text:
Your Guide to Using Particles in Epsilon for Grav
The MailChimp particle enables users to sign up for your newsletter. You need to create an account on MailChimp.com and copy the form embed action url into the particle's Form Action URL input field.
Here are the topics covered in this guide:
Option | Description |
Form Action URL | MailChimp Embedded Forms URL. |
CSS Classes | Set the CSS class(es) you would like to have apply at the particle level. |
Layout | Select a layout style for the particle. Stack and Aside are available. |
Style | Choose between Rounded and Square for the Input Box and Button. |
Link | Enter a URL for the particle to link to. |
Icon | Select an icon to appear in the particle. |
Title | Add a title to your particle that will appear on the front end. |
Heading Text | An extra line for text. |
InputBox Text | Enter text you wish to appear in the input box users will enter their email address in. |
Error Background Color | Select a background color for the error message(s). |
Button Text | Add text to your submit button. |
Button Classes | Enable CSS class(es) in your submit button. |


text:
NSP Unique Seats
Regular price
FREE Shipping: No Surprises at Checkout!
Our seat covers come in a package of two.
Covering your car, truck, or SUV's seats can keep your interior looking new for resale, cover existing damage, or even personalize your interior to suit your taste and interest. A car is one of the most expensive purchases the average person makes in their life, so it is wise to consider ways of protecting its value and ensuring the longest service life possible. Seat covers can protect your seats from UV rays, spills, kids, pets, work, tools, entry/exit friction, food, sweat, and a never-ending list of everyday activities that wear out seats. Seat covers can also increase comfort - with added padding, and insulation from cold/heat.
- HIGH-QUALITY WRINKLE-RESISTANT ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION MATERIAL: Made of high-quality polyester micro-fiber fabric. Designed to provide long-lasting durability and max comfort. Back covers offer an elastic fastening system to ensure the fit is snug and secure universally.
- ADDING STYLE AND PROTECTION YOUR SEAT: Protect your seats from spills, tearing, and fading.
- EASY TO INSTALL AND CLEAN: Quick and easy installation of most car and SUV bucket-style seats. No tools are required for installation. Also easy to clean machine washable, and air-dry.
- FIT ALMOST ALL SEATS: Universal application fits almost all seats in cars, trucks, vans, & SUVs.
FREE shipping. No surprises or hidden fees.
Tracking number for every order
people are currently looking at this product

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The government has proposed a wide-ranging ban to prevent pension scams. The consultation listed the sorts of phone conversations that the government intends to fall within the scope of the ban. These included:
- offers of a 'free pension review', or other free financial advice or guidance
- assessments of the performance of the individual's current pension funds
- inducements to hold certain investments within a pensions tax wrapper including overseas investments
- promotions of retirement income products such as drawdown and annuity products
- inducements to release pension funds early
- inducements to release funds from a pension and transfer them into a bank account
- inducements to transfer a pension fund
- introductions to a firm dealing in pensions investments
- offers to assess charges on the pension
The government intends to work on the final and complex details of the ban on cold calling in relation to pensions during this year. This will ensure, according to government sources, that we get draft legislation to ban cold calling in relation to pensions right. The government will bring forward legislation when Parliamentary time allows.
In the consultation, the government also proposed limiting the statutory right to transfer:
- transfers in to personal pension schemes operated by firms authorised by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
- transfers in to authorised Master Trust schemes
- transfers where a genuine employment link to the receiving occupational pension scheme could be evidenced.
The government therefore proposes to require all new pension scheme registrations to be made through an active company, except in legitimate circumstances, where HMRC will be given discretion to register schemes with a dormant sponsoring employer. This requirement will extend to existing pension schemes if they are registered with a dormant sponsoring employer, with the same discretion so that HMRC can decide not to de-register a scheme in legitimate circumstances. This change will be legislated for in a Finance Bill in 2017. The existing right of appeal if HMRC rejects a scheme registration will apply to this new requirement.


text:
Refining and defining the approved criteria and specified components of the overall project is put into motion. The coordination of the entire team is brought together to provide progress and accountability to the scope of work and documents being provided.
The project architect will provide the agenda, the expectations and the responsibilities to be performed by each discipline. Collectively we will provide owner reviews at incremental times defined at the onset of the execution. During these weekly meetings we will utilize 3D modeling by bringing it into the project meetings to view and coordinate the progress.
By integrating with BIM our clients can visualize the virtual building, its functionality and aesthetics early in the design process--along with the benefits of effective and improved interaction for economical decision making.


text:
For the average investor, the financial landscape can sometimes feel like a complex maze with limited access to certain investment opportunities. However, within this realm exists a distinct category known as accredited investors. If you've ever wondered what sets accredited investors apart, this article provides an overview.
Most investors don't qualify for accredited investor status due to high income level requirements. However, if you can qualify as an accredited investor, you can access additional investment opportunities, which may have more complicated risk/reward characteristics. Join us as we demystify the world of accredited investors, unraveling the meaning, requirements, and potential benefits associated with this designation. Whether you're new to investing or seeking to expand your financial horizons, we'll shed light on what it means to be an accredited investor.
What Is an Accredited Investor?
While businesses and banks can qualify for accredited investments, for the purposes of this article, we'll be discussing what it means to be an accredited investor as an individual.
Despite the formal-sounding title, there is no regulatory board that will certify you as an accredited investor. Regulatory organizations, like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), rely on the due diligence processes of those offering unsecured investments to do the legwork and confirm that their investors qualify as accredited.
For an individual investor to be considered accredited, they must meet the following financial criteria:
- Net worth over $1 million, excluding their primary residence (individually or with spouse or partner).
- Income over $200,000 (individually) or $300,000 (with spouse or partner) in each of the prior two years and reasonably expecting the same for the current year.1
Investment vehicles looking to determine if someone is an accredited investor will ask for proof. This may come in the form of any available W-2s, other statements of income, credit reports, tax returns, bank accounts and other asset statements, or regulatory credentials (such as a Series 7).2
Pros of Being an Accredited Investor
Meeting the financial requirements to be considered an accredited investor opens up various investment opportunities. Being an accredited investor can allow you to get in on the ground floor of certain investments, but such opportunities also create additional risks.2
Types of investments available to accredited investors include:
- Private Equity: Private equity seeks to participate in the growth of private companies. Private equity is also an illiquid asset class that seeks long-term appreciation away from public markets.3
- Private Placements: Private placements are sales of equity or debt positions to qualified investors and institutions. This type of investment often serves as an alternative to other approaches that may be taken to raise capital.4
- Hedge Funds: Hedge funds are investments with broad flexibility in terms of the types of strategies they can employ to follow their stated investment objectives.5
- Venture Capital: Venture capital represents a form of private equity financing provided by investors to companies looking for capital. This form of financing is primarily directed toward small firms with growth prospects or those that appear to be pursuing rapid expansion.6
- Equity Crowdfunding: Equity crowdfunding is a business funding model that involves collecting small sums of money from a large number of private investors. However, equity crowdfunding is regulated by the SEC, so businesses soliciting investments in this manner must follow strict guidelines.7,8
Downsides of Being an Accredited Investor
There are several drawbacks when considering an investment as an accredited investor.
- High Risk: For example, start-up businesses have high failure rates. While they may appear to offer tremendous potential, you may not recoup your initial investment if you participate.2
- High Minimum Investment Amounts: The investment vehicles offered to accredited investors often have high investment requirements. Minimum investments can range as high as several million dollars.2
- Fees: Hedge funds, in particular, may have associated fees, such as performance and management fees. A performance fee is paid based on returns on an investment and can range as high as 15% to 20%. This is on top of management fees.9
- Illiquidity Of The Investments: Many accredited investment vehicles aren't easily made liquid should the need arise. Not only do you risk not recouping your investment, but once you commit to investing, you may not be able to easily access your money.2
Ultimately, accredited investing is for individuals with investment experience who understand the risk/reward profiles of the various associated opportunities.
1. SEC.gov, April 6, 2023
2. Investopedia.com, December 30, 2022
3. Investopedia.com, March 31, 2023
4. Investopedia.com, March 29, 2022
5. Investopedia.com, August 11, 2022
6. Investopedia.com, April 22, 2023
7. Investopedia.com, April 22, 2023
8. Forbes.com, March 31, 2022
9. Investopedia.com, September 29, 2022
The content is developed from sources believed to be providing accurate information. The information in this material is not intended as tax or legal advice. It may not be used for the purpose of avoiding any federal tax penalties. Please consult legal or tax professionals for specific information regarding your individual situation. This material was developed and produced by FMG Suite to provide information on a topic that may be of interest. FMG, LLC, is not affiliated with the named broker-dealer, state- or SEC-registered investment advisory firm. The opinions expressed and material provided are for general information, and should not be considered a solicitation for the purchase or sale of any security. Copyright 2024 FMG Suite.


text:
Boyce Baptist Church
Sunday, July 14, 2024
The Tattoo Taboo and Where We Stand...Where once tattoos were "verboten" within the province of Christian culture, especially among women, many have asked me about the current tattoo fad that is sweeping through our culture, and what the Biblical position is on the subject.
The premise of this article is based upon two primary central theses:
First, as Christians, if there is even the slightest possibility that some action, indulgence, behavior, or attitude might be displeasing to God, if we claim to genuinely love God, we should abstain from that thing.
Secondly, the Pauline doctrine of the "Weaker brother", in that some behavior on our part would cause a weaker brother (or sister) to stumble spiritually, should be enough to persuade the mature Christian to deny themselves that behavior.
A good example would be the consumption of alcohol. Historically and statistically a very destructive substance, some have argued that there is no specific prohibition against alcohol consumption in the Bible. This biblical error is dealt with on another page on this website. Suffice it to state in this context that devoted followers of Christ should not have to have a "thou shalt not" for every behavior. It should be enough that there is even a question about its practice that should cause the Christian to abandon it from their lives. Such is the case regarding tattoos.
After extensive research and consultation with a number of Bible scholars, theologians and seminary professors, it is the position of this pastor that tattoos are unequivocally a sinful and harmful practice for any professing Christian to indulge in. Having said that, it is understood that many well-meaning and God-fearing Christians have, as a result of not having been taught prior to receiving a tattoo, have such on their body. I do not believe these children of God will be held to the same accountability as those who indulge in this worldly practice with full "knowledge of the light". I do believe it is incumbent upon every Christian to enquire of God's Word, their pastor, or some other reliable spiritual resource to determine in advance of receiving a tattoo, what the Lord's will is on any issue involving the temple of the Holy Spirit, their bodies. To refuse wise, mature Christian counsel in order to avoid hearing what one does not want to hear, could be considered a form of rebellion...and this is sin.
Any and all so-called "arguments" to persuade anyone as to the appropriateness of tattoos ether fall under the categories of theological ignorance, apostasy, or outright heresy. For instance, one argument the proponents of tattoos use is that "Jesus has a tattoo when He returns to the earth in Revelation!" They are of course referring to Revelation 16:19 which reads, And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords." They like to leave the "...on his vesture" part out. The reason is that the writing is not ON his thigh. The writing is on a sash which is part of Jesus' royal attire which is draping down OVER HIS THIGH as he returns with the armies of heaven. If the writing is "...on his vesture" how would John have been able to have seen Jesus' thigh? The argument fails when one simply does the word study and realizes that the Apostle John, in keeping with the descriptive writing style of the time, was only seeking to describe the LOCATION of the sash as it draped over Christ's left thigh as he returns. This is of course the kind a strategy Satan used when attempted to use Scripture to tempt Jesus in the wilderness. He took verses out of context and perverted their original intent as well.
Some have been persuaded into the realm of tattoos by tattoos being reclassified in modern society as "body art". Such a stealthy redefining and "dressing up" of the practice has deluded many Christians to believe the practice is harmless and acceptable. Further, some have found license to indulge their desire to be "inked" in some misguided teaching that THEIR tattoos are simply a portrayal of their "link" with some distant tribal Native American ancestry or other self-imposed connection, and therefore don't fall within the realm of "really being a tattoo" in the normal definition of the word.
None of these "excuses" for indulgence in this practice serve to negate the biblical mandates. The Scriptures make no exceptions or exemptions for these false justifications any more than Satan's arguments to Eve justified her disobedience in eating of the forbidden fruit. These false premises serve only to salve the Christian's conscience that has, "...been seared with a hot iron" of the devil's deceptions.
I have also become increasingly convinced, and I do find myself quite original in the line of reasoning, that given the momentum with which world events seem to be rampaging toward end-time events, that it may not be beyond the realm of Satanic strategy to "boil the frog gradually" and acclimate societies toward acceptance of emblazoning their skin surfaces with markings so that the imposition of the mark of the beast ("six-hundred, threescore and six") the 666 of the tribulation period, will be more accepted.
A couple of websites of interest are provided as follows:
The following article is provided as a resource and hopefully a tool to assist those who might be under pressure to be persuaded to permanently damage not only their bodies, which by the way Scripture declares to be the temple of the Holy Spirit and is therefore not ours to damage, but their Christian testimony as well.
For further insight into this pagan practice, we recommend the book, "What's Behind The Ink?" by the same author as this article.
Rev. Dr. Ben Jenkins, M.A., Th.D. Pastor Boyce Baptist Church
This article is authored by William M. Sudduth Sr, is president of Righteous Acts Ministries (http://www.ramministry.org/). He and his wife, Janet, host seminars on spiritual growth, deliverance training and restoring innocence as well as holding revival meetings. He is the author of What's Behind the Ink?, a book about the spiritual aspects of tattooing, piercing and other fads.
This article is used with permission.
I had never given the subject of tattoos much thought other than occasionally to regret getting mine - until my wife, Janet, and I were ministering in New Zealand in 2003. New Zealand was settled more than 1,000 years ago by a primitive Polynesian people called the Maori. They were headhunters and cannibals who worshiped demon gods. The Maori tattoo most of their bodies, including their faces, which they carve flesh from as a wood carver would etch wood to create a design. Then they apply ink.
On a day off we went sightseeing with a local pastor. He took us to a Maori village. Inside the entrance of the village was a meeting house, and above the entrance was a statue of a demon, the face of which was carved with the same pattern as the men's faces. I immediately came to the realization that these people had carved their faces to look like the deity they worshiped.
The Lord spoke very clearly to me to study every people group, not just the Maori, and then write a book. As a result, I spent nearly two years researching the origins and history of tattoos and piercing. I studied Pacific Islanders, Native Americans, Europeans, Mid-Easterners, Asians and Africans in my research.
I discovered that all primitive pagan cultures throughout history and on every continent subscribed to some form of body modification or mutilation, usually involving tattoos and/or body piercing. In most cases the practice was part of demon worship. Many groups such as the Maori tattooed themselves to look like the demons to gain acceptance and power from them.
In 1991 hikers in Europe found a frozen, well-preserved body of an "Alpine Iceman." More than 5,000 years old, he is the oldest frozen mummy ever discovered. He was found with a grass cape, a copper axe, a quiver full of arrows, flint for making fire, and numerous tattoos on his body, including a cross on the inside of the left knee. (It was not a so-called "Christian tattoo.") He had six straight lines 15 centimeters long above the kidneys, and numerous parallel lines on the ankles.
Subsequent X-rays of his body revealed chronic degeneration of bone and cartilage in the spine and arthritic wear and tear of the knees and ankles. Presumably these tattoos were done by a shaman or medicine man who was invoking the gods on behalf of this man to rid his body of pain.
In 1891, archaeologists discovered the 4,000-year-old mummy of an Egyptian priestess of Hathor-the Egyptian goddess of love. She had parallel lines tattooed on her arms and thighs as well as an elliptical design below her navel. The tattoo below her navel is believed to have had sexual connotations linked to fertility.
Headhunters such as the Maori from the Philippines, Taiwan and other Pacific islands tattooed themselves to appease the gods before the headhunt ended to commemorate their success afterward. South American headhunters also used tattoos as part of their rituals. The Hawaiians have actual tattoo gods they consult before doing a tattoo. The Chinese and Japanese used tattoos to ward off evil spirits, to appease different gods and, like the Romans, to identify or "brand" criminals, Roman slaves were tattooed as a sign of ownership, often marked, "Tax Paid."
Native Americans tattooed themselves and their captives. The Inuit tattooed themselves upon arriving in the cold arctic regions to appease the gods so they would allow them to settle there and survive in the harsh climate.
In the Mideast, Babylonian and Canaanite and Hebrew shrine prostitutes tattooed themselves as part of their worship, Baal worshipers wore tattoos on their hands to gain power from Baal. In India, shrine prostitutes tattooed themselves to look like the various gods they worshiped. In primitive areas of India the wife of the village sorcerer is the tattoo artist.
Because of their dark skin, black Africans didn't use tattoos as much as they used scarification. This involves cutting the skin with a sharp instrument and then rubbing it with ashes or caustic plant juices that form permanent blisters. Dark pigments, such as charcoal or gunpowder, are then rubbed into the wound to provide emphasis. The wounds are periodically reopened to enhance the raised scar effect.
Other African traditions involve extreme forms of body piercing. Lips and ears are pierced and objects implanted inside, causing the lip or ear tissue to elongate and conform to the shape of the object. Ethiopian women wear a lip plate, which causes the mouth to protrude to resemble the beak of the spoonbill, a creature they worship.
The letting of blood and body modification have always been associated with pagan worship and witchcraft. Pagans and Christians alike know there is power in the blood. In spite of the current interest in tattoos even in the church, all research points to one conclusion: The root of tattooing never changes; it is, and always has been, a pagan spiritual activity.
Your Body is a Temple
During the last 11 years Janet and I have been heavily involved in the ministry of deliverance. We have ministered to multiplied thousands of people in individual and group settings. We have dealt with people from all walks of life, from many different nations and races. We have ministered to the depressed, the oppressed and even the possessed. We have seen countless people who have been negatively impacted by the spirit realm as a result of things they have done or things that have happened to them. The goal of our deliverance teaching is always to impart a greater understanding of the spirit realm. Believers need to know how it affects them and to be aware that everything we do in the natural has a spiritual consequence, including the marking or piercing of our bodies.
It's not surprising that Satan and his demon spirits are doing what they have always done, trying to gain man's attention, affection and worship. In my research I found that in every culture tattoos were used as a means of invoking, appeasing or glorifying demon gods. Satan is still seeking to take man's focus off God and direct it to himself.
Today in our culture and society we see an explosion of fads such as tattoos and piercings. Though I don't fully understand it, Satan is attempting to mark as many peple as he can athrough these means. Perhaps on the day of judgment the accuser of the brethren, the devil, will stand before God and try to claim those so marked as his own.
Or perhaps Satan is encouraging people of all cultures to mar their bodies through some form of mutilation because he knows we are made in God's image, and he hates God and anything that resembles God.
When I minister, I often ask people if they have ever played Monopoly. If they have, I ask whether they ahve ever gotten into a family feud while playing and have had to get out the rule book. People laugh as they recall digging out the rules.
God has given us a rule book, a set of rules to play by that enables us to win this game of life. We call it the Bible. The Bible was given to us to help us and to protect us from harm. It clearly teaches us the wiles and schemes of the devil.
Leviticus 19:28 gives us the "rule" for tattoos. It says, "You shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor tattoo any marks on you: I am the Lord" (NKJV).
When God first gave this command to the Israelites, He was drawing a line of demarcation between His chosen people and the Egyptians, whose land they had just left, and the Canaanites, whose land they were about to enter. Both of these cultures were steeped in witchcraft and the occult. Both openly worshiped and served demon gods, and both used tattoos as part of their idolatry and pagan worship. God was trying to protect the Israelites from opening themselves up to demonic influence.
We too are God's people, and He wants us to "come out from among them" (II Corinthians 6:17). He wants us to separate ourselves from the world and the world's fads. When we do that, we will avoid doing things to our bodies that God never intended us to do--and that includes getting tattoos.
Let me make it clear that there is absolutely no such thing as a Christian tattoo. In fact, the mere term "Christian tattoo" is an oxymoron! A tattoo may be a religious symbol, but there is nothing Christian about it.
If we truly belong to Christ, we should know and understand that our bodies are not our own. Engaging in the practice of body modification indicates that we believe the opposite. Yet the Bible clearly tells us: "Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body: (I Corinthians 6:19-20).
Rolling Stone magazine quoted famous tattoo artist Paul Booth as saying that while he is tattooing people, "he allows his clients' demons to help guide the needle." I pray this article will prevent you or someone you know from further defiling these earthen temples we call our bodies. I pray it has given you a greater understandenig of the unseen world, as well as insight into what's behind the ink.
If you already have a tattoo or piercing and are wondering what to do now that you know the truth, here are some steps you can take. First, repent to God for violating Scrtipture and for bloodletting, which is witchcraft. Also, repent for defiling the temple of the Holy Spirit. Then renounce the spirits behind the tattoo or piercing. Witchcraft and rebellion are a given, but many tattoos have images that need to be addressed. Sexual tattoos may invite a spirit of perversion, a skull and cross bones a spirit of death, a religious tattoo a spirit of religion and so on. If you have a piercing in other than an ear lobe, remove it and repent for defiling your temple. And whether it's a tattoo or a piercing, anoint it with oil and break any assignment of the enemy that came in through the modification of your body.
Father, I ask You to HELP US, to give us strength to hear Your voice, and to be willing to be led by You. In Jesus' Name. |


text:
Local News Outlet Mistakes Axl Rose + Mickey Rourke as Married Couple Celebrating Wedding Anniversary
Yes, this really happened. A local Canadian news broadcast hilariously mistook a now iconic photo of Axl Rose and actor Mickey Rourke as a married couple celebrating their 50th anniversary.
The pic first surfaced online earlier this month in a tweet from Newsmax host John Cardillo.
A segment on a local news broadcast celebrates birthdays and wedding anniversaries of individuals from the community. (A redditor claims the station is hosted by NTV in Newfoundland, Canada.) Apparently a prankster submitted the photo with the names Max and Geraldine Bailey, and it flew right under the station's radar. You can watch as the photo appears on the broadcast via a Twitter video below.
To the best of our knowledge, the news outlet has yet to address the mixup.
In other Axl news, Guns N' Roses recent concert in Abu Dhabi was cut short after Rose fell "severely ill." A few days later he tweeted, "Wanna thank All the fans, the band n' every1 4 their concern n' well wishes! In Johannesburg w/plenty of time 2 b ready 4 the show! This flu or whatever is a wild ride! Comes in waves. Ur ok till ur not!"
He added, "Felt lame explainin' myself earlier on at the gig but really didn't know how things would play out n' we really wanted to do r best 4 the fans. Was a GREAT crowd, awesome venue, cool stage (w/a gentle breeze in the desert!)"
The 14 Most WTF Rock + Metal Moments in 2018


text:
Carole King: Diva Behavior
The above is an excerpt from a full-length interview with 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year Carole King was conducted by television personality and author Willie Geist. A print version of the interview will be published in the official 56th GRAMMY Awards program book.
King will be honored as the 2014 MusiCares Person of the Year on Jan. 24 at a special tribute concert and dinner in Los Angeles, recognizing her accomplishments as an artist and humanitarian. A star-studded lineup will perform in tribute to King, including Sara Bareilles, Louise Goffin, Amy Grant, Alicia Keys, Lady Gaga, Miguel, Pink, James Taylor, Steven Tyler, and will.i.am, among others.
MusiCares' mission is to ensure that music people have a compassionate place to turn in times of need while focusing the resources and attention of the music industry on human service issues that directly impact the health and welfare of the music community. You can learn more about MusiCares at GRAMMY.org.
Visit GRAMMY.com on Jan. 25 for a full recap, photos and video interviews from the MusiCares Person of the Year gala.


text:
My six-year-old Carson got stomach sick at school today. On a field trip at Woodward Park. While I was helping a friend by babysitting her little boy, 25 minutes away in Broken Arrow. And hubs was out of town.
But that's not the story here.
When I finally got Carson home, after much help from family and friends (who moved their feet just in time), I settled him on the sofa where he appeared to pass out. But his breathing was normal and deep so I knew he was sleeping. I put a blanket over him and spread a towel on the floor in front of him. I positioned a trash can next to the sofa and I stroked his forehead, trying to detect any sign of a fever. Then I stroked it some more just because I felt so dang sorry for him.
Then I realized that when my boys get sick, I actually feel like a pretty good parent.
It always takes me back to when I was a little girl, and when I was sick I felt like I suddenly ruled the world in my house of many siblings. Only I didn't enjoy ruling because I was…well…sick.
But my mom, she'd sit with me and bring me a cool cloth for my forehead and make me a tray of yummy bland food. And I never really felt that bad when she was there with me.
So when my boys get sick, I find myself doing and saying the same kinds of things to them. I want them to feel safe and not anxious and comfortable and loved. And yes, I'm sad they feel bad, but as a little girl I remember thinking, hey, this being sick isn't the worst thing in the world if I'm gonna get all this lovin'!
And their sickness, it seems to bring out the softer mom in me. And the protective mom. And the smart mom because I can usually figure out what to do for them.
I NEVER wish my kids to be sick. And when they are, I wish it like heck to be gone.
But for me, as a mom, it also reinforces to me that I'm getting through some parts of parenthood in okay fashion.
And it's those areas I hope my kids remember the most vividly.


text: Rock legend Dave Grohl of Nirvana and Foo Fighters has directed a feature length documentary, Sound City, about the historic Sound City Studios in Los Angeles. The film is having its premiere screening at Sundance Film Festival, and is today available for pre-order for a limited time for only $10. It will be available as a DRM-free download and streaming video on February 1, 2013. [Read more…]


text:
It is with great sadness that we write this today; the Sparrow & Crowe graphic novel, recently solicited through Diamond and Amazon.com, has been cancelled.
Hermes Press, our publisher, has been very supportive of the book, but we knew the risks when we solicited the book for pre-sales — if the orders were too low, Hermes Press would not be able to print the book.
So, what does this mean? Well, all five chapters of the book are still available on ComiXology.com, so if you read digital comics on your computer or tablet, this is still a viable option.
That said, we're still looking at options to bring the printed book to you. We're proud of the book, and we've gotten very positive reactions from those who have read it. But pre-order sales are a tricky thing, and we've got to look at new strategies for the book.
Thanks again for your support. We're grateful for every single pre-order that we did get. And, as always, you can contact us at mailbag (at) sparrowandcrowe.com if you'd like to reach us.
We're not done yet. Stay tuned, and we'll keep you posted.
David, Jeremy and Jared


text:
The weekend may be over but don't let Monday get you down. Lets get creative! Today on Make it Monday! Basil, and I, with the help of my brother in-law Jake, turned a super cute vintage suitcase into a new unique dog bed.
What you need!
- Hard case suitcase. (I found this yellow Samsonite case at an antique store for $9!)
- 4 short table legs. (The ones we used were actually banister toppers found at a hardware store. The leg came with hardware already included.)
- 2 2×4 pieces of wood cut to size.
- Hot glue gun or sewing machine. (My Sewing machine is currently out of order so I went the glue route and it worked just fine.)
- 1 yard of fabric
- 1 or 2 standard size pillows or square thick foam. (I used 1 pillow and a small old quilt for padding.)
- Drill
- Optional: Trim
Okay so if you are anything like me you probably don't have a clue how to build things using power tools. The extant of my knowledge is limited to hanging a picture straight on the wall and using an allen wrench to put together my "affordable Swedish crap." This is where my brother in-law Jake came into the picture. He is a construction work and has every tool under the sun. For the first part of this project, the hard part, putting on the legs, I pretty much just handed him the pieces and said "help me!" In the following pictures if you see hairy forearms, they are not mine!
Part 1: The Hard Part! Attaching the legs!
Step 1: Mark where you want to position the legs and drill holes.
Step 2: Attach the wood beams to the inside of the suitcase. These are going to act as the anchor for the legs. Make sure to position them over where you drilled the holes.
Step 3: Screw in the legs, with the already attached hardware, through the drilled holes and into the wood beams.
Part 2: The Fun Part!
Step 1: Find a cute fabric to match your case.
Step 2: Use fabric is cover your pillow/foam padding. Make a pillow case using your sewing machine or hot glue gun. FYI, they make fabric glue for your hot glue gun! It's washable! (I'm not going to show you how to make a pillow case. Thats not fun. If you really don't know, there is this magical thing called Google that will help you out.
Step 3: Attach your trim, if you so choose. I liked how it looked with the trim so I went for it. I used a chevon red burlap ribbon that I found at the craft store. I used my hot glue gun to glue it around the inside of the whole case.
Step 4: Insert padding and pillows!
I put the adorable new bed in Basil's new "dog cave" and he and our cats love it! The best part is now I have a dog bed that doesn't look like a gross ugly dog bed!
Thanks to HGTV for the idea. If you want to see how they did it, its a little different, check it out here.
Let me know if you make this project. I would love to see your pictures!
Until next time friends! Xoxo
Travel well, nap well, live well!
-Abbey & Basil


text:
For businesses looking for healthcare benefits, the Health Insurance Marketplace allows them to compare and select from the most relevant medical insurance plans in Arizona. Review prices and options from all leading providers then compare healthcare plans available to you and your business.
With your selection of medical insurance you'll be able to service your plans with the help of a TriNet Preferred Broker partner, and gain access to Trinet Benefits Administration software for no additional cost.
We'll save your cart and email you a link to it.


text:
Artiss Buffet Sideboard Cabinet Kitchen Bathroom Storage Cupboard Hallway White Shelf
Our charming Buffet Sideboard is a counter, cupboard and storage space all rolled into one. And that makes it simply indispensable in your household, particularly when you need all the help you can get with hosting dinners and preparing great meals. The sideboard comprises a countertop, an open shelf and two shelves (one adjustable) within a two-door cupboard. Surely, more than enough space to hold a variety of kitchen and household essentials comfortably. The cupboard doors are louvred which not only make the sideboard look classy, but also allow for great air flow so that you can have fresh smelling tea towels instead of musty smelling ones. The entire ensemble is finished in smooth, white non-toxic paint and constructed with quality E1 MDF and particle boards for solid construction. Not least, the sturdy hinges and magnetic door catches also ensure that all items are kept securely in place behind closed doors.
Ample storage
Non-toxic and lead-free paint
Two-door louvred cupboard
Magnetic door catches
Two cupboard shelves (one adjustable)
One open shelf
Sturdy hinges
Exquisite handles
Easy to maintain and clean
Brand: Artiss
Material: E1 MDF and particle board
Overall dimensions: 60cm x 30cm x 80cm
Colour: White
Assembly required: Yes
Number of packages: 1
Package Content
1 x Buffet Sideboard
1 x Assembly Manual


text:
Early on in Rian Johnson's time-travel thriller Looper, Joe (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) sits at a diner and chats with his self from 30 years in the future (Bruce Willis). When the younger Joe asks the older one about the specifics of temporal displacement, the latter dismisses the question, telling his interlocutor what a waste of time it would be to sit there all day drawing "diagrams with straws."
Johnson would agree. His is a mind-fuck movie less interested in geeking out on the details of how exactly past and future intermingle than in investigating the moral implications of a charged situation grounded in character. No sooner does the film lay out the ground rules of its time-travel setup in almost didactically precise voiceovers than it turns its characters loose to make their own life-altering choices.
In short, for all its affectionate pastiche, Looper is a humanist movie, and is all the better for it. Taking place in the year 2042, it establishes a new type of underworld figure, the eponymous practitioner of dirty deeds, among whose number is Joe as played by Gordon-Levitt, heavily made up to resemble a younger Willis. Joe tells us, "Time travel has not yet been invented, but 30 years from now, it will have been." As such, the gangsters who run the world in 2072 use the quickly outlawed practice to send people they wish to assassinate back in time to 2042, at which point loopers are poised to drop them the moment they appear and then dispose of the bodies.
But because time travel is illegal in the future, the loopers themselves must be eliminated, and so the criminals ultimately send these hired assassins back in time to be offed, oftentimes by their past selves. Such is the case when "future" Joe (Willis) appears in the crosshairs of his younger counterpart's gun, before the latter botches the hit and allows his older incarnation to run wild. Old Joe searches for the child that will become the future mob boss in order to kill him before he takes power and institutes his system of eliminating loopers, while his younger self hides out on a farm owned by a tough-talking single mother, Sara (Emily Blunt), who is raising a kid whose tantrums and telekinetic powers seem to indicate that he might grow up into that very kingpin. Meanwhile, the organization sends out its men to track down both versions of Joe.
Johnson first made his name with 2005's Brick, which transported the plotting, mood, and speech patterns of a classic noir to a contemporary high school. The director followed that with 2008's The Brothers Bloom, which wore its Wes Anderson-derived quirk on its perfectly manicured sleeve. With Looper, the borrowings are no less obvious, whether in the plotting (recent sci-fi mind-fuckers like Primer and Timecrimes vie with elements of noir and Bad Seed-style bad toddler behavior), the settings (the dystopian city of the future is drawn from countless cinematic models), or specific touches (the hired thugs in 2072 dress like spaghetti Western bandits). But Looper isn't about its references. Instead, they're firmly woven into the fabric of the work. As Joe's boss (Jeff Daniels) explains to his style-conscious hireling, dismissing the latter's emphasis on superficial image-making, the movies he's copying in shaping his physical appearance are themselves copies of other movies.
Does this amount to self-critique? If so, it's a gentle one. But as Gordon-Levitt ages into Willis, he trades his youthful obsession with flash for a more satisfying relationship to the adult world. As the film evolves into an ethical quandary, it raises questions about what people will do to protect both their loved ones and their own happiness and wonders what value individual happiness merits when placed against the fate of the world.
If the ending seems a little too hedge-betting, Looper nonetheless satisfies wholly on the level of dramatic necessity. Thrilling in its deft juggling of complex narrative elements, utterly clear in its presentation, and unfolding with what feels like serious moral purpose, Looper still can't help suggesting that its larger ambitions are something of a put-on, a nice thematic polish to set off its interpersonal drama. But there's no shame in a film that favors the human scale over abstract philosophizing or meta-cinematic frippery. For Johnson, the inveterate pasticheur, it qualifies as a significant step forward.


text:
- Now upon the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain others with them.
- And they found the stone rolled away from the sepulchre.
- And they entered in, and found not the body of the Lord Jesus.
- And it came to pass, as they were much perplexed thereabout, behold, two men stood by them in shining garments:
- And as they were afraid, and bowed down their faces to the earth, they said unto them, Why seek ye the living among the dead?
- He is not here, but is risen: remember how he spake unto you when he was yet in Galilee,
- Saying, The Son of man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.
- And they remembered his words,
- And returned from the sepulchre, and told all these things unto the eleven, and to all the rest.
"Extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice! ... Moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!" - Barry Goldwater
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Resurrection Sunday, 2012
Luke 24: 1-9
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)