the Moon. SMART-1 will arrive on 28 February at the initial orbit with altitudes between 300 and 3000 kilometres to perform the first phase of nominal science observations for five months."
The first close-up image shows an area at lunar latitude 75? North with impact craters of different sizes. The largest crater shown here, in the middle left of the image, is Brianchon. The second largest, at the bottom of the image, is called Pascal.
At low illumination angles, the crater shadows allow scientists to derive the height of crater rims.
"This image was the first proof that the AMIE camera is still working well in lunar orbit," says AMIE Principal Investigator Jean-Luc Josset of Space-X.
The composite images shown here were created to show larger-scale features. The first mosaic shows the complex impact crater Pythagoras and the strip of images (bottom) was produced from images taken consecutively along one orbit.
Starting with this mosaic, SMART-1 scientists expect to build up a global medium-resolution context map, where high-resolution images later observed from lower altitude can be integrated.
Original Source: ESA News Release


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VOi!CE of America Volume 3 EP- Brasstacks, Victory, Bad Assets, Assault&Battery OTB#27
Download available instantly after paid checkout- listen while you wait for the vinyl to ship!!! Released Dec. 15, 2013
Volume 3 of the wildly popular VOi!CE of America 7 inch series is here! This round we take a look at the best in American Oi! from the north eastern quadrant of the USA... Oi! the Boat Headquarters is located smack dab in this quadrant- right in the MIDWEST- and you might notice that we barely had to leave our backyard to fills both sides of this installment!
We start with midwest Oi! veterans THE BRASS TACKS! The Wisconsin thug-n-roll darlings are back and they definitely didn't opt to answer our call for new music from them by relying on their name and slapping together some unmemorable crap. Instead they built on their past sound and delivered what may just be their best music yet. If their opening track on this EP doesn't have you off your lazy-boy and at-the-ready to smash some sorry son of a bitch, you are going to want to go ahead and trade-in your docs for a casket or, at a minimum, some fuzzy slippers and a drink with parasol. If the BRASS TACKS weren't already long-ago permanently and irrevocably inducted in the American Oi! hall of fame, this track would put them there. GRIND EM DOWN!!!!!!
Next up, we head west to the TWIN CITIES to catch up with VICTORY. Their debut EP "Laced Up" was 2013's Oi shot-heard-round-the world, and their follow-up TWIN CITIES EP was hot on Laced Up's heels to show the world that VICTORY is no one-pump-chump. As if there was any doubt in anyone's mind, "MIDWEST UNREST" shows, once again, that VICTORY is unstoppable. This is an absolutely outstanding punk rock anthem about America's oi and punk rock heartland.
From Minnesota, we head back to Wisconsin stopping in the city that brought you Laverne, Shirley and hundreds of millions of gallons of BEER to pick up ASSAULT AND BATTERY. If you are from outside the current hotbed of American punk and oi, this may be the first you've heard of them. Their effort on VOi!CE of America Volume 3 ensures it won't be last.
Finally, we sail west on Lake Michigan and then portage The Boat named Oi! overland to DETROIT to catch up with Motor City's BAD ASSETS. As if filling this EP with 4 bands from the midwest and Victory inciting a flyover country riot with MIDWEST UNREST weren't enough, the Assets force thousands of rust-and-bible-belt fists sharply into the air with 4 simple words: MIDWEST, FUCK THE REST!!!!
You need this record now!
Includes instant download after paid checkout.
PS VOi!CE of America Volume TWO is back in print!!!!


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First we have Au. This 23k real gold leaf topcoat is fantastic! I've tried a few gold leaf topcoats now and this one was by far the easiest to use. The gold was abundant and applied easily to my nails. Shown here over Orly Skinny Dip.
Book of Shadows is a pretty silver foil shade. This one looks a bit more sheer in photos than it does in person. The formula is on the thinner side and I needed three coats for opacity. It's very pretty and sparkly, and I imagine it would be flattering on just about anyone.
Curiosity is a bright cherry red with gold shimmer. It was a bit bumpy when it dried, as there are a lot of gold shimmery pieces, but it's nothing that a coat of topcoat can't smooth out! I've shown two coats here.
If I could recommend just one polish from this collection to you guys, it would be XX. This glitter blend is absolutely gorgeous. The mix of colors is stunning and I love the addition of the microsparkle. Here I've shown one coat over Wet N Wild Ready to Pounce. My goodness.
Planet Caravan is a black based polish with a purple to gold duochromatic fleck finish. This polish needed two coats for opacity for me. I love it in direct light, but in many circumstances, this polish just looks like black to me. Still though, great formula and a fun surprise when you see it in the light!
Meet Lapiz. This blue glitter is so so sparkly! I was able to build it up to opacity on its own in three coats. It controlled well and wasn't too thick or clumpy. I love this shade of blue so much.
Fleur est Belle is a Cirque polish sold exclusively on Mei Mei's Signatures. This sheer pinky base is accented with gold flecks as well as gold and white glitters. There is a ton of glitter in this polish -- I've shown just two coats here! This was meant to evoke the warm tropics and I am totally feeling the inspiration. You could also amp up the pink base by layering it over a pink creme.
What do you guys think? Which ones are you loving?
The Cirque Objet d'Art Collection is available for purchase now on cirquecolors.com as well as from international stockists. Fleur est Belle is exclusive to Mei Mei's Signatures and retails for 17SGD. The other polishes in this post retail for $13 from the Cirque website except Au which retails for $28.
Products provided for review.


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Dandi Daley Mackall
Dandi Daley Mackall is the award–winning author of over 450 books for children and adults. She visits countless schools, conducts writing assemblies and workshops across the United States, and presents keynote addresses at conferences and young author events. She is also a frequent guest on radio talk shows and has made dozens of appearances on TV. She has won several awards for her writing, including the Helen Keating Ott Award for Contributions to Children's Literature, the Edgar Award, and a two–time Mom's Choice Award winner. Dandi writes from rural Ohio, where she lives with her husband, Joe, their three children, and their horses, dogs, and cats.


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Mars Coat King
Welcome to the Official Mars Coat King online store!
The Mars Coat King is recommended by professional groomers across the country who consider it an indispensable grooming tool.
The Mars Coat King Stripping Comb is the perfect tool for stripping large areas of matted fur in a short amount of time. The stainless steel teeth easily remove loose, shedding hair from thick undercoats without painfully pulling or damaging your dog's sensitive skin. Unlike clipping, the Mars Coat King Stripping Comb only removes the dead hair from the coat which potentially cuts grooming time in half or quicker.
The Coat King is great for stripping, dematting and a great grooming rake.
Don't forget to check out our Coat King Sizing Guide to see which tool is best suited for your pet!
Thank you for shopping with Mars Coat King!
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us - email@example.com
The Mars Coat King Team


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Conflict Series
Series: Conflict
You cannot, NOT have conflict! Our fallen nature is prone to failings, fallouts, and false assumptions. Living the Christian life is not a life where we avoid conflict, it is living a life where we know how to navigate our relationships through conflict. In fact, conflict can be a doorway to deeper levels of connection when we navigate it in a healthy way.
Week 1 - Fight to win - Saul vs David
When we enter conflict, it is often our goal (consciously or subconsciously) to win rather than to reconcile. Conflicts do not have to make people winners and losers. A good question to ask ourselves is, "Do I want to BE right or do I want our relationship to be RIGHT?" Don't look for the win, look for the win-win and resolve conflict in a healthy way.
Take away: Not lose-win or win-lose but win-win!
Week 2 - Head in the sand – Esther
When facing conflict in interpersonal relationships we tend to put our "heads in the sand" as we ignore it, avoided it and procrastinate dealing with it. This tends to make the conflict grow and deepen its grip, and feeds our desire to place our heads in the sand. God calls us to face our conflicts and attempt to resolve them in a healthy way.
Take away: Enter the tunnel of chaos and face the conflict
Week 3 - Run and hide – Jacob and Esau
During conflict resolution, our tendency is to run away from the conflict. We tend to cease communication and hide from the reality of the unresolved conflict. This was the initial reaction of Adam and Eve when conflict entered the narrative and it continues today. Sadly, the ultimate result of the "run and hide" strategy is separation and loss of relationship rather than resolving the conflict in a healthy way.
Take away: Don't create gaps build bridges for relational closeness
Week 4 - Avoid and deny – Peter and three denials
Avoiding the person with whom we have unresolved conflict seems like the easiest thing to do. Who wants to face conflict? It's very stressful. Our reflex is to just avoid the person and pretend like there's no problem. How many of us know people who have never resolved a conflict and allowed it to become a point of separation? Denial is reducing the importance of our conflict when God says that resolving conflict is more important than giving offerings!
Take away: don't be imprisoned by avoidance and denial find freedom in connectedness and community.


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Blogging has become a powerful medium for individuals to express their thoughts, share their experiences, and connect with like-minded individuals across the globe. With the rise of digital platforms and social media, the art of storytelling has found a new canvas in the form of blogs. Whether you are an aspiring writer, an entrepreneur looking to build your brand, or someone who simply wants to share their passion with the world, blogging presents an incredible opportunity to unleash your creative potential.
Through the art of storytelling, bloggers have the ability to captivate their readers, take them on a journey, and leave a lasting impact. It allows us to share our unique perspectives, explore our interests, and contribute to meaningful conversations. Writing a blog is not just about conveying information or opinions, but about creating an immersive experience for your audience. It's about engaging them with compelling narratives, thought-provoking ideas, and relatable anecdotes that resonate on a personal level.
One of the most beautiful aspects of blogging is its accessibility. Anyone with a passion and a desire to share their voice can start a blog. It doesn't require fancy equipment, a large budget, or a team of professionals. All you need is a computer, an internet connection, and a willingness to dive into the world of digital storytelling. So, why not take that leap and unleash your creative potential through the art of blogging? Whether you have a story to tell, expertise to share, or simply a burning desire to connect with others, blogging provides the perfect platform to do so. It's time to let your ideas flow, your words flourish, and your voice be heard in the vast blogosphere.
Discovering Your Unique Voice
When it comes to blogging, one of the most crucial aspects is discovering and honing your unique voice. Your voice is what sets you apart from other bloggers and creates a connection with your readers. It's what makes your content authentic and engaging.
To find your unique voice, it's essential to tap into your own experiences, perspectives, and passions. Take the time to reflect on what truly excites you and what you have to offer as a blogger. Maybe you have a unique perspective on a particular topic or a knack for storytelling. Whatever it is, embracing your individuality will make your blog stand out.
Remember that finding your voice is an ongoing process. It may take some trial and error, but don't be afraid to experiment and explore different styles of writing. Write from your heart and be genuine in your thoughts and opinions. Don't try to imitate someone else's voice – let your own personality shine through your words.
As you continue on your blogging journey, engage with your audience and pay attention to their feedback. This will help you better understand and refine your voice. Building a community around your blog can provide valuable insights into what resonates with your readers and what makes your content special.
In conclusion, discovering your unique voice is the first step towards unleashing your creative potential in the world of blogging. Embrace your individuality, be genuine, and keep refining your writing style. Your voice is what will captivate your readers and make your blog a success.
2. Crafting Compelling Stories
To captivate readers and leave a lasting impression, crafting compelling stories is essential in the world of blogging. Your ability to weave together narratives that engage, entertain, and educate will set you apart from the rest. Here are some key tips to consider:
Understand Your Audience: To write a compelling story, it's crucial to understand who you're speaking to. Take the time to research and analyze your target audience. By knowing their interests, needs, and preferences, you can tailor your storytelling approach to resonate with them. This understanding will enable you to create content that captivates and resonates on a deeper level.
Develop Engaging Characters: Characters are the heart of any story. By developing relatable and intriguing characters, you bring your blog posts to life. Whether they are based on real people or fictional creations, give them depth, personalities, and challenges. This allows readers to form connections and become emotionally invested in your narratives.
Structure your Story: A well-structured story guides readers through a logical and engaging journey. Begin with a captivating introduction that hooks your audience and sets the stage for what's to come. As you progress, build tension, highlight conflicts, and provide resolutions that leave your readers satisfied. A clear beginning, middle, and end will ensure that your story flows smoothly, keeping readers enthralled until the very last word.
By honing the art of crafting compelling stories, you can harness the power of storytelling to unleash your creative potential through blogging. Mastering these techniques will not only captivate your readers but also elevate the overall quality and impact of your blog posts. Happy storytelling!
3. Engaging with Your Audience
Engaging with your audience is a vital aspect of successful blogging. Building a connection with your readers not only keeps them coming back for more but also helps you understand their interests and needs. Here are three effective ways to engage with your audience:
Respond to comments: When readers leave comments on your blog posts, take the time to respond to them. Showing that you appreciate their input and value their thoughts creates a sense of community and encourages further discussion. By engaging in conversations with your audience, you demonstrate that you care about their opinions and are willing to address their questions or concerns.
Encourage feedback: Don't be afraid to ask your audience for feedback. Whether it's through surveys, polls, or simply inviting them to share their thoughts in the comment section, actively seeking feedback helps you understand your audience's preferences and improve your blog content. When readers feel that their opinions matter and that their suggestions are being considered, they become more invested in your blog.
Collaborate with your audience: Involving your audience in your content creation process can be a great way to foster engagement. For instance, you can invite them to contribute guest posts or participate in Q&A sessions. By showcasing the talents and expertise of your readers, you not only provide fresh perspectives but also make them feel valued and recognized. Collaborative efforts strengthen the bond between you and your audience, resulting in a more interactive and dynamic blog.
Remember, engaging with your audience is a continuous process that requires active participation. By implementing these strategies, you can create a vibrant and interactive blogging community that attracts new readers and keeps existing ones engaged. So don't hesitate to reach out, listen, and connect with your audience – after all, they are the heart and soul of your blog!


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Brisbane is home to a growing Film & Television Production sector. You'll find several creative producers, production managers and camera crews that can help bring your project to light.
Find Brisbane Film & Television Production Services along with a number of professional and business services online in the Brisbane Australia business directory. Find the business you need by browsing below or search through the category tree on the left.
Does your business belong here? Just sign up with us for FREE and increase your online exposure today!


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Make it work! Color in the picture…
Wednesday, April 28th, 2010Ped fans, we hear it all the time: "I love those shoes, but I'm not sure what I'd wear them with…" We understand—the last thing you want is to buy a knockout pair of shoes only to have them languish in the closet! But chances are even the most offbeat color or bold design is easier to wear than you think. Here are a few ideas for how to make things work.
Everyone at Ped HQ has fallen for Chie Mihara's Hito! Don't fear the yellow platform sandal—it's a great way to make an outfit POP! Ped fan Ruby Esperita, who came up with all these outfits, also adds the 49 Square Miles Reed Hobo and the Pepita Eleanora necklace to make a look that's chic yet fun for a summer afternoon in the city.
On the other hand, you may prefer your style more muted. Even so, you can still wear a sandal boot and have it look smashing:
All these outfits were created at Polyvore.com, which offers a wonderful way to try out items together when you're shopping online. It's also just plain fun! So, if you fall in love with a shoe, don't resist; in the words of Tim Gunn, you can "make it work."
(By the way, we're pretty sure you could make lots of things work with this week's "sweet treat," Cordani's Erin. Just click "be sweet to your feet" in the top right corner of any Ped page to get 20% off this fresh espadrille platform!)


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What we did with our Honeyfund:
We had a list of that we wanted to experience during our honeymoon on St. John. Each day began and ended with ease knowing that all of the gifts from our loved ones were making it possible. Having a rental Jeep to explore the island privately together was by far the most amazing gift, whether anyone specifically funded that one item, it still felt like a gift from everyone.
Our reason for using a honeymoon registry:
We chose the honeymoon registry because it allowed our friends and family to really connect with us and our experiences and share their love and support. Plus, we lived in New York City and didn't have much room for any physical gifts or home furnishings.
What our guests thought:
Everyone found it very easy to use and it helped them feel like they were giving a special gift versus writing a check.
Why we liked Honeyfund:
We had some wonderful viewers of our YouTube channel send us gifts through Honeyfund, which was such a surprise. Having a way for them to share in our special day was a nice.


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I remember being told I was a bad Mexican. To some of the white friends I hung out with, I was one of them. Once someone told me that because I played video games, read science fiction, and spoke with no accent, that I was whiter than they were. Now that was weird. Maybe I should have worn a sombrero or poncho around campus. Maybe then I would have been a Mexicano auténtico. To my extended family, my choppy spanish and awkward adolescence was a sign of my absolute assimilation into a destructive other.
Claims to authenticity are poisonous. Within every mass, big or small, there are minorities and outliers. Yes, it can be important for minority communities to earn recognition as a whole, but efforts to homogenize are both futile and destructive. Those pushed out or excluded from communities for failing to adhere to behavior norms one way or another (this can include you too, even if you don't know it), may have a hard time understanding what pieces of culture they can or cannot include in their personal identity.
I grew up here in California and consider myself culturally Mexican and Chicano, but what this means is far more vague. I have created a self-identity that incorporates aspects of the already voluminous "Mexican culture", just as you have undoubtedly formed an identity out of the diverse cultural influences you grew up around. A Mayan calendar hangs on my wall opposite a poster depicting the cover of Le Petit Prince (a french children's novel everyone should read). I am multitudinous.
Which brings me back to Guacamelee!, a metroidvania style platformer on PSN that offers a damn fun adventure with a few neat tweaks to the formula. The game is heavily inspired by Mexican popular mythos and iconography. Mariachi music plays in the background, chickens roam about the town, the game's skeletal dimension looks like a Dia de los Muertos diorama, and the protagonist is a brawny mask-wearing Luchador. Without a doubt, Guacamelee! is charming.
Yet while I enjoyed the game, I kept getting asked if I found the game offensive. Was I mad at the developers for creating a game set in a cultural landscape that, to the majority of the team, was foreign? Had they exploited my culture?
Honestly, I don't know. The concept of cultural ownership is strange to me. As far as I see it, the music of Mexico belongs to the world, as all music does. The sights, sounds, and festivities of the small pueblito where my family is from means something special to me. But if I took you there, drove you through farmland and forest, and walked you into the old stone church at the center of town or showed you the worn down arcade cabinet I played obsessively during my stays there, I believe you would fall in love. Culture is unique in that its shareable yet simultaneously subjective.
With that in mind, the question is one of care. Does Guacamelee! celebrate or ridicule? When it comes to humor, it can actually be hard to tell. Juan Aguacate, the main character, has a comically terrible name (yes, aguacate means Avocado). His sidekick, Tostada, is no better. It's tongue in cheek humor though, and the game is full of it. Many of the jokes, unless you are familiar with Spanish or even Mexican lore will be lost on you. Carlos Calaca, the undead villain, also has a pun name (Calaca means skeleton, mostly associated with figurines). The goat man, Huay Chivo, is a mythical beast in Mexican lore.
For the most part, these references are worth a chuckle. On one hand, this is simple humor. Some characters are named after food, like the Hamburgler. It can make you smile, and that's alright. On the other hand, some of the jokes seem to target Americans who find humor in Mexican caricatures with names from a Taco Bell order. In California at least, a common stereotype associates Mexican with food (a stereotype born of socio-economic conditions), which some may see mirrored in Guacamelee!'s many puns.
X'tabay is a particularly strange inclusion in the game. The female villain, temporary lover to Calaca, is the first boss players face in the game. The foundational lore of X'tabay is rooted in the story of a succubus-like goddess or demon. While this mythology is particularly old, the figure of a traitorous and lustful woman has a long and sordid history in Mexican culture. Most notably, Malinche, a real woman who was blamed for many years for ultimate conquest of Mexico, remains a powerful icon that carries with it X'tabay's connotations of sexism in Mexican culture. The cultural significance of Malinche is immense and deeply contested. Not surprisingly, Malinchista is still used as an insult against those who stray too far from Mexican culture.
So here I am, a Malinchista, playing a game made in Canada, by a team mostly comprised of Canadians, laughing at a farcical luchador who gets his powers from a talking goat. I am certainly not against the idea of culturally diverse teams designing experiences that celebrate cultures not necessarily or entirely their own. Still, the game's treatment of women, particularly considering gender politics in Mexican culture, I find more troubling.
Am I offended? I don't know. That's the wrong question to ask. Reactions to cultural portrayals are deeply personal. We are better off asking what does the game do right? What does the game do wrong? And is the game made with care?


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As director for the City of Tacoma's Finance Department, Andy Cherullo serves as the chief financial officer for the City Manager and the City Council. He is responsible for overseeing the City's financial affairs, including accounting, debt and investment management, procurement and purchasing, budget development, and financial reporting. Cherullo joined the City of Tacoma in February of 2013. Prior to joining the City, he most recently served as the chief financial officer for the Washington State Health Care Authority where he oversaw a $14 billion biennial budget that supported the state's Medicaid program and the program for state employee and retiree health benefits. Prior to that, he served as the chief financial officer for the Massachusetts School Building Authority where he helped reform a broken public K-12 school construction program and set the program on a path of financial sustainability. Cherullo started his career in public finance at the Massachusetts House Ways and Means Committee, where he started as a budget analyst, and within four years became the budget director overseeing the development, negotiation and implementation of the state's $22 billion annual budget. Education
Finance Director


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Welcome to
Complete E-Rate application processing
for schools and libraries.
We consult for the best technology services for schools and districts.
In conjunction with our E-Rate services, we will also look into other cost-savings programs for which you might be eligible and review your current telephone and Internet bills to identify possible cost reductions. We offer comprehensive technology consulting. On-Tech will design or modify telephone and computer systems that meet your needs and we will show your school or library how to save time and money in the process. We only propose as much technology as you need. The goal is to help you seek the most cost-effective solutions through simplicity and economy. There are plenty of consulting companies who will show you the cutting edge. Most users just need a solution that will get the job done easily and inexpensively. On-Tech only delivers what you need. We are not equipment resellers, nor are loyal to any brand. We listen. Our solutions start by learning what you want your technology systems to do. We always propose at least two different options and at different price levels. Then, we take the time to explain the options in terms you can understand.


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Trail Escape Peak Walking Shoes by The North Face.
DPD Next Working Day £8
DHL Express £10
Royal Mail Special Delivery before 1pm including weekend £8
Royal Mail Tracked 24 £5
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DHL Economy (3-5 Days) £18
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If you need to return a product purchased from us, you can return it within 14 days of receiving your order, providing it is in original, resalable condition.
Once received you will be entitled to a refund or store credit, not including the original cost of delivery.
We provide a Royal Mail returns label and deduct £3 from your refund.
To return an item to Marrkt, please go to our Returns Portal
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Once your return has been registered in the returns Portal, please contact our service team to arrange an assisted DHL return of your order. Our email address is email@example.com


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Updated April 20, 2024 at 9:54 PM ET
WASHINGTON — President Biden on Saturday signed legislation reauthorizing a key U.S. surveillance law after divisions over whether the FBI should be restricted from using the program to search for Americans' data nearly forced the statute to lapse.
Barely missing its midnight deadline, the Senate had approved the bill by a 60-34 vote hours earlier with bipartisan support, extending for two years the program known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Biden thanked congressional leaders for their work.
"In the nick of time, we are reauthorizing FISA right before it expires at midnight," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said when voting on final passage began 15 minutes before the deadline. "All day long, we persisted and we persisted in trying to reach a breakthrough and in the end, we have succeeded."
U.S. officials have said the surveillance tool, first authorized in 2008 and renewed several times since then, is crucial in disrupting terrorist attacks, cyber intrusions, and foreign espionage and has also produced intelligence that the U.S. has relied on for specific operations, such as the 2022 killing of al-Qaida leader Ayman al-Zawahri.
"If you miss a key piece of intelligence, you may miss some event overseas or put troops in harm's way," Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, the top Republican on the Senate Intelligence Committee, said. "You may miss a plot to harm the country here, domestically, or somewhere else. So in this particular case, there's real-life implications."
The proposal would renew the program, which permits the U.S. government to collect without a warrant the communications of non-Americans located outside the country to gather foreign intelligence. The reauthorization faced a long and bumpy road to final passage Friday after months of clashes between privacy advocates and national security hawks pushed consideration of the legislation to the brink of expiration.
Though the spy program was technically set to expire at midnight, the Biden administration had said it expected its authority to collect intelligence to remain operational for at least another year, thanks to an opinion earlier this month from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which receives surveillance applications.
Still, officials had said that court approval shouldn't be a substitute for congressional authorization, especially since communications companies could cease cooperation with the government if the program is allowed to lapse.
Hours before the law was set to expire, U.S. officials were already scrambling after two major U.S. communication providers said they would stop complying with orders through the surveillance program, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private negotiations.
Attorney General Merrick Garland praised the reauthorization and reiterated how "indispensable" the tool is to the Justice Department.
"This reauthorization of Section 702 gives the United States the authority to continue to collect foreign intelligence information about non-U.S. persons located outside the United States, while at the same time codifying important reforms the Justice Department has adopted to ensure the protection of Americans' privacy and civil liberties," Garland said in a statement Saturday.
But despite the Biden administration's urging and classified briefings to senators this week on the crucial role they say the spy program plays in protecting national security, a group of progressive and conservative lawmakers who were agitating for further changes had refused to accept the version of the bill the House sent over last week.
The lawmakers had demanded that Schumer, D-N.Y., allow votes on amendments to the legislation that would seek to address what they see as civil liberty loopholes in the bill. In the end, Schumer was able to cut a deal that would allow critics to receive floor votes on their amendments in exchange for speeding up the process for passage.
The six amendments ultimately failed to garner the necessary support on the floor to be included in the final passage.
One of the major changes detractors had proposed centered around restricting the FBI's access to information about Americans through the program. Though the surveillance tool only targets non-Americans in other countries, it also collects communications of Americans when they are in contact with those targeted foreigners. Sen. Dick Durbin, the No. 2 Democrat in the chamber, had been pushing a proposal that would require U.S. officials to get a warrant before accessing American communications.
"If the government wants to spy on my private communications or the private communications of any American, they should be required to get approval from a judge, just as our Founding Fathers intended in writing the Constitution," Durbin said.
In the past year, U.S. officials have revealed a series of abuses and mistakes by FBI analysts in improperly querying the intelligence repository for information about Americans or others in the U.S., including a member of Congress and participants in the racial justice protests of 2020 and the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
But members on both the House and Senate intelligence committees as well as the Justice Department warned requiring a warrant would severely handicap officials from quickly responding to imminent national security threats.
"I think that is a risk that we cannot afford to take with the vast array of challenges our nation faces around the world," said Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va. chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.